Boston Bruins “That’s our resiliency,” Coyle said. “There’s never any quit in here, especially in playoff time. … A couple bad breaks on a few of their goals, but that’s hockey. It’s how you respond. We got to respond now and get A series that seemed to be in the Bruins’ grasp is now up for grabs the next one. That’s all.” Now it’s the Islanders’ turn to take their wave of home-crowd emotion and ride it for all it’s worth, and with Nassau Coliseum heading for the By Tara Sullivan Globe Columnist,Updated June 1, 2021, 12:12 a.m. scrap heap of arenas, it’s bound to be loud and intense during this ongoing farewell tour. The Bruins have to bury this one fast and regroup for what will no doubt be a tough environment. The Bruins, led by goalie Tuukka Rask (40) and captain Patrice Bergeron “We made a play that was ill-advised and they scored on a breakaway. (37), made a quick exit from the bench after suffering a 4-3 overtime loss That’s what I saw on the overtime goal,” Cassidy said. “We played well to the Islanders in Game 2.JOHN TLUMACKI/ enough to win. Tough second period, but a good start to the game. Here we are, 1-1. They’re a good hockey club. Didn’t expect it to be easy. GLOBE STAFF Playoff hockey guarantees that nothing comes easy, We’ve got to work on this and get ready for Game 3 up there.” even if the Bruins had started to make it look that way. As Marchand promised, “We’ll bounce back. It’s 1-1. It’s all about how we One bad mistake and one overtime breakaway brought an end to their regroup and move forward. That’s the thing about playoffs, you’ve got to era of good feeling Monday night, a 4-3 overtime loss to the Islanders be like an elephant, have a quick memory, and be ready to go the next ending their five-game postseason winning streak and knotting their day.” second-round playoff series at a game apiece. Boston Globe LOADED: 06.01.2021 From a strong first period when it seemed good feeling would hold, across an ugly second period when it seemed all hope was lost, through a resurgent third period when hope was rallied again, it was an overtime mistake by young defenseman Jeremy Lauzon that punctured the Bruins balloon for good. Lauzon’s “ill-advised” (Bruce Cassidy’s description) cross-ice pass to nobody was picked off by Casey Cizikas and deposited at 14:48 of the OT into Tuukka Rask’s net, a mistake that brought another of playoff hockey’s truisms to life for the Bruins. It’s not a series until the home team loses. This is definitely a series now. Of course it always was, no matter how dominant that 5-2 winning score from the opener appeared. Remember when Cassidy told us before the series opened that his Bruins would be “playing ourselves a little bit?” His prescience was proven yet again on Monday, another night to ride the hockey roller coaster, to travel the emotional waves as they careened from joy to agony to hope to fear, to watch two teams so evenly matched and so similarly motivated they fought until the final shift. “I think both teams had their moments where they controlled the play. We had times where we were all over them and had good chances and they did the same, all over us and hemmed us in,” forward Brad Marchand said. “We’re both even teams. It’s going to be a tight series and we know that.” It started so promisingly for the Bruins in the opening period, a period to make it seem as if the wave of heady emotion of Saturday night’s opener would never crest, that the energy of a Garden faithful lifted both themselves and their beloved team to a dominant night capped by the rink full of celebratory hats for David Pastrnak’s three-goal thriller. GLOBE STAFF This time it was local hero Charlie Coyle, Weymouth’s own, who pumped up the building early, his beautiful hop, skip and score only 2:38 into the game giving the Bruins a 1-0 lead that would hold all the way into the first intermission. How could the Bruins not be flying? Rask was looking sharp, his calm, collected self stretching and moving in all the right directions, his stick and glove blocking all that came his way. Meanwhile, his counterpart Semyon Varlamov didn’t start out nearly as strong, and in getting the start in place of Game 1 rookie Ilya Sorokin and then giving up an early goal, the Bruins surely had to think they had him rattled. Even the television announcers made sure to note how an early goal seemed to shake Varlamov’s confidence in his two previous postseason losses. But that never happened, and from that Bruins peak came a second- period valley, perhaps the deepest valley of the postseason so far. It was a period of disaster, three Islander goals flipping the momentum, one unlucky pinball bounce off Lauzon’s leg to tie the game and then two on the power play that finally saw the Islanders cash in on all the traffic they were creating in front of Rask’s net. Suddenly, those good feelings were evaporating fast, a reminder that everything is fleeting in playoff hockey, with momentum perhaps the most fleeting of all. Gone was the comfort of those five straight playoff wins, those giddy conversations about the perfection line up top or the Charlie McAvoy emergence down deep, lost amid the frenetic pace and physical toll of a Game 2 whose tide was turning. Yet it remained totally up for grabs. How else do you explain the third period, when the Bruins rediscovered their identity, tying the game once again, and doing it, as usual, through that top line? There was Marchand setting Patrice Bergeron up to rally Boston’s hopes, a goal at 10:34 to bring the Bruins within one, and there he was again at 15:06 doing it on his own, tying the game with a beautiful slapshot just inside the far post. Boston Bruins “The next step is, ‘OK, it’s not going my way right now — how do I find a way?’ ” said Trotz. “And I think it’s just fighting for the inches, just being really firm in your battles — execute after you win ‘em. I don’t have a lot Ill-advised pass in OT by rookie Jeremy Lauzon doomed Bruins in Game of issues with his game. Would I like him to produce a little bit more? 2 loss to Islanders Absolutely. “He hasn’t found the back of the net yet, but he will. And when he does, that will make us an even better hockey team.” By Kevin Paul Dupont Globe Staff,Updated May 31, 2021, 11:52 p.m. He needs to get there. Soon. He should be able to find more open ice in Games 3-4 at Nassau Coliseum, where Trotz can move him out of tough matchups. Earlier in OT, before the Garden roof came crashing down on Jeremy Lauzon, the rookie defenseman looked like he might have saved the Barzal helped set up Pageau’s goal, pushing a pass from the right half- night when he dropped to a knee in front of Tuukka Rask and blocked a wall to Anthony Beauvillier at the right post. Beauvilier kicked out a no- doorstep chance by Josh Bailey that was labeled for the back of the net. look pass and Pageau converted on the left side. The Isles had three Not even two minutes into overtime. goals with only 16 shots on net. But then, the deluge. Trotz was coy in the morning, refusing to name his starting goaltender. “It will be a lefthanded Russian,” he said. Roughly 13 minutes later, Lauzon attempted a basic D-to-D pass inside the Islanders blue line. The attempt ticked off fellow Bruin Charlie Coyle Both goalies, Ilya Sorokin and Semyon Varlamov, are Russian lefties. in the high slot, triggering the Casey Cizikas breakout and handing the Islanders the 4-3 overtime victory that evened the series, 1-1, Monday No surprise, the pick was Varlamov, taking over after Sorokin’s shaky night. outing in Game 1. “Ill-advised play,” said Boston coach Bruce Cassidy. One of Varlamov’s best stops came at 12:09, only 69 seconds after the Islanders took a 2-1 lead. Bruins defenseman Mike Reilly tore off a Cassidy is not one to sugarcoat things, particularly when one of those slapper from the top of the left-wing circle and the alert Varlamov things meant the difference between a commanding series lead and now speared it with his glove hand. heading to Uniondale, N.Y., with the series squared. The path to the penthouse turned into the road to perdition. Highly unlikely Trotz goes back to Sorokin in this series. Varlamov is steadier, less prone to rebounds and boo boos. He not doubt will be Cassidy would have preferred that Lauzon, playing in the ninth named one of the three finalists for the Vezina Trophy — and should win postseason game of his career, attempt a play down the wall, aiming the it. puck toward the left wing corner, or firing it toward goalie Semyon Varlamov. He also turned back David Pastrnak with 4:53 gone in third, a prime chance from short range after Pastrnak rushed in with Brad Marchand. Safe play. The Bruins weren’t seeing the “loose change” they saw with Sorokin. In this case, the right play, emphasized Cassidy, because the Bruins Other observations from Game 2: didn’t have a player over at the other point even if Lauzon’s pass attempt hadn’t ricocheted off of Coyle. ▪ The Bruins were too loose in the second, their lack of discipline in the D zone a contributing factor to the Islanders knocking three straight by “His partner [Charlie McAvoy] wasn’t there,” said Cassidy. “He just has to Tuukka Rask. They remained loose for the start of the third. look, survey the ice. Any time you have the puck … it’s a fluid hockey game … there are set plays for us that we run, but there has to be a ▪ Overlooked in Game: The Islanders got the requisite pop out of their player there. Usually you look first and that is some of the learning curve Matt Martin-Casey Cizikas-Cal Clutterbuck “Identity Line.” The trio for young guys.” registered 15 hits. However, the Bruins’ fourth line of Sean Kuraly-Curtis Lazar-Chris Wagner followed in virtual lockstep, landing 14 pops. The earnest Lauzon, who smashed his stick across the Boston net as his last official act, has at times this season been trick or treat, an asset in In Game 2, the Identity Line dealt out 18 smacks by the 60:00 mark, one flash, a liability the next. One moment the alert stop on Bailey. The while Lazar et al landed only eight. next, a big bad boo-boo, a blind pass attempt across the high slot with ▪ Marchand’s 3-3 equalizer in the third was also his 100th postseason McAvoy scrambling to regain position. point. Classic shot by the Li’l Ball o Hate, left with way too much room to “His partner was recovering back out,” said Cassidy. “So Charlie was launch his snap wrister that he blew by Varlamov’s glove hand. trying to stay out high in [Connor Clifton’s] spot … so obviously the cross- ▪ You know you’re in Boston when the crowd begins hootin’ and hollerin’ slot pass isn’t there in that particular case. If it gets by Charlie, then it’s a for a too-man-men-on-the-ice call. And gets it right. Of course, we have foot race for their winger and our D. That’s one that had to go back down some regrettable history in the art of spotting that call. Uh … too soon? the wall or toward the net. At the end of the day, you learn from it.” ▪ Reilly has to know better than to hang on to a shattered stick. He was Tough lesson at the toughest of times. whistled off at 15:50 of the third for holding on to long after his twig Jean-Gabriel Pageau popped in the 3-1 Islanders lead at 17:21 on a broke. Could have cost the Bruins the game. That said, carbon sticks are power play, after Brandon Carlo was the lone man whistled off at 15:56 in chintzy. The world was better in wood. his scrap with Leo Komarov. The Bruins objected to the call from the start ▪ The 50/50 draw reached $148,470. Pandemic over. and had a legit gripe. Komarov got in his licks on Carlo, but Carlo was the only one who paid the price. Both should have been given the heave-ho. Boston Globe LOADED: 06.01.2021 NHL refereeing: box of chocolates; never know what you’re going to get, shift to shift. Karson Kuhlman, not in the lineup for 2½ weeks, picked up an assist on his first shift, riding on the Nick Ritchie-Charlie Coyle line. His pass to Ritchie led to the big left winger’s feed that sprung Coyle for the game’s opening goal. Kuhlman has the wheels and dog-on-a-bone mentality to be a fixture in the varsity lineup, but he has yet to show consistent offensive touch, albeit in sporadic chances. More plays like the feed to Ritchie would go a long way in keeping him in there. Ritchie put a solid smack on star Islanders forward Mathew Barzal in front of the Boston bench around the 4:40 mark of the first. It’s a point of emphasis for the Bruins, making contact on Barzal, who hasn’t found his groove this postseason. “He’s got to dig in,” said Islanders coach Barry Trotz. “It’s not about who he’s playing with. It’s about Mathew, just digging in a little bit and not getting frustrated.” Trotz is well aware that teams hoping to advance have to wring the best out of their best players. When he’s on, Barzal can be hotter that a molten lava lamp. He’s been stone cold so far. Boston Bruins Before the 3-1 deficit, the two-goal comeback, and the Cizikas capper, there was Charlie Coyle’s opening strike, at 2:38 of the first. The third line, reimagined with the promotion of Jake DeBrusk to No. 2 right wing, Casey Cizikas delivers overtime winner as Islanders even series with came to play. The individual effort by Coyle was stellar — he powered Bruins at a game apiece past Nick Leddy, who was fishing with his stick, and dangled around Varlamov — but Nick Ritchie sprung him with a sharp outlet, after Karson Kuhlman forced a turnover in the neutral zone. Kuhlman also drove to the net, helping Coyle put Leddy on the highlight reel. By Matt Porter Globe Staff, Updated June 1, 2021, 12:48 a.m. The Bruins outshot the Islanders, 15-6, in the first.

“They were one save better than us,” Cassidy said. “We had our looks in Brad Marchand and the Bruins never quit on a play, a shift, a game. overtime. We didn’t convert and they did.” They won’t quit on Jeremy Lauzon, either. Strap in. This might be a long series. The Bruins lost a thriller of a Game 2 in overtime, 4-3, after the young Boston Globe LOADED: 06.01.2021 defenseman’s gaffe. Lauzon, who has struggled this postseason, whipped a no-look pass across the offensive blue line. Had he looked, he might have seen Charlie Coyle in the passing lane. The puck clanked off Coyle’s skate. Islanders grinder Casey Cizikas raced toward daylight and beat Tuukka Rask with a snapshot over the blocker. “[Expletive] happens,” Marchand said. “We all make mistakes. We’ve all been there. It’s tough when it happens to you, but we’re going to bounce back. It’s not the end of the world. It’s 1-1. We’ve just got to worry about that next one.” Game 3 is Thursday on Long Island, at a sure-to-be-rocking Nassau Coliseum. The Islanders are overjoyed after splitting two games in Boston. It surely could have gone the Bruins’ way, after they climbed out of a two-goal hole in the final 9:26 of regulation. Strikes from Marchand and Patrice Bergeron made it a 3-3 game. While the Islanders dominated the outset of OT, outshooting the Boston, 7-1, in the first 10 minutes and hemming in the Bergeron line for a long shift, David Pastrnak (one-timer) and Taylor Hall (rebound) nearly ended it. And then, Lauzon made a play that coach Bruce Cassidy called “ill- advised.” The 24-year-old, in the lineup the last three games because of the injury to Kevan Miller, has been on the ice for seven goals, the most among Bruins defensemen, despite playing the second-fewest minutes (58:57). Five of those goals have been at even strength (50:46). Lauzon slammed his stick against the boards as the Islanders celebrated. Opportunity: lost. “Certainly played well enough to win,” Cassidy said of the team’s night. “Pushed back. Had a tough second period. Didn’t do enough things well. “We didn’t expect it to be easy. We’ll take the good and work on the bad.” The Islanders protected the slot much better than in Game 1, helping hold down the Bergeron line from its lofty height for most of the night. They couldn’t stifle them for a full 60 minutes. Holding a 3-1 lead midway through the third period, Semyon Varlamov (32 saves through 60:00) stopped a pair of Pastrnak one-timers. Boston’s best kept at it. On an extended shift, Marchand curled off the right-wing boards and found his captain, Bergeron, who placed a one-timer through a screen and past Varlamov’s blocker at 10:34 of the third. It was a 3-2 game. The Islanders, not the Bruins, were whistled for too many men with 5:21 left in regulation. A TV timeout let the Bruins set up their power play. They might not have been counting on the Islanders giving Marchand all the time in the world. No. 63, left alone in the right circle, stepped up and fired far side on Varlamov, tying the game at 15:06 and shaking the Garden grandstands. The Islanders slowed the momentum with a power play, after Mike Reilly played the puck with a broken stick. The Bruins killed it after Rask stopped two stuff-in attempts from Anthony Beauvillier and a tip and a jam from Jean-Gabriel Pageau. Rask saved 27 of 30 through regulation, and 35 of 39 in all. Cassidy also didn’t think he was at his best. “I didn’t think he tracked pucks as well tonight,” Cassidy said. “They had more traffic around the front of the net. And they got some bounces, let’s face it.” The first Islanders goal — Josh Bailey, on the power play at 6:52 of the second — was a shot that caromed off Lauzon’s skate. The visitors took their first lead of the series at 11:00 on Kyle Palmieri’s stuff-in of a hot rebound off the end boards. Rask allowed a leaky one, but the Lauzon- Connor Clifton pair left him alone to Rask’s left. The Bruins went down, 3-1, after Brandon Carlo took a ticky-tack cross- checking penalty during a post-whistle dustup with Leo Komarov. “Questionable,” Cassidy termed it. “Not sure how he got singled out on that.” The penalty killers couldn’t handle Beauvillier, who spun through the crease and fed Pageau for a slam dunk at 17:21. Tuukka Rask made 35 saves Monday night, but couldn't come up with this second-period tally from the Islanders.JOHN TLUMACKI/ Boston Bruins Varlamov, who finished fourth in the NHL in save percentage (.937) at five-on-five, stood at .906 in two playoff games. He lost the starter’s gig after allowing five goals on 27 shots in Game 3 against the Penguins. Jake DeBrusk fills in for Craig Smith on Bruins’ second line for Game 2 Varlamov stopped 38 of 40 shots in the Islanders’ Game 2 overtime win Monday. By Matt Porter Globe Staff,Updated May 31, 2021, 2:11 p.m. New York netminder Semyon Varlamov was equal to the task in Monday's Game 2 win for the Islanders.JOHN TLUMACKI/

The Bruins’ last look at him came May 10. They beat him twice that night: When it comes to his veterans, Bruce Cassidy rarely makes decisions by with a Hall five-on-three one-timer, and a Brad Marchand goal where he himself. With Craig Smith unavailable for Game 2 against the Islanders outmuscled Ryan Pulock in the crease and tapped in a feed in traffic. Monday night, the Bruins coach opted to give Jake DeBrusk another shot More of the latter would help in Game 2. to ride shotgun with David Krejci. “I don’t think it changes much,” Cassidy said. “There’s a couple tenets we It was not a solo call. live by: force him to find pucks in traffic, so get to the front of the net. Force him to control rebounds, so when you have a chance to play off “I talked to Krech a little bit as well,” Cassidy said Monday morning, the shot, make sure you put it in a spot where it’s not an easy glove save following the team’s workout in Brighton. for him. He’s got to fight to control it. We’ll go work from there.” The “easiest thing to do,” Cassidy said, would be to play Karson Kuhlman Next series set in place of Smith, who did not play in the third period of Game 1 because of a lower-body injury. Both Kuhlman and Smith are right-side shooters. Because of Toronto’s loss in Game 7 against Montreal — after blowing a A simple swap would provide the third line — which has offered mixed 3-1 series lead — the next round is set. The Bruins and Islanders are results with DeBrusk as Charlie Coyle’s right wing — some continuity. playing for a date with the Tampa Bay-Carolina winner . . . Casey Kuhlman, who has not played this postseason (2-0—2 in 20 regular- Cizikas’s winner was his first playoff goal since 2015, a span of 47 season games), spent a chunk of the 2019 run to the Stanley Cup Final postseason games . . . The Bruins, outshot, 11-10, in the second period, on Krejci’s right flank. submitted arguably their worst period of the postseason. The Islanders scored three times to take a 3-1 lead, saddling the B’s with their first two- Cassidy felt DeBrusk, who hasn’t found the net since scoring in Games 1 goal deficit of the playoffs. Two of the goals were scored on the power and 2 of the Washington series, might pop with another chance on the play, putting the Bruins at 2 for 6 on the penalty kill through six periods No. 2 line. Krejci signed off on it. against the Islanders. They allowed the same number of goals — three (18 for 21) in five games against the Capitals . . . Matt Grzelcyk, “I know he looks up to Taylor Hall, so maybe that’ll spur him on a little reintroduced to the end boards by Leo Komarov in Game 1, was good to more,” Cassidy said of DeBrusk, who was a kid in Edmonton when the go for Game 2. He had one shot and two hits in 23:18 … Coyle, who had Oilers drafted Hall first overall in 2010. his power game going all night, scored his 14th playoff goal as a Bruin, DeBrusk delivered three shots on goal and three hits in 19:32 of ice time surpassing Bob Sweeney (13) for most by a Massachusetts-born Bruin . . in Game 2. . The Bruins briefly lost Sean Kuraly to an unpenalized forearm to the chin from Nick Leddy at 14:14 of the first. Kuraly was slow to get up, and In Game 1, the Bruins’ top two lines dominated, but DeBrusk didn’t find departed for the dressing room. He returned several minutes later . . . traction. Shot attempts (9-6, according to Natural Stat Trick) and shots (5- Injured Islanders winger Oliver Wahlstrom is “getting nearer” to a return, 3) went against the Bruins when he was on the ice. per Trotz, but he was out for Game 2 … Varlamov was 5-1-0 against the Bruins this season, allowing 13 goals on 229 shots (.943). He went .906 Before the Islanders’ only five-on-five goal of the game (an Adam Pelech and .897, respectively, against the Capitals and Penguins, the division’s one-timer from the point), DeBrusk was in no-man’s land, unable to sort other two playoff teams. He was 0-2-0 with a .903 and 3.61 GAA in two out the defensive zone. He and Nick Ritchie, covering for a pinching first-round games . . . The fan banner captains were Rick, Rob, and Russ defenseman, backchecked a bit too hard to cover Mathew Barzal’s rush Hoyt, sons of the late Dick Hoyt. to the slot. Boston Globe LOADED: 06.01.2021 Cassidy wasn’t displeased at the quality of the resulting shot. “We’d rather a shot come from 55 feet than 10 feet in front of our net,” he said, noting that Pelech’s blast may not have eluded Tuukka Rask if Jeremy Lauzon weren’t screening. With Smith as their right wing for 9:48 before his injury, Hall and Krejci were 16-4 in attempts, 7-3 in shots, and 8-2 in scoring chances. With DeBrusk for 3:31, they were less impactful: 1-3, 1-2, 1-1. “His overall game, I thought he got better as the game went along,” Cassidy said of DeBrusk. “Certainly some puck-support situations we’ve pointed out to him — pointed out to a lot of guys early on — on our breakout. Net-front, making sure you’re stopping in front. “That’s the biggest thing we’ve had with Jake. I think his goal-scoring is down because of that. There’s some opportunities to get in there, rebounds. Make sure your routes are good to the net.” That’s a Smith specialty. The Bruins will have to do without it for now. It is unclear what is ailing Smith, who appeared to favor his right leg after Cal Clutterbuck bowled him over in the second period. He is listed as day to day with a lower-body injury. Having two days before Thursday’s Game 3 could help. Islanders coach Barry Trotz said he had “a pretty good idea” what happened to Smith. If it were his player, he wouldn’t divulge any information. “Say if you have a rib injury,” Trotz said. “I guarantee I’m cross-checking you, if I’m an opponent, right in the ribs, all the time.” The book on Varlamov As usual, Trotz was poker-faced regarding his Game 2 starter in goal. “We know he’s going to play a Russian goaltender,” Cassidy said, using the same line Trotz dropped in his pregame chat. “So we’ve got that narrowed down.” The Bruins’ scouting reports on Semyon Varlamov, who was first off the ice at the Islanders’ morning skate, may show how he occasionally loses his net, as he did three times against Jeff Carter shots in the Pittsburgh series. Boston Bruins take Smith’s place on the second line with Krejci and inserting Karson Kuhlman into the lineup, stationing him on the Coyle line.

And it was the Coyle line that put the B’s up 1-0 just 2:38 in on the first Bruins lose 4-3 in OT, Islanders tie series shot of the game. Game 3 Thursday on Long Island Kuhlman mushed a puck out of he Bruins’ zone at the blue line and got it over to Nick Ritchie in the neutral zone. Ritchie in turn fed it up to Coyle, who did the rest. He carried the puck down the left side on his off wing, By STEVE CONROY | PUBLISHED: May 31, 2021 at 11:08 p.m. | turned defenseman Nick Leddy and then cut to his forehand on a power UPDATED: June 1, 2021 at 12:21 a.m. move, tucking it past Varlamov. The B’s had the only power play of the period, but should have had another one when Leddy elbowed Sean Kuraly after a Kuraly shot. If the Bruins didn’t know they were in for a battle with the New York Kuraly was sprawled out in the middle of the Islander zone and would Islanders, then they do now. need some attention, but there was no call. After a brief trip to the dressing room, Kuraly returned to the game before the period was out. After the B’s hit the Islanders with a wallop of punch in erasing a two-goal third period deficit that had the Garden roaring, Casey Cizikas scored Despite the early Bruins goal, the Isles started to establish their game with 5:12 left in the first overtime to lift the New York Islanders to a 4-3 midway through the first and grabbed the game by the throat with three victory in Game 2 and even the East Division series with the Bruins at 1-1 goals in the second period. The Bruins and their star from Game 1 got on Monday night. them started. The series shifts to Long Island for Game 3 on Thursday. The Isles now One penalty the refs did not miss was a goaltender interference on David have home ice advantage and, considering the B’s have not won in Pastrnak at 5:19 of the second period. It would have been difficult to do Nassau Coliseum in four tries this year, that is not the most comfortable so. The Bruins winger, coming off a hat trick in Game 1 but yet to get a development for them. shot on net by that point, skated straight into Varlamov and was sent to the box for interference. It was a night of terrible bounces for the B’s and that’s how it ended. Jeremy Lauzon, who had a New York power-play goal go off his skate in Then late in what was looking like a good kill, the Isles tied it up on a the second period, fired a hot pass into the middle of the ice that went off fortunate bounce for them. Josh Bailey tried to make a cross-ice pass Charlie Coyle’s skate and gave Cizikas a clean breakaway. He buried his that deflected off Lauzon’s skate and between Rask’s pads to make it 1-1 chance over Tuukka Rask’s blocker to nail down the win and change the at 6:59. complexion of this series. That was the start of a disastrous 20 minutes for the home team. Coach Bruce Cassidy called the Lauzon decision “ill-advised” because his defense partner Charlie McAvoy was still working his way back up to The Isles took the lead at 11:00. Leddy missed the net on a good chance the right point after a foray deep into the zone. from the slot but it bounced off the end boards and came right to Kyle Palmieri at the left side of the net. It had appeared Rask got back in time “His partner wasn’t there. He just has to look. You have to survey the ice. to protect his short side, but Palmieri kept at it and jammed it home Any time you have the puck, it’s a fluid game. There are set plays we run, between Rask’s pads. but there has to be player there, so you have to look and usually you look first,” said Cassidy. “That’s some of the learning curve for some of the Then the refs gave the fans something to gripe about. Brandon Carlo and younger guys. Take a look befotre the puck gets to you, recognize what’s Leo Komarov got into a pushing and shoving match after the whistle, going on. Because his partner wasn’t there, he was recovering back. So standard stuff for a regular season game, never mind the playoffs. But (Coyle) was trying to stay high in his spot, so obviously the cross-ice Carlo was the only player sent to the box by referee Gord Dwyer and the pass wouldn’t have been there in that particular case…That’s one that Isles capitalized. had to go back down the wall or toward the net. At the end of the day, you learn from it.” Cassidy termed the call “questionable.” While Cassidy was coldly analytical on the final play, Brad Marchand “I’m not sure how (Carlo) got singled out on that one,” said Cassidy. tried to buck up the young defenseman. On the power-play, Anthony Beauvillier sent a deft pass through the “(Expletive) happens,” said Marchand. “(Lauzon) is a great player for this crease to Jean-Gabriel Pageau and he buried it into the vacant net at team. He competes very hard. He’s out there every night working his butt 17:21. off for this group. We all make mistakes. We’ve all been there. It’s tough That gave the Isles a two-goal lead going into the third period with when it happens to you. But we’re going to bounce back. It’s not the end Varlamov looking a lot like the Vezina candidate he’d been all year. of the world. It’s 1-1 and we just have to work for the next one. It’s all about how we regroup in here and move forward. That’s the thing about The B’s were able to nick him for two in the third to tie it, but the Isles the playoffs. You have to be like an elephant, have a quick memory and would have one more big break coming their way in overtime. just worry about the next day.” Boston Herald LOADED: 06.01.2021 The Cizikas winner wiped out a spirited comeback by the B’s. After giving up three goals in the second period to trail 3-1, Patrice Bergeron got the B’s back to within a goal at 10:34 of the third. After a long, grinding shift, Marchand fed Bergeron in the high slot and the captain beat Semyon Varlamov over the blocker. Then, with 5:21 left in regulation, the entire Bruins bench began banging their sticks as they saw the Islanders had an extra man on the ice and the officials caught it. On the advantage, Marchand tied it up with 4:54 left in the third. After making an exchange with McAvoy on the left wing, Marchand walked into the left circle and snapped a shot that beat Varlamov to the glove side. Near disaster struck with 4:10 left in the third when Mike Reilly’s stick broke at the left point and he played the puck with it. He got nailed for the two-minute infraction, but the B’s were able to kill it off and the teams went to the OT. The B’s had their chances to win it there. The best one came when David Krejci gave Taylor Hall a great rebound off Varlamov’s pads, but Varlamov recovered in time to make a great stop on Hall’s fluttering backhander. Varlamov made six saves in the OT and 39 in all. “They’re a good hockey team and we knew they were going to have their pushes,” Coyle said. “We had some bad bounces but that’s hockey.” With Craig Smith on the sidelines because of a lower body injury, Cassidy shuffled his second and third lines, moving Jake DeBrusk up to Boston Bruins “Specifically the first five or six minutes,” said Cassidy. “We had some unforced errors and forced errors where we didn’t have appropriate support. It’s up to the forwards to get there for the D and try to hold up Bruins Notebook: Craig Smith out, Karson Kuhlman in (the forecheckers) as best they can within the rules. Get back, make good decisions, keep your feet moving and then try to control the faceoff Jake DeBrusk gets first crack on David Krejci’s line dot early on if you can so you can play behind them. That will allow you to build some momentum. Those are some areas where I thought we could have been better early on.” … By STEVE CONROY | PUBLISHED: May 31, 2021 at 2:17 p.m. | Winger Oliver Wahlstrom remained out for the Islanders, who were going UPDATED: May 31, 2021 at 7:15 p.m. with the same 18 skaters as they did in Game 1. Boston Herald LOADED: 06.01.2021 Craig Smith was deemed a no-go for Monday’s Game 2 against the New York Islanders, with coach Bruce Cassidy labeling him as “day-to-day” moving forward. Karson Kuhlman was inserted into the lineup, but Cassidy decided to shuffle the deck a little bit. At the morning skate at Warrior Ice Arena, he had the lefty Jake DeBrusk slotted in Smith’s spot on his off wing with center David Krejci and left wing Taylor Hall while the right shot Kuhlman went in DeBrusk’s spot with center Charlie Coyle and left wing Nick Ritchie. Cassidy said he got some input from his veteran centerman Krejci in making that decision. “I talked to Krech a little bit,” said Cassidy. “The easiest thing would be to just drop Kuhlman in there and all the other lines stay the same and you’d get some continuity. Krech has played with Kuhlie before in the playoff run. But we also want to give Jake the opportunity to play with Krech again, he’s done that before. I know he looks up to Taylor Hall so maybe that will spur him on a little more. He’s certainly a guy who’s played in the top six. Kuhlie’s played with Coyle as well so it puts some speed on that right side, which Charlie’s used to now with Jake. Either way, we thought we’d be covered. But again, you just have to go out and play your own game no matter what line your on. But that’s how we’re going to start, we’ll see where it ends up, like every game. We might have to make some moves in-game if we don’t like what we see, but hopefully it’s a good fit for everybody.” DeBrusk, who played well in the Washington series next to Coyle, was the only Bruins forward who did not attempt a shot in Game 1. Cassidy would like to see him hang around the net a little more. “I thought he got better as the game went along,” said Cassidy. “There were certainly some puck-support situations that we pointed out to him, and a lot of guys, early on our breakout. Net-front, be sure you’re stopping in front. That’s our biggest thing with Jake. I think his goal scoring’s down because of that. There’s some opportunity to get in there for rebounds. And make sure your routes are good to the net.” As for Smith, Cassidy hoped the extra day off between Game 2 and Thursday’s Game 3 in New York would be enough rest to allow him to get back in the lineup then. Varlamov gets the call It came as little surprise that the Islanders switched to Semyon Varlamov in net. He was the first one off the ice at the Islanders morning skate, which is usually the tell-tale sign that he was getting the start. However, coach Barry Trotz would not divulge whether it would be Varlamov or Game 1 starter Ilya Sorokin in the morning. That kind of uncertainty is nothing new for the B’s, who saw three different netminders in the Washington series. Cassidy said that there are some plans of attack that never change. “We obviously have a scouting report on each goalie’s tendencies but for us there’s always a couple of tenets we live by, which are force him to find pucks in traffic, get to the front of the net, force him to control rebounds,” said Cassidy. “So when you have a chance to play off the shot, make sure you put it in a spot so it’s not an easy glove save for him, make him fight to control it and we’ll go work from there. Those are the things we try to do with every goaltender, take away his eyes and force him to control rebounds. That won’t change. And there are analytics out there that show areas where goaltenders let in goals more than others, whether they close the five-hole or whether they have an active stick, low glove, low blocker. Those are all different from goalie to goalie. But at the end of the day, it won’t change much for us. … We know he’s going to play a Russian goaltender, we’ve got that narrowed down but beyond that we’re not sure.” Varlamov, who very well could be a Vezina Trophy finalist, suffered a lower body injury in the last regular season game in Boston and sat out the Islanders’ Game 1 against the Penguins. He lost Games 2 and 3 and was replaced by Sorokin. He posted a 5-1 record, .943 save percentage and 1.93 goals against average against the B’s in the regular season. Odds and ends One area that Cassidy was looking to improve was handling the Islanders’ effective forecheck. Boston Bruins These teams will get an extra day of rest as the series shifts to New York for Game 3. Puck drop is scheduled for Thursday at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 06.01.2021 Islanders even series vs. Bruins on Cizikas' OT goal in Game 2

BY NICK GOSS

BOSTON -- The Islanders blew a two-goal lead in the third period of Monday night's Game 2 but bounced back and won in overtime when Casey Cizikas beat Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask on a breakaway. The victory evens up this second-round Stanley Cup Playoff series at one win apiece as the series shifts to New York for Game 3 on Thursday night. The Bruins opened the scoring less than three minutes into the game when Charlie Coyle tallied his second goal of the playoffs. The Islanders scored the next three goals, including two on the power play, to take a 3- 1 lead into the second intermission. A pair of Boston's best players led a third-period comeback as Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand (on the power play) scored to tie the game and force overtime. The loss snaps the Bruins' five-game playoff win streak and gives them a 2-2 record in overtime matchups this postseason. FINAL SCORE: Islanders 4, Bruins 3 BOX SCORE SERIES: 1-1 HIGHLIGHTS Charlie Coyle opened the scoring for the Bruins with a beautiful move to beat Islanders goalie Semyon Varlamov just 2:48 into the first period. It's the #NHLBruins who strike first in Game 2!#StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/aUmPyBRk1w— NHL on NBC Sports (@NHLonNBCSports) May 31, 2021 The Bruins tied the score at one goal apiece with a power-play tally in the second period. The puck got past B's goalie Tuukka Rask on a deflection. Josh Bailey, pinball wizard.

The #Isles with the EQUALIZER. pic.twitter.com/1krV0wLCfQ— NHL on NBC Sports (@NHLonNBCSports) June 1, 2021 The Islanders took a 2-1 lead in the second period after the Bruins couldn't handle the puck after it bounced off the end boards. Kyle Palmieri was credited with the goal. It's the #Isles AGAIN!#StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/RQUGvopo82— NHL on NBC Sports (@NHLonNBCSports) June 1, 2021 The Islanders took their first two-goal lead of the series with a nicely executed power-play goal. Jean-Gabriel Pageau cashed in right in front of the net.

Pageau on the power play! The #isles have extended their lead late in period 2. pic.twitter.com/RC8jbR8ylx— NHL on NBC Sports (@NHLonNBCSports) June 1, 2021 Patrice Bergeron's goal with 9:26 remaining in the third period gave the B's a chance. ONE. GOAL. GAME!#NHLBruins | #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/GphbEkr3gt— NHL on NBC Sports (@NHLonNBCSports) June 1, 2021 Brad Marchand tied the score at three goals apiece with a power-play tally in the third period. BRAD MARCHAND. TIED. #NHLBruins pic.twitter.com/ydT9URWcar— NHL on NBC Sports (@NHLonNBCSports) June 1, 2021 Casey Cizikas scored the game-winner at 14:48 of the OT period.

CASEY CIZIKAS! The #Isles win Game 2 in OVERTIME. #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/UTixGDaH2o— NHL on NBC Sports (@NHLonNBCSports) June 1, 2021 UP NEXT Boston Bruins Barzal. Trotz's Game 2 adjustments could determine the outcome of the series.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 06.01.2021 Islanders badly in need of Game 2 adjustments vs. B's top-six forwards

BY NICK GOSS

The Boston Bruins' most skilled scorer dominated Game 1 and the New York Islanders' top players were powerless to slow him down or give a strong offensive performance themselves. This trend must reverse quickly or the Islanders won't be making it back to the semifinal round for the second year in a row. "Our forwards played great (Saturday night). I thought they attacked, had tons of pace, our skill was on display," Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy said. "They really played awesome -- lots of great chances and great looks. When we're moving like that and using each other, often times we're able to carry the momentum of the game." David Pastrnak is absolutely on fire right now. He's scored in three consecutive playoff games, including a hat trick in the second-round series opener versus the Islanders, which the B's won 5-2 on Saturday night at TD Garden. Game 1 observations: Islanders no match for dominant B's top line It was part of another impressive offensive showing for Boston's top line, which tallied 19 shots on net, three goals and dominated puck possession. The Bruins had a 23-6 edge in shot attempts, a 17-3 lead in shots on net and a 16-4 advantage in scoring chances at 5-on-5 with the first line on the ice in Game 1. "We got to challenge them a little bit more. We backed off," Islanders head coach Barry Trotz said of Boston's top line after Game 1. "They’re going to make plays through you and all that. We got to tighten up there. We’re going to need more from our lines. I really felt we only had really, probably one line that was really on top of their game. The other lines had spurts, but we’re going to have to be much better.” The Bergeron line tilting the ice in its favor isn't a great situation for the Islanders but it doesn't have to be a fatal one. Sidney Crosby's line dominated in most of the 5-on-5 shot metrics against the Islanders in Round 1, but New York actually outscored that Penguins trio 5-3 despite giving up most of the shots and scoring chances in the matchup. Unforgettable Game 1 highlighted by raucous Bruins crowd Another factor for the Islanders in their six-game first-round triumph over the Penguins was its top-six players produced at a high level offensively, especially the second line of Anthony Beauvillier, Brock Nelson and Josh Bailey. They combined to score nine goals (eight at even strength) in Round 1. Even though Beauvillier scored a power-play goal in Game 1 against the B's, his line was not great at 5-on-5. The Bruins had a 17-8 edge in shot attempts, a 13-6 lead in shots, a 16-5 advantage in scoring chances and a 2-0 goal differential in 10:30 of 5-on-5 ice time against this Beauvillier- Nelson-Bailey trio. The Islanders' first line wasn't much better. They did score one goal, but three shot attempts at 5-on-5 from that trio is not enough, especially when the Bruins' top line is generating more than 7x that number and scoring more goals. Mathew Barzal has the ability to be an elite center. He's a point-per-game caliber player and has led New York in scoring four consecutive seasons. He's been a non-factor throughout the playoffs, though, and Game 1 was another poor performance from him. Barzal didn't tally a single shot attempt, shot on net or scoring chance at 5-on-5. Barzal also lost five of six faceoffs Saturday. He still hasn't scored a goal for the Islanders through seven playoff games and two of his three assists over that span came on the power play. The Bruins' top line is going to generate offense and possess the puck at a high rate. They've done it for years, even against quality competition. The Bruins' second line likely will do the same, but not to the same level. The B's second line has been one of the league's most impressive groups after the team acquired Taylor Hall following the April 12 trade deadline. The Islanders are capable of withstanding that offensive fury from the B's top-six and hang around. They did it in Round 1 and emerged victorious, and they did it again in Game 1 through two periods. Despite being dominated at 5-on-5, the game was right there for New York to win early in the third period with the score tied 2-2. But it's going to be very difficult for the Islanders to repeat what they did in the first round if their top players remain mostly silent, particularly Boston Bruins Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 06.01.2021

Projected lines, pairings for Bruins vs. Islanders Game 2

BY NICK GOSS

The Boston Bruins will be without one of their top-six forwards in Game 2 of their second-round Stanley Cup Playoff series against the New York Islanders on Monday night. Second-line right winger Craig Smith will not play, B's head coach Bruce Cassidy confirmed after the morning skate. Smith left Game 1 in the second period because of a lower body injury. He's considered day to day, per Cassidy. Islanders badly in need of Game 2 adjustments vs. B's top-six forwards The expectation is DeBrusk will replace Smith at right wing next to David Krejci and Taylor Hall on the second line. That's where DeBrusk was slotted during the morning skate. DeBrusk also played up there in Game 1 after Smith departed, and the results for the entire trio weren't great at 5-on-5. The sample size was only 3:31, though, so pretty small. No other lineup changes are expected for the Bruins. Islanders head coach Barry Trotz wouldn't give an exact answer on which goalie will start Monday night at TD Garden, but it would be fairly surprising if Ilya Sorokin didn't get another shot. Barry Trotz on his Game 2 starter: "It'll be a Russian left-handed goaltender."— Fluto Shinzawa (@FlutoShinzawa) May 31, 2021 Sorokin wasn't great in the series opener but he wasn't awful, either. He faced a ton of shots and was screened on at least one of the B's first four goals. His rebound control must improve, though. It also doesn't sound like Islanders forward Oliver Wahlstrom will enter the lineup. Trotz: Same skaters, Wahlstrom (lower) getting closer and will see where he is for Game 3. Put "a lot of thought" into goalie choice tonight, wouldn't specify who it is. #Isles— Arthur Staple (@StapeAthletic) May 31, 2021 Here are the projected lines and pairings for Bruins vs. Islanders Game 2. BOSTON BRUINS FORWARDS Brad Marchand--Patrice Bergeron--David Pastrnak Taylor Hall--David Krejci--Jake DeBrusk Nick Ritchie--Charlie Coyle--Karson Kuhlman Sean Kuraly--Curtis Lazar--Chris Wagner DEFENSEMEN Matt Grzelcyk--Charlie McAvoy Mike Reilly--Brandon Carlo Jeremy Lauzon--Connor Clifton GOALIES Tuukka Rask (starter), Jeremy Swayman (backup) NEW YORK ISLANDERS FORWARDS Leo Komarov--Matthew Barzal--Jordan Eberle Anthony Beauvillier--Brock Nelson--Josh Bailey Kyle Palmieri--John-Gabriel Pageau--Travis Zajac Matt Martin--Casey Cizikas--Cal Clutterbuck DEFENSEMEN Adam Pelech--Ryan Pulock Nick Leddy--Scott Mayfield Andy Greene--Noah Dobson GOALIES Ilya Sorokin (starter), Semyon Varlamov (backup) Boston Bruins

Bean: Game 2 between Isles and Bruins will tell us a lot about the series

BY DJ BEAN

The Islanders had two things going for them that stood out entering the second round: Their second line was on fire and their rookie goaltender was, well, also on fire. The Bruins had little trouble with either of them in Game 1. If Boston’s home games are going to yield the same results, we’ll be able to pencil the Bruins in for the next round. Ilya Sorokin kicked out some huge rebounds on David Pastrnak’s first two goals, but he wasn’t so bad Saturday that the Islanders should be reconsidering their decision to ride with the rookie. He’ll almost certainly settle down over the course of the series. It’s that second line and what Boston’s star players did to it that was most interesting. The trio of Brock Nelson between Anthony Beauvillier and Josh Bailey had scored eight goals in a dominant showing against Pittsburgh in the first round. The line was a potential key to pulling another upset. The Bruins didn’t experience the difficulty the Penguins did. Playing mostly against the Bergeron line as the game went on, the Nelson line had its worst showing of the postseason. The trio was on the ice for Pastrnak’s second and third goals, the latter of which was the result of a Nelson turnover in the neutral zone. It’s not like the Nelson line just had bad luck, either. They rarely had the puck, registering a Corsi For percentage of 32 percent. The Bergeron line, meanwhile, had an outstanding 79.31 percent mark. We saw three years ago that the Bergeron line can come back to earth after a massive series-opener. Bergeron had three points in a 6-2 blowout win in Game 1 against the Lightning, but was held in check at 5- on-5 the rest of the way in a gentleman’s sweep for Tampa. It’s safe to say the Bergeron line won’t be pumping out three goals a game this entire series, but they should be able to win their matchups no matter who they face. The question for the Bruins might be what happens with their other top line. If Craig Smith is out or hobbled, that could be a big break for the Islanders. The Taylor Hall - David Krejci - Smith line dominated the nearly 10 minutes it played before Smith departed. Its 80 percent Corsi For mark was even better than the Bergeron line, though it obviously didn’t have the results the top line did. Smith being out would change things. That 80 percent dropped all the way to 25 percent when Jake DeBrusk was swapped in for Smith. The B’s attempted just one shot with the line on the ice, while allowing three in 3:31. DeBrusk might not be the second-line solution if Smith is out, but this is where Boston’s lack of depth hurts them. Getting Hall was huge, but the Bruins were always one injury on the wing away from suddenly becoming stretched thin. Pastrnak isn’t going to score a hat trick every game and not every contest is going to have a three-goal margin of victory. That doesn’t mean Saturday has to go down as an outlier either. One bad game for New York’s key players is an off night. Two can be the start of a trend. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 06.01.2021 Boston Bruins fans throughout the year. The scenario is thankfully changing, and that's going to make the playoffs from here to the end of the Stanley Cup Final so much more exciting. Unforgettable Game 1 highlighted by raucous Bruins crowd Saturday night in Boston was proof of that. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 06.01.2021 BY NICK GOSS

BOSTON -- TD Garden was absolutely rocking Saturday night in a display of much-needed normalcy for sports fans after a long, difficult year amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The virus remains a part of our lives and likely will be for a while longer, but Game 1 of the second-round Stanley Cup Playoff series between the Bruins and New York Islanders helped 17,400 people -- the largest crowd in the NHL this season -- experience the kind of excitement that May hockey typically brings this region. The fans went home happy, too, as the Bruins won 5-2 to take a 1-0 series lead. Saturday night was the first Bruins home game with close to full capacity since March of 2020, and it was the first home playoff game for the B's with that amount of fans since Game 7 of the 2019 Stanley Cup Final. "The energy and the atmosphere was everything you expected and more," Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron said. "To say we missed (the fans) is an understatement. I think you appreciate it even more when the fans are taken away from the game for quite some time and you have to play without them. It's still competitive but it's not the same. It's not the same energy or atmosphere. It was a special night. Good to have (the fans) and good to have the win." Game 1 observations: Islanders no match for dominant B's top line The energy was palpable before puck drop, with fan volume during the pre-game hype video, fan banner captain ceremony, Todd Angilly's national anthem and player intros reaching levels often heard during Stanley Cup Final games. There was even a brief "Yankees suck" chant in the third period. That's when you know Boston fans are back. We haven't seen a crowd like this in 440 days. Welcome to the #StanleyCup Playoffs. pic.twitter.com/DZnud4uF3l— NHL on NBC Sports (@NHLonNBCSports) May 30, 2021 For the players, the atmosphere provided another level of adrenaline and motivation that they hadn't previously felt this season. In fact, the experience was so intense that it made some of the players feel like rookies again. "That was a lot of fun. Outstanding to have fans back," Bruins forward David Pastrnak said. "You could feel the energy even this morning. We were all excited. In the warmup it felt like 22 players playing their first NHL game with everybody looking around at so many people." Pastrnak added: "It's a different sport with (fans) in the building. It definitely warms your heart and reminds you why you play this sport. It was awesome to have (fans) back." One of the coolest moments of the night, at least from a scenery perspective, came after Pastrnak's third goal to complete his hat trick.

It's raining hats in Boston! #ItsOn pic.twitter.com/fv2346W4OT— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 30, 2021 Fans immediately began tossing their hats on to the ice as the Garden audio system started blaring feel-good songs. It was a much-needed couple minutes of happiness for a community that's persevered through a tough 12-15 months. "I was trying to enjoy the moment. Looking around at the crowd," Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy said when asked about the few minutes after Pastrnak's hat trick. "It's been a long time since we had a full house here at the Garden, and they were behind us from warmup and on. "We want to play well for each other but also for the fans who continue to support us, tonight especially. I think it was just a good moment to look around and see a lot of joy. ... It was just a nice moment to look around, enjoy it. Playoff hockey -- that's what it's all about." TD Garden isn't the only arena in this series that will get a boost in capacity for Round 2. Nassau Coliseum in New York will have up to 12,000 people for Games 3, 4 and 6 of the series. This is the final season the Islanders will be playing at Nassau Coliseum, which has given an already passionate fan base even more reason to bring a tremendous amount of energy to this series. Home ice advantage hasn't played much of a factor for teams this season as arenas around the league have had zero or limited amounts of Boston Bruins

‘Ill-Advised’ Play Sinks Bruins in OT Loss To Isles

By Joe Haggerty

BOSTON – On a night when there were definitely a few funny bounces going against the Boston Bruins, it was one final one in OT that ended up sinking them in a 4-3 overtime loss to the New York Islanders in Game 2 at TD Garden. With the Boston Bruins and Islanders going back and forth looking for the overtime winner, young B’s defenseman Jeremy Lauzon opted for a cross-ice pass from the left point to a player that wasn’t there to receive the puck. Instead, the pass bounced off Charlie Coyle’s skate and kicked out toward the Boston zone where Casey Cizikas picked it up and snapped home a game-winner for the Islanders. Clearly there was some element of bad luck given the way the puck bounced off Coyle’s skate, but Boston Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy also called it an “ill-advised play” postgame and said the safer choice would have been to throw the puck down the boards. Or at the very least peek to make sure the opposite point was present and ready to accept the cross-ice pass. “We made a play that was obviously ill-advised, and they scored on a breakaway. That’s what I saw for the overtime goal,” said Cassidy. “We’ll go D-to-D high, and we got a lot of offense out of that tonight, but his partner just wasn’t there [for the pass]. He has just to look. You have to survey the ice. It’s a fluid hockey game and there are set plays for us that we run, but there has to be a player there. Usually, you look first. “That’s some of the learning curve for young guys. Take a look before the puck gets to you. His partner wasn’t there and was recovering back out. So, Charlie [Coyle] was trying to stay high in his spot, so obviously the cross-ice pass wasn’t there in that case. That’s one that had to go back down the wall or toward the net. At the end of the day, you learn from it.” It was a tough night for Lauzon, who had the Islanders first goal of the game also bounce off his skate and past Tuukka Rask to get New York on the board after a rough first period for them. Lauzon has now been on the ice for a slew of goals against (seven to be exact) in the Stanley Cup playoffs despite also missing four games due to injury. Jeremy Lauzon has now been on the ice for a defense-high seven goals against this postseason. He has logged second-lowest total TOI (58:57) among entire Boston defense. — Ty Anderson (@_TyAnderson) June 1, 2021 But his teammates still have his back despite the overtime faux pas and any bad bounces that have dogged him along the way. “Shit happens. [Jeremy Lauzon] is a great player for us and he’s out there competing and working his butt off. It’s tough when it happens to you, but he’s going to bounce back,” said Brad Marchand of Lauzon, who is a minus-1 during these Stanley Cup playoffs. “It’s all about how we regroup and move forward. We’ve got to worry about the next one. “It’s a fluke play. Stuff like that happens in hockey.” It’s always difficult when the learning curve for young players comes at the expense of wins and losses in the Stanley Cup playoffs, but there was also a sense this just might be Boston’s night when accounting for the weird bounces and strange calls throughout the playoff hockey game. Boston Hockey Now LOADED: 06.01.2021 Boston Bruins BY THE NUMBERS: 95. The total number of hits in what was a much more physical Game 2. The Islanders had 48 hits and the Bruins laid down 47. Talking Points: Islanders Beat Boston Bruins 4-3 In OT To Even Series QUOTE TO NOTE: “They’re a good hockey club. Didn’t expect it to be easy.” – Bruce Cassidy when asked if eh thought his team let up after taking a 1-0 lead in the first period. By Jimmy Murphy Boston Hockey Now LOADED: 06.01.2021

BOSTON – New York Islanders forward Casey Cizikas capitalized on a mistake by Boston Bruins defenseman Jeremy Lauzon, broke in alone, and beat Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask 14:48 into the first overtime of Game 2 to give the Islanders a 4-3 win that tied this second-round series at a game apiece. The series now shifts to Long Island and what promises to be a raucous Nassau Coliseum for Game 3 Thursday and Game 4 on Saturday. GOLD STAR: Casey Cizikas. Known for his hustle and physical play, Cizikas had that and a lot more going on in Game 2. The Islanders center showed some great speed and instinct in reading the Jeremy Lauzon turnover that led to his overtime winner and even better finish to beat Boston Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask (35 saves) for the win. Cizikas finished the game with a goal, five shots, six hits, and two blocked shots in 17:32 TOI.

CASEY CIZIKAS! The #Isles win Game 2 in OVERTIME. #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/UTixGDaH2o — NHL on NBC Sports (@NHLonNBCSports) June 1, 2021 BLACK EYE: Jeremy Lauzon turnover. By no means is this loss just on the Bruins rookie defenseman for what head coach Bruce Cassidy termed ‘an ill-advised play’ and turnover that led to the Czikas overtime winner. Lauzon forced a play there and he paid for it. As Brad Marchand stated after the game though: “Shit happens. [Jeremy Lauzon] is a great player for us and he’s out there competing and working his butt off. He’s going to bounce back. It’s all about how we regroup and move forward. We’ve got to worry about the next one.” While Marchand is absolutely correct, one has to wonder if Lauzon could be watching the next game from above? Lauzon has now been on the ice for a defense-high seven goals against this postseason. TURNING POINT: The second period. The Boston Bruins played arguably their worst period of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs in the second period. They were outshot 11-10, made costly turnovers, and allowed three straight goals. HONORABLE MENTION: Semyon Varlamov. After starting rookie Ilya Sorokin in Game 1, New York Islanders head coach Barry Trotz turned to veteran Semyon Varlamov, who had fared fairly well against the Boston Bruins this past season. Well, if not for Varlamov, this game could’ve been over after the first period. The Boston Bruins unloaded a barrage of scoring chances, out-shot the Islanders 15-6 but only led 1-0 after the opening frame. Charlie Coyle scored the lone goal for the Bruins 2:38 into the first. The Islanders clearly fed off Varlamov’s play, out-shotting the Bruins 11-10 in the second period and scoring three straight goals to take a 3-1 lead into the second intermission. While the Bruins scored two goals in the final ten minutes of regulation to tie the game at three and send it to overtime, none of that could be blamed on Varlamov. Luckily for him and the Islanders, the Bruins didn’t really have too many legit chances in overtime. Varlamov finished the game with 39 saves and earned his first win of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Extra honorable mention to Boston Bruins winger Brad Marchand. After a season in which he should get Hart and Selke Trophy consideration for, Marchand has been Conn Smythe-worthy through seven playoff games. With a goal and an assist he now has four goals and two assists in the postseason. Once again it was Marchand who was a man on a mission in the third period and carried the team on his shoulders again. His powerplay goal 15:06 into the final frame of regulation tied the game at three and helped get the Bruins to overtime. With a goal and an assist in Game 2, Marchand became just the seventh Bruins player in team history to rack up 100 playoff points. He, Patrice Bergeron, and David Krejci Krejci are the only active Bruins players to hit the century mark. CLUTCH. Brad Marchand (@Bmarch63) ties it! #StanleyCup NHL x @massmutual

��: https://t.co/WMnRdmXuR2 @NHLonNBCSports ��: https://t.co/vny3fq8mUw @Sportsnet pic.twitter.com/N9vztOA6XR — NHL (@NHL) June 1, 2021 Boston Bruins -New York Islanders star Mathew Barzal had zero points, one shot on net and lost 17-of-22 face-offs against the Bruins in Game 1 and Trotz had some succinct advice for his playmaking center headed into Monday Game 2: Boston Bruins Vs. New York Islanders Lines, Preview night’s Game 2. “I think that if you get on your ice, it doesn’t matter who you play with,” said Trotz. “You’ve got to raise your game, and we’ve got some guys By Joe Haggerty who need to raise their games if we’re going to beat the Boston Bruins.” -The Islanders’ powerplay is 4-for-19 with an 21.1% success rate in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Boston Bruins and New York islanders will continue their second- round series tonight (7:30 PM ET, NBC, Sportsnet, TVAS) with Game 2 -The Islanders’ penalty kill has killed off 9 of 14 power-play attempts at TD Garden after a raucous opener last weekend that featured a giant against in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, giving them a 64.3 percent success party for 17,400 Bruins fans. rate. The Bruins pulled away in the third period and badly outshot and out Boston Bruins Lines chanced the Islanders in the opening game, and the Perfection Line had a field day with three goals, six points and 23 shot attempts while Forwards: generating scoring chances nearly every time they were on the ice. Brad Marchand – Patrice Bergeron – David Pastrnak Suffice it to say, the Bruins are expecting a better, more detailed defensive effort from the Islanders in Game 2, of this series could be over Taylor Hall – David Krejci – Jake DeBrusk pretty quickly. Nick Ritchie – Charlie Coyle – Karson Kuhlman “They had a lot of other looks as well [as the goals]. Bergie was finding his ice,” said Boston Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy, of what the top Sean Kuraly – Curtis Lazar – Chris Wagner line was doing right in Game 1. “I’m sure [the Islanders] will tighten up. Defense: They’re here for a reason. They’ve got good goaltending and a good defense that’s well-coached in their own end.” Matt Grzelcyk – Charlie McAvoy Certainly, Isles head coach Barry Trotz knows he’s got his hands full with Mike Reilly – Brandon Carlo the Perfection Line and paid them a great complement when compared to the Sidney Crosby line that they shut down with the Pittsburgh Jeremy Lauzon – Connor Clifton Penguins during their first round series. Goalies: “One of the questions (ahead of the series was), you did a good job Tuukka Rask against Crosby’s line, what’s the difference between Crosby’s and Bergeron’s?” said Trotz. “I can answer that probably a little bit better Jeremy Swayman (after Game 1). With Crosby’s line, there’s a great player and two very good players. On (Boston’s) line, there’s probably three great players at New York Islanders Lines different points in their career, and that’s what makes that line so good. Forwards “[In Game 1] they were on and they were very difficult to stop, and to me Leo Komarov — Mathew Barzal — Jordan Eberle they were the difference in the game. We won’t be able to win unless we have all four lines helping to keep them contained.” Anthony Beauvillier — Brock Nelson — Josh Bailey Trotz certainly has a good grasp of the situation. If the Perfection Line Kyle Palmieri – Jean-Gabriel Pageau – Travis Zajac keeps getting Grade-A chances and keeps getting into the slot area against an Islanders team designed to stop them, then the Islanders don’t Matt Martin — Casey Cizikas — Cal Clutterbuck have much hope of winning the series. Defense That’s why rebound performance for the Islanders is a must in a Game 2 that could really dictate how the rest of the series goes. Adam Pelech — Ryan Pulock Bruins Notes Nick Leddy — Scott Mayfield -Boston Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask will be back between the pipes after Andy Greene — Noah Dobson going 5-1 with a 1.84 goals against average and a .937 save percentage Goalies to this point. Semyon Varlamov –Craig Smith (lower body) will be out for Game 2 after a leg-on-leg collision with Cal Clutterbuck during Saturday night’s win in Game 1. Ilya Sorokin Jake DeBrusk will take his right wing spot on the second line and Karson Kuhlman draws into the lineup for the first time during these playoffs. Boston Hockey Now LOADED: 06.01.2021 Defenseman Kevan Miller remains out of the lineup with a concussion and there is no timetable for his return. Defenseman John Moore and forward Ondrej Kase have been ruled out for the season. -Rookie defenseman Jeremy Lauzon made a return to Boston’s lineup for Game 1 after missing four of the five playoff games in the first round due to a right hand injury. Lauzon finished with a quiet 18:18 of ice time in Game 1 but looked to be caught up to speed and intensity by the end of the game. –The Bruins’ powerplay is now 7-for-21 in the Stanley Cup Playoffs after going 2-for-2 in Game 1 against the Islanders. The Boston Bruins are scoring at a 33.3% clip on the powerplay that has them third in the NHL playoff field behind only the Colorado Avalanche and the Tampa Bay Lightning. -After killing off two of the three PPs for the Islanders in Game 1, the Bruins penalty kill has now killed off 20 of 24 power-play attempts against in the playoffs for an 83.3 success rate that has them ranked fifth among the playoff teams. New York Islanders Notes -Semyon Varlamov replaces Ilya Sorokin as the Islanders goaltender for Game 2 after Sorokin coughed up four goals on 39 shots in Game 1 and was kicking out rebounds all around the net against the Bruins top offensive players. Varlamov has struggled during the postseason, but he was dominant against the Bruins (5-1-0, 1.93 GAA and .943 save percentage) during the regular season. Boston Bruins

Boston Bruins Smith Out For Game 2, Kuhlman Draws In

By Joe Haggerty

The Boston Bruins will be without versatile, dogged right wing Craig Smith (lower body) for Game 2 against the New York Islanders on Monday night at TD Garden. Smith hasn’t been seen on the ice for the B’s since exiting in the third period of Saturday night’s Game 1 win over the Islanders after taking a leg-on-leg hit from Isles winger Cal Clutterbuck. Boston Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy termed Smith as “day-to-day” at this point, and Jake DeBrusk will slide up and play in his right wing spot on the second line along with David Krejci and Taylor Hall. It would appear that B’s winger Karson Kuhlman will also be making his 2021 Stanley Cup playoff debut plugging into the third line spot vacated by DeBrusk’s promotion, which should give Charlie Coyle’s line a little more speed and tenacity. “[Smith] won’t play tonight. Game 3 is Thursday, so that obviously gives him an extra day in between than we would normally have. So that’s good. We’ll list him as day-to-day and see how he does, but he won’t play tonight,” said Cassidy of Smith, who has a goal and three points while doggedly hunting pucks in six games during the playoffs. “The easiest thing would have been to just drop Kuhlman in there [on the second line] and leave all the other lines the same. “But we also want to give [DeBrusk] the chance to play with Krejci, which he’s done before. I know he looks up to Taylor Hall, so maybe that will spur him on a little bit too. That’s how we start and we’ll see how we end up, just like every game.” Here are the Boston Bruins projected line combos and D-pairings based on Monday’s morning skate at Warrior Ice Arena ahead of Game 2 at TD Garden: Marchand-Bergeron-Pastrnak Hall-Krejci-DeBrusk Ritchie-Coyle-Kuhlman Kuraly-Lazar-Wagner Grzelcyk-McAvoy Reilly-Carlo Lauzon-Clifton Rask Boston Hockey Now LOADED: 06.01.2021 Boston Bruins take his last NHL coaching gig with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Has the whole Mitch Marner fiasco and the tarnishing his name has taken after being fired by the Leafs left Babcock blacklisted? OTR: Price For Eichel On NHL Trade Market; Babcock Blacklisted? | Note: Elliotte Friedman squashed that speculation surrounding Mike BHN+ Sullivan in Pittsburgh on that same Hockey Headlines broadcast. Off the record: By Jimmy Murphy “I don’t think I’d say ‘blacklisted but let’s just say I don’t see him getting another NHL job just yet,” an NHL source said. “In this climate, after all that happened, it’s going to be hard for him right now. I think if he wants, There are some intensely interesting situations hovering on the horizon sooner or later, he can find work, but I just don’t see it right now.” while the NHL playoffs dominate the news. While the Vegas Golden Knights and Colorado Avalanche begin the most anticipated series in a Babcock is currently a volunteer head coach of the University of few years, the Pittsburgh Penguins have a huge decision looming with Saskatchewan Men’s Hockey team. center Evgeni Malkin. If he waived his no-movement clause and hit the Boston Hockey Now LOADED: 06.01.2021 NHL Trade market, would the Florida Panthers, who have been monitoring the situation, bite on the chance? Sources with direct knowledge of the situation gave a little more insight into one side of the process. There is a bigger potential get on the NHL trade market than Malkin, as everyone continues to watch the Jack Eichel saga in Buffalo. Given the drama, could/will the Buffalo Sabres get full value on the NHL trade market for Eichel? And has Mike Babcock been blacklisted? That and more in the latest ‘Off The Record.’ 1. If They Can Move Bobrovsky, Will Panthers Get Malkin? Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang may want to keep the band together in Pittsburgh and see him, Sidney Crosby, and Evgeni Malkin go for one more shot at Lord Stanley. Still, if the Penguins are to get out of the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs again, changes are likely needed. The most obvious change would be trading the enigmatic Malkin, who is entering a walk year. In the past couple of years, there have been numerous rumors that Malkin would waive his no-movement clause to go to the Florida Panthers. According to one NHL source with direct knowledge of the situation, those rumors could become a reality. The problem is, as currently constituted, the Panthers can’t absorb the one year at $9.5 million remaining on Malkin’s contract if they wanted to acquire him. Off the record: “I think there is and has been mutual interest there,” the source told OTR recently. “The problem is they’re about to roll the Brink’s truck up for [Sasha] Barkov, and they’re stuck with [Sergei] Bobrovsky. He lives down there in the offseason, his family loves it there but a.) do the Panthers want him? And b.) Bobrovsky 2. Eichel Price Not As High As Many Think? In the latest Sportsnet Saturday Hockey Headlines, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman reported that the Sabres and captain Jack Eichel were looking to sit down and discuss the future for the disgruntled star center. Eichel has yet to officially demand a trade out of the Buffalo Sabers mess, but he has hinted on more than one occasion that he would be OK with officially being on the NHL Trade market. That has led to widespread speculation and NHL trade rumors on where Eichel could end up and the potential price to acquire him. While the common belief is a young NHL talent, a first-round pick, and a blue-chip prospect, one NHL management source wondered if that’s really what the haul will be to acquire the 2015 second overall pick? Off the record: “Is Jack worth all that?” the source asked rhetorically. “Hell yeah! But look, everyone knows he wants out even if he hasn’t said it. His hints have been there, and they know that Kevyn (Sabres interim GM Kevyn Adams) is in a pickle. He’s going to do all he can to help them now and in the future in this trade, but the reality is that the GM’s after Jack has got Adams in a corner, and in the end, he’s probably taking less than his worth if he trades him right now.” 3. Is Mike Babcock Blacklisted? Speaking of the Rangers, when they fired their head coach David Quinn a week later, Hall of Fame hockey scribe Larry Brooks reported that Triple Gold (Olympics, World Championship, Stanley Cup) winner and coaching UFA Mike Babcock would be a candidate to replace Quinn. As of Sunday and 18 days after that report, there had been no confirmation that the Rangers had interviewed Babcock. However, they have interviewed Rick Tocchet and Gerard Gallant. Babcock’s name has not been present in coaching rumors surrounding the Seattle Kraken and Arizona Coyotes vacancies. He also hasn’t gotten any love in recent speculation of coaching changes with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Buffalo Sabres, whom he spurned at the last minute to Boston Bruins Varlamov, rightfully replacing Ilya Sorokin, could have made better efforts to find Bergeron’s and Marchand’s shots. But Varlamov locked down his net in overtime. He made back-to-back sparkling saves on David Krejci Jeremy Lauzon’s overtime turnover sinks the Bruins in Game 2 and Taylor Hall. • Karson Kuhlman did a good job in his first postseason appearance. Jake DeBrusk, usually the No. 3 right wing, moved up to replace Craig By Fluto Shinzawa Jun 1, 2021 Smith, who was unavailable because of a lower-body injury. Kuhlman, riding in DeBrusk’s spot, won a puck battle in the first period that gave the Bruins possession. Seconds later, Coyle gained a speed Charlie McAvoy, like he usually does, was prowling deep in the offensive entry, walked around Nick Leddy and beat Varlamov for the opening zone in overtime. He’s good at it. McAvoy is always a threat to score or goal. support his forwards when he’s poking his nose around the net. • The Islanders’ Cal Clutterbuck was credited with a game-high 10 hits. In those situations, however, his partner has to practice a conservative Linemates Cizikas and Matt Martin added six apiece. The fourth line, like approach. When Jeremy Lauzon, McAvoy’s left-side man at the time, all of the Islanders’ units, was better at placing pucks deep in the Bruins’ pulled the puck off the boards, he should have looked to see that his zone and bringing the physicality. This led to more zone time, low-to-high partner was still working his way back to the point. plays and better chances on Rask. Instead, Lauzon fired a D-to-D pass before McAvoy was in position. The Athletic LOADED: 06.01.2021 Charlie Coyle, the high forward covering for McAvoy, was still in the passing lane. Lauzon’s pass clanged off Coyle’s left skate. It was the break the Islanders needed Monday. Casey Cizikas jumped on the puck and raced away before the defensemen could recover. The No. 4 center snapped a breakaway goal over Tuukka Rask’s blocker with 5 minutes, 12 seconds remaining in overtime to give the Islanders a 4-3 win, tying the series at 1-1. Lauzon smashed his stick on the post after Cizikas scored. “Shit happens,” Brad Marchand said. “He’s a great player for (us). He competes very hard. He’s out there every night working his butt off and competing for the group. We all make mistakes. We’ve all been there. It’s tough when it happens to you. But we’re going to bounce back. It’s not the end of the world. It’s 1-1.” Lauzon was trying to execute what his coaches were telling him to do: take advantage of the Islanders’ pack-it-in approach in front of goalie Semyon Varlamov. They were willing to give the Bruins room to play up top. But Lauzon is not instinctive at moving the puck like Matt Grzelcyk or Mike Reilly, his fellow left-shot defensemen. It takes him a touch longer to process his surroundings before he makes a play. This time, Lauzon didn’t take in enough information. “His partner wasn’t there,” coach Bruce Cassidy said. “He just has to look. He has to survey the ice. Any time you have the puck, it’s a fluid hockey game. There are set plays for us that we run. But there has to be a player there. So you have to look. Usually, you look first. That’s some of the learning curve for younger guys. Take a look before the puck gets to you. Recognize what’s going on. Because his partner wasn’t there. He was recovering back out. So Charlie (Coyle) was trying to stay high in his spot. So, obviously, the cross-ice pass wouldn’t have been there in that particular case. If it doesn’t hit Charlie’s foot, it’s a foot race for their winger and our D that maybe we chip it back down. But that’s one that had to go back down the wall or toward the net.” Lauzon was involved in two bad-bounce plays. In the second period, while on the power play, Josh Bailey flung a puck toward the middle of the slot. The puck glanced off Lauzon’s right skate and past Rask, tying the game at 1. Notes: • The Bruins took two unforced penalties that led to power-play goals. Prior to Bailey’s goal, David Pastrnak ran over Varlamov and was called for goalie interference. The Bruins had a beef on Brandon Carlo’s cross-checking penalty on Leo Komarov. The Islanders agitator gave it to Carlo just as well but Carlo was the only player directed to the penalty box. Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored on the power play. But the defenseman did not have to engage Komarov during the sequence. “We took a questionable penalty on Carlo. Not sure how he got singled out on that,” Cassidy said. “That didn’t help. That put us on the kill when you’re fatigued. But that led to a goal. Just a lot of stuff happened that we didn’t do well and they did.” • Boston’s No. 1 line did not generate as many chances as it did in Game 1. But it got its looks when it counted. Patrice Bergeron scored a one-timer from distance in the third period to make it a 3-2 game. Marchand tied the game with a power-play snipe through a Scott Mayfield screen. • Rask was good, but not great. He could have sealed off the strong-side post on Kyle Palmieri’s close-range goal. “I didn’t think he tracked pucks as well tonight,” Cassidy said. Boston Bruins feeling it against Pittsburgh, so we stuck with him. He’s playing good. I don’t know where I’m going as of yet. I’ve got a couple more hours to mull over it.” The Bruins’ secret Game 2 wish: More Ilya Sorokin, please The question, though, is Varlamov’s health. On May 10, in the Bruins’ second-to-last regular-season game, Varlamov By Fluto Shinzawa May 31, 2021 ducked out after 40 minutes because of an undisclosed injury. Three weeks later, whether he’s 100 percent is unknown. Varlamov appeared in two first-round games against Pittsburgh. The Islanders, heavy underdogs heading into Round 2, required playoff If Varlamov is good to go, the bet here is he gets Game 2. Trotz knows goaltending if they wanted to hang with the Bruins. his goaltending, from Holtby to Pekka Rinne to Tomas Vokoun. The Islanders have a keen goaltending department in Mitch Korn and Piero They did not get it in Game 1. Greco. Ilya Sorokin (35 saves) was under assault throughout the Bruins’ 5-2 win. The Bruins would be delighted if Trotz considered their request: More According to Natural Stat Trick, 13 of the Bruins’ 65 all-situations Sorokin, please. attempts qualified as high-danger sniffs. The Bruins allowed just four. Notes: Yet you could wrinkle your nose at the way Sorokin played three of the four shots that eluded his grasp (Taylor Hall scored an empty-netter). Craig Smith did not participate in an optional practice on Sunday. He underwent treatment at Warrior Ice Arena. The No. 2 right winger (10:34 He booted out a long-distance David Krejci power-play shot, pushed too of ice time, one shot) did not play in the third period because of a lower- hard to play David Pastrnak’s follow-up bid and never got square to the body injury. If Smith is unavailable in Game 2, Karson Kuhlman is likely right winger’s snapper. to make his first appearance of the postseason. Kuhlman has taken shifts on Krejci’s right side. He kicked a Patrice Bergeron slot shot onto Pastrnak’s blade. Pastrnak did not fire the puck immediately prior to his first goal. He He got caught peeking the wrong way around Nick Ritchie’s screen. Had waited for Sorokin to slide out of position. Then he let the puck loose. Sorokin been looking to his right, he would have been in position to stop “Earlier this year, I think he was trying to jam that in there quicker than Charlie McAvoy’s 58-foot one-timer. maybe he needed to,” Cassidy said. “Some of that is because he hadn’t Sorokin’s legs are quicker than a Rockette’s. But it does the Islanders no scored in a while. So you press. It’s human nature. You want to get it in good when he’s kicking pucks out with little regard to where he places there before the goalie’s set. Because you’ve hit some good shots, he them. Pinball flippers are under tighter control than Sorokin’s Game 1 seems to be getting across and nothing’s going in. Now it’s like, ‘OK, I’ve pads. got to get it off even quicker.’ When sometimes it’s the opposite. Take your time a little more, get your head up, get a good look and try to get it “We talked about Sorokin when he’s a good goaltender,” coach Bruce where you need to get it.” Cassidy said of his message to his top guns. “But there will be some rebounds with him. So don’t quit on any pucks. Make sure you’re in a Trotz said the same 18 skaters will play in Game 2. But he hinted they position to get to those.” could play on different lines or pairings. Ex-Boston College forward Oliver Wahlstrom, formerly the No. 3 right winger, is unavailable because of a Sorokin was perhaps the Islanders’ most critical difference-maker in the lower-body injury. first round against Pittsburgh. This was amplified by Tristan Jarry’s replacement-level work. The Athletic LOADED: 06.01.2021 If not for the delta in goaltending, the Penguins, not the Islanders, could have been the Bruins’ Round 2 opponents. According to colleague Dom Luszczyszyn, the Bruins would have had a 68 percent chance of beating Pittsburgh — high, but not as elevated as the Bruins’ 79.9 percent pre- series probability of directing the Islanders to the golf course. Sorokin’s active style is not a good match for the Bruins, especially their first line. Bergeron, Pastrnak and Brad Marchand thrive on puck recoveries and east-west playmaking in the offensive zone. Sorokin had better luck against Jake Guentzel, Sidney Crosby and Bryan Rust, Pittsburgh’s No. 1 line. “With Crosby’s line, there’s a great player and two very good players,” Islanders coach Barry Trotz said. “This line, there’s probably three great players at different points of their careers. That’s what makes that line so good. (Saturday) night, they were on. They were very difficult to stop. To me, they were the difference in the game.” The top line’s rapid-fire style got Sorokin swimming in Game 1. He did well to stop first shots. But his spotty rebound control and slip-sliding style did not optimize his positioning for second and third attempts. “If you look at the five-on-five goal, that’s a typical play for them if you’ve watched the Bruins,” Cassidy said. “Marshy separating, holding on to the puck, getting to his forehand. Bergy popping into the slot. It’s usually Bergy or Pasta. If it’s Pasta popping into the slot, Bergy’s usually net front. A lot of times when Bergy gets to the slot, Pasta’s off to the side a little bit, waiting for that next pass or rebound. They’ve done that a lot. I don’t think any team can truly, ever, completely shut them down that way.” It would be one thing if Sorokin were a slam-dunk No. 1 goalie. Coaches are not quick to swap out aces after one JV game. But Trotz once considered Sorokin his backup. The rookie appeared in 22 regular-season games. Semyon Varlamov (36 appearances) was Trotz’s workhorse — one that looked bigger than a barn against the Bruins. Varlamov recorded a .943 save percentage in seven regular-season meetings with the Bruins. He had one shutout. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound Varlamov was everything Sorokin was not: big, square, conservative with his movements, diligent with puck placement. He played the part of Braden Holtby, the ex-Washington goalie who always gave the Bruins headaches. “The great thing about our goaltending is you can put anyone in and be successful with either one of them,” Trotz said. “Last series, Ilya started Buffalo Sabres Jean-Sebastien Dea, center/winger: An accomplished forward in the AHL, Dea was paid $1.4 million by the Sabres to score zero goals in five NHL games the past two seasons. He wasn’t even invited to training Inside the Sabres: Predicting which unrestricted free agents return to camp in January. Dea contributed while with the Amerks, totaling 21 Buffalo goals and 54 points in 72 games for the duration of his contract. Prediction: Dea goes. Lance Lysowski May 31, 2021 Defensemen Jake McCabe: Arguably the most valuable player on this list, McCabe should be a priority for the Sabres. The 27-year-old appeared in only 13 More change is on the horizon for the Buffalo Sabres. games because of ACL, MCL and meniscus injuries to his right knee that required surgery. A second-round draft choice in 2012, McCabe has The extent of that change won’t be determined until after General seemingly improved every season despite the coaching turnover in Manager Kevyn Adams completes his search for the team’s next coach. Buffalo. Jack Eichel, Sam Reinhart and Rasmus Ristolainen might be on the trade block this summer. Since McCabe became a regular with the Sabres in 2015-16, he ranks second on the team in penalty-kill ice time and first in blocked shots per Rasmus Dahlin and Henri Jokiharju are among the young players 60 minutes. He led the team in suppressing on-ice shot quality at 5-on-5 reaching restricted free agency. It’s unclear how Adams plans to plot a this season. McCabe’s value can also be illustrated by how he helped course for a franchise that’s missed the playoffs for 10 consecutive elevate the play of Rasmus Ristolainen. seasons, tied for the longest drought in National Hockey League history. The pairing had an impressive 55.22% shot-attempt differential and “I think the simple answer to that is we have to be willing as an 57.54% on-ice shot quality share with a plus-4 rating while skating organization to look at any and all scenarios to help us improve,” Adams 140:30 together at 5-on-5. When skating without McCabe, Ristolainen said. “And I think I've been pretty consistent in that message in speaking had a 41.26% shot-attempt differential and 41.29% on-ice shot quality to you guys for almost a year now. We have to be open and willing to share while posting a negative-26 goal differential at 5-on-5, according to look at anything and everything.” NaturalStatTrick.com. In addition to possible trades and the expansion draft, Adams has some It’s unclear what the market will be for McCabe following the surgery, but important players reaching unrestricted free agency. Here’s a look at he told reporters that he is on track to resume skating in July. According each player with a prediction of whether they stay or go. to Evolving-Hockey.com, McCabe is projected to receive a one-year, $1.55 million contract if he remains with the Sabres, a significant cut from Forwards the $2.85 million he made this season. Drake Caggiula, winger: Acquired off waivers from Arizona in April, “I feel like now at 27 that I’m finally really entering the prime of my career Caggiula was an effective bottom-six forward upon joining the Sabres so my sole focus is just getting this knee healthy and continuing my good following a mandatory weeklong quarantine. The 27-year-old was a play this year,” McCabe said. “I know I still have better play to come.” perfect fit for interim coach Don Granato’s system and helped on the forecheck. Prediction: McCabe returns on a short-term contract. Caggiula had two goals, both in the same game, and one assist with a Matt Irwin: The 33-year-old appeared in 24 games this season, totaling minus-2 rating while averaging 12:50 of ice time in eight games. During two assists and served as the team's seventh defenseman. that span, Caggiula ranked first on the Sabres in generating on-ice quality and suppressing on-ice shot quality at 5-on-5, according to Prediction: Irwin goes. Evolving-Hockey.com. He also ranked first in on-ice shot quality share despite leading the team in defensive-zone starts and receiving the Brandon Davidson: Another player with connections to Krueger, fewest in the offensive zone. Davidson spent much of the season on the taxi squad. He appeared in only six games, posting zero points and a minus- 4 rating. Caggiula was mired by bad puck luck in Arizona, resulting in only three goals and seven assists in 38 games this season, but he is a versatile Prediction: Davidson goes. forward with the speed to play anywhere in the lineup. He had 25 goals Goalies from 2017-19 with Edmonton and Chicago. Linus Ullmark: Limited to only 20 games with separate lower-body Prediction: Caggiula stays. He’s a cost-effective option for a team in need injuries, Ullmark established himself as a reliable starting goaltender the of more upside in the bottom six. past two seasons. The 27-year-old’s .937 save percentage at 5-on-5 Tobias Rieder, winger: A favorite of former coach Ralph Krueger, Rieder ranked fifth among goalies with at least 20 appearances. Across the past had a strong start to the season with four goals in the first 18 games. two seasons, Ullmark has posted a .916 save percentage, but he has However, he was scratched in each of the Sabres' final four games under missed a combined 46 games because of injury during that span. Granato and skated less than 10 minutes in each of his final four Prediction: Ullmark signs a short-term contract to return to Buffalo and appearances. Rieder ranked fourth among Buffalo forwards in penalty-kill will receive a raise from the $2.6 million he made this season. ice time, but he had only one assist in the final 17 games. Carter Hutton: It was a difficult three seasons in Buffalo for Hutton, who Prediction: Rieder goes. turns 36 in December. He was winless in 15 of his final 16 decisions, Riley Sheahan, center/winger: The 29-year-old joined the Sabres on a producing a .894 save percentage and 3.26 goals-against average the professional tryout during training camp and emerged as one of Adams’ past two seasons. Hutton’s season ended March 22 when he suffered a top offseason pickups. Sheahan, a first-round draft choice in 2010, lower-body injury. finished the season with only four goals and nine assists for 13 points in His final stats for 2020-21: a 1-10-1 record, .886 save percentage and 53 games. But Sheahan led the team in penalty-kill ice time, defensive- 3.47 goals-against average. To his credit, Hutton played through a vision zone starts at 5-on-5 and defensive-zone faceoffs. He won 50.9% of his problem in 2019-20 that has since been corrected. He also rarely faceoffs while playing center and wing. received much help from his teammates, who backed him with a league- Prediction: Sheahan stays. A native of St. Catharines, Sheahan will likely low average 1.69 goals per appearance. be offered the chance to return, given that the Sabres will be searching Prediction: Hutton goes. for experienced veteran players to insulate the young talent on this team. Michael Houser: A feel-good story in a tumultuous season, Houser won Steven Fogarty, winger: The 28-year-old captain of the Rochester each of his first two NHL starts by delivering 79 saves in victories over Americans was a competent fill-in when called on, as he chipped in one the New York Islanders. He totaled a .901 save percentage in four starts, goal with two assists in nine games. He also had seven goals with three capped by his 22-save performance in a 1-0 loss to Pittsburgh in the assists for 10 points in 16 games with the Amerks. season finale. The 28-year-old played 283 games between the ECHL Prediction: Fogarty returns on a one-year, two-way contract. and AHL before receiving his NHL opportunity. He was one of six goalies to play for the Sabres this season, tying a franchise record. C.J. Smith, winger: Signed as an undrafted college free agent following a 23-goal junior season at UMass-Lowell, Smith never received much of an Prediction: Houser goes. The Sabres likely have top prospect Ukko- NHL opportunity with Buffalo. He has appeared in only 14 games since Pekka Luukkonen and 31-year-old Dustin Tokarski penciled in for joining in the organization in 2017. Rochester next season. Houser has proved he can be a full-time competitive mentor to a prospect in the AHL. Smith’s been outstanding during his time in Rochester, totaling 61 goals with 81 assists for 142 points in 184 regular-season games. Buffalo News LOADED: 06.01.2021 Prediction: Smith goes. Calgary Flames If Canada qualifies for the quarterfinal round, he’ll have stepped in just in time.

As an NHLer, you’d rather be unavailable for the world championship — ‘It’s been awesome’: Flames’ Mangiapane proud of performance at that means your squad has a shot to hoist the Stanley Cup — but worlds Mangiapane has never downplayed the significance of receiving a call to represent Canada on the international stage. Wes Gilbertson It was a pinch-me moment when he completed his quarantine and donned that jersey for the first time.

“It was just a sense of joy, a sense of accomplishment,” Mangiapane Reaction from his relatives was mixed. said. “You grow up always wanting to play for your country. I wanted to play at world juniors, but I wasn’t selected there. That’s another story. Andrew Mangiapane’s loved ones are, of course, thrilled to see the But I always wanted to play for Canada. You see even your peers putting Calgary Flames’ forward filling the score-sheet at the 2021 IIHF World on the Canadian jersey, and you want to be a part of that. You want to be Hockey Championship, especially since he was so tickled to receive his recognized by your country. first call to represent Canada on the international stage. “So when I put that on, it was just an awesome feeling. It’s just an unreal But couldn’t the 25-year-old have eased up even a smidge in a matchup feeling, surreal, and I’m just happy and honoured to be wearing that against Italy, where his family has such strong roots? sweater.” Mangiapane piled up four points — two tallies and a pair of assists — in GAUDREAU HONOURED Canada’s weekend walloping of the Azzurri, testing the allegiances of some of his biggest fans. Johnny Gaudreau will go in the Calgary Flames’ franchise record book as the inaugural winner of the Daryl ‘Doc’ Seaman Award. “Yeah, I got a few funny text messages — they were happy, they were sad, they were all in between,” Mangiapane chuckled after Monday’s The Flames announced Monday that their season scoring leader will, practice in Latvia. from now on, be recognized with an honour named for one of the original team owners. “Just saying, ‘Hey, good game,’ or ‘Did you really have to score that many on the Italians? You couldn’t maybe take it easy on them?’ Stuff The late Doc Seaman is a Hockey Hall of Fame inductee. His list of like that, so it was good. community contributions would fill two more pages. “It was pretty funny. And it was fun to play Italy. That was one of the “I’m proud to be the first player to win this award and humbled to have games that I circled on the calendar and said, ‘Hey, you guys have to my name associated with Doc Seaman and the Seaman family,” watch this one.’ ” Gaudreau said in a statement. “We as players and Calgarians are thankful for having community leaders like Mr. Seaman and what they If you’ve been watching the action at worlds, you already know that Team did in bringing the NHL to our city. Thank you for this honour.” Canada has been on a roll since Mangiapane completed his quarantine requirement. The 27-year-old Gaudreau recorded 19 goals and 49 points in 2021, tops among Flames in both categories. As the winner of the Daryl ‘Doc’ Good thing, too. Seaman Award, he scores a limited-edition bronze sculpture to add to his hardware collection. Due to the Flames’ delayed finish, the relentless left-hander missed the first three tournament outings. By the time he debuted in his familiar No. Calgary Sun: LOADED: 06.01.2021 88, the Canadians were already in must-win mode at 0-3. With Mangiapane skating on the top line, they’ve won three in a row to even their record. They need another victory in Tuesday’s round-robin finale against Finland — currently tied for top perch in the Group B standings — to advance to the quarterfinals. “Everyone was disappointed with the way we started — I don’t think we were expecting that,” Mangiapane said. “But when I joined the team, I just wanted to play my game. There was very little pressure for me, I just wanted to go out there and play. It was my first time putting on the Canadian sweater, so just have fun. This is an amazing opportunity, so embrace it. “I feel like maybe if it was my first NHL game, I would have been a lot more nervous. But I think I grew up from that stage and just kind of said, ‘Just play with confidence. Have fun.’ It’s a good group of guys here, good coaching staff, everything like that, so it was easy to step right in and play my game.” His impact was immediate. Mangiapane, who collected a career-high 18 goals and 32 points for the Flames during the shortened season and has made a storybook ascent from late-round long-shot to core piece at the Saddledome, buried the game-winner in his worlds debut against Norway. He scored another — and earned one assist — in a clash with Kazakhstan, a team that has turned a lot of heads during this tournament, before an offensive outburst against Italy that included another game-winner but may cost him a few bucks in his next birthday card. In three appearances so far in Latvia, Mangiapane has racked up four goals and seven points and has posted a plus-five rating. He’s already climbed to third on Canada’s team scoring charts — trailing only his partners on the first line, Connor Brown of the Ottawa Senators and Adam Henrique of the Anaheim Ducks. Both had a three-game head-start. “Once I could join the guys and get on the ice with them and start to play, it’s been a fun ride. It’s been awesome,” Mangiapane said. “When you’re putting up points, it’s obviously nice. I’m playing with two good linemates, though, in Henrique and Brown. They have been NHL players for a while, so they know and think the game and they’re both really smart. So it was easy for me to step in like I did.” Calgary Flames wasn’t the short-term fix for the Flames’ woes, but it makes one wonder: What would have happened if they had him from Day 1?

The week when things went off the rails How did a once-promising Calgary Flames season go so wrong? Here are 4 major reasons After a smooth start to the season, with five points in their first three games, the Flames came off of a five-day layoff with three straight losses. And in the span of a tumultuous week, their season quickly By Hailey Salvian May 31, 2021 became a cause for concern. “I think we thought it was going to be easy after that and maybe disrespected our opponents, the schedule and all that type of stuff,” When NHL free agency opened last October, the Calgary Flames made a Milan Lucic said during exit meetings. “It was almost the worst thing that major splash by signing the crown jewel of an unprecedented free-agent could have happened to us this year. … That’s when things started to go goalie class: Jacob Markstrom. the wrong way and we never really dug ourselves out of the hole that we dug ourselves into.” Finding a bona fide starter had long been a need for the Flames – a team that had started 11 goalies in six years – and in Markstrom, it appeared Not only did the Flames come out of the break with some questionable they had finally got their guy. It was a major upgrade at a critical position habits (more on those soon), but that week, issues that may have been for the Flames, one that generated plenty of fanfare and optimism for the going on behind the scenes and in the locker room started to bubble over upcoming season, particularly after the Flames’ success in the Edmonton and seemed to send the team sideways. bubble last year. First, let’s take a brief look at what happened. There was reason to believe that the 2021 Calgary Flames would be better. And many believed getting Markstrom – and signing a top-pair Sunday, Jan. 24: The Flames lost 3-2 against Toronto, and in the dying defenceman in Chris Tanev – could help them finally get over the hump. seconds Matthew Tkachuk fell down on goalie Jack Campbell. But, in a division that would give a Canadian team the easiest path ever Tuesday, Jan. 26: The Flames lost their second straight game to the to the Stanley Cup Final, the Flames faltered and ultimately missed the Leafs 4-3. As the buzzer sounded, Jake Muzzin flipped the puck at playoffs for the third time in the last six years. Tkachuk’s chest as he knelt on the ice. Tkachuk lashed out at Muzzin and a scrum ensued – although Tkachuk was mostly alone in his effort. What went so wrong this season? It’s a tough question to answer, as He then stormed off the ice, slamming the bench gate and several water there isn’t one single reason for the disappointment. Certainly, goal bottles. scoring was an issue, as was another year with the same (underperforming) core group — and the wrong depth signings in the JAKE MUZZIN FLIPS A PUCK AT MATTHEW TKACHUK AFTER THE offseason. But we know all of that already, and we’ve covered those FINAL BUZZER SOUNDS. issues at length this season. MATTHEW (AS YOU CAN SEE) DOES NOT LIKE THAT. AND MUZZIN The Athletic has gone back to trace the twists and turns that made up this IS GIVEN AN UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT PENALTY.. Flames season, with new conversations with sources throughout the PIC.TWITTER.COM/IRHVZYBSIM league to isolate four moments that sent this season sideways. — HAILEY SALVIAN (@HAILEY_SALVIAN) JANUARY 27, 2021 Coaching hire timeline Thursday, Jan. 28: Calgary lost its third straight game 4-2 against the Nearly a month after the Flames left the bubble, the club announced that Montreal Canadiens. After the game, Sean Monahan said the team it had lifted the interim tag from coach Geoff Ward and had given him a lacked emotion. two-year extension. “You’ve got to be invested emotionally in games, and when that’s lacking Ward undoubtedly did a great job under difficult circumstances, after Bill it’s tough to get momentum,” he said. “We’ve got to play for each other. Peters resigned. But there was a delay between the end of the Dallas We’ve got a tight team, so we’ve got to regroup here real quick. We’ve series and an official decision. What were the Flames doing in that time got to be invested a lot harder and play harder, and when you do that, frame? Deciding if he was the right choice. that’s when you get results.” Due diligence is important, especially when it comes to a position as Friday, Jan 29: Rasmus Andersson confirmed to media that a players’ important as head coach. But, if the Flames knew Ward was the right guy only meeting was held to try to get things back on track. In the weeks for the job, he probably would have had that interim tag lifted much after the meeting, as the team continued to struggle, Tkachuk’s game quicker. notably changed. According to Friedman in his 31 Thoughts blog, during the meeting, Tkachuk conveyed to his teammates that he didn’t like A recent example of this is Detroit, which announced an extension for being alone in the scrum after the puck flip. Some teammates reportedly coach Jeff Blashill during GM Steve Yzerman’s media conference 10 said, “It can’t be a riot every night.” days after the season ended. No need for a lengthy process. He was their guy. Saturday, Jan. 30: The Flames came out of their meeting with a 2-0 win over Montreal. However, during intermission of the game on Sportsnet, it This is different because Blashill had been coaching Detroit for six years. was reported that Sam Bennett wanted out of Calgary. His agent, Darren But the Flames could have decided that Ward showed enough that he Ferris, confirmed as much to The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun. could continue to run the bench. Instead, it took four weeks to announce a decision. Adversity happens over the course of a season, but that is a lot to happen in one week. As Lucic said, the Flames got into a hole and were At the time, Treliving did not want to discuss other coaching candidates never able to dig themselves out. The team never really got on a roll — with reporters. But, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the their longest win streak was three games — and the season was marked Flames discussed a return to Calgary with Darryl Sutter, both after with inconsistency. Peters’ removal and after the bubble, before Ward was formally extended. But, that week the Flames also seemed to lose both Tkachuk and Bennett, albeit in different ways. The latter wanted out, and he eventually We can assume that was one reason for the delay. As such, it’s fair to got his wish when he was traded to Florida at the deadline, while the wonder, did that drawn-out process give Ward a sense of instability in his former seemed to lose his form. job, rather than confidence? And how might that feeling have impacted his ability to do the job well? Sources would not divulge details about the players’ meeting or the effects of the puck flip, as they didn’t feel comfortable speaking about It is possible that Ward felt his job was on the line from the first drop of what happened in the locker room. But one did say last week that “there the puck, which could have led to him making decisions to win each is something to the reports.” One of those notable reports came out of game, instead of looking at the big picture. Friedman’s 31 Thoughts podcast. For example, there’s starting Markstrom in 14 of the first 16 games (and “I think Tkachuk was really frustrated by what happened,” he said. “I think sitting David Rittich). Or playing someone like Elias Lindholm up to 27 Tkacuhk feels that. … Some of the players don’t want him to create minutes in a game. Or constantly changing the lines to find something something every game and I think he’s confused by that. He understands that would click that night, instead of giving players time to gel. only how to play the game a certain way and I think he’s questioning it now.” Now, there were coaching decisions that don’t quite align with that mindset, like putting Joakim Nordstrom on the first line or This was the worst season of Tkachuk’s five-year career, with only 16 benching/healthy scratching Sam Bennett. But overall, this seemed like a goals and 43 points in 56 games. And he was noticeably less engaged in coach who was not right for the Flames in the first half of the season. the ways we’ve grown to expect for long stretches of time. Ultimately, Ward was fired six months after officially being named head Tkachuk previously established himself as the heartbeat of the team, a coach. And the Flames got their guy in Sutter. As we now know, Sutter player who can drag his teammates into battle. He is such a driver — both emotionally and offensively — that when he’s engaged in those March 6 – April 5 ways, the Flames often benefit. So, if he was told to tone things down only a day after Monahan said the team lacked emotion … well, that 5-8-1 doesn’t make a whole lot of sense, does it? 0.890 When you think of Tkachuk at his best, he is a bit of a unicorn in the way 2.95 he can stir things up on the ice while also playing at an elite level. Taking away the emotion – or the “riot every night” – seemed to impact his April 10 – May 19 game. As we certainly did not see an elite Tkachuk consistently throughout the year. 10-5-1 In the first 10 games after the meeting, Tkachuk totaled just two goals 0.917 and six points. He also posted (separate) scoreless streaks of eight, nine 2.05 and 13-games. And if we look at his scoring from the meeting until the final 10 games of the season, when he started to turn things around, It’s understandable that it took Markstrom some time to get back to elite Tkachuk totaled only seven goals and 26 points in 40 games. form after a concussion. And I still believe he is an elite goaltender. But, when you’re playing catchup in the standings in a shortened 56-game Tkachuk is the Flames’ highest-paid player and is thought to be their season, time isn’t a luxury you enjoy. future captain. He just wasn’t good enough. But if he was questioning how to play his game, is the blame all on him, or is some on those who Work ethic issues asked the team’s leading scorer in 2019-20 to change? This group had serious issues with work ethic and habits as a team. Even after Sutter was hired, Tkachuk struggled, with only two goals and six points in the first 10 games under his new coach, while also having The Flames quickly showed that they had issues with starting on time, his ice time cut by almost four minutes. When asked about Tkachuk’s which was not a new trend in Calgary. Against Toronto early in the struggles, Sutter said he needed to get back to his identity. season, the Flames failed to register a shot on goal in the first 15 minutes. And by the time they got one, with 4:17 remaining in the first “Where I’ve coached against him or watched him or scouted him, or all period, the Leafs already had scored two goals. three,” Sutter said, “I know what kind of player he is and I know what his identity is, and I know what the other team thinks of him as a type of Calgary allowed the first goal 29 times this season – 15 times under player. That’s just what he has to play to, and he will.” Ward and 14 under Sutter – and they won only 10 of those games. The main thing to come out of such a dysfunctional week was losing Another troubling trend was their wildly inconsistent play. The Flames Tkachuk at his best. And that clearly was problematic for the Flames this had flashes of great play, but also entire periods in which they appeared season, as the team struggled to consistently generate offense and to check out emotionally. In February, Lucic called the team “Jekyll and engage in games emotionally. A confident Tkachuk could have brought Hyde.” The inconsistency got to a point to which, after a 4-1 loss to both of those things to the table. Vancouver in February, Ward’s frustrations bubbled over. Jacob Markstrom injury “It’s time to put this thing to bed and take charge and take control of what we can,” he said. “We certainly can control the way we start. We certainly Markstrom was the Flames’ most valuable player in the first month of the can control how we pay attention to details, how hard we compete, how season. He stole several games and consistently kept them alive when much we care. All those things are certainly within our control. It’s time they took a period or two off, all while handling one of the league’s for us to start giving a shit about it.” biggest workloads. But his later struggles were also a major problem for the Flames. A team that doesn’t focus on details probably is not going to be successful. But what that points to is potentially more troubling. Was it Those struggles can be traced back to a Feb. 17 game against bad coaching? Bad practice habits? Team leadership not holding the Vancouver. Markstrom was making his 14th start in the Flames’ first 15 room accountable? To me, the answer is all of the above. games, including seven straight in a 13-day span. Given the coaching change, blaming Ward would be the easy answer. Less than 30 seconds into the second period, Markstrom charged out of And certainly, there is an onus on the coach to have his team ready to his net in an attempt to break up a rush and collided with Vancouver’s play on time each night, but is it all on him? Probably not, especially Tanner Pearson. when we consider that Ward was not the first coach to have these issues with the Flames. JACOB MARKSTROM SENT TANNER PEARSON FLYING. #NHLONSN #ITSON PIC.TWITTER.COM/7OQAUSV4I1 Further, isn’t there some responsibility on captain Mark Giordano when the work ethic and habits of the team are in question? If we believe that — SPORTSNET (@SPORTSNET) FEBRUARY 18, 2021 the captain sets the tone and leads the team, but the team is inconsistent I wrote in February that the move could have been a sign of fatigue. and has bad habits, isn’t that a problem? Others have speculated that his charge out of the crease was meant to I think so. signal to the team to wake up and work harder. We also know that practice habits were an issue. After Sutter’s first Either way, it is believed Markstrom was injured on that play. He started practice back, players praised the pace and quality of the practice. three days later against Edmonton and allowed five goals on 15 shots and was pulled en route to a 7-1 loss. Two days later, he was ruled out “Definitely the best practice we’ve had in a while,” Tanev said. “Obviously for a game against Toronto and was put on injured reserve on Feb. 25. Darryl, he’s a proven winner. He knows the game. He’s obviously Treliving later said that Markstrom had suffered a concussion. respected by everyone in the hockey community. We’ve just got to come in and work hard every day and do our jobs. That’s basically what he Markstrom returned in early March, but he simply was not as good as he stressed to us. Coach stressed playing faster. That’s something we have was before. And that was an obvious problem for the Flames. to be better at. It started today.” In the 14 games after his return, Markstrom went 5-8-1 with a .890 save That was on March 9. percentage and a 2.95 goals-against average. The Flames signed (and paid) him to be their No. 1 goalie and heavily relied on him to be good in I don’t think there is one reason for these issues, and without being order to have success this season. He was supposed to be the piece to inside the locker room, we may never have a complete answer. But we finally help get them over their playoff hurdles, but those were not $36- do know that you cannot start working hard with 29 games left in the million, No. 1-goalie numbers. season. Otherwise, well, you end up out of the playoffs, just like the Flames. “Coming back after the injury, I wasn’t playing as good as I need to be as a No. 1 goalie in this league,” Markstrom said. “And that’s on me.” The Athletic LOADED: 06.01.2021 He did return to form, winning 10 of the last 15 games of the season, and seven of the last 10. But it was too little too late, and his struggles went on too long. RECORD SAVE PERCENTAGE GOALS AGAINST AVERAGE Jan. 14 – Feb. 17 8-5-1 0.918 2.61 Carolina Hurricanes

With Niederreiter out for an extended period, Hurricanes could shuffle lineup

BY LUKE DECOCK

RALEIGH-The Carolina Hurricanes went from expecting Nino Niederreiter to play in Sunday’s Game 1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning to not expecting him to return in the series after he left Saturday’s practice early. “Very, very doubtful for the series,” Brind’Amour said after Sunday’s game. Hurricanes general manager Don Waddell said Monday that Niederreiter was definitely out for Game 2 but the team did still hope to get Niederreiter back at some point against the Lightning. Niederreiter had one goal and no assists in the first-round win over the Nashville Predators. With Niederreiter out, Cedric Paquette made his postseason debut for the Hurricanes against the team he won the Stanley Cup with last September, but was not particularly effective. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Morgan Geekie get a chance on the fourth line Tuesday, although the Hurricanes’ bench options are thin. Jake Gardiner might get a look on defense as well. Jake Bean, who scored the desperately needed power-play goal by the second unit, struggled with the pace of the game at even strength. Gardiner hasn’t played since Game 2 of the first round, but the Hurricanes can protect Gardiner’s matchups at home. “We think about it all the time,” Brind’Amour said Monday. “Those are discussions we have daily. Whether we make those switches now or in the future, it’s a good possibility for sure.” One switch not expected: Despite Sunday’s game-winner, Alex Nedeljkovic has more than earned the chance to redeem himself and will almost certainly start again, although win or lose the Hurricanes might be smart to give Petr Mrazek a shot on the road in Game 3. “I didn’t even talk to him,” Brind’Amour said. “We all make mistakes. We all have things we wish we could do back. That’s not going to affect how I think of him or how the guys think of him. We have a lot of trust in him.” ‘THE PUCK HAD EYES’ Even the Lightning seemed surprised to have won the game on Barclay Goodrow’s goal that slipped past Nedeljkovic at the post. Goodrow said he was just putting the puck on the net from a bad angle hoping to generate a rebound for Yanni Gourde, who was charging down the slot. “The puck had eyes, obviously, but good things happen when you shoot the puck and that’s a good example of it,” Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman said. BOLTS DOWN TWO D The Lightning were missing two of their normal top-six defensemen for most of Sunday’s game. David Savard was a surprise absence to start the game and Erik Cernak left the game in the second period after getting sandwiched by Vincent Trocheck and Andrei Svechnikov behind the net and did not return. Lightning coach Jon Cooper said he expected Cernak to play in Game 2 and Savard is day-to-day. Luke Schenn filled in for Savard on Sunday. Neither Cernak nor Savard practiced with the Lightning on Monday but Cooper said they were “progressing.” News Observer LOADED: 06.01.2021 Carolina Hurricanes

Hurricanes have been resilient in the playoffs. They’ll need to be again

BY CHIP ALEXANDER

The Carolina Hurricanes have used the word “resilience” a lot the past few weeks. The players have said it. Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour has used it. They put it on game-day towels at PNC Arena. The Canes had Nashville Predators score first in five of the six games in the opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs but were resilient. The Canes had defenseman Jaccob Slavin miss three games against the Predators but were resilient. The Canes lost double-overtime games in back-to-back games to Nashville, with some players logging a gazillion minutes, but were resilient. They trailed late in Game 5 and Game 6 of the series but were relentlessly resilient, tying the score each time — Martin Necas and Dougie Hamilton with the goals — to win the games in overtime and clinch the playoff series. Now comes another test. The Canes were beaten 2-1 on Sunday by the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 1 of their second-round series. While battling the 2020 Stanley Cup champion hard and even much of the game, they lost on a score from an unexpected source, Barclay Goodrow, and in unexpected fashion as goalie Alex Nedeljkovic let in a very soft goal. It happens, as they say. There’s always adversity in the playoffs, they say. The Canes also had it in the regular season with injuries to goalie Petr Mrazek and forward Teuvo Teravainen that kept them out for long stretches. “Nothing has come easy for this group, ever,” Brind’Amour said after the game. “Nothing’s ever handed to them. Everything they’ve gotten, they’ve earned. There’s never been an easy game. It seems like there has never been anything that’s gone easily. “Obviously we’re in the playoffs. We’re going to have to go earn every inch of ice that we get, every goal. But this group’s always bounced back. I don’t expect anything different.” The Canes will have to do it without forward Nino Niederreiter who did not play Sunday. Brind’Amour said Niederreiter will miss the series with an upper-body injury suffered Saturday in practice. Another blow. There was much to the good Sunday for the Canes. But as Brind’Amour said, it takes more than one goal to win most games and that’s all the Canes could manage in Game 1 against the Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy. Defenseman Jake Bean did get a shot from the point past him on a power play early in the third. Brett Pesce and Necas had shots that hit the iron during the game, near-misses. There were a number of jam sessions in front of the Tampa Bay net, the kind that Niederreiter — who scored 20 goals in the regular season — often has been in the middle of during his bounce-back season. “I felt like we played our game for the most part but we can crank it up even more,” said forward Jordan Martinook, who replaced Niederreiter on Vincent Trocheck’s line. “We had stretches where it looked how it needs to look, but I think there can be more stretches like that and it’s every guy giving one percent or two percent more.” That’s the essence of resilience, isn’t it? Being able to muster a little more when needed? And especially in the playoffs. The Canes surrendered the home-ice edge by losing the series opener. It would be easy to say they gave the Lightning, which was missing injured defenseman David Savard, their best shot Sunday and didn’t win. Game 2, for the Canes, could be a game of survival in the series. Another test of resilience. “Absolutely,” Bean said. “That’s kind of our mantra here. There’s a lot of good teams that we’re going to have to go through and play, and we just need to take it one day at a time. When adversity strikes, we’re going to try and be resilient.” News Observer LOADED: 06.01.2021 Carolina Hurricanes Izzo said that when Emma and the family can’t make it out to a game, they’ll try to give their tickets to another family.

“Especially, a lot of families with special needs children, it’s something Canes fans raise over $9,000 for 12-year-old ‘good luck ambassador’ that’s out of reach financially,” she said. “If I can make another child that and other kids may have challenges just smile and have a good night, that’s going to be the best thing to come out of all of this.” BY JULIAN SHEN-BERRO Speeks-Strohecker said that though the first goal has been reached, they are still taking further donations. The goal now, she said, is to bring one family with a child with a disability to every home game in the fall season. RALEIGH-As the Carolina Hurricanes face off against the Tampa Bay “I feel like we could pull this off,” she said. “And assuming we do, I don’t Lightning in their playoff series this week, they may have the luck of a see any reason why it should stop. This can be something that we do young super fan on their side. forever. The need is always there, so why stop now?” Emma Izzo, a 12-year-old girl with Down syndrome, has been dubbed Izzo said Emma is extremely grateful for the support that fans have the team’s “good luck ambassador” by other fans. shown to her and her family, and that she will be releasing her own thank-you message in the near future. Before Sunday’s game, the Canes had yet to lose a game that she has attended, and in the past week, fans have raised nearly $10,000 for And for now, she’ll be attending every home game as the Canes season tickets for her and her family. continue their playoffs run. Crystal Speeks-Strohecker, the organizer of the fundraiser, said the “It’s moved beyond just getting to a hockey game — the fact that people response has been so overwhelming that they’re now hoping to help see Emma as a special child, and have accepted her like they have, is other children with disabilities attend future games. something that is priceless,” Izzo said. “It’s really touched our hearts more than we could ever say.” “I’m not an emotional person. I don’t normally cry,” she said. “But I’ve probably cried at least six times in the past three days, because people News Observer LOADED: 06.01.2021 really seem to be showing the right side of humanity, that sometimes we forget exists.” ‘WE TAKE CARE OF OUR OWN.’ Speeks-Strohecker said she had never spoken to the Izzo family before starting the fundraiser, but saw a post in a Facebook fan group about Emma being the team’s “good luck charm.” In the comments, someone had suggested the Canes give them season tickets. “I jokingly said, ‘Man, screw that. We’re all family at this point. We’ll do it ourselves,’” she said. “We take care of our own.” As of Saturday, just three days after she posted about it on Twitter, Speeks-Strohecker said nearly 200 people had donated to the cause, raising more than $9,600. “To me, it shouldn’t even be a question of how can this organization jump in and help,” she said. “If they can, that’s awesome, but that’s not their responsibility. To me, that’s your family and that’s your friends’ responsibility.” At a press conference on Friday, Canes General Manager Don Waddell said the response from fans has been “remarkable.” “Nothing surprises me with these Caniacs,” he said. “The way that our fans have stepped up for different causes, and in particular this one, is remarkable.” A FRIEND IN THE RINK “I was speechless in the beginning,” said Tina Izzo, Emma’s mother. “And what is developing keeps leaving me speechless.” Izzo, a Raleigh native, said she and her husband have been fans of the Canes since the franchise first came to North Carolina in 1997. They have since moved to New Bern, but still head out to games when they are able to. For Emma, her love of the Canes began with an interaction she shared with forward Jordan Martinook, who waved to her through the glass at her first game in 2019. “It was so genuine and sincere,” Izzo said. “Emma can pick up on stuff like that, and from that moment on she called him her ‘buddy.’” Since then, Izzo said Emma has learned more about the other players, and become an even bigger fan of the team. “She just loves the team,” Izzo said. “It is the only type of sport whatsoever she is interested in watching.” In April, the family made it to their first game since the COVID-19 pandemic began, she said. When Martinook spotted Emma in the crowd, he gifted her his hockey stick. “To her, it becomes more of, ‘Oh, this isn’t just, we go sit and watch somebody play. This is a person, this is a team, that likes me being here,’” she said. “For her to feel like she’s being noticed, it just puts it on a personal level for her.” ‘BEYOND JUST GETTING TO A HOCKEY GAME.’ The initial goal was $6,300 — enough to get Emma and her family season tickets for next season. But now, Speeks-Strohecker and Izzo hope that the money will help other families of children with disabilities get to the arena. Colorado Avalanche

Vegas’ Ryan Reaves suspended two games for Game 1 actions against Avalanche

By MIKE CHAMBERS | PUBLISHED: May 31, 2021 at 5:39 p.m. | UPDATED: May 31, 2021 at 6:13 p.m.

Vegas Golden Knights forward Ryan Reaves was issued a two-game suspension Monday for roughing and unsportsmanlike conduct against Avalanche defenseman Ryan Graves in Sunday’s Game 1 at Ball Arena. At 8:04 of the third period with the Avs leading 6-1, Reaves was assessed two roughing minors and a match penalty (ejection). The minors were his cross-check on Colorado goalie Philipp Grubauer and punching Graves and throwing him to the ice. Reaves, 6-foot-2 and 225 pounds, then removed Graves’ helmet and placed a knee on Graves’ head while it was against the ice. In a video by the NHL’s Department of Player Safety, it said Reaves and the Knights acknowledge Reaves pulled out a chunk of Graves’ hair and his actions were in retaliation from Graves’ earlier hit on Knights forward Mattias Janmark. This is Reaves’ third NHL suspension. He served a one-game suspension in last year’s playoffs for an illegal check to the head of Vancouver Canucks forward Tyler Motte. “Reaves shoves Grubauer with his stick and begins throwing punches at Graves and takes him down to the ice,” the video narrator said. “Reaves continues the altercation, using his body weight to force Graves’ head into the ice. As both the officials and other players unsuccessfully attempt to separate the two, Reaves continues to push forward forcefully down on the vulnerable Graves, eventually ripping his helmet off. During this scrum, both the officials and Reaves acknowledge that a chunk of Graves’ hair was pulled out by Reaves. This is roughing and unsportsmanlike conduct. “It is important to note this is retaliation for an earlier hit Graves threw on Mattias Janmark, which knocked Janmark from the game. Reaves and the Golden Knights acknowledge that, angered by the earlier hit, he takes this opportunity to send a message to Graves as payback. And while some of the actions taken by Reaves could be sufficiently penalized by the on-ice officials, the totality of Reaves’ actions, combined with the game situation and the retribution involved in the play necessitates supplemental discipline.” Vegas’ Ryan Reaves has been suspended for two games for Roughing/ Unsportsmanlike Conduct on Colorado’s Ryan Graves. https://t.co/26pAMLIJW5 — NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) May 31, 2021 Denver Post: LOADED: 06.01.2021 Colorado Avalanche

Golden Knights coach Peter DeBoer defends Ryan Reaves’ actions, while Avs’ Jared Bednar declares “I didn’t like the play” on Ryan Graves The NHL on Monday upheld the eight-game suspension to Avs center Nazem Kadri, who appealed last week

By MIKE CHAMBERS | PUBLISHED: May 31, 2021 at 11:58 a.m. | UPDATED: May 31, 2021 at 6:07 p.m.

Jared Bednar probably didn’t want to get into a war of words Monday morning. The Avalanche coach generally played down what Vegas coach Peter DeBoer said 90 minutes earlier about the match penalty and pending suspension of Golden Knights fourth-line winger Ryan Reaves after Sunday’s Game 1 at Ball Arena. Reaves was later suspended two games by the NHL Department of Player Safety for roughing and unsportsmanlike conduct against Avs defenseman Ryan Graves. The department said Reaves acknowledged that he pulled out a chuck of Graves’ hair. “It’s not hard to defend Ryan Reaves. To me, Ryan Reaves is one of the cleanest tough guys that I’ve seen in the league in my 12-13 years,” DeBoer said prior to the suspension being announced. “He’s consistently a clean, physical player. As far as the incident that’s in Player Safety (hands). I do know a couple of things: His gloves never came off and no one was hurt on the play. Whether they’re going to look at what’s between the lines and think there’s something there that maybe I don’t see, that’s their department, not mine.” Reaves, perhaps the NHL’s last remaining true enforcer, cross-checked Avs goalie Philipp Grubauer in the back of the head before throwing Graves to the ice in the third period of Colorado’s 7-1 rout. He then appeared to place his knee on Graves’ head and glove-punch him. Graves was bloodied and attended to by a trainer while lying on the ice. He returned to finish the game. “Graves is down in a vulnerable position, just stays on top of him, and obviously hits him. So I didn’t like the play,” Bednar said. Reaves was issued a roughing minor against Grubauer, a roughing minor against Graves, and a five-minute major match penalty — resulting in a nine-minute Colorado power play. Reaves finished with 14 minutes worth of penalties. Addressing DeBoer’s comments from earlier in the day, Bednar said: “He knows his player. I guess I don’t think he’s out there trying to injury people on purpose. He’s just got a ruggedness to his game and it is what it is. But in that situation in the game, I just didn’t like it.” Reaves had a hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety on Monday. Later that day, the department released a video that said he and the Knights acknowledged that Reaves pulled out a chunk of Graves’ hair and his actions were in retaliation for Graves’ earlier hit on Knights forward Mattias Janmark. Graves delivered a fierce check to Janmark at 8:26 of the second period and was assessed an interference minor. Janmark left with an apparent head injury and did not return. Here's Sportsnet feed on Reaves' thuggery: https://t.co/MIX1xOvERZ — Mike Chambers (@MikeChambers) May 31, 2021 Kadri suspension upheld. Meanwhile, the NHL finally announced a ruling on Nazem Kadri’s appeal of his eight-game suspension Monday morning. Commissioner Gary Bettman upheld the full suspension for the Avalanche center’s high hit to St. Louis defenseman Justin Faulk on May 19 in Game 2 of the first-round series against the Blues. Kadri, who has served three games of the suspension, can now appeal to an independent arbitrator. Bednar did not originally agree with the length of the suspension and he still doesn’t. “Same as what I saw it the first time,” Bednar said of Monday’s announcement. Vegas coach Pete DeBoer this morning on Ryan Reaves match penalty last night … #Avs pic.twitter.com/RICpKw53Mw — Ryan O'Halloran (@ryanohalloran) May 31, 2021 Denver Post: LOADED: 06.01.2021 Colorado Avalanche

Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar was some of everything in Game 1 rout of Vegas

By RYAN O’HALLORAN | PUBLISHED: May 31, 2021 at 5:45 a.m. | UPDATED: May 31, 2021 at 11:33 a.m.

During the Avalanche’s week off after sweeping St. Louis, defenseman Cale Makar was blunt in assessing his play. “Average,” he said. An average (his word) Blues series was replaced by an above average performance (everybody’s words) in Sunday’s 7-1 win over Vegas in Game 1 of the teams’ second-round playoff series. Makar assisted on each of the Avalanche’s first three goals and capped the scoring with his second marker of the postseason. He posted the first four-point playoff game by an Avs defenseman since Rob Blake in Game 1 of the first round against Vancouver 20 years ago. “I thought he was fantastic,” Avs coach Jared Bednar said of Makar, who was plus-4 in 21:57 of ice time. “Skating, heads-up plays, defended well. Fantastic from start to finish.” The full Makar tool box was on display against Vegas. Defense: Makar used a smart stick to break up a play in the Avs’ zone. The puck deflected to defenseman Devon Toews, who led the rush that led to Mikko Rantanen’s back-handed goal only 4:55 into the game. Passing, part 1: Possessing the puck on the right side, Makar surveyed the front of the net before firing a cross-ice pass to an open Gabe Landeskog, who buried it for the 2-0 lead. “With his vision and skill, I knew he saw me,” Landeskog said. “He made a great play. I didn’t have to do too much but put it in.” Said Makar: “I saw the shooting lane was a little full and Landy made a great read to go back door and I was able to find him. Great goal.” Passing, part 2: Makar had the secondary assist when his tape-to-tape pass to Valeri Nichushkin in the neutral zone led to Brandon Saad’s goal. Scoring: Makar one-timed a slap shot past goalie Robin Lehner with 4:11 remaining. Makar’s four points tied a career high (regular season/playoffs); he had four assists at Vancouver in November 2019. Ranta debuts. Two years ago, Makar arrived from the University of Massachusetts to make his NHL debut in the Avalanche’s playoff series against Calgary. On Monday, winger Sampo Ranta, who played at the University of Minnesota this season, played his first NHL game. Ranta skated 12 shifts (7:47 of ice time) and was minus-1. He was on a line with center Pierre-Edouard Bellemare and fellow rookie Alex Newhook. Like Makar, Bednar used “fantastic” to describe Ranta’s debut. “He had a blunder on their goal, him and (Andre Burakovsky) both got kind of lost in the d-zone coverage and (Vegas) found the back door,” Bednar said. “Besides that, I thought he was on pucks in the offensive zone, he was physical, he skated well, he tracked well, (was) responsible (and) didn’t have any turnovers. “I thought it was a really good night from when you take in that it was his first NHL game against a really good team in Vegas (and) in the second round of the playoffs. The moment wasn’t too big for him.” Vegas re-groups. Knights coach Pete DeBoer embraced the extra day between Games 1-2 for his team, which had less than 48 hours from winning Game 7 over Minnesota on Friday and starting Sunday against the Avalanche. “I think we need the extra day,” DeBoer said Monday morning. “Part of our problem was we didn’t skate and we look for reasons for that. Was fatigue a piece of that? I’m sure it was a little piece. Anytime you get past the first round, any extra day of rest, especially if you’ve played a long series, is advantageous.” The Knights and Avalanche didn’t practice Monday. Denver Post: LOADED: 06.01.2021 Colorado Avalanche Speaking of which, what types of shots did the Golden Knights use most often to score on Colorado?

SHOT TYPE GOALS How the Golden Knights and Avalanche scored goals against each other this season, and from where Wrist 6 By Jesse Granger May 31, 2021 Rebound 4 The Avalanche scored a lot of goals in Sunday night’s second-round Backhand playoff series opener. The Golden Knights? Not so much. 3 It was a lopsided affair in Denver, a 7-1 Colorado victory, but one game doesn’t make a playoff series. Vegas must find a way to regroup quickly Deflection for Wednesday night’s Game 2, starting with finding a way to slow down 2 Colorado’s vaunted offensive attack. And honestly, the game got out of hand so quickly that there aren’t a lot of conclusions to draw from the way One timer each of the teams played. Vegas didn’t have the legs to defend in its usual fashion, and after falling behind, the Golden Knights pushed 1 forward, chasing the game, and opened up even more space for the Slap shot Avalanche. 0 So while Sunday’s game shouldn’t be completely ignored, I don’t think it’s the best way to assess the series moving forward. To examine what The Golden Knights have done a relatively good job of scoring greasy Vegas needs to change, let’s look at exactly how each goal was scored goals around the Avalanche net, with four coming on rebound chances in the teams’ eight regular-season meetings. and two on deflections. Also not shown in this data is the fact that the Colorado goalie was screened on four of these goals, which is something How were the goals scored? Were they scored in transition or as a result that will need to continue in this series. of sustained offensive-zone pressure? What type of shot were they? Where on the ice did the shot come from? Is there a particular area the But the most efficient way Vegas has scored against the Avalanche this goalies were susceptible? I’ll attempt to answer each of those questions, season is by simply getting players in space one-on-one with Grubauer, for both the goals scored by each team. and beating him clean with a wrist shot. In the eight regular-season meetings, Vegas scored 18 goals to It’s also interesting that Vegas has scored an inordinate amount of goals Colorado’s 17. However, one of Vegas’ goals came in three-on-three against Colorado from the right side of the ice. overtime, and another was an empty-net goal for Jonathan Marchessault. For the purposes of this exercise, I’ve taken out those goals. SHOT LOCATION GOALS First, let’s begin with how the Golden Knights scored on the Avalanche. Slot To break down the lead-up to the goals, I’ve broken them into four 8 categories: Doorstep Goals scored in transition after carrying the puck into the offensive zone. 2 Goals scored in transition after dumping the puck into the offensive zone. Right circle Goals scored after sustained zone time following a carry into the zone. 4 Goals scored after sustained zone time following a dump into the zone. Left circle Here’s how many goals of each type Vegas scored against Colorado. LEAD UP GOALS 0 Transition, carry-in Point 9 1 Transition, dump-in Behind the net 0 1 As expected, Vegas scored the majority of its goals from the slot. That’s Sustained, carry-in nothing groundbreaking, as that’s the easiest and most dangerous place 2 to shoot from. However, it’s worth noting that the Golden Knights scored four goals from the right circle, and several of the goals in the slot were Sustained, dump-in shaded to the right side. It could simply be a coincidence, but perhaps Colorado’s defense isn’t as strong on the right side, or Grubauer 2 struggles with short-side shots to his glove side. Face off The Golden Knights did seem to shoot glove side more often against 3 Grubauer, with eight of their 16 goals beating the goalie to that side. Comparatively, they scored five goals to the blocker side. Vegas scored nine of its goals against Colorado this season in transition, and only four followed sustained zone time. That’s a higher percentage of SHOT PLACEMENT GOALS goals coming on the break than usual for Vegas. For example, this same High glove exercise before the Minnesota series showed the Golden Knights scored an even number of goals in transition and with sustained zone time. 4 The obvious reason for scoring more goals in transition is that’s simply Low glove the style of hockey Colorado likes to play. The Avalanche play a faster- paced game than almost any team in the league, and Vegas isn’t afraid 4 to trade rush chances with them. A lot of Vegas’ rush goals in this season series came off the stick of either Alex Tuch or Max Pacioretty. They are High blocker Vegas’ two most accurate shooters, and take advantage of the extra time 3 and space in transition. The Golden Knights don’t want to make this playoff series a track meet, but they’ve shown the ability to score with Low blocker Colorado if they have to. Tuch and Pacioretty in particular have beaten Avalanche goalie Philipp Grubauer clean with wrist shots on rush 2 opportunities, and they’ll need to bury a few in this series for Vegas to Five hole come out on top. 3 But the biggest takeaway after analyzing the Golden Knights’ shot Rebound placement is that they mixed it up extremely well. They beat Colorado’s goaltenders in nearly every way possible this season, and their shot 3 placement varied a lot more than it did against Minnesota’s netminders, Backhand for example. 2 Vegas scored 11 goals shooting high to the glove side against the Wild, with zero goals through the five-hole or low on the blocker side. Whether Slap shot it was intentional or just what the circumstances of each goal called for, the Golden Knights had a much more varied approach against the 2 Avalanche. Deflection Vegas’ offense was fairly consistent against Colorado this season. 1 Things got a bit more interesting on the other side of the ice. That’s because the Avalanche’s high-octane offense struggled mightily against It should surprise no one that the NHL’s best offense can score in a Vegas, at least in relation to the rest of the season. Colorado led the NHL multitude of ways. Despite not showing their full potential in the regular with 3.75 goals per game this season against everyone else, but season against a stingy Vegas defense, the Avalanche scored several managed only 2.13 goals per game against Vegas. goals on nearly every shot type. As mentioned above, the Avalanche love attacking the net with speed as The location of the shots is probably the most troubling revelation of this they enter the offensive zone, and that bears out in the statistics. exercise for the Golden Knights’ defense. Colorado scored its goals from the exact areas coaches want – in tight. LEAD UP GOALS SHOT LOCATION GOALS Transition, carry-in Slot 10 7 Transition, dump-in Doorstep 0 5 Sustained, carry-in Right circle 3 3 Sustained, dump-in Left circle 1 1 Face off Point 3 1 An impressive 58.8 percent of Colorado’s goals against the Golden Knights came in transition after carrying the puck into the zone. That’s An incredible 70.6 percent of Colorado’s goals against Vegas this season where the Avalanche’s speedy, skilled players excel. Playing that style of came from either the slot or the doorstep. The Avalanche did an hockey also minimizes Vegas’ size advantage. It’s in Colorado’s best impressive job of jumping on rebounds in front of the net, and that’s how interest to keep the puck away from the boards, which is exactly what it the majority of their goals in that area were scored. has done, with only one goal coming after a dump into the offensive zone. That strategy continued in Sunday night’s playoff game, when It likely conjures memories of Minnesota, which also did a good job of Colorado attacked in transition almost exclusively throughout the night. scoring on second-chance opportunities against the Golden Knights, but the way the Avalanche did it was entirely different. The Wild’s biggest The Golden Knights need to realize that and play much tougher at their advantage was the strength and grit of their forward group, who would defensive blue line in this series. The defensemen will have to close their outmuscle and out-position the Golden Knights defenders to collect gaps quickly, cutting off time and space and eliminating passing options rebounds. But the driving force for most of Colorado’s rebound chances for the puck-handlers as they enter the zone. It’s easier said than done, are their talented defensemen. Cale Makar, Girard, Devon Toews and and playing with too small of gaps can lead to Colorado’s forwards Ryan Graves are all exceptional skaters on the blue line, and put sneaking behind defensemen for even more dangerous opportunities, but pressure on Vegas’ defensive structure when they create. They usually it’s a fine line Vegas will need to walk well in this series. make a move or two to gain space, then fire a puck at the net once Vegas’ defense is scrambling to cover. That leaves the back end open “I think we gave their skilled players a little too much respect and a little for rebound attempts. too much room,” Vegas defenseman Nick Holden said after Game 1. “Obviously good players are going to make plays when they have space, SHOT PLACEMENT GOALS so I think that’s something we’ll probably focus on a bit more.” High glove The Avalanche don’t only use their speed to blaze past defenders for breakaway chances in tight. They also use it to back the defense off, then 2 take that space to make plays. One of the best examples came on Feb. Low glove 20 in the outdoor game at Lake Tahoe. Nathan MacKinnon entered Vegas’ zone at full speed, backing off defenseman Alex Pietrangelo. He 4 had no option but to respect MacKinnon’s speed on the play, but when MacKinnon suddenly curled back, he had tons of time to find Samuel High blocker Girard all the way across the ice for a goal. 3 Considering Colorado scored only one goal against Vegas this season after dumping the puck across the blue line, forcing the Avalanche to do Low blocker that is a good strategy. Again, easier said than done. This wasn’t a 4 matchup-specific strategy for the Avalanche. It’s what they did to every team in the division all season long. And that has continued in the Five hole playoffs, shown by this graph by Corey Sznajder. 4 Vegas also creates in transition, but no other team comes close to Colorado. It’s mildly surprising that Colorado scored its fewest number of goals against Vegas by shooting high glove. That’s the shot that’s considered Once in the zone, the Avalanche have done a good job of mixing things the “fanciest” and if there’s a fancy team in the NHL, it’s the highly-skilled up in terms of shot type. Avalanche. SHOT TYPE GOALS Instead, Colorado has aimed its shots lower, with 12 of the 17 goals being fired either low glove, low blocker or five-hole. That’s a good Wrist strategy against goalies as good as Marc-Andre Fleury and Robin 5 Lehner, as those types of shots make it much more difficult to control the rebound. It will be interesting to see if the Avalanche continue shooting One timer low in this series, hoping for secondary chances. 4 Coming off a series in which Vegas wanted to open things up and make more skilled plays, that strategy almost completely flips in this round. It’s in the Golden Knights’ best interest to lock down the neutral zone, force Colorado to chip pucks behind their defenders and battle down low. If the Avalanche turn the game into a track meet, Vegas has shown plenty of scoring ability in transition to keep up. The Athletic LOADED: 06.01.2021 Colorado Avalanche

Reaves has hearing with league, coach defends his style

By PAT GRAHAM AP Sports Writer

DENVER (AP) — Vegas forward Ryan Reaves received a notification that no player wants to get — the league required a discussion with him. The subject: His roughing/unsportsmanlike conduct on Colorado's Ryan Graves during the Golden Knights' 7-1 loss in Game 1 of their second- round series Sunday. The NHL’s Department of Player Safety announced the hearing with Reaves on social media Monday. Reaves very well could be facing a suspension after drawing a match penalty for attempting to injure an opponent — Graves — at 8:04 of the third period in a skirmish-filled game. Vegas coach Pete DeBoer stuck up for Reaves, who avoided punishment for a hit from behind in a Game 7 win over Minnesota on Friday that sent Ryan Suter's face into the goal post. “For me, Ryan is one of the cleanest tough guys I’ve seen in the league in my 12, 13 years," DeBoer said of Reaves as his team tries to regroup for Game 2 on Wednesday. “He’s consistently a clean, physical player.” The Avalanche weren't thrilled with the play on Graves, who was thrown to the ice as his helmet rolled away. Graves stayed down as trainers tended to him with skirmishes going on all around. “Graves is down in a vulnerable position and he just stays on top of him and obviously hits him,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. "So I didn’t like the play. But (DeBoer) knows his player. I guess I don’t think that (Reaves) is out there trying to injure people on purpose. He’s just got a ruggedness to his game. “In that situation in the game, I just didn’t like it that much.” Same went for Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog, who quipped after Sunday’s rout: “Reaves is on a mission to hurt somebody in the third and that’s what he goes out and does.” DeBoer offered a defense. “I do know a couple of things: His gloves never came off, nobody was hurt on the play,” DeBoer said. “Whether they’re going to look at what’s between the lines there, and think that there’s something there that maybe I don’t see, that’s their department, not mine.” The Golden Knights were none-too-pleased with a chest-high hit Graves delivered on center Mattias Janmark near the boards in the second period. Janmark didn’t return and DeBoer had no update Monday. “That’s tough to watch,” DeBoer said after the game. “A defenseless player, one of your teammates getting hit like that, it’s hard not to carry that emotion through the rest of the game.” The lopsided nature of Game 1 was a surprise given the two teams were so evenly matched throughout the regular season. They tied for the most points in the league, but the Avalanche earned the Presidents’ Trophy — along with home-ice advantage in the postseason — by virtue of a tiebreaker (more regulation wins). Fatigue may have played a factor. The Golden Knights had one day off following a grueling first-round series with Minnesota. Meanwhile, the Avalanche had nearly a week off after a four-game sweep of St. Louis. Colorado showed off its early speed in jumping out to a 5-0 lead on goaltender Robin Lehner, who was the surprise starter. Marc-Andre Fleury is expected back in goal Wednesday. Fleury played in all seven games against the Wild and posted a 1.71 goals-against average. After re-watching the footage, DeBoer noted: “It wasn’t all bad, as ridiculous as that sounds, when you look at the box score. "We’re deep enough into the season that we know what our good game looks like,” DeBoer added. “We know what we have to get to and it’s a matter of getting back to it.” NOTES: NHL commissioner Gary Bettman upheld the eight-game suspension of Colorado forward Nazem Kadri for his illegal check to the head of St. Louis Blues defenseman Justin Faulk in Game 2 on May 19. Kadri has served three games. LOADED: 06.01.2021 Colorado Avalanche

Ryan Reaves Suspended Two Games by NHL DoPS

By Adrian Dater

Pulling out a man’s hair and trying to crush his skull on a hard sheet of ice? Two games. Ryan Reaves’ punishment for doing that against Avs defenseman Ryan Graves last night, was administered today by the NHL Department of Player Safety. This department is NOT affiliated with the Department of Redundancy Department, as authored by Joseph Heller. This is what I predicted all day to be the punishment, after hearing in the morning that Reaves would get just a “hearing” and not an “in-person (Zoom)” hearing. My personal opinion on this kind of stuff goes like this: The decision is based on the injury to the victim, and not the act itself. If Ryan Graves stayed down and had suffered some kind of serious head injury that the Avs said would keep him out for the rest of this series? Then, Reaves probably gets suspended for 6-7 games, maybe more. But Graves is a tough kid who doesn’t whine about things, so he played on after presumably being cleared by the Avs/NHL concussion people. Vegas was mad about his hit on Mattias Janmark, and it’s fair game to want to hit him hard after something like that. I mean, I believe in that kind of old-testament brand of hockey. But trying to crush a man’s head into the hard ice, not to mention a flurry of other sucker-punches and a blindside, hogie takedown? No, that’s over the line. That’s not being a true tough guy. That’s being a coward. Reaves got the two games because of the politics of the situation. Graves somehow escaped not being seriously hurt. Reaves has a suspension history, but not as serious a suspension history of, say, a Nazem Kadri. So, that mattered in this decision. Reaves no doubt still has some favoritism among the old-boy network of the “hockey code”, in that he was just “sticking up for a teammate” with what he did. Former NHL enforcer George Parros is from that old-school crowd. To quote Todd Bertuzzi: “It is what it is.” I think, as Avs fans hoping for some real justice against a Vegas Golden Knights player, we all have to just count our blessings. Part of me also though Reaves might escape with just a fine. So, for him to get any kind of suspension is a good baby-steps start to some overdue justice against Ryan Reaves. Colorado hockey now LOADED: 06.01.2021 Colorado Avalanche

Kadri suspension upheld by Bettman; Final appeal next

By Adrian Dater

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman upheld the eight-game suspension to Nazem Kadri today. He explained his rationale in a lengthy document, which you can read in full here. Here is one snippet: “Mr. Parros did not apply a strict formula to determine the quantum of discipline here and I find that a strict formula is neither necessary nor appropriate, particularly since Mr. Kadri has been assessed six (6) supplementary discipline suspensions for head-related offenses (including this supplementary discipline suspension), three (3) of which were assessed during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Weighing the factors described above, I find that an eight (8) game suspension is appropriate for the following reasons. First, it is consistent with the principle of progressive discipline. The two (2) most recent supplementary discipline suspensions assessed against Mr. Kadri, both of which occurred in the playoffs, resulted in suspensions of three (3) and five (5) playoff games, respectively. An increase to eight (8) games represents an appropriate escalation for the latest repeat offense. That is particularly true because this incident (unlike the other two) resulted in an injury.5″ Kadri has already formally appealed Bettman’s decision to a neutral arbitrator, Shyam Das, who has a history of reducing previous suspension, including a Tom Wilson 20-game suspension to 14 games. He also reduced a suspension to baseball’s Ryan Braun in 2012. The second appeal has not been scheduled yet. It’s believed it won’t happen for another few days. Colorado hockey now LOADED: 06.01.2021 Colorado Avalanche

Pete DeBoer on Ryan Reaves match penalty: “Nobody was hurt on the play”

By Adrian Dater

A day later, it doesn’t look any better. Ryan Reaves completely tried to hurt Ryan Graves, kneeling on his head with the full force of his body. Graves was down for quite a while, hurt. But apparently, Ryan Reaves is totally clean and nobody was hurt on the thing. So says Vegas coach Pete DeBoer. "It's not hard to defend Ryan Reaves. He's one of the cleanest tough guys I've seen in the league in my 12 years. His gloves never came off and no body was hurt on the play." -DeBoer — SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) May 31, 2021 DeBoer actually said that in his Zoom call this morning. Right, nobody was hurt on the play. It’s the classic “Their guys are dirty, and our guys are good boys who never try to hurt anyone” from an NHL coach. DeBoer said Graves hit a “defenseless” Mattias Janmark. I don’t agree. Janmark was facing Graves, but was looking away, admiring his pass. He should have been more aware of Graves coming. Yeah, the hit was a bit late, which is why Graves got an interference penalty. But Janmark wasn’t defenseless. You know who was defenseless? Ryan Graves, having his head squashed into the ice by the full force of Ryan Reaves’ 6-2, 225-pound body. Just in to the CHN newsdesk: Gary Bettman has upheld the eight-game suspension to Nazem Kadri. Kadri, Colorado Hockey Now has learned, will appeal a second time, to “neutral discipline arbitrator” Shyam Das. Both sides will split the cost of the arbitrator and Das’ ruling will be final and binding. Kadri has served three games of the eight-game suspension so far. As I write, we still don’t know if Reaves will face a hearing of any kind. The longer we don’t hear anything, the more I’ll think Reaves will skate by – again. UPDATE: Reaves will have a hearing – not an in-person (Zoom) hearing though, so if Reaves gets anything at all, I doubt it would be more than 1- 2 games. Also, the NHL Department of Player Safety twitter feed lists Reaves’ actions last night “roughing” and a “misconduct.” References to “intent to injure” have been scrubbed. So, here we go – different rules for different folks. Don’t be shocked if the “clean” Mr. Reaves gets just a fine. Here’s Bednar’s response to DeBoer’s quote: “That’s the one play I just thought was out of the context of the game. Graves is down and in a vulnerable position and just stays on top of him. … I didn’t like the play. That’s my opinion.” Colorado hockey now LOADED: 06.01.2021 Colorado Avalanche take his last NHL coaching gig with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Has the whole Mitch Marner fiasco and the tarnishing his name has taken after being fired by the Leafs left Babcock blacklisted? Off the Record: NHL Trade Rumors–Eichel Cost, Will Florida Bite on Note: Elliotte Friedman squashed that speculation surrounding Mike Malkin? Sullivan in Pittsburgh on that same Hockey Headlines broadcast. Off the record: By Jimmy Murphy “I don’t think I’d say ‘blacklisted but let’s just say I don’t see him getting another NHL job just yet,” an NHL source said. “In this climate, after all that happened, it’s going to be hard for him right now. I think if he wants, There are some intensely interesting situations hovering on the horizon sooner or later, he can find work, but I just don’t see it right now.” while the NHL playoffs dominate the news. While the Vegas Golden Knights and Colorado Avalanche begin the most anticipated series in a Babcock is currently a volunteer head coach of the University of few years, the Pittsburgh Penguins have a huge decision looming with Saskatchewan Men’s Hockey team. center Evgeni Malkin–if he waived his no-movement clause and hit the Colorado hockey now LOADED: 06.01.2021 NHL Trade market, would the Florida Panthers, who have been monitoring the situation, bite on the chance? Sources with direct knowledge of the situation gave a little more insight into one side of the process. There is a bigger potential get on the NHL trade market than Malkin, as everyone continues to watch the Jack Eichel saga in Buffalo. Given the drama, could/will the Buffalo Sabres get full value on the NHL trade market for Eichel? And has Mike Babcock been blacklisted? That and more in the latest ‘Off The Record.’ 1. If They Can Move Bobrovsky, Will Panthers Get Malkin? Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang may want to keep the band together in Pittsburgh and see him, Sidney Crosby, and Evgeni Malkin go for one more shot at Lord Stanley. Still, if the Penguins are to get out of the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs again, changes are likely needed. The most obvious change would be trading the enigmatic Malkin, who is entering a walk year. In the past couple of years, there have been numerous rumors that Malkin would waive his no-movement clause to go to the Florida Panthers. According to one NHL source with direct knowledge of the situation, those rumors could become a reality. The problem is, as currently constituted, the Panthers can’t absorb the one year at $9.5 million remaining on Malkin’s contract if they wanted to acquire him. Off the record: “I think there is and has been mutual interest there,” the source told OTR recently. “The problem is they’re about to roll the Brink’s truck up for [Sasha] Barkov, and they’re stuck with [Sergei] Bobrovsky. He lives down there in the offseason, his family loves it there but a.) do the Panthers want him? And b.) Bobrovsky 2. Eichel Price Not As High As Many Think? In the latest Sportsnet Saturday Hockey Headlines, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman reported that the Sabres and captain Jack Eichel were looking to sit down and discuss the future for the disgruntled star center. Eichel has yet to officially demand a trade out of the Buffalo Sabers mess, but he has hinted on more than one occasion that he would be OK with officially being on the NHL Trade market. That has led to widespread speculation and NHL trade rumors on where Eichel could end up and the potential price to acquire him. While the common belief is a young NHL talent, a first-round pick, and a blue-chip prospect, one NHL management source wondered if that’s really what the haul will be to acquire the 2015 second overall pick? Off the record: “Is Jack worth all that?” the source asked rhetorically. “Hell yeah! But look, everyone knows he wants out even if he hasn’t said it. His hints have been there, and they know that Kevyn (Sabres interim GM Kevyn Adams) is in a pickle. He’s going to do all he can to help them now and in the future in this trade, but the reality is that the GM’s after Jack has got Adams in a corner, and in the end, he’s probably taking less than his worth if he trades him right now.” 3. Is Mike Babcock Blacklisted? Speaking of the Rangers, when they fired their head coach David Quinn a week later, Hall of Fame hockey scribe Larry Brooks reported that Triple Gold (Olympics, World Championship, Stanley Cup) winner and coaching UFA Mike Babcock would be a candidate to replace Quinn. As of Sunday and 18 days after that report, there had been no confirmation that the Rangers had interviewed Babcock. However, they have interviewed Rick Tocchet and Gerard Gallant. Babcock’s name has not been present in coaching rumors surrounding the Seattle Kraken and Arizona Coyotes vacancies. He also hasn’t gotten any love in recent speculation of coaching changes with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Buffalo Sabres, whom he spurned at the last minute to Columbus Blue Jackets take responsibility for the power play — getting the right personnel is my job — as much as the coaching staff should, but it shouldn’t be on one guy.” Blue Jackets Monday Gathering: Brad Larsen getting long look, Jackets One year after Kekalainen was hired as GM, he promoted Larsen from are overdue in the lottery, and growing interest in Seth Jones AHL coach to assistant on Todd Richards’ staff. Larsen was replaced at the AHL level by Jared Bednar, who spent two years in that role before he was hired by Colorado. Now Bednar and the Avs are favorites to win By Aaron Portzline May 31, 2021 the Stanley Cup. Kekalainen believes Larsen is worthy of the same opportunity. A collection of notes, insights, ruminations, and did-you-knows gathered “We brought him up from Springfield (in 2014) because we thought he throughout the week that was for the Blue Jackets: was going to be a very good coach and we wanted him closer to our NHL guys,” Kekalainen said. “We know inside and out what kind of coach Item #1: Don’t rule out Brad Larsen Brad Larsen would be and what kind of standard he would set for us. There’s no guessing there. The Blue Jackets are “pretty much” done with their first round of interviews in the search for a coach to replace John Tortorella, general “That’s one big thing, and the perception that we get from our leaders manager Jarmo Kekalainen said over the weekend. The second round of within our team is the most important thing for us.” interviews will likely begin this week. Item #2: And the winner is … Gerard Gallant, Brad Larsen, Todd Nelson, David Quinn and Rick Tocchet are known to have interviewed, but there may be others, too. Wednesday could be a big night for the Blue Jackets, but then we’ve Bob Hartley and Jukka Jalonen declined to say if they’ve been contacted been getting hyped for the NHL draft lottery for how long in Columbus by the Blue Jackets. with very little reason to smile after the numbers are drawn? There’s a good mix of age, experience and styles on that list, and it The Blue Jackets, after finishing with the fourth-worst record in the NHL remains to be seen what Kekalainen believes this organization needs — this season, have the fifth-best chance to win the lottery because other than adherence to the standard that was set by Tortorella — with expansion Seattle is being gifted the third-best chance as part of their the next coach. welcome-to-the-league gift bag. Kekalainen doesn’t want to be seen as putting his thumb on the scales That fifth slot gives the Jackets an 8.5 percent chance to win the lottery for any one candidate, but he also had a lot to say this week when asked and get the No. 1 overall pick at the draft in late July. They have an 8.6 if there was a way the organization could hire Larsen without a Crew- percent chance to pick No. 2, a 20.6 percent chance to pick No. 5, a 45.8 style revolt by Blue Jackets fans. percent chance to pick No. 6 and a 16.5 percent chance to slide back spot to No. 7. “If we were to think he’s the best choice to be our coach, I’d be happy to take the bullets,” Kekalainen said. “We should hire the best coach, no The lottery will be held virtually again this year, so Kekalainen and the matter what the perception might be.” Blue Jackets’ brass will be watching from Columbus. No rabbit foot in his pocket, he said. No hannunvaakuna, the ancient Finnish symbol to ward Kekalainen noted, fairly, that Tortorella’s perception — after an awful off bad luck, either. 2013-14 in Vancouver — wasn’t exactly at its pinnacle when the Blue Jackets hired him seven games into the 2015-16 season. “I’m not a superstitious guy,” Kekalainen said. “But it would be a nice time to have a little luck in the lottery and get to choose whoever we think But Tortorella’s arrival was mostly celebrated by the Blue Jackets fan is the best player.” base. Hiring Larsen might require a delicate public relation’s roll-out by the Blue Jackets given the current angst-ridded state of the franchise. Owen Power, a 6-foot-5 defenseman from Mississauga, Ont., is widely expected to be the No. 1 overall pick after a strong freshman season at First, a little background. the University of Michigan. He’s currently playing for Team Canada at the World Championships in Riga, Latvia. Larsen has been with the Blue Jackets organization since he began his coaching career as an AHL assistant in 2010. After two years in that role, But who are we kidding? he ascended to the top AHL coach for two seasons before he was brought to Columbus to join the staff as an assistant. The Blue Jackets have been part of the draft lottery 14 times during their illustrious two decades on the ice, with a chance to win the No. 1 overall One of Larsen’s jobs in Columbus has been to coach the power play, pick in 10 of those years. which is how he’s become a lightning rod for scorn and vitriol among the fan base. They’ve never won the top pick, however, and only once in those 14 lotteries have they moved up in the pecking order. That was in 2016 The Jackets’ power play was incredible in the first half of the 2016-17 when the Blue Jackets moved up from fourth in the lottery to third on the season. But since then, it’s been excruciatingly, unwatchably awful. It has draft board and selected Pierre-Luc Dubois. been so elementary in its approach, so devoid of skill and creativity and unpredictability. Instead of scooting to the edge of their seats with the All of this futility and all of these numbers got us thinking … just what are man advantage, Blue Jackets fans often take the opportunity for a beer the chances that the Blue Jackets would have so many opportunities to run or a bathroom break. win the lottery — they had a 48.2 percent chance in 2012 and lost! — without having their numbers called. And so the mere mention of Larsen’s name brings a deluge of anger from Blue Jackets fans on social media. When it became known that Larsen Now, we didn’t want to do too much thinking (or math) so we made a would be getting an interview for the job and assistant coach Brad Shaw plea for help on Twitter and found three advanced-level statisticians to do would not, Twitter exploded. the work for us: WHICH IS WORSE – LARSEN GETTING A HEAD COACH INTERVIEW • Tayler Blake has a doctorate in statistics from Ohio State AND SHAW NOT GETTING ONE OR THE CREW REBRAND? SIGH • Jonathan Thomas is a grad student at Arizona State. — BRYANBRYAN (@CBUSCBUS) MAY 13, 2021 • Patrick Mercer has a bachelor’s degree in statistics from Wright State. Tortorella, who has pushed for Larsen to be his successor in Columbus for some time, has defended Larsen passionately, though he didn’t want All three were asked to figure the odds that the Blue Jackets, given their to be quoted for this story. Larsen and Shaw ran most of the Blue percentage chance in each of the 14 lotteries, hadn’t yet won a single Jackets’ practices, Tortorella said, and Larsen did extensive work and lottery. They all came back with similar numbers. teaching on the club’s 5-on-5 play through the years. “The probability that the Blue Jackets haven’t won the lottery during any But Kekalainen doesn’t need to be sold on Larsen. of those years is 17.59 percent,” Blake said. “We will give him an equal look because he’s deserving, and we know Put another way: there’s been an 82.41 percent likelihood the Blue exactly what we’d be getting,” Kekalainen said. “That’s where I get most Jackets would have won at least one of the lotteries through the years. excited is he would keep the standard we’ve set and he would maintain “The percentages more or less tell the story on their own,” Mercer said. the accountability. He’s a confident guy. He’s his own man. He was not a “Eighty-two times out of 100, Columbus would have won a lottery and 77 ‘yes man’ to Torts. He wasn’t.” out of 100 times they would’ve won a first overall pick.” Judging Larsen by the Blue Jackets power play, Kekalanen said, would It has to happen at some point, right? be like judging a GM only by his trades. Item #3: Shelley’s big stage “That’s only been a fraction of his responsibilities,” he said. “It doesn’t fall entirely on Brad Larsen’s plate that we haven’t had a good power play. I’ll If you watched Monday’s three-overtime thriller between Edmonton and Told the Blue Jackets and forward Grégory Hofmann are getting close on Winnipeg, the color commentator’s voice may have sounded familiar. contract terms, and that the process will likely cross the finish line after Hofmann and Switzerland finish the IIHF World Championships in Riga, Jody Shelley, who has worked Blue Jackets broadcasts with Jeff Rimer Latvia. The Jackets acquired Hofmann for a seventh-round pick from for the last several seasons, made his network debut, working alongside Carolina in February. It’s expected to be a one-way deal. play-by-play voice John Walton on NBC Sports. Speaking of Hofmann, he’s tied for the scoring lead at the World In one sense, it had been in the works for more than a year. In another Championships with five goals in six games for Switzerland. He’s also sense, it came together quickly, Shelley said. fourth in the tournament in points with 5-2-7. How wild are the worlds this “I planned on getting in there last March when all the (COVID) hit the fan, season? Hofmann is tied for the goal-scoring lead with a player from and everything got stopped,” Shelley said. “But through Joe Whelan Great Britain: forward Liam Kirk, who was a seventh-round pick (No. 189 (Bally’s Sports producer) I’ve been reaching out a couple times a year, overall) by Arizona in 2018 and spent two seasons playing junior for just reminding them. Peterborough of the Ontario Hockey League. “They were short a guy and (former goaltender and current NBC analyst) Remember Blue Jackets forward prospect Vitaly Abramov? The Jackets Brian Boucher happened to be in the room, so Bouch mentioned my traded Abramov, along with prospect Jonathan Davidsson and a first- name to them. Next thing I know, I had it on the schedule.” round pick to Ottawa at the 2019 trade deadline for center Matt Duchene, who played a key role in the sweep of Tampa Bay. Abramov has had It was the perfect debut in so many ways. trouble cracking the Senators’ lineup — he’s played only five games in three seasons — which is not a great sign for the 23-year-old, For one, Shelley — a proud Canadian — has spent part of his life in both considering Ottawa is well into a rebuilding process. And now there’s Edmonton and Thompson, Manitoba, about a seven-hour drive north of this: Abramov just signed a two-year deal to play in the KHL with Traktor Winnipeg. His folks, Ned and Doreen, live in Edmonton and were able to Chelyabinsk. watch the American network feed. The Athletic LOADED: 06.01.2021 “They were so excited, and so were my wife (Mandy) and kids,” Shelley said. “And that’s nice because I was away from home for 10 days (as part of the NHL Network’s studio coverage in Secaucus, N.J.). “There were some pretty cool texts, too. It’s amazing. You don’t realize until you do NHL Network or NBC what kind of reach those networks have.” Shelley’s game wasn’t the late game, but it was the last game being played. It went to three overtimes before Kyle Connor scored the winner, clinching the series sweep for the Jets. Now that the first round is essentially finished, there are fewer games and, thus, less need for announcers. So it’ll be next year at the soonest before Shelley gets to work before another national audience. He’d like to work in a scenario like so many broadcasters have, where they keep their gig with the local team and work select national games for the network. Walton, for instance, is the play-by-play voice of the Washington Capitals when he’s not doing network games. “It’s a great line to have on my resume, that experience,” Shelley said. “But there’s a new (national) network coming in next season (ESPN/Turner) so who knows where it might go from here?” Snacks Spent part of Sunday asking around the NHL about the anticipated level of interest in Blue Jackets defenseman Seth Jones, who has reportedly informed the club that he has no intention of re-signing with Columbus and is likely to be traded this summer. Most clubs will let the dust settle for a day or so after big news breaks, but two clubs reached out to Kekalainen on Sunday. A flood of calls is expected beginning Monday or Tuesday after the holiday weekend. If you’re the betting sort — and isn’t everybody these days? — the early favorite appears to the Los Angeles Kings, given their stable of prospects and their pile of draft picks. Chicago and Montreal are expected to be major players, too. Carolina goaltender Alexander Nedeljkovic is a rare breed in the NHL — an Ohio-born goaltender. Only three Ohio-born goalies have ever played in the NHL, beginning with Toledo’s Pat Jablonski, who had a journeyman’s career as a back-up with St. Louis, Tampa Bay, Montreal, Phoenix and Carolina in the 1990s, and Sabres goalie Michael Houser who made his NHL debut this past year. Nedeljkovic, who is from Parma, Ohio, and played for AAA Cleveland Barons, is the only Ohio-born goalie to win a playoff game after guiding the Hurricanes to a first-round win over Nashville. He’ll likely make the NHL All-Rookie team and is expected to get several votes for the Calder Trophy. Florida has goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky under contract for five more seasons at a $10 million salary cap hit. He’ll make $12 million in each of the next two seasons, which would be a lot of money under the best of circumstances. But what are the Panthers going to do, considering Bobrovsky has been badly outplayed by Chris Driedger the last two seasons and more recently by 20-year-old Spencer Knight. Bobrovsky, who didn’t dress for the final two games of the Panthers’ first-round loss to Tampa Bay, has a full no-move clause in his contract. He had another awful postseason in 2021: 5.31 goals-against average and an .841 save percentage in three games. It’s funny. Bobrovsky is often included in the list of great players the Blue Jackets have let get away in recent seasons, but this is one of the great organizational decision in recent years. Bobrovsky will be 33 when next season starts, and his playoff struggles are only looming larger. Over the last 25 NHL seasons, only one goaltender who has appeared 20 or more postseason games has worse numbers Bobrovsky (.899, 3.24). It’s Dan Cloutier (.872, 3.31), who struggled mightily with Vancouver in the early 2000s. Edmonton Oilers penalties, play centre if needed and doesn’t need to dress in every game. Re-signing the RFA isn’t a given but seems more likely than not.

Kris Russell Who stays? Who goes? Oilers could look quite different next season after departure of several players Russell signed a one-year extension before the season for $1.25 million. That amount is much more fitting for a depth defenceman than the $4 million AAV he’s been pulling in the last four years. By Daniel Nugent-Bowman William Lagesson He should be back to compete for a roster spot if Seattle doesn’t select There will be changes in Edmonton after the Oilers’ latest postseason him in the expansion draft or he isn’t dealt. disappointment. Mike Smith (James Carey Lauder / USA Today) They probably didn’t deserve to get swept by the Jets — they may not Mike Smith have even deserved to lose the series — but that’s exactly what happened. It was the second straight year the Oilers dropped a series Holland said he wants to re-sign Smith, 39, after an amazing season. they were favoured to win. Smith said he wants to continue playing. It would be quite surprising if an agreement couldn’t be found. With cap space at his disposal, Ken Holland has his best opportunity since he signed on as general manager in May 2019 to put his stamp on Willing to talk but likely staying put the team. Holland won’t be engineering a complete roster overhaul, but he knows the Oilers need to be tweaked. Zack Kassian With that in mind, this is the list of Oilers players most and least likely to Aside from his performance in Game 3 against the Jets, Kassian hasn’t depart this summer. been good at all since he signed his contract extension in January 2020. He still has three more years to go on his $3.2 million AAV deal. Having The untouchables that contract off the books would be a huge win for Holland. Takers in a flat-cap world won’t be easy to find, even if the Oilers retained salary or Connor McDavid offered sweeteners. I don’t think this one really requires an explanation. Kyle Turris Leon Draisaitl It’s hard to imagine Turris’s first year with the Oilers going any worse. He See the player above. only managed to appear in 27 games and had two goals and five points. The marriage didn’t work. Holland should see if another team is Darnell Nurse interested in taking the last year of Turris’s contract off his hands. He shouldn’t worry too much if it doesn’t happen. Most of the $1.5 million Nurse didn’t have a particularly strong play-in series against Chicago last contract can be buried in the minors. summer, but that subpar performance couldn’t be more in the rear-view mirror. Nurse was the Oilers’ third-most important skater this season, Big-name trade possibilities culminating with a 62-minute performance in Game 4. Working on an extension for Nurse, a 2022 UFA, should be a priority for Holland this Ethan Bear summer. Bear had an up-and-down sophomore season after an excellent rookie Jesse Puljujarvi campaign. He’s only 24 and is a player the organization seems determined to bet on. Trading him now doesn’t make a ton of sense. The Unless Holland is blown away by a trade offer, there’s next to no chance Oilers would be selling low, and they’ll almost certainly need him next he moves Puljujarvi this summer. Can you imagine saying that a year season — and need him to take the next step. What makes Bear so ago? Puljujarvi got progressively better throughout the season in his intriguing is he’s maybe the only roster player under contract even worth return to the NHL. He played on McDavid’s wing for most of the year and considering trading that has good value. By no means should the Oilers finished fifth on the team with 15 goals, one behind Nurse and Ryan be actively looking to ship out Bear — nor do I think they are. Nugent-Hopkins. Puljujarvi is a top-six winger with a $1.175 million cap hit for next season. Sounds like someone worth keeping around. Decisions to be made Likely sticking around Ryan Nugent-Hopkins The top prospects: Evan Bouchard, Dylan Holloway, Philip Broberg, The longest-serving Oilers player can hit the open market for the first Ryan McLeod time in his career. The Oilers need more top-six players, so losing Nugent-Hopkins — especially if he returned to his 2019-20 form — would Holland said last week these players aren’t untouchable in a trade before create another hole on the roster. It’s unlikely RNH will get a raise on his adding they might as well be. Bouchard and McLeod are expected to be $6 million salary on a mid-term deal. That type of contract could make full-time contributors in the fall after getting a taste of game action with sense for the organization. However, it could come down to what the the big club. Holloway could very easily be a regular player, too. Broberg player ultimately wants. is more of a long shot, but at the very least he’ll start his North American career. The Oilers could have some quality entry-level help in 2021-22. Oscar Klefbom Kailer Yamamoto To protect or not to protect their No. 1 (or perhaps former No. 1) defenceman for the Seattle expansion draft? It’s sure isn’t looking less He’s only in this category for two reasons: he’s an RFA without arbitration likely based on Holland’s comments last week. That troublesome rights and he’s coming off a down year. Maybe Yamamoto is dealt if shoulder has sure put the Oilers in a troublesome spot. contract negotiations become contentious, and another team offers a nice package. However, a bridge deal between the Oilers and Yamamoto Dominik Kahun is the more likely outcome — as is a more productive season in 2021-22. Holland will have to decide whether he wants to qualify Kahun, an RFA Josh Archibald with arbitration rights. The reason not to shouldn’t be too hard to figure out. Kahun played 48 games and spent almost all his time in the top six. Bad penalty in Game 3 and suspension aside, Archibald was one of the Draisaitl was his most common centre. He had eight goals at 5-on-5. coaching staff’s most trusted bottom-six players. Archibald was the most- Kahun didn’t kill penalties and played just 16 minutes on the power play used forward on the penalty kill, he was asked to step in to play all season. His spot on the roster is one of the most glaring ones that alongside McDavid in the event of injury or underperformance by a fellow needs an upgrade. Kahun made $975,000 in 2021, so maybe the Oilers winger, and he protected leads late in games. He’s got one more year bring him back on a cheap deal as a depth forward. However, coach and $1.5 million left on his contract. Dave Tippett didn’t trust him as a checker, so a return to Edmonton for Kahun would likely come with him as a spare part. Adam Larsson Jujhar Khaira Larsson can be a free agent in a few weeks, but the arrows are pointing to him re-signing with the Oilers before the market opens. The Oilers Khaira made $1.2 million and is headed for restricted free agency with could use him back if the terms on a new contract are appropriate (less arb rights. Holland could save some money by not qualifying him, putting than he makes now and for no more than four years). it toward an improvement at depth centre instead. Not bringing back Khaira would also clear some room and create playing time for McLeod. Devin Shore Holland would have to find a replacement for Khaira on the penalty kill if he signed elsewhere. The Oilers could do a lot worse than bringing back Shore as a depth forward for a little more than league-minimum wages. He can kill Slater Koekkoek He’s a free agent, but another one-year deal for at or near the league minimum could be fine. Alex Stalock Should Holland trade Stalock in the summer (as a favour) or bring him to training camp in the hopes he can sneak him through waivers and have more goaltending depth in the minors? The most likely to be traded Caleb Jones It sure seems like Jones could use a fresh start. He started the season on Larsson’s left side, taking the place of the injured Klefbom, but quickly fell out of favour with the coaching staff. Jones was scratched 23 times and didn’t appear in a playoff game. Any trade will probably have to wait until after the expansion draft — if Seattle doesn’t claim him first. The Oilers leaving him exposed is a distinct possibility. So long, farewell Tyson Barrie (Sergei Belski / USA Today) Tyson Barrie It’s possible Barrie comes back to the Oilers. It’s just highly improbable. Barrie, the NHL’s points leader among defencemen, is seeking a long- term deal. The Oilers want to clear a path toward regular duty for Bouchard, a fellow right-shooter with a similar offensive slant to his game. It’s hard to see a fit here. Mikko Koskinen With the aging Smith expected to return, a more reliable crease partner is needed. Koskinen has one more year and $4.5 million left on his contract, which also includes a 15-team no-trade clause. The choices appear to be either buying out Koskinen or finding a team willing to make a deal — which will likely involve retaining salary and/or adding a sweetener. Alex Chiasson Chiasson, a net-front specialist on the power play and depth winger, is a free agent. He scored nine goals this past season in 45 games, but only four were scored when the Oilers didn’t have an extra skater on the ice. The Oilers need upgrades at the bottom of their roster meaning Chiasson’s three-year run with the organization is almost certainly over. James Neal When Holland said last week that using a buyout was “very possible,” Neal’s name immediately jumped out as the most obvious candidate. It sure seems like that’s where we’re heading. Tyler Ennis Ennis was scratched for nearly half of the Oilers’ games this season, 26 of 56. He could return as a depth option in free agency, but it’s probably best for him if he signs with another team. Gaetan Haas He’s a perfectly serviceable NHL player. However, the Oilers are striving for more at his position. Haas is a free agent and might get more opportunity elsewhere. Patrick Russell He’s the consummate teammate and the perfect, no-complaint guy to take a 14th forward spot. However, he was asked to dress in just eight games and has but seven assists in 53 contests over the last two seasons. Russell is a free agent. It’s probably time for the player and team to move on from each other. Dmitry Kulikov Acquired at the trade deadline, Kulikov was scratched for the Oilers’ last playoff game. He’s now a free agent. Second-pair left defence could use a boost anyway. Joakim Nygard He signed a whopping six-year contract with his former SHL team, Farjestad, last Friday. The deal includes NHL-out clauses — for teams that aren’t the Oilers. The Athletic LOADED: 06.01.2021 Montreal Canadiens Rasmus Sandin, who made two crucial errors that led to Montreal goals in Game 5, was re-inserted in the lineup to fill the last position on defence. Canadiens advance, Maple Leafs fall in Game 7 again as history repeats Toronto fell behind 3-0 and 2-0 in each of the last two games before itself rallying back and then losing in overtime. “We have to assert ourselves early in the game better than we have,” Marty Klinkenberg 6/1/2021 Jason Spezza said in the morning. “I think we have played a little tentatively and passively the last two games, and Montreal has gotten off to good starts. If you look at the way we have finished games when we are behind, that is the type of game we have to play. That is a big key for Jake Evans (71) of the Montreal Canadiens skates the puck ahead of us.” Auston Matthews (34) of the Toronto Maple Leafs during Game 7 at Scotiabank Arena on May 31, 2021 in Toronto, Ont. It was a crushing defeat for the Maple Leafs, who went 7-2-1 against the Canadiens during the regular season. They finished 18 points ahead of The Maple Leafs’ most promising season in years ended on Monday Montreal in the all-Canadian North Division only to be upset by them in night with a dull thud and a 3-1 loss to the Canadiens. the most painful way possible. After winning its first division title since 2000, Toronto ended up blowing a Teams rarely lose a series when up 3-1, and this will just add to 3-1 series lead and was eliminated by Montreal in the seventh game of Toronto’s torturous past. Its only goal came by William Nylander with the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. The Maple Leafs have not 1:36 left. won a round now since 2004 and have been knocked out of the first round in four of the past five years. The other year – 2020 – they were The game ended with the Canadiens celebrating and the Maple Leafs beaten during the Stanley Cup playoff qualifying tournament. wondering how this had happened. Leafs are choking their way out of this series, one weak link at a time Again. Brendan Gallagher broke a scoreless tie with a 29-foot wrist shot that Globe And Mail LOADED: 06.01.2021 squirted through Toronto goalie Jack Campbell’s legs barely three minutes into the second period. The Maple Leafs’ Mitch Marner turned the puck over to set into motion the chain of events that ended with the puck in the net. It was Gallagher’s first goal and first point of the series. The feisty Montreal forward had missed the final 21 games of the regular season with a broken thumb. “Easier being on the road for these games,” Gallagher said afterwards. “You get to settle in and play your game.” A power-play goal by Corey Perry put the Canadiens up 2-0 with 5:16 left in the second. The score came after Toronto’s Pierre Engvall was caught holding Montreal rookie Cole Caufield behind the Maple Leafs net. A shot by Nick Suzuki deflected off Perry’s knee past Campbell. Canadiens goalie Carey Price stopped two point-blank shots by Zach Hyman late in the period that would have gotten Toronto back into the game. A certain future Hall of Famer, Price improved to 10-6 in games in which Montreal faced elimination. He had 29 saves in what was only the second Game 7 ever played between the rivals in 104 years of competition. Toronto won the only other such contest between the Original Six franchises in 1964. The game was played with fans inside Scotiabank Arena for the first time since March 10, 2020, when the Maple Leafs defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning. A total of 550 health-care workers were granted free admission. Before O Canada was sung, a moment of silence was held to remember the 215 children whose remains were discovered recently on the property of a former residential school in British Columbia. Toronto lost because its top players – Auston Matthews – and Marner failed to produce in the postseason. Matthews, who led the National Hockey League with 41 goals during the regular season, had just one in seven games. Marner, who was second on the team with 20 goals, failed to score. He has not scored a goal in 17 consecutive playoff games. Between the two of them, they earned US$22.5-million this season. Both are now 0-7 in games Toronto has needed to win to close out a series. After losing the opening game in the series, the Maple Leafs won three in a row and were a hair’s breadth from eliminating the Canadiens. Montreal accomplished the unlikely feat of sweeping the next three to advance to the second round. Game 1 will be in Winnipeg against the Jets on Wednesday night. “I thought our boys responded well throughout the whole game,” Price told Rogers Sportsnet minutes afterwards. “They stuck with it. There is no secret recipe or something special said. They are all professionals in our locker room and just got the job done.” The Canadiens forced a Game 7 after facing a 3-1 series deficit for the fourth time in franchise history. Tyler Toffoli added an empty-net goal with 3:22 remaining to close out the scoring. The Maple Leafs played without defenceman Jake Muzzin, who left Game 6 with a lower-body injury. Head coach Sheldon Keefe said Monday that Muzzin would not be able to play for at least three weeks if Toronto had moved on in the playoffs. It was also without captain John Tavares, who suffered a concussion and knee injury in the opening game of the series. Montreal Canadiens

Carey Price raises his game as Canadiens eliminate Maple Leafs "When he gets into those big games he just brings his best and even more," head coach Dominique Ducharme says. "It's part of his character."

Stu Cowan Montreal Gazette

During his 17 seasons in the NHL, Eric Staal has played against Canadiens goalie Carey Price many times. Now that they’re teammates, Staal was asked ahead of Game 7 of their first-round playoff series against Toronto if he thought Price had gotten into the heads of the Maple Leafs players. “As an opposing player, I don’t think you ever want to admit that,” Staal said after the Canadiens’ morning skate Monday in Toronto. “But I think there’s probably times where there’s moments of that.” Game 7 Monday night looked like one of those moments with Price stopping 30 of the 31 shots he faced in a 3-1 victory as the Canadiens eliminated the Leafs. The Canadiens were leading 3-0 on goals by Brendan Gallagher, Corey Perry and Tyler Toffoli when the Leafs’ William Nylander spoiled Price’s shutout bid with only 1:36 remaining in the third period. Price finished the series with a 2.24 goals-against average and a .932 save percentage. His save percentage for the final three games — all won by the Canadiens — was .945. “I know playing in front of him a feeling of knowing he’s going to be there is a great feeling as a player,” Staal said ahead of Game 7. “There’s going to be moments in the game where there’s breakdowns and chances against. They’re a good team and they’re good players and when you have someone like Carey back there it’s huge. I love the way he approaches the game. I’ve been with him here and then with a couple of other events (with Team Canada) and just the way that he prepares, the way that he carries himself, it goes a long way for our group and I think it’s important.” Price had his struggles during the regular seasons and his inconsistency early in the year resulted in goalie coach Stéphane Waite getting fired. Price finished the regular season with a 12-7-5 record, a 2.64 GAA and a .901 save percentage and missed the last 13 games with a concussion. But this marks the third straight postseason when Price has been able to raise his game. When the Canadiens lost to the New York Rangers in the first round in 2017, Price had a 1.86 GAA and a .933 save percentage. Last year, when the Canadiens eliminated the Pittsburgh Penguins in the qualifying round before losing to the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round, Price had a 1.78 GAA and a .936 save percentage. “He likes challenges,” Canadiens head coach Dominique Ducharme said when asked about the difference between Price’s regular-season and postseason stats “Carey’s done so much throughout his career. When he gets into those big games he just brings his best and even more. It’s part of his character. He wants to be in those situations and that’s where great athletes make the difference.” Like Staal, Canadiens defenceman Joel Edmundson played against Price before becoming his teammate this season with the Canadiens. “He’s been the best goalie in this league for the past 10 years, in my opinion,” Edmundson said Monday morning. “Yeah, he had some rough patches throughout the start of the year and, obviously, we missed him when he was injured. But we knew when he got back to being healthy he was going to be that rock back there for us and he’s been that. He’s been unbelievable this playoffs. He’s an awesome guy in the dressing room, everyone wants to be around him.” While Staal and Edmundson have experience playing with and against Price, the younger Jake Evans grew up watching Price play on TV and is now his teammate. “He’s unbelievable,” Evans said ahead of Game 7. “You see it in practice … he’s so hard to score on. In games, he just brings that calming presence. You know he’s going to be the wall back there and be a rock back there for you. Not even just how he plays, but off the ice he just brings so much to this team and helps us out so much. He’s just been so good so far.” That didn’t change in Game 7. Montreal Gazette LOADED: 06.01.2021 Montreal Canadiens

In the Habs' Room: Shutting down Matthews and Marner was key to series victory "I hope everyone realizes how important Phil (Danault) is and how good of a series he had," says Brendan Gallagher.

Pat Hickey Montreal Gazette May 31, 2021

One of the great traditions in playoff hockey is the exchange of handshakes after the final game of a series and, as the TV cameras recorded the moment after the Canadiens’ series-clinching 3-1 win Monday, you couldn’t miss Auston Matthews as he paused to exchange words of congratulations with Phil Danault and Carey Price. The Canadiens rallied from a 3-1 deficit to the win the best-of-seven North Division semifinal in seven games and Danault and Price played the key roles in thwarting Matthews and his linemate Mitch Marner. Matthews came into the series as the NHL’s top goal-scorer but he managed only one goal in the series and he failed to earn a point in four of the seven games. As for Marner, he’s more of a playmaker but he collected only four assists and hasn’t scored a goal in his last 18 playoff games. “I hope everyone realizes how important Phil is and how good of a series he had,” said Brendan Gallagher. “I talked about Matthews and Marner and how difficult they are to play against, Phil had that matchup in the series. We’ve got Pricey back there and we’ve got (Jeff Petry, Shea Weber and Joel Edmundson) going up against them, but Phil is equally as big in that. I know he realizes, and I hope everyone else does, just how important he was to us in the series.” Price was at his best in the three games in which his team faced elimination, but it was no surprise when he deflected attention from himself. “This was our best game this season as a team,” Price said after he stopped 29 shots. He finished the series with a 2.24 goals-against average and a .932 save percentage. “I don’t know if there was a particular turning point in this series,” said Gallagher, who opened the scoring early in the second period. “We just hung on. We came here for Game 5 knowing we had to win a game and we had a great start, and that helps. As soon as we went home, playing in front of the crowd, you could see a little extra jump in us and, coming here tonight. it was almost easier being on the road. We were able to settle our game and it helps when you score the the first goal. “We just had to find a way to find a way to make one more play than they did,” said Gallagher. The Canadiens won’t have time to savour the victory. They flew to Winnipeg after Monday’s win and will start the best-of-seven division final against the Jets Wednesday (7:30 p.m., CBC, SN, TVA Sports, TSN 690 Radio, 98.5 FM). The Jets haven’t played since they completed a sweep of the Edmonton Oilers on May 24, which means they will either be well- rested or stale. Head coach Dominique Ducharme, who probably left the interim tag in his title behind wth the series win, proved to be prescient when he said Sunday that the Canadiens were going to Toronto on their way to Winnipeg. “We need to appreciate this moment,” said Ducharme. “We’ll have a day in Winnipeg to rest and prepare. It can go either way. We have momentum, but we’re playing against a team that is well-rested. There’s an advantage and a disadvantage to that. We’ll prepare for Wednesday’s game, but enjoy this moment as well.” While Toronto is still under a serious lockdown, the Leafs received permission to invite 550 front-line workers to the game. In addition to free admission, the Leafs gave every one of their guests a team sweater. Montreal Gazette LOADED: 06.01.2021 Montreal Canadiens

Canadiens complete epic series comeback to eliminate Maple Leafs in Game 7 Canadiens 3, Maple Leafs 1 (Canadiens win series 4-3)

Pat Hickey • Montreal Gazette

Carey Price cemented his reputation as a big-game goaltender Monday as he made 29 saves to lead the Canadiens to a 3-1 win over the Maple Leafs in the seventh and deciding game of their North Division semifinal series at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. He had a shutout until William Nylander scored with 1:36 to play. The Canadiens are headed to Winnipeg for the opening two games of the North Division final against the Jets, who have been resting at home since sweeping the Edmonton Oilers. It was the latest in a line of disappointments for the Leafs, who led this series 3-1. They haven’t won a Game 7 since 2004 and they have lost their last seven clinching games, including three in this series. The second period belonged to the Leafs earlier in the series, but the Canadiens took a 2-0 lead in the second period on Monday. The Canadiens took advantage of their transition game to open the scoring. Eric Staal sent Brendan Gallagher off on a rush and he beat Jack Campbell with a wrist shot through the five hole. It was the first goal of the series for Gallagher, who missed the final 21 games of the regular season with a broken thumb. The Leafs responded by putting some pressure on Carey Price, but he made two big saves on Zach Hyman and caught a break when Auston Matthews hit a post. The Montreal power play produced the second goal. The Canadiens went 0-for-15 with the extra man through the first five games of the series, but they scored twice in Game 6 and they delivered on their only opportunity Monday. Corey Perry received credit for the goal when Nick Suzuki’s shot from the top of the faceoff circle caromed off the veteran’s left leg. Defenceman Eric Gustaffson, who was inserted into the lineup for his offensive skills, picked up the second assist on the goal. Tyler Toffoli scored the final Montreal goal into the empty net. Toronto had two power plays, both in the third period, and Price came up big on both of them. On the first, he cleared the puck from the zone on three occasions. On the second, he came up with three saves on shots in close. After a slow start, the Canadiens outshot the Leafs 12-8 in the first period but neither team was able to score. The Leafs were the highest-scoring team in the NHL in the first period in the regular season, but they managed only one first-period goal in this series. The coaches were active in the first period as Sheldon Keefe attempted to keep Matthews and MItch Marner away from the Phil Danault line, but Matthews failed to get a shot on goal. The Canadiens tried to keep the Leafs to the outside and five of Toronto’s eight shots were from defencemen. Shea Weber and Ben Chiarot continued to be the busiest Montreal defencemen, but Dominique Ducharme gave the third pairing of Brett Kulak and Gustafsson a larger role. Montreal Gazette LOADED: 06.01.2021 Montreal Canadiens Price had a 1-2-0 record and had allowed 10 goals. He was inconsistent all season.

But, like Roy in 1993, Price has found his game in this playoff series. Stu Cowan: Canadiens' back-to-back OT wins rekindle memories of 1993 During a Zoom conference after Monday’s morning skate in Toronto, I Habs won a record 10 straight OT games en route to their last Stanley asked Canadiens head coach Dominique Ducharme if the back-to-back Cup after goalie Patrick Roy found his game again. overtime wins had him thinking about what happened with the OT games in 1993. Stu Cowan Montreal Gazette “We don’t get that far (ahead),” Ducharme said. “I like the way — even though it was not perfect, especially the last game — but I like at the same time our composure (in overtime) and staying with it and taking our chances when we have one. Am I the only one who started having flashbacks to 1993 after Jesperi Kotkaniemi scored in overtime of Game 6 Saturday night at the Bell “If at one point we get to a point that we win 10 or 11 in overtime, that Centre to give the Canadiens a 3-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs? would mean that we’re in great position.” I know it’s only the first round of the playoffs, but it was the second Indeed. straight OT win for the Canadiens while facing elimination. Montreal Gazette LOADED: 06.01.2021 The Canadiens faced elimination for the third straight game Monday night in Toronto. They didn’t need OT to beat the Leafs in Game 7, winning 3-1 to eliminate Toronto and advance to the North Division final against the Winnipeg Jets. I don’t think anyone was predicting the Canadiens to win the Stanley Cup this year and I had them losing in five games to the Leafs. If not for Nick Suzuki’s OT goal in Game 5, I might have gotten that prediction right. But the playoffs are often about making the most of your opportunities — along with a little luck — and the Canadiens did that to upset the heavily favoured Leafs. In 1993 — the last time the Canadiens won the Stanley Cup — not many people were predicting them to win, especially after they went 2-3-2 in their last seven regular-season games. Goalie Patrick Roy lost his last five regular-season starts while allowing 21 goals. The Canadiens then lost the first two games of their first-round playoff series against the Nordiques in Quebec before winning Game 3 by a 2-1 score in overtime at the Forum. It was the first of what would turn into a record 10 consecutive OT wins for the Canadiens en route to winning their 24th Stanley Cup. The Canadiens haven’t been back to the Stanley Cup final since. They aren’t expected to get there this year, either, but a little OT magic (or a lot) can go a long way as the Canadiens proved in 1993. Two of the Canadiens’ four wins against the Nordiques in 1993 were in overtime. When the Canadiens swept the Buffalo Sabres in the second round, their last three wins were all in OT. When the Canadiens beat the New York Islanders in five games in the conference final, they won Game 2 in double overtime and Game 3 in OT. The Canadiens won the Stanley Cup final in five games against the Los Angeles Kings, winning Games 2, 3 and 4 in OT. Jack Todd: Carey Price in vintage form against the Leafs Habs relishing playoff pressure as they head to Toronto for Game 7 “You just can’t explain it,” former captain Guy Carbonneau said about the overtime wins in a story my colleague Pat Hickey and I put together three years ago on the 25th anniversary of the Canadiens’ last Stanley Cup win. “The first couple you don’t really think about it, but after four or five you start to think about it and you do feel more confident to a point. But I think we felt confident because we were playing good and Patrick was back to being Patrick. But as you go six, seven, eight, nine, everybody played a part. You know the odds will go against you at some point. It was stressful, but looking back now it’s pretty amazing.” It really is. It’s also pretty amazing that the Canadiens won Game 6 against the Leafs Saturday night after blowing a 2-0 lead in the third period and then getting outshot 13-2 in OT. “Down (2-0) the last 10 minutes of the third and going into overtime they had some momentum going,” Canadiens defenceman Ben Chiarot said. “Kind of like we had at the beginning of the game. They do a good job of being on the puck and above the puck, which forces you to kind of dump it out and then their (defence) and their transition they do a good job of coming back on you. So once they get that cycle going, it’s important to break it. But they had that cycle going into overtime and I think that’s why you see the shots the way they are. But … it doesn’t really matter. We were able to put one of our shots in the net and that’s all that matters.” Yep. The back-to-back overtime wins against the Maple Leafs aren’t the only reason I was having flashbacks to 1993 after Kotkaniemi scored in Game 6. The Canadiens were winless in their last five regular-season games this year (0-3-2) and goalie Carey Price missed the last 13 games with a concussion. In his last three regular-season starts before being injured, Montreal Canadiens “I consider myself a little bit of an experienced guy now,” Gallagher said. “You seem to realize these playoff series are hard to win. First off, that’s a hell of a hockey team on the other side. They competed hard. They Canadiens Game Day: Habs' Phillip Danault celebrates win with a pizza really pushed us to the brink and we had to find out a lot about ourselves. So we got nothing but respect for that side. It was a chippy series, but Centre played a key role in Canadiens eliminating Leafs by limiting there’s a lot of respect for those guys over there and for our team to Auston Matthews to one goal during seven-game series enjoy this win. We’ll continue to grow continue to build. We’re on to Winnipeg to hopefully do it again.”

EPIC FAIL: Our @TheTorontoSun front cover for Tuesday, June 1, Stu Cowan Montreal Gazette 2021.#LeafsForever #NHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/4Skz3VeH7Y — Toronto Sun (@TheTorontoSun) June 1, 2021 Phillip Danault showed up for his postgame Zoom conference with a Gallagher also spoke about the respect he has for Matthews and Marner. pizza after the Canadiens eliminated the Maple Leafs with a 3-1 victory in Game 7 of their first-round playoff series Monday night in Toronto. “You come out of these playoff series and you have different levels of respect once you play players seven games in a row,” Gallagher said. Being matched up against the Leafs’ Auston Matthews for seven straight “Those two guys in general, for me personally, it’s one of the hardest games and limiting him to one goal must make a guy hungry. matchups I’ve ever had. They have the puck so much, they do so many good things, so we really had to commit so much to the defensive side of Matthews led the NHL with 41 goals in 52 games this season, but his it. … They just demand it. only goal in this series came in Game 2, to go along with four assists. Matthews’s linemate Mitch Marner failed to score a goal in the series and “They come away, they only scored one goal,” Gallagher added. “We did had four assists after finishing fourth in NHL scoring during the regular everything we could to limit their scoring chances. They still had a ton season with 20-47-67 totals in 55 games. and Pricey was there to bail us out. They’re two unbelievable players. You come out of these things with a lot of respect. I know the media’s Danault didn’t register a point in the series, but played a huge role in the probably going to be hard on them, but those two guys had an Canadiens advancing to the North Division final against the Jets, which unbelievable year. This series wasn’t easy, but we found a way and it will start Wednesday night in Winnipeg (7:30 p.m., CBC, SN, TVA Sports, was nice to move on.” TSN 690 Radio, 98.5 FM). Matthews had two goals in five postseason games last year when the Brendan Gallagher, Corey Perry (power play) and Tyler Toffoli scored for Leafs were eliminated by Columbus in the qualifying round, while Marner the Canadiens, while goalie Carey Price stopped 30 of the 31 shots he failed to score against the Blue Jackets. faced. The Leafs’ William Nylander spoiled Price’s shutout bid when he scored his fifth goal of the series with only 1:36 left in the third period. Cette équipe. ❤#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/CAYLujuYVu After the game, when Gallagher was asked about his linemate Danault’s — Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) June 1, 2021 performance in the series, he said: “I’m really happy you asked that. I hope everyone realizes how important Phil is and how good of a series First goal for Gallagher he had. I talked about Mathews and Marner and how difficult they are to play against. Phil had that matchup every single shift of this series. We Gallagher’s goal on a shot Leafs goalie Jack Campbell should have got Pricey back there. We got (defencemen) Weby (Shea Weber) and stopped was his first of the series and opened the scoring at 3:02 of the Benny (Ben Chiarot) and Petey (Jeff Petry) and Eddie (Joel Edmundson) second period. going up against them, but Phil is equally as big in that. The responsibility Last season, Gallagher had only one goal in nine postseason games. that we put on him, especially with the young guys up the middle (Nick Suzuki and Jesperi Kotkaniemi). “You talk about learning from experiences,” he said. “I think last year going through this I kind of went through the same thing. I didn’t love the “The matchups he gets, I just have so much respect for Phil and what way I handled it. I kind of let the frustration seep in. I’ve always been a he’s able to do,” Gallagher added. “I obviously love playing with him. He guy that is more about the process than the result. I thought last year in stepped up for us. He enjoyed the challenge as well. You see him right the playoffs I kind of let the result get ahead of the process. I knew the now he has the biggest smile of anyone on his face. He doesn’t have to chances were there (this series). I finally hit a spot. I just kept telling get points, he just wants to win. I know he realizes — and I hope myself game after game you’re going to have to score a big one. You everyone else does — just how important he was to us in the series.” have to get one for these guys, they’re doing great. I’m going to have to #Habs Phillip Danault shows up for his postgame Zoom conference with find a way to chip in here at some point and get a big one. So it’s nice to a pizza. Checking #Leafs Auston Matthews for seven games and limiting get the win. I’m happy it came soon enough.” him to one goal must make a guy very hungry #HabsIO Un moment parfait pour son premier but de la série. pic.twitter.com/0QsiBvDbJ7 Perfect timing to score his first of the series.#GoHabsGo — Stu Cowan (@StuCowan1) June 1, 2021 pic.twitter.com/uox67zPgM2 Future uncertain for Danault — Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) June 1, 2021 Danault can become an unrestricted free agent during the offseason, so Saving their jobs? Game 7 had the possibility of being his last game with the Canadiens if they lost. With the first-round upset win over the Maple Leafs you have to think there’s now a very good chance Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin and When asked what was going through his mind before the game, Danault interim head coach Dominique Ducharme will be back next season. said: “I think same thing as when we were down 3-1 (in the series). I looked at myself in the mirror when we were down 3-1 and I wanted to Ducharme made some controversial decisions during this series, step up and do better. I knew I could do better and push myself to a limit including making Jesperi Kotkaniemi a healthy scratch for Game 1, Cole and I knew I could be a game-changer for my team. So I really Caufield a healthy scratch for Games 1 and 2, and making Alexander approached (Game 7) the same way as I did for the last three games. Romanov a healthy scratch for all seven games. “We know we can play against big players,” Danault added. “Everyone “Every decision — sometimes it’s not an easy decision, but that’s our job did his job. That’s how we won and Pricey was solid every single night as a coach to be making those decisions,” Ducharme said after Game 7. giving us a chance and the D-men were moving the puck. I think it’s a lot “I think I talked about it the first day in Winnipeg when I was named the of pride here. We have a lot of pride in that dressing room and we head coach that we had and I had 8 million assistant coaches. So definitely want to get more.” everyone’s got their opinion but, at the end of the day, we’re inside, we’re with those guys every day. We talk together as a group, as staff, and I LET'S GO!!#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/CSe4v8Uhhs make the final decision. That’s the way it works and we’ll keep doing — Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) June 1, 2021 that.” Respect for Leafs Since taking over from Claude Julien in February, Ducharme has spoken repeatedly about the new system he has been trying to put in place that For the Canadiens, this marks the first time they have won a first-round puts the emphasis on puck support all over the ice and working as a five- playoff series since beating the Ottawa Senators in 2015. man unit. That system worked to perfection in Game 7 with Price calling it “the best team game that we’ve played this season.” The Leafs haven’t won a first-round playoff series since beating the Senators in 2004. The headline on the front page of Tuesday’s Toronto “There was a lot of good things tonight,” Ducharme said. “I thought in the Sun was: “RUNNING CHOKE”. last three games there were a lot of good things. I really like the way the guys handled themselves and the engagement they put in. You can have all the systems in the world. Obviously, the engagement, the commitment to push yourself and sometimes get out of your comfort zone and that’s what we did tonight. It’s harder to do and that’s what we did the last three games. A lot of good things in those three games and tonight I thought probably the best of the three.”

Nos rivaux de toujours. Forever rivals.#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/NpUqDYcxtE — Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) June 1, 2021 Off to Winnipeg The Canadiens didn’t have much time to celebrate Monday’s victory because they were headed to the airport shortly after the game for a flight to Winnipeg. “We won a series,” Ducharme said. “We’re happy, we’re happy about that. But we want more. After tonight you need to turn the page. Take all the good that made us have success and bring that to the next one. So it’s not a time to celebrate for a few days. We enjoy it tonight and we’ll be preparing tomorrow.” Some stats The Leafs outshot the Canadiens 31-23, outhit them 32-30 and won 51 per cent of the faceoffs. The Canadiens went 1-for-2 on the power play, while the Leafs went 0-for-2. Chiarot led the Canadiens in ice time with 27:58, followed by Weber with 25:50 and Petry wth 24:06. Danault led the forwards with 20:08, while Nick Suzuki had 17:52 and Jake Evans logged 17:37. Gallagher led the Canadiens with four shots, while Joel Armia and Weber had three each. Armia had a team-leading five hits, while Weber and Petry had four each. Danault went 15-11 on faceoffs (58 per cent), Jesperi Kotkaniemi went 6- 4 (60 per cent), Suzuki went 4-6 (40 per cent) and Staal went 1-4 (20 per cent). The schedule Here’s the complete schedule for the North Division final between the Canadiens and Jets: Game 1: Wednesday, June 2: at Winnipeg, 7:30 p.m. Game 2: Friday, June 4: at Winnipeg, 7:30 p.m. Game 3: Sunday, June 6: at Montreal, 6 p.m. Game 4: Monday, June 7: at Montreal, TBD x-Game 5: Wednesday, June 9: at Winnipeg, TBD x-Game 6: Friday, June 11: at Montreal, TBD x-Game 7: Sunday, June 13: at Winnipeg, TBD x-if necessary Montreal Gazette LOADED: 06.01.2021 Montreal Canadiens was the motivation for calling the news conference, not the crisis gripping Quebec.

Of course, Groupe CH is a private company and it can do what it wants. What the Puck: Canadiens missed an opportunity to make a grand But we can also say we’d prefer to see one of Quebec culture’s most gesture significant flag-bearers showing more of a social conscience. The Instead of selling 2,500 tickets to season-ticket holders for Game 6, the Canadiens have always been bigger than hockey. team should have given them to front-line workers. But it doesn’t look like Molson buys that argument. What he wants is people to buy tickets. Brendan Kelly Montreal Gazette Montreal Gazette LOADED: 06.01.2021

Geoff Molson missed a big opportunity to be a hero. For Saturday’s thrilling Game 6 of the Canadiens-Maple Leafs series, there were 2,500 fans on site who added greatly to the atmosphere at the Bell Centre and might well have helped spark the inspirational finale that had Jesperi Kotkaniemi scoring in overtime to give the good guys a 3-2 victory. But the Canadiens never should’ve sold those tickets. As many journalists and fans suggested prior to the game, the Habs should have taken the high road and given the tickets to such front-line workers as health-care staff and teachers. That decision looks even worse Monday with the news that 550 fully vaccinated healthcare workers will be given free tickets to Game 7 Monday in Toronto (7 p.m., CBC, Sportsnet, TVA Sports, TSN 690 radio, 98.5 FM). Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, which owns the Leafs, will also give each of the 550 front-line workers a Leafs jersey. That’s how a class organization acts. Meanwhile the Canadiens ignored the calls to make a big gesture and instead sold the 2,500 tickets to season-ticket holders for $150-$330. What’s worse is many of the season-ticket holders promptly turned around and resold them at a huge mark-up on the resale market. And the Canadiens encouraged these greed-heads by directing fans from their official website to resale sites. On Friday, tickets were selling for as high as $12,300. It’s just so wrong. I get that Molson and his Canadiens have been deprived of a year of ticket sales because of the pandemic. They’ve been hit hard by the pandemic, like businesses around the world. But the difference with the Canadiens is the team is worth US$1.34 billion, according to an evaluation published by Forbes in December. That makes them the third-most valuable team in the National Hockey League, behind the New York Rangers (US$1.65 billion) and the Leafs (US$1.5 billion). In other words, it’s been a tough year for the Groupe CH, which owns the Canadiens, but they’ll survive. Montrealers who own a cool little restaurant that’s been hammered by the pandemic might well go out of business. So it’s all relative. If Molson had stepped up and taken a stand, he would’ve had huge media coverage right across the country and it would’ve been one of the more inspiring COVID-era stories here. But he didn’t. Instead he kept his eye on the bottom line. As my good pal Jean-Charles Lajoie from TVA Sports and Le Journal de Montréal wrote: “I guess that the $600,000 was essential for the year-end financial results of the Groupe CH!” He didn’t need to add a #sarcasm at the end of the sentence. Paul Wilson, Groupe CH’s senior vice-president (public affairs, communications), stated via text Monday morning that “there was over 100 health-care workers we invited in the stands (Saturday) plus the families we host each game since April in the Hero suite.” The healthcare workers were allowed in free Saturday and the Canadiens hosted one family of a healthcare worker in a loge for each game since April. Late last week, Wilson also texted to say: “Why make a story on tickets being sold for an event, instead of being given away? Will the restaurants/terrasses give their food/beverage away starting (Friday)? Will (Guzzo Cinemas owner Vince Guzzo) give his movie tickets away?” I would make the argument that the Canadiens franchise is one of the most influential organizations in all of Quebec and that it should be taking a leadership role when society is facing a crisis. But that’s not how today’s Canadiens roll. Last spring, with Quebec facing its worst social crisis in decades, there was silence from the Canadiens’ executive suites. It took almost three months after the NHL was closed down by COVID-19 for Molson to come out and make a full public statement. Astonishingly, that news conference opened with the Habs president focusing on a published rumour that he was going to step down as president and that Vincent Damphousse would take that job. In a tough column, Arpon Basu of the Athletic suggested it looked like that gossip Montreal Canadiens wall of Hall of Famers in their dressing room, expectations that are practically impossible for them to reach every year.

But they are not the only team with a history that can weigh heavily, and Canadiens take on the persona of their best player and use it to eliminate they knew it. the Maple Leafs “As an athlete, there’s no getting away from that, especially living in – I mean, Montreal’s the same way. Toronto is a huge market, no matter By Arpon Basu Jun 1, 2021 how hard you try to avoid it, they’re going to have to talk about it, they’re going to have to answer questions about it every day,” Gallagher said when asked about the Maple Leafs’ lack of playoff success and whether they knew they could take advantage of it. TORONTO – The Canadiens filtered onto the Scotiabank Arena ice surface Monday morning and went about their game-day routine. “Before the series started, we knew the deeper it went …” There was no effort made to hide anything, they ran their defence He didn’t finish the thought before changing course. But he didn’t need pairings and forward lines as they normally would, they ran the same to. drills they normally would, and they appeared as relaxed as they normally would. “It’s all you’re trying to do, you’re trying to create doubt in your opponent’s mind,” he continued. “I don’t know if they had it or not, but for Looks, however, can sometimes be deceiving, as it turns out. us in our room, it gives you confidence knowing that there’s an opportunity there and we needed to be ready to take it.” “It was relaxed, but a bit of nervousness, excitement,” Phillip Danault said roughly 12 hours later of the mood at that morning skate. “It was all the That opportunity manifested itself right from the drop of the puck in Game feelings mixed together, just like right now. It was really a nice day.” 7. Facing elimination for the first time in the series, it would have been normal to expect the Maple Leafs to come out of the gates flying with the As the Canadiens ran through their drills, there was one where every sense of urgency they lacked at the start of both Game 5 and 6, member of each forward line got an opportunity to shoot on the especially with 550 fully vaccinated healthcare workers in the stands goaltender. Tyler Toffoli came down on Jake Allen at one point and wearing Leafs sweaters they were given upon arrival (except for a scored five-hole before going to stand in front of the net and await his handful of Canadiens fans who stayed true to their team). linemates, looking as though he either talked a little trash to Allen or gave him some encouragement. Cole Caufield was next and also scored on That push did not come at the start of the game. The Maple Leafs were Allen, followed by centre Nick Suzuki, who made it three goals on three tentative. They looked tight. Just like they did that morning. shots for his line. “We had to come here in Game 5 and win a game,” Gallagher said. “We Toffoli was in the corner of the ice and raised his arms in celebration of had a great start that game, and that helps. If you’re playing from behind, this insignificant achievement. Caufield skated over to him and gave him a lot of stuff goes through your mind.” a big hug, as if they had won Game 7 of their first-round series against the Toronto Maple Leafs as opposed to scoring a few goals on the It was Gallagher who forced the Maple Leafs to play from behind and backup goalie at a morning skate. Suzuki joined the celebration and got a have a lot of stuff going through their mind when he scored his first goal high-five from Toffoli. Each of them was laughing and enjoying a little of the playoffs, a shot through Jack Campbell’s legs that Campbell really moment. should have had. He called it the worst goal of his career. Why does this matter? What could this possibly have to do with the Contrast that with the goalie at the other end. After a 2-1 loss in Game 3, Canadiens going out and beating the Maple Leafs 3-1 in Game 7 to Carey Price met the media and said he had full confidence in his erase a 3-1 series deficit and move on to face the Winnipeg Jets in the teammates, that he believed in them and their ability to score goals after second round starting Wednesday? they had scored only four in three games. Following a 4-0 loss in Game 4, Corey Perry, Eric Staal and Shea Weber addressed the team, said a It was in stark contrast to the team that came before them on that ice few words about appreciating the opportunity, that they don’t come surface. around very often. Suzuki mentioned how much those words meant, but with the Canadiens, it often comes back to Price and his ability to be a The Maple Leafs normally hold a full morning skate when they don’t calming influence on his teammates. practice the day before, just like the Canadiens. Neither team practiced Sunday, but only the Canadiens held a full skate. The Maple Leafs did He did it with his words after Game 3, then he did it with his play as soon not, and coach Sheldon Keefe said he wanted to give the players who as the Canadiens were facing elimination, stopping 103 of 109 shots preferred to rest the opportunity to do so. over the final three games of the series, a save percentage of .945. A good number of Maple Leafs players took the option to skate, and at “I can’t tell you what it’s like playing in front of him,” Gallagher said. “As one point they began running a very basic two-on-one drill. The intensity soon as I saw that puck go in and we gave him one goal, it was almost wasn’t all that high, as is typical of a morning skate, but the more they ran like we knew it was going to be enough. I know they scored one at the through the drill, it became apparent this was not a typical morning skate end, but it’s so easy playing in front of him because you know he’s there for the Maple Leafs. One after another, the Maple Leafs missed easy to bail you out. … It’s a different level of confidence with Pricey back passes to teammates, lost the puck and failed to score, over and over there.” again. Experience has its benefits and we saw them shine through in this This, of course, does not say all that much, but it was impossible not to series. But Ducharme had none coming into the series, at least not at the get the sense watching the morning skate that the Maple Leafs seemed NHL level, and he made some extremely unpopular decisions heading tight, that things they normally do with ease were difficult, that the weight into the series, decisions that had many scratching their heads. of the game that night appeared a bit heavy. And it was also impossible not to think of that drill when, in the second period of Game 7, a few He sat Alexander Romanov the entire series. He sat Jesperi Kotkaniemi minutes after Brendan Gallagher opened the scoring, Alexander Kerfoot and Caufield in Game 1, and sat Caufield again in Game 2. He said it and William Nylander found themselves on a two-on-one against Joel was important for those young players to come in when the time was Edmundson with an opportunity to tie the game. When Kerfoot went to right, when they had the best opportunity to succeed. There is nothing pass it to Nylander, his pass was not sharp, and it was easily broken up saying they could not have succeeded in Game 1, but the timing of their by Edmundson to avert the threat. arrival in the series was ultimately perfect. At least that’s what Keefe seemed to think. The Canadiens, on the other hand, appeared loose and relaxed, and maybe it was because this was the third time in the series they were “I felt when Kotkaniemi and Caufield came into the lineup for them, you preparing for a game that had dire consequences, whereas for the Maple could just sense that things shifted a little bit in terms of their depth and Leafs, this was their first. their speed and skill and those kinds of things,” Keefe said. “It changed the dynamic of the series a little bit even though it took a little time for “I mean, we played Game 5, Game 6 the same way. We had our backs that traction. … You’ve got to give credit to Montreal for the job that they to the wall, so for us tonight it was just the same mindset, the same way did.” to prepare, and I felt our guys were at the right place and even more confident than before because we just won those last two games,” Ducharme’s decisions might not have made sense to everyone, but they Canadiens coach Dominique Ducharme said. “So it was not that different made sense to him and, despite his inexperience, despite the interim tag of a day, and I think our guys handled it really well. he sometimes wore like a noose, he stuck to those decisions and defended them and believed in them. He made the difficult decision to “It showed on the ice.” remove an ineffective Tomas Tatar from the lineup and from a line that had been one of the best in the NHL over the past three years — which There were numerous points during Game 7 when the Canadiens looked is how Keefe described his line with Gallagher and Danault prior to the like the loose team and the Maple Leafs looked like the tight one. The series — and inserted rookie Jake Evans in his place in Game 6. game was won by Montreal between the ears. The Canadiens are often weighed down by the team’s history, the 24 Stanley Cup banners, the Ducharme sensed something was not right with his top line and made an adjustment. Meanwhile, the Maple Leafs’ top line of Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and Zach Hyman was not right, and Keefe made no adjustment. That line finished the series with two goals, and a big reason was the work of the Danault line, particularly after Evans was inserted on left wing. In the handshake line after the series, Matthews and Danault shared a few words. They patted each other on the shoulder pads. There was a mutual respect that was evident. “I would say it was more his body language, it showed he had all that he could handle,” Danault said. “I think each of us have enormous respect for the other. I find he’s one of the most difficult players to face in the league, personally. I think maybe he thinks the same thing.” As the final seconds ticked away and the Maple Leafs were still pushing to cut the deficit to one goal, the puck left the Canadiens’ zone one final time. Toffoli was there, right at the Canadiens’ blue line, and when he saw that puck hit neutral zone ice, it became clear the game and the series were won. With play still going, Toffoli made no effort to make a play on the puck and instead raised one arm in the air in celebration. He ended the night the way he began his morning, and even though this celebration was more serious, it was perhaps tied to the celebration in the morning and what it signified about the Canadiens’ state of mind entering the game. The Canadiens won the physical battle in this series. They won the goaltending battle in this series. But most of all, they won the mental battle in this series. Even though the series was close, the Canadiens’ victory in that last department was decisive. The Athletic LOADED: 06.01.2021 Montreal Canadiens failed to get a shot off on their best chance of the opening 20 minutes. The opportunity was there for the Leafs.

QUITE THE CHANCE FOR ANDERSON HERE… Canadiens playoffs plus/minus: Comeback complete. Phillip Danault’s PIC.TWITTER.COM/SBCJG6ORBI line’s shutdown efforts shine again in Game 7 — ALISON (@ALISONL) MAY 31, 2021

But a second period, once Montreal’s Achilles’ heel in the series, was By Julian McKenzie Jun 1, 2021 when the Canadiens finally struck first blood thanks to Gallagher and Corey Perry on the power play. The Leafs tried to ramp up their offensive efforts, but the Canadiens’ defence once again held firm. Danault played Picture this: Marc Bergevin is sitting in his office in the offseason with 20:08, the most of any forward in the lineup. He was needed, and the Phillip Danault, who is seeking a new contract in hopes of staying in Canadiens probably don’t win this series without him. Montreal. “I hope everyone realizes how important Phil is and how good of a series Danault and his agent, Don Meehan, have a bit of a problem: he had,” Gallagher said. Unfortunately, Danault’s regular-season scoring totals (five goals in 53 games) won’t help his case. But that might not matter. You see, they’re The Canadiens won’t have much time to celebrate their series sitting in front of the general manager with all the negotiation fodder they comeback. They’re on their way to Winnipeg for Game 1 of their second- need: an Auston Matthews stat sheet from the Canadiens-Maple Leafs round series Wednesday night. series. I’d be lying if I said I saw this coming considering the year they had. And The Quebecois centre could even share a pizza with Bergevin if he so I’d be lying if I put many minuses in this column. Truth of the matter is, chose. nobody on the Canadiens played a bad enough game to warrant real criticism. There was, however, a lot of good. Let’s focus on it. STILL A BETTER LOVE STORY THAN TWILIGHT PIC.TWITTER.COM/9FAMK7H8JA Before we begin, here’s why the pregame tribute to the 215 children whose remains were found buried at a former residential school in — MAXIME VAN HOUTTE (@MAXVANHOUTTE) JUNE 1, 2021 Kamloops won’t show up in my pluses and minuses: One could dream, of course. But you needn’t rub your eyes or pinch THE TRIBUTE WON'T BE IN MY PLUSES/MINUSES TONIGHT. I HAD yourself after what you saw Monday night because it really happened: THAT EXACT SAME THOUGHT, UNFORTUNATELY. HEARING THE Danault enjoyed a slice of pepperoni pizza after shutting down two of the ANTHEM AFTER THAT DIDN'T FEEL RIGHT. league’s best players in Game 7. HTTPS://T.CO/E2R0R9JRZU Oh, and the Canadiens came all the way back from a 3-1 series deficit to — JULIAN MCKENZIE (@JKAMCKENZIE) MAY 31, 2021 upend the Toronto Maple Leafs. The pluses All series long, Danault and linemates Brendan Gallagher, Tomas Tatar (and Jake Evans for the last two games) had been tasked with stopping Phillip Danault: See above. the Maple Leafs’ most lethal offensive weapons in Matthews and Mitch Carey Price: Another solid game from the Canadiens’ best player. He Marner. In the series-deciding match, Danault and company continued almost pitched a shutout in Game 7 after his team tried their best to keep their work in limiting space and rendering them both ineffective. the Leafs off the score sheet. The funniest part? Danault received criticism throughout the regular Brendan Gallagher: This is the game the Canadiens needed from him all season for his lack of offensive production, even as a defensive centre series. His second-period goal broke the game open. That came after a entrusted with stifling the league’s best players. But at series end, it didn’t team-leading three shots on goal in the first period and a crucial block on matter that Danault had the infamous Sam Mitchell stat line of “zero, an Alex Galchenyuk scoring chance. He was trying to find his footing in zero, zero, zero, zero,” or that Gallagher only scored his first goal of the the early stages of this series, but Game 7 saw him bring out his best. series in Game 7. The Canadiens defence: I mentioned Weber’s play on Matthews above, “Those two guys, in general, for me, personally, it’s one of the hardest but the entire Canadiens defence deserves credit for making life matchups I ever had,” Gallagher said of Matthews and Marner. “They miserable for the Leafs forwards until the very end. have the puck so much. They do so many good things. So we really had to commit so much to the defensive side that we weren’t really able to do Eric Staal: Staal quietly got himself two primary assists in a winning much offensively. They just demand that. And that’s hard to say for those effort. Fun fact: Up until Perry’s go-ahead power-play goal in the second players. They come away, they only score one goal. We did everything period, Staal was the only player between the Canadiens and Maple we could to limit their scoring chances and they still had a ton.” Leafs who had scored a game-winning goal in a Game 7. Despite the scoring chances, Matthews, the Rocket Richard Trophy The minuses winner, did not replicate his regular-season form when it mattered most. He emerged unscathed from a few scrums with Shea Weber and the Pumped-in crowd noise at Scotiabank Arena: Why? I get 550 fans aren’t Canadiens but didn’t have much else to show for his efforts. Especially in 2,500. But fake crowd noise drowning out a real crowd? Game 7 where he didn’t register an official shot until the third period. HEALTHCARE WORKERS JUST TRIED TO GET A GO LEAFS GO One play in particular that stood out: a charge toward the net with Weber CHANT GOING, BUT WERE DROWNED OUT BY THE PIPED IN bearing down on him. Maybe, in another situation, he shoots on goal CROWD NOISE. ALL I'M SAYING IS GIVE THESE PEOPLE A regardless of whoever is in front of him. Instead, the defence forced him CHANCE TO MAKE SOME NOISE. to make a drop pass. It felt like he wasn’t himself. Meanwhile, Marner — ARPON BASU (@ARPONBASU) MAY 31, 2021 failed to score a goal for the Leafs and only had four assists through seven games. Marner and Matthews will have to prepare for an The Athletic LOADED: 06.01.2021 offseason where fingers will be pointed at them. Yes, the Leafs were up big in this series at one point. But not because of Marner and Matthews. Instead, it was William Nylander who picked up the slack in their absence. Of course, Toronto was also reeling without John Tavares after the injury he suffered in Game 1. But as well as the Canadiens played throughout the latter half of this series, it’s more stunning to process how the Leafs could have coughed this up in the first place. James Mirtle was right, this is the worst series collapse the Leafs have ever endured. Imagine your team losing to a Zamboni driver who works for your minor-league affiliate — and that same team finding a point just as low. It’s not as if the Leafs took control of the game Monday night at any point, either. The first period was hard to judge. The ice was bad and players slipped and slid around the surface. The Leafs, in their own building with fans, failed to impose themselves and looked nervous. The Canadiens couldn’t get to the front of the net and fired many shots from distance, and they Montreal Canadiens By Ian Mendes June 1, 2021 at 1:25 AM GMT 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Canadiens pull off massive series comeback We've seen some crazy comebacks in recent playoff history. But Toronto while Leafs head to offseason full of questions not scoring on that power play opportunity feels like the end of the line here.

That Marner chance was the perfect microcosm for what's wrong here. Staff He waited too long. They're outthinking themselves. The Leafs have been pushing the pace here, but it feels like it's too little, This is it. After a 42-year wait for a playoff showdown between the too late. At some point soon, they will look to pull Jack Campbell. And Toronto Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens, the hockey gods have that feels like an empty netter to seal it for Montreal is around the corner. gifted us a Game 7. Join us here all game for live analysis from Ian Leafs showing signs of life but Price remains perfect Mendes, Thomas Drance and Craig Custance. The winner faces the Winnipeg Jets. The loser gets to spend the next several months trying to By Thomas Drance figure out what went wrong. June 1, 2021 at 1:16 AM GMT What time is the game? 7 p.m. EST Feckless in Toronto. What channel is it on in the U.S.? CNBC It took nearly 50 minutes for the Maple Leafs to begin generating the kind What channel is it on in Canada? CBC, Sportsnet, TVA Sports of pressure they needed all evening. They're still well on pace for one of their worst offensive performances of the season, with their season on IN-GAME READING the line. Sean McIndoe: It’s a Game 7 nobody predicted and everyone expected Still, there have been some signs of life from the Leafs. That was an from the NHL’s most exhausting team unbelievable Carey Price stop on Zach Hyman, off of a gorgeous Auston Jonas Siegel: It’s not too late for Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner to Matthews feed. That's the pressure Toronto requires a lot more of if come up big for the Maple Leafs they're going to make this interesting in the final 10 minutes. James Mirtle: Make no mistake, the Maple Leafs losing this series would It should be said here, that the Habs look completely in control. Even be the biggest collapse of them all when Toronto has pressed, I don't think you can say that the Leafs have put Price under duress. Arpon Basu and Marc Antoine Godin: Jake Evans’ strengths, difficulty of limited minutes, Leafs anxieties, Carey Price’s calm Where are the Leafs' stars? It's now or never for Toronto's best players Next round: Complete coverage of the North Division finals By Thomas Drance Canadiens upset win might have saved Ducharme's job June 1, 2021 at 12:57 AM GMT By Ian Mendes The most offensive thing about this Maple Leafs Game 7 no-show through 40 minutes? Toronto's offense. June 1, 2021 at 1:49 AM GMT The Habs have successfully bottled up Toronto's vaunted offensive A couple of post-game thoughts from me: attack, and are outshooting Toronto 13-5 at 5-on-5 with either of Toronto's top-six centers (Alex Kerfoot, Auston Matthews) on the ice. Has Dominique Ducharme saved his job for next season with this series win? A lot of fans were critical of his lineup deployment early in this Opportunistic finishing, a bounce on the power play, and a Matthews series. Not dressing Kotkaniemi or Caufield early in the series drew the post hit and a game that's really been a stalemate in terms of flow, is a 2- ire of many. But how can you question the coach after his team 0 Montreal lead heading into the third period. engineered the upset win? Maybe his fate will be determined against Winnipeg. But full credit to Ducharme and the Habs for not folding in this Fundamentally though this Maple Leafs team is built to generate, to put series when they were down 3-1. pressure on their opponents. And it's not happening. The Toronto Maple Leafs have never played a single game in the month Their top end is sputtering. Matthews has been quiet, and Marner even of June. Ever. Think about that for a second. That's crazy, right? This worse - his shots are going nowhere, he's got only one of his four was supposed to be their easiest path to the Final Four. And instead, attempts on net tonight; and he had the costly turnover that led directly to they never held a lead after Game 4 in this series. Sure, they didn't have Brendan Gallagher's goal to take the lead on the counterattack. John Tavares for the series. Or Jake Muzzin in Game 7. But the talent The Leafs will begin the third frame on the power play, and it's do or die was still tipped heavily in their favor in this series. And they couldn't get it here. They need their top-end star players to take this one over, put done. When they get back into the same division with Tampa and Boston some pucks into the net and start to press. next season, they won't have an easy path. This was their year. And they squandered it. Or else this is going to be an extraordinarily long summer in the center of the hockey universe. A golden opportunity blown by the Maple Leafs Third period a chance for Leafs to show who they are By Thomas Drance By Ian Mendes June 1, 2021 at 1:37 AM GMT June 1, 2021 at 12:52 AM GMT I'm pretty stunned by how Toronto blew this. I'll really agree with Drance's original sentiment in this blog now: This The Tavares injury, the Muzzin injury, Matthews and Marner silenced, the third period feels like a complete referendum on this Toronto team. And lackadaisical efforts early in Game 5 and Game 6, the loaded power play it's not about blowing it up if they lose meekly. But it's about adjusting our completely ineffectual. expectations for what they actually are. In a Northeast Division with the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Boston If they go out here, that's two straight playoffs in which they've been Bruins, the Maple Leafs were never going to have a more straightforward knocked out by marginal teams. Columbus last year. Montreal this path through the playoffs. season. And they've blown it with the most complete, loaded team they'll likely If they bow out meekly, it's time we stop speaking about them in the ever be able to ice in the prime years of Mitch Marner and Auston same breath as Tampa, Boston, Colorado and Vegas. Matthews' careers. Perry moving up the career playoff goal charts The Maple Leafs remain as well constructed and complete as a team with a top-end this expensive can be, but there's no way around the By Craig Custance impression that their best players get the yips when the chips are down. 0-7 in elimination games is an indictment, frankly. June 1, 2021 at 12:46 AM GMT This isn't about rebuilding a blue line or a bottom six or reallocating cap Another playoff goal for Corey Perry, a greasy one as usual. He entered space. When the problem is between the ears, as it so clearly is with this the game with 42 career playoff goals, which put him in some interesting Maple Leafs team, how do you fix that? company - tied with guys like Bobby Clarke, John LeClair, Adam Oates, Martin St. Louis, Johan Franzen, Slava Kozlov and Dale Hunter. Now, Canadiens penalty kill might have clinched it with a goal that gave Montreal a 2-0 lead, he pulls even with Jeff Carter (43), Ken Linseman, Mike Gartner and Dave Andreychuk. At 36 years Surprised by how balanced both teams' blue line minutes were in the first old, Perry still finds a way to make an impact this time of year. period. Travis Dermott is actually the high minutes man for Toronto through 20, but I'd think that changes as the game moves along. Another multi-goal lead for the Canadiens Brendan Gallagher and Phillip Danault have struggled in this series, but By Ian Mendes that was a tremendous first period for Montreal's shutdown line. Neither June 1, 2021 at 12:39 AM GMT Montreal player was on the ice for a Leafs shot on goal in the first period, which is pretty impressive considering they're drawing the soft match vs. Well, here we go again. Third straight game with a multi-goal lead for the Matthews/Marner line. Montreal. Toronto has erased it the last two games, but can they do it again? First period thoughts: Canadiens playing the game they want But that power play goal feels like it could be the final nail in the coffin for By Ian Mendes the Leafs. Are they putting three past Carey Price in the next 22 mins and May 31, 2021 at 11:50 PM GMT change? Some thoughts after the first period here: That was a soft call to put Montreal on the power play. So I'd be willing to bet the next power play opportunity comes to Toronto. I think maybe this low-scoring stuff bodes well for the Leafs. Consider the score after the first period in their recent win-or-go-home games: Frustrations building for the Maple Leafs 2020 vs CBJ: Trailed 2-0 By Thomas Drance 2019 vs BOS: Trailed 2-0 June 1, 2021 at 12:29 AM GMT 2018 vs BOS: Trailed 3-2 Auston Matthews shoots it himself on a 2-on-1 with Jason Spezza and "tink," it's the hollow ring of the post. Also, I was thinking about this during the first period. Jason Spezza is 0-4 all-time in Game 7s. Has his team ever held the lead? And the answer is Up by one you can notice the Habs beginning to interfere with Maple yes - but briefly. When Spezza was a rookie, he was in Game 7 for the Leafs away from the puck on every 50/50 battle. They're good at this, Sens against New Jersey in 2003. They briefly had a 1-0 lead, but and it's going to be a frustrating uphill climb for Toronto if they're going to ultimately lost late in the third period. Since then, Spezza has played in 3 get the next one. other Game 7s and his team has never had the lead. Not even for a What has to be most disappointing for Maple Leafs brass watching this minute. game is that it took the Habs taking a lead for the team to play with real Conversely, I think this is exactly the type of game the Habs would say urgency. This is a trend for this club. they would want. A classic good road period. Hanging tough in the shot This group can't seem to sustain their fastball over the course of a full 82- attempts and not giving up Grade-A scoring chances. This was an ideal game season, or even a full 56-game season. They consistently make opening frame for the Habs. too many mistakes with a chance to advance in the playoffs. They're The Athletic LOADED: 06.01.2021 always at their best when chasing the lead, never seem to have the stomach to work hard from the outset. Tough questions facing this group, even if they manage to crawl out of the Game 7 hole they're in at the moment. Will Jack Campbell bounce back? By Ian Mendes June 1, 2021 at 12:15 AM GMT That Brendan Gallagher goal was shades of Joe Nieuwendyk on Patrick Lalime in Game 7 in 2004. Same side of the arena too. Question now is can Campbell recover from allowing that goal? That felt like it could be soul-crushing. That Carey Price save on Hyman doesn't help matters either. Brendan Gallagher opens the scoring for Montreal By Thomas Drance June 1, 2021 at 12:13 AM GMT Brendan Gallagher was dominant in the first period and deserved the break that he got with a goal with Jack Campbell would want back. Mitch Marner's puck management bites the Leafs. It's a real blind spot in his game, and now puts an even harsher spotlight on a Maple Leafs core that just hasn't delivered in this series. First period observations: Strong start for Montreal shutdown line By Thomas Drance June 1, 2021 at 12:00 AM GMT Montreal found their footing about seven minutes into the period and were narrowly the better side in the first frame. Just not a ton going on though, in terms of really high quality looks. A feeling out period, really, as everyone gets their legs and settles their nerves. Some observations from the frame: The Maple Leafs' fourth line of Nick Foligno, Joe Thornton and Jason Spezza isn't exactly fleet of foot, but they're getting forechecking pressure in on the Canadiens almost every shift. Far and away Toronto's best line in the first period, and out-shot the Canadiens 5-2. Toronto's top-six forwards were outshot 9-2 in the period. Like Mitch Marner not managing to put a quality scoring chance on net with seconds remaining in the first period, that's not going to get it done. Nashville Predators Luke Kunin Tanner Jeannot Predators depth chart heading into the offseason: Contract statuses, Mathieu Olivier biggest questions and more Philip Tomasino

The right wing depth chart is jumbled. First, Duchene is a center but was By Adam Vingan May 31, 2021 moved to the wing after returning from a six-week stint on injured reserve in mid-April. If Granlund departs, then Duchene could return to his natural position. Regardless of where he has lined up, Duchene has not This could be a very interesting offseason for the Predators, who have to met expectations since signing with the Predators in July 2019, scoring decide which direction to take the franchise. 19 goals in 100 games. To get a sense of where things stand with the roster, here is a position- The Predators should explore trading two-time 30-goal scorer Viktor by-position breakdown. Players highlighted in red are unrestricted free Arvidsson this offseason. Injuries have lessened his impact in recent agents. Blue indicates restricted free agents and green represents entry- seasons, but his $4.25 million cap hit through 2024 could be attractive to level players. a team looking to boost its offense at a reasonable price. LEFT WING Philip Tomasino, 19, is ready to take the next step. The Predators’ 2019 first-round pick finished third among AHL rookies in scoring this season Filip Forsberg with 32 points in 29 games. Tomasino played right wing for the Chicago Wolves but is a natural center. Calle Jarnkrok LEFT DEFENSE Nick Cousins Roman Josi Yakov Trenin Mattias Ekholm Rocco Grimaldi Ben Harpur Anthony Richard Mark Borowiecki In the Predators’ first-round series against the Carolina Hurricanes, Filip Forsberg added two more goals to his extensive highlight reel. Jeremy Davies Forsberg is the team’s most talented scorer, but he seems to have David Farrance plateaued as a highly skilled but inconsistent winger. As Sebastian Aho showed the Predators, an upper-tier forward is hugely important in the Luca Sbisa playoffs. Unfortunately, few of those forwards, which the Predators have Marc Del Gaizo tried and failed to acquire throughout their history, are available. Predators general manager David Poile made it clear after the trade Calle Jarnkrok does so much for the Predators, but he should not be deadline that he intends to re-sign Mattias Ekholm, whose team-friendly leading them in goals. Yakov Trenin scored twice in Game 5 against the contract expires next summer. That will require some salary cap Hurricanes but also made two mistakes that cost the Predators the lead maneuvering, since Ekholm could feasibly double his current $3.75 in their season-ending loss in Game 6. He has room to grow. million cap hit. One of the season’s best moments was Rocco Grimaldi’s four-goal game The left side of the Predators’ third pair is a weakness. Case in point: on March 25. He fell out of the lineup soon after and did not dress in the Ben Harpur, a replacement-level player who spent the 2019-20 season in playoffs. Grimaldi has never lacked work ethic, but he is a liability in the the minors, appeared in 34 regular-season games and five playoff defensive zone. It might make sense to trade him. games. Before suffering an injury in early March that kept him out of the CENTER lineup for the rest of the season, Mark Borowiecki was not much better. Ryan Johansen Jeremy Davies and David Farrance will be given a chance to earn that spot in training camp. Mikael Granlund RIGHT DEFENSE Erik Haula Ryan Ellis Colton Sissons Alexandre Carrier Brad Richardson Matt Benning Rem Pitlick Dante Fabbro There is going to be a lot of talk this summer about the futures of $8 million men Ryan Johansen and Matt Duchene. Realistically, it will be Erik Gudbranson near impossible for the Predators to move them without taking a hit, Tyler Lewington whether that means retaining salary or giving up a valuable asset or two. It will be interesting to see if the Predators expose one or both in the Frederic Allard Seattle Kraken expansion draft in July. Despite being scratched throughout the playoffs, Dante Fabbro, 22, Once again, Johansen teased us with his inspired play in the playoffs, remains in the Predators’ plans. His development has been uneven, but scoring a team-high three goals in six games. But recent history suggests that is not entirely unexpected. He was thrust into a top-four role at a that he will not bring that same energy during the regular season. young age. Since John Hynes became Predators coach in January 2020, Mikael “Dante is a really good player,” Hynes said. “He’s an unbelievable kid. I Granlund has been his most trusted forward, averaging 19:20 of ice time think he’s dealt with this experience the right way in my conversations per game. Evolving Hockey projects that Granlund will receive a cap hit with him. We’re expecting a really good exit meeting with him and slightly above $5 million on his next contract, which seems conservative. expecting a big summer out of him. We need Dante to come back and be At that price, re-signing Granlund would be worth it, but can the a big-time player for us in the fall.” Predators, who have around $17 million in salary-cap space heading into next season, afford to do so? Conversely, Alexandre Carrier, 24, spent four years with the Milwaukee Admirals before graduating to the NHL this season and impressing the Erik Haula and Brad Richardson could be cap casualties. Rem Pitlick, coaching staff. He and Fabbro have plenty of potential. who scored eight goals in eight AHL games this season, is waiting in the wings. Carrier is not exempt from the Seattle expansion draft. Each team must expose one defenseman who is under contract next season and RIGHT WING appeared in at least 27 games this season or 54 over the past two. Carrier is two games short but can still be chosen. Matt Benning meets Matt Duchene the criteria. Viktor Arvidsson GOALTENDER Eeli Tolvanen Juuse Saros Pekka Rinne Kasimir Kaskisuo Connor Ingram Devin Cooley Tomas Vomacka The Predators will need to find a backup for Juuse Saros next season if Pekka Rinne does not return. Kasimir Kaskisuo, who spent this season on the taxi squad, suggested on social media that he will not be back. Connor Ingram was limited to five AHL games this season after entering the league’s player assistance program in January. There will be no shortage of adequate, experienced backups in free agency. Notable names include Jaroslav Halak, Antti Raanta and James Reimer. The Athletic LOADED: 06.01.2021 New York Islanders

Islanders tie series 1-1 in Semyon Varlamov’s return

By JIMMY GOLEN ASSOCIATED PRESS |MAY 31, 2021 AT 11:46 PM

BOSTON — Casey Cizikas scored on a breakaway with 14:48 gone in the first overtime and Semyon Varlamov returned to the net to make 39 saves, leading the New York Islanders to a 4-3 victory over the Boston Bruins on Monday night and knotting their second-round playoff series at one game apiece. Cizikas picked up a loose puck that bounced off Boston forward Charlie Coyle’s skate and raced in all alone on Tuukka Rask before beating the Boston goalie high on the stick side. Game 3 is Thursday night at the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. Josh Bailey, Kyle Palmieri and Jean-Gabriel Pageau all scored in the second period — with a little help from the Bruins — as the Islanders rallied from a 1-0 deficit to take a 3-1 lead. But Brad Marchand set up Patrice Bergeron’s one-timer to make it a one- goal game midway through the third. Then Marchand tied it with a goal of his own about five minutes later. Varlamov, who started both losses in the six-game victory over Pittsburgh in the first round, stopped all six Boston shots in overtime. Tuukka Rask made 38 saves in his 100th career playoff game, and Charlie Coyle scored Boston’s other goal. But that doesn’t mean the Bruins weren’t putting pucks in the nets. After Coyle gave Boston the lead in the first, Bailey tied it when he bounced one off Bruins defenseman Jeremy Lauzon’s skate and into the goal. Four minutes later, Rask himself swiped a puck into the net with his glove after saving Palmieri’s attempt to stuff it in. With less than three minutes left in the second, a pass from Mathew Barzal was deflected by Boston defenseman Connor Clifton right to Pageau, who beat Rask to make it 3-1. It was Boston’s first two-goal deficit this postseason. But Bergeron made it 3-2 midway through the third period and, with just under five minutes left in regulation and the Islanders shorthanded for a too many men penalty, Marchand wristed one past Varlamov to tie it. SUB IN Varlamov started in place of Ilya Sorokin, the rookie who started all four wins in the first-round series against Pittsburgh but lost 5-2 to Boston in the second-round opener on Saturday. FULL HOUSE The game was the second for Boston since the state lifted COVID-19 restrictions on attendance. A sellout crowd of 17,400 was on hand, chanting nasty things about New York and Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving, who beat the Celtics for 39 points in their NBA playoff game a night earlier. Irving had to dodge a water bottle as he left the court on Sunday night; a fan was arrested and facing a ban from the building. The Bruins game featured nothing more than obscene chants. New York Daily News LOADED: 06.01.2021 New York Islanders

Semyon Varlamov rewards ‘easy’ Islanders’ decision to start him

By Larry BrooksJ une 1, 2021 | 1:22am | Updated

The choice, Barry Trotz allowed, wasn’t difficult at all, and why would it have been? Semyon Varlamov was the Islanders’ No. 1 goaltender throughout the season, so it was hardly a gamble to turn to him for Monday’s Game 2 after the Bruins had solved Ilya Sorokin in their 5-2 Game 1 victory. “It was a pretty easy decision. We have two good goaltenders,” the coach said after Varlamov turned in a sparkling 39-save performance to backstop his team to a 4-3 overtime victory that evened this Round 2 at a game apiece. “His record [against Boston] was 5-1, his goals-against was under 2 [1.93], he’s a veteran and he’s not scared of these moments.” Varlamov was outstanding as the Bruins crashed the net at every opportunity. He was strong on rebound control and formidable on loose pucks around the crease. “He’s been a rock for us all year,” Trotz said. “I hope he gets a ton of votes for the Vezina, at least be a finalist because he’s been one of our MVP’s this year.” The adjustment from playing in empty arenas to ones packed with fans, which was the case for the first two games in Boston after Massachusetts lifted most pandemic-related restrictions, has seeped behind NHL benches. “It’s starting to feel normal again,” Trotz said. “ It has been the last little while, obviously in the Coliseum where the fans were so loud and that felt as normal as anything. The Islanders’ Semyon Varlamov make a save against the Bruins on Monday. “Obviously with the fans in the stands and the atmosphere, I mean, I’ve got a mask on, I’m screaming at the players so they can actually hear me, and I see the other coaches around the league are having the same problem. The masks are becoming chin straps because the players are having trouble hearing you. “That’s the normal part of the playoffs where you have to scream up and down the bench to find out who’s up, or the changes, or on any instructions,” the coach said. “So it’s getting tougher and tougher and it’s a lot more normal that when you have an empty building and everyone in the suites can hear you talking on the bench.” When Matt Martin and Nic Ritchie drew coincidental minor penalties at 12:09 of the second period, the clubs were set to play four-on-four for 2:00. But because of some sort of malfunction neither Martin nor Carlo was released from the box until 15:25. That meant the clubs went four-on-four for 3:16, a mishap that worked in Boston’s advantage as the Bruins controlled the puck in the Islanders’ zone for more than 30 seconds at the tail-end of the event. “It actually messed me up a little bit because you’re sort of watching the clock and trying to get your groups out,” Trotz said. “That was not on the referees, I thought maybe they could blow the whistle but they weren’t sure about what time was on the clock and when they went in. “That was all on the off-ice officials. They have to know that, they just messed up. It’s part of the game but it was unique.” Fouls, but no harm. Trotz said winger Oliver Wahlstrom, who missed his third straight game with the lower-body injury he sustained in the third period of Game 5 versus Pittsburgh, “is getting nearer.” “We’ll see where we are for Game 3,” Trotz said. Game 3 will be played Thursday at the Coliseum. Boston winger Craig Smith, feeling the brunt of a second-period hit from Cal Clutterbuck that forced him out of Game 1 following one third-period shift, was sidelined for Game 2. Jake DeBrusk moved into Smith’s spot on the second line with David Krejci and Taylor Hall while Karson Kuhlman was inserted into the lineup on the third line. New York Post LOADED: 06.01.2021 New York Islanders So, when it was over, were the Islanders, dancing back to Nassau County for Game 3 at Ye Olde Barn on Thursday.

New York Post LOADED: 06.01.2021 Islanders topple Bruins in OT thriller to even series

By Larry Brooks May 31, 2021 | 11:06pm | Updated

This was a game of identity so why would anyone expect anything else than the center of the Islanders’ Identity Line scoring the winner in overtime? Well, except for the tiny fact that the man of the moment, Casey Cizikas had not scored in the playoffs since April 21, 2015, a run of 47 straight since he got one in Game 4 of the first round against a Washington team with Barry Trotz behind the bench. “Yeah, it’s been a real long time,” Cizikas said while barely stifling a chuckle after beating Tuukka Rask over the right shoulder on a breakaway at 14:48 of OT to lift the Islanders to a 4-3 Game 2 victory over the Bruins to knot their second round series at a game apiece. “You just do the right things in overtime, be in the right spots, and I was lucky enough to have that puck pop off into the middle and give me an opportunity to get us the win.” This was an intense match through nearly 75 minutes of hand-to-hand hockey combat. No ice was given away for free. No hit was turned away from. Every shift was a test. And the Islanders had aced it through the first 50 minutes in building a 3-1 lead on a three-goal explosion within a second-period span of 10:29 that included a pair of power-play scores while stifling the Brad Marchand-Patrice Bergeron-David Pastrnak line. But when Marchand scored from the left circle at 10:34 and then Bergeron blew one past Semyon Varlamov through an inadvertent screen set by Noah Dobson on a power play created by a too-many-men infraction caused by Josh Bailey at 15:06 of the third, the game seemed to slip away. Casey Cizikas and the Islanders celebrate his goal at 5:12 of the first overtime to defeat the Boston Bruins 4-3 in Game 2 on Monday. But no, not quite. The teams traded long down-low possessions in the offensive zone. Varlamov, who was outstanding in his first action since Game 3 of the Pittsburgh series, made perhaps a series-defining rebound stop on Taylor Hall from the left porch at 6:54 of OT. “For him to come in and play like that and come up with that big save, it just gives you that little boost you sometimes need,” Jean-Gabriel Pageau said. “We had our looks and we had our chances, and to see that your goalie has your back, it’s massive.” Two shifts later, the Bruins had control. Defenseman Jeremy Lauzon tried to go D-to-D from the left point. Only there was no Boston defenseman on the right. Only the attempted pass glanced off Charlie Coyle’s skate, where it was gathered by Cizikas, who was off to the races. “This is sort of a character win for us,” said Trotz, who chose the correct goaltender and also chose correctly by sticking with his line combinations. “And there is no one who has more character in our dressing room and is more loved by Casey. “He gives us everything he’s got shift in and shift out. He’s a total team guy, a great teammate, and for him to score a goal like that, I guarantee you when he came into our room, it exploded with guys hugging him and all that. “That’s what makes this group very special. They love to spend time together, they love playing and being accountable to each other. You know, everyone is a hero in that room and Casey is one of the guys that does everything for us.” Cizikas is also an impending unrestricted free agent, but there will be ample time to discuss that once the ride comes to a stop for the Islanders. From the get-go, the Islanders were far more to handle than they had been Saturday when the Bergeron line embarrassed them. On that night, the trio had a 23-6 edge in five-on-five attempts and an expected xGF of 89.16. In Game 2, the edge was just 18-15 and the xGF at 51.28. Mat Barzal, eliminated in Game 1, was a force throughout most of this one. He and linemates Leo Komarov and Jordan Eberle created on nearly every shift through the opening two periods, on for an 18-8 edge in attempts after cobbling together a total of three attempts in Game 1. Trotz challenged Barzal to fight for his inches, and he took feet, if not yards. “I thought he was good. He was dangerous and that line was really good,” the coach said. “He was dancing.” New York Islanders

Barry Trotz keeping Islanders’ Game 2 starter under wraps

By Peter Botte May 31, 2021 | 4:10pm | Updated

Barry Trotz hasn’t won at least one playoff series in each of the last seven years, including his three seasons with the Islanders, by voluntarily offering up state secrets. Trotz has played coy with his goaltending decisions throughout this postseason and regurgitated his joke from the previous round when asked Monday about his goalie plans before the Isles looked to even their second-round series against the Bruins in Boston. “It’ll be a Russian, left-handed goaltender,” Trotz quipped. Veteran netminder Semyon Varlamov has not started since allowing seven goals in successive losses in Games 2 and 3 against Pittsburgh, but rookie Ilya Sorokin surrendered four – including a David Pastrnak hat trick — in stumbling for the first time in five playoff starts in Saturday’s 5-2 series-opening loss. Trotz said he gave the Game 2 decision “a lot of thought,” but he explained his reasoning for not divulging too much information at this time of year. Ilya Sorokin’s first dud of the 2021 playoffs could mean Semyon Varlamov is back between the posts for Game 2. “My responsibility is to protect them, no different when certain players are marked up on certain parts of their body,” Trotz said. “Say if you have a rib injury…I guarantee you I’m crosschecking you if I’m an opponent, right in the ribs all the time, giving you a shot, all those things. “So that’s the protection part. That’s why sometimes you want to give information, but you can’t, just because of the fact that there’s those games that go on during a series. So we try to protect them as best as we can.” During an optional morning skate at TD Garden, Sorokin was in net, while Varlamov split time at the other end with third-stringer Cory Schneider, according to reports. But Varlamov left the ice first, which often is an indication of that night’s starter. Trotz did allow that he expected to go with the same 18 skaters as Game 1, meaning impressive 20-year-old rookie Oliver Wahlstrom will miss his third straight game, while late-season pickup Travis Zajac will remain in the lineup after sitting out the first five games of the previous series against the Penguins. “Still the plan. We’ve got to be better. The same group is going right back out,” Trotz said. “[Wahlstrom] will not play [Monday night]… He’s getting nearer, and we’ll see where we are for Game 3.” Trotz also spoke for the second consecutive day about the need for No. 1 center Mathew Barzal – the Isles’ leading scorer in the regular season with 45 points – to produce offensively. He entered with zero goals and three assists through the team’s first seven postseason contests. “The top players get really good matchups. They really have to fight for their inches to have any success in the playoffs,” Trotz said. “I think in the regular season, there’s more room, There just is. So they’re able to create and Mat has been able to do that. “In the past playoffs, he’s been able to create and put up pretty good numbers. This year it’s been a little different. He’s having a little more of a struggle. I think those players have to fight for the inches, and if you’re not willing to fight for those inches, then you don’t get those inches and those opportunities. He’s got to dig in. This is not about who he’s playing with. It’s about Mathew just digging in a little bit and not getting frustrated…I don’t have a lot of issue with his game. Would I like him to produce a little more? Absolutely. And he will.” Trotz said the packed crowd in Boston for the opener made the game “feel normal again” after playing in mostly empty arenas during the pandemic, adding he had to “scream” for players to hear his directions. “The masks are becoming chin straps because the players are having trouble hearing you, and that’s part of the normal… a lot more normal than it has been,” he said… Forward Craig Smith (lower-body) was out for the Bruins. New York Post LOADED: 06.01.2021 New York Islanders

Islanders-Bruins Game 2 recap: Winning goal, key stat and more

By Colin Stephenson

Final score: Islanders 4, Bruins 3, in OT. Winning goal: Casey Cizikas on a breakaway, at 14:48 of OT. Key statistic Semyon Varlamov went 19-11-4 with a 2.04 goals-against average, a .929 save percentage and seven shutouts in the regular season but was 0-2 with a 3.62 GAA and .903 save percentage in the playoffs entering Game 2. Turning point The Islanders were dominating overtime, but Varlamov had to make a save on David Krejci and then another on Taylor Hall on the rebound, to keep the game going at 13:06 of OT. Did you notice? A day after a Celtics’ fan was arrested for allegedly throwing a water bottle at Kyrie Irving at TD Garden, Bruins fans directed an offensive chant against the Nets’ star throughout Game 2. Injury report Bruins RW Craig Smith (lower body) did not play after getting hurt in Game 1… Islanders rookie RW Oliver Wahlstrom (lower body) remained out for the third straight game … Bruins D Kevan Miller (undisclosed) and D Jakub Zboril (upper body) were unavailable. Other news The Vezina Trophy finalists will be announced Tuesday and Varlamov is a candidate …Things are feeling normal again with nearly full arenas again – 17,400 at TD Garden for Games 1 and 2. "On the bench, I’ve got a mask on and I’m screaming at the players so they can actually hear me," Trotz said. Three stars 1. Casey Cizikas (Islanders) made no mistake on the breakaway to win the game. 2. Semyon Varlamov (Islanders) stopped 39 of 42 shots to earn his first playoff win. 3. Brad Marchand (Bruins) goal and an assist. His goal forced OT. Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 06.01.2021 New York Islanders "He was good," Trotz said of Barzal. "He was dangerous. That line was really good tonight. He was dancing. He was going to the hard areas. He was fighting for his inches. They had a hard time containing him. That’s Barry Trotz pushes the right buttons for Islanders in Game 2 victory over what we need." Bruins Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 06.01.2021

By Neil Best

Give Barry Trotz credit for this: He does not care what you or I or anyone else thinks about his lineup. It’s a right he has earned, given his resume. On Monday night, the Islanders’ coach again demonstrated that he knows what he is doing, making a pair of counterintuitive decisions that paid off. Before Game 2 of the second-round playoff series against the Bruins, he surprised many by replacing Ilya Sorokin with Semyon Varlamov in goal and choosing not to replace Leo Komarov on the struggling first line. Net result: a 4-3 victory on Casey Cizikas’ breakaway goal at 14:48 of overtime and a 1-1 series heading to Nassau Coliseum for Game 3 on Thursday. Sorokin was 4-0 in the first round against the Penguins and Varlamov was 0-2. Then the rookie seemed to play mostly well in Game 1 against the Bruins despite a 5-2 loss. No matter. Trotz said the change "was a pretty easy decision." "We have two really good goaltenders," he said. "But it was [his] record. He was 5-1 [against the Bruins] . . . He’s a veteran. He’s not scared of these moments, and he’s been a rock for us all year. "I hope he gets a ton of votes for the Vezina [Trophy], at least be a finalist, because he’s been one of our MVPs this year." All true. But after Sorokin beat the Penguins in Game 1 and Trotz switched to Varlamov, he had a couple of shaky outings in consecutive losses. Sorokin returned and won three in a row. Trotz said he hoped to ride the Sorokin momentum into this series but that the plan was to go back to Varlamov if the Islanders lost Game 1. Varlamov’s mindset was the least of the coach’s concerns. "He’s not a guy that complains about who’s in net," Trotz said. "He just says, ‘When I’m in net, I’m going to give you my best game,’ and he’s an all-in team guy." The Varlamov decision did not look wise early on. For the third time in his three playoff starts, he gave up an early goal, this time 2:38 in on the Bruins’ first shot on goal. Boston’s Charlie Coyle maneuvered around Nick Leddy and charged across the front of the net, then tucked the puck between Varlamov’s left pad and the goalpost. Might Sorokin have made the stop, given that he is best known for his quick side-to-side movements and ability to make saves with his legs? After that, though, Varlamov was sharp most of the night until Boston scored twice in the last 10 minutes of the third period to tie it at 3. But in overtime, the veteran goalie was excellent, especially on a save coming across the goalmouth on Taylor Hall shortly before Cizikas’ game-winner. "It’s huge," Jean-Gabriel Pageau said of the stop on Hall. "He was great for us the whole game. He’s been great for us the whole season. To come in and do that, that big save, I think it gives us that little boost that sometimes you need. "To see your goalie has your back, it’s massive." Said Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy, "They were one save better than us." As for the Barzal line, Trotz hinted after Game 1 that he would make a personnel change there after an unproductive playoff season for Barzal and his wings, Jordan Eberle and Komarov. Barzal has not scored a playoff goal yet, and there was widespread speculation that Trotz might exchange Komarov for someone more explosive offensively, perhaps Kyle Palmieri. Even though the Barzal line did not score Monday, they validated Trotz’s decision not to make a change, creating numerous good scoring chances. Barzal and Eberle each had four shots on goal and Komarov drew a key penalty by annoying Brandon Carlo into a crosscheck that led to a power- play goal. New York Islanders

Casey Cizikas nets winner in OT as Islanders tie series with Bruins at 1-1

By Andrew Gross

BOSTON — The Islanders did it the hard way. The thing is, they did it. "This is a character win," coach Barry Trotz said. "There is no one that has bigger character in our dressing room and is more loved than Casey [Cizikas]. When he came in, our room exploded with guys hugging him." The identity-setting fourth-line center scored on a breakaway at 14:48 of overtime to give the Islanders — who couldn’t hold a two-goal third- period lead — a road split against the Bruins with a 4-3 win in Game 2 of their East Division second-round series on Monday night before 17,400 at TD Garden. Cizikas picked up a loose puck that bounced off Boston forward Charlie Coyle’s skate and raced in on Tuukka Rask before beating him on the stick side. "Just skate as fast as I can and get a shot off, and I was able to beat him," said Cizikas, who scored his first playoff goal since a first-round series against Trotz’s Capitals in 2015. "That was a heck of a hockey game," Trotz said. "That’s two good teams going nose-to-nose. That’s the type of series I expected going into it and I expect the same when we get back to the Island. They had a lot of momentum from the crowd. We fought through that, and that showed a lot of character." The series shifts to Nassau Coliseum for Game 3 on Thursday night, with capacity expanded to 12,000. Cizikas’ overtime winner came shortly after Semyon Varlamov, back in net for the first time since a Game 3 loss to the Penguins in the first round, denied Taylor Hall on a rebound. Varlamov made 39 saves and Rask stopped 35 shots. "He was great for us the whole game," said Jean-Gabriel Pageau, who capped a three-goal second period with a power-play tap-in at the left post to make it 3-1 at 17:21. "And so to come up like that and do that big save, I think it just gives us that little boost. To see that your goalie has your back is massive." Patrice Bergeron’s one-timer brought the Bruins within 3-2 at 10:34 of the third period. Brad Marchand scored the equalizer on an unscreened power-play shot past Varlamov’s glove at 15:06 after the Islanders were caught with too many men on the ice. "You’re going to expect a push," Josh Bailey said. "We want to stay aggressive in those situations. But again, they’re a good team. That’s the way it goes sometimes. But a win’s a win." The Islanders went 2-for-3 with the man advantage and the Bruins were 1-for-2. Trotz turned back to Varlamov after Ilya Sorokin stopped 35 of 39 shots in Saturday’s 5-2 loss in Game 1. The Bruins took a 1-0 lead on their first shot as Coyle collected a turnover in the Islanders’ zone, skated around defenseman Nick Leddy and tucked the puck past Varlamov’s outstretched left pad at 2:38 of the first period. The goal was not Varlamov’s fault, but it mirrored the early, questionable goals he surrendered in losses in Games 2 and 3 to the Penguins. But Varlamov stopped the next 14 shots the rest of the first period and all 10 in the second period. Bailey tied the score at 1 with a power-play goal at 6:52 of the second period as his centering feed deflected in off defenseman Jeremy Lauzon. Kyle Palmieri stuffed the puck in at the left post to make it 2-1 at 11:00. Beyond Varlamov’s goaltending and Cizikas’ overtime goal, a key for the Islanders was having all four lines aggressively creating chances. They have struggled to find that four-line balance in the playoffs. Mathew Barzal remains without a goal in the playoffs, but he had four shots, and his top line with Jordan Eberle and Leo Komarov were constant threats. "It’s just building momentum as a group," Cizikas said. "You see the line before you work and battling, taking hits to make plays. You want to follow that up with a big shift. I thought we did that line after line tonight." Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 06.01.2021 New York Islanders

Islanders' so-called 'No. 2 line' deserves top billing

By Neil Best

Much was made leading up to Game 2 of the Islanders’ second-round playoff series against the Bruins on Monday night of the lack of production from the team’s "No. 1" line, centered by Mathew Barzal. And all of it was deserved, especially given the contrast to what Boston’s featured line of Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak did to the Islanders in a 5-2 victory in Game 1 on Saturday. But the top-line thing mostly is semantics at this stage for the Islanders, whose best trio in the first seven games of the playoffs was the "second" one, centered by Brock Nelson, with wingers Anthony Beauvillier and Josh Bailey. They had 10 goals and 20 points among them and accounted for three of the team’s four highest point totals in the playoffs. Whether that will be enough to carry the team past the Bruins remains to be seen. But it gives the Islanders a shot. The Nelson line has had its ups and downs, but it also was the team’s best in last year’s playoff run. "I think it’s got a good combination," coach Barry Trotz said before Monday’s game. "You’ve got a little bit of quickness and speed and a little bit of a dog-and-the-bone mentality with Beauvillier. He gets to pucks and he gets some separation with speed. "I think you’ve got a guy in Brock who can move and he’s got some length and he can make some plays. He’s probably more of a shooter than a playmaker at times. And then you’ve got a guy who’s really cerebral in Bailey who has some deception to his game, is a really good passer and really intelligent that way. "The combination of the three just works. And they’re a pretty responsible 200-foot line for the most part." Bailey and Nelson are long-established veterans. It is the development of Beauvillier that has been an eye-opener as he evolved from a talented but streaky player to a more consistent producer. He had four goals and four assists in the playoffs entering Game 2. He is in his fifth season, but he will not turn 24 until next Tuesday. "I think he’s been great," Bailey said. "You see how hard he’s being on the puck, and the confidence and the plays he’s making. I think it all just comes together for him. "It’s been a real treat to get to watch him develop and grow as a person and as a player over the last few years. I consider him a close friend. So it’s been a huge benefit to our team." The Islanders drafted Beauvillier 28th overall in 2015, 12 spots after Barzal, who entered Game 2 with no goals and three assists in the playoffs. Trotz was asked before Game 2 about Barzal’s struggles and gave an answer that ran almost three minutes, in which he praised Barzal for his maturity and demeanor but reiterated that he would like to get more from him. "I think those [star] players have to fight for the inches, and if you’re not willing to fight for those inches, then you don’t get those inches; you don’t get those opportunities," Trotz said. "So he’s got to dig in. This is not about who he’s playing with; it’s about Mathew just digging in a little bit and not getting frustrated." Trotz said that in the past Barzal might "go off the rails" if other teams sought to get under his skin, but that he has learned to focus on the task at hand. "I don’t have a lot of issue with his game," Trotz said. "Would I like him to produce a little bit more? Absolutely. And he will. He will. He’s a proud player. He’s a good player, and I have a lot of trust in him that he’s going to be able to do that. He’s done that . . . He will, and when he does, that will just make us an even better hockey team." In the meantime, his friends on the second line are trying to keep the Islanders on track. Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 06.01.2021 New York Islanders

Semyon Varlamov or Ilya Sorokin in Game 2? Islanders coach Barry Trotz plays guessing game with Bruins

By Andrew Gross

BOSTON — Ilya Sorokin guarded one net during the Islanders’ optional morning skate at TD Garden on Monday while Semyon Varlamov and Cory Schneider took turns in the other net. That’s usually a good indicator of which goalie will start. But so is which goalie leaves the ice first, and it was Varlamov who departed for the Islanders’ dressing room before the other two. "We know [Barry Trotz] is going to play a Russian goaltender," Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said. "So we’ve got that narrowed down." The Bruins beat the Islanders and Sorokin, 5-2, in Saturday night’s Game 1. Whether deliberate gamesmanship or not, the Islanders were able to keep the Bruins guessing as to which goalie they would oppose in Monday night’s Game 2. Just before game time, it was revealed that the starter would be Varlamov, who gave up a goal on the first shot he faced. Gamesmanship and withholding as much information as possible — be it injury specifics or lineup decisions — have long been a daily part of NHL life. That’s become especially true in this age of instant online information in which every practice nuance is reported and scrutinized. Things naturally become even more tight-lipped in the playoffs. "I’m not that big into the gamesmanship with the referees," Trotz said. "But I’m going to protect my players when it comes to injuries. Different coaches have different varieties of that. Some of it is over the top a little bit. I listen to postgame interviews of other coaches. I try to keep it down the middle." Trotz, an NHL coach since 1998, has earned a well-deserved reputation for being fair and earnest with the media through stops with the Predators, Capitals and Islanders. He often elaborates with honest, forthcoming answers on players’ performances, or lack thereof. But Trotz, just like every other coach, knows his first responsibility is to give his players the best chance to succeed. And succeed safely. "My responsibility is to protect them," Trotz said. "If I said, ‘Andrew Gross has a rib injury but he’s playing through it,’ I guarantee you I’m cross- checking you if I’m an opponent right in the ribs all the time. "That’s the protection part. That’s why sometimes you want to give information but you can’t. Just because of the fact that there is those games that go on during a series. We try to protect them as best we can." It’s something the players appreciate. "When you have a coach that stands behind you, as players, you run through a brick wall for those type of people," said Travis Zajac, who has played for 11 coaches since joining the Devils in 2006. "Trotzy has been a great coach. He’s a veteran coach. You know where you stand with him. The coaching staff has done a great job of making adjustments and getting us prepared for these games." Trotz rarely divulges his starting goalie before a game, either in the regular season or the playoffs. He is, at times, more forthcoming with which skaters will dress. For instance, Trotz said on Sunday he would use the same 18 skaters in Game 2 as he did in Game 1, though he indicated he might alter some line combinations, without giving specifics. The thinking is: Why do the prescouting work for the opponent? The Islanders had an optional practice on Sunday in Boston and then Monday’s optional morning skate. So there were no line combinations or defense pairings shown to the attending media. That likely was more of an attempt to rest the players rather than to hide the Islanders’ lineup intentions. Still, it kept the Bruins from knowing exactly what they were facing until the pregame warm-ups. Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 06.01.2021 New York Islanders “This is sort of a character win for us,” Trotz said. “There’s no one who has bigger character in our dressing room and is loved than Casey. He gives everything he’s got shift in and shift out. Total team guy… for him Cizikas Leads Islanders to Game 2 Overtime Victory Over Boston to score a big goal like that, I guarantee you when he came in, our room exploded with guys hugging him… That’s what makes this group very special. By Christian Arnold “They love to spend time together, they love playing and being accountable to each other. Everybody is a hero in our room.”

Game 3 is on Thursday at the Nassau Coliseum on Long Island. Casey Cizikas wouldn’t have been the first person that came to mind when trying to pick a game-winner, but the fourth-liner came up big when NYI Hockey Now LOADED: 06.01.2021 the New York Islanders needed him the most. Cizikas scored the game-winning goal on Monday on the breakaway to clinch Game 2 for the Islanders in overtime, 4-3 and send their series with the Boston Bruins back to Long Island even at 1-1. The OT winner was Cizikas’ first postseason goal since April 21, 2015, against a Barry Trotz-led Washington Capitals team. Jeremy Lauzon had a pass attempt at the blue line hit off the skate of another Boston teammate and Cizikas picked up the loose puck for a breakaway. Cizikas put the puck past Tuukka Rask at the 14:48 mark of overtime for the win. Casey Cizikas brought the overtime magic for the #Isles in Game 2. NBC Sports | @massmutual pic.twitter.com/3SRZ8x3USt — NHL on NBC Sports (@NHLonNBCSports) June 1, 2021 “It’s been a really long time,” Cizikas said. “You’re just trying to do the right thing in overtime, be in the right spots. I was lucky for that puck to pop off in the middle and give me an opportunity to get that one.” It capped an already wild night in Boston that had seen the New York Islanders rally from an early deficit only to give up a two-goal lead in the third period. Goals from Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand erased the Isles 3-1 lead. Marchand set up Boston’s first goal of the third period by sending the puck to Bergeron in the high slot for a one-timer that beat Islanders starter Semyon Varlamov on his blocker side at 10:34. Boston tied the game just under five minutes later when the Islanders were called for too many men on the ice. Marchand beat Varlamov off a wrister from inside the faceoff circle to tie the game. “It takes everyone,” Josh Bailey said about the win. “Zee, so happy for him. He deserves it. Might not even had to get there if I didn’t cause that too many men. Ultimately, really happy to see it go in and Varly had a great game. I thought every just buckled down and thankfully we got the job done here tonight.” Varlamov returned to the Isles’ net on Monday as Trotz opted to turn to his veteran netminder after rolling with rookie Ilya Sorokin through the final three games of the Islanders series with Pittsburgh and the first game against Boston. Varlamov made 39 saves in Game 2 and was sharp for the better part of the 60-plus minute affair. One of his biggest stops came in the overtime period when he robbed Taylor Hall moments before Cizikas’ game-winner. “It was pretty easy the decision,” Trotz said about starting Varlamov. “He was 5-1 (against Boston), his goals against were under 2, he’s a veteran, he’s not scared of these moments and he’s been a rock for us all year. I hope he gets a ton of votes for Vezina, at least be a finalist. He’s been one of our MVP’s this year.”

Trotz Postgame Availability pic.twitter.com/Wsa3cIkVw1 — x – New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) June 1, 2021 Monday was another character win for the Islanders, who have had so many already during their playoff run this season. New York found itself trailing early on after Varlamov had given up a goal on Boston’s first shot of the game. Charlie Coyle danced around Nick Leddy and then slid the puck past the leg of Varalmov 2:38 into the game. It took some time, but the Islanders did find their footing and in the second period tied the game at one. Bailey caught a lucky break when a centering pass attempt hit ping-ponged off the skate of a Boston player and went into the net. The Islanders took their first lead of the night at the 11-minute mark when Leddy fired the puck off the end boards and Kyle Palmieri pushed the puck on net. It squeaked by Rask and put the New York Islanders up 2-1. They extended their lead to 3-1 late in the period while on the power play. Mathew Barzal did a good job of moving the puck down low to Anthony Beauvillier, who in turn made a Spin-O-Rama pass to Jean-Gabriel Pageau for the goal on the doorstep. New York Islanders defending that. “I think it’s just being dialed in around the net and finding the guys away from the play.”

Part of that issue might be solved by a change in net. The veteran Three Things the Islanders Must Change for Game 2 Semyon Varlamov would likely have better control of his rebounds, which would eliminate one of the ways Boston found to burn the Islanders. By Christian Arnold NYI Hockey Now LOADED: 06.01.2021

The New York Islanders are looking to escape Boston with a split of their Second Round series with the Boston Bruins. The Islanders dropped the first game after getting burned by Boston’s “perfection line,” and more specifically by David Pastrnak. The game wasn’t a wash for the Islanders, who did play competitively for the first 40 minutes before Boston took a stranglehold of the game. The Islanders will need to correct a few things if they’re going to have a fighting chance in Game 2, which includes its top-line making its presence felt. Here are three things that have to change for the New York Islanders in Game 2. CONTAIN THE ‘PERFECTION LINE’ As Andy Greene said following the Game 1 loss, Boston’s top line didn’t surprise them by any means. Which probably made their complete domination of the Islanders as the game went on all the more frustrating. Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak combined for six points on Saturday and the Islanders didn’t have an answer for how to stop them. Early in the game Sorokin made several big stops on Marchand and Pastrnak, but couldn’t hold them off forever. And with the Islanders not picking up Pastrnak at times, which led directly to two goals, he had the run of the game. That can’t happen in Game 2 if New York is hoping to even the series at 1-1 heading back to Long Island. Playoff Gameday: Islanders Game 2 Lines, Matchups and Game Notes vs. Boston ISLANDERS TOP LINE NEEDS TO SHOW UP Mathew Barzal has had some pretty successful games against the Boston Bruins. Game 1 of the Second Round was not one of them. The Islanders star, along with Jordan Eberle and Leo Komarov, had a very quiet night on Saturday. The Unit had a combined three shots on net in Game 1 and, according to Natural Stat Trick, the three failed to generate any scoring chances. In the battle of top-line vs. top-line, the edge was clearly in favor of Boston in Game 1. Eberle did have a pair of assists on Saturday and he has five points over his last five games. The Islanders forward did start to heat up as the New York’s series with Pittsburgh was winding down. Where the New York Islanders really need to see some production is from their most offensively gifted forward. Head coach Barry Trotz pointed to the fact that the opponent’s best players are matching up against Barzal. “They have to really fight for their inches to really have any success in the playoffs,” Trotz said on Monday following the team’s morning skate. “I think in the regular season there is more room. There just is, so they’re able to create and Matt has been able to do that. He’s done it in the past playoffs. He’s been able to create and put up pretty good numbers. This year it’s a little different. “He’s having a little more of a struggle. Those players have to fight for the inches and if you’re not willing to fight for those inches then you don’t get those inches, you don’t get those opportunities. He’s got to dig in.” Adding Barzal’s offensive prowess back into the mix, especially for a team that had struggled to score goals, would go a long way in Game 2. Is It Already Time for the Islanders to Make a Goaltending Change? REBOUND CONTROL NEEDS TO BE BETTER We don’t know who will be in net for Game 2 yet. Trotz is keeping that as closely as guarded a secret as the nuclear launch codes. Regardless, whoever is in net needs to control their rebounds and have better puck awareness in Game 2. And the defense needs to be able to help out more with that as well. Ilya Sorokin showed in Game 1 he can make those initial stops, but the fortuitous rebounds need to stop. Pastrnak knew where to set up for his second goal in Game 1 because he had already had success in that spot earlier. “If that’s something they’re going to do, especially off entries and off the rush, I just think it’s important that we’re getting the guys away from the net who are good at finding those soft areas,” Adam Pelech said about New York Islanders Jeremy Swayman GAME NOTES Playoff Gameday: Islanders Game 2 Lines, Matchups and Game Notes The Islanders are 8-4 all-time against Boston in the playoffs and 4-3 in vs. Boston the postseason in Boston. … Josh Bailey, Anthony Beauvillier and Brock Nelson have combined for 20 points through seven games this postseason. That includes 12 through the last three games. … The By Christian Arnold Islanders have owned overtime in the playoffs. They are 2-0 this year when a playoff game goes into extras and they are 38-21 all-time in the postseason. That is second best in NHL history. … Boston has a 38-18 record all-time in Game 2 situations in best of seven series. They are 32- The New York Islanders will need to do a better job of shutting down the 23 in Game 2s when they win the first game. … Boston is currently on a Boston Bruins’ top line and finding the back of the net in Game 2 if five-game postseason winning streak. … It is the 14th time in their they’re hoping to head back to Long Island with a split in the first two postseason history that they have had a winning streak of at least that games of the Second Round. long. … David Pastrnak currently leads Boston in playoff points (nine) and goals (five). Pastrnak had three goals in Game 1 against the The Islanders currently trail the series 1-0 after dropping Game 1, 5-2, on Islanders on Saturday. Saturday. Ilya Sorokin made 35 saves, but had some of his biggest struggles in the series-opening game, which has led to a question of HOW TO WATCH whether head coach Barry Trotz will switch up his netminders. Tonight’s game will air on NBCSN at 7:30 p.m. On the radio dial, Chris Trotz did not commit to playing Sorokin in Game 2 during his media King and Greg Picker will call the game on the Islanders Radio Network. availability on Sunday and told reporters he did not have any issues with 98.7 FM ESPN New York, 88.7 FM WRHU and 103.9 FM LI News Radio how he played. He did not tip his hand during his pregame media will carry tonight’s radio broadcast. availability today about who would be in net. NYI Hockey Now LOADED: 06.01.2021 “I can’t blame him on anything, really,” Trotz said Sunday. “They hit spots. It went right over to Pastrnak. Actually twice, once on the power play and once five-on-five. There was nothing he could do about that. I was happy with his game.” All three goaltenders — Sorokin, Semyon Varlamov and Cory Schneider — were on the ice for the team’s morning skate at TD Garden. Varlamov was the first goaltender off the ice, according to Newsday’s Andrew Gross. Is It Already Time for the Islanders to Make a Goaltending Change? The New York Islanders lineup will remain the same for Game 2 as it was in Game 1. Travis Zajac will remain in Oliver Wahlstrom’s spot on the third line. Wahlstrom will miss his third consecutive game this postseason after being hit awkwardly into the boards in Game 5 against the Pittsburgh Penguins. With the lineup staying the same, Trotz said today that they needed to be better than they were on Saturday. The players are well aware of that. “I think we’ve done a good job of that,” Josh Bailey said about the team’s ability to put adversity behind them. “I think that’s part of having success at this point in the season. You’ve got to be able to turn the page quickly after a good one or after a tough one and anything in between. The focus has all just been about tonight and trying to take care of business.” Boston will be without forward Craig Smith for Game 2, Bruce Cassidy announced to local media this morning. He left Game 1 in the second period after taking a hit from Cal Clutterbuck and did not return. Craig Smith is out for Game 2. Day-to-day, according to Bruce Cassidy — Joe Haggerty (@HackswithHaggs) May 31, 2021 NEW YORK ISLANDERS LINES (PROJECTED) Leo Komarov — Mathew Barzal — Jordan Eberle Anthony Beauvillier — Brock Nelson — Josh Bailey Kyle Palmieri – Jean-Gabriel Pageau – Travis Zajac Matt Martin — Casey Cizikas — Cal Clutterbuck Adam Pelech — Ryan Pulock Nick Leddy — Scott Mayfield Andy Greene — Noah Dobson Semyon Varlamov Ilya Sorokin BOSTON BRUINS LINES (PROJECTED) Brad Marchand — Patrice Bergeron — David Pastrnak Taylor Hall — David Krejci — Jake DeBrusk Nick Ritchie — Charlie Coyle — Karson Kuhlman Sean Kuraly — Curtis Lazar — Chris Wagner Matt Grzelcyk- Charlie McAvoy Mike Reilly — Brandon Carlo Jeremy Lauzon — Connor Clifton Tuukka Rask Ottawa Senators looking for answers from the Ontario government as well. People 80-plus were allowed to book their second doses starting Monday so that’s at least a positive for everybody involved. GARRIOCH: The Ottawa Senators view the small group of health care Ford noted allowing those health care workers to attend the game was a workers at Game 7 in Toronto as a good sign for next season positive message. “It also shows that the more of us who get vaccinated, the faster we can Bruce Garrioch return to doing the things we miss,” he said. Teams in Ontario need to know soon what the road map to having people in the stands for their upcoming seasons is going to look like. The Healthcare providers are in attendance tonight for Game Seven between Senators and Leafs both believe they have the proper healthy and safety the Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs during Game protocols in place. If you look at Phase 3 of the province’s re-opening Seven of the First Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank plan it indicates fans will be able to attend games. Arena on May 31, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. But, sooner or later, both teams need to have a plan they can bring to A step in the right direction. their season ticket holders, sponsors and their day-to-day customers. You have to think the Senators and Leafs will both be looking for those No, the Ottawa Senators aren’t in the post-season, but they had to be answers as soon as possible. Even though there were only 550 pleased to see the Toronto Maple Leafs given permission by the spectators Monday it’s a sign there are better days ahead. provincial government to have 550 fully vaccinated health care workers in the stands at Scotiabank Arena for Game 7 of their first round series Ottawa Sun LOADED: 06.01.2021 against the Montreal Canadiens Monday night. This was a small crowd, but it was a significant decision by the province to allow people into the rink. No, it wasn’t anything close to the 19,800 it normally holds but it’s the second straight playoff game in this country where there were fans in the stands after 2,500 attended Montreal’s 3-2 overtime victory over the Leafs Saturday at the Bell Centre to force the deciding game between these two arch-rivals. It’s hard to believe these two teams met in the playoffs for the first time in 42 years and, for the most part, this series was played in empty buildings. Fans of Leafs and Habs have been waiting a lifetime for these two teams to face each other and can you just imagine the atmosphere if both rinks were actually full? While the rules set by the provincial government have constantly changed throughout this pandemic, this decision by Premier Doug Ford and his staff to allow some vaccinated health care workers into the seats at least gives the two NHL teams in the province hope that they’ll be able to have fans when next season gets under way in October. How many? Who knows? It will depend on the vaccination levels in the country and the province but Senators’ owner Eugene Melnyk and Anthony LeBlanc, the club’s president of business operations, are hopeful they’ll be able to sell all 18,123 seats at the Canadian Tire Centre in October after playing in an empty building throughout the 56-game schedule. The Senators and representatives of Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment have both been working with the provincial government for months on various issues during this pandemic. First, they went to the table together on the NHL’s Return to Play so they could get the green light to hold games in Ontario. Then, the Leafs and Senators had to work with the province so their American Hockey League franchise’s in Toronto and Belleville were able to operate with the proper health and safety protocols in place. Ideally, the Senators and Leafs would have liked to be able to welcome fans towards the end of the regular season, but the rollout of vaccines didn’t go as quickly as anybody would have liked so the season wrapped up without anybody being able to attend games. They don’t want to be the case again next season. “The more of us who get vaccinated, the faster we can return to doing the things we miss.” You have to wonder if this decision by the province nudges the door open slightly for fans at home games in Toronto if the Leafs were somehow able to find their way past the Habs in Game 7. The province could move to Phase 1 of reopening June 14, but there were less than 1,000 cases of COVID-19 Monday and that timetable could be speed up. It must be frustrating for the likes of Melnyk and executives with MLSE to watch games in the United States given the slow progress here. The Boston Bruins had nearly a full house of 18,000 people Saturday in Game 1 against the New York Islanders and they were expecting a similar crowd for Game 2 Monday. There were 135,000 fans at the Indianapolis 500 Sunday. The Senators and Leafs are both hoping to get provincial officials to the table soon to discuss what next season will look like and they aren’t alone on that front. The Toronto Blue Jays will move a step closer to home when they arrive at Sahlen Field in Buffalo Tuesday for home games. Ideally, they’d like to make their way to the Rogers Centre at some point this season. The CFL’s Ottawa RedBlacks, Toronto Argos and Hamilton Tiger-Cats want to be able to host crowds at their outdoor settings and they’re Ottawa Senators “He took one look at my jersey and said, ‘What the hell are you doing here?'” said Sabourin.

Sportsnet’s Shawn McKenzie and Stewart Sabourin (courtesy of Stewart How a die-hard Senators fan got free tickets to a Maple Leafs-Canadiens Sabourin) playoff game Canadiens fans who were entering the building viewed the couple with more curiosity than anger. By Ian Mendes May 31, 2021 “I think they were super confused,” laughs Sabourin. “They were speaking to us in English because they probably thought it was impossible that a Sens Sicko was actually from Montreal and would show On Saturday morning, Stewart Sabourin received an offer he could not up to watch a Habs playoff game in Montreal.” refuse. Stewart, outside the Bell Centre (courtesy of Stewart Sabourin) Eight hours before puck drop at the Bell Centre, the 27-year-old Montreal native was offered the chance to attend Game 6 of the Canadiens-Maple When they entered the Bell Centre, the couple was overcome with a rush Leafs series in person. of adrenaline — and a sense of normalcy. With a limited capacity of only 2,500 fans, the tickets became a precious “I’m a Sens fan, but there’s not a better place to be at playoff time than commodity on the secondary market as it was the first NHL game in Montreal. This city comes alive, so it felt magical again on Saturday,” Canada with spectators permitted inside the venue in more than a Sabourin says. “Walking into that building and getting that arena smell. calendar year. Resale tickets were selling for thousands of dollars, with And feeling the coldness of the ice. Then hearing the anthem. It was one seller trying to fetch as much as $12,000 for a single ticket. amazing.” But thanks to a connection to his father’s business, Sabourin was offered Sabourin felt comforted by the game day experience at the Bell Centre, the chance to attend the game free of charge. so he wanted to bring an Ottawa tradition to Saturday’s playoff game. As the clock counted down to the 11:11 mark in the first period, Sabourin “They just knew I was a big hockey fan, so they offered us the tickets. rose from his seat and started chanting, “Alfie, Alfie, Alfie” — a tribute to And of course, I said ‘hell yes,'” said Sabourin. Daniel Alfredsson. What they didn’t know when they offered Sabourin the tickets is that he “They had no clue what the hell was going on,” jokes Sabourin. “I think I was a die-hard Ottawa Senators fan. And he fully planned on showing his just heard one person yell at me to sit down because I was blocking their allegiance at the game. view.” “We were probably crazy for accepting the tickets. But we would have Sabourin realized his story was starting to go viral on social media, once been even more crazy if we didn’t,” says Sabourin. “I knew a lot of people the television cameras caught a glimpse of them in the stands. in Montreal weren’t going to be happy to see me at the game. So we knew we had to show up and create chaos.” “My phone was blowing up. We had people texting and tweeting saying, ‘We just saw you guys on TV,'” says Sabourin. The couple were posting In a move that has likely garnered them first-ballot entry into the Sens their exploits on Twitter during the course of the day and Sabourin Sicko Hall of Fame, Sabourin and his girlfriend Melissa decided to attend estimates his Twitter following tripled on Saturday, going from about 85 the Maple Leafs-Canadiens playoff game decked out in full Ottawa gear. followers to almost 300. Sabourin has a wide selection of Sens jerseys to choose from and he ultimately settled on wearing the alternate black “SENS” jersey from circa “I think the people in Ottawa really enjoyed it. It’s part of the Sicko 2009 that has become a bit of a running joke in the Ottawa blogosphere. movement, right? Everyone thought it was funny and cool,” Sabourin (If he had more time, Sabourin admits he would have taped the name says. “Mete” across the name bar of the jersey as a way of further provoking Stewart and his girlfriend, Melissa (courtesy of Stewart Sabourin) Montreal fans.) While they were getting traction on social media, fans inside the Bell Sabourin also contemplated wearing an old-school Patrick Lalime jersey Centre were too invested in action on the ice to pay much attention to the from his youth, but he says it barely fits him anymore. two Senators supporters in the stands. “I looked like an overstuffed sausage when I’m wearing it,” he jokes. “We kind of flew under the radar to be honest with you. Leafs fans didn’t The Montreal native has been a Senators fan for more than two decades, really even talk to us for most of the night,” Sabourin says. falling in love with the team when he was just 5 years old. He recalls Sabourin acknowledges the only time he felt uneasy was when he watching a hockey game on a Saturday night with his uncle, who used to needed to use the bathroom during the second intermission. He was be a passionate supporter of the Quebec Nordiques. worried about a rival fan pushing him or doing something aggressive “My uncle told me, ‘You can cheer for anybody in the league. Just not for while he was using a urinal. So he waited outside in the concourse until Montreal,'” Sabourin says. there were no fans left in the washroom before entering himself. It just so happened the Canadiens were playing the Senators on that “I know people from Montreal. Let’s just say they’re passionate,” fateful night and Sabourin decided to cheer for Ottawa on the spot. He Sabourin says. “So I wasn’t taking any chances.” recalls falling in love with the dynamic play of Martin Havlat in the early As the game stretched into overtime, Sabourin says he was feeling 2000s. His passion for the Senators grew exponentially during his conflicted emotions. childhood and Sabourin quickly became known as one of the most passionate Ottawa fans living in Montreal. “I was in a glass case of emotion,” Sabourin jokes. “I know there is a big rivalry between Ottawa and Toronto, but I was born here so my biggest As a 14-year-old, he found himself sitting directly behind George Gillett rivalry is with Montreal. But when the game ended, I was happy it created for a game at the Bell Centre. And he was brash enough to exchange chaos in the Toronto fan base.” friendly barbs and taunts with the Canadiens owner during the game. And his initial reaction when Jesperi Kotkaniemi scored the overtime “It became part of my identity. When we had jersey day in high school, I winner to force a Game 7? was the only one wearing Sens gear,” says Sabourin. “And I always enjoyed it. It always felt like it was me against the world.” “I was just happy they didn’t draft Brady (Tkachuk),” Sabourin says with a laugh. But on Saturday, Sabourin’s me-against-the-world mentality was put to the ultimate test with his stunt. After leaving the Bell Centre unscathed, Sabourin says he will have a little more sympathy if he sees another fan show up to a sporting event “I told my girlfriend, ‘We may have to fight here,'” says Sabourin. wearing the jersey of a team that isn’t even playing in the game. Fortunately for Sabourin, his girlfriend Melissa was on board with the plan “If someone shows up to a hockey game wearing a jersey of a team that because she converted to a Senators fan after cheering for Montreal. is not playing, that’s one brave person,” he says. “But it takes a sense of “Hey, we’re not all perfect,” Sabourin jokes when talking about his humour to do something like that. So I’d probably end up buying them a girlfriend’s original love for the Canadiens. beer.” Melissa wore a Daniel Alfredsson jersey to Saturday’s game and when Sabourin realizes he won the lottery by getting complimentary tickets to the couple arrived at the Bell Centre, they immediately stuck out from the one of the most anticipated sporting events in recent memory. But would rest of the crowd that was assembling near the arena. he have pulled this same stunt if he had to pay for the tickets? Sportsnet reporter Shawn McKenzie — who was outside the Bell Centre “If I was alone and didn’t have other responsibilities, I think I would have interviewing fans — did a double-take when he saw Sabourin and his paid the $1,500 to do this,” he says. girlfriend wearing Sens jerseys. As much as he relished the opportunity to be a fly-on-the-wall for a playoff game involving the Senators’ two biggest rivals, Sabourin says his ultimate goal is to return to Ottawa to watch meaningful games in person. “Even though it wasn’t Ottawa, it felt like home. But I cannot wait for us to be able to go to the Canadian Tire Centre again to watch games,” says Sabourin. “We deserve to watch playoff hockey of our own.” The Athletic LOADED: 06.01.2021 Philadelphia Flyers “It’s one of those things that’s very special,” Marsh said. “And being involved with the guys on a day-to-day basis, I can appreciate what they’ve done on both sides of the border. I have a better appreciation of Warriors on and off the ice: Military veterans are overcoming disabilities the military, both active and retired.” and getting their lives in order through hockey Some of the players have physical and mental issues from war battles “I went to a couple practices, and I said to my wife, ‘This is something that are fresh in their minds, even if they happened decades ago. special,’ " said one veteran. “Everybody who plays for us has their limbs, and we say they’re standing disabled,” Marsh said. “In saying that, there’s lots of them who were blown up at various times.” by Sam Carchidi Young, who played hockey at Central Bucks East High School and then at Kutztown University, served eight years in the Marines after enlisting because he felt a calling after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. Some have emotional scars from their time in the military. Some have (Two of Young’s current Warriors teammates, Nick Santoro and Dave long-lasting injuries from combat. And some, to put it mildly, have had a Nawrocki, are also Central Bucks East grads who, like him, served in difficult time adjusting to civilian life. Iraq.) All have a common bond — their love for hockey. An operations manager for a fire-protection company, Young said several of his hockey teammates have been awarded Purple Hearts and That passion has brought them together as members of the Philadelphia Bronze Stars, among other honors. Flyers Warriors, a military hockey organization that offers an outlet for injured and disabled U.S. veterans. The Warriors consist of three “I was in Iraq in 2005 and, thank God, was never hit,” Young said. different-level teams that total 70 players, including five women. To him, Memorial Day, which is celebrated Monday, has a more “Just like so many guys, this team saved my life,” said Jim Young, a 37- profound meaning than it did when he was a youngster. year-old defenseman from Delaware County who was the captain of the Warriors’ first team in 2019. “It got me out of the house. It got me to “When I was a kid, Memorial Day was barbecues and mattress sales and where my social functions weren’t revolving around detracting behaviors. whatever,” he said with a chuckle. Let’s put it that way: I played in high school and played in college. But when I left college and went into the Marine Corps, I didn’t skate again for His tone quickly turned serious. about 17 years.” “After deploying in 2005, we lost 48 guys in our battalion,” Young said. He said the Warriors “gave me a fresh slate, something to do on “Memorial Day is in memory of them and all the other soldiers that lost Sundays, something to give me a reason to stay in shape, and their lives in combat to protect this nation and for freedom. Memorial Day accountability to my buddies” on the team. “We’re like-minded individuals is for the ones who aren’t here anymore. It hits a little harder for a lot of who have had some of the same experiences, and it opened a lot of the guys, myself included. Veterans Day is more of a party, but Memorial doors to the veterans’ programs in the area and how to navigate the [U.S. Day is for the guys who stole our funerals.” Department of Veterans Affairs] to get the help I need and other veterans “I served with some guys who didn’t get to go home,” said Duffy, the need.” goalie. “That day is for them.” Jim Young, the first Warriors captain, at a Marine base in Iraq in 2005. Brad Marsh is president of the Flyers Alumni Association and coach of Like Young, goaltender Bill Duffy, said the Warriors have turned his life the Philadelphia Flyers Warriors. around. Duffy, 47, of Somerdale, N.J., spent 21 years in the Air Force. He Overcoming disabilities was in Iraq for four of his nine deployments, which also included Africa and Haiti. He also worked in Afghanistan for about a year as a civilian The Warriors, all unpaid and sponsored by the Flyers and the NHL, are contractor for the state department. composed of players who suffered disabilities — some physical, some emotional — while in the military. The competition is mostly composed of But he feels at home in a hockey crease, and hasn’t let the fact he is 70% USA Hockey-affiliated teams from around the country, including many disabled — a rating derived from post-traumatic stress disorder issues, a that have varying degrees of affiliations with NHL teams. major knee injury, and back problems from wearing 80 pounds of combat armor and weaponry — slow him down. The Warriors were formed after Rick Stabeno, a Marine Corps veteran and hockey player from South Jersey, contacted Marsh, the Flyers’ “You learn to live in pain, to be honest with you, and that’s with a lot of community development director and president of the alumni association. the guys,” said Duffy, who also serves as the Warriors’ president and has That put the wheels in motion, and, after several meetings, a Learn to countless administrative duties. “You learn to manage it, and [for] the Skate program was started for local military veterans who wanted to play guys that can’t, we have a free resource now that we can reach out to hockey. somebody at a moment’s notice and get the help they deserve.” The program has evolved, and the Philadelphia Flyers Warriors won the Goaltender Bill Duffy makes a save for the Warriors, a team composed of Warrior Classic in Las Vegas in 2019. They practice twice a week, players who have some sort of disability from serving in the military. primarily at the Skate Zone in Pennsauken — day care is supplied at the His involvement with the Warriors came unexpectedly. rink because many of the players are single parents — and participate in games throughout the year. The players must be veterans of any military “One of the chiefs I served with in the Air Force texted me one day and branch and have at least a 10% disability from their time in the service. said the Flyers were doing something really cool with disabled veterans and that I should check it out,” said Duffy, who worked as a cable and Marsh, 63, said his players range from their 20s to 60, and most are in data technician for hospitals when he got out of the Air Force and is now the 35-to-45-year-old range. studying criminology at Rowan University. “Of course, I told my wife and They will play in a Warriors tournament in Minnesota June 4-6, and their she said [sarcastically], ‘Great. Another hockey team you’re playing on.’ I first game is against a St. Louis Blues-affiliated team coached by former said, ‘No, I think this is going to be different.’ " NHL defenseman Rob Ramage, 62, a childhood friend of Marsh’s who At his first practice, he saw Brad Marsh, the former Flyers defenseman spent the final part of his 15-year career with the Flyers in 1993-94. who serves as the Warriors’ coach, putting on his skates in the locker The Warriors also have an upcoming game against the Flyers’ alumni room. He knew right then this was different than any of his men’s-league team June 27 at the Ice Works in Aston at 4 p.m. That game is part of an teams. alumni weekend that is honoring former Flyers defenseman Joe Watson, “I went to a couple practices, and I said to my wife, ‘This is something who just finished his 54th and final year working for the organization in special,’ " Duffy said. “You have friends you grew up with [and are different capacities. important to you], but when you join the military, you’re part of a different Hockey brings the military veterans together, Marsh said, but the kind of family that understands each other a lot more, especially when Warriors program offers much more. you’ve served. I immediately felt that with these guys, and it’s something that was missing out of my life once I retired from the Air Force.” “We have a behavioral health program that deals with mental health for the players, their wives, and their kids, and we’ve extended it to the St. Appreciation grows Louis Warriors,” he said. “We have all kinds of medical things set up for Marsh, who spent seven of his 15 NHL seasons with the Flyers and is them for further testing and further evaluations, and we’re about to thoroughly immersed in duties as the Warriors’ coach, has always had a launch a continuing-education program for them.” deep appreciation for the military, especially around Remembrance Day Duffy, a Triton High School graduate, said the establishment of the local in Canada (Nov. 11) and Memorial Day in the United States. Warriors has not only helped the players who served in the military but Being around the Warriors has made that appreciation grow deeper. given their spouses a way to share feelings with people who have had similar experiences. “The wives get together, and it’s good for them to talk to each other,” A lifelong Flyers fan who was introduced to them by his mom, Wynn Duffy said. “They talk about what they deal with, and they have an outlet grew up idolizing players like Eric Lindros, Mark Howe, and Tim Kerr. He now, too, which is great. They’re around like-minded spouses as well is captain of the Warriors’ second-tier team and says the camaraderie now, and not everybody understands the military better than them and with his teammates “takes me back to being a sergeant and giving orders what they’ve been through. They can relate.” and having younger people depend on me and look up to me for guidance. It’s special. We miss that feeling when we get out of the Tim Wynn, a former Marine who has straightened out his life after seven military: the people, the camaraderie, the leadership, the whole culture of arrests that followed a difficult time in Iraq, poses at the rink with his it.” daughters Fiona (front), Sienna (left) and Maeve, along with his wife, Nicole (right). He plays left wing for the Warriors. Hockey has made that feeling return. Tim Wynn, a former Marine who has straightened out his life after seven Three Central Bucks East High grads who served in Iraq helped the arrests that followed a difficult time in Iraq, poses at the rink with his Warriors win a 16-team tournament in Las Vegas in 2019. Left to right is daughters Fiona (front), Sienna (left) and Maeve, along with his wife, Jim Young, Nick Santoro, and Dave Nawrocki. In high school, they Nicole (right). He plays left wing for the Warriors.Read more played for coach Andy Richards, another military veteran. Provided by Tim Wynn Three Central Bucks East High grads who served in Iraq helped the Warriors win a 16-team tournament in Las Vegas in 2019. Left to right is Feel-good story Jim Young, Nick Santoro, and Dave Nawrocki. In high school, they Left winger Tim Wynn, 41, is probably the best-known member of the played for coach Andy Richards, another military veteran.Read more Warriors, and has become the center of a feel-good story that saw him Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 06.01.2021 recover from alcohol and drug dependency and rebound from seven arrests, most of them for bar fights. His transformation was on national display Nov. 11, when he led the Pledge of Allegiance as President-elect Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, stood behind him during a Veterans Day ceremony at the Korean War Memorial in Philadelphia. Wynn now mentors veterans, and he helps his teammates navigate the system and supplies contacts to confront issues that arise. “Timmy Wynn has been a godsend,” Young said. “He’s a rock star.” Wynn is considered 100% disabled because of issues related to PTSD and ear problems from his time in the service. “All kinds of stuff. We’re beat up, man,” he said. “We fought in the two longest wars in our history, and we fought them at the same time … and it took a toll on everybody.” Wynn’s journey, from nearly 4½ years in the Marines to civilian, became rocky late in his military stint. One of the first Marines deployed to Iraq in 2003, Wynn spent about six months there before returning home to Northeast Philadelphia. He had little time to process the transition. Four days later, he was arrested for aggravated assault. “And I didn’t stop there,” he said. “I had seven arrests and got addicted to drugs and alcohol. I messed my life up pretty bad.” Troubled times Wynn was in and out of jail, including a stay that lasted almost a year. After his last arrest, he was put in the Philadelphia Veterans Treatment Court. He eventually got assistance from the city’s behavioral health program and received treatment after a four-year battle with addiction. He has been sober and drug-free for 12 years. “I’m fully engaged in this recovery thing, and that’s what I do for a living now,” he said. “I work for the same court that saved my life.” Wynn went to college and put his life in order. He now runs the mentor program at the Philadelphia Veterans Treatment Court, which provides a holistic treatment approach to criminal justice involving veterans. Patrick Dugan, the judge in Wynn’s case, recommended he be hired. “I went from a defendant standing in front of him, and he’s now been my boss for five years,” Wynn said. “He’s a friend and a father figure to me now. I can call him at any time, and he would give me the most solid advice.” According to Wynn, it was Dugan who set him up to recite the Pledge of Allegiance for the Bidens. Wynn, who has been with the Warriors since they started playing games in 2019, was one of three veterans profiled in “Warrior Class,” a documentary produced by Villanova University students from its social justice department. The documentary revolves around the veterans’ difficult transition to civilian life. Being a part of the Warriors, Wynn said, has “tremendously” affected his life. “Being in recovery is a lifelong thing,” said Wynn, who, along with his wife, Nicole, is raising three daughters: Sienna, 13; Fiona, 8; and Maeve, 3. “You have to find different ways to combat it through your life. I’m always finding different tools and different things to help me through my recovery, and when the hockey program entered my life, it was a game- changer. It’s a necessity for me; it’s a tool to my recovery. If I don’t go to hockey, I don’t feel right that week. “It’s food for my soul, man.” Pittsburgh Penguins

Ex-Penguins goaltending prospect Emil Larmi signs in Finland

SETH RORABAUGH | Monday, May 31, 2021 11:57 a.m.

Less than a week following their disappointing loss in the first round of the playoffs, a change has been made to the Penguins’ goaltending. Former prospect Emil Larmi has signed a two-year contract with the Lahden Pelicans of Finland’s Liiga. The team announced Larmi’s signing with a release. A native of Finland, Larmi just completed a two-year entry-level contract with the Penguins that he signed in June of 2019. During his two seasons as a member of the Penguins organization, Larmi, 24, spent most of his time either with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League (AHL) or the Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL and never appeared in an NHL game. This season, Larmi was loaned to HPK of the Liiga, appearing in 12 games for that team, during the fall and early winter as many European leagues began play while the NHL and other North American leagues were on hiatus due to the pandemic. That loan was terminated by the start of January and Larmi began the NHL’s 2020-21 season on the taxi squad. He was shuffled back and forth between that group and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton throughout the campaign. Limited to six AHL games this season, Larmi had a 1-4-1 record along with a 4.87 goals against average and an .845 save percentage. By the end of the 2020-21 campaign, Larmi had fallen behind fellow undrafted prospect Alex D’Orio on the organization’s depth chart. The Penguins will still retain Larmi’s NHL rights, should they choose to do so, as he is a pending restricted free agent following the completion of his NHL deal. Tribune Review LOADED: 06.01.2021 Pittsburgh Penguins Tribune Review LOADED: 06.01.2021

Penguins deadline acquisition Jeff Carter expected to be vital cog

CHRIS ADAMSKI | Monday, May 31, 2021 10:21 a.m.

Over the decade’s worth of NHL trade deadline-day deals between 2010- 20, the Pittsburgh Penguins twice added former All-Stars, twice reunited with old friends and even twice added future Hall of Famers. But over that time span they never added a player who made an impact like Jeff Carter did after the Penguins acquired him at the deadline in 2021. Carter had more goals (15) over his 42 days playing for the Penguins (including playoffs) than any player in the NHL had in that time span (Carter debuted with the team April 15 and had the opening goal in their last playoff game May 26). More than other big names such as Jarome Iginla, Patrick Marleau or Alex Kovalev, Carter can be considered the Penguins’ best deadline-day pickup since at least Bill Guerin in 2009. “When we got him, it was pretty cool to see,” wing Jake Guentzel said during a video conference call with media last week. “Just a special player,” Guentzel said moments earlier. “What he does all over the ice — his scoring ability, his playmaking (and) he’s really good on draws in the (defensive) zone.” Carter was second on the Penguins in points over the 20 games combining the regular-season stretch run and first-round playoff loss playoffs to the New York Islanders. Carter had 13 goals and three assists, behind only the one goal and 16 assists by defenseman Kris Letang in that time. Carter centered the Penguins’ second line over much of that time because Evgeni Malkin (right knee injury) was out for all but nine of those games. When Malkin was available, Carter became one of the most overqualified third-line centers in the NHL. Jared McCann was by far the winger most often skating on a line next to Carter. “He’s been great for me,” McCann said. “He’s been a role model, a guy I always looked up to even when he wasn’t playing for us. It’s been great to know him on a personal level.” While former general manager Jim Rutherford often made his biggest splashes at other times of the year, over his six deadline days as GM he added four defensemen who won titles with the Penguins — three as major contributors (Ian Cole, Ben Lovejoy and Justin Schultz). In between Penguins’ Stanley Cups in the Sidney Crosby era, Iginla made the biggest impact of any trade-deadline pickup (nine goals in 28 games). More often, though, it was long-forgotten pieces such as Alexei Ponikarovsky, Jordan Leopold or Erik Gudbranson whom Rutherford or former general manager Ray Shero acquired over the deadlines of the 2010s. The deadline-day addition of Guerin was similar to that of Carter’s in that both were well worthy of Hall of Fame consideration before their arrivals in Pittsburgh. Each had been a Stanley Cup champion. Carter was 36 and had 390 career goals when the Penguins traded for him; Guerin was 38 with 403 career goals when the Penguins picked him up from the Islanders on March 4, 2009. Guerin had 12 goals in 41 games the rest of that season (five in 17 regular-season games and seven in 24 playoff games). Though that doesn’t match Carter’s production, Guerin did his part in helping deliver something much more coveted: a Stanley Cup. Still, the Penguins’ first-round failures were of little fault of Carter, who had 25% of their goals. Unlike Guerin was, Carter is under contract for next season. Like Guerin, though, Carter quickly became a Penguins leader. To wit, it was telling that when a reporter asked Brandon Tanev a question about the Penguins’ “core” of Crosby, Malkin and Letang, Tanev mentioned “Cartsey” (Carter) in referencing “our leaders.” One of the conditions attached to Carter’s trade was a 2023 draft pick sent to the Kings that would be upgraded to a third-round pick if Carter plated at least 50 games in 2021-22. At the time of the deal, that didn’t seem assured. But after Carter’s debut six weeks with the Penguins, the organization almost surely views Carter — even as he surpasses age 37 — as a vital cog on next season’s team. Pittsburgh Penguins RMNB: Nick Backstrom assures us that Alex Ovechkin will stay in D.C. Now, I’m going to bed. Good morning. OTR: Will Panthers Pursue Malkin? Eichel Trade Value Pittsburgh Hockey NowLOADED: 06.01.2021

By Jimmy Murphy

There are some intensely interesting situations hovering on the horizon while the NHL playoffs dominate the news. While the Vegas Golden Knights and Colorado Avalanche begin the most anticipated series in a few years, the Pittsburgh Penguins have a huge decision looming with center Evgeni Malkin. If he waived his no-movement clause and hit the NHL Trade market, would the Florida Panthers, who have been monitoring the situation, bite on the chance? Sources with direct knowledge of the situation gave a little more insight into one side of the process. There is a bigger potential get on the NHL trade market than Malkin, as everyone continues to watch the Jack Eichel saga in Buffalo. Given the drama, could/will the Buffalo Sabres get full value on the NHL trade market for Eichel? We’re beginning this column somewhere close to 4 a.m. back on the East Coast, it’s been a long 24 hours with flight delays, turbulence, an Indy 500 dandy, another ridiculous and needless hockey melee in Colorado, a pressure cooker warming in Toronto, and Pittsburgh Penguins analysis. Happy Memorial Day to everyone celebrating the somber day. Thank you, and God Bless to every single person who has worn the uniforms. PHN proudly honors your service. I’m currently in Denver covering the Avalance – Golden Knights series. I’ll get to the game, but it was another ridiculous, senseless, utterly needless, stupid, moronic display of hockey code on Sunday night. Vegas Golden Knights tough guy Ryan Reaves had a bone to pick with Ryan Graves for a borderline hit on Mattias Janmark earlier. Vegas was out of the game by the third period, so Reaves took out Graves. Reaves dropped a knee on his head while Graves was down in the crease. “He’s on a mission to hurt someone,” Gabriel Landeskog said. Colorado Hockey Now: Vegas had to send a message, don’t ya know. Colorado looked brilliant in Game 1. But can they survive if Vegas uses the goon-type tactics? Reaves received a Match penalty for an attempt to injure. The league will review it, and punishment could (should) be handed down. Now to the Penguins before we get back to the NHL playoffs. Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Before we get to the Pittsburgh Penguins hot- button issue of the Big 3, if the Penguins want to reverse their failure, they can look in two spots for next season. Via a long social media post, minor league prospect goalie Emil Larmi appears to have said goodbye to North America and the Penguins organization. Larmi is a hell of a kid. It sounds like he’s just not feeling confident in North American path. The Penguins goalie problems and lack of development are mounting. NHL & National Hockey Now Boston: Enthusiasm is growing in Boston. It’s starting to feel like a moment the city needs. NYI: After Ilya Sorokin played Super Man vs. the Pittsburgh Penguins, he was beatable in Game 1 vs. Boston. Is it time to go back to Varlamov? Vegas: The Vegas Golden Knights looked slow and lumbering in Game 1. They also started Robin Lehner instead of Marc-Andre Fleury. What the?! Colorado skated circles around them in a 7-1 Avs win, Lehner stumbled and Ryan Reaves will get a call from the league. Sportsnet: The pressure is mounting for Game 7 in Toronto tonight. Bump-bump. Bump-bump. Collective hearts are beating loudly as the Toronto Maple Leafs will battle the Montreal Canadiens AND the ghosts of failures past. Ontario’s EXTREMELY rigid COVID regulations are still in place. There will not be any fans in the barn for Game 7, despite more than 65% of Toronto residents receiving at least the first dose of the vaccine. And you thought Gov. Wolf was overly strict? In Ontario, people aren’t even allowed to play tennis. San Jose: Do you like hockey cards? Do you want FREE hockey cards from Upper Deck? Upper Deck and our Sheng Peng are giving them away! San Jose Sharks “We knew they were going to play physical and had to be ready for it,” Makar said. “It might happen in the next game, but we’ll be ready for it.”

The Associated Press contributed to this story. Evander Kane chirps Vegas’ Ryan Reaves after ugly Game 1 incident San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 06.01.2021 Instead of a suspension, San Jose Sharks winger has another idea for how the NHL should punish the Golden Knights forward

By CURTIS PASHELKA | PUBLISHED: May 31, 2021 at 8:31 a.m. | UPDATED: May 31, 2021 at 4:16 p.m.

Vegas Golden Knights winger Ryan Reaves was suspended by the NHL for two games for his behavior during an altercation with Colorado Avalanche defenseman Ryan Graves in Game 1 of the two teams’ second-round playoff series. Reaves had a hearing with the league’s department of player safety Monday, one day after what the league termed was his roughing and unsportsmanlike conduct toward Graves. Reaves will not be able to return until Game 4 on June 6. San Jose Sharks forward Evander Kane had his own idea for what the NHL should do to further punish Reaves and the Golden Knights. “Instead of a suspension,” Kane tweeted Sunday night, “they should have to play him 20 minutes a night for the rest of the series.” It was a playful jab by Kane toward Reaves, one of the NHL’s most notable enforcers who had five points in 37 games this season and typically plays less than 10 minutes per game. The two have had several testy exchanges over the years, both on the ice and on Twitter. It was not a joking matter to the Avalanche, however, as members of the team hoped the NHL would further examine the third-period incident. Instead of a suspension they should have to play him 20 minutes a night for the rest of the series — Evander Kane (@evanderkane_9) May 31, 2021 As a scrum developed in front of the Colorado net, Reaves cross- checked Avalanche goalie Philipp Grubauer in the back of his face mask before he grabbed Graves and wrestled him to the ice. Reaves then appeared to hold his knee on Graves’ head, pinning him to the ice, before officials got him away from the pile. Graves remained on the ice for several moments before he got up and left the ice. He did return to the game, which the Avalanche won 7-1. Reaves was assessed a five-minute major for intent to injure and a 10- minute match penalty. “I don’t think you can call that physicality, to be honest with you,” Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog said after the game. “Reaves is on a mission to hurt somebody in the third and that’s what he goes out and does. I’m sure the league will take a look at it, intent to injure.” Golden Knights coach Pete DeBoer had another viewpoint of Reaves, who had just 27 penalty minutes this season. “It’s not hard to defend Ryan Reaves,” DeBoer said Monday morning. “He’s one of the cleanest tough guys I’ve seen in the league in my 12 years. His gloves never came off and nobody was hurt on the play.” Reaves was suspended for one game in the Western Conference semifinals of last year’s playoffs for an illegal check to the head on Vancouver’s Tyler Motte in Game 7 of that series, which Vegas won. “(Reaves has) just got a ruggedness to his game, and it is what it is,” Colorado coach Jared Bednar said of the altercation with Graves. “But in that situation in the game, I just didn’t like it. That’s my opinion on it.” Graves had drawn the ire of the Golden Knights after his big hit on Vegas forward Mattias Janmark in the second period. Graves’ shoulder-to-chest check knocked Janmark into the boards. He was helped off the ice and didn’t return to the game. DeBoer did not have a health update on Janmark on Monday morning. For complete Sharks coverage “Defenseless player. It’s a blindside interference,” Vegas captain Mark Stone said Sunday. “Obviously didn’t like the hit.” In response, Golden Knights winger William Carrier took back-to-back roughing penalties, one on Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar and then on Graves. A total of 79 penalty minutes were handed out between the two teams, including four 10-minute misconduct calls at the time of the Reaves incident with Graves at the 8:04 mark of the third period. San Jose Sharks

Will Jumbo return for another season? Could it be with Sharks?

BY BRIAN WITT

Joe Thornton's pursuit of the evasive Stanley Cup will have to wait at least one more year. The longtime Sharks forward signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs in the offseason, and their status as a legitimate Stanley Cup contender factored heavily into his decision. As fate would have it, though, Thornton's first season in Toronto would conclude like so many of his 15 seasons in San Jose did: in utter disappointment. After taking a three-games-to-one series lead over the Montreal Canadiens in the first round of the playoffs, the Maple Leafs blew all three chances to claim a series victory, ultimately losing 3-1 in Game 7 on Monday night. The Canadiens advanced to the second round, where they'll face the Winnipeg Jets, while the Leafs are yet again left to wonder what went wrong. Including Monday's defeat, Toronto has now lost eight straight series-clinching games, and its 54-year championship drought remains the longest active streak in the NHL. Sharks fans likely don't care too much about the Maple Leafs' elimination, other than the fact that many surely were pulling for them to win it all due to Thornton's presence on the team. San Jose's all-time leader in assists remains one of the most popular players in franchise history, and while it would have been bittersweet to see Thornton finally lift the Cup in a different jersey, Sharks fans had no greater rooting interest in this season's playoffs. And now the question is, will Thornton return for a 24th season in the league? Or, will the man who has played the sixth-most games in NHL history finally hang up his skates without ever achieving the ultimate goal? Thornton is set to be a free agent, and if he indeed does run it back for another season, one would have to imagine he likely would do so with a team that gives him another shot at winning the Cup. The Sharks don't appear to be a match for that, so that might rule out a potential return. On the other hand, if Thornton still wants to play, but there aren't any offers from cup contenders, perhaps he would look fondly upon his old stomping grounds. Thornton potentially could move as high as third on the all-time games played list with another season, and while we don't know if the Sharks would be interested in that, they did just go through basically the same thing with Patrick Marleau. Thornton typically has waited long into the offseason before deciding if and where he'll play, and it wouldn't be surprising if he did so again. Regardless of when he chooses to retire, though, it would only be fitting if he did so as a Shark. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 06.01.2021 San Jose Sharks

Kane takes dig at Reaves, adds to rivalry with enforcer

BY DALTON JOHNSON

Evander Kane is watching the Stanley Cup Playoffs from home, but he still is finding ways to add to his rivalry with Ryan Reaves. In the third period of the Vegas Golden Knights' blowout 7-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday, Reaves was ejected and received a match penalty for attempting to injure blue-liner Ryan Graves. A match penalty means Reaves is suspended indefinitely until the commissioner rules on the issue. Ryan Reaves given a match penalty, not a misconduct, for his actions in this scrum in front of Colorado net. Cross-checks Grubauer in the back of the head and then throws down Graves. pic.twitter.com/y0h5LPgVH2— NHL Safety Watch (@NHLSafetyWatch) May 31, 2021 That's when Kane couldn't help but chime in. Instead of a suspension they should have to play him 20 minutes a night for the rest of the series — Evander Kane (@evanderkane_9) May 31, 2021 Kane and Reaves have a long-standing individual rivalry that has gone beyond the ice, and has produced some ugly results. The Sharks winger simply does not like Reaves, and always has made his feelings known regarding Vegas' enforcer. Reaves has never played more than 10:52 minutes of ice time per game in his career, making Kane's diss that much better. Kane, on the other hand, averaged 20:12 minutes on the ice this season, his most since the 2015-16 season. This is just the latest chapter in the Kane-Reaves rivalry, and it's not going away anytime soon. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 06.01.2021 St Louis Blues million in salary-cap space on another defenseman. And it can’t be said enough — credit Tom Stillman and the rest of the Blues’ owners for annually paying up to the salary cap. Credit them for annually trying to Hochman: Jaden Schwartz is part of Blues' history, but should he be part compete for the Cup. of their future? And Schwartz was a huge reason they won it in 2019. He’s been one of my favorite guys to watch over the years because of his headiness and his grittiness. He makes smart hockey plays, he’s makes savvy hockey Benjamin Hochman plays, and he makes those Ryan O’Reilly-type hockey plays that you don’t fully appreciate until you see them on the replay.

But can he stay healthy and do this on a consistent basis for three more For a city historically known for left wingers, St. Louis sure could use years? Or even one? My heart says “yes,” but my head says “perhaps, some. but let’s see how the market plays out with the flat cap and the other wingers in free agency before locking him on the left wing.” Just who will play left wing next year for the Blues? Ivan Barbashev, sure, but not on the top two lines. Brayden Schenn is better as a center. Zach St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 06.01.2021 Sanford is unreliable. Klim Kostin is unproven. Kyle Clifford? Mackenzie MacEachern? But this doesn’t mean the Blues should overpay for Jaden Schwartz in free agency. And that’s the thing with free agency — normally at least one hungry team does just that. The Blues believe they’re still Cup contenders, but their past two postseasons have been brutal. They’re not in a situation to overpay for a fan favorite or someone whose name is on the Cup, and frankly, as we saw regarding a certain defenseman last year, that’s not how general manager Doug Armstrong does business. Schwartz was awful this season, but here’s thinking he’ll be better next season — if only because the drop was so drastic. But an improved Schwartz still won’t be “Spring 2019 Schwartz,” and so, he shouldn’t get the $5.35 annual average salary he had on his previous contract. Get him in the $4 million-range, and for three or fewer years, and that’s enticing for St. Louis. Realistic? Hard to believe. Free agency doesn’t begin until July 28, though, so we have a while to debate this. If Schwartz doesn’t return, the Blues should take a serious look at Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, a former center who has played admirably as a left winger of late. After the Oilers as a team underachieved yet again, he could use some fresh scenery. He might command a salary in the $5- million range, but we’re talking about a guy who had 61 points in 65 games in 2019-20. Schwartz, to be fair, had a good year in 2019-20, too. But not that good. And Schwartz, often injury-riddled, had just 21 points in 40 games this season. Nugent-Hopkins had a down year this season, too. But not that down. Hochman: For the Cardinals fans engaged before Yadier Molina’s homer, what happened next was icing on the cake Hochman: The Blues' defense has the capability to be great again, but that means more from Krug, Parayko and others Hochman: ‘Smoke it.’ The Mizzou softball Tigers are setting homer records, heading to Super Regional Hochman: Jaden Schwartz is part of Blues' history, but should he be part of their future? Hochman: Downtown on Friday, as St. Louis fans returned to normalcy, the only masks were on Yadi and Binnington There are other left wingers out there, though not in abundance. Gabriel Landeskog can play left wing and he is a very notable free-agent-to-be. The Blues will do their due diligence on him (could he and Schenn become surprise friends the way Torey Krug and Robert Thomas did?). But Landeskog will command a salary in the $6-million range. Also, if he’s the captain who leads Colorado to its first Stanley Cup in 20 years, it’s hard to think he’d get his ring while wearing a different sweater in a pregame presentation the next season. For however cautious I am about bringing back Schwartz, I’m headstrong about bringing back Tyler Bozak. Of course, these guys have different roles and make different salary totals. But one more run with Bozak would be fun — and he’d be a good get in the $3-million range. He provides stability as the centerman for that third line. Oh, and he came on strong in the latter part of this season. His teammates sure seem to like him, too. As for the third standout name in free agency, Mike Hoffman, it’s hard to get fired up about him long-term, at least for the money he’d command. He went through so many quiet stretches and it doesn’t appear that he fits well with coach Craig Berube. Hoffman played sharper late in the season, and we saw his sniping on the power play here and there. But this looks like a one-and-done situation for Hoffman, especially since St. Louis has four other right wingers that should slot right into the lines: David Perron, Vladimir Tarasenko, Jordan Kyrou and Sammy Blais. The fourth and final unrestricted free agent from the Blues might already have played his last game wearing the Bluenote. Carl Gunnarsson — we’ll always have Game 2. He was a valiant player for a while there. But as he gets older, one has to look at the youth in the Blues’ defensive reserves — and it’s possible St. Louis spends some of its available $15 St Louis Blues

Tarasenko lifts Russia to shootout win over Sweden

Jim Thomas

Vladimir Tarasenko made his debut for Team Russia a memorable one Monday in the International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship in Riga, Latvia. He scored the shootout winner in Russia’s 3-2 victory over Sweden and had the primary assist on Russia’s second goal. All told, the Blues’ forward had four shots on goal and was plus-1, playing 13 minutes 56 seconds. Tarasenko’s assist came when he took a stretch pass from Nikita Nesterov (who plays for the Calgary Flames), leading to a breakaway. Sweden goalie Adam Reideborn (who plays for Ak Bars Kazan of the KHL) made the save on Tarasenko’s shot, but the rebound went to Alexander Barbanov (San Jose Sharks) who scored, giving Russia a 2-1 lead with 7:14 left in regulation. Victor Olofsson (Buffalo Sabres) tied it for Sweden, 2-2, with 4:43 left in the third period. After a scoreless five-minute overtime, the teams went to a best-of-five shootout. It was 2-2 in shootout goals when Tarasenko became the fifth shootout participant for Russia. He skated in on Reideborn, patiently waiting until the last-second possible before sending a high shot in for the game-winner, "There was a lot of pressure there," Tarasenko said, per IIHF.com. "It was my first game but an important moment for us to clinch the playoffs today. A lot of credit to the Swedish team, they worked really hard and played really well. "It was a hard game. We played really well together but there is a lot of areas we can improve. We have time to talk and get ready for tomorrow." Russia leads Group A with 14 points and completes its seven-game preliminary round Tuesday against Belarus, which has only one win in the tournament. St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 06.01.2021 Tampa Bay Lightning

Lightning power play needs to make quick decisions against Hurricanes Tampa Bay was held to one shot on goal on three power-play opportunities in Game 1.

By Eduardo A. Encina

RALEIGH, N.C. — The Lightning’s vaunted power-play unit was held to just one shot on goal by the Carolina Hurricanes during Game 1 on Sunday. But that one shot — Brayden Point’s second-period tip-in 1:19 into Tampa Bay’s first power play midway through the second period — found the back of the net in Tampa Bay’s 2-1 win at PNC Arena. While that one shot was game-changing, it wasn’t nearly the volume or production the Lightning saw in the first round against the Panthers. Tampa Bay converted 40 percent of its power play opportunities (8-for- 20) in that series. But there’s not a more aggressive penalty-kill unit in the league than the Hurricanes’. Using some of their fastest and most offensive-minded skaters, such as Sebastian Aho and Martin Necas, they apply pressure in all three zones and force you to make quick decisions. “They don’t give you a lot of space,” Point said. “They force you to make quick plays, and if you bobble a puck they’re on you right away. And another thing actually is their up-ice pressure. They did a great job disrupting our breakout. We were lucky enough to get a chance and we capitalized on it but, yeah, that’s something we’ve got to look at, for sure.” The Hurricanes had the league’s third-best penalty-kill unit (85.2 percent) during the regular season and entered this series ranked third among playoff teams (88.5). They didn’t allow a power-play goal in 13 home penalty-kill situations in their first-round series against the Predators. Carolina’s pressure won’t allow Tampa Bay to set up its power play and pick apart defenses with its bounty of scoring weapons. The Hurricanes hope to make things chaotic for a power-play unit and force it into a mistake. The Lightning will have to think quickly — and one step ahead — to be successful. “They’re taking the gamble that you can’t make plays under pressure, and we’re saying we can,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. “Sometimes penalty kill works and sometimes it ends up in the net like it did (Sunday) night. The thing is, they do it really well. There’s a reason they had one of the top penalty kills in the league, because they’ve got a plan. It’s just not all run-and-gun and hope the other team screws up. “They pressure you hard, they know where they’re going, and when they’re going. And so you have to work, the power play has to work to get to their spots and know where guys are. You have to think and make plays at a high rate of speed, and basically that’s how we ended up scoring our goal.” Before the Lightning scored their goal, they struggled getting the puck out of their own zone. It took them 69 seconds into the power play to make a shot attempt, a blocked shot off the stick of Hedman. On Point’s goal, Hedman had to act quickly. After a puck battle along the far wall, Nikita Kucherov passed the puck to Hedman at the point, and Hedman quickly sent it toward the front of the net as Point got inside leverage on Carolina defenseman Jani Hakanpaa. Hedman saw just enough area to find Point’s stick for a redirect past Carolina goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic. “I was trying to find a stick, and good tip by him,” Hedman said. The Lightning manufactured just eight shot attempts, seven of which were blocked, during their 4 minutes, 34 seconds of power-play time. The Hurricanes had more shorthanded shots on goal (two). But as the game progressed, Tampa Bay’s players clearly bought into the idea that they needed to direct more pucks toward the net quickly. They had a game- high four shot attempts on their final power play of the night. “They converge so hard to the puck, and a lot of times they’re successful in getting it,” Lightning forward Alex Killorn said. “But if you can make a play where it gets through a guy, then they have two guys going to one, that’s when plays will open up, and I think that’s kind of what happened on Pointer’s (goal). Pointer had half a step on a guy, and he makes a great play. “There’s different ways to do it. I think you just have to stick with it. I mean, we had nothing going in that first power play, and we end up scoring at the end.” Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 06.01.2021 Tampa Bay Lightning The Hurricanes averaged 32 shots against Vasilevskiy in seven regular- season meetings, the most by any team this season. Vasilevskiy allowed 2.14 goals per game against Carolina, which isn’t much, but was his Lightning-Hurricanes playoff opener strikes a different tone third-highest goals against average (Florida, 3.36 and Columbus, 3.02) against any team. For the first time for Tampa Bay this postseason, a game came and went without post-whistle scrums or roughing penalties. “We know he’s good,” Brind’Amour said. “That’s one of their aces, and you’ve just got to keep trying and keep pounding the rock, and eventually Lightning left wing Alex Killorn heads down the tunnel and onto the ice to you break it down. That’s the mindset we have to have.” join his team for practice Monday at PNC Arena in Raleigh, N.C. Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 06.01.2021

By Eduardo A. Encina and Mari Faiello

RALEIGH, N.C. — The start of the second round of the playoffs had a different feel for the Lightning. For the first time this postseason, there weren’t post-whistle scrums, roughing penalties or misconducts. It was the typical penalties that broke up the flow — high-sticking, interference, cross-checking and tripping. Even though it’s only been one game, the Lightning can already tell there’s a different tone to the series than they experienced in the first round against the Panthers, when the teams combined for 210 penalty minutes (98 for the Lightning). “I think in a lot of those situations, it seemed like Florida was instigating it,” Lightning forward Alex Killorn said. “Carolina’s not doing that. I think they understand they don’t want to get into a battle where they’re doing things like that: taking penalties, putting us on the power play and potentially us putting them on the power play. I think they’re pretty confident in their five-on-five game. They just want to play.” The Lightning and Hurricanes combined for 16 penalty minutes (10 for Tampa Bay) in Game 1. One of the most physical exchanges came when Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov was called for cross-checking Hurricanes forward Brock McGinn in the corner moments after McGinn appeared to interfere with Kucherov.

PENALTY: #GoBolts' Kucherov gets sent to the box for cross- checking in retaliation of #LetsGoCanes' McGinn landing an "interference" hit on him. 4v4 for 46 seconds. pic.twitter.com/bcVuEJ7oKp

— ���� ������� (@faiello_mari) May 30, 2021 Otherwise, it was business as usual. “I think it was still pretty physical,” defenseman Ryan McDonagh said after the Lightning’s 2-1 win. “I think it was just a little more between the whistles and ... maybe the stuff after the whistle makes (playing) look not as physical, but there’s battles going on all over the ice. They do a great job competing, so we have to continue to have that high compete level.” Cernak, Savard absent from practice Lightning defenseman Erik Cernak (81) looks out at the ice from the open door before the Lightning start practice Monday at PNC Arena in Raleigh, N.C. Cernak, who left Sunday’s game late in the second period after being sandwiched between two Hurricanes players against the boards, didn’t practice Monday. But Lightning head coach Jon Cooper said Cernak and defenseman David Savard, who missed Game 1 with a lower-body injury, were both progressing. “I’ll have a little bit more concrete (information Tuesday),” Cooper said. After Cernak’s exit, the Lightning played more than a period without two of their primary right-shot defensemen. Veteran Luke Schenn drew in and played 8:17, while top left-shot defenseman Victor Hedman and McDonagh logged 27:36 and 25:13 of ice time, respectively. Fredrik Claesson was paired with McDonagh at practice on Monday. Cooper said some players had maintenance days on Monday, which explained the absences of forward Blake Coleman and goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy. Carolina’s approach to Vasilevskiy: keep pounding A day after his team put 38 shots on goal and had 69 shots overall against Vasilevskiy and came away with just one goal, Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said he has faith that Carolina can break through against the Lightning goaltender. “It’s funny,” Brind’Amour said. “I remember the days (seeing) Dominik Hasek basically just dominate, but it didn’t ever get in your head. You just keep trying. It’s when you don’t get opportunities when it gets in your head. If you’re getting your chances, you’re feeling, okay, eventually we’ll get something.” Tampa Bay Lightning

Lightning lose Erik Cernak mid-game against Hurricanes Already without defenseman David Savard, Tampa Bay’s blue line thinned out even further in Game 1.

By Mari Faiello

It wasn’t a good sign for the Lightning’s defense corps when Erik Cernak took a rough blow against the glass late in the second period of Sunday’s win over the Hurricanes. The right-shot defenseman skated toward the back of the Lightning goal to retrieve the puck when he was sandwiched along the glass between Carolina’s Andrei Svechnikov and Vincent Trocheck. After he made contact with Trocheck’s helmet, Cernak doubled over, falling on top of Trocheck.

HIT: #GoBolts' Cernak is sandwiched between two #LetsGoCanes players and is down on the ice after the hits. He's talking to trainer Todd Mulligan on the ice and skates under his own power to the room. pic.twitter.com/qpoHEcM5d5

— ���� ������� (@faiello_mari) May 30, 2021 Already down David Savard — who missed Game 1 with an upper-body injury and is day-to-day — the Lightning’s blue line thinned to five defensemen for the last 1:45 of the second period and entire third after Cernak exited for the locker room. After the game, coach Jon Cooper said Cernak “should be okay.” Without Savard, Luke Schenn stepped into the lineup and skated with Mikhail Sergachev in the third pairing. Schenn, a veteran of 13 years with 27 games of postseason experience, was a valuable asset against Carolina. On a key play in the second period, he dove in front of Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy to save a shot from Hurricanes forward Jesper Fast on the left side. DIVING SAVE: #GoBolts' Schenn spreads out to interrupt a #LetsGoCanes look on #TBLightning's Vasilevskiy pic.twitter.com/g0v7fEQSAR

— ���� ������� (@faiello_mari) May 30, 2021 Schenn, a contributor during last season’s Stanley Cup run, has two shots on goal and one blocked shot in four games this postseason. “There’s a reason we signed him for one year and then brought him back, because he brings a certain swag and physicality and stuff on the ice, but he’s a great teammate and he understands the role with our team,” Cooper said. “All players want to play every single night, but he gets it, and these guys have been grinding away in the league for so long and have an opportunity to win the Stanley Cup, and he was able to fulfill a dream and not be one-upped by his brother (St. Louis’ Brayden Schenn), and now he has a chance to get a second one.” Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 06.01.2021 Tampa Bay Lightning “It’s taken a few years to get to this point,” Cooper said. “And it takes discipline to be able to close a game out.”

0:17 remaining: Teuvo Teravainen blasts a shot from near the blue line As the seconds tick away, Lightning defensemen come up big in Game 1 that Vasilevskiy deflects to the left side of the ice. Vasilevskiy will finish with 37 saves on 38 shots. Including the Game 6 By John Romano victory against Florida, the Lightning goaltender has stopped 66 of the last 67 shots he has faced.

0:06 remaining: Sebastian Aho passes to Teravainen who sends it to The lead is razor thin, the crowd is frantic, two of their top six Svechnikov who blasts a one-timer toward the goal. Hedman, who was defensemen have been missing the entire third period, and the clock following the progress of the puck, had already dropped to his hands and says the Lightning are still 79 seconds from winning Game 1 against knees to block the shot, then jumps up to block another shot by Carolina. Teravainen. This is one of those moments that you could look back on days, months, “We know what’s expected of us back there,” McDonagh said. years later and realize was a turning point in a glorious postseason run. Or in a postseason failure. 0:00: The puck slides harmlessly toward center ice. The Lightning have won 2-1. 1:19 remaining: It begins with a faceoff between Barclay Goodrow and Vincent Trocheck in the Carolina defensive zone. The puck is knocked Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 06.01.2021 behind Goodrow, and Alex Killorn and Anthony Cirelli both have brief chances at controlling it before the Hurricanes grab possession. This is the Lightning’s uncelebrated secret. For all their offensive firepower, for all their speed and snazzy skills, they won the Stanley Cup last season by playing defense better than some of the best defensive teams in the league. And when they lost one-time scoring champion Nikita Kucherov for the entire regular season, the Lightning turned the defense up a notch in 2021. Tampa Bay was 26-0 in the regular season when holding a lead at the end of the second period and are now 5-1 in the postseason. “That’s a phenomenal stat,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. “You have to be able to play with a lead, and then you have to be able to extend a lead and protect a lead. Over the years, the guys have learned to do all three.” Vasilevskiy makes 37 saves and Barclay Goodrow’s bad-angle goal with just over seven minutes remaining is the difference. 0:55 remaining: The Carolina goaltender and a defenseman leave the ice and are replaced by forwards. The Lightning are now facing five scorers and one defenseman. Lightning defenseman David Savard was a surprise scratch before the game with what the team called an upper-body injury. Savard had averaged nearly 16 minutes a game in the first round series against Florida and was replaced — at least on the scoresheet — by Luke Schenn. Schenn, however, played less than six minutes in the first two periods and it was clear the Lightning planned on using him sparingly while asking Victor Hedman, Mikhail Sergachev, Erik Cernak, Ryan McDonagh and Jan Rutta to pick up the slack. But then Cernak crumbled to the ice after being sandwiched against the boards by two Carolina players in the final minutes of the second period. The Lightning were now being asked to win a game with, essentially, four defensemen in the third period. “You’re going to run into situations like this where you lose guys,” McDonagh said. “You’ve just got to keep calm and trust your habits within your structure.” 0:45 remaining: Trocheck passes to Jordan Staal to the right of Tampa Bay’s net. Staal begins to maneuver behind the net, but McDonagh cuts off his path and Carolina sends the puck back out near the blue line. Hedman and McDonagh are Tampa Bay’s two most accomplished defensemen, but both are left-handed shooters and rarely play together. But at this moment, with these stakes, the two veterans are on the ice along with Cirelli, Killorn and Goodrow. By game’s end, Hedman will have logged 27:36 of ice time and McDonagh will have 25:13, the most either of them have played in nearly two months. “I thought we did a good job of managing our shifts,” Hedman said. “We kept them kind of short and everybody was rolling.” 0:38 remaining: Dougie Hamilton sends a one-timer that goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy blocks. Goodrow tries to clear the rebound, but Carolina gets control and, a few seconds later, Andrei Svechnikov fires off another shot stopped by Vasilevskiy. This time, McDonagh tries to clear, but his stick snaps in two. The Lightning are effectively down one more man. For five seconds, McDonagh skates left and right trying to use his body as a shield. That’s when Goodrow, who scored the go-ahead goal seven minutes earlier, hands him his stick. Tampa Bay Lightning Carolina tied the game early in the third, taking advantage of a tripping call on Coleman with 12 seconds left in the second. Defenseman Jake Bean’s shot from the point seemingly had eyes, rising past Anthony Lightning survive Hurricanes on Barclay Goodrow’s winner in Game 1 Cirelli and beating Vasilevskiy stick side over his right shoulder. The forward’s third-period goal breaks a tie as Tampa Bay strikes first in Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 06.01.2021 the second-round series.

By Eduardo A. Encina

RALEIGH, N.C. — Barclay Goodrow had the winning goal in the Lightning’s 2-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes in their second-round series opener Sunday night. And whether he was trying or not, he should also be scoring a Jeep endorsement deal. After Goodrow returned to the Lightning lineup and helped fuel Tampa Bay’s first-round-clinching win over Florida, Lightning coach Jon Cooper likened Goodrow to a Jeep, saying you can’t only have Ferraris. You also need a dependable 4-by-4 to get you through the mud. Goodrow is fine doing the dirty work. “I’ll take it,” Goodrow said of the comparison. “I think they’re pretty reliable cars. I know their resale value is pretty good. They hold up in all conditions, so I’ll take it.” Goodrow isn’t known for lighting the lamp. He provides defense, he registers hits, he kills penalties. But when Carolina was determined to stop the Lightning’s fleet of sports cars, taking away space from the likes of Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point and Steven Stamkos, it was Goodrow who gave the Lightning the horsepower they needed to pull out a Game 1 win at PNC Arena. Goodrow’s even-strength goal with 7:21 left in the third period broke a 1- 1 tie. It was a product of the blue-collar work that has made Goodrow and his linemates such a big part of the team’s success dating back to the team’s Stanley Cup run in last season’s Canadian bubbles. “They’re just hounding packs and creating turnovers and going hard to the net,” defenseman Victor Hedman said. “The puck had eyes, obviously, but good things happen when you shoot the puck. That was a good example of it. They’re very important to our team, obviously, and it feels good to have Goody back and back on that line.” Vasilevskiy makes 37 saves and Barclay Goodrow’s bad-angle goal with just over seven minutes remaining is the difference. Blake Coleman’s check on Warren Foegele in the neutral zone jarred the puck loose, and Hedman flicked it forward to Goodrow, who spun around and fed Coleman along the far boards. As he was about to take a hit from Jani Hakanpaa, Coleman gave the puck back to Goodrow, who found open space streaking through the left circle. Out of the corner of his eye, Goodrow saw Yanni Gourde trailing along the near side, and he made a nice move to turn the corner on Carolina defenseman Brady Skjei. While skating toward the end line, Goodrow sent a snap shot to the net, and it found a hole short side past Hurricanes goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic. “Colesy made a nice play on the boards to win that battle, and the puck came to me,” Goodrow said. “I saw Gordo drive to the net, so I was really just looking to get the puck on net, maybe create a rebound for him, and it just found a way to go in.” When he came to the Lightning in last year’s deadline deal with San Jose, Goodrow saw the skill and talent around him and settled into his role as a physical third-line player. But he does all the little things well, and those who follow the game know he’s performed on big stages before: He sent the Sharks to the second round of the playoffs two postseasons ago with a Game 7 overtime goal. “In a tight game, he’s out there and he makes a goal happen,” defenseman Ryan McDonagh said. “We’ve got the lead, he’s out there defending. He sacrifices his body, he’s willing to block shots, we all feed off that. Secondly, he’s got some undercover skill around the net front there, and that chemistry with that line to be offensive has come up in situations time and time again. So, I think he’s just such a versatile player, and ever since he’s joined our team, he’s just so trusted in any situation throughout the game.” Carolina fed off the energy of an announced crowd of 16,299 Caniacs waving white rally towels. The game remained scoreless after a first period that saw the Hurricanes control the pace and zone play. Andrei Vasilevskiy kept Tampa Bay in the game by making 15 of his 38 saves in the opening period. The Lightning took a 1-0 lead on Point’s goal 8:15 into the second on Tampa Bay’s first power-play opportunity. Tampa Bay Lightning started a rush up ice; had three big blocks down the stretch, including one on Dougie Hamilton and another on Svechnikov with Vasilevskiy out of the net; and he set up Point’s goal with a beautiful pass-shot. Lightning-Hurricanes Game 1 report card: No opening too narrow Is Hedman the best all-around defenseman in the game right now? I’m Give Tampa Bay an opportunity, no matter how small, and it will find a not going to say he’s not. way to exploit it. With far-reaching consequences. Grade: A-plus Your best defender By Frank Pastor For all of the work done by Hedman, McDonagh, Sergachev, Rutta and Schenn after Cernak left the game, the Lightning’s best defender, as always, was Vasilevskiy. Give the Lightning an opening, however small, and they usually will find a way to exploit it. To large effect. With Tampa Bay trying to find its footing, he stopped all 15 Carolina shots in the first period (and 26 through the first two), none bigger than Carolina seemingly played the game it wanted in Game 1 of its second- when he went into a split to make a glove save on Sebastian Aho’s shot round series against Tampa Bay on Sunday. Feeding off an energetic from the slot with just over five minutes remaining in the period. crowd of 16,000-plus, the Hurricanes were flying from the start, pushing the pace and keeping the Lightning on their heels. They had good exits Close behind were Vasilevskiy’s back-to-back stops on Trocheck during out of their defensive zone and got their low-to-high game going in the Carolina’s first power play. With Trocheck trying to jam the puck past him offensive zone, retrieving pucks, getting them back to the point and from in front, Vasilevskiy put his stick on the ice and took away the sending them back in on net. bottom of the net. Carolina outshot Tampa Bay 38-30, and seemingly only the play of Everything else being equal, Vasilevskiy gives the Lightning an edge in goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy kept Tampa Bay from falling behind. any series. Even when the Lightning were on the power play, the Hurricanes forced Grade: A-plus the issue, pressuring all over the ice. But the one shot Tampa Bay got on Unlikely spark its first chance with the man-advantage, it put it in the net. Fourth-line center Tyler Johnson set the tone in the Lightning’s series- Vasilevskiy makes 37 saves and Barclay Goodrow’s bad-angle goal with clinching victory over the Panthers, using his speed and skill to beat an just over seven minutes remaining is the difference. icing call before setting up Pat Maroon for the winning goal, and his line Victor Hedman put a shot-pass from the top of the left circle on the tape helped Tampa Bay find its legs again on Sunday. of Brayden Point’s stick, and Point redirected the puck between the legs With the Lightning unable to stretch the neutral zone due to the of Carolina goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic for the opening goal. Hurricanes stepping up their defenders and getting help from a forward Then, with the score tied and just over seven minutes remaining, Barclay to make sure they always had three men back, Tampa Bay had trouble Goodrow collected a puck low in the left circle and shot from a bad angle entering the Carolina zone with possession for much of the first period. from just above the goal line. Nedeljkovic fell forward, losing his angle, But Johnson managed to find some open space and got pucks to the net and Goodrow found the slight opening Nedeljkovic left on the short side. during a couple of second-period shifts, and it wasn’t long before his Taking Highly Modified Jeeps through Southern California Desert Canyon teammates, such as Nikita Kucherov, Ondrej Palat and Point, followed Trails suit. Two chances were all the Lightning needed to take a one-game lead in Grade: B-plus the series. Pressing the point It had nothing to do with fortune. But it went to show how dangerous the The Hurricanes out-chanced the Predators when Nashville had the man- Lightning can be with the puck on their sticks — and how dispiriting their advantage during their first-round series, because they are so aggressive opportunism can be for opponents. in applying pressure with their penalty kill. Grade: A It was no different on the Lightning’s first power play, after Brock McGinn Here is how we graded the rest of the Lightning’s performance in their 2- was penalized for high-sticking Sergachev. Jordan Staal cleared the 1 win in Game 1: puck out of the Carolina zone, Jaccob Slavin stole the puck at the Lightning blue line and had a short-handed opportunity, and the Picking up the slack Hurricanes later sent the puck again out of their zone. Lightning defenseman Erik Cernak is looked at by the medical staff after Unable to set up in the Carolina zone, Tampa Bay adjusted by getting going down hard in the second period of Game 1 vs. Carolina. the puck to the net quickly, as Hedman sent a shot-pass toward Point from the left circle before the pressure could get to him, using the The Lightning started the game with only six defensemen when David Hurricanes’ aggressiveness against them. Savard was declared out with an upper-body injury. Things got thinner on the blue line when Erik Cernak left the ice late in the second period after Grade: A getting sandwiched between Vincent Trocheck and Andrei Svechnikov against the end boards. His face appeared to hit Trocheck’s visor after he Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 06.01.2021 was hit by Svechnikov. Cernak’s loss left Tampa Bay with five defensemen and cost it one of its top shut-down defenders (his work, alongside Ryan McDonagh against Aleksander Barkov’s line was one of the keys against Florida) and its top right-shot defenseman, Jan Rutta and Luke Schenn being the others. To make up for Cernak’s absence, Victor Hedman played more than 27 minutes, McDonagh more than 25, Mikhail Sergachev 22-plus, Rutta more than 19 and Schenn 8-plus. Looking for reasons the Lightning lead the series? This is a good place to start. Grade: A Hed of the class What more can you say about Hedman at this point? With the possible exception of Vasilevskiy, the Conn Smythe Trophy winner was the best player on the ice for the Lightning. Despite questions about his health and the possibility of offseason surgery, Hedman played almost half the game, leading Tampa Bay in ice time at 27:36, including more than 10 minutes in the deciding third period. He used his size, strength and smarts to send pucks out of the zone and alleviate pressure; made a good play with his stick to block a shot, then Tampa Bay Lightning

Andrei Vasilevskiy ‘in the zone’ proves dangerous to Carolina The Lightning goaltender merely saves 37 of 38 shots in the second- round opener over the Hurricanes.

By Mari Faiello

One Carolina fan’s sign did not age well after the Lightning’s second- round Game 1 win in Raleigh, N.C.: “Vasilevskiy, I’ve seen coupons save more than you do!!” Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy — the Vezina Trophy frontrunner — registered 37 saves on 38 shots in Sunday’s 2-1 victory. tell me you’ve never watched a lightning game without telling me lmao pic.twitter.com/397RxN56oW — x - kirsten (@mostlyonpoint) May 30, 2021 In the first period, Vasilevskiy’s 15 saves contributed to a scoreless period. Carolina kept pressuring and Tampa Bay’s defense allowed the Hurricanes to set up some nice looks. But Vasilevskiy was a wall. He has allowed just one goal in his past two games (Wednesday’s Game 6 against Florida was a 4-0 shutout to clinch a second-round berth) and has yet to come off the ice this postseason. “He was (today) just as he was in Game 6 (against the Panthers),” coach Jon Cooper said. “He was in the zone. We really needed him that first period when they were all pumped up for Game 1, really exciting crowd, so they fed off that, and probably put us on a little bit of our heels in the beginning and that’s where we really needed him.”

SAVE: #GoBolts' Vasilevskiy saves a bouncing puck on an attempt from #LetsGoCanes' Trocheck and Necas. pic.twitter.com/roq8jNsA3Z

— ���� ������� (@faiello_mari) May 30, 2021 Of his 37 saves, six came on the power play after the Lightning took five penalties. His one blemish was a power-play goal early in the third period from Carolina defenseman Jake Bean. “We needed him on the penalty kills,” Cooper said. “We can’t be in situations where we’re giving them nine-plus, almost 10 minutes of power-play time in a 60-minute game. We’ve got to be better in that area, but when we needed him in those two areas, he was there for us.” Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 06.01.2021 Tampa Bay Lightning

Lightning’s Jon Cooper one of quickest coaches to 100 postseason games Only seven other coaches have reached the milestone within their first nine seasons.

By Eduardo A. Encina

RALEIGH, N.C. — Sunday’s second-round series opener marked Lightning coach Jon Cooper’s 100th career playoff game, putting him in an elite club of Stanley Cup-winning coaches. Cooper reached the mark in his ninth season as Tampa Bay head coach. Only seven other coaches — Mike Babcock, Pat Burns, Glen Sather, Mike Keenan, Fred Shero, Ken Hitchcock and Scotty Bowman — have reached that milestone in the same timeframe, according to NHL Stats. All of those coaches — Cooper included — have won Cups, and they have 20 championships between them. Cooper’s postseason record is 59-41. Much has been made of the Lightning players’ postseason experience. Cooper said he’s gained valuable experience along the way as well. “I can remember back to my first series in the NHL against Montreal, and probably the biggest thing is controlling your emotions,” Cooper said. “I just remember the emotional roller-coasters I went through early in the playoffs in my tenure as opposed to now and don’t excuse that for not being as passionate. But it’s about the process, and understanding that, ‘Gosh, would you love every series to be a sweep.’ “But for the most part they’re probably not going to be like that and it’s okay to lose a game in a series. You just don’t want to lose the series. I think over the years I’ve learned how to deal with that a little bit better than maybe when I was a little more wet behind the ears.” Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 06.01.2021 Tampa Bay Lightning https://t.co/oOkXzgnQqQ pic.twitter.com/z6Arzivw8w

— ���� ������� (@faiello_mari) May 30, 2021 Second round: Lightning-Hurricanes Game 1 live updates Second period Barclay Goodrow’s bad-angle goal with just over seven minutes The crowd waves their white towels and cheers during player remaining is the difference in a 2-1 Tampa Bay win. introductions before the start of Game 1. The crowd waves their white towels and cheers during player introductions before the start of Game 1. [ DIRK SHADD | Times ] By Frank Pastor Svechnikov misses wide

Staal shoots high on Vasilevskiy Barclay Goodrow’s bad-angle goal with just over seven minutes remaining lifted the Lightning to a 2-1 win over the Hurricanes in Game 1 Nedeljkovic covers rolling shot from Ross Colton with Pat Maroon setting of their second-round series Sunday at PNC Arena in Raleigh, N.C. a screen in front Tampa Bay led 1-0 before Carolina’s Jake Bean tied the game on a Brayden Point shot from the high slot goes off the stick of Nedeljkovic’s power-play goal less than two minutes into the third period. stick

The Lightning’s Brayden Point opened the scoring with a power-play goal STICK SAVE: #LetsGoCanes' Nedeljkovic with the stick save on midway through the second period. Victor Hedman and Nikita Kucherov #GoBolts' Point pic.twitter.com/RJNTmckD96 assisted on the goal. — ���� ������� (@faiello_mari) May 30, 2021 Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 37 of the 38 shots he faced. The Hurricanes’ Alex Nedeljkovic made 28 saves on 30 shots. Ondrej Palat skates in front of the goal, but Nedeljkovic pokes the puck off his stick Lightning defenseman David Savard was out of the lineup with an upper- body injury. Erik Cernak left the ice late in the second period after getting Victor Hedman pass can’t connect with Nikita Kucherov on a 2-on-1 sandwiched between two Hurricanes players against the end boards, Anthony Cirelli shot goes off the heel of the glove of Nedeljkovic leaving Tampa Bay with five defensemen. Luke Schenn dives to break up a Carolina scoring chance Both teams won their opening-round series in six games, Tampa Bay eliminating Florida and Carolina dispatching Nashville. DIVING SAVE: #GoBolts' Schenn spreads out to interrupt a #LetsGoCanes look on #TBLightning's Vasilevskiy Here’s how it happened: pic.twitter.com/g0v7fEQSAR Third period — ���� ������� (@faiello_mari) May 30, 2021 Blake Coleman still in the penalty box as the third period gets under way Kucherov shoots wide of the net HURRICANES GOAL. Jake Bean scores on the power play, with Jesper Lightning apply all kinds of pressure before the Hurricanes can clear the Fast setting a screen in front. The puck appeared to go in off the hip of puck Anthony Cirelli. Lightning 1, Hurricanes 1. McGinn penalized for high-sticking Mikhail Sergachev, giving the GOAL: #LetsGoCanes' Bean ties it up with #GoBolts at 1-all on the Lightning their first power play power-play with 18:19 remaining in regulation. pic.twitter.com/lLy18bvlNZ Jordan Staal clears the puck — ���� ������� (@faiello_mari) May 30, 2021 Jaccob Slavin steals the puck at the Lightning blue line and gets a short- Cernak is still not back on the Lightning bench handed opportunity Nedeljkovic sweeps a puck out from the front of the net with Yanni Hurricanes again clear the puck Gourde applying pressure LIGHTNING GOAL! Brayden Point tips in Victor Hedman shot-pass on Nedeljkovic stops Kucherov from in front following an Anthony Cirelli shot the power play. Lightning 1, Hurricanes 0 from the left circle GOAL: #GoBolts' Point opens the scoring in Raleigh on the power- Cirelli penalized for high-sticking Vincent Trocheck play. He tips in a shot from #TBLightning's Hedman for the 1-0 lead on PENALTY: #GoBolts' Cirelli is called for high-sticking on #LetsGoCanes. 11:45 remains in the second period. #LetsGoCanes' Trocheck. CAR back on the power-play with 1-all tied pic.twitter.com/7XgWblR5Rq game. pic.twitter.com/pIc4UkveGJ — ���� ������� (@faiello_mari) May 30, 2021 — ���� ������� (@faiello_mari) May 30, 2021 Big pileup in front of the net after a Sergachev shot goes off a Carolina Dougie Hamilton shot from the point tipped by Blake Coleman and rolls in player and Yanni Gourde contends for the puck on Vasilevskiy Cedric Paquette called for interference, and the Lightning go right back Aho tips Necas shot on to the net but saved by Vasilevskiy on the power play Lightning kill the penalty Brett Pesce blocks Steven Stamkos shot Palat shot through traffic kicked away by Nedeljkovic Kucherov called for cross-checking Brock McGinn, and that brings the Lightning power play to a close. We’ll have 4-on-4 play for 46 seconds, Maroon chance from in front saved by Nedeljkovic followed by a Hurricanes power play

LIGHTNING GOAL! Barclay Goodrow scores on a bad-angle shot from PENALTY: #GoBolts' Kucherov gets sent to the box for cross- just above the goal line. The shot beats Nedeljkovic short side. Lightning checking in retaliation of #LetsGoCanes' McGinn landing an 2, Hurricanes 1. "interference" hit on him. 4v4 for 46 seconds. pic.twitter.com/bcVuEJ7oKp GOAL: #GoBolts' Goodrow gets the lead for #TBLightning with 7:21 remaining in regulation against #LetsGoCanes. His second game back in — ���� ������� (@faiello_mari) May 30, 2021 action... pic.twitter.com/9KS6LMJRFe Pesce hits the post — ���� ������� (@faiello_mari) May 30, 2021 Brayden Point shoots wide Vasilevskiy covers shot from Necas Ross Colton takes shot off the skate SAVE: #GoBolts' Vasilevskiy with a heck of a glove save on this #LetsGoCanes shot pic.twitter.com/LwR54zPMb8 ‼OUCH: #GoBolts' Colton looks like he's favoring his right leg skating toward #TBLightning bench. Not sure what happened there... — ���� ������� (@faiello_mari) May 30, 2021 pic.twitter.com/QGXY03pCfZ

Vasilevskiy will a couple of big back-to-back saves, first on Necas from — ���� ������� (@faiello_mari) May 30, 2021 the high slot and then on Trocheck from along the goal line. Dougie Hamilton rolling shot goes wide Nedeljkovic breaks up a Killorn pass for Stamkos on the rush with his pad Brayden Point carrying the puck draws a tripping penalty from Hamilton Lightning penalized for too many men on the ice. Maroon will serve the penalty PENALTY: #LetsGoCanes' Hamilton heads to the box for tripping #GoBolts' Point. Third power-play opportunity of the period — and game Barclay Goodrow wins faceoff against Trocheck — for #TBLightning. TBL leads 1-0 with 4:54 remaining in the second. pic.twitter.com/pTh9t6qYoZ Vasilevskiy stops a couple of Trocheck chances from in front

— ���� ������� (@faiello_mari) May 30, 2021 Lightning kill the penalty, allowing just two shots on goal Stamkos pass for Killorn broken up, and the puck is cleared down the ice Nedeljkovic makes glove save on Nikita Kucherov redirection Point shot blocked in front Yanni Gourde backhand saved by Nedeljkovic Palat whiffs on back-door pass from Johnson Svechnikov snap shot saved by Vasilevskiy Hurricanes kill the penalty Vasilevskiy goes into a split to make a glove save on Aho Pesce shot goes off the glass Kucherov penalized for tripping Aho, and Carolina gets it second power play Erik Cernak down on the ice after getting sandwiched between two Hurricanes against the end boards. His face appeared to hit Vincent PENALTY: #GoBolts' Kucherov is called for tripping on Trocheck’s visor after being hit by Andrei Svechnikov #LetsGoCanes' Aho. Carolina's second power-play opportunity of the night... pic.twitter.com/S39HzcdPlB HIT: #GoBolts' Cernak is sandwiched between two #LetsGoCanes players and is down on the ice after the hits. He's talking to trainer Todd — ���� ������� (@faiello_mari) May 30, 2021 Mulligan on the ice and skates under his own power to the room. Trocheck snap shot saved by Vasilevskiy pic.twitter.com/qpoHEcM5d5 Lightning kill the penalty, and Anthony Cirelli is nearly sprung on a — ���� ������� (@faiello_mari) May 30, 2021 breakaway as Kucherov comes out of the box Hamilton shot goes off shoulder of Vasilevskiy Ondrej Palat taken off the puck and into the wall by Jaccob Slavin Vasilevskiy saves Brady Skjei shot from right circle and gives up big HIT: #GoBolts' Palat collides into the boards with help from rebound. Trocheck unable to get a puck on it in the slot, but Blake #LetsGoCanes' Slavin pic.twitter.com/bfMr4tMfKJ Coleman penalized for tripping Jordan Martinook. — ���� ������� (@faiello_mari) May 30, 2021 (Lightning lead 1-0 after two periods) Nedeljkovic gloves Sergachev shot from above the right circle First period Dougie Hamilton shot goes off Vasilevskiy’s pad Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) skates with his teammates during pregame warmups. Victor Hedman snap shot saved by Nedeljkovic Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) skates with his teammates (No score after one period) during pregame warmups. [ DIRK SHADD | Times ] Your pregame scouting report PUCK DROP: #LetsGoCanes vs. #GoBolts: Round 2, Game 1 pic.twitter.com/nK08eO5olR Could they really do it again?

— ���� ������� (@faiello_mari) May 30, 2021 The Lightning sure looked the part of defending Stanley Cup champions during their series-clinching win over the Panthers Wednesday in Tampa. Victor Hedman shot blocked by Sebastian Aho Their biggest stars shined, they got significant contributions from their Alex Nedeljkovic saves Ondrej Palat snap shot third and fourth lines, and they showed they could protect a lead in their Game 6 win. They were dangerous on offense and disciplined in all three Brock McGinn snap shot stopped by Andrei Vasilevskiy zones while dispatching one of the tougher first-round foes with their Anthony Cirelli backhand attempt saved by Nedeljkovic most complete game of the postseason. #GoBolts' Cirelli collides with #LetsGoCanes' Nedeljkovic on the rush Now, they have to do it all over again against yet another team that pic.twitter.com/pFlcgA9hGz finished ahead of them in the Central Division standings starting tonight against the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena in Raleigh, N.C. — ���� ������� (@faiello_mari) May 30, 2021 The first-place Hurricanes eliminated the fourth-place Predators in six Brady Skjei shot saved by Vasilevskiy games in their first-round series. But Carolina had more trouble with Nashville than third-place Tampa Bay did with second-place Florida, with Vincent Trocheck wrist shot stopped by Vasilevskiy the final four games going to overtime. Jake Bean shot blocked by Pat Maroon While the Lightning are as familiar with the Hurricanes as they were with Ross Colton shot blocked by Steven Lorentz the Panthers (going 4-3-1 in their eight regular-season meetings), they expect a different type of challenge. The Hurricanes are fast and skilled, Warren Foegele hit Jan Rutta just like the Panthers. But Carolina pressures the puck in all three zones, taking away opponents’ space. Barclay Goodrow hit Andrei Svechnikov Which team will get off to the better start in the best-of-seven series? Goodrow hit Jordan Staal Follow our live updates, starting at 5 p.m., as the Lightning hope to take Ryan McDonagh hit Sebastian Aho the first step toward advancing to the Stanley Cup semifinals. Vincent Trocheck hit Erik Cernak Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 06.01.2021 Cedric Paquette hit Luke Schenn Cedric Paquette hit Ross Colton Mikhai Sergachev breaks up scoring chance for Vincent Trocheck Martin Necas hits outside of the post with Jordan Martinook setting a screen in front

RINGS IRON: #LetsGoCanes' Necas rings iron from the left circle against #GoBolts' Vasilevskiy pic.twitter.com/ijSD6GRkk2

— ���� ������� (@faiello_mari) May 30, 2021 Alex Killorn with a big hit on Trocheck Jaccob Slavin shot saved by Vasilevskiy Tampa Bay Lightning “I don’t know why in Boston they shit all over the guy,” he said. “He’s proven that he can win series.”

Our coach was concerned about the status of Smith after leaving Game NHL playoff predictions unplugged: Anonymous scout, coach and exec 1 with an injury but regardless echoed his feelings that Boston is going to pick second-round winners be too much for the Islanders to handle. “I just think they’re firing on all cylinders,” the coach said. By Scott Burnside May 31, 2021 Scout: Bruins in 6 Executive: Bruins in 6 And so we bid adieu to Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin and Coach: Bruins in 6 shockingly, as it turns out Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. Auston Matthews? Mitch Marner? Hanging by a thread. Goodbye first round, Consensus: Bruins advance hello second round of the NHL playoffs. Well sort of. With Montreal pushing heavily favored Toronto to a deciding seventh game Monday in Central Division Toronto in their first playoff clash since 1979, the North Division is still a Carolina Hurricanes vs. Tampa Bay Lightning few days behind the rest of the NHL playoff world. How much fun should this series be? Two deep, fast, talented and But no matter. The pandemic playoffs wait for no team or player and so physical teams that can bring the power from the back end, too. Great we have once again imposed on our panel of experts — an NHL coach, coaching matchup with defending Stanley Cup champ Jon Cooper executive and scout — to guide us into the second round. matching wits with Rod Brind’Amour. Jaccob Slavin’s return to the While everyone struck out on the Winnipeg-Edmonton series, won in an Carolina lineup late in the Nashville series was a key. Both teams have improbable sweep by the Jets, our panel of prognosticators was killer power plays so finding that line between physicality and being in the otherwise pretty damned good in the first round. Of the seven series box could be a deciding factor. completed they combined for a 16-5 mark in the first round. Impressive. Rookie Alex Nedeljkovic will need to keep up his stellar play if he’s going It doesn’t get any easier with four of the best teams in the NHL, Colorado to saw off Andrei Vasilevskiy who is a favorite to win his second Vezina and Vegas in the West and Carolina and defending Cup champion Trophy. Nedeljkovic has a .922 save percentage and has played in four Tampa in the Central, squaring off. straight overtime games, winning the last two to close out the Preds, so nerves at this point should be a non-issue. The goaltending should be a So, without further ado here’s a look at how our panel sees the second mismatch but our executive said he doesn’t know if the Hurricanes get round shaking down. past Nashville without Nedeljkovic. We’ll circle back when Montreal and Toronto finish up to add in “This guy has played good all year,” he said. predictions on whomever Winnipeg faces. So stay tuned. Still, our panel believes strongly in the Bolts. East Division “Tampa is playing like demons,” our scout said. “I don’t think Tampa’s Boston Bruins vs. New York Islanders going to take a step back.” Boston enters this series as a favorite based on a variety of factors, not Both the executive and the scout noted the return of Barclay Goodrow — the least of which was their easy handling of Washington and the who scored the game winner in Game 1 on Sunday night — as being emergence of Taylor Hall and Craig Smith who have taken some of the critical to the Lightning in maintaining the identity established last pressure off Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak. Not summer that they can play on the freeways and in the trenches. For our that Pastrnak needed much relief as he recorded a hat-trick in the Bruins’ scout, he said there is just too much to like about Tampa from their series-opening 5-2 win Saturday. goaltending on out. But the Islanders represent something else entirely given their four-line, “When I watch them they’re playing with some major determination,” he in-your-face style of play that took advantage of seemingly every misstep said. by the Penguins and their porous goaltending. Rookie netminder Ilya Sorokin remains the starter for the Isles although Semyon Varlamov Our executive joked that given how devastating Tampa’s power play has could definitely make his presence known in this series and Isles coach been – they went 8-for-20 for a cool 40 percent efficiency against Florida Barry Trotz was non-committal about his starting goalie in Game 2. – Brind’Amour should start working the officials sooner than later. The key for our executive will be in Carolina’s depth scoring. Guys like Nino “Any team that Barry Trotz has coached is going to be a demon to play Niederreiter, Vincent Trocheck, and Martin Necas, who had a strong against,” our scout said. “And it’s not like Butch (Bruins coach Bruce series against Nashville, will need to continue to produce. Cassidy) is a lightweight. That series for me is a tossup.” “Jordan Staal has been great. They certainly have it in them,” the Our scout believes the addition of veterans Kyle Palmieri, who was executive said. “But I’m going to take Tampa in six although I could see excellent against Pittsburgh, and Travis Zajac, used sparingly in the first Carolina winning it in six or seven.” round, are important as this second-round series unfolds. Our coach likewise felt this series was going to be a tough challenge for “Those guys don’t get rattled a whole lot,” the scout said. “For me, it’s Tampa. always the secondary scoring guys in the playoffs.” “I don’t like the matchup for Tampa Bay just because they come at you One issue for our executive was how to accurately assess the Islanders’ so fast, they’re such an aggressive team, Carolina,” the coach said. The play in their series win over Pittsburgh given how poor Tristan Jarry was way the Hurricanes employ their four lines on the forecheck will definitely for the Penguins. test the Tampa blue line corps, the coach added. But in an achingly tight series, the coach felt the presence of Vasilevskiy would tilt the tables just “To me, this is a whole different series for the Islanders,” the executive enough in Tampa’s favor. said. The Islanders’ identity is in making life difficult for opposing teams’ top players but the depth provided by Hall’s addition and the addition of “He’s likely the best goaltender in the world and I have a hard time in the Mike Reilly on the blue line may make that more difficult for the Isles. playoffs betting against that,” the coach said. “That top line (Bergeron, Pastrnak, Marchand) is one of the best in Executive: Lightning in 6 hockey and now adding Hall they just have three solid lines,” the executive said of the Bruins. Scout: Lightning in 6 What, for instance, does Trotz do with the top defensive pairing of Adam Coach: Lightning in 7 Pelech and Ryan Pulock? If they go up against the Bergeron line that Consensus: Lightning advance leaves Nick Leddy and Scott Mayfield to containing the David Krejci-Hall- Smith line. That puts pressure on the Islanders to come up with their own West Division balanced attack and means Mathew Barzal, without a goal in six games, needs to step up, the executive said. Colorado Avalanche vs. Vegas Golden Knights “Barzal’s going to have to get going a bit,” he said. Perhaps our executive put it best when he outlined how good Vegas was in all aspects of the game, how good they are on both sides of the puck The executive was also bullish on Boston’s goaltending led by veteran and on special teams but then added this caveat: “The only problem is Tuukka Rask who was sensational with a .941 save percentage against Colorado is better.” the Capitals. It hearkens back to the outset of this prognostication project when it was still up in the air whether Colorado would finish first or second in the division and the consensus from our panel was that it didn’t matter who the Avalanche played. It was an easy sentiment to appreciate after watching the Avs cut through St. Louis, just two years removed from a Cup win, like the proverbial hot knife through soft butter in a four-game sweep. Our executive joked that he forgot Brandon Saad – a two-time Stanley Cup champ – was with the Avavalanche, that’s how deep they are up front. And the blue line, including the additions of Devon Toews in the offseason and Patrik Nemeth at the deadline, is imposing. “It’s as good as anyone in the league, or better,” the executive said. “And (Philipp) Grubauer’s been really, really good. This should be a helluva series,” he added. Our coach had praise for Vegas head coach Pete DeBoer and believed there was merit in starting Robin Lehner against Colorado given the workload carried thus far by Marc-Andre Fleury. Though, obviously, this was before Lehner was lit up for seven goals against in Game 1 on Sunday night. Our coach also believes Vegas will find another gear after stutter- stepping their way through much of the first round. “I didn’t think they were playing very well, to be honest with you,” the coach said. But, for our coach, Colorado still has too much talent. “For me, Colorado’s still the best team.” Our scout initially had Vegas coming out of the west and in fact, had Vegas and Tampa in the final. He likes the Golden Knights’ maturity and he’s likewise a big fan of DeBoer. Max Pacioretty’s return to the lineup – he scored in his first playoff appearance in Game 7 – and having Ryan Reaves also back in the fold even if both are banged up improves the chances for Vegas. Still, our scout was waffling. “When I watch Colorado play,” he said searching for words. “Oh, it’s like they’re at a level…I’m just not sure Vegas is going to be able to do it.” In the end, he stayed with his pre-playoff conviction and went with the Golden Knights. “But I have my doubts,” he admitted. Scout: Golden Knights in 6 Executive: Avalanche in 6 Coach: Avalanche in 6 Consensus: Avalanche advance The Athletic LOADED: 06.01.2021 Toronto Maple Leafs happened in Game 7 in Boston in 2018, and Game 6 against Boston in 2019, and in Game 7 of this series, too. At times so many Leafs desperate to make a play, when the best teams turn desperation into a Beyond the Leafs: It’s an all too-familiar-story in another one-and-done furious calm and purpose. Those flaws are baked in, and have lasted season years. Carey Price was great, but he didn’t steal this series. Toronto just wasn’t good enough. By Bruce Arthur “We felt we were capable of a lot more, not just tonight but in the whole series,” said Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe. “We added enough pieces and depth to be able to deal with those situations, so there’s zero excuses.” What a disaster. The Toronto Maple Leafs organization specializes in such things, whether in slow motion or all at once, going back 54 years. The Leafs have been talking for three years about getting ready for There have been indelible collapses. There have been decades of failure. moments like these, and when the moment came, again, they didn’t This particular team, laden with stars and with an easier path, was seem very ready for it at all. Too often they played their hardest and best supposed to be different. only once they’d fallen behind. If you thought the Leafs were a national punchline before, well, there’s another joke on the table now. They weren’t. If you wanted a loss that should shake the pillars of this franchise, this was it. In an era built for Cup contention, with the best So, disaster. After last season’s disappointment general manager Kyle Leafs team in decades, gifted a road to a Stanley Cup quarterfinals that Dubas was asked if it’s possible the organization had misjudged the only required marching through the mediocre fields of Canada, they blew potential of this group. He said, “No.” He said, we’ve seen what they can it. Toronto lost 3-1 in Game 7 to the Montreal Canadiens, and blew a 3-1 do. lead in the series to an inferior team. So have we. Maybe this fuels them. Maybe this is Alex Ovechkin and This Toronto core is now 0-for-7 in games that could have won a playoff Nicklas Backstrom in Washington. Marner will take the heat, but with the series, and became the first team to lose four deciding games in four bonus structure and that contract, it would be hard to trade him anyway straight years. The world changes, faster and faster. But some traditions, and get value back. So, you let them grow, probably. What must it be apparently, endure. like, believing in this franchise? Toronto made the playoffs once in the 11 years before Matthews came here. For Toronto hockey, it’s a golden “It’s as hard as it gets,” said defenceman Morgan Rielly, who has a very age. good series amid the collapse. “The expectations were much higher ... the goals are higher than what we achieved this year, and that makes the And this can still happen, and it does, and it did. It was a reminder of the disappointment much worse. I mean, we feel it, and we realize we let an pre-pandemic world, and the five decades before that, and the only rule opportunity slip.” in Toronto remains the same: that the Leafs will always let you down. This will join the annals of “It Was 4-1” and any other Boston Game 7 Toronto Star LOADED: 06.01.2021 blowout you want to name. This is a season burned, a year of contention wasted, for a team with two significant defencemen over 30, a leading younger defenceman who is a year from free agency, and a second-line centre who has passed 30 and was never very fast to begin with. This is the best Leafs team we have seen in almost two decades, and maybe more. And they let this happen. Yes, Toronto lost John Tavares from a top-heavy roster. Yes, Jake Muzzin has been their best defenceman this year, and suffered a groin injury in Game 6. Yes, trade-deadline acquisition Nick Foligno was hurt enough to be dropped to the fourth line. But this series forced the Leafs to confront their biggest weaknesses, structurally and otherwise. Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander — who scored five goals and had eight points in the series — Rielly and the injured Tavares infamously occupy $43.9 million (U.S.) of an $81.5-million salary cap, with Rielly due a raise after next season. Marner looked like he forgot his lines while stuck on stage. His blue-line turnover led to a bad first goal in the second period that Jack Campbell should have stopped, but people make mistakes. (“Worst goal of my career,” Campbell said.) It would be hard to imagine a worse series for Marner. After the game his baseball cap shaded his eyes, but he seemed hollowed out. “I put a lot of pressure on myself to be the best player every single night,” said Marner, who hasn’t scored in 18 playoff games. “I felt like I wasn’t living up to my own standards, and just have to make sure that stops happening.” Matthews had stretches of dominance early in the series, but didn’t record a shot attempt until over 11 minutes into the second period, when he grazed the outside of a post. He had one shot on goal at five-on-five. Leafs forwards Mitch Marner, Zach Hyman, William Nylander and Auston Matthews hang their heads after another opening-round exit. “In my opinion, we didn’t have any shortage of chances,” said Matthews. Matthews and Marner combined for one goal in the series. You can get unlucky in hockey, or goalied, but at some point you do it or you don’t. The problem with betting big on your biggest stars is: What happens if those stars get hurt? What happens if they get unlucky? What happens if they’re flawed? The question going forward is how much of this was which? And how much of this will push them, versus scar them? This game was scars. “I really don’t think that there was anything that happened in the past that played into this series,” said Rielly. “In my opinion.” “It’s a new year, it’s a completely different team,” said Matthews. “We live in the moment, and we move past those.” Except it happened again. That lack of urgency that showed up in Game 3 against Columbus last year showed up in Games 5 and 6 this time. That fear of making a mistake, and tendency to fade once it happens, Toronto Maple Leafs Sheldon Keefe rode the Marner-Matthews-Hyman line hard, giving them every chance to seize the game by the short hairs. But a Montreal power play that only found a pulse in Game 6 made it 2-0, Nick Suzuki’s shot These Leafs should have been choke-proof. In the end, another Game 7 deflecting off Corey Perry. eclipse will haunt their dreams From that point, the Leafs were desperados. And like most desperados, doomed. By Rosie DiManno A power play to start the third went for nada. Another power play with 8 1/2 minutes left in regulation time — nada.

On the other side of an empty-netter for Tyler Toffoli, William Nylander Pack up now. finally solved Price, for the fifth time in the series, at 18:24. Too late. Way too late. It’s not the end of the world, but it is the end of this team. For 2021, as the sand ran out of the hourglass, and forevermore. Likely we’ll learn of injuries beyond what was so clearly evident and maybe that accounts, in part, for the perplexing lack of finish around the Past its expiry date, this carton of Maple Leafs. Thought they could get net by Matthews. The loss of Jake Muzzin midway Saturday struck playoff crackin’ and instead they laid an egg. particularly hard, though the lineup absence of captain John Tavares wasn’t a punch in the throat, as others did step up to the challenge. Admit it — you saw it coming. It came down, rather, to the missing of the mighty on the scoresheet. Everyone in Leaf Nation who knows anything about franchise history, about the past five seasons, about a predisposition to wilting under Of Matthews, with one measly goal. Of Marner, who hasn’t scored even stress, had been counting down the hours toward a dreaded playoff that many in his last 17 post-season games and looked increasingly apocalypse. woebegone as the series deepened, despite miles skated. Between them, 53 shots — just four in Game 7 — and nearly double the scoring It was probably written in the wind from the moment the Leafs lost Game chances. 6. Judgment Night Game 7, for all the build-up, all the players’ attestations of spines stiffened, was merely a postscript. What’s the point of a Rocket Richard Trophy when it all goes maddeningly pear-shaped under the playoff glare? Canadiens defenceman Shea Weber rocks Leafs centre Auston Matthews in the first period of Game 7 on Monday night at Scotiabank They thought they’d got it right, finally, those responsible for constructing Arena. a squad that seemingly lacked nothing. Glitzy offence, a stabilized defence, a ripened superstar core far removed from their salad days, a On the solemn morning after, a magnificent regular season doesn’t mean found treasure in Campbell, heaps of veteran leadership and tough squat. dudes to put some lead in their pencil. One, two, three kicks at the can to rid themselves of Montreal and the All erased in one godforsaken encounter with the lowly Habs. Leafs retched. Some of them won’t get the chance to try again, won’t pass this way again. Some shouldn’t. In the abbreviated regular season, 56 games to put themselves in this position — because all they got out of it was home ice for Game 7, in a In the wake of Monday’s 3-1 defeat by the Canadiens, an opponent so mostly vacant arena, only some 550 vaccinated health-care workers inferior that it hardly seemed a fair contest, the post-mortem must be taking their seats, a last-minute yield by the province’s health potentates conducted forthwith, entrails studied for an explanation of what went so and Queen’s Park. spectacularly wrong. Nice touch, but that was never going to make a hell of a difference. The Elimination games: 0-for-6 in the era of Matthews and Marner. only difference would have been difference-makers rising to the An epitaph from Morgan Rielly, who’s been here in this same mournful occasion, the pressure-fraught moment. spot too many times. “It’s tough, obviously. It’s as hard as it gets. The They could not find it in themselves and they’ll have to live with that. expectation within the room was higher. The goals are higher than what we achieved this year and it makes the disappointment much worse. They should have been choke-proof. Can’t just blame Price relocating his gold-medal stride or the physicality of the Canadiens. So what’s missing? “We feel it and we realize that we let an opportunity slip. That’s not acceptable by our standards, and it makes the loss a lot worse than Rewind the tape to Monday morning because it’s all backward-looks anything we’ve had to deal with before.” now. Jack Campbell, so visibly crushed and sniffling afterwards, beating Jason Spezza is 37 and probably this is it for him, without ever being on himself up for the first goal that got by him. the upside of a Stanley Cup handshake. “I’m just thinking of how hard our team battled, for it to end … that goal, “You live for these moments where you’re under pressure and you have worst goal of my career happened in Game 7. It’s just unacceptable. The to win to continue to go,” Spezza had said, emphasizing the fun of it. “As team counts on me to be better. I know I can be better than that.” kids we’ve all been through this scenario in our driveways, playing road hockey, in our basements playing mini-sticks. Now we’re able to live it The blame is not his. out.” Matthews, post-game, could not really put any of it in perspective; too Nobody dreams of losing Game 7. fresh. “It’s kind of hard to sum up. It’s extremely frustrating, just all around.” Keefe: “It’s an incredible opportunity for our team to meet this head-on and find a way to the other side of it.” Marner was equally dumbfounded. “Auston and I, especially at playoff time, you want to be the guy they go to, the guy that can lead a team out Dark side of the moon, turned out, Leafs eclipsed. of the series. We had multiple looks every single game. We want that puck to go in the net … it didn’t go in the net. That’s kind of what it comes Don’t look at it straight on. Your eyes will burn. down to.” Toronto Star LOADED: 06.01.2021 The Leafs were fully awake on this evening from the get-go, after starting first periods drowsy and listless over previous games. Actually, it was Carey Price in la-la land since he didn’t have his blocker on, facing the wrong way, unaware the puck had dropped. Only time his attention wandered. Top line buzzing for Toronto, if futilely, D-men aggressive in offensive involvement, five shots in that frame from the blue-line corps: Marner 1, Matthews 0. Marner, who was stripped of the puck by Eric Staal, turnover in the offensive zone, and the Habs opened the scoring off the rush at 3:02 of the second frame — that all-important first goal, Brendan Gallagher beating Campbell five-hole. A puck that should have been stopped. Yet again the Leafs found themselves chasing the game while trying to cleave to the structure their coach is always banging on about. But there was plenty of game left and they did respond fiercely, creating turnovers of their own yet snookered by Price, Zach Hyman twice bedevilled. Toronto Maple Leafs “This is awesome. I feel so incredibly lucky, the past year and a half. locked down, this is wonderful,” she said.

Zachary Veitch, a medical oncologist at St. Michael’s Hospital, was one Front-line workers say attending Leafs game is a sign of hope and of the few front-line workers who arrived in a Canadiens jersey. healing “It’s gonna be emotional for everyone, right? Just that release, but hopefully the Habs come out on top,” he said, with a laugh. By Lori Ewing The Canadian Press Leafs forward Joe Thornton said playing in front of fans was “a long time coming. TORONTO - Daniel Smith was about six people from the front of the “A lot of vaccinations have been rolling out. Can’t wait for more people to growing line of healthcare workers waiting to enter Scotiabank Arena. start coming to this building. It’s going to be fun to play in front of, I know it’s only 500, but hopefully we’ll build off this and continue to get more Smith, an operating room manager for the Scarborough Health Network, people going forward.” had his hands stuffed in his pockets, one of them clutching a lucky charm -- a Canadian silver dollar from 1967, the last time the Toronto Maple Leafs forward Jason Spezza was looking forward to the support. Leafs won the Stanley Cup. “I think it’s just a great sign for where we’re headed as a society. I think “When I woke up this morning, I tucked this in my pocket,” said Smith, it’s a great way to recognize the health-care workers for all the hard work who won a ticket through an SHN draw. “I didn’t put it in my pocket to get they’ve done to get us to this point where they’re allowed to come in,” he a ticket today. But I put it in my pocket just to wish the Leafs luck said. “And then as players, obviously we enjoy playing in front of people.” because I’m a bit of a nerd like that. The front-line workers made for the first crowd at a major Toronto “I guess I got some luck because I’m here right now to cheer the Leafs. sporting event since the pandemic began, and only the second NHL I’m a real Leafs fan and I don’t even have words to describe how I feel crowd in Canada. Toronto remains in lockdown amid a third wave of the right now.” pandemic. His lucky coin wasn’t enough. The Leafs, who saw their 3-1 series lead Other Canadian professional sports were forced to relocate to the U.S. to evaporate, were eliminated with a 3-1 loss to Montreal. avoid cross-border travel. The NBA’s Toronto Raptors played their season out of Tampa, Fla. Major League Baseball’s Toronto Blue Jays Smith was one of 550 fully vaccinated health-care workers who attended started their season playing home games in Dunedin, Fla., and will call Monday night’s Game 7 between the Leafs and the visiting Canadiens in Buffalo, N.Y., home starting on Tuesday. their first-round playoff series. Major League Soccer’s Toronto FC, CF Montreal and Vancouver Some fans cheered once they passed through security and into the Whitecaps have relocated to Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Sandy, venue. Others posed together for pictures to commemorate the first Utah, respectively. crowd permitted at Scotiabank Arena since the COVID-19 pandemic brought the sports world to its knees in the spring of 2020. Major League Rugby’s Toronto Arrows are now based in Marietta, Ga. It was a moment of hope, some of them said, that was a long time Canadian pro teams in many leagues outside the NHL have a larger coming. majority, if not a full complement, of rivals in the U.S., making cross- border travel a requirement if they are to play in Canada. “The last year has been pretty tough. It’s not the way we normally operate. It’s been hard on the staff,” Smith said. “But I think this being our In the NHL, American teams have been allowed to have crowds first opportunity is sort of light at the end of the tunnel, things are opening throughout the playoffs. up and we feel good.” This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 31, 2021. Premier Doug Ford’s office said Monday morning that the front-line Toronto Star LOADED: 06.01.2021 workers received both doses of a COVID-19 vaccine more than two weeks ago and would go through screening and other precautionary measures. Health-Care workers cheer before the Toronto Maple Leafs play against the Montreal Canadiens in Game 7 of NHL Stanley Cup playoff hockey action in Toronto on Monday, May 31, 2021. Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, the Maple Leafs’ ownership group, covered the cost of tickets. They were all given a blue Leafs jersey, provided by Scotiabank, plus white towels, snacks and beers. They were split into two sections, in the top of the lower bowl behind each net. They twirled their towels for much of the night, and danced when they spotted themselves on the Jumbotron. The crowd was obviously nowhere near the capacity for the 19,800-seat arena. The in-game announcer encouraged the 550 to “make it sound like a crowd of 5,000.” Some 2,500 people were in the stands in Montreal when the two teams last clashed on Saturday for Game 6. That was the first crowd for a game in Canada this year. “I wish I could have 2,500, but the docs said 550. We’ll take that,” Ford said. Samantha Timpano, who clutched a sign that read “We BeLeaf, St. Michaels Internal Medicine,” said the past 14 months have been “just work, home, repeat. Stress levels have gone up and down. But we’re all full of hope now.” That hope had Timpano, a lifelong Leafs fan, feeling emotional as she waited to go in. “I was a little bit tearful walking over, it’s really exciting, and it’s, yeah, something really, we’re really grateful to be part of it,” said the occupational therapist. “It’s funny, this time last year, people were like banging pots and pans cheering for us. And now we get to be the first ones cheering on Toronto’s team, so it’s pretty cool.” Cathy Stinson, who works for the Scarborough Health Network, was the first in line to get in. Dressed in an autographed Leafs jersey, she shuffled her feet excitedly, and clapped her hands when the buzzer sounded that the doors were opening. Toronto Maple Leafs Yes, just another year ending in misery for the Maple Leafs and their long-suffering fans. They’re going on 55 years and counting since they last won the Stanley Cup. Another playoff collapse ends Maple Leafs season in heartbreaking Fans in the stands fashion after Game 7 loss to Canadiens That 550 fans — fully vaccinated health-care workers invited by the team — that were in the stands didn’t make that much of a difference. Though By Kevin McGran they chanted and waved towels, their presence ended up aided those who would make the Leafs the butt of jokes, like they were there to keep the team from choking. Misery loves company. Still, it was a moment that might be better remembered than the game itself, a moment forward in the bigger battle against the coronavirus So, if you’re a Maple Leafs fan, know that the Maple Leafs need your pandemic. company now. “It’s just another sign of progress here for the country and our province It’s over. The Montreal Canadiens saw to that with a 3-1 win in a and our city,” Keefe said before the game. “What a terrific way to heartbreaking Game 7 at Scotiabank Arena on Monday. recognize health-care workers, front-line workers, who have given so much through this difficult time we’ve all been going through.” They’ll play the Winnipeg Jets, starting Wednesday, in the North Division final. Money goalie The best Leafs team assembled in the Brendan Shanahan era, with gritty In some ways, it was a battle of players earning eight figures. And free agents and a rounded-out defence to add to their stellar core, lost in Montreal’s $10.5-million (U.S.) goalie, Carey Price, was better than the the opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Again. Like a B-movie Leafs’ Auston Matthews ($11.6 million) and Mitch Marner ($10.9 million). where you can see the ending coming from the opening scene but you With John Tavares ($11 million) erased from the equation in Game 1, hope for something different, the Leafs went down in spectacular style. Montreal’s depth players outplayed Toronto’s. “We’re obviously devastated, disappointed. We expected better of The Canadiens certainly played a looser, almost confident brand of ourselves,” Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said. hockey from the moment their backs were against the wall. Underdogs, playing with nothing to lose, rallied to win. The Leafs seemed nervous for Their misery showed in a parade of long faces to the video conference most of the final three games. They were good in spurts. But they were calls with the media afterward. mistake-prone and elements of their game that led to such a successful Take Rocket Richard winner Auston Matthews, who had 41 regular- regular season — like forechecking and breaking up plays — were season goals, and one in the playoffs. absent in the latter part of this series. “I’m not really sure how to sum it up, it’s obviously extremely frustrating,” No excuses Matthews said. “I mean there’s not really much to be said.” The Leafs were without Tavares from the second period of Game 1, Mitch Marner, an exquisite playmaker who was second on the team in missed defenceman Jake Muzzin in Game 7, and lost Nick Foligno mid- goals during the season, had none in seven playoff games. series, though he returned for the two final games, playing injured. “Come playoff time you want to be the guy they go to, and the guy that “He gave us everything that he had in the games that he did play, even can lead the team out of a series,” Marner said. “We had multiple looks though he was far from himself, far from 100 per cent,” Keefe said. “But every single game, (the puck) just wasn’t going in.” despite not having John and despite not having Nick, we were in a really good spot and didn’t close it out.” Goaltender Jack Campbell, the record-setter with 11 wins to start a season, knocked himself for the game’s opening goal from Brendan Asking questions Gallagher. Plenty abound. What will happen to some of the older unrestricted free “I think how hard our team battled, then for it to end (on Gallagher’s) goal, agents, like Joe Thornton, Wayne Simmonds and Jason Spezza? Will the worst goal of my career, and happen in Game 7, it’s not acceptable,” UFAs like Zach Hyman, Frederik Andersen and Alex Galchenyuk return, said Campbell. “The team counts on me to be better and I know I can be given the team’s salary cap restrictions? And who will be lost to the a lot better than that.” Seattle Kraken in the expansion draft? Maybe Travis Dermott or Alex Kerfoot. The game didn’t end on that goal, but it may as well have. Toronto didn’t have a lead at any point over the final three games. Corey Perry scored Those who remain will bear the scars of another playoff disappointment, on the power play with 4:35 to go in the second period. Tyler Toffoli another summer of a fan base moaning and groaning about how much scored an empty netter. William Nylander scored his fifth of the playoffs players are paid compared to how little they produce in the post-season. in the final two minutes, with the game out of reach. Those will be Matthews’ and Marner’s crosses to bear. William Nylander, generally the team’s most dangerous forward against Montreal, may The Leafs, who had third-period rallies in both Games 5 and 6 only to escape that wrath. lose in overtime both times, had no answers. They were let down — almost predictably —by their power play, which had two chances in the Adding misery final 20 minutes of the season. It had gone cold well before the playoffs It was supposed to be a series for the ages, but it simply added to Leafs started, and never warmed up. misery. They hadn’t played their historic rival in the playoffs since 1979, “The expectation within the room was higher,” said defenceman Morgan and hadn’t beaten them since 1967. In a piece of trivia that bodes well for Rielly. “The goals are far higher than what we achieved this year, and it Canadiens fans, the winner of a Montreal-Toronto playoff series — makes the disappointment much worse. We feel it. And we realize that Montreal is 9-7 — has won the Stanley Cup every time, though that we let an opportunity slip.” series was often the Stanley Cup final in the Original Six era. Opportunity lost But the Leafs did nothing to exorcise their demons, simply adding one. The franchise has not won a playoff round since 2004, in the days of Pat The Leafs had a 3-1 series lead over the Montreal Canadiens, three Quinn and Mats Sundin. They’re on a remarkably bad 0-8 run in games chances to advance to the second round of the playoffs for the first time in which they could have eliminated an opponent. since 2004. The Phil Kessel-era Leafs set a new bar for disappointment in 2013, As collapses go, this one is right up there with being up 4-1 late in the blowing a 4-1 lead with less than five minutes to go in Game 7 in Boston, third period against Boston, losing 5-4 in overtime, in 2013. And, while it losing in overtime. wasn’t the playoffs, who can forget that they were in third place in the Eastern Conference with 14 games to go, and went 2-12-0 down the The Matthews-led Leafs have failed to deliver despite showing so much stretch to land in the draft lottery. more promise since reaching the playoffs in 2017, bowing out in six games to the Washington Capitals. They lost in the first round to Boston Rielly said there was no connection between the failures of the past and in 2018 in seven games, and again 2019 in seven games despite leading this one. the series 3-2. And they fell to Columbus in the fifth-game of the pandemic induced best-of-five qualifying round last summer. “I totally understand how you would connect those but honestly I don’t think (history was) really a factor,” he said. “This is a different group. It’s The text below was from the pre-game portion of Kevin McGran’s Leafs been a very different year. Different playoff format. So I really don’t think vs. Habs live blog for Game 7. that there was anything that happened in the past that played into what happened during this year’s playoff series.” So here’s a look behind the curtain of how newsrooms operate. Once something becomes “Big News” other departments like to chime in on coverage. Well, Game 7 was “Big News.” And someone from another department asked if I could sum up 54 years of Maple Leafs misery in, say, 250 words. I laughed. Two-hundred and fifty thousand maybe. Books have been written on the subject. But I like a challenge. So I here I go: They were the first Stanley Cup champion to miss the playoffs the following year in the expansion era. And they did it the first year of the expansion era. Harold Ballard. That’s two decades of wreckage. Dave Keon, Paul Henderson in the WHA. Bernie Parent traded. Pyramid Power vs. the Broad St. Bullies. Roger Neilson fired, then rehired the next day. Punch Imlach. Darryl Sittler rips the “C” from his jersey. Lanny McDonald traded. Sittler traded. The (Chuck) Norris Division. Mike Nykoluk, Dan Maloney, John Brophy. Russ Courtnall for John Kordic. A first-round pick (Scott Niedermayer) for Tom Kurvers. The Carlton Street Cashbox. The Honest Grocer. The Evil Empire. The teachers’ pension. Kerry Fraser didn’t see a high stick. Wayne Gretzky’s Greatest Game. Larry Murphy. Draft schmaft. Pat Quinn’s heart. The Carolina Hurricanes? Jeremy Roenick. I cannot confirm or deny. Tuukka Rask for Andrew Raycroft. Justin Pogge. LEAFS GAME 7 A timeline of futility: How the Maple Leafs have done in the NHL playoffs since last winning the Stanley Cup in 1967 12 hrs ago LEAFS GAME 7OPINION Rosie DiManno: These Leafs should have been choke-proof. In the end, another Game 7 eclipse will haunt their dreams 7 hrs ago The Muskoka Five. No-trade clauses. The salary cap. Jeff Finger four years, $14 million. Carlo Colaiacovo and Alex Steen for Lee Stempniak. Pugnacity, testosterone, truculence and belligerence. Phil Kessel. Dion Phaneuf. Ron Wilson. Randy Carlyle. An 18-wheeler goes off a cliff. Hot dogs. It was 4-1 late in the third. David Clarkson, seven years, $36.75 million. They went 2-12 down the stretch. He was “Ok, Just okay.” Bloody Sunday. Peter Horacek’s “Give-A-S—t” meter. Robidas Island. Patrice Bergeron, David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand’s tongue. Nazem Kadri got suspended. Again. Jake Gardiner was minus-5. Who is Elvis Merzlikins? Mike Babcock. The Leafs had a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. Toronto Star LOADED: 06.01.2021 Toronto Maple Leafs would see the same people: the people who lived there, who took pride in the team and the city, who would say hello or hand him things or offer a high-five. It helped him to become more emotionally invested in the city Cheering for the Leafs leaves scars. Game 7 is another chance to heal and the team. Like he belonged there. And when he was hired to run the Leafs in 2014, he said: “In Toronto, I don’t have to find a route to become emotionally invested in this city and By Bruce Arthur this team. Being born in Toronto does not necessarily make you a good executive with the Toronto Maple Leafs. But this … was a very personal decision.” At some point, maybe you have to ask: Why? Not just why the Toronto He will take this personally, and you can too. After last season’s Maple Leafs allowed themselves to be extended to a Game 7 against a disappointment, general manager Kyle Dubas was asked if it’s possible Montreal Canadiens team that can’t hang with the Leafs at their best. Not the organization had misjudged the potential of this group. He said, “No.” just why this Leafs team, on the verge of their first series win in 17 years, and in a golden age of talent, keeps coming back to this. Game 7 against Montreal could only disprove that, not prove it. The Habs aren’t the Bruins; these Habs should have been an annoyance. But all No, this feels like we’ve reached a point where Leafs fans ask you can do is give what you have to the game in front of you, and this themselves why they root for this franchise, and what they ever did to was another chance for the Leafs to prove they’re different, to deserve this. That this series reached a seventh game was partly the themselves and everyone else. If a team loses for long enough, you vagaries of the game. The Leafs have dominated the overall score, the probably cheer for them because one day it might change. And it doesn’t shot count, more of the games. Toronto is the better team. Nobody until it does. questions that. Toronto Star LOADED: 06.01.2021 At some point, though, being better is about more than talent, more than roster construction, more than stars. Hockey is a small-sample sport riven with luck, yes. It’s enough to drive a person mad. But you either do it or you don’t. You either break through in the big moments, one way or another, or you don’t. And regardless, playoff hockey is about giving everything you can, without panicking or shrinking or watching. If you give it all, you might have a chance to win the coin flips that matter most. These Leafs don’t do that yet: not in the regular season, and not in the playoffs. Through four games this series was a wipeout, and once they were up 3-1 the Leafs mostly played like they expected it to be easy. Which is exactly how they have so often played in the last three regular seasons — those games where they came out slow and unfocused, futzed around, rode their talent to three goals in under 10 minutes and won. It’s been a pattern every year with this core. You can throw out 2016-17, when they lost to Washington in a close series, in a first try. But in January of 2018, goaltender Frederik Andersen said: “We’ve got to figure out who wants to commit to playing for the team ... We played well enough for two periods and we’ve got to find a way to keep the foot on the gas the whole game.” He more or less repeated that idea about 14 months later, saying scoring goals often masks mistakes — as he put it, “it’s a good perfume that covers up some things that (don’t) smell too good.” And in 2020, after a season in which the coach was fired and the team found itself in a play-in series, the Leafs blew a 3-0 lead in a Game 3 against Columbus, on the way to losing the best-of-five in five games, and coach Sheldon Keefe said, “We just got what we deserved today. I felt like we reverted back to some really bad habits, we didn’t have any real purpose or plan to our game today. We were just making it up as we go along, so we get what we deserve.” Like a lot of things in life, hockey is about habits. Look, this team was built to be top-heavy and has lost some guys at the top. John Tavares was concussed on that terrifying Corey Perry collision in Game 1, and winger Nick Foligno clearly isn’t healthy and is still a top- six guy. And because the Leafs let this reach Game 6, defenceman Jake Muzzin pulled his groin and that will keep him out for at least three weeks. Even a series win will have come at a cost. But this team was built around Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, and their inability to grasp the series is the heart of all this. Internally, the team has carefully watched its core’s growth every year, and noted the gaps. Hockey doesn’t always let you be the hero, but you have to give yourself the chance, and this Leafs core doesn’t always play up to what they imagine themselves to be. That’s part of how you go 0-6 over four seasons where you could have eliminated a team and won a playoff series. Three of those, like Monday night’s Game 7, were deciding games. They can still change things. With the season on the line for both teams, Auston Matthews and the Maple Leafs will face off against the Montreal Canadiens at Scotiabank Arena on Monday night. But that is where cheering for this version of this team leaves scars. I grew up outside the faith, but every Leafs fan I talk to seems to edge toward the same fatalistic place: the only real rule has been that the Leafs will always let you down. Becoming a fan is usually an accident of geography and childhood, and growing up in Toronto, or even near, has sentenced an awful lot of people to an awful lot of disappointment. Brendan Shanahan grew up a Leafs fan, too. During his five-team Hall of Fame career, the Leafs team president used to eschew the back corridors before the game and walk the same public route so that he Toronto Maple Leafs

Leafs fans’ tweets that will make you laugh (or cry) ahead of Game 7 against Canadiens

By Justin Smirlies

How are Leafs fans feeling? With another dreaded first-round Game 7 tonight against the Montreal Canadiens, many longtime Leafs fans are having flashbacks to the infamous playoff collapse of 2013. And 2018. And ’19. And last summer. Even though Toronto still has a chance to win its first playoff series since 2004, you could say the vibes surrounding the fans are, based on what’s being shared on social media, not exactly positive. Leafs fans seem poised to turn on high-paid superstars Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner for their underwhelming performances through six games, with some already calling for the team to trade the latter. And Jake Muzzin, a key member of the team’s blue line, is out for at least three weeks, just announced by this morning by coach Sheldon Keefe. Some took the opportunity to poke fun at the team as they welcome their first set of fans — fully vaccinated health-care workers — to the arena tonight. Although not everyone is all down and out as some Leafs fans are trying to stay positive ahead of tonight’s matchup. The Leafs were the heavy favourites heading into this series, and had two opportunites in Games 5 and 6 to put it away and win their first playoff round in 17 years. According to SportsLogiq, the Leafs still have a 72.4 per cent chance of taking the series tonight against the Habs. The winner will move on to play the Winnipeg Jets, who have been resting since last Monday after sweeping the Edmonton Oilers in four games. But if the Leafs lose? Will it be lowest moment in Leafs fandom ever? Maybe scroll through Twitter tonight to find out — if you dare. Toronto Star LOADED: 06.01.2021 Toronto Maple Leafs

How good has Carey Price been for the Habs against the Leafs? Let’s take a look at some numbers

By Mark Zwolinski

The Maple Leafs maintain that they are a loose, confident and focused group as they prepared Monday for Game 7 in the first round of the playoffs against Montreal. But while they don’t talk about it, one thing can make them — and any team — nervous: the way Carey Price has been playing in goal for the Canadiens. Price enters the game Monday as the biggest difference-maker in the series, and the pivotal reason why the series has gone to a Game 7. While Jack Campbell has been solid in the Leafs net, Price, the 2015 Hart Trophy winner, has lived up to his reputation as one of the best goalies in the league. Price has stopped just about everything the Leafs have thrown at him; consider that Toronto had 13 shots on net in overtime in Game 6, and still lost. Montreal has had three shots combined in two overtime games (games 5 and 6) and scored twice. Price is the underlying reason behind the mounting pressure on Leafs stars Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner to break out of their playoff scoring slumps. While the duo lead the series in shots and scoring chances, they have one goal between them through the first six games of the series. Price has stopped 188 of the 203 shots he’s faced so far in the series. In a breakdown of the 17 goals the Leafs have scored in this series: one goal has been deflected by a Leafs player four have gone in off Montreal players Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price stops Toronto Maple Leafs right-winger Wayne Simmonds as the Leafs fall to the Habs 4-3 in overtime in Game 5 of their first round NHL playoff series at Scotiabank Arena. two have come off rebounds eight have gone in directly, off a primary shot two empty net goals (not counted amongst Price’s saves). Price has performed at league-leading levels in terms of “goals saved above expected.” He sits third in the NHL in that stat, with 5.9 in six games. That translates roughly into Price saving his team a goal a game. Tampa’s Andrei Vasilevsky leads the league with 9.3 goals saved above expected, over seven games. Connor Hellebuyck is second with 7.5 over four games. Campbell ranks fourth with a 3.8 over six games. What makes Price’s performance even more remarkable is that he hadn’t played an NHL game prior to the playoffs after being out with a concussion since April 19. When asked if Price can “get into a team’s head,” veteran Habs forward Eric Staal said “as an opposing player, you never want to say that. “But I think there’s probably times when there’s moments of that,” Staal said. “I know playing in front of that, the feeling of knowing he’s going to be there, it’s a great feeling. There will be moments of the game where there’s breakdowns and chances against . . . they (Leafs) have good players and when you have somebody like Carey back in there, it’s huge. I love the way he prepares for a game. I’ve been here with him this season, and just seeing how he prepares, and how he carries himself, it goes a long way with the team.” Added Joel Armia: “He’s been the best goalie in this league the past 10 years. We missed him when he was injured. But he’s back and when we needed that rock back there, he’s been that.” Toronto Star LOADED: 06.01.2021 Toronto Maple Leafs

Leafs defenceman Jake Muzzin out at least three weeks with suspected groin injury

By Mark Zwolinski

The Maple Leafs have suffered another huge blow to their roster for the playoffs, and for their all-important Game 7 on Monday night against Montreal. Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe announced at the morning skate that defenceman Jake Muzzin will be lost to the team for at least three weeks with a lower body injury. “It looks like we’ll have to push on without him,” Keefe said. Muzzin is believe to have suffered a groin injury, and was seen grimacing as he skated back to retrieve a puck in his own zone in game six. Muzzin left the game and did not return. But replays of the moment —and the ensuing commentary — suggested Muzzin suffered a potential groin injury. The loss comes at a time when the Leafs are under intense pressure to beat Montreal in Game 7 and reverse the narrative surrounding four consecutive years of first-round (or qualifying round) exits. Toronto was buoyed by the presence of John Tavares, who skated with the team during Monday’s morning skate. But Tavares is already lost to the team with a concussion and knee injury, suffered in Game 1. Tavares, while making solid progress, is not likely to be available until late in the second round, if the Leafs advance. But there is no set timeline for his return. “John’s progress is getting to the point where he’s on the ice with the other players, and that’s a good sign,” Keefe said. “The fact he’s had no setbacks is very positive. He’s progressing very well and he’s recovering from the concussion and from the knee (injury). They’ll (the medical staff) be cautious and safe with it, health is what matters most. But his recovery has been quite remarkable.” Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Jake Muzzin suffered what’s believed to be a goin injury. Keefe said Rasmus Sandin will draw in for Muzzin on the blue line, and will likely join Travis Dermott on the third pairing. Taxi squad defencemen Ben Hutton and Martin Marincin were also on the ice Monday for the morning skate. It’s the second straight year that the Leafs are without Muzzin due to an injury. The popular defenceman, who won a Stanley Cup with Los Angeles, was also lost to injury in the qualifying round of the playoffs against Columbus last season. Toronto did not advance through that series. “Jake is a great leader for us in general,” forward Jason Spezza said. “He’s a very competitive guy, a guy that brings it every night all season, loves the game and is passionate about it. He’s a guy who obviously is a big piece to us, but it looks like we’ll have to make due without him potentially for a little bit. So, just move forward and try to play as a team, and play hard. But Muzz is a big part of our team.” Toronto Star LOADED: 06.01.2021 Toronto Maple Leafs in the final three games, with different styles, different approaches, taken apart systematically and in every other conceivable way.

The Leafs didn’t play fast enough against Montreal, didn’t play skilled SIMMONS: This Leafs cut is the deepest enough, didn’t play physical enough, didn’t play desperate enough, didn’t play smart enough, didn’t have the kind of emotion and intensity that defines playoff hockey. They didn’t play playoff hockey. They didn’t Steve Simmons adjust to the lack of space, adjust to the lack of opportunities. And this defeat is worse than the others that have come before it because this team was different, this team was supposedly scripted by Jason Spezza sat on the bench when the buzzer sounded, bent over at the general manager to be next-level great. And this defeat is worse the waist, head down, not moving. because of the possibilities that existed because of the North Division format, with one Canadian team soon to advance to the Final Four. It was all too soon. The Leafs honestly believed it was them. This picture of a shocking, stunning, Maple Leafs season-ending, suddenly frozen in time. Joe Thornton believed it. Spezza believed it. Wayne Simmonds believed it. Believing it and accomplishing it – two entirely different things for the In fairness, the veteran Spezza deserved a better ending. In fairness, the young guys and the old ones. long-suffering Leafs fans deserved a better ending. At the end, the almost $11 million Marner, without a goal, without a goal And in fairness, this Leafs team, thoroughly beaten by themselves and by in his last 18 playoff games – an eternity of sorts – admitted it “wasn’t up the Montreal Canadiens and by the historic inability of this group to to my own standards. I have to make it stop happening.” compete at the highest level, did not deserve anything more than Stanley Cup elimination Monday night at Scotiabank Arena. The better team won He has to make sure. The team has to make sure. A playoff that ended and it was not the Maple Leafs. on the last day of May now serves as the beginning of another long off- season of waiting and wondering. Maybe in his last NHL game, maybe in his last game as a Leaf, Spezza was overcome with emotion, unable to move. He had his eye on a “There are zero excuses,” said Keefe, having trouble finding the right Stanley Cup opportunity here in Toronto: He never thought once about words as a season unraveled far too quickly. “We felt we were capable of first-round elimination in the playoffs. And his body language said all of more, not just tonight but the whole series.” that when the buzzer sounded and ended the most disappointing Maple Leaf season in recent memory. Capable of more, yes. Incapable, in this case, and so many cases, of getting it right. This is a franchise built on too many almost weres the past half-century or more. This was to be the year where everything changed. Only it Toronto Sun LOADED: 06.01.2021 didn’t. This was supposed to be the best Leafs team in memory, maybe the best since 1967, the deepest, the strongest, the most playoff-ready: That’s what it looked like. And yet they succumbed meekly to Montreal, just as a similar team succumbed to Columbus in August, just as lesser teams than this one lost twice to Boston and once to Washington in the opening round of the playoffs. One loss begets another playoff loss and on and on it goes. Now the Leafs are out, after leading 3-1 in a best of seven series against a lesser opponent, losing 3-1 Monday night. Never leading once in Games 5, 6 or 7. They are out after trailing 3-0, 2-0 and 2-0 in the final three games against Montreal, against the great Carey Price, two of those were games that need more examination, games they were not ready to begin. Out after being the second-best team in the series playing an opponent they lost to twice in 10 games during the regular season, finished 18 points ahead of in a shortened regular season. Out, with a singular goal from Auston Matthews, the Rocket Richard Trophy winner, and no playoff goals for Mitch Marner in this game, this series, his past 18 playoff games. And the big Montreal goal in Game 7, scored by Brendan Gallagher, came off a Marner turnover. That hurt. That they didn’t recover from. This core group of Leafs, Matthews, Marner, Morgan Rielly, Zach Hyman, are now winless in five attempts in five years in the playoffs. Basically shut out by Price and the Canadiens until Toronto pulled its goalie with a few minutes to play. The Leafs scored once against Montreal in Game 7. Were shut out by Columbus in Game 5 in the bubble. Scored once in Game 7 in Boston in 2019. Two goals in three clinching playoff games. That is embarrassing. And that’s more coincidental than accidental. Something is missing here. Something is missing with the high-priced whiz kids. Matthews and Marner were outscored by Tyler Toffoli and Corey Perry. They were outplayed by Phillip Danault. They didn’t match their ageless Eric Staal, who stripped the puck that led to that huge Montreal goal early in the second period. General manager Kyle Dubas has changed players, coaches, styles of play, adopted areas he was previously uncomfortable with: And yet, the endings have not changed in any way. The Sheldon Keefe Leafs, seemingly so different, have been no more playoff productive, possibly less productive than the Mike Babcock Leafs were. This loss in Game 7, this series loss, this punch to the gut defeat that has Leaf fans bent over and aching, weighs far more heavily than any of the previous Leafs defeats. This wasn’t a lucky team in Boston, blowing a lead in the final inexplicable 11 minutes. This was a team taken apart by the Canadiens Toronto Maple Leafs brought in Game 7. That speaks volumes … Tyler Toffoli scored into an empty net before Nylander scored … Neither team had a high-danger scoring chance in the opening period. Montreal outshot Toronto 12-8, KOSHAN: Maple Leafs fail to get money's worth out of Matthews and with perimeter play setting the pace … The Leafs are in line to have as Marner many as 18 unrestricted free agents, including a bunch of Toronto Marlies. At the top of Dubas’ to-do list should be the re-signing of Zach Hyman and Jason Spezza … If that wasn’t Joe Thornton’s last NHL game, all the best to the team that signs him. His ability to be an Terry Koshan impactful player is gone … A quick stroll outside the arena an hour before the opening faceoff brought a smile. So great to see people lined

up outside the building waiting to get in, and never mind that it was just What happened in the regular season doesn’t matter. 550 who got tickets. The front-line workers who got in to see the game certainly deserved that opportunity, and as others including Keefe have You hear it uttered all the time by National Hockey League players on the said, it’s a great sign for the city and the province. Fans in the stands eve of the playoffs. meant Marner got to bring back his tradition of tossing a puck to a fan at the end of warmup, and with a heave, he found one in the upper reaches The Maple Leafs, in 2021, were concrete proof that it’s an ironclad of the lower bowl. Once the game started, it would have been fine had statement. the canned crowd noise been turned down a notch or two so those You bet the Leafs’ North Division title in the regular season will get an actually in attendance could be heard. asterisk attached to it. MUZZIN OUT It will be there because the Leafs did nothing to back it up when hockey Keefe confirmed that Jake Muzzin, the Leafs’ most physical defenceman, life got complicated in the post-season. would miss a minimum of three weeks with a lower-body injury suffered The 3-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Monday night in Game 7 in Game 6. completed a stunning collapse by the Leafs, who were in control when Captain John Tavares’ participation in the morning skate led some to they carried a 3-1 series lead into Game 5. believe that meant there was a chance he would play in Game 7, but that Two losses in overtime were followed by a pitiful performance at wasn’t going to happen. Scotiabank Arena with everything on the line. SAME OLD, SAME OLD: Maple Leafs out in first round again Troubling was that the Leafs’ superstar duo of Auston Matthews and The additions of TJ Brodie, celebrating his game-tying goal on Saturday, Mitch Marner, paid more than enough to be difference-makers, didn’t Zach Bogosian (22), Nick Foligno and others can’t be assessed until come close to having that impact. They combined for nine points in the after tonight’s series-deciding tilt against the Habs. series. The Maple Leafs' Shanaplan will be on trial in Game 7 Matthews’ Rocket Richard Trophy from the regular season lost plenty of its shine. He had one goal in the series. Marner had none. TRAIKOS: Price proves once again why he's Canada's best goalie Troubling was that the Leafs figured the Canadiens would be a tough out Tavares continues to recover from a concussion and knee injury suffered but couldn’t make the in-series adjustments to consistently penetrate in Game 1. He will have plenty of time to do that before training camp offensively. When they did, Carey Price, who had a .901 save percentage starts in September. in the regular season, turned back the clock. “Things seem to be progressing very well with the knee, and he has had It’s the second year in a row the Leafs have had their season killed by a no setbacks with the concussion,” Keefe said. “His health is of the utmost team that Toronto outmatched in talent. importance, but his recovery has been quite remarkable.” Neither Montreal nor Columbus last August is equal to the Leafs in talent. Toronto Sun LOADED: 06.01.2021 Desire, though, is something all together different. That the Canadiens didn’t give the Leafs much room in which to work doesn’t cut it. Matthews and Marner don’t carry massive cap hits so they can get stuffed by the opponent’s defensive structure in the playoffs. Presumably, general manager Kyle Dubas forked over millions to the pair so they could lead the Leafs through difficult times in the post-season. They weren’t the difference-makers that coach Sheldon Keefe thought they could be, that Dubas has paid them to be. “I felt like in every game we had a couple of Grade A chances,” Marner said. “It seems like it’s always (saying) the same stuff.” And this from Matthews: “It’s frustrating. It’s a game of inches out there. When it comes to playoff time, everything is much tighter. They’re a team that defends well, they have great goaltending. In my opinion, I don’t think we had any shortage of chances. We we weren’t able to able to capitalize, we weren’t able to get it done.” Matthews shouldn’t be talking about it being a game of inches. He’s the guy who is supposed to ensure those inches aren’t a factor. The Leafs were shut out in the fifth and deciding game by Columbus in the qualifying round last summer. Monday night, they were on their way to being shut out when William Nylander scored at 18:24 of the third. Six periods in deciding games, one goal. The Leafs aren’t getting their money’s worth from their rich stars. GAME ON Keefe called the series loss “devastating.” That about sums it up … Marner coughed up the puck at the Canadiens blue line and Montreal went the other way to score the opening goal at 3:02 of the second period. Jack Campbell was beaten between the legs on a shot by Brendan Gallagher that the goalie should have stopped … Corey Perry scored the Canadiens’ second goal at 15:25 of the second when he deflected a Cole Caufield shot past Campbell. That came during a power play, as Pierre Engvall couldn’t have more obviously held Caufield to get whistled for a minor … The Canadiens played with more desperation when they were facing elimination in Games 5 and 6 than the Leafs Toronto Maple Leafs

SAME OLD, SAME OLD: Maple Leafs out in first round again after Game 7 loss to Habs

Lance Hornby

They’ll be remembered, not in a good way, as possibly the best Maple Leafs team never to win a playoff series. Despite changing the blueprint to end a streak of first-round failures, Toronto is once again an early casualty. For the fifth time in the lifespan of the core — Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander and Morgan Rielly — they were on the wrong side of the handshake line when they couldn’t seal the deal. The Montreal Canadiens go on to meet the Winnipeg Jets, who’ve waited an extra week as the Leafs agonizingly blew a 3-1 series lead, culminating Monday at Scotiabank Arena in a 3-1 loss to the fourth- seeded Habs. “It’s really hard to put into words, we’re obviously devastated,” said coach Sheldon Keefe, who was saving any post-game speech to the players for exit meetings later this week. “We thought we were capable of a lot more.” Rather than try and lift the curse of post-1967, these Leafs joined the ’87 team among 30 in NHL history to fall when up 3-1 in a best-of-seven. Carey Price and a hard-hitting Montreal game plan wouldn’t relent in the first meeting of the NHL’s oldest rivals in 42 years. The Leafs never led in a game after taking their early series jump. This season’s approach was the boldest for third-year general manager Kyle Dubas, beefing up in goal, defence, size and snarl. NHL veterans from the GTA and Southern Ontario — Wayne Simmonds, Joe Thornton, TJ Brodie and Jason Spezza — were meant to add a Cup hunger that would spread to the young stars. But Matthews, Marner and the scorers had little room, especially Monday. Rielly realized fans would be see the trend of playoff flops and link this year’s to a common denominator. “I totally understand how you’d connect those, but honestly, I don’t think they’re a factor. This is a different group, different year, different playoff format. There wasn’t anything in the past that played into this series. There were too many variables. “As a group, we were prepared going into the games, it has nothing to do with that. But there has to be answers and over the coming days as players and coaches live with it, we’ll discuss what those answers are.” While Toronto finished first in the North, Matthews topped the NHL with 41 goals and Marner again led in team scoring, the loss of captain John Tavares in Game 1 and key defender Jake Muzzin in Game 6 ultimately proved costly. That, and a loaded power play that inexplicably fired blanks from the end of the regular season through early chances in the series and ended 3- for-23. Montreal’s wasn’t much better in that area, but Corey Perry scored a big one late in Monday’s second period after Jack Campbell allowed a weak one at even strength by Brendan Gallagher. While harsh criticism won’t fall on playoff goaltending this time, Campbell felt he’d let the side down after being solid through the opening stage of his first NHL series. “I just think of how hard our team battled,” Campbell said. “And for it to end on the worst goal of my career, happening in a Game 7. The team counts on me to be better. Should have been a save, no excuse, unacceptable.” Matthews and Marner, other than one productive night in Game 2, were neutralized with a combined nine points in the series, with winger Zach Hyman having the best looks Monday. Only Nylander, who added his fifth goal of the series in the dying seconds, solved Price, who allowed six goals in the past three games. At least the Leafs played before a live crowd for the first time in 14 months, with 550 fully vaccinated Ontario health care workers given permission in agreement with the provincial government, local health officials and Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment Ltd. But Price, cool as ever, kept the Leafs to six goals the final three games and sent them home unhappy. Toronto Sun LOADED: 06.01.2021 Toronto Maple Leafs

Fans in stands a welcome idea for front-line workers, Maple Leafs

Lance Hornby

From the upper seats of Scotiabank Arena came a chant no Toronto player has heard live in almost 15 months. About 550 provincial health-care workers, who found out Monday morning they could attend Game 7 against the Montreal Canadiens, were hollering ‘Go Leafs Go’ in gifted team sweaters. The Ontario government first said no to the idea of limited fans after Quebec’s let in a similar group of workers to the Bell Centre in Games 3 and 4 and then 2,500 socially distanced fans in Game 6. But a deal was struck with the chief medical officer of health, Toronto Public Health and Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment to open the doors to the workers, those who were doubly vaccinated at least two weeks ago. The province distributed the 550 seats from the Leafs to the staff of 11 GTA area hospitals who then allocated the tickets internally through draws, lotteries or other methods. The entire group was spread in pairs around the lower bowl in the 100 level above the blue advertising tarp, mostly in the corner behind each net. Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe, who thought even the 12% capacity in Montreal had a positive impact on the home team Saturday, was glad Toronto made some allowance. “It will increase energy,” Keefe predicted Monday morning. “It’s another sign of progress (on the COVID-19 front).” Winger Joe Thornton said the sight of home fans “was a long time coming”. Throughout the 56-game season, the Leafs kept up a regular game night program of in-game announcements and video as if the rink was full, with organ and recorded music and canned crowd noise. “It’s great,” Thornton said. “The vaccinations have been rolling out. I can’t wait for more people to start coming in this building. I know it’s only 550, but hopefully, we’ll build off of this and continue to get more people going forward.” Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews, who are usually the last Leafs to leave the ice at warm-ups and flip a puck to a kid at the glass, adapted their routine with people back, Marner throwing a puck up about 20 rows to an appreciative fan. The crowd was all given sweaters by Scotiabank. “Tonight’s game was already going to be a memorable event, but the opportunity to host a frontline healthcare workers to support in person will make it that much more special,” MLSE said in a statement. “We are grateful to Premier Ford and the Province for making it possible and especially to all frontline workers for their dedicated work to keep our community safe. We all look forward to this being an important first step in a return to more normal activities in the months ahead as we see the vaccination rates in our communities continuing to rise.” A general view of Scotiabank Arena before game one of the first round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs on May 20, 2021. Maple Leafs to have 550 fans in stands for Game 7 Maple Leafs' Mitch Marner (left) and Auston Matthews (centre) take a break during a stoppage in play in the third period against the Montreal Canadiens at Scotiabank Arena. SIMMONS: One night for Maple Leafs' Matthews, Marner to salvage their reputations Maple Leafs veteran Joe Thornton has had a long and success NHL career, but he has yet to win a Stanley Cup. This season's playoffs could be his last chance. TRAIKOS: Maple Leafs need to win Game 7 for Joe Thornton All fans were given rally towels as well, though a few Montreal supporters wore their Canadiens sweaters anyway. Toronto Sun LOADED: 06.01.2021 Toronto Maple Leafs Only you wouldn’t know based on how difficult Price made it for the Leafs’ snipers.

Heading into Game 7, Matthews and Marner had combined for one goal TRAIKOS: Price proves once again why he's Canada's best goalie on 49 shots. And though he allowed 10 goals in the first four games of the series, it was how he played when the team’s back was against the wall that really stood out. Michael Traikos Price stopped 32 of 35 shots in a 4-3 overtime win in Game 5 and followed it up with a 41-save performance in a 3-2 overtime win in Game 6. Ken Holland said he didn’t need to be reminded as to why Carey Price is the best goalie of his generation. But for those who had doubted whether Not that anyone should have been surprised. Price pretty much did the the 33-year-old was still good enough to be in Canada’s starting goalie at same thing to Pittsburgh a year ago, when he limited Sidney Crosby and next year’s Olympics, his performance against the Toronto Maple Leafs Evgeni Malkin to just two goals in a best-of-five upset. was as a good a place as any to start. “Coming into this season — and certainly coming into these playoffs — I This was vintage Price. think everyone in the North knew that if you faced off against Montreal what Carey Price was made of,” said Holland. “And right now, he’s This was a return of the goalie who had beat out Alex Ovechkin for the shown that. He’s been a major reason why that series went to a Game 7. Hart Trophy as league MVP so many years ago and who was named MVP the last time NHLers went to the Olympics. This was the goalie had “If you blink, you’re out. And he doesn’t blink.” stunned the Pittsburgh Penguins in last year’s play-in round. The goalie who routinely gets voted as the toughest to face in those NHLPA player Toronto Sun LOADED: 06.01.2021 polls. Forget about his gaudy regular season numbers. Those mean nothing at this time of year. When the game is on the line, the Montreal Canadiens goalie remains the guy you want in your net. “The key time is playoff time,” said Holland, the Edmonton Oilers GM who is also part of Team Canada’s management team, in charge of scouting the North Division. “What he’s doing right now, I don’t think is a surprise to anyone in our industry, because of what he’s done throughout his career.” It’s the resume that Holland keeps going back to. “Obviously, his resume says he’s one of the best goalies of his generation,” said Holland. “He’s a guy when you get into a one game, win-or-go-home sudden death — like in the Olympic tournament — he’s cool. He’s so cool and calm and collected under pressure.” Price has won gold at the Olympics, as well as a World Cup and a world junior championship. In many cases, he was named the best player in each of the tournaments. He’s the only goalie to have won the Vezina, Hart, Ted Lindsay and Jennings trophies in the same year. Those accolades don’t come by fluke. They are the by-product of years and years of consistently being amongst the best in the world — even it has been a few seasons since Price was on anyone’s Vezina Trophy shortlist. In fact, this had been one of Price’s worst years in the NHL. His 2.64 goals-against average and .901 save percentage not only cost him to temporarily lose the net to Jake Allen, but they also cost goalie coach Stephane Wait his job. Injuries played a part in all of that. And yet, you could have been forgiven if you had dropped Price below Vegas’ Marc-Andre Fleury and St. Louis’ Jordan Binnington on Team Canada’s depth chart as the season wore on. Then the playoffs began. And what Price did in the regular season went out the window. “In order to have his resume, you have to have high accomplishments over a long period of time. And over a long period of time, you’re going to have some down times,” said Holland. “It’s impossible ride on the top of the wave for an entire career. But you also know that in most cases, when the games get big and are the biggest, which means playoff hockey, Olympic hockey, that’s when the cream rises to the top.” This might have been Price’s biggest challenge yet. It was far bigger than what he ever faced in the Olympics or at the World Cup or world juniors. Price doesn’t have to steal games when playing for Canada. He just has to stay awake for when the occasional shot comes his way. With the Habs, who finished 18 points back of Toronto in the standings, it’s the opposite. He’s the last line of defence. In some cases, he’s the only line of defence. “He’s been the best goalie in this league for the last 10 years, in my opinion,” said Canadiens defenceman Joel Edmundson. “Yeah, he’s had some rough patches at the start of the year and obviously we missed him when he was injured. But we knew that we got back and healthy, he was going to be a rock back there for us.” Price wasn’t just a rock for the Habs. He was their rock star. This series, which went to a Game 7 on Monday night, should never have lasted this long. The Leafs were by far the more talented and more dangerous team. They had a player in Auston Matthews who led the NHL with 41 goals, as well another player in Mitch Marner who ranked amongst the top-5 in scoring with 67 points. Offensively, only five teams scored more goals than Toronto. Toronto Maple Leafs Toronto Sun LOADED: 06.01.2021

'IT WILL INCREASE ENERGY': Fans but no Muzzin for Leafs in Game 7

Lance Hornby

The Maple Leafs will play the most important game of their season without a key defenceman and their captain, but with fans in their home rink and plenty of confidence they can pull this series out. Coach Sheldon Keefe confirmed Monday morning that blueliner Jake Muzzin will be out, not only for Game 7 against the Canadiens, but a minimum of three weeks after a lower body injury on Saturday on Montreal. And John Tavares, despite a remarkable recovery from a Game 1 concussion and knee injury, remains out for the present, despite the hopeful sign he stayed out nearly an hour for an optional morning skate Monday. Rasmus Sandin will take Muzzin’s place, but no other lineup changes will be made, said Keefe. He’s sticking with the veteran group and young stars who led Toronto to first place in the North Division and a 3-1 lead in this series before Montreal rallied with two overtime victories. “It’s tough to come down from a loss (Game 6), to go through the recap,” Keefe said. “But from the time I arrived here this morning, I’ve been in a groove, getting our team focused to play. I’m just excited for preparing our team for what will be a fun night. It’s an incredible opportunity for our team to just meet this head-on and find our way to the other side of it.” "There’s an excitement in the locker room, there’s a focus, and there’s also a quiet confidence amongst our group. We’re excited to play tonight.”

Pre-Game Media Mashup | #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/kn2XBYag1h — Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) May 31, 2021 Keefe made one change in routine, turning the usual full morning practice after a day off into an optional. Twelve skaters took part, including veterans Jason Spezza, Joe Thornton and second line winger William Nylander, as well as Tavares and four goalies, led by starter Jack Campbell. The coach linked the full skates to the slow starts in Games 5 and 6 and decided rest was the order of the day. Before the game, the provincial government announced it would permit 550 fully vaccinated health-care workers into Scotiabank Arena, likely sitting in the upper reaches. Agreement was reached with Ontario’s chief medical officer of health and Toronto Public Health, with the Leafs supplying free admission. It’s similar to an agreement that allowed workers in Montreal to attend Games 3 and 4, before 2,500 fans attended Game 6. Monday’s crowd will be the first fans allowed in to watch the Leafs at home since March 2020. Final prep. #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/XbXw4XD70B — Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) May 31, 2021 “It’s terrific, nice to have their presence in the building,” said Keefe, who thought the crowd in Montreal on Saturday helped lift the Habs’ spirits. “In terms of the game, it will increase energy. It’s another sign of progress (on the COVID-19 front), a terrific way to recognize workers who’ve given so much. For Spezza and Thornton, two veterans who came to Toronto in search of a long playoff run and ultimately a Stanley Cup in the twilight of their careers, it’s must-win to see that dream continue. “I believe in the group and I feel we’re just getting started,” said Spezza. “There’s a focus and a quiet confidence that comes from the work we’ve put in. We’ve met the challenges and pushed ourselves, had good work habits, all the things that set you up for the moment. We don’t have to be spectacular (tonight), just be ourselves. “You live for these moments when you’re under pressure and have to win to move on. As kids we’ve all been through this (Game 7) scenario, playing road hockey in our driveways or in the basement with mini- sticks.” The 41-year-old Thornton is not thinking this could be the last game for himself or the team. He’s been through the Game 7 wringer before, as have those Leafs who’ve lost four straight first rounds, three in a deciding game. “It’s about winning tonight, that’s all,” he said. “There’s excitement. We’ve waited 42 years for the Leafs to play Montreal in playoffs and it’s fitting it goes down to Game 7. You can’t wait for 7 p.m. The guys are loose, we’ve prepared all year long for a moment this. “Clear your mind, enjoy the moment, leave it out on the ice every shift.” Toronto Maple Leafs

Leafs Nation, health workers react to fans in stands for Game 7

Brian Lilley

Fans take in the atmosphere prior to the game between the Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game Six of the First Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bell Centre on May 29, 2021 in Montreal. Article content The reaction was quick, both positive and negative, to the announcement that the Ford government was granting permission for 550 fully vaccinated frontline health workers to attend Game 7 of the Leafs-Habs first-round series. While some were quick to denounce the move, for various reasons, health-care workers had one question — how do I get tickets? “Hey, I’m an ER nurse. Just wondering how we can sign up for tonight’s game?” Tanya wrote via email. “Hi Brian!” wrote an excited Katie. “Thanks for your article on Game 7 tonight — I am wondering if you know how MLSE is planning on going about ticket distribution? As a fully vaxxed RN and die-hard Leafs fan, I would love to be able to go.” “I am a health-care worker at St. Michaels Hospital. How do I get invited to the game?” asked Brittany. Some asked for themselves, others asked for the staff members that they supervise, while others tried to plead their case on how much they love cheering for the Leafs. “I am fully vaccinated as of March and the BIGGEST leaf fan and work in the emergency department!” Carly wrote. On Twitter, the reaction was more mixed. Well done premier Ford and the leafs organization!!! — Robyn Carles-Larson (@RCarles_Larson) May 31, 2021 Some lauded the move by Ford while others said that if people can watch hockey, then the remaining provincial restrictions should be lifted. Can we have children in classroom then? @fordnation @Sflecce Because it would be an epic betrayal of children if we got audiences watching adult people play before we got children in classrooms learning how to read. Priorities.

— Freedom Anna ���� (@AnnaB69522008) May 31, 2021 Still others said that regardless of the reason, they wanted a ticket. I smell election propaganda but how do I obtain one of these tickets. I am a health care provider — M R (@Maura66612140) May 31, 2021 Toronto Sun LOADED: 06.01.2021 Toronto Maple Leafs

Maple Leafs to have 550 fans in stands for Game 7 Fully vaccinated frontline health-care workers to receive tickets from team, premier says

Brian Lilley

A general view of Scotiabank Arena before game one of the first round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs on May 20, 2021. Article content The Maple Leafs will have some buds in the stands as they take on the Montreal Canadiens in Game 7 Monday night after all. In a decision released Monday morning, the provincial government says as many as 550 fans can cheer on the Leafs at Scotiabank Arena. “I am happy to announce that they have signed off on allowing 550 fully vaccinated frontline health-care workers, including hospital and long-term care staff, to be invited to attend Game 7,” Premier Doug Ford said in a statement. The tickets are being provided at no cost by the team. I can’t think of a better way to support the @MapleLeafs in this crucial game than having our health care heroes cheer them on in person. Go Leafs Go! #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/1TczhOPEEU — Doug Ford (@fordnation) May 31, 2021 “I want to thank Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) for covering the cost of allowing these health-care workers to attend tonight’s game and Scotiabank for providing jerseys to each of them,” Ford said. Montreal hosted 2,500 fans for Saturday night’s 3-2 overtime win over Toronto. It was the first time that the Canadiens had played in front of fans at the Bell Centre since March 10, 2020, when the Habs lost 4-2 to the Nashville Predators. Monday’s arrival of the 500 health-care workers will be the first time fans have cheered on the Leafs at Scotiabank Arena since that same day last year, when the Leafs beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1. Toronto Sun LOADED: 06.01.2021 Toronto Maple Leafs Marner 2 Maple Leafs face difficult roster questions after latest playoff disaster Galchenyuk Kerfoot By Jonas Siegel Jun 1, 2021 Nylander 3 After 2018, Tyler Bozak, Leo Komarov, and James van Riemsdyk were Mikheyev allowed to walk as free agents. Engvall After 2019, Nazem Kadri was sent away. So were Nikita Zaitsev and Patrick Marleau. Jake Gardiner wasn’t re-signed. Simmonds After 2020, Kasperi Kapanen and Andreas Johnsson were sacrificed 4 salary cap space. Tyson Barrie was free to go. Thornton So what now in 2021? Foligno The Maple Leafs front office will have to ask itself some serious Spezza questions about the roster it’s put together after a disastrous finish against Montreal. The biggest question of all remains: Can the Leafs Extras really win this way — dedicating half of the salary cap to four players? Brooks As of now, they haven’t been good enough to win even a round, let alone a Stanley Cup. Nash “The goals are higher than what we achieved this year,” Morgan Rielly Injured said after Game 7. “It makes the disappointment much worse. We feel it. Tavares And we realize that we let an opportunity slip.” Pairing Six players have been around for each of the five playoff defeats: Rielly, Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, Zach Hyman, William Nylander, and LD Frederik Andersen. RD The last two series have been ones the Leafs are supposed to win. 1 Andersen almost certainly won’t be back. Hyman is a pending UFA, and Rielly is one year from free agency. Rielly It feels likely that latter two both return next season — Rielly had an Brodie excellent series against the Canadiens — though at some point 2 something at the core of the roster may have to change. Dermott How many times do the Leafs keep running back something that isn’t working? Holl Ultimately, Kyle Dubas may have to seriously explore whether it’s 3 possible to build a winner like this, with Matthews, John Tavares, Marner, and Nylander pulling down a combined $40-million or so on the cap. Or Sandin whether it requires margins that are too thin. Bogosian The Leafs have to think long and hard about a change in light of the way things unfolded against the Habs, with a 3-1 series lead ending in Extras embarrassing defeat. What’s worthy of a debate is whether it’s time to Hutton exchange one of the big chips in the name of greater depth. Marincin Moving Matthews is a non-starter, obviously. He had a challenging series against the Canadiens, scoring just one goal on 35 shots. But he’s one of Injured the best players in the world. Muzzin Tavares has a no-movement clause, which likely keeps him off the table. Goalie Which leaves Marner and Nylander. 1 Nylander was the Leafs’ best player against the Habs, leading the team with five goals and eight points in seven games. He’s also had Campbell challenges with consistency and doesn’t have quite the same ceiling as 2 Marner. Andersen On the other hand, he delivers more bang for the buck, with a $6.96 million cap hit. UFA Marner has to be great to justify his $10.9 million cap hit — seventh 3 highest in the league — and was during the regular season, when he finished fourth in league scoring with one of the best regular seasons Rittich ever by a Leaf. The playoffs were a different story, obviously. Marner has RFA now gone 18 consecutive playoff games without a goal and has been more or less contained in three straight postseasons. What the Leafs have to ask themselves is whether a structure like this is functional, or whether, say, Marner’s cap space would be better split up “I put a lot of pressure on myself to be the best player every single night,” amongst two or even three players. Marner said after the series with Montreal ended. “I felt that I wasn’t good enough to meet my own standards.” The vulnerabilities of the four-star approach showed against the Habs. Marner and Nylander would be highly sought after on the open market Lose one of the stars to injury, as the Leafs did with Tavares in Game 1, and could bring back plenty in return. Both would be difficult, bordering and suddenly, you’re relying heavily on three players to lead the way. If on impossible, to replace though. one or two go cold, which was the case with Matthews and Marner, what else is left to really rely on? 1 And that’s the thing about the star system: It only works if the stars are Hyman stars, and with the exception of Nylander, they weren’t against the Habs. Matthews Paying so much to so few means there’s simply less available to prop up How much change is enough? the rest of the roster. And ultimately, the Leafs didn’t have the horses to make up for Matthews and Marner struggling against Montreal, especially The Athletic LOADED: 06.01.2021 with Tavares out. The Leafs chose to add intangible-laden veterans chasing Cups to surround their stars on the margins last season. And while Joe Thornton and Wayne Simmonds may have brought the personality dimension the club was after, they weren’t useful on the ice when it mattered. Add in Pierre Engvall and Ilya Mikheyev, neither of whom scored all series, and it’s easy to see how the Leafs ran out of gas offensively. Jason Spezza, nearing his 38th birthday, matched Matthews for third in team scoring with five points against Montreal. His three goals trailed only Nylander. This is what made Dubas’ choice of Nick Foligno at the trade deadline so interesting — and risky. Rather than opt for the potential injection of offence that Taylor Hall could offer, Dubas chose to prioritize more of the same intangibles that Thornton, Simmonds and Spezza brought, as well as some heavier on- ice dimensions and defensive know-how. While many saw Foligno as the perfect fit, I wondered at the time whether the Leafs were relying on too many older players and would regret not boosting their offence with Hall, who came at a lesser cost (Anders Bjork and a second round pick, along with Curtis Lazar) than Foligno (a first round pick and two fourth rounders). Hall scored three goals for the Boston Bruins in the first round. Hall was star insurance — in the case of injury or a cold streak — that Foligno was not and never could be. (Not trading for Hall because Alex Galchenyuk had emerged as an option didn’t make a whole lot of sense either.) Foligno didn’t score in 11 games for the Leafs. Yes, he played hurt. But he was also hurt not long before the trade, and at age 33, was more susceptible to injury. It felt like the Leafs under Dubas, once so infatuated with speed and skill, had swung too far toward intangibles. Another part of the argument for choosing Foligno over Hall: It allowed the Leafs to get Riley Nash, Ben Hutton, and David Rittich, none of whom factored into the series against Montreal. Maybe over a longer run, those additions pay off. The Leafs didn’t get far enough for any of them to matter. These are the challenges of assembling a team structured this way. Just about everything on the margins has to work. There’s very little room for error. The front office has to score more in the bargain bin of free agency. The Leafs did that with Spezza, making $700,000. They nailed Zach Bogosian for $1 million. Thornton came cheap but at the risk of being over the hill. Simmonds couldn’t deliver enough for $1.5 million. Travis Boyd and Jimmy Vesey were lost to waivers. It all adds up when it’s this tight. Heck, even paying Frederik Andersen $5 million to be the backup stings — less so, however, when the starter, Jack Campbell, is making $1.65 million. Aside from Rasmus Sandin’s late flourish and some moments from Adam Brooks in fourth-line territory, the Leafs didn’t have much youthful push from within this season — and may not next season either. Sandin should be on the team. Nick Robertson is a maybe. Timothy Liljegren is still fringey at this point. So can it work? Or do the Leafs have to change course while there’s still time? Because, suddenly, the runway is getting shorter. Matthews and Nylander have only three seasons left on their contracts before both can potentially hit unrestricted free agency. Marner and Tavares expire a year after that. Have the Leafs seen enough to make conclusions on this experiment? Trading a cornerstone such as Marner, or Nylander, is not something to be taken lightly. It’s a franchise-altering decision. The Leafs may well decide it’s time for a change, that someone substantial has to go after all this. Or, on the other hand, they may feel the need to see it through another, when Tavares isn’t lost to injury. The Leafs captain will be 31 by the time next season starts. Jake Muzzin is already 32. Hyman will be 29 next week. This is no longer a young team, and expansion will zap one contributor — Alex Kerfoot? — from the roster. It all sets up to be a serious summer for the Leafs, one of deep debate on the makeup of the roster. Toronto Maple Leafs Rasmus Sandin (LD, No. 38): Sandin moved into some dangerous spots, and did well enough with his puck movement on the power play.

Justin Holl (RD, No. 3): Holl’s start in his own zone wasn’t great, as Maple Leafs report cards: Another Game 7. Another blown opportunity. evidenced by a few nervous gaffes with the puck and his inability to play Another collapse it out cleanly. Even if they weren’t high-percentage chances, I liked how eager he was to get the puck on net as he threw three shots on net in the first period, and then continued to try and create traffic near Carey Price. By Joshua Kloke Jun 1, 2021 But when Holl has the second-most shots on goal (5) among all Leafs players, they have bigger problems on their hands. Game 7 was their chance. An opportunity for the Toronto Maple Leafs to Travis Dermott (LD, No. 23): All things considered, I thought Dermott change the narrative, to finally shed their label as perennial looked relatively calm in Game 7. Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe leaned on underachievers and playoff chokers. And to help, the Leafs were playing him to start the game, and he tracked Canadiens players well and made at home, with fans in Scotiabank Arena for the first time in over a year. some decent outlet passes. But in the end, as has been the case for the past week (or decade) or so, Jack Campbell (G, No. 36): I thought Campbell looked fine early, but that the Leafs wasted an opportunity. first Canadiens goal was one you’d think he would’ve stopped and is undoubtedly one he’d like to have back. His gaffe while handling the In one of the more uninspiring performances of the season, the Leafs had puck beside his goal was also questionable. no answer for the Montreal Canadiens — a team that finished 18 points behind them in the regular season — in a humbling 3-1 loss. Overall, this was far from his best performance, but hey, if you’re not going to get any run support, the goalie is not the problem. As if you need reminding, the loss capped a Leafs collapse that saw them blow a 3-1 series lead and squander the chance to earn their first He clearly took the loss hard, even though he was not the issue. playoff series win since 2004. “I just think of how hard our team battled and for it to end on a goal, worst PIC.TWITTER.COM/QDPEOSBUJB goal of my career, and for it to happen in Game 7, it’s just not acceptable. The team counts on me to be better and I know I can be a lot — VILLAGES (@THEBANDVILLAGES) MAY 30, 2021 better than that so I’m going to get back to work and be better,” Campbell said. Now, it’s wrong to pin all of a team’s failures on its best players. Many Leafs players faltered over the last three games. But the game-breaking Alex Kerfoot (LW, No. 15): I liked Kerfoot’s ability to skate with moments that were commonplace in the regular season did not occur in confidence in the offensive zone, but a little bit more of a creative Game 7. approach with his playmaking might have helped. And so the Leafs never looked all that close when it mattered, bringing a C season full of promise and expectations to an excruciatingly slow and disappointing end. Their collapse in this series belongs up there with Pierre Engvall (C, No. 47): Engvall was one of the more composed Leafs some of the worst in recent NHL history. players, skating with purpose through the offensive zone and being responsible with his stick defensively, until of course he was called for “We realize that we let an opportunity slip,” Morgan Rielly said. holding in the second period. The frustration at that being called while other penalties were not is justified, however. Player reports THEY LET ALL OF THIS OTHER STUFF GO AND THEN CALL 1st star: The 550 frontline health care workers in attendance for Game 7. ENGVALL HERE PIC.TWITTER.COM/O4QMNXQOPW Regardless of the outcome of the game, these people deserve all our — OMAR (@TICTACTOMAR) JUNE 1, 2021 respect for the work they’ve done over the past 15 months. The Leafs fans among them deserved a far, far better performance than what they D got from their team. Still, it was a chance for them to feel normal again. And maybe, in a way, they did as Toronto dropped another series- Auston Matthews (C, No. 34): Matthews was far more noticeable deciding game. defensively compared to Games 5 and 6. I thought the effort was mostly there in Game 7, but effort alone doesn’t get you to the second round. No Leafs player deserves a star Monday night. You could ask how things would have looked differently had his shot off B- the post gone in, but the fact that I’m even wondering about one shot off the post speaks to how far he was from his best. There needed to be far T.J. Brodie (RD, No. 78): Brodie’s active stick was evident again Monday more production in this game, and in the entire series, from the most in his own zone. The Leafs needed to lean heavily on Brodie with his dominant goal scorer of the regular season. ability to shut down Canadiens attackers, and they did. He continued to play a physical game and looked like one of the Leafs’ best players, MATTHEWS HITS THE POST PIC.TWITTER.COM/W2H7GVHDWX clearing a very low bar. — OMAR (@TICTACTOMAR) JUNE 1, 2021 Zach Hyman (LW, No. 11): Hyman’s efforts to muscle into the centre of the ice were noticeable. He led the Leafs with six shots and created Matthews did win 15 of 25 faceoffs, but the Rocket Richard winner needs some of the better chances. to have more than two shots and zero high-danger chances in a Game 7. Jason Spezza (RW, No. 19): Spezza had an assist on the Nylander goal. F Even if these report cards are meant to assess the Leafs on a game-by- game performance, you’re not going to get anything negative out of me Nick Foligno (C, No. 71): Even if we allow for the fact that Foligno might about Spezza based on his season. not be playing at 100 percent, his contributions were not what you’d expect from a player for whom the Leafs traded a first-round pick. That I Morgan Rielly (LD, No. 44): The Leafs had success when Rielly moved had to try to find him on the ice instead of seeing him make a difference aggressively into the offensive zone. His efforts to keep the puck in the was one of the more concerning parts of this Leafs collapse. He was not offensive zone led to scoring chances. He again logged the most TOI of a factor, once again. any Leafs player (26:35). Ilya Mikheyev (LW, No. 65): Some energy from Mikheyev, but not nearly William Nylander (RW, No. 88): Nylander was back-checking and enough offence. I’ve written that in one form or another a few times throwing hits early on. recently. NYLANDER FORCES THE TURNOVER ON THE BACKCHECK AND Alex Galchenyuk (LW, No. 12): Some typical energy to start the game, in THE LEAFS REGAIN POSSESSION the form of stick-checking and throwing a hit. Not much afterward. PIC.TWITTER.COM/1RMSOOXMGM Wayne Simmonds (RW, No. 24): Decent offensive zone pressure from — OMAR (@TICTACTOMAR) MAY 31, 2021 Simmonds. But it wasn’t enough. He showed good patience with the puck, looking for open lanes Mitch Marner (RW, No. 16): Marner looked better in the first period. But whenever possible. His goal was the only one of the game and came far he couldn’t handle the puck and had it stolen from him for a turnover too late, which, in a way, summed up the Leafs’ series (at least Games 5, ahead of the Canadiens’ first goal, which is still a shot that should have 6 and 7). been stopped. After that, Marner seemingly stopped showing the confidence that he has at his best. His puck control was poor, his elite One positive from this series is that Nylander likely changed some of the playmaking was not evident, and he was unable to put the kind of stamp narrative around his play. on the game. C+ He’s a better player than he showed in this series, but his disappearance as a game-breaker was bewildering. He did not have a single high- danger chance in Game 7. “Auston and I, the other guys, especially come playoff time, you want to be the guy they go to and the guy that can lead the team out of the series. We had multiple looks every single game, it just seemed like they weren’t going in so, really no excuse,” Marner said. Joe Thornton (LW, No. 97): Thornton did not make much of a difference in his 9:17 TOI. Zach Bogosian (RD, No. 22): Bogosian wasn’t as solid in Game 7 as he has been throughout the series. His poor puck control led to a turnover and a scoring chance for the Canadiens. Game Score Game Score is a metric developed by The Athletic’s Dom Luszczyszyn to quickly measure a player’s performance in a single game. Heat map Natural Stat Trick helps us out with a snapshot of where the shots were coming from Monday: Final grade: F The Canadiens did a remarkable job at keeping the Leafs outside of the centre of the ice, but the Leafs also didn’t do much with the opportunities they did have, including mustering just one shot on their first power play. And Price was fantastic, stopping 29 of 30 shots. But there’s no way this Leafs group can blame its failures on a goalie. Keefe said ahead of Game 7 that the Leafs needed everybody to be at their best, “our best players in particular.” They were not. “We’re obviously devastated, disappointed, expected better of ourselves, felt we were capable of a lot more,” Keefe said. “Obviously not just tonight, but through the whole series.” I watched nearly every Leafs game throughout the regular season. I saw this team dominate offensively, show a newfound level of confidence and swagger and lock things down defensively. I saw two of the most exciting players in recent Leafs history in Matthews and Marner emerge as true NHL superstars. I watched a goalie emerge as a bona fide starter, and sometimes a game changer. I heard all the words of positivity from within the team about how well this team had come together, and how it had adopted a sense of resiliency. And in the final game of the playoffs, with the opportunity to cement themselves in Leafs history, all those positives were nowhere to be seen. What to watch for in the offseason: Questions will be asked, and changes will inevitably come. Given the way this team performed in the regular season and then faltered in the playoffs, those questions deserve to be far more difficult than they have been in recent years. And the questions should be asked throughout the organization. Finally, I’d like to thank everyone who read these report cards throughout the season. Your passion as Leafs fans is unrivalled, and even if we didn’t always agree on player performances, the continued interest was sincerely appreciated. The Athletic LOADED: 06.01.2021 Toronto Maple Leafs This isn't about rebuilding a blue line or a bottom six or reallocating cap space. When the problem is between the ears, as it so clearly is with this Maple Leafs team, how do you fix that? 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Canadiens pull off massive series comeback Canadiens penalty kill might have clinched it while Leafs head to offseason full of questions By Ian Mendes

June 1, 2021 at 1:25 AM GMT June 1, 2021 at 2:06 AM GMT We've seen some crazy comebacks in recent playoff history. But Toronto not scoring on that power play opportunity feels like the end of the line 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Canadiens pull off massive series comeback here. while Leafs head to offseason full of questions That Marner chance was the perfect microcosm for what's wrong here. This is it. After a 42-year wait for a playoff showdown between the He waited too long. They're outthinking themselves. Toronto Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens, the hockey gods have The Leafs have been pushing the pace here, but it feels like it's too little, gifted us a Game 7. Join us here all game for live analysis from Ian too late. At some point soon, they will look to pull Jack Campbell. And Mendes, Thomas Drance and Craig Custance. The winner faces the that feels like an empty netter to seal it for Montreal is around the corner. Winnipeg Jets. The loser gets to spend the next several months trying to figure out what went wrong. Leafs showing signs of life but Price remains perfect What time is the game? 7 p.m. EST By Thomas Drance What channel is it on in the U.S.? CNBC June 1, 2021 at 1:16 AM GMT What channel is it on in Canada? CBC, Sportsnet, TVA Sports Feckless in Toronto. IN-GAME READING It took nearly 50 minutes for the Maple Leafs to begin generating the kind of pressure they needed all evening. They're still well on pace for one of Sean McIndoe: It’s a Game 7 nobody predicted and everyone expected their worst offensive performances of the season, with their season on from the NHL’s most exhausting team the line. Jonas Siegel: It’s not too late for Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner to Still, there have been some signs of life from the Leafs. That was an come up big for the Maple Leafs unbelievable Carey Price stop on Zach Hyman, off of a gorgeous Auston James Mirtle: Make no mistake, the Maple Leafs losing this series would Matthews feed. That's the pressure Toronto requires a lot more of if be the biggest collapse of them all they're going to make this interesting in the final 10 minutes. Arpon Basu and Marc Antoine Godin: Jake Evans’ strengths, difficulty of It should be said here, that the Habs look completely in control. Even limited minutes, Leafs anxieties, Carey Price’s calm when Toronto has pressed, I don't think you can say that the Leafs have put Price under duress. Next round: Complete coverage of the North Division finals Where are the Leafs' stars? It's now or never for Toronto's best players Canadiens upset win might have saved Ducharme's job By Thomas Drance By Ian Mendes June 1, 2021 at 12:57 AM GMT June 1, 2021 at 1:49 AM GMT The most offensive thing about this Maple Leafs Game 7 no-show A couple of post-game thoughts from me: through 40 minutes? Toronto's offense. Has Dominique Ducharme saved his job for next season with this series The Habs have successfully bottled up Toronto's vaunted offensive win? A lot of fans were critical of his lineup deployment early in this attack, and are outshooting Toronto 13-5 at 5-on-5 with either of series. Not dressing Kotkaniemi or Caufield early in the series drew the Toronto's top-six centers (Alex Kerfoot, Auston Matthews) on the ice. ire of many. But how can you question the coach after his team engineered the upset win? Maybe his fate will be determined against Opportunistic finishing, a bounce on the power play, and a Matthews Winnipeg. But full credit to Ducharme and the Habs for not folding in this post hit and a game that's really been a stalemate in terms of flow, is a 2- series when they were down 3-1. 0 Montreal lead heading into the third period. The Toronto Maple Leafs have never played a single game in the month Fundamentally though this Maple Leafs team is built to generate, to put of June. Ever. Think about that for a second. That's crazy, right? This pressure on their opponents. And it's not happening. was supposed to be their easiest path to the Final Four. And instead, Their top end is sputtering. Matthews has been quiet, and Marner even they never held a lead after Game 4 in this series. Sure, they didn't have worse - his shots are going nowhere, he's got only one of his four John Tavares for the series. Or Jake Muzzin in Game 7. But the talent attempts on net tonight; and he had the costly turnover that led directly to was still tipped heavily in their favor in this series. And they couldn't get it Brendan Gallagher's goal to take the lead on the counterattack. done. When they get back into the same division with Tampa and Boston next season, they won't have an easy path. This was their year. And they The Leafs will begin the third frame on the power play, and it's do or die squandered it. here. They need their top-end star players to take this one over, put some pucks into the net and start to press. A golden opportunity blown by the Maple Leafs Or else this is going to be an extraordinarily long summer in the center of By Thomas Drance the hockey universe. June 1, 2021 at 1:37 AM GMT Third period a chance for Leafs to show who they are I'm pretty stunned by how Toronto blew this. By Ian Mendes The Tavares injury, the Muzzin injury, Matthews and Marner silenced, the June 1, 2021 at 12:52 AM GMT lackadaisical efforts early in Game 5 and Game 6, the loaded power play completely ineffectual. I'll really agree with Drance's original sentiment in this blog now: This third period feels like a complete referendum on this Toronto team. And In a Northeast Division with the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Boston it's not about blowing it up if they lose meekly. But it's about adjusting our Bruins, the Maple Leafs were never going to have a more straightforward expectations for what they actually are. path through the playoffs. If they go out here, that's two straight playoffs in which they've been And they've blown it with the most complete, loaded team they'll likely knocked out by marginal teams. Columbus last year. Montreal this ever be able to ice in the prime years of Mitch Marner and Auston season. Matthews' careers. If they bow out meekly, it's time we stop speaking about them in the The Maple Leafs remain as well constructed and complete as a team same breath as Tampa, Boston, Colorado and Vegas. with a top-end this expensive can be, but there's no way around the impression that their best players get the yips when the chips are down. Perry moving up the career playoff goal charts 0-7 in elimination games is an indictment, frankly. By Craig Custance June 1, 2021 at 12:46 AM GMT Another playoff goal for Corey Perry, a greasy one as usual. He entered Toronto's top-six forwards were outshot 9-2 in the period. Like Mitch the game with 42 career playoff goals, which put him in some interesting Marner not managing to put a quality scoring chance on net with seconds company - tied with guys like Bobby Clarke, John LeClair, Adam Oates, remaining in the first period, that's not going to get it done. Martin St. Louis, Johan Franzen, Slava Kozlov and Dale Hunter. Now, with a goal that gave Montreal a 2-0 lead, he pulls even with Jeff Carter Surprised by how balanced both teams' blue line minutes were in the first (43), Ken Linseman, Mike Gartner and Dave Andreychuk. At 36 years period. Travis Dermott is actually the high minutes man for Toronto old, Perry still finds a way to make an impact this time of year. through 20, but I'd think that changes as the game moves along. Another multi-goal lead for the Canadiens Brendan Gallagher and Phillip Danault have struggled in this series, but that was a tremendous first period for Montreal's shutdown line. Neither By Ian Mendes Montreal player was on the ice for a Leafs shot on goal in the first period, which is pretty impressive considering they're drawing the soft match vs. June 1, 2021 at 12:39 AM GMT the Matthews/Marner line. Well, here we go again. Third straight game with a multi-goal lead for First period thoughts: Canadiens playing the game they want Montreal. Toronto has erased it the last two games, but can they do it again? By Ian Mendes But that power play goal feels like it could be the final nail in the coffin for May 31, 2021 at 11:50 PM GMT the Leafs. Are they putting three past Carey Price in the next 22 mins and change? Some thoughts after the first period here: That was a soft call to put Montreal on the power play. So I'd be willing to I think maybe this low-scoring stuff bodes well for the Leafs. Consider the bet the next power play opportunity comes to Toronto. score after the first period in their recent win-or-go-home games: Frustrations building for the Maple Leafs 2020 vs CBJ: Trailed 2-0 By Thomas Drance 2019 vs BOS: Trailed 2-0 June 1, 2021 at 12:29 AM GMT 2018 vs BOS: Trailed 3-2 Auston Matthews shoots it himself on a 2-on-1 with Jason Spezza and Also, I was thinking about this during the first period. Jason Spezza is 0-4 "tink," it's the hollow ring of the post. all-time in Game 7s. Has his team ever held the lead? And the answer is yes - but briefly. When Spezza was a rookie, he was in Game 7 for the Up by one you can notice the Habs beginning to interfere with Maple Sens against New Jersey in 2003. They briefly had a 1-0 lead, but Leafs away from the puck on every 50/50 battle. They're good at this, ultimately lost late in the third period. Since then, Spezza has played in 3 and it's going to be a frustrating uphill climb for Toronto if they're going to other Game 7s and his team has never had the lead. Not even for a get the next one. minute. What has to be most disappointing for Maple Leafs brass watching this Conversely, I think this is exactly the type of game the Habs would say game is that it took the Habs taking a lead for the team to play with real they would want. A classic good road period. Hanging tough in the shot urgency. This is a trend for this club. attempts and not giving up Grade-A scoring chances. This was an ideal opening frame for the Habs. This group can't seem to sustain their fastball over the course of a full 82- game season, or even a full 56-game season. They consistently make A lot on the line for Zach Hyman too many mistakes with a chance to advance in the playoffs. They're always at their best when chasing the lead, never seem to have the By Thomas Drance stomach to work hard from the outset. May 31, 2021 at 11:40 PM GMT Tough questions facing this group, even if they manage to crawl out of A lot on the line for Zach Hyman the Game 7 hole they're in at the moment. Auston Matthews sets up Morgan Rielly for the best chance either way in Will Jack Campbell bounce back? this game so far. By Ian Mendes Still, the Maple Leafs' top-line has been outshot 4-2 5-on-5 in the early June 1, 2021 at 12:15 AM GMT going. That Brendan Gallagher goal was shades of Joe Nieuwendyk on Patrick Obviously, the pressure is on Matthews and Marner, but it should be Lalime in Game 7 in 2004. Same side of the arena too. Question now is noted that Zach Hyman appears to be down a step - understandably - can Campbell recover from allowing that goal? That felt like it could be after returning from that mid-April knee injury. In his current state, he's soul-crushing. not the elite puck retrieval guy that usually helps drive that line. That Carey Price save on Hyman doesn't help matters either. Not that it's front of mind for anybody at the moment, but I suspect there's a big picture takeaway for the Maple Leafs here, considering Brendan Gallagher opens the scoring for Montreal they'll be looking at how to value Hyman's seasons into his early 30s when he hits unrestricted free agency this offseason. By Thomas Drance Great early pace, with William Nylander leading the way June 1, 2021 at 12:13 AM GMT By Thomas Drance Brendan Gallagher was dominant in the first period and deserved the break that he got with a goal with Jack Campbell would want back. May 31, 2021 at 11:25 PM GMT Mitch Marner's puck management bites the Leafs. It's a real blind spot in Love the early pace in this one and it's been a strong start for the Maple his game, and now puts an even harsher spotlight on a Maple Leafs core Leafs, aside from a couple of heavy shifts from the Kotkaniemi line, that just hasn't delivered in this series. they've carried play pretty decisively. First period observations: Strong start for Montreal shutdown line Some quick notes from the first five minutes: By Thomas Drance Dermott and Sandin look confident. Loved Dermott shaking a Habs forechecker with a fake pass, let him slow things down on the regroup. June 1, 2021 at 12:00 AM GMT Sandin is pushing the pace confidently too. Montreal found their footing about seven minutes into the period and Maple Leafs getting some good forechecking pressure in on the Habs were narrowly the better side in the first frame. with their fourth line of Thornton-Foligno-Spezza on the ice. Just not a ton going on though, in terms of really high quality looks. A No one can question that William Nylander has the stomach for this feeling out period, really, as everyone gets their legs and settles their battle. Loved the hit on Jake Evans early, and the smart, aggressive nerves. backcheck on Josh Anderson. He's dictating early and the Leafs need Some observations from the frame: their other stars to follow his lead. The Maple Leafs' fourth line of Nick Foligno, Joe Thornton and Jason For all that the Habs have been on their heels early, I think you can tell Spezza isn't exactly fleet of foot, but they're getting forechecking that they're looser. Far more willing to try things offensively, and some of pressure in on the Canadiens almost every shift. Far and away Toronto's their hopeful endeavors - a backhand lobbed in on goal, for example - best line in the first period, and out-shot the Canadiens 5-2. have resulted in dangerous moments and had the Leafs scrambling. Expect a heavy load for Toronto's top defensemen By Thomas Drance This game now isn't about Kyle Dubas, or analytics, or the Shanaplan. It isn't even about whether the Habs spent wisely in an offseason in which May 31, 2021 at 11:04 PM GMT they alone had real buying power. Watch for how the Toronto Maple Leafs deploy their defenders in this It's about Matthews and Marner. About whether they can lead a team one, particularly in Jake Muzzin's absence. past the first round. About whether they can show on Monday night that They took line rushes with Morgan Rielly and T.J. Brodie on the top pair, they have the stomach for the fight. and I won't be remotely surprised to see those two get well into the 30-35 Staff final score predictions: Canadiens get more votes to win Game 7 minute range in regulation tonight. By Craig Custance Toronto has outshot the Canadiens by 44 shots(!) with Rielly on the ice at 5-on-5, and haven't surrendered a goal with Brodie on the ice 5-on-5. May 31, 2021 at 10:19 PM GMT That right there is the rock that has allowed them to weather a complete lack of offense from their top offensive contributors. There's nothing I like better than a good straw poll, so to get a temperature check on this game, I dropped a request in our NHL staff I'd bet Rielly and Brodie double shift, with Brodie playing on both sides Slack channel to get some predictions. The request was simple: Predict and both players logging shifts together and with Zach Bogosian and a final score and give us the game-winning goal scorer. Justin Holl as Sheldon Keefe gives both Travis Dermott and Rasmus Sandin more prescribed usage in this do or die game. Of the 13 who responded, eight picked the Canadiens to pull off the series comeback and win Game 7. Only five have the Maple Leafs A little hope for Maple Leafs fans pulling it off. By Ian Mendes THE RESPONSES May 31, 2021 at 10:55 PM GMT Peter Baugh: "I'm here for chaos and will say a 4-3 double-OT win with Caufield getting the GWG." A little hope for Maple Leafs fans Scott Burnside: "Jason Spezza, GWG, 4-3 Toronto." I can't believe I'm going to do this, but let me give some hope to Toronto Maple Leafs fans. They seem like a fragile group looking to cling to any Lisa Dillman: "3-2 Montreal. Toffoli. GWG." sign of optimism at this stage of the game. Daniel Nugent-Bowman: "4-2 Montreal. Suzuki." So consider this: The Leafs have won their last four Game 7s at home. Their recent Game 7 heartbreaks have all come on the road - particularly Pierre LeBrun: "As a father with a Leafs loving daughter and a Habs in Boston. But when they've been at home, they've been pretty good loving son, and tension running high in my household, I predict the series historically. All-time, they're 7-1 and the only loss happened to Gretzky declared a tie after 9 overtime periods tonight." and the Kings in the conference final in 1993. Kevin Kurz: "4-1 Toronto, Matthews." And Joe Thornton has won his last three Game 7s, so maybe he's like Harman Dayal: "4-1 Toronto. Nylander." some giant, bearded lucky rabbit's foot. Ryan Nhieu: "2-1 Toronto OT, Hyman mimicking the dragon slayer I'm glad this is live blog involves Drance, because I'm getting some 2011 narrative." Canucks vibes from this Leafs team. It's like when Vancouver played Chicago that year and nearly squandered a 3-0 series lead before finally Mark Lazerus: "1-0 Habs, 5OT. Phillip Danault scores when both Leafs slaying the dragon in Game 7. Like Drance says, this feels like a defensemen simultaneously lose a skate blade while backpedaling referendum on the Matthews/Marner era, just like that 2011 playoff was a during an otherwise routine transition through the neutral zone." test for the Sedins. So maybe this whole in-series meltdown is just to make the end result sweeter. Arpon Basu: "2-1 Montreal, Gallagher." On the flip side, I'm also getting some 1994 Canucks vibes with this Habs Josh Cooper: "2-1 Habs. Toffoli with the GWG." team. That Vancouver team was down 3-1 in the first round to Calgary, Aaron Portzline: "Canadiens 4-1. Anderson." but won Game 5 in overtime. Then they won Game 6 in overtime. And then, they won Game 7 in overtime. It was the definition of survive-and- Adam Vingan: "3-2 Canadiens. Shea Weber." advance. This pattern feels awfully familiar. Max Bultman: "4-2 Leafs, Marner GWG." The fact I've compared these teams to a previous iteration of the Vancouver Canucks has probably doomed them both. But either way, I'm The Athletic LOADED: 06.01.2021 excited to grab a big bag of popcorn and watch this thing unfold from a safe distance. Leafs lines in warmups: Hyman-Matthews-Marner Galchenyuk-Kerfoot-Nylander Mikheyev-Engvall-Simmonds Thornton-Foligno-Spezza Rielly-Brodie Dermott-Holl Sandin-Bogosian Campbell starts in goal All the pressure is on the Maple Leafs - specifically Matthews and Marner By Thomas Drance May 31, 2021 at 10:31 PM GMT The pressure is on the Toronto Maple Leafs. Fundamentally, this series is about them. The Montreal Canadiens are just a foil. The drama, the suspense, the stakes: they're all on Toronto's side of the ledger. This feels like a defining game for Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews in particular. So many teams have an elite core that's not well supported - says the Vancouver Canucks beat writer - but that's not something that can be said about Toronto. They've survived to Game 7 despite getting just one goal from their two top offensive contributors. Quietly that's the mark of a well-constructed team. Toronto Maple Leafs So now what? Who knows. They’ve got a Game 7 at home with last line change against a team they’re far better than on paper and have been mostly better than on the ice. They could win, at which point the last two Down Goes Brown: It’s a Game 7 nobody predicted and everyone games get mostly forgotten, a few half-hearted columns about finally expected from the NHL’s most exhausting team slaying the dragon get written, and then we do this all again for two weeks against the Jets. And we will do it again, with a few new characters and slightly different storylines, and it will all feel familiar because it will be. By Sean McIndoe May 31, 2021 Then there’s what feels like the more likely outcome: They lose. It won’t really matter how. Maybe they finally show us their best game and dominate end-to-end and Carey Price stands on his head and steals it, Here we go again. Of course. because hockey. Maybe they sleepwalk through most of the game like Who could have ever seen this coming? Well, everyone, but that’s the they did on Thursday and Saturday, figuring they can just throw on a grind of being a Maple Leafs fan. We all know the collapse is coming, but switch like they always do, only this time the switch doesn’t work and when it does we all have to pretend like it’s unexpected because the they get the blowout they deserve. Maybe we get some controversial call story doesn’t work as well if we don’t. I laid out exactly how Games 5 and that we’ll all argue about for the rest of our lives. Chances are, it won’t be 6 would go on two different podcasts last week, and people still want to any of that, and they’ll just lose a game to an opponent that’s a little bit know if I’m surprised. Dude, this isn’t my first day here. A good rule of better on the night or at least close enough. thumb is that anyone who tells you a joke about Leafs fans saying “plan It won’t matter. They’ll lose, and then the familiar process will begin. the parade” has never met an actual Leafs fan. We all expected this, on Blurry-eyed soundbites from the postgame news conference, trying to some level. process what just happened. Stoic statement from cleanout day, vowing The Toronto Maple Leafs experience is a world of contrasts, and you just that it will not happen again, and this time they really mean it. Predictions kind of have to go with it even when it doesn’t make sense. The team of big offseason changes. Calls to blow the whole thing up and start over. sucks, except when they’re about to lose an upset, in which case they’re A contest in the media to be the one with the loudest, dumbest hot take, amazing and should be unbeatable, but also suck. The fans don’t where everyone ties for first, and also last. demand a winner like they do in other cities, but they also drive players And Maple Leafs fans will just trudge along through it, feeling familiar. out of town with their unreasonable expectations. They’re too soft, but Cheer for this dumb team long enough and while you don’t ever quite go also dirty, and the refs are out to get them, but the league wants them to numb, you do start to get used to it. That part always seems to win. disappoint everyone else, who watch the Leafs lose and then turn Pick and choose whatever works for the narrative you want to push at eagerly toward their fans to see what kind of performance we’re putting any given moment. Nothing has to be consistent. Except one thing: This on for their amusement. Emergency podcast, boys? Got to get that team is exhausting. postgame misery while it’s still fresh. Some of us will feel like we have to dance the dance, others can’t be bothered. And you’ll be mad, and Always. When they’re winning or when they’re losing. When they matter maybe throw your phone across the room as the seconds tick down on and when they don’t. On opening night and in the playoffs and at the Game 7 or punch a hole in the wall or swear at your screen about this deadline and in August when nobody else is even paying attention. If stupid team and how it’s always, always, always like this. And then, you’re a Leafs fan, you get all the highs and lows that any other fan base inevitably, you’ll come crawling right back for more next year, like you gets, although it’s more of the latter. But the one thing you never get is a always do. day off. This team can never just do what they’re supposed to do. There’s never a straight line between point A and point B because that would be Except, sometimes I wonder, what if you don’t? We just kind of hand- too easy, and this team never does easy. wave that part away, but it happens. I’m not talking about the fans who make a big public show of vowing “never again,” because they always The Toronto Maple Leafs rarely win, but even when they do, it’s the hard come right back. I mean the ones who eventually have the quiet way. Even in the Pat Burns era or later under Pat Quinn, when the team realization that liking sports is supposed to be fun, and investing any part was a genuine contender, it always had to be a battle. Way back in 1963, of your emotional health into a team that’s never fun doesn’t make much they won the Stanley Cup by beating the Red Wings in five games. Since sense. Those fans are out there too, for every team. Probably not many, that night, almost six decades ago, they’ve won just one seven-game although occasionally I wonder what happens if enough of a fan base series in fewer than six games. One! If you started watching hockey in just breaks off, like a chunk of a melting iceberg, and floats off in the 1964, you’ve seen the Maple Leafs win the Stanley Cup more often than direction of something that actually makes them happy sometimes. Could you’ve seen them win a short and stress-free playoff series, which is that ever happen to the Leafs? I’m guessing there are a few accountants pretty amazing considering their whole thing is that they never win the around the league who really don’t want to find out, but they probably Stanley Cup. don’t have much to worry about. We’ll be back. Almost all of us. They can’t ever win anything easily, we know that. But the problem is That’s the deal we’re all making here. You agree to be miserable for they can’t lose easily either, which is somehow even worse because years or even decades, and then eventually you get the big payoff when they’ve had so much damn practice. “It was 4-1” was the perfect your team finally wins. Ask a Blackhawks fan from 2010 or a Capitals fan example. That 2013 Leafs team was awful, a poorly built mess that fluked from 2018 or a Blues fan from 2019. Ask a Red Sox fan or a Cubs fan. its way into the playoffs in a shortened season, only to face an opponent Eventually you get there, even if it takes a whole lifetime, and that’s when that was Cup-worthy. The Bruins rolled through four games to head back it’s finally all worth it. to Boston with all the momentum and a 3-1 series lead. Just lose! Lose, and then go away, and let us all watch the good teams. But that’s not It’s worth it, right? I used to think that. I’m pretty sure I still do. I guess I how it works for this team because they’re a bad Hollywood thriller that don’t really have a choice. It’s all about the destination, not the journey, won’t end because there’s always one more plot twist to be crammed in. even if the journey is 99 percent of it, and just don’t think too hard about Why are they introducing a Zamboni driver, we just want to go home. that last part. And through it all, there will be an army of fans of other teams watching it Maybe we’ll get there too. It might start tonight. The Leafs look like the all play out and hoping hard for another Leafs collapse. They’ll post team they’re supposed to be and win, they send the Habs home popcorn gifs and choking memes and enjoy it all as much — let’s be heartbroken, we all make “never in doubt” jokes and start checking the honest, maybe more — than watching their own team win. If you’re not in schedule for Round 2, and we don’t even realize we’ve just seen the the middle of all this, it’s really hard to understate how large this particular Dave Roberts stolen base. It could happen. There has to be another plot group is. The Leafs are probably the league’s most popular team, but twist or two, after all. We just don’t know what they’ll be. they’re definitely its most hated, and some of that has been earned and We don’t know much of anything with this team. Except for one thing: It some of it hasn’t but it doesn’t matter because those fans are here and won’t be easy. It will always be exhausting. They don’t know any other they are absolutely going to tell you all about it. They can’t stand Leafs way, and neither do we. fans because their brother-in-law once said Doug Gilmour was better than Wayne Gretzky and so that must be what every Leafs fan thinks. The Athletic LOADED: 06.01.2021 They can’t stand the Toronto media because they once went to the TSN homepage and saw a story about Auston Matthews before a mention of their favorite team and can’t for the life of them figure out why the team with the country’s largest fan base might get More Coverage. They can’t stand anyone associated with the Leafs, it’s become a very big part of their identity, and they need you to know it. One of my weirdest experiences of the last week has been hearing from multiple people who reach out with a note, often politely written, to let me know that they really, really detest Leafs fans and like it when they’re miserable. I’m never sure what they want me to say. Cool man, thanks for letting me know you hate me and my kids over a game, stay in touch, I guess. Vegas Golden Knights

Ryan Reaves Suspended Two Games by NHL Player Safety

Published 14 hours ago on May 31, 2021By Dan Kingerski

Ryan Reaves has been suspended for two games by the NHL Department of Player Safety for his actions in the third period of the Vegas Golden Knights 7-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday night. Reaves retaliated on Colorado Avalanche defenseman Ryan Graves, who injured Golden Knights forward Mattias Janmark in the second period with a late, high hit. Janmark left the game and did not return. As of Monday morning, Golden Knights coach Pete DeBoer did not yet have an update on Janmark. “Defenseless player. Blindside. Interference. Obviously, (we) didn’t like the hit. We lost the player…Trying to get those out of the game,” Vegas winger Mark Stone said of Graves hit. Reaves threw Graves to the ice in the third period and appeared to knee him multiple times as referees tried to pull Reeves out of the pile of players. The NHL has been conducting those elevated level hearings via Zoom during the pandemic, but Reaves will not be subject to the increased potential of a five or more game suspension. “I think emotions get away. Obviously, the Graves hit on Janmark; Janmark leaving with the injury–that’s tough to watch,” Golden Knights Pete DeBoer said. Ryan Reaves received a double minor roughing penalty and a Match penalty. The brawl resulted in a nine-minute Colorado Avalanche power play. Reaves was suspended for one game in last year’s playoffs and is considered a repeat offender. Welcome to your new home for Vegas Golden Knights breaking news, analysis and opinion. Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and don't forget to subscribe to VHN+ for all of our members-only content the entire Vegas Hockey Now crew plus an ad-free browsing experience. Vegas Hockey Now LOADED: 06.01.2021 Vegas Golden Knights

VGK Upset over Hit on ‘Defenseless’ Janmark; Reaves Draws Penalty, Suspension

Published 17 hours ago on May 31, 2021By Dan Kingerski

DENVER — Per NHL rules, Vegas Golden Knights fourth-liner Ryan Reaves is suspended indefinitely. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman must rule on the match penalty Reaves incurred in the third period of the Golden Knights 7-1 Game 1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche Reaves essentially dropped his knee onto Ryan Graves’s head in a wild third period at Ball Arena. However, Reaves and the Golden Knights didn’t exactly feel Reaves was unprovoked. Midway through the second period, Graves caught VGK forward Mattias Janmark in the corner. After Janmark played the puck, he turned to look at the play, and Graves thundered through him with his forearm high. Graves’ made hard contact with Janmark in the high chest, neck area. Janmark ragdolled into the boards. He had to be helped off the ice. Graves received only an interference minor. “Defenseless player. Blindside. Interference. Obviously, (we) didn’t like the hit. We lost the player…Trying to get those out of the game,” Vegas winger Mark Stone said. “…but you’re down 4-0, you try to get yourselves into the game. You try to get physical. We kind of got away from our game. But let’s be honest here, if you’re down 4-0 halfway through the game, that’s a long way to climb out from.” Yes, the Golden Knights got physical. They’re a bigger, stronger team, and they have the sheriff, Ryan Reaves. Midway through the third period, after numerous post-whistle scrums, a few shoving matches, fash washes, and frivolity, Reaves got his hands on Graves. “We talked about in the third period, let’s try to get our game in a good place for Game 2. Let’s have a good period. I thought, for the most part, we went out and did that,” head coach Pete DeBoer said. “I think emotions get away. Obviously, the Graves hit on Janmark–Janmark leaving with the injury–that’s tough to watch.” We’ll let it go that DeBoer thinks the Golden Knights got to their game (hint: they didn’t, especially with a nine-minute Colorado power play to kill). “A defenseless player and one of your teammates getting hit like that,” DeBoer concluded. “It’s hard not to carry that emotion through the rest of the game.” Here’s the hit on Janmark. About four minutes into the final period, the fun started when VGK defenseman Nicolas Hague and Colorado forward Andre Burakovsky tangled for roughing minors. Simultaneously, Max Pacioretty and J.T. Compher had a little dust-up. However, the main event came four minutes later when Reaves grabbed Graves, slammed him to the ice, and began kneeing him or putting his knee on his throat. Yeah, you can’t do that. Not even in a hockey melee. Not even in a hockey melee in the NHL playoffs. Ryan Reaves received a double minor for roughing and a Match Penalty. Per NHL rules, the match penalty means Reaves is suspended until NHL commissioner Gary Bettman reviews the incident and rules on an appropriate punishment. Bettman could suspend Reaves or reinstate him, with the penalty time being a sufficient punishment. We don’t think the latter happens. Reaves will unlikely be available to the Vegas Golden Knights for Game 2 on Wednesday in Colorado. He could be out beyond that, too. Match penalties are not given out lightly, and they are reviewed on the ice, too. VHN will update the story as Reaves or Graves received additional punishment for the slop fest that became Game 1. Welcome to your new home for Vegas Golden Knights breaking news, analysis and opinion. Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and don't forget to subscribe to VHN+ for all of our members-only content the entire Vegas Hockey Now crew plus an ad-free browsing experience. Vegas Hockey Now LOADED: 06.01.2021 Vegas Golden Knights

OTR: NHL Trade Rumors–Eichel, Malkin, Babcock & Panthers

Published 19 hours ago on May 31, 2021

There are some intensely interesting situations hovering on the horizon while the NHL playoffs dominate the news. While the Vegas Golden Knights and Colorado Avalanche begin the most anticipated series in a few years, the Pittsburgh Penguins have a huge decision looming with center Evgeni Malkin. If he waived his no-movement clause and hit the NHL Trade market, would the Florida Panthers, who have been monitoring the situation, bite on the chance? Sources with direct knowledge of the situation gave a little more insight into one side of the process. There is a bigger potential get on the NHL trade market than Malkin, as everyone continues to watch the Jack Eichel saga in Buffalo. Given the drama, could/will the Buffalo Sabres get full value on the NHL trade market for Eichel? And has Mike Babcock been blacklisted? Vegas Hockey Now LOADED: 06.01.2021 Vegas Golden Knights Won’t panic. For good reason. LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 06.01.2021 Graney: Pete DeBoer won’t overreact to Game 1 rout

By Ed Graney May 31, 2021 - 2:38 PM

DENVER — It was 2018 when the Golden Knights beat San Jose 7-0 in Game 1 of a best-of-seven NHL playoff series. The Sharks won Game 2, 4-3 in double overtime. They then won Game 4, 4-0. The Knights then won 5-3. It was in a 2019 series between the teams when the Golden Knights dominated Game 4 and won 5-0. San Jose prevailed the next game 5-2. Yeah. Pete DeBoer has seen both sides of such a distinct truth when it comes to sports and those playoffs that define them. He was the coach in San Jose for those back-and-forth moments and now holds the same position for the Golden Knights. And now gets to draw on such experience for Game 2 of the West Division final against the Avalanche. The side of truth where his team got shellacked. Things continue Wednesday at Ball Arena in the aftermath of Colorado blitzing the Knights 7-1 on Sunday. Won’t overreact Coaches and players on the losing end of such a result often like to say they burned the game tape and moved on. But before striking any match, the Knights sat and watched and better understood all that transpired. “We looked at it and what didn’t work for us, and there were a lot of things that didn’t work for us,” DeBoer said. “As a group, we didn’t do enough things well enough for long enough in order to deserve to win. It’s pretty easy to recognize that. We got what we deserved. I know we’ll bounce back.” DeBoer has coached long enough to know which buttons to push and which to avoid after such a defeat. The last thing you do now is change the message. It might be human nature for the parent whose child spends most of their time in the principal’s office to overreact. It’s not good from a coaching staff after one loss, no matter the stage. There are too many veteran players in the Knights’ room who can now lead more than ever. Guys with Stanley Cup rings. Too many who have ridden and comprehend the roller coaster that defines most NHL playoffs. You can also make the argument — as DeBoer did Monday — that a more disheartening loss might have been playing a solid game and still coming up short by, say, a 2-1 final. Makes sense. It’s not easy to deal with getting blown out in the moment, but could be easier to flush away than stewing over a competitive result. “It doesn’t matter if the score is 10-0, 10-9 or 2-1,” Colorado coach Jared Bednar said. “We got one win, and we’re at home to defend our home ice. It’s a race to four (wins). That’s one, and it’s great, and we loved the way our team played and now our mission is to follow that up with a very similar game to the one we played.” Teams are even There is also this: The Knights and Avalanche split eight regular-season games, and neither controlled the other to any level of degree. The Knights outscored Colorado 18-17 in those games. Each finished with a league-best 82 points. These are not teams whose comparable skill level is anything close to a 7-1 rout. The Knights just didn’t handle adversity well in Game 1. They got down and never pushed for long enough stretches that you thought a comeback was possible. Things will tighten Wednesday after such a forgettable effort because, well, they always do. “I thought the third (period), there were some moments where we started to play the way we’re capable of,” DeBoer said. “The score is the score, so obviously they’re taking their foot off the gas a little, so sometimes that’s not real, either. But it wasn’t all bad, as ridiculous as that sounds, when you look at the box score.” He has been here before. Vegas Golden Knights Reaves had one goal and five points in 37 games along with 27 penalty minutes. He missed the final 16 games of the regular season with an undisclosed injury. Ryan Reaves gets 2-game suspension for Game 1 fight Reaves did not play in Game 6 of the first round against Minnesota because of a false positive COVID-19 test result. He has not recorded a point in seven games during this postseason. By David Schoen LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 06.01.2021 May 31, 2021 - 10:55 am Updated May 31, 2021 - 5:17 PM

DENVER — Ryan Reaves skated precariously on the edge of physical and dirty all season, keeping the flies off the honey for the Golden Knights while avoiding the NHL’s long arm of the law. But the rugged forward crossed the line in Game 1 of the West Division final and paid the price Monday. Reaves was suspended two games by the NHL’s department of player safety for roughing/unsportsmanlike conduct on Colorado Avalanche defenseman Ryan Graves during the third period of a 7-1 loss Sunday at Ball Arena. Reaves was assessed a match penalty and ejected with 11:56 remaining after he used his body weight to force Graves’ head into the ice during a postwhistle scrum and also pulled out a chunk of Graves’ hair during the altercation, according to player safety. Graves was helped off the ice and missed a couple of shifts to recover before skating two shifts late in the third. “Reaves and the Golden Knights acknowledge that angered by the earlier hit (on forward Mattias Janmark) he takes this opportunity to send a message to Graves as payback,” player safety said in explaining the suspension. “The totality of Reaves’ actions, combined with the game situation and the retribution involved in the play necessitates supplemental discipline.” Reaves also was suspended one game for an illegal check to the head on Vancouver’s Tyler Motte during Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals last season, making him a repeat offender under the collective bargaining agreement. That applies when factoring in how much money a player loses. Reaves’ history also can be considered for determining the length of the suspension. This is the third time in Reaves’ 11-year career he has been suspended. He was given a three-game penalty in 2016 for boarding and also has been fined by the league twice. “For me, Ryan Reaves is one of the cleanest tough guys that I’ve seen in the league in my 12, 13 years,” Knights coach Pete DeBoer said Monday before the suspension was announced. “I do know a couple things. His gloves never came off, and nobody was hurt on the play. Whether they’re going to look at what’s between the lines there and think that there’s something that maybe I don’t see, that’s their department, not mine.” Reaves has more than 900 career penalty minutes and was voted the league’s toughest player in a 2017-18 NHL Players’ Association poll. The Knights signed the 6-foot-2-inch, 225-pound Reaves to a two-year, $3.5 million contract last summer to provide an intimidation factor and backed him after each borderline hit he delivered. “That’s the one play that I just thought was out of the context of the game,” Colorado coach Jared Bednar said. “He’s just got a ruggedness to his game, and it is what it is. But in that situation in the game, I just didn’t like it. That’s my opinion on it.” Avoided discipline in Game 7 vs. Wild Reaves avoided supplemental discipline for his unnecessary interference penalty in Game 7 of the first round that caused Minnesota Wild defenseman Ryan Suter to smack his face on the goal post. The department of player safety also opted not to discipline Reaves for his high hit delivered to Arizona’s Jordan Gross in April. Last season in an exhibition game before the postseason bubble, Reaves delivered a heavy hit on Arizona forward Nick Schmaltz that the Coyotes thought should have been penalized. Schmaltz missed the entire postseason as a result of the check. The Knights were upset with Graves for his hit on Janmark that knocked the forward out of the game in the second period. Graves was penalized for interference on the play and will not face any supplemental discipline, according to a person familiar with the situation. After the game, Knights captain Mark Stone called it a “blindside hit” on Janmark. DeBoer did not have an update on Janmark’s availability for Game 2 on Wednesday. Vegas Golden Knights The 19-year-old forward had three assists in 10 games with the Silver Knights this season.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 06.01.2021 Mattias Janmark’s status unclear for Golden Knights after injury

By Ben Gotz May 31, 2021 - 9:27 am Updated May 31, 2021 - 6:51 PM

DENVER — Golden Knights coach Pete DeBoer didn’t have an update Monday morning on left wing Mattias Janmark, who was injured in Game 1 of the second-round series against the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday. Janmark was hit high in the corner of the offensive zone by Avalanche defenseman Ryan Graves with 11:37 left in the second period and didn’t appear to see it coming. Janmark was face down on the ice for several seconds and needed to be helped to the bench. He did not return to the game. “The plan was he would go back to the hotel and they would evaluate him this morning,” DeBoer said. “I haven’t gotten any reports on that yet.” Janmark is the Knights’ leading scorer in the playoffs with six points in eight games. He recorded a hat trick in Game 7 of their first-round series against the Minnesota Wild on Friday to help the team advance. The Knights were upset with the hit that took Janmark out of the game. Graves was given a minor penalty for interference. Captain Mark Stone said it was a blindside hit that the NHL is trying to remove from the game. DeBoer called it a “dirty hit.” The NHL did not announce any additional discipline for Graves on Monday. The play led to tempers flaring the rest of the way. Knights right wing Ryan Reaves received a match penalty for going after Graves following a whistle in the third period. The sequence led to four other players — two on each side — being assessed 10-minute misconducts. The Avalanche got a nine-minute power play, and defenseman Cale Makar scored. Reaves was suspended for two games Monday. “Graves is down and in a vulnerable position, and (Reaves) just stays on top of him,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. “I didn’t like the play.” Two-day break The Knights and Avalanche won’t play again until Wednesday because the Denver Nuggets are hosting an NBA playoff game Tuesday at Ball Arena. That’s just fine with the Knights. They had a quick turnaround traveling to Denver after their Game 7 victory over the Minnesota Wild. “We need the extra day,” said DeBoer, who added that fatigue might have played a role in the team’s Game 1 performance. “I think anytime you’re getting past the first round of the playoffs, any extra day of rest you can get, especially if you played a long series, is advantageous.” Kadri suspension upheld NHL commissioner Gary Bettman upheld Avalanche center Nazem Kadri’s eight-game suspension Monday for a check to the head against St. Louis Blues defenseman Justin Faulk. Kadri hasn’t played since Game 2 of Colorado’s first-round series when the hit occurred. If the suspension stands, he won’t be eligible to play until a possible Game 7 between the Avalanche and Knights. Kadri can appeal his suspension again to a neutral arbitrator. The 30- year-old had 32 points in 56 games this season. Krebs, Korczak named All-Stars Knights prospects Peyton Krebs and Kaedan Korczak were named Western Hockey League All-Stars in their divisions Monday. Krebs, a 2019 first-round pick, led the WHL in assists (30) and points (43). The forward played for the Winnipeg Ice in the East Division. Korczak, a 2019 second-round pick, had eight points in 15 games. The defenseman played for the Kelowna Rockets in the B.C. Division. Primeau signs Knights 2019 fifth-round pick Mason Primeau signed a three-year, entry- level contract Monday. Vegas Golden Knights

Golden Knights’ Ryan Reaves suspended two games

By Justin Emerson (contact) Monday, May 31, 2021 | 4:18 p.m.

Golden Knights forward Ryan Reaves was handed a two-game suspension by the NHL’s Department of Player Safety on Monday following the match penalty in Game 1 against the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday. He will be eligible to return in Game 4. Reaves was given a match penalty for intent to injure in the third period Sunday after he slammed Colorado defenseman Ryan Graves to the ground and appeared to press his knee on Graves’ head. It triggered a scrum where the teams combined for four misconducts and 59 penalty minutes. A player who commits a match penalty is ejected from the game and “shall be automatically suspended from further competition until the commissioner has ruled on the issue,” according to the NHL rule book. Reaves was given two roughing minors in addition to the match penalty, which carries a similar charge to a major in regard to power plays. The Golden Knights were forced to kill a rare nine-minute Colorado power play on which the Avalanche scored. It is the second time in two years Reaves was suspended in the playoffs. He was also assessed a match penalty in last year’s second round against the Canucks for a hit on Tyler Motte. He missed one game, the opening game of the Western Conference Final against the Stars. This is Reaves’ third career suspension. He was also given three games for boarding in 2016 while he played for the St. Louis Blues. LAS VEGAS SUN LOADED: 06.01.2021 Vegas Golden Knights Wrist 6 How the Golden Knights and Avalanche scored goals against each other Rebound this season, and from where 4

Backhand By Jesse Granger May 31, 2021 3

Deflection The Avalanche scored a lot of goals in Sunday night’s second-round playoff series opener. The Golden Knights? Not so much. 2 It was a lopsided affair in Denver, a 7-1 Colorado victory, but one game One timer doesn’t make a playoff series. Vegas must find a way to regroup quickly 1 for Wednesday night’s Game 2, starting with finding a way to slow down Colorado’s vaunted offensive attack. And honestly, the game got out of Slap shot hand so quickly that there aren’t a lot of conclusions to draw from the way each of the teams played. Vegas didn’t have the legs to defend in its 0 usual fashion, and after falling behind, the Golden Knights pushed The Golden Knights have done a relatively good job of scoring greasy forward, chasing the game, and opened up even more space for the goals around the Avalanche net, with four coming on rebound chances Avalanche. and two on deflections. Also not shown in this data is the fact that the So while Sunday’s game shouldn’t be completely ignored, I don’t think it’s Colorado goalie was screened on four of these goals, which is something the best way to assess the series moving forward. To examine what that will need to continue in this series. Vegas needs to change, let’s look at exactly how each goal was scored But the most efficient way Vegas has scored against the Avalanche this in the teams’ eight regular-season meetings. season is by simply getting players in space one-on-one with Grubauer, How were the goals scored? Were they scored in transition or as a result and beating him clean with a wrist shot. of sustained offensive-zone pressure? What type of shot were they? It’s also interesting that Vegas has scored an inordinate amount of goals Where on the ice did the shot come from? Is there a particular area the against Colorado from the right side of the ice. goalies were susceptible? I’ll attempt to answer each of those questions, for both the goals scored by each team. Slot In the eight regular-season meetings, Vegas scored 18 goals to 8 Colorado’s 17. However, one of Vegas’ goals came in three-on-three overtime, and another was an empty-net goal for Jonathan Marchessault. Doorstep For the purposes of this exercise, I’ve taken out those goals. 2 First, let’s begin with how the Golden Knights scored on the Avalanche. Right circle To break down the lead-up to the goals, I’ve broken them into four categories: 4 Goals scored in transition after carrying the puck into the offensive zone. Left circle Goals scored in transition after dumping the puck into the offensive zone. 0 Goals scored after sustained zone time following a carry into the zone. Point Goals scored after sustained zone time following a dump into the zone. 1 Here’s how many goals of each type Vegas scored against Colorado. Behind the net Transition, carry-in 1 9 As expected, Vegas scored the majority of its goals from the slot. That’s Transition, dump-in nothing groundbreaking, as that’s the easiest and most dangerous place to shoot from. However, it’s worth noting that the Golden Knights scored 0 four goals from the right circle, and several of the goals in the slot were shaded to the right side. It could simply be a coincidence, but perhaps Sustained, carry-in Colorado’s defense isn’t as strong on the right side, or Grubauer struggles with short-side shots to his glove side. 2 The Golden Knights did seem to shoot glove side more often against Sustained, dump-in Grubauer, with eight of their 16 goals beating the goalie to that side. 2 Comparatively, they scored five goals to the blocker side. Face off High glove 3 4 Vegas scored nine of its goals against Colorado this season in transition, Low glove and only four followed sustained zone time. That’s a higher percentage of 4 goals coming on the break than usual for Vegas. For example, this same exercise before the Minnesota series showed the Golden Knights scored High blocker an even number of goals in transition and with sustained zone time. 3 The obvious reason for scoring more goals in transition is that’s simply the style of hockey Colorado likes to play. The Avalanche play a faster- Low blocker paced game than almost any team in the league, and Vegas isn’t afraid to trade rush chances with them. A lot of Vegas’ rush goals in this season 2 series came off the stick of either Alex Tuch or Max Pacioretty. They are Five hole Vegas’ two most accurate shooters, and take advantage of the extra time and space in transition. The Golden Knights don’t want to make this 3 playoff series a track meet, but they’ve shown the ability to score with Colorado if they have to. Tuch and Pacioretty in particular have beaten But the biggest takeaway after analyzing the Golden Knights’ shot Avalanche goalie Philipp Grubauer clean with wrist shots on rush placement is that they mixed it up extremely well. They beat Colorado’s opportunities, and they’ll need to bury a few in this series for Vegas to goaltenders in nearly every way possible this season, and their shot come out on top. placement varied a lot more than it did against Minnesota’s netminders, for example. Speaking of which, what types of shots did the Golden Knights use most often to score on Colorado? Vegas scored 11 goals shooting high to the glove side against the Wild, with zero goals through the five-hole or low on the blocker side. Whether it was intentional or just what the circumstances of each goal called for, Deflection the Golden Knights had a much more varied approach against the Avalanche. 1 Vegas’ offense was fairly consistent against Colorado this season. It should surprise no one that the NHL’s best offense can score in a Things got a bit more interesting on the other side of the ice. That’s multitude of ways. Despite not showing their full potential in the regular because the Avalanche’s high-octane offense struggled mightily against season against a stingy Vegas defense, the Avalanche scored several Vegas, at least in relation to the rest of the season. Colorado led the NHL goals on nearly every shot type. with 3.75 goals per game this season against everyone else, but The location of the shots is probably the most troubling revelation of this managed only 2.13 goals per game against Vegas. exercise for the Golden Knights’ defense. Colorado scored its goals from As mentioned above, the Avalanche love attacking the net with speed as the exact areas coaches want – in tight. they enter the offensive zone, and that bears out in the statistics. Slot Transition, carry-in 7 10 Doorstep Transition, dump-in 5 0 Right circle Sustained, carry-in 3 3 Left circle Sustained, dump-in 1 1 Point Face off 1 3 An incredible 70.6 percent of Colorado’s goals against Vegas this season An impressive 58.8 percent of Colorado’s goals against the Golden came from either the slot or the doorstep. The Avalanche did an Knights came in transition after carrying the puck into the zone. That’s impressive job of jumping on rebounds in front of the net, and that’s how where the Avalanche’s speedy, skilled players excel. Playing that style of the majority of their goals in that area were scored. hockey also minimizes Vegas’ size advantage. It’s in Colorado’s best It likely conjures memories of Minnesota, which also did a good job of interest to keep the puck away from the boards, which is exactly what it scoring on second-chance opportunities against the Golden Knights, but has done, with only one goal coming after a dump into the offensive the way the Avalanche did it was entirely different. The Wild’s biggest zone. That strategy continued in Sunday night’s playoff game, when advantage was the strength and grit of their forward group, who would Colorado attacked in transition almost exclusively throughout the night. outmuscle and out-position the Golden Knights defenders to collect The Golden Knights need to realize that and play much tougher at their rebounds. But the driving force for most of Colorado’s rebound chances defensive blue line in this series. The defensemen will have to close their are their talented defensemen. Cale Makar, Girard, Devon Toews and gaps quickly, cutting off time and space and eliminating passing options Ryan Graves are all exceptional skaters on the blue line, and put for the puck-handlers as they enter the zone. It’s easier said than done, pressure on Vegas’ defensive structure when they create. They usually and playing with too small of gaps can lead to Colorado’s forwards make a move or two to gain space, then fire a puck at the net once sneaking behind defensemen for even more dangerous opportunities, but Vegas’ defense is scrambling to cover. That leaves the back end open it’s a fine line Vegas will need to walk well in this series. for rebound attempts. “I think we gave their skilled players a little too much respect and a little High glove too much room,” Vegas defenseman Nick Holden said after Game 1. 2 “Obviously good players are going to make plays when they have space, so I think that’s something we’ll probably focus on a bit more.” Low glove The Avalanche don’t only use their speed to blaze past defenders for 4 breakaway chances in tight. They also use it to back the defense off, then take that space to make plays. One of the best examples came on Feb. High blocker 20 in the outdoor game at Lake Tahoe. Nathan MacKinnon entered 3 Vegas’ zone at full speed, backing off defenseman Alex Pietrangelo. He had no option but to respect MacKinnon’s speed on the play, but when Low blocker MacKinnon suddenly curled back, he had tons of time to find Samuel Girard all the way across the ice for a goal. 4 Considering Colorado scored only one goal against Vegas this season Five hole after dumping the puck across the blue line, forcing the Avalanche to do 4 that is a good strategy. Again, easier said than done. This wasn’t a matchup-specific strategy for the Avalanche. It’s what they did to every It’s mildly surprising that Colorado scored its fewest number of goals team in the division all season long. And that has continued in the against Vegas by shooting high glove. That’s the shot that’s considered playoffs, shown by this graph by Corey Sznajder. the “fanciest” and if there’s a fancy team in the NHL, it’s the highly-skilled Vegas also creates in transition, but no other team comes close to Avalanche. Colorado. Instead, Colorado has aimed its shots lower, with 12 of the 17 goals Once in the zone, the Avalanche have done a good job of mixing things being fired either low glove, low blocker or five-hole. That’s a good up in terms of shot type. strategy against goalies as good as Marc-Andre Fleury and Robin Lehner, as those types of shots make it much more difficult to control the Wrist rebound. It will be interesting to see if the Avalanche continue shooting low in this series, hoping for secondary chances. 5 Coming off a series in which Vegas wanted to open things up and make One timer more skilled plays, that strategy almost completely flips in this round. It’s in the Golden Knights’ best interest to lock down the neutral zone, force 4 Colorado to chip pucks behind their defenders and battle down low. If the Rebound Avalanche turn the game into a track meet, Vegas has shown plenty of scoring ability in transition to keep up. 3 The Athletic LOADED: 06.01.2021 Backhand 2 Slap shot 2 Vegas Golden Knights Laugher of the week: The Philadelphia 76ers were -5.5 vs. the Washington Wizards in Game 3 on Saturday but won every quarter on their way to a 132-103 rout. In covering by 24.5 points, it was easily just Monday Morning Gambler: Knights Reward Bettors In Game 7, Struggle one of the laughers of the week. In Game 1 Vs. Avalanche LVSportsBiz.com LOADED: 06.01.2021

May 31, 2021 By Dan Behringer

If you were anywhere near the Red Rock Resort race and sports book a little after 6 p.m. on Friday, you couldn’t miss the sound — a large, crescendo of cheers and applause. There were Major League Baseball games underway — but it wasn’t for any baseball game. There were NBA playoff games on several monitors — but the cheers and applause weren’t for the any pro basketball game. There was even some kind of golf from the Golf Channel on one monitor. But cheers from golf, unless it’s a recognizable star holing out in a major, are rare. No, the wall of sound worthy of record producer Phil Spector was unmistakably for the Vegas Golden Knights, and it was obvious to anyone listening that they had scored early in Game 7 against the Minnesota Wild. There was more cheers every time they scored — and they lit the lamp six times en route to a 6-2 West Division Semifinal series win. But were the cheers coming from the apparel-wearing, swag-toting fans? Or bettors with money on the line? Probably a bit of both. VGK bettors laid anywhere from -165 to -200 for the game, and total players were eyeing the 5.5 number, which went over when the guys wearing the golden hats made it 4-2 (imagine even more cheers). The puck line on the Knights closed at around +155. And series price bettors who laid -250 and waited all seven games finally got paid. Ditto for prop players who found an attractive price for the Golden Knights to win in seven games. Of course, all of that was quickly forgotten. The Golden Knights faced a quick turnaround and were off to play the Colorado Avalanche in Game 1 of the West Division Final by Sunday. This time Knights bettors were getting +160 vs. No. 1-seeded Avalanche with the total stuck at 5.5 again. Betting the series before Game 1 got you a ticket also at around +160 on the VGK. If you haven’t been keeping up, the Avalanche buried the Golden Knights, 7-1, on Sunday. And we would imagine, the sound from around the race and sports book at game time was noticeably quieter this time. Game 2 will be Wednesday with the betting line virtually the same. Elsewhere: Aces soar: The Las Vegas Aces steamrolled the Indiana Fever on Friday, 113-77, with Dearica Hamby scoring 25 points. It was the Las Vegas’s team’s highest point total in franchise history, eclipsing the 108 points scored on June 18, 2010, when they were known as the San Antonio Silver Stars, The Associated Press reported. The Aces completely dominated the second half, 54-30. With the line at - 11.5, they covered by 24.5 points. For Sunday’s game vs. the Fever, the line moved to -13.5. No problem. The Aces covered easily again in a 103-78 win. The Aces (5-2) next play Tuesday at the Connecticut Sun (6-2). Aviators flying under: The Las Vegas Aviators split the first four games on the road vs. the Sacramento River Cats. They generally were around even money although they were -130 on Sunday for their 9-5 win. The first three games came in under the total, but the total came down from 12.5 on Thursday to 10.5 for Sunday’s matinee. The final games of the series are Monday and Tuesday before they open a six-game series at the Albuquerque Isotopes on Thursday. Upcoming race: Early odds from an analyst at Vegas Insider have Essential Quality at 2/1, Preakness winner Rombaur at 3/1 and Hot Rod Charlie at 4/1 for Saturday’s running of the Belmont Stakes. If you enjoy crowd noise, the book is the place to be on race day. Every dog bettor has his day(s): The Detroit Tigers completed a three- game sweep of the New York Yankees on Sunday with a 6-2 win. Bengals bettors who played all three games had tickets, respectively, that read +240, +115 and +160. San Francisco Giants bettors, after seeing their team lose on Thursday, also won three straight over the Los Angeles Dodgers at +185, +170 and +140, respectively. Washington Capitals To me, it begins with Kuznetsov. When Laviolette was hired, I wrote that he’d probably clash with Jakub Vrana and Kuznetsov. One has already lost his battle, and it feels like the other is down a goal late in the game. Capitals’ internal defensive options, expansion draft decisions, Connor Laviolette loves players who, like Oshie, put forth a consistent effort and McMichael projection: Mailbag, part 2 produce. Indeed, you never have to wonder what you’re going to get from Oshie. I’m pretty sure he’s going to make a push for a couple more of those. By Tarik El-Bashir May 31, 2021 Looking back on the Anthony Mantha trade, why did the Caps give up the draft picks? Do they not value them as highly as other teams, or did they think Mantha would deliver something that hasn’t materialized? — In Part 1 of my monthly mailbag, I focused on the big stuff, like the Jeremy S. Capitals’ offseason plans, the status of Alex Ovechkin’s contract extension and T.J. Oshie’s future in Washington. If you missed it, you can The picks were necessary to dump Richard Panik and his contract, which find it here. has two years at $2.75 million remaining on it. Panik was not meshing in D.C., and his cap hit would have been a hindrance. In Part 2, I’m tackling the other subjects, like where prospects Connor McMichael and Bobby Nardella fit into the plans and why general What former Penguins will Washington sign this offseason? — Jim M. manager Brian MacLellan signs so many former Penguins. Colton Sceviour, Evan Rodrigues and Cody Ceci are unrestricted free Let’s get to it. agents. I kid, I kid. Well, sorta. Note: Questions have been edited for clarity, length and style. Brooks Orpik, Schultz, Matt Niskanen, Sheary and Carl Hagelin are some of the guys who played for Pittsburgh who have been part of the Who from Hershey has a realistic shot to step into a (somewhat) regular intense rivalry since the Ovi/Sidney Crosby era. Any idea why they chose role for the Caps next season? — Joe D. to sign with the Capitals? I mean, sure, they got offered money to sign here, but wondering if you have any insight as to something beneath the Time to see if Martin Fehervary and Alex Alexeyev can play at the NHL surface. Seems like an interesting trend given the history. — Eric S. level. Justin Schultz was a mistake signing, and we should consider moving on from Nick Jensen and Zdeno Chara. Who knows what Michal Familiarity. Kempny has left in the tank. Lots of money tied up in mediocrity. — Robert B. If you’re the Caps and you’ve watched an opposing player excel against your team game in and game out over the course of multiple regular From the sounds of it, Fehervary is in the running for a full-time role next seasons and playoffs and then you have the chance to sign him, you season. If he shows he’s ready, I would expect him to slide into the spot sign him. If you’re the player, you saw the Caps up close and personal vacated by Chara, who is an unrestricted free agent and contemplating and liked what they were about. retirement. The NHL is a results-driven league, and the Capitals don’t have time to Alexeyev figures to be in line for a call-up. Ditto for McMichael and develop players here while in contention. But how is a player not good Garrett Pilon. enough to stick here but then way better elsewhere? Andre Burakovsky, Chandler Stephenson, Vrana, Jonas Siegenthaler. The As for Schultz, I want to see how he does in a “normal” season, and rebuild will be painful if we continue trading picks for veterans and not preferably one without a bunch of injuries, big and small. When he was developing our prospects. — Luka K. injury-free, he fit well into coach Peter Laviolette’s scheme. Luka, I think you answered your question in the opening line. (You also I still get the sense the Caps could explore moving on from Jensen, who forgot Philipp Grubauer. Haha.) has two years at $2.5 million per remaining on his deal. That’s a bit pricey for a third-pair defenseman. Also, Trevor van Riemsdyk needs I’m not making excuses for the front office; there have been some somewhere to play. TvR inked a two-year extension in March. misses. But you’re right when you say the Caps being in win-now mode for several years influenced their decision-making. Since 2015 or so, Kempny? Who knows, honestly. He turns 31 in September, is under most personnel decisions have been made to address the here and now, contract for one more year at $2.5 million and is coming off two major leg to extend the window, all while staying cap compliant, which made for a injuries. That’s especially tough for a player who relies so much on his bunch of difficult decisions. They knew there would be hell to pay down wheels. I’d list him as TBD. the road for dealing picks for rentals at the deadline, trading promising Where should we expect to see MacLellan be active in free agency? — young players before they were up for raises, etc. It was a calculated Jason A. risk. Two Stanley Cups probably would have made the coming winter a little easier to bear. They got one. That’s just how things played out. As I’ve mentioned, I expect MacLellan to be aggressive in the trade and free-agent markets as he looks to retool the roster on the fly. If Vanecek/Samsonov were to be taken during the expansion draft (unsure how likely that is with all the Oshie talk), what do you see the There’s obviously a lot of buzz surrounding Evgeny Kuznetsov and the goaltending looking like next year? Is Zach Fucale ready for his shot after potential for a blockbuster deal involving the first-line center. a great AHL season? Are we hoping Henrik Lundqvist is healthy and wants to play? Thanks! — Ian T. I also heard MacLellan say he’s comfortable going into next season with young goalies Ilya Samsonov and Vitek Vanecek. It’ll be interesting to MacLellan said last week that he envisions a Samsonov-Vanecek see if he sticks to that. I’m going to be watching the goaltending market. tandem next season, which, of course, assumes neither is taken in the It’s the game’s most important position, and the Caps weren’t good expansion draft. enough on a nightly basis between the pipes last season. I suspect Samsonov will be on the protected list, leaving Vanecek Should the Caps protect some of their cheaper assets in the expansion exposed. Seattle would probably take a long, hard look at a 25-year-old draft? Thinking specifically about Daniel Sprong and maybe Nic Dowd goalie who led all rookies in wins with 21 and is under contract for among forwards, and Jensen or TvR on defense. If they don’t have to $716,667 for another year. protect Ovi, maybe they roll the dice and see if Seattle takes Kuzy and his cap hit off our hands? — Jared H. If that’s how things play out and Vanecek is taken by the Kraken, that would leave a still-untested Samsonov as the No. 1 and the Caps in The Caps should protect their most important assets. If those are also need of a veteran to shoulder some of the load. inexpensive players, so be it. For the record, I don’t see Lundqvist being in the picture. He’s 39 and If Oshie ends up getting protected and Ovechkin is not (he’s an hasn’t played in a game since last August. You just hope the future Hall unrestricted free agent, remember), the Caps will have an additional of Famer recovers fully. As for Fucale, they like him, but I’m not sure he’s protected spot for a forward like Sprong, Dowd or Conor Sheary. As far in the NHL conversation just yet. as the blue line, I think it has to be Carlson and Dmitry Orlov and then either Schultz or Brenden Dillon for the third and final protected spot on Let me add this: I was a little surprised when MacLellan said he’s leaning the back end. toward a Samsonov-Vanecek duo next year. I’ve been told that I’m too hard on goalies, and there could be something to that. But consider this: As far as leaving Kuznetsov exposed, if the decision is made to move on Among goalies who made at least 18 starts (Samsonov’s total), Vanecek from him, the smart move is exploring the trade market and getting ranked 26th in save percentage (.908) and Samsonov was 37th (.902). something in return. Is there any way to get Barry Trotz back? — John M. It’s pretty clear the team didn’t play Laviolette’s preferred style of hockey in the playoffs. How do you see the Caps proceeding in the offseason in Why, John? Why? Haha. order to better do that? — Christopher C. How do you see the defense sorting out, with Chara, Kempny, Carlson, Orlov, Jensen, Schultz, Dillon and van Riemsdyk versus our up-and- comers? — John C. Thanks for another year of great reporting and analysis, Tarik. I asked you last year if the organization had given up on Kempny and your answer was no; then, he got a season-canceling injury. With Dillon and Schultz having inconsistent seasons, Chara assessing his future, Fehervary ready for prime time, Alexeyev not far behind and TvR recently extended, how does a (hopefully) recovered Kempny fit into their offseason plans? They have eight NHL defensemen under contract for next year even if Chara doesn’t return. So who do you think stays and who goes? Stay safe! — Cian P. Excellent questions, John and Cian, but there are no concrete answers just yet. Instead, this is a situation that will probably unfold over the next couple of months. I’m guessing Chara will retire. Kempny appeared to be getting close to full strength when the season ended. He has a lot to prove as he works his way back from two major leg injuries. He’s also under contract for another season. Carlson, Orlov, Schultz and Dillon are the core of the blue line. That said, someone has to be exposed in the expansion draft, and it’s possible one will get plucked. I honestly thought Jensen was going to get traded last offseason, and it didn’t happen. With the way the Caps are structured, his $2.5 million salary still seems a tad expensive for a third-pair blueliner. To that end, van Riemsdyk wasn’t re-signed to a two-year extension just to serve as a spare, I don’t think. So something has to give. Fehervary will be pushing for a spot, too. But remember, he’s on his entry-level contract still and does not require waivers. If push comes to shove, I think you know what happens. It’s a jigsaw puzzle at the moment. It’ll be much easier to project spot Nos. 1-7 (or 8) after the expansion draft. Should I renew my season tickets? — Eugene L. If I had tickets, I would renew them. Are you willing to miss Ovechkin’s climb up the all-time goals list? There’s a decent chance he’ll pass Marcel Dionne, Brett Hull and Jaromir Jagr next season and end up third, with only Gordie Howe and Wayne Gretzky in front of him. What’s the deal with Nardella? Does the team consider him a legit NHL prospect? — Ross M. He’s an undersized offensive-defenseman who had a really good season playing for Djurgardens IF, racking up seven goals and 26 assists in 47 games. Last time I checked in with someone in player personnel about prospects, I was told they are intrigued and that he’d played his way into the conversation for a call-up next season. How do you see McMichael fitting in next year? Wing? Center? If center, where and whom does he replace? — Marcio A. The Caps project him as a center. He’s also 20 and coming off his first pro season. It was a good one, but it was still just one, and a short one at that. I’m not sure McMichael cracks the opening-night lineup. In fact, I’d wager against it. The Caps have been careful with their top prospects, and I think they are going to avoid rushing McMichael to the big club, too. The Athletic LOADED: 06.01.2021 Winnipeg Jets

Jets will face Canadiens in second round of NHL playoffs, starting at home

Ted Wyman Publishing date:May 31, 2021 • 6 hours ago •

The Winnipeg Jets will face the Montreal Canadiens in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, starting Wednesday night at Bell MTS Place. The Jets, who swept the Edmonton Oilers in the first round of the playoffs, will have home-ice advantage in the second round, despite finishing in third place in the North Division. That’s because the Canadiens, who finished fourth, came back from a 3- 1 deficit to beat the Toronto Maple Leafs in seven games in the other North Division semifinal. The Habs won 3-1 on Monday night to oust the Leafs and earn a date with the Jets. The Jets have been off since May 24, when they beat the Oilers 4-3 in triple overtime to complete an unlikely sweep of a team led by NHL leading scorer Connor McDavid and 2020 Hart Trophy winner Leon Draisaitl. The Habs’ win over the Leafs was just as unlikely, as they completely shut down stars Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner in coming back to win in seven games. The North Division final will feature two star goalies in Winnipeg’s Connor Hellebuyck and Montreal’s Carey Price. Price won the Vezina and Hart Trophies in 2015, while Hellebuyck won the Vezina — recognizing the NHL’s best goalie — in 2020. The Jets are slated to practice on Tuesday at Bell MTS Place and will be looking to head into the series with the same kind of energy and emotion they had in Round 1, despite having nine days between games. The Habs are expected to travel to Winnipeg on Tuesday and be ready to play Game 1 on Wednesday. Winnipeg and Montreal have never met in the Stanley Cup playoffs previously. The Canadiens have won 24 Stanley Cups, but none since 1993. The farthest the Jets have advanced was the Western Conference final in 2018. The Canadiens had 2,500 fans in the stands for Game 6 of their series against the Leafs and could have similar or greater attendance for the second round. The Jets have not yet had any fans since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and are not expected to have any in the second round, per provincial health orders. Winnipeg Sun LOADED 06.01.2021 Winnipeg Jets your experiences. But from the get-go, nothing has been the same. So that is now normal for us.”

You got the impression on Monday the coach and players alike were JETS SNAPSHOTS: Jets didn't handle breaks very well this season, and getting tired of talking about all the extra time they’ve had to prepare for this one's way longer an unknown opponent. “Everybody has got a set of circumstances that they have to deal with,” Paul Friesen Maurice said. “We want to be sharp… we’re going to play a team that’s played a bunch of hockey and they will be in a rhythm. That’s how they’ll Publishing date:May 31, 2021 • 6 hours ago • feel about Game 1. “Drop the puck and everybody will stop talking about it and we’ll assess from there.” The Jets will try to shake off any of the ill-effects from an extended layoff before they open Round 2 on Wednesday. EARNING A DEAL If the Winnipeg Jets want the perfect template to follow when they start The Jets on Monday announced the signing of forward Jeff Malott to a their second-round playoff series on Wednesday, they could find it in contract for next season. Colorado. Malott, 24, is coming off his first season as a pro for the Manitoba The Avalanche had a week off after their first-round sweep of St. Louis Moose, leading the AHL team with 14 goals, tied for second among AHL but didn’t show a flake of rust in Game 1 against Vegas, Sunday, rookies. He added six assists and 35 penalty minutes in 34 games. pounding the Golden Knights, 7-1. The undrafted, 6-foot-3, 204-pound product of Burlington, Ont., spent “I don’t know exactly what they did,” Jets forward Andrew Copp said after four years at Cornell University, where he recorded 24 goals (six each practice on Monday. “We’ve had some layoffs this year and been up and season), 53 points and 135 penalty minutes in 114 games. down in how we’ve responded to those. Obviously, this one is probably a little bit longer than those. We’ll be ready to go. We’ll be fast. Malott signed a one-year, two-way deal worth $780,000 if he’s in the NHL. “To replicate what they did, they were impressive. So hopefully we can come out with that same kind of jump.” Winnipeg Sun LOADED 06.01.2021 The Jets struggled with most of their extended layoffs this season. Five times they had at least three days off, returning from breaks to win just once and losing four times. After their two longest breaks of four days off, they lost both times: 3-2 to Calgary in early February and 5-3 to Toronto in mid-April. They’ll open Round 2 nine days (eight without a game) after they finished off the Edmonton Oilers in four straight. “I actually didn’t realize it was nine days,” goalie Connor Hellebuyck said. “I had in my head it was six for some reason. We have a great coaching staff that manages us the right way. It’s easy in a break like this to get off your game. So to sit back and really work at the details, and not just work hard but work smart, is very important.” Perhaps the Jets can take a lesson from their own experience three years ago as they prepare for Game 1. In the third round of the 2018 playoffs, they came off a seventh-game win over Nashville, took on a Vegas team that had been waiting for them and took Game 1, 4-2. “We came out in Game 1 riding a high from winning that series,” Copp recalled. “We kind of dominated Game 1, and how quickly the series kind of turned in their favour. Maybe they were a little rusty in Game 1 and slowly built back up in the series. That experience, whatever happens in Game 1, we can revert to that series in the opposite way.” In 2018, the Jets lost the next four in a row to bow out in five games. That was Copp’s first NHL playoff experience, teaching him one of the oldest lessons in the book: don’t get too high with the wins or too low with the losses. Hellebuyck says there’s something else from that first playoff run he’s leaning on. “We know how hard it is, how the smallest details matter and how easy it is to slip away and lose a series,” he said. “Every game and every second counts. Looking back then, I was really disappointed in how it finished. Going into this now, I know how bad it feels to lose.” CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU Head coach Paul Maurice says he doesn’t put a lot of stock into momentum from one series to the next. At least, nothing that lasts. “I don’t think you necessarily carry anything with you,” Maurice said. “The puck drops and it’s a new opportunity. So you see teams, maybe like us in ’18 that will go a seven-game series and you think they’re going to be gassed. And then we win the first game against Vegas. And then you see Vegas play Colorado, and clearly that’s nowhere near their team and they’ll take two days off and Vegas will look completely different, I believe, in the next game.” Maurice says the unusually long break for his team is just the latest unusual situation to deal with in an unusual season. “We’ve had more practices in the last week than we had in two straight months of the regular season,” he said. “The fact that the NHL is so routine oriented that in a normal NHL year, you can certainly draw on Vancouver Canucks The Canucks hold his rights until 2024 and don’t have to offer him a contract until then. He doesn’t turn 20 until November, so there’s plenty of development time left for him yet. Canucks: Ethan Keppen set free, big plans for Viktor Persson and Karel In a text message this weekend, Persson told Postmedia that the plan Plášek remained for him to play in the WHL next season as a 20-year-old. “We are slowly going back to a normal life here in Sweden,” Persson Patrick Johnston said. “I want to play for Kamloops next season, but we will have to wait and see if the virus allows me!” Publishing date:May 31, 2021 • 7 hours ago • He scored five goals and added four assists for the Brynäs U20s and went pointless in four SHL games for the senior team. In 11 games for Strömsbro, he scored a goal and added five assists. It's been a difficult two years for Ethan Keppen since being drafted by the Canucks, he's been inconsistent with the Flint Firebirds of the Ontario Plášek close to signing Hockey League and had to battle a number of injuries. There are a handful of Canucks farmhands who will make the move from The Vancouver Canucks have decided not to sign 2019 fourth-round Utica to Abbotsford for the coming American Hockey League season, but draft pick Ethan Keppen, making him eligible for this summer’s NHL Entry the Abbotsford squad will have its first totally new player on the books Draft. very soon. Keppen is the only player chosen by the Canucks in 2019 without a Karel Plášek, drafted in the sixth round (175th overall) in 2019, is contract. The Canucks would have needed to sign the 122nd overall pick expected to sign with the Canucks this week. by June 1 to retain his playing rights. He played 44 games for Kometa Brno in the Czech Extraliga, scoring six The 20-year-old Whitby, Ont.-born winger will become an unrestricted goals and four assists. Plášek also played two games for Prerov in the free agent if he isn’t selected in this summer’s draft. Czech second division, scoring three goals. It’s been a difficult two years for Keppen since being drafted by the Plášek, who turns 21 in July, has already played three full seasons in the Canucks, he’s been inconsistent with the Flint Firebirds of the Ontario Czech Extraliga. He played four games for Kometa Brno as a 17-year-old Hockey League and had to battle a number of injuries. in the 2017-18 season. Flint was terrible in his draft year and Keppen was leaned on as a bit of a Vancouver Province: LOADED: 06.01.2021 Mr. Everything for the Firebirds. He showed off good hands, good decision-making and a high energy level in his game. His one knock was his skating. When he did play during that difficult 2019-20 season he bounced between the second and third lines and wasn’t a consistent contributor on special teams. And then the COVID-19 pandemic struck and it was nearly a year before he played a game again as the OHL cancelled its season. Keppen would eventually suit up for the Utica Comets on an amateur tryout contract, recording a lone assist in seven games. #Canucks Ethan Keppen dealt with injuries and expanded depth of the Flints roster on the LW. This is just a quick look at the 2019 4th rounder kill a penalty last season. Keppen supports a pro frame with some limiting inefficiencies with his stride. Powered by @InStatHockey pic.twitter.com/7yYYJru9rt — Daniel Gee (@DanielGScouting) October 4, 2020 Had he returned to Flint last fall it would have been with clear instructions from the Canucks, get back to the player he was in his draft year while improving his skating. In hindsight, Keppen might have benefited from going over to Europe to play for a low-level professional team, or finding a team in the USHL to skate for. But he wasn’t the only player in that boat and finding a spot when you’re just a mid-level prospect would have been difficult. ECHL veterans, players with several years of experience in pro hockey, were finding themselves signing with clubs in the German Oberliga, for instance, the third tier of German hockey. Any fourth-round pick is a bit of shot in the dark, so at the end of the day it’s not a huge shock he’s gone unsigned, but he still was a player for whom the Canucks had hoped could develop. Keppen spent three full seasons in the OHL with Flint, amassing 56 goals and 106 points in 185 games. He had 30 goals in 68 games during his draft year, the 2018-19 season. Canucks prospect Viktor Persson playing for Brynas U20 in Sweden during the 2019-20 season. Coming to North America Viktor Persson, the speedy defenceman drafted 191st overall last year from Sweden, was originally slated to join the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers this past season. But the realities of COVID-19 meant that the seventh round draft pick was never able to get over to Canada, instead playing out the season in Sweden. He suited up for three different squads, including both Brynäs’ junior and Swedish Hockey League teams and also for Strömsbro, a lower-level professional team. Vancouver Canucks But this past January, the fresh-faced 19-year-old was on the online game show ‘Babes of Glory,’ where he helped host Daria Mironova ask trivia questions to players from the Russian Women’s Hockey League in Five things to know about Vasily Podkolzin, the newest Vancouver — you guessed it — English. Canuck Podkolzin handled himself well. He asked the guests: “What car is the fastest in the world?” and, “What car would you like to buy?” Mike Raptis So why does this matter? For one, Podkolzin will be better equipped to communicate with his teammates and coaching staff. Publishing date:May 31, 2021 • 11 hours ago And it shows that he’s trying acclimate himself to a North American lifestyle before he touches down in Vancouver. With Vasily Podkolzin signing a three-year, entry-level contract with the Canucks icon Pavel Bure leaned on teammate Gino Odjick to teach him Vancouver Canucks this past weekend, here are five things you may (or English early in his Canucks career, and the two bonded over a shared may not) know about the Canucks’ top prospect: sense of detachment. 1: NHL or bust “We were two people who came from completely different cultures than what we were put in,” Odjick, the Algonquin Enforcer, once said. Drafting players out of Russia used to be a crapshoot. Then there’s 2014 third-rounder Nikita Tryamkin, who didn’t adjust well For every Igor Larionov, there was a Vladimir Krutov. during his time in Vancouver and decided earlier this month to remain in Russia. The times have changed and the Iron Curtain has long been lifted, but some of that same intrigue surrounded Podkolzin heading into the 2019 The hockey — and the money — is pretty good over there too. NHL draft in Vancouver. Risk or not, NHL teams continue to draft players out of Russia. Aside He was seen as the second-best prospect out of Europe, going third- from Sweden, more Russian players have been drafted by NHL clubs overall on plenty of draft boards, but was under contract in the KHL for than from any other European nation since the late 1970s, two more years. Would it scare some teams away? Kaiden Guhle of Canada is dropped by Vasily Podkolzin of Russia during He fell in the draft, past the Chicago Blackhawks, even past the Detroit the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship semifinals at Rogers Place on Red Wings — who have a storied history with Russian players — into the January 4, 2021 in Edmonton, Canada. waiting arms of the Canucks at 10th-overall. 4: Russian Rocket 2.0? The Canucks saw Podkolzin as top-tier prospect and expected him to go in the top-five. He not only fit a need, but was the best player available. There will never be a skater for the Canucks who can match the footwork and gracefulness that Bure provided in his years with the team. Podkolzin, to his credit, made it clear on draft day that he wanted to be an NHL player and would sign with the Canucks when his contract But one thing Podkolzin can match is the speed at which he plays the expired. game. And here we are. Podkolzin plays an all-out style, constantly churning his powerful legs to reach top gear. And while some have said his skating stride needs work, “I am very glad that I signed a contract with Vancouver, that everything Podkolzin can still fly. worked out that way,” Podkolzin told sports.ru on Monday. “I don’t think about returning to Russia, I want to make my way there and prove The KHL tracks the maximum skating speed for players of each game (myself).” and Podkolzin powered his way to the top of the chart on multiple occasions last season. Vasili Podkolzin celebrates after scoring the opening goal in a 3-2 overtime win for SKA St. Petersburg over Dynamo Moscow in the KHL Combine that with his willingness to throw bodychecks and Canucks fans playoffs in March. should see a few high-speed collisions from the prized rookie next season. 2: He’s a big game player SKA St Petersburg’s Vasily Podkolzin (R) scores a goal past Dynamo Attitude is everything. Moscow’s Alexander Yeryomenko in Game 3 of their 2020/21 KHL Western Conference semifinal playoff tie at VTB Arena; SKA won 3-2. Some players wilt when the pressure’s on, but that’s when Podkolzin elevates his game. 5: He’s NHL-ready The 6-foot-1, 201-pound power forward shot up the NHL draft boards in He grinds, he hits, he fights and he scores. 2018 with a standout performance for Team Russia at the annual Hlinka Gretzky Cup, a summer showcase for up-and-coming U18 talent. He’s got top-six playmaking ability and bottom-six tenacity. The Moscow native scored in every game and finished the tournament This past season we saw the velocity and placement of Podkolzin’s shot with eight goals — with many of them highlight-reel worthy. improve to the point where he could beat goalies clean from the top of the faceoff circle. It’s a positive development for a player who scores the He single-handedly crushed Team USA with three goals and an assist in majority of his goals barrelling to the front of the net. the bronze medal game. Vasily Podkolzin rings a shot off the crossbar and almost gets his stick At this past World Junior tournament, Podkolzin captained a so-so on the rebound before the goalie covers it. Russian squad to a fourth-place finish. He had two goals and two assists in seven games, but it was his leadership qualities that took centre stage. Podkolzin saw power play and penalty kill duty in Russia and come playoff time, was relied upon late in games to shut things down. With his team down 3-0 in the semifinal against the powerhouse Canadians, Podkolzin tried to rally the troops with an impassioned He’s the complete package, and will complement whichever line head speech, pointing towards the scoreboard and letting loose on his coach Travis Green deploys him on. teammates. And while Podkolzin isn’t expected to shoot the lights out, his all-around He’ll be competing with J.T. Miller in the F-bomb department in no time. game will put him in position to make his mark early and often in a Canucks’ uniform. And in these past KHL playoffs, Podkolzin made the most out of his limited deployment, tying a U20 scoring record with 11 points (6G, 5A) in Vancouver Province: LOADED: 06.01.2021 16 playoff games while carrying SKA St. Petersburg to two do-or-die wins against arch rival CSKA Moscow — including scoring a triple-overtime winner. Canucks prospect Vasili Podkolzin (second left) shared a snap with his family on Instagram earlier this year. 3: He’s been working on his English On draft day, Podkolzin leaned heavily on his Russian translator to communicate with the North American media. It wasn’t clear if he spoke much English, if any. Vancouver Canucks season is that he was more advanced away from the puck, in the Canucks’ view, in the games down the stretch than they expected.

Rathbone’s defensive game will still be a work in progress but he played State of the Canucks’ farm system: How Vancouver’s prospects fit into relatively mistake-free hockey and proved he’s a quick study. That’s the roster next season enough at this point to elevate him above Olli Juolevi on the depth chart as the favourite to win the third pair job on the left side next season. By Harman Dayal and Thomas Drance May 31, 2021 Kole Lind, RW/C, Utica Comets (AHL) 33rd, 2017 Facing a significant cap crunch this offseason, how do the Vancouver 6-foot-1, 179 pounds Canucks rebuild their blue line and upgrade their scoring depth while 2020-21 statistics: 8 GP, 5-3-8 in AHL/7 GP 0-0-0 in NHL simultaneously locking in their core, young players with expensive extensions? Kole Lind is rapidly approaching make or break territory for his Canucks future. Vancouver’s going to face the fork in the road soon on Lind not That’s the $81.5 million question facing Canucks general manager Jim just once but twice. Benning and his hockey operations department this offseason. The first time will be this summer with the Seattle Kraken expansion In the past when this subject has been broached with Canucks draft. In mapping out Vancouver’s positioning up front, there are six management by The Athletic, Benning has often cited the club’s pipeline players ahead of Lind on the pecking order who are practical locks to be of prospects as the key route forward in supplementing the Canucks’ protected: Elias Pettersson, J.T. Miller, Brock Boeser, Bo Horvat, Tanner depth. Pearson and Tyler Motte. Lind is a contender for the final spot but the “We’re going to have younger players coming up,” Benning said in Canucks may yet monetize that slot to acquire another forward. There’s January 2020, before the pandemic. “The Podkolzins and some of these a subsequent possibility that Lind is left unprotected and on a shallow guys we’ve drafted. We’re in a good position, I think, to supplement when Canucks team with few pieces of intrigue for Seattle, the Kraken may opt we have to start paying (our core players), with some good young players to take a gamble on him as a cheap prospect with potential upside. underneath them.” If Lind makes it through the expansion process unscathed, he’ll be Sunday, the Canucks signed Vasili Podkolzin, the organization’s best staring at the most important training camp of his professional career. prospect. You can write him into Vancouver’s lineup for next season and The Saskatchewan native will turn 23 by the start of next season and will feel free to use a Sharpie. require waivers to be sent down to the AHL, a team source confirmed to The Athletic. He’s not exactly a fresh-faced prospect anymore — it’s Beyond that, however, do the Canucks have enough young players going to be next season or likely never for him to crack the Canucks as a pushing to break into the lineup to meaningfully help this team improve regular. without breaking the bank this offseason? Between the looming expansion process and waiver exemption clock Let’s go player by player and break down what Vancouver’s top ticking, Lind’s facing an uncertain period over the next six months or so. prospects might reasonably be able to contribute to the NHL roster next season. It’s going to be an uphill battle as Lind’s lack of an explosive first step left the organization cold, especially considering the opportunity he was Vasili Podkolzin, RW, SKA St. Petersburg (KHL) afforded at the end of the season with his NHL audition. We heard Benning pointedly emphasize speed as a skill set they’d like to add to the 10th, 2019 forward group at his year-end availability and that’s definitely Lind’s biggest weakness. 6-foot-2, 203 pounds The acceleration of his skating has long been raised as a question and 2020-21 statistics: 35 GP, 5-6-11 in KHL while it improved to some extent in 2019-20, it didn’t see enough Now that Podkolzin is signed and free to begin his North American progress this past season. At the NHL level, it was a bottleneck — Lind professional career, you can place him into the Canucks lineup for next had difficulty asserting himself as an adept puck retriever and it inhibited season. his capacity to make dynamic plays offensively. Moreover, the details of his game such as properly supporting the puck and making breakouts The club believes that Podkolzin is NHL-ready, both physically and in from along the walls appeared as if they required polishing as well. terms of the details in his game. While the club’s first pick in the 2019 draft doesn’t project to be a superstar scorer and will have to work on his To his credit, Lind at least held his own and still possesses a relatively finishing a bit, there’s little doubt among organizational decision makers auspicious AHL track record but establishing a distinct identity will be his that he has the work rate, hockey sense and defensive feel for the game No. 1 challenge. NHL teams want players to fill specific roles — whether to contribute right away. that’s as a skilled offensive player, as a defensive/penalty kill specialist or a speedy grinder, they need to stand out in some way. At lower levels, There’s hope internally that Podkolzin can have a Nils Höglander-like Lind grabbed the bull by the horns as an offensive producer but that impact on the team in his very first season, although that’s a very high obviously hasn’t translated quite yet. bar considering what Höglander achieved as a play-driver and the team’s second leading five-on-five point producer. Right now, he’s on the outside looking in on an NHL roster spot. He’s going to need a big summer to push the envelope and leap players like Even if Podkolzin is an everyday bottom-six winger who is brought along Jayce Hawryluk, Zack MacEwen and even Justin Bailey on the right wing slowly in special teams duties and contributes modestly better than depth chart. neutral two-way impacts while producing offence at a solid third-line clip as a rookie, that would represent significant surplus value for the Michael DiPietro, G, Utica Comets (AHL) Canucks considering Podkolzin’s $925,000 face value cap hit. 64th, 2017 Jack Rathbone, LD, Utica Comets (AHL) Six-foot, 201 pounds 95th, 2017 2020-21 statistics: 4 GP, 3-1-0, .916 SV% in AHL 5-foot-11, 190 pounds In an ideal world, the Canucks would find a way to clear Braden Holtby’s 2020-21 statistics: 8 GP, 2-7-9 in AHL/8 GP, 1-2-3 in NHL contract off the books this offseason. Holtby’s a consummate pro but costs $4.3 million against the cap as a pure backup at a time when In a Canucks season of disappointment and bleakness, Jack Rathbone’s Thatcher Demko has already cemented himself as the club’s undisputed development served as a glimmer of hope for the fan base. The 22-year- starter. old looked a notch above the rest in Utica where he registered nine points in eight games before leaving an excellent first impression during If Vancouver finds a feasible exit option for Holtby through either Seattle his eight-game NHL cameo. expansion, trade or buyout, the next man up in the goaltending pipeline would be Michael DiPietro. Should the Canucks find a new home for The offensive abilities were apparent for all to see, even if the clashing Holtby, one would suspect that they’d sign another NHL backup, style fit with Tyler Myers meant he had to be a bit more conservative. He however, to ensure that DiPietro gains meaningful game experience after walked the line with poise, threatened with his booming shot and his appearing in just four games over the last year. transition impact impressed to the point where there’s a lot of internal admiration in the organization for the “conviction” with which he moved The Canucks don’t think he’s far from being NHL-ready, though. They the puck. believe he can step in as the full-time backup in 2022-23 when Holtby’s contract will be off the books. To facilitate that timeline, it’s imperative That skill was expected to surface to some extent, though. Those are DiPietro spends most of this coming season in the minors — barring an Rathbone’s strengths, after all. The decisive factor moving into next injury to Demko or Holtby — to gain sufficient professional experience to It’s the hockey IQ in particular, that the club is enamoured with. The take the next step in two years’ time. Canucks see Plasek as capable of filling a depth role on the club in the future and contributing in all situations if he can continue to mature as a Jett Woo, D, Utica Comets (AHL) player and develop physically, which is why the club was eager to get 37th, 2018 him into the system so promptly. Six-foot, 205 pounds With Plasek poised to join Podkolzin as an entry-level signing this week, the club will have locked up five players from their 2019 draft class, with 2020-21 statistics: 28 GP, 3-2-5 in AHL seventh-round picks Arvid Costmar and Aidan McDonough certain to warrant contract offers in the coming years. That 2019 draft class is Jett Woo’s final season of major junior was cut short by the pandemic, shaping up to be, perhaps, a significant one in Canucks history. which also limited the defender to 28 games in his first professional season with the Utica Comets. Arturs Silovs, G, Manitoba Moose (AHL) Nonetheless, Woo managed to impress Canucks brass throughout his 156th, 2019 rookie campaign in Utica and at Canucks training camp in January. 6-foot-4, 203 pounds While Woo is unlikely to be a source of offence, his overall hockey sense is solid as is his first pass. And Woo’s best attribute is that he knows how 2020-21 statistics: 1 GP, 0-1-0, .920 SV% in AHL his bread is buttered as a player and that his calling card is to play active, Prospects everywhere missed out on game action because of the trickle- assertive, physical defence in his own end. down effect of the pandemic. You can count Arturs Silovs among them There’s really no question Woo’s path to the NHL remains a work in as the Canucks goalie prospect played fewer than 10 professional progress, and he’s unlikely to factor into the club’s NHL plans for the games cumulatively across Latvia and on loan in the AHL. 2021-22 campaign. If Woo can have a strong offseason, build off a solid That only reinforces his status as a long-term project. Silovs has robust first AHL campaign — particularly as the competition ramps up at that physical tools with his size and athleticism but has lots of work to do to level when taxi squads and other pandemic-era roster management create the foundation for a strong technical game to appropriately devices are relegated to the dust bin of hockey history — and continue to leverage that raw talent. The Canucks are still relatively bullish on the impress at training camp this fall and in Abbotsford, it’s not out of the Latvian goaltender, however, and Ian Clark maintains high conviction question that he could work his way into consideration as an injury call-up after playing a crucial hand in drafting him with a sixth-round pick less as soon as next season. than two years ago. Will Lockwood, RW, Utica Comets (AHL) Silovs is pencilled in as the organization’s fourth goalie and will likely 64th, 2016 apprentice under organizational guidance in Abbotsford as the backup. 5-foot-11, 172 pounds Jonah Gadjovich, LW, Utica Comets (AHL) 2020-21 statistics: 24 GP, 4-7-11 in AHL/2 GP 0-0-0 in NHL 55th, 2017 Among the prospects not named Podkolzin or Rathbone on this list, Will 6-foot-2, 209 pounds Lockwood might have the best odds of staking a credible claim for an 2020-21 statistics: 19 GP, 15-3-18 in AHL/1 GP 0-0-0 in NHL NHL roster spot next season. Like Lind, Jonah Gadjovich will also be waiver eligible next season. The The 22-year-old winger, who will turn 23 in June, didn’t produce as much Canucks aren’t especially high on Gadjovich despite his stellar AHL as the likes of Lind or Gadjovich in the AHL, but he may have already scoring, and it’s reflected in how he didn’t play again after his NHL debut. passed them in the minds of Canucks brass as a realistic wing option for next season as a result of his plus skating ability and defensive work rate. One would suspect that it largely comes down to foot speed, especially in light of Benning’s pointed emphasis on adding pace up front. Close Speed is everything in the NHL. It’s a skill that Vancouver hasn’t had a observers of the Comets this year noted that Gadjovich’s straight-line ton of among their bottom-six forward group in recent seasons, outside of speed has substantially improved but that his agility, acceleration and Motte. quickness out of stops and starts remain quite concerning. This Lockwood has afterburners, though, which may give the feisty, injury- contributes to defensive issues where he can get beat up the ice despite prone sophomore winger the best among those prospects with long shot being smart and working hard. odds of breaking camp with the club at training camp next season. Gadjovich’s net-front skills are excellent and he could possibly even play Lockwood has some limited Schedule A bonuses in his contract and an that role on an NHL power-play but he’s not yet a player who can be $842,500 face value cap hit. If he can mount a credible competition for a trusted to take regular shifts. fourth-line wing spot next season, that’s a bonus, although the cap He’s frankly a really long shot to make the NHL team out of camp next benefit of leaning on Lockwood in a bottom of the lineup role is minimized year and will likely be further down the pecking order in terms of potential by the likelihood that most of the players he’d be competing with for that midseason injury call-ups. spot are likely to be similarly within shouting distance of a league minimum cap hit anyway. The Athletic LOADED: 06.01.2021 Karel Plasek, LW, HC Kometa Brno (Czech) 175th, 2019 6-foot, 181 pounds 2020-21 statistics: 44 GP, 6-4-10 in Czech Extraliga Karel Plasek and the Canucks are nearing an agreement on an entry- level contract, multiple sources confirmed to The Athletic on Sunday. The deal could be announced as soon as Monday. The deal will be a three-year entry-level contract, and will not carry a European Out Clause. The intention of the contract is to get Plasek into the system to begin his North American professional career next season with Vancouver’s relocated AHL franchise in Abbotsford. Historically speaking, Plasek will be the first signing in club history completed with an eye toward playing games for Abbotsford’s new AHL team. In terms of an overall skill set, Plasek — who has spent parts of the past four years playing in the top Czech men’s league — has plus wheels and solid hockey IQ. There’s still a lot of work to do for Plasek in developing both physically and as a professional calibre player. In all likelihood, if he hits, he’ll be a third-line forward and it’s highly unlikely that he’ll be able to put himself on the map to contribute for the NHL club next season. Websites “We got Pricey back there, we’ve got (Shea Weber, Ben Chiarot, Jeff Petry and Joel Edmundson) going up against them, but Phil is equally as big in that. That’s the responsibility that we put on him — especially with Sportsnet.ca / Canadiens stamp improbable series comeback with the young guys up the middle — the matchups he gets. I just have so dominant Game 7 win over Leafs much respect for Phil and what he’s able to do… and he enjoyed the matchup as well. You should see him down there, he’s got the biggest smile on his face.” Eric Engels June 1, 2021, 12:54 AM Remaining Time -3:01 Why Danault was most valuable skater for Canadiens in first round They were practically dead in the water, drowning after being pummeled Gallagher, who scored his first of the series to make it 1-0 at 3:02 of the 4-0 on home ice and held to just four goals in the first four games of this second period, wore the marks of what it takes to win in the playoffs on series against a Toronto Maple Leafs team that beat them in seven of 10 his. A cut on his right cheek, a matching one on the left and a cut right regular-season games and finished 18 points ahead in the standings. across the middle of his nose are the badges of honour he carries to And if anyone was giving the Montreal Canadiens a chance at that point, Winnipeg. after so few gave them a chance before this series started, they were delusional. Marner, who was stick-checked by another battle-tested playoff performer in Eric Staal for the turnover that led to the Gallagher goal, But the Canadiens kicked their way to the surface with three consecutive faced the difficult questions he knew he would after failing to score for a wins, the last of which — Monday’s 3-1 series-clincher — never seemed second consecutive playoff series following his signing of a six-year, in doubt for a single second once the puck dropped at Scotiabank Arena. $65.4-million contract. His faced was unblemished as he delivered this answer about not meeting his own lofty expectations: “That was our best game of the series,” Carey Price told Sportsnet’s Kyle Bukauskas after it. “I just have to make sure that it stops happening.” It was one of the best ones he’s played in his 14 years defending an NHL Remaining Time -3:15 net. Price's composure in third period made all the difference in Game 7 Remaining Time -1:35 A video review of Corey Perry’s work opposite him and the Maple Leafs Price reacts to a dazzling Game 7 performance in win over Maple Leafs in Game 7 might be a good place to find a cue. It was Price who gave the Canadiens a puncher’s chance of defying the Was it lucky that Nick Suzuki’s shot glanced off Perry’s knee for what predictions from the beginning of Game 1, and it was Price who proved to be the game-winner, scored with less than five minutes to play authoritatively stamped their ticket to Winnipeg like he was punching an in the second period? Yes. Auston Matthews shot away with his blocker. But Perry’s 102nd point in his 152nd Stanley Cup Playoffs game was Oh, the shots from Big No. 34, the NHL’s most gifted goal scorer, who scored from the blue paint. As was his other goal in this series, in Game captured the Rocket Richard Trophy with 41 in 52 regular-season games 6. His Hall-of-Fame-worthy career has been a playbook on how to make — many of them scored with a bum wrist — could’ve snuffed out your own luck, and it was no surprise to see him come through once decades of playoff misery for the Maple Leafs if not for Price’s armor. He again with everything on the line. came into Game 7 with one goal on a series-leading 32 shots and finished the night with two more on the scoresheet that Price took away. But this win was as much about Perry, Price, Danault and Gallagher as it Price kicked another one that didn’t register wide of the net. was Erik Gustafsson. Linemates Mitch Marner and Zach Hyman scored on one between them Remaining Time -1:05 through the first six games and were held to none despite combining for Puck goes off Perry & past Campbell for Canadiens power play goal eight shots in Game 7. Montreal’s ninth defenceman played just 10:20 as their sixth in Game 7, With the score 3-0, and with just 1:36 remaining in the third period, but he did exactly what was asked of him — helping the Montreal power- William Nylander beat Price on the blocker side. But the way the 33-year- play strike on Perry’s goal and making “the little plays that lead to big old goaltender made his 29 saves before that, it appeared — and ones,” as Canadiens coach Dominique Ducharme would say. inevitably proved — virtually impossible 1:36 would be enough time to score even one more goal on him, let alone two. His role in all of this was undeniable, as he tuned out the noise and stuck his guns on decisions undersold by the word bold. “He’s the best I’ve ever seen,” said Canadiens assistant captain Brendan Gallagher. “That’s our job as a coach,” Ducharme said of scratching Jesperi Kotkaniemi for the first game, Cole Caufield for the first two, Alex It wasn’t just about Price’s play. Phillip Danault admitted that without his Romanov for all seven and Tomas Tatar for the last two. “I think I talked leadership and the comments he made following last Monday’s about the first day in Winnipeg when I was named the head coach (on devastating Game 4 — about how he wasn’t frustrated by the Canadiens Feb. 24) that I had eight million assistant coaches. So, everyone’s got not scoring enough to that point and about how he had no doubt their their opinion, but at the end of the day we’re inside with those guys every talent would shine through in the end — this would have been over in five day and we talk together as a group, a staff and I make the final decision. games. That’s the way it works, and we’ll keep doing that.” “When you have a goaltender who battles every night and keeps you in Fantasy Hockey Playoffs Bracket every game — even when he’s not at 100 per cent — and when he makes a statement like that, it certainly gives you energy,” Danault said, Think you know how this year's playoffs will unfold? Before every round, “It gave confidence to the team. It made us feel like he was saying, ‘Boys, from Round 1 to the Stanley Cup Final, predict the winners and number I got your back, and let’s go.’ of games for each series and answer a few prop questions. “I thought it was an enormous statement, and everyone also looked in the ENTER NOW mirror and was able to give more. Really, everyone looked in the mirror and stepped up together.” The Canadiens will have to be even better against a Jets team that dispatched of Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and the Edmonton Oilers It was Danault who said before Game 5 that he was born for situations in a four-game sweep. like these, and he went out and proved it. But before they get to that, this one is worth celebrating. Especially after Has there been a forward in NHL history to play as prominent a role in a they proved everyone wrong. series without scoring a single point? “They found themselves, certainly through Game 5 and six and seven,” If Price was the antidote to Matthews and Marner, Danault was their said Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe. “I thought you could feel a little poison, paralyzing them up and down the ice shift after shift. The irony in bit of a shift in their team when Kotkaniemi and Caufield came into the him going his first 24 games of the season without a goal and getting lineup for them. You could just sense things shift a little bit in terms of roasted by fans and media for turning down a long-term extension in this their depth and their speed and skill and those kind of things that pandemic-stricken economy is delicious now. changed the dynamic of the series a little bit, even though it took time for that traction. Danault put in a performance the great Bob Gainey would bow to. “We had our opportunities to close this thing out clearly and failed to do “I hope everyone realizes how important Phil is and how good of a series so. You’ve got to give credit to Montreal for the job that they did.” he had,” Gallagher said. “I talked about Matthews and Marner and how difficult they are to play against. Phil had that matchup every single shift Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 06.01.2021 of the series. Websites It’s as if he knew words couldn’t console. The pain is too fresh and too familiar all at once. Sportsnet.ca / What changes do Maple Leafs make after worst collapse “Our guys were quite devastated,” Keefe said. “Despite not having John yet? [Tavares], despite not having Nick [Foligno], we were in a good spot and didn’t close it out. We added enough pieces and depth and things like that to be able to deal with those types of situations. There’s zero Luke Fox June 1, 2021, 1:02 AM excuses.” So, what now? Where do you go from here? TORONTO – There is a document of Toronto Maple Leafs quotes I keep Dubas has forever preached process, that progress is not linear the way because they are free of clichés. Crystalized nuggets of honesty or fans would prefer it. In other words, that a team which hasn’t won a insight from the players that might come in handy later. single series since YouTube was invented could suddenly win four one spring. If you keep betting on talent. Jake Muzzin — a cut-to-the-chase brand of guy — plays a starring role in this collection. Muzzin’s raw take from his first interview after 2020’s Eager to win during the Matthews-Marner prime, Dubas has also been heartbreaking defeat in the bubble echoes loud at a time like this. the spendy type, both in draft capital and literal capital. (The Leafs used up four of their seven 2021 draft picks on this run.) He’s identified needs “If we’re not learning from this, we’re really losing,” Muzzin said following and hunted them down. the Columbus series. “I hope guys understand that we’ve got to dig in. Eight Maple Leafs who dressed Game 7 will be unrestricted free agents. “Last year we were right there. This year right there. A bounce here, a Three more (David Rittich, Ben Hutton, Riley Nash) were depth pieces bounce there. Maybe some guys, it’s mental. But I believe this team is purchased for a deep run that never materialized. ready. This group needs to dig in more. That will to win has to burn a little more.” Of that group, Jason Spezza, the best bang-for-your-buck veteran in the league, is worth re-signing. Dubas should take a run at Zach Hyman, too, Again: These are quotes from last summer. although the power forward will have tempting suitors elsewhere. Bogosian, 30, certainly earned his $1 million. Would he take that sum Thing is, until Thursday the Maple Leafs looked like they had learned, top short-term again? to bottom. The rest will likely walk. And Toronto will lose another useful piece Remaining Time -3:17 (perhaps Alexander Kerfoot and his $3.5 million AAV?) to Seattle in the expansion draft, freeing up more room to manoeuvre. Should Maple Leafs stick with current core going forward? Provided Campbell ($1.65 million cap hit) remains the starting goalie, Kyle Dubas hired two defencemen (T.J. Brodie, Zach Bogosian) who Dubas will have more than enough cash to go on a spree and, once specialize in playing defence, and the GM pillaged the bargain rack for again, assemble a new cast of role players around his stars. leadership and experience. The executive could run it back and hope things will be different in 2022, Coach Sheldon Keefe, in his first full year at the helm, implemented a that Muzzin and Tavares will be healthy, that his pocket aces will hold up. stingier, more connected system and convinced some of the sport’s flashiest talents that backchecking is as cool as lacrosse goals. Or, in a summer where some very big fish will be available, Dubas could deviate from the original plan altogether. It’s been written more than once (guilty as charged) that the 2021 edition of the Toronto Maple Leafs feels different. More consistent. Less fragile. The unravelling over the past five days is severe enough to make you at least question the pillars the Maple Leafs have been built upon. They sliced through a shortened regular season and set themselves up for home ice through Rounds 1 and 2, minimum, against opponents Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 06.01.2021 they’d already beaten often. Superstars Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner exploded for video-game offence and established themselves as two of the best defensive forwards in Canada. Then the Leafs seized a 3-1 series lead against Carey Price and the Montreal Canadiens, cueing up their most spectacular collapse of all. Which is saying something. “The expectation within the room was higher,” said Morgan Rielly, the longest-serving member of the losing side. “The goals are higher than what we achieved this year, and it makes the disappointment much worse. We feel it. And we realize that we let an opportunity slip. That’s not acceptable by our standards, and it makes the loss a lot worse than anything we’ve had to deal with before.” Montreal played its game to a tee and won Game 7 on Monday by a score of 3-1. The Canadiens deserve their fate just as much as the Maple Leafs do. To sift through the details of defeat — Brendan Gallagher beating Jack Campbell five-hole from distance; Toronto starting flat and digging itself into a third straight multi-goal deficit before Period 3; the Maple Leafs losing the series’ special teams battle to Montreal’s much-derided power play — is to prod at an open wound. No one was in any mood for an X’s and O’s discussion following the seventh consecutive failure to squash a post-season opponent in an elimination game. Maybe some guys, it’s mental. Remaining Time -1:39 Emotional Campbell takes blame for Maple Leafs' Game 7 loss A crushed Campbell beat himself up for the Gallagher miss, calling it the “worst goal of my career.” Marner, extending his playoff goal drought to 18 games, spoke of all those empty nets missed in a series where he struggled to find his way. Matthews’ team-issued ballcap shaded his eyes when he said: “It’s obviously extremely frustrating just all around.” The coach decided not to walk into the home dressing room after shaking hands with Winnipeg’s stubborn next challenge. Websites You’d think after waiting six years for a playoff goal — and two months since his last regular-season goal — Cizikas would have a lot to say about outskating Lauzon and whizzing a wrist shot over goalie Tuukka Sportsnet.ca / Islanders take Game 2 as clash with Bruins shapes up to Rask’s right shoulder. be test of survival “I knew that D-man was going to be tracking me hard,” Cizikas said. “Just skated as fast as I can and I get a shot off, and I was able to beat him.” Iain MacIntyre June 1, 2021, 1:38 AM Upon further prodding, the 30-year-old career Islander admitted of his scoring drought: “You definitely think about it. You want to contribute, you want to score goals. But at the end of the day, that’s not our line’s goal. We want to create havoc out there, we want to create momentum for the The New York Islanders and Boston Bruins played a fantastic playoff lineup.” game Monday night, and Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner didn’t score in that one either. They did that, too. But Casey Cizikas did. “This is sort of a character win for us, and there’s no one that has bigger character in the dressing room,” Trotz said of Cizikas. “He gives you The veteran energy centre from Toronto skated onto a loose puck and everything’s he’s got, shift in and shift out, total team guy, great buried a breakaway winner in overtime as the Islanders beat the Bruins teammate, all that. I can guarantee you when he came in, our room 4-3 to tie at 1-1 an East Division Final that will be a test of survival if the exploded with guys hugging him and all that. That’s what makes this teams continue to hammer one another like they did Monday. group really special. Everybody’s a hero in the room.” Cizikas’ first National Hockey League playoff goal since he scored in Remaining Time -1:03 2015 against the Washington Capitals, who were coached then by Islanders bench boss Barry Trotz, came about an hour after Matthews No penalty after Leddy takes down Kuraly with questionable hit and Marner and the Maple Leafs face-planted again. BAD BRUINS Remaining Time -1:30 Boston isn’t really the big, bad Bruins anymore but the penalties they Brutal bounce sets up Cizikas’ OT-winning breakaway on Rask took Monday hurt them. David Pastrnak, a hat-trick hero in Boston’s 5-2 win Saturday in Game 1, unsuccessfully attempted to high-jump But as the Montreal Canadiens moved on to the North Division Final Varlamov in the second period. His goalie-interference penalty allowed against the Winnipeg Jets, we were left wondering after the Islanders- Josh Bailey’s bank shot to tie it 1-1 on the power play. When Bruins Bruins slugfest how in the world any Canadian champion is going to defenceman Brandon Carlo received a cross-checking penalty for stand up against the six monsters still playing south of the American engaging Leo Komarov after a whistle, the Islanders power play made it border. 3-1 on Jean-Gabriel Pageau’s goal. Boston and New York look formidable – and may not be as good as the Bruins winger Jake DeBrusk could also face an NHL player-safety review Tampa Bay Lightning, Carolina Hurricanes, Colorado Avalanche and for cross-checking Islander defenceman Scott Mayfield in the back of the Vegas Golden Knights. head. That one wasn’t called. With fans back in American buildings, this looks as good as playoff Remaining Time -1:08 hockey gets. Coyle scores on first shot of the game after Islanders turnover Cizikas registered six hits before he scored the knockout blow at 14:48 of overtime, and combined with linemates Matt Martin and Cal Clutterbuck WELCOME MAT for 20 pelts. The Islanders outhit the Bruins 48-47 and, honestly, the official scorers were not including dirty looks, foul language and bad Struggling New York forward Mathew Barzal drew a second assist on breath. The game was that physical. Pageau’s goal and was far better Monday than he was Saturday. But he still has zero goals and four assists through eight playoff games after “Both teams are pretty veteran groups, so these type of games, I think leading the Islanders with 45 points during the regular season – 10 more everybody’s comfortable in,” Trotz said. “There’s two teams that play very than his nearest teammate. similar styles, have good character on both sides, have a lot of the same elements. It’s a physical game. So you’ve got bring some backbone and Asked Monday morning about Barzal’s surprising struggle, Trotz offered you’ve got to bring some courage.” a 95-second oral dissertation on how top players succeed in the playoffs. Buckle up. “You look at different series as they’ve gone along and the top players get really (tough) matchups,” he said. “They have to really fight for their RIDING THE ROLLER COASTER inches to have any success in the playoffs. I think in the regular season, there’s more room. There just is, so they’re able to create. And Mat has Here’s the game in a sentence: TD Garden was bonkers, Bruins led 1-0, been able to do that. He’s done it in past playoffs; he’s been able to Islanders led 3-1, Bruins scored twice in the second half of the third create and put up pretty good numbers. This year, it’s a little different. I period to tie it 3-3, TD Garden was even louder, and then the Islanders think. . . those players have to fight for the inches, and if you’re not willing won in OT when Boston defenceman Jeremy Lauzon’s cross-ice pass at to fight for those inches, then you don’t get those inches and you don’t the New York blueline hit a teammate’s skate and bounced into Cizikas’ get those opportunities. So he’s got to dig in. This is not about, you know, path. Everybody hit everybody (would be the second sentence). who he’s playing with. It’s about Mathew just digging in a little bit, and not getting frustrated. I know he’s not. He’s been team-first. Trotz, who won a Stanley Cup with Washington in 2018 and is coaching in the playoffs’ second round for the seventh straight season, called a “I like his demeanor. In terms of in the past, he could go off the rails, just timeout after Brad Marchand’s screened shot beat Islanders goalie because of the maturity. I think he’s matured the last couple years. So Semyon Varlamov to make it 3-3 with 4:54 remaining in regulation time. his demeanor in these playoffs, he knows he’s going to get (physical attention). Even on line changes, guys are giving you a stick in the ribs, Trotz explained: “Had to call a timeout and just said: ‘Listen, you’ve got to giving you a little whack behind the knee. He used to react to that. It forget about everything that we’ve done to this point because we’ve done doesn’t affect him right now. But the next step is, ‘Okay, it’s not going my a hell of a job. Let’s make sure that we take care of business. All we have way right now, and how do I find a way?’ I think it’s just fighting for the to do is get the next goal. And they did. inches, being really firm in your battles. To get offence now, you’ve got to “That was a helluva hockey game, two good teams going nose-to-nose. win battles. I don’t have a lot of issues with his game. Would I like him to That’s the type of series I expected going into it, and I expect the same produce a little bit more? Absolutely. And he will, he will. He’s a proud going back to the island (for Game 3 on Thursday). They had a lot of player, he’s a good player, and I have a lot of trust in him that he’s going momentum from the crowd. We fought through that, and that showed a to be able to do that.” lot of character for our group.” Here endeth the lesson. Shots were 35-22 for Boston when Trotz called his timeout, 17-7 for New Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 06.01.2021 York the rest of the way. Fantasy Hockey Playoffs Bracket Think you know how this year's playoffs will unfold? Before every round, from Round 1 to the Stanley Cup Final, predict the winners and number of games for each series and answer a few prop questions. ENTER NOW CASEY AT THE BAT Websites “It was the worst [goal against] of my career, and it happened in Game 7,” Campbell said, fighting back tears. “Just thinking of how hard the team battled and for it to end like that. It’s unacceptable. The team TSN.CA / Leafs fail to ‘get it done’ vs. Habs in another first-round series counts on me to be better and I know I can be a lot better.” loss The same goes for Toronto’s entire team. Keefe refused to make allowances because of Tavares’ injury or the loss of Jake Muzzin in Game 6 to a lower-body injury that kept him out of Game 7. Nick Foligno By Kristen Shilton also missed time in the series with a lower-body ailment and returned for Games 6 and 7 but was “far from 100 per cent” according to Keefe.

Still, the Leafs were built to withstand such problems, and they couldn’t. TORONTO — The Maple Leafs had their chance, and they blew it. And there was no easy way for Keefe to put that into perspective amid Again. the rubble of Toronto’s season. Toronto had three opportunities to close out its first-round playoff series “We were in a really good spot and didn’t close it out and we had enough against Montreal and managed to squander them all. In Monday’s pieces and depth to be able to do with those [injury] situation,” Keefe decisive Game 7, the Leafs couldn’t even score until their fate was said. “So there's zero excuses. I think our guys played hard. I'm not already sealed, and the 3-1 loss put a final dagger through Toronto’s going to question our team's will or commitment. We didn't get it done. once-promising season. We had our opportunities to close this thing out and clearly we failed to do so.” The scenario was perfectly familiar to the Leafs. It marked the third time in four seasons that Toronto has been bounced from the first round in TSN.CA LOADED: 06.01.2021 Game 7, not to mention their loss to Columbus in Game 5 of a playoff qualifying round last summer. In this chapter of defeat, Toronto’s stars were all but invisible. Auston Matthews scored just once in seven games, Mitch Marner didn’t score at all and, with their season on the line, only William Nylander managed to light the lamp when Toronto was too far gone for it to matter. “It's really hard to put it into words,” said coach Sheldon Keefe. “We’re obviously devastated and disappointed and expected better of ourselves. We believe we were capable of a lot more, not just tonight but through the whole series. Our guys wanted to win, they wanted to push past this and we didn’t get it done.” Keefe said his players were “quite devastated” following the loss and he chose not to address them right away. Instead he’ll give them – and himself – more time to reflect on how Toronto ended up where it did – on the outside looking in after another first-round playoff disaster. The Leafs had put themselves in an ideal position entering the postseason, winning the North Division and securing home ice advantage in the first round. Toronto lost Game 1 of the opening round to Montreal (and saw captain John Tavares exit the series entirely with a concussion and knee injury) but rallied to win the next three games and put the Canadiens on the ropes. Toronto outscored Montreal 13-3 in that four-game stretch, but struggled to find offence in the series’ final three games. In both Games 5 and 6, the Leafs were down by multiple goals and came back to force overtime, only to lose twice in the extra frame. In Game 7, Toronto was once again stymied by the Canadiens’ smothering defence and Carey Price’s stellar play. The Canadiens’ netminder had a .944 save percentage in Montreal’s last three victories, and the Leafs’ top scorers looked impotent in front of him. Through two periods on Monday, Matthews, Marner and Nylander had combined for a single shot on net and the Leafs didn’t generate one high-danger scoring chance (compared to three by Montreal). “I'm not really sure how to sum it up; it's obviously extremely frustrating just all around,” said Matthews, who finished the playoffs with one goal and five points. “In my opinion, I don't think we had any shortage of chances, we just weren't able to capitalize and, obviously, we're out there to capitalize and we weren't able to get it done.” Marner hasn’t scored a goal in his last 18 playoff games now, a revealing statistic that the 24-year-old had trouble explaining away. “I had a lot of looks, a lot of nets that were empty that I just didn't put it into,” he said. “I put a lot of pressure on myself [to] be the best player every single night. I felt that I wasn't living up to my own standards and I just have to make sure that stops happening.” Unfortunately for the Leafs, Marner couldn’t figure it out in time to help save their season. After a goalless first period on Monday gave way to an energetic start to the second for Montreal, it was Brendan Gallagher breaking through early in the frame to spot Montreal a 1-0 lead. The Leafs pushed back but couldn’t beat Price, and when Pierre Engvall was called for holding, Corey Perry capitalized with a power play goal to give the Canadiens a 2-0 advantage going into the third. Tyler Toffoli added an empty-netter to seal the victory for Montreal. Nylander’s score came after that, ruining Price’s shutout bid but accomplishing little else. An extremely emotional Jack Campbell, who posted a .934 save percentage in the series, couldn’t help but put the blame on himself for Toronto’s loss after Gallagher’s goal went in. Websites won't be available for Game 7, veterans Joe Thornton and Jason Spezza spoke about how important it is to have Tavares back and participating.

For the first time since March 10, 2020, the Leafs will play in front of fans TSN.CA / With Muzzin out, Sandin gets shot at redemption at Scotiabank Arena. "It's been a long time coming," said Thornton. "It's going to be fun to play By Mark Masters in front of. I know it's only 500, but hopefully we'll build off this and continue to get more people going forward."

Provincial health authorities have signed off on having 550 fully Defenceman Jake Muzzin will miss a minimum of three weeks due to a vaccinated frontline health-care workers, including hospital and long-term lower-body injury sustained on Saturday night. care staff, in the stands. They are being invited as a token of appreciation and will not have to purchase a ticket. It will be hard for the Leafs to fill the void with Muzzin out. He logs big minutes (21:25 a night through the first five games of the series) against "It's a great sign for where we're headed in society," noted Spezza. "It's a tough competition while bringing a physical element to Toronto's top four. great way to recognize the health-care workers for all the hard work that Muzzin is third on the team in playoff goals with two. He is one of only they've done to get us to this point." two Stanley Cup champions on the roster, with four Game 7 wins under his belt from his time in Los Angeles. The Canadiens welcomed 2,500 fans to the Bell Centre for Game 6, which was the first time we've seen fans at an NHL game in Canada "Muzz is a huge leader for us," said forward Jason Spezza, who is since the pandemic began. second on the team with three goals in the series. "Very competitive guy, a guy who brings it every night ... He's a guy who's obviously a big piece 'A sign of progress': Leafs bring 550 healthcare workers to Scotiabank to us, but we'll have to make do without him here for a bit. We have to Arena for Game 7 move forward and play as a team." The Toronto Maple Leafs announced today that they would be allowing Rasmus Sandin will draw back in. The 21-year-old was scratched on 550 fully vaccinated healthcare workers into Scotiabank Arena for Game Saturday after committing two costly turnovers in Game 5. 7 against the Montreal Canadiens. Head coach Sheldon Keefe spoke about what it would mean to have fans in the building for the first time in "He's a young defenceman, you're going to make mistakes," Zach over a year. Bogosian said last week. "You're going to make mistakes when you've played 20 years in the league as well. The response would be to go out Thornton is the only Maple Leaf who will dress tonight that has won a there and do what makes him good. We're confident that he'll be better. Game 7 in the NHL. His advice? Hockey's a game of mistakes. You just learn from them. You learn when "Clear your mind," the 41-year-old said. "You got to enjoy the moment to park it and now's not a time to dwell too much. He's a confident guy and leave it out on the ice every shift ... The guys are loose. They're that can make plays, so we're not worried about it." ready to go hunt tonight. We're ready for this. We've prepared all year for Leafs Ice Chips: Muzzin out, Sandin in; Start is crucial a moment like this and the guys will be ready." The Maple Leafs have been outscored 4-1 in the first period by the Thornton has been on the winning side in five of eight Game 7s during Canadiens in their series, a stat they hope to avoid continuing in Game 7. his career. Unfortunately for Toronto, they will be without Jake Muzzin for the game Spezza has the next most Game 7 experience among the Leafs – four and a minimum of three weeks. Rasmus Sandin will draw in in Muzzin's games – but has lost them all. absence. Mark Masters gets you set up for what should be an eventful Game 7 in Toronto. "I haven't had a chance to win yet and this is going to be a big moment in our teams' path to having a special run," Spezza said. "You look back In rare move, the Leafs opted not to have a full team skate in the wake of and you learn from different experiences over the years. I think about the Game 6 loss. They didn't hold a practice on Sunday and Sheldon gold-medal games. I think about Game 7s. I think about what I've learned Keefe made Monday's morning skate optional. through the ebbs and flows of being in important games like this and how "Our starts haven't gone the way that we've liked here the last little bit," to carry yourself and also just how to play. So, yeah, you draw on your the coach explained. "It's not like we're attached to what we've been experience and that's why you need experienced players this time of doing here of late. And then the other part of it is just you get to this point year." in the series and rest is so important. We have some guys that prefer not The Leafs have six players who will be suiting up in their first NHL Game to skate in the mornings and save their energy, so it's just easy for us to 7 tonight: Galchenyuk, Ilya Mikheyev, T.J. Brodie, Justin Holl, Sandin do that today." and Campbell. Eight regulars decided to hit the ice this morning: Pierre Engvall, Alex TSN.CA LOADED: 06.01.2021 Galchenyuk, Alex Kerfoot, William Nylander, Spezza, Joe Thornton, Sandin and Jack Campbell. The Canadiens have outscored the Leafs 4-1 in the first periods during the series. "We have to assert ourselves earlier in the game better than we have," said Spezza. "We've played a little bit tentative and passive in the last two games and Montreal has gotten off to good starts." John Tavares also took part in the skate this morning. It was his first session with teammates since suffering a knee injury and concussion in Game 1. "He's had no setbacks here," said Keefe. "That's very positive. Things seem to be progressing very well in regards to the knee and then he's had no setbacks, or anything like that, in regards to the concussion. Of course, they're going to continue to be very cautious and safe about it. His health, of course, is of the utmost importance." Keefe describes Tavares' recovery as "quite remarkable" and the fact the team's captain is getting closer to returning is a motivating factor. "Us winning this game tonight gives him a chance to potentially come back and play," Spezza noted. "So that's just another reason why we want to win this game. John's a big part of this. To see him on the ice is great. He's making great progress. Just being around him the last few days, he's in great spirits. The best thing we can do as teammates is win a hockey game." Tavares takes part in optional skate; Leafs remain cautious about his return John Tavares joined the Maple Leafs for their optional skate ahead of Game 7 against the Canadiens, a positive sign that Toronto's captain is recovering well after the concussion he sustained in Game 1. While he Websites The Leafs see this year's team as its own entity though, one that prides itself on depth and resiliency. Both those things will need to shine through on Monday. TSN.CA / Muzzin out as Maple Leafs look to extend season “We've played a little bit tentative and passive last two games,” said Spezza. “I think if you look at the way we finished games and when we're behind, that’s the type of game that we have to play [by] controlling the By Kristen Shilton puck, supporting each other and getting lots of action around their net. When we play quick, we’re hard to play against.”

Regardless of how Toronto got into its present predicament, there’s no TORONTO — The Maple Leafs will have to find a way to extend their shortage of confidence from the Leafs that they can get the job done. season without Jake Muzzin. And as they try, there will be fans in the stands for the first time this season after Ontario Premier Doug Ford approved a plan to have 550 Coach Sheldon Keefe announced on Monday that the veteran fully vaccinated healthcare workers allowed into the arena. defenceman will be sidelined for at least three weeks with a lower-body injury. That blow comes just hours before Toronto is set to face Montreal “[Our determination] comes from the work we put in and how we've met in Game 7 of their first-round playoff series on Monday night. challenges all year,” said Spezza. “We've pushed ourselves. We've had great daily work habits, and that stuff is what sets you up for these Muzzin suffered the injury midway through the Leafs’ 4-3 overtime loss in moments. We feel like as a team that we don't have to do anything Game 6 on Saturday. That was the second consecutive game where spectacular, we just have to be ourselves and play really well and come Toronto failed to close out the Canadiens, and now their squandered 3-1 with a [hard] effort and we'll get the results we’re looking for.” series lead has led the Leafs back home for a decisive final matchup. TSN.CA LOADED: 06.01.2021 Keefe said the Leafs will “press on” without Muzzin, with rookie Rasmus Sandin stepping back in for Game 7. But the biggest challenge facing Toronto will be overcoming those past two losses and finding a way to advance into the second round for the first time since 2004. “It's tough to come down from [those defeats]; it's tough to go through the recap of what had happened and prepare your team the next day,” said Keefe. “But I've coached a number of elimination games before. From the time I arrived here this morning, I've really just focused and been in a groove in terms of preparing our team like any other game. It's an incredible opportunity here to just meet this head on and find a way to get to the other side.” Forging ahead without Muzzin won’t be easy. He leads Leafs’ defencemen in goals this postseason with two and is tied with Morgan Rielly for most points among blueliners with three. More significant are the heavy minutes Muzzin clocks on the ice. Not only was he averaging 19 minutes and 30 seconds per game in the playoffs, but Muzzin has been an integral piece of the penalty kill and paced all Leafs when shorthanded at 2:58 per game. Toronto’s kill was a perfect 14-for-14 in the playoffs before Muzzin was knocked out of Game 6; Montreal then scored two power-play goals in the third period. Sandin was removed from the lineup in favour of Travis Dermott after a horrible Game 5 where his turnovers directly led to two goals for Montreal. Replacing Muzzin, on the ice and the bench, will require a full team effort. “Muzz is a huge leader for us in general, very competitive guy that brings it every night, all season,” said Jason Spezza. “He loves the game and is passionate about it. He’s a big piece for us, but we’ll just move forward and try to play as a team and play hard without him.” The Leafs broke with routine by holding an optional morning skate on Monday, after taking a day off from the ice on Sunday. John Tavares was in attendance for the skate, prompting a flurry of speculation about whether he might return to the lineup for Game 7. Tavares has been out since Game 1 of the series, when he suffered a concussion and knee injury midway through the opening period. Toronto’s captain has been working out and skating regularly for the past week, but Keefe quickly clarified Tavares wouldn’t be suiting up in Monday’s finale. “It's [just] progress that he is getting to the point now where he's on the ice with other players and the fact that he's had no setbacks; that’s very positive,” said Keefe. “They’re going to continue to be very cautious and safe about his health. But his recovery has been quite remarkable – even from the morning [after] the injury. He was pretty much back to himself and he's had no issues.” If the Leafs do want to see Tavares back in action this season, they’ll have to get through the Canadiens first. If Games 5 and 6 were any indication, Montreal won’t go quietly. Toronto fell behind early in both efforts, committing egregious defensive- zone turnovers and failing to handle the Habs’ neutral-zone pressure. After managing to even the score in both third periods to force overtime, it was turnovers again -– by Alex Galchenyuk in Game 5 and Dermott in Game 6 – that ended Toronto’s chances of closing the Canadiens out. Amid all that has been the lack of production from Toronto’s stars. Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner have one goal combined in the series, and they tallied just one assist each in the two potential elimination games. And then there's Toronto's sad history in Game 7s recently, a mental hurdle which must also be overcome. This is the third time in four seasons the Leafs are in this position, and they lost both those previous Game 7s to Boston. Websites

TSN.CA / Maple Leafs need more from core

By Travis Yost

It’s starting to look gloomy in Toronto. The Maple Leafs let a commanding series lead against an inferior opponent slip away over the weekend, and now find themselves in a tenuous spot. Montreal deserves endless credit for how they have been able to skate with Toronto in the series, ensuring all of the pressure heading into Game 7 will lay at the feet of Sheldon Keefe’s club. The Maple Leafs have been here before – many times, in fact. That’s where some of the frustration from the fan base is boiling over. Five years ago, when the Maple Leafs were a fun and upstart team heading into David-versus-Goliath-type battles against the Boston Bruins, a tough opening-round loss would have been digestible. Here? Not so much. In one breath, it’s hard to be too critical of the Maple Leafs this series. Over the first six games, Toronto has 52 per cent of the shots, 60 per cent of the expected goals, and have outscored the Canadiens 17 to 11. If you play that way over an extended period of time, you are going to win more often than not. But former Florida Panthers scout Rhys Jessop pointed out something that’s impossible to ignore after Saturday night, and that’s the reality of what’s happening at the top of the Maple Leafs lineup. The team’s core forwards may be as dangerous as ever, but time and time again we’ve seen this group score considerably less in the playoffs than in the regular season. It’s a huge concern because the Maple Leafs can’t rest their laurels on firm defensive play or indomitable goaltending over lengthy stretches. This team is built to outscore you, and they are good at doing that. But when the scoring isn’t there, the team is beatable. It is true that scoring the playoffs, in relative terms, is quite difficult. Over the past five seasons, scoring has dropped in the postseason by about 7 per cent, some of that contributable to a reduction in power-play opportunities. But we are seeing much more than a 7 per cent drop-off here: This trend is also true if you subset the data to just even-strength play. And that’s the problem here. The Leafs’ core is scoring three goals per 60 minutes of play in the playoffs, and if you just stared at that number long enough you could convince yourself that should be enough to get the job done. But compare the Maple Leafs core in the regular season versus league averages to the playoffs versus league averages: In both instances I can show that Toronto’s core is above average at generating goals. But this team is reliant on those players generating goals at a considerably higher rate than their peers. In the regular season, Toronto’s top-end scorers are 30 per cent deviant from league- average scoring; in the playoffs, that number drops to 12 per cent. And though scoring in the postseason is certainly more difficult, we do not see this trend apply elsewhere. Let’s look at that same group of Maple Leafs skaters and compare them with some of the big names remaining in the playoffs, still analyzing that five-year horizon. We see slowdowns in rate scoring, but look which group takes the biggest hit, and look which group’s playoff scoring is close to league average: Players like Patrice Bergeron and Mark Stone see less offensive production, but they are also the two best defensive forwards in the game. Other players, like Nathan MacKinnon and Nikita Kucherov, have been more dangerous offensively in the playoffs, which is saying something. But all of these forwards are still scoring at high rates and are still creating net-goal advantages for their respective franchises. Toronto’s core is too, but at a substantially smaller rate. Toronto’s core players are not playing poorly. But they are paid to steamroll teams. That’s their competitive advantage. Whenever their scoring peters out, the team looks a lot more mortal. That’s why we keep scratching our heads watching the Maple Leafs in the playoffs. They have always been good. But can they be good enough? We are going to find out Monday night. TSN.CA LOADED: 06.01.2021 Websites

USA TODAY / Vegas Golden Knights' Ryan Reaves suspended two games for ripping out hair of Colorado Avalanche's Ryan Graves

Mike Brehm

Vegas Golden Knights forward Ryan Reaves was suspended for two games by the NHL Monday for his actions against Colorado Avalanche defenseman Ryan Graves during a Game 1 scrum. During the third period of Colorado's 7-1 victory, Reaves punched Graves in the back of the head, threw him to the ice and continued to go after him when he was down, receiving a match penalty for intent to injure. "Reaves continues the altercation, using his body weight to force Graves’ head into the ice," the league said in its suspension video. "As both the officials and other players attempt unsuccessfully to separate the two, Reaves continues to push forcefully down on the vulnerable Graves, eventually ripping his helmet off. During this scrum, both the officials and Reaves acknowledge that a chunk of Graves’ hair was pulled out by Reaves." Reaves and his teammates were upset at Graves for his hard, late hit that injured Mattias Janmark in the second period. Graves received a two-minute minor for interference. The league noted Reaves' disciplinary history. He has been fined twice, was suspended one game for a hit to the head in last year's playoffs and was suspended for three games for boarding in 2016. "Reaves is on a mission to go out and hurt somebody in the third (period), and that's what he goes out and does," Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog said Sunday. Golden Knights coach Peter DeBoer spoke up for Reaves during Monday's media availability before the ruling. "It’s not hard to defend Ryan Reaves," he said. "To me, Ryan Reaves is one of the cleanest tough guys that I’ve seen in the league in my 12, 13 years." Reaves will be eligible to return in Game 4. The Golden Knights trail the second-round series 1-0. USA TODAY LOADED: 06.01.2021 Websites

USA TODAY / NHL playoff predictions: Who wins Game 7 between Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs?

STAFF

The Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs square off Monday night (7 p.m. ET, CNBC) in the first Game 7 between the historic rivals since the 1964 playoffs. Of course, just a few days ago it seemed unlikely the series would get to this point. The Leafs led the series 3-1 entering Game 5 in Toronto ... and then the Habs won in overtime, despite blowing a 3-0 lead in regulation. And then the Canadiens won Game 6 in overtime in Montreal, in front of fans for the first time since March 2020, after blowing a 2-0 lead in regulation. So here we are, Game 7 in Toronto with all the pressure firmly on the home side. The Maple Leafs have not won a playoff series in 17 years and after Saturday night's setback are now 0-7 with a chance to advance in the playoffs since 2004. They have lost winner-take-all games each of the prior three seasons. Toronto captain John Tavares remains out following his scary collision with Corey Perry in Game 1, and two of the Maple Leafs' biggest stars have failed to produce in his absence. Auston Matthews, the NHL's goal- scoring leader in the regular season, has just one goal and three assists in six games. Mitch Marner has four points in six games but no goals – in fact, he's in a 17-game postseason scoring drought. Is Monday night's contest a legacy-defining game already for the young stars who average over $10 million a year? Can Carey Price and the underdog Canadiens keep the magic going? Who will win this Game 7? USA TODAY Sports NHL staffers weigh in: Jimmy Hascup: 2-1 Maple Leafs The pressure is on the Maple Leafs, who have blown a 3-1 series lead against a team that finished with 18 fewer points this season. But here we are for Toronto: Tavares and defenseman Jake Muzzin are injured, journeyman (and inexperienced) goalie Jack Campbell faces his first Game 7, and leading scorers Matthews and Marner have a combined one goal in this series. Despite all of these factors, the Leafs are too talented and too experienced to let a home Game 7 slip by this time around. Montreal will just be a hiccup on the Leafs’ Stanley Cup quest, but it will take a late goal by Matthews to advance. Mike Brehm: 3-2 Canadiens I'll take the opposite view, though I don't feel strongly about it. But here's why the Canadiens can win. Price can hold off the expected Maple Leafs surge in the first period, and then Toronto will start to feel some pressure. The Canadiens' power play finally broke through in Game 6. So did Tyler Toffoli. Jace Evans: 4-2 Maple Leafs If not now, when? Yes, Matthews, Marner and William Nylander are still young guys, but they're also all in their fifth full season in the NHL. With these guys all in their prime, the Leafs should be a legitimate title contender. It's surprising they haven't managed to win a series to this point but hey, hockey's funny sometimes. Failing to close out this series after taking a 3-1 lead, though, would be a complete embarrassment and could bring about some major changes. Nylander has been great this series, with seven points in six games. He's also their fourth highest-paid forward: The Leafs simply need more from Matthews and Marner. They're the reason Toronto has such a talent advantage in this series. I think they finally break out in Game 7 to end this first-round misery. USA TODAY LOADED: 06.01.2021 Websites

USA TODAY / Golden Knights' Robin Lehner gets surprise start in Game 1 vs. Avalanche and falls 7-1

Mike Brehm

Last year, Robin Lehner got 16 of 20 playoff starts for the Vegas Golden Knights. This year, Marc-Andre Fleury got all the playoff starts -- until Sunday. Lehner was the surprise starter in Game 1 against the Colorado Avalanche -- his first appearance since May 10 -- and was shelled 7-1. Not that Fleury might have been able to slow down the onslaught by the rested Avalanche, who got five goals from their top line, but he did shut out Colorado twice this season. But rest for Fleury was the reason behind the move. "(Fleury) had just played seven games in 14 days and an emotional Game 7," Golden Knights coach Peter DeBoer said. "It was a perfect opportunity, in our minds, to use our other starter. That’s been a strength of ours all year." Fleury flourished this season while Lehner was out with a concussion, but after his return, the two alternated starts. Together, they won the Williams Jennings Trophy for lowest team goals-against average. Fleury excelled in the playoffs, and his 1.71 goals-against average and .931 save percentage topped his regular-season numbers (1.98, .928). Lehner, who also won the Jennings Trophy with the New York Islanders in 2018-19, went 2.29, .913 in the regular season. DeBoer figured he might have to use Lehner at some point in the playoffs, and this was a good time. Even with the blowout loss, the Golden Knights trail the series by one game and have two days off to make corrections before Game 2 on Wednesday. The coach is not second-guessing his decision. "The game tonight wasn’t about Robin Lehner," DeBoer said. "We obviously didn’t play well in front on him." Hurricanes expect goalie to bounce back The Tampa Bay Lightning's 2-1 victory against the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday came down to two things. Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy was brilliant, and on one shot, Hurricanes netminder Alex Nedeljkovic wasn't. "There’s no use hiding it. ... It was a bad goal," Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour said of Barclay Goodrow's go-ahead goal with 7:21 left in the third period. "He’s going to admit it. It happens." Goodrow beat the goalie short side from a bad angle. "The puck had eyes obviously, but good things happen when you shoot the puck," Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman said. Goodrow said he wasn't even looking to score on the play. "I was just looking to get the puck on net to create a rebound for (Yanni Gourde) and it just found a way to go in," he said. Brind'Amour said Nedeljkovic also made a lot of good saves and predicts he'll bounce back in Game 2. "We got to score more than one (goal) to win anyway," he said. The Hurricanes carried play through a lot of the game, but Vasilevskiy finished with 37 saves. He's expected to pick up his second Vezina Trophy when awards winners are announced later in the playoffs. "He’s the best in the world," Brind'Amour said. "We just got to figure out ways to make it harder on him." Monday's playoff games Montreal at Toronto, 7 p.m. ET, CNBC. Series tied 3-3. N.Y. Islanders at Boston, 7:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN. Bruins lead 1-0. USA TODAY LOADED: 06.01.2021