SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 12/08/17 1087114 What we learned from the Ducks' 3-0 victory over the 1087152 Avalanche gameday: Patrik Nemeth returns from 12-game absence 1087115 Ducks look to string together some wins before it's too late 1087153 Avalanche loses fourth straight to begin four-game trip 1087154 Avalanche uses seven-defensemen, 11-forward lineup at Coyotes Tampa Bay 1087116 Coyotes get blown out by Bruins in Boston 1087155 Stamkos has 3 points, Lightning beat Avalanche 1087117 Preview: Coyotes at Bruins, 4:30 p.m., FOX Sports Arizona 1087118 Coyotes overpowered by Bruins again 1087156 Blue Jackets | Top defensemen can score, too 1087119 Coyotes give up 6 goals in loss to Bruins 1087157 Blue Jackets | If he’s ready, Markus Nutivaara will play Stars 1087120 Bruins’ first line has been thinking offense first 1087158 Ben Bishop out with sore back, so Kari Lehtonen to man 1087121 Jake DeBrusk returns to lineup, but Ryan Spooner goes against Blues Thursday on IR 1087159 How should the Stars handle the Martin Hanzal situation? 1087122 Flames' Tkachuk suspended 1 game for spearing 1087160 12 months of struggle: Wins against the Central's top 1087123 Jake DeBrusk returns for Bruins tonight; another roster teams continue to elude the Stars move expected 1087161 Cold facts: Stars come up short against another division 1087124 Backes scores 2 goals as Bruins beat Coyotes 6-1 opponent in St. Louis 1087125 Harris: Third line finally delivers with David Backes on 1087162 Latest injury updates on Stars' Martin Hanzal, Marc board Methot 1087126 David Backes’ two goals spark Bruins’ late rout of Arizona 1087163 Stars notebook: Kari Lehtonen providing plenty of relief in 1087127 Bruins notebook: Anders Bjork finding his game again on backup role David Krejci’s wing 1087164 Allen gets shutout, Schenn scores again as Blues beat 1087128 Bruins score must win over lowly Coyotes Stars 1087129 Morning Skate: The shirtless Jumbo Joe Bobblehead we all need Red Wings 1087130 Talking Points: Backes leads the way, Bruins annihilate 1087165 Team can't afford errors in order to win Coyotes 1087166 , Joe Louis Arena memorabilia up for 1087131 Bruins pummel hapless Coyotes, 6-1 auction 1087132 DeBrusk in, Spooner out, with a bigger decision looming 1087167 Wings’ kill helps stop skid, ease tension 1087168 Red Wings memorabilia from the Joe auctions Saturday 1087133 Sabres Notebook: Blackhawks figure to be in a dark mood 1087134 Ristolainen wants to keep bringing his 'Beast Mode' 1087169 While penalty problems persist on home ice for Oilers, 1087135 Sabres know what to expect, even with Hawks on five- power play even worse game skid 1087170 Time is wasting for Oilers, the NHL's most disappointing team 1087171 Losing Oilers at a loss for answers 1087136 OT victory for Flames in La Belle Province 1087172 Jones: Oilers raise soiled white flag in loss to Flyers 1087137 Treliving, Tkachuk meets with media to discuss winger's 1087173 Lowetide: A look at Oilers prospects who could be at the ban world juniors 1087138 Flames' Tkachuk handed one-game suspension for spearing 1087139 Seven Game Segments: Goals against and frustrations 1087174 Panthers hope Radim Vrbata can snap slump after role mount change, concussion 1087175 Countrymen and video game partners, Aleksander Barkov and Patrik Laine face off Thursday 1087140 With sale agreement in place, Hurricanes can finally look 1087176 Matt's Mail: Without Roberto Luongo, what are the to future Panthers' options for goaltending? 1087141 Dallas businessman signs purchase agreement to buy 1087177 Aleksander Barkov leaves game with upper-body injury as controlling interest in Hurricanes Panthers beat Jets, 6-4 1087142 Are the Hurricanes on the verge of being sold? Here’s the latest. 1087178 Doughty's overtime goal gives Kings seventh straight victory 1087144 Tanner Kero placed on waivers as Blackhawks prepare to 1087179 Drew Doughty’s OT goal gives Kings their 7th straight win shake up roster 1087180 Kings have ‘exceeded’ expectations under new regime 1087145 Blackhawks may not be 'concerned,' but losing streak 1087181 IT’S A TRAP (GAME)! RED HOT LA KINGS HOST ICE causing anxiety COLD SENATORS 1087146 Blackhawks' favorite road destinations 1087182 MORNING SKATE NOTES: KUEMPER COULD 1087147 Friday's matchup: Sabres at Blackhawks POSSIBLY, MAYBE START AGAINST SENATORS 1087148 Duncan Keith on goal drought: ‘Eventually, they’ll come’ 1087183 DECEMBER 7 POSTGAME QUOTES: DOUGHTY, 1087149 Blackhawks put forward Tanner Kero on waivers BROWN 1087150 Blackhawks place Kero on waivers 1087184 DECEMBER 7 POSTGAME QUOTES: JOHN STEVENS 1087151 Three Things to WATCH: Blackhawks look to end skid vs. 1087185 SUBBAN TO THE LA KINGS, DOWD TO CANUCKS Sabres 1087186 GAME 30: LOS ANGELES VS OTTAWA 1087187 Bettman says NHL will consider expansion bid 1087222 Flyers-Canucks preview: Brian Elliott one win away from 1087188 Wild switches up forward lines ahead of game vs. Ducks No. 200 1087189 Wild leaves itself vulnerable late in games 1087223 Flyers continue turnaround, defeat Canucks for third 1087190 Wild at Anaheim game preview straight win 1087191 Look what Wild’s Joel Eriksson Ek found in Iowa: his 1087224 Pressure-free Flyers win 2nd straight behind secondary confidence scoring 1087225 Flyers-Canucks observations: Sweeping the nation 1087226 Oskar Lindblom still finding his way after missing Flyers’ 1087192 Sean Monahan comes up big in Flames’ overtime win over roster Canadiens 1087193 Calgary Flames at Canadiens: Five things you should know 1087227 Penguins notebook: Greg McKegg clears waivers 1087194 Game Day: Canadiens cancel morning skate again before 1087228 Penguins' Justin Schultz out 'a couple of weeks'; Frankie facing Flames Corrado called up 1087195 Stu Cowan: Habs legend Scotty Bowman was never a fan 1087229 Matt Hunwick lifts Penguins over Islanders in overtime of morning skates 1087230 The toughest crowds many Penguins have faced aren't in 1087196 In the Habs' Room: Claude Julien criticizes Alex the NHL Chris Szagola/Associated Press Galchenyuk's effort 1087231 Pregame: Penguins ready for their first look at the 1087197 About last night ... Calgary edges Canadiens 3-2 in OT Islanders 1087198 Canadiens fall out of third place in the Atlantic with OT 1087232 Penguins defenseman Justin Schultz 'a little more than loss to Flames week-to-week' Matt Freed/Post-Gazette 1087199 Basu: Talented players don’t need many opportunities, but 1087233 Why Pittsburgh, not Philadelphia, has been they need at least one Pennsylvania's pro sports capital over the last 50 years 1087200 Three things we learned against Calgary 1087234 The Penguins have found their way on the penalty kill 1087235 Penguins overcome late collapse to beat Islanders in overtime, 4-3 1087201 James Neal returns to Nashville thriving with Vegas 1087236 C-3PO actor Anthony Daniels makes appearance for Golden Knights Penguins' 'Star Wars' night 1087202 Devils' Ben Lovejoy becomes 1st active NHL player to 1087237 Three things to know: Sharks’ Ryan likely headed to minor pledge brain to CTE research leagues in near future 1087203 Why Devils need to mirror effort from Tuesday's win 1087238 Three takeaways: Sharks youngster earns heavy praise 1087204 Devils' Ben Lovejoy first active NHL player to pledge to from DeBoer donate brain for CTE research 1087239 Burns caps historic comeback as Sharks beat Carolina in 1087205 Devils prepare for rematch with Blue Jackets OT 1087206 Devils Daily Faceoff: Three storylines for Dec. 7 1087240 Sharks rally, then top Hurricanes in overtime 1087241 Sharks complete crazy comeback against 'Canes Islanders 1087242 Sharks, Hurricanes separated by smallest of margins 1087207 Islanders rally falls short in overtime loss to Penguins 1087208 Islanders rally to salvage in OT loss to Penguins St Louis Blues 1087209 Doug Weight pleased to see Casey Cizikas return to the 1087243 Blues call up Husso from San Antonio after backup goalie lineup Hutton suffers lower-body injury 1087244 Blues turn back Stars in defensive struggle 1087245 Former SLU goalie Stewart was on standby Thursday 1087210 Rangers' Kevin Shattenkirk on Capitals coach Barry night Trotz's criticism: 'It doesn't sit well with you' 1087211 Kevin Shattenkirk’s ex-coach blasts him in brutal interview 1087212 Lundqvist works out, feels ‘pretty close to back to normal’ 1087246 Lightning tops Avalanche for third straight win 1087213 Kevin Shattenkirk stung by Caps coach Barry Trotz’s 1087247 Lightning journal: Chris Kunitz just doing Kunitz things comments 1087248 Joe Smith’s takeaways from Thursday’s Lightning-Avalanche game NHL 1087249 Peter Budaj gets rare start against Avalanche 1087214 NHL says Seattle can apply for franchise, start season-ticket drive Ottawa Senators 1087215 Snapshots: Senators will unveil alumni roster Friday at Lansdowne 1087216 Senators head coach Guy Boucher says Craig Anderson is still No. 1 in net 1087217 Senators say they're surprised they've sunk this low 1087218 Mike Condon gets the call to start in Senators net against the Kings 1087219 Senators' effort is better but it's the same old result 1087220 If the Senators don't fix their defence now, they're done 1087221 Provenzano: Why exploring an Erik Karlsson trade makes sense for the Senators Websites 1087250 Tkachuk banned 1 game for spearing; Babcock calls 1087287 The Athletic / LeBrun: NHL eager to get Seattle in the mix incident ’junior hockey stuff’ as expansion and relocation are the talk of Board o 1087251 Henrique gets first two Ducks goals, Miller blanks 1087288 The Athletic / What does it feel like to hit a post for Senators NHLers? 1087252 Matthew Tkachuk suspended one game for spearing 1087289 The Athletic / Dellow: How are Eastern Conference Leafs’ Matt Martin coaches matching lines at 5-on-5 this year? 1087253 Devils’ Ben Lovejoy first active NHL player to pledge his 1087290 The Athletic / Provenzano: Why exploring an Erik Karlsson brain for concussion research trade makes sense for the Senators 1087254 Majority stake of Carolina Hurricanes could be sold as 1087291 .ca / Pacioretty a good break away from helping early as Thursday, owner says Canadiens beat Flames 1087255 World junior stage next step for Leafs’ Liljegren 1087292 Sportsnet.ca / How Canadiens’ Brendan Gallagher is 1087256 Red-hot Andersen a driving force behind Maple Leafs' trending towards a career year success 1087293 Sportsnet.ca / Canucks, without Bo Horvat, may be 1087257 Flames' Tkachuk suspended for spearing Maple Leafs' coming back down to earth Martin 1087294 Sportsnet.ca / Bettman: NHL expansion process open to 1087258 Seller's remorse: thrive off Seattle opponents' mistakes in the expansion draft 1087295 Sportsnet.ca / Flames’ Matthew Tkachuk molding into both 1087259 Bettman and governors give Seattle green light to apply lovable and hatable pest for NHL franchise 1087296 Sportsnet.ca / Canucks left to fill huge ice time gap with 1087260 Bourne: 10 little Maple Leafs things from their victory over Bo Horvat injured the Flames 1087298 Sportsnet.ca / Montreal Canadiens Prospect Report: 1087261 Should the Leafs dial up the competition for Auston Checking in on 2017 draft picks Matthews? 1087299 TSN.CA / NHL gives Seattle green light to pursue expansion franchise 1087300 TSN.CA / Lovejoy becomes first active NHL player to 1087278 Ed Willes: Canucks need Thomas Vanek and his unique pledge brain game more than ever 1087301 TSN.CA / The Lightning might be even better than you 1087279 Bo Horvat sidelined for up to six weeks with a fractured think foot 1087302 USA TODAY / For Islanders, defenseman Nick Leddy has 1087280 Canucks' Game Day: Flyers 'way more sore than soar' entered 'elite' conversation landing at Rogers 1087281 Canucks Post Game: Anatomy of a loss, Boeser gets it, Burmistrov needs it, Subban shipped 1087269 Winnipeg suffers second-straight loss; league-leading 1087282 Canucks trade Jordan Subban to L.A. Kings for Nic Dowd Lightning up next 1087283 Flyers 4, Canucks 1: Caught in a fog, Boeser gets it, 1087270 Third line excelling despite goal drought Burmistrov doesn't 1087271 Leadership takes many forms on a hockey team 1087284 'Next in line': The challenge of filling in for Bo Horvat 1087272 Eric Comrie gets start tonight as Jets try to avoid back- 1087285 Canucks' lineup could be thrown for a loop with Bo to-back losses Horvat's injury 1087273 Laine says Barkov would be a star in Canadian 1087286 LeBrun: NHL eager to get Seattle in the mix as expansion market…Nothing comes easy…Pre-emptive strike for and relocation are the talk of Board of Governors mee Hellebuyck…Prai 1087274 Comrie gets call for Jets: Third-year pro in goal tonight vs Vegas Golden Knights Panthers 1087262 Golden Knights’ James Neal returns to Nashville a wiser 1087275 Jets prospect eyes World Juniors player 1087276 How, when, and why the Winnipeg Jets became worthy of 1087263 Golden Knights could deliver blow to sports books their record 1087264 Trade for Kyle Turris sparks surging Nashville Predators 1087277 LeBrun: NHL eager to get Seattle in the mix as expansion and relocation are the talk of Board of Governors mee 1087265 Washington Capitals 1087266 Andre Burakovsky’s return pushes Capitals closer to SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129 whole 1087267 Backstrom ends goal drought much to the delight of his teammates 1087268 Barry Trotz gives honest assessment of Kevin Shattenkirk 1087114 Anaheim Ducks

What we learned from the Ducks' 3-0 victory over the Ottawa Senators

Ryan Miller, Derek Grant

What we learned from the Ducks’ 3-0 victory over the Ottawa Senators 1. The Ducks made a smart move to trade for Adam Henrique The 27-year-old center has been a good addition to their lineup since General Manager Bob Murray acquired him from New Jersey with Joseph Blandisi and a 2018 third-round draft pick for defenseman Sami Vatanen and a conditional draft pick. It helps that Henrique is surrounded by talent — he has been centering for Rickard Rakell and Corey Perry — but he has fit in well with them. “It’s nice. It’s another dimension for us,” goalie Ryan Miller said of trading for Henrique. “We got [Rakell] back for a couple games and he’s starting to look more comfortable. We’ve got a few more guys to go but the guys that are playing are pulling their weight and doing their job. It’s good for our depth as we grind through the year.” 2. Miller was a good addition, too Miller was signed as a free agent last summer to mentor and push John Gibson, and the results have been positive for all involved. Miller is 3-0-4 in eight games this season with a 1.73 goals-against average and .944 save percentage. Ducks Coach Randy Carlyle calls his goalies 1A and 1B, though Gibson has gotten and will continue to get the majority of the work. But on Wednesday, in a game the Ducks needed to win in order to stop a slump, Miller was the man. “We understood the stakes and we knew coming home would be difficult. I just wanted to get off to a good start and kind of get through the first period,” he said. “We seemed to build confidence in some situations and I thought we had a nice second period. We kept the shots against much lower than we have been, so that made a big difference as well.” 3. The Senators are punchless Both the Ducks and the Senators were conference finalists last season, but both are scuffling this season. Widespread injuries (and Patrick Eaves’ illness) go a long way toward explaining the Ducks’ struggles, but the Senators don’t have that excuse to fall back on. Defenseman Erik Karlsson, a two-time Norris trophy winner, had ankle surgery last June and hasn’t been as dynamic or as much of an offensive catalyst as he was in previous seasons. The Senators, who will face the Kings on Thursday at Staples Center, failed to score for the second straight game and never exerted any sustained pressure against the Ducks on Wednesday. They’re 1-8-1 in their last 10 games. “You never know exactly what is causing it and what is going on,” Karlsson said of his team’s prolonged slump. “When things are not going your way, you try and look for answers that are not there. You try and get out of your comfort zone and do different things, but at the end of the day you need to do the things you are good at, and I think that we are starting to get to that.” LA Times: LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087115 Anaheim Ducks On the air: TV: Prime Ticket; Radio: 830 Update: Former Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau returns to Anaheim in his second season behind the bench for the Wild. This is their first meeting Ducks look to string together some wins before it's too late this season; the Wild got the better of the Ducks last season with two wins in three games. … The Wild are one of those teams fighting with the Ducks in the standings. They sit one point behind Anaheim with two Mike Coppinger games in hand. … Ducks prospects Sam Steel, Josh Mahura and Maxime Comtois were named to the initial roster for Canada’s World Junior Championship team. The Ducks needed Wednesday’s game badly. LA Times: LOADED: 12.08.2017 Their six-game road swing, their longest of the season so far, was against incredibly tough competition, and the results showed. Anaheim emerged victorious in only one game (over the St. Louis Blues), but the Ducks picked up points in three others. With the calendar flipped to December, it isn’t too early to start examining the pecking order in the Western Conference. And one quick glance will tell you the Ducks are in danger of falling into a hole they won’t be able to dig themselves out of, even when the cavalry arrives. Ryan Getzlaf and Ryan Kesler — the team’s top two centers — are expected to return later this month, but by then, it might not matter. Not unless the Ducks can begin to string some wins together. Wednesday’s performance against the Ottawa Senators was a nice start. The Ducks returned home with a 3-0 victory and improved their record to 12-11-6 (30 points in 29 games). There’s a glut of teams deadlocked in the standings, but the Ducks certainly have the playoff pedigree to blow past the competition. Besides Getzlaf and Kesler, the team is still missing two-way winger Jakob Silfverberg, who has been sidelined for the past four games because of an upper-body injury. Hampus Lindholm is also on the mend with an upper-body ailment. He was placed on injured reserve and will miss a third consecutive game Friday against the Minnesota Wild. Some new — and old — players who recently joined the team are paying big dividends in the meantime. Adam Henrique, who was acquired from the New Jersey Devils last week, has slotted in as the center on the top line and has five points in four games. He scored two goals Wednesday (the second an empty- netter) in his Honda Center debut. The other, Ondrej Kase, found the back of the net Wednesday with a nifty move in close, and now owns two points in his last two outings. He returned last week for the first time since Nov. 7 after suffering a head injury. With players like Henrique and Kase producing, once the team is at full strength — if it ever happens — the Ducks should be able to confidently roll four lines. “[Henrique adds] another dimension for us,” said goalie Ryan Miller, who posted his 40th career shutout Wednesday. “We got [Rickard Rakell] back for a couple games. He’s starting to look comfortable again. “We got a few more guys to go, but the guys who are playing are pulling their weight and doing their job. It’s good for our depth as we grind through the year.” The Ducks have produced only one winning streak longer than two games this season, but there’s hope the victories will start coming in packs. Kase admitted the team hasn’t had much sleep over the course of the schedule. Friday’s game with be the Ducks’ 12th over the past 20 days. “We understand it’s been a taxing road trip and to have a six-game road trip start off in L.A. and finish in Vegas and have to come back here and play back to back, I don’t know if it’s ever happened in the league before,” coach Randy Carlyle said. “But at least we found a way to respond properly and we got three out of four points on the back end of it.” The Ducks will need to pile up plenty more points if they want to stay alive in the crowded Western Conference race. Help is on the way soon. DUCKS UP NEXT VS. MINNESOTA When: Friday, 7 p.m. 1087116 Generally, Arizona has played well when the team is able to get practice time before a game. The Coyotes are hoping that trend continues Thursday in Boston. Coyotes get blown out by Bruins in Boston “When this team practices, you can just go through our record,” Tocchet said. “When we do practice we usually play well the next game. So it’s something to think about for next year.” Richard Morin, Dec. 7, 2017 Capobianco joins the fold

Defenseman Kyle Capobianco was promoted from the Coyotes’ AHL David Backes scored his first two goals of the season, helping the Boston affiliate in Tucson on Monday, making the former third-round pick the fifth Bruins beat the Arizona Coyotes 6-1 on Thursday night. player on the roster age-20 or younger. It was Backes’ third game back after he missed 12 straight following Capobianco, 20, tallied two goals and 12 assists in 17 games with the surgery to remove part of his colon. The veteran forward scored his first Roadrunners this season. goal with Boston on a tip-in 13:54 into the second period and then added another goal with 54 seconds left in the period. “It feels great, and it just feels great to be here,” Capobianco said after Tuesday’s practice. “I’m excited to get things going and get on the road.” Brad Marchand scored 15 seconds into the game for the Bruins, who won for the seventh time in nine games. David Krejci, Danton Heinen and The 6-foot-1, 170-pound blueliner is known for his offensive capability Anders Bjork also scored, and Tuukka Rask made 20 saves. and willingness to join a play in motion. Christian Dvorak had an unassisted goal for Arizona, and Scott “I like just moving my feet and jumping up in the play,” Capobianco said. Wedgewood made 25 saves. “I think I’m going to try and carry my game up here and continue to do the same things I was doing well down there. Backes, the former St. Louis captain who signed with Boston as an unrestricted free agent in July, was expected to miss up to eight weeks “I (continue to work on) the same things all defensemen work on, following his surgery on Nov. 2 to relieve inflammation caused by especially young defensemen. Little things like boxing out … Guys at the diverticulitis. He returned to the Bruins on Nov. 29 and got his 500th next level are so good at boxing out and getting their sticks in the right career point Monday with an assist during a loss at Nashville. area.” Backes deflected in Riley Nash’s wrist shot from the blue line at to break Tocchet said he isn’t sure whether Capobianco will play during his time a 1-all tie with 6:06 left in the second. He also stole the puck from Alex with the Coyotes, but the coach stressed the importance of practicing, Goligoski inside the Arizona zone and beat Wedgewood with a wrist shot traveling and learning. at 19:06. “He’s playing really well down there,” Tocchet said. “I was talking to Krecji’s power-play goal in the opening minute of the third put Boston up (Roadrunners coaching staff) about it, and we decided, 'Let’s get him up 4-1 just 15 seconds after Luke Schenn was called for hooking. here.'” The Bruins struck first when Marchand scored on a one-timer off a Still, Capobianco trusts that his game is NHL ready — and he aims to crossing pass from David Pastrnak. But Dvorak tied it with a high prove that he deserves to stick with the Coyotes. backhand with 2:53 left in the first after stealing a clearing attempt by “I feel like I have an NHL-ready game and I feel like I can perform at this Brandon Carlo. level,” he said. “I just have to put out a good showing and show that I – Associated Press belong. Just to get a taste of the NHL and show them a good showing and hopefully I stick around.” Coyotes get practice time Updates on Raanta, Hjalmarsson The Coyotes’ road-loaded schedule in the first quarter-plus of the season has been well-documented, but the biggest obstacle for the team goes Coyotes goaltender Antti Raanta practiced with the team on Tuesday at beyond just travel. Gila River Arena, and there is a chance he could start in net on Thursday in Boston, according to Tocchet. For a young core of players, an extreme lack of practice time has led to intermittent struggles. However, Tuesday’s practice at Gila River Arena The team was to evaluate on Wednesday how Raanta responded to his marked the second of a three-day stretch between games for the first practice with the team since suffering an upper-body injury against Coyotes. San Jose on Nov. 22 after a collision with Sharks forward Logan Couture. The small break in the action represented a breath of relief for the team. “He’s cleared and he’s starting to feel better,” Tocchet said. “He finally had a good practice because he hasn’t really had a practice with the “It’s huge,” Coyotes coach Rick Tocchet said of Tuesday’s practice time. team yet. He’ll get another one (Wednesday) and then we’ll see for “(Practice) is huge, video is great and the game is the best, but you’ve Thursday. Still day-to-day.” got to have reps in practice. I think young guys need practice more than anything. As much as they need physical reps, they need mental reps. With Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask expected in net on Thursday, Raanta could get the opportunity to start opposite his Finnish countryman “That’s something we’ve been at a disadvantage at because of our in Boston. schedule. And hopefully the next couple months, at least January we’ll have a little bit of time to get some practice time and get some reps for For injured defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson, the veteran blueliner has these guys.” still not progressed from his upper-body injury enough to resume on-ice activities, per Tocchet. After the Coyotes return from their current trip through Boston, Columbus and Chicago, the team will play eight of their following 11 games at Gila Hjalmarsson has missed two straight games and is listed on injured River Arena — and will have played almost 21 of their first 33 games (64 reserve, according to NHL’s official media website. He is technically percent) away from home. eligible to be activated Thursday but the Coyotes still don’t yet have an idea as to when he might return. When Arizona hosts the Tampa Bay Lightning on Dec. 14, it will have played 40 percent of its regular-season games. To that point, the “No change,” Tocchet said of Hjalmarsson’s status. “It’s a situation where Coyotes will have spent nearly two-thirds of their schedule on the road. he’s got to get healthy and I don’t really have a time frame for him.” “We’ve had our share of travel,” Tocchet said. “I think these guys are Arizona Republic LOADED: 12.08.2017 tired of it. But the one thing I keep saying for these guys is they’ve brought the energy the next day after we have a really good practice. And I thought (Tuesday) was one of our better practices.” And while the Coyotes are certainly looking forward to some extended time in the Valley during the second half of the season, they still have to get through a challenging road trip. For Tocchet, that’s a paramount reason Tuesday’s practice was so important to the team. 1087117 Arizona Coyotes get back I just want to try and do the same thing. It’s frustrating because you want to be in the action and keep playing when you’re hot, but that’s how it went.” Preview: Coyotes at Bruins, 4:30 p.m., FOX Sports Arizona In numbers just released by the league, the Coyotes, at an average age of 25 years, 27 days, are the youngest team in the league. Arizona players 22 years old or younger have scored 39 goals, the most of any The Sports Xchange team for players that age. foxsportsarizona.com LOADED: 12.08.2017 BOSTON — Way back on Oct. 9, 2010, the Arizona Coyotes, then known as the Phoenix Coyotes, defeated the Boston Bruins in the opening game of the season in Prague. Phoenix/Arizona hasn’t beaten the Bruins since, starting with the second game of the Prague visit. The teams meet again for the second time this season Thursday night at TD Garden, with the Coyotes opening a three-game road trip and Boston playing the first of two games in three nights at home. The Bruins have won the last 11 games against the Coyotes, including a 6-2 rout on Oct. 14. Captain Zdeno Chara with a goal and two assists in that game that evened Boston’s record at 2-2-0 and dropped the Coyotes to 0-4-1. Caught up with @Cfish61 after Tuesday practice. Says @ArizonaCoyotes are '100 times better' than earlier this season as they head back out on the road. pic.twitter.com/ZU9MHao8hK — FOX Sports Arizona (@FOXSPORTSAZ) December 5, 2017 Arizona (7-18-5) has been without No. 1 goalie Antti Raanta for the past six games with a lower body injury. Raanta, however, was medically cleared before the team left home. “He’s starting to feel better,” coach Rick Tocchet said after Tuesday’s practice. “We finally had a good practice with him because he hasn’t really had a practice with the team yet. We’ll get another one tomorrow, and then we’ll see for Thursday.” Scott Wedgewood played all six games with Raanta out. The Coyotes sent Marek Langhamer back to the minors earlier this week. The Bruins’ goaltending picture cleared some when Tuukka Rask won his second straight in the first contest of the two-game trip at Philadelphia. Anton Khudobin’s four-game winning streak ended with a shaky loss at Nashville, with Rask summoned from the bullpen to clean up the mess. “We left (Khudobin) out to dry completely. He didn’t really have a chance on any of those,” Torey Krug said after Khudobin and the Bruins fell behind 4-0 in Nashville before rallying in the 5-3 setback. “Tuukks came in and slammed the door shut and gave us a shot of energy, good job by him.” Like his team, Rask doesn’t lose to the Coyotes. He has nine straight wins since that game in Prague and has a 1.60 goals-against average and .941 save percentage against that team. Raanta is 1-0-0 in two outings against the Bruins. The Coyotes, who have been off since Sunday, practiced at Boston University Wednesday — a homecoming for rookie Clayton Keller, who was the Terriers’ leading scorer in his one season there last year. “It’s going to be really cool for me to practice there with the Coyotes,” Keller said Monday. “I’m sure a couple of those BU guys will watch the practice. Last year, me and my teammates watched a couple of NHL teams practice there. It’s something the guys there get fired up for. “That was an amazing year of hockey for me. We had a real good team and it was a lot of fun. It was definitely a year I’ll never forget. It was truly awesome.” Coach Tocchet provides an update on Antti Raanta and Niklas Hjalmarsson, and talks about the recent recall of Kyle Capobianco. pic.twitter.com/MFxPPncS0Z — Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) December 5, 2017 The Bruins’ injury picture took another slight turn Wednesday when Ryan Spooner missed practice with what was apparently a recurrence of a groin injury that forced him out of the lineup earlier in the season. But rookie Jake DeBrusk, who had been scoring before missing the last three games with an undisclosed injury, was close to returning. “I feel good … better than yesterday,” he said Wednesday. “I’m progressing and getting close to action. You never want to get injured, and especially not when pucks are going in and you’re producing. When I 1087118 Arizona Coyotes

Coyotes overpowered by Bruins again

FOX Sports

BOSTON — David Backes is on the board with the Boston Bruins — twice. Backes scored his first two goals of the season, helping the Bruins beat the Arizona Coyotes 6-1 on Thursday night. It was Backes’ fourth game back after he missed 12 straight following surgery to remove part of his colon. The veteran forward scored his first goal with Boston on a tip-in 13:54 into the second and then added another goal with 54 seconds left in the period. “No question — contributing offensively is a good feeling,” he said. Brad Marchand scored 15 seconds into the game for the Bruins, who won for the seventh time in nine games. David Krejci, Danton Heinen and Anders Bjork also scored, and Tuukka Rask made 20 saves. Christian Dvorak had an unassisted goal for Arizona, and Scott Wedgewood stopped 26 shots. Backes, the former St. Louis captain who signed with Boston as an unrestricted free agent in July, was expected to miss up to eight weeks following his surgery to relieve inflammation caused by diverticulitis. He returned to the Bruins on Nov. 29 and got his 500th career point Monday with an assist during a loss at Nashville. Backes, who has 225 career goals, said he was confident his first goal for the Bruins would come once he was healthy and his game started to return. “I’ve always been one that trusted in the process — trusted in playing hard, playing the right way and knowing that the results come from that,” he said. “Over time, I know I’ll get my looks, I’ll get my opportunities. I’ve been there before and it’ll go in eventually.” While there was no shortage of scoring for Boston, it was definitely Backes’ night. “He’s a huge leader for our team,” Marchand said. “There’s a big void when he’s not playing. We’re very lucky to have the guy. He stepped up big tonight and really turned that game around for us.” Arizona coach Rick Tocchet said the Coyotes were able to shake off Marchand’s early goal and played well up until midway through the second period. “The 6-1 is not indicative of the game,” Tocchet said. “They had one chance at the 10-minute mark and then we gave a couple plays away and it’s 3-1 going into the third.” Backes deflected in Riley Nash’s wrist shot from the blue line at to break a 1-all tie with 6:06 left in the second. He also stole the puck from Alex Goligoski inside the Arizona zone and beat Wedgewood with a wrist shot at 19:06. Krecji’s power-play goal in the opening minute of the third put Boston up 4-1 just 15 seconds after Luke Schenn was called for hooking. Heinen and Bjork scored 55 seconds apart late in the game, leading to a players- only meeting for the Coyotes. “It was really about the last 10 minutes. We can’t do that,” Dvorak said. “We left Wedgie out to dry and that is unacceptable.” The Bruins struck first when Marchand scored on a one-timer off a crossing pass from David Pastrnak. But Dvorak tied it with a high backhand with 2:53 left in the first after stealing a clearing attempt by Brandon Carlo. NOTES: Arizona D Kyle Capobianco, called up Monday from Tucson of the , made his NHL debut. … Dvorak’s goal was his first in 10 games. … RW Jacob DeBrusk returned to the Bruins after missing three games with an upper-body injury. UP NEXT Coyotes: Continue a four-game road trip Saturday at Columbus. foxsportsarizona.com LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087119 Arizona Coyotes

Coyotes give up 6 goals in loss to Bruins

BY ASSOCIATED PRESS DECEMBER 7, 2017 AT 8:21 PM

BOSTON — David Backes scored his first two goals of the season, helping the Boston Bruins beat the Arizona Coyotes 6-1 on Thursday night. It was Backes’ third game back after he missed 12 straight following surgery to remove part of his colon. The veteran forward scored his first goal with Boston on a tip-in 13:54 into the second period and then added another goal with 54 seconds left in the period. Brad Marchand scored 15 seconds into the game for the Bruins, who won for the seventh time in nine games. David Krejci, Danton Heinen and Anders Bjork also scored, and Tuukka Rask made 20 saves. Christian Dvorak had an unassisted goal for Arizona, and Scott Wedgewood made 25 saves. Backes, the former St. Louis captain who signed with Boston as an unrestricted free agent in July, was expected to miss up to eight weeks following his surgery on Nov. 2 to relieve inflammation caused by diverticulitis. He returned to the Bruins on Nov. 29 and got his 500th career point Monday with an assist during a loss at Nashville. Backes deflected in Riley Nash’s wrist shot from the blue line at to break a 1-all tie with 6:06 left in the second. He also stole the puck from Alex Goligoski inside the Arizona zone and beat Wedgewood with a wrist shot at 19:06. Krecji’s power-play goal in the opening minute of the third put Boston up 4-1 just 15 seconds after Luke Schenn was called for hooking. The Bruins struck first when Marchand scored on a one-timer off a crossing pass from David Pastrnak. But Dvorak tied it with a high backhand with 2:53 left in the first after stealing a clearing attempt by Brandon Carlo. NOTES: Arizona D Kyle Capobianco, called up Monday from Tucson of the American Hockey League, made his NHL debut. … Dvorak’s goal was his first in 10 games. … RW Jacob DeBrusk returned to the Bruins after missing three games with an upper-body injury. UP NEXT Coyotes: Continue a four-game road trip Saturday at Columbus. Bruins: Host the on Saturday. Arizona Sports LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087120 Boston Bruins Spooner remains out of uniform with an injury related to his groin tear. But Cassidy has had Krejci as his No. 2 center for seven of the last eight games. He’s hit upon a dependable third line with Backes and Danton Bruins’ first line has been thinking offense first Heinen flanking Riley Nash. Offense is not high on the collective strengths of Tim Schaller, Sean Kuraly, and Noel Acciari. But the fourth- line grinders have gained Cassidy’s trust to the degree where he can roll them out for D-zone starts (36.8 percent in Acciari’s case) and give his GLOBE STAFF By Fluto Shinzawa lead dogs time to catch their breath. The results have been in the Bruins’ favor. The first line chewed up Tampa’s top threesome of Vladislav Namestnikov, Steven Stamkos, and It took Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron, and David Pastrnak only 15 Nikita Kucherov for one period. It was enough for Tampa coach Jon seconds to connect on Thursday’s opening goal in the Bruins’ 6-1 win Cooper to split Stamkos and Kucherov, the league’s most dangerous over Arizona. Because of Bergeron’s forechecking presence, Jason offensive duo. Demers rushed his clearing attempt off the glass and onto Pastrnak’s stick. Then the three did what they do best: turn a defending situation into One game later, Philadelphia’s first line of Claude Giroux, Sean a goal. Couturier, and Jakub Voracek didn’t do anything against Bergeron’s group. In Nashville, a four-goal lead allowed the Predators to lean on As Demers tried to scramble back into position, the top line went to work. their preferred defensive matchups to protect their cushion. Before Scott Wedgewood could slide over, Pastrnak slid a cross-ice dish to Marchand, who buried the puck. “We trust them,” Cassidy said of his fourth line. “They were really good on the West Coast trip when we needed the offense. We were down a Pastrnak has a seven-game scoring streak. Marchand has two goals and few bodies and that line really did a good job of handling the D-zone five assists in his last four games. Bergeron has four helpers in the last starts. That’s the options we have. It worked in Philly. We were able to three games. throw [Bergeron’s line] out there for offensive draws and not worry about They are not scoring by coincidence. the matchup. We were back in our end a minute later, ‘Hey, we’ve got another line that can play against Giroux in that particular situation.’ It’s a There is no better defensive up-front pair than Marchand and Bergeron. product of what else we have, and a product of what they’re doing They regularly turn shutdown shifts into offensive situations because of offensively is allowing them to have more starts. Which I’m sure they their puck-pursuit doggedness. enjoy. Patrice, he wins Selkes for a reason. But everyone likes playing with the puck a little more and having more opportunities.” But they are getting more leash to go on the attack. They have the talent to do so, but they’re also getting support lower in the lineup. Boston Globe LOADED: 12.08.2017 Against Nashville, Bergeron started only two shifts during five-on-five play in the defensive zone. In comparison, he began nine of his shifts in the offensive zone (81.8 percent). Against Philadelphia, he didn’t start any five-on-five shifts in the defensive zone. Against Tampa Bay, it didn’t really matter that the count was flipped: 10 five-on-five starts in his own end compared with three in the Lightning’s zone. Bergeron, Marchand, and Pastrnak were so good that, despite their defense-first deployment, the Bruins piled up 24 shot attempts while they were on the ice while allowing 15. On Thursday, matchups dictated that the first line started only 40 percent of its shifts in the offensive end. “Because of the way some of our other lines are made up now and we have some consistency, we’ve used them a lot more in offensive-zone situations,” coach Bruce Cassidy said. “Whereas in the past, you’d see Bergy go to the boards in defensive-zone situations. We’re trying to give them that luxury.” Ex-coach Claude Julien did not hesitate to lean on Bergeron for defense. In 2012-13, Bergeron started only 41.6 percent of his five-on-five shifts in the offensive zone, the lowest of his career. Last year, with Julien calling the shots for two-thirds of the season, Bergeron started 444 five-on-five shifts in the offensive zone (54.7 percent) compared with 368 in his own end. Cassidy has not been as keen as rolling Bergeron in as many shutdown situations. Through 20 games this year, Bergeron’s offensive start rate had climbed to 61.5 percent, the highest of his career. It does not compare to the league-leading rates of Daniel Sedin (72.1 percent) and Henrik Sedin (71.8 percent). But it shows how the Bruins are trying not to burn as many of Bergeron’s defensive matches. Cassidy has given Marchand, Bergeron, and Pastrnak more opportunities to think offense first because they are talented chance- generators. Pastrnak leads the team in scoring with 14 goals and 11 assists. Marchand, despite missing eight games, is second (10-12—22). Bergeron is third behind his linemates with five goals and 12 assists. “It’s going to change every night depending on where we are and who we’re matched up against,” Marchand said. “With a guy like Bergy winning draws the way he does, we can create some goals. I think we got two in Philly off draws. It is good to be able to start in the offensive zone.” Marchand-Bergeron-Pastrnak line in action Their usage, however, also reflects Cassidy’s trust in a lineup that is getting healthier. For 11 games in October and November, Cassidy was without David Krejci and Ryan Spooner, once considered their second- and third-line centers. His top six was compromised when Anders Bjork was unavailable for seven games last month. David Backes is a third-line wing, but a dependable one at that, and colon surgery took him out of Cassidy’s toolbox for 12 straight games in November. 1087121 Boston Bruins (two by Backes in the second period) to go along with two assists (both by Nash).

Backes’ back-to-back strikes snapped a 1-1 stalemate and came in his Jake DeBrusk returns to lineup, but Ryan Spooner goes on IR ninth game of the season, and fourth since returning from colon surgery. He picked up his 500th career point in the 5-3 loss to Nashville on Monday. By Kevin Paul Dupont David Backes(center) is congratulated by Bruins teammates Danton Heinen (left) and Riley Nash after scoring his second goal of the game — and season — on back-to-back strikes in the second period. Rookie winger Jake DeBrusk (5-7—12) was back in the lineup Thursday night when the Bruins faced the Coyotes at the Garden, and Ryan His confidence restored this season after being demoted to Providence Spooner was back in the press box, hindered again by a chronic groin early last season, Heinen picked up two assists over his last three injury that has pestered him for nearly two months. Later in the day, the games, including a nice feed to Charlie McAvoy for one of the club’s rare team put Spooner on injured reserve. power-play goals of late. So, for the moment, little-used winger Matt Beleskey remains on the Heading into the matchup with the Coyotes, the Bruins were an anemic 3 Black-and-Gold roster. The underperforming Beleskey, scratched for 37 (8.1 percent) on the man-advantage over the previous 13 games. Thursday night for the eighth time in nine games, would have been in On Thursday night, David Krejci had the Bruins’ lone score out of four peril of being demoted to AHL Providence, but the Bruins seemed to buy power-play opportunities vs. the Coyotes. some time to decide on the roster number. Marathon men “Donny and I are going to sort through that this afternoon,” said coach Bruce Cassidy, noting that he and GM Don Sweeney would confer on Headed into their 26th game of the season on Thursday, only seven roster issues later in the day. “Spooner didn’t skate today and we have to Bruins skaters had played in all 25 previous games. Across the 31-team look at where he’s going, in terms of progress for Saturday.” league, the average was nine. The bottom feeders: Anaheim (6), Colorado (6) and Nashville (6). Alone at the top of the heap: Tampa (13), The Bruins play the Islanders at the Garden on Saturday. If Spooner followed by a half-dozen clubs at 11. Arizona had 8 . . . Ex-Jets were ready to re-enter the lineup, then the Bruins, up against the roster defenseman Paul Postma remained out of the Boston lineup for the sixth limit, would have to make a corresponding move — thus, perhaps, time in seven games . . . Frank Vatrano sat out his third straight game putting Beleskey in jeopardy. and has not registered a point since his goal against the Maple Leafs on Nov. 11. Beleskey, 29, has suited up this season for only 14 games, the Bruins a disappointing 4-8-2 in those games (vs 8-1-2 when he sits). Boston Globe LOADED: 12.08.2017 Signed as an unrestricted free agent for $19 million over five years in July 2015, Beleskey has underperformed since his arrival, and could be a prime target for a buyout in June 2018. If cut free in the summer, the Bruins would save $2.53 million of the remaining $7.6 million owed on his contract, and his cap figure would drop from $3.8 million over two years to $1.27 million over four. Meanwhile, DeBrusk began the night at left wing on a line with David Krecji and Anders Bjork. DeBrusk had produced well of late (2-4—6 over six games), until getting his head banged against the glass on a Darnell Nurse check when the Oilers were in town Nov. 26. “I think with Krech, it’s an easy switch,” said Cassidy, noting the veteran center’s ability to adapt to different wingers. “He’s getting his feet wet again — feeling up to speed — after missing some time. He looks very close. I like the youth on his wings, [kids] who can skate. It forces him to skate as well, and it’s worked out well for him, having those young guys on his wing.” Learning curve Bjork, limited to 3-6—9 in 18 games prior to Thursday, is making his way back after taking a big hit to the head and shoulders by Toronto’s Matt Martin on Nov. 11. The game against the Coyotes was only his third since missing seven games due to the big hit. Bjork tallied his fourth goal of the season during the Bruins’ three-goal eruption in the third period, scoring at 18:51. Before that, Bjork had been without a goal since potting a pair against the Canucks on Oct. 19. Cassidy said he was impressed that the ex-Notre Dame standout picked up his skating pace late in the game Monday night vs. Nashville. “I think Anders has to learn that there’s a lot of defenses in this league that gap up and gap up quick, and they are big, and they will hit you, if you are not ready,” said Cassidy. “He is learning that process. Because of his speed, in college there was a little bit of a fear factor in gapping up with him because he could make you look bad — so D backed off, and waited for help, for layers. “In the NHL, Bjork is still fast — his best trait — but his speed isn’t so far above the norm that the opposition is caught out of synch. “He’s going to have to understand, when there’s ice available in front of the defenseman he can use his skill,” Cassidy noted. “Or if there’s space available behind them and he has to chip-‘n’- chase; chip to a spot, get in and forecheck.” Line shuffle DeBrusk’s return also moved fellow rookie Danton Heinen to a different line. He began the night on a trio with Riley Nash and David Backes.It proved to be a productive move as the trio combined to score four goals 1087122 Boston Bruins

Flames' Tkachuk suspended 1 game for spearing

Associated Press Thursday, December 07, 2017

TORONTO — Calgary Flames forward Matthew Tkachuk has been suspended one game by the NHL for a spearing incident in Wednesday's game against Toronto. Tkachuk will sit as Calgary tries to end a three-game losing streak Thursday night in Montreal. He will also forfeit $11,280.49 in salary. The incident came in the first period of Calgary's 2-1 shootout loss to the Maple Leafs. Tkachuk poked Leafs forward Matt Martin with the blade of his stick while standing on the bench as an altercation was brewing along the sideboards. The play began when Martin came across the ice and checked Troy Brouwer into the boards, leading to a brief scrum. Tkachuk's jab went undetected by on-ice officials and no penalty was called on the play. He didn't speak to reporters after the game. Martin said he didn't know Tkachuk speared him until he was shown a video of the play by team staff. "I didn't feel it at the time, but I guess if he's going to do stuff like that he should make it count," Martin said. "It's child's play." Leafs coach Mike Babcock called it "junior hockey stuff." "He'll learn over time," Babcock said of the 19-year-old player. "You've got to give Tkachuk credit, he played a good game, he played hard. No reason for that stuff." Tkachuk is only two weeks removed from a one-game suspension for unsportsmanlike conduct stemming from an incident in a Nov. 15 matchup with the Detroit Red Wings. Late in the third period of an 8-2 loss against Detroit, Tkachuk jabbed Wings forward Luke Witkowski with the blade of his stick after Witkowski was escorted off the ice after a fight with Calgary's Brett Kulak. Unlike the Martin incident, Tkachuk was given a five-minute major for spearing and a game misconduct on the play. "You can play with an edge, for sure. I think he's an effective player. I think he's a good player," Martin said. "When you're sitting on the bench or the situation in Detroit ... it's not really necessary ... I don't think it's a good hockey play by any means" Tkachuk was already considered a repeat offender after receiving a two- game suspension for elbowing L.A. Kings defenseman Drew Doughty last year in his rookie season. Boston Herald LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087123 Boston Bruins

Jake DeBrusk returns for Bruins tonight; another roster move expected

Steve Conroy Thursday, December 07, 2017

Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy declared that Jake DeBrusk, though still on injured reserve at this moment, is ready to go for tonight's game against the Arizona Coyotes at the Garden. With the B's at the 23-man roster limit, they will have to make a corresponding move with DeBrusk coming off IR. The easy move would be to put Ryan Spooner on IR. Spooner, who re-injured his groin in the B's loss in Nashville on Monday, has not skated for the past two days, and Cassidy ruled him out for tonight. If he went on IR, which calls for a player to be out of action for seven days, Spooner would only have to miss one more game after tonight. Considering that this is the second recurrence of the injury that kept him out for five weeks, it might not be a bad idea to take a cautious approach. Cassidy said he'll sit down with general manager Don Sweeney this afternoon to figure out the next move. “We've got to look at where is (Spooner) going in terms of his progress for Saturday,” said Cassidy. “That's the first thing we'll discuss and go from there.” During the morning skate, Cassidy had DeBrusk skating on the left wing with center David Krejci and right wing Anders Bjork. Torey Krug, who took a maintenance day on Wednesday, skated this morning and is ready to go for tonight. The Coyotes come in with a 7-18-5 record but are 5-2-3 in their last eight games. Boston Herald LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087124 Boston Bruins

Backes scores 2 goals as Bruins beat Coyotes 6-1

Associated Press Thursday, December 07, 2017

BOSTON — David Backes scored his first two goals of the season, helping the Boston Bruins beat the Arizona Coyotes 6-1 on Thursday night. It was Backes' fourth game back after he missed 12 straight following surgery to remove part of his colon. The veteran forward scored his first goal with Boston on a tip-in 13:54 into the second period and then added another goal with 54 seconds left in the period. Brad Marchand scored 15 seconds into the game for the Bruins, who won for the seventh time in nine games. David Krejci, Danton Heinen and Anders Bjork also scored, and Tuukka Rask made 20 saves. Christian Dvorak had an unassisted goal for Arizona, and Scott Wedgewood made 26 saves. Backes, the former St. Louis captain who signed with Boston as an unrestricted free agent in July, was expected to miss up to eight weeks following his surgery on Nov. 2 to relieve inflammation caused by diverticulitis. He returned to the Bruins on Nov. 29 and got his 500th career point Monday with an assist during a loss at Nashville. Backes deflected in Riley Nash's wrist shot from the blue line at to break a 1-all tie with 6:06 left in the second. He also stole the puck from Alex Goligoski inside the Arizona zone and beat Wedgewood with a wrist shot at 19:06. Krecji's power-play goal in the opening minute of the third put Boston up 4-1 just 15 seconds after Luke Schenn was called for hooking. The Bruins struck first when Marchand scored on a one-timer off a crossing pass from David Pastrnak. But Dvorak tied it with a high backhand with 2:53 left in the first after stealing a clearing attempt by Brandon Carlo. NOTES: Arizona D Kyle Capobianco, called up Monday from Tucson of the American Hockey League, made his NHL debut. ... Dvorak's goal was his first in 10 games. ... RW Jacob DeBrusk returned to the Bruins after missing three games with an upper-body injury. UP NEXT Coyotes: Continue a four-game road trip Saturday at Columbus. Bruins: Host the New York Islanders on Saturday. Boston Herald LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087125 Boston Bruins Boston Herald LOADED: 12.08.2017

Harris: Third line finally delivers with David Backes on board

Stephen Harris Friday, December 08, 2017

So on a personal level, David Backes has a very nice, No. 1 star kind of night, and afterward he mostly wanted to talk about his linemates, about the rest of his teammates and about “the process.” Eventually he did get around to admitting, yes, scoring a couple of goals in the Bruins’ rare 6-1 laugher against the Arizona Coyotes last night — his first goals of the season — was kind of sweet. “I kind of knew the dam was going to break here eventually,” said Backes, who was in his third game back after a remarkably fast recovery from colon surgery. “I felt like we were creating a lot of good quality chances and not finishing them off. “Contributing offensively is a good feeling, that’s not lost on me. But I have always been one to trust in the process, trust in playing hard and playing the right way — knowing that the results will come from that. Rather than the other way — concentrating on the results, looking at the statistics lines and if it’s going in or not. “I (know) that over time I’ll get my looks, I’ll get my opportunities. I’ve been there before. It’ll go in eventually — typically in bunches. Hopefully this is the beginning of a big bunch.” The goals arrived in different forms. The first, which made it 2-1 and proved to be the game-winner, came as Backes battled rugged defenseman Jakob Chychrun in the low slot at 13:54 of the second period. Bruins defenseman Matt Grzelcyk let go a shot from the left point and Backes applied a deft tip to direct the puck over the right shoulder of Coyotes goalie Scott Wedgewood. His second goal came a few minutes later in the second period, and pretty well iced the win. This time, Backes showed a good stick in the offensive end to cleanly intercept a pass from defenseman Alex Goligoski in the left circle. He skated a step or two closer and snapped a forehander into the far side past Wedgewood’s glove. Backes spoke afterward about the chemistry being created by the Bruins’ third line, and the unit’s identity as a keep-it-simple, straight-ahead forechecking threesome. “Overall, it felt like we spent a lot of time in the offensive zone, pucks back to the point, getting some traffic in front and we were able to create some turnovers, some forecheck goals,” said Backes. “That’s a good identity . . . to have and to continue shift-by-shift to provide that spark, provide that pressure.” Coach Bruce Cassidy also talked at length after the game about Backes and the No. 3 line. He said he did not doubt the veteran forward would start finding the net. “He’s scored a lot of goals in this league (with) 500 points,” said Cassidy. “You know it was going to come. “It has been a while coming for David. We played him in some games to prepare him for (the Nov. 2) surgery, which sounds completely weird. Then he comes back and plays some good games but doesn’t get rewarded. For him I think it was important. He is a well-liked guy in the room, so the guys were genuinely happy.” And Cassidy’s thoughts on the third line? “I always believe your checking line should be a threat to score,” the coach said. “Otherwise, the line they’re against, which is generally an offensive line, will not respect them in that manner, knowing that there’ll be no consequences. “(With) that line, I had that in mind. David has scored a lot of goals — 15 or 20, 22, 23, whatever the average is,” Cassidy continued. “I think Danton Heinen has the ability to make plays, so there’s a skill element on the left side. And then (Riley) Nash has always been that checking center with some offensive upside. “So you throw them all in there and you got a little bit of physicality; two guys who can win a faceoff; all three can kill penalties; two are on the power play. “So you’ve got elements of both. That’s the thinking, and it’s working. It’s great, because the third line was a question mark this year. And at least in the short term, we’ve solved that problem.” 1087126 Boston Bruins Boston Herald LOADED: 12.08.2017

David Backes’ two goals spark Bruins’ late rout of Arizona

Steve Conroy Friday, December 08, 2017

The method the Bruins went about winning a hockey game last night was not all that important. Earning the two points from the cellar-dwelling Arizona Coyotes, no matter how much better they’ve been playing of late, was not just crucial but imperative. The B’s could not afford to kick away two points with the Coyotes in town and, though the execution was not always attractive, they accomplished what they set out to do, capturing a 6-1 decision that was devoid of drama by the end. But don’t let the final score fool you. The game was very much in doubt late in the second period before David Backes scored his first two goals of the season to snap the Bruins out of a funk that set in late in the first period and for much of the second. “By no means are we perfect. We have a lot to work on,” said winger Brad Marchand, who opened the scoring just 15 seconds into the game. “We had an awful second period and really got lucky to come out of that with the lead. There’s still a lot to work. We know that. But we know we can be a good team and we showed that in spurts. If we can consistently put that together game after game, we will be a good team and be tough to play against every night. That’s one thing we all have to learn as a group, how to be consistent and play at that high tempo. We’re working on that and we’re finding it. Definitely in spurts, but it’s fun to watch when we do.” If the Bruins had initial impressions that this was going to be easy, you could understand. Not only did they thump the Coyotes 6-2 in the first meeting in Arizona in October, their first goal came, well, rather easily — on the first shift of the game. It took the B’s top line all of 15 seconds to score. They won the draw, gained the offensive zone and went to work. From behind the net, Patrice Bergeron dished out to David Pastrnak at the right circle and he made a terrific pass to Marchand on the left. Before goalie Scott Wedgewood could recover, Marchand beat him shortside for his 10th goal of the year. On that line’s next shift, Pastrnak nearly put away a breakaway and for a few minutes it seemed like a knockout punch could be coming soon. But the Coyotes got their skates under them and pushed back when Christian Dvorak stole the puck from Brandon Carlo and beat Tuukka Rask with a backhander at 17:07 to even the score. The Coyotes then dominated the first half of the second period, as even the Bergeron line, so good of late, had their struggles, failing to get the puck out several times on one shift. “We were probably over-complicating the game and maybe not respecting our opponent,” said defenseman Matt Grzelcyk. Grzelcyk helped turn the game around on Backes’ first goal at 13:54. The Charlestown native did a good job keeping possession along the left boards before dishing off to Riley Nash at the blue line. Nash flipped the puck at the net, Backes got his stick on it and the game irrevocably changed in the B’s favor. “It worked out well for me as a coach that that line scored, because they were playing the game of what was in front of them,” said B’s coach Bruce Cassidy. “If there was an opportunity to gain the zone with speed, they did, if not it was behind them and they went to work. I’m glad we scored that type of goal because we were missing that element in our game halfway through the first period and early in the second. We wanted to trade chances and that’s great if you’re executing. But our execution was off for a while. To get one that way was good. It gave us a lift.” Then Backes gave the B’s a 3-1 lead with 53.9 seconds left in the second when he stole the puck from Alex Goligoski and beat Wedgewood with a hard wrister. David Krejci put the B’s in complete control with a 5-on-3 goal 45 seconds into the third, then Danton Heinen and Anders Bjork made it a rout with a couple of garbage time goals. The Bruins will have to play better tomorrow night when the Islanders come to town. But the fact that they weren’t all that happy with themselves after a 6-1 victory suggests they have a healthy knowledge of that fact. 1087127 Boston Bruins

Bruins notebook: Anders Bjork finding his game again on David Krejci’s wing

Steve Conroy Friday, December 08, 2017

The bevy of Bruins rookies have had their learning moments this year, and they’ll surely have more of them. For Anders Bjork, he’s been going through a bit of a double whammy lately. Bjork not only is trying to come back from his first injury as a pro (a suspected concussion) that cost him seven games, he’s also been getting used to a new centerman. Throughout training camp and the early part of the season, Bjork had skated on the Patrice Bergeron-Brad Marchand line. But in the three games since returning, he’s been on David Krejci’s right wing. In the first two games, he’s only managed one shot while averaging approximately 12 minutes a game. Bjork has accepted the challenge of trying to make it work. “It’s been great. I’m trying to find ways to make our line more successful because he’s a different player than Bergeron, but he’s such a world class player,” said Bjork. “He makes so many good plays, it’s on me to help guide those plays and turn those plays into offensive production. “Coming back from being out for a while has been hard for me to find my speed and timing, I guess. But I think (Krejci) has helped a lot with that and he makes such smart decisions with the puck, it’s easy for me to read off that. I’ve got to keep talking and learning ways where I can improve and help out the line.” Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy felt Bjork started playing with some good pace in the latter stages of the Nashville game on Monday. “I thought managing the puck was an issue early on,” said Cassidy, who’d also like to see the rookie shoot more. “One of the things I think Anders has to learn is that there are a lot of defensemen in this league that will gap up and gap up quick. They’re big and they will hit you if you’re not ready. He’s learning part of that process. “He’s learning to understand when there’s ice in front of the defense and he can use his skill. And when there’s ice behind the defenseman he has to chip and chase, or chip to a spot and get in on the forecheck.” We’ll see how long he plays with Krejci. Throughout training camp, Cassidy had his set veteran forward pairs, putting right wing David Pastrnak almost exclusively with his Czech countryman Krejci. But the trio of Marchand-Bergeron-Pastrnak, put together when Krejci missed 11 games with a back injury, has been tremendous lately and the coach wants to ride that as long as he can. But he also wants to take a good look at Krejci with the two kids. One in, one out Turns out the B’s were able to defer any big decisions with regard to a roster spot — at least for a few more days — thanks to a recurrence of Ryan Spooner’s groin injury. Jake DeBrusk, returning after missing three games with an upper body injury, simply came off injured reserve and Spooner went on it, which means he’ll have to miss at least tomorrow’s game against the Islanders as well. But there could be more tough decisions waiting for general manager Don Sweeney in the next week or so. Not only may Spooner be healthy in short order, but Adam McQuaid continues to rehab from his broken fibula and may not be too far away. The B’s are currently at the 23-man roster limit. Always improving It is not uncommon to see Kevan Miller, if his partner gets caught up ice, make up a big chunk of ice to cut off an opponent’s scoring chance. Cassidy said that Miller is a self-made man when it comes to his solid skating ability. “It started in development camp a number of years ago,” said Cassidy, who coached Miller throughout his Providence days. “He’s a guy that has really improved his skating, which is not an easy thing to do. He came at 25 and you’ve got your habits created already. He really worked at it.” Boston Herald LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087128 Boston Bruins

Bruins score must win over lowly Coyotes

Steve Conroy Thursday, December 07, 2017

The method that the Bruins went about winning the hockey game Thursday night was not all that important. But earning the two points from the cellar-dwelling Arizona coyotes, no matter how much better they've been playing of late, was imperative. The B's could not afford to kick away two points with the 'Yotes in town and, though the execution was not always attractive, they accomplished what they set out to do, capturing a 6-1 decision that was devoid of drama by the end. David Backes broke a 1-1 tie with two goals late in the second period (his first two goals of the season) and David Krejci scored a 5-on-3 goal 45 seconds into the third period to lead the Bruins to victory at the Garden. Brad Marchand scored 15 seconds into the game and Danton Heinen and Anders Bjork scored garbage time goals for the B's. If the Bruins had initial impressions that this was going to be an easy one, you could understand. Not only did they thump the Coyotes, 6-2, in the first meeting in Arizona in October, the B’s first goal came, well, rather easily. It took the B’s top line all of 15 seconds to put the team up 1-0. They won the draw, gained the offensive zone and went to work. From behind the net, Patrice Bergeron dished out to David Pastrnak at the right circle and he made a terrific pass to Marchand on the left. Before goalie Scott Wedgewood could recover, Marchand beat him shortside for his 10th goal of the year. The assist extended Pastrnak’s point streak to seven games. On that line’s second shift, Marchand sent Pastrnak off on a partial breakaway. With Oliver Ekman-Larsson pestering from behind, Pastrnak tried to slip the puck between Wedgewood’s pads but the goalie denied him. Then the last-place Coyotes, who were 5-2-3 in their previous 10 games, started to created some chances of their own. And at 17:07, they evened it up off a Brandon Carlo turnover. With not much of a forecheck facing him, Carlo tried to bank the puck off the boards to a teammate in the neutral zone, but Christian Dvorak knocked it down out of mid-air and went on the attack. Leaving the defenseman in his wake, Dvorak went strong to the net and lifted a backhander over Tuukka Rask’s glove to make it 1-1. The B’s held an 8-7 shot advantage, but knew they were in a game. The Coyotes rammed that notion home even more when they dominated possession in the first half of the second period, not allowing the B’s a single scoring chance. The simplest plays for the B’s suddenly became a chore. Even the Bergeron line got hemmed in, failing multiple times to get the puck out. But with no pretty plays at their finger tips, the B’s had to grind their way to the go-ahead goal at 13:54. Matt Grzelcyk worked the puck up and down along the left boards before finding an opening to get the puck to Riley Nash out high. Nash flipped a shot toward the net and Backes tipped it from the slot past Wedgewood for his first goal of the year. Then Backes gave the B’s their first two-goal lead. Defenseman Alex Goligoski tried to make a breakout pass from high in his own zone and, like Dvorak did to Carlo, Backes knocked it down out of the air and had a clean rush to the goal. He snapped a shot that beat Wedgewood high to the glove side and the B’s had a 3-1 lead going into the third. Boston Herald LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087129 Boston Bruins

Morning Skate: The shirtless Jumbo Joe Bobblehead we all need

By Joe Haggerty December 07, 2017 1:09 PM

Here are all the links from around the hockey world, and what I’m reading, while it seems like everything in this sports world is coming up Celtics. *What do you get for the Jumbo Joe Thornton fan that has everything? How about the new shirtless Jumbo Joe bobblehead doll set for a San Jose game in March? Too bad it won’t be out in time for Christmas. *Will Matthew Tkachuk get suspended for his sneaky spear while sitting on the Calgary Flames bench? I would say this isn’t even a debate. You can’t poke a guy with your stick from the bench, and you definitely lose the benefit of the doubt when you’re Tkachuk. *Alex Ovechkin voices his support for all of the Russian Olympic athletes after the country has been banned from the Olympics due to their doping practices. *It sounds like all is not right with Matt Cullen and the Minnesota Wild in a season that hasn’t gone the way either would have imagined. *It sounds like Guy Boucher is getting awfully impatient with his Ottawa Senators players as the losing continues for them. *For something completely different: This story about a service dog interrupting an NYC production of “Cats” when they got loose and starting chasing one of the actors in a cat costume? This is peak awesomeness. SportsNet.com LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087130 Boston Bruins

Talking Points: Backes leads the way, Bruins annihilate Coyotes

By Joe Haggerty December 07, 2017 11:58 PM

GOLD STAR: David Backes had his most impressive game in quite some time with a big offensive outburst in the second period when he scored his first two goals of the season. On the first goal Backes beat out a couple of Arizona defenders in front of the net to tip home a Riley Nash bid from the outside, and on the second goal Backes stripped Alex Goligoski of the puck on the fore-check and then snapped a shot past goalie Kyle Wedgewood. In all, Backes finished with two goals, a plus-3 rating, four shots on net, and four takeaways in 17:23 of ice time. It was clear very early on that Backes is playing at 100% and his energy is back. His efforts helped the team overpower the Coyotes in the second period. BLACK EYE: Clayton Keller came into this matchup as the odds-on favorite to win the Calder Trophy, but he has cooled off tremendously after a torrid start to the season. Keller has now gone 16 games without a goal, and finished Wednesday night’s game with a minus-2 rating and just a single shot on net in 15:01 of ice time. He was a complete non- factor in the game, and it looks like the physical pounding of the NHL grind is beginning to wear on the small forward. This is why I said that people need to hold their horses for a bit before crowing the former BU standout as the rookie of the year just a month into the season. Keller is also now a minus-19 for the season. The last time I checked that is not every good. TURNING POINT: The Bruins were pretty mediocre for about 30 minutes after scoring just 15 seconds into the game, but the third line of Danton Heinen, Riley Nash and David Backes sparked the B’s with a pair of goals in the second half of the second period. That kick-started a final 30 minutes to the game where the Bruins built a lead against a Coyotes team without fight. The Black and Gold started to blow the doors off of Arizona in the second period behind two goals scored by David Backes. HONORABLE MENTION: David Krejci had one of his better games since returning from injury, and finished with a goal and two points in 15:40 of ice time. His power play goal during 5-on-3 play in the third period was a thing of beauty. Krejci also won 11-of-16 faceoffs, while beginning to redevelop some chemistry with Jake DeBrusk and Anders Bjork throughout the game. The final give-and-go with Bjork at the end of the third period showed off the same early season chemistry that Krejci had with the two young wingers. That should give the three forwards some encouragement to keep building foward as a healthy B’s roster finally forms an identity. BY THE NUMBERS: 6 – the game-high number of shots on net for Riley Nash. He racked up a pair of assists, and six points in his last six games while picking up his offensive pace. QUOTE TO NOTE: “We show it in spurts. You know if we can consistently put that together game after game then we will be a good team and be tough to play against every night." –Brad Marchand, who likes what he sees as the Bruins get hot and win seven of their last nine. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087131 Boston Bruins

Bruins pummel hapless Coyotes, 6-1

By Joe Haggerty December 07, 2017 9:41 PM

BOSTON – This Bruins game didn't promise to be electrifying, considering it was a matchup against an absymal Coyotes group, the game itself lived down to the advanced billing. The Bruins took care of business, handing the NHL’s worst team a 6-1 pounding at the TD Garden. It was Boston's seventh win in their last nine games. Brad Marchand drilled a goal into the back of the net just 15 seconds into the game, it seemed the B's were determined to avoid a slow start. The Coyotes fought back at the end of the period, and took advantage of a Brandon Carlo turnover to Christian Dvorak, who would tie the game with his fourth goal of the season. That would be all she wrote for the Yotes. David Backes had an outstanding performance, scoring his first two goals of the season in the second period. He was the biggest difference maker for the Black and Gold. The first was the end of a long play in the offensive zone when Backes tipped a long Nash shot home. The second was a fantastic hustle play, stealing the puck from Alex Goligoski before beating Scott Wedgewood high to glove side. The Bruins continued to add on in the third period on a 5-on-3 power play where tic-tac-toe passing ended with Marchand connecting with David Krejci for his fourth goal of the season. The rest was up to Tuukka Rask (20 saves) and the Bruins as they held Arizona to just the one first period goal, and continued a stretch where the defense and goaltending have been in synch with each other. Then Danton Heinen and Anders Bjork added a couple of goals in the final minutes to launch this game into blowout territory. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087132 Boston Bruins

DeBrusk in, Spooner out, with a bigger decision looming

By Joe Haggerty December 07, 2017 3:31 PM

BRIGHTON, Mass – The Bruins will welcome Jake DeBrusk back into the lineup on Thursday night against the Arizona Coyotes and it appears that Ryan Spooner (lower body) might be headed toward another stint on the injured reserve. Spooner has only been back a handful of games since tearing his groin, an injury that cost him more than a month of the season, when the center sustained a similar injury in the loss to the Nashville Predators on Monday night. DeBrusk was out the past three games with an upper-body injury and had two goals and five points in the previous five games before getting injured in the loss to the Edmonton Oilers. Spooner has been ruled out Thursday night and might be headed for the IR depending on his prospects for playing this weekend. Don Sweeney and Bruce Cassidy were planning on having a roster discussion on Thursday afternoon. A quick IR stint for Spooner would save the Bruins from having to make a more permanent roster decision. With DeBrusk coming back, underperforming wingers Frank Vatrano and Matt Beleskey would appear to be most at risk of losing their spot unless the Spooner injury can give them a little more time. At this point, however, it feels like the Bruins have cemented their opinions on the players that have been with them all season. “It’s not about second chances necessarily. I think every player that’s here has been given an opportunity to play. Some more than others, I get that. But if this is our best lineup then it’s our best lineup, and we’ll have to make the appropriate decisions when we get there,” said Cassidy. “When we do [make the decision] we’ll have a discussion on what makes us the best team and how we want to approach that.” Given the roster crunch, the Bruins have engaged in some level of trade talks involving Vatrano, and to a lesser extent Spooner and Beleskey, and could potentially get something back for players they might lose for nothing if placed on waivers en route to Providence. Here are the projected Bruins line combos and D-pairings after an optional Thursday morning practice at Warrior Ice Arena with Tuukka Rask set for goaltending duties: Marchand-Bergeron-Pastrnak DeBrusk-Krejci-Bjork Heinen-Nash-Backes Schaller-Kuraly-Acciari Chara-McAvoy Krug-Carlo Grzelcyk-Miller Rask Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087133 Buffalo Sabres Franson has one goal and six assists in 18 games with a minus-3 rating. But he's a darling of the analytics community and giving them more fodder to date by leading the Hawks with a 57 percent Corsi rating. Sabres Notebook: Blackhawks figure to be in a dark mood *** The Sabres have announced they will hold a "Mega Raffle" on Jan. 12 in By Mike Harrington | Published Thu, Dec 7, 2017 the Lexus Club at KeyBank Center. It will feature prizes including Sabres autographed items, team experiences and tickets. Doors will open at 6 p.m. and the first spin in the meat raffle-style event will be at 7. Sabres alumni and broadcast personalities will be on hand. CHICAGO -- The Buffalo Sabres might get a bad timing award for showing up in The Windy City when they did. There will be 12 raffle rounds with 3-4 spins per round. Ticket prices per round will range from $2-5 depending on the level of prizes available. The Chicago Blackhawks take a five-game losing streak into Friday's matchup in United Center and looking to start a turnaround against a Fans are encouraged to purchase individual tickets or reserve tables in Buffalo club they've dominated in recent years. advance, as space is limited. Admission is $20 and includes food and beverages. Tables of 10 can be reserved. Proceeds benefit the Sabres The Sabres have lost 11 straight to Chicago (0-9-2) and are 0-6-1 in their Foundation. Contact coordinator of community relations Nick Fearby at previous seven trips to the "Madhouse on Madison," last winning here on [email protected]. Jan. 10, 2007. Buffalo News LOADED: 12.08.2017 "You have to take time and space away. You give them space, they're going to make plays," Buffalo defenseman Marco Scandella said after practice here Thursday. "This is a group where most of them have been together for a long time. They're used to playing with each other. They move the puck well and really can get it going in this building." Scandella has plenty of experience against the Hawks from his days in Minnesota, including three straight playoff losses from 2013-15 where two of them where on Chicago's path to the Stanley Cup. But the Hawks are in a different spot these days, sitting sixth in the Central Division and just outside the Western Conference playoff teams in the wild-card race. The Hawks started the season 3-0-1 and it has set the tone for a campaign of wild mood swings. A 2-5-1 stretch was followed by a 7-3-1 run that seemingly got things back in order. But now the Hawks are 0-3-2 in the last five, scoring just 10 goals and enduring a 1-for-21 struggle on the power play. It's their longest losing streak since a nine-gamer in the 2011-12 season. There has to be concern in the Hawks camp being out of a playoff position in early December. "We know what we’re up against going forward," captain Jonathan Toews said after Wednesday's 6-2 loss in Washington. "But when you say you’re concerned, it means that you doubt yourself and you don’t think that you have what it takes to be where you want to be in the standings. But for us, that’s not at all the case." "There’s always a certain degree of desperation that has to be there,” added defenseman Duncan Keith. “Everybody can see the standings, what they are. And we want to be better than what we have been right now. Obviously, it’s not been good enough, and we need to be better.” The Blackhawks outshot the Caps, 39-25, and had 68 shot attempts in the game but were in a 3-0 hole through 16 minutes and never caught up. "Don’t be fooled,” coach Joel Quenneville grumbled after the game. "Shots hit them right in the chest, with no chance of getting a second opportunity. It’s almost like we gave the puck back to them, just putting it at the net with no purpose.” Goaltender Corey Crawford has missed the last three games with a lower-body injury and is eligible to come off injured reserve Friday. The Hawks initially said he would return Sunday against Arizona but Crawford skated with goaltending coach Jimmy Waite here Thursday prior to the Sabres' practice while the rest of his team was off. It will be interesting to see if he declares himself ready for Buffalo. The Hawks will be looking for an instant turnaround with consecutive home games against the Sabres, Florida and Arizona, the three teams at the bottom of the NHL's overall standings. "If we play the right way, we're a hard team to play against," Keith said. "We have to be excited going back home in our building and try to use that momentum being at home." South Buffalo native Patrick Kane continues to lead the Hawks in assists (17) and points (27) while Artem Anisimov is the team leader in goals with 12. Kane has 779 career points in 768 games. He has 295 goals and is five shy of becoming the fifth Hawk with 300. Kane will also become the fifth Hawk to 800 points. The other four in both categtories are Bobby Hull, Stan Mikita, Denis Savard and Steve Larmer. Keith's defense partner is former Sabres blueliner Cody Franson, who was not re-signed after last season and took a professional tryout offer from the Hawks before signing a one-year, $1 million deal. 1087134 Buffalo Sabres

Ristolainen wants to keep bringing his 'Beast Mode'

By Mike Harrington | Published Thu, Dec 7, 2017

CHICAGO -- Rasmus Ristolainen has played big minutes in his career before. But an eye-popping ice time total of 30:42 Tuesday in Denver came with lots extra attached to it. More snarl. More bite. Even after the whistle. He was the top-pair monster that Buffalo Sabres fans need to see every night on defense. "I want to play as many minutes as I can and try to find that 'Beast Mode'," Ristolainen said after practice Thursday in United Center. "That's how you feel when you play a lot and you don't get tired. You just want to run over everyone and make plays." Ristolainen's ice time -- which featured a whopping 11:09 of special teams time -- was the second-highest of his career in regulation. And he set a career-best with a plus-4 rating in the Sabres' 4-2 victory. Coach Phil Housley certainly took note of it, agreeing that it was one of Ristolainen's best games of the season and hoping he'll see more Friday night when the Sabres play the Chicago Blackhawks. "He had an edge to his game and he does that quite often," Housley said. "He's a true competitor but it was an extra attitude in his game and it's great to see. We're at a point where we've got to scrape for everything right now and that's the attitude we have to go into games with." "That's the way he has to play," said defense partner Marco Scandella. "He's a horse out there. Big body. Physical. He can really skate. When he's at his best, he's playing a physical game and moving the puck well. He just goes out and competes. It's a staple for him." So what motivated Ristolainen? There was a bounceback from a subpar set of weekend games against Pittsburgh, including his major flubbed pass that directly led to a Sidney Crosby goal on Friday night. And it was also seeing old friends on the other side. Ex-Sabres draft pick Nikita Zadorov and Avs winger Mikko Rantanen spend part of their summer working out with Ristolainen in Finland. One of Ristolainen's biggest hits of the game came when he leveled Rantanen in front of the Buffalo net during the first period. "It's always nice to play against good friends," Ristolainen said. "There's a little extra there." Ristolainen's big flub against the Penguins came Friday night in a game where he only had one shot on goal. But he played 28:11 in the rematch on Saturday, collecting five shots and 11 attempts. It was more of the same Tuesday with four shots on goal and eight attempts. "It was a good rebound on his part," Housley said. "There was some disappointment about the series against Pittsburgh and sometimes that can back you off when you make a mistake but he came to the forefront. It was really good to see him respond like that." Ristolainen has no goals and seven assists this season but has 53 shots on goal. The analytics community has continually said questioned whether he's top-pair worthy and a 43.8 percent Corsi rating last year helped make that point for them. But that figure has jumped to 50.8 percent this year -- and is at 59 percent the last two games. Ristolainen wants to keep working to generate offense but he knows Friday's game will be more about managing the puck in the defensive zone so the Blackhawks can't do the kind of damage people have become accustomed to seeing over the years. "We have to manage the puck well, get a third forward back to help the D," Ristolainen said. "You have to play in their zone. They don't want to play there. They want to get the puck and go. We have to play there if we want to win." Buffalo News LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087135 Buffalo Sabres

Sabres know what to expect, even with Hawks on five-game skid

By Mike Harrington | Published Thu, Dec 7, 2017

CHICAGO -- The Blackhawks have lost five straight and have to be thinking the end of their streak can come Friday night in United Center. The Buffalo Sabres know what to expect. "It's going to be important to have a good start against this team and not let the crowd get into it because that sort of feeds their engine," Sabres coach Phil Housley said after practice late Thursday afternoon. "If we play our game like the last game in Colorado it's going to be important because you can't let these guys wheel and deal. You give them room and space, they'll take advantage of it. They're still really deadly up front and attack the game." Defenseman Marco Scandella has gone through many battles with the Blackhawks while with Minnesota, including playoff series. Don't tell him the Hawks are vulnerable, even though Chicago currently sits outside the playoff picture by a point. "It's a great team but it's good to see there's a lot of energy in our room and guys are excited to play here," Scandella said. "Everyone knows this is a fun place to play. You have to take time and space away. You give them space, they're going to make plays. This is a group where most of them have been together for a long time. They're used to playing with each other. They move the puck well and really can get it going in this building." The Hawks are 0-3-2 in the last five games, scoring just 10 goals and going 1 for 21 on the power play. Goaltender Corey Crawford (lower body) has missed the last three games and is eligible to come off injured reserve Friday. The Hawks were off Thursday but Crawford skated alone with goaltending coach Jimmy Waite so it will be interesting to see if Crawford returns. Defenseman Nathan Beaulieu (flu) remains home and Housley has ruled him out for Friday's game. It would seem likely the Sabres would simply tell Beaulieu to stay home and not come to St. Louis for the finale of Sunday's road trip, with the idea to get him back for Tuesday's home game against Ottawa. Zemgus Girgensons remained the extra forward at practice on Thursday and will likely sit out for the second straight game as a healthy scratch. Josh Gorges was a scratch Tuesday and was an extra defenseman Thursday, and could be in the same boat. Evan Rodrigues got some work at the point on a power play unit with Zach Bogosian behind Evander Kane, Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart. The set up at practice was: Kane-Eichel-Pominville Pouliot-O'Reilly-Fasching Wilson-Rodrigues-Okposo Nolan-Larsson-Reinhart Scandella-Ristolainen McCabe-Bogosian Falk-Antipin PP1: Kane-Eichel-Reinhart-Bogosian-Rodrigues PP2: Okposo-O'Reilly-Fasching-Ristolainen-Pominville Buffalo News LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087136 Calgary Flames that net,’ and Hath and Benny and those guys did it. We got a lot of juice after that.”

Monahan opened Thursday’s scoring with a superb individual effort. OT victory for Flames in La Belle Province He won a faceoff back to Flames captain Mark Giordano and then bee- lined toward the blue paint in search of a rebound. Although his first effort WES GILBERTSON squirted wide, he corralled the puck for a spinning fire from below the goal-line, a low shot that banked in off Price’s glove.

Nobody will be talking about that marker, though. MONTREAL — Calgary Flames head coach Glen Gulutzan was thinking pass … to another guy. Not after his latest game-winner. Johnny Gaudreau is oh-so-dangerous in three-on-three overtime, and as Daniel Carr and Phillip Danault provided the offence for the hosts. the superstar left-winger entered enemy territory during Thursday’s Next up for the Flames is Saturday’s date with the Vancouver Canucks at bonus period at Bell Centre, it seemed like everybody in the building had the Saddledome (8 p.m., CBC/Sportsnet 960 The Fan). one eyeball on Flames blueliner TJ Brodie, his cross-crease option on a two-on-one rush. ICE CHIPS Gaudreau, though, had spotted his buddy Sean Monahan, with the trail- Flames RW Jaromir Jagr missed a second consecutive contest due to a man sniping the game-winner as the Flames’ dynamic duo clinched a 3-2 nagging lower-body injury … The Flames were also without LW Matthew overtime triumph over the host Montreal Canadiens. Tkachuk, who served a one-game suspension for Wednesday’s spearing incident in Toronto. “When that play was going on, I’m just hoping that Johnny is going to make the play over to TJ,” Gulutzan said. “I was, ‘C’mon … make it, Calgary Herald: LOADED: 12.08.2017 make it, make it.’ And all of a sudden, Monny out of nowhere is there, and I’m like, ‘Ok, that’s better.’ And then it goes in.” With Monahan, it always seems to go in. The 23-year-old alternate captain tallied twice Thursday and now has a team-leading 17 goals, including five of the game-winning variety. “I was just thinking, ‘I better score, because Johnny will be upset if I don’t,’ ” Monahan said. “When Johnny has the puck there, he has patience like no other. I actually thought on that one he wasn’t going to pass it to me. He wasn’t even looking at me. And then at the last second, he gives it to me, and I had an open net. That’s the treat of playing with Johnny.” And what were the rest of the guys thinking? “I think, if you watch the bench when Johnny had the puck going down, the whole bench stood up,” said Flames right-winger Garnet Hathaway, who scored a key goal of his own and was sporting the Calgary Police Service cowboy-hat in a jubilant locker room post-game. “You know Johnny is going to make a play. And you know Monny doesn’t really miss from there.” It was a happy ending to a two-games-in-two-nights getaway for the crew from Calgary, who return home with three of a possible four points and now own a 15-12-2 record on the season. Making just his second start at the NHL level, backup netminder David Rittich out-dueled Habs stalwart Carey Price with a 35-save performance. With less than two minutes remaining in regulation, Rittich stood his ground as Shea Weber — the three-time reigning winner of the hardest shot competition at the NHL’s annual all-star weekend — uncorked a slapper. Price wasn’t easy to solve, either, but Thursday’s turning point was undoubtedly a successful challenge by the Flames on Hathaway’s tying tally at the 7:49 mark of the third period. Trailing 2-1 at the time, the Flames swarmed Price’s crease after a wraparound attempt, with Hathaway, Sam Bennett and Mark Jankowski all jamming away. The puck finally trickled across the goal-line, but it was immediately waved off by the referee on the scene. The zebras congregated for a chat and confirmed the initial call, announcing no goal due to “incidental contact” with the masked man. With video coach Jamie Pringle in his ear, Gulutzan wasn’t buying it. The Flames challenged, and after a video review, officials changed their mind. Good goal. Hathaway, recalled last week from the American Hockey League’s Stockton Heat, was credited with his first big-league bingo of the season. Gulutzan celebrated with a fist-pump. “We were jacked up after that second goal,” Gulutzan said. “We just told our guys between the second and third — ‘Listen, this is going to be off somebody or it’s going to be jammed in. We have to find a way to get to 1087137 Calgary Flames Like Treliving, Tkachuk was anxious to turn the page. “Whether it’s Tre, my family, my teammates, my agent … I just put them in kind of a tough spot,” Tkachuk said. “It obviously bothers me, just the Treliving, Tkachuk meets with media to discuss winger's ban act itself. I just wanted to apologize to everybody involved today and you move on, get this over with.” WES GILBERTSON Calgary Herald: LOADED: 12.08.2017

MONTREAL — From 3M to GM. Suspended forward Matthew Tkachuk was manning the left wing for the wrong guy Thursday, standing side-by-side with Calgary Flames general manager Brad Treliving for a pre-game chat with reporters in Montreal. On the opposite side of a concrete wall, his Flames teammates — including his buddies on the so-called 3M Line — were suiting up for a showdown with the homestanding Canadiens at Bell Centre. And there was the 19-year-old Tkachuk, looking both serious and a tad sheepish, flanking his boss and facing questions about the silly spear that resulted in a one-game banishment for unsportsmanlike conduct. “I think most of you that cover us know my feelings about this guy — he’s a big part of what we’re doing here now and what we’re going to do in the future,” Treliving said, Tkachuk listening carefully to his left. “It was a stupid play (Wednesday) night, and it puts himself and his teammates in a poor position. So we’ve dealt with it now, and we move on. “He’s a young guy that is going to learn, but we don’t like the act. The guy involved, we love and we support him 1,000 percent. But you can’t have those things. You just can’t have that stuff.” It’s oh-so-rare for an executive and one of the skating staffers to address the media together. Perhaps, the Flames are hoping that a sprinkling of public admonishment with help hammer home the message to the talented and tenacious teen, already suspended three times in just 14 months of NHL employment. Tkachuk wasn’t even on the ice for his latest transgression. He reached from the bench to spear Toronto Maple Leafs fourth-liner Matt Martin during a first-period scrum Wednesday at Air Canada Centre. Despite his criticism of that decision, though, this was mostly a show of support from Treliving, who stressed the Flames are not trying to restrain the fiery competitor from playing his feisty brand of hockey. “Let’s remember, too, this is a 19-year-old young man. I’d hate for us to go back in time and figure out some of the stuff I did at 19,” Treliving said. “There’s not too many guys who play as hard as this guy, at this age in this league. So you learn from it. He plays on the edge, and you have to learn to straddle it. “There’s stuff you live with, by all means. But the stuff that doesn’t help you or your team … Sitting on the bench, doing that stuff? Ok, let’s knock that out and let’s just get on with it. He understands. He’s a smart guy. I don’t think we’re going to be talking about this stuff anymore. “But he’s a big part of our team. To me, he’s one of the engines that drives us. That’s what we talked about (Thursday) — not only does it put you in a bad light, but you’re missing a game, a real important game that we gotta get some points out of. He’s a driver, and we want him on the ice, not sitting here — no disrespect — talking with you guys with me.” Tkachuk, too, did his fair share of talking Thursday. He had a morning phone hearing with the NHL’s justice department, his second chat with league disciplinarians in the span of only three weeks. At the Flames’ pre-scout meeting, he apologized to his teammates. Surrounded by a handful of reporters outside the visitors’ locker-room at Bell Centre, he didn’t dispute Treliving’s assertion that his spear on Martin was a “stupid play.” In fact, he spit out those same words himself. “Being from the bench, I knew right away it wasn’t going to go over too well,” said Tkachuk, who also served a one-game suspension in mid- November for his part in sparking a skirmish with a whack at the leg of Detroit Red Wings tough guy Luke Witkowski. “So I tried to, I don’t know, make up for it the rest of the game by playing hard. “My past two things with the league have come with stuff after the whistle. With me, I just have to keep playing the same game from whistle to whistle, play hard. I think that’s when I’m at my best and I think that’s when our team is at our best, as well, when I’m playing like that and everybody is playing the way they should be playing.” 1087138 Calgary Flames “Second, Tkachuk is a repeat offender, having been suspended for a similar incident just 10 games ago for striking a player on the bench with his stick while he was on the playing surface.” Flames' Tkachuk handed one-game suspension for spearing On Thursday, Gulutzan again compared Tkachuk to a couple of rabble- rousers he coached on previous stops — Antoine Roussel in Dallas and Alex Burrows in Vancouver. (Burrows is now under the employ of the WES GILBERTSON Ottawa Senators.) “The biggest thing I tell these guys is whistle to whistle is when you compete hard. When the whistles blow or you’re not on the ice, that’s MONTREAL — The Calgary Flames realize Matthew Tkachuk will be when you have to stop,” Gulutzan said. “I mean … you’re not going to tell cheeky. them when the play is on and they’re battling like crazy … They’ll have to recognize those moments themselves. But if you can give them a In the , with countless camera angles, it’s hard guideline, it’s hey, when the whistle blows, it’s over.” to be sneaky. Tkachuk, who plays an important role on the Flames’ shutdown line, will Tkachuk continues to learn the hard way. be back in the lineup for Saturday’s date with the Vancouver Canucks at The 19-year-old left-winger was slapped Thursday with a one-game the Saddledome (8 p.m., CBC/Sportsnet 960 The Fan). suspension, punishment for a boneheaded spear the previous night in Calgary Herald: LOADED: 12.08.2017 Toronto. From the comforts of the visiting team bench at Air Canada Centre, Tkachuk jabbed his stick toward Maple Leafs thumper Matt Martin during a first-period stoppage. The referees missed it. The NHL’s disciplinary department, already with Tkachuk on speed-dial, did not. The Flames’ trouble-making teen has now been suspended three times during his brief big-league career, including twice in the span of the past three weeks. “If you look at it and what he did, you just have to realize that this is the NHL, and those things … You’re not going to get away from it,” said Flames head coach Glen Gulutzan prior to confirmation that Tkachuk would be forced to sit out Thursday’s matchup with the Montreal Canadiens at Bell Centre. “Maybe in Hudson Bay, Saskatchewan, you’ll get away with those, with Hudson Bay rules. But you won’t get away with them here, so he has to learn to walk that line and not do that kind of stuff. “He just has to realize where the lines are in his game and understand that the league he’s in doesn’t tolerate that. Is that maturity in the league? Yeah, maybe. I would say it’s growing up in the league a little bit. He has to recognize where he is.” Indeed, this sort of thing won’t go unnoticed under the NHL’s bright spotlight, especially in Toronto, the so-called centre of the hockey universe and a long way from Gulutzan’s prairie roots in Hudson Bay. “Junior hockey stuff.” That’s how Maple Leafs bench boss Mike Babcock assessed Tkachuk’s poke at Martin, who had cranked Flames alternate captain Troy Brouwer with a clean check along the neutral-zone boards. “Child’s play.” That’s how Martin described it. “He’ll learn over time,” Babcock added during Wednesday’s post-game presser. “But man, you gotta give Tkachuk credit. He played a good game. He played hard. No reason for that stuff.” The Flames adore Tkachuk’s nasty streak and are willing to accept that the soon-to-be birthday boy — he turns 20 on Monday — will sometimes stray across that invisible line. Take, for example, a heat-of-the-moment elbow to the chin of Los Angeles Kings workhorse Drew Doughty last March. For that pop, Tkachuk earned a two-game banishment. The snarky sophomore was in hot water again after a Nov. 15 incident in Detroit, although the Flames were furious that he received a one-game suspension for his gentle whack at the leg of Red Wings tough guy Luke Witkowski, who was being escorted off the ice after a fight. Thursday’s latest phone hearing was probably short. Smarten up, kid. Click. “While the spear itself is not forceful or malicious enough to merit supplemental discipline on its own, two factors cause this play to rise to the level of a suspension,” explained the NHL’s Department of Player Safety. “First, Tkachuk is on the bench when he intentionally strikes a player on the playing surface. While all incidents are reviewed individually, players who are not on the playing surface and engage in altercations in any way will be treated more harshly than players who are on the ice. 1087139 Calgary Flames recently. Those numbers are far more in line with that should be expected out of a fourth-overall pick facing off against third lines.

The same can be said about the TJ Brodie and Tavis Hamonic pairing. Seven Game Segments: Goals against and frustrations mount Although the duo still suffered through some unfortunate breakdowns, they at least managed to finish with 53 per cent of all shot attempts and a 55 per cent of scoring chances at 5-on-5. Like Bennett, this is the first By Kent Wilson segment this season where we can say that about Calgary's second pairing, and it is hopefully a step towards Brodie and Hamonic starting to find their groove. An angry mob is gathering in Calgary. Some people might worry about the Flames' first line given its recent struggles to score consistently, but they shouldn't be. Gaudreau and After two months of vacillating between good and bad, the Flames latest Sean Monahan were almost 60 per cent CF% players during this seven-game segment plunged them directly into the “bad” category, segment with 54 per cent of the scoring chances going in their favour. resulting in their worst run of the season. This recent segment featured The Backlund line put up similar numbers, but were also some of the humiliating defeats, lost leads, rough special teams and terrible bounces. unluckiest players on the team – Backlund's PDO, for example, crashed From a results perspective, It was a disastrous run, one that has pushed down to 88.3 (!!), due to bad goaltending and an on-ice shooting the club outside of the playoff picture in the West. percentage of just 3.3. As a result, Flames fans are starting to gather on the horizon, calling for That's a long way to say: the depth seems to be improving and the top heads of the coaching staff and decision makers. Previously trusted six will probably rebound. players are suggested as trade candidates. The head and heart of the assembled roster is being called into question. The bad Deep breaths, everyone. While the Flames a far from a perfect team, The culprit is an obvious one. there remain reasons for optimism. Let's take a look at why their recent spate of failure is likely more a blip rather than something more All season, to one degree or another, the Flames have struggled on the fundamental. defensive side of the puck. Weird decisions, bad reads, poor recoveries, lacklustre structure, awful penalty killing – anything you can name south The Basics of the red line, it's been a problem for Calgary. Record: 2-4-1 (12-8-1) Previously, the goaltending helped bail out the Flames and their uneven defence. This was particularly true through the first two or three weeks of CF%: 54.4% (52.5%) the year when Smith was putting up some of the best save rates in the GF%: 42.4% (51.5%) NHL despite being inundated on a nightly basis. XGF%: 53.8% (51.9%) Whatever magic that sustained Smith earlier in the year disappeared completely during this recent segment. Scoring chances went in. Non- PDO: 94.5 (99.0) scoring chances went in. Aside from the shutout over the Coyotes, Smith wasn't able to paper over the club's various issues this time around. PP: 15.8% (21.1%) Just as Smith isn't as good as he seemed to start the year, he isn't as PK: 87.5% (76.3%) bad as these results suggest, either. At some point, he'll settle Ironically, the last seven games represent one of the team's best somewhere in the middle. possession runs to date. Some of that is spending a lot of time trailing, It would help if the skaters in front of him could limit the obvious gaffes but it also shows that the team didn't suddenly fall off a cliff in terms of and panic periods that still seem to mark this club. Although Calgary their ability to control play. In addition, you can see that their expected boasted a positive shot share for this segment, their total shot attempts goal for rate (which combines shot volume and quality) was an above per 60 minutes continued to hover around 57 (57.14), which is five shots average 54 per cent during the period in question. per 60 higher than last season (as noted previously). The PK was So what happened? A lot of the things that were floating the club superficially improved during the last seven games, but that's a mirage previously stepped into an elevator shaft. The previously solid Mike based on a .950 save percentage while a man down. In reality, the club Smith put up a putrid sub-.900 save percentage, Johnny Gaudreau's hot gave up over 110 shot attempts against per 60, a number that is similarly streak ended and the powerplay went from red hot to lukewarm. poor relative to last season's results. The power outage is expressed in the club's way below average PDO of To date, the cure for these ills remains elusive. At some point, the team 94.5. It's almost impossible to win games – or look competent – when the needs to limit the obvious errors and slim down the shots against, at both percentages sink that low. Frustrated Flames fans can likely point to a even strength and the PK. number of on-ice failings and errors during the last seven games, but In terms of individual players, the fourth line is still a problem and is they should also recall an absurd collection of bad bounces – pucks off probable to remain that way for the rest of the season. With Kris shin pads, through skates (yes, this happened), around traffic – almost Versteeg on the shelf indefinitely, the bottom line will be made up of Troy every quality scoring chance for the opposition went in (and many that Brouwer, Matt Stajan and Curtis Lazar, a mix that has proven to be weren't). At the other end of the rink, the Flames frequently fired shots ineffective from all angles. The best thing Glen Gulutzan can do is limit wide, off posts, into blocks, or were stymied by a suddenly unbeatable their ice time and exposure against good players. goaltender. Scouting Report These runs happen, unfortunately. Even a great poker player can sit down at the table and see nothing but bad cards for a night. The A particularly frustrating habit of Calgary's to date is the club's inability to important thing is the Flames need to continue to do the things they do lock down a lead. For whatever reason, the Flames seem the most prone well, work on the things they don't and not press the panic button to disaster shifts and bad breakdowns either at the end of periods or prematurely. when they are ahead. As a result, Calgary has only spent a total of 297 minutes playing with the lead this season. Only the Edmonton Oilers The good (276) and Buffalo Sabres (272) are lower. For context, the Arizona For the first time this year, the majority of the Flames roster was above Coyotes, by far the worst team in the West, have spent 346 minutes up water in terms of Corsi. That is incredibly encouraging given the degree by a goal or more. to which the club's depth on both defence and forward has struggled to Like the defence and PK, the Flames need to figure out how to keep a control shots and chances so far this year. Only the Flames frequent lead when they get one. Their above average ability in OT is good and fourth-liners (Matt Stajan, Troy Brouwer, and Curtis Lazar) were in the all, but finishing things in regulation is always preferable. red this time around. With the loss of Versteeg, Calgary's first unit powerplay may need to be The improved depth is captured in Sam Bennett's recent run, by far his re-jigged. For now, the team is experimenting with Micheal Ferland on best of the season. Bennett not only scored six points in his last seven Brodie's right side and Brouwer in front of the net. Because of the four games but his line with Mark Jankowski and Jaromir Jagr (or Garnet forward/one defender set up, this unit tends to generate the most shots Hathaway), put together very good shot and chance ratios. According to on goal for the Flames but also gives up the best chances against when Natural Stat Trick, the Flames had a 55 per cent shot share and 56 per things go south. With only a single defender on the ice, the result of a cent scoring chance share with Bennett on the ice at even strength mistake is either a breakaway or 2-on-1, which invariably ends up in the back of the Flames net. That's why the team has already surrendered four short-handed goals against this year, all four coming against the top unit. What that means is the high, right-wing forward has to be very aware of his defensive role and how to manage the puck in a way that increases scoring chances without inflating risk. The Flames didn't do this particularly well with Versteeg this season, but a player with less experience in the role (like Ferland) has a chance to struggle further. It may make sense for Calgary to experiment with a more traditional set up featuring one of Hamilton or Stone next to Brodie as a result. On the good side of the ledger, Bennett finally started to look like the player many were expecting this year. His goal against the Edmonton Oilers was a legitimate snipe over Laurent Brossoit's shoulder. Bennett was a constant threat against the Flyers, a night where managed an assist but also eight shots on net. His combination with Jankowski (who also continues to look more and more comfortable) is starting to consistently create high-quality chances on a nightly basis, something that has been missing from Bennett's game for more than a season now. It's only seven games, so nothing to go overly excited about. However, it is the first truly positive step we've seen in the player's performance this season. The next seven Thurs, Dec 7 – at Montreal Canadiens Sat, Dec 9 – vs Vancouver Canucks Tues, Dec 12 – at Minnesota Wild Thurs, Dec 14 – vs San Jose Sharks Sat, Dec 16 – vs Nashville Predators Sun, Dec 17 – at Vancouver Canucks Wed, Dec 20 – vs St. Louis Blues The next seven games are a mix of opposition quality as well as home and away games. Of course, none of that will matter too much if the Flames can't tidy up their defensive game or turn their fortunes around. While they may not have much control over bad bounces and such, they must discover how to limit the unforced gaffes at both even strength and the PK. Maybe, then, they can start to play with – and keep – a lead. The Athletic LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087140 Carolina Hurricanes means for the future of hockey in the Triangle and see where things go from there.

At the moment, all we have is a name and an agreement and a lot of With sale agreement in place, Hurricanes can finally look to future questions. But that’s better than the way things have been with the Hurricanes, and for the first time in a long time, there’s reason to look forward with optimism. BY LUKE DECOCK News Observer LOADED: 12.08.2017

Let’s make this most important point first: Peter Karmanos should have and deserves the fervent and genuine appreciation of Carolina Hurricanes fans for bringing the team here and keeping it here. None of this, the good times and the bad, would have happened without him. Karmanos took a leap of faith coming to the Triangle, jumping into a building that was only weeks away from starting construction, navigating all of the conflicts and issues with N.C. State, and doing his best in recent years to fund a struggling team in an increasingly expensive league while losing his silent partner. And he was amply rewarded for his troubles with a Stanley Cup, a spot in the Hockey Hall of Fame and a lovely return on his initial $47.5 million investment, even if the reported $500 million purchase price apparently includes the assumption of some of the millions of dollars in debt Karmanos ran up over the last few years. All that said, this is a glorious day. He finally has an agreement in place to sell the team, even if there are still more hurdles to clear, and he’ll still be a minority partner. And to someone who isn’t Quebecor. Pardon, Quebec. Dallas businessman , who made his money in subprime auto loans, has pledged to keep the team here, although such promises are always fungible. Karmanos himself promised when he bought the in 1994 to keep the team in Connecticut for four years. He moved them here after three. The indecision and uncertainty surrounding Karmanos’ increasingly tenuous personal finances held this franchise hostage for far too long. His absentee ownership – for almost 20 years, he promised to move himself or his business to Raleigh in some capacity and never did – kept the Hurricanes from making the inroads in the community they should have long ago. And the force of his personality and penchant for pile- driving his foot into his mouth always made for interesting times for those who had to work for him and deal with him on a daily basis. It’s the latter part of this that makes the fact that he’s staying on in some capacity so compelling. He’s used to being in charge, to say the least. In 2013, when Karmanos finally retired from Compuware, the software company he founded, the breakup was far from amicable. He publicly feuded with the company’s new management team, which eventually terminated his $600,000 per year consulting job and $4.1 million in stock options. Karmanos sued over the loss of his severance and won a $16.5 million settlement in arbitration, but the whole affair was sordid and ugly, played out in Detroit’s society pages. In Chuck Greenberg’s failed bid to buy the team, ownership would have transferred completely to Greenberg’s group. What role Karmanos will play under Dundon’s majority ownership remains the most fascinating of the unanswered questions surrounding the sale. Regardless, Dundon brings two attributes to the franchise which Karmanos could not: Money and a new perspective. The payroll ranks 30th out of 31 teams – less, even, than the expansion Vegas Golden Knights – and would be 27th even if the massive contract extensions for Jaccob Slavin and Brett Pesce already had taken effect. While the Hurricanes have upgraded in some areas, like scouting, so much of the operation is in desperate need of investment, from the roster to a new practice rink to game presentation and other fan amenities. Dundon can provide that. As for the perspective, Dundon, like Karmanos, is used to running his own business and doing things his way. What exactly that is, we’ll have to find out. He is at least willing to say all the right things about keeping the team here, but no professional franchise is sustainable at these levels of attendance and corporate support. (Greenberg’s failure to attract more local investment, one of the reasons his bid fell apart, is worrisome on a general level.) Some of that has to do with the team’s dismal performance over the past nine years, but the uncertainty about its future has certainly played a part. So what Dundon brings, most of all, is a fresh start. The for-sale sign can come down. Dundon’s management team, whoever that ends up being, can start to plan for the next 20 years instead of the next seven months. And fans will have to get to know a new owner and figure out what that 1087141 Carolina Hurricanes The PGA Tour selected Trinity Forest to host the AT&T Byron Nelson, scheduled in May, as the tour shifted the tournament from TPC Las Colinas. Dundon is also a primary investor in the Top Golf national golf- Dallas businessman signs purchase agreement to buy controlling interest entertainment chain; the closest location is in Charlotte. in Hurricanes The Hurricanes are on the West Coast, playing the second game in a six- game road trip, and face the San Jose Sharks on Thursday. Their next home game is Dec. 16 against the Columbus Blue Jackets. BY CHIP ALEXANDER News Observer LOADED: 12.08.2017

The Carolina Hurricanes will soon have a new majority owner. Tom Dundon, a Dallas businessman, has signed a purchase agreement to buy a controlling interest in the team from Peter Karmanos Jr., NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said Thursday. Bettman said the agreement was signed Wednesday night. Bettman said the transaction was not completed but could be in the next few weeks. Bettman also said the team would remain in Raleigh. Karmanos, who has owned the franchise since 1994 and moved it to North Carolina in 1997, will retain an equity stake in the team. Dundon, 45, and Karmanos appeared Thursday before the NHL board of governors executive committee at Manalapan, Fla., to discuss the pending sale. A formal vote of the board is required for a change in ownership after the vetting process is completed. “I am thrilled to continue to build upon what Peter Karmanos started in Raleigh,” Dundon said Thursday in a statement. “The Hurricanes are a team on the rise, and I believe we have an opportunity to take the franchise to the next level. I’m ready to get to work.” “Tom has had tremendous success in business, and I fully expect that to continue as he takes control of the Hurricanes,” Karmanos said in a statement. “I look forward to working with him, and bringing another Stanley Cup to North Carolina.” At Thursday’s quarterly meeting of the Centennial Authority, the public board that administers PNC Arena, the authority went into closed session to hear an update on the sale from chairman Thomas McCormick, who had previously spoken to Dundon. “If he indeed acquires the team, it will be of great benefit to the arena and the whole region,” McCormick said afterward. Whether the authority would have to approve the transfer of the arena lease to Dundon would depend on how the sale is structured. If Dundon becomes a part-owner of Gale Force Holdings, the Hurricanes’ current parent company that also manages the arena, there would potentially be no alterations to the lease. That would change if Dundon created a new entity to operate the team and arena. Karmanos joined his former business partner, the late Thomas Thewes, in buying the Hartford Whalers in 1994 – former general manager Jim Rutherford also had a share of the team – and relocated the franchise to Raleigh in 1997. Renamed the Carolina Hurricanes, the team moved into PNC Arena in 1999, reached the Stanley Cup final in 2002 and won the Stanley Cup in 2006. In recent years, Karmanos first looked to add investors in the Canes, then to sell a controlling interest in the team. A group headed by sports attorney Chuck Greenberg put together a term sheet that had Karmanos’ approval, but Greenberg had trouble lining up enough investors to meet Karmanos’ selling price – between $450 million and $500 million, Karmanos said. Hurricanes president said Dundon attended a preseason exhibition game and was given a tour of PNC Arena and the community. Dundon, a billionaire, was CEO and president of Santander Consumer USA, one of the nation’s largest subprime auto lenders, until July 2015. It was reported by Auto Finance News this month that Santander Consumer, which Dundon founded in 1995, agreed to pay Dundon more than $700 million in an exit deal. Dundon is managing partner at Dundon Capital Partners LLC and CEO and president of Dundon Capital Acquisition Corp. in Dallas. He is the majority owner of Employer Direct Healthcare and co-chairman of Topgolf entertainment centers. Dundon and his wife, Veruschka, have five children. Dundon was one of the developers in the creation of Trinity Forest Golf Club in southeast Dallas. The course was designed by Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore, who oversaw the many changes to Pinehurst No. 2 before the 2014 U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open. 1087142 Carolina Hurricanes

Are the Hurricanes on the verge of being sold? Here’s the latest.

BY CHIP ALEXANDER

The Carolina Hurricanes could soon have a new majority owner. Tom Dundon, a Dallas businessman, and Hurricanes owner Peter Karmanos Jr. made a presentation Thursday to the executive committee of the NHL board of governors in Manalapan, Fla. Dundon has a purchase agreement to buy a controlling interest in the team and Karmanos, who has owned the franchise since 1994, would remain as a minority owner. A vote of the board is required for any change in ownership. In an interview with TSN after the meeting, Karmanos stressed that the team would remain in Raleigh and that it had been a condition of a sale. Karmanos said he will remain a part-owner in a team he brought to North Carolina in 1997. “It was never really a consideration,” Karmanos said. “The league is not amenable to moving franchises at all.” Asked by TSN why he had an interest in the Hurricanes, Dundon said, “Pete and I built a relationship. We want to work together, so we’re thinking about it.” At Thursday's quarterly meeting of the Centennial Authority, the public board that administers PNC Arena, the authority went into closed session to hear an update on the sale from chairman Thomas McCormick, who had previously spoken to Dundon. "If he indeed acquires the team, it will be of great benefit to the arena and the whole region," McCormick said afterward. Whether the authority would have to approve the transfer of the arena lease to Dundon would depend on how the sale is structured. If Dundon becomes a part-owner of Gale Force Holdings, the Hurricanes' current parent company that almanages the arena, there would potentially be no alterations to the lease. That would change if Dundon created a new entity to operate the team and arena. Karmanos joined his former business partner, the late Thomas Thewes, in buying the Harford Whalers in 1994 – former general manager Jim Rutherford also had a share of the team – and relocated the franchise to Raleigh in 1997. Renamed the Carolina Hurricanes, the team moved into PNC Arena in 1999, reached the Stanley Cup final in 2002 and won the Stanley Cup in 2006. In recent years, Karmanos first looked to add investors in the Canes, then to sell a controlling interest in the team. A group headed by sports attorney Chuck Greenberg put together a term sheet that had Karmanos’ approval, but Greenberg had trouble lining up enough investors to meet Karmanos’ selling price –between $450 million and $500 million, Karmanos said. Waddell said Dundon attended a preseason exhibition game and was given a tour of PNC Arena and the community. Dundon, a billionaire, served as CEO and president of Santander Consumer USA, one of the nation’s largest subprime auto lenders, until July 2015. It was reported by Auto Finance News this month that Santander Consumer, which Dundon founded in 1995, agreed to pay Dundon more than $700 million in an exit deal. Dundon is managing partner at Dundon Capital Partners LLC and CEO and president of Dundon Capital Acquisition Corp. in Dallas. Dundon was one of the developers in the creation of Trinity Forest Golf Club in southeast Dallas. The course was designed by Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore, who oversaw the many changes to Pinehurst No. 2 before the 2014 U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open. The PGA Tour selected Trinity Forest to host the AT&T Bryon Nelson, scheduled in May, as the tour shifted the tournament from TPC Las Colinas. Dundon is also a primary investor in the Top Golf national golf- entertainment chain; the closest location is in Charlotte. The Hurricanes are on the West Coast, playing the second game in a six- game road trip, and face the San Jose Sharks on Thursday. Their next home game is Dec. 16 against the Columbus Blue Jackets. News Observer LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087143 Carolina Hurricanes

Are the Hurricanes on the verge of being sold? Here’s the latest.

BY CHIP ALEXANDER

The Carolina Hurricanes could soon have a new majority owner. Tom Dundon, a Dallas businessman, and Hurricanes owner Peter Karmanos Jr. made a presentation Thursday to the executive committee of the NHL board of governors in Manalapan, Fla. Dundon has a purchase agreement to buy a controlling interest in the team and Karmanos, who has owned the franchise since 1994, would remain as a minority owner. A vote of the board is required for any change in ownership. In an interview with TSN after the meeting, Karmanos stressed that the team would remain in Raleigh and that it had been a condition of a sale. Karmanos said he will remain a part-owner in a team he brought to North Carolina in 1997. “It was never really a consideration,” Karmanos said. “The league is not amenable to moving franchises at all.” Asked by TSN why he had an interest in the Hurricanes, Dundon said, “Pete and I built a relationship. We want to work together, so we’re thinking about it.” At Thursday's quarterly meeting of the Centennial Authority, the public board that administers PNC Arena, the authority went into closed session to hear an update on the sale from chairman Thomas McCormick, who had previously spoken to Dundon. "If he indeed acquires the team, it will be of great benefit to the arena and the whole region," McCormick said afterward. Whether the authority would have to approve the transfer of the arena lease to Dundon would depend on how the sale is structured. If Dundon becomes a part-owner of Gale Force Holdings, the Hurricanes' current parent company that almanages the arena, there would potentially be no alterations to the lease. That would change if Dundon created a new entity to operate the team and arena. Karmanos joined his former business partner, the late Thomas Thewes, in buying the Harford Whalers in 1994 – former general manager Jim Rutherford also had a share of the team – and relocated the franchise to Raleigh in 1997. Renamed the Carolina Hurricanes, the team moved into PNC Arena in 1999, reached the Stanley Cup final in 2002 and won the Stanley Cup in 2006. In recent years, Karmanos first looked to add investors in the Canes, then to sell a controlling interest in the team. A group headed by sports attorney Chuck Greenberg put together a term sheet that had Karmanos’ approval, but Greenberg had trouble lining up enough investors to meet Karmanos’ selling price –between $450 million and $500 million, Karmanos said. Waddell said Dundon attended a preseason exhibition game and was given a tour of PNC Arena and the community. Dundon, a billionaire, served as CEO and president of Santander Consumer USA, one of the nation’s largest subprime auto lenders, until July 2015. It was reported by Auto Finance News this month that Santander Consumer, which Dundon founded in 1995, agreed to pay Dundon more than $700 million in an exit deal. Dundon is managing partner at Dundon Capital Partners LLC and CEO and president of Dundon Capital Acquisition Corp. in Dallas. Dundon was one of the developers in the creation of Trinity Forest Golf Club in southeast Dallas. The course was designed by Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore, who oversaw the many changes to Pinehurst No. 2 before the 2014 U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open. The PGA Tour selected Trinity Forest to host the AT&T Bryon Nelson, scheduled in May, as the tour shifted the tournament from TPC Las Colinas. Dundon is also a primary investor in the Top Golf national golf- entertainment chain; the closest location is in Charlotte. The Hurricanes are on the West Coast, playing the second game in a six- game road trip, and face the San Jose Sharks on Thursday. Their next home game is Dec. 16 against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Herald-Sun LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087144 Chicago Blackhawks

Tanner Kero placed on waivers as Blackhawks prepare to shake up roster

Chris Hine

Through 28 games, the Blackhawks have called up only one player from Rockford — goaltender Jean-Francois Berube, who came up last week when they placed Corey Crawford on injured reserve. Coach Joel Quenneville has gone 10 games without altering the 18 skaters who have dressed. But after the Hawks dropped their fifth consecutive game Wednesday, a 6-2 loss to the Capitals, it appears change is on the way. “We’ll talk about it,” Quenneville said after the game. “We mix it up to change it up a little bit. I think we had a decent stretch there and (Wednesday) didn’t get what we’re looking for. ... “We’ll try something, do whatever we can to get it going in the right direction.” The Hawks made a move toward shaking things up Thursday by placing center Tanner Kero on waivers. Kero, who is on a one-way contract, will likely head to Rockford should he clear waivers Friday morning. The Hawks are likely to recall forward Vinnie Hinostroza. Kero is one of the three Hawks — defensemen Michal Kempny and Jordan Oesterle are the others — who have been watching from the press box over the last 10 games as Quenneville has stuck with the same lineup, though he has switched his line combinations and defensive pairings. “It's a tough situation, but it's a situation where we didn't want to change the lineup for a stretch there.” Quenneville said. “Those guys have handled it as well as possible, keep themselves ready to play and come in at a moment's notice and hopefully stay in the lineup. ... It's not easy for them, but I’ve got to commend them on how they've handled it.” After training camp, Quenneville said Hinostroza was close to making the NHL roster and likley would be the first skater to rejoin the Hawks. Hinostroza has played well in Rockford to keep his name at the top of the list of potential call-ups, scoring nine goals with 13 assists in 23 games. He has six goals and eight assists in 56 career NHL games. The Hawks have been fortunate on the injury front through two months of the season, needing only to recall Berube to plug in at backup goalie. Another player in the mix for a promotion is winger Tomas Jurco, who has seven goals and eight assists for Rockford. Chicago Tribune LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087145 Chicago Blackhawks

Blackhawks may not be 'concerned,' but losing streak causing anxiety

Chris Hine

Jonathan Toews doesn’t want concern to creep into the Blackhawks’ collective mind. The Hawks captain turned philosophical on the meaning of the word to him after his team suffered its fifth consecutive loss, 6-2 to the Capitals, on Wednesday. Concerning might be one adjective to describe this recent stretch, but Toews is trying to avoid it at all costs. “When you say you're concerned, it means you doubt yourself and you don't think you have what it takes to get back to where you want to be in the standings,” Toews said. “For us, that's not at all the case.” Toews’ application of the word might be different from yours, but don’t get it twisted — Toews realizes things need to change for the Hawks. “We have to identify the things that we have to do better objectively but not let it translate into our confidence going down the drain,” Toews said. “Now we got to find a way to get ourselves out of it and play better.” Where to begin? The Hawks are beginning with how they’re playing in the offensive zone. That has been a constant worry throughout the season, a worry that they are magnifying now that they have lost five straight. To Toews, the will to put up with grief from opposing defenses needs to improve. “We talked about everyone wanting the puck in traffic areas ... not skating by that area or just not letting your puck bounce off your stick,” Toews said. “When we all want it and are all willing to take a hit to make a play, eventually we make the plays we need and we're in their zone a lot. When we do that, our offensive skill can take over.” Coach Joel Quenneville lamented that the Hawks didn’t make it difficult for the Capitals to recoup second-chance shots — that every shot the Hawks took was one goaltender Braden Holtby could easily make. Defenseman Duncan Keith, who hasn’t scored a goal this season, said he was taking it upon himself to improve over the next stretch of games. “I know I can be better and I have to be better,” Keith said. “It’s not good enough.” Like Toews, Keith didn’t use the word concern to describe the Hawks’ situation, but he did say there needs to be more urgency. “There’s always a certain degree of desperation that has to be there,” Keith said. “It doesn’t matter — everybody can see the standings, what they are, and we want to be better than what we have been right now. Obviously it’s not been good enough and we need to be better. “We know that if we play the right way we’re a hard team to play against.” But the problem is the Hawks have had trouble playing the right way for a meaningful amount of time. Here and there they have, and they went through a recent stretch where it seemed they had snapped out of their funk. But after losing four games in seven days, in addition to Wednesday’s game against the Capitals, the Hawks are back where they were after the first month of the season, wondering what they can do to turn their season around. They may not be concerned, but they’re starting to get anxious. “We start stringing wins together, that confidence is going to come a little bit easier,” Toews said. “For now, we have to find a way to dig deep and find it.” But it has been elusive. Chicago Tribune LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087146 Chicago Blackhawks

Blackhawks' favorite road destinations

Chris Hine

Not all road trips in sports are created equal. There are certain trips during the season that players (and traveling beat writers) look forward to more than others. Here some of the Hawks’ favorite road destinations. Lance Bouma: Vancouver “I always like going back to Vancouver just because I lived there in the summer. It’s nice going there and playing in front of family and friends and stuff. I like Edmonton too. Playing in front of friends and family.” Tommy Wingels interrupts: “Did he just say Edmonton is one of his favorites? Oh, my goodness. No other guy in the league will say that.” Bouma: “Well, it’s not my favorite road city, but I like playing in front of them. You’d say St. Louis probably.” Tommy Wingels: New York “I like to explore. There’s lots to do. Great restaurants there and always fun to do some shopping. The last time I went there I went to Catch a couple times. I like big cities where there’s stuff to do on a night out. You go to the same steakhouses so many times throughout a year, it’s fun to get in a big city where there’s a little more happening.” Jan Rutta: Las Vegas “I was so amazed by David Copperfield’s show. I was like a kid. He was always on TV. I didn’t even know he was still doing his thing. I was in shock for like two weeks after that show.” Nick Schmaltz: Nashville The atmosphere in the rink, it feels like a college town almost where the fans are cheering, doing chants and stuff during the game. It doesn’t feel like a pro atmosphere. It’s pretty cool and lively, and it’s a great city too.” Connor Murphy: Montreal “Just because I think that building (the Bell Centre) is so cool and they have some really good restaurants to go to. I like going to new spots usually, but it just depends the night of the week who you’re going to dinner with who’s thinking what. (Murphy said he doesn’t speak French) I get lost when people start to talk other languages. “ Ryan Hartman: New York “It’s New York, there’s a lot going on. I’ve only been there once for the draft and the other time we played the Islanders and Rangers (last season). It’s Madison Square Garden. Everything about it. There are celebrity sightings every game. It’s pretty cool.” Cody Franson: Nashville “I’d have a tough time not saying Nashville. Obviously I’ve got a history there (playing there for two seasons), but as far as the city itself, that’s kind of me in a nutshell. I’m a big music person. It’s not overly crowded. It’s more wide-open spaces and it’s not as huge. I come from a town of 2,500 people, so that fits my bill a little bit more. Obviously with spending as much time as I have in that city and having my family down there, having those type of memories, it’s always a fun city to go back to. I still have a lot of good relationships in that organization.” Chicago Tribune LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087147 Chicago Blackhawks

Friday's matchup: Sabres at Blackhawks

Chris Hin

TV/radio: 7:30 p.m. Friday; NBCSCH+, WGN-AM 720. Storylines: The reeling Hawks are getting a break from the schedule as the Sabres come into town. The Sabres have the fewest points in the league with 18. Trending: The Hawks’ power play is 1 for its last 21 and now stands at 15.5 percent, 29th in the league. The Sabres are one of the two teams that are worse than the Hawks with a power play of 11.2 percent. Chicago Tribune LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087148 Chicago Blackhawks

Duncan Keith on goal drought: ‘Eventually, they’ll come’

Mark Lazerus

In the first game of his NHL career, a 20-year-old Connor Murphy stepped into a lengthy wrist shot and saw it sail through a screen and into the back of the net, triggering a joyous celebration with his teammates. “I was lucky,” Murphy said. “But I was pumped.” Most defensemen aren’t Bobby Orr. They aren’t going to score 46 goals in a season, and they’re frankly not supposed to. Their job is to prevent goals at one end and facilitate them at the other. After all, that 82-goal pace didn’t quite hold up for Murphy, who has scored just 13 goals in the 282 games since his debut. But blue-liners still want to — and need to — chip in from time to time. So yes, Duncan Keith is getting frustrated that he hasn’t scored all season. In fact, it’s been 42 games since he last put the puck in the net, dating back in March. And like so many of his teammates have during this trying season, Keith admits to feeling “a little bit” snake-bitten. “I’ve been shooting the puck, and there have been [times] where I could get chances to shoot, but it didn’t work out,” Keith said. “Just keep on going, keep playing the game, and eventually they’ll come.” Much of the time, when a defenseman scores, it’s not exactly by design. In fact, two of Keith’s go-to moves involve intentionally not scoring. He frequently aims wide of the net, looking for a fortuitous bounce off the end boards to one of his forwards in front of the net. He also is the master of the slap-pass, in which he winds up for a big shot and fixes his eyes on the goaltender, only to send a crafty pass to a well-positioned forward in the low slot. Murphy has just one goal this season, but he made one happen Saturday night in Dallas. He had a clear shot from the point, but held the puck a split second longer than usual because he saw Brandon Saad coming across toward the crease. Murphy timed his shot with Saad’s arrival in the goalmouth, and Saad deftly deflected the shot for a goal. That’s how defensemen think. They’re not usually looking to get a goal, they’re looking to get someone else a goal. So Keith’s drought probably doesn’t weigh on him the way Richard Panik’s 19-game drought weighs on him. “If you ask a guy like [Montreal’s] Shea Weber, who gets a ton of goals on his one-timers and with his heavy shot, not scoring would probably eat him up more than it would for me,” Cody Franson said. “For me, I really value my assists. That’s my mind-set. If it goes in, great. It’s always nice to not go those long stretches without having one go in. But if I’m getting assists off the pucks I’m putting toward the net, then I consider myself doing a good job.” Franson scored in Dallas on Saturday, leaving Keith as the only Hawks regular without a tally this season. Keith has 14 assists, and is fourth on the team in shots on goal, so it’s not as if he’s been invisible offensively. But Keith set a career high of 14 goals in 2009-10, and has seen his totals drop from 10 in 2014-15 to nine in 2015-16 to six last year, and now, zero. Considering Keith’s prominent role on the power play, both he and the Hawks could really use a tally or two from the two-time Norris Trophy winner. A goal here or there could have made a significant difference during this five-game losing streak, in which the first four were essentially one-goal games until the end. “It’s a hard thing, because mentally, you know as a D-man that you’re affecting the game in so many other ways,” Murphy said. “But it’s a natural thing that everyone wants to score. And it’s just a fun thing — you’re in the NHL and want to be able to score a goal and celebrate with your teammates. Sometimes, it just doesn’t happen for you.” Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087149 Chicago Blackhawks

Blackhawks put forward Tanner Kero on waivers

Madeline Kenney

The Blackhawks put forward Tanner Kero on waivers Thursday morning. Tanner Kero on waivers. Q hinted last night that Blackhawks could make a move. Hinostroza possibly on the way up. https://t.co/3MnEaiYqPK — Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) December 7, 2017 Coach Joel Quenneville hinted after the Blackhawks’ 6-2 loss to the Capitals Wednesday that there would be potential roster moves. The Blackhawks have remained relatively healthy and have yet to make a call up this season, but after spending the last 10 games as a healthy scratch, Kero’s fate was inevitable. Kero, 25, has one goal and two assists in eight games this season. He signed a two-year contract extension prior to this season and has a $750,000 cap hit. Blackhawks haven't made a single call-up this season, as they've been remarkably healthy. But Kero has been a scratch 10 straight games. — Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) December 7, 2017 The Blackhawks could recall forward Vinnie Hinostroza from the Rockford IceHogs of the AHL on Friday. He has nine goals and 13 assists in 23 games for the IceHogs this season. Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087150 Chicago Blackhawks

Blackhawks place Kero on waivers

John Dietz

The Blackhawks placed little-used center Tanner Kero on waivers Thursday. If he clears, Kero will likely be assigned to Rockford and Vinnie Hinostroza could get called up to the Hawks. Hinostroza leads the IceHogs with 22 points and is second on the team with 9 goals. He scored six times in 49 games with the Hawks last season. Kero, meanwhile, has been a healthy scratch in 18 of the last 20 games. He had 6 goals in 47 games with the Hawks last season. Daily Herald Times LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087151 Chicago Blackhawks

Three Things to WATCH: Blackhawks look to end skid vs. Sabres

By Charlie Roumeliotis December 07, 2017

Here are Three Things to Watch when the Blackhawks take on the Buffalo Sabres tonight on NBC Sports Chicago and streaming live on the NBC Sports app. Coverage begins at 7 p.m. with Blackhawks Pregame Live. 1. Reinforcements coming? After losing their fifth straight game, the Blackhawks recognized that changes needed to be made. So on Thursday, they placed Tanner Kero on waivers and all indications point to Vinnie Hinostroza getting recalled if/when Kero clears. Hinostroza leads the Rockford IceHogs with 22 points (nine goals, 13 assists) in 23 games, and has proven he belongs on the big league roster. It'll be interesting to see where he plays, if he's in fact the player coming up. His speed can certainly help provide an offensive spark, and might be better suited to play a top six role off the get go. 2. Anton Forbserg or Jean-Francois Berube? Forsberg was really good in his first two starts after Corey Crawford went down with a lower-body injury, but he struggled in his third one Wednesday in Washington, allowing three goals in a span of 3:28 and was pulled before the first period ended. Berube wasn't too bad in relief. He stopped 12 of 14 shots, and didn't look out of place. There's a chance Crawford returns Sunday vs. Arizona, so this could be the only chance Berube gets at starting before then. 3. American boys. It's unfortunate we won't get to see the possibility of Patrick Kane and Jack Eichel playing on a line together for Team USA at the 2018 Winter Olympics. It could have been special to watch as two of the faces of the country. But they will share the same sheet of ice tonight, and each of them tend to take their game to a higher level when they square off. Eichel has recorded at least a point in three of four career games against Chicago while Kane has 15 points (eight goals, seven assists) in 13 games against his hometown Sabres. Kane had two goals and three assists against them last year, including an overtime winner on Jan. 5 at home. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087152 Colorado Avalanche

Avalanche gameday: Patrik Nemeth returns from 12-game absence

By MIKE CHAMBERS

TAMPA, Fla. — Patrik Nemeth will return from a 12-game injury absence and serve as one of the Avalanche’s seven defensemen in Thursday’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena. Colorado, which is beginning a four-game trip against the NHL’s best team, is going with an extra defenseman and one less forward, partly to ease Nemeth back into the lineup. His back injury required a patient recovery and he only resumed skating last week. The extra scratched forward will be Nail Yakupov, the odd-man out for the first time this season. “I think we need him in the lineup,” Avs coach Jared Bednar said of Nemeth after Thursday’s morning skate. “We need some heaviness, some experience, down there. (Tampa Bay is) a real quick team, kind of puts you under pressure. We’ve had some guys back there that have been in and out of their game. We better make sure we’ve got at least six guys going tonight, so that’s one of the reasons why we’re playing with seven.” Nemeth, 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds, suffered his back injury Nov. 5 at the New York Islanders. He was playing about 19 minutes a game on Colorado’s second pairing since he was acquired in the preseason off waivers from the . “I feel good,” Nemeth said. “We decided to make sure it heals 100 percent (rather) than just go in and out, not feeling great one day, and then the next day I feel better, and it goes back and forth. We just decided to shut it down and make sure it heals properly.” Gabe Landeskog after AM skate here in Tampa. His first game back from suspension. pic.twitter.com/El1Ga7QbZE — Mike Chambers (@MikeChambers) December 7, 2017 Footnotes. Former Avalanche goalie Peter Budaj will start for the Lightning. Budaj, 35, has played in just four of 27 games behind regular starter Andrei Vasilevskiy. … Avalanche captain Gabe Landeskog is back at left wing on the first line after serving a four-game suspension for cross-checking Calgary’s Matthew Tkachuk to the side of the head Nov. 25. Avalanche lineup: Landeskog-MacKinnon-Rantanen Jost-Kerfoot-Compher Nieto-Soderberg-Comeau Wilson-Andrighetto Scratched: Yakupov, Bourque Girard-Johnson Lindholm-Barrie Nemeth-Barberio-Zadorov Denver Post: LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087153 Colorado Avalanche

Avalanche loses fourth straight to begin four-game trip

By MIKE CHAMBERS | PUBLISHED: December 7, 2017

TAMPA, Fla. — The hole is widening for the Avalanche, which is familiar with December dives, having gone 3-12 in the month a year ago en route to the worst season in club history. Thursday at Amalie Arena, captain Gabe Landeskog scored on his first shift in his first game back from serving a four-game suspension, but Colorado couldn’t keep pace with what is considered the NHL’s best team and fell to 0-4 this month. Tampa Bay captain Steven Stamkos had a goal and three points in the Lightning’s 5-2 victory — pinning the Avalanche with its fourth consecutive loss. Stamkos scored on a breakaway just 25 seconds after Landeskog struck 1:21 into the game. Former Avs goalie Peter Budaj got the win for Tampa Bay, which has won three in a row and is the first team to reach 20 victories. Budaj allowed even-strength goals to Landeskog and Erik Johnson but stopped J.T. Compher on two breakaways. “He made two good saves on two good chances to score,” Compher said. “Obviously, I would have liked to have put them in. They were big parts of the game.” Johnson’s goal tied it 2-2 late in the first period. The Lightning (20-6-2) got the go-ahead goal from Vladislav Namestnikov at 8:09 of the second period and went ahead 4-2 on Alex Killorn’s power-play goal at 4:57 of the third. Killorn’s one-time blast off Stamkos’ centering feed skimmed off the stick of Johnson and then off the shoulder of goalie Semyon Varlamov. It came during Mikko Rantanen’s holding-the-stick minor beside Tampa Bay’s net — a penalty Rantanen refused to accept because he said he never held Victor Hedman’s stick. The Lightning, which was 1-of-5 on the power play and 3-for-3 in penalty killing, added a short-handed empty-net goal at 16:41 of the third period. “We get our first lead in the first period and they get a breakaway and score right off the bat of that,” said Landeskog, who had three shots in 20:48. “Going into the second period, it’s a 2-2 game and we’re in a good spot. Their timely goals killed our momentum.” The Avs (12-13-2) were beginning a four-game trip after going 1-4 on their disappointing five-game homestand. They were outshot 17-7 in the first period Thursday but earned more possession time as the game went on. Tampa Bay finished with a 32-30 shots advantage. “They’re going to spend some time in (the offensive zone) because they’re so talented and they work; you have to find a way to minimize their chances,” Avs coach Jared Bednar said. “Obviously, this is the best team in the league right now. As a young team we have to pay attention to the process and continuing to find things to build on. There were some things in that game that we did that were better than what we did in the last three games at home. So it’s a step forward. Now we got to take another step.” Denver Post: LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087154 Colorado Avalanche

Avalanche uses seven-defensemen, 11-forward lineup at Tampa Bay

By MIKE CHAMBERS | December 7, 2017 at 7:36 PM

TAMPA, Fla. — Patrik Nemeth returned from a 12-game injury absence and served as one of the Avalanche’s seven defensemen Thursday against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena. Colorado, which was beginning a four-game trip against the NHL’s best team, went with an extra defenseman and one less forward, partly to ease Nemeth back into the lineup. His back injury required a patient recovery and he only resumed skating last week. The extra scratched forward was Nail Yakupov, the odd-man out for the first time this season. “I think we need him in the lineup,” Avs coach Jared Bednar said of Nemeth after Thursday’s morning skate. “We need some heaviness, some experience, down there. (Tampa Bay is) a real quick team, kind of puts you under pressure. We’ve had some guys back there that have been in and out of their game. We better make sure we’ve got at least six guys going tonight, so that’s one of the reasons why we’re playing with seven.” Nemeth, 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds, suffered his back injury Nov. 5 at the New York Islanders. He was playing about 19 minutes a game on Colorado’s second pairing since he was acquired in the preseason off waivers from the Dallas Stars. “I feel good,” Nemeth said. “We decided to make sure it heals 100 percent (rather) than just go in and out, not feeling great one day, and then the next day I feel better. And it goes back and forth. We just decided to shut it down and make sure it heals properly.” Footnotes. In addition to Yakupov, forward Gabriel Bourque and defenseman Duncan Siemens were healthy scratches. … Former Avalanche goalie Peter Budaj made a rare start for the Lightning. Budaj, 35, played in just four of the previous 27 games behind regular starter Andrei Vasilevskiy. … Avs defenseman Mark Barberio went from being scratched last game to playing a team-high 8:35 in the first period. Rookie Sam Girard was limited to 3:14 in the first 20 minutes, lowest among the seven defensemen. … The Avs will practice Friday in Sunrise, Fla., and play the Panthers on Saturday night. The four-game trip resumes Monday at Pittsburgh and ends Tuesday in Washington. Denver Post: LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087155 Colorado Avalanche

Stamkos has 3 points, Lightning beat Avalanche

By: MARK DIDTLER, Associated Press December 7, 2017 Updated: December 7, 2017 at 9:15 PM

TAMPA, Fla. — Steven Stamkos broke of a mini-slump on his way to the top of the NHL points list. Stamkos had a goal and two assists, and the Tampa Bay Lightning became the first NHL team with 20 wins by defeating the Colorado Avalanche 5-2 on Thursday night. Stamkos, who entered with one goal and two assists over his previous eight games, got his 12th goal early in the first. He also assisted on Vladislav Namestnikov's tiebreaking goal at 8:09 of the second and Alex Killorn's third of the season 4:57 into the third. "It's a long year," said Stamkos, who leads the league with 41 points in 28 games. "It's never going to go as smoothly as you'd like it to. Sometimes as you mature as a player, it's not getting as frustrated when things are not going well. It's nice to get back on the horse and just get a little confidence." Chris Kunitz and Brayden Point also scored for the Lightning, and backup Peter Budaj made 28 saves in his fifth game this season. Colorado left wing Gabriel Landeskog, back in the lineup after serving a four-game suspension for cross-checking Calgary's Matthew Tkachuk in the head on Nov. 25, eluded Nikita Kucherov and scored on his first shift 1:21 into the game. "Excited to be back out there and get an opportunity to get to the net," Landeskog said. Erik Johnson also scored for the Avalanche, who were coming off a 1-4 homestand. Semyon Varlamov stopped 27 shots. "That's four (losses) in a row now," Landeskog said. "We have to find a way to get out of this." Stamkos tied it at 1 on a breakaway just 25 seconds after Landeskog's goal. Killorn scored on a power play, and Point had a short-handed empty-netter late in the third. "Stammer responded," Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper said. "He had a strong game." Varlamov made a number of big saves during the opening 20 minutes, including one on Point from the low slot when the red goal light was put on in error. NOTES: Kucherov, who is second in the league with 40 points, was held off the scoresheet and finished at minus-two. ... Namestnikov added two assists. ... Colorado D Patrik Nemeth returned after missing 12 games with a lower-body injury. ... Colorado RW Nail Yakupov, pointless in his six previous games, was scratched. ... Lightning D Braydon Coburn (knee-to-knee hit) sat out his third consecutive game and is not practicing. ... The teams conclude the two-game season series a week from Saturday in Colorado. UP NEXT Avalanche: Play the second of four straight road games Saturday night at Florida. Lightning: Complete a four-game homestand against Winnipeg on Saturday night. Colorado Springs Gazette: LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087156 Columbus Blue Jackets

Blue Jackets | Top defensemen can score, too

By Josh Horton The Columbus Dispatch

The “rover” title that coach John Tortorella has given the Blue Jackets’ top defensive pairing of Zach Werenski and Seth Jones was a maneuver to unlock the young blue-liners’ offensive skills and lead to goals. Looks like a smart move. Some of the Blue Jackets’ top offensive players have struggled, and unexpected sources of goals — such as from forwards Josh Anderson and Oliver Bjorkstrand — are part of the reason that the Blue Jackets are 17-10-1 and tied for second in the Metro Division with 35 points. But Jones and Werenski also have played a big role. Werenski has especially been effective with eight goals, which leads NHL defensemen and is the second-best goal total on the Blue Jackets behind Anderson’s 10. And Werenski continues to get more involved. The 20-year-old attempted a career-high 10 shots on goal Tuesday in a 4-1 loss to the New Jersey Devils, three more than his previous high. It’s an emphasis for him, and Werenski hopes his scoring will continue while eventually kick-starting his teammates. “I don’t think I’ve shot enough this year,” Werenski said. “And when I do have shooting lanes, I haven’t got pucks there. A few of them have missed the net, or got blocked or tipped. I’m trying to get more pucks on net, and you never know with rebounds and guys crashing there.” Why is Werenski finding so many offensive chances? It comes natural to him, Tortorella said. “He always puts himself in position,” he said. “The way he plays in that rover position, he is going to end up with a lot of opportunities. A lot of it isn’t just the position, it’s just that he’s a pretty good player. And pretty good players, if they play right, the puck follows them. And that’s what has happened.” Jones, while not as prolific as a goal-scorer, has 14 points, fifth-highest on the team, and he is on pace for a career high in assists with 11 through 28 games. What possibly is most remarkable is that the pair has been involved in the offense while not being liabilities on defense. “I think the ‘rover’ title gets used a little too much,” Jones said. “We’re defense first. That’s what we do. Keep the puck out of our net. “There are two sides to that, and defense is our job. We can’t let in chance after chance defensively. We have to be smart about how we do things back there. I think me and Zach have developed a good chemistry about who is going and where each other is on the ice. It has been a lot of fun.” Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087157 Columbus Blue Jackets

Blue Jackets | If he’s ready, Markus Nutivaara will play

By Josh Horton The Columbus Dispatch

Defenseman Markus Nutivaara, who has missed two games because of an upper-body injury, practiced with the Blue Jackets on Thursday at the Ice Haus and will be a game-time decision on Friday night at the New Jersey Devils. If Nutivaara is ready to play, coach John Tortorella said, he will. The real question is who will come out. “I don’t know what (Jack Johnson and David Savard) are. I can’t call them my No. 2 pair,” Tortorella said. “Quite honestly, we had a pair going (Seth Jones and Zach Werenski). I didn’t like the other four at all against Jersey, so I’m not sure what the No. 2 pair is. And then when we get healthy, I’m not sure what’s going to happen. “Like I always say, they make the decisions for us. ... If (Nutivaara is) ready, he is going in. I’m not sure who is going out. Flip a coin on all four of those guys.” Tortorella said his decision of which forward will be scratched is simpler. It will comes down to Tyler Motte or Markus Hannikainen for the final spot on the fourth line. Seeking revenge After falling 4-1 to the Devils on Tuesday at Nationwide Arena, the Blue Jackets will have a chance to return the favor in Newark, New Jersey, with the lead in the Metro Division on the line. Werenski said the loss left a sour taste. “That’s the first time I’ve felt embarrassed at the end of a game in a while,” Werenski said. “We just didn’t play hard enough after the first 15 minutes of the game, which I thought we played really well. It was their game. They took over, just did what they wanted to do. “We had 40 shots, but no one was net-front, (goaltender Cory Schneider) saw every one. You’re not going to win if a goalie, especially of that caliber, can see every shot. It hasn’t been good lately.” Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087158 Dallas Stars answered the bell. We're kind of lucky that we've got a starting goaltender who plays a backup role. It's been a blessing for us because he's got us points when physically and mentally we've been a little bit Ben Bishop out with sore back, so Kari Lehtonen to man goal against down." Blues Thursday -Stars coach Ken Hitchcock on goalie Kari Lehtonen, who is 3-3-1, but has taken two losses in relief. By Mike Heika "You want to see how you measure against the top dogs, so you really want to see the guys with all the work they've put in to really build this thing, you want to see them have success against the top dogs. Yesterday was a little bit of a stumble and we get another crack tomorrow STARS at BLUES at an awful good team. But you want to see the guys get rewarded for everything we've put into this thing, to build a team." 7 p.m. today (FSSW/1310AM The Ticket-96.7FM) -Stars coach Ken Hitchcock on facing Central powers Nashville and St. Storyline Louis. The Stars failed a big test Tuesday when they were crushed by "Yeah, that's the best part. When you lose a game or things don't go your Nashville, 5-2, on home ice. That game was big because it came on the way, you get a chance to get right back at it. We're looking forward to heels of a five-game winning streak, including three games within the another good test tomorrow. St. Louis is a great team and it's going to be Central Division. The Predators moved six points ahead in the standings. tough to play in their building. They're pretty good at home, so we'll have Now, Dallas has a chance to make a statement that it can bounce back our hands full." from adversity and can play with the best teams in the division. St. Louis is 18-8-2, including 4-1-1 against Central Division opponents. Dallas is 4- -Stars captain Jamie Benn. 7-0 within the division. "I am definitely up here with some mixed emotions as well, and Key matchup absolutely the first thing I have to do is thank Hitch. He was nothing but amazing to me, day in and day out, so I learned a great deal from him. Ken Hitchcock vs. Mike Yeo I'm very appreciative, so I feel very bad that I'm sitting up here today. The two were on the same coaching staff in St. Louis last season, so That said, I know that I have a job to do, an important job to do, and one there has to be some familiarity and emotion when they face each other. that I don't take lightly. When I look at the people that have coached the Hitchcock was fired Feb. 1 with the team 24-21-5. Yeo, who was hired as St. Louis Blues and Hitch being one of them, those are some awful big an associate coach before the season to take over for Hitchcock, finished shoes to fill. I look forward to that challenge. I look forward to working 22-8-2 and took the Blues to the second round of the playoffs, where with this group. It's a group I believe in and I know there's lots of work to they lost to Nashville. St. Louis beat Dallas 4-2 on Oct. 7 in the only be done. But I'm excited to work with them and I'm ready for that process meeting so far this season. to begin." Key Number -Mike Yeo at the press conference when he took over for Ken Hitchcock in February. Plus-22 Stars projected lineup Blues linemates Jaden Schwartz and Brayden Schenn are tied for the NHL lead in plus-minus at plus-22. Schwartz leads St. Louis in scoring Jamie Benn-Tyler Seguin-Alexander Radulov with 34 points (13 goals, 21 assists), while Schenn is second with 33 Mattias Janmark-Jason Spezza-Devin Shore points (13 goals, 20 assists). Remi Elie-Radek Faksa-Tyler Pitlick Notable Curtis McKenzie-Gemel Smith-Brett Ritchie Dallas lost at home to Nashville 5-2 on Tuesday and is 16-11-1 (33 points), including 6-8-1 on the road. The Stars are 5-1-0 in their past six Esa Lindell-John Klingberg games. Dan Hamhuis-Greg Pateryn St. Louis won in Montreal Tuesday, 4-3, and is 18-8-2 (38 points), including 9-5-0 at home. The Blues are 1-2-1 in their past four games. Jamie Oleksiak-Stephen Johns Ben Bishop has a sore back and remained in Dallas. Kari Lehtonen will Kari Lehtonen get the start in goal for Dallas. He is 3-3-1 with a 2.80 GAA and .900 save percentage. Lehtonen is 13-7-3 in his career against St. Louis with Mike McKenna a 2.26 GAA and .917 save percentage. Scratched: Julius Honka Jake Allen is expected in goal for the Blues. He is 14-6-2 with a 2.75 Injured: Marc Methot (knee), Martin Hanzal (lower body), Ben Bishop GAA and.906 save percentage. Allen is 7-2-0 in his career against Dallas (back), Antoine Roussel (illness). with a 2.29 GAA and .918 save percentage. Dallas Morning News LOADED: 12.08.2017 This is the second of five meetings between these two teams. St. Louis won 4-2 Oct. 7 and has won six straight against the Stars in St. Louis. Defenseman Marc Methot is out for 4-6 weeks after arthroscopic knee surgery. He could start skating this week. Center Martin Hanzal is week to week with a hamstring injury. He was placed on IR Sunday. Antoine Roussel has missed three games because of illness. He is on the trip, but skated late in the morning, an indication he probably won't play tonight. In 31 career games against St. Louis, Jamie Benn has 29 points (12 goals, 17 assists) and is plus-5. He said it "Ben (Bishop) has a sore back. I think it's day-to-day, that's what we were told. We're assuming he will be fine for the weekend, but he's not on the trip." -Stars coach Ken Hitchcock on goalie Ben Bishop "We've put him in some tough spots. He's had to play back-to-backs, the tough travel to Colorado. We've put him in some tough spots, and he has 1087159 Dallas Stars

How should the Stars handle the Martin Hanzal situation?

By Mike Heika , Staff Writer

Mike Heika, Stars beat writer for SportsDayDFW.com and The Dallas Morning News, answered questions about the team recently. Here are some highlights: How do they handle the Martin Hanzal situation? It almost seems they're better when he is hurt. When he is healthy, do you think he plays on the second line, third line or fourth line? Heika: I think they are going to let him get 100 percent healthy right now. They're winning, and he has time to rest, so they might just let him sit and recover. My gut says the coaches will try to use him a lot when he gets back. We'll see how that works. I think he might be a better fit as the fourth line center. Having missed so much time, would adding Hanzal back into the mix help or hurt the Stars right now? What's the ceiling of this team if returns, stays healthy and plays as advertised? Heika: It depends on how you use him. If he is playing on the fourth line and used mostly to kill penalties and take faceoffs, I think he helps. If you cut the minutes of Radek Faksa or change up the first line, I think that hurts. The other thing is we haven't seen Hanzal healthy yet. If we see him at 100 percent, he could be a really physical presence, especially in a playoff series where you can wear down another team. With Elie and Smith looking like main-stays and Roope not far behind, Val's return how do they all fit next year with someone like Hanzal blocking them? Heika: It will be difficult. You also still have Jason Dickinson and Curtis McKenzie in the mix. So much will be determined by how all of these players perform down the stretch and in the playoffs (and the Stars are hoping both NHL and AHL teams make it). This is one of those situations where you say we need to wait and gather up all of the information before we can make any intelligent decisions. Anything short of 15 TOI and playing against top line for Faksa is unacceptable. Looks like Hitch is coming around. But next year or season after depending on Spezza's roster spot could #12 be our already "in house" replacement 2C? Maybe a Janmark and hopefully a young scorer on his flanks do you think he could handle it? Heika: The scouting report is that Faksa is a perfect 3C, and that people fear he would be exposed playing too many minutes. It's a delicate balance. In a perfect world, Faksa plays third line with guys like Janmark or Shore, so they're like a second line. We'll see. A healthy Hanzal is going to create all sorts of tough choices. Dallas Morning News LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087160 Dallas Stars

12 months of struggle: Wins against the Central's top teams continue to elude the Stars

By Mike Heika

ST. LOUIS -- It was Dec. 8 last year when the Stars beat Nashville. Since then, Dallas has done nothing against the top teams in the Central Division. After a 3-0 loss to the Blues on Thursday at Scottrade Center, the Stars are 0-11-1 in their last 12 meetings with the Jets, Predators and Blues. That's a big reason Dallas sits five points back of third-place Winnipeg in the standings and is focused mostly on a wild-card playoff spot. But just as important as playoff positioning in December is the fact the Stars need a boost of confidence that they can actually beat the best teams in the Central. "We haven't collected points from any of the top three teams, and we have to prove we can play with these guys," Stars coach Ken Hitchcock said before the game. "We've improved a lot in the last three weeks, a lot, but we have not proven we can beat the big boys. We want to take the next step." The Stars had the chance as they roared into Tuesday's game against Nashville on a five-game winning streak. But Dallas had a special teams meltdown (allowing two power-play goals and one short-handed goal) against the Predators and lost 5-2 They struggled again Thursday, handing out a season-high seven power plays and allowing two power-play goals. "It tires some guys out, and it takes other guys out of the game," said defenseman Dan Hamhuis of the power plays. "That cost us the game. Five on five, we played well, but you give them that many chances, some are going to count." It was an odd game, to be sure. Kari Lehtonen and the penalty killers were actually pretty good. Led by Hamhuis and Jamie Oleksiak, the Stars were down just 1-0 heading into the third period. Brayden Schenn scored his 14th goal of the season at 13:39 of the first period, but that was all the Blues could muster. Lehtonen was called upon because Ben Bishop had a sore back and didn't travel, and the 34- year-old responded with 15 saves in the first two periods. But the Stars continued to make bad decisions. "We took the penalties because we were second place to the puck," Hitchcock said. "They won the race. We got beat. It took away any momentum we tried to build." The Stars actually had to face six power plays in the first 30 minutes of the game, and almost tied things up late in the second period. However, Stephen Johns' shot crossed the goal line just after the clock expired, and that might have been a harbinger of things to come. Brett Ritchie took a high-sticking penalty early in the third period, and this time Colton Parayko was able to blast a puck through a Paul Stastny screen at 5:01 of the third period for the insurance goal. Vladimir Tarasenko added an empty-netter, and the Blues moved to 19-8-2 (40 points). In each of the six losses to the top teams this season, Dallas has not scored more than two goals. "We took too many penalties, and we can't do that," winger Alexander Radulov said. "But if we want to win hockey games, we've got to score goals. We're more than capable of doing that." It was a painful reminder of how tough competing against the best has been for the Stars, who fall to 16-12-1 (33 points). "We're not happy with it," Radulov said. "We have to figure it out. It's important for the future, and it's important for now." Dallas Morning News LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087161 Dallas Stars

Cold facts: Stars come up short against another division opponent in St. Louis

By Mike Heika

Blues 3, Stars 0 Three Stars 1. Jake Allen, Blues - Gets 16th career shutout with 29 saves 2. Brayden Schenn, Blues - Gets game-winning goal on power play 3. Colton Parayko, Blues - Insurance goal in third period was huge Big play The Stars came so close to tying the game late in the second period, as Jamie Benn brought the puck into the offensive zone and he and Alexander Radulov both tried to slip it past Jake Allen. A rebound came out into the slot and Stars defenseman Stephen Johns lifted it into the net. However, the replay showed the clock expired about a tenth of a second before the puck crossed the line. Discuss Has Kari Lehtonen earned another start? Ben Bishop wasn't great on Tuesday and missed Thursday with a sore back. Would it be a good idea to Lehtonen take Saturday's home game against Vegas? Has he earned that right? Stars notebook: Kari Lehtonen providing plenty of relief in backup role What does it mean? Dating back to Dec. 8 last year, the Stars are 0-11-1 against St. Louis, Winnipeg ad Nashville. Those are the three teams ahead of Dallas in the Central Division, and those are the three teams they need to either climb above or potentially face in the playoffs. This was a tough loss in the standings. GOALS Blues: With Alexander Radulov in the box for high sticking, Brayden Schenn lifted in a rebound for his 14th goal of the season at13:39 of the first period. Blues 1, Stars 0. Blues: With Brett Ritchie in the box for high sticking, Colton Parayko blasted a shot from distance for his third goal of the season at 5:01 of the third period. Blues 2, Stars 0. Blues: Vladimir Tarasenko scored into an empty net with 47.6 seconds remaining in the game. Blues 3, Stars 0 Dallas Morning News LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087162 Dallas Stars

Latest injury updates on Stars' Martin Hanzal, Marc Methot

By Mike Heika , Staff Writer

ST. LOUIS -- Injured Stars Marc Methot and Martin Hanzal are returning to skating, but it could be a while before they are ready to play, coach Ken Hitchcock said Thursday. Hanzal (hamstring) skated Thursday in Frisco, and Methot (knee) is expected to skate Friday. However, Methot is shooting for a return just before Christmas after arthroscopic knee surgery, while Hanzal won't play until he feels close to 100 percent. Hanzal has battled four different injuries this season, starting with a knee injury that forced him to miss training camp. He has played in 19 of 29 games, and Hitchcock said the team wants him to get to a place where he can stay in the lineup. "He's such an important player that we want him at 100 percent," Hitchcock said. "We're going to be very safe on this, and he's going to practice for an extended period of time before we put him back in. This stop-and-go thing has been really hard on Marty, and it's been very frustrating for him. When he comes in, he plays a lot. We play him in every part of the team game, both ends of special teams, so we need him back at 100 percent because he's a coach's dream." Hitchcock also said Methot's health is paramount for the team. The 32- year-old has 594 games of NHL experience and was averaging 19:22 played per game before a sore knee forced the surgery on Nov. 20. The original prognosis for recovery was 4-6 weeks, and Hitchcock said he is hopeful for the shorter side of that time frame. "We're hoping Methot is 100 percent ready to go before Christmas," Hitchcock said. The coach said both are missed. "Those are two big horses for us that are missing, and it's good to see that both guys will be on the ice," Hitchcock said. Dallas Morning News LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087163 Dallas Stars

Stars notebook: Kari Lehtonen providing plenty of relief in backup role

By Mike Heika , Staff Writer

ST. LOUIS -- Stars goalie Kari Lehtonen has been put in some difficult situations this year. The 34-year-old goalie was saddled with two losses while playing in relief earlier in the season and also has had to start three games on the second night of a back-to-back. On Thursday, he was called upon to play against the Blues in a tough road game because Ben Bishop was home nursing a back injury. "We've put him in some tough spots, and he's answered the bell," Hitchcock said before Thursday's game. "We're kind of lucky because we've really got a starting goaltender who plays the backup role. It's been a blessing for us because he has got us points when physically and mentally we've been a little down. He's played well." Latest injury updates on Stars' Martin Hanzal, Marc Methot Lehtonen entered Thursday's game with 298 career wins, ranking 33rd all-time. "You just want to be professional and be ready for anything," Lehtonen said. "That's how I'm looking at this year." Bishop worked out in Frisco and could be ready to return Saturday when the Stars host the Vegas Golden Knights. "Ben worked out today and felt a lot better, so we're assuming he will join us [Friday]," Hitchcock said. Briefly: Antoine Roussel missed his fourth game with illness. Roussel skated quite a bit in the morning, but he didn't skate in warmups, so there is a chance he is ready to play Saturday. -- Julius Honka was a healthy scratch for the fourth time in the last five games. -- Jamie Oleksiak played for the fourth straight game. Dallas Morning News LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087164 Dallas Stars Star-Telegram LOADED: 12.08.2017

Allen gets shutout, Schenn scores again as Blues beat Stars

BY STEVE OVERBEY

ST. LOUIS-Jake Allen made 29 saves, Brayden Schenn continued his red-hot play and the St. Louis Blues beat the Dallas Stars 3-0 on Thursday night. Schenn got his team-leading 14th goal two days after netting a hat trick against Montreal. Colton Parayko and Vladimir Tarasenko also scored. Allen got his first shutout of the season and the 16th of his career. He was briefly backed up by local vending machine worker Tyler Stewart after regular backup Carter Hutton was injured at the morning skate. Dallas has lost two in a row since a season-high five game winning streak. Kari Lehtonen stopped 24 shots. The Blues scored twice on the power play after connecting on just 2 of 17 chances in their previous four games. Schenn, acquired in an offseason trade with Philadelphia, pounced on a rebound from close range midway through the first period for a 1-0 lead. Parayko blasted a shot from the just inside the blue line that eluded Lehtonen in the second period. Tarasenko scored into an empty net with 47.6 seconds left, ending a six- game scoreless streak. Briefly Stewart participated in warmups and backed up during the first period while St. Louis waited for G Ville Husso to arrive from San Antonio of the AHL. Husso got to the rink late in the first period. … Hutton has a lower- body injury. … Dallas G Ben Bishop missed the game and remained in Dallas with a sore back. Coach Ken Hitchcock said Bishop could be ready for Saturday’s home game against Vegas. … Stars LW Antoine Roussel missed his fourth straight game with the flu. Up next Stars: Host Vegas on Saturday night. Blues: Play at Detroit on Saturday. Dallas 0 0 0 — 0 St. Louis 1 0 2 — 3 First Period—1, St. Louis, Schenn 14 (Jaskin, Steen), 13:39 (pp). Penalties—Janmark, DAL, (slashing), 8:55; Radulov, DAL, (high sticking), 12:50; Smith, DAL, (boarding), 15:59; Johns, DAL, (tripping), 16:45. Second Period—None. Penalties—McKenzie, DAL, (high sticking), 1:35; Gunnarsson, STL, (hooking), 5:29; Elie, DAL, (high sticking), 8:05. Third Period—2, St. Louis, Parayko 3 (Berglund, Sobotka), 5:01 (pp). 3, St. Louis, Tarasenko 13 (Sobotka), 19:12. Penalties—Ritchie, DAL, (high sticking), 4:01; Upshall, STL, (slashing), 19:37. Shots on Goal—Dallas 5-12-12—29. St. Louis 10-6-11—27. Power-play opportunities—Dallas 0 of 2; St. Louis 2 of 7. Goalies—Dallas, Lehtonen 3-4-1 (26 shots-24 saves). St. Louis, Allen 15-6-2 (29-29). A—16,341 (19,150). T—2:37. Referees—TJ Luxmore, Brian Pochmara. Linesmen— Steve Barton, Tim Nowak. 1087165 Detroit Red Wings

Red Wings mailbag: Team can't afford errors in order to win

Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press Published 4:41 p.m. ET Dec. 7, 2017

It's December, which means it's time for a Detroit Red Wings Twitter mailbag, mixed with some seasonal cheer. At times, the Wings have been unstoppable. We’ve seen what the Wings are capable of, what is the key to sustaining it? Also, what is your favorite Holiday tradition?#Heleneonhockey#Heleneonholidays — Jim Hansen (@Jim_Hansen_WSI) December 6, 2017 Frans Nielsen made an observation this week, calling it “mind-boggling” how the Wings can have the talent they do, and yet find ways to beat themselves. They have looked so good at times — the games in western Canada (I include Calgary, because they tried hard to overcome mediocre goaltending), the Rangers game, even the first period of the first Montreal game. As you note, sustaining success has been a problem. Partly, it’s young players still learning how much it takes to grind every shift. Partly, it’s that the Wings can afford very few errors, because they don’t have the talent to outscore their mistakes. The Wings basically need near-peak performances out of everyone every game, and that’s a tall order. They should feel good about themselves after the victory over Winnipeg though — that was an overall solid 60 minutes. As for my favorite holiday tradition, I love all of them, especially Christmas Eve dinner. Will the Wings move Mike Green at the trade deadline for a solid draft pick? Will Zetterberg retire at the end of the year? — Chris M (@subwickets) December 7, 2017 If they think they can make it into the playoffs, they probably will hold on to Green. He’s their only real source of offense from the back end. If, like last season, they deem the playoffs unlikely, absolutely he will get moved. And he should fetch a nice return — Brendan Smith yielded a second-round and third-round pick, and Green has way more offensive skill. Green will be highly attractive to a potential contender looking to add scoring. As for Zetterberg, I think it will depend mostly on how he feels, and, to a lesser degree, whether he is having fun. I’ve never seen him as upset as he’s been at times this year (after the Oct. 26 game at Tampa Bay, after the Montreal game). When he signed his 12-year, $73- million contract in January of 2009, those long-term deals were in vogue as a way for a team to sign a star player to a front-loaded contract, with the expectation the player would walk away before it expires without consequence. Since then, cap-recapture penalties have been instituted, so teams are penalized if a player retires. If a player is unable to finish his contract because of a medical condition (such as Chicago’s Marian Hossa), he can be placed on long-term injured reserve. It seems like Abs has been playing a Holmstrom type role this year; parking in front of the net and irritating the goalie. We this planned and how does he like playing that role on the team? — Susan Smiley (@leglace19) December 6, 2017 That’s a role Justin Abdelkader trained for even while Tomas Holmstrom was still on the team. Pavel Datsyuk liked playing with Abdelkader because he did what Holmstrom would do — retrieve the puck in corners, pass to Datsyuk, then go to the net. It’s a good role for Abdelkader because he’s one of the few physical players on the team. Whenever makes you merry! I start in early December. And if you want a recommendation, “Ella wishes you a swinging Christmas” is fantastic. @HeleneStJames if you were to guess the first FWD from GR to get the call up would be???? #Puempel#Bertuzzi#Wings — Bob (@DDHarry_30) December 7, 2017 It would depend on the situation. If the player would be needed for only a game or two, they’d probably go with a veteran AHLer. If it’s more like at least a 10-game stretch, they’d go with a prospect. Tyler Bertuzzi has points in three straight games for the Grand Rapids Griffins, and nine points overall in 12 games. Wings coach Jeff Blashill had hoped Bertuzzi would make the team out of camp (he was injured during exhibition season) because of his combination of skill and grit. Detroit Free Press LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087166 Detroit Red Wings

Detroit Red Wings, Joe Louis Arena memorabilia up for auction

Detroit Free Press staff Published 10:09 p.m. ET Dec. 7, 2017 | Updated 10:42 p.m. ET Dec. 7, 2017

Just in time for the holiday shopping season, you can own a piece of hockey history. Olympia Entertainment will hold an online auction beginning at 7 a.m. Saturday. Detroit Red Wings and Joe Louis Arena fans can go to BidOnTheJoe.com and bid for items like Al the Octopus, locker room and arena signs, Stanley Cup and Red Wings photos, lockers, locker room doors and more according to a Thursday news release. There will be a separate sale for JLA seats. Details will be announced soon, according to the release. Olympia Entertainment and Detroit Red Wings employees are in the process of moving to Little Caesars Arena in Midtown. They're expected to have vacated the Joe by December 31. "We're excited to provide fans an opportunity to celebrate Joe Louis Arena's rich tradition and heritage through this auction," said Tom Wilson, President and CEO of Olympia Entertainment. Detroit Free Press LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087167 Detroit Red Wings … Forward Darren Helm, on Howard, who rebounded from difficult performances in two losses to Montreal last week: “Howie has been great for us all season long. He’s one of the reasons we’re in a lot of games Wings’ penalty kill helps stop skid, ease tension and won a lot of games, because of how well he’s been playing. We need that from our goalie and we’re going to need that moving forward.”

Detroit News LOADED: 12.08.2017 Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News Published 3:52 p.m. ET Dec. 7, 2017 | Updated 3:55 p.m. ET Dec. 7, 2017

Detroit — After having lost seven consecutive games, there were quite a few things to like about the Red Wings’ victory Tuesday against Winnipeg. All four lines contributed at various times, and the passion which had been missing of late definitely returned. But one unit that may have gone somewhat undetected during Tuesday’s good times was the penalty kill. That’s maybe not a huge surprise, considering how good it has been this season. But Winnipeg is one of the better offensive teams in the NHL and its power play was ranked third entering Thursday. When the Red Wings needed a big penalty kill Tuesday, they got it. “It’s an excellent power play,” coach Jeff Blashill said. “They have two units (but) the first unit of theirs is real, real powerful.” The Red Wings saw that unit score, on a patented one-timer by Patrik Laine, cutting the Red Wings lead to 2-1 while Winnipeg enjoyed a two- man advantage. The Jets still had over a minute of power play time after Laine’s goal. But the Red Wings held. Then on two other Winnipeg power plays, the Red Wings gave Winnipeg an opportunity to tie the game, only to see the penalty kill and goaltender Jimmy Howard make a huge stand. “(The game) easily could have turned,” forward David Booth said. “That was the key to the game, there. They could have scored another quick one (goal), but we kept our composure and Howie making some big saves, or a big block goes a long way.” Looking at Thursday’s NHL statistics, the Red Wings’ penalty kill has dropped to 10th at 82 percent, after being in single digits for a lengthy period of time. But it’s been a brief slip. After killing five of six Jets power plays, and doing so during crucial points of the game, the Red Wings again showed how effective their penalty kill can be. “Our (penalty) kill has done a real good job,” Blashill said. “When teams get time to set up in the zone, they generally get some (offensive) chances. But we’ve done a pretty good job on the forecheck, and our killers did a real good overall (Tuesday). “Our kill, actually, has leaked out of the top 10, but it’s actually been real good.” Blashill didn’t want to see his penalty-killing unit on the ice so much against the Jets. But, in the end, it was the Red Wings’ who had the edge in special teams. “We took too many penalties. One things we said before the game was, discipline was a key to our game,” Blashill said. “You don’t want to give that power play too many opportunities.” URGENCY UNDERSTOOD General manager Ken Holland made it clear earlier this week, while the Red Wings were mired in their losing streak, that the next 15 to 20 games will be key to their season — in regard to the trade market, who could be staying or going, and the Red Wings’ playoff chances. Everyone on the coaching staff and playing roster, Blashill said, understands the importance of these stretch of games. “We’ve understood the urgency from the first minute this season has started,” said Blashill, who dismissed the notion of any larger level of importance to these games. “ I don’t think it ratchets it up because we have understood the urgency. Since day one it has been a playoff game every game. “Our guys understand the urgency of these games. We’ve talked it about a lot, about the urgency of this homestand. We get it.” ICE CHIPS The Red Wings took the day off Thursday, an opportunity to stay off the ice amid three days off between games in the schedule. 1087168 Detroit Red Wings

Red Wings memorabilia from the Joe auctions Saturday

Louis Aguilar, The Detroit News Published 3:44 p.m. ET Dec. 7, 2017 | Updated 5:36 p.m. ET Dec. 7, 2017

Detroit — An online auction of Red Wings memorabilia left behind at the Joe Louis Arena begins Saturday, owners of the Detroit Red Wings announced Thursday. That auction begins at 7 a.m. local time at www.BidOnTheJoe.com. Available collectibles include “Al the Octopus,” the “Greatness is a Choice” sign that was displayed in the Red Wings’ locker room, photos celebrating Stanley Cup Championship teams and Red Wings greats, arena signage, used player lockers, the Red Wings’ official locker room doors and more. The auction, being held in conjunction with Schneider Industries, will conclude at 10 a.m. Dec. 16. Details of a separate sale of the seats at Joe Louis Arena will be announced in the coming weeks. The auction begins as Olympia Entertainment and Detroit Red Wings employees are in the process of relocating their offices to the innovative Little Caesars Arena. The companies expect to fully depart Joe Louis Arena by Dec. 31. “We’re excited to provide fans an opportunity to celebrate Joe Louis Arena’s rich tradition and heritage through this auction,” said Tom Wilson, president and CEO of Olympia Entertainment. “The Joe will always represent a special era, where countless memories in sports and entertainment were made for the Detroit community and its people.” Joe Louis Arena was home to four Detroit Red Wings Stanley Cup Championships (1997, 1998, 2002 and 2008) and more than 600 concerts and events since first opening in 1979. Detroit News LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087169 Edmonton Oilers from the bench, and it went unpenalized. But, that wasn’t why the Oilers lost.

“He was outstanding and made some really good saves but the one save While penalty problems persist on home ice for Oilers, power play even he needed to make got through him,” said McLellan. “But the last thing worse anybody can insinuate is pinning that game on goaltending.” CHANGES COMING Jim Matheson, Published on: December 7, 2017 | Last Updated: In practice Thursday, Brandon Davidson was with Yohann Auvitu in a December 7, 2017 8:12 PM MST third defence pairing, so he could play his first game in Montreal after the waiver claim a few days ago. Eric Gryba was paired with injured Andrej Sekera as the No. 7-8 guys, so he could be out. Three of the four lines The Edmonton Oilers penalty kill at home is 59.5 per cent, worst in the from the Flyer game looked intact with the only one up in the air the unit league by 12.6 percentage points. centred by Draisaitl. Anton Slepyshev and waiver claim Nathan Walker got reps on the wings there along with Drake Caggiula and Ryan Strome. They’ve given up at least one power-play goal in 11 of the 12 home games they’ve been shorthanded in. “We will make changes going forward,” said McLellan. How much has that hampered them this season? Edmonton Journal: LOADED: 12.08.2017 “Immensely,” said Oilers coach Todd McLellan, whose team was shorthanded four times against the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday, with Jordie Weal getting one off a sharp feed from Sean Couturier. “We seldom come out of a home game clean, which puts you down 1-0 to begin with. “That puts a strain on the mental part of the team and unfortunately we’re taking more penalties than we’re drawing.” Too many passes are getting through the seams for high-end shots on net at home rather than failing to clear the zone when they have the puck. Or losing a draw and not getting it back like the first Flyers power play Wednesday, where they had it in the Oilers’ end for the full two minutes. The rule of thumb is allowing a pass coming through the box is a team mistake? “You have to give the other team some credit for some threatening, saucer-type passes that get through skates and onto sticks, but when it consistently happens, we’re either out of position or we’re getting a wrong read,” said McLellan. “It’s a lot easier to be a goaltender when the puck stays on one side of the ice.” Mark Letestu knows it’s a crippling stat. “There’s been meetings ad nauseum in here, we’re searching for answers,” he said. “We’ve liked our kill lately with the structure and the pressure but we’re giving up a goal. We’re limiting shots, better than last year but when we give a shot on goal it’s a tap-in, a lay-up. Big breakdowns.” IF YOU THINK THAT’S BAD … While the Oilers penalty kill has been terrible at Rogers Place and 82.7 per cent successful on the road, their power play is 0-for-16 over the last eight games. It’s become far too predictable and stagnant. The first unit with Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Milan Lucic and Letestu up front, isn’t working. The second unit with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Patrick Maroon and any combination of Ryan Strome, Jesse Puljujarvi, Mike Cammalleri or Drake Caggiula at forward, has looked better in a lot of cases. It’s hard to believe that Draisaitl has 20 points but not a single one on the power play. With a power-play chance with 3:54 left against the Flyers, only McDavid had a shot on a quick rush, faking backhand and going forehand on goalie Brian Elliott. Otherwise, there’s been way too much perimeter passing. “Our power play has had chances in the last 10 minutes of a game to score and we haven’t done it,” said Strome. The Oilers have the eighth-most five-on-five goals with 57, but the third fewest on the power play with 12. And they aren’t drawing many penalties, either. Their 74 power-play tries through 28 games are 31st, eight fewer than Columbus. “My analytics friends would tell me we have the puck a lot and we shoot it a lot, so are are we going to the net enough,” said McLellan. “Getting the calls when we should? All things we ponder.” SOMEONE ELLIS? Laurent Brossoit gave up a softie to fourth-liner Dale Weise to give the Flyers a 2-1 lead Wednesday, on a play where Philadelphia had too many men on the ice. A player hopped on while a teammate was 10 feet 1087170 Edmonton Oilers he said. “Today’s practice was a prime example. It was designed to get going and we needed a little bit of barking to activate people and once we barked at them, they responded extremely well.” Time is wasting for Oilers, the NHL's most disappointing team But that’s practice. The Oilers seem incapable of dictating how the game will be played in their barn. There is no one thing that can be fixed to make everything alright, bad starts aside. Jim Matheson, Published on: December 7, 2017 | Last Updated: December 7, 2017 5:11 PM MST The penalty kill can’t stop teams from scoring here even if it’s a fourth- liner like unsung Jordie Weal, who has three goals all year.

“We always seem to come out sluggish (at home) and we’re waiting for Bottom line: Even with Connor McDavid — either the best or second-best something bad to happen before we start to play,” said McDavid. player in the universe — the Edmonton Oilers are irrelevant again around the National Hockey League following last year’s great ride. Edmonton Journal: LOADED: 12.08.2017 They are the most disappointing, confounding team in the NHL today. After 28 games last season, they were 14-10-4. This year, they are 11- 15-2. And with the season one-third gone, that’s no small sample size. They are six points out of a wildcard spot in the West with five teams to get past. While Anaheim is 12-11-6, scraping out points without Ryan Getzlaf and Ryan Kesler, and Vegas has 11 more points with a lineup that is obviously better than flotsam and jetsam, the Oilers can get no traction. They have lost to Buffalo, who had lost seven in a row, to Philadelphia, a team that had lost 10 of 11, and they scraped out a home win against Arizona even though the Coyotes were better on that night. They’re losing to Tampa or Nashville or Los Angeles. They haven’t played the top three teams in the league. And time’s running out. McDavid is at a loss to explain the difference between this year’s team and last. Really, they have only lost Jordan Eberle, who had five goals in his last two league games to get to 20, and Benoit Pouliot, who could kill a penalty but, as defensive forwards go, is no Bob Gainey. They also don’t have Matt Hendricks’s gumption, but he only played 40 games last season. It’s the same team, with Andrej Sekera out with knee surgery. Against teams in the top 16 in points right now, the Oilers are 4-11. McDavid has always been a glass half-full kind of guy, even it will take a big gulp 35-19 record in their last 54 games, .650 hockey, to get to a potential playoff cutline of 94 points. “It’s a long way from over, it’s still early December, there’s a lot of hockey left and a lot of divisional hockey left. Nobody’s going to roll over in here,” said the captain, who has yet to stand in front of the media and yell that “this is absolutely unacceptable the way we’re playing.” He’s right that they’ve only played five Pacific Division games and they’ve gone 4-1, but before they get a run of those games, they especially have to start beating Eastern teams where they are 1-7 at home and 5-17 overall, and they go to Montreal, Toronto and Columbus on their upcoming trip.. Teammate Mark Letestu isn’t a glass half-empty guy, but he’s also realistic. “At this point, if you’re thinking there’s still a lot of time (left), you’re being pretty naive,” he said. “We’ve put ourselves in a situation where we have to be desperate every night and we have to have the two points. “There’s a lot of teams between us and the playoffs right now and we have to jump a lot of them. If we think there’s a lot of time and it’s going to come if we stick with it, then that’s being naive. We have to step it up here, otherwise it’s going to be gone.” Desperation hasn’t seemed part of the Oilers’ vocabulary this year. The urgency has been absent to start games. They’ve given up the first goal 18 out of 28 times, eight games in a row at one point. And at home, the welcome wagon’s out for opposing teams. “There’s been some where we’ve been ready off the start but we’ve been waiting our way into games, waiting for something to happen, then react,” said Letestu. “The way the season’s gone, we don’t have to the time to do that anymore. We don’t have dog days anymore, we’ve run out of them.” Oilers coach Todd McLellan says the hunger isn’t there from the opening faceoff. “We’re looking to impose our will on teams. It’s like we’re waiting for an individual catalyst or a situation to poke or prod our team to get going,” 1087171 Edmonton Oilers “Everything is elevated based off the start,” said Nurse. “That’s clear. We’re in a hole but it’s not something no one has ever come out of before. We have to keep positive within our group and find a way out of Losing Oilers at a loss for answers this.” Edmonton Journal: LOADED: 12.08.2017 Robert Tychkowski Published on: December 7, 2017 | Last Updated: December 7, 2017 10:04 AM MST

The Edmonton Oilers are even more frustrated than their fans are. Sadly, that’s about the only battle they won Wednesday in yet another lacklustre effort in a must-win game on home ice against a mediocre opponent. Minutes after a 4-2 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers, the Oilers were staring blankly into space in a dead silent dressing room, searching for answers they haven’t been able to find all year. “We haven’t been hard enough in here on the details, being ready to go in here right from the start,” said centre Mark Letestu, at a loss to explain why the Oilers were outshot 13-7 in the first period of a game they had to win. “That’s not on the coaches, that’s on the leadership group in here. We have to have the guys ready to go. “We knew the importance of this game, we stressed it, but the start certainly wasn’t what it was in Calgary. We have to be awake, we have to be ready to go. We have to start on time.” They have to, but they aren’t. And here we are, 28 games into what was supposed to be a Stanley Cup-contending season, still with more questions than answers. Why can’t they play two good games in a row? Where is the urgency? How do you lose a game like this at home? What happened to the guys who out-hustled and out-muscled the NHL last year? They don’t know. They don’t know. They don’t know. They don’t know. “We can’t seem to start two good games in a row,” sighed centre Leon Draisaitl. “It is setting us back. We always have to come back in games and it takes a lot of energy to do that. “It’s not the effort. We know we are a hard-working group in here. Sometimes, individually and as a team, we are not sharp enough. That starts with the leaders, starts with us, and goes all the way through the line-up.” The Flyers had lost 10 of their previous 11 games and had not won back to back games on the road since last January. And the Oilers couldn’t, or wouldn’t, compete. “It was not our best game,” said defenceman Oscar Klefbom. “We didn’t have enough desperation. These are two points that don’t come back later. It’s tough. We keep making the road (to the playoffs) tougher and tougher every game. These are points we have to take, especially here in Rogers. “We take three penalties early and it takes a lot of energy to kill them off. It’s tough when you get a start like that. They’re a desperate team right now but we have to be ready and play better hockey.” This isn’t the end, but the Oilers can surely see it from here. They are now one mini-slump away from being dead by Christmas. “We don’t have anymore gimme games that we can just give up,” said defenceman Darnell Nurse. “At this point, we don’t have that luxury. We’re capable of it, but we have to be a lot sharper coming out of the gate.” In the grand scheme of things, they’ve won four of their last seven games, which isn’t that terrible. Unless you started the year 7-12-2 and are 5-9-0 at home. 1087172 Edmonton Oilers Connor McDavid set up Leon Draisaitl for a short-handed goal on one of them but a terrific series of passes provided a power-play goal which couldn’t be blamed in any way on Brossoit. But then it happened. Jones: Oilers raise soiled white flag in loss to Flyers A shot from the top of the circle five-on-five and it leaked between the legs — five hole — on Brossoit. Terry Jones “Awful, awful goal,” I tweeted. Published on: December 6, 2017 | Last Updated: December 7, 2017 9:18 “Come on Jonesy, that was only one ‘awful’,” said hockey writer Jim AM MST Matheson. He was right. The thing about being a backup goaltender in the NHL is that it’s mostly And it’s hard to blame a guy on the breakaway goal that made it 3-1 in about opportunity. the third. Sooner or later, you’ll get it. The problem with what happened Wednesday night is that one — let’s call it ‘debatable’ — goal on Brossoit ended up as the focus for yet When you do, you must make the most of it. another pathetic performance by this hockey team. If Talbot had been in goal, not many fans would have been focused on the goaltending. If you do, you’ll be earning an NHL paycheque for quite some time. You may even end up as a starting goaltender and a star. Just when you thought they were out of the funk, the team that spanked New Jersey 6-3 and returned to stink the joint out against Detroit, But for every one of those, there’s somebody else who gets his clobbered Vegas 8-2 and returned to soil the sheets against St. Louis opportunities and fails to seize them. returned. The team that put together an impressive performance winning 6-2 in Detroit then went to 30th overall Buffalo and delivered another dud, They go up and down to the AHL for a while but at some point get judged was back. more suspect than prospect and … well, check out the rosters in the KHL and around the various pro leagues in Europe. The club that won 4-2 in Boston and returned to soil the sheets against Phoenix re-entered the arena. It’s on that teeter-totter that Laurent Brossoit is playing right now. And last night, one bad goal was the difference in a 4-2 empty-net goal loss to If Brossoit wasn’t now 1-5-1 and not improving his goals against average the Philadelphia Flyers. (3.80) or his save percentage (.872), you’d say it just wasn’t fair. The haters will be all over Brossoit with the blame. But it was the other 19 Edmonton Journal: LOADED: 12.08.2017 Oilers who soiled the sheets. This is the opportunity that back-up goaltenders wait to be presented with, the chance to start writing their own Cam Talbot type of story. Talbot wasn’t drafted. He played college hockey at the University of Alabama at Huntsville. He worked his way through the ECHL and AHL to the New York Rangers and ended up as backup to Henrik Lundqvist. In February of 2015, Lundqvist suffered a ruptured blood vessel in his neck. Talbot started the next 24 games and seized his moment. He identified himself as legitimate. That got him the starting job in Edmonton and, again, he took advantage of his opportunity. We won’t go into the torturous roller-coaster ride that Devan Dubnyk took before finally seizing an opportunity and joining the list of top netminders in the league. Wednesday night, Oilers fans went to Rogers Place to focus as much on Brossoit, the former Edmonton Oil Kings netminder who played brilliantly to lead that team to the WHL title and a trip to the Memorial Cup. Paying his dues in the AHL, he got a shot to finish up the 2015-16 season and gave up 17 goals in four games at the end of the season. With Talbot out for another week or two, he has another opportunity. Obviously, it didn’t go well with his lost-his-focus meltdown midway in the third period in Calgary Saturday night. But the Oilers were far enough ahead they were still able to record their first win of the year without Talbot in goal. Wednesday night, Brossoit was given the net again against the Flyers. What we were dealing with here was one team looking to record their second consecutive win for only the second time this season, and another team that came to the game looking for their third two-game win streak of the season. Philadelphia came in off a franchise-equaling 10 game winless streak (0- 5-5) with a win two nights earlier in Calgary. The Oilers had won four of their last six and, while still several shovels full from digging themselves out of the hole they’d dug for themselves, could suddenly see above them. It was no place for a nervous goalie. Brossoit stopped all 13 shots in the first. The problem was that the Oilers had misplaced the type of game they appeared to have finally rediscovered in the last few games. Still, Brossoit was there to give them the proverbial chance to win. But this Edmonton team with the worst penalty killing in the league most of this season kept taking penalties. 1087173 Edmonton Oilers a team desperate to see later picks turn out, I'll count it as an encouraging sign.

Who isn't going? Lowetide: A look at Oilers prospects who could be at the world juniors A trio of Oilers prospects who were invited to Team Canada's Summer Camp didn't make the final invite list. That does happen, as performance By Allan Mitchell 18 hours ago in-season is part of the equation. LW Tyler Benson, Vancouver Giants (WHL). He earned the invite but it never came. Canada is so loaded they could have two teams, so there's Christmas 2016 was a rather quiet time for Oilers prospects at the world a lot of luck involved in getting to camp. Benson's overall numbers (17gp, junior championships. An organization whose fans enjoyed brilliant 11-15-26) and his impressive play in all areas of the game are very performances from Jordan Eberle, Taylor Hall, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, encouraging, as is his health which has been a major concern. Nail Yakupov, Darnell Nurse, Leon Draisaitl, Connor McDavid and Jesse Puljujarvi was held to just two representatives last year. Caleb Jones of G Dylan Wells, Peterborough Petes (OHL). Wells was thought to be a Team USA (7gp, 0-2-2) and Aapeli Rasanen of Team Finland (6gp, 2-4- strong candidate for the backup job (Carter Hart appears to be a lock for 6) played well for their teams and moved their respective careers forward starter) during the summer, but has posted an uneven season for the but the tournament held far less appeal in Edmonton than in previous Petes this year. In his most recent seven games, Wells is sporting a .919 winters. save percentage and appears to have settled in. A disappointing season so far, the entire Peterborough team is well off last year's pace. It looks like we'll see a little more activity this time around, with four players attending camps but just three likely to make the final cut for their G Stuart Skinner, Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL). A very similar season to teams. Wells, as Skinner followed up his summer invite with a slow start back in junior. However, he's turned things around in a big way and could be real Recent WJC performances of note draft value for the Oilers. In his last five games, Skinner has stopped 163 of 171 shots (.953). Jesse Puljujarvi 2015-16 7gp, 5-12-17 Notes Ryan Nugent-Hopkins 2012-13 6gp, 4-11-15 There are some interesting trends for the Oilers among their amateur Jordan Eberle 2009-10 6gp, 8-5-13 talents. The last time the club had two legit goalie talents maturing it was the early portion of this century (Devan Dubnyk, Jeff Deslauriers). The Jordan Eberle 2008-09 6gp, 6-7-13 two current goalies don't have the same draft pedigree but there are Taylor Hall 2009-10: 6gp, 6-6-12 some good things on the resume of each. Connor McDavid 2014-15: 7gp, 3-8-11 I'm also interested in this recent trend of U.S. Development Team defencemen. Caleb Jones was an “out of the blue” selection in 2015, and Nail Yakupov 2011-12: 7gp, 0-9-9 Kemp has a similar back story. Nail Yakupov 2012-13: 7gp, 3-5-8 The giant Safin may be a player, his WJ invite and Q season are very promising. Finally, Kirill Maksimov should be on the Russian team, he is Anton Slepyshev 2013-14: 7gp, 2-5-7 tearing up the blacktop in the OHL (25gp, 16-12-28) and is an impact Leon Draisaitl 2012-13: 6gp, 2-4-6 player at that level. Leon Draisaitl 2013-14: 6gp, 2-4-6 The Athletic LOADED: 12.08.2017 Adam Larsson 2009-10: 6gp, 1-3-4 Adam Larsson 2010-11: 6gp, 1-3-4 Connor McDavid 2013-14: 7gp, 1-3-4 Oscar Klefbom 2011-12: 6gp, 1-1-2 Darnell Nurse 2014-15: 7gp, 0-1-1 (plus exceptional shutdown defence) Jesse Puljujarvi 2014-15: 5gp, 0-0-0 This year's candidates RW Kailer Yamamoto, Spokane Chiefs (WHL). He has started slowly since heading back to junior (10gp, 1-8-9) but should play a prominent role for Team USA. That NHL experience (9gp, 0-3-3) will come in handy at the tournament and during the rest of his final junior season. He was fantastic at the August World Junior Summer Showcase. RD Phil Kemp, Yale (NCAA), Team USA. Kemp is a defencemen drafted out of the U.S. National Development Team about which we knew little at the time. The scouting reports discussed him as something of a defence- first type but the boxcars at Yale (7gp, 1-2-3) are quite promising. The scouting reports on him before draft day mentioned mobility, defensive acumen and a simple style. It's possible he may have more range in his game and an invite to camp falls in line with that assessment. C Aapeli Rasanen, Boston College (NCAA), Team Finland. In his final world juniors appearance for Finland, Rasanen is a damned good hockey player. I ranked him No. 16 on the Oilers Top 20 recently, he has a nice range of tools and some skill. He may play a feature role for Finland and he's trending in a good direction. RW Ostap Safin, Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL), Team Czech Republic. Early days after the draft, this big Czech winger is playing very well in the QMJHL (31gp, 12-19-31, 121 shots). I'm looking forward to seeing him in the tournament, he should get plenty of ice time. Safin is a giant (6.05, 192) but he can flat out play. The most encouraging thing about this year's group headed to training camps is that three of them (Yamamoto, Safin and Kemp) are from the most recent draft. The second most encouraging thing is that only one (Yamamoto) is a first-round selection. It isn't scientific in any way, but for 1087174 Florida Panthers

Panthers hope Radim Vrbata can snap slump after role change, concussion

Matthew DeFranks

At first, Radim Vrbata thought it was just a cut on his face. After he was clipped in the face by an errant puck in Los Angeles on Nov. 18, Vrbata left the game and didn’t return. It was his first shift of the game, and would be his last until 13 days later. Vrbata missed five games with what was ultimately diagnosed as a concussion, he said this week. It was a foreign experience for Vrbata, who said he’s never suffered a concussion in his career before. His testing didn’t yield normal results, and flying didn’t feel right. “Or maybe I had it but didn’t feel this bad where you could really feel like there was something wrong,” Vrbata said. “It was new to me. I’ve never had those symptoms. It’s a different injury than if you have a pulled groin, you know how it’s going to go or how many days, how it’s going to feel. With the head, it was a little not scary, but a little weird.” Vrbata’s concussion was the latest bump in an underwhelming season for the 36-year-old right wing. He’s scored just three goals in 22 games, with all three coming in the same game against Anaheim on Oct. 26. His 6.2 shooting percentage is the lowest in his career in 14 years, when he was a 22-year-old in Carolina. Vrbata was signed in the offseason to a one-year, $2.5 million contract to be a top-six forward for the Panthers. He started the season as Vincent Trocheck’s linemate on the second line, counted on to provide secondary scoring on a team needing depth past its stars Jonathan Huberdeau, Aleksander Barkov and Trocheck. But he struggled to score on the second line, creating a vacuum next to Trocheck that has led to a carousel of linemates. Vrbata said his role this year has been different than he did last year in Arizona. “I’m 36,” Vrbata said. “At that age, I think you have to change your approach. Throughout the league, every team is going with their younger guys, with their core guys for the next 5-7 years. It’s those guys’ teams. As the older guy, you’re still happy you’re still in the league. My role, if you compare it to last year, is a little different.” With the Coyotes, Vrbata led the team with goals (20) and assists (35). Fifteen of his 55 points came on the power play. He was asked to carry a struggling team’s offense. In Florida, he is a complementary piece that plays on the second power-play unit. “If you’re the go-to guy, you go to the game and you know that you have to score goals or create goals,” Vrbata said. “If you’re not that guy, then you have to play solid defensively, do your job within the system and hope that there will be some breaks that you can chip in offensively. If you’re that go-to guy, you have a lot more responsibility to play offensively, to score goals. That comes with situations in games, with power plays, with offensive zone faceoffs and stuff like that.” But Vrbata’s role is changing a bit now. Since returning from his concussion, Vrbata has played on the third line with Jared McCann instead of the second line with Trocheck. Panthers coach Bob Boughner said the switch allows Vrbata to be more responsible and asks him to create more in the offensive zone. “So now his job is to sort of be an engine for that line and not have to rely on a centerman or anything to get him going or get his line going,” Boughner said. “He’s sort of got to run that line as the veteran guy. We’ve had that conversation.” Boughner said the Panthers want more from Vrbata, and his contributions are especially needed with top-line winger Evgenii Dadonov out for about 2-4 more weeks with a shoulder injury. “I think he’s frustrated a little bit,” Boughner said. “I think that he’s had some opportunities that haven’t gone in. I think Vrby, I just talked to him this morning, we expect more. He knows that. He’s a good pro. He’s working hard to supply what we’re looking for. “He’s a good guy in the room and the guys like him. He’ll work through it and eventually, it’s going to start going in. He’s had chances, just hasn’t put it in the back of the net.” Sun Sentinel LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087175 Florida Panthers Scratches: Connor Brickley, MacKenzie Weegar, Roberto Luongo. Injured reserve: Evgenii Dadonov. Countrymen and video game partners, Aleksander Barkov and Patrik Sun Sentinel LOADED: 12.08.2017 Laine face off Thursday

Matthew DeFranks

For Jets winger Patrik Laine, time zones can be destructive when trying to play video games with his friends back in Finland. But that’s where Panthers center Aleksander Barkov can help out. With Winnipeg and South Florida separated by just an hour, the two superstar Finns often play Call of Duty together. The appointment is hardly planned. For Laine, prior communication with Barkov isn’t always a prerequisite. “I don’t usually even have to shoot him a text,” Laine said Thursday morning before the Jets faced the Panthers. “He’s always online.” Barkov, 22, and Laine, 19, are two of the most exciting players in today’s NHL. They’re both from the same city in Finland: Tampere. Both were the No. 2 pick in their respective NHL drafts (Barkov in 2013 and Laine in 2016). They knew about each other because of their days in Finland, but Barkov and Laine forged a friendship during last year’s World Cup while playing for Team Finland. Laine followed Barkov’s career before and would follow a similar path, but hadn’t had the chance to create a friendship. “He was definitely one of my idols when I was playing juniors and he was playing with the pro league team,” Laine said. “Still, he’s one of my idols. He’s a really good player and he’s going to be one of the best centermen in the league for sure. He already is.” Laine burst onto the NHL scene during his rookie season last year when he netted 36 goals and had 28 assists for Winnipeg. This season, he has 14 goals and eight assists. Barkov, meanwhile, has been one of the most durable and versatile forwards in the league. He has 26 points in 27 games while playing on both the penalty kill and power play and leading NHL forwards in ice time. “I would say he’s probably one of the most underrated players in the league,” Laine said. “He has almost a point per game and he’s playing the most minutes of forwards in the league. That’s something that every player can’t do. For me, I think he’s already a top-5 centerman in the league for sure.” San Jose style Unsurprisingly, Jets coach Paul Maurice said he saw similarities between the style of game Florida plays and the one San Jose plays. First-year Panthers coach Bob Boughner spent two seasons as an assistant coach with the Sharks. “I think you’re seeing a changeover in identity and style of play,” Maurice said. “When I watch these guys play, it does look, in some ways, like San Jose. So Bob’s experience there with the style of game and skill level they had there: playing fast, changing sides in the offensive zone, really important back-end involved in their play. They’ve got shooters back there and guys that can move the puck and skate the puck. “It’s reminiscent of those games. We’ve seen them play a whole lot more, but I think that’s the area they’re headed and they’re headed in the right direction.” Thursday’s projected lineup against Winnipeg, 7:30 p.m. Jonathan Huberdeau – Aleksander Barkov – Nick Bjugstad Jamie McGinn - Vincent Trocheck – Denis Malgin Dryden Hunt – Jared McCann – Radim Vrbata Micheal Haley - Derek MacKenzie – Colton Sceviour Keith Yandle – Aaron Ekblad Mike Matheson – Mark Pysyk Ian McCoshen – Alex Petrovic James Reimer Harri Sateri 1087176 Florida Panthers even has a plus-2 rating on the penalty kill. So it’s hard to argue with Barkov’s early returns this season.

But he still is averaging 22:46 of ice time per game, the most in the NHL Matt's Mail: Without Roberto Luongo, what are the Panthers' options for among forwards. No forward has averaged as many minutes since Ilya goaltending? Kovalchuk played 24:44 a game for the Devils in 2012-13. In fact, since the 2004-05 lockout, here is the complete list of forwards Matthew DeFranks who have averaged more minutes than Barkov’s current 22:46: Kovalchuk, Rod Brind’Amour, Martin St. Louis, Brad Richards, Alex Ovechkin and Vincent Lecavalier. Welcome to the first installment of Matt’s Mail, the alliterative mailbag It’s entirely possible Barkov’s performance takes a dip later in the season focused on the Florida Panthers. because of the high usage. But he’s scored four goals in his last five games after a five-game goalless drought. And he’s so important to a Here’s a status update on the team. They are 10-13-4 entering Thursday forward-strapped Panthers team that him playing big minutes is almost night’s game against Winnipeg. They have lost three consecutive games, necessary. but picked up points in the last two. Top-line winger Evgenii Dadonov is out for about 2-4 more weeks with a shoulder injury. Goaltender Roberto The team has gotten off to a bit of a mediocre start to the season. Has Luongo will miss “an extended period of time” with a lower-body injury. there been any indication from the past couple of games that they are turning the corner and could eventually get close to a playoff spot? -- Now let’s get to your questions. Thank you for contributing. @djgoldman35 Who do the Panthers trade for to replace Lou? -- @big5hole25 For as bad as the Panthers’ start was, they aren’t laughably far from a playoff spot. They entered Thursday five points behind Montreal for third Well, there is a short answer and a long answer to this. place in the Atlantic Division. It’s not an insurmountable deficit to bridge, The short answer is James Reimer will replace Roberto Luongo as the but it got increasingly difficult when Roberto Luongo got hurt. Panthers starting goaltender. The other short answer is I don’t know who Florida’s performance seems to have improved since Tampa Bay and the Panthers will trade for, or if they will trade for anyone at all. Columbus blasted them in early November, but partly because there was OK, now to the long answer. nowhere to go but up. The team that collected six points in an 11-game stretch earlier this season seems to be gone. They’ve been in games The Panthers seem to have three options: do nothing, acquire a short- (outside the debacle against Chicago), but need to start winning more to term stop gap solution or find a bigger-picture bridge between Luongo have any dream of the postseason. and youngster Samuel Montembeault. One thing is for sure: they’ll have to string together some victories and The distinction that needs to be made here is that Florida will have a the Panthers have not won three straight games yet this season. very, very tough time replacing Luongo’s production. He was having one of the best seasons of his career and was especially tough to score on How does being one of many voices covering a team that has a massive since returning from a right hand injury last month. Reimer will be fanbase (like you were with the Angels, for instance) compare with being counted on to carry the load with Luongo out, with his task simply just to one of a few voices covering a team that - and I say this with love - keep Florida in games. But losing Luongo for weeks is a big blow to a doesn't? -- @KensterFox team already trying to make a tough climb up the Atlantic Division. It’s different, but fanbases are generally the same no matter which team Harri Sateri was recalled on Wednesday, but Panthers coach Bob you cover. They’re passionate whether you’re writing about the Panthers Boughner said the team would have discussions about acquiring outside or FAU football or the Royals or Angels. And that’s what makes sports help to take the load off Reimer. Sateri had a shot at backing up Reimer great, that fans care immensely about their teams. It makes covering in October, but Florida instead opted to claim Antti Niemi off waivers from sports fun. Pittsburgh. So Sateri’s role could be minimal this time around as well. Is a hotdog a sandwich -- @BarberaStephen Luongo and Reimer’s contracts can complicate things. Luongo is signed I lean toward yes. It’s a piece of meat literally sandwiched between for four more years after this season. Reimer is signed for three more. So bread. if the Panthers look elsewhere for short-term goaltenders, it would ideally be one with an expiring contract to stay away from keeping three goalies But you do you. If you want to call it a sandwich, go for it. If you are on the books past this season. Or it could be someone on a two-way staunchly against calling a hot dog a sandwich, more power to you. I contract that they could stash in the AHL. probably won’t spend a whole bunch of time examining it. He’d likely need to have a role on his current team small enough so it Sun Sentinel LOADED: 12.08.2017 doesn’t cost too much in prospects or draft picks. Florida would not want to mortgage its future in a year in which its playoff chances dwindle. Plus, every team in the league knows the Panthers need a goaltender. And they’d have to be deemed an upgrade over Sateri. (Sateri has a .906 save percentage with AHL affiliate Springfield this season.) With all those potential qualifiers, the pool of goalies shrinks. It’s why Niemi made sense as a quick fix when Luongo went down in October. He was a veteran goalie placed on waivers on a one-year deal making $700,000. Florida waived him after Luongo returned and Niemi is now in Montreal backing up Carey Price while Al Montoya gets healthy. If you’re interested, here is a link to all goalies who will be free agents at the end of the season that have played in at least one NHL game this season. There are 29 names. Some are their team’s starters. Some are in the AHL. Are Barkov’s heavy minutes having any negative impact on his play? -- @parallelcircle Are they affecting him negatively? Doesn’t appear so. Will they affect him negatively in the future? Maybe. Aleksander Barkov’s production is fantastic. He’s scored 10 goals and assisted on 16 more in 27 games. That puts him on pace for 79 points across an 82-game season, which would surpass his career-high for points by 20 points. Barkov’s faceoff numbers are great. He’s won 55.7 percent of draws, the fourth most in the league among centers with at least 500 faceoffs. He 1087177 Florida Panthers Before Thursday’s game, Reimer said his approach would remain the same even though was now the starting goaltender.

“The puck’s the same size,” Reimer said before the game. “The net’s the Aleksander Barkov leaves game with upper-body injury as Panthers beat same size.” Jets, 6-4 Reimer was an obvious replacement for Luongo. But should Barkov miss a sizable amount of time, Florida does not employ a player that can do Matthew DeFranks what he does. He entered Thursday leading all NHL forwards in ice time. He was on pace to smash his career-high for points in a season by 20. He anchors Florida’s penalty kill. He drives its power play. The Florida Panthers dressing room is located on the south side of the Barkov’s injury conjures sore memories from last year, when the 22-year- BB&T Center. It is decorated with phrases taken from the New Zealand old Finn missed 21 games due to injuries and the Panthers flounder a All Blacks rugby team. Its locker stalls are wooden, its carpet red, and season after capturing the division title. Through the first third of the during the Panthers’ 6-4 win over the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday night, it season, with Barkov blossoming into the star the Panthers picked No. 2 received two unwelcome visitors. in the 2013 draft, Florida still entered Thursday five points out of a playoff spot. During the second period of Thursday’s game, Panthers franchise centers Aleksander Barkov and Vincent Trocheck disappeared down the The uphill climb would become much steeper without Barkov. tunnel behind Florida’s bench, sounding alarm for a team already without its starting goaltender and top-line right wing. Trocheck’s absence was “Yeah, it sucks whenever Barky goes down,” Trocheck said. “Him going brief and he returned to the Panthers bench quickly. down is a big hit for us, but guys stepped up. … That next man up mentality is kind of a mentality that we’ve had these last few years. But Barkov’s was extended. During a Panthers’ power play just past the We’ve had a lot of injuries. We showed that again tonight.” halfway mark of the second period, Barkov exited the game after a hit from Winnipeg’s Jacob Trouba. He sat on the edge of the bench, Sun Sentinel LOADED: 12.08.2017 hunched over. After a few minutes, Barkov left the bench at 9 p.m. He did not return to the game with an upper-body injury, and was labeled “day- to-day” by Panthers coach Bob Boughner. “I should know more here hopefully in the morning,” said Boughner, who added that he did not know if Barkov was in concussion protocol. Barkov’s scare underscored a night on which Florida snapped a three- game losing streak by beating the high-flying Jets. The Panthers jumped out to a two-goal lead in the first period, blew it by the end of the opening frame, and ultimately won the game when Micheal Haley tipped in the game-winning goal with 10:02 left in the third period. Haley, most known for his fighting and not his goal-scoring, has two goals in the last nine days. He entered the season with five career goals in 130 NHL games. So is Haley a goal-scorer now? “Don’t tell him,” linemate Derek MacKenzie said. Florida also killed six of seven Winnipeg power plays on Thursday night, including two 5-on-3 chances. The Panthers’ power play chipped in two goals, including Trocheck’s empty-netter in the final minute of the game to seal the victory. “I’ll give credit to the guys,” Boughner said. “They found a way to win. Our power play got us a couple goals. I thought we played really hard.” The Panthers suffered a huge blow to their season when Roberto Luongo suffered a lower-body injury on Monday night against the New York Islanders. Boughner has described Luongo as the team’s best player since returning from a previous hand injury. Luongo will miss “an extended period of time” that could dip past a month. So James Reimer was pushed into the starting role once again. The Panthers gave Reimer an early 2-0 lead behind goals from Mark Pysyk and Aaron Ekblad. The two goals came just 29 seconds apart and boosted Florida to a two-goal cushion just 3:17 into the game. But Winnipeg fought back in the last five minutes of the first period. Nikolaj Ehlers was the beneficiary of a deflected puck from Ben Chiarot’s stick. Chiarot directed a shot towards the goal, it went off Denis Malgin’s stick, off the ice, off Patrik Laine’s skate before Ehlers got the final touch to beat Reimer. Adam Lowry scored 2 1/2 minutes later on a nice centering feed from Brandon Tanev. The Florida edge was gone, and Winnipeg took a lead in the second period when Blake Wheeler scored on the power play after Mike Matheson gave the puck away in the neutral zone. Denis Malgin also scored for Florida and Trocheck had two goals. “I don’t think us goalies like it being 6-4, but it’s fun to win,” Reimer said. “We’ll take wins.” For Reimer, the game marked the start of another opportunity to prove himself in the NHL. He was best known as a longtime backup in Toronto before signing a long-term with Florida last offseason. He filled in admirably for Luongo down the stretch last season, but was inconsistent earlier this season when Luongo’s hand was hurt. Reimer made 30-plus saves in his first four starts. His last two ended with him on the bench after allowing nine goals in less than 60 minutes. 1087178 Los Angeles Kings

Doughty's overtime goal gives Kings seventh straight victory

By CURTIS ZUPKE DEC 07, 2017 | 11:25 PM

Drew Doughty took matters into his own hands after the Kings let opportunities slip out of theirs early and late. Ultimately, the Kings grabbed first place in the Western Conference. For most of Thursday night, they were locked into a tie game with the Ottawa Senators despite missing a wheelbarrow full of chances in the opening 25 minutes. Then came Doughty, who knocked the puck loose and took it down the left wing before looking off a pass and beating Senators goalie Mike Condon 32 seconds into overtime, giving the Kings a 4-3 victory. "I don't know if I've ever had a two-on-one for that long in my career with the puck," Doughty said. "I was looking to pass the entire time and I kind of just decided to throw my toe over it and I just tried to go five hole. It wasn't the prettiest goal, but it went in and we won." It was a prolonged path to victory for the Kings, who gave up a score- tying goal by Ryan Dzingel only 10 seconds before the end of regulation after Condon had been pulled for an extra attacker. But the Kings are tops in the West after their 30th game. “It means we’re going to have a target on our back the rest of the year,” Dustin Brown said. “We’re going to have to learn how to play with that.” Brown noted that the Kings prevailed again thanks to another good goaltending performance, this one a 37-save effort by backup Darcy Kuemper, who improved to 5-0-2. The win appeared to come first in regulation when Brown's deflection of Christian Folin's point shot with 3:28 remaining in the third period gave the Kings the lead before Ottawa's late heroics. The Kings have won seven in a row, their longest winning streak since October 2015, however hard earned. The scored was tied at 2-2 going into the third period. Ottawa, which hadn't scored in its previous two games, played its second game in two nights and was turnover-prone early. Still, the Senators tied the score on Jean-Gabriel Pageau's goal at 8:08 of the second period after Derek Forbort turned the puck over trying to pass out of his zone. Despite the early misses, the Kings appeared to grab the game on Alex Iafallo's goal at the end of a nearly rink-long passing sequence, from Doughty to Brown to Iafallo, who beat Condon with a shot streaking down the left wing. The goal was only the second of the season for Iafallo, more of a playmaker who has created ample opportunities in his rookie season. Tyler Toffoli and Tanner Pearson gave Ottawa fits to start the game, and they produced the first goal with Pearson's easy finish of Toffoli's pass in the first period. Toffoli did most of the work with a move around Senators defenseman Ben Harpur. Ottawa ended its scoreless streak at more than 154 minutes with Matt Duchene’s power-play goal late in the first period. It was only the 11th power-play goal given up by the Kings' top-ranked penalty-killing unit. Etc. The Kings acquired defenseman Jordan Subban from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for forward Nic Dowd in a trade announced after the game. Subban has played the last three seasons in the minors. He is the younger brother of Nashville Predators defenseman P.K. Subban and Vegas Golden Knights goalie Malcom Subban. Dowd had one point in 16 games this season. ... Andy Andreoff was activated off injured reserve but did not play. LA Times: LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087179 Los Angeles Kings But just like in the first period, the Senators didn’t take long to tie the score. This time, the Kings had trouble clearing the puck out of their end. Jean-Gabriel Pageau, hanging around the net, took a pass from Harpur Drew Doughty’s OT goal gives Kings their 7th straight win and Kuemper had no chance to make the save at 8:08. Orange County Register: LOADED: 12.08.2017 By ROBERT MORALES | PUBLISHED: December 7, 2017 at 10:42 pm | UPDATED: December 7, 2017 at 11:35 PM

LOS ANGELES — When you’ve won six consecutive games and you’re facing a team that has lost nine of its last 10, it can be dicey. There is the law of averages, and something else. “That becomes a dangerous opponent because instead of being tight, they say, ‘You know what? Let’s just go out and play,’” Kings coach John Stevens said at the morning skate ahead of Thursday night’s game against the struggling Ottawa Senators. “You usually get their best game coming out of that situation.” He was right. The score was tied 3-3 after regulation, but defenseman Drew Doughty scored the game-winner for the Kings just 32 seconds into the overtime period to give them a 4-3 victory before a sellout crowd of 18,230 at Staples Center. Anze Kopitar had the assist. The Kings (19-8-3) extended their win streak to seven games, while Ottawa (9-12-6) lost its third straight and 10th of its last 11. “We never once thought we were losing that game,” said Doughty, whose goal was his fifth of the season. “It’s too bad we gave up that goal in the end because (goalie Darcy Kuemper) played a great game for us. I wish I could have got a stick on that and prevented that goal. But whatever, we won in overtime.” Dustin Brown scored at 16:30 of the third period to give the Kings a 3-2 lead. But the Senators’ Ryan Dzingel scored with 10 seconds left in regulation to force overtime. Brown’s goal was his 12th of the season and came after a faceoff to the left of Senators goalie Mike Condon. Brown liked what he saw in some areas, but he said there is still room for improvement. “We have a lot to learn from and a lot to get better at,” he said. “Gave up a lot of shots. Darcy made a lot of huge saves for us; that kept us even. We found a way to win. “We played better in the third. The second period was not our best period, I don’t think.” Stevens did not mince words. He said he didn’t think his team played all that well. “I’ll be honest with you, I didn’t think it was our best game,” he said. “We knew Ottawa came in, they had played last night (a 3-0 loss to the Ducks in Anaheim). They’ve been in a stretch that they haven’t had a lot of success, so we knew that probably made them a real dangerous team.” But he loved the way the game ended, especially since his team had to shake the late game-tying goal from its collective head. “It’s nice to get the win and move on,” Stevens said. “You don’t like giving up a lead late like that, and Darcy played a heck of a game for us. But again, you got a point and now you’ve gotta go get two points.” Kuemper, the backup goalie, made 37 saves. The Kings scored first at 14:41 of the first period when Tyler Toffoli got by Senators defenseman Ben Harpur with a nifty move, fed Tanner Pearson and Pearson fired the puck past Senators goalie Condon from close range for a 1-0 lead. It was Pearson’s fifth of the season and it came after he saw Condon stop him from point-blank range on a breakaway earlier in the period. Not long after Pearson’s goal, the Kings’ Derek Forbort was called for interference. At 16:24, Ottawa’s Matt Duchene scored his sixth when he got one past Kuemper. Bobby Ryan and Erik Karlsson had the assists. As that goal was being scored, another penalty was called on the Kings – this time Torrey Mitchell was whistled for slashing. Not only did the Kings kill that penalty, they almost scored a short-handed goal when Toffoli got loose on a breakaway. Toffoli couldn’t find the net, though, shooting it across the goal mouth. Alex Iafallo scored his second of the season for the Kings at 5:18 of the second. The Kings won a faceoff in their own end and made a mad rush down the ice, Iafallo blasting it past Condon for a 2-1 lead off assists from Brown and Doughty. 1087180 Los Angeles Kings

Kings have ‘exceeded’ expectations under new regime

By ROBERT MORALES | December 7, 2017 at 9:11 PM

LOS ANGELES — Considering the Kings missed the playoffs last season and then underwent coaching and general manager changes, it would have been a bit much to expect them to be one of the top teams in the league after 29 games this season. But with 39 points (18-8-3) and a six-game winning streak ahead of Thursday night’s game against the Ottawa Senators at Staples Center, that is the case. Right wing Dustin Brown suggested that while several players, including himself, remain from the 2012 and 2014 Stanley Cup championship teams, moves made during the offseason are partly responsible for the strong start. The Kings led the Pacific Division and were tied with Nashville for the top spot in the Western Conference going into Thursday’s games. “I mean, if you look at our team, the core is still in place and that core has won two Stanley Cups, so I think it was getting a fresh start,” said Brown, in his 14th season with the Kings. “Obviously, they made changes with the coaching staff – a new voice, a new direction. The management and everything has just really been different. “The other thing to look at is every good team, to compete, you’ve gotta have younger guys come in and earn their jobs and we’ve had a number of guys who have come in and played really well for us. That allows us to be a top-end team.” Former associate head coach John Stevens replaced Darryl Sutter, and former assistant general manager Rob Blake was elevated to the top spot after the Kings parted ways with Dean Lombardi. One young player who has contributed nicely is Adrian Kempe, a 21- year-old second-year left wing who has 10 goals and seven assists. (He was in 25 games in 2016-’17). Defenseman Drew Doughty doesn’t hide the way he felt about the coaching and front-office changes. “We really didn’t know what our team was going to look like,” he said. “And then coming into camp, with the coaching change and GM change, I saw some bright lights in that direction. I knew that the boys were going to have a lot more fun in the room, we were going to have a lot more freedom to do things. “So I saw a bright side in that aspect, but I really didn’t know what to expect.” Doughty was honest, and cautious. “We’ve definitely exceeded my expectations and I think we’ve exceeded everyone else’s,” he said. “But it’s just the beginning of the season still; we’ve got a lot of hockey left to play. We want to get even better and exceed those expectations even more.” Stevens wouldn’t go so far as to say he’s surprised at what his team has done. But he could not have predicted it, either. “Our whole goal going into the season was trying to finish top three in the division,” said Stevens, noting the formula for an automatic playoff berth. “So to say I could sit here and think we were going to be on top of the division and where we are, that would have been a very optimistic outlook. “But we did believe we had a group of players here that were capable of making a push to try and be top three in the division.” Brown said getting off to a quick start was key – the Kings won nine of their first 11. But they recently went into a tailspin, losing four in a row and seven of eight, before going on this current streak. “It’s just trying to find that balance,” he said. “It’s great that we won six in a row, but we can’t be losing five in a row, either.” ICE CHIPS The Kings finish this three-game homestand with a game against Carolina on Saturday night at 7:30. … The Kings then embark on four- game trip that includes games against New Jersey, both New York teams and Philadelphia. Orange County Register: LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087181 Los Angeles Kings

IT’S A TRAP (GAME)! RED HOT LA KINGS HOST ICE COLD SENATORS

PUMPERNICHOLLDECEMBER 7, 20170 COMMENTS

GAME PREVIEWMORNING SKATE QUOTES ICYMI: The LA Kings have been on a very impressive run over the past couple of weeks. In fact, the Kings are 6-0-0 in their past six games. I don’t expect anyone who reads LA Kings Insider dot com to know these types on advanced analytics, but trust me that the math checks out. That’s the good news. The bad news is that they play the Ottawa Senators tonight. The very same Senators that have gone 1-8-1 in their past 10 games and are coming off back-to-back shutout losses to the Winnipeg Jets (Sunday) and Anaheim Ducks (last night). Ruh roh? “They [Senators] become a dangerous opponent because instead of being tight, they say: ‘You know what? Let’s just go out and play,'” head coach John Stevens said about the Senators nothing-to-lose mentality. So what do Stevens and the Kings expect to see out of the Senators coming off last night’s 3-0 loss to the Ducks? “Usually you get the [opponent’s] best game coming out of this situation,” Stevens said. “I think sometimes back-to-back is good for you. We went into Ottawa (October 24 following a loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs) on a back-to-back and played one of our best games of the year.” When a team hasn’t scored, we have to focus on ourselves. We have to make sure we’re ready to play off the start and be ready for an elite hockey team.” Meanwhile, the Senators aren’t making any changes to last night’s lineup: Boucher says condon will start and the rest of the roster will remain the same. — TSN 1200 (@TSN1200) December 7, 2017 The Kings are facing a team that hasn’t scored in two games and is starting their backup goalie? What could go wrong! LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087182 Los Angeles Kings

MORNING SKATE NOTES: KUEMPER COULD POSSIBLY, MAYBE START AGAINST SENATORS

PUMPERNICHOLL DECEMBER 7, 2017

MORNING SKATE NOTES The LA Kings are back in action tonight (FOX Sports West / FOX Sports GO / KABC 790 / I Heart Radio) against the Ottawa Senators at STAPLES Center, and there’s no real reason to mess with a winning formula. Lines and pairings: Iafallo – Kopitar – Brown Pearson – Shore – Toffoli Gaborik – Kempe – Lewis Brodzinski – Mitchell – Jokinen Clifford – Andreoff – Dowd Muzzin – Doughty MacDermid – Martinez Forbort – Folin Fantenberg Notes! OK, so potentially ONE lineup change: Darcy Kuemper left the ice first, but head coach John Stevens would neither confirm nor deny that he will start tonight. “[Kuemper] is going to play this week,” Stevens said. “I think he’s played really well.” While I cannot decipher riddles, Kuemper did face the Senators earlier this season, a 3-2 shootout win for the Kings. Kuemper turned aside 28 of 30 shots in the game, and stopped both shootout attempts. Thank you based Kempe. For his career, Kuemper is 2-1-0 with a 1.91 GAA and .939 SV% in three games against the Senators. Meanwhile, Jonathan Quick has a 5-4-0 record with a 2.58 GAA and .903 SV% in nine career starts against those #PeskySens. Nic Dowd, Oscar Fantenberg and the players on injured reserve remained on the ice for some extra work, so they’re not expected to get into tonight’s game. LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087183 Los Angeles Kings

DECEMBER 7 POSTGAME QUOTES: DOUGHTY, BROWN

JESSI MCDONALD DECEMBER 7, 2017

Drew Doughty, on what has impressed him most about the seven- straight wins: Tonight wasn’t our best effort that’s for sure. It was probably our worst game over the last seven wins for sure. We just don’t give up whether we’re down, whether we’re up, we’re trying to play the same way and I think we’re doing a great job with that. When we were losing games, we were up and down. When we would score we would get too high and we’re trying to stay level and I think we’re doing a great job of that and that’s why we’re winning. Doughty, on the team’s confidence late in games: We have full confidence. Both of our goalies, we have complete confidence in them that they’re going to shut it down in the third and they’ve done a great job of that, of being a good defensive hockey team. And good defense wins championships, I don’t care what you say. And if in third periods, when it comes down to the clutch times, you play good defense and create those turnovers you’re going to get offense out of it. And that’s what we do in the third. We have fun doing it and everyone is responsible for the exact same things. Doughty, on what he saw on his overtime goal: I had a 2-on-1. I don’t know if I’ve ever had a 2-on-1 for that long in my career with the puck. But I was kind of looking to pass the entire time and I just decided to throw my toe over it and try to go five-hole on the goal. You know, it wasn’t the prettiest goal, but it went in and we won so whatever. Doughty, on whether the team has a shooting mentality: Oh for sure. Yeah, we’re trying to get more pucks to the net. That’s definitely been something that the coaches talk to us about all the time. And we’re doing a good job of that. The key is the first touch to the net and we’re trying to do that and we’re doing a good job of that. You know, you see us score on tips and rebounds like we never used to in the past. Doughty, on the Senators getting the tying goal late in the third: Yeah, you know I don’t think we were phased by it to be honest. It didn’t seem like we were phased anyway. 3-on-3 anything can happen. And you can see they kind of came down on us, just a quick turnover, a few people falling and just throw one back the other way. We never once thought we were losing that game. We had full confidence we were going to win it. It’s too bad that we gave up that goal at the end because Kuemper played a great game for us. I wish I could’ve gotten a stick on that and prevented that. But whatever, it happened. We won, that’s it. Dustin Brown, on the overall play of the team tonight: I thought we had some really good areas, but I think we have a lot to learn from and a lot to get better at. Gave up a lot of shots. Darcy made some huge saves for us, kept us even. But we found a way to win. I think we played better in the third. The second was not our best period I think, but like I said, you try to learn from everything. Brown, on missed opportunities in the first period: I mean you try not to think about missing empty nets. But I mean it happens. We had two empty nets probably and a couple posts and you just keep playing. All that stuff really, whether it’s in the grand scheme of things or within a season, it all really evens out. So you just try to stick to your game plan and work through it. Brown, on what it means to be first in the division: It means we’re going to have a target on our back the rest of the year. So we have to learn how to play with that. LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087184 Los Angeles Kings LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 12.08.2017

DECEMBER 7 POSTGAME QUOTES: JOHN STEVENS

JESSI MCDONALDDECEMBER 7, 2017

John Stevens, on what impressed him about the team tonight: Well, I’ll be honest with you, I didn’t think it was our best game tonight. Ottawa had come in, they had played last night, and in a stretch that they hadn’t had a lot of success so we knew that probably made them a really dangerous team. They play hard, they forecheck really well, and jam down low. And I thought over the course of the game that’s tough ice. You’ve got to be tough on the walls. You’ve got to be able to take on contact. You’ve got to be able to take on plays, and pass under pressure. And I thought we did that, at times well and at times we didn’t. Probably the part we had the best success was just moving in the offensive zone. We had some really good stretches with a lot of high plays, lot of back of net plays around the net. So it’s a tough game. We knew it’d be a tough game. Coming off the road you play every other day, it seems like the road trip, and kind of addressed it as if it is a continuation of the road trip. But certainly liked the resilience of the group. They have the ability to fight back in games. Gave up a late goal like that and then they come right back and win it in overtime. So, not surprising that Kopi, Drew, and Brownie are involved in it. Stevens, on the the team’s level of confidence: Well, I think you have a group of players here, it’s the veteran guys here that know how to win. They’ve been there before, they know what it takes to win. They’re comfortable playing in tight games. I think if you look at some of our younger players with Alex (Iafallo) playing with Kopi and Brownie, you’ve got Kempe playing with Lewie and Gabby, and then Shorzie, Ty, and Tanner are all veteran guys. So then you go to the fourth line and you’ve got Brods (Brodzinski) playing with two veteran guys. I think the guys that are veteran guys are comfortable in those situations. That’s really helped our younger players perform in those situations. So they deserve a lot of credit for the success we’ve had here late. Stevens, on whether the team’s dominant play in third periods comes from conditioning: Well, I’ll be honest, I think every team in the league is extremely fit, but I do think the group this year, with the commitment in the summertime to come in ready, was great. And we were really excited about it. And I also think Matt Price and his staff, Kinger (Chris Kingsley), have done a good job with the resources we have to manage fatigue. So we have a much better handle now on when do they work, when do they rest, how much rest can we have. And we talk to the players and see how they’re feeling. So we try to make sure we get enough work, but when the schedule is what it is make sure we rest sometimes is as important as work. So I think this group is a well-conditioned group and the resources they have been afforded have really helped them recover in tough games and still be a good third period team night-in, night-out. Stevens, on getting the game-winner early in overtime after giving up the game-tying goal so late in regulation: It’s nice to get the win and move on to be honest with you. You know, you don’t like giving up a lead late like that and Darcy (Kuemper) played a heck of a game for us. But again, you’ve got a point and now you’ve got to go get two points. And it’s interesting in overtime, I think a lot of times in overtime those situations of good defensive play leads to an offensive play. I think that’s been the case with us anyway and I think the guys that are on the ice are obviously our best offensive players, but they’re best defensive players and end up with the puck on an odd man rush. So, great to see. Stevens, on mixing up the lines: We like the line, we like the continuity of the line, we like what Alex brings to the line. We just thought in game that they needed a spark. We just weren’t creating enoguht with that line. Sometimes you make a little switch like that, and I thought the lines got better. I thought moveing Kempe with Ty and Tanner, that line got better. Shorzie, Alex, and Lewis gives it a little bit of a different look and Gabby was going. Gabby, you get a feeling, if he gets an opportunity to score he has a habit of doing that at the right time. So I think we have the ability to move those guys around a little bit. They did with their lines early in the hockey game tonight, maybe just based on matchup. We did it to try to get a spark because they’ve had success before. 1087185 Los Angeles Kings

SUBBAN TO THE LA KINGS, DOWD TO CANUCKS

PUMPERNICHOLL DECEMBER 7, 2017

TRADES The LA Kings have acquired defenseman Jordan Subban from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for forward Nic Dowd, Kings Vice President and General Manager Rob Blake announced today. The 22-year-old Subban (born March 3, 1995) is a 5-9, 175-pound native of Rexdale, Ontario who has played in 16 games with the Utica Comets (AHL) this year, recording five points (0-5=5) and 13 penalty minutes. Drafted in the fourth-round (115th overall) by Vancouver during the 2013 NHL Draft, Subban has appeared in 148 regular-season games over three seasons with Utica, posting 77 points (27-50=77) and 87 penalty minutes. He has also played in four playoff games with Utica, recording three points (2-1=3) and two penalty minutes. Jordan is the younger brother of Nashville Predators defenseman P.K. Subban and Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Malcolm Subban. Dowd appeared in 16 games this season with the Kings, posting one point (0-1=1) and 12 penalty minutes. He scored 22 points (6-16=22) as a rookie last season. LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087186 Los Angeles Kings

GAME 30: LOS ANGELES VS OTTAWA

PUMPERNICHOLL DECEMBER 7, 2017

GAME THREADS LA Kings 4, Ottawa Senators 3 (OT) Final Radio Feed FOX Sports GO FUBO TV Stream NHL.com Preview Box Score Ice Tracker SOG: LAK – 38; OTT – 40 PP: LAK – 0/1; OTT – 1/4 First Period 1) LAK – Tanner Pearson (5) (Tyler Toffoli), 14:41 2) OTT PP – Matt Duchene (6) (Bobby Ryan, Erik Karlsson), 16:24 Second Period 3) LAK – Alex Iafallo (2) (Dustin Brown, Drew Doughty), 5:18 4) OTT – JG Pageau (3) (Ben Harpur, Gabriel Dumont), 8:08 Third Period 5) LAK – Dustin Brown (12) (Christian Folin, Anze Kopitar), 16:32 6) OTT – Ryan Dzingel (9) (Matt Duchene, Mike Hoffman), 19:50 Overtime 7) LAK – Drew Doughty (5) (Anze Kopitar), 0:31 Los Angeles Kings (18-8-3) vs Ottawa Senators (9-11-6) Thursday, December 7, 2017, 7:30 p.m. Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA Referees: #38 Francois St Laurent, #20 Tim Peel Linesmen: #64 Brandon Gawryletz, #56 Mark Wheeler FOX Sports West, FOX Sports GO, FUBO TV, KABC 790, I Heart Radio LAK starters: G Darcy Kuemper, D Jake Muzzin, D Drew Doughty, LW Alex Iafallo, C Anze Kopitar, RW Dustin Brown LAK scratches: D Oscar Fantenberg, F Nic Dowd, F Andy Andreoff OTT starters: G Mike Condon, D Erik Karlsson, D Ben Harpur, RW Mark Stone, C Derick Brassard, LW Bobby Ryan OTT scratches: D Frederik Claesson LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087187 Minnesota Wild

Bettman says NHL will consider Seattle expansion bid

Associated Press DECEMBER 7, 2017 — 6:05PM

MANALAPAN, Fla. — NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman says the league's board of governors has agreed to consider an expansion application from Seattle. Bettman said the expansion fee has been set at $650 million for Seattle, which would become the league's 32nd team, if approved. He made the announcement Thursday after the first day of the board of governors meeting. Bill Foley paid a $500 million expansion fee for the Vegas Golden Knights. They began play this season. Seattle plans to have a new arena ready by 2020 with the intent of luring an NHL and an NBA team as anchor tenants. Bettman says Seattle is the only city being considered for expansion at the moment, which means an NHL team likely won't be playing in Quebec City's 18,259-seat Videotron Centre in the foreseeable future. Star Tribune LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087188 Minnesota Wild

Wild switches up forward lines ahead of game vs. Ducks

By Sarah McLellan DECEMBER 7, 2017 — 5:14PM

One period on the road in Dallas last season. That’s when center Eric Staal remembers playing next to winger Mikael Granlund in his tenure with the Wild. “I think it was relatively early in the year," Staal said. A reunion, however, seems to be in the works, as the two skated on the same line at practice Thursday in Anaheim, with Nino Niederreiter positioned on the left side. “Obviously, he’s a great player playing good every single night and he has a lot of speed up the middle,” Granlund said of Staal, who paces the Wild in po. “He pushes their ‘D’ back and opens up some space.” This wasn’t the only change the Wild made up front during its afternoon session ahead of its Friday meeting with the Ducks at Honda Center. Charlie Coyle shifted from center to right wing on a line with winger Jason Zucker and center Mikko Koivu. Recent call-up Joel Eriksson Ek centered wingers Tyler Ennis and Chris Stewart. And wingers Daniel Winnik, Marcus Foligno and Zack Mitchell worked with center Matt Cullen. “Obviously, we’re looking for a little more of an offensive spark,” Staal said. “Sometimes when you throw some guys around and make some changes, you can do that.” Star Tribune LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087189 Minnesota Wild “He was the best player down there,” Boudreau said of Eriksson Ek. “We just thought he’s capable of playing on our team.”

A thicker cushion from the offense would undoubtedly improve the Wild’s Wild leaves itself vulnerable late in games outlook late in games, but the right mindset is also necessary. And that grows through effective repetition. By Sarah McLellan Star Tribune DECEMBER 7, 2017 — 11:14PM “If you can have that killer instinct, get that one- or two- or three-goal lead,” Staal said, “it’s going to put you in a better situation.” ANAHEIM, Calif. – Build a lead. Star Tribune LOADED: 12.08.2017 Check. Frustrate the opposition’s offense. Done. Seal a win in the third period. A work in progress. The Wild was two-thirds of the way through a successful blueprint for pocketing two points on the road Tuesday when it wilted in the final period, getting upended by a four-goal rally from the Kings for a 5-2 loss that obscured just how close the Wild was to victory. It was the first time this season the team hadn’t snagged at least a point when leading after two periods, but it was enough of a collapse to shine a spotlight on the progress needed to close out games — especially on the road, where the Wild is 5-8-1. Fortunately for the team, though, it’ll have another crack at executing this plan Friday when the Wild resumes its three-game trek along the West Coast by visiting the Ducks in Anaheim. “We just have to continue to play the right way,” coach Bruce Boudreau said. “That’s the whole bottom line.” Getting to the third period in position to pull out a win wasn’t an issue for the Wild against the Kings. The team seemed to play an ideal road style through two periods by getting pucks deep, cycling down low and limiting the quality of Los Angeles’ chances. But that approach fizzled in the third, enabling the Kings to take over — tying it 4 minutes, 35 seconds into the frame before converting the game- deciding goal with 7:22 remaining. “I firmly believe that if you’re tied with under 10 minutes to go on the road, you should be coming out there with a point unless something really accidental happens,” Boudreau said. “We haven’t done that enough this year. If we had done it enough, we’d be in the high 30s in points right now.” Like the strategy to tote a lead into the third, there also appears to be a checklist for bubble-wrapping it through regulation. Disciplined play becomes even more crucial; odd-man rushes helped derail the Wild on Tuesday, and the opponent also can be boosted by power plays. Staying out of the box is key. But not having to play defense at all would help, too. The Wild had just five shots on goal in the third, giving the Kings ample opportunity to direct traffic at the other end of the rink. “We haven’t played as much in the offensive zone as we should,” winger Mikael Granlund said. “That relieves a lot of pressure on our ‘D,’ so hopefully we can do a better job of that.” Trying to protect more than a one-goal lead would also make it easier on the blue line, and perhaps the new look the Wild debuted at practice Thursday will ignite more production. Granlund was slotted next to center Eric Staal and winger Nino Niederreiter, while Charlie Coyle shifted from center to right wing on a line with center Mikko Koivu and winger Jason Zucker. “It never hurts sometimes to separate guys for a little bit just to get a different view in life, almost new linemates,” Boudreau said. “If you look at the numbers and how many goals we’ve scored as a team recently, I thought it was something worth trying.” Joel Eriksson Ek, who was recalled Wednesday after a seven-game stint with Iowa in the American Hockey League in which he scored three goals and racked up seven points, centered wingers Tyler Ennis and Christ Stewart, and wingers Daniel Winnik, Marcus Foligno and Zack Mitchell worked with center Matt Cullen. 1087190 Minnesota Wild

Wild at Anaheim game preview

DECEMBER 7, 2017 — 8:29PM SARAH MCLELLAN

9 p.m. at Anaheim • FSN, 100.3-FM Stop No. 2 on the West Coast Preview: The Wild continues its three-game West Coast swing after opening the trip with a 5-2 loss to the Kings on Tuesday. In its past 11 visits to Honda Center, the Wild is 5-6 with six of those games being decided by one goal. Players to WATCH: C Adam Henrique has two goals and three assists in four games with the Ducks since being acquired in a trade with the Devils. Winger Corey Perry leads Anaheim in points with 21. G John Gibson is 3-1 with a 1.19 goals-against average and .964 save percentage and one shutout in five career starts against the Wild. Numbers: The Wild owns the fifth-best power play on the road at 26.3 percent. F Charlie Coyle is in the midst of a five-game point streak. The Ducks are 7-7-2 on home ice. Injuries: Wild F Zach Parise (back surgery) and D Jared Spurgeon (groin strain) are out. Ducks Fs Ryan Kesler (hip), Patrick Eaves (Guillain-Barré syndrome) and Ryan Getzlaf (Zygomatic bone fracture) are also out. F Mike Liambas (upper body) is week-to-week. Fs Jared Boll (lower body), Joseph Blandisi (upper body) and Jakob Silfverberg (upper body) and D Hampus Lindholm (upper body) are day-to-day. Star Tribune LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087191 Minnesota Wild

Look what Wild’s Joel Eriksson Ek found in Iowa: his confidence

By DANE MIZUTANI | PUBLISHED: December 7, 2017 at 6:28 pm | UPDATED: December 7, 2017 at 6:33 PM

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Joel Eriksson Ek is still quite shy with the media. The 20-year-old Swede is extremely soft-spoken, usually keeping his answers short and to the point. That doesn’t matter to the Wild, though, as long as Eriksson Ek does his talking on the ice. The Wild called the 6-foot-2, 200-pound center up from the minors on Wednesday’s off day, and there’s a good chance he’ll be back in the lineup for Friday’s game against the Anaheim Ducks at the Honda Center. Eriksson Ek was sent down to the minors two weeks ago when the team decided he needed play a bigger role to rebuild his confidence. A first- round pick in the 2015 NHL Draft, he hasn’t lived up to the hype this season, producing one goal and two assists in 20 games. “You could see that (Eriksson Ek) wasn’t skating like he was,” coach Bruce Boudreau said at the time. “This is a confidence issue, I think.” That wasn’t a problem for Eriksson Ek in seven games with the Iowa Wild of the American Hockey League, for whom he had three goals and four assists to earn a call back to the big club. “He was the best player down there,” Boudreau said. “We just thought he’s capable of playing on our team, so let’s bring him back.” Eriksson Ek centered Tyler Ennis and Chris Stewart on the third line at Thursday’s practice and was thrilled to be back with the team. “Yeah, of course,” he said. “(This) is where everyone wants to play.” Eriksson Ek noted that playing more minutes with Iowa did indeed help his confidence. He is hopeful that will translate to some sustained success. “I played a lot, so I think it was good for me,” he said. “It’s going to help me to get into games a little bit more. … I had some chances to score up here (the first time). I just need to put them in. It’s going to help me if I do that.” FINNS SPLIT UP With Mikko Koivu in the midst of an 18-game goalless drought, and Mikael Granlund quiet of late, Boudreau decided to split the two Finns up for the first time this season during Thursday’s practice. Koivu centered Jason Zucker and Charlie Coyle, while Granlund played alongside Eric Staal and opposite Nino Niederreiter. “I think they’re both a little dry,” Boudreau said. “It never hurts to sometimes separate guys for a little bit to get a different view in life, almost, with new linemates. If we look at the numbers and how many goals we’ve scored as a team recently, I thought it was something worth trying.” Granlund downplayed the move after practice, emphasizing that line changes are simply part of the game. “I’m with those two guys now,” Granlund said. “I’m excited for tomorrow.” BEING SMARTER The Wild have lost eight games this season after being tied or leading in the third period. The worst of them all might have been Tuesday’s collapse against the Los Angeles Kings, when the Wild gave up four unanswered goals in the third period of a 5-2 defeat. The Wild are 0-5-3 in those games, meaning they’ve left 13 points on the table. “We’ve got to be smarter and better in those situations,” Granlund said. “There’s been an awful lot of games that we’ve lost at the end, and we have to do a better job.” “We just have to continue to play the right way,” Boudreau added. “That’s the whole bottom line. We might get antsy for a shift or two in the third and then all of a sudden it backfires.” Pioneer Press LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087192 Montreal Canadiens Montreal started Jakub Jerabek on defence, bumping Victor Mete. Jonathan Drouin skated Thursday morning but still missed a fourth game, the last two with an illness. Sean Monahan comes up big in Flames’ overtime win over Canadiens Globe And Mail LOADED: 12.08.2017

BILL BEACON PUBLISHED DECEMBER 7, 2017 UPDATED 6 HOURS AGO

Missing Matthew Tkachuk to a suspension and having a back-up goalie in net wasn't going to stop the Calgary Flames. Sean Monahan's second goal of the game 1:14 into overtime and 35 saves from David Rittich lifted the Flames to a 3-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday night. It was only the third win in the last nine games for Calgary (15-12-2), which had to grind it out after losing in a shootout the night before in Toronto. "Any win's good," said Monahan, who scored his 16th and 17th goals of the season. "Whatever way you get it, you take the two points and move forward. "We'll be happy to have Chucky (Tkachuk) back next game and we'll build on it from there." Tkachuck served a one-game suspension for spearing Toronto's Matt Martin. It was a second suspension this season for the skilled but sometimes undisciplined 19-year-old. Rittich made only his second career start and improved to 2-0-0 after beating Colorado in his season debut on Nov. 25. The Czech goaltender made 35 saves, outduelling Carey Price who stopped 34. "We did a lot of good things but the team over there was resilient," said Price. "Their goaltender played well for them and they found a way to win." The Flames trailed 2-1 going into the third period but tied it at 7:49 on a goal from fourth-line winger Garnet Hathaway that needed two video reviews. The officials first ruled goaltender interference when the puck went in with Hathaway and two linemates jamming at the puck in the crease. Flames coach Glen Gulutzan challenged the ruling, which was then overturned. "Janko (Mark Jankowski), Benny (Sam Bennett) and I were buzzing," said Hathaway, who got his first goal of the season and his second in 46 career NHL games. "Benny made a nice play behind the net to bring it out in front and we were all jamming at it. "That was a big goal for our line." Monahan finished a 2-on-1 break by taking a feed from Johnny Gaudreau and beating Price from the slot in overtime. Daniel Carr and Phillip Danault scored for Montreal (13-13-4), which is 5- 1-1 in its last seven games. "It wasn't a bad game, but little details cost us the game," said Montreal coach Claude Julien. "We need to win more battles along the boards and in front of the net. "That's an area we need to improve quickly." Each team scored from the side of the net in the first frame. Monahan's first shot hit the side, but he picked up the rebound, spun around and sneaked the puck inside the near post at 6:31. Then Carr backhanded a shot in off Rittich's back from close range at 8:36. It was the sixth point in four games for Carr since he was called up from AHL Laval last week. Max Pacioretty broke down the right side and backhanded a pass in front that Danault tipped over Rittich's glove at 10:10 of the second period. The Flames had a chance for the lead with a two-man advantage for a full minute starting at the 12:47 mark but couldn't score. With Tkachuk's one-game suspension, Freddie Hamilton moved into the Calgary lineup. Curtis Lazar played his 200th game. Jaromir Jagr sat out a second straight game with a lower-body injury. 1087193 Montreal Canadiens

Calgary Flames at Canadiens: Five things you should know

Pat Hickey, Published on: December 7, 2017 | Last Updated: December 7, 2017 7:36 AM EST

Here are five things you should know about the Canadiens-Calgary Flames game at the Bell Centre Thursday (7:30 p.m., TSN2, RDS, TSN 690 Radio): The matchup: The Canadiens’ five-game winning streak ended Tuesday night when they dropped a 4-3 decision to the St. Louis Blues. The good news is that they came back to tie the score twice after falling behind 1-0 and 3-1, and they hung tough against a bigger and stronger team in a game that fell far short of a 60-minute effort. The schedule provides the Canadiens with a bit of a break because the Flames played Wednesday night in Toronto. Calgary went into that match with one win in their previous four games. The Flames are above .500 with a 14-12-1 record and are a point out of a playoff spot. Drouin getting better? Jonathan Drouin has missed three games with a lower-body injury, but there is a sign that he’s poised for a return even though he has missed practice the past two days. Drouin was supposed to skate in an optional practice Tuesday morning with Jakub Jerabek and Antti Niemi, but he showed up in Brossard suffering from a virus. He was still ailing Wednesday, but the lower-body injury has healed to the point where he’ll play when he shakes off the flu bug. Defenceman Shea Weber, who scored twice against the Blues, was also absent from practice Wednesday for treatment, but he is expected to face the Flames. Pacioretty struggling: Max Pacioretty was the only Canadiens forward who didn’t earn a point in the 10-1 rout of the Detroit Red Wings last Saturday. The captain has scored 30 goals in each of the past four seasons, but he is stuck on eight after 29 games and has scored only once in the past 11 games. Pacioretty, who said he is happy with his game if not the output, leads the team with 121 shots on goal and that works out to a shooting percentage of 6.6 per cent. Brendan Gallagher has 13 goals on 90 shots for a 14.4 per cent success rate. Benn matches career high: Jordie Benn has scored goals in each of the past two games and his four goals equal his career high for a season. Thanks to Ken Campbell of the Hockey News for noting that Benn has more goals than Erik Karlsson, Victor Hedman, Brent Burns and Dustin Byfuglien combined. Andrew Shaw has three goals and three assists in a five-game point streak, while Tomas Plekanec has four assists in a three- game streak. But the Canadien with the best points-per-game record is Daniel Carr, who has a goal and four assists in the three games since he was recalled from the AHL’s Laval Rocket. The other guys: Johnny Gaudreau is tied for third in the NHL scoring race with 36 points, four points behind leader Nikita Kucherov. Gaudreau has 12 goals and 24 assists. The leading goal-scorer for the Flames is Sean Monahan with 15. He’s tied with Anze Kopitar for fifth place in the Rocket Richard Trophy race, which is led by Alex Ovechkin (20 goals). Michael Ferland has chipped in with 11 goals. The Flames’ Achilles heel has been defence. The Flames have allowed 3.25 goals a game which ranks 24th in the NHL. Mike Smith has appeared in 24 of 29 games and has a 2.79 goals-against average and a .916 save percentage. Montreal Gazette LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087194 Montreal Canadiens Since returning to the lineup, Price has a 5-1-0 record with a 1.67 goals- against average and a .940 save percentage, improving his season record to 8-8-1 with a 3.00 GAA and .903 save percentage. Game Day: Canadiens cancel morning skate again before facing Flames Mete sticking around Hockey Canada named 32 players to its selection-camp roster for the Stu Cowan, Montreal Gazette World Junior Hockey Championship on Wednesday and Canadiens defenceman Mete wasn’t one of them. Published on: December 7, 2017 | Last Updated: December 7, 2017 6:26 PM EST NHL teams have until Dec. 19 to decide if they will loan players to the world junior tournament, which will be held from Dec. 26 until Jan. 5 in Buffalo. Julien said after practice Wednesday that the Canadiens still hadn’t made a final decision about Mete and that they would take their Morning skates on game days look like they are becoming a thing of the time and base their decision on what’s best for the Canadiens. past for the Canadiens. Mete logged 17:06 of ice time for the Canadiens in Tuesday’s game Coach Claude Julien cancelled Thursday’s scheduled morning skate in against a big, physical Blues team. Brossard before a game against the Calgary Flames Thursday night at the Bell Centre (7:30 p.m., TSN2, RDS, TSN Radio 690). The Canadiens “Victor Mete continues to gain some experience here,” Julien said after haven’t had a morning skate before four of their last five games and the game. “He’s only going to get better as he plays and stuff like that. captain Max Pacioretty is happy about that. This was a good test for him tonight. I know there were times where he had his hands full, but he’ll never get better if you don’t give him that “I’m heavily in favour,” Pacioretty said after practice Wednesday about opportunity. It was a good experience for him tonight.” morning skates being cancelled on game days. “It’s a trend around the league. I don’t know who started morning skates … I’m not a fan of them, Mete has no goals and four assists in 27 games with the Canadiens and though. is plus-5 while averaging 14:52 of ice time per game. The 19-year-old Mete was plus-5 in the Canadiens’ 10-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings “You’re not going to get in game condition the morning of a game,” last Saturday at the Bell Centre, becoming only the ninth Montreal rookie Pacioretty added. “Obviously, there’s a time and place I think after a day to post plus-5 or better in a game and the first since Jyrki Lumme did it off … you want to go out there and feel the puck. But we’re all on Feb. 24, 1990. professional, we know what we have to do to make ourselves feel good when the puck drops, so I’m a big fan of the no morning skate. Other players now in the NHL who could be made available for Team Canada at the world junior tournament include Arizona Coyotes “There’s a lot of effort,” the captain added about morning skates. “You defenceman Jakob Chychrun, Columbus Blue Jackets centre Pierre-Luc come to the rink, you have meetings, you put on your gear, you skate, Dubois, Philadelphia Flyers centre Nolan Patrick and defenceman you take off your gear. Then you drive home and do what it takes to rest Samuel Girard, and Colorado Avalanche centre Tyson Jost. up and get ready. We think about hockey constantly … when you get a break from the rink and you don’t have to come in and put on the gear Canada, which lost the gold-medal game to the United States last year in you’re just saving energy. I think even if it won’t be the case for that night, a shootout at the Bell Centre, opens this year’s tournament on Dec. 26 I think it adds up over time and can help you save energy throughout the against Finland. year.” Habs numbers Julien met with the media at 4:45 p.m. at the Bell Centre and said that Jonathan Drouin was still fighting a virus and would miss his fourth Brendan Gallagher leads the Canadiens in goals and points with 13-6-19 straight game after missing the last three with a lower-body injury. Drouin totals, followed by Drouin (5-12-17), Pacioretty (8-8-16), Shea Weber (6- missed practice Wednesday with the virus. 10-16), Alex Galchenyuk (6-10-16), Phillip Danault (4-12-16) and Andrew Shaw (7-8-15). “He’s still a little bit sick, he’s not well enough to play tonight,” Julien said. “That’s probably the only thing that’s holding him back right now. The Canadiens rank 23rd in the NHL in offence, scoring an average of 2.75 goals per game, and rank 20th in defence, allowing an average of Julien also announced that rookie defenceman Victor Mete will be a 3.06 goals per game. They rank 21st on the power play (17.52 per cent) healthy scratch against the Flames, replaced by Jakub Jerabek. and 23rd in penalty-killing (77.89 per cent). Habs look to start new win streak Canadiens defenceman Karl Alzner will play in his 570th consecutive game Thursday night, tying Mark Recchi for the 14th-longest ironman The Canadiens saw their five-game winning streak come to an end with streak in NHL history. Tuesday night’s 4-3 loss to the St. Louis Blues at the Bell Centre. The Canadiens (13-13-3) are 5-1-1 in their last seven games and hold the Flames numbers third and final playoff spot in the Atlantic Division, one point ahead of the fourth-place Boston Bruins (12-9-4), who have four games in hand. The Johnny Gaudreau leads the Flames in scoring with 12-24-36 totals and Bruins play host to the Arizona Coyotes Thursday night. ranks third in the NHL scoring race behind the Tampa Bay Lightning’s dynamic duo of Nikita Kucherov (19-21-40) and Steven Stamkos (11-27- “We just take every game as it approaches,” Pacioretty said after 38). Gaudreau is followed on the Flames scoring list by Sean Monahan Wednesday’s practice. “We know there’s some areas we have to clean (15-13-28), Mikael Backlund (7-11-18) and defenceman TJ Brodie (2-14- up in our game to win hockey games. When we were winning, we felt we 16). No. 1 Flames goalie Mike Smith has a 12-9-2 record with a 2.71 were sustaining O-zone pressure and playing with the puck. I think we goals-against average and a .918 save percentage after stopping 28 of were too one-and-done (with shots in the offensive zone) last game and 29 shots in Wednesday’s shootout loss to the Maple Leafs. you saw we worked on that today (at practice). Our goal is to create offence while playing very, very good defence, and I think holding onto The Flames rank 20th in the NHL in offence, scoring an average of 2.82 the puck sometimes is your best option in that case.” goals per game, and rank 22nd in defence, allowing an average of 3.17 goals per game. They rank 13th on the power play (21.05 per cent) and The Canadiens rank sixth in the NHL in shots on goal with an average of 28th in penalty-killing (76.34 per cent). 34.37 per game, but rank only 23rd in offence, scoring an average of 2.75 goals per game. Pacioretty, who has only one goal in his last 11 This Date in Habs History games, leads the Canadiens in shots with 121, but has only a 6.6 per Dec. 7, 1961: Jean Béliveau wore the “C” on his Canadiens sweater for cent shooting percentage with eight goals. the first time after being named captain before a game against the The Flames (14-12-2) are coming off a 2-1 shootout loss to the Maple Toronto Maple Leafs at the Forum. The Canadiens beat the Leafs 4-1 Leafs Wednesday night in Toronto. The Flames won’t have forward and Béliveau would wear the “C” until his retirement following the 1970- Matthew Tkachuk in the lineup after he was suspended by the NHL for 71 season, which ended with Béliveau hoisting the Stanley Cup for the one game on Thursday for spearing the Leafs’ Matt Martin while on the 10th time. Flames bench during an on-ice altercation in front of the bench. Tkachuk What’s next? has 4-13-17 totals in 26 games this season. The Canadiens will practise at 11 a.m. Friday in Brossard and then the Seventh straight start for Price Edmonton Oilers will be at the Bell Centre Saturday (7 p.m., SN, TVA Canadiens goalie Carey Price will make his seventh straight start against Sports, TSN Radio 690). After that, the Canadiens don’t play again until the Flames since recovering from a lower-body injury that sidelined him next Thursday when the New Jersey Devils visit the Bell Centre. for 10 games. Montreal Gazette LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087195 Montreal Canadiens Bowman remembers the Canadiens doing VO2max testing on players to measure their aerobic fitness during the 1970s and some of them would score in the 30s or 40s, although he noted that Bob Gainey and Guy Stu Cowan: Habs legend Scotty Bowman was never a fan of morning Lafleur would always be in the high 60s or low 70s. When Russian teams skates first started coming to North America with the 1972 Summit Series, Bowman said their players were all in the 70s because they trained 11 months of the year — just like today’s NHLers. Stu Cowan, After Wednesday’s practice, the Canadiens’ Max Pacioretty said: “You’re not going to get in game condition the morning of a game.” Published on: December 7, 2017 | Last Updated: December 7, 2017 6:35 PM EST The captain added: “We’re all professional. We know what we have to do to make ourselves feel good when the puck drops, so I’m a big fan of the no morning skate.” Morning skates on game days are a longtime tradition in the NHL, but Don’t be surprised if the Canadiens don’t have many more of them. who first started them? Montreal Gazette LOADED: 12.08.2017 There’s a belief in hockey circles that the first coach to introduce the morning skate was either Fred Shero with the Philadelphia Flyers or Scotty Bowman with the Canadiens. Bowman says it wasn’t him or Shero. “The first person that ever started the morning skates was around 1960 or ’61 and it was Rudy Pilous,” Bowman said over the phone Thursday afternoon from his home in Sarasota, Fla. “He was the coach of the Blackhawks when they won the Cup in ’61. All the teams used to have their meetings at 11 o’clock on the day of a game, but they never went on the ice.” Bowman said Pilous changed that and it was only so his players could test their skates. “I remember the Blackhawks players going on the ice and they just wore their skates with their (dress) pants and shirt … they didn’t even put a sweater on,” recalled Bowman, the winningest coach in NHL history with nine Stanley Cups. “(Stan) Mikita and those guys would just make a couple of little turns to see if the skates were OK. It’s not like today … if the skates weren’t right back then, they had to put them in a machine (to be sharpened ) … now it’s all automated. The Hawks were on the ice not long, five minutes maybe to skate around and make sure their skates were ready for the game at night.” Bowman said he isn’t sure which NHL coach was the first to turn morning skates into practices, but added he never really liked doing that. “I didn’t like to practise in the morning … I thought it was just a waste of time, really,” the 84-year-old said. “I remember teams would come into the Forum and they would practise for like half an hour, 45 minutes, an hour the morning of a game … I couldn’t believe it. And then that night they didn’t have much left.” Bowman is now a senior adviser for hockey operations with the Blackhawks and attends all the Tampa Bay Lightning home games to provide opposition scouting reports. His son Stan — named after the Stanley Cup — is the Blackhawks’ senior vice-president and general manager. Canadiens coach Claude Julien has joined a growing list of NHL coaches who are phasing out the morning skate. The Canadiens did not have a morning skate Thursday before facing the Calgary Flames at the Bell Centre and Julien has cancelled the morning skate before four of the last five games. After practice Wednesday, Canadiens forward Andrew Shaw said he’d be thrilled if there were never morning skates. “Rest is key,” Shaw said. “You play 82 games, you’re on the ice practising … it’s tiring on the body and the mind. Giving us those morning skates off just gets us a little bit more energy and a little bit more rest come game time.” Bowman recalled that during the 1976-77 season — when the Canadiens posted an incredible 60-8-12 record and won the Stanley Cup — he hardly ever held a morning skate and if he did it was usually on the road, just to get the players out of bed. The Canadiens had seven players on Team Canada for the 1976 Canada Cup held before that NHL season started and Bowman figured those players could use the extra rest on game days. The Canadiens kept winning, so Bowman stuck with no morning skates. When Bowman was coaching the Detroit Red Wings — and winning three more Stanley Cups after one with the Pittsburgh Penguins — he changed team meetings from 11 a.m. on game days until 5:30 p.m. so his players could get more rest. The NHL has changed a lot since Bowman’s glory days with the Canadiens during the 1970s when he won five Stanley Cups. Back then, the average shift for a forward would last between 90 seconds and two minutes and some top defencemen would stay on the ice for up to four minutes at a time. A shift in today’s NHL averages about 40 seconds. 1087196 Montreal Canadiens

In the Habs' Room: Claude Julien criticizes Alex Galchenyuk's effort

Pat Hickey, Published on: December 7, 2017 | Last Updated: December 7, 2017 11:48 PM EST

The Canadiens had to settle for a single point from their 3-2 overtime loss to the Calgary Flames Thursday night, but this was a game that could have easily resulted in a regulation loss. The game went into overtime because the Canadiens’ penalty-killing unit capped off a perfect night by killing off a 5-on-3 Calgary power play for a full minute late in the third period. “That saved a point for us,” said Daniel Carr, who scored a goal to run his points streak to four games. “The six guys who were out there did a great job.” Calgary went 0-for-4 on the power play, but other than the penalty kill, Carr’s goal and another strong night for Carey Price, there were few positives. The negatives were more plentiful. For starters, the Canadiens didn’t put enough pressure on Calgary goaltender David Rittich. They had 37 shots on goal, but they were unable to take advantage of Rittich’s generous rebounds. The Flames also had 37 shots, but they made life miserable for Price, dumping the puck behind him and crashing the net. The tying goal in the third period resulted from a scrum in front of the net that saw Price pushed into the net along with the puck. A no-goal call on the ice was reversed after Calgary challenged the ruling. “There was a whistle, but I guess it came after the puck went in,” said Price, who admitted he never had control of the puck. Coach Claude Julien said the goal followed a lost battle for the puck along the boards and he made it clear that he blamed Alex Galchenyuk, who was nailed to the bench after the goal. “A player has to do more than score goals … that’s for everybody,” said Julien, glossing over the fact Galchenyuk has only six goals this season with two in his last 18 games. Julien added Galchenyuk has to be better without the puck and win more battles along the boards. “In a tie game … he wasn’t very good tonight along the boards so that’s the decision I took,” the coach said about benching Galchenyuk. He played only 9:18. Sean Monahan scored his second goal of the night for the overtime winner. Like most overtime goals, it came on a counter-attack as he trailed on what started out as a 2-on-1 break. “You know you’re going to give up chances, you know you’re going to take chances,” said Max Pacioretty, who picked up an assist on a Phillip Danault goal earlier in the game. “It’s just the way it is. It’s a lot of fun. Everyone probably wants to critique overtime, but it’s just the nature of the game. There’s going to be chances both ways. “If it goes an inch the other way I have a chance to score,” Pacioretty said of the winning goal. “But it’s just not what was in store for that play. I tried to work hard to come back and then (Monahan) jumped ahead and they made a great play.” Carr continued to make a strong case for full-time employment in the NHL as he scored his second goal. He has two goals and four assists in the four games since he was recalled from the Laval Rocket.He came from behind the net and scored on a backhander off the back of Rittich’s mask. “In a situation like that, you know the goaltender is going to drop down to protect the bottom part of the net and I knew I had to lift it,” Carr said. Montreal Gazette LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087197 Montreal Canadiens the goalie was wandering like the truth on capitol hill Montreal Gazette LOADED: 12.08.2017 About last night ... Calgary edges Canadiens 3-2 in OT

Mike Boone Published on: December 7, 2017 | Last Updated: December 7, 2017 11:59 PM EST

The team that lost in a Shootout Wednesday night won in Thursday night Overtime. Life is not fair. And hockey – at least hockey as played by the 2017-’18 Montreal Canadiens – is less fair than life. Calgary should have been the tired team after their late loss at the Air Canada Centre. But the visitors had the best of it in the third period, and Sean Monahan’s Overtime goal – his second of the game and 17th of the season – sent Canadiens’ fans home in a funk. The loss, along with Boston’s 6-1 stomping of Arizona, vaulted the Bruins past the Canadiens and back into third place in the Atlantic Division. And they still hold four games in hand. The Canadiens’ longest homestand of the season will end with games against Edmonton on Saturday and New Jersey next Thursday. Then it’s a long road trip to Ottawa, Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton before Christmas, followed by a back-to-back in Carolina and Tampa Bay, then Florida. Does anyone think this team will be starting 2018 in a playoff position? On the evidence of what we saw against Calgary, the prospects of hockey into late April are not promising. Fatigued though they might have been after that game in TO, the visitors wreaked havoc on the Canadiens’ beleaguered defence and buzzed in around Carey Price for long stretches of the game. Garnet Hathaway’s third period goal, which tied the game at 2-2, was initially disallowed because Price had been the victim of interference. Calgary coach Glen Gulutzan asked for a video review. The analysis showed that by the time Price was jostled, the puck was behind the Canadiens’ beleaguered goaltender. Price had been swarmed by white jerseys in a net-crashing sequence we saw all too much of in the course of the game. The Canadiens didn’t play poorly. Max Pacioretty had a particularly energetic game, as did the usual suspects, Brendan Gallagher and Charles Hudon. The fourth line had its moments, and Daniel Carr looked like he’ll be in the lineup for a while. But the Canadiens failed to generate the quality chances and in-close pressure we saw all too often from the visitors. Stat that jumps out: Four giveaways by Jakub Jerabek, who seemed overmatched by the Flames aggressive forecheck. Victor Mete likely will be back in the lineup on Saturday. Beyond Absurd: Alex Galchenyuk played 9:18 – 3:14 less than Nicolas Deslauriers. Brutal on Faceoffs: Jacob De La Rose, 2-6. Byron Froese was 4-7, Andrew Shaw 1-3. Heroic in Defeat: The Canadiens PK, which killed 60 seconds of a two- man disadvantage with the game 2-2 in the third. Bonus: The Best of burnedprof: re 27: interesting HIO video chat on the topic of his defence. the panel stopped just short of saying they understood why 2 coaches & a gm would not trust him at centre. there’s way too much investment in the MB & MT were always wrong narrative and it seems to be carrying over. no worry. the goalie is still the one who can (and has) gotten coaches fired. does pacioretty’s assist mean we have to temporarily withdraw our membership in the “the captain is a terrible passer” society? i think we’re safe b/c 7/11 isn’t as open as danault was on that goal. 1087198 Montreal Canadiens

Canadiens fall out of third place in the Atlantic with OT loss to Flames

Pat Hickey, Published on: December 7, 2017 | Last Updated: December 7, 2017 10:45 PM EST

The bottom line: Sean Monahan scored his second goal of the game at 1:14 of overtime to give the Calgary Flames a 3-2 win Thursday night at the Bell Centre. With the overtime loss, the Canadiens lost their hold on third place in the Atlantic Division. They are tied in points with Boston, but the Bruins grabbed the No. 3 slot because they hold four games in hand on Montreal. The Bruins defeated Arizona 6-1 Thursday. Getting the bounce: The Canadiens went ahead 2-1 when Phillip Danault scored at 10:10 of the second period. Max Pacioretty launched a backhander from the right boards and Danault redirected the shot past Calgary goaltender David Rittich for his fifth goal of the season. Calgary challenge successful: Garnet Hathaway was credited with his first goal of the season to tie the game at 7:49 of the third period. The Flames launched an all-out assault on Carey Price and the goaltender and the puck both ended up in the net. Referee Steve Kozari immediately waved off the goal, ruling goaltender interference. Calgary coach Glen Gulutzan challenged the call and the replay officials in Toronto determined there was no interference. Carr making a statement: Daniel Carr wants to stay in the NHL and he’s doing everything he can to make that a reality. Carr tied the game at 1-1 when he scored at 8:36 of the first period. Carr came from behind the net and lifted a backhander that went in off the back of Rittich’s mask. Carr has collected at least one point in each of the four games he has played since being recalled from the AHL Rocket. He has two goals and four assists. The other members of the fourth line — Byron Froese and Nicolas Deslauriers — each earned an assist on the goal. Opening salvo for Flames: Calgary opened the scoring at 6:31 when Sean Monahan was credited with his 16th goal of the season. Price made a save and steered the puck to his left. Monahan took a backhand swipe at the puck, which went in off a body in front of the net. Medical update: Jonathan Drouin has recovered from his lower-body injury, but he missed his fourth consecutive game because he’s suffering the after-effects of the flu. He was scratched after “skating lightly” Thursday morning. Artturi Lehkonen skated for the second consecutive day, but there’s no timetable for his return from a lower-body injury. The Flames were missing forward Matthew Tkachuk, who was suspended one game for spearing Toronto’s Matt Martin from the bench Wednesday. Ironman Alzner: Defenceman Karl Alzner played his 570th consecutive game. That ties him with Hall of Famer Mark Recchi for the 14th-longest streak in the NHL. Looking ahead: The Canadiens have two more home games before they start a seven-game road trip with the Dec. 16 Heritage Classic outdoor game in Ottawa. Connor McDavid and the struggling Edmonton Oilers visit the Bell Centre Saturday (7 p.m., Sportsnet, TVA Sports, TSN-690). The Canadiens have four days off before closing out the homestand Thursday against the New Jersey Devils. Montreal Gazette LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087199 Montreal Canadiens When asked if an inability to win battles is what led him to limit Galchenyuk’s minutes, Julien replied, “Maybe.”

Which of course means “Yes.” Basu: Talented players don’t need many opportunities, but they need at least one Galchenyuk played two shifts in the third period. They came five minutes apart, and 19 seconds into his second shift the Flames scored the tying goal. Now, on that goal by Garnet Hathaway, if you are looking to dole By Arpon Basu 5 hours ago out blame, David Schlemko and Jakub Jerabek would be at the front of the line. Julien spoke of the importance of winning those battles around your own net, but this was a case of preventing a battle to begin with. Hockey can be a maddening game, one where the scoresheet does not Still, that was Galchenyuk’s final shift of the game. appropriately reflect what actually happened on the ice. “A player has to do more than score goals,” Julien said. “That applies to If you look at the scoresheet of the Canadiens 3-2 overtime loss to the everyone. So he has to be better without the puck, win battles along the Calgary Flames on Thursday, it would appear that Sean Monahan had a boards, those things are important. In a tie game, he wasn’t that good dominant night. He scored the first goal of the game and the last, but tonight along the boards so I decided to shorten my bench.” honestly, in between those two moments, he didn’t do a whole heck of a lot. Neither did his running mate Johnny Gaudreau. Galchenyuk is arguably the Canadiens’ most dangerous player at 3-on-3. Since Galchenyuk entered the NHL in 2012-13, the only Canadiens But those two guys still sunk the Canadiens in overtime. That’s the player with more than his six overtime goals is Pacioretty, who has eight, benefit of having supremely talented offensive players, they can win you but in 24 more games. a game even when they aren’t feeling it. The Flames’ biggest offensive threats were on the ice when the extra “At the end of the day, those guys, even if you don’t see them much, they point was on the line. don’t need much to make something happen,” a frustrated Claude Julien said after the game. “That’s what you saw tonight from those guys. They The Canadiens’ biggest threat was being punished. still managed to get a couple of goals and it wasn’t because they The Athletic LOADED: 12.08.2017 dominated the players they were playing (against). But whenever they got an opportunity, they made the most of it.” Most of the night, Monahan, Gaudreau and Micheal Ferland were playing against Tomas Plekanec, Brendan Gallagher and Charles Hudon. Of the 15:10 Monahan played at even strength in the game, 11:13 of it was against Plekanec. But when they got to overtime, Julien decided to start Plekanec and Hudon with Shea Weber, even though Glen Gulutzan started Mikael Backlund and Michael Frolik with Mark Giordano. So when Monahan and Gaudreau jumped on the ice, they faced Phillip Danault and Max Pacioretty, something Julien said was by design. Why he made that change at that exact moment was not clear. Hudon had to watch from the bench as two guys his line had done such an effective job defending all night joined forces to score the winning goal. “We were putting pucks behind their defencemen and forechecking hard; we basically stayed in the offensive zone, we didn’t want to be in the defensive zone against those guys,” Hudon said. “So we put a lot of pressure on their defencemen and were able to retrieve pucks. “It worked well, so yes, it’s frustrating to see that at the end of the game.” How well did it work? Gaudreau attempted six shots in the game, four hit the net, and the average distance traveled by those four shots was 40 feet, at least according to the official play-by-play. Monahan also had four shots on goal, only one officially from closer than 20 feet, and two of them went in. Again, talented players don’t need many chances to impact a game. But those talented players need to find a way to stay on the ice in order to do so. In terms of raw, offensive talent, the Canadiens players in uniform Thursday that come closest to what the Flames have in Gaudreau and Monahan are Pacioretty and Alex Galchenyuk. Pacioretty was on the ice when the winning goal was scored, as we’ve already covered. Then there was Galchenyuk. On his first shift of the game, Galchenyuk got the puck near the right wing boards and flipped the puck into the middle, right into the teeth of the Flames defence. He recovered the puck in the slot, went around another defender and finally took a shot that came from far out and was blocked. But the move, the imagination required to make it, the skill required to even recover the puck in the slot to begin with, all of it is part of what makes Galchenyuk so enticing. That talent is undeniable. But as the game went on, Julien was able to forget what makes Galchenyuk so enticing. His focus was strictly on what makes him frustrating and Galchenyuk wound up with a team-low 9:18 of ice time. “Not a bad game, but little details cost us the game,” Julien said. “We have to win more battles along the boards and win more battles in front of our net for loose pucks too. There are things we need to improve quickly.” 1087200 Montreal Canadiens

Three things we learned against Calgary

By Arpon Basu 7 hours ago

Flames 3, Canadiens 2 (OT) Forget the goal for a moment. Well, no, don’t forget it, we’ll get just get to it later. Instead, let’s look at two plays Daniel Carr made that defied logic. One came near the end of the first period when he went behind the Flames net with Mark Giordano to engage in a puck battle. This was, to be clear, Daniel Carr against Mark Giordano going after a 50/50 puck. They arrived essentially at the same time, Carr quickly muscled his way into position to take over possession, fended off Giordano as he kicked the puck along the wall, eventually gained full possession and set up a point shot that was tipped just wide. That’s one. Then early in the third period, Carr somehow got a stick on a pass that was way too hot from Jeff Petry at the Flames blue line, entered the zone before he was quickly met with opposition. Working in an extremely tight space, Carr fought off two Flames and somehow maintained possession in the Calgary zone to create the potential for a chance, a potential that went unfulfilled, but still. Then there was the goal, one that tied the game a little over two minutes after the Flames had taken the lead. One that originated from behind the goal line. One that showed quickness and creativity and instincts all rolled into one. Carr has six points in four games this season and has at least one point in every game he has played since his call-up from Laval. The question now is how long does Carr remain on the fourth line, and which winger in the top-9 should be worried about his spot? We often hear about how Carey Price is a third defenceman on the ice, but it was so apparent in this game it was impossible to ignore. The Flames consistently threw pucks behind the Canadiens defence expecting to recover it on the other side of the net, and they were consistently thwarted by Price. The strategy was so unsuccessful the Flames appeared to basically abandon it in the third period. The play that probably forced Glen Gulutzan to make that decision came near the end of the second period when the Flames rimmed the puck in hard off the bottom of the glass. Price left his crease and with one hand on his stick, casually knocked the puck down off the glass and had it sitting at his feet behind his net. Once he noticed there wasn’t a defenceman around to come get it, Price passed it along the boards himself to Alex Galchenyuk and the Canadiens eventually exited the zone. Yup, time to change things up. Oh yeah, Price also made 34 saves. Almost forgot. As is customary, Claude Julien decided to put Tomas Plekanec’s line with Brendan Gallagher and Charles Hudon and the defence pair of Shea Weber and Jordie Benn up against Sean Monahan and Johnny Gaudreau, and it almost paid immediate dividends with Plekanec getting a decent chance to score eight seconds after the opening draw. Monahan scored at 6:31 of the first period after he beat Plekanec on a faceoff, went to the net, collected a loose puck, missed the net, gathered the puck again and shot it in off Price’s glove. It would be a sign of things to come, but only in the faceoff circle as Monahan owned Plekanec all night. Otherwise, the Flames two big guns offensively had a pretty quiet night, at least in regulation time. No extended shifts in the Canadiens’ zone, no prime scoring chances – aside from maybe when Gaudreau forced Price to make a tricky glove save at 7:30 of the third period – not even too many shots on goal. Plekanec and Weber were on the ice with Karl Alzner when the Canadiens had to kill a 5-on-3 power play for one minute with the game tied 2-2 at 12:47 of the third. The Flames got one shot on goal, though Monahan did hit the post as well. All in all, in spite of the 5-on-5 goal allowed, a solid night of work for the Plekanec line and Weber and Benn, none of whom were on the ice when Monahan won it in overtime off a pass from Gaudreau. The Athletic LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087201 Nashville Predators TV/radio: Fox TN/102.5-FM Tennessean LOADED: 12.08.2017 James Neal returns to Nashville thriving with Vegas Golden Knights

Adam Vingan, USA TODAY NETWORK — Tennessee Published 11:02 a.m. CT Dec. 7, 2017 | Updated 11:20 a.m. CT Dec. 7, 2017

On June 11, James Neal stood on the losing side of a Stanley Cup Final handshake line at Bridgestone Arena, his broken right hand tucked inside his glove as he congratulated the Pittsburgh Penguins on their second consecutive championship. Physically battered and emotionally fatigued, Neal had little time to process the disappointment. Left unprotected by the Predators in the expansion draft 10 days later, he became an inaugural member of the Vegas Golden Knights. “Probably the biggest whirlwind of my life, for sure," Neal said of the final days of his three-year Predators career. “You just put your heart and your soul and everything you had into a team and tried to do everything you could to try to win a Stanley Cup. And a couple of weeks later, a week later, you’re on a new team. "It’s definitely tough, but the way things have worked out here and gone for us, it’s been good.” Neal and his Vegas teammates arrive here Friday as the NHL's most intriguing story. The Golden Knights, who are in second place in the eight-team Pacific Division, are smashing expectations and resetting standards for expansion franchises. When Vegas became the first team in the 100-year history of the NHL to win the first three games of its inaugural season, Neal tallied the game- winner in each. He has 13 goals this season, the first of which Oct. 6 also was the first goal in Golden Knights history. The Golden Knights appear to have a legitimate chance to reach the postseason, an impressive feat for a first-year team composed of players who had few prior connections. “You’re going to a team that’s not really a team," Neal said, describing the initial weeks of the Golden Knights. "There is no team, right? So you have a bunch of guys that have been drafted. You’re not sure if they’re going to stay or be traded or what’s going to happen.” Neal recognized in June that there was a "pretty good chance" that the Predators would exclude him from the nine-player protection list they submitted days before the expansion draft. It made sense to him. The 30-year-old began this season with $5 million remaining on an expiring contract, funds that the Predators needed to re- sign younger core players during the offseason. "It really was a business decision," Predators general manager David Poile said in June. "It was as simple as that.” And so Neal and many others were cast off into the desert, where Golden Knights players used their mutual desire to prove their worth as motivation. “Nobody wants to feel like the team doesn’t want you anymore," said Neal, who is approaching the 10th consecutive 20-goal season of his career. "They leave you unprotected. Maybe in some situations, it wasn’t really like that. But in quite a few, it was. … I think it’s different for every guy, obviously." James Neal talks with reporters before cleaning out his locker at Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh on June 9, 2013. The Boston Bruins swept the Penguins in four games in the Eastern Conference finals. The similarities between Nashville and Las Vegas as hockey markets — the setup of the arenas in vibrant downtown corridors, the unrestrained enthusiasm of the home crowds — have eased Neal's transition. Winning helps, too. But Neal's connection to his former city and team remain strong. “When I came to Nashville, I bought a house right away and wanted to make it home. And I did that," Neal said. "I still have my house there. It’ll be like I’m coming home.” NEXT GAME PREDATORS vs. GOLDEN KNIGHTS When: 7 p.m. Friday 1087202 New Jersey Devils

Devils' Ben Lovejoy becomes 1st active NHL player to pledge brain to CTE research

Updated December 7, 2017 at 2:00 PM; Posted December 7, 2017 at 1:41 PM By Chris Ryan

Devils defenseman Ben Lovejoy became the first active NHL to pledge his brain for donation to CTE research. Lovejoy announced his pledge Thursday after his agent reached out to Concussion Legacy Foundation, which has collected pledges from more than 2,500 athletes and veterans for studying Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) and concussions. Lovejoy is the first active NHLer to join that group. The 33-year-old defenseman said he talked to his wife about donating his brain three or four years ago, but things officially went into motion in recent months. "I'm a believer in medicine, I'm a believer in helping the future," Lovejoy said. "This summer I read an article about how many NFL players had pledged their brain and there were no current NHL players. I immediately forwarded the article to my agent, who went to (Boston University), and said, 'Can you look into this and figure out how I can do this?'" Lovejoy has not suffered any significant concussions or head injuries over the course of his hockey career. But watching teammates deal with those issues at every level of the sport, Lovejoy wants to make any impact he can down the line. "I have had very high-profile, superstar teammates struggle with concussions, and I've had minor league role players struggle with concussion," Lovejoy said. "It's something that affects everybody in our sport. I look forward to being a part of BU, helping them find a cure, through pledging to donate my brain and raising awareness in our sport." Concussion Legacy Foundation works with with Boston University and the Department of Veteran Affairs to gather pledges. The program has receieved more than 460 brains already, leading to more than 285 CTE diagnoses. Lovejoy won't push others to follow in his footsteps, but he will happily be there for anyone who decides to follow his path. "If people have questions and want to be involved, I will direct them, but this is a personal choice that I've made," Lovejoy said. "I don't like to tell people how to handle their bodies. If people are interested, I will absolutely direct them toward Chris. This is a sensitive issue. This is my brain, and I'm choosing to do what I want with it when I'm done." Star Ledger LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087203 New Jersey Devils

Why Devils need to mirror effort from Tuesday's win

Updated December 7, 2017 at 6:21 AM; Posted December 7, 2017 at 6:00 AM By Chris Ryan,

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The margin for error is still razor thin for the Devils. Even after Tuesday's 4-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets catapulted them back to first place in the , the Devils are still just four points ahead of the sixth-place Rangers, who currently sit outside the playoff picture. With 55 games left on the schedule, the Devils know how crucial intra- division games will be, and they have two more coming up when they host the Blue Jackets on Friday before visiting the Rangers on Saturday. "We're still in the first third (of the season), but we haven't seen a lot of our division yet," goalie Cory Schneider said. "We're going to see a lot of it going forward and looking for us to play well. I thought last year that was sort of our undoing. We had a good start, didn't play a lot of divisional games, and as soon as we got into that divisional play, we just couldn't keep up with the rest of our division." The Devils weren't playing their sharpest hockey prior to Tuesday's win. They entered Columbus in a 1-2-0 stretch where they lost regulation games to the Florida Panthers and Arizona Coyotes. Following a meeting featuring coach John Hynes and Devils veterans on Monday, the group responded with the type of effort that carried the Devils in October. Now they have to make sure it lasts beyond one game. "It's black and white when he communicates with us what we have to do," forward Brian Boyle said. "He'll show it to us on video, show the good and the bad, the differences there. We all understand it, and it's up to us to execute it. When he speaks to some of the veteran guys, we've gotten contributions from a lot of guys, we've gotten a lot from our younger guys. We've got to pull our own weight especially as the year progresses." While the Devils got a positive response from their veterans in Tuesday's win, the younger players were again at the center of the action as well. Rookies Nico Hischier and Jesper Bratt, plus Stefan Noesen, finished with two points apiece. The Devils may need the veterans to shoulder a lot of the weight and pressure as the season progresses, the team knows how valuable the rookie contributions have been. "They come ready to play every game and they play hard and they want to play the right way," defenseman Andy Greene said. "They're not cheating, they're not doing things the wrong way. They put the work in. We feed off the energy they bring, and it's been great. They've been huge." Chris Ryan may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @ChrisRyan_NJ. Find NJ.com Devils on Facebook. Star Ledger LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087204 New Jersey Devils “If people have questions and want to be involved, I will direct them,” Lovejoy said. “This is a personal choice that I’ve made. I don’t like to tell people how to handle their bodies. If people are interested, I will Devils' Ben Lovejoy first active NHL player to pledge to donate brain for absolutely direct them to Chris. This is a sensitive issue and I’m CTE research sympathetic to that. This is my brain and I’m choosing to do what I want with it when I’m done.”

Bergen Record LOADED: 12.08.2017 Andrew Gross, Published 2:45 p.m. ET Dec. 7, 2017 | Updated 3:39 p.m. ET Dec. 7, 2017

NEWARK – Ben Lovejoy considers himself lucky so far in his 10 NHL seasons. “I have had very little brain trauma,” the Devils defenseman said. Still, Lovejoy has seen the devastating effects concussions have had on countless teammates. So, on Thursday, the 33-year-old became the first active NHL player to pledge to donate his brain upon his passing to the Boston-based Concussion Legacy Foundation in order to help research into Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy. Lovejoy spoke about his decision after the Devils practice on Thursday at Prudential Center. The team hosts a rematch with the Blue Jackets on Friday night (Faceoff: 7 p.m.; Television: MSG Plus; Radio: WFAN- 101.9FM/660AM, digital One Jersey Network) after Tuesday night’s 4-1 win at Columbus. Lovejoy’s retired former teammate with the Penguins, Craig Adams, pledged in November to donate his brain for CTE research. Keith Primeau, in 2008, was the first former NHL player to pledge his brain to the foundation and fellow retired players Shawn McEachern, Bob Sweeney and Ted Drury have since followed suit. “I have had incredibly high-profile superstar teammates [Sidney Crosby] struggle with concussions and I’ve had minor league role players struggle with concussions,” Lovejoy said. “I think it’s something that affects everyone in our sport.” The foundation is the recruiting arm of partnership with Boston University and the Veteran’s Administration to create a brain bank. More than 2,500 former athletes and military veterans have pledged to donate their brain to the foundation since 2008 and Lovejoy is one of the more than 1,000 who have done so in 2017. “Science,” Lovejoy said when asked what spurred him to make his pledge. “Three or four years ago, I told my wife that when I die, I wanted my brain to be donated to the VA concussion doctors,” Lovejoy said. “I wanted it to be studied. I am a believer in medicine and a believer in helping the future. I thought I was good and that was it, I had pledged. This summer I read an article saying how many NFL players had pledged their brain and how many people had pledged and there were no current NHL players.” Chris Nowinski, the co-founder and CEO of Concussion Legacy Foundation said he was looking through his on-line pledge forms a couple of months ago when he spotted Lovejoy’s name. Nowinski called him the next day. “Chris tells me he thinks they will find a cure and the research they are doing is incredible,” Lovejoy said. “He is very confident they will find a cure, hopefully long before I need it. But I would like to do my part. The only thing I can do right now is pledge and create awareness of what they’re doing and being supportive of that.” “Ben is a bright guy,” Devils coach John Hynes added. “I think he’s got a vision for the future and the fact that he made that decision is not a surprise.” This season, the Devils’ Marcus Johansson has lost 13 games to a concussion after going head first into the boards at Vancouver on Nov. 1. “When guys get injured, as a coach, you’re always concerned about them,” Hynes said. “Certain injuries are worse than others. A guy with a concussion, with the amount of information we have now, you do worry about them. You worry about how they come out of it because, lots of times, emotionally and things like that, it’s a hard thing to get through. “Players go out there and play hard and risk their bodies,” Hynes added. “So I think the more knowledge we know about it, I think the more respect you have for the players that have to go through that. You hope that for their lives, they’re not going to be affected as time goes on.” In addition to pledging to donate his brain, Lovejoy said he will work to raise awareness for CTE research and support the foundation. But he won’t necessarily try to recruit others to do the same as he has. 1087205 New Jersey Devils Was thinking, that sort of stuff, both the Butcher and Moore-Hayes dust- up, has been happening at hockey practices since, well, the first hockey practice. Now, with Twitter and blogs like this, that sort of info comes out. Devils prepare for rematch with Blue Jackets And it fosters reactions like one Twitter follower, who replied to me, “Don’t you dare do that to me ever again.” Of course, at the same time, Twitter and blogs are all about instant information, right? So, Catch-22. Andrew Gross, Published 3:06 p.m. ET Dec. 7, 2017 | Updated 3:34 p.m. ET Dec. 7, 2017 Anyhoo, here’s how the lines and d-pairs looked at practice. It’s the same as they looked on Tuesday night at Columbus, which is not surprising at all. Toward the end of Thursday’s practice, Devils coach John Hynes Pavel Zacha, a healthy scratch the past two games, rotated in for Blake gathered his team around him and gave an end-of-practice speech that Coleman and for Jimmy Hayes during line rushes. went a little longer than usual. Taylor Hall-Nico Hischier-Jesper Bratt It’s all part of the process of focusing his players on Friday night’s rematch against the Blue Jackets (Faceoff: 7 p.m.; Television: MSG Plus; Marcus Johansson-Travis Zajac-Stefan Noesen Radio: WFAN-101.9FM-660AM, digital One Jersey Network). The Devils Brian Gibbons-Blake Coleman-Drew Stafford won, 4-1, at Columbus on Tuesday night. Miles Wood-Brian Boyle-Jimmy Hayes Friday night’s game starts the Devils’ seventh set of back-to-back games this season as they conclude their three-game Metropolitan Division (Pavel Zacha) stretch against the Rangers at Madison Square Garden on SaturNew Jersey Devils forward Jimmy Hayes, left, controls Andy Greene-Sami Vatanen “It’s not even the next two games,” Hynes said. “It’s about tomorrow John Moore-Damon Severson night. It’s a good challenge for us. We won the first game. I think any time Will Butcher-Steven Santini you play a team back-to-back, the game becomes more intense. We talked about the process over outcome. Our process prior to Columbus (Dalton Prout-Ben Lovejoy) was good. We had a very good practice. I thought the guys were mentally engaged in the game, had a commitment to play in the hard Cory Schneider areas. We got the result. Now, the process has to be the same. We want (Keith Kinkaid) to be the dictator tomorrow night. As for the power play units: “Are we going to be the team that gets better from that game to this game?” Hynes added. “That’s the objective.” A – Butcher-Hall, Bratt-Boyle-Hayes Hynes said he would split the two games between Cory Schneider, who B – Severson-Vatanen, Johansson-Hischier-Stafford made 41 saves at Columbus, and Keith Kinkaid but had not finalized which goalie would play which game. Bergen Record LOADED: 12.08.2017 Devils Daily Faceoff: Three storylines for Dec. 7 The practice marked the first at Prudential Center as a Devil for defenseman Sami Vatanen, acquired from the Ducks a week ago. “I’ve been really excited,” Vatanen said. “We’ve been playing some good hockey. We got a big win last game and the boys have been really good. It’s been really fun.” Of course, there were a few hiccups getting to practice. “Just a couple of times I think I’ve played here, it will be an exciting experience. The doorman guy showed me the way, where is everything here. I have no idea. When I was driving here, I think I drove once on the wrong way but it doesn’t matter. I found the way here and I was early.” It also was a fairly spirited practice. Will Butcher took a shot to the midsection and went to the bench in obvious discomfort, eventually going back to the Devils room. He returned to the Devils’ bench shortly and did rejoin practice. During his brief absence, Brian Boyle, who has played as a defenseman, subbed for Butcher as Steven Santini’s partner during line rushes. “Yeah, you never want to see a guy go down in practice,” Hynes said. “He’s been playing pretty well. You always feel better when he comes back on the ice.” As for the exact nature of what happened, well, Hynes put it as delicately as possible. “He just took a shot in a tough spot,” Hynes said, to more than a few giggles. “Lost his wind and then he’s back.” Shortly after Butcher left and came back, Jimmy Hayes and John Moore, jostling for position at the crease, had a hockey disagreement. Which meant they started swinging their sticks at each other’s shin pads. And then they started pushing. And then they started arguing. A couple of teammates stepped in and they continued arguing over by the boards. But they quickly moved on to other things. “I think it’s a good thing,” said Hynes, who has been emphasizing the need to create net-front traffic. “It’s right around the net front, something we’ve emphasized throughout the road trip and then against Columbus. I think the fact that two guys battle at the net front and there’s a little bit of intensity, it’s a good thing. No problems at all with that.” 1087206 New Jersey Devils

Devils Daily Faceoff: Three storylines for Dec. 7

Andrew Gross, Published 7:36 a.m. ET Dec. 7, 2017 | Updated 7:37 a.m. ET Dec. 7, 2017

NEWARK – The beauty of the NHL season is that it is relentless. The Devils earned an important, 4-1, win over the Blue Jackets on Tuesday night at Nationwide Arena, a strong back-to-front performance that, for the moment, launched them back into first place in the Metropolitan Division. But the Devils have to do it all again on Friday night when the Blue Jackets visit Prudential Center. And that’s just the start of a divisional back-to-back as the Devils are at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night to play the resurgent Rangers. New Jersey Devils goalie Cory Schneider clears the On Thursday, the Devils are back on the ice for an 11 a.m. practice at The Rock after a well-deserved off day on Wednesday. The Devils returned home early in the morning off a 2-1-0 road trip that had a much better feel to it because of the win over the Blue Jackets. Friday’s 2-1 win at Colorado and Saturday’s 5-0 loss at Arizona had both been sub- standard performances. Devils rise to challenge, beat Blue Jackets, 4-1 Devils D Steven Santini: 'Still have a lot to learn' Devils 4, Blue Jackets 1: Post-game observations Pavel Zacha frustrated not being in Devils' lineup “It’s a good test for us,” goalie Cory Schneider said of the three straight Metropolitan Division games. “It’s not over yet. We’ve got a back to back this weekend and we’ve got to get some points out of those, otherwise [Tuesday’s] win won’t be as good.” Here are three storylines for today: First period – Spring in Travis Zajac’s skates: The veteran center notched his first point in his 10th game since returning from offseason surgery to repair a torn left pectoral muscle with his first-period goal on Tuesday. Zajac logged 17:33 as he was relieved of power-play duties. Coach John Hynes said he believes with fewer responsibilities, Zajac may be able to boost his offensive play and Zajac did finish with a team-high five shots. His line with Marcus Johansson and newcomer Stefan Noesen consistently badgered the Blue Jackets. The trio will undoubtedly remain together for this practice and the Devils undoubtedly need more of an offensive contribution from Zajac, who has taken care of things in the faceoff circle and defensively since returning. Second period – Discipline: It didn’t hurt the Devils on Tuesday because the Blue Jackets are, in a word, woeful on the power play, an NHL-worst 7 for 81 (8.6 percent). But allowing six power plays – even if two came with under two minutes to play in the third period with the game out of reach – is too much and the Devils can’t count on their penalty kill unit to go 6 for 6 consistently. Four of the penalties – Travis Zajac’s first-period tripping call, Jimmy Hayes for hooking in the second period and Sami Vatanen for hooking and Brian Gibbons for slashing the stick in the final two minutes of regulation – were all stick violations that should be avoidable. No doubt, Hynes will say a word or two about this and it will be a point of emphasis. New Jersey Devils forward Jimmy Hayes, left, controls Third period – Any changes: Given the way the Devils played on Tuesday, it would be logical to think no changes to the lineup for Friday should be anticipated. Certainly, the six defensemen are almost certain to remain the same, meaning veterans Dalton Prout and Ben Lovejoy would remain out. But it will be interesting to see if Pavel Zacha, 20, a healthy scratch the past two games, is re-inserted. Veteran Jimmy Hayes logged 12:54 on the fourth line and did turn the puck over near his crease and then subsequently take a hooking penalty in the second period. Bergen Record LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087207 New York Islanders

Islanders rally falls short in overtime loss to Penguins

By Associated Press December 7, 2017 | 10:52PM

PITTSBURGH — The Islanders made a late rally, but it wasn’t enough. Matt Hunwick scored 1:29 into overtime, lifting the Penguins over the Islanders 4-3 on Thursday night. “I saw one of their guys changing, so it was a chance to create a 3-on-2,” the defenseman said after his first NHL overtime goal. “You hope you score there because if I had to go back down the ice and play defense again, I’d probably be pretty tired.” Jordan Eberle got his 12th goal for the Islanders, and Mathew Barzal and Brock Nelson each scored in the third period. Nelson tied it with 1:10 left. Jaroslav Halak stopped 28 shots for the Islanders, who have lost three of four since a four-game winning streak. The Islanders nearly won for the ninth time in 12 games, but Jarry made a stick save on Josh Bailey during a breakaway in overtime. “It was a good road game,” Eberle said. “Going into the third with a 1-1 game, they make it 3-1 and we battled back. It was a weird game in that aspect, but I guess you can salvage a point and be happy about that.” Pittsburgh led 3-1 in the third period, but the Islanders tied it with goals in the final 4:53. Hunwick salvaged a victory with his third of the season by pushing one in during a scramble in front of the net, created by Bryan Rust’s drive to the goal. “[Rust] just got it to the net and I was able to bang in the rebound,” Hunwick said. Phil Kessel got his team-leading 14th goal on a power play, and Jake Guentzel and Riley Sheahan also scored for Pittsburgh. Rookie Tristan Jarry made 23 saves for the Penguins, who have won five of six since a three-game losing streak. The Penguins and Islanders both played without top defensemen. Pittsburgh’s Justin Schultz was placed on injured reserve and is expected to miss a couple weeks with a lower-body injury. Johnny Boychuk missed for the Islanders with a lingering undisclosed injury that isn’t believed to be serious. New York Post LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087208 New York Islanders

Islanders rally to salvage point in OT loss to Penguins

By Arthur Staple Updated December 7, 2017 10:54 PM

PITTSBURGH — Doug Weight summed up a strange game. “It was a really good game, a really good point for us to get,” he said Thursday night. “And I’m still really [expletive] off about it.” The Islanders lost to the Penguins, 4-3, on Matt Hunwick’s goal 1:29 into a zany overtime that featured a couple of breakaways and an ugly collision between Mathew Barzal and John Tavares (both are fine). The zaniness didn’t start there, however. A 1-1 game heading to the third period turned into a 3-1 Penguins lead in a 32-second span on Phil Kessel’s power-play snipe and Riley Sheahan’s open-netter after a terrible puck play by Jaroslav Halak. The Islanders got themselves together in the final five minutes of regulation, with Barzal beating Tristan Jarry at 15:07 and Brock Nelson tying the score at 18:50 with Halak pulled for an extra skater. Anders Lee then beat Jarry, but his shot rang off both posts with 40 seconds left in the third. “Barzy’s goal was huge, a big-time goal, and we definitely fed off that,” Nelson said. “Then we got a little unlucky right at the end.” Weight’s anger didn’t stem from needing to rally for a point; it was more because the Islanders seemingly can’t get through a penalty kill anymore. After the Penguins’ 2-for-2 night, including Jake Guentzel’s first-period deflection, the Islanders have allowed eight power-play goals in the last 13 times short. They are at 73.3 percent efficiency for the season, among the worst in the league. “We’re together as a coaching staff and a team and we’re going to find a way to kill one off,” Weight said. “Sometimes you have to just learn it all over again.” The Islanders went 0-for-4 on their power play, which made the game all the more frustrating because they were far superior at even strength, especially in the second period. Ryan Pulock stepped around Sidney Crosby to start a play that finished with Jordan Eberle digging a puck out from under Carl Hagelin and snapping it home to tie it. The Penguins had 26 attempts and 15 shots on Halak in the first period but only 32 and 17 on goal the remainder of the game. Kessel wired one over Halak’s shoulder at 7:29 of the third, but the deflating play came on the next shift. Halak strolled out to the side boards in an attempt to play the puck but gave it to Sheahan, who walked into the slot and snapped one into an open right side. “It’s two power-play goals and one bad goalie touch,” Weight said. “I thought we played a real strong game, lots of communication in the D zone.” Weight jumbled his lines late, and it was a Barzal-Casey Cizikas-Josh Bailey line that got things going after a bit of a lull through the majority of the third. “I thought it started at the end of the first. We played a really good road game,” Eberle said. “We fell behind but we battled back hard and got a point. Once you get to OT, you want the second one, but it’s good to salvage the one.” Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087209 New York Islanders

Doug Weight pleased to see Casey Cizikas return to the lineup

By Arthur Staple Updated December 7, 2017 9:22 PM

PITTSBURGH — Casey Cizikas returned to the lineup on Thursday night after missing the last four games. He was a sight for Doug Weight’s sore eyes. “When he’s out, you feel it as a coach,” Weight said. “Always so reliable, on both sides of the puck. He’s a physical guy, tough to play against. I rely on him in every situation, whether it’s faceoffs, penalty kill or getting us going after a goal. It’s been a little bit of a space in my mind. You really see his presence missed in a game like Tampa.” Cizikas crashed hard into the boards during the Islanders’ 2-1 win over the Senators on Nov. 25 and missed the third period of that game. He had been skating for several days, and Weight last week was optimistic that Cizikas would be able to play in the Florida swing of this four-game road trip, but the center ended up staying behind on Long Island when the team left town on Sunday. “It was feeling good for a little bit. One day went back out there and it just didn’t feel right,” Cizikas said. “With the time left in the season, we felt there was no need to rush it. Our trainers did a good job of making sure I was ready to be out there this week.” Cizikas took Alan Quine’s spot in the lineup. Quine skated on Thursday morning, but Weight said the absence was injury-related, though not considered serious. Cizikas’ return off injured reserve did not require a corresponding roster move with the team now at the 23-man limit. BOYCHUK INJURED Johnny Boychuk missed a game for the first time this season. He took part in the team’s morning skate Thursday but then hobbled off with an undisclosed injury. Weight was about to address reporters when he was notified that Boychuk could not play. The defenseman took a shot up high late in Tuesday’s loss to the Lightning but shook it off and finished that game. “He had some remnants from it last game, and sometimes you just don’t know until you get back out there,” Weight said. “We weren’t expecting it. But I wouldn’t think he’ll miss very long.” Weight had Ryan Pulock skating with Nick Leddy and Thomas Hickey and Scott Mayfield paired up on defense. Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087210 New York Rangers

Rangers' Kevin Shattenkirk on Capitals coach Barry Trotz's criticism: 'It doesn't sit well with you'

JUSTIN TASCH Updated: Friday, December 8, 2017, 1:37 AM

ARLINGTON, Va. — When the Capitals acquired current Ranger Kevin Shattenkirk ahead of last year’s trade deadline, they thought they had the final piece to push them toward Stanley Cup glory for the first time in franchise history. Ultimately it didn’t work out as they were bounced by Pittsburgh in the second round. Based on Capitals coach Barry Trotz’s blunt assessment of Shattenkirk Thursday as the Rangers practiced in the background, Washington didn’t get the player it thought it was getting as Trotz said Shattenkirk is not a top-pair defenseman. “I think it takes a little bit of adjustment. We play a little different than some teams,” Trotz said of Shattenkirk ahead of Friday’s Rangers- Capitals matchup. “It worked in areas that we wanted. He helped our power play. He made it more dangerous. … I think everybody thought of him as a 1-2, and he really wasn’t. He was a little lower. I think it worked out OK. I think he had a patch during the one series where it wasn’t really good. I think he regained it and scored a big goal for us in (Pittsburgh.) I just think, yeah, the first playoff series wasn’t — that’s what you remember. It sticks out. But I think overall he was fine.” Of course, during Shattenkirk’s time with Washington last year Trotz mostly saddled Shattenkirk by pairing him with an aging Brooks Orpik and barely gave Shattenkirk a sniff with the team’s better defensemen. “It doesn’t sit well with you,” Shattenkirk said in response to Trotz’s comments. “It’s nothing you enjoy hearing, but I think there’s a lot of people who probably think that about me, and I like to use that in my favor and try to use it as something to just keep me boosted and prove people wrong.” Technically, Shattenkirk hasn’t been a top-pair defenseman for the Rangers thus far if the top pair is always considered the one Ryan McDonagh is on. Shattenkirk and McDonagh opened the season together but lasted just four periods before Alain Vigneault mixed things up, and they haven’t played together since. Kevin Shattenkirk wasn’t a fan of Capitals coach Barry Trotz's remarks. But after a rough start, Shattenkirk has played well paired with Brady Skjei over the last 15 games. Shattenkirk’s average five-on-five ice time of 16:06 is third among Ranger defensemen behind Skjei (16:19) and McDonagh (16:38.) The power-play quarterback was tied for seventh among NHL d-men Thursday afternoon with 20 points, nine of which came with a man-advantage. While Trotz didn’t get what he was expecting, Vigneault credited the Rangers’ scouting staff and management and said Shattenkirk has everything the Rangers thought he’d be, a skilled player with power-play prowess and a positive locker- room presence. As far as potentially putting him back with McDonagh, who’s been paired with Nick Holden, Vigneault said it’s a future possibility. “But right now the combination of Shatty with Brady has been a real effective one for us,” Vigneault added. “We’re not afraid to match them up against top lines.” Handling those top-line matchups is where Shattenkirk thinks he can improve, and the 28-year-old believes there’s still room for him to grow in that regard. “I’m not there yet,” Shattenkirk said, “but I think I can get there.” HANK UPDATE Henrik Lundqvist, who missed Tuesday’s game with the flu, said he felt close to normal after Thursday’s practice and he’s set to start Friday. New York Daily News LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087211 New York Rangers “I think that’s my job to prove, that’s what I’m trying to do now,” Shattenkirk said. “That’s what I’m kind of working towards every day and trying to do here with New York.” Kevin Shattenkirk’s ex-coach blasts him in brutal interview New York Post LOADED: 12.08.2017

By Brett Cyrgalis December 8, 2017 | 3:17am

WASHINGTON — It was a shocking bit of honesty, and it reopened a wound that had been closed for almost two months. Capitals coach Barry Trotz did not mince words when discussing Kevin Shattenkirk, the defenseman Washington had picked up at the trade deadline last season and who signed a free-agent contract with the Rangers over the summer. Shattenkirk was hardly at his best during his few months with the Capitals, as they flamed out yet again in the second round of the playoffs. And he was hardly at his best when he started his tenure on Broadway following the signing of a four-year, $26.6 million deal that was less than market value. But just as things were settling down for the 28-year-old from New Rochelle, just as the Rangers had won six of their past seven and 12 of their past 15, just as he had found a home next to the equally talented Brady Skjei, the Blueshirts came to nation’s capital for a game on Friday night and Shattenkirk got an unwelcome welcome from his old coach. “I think everybody thought of him as a 1-2 [defenseman], and he really wasn’t,” Trotz said on Thursday afternoon. “He was a little lower.” Trotz’s team had just practiced at Kettler Iceplex in Arlington, Va., and they were followed by the Rangers. After the Blueshirts came off the ice, what Trotz had said was relayed to Shattenkirk, and he had a response that was both truthful and measured, reflective of what he has shown of his own personality thus far. “It doesn’t sit well with you,” Shattenkirk said. “It’s nothing that you enjoy hearing. I think there are a lot of people that probably think that about me, and I like to use that in my favor and use that as something to keep me boosted and prove people wrong.” Shattenkirk had to answer the difficult follow-up question concerning his self-evaluation of whether he’s a top-pair defenseman, and he was humble in acknowledging his own flaws. “I think I’m working towards it,” he said. “I think there’s a lot more room for me to grow. I think I have to handle those top-end matchups a little bit better. When I get those opportunities, I have to really make sure I make them count.” Shattenkirk had a wonderful opportunity when the Capitals traded for him, sending prospect Zach Sanford, plus a first-round pick and a conditional second-rounder, to the Blues. The Capitals were an overwhelming favorite to win the Stanley Cup — but faltered again, losing to the Penguins in a seven-game, second-round series. It was a tough assimilation for Shattenkirk, who struggled mightily in Washington’s first-round series against the Maple Leafs, but was slowly turning it around against Pittsburgh, scoring an overtime winner in Game 3 before the Penguins went on to win their second straight Stanley Cup. “I think he had a patch during the one series where it wasn’t really good,” Trotz said. “I think he regained it and scored a big goal for us in Pitt. The first playoff series, that’s what you remember. It sticks out. But I think overall he was fine.” Fine is less than what the Capitals wanted, and it’s less than what the Rangers wanted when they signed him. But according to coach Alain Vigneault, Shattenkirk has been “exactly what we expected him to be,” even though a top pairing with captain Ryan McDonagh lasted all of four periods into the season. Shattenkirk had still put up nine power-play points, with five goals and 20 points overall through 27 games, all stats good for the top 15 among league defensemen. “Our scouting staff and management did a real good job of evaluating Kevin and doing their homework,” Vigneault said. “We got exactly what we thought — a skilled player that can help us on the power play and a great teammate, great person in our dressing room.” That latter quality was evident as Shattenkirk deftly handled Thursday’s situation, just as he handled his short tenure in Washington and the beginning of his time with the Rangers. It has been quite a ride for Shattenkirk over the past year, and now he can add words from his old coach to a bulletin board if he feels he even needs it. 1087212 New York Rangers

Lundqvist works out, feels ‘pretty close to back to normal’

By Brett Cyrgalis December 7, 2017 | 11:10PM

WASHINGTON — There was quite a bit of progress in the health of Henrik Lundqvist over the past few days, and the goaltender seems ready to play for the Rangers in Friday night’s match against the Capitals. Lundqvist fell ill over the weekend and was unable to make his scheduled 15th straight start in what turned out to be a 4-3 win Tuesday in Pittsburgh. Instead, backup Ondrej Pavelec made 41 saves in just his fourth start of the season and seventh appearance overall. Pavelec was backed up Tuesday by 21-year-old Alexandar Georgiev, but Georgiev was sent back to AHL Hartford on Wednesday. Lundqvist took the ice Thursday for a full-team practice at Kettler Iceplex in Alexandria, Va., and reported a vast improvement. “I felt a lot better [Wednesday],” he said of the travel day from Pittsburgh. “Had light workout when we got here. Pretty close to back to normal.” The Rangers had their team holiday party on Sunday night in Manhattan, and that could have contributed to Lundqvist’s getting so sick. “I don’t know what it was. I guess it’s that time of year,” he said. “You just have to deal with it when it happens. A couple of quiet days at the hotel and now I’m back to normal.” Lundqvist is expecting to take the morning skate on Friday with the extras just to get some work in. The Rangers host the Devils on Saturday night, the first back-to-back they have had since Oct. 13-14. Lundqvist is at 418 career wins, tied with Tony Esposito (with Chicago) for the second-most wins with one franchise in league history. He trails only Martin Brodeur’s 688 with the Devils. Coach Alain Vigneault said he was not planning on changing the lineup, meaning defenseman Steven Kampfer will remain the only healthy scratch for the third straight game. Vigneault stopped in to Capital One Arena on Wednesday night to catch a glimpse of the Capitals’ 6-2 win over the Blackhawks. It was an impressive performance, in which Alex Ovechkin scored his league- leading 21st goal of the season and Nicklas Backstrom broke a 21-game streak without a goal. But it hardly changed Vigneault’s perception of the Capitals (17-11-1), who are just in front of the Rangers (15-10-2) in the standings. “That team plays a lot like they have in the past, even though some of the personnel has changed a little bit,” Vigneault said. “Play the same type of system, execute it well, so it’s going to be a hard one for us.” New York Post LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087213 New York Rangers

Kevin Shattenkirk stung by Caps coach Barry Trotz’s comments

By Steve Zipay Updated December 7, 2017 7:06 PM

WASHINGTON — In a city that thrives on debate, Kevin Shattenkirk’s place in an NHL lineup is hardly fodder for a Senate subcommittee or the floor of the House. But in hockey circles, why not? Is the long-time Blues defenseman who played 19 regular-season and 13 playoff games with the Capitals last season and signed a four-year, $26.6-million contract in the summer with the Rangers, a first-pair blueliner? Depends who you ask: Capitals coach Barry Trotz doesn’t think so. “I think everybody thought of him as a 1-2, and he really wasn’t. He was a little lower,” Trotz said Thursday after practice, a remark that stung Shattenkirk. When told of Trotz’s comment, Shattenkirk, who will face his previous club for the first time on Friday, took the high road. He didn’t rip his former coach or disagree. “It doesn’t sit well with you, it’s nothing that you enjoy hearing,” said Shattenkirk, 28, who has primarily played on the Rangers’ second pairing, “but I think there’s a lot of people who probably think that about me and I like to use that in my favor and something to boost me to prove people wrong.” There’s no argument that Shattenkirk can create offense and quarterback a power play because his career numbers (73 goals, 318 points, including 37 goals and 118 assists with the man advantage) underscore that. But he admits that his defensive play can improve and earn him the reputation as an elite, all-around defenseman. “There’s a lot more room for me to grow,” he said. “I have to handle those top-end matchups a little bit better, and when I get those opportunities, I really have to make sure I make them count. A guy like Ryan McDonagh is a good example for me, a guy I try to watch, the way he handles players, like the Ovechkins and the Backstroms and Crosbys. That’s something that I’m still working towards, but I think I can get there.” In New York, Shattenkirk has played primarily on the second pair, most recently with Brady Skjei, and has five goals and 20 points in 27 games. “He’s exactly what we expected him to be,” said coach Alain Vigneault, who initially deployed Shattenkirk with McDonagh. He said it’s possible that the duo could be reunited eventually. “Right now, it’s Shatty with Brady. I’m not afraid to match that up against the top line or the third or fourth lines, because it maybe gets us more looks offensively.” The Capitals, who led the NHL with 118 points last season, were eliminated in the second round, and the finger-pointing hasn’t stopped. “I think he [Shattenkirk] had a patch during the one series [against Toronto] where it wasn’t really good,” Trotz said Thursday. “I think he regained it and scored a big goal for us in Pittsburgh [in overtime in Game 3]. I just think, yeah, the first playoff series wasn’t . . . that’s what you remember. It sticks out. But I think overall he was fine.” “It didn’t work out, we didn’t win. We were just a little tight and nothing really clicked, that was frustrating for a lot of us,” said Shattenkirk, who was 1-4-5 in the 13 games. “We felt the sky was the limit.” Notes & quotes: Henrik Lundqvist, who has recovered from the flu that forced him to sit against in Pittsburgh on Tuesday, practiced and felt “back to normal” and would start Friday. Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087214 NHL Besides spending $600 million to refurbish KeyArena, Leiweke’s group also has pledged an additional $60 million to a separate city transportation fund and to various community charities. NHL says Seattle can apply for franchise, start season-ticket drive Durkan on Thursday said the city will begin work on the season-ticket drive with Bonderman and Leiweke. By Geoff Baker “I’m hoping to meet with or speak with Mr. Bonderman soon as well as having constant communication with Mr. Leiweke,” Durkan said. “ … I think we’ll see the launch right after the first of the year, because it’s not a time right now to be launching that kind of campaign. During this 100th anniversary year of the Seattle Metropolitans winning the Stanley Cup, the NHL announced an expansion process Thursday “But I think there’s a lot of pent-up appetite here in Seattle for this, and so that likely will lead to the city gaining the league’s 32nd franchise. I think we can meet the benchmarks we need to meet.” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman announced after a Board of Governors Durkan was asked for specifics on the benchmarks. meeting in Palm Beach, Fla., that the league has received a request to file an expansion application from billionaire investment banker David “I don’t have all of those in front of me, but we’ll get them. I know there’s Bonderman and producer . Bonderman and an aggressive schedule for season tickets and the like,” she said. Bruckheimer are partnered with the (OVG), which this “Obviously we have to get the arena in place. We’ve got to show that week finalized a deal with the City of Seattle for a $600 million renovation we’re moving that around. The part the city has to do is make sure we do of KeyArena. our deal. We get the agreements in place. We keep the arena on track. The league has agreed to review the application, has set a $650 million “And Mr. Leiweke and his group, we’re going to make sure they meet expansion fee and now will gauge progress by the Seattle group in their benchmarks to sell the season tickets and the like. We’ll be working coming months before deciding whether to award a franchise to this together closely. I have every confidence that that partnership will go market. very smoothly.” “Mr. Bonderman, with his partner Jerry Bruckheimer, has asked if they The Metropolitans were the first U.S. team to win the Stanley Cup. They might file an application for an ,’’ Bettman told reporters. reached the Stanley Cup Final two more times, losing in 1919 and 1920, “And the board has said that they may do that. That doesn’t mean that before folding in 1924. we have granted an expansion team. We’ve agreed as a league to take Seattle Times staff reporter Jayson Jenks contributed to this report. and consider an expansion application and to let them run — at some point in the next few months — a season-ticket drive.” Seattle Times LOADED: 12.08.2017 Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan signed a Memorandum of Understanding with OVG on Wednesday. Durkan and the city hope the renovated KeyArena attracts an NHL team, and eventually the return of an NBA team. The Sonics relocated to Oklahoma City in 2008. Durkan held a news conference Thursday to discuss the NHL announcement. “I said (Wednesday) I thought we were on the path,” Durkan said. “I didn’t know it would happen so quickly. We are thrilled that it is happening. I will be talking to the NHL commissioner soon. I’m also hoping to talk to the NBA commissioner because I know I’m going to get that. “We saw the (Vancouver) Canucks are really excited to come here and get beat. And we’re excited to go up north. We remember Seattle has more Stanley Cups and we plan to add to that. “We are looking forward to bringing the NHL to Seattle.” The process announced Thursday is similar to what the Las Vegas Golden Knights did ahead of being awarded an NHL expansion team that began play this season. Before that process, the league opened an expansion-application process for any interested parties and received offers from groups for Las Vegas and Quebec City. This time around, only Seattle is being considered. Bettman reiterated that the process is exclusively about Seattle when asked whether Quebec City might again be considered. Barring issues with the season-ticket drive — or a snag with the KeyArena renovation plan — it appears an expansion team will be headed Seattle’s way. In fact, the NHL has been negotiating with the Seattle group on the expansion fee for several months. The group initially offered $600 million but agreed to pay the higher price. Bettman mentioned that relocation of one or more teams is still on the table and did not rule that out. But a renovated KeyArena is not expected to be ready until October 2020 at the earliest, leaving no place to accept a relocated team in the short term. Also, the league stands to gain double in expansion fees what it would get from any group offering to take in a relocated team. And not every market can afford to pay that fee and make it work. In small-market Quebec City’s case, a $650 million expansion fee would cost close to $850 million in Canadian dollars after the exchange rate is factored in. The league also has been eyeing Seattle as a solution to address the 16- to-15 team imbalance between its Eastern and Western conferences. OVG co-founder had no immediate comment Thursday about the developments. Leiweke is scheduled to arrive in Toronto on Friday for the MLS Cup game between the Sounders and the Toronto FC team he helped run for two seasons in which it acquired many of its current star players. 1087215 Ottawa Senators There are lots of teams willing to help the Senators if they want to make a move during their struggles. GM Pierre Dorion spent the morning on the phone — he initiated some of the talks — but he spoke with several Snapshots: Senators will unveil alumni roster Friday at Lansdowne … After spending the week in Belleville rehabbing from a cracked finger, Senators prospect Drake Batherson made his return to the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles lineup on Thursday night. He’ll play this weekend and then head to St. Catharines next week to participate in Team Canada’s BRUCE GARRIOCH training camp for the world juniors later this month in Buffalo … With 29 stops in the victory over the Senators, Anaheim goalie Ryan Miller

recorded the 40th shutout of his career. That tied him for second all-time LOS ANGELES — The Senators will welcome back some familiar faces with John Vanbiesbrouck and Frank Brimsek among U.S.-born goalies. for next week’s Red and White Alumni Game on Parliament Hill. While Kings goalie Jonathan Quick is No. 1 with 46 in his career, Craig Anderson is third on the list with 39 lifetime. While the players who have accepted invitations to suit up for either Team Alfie or Team Phillips on Feb. 15 at 7 p.m. will be confirmed at a Ottawa Citizen LOADED: 12.08.2017 news conference on Friday at Lansdowne Park, there will be plenty of recognizable faces among the former Senators that will pull on their old jerseys again. With former captain Daniel Alfredsson and long-time alternate Chris Phillips preparing to draft their teams next Thursday night, there will be no shortage of talent to choose from including former defencemen Wade Redden, and Steve Duchene when the rosters are announced. The Senators have also invited former captain Alexei Yashin. He splits his time between Moscow and and was still working on finalizing his schedule. Former Senators centre Radek Bonk lives in the area and will likely be involved and the club’s inaugural captain Laurie Boschman has already confirmed his participation. There’s talk that former winger Marian Hossa may participate in a coaching role. Centre Mike Fisher, who retired last summer after going to the final with the Nashville Predators, has also been extended an invite, but it’s not known if he’ll be able to make it. Former winger Shawn McEachern had to decline because he’s coaching in the Boston area that weekend. Although winger Chris Neil hasn’t officially retired yet, Phillips indicated last week when he was on Parliament Hill he was trying to convince the long-time Senator to suit up. All the details will be confirmed when Phillips and Boschman meet with the media on Friday, but no matter who participates, it will be great to see the old faces around. The format is such the players will have a good time with it. OFF THE GLASS Coach Guy Boucher decided not to make any changes to the roster on Thursday against the Los Angeles Kings at the Staples Center, which meant defenceman Fredrik Claesson sat for the second straight game. The coaching staff toyed with the idea of scratching Cody Ceci, who has been struggling, Wednesday in Anaheim but in the end it was Claesson that sat. Asked how close he was to sitting a veteran, Boucher said: “I don’t look at it as vets or young guys. I look at it who’s performing and if I replace somebody, whoever it’s, am I replacing him with somebody who’s going to do better or has done better? If they haven’t done better there’s no reason to replace those guys. It’s not a question of shaking things up. It’s a question of deserving and looking what our assets are.” Ceci came out as the seventh defenceman during a skate Tuesday here … Boucher was pleased with the effort the club got from the line of Mike Hoffman, Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Gabriel Dumont on Wednesday. The plan was to keep them together in Los Angeles. AROUND THE BOARDS It hasn’t been easy for captain Erik Karlsson coming back from off- season foot surgery, but Boucher liked what he saw in Anaheim. “That’s Erik Karlsson, right there,” said Boucher. “He came out hard, he wanted to lead and I thought (Ben) Harpur with him gave (Karlsson) some stability. We’ll see if that continues but that definitely looked strong. We always look at Erik helping everybody else but he also needs to feel comfortable with his partner and we need something stable there. That’s as stable as I’ve seen Erik this year for sure.” … Winger Alex Burrows said he believes the Senators aren’t far from turning the corner. “We’re close,” said Burrows before the game. “Sometimes when you’re winning, you’re not as good as you think you are and when you’re losing you’re not as bad. We’re right there. I’d say (Wednesday) was one of our best games in the last little while. We just have to stick with it. We just have to believe in each other and keep working for each other. We did that (in Anaheim).” THE LAST WORDS 1087216 Ottawa Senators

Senators head coach Guy Boucher says Craig Anderson is still No. 1 in net

BRUCE GARRIOCH

LOS ANGELES — Mike Condon got the start in net for the Ottawa Senators against the Los Angeles Kings at the Staples Center on Thursday night. That doesn’t mean Condon will take the No. 1 job. Asked if the Senators needed somebody in net to get on a roll, head coach Guy Boucher noted that Craig Anderson, who lost his sixth consecutive decision 3-0 against the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday night, still had a strong grip on the top job. “It’s Andy’s net. It’s not one or the other,” Boucher said Thursday. “We have a No. 1 goalie and we have a backup. Like everybody else right now, we’re looking for, and not just from the goaltenders, to have our best games possible.” The Senators face the San Jose Sharks in Game 6 of their current road trip on Saturday night. It’s expected that Anderson will start in net. Ottawa Citizen LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087217 Ottawa Senators Ottawa Citizen LOADED: 12.08.2017

Senators say they're surprised they've sunk this low

BRUCE GARRIOCH

LOS ANGELES — The best way to describe the mood of the Ottawa Senators these days is that they’re in a state of shock. After coming within a goal of a trip to the Stanley Cup final last spring, the Senators went into Thursday night’s visit to the Staples Center to face the Los Angeles Kings with a 1-8-1 record in their previous 10 games and the task wasn’t any easier against one of the National Hockey League’s hottest clubs. Coming off Wednesday’s 3-0 shutout loss against the Anaheim Ducks, the Senators were licking their wounds and searching for answers because even, if they were able to get two points against the Kings, they still had a long way to restore the level of consistency required. No, it’s not that the same team that lost 4-3 to the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 7 of overtime in the Eastern Conference final in May, but the roster is pretty close to that. However, few players have performed up to expectations, which is why the Senators haven’t been able to get enough victories. “It’s (surprising),” Senators captain Erik Karlsson said after the loss in Anaheim. “You never know what’s causing it or what’s going on. When things aren’t going your way, you try to look for answers that aren’t there. “You try to get out of your comfort zone and do different things, but, at the end of the day, you know you’ve got to do the things that you’re good at. We’re starting to do that, I think we saw that (in Anaheim), but, again, I think we’ve got to do a little bit more and we’re not a different team than we were last year. ‘We know what we have to do be successful and each and every individual has to go to themselves and realize what they have to do to compete and play within the team. At the end of the day, the team is going to come together and save itself, but, right now, we’ve got to stop looking outside the box and look on the inside.” Karlsson is right: Nobody can save the Senators except themselves. Their effort was better against the Ducks, but the result was no different. General manager Pierre Dorion has indeed talked to other teams about potential deals in a bid to shake things up, but there’s nothing on the front burner. The reality is there’s a lot of hockey left before playoff spots are handed out in April, but the Senators must get themselves back in the mix before they can worry about trying to compete for one of them. They went into Thursday night’s contest five points back of the Montreal Canadiens for third place in the Atlantic Division. Since back-to-back wins over the Colorado Avalanche in Sweden in early November, the Senators haven’t been able to put the puck in the net enough. Before facing off against the Kings, Derick Brassard hadn’t scored in 18 games, Jean-Gabriel Pageau hadn’t scored in nine and Matt Duchene had one goal in 12 games. One of the strengths of this team was supposed to be its defence, but Karlsson was pointless in 10 games before stepping on the ice Thursday night — the longest scoring drought of his career — while Cody Ceci, Johnny Oduya and Fredrik Claesson had all had their share of struggles. Injuries to Mark Borowiecki and Chris Wideman haven’t helped, either. “I think, throughout this stretch, we’ve had parts of games where we’ve played good hockey, but we’re in a business about winning games, and, when you’re not winning, it’s not fun to be a part of it,” alternate captain Dion Phaneuf said. Overall, the Senators are searching for confidence and that will only come if they can string some wins together. “It’s never easy,” Karlsson said. “I’ve been through stretches like this before, I’ve been through good times and bad times, and the difference isn’t that big. “At the end of the day, we’re in the business of results, and as of right now we’re not getting them. It’s going to be frustrating, but you’ve got to find a way to look through all that and try to find a way to play the way you do to be successful.” That needs to start happening pretty fast. 1087218 Ottawa Senators

Mike Condon gets the call to start in Senators net against the Kings

BRUCE GARRIOCH

LOS ANGELES — Mike Condon will get a shot at getting the Ottawa Senators back on track. Senators head coach Guy Boucher said Thursday afternoon that Condon, who had been pulled in Ottawa’s 5-0 loss Sunday in Winnipeg, would start in net against the Los Angeles Kings at the Staples Center. With the Senators coming off a 3-0 loss down the highway in Anaheim on Wednesday with Craig Anderson in net, Boucher didn’t want to use him in back-to-back situations. There won’t be any other changes, Boucher added, meaning defenceman Fredrik Claesson would again be a healthy scratch. “It’s a back-to-back,” Boucher said. “The last time Andy wanted to get back in there. We tried it that way and I just feel now it’s a long stretch on the road and it’s been a long month and I think it’s right for (Condon) to get in the net.” The Senators felt as if they took a step in the right direction in Anaheim and they were hopeful they could finally get back back on track. To do that, though, they would need to give their goalie some offensive support. The Senators haven’t scored a goal in 138 minutes 22 seconds, or since last Friday’s 6-5 victory against the New York Islanders. “We’ve got to try and find our way and I think last night we played much better,” alternate captain Dion Phaneuf said. “I think, throughout this stretch, we’ve had parts of games where we’ve played good hockey, but we’re in a business about winning games, and, when you’re not winning, it’s not fun to be a part of it.” The Kings were expected to start backup Darcy Kuemper in net. Ottawa Citizen LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087219 Ottawa Senators They didn’t give up many great opportunities to the Ducks and when they did Anderson was there to make the stops with the Senators outshot 10- 9. No, it wasn’t perfect, but going into this one the Senators were looking Senators' effort is better but it's the same old result for small victories so they’d have to put the first 20 minutes in that department.

Unhappy with being crosschecked into the net by Dion Phaneuf, Corey BRUCE GARRIOCH Perry dropped the gloves with the club’s rugged blueliner. There weren’t many punches exchanged but the two did receive five-minute fighting majors. ANAHEIM – Chewed out by their coach, the Ottawa Senators failed to “This is a tough one,” said forward Zack Smith. “A bounce here or there bite back. and it could have been different outcome. We don’t have time to dwell on that, we’ve got a game tomorrow.” Yes, the Senators put up a better effort Wednesday night after a tongue- lashing from coach Guy Boucher during an 80-minute skate Tuesday, but The Senators face the Los Angeles Kings Thursday night at the Staples this trip to Disneyland was no holiday treat as Ottawa suffered its ninth Center as the road trip continues. loss in the club’s last 10 games with a 3-0 defeat to the Anaheim Ducks at the Honda Center. Ottawa Citizen LOADED: 12.08.2017 Coming off a 5-0 loss to the Winnipeg Jets Sunday night, the Senators couldn’t have been much worse than they were in that one, but they weren’t good enough to beat the Ducks as Adam Henrique scored twice while Ondrej Kase also chipped in. Ryan Miller picked up the victory with 29 stops. Goaltender Craig Anderson suffered his sixth straight loss and now hasn’t won since back-to-back victories over Colorado nearly a month ago in Sweden. “If we’re going to talk about effort it’s not going to get us anywhere. We played a much more solid game but couldn’t find a way to score a goal. Those are small things as well and something we need to work a little bit more on,” said captain Erik Karlsson. “We played a much better game but it didn’t give us the result we wanted.” The Senators didn’t get the job done … again. Not only did the Senators get shutout for the second straight game, they pushed hard but not hard enough and failed to create much in the way of opportunities. The Ducks finished a six-day, 12-day road trip Tuesday night against Vegas and the Senators should have been able to take advantage of the fact they were well-rested. Coach Guy Boucher had a positive message. “That was quite an effort there,” Boucher said. “The guys gave everything they had. It was a terrific bench. Players sticking together and paying the price. We knew this was a big, tough, physical team. “We met that physicality right on, right from the beginning.” Ottawa now hasn’t scored a goal since Ryan Dzingel’s third period winner in a 6-5 victory over the Islanders Friday which is a span of 138:22. “We’re going through a hard moment right now and we’re going through it together,” said centre J.G. Pageau. “To get out of it, we need everyone to step up. I thought our effort tonight was much better. “We’re going in the right direction and everyone is tired of losing.” There’s no question, the Senators put up a better fight, but they’re having a tough time scoring right now and barely tested Miller on the 16 shots he faced through the first 40 minutes. Trailing 2-0 after two periods, the Senators didn’t give Anderson much of a chance on either goal by the Ducks. Struggling terribly in their own end, the Senators allowed the Ducks to pull out to a 2-0 lead at 11:10 of the second when he beat Anderson with a backhander. Kase went to the net untouched which didn’t make either Cody Ceci or Johnny Oduya look very good on the play. “We know what we have to do but we took a step in the right direction,” said Karlsson. That’s just the way it’s been lately for Ottawa. Henrique, acquired in a trade from the Devils last week, notched his first goal in an Anaheim uniform to open the scoring. He took a pass from Rickard Rakell from behind the net and beat Anderson from the circle at 3:47 of the second but it was pretty shoddy defensive effort by the Senators. It’s the 13th time in 26 games Ottawa has given up the first goal. After a horrible start in Winnipeg, the Senators simply wanted to have a good first period on the road and with the score tied 0-0 they got what they wanted. 1087220 Ottawa Senators Earlier this week, Boucher came to Ceci's defence, saying he's a young player (not really) who faces the other team's best every night. That's all well and good, but a player ceases to be a “shut down guy” if he can't If the Senators don't fix their defence now, they're done actually shut anybody down. Ceci is not unplayable, but he has proven beyond a reasonable doubt that he can no longer be trusted in the role he's been given. Why Oduya By James Gordon is getting the minutes he is when the Senators have Chabot and Claesson available remains a mystery.

Listen, I understand the reasoning behind getting Oduya in the off- There was one play in the Ottawa Senators' demoralizing 3-0 loss to the season as insurance, but at best he should have been a placeholder for Anaheim Ducks Wednesday night that was a perfect microcosm of the half a year while Chabot prepared to enter the league. Chabot is here defensive problems that have damaged their season almost beyond now and deserves to stay — with Chris Wideman out, he's Ottawa's repair. second-best puck-mover — and there's no earthly reason to be sitting Claesson. With the Senators still in the game down 1-0, defenceman Johnny Oduya took possession on what should have been an easy zone exit up the ice. So, what's to the be done? Instead of moving the puck himself, or passing to an open Cody Ceci to his right, or making a less ideal but still reasonable pass up the boards to It's time for Ottawa to fix its defence, and that starts with deployment. Zack Smith near the blueline, Oduya, completely free of pressure, for some reason wound up and blasted a slapshot-pass that handcuffed the Pair 1: Claesson and Karlsson latter option and resulted in a turnover. This is a duo that has worked ever since Boucher first test-drove it last The Ducks took over and sent the puck low, but things were still season, and it should remain so going forward. It's hard to go wrong with completely under control. Instead of staying where he was and taking any pair involving Karlsson, but as the D pair image above suggests, this away literally every realistic scoring option Ducks forward Ondrej Kase has been perhaps Ottawa's best. Claesson is not only a diligent worker had, Cody Ceci fell to his stomach in attempt to block (?) a play behind and responsible defensively, he is also comfortable enough with the puck the net (?) or in front (?). It's hard to figure out what Ceci was thinking. to actually get it out of his zone when called upon. Again, if anyone Regardless, with an easy path to the net, Kase outwaited a helpless should be in the press box at this point, it's Oduya, not Claesson. Craig Anderson and put the puck in the top corner. Pair 2: Chabot and Phaneuf Here it is in all its terrible glory. That there's even a chance that Chabot could be a healthy scratch, let 0:00 alone be sent back to Belleville, is really wild at this point. Despite having six points in eight games — half of them at even strength — he is sixth in The play ticked all the boxes when it comes to Ottawa's ineptitude in its average five-on-five ice time among Senators defencemen. He never own end when certain players are on the ice. Rushed, low-percentage looks frazzled with the puck, even under pressure, and his presence plays, turnovers, and just awful decision-making when the puck comes gives a huge jolt to the Senators' second power-play unit. anywhere near the net. The Ducks' other goal was an illustration of a problem that has haunted the Senators all season. The main argument against going with this pair would be that the Senators' system likes to have a big LD step up on opponents and have Passively stacking players in a box in front of the goalie only works when the RD recover the puck. Enough with that already. Chabot needs to play the box actually prevents opponents from accessing the highest-danger on his natural side to get the puck up the ice properly, and what's the area on the ice. Instead, far too often this season, they get into their harm in letting him try to initiate neutral zone turnovers with smart play structure and everyone stares at the puck-carrier below the goal-line and a good stick if the Senators insist on pushing everything up the left while attacking forwards just waltz into the box unchecked for easy tap- side? ins. Regardless, Chabot gives the second pair a legitimate puck-mover, And that's exactly what happened. The only player who did his job on the which it desperately needs. It's well past time to see what he can do with play was supposed defensive liability, Thomas Chabot. close to 20 minutes of ice time per night instead of 16. The following image, from hockeyviz.com, gives a sense of the Senators' Pair 3: Harpur and Ceci struggles on that front. It's a real shame that injuries keep taking Mark Borowiecki out of the This wasn't an irredeemable performance by any means. In other areas, lineup, because he was playing really well earlier this season in fairly the Senators looked just fine. Their Fenwick% was 65.45 percent, which sheltered minutes. And that's the point here: Ceci should be playing far is great. Despite the lack of goals, they've finally begun getting some less, and under far easier-to-manage circumstances. Against worse traffic to the net and taking higher-percentage shots, instead of fiddling players, there's a far better chance that his mistakes won't result in two around on the periphery and trying for pretty seam passes that aren't minutes of sustained offensive zone time for the Senators' opponents there. and pucks in the back of the net. Similarly, the power play actually looked good, thanks to the decision to 12.08.2017= stop expending PP1 minutes on guys like Alex Burrows, Ryan Dzingel and Bobby Ryan. If Senators coach Guy Boucher is patient, the results This might not be the perfect solution, but whatever that solution is, the should soon follow. current deployment just isn't working. But where Boucher seems to have a blind spot that can't be remedied is If the Senators don't start thinking outside the box a little — and soon — his defence deployment, which, when paired with substandard they're done. goaltending, is just crushing any hope the Senators have of turning this The Athletic LOADED: 12.08.2017 season around. The continued insistence on running Ceci out there for 22 minutes a night against the best players in the world and giving Oduya top-four minutes (Wednesday notwithstanding) is crushing them. And yet a useful player like Fredrik Claesson is sent to the press box against the Ducks rather than playing on the top pair with Karlsson. This isn't a structure thing. The team does often force turnovers in the defensive zone and, when things are going right, defend the goalmouth. The big problem is that very often when they do recover the puck, it's followed up by a terrible decision that results in the play flying back into their zone. Ceci's main moves to get the puck moving up the ice is to bang it off the glass — usually to the other team — or send insanely low-percentage passes to teammates in single or double coverage. This kills any opportunity for the Senators to attack in transition, which is a big part of their game. 1087221 Ottawa Senators Dorion don’t have to filter this through the usual agent bullshit-o-meter. This message is straight from their own players’ mouths, and it is a clear one: no hometown discounts. The exercise now is fairly straightforward. Provenzano: Why exploring an Erik Karlsson trade makes sense for the If the cost to re-sign Karlsson is going to be somewhere in the range of Senators $12 million to $14 million per season, is it worth it? And is this premium justified by the projected competitive level of the team?

In my old front office career, I tried to base my asset management advice By Frank Provenzano to my general manager on the “One Year Too Early” rule, in that I believed the cost of getting rid of a player one year too early was almost always much lower than getting rid of him one year too late. With the asset returns trending away from trade deadline rentals and towards Last week, in his conversation with The Athletic, Kings defenseman Drew earlier off-season acquisitions, I think the Senators would be well served Doughty announced to the hockey world that he fully intends to maximize to contemplate now what I’m sure must feel like the unthinkable: life his market value when his current contract expires in the summer of without Erik Karlsson. 2019. If they don’t at least quietly explore what I believe could be a king’s The interview created a mini-shockwave in NHL circles, both for its ransom of trade return in the near future, they might just be setting frankness and shot-across-the-bow warning to his current Los Angeles themselves up for a fool’s errand in the summer of 2019. Kings front office a full 18 months before the 2019 free agent frenzy actually begins. The Athletic LOADED: 12.08.2017 Making it more interesting was that Senators defenseman Erik Karlsson backed it up by saying he wasn't taking a discount to sign anywhere either. As impactful as Doughty's comments were, it's Karlsson that becomes the more interesting story because there may actually be urgency to that situation. If there isn't, I believe there should be. Here’s why I think it could, and maybe should, be wise to trade Karlsson this season: On the face of it, a Karlsson trade in the short-term doesn’t make sense. So, let's start there. Players like Karlsson are both generational and extremely hard to acquire. I was in the Dallas front office when defenseman Sergei Zubov had to call it quits. The Stars have been searching for his replacement for the better part of a decade. Furthermore, the Senators came within striking distance of playing for the Stanley Cup last June. Why would anyone blast a hole in a critical part of the roster of a team at the peak of its competitive window? Here’s why. One of THE most important jobs of the front office of a professional sports team is to remain dispassionate in the evaluation of both the organization as a whole and its component player asset parts. That is often (if not almost always) easier said than done, particularly when it comes to unexpected playoff success. In my own management career, I had one run to the Stanley Cup Finals (with Washington in 1998) and one to the Western Conference Finals (with the Stars in 2008). Both playoff runs were somewhat unexpected. In 1998, we went into the playoffs as the fourth seed in the East, and the path to the Finals was made a lot easier by the fact that the top 3 teams all lost in the first round. In 2008, the fifth-seeded Stars came up a game short of the final round against the eventual Cup-champion Red Wings. Retrospect has a tendency to yield wonderful, and painful, clarity. In both instances, those teams weren’t realistically in the elite NHL competitive group that their playoff performance had indicated. But when you are on the inside of a run like that, it’s really hard not to believe the fairy tale. Organizationally, there is a tendency to add a piece to a puzzle that doesn’t exist. In Washington, we signed Dmitri Mironov to a four-year, $11.5 million deal following our run. And in Dallas, we famously locked up Sean Avery. In both instances, we missed the playoffs the following season. The reason I dig up these front office skeletons is that I see similarities to those Washington and Dallas teams and the current version of the Ottawa Senators. Yes, they came within a whisker of playing Nashville for the big silver mug, but their path to the conference finals was in large part a function of the NHL’s flawed playoff seeding format. Their current slump and spot outside of the playoff picture might be less a function of underperformance and more a regression to their true competitive mean. If that is, in fact, the case (and I would argue it is), then it’s critical that Ottawa doesn’t compound the problem by locking themselves into a legacy contract that carries huge performance-to-value risks. It is undisputed that Karlsson is a dominant NHL player. He will also be 29 years old in the summer of 2019, and will almost certainly command a maximum-term deal in the open market, which likely translates into an eight-year deal with the Senators. He has also seen his play dip in this young 2017-18 season as he returns from off-season ankle surgery. Is this dip a blip in what is otherwise a truly outstanding body of NHL work, or has peak-Karlsson already been realized? In some ways, I believe Doughty and Karlsson have done their respective front offices a favor by signaling their likely negotiating positions well ahead of time. General managers Rob Blake and Pierre 1087222 Philadelphia Flyers

Flyers-Canucks preview: Brian Elliott one win away from No. 200 by Sam Carchidi

Flyers (10-11-7) at Canucks (14-10-4) MORE FLYERS COVERAGE Flyers make Connor McDavid look almost ordinary in win over Oilers Flyers beat Oilers to win second straight on western road trip Flyers-Oilers preview: Can Philly take advantage of backup goalie Laurent Brossoit? WHEN: 10 p.m. Thursday. WHERE: Rogers Arena. BROADCAST & STREAMING: TV — NBCSP; radio — 93.3 FM. SOCIAL MEDIA COVERAGE: Twitter, @BroadStBull; @samdonnellon. KEY PLAYERS: Vancouver goalie Jacob Markstom (2.41 GAA, .917 save percentage) is coming off his first career shutout, a 3-0 win over Carolina, and will try to end the Flyers’ second two-game winning streak of the season. They have not won three straight all year. The Canucks have a three-game winning streak, and they defeated the Flyers, 5-2, on Nov. 21. In that game, rookie Brock Boeser — whom successfully recruited to North Dakota just before he took the Flyers’ coaching job — had two goals and Markstrom made 36 saves. Boeser has a team-high 25 points, including 13 goals, and has vaulted into the rookie-of-the-year race. Vancouver is hoping top-line center Bo Horvat can play after suffering an injured leg Tuesday. He is second on the Canucks in goals (10) and points (20). With Michal Neuvirth hurt and backup goalie Alex Lyon inexperienced, Brian “Moose” Elliott is expected to start on back-to-back nights. He has 199 career victories and is coming off Wednesday’s 4-2 win in Edmonton. The Flyers are trying to sweep their three-game Western Canada swing, which followed a 10-game losing streak. They have inched to within six points of a playoff spot. More good news: Wayne Simmonds, slowed by injuries most of the season, is totally healthy and starting to resemble himself. He has goals in each of the last two games. Simmonds and Jake Voracek each had eight shots in Wednesday’s victory, just the Flyers’ second win in their last nine games in Edmonton. THINGS TO KNOW: Vancouver’s power play is 12th in the league (21.2 percent success rate), and the Flyers’ PP is 18th (19.3 percent). … Henrik Sedin leads the Canucks with 15 assists. … Claude Giroux is coming off his fifth two-assist game of the season. … In Wednesday’s win, Ivan Provorov had a career-high eight hits and played 28:08. He and defensive partner Andrew MacDonald helped contain superstar Connor McDavid (one shot). … On Wednesday, Provorov became the sixth player in franchise history to play in 110 straight games at the start of his career, passing Bobby Clarke (109). Defenseman Chris Therien, now a Flyers broadcaster, has the club record: 156 consecutive games to start his career before he was a healthy scratch. … Michael Raffl has four goals in his last seven games. … Radko Gudas will sit out the final game of his 10-game suspension Thursday. He is expected to replace Alt in Tuesday’s home game against Toronto. The Flyers, 4-6-4 at home, will be trying to end a six-game winless streak at the Wells Fargo Center. HEAD TO HEAD: This is the second and final meeting between the teams. The Flyers have a 73-34-13-9 advantage in the all-time series, and they have a 33-13-12-0 record in Vancouver. COMING FLYERS GAMES: Tuesday: 7 p.m. vs. Toronto. Thursday: 7 p.m. vs. Buffalo. Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087223 Philadelphia Flyers Brock Boeser cut it to 3-1, scoring on a rebound with 19.4 seconds left in the second. Dave Hakstol, who successfully recruited Boeser to the University of North Dakota, issued a coach’s challenge for goaltender Flyers continue turnaround, defeat Canucks for third straight win interference, but the call was upheld and Boeser had his 14th goal, tops among NHL rookies.

During their 10-game slide (0-5-5), the Flyers were outscored after the by Sam Carchidi, STAFF WRITER second period, 14-2. But they outscored their three opponents, 4-1, after the second period on their just-completed three-game trip.

Camera icon JONATHAN HAYWARD / THE CANADIAN PRESS VANCOUVER, British Columbia — General manager Ron Hextall seemed to be overdosing on hyperbole last week, saying he thought the The Flyers built a 1-0 lead in a strange first period. Strange because the Flyers were a playoff team even though they were in the midst of a 10- Canucks had the period’s first nine shots, while the Flyers had the next game losing streak. nine. But after they completed a three-game sweep on their Western Canada Elliott kept the Canucks scoreless with a handful of key saves in the trip Thursday night with a 4-1 win in Vancouver, the losing skid seems opening seven minutes. like a distant memory. The Flyers nearly scored on their first shot as Raffl deflected Voracek’s Oh, and Hextall’s playoff talk may not be as far-fetched as many pass and the puck appeared headed into the net, but at the last instant believed. goalie Jacob Markstrom reached out with his stick and kept it from crossing the goal line with 12:44 left in the first. The Flyers left their losing ways at home. With his team on a power play, Gostisbehere gave the Flyers a 1-0 lead Getting three assists from Jake Voracek and goals from Shayne when his point shot deflected off ex-teammate Sam Gagner and got past Gostisbehere, Michael Raffl, Claude Giroux and Wayne Simmonds Markstrom with 5:52 to go in the first. Fourteen of Gostisbehere’s 22 (empty net), they registered their first three-game sweep in Western points have come on the power play. Canada since 2013. It also marked the first time they had won all three Western Canada games in regulation since Dec. 27-31, 1996. Voracek had the first of his three assists. [Box score, three stars] “They collapsed pretty low and I got open for Jakey,” said Gostisbehere, who, along with Giroux and Voracek, had two points on the power play. “I “We changed a couple things and everybody’s bought into it,” said shot it quickly and got a lucky bounce.” Giroux, whose team clogged the neutral zone with a 1-2-2 alignment during the road trip. “That makes it a lot more fun.” A little over a minute after Gostisbehere’s goal, fourth-line center Scott Laughton appeared to injure his head after a collision with the referee. “Making some tweaks to our system really helped us dial in and refocus,” Laughton went to the locker room but returned to the ice in the second defenseman Andrew MacDonald said. period. Raffl scored his fifth goal in the last eight games for the Flyers, who The Flyers will return home, where they have won just four of 14 games started the trip with a 5-2 win in Calgary and a 4-2 victory in Edmonton. (4-6-4) and have lost six straight, and try to increase their season-high winning streak. They host Toronto on Tuesday, and they will get Radko Voracek had the 14th three-assist game of his career. The veteran right Gudas, their most physical defenseman, back in the lineup after serving winger now leads the NHL with 30 assists. a 10-game suspension. NHL Leaders GP Assists Wild-card Standings 1. Jake Voracek, Flyers 29 30 Eastern Conference GP Pts. t2. Steven Stamkos, TB 28 29 7. Washington 29 35 t2. Blake Wheeler, Wpg 29 29 8. Pittsburgh 30 35 4. Josh Bailey, NYI 28 26 N.Y. Rangers 27 32 5. Johnny Gaudreau, Cgy 29 25 Montreal 30 30 The Flyers, getting another solid perfomance from goalie Brian Elliott, Flyers 29 29 avenged a 5-2 Wells Fargo Center defeat to Vancouver 17 nights earlier. The Canucks’ three-game winning streak was snapped. Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 12.08.2017 Elliott, 32, playing on back-to-back nights because of a lower-body injury to Michal Neuvirth, made 36 saves and notched the 200th win of his career. He made the game’s first nine saves as the Canucks swarmed the net in the opening seven minutes. “We were a little slow out of the gate and they came out hard,” MacDonald said.”He made some crucial saves early that let us calm down. That’s the veteran goaltending presence that he brings.” On his 200th career win, Elliott said: “It’s pretty special for me. You get your first win and you just try to stay in the league and play your game and try to win a Stanley Cup. But reaching milestones like that mean a lot, and hopefully I can go for another 100.” With their recent surge, the Flyers (11-11-7) have moved within six points of a wild-card spot. Raffl, who earlier this year ended a 42-game point-less streak that dated back to last season, has scored a goal in all three games since he was put on the second line, alongside Val Filppula and Voracek. “I’ve been working real hard the whole year,”said Raffl after redirecting Voracek’s pass/shot into the net, giving the Flyers a 2-0 lead 45 seconds into the second period. “I had a tough stretch the first 20 games or so, but I had scoring chances — and as long as you get chances, you shouldn’t change much. All you need is one goal to get your confidence up a little bit and that’s what’s happening right now.” Midway through the second period, Giroux made it 3-0 by scoring on one of his patented left-circle one-timers while the Flyers had a power play. 1087224 Philadelphia Flyers

Pressure-free Flyers win 2nd straight behind secondary scoring

By John Boruk | NBC Sports Philadelphia December 07, 2017 2:35 AM

EDMONTON, Alberta — The last time the Flyers won back-to-back road games came nearly a full calendar year ago last season in New York. Now, they’ve strung together consecutive victories in Western Canada — which has been the perfect getaway following a 10-game winless streak — by playing simple, basic road hockey. “Yeah, we talked about that. These aren’t our fans out here. We don’t have to entertain them,” goaltender Brian Elliott said. “We've just got to come away with the two points. We’re playing that good road-style hockey when you have nothing, you've got to get it in deep and live to fight another day, and I think our guys are really buying into that right now.” The Flyers on Wednesday night completed a season sweep of the Oilers, winning, 4-2, at Rogers Place, and they finally received some secondary scoring from some unlikely contributors (see observations). “This is a real solid road win,” head coach Dave Hakstol said. “I thought from start to finish, this was a real good way to follow up a good win in Calgary. I just thought all parts of our game were pretty good tonight.” Jordan Weal chipped in with a power-play goal on a perfectly executed tic-tac-toe play that started with Claude Giroux’s slap pass to Sean Couturier, who then found Weal stationed in front of the crease for the tap-in goal. Weal had taken Wayne Simmonds' spot momentarily with the other members on the top power-play unit. “It’s been a long time coming," Weal, who scored his first goal in his last 13 games, said. “I think Simmonds had something with his skate. I just jumped out. It’s nice when you can get out with special players like that. Coots made a helluva play to get it to me.” Dale Weise scored his first goal in a month taking a feed from Claude Giroux, who outraced the defense to a loose puck in setting up Weise (see highlights). “It definitely feels good,” Weise said. “I’ve really liked the way we’ve played the last two games. We made some adjustments throughout our neutral zone and really clogging teams up. They’re not coming with as much speed and we’re getting out of the zone a little cleaner.” More importantly, Weal’s goal came about five minutes after the Oilers jumped on the board first with a shorthanded tally when Connor McDavid stripped Couturier of the puck and led a 2-on-1 the other way, resulting in Leon Draisaitl’s goal that gave Edmonton a 1-0 lead. Outside of McDavid’s assist, the Flyers executed textbook defense against the Oilers' superstar, much like they did in the game in Philadelphia, holding him to just one shot which came late in the third period. “That’s what he does — he builds up that speed and catches you flat- footed," Elliott said. “Our guys did a [good] job to limit him and keep him to the outside there. He didn’t really get a grade-A shot off. Hats off to the guys in front of me, for sure.” “Our forecheck was really good tonight in the neutral zone,” Weal said. “We were a five-man group. We were all connected. If you beat one guy, there’s a couple other guys there to support. Whenever their skill guys tried to cut to the middle, I thought we had good back pressure and they weren’t able to make plays they wanted to.” Jakub Voracek and Simmonds accounted for 16 of the Flyers' 33 shots on goal, and it was Simmonds' last shot on an empty net that sealed the game in the final minute. Elliott stopped 24 shots and he’s expected to play on back-to-back nights after Michal Neuvirth was placed on injured reserve Wednesday morning (see story). Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087225 Philadelphia Flyers • Floating around the blue line, former Flyer Gagner skated in uncontested only to take a shot that had a better chance of hitting me in the press box than it did of beating Elliott. Flyers-Canucks observations: Sweeping the nation • Tough shift for Alt at the end of the second period. He got caught at the tail end of a shift and couldn’t get off for a change. Elliott wasn’t able to corral the rebound with Sven Baertschi along with Brock Boeser crashing By John Boruk | NBC Sports Philadelphia December 08, 2017 12:42 AM the net. Boeser wristed a shot past Elliott and it was a painful goal to give up in the final minute of the second period.

• Not sure what Hakstol was looking at when he decided to challenge the VANCOUVER, British Columbia — With the help of the power play, the goal for goaltender interference, but there was nothing that remotely Flyers swept their Western Canada road trip for the first time since 2013, indicated interference. beating the Vancouver Canucks, 4-1, at Rogers Arena. • Simmonds iced things with his second empty-netter in as many games. Michael Raffl scored for the fifth time in his last eight games and the He has now tallied a marker in three straight contests. Flyers' power play converted twice for the first time since Oct. 10 in Nashville — a span of 25 games. Lineups, pairings and scratches The Flyers also snapped the Canucks' three-game winning streak. Forwards Brian Elliott started and won all three games on the road trip, stopping 36 Claude Giroux-Sean Couturier-Wayne Simmonds of 37 shots against Vancouver. Michael Raffl-Valtteri Filppula-Jakub Voracek Jakub Voracek added three more assists and now leads the NHL with 30 helpers this season, one better than Tampa Bay’s Steven Stamkos and Taylor Leier-Scott Laughton-Dale Weise Winnipeg’s Blake Wheeler. Jordan Weal-Nolan Patrick-Travis Konecny The Flyers and Canucks split their season series after Vancouver took Defensemen the previous meeting, 5-2, at the Wells Fargo Center on Nov. 21. Ivan Provorov-Andrew MacDonald • Jordan Weal picked up the game’s first penalty on a slashing call, which wasn’t really much of a slash. Weal actually held out his stick as Shayne Gostisbehere-Robert Hagg Alexander Burmistrov skated by. Travis Sanheim-Mark Alt • There was bad coverage on the Flyers' ensuing PK, with both defensemen guarding the post looking for the pass. Markus Granlund Goalies was left all alone in front of Elliott with a point-blank shot. Brian Elliott • The Flyers had trouble in the opening seven minutes gaining any Alex Lyon traction in the offensive zone. At one point, the Canucks held a 9-0 advantage in shots as the Flyers looked like a team playing its third game Scratches: Forward Jori Lehtera (healthy), and defensemen TJ Brennan in four nights. (healthy) and Radko Gudas (suspended). • Through the first 10 minutes of the game, I really liked the way Shayne Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 12.08.2017 Gostisbehere looked, stepping up into passing lanes, breaking up plays. He displayed good 1-on-1 defense and looked confident with the puck. • Sean Couturier drew the Flyers' first penalty — a hooking call on Alexander Edler. Along with Wayne Simmonds, both players worked hard below the goal line, outworking the opponent. The Flyers finally seemed to have some energy after playing back on their heels in the first eight minutes of the game. • Later in the first period, Gostisbehere gave the Flyers a 1-0 lead after ripping a slap shot from the point that deflected off Sam Gagner’s stick and pass Jacob Markstrom, who had no shot once it hit Gagner’s stick. • Voracek then had a pair of good looks. First was to a cutting Raffl that Markstrom had to reach out with his glove to make the save. The second came with Valtteri Filppula stationed in front of the crease. That second line has played well for Dave Hakstol since he made the change in Calgary. • The third power-play opportunity was completely ineffective, as the Flyers failed to generate a shot on Markstrom. The only attempted shot came when Claude Giroux had a nice look inside to Couturier, who fired over the net. Shots were 15-12 Canucks after one period following a sluggish start by the Flyers. Their best player in the first was Brian Elliott by far — he made some key saves throughout. • The Flyers grabbed a 2-0 lead when Voracek tried to dump the puck in and it deflected off Raffl in the neutral zone. Once they crossed the blue line, Raffl worked a nice give-and-go with Voracek and slid underneath Loui Eriksson, who had bad defensive coverage on the play. “I’ve been working real hard the whole year,” Raffl said after the second period. “I had a tough stretch the first 20 games or so, but I had scoring chances and as long as you get scoring chances during a game, you shouldn’t change much. All you need is one goal to get your confidence up a little bit and that’s what’s happening right now.” • The Canucks got the matchup they wanted with the Sedins out there against the Nolan Patrick line and the Flyers' third defense pairing, but credit Mark Alt for taking Daniel Sedin with the body and tangling up their sticks behind the net. Alt has looked very good in the two games he’s recently played. I like the manner in which he challenges shooters/puck- handlers in the offensive zone. He doesn’t sit back. • In the second period, Giroux uncorked that patented one-time blast from the left circle, giving the Flyers a 3-0 lead. 1087226 Philadelphia Flyers soon. Despite some of the conjecture among the many armchair GMs on social media, Lindblom is doing just fine in the AHL.

His numbers aren’t there, at least not yet, but his game is still Oskar Lindblom still finding his way after missing Flyers’ roster progressing. “A lot of the older guys are talking to me and helping,” Lindblom said. “It’s Dave Isaac good. It’s tough when you’re new and don’t really know what to expect. When all the vets help, that’s good.”

Dave Isaac; @davegisaac; 856-486-2479; [email protected] ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Oskar Lindblom was smiling after practice Tuesday, which was a change from the tail end of Flyers training camp. Up next: vs. Toronto Maple Leafs “The longer it gets here the more comfortable I get and feel I can do When: 7 p.m., Tuesday more stuff out on the ice,” the Swedish winger said. Now with the Lehigh TV/Radio: NBCSP/93.3 FM Valley Phantoms, he was the last forward cut from the NHL roster. “Getting better and better I feel like. Courier-Post LOADED: 12.08.2017 “I put pressure on myself and I want to be up there so I feel like it takes time, but I feel like I’m playing good now and I just have to keep going and be better. I feel good.” The Flyers said that all parts of their practices and games were taken into consideration for their final determinations. While that may have been true, Lindblom could see the writing on the wall well before the final exhibition game that he sat out for. Day 1 of training camp he was on the left wing with Claude Giroux at center and there was a belief it was a combination that might stick. Jake Voracek was even there at one point on the right wing, but by Day 6 of camp the Flyers tried a different experiment. Giroux was moved to the left wing with Sean Couturier at center. That duo has been together ever since. In a way, Giroux moving to left wing may have been what pushed Lindblom out of the picture. It also may not be a bad thing, even though it seemed to be at the time. “I was pissed. It’s tough,” Lindblom said. “A couple games at least (after being sent down) where I felt like I wasn’t so good or that you’re better than you are so it took a couple games.” Last season, in his homeland, Lindblom was one off the league lead in goals in the . Through 24 games with the Phantoms this season he has five tallies, which ties him for sixth on the team. A common misperception from his stat line was that Lindblom is a sniper for scoring all those goals. On the contrary, his job is done mostly out of Wayne Simmonds’ office, the area between a half inch from the goalie’s face and the hash marks in the slot. “When I come here, it’s a fast league and a lot of big guys out there,” the 6-foot-2, 192-pound Lindblom said. “I’m prepared to battle every game and do the dirty work and be in front of the net. That’s where the good things happen. I just have to be prepared for that every game. I feel like that’s a big difference (from Sweden).” While his goal totals may not be what they were last year, he’s still in the same spot. He’s winning battles along the boards, doing the dirty work in front of goalies to provide screens and finding open teammates. When he has a shot, he takes it. “If he’s on the perimeter he’s more inclined maybe to protect the puck and find a play to be made,” Phantoms coach Scott Gordon said. “That’s what you want. I think any time you get inside the dots, there should be some mindset of, ‘If I don’t have anything, I’m shooting the puck’ and not think that a cut back toward the corner or toward the boards is gonna bring something dramatically better. I don’t find that’s the case with Oskar. I think he has good reads from the top of the dots in.” Both Lindblom and Nolan Patrick made a concerted effort to make the roster with their hallmark being play without the puck. That’s something that never waned for Lindblom, even after being sent down. Patrick, two years younger than Lindblom, still hasn’t found the offensive part of his game that he had with the Brandon Wheat Kings and he did make the final roster. That’s not to say Lindblom would have found it if he were playing with the big club. Gordon said that for most of this season, Lindblom has been snake bitten on his finishes. “For whatever reason, his best chances don’t go in for him,” Gordon said. “Eventually they will. You keep getting those chances, eventually they’re gonna go in. He had a little stretch where he was getting his points, but he’s way ahead of where he was at the beginning of the year where he just couldn’t get anything. Now he’s still chipping in.” Nearly 32 percent of the way through the season, Lindblom hasn’t mastered the level and no one in the organization expected he would that 1087227 Pittsburgh Penguins

Penguins notebook: Greg McKegg clears waivers

JONATHAN BOMBULIE | Thursday, Dec. 7, 2017, 7:30 p.m.

Greg McKegg cleared waivers Thursday, but the Penguins did not immediately send the 25-year-old center to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Having McKegg clear waivers gives general manager Jim Rutherford some roster flexibility he did not previously have. Before Thursday, the Penguins did not have a skater on the 23-man roster who could be assigned to the AHL without waivers. Therefore, if Rutherford wanted to add a player in any fashion — whether via call-up, waiver claim or trade — he would have needed to wait 24 hours for a player to clear waivers before being able to use his roster spot or salary-cap space. Now that McKegg cleared, he stays cleared for 10 games or 30 days, whichever comes first. If Rutherford wants to add a player during that time, he can demote McKegg without any further delays. MURRAY UPDATE Goalie Matt Murray took the ice before morning skate Thursday, wearing full equipment and taking shots from coaches. The next step in his recovery is joining the team for practice. Murray suffered a lower-body injury Nov. 27, at which time it was estimated he would miss two or three weeks. “I do know that our medical staff is encouraged with his progress,” Sullivan said. Jonathan Bombulie is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at [email protected] or via Twitter @BombulieTrib. Tribune Review LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087228 Pittsburgh Penguins

Penguins' Justin Schultz out 'a couple of weeks'; Frankie Corrado called up

Jonathan Bombulie

Justin Schultz is out. Chad Ruhwedel is in, and Frankie Corrado is on deck. That's the lay of the land on the Penguins blue line after coach Mike Sullivan announced Thursday that Schultz would miss “a couple of weeks” with a lower-body injury suffered Tuesday night in a game against the Rangers. Replacing Schultz won't be easy. Along with Kris Letang, he is one of the Penguins' most dangerous defensemen in the offensive zone. He has two goals and 10 points in 23 games this season after recording 12 goals and 51 points last year. Sullivan said Schultz will not need surgery. “He's a little more than week to week. I'm reluctant to put a timeframe on it, but he's going to be a couple of weeks,” Sullivan said. Chad Ruhwedel stepped into Schultz's spot in the lineup Thursday night, skating on a defense pair with Ian Cole. After starting the season as the team's seventh defenseman, Ruhwedel has been pressed into action more often than not, playing 22 of the team's first 30 games. He was a healthy scratch for the previous three games. “This is a rough game. Guys can do down pretty easily,” Ruhwedel said. “Just gotta be ready. With more experience being in and out of the lineup, you get more used to it.” To add defensive depth, the Penguins called up Corrado from Wilkes- Barre/Scranton. Corrado, 24, performed well in a three-game NHL stint last month. The 6- foot, 205-pound Ontario native had a goal, four assists and a plus-4 rating in 12 AHL games this season. “The last time we had him up, we really liked his game,” Sullivan said. “He's got a little bit of bite to him. He's a stiff player. He's strong in the battle areas. He's good in the corners and in front of our net. He defends pretty well.” Sullivan said Corrado received high marks from Clark Donatelli's coaching staff in Wilkes-Barre. Jonathan Bombulie is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at [email protected] or via Twitter @BombulieTrib. Tribune Review LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087229 Pittsburgh Penguins Tribune Review LOADED: 12.08.2017

Matt Hunwick lifts Penguins over Islanders in overtime

JONATHAN BOMBULIE | Thursday, Dec. 7, 2017, 9:53 p.m.

Known primarily as a penalty-killer and shutdown defender, Matt Hunwick doesn't find himself on the ice very often when games go to overtime. In fact, when he stepped over the boards 53 seconds into overtime Thursday night, it was his first shift beyond regulation time in a Penguins uniform. He made it count. Bryan Rust dragged a puck into the blue paint, and Hunwick jammed the rebound inside the left post 1 minute, 29 seconds into the extra period to give the Penguins a face-saving 4-3 victory over the New York Islanders. The Penguins won for the fifth time in their last six games. Hunwick got the shift because, with Justin Schultz out with a lower-body injury, coach Mike Sullivan was looking for a defenseman to add to the overtime rotation. “He can really skate,” Sullivan said. “He's a mobile guy, and there's a lot of ice out there. The guys that tend to have footspeed have an advantage.” The overtime goal was a face-saver because the Penguins blew a two- goal lead in the final five minutes of regulation. They seemed to be cruising along, protecting their 3-1 advantage without many problems, when rising star Mathew Barzal stole a puck off a teammate's stick in the slot and whipped a shot past Tristan Jarry with 4:53 to play. It gave the Islanders life. They attacked the Penguins net relentlessly for the rest of regulation, getting the tying goal on a Brock Nelson rebound bid with the goalie pulled with 1:10 to play. Only Hunwick's goal saved the Penguins from having to swallow a galling loss. “When you're up two with five minutes to go, we have to be able to close those games out,” Hunwick said. “We're going to be in that situation a lot this year. That being said, you just take a deep breath, you go out and you work for the next one. I thought we did a good job there.” Beyond the overtime heroics, the Penguins were in position to win because of a strong effort from the penalty kill and a 32-second offensive surge early in the third period. The Islanders went on the power play three times in the second period. They outshot the Penguins, 13-7. The only goal they got came from Jordan Eberle out of an even-strength net-front scramble that tied the score 1-1. The Penguins blocked 32 shots, including seven by Hunwick. The performance came after what Sullivan called a productive meeting this week between the penalty-killers and assistant coach Jacques Martin. “One of the things we talked about was that very commitment,” Sullivan said. “I thought guys did it tonight. There were guys getting in lanes, and there was a willingness to block shots.” Phil Kessel and Riley Sheahan scored in the 32-second flurry. Kessel's came on a shot from the left half-wall on the power play. Sheahan's came after a puck-handling misadventure by Jaroslav Halak on the ensuing shift. It was Sheahan's second goal in 21 games with the Penguins. He had two in 80 games with Detroit last season. “Phil does a great job when you give him an opportunity like that. He scores a good amount of the time,” Sheahan said. “To follow it up with some more good shifts definitely helps your momentum and holds them back a bit.” Tom Kuhnhackl left the ice holding his face after a third-period collision with teammate Ryan Reaves and did not return. Sullivan said he will be evaluated further Friday. Sidney Crosby took an unpenalized shoulder to the head from Eberle just prior to the Islanders winger's goal in the second period but escaped injury on the play. 1087230 Pittsburgh Penguins Or transform it into motivational fuel, which Crosby generally does when his job takes him across Pennsylvania.

“Early on, you might hear it,” he said. “But once you get into the game, The toughest crowds many Penguins have faced aren't in the NHL Chris you’re just playing. I think you can feed off it, for sure. Szagola/Associated Press “There’s something [about] being challenged like that on the road. You feel that. Hopefully, that gets the best out of you.” DAVE MOLINARI A fair point, certainly. Wouldn’t make much of a chant, though. Post Gazette LOADED: 12.08.2017 Visiting players know all about the gentle embrace of a Philadelphia hockey crowd. It seems about as enjoyable as being wrapped tightly in razor wire. A rusty coil that’s been marinating in battery acid. OK, perhaps not quite that pleasant. But as disagreeable as a business trip to south Philadelphia can become for a lot of teams — including the one based on this side of the Commonwealth — the Wells Fargo Center there apparently has nothing on the arenas in Brooks, Alberta or Kalamazoo, Mich. or Chicoutimi, Quebec, among other locales. Indeed, an informal sampling of Penguins players turned up a number of venues where crowds can be particularly vigorous and vocal toward opponents. And none house an NHL franchise. Now, that doesn’t necessarily mean that the world’s premier league doesn’t have some of the world’s most venomous fans, as Penguins center Sidney Crosby — one of the game’s foremost authorities on being subjected to verbal abuse on the road — acknowledged. “Philadelphia is probably the most hostile,” he said. “Washington, in the playoffs, can get pretty hostile, too.” Even so, Crosby cited two rinks, in Chicoutimi and Baie-Comeau, from his time with Rimouski in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League as being among the most, uh, rambunctious in which he has played. “In junior, it’s the first time you’ve really seen that,” he said. “You haven’t really been to buildings like that before. “The shock factor is a little different. You haven’t gone through that before. Why Pittsburgh, not Philadelphia, has been Pennsylvania's pro sports capital over the last 50 years “You’re a teenager, and people are saying stuff, and they’re right on top of you.” Bryan Rust, who played college hockey at Notre Dame, and Jake Guentzel, who attended Nebraska-Omaha, pointed to the environment at Western Michigan’s intimate rink, Lawson Ice Arena. “Their student section is crazy,” Guentzel said. Well-read and creative, too, as it turns out. “They try to look up things on the internet about you,” Rust said. “Try to find things that will really hit home. “If you had a girlfriend, they’d say something about her. Things like that. Or if you had a picture where you looked dumb, like from Halloween or something like that, they’d blow it up real big and put it on a poster.” Guentzel also noted the highly charged atmosphere at North Dakota — “Their fans are passionate, and their students get pretty into it” — while Carter Rowney, who played there, understandably left it off his list. He did, however, recall conditions at the rink in Brooks during his pre- college days in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. “In the playoffs, I’m pretty sure they were way over capacity,” Rowney said. “They just packed it in there, and it was a pretty rowdy crowd.” The goal of raucous fans — be it those who left their filters at home and direct at vulgar chant at Crosby several times per game in Philadelphia, or the ones who devise creative taunts at college games — presumably is to jolt opposing players off their game. Penguins players, though, contend such tactics are ineffective. Perhaps even counter-productive. “When you first notice it, you might have to acknowledge it and just get a little laugh,” Rust said. “After that, you just block it out.” 1087231 Pittsburgh Penguins

Pregame: Penguins ready for their first look at the Islanders

SAM WERNER

By the time April rolls around, the Penguins will be plenty familiar with teams like the Islanders. But as of this week, Metropolitan Division opponents are still a bit of a novelty. The Penguins will face the Islanders for the first time this season Thursday night, finally checking off the fourth of their seven divisional opponents. The schedule has been unusually Western Conference-heavy, so far. In fact, after next week’s road trip to Vegas, Colorado and Arizona, there will be just four Western teams the Penguins have not played (Dallas, San Jose, Anaheim and Los Angeles). Even by that point, there will still be three Metropolitan teams they haven’t seen (New Jersey, Columbus and Carolina). “It is a little bit different, but I’ve kind of learned over the course of the last couple of years that we play a lot of our divisional games towards the end of the year,” winger Bryan Rust said Those are when things kind of heat up a little bit. But [the Islanders] are definitely a team we’re familiar with and we’re excited for tonight.” These divisional games have some stakes to them, too. Last year, the Penguins, Blue Jackets and Capitals were able to separate themselves from the rest of the Metropolitan, but the division figures to be a bit more crowded this year. The Devils are in first place, and a 4-1 win over the Blue Jackets this week might serve notice that they’re for real. Similarly, the Islanders are just two points back, one ahead of the Penguins, and are 7-3-0 in their last 10 games. “They’ve got a great team, and they’ve got a lot of guys contributing,” Penguins center Riley Sheahan said. “I think we’re just going to have to be aware of their depth, play a hard, full game.” All told, just four points separate the top six teams in the division, only five of which can make the postseason. Last year, the Penguins were able to separate themselves thanks in large part to a 20-8-2 Metropolitan record, tied for the most divisional wins in the NHL. They’re 3-2-0 in such games so far this year, so their intra-division resume is still almost entirely unwritten. So far this season has been more about keeping pace rather than making moves in the standings. “Just try and get as many points as possible," Rust said. “A lot of teams in our division have been winning a lot of games lately. I think we’ve got to get on that trend, and any time we have a chance to get points, we need to take advantage of that.” Post Gazette LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087232 Pittsburgh Penguins The baskets are decorated and filled with items unique to a Penguins player, showing items relative to his hobbies, interests or hometown, with at least one autographed item in the lot. Penguins defenseman Justin Schultz 'a little more than week-to-week' Fans can bid on the baskets at http://pensbasket.gesture.com or by Matt Freed/Post-Gazette texting PENSBASKET to 52182. Proceeds will benefit the “Blessings in a Backpack” program at Trinity JASON MACKEY North Elementary School in Washington, which provides nutritious food items for underprivileged children on days when school meals are not available. Penguins defenseman Justin Schultz will miss several weeks with a Morehouse feted lower-body injury, coach Mike Sullivan said following Thursday’s morning skate. Duquesne University will present Penguins president/CEO David Morehouse with an honorary doctorate of business leadership degree “He’s a little more than week-to-week,” Sullivan said. “I’m reluctant to put during its winter commencement Dec. 15. a timeframe on it, but he’s going to be a couple of weeks.” Morehouse, a Beechview native, joined the Penguins in 2004 as a senior The injury is not season-ending, Sullivan confirmed, and Schultz won’t consultant and was named president in 2007. need surgery. But it does look doubtful that Schultz will return before the calendar flips to 2018. Post Gazette LOADED: 12.08.2017 Earlier, the Penguins placed Schultz on injured reserve and recalled Frank Corrado ahead of Thursday’s game against the New York Islanders. Schultz was injured in the first period of Tuesday’s 4-3 loss to the New York Rangers. He returned briefly in the second before adjourning to the dressing room for good. The injury occurred when Schultz’s defense partner, Ian Cole, tripped Rangers forward Rick Nash into Schultz, and Schultz’s knee bent awkwardly. In 23 games, Schultz produced two goals and 10 assists, logging 18:40 a night overall and 2:29 on the power play. Sullivan heaped heavy praise on Schultz following Wednesday’s practice for the myriad of things he does for the Penguins. Now, Chad Ruhwedel will draw back into the lineup. Corrado figures to serve as their No. 7 defenseman while Schultz is injured. Corrado, 24, played three games for the Penguins earlier this season, averaging 11:06 per game. In 12 AHL games, Corrado had one goal, five points and was a plus-4. “The last time we had him up, we really liked his game,” Sullivan said of Corrado. “He’s got a little bit of bite to him. He’s a stiff player. He’s strong in the battle areas. He’s good in the corners, in front of our net. He defends pretty well. I think he plays within himself.” Consistent Hornqvist Patric Hornqvist entered Thursday’s game riding a six-game point streak and with goals in four in a row. If he records a point against the Islanders, Hornqvist will match his career-high for points in consecutive games, achieved from March 21, 2014-April 5, 2014, with Nashville. ”Just the way he plays,” Jake Guentzel responded when asked about Hornqvist’s consistency. “He brings it every night, and you know what kind of guy you’re getting.” McKegg clears Center Greg McKegg cleared waivers on Thursday and can be sent to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton at any time. He did take Thursday’s morning skate in Pittsburgh. Goalie talk Tristan Jarry will start in goal against the Islanders. Before morning skate, Matt Murray had a second consecutive workout in full equipment. Murray skated for at least 45 minutes, doing everything from stopping shots to playing the puck. It was announced last Monday that Murray would be week-to-week with a lower-body injury. Based on what Murray did Thursday, a return to practice in some capacity does not look to be far off. Basket auction starting The Pittsburgh Penguins Wives Association will hold its 12th annual holiday basket online auction beginning at 6 p.m. Thursday and continuing through Dec. 19. 1087233 Pittsburgh Penguins Bill Nunn was a black sportswriter in Pittsburgh who persuaded the Steelers to tap into the largely ignored talent pool at the nation’s historically black colleges — a strategy that built the foundation of the Why Pittsburgh, not Philadelphia, has been Pennsylvania's pro sports teams that would win four Super Bowls between 1975 and 1980. capital over the last 50 years Meanwhile, not only led the Penguins to two Stanley Cups as a player, but as their owner has been largely responsible for keeping them in Pittsburgh and getting them the arena that has helped FRANK FITZPATRICK them capture three more. Many here also point to the city’s fan base as a factor. Though Pittsburghers might not be quite as overtly passionate as Philadelphians, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia share a common first letter, a commonwealth they’re much less likely to jump on a struggling team or athlete. and little else. “They’re more generous than Philly fans,” said Randy Roberts, a Philly’s got more people, more land, more attitude. Statistics suggest it’s Pittsburgh native who teaches history at Purdue and has edited a book more expensive and more stressful to live here. We’ve got more history, on Pittsburgh sports. “They will not turn on you as fast as Philly fans. more theaters and restaurants and 1.6 million more TV-viewing Sure, there are examples where they boo people, the way they did with households. Terry Bradshaw early on. But generally they are good and loyal fans.” But in the one comparison that matters most, at least to all the sports- Role reversal crazed residents at either end of Pennsylvania, the Steel City holds a sizable edge. Forty years ago, it was Philadelphia and not Pittsburgh that seemed on the cusp of a sports explosion. At the end of 1976, when America’s During the last half-century, as sports have evolved from mere pastimes downsized Bicentennial celebration was coming to an end, things were into civic obsessions, Pittsburgh has won more than twice as many major looking up in Philly. professional championships as Philadelphia, 13-5. For its tormented professional sports fans, that year had been an That lopsided advantage in victory parades defies easy explanation. After unprecedented delight. all, Pennsylvania’s second largest city has just three teams to Philadelphia’s four and far fewer of the resources that typically spell Three All-Star Games were played here. The Phillies made it to the sports success. postseason for a first time in 26 years and drew a record 2.5 million to Veterans Stadium. The Flyers reached a third straight Stanley Cup In an era when media revenue is vital for any franchise, Pittsburgh’s TV Finals. The Eagles hired Dick Vermeil. The 76ers signed Julius Erving. market is downright tiny, the 63rd largest in the U.S. (Philadelphia’s is No. 4). At 303,000, its seriously shrunken population is one-fifth the size Meanwhile, 350 miles to the west, Pittsburgh, whose famous broad of Philadelphia’s. It’s smaller than all but one Major League Baseball city, shoulders were sagging badly in a declining economy, was not so all but one NHL city, all but three NFL cities. upbeat. Those shortcomings have impacted its sports teams, especially the After two straight Super Bowl wins, the Steelers were routed in the AFC Penguins and Pirates, financially challenged franchises that on numerous title game. The Penguins were bankrupt and rumored to be moving. The occasions have threatened to leave for Seattle, Kansas City, St. Pirates won 92 games but few seemed to care as attendance dipped by Petersburg, Fla., or other greener pastures. 250,000. As for Pittsburgh’s NBA team, there was none. And yet Pittsburgh produces champions the way it once did steel. As he stood recently on Pitt’s campus, very near the spot where Bill Mazeroski’s Game 7 home run won a World Series for the 1960 Pirates, “When you consider that we’re about half as big as we were in 1960, and retired construction worker Mike Nowak said that at that time he feared then you think about the championships our professional teams and Pitt the Steelers might be the only team left standing. football have won over the years, it’s pretty impressive,” said Rob Ruck, a history professor at Pitt. “Back then mills were closing every week, people were moving south, it was bad,” said Nowak. “Attendance at games was bad, too. It didn’t look Now, as Pennsylvania’s two NFL teams, each with the best record in its like there was going to be enough people left here to support all three conference, head toward a possible Super Bowl showdown, that teams.” championship disparity figures to come under increased scrutiny. The most troubled franchise then was the Penguins, who in 1975 had While Philadelphia is better-known nationally for the irritability of its fans declared bankruptcy and threatened a move to Seattle. But two years than the quality of its teams, those 13 championships since 1968 later, developer Ed DeBartolo bought them and the relative financial (Steelers 6, Penguins 5, Pirates 2) have helped Pittsburgh, dubbed the stability that followed resulted in two Stanley Cups. “City of Champions” by broadcaster Howard Cosell in 1979, forge a new identity. But by the late 1990s, with the outdated Civic Arena as their home, the Penguins, under new ownership, were in trouble again. Owner Howard “Think of Pittsburgh when Cosell made that comment,” said Ruck, who Baldwin had committed tens of millions to players’ salaries and when has authored several books on the city’s sports history. “Our economic creditors demanded $90 million, he didn’t have it. base was crumbling and would get worse. Even though working in a steel mill was dirty and dangerous, being the Steel City gave people here an One of those big contracts belonged to Lemieux. Sensing an opportunity, identity. When those jobs went away, there was an economic and he converted the $32.5 million owed him into ownership equity. With the psychological depression. popular star at their helm, the Penguins were later able to coax a new arena out of city officials. “But as that identity faded, sports became the story that Pittsburgh told of itself to the world. It’s a story about people who work hard, play hard and “It was the only way Lemieux was going to get what he was owed,” said persevere. We grabbed that identity and it has stuck with us.” Ruck. “There was no way the city was going to be able to fund a new place. After that, casino gambling was approved in the city, creating a Sports is not an exact science and championships are as likely to be the revenue stream to fund the [construction] bonds. Since then the result of luck as careful planning. But when looking at Pittsburgh there Penguins have done a great job with marketing and the draft.” are some organizational traits that jump out. In 2004, with the draft’s second overall pick, the Pens selected Evgeni The Steelers, for example, prize consistency and loyalty. They’ve been Malkin. Then, after a season-long lockout in 2004, they got the No.1 pick owned by one family since their inception and coached by just three men in the 2005 draft lottery. With it, they took Sidney Crosby. Three Stanley since 1969. (The Eagles have had seven ownership groups and, since Cups have followed. ’69, 13 coaches.) The Pirates tapped into Latin American and African- American talent long before the Phillies and other rivals. The Penguins, Finding it increasingly difficult to compete in the era before baseball had despite twice declaring bankruptcy, have drafted astonishingly well and any revenue sharing, the Pirates nearly left town in the 1980s and again become part of the fabric of a city with little hockey history. in the 1990s. Another civic-funded ballpark and baseball’s luxury tax saved them. If titles are as much the byproduct of what happens off the field as on, then considerable credit has to go to two men connected with the “When Kevin McClatchy bought the team in 1996, he said he’d keep franchises that have won the bulk of those championships over the last them in town on one condition, that they get a new ballpark,” said Ruck. 50 years — the Steelers and Penguins. “And with the help of the mayor and a financing structure that included a 1 percent additional sales tax, they got PNC Park.” The Pirates, whose last title came in 1979, also were pioneers in baseball’s integration. In the late 1970s, for example, when 18 percent of big-leaguers were black and 11 percent Hispanic, the Pirates once fielded a team comprised entirely of those players. In fact, on Sept. 1, 1971, the Pirates became the first Major League Baseball team to field an all-black starting lineup, and it was against the Phillies at Three Rivers Stadium “We’ve had some problems through the years. No place is perfect,” said Vince Wilson, a fan from nearby Monroeville. “But by and large there haven’t been many racial issues with our sports teams. I think from as far back as Roberto Clemente coming here, Pittsburgh has been seen as a fairly hospitable place for minority athletes.” Bill Nunn’s influence Through it all, the Steelers, owned by the Rooneys, an Irish family whose roots run deep on Pittsburgh’s North Side, have been the city’s sports foundation. But it wasn’t until the team sought help from Nunn, a native of Pittsburgh’s Hill District, that they became a powerhouse. “There were a couple of amazing things that happened in those days,” said Roberts. “No. 1, they got a really good coach when [in 1969] they hired Chuck Noll. There’s a story of how when after Noll showed up, all the players were trying hard to impress him. He said, ‘Look, I know you hustle. I know you play hard. The problem is you’re not very good.’ The next year only a few were left. He systematically remade that roster. “No. 2, the Steelers were less race-conscious than other teams. They really went out and scouted black players, particularly those from the historically black schools. They got a ton of players that no one else was grabbing.” And the man who helped them do that was Nunn, then the sports editor of the Pittsburgh Courier, one of the nation’s leading African American newspapers. Each year, that paper selected an all-American football team from the historically black colleges. As part of his research, Nunn traveled to the schools. “He’d stay in the presidents’ homes,” said Ruck. “He was plugged in. He saw players that the rest of the NFL was ignoring and he knew them better than anyone.” The Rooneys, who historically maintained close ties with the black community, read the Courier. When in the early 1970s Nunn, who died in 2014, wrote something critical of the Steelers, they invited him to a meeting. “Not long after that he went to work for the team part-time and then full- time,” said Ruck. “That’s when they began to draft and sign players from those schools, guys like John Stallworth, Donnie Shell, Mel Blount.” While the rest of the league was integrating gradually, the Steelers went full-bore. Half of their 1975 Super Bowl championship team was black. “Historically black athletes have thrived here, going back to the [Negro League baseball’s] Homestead Grays and Pittsburgh Crawfords, to players like Josh Gibson and Roberto Clemente,” said Ruck. And through the years, many of those who starred on Pittsburgh teams were locals. Gibson: Honus Wagner, Jack Ham. “There’s a rootedness here, especially with football,” said Ruck. “The best thing about sports is when you’re playing. But the next-best thing is when someone you know is playing. Through the years, that’s happened an awful lot in Pittsburgh.” Post Gazette LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087234 Pittsburgh Penguins Other postgame takeaways: • The penalty kill wasn’t the only way the Penguins held a decided edge in the special teams battle. The power play went 2 for 2, although that The Penguins have found their way on the penalty kill group experiencing success is hardly breaking news. The Penguins have the third-best power play in the league at 27.0 JASON MACKEY percent. That unit is 11 for 28 (39.3 percent) over its past eight games, scoring at least once in seven of those contests, three times getting multiple power-play goals. or significant stretches of this season, the penalty kill has been the Against the Islanders, Jake Guentzel tipped a Kris Letang point shot, and Penguins’ Achilles’ heel. Phil Kessel whipped one from his office, the left circle. But on Thursday the penalty kill played a drastically different role. Team-high 14th for Kessel. Stretches his goal-scoring streak to three games. Riding a wave of momentum and suddenly brimming with confidence, the penalty kill gave the Penguins some much-needed juice in a 4-3 overtime That’s the 10th in 15 for Guentzel, who scored once in the 10 games win over the New York Islanders at PPG Paints Arena. before that. That group delivered a 4-for-4 performance, holding the Islanders with a “They’ve been really good all year long,” Sullivan said. “They’ve been power-play goal on seven shots, to run their success rate recently to 24 really good for a long time. They’re consistently a threat for us out there. for 26 (92.3 percent) over the past seven games. There’s a lot of weapons. They’re hard to defend because it’s hard to keep on any one aspect of that power play because there’s weapons all “I thought our penalty kill was really good tonight,” Penguins coach Mike over the ice. When they’re moving and shooting the puck, I think they’re Sullivan said. as good a power play as there is in the league. Obviously they gave us a big boost [Thursday].” OK, so why? • The Penguins frittered away a point that might leave them with a bit of a Well, for one, pressure. The recent uptick here has coincided with a more sour taste. aggressive approach. Nobody saw this coming. The Penguins felt they were in complete control But not just any kind of pressure. Smart pressure. of the third period. At practice Monday, Carl Hagelin gave an extremely insightful answer Then Matthew Barzal scored with the extra attacker at 15:07, and Brock that essentially boiled down to working smarter. Nelson tied it at 18:50. Early in the kill, take chances. Late in the kill, look for a clear or block a “They did a pretty good job on the forecheck,” Hunwick said. “We missed shot. Know the score and situation, so to speak. The Penguins have had a couple breakouts, and it gave them sustained pressure. They’re much better recognition, among plenty of other things. making a push. They’re going to be pinching their D. There’s a lot of little “I think we did a good job pressuring,” Riley Sheahan said. “[The plays that we can be better at.” Islanders] have a lot of guys who can skate. If you can disrupt their Sullivan pointed to the Penguins’ inability to get a clean change when the breakout and force the puck out of their hands, it’s easy for us to play in- Islanders pulled Jaroslav Halak as the reason for Barzal’s goal. zone.” It was strange because the Penguins have been so good holding leads. Another aspect is blocked shots. The Penguins blocked 13 shots against the Islanders, five of them coming while they were shorthanded. They’re Since the start of the 2015-16 season, the Penguins are 85-1-1 when second league-wide this season with 464 blocked shots. leading after two periods, a league-best .970 winning percentage. Sullivan said the group had a “great meeting” with assistant Jacques They didn’t lose the game Thursday, but they did have a momentary Martin the other day, and the gist of it was blocking shots and doing the lapse, a teachable moment. little things necessary to keep the opposing power play off the scoreboard. “It was a little discouraging,” Sullivan said. “We had complete control of the period, at least we felt, up until that point. They really didn’t get much “It’s hard to have a good penalty kill if you don’t have a willingness and until they scored that second goal with under five minutes to go. When commitment to block shots,” Sullivan said. “When you look at the best they scored that goal, it obviously gave their team a boost. They grabbed penalty kills in the league, they keep the puck from getting to their net. a little bit of momentum. You’ve got to give them credit, too. They’re a good team. They have a lot of skill, and they found a way to score when “Not only so the initial shot doesn’t have a chance to go in, but defending they pulled the goalie. that next play can be difficult if that shot gets through.” “This team usually has been very good at making sure we defend leads One funny thing happening here has also been the return of Carter the right way and keep going at teams. If we could’ve got a clear … I Rowney. In the 14 games Rowney has missed, the PK is 36 for 49 (73.5 think we got caught in a little bit of a line change. … We couldn’t make percent). In the 16 he’s played, it’s 57 for 68 (83.8). that play to gain the blue line to get fresh people on the ice to defend the Taking all the credit? Yeah, right. That’s hardly Rowney’s style. pulled goalie situation. If we could’ve made that one play to gain the line for us, I think it might have been different. But we got caught with a tired “I never saw that,” Rowney said, laughing. “A couple games they were group.” struggling. It’s more about the whole group getting back to the simple things, bearing down on our clears and the details, trying not to give them Five for the road as much zone time with possession.” • For all the complaining that’s been done over Kris Letang, it’s worth The Penguins PK — the same unit that earlier this season coughed up noting that he has 12 assists over his past 12 games, including two two power-play goals five time in a six-game stretch — has somehow Thursday. He has 22 helpers on the season, which leads all NHL nudged its way into the top 10 in the NHL in penalty killing; the Penguins defensemen. are currently 10th at 81.6 percent. • Penguins are 12-2-1 in their last 15 home games against division teams Three of the four penalties the Penguins took against the Islanders came dating back to last season. during the second period. That’s also when all five blocked shots for the • Guentzel has a five-game point streak going (4-3–7). Penguins occurred. • Hunwick leads all Penguins defensemen this season with three goals. Instead of letting the game get away from them, the Penguins held the fort and eventually got a couple of key goals midway through the third • Penguins have already won five overtime games on home ice this period. season. They won a club-record seven last year. “You don’t want to take that many penalties,” said Matt Hunwick, who Post Gazette LOADED: 12.08.2017 contributed one of the blocks. “But we had some really good blocked shots and tried to limit where they were getting their chances from. “They have a couple of guys who are really good in front of the net. We wanted to take their sticks away and limit their opportunities.” 1087235 Pittsburgh Penguins The Islanders scored twice in the last 4:53 to tie the score and force the extra session. The Penguins struggled to clear the puck, and allowed the Islanders to pin them deep in their end zone and get chance after chance Penguins overcome late collapse to beat Islanders in overtime, 4-3 on Tristan Jarry, who finished with 23 saves. But when you get the winner in overtime, it’s a whole lot easier to look back on that collapse as a learning experience, rather than a missed SAM WERNER opportunity. “When you’re up two with five minutes to go, we have to be able to close those game out,” Hunwick said. “We’re going to be in that situation a lot The Penguins got some offense from the usual suspects Thursday night this year. But with that being said, you just take a deep breath, you go — Jake Guentzel, Phil Kessel — but the two biggest goals of the night out and you work for the next one.” came from decidedly less-likely sources. And you never know where that next one might come from. Riley Sheahan scored in the third period, and Matt Hunwick netted the game-winner in overtime as the Penguins overcame a late collapse to Post Gazette LOADED: 12.08.2017 beat the Islanders, 4-3, in the extra session. “We have some of the best players in the league in here,” Sheahan said. “If they can have some secondary options, some guys contributing, it definitely gives them a little bit of relief and we can just let them do their thing.” Hunwick usually isn’t a fixture in the Penguins’ 3-on-3 overtime rotation, but with Justin Schultz out due to injury, a spot was open and coach Mike Sullivan opted to go with him. “Because he can really skate,” Sullivan said. “He’s a mobile guy and there’s a lot of ice out there. Guys that tend to have foot speed have an advantage. Matt’s a guy that we think we can use in that situation because of his mobility.” It wasn’t necessarily his skating ability that led to the winning goal, more his willingness to get his nose dirty. Hunwick started the rush up ice, and then made a move to the front of the net. Bryan Rust threw the puck toward Islanders goalie Jaroslav Halak, and Hunwick punched home the rebound. “We just created a little bit of chaos and Hunny did a good job burying it,” said Sheahan, who was on the ice at the time. Hunwick struggled a bit to remember his previous 3-on-3 overtime goal. “Maybe preseason a year ago,” Hunwick said. “Regular season, probably never.” Hunwick’s goal, though, might have only been the second-most unlikely of the night for the Penguins. Sheahan scored midway through the third to give the Penguins a 3-1 lead. It was his second goal of the season, but the first that came against an actual goalie — his other goal was an empty-netter Nov. 16. “Empty-netters are nice, but it’s not the way you picture your first one,” Sheahan said. “To get one tonight definitely felt good.” It was a bit of a goal-scorer’s goal, too. Yes, Halak was out of position as Sheahan made his move to the front of the net, but he still picked the upper-left corner and put it in such a spot where, even had Halak played it perfectly, Sheahan still would’ve had a chance to score. It’s no secret the Penguins are at their best when the third line can provide a scoring punch, something that has been lacking for most of the season. Sheahan, Bryan Rust and Carl Hagelin have found some chemistry of late, though, and Sullivan was optimistic this recent spurt of offense from Sheahan can translate to something bigger. “I think hopefully with scoring tonight, he’s picked up a couple of assists as of late, we’re hoping that it will build his confidence and he can go from there,” Sullivan said. “We certainly think he’s capable, and we’ve really liked his overall game. We’re hoping some of the points that he’s picked up here over the last couple of weeks will help him.” If Sheahan gets going offensively, it could go a long way toward the Penguins turning back into the relentless offensive team they’ve been for much of the past two-plus seasons. “It’s huge,” said Jake Guentzel, who put the Penguins up, 1-0, in the first with his 13th goal of the season. “When you have scoring up and down your lineup, it helps us and gives us momentum. To see those guys get some goals, it’s really nice to see.” Sheahan’s goal came immediately on the heels of Phil Kessel’s 14th of the season — an absolute snipe from the left circle on the power play — and the Penguins seemed ready to cruise to a win. The last five minutes, though, were not ideal, and they were the reason the Penguins needed Hunwick’s heroics in overtime. 1087236 Pittsburgh Penguins

C-3PO actor Anthony Daniels makes appearance for Penguins' 'Star Wars' night

ADAM BITTNER

The Penguins had a special guest in attendance for their “Star Wars” night Thursday at PPG Paints Arena. Actor Anthony Daniels, who’s played popular droid character C-3PO since the franchise debuted in 1977, stopped by to see the Penguins face the New York Islanders. Sporting a customized jersey, he greeted fans on the arena’s video board. Pittsburgh Penguins

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@penguins GOAL! BIRTHDAY BOY SHEAHAN! Oh dear, C-3PO is very pleased. The #Pens take the 3-1 lead with 11:59 left in the 3rd period. 9:13 PM - Dec 7, 2017 16 16 Replies 331 331 Retweets 1,348 1,348 likes Twitter Ads info and privacy Daniels also checked in with arena host Celina Pompeani and seemed to be enjoying his first Penguins game. Celina Pompeani

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@CelinaPompeani C-3PO in the house tonight!! Special thanks to Anthony Daniels for coming in! #StarWarsNight @penguins 9:22 PM - Dec 7, 2017 3 3 Replies 35 35 Retweets 130 130 likes Twitter Ads info and privacy “A Penguin planet is where I should always be from now on,” Daniels said. “It’s great. It’s exciting. It’s fun.” He wasn’t the only one in the “Star Wars” spirit though. Here are some of the other scenes from around the arena, as hockey fans got in the spirit for “Star Wars: The Next Jedi,” which hits theaters next week. Post Gazette LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087237 San Jose Sharks “I have to take it,” Sorensen said, referring to the opportunity in front of him. “I have to play good. I have to bring my best game every night, every practice. It’s huge.” Three things to know: Sharks’ Ryan likely headed to minor leagues in Sorensen made his 2017-18 debut with the Sharks Monday after near future collecting 14 points in 17 games with the Barracuda. The 25-year-old Swede is looking to make up for an inconsistent training camp, which forced him to open the season with the Barracuda after he suited up for By PAUL GACKLE | PUBLISHED: December 7, 2017 all six of the Sharks Stanley Cup playoff games last spring. Labanc, meanwhile, will be looking to hang onto his roster spot by breaking out of his scoring funk. The 21-year-old forward is riding a 17- SAN JOSE — Joakim Ryan knows how to count. Simple math suggests game goalless drought and he’s recorded just one point in eight games that he will be the odd man out on the left side of the Sharks blue line since he was recalled from the Barracuda on Nov. 12. after Brenden Dillon serves his one-game suspension Thursday. “It’s going to be on the back of your mind, but you can’t kill yourself Get Sharks news in your inbox. Sign up now for the free Sharks Report thinking about it,” Labanc said, reflecting on what’s at stake for him newsletter. Thursday night “You’ve got to stay composed and work hard. Every game, NHL or AHL, you’ve got to play hard and you’ve got to work. As Paul Martin rejoins the Sharks lineup for their game against the Carolina Hurricanes at SAP Center Thursday, Ryan will get another 3. ‘Big test’ chance to prove that he’s an NHL-caliber defenseman. The Hurricanes (11-10-5) are hovering around .500, they’re six points out After that, Martin, Dillon and Marc-Edouard Vlasic will fill out the left side of an Eastern Conference playoff spot and they’ve lost three of their last of the Sharks blue line, relegating Ryan to the seventh defenseman four games. position until Tim Heed (upper body) returns from a day-to-day injury. Regardless, DeBoer considers Thursday’s game to be a “big test” for the “I can’t really do anything about it,” Ryan said. “There’s no way to Sharks (14-10-2). Is this just coach’s speak or is DeBoer seeing approach it other than when I’m in the lineup, keep playing well and legitimate red flags in Thursday’s matchup? worry about myself. I think for the most part, I’ve been pretty consistent.” Here’s a few numbers that should make the Sharks coach somewhat Ryan’s performance over his 23 NHL games this fall has allowed the nervous. The Hurricanes rank first in shots per game (35.76), first in Sharks defense to absorb Martin’s loss without skipping a beat. The faceoff percentage (52.95 percent), first in team possession rating (55.15 Sharks rank second in goals-against average (2.30) and third in shots percent), second in shots against (29.46) and third in takeaways (280). against (29.65) even though the veteran blue liner hasn’t suited up for a game since Oct. 7. In addition, the Sharks are just 3-3 against the Hurricanes over the last three years, in part, because their speed creates matchup problems for The rookie defenseman has produced two assists, an even plus-minus DeBoer’s veteran squad. rating and a 56.18 possession rating, which ranks third among Sharks defenseman. “Carolina’s a much better team than their record,” the Sharks coach said. “They put a lot pressure on the other team. They control the play for most Nevertheless, Ryan will likely be reassigned to the AHL Barracuda, of the games that they play. where he can play top minutes on a nightly basis, after Dillon and Heed rejoin the lineup. Ryan could also serve as trade bait if the Sharks try to “They’ve always given us a tough time, so this is a big test for us.” swing a deal for more scoring at forward. San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 12.08.2017 “The reality is, there’s a lot of guys here, so there’s going to be some tough decisions if we get healthy. We’re not there yet,” head coach Pete DeBoer said, adding: “That’s the NHL.” Although Ryan wants to stay in the NHL, the 24-year-old defenseman said he could stomach a return to the Barracuda knowing that he left his best game on the table with the Sharks. “If that happens, it is what it is, you have to go down and play,” Ryan said. “Obviously, there’s a lot of guys here. I think all of us belong in the NHL. You never know what’s going to happen, but this is where I think I belong.” 2. Kevin Labanc, Marcus Sorensen will be competing for roster spots Thursday. The way DeBoer sees it, he won’t be making a decision about who sticks around on his forward roster once Joonas Donskoi or Mikkel Boedker returns to health. The choice will be made for him based on who capitalizes on their opportunity in the interim. On Thursday, Labanc and Sorensen will get a chance to prove that they belong in the NHL, suiting up for the Hurricanes game. Danny O’Regan will serve as a healthy scratch, waiting for another opportunity to show what he can bring to the team. “I know anybody who dresses for us on a given night is going to get 10 minutes of ice time minimum and they’re going to get a chance to play. They have to make the most of that,” DeBoer said. “It’s almost out of our hands. Here’s the opportunity: take it or don’t take it. The guys who end up having careers are the guys that jump on those opportunities.” With Martin returning to the lineup, the Sharks placed Boedker on the injured reserve Thursday retroactive to Dec. 1, which means they didn’t need to send a forward to the AHL to create roster space for the veteran defenseman. But when Boedker or Donskoi returns, the Sharks will need to send Labanc, Sorensen or O’Regan to the Barracuda, making Thursday’s game a big opportunity for the two players in the lineup. 1087238 San Jose Sharks Wait for it… Wait for it… #SJSharks pic.twitter.com/9vRe155E8u — San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) December 8, 2017 Three takeaways: Sharks youngster earns heavy praise from DeBoer The Sharks six shorthanded goals are tied for the most in the NHL and the penalty kill is ranked second (86.7 percent).

“It’s been exceptional all year. Not only does it help us win, but it grabs By PAUL GACKLE | December 8, 2017 momentum for us, which is what you want your special teams to do,” DeBoer said. SAN JOSE — Coach Pete DeBoer expected a “dangerous game” from The Sharks also got two goals from the power play, which went 1 for 7 the Carolina Hurricanes, who delivered by slapping warning labels all during the team’s four-game road trip. Thornton fired in his fifth of the over the first 40 minutes of Thursday’s game. year on the man advantage at 17:51, giving the Sharks life by cutting the Hurricanes lead to 4-2. Get Sharks news in your inbox. Sign up now for the free Sharks Report newsletter. What a shot, Joe Thornton. #SJSharks pic.twitter.com/Opi5Vg4yRl The Sharks coach believes the Hurricanes (11-11-5) are a “much better — San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) December 8, 2017 team than their record” and they lived up to expectations, jumping out to Logan Couture also scored his team-leading 14th goal by going top shelf a 3-0 lead in the first and holding a 4-1 edge with 5:16 remaining in the from the right circle at 8:31 of the third, setting the stage for Goodrow’s second period. heroics later in the period. But the Sharks (15-10-2) came back to tie the game with the help of four The key to the power play’s resurgence after an unremarkable road trip? special teams goals. Actually getting some chances. The Sharks drew just two power plays Here’s what we learned as the Sharks picked up an unlikely 5-4 overtime during the last three games of their road trip. win at the SAP Center Thursday. “Tonight we could finally get into a little bit of a rhythm, getting three 1. Barclay Goodrow is capitalizing on every opportunity he receives. power play chances,” Thornton said. After the Sharks morning practice, DeBoer preached about the 3. Paul Martin struggles in his return to action. importance of his young players making the most of every opportunity they receive, even if it’s just 10 minutes of ice time. Martin received a challenging test in his first game since Oct. 7. Like our Sharks Facebook page for more San Jose Sharks news, Getting re-acclimated to the speed of NHL hockey after spending two full commentary and conversation. months in the press box is always a tall order. Doing it against one of the league’s fastest teams must have been dizzying. Among the young forwards competing for roster spots this season, no one has capitalized on his opportunities more than Barclay Goodrow. “People don’t realize how hard it is just to come back in general,” said Brent Burns, who scored the game-winning goal 22 seconds into The 24-year-old forward entered training camp caught behind Timo overtime. Meier, Kevin Labanc, Marcus Sorensen and Ryan Carpenter on the depth chart. He eventually landed a spot on the squad by coming into “His body looks pretty good right now. You get in good gym shape, you camp in as good of shape as anyone in the organization, giving DeBoer get to see some abs, but it doesn’t seem to matter when you get on the hard-scrappy minutes throughout the preseason. ice. It’s pretty tough.” After serving as a healthy scratch in 11 of the Sharks first 12 games, Martin got caught chasing the puck around on the Hurricanes third goal Goodrow received an unconventional opportunity on Nov. 4: fourth line at 14:14 of the first and he got lost in no-man’s land on the Hurricanes center even though he hadn’t skated down the middle since minor fourth goal at 14:44 of the second. He finished the game with a 29.63 hockey. percent possession rating. Nevertheless, Goodrow delivered, setting up the game-winning goal DeBoer eventually pulled the veteran defenseman off the ice at 5:45 of against the Anaheim Ducks in the third period. the third period, replacing him with Joakim Ryan on Burns’ pairing. Five games later, Goodrow suffered an upper-body injury that sidelined “It looked a little bit like his first game back, trying to get some of the rust him for seven games, seemingly derailing his momentum. off,” DeBoer said. But it didn’t. San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 12.08.2017 Goodrow jumped on his next opportunity when he rejoined the lineup Dec. 2, scoring his first goal of the season. On Monday, he stuck up for Joe Thornton, getting into a fight with Alex Chiasson after the Washington Capitals initiated a scrap with the Sharks alternate captain. He followed up his performance on the road trip by helping the Sharks come back from a three-goal deficit Thursday, tying the game at 4-4 by scoring a shorthanded goal on a breakaway in the middle of the third. Shorthanded, tying the game after being down 4-1. What a goal, @bgoodrow23. pic.twitter.com/KMc69xRyen — San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) December 8, 2017 “That’s what guys have to do in order to stay in the lineup,” DeBoer said. “If you put that list of (young) guys down on paper in training camp, he would have been near the bottom of it. He’s worked his way up, and he’s making it so you can’t take him out of the lineup. That’s what you want young guys to do.” 2. ‘One of those crazy nights’ On a night where the Hurricanes overwhelmed the Sharks with their speed and skill in five-on-five play, special teams answered the call, scoring an astonishing four goals in what DeBoer labeled a “wild night”. “It was one of those crazy nights,” the Sharks coach said. “We’ll take it.” In addition to Goodrow’s game-tying goal, Melker Karlsson scored a shorthanded goal on a two-on-one with Chris Tierney at 10:21 of the second to cut into a 3-0 lead. 1087239 San Jose Sharks Put another way, the Sharks came into Thursday with just six goals scored in their last seven-plus periods since Joonas Donskoi was injured midway through the second period of their game against the Philadelphia Burns caps historic comeback as Sharks beat Carolina in OT Flyers on Nov. 28. For Thursday night, Karlsson was back at left wing for the Sharks’ second line, Donskoi’s former spot. The Sharks came into the game By CURTIS PASHELKA averaging 2.50 goals per game, ranking 29th in the NHL. “It’s not the way you draw it up to start the game,” Sharks coach Pete DeBoer said. “But we dug ourselves out of a hole and you’ve got to win in SAN JOSE — Defenseman Brent Burns put the finishing touch on one of all kinds of different ways in this league over 82 games.” the unlikeliest wins by the Sharks in recent memory. Defenseman Paul Martin was activated off IR as he was back alongside Burns capped a wild comeback on Thursday night as his goal 22 Burns in his first game since Oct. 7 after he missed the last 24. To make seconds into overtime gave the Sharks a thrilling 5-4 victory over the room for Martin on the roster, Mikkel Boedker, who was hurt in last Carolina Hurricanes at SAP Center. Friday’s game in Florida, was placed on injured reserve. Burns streaked toward the net, took a pass from Joe Pavelski and beat San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 12.08.2017 Carolina goalie Cam Ward, as the Sharks came all the way back after they fell behind by three goals twice in the first two periods, including a 3- 0 deficit in the first. It was the Sharks’ first ever victory after they had trailed by three after one period. “Pretty good game for the fans, probably, huh?” Burns said. “That’s hockey There’s just a lot of swings. That game had everything in it. A tough start, great finish.” The Sharks could have saved themselves a lot of heartache, though, by simply starting the game on time as they trailed Carolina 3-0 after the first period and 4-1 with five minutes to go in the second with Melker Karlsson’s shorthanded marker accounting for San Jose’s only goal. Joe Thornton began the comeback as his power play goal with 2:09 to in the second period cut Carolina’s lead to 4-2. Logan Couture followed that with a power play goal that cut the Hurricanes lead to one with 11:29 to go in regulation. No quit in the @SanJoseSharks as they erase a 4-1 deficit. Oh, and Jumbo takes sole possession of 19th overall on the NHL’s all- time points list. @EASPORTSNHL pic.twitter.com/HPZvJEzzWK — NHL (@NHL) December 8, 2017 Barclay Goodrow completed the comeback as he scored shorthanded on a breakaway with 8:04 to go in the third to tie the game 4-4. “It’s a team that’s found ways to lose at times,” Pavelski said of the Hurricanes, who had lost three of four coming into Thursday. “So if we could come out and get one early, they’re going to be thinking. It just gave us a little confidence.” Thornton said Sharks coach Pete DeBoer “came in and said if we could try and get one in the first 10 (minutes of the third) if would definitely change the momentum of the game, and it did.” Still, considering the Sharks had a 2-8-1 record this season when they trailed a game going into the third period, not to mention their season- long offensive struggles, few could have seen this comeback on the horizon. “Each goal, it was kind of teetering as to which way it was going to go,” Pavelski said. “It was going to get really ugly or we were going to show a little fight. We get that one shorty, and then they score. (Thornton) gets another one. Just kind of went back and forth and we came out in the third, we understood we needed to give a little more.” Coming off a road trip in which they allowed nine goals in their last two games, the Sharks allowed Carolina to score three goals on its first six shots in the first period. On Carolina’s opening goal at the 9:01 mark of the first period, Justin Braun battled for the puck behind the Sharks net with Sebatian Aho. Derek Ryan came in to retrieve it and found an open Noah Hanifin between the circles. His pass went back to Aho, who got away from Braun and buried it at the side of the Sharks net. Things didn’t get any better for the Sharks from there, as the Hurricanes scored on two of their next three shots on net to take a 3-0 lead at the 14:14 mark of the first period. “The breakouts weren’t very good. We were loose in the d-zone,” Sharks defenseman Justin Braun said. “But we’ll take a look at that and hopefully fix it going forward.” The Sharks had managed just eight goals on their recently completed four-game road trip and ended the trip with a 5-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning and a 4-1 defeat at the hands of the Washington Capitals. 1087240 San Jose Sharks

Sharks rally, then top Hurricanes in overtime

By Ross McKeon Updated 11:27 pm, Thursday, December 7, 2017

Brent Burns scored his second goal of the season 22 seconds into overtime as the Sharks beat the Carolina Hurricanes 5-4 Thursday night at SAP Center. Joe Thornton picked up an assist to move into sole possession of 19th place on the all-time scoring list with 1,410 points. San Jose tied the game in the third period with its third and fourth goals on special teams. Logan Couture scored his 14th of the season with a power-play strike at 8:31 of the third after defenseman Dylan DeMelo drew an interference penalty. Then Barclay Goodrow scored his second of the season with a shorthanded goal — San Jose’s second of the game — on a breakaway at 11:56. After falling behind 3-0 in the first period, the Sharks rallied in the second period, finding the back of the net on two special teams’ plays. But they also surrendered an ugly goal to face a 4-2 deficit after 40 minutes. Appearing in his first game after missing two with a laceration, Sharks center Melker Karlsson scored his fourth goal of the season at 10:21 of the second by completing a 2-on-1 shorthanded break. Chris Tierney got a pass through Carolina defenseman Noah Hanifan just when it appeared the San Jose forward waited too long to either shoot or dish. The Hurricanes went back up by three when San Jose’s defense pair of Burns and Paul Martin found themselves on the weak side, allowing Justin Williams to move in from the left circle to assist Jeff Skinner on his goal from in front at 14:44. San Jose converted its second power-play opportunity when Thornton scored his fifth of the season at 17:51 with a wrist shot from the left circle. Teammate Tomas Hertl provided a screen in front of Carolina goalie Cam Ward. It was a bizarre first period indeed for the Sharks. San Jose won 69 percent of the face-offs against the NHL’s best team on draws and allowed only six shots on goal. The Sharks’ shutdown defense duo of Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Justin Braun were caught on the ice for the first two goals-against, and one of the five draws Carolina won turned into the third goal in a span of just four shots faced by goalie Martin Jones. Braun lost a fight for the puck behind the net, and watched as Sebastian Aho drifted in front to fill an empty net at 9:01 as Jones skated out from his crease to challenge a possible point shot that turned into a pass. Victor Rask scored his fifth of the season at 11:37 to cap a face-off win by the Hurricanes in the Sharks’ zone. And Aho scored his second of the period and seventh of the season by picking the top corner over Jones’ left glove at 14:14. Briefly: Martin returned after missing 24 games with a lower-body injury. He last appeared in the Sharks’ second game of the season, Oct. 7. … Forward Joonas Donskoi went on injured reserve with sore ribs. … Defenseman Brenden Dillon served a one-game suspension. San Francisco Chronicle LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087241 San Jose Sharks

Sharks complete crazy comeback against 'Canes

By Associated Press December 07, 2017 10:10 PM

SAN JOSE -- Brett Burns scored 22 seconds into overtime to lift the San Jose Sharks over the Carolina Hurricanes 5-4 on Thursday night. Barclay Goodrow scored a short-handed goal with just over eight minutes to play in regulation to tie it at 4, capping the Sharks' rally from a three- goal deficit. Logan Couture scored on a power play three minutes earlier. Melker Karlsson also scored a short-handed goal and Joe Thornton had a power-play goal to move into 19th place on the career points list at 1,409. Sebastian Aho scored twice within a five-minute span of the first period, Victor Rask also scored during that stretch and the Hurricanes took a 3-0 edge. Jeff Skinner also scored for the Hurricanes, who have lost three of four. Martin Jones stopped 21 shots for the Sharks. Cam Ward had 28 saves for Carolina. The Hurricanes scored three times within 5:13 in the first period, eliciting scattered boos from the crowd. Aho scored twice, sandwiched around Rask's score. The Sharks got one back on Karlsson's goal before Skinner made it 4-1. Thornton's power-play goal brought the Sharks within 4-2 entering the final period. NOTES: Sharks D Brendan Dillon served his one-game suspension for a slash against Washington. ... Sharks D Paul Martin was on the ice for the first time since Oct. 7 due to injury. ... D Tim Heed missed his fifth game with an upper-body injury. ... The Hurricanes have been outscored 11-3 in the second period in their past eight games. ... Thornton's power-play goal ended Carolina's streak of 24 straight penalty kills against the Sharks dating to 2012. ... Hurricanes C Derek Ryan appeared in his 100th NHL contest. UP NEXT Hurricanes: Play at the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday, the third of six straight on the road. Sharks: Host the Ottawa Senators on Saturday. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087242 San Jose Sharks

Sharks, Hurricanes separated by smallest of margins

By Marcus White December 07, 2017 12:36 PM

Sharks, Hurricanes separated by smallest of margins When you look at the numbers, it's not surprising that the Sharks and Hurricanes are in the bottom five of goals per game in the NHL... Few teams possess the puck more than the Sharks and Hurricanes, but plenty of teams score more. According to Puck on Net, when adjusting for score and venue, San Jose and Carolina are in the top four of both major possession metrics (corsi and fenwick). They’re 11th and first in the league, respectively, in shots per game, and 29th and 30th in shots allowed. The Hurricanes and Sharks are also first (54.43 percent) and 13th (50.96 percent) in five-on-five scoring chance percentage, per Natural Stat Trick. Despite this, neither team can finish: Carolina (7.53 percent) is 30th and San Jose is 29th (7.74 percent) in all situations, according to Corsica Hockey. Unsurprisingly, both teams are in the bottom five of goals for per game this season. Yet, San Jose’s holding on to the last wild card spot in the Western Conference, with at least a game in hand on the three teams chasing them (Calgary, Anaheim, Minnesota), and on the two teams they’re chasing in the Pacific (Vegas, Vancouver). Carolina, on the other hand, is six points out of the last wild card spot in the East, albeit with three games in hand. Goaltending, particularly on the penalty kill, has been the difference. Across all situations, the Hurricanes have the league’s 23rd-best save percentage (.900), while the Sharks are second-best (.922). That gap is driven by a shorthanded save percentage disparity, as only half a percentage point separates San Jose (.925) and Carolina (.920) at even strength, per Corsica. The Sharks have the league’s second-best penalty kill save percentage (.917), while the Hurricanes have the third-worst (.826). If Carolina had gotten San Jose’s shorthanded goaltending this season, they’d have allowed about seven fewer goals. Excluding shootouts, the Hurricanes’ goal-differential is minus-seven. The five-on-five difference, assuming they got the same goaltending as the Sharks, is approximately three goals. That’s on a much larger sample size (518 more shots) than the penalty kill. That shorthanded difference can’t entirely be explained by each team’s respective defense. San Jose allows nearly five fewer scoring chances per 60 minutes on the penalty kill than Carolina, but the Hurricanes allow far fewer shots (50.4 shots against/60) than the Sharks do (59.7). Taken as a whole, this demonstrates that the margins truly matter for teams struggling to score. The Sharks have gotten better goaltending on the penalty kill, if not necessarily a better defensive performance than the Hurricanes, and find themselves on the right side of the playoff bubble. If they start to falter shorthanded, however, it’s easy to envision them in the same position as Carolina: on the outside looking in. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087243 St Louis Blues Stars coach Ken Hitchcock came out to his team's bench late in the Blues' morning skate, when the session had broken into individual drills, and he soon had a collection of his former players gathered around. Blues call up Husso from San Antonio after backup goalie Hutton suffers Vladimir Tarasenko, Alexander Steen, Kyle Brodziak, Jaden Schwartz lower-body injury and Patrik Berglund were among those that stopped by and Hitch must have brought his A game, because there were plenty of smiles.

“The crazy uncle came back a few weeks early, so they're thinking it's By Tom Timmermann Christmas time hopefully,” Hitchcock said. The last time Hitchcock was here was his first game in St. Louis since being fired. For that game, on Oct. 7, a 4-2 Blues win, there was a video The Blues called up goalie Ville Husso from San Antonio on Thursday tribute to Hitchcock. afternoon because of a lower-body injury to backup goalie Carter Hutton. “There won't be any tributes,” Hitchcock said. “I hope the booing starts Jake Allen will start in goal for the Blues, and Husso isn't expected to pretty quick here.” arrive at Scottrade Center till shortly before game time or soon after, so local goalie Tyler Stewart will sign an amateur tryout contract with the *** Blues and take part in warmups. Husso will take his place once he arrives. LINES Hutton took part in the morning skate on Thursday and didn't seem to be Blues in pain in the locker room after the practice. Forwards To make room on the roster for Husso, the Blues have assigned forward Vladimir Sobotka-Paul Stastny-Vladimir Tarasenko Sammy Blais, who was going to be a healthy scratch tonight, to San Antonio. Jaden Schwartz-Brayden Schenn-Alexander Steen Husso was just out with a lower-body injury of his own and missed three Magnus Paajarvi-Patrik Berglund-Dmitrij Jaskin weeks because of it. He returned on Tuesday night and allowed five goals on 30 shots in a 5-1 loss for the Rampage. Scottie Upshall-Kyle Brodziak-Chris Thorburn DUNN BACK IN LINEUP Defensemen After two games as a healthy scratch, rookie defenseman Vince Dunn Jay Bouwmeester-Alex Pietrangelo will be back in the lineup on Thursday when the Blues face the Dallas Joel Edmundson-Colton Parayko Stars at Scottrade Center. Carl Gunnarsson-Vince Dunn “Obviously (being out) is not ideal,” Dunn said. “I guess you're getting another perspective. It's better to be back in.” Goalie Dunn will take the spot of Robert Bortuzzo and will play alongside Carl Jake Allen Gunnarsson. Stars The Blues will make one other lineup move, with Chris Thorburn going back in and Sammy Blais coming out. Thorburn will take his usual spot Forwards on the fourth line, with Dmitrij Jaskin moving up to the third line. Jamie Benn - Tyler Seguin - Alexander Radulov Coach Mike Yeo said at the start of December that with a busy schedule, Curtis McKenzie - Jason Spezza - Brett Ritchie lineup changes were inevitable, even if the team was doing well. The game with Dallas is the first of three in four days and of seven in 11 days. Remi Elie - Mattias Janmark - Devin Shore “You look around the league and one thing that every team is going to do Gemel Smith - Radek Faksa - Tyler Pitlick is they're going to include all players,” Yeo said, “they're going to adjust on the opponent you're facing and they're not going to allow their team to Defensemen be complacent or satisfied on what they did in the previous game. Obviously consistency is a good thing, but consistent competition is a Esa Lindell -- John Klingberg good thing too. And in order for that to happen, you have to make sure Dan Hamhuis -- Greg Pateryn that the new guy is ready to come in.” Jamie Oleksiak -- Stephen Johns Dunn played in the season's first 26 games before being a healthy scratch, which seemed inevitable after the return of Jay Bouwmeester Goalie from injury left the team with six experienced D-men and Dunn, who got off to a solid start in his first season. Kari Lehtonen “I thought I was fine,” he said. “We've got seven good D men, so whoever Mike McKenna the coaces feel like is going, they're going to be going. You have to be Scratched: Julius Honka, Antoine Roussel ready for whatever. St. Louisan and one-time Blue Ben Bishop, Dallas' starting goalie, didn't “I don't know if I really learned anything (from watching). Maybe watching make the trip because of a sore back, but Hitchcock said he had skated that the guys that have done so well before, maybe watching their habits. back in Dallas and felt well and should rejoin the team tomorrow. There's nothing really to watch. It's just being ready when you're back in.” St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 12.08.2017 “It's been difficult (making lineup moves) in the sense that we're going to have to take out a good player, a guy who's done a good job for us,” Yeo said. “It's been easy in a sense that we know we're putting in a good player as well. We have to make sure that everybody's staying involved. Dunner's been out for a couple here now so it's a good opportunity to get him back in.” As for Thorburn, who was also a healthy scratch the past two games, it's the nature of the opponent that led to this change. “You look at the way that Dallas has been playing, they've been playing very physical,” Yeo said. “So this is a different type of game that we've seen the last couple games. It's going to have a different feel tonight. Getting him back in will be good for our group.” *** HITCH IS BACK 1087244 St Louis Blues “For sure,” Parayko said. “That’s obviously an emphasis. We want to play for Jake, and those moments he stood on his head. ... He played outstanding. Made some big saves at big times and kept us in the game. Blues turn back Stars in defensive struggle “They had some point-blank shots that Jake made some really big saves on. I can count a couple in the first period on myself that he kind of saved my bacon.” By Jim Thomas St. Louis Post-Dispatch It was a strange start to the game with no shots on goal by either team for the first 9 1/2 minutes, even though Tarasenko hit the post at the 6:47 mark. Dallas coach Ken Hitchcock pointed to this game against his former team as a measuring stick. If the Stars wanted to hang with the big dogs in the But on the Blues’ second power play, Schenn struck with his fourth goal Central Division, they were going to have to beat one of them sooner or in two games and his team-leading 14th of the season, for a 1-0 lead at later. the 13:39 mark. Keep in mind, in all five of the Blues’ home losses this season the opposing team has scored first, so this was a big goal. Maybe next time. It didn’t happen Thursday as the Blues took down the Stars for the second time this season at Scottrade Center. This time it Alexander Steen got things going on the play with a shot that was was 3-0 before a crowd of 16,341. blocked by the Dallas defense in front of the net. Dmitrij Jaskin and Schenn took whacks at the puck in front of Kari Lehtonen, starting in At 19-8-2 the Blues leapfrogged idle Nashville as well as Winnipeg — place of the injured Ben Bishop, with Schenn finally poking it into the net. which lost 6-4 Thursday to Florida — and into first place in the super- tough Central. “That’s just a great play by Steener where he was able to get a puck through, and me and Jasky 2-on-1 pretty much in front of the net,” “You look at it right now you’re probably looking at both of the wild cards Schenn said. “Jasky was able to get a stick on it and bang it over to me. being in the Central, which is pretty crazy if you get five teams in the I’ll take goals like that.” playoffs from one division,” goalie Jake Allen said. “Every point’s crucial for us, especially when you’ve got three or four teams rotating out of first, St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 12.08.2017 second or third (place). There’s no other division like that.” Brayden Schenn scored again, his sixth game-winning goal of the season. Allen registered his first shutout of the season. And say hello to an old friend — a goal by a Blues defenseman. Colton Parkayo’s third- period tally was the first by a Blues blueliner in eight games, or since the team’s 4-3 overtime win Nov. 18 in Vancouver. Capping the night was the first goal by Vladimir Tarasenko in seven games, his 13th of the season on an empty-netter with 48 seconds to play. All in all, it was a much-needed home win for the Blues, who had dropped three of their previous four at home. The night’s first two goals came on the power play, marking only the third time all season the Blues have scored more than once with the man advantage. “It’s good to get a couple,” Schenn said. “I still think execution could be better. We can still find ways to be better. We had a lot of chances but at the end of the day you get two.” And two’s better than none. This was a tight-checking, defensive-oriented contest. It was a night where blocking shots was important. Led by Jay Bouwmeester’s four, the Blues blocked 19 Thursday, their highest total since Game 11 against Carolina. A disciplined approach paid off, because the Blues had seven power plays while Dallas had the man advantage only twice. “I thought we played tight,” coach Mike Yeo said. “I thought we did a really good job through the neutral zone, I thought that was a factor. But otherwise, just moving our feet. When you do that you force teams to hook, hold, high-stick, whatever the case is, when you’re moving your feet, that’s when you’re dangerous.” The Stars had a few serious flurries over the course of the game, but you might say they ran out of time. At least that was the case at the end of the second period, when Stephen Johns’ rebound trickled past Allen into the net — but after time had expired. After a brief review by the league office, the original call of no-goal was confirmed. “The horn’s always delayed in every arena,” Allen said. “It’s usually a second delayed. ... The puck was in the net probably the same time as the horn, so you always know it’s late.” Allen had taken a shutout into the third period on five occasions earlier this season, but finally got one Thursday. He thus tied the great Glenn Hall for third on the Blues’ career list for shutouts with 16. “I think it was a lot harder for Glenn to make shutouts back in the day than it is for us,” Allen said. “I’ll take it. It’s pretty cool to have that under my belt and hopefully I get a lot more in the next few years.” As the clock wore down, and with a much-needed cushion provided by Parayko’s power-play goal at 5:01 of the third period, the Blues worked to preserve the shutout. 1087245 St Louis Blues

Former SLU goalie Stewart was on standby Thursday night

By Tom Timmermann St. Louis Post-Dispatch

With 4 minutes to go in pregame warmups on Thursday night, Tyler Stewart skated into the Blues goal and the first shot he faced came from Vladimir Tarasenko. Stewart gloved it and Tarasenko skated over and gave his pads a whack with his stick. Stewart, a Eureka High graduate who was once the goalie for St. Louis University’s club team and an occasional practice fill-in, was pressed into emergency service for the Blues when backup goalie Carter Hutton sustained a lower-body injury during the morning skate and couldn’t play. The Blues summoned their No. 3 goalie, Ville Husso, in from San Antonio on an emergency basis, but with the late developments, he didn’t make it to St. Louis by the start of the game. So Stewart, 25, was pressed into service until he arrived. In a curious twist, because of an injury to Dallas goalie Ben Bishop, the Stars’ backup goalie on Thursday was another St. Louis product, Mike McKenna. During the pregame warmups, Stewart and McKenna met at mid ice and exchanged greetings. Stewart, who’s going to grad school at Maryville and plays in an adult league at Brentwood, had been up since 5 a.m. working his regular job at his father’s vending machine company and had just gotten home at 2 p.m. when the Blues called him to say he was needed. “I was completely caught off guard by it,” he said, standing in the tunnels of Scottrade after his services were no longer needed. “Just nuts is how I’d describe it. A dream come true obviously to be able to do the warmups. I thought maybe there was an off-chance I’d sit on the bench or do something like that. But it was awesome just to do the warmups.” Stewart, who along with his parents are season ticket holders, wore No. 98 for warmups with a plain white mask and white pads. He signed an amateur tryout contract with the team and spent the first period in the locker room on standby, just in case. Husso’s flight didn’t land until a little before 7 p.m. and if anything had happened to Jake Allen in that time, Stewart would have gone in. He said he was torn between wanting to get in but, as a Blues fan, not wanting Allen to get hurt. “Even though I’m not an NHL-quality goalie, I would love to do it,” he said. But he wasn’t needed and Husso took a seat on the bench at 7:41 p.m., with 5:09 to go in the first period, after racing in from the airport. “I got to listen to the pregame speech with (Mike) Yeo,” Stewart said. “It’s crazy how loose they are. You would think they’d be tight a little, but they’re joking around like you wouldn’t even think they’re playing a hockey game. It’s a cool environment, nothing like I’d ever experienced before. “I sat next to Tarasenko. He was awesome. Him and (Vladimir) Sobotka were asking me how to spell scissors because they were confused about the spelling. They were saying it as Caesar, like Caesar salad. It was pretty funny. They just talked to me like I was one of the guys. It was pretty cool.” To fit Husso onto the roster, the Blues sent forward Sammy Blais, who was going to be a healthy scratch, back to San Antonio. Hutton took a puck to the foot during the morning skate. The fact that they sent Blais out, rather than putting Hutton on injured reserve, which would keep him out for a week, points to the injury not being thought to be severe. “It’s nothing that we think is going to be long-term here,” Yeo said after Thursday’s game. Husso is just back from being out for three weeks with a lower-body injury of his own. He returned to action for San Antonio on Tuesday and gave up five goals in a 5-1 loss. NOTES Vince Dunn and Chris Thorburn were back in the lineup after two games as healthy scratches, replacing Robert Bortuzzo and Blais. Dmitrij Jaskin moved from the fourth line into Blais’ spot on the third. Oskar Sundqvist was the other healthy scratch. … St. Louisan Bishop sat out the game with a back injury, but Stars coach Ken Hitchcock said he was expected to rejoin the team on Friday. St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087246 Tampa Bay Lightning Lightning 2 1 2 5 Avalanche 2 0 0 2 Lightning tops Avalanche for third straight win First Period—1, Colorado, Landeskog 10 (MacKinnon), 1:21. 2, Tampa Bay, Stamkos 12 (Namestnikov, T.Johnson), 1:46. 3, Tampa Bay, Kunitz 5 (Girardi, Paquette), 13:36. 4, Colorado, E.Johnson 3 (Andrighetto), Joe Smith: December 8, 2017 18:22. Penalties—Soderberg, COL, (delay of game), 5:44; Landeskog, COL, (slashing), 10:44.

Second Period—5, Tampa Bay, Namestnikov 12 (Stamkos, T.Johnson), TAMPA — Peter Budaj has been a backup goaltender for around a 8:09. Penalties—Hedman, TB, (hooking), 1:45; Varlamov, COL, served decade. by Wilson, (tripping), 11:01; Sergachev, TB, (cross checking), 16:21. The 35-year-old is comfortable with the role and how it works. He gets it. Third Period—6, Tampa Bay, Killorn 3 (Stamkos, Namestnikov), 4:57 It still doesn’t make the job easy. When you play behind the likes of (pp). 7, Tampa Bay, Point 11 (Gourde), 16:41 (sh). Penalties—Rantanen, Carey Price, Jonathan Quick — and now, Andrei Vasilevskiy — you COL, (holding stick), 3:37; Landeskog, COL, (tripping), 11:38; Stralman, won’t see many starts. TB, (hooking), 14:47. Shots on Goal—Colorado 7-9-14—30. Tampa Bay 17-10-5—32. Power-play opportunities—Colorado 0 of 3; Tampa Bay 1 "The backup goalie is probably the hardest position in definitely hockey, of 5. Goalies—Colorado, Varlamov 8-6-1 (31 shots-27 saves). Tampa but in all sports," wing Chris Kunitz said. Bay, Budaj 1-2-1 (30-28). "I don’t envy the position," coach Jon Cooper said. More Information But Budaj has handled it well, with the Lightning’s 5-2 win Thursday over Up next the Avalanche the latest example. Budaj, making his first start in 12 days (and just fifth in 28 games), bounced back after a rough beginning to vs. Jets, 7 Saturday, Amalie Arena deliver some key saves to seal Tampa Bay’s third straight victory. This Lightning team (20-6-2) is the fastest to 20 wins in franchise history. TV/radio: Fox Sports Sun; 970-AM "(Budaj) was outstanding," captain Steven Stamkos said. Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 12.08.2017 Though Vasilevskiy is the clear-cut No. 1, and one of the best in the world, the Lightning needs to keep Budaj sharp. It’s a challenge for Budaj, no matter how hard he practices, as nothing replicates game action. The first few minutes of a game are always the toughest, and Thursday was no different. Budaj allowed a goal 90 seconds in when Gabriel Landeskog got behind Nikita Kucherov. Then, late in the first, Erik Johnson scored off an odd-man rush on a seemingly innocent shot to tie the score at 2. "Bad goal," Budaj said. "You try to move on. It’s not the end of the world. You focus and get the next save." The next big one was game-changing. With the Lightning up 3-2 and on a power play with six minutes to go in the second, J.T. Compher got behind Victor Hedman on a shorthanded breakaway. Budaj held his ground, preserving the one-goal lead. He then thwarted another Compher breakaway in the third. "He made some huge saves when the game was tight," Kunitz said. "It gives the guys some spirit on the bench. We’re definitely keeping those rah-rahs pretty high whenever he makes those breakaway saves." Budaj credited the goal support he received. Stamkos had a three-point night, including a crucial goal to tie it at 1 in the first. Linemate Vladislav Namestnikov also had three points, his one goal the go-ahead tally on the power play. Kunitz added his second goal in as many games. Budaj made sure it held up. "It’s the job of the backup," Cooper said. "You’re there when your name is called, give the team a chance to win. And when you’re not in, you just work, stay engaged and help your partner. "I think there’s been nobody better in the league that’s done it in the last 10, 15 years than Peter Budaj. … Think about the guys he’s been behind: Carey Price, Jonathan Quick and now Andrei Vasilevskiy. And he’s been a good partner for all those guys." Experience helps Budaj, who knew what he was getting into when he signed a two-year deal last summer. Goalie coach Frantz Jean said then the Lightning hoped to get Budaj 20-25 starts over the season. Jean said his philosophy is to play the backup once every four games. But the Lightning gave Vasilevskiy a good chunk of the starts early so he knew it was his net in his first full season as No. 1. Vasilevskiy’s 23 starts entered Thursday tied for the second in the league, Calgary’s Mike Smith among a group with an NHL-most 25. Budaj entered Thursday having given up four or more goals in three of his first four starts, though his loss to the Penguins included two 5-on-3 power-play goals and a shorthanded breakaway. Stamkos said the team was very happy to see Budaj rewarded, given the veteran’s often thankless gig. "Obviously you want to play, but I know the situation," Budaj said. " ‘Vasy’ is a great goalie; he’s our guy. I just want to get in there. Every chance I get to play, I want to give him some time off, help the team win games. That’s my job, I’m excited to be here. It’s not an easy job or anything like that. But that’s part of it, and I enjoy it." 1087247 Tampa Bay Lightning

Lightning journal: Chris Kunitz just doing Kunitz things

By Roger Mooney

TAMPA — According to D Dan Girardi, LW Chris Kunitz was doing what he normally does, and that was being in the right position. So when the puck came around the boards to Girardi and he saw Kunitz going high to the net, all Girardi had to do was put the puck on Kunitz’s stick. He did, and Kunitz scored the second goal in the Lightning’s 5-2 victory against the Avalanche on Thursday. "Worked out perfectly," Girardi said. It was the second goal in as many games for Kunitz, who has five on the season. The four-time Stanley Cup winner — including wins each of the past two seasons with the Penguins — was signed as a free agent over the summer to bring leadership and Stanley Cup-winning experience to the locker room, and occasionally some offense. Kunitz plays on a line with C Cedric Paquette and LW Alex Killorn. It’s not the Lightning’s most productive line in terms of points, but Girardi said it brings something else to the team: energy. "They might not score every game, but they’re giving us chances and good offensive zone time, getting the crowd into it and getting the guys on the bench going," Girardi said. "We’re feeding off their energy, for sure." Said Kunitz of his line: "Our job doesn’t change no matter how much success we have doing it. Obviously, we want to be on the offensive side of it more, if possible. We had some bad breaks early on. It’s fine. We’ve still had some quality chances, which is what we’re looking for. We have to bury some, and maybe they’re starting to pick up now." Lining up The Lightning went with the same lineup as Tuesday, other than Peter Budaj in net. Cory Conacher played in his third straight game, with J.T. Brown a healthy scratch. … D Jake Dotchin (undisclosed) shed his red noncontact jersey but is still not ready to play, missing his eighth straight game. D Braydon Coburn (undisclosed) still isn’t back skating with the team but has not suffered a setback, coach Jon Cooper said. "He’s plugging away," Cooper said. "Some of these injuries you just have to wait." Slap shots • Congrats to assistant equipment manager Rob Kennedy, who worked his 1,500th pro game behind the bench. Those staff members are some of the hardest-working people in the sport. The team recognized Kennedy on the Jumbotron during a first-period timeout. • Make sure to check out the NHL Centennial Fan Arena Tour, which is in the parking lot next to Amalie Arena’s Thunder Alley from 1-7 p.m. through Saturday. The free event, celebrating the league’s 100th season, has a cool mobile museum. Plus, the Stanley Cup is in town. • Three 19-year-olds were in the lineup between the Lightning and Avalanche, another sign that this is a young man’s league. Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087248 Tampa Bay Lightning

Joe Smith’s takeaways from Thursday’s Lightning-Avalanche game

Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer Published: December 7, 2017

As much as Chris Kunitz brings grit and leadership to the Lightning, the 38-year-old wing still has a lot of skill, too. He has two goal-scorer’s goals in the past two games, including Thursday’s masterful tip of a Dan Girardi shot. Don’t forget Kunitz scored 35 goals just four seasons ago. The Lightning’s new top line seems as dynamic as the last one. Vladislav Namestnikov, Steven Stamkos and Tyler Johnson combined for eight points, including Namestnikov’s go-ahead goal in the second. Plus, putting Nikita Kucherov on the second line provides more balance up front. This game had all the makings of a trap game for Tampa Bay. The Avalanche entered having lost four of five on its recent home stand, and the Lightning hosts one of the league’s top teams, the Jets, on Saturday. Give Tampa Bay credit for not letting up and controlling play through much of the game. Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087249 Tampa Bay Lightning

Peter Budaj gets rare start against Avalanche

By Joe Smith Published: December 7, 2017

Peter Budaj has been a backup goaltender for more than a decade. He's used to it, comfortable with the role and how it works. But with Lightning No. 1 Andrei Vasilevskiy getting a lion's share of the starts, Budaj can sometimes go a couple weeks between games. That's why it's important to get Budaj some action, like in tonight's game against the Avalanche at Amalie Arena. It's just Budaj's fifth game of the season, with Vasilevskiy starting the other 23. "It's the job of the backup," coach Jon Cooper said. "You're there when your name is called, give the team a chance to win. And when you're not in, you just work, stay engaged and help your partner. "I think there's been nobody better in the league that's done it in the last 10-15 years than Peter Budaj." After Budaj signed a two-year deal over the summer, goalie coach Frantz Jean said they hoped to get him 20-25 starts over the season. Jean said his philosophy is playing the backup one ever four games. But the Lightning gave Vasilevskiy a good chunk of the starts early on so that he knew it was his net, his first full season as No. 1. Budaj, who hasn't started in 12 days, has given up four goals or more in three of his four starts (though the Penguins game included two 5-on-3 power play goals and a short-handed breakaway). Cooper said the team has a particular number of games they'd like each goalie to start, but there has to be wiggle-room based on circumstances. "Sometimes you have to ride the wave of how some guys are playing, ride the way your team is playing," Cooper said. "You look at maybe a round number like, 'I'd like to get this goalie this many,' and you try to stick to it." SHOOT, PLEASE With the Lightning's lack of shot volume an issue on its latest road trip, the team has been more aggressive since returning home. Tampa Bay had 43 shots in Saturday's win over San Jose, and 34 in Tuesday's win over the Islanders. The Lightning had just 21 in a loss to Boston. "Especially the way the game is played and defended now, you can sit in the offensive zone, but if you're not going to shoot the puck, what good is that?" Cooper said. "You have to create scrambles, we're a big believer in that. When you start to have success with that, it becomes contagious. Guys are seeing its working, so they're more apt to do it." LINING UP The Lightning is expected to go with the same lineup as Tuesday, other than Budaj in net. Cory Conacher will play in his third straight game, with J.T. Brown a healthy scratch… D Jake Dotchin (undisclosed) shed the red non-contact jersey but is still not ready, and will miss his eighth straight game. D Braydon Coburn (undisclosed) still hasn't skated with the team but has not suffered a setback, Cooper said. "He's plugging away," Cooper said. "Some of these injuries you just have to wait." Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087250 Toronto Maple Leafs Globe And Mail LOADED: 12.08.2017

Tkachuk banned 1 game for spearing; Babcock calls incident ’junior hockey stuff’

KYLE CICERELLA

atthew Tkachuk's teammates on the Calgary Flames would like him to cut out the needless suspensions, but don't want any change in his gritty, high-skilled game. Tkachuk was suspended one game by the NHL for a spearing incident in Wednesday's game against Toronto. It was the 19-year-old's second one-game suspension this season. "He has to play on the edge," Flames captain Mark Giordano said before Tuesday night's game against the Montreal Canadiens. "He's a great player. "He plays on the line. I don't think any of his hits and stuff on the ice are questionable. Maybe its on us older guys to help him a bit with some of the borderline stuff from the bench. But there wasn't much there, to be honest." He acknowledged that spearing from the bench crossed the line. "I think anyone would want to have that one back," said Giordano. "He's not a dirty player at all on the ice. He plays on the edge and obviously it's tough to miss this game. I know he really wanted to be in this one." Tkachuk was not made available to the media and coach Glen Gulutzen declined to comment. Tkachuk will forfeit US$11,280.49 in salary. The incident came in the first period of Calgary's 2-1 shootout loss to the Maple Leafs. Tkachuk poked Leafs forward Matt Martin with the blade of his stick while standing on the bench as an altercation was brewing along the side boards. The play began when Martin came across the ice and checked Troy Brouwer into the boards, leading to a brief scrum. Tkachuk's jab went undetected by on-ice officials and no penalty was called on the play. "That's just the way Chucky plays," said forward Curtis Lazar. "He always straddles that line and sometimes he goes over it, but that's why we love to have him on our team. "He's a competitor. He hates to lose and he'll do whatever it takes to win. You respect the league's decision and all that, but for us as a team we have to come together and fill that void." Martin said he didn't know Tkachuk speared him until he was shown a video of the play by team staff. "I didn't feel it at the time but I guess if he's going to do stuff like that he should make it count," said Martin. Leafs coach Mike Babcock called it "junior hockey stuff." "He'll learn over time," Babcock said of the 19-year-old player. "You've got to give Tkachuk credit, he played a good game, he played hard. No reason for that stuff." Tkachuk is only two weeks removed from a one-game suspension for unsportsmanlike conduct stemming from an incident in a Nov. 15 meeting with the Detroit Red Wings. Late in the third period of an 8-2 loss against Detroit, Tkachuk jabbed Wings forward Luke Witkowski with the blade of his stick after Witkowski was escorted off the ice following a fight with Calgary's Brett Kulak. Unlike the Martin incident, Tkachuk was given a five-minute major for spearing and a game misconduct on the play. "You can play with an edge, for sure. I think he's an effective player. I think he's a good player," said Martin. "When you're sitting on the bench or the situation in Detroit ... it's not really necessary ... I don't think it's a good hockey play by any means" Tkachuk was already considered a repeat offender after receiving a two- game suspension for elbowing L.A. Kings defenceman Drew Doughty last year in his rookie season. - Files from Bill Beacon in Montreal 1087251 Toronto Maple Leafs

Henrique gets first two Ducks goals, Miller blanks Senators

KELVIN KUO/USA TODAY SPORTS

Until the Anaheim Ducks get back to full strength, they're counting on Adam Henrique to play a major role for his injury-plagued new team. Henrique has been quite capable of shouldering that burden so far, and now he finally has a victory and a goal or two to show for his efforts. Henrique scored his first two goals for the Ducks in his home debut, and Ryan Miller made 29 saves for his first shutout for Anaheim in a 3-0 victory over the slumping Ottawa Senators on Wednesday night. Ondrej Kase also scored, and Henrique added an empty-netter to his second-period opening goal in the Ducks' first victory since they acquired Henrique in a trade with New Jersey a week ago. The veteran has a point in all four games for his new team while centring the top line for the Ducks, who have played most of the season without centres Ryan Getzlaf and Ryan Kesler while dealing with major injuries for several supporting players. "I didn't even realize how many guys were injured," Henrique said. "But that's certainly an exciting part of it, to think about what we can do when we're healthy." Henrique has five points in four games for the Ducks, who gave a fundamentally sound effort to open a three-game homestand one night after ending a six-game trip with a shootout loss at Vegas. Henrique thought he had scored his first goal for Anaheim last Saturday at Nashville, but a scoring change two days later took it away. No scorekeeper could deny Henrique when he beat Craig Anderson with a sharp one-timer after Rickard Rakell put the puck in the slot. "It's actually been a pretty good transition," said Henrique, who has combined with right wing Corey Perry for nine points in their four games together. "The guys have been great on and off the ice, talking to me a lot. As far as the systems, I felt pretty good jumping in and playing right away. It's been great so far." Kase got his career-best sixth goal during the second period on an exceptional move in front. With Henrique and Kase filling the Sens' net while Miller kept his net empty, the Ducks snapped their three-game losing streak. Miller, the 37-year-old veteran signed by Anaheim last summer, posted his 40th career shutout with a confident performance. Although he hasn't played regularly behind John Gibson, Miller remained unbeaten in regulation for his new team (3-0-4). The Ducks played without key injured regulars Hampus Lindholm and Jakob Silfverberg, depleting the already shaky depth on a roster that leads the NHL in man-games lost to injury. "We've got a few more guys to go, but the guys who are playing are pulling their weight and doing their job," Miller said. "It's good for our depth as we grind through the year." Anderson stopped 19 shots in the Senators' ninth loss in 10 games. They've scored more than two goals in just one game during this skid, and they've been shut out in back-to-back games. "You never know exactly what is causing it and what is going on," captain Erik Karlsson said. "When things are not going your way, you try and look for answers that are not there. You try and get out of your comfort zone and do different things, but at the end of the day, you need to do the things you are good at, and I think that we are starting to get to that." Ottawa's scoreless streak reached 138 minutes, 22 seconds. "This is a tough one," forward Zack Smith said. "For the most part, the work ethic was there. Offense was hard to come by. We believe in this group here. We've showed all through last year and the playoffs that we can score. Sometimes you're guilty of overthinking." Globe And Mail LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087252 Toronto Maple Leafs

Matthew Tkachuk suspended one game for spearing Leafs’ Matt Martin

By KEVIN MCGRAN

The NHL suspended Calgary Flames forward Matthew Tkachuk for one game without pay for spearing Toronto winger Matt Martin in Wednesday’s game, an incident that left the Maple Leafs shaking their heads and shrugging. There was a melee by the boards at the Flames bench, with Martin in the middle of it. Tkachuk was on the bench at the time and was caught by cameras jabbing Martin. The Leafs were off Thursday when the ruling came down, but Martin said after the game, given all that was going on at the time, he was unaware of the incident until he saw it on a replay. “I didn’t feel it at the time,” said Martin. “I guess if you’re going to do that stuff, you should probably make it count. It’s what it is, child’s play. I don’t get involved with that stuff. I just found out about it (by watching video). I’m fine, if you guys are concerned.” Tkachuk is considered a repeat offender under the terms of the collective agreement and, based on his average annual salary, will forfeit $11,280.49 U.S. The money goes to the players’ emergency assistance fund. Leafs coach Mike Babcock had praised Tkachuk’s game earlier Wednesday, impressed by the second-year player’s ability to score while also playing an edgy game. But he wasn’t impressed by Tkachuk after the game. “That’s junior hockey stuff,” said Babcock. “He’ll learn over time. You’ve got to give Tkachuk credit, he played a good game. He played hard. No reason for that stuff.” The Leafs will practise Friday to prepare for a game Saturday in Pittsburgh, followed by Sunday at home to Edmonton. It’s part of a series of five games in seven nights, four of them on the road. “We’re going to do everything we can to win the game in Pittsburgh and then we’re going to do whatever day we’re in and that’s how we’ll do it,” said Babcock. “We’ve got good people that tell us what to do and how to manage it, so we’ll go about it that way.” Toronto Star LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087253 Toronto Maple Leafs

Devils’ Ben Lovejoy first active NHL player to pledge his brain for concussion research

By The Associated Press

BOSTON—New Jersey Devils defenceman Ben Lovejoy says he will donate his brain to research after he dies so it can be studied for signs of traumatic injury. The Concussion Legacy Foundation says Lovejoy is the first active NHL player to make such a pledge. More than 2,500 retired athletes and military veterans have pledged their brains to the foundation. Doctors examine the brains for signs of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a degenerative condition that can cause depression, violent mood swings, forgetfulness and other cognitive problems. Lovejoy says he’s played hockey for most of his life, including 10 seasons in the NHL. He says he wants to give back to the sport by making it safer. He says he’s had relatively little brain trauma in his career but has seen the effects concussions have had on teammates. Toronto Star LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087254 Toronto Maple Leafs

Majority stake of Carolina Hurricanes could be sold as early as Thursday, owner says

By JOSHUA CLIPPERTON

MANALAPAN, FLA.—A purchase agreement for the Carolina Hurricanes could be announced as early as this afternoon. Hurricanes owner Peter Karmanos Jr. and Dallas billionaire Tom Dundon made a presentation to the executive committee of the NHL’s board of governors this morning in Manalapan, Fla. “Pete and I built a relationship,” Dundon said after the meeting. “We want to work together, so we’re thinking about it.” Karmanos, who would maintain a minority stake under the proposal, says approval of the agreement could happen by the end of the day after the full board of governors meet. The NHL would then have to approve the sale. Both men say the plan is to keep the Hurricanes in Raleigh, N.C., despite Dundon’s ties to Texas and the fact the Houston market would be attractive to the NHL. “We like (the team) where it is,” said Dundon. Karmanos said having a majority owner committed to Raleigh was important. “It was never really a consideration,” he said. “The league is not amenable to moving franchises at all.” Karmanos has owned the team since 1994 when it was the Hartford Whalers and moved the franchise to North Carolina in 1997. He said in August he wanted to sell the Hurricanes for about $500 million U.S. Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version said a sale could be approved Thursday, instead of a purchase agreement. Toronto Star LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087255 Toronto Maple Leafs This time, if they survive the final cuts, the Leafs could send three out of 10 recent draft picks young enough to go.

The Russians are leaving out forward Vladislav Kara, who played for World junior stage next step for Leafs’ Liljegren them at the world under-17 championship, while Canada never seemed very interested in the other Toronto candidates: defencemen Keaton Middleton, Nicolas Mattinen, Ryan O’Connell and Fedor Gordeev, By KEVIN MCGRAN forward Ryan McGregor and goalie Ian Scott. Scott represented Canada at the under-17s, while Middleton played in the Canada-Russia junior series in November. Timothy Liljegren has done everything the Maple Leafs had hoped he “You’d always like to have as many as you possibly can, but we only would as a member of the Toronto Marlies. have so many that are eligible,” said Lamoriello. Now Liljegren, one of the team’s top defence prospects, will be released The Leafs chose Woll in the third round in 2016. He’s 7-5-2 with a .905 to represent Sweden at the world junior hockey championship in Buffalo, save mark in his second year with Boston College and alternated with from Dec. 26 to Jan. 5. Tyler Parsons on the U.S. squad last time, though Parsons got the assignment for the gold-medal game. “It will be great for him,” Leafs general manager Lou Lamoriello said Thursday, a day off for his NHL club. “He works at his game, he wants to “We’ve seen quite a bit of him,” said Lamoriello. “He plays for a great be a pro, and he’s extremely mature for his age.” program and is one of their top players. He has a bright future.” Liljegren was a first-round pick in the June draft, 17th overall, and has Rasanen was a second-round pick last summer and, at six-foot-seven one goal and seven assists in 14 games in the American Hockey and 208 pounds, he cuts an imposing figure. He has three goals and 18 League. assists, leading the Frontenacs defence in scoring. It was an unusual set of circumstances — none revealed publicly — that “He had an excellent camp and obviously the Finnish federation thinks as led to the 18-year-old taking the uncommon step of leaving his club team highly of him as we do, with the way he’s played in junior,” said in Rogle, Sweden for the AHL. A source told the Star, however, that Lamoriello. “I don’t know if he’s a shoo-in, but being there and being one Liljegren wasn’t happy with how Rogle management handled his play of the top players is good for us. He’s a size-and-strength defenceman after he returned from a bout of mononucleosis. that also has a bright future.” Liljegren bounced between the top league and the second tier. His Toronto Star LOADED: 12.08.2017 minutes were limited, and Rogle is not known for developing NHL players. He saw his stature drop from a sure-fire top-five pick to the middle of the first round. “It was a correct decision to keep him in North America,” said the source. Certainly, Liljegren is learning the North American game and what it means to be a professional in one of the toughest hockey markets in the world. “It was an organizational decision, and in my opinion the best for him and his development,” said Lamoriello. “We like everything about him: his overall abilities, his hockey sense. He’s still very young. There are no disappointments whatsoever.” Typically, a first-round pick — especially one touted so highly when he was still 17 — becomes a team’s top prospect. But the Leafs are deep in next-level defencemen with the Marlies. Travis Dermott was on Team Canada two years ago, while Calle Rosen signed as a free agent and remains with the Marlies. Liljegren might not even be the most important defenceman on the Swedish junior squad, with Rasmus Dahlin — widely touted as the top prospect for the 2018 draft — a sure thing for selection. For the second year in a row there will be no Leafs on Canada’s junior roster. The 32 prospects invited by Hockey Canada will start workouts on Tuesday in St. Catharines, while the Swedes will hold their pre- tournament camp in Niagara region as well. But there will be Leafs elsewhere: Goalie Joseph Woll, who was on last year’s gold-medal-winning United States team, has been invited back. Defenceman Eemeli Rasanen of the Kingston Frontenacs is part of Finland’s pre-tournament roster. Several current Maple Leafs played on the world junior stage, and Lamoriello says the more the better. “It exposes them to the best of their age group from around the world, and it gives you an opportunity to see how they compare,” he said. “It gives you an opportunity to see where their growth is, and what their potential is.” There were more Leafs prospects in the mix last time. Woll and Jeremy Bracco were on the U.S. side. Carl Grundstrom represented Sweden for the second year in a row. Martins Dzierkals played for Latvia. In 2015, some of the tournament’s biggest stars were Leafs’ property. Kasperi Kapanen scored the golden goal for Finland. Mitch Marner was one of Canada’s best players, with Dermott on the blue line. William Nylander suffered a concussion in Sweden’s opener, but Dmytro Timashov shone in his absence, while Nikita Korostelyov laced up for Russia. (Before he was drafted first overall by the Leafs, Auston Matthews also led the U.S. team.) 1087256 Toronto Maple Leafs They wouldn’t have such a lofty spot without their soft-spoken netminder from Denmark.

BABCOCK FOCUSED ON PRESENT Red-hot Andersen a driving force behind Maple Leafs' success Mike Babcock has a good idea of what’s in store for the Leafs during the rest of December, but the Maple Leafs coach wasn’t worried about Terry Koshan peering too far ahead. The Leafs have 11 games before ringing in the New Year, and just two of them are at the Air Canada Centre. Is this the best hockey Maple Leafs goaltender Frederik Andersen has played during his career in the National Hockey League? Proper management of the players’ time in the next four weeks will be crucial, but Babcock only was thinking about the next game as he “I don’t know,” Andersen, bashful as usual, said. “I think I just want to departed the ACC on Wednesday night. take it one game at a time. “We’re going to play Pittsburgh — is that Thursday or Friday? Saturday?” “It’s really important to be able to flip the page and stay present because Babcock said. “And then we come home for Edmonton (on Sunday). you want to keep going and get ready for the next game. A new team is going to come and it’s going to be a challenge too.” “We’re going to do everything we can to win the game in Pittsburgh (before thinking about the next day). That’s how we’ll do it. We’ve got The Leafs are 10-3-1 in their past 14 games, largely because of stellar good people that tell us what to do and how to manage it.” goaltending from Andersen, who has successfully put behind a mostly rough month of October to raise his save percentage to .922. Toronto Sun LOADED: 12.08.2017 There’s no doubt the Leafs have required Andersen to be sharp each night he skates into the crease. Toronto has allowed 801 shots on goal at even-strength, third-most in the NHL prior to games on Thursday. Andersen’s 648 saves at even-strength easily were the most in the league, with Mike Smith of the Calgary Flames second with 582. The Leafs have given up at least 40 shots on goal five times this season, all in the past 10 games. Andersen has been in net for each of those five games and the Leafs were 4-0-1. Gone are the soft goals Andersen was giving up every so often. There hasn’t been much deflation among his Leafs teammates when the opposition does score because it has become Andersen’s habit to make difficult saves look relatively easy. Andersen’s play has been that much more crucial for a few reasons. The Leafs’ depth forward has afforded coach Mike Babcock more time to find the most effective line combinations, but just as importantly, Andersen’s performances have given the coach a longer leash in that regard. If there are defensive-zone breakdowns, or the inability to move the puck up the ice freely, Andersen has been there to shore up when mistakes are made. Difficult starts, which Babcock must find a way to get out of the Leafs’ system, have been smoothed over on many nights because of Andersen. “It’s something we really have to clean up,” Leafs winger Matt Martin said. “We seem to be doing that a lot, whether we have a morning skate or don’t have a morning skate, we come out flat and it’s something we have to address, especially at home. “We should be pumped up to play in front of our fans and we have to make teams realize it’s not an easy place to play. “We kind of put ourselves behind the 8-ball a little bit, but Freddy has been really good for us. We have to find a way to pick it up another level.” Frederik Andersen makes a save against the New York Rangers on Oct. 7, 2017 (CP) In the larger picture, Andersen’s .922 save percentage is his best since his rookie season of 2013-14 with the Anaheim Ducks, when he finished at .923 in 28 games. In the three seasons since, Andersen’s top save percentage came in 2015-16, his last year in Anaheim, when he had a mark of .919 in 43 games. There have been no indications that Andersen is tiring from the workload, either. Backup Curtis McElhinney has played in only four games, though that likely will grow to five this weekend when the Leafs have their fifth of 14 back-to-back sets this season, with a visit to Pittsburgh on Saturday followed by a home date with Edmonton on Sunday. Bottom line is that Andersen has been the Leafs’ most valuable player. As Mitch Marner indicated after Andersen made a season-high 47 saves in the Leafs’ 2-1 shootout win against the Flames, the 28-year-old has been the teammate the Leafs depend on more than anyone else. Toronto will take a record of 18-10-1 to face Sidney Crosby and the Penguins on Saturday, secure in the knowledge their 37 points have the Leafs sitting firmly in second place in the Atlantic Division. 1087257 Toronto Maple Leafs

Flames' Tkachuk suspended for spearing Maple Leafs' Martin

Terry Koshan

A brief bout of unsportsmanlike conduct has landed Matt Tkachuk an undesired break. The National Hockey League announced Thursday afternoon that the Calgary Flames forward has been suspended one game for his spear on Maple Leafs forward Matt Martin. The incident happened during the first period on Wednesday night when Tkachuk, while on the Flames bench, speared Martin, who was on the ice. In its explanation, the NHL Department of Player Safety said it took into account that while the spear was not “forceful or malicious enough to merit supplemental discipline on its own” the facts that Tkachuk was on the bench, and Martin on the ice, and that Tkachuk is a repeat offender, resulted in the suspension. Tkachuk will miss the Flames’ game in Montreal against the Canadiens on Thursday, and will forfeit $11,280.49 US in salary. “If you look at what he did, you just have to realize that this is the NHL, and those things, you’re not going to get away from it,” Flames coach Glen Gulutzan said before the suspension was announced. “Maybe in Hudson Bay, Saskatchewan, you’ll get away with those, with Hudson Bay rules. He has to learn to walk that line and not do that kind of stuff.” #Flames forward Matthew Tkachuk will have a hearing with the NHL's Department of Player Safety on Thursday for spearing #Leafs forward Matt Martin from the bench. #CofRed #TMLtalk @FrankDangelo23 pic.twitter.com/x6MRTSJCQ3 — NextSportStar.com (@NextSportStar) December 7, 2017 Tkachuk was a thorn in the side of the Leafs for much of the game, which ended in a 2-1 shootout win for Toronto. “I did not feel it at the time,” Martin said after the game. “I guess if he is going to do stuff like that, he should probably make it count. Whatever. That’s child’s play. I don’t really get involved with that kind of stuff. I just found out about it.” Did Martin hope the NHL would discipline Tkachuk? There was no penalty on the play. “It’s not really my call,” Martin said. “I don’t really get involved with that. Second time, I guess, over the last little where I have seen him do something like that where, if you’re going to do it, you might as well make it count and try to hurt somebody if you’re going to do something stupid. “Whether the league looks at that, that’s up to them. That’s not something I really care to get involved in.” Tkachuk was suspended for one game in November for unsportsmanlike conduct during a game against the Detroit Red Wings. Tkachuk hit Detroit’s Luke Witkowski on the leg with his stick as the Wing was leaving the ice. Tkachuk received a five-minute major for spearing and a game misconduct. Witkowski returned to the ice and was suspended automatically for 10 games by the NHL. Martin respects Tkachuk’s physical, agitating approach. Just not when it crosses a line. “You can play with an edge for sure,” Martin said. “He’s an effective player and he’s a good player, but when he is sitting on the bench or the situation in Detroit where he gives a guy a whack when he is already off the ice, it’s not necessary. I don’t think it’s a good hockey play by any means.” Toronto Sun LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087258 Toronto Maple Leafs The announcement of any all-star or national team is always more about who isn’t on the roster rather than who is. So when Hockey Canada on Wednesday invited 32 players to next week’s world junior selection Seller's remorse: Vegas Golden Knights thrive off opponents' mistakes in camp, most of the focus was on the omissions. the expansion draft The biggest was perhaps Florida Panthers prospect Owen Tippett, who had been considered a lock to make the team after starting the season in the NHL. Michael Traikos “We’re always looking for offence and ways to produce offence. And (Tippett) can do that,” Hockey Canada head coach Brad McEwen told me in November. “We expect him to be part of the offence and certainly in Alexander Wennberg or William Karlsson? the mix.” If the Columbus Blue Jackets could do it all over again, which player do Indeed, Tippett’s seven games of NHL experience, where he scored a you think they would protect? goal, are more than any invite. And only four invites had more than the 44 goals he scored for Mississauga last year. No question, a favourable expansion draft helped the Vegas Golden Knights get off to a better start than anyone could have imagined in their In other words, like the decision to leave Max Domi off the team that inaugural NHL season. But it didn’t have to be this way. finished fourth in 2014 or Jakob Chychrun off the team that finished sixth in 2016, it’s something to tuck away in case Canada finishes off the While Golden Knights GM George McPhee did a fantastic job of picking podium. the right players, the 30 other general managers in the league sure gave him a lot of options. Teams were allowed to protect seven forwards, three THE RUSSIAN OLYMPIC TEAM THAT’LL NEVER BE defencemen and one goalie or one goalie and eight skaters regardless of their position. The IOC’s decision to ban Russia from the Olympics obviously hurts the country’s hockey team. Not that it matters anymore, because the NHL Some, like the Toronto Maple Leafs (Brendan Leipsic), lost a player they isn’t allowing its players to participate, but the timing couldn’t be worse hardly knew they had. Others, however, weren’t so lucky. considering that this season has been the year when Russians are taking over the league. The Blue Jackets protected Wennberg, who is 23, rather than Karlsson, who is one year older. After 22 games, Wennberg has a goal and 10 Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov, who is second in the Rocket Richard points. Karlsson, who has 14 goals and 25 points in 27 games, would be Trophy race with 19 goals, leads all scorers with 40 points in 27 games. far and away Columbus’ leader in goals and points. Washington’s Alex Ovechkin leads all players with 21 goals in 29 games. And Blue Jackets goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, who was last season’s Then again, it was only after joining the expansion team that he was Vezina Trophy winner, has a 2.11 goals-against average and a .929 save given the chance to showcase his previously dormant talents. percentage. “I was an offensive guy in Sweden,” Karlsson, who had 25 points in 81 Toss in Evgeny Kuznetsov (10 goals and 31 points), Vladimir Tarasenko games last season and has already exceeded his previous high of six (12 goals and 29 points) and rookie defenceman Mikhail Sergachev (six goals, told NHL.com this week. “I kind of knew I always had it in me. I goals and 19 points), and this might have been Russia’s best knew I had a chance here and I really wanted to take it.” assemblage of talent. Too bad the rest of the world won’t see it. Vegas Golden Knights forward William Karlsson celebrates a goal Off The Post podcast: What’s behind Connor McDavid’s otherworldly against the Winnipeg Jets on Dec. 1 (before the goal was negated upon skating? review by an offside). John Woods / The Canadian Press What’s new this season in the Canadian Women’s Hockey League? It’s not just Karlsson who is making the most of a bigger opportunity in Road games in China Vegas — and at the same time causing his former GM a lot of regret. ROOKIE CROP CATCHES UP TO KELLER Jonathan Marchessault, who is playing on Karlsson’s line, is tied with a team-leading 25 points. His production is less surprising, considering he A quarter of the way through the season, the decision was unanimous: scored 30 goals last season for the Florida Panthers. But that also made Clayton Keller, who had 11 goals in the first 16 games, was everyone’s Florida’s decision not to protect him — and Reilly Smith, who has seven early pick for the Calder Trophy. goals and 21 points after being included in a trade to Vegas — a curious one, especially since the Panthers are ranked 18th in goals per game A month later, the rookie race is heating up. this season. While Keller is still very much in contention with 11 goals and 23 points, The same goes for Boston, who protected defenceman Kevan Miller (no he’s got considerable company. Matthew Barzal of the New York goals and four points in 24 games) rather than Colin Miller (four goals Islanders leads first-year players with 26 points, while Vancouver’s Brock and 14 points in 27 games) and Minnesota, who protected Nino Boeser leads rookies with 13 goals and has 25 points. Niederreiter rather than Erik Haula (nine goals and 17 points). That’s not all. From Chicago’s Alex DeBrincat (11 goals and 20 points) It’s all hindsight, of course. But it’s also something to keep in mind a few and Colorado’s Alexander Kerfoot (eight goals and 20 points) to New years from now, when the NHL is expected to do this again with a Jersey’s Nico Hischier (eight goals and 20 points) and Sergachev (19 prospective Seattle franchise. points), as well as many others, this should be a race that comes down to the wire. YEAR OF THE (AHL) BACKUPS HERE AND THERE Call it the year of the backup. Or in the Golden Knights’ and Pittsburgh Penguins’ case, the year of the No. 3 … or No. 4. I don’t know what’s more surprising: that Brent Burns and Erik Karlsson each have just one goal or that the entire Buffalo Sabres defence still No team wants to lose their starting goalie, as the Montreal Canadiens doesn’t have any … The only reason Montreal is currently in a playoff showed when they went 4-4-2 without Carey Price. But others have been spot is because of Carey Price — and also because the Habs play in the able to survive without as much as a hiccup. Vegas, which went 14-8-1 Atlantic Division, where the third-ranked team has fewer points than the after losing Marc-Andre Fleury in the fourth game of the season, is the sixth-best team (New York Rangers) in the Metropolitan Division … While best example of this. the most dangerous job in the NHL this year is being a goaltender, so far the safest has been head coach. By this time last year, Gerard Gallant Not far behind is Pittsburgh, where 22-year-old Tristan Jarry has won was already gone in Florida, with four more fired before then end of four of five games and allowed just nine goals since being called up from February. the minors to fill in for Matt Murray, who had lost the previous three games before suffering a lower-body injury. National Post LOADED: 12.08.2017 “I think there are similarities,” Penguins GM Jim Rutherford said of Jarry and Murray, who was also called up earlier than expected because of injury two years ago. “Ideally this year what I wanted was for him to continue developing at the American Hockey League and play more games. But it appears at this point in time, that’s going to have to be accelerated.” WEN TIPPETT’S CONFUSING OMISSION 1087259 Toronto Maple Leafs

Bettman and governors give Seattle green light to apply for NHL franchise

Michael Traikos

Say hello to the Metropolitans 2.0. Or will it be the resurrected Breakers? Or the Supersonics? Or Starbucks? Whatever the potential team ends calling itself, the National Hockey League appears to be heading back to the state of Washington. The league’s Board of Governors agreed to consider an expansion application from Seattle during its annual meeting in Florida on Thursday. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman says the franchise fee for the 32nd club has been set at $650 million US, up significantly from the $500 million US the Vegas Golden Knights forked over to join the league this season. The City of Seattle, which earlier this week agreed to let the Tim Leiweke-led Oak View Group pour $660 million US into renovations at KeyArena to bring the arena up to NHL and NBA standards, must wait until 2020 for the conclusion of construction. The Metropolitans played in the Pacific Coast Hockey association from 1915 to 1924. They won the Stanley Cup in 1917, defeating the National Hockey Association’s Montreal Canadiens. The Breakers, meanwhile, were the city’s original team. Nowadays, the WHL team is called the Thunderbirds. Also announced Thursday in Florida, the Carolina Hurricanes have sold a majority stake in the franchise to Dallas billionaire Tom Dundon. Previous principal owner, Peter Karmanos Jr., will maintain an equity stake in the Raleigh-based team. Dundon’s involvement will likely renew speculation that the beleaguered franchise could be relocated to Houston, with the recently sold Toyota Center — home of the NBA’s Houston Rockets — floated as a potential new home. However, TSN reported that, as part of the purchase deal, Dundon has agreed to not apply for relocation for a period of seven years. National Post LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087260 Toronto Maple Leafs guys off and make enemies. He's generally unflappable. He must be so frustrating to play because he embodies the phrase “never let 'em see

you sweat.” Would I like to see him tee someone up? Sure, I'm a Bourne: 10 little Maple Leafs things from their victory over the Flames neanderthal. Should he? I'm gonna say things are going just fine for him as is.

I looked his stats up, and they're crazier than JVR's shot-blocking non- By Justin Bourne numbers. Matthews is credited with a hit at an average of … 0.16 per game! So, he has four on the year, through 25 games. Only Josh Leivo

has thrown less. Of the 456 forwards who've played an arbitrary five NHL On Wednesday night the Toronto Maple Leafs and Calgary Flames games this year, his 0.16 average is 442nd. He's only ahead of beastly played to a 1-1 draw through 65 minutes before the Leafs eventually names like Johnny Gaudreau and Henrik Sedin. grabbed the extra point in the shootout. After the game, the talk was 12.08.2017= unified: Freddie Anderson stole the game after Toronto was outshot 48- 29. Beyond that, there didn't seem to be a ton of storylines. So, what I A really important thing to teach young players is how to forecheck. Zach thought I'd do for you today, is take you into my brain while I watched the Hyman is a millionaire because he's so good at it. The key is to have game. your stick “on the puck” to disrupt the other player's attempt to move it somewhere advantageous, then to follow through the body to stop their Given my ties to the organization (and my radio gig as Leafs Analyst for momentum and take them out of the play. Players who forecheck with Sportsnet), I tend to focus pretty heavily on the Blue and White, so Leafs their stick in the air just to throw a hit are useless. If you're gonna burn all fans, this one's for you. that energy chasing a player, at least give yourself a chance to get the 12.08.2017= puck.

William Nylander was flat out excellent. He skated well, held on to the So, in none of the clips below did it actually work, but I just wanted to puck in the offensive zone, and made some nice plays. This clip below is show the technique. Hell, they're not even all on the forecheck, but you'll not an indictment of his performance Wednesday night. (Though, another get the idea. one of these thoughts is about something negative he did. It's nothing In the last one (the fourth), you can see how left defenceman Ron personal, Willy, I swear.) Hainsey shepherds the play with his stick, taking away the middle, But, when Nylander finds himself in the doghouse, there's a reason. They forcing a dump. don't always think he goes as hard as he can. But also, he just wants to 12.08.2017= go play offence, and because of that, he's prone to burning his team on defence. The Leafs had one of the worst changes I've seen in a long time Wednesday night. Jake Gardiner had been on the ice for 1:05 — with a When there's danger in the D-zone, the best defensive players bear whistle in the middle of his shift — and apparently couldn't handle it down. They make sure the puck is out of harm's way before they take off. anymore. I don't hate Patrick Marleau going off — the play took him to In the big picture that may hurt their offensive stats, but in the bigger the bench — but Nazem Kadri has to skate by the Flames player who picture, it makes guys like Patrice Bergeron and Jonathan Toews Stanley had the puck to get off. Cup champions and Hall of Famers. And, at no point does it look, not for more than a second anyway, like Below is the perfect example of something that would exasperate that puck is going farther than the centre red line. Nylander's coaches. The puck is in a perilous spot, but he sees that if he can just grab it and go, he's got the jump on the Flames for a rush the 12.08.2017= other way. Because of that, he doesn't slow and bear down and clear it — he almost starts to accelerate — and it almost earns himself and four If you're gonna sit Connor Carrick to play Roman Polak for his “snarl” and other guys a big fat minus. ability to clear the front of the net, you'd probably like him to clear the front of the net. He's playing the right side here, bottom of your screen. Right off the draw where he'd know his exact role, here he is letting a 12.08.2017= player into Anderson's eyes on a point shot.

There's a certain type of player, one I am far too familiar with (and not 12.08.2017= that proud of) who somehow, golly gee wilikers, just can't quuuiiite block shots. Boy, they always just seem a step out of the lane, or a step Last thing on Nylander. What was that pull-up all about in overtime? To behind. Every time I watch the puck go up to James van Riemsdyk's me it screamed “no confidence.” This is a play where, if you're feeling point, I'm always waiting with glee to see how he just fails to get in the yourself, you just put the shoulder down, cut in on the guy, and enjoy lane. Sorry coach. your breakaway.

I know these counting stats are imperfect but still: in blocks-per-game, He seems to play with confidence most of the time, but this to me he's 17th on the Leafs, blocking 0.3 shots per game. So yeah, he gets in screamed “not right now.” front of one less often than once every three games, as a winger. The 12.08.2017= players he's ahead of are centremen — who don't get nearly as many chances to get blocks — and Kasperi Kapanen, Calle Rosen, Matt Speaking of overtime, time to call out another young successful famous Martin, and … woof, William Nylander. (Willy has been credited with just millionaire (thinks me, a washed up 34-year-old writer peering around his one blocked shot in 29 games. Yikes.) So outside our special friend Willy, cat to see his computer screen.) Martin is the only other winger, and JVR plays nearly double his minutes. So, “blocks per game” is a bit misleading. In OT, the Leafs were kind of a disaster, and no one more than Mitch Marner. The problem with OT is, when you have the puck it's awesome, My POINT is, he really, really doesn't like blocking shots. Below he but when you don't, you really have to defend like a mofo. Stops, starts, couldn't quite get there again. There's a second one that goes way off the anticipate, Selke-style stuff. net, but it sure looks to me like JVR isn't in the shooting lane anyway. Below is Marner looping around, hoping the Leafs come up with it so he Not the best examples, but seeing that just got me thinking. can go have a breakaway. Cheating, as they say.

12.08.2017= He's the right D here who starts the clip with a nice poke check.

Y'know what fascinates me about Auston Matthews, aside from his 12.08.2017= amazing talent, size, demeanor, background? The guy doesn't hit. Anyone. And he's 6-foot-3, 216. I watched this play below and thought, This isn't much, it's just a good highlight of how much the Leafs don't with his speed, at his size, he could've murdered this guy. want two D in a corner battle. You can see Gardiner at one point start to look around for the centre. Dominic Moore has to come all the way But it's kinda good he doesn't! For one, it helps him stay generally across the ice, but Gardiner is willing to wait. healthy. He saves his energy to actually play hockey. He doesn't piss 12.08.2017=

The special thing about Matthews stickhandling around people, to me, isn't the hands to do it, it's the mind to know where to stick handle next. This is a cool clip, as he expertly predicts where the challenges are coming from. The best is right before he makes the pass, instead of one extra stick handle, he leaves it on his forehand for two touches, rather than bringing it back to his backhand.

12.08.2017=

Two things:

One: I like the idea of having stars drive lines and all, the way Pittsburgh won a Cup with Crosby, Malkin and Kessel split up. But man, it has to be so disheartening for Nylander to handle the puck, make plays, pass it off, then be like … welp, time to backcheck again after one of his linemates gets to have a turn with the puck.

Two: It's pretty silly that people who follow the Leafs care at all about the team's lines going into a game. Babs has been a maniac this year. It's pretty clear he thinks he has like 10 really good forwards, and he's going to play whoever's playing well. He likes to let players earn their ice time, and this year, he's stuck to that. I don't know how much Willy even played with these two (Moore and Martin), but it didn't seem like much.

12.08.2017=

Last thing, and this is the smallest, tiniest little thing, but it's funny. When forwards cover for D-men, and a rush starts at them, it's always funny watching them try to pick up speed skating backwards. Forwards don't skate backwards a ton, and when they do, it's usually out of a pivot from forwards with speed.

Here's Matthews, starting backwards and trying to accelerate. Watch that left leg come up in the classic “Oh shit I'm going over” panic- counterbalance move. It's subtle, but he almost went down.

The Athletic LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087261 Toronto Maple Leafs especially when going mano a mano with Calgary's No.1 duo (and third wheel, Micheal Ferland):

Hyman detailed the challenges of the Flames top group, which ranks Should the Leafs dial up the competition for Auston Matthews? sixth in possession (57 per cent) among lines which have played at least 100 minutes together this season.

By Jonas Siegel Gaudreau, an early contender for the Art Ross trophy, posed the biggest threat.

“He’s elusive – one of the most elusive guys in the NHL,” Hyman said of It took about half the game for Mike Babcock to wonder if he'd made a the 24-year-old. “He’s obviously small [at 5-foot-9 and 157 pounds], but mistake. just as he is small he’s that quick so him going side-to-side – he loves going lateral, he loves moving side-to-side – it’s hard to defend against Using Auston Matthews against top lines with home-ice advantage wasn't that. You can’t give him time to do that; you’ve got to be hard on him on something the Leafs coach usually did; he typically reserved those duties the backcheck and cut him off.” for Nazem Kadri-led units. But Babcock decided it was worth a go having seen his team confidently conquer the Flames in Calgary a week earlier Monahan was an “elite shooter,” Hyman added, and Ferland, had quite a with Matthews dueling with the two-headed western monster of Sean few goals (11 heading into play on Thursday) so he was dangerous too. Monahan and Johnny Gaudreau. “When you play against guys like that you have to be especially careful,” Afterward, he was reconsidering. Hyman said.

“I don’t know if I was doing it over again I would do it again for sure,” The Leafs actually scored their only regulation goal, Morgan Rielly's Babcock said. fourth of the year, with the Matthews crew out against Gaudreau and Co. but generally it was a lost night despite the victory. Matthews will almost always see top lines (and defence pairings) on the road when opposing coaches get their pick of the matchups, but perhaps “I didn’t think we had very good legs here today at all,” Babcock said. the Leafs should consider giving their best player the toughest “We looked like a team that came back from a road trip even though we competition at home, too —even with the experiment mostly backfiring had days to recover and all that. We were sluggish and I thought they against the Flames top line on Wednesday night. played us a lot harder than they played us in Calgary. But in the end we found a way to win and it’ll look good in the standings in the morning.” The case for doing so is really two-fold, beginning with the apparent struggles of Kadri-led units at home prior to the Leafs 2-1 win against Wednesday could just prove to be a one-off, a case when Babcock Calgary: played a hunch and went best-on-best. Or perhaps the Leafs coach will start exploring the strategy of using Matthews more this way in the future How much of those struggles are tied to Leo Komarov, whose numbers and lightening Kadri's load in the process. He won't have much choice in stay largely the same no matter the venue, isn't clear. And to Kadri's the near-term with only two home games left in December. credit, the Leafs have stayed even in terms of goals for and against (8-8) when he's been on the ice in Toronto this season. The next potential test following a road date with Sidney Crosby on Saturday? McDavid at the ACC on Sunday night. What's maybe more telling though is how stable Matthews has been wherever the Leafs have played. And oddly enough, the 20-year-old has Curtis McElhinney's December actually produced slightly more offence this season in visiting barns — where the matchups are less favourable — than at friendlier confines in December could just end up being Curtis McElhinney's biggest month of T.O.: the season.

Home: Four goals, 10 points in 11 games The Leafs have four back-to-back games this month meaning four starts (versus the Oilers, Red Wings, Blue Jackets and Avalanche) in all Road: Nine goals, 16 points in 14 games likelihood for the 34-year-old, who made only four starts, period, in the first two months this season. That trend was even more striking last year when Matthews, as a rookie, led the NHL with 24 road goals. He had 40 points in 41 games away from McElhinney said his preparation wouldn't change with the increased the Air Canada Centre, which tied for fifth overall in the league, while workload, but conceded that more regular duty might make things a mustering a still hearty 16 goals and 29 points at home. touch more comfortable between starts.

His Calder trophy-winning campaign looks even more impressive in “When you’re playing a little bit more it’s easier just to get into the flow,” retrospect with those numbers in mind and seems to suggest that he can he said. “So yeah, it’ll be good.” more than hold his own with tougher competition. McElhinney's four starts have been sporadically timed. Matthews is almost always drawing top lines on the road these days when opposing coaches have control of the matchup. He got his first action of the season on Oct. 18 versus Detroit (three goals on 33 shots) and then waited more than two weeks to play again in In Florida, that meant a tussle with Aleksander Barkov at the behest of Los Angeles (five goals on 28 shots) on Nov. 2. Another nine days first-year Panthers coach Bob Boughner; Matthews won that battle passed before his next action in Boston (one goal on 39 shots) followed handily, finishing the night with 73 per cent possession. Two nights later by another two-week layoff before a Saturday start against Washington in Carolina, Bill Peters chose his top trio of , Teuvo (three goals on 20 shots) on Nov. 25. Teravainen and Sebastian Aho; this time Matthews came close to even, finishing the evening at 47 per cent Corsi on a night when the Leafs were Two more weeks will have passed when he plays against Edmonton on throttled in a win. It was the same story in Calgary, Edmonton and Sunday. Vancouver with heavyweights like Gaudreau, Connor McDavid and Brock McElhinney is 2-2-0 with a .900 save percentage overall and .907 clip at Boeser all going head-to-head with the former No. 1 overall pick. even-strength. He says the most difficult part of his job is finding the flow Only McDavid came close to scoring a knockout against Matthews who of the game again with lengthy breaks between starts, “just kind of finished around 36 per cent possession in the 11 or so 5-on-5 minutes getting that rhythm back.” against the Oilers captain in another Leafs victory. Even though he's watching every game from the bench, it takes some Wednesday wasn't a great night either for the American despite the win. time, he says, to adjust again to what the team is doing again.

In fact, it was his second-worst possession performance of the season JpgDan Hamilton/USA TODAY Sports (42.5 per cent score and venue adjusted). Opportunities will likely be few and far between for the product of Yet to really return to pre-injury form, Matthews finished with just two London, Ont. after the final month of 2017. shots in almost 21 minutes and was kept off the scoresheet for the He's pegged to start only six times after that with duties only coming on second consecutive game for only the second time all season. Playing the second leg of back-to-backs. He stands to start once in January, primarily with Zach Hyman and Connor Brown, he was dinged up three times in February and twice in March. In other words, December is really his only time to shine this season, his time to prove the Leafs were right to believe in his backup abilities.

Of his season so far, meanwhile, McElhinney was relatively satisfied.

“Five hundred hockey is not anything to complain about for a couple months,” he said. “But obviously you have a good game you want to come out the next one and build on it — it’s like one step forward, one step backward. So it just kind of feels like I’m spinning my wheels a little bit in that regard. But hopefully we’ll turn the trend this month.”

He added: “It’s all results right? Who really cares how you feel otherwise as long as you’re getting the results. So that’s all that matters.”

The Athletic LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087262 Vegas Golden Knights During the Knights’ 5-2 win at Vancouver on Nov. 16, Neal won a battle behind the net against 6-5, 220-pound Erik Gudbranson to help set up Erik Haula’s go-ahead goal. Golden Knights’ James Neal returns to Nashville a wiser player Neal fought off Anaheim’s 6-6, 219-pound defenseman Jaycob Megna to get at a rebound and score the opener in Tuesday’s 4-3 shootout win over the Ducks. By David Schoen “You want guys playing with an edge, and that’s the way he’s played all December 7, 2017 - 1:50 PM the time,” Knights coach Gerard Gallant said. “And that’s the way sometimes he gets the room in front of the net and down low. He’s a Updated December 7, 2017 - 2:24 PM physical player when he plays that type of game, and the bigger the game, the bigger he is.”

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 12.08.2017 NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The incidents will never be expunged from James Neal’s permanent record. Three suspensions in four years, along with three fines from the NHL. And a reputation as one of the dirtiest players in the league. “I was getting suspended too much,” Neal said this week. But following a trade to the Nashville Predators in the summer of 2014, Neal spent three seasons learning to curb a bit of the old ultraviolence and repairing his tarnished image. The 30-year-old forward arrives at his former home a fully reformed player when the Golden Knights (17-9-1, 35 points) meet the Predators (18-7-3, 39 points) at 5 p.m. Friday at Bridgestone Arena. ”He was a good player. You can tell just by the way he’s off to this year,” fourth-year Nashville coach Peter Laviolette said Thursday. “He’s an effective player. He puts the puck in the back of the net. He’s done it his whole career. “He was here from the time I got here. He was part of the leadership group, part of the reason why, I believe, we kept taking steps forward and steps in the right direction.” Neal was suspended for two games for boarding as a member of the Dallas Stars during his second season in the league in 2009. While with the Pittsburgh Penguins, he was slapped with a one-game suspension during the 2012 Eastern Conference quarterfinals for separate hits on Philadelphia’s Sean Couturier and Claude Giroux during Game 3. Neal also was given a five-game suspension in 2013 for kneeing Boston’s Brad Marchand in the head. “You’ve got to harness it for sure, and when I was younger I don’t think I did it right sometimes,” said the 6-foot-2-inch, 221-pound Neal. “I would get too wound up in the game, and find myself in bad positions. Hitting guys at the wrong times, doing things at the wrong times, and being late to checks. “But I think as I’ve grown as a player, and as I’ve matured and become older, you learn. You’ve got to be smart with where you are, especially with how fast the game is now.” Neal was dealt from Pittsburgh to Nashville during the 2014 draft and scored 77 goals in 219 games while helping the Predators reach the Stanley Cup Finals last season. More significantly, Neal hasn’t run afoul of the NHL’s Department of Player Safety since a fine for “diving” almost three years ago. He credits former Predators captain Mike Fisher, who retired in August after 17 seasons in the league, for helping with his maturation. “He plays the game as hard as anybody but never crosses the line,” Neal said. “He’s an unbelievable guy, a great player, great role model. He’s a guy that I definitely learned to look up to.” Neal was plucked from the Predators in the expansion draft and has 14 penalty minutes to go with 13 goals and 21 points in 27 games. He will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, which for now leaves his long-term future with the Knights unclear. “I take it day by day and enjoy this,” Neal said. “I have a chance to play on an expansion team in Las Vegas. I never thought I’d be driving 20 minutes down the 215, turn onto the Las Vegas Strip, it’s pretty special. I’m just taking it all in.” Neal ranks 15th on the Knights in hits (13), but still brings plenty of oomph to the lineup. On opening night in Dallas, he cleaned out the Stars’ Tyler Seguin from the side of the net with a hard hit. 1087263 Vegas Golden Knights The Kings are up there, the Sharks are playing really well and I expect Calgary or Edmonton to pass them at some point.

“If they’re not in the top three, I would be surprised if they made the Golden Knights could deliver blow to sports books playoffs. But even if they don’t, this year has been a huge success.” Westgate sports book manager Jeff Sherman said he probably would By Todd Dewey make the Knights a 2-1 underdog to reach the playoffs. December 7, 2017 - 8:55 PM “They’re in great position now, but they’re also a few points away from falling into the danger zone, which can happen so quickly in hockey,” he Updated December 7, 2017 - 9:06 PM said. “There’s still a long way to go, and there are some quality teams underneath them we expect to have a better second half.

“But no matter what they end up doing, it’s still been a phenomenal All of those long-shot bets placed on the Golden Knights to make the story.” playoffs and win their division and beyond in their inaugural NHL season suddenly don’t seem so far-fetched. Bogdanovich and Esposito put the Golden Knights’ chances to make the playoffs at pick’em. We’re only one-third of the way through the regular season and the Knights (17-9-1, 35 points) are halfway to reaching their season point ”I think they have a 50-50 chance to make the playoffs, especially if they total (70.5) posted at Las Vegas sports books. continue to play so well at home,” Esposito said. “You have to give them a legitimate shot.” The Golden Knights are in second place in the Pacific Division behind the Los Angeles Kings and have the NHL’s third-best home record (11-2-0) LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 12.08.2017 behind Tampa Bay (12-2-1) and Nashville (11-2-1). If the Knights can keep their magical run going and reach the postseason, they would deliver a cross-check to bookmakers. “We get killed if they make the playoffs, and we close if they win the Stanley Cup,” William Hill sports book director Nick Bogdanovich said. Knights were 200-1 to win division William Hill bettors got preseason odds ranging from 8-1 to 10-1 on the Golden Knights to make the playoffs. The Knights are 28-1 to win the Stanley Cup after opening at 250-1. Bettors at the Westgate sports book put their money on the Knights to win their division. While the most tickets bet on any other team to win their division was 11 on the Blackhawks, there were 67 tickets wagered on the Golden Knights at odds ranging from as high as 200-1 before the season to 8-1 when the Westgate closed the division odds in mid- November. “For them to win the division, we’d lose, for hockey, a huge amount,” Westgate sports book manager Ed Salmons said. “It’s funny. I expected to see a big loss if they made the playoffs, but we actually win money on that. Before the season started, nobody had any confidence in them, and then when they started the way they did, everyone got on board.” Knights increase hockey handle The action on Knights’ games is at least twice as much as any other game on each night’s NHL card. The Golden Knights-Blackhawks game on a Tuesday night in October generated a larger betting handle at Station Casinos than the Jets-Dolphins game played the previous NFL Sunday. “The handle on the Golden Knights games has far exceeded expectations,” Sunset Station sports book director Chuck Esposito said. “Now they’re so good at home, it doesn’t matter what the price is. As strange as it sounds, we can’t make it high enough. Bettors continue to place wagers on them at home.” Vacation’s over Salmons said visiting teams underestimated the Knights early in the season, but that no longer will be the case. “So many teams came out here thinking this was a three-day vacation. They essentially laid by the pool and sun tanned and showed up at the rink and got their asses kicked,” he said. “That ended when Dallas came out here (for a 3-0 win Nov. 28). That was the first team that came out here serious and ready to play.” Underdog to make playoffs Salmons has been impressed by the Golden Knights, but doesn’t expect them to make the playoffs. “I give the Knights all the credit in the world. They’ve so overachieved and play great fundamental hockey. But after 82 games, it’s hard,” he said. “There are so many teams that have so much more talent than they have.” The top three teams in each division make the playoffs, as do the next two teams with the most points in the conference. “They’d still be a decent-sized ’dog to make the playoffs right now,” Salmons said. “In their division, they aren’t that far from falling to fourth. 1087264 Vegas Golden Knights

Trade for Kyle Turris sparks surging Nashville Predators

By David Schoen December 7, 2017 - 4:23 PM Updated December 7, 2017 - 4:48 PM

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Predators showed signs of a Stanley Cup Finals hangover during the opening month of the season. But when the Golden Knights (17-9-1, 35 points) visit jam-packed Bridgestone Arena on Friday, the opposition will be the hottest team in the Western Conference. “I look at Nashville as one of the best teams in the league,” Knights coach Gerard Gallant said. “You watch them play now, they’re on a real hot streak.” Nashville (18-7-3, 39 points), which lost to Pittsburgh in the finals last season, was mired in the middle of the Central Division when it acquired center Kyle Turris on Nov. 5 in a three-team deal with Ottawa and Colorado. Turris has three goals and nine assists in 13 games with Nashville, adding much-needed depth behind leading scorer Filip Forsberg (14 goals, 14 assists). Since the trade, the Predators have gone 11-2-1 and entered Thursday tied with Los Angeles for the top spot in the Western Conference. Nashville is 8-1-1 in its past 10 games, and Tuesday’s 5-2 victory at Dallas was the Predators’ third in a row. “They’re a good team. They’re playing really well, so it will be a good test for us,” said Knights forward James Neal, who spent the past three seasons with Nashville. “I’m excited for how our team can match up and how we’re going to play them.” Back-to-back struggles The weekend trip to Nashville and Dallas marks the fifth time the Knights have played back-to-back games on the road. And the results haven’t been kind. After victories at Dallas and Arizona to open the season, the Knights are winless in their past six road games on back-to-backs (0-5-1). The Knights dropped both games on last week’s two-game swing through Minnesota (4-2) and Winnipeg (7-4). Gallant made a slight change in the schedule, as the team did not practice Thursday before leaving for Nashville. “We had some good spurts in the last road trip in Minny and in Winnipeg,” Gallant said. “We’ve just got to play a full 60 minutes. It’s tough to win on the road against those real good teams, but if you can play a good, solid 60 minutes, you give yourself a better chance. We’ve just got to try and do that.” Three storylines 1. Family reunion. Golden Knights goaltender Malcolm Subban missed Wednesday’s practice due to illness, but is expected to face his older brother, P.K., an All-Star defenseman for the Predators. And their father, Karl, will be in attendance at Bridgestone Arena since this is the Dad’s Trip for the Knights. Loser buys dinner? 2. Warp speed. This game features two of the fastest teams in the Western Conference. Both play a similar style, too. The Knights need to be aware of Nashville’s talented defensemen Roman Josi, Mattias Ekholm and P.K. Subban jumping into the play. 3. Stick with it? If forward David Perron is activated from the injured- reserve list, as expected, Knights coach Gerard Gallant faces a choice. Does he keep physical forward Stefan Matteau on the fourth line or opt for speed with Oscar Lindberg? LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087265 Washington Capitals

Washington Capitals

By Isabelle Khurshudyan December 7 at 3:00 PM

Capitals forward Andre Burakovsky is expected to be in Washington’s lineup Friday night against the New York Rangers, his first game since he broke his left thumb in late October. Burakovsky had surgery and has missed the past 20 games. “That’s the word on the street,” Burakovsky said. “Talked to [Coach Barry Trotz], and I’m cleared to go. He told me I can play next game. I was hoping maybe the game before, but I needed a couple more practices in. I haven’t been skating with pucks or shooting for a while. I mean, my game timing, the first practice was really off. When we did the two-on- ones, I was far behind and went offside once. So, that wasn’t great. “The last few practices here, it’s been really good. I’ve been feeling really good, skating good — stickhandling, shooting really well. I told him I feel like I’m ready, and he said I could play Friday. I’m excited. It’s going to be fun.” [Ovechkin, Wilson rack up four-point nights in win over Blackhawks] To activate Burakovsky off long-term injured reserve, the Capitals cleared salary-cap and roster space by reassigning forward Travis Boyd to the American Hockey League and then placing forward Tyler Graovac on waivers with the intent of sending him to the AHL, if he clears. Washington waived forward Nathan Walker last week, and he was claimed by the Edmonton Oilers. In his first season with the Capitals, Graovac played just five games, never recording a point, though he missed some time with a shoulder injury. Forward T.J. Oshie is considered day to day with an undisclosed upper- body injury; he missed Wednesday’s game. He didn’t practice Thursday, so he isn’t expected to play Friday, meaning the Capitals will be without an extra healthy forward. Alex Chiasson will continue playing in Oshie’s spot on the right wing of second-line center Evgeny Kuznetsov, and Burakovsky will make his return on the third line with center Lars Eller and Brett Connolly. That trio had success last season, until Burakovsky injured his right hand and missed 15 games. Burakovsky finished the season with 12 goals and 23 assists in 64 games. “Just in the practices here today, I mean, you can see the chemistry between us three,” Burakovsky said. “It’s still there, so I’m excited to get back in the game with those two. I kind of miss playing with them a little bit. I haven’t been with them for a while, so it’s going to be good to get back with them and get this going.” Said Trotz: “I think there’s a little bit of all the elements. They’ve got some speed. They’ve got a little bit of size. They’ve got a shooter. They’ve got a playmaker. They’ve got some weight. They have the elements to be a good line, and they worked. … If [Burakovsky] comes out and skates and does the right things that we expect him to do, then he can have an impact on the game. But he’s a good young player who has a lot of assets that can help us win hockey games.” Washington Post LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087266 Washington Capitals

Andre Burakovsky’s return pushes Capitals closer to whole

By Todd Dybas - The Washington Times - Thursday, December 7, 2017

Left thumb surgery put Andre Burakovsky in a familiar, if undesirable place in late October. When his teammates were on the road, Burakovsky was alone with a trainer, sweating away while the problem healed, just like last season when he had a right hand injury. His recent rehabilitation days were intense, since the thumb injury allowed his legs and lungs to be worked with vigor. Capitals strength and conditioning coach Mark Nemish tired Burakovsky so much that the 22 year old was asleep at 9 p.m. at times. “That’s how hard it is,” Burakovsky said Thursday. Starting Friday, he will be free of that specific cardiovascular torture. Burakovsky has been cleared to return to the ice for the first time since Oct. 21. He will hop back into a line with Lars Eller and Brett Connolly in search of the effective blend the group produced last season. His return forced the Capitals into two adjustments: Forward Travis Boyd was re- assigned to Hershey and Tyler Graovac was put on waivers. Burakovsky said he was not very good when he first returned to practice. In a 2-on-1 drill, he was “far behind” and even offsides once. “That wasn’t great,” he said. But, lately, he has felt a better flow in his skating and shooting. He cautioned that the rhythm is only specific to practice, and Friday’s game against the New York Rangers is likely to be more difficult, however it is progress from when he was bumbling through 2-on-1 drills. “On the practice rink, it feels like everything’s there,” Burakovsky said. The Capitals were a mere 4-4-1 when Burakovsky was hurt. His injury caused a line shuffle. Wayward play after that caused another line shuffle. That has led to a response and flashback to annual surges that accompanied the 2016 and 2017 seasons at this point in the calendar. Washington has moved to within a point of the Metropolitan Division lead thanks to winning six of the last seven games, and was rarely pressed while doing so. The Rangers are not far behind in a jumbled and potent Metropolitan. Their 32 points has them just three back of the Capitals, yet sixth in the division. Arriving with New York is former Capitals defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk. He was acquired Feb. 27 in a jarring trade which attempted to push the Capitals, already on the way to a second consecutive Presidents’ Trophy, to another level. The acquisition was costly: A 2017 first-round pick, a conditional second-round pick in 2019, left wing Zach Sanford, who was a 2013 second-round pick, and forward Brad Malone, who never played for St. Louis and is now with Edmonton. The attempt at a wave crash turned out to be more of a teardrop when Shattenkirk struggled in the first round of the playoffs. His overtime winner against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round wasn’t enough to undo his struggles in the previous round and otherwise. Thursday, Capitals coach Barry Trotz mentioned that Shattenkirk helped the Capitals’ power play, before making a revealing comment. “I think everybody thought of him as a 1-2, and he really wasn’t,” Trotz said. “He was a little lower. I think it worked out OK. I think he had a patch during the one series where it wasn’t really good. I think he regained it and scored a big goal for us in Pitt. I just think, yeah, the first playoff series wasn’t — that’s what you remember. It sticks out. But I think overall he was fine.” Considering the cost, “fine” could hardly be seen as sufficient. Shattenkirk said Trotz’s comments would just give him further fuel. Once Shattenkirk’s brief return, following his brief Washington tenure, passes, the Capitals will look up to see their lines have stabilized. Up top, Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom and Tom Wilson are in sync. Evgeny Kuznetsov is shepherding along the second line, with a growing Jakub Vrana. Burakovsky’s return fills out the third. When T.J. Oshie comes back — Trotz said Oshie was shooting Thursday but did not offer a timeline for his return — Washington will be close to whole. No more days with the trainers and early bedtimes. Just games. Washington Times LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087267 Washington Capitals

Backstrom ends goal drought much to the delight of his teammates

By J.J. Regan December 07, 2017 6:30 AM

Nicklas Backstrom is not really known as a goal-scorer. In fact, he has made a career out of setting up his linemates for goals and is one of the best in the world at it. But Backstrom has certainly been able to find the back of the net plenty of times in his career, but not lately. Backstrom scored the first goal of the game in Wednesday's 6-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks, but it was also a significant goal for him as well as it snapped a 21-game goal drought for the veteran center. "Obviously it's nice to score, but I haven't really been thinking about it too much," Backstrom said following the game. "... As a hockey player you always want to score, right?" That had to have made the last few weeks a frustrating time for Backstrom. At 21 games without a goal, this season's streak is tied for the second- longest of his career. It is only the third time he has ever gone more than 20 games without denting the twine. Head coach Barry Trotz hoped to spark the team's offense when he moved Backstrom back onto a line with Alex Ovechkin. The move worked as in the six games prior to Wednesday, Backstrom recorded five points. The only problem was that all five of those points were assists. "He's not just focused on scoring," Trotz said. "He's focused on checking the right way, he's focused on making plays, winning battles, all those other things, winning faceoffs. Whatever it is that he needs to do to add to our game even though he's not scoring." As one of the team's top offensive players, however, the Caps need him to produce goals as well. But it was not solely team success that was on the mind of his linemates. "[Ovechkin] and I were kind of talking about that in the bagel room before the game," Tom Wilson said, "It would be nice to see 19 put one in the back of the net and he did. He's one of the best teammates and great character guy." "It was good Nicky got the first one," Trotz said. "I don't think there's anybody on our bench that wasn't happy he got it. It's got to be a sense of relief." How much relief did Backstrom feel after avoiding a new career-high goalless drought? He'll never tell. Ever the team player, Backstrom said he was happier with the win than with the goal. "It feels good, but the most important thing is that we won and we played good hockey." Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087268 Washington Capitals

Barry Trotz gives honest assessment of Kevin Shattenkirk

By J.J. Regan December 07, 2017 5:38 PM

For 19 regular season games and 13 playoff games, the nation's capital was the home of defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk. The highly skilled defenseman was acquired by the Capitals during the 2017 trade deadline to help bolster the team’s defensive unit. Shattenkirk’s time in Washington received mixed reviews. The Capitals fell in the second round of the playoffs to the Pittsburgh Penguins and Shattenkirk, despite being seen as the top prize of the trade deadline, ended up playing primarily on the Caps’ third pairing. With Shattenkirk back in town on Friday as a member of the New York Rangers, Barry Trotz was asked Thursday about why the acquisition did not seem to work out for the Caps. “I think it takes a little bit of adjustment,” Trotz said to the media after practice. “We play a little different from some teams. It worked in areas that we wanted. He helped our power play. He made it more dangerous and that. I think everybody thought of him as a 1-2 and he really wasn't. He was a little lower. I think it worked out OK. I think he had a patch during the one series where it wasn't really good. I think he regained it and scored a big goal for us in Pitt. I just think, yeah, the first playoff series wasn't, that's what you remember. It sticks out. But I think overall he was fine.” The Rangers were also practicing at Kettler on Thursday which gave Shattenkirk an opportunity to respond to Trotz’s evaluation. “It doesn't sit well with you,” he said. “It's nothing that you enjoy hearing, but I think there's a lot of people who probably think that about me and I like to use that in my favor and try to use that as something to just keep me boosted and prove people wrong.” Shattenkirk signed a four-year $26.6 million contract with the Rangers in the offseason. Even with a deal that carries a $6.65 million cap hit, it is still believed to be somewhat of a hometown discount considering the New York native had offers for more money and longer term on the table. Despite his new contract, however, Shattenkirk does not even play on the top pairing on his new team. Instead, he skates alongside Brady Skjei on the second pairing behind Ryan McDonagh and Nick Holden. So perhaps it is hard to argue with Trotz’s point. Shattenkirk’s offensive skills are undeniable and he already has five goals and 20 points in 27 games for his new team. His defensive acumen, however, is what is frequently called into question. When asked if he felt he was a top-pair player, Shattenkirk said, “I think I'm working towards it. I think there's a lot more room for me to grow. I think that I have to handle those top-end matchups a little bit better and when I get those opportunities, I really have to make sure that I make them count. “I know we have a guy like Ryan McDonagh is a good example for me, someone who I try to watch and the way that he handles players like the Ovechkins and the Backstroms and the Crosbys, that's something that I'm still working towards. I don't think I'm there yet, but I think I can get there.” Ultimately, you are worth what teams are willing to pay you. His worth to the Rangers is just over $26 million. Whether that makes him a No. 1 or 2 defenseman, that’s up to Shattenkirk to prove. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087269 Winnipeg Jets Winnipeg was loose defensively for the second straight game, allowing Florida too much time and space to generate chances.

Malgin’s tying goal late in middle frame was a prime example as the Jets Winnipeg suffers second-straight loss; league-leading Lightning up next botched two clearing attempts and then blew the coverage as Colton Sceviour found his linemate alone in front of Comrie. Jason Bell Penalties were problematic, too, as Dustin Byfuglien joined a fairly innocuous scrum and took a needless roughing minor and then Wheeler Posted: 12/7/2017 9:34 PM | Last Modified: 12/7/2017 11:24 PM was called for a careless high stick on Keith Yandle in the offensive zone | Updates | Comments: 20 just before the second period expired. Florida’s power play carried into the final period and Trocheck cashed in on a goal-mouth scramble just 48 seconds into the third. SUNRISE, Fla. — Winnipeg Jets video coach Matt Prefontaine has his work cut out for him after the debacle in south Florida on Thursday night. "We had enough opportunities to score goals and finish on plays that we didn’t get to the net. We missed the net 18 times," said Maurice. "Just a Let the record show the Winnipeg Jets fell 6-4 to the Florida Panthers little too loose on our coverage. We’ve given up 10 hockey goals (not before a sparse crowd at BB&T Center. counting the empty-netter) in our last two games and we’re going to have to play a little tighter than that." Against a better opponent, it might have been worse. Winnipeg’s power play, so deadly in recent weeks, couldn’t connect in Winnipeg goalie Eric Comrie’s second NHL start was anything but the late going. Kyle Connor hit a post during a late scramble, Mark memorable as he surrendered five goals on 35 shots, including two Scheifele couldn’t poke in a puck lying on the goal-line and Laine’s free talllies on the first four shots he faced. look sailed well wide on the two-man advantage. "If you don’t get the win, you’re not doing your job," said Comrie. "My job "That was a great chance to score. I just had an empty net myself and is to get wins and I didn’t do that." couldn’t score," Laine said. "Those are the chances that you have to But the 22-year-old from Edmonton didn’t exactly get the assistance an score, late in the game, chasing one goal, five-on-three, you just have to AHL call-up would expect to receive from the fellows on the big club. score." "We didn’t give (Comrie) much support on the ice," said Jets right-winger Reimer, who hails from Morweena northwest of Arborg, had an average Patrik Laine, whose 15th goal of the year, coming early in the third night. He made 35 saves but didn’t look good on Laine’s low shot that period, evened the game 4-4. squeezed through him Florida’s Micheal Haley snapped the tie, redirecting a shot from Derek The Panthers’ main man, Roberto Luongo, is out indefinitely with a lower- MacKenzie past Comrie at 9:58 of the third period, as the Panthers (11- body injury. 13-4) won their first game in four outings and their fourth in the past 10 Florida lost talented centre Aleksander Barkov to an upper-body injury. games. Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 12.08.2017 "Before Detroit, we scored 21 goals in four games, so I think the team just thought it’s going to be easy for these two games because these teams are doing not so well as us," said Laine. "And that’s a mistake, like everybody saw on the ice. We weren’t ready to battle. They played really well and we weren’t playing our game." The Jets had a couple of late power-play chances, including a two-man advantage for more than a minute, but couldn’t stuff the puck past Florida starter and Manitoba product James Reimer. The Jets (17-8-4) suffered their second-straight defeat on their current three-game road trip. The Detroit Red Wings pasted them 5-1 Tuesday. It’s the first time Winnipeg has lost back-to-back games in regulation since the Central Division club kicked off the 2017-18 NHL campaign with losses to the Toronto Maple Leafs and Calgary Flames. The Jets will have their hands full Saturday when they take on Steve Stamkos and the electrifying Tampa Bay Lightning, the NHL’s premier club. "Well, it will be good for us. Because if we don’t play with a defence-first attitude, they’ll put 10 by us," said Winnipeg head coach Paul Maurice. "It will be a good opportunity for us to get our minds right." He and his staff will have plenty of miscues to point out when the video is reviewed of the loss to the Panthers, who got goals from Mark Pysyk and Aaron Ekblad within the first four minutes of the game. Comrie likely desired a re-do on the game opener, a quick shot by Pysyk from just outside the top of the circle that beat him cleanly. Just one shift later, he was left alone to stop Ekblad as the all-star blue-liner barged in and made good on his second whack at the puck. Maurice switched up his defensive pairings with his club down by two, moving Josh Morrissey back with Dustin Byfuglien and pairing up Jacob Trouba and Ben Chiarot — to mixed reviews. Vincent Trocheck added a pair of goals for Florida, including an empty netter, while Denis Malgin also scored for the hosts. Blake Wheeler, Nikolaj Ehlers and Adam Lowry replied for the Jets, who rallied to take a 3-2 lead early in the second frame but squandered it. "We started off the game in their zone for about four minutes, so I think our start was pretty good. And then it’s 2-0 and have to regroup and shut the game down a little bit," said Wheeler. "We fought back into it, had a lead, tied 3-3 going into the third on the road, that’s a game we expect to win." 1087270 Winnipeg Jets

Third line excelling despite goal drought

Jason Bell Posted: 12/7/2017 10:25 PM

SUNRISE, Fla. — If its preventive efforts weren’t so tough to ignore, the third line of the Winnipeg Jets might have been ripped apart by now. But how do you discount the tremendous work of Adam Lowry, Brandon Tanev and Andrew Copp as part of the NHL club’s winning formula? Lately, when the Lowry trio is on the ice, not much seems to be happening — but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. While the fourth-year centre and his wingers are each ensnared in extended scoring droughts, they’re making it tough on opposing lines to do much offensive damage. The other night in Detroit, Winnipeg yielded five goals during five-on-five play in a 5-1 defeat to the Red Wings, but the third line wasn’t on the hook for any of them. The only other Jets player without a minus by his name was defenceman Dmitry Kulikov, whose play, interestingly, was singled out by head coach Paul Maurice during his post-game comments. Lowry’s line also fired six shots at Wings goalie Jimmy Howard, who snapped out out his pad to make an outstanding save off Copp in the second period with the Jets only down by a goal. That’s been Copp’s luck lately. Prior to Thursday’s battle here with the Florida Panthers, the 23-year-old from Ann Arbor, Mich., hadn’t scored in 11 contests dating back to a 5-4 overtime loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Nov. 4. "I think we’re playing in the offensive end more than the stats will show, we’ve been cycling well, we’ve had a ton of chances," said Copp following Thursday’s morning skate. "I’m probably the biggest culprit not being able to bury. It’s something we have to bear down on for us as a line to take the next step. We’ve had such good puck control down low and we’re working their (defence). We just have to finish." Tanev had just a pair of goals this season prior to the matchup with the Panthers, the last tally coming 20 games ago when the team fell 2-1 to the Columbus Blue Jackets in overtime. Lowry, meanwhile, was at seven games and counting without a goal, his last coming Nov. 22 in a 2-1 victory over Los Angeles and his father, Dave, an assistant coach with the Kings. Despite their inability to light the lamp, the linemates find solace in knowing they’ve allowed very few recently. "As a line, we’re doing our job. We’re going out there and doing what the teams needs from us," Tanev said. "We all understand our role and our strengths to play well as a line, we’re communicating and playing pretty effectively. "We’re getting chances and the puck’s not bouncing our way. You might think of changing things up if the chances weren’t there, but I think over this stretch, we’ve created some great opportunities." The three skaters have pretty much been joined at the hip since Lowry returned Nov. 6 from an upper-body injury that sidelined him for nine games. In 15 games since, the trio has supplied just four goals, but the ice isn’t tilted toward the Jets’ net when they’re on the ice. In fact, they’re a combined plus-six, thanks to some ice time when other forwards dent the twine or timely tallies by their teammates on the blue line. Copp said the good habits are there, and he believes the line’s work will soon bear fruit. "We’re not just forechecking, hitting them and watching them break out, we’re controlling the puck and making plays," he said. "So, it’s time we start scoring a few and growing our game." Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 12.08.2017 1087271 Winnipeg Jets Mark Messier has had many stories told about him but even he had help in the dressing room, and obviously led with his play on the ice. At times folklore pushes a great story into the realm where some people believe in Leadership takes many forms on a hockey team magical powers. Today, a form of leadership really starts in the summer, shown by player’s tough off-season workouts and skills training. By: Scott Campbell As to that report out of Edmonton, goalie Cam Talbot was a stud last Posted: 12/7/2017 3:30 PM year — this season he’s the opposite and now injured. The Oilers have more problems than that, but it’s a good place to start when wondering what they’re missing. "Leadership" is a controversial word in the National Hockey League Professionals such as Hendricks are often talked about when a team is these days, notably around the Edmonton Oilers and Winnipeg Jets. winning because of someone else. Earlier this season it was Connor Hellebuyck’s goaltending that stole points for the Jets. Lately they’ve According to a report last week, those "deeply involved with Oilers" were improved their five-on-five performance and their power play is lighting it lamenting they had let Matt Hendricks go last summer. up. This was a reaction to the Oilers' struggles and the Jets soaring near the I don’t see Hendricks' (or anyone else’s) "good words" as being a big top of the NHL — after Winnipeg picked up the fourth-liner with a late- factor, unless he’s the Goalie-and-Power-Play Whisperer. summer signing. Captain Blake Wheeler mentioned the Jets had a fairly quiet room before A big part of what Hendricks brings as a player is leadership, according the arrival of Hendricks, so his positive voice has likely helped them with to seemingly everyone who has played with him. their preparation. Which got me to thinking I should take a closer look at the word. The bottom line though, is that everyone needs to contribute on the ice, I joined the Houston Aeros of the as a rookie and he’s done what head Coach Paul Maurice has asked of him. and walked into a dressing room that had several players who were part Numerous players pushing others to greater heights make for a better of two Avco Cup championships. dressing room. The veteran lineup had plenty of guys who made sure everyone was To that end, don’t let the narrative run wild on one guy or you run the risk ready to play each game. While we had our funny guys who kept things of missing how many "leaders" you actually have wearing your favourite loose, it was also a club well-policed about when it was time to get team’s sweater. serious. Chosen ninth overall by the NHL's St. Louis Blues and first overall by the Next up for me was the Winnipeg Jets, the team I joined for the last Avco WHA's Houston Aeros in 1977, Scott Campbell has now been drafted by Cup win in 1979 (after the Aeros folded at the end of the season) along the Winnipeg Free Press to play a new style of game. with a bunch of Houston teammates. Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 12.08.2017 We walked into a dressing room full of players who were already two- time Avco Cup winners and were the defending champs. Our captain, Lars-Erik Sjoberg, missed most of the year with an Achilles injury, returning near the end of the season. While a fairly quiet guy, he had a terrific sense of humour, knowing exactly when to inject it. When he spoke seriously everybody listened intently. He always backed it up with his play on the ice. It’s been written more than once that (former Aero) Terry Ruskowski was the heart and soul of the Jets that year. At just five-foot-eight, he was absolutely fearless and a fantastic player. For me, the list of inspirational players that year is lengthy: Barry Long fearlessly blocking shots without a helmet; Billy Lesuk tracking down every puck like he owned it; Kim Clackson laying down the law. Leadership comes in many forms and there were a number of others who contributed here. The following year we entered the NHL and lost several top-end players, as the NHL teams got their revenge by stripping the four clubs that came from the WHA. We still had Sjoberg as our captain for one last year. That team worked hard and lost a ton of close games — we did everything we could with what we had. After "Shoe" retired, I was named captain for the following season. I was told to just be myself, but I looked for things from the leaders before me and tried to ensure I was saying and doing the right thing. I sustained a shoulder injury and played in only 14 games that year. Unfortunately I ended up the only plus player on a team that had a couple guys in the minus-50s and another at minus-61. However, I couldn’t have saved the team from their 30-game winless streak with a rousing pre-game speech while not playing. You need to lead with your on-ice actions as well. Some leaders inspire others to be at their best using only their play; some use their voices. The odd time you get a good mix in one player. Overall, my dressing rooms had both jokers who kept us loose and guys who reminded us that it’s time to turn the music off and get serious. Preparation for a game actually started the night before and continued throughout the day, so this is only the closer. If you had enough "good pros" in your room, the young ones knew what to do. 1087272 Winnipeg Jets "And Connor (Hellebuyck) has played a few more games than we would have liked originally with Steve (Mason’s) injury. We have an awful lot of hockey coming up ahead and Steve may be back soon, but we still don’t Eric Comrie gets start tonight as Jets try to avoid back-to-back losses know. So this is a good game for (Comrie) to get into." James Reimer, who hails from Morweena northwest of Arborg, will start for the Panthers and should get plenty of work over the next few weeks. Jason Bell Florida starter Roberto Luongo is out indefinitely with a lower-body injury. Posted: 12/7/2017 12:41 PM Head coach Bob Boughner, in his first season behind the Florida bench after serving as an assistant with the San Jose Sharks for two seasons, has an extremely high opinion of the Jets' defensive corps. SUNRISE, Fla. — The Winnipeg Jets haven't lost back-to-back games in regulation time since their 2017-18 season started with a thud exactly "I love their six. I worked with a group similar to that in San Jose last two months ago. year. We had some big horses," he said. "As a coach, you don't have to worry too much about trying to match up when you have six guys like The team will try and avoid that like the plague tonight — and goalie Eric that. If you get caught, it's not a big deal. That's the luxury of having Comrie hopes to do his part in his second-ever NHL start — as the Jets those kinds of guys. face the Florida Panthers. "It doesn't mean that we can't put pressure on them, put pucks behind Game time at BB&T Centre is set for 6:30 p.m. CT. them and make them defend. That's the key for (tonight)." Winnipeg (17-7-4), second in the Central Division and just a point behind Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 12.08.2017 the Nashville Predators, is looking to rebound from a 5-1 defeat Tuesday night inflicted by the Detroit Red Wings. The Jets stumbled in just about all facets of the game. They started slowly and fell behind 2-0 after the first period, failed to defend sufficiently five-on-five while generating few scoring chances of their own, botched five of six power-play chances and settled for just average goaltending from Connor Hellebuyck. Tonight, the visitors to southern Florida have a shot at redemption when they face the Panthers (10-13-4), who gained single points in their last two outings, but have only three victories in their last nine contests. "We didn't like our game that much, so same thing, put it behind you," said Winnipeg defenceman Jacob Trouba. "You've got a new one coming up, so have a short memory, go out there and keep doing the things that made us successful in the past." Winnipeg started the 2017-18 campaign with consecutive losses to the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs on Oct. 4 and the host Calgary Flames Oct. 7. The club's only other back-to-back losses were in overtime in late October in Pittsburgh and Columbus. The Jets are 7-1-1 following defeats this season. Trouba said they club's reaction after losses has been one of its strong points. "The leadership's pretty good with that. There's a sense of urgency," he said. "You notice the last couple of years the good teams don't really go on those losing streaks. They'll drop one here or there, but then they go on more winning streaks than losing streaks. So you have a little bit of urgency after you lose a game and know that you have to bring a response." Comrie, up with the club since Nov. 27 after Steve Mason suffered a concussion, gets the nod from coach Paul Maurice tonight. The 22-year-old netminder from Edmonton has had an exceptional start to the AHL season with the Manitoba Moose, posting an 8-4-1 record with a shutout, a 2.30 goals-against average and a .927 save percentage. Comrie said it's crucial he maintains the same mind frame as any other night he takes to the crease. "I have to treat it the same way, I can't look at it any differently," he said. "I think if you try and ramp up, you get too anxious and too ramped and you start making mistakes instead of being calm and letting the game come to you." Comrie had 35 saves in an unforgettable NHL debut in April as the Jets beat the Blue Jackets 5-4 in Columbus. "I enjoyed it so much and really took in as much as I could from that game. It's a dream come true playing in the NHL and, for myself, I'm just trying to go out there and enjoy this game as well," he said. Hellebuyck gets a night off after starting five straight and 10 of the club's last 12 contests. Maurice said the decision to go with the rookie came down to a combination of Comrie's preparedness and ensuring Winnipeg's regular No.1 guy gets a bit of a break. "(Comrie) came up playing well and now has had a little time with us, a little time on the ice to get used to the shooters at this level," he said. 1087273 Winnipeg Jets “We were off a bit from where we felt we’d been playing. We had just come off a stretch of four games where we’d scored 21 goals and it was looking like we felt it should go that way,” said Maurice. “And the NHL Laine says Barkov would be a star in Canadian market…Nothing comes doesn’t operate like that.” easy…Pre-emptive strike for Hellebuyck…Praise for Hutchinson Translation, when you don’t have your skating legs and don’t bring your lunch pail to work, goals are going to be hard to come by.” Ken Wiebe Praise for Hutchinson Published:December 7, 2017 After splitting the net with veteran Ondrej Pavelec for a good chunk of last season with the Moose, Comrie’s goaltending partner this season Updated:December 7, 2017 10:37 PM CST has been Michael Hutchinson, who spent a good chunk of the past two seasons and change with the Jets.

Hutchinson was recently named goalie of the month for November and is SUNRISE, Fla – Aleksander Barkov isn’t an unknown commodity when it one of the hottest netminders not playing in the NHL right now. comes to those who play in the NHL or those who follow it closely. Hutchinson, 27, is 9-1 with a 1.73 goals-against average and .951 save But the Florida Panthers top centre still enjoys a certain level of % in 11 games this season. anonymity and remains an underrated force when it comes to his place in the NHL pecking order. The internal competition with Comrie has been good for both goalies so far and Hutchinson has been a sounding board as well. Don’t believe me? No problem. “He’s a great guy. He’s a really good goaltender. He’s posting some What do you think, Patrik Laine? great numbers down there and he’s been a good goalie in the NHL for a couple of years, too,” said Comrie. “For myself, just trying to absorb as “If he would play in Canada or somewhere else, he would be a star in the much as I can from him. He’s such a good guy and he’s been helping me city,” Laine, the Winnipeg Jets sniper, said of his Finnish countryman on a lot.” Thursday before a game against the Panthers. “When people think about the Florida Panthers, you’re thinking about him for sure. I would say he’s There are several NHL teams looking at adding depth between the pipes, underrated in the league.” so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff move Hutchinson at some point, even though he’s a Laine and Barkov played together for Finland at the 2016 World Cup of valuable insurance policy. Hockey and developed a nice friendship. The Panthers could be a candidate, since Roberto Luongo is on the shelf “He’s a few years older and was always playing a few years ahead of for an extended period of time with a lower-body injury. me, but I met him for the first time during the World Cup and now I would say he’s one of my best buddies for sure,” said Laine. “I don’t have a Winnipeg Sun LOADED 12.08.2017 particular story right now. There’s a bunch of good stories. But you can ask him, he’s a story teller.” Barkov, who was chosen second overall in the 2013 NHL Draft, had 10 goals and 26 points in 27 games going into Thursday’s action while averaging nearly 23 minutes of ice time per game. Hellebuyck gets breather There was some mild surprise when youngster Eric Comrie left the ice first on Thursday morning and was the Jets starting goalie against the Panthers. And it had little to do with Comrie, who has enjoyed an excellent season with the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League. But with the way the games on this three-game road trip were spread out, there was a belief Jets head coach Paul Maurice might just continue to ride the hot hand in Hellebuyck, who is 15-3-3 with a 2.44 goals- against average and .921 save % in 23 games (and 21 starts). Maurice was asked if he felt Hellebuyck had shown any signs of fatigue recently? “No. We’re trying to stay away from (fatigue), we’re trying to stay ahead of that curve and not wait until he’s dragging in games. We just want to make sure he stays sharp,” said Maurice. “(Comrie) came up playing well (in the minors) and now has had a little time with us, a little time on the ice to get used to the shooters at this level. And (Hellebuyck) has played a few more games than we would have liked originally with Steve (Mason’s) injury.” Hellebuyck should be feeling rested for Saturday’s game against the league-leading Tampa Bay Lightning. As for Comrie, his excitement about starting his second NHL game was evident as he spoke to reporters on Thursday morning, but he wasn’t about to put any additional pressure on himself to perform. “Just the same as any other game for myself, just have to prepare the same way and go there and do the same things I do every single game day,” said Comrie. “I have to treat it the same way, I can’t look at it any differently. I think if you try and ramp up, you get too anxious and too ramped and you start making mistakes instead of being calm and letting the game come to you.” Well ran dry The biggest surprise to many about Tuesday’s 5-1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings was that the Jets weren’t able to generate much offensively, but Maurice offered a reason why while discussing with reporters on Thursday morning. 1087274 Winnipeg Jets

Comrie gets call for Jets: Third-year pro in goal tonight vs Panthers

Ken Wiebe Published:December 7, 2017 Updated:December 7, 2017 3:30 PM CST

SUNRISE, Fla – Eric Comrie is planning to take a familiar approach to making his second NHL start. It’s not that the third-year pro wasn’t feeling a little extra excitement as he gets set to face the Florida Panthers on Thursday at BB&T Arena, it’s just that he knows making the required saves isn’t about trying any harder than he already does. “Just the same as any other game for myself, just have to prepare the same way and go there and do the same things I do every single game day,” said Comrie. “I have to treat it the same way, I can’t look at it any differently. If you try to ramp up, you get too anxious and too ramped and you start making mistakes instead of being calm and letting the game come to you.” Comrie made his NHL debut last April, making 35 saves in a 5-4 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets. “Just how much fun it was. I enjoyed it so much and really took in as much as I could from that game,” said Comrie. “It’s a dream come true playing in the NHL and, for myself, I’m just trying to go out there and enjoy this game as well.” That’s an experience Comrie plans to draw on and the same goes for his red-hot start to the season with the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League, where he’s gone 8-4-1 with a 2.30 goals-against average and .927 save % in 13 games. The Jets (17-7-4) are looking to regroup after a poor effort in a 5-1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday in the Motor City. “You’ve got to hit the reset button and get back to your strengths,” said Maurice. “We weren’t there (Tuesday) and Detroit deserved to win the game. They played a real hard game. We were off a bit from where we felt we’d been playing at that point. We had just come off a stretch of four games where we’d scored 21 goals and it was looking like we felt it should go that way. And the NHL doesn’t operate like that. We’ll get back to doing some good, hard things, simple things and play with that confidence that means you don’t have to do everything every time you touch the puck.” Maurice said the decision to go with Comrie was two-fold: it’s about rewarding a young goalie for his hard work and also about not wanting Connor Hellebuyck to get overworked. “We’re trying to stay away from (fatigue), we’re trying to stay ahead of that curve and not wait until he’s dragging in games. We just want to make sure he stays sharp,” said Maurice. “(Comrie) came up playing well (in the minors) and now has had a little time with us, a little time on the ice to get used to the shooters at this level. And (Hellebuyck) has played a few more games than we would have liked originally with Steve (Mason’s) injury. We have an awful lot of hockey coming up ahead and (Mason) may be back soon, but we still don’t know. So this is a good game for (Comrie) to get into.” Showing an ability to regroup after difficult defeats has been a common theme for the Jets, who haven’t lost consecutive games in regulation since the first two games of the campaign. “We didn’t like our game that much (on Tuesday), so same thing, put it behind you. You’ve got a new one coming up so have a short memory, go out there and keep doing the things that made us successful in the past,” said Jets defenceman Jacob Trouba. “Nothing really changes for us. We know what kind of goalie (Comrie) is and what he’s capable of. He should it in that game (against the Blue Jackets) last year. Nothing changes in our mindset in front of him.” The Panthers are 10-13-4 this season under new head coach Bob Boughner and will turn to Morweena product James Reimer in goal with Roberto Luongo out long term with a lower-body injury. Reimer is 4-6-3 this season with a 3.67 goals-against average and .892 save % in 14 appearances. Winnipeg Sun LOADED 12.08.2017 1087275 Winnipeg Jets

Jets prospect eyes World Juniors

Paul Friesen Published:December 6, 2017 Updated:December 6, 2017 6:21 PM CST

Winnipeg Jets prospect Logan Stanley will be looking to secure his seat on Team Canada's bench for the World Juniors later this month. (Richard Lam/PNG) One Winnipeg Jets prospect earned an invitation to Team Canada’s selection camp for the World Juniors. Towering defenceman Logan Stanley, the Jets first-round draft pick, 18th overall, in 2016 will be one of 10 players trying to win seven spots on the blue line. “It’s really special to be recognized by your country and have an opportunity to compete for a gold medal,” Stanley told the Waterloo Record, Wednesday. Stanley has already reached junior career highs in goals (seven) and points (22) through 28 games with the Kitchener Rangers of the OHL. The 6-foot-7, 231-pounder is also on pace for a career high in penalty minutes, with 56. “We need Logan to come in and be that big presence,” Team Canada head scout Brad McEwen said. “His skill set is quite capable of playing fast and getting pucks up ice… but we’re really looking for him to bring that edge, bring that length he has, and he’s been doing that.” McEwen described Stanley’s game as “fairly consistent” this season. “His team has had some success the first half. And the times we’ve seem him we haven’t been disappointed in his game. He’s trending the right way. “Obviously he’s a young guy, and everybody, when they come into this process and they get to camp, need to identify or define how they are as a player and play to your skill set.” It’s Stanley’s first crack at a national team since he was part of the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in 2014. Stanley helped the Windsor Spitfires win the Memorial Cup last season. In the summer he was traded to Kitchener, who were 18-10-2, good for second in their conference, going into Wednesday night. Winnipeg Sun LOADED 12.08.2017 1087276 Winnipeg Jets What I am here to tell you today is that the Winnipeg Jets, despite these criticisms, are trending in the right direction – that they are an excellent team, even by metrics they struggled with early this season.

How, when, and why the Winnipeg Jets became worthy of their record More than that, I am here to argue that this trend can be traced to a very specific day in Winnipeg’s season, November 16, 2017: the day Perreault came back from injury. By Murat Ates 17 hours ago There are the usual caveats – the penalty kill continues to struggle and Hellebuyck, who is probably quite good, has instead been amazing – but some of the traditional indicators of a strong team are starting to make The Winnipeg Jets are winning and those darned analytics folks are at it themselves known. again. Take shot attempts, for example. Here is what they looked like on the First, Tyler Dellow called the Jets’ success unsustainable. day Perreault returned from injury: Next, Dom Luszczyszyn told us they were getting lucky. Yes, that’s Winnipeg in 30th place. Even though the Jets were 10-4-3 at And just this week, Garret Hohl concluded that their point pace is due to the time, there were genuine reasons for alarm. Over a long enough time falter. frame, teams that get outshot as badly as Winnipeg did don’t keep winning games. Can’t they see what we see? How long is long enough? Hohl, in the piece I linked above, cites JETS TIED FOR 1ST IN THE NHL, MOOSE TIED FOR 1ST IN THE research that CF% through 20 games is more predictive of wins during AHL. the remaining 62 games in a season than a team’s actual 20-game win- loss record. WHEELER 4TH IN NHL SCORING, ROSLOVIC 2ND IN AHL SCORING. So when Dellow looked at Winnipeg’s shot share and compared it to its AND TONIGHT'S POST-GAME QUOTES ARE ALL ABOUT HOW even-strength shooting percentage – higher through mid-November than MUCH #NHLJETS LOVE PLAYING TOGETHER. is typical even for end-of-season league leaders – he had good cause for EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS MOMENT IS PERFECT FOR JETS FANS. concern. Winnipeg could finish its chances at a higher rate than any team in recent memory and still score less than the Jets had done to that point — MURAT (@WPGMURAT) DECEMBER 4, 2017 in the season.

The results in Winnipeg have been sweeter than the maple syrup on a In short, Winnipeg needed to improve its shot share. And, since the stick at Festival du Voyageur on a cold February day. return of Perreault, the Jets have done exactly that.

So why so many critics? Here are the NHL’s shot attempts from November 16 through the end of December 4, reflecting the 10 games Winnipeg has played* since When I was a creative writing student, one of the first lessons I was Perreault’s return: taught was about characterization. “There are three ways to learn about someone,” my professor told us. “What they do, what they say, and what *Note: data does not include December 5th at Detroit. others say about them.” It’s a quantum leap – since Perreault’s first game back from injury, The Winnipeg Jets are 17-7-4 on the season heading into Thursday's Winnipeg is solidly entrenched among the league’s shot share leaders. game against Florida, 6-3-1 in their last 10, and are fourth in the NHL. Their power play is second in the league, their PK has climbed to 14th, The effect isn’t limited to shot attempts. Here’s the NHL’s expected goals and they seem to be scoring at will. In short, what they have done as a per cent at 5-on-5 from the beginning of the season through November team is nothing short of phenomenal. 15th:

What the Jets are saying about each other is just as good. All quotes via That’s the Jets there in 23rd. Not that they do outperform their Corsi in Jets official Twitter. terms of xG% – based on my research into 2015/16, I would suggest this is normal for a Paul Maurice coached Jets team. It’s just not nearly Mark Scheifele, on Blake Wheeler: “Wheels is an unbelievable player enough to cross 50 per cent. Remember that xG% is an estimate of shot and he shows it each and every night. I’m honoured to be on a line with quality – even when accounting for systemic advantages in shot location, him.” Winnipeg was below average midway through November.

Mathieu Perreault, on Scheifele and Wheeler, as a duo: “[They’re] two of Want to see expected goals since Perreault’s return? Of course you do: the best players in the league right now.” *Note: data does not include December 5th at Detroit. And just to prove Wheeler can give it as good as he gets, here he is on Perreault. “When he’s out there, no matter which line… So much stuff Once again, Winnipeg has skyrocketed from the bottom to a range quite seems to happen with him on the ice.” near the top of the league.

What are other teams saying? Unlike some of the Jets’ early results – where they’ve been propped up by excellent goaltending despite being badly outshot – their work over Senators’ forward Mark Stone called Winnipeg’s 5-0 Sunday night the past 10 games has been legitimately excellent. showstopper, “The most embarrassed I’ve ever felt playing in the NHL.” Is the difference between Winnipeg winning more than they should and Nate Thompson, Ottawa’s fourth line centre, said Winnipeg made the leading the league as black and white as the return of one player? Senators “look like a mite team out there.” Almost. There is also one more extremely valuable and, in my opinion, Here’s the thing. Despite presenting all of this praise, I do see the somewhat overlooked reason for Winnipeg’s surge in territorial wisdom in my colleagues’ collective critiques. dominance.

Winnipeg did need to start generating more shot attempts. The Jets are Let’s rewind a moment. Here are Winnipeg’s lines during its 5-4 loss to riding hot percentages, both while shooting and while Connor Hellebuyck Montreal on November 4 – almost two weeks before Perreault’s return – is in goal. And, as Garret Hohl pointed out most recently, they have a game in which the Jets lost the territorial battle by a large margin. earned a disproportionate amount of points from one-goal games – historically an indicator of good luck. Plus, if we’re being truly fair, all Connor–Scheifele–Wheeler three of their articles are much more nuanced than the black-and-white Ehlers –Little –Laine statements I cherry-picked at the top of this piece. Copp–Matthias–Tanev But I don’t want to play fairly. Lemieux–Hendricks–Armia The Canadiens’ game-winning goal came on their 50th shot against Here is Perreault with Hendricks and Armia on the fourth line: Hellebuyck. Wheeler, historically a puck possession demon, was on the ice for nine shot attempts for and 29 against at 5-on-5. The Jets as a *Note: data does not include December 5th at Detroit. team were +27, -54 by the same measure – to harp on this for one more Perreault has nearly single-handedly turned the fourth line from a beat, Winnipeg allowed two shot attempts against for each one it took. position of weakness into a decided strength. And still got a point. Such was the magic of the percentages run they were on at the time. Perreault, along with Matt Hendricks and Joel Armia, have been excellent together – five goals for and one against in just under 60 even strength After that night, Brendan Lemieux was demoted to the press box where minutes. They’re full value for it, too: with 60.4 per cent of the shot he lingered for a week before returning to the AHL Moose. The man who attempts, 66.7 per cent of the shots, and an xG of 64 per cent. dressed in his place, of course, was Adam Lowry. In short, their results are real and they are spectacular. Combined with And it was in this moment that Maurice struck gold. the ability of Lowry’s line to drive possession against seemingly any *Note: data does not include December 5th at Detroit. opposition, Perreault’s resuscitation of the fourth line gives Maurice a decided matchup advantage. In 130 minutes together at 5-on-5, Andrew Copp, Lowry, and Brandon Tanev have been absolutely formidable. Almost 60 per cent shot Winnipeg’s continued commitment to playing skill throughout its lineup attempts. More than 60 per cent shots. More than 65 per cent expected gives them exactly the kind of competitive advantage we hoped for when goals and 60 per cent of actual goals scored while they’ve been on the discussing Winnipeg's most optimal lines – it’s just not quite in the form ice. we expected it.

Who would have thought this was possible? Earlier this season, I wrote Chemistry is a funny thing. As much as we try to predict how certain extensively on Winnipeg’s depth forwards and identified Copp as worthy changes will work, there are some things that simply can’t be known until of an increased role, but I’m not going to pat myself on the back: I they are experienced. absolutely did not see Tanev succeeding in this role. Somehow, against my own expectations, Winnipeg’s line of Lowry, Copp, It could be that my numbers missed what the eyes make clear – Tanev is and Tanev have earned terrific results against any and all opposition. a fast, gutsy, straight-line player who skates for miles and hits anything Maurice couldn’t have known they’d be this good when he put them that moves. It could be that Lowry and Copp are propping him up – the together but suddenly, the Jets have a third line that is dominating two of them fare better in these metrics without Tanev than he does possession metrics. without them – but the line’s success as a whole is undeniable. As for Perreault, I can’t help but conclude that Wheeler was right. Any Perhaps the single most impressive aspect of this line’s success is that, line you play him on, Perreault finds a way to make good things happen. on occasion, Maurice has chosen them and not Scheifele's line to match He and Armia are carrying Hendricks to an expected goal share that is against the opposition’s best forwards. almost impossibly good – impossible, that is, until you look at the somehow-even-better results they’ve enjoyed as a trio. That brings us back to November 16, with Winnipeg at home to the Philadelphia Flyers. A week into December, the Jets have one of the best records in NHL and yes, they have been fortunate to earn some of their points. However, That night, with 12:45 remaining in the second period, Maurice found since November 16, they have been almost exactly as dominant by himself down 2-0 with a faceoff to the left of Flyers’ goaltender Brian possession metrics as they have been on the scoreboard. Elliott. The Jets’ power play had just come off the ice and, in an attempt to gain a favourable match-up, Philadelphia sent out its top line of Claude With so much forward depth, perhaps it was only a matter of time. Giroux, Sean Couturier, and Wayne Simmonds to take the draw. The Athletic LOADED: 12.08.2017 Up until this point in the game, Maurice was content to play power vs. power – almost every time Giroux’s line came over the boards, Maurice had countered with Scheifele, Wheeler, and Connor. This time, they weren’t ready – they’d just played more than a minute on the power play.

So out comes Lowry’s line. They lose the draw but stifle the Flyers’ breakout attempt. Copp dumps the puck into Tanev’s corner, Tanev wins the race, and Winnipeg’s third line hems in Philadelphia’s first for half a shift.

The Flyers clear it and Giroux gains the Jets zone, but gets stopped by a team effort from Jacob Trouba and Lowry. The puck heads back into the Flyers zone, the Flyers reclaim it, and Winnipeg breaks up yet another zone entry as most of Philadelphia’s top line goes for a change. Exactly one minute has gone by since the beginning of this shift and Giroux’s line hasn’t gotten a sniff.

For the rest of the game, every time Giroux comes onto the ice, Maurice goes right back to Lowry, Copp, and Tanev.

By the end of that game against the Flyers, Maurice’s usage of his suddenly formidable third line was enough to give Scheifele and Wheeler a lighter workload and their first Corsi-positive game in nearly two weeks.

The effectiveness of the new trio has given Winnipeg a viable old-school checking line.

Here are Winnipeg’s lines since that night:

Connor–Scheifele–Wheeler

Ehlers-Little–Laine

Copp–Lowry–Tanev

Perreault–Hendricks–Armia

We’ve established the astonishing success of Lowry, Copp, and Tanev as the Jets’ third line but it’s time to talk about Perreault again. 1087277 Winnipeg Jets And what of Quebec City in all of this?

“I don't know the answer to that because, as I said, all we're doing is accepting Seattle's application,” said Bettman. “Obviously, there are a lot LeBrun: NHL eager to get Seattle in the mix as expansion and relocation of differences between Seattle and Quebec City, not the least of which is are the talk of Board of Governors meetings our alignment. These are all things that will have to be considered.”

Added Bettman: “Our plan is just to look at Seattle at this point in time.”

By Pierre LeBrun 8 hours ago You feel for hockey fans in Quebec City. There’s a beautiful rink there, I saw firsthand a few years ago that it’s spectacular, it would be among the best NHL rinks going. PALM BEACH, Fla. — The train has left the station and it would be shocking at this point if Seattle doesn’t indeed get an NHL team. One of the reasons the NHL gave for rejecting Quebec City’s bid last time around was geography and the desire to focus on balancing the That’s the only conclusion one can draw after the NHL announced on conferences. Seattle, once in, will make it a clean 16 clubs on each side. Thursday that it not only was allowing and Jerry Bruckheimer to commence a season-ticket drive in Seattle — just like Bill “I don’t think today’s events have any impact on Quebec City,” said Daly. Foley was granted three years ago for Las Vegas — but on top of that, “If I wanted to be positive, I’d say one of the things we kept harping on is and this is an important distinction, the Seattle group was invited to we need another team in the West before we consider expanding in the officially apply for an expansion team. East. If, if, if Seattle submits an expansion application and is approved by the Board, then you have your other team in the West and you’ve solved That’s one layer Vegas didn’t get out of the gates three years ago. It your balance issue.” shows just how eager and aggressive the NHL is in finally getting Seattle to join the party. In other words, what Daly is saying is that one way of looking at it if you’re Quebec is that Seattle balancing out the conferences is a needed Unless Bonderman and Bruckheimer don’t want to write a fat cheque for step before the league can circle back to Quebec City one day in one $650 million, the jaw-dropping expansion fee this time around, there’s no form or another, whether that’s expanding to 34 teams or a franchise question NHL hockey is going to Seattle. relocation in the East.

“Mr. Bonderman, with his partner Jerry Bruckheimer, has asked if they But for now, the return of the Nordiques has never seemed so far away. might file an application for an expansion team,” Bettman announced after the first day of the Board of Governors meetings. “The Board has If Seattle does indeed come on board, by the way, it will require said that they may do that. That doesn't mean we have granted an realignment since the Pacific Division already has one extra team over expansion team. We have agreed as a league to take and consider an the Central Division and obviously Seattle would be in the Pacific. expansion application and to let them run in the next few months a “We haven’t discussed it all with the Board,” Daly said of Seattle’s season ticket drive. This is a process that we go through. You'll all inclusion forcing some realignment. “Gary and I have had some handicap the likelihood of it being successful or not. I can't stop that preliminary discussions with some ideas — but I think that would be way speculation, but the fact of the matter is the Board has authorized us to premature to talk about that, because there’s been no decision to permit them to file an expansion application and do a season-ticket expand. There’s been an invitation to submit an expansion application.” drive.” The Vancouver Canucks will be most affected by the advent of a team in The interesting caveat? Seattle, and team president Trevor Linden didn’t hesitate one bit when “If we decide, if for whatever reason for the 2020-21 season (when the asked Thursday how his organization feels with regard to the idea of a arena will be ready in Seattle), instead of expansion we'd like to use an team in Seattle. existing franchise, that's always an option, but that's not something we're “We love it,” Linden told The Athletic. “It would be a rivalry that’s close. It focused on now because we don't anticipate anybody moving like that,” would be good for our fans. We’ve seen that rivalry in soccer. We are all added Bettman. in, we fully support that.”

In other words, and this is my own speculation, if the Arizona Coyotes Just having a team so close for the first time would have obvious have to move before Seattle is granted an expansion team, that could be benefits. the other way Seattle gets its team. “We were talking about that the other day, would we take the bus?” But Bettman once again went out of his way to suggest the Coyotes smiled Linden. “We hear about these bus trips out East. But it would be aren’t going anywhere. good. From a league standpoint, it checks the box with market, building “They are still working on getting a building in Arizona and so I don't view and ownership, and it certainly addresses the conferences balancing. So, them right now as a candidate for moving,” said Bettman. lots of positives I think.”

The Coyotes don’t have a future in Glendale, that building location is Bettman says the league is fairly aware of Seattle as a market, although killing them. So the focus right now is on trying to find a rink in Phoenix or more due diligence will now be needed. Scottsdale; and it would make the most sense to partner up with the NBA “From everything I know viscerally, I think it'll be a good market. I think Suns to that end. the geographic rivalry with Vancouver as potential will be nice,” said “I think that would be a logical alternative to explore,” NHL deputy Bettman. “Building up a bigger presence in the Pacific Northwest for the commissioner Bill Daly said of the Coyotes and Suns trying to partner up NHL, a place that we know has great hockey interest at a variety of other on a new rink. levels, it's an intriguing possibility. But we've got homework to do.”

“They continue to work on a variety of alternatives,” Daly added, HURRICANES SALE regarding the Coyotes’ arena plans. “As Gary said, the ownership there The Hurricanes are finalizing their sale to Tom Dundon. The Dallas wants to make it happen more than anyone else. So they're working on it. businessman met with the NHL’s executive committee of owners I'm sure when they have something to announce, they'll announce.” Thursday morning.

But time is of the essence, to be sure. Bettman said the purchase agreement was signed late Wednesday night The other scenario, perhaps, if Seattle gets its expansion team before and the final sale, which has to be vetted by the league, should be done Arizona figures out its future, is Houston perhaps being a relocation within a few weeks, as late as into January. option for the Coyotes, keeping them in the Western Conference. But for Dundon will own close to 52 percent of the team, a source told The now, Bettman downplayed Houston when asked about whether that city Athletic, and longtime Hurricanes owner Peter Karmanos Jr. would retain came up in the Board meeting Thursday. the other 48 or so percent. The source also said that Dundon has an “Only the fact that I had gotten a question about had we been in contact option in three years’ time to buy the remaining shares off Karmanos. and I said just very generally. There is nothing going on right now with Houston,” said Bettman. Dundon and Karmanos spoke with my TSN colleague Gino Reda after the meeting with the executive committee and was careful to say the deal wasn’t done yet.

However, he did make it clear that he wasn’t buying the team to try to relocate it.

“It was very important. It was never really a consideration,” Dundon told TSN. “The consideration was, am I going to buy a franchise that operates in Raleigh, not buy a franchise that I can perhaps move somewhere else. The league is not amenable to moving franchises at all.”

The fact is, as Bettman noted, any new franchise purchase requires the new owner to keep the team in the market for at least seven years.

“I want to address one rumor about as crystal clear and as absolute terms as I can, Tom Dundon is buying his interest in the Hurricanes to have the Hurricanes in Carolina,” Bettman said. “This is not a team that is being moved. The rumors that it might be moving somewhere else are absolutely incorrect, made up, fabrications, wrong, wrong, wrong. The club is not going anywhere with Mr. Dundon's purchase and for those of you who know geography, the fact that he lives in Dallas and that happens to be in the same state as Houston has nothing to do with anything. He's buying the club to have it in Carolina. I want to be crystal clear on this because it's really not fair to the players, the fans or anybody in the Triangle that this rumor has started. It's just not accurate.”

OK then.

BETTMAN ON OTTAWA

The Ottawa Senators haven’t drawn well this year and there’s another team that needs a new rink.

“I think on some level (owner) is disappointed based on how well the team performed last year, but it's also what's driving the motivation behind wanting a new arena downtown in a place that is more accessible,” said Bettman.

SECOND TEAM IN TORONTO

The idea of a second team in Toronto has fizzled away recently. Which is fine with the Maple Leafs, no question. Although when I asked Leafs chairman Larry Tanenbaum for his view on the notion of having a second team in Toronto one day, he shied away from that delicate topic Thursday.

“I’m going to keep that to myself,” Tanenbaum responded when asked what his personal viewpoint was on having a second team in Toronto.

I’ve said it for years and I will continue to say it: It’s crazy there are not two teams in hockey’s biggest market. The population base and money that’s in the Greater Toronto Area would easily support two teams. And I’d have them both play out of the Air Canada Centre along with the NBA Raptors, just like the Staples Center in Los Angeles has three tenants.

The Athletic LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087278 Vancouver Canucks “That’s my game,” Vanek says. “Sometimes I don’t think Greener likes it too much, or any coach. I know that. There are a few turnovers you’d like back, but, overall, I think I’m getting better defensively. There are times I Ed Willes: Canucks need Thomas Vanek and his unique game more than try things where I kick myself, but I guess that’s part of my game.” ever But this is also part of his game. After 13 seasons, he retains that sublime scoring touch. Vanek is 11th among active NHLers in career goals, ahead of players like Evgeni Malkin, Phil Kessel and Steven ED WILLES Stamkos. He’s also made just under $80 million in his career so, clearly, he isn’t chasing the money. Published:December 7, 2017 “I’m not proving it to myself,” Vanek said. “I know I can play in this league Updated:December 7, 2017 3:41 PM PST and still be effective.” He’s asked if the game has changed since he broke in 13 years ago. The hired gun is used to it by now. “I don’t know,” he said. “I hear that all the time. I think there are faster individuals in the league, but I don’t know if the game has changed. He knows he’ll always get a look because, at 33, he still offers something that is hard to find in today’s game. But it also seems the clock is ticking “I remember in my early years (in Buffalo), we had Danny Briere. Those the moment he arrives in a new town. One season he played with three fast guys existed back then, too.” different teams. Last year, he had two stops before the Vancouver Canucks offered him a deal just before the start of the season. Maybe there just weren’t as many of them. He would like to stay in one place for more than a year — or half a year Vanek’s rookie season came in 2005-06 with the Sabres and there are for that matter — and the back of his hockey card suggests he should just a handful of players still active from that team, including old friend earn some stability in his life. Ryan Miller. That year, Sabres captain , who has been retired for seven years now, drew the rookie aside and told him to forget about But that’s not his reality. his stats. No, this is his reality: Five seasons, seven teams, and a home for “He said the numbers will come if you play well,” Vanek said. moment with the Canucks but nothing guaranteed beyond this season. The numbers are still coming. He just doesn’t know where they will take “I’ve been through it a few times now, so it’s not that hard,” Thomas him next. Vanek says. “In hockey, everywhere you go, you know somebody who knows somebody. I think I know 300 guys by now. Vancouver Province: LOADED: 12.08.2017 “I had a great time in Detroit (where he started last season before he was traded to Florida before he signed with the Canucks and after … never mind). In the end, it didn’t work out. It would have been nice to stay somewhere and not move.” Maybe he’ll get that chance in Vancouver. Most likely he won’t, but whatever happens, he can take some solace in this: The Canucks can’t complain Vanek isn’t holding up his end of his one-year, $2-million deal. Heading into Thursday night’s meeting with the Philadelphia Flyers, the veteran winger has represented sound money for a team that was in desperate need of offence when he signed in September. There are 11 Canucks forwards who have averaged more minutes than the Austrian- born sniper, but Vanek sits third on the team in scoring, with seven goals and 18 points after 28 games. That production, moreover, becomes even more vital to the Canucks’ cause with Thursday’s news that top centre Bo Horvat will be out of the lineup for a month and a half. There are a number of reasons for the team’s modest success thus far, but the biggest might be it no longer takes an Act of Parliament for the Canucks to put the puck in the net. Vanek has a lot to do with that. “I feel really good,” he says. “I feel better than I did three, four years ago. The older you get — and I don’t think 33 is that old — you learn what’s good for your body. The minutes are what they are, but I’ll try to create every shift I’m out there.” Ah, yes. The minutes. Vanek is averaging 13:15 minutes per game, or just under three minutes less than Markus Granlund. “I like a lot of parts to his game,” said Canucks head coach Travis Green. “He’s a smart hockey player who’s been in the league a long time. He’s good around the net. He’s a good leader.” Which makes you wonder how much Vanek would play if Green didn’t like his game. In truth, the disparity between Vanek’s ice time and production is easily explained. He might be the ultimate risk-reward player, and while that makes him fun to watch from a spectator’s perspective, it doesn’t engender trust and goodwill from the head coach. Vanek’s game, simply put, isn’t compatible with the prevailing NHL zeitgeist and its emphasis on speed and puck management. Today’s game is played with broad strokes. Vanek plays with the fine strokes of an artist. He slows the game down. He looks for plays that aren’t immediately apparent to his less-imaginative colleagues. When they work, it’s something to behold. When they don’t, it’s an odd- man rush going the other way, which might explain the 13 minutes a game and the minus-8 beside his name. 1087279 Vancouver Canucks

Bo Horvat sidelined for up to six weeks with a fractured foot

PATRICK JOHNSTON Published:December 7, 2017 Updated:December 7, 2017 11:53 AM PST

Canucks head coach Travis Green confirmed Thursday morning that centre Bo Horvat has a fractured foot. “He’s seeing a specialist today,” Green said. “It’s going to be multiple weeks…probably up to six weeks.” “It’s going to be a big opportunity for someone on our team.” Vancouver Province: LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087280 Vancouver Canucks

Canucks' Game Day: Flyers 'way more sore than soar' landing at Rogers

PATRICK JOHNSTON Published:December 7, 2017 Updated:December 7, 2017 11:52 AM PST

The Vancouver Canucks, on a three-game winning streak, look to carry on with their fine form Thursday as they host the struggling Philadelphia Flyers at Rogers Arena (7 p.m., Sportsnet Pacific, Sportsnet 650 AM): The Big Matchup Jacob Markstrom vs. Brian Elliott Markstrom — finally — is coming off his first career shutout, beating the Carolina Hurricanes 3-0 on Tuesday. He nearly blanked the Leafs on Saturday, too. Safe to say he’s riding high. Brian Elliott on the other hand? He’s not. He’s posted a .905 save percentage over his past five games, while his team has been bleeding shots against. Horvat out for six weeks The Canucks’ No. 1 centre hurt his leg at the end of Tuesday’s game. His coach said it was a “small” injury. But he didn’t look comfortable putting weight on it post-game — and he went for an MRI Wednesday. Thursday morning, we hear he’s likely out for six weeks. Travis Green confirmed after the Morning Skate that Horvat has a fractured foot. As a result, the Canucks called up Michael Chaput for forward depth. Vancouver Canucks Brock Boeser, centre, celebrates with Nikolay Goldobin, left, and Bo Horvat after Boeser scored the go-ahead goal against the Predators in the third period of Thursday’s game in Nashville. Surging power play The Canucks have scored 21 power-play goals. Eight of those feature assists to Brock Boeser. It’s really remarkable how the rookie has turned the Canucks’ offensive game around. It’s not just his shot, it’s his all-around ability to open up opportunities for his teammates. In case you didn’t notice, Derrick Pouliot is starting to make a big difference for the Vancouver Canucks. He had a goal and two assists in Tuesday’s 3-0 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. Derrick Pouliot’s puck prowess The defenceman posted three points Tuesday and looks to have found a groove at both ends of the ice for the surprising Canucks. It’s getting harder and harder to imagine taking him out of the lineup. When Derrick Pouliot is on the ice, the Canucks are not giving up very good shots. That’s a very good development. HockeyViz.com He’s helping to push play in the right direction, with far more shots being taken towards the opponent’s goal than the Canucks. And the shots the Canucks are conceding with him on the ice aren’t all that threatening. Head coach Dave Hakstol of the Philadelphia Flyers has been hearing the boo-birds. His team touches down in Vancouver with only nine wins in its first 27 games. Hakstol watch The Flyers’ coach has been hearing his name in the stands in Philadelphia but not in appreciation. Philly broke a 10-game “losing” streak Monday in Calgary (there were four OT losses and a shootout loss in there). There was a players-only meeting last week. The GM insists the team isn’t playing poorly. But there’s no denying there’s unrest on Broad Street. Watch out for Voracek With three assists Monday, the big Czech winger now has 33 points on the year and is on pace for a 100-point season. Usually the chatter is about stopping Claude Giroux, but Jakub Voracek has taken the lead this year and is creating lots of trouble in front of the net. Vancouver Province: LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087281 Vancouver Canucks “I thought I had it covered,” said Markstrom. “It went post-to-post and in. (Chris) Tanev did a good job taking away the far side and that’s one that I would like to have back, for sure.” Canucks Post Game: Anatomy of a loss, Boeser gets it, Burmistrov BOESER MAKES PRESENCE FELT needs it, Subban shipped Brock Boeser’s 14th goal of the season was symbolic because it’s how the Canucks are going to have to play down low without the horse Ben Kuzma Horvat. Published: December 7, 2017 After a sustained flurry and Sven Baertschi trying to end a seven-game goal drought, it was Boeser who muscled his way to the top of the crease Updated: December 7, 2017 11:31 PM PST and shovelled a loose puck home on the backhand. It wasn’t pretty. It wasn’t highlight-reel worthy. But it was the type of effort that must become commonplace. Points to ponder as the Canucks saw their three-game win streak halted “We were getting pucks to the net, but it’s a matter of getting more in a 4-1 loss to the Flyers on Thursday at Rogers Arena, in a game in bodies there, crashing the net and finding those rebounds,” said Boeser. which they missed the injured Bo Horvat, missed multiple early chances to gain a strong foothold and took too many trips to the penalty box: Boeser had his good looks in his sweet shooting spot and finished with seven shots. Some heavy. Some not. But his presence got it done. MISTAKES HERE, THERE, EVERYWHERE “It’s hard to score in this league if you don’t want to get to the net,” said This is what happens when you have ample opportunity to take it to the Green. “We’ve got some guys who have to get to the net if they want to opposition early and then let them back in the game. You lose a game score. We’re not going to replace Bo, he’s too good a player and it has to you could have won. be by committee.” The Canucks had an early 9-0 shot advantage, including five on the first The Canucks weren’t beating a path to Brian Elliott. Jake Virtanen made power play, but didn’t put any chances away. power moves off the wing and got to the net. It was encouraging. He wasn’t stopping short. He even set up shop in front of Elliott and On a night where they couldn’t possibly replace Bo Horvat — the centre deflected a shot just over the net. could be sidelined up to six weeks after suffering a foot fracture Tuesday — there wasn’t much margin for error because they were missing a net- By the third period, he was playing with Burmistrov and Goldobin while front presence. Thomas Vanek skated with Henrik and Daniel Sedin and Loui Eriksson wound up with Brendan Gaunce and Markus Granlund. You simply don’t replace a 10-goal, 20-point pivot whose work ethic, net- front presence, faceoff efficiency and special-teams reliability have BURMISTROV WAS JUST ‘OK’ contributed to keeping the National Hockey League club in playoff contention. Alexander Burmistrov has been called a “wild card” and “rover” by Green. The coach called him “OK” after Thursday’s outing in which he played And with Brandon Sutter expected to be sidelined another week with a 12:44 and was credited with one shot. shoulder injury, the Canucks are minus their best shutdown centres and their best face-off specialists — especially in the defensive zone. He was also called a healthy scratch in 10 of the previous 13 games and his get-out-of-jail card came with the injury to Horvat. It’s not how he The trickle-down effect Thursday against Philly was Alexander wanted to re-enter the lineup, but an uneven game and just one goal in Burmistrov getting out of press-box purgatory to start between Nikolay 18 outings isn’t going to punch his ticket. Goldobin and Brock Boeser. That’s not nearly enough of a swap for Horvat because Burmistrov had but one shot. Not with symmetry down the middle. And with Sutter expected to return next week, Burmistrov is getting a look. It’s up to him to do something However, here is the sequence that had the Canucks going from with it because Suttter will return between Gaunce and Virtanen and dominating early to chasing late. Granlund could easily supplant Burmistrov. The blown coverage: Green gave Burmistrov some rope Thursday, but he didn’t have a shot. He did replace Horvat on the penalty kill and wasn’t on the ice for the two The Canucks were down 1-0 in the second period when Loui Eriksson Flyers power-play goals. was late on the back-check to allow Michael Raffl to redirect a Jakub Voracek backhand feed from the slot. Derrick Pouliot went to check Burmistrov said being used on wing and in the middle this season has Voracek and Ben Hutton was stranded on the sideboards. left him miffed. “It’s those little details and we talked about it before the game,” said “Maybe sometimes that’s a bad thing for me, because coach may want to Canucks coach Travis Green. “Our structure and our details have to be play me on the wing and just rotate me a lot and I think I’m better in the good for 60 minutes — especially in a close game or when you’re middle,” he said. “It’s really confusing right now.” missing guys. There were a few times where a puck battle here or there would have made a big difference in the overall game.” SUBBAN SHIPPED FOR DOWD The penalty-box parade: Not sure about the timing, but the Canucks waited until late Thursday to announce they’ve dealt defenceman Jordan Subban to the Los Angeles Not only did the Canucks give a talented Flyers club six power plays, Kings in exchange for centre Nic Dowd. three successive penalties in the latter half of the first period — Alex Edler for hooking, Daniel Sedin for high sticking and Edler for high Dowd, 27, had played 16 games this season and has but one assist and sticking — killed momentum in a 15-shot first period. ranks fourth in team face-offs with a 51.92 per cent efficiency. The 6-foot- 2, 197 pound forward managed 22 points (6-16) last season. In 2015, the The Sedin penalty resulted in a Shane Gostisbehere point shot deflecting Huntsville, Alabama native had 13 points (7-6) in 19 AHL games enroute off Sam Gagner and changing directions to beat Jacob Markstrom. to winning the Calder Cup with the Manchester Monarchs. “I didn’t like the penalties — we had great momentum and lost it,” said Subban, 22, was a 2013 fourth-round pick and didn’t play a regular- Green. “But we did some good things. You outshoot a team 37-26 and season game with the Canucks. He had five assists in 16 games this the penalties are 6-2, give them credit. They get two power-play goals season with the Utica Comets after compiling 36 points (16-20) last and find a way to win on the road. But you can’t give up six power plays.” season, including 10 power-play goals. The Giroux power-play goal: However, the emergence of Troy Stecher, the acquisition of Derrick Pouliot and eventual arrival of Olli Juolevi seemed to seal Subban’s fate Claude Giroux can wire the puck. as a disposable asset in the organization. His one-timer slapper doesn’t get enough publicity for its velocity and Vancouver Province: LOADED: 12.08.2017 accuracy. And because he can pick corners, his conversion of a cross- ice pass to go short side on Markstrom was one the Canucks goaltender would love to have back. No goalie likes to give up a short-side goal, especially when it gave the Flyers a three-goal cushion. 1087282 Vancouver Canucks

Canucks trade Jordan Subban to L.A. Kings for Nic Dowd

JOSEPH RUTTLE Published:December 7, 2017 Updated:December 7, 2017 11:13 PM PST

If defensive prospect Jordan Subban is eventually going to crack a National Hockey League roster, it won’t be with the Vancouver Canucks. Late Thursday, Canucks GM Jim Benning announced the team has traded Subban — younger brother of Nashville Predators star P.K. and Vegas Golden Knights goalie Malcolm — to the L.A. Kings for forward Nic Dowd. Dowd, 27, played in 16 games for the Kings this season and registered one assist. He ranked fourth on the team in faceoff win percentage. Last year, his first full season in the NHL, the 6-foot-2, 197-pound forward had 22 points, including six goals. In the AHL over three seasons, he recorded 92 points (23 goals, 69 assists). He was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award in 2014 after wrapping up his collegiate career with St. Cloud State University. A native of Huntsville, Alabama, Dowd was selected by L.A. in the seventh round, 198th overall, at the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. Subban, 22, was picked in the fourth round, 115th overall, by the Canucks in 2013. Vancouver Province: LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087283 Vancouver Canucks Granlund tried to replace Horvat on the first unit and had an early chance during an early five-shot power-play flurry. But he’s not a net-front guy and that element is missing and difficult to replace. Flyers 4, Canucks 1: Caught in a fog, Boeser gets it, Burmistrov doesn't What’s bugging Burmistrov? Burmistrov has been called a “wild card” and “rover” by Green. Ben Kuzma He was also called a healthy scratch in 10 of the previous 13 games and Published: December 7, 2017 his get-out-of-jail card came with the injury to Horvat. It’s not how he wanted to re-enter the lineup — and that bugs him — but an uneven Updated: December 7, 2017 10:56 PM PST game and just one goal in his previous 17 outings wasn’t going to punch his ticket.

Not with symmetry down the middle. And when Sutter returns, Burmistrov Fog has fittingly flanked B.C.’s Lower Mainland. has to make the most of this look. It’s up to him to do something with it because Sutter will return between Gaunce and Virtanen and Granlund The Vancouver Canucks, who have lost hard-working, point-producing could easily supplant Burmistrov. matchup centre Bo Horvat for up to six weeks with a fractured foot, are trying to see their way through a sudden roster fog that is thick with Green gave Burmistrov some rope Thursday, but he had but one shot. uncertainty. He did replace Horvat on the penalty kill and wasn’t on the ice for the two Flyers power-play goals. That’s something, but not enough. You simply don’t replace a 10-goal, 20-point pivot whose work ethic, net- front presence, faceoff efficiency and special-teams reliability have Vancouver Province: LOADED: 12.08.2017 contributed to keeping the NHL club in playoff contention. “It’s a big challenge — a big hole,” said Canucks coach Travis Green. With Brandon Sutter expected to be sidelined another week with a shoulder injury, the Canucks are minus their best shutdown centres and their best faceoff specialists — especially in the defensive zone. The trickle-down effect Thursday against the Philadelphia Flyers was Alexander Burmistrov getting out of press box purgatory to start between Nikolay Goldobin and Brock Boeser. Here’s what we learned as the Canucks fell 4-1 at Rogers Arena to end their three-game win streak: There was early hurry, then a big flurry and a 6-0 shot advantage. The Flyers, playing their second game in as many nights, needed 7:16 to muster a shot on Jacob Markstrom. There were 15 first-period shots by the Canucks but there wasn’t the net presence or enough finish to beat a Flyers club that is starting to look as good on the ice as it looks on paper. Without Horvat, the Canucks weren’t beating a path to goalie Brian Elliott. Jake Virtanen made power moves off the wing and got to the net. It was encouraging. He wasn’t stopping short. He even set up shop in front of Elliott and deflected a shot just over the net. By the third period, he was playing with Burmistrov and Goldobin while Thomas Vanek aligned with Henrik and Daniel Sedin. Loui Eriksson wound up with Brendan Gaunce and Markus Granlund. However, it was Boeser’s 14th goal of the season that was symbolic because it’s how the Canucks are going to have to play down low without the horse Horvat. After a sustained flurry and Sven Baertschi trying to end a seven-game goal drought, it was Boeser who muscled his way to the top of the crease, kept his balance and shovelled a loose puck home on the backhand. It wasn’t pretty. It wasn’t highlight-reel worthy. But it was the type of effort that must become commonplace. Boeser had his good looks in his sweet shooting spot and finished with seven shots. Some heavy. Some not. But his net presence got it done. Can power play find way? From woeful to hopeful. The Canucks were operating at a pitiful 14.2 per cent efficiency when they faced the Kings in Los Angeles on Nov. 14. They were 0-for-10 in their previous two outings and when they fell behind 2-0 at the Staples Center in the first period. Plodding units had the Sedins with right-shots Thomas Vanek, Sam Gagner and Michael Del Zotto, while Horvat, Baertschi, Boeser, Derrick Pouliot and Ben Hutton formed the second unit. They decided to put Horvat and Boeser with the Sedins and Alex Edler and have Eriksson work with Baertschi, Vanek, Gagner and Pouliot. Horvat and Baertschi scored on the power play in what would be a 3-2 win. Since that outing, the Canucks have gone 11-for-30 and were rated 12th overall entering play Thursday. Their 22 power-play goals are just 10 shy of what the club accomplished last season. 1087284 Vancouver Canucks spent some time killing penalties already this season. But after that, it’s a wide-open application process.

Gagner has done a bit of it in the past. Nikolay Goldobin was learning 'Next in line': The challenge of filling in for Bo Horvat how to do it down in Utica. Jake Virtanen’s play at even strength suggests he might have untapped potential. PATRICK JOHNSTON At the end of all this, we’re going to get a clear idea of the truth of the rest of this Canucks team, which has defied expectations already and put Published:December 7, 2017 itself in the playoff discussion. Updated:December 7, 2017 6:14 PM PST We assume that’s going to be a much harder case to sustain for the next six weeks. The Canucks, of course, are out to prove that thinking wrong.

Vancouver Province: LOADED: 12.08.2017 The easy part of this story is Bo Horvat is out for six weeks with a fractured foot. The hard part of this story is figuring out how the Canucks can tape together their hopes while he’s out. “It’s a big hole. I’m not going to dwell on it,” Travis Green said matter-of- factly Thursday, after confirming the tough news. “Next in line,” he said. “Teams deal with injuries and we’ll have to deal with it. It’s going to be a challenge.” No kidding: since the beginning of the season, Horvat’s been the team’s minutes leader at forward and it hasn’t even been close. He’s been a key member of a power play that has found its groove. “He’s got a lot of speed on the breakout, he’s done a good job in front, he wins pucks after rebounds and those kinds of things, that’s when it’s key to get the puck back, otherwise you are going to spend another 40 seconds trying to get back in their zone,” Henrik Sedin said in trying to sum up what Horvat does on the power play. He’s been a leader on a penalty kill that’s been doing a good job of limiting opponents shots. “It’s definitely tough,” Loui Eriksson, who often kills penalty along Horvat, said. “It’s all about reading plays and being in the right lane.” Horvat also takes a huge portion of the team’s big faceoffs and of course there’s his work with the puck on offence. “He eats up a lot of big minutes on our team, like Sutter, and we’ll deal with it,” Green said. One of the centres eyes have fallen on is Sam Gagner. “What Bo brings to the game, it’s kind of unfillable,” he admitted. “We’re going to need a lot of different guys to step up.” But he then pointed to the predicament of one of his old teams, the Anaheim Ducks, as a bit of a lesson. “Anaheim has been playing without their top two centres it seems like all year,” he said. Good point: the Ducks have been missing Ryan Kesler all season, and lost Ryan Getzlaf last month. They’re still above water, at 12-11-6. Horvat has made great strides defensively this year. His line is still giving away more shots than you would like, but like the rest of the team, they’ve improved to a tremendous degree in keeping those shots to the outside. There were worries in the past that Horvat’s defensive game would never come around, but under Green for 27 games, he’s showed legitimate improvement. At even strength, it looks as if Sam Gagner will pick up some slack — but the truth with Gagner is while his offensive game is very, very good, his defensive work has always been spotty. That makes for matchup worries for the coach, especially in the continued absence of Brandon Sutter, who he likes as a shutdown player, even if the numbers have never really backed that belief up very well. On the power play, Horvat has become a net-front beast, as noted by his captain. Might Thomas Vanek be the man for the job? He did score on a lovely tip against Carolina on Tuesday. The penalty kill may prove to be the hardest part of this hole to patch: the Canucks were already down two key guys in Sutter, who Green said is still at least a week away from returning, and Derek Dorsett, who was forced to retire. Eriksson and Markus Granlund remain key players on the PK. Brendan Gaunce has stepped forward of late to fill the gap. Alex Burmistrov has 1087285 Vancouver Canucks Gagner stands to be Horvat's replacement there, too, where he may end up in a role closer to the one he thrived in last season with Columbus. There’s a case to be made for Thomas Vanek, who has been something Canucks' lineup could be thrown for a loop with Bo Horvat's injury of a power-play specialist with 10 of his 18 points coming with the man advantage, but it would be wise to keep him as a steady hand with the second unit. By Israel Fehr 12 hours ago Finally, the penalty kill onus will likely fall on Granlund and Gaunce, especially until Sutter is ready to return.

There is no perfect answer for what the Canucks should do, which tends There’s no doubt the Canucks have exceeded expectations through the to be the case when an impact player like Horvat goes down. What we first quarter of the NHL season. They’re in a divisional playoff spot after can surmise is that whatever the plan is Thursday night, it is sure to 28 games and have collected a number of impressive wins over change and evolve over the time Horvat is unavailable. Green and his contenders like Pittsburgh, Washington, Nashville, Los Angeles and coaching staff have shown a willingness to mix and match already this Toronto. season, and without Horvat, Canucks players are preparing for even more of it during and between games. That they’ve done so with both their top-pairing defencemen missing time with injuries — Alex Edler (one month, knee) and Chris Tanev (two “They’ve done a really good job of doing that, trying to maximize the weeks, hand) — is a testament to the team’s resolve and relatively lineup and making sure guys are in a position to succeed,” Gagner said. complete play. “I think our record is what it is because of that. A lot of guys have filled roles and done everything that’s asked of them and we have to continue Overcoming the expected six-week absence of No. 1 centre Bo Horvat doing that going forward.” due to a foot fracture, though, will be a different test entirely for Travis Green and the team. The Athletic LOADED: 12.08.2017 Horvat leads all Canucks forwards in ice time at 5-on-5 (12:65 minutes per game), is third in power play usage (3:16) behind the Sedins and also kills penalties (2:20). He’s second in points with 20 and goals with 10, and the defensive and penalty-killing duties have only increased since Brandon Sutter came out of the lineup with an undisclosed lower-body injury, and Sutter isn’t going to be back for at least another week. “It’s a big challenge. It’s a big hole. Both those guys provide a lot to our team. Both of them play against top lines. But it’s a good opportunity for someone else to step up,” Green said. “I don’t think we’re going to just replace Bo Horvat. Teams deal with injuries, we’re going to have to deal with it.” So how will Green deal with it specifically in regard to the Canucks’ lines? The Canucks are on a nice roll, having won three straight and taken 12 out of 18 points over their last nine games, and over that time they’ve found some combinations that have gelled. Who plays with Brock Boeser at even strength — Green wouldn’t tip his hand after Thursday’s pre-game skate — is obviously the most pressing question. When Horvat left in the third period of Tuesday's game against the Hurricanes, Sam Gagner slotted into his spot between Boeser and Nikolay Goldobin and is favoured to stay there. Alex Burmistrov will draw in Thursday against the Flyers after being a healthy scratch for the last three games and nine out of the last 11, and could also get a shot. Gagner is a veteran equipped to handle some of Horvat’s defensive responsibilities alongside the two young wingers. Burmistrov may seem like a riskier bet, though The Athletic’s J.D. Burke extolled the virtues of Burmistrov’s two-way abilities earlier this season, but if he’s given the chance and delivers, it would certainly be huge for a player looking to reestablish his place in the lineup and the league. Markus Granlund would be the ideal option because of his well-rounded game, and he couldn’t ask for a better opportunity to start going offensively, but Green values Granlund’s presence on a recently assembled line with Jake Virtanen and Brendan Gaunce. “The Granlund line has given us some confidence, since (Sutter) went out, as a secondary matchup line. They did a great job the other night and they’ve been playing good hockey,” Green said. And as tempting as it would be to put Boeser with Daniel and Henrik Sedin at 5-on-5, that would take them away from Loui Eriksson, and that line has been rolling of late. “I think Loui has blended well with (the Sedins). The power play’s got some life,” Green said. “I think when good players start to get production it makes them feel good and confident — no matter how old you are, how long you’ve played in the league — you like to see production, especially players that are used to scoring and I think they’re feeling good about themselves.” As Green mentioned, the Canucks’ power play has been trending up, dating back to when Horvat, Boeser and the Sedins were put together on a unit. Over the last 11 games, Vancouver has scored 11 power-play goals from 28 opportunities (39.3 per cent). “It’s been a big bonus,” Green said. “It’s given our team a spark. We don’t score easy. We gotta battle to score goals and when we score on the power play, it’s a huge bonus.” 1087286 Vancouver Canucks of differences between Seattle and Quebec City, not the least of which is our alignment. These are all things that will have to be considered.”

Added Bettman: “Our plan is just to look at Seattle at this point in time.” LeBrun: NHL eager to get Seattle in the mix as expansion and relocation are the talk of Board of Governors meetings You feel for hockey fans in Quebec City. There’s a beautiful rink there, I saw firsthand a few years ago that it’s spectacular, it would be among the best NHL rinks going. By Pierre LeBrun 8 hours ago One of the reasons the NHL gave for rejecting Quebec City’s bid last time around was geography and the desire to focus on balancing the conferences. Seattle, once in, will make it a clean 16 clubs on each side. PALM BEACH, Fla. — The train has left the station and it would be shocking at this point if Seattle doesn’t indeed get an NHL team. “I don’t think today’s events have any impact on Quebec City,” said Daly. “If I wanted to be positive, I’d say one of the things we kept harping on is That’s the only conclusion one can draw after the NHL announced on we need another team in the West before we consider expanding in the Thursday that it not only was allowing David Bonderman and Jerry East. If, if, if Seattle submits an expansion application and is approved by Bruckheimer to commence a season-ticket drive in Seattle — just like Bill the Board, then you have your other team in the West and you’ve solved Foley was granted three years ago for Las Vegas — but on top of that, your balance issue.” and this is an important distinction, the Seattle group was invited to officially apply for an expansion team. In other words, what Daly is saying is that one way of looking at it if you’re Quebec is that Seattle balancing out the conferences is a needed That’s one layer Vegas didn’t get out of the gates three years ago. It step before the league can circle back to Quebec City one day in one shows just how eager and aggressive the NHL is in finally getting Seattle form or another, whether that’s expanding to 34 teams or a franchise to join the party. relocation in the East. Unless Bonderman and Bruckheimer don’t want to write a fat cheque for But for now, the return of the Nordiques has never seemed so far away. $650 million, the jaw-dropping expansion fee this time around, there’s no question NHL hockey is going to Seattle. If Seattle does indeed come on board, by the way, it will require realignment since the Pacific Division already has one extra team over “Mr. Bonderman, with his partner Jerry Bruckheimer, has asked if they the Central Division and obviously Seattle would be in the Pacific. might file an application for an expansion team,” Bettman announced after the first day of the Board of Governors meetings. “The Board has “We haven’t discussed it all with the Board,” Daly said of Seattle’s said that they may do that. That doesn't mean we have granted an inclusion forcing some realignment. “Gary and I have had some expansion team. We have agreed as a league to take and consider an preliminary discussions with some ideas — but I think that would be way expansion application and to let them run in the next few months a premature to talk about that, because there’s been no decision to season ticket drive. This is a process that we go through. You'll all expand. There’s been an invitation to submit an expansion application.” handicap the likelihood of it being successful or not. I can't stop that The Vancouver Canucks will be most affected by the advent of a team in speculation, but the fact of the matter is the Board has authorized us to Seattle, and team president Trevor Linden didn’t hesitate one bit when permit them to file an expansion application and do a season-ticket asked Thursday how his organization feels with regard to the idea of a drive.” team in Seattle. The interesting caveat? “We love it,” Linden told The Athletic. “It would be a rivalry that’s close. It “If we decide, if for whatever reason for the 2020-21 season (when the would be good for our fans. We’ve seen that rivalry in soccer. We are all arena will be ready in Seattle), instead of expansion we'd like to use an in, we fully support that.” existing franchise, that's always an option, but that's not something we're Just having a team so close for the first time would have obvious focused on now because we don't anticipate anybody moving like that,” benefits. added Bettman. “We were talking about that the other day, would we take the bus?” In other words, and this is my own speculation, if the Arizona Coyotes smiled Linden. “We hear about these bus trips out East. But it would be have to move before Seattle is granted an expansion team, that could be good. From a league standpoint, it checks the box with market, building the other way Seattle gets its team. and ownership, and it certainly addresses the conferences balancing. So, But Bettman once again went out of his way to suggest the Coyotes lots of positives I think.” aren’t going anywhere. Bettman says the league is fairly aware of Seattle as a market, although “They are still working on getting a building in Arizona and so I don't view more due diligence will now be needed. them right now as a candidate for moving,” said Bettman. “From everything I know viscerally, I think it'll be a good market. I think The Coyotes don’t have a future in Glendale, that building location is the geographic rivalry with Vancouver as potential will be nice,” said killing them. So the focus right now is on trying to find a rink in Phoenix or Bettman. “Building up a bigger presence in the Pacific Northwest for the Scottsdale; and it would make the most sense to partner up with the NBA NHL, a place that we know has great hockey interest at a variety of other Suns to that end. levels, it's an intriguing possibility. But we've got homework to do.” “I think that would be a logical alternative to explore,” NHL deputy HURRICANES SALE commissioner Bill Daly said of the Coyotes and Suns trying to partner up The Hurricanes are finalizing their sale to Tom Dundon. The Dallas on a new rink. businessman met with the NHL’s executive committee of owners “They continue to work on a variety of alternatives,” Daly added, Thursday morning. regarding the Coyotes’ arena plans. “As Gary said, the ownership there Bettman said the purchase agreement was signed late Wednesday night wants to make it happen more than anyone else. So they're working on it. and the final sale, which has to be vetted by the league, should be done I'm sure when they have something to announce, they'll announce.” within a few weeks, as late as into January. But time is of the essence, to be sure. Dundon will own close to 52 percent of the team, a source told The The other scenario, perhaps, if Seattle gets its expansion team before Athletic, and longtime Hurricanes owner Peter Karmanos Jr. would retain Arizona figures out its future, is Houston perhaps being a relocation the other 48 or so percent. The source also said that Dundon has an option for the Coyotes, keeping them in the Western Conference. But for option in three years’ time to buy the remaining shares off Karmanos. now, Bettman downplayed Houston when asked about whether that city Dundon and Karmanos spoke with my TSN colleague Gino Reda after came up in the Board meeting Thursday. the meeting with the executive committee and was careful to say the deal “Only the fact that I had gotten a question about had we been in contact wasn’t done yet. and I said just very generally. There is nothing going on right now with However, he did make it clear that he wasn’t buying the team to try to Houston,” said Bettman. relocate it. And what of Quebec City in all of this? “It was very important. It was never really a consideration,” Dundon told “I don't know the answer to that because, as I said, all we're doing is TSN. “The consideration was, am I going to buy a franchise that operates accepting Seattle's application,” said Bettman. “Obviously, there are a lot in Raleigh, not buy a franchise that I can perhaps move somewhere else. The league is not amenable to moving franchises at all.” The fact is, as Bettman noted, any new franchise purchase requires the new owner to keep the team in the market for at least seven years. “I want to address one rumor about as crystal clear and as absolute terms as I can, Tom Dundon is buying his interest in the Hurricanes to have the Hurricanes in Carolina,” Bettman said. “This is not a team that is being moved. The rumors that it might be moving somewhere else are absolutely incorrect, made up, fabrications, wrong, wrong, wrong. The club is not going anywhere with Mr. Dundon's purchase and for those of you who know geography, the fact that he lives in Dallas and that happens to be in the same state as Houston has nothing to do with anything. He's buying the club to have it in Carolina. I want to be crystal clear on this because it's really not fair to the players, the fans or anybody in the Triangle that this rumor has started. It's just not accurate.” OK then. BETTMAN ON OTTAWA The Ottawa Senators haven’t drawn well this year and there’s another team that needs a new rink. “I think on some level (owner) Eugene Melnyk is disappointed based on how well the team performed last year, but it's also what's driving the motivation behind wanting a new arena downtown in a place that is more accessible,” said Bettman. SECOND TEAM IN TORONTO The idea of a second team in Toronto has fizzled away recently. Which is fine with the Maple Leafs, no question. Although when I asked Leafs chairman Larry Tanenbaum for his view on the notion of having a second team in Toronto one day, he shied away from that delicate topic Thursday. “I’m going to keep that to myself,” Tanenbaum responded when asked what his personal viewpoint was on having a second team in Toronto. I’ve said it for years and I will continue to say it: It’s crazy there are not two teams in hockey’s biggest market. The population base and money that’s in the Greater Toronto Area would easily support two teams. And I’d have them both play out of the Air Canada Centre along with the NBA Raptors, just like the Staples Center in Los Angeles has three tenants. The Athletic LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087287 Websites of differences between Seattle and Quebec City, not the least of which is our alignment. These are all things that will have to be considered.”

Added Bettman: “Our plan is just to look at Seattle at this point in time.” The Athletic / LeBrun: NHL eager to get Seattle in the mix as expansion and relocation are the talk of Board of Governors meetings You feel for hockey fans in Quebec City. There’s a beautiful rink there, I saw firsthand a few years ago that it’s spectacular, it would be among the best NHL rinks going. By Pierre LeBrun 8 hours ago One of the reasons the NHL gave for rejecting Quebec City’s bid last time around was geography and the desire to focus on balancing the conferences. Seattle, once in, will make it a clean 16 clubs on each side. PALM BEACH, Fla. — The train has left the station and it would be shocking at this point if Seattle doesn’t indeed get an NHL team. “I don’t think today’s events have any impact on Quebec City,” said Daly. “If I wanted to be positive, I’d say one of the things we kept harping on is That’s the only conclusion one can draw after the NHL announced on we need another team in the West before we consider expanding in the Thursday that it not only was allowing David Bonderman and Jerry East. If, if, if Seattle submits an expansion application and is approved by Bruckheimer to commence a season-ticket drive in Seattle — just like Bill the Board, then you have your other team in the West and you’ve solved Foley was granted three years ago for Las Vegas — but on top of that, your balance issue.” and this is an important distinction, the Seattle group was invited to officially apply for an expansion team. In other words, what Daly is saying is that one way of looking at it if you’re Quebec is that Seattle balancing out the conferences is a needed That’s one layer Vegas didn’t get out of the gates three years ago. It step before the league can circle back to Quebec City one day in one shows just how eager and aggressive the NHL is in finally getting Seattle form or another, whether that’s expanding to 34 teams or a franchise to join the party. relocation in the East. Unless Bonderman and Bruckheimer don’t want to write a fat cheque for But for now, the return of the Nordiques has never seemed so far away. $650 million, the jaw-dropping expansion fee this time around, there’s no question NHL hockey is going to Seattle. If Seattle does indeed come on board, by the way, it will require realignment since the Pacific Division already has one extra team over “Mr. Bonderman, with his partner Jerry Bruckheimer, has asked if they the Central Division and obviously Seattle would be in the Pacific. might file an application for an expansion team,” Bettman announced after the first day of the Board of Governors meetings. “The Board has “We haven’t discussed it all with the Board,” Daly said of Seattle’s said that they may do that. That doesn't mean we have granted an inclusion forcing some realignment. “Gary and I have had some expansion team. We have agreed as a league to take and consider an preliminary discussions with some ideas — but I think that would be way expansion application and to let them run in the next few months a premature to talk about that, because there’s been no decision to season ticket drive. This is a process that we go through. You'll all expand. There’s been an invitation to submit an expansion application.” handicap the likelihood of it being successful or not. I can't stop that The Vancouver Canucks will be most affected by the advent of a team in speculation, but the fact of the matter is the Board has authorized us to Seattle, and team president Trevor Linden didn’t hesitate one bit when permit them to file an expansion application and do a season-ticket asked Thursday how his organization feels with regard to the idea of a drive.” team in Seattle. The interesting caveat? “We love it,” Linden told The Athletic. “It would be a rivalry that’s close. It “If we decide, if for whatever reason for the 2020-21 season (when the would be good for our fans. We’ve seen that rivalry in soccer. We are all arena will be ready in Seattle), instead of expansion we'd like to use an in, we fully support that.” existing franchise, that's always an option, but that's not something we're Just having a team so close for the first time would have obvious focused on now because we don't anticipate anybody moving like that,” benefits. added Bettman. “We were talking about that the other day, would we take the bus?” In other words, and this is my own speculation, if the Arizona Coyotes smiled Linden. “We hear about these bus trips out East. But it would be have to move before Seattle is granted an expansion team, that could be good. From a league standpoint, it checks the box with market, building the other way Seattle gets its team. and ownership, and it certainly addresses the conferences balancing. So, But Bettman once again went out of his way to suggest the Coyotes lots of positives I think.” aren’t going anywhere. Bettman says the league is fairly aware of Seattle as a market, although “They are still working on getting a building in Arizona and so I don't view more due diligence will now be needed. them right now as a candidate for moving,” said Bettman. “From everything I know viscerally, I think it'll be a good market. I think The Coyotes don’t have a future in Glendale, that building location is the geographic rivalry with Vancouver as potential will be nice,” said killing them. So the focus right now is on trying to find a rink in Phoenix or Bettman. “Building up a bigger presence in the Pacific Northwest for the Scottsdale; and it would make the most sense to partner up with the NBA NHL, a place that we know has great hockey interest at a variety of other Suns to that end. levels, it's an intriguing possibility. But we've got homework to do.” “I think that would be a logical alternative to explore,” NHL deputy HURRICANES SALE commissioner Bill Daly said of the Coyotes and Suns trying to partner up The Hurricanes are finalizing their sale to Tom Dundon. The Dallas on a new rink. businessman met with the NHL’s executive committee of owners “They continue to work on a variety of alternatives,” Daly added, Thursday morning. regarding the Coyotes’ arena plans. “As Gary said, the ownership there Bettman said the purchase agreement was signed late Wednesday night wants to make it happen more than anyone else. So they're working on it. and the final sale, which has to be vetted by the league, should be done I'm sure when they have something to announce, they'll announce.” within a few weeks, as late as into January. But time is of the essence, to be sure. Dundon will own close to 52 percent of the team, a source told The The other scenario, perhaps, if Seattle gets its expansion team before Athletic, and longtime Hurricanes owner Peter Karmanos Jr. would retain Arizona figures out its future, is Houston perhaps being a relocation the other 48 or so percent. The source also said that Dundon has an option for the Coyotes, keeping them in the Western Conference. But for option in three years’ time to buy the remaining shares off Karmanos. now, Bettman downplayed Houston when asked about whether that city Dundon and Karmanos spoke with my TSN colleague Gino Reda after came up in the Board meeting Thursday. the meeting with the executive committee and was careful to say the deal “Only the fact that I had gotten a question about had we been in contact wasn’t done yet. and I said just very generally. There is nothing going on right now with However, he did make it clear that he wasn’t buying the team to try to Houston,” said Bettman. relocate it. And what of Quebec City in all of this? “It was very important. It was never really a consideration,” Dundon told “I don't know the answer to that because, as I said, all we're doing is TSN. “The consideration was, am I going to buy a franchise that operates accepting Seattle's application,” said Bettman. “Obviously, there are a lot in Raleigh, not buy a franchise that I can perhaps move somewhere else. The league is not amenable to moving franchises at all.” The fact is, as Bettman noted, any new franchise purchase requires the new owner to keep the team in the market for at least seven years. “I want to address one rumor about as crystal clear and as absolute terms as I can, Tom Dundon is buying his interest in the Hurricanes to have the Hurricanes in Carolina,” Bettman said. “This is not a team that is being moved. The rumors that it might be moving somewhere else are absolutely incorrect, made up, fabrications, wrong, wrong, wrong. The club is not going anywhere with Mr. Dundon's purchase and for those of you who know geography, the fact that he lives in Dallas and that happens to be in the same state as Houston has nothing to do with anything. He's buying the club to have it in Carolina. I want to be crystal clear on this because it's really not fair to the players, the fans or anybody in the Triangle that this rumor has started. It's just not accurate.” OK then. BETTMAN ON OTTAWA The Ottawa Senators haven’t drawn well this year and there’s another team that needs a new rink. “I think on some level (owner) Eugene Melnyk is disappointed based on how well the team performed last year, but it's also what's driving the motivation behind wanting a new arena downtown in a place that is more accessible,” said Bettman. SECOND TEAM IN TORONTO The idea of a second team in Toronto has fizzled away recently. Which is fine with the Maple Leafs, no question. Although when I asked Leafs chairman Larry Tanenbaum for his view on the notion of having a second team in Toronto one day, he shied away from that delicate topic Thursday. “I’m going to keep that to myself,” Tanenbaum responded when asked what his personal viewpoint was on having a second team in Toronto. I’ve said it for years and I will continue to say it: It’s crazy there are not two teams in hockey’s biggest market. The population base and money that’s in the Greater Toronto Area would easily support two teams. And I’d have them both play out of the Air Canada Centre along with the NBA Raptors, just like the Staples Center in Los Angeles has three tenants. The Athletic LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087288 Websites happens too quickly in the moment to be upset about it. But if you watch it again and you see it hit the post, that's when you have a little bit of time to be disappointed about it.” The Athletic / What does it feel like to hit a post for NHLers? Guentzel – “You're hoping it goes in. If you hit it square and it's pretty loud, you get that breath of fresh air and you hope it goes in. If not, you just got to stick with it.” By Seth Rorabaugh 14 hours ago Eberle – “Not really. You know you were close. It's the same as if you get a pass back door and you miss the open net. Whether you hit the post or you miss the net, it's the same feeling.” During Tuesday's 4-3 home loss to the Rangers at PPG Paints Arena, the Penguins hit four posts with shots. Evgeni Malkin (twice), Olli Maatta Kuhnhackl – “Your heart kind of drops. A little disappointed. But at the and Ryan Reaves all generated shot attempts which resulted in little same time, it's in your head too. You're like, 'Ahhh… Dammit. I wish that more than an audible ping or clank and a few thousand grimaces from would have went in.' You never know what the score is at that point. If those with rooting interest in the Penguins. that goes in, it might change the momentum of the game.” Earlier today, members of the Penguins and the Islanders, their opponent Ho-Sang – “I think in practice, it's cooler to hit the post than it is in a at home tonight, were asked to describe what it feels like to hit a post or game. In the game, it's really annoying because some guys, they only get crossbar during a game: one shot a game. So if you hit the post it's really frustrating. That's part of the game. I love hitting the cross-bar in practice though. It feels really When you hit a post or crossbar, what is the initial feeling that first cool. It's awesome. In the game, not so much. You want every goal you second or two afterwards? can get.” Ian Cole, Penguins defenseman – “Oh man. It's kind of like a 'Mighty Maatta – “I haven't really thought of that. I'd definitely take the goal rather Ducks' thing. Oh man, an inch the other way and it would have gone in. than the post. I'll give you that.” That's usually my first thought. It's tough. I don't score a ton of goals so when I hit the post, I feel like if that would have went in, it would have Hickey – “Yeah, yeah. I think that's fair. Sometimes, you can't even tell if helped my shooting percentage.” the puck goes down right away and you think it might be in the net. I've had one post this year. But it wasn't even close. Some of them are more Cal Clutterbuck, Islanders right winger – “There's different types of post. dangerous than other ones.” Sometimes, it never really has a chance to go in if you hit the outside of the net. When you hit a 'post-post', you're a little disappointed at first. Reaves – “It's starts deep in your heart and it like stays in your heart. It's Kind of a look-to-the-heavens type of thing. Being that close to be able to almost like a heart attack. It grabs you deep. put one in, most of times, it's from a good chance. You want to put those in. So it's a little disappointing at first. But the play goes on. Life goes on.” Lee – “Yeah. Depending on the moment of the game, it can be increased. But sometimes it goes post and in. So that's an even better Jake Guentzel, Penguins center – “A little upset. You get a scoring feeling. When you hear it then it goes in, it kind of doubles down I guess.” chance like that and you kind of hit a pipe, it's a little disappointing. But getting those chances is a good thing.” Rust – “You're first feeling is, 'Well, did it go post in?' Then when you see it didn't go post in, it's kind of like, 'Shit, got to keep playing.'” Jordan Eberle, Islanders right winger – “There's not really much feeling. You're just trying to find the rebound. You hit a post and a lot of times … Morning skate notes let's say you hit a post and it goes in the crowd or something, you're like, -Justin Schultz was placed on injured reserve due to an undisclosed 'Frig!' I've learned in my career, you can't really dwell on things. You've “lower-body” injury he suffered Tuesday. Mike Sullivan said he will be got to forget about it. To me, hitting the post is the same as not scoring. sidelined “a couple of weeks” but added his injury will not require surgery. You either score or you don't. It's that simple.” -With Schultz sidelined, the Penguins recalled Frank Corrado from Tom Kuhnhackl, Penguins right winger – “Obviously, you made a good Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. shot but at the same time, your accuracy wasn't as good as it should have been. Every time you hit a post, you wish it goes post in. You can't -Sullivan explained while Corrado was given the call up: score them all but at the same time … we want to make sure we take advantage of those chances. But it's really frustrating when you hear that “The last time we had him up, we really liked his game. He's got a little bit sound.” of bite to him. He's a stiff player. He's strong in the battle areas. He's good in the corners and in front of our net. He defends pretty well. … He Thomas Hickey, Islanders defenseman – “I can't really say it on an understands what his limitations are and he plays with himself. So interview, the thoughts that come into your head. It sucks. It sucks. But I because of that, he's a calculated player out there. That's what we like guess a lot of goalies would feel the opposite. And you're on the ice a lot about his game. We're continuing to help him just with his execution time of times when they (the opponent) get a clean shot and hits the post. The and the quickness of the NHL level. The first few strides, the mobility way hockey is, it usually evens out at the end of the day.” issue and the just the quickness of the execution time. Olli Maatta, Penguins defenseman – ““If you have a clear chance, “He's a young player. The more he plays, I think he'll make those obviously it's disappointment. Sometimes, it looks like it's going in. But if adjustments. We've really liked his game the last time he was up. So you hit the post, it's never good. But I don't really think of that at the given (Schultz's) situation right now, we needed another defenseman. He moment. It just happens. The game goes on.” got high reviews from (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton head coach Clark Donatelli) and (Donatelli's) coaching staff in Wilkes-Barre and we rely on Josh Ho-Sang, Islanders right winger – “When you hit a post? 'Good those guys a lot and their opinions on who is going to help us in. And he's God, why didn't I put it a half-inch over?'” one of those guys right now.” Ryan Reaves, Penguins right winger – “First reaction is I wish the nets -Greg McKegg cleared waivers but remains on the NHL roster. were three inches bigger. Second reaction is I wish I was a better hockey player and could score. That's all about that goes through my head.” -Tristan Jarry is expected to start. Anders Lee, Islanders left winger – “You kind of think it's going in. Then -Matt Murray skated prior to the morning skate and took shots from most of the time, it's because you beat the goalie and it's like, 'Shoot, I goaltending coach Mike Buckley. should have scored there.' Then it just kind of sucks.” -The Penguins' morning skate was optional. These were their lines and Bryan Rust, Penguins right winger – “It's one of those that one inch the pairings during practice Wednesday: other way, it could go in. But one inch the other way, you miss the net. For me, I just look at it as another save of a missed opportunity.” -Cole was elected as the Penguins' player representative to the NHLPA. Is there a physical feeling when you hear that ping or clank? -Islanders center Casey Cizikas was activated from injured reserve. He missed the past four games due to an undisclosed “lower-body” injury. Cole – “It sounds nice. It sounds really nice. It doesn't count for anything. Defenseman Johnny Boychuk and center Alan Quine are sidelined due You made a good play or a good shot and did something right but you to undisclosed injuries. know you didn't get the reward. It's kind of weird noise to hear for sure.” -According to the team's Web site, the Islanders' expected lines and Clutterbuck – “No, just a little disappointment right away. It's a 'Oh my pairings are: God' type of thing. No real physical … I guess if you haven't scored in 40 games then you might get a little sick to your stomach. Not generally. It -Goaltender Jaroslav Halak is expected to start for the Islanders. -Islanders coach Doug Weight had an interesting perspective when asked about his team's rivalry with the Penguins: “Everybody says they're their rivals because they have three Stanley Cups (over the past eight seasons) and they're the Pittsburgh Penguins. … I think everybody hates good hockey clubs. We hope more teams want to hate us.” The Athletic LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087289 Websites Line 2: Dylan Larkin, Tomas Tatar, Anthony Mantha, Justin Abdelkader, Andreas Athanasiou

Line 3: Frans Nielsen, Darren Helm, Justin Abdelkader The Athletic / Dellow: How are Eastern Conference coaches matching lines at 5-on-5 this year? Line 4: Luke Glendening, Scott Wilson, Darren Helm, Frans Nielsen Pair 1: Jonathan Ericsson, Trevor Daley By Tyler Dellow 12 hours ago Pair 2: Mike Green, Niklas Kronwall Pair 3: Nick Jensen, Xavier Ouellet, Niklas Kronwall This is the second half of a look at how coaches match forward lines and Somewhat like Vancouver, Jeff Blashill has been running a bit of an old defence pairs against the opposition. The Western Conference version school checking line. There's almost a straight swap of ice time between can be found here. As always, there is an appendix in which Eastern the first line and the third line — the third line eats extra minutes against Conference teams in cities that aren't presently covered by The Athletic opposition first lines at the expense of the first line's time; the first line are dealt with. makes up those minutes against the other lines. Blashill also uses his fourth line pretty sparingly. Looking at a problem like this is a question of organization of information. We talk about first lines and second pairs but it's all very ethereal. What I Blashill is able to get his first line a significant extra chunk of minutes do is classify ice time based on who's on the ice at that moment. against the opposition's bottom two pairs. The second line makes up a Obviously, players play on different lines within games and within the part of the difference. The fourth line is interesting to me here, too — season as a whole. So each line will have a mix of players. The more they're losing out on a big piece of ice time against the opposition's consistent the coach is with his lines, the more consistent the lines that I bottom pairs. It sort of looks like Blashill is comfortable grabbing their identify are. shifts against those pairs and redistributing them to the first line where he can. For each team, I've produced three graphics. The first shows how the forward lines are matched against opposition forward lines. The second So I would guess there are three things going on here. Whenever Blashill shows how the forward lines are matched against opposition defence can get his third pair out against an opposition fourth line, he'll do it — it pairs. The final graphic shows how the defence pairs are matched buys rest for his other two pairs in the least painful way possible. It's against opposition forward lines. The most common members of the lines interesting to me that the second pair has such a big spike in ice time and pairings are listed at the top of each team section. against opposition second lines; I would guess he doesn't entirely trust them. The second pair has a 46.9 per cent Corsi% with a 61.6 per cent Columbus Blue Jackets zone start; the first pair has a 50.8 per cent Corsi% with a 36.9 per cent Line 1: Artemi Panarin, Josh Anderson, Alexander Wennberg, Cam zone start. So that makes sense, too. Atkinson, Nick Foligno That would leave a first pair that plays less than the typical first pair but is Line 2: Brandon Dubinsky, Boone Jenner, Josh Anderson heavily focused on opposition first pairs. I know there's been some consternation over the usage of Ericsson but out of all the problems the Line 3: Oliver Bjorkstrand, Nick Foligno, Brandon Dubinsky, Alexander Red Wings have, Ericsson seems pretty low on the list to me. Wennberg, Matt Calvert, Sonny Milano Montreal Canadiens Line 4: Lukas Sedlak, Markus Hannikainen, Zac Dalpe, Sonny Milano, Pierre-Luc Dubois Line 1: Andrew Shaw, Phillip Danault, Max Pacioretty Pair 1: Seth Jones, Zach Werenski Line 2: Tomas Plekanec, Brendan Gallagher, Charles Hudon Pair 2: David Savard, Jack Johnson Line 3: Jonathan Drouin, Alex Galchenyuk, Artturi Lehkonen, Paul Byron Pair 3: Ryan Murray, Markus Nutivaara, Gabriel Carlsson Line 4: Jacob De La Rose, Byron Froese, Nicolas Deslauriers, Torrey Mitchell One of the hallmarks of the Blue Jackets over the past two seasons has been John Tortorella's reluctance to use his fourth line. It's the most Pair 1: Shea Weber, Victor Mete notable thing that I see here — Columbus' fourth line plays more than Pair 2: Jeff Petry, Karl Alzner two fewer minutes per game than the typical NHL fourth line. Pair 3: Jordie Benn, Karl Alzner, Joe Morrow I'm not necessarily critical of this — one of the things I've wondered in the past is whether teams use their fourth lines too much at 5-on-5. At the I expect to hear some howls of “Jonathan Drouin isn't on the third line” same time, I do think it can give a bit of a false impression of team here, which I don't disagree with. The good thing about organizing strength. Later in the season or in the playoffs, other teams have room to information according to some rules is that you can compare apples to shorten their bench and up the typical talent level on the ice. Columbus apples; the bad thing is that sometimes the rules give you a strange doesn't have that room. outcome. This is one of many reasons that it's best to have your brain engaged when looking at the output of a model. Given that we know the Blue Jackets don't use their fourth line all that much, the matchups aren't particularly surprising. It kind of underlines the The reason my framework suggests Drouin has been more of a mainstay competitive advantage running a short bench can give you though — on the third line than anything else is that Claude Julien has been Columbus is getting an extra 40 seconds a night or so with their top six repeatedly changing his lines as the Canadiens went through their early forwards against the opposition third pair. struggles. Drouin hasn't been a horse at 5-on-5, in the sense of being used an overwhelming amount. As of this writing, he was fourth amongst The defence matches for the Blue Jackets are quite different than what Canadiens' forwards in 5-on-5 TOI/game, which means that when people we see with the forwards. Not only is Tortorella obviously quite ahead of him are on different lines in games, his line gets treated as the comfortable using his third pair, he's quite comfortable using them third line by the framework. against the opposition's best forwards. Meanwhile, the Zach Werenski/Seth Jones pair plays more than a minute less per game All of that said, the nice thing about a framework like this is that it's pretty against opposition first lines than the typical first pair around the league. obvious that the Drouin line isn't really the third line. You can see that it's played much more against opposition top nine forwards than a typical You'd sometimes think that a young first pairing might need to be third line, which will be due to nobody really treating it like a third line. sheltered as far as matchups a little bit but it's hard to see that in the Julien's been a little light on ice time for the fourth line but, given that the numbers for the Blue Jackets. The first pair has a 54.7 per cent Corsi% Canadiens have spent a lot of time chasing games this year, it's perhaps against opposition first lines and have outscored them 7-5. With the first not shocking. pair on the bench, the Blue Jackets have a 50 per cent Corsi% and have drawn 10-10 in goals. As much as the Blue Jackets don't have room to You can see the Drouin issue here as well — the reason the third line shorten their bench with the forwards, they probably do have some room plays so much more against top pair defencemen is that it doesn't get to make the defence matchups tighter and possibly get some better treated like a third line. results. One of the things that changed when Julien took over is that he became Detroit Red Wings less obsessive about getting the Weber pair against the opposition's best players than his predecessor Michel Therrien was. That has continued Line 1: Henrik Zetterberg, Gustav Nyquist, Anthony Mantha, Tomas Tatar this season, although of course, Weber has missed some time. Ottawa Senators less trusted against higher-end competition than the typical second pair. The third pair is somewhat more trusted. There's probably something in Line 1: Mark Stone, Derick Brassard, Bobby Ryan, others there about Hakstol preferring to get Gostisbehere minutes against Line 2: Ryan Dzingel, Zack Smith, Mike Hoffman, Kyle Turris lower-end competition. Line 3: Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Tom Pyatt, Mike Hoffman, Pittsburgh Penguins Line 4: Nate Thompson, Alexandre Burrows, others Line 1: Sidney Crosby, Conor Sheary, Jake Guentzel, Patric Hornqvist Pair 1: Cody Ceci, Dion Phaneuf Line 2: Phil Kessel, Jake Guentzel, Evgeni Malkin, Riley Sheahan Pair 2: Erik Karlsson, Fredrik Claesson, Dion Phaneuf Line 3: Carl Hagelin, Evgeni Malkin, Bryan Rust Pair 3: Fredrik Claesson, Chris Wideman Line 4: Ryan Reaves, Tom Kuhnhackl, Greg McKegg Looking at Ottawa means looking at the line matches of the most Pair 1: Kris Letang, Brian Dumoulin interesting coach in the world. Two points of interest here for me. First, Pair 2: Justin Schultz, Olli Maatta Boucher is really not using his fourth line much. As with the Blue Jackets and Tortorella, this means Ottawa doesn't really have that extra Pair 3: Chad Ruhwedel, Ian Cole, Matt Hunwick bit of bench shortening they can use to try and improve their results. Obviously, this is somewhat troublesome given where they currently sit in Pittsburgh is the biggest matchup nightmare in the league in my opinion. the standings. I should mention we know Boucher mixes and matches his When they're able to separate Crosby, Malkin and Kessel, it forces the lines a lot — it's almost certain that he plays his fourth line players a little opposition to make uncomfortable choices, which are quite clear here. more than this suggests, it's just treated as time for other lines. Crosby and Malkin have tended to be on the first and third lines respectively; both of those lines have obvious heavy matches against the The other thing, of course, is that he uses a checking line in the form of opposition's top two lines. Meanwhile, Kessel's hoovering up minutes his third line, which he uses to free up his first line to play more against against bottom six forwards. the other team's second through fourth lines. For the reasons expressed in this piece, I'm not sure that he really gains a huge edge by doing that The defence matchups show the same thing. The first and third lines get although that piece discusses things in the aggregate; it's entirely more of the second and third pairs, respectively. The second line, possible things could be different at the team level. generally the Kessel line, gets the third pairs. Nice bonus for Kessel. Boucher also gets his first line a little bit of a break against opposition first Pittsburgh's basically got a first pair and two third pairs. The second pair pairs, which he accomplishes by using his second and third line more gets a heavy push into the offensive zone relative to the third pair. against them. His top three lines all pick up extra minutes against almost Despite that, they're putting up worse possession numbers than the third all pairs; again, this is a result of rarely using his fourth line. pair. The matchups reflect this “two third pair” approach — Mike Sullivan doesn't seem particularly bothered about sheltering his third pair. My framework for this takes into account quality of competition, which is why the Ceci pair is treated as Ottawa's first pair. Even by first pair Toronto Maple Leafs standards, Boucher rides them pretty hard against the opposition's best Line 1: Zach Hyman, Auston Matthews, William Nylander players. Other than that, he showers minutes on the Erik Karlsson pair. Is doing this sensible? Well, the first pair has a 43.5 per cent Corsi% Line 2: Nazem Kadri, Leo Komarov, Patrick Marleau against opposition first lines. By virtue of the hockey gods, they've only been outscored 11-10. The second pair currently has a 54.2 per cent Line 3: Mitchell Marner, James van Riemsdyk, Tyler Bozak Corsi% against first lines and has tied them 4-4. The first pair probably Line 4: Connor Brown, Matt Martin, Tyler Bozak, Dominic Moore has some bad regression coming and the second pair probably has some good regression coming. Pair 1: Morgan Rielly, Ron Hainsey Driving Karlsson's ice time through the roof might be the last card that Pair 2: Jake Gardiner, Nikita Zaitsev Boucher has left to try and get the Senators back on the rails this year. Pair 3: Andreas Borgman, Connor Carrick, Roman Polak Philadelphia Flyers Mike Babcock goes deeper into his bench than most NHL coaches do. Line 1: Claude Giroux, Jakub Voracek, Sean Couturier You can tell this because the first and second lines play less than the typical first and second lines; the third and fourth lines play more. Line 2: Valtteri Filppula, Travis Konecny, Wayne Simmonds Babcock also tends to get fairly clear splits as far as matchups — despite Line 3: Nolan Patrick, Dale Weise, Wayne Simmonds, Travis Konecny, playing his third line more than the typical third line, it's all due to extra Jordan Weal minutes against the bottom of the roster. Line 4: Scott Laughton, Taylor Leier, Michael Raffl, I would assume it's opposing coaches driving the matchups against Toronto's first line. It's very clean — they keep him away from the third Pair 1: Ivan Provorov, Robert Hagg, Andrew MacDonald pair and dump those minutes on the first pair. Pair 2: Brandon Manning, Shayne Gostisbehere, Don't be fooled by the line of red here for the first pair and green for the second pair — first pairs tend to play more than second pairs, which is Pair 3: Travis Sanheim, Radko Gudas why that's the case. Babcock has actually played his second pair a little Giroux/Couturier/Voraeck have been a real power vs. power line for Dave bit more than his first pair this year but the first pair plays significantly Hakstol. Their ice time is tilted toward the opposition's top six forwards. more against first line. For the second and third lines, it's gone the other way. The fourth line, The third pair has tended to be tucked away safely against opposition meanwhile, seems to be fairly trusted by Hakstol, which makes sense fourth lines. when you look at the possession numbers. The first line has been great (55.0 per cent). The second (46.3 per cent) and third (43.8 per cent) lines The Athletic LOADED: 12.08.2017 have been terrible. The fourth line has been great (53.1 per cent). The only question I have looking at this is why Hakstol isn't trying to find a way to either play his fourth line more or shuffle his lines and get the guys driving results there playing higher up the lineup. The Giroux/Couturier/Voracek line is a secret to nobody, which the matchups reflect. Watching the Oilers-Flyers game on Wednesday night, I was particularly impressed with Ivan Provorov. One of my pet theories is that defencemen who are going to be difference tend to be difference makers very quickly. Provorov is in his age 20 season, has played with some partners of questionable repute and has acquitted himself well despite playing tougher minutes than the typical first pairing defenceman. The other point of interest to me here is the distribution of ice time between the second pair and the third pair. The second pair is somewhat 1087290 Websites Dorion don’t have to filter this through the usual agent bullshit-o-meter. This message is straight from their own players’ mouths, and it is a clear one: no hometown discounts. The exercise now is fairly straightforward. The Athletic / Provenzano: Why exploring an Erik Karlsson trade makes If the cost to re-sign Karlsson is going to be somewhere in the range of sense for the Senators $12 million to $14 million per season, is it worth it? And is this premium justified by the projected competitive level of the team?

In my old front office career, I tried to base my asset management advice By Frank Provenzano 17 hours ago to my general manager on the “One Year Too Early” rule, in that I believed the cost of getting rid of a player one year too early was almost always much lower than getting rid of him one year too late. With the asset returns trending away from trade deadline rentals and towards Last week, in his conversation with The Athletic, Kings defenseman Drew earlier off-season acquisitions, I think the Senators would be well served Doughty announced to the hockey world that he fully intends to maximize to contemplate now what I’m sure must feel like the unthinkable: life his market value when his current contract expires in the summer of without Erik Karlsson. 2019. If they don’t at least quietly explore what I believe could be a king’s The interview created a mini-shockwave in NHL circles, both for its ransom of trade return in the near future, they might just be setting frankness and shot-across-the-bow warning to his current Los Angeles themselves up for a fool’s errand in the summer of 2019. Kings front office a full 18 months before the 2019 free agent frenzy actually begins. The Athletic LOADED: 12.08.2017 Making it more interesting was that Senators defenseman Erik Karlsson backed it up by saying he wasn't taking a discount to sign anywhere either. As impactful as Doughty's comments were, it's Karlsson that becomes the more interesting story because there may actually be urgency to that situation. If there isn't, I believe there should be. Here’s why I think it could, and maybe should, be wise to trade Karlsson this season: On the face of it, a Karlsson trade in the short-term doesn’t make sense. So, let's start there. Players like Karlsson are both generational and extremely hard to acquire. I was in the Dallas front office when defenseman Sergei Zubov had to call it quits. The Stars have been searching for his replacement for the better part of a decade. Furthermore, the Senators came within striking distance of playing for the Stanley Cup last June. Why would anyone blast a hole in a critical part of the roster of a team at the peak of its competitive window? Here’s why. One of THE most important jobs of the front office of a professional sports team is to remain dispassionate in the evaluation of both the organization as a whole and its component player asset parts. That is often (if not almost always) easier said than done, particularly when it comes to unexpected playoff success. In my own management career, I had one run to the Stanley Cup Finals (with Washington in 1998) and one to the Western Conference Finals (with the Stars in 2008). Both playoff runs were somewhat unexpected. In 1998, we went into the playoffs as the fourth seed in the East, and the path to the Finals was made a lot easier by the fact that the top 3 teams all lost in the first round. In 2008, the fifth-seeded Stars came up a game short of the final round against the eventual Cup-champion Red Wings. Retrospect has a tendency to yield wonderful, and painful, clarity. In both instances, those teams weren’t realistically in the elite NHL competitive group that their playoff performance had indicated. But when you are on the inside of a run like that, it’s really hard not to believe the fairy tale. Organizationally, there is a tendency to add a piece to a puzzle that doesn’t exist. In Washington, we signed Dmitri Mironov to a four-year, $11.5 million deal following our run. And in Dallas, we famously locked up Sean Avery. In both instances, we missed the playoffs the following season. The reason I dig up these front office skeletons is that I see similarities to those Washington and Dallas teams and the current version of the Ottawa Senators. Yes, they came within a whisker of playing Nashville for the big silver mug, but their path to the conference finals was in large part a function of the NHL’s flawed playoff seeding format. Their current slump and spot outside of the playoff picture might be less a function of underperformance and more a regression to their true competitive mean. If that is, in fact, the case (and I would argue it is), then it’s critical that Ottawa doesn’t compound the problem by locking themselves into a legacy contract that carries huge performance-to-value risks. It is undisputed that Karlsson is a dominant NHL player. He will also be 29 years old in the summer of 2019, and will almost certainly command a maximum-term deal in the open market, which likely translates into an eight-year deal with the Senators. He has also seen his play dip in this young 2017-18 season as he returns from off-season ankle surgery. Is this dip a blip in what is otherwise a truly outstanding body of NHL work, or has peak-Karlsson already been realized? In some ways, I believe Doughty and Karlsson have done their respective front offices a favor by signaling their likely negotiating positions well ahead of time. General managers Rob Blake and Pierre 1087291 Websites “You want to wear down the defence, but once you do and you get that step on someone you want to have that poise to make a play,” Pacioretty said. “That’s what I’m trying to add to my game. That’s never been there. Sportsnet.ca / Pacioretty a good break away from helping Canadiens Watch all my goals, you’ve never seen me play like that.” beat Flames Fantasy Hockey Pool Play the Sportsnet Fantasy Hockey Pool for your chance to score big Eric Engels with over $22,000 worth of prizes to be awarded! December 8, 2017, 12:16 AM It's FREE and easy to play! But you saw it in Thursday’s game, when Pacioretty deked a defender, turned the jets on and held the puck coming down the right wing in the MONTREAL – In this hour of discontent for Max Pacioretty, you have to second period before making the game 2-1 Canadiens by gifting Danault wonder what one good bounce for him — and for his Montreal Canadiens a goal with a perfect backhand pass to tip home. — would’ve meant on Thursday night. “Really like his effort,” said Danault. “We know we’ve had a hard time It would’ve likely meant a goal — Pacioretty’s second in his last 12 making points recently, but as a team it’s been very good. So we gotta games — and an extra point in the standings instead of a 3-2 overtime focus on that. I thought Patch played very good tonight and obviously loss to the Calgary Flames. It would’ve been well earned in what might had a great pass, but we lost the point.” have been Pacioretty’s best game in three weeks. But it’s of no consolation to Pacioretty, who’s stuck on eight goals after The Canadiens weren’t too bad, either. 30 games and is well off the 30-plus pace he’s established year after year. “Close game, could go either way,” said Pacioretty afterwards. Julien’s not disappointed. He was right. The puck was on the tip of his stick in the slot when it slipped to linemate Phillip Danault and eventually got turned over a “He played well. He competed well,” the coach said. “He made the play minute into the extra frame. Pacioretty got on his horse to race back into on the second goal and everything else. I think tonight, penalty killing, the play and catch up to Flames defenceman T.J. Brodie, who was everything else. You know when you look at games today, we talk about driving the net on a 2-on-1 with the Flames’ most dangerous player in scoring; last night in Toronto both goals until the shootout were by possession of the puck. defencemen (by Giordano and by Leafs defenceman Morgan Reilly). All the goals the other night here (in the 4-3 Canadiens loss to St. Louis) That’s when Johnny Gaudreau pulled up, used Brodie as the decoy and were by defencemen. Guys are doing a good job in front of the net at made a perfect pass to Sean Monahan, who had slipped away from screening and making those things happen. Danault’s coverage and roofed the puck by Carey Price on his team’s 37th shot of the game. “So if [Pacioretty’s] not going to score as much as we’re used to seeing him score, we expect him to do those other things — which he’s doing “At the end of the day, those guys — even if you don’t see them much — right now. You hope that the goals will come for him and all he’s gotta do they don’t need much to make something happen,” said Canadiens is keep working.” coach Claude Julien about Gaudreau and Monahan, who were held largely in check between goals that bookended one for teammate Garnet A good break would help Pacioretty, and the Canadiens, too. Hathaway. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 12.08.2017 “That’s what you saw tonight from those guys,” added Julien. “They still managed to get a couple of goals and it wasn’t because they dominated against the players they were playing. When they got an opportunity they made the most of it.” It would be purely factual — and nothing else — to say Pacioretty didn’t make the most of his. It wasn’t for lack of effort or even lack of confidence that the puck didn’t find the back of the net on the two shots he was limited to. David Rittich, playing in his fourth NHL game as a backup for Mike Smith, made an all-world stop on Pacioretty in front of the net in the first period – point-blank robbery on a rebound. It was in the third that Pacioretty caught Brodie flatfooted, dipped his shoulder, cut straight to the net and was stymied by Rittich again. Max Pacioretty knows you want him to go to the net more often, like he did in the third period by beating Brodie to the outside. Easier said than done, as he mentions here: pic.twitter.com/DaqhMey1BB — Eric Engels (@EricEngels) December 8, 2017 He generated five other shot attempts, ran over Mark Giordano at the offensive blue line, came up big on the penalty kill — which went a perfect 4-for-4 — and did everything the right way in this game. And Pacioretty had no interest in talking about himself after it. Who could blame him? It was less than 24 hours earlier that he had held court for 15 minutes with reporters, talking at length about the measures he was taking to improve his game; talking about how in the absence of linemate Alexander Radulov (who left to sign with the Dalllas Stars this past summer), he felt it imperative to assume some different responsibilities and apply what he had learned from that player. And fans roasted Pacioretty on social media, roasted him on the airways, and found it altogether perplexing that he would devote any time to trying to expand his repertoire. “You’re trying to wear down the defence so they make a mistake, and I keep going back to it, but Radu is probably the best puck protector I’ve ever seen,” Pacioretty said after practice Wednesday. “He’s probably the best in the world at it. 1087292 Websites Everything points to a career year for Gallagher, and that’s despite the fact he’s playing more than a minute less per game than he was two years ago. If he gets a bit more ice time, something he’s clearly earned, Sportsnet.ca / How Canadiens’ Brendan Gallagher is trending towards a his production could go even higher. career year Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 12.08.2017

Andrew Berkshire December 7, 2017, 3:30 PM

Brendan Gallagher hasn’t played half the amount of games he saw in 2016-17 and he’s already scored three more goals than last season. That improvement comes despite the Montreal Canadiens as a team scoring at essentially the same rate as last season, so there hasn’t been any boost to his numbers from a “rising tide lifting all boats” situation. Gallagher has long been one of the NHL’s premier possession drivers and even-strength shot attempt producers (only Alex Ovechkin, Max Pacioretty, Evander Kane, and Brent Burns took more shot attempts per minute played at 5-on-5 than Gallagher since he entered the NHL). But for most of his career he’s been a bit of a below average shooter for a top-six forward, scoring on just 9.7 per cent of his shots on goal overall. Last season Gallagher experienced the worst shooting percentage of his career, scoring on just 5.3 per cent of his shots on goal, while this year he’s currently at a career high of 14.4 per cent. The immediate question that arises is whether Gallagher’s shooting tendencies have changed, which is something we can look into rather easily. Over the past three seasons Gallagher’s scoring chance production is relatively consistent, though the past two years he’s actually been shooting less from right in front of the net, and more from the high slot. The inner slot or high danger area carries with it the highest expected shooting percentage of anywhere on the ice, but interestingly most of the NHL’s best goal scorers actually prefer to shoot a bit more from the high slot. In that area, there’s a bit more room, meaning a split-second more to pick your spot, move your point of attack with a deke, or avoid a stick check. With that said, moving more of his shots further out from the net without increasing his scoring chance numbers overall shouldn’t really create an inflated shooting percentage. However, one thing to note with Gallagher is that he’s passing the puck a lot more often, and a lot more successfully. He has nearly doubled his completed passes to the slot year over year, from 0.7 per 20 minutes to 1.3, which creates a bit more hesitance among defenders who are used to defending a shoot-first player. Gallagher’s extra focus on playmaking this season has made him the Canadiens’ best scoring chance generator, even if his personal numbers haven’t really moved, and that extra versatility makes him significantly harder to defend. Another added layer of context here is that Gallagher has had his left hand broken by shots twice in the past two seasons: once blocking a shot in 2015-16 and again last season when Shea Weber’s terrifying one-timer hit the same hand, in the same spot, and undid all that healing. Gallagher was quoted last season saying he didn’t think his hand would ever be 100 per cent again, and that worried some about his future production, since his shot was never a bullet, his goal scoring came from his ability to get to the dirty areas and his pure volume. But this season it appears Gallagher’s shot is heavier than it’s ever been, and his release is a little bit quicker. It’s likely that over the off-season he spent a lot of time working on compensating for his hand, and the result has been a vast improvement in the quality of his shot. All this said, a 14.4 shooting percentage is something you can expect out of an Auston Matthews-level talent, not usually a Brendan Gallagher, so he’s not likely to keep that level of finishing ability going all season and push 40 goals. That’s an unreasonable expectation. What we could see is a career year, as players do tend to have those in their mid-20s. And after last season’s bad luck, Gallagher is more than due for a few extra goals. Forty may be unrealistic, but 30 is not. When you add in Gallagher’s improved playmaking ability, and the fact his linemates, Charles Hudon and Tomas Plekanec, are both only scoring on 5.1 per cent of their shots on goal, we’ll likely see a big increase to Gallagher’s assists as well. 1087293 Websites never want to see that, but the other guys will be coming back eventually and it gives guys an opportunity to step up and take those minutes.

“Tonight, we just allowed their power play to take over. That group there Sportsnet.ca / Canucks, without Bo Horvat, may be coming back down to has been together numerous years and if you give them that many looks, earth you’re not going to be successful.” Power plays were 6-2 in favour of the Flyers, which Green found a little Claude Giroux had a goal and assist, Jake Voracek had three helpers, odd since the Canucks finished ahead 37-26 in shots. and the Flyers beat the Canucks 4-1. “I loved our start,” Green said. “I didn’t like that we took three penalties in the last 10 minutes [of the first period]. We lost the momentum with three penalties in the last half of the period.” Iain MacIntyre “It’s not a tired group,” Markstrom insisted. “Look at the game today. I December 8, 2017, 1:10 AM don’t think we looked very tired.” No, they just looked like they couldn’t score or kill penalties. VANCOUVER – For most of the last century or so, earthquake scientists The good news is Sutter is supposed to be back in about a week, the bad have warned that the big one is coming on the West Coast. Anxious news is the Canucks were hoping the same thing a week ago. observers of the Vancouver Canucks have worried for almost as long as the seismologists. In the meantime, the Canucks have tough road games this weekend in Calgary and Winnipeg before opening a difficult four-game homestand If the Canucks really have been playing above themselves this season against the Nashville Predators next Wednesday. and are due to crack open at some point, this would probably be a good time to crawl under your dining table, make sure there is plenty of bottled Is that a tremor you feel? water and Twinkies in the pantry, and pray you took care of that little Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 12.08.2017 earthquake rider in the home insurance policy. It’s not just that the Canucks were beaten 4-1 Thursday by the Philadelphia Flyers in Vancouver’s first game AB – after Bo. It’s that the six-week injury to centre Bo Horvat, the Canucks’ best player, is a huge chunk of adversity piled on top of several little pieces that have quietly accumulated. With Brandon Sutter already out with an upper-body injury, the Canucks are now without their top two centres. (Yes, just like the Anaheim Ducks but without the Stanley Cup-calibre supporting cast). Vancouver goaltending and power play, like its real estate, are due market corrections. Emotionally, the Canucks have been depleted by the shock retirement of beloved teammate Derek Dorsett, whom they also miss on the ice. And physically, the team is trying to recover from a November schedule that saw them play 10 of 12 games on the road while spending 20 of 24 nights away from home over three different time zones. Emotions and goalie Jacob Markstrom carried the Canucks to home wins Saturday and Tuesday against the Toronto Maple Leafs and Carolina Hurricanes, but the fractured foot suffered late in the latter game by Horvat doesn’t energize anyone, except maybe Alex Burmistrov, the extra forward who got back into the lineup against the Flyers. Without Horvat, Canuck penalty killing surrendered power-play goals to Flyers Claude Giroux and Shayne Gostisbehere – after offensive-zone penalties by Canucks Daniel Sedin and Sven Baertschi. The previously sizzling power play, without Horvat, was 0-for-2. The line matchups, without Horvat, were tougher for Danny and Hank Sedin who, with Loui Eriksson, have led the team in scoring the last two weeks. “Players get tired,” Canucks coach Travis Green said after the morning skate. “When you’re on the road for 20 out of 24 days. … To the average fan we stay in nice hotels, travel in nice planes, but until you play and have gone through it, it’s tiring. But that is part of the NHL, when teams are on the road for 20 out of 24 days, there is a good chance you are going to have less energy. “We gave the team a mental break [Wednesday] – a total optional whether you came to the rink or not. That was strictly to get re-focused and re-energized, and hopefully we’ve got more energy in our game tonight.” The Canucks dominated the first seven minutes but couldn’t get a puck past Flyers goalie Brian Elliott despite a 9-0 advantage in shots. Then the Flyers, who had beaten the Edmonton Oilers 4-2 the previous night, took over the game and by the middle of the second period it was 3-0 Philadelphia. The Canucks did manage to push after Brock Boeser chipped in a rebound to make it 3-1 with 20 seconds remaining in the second period, but the Flyers were happy to defend and probably should have extended their lead on one of their many outnumbered rushes before Wayne Simmonds scored into an empty net. Of the adversity piled before the Canucks, defenceman Michael Del Zotto said: “That’s part of a hockey season. There are going to be injuries and we’ve had a pretty gruelling schedule. I’m not making excuses, but it hasn’t been easy on our club starting with [pre-season in] China and a pretty rough month in November. Obviously, Dorse is a tough one, you 1087294 Websites

Sportsnet.ca / Bettman: NHL expansion process open to Seattle

Andrew Bottomley December 7, 2017, 6:14 PM

Gary Bettman announced on Thursday that the NHL has agreed to open the expansion process to a team in Seattle. The process is going to be similar to the Vegas Golden Knights expansion and will reportedly cost $650 million, and if an expansion team is ultimately located in Seattle it will not be until the 2020-21 season. This process does not guarantee that a team will eventually play in Seattle, but over the next few months the city is allowed to have a season-ticket drive to gauge interest in hosting an NHL franchise. SEA: looking at 2020-21. Have asked to file application to expand. League has agreed and will allow a season-ticket drive. But Bettman says this is not guarantee of a team Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087295 Websites few seconds left in an irretrievable game, he launched himself at Adam Larsson’s head against the corner glass.

Ever since, a young defenceman who was on the ice with Davidson — Sportsnet.ca / Flames’ Matthew Tkachuk molding into both lovable and Oiler Darnell Nurse — has voiced an open invitation to Tkachuk to drop hatable pest the gloves and prove himself. Nurse dropped that invite again last Saturday — check the game tape — and Tkachuk’s eyes were averted while Nurse smiled down from above. Mark Spector Fine. We will never criticize a player for not wanting to fight a man of December 7, 2017, 12:54 PM Nurse’s size and ability. I wouldn’t either. But here’s the rub: When you play the way Tkachuk plays, eventually you either have to take that fight or quit the cheap antics. Or else, Nurse The tell on the Matthew Tkachuk commentary Thursday is as easy to might start doing to your skilled teammates what you’ve been doing to spot as a cheesy slew foot or a spear caught on camera. everyone else, to get that long list of priors with Player Safety. If you read, or hear, someone say that they wouldn’t want Tkachuk on And that’s where the gig boomerangs on you. their team, that person is a fan boy. OK? This is Hockey 101. Matt Tkachuk, God love his game, has not passed They say that because they don’t like the Flames. And they do love the that class quite yet. Canucks, Leafs, Oilers, whomever… Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 12.08.2017 The fact is, whatever you think about Tkachuk’s antics, only Auston Matthews and Patrik Laine are — at this point — clearly superior assets to come out of the 2016 draft. If you don’t want one of hockey’s premier 19-year-olds — who scores, hits, fights, pesters, and skates as well as Tkachuk does — your hockey acumen requires a reboot. Eventually, players like Clayton Keller, Jesse Puljujarvi, Pierre-Luc Dubois, Mikhail Sergachev and a few others might horn in on the conversation. But on Dec. 7, 2017, the 2016 draft class goes Matthews, Laine, Tkachuk — full stop. So we’ve established our respect for the asset, if not for some of the traits that Tkachuk currently exhibits. But, let’s face it: If I look back at my own decisions, they became infinitely wiser from age 19 to 23, and we’re sure the same thing will apply to the young Flames winger. For now, however, we get “dumb decision” Tkachuk, who spent last season doling out cheesy slew-foots and a few unnecessary head shots, and this season has discovered the sneaky-dirty spear from a protected spot behind his front-of-the-line teammates. His latest came Wednesday while on the Flames’ bench, when Tkachuk discreetly issued a tacit spear to Toronto’s Matt Martin. Tkachuk’s heart clearly wasn’t in it, and was suspended one game by the Department of Player Safety on Thursday for his actions. “I didn’t feel it at the time but I guess if he’s going to do stuff like that he should make it count,” shrugged Martin. “It’s child’s play.” Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock agreed, calling Tkachuk’s act, “junior hockey stuff.” “He’ll learn over time,” said Babcock, adding: “He played a good game, he played hard. No reason for that stuff.” It is simply not a good look, and knowing his father Keith a little bit — having spent his entire career as a Western-based NHL reporter — we are quite comfortable in predicting that Tkachuk Sr. winced when he saw the latest artistry from his lad Wednesday night in Toronto. “Funny thing,” began Calgary teammate Johnny Gaudreau on a ‘Spittin’ Chiclets’ podcast taped over the summer. “We were with (Keith) at dinner, and Matthew will bring up something random and Mr. Tkachuk will be like, ‘Matthew, you have 20 games (played). Shut up. You’re a rookie. Keep your mouth shut.’ “He’s a great player in our locker-room, and a great teammates, and he likes to stir the pot a little bit on the ice. And we need a player like that.” Having that player that every other fan base detests is fun. Having that player that players on other teams can’t stand is a competitive advantage. Tkachuk has made himself into both of those guys — sort of. This much we know to be true: Tkachuk will have to make some alterations to his game, ultimately, to garner the unilateral respect from teammates and opponents that his father had. Because until they outlaw fighting, the NHL is still a place that demands a player stands up for himself when challenged on less respectful acts like spears and slew foots. Disclaimer: If you’re anti-fighting, click away. Because here comes the ugly truth, as the game stands today: In Tkachuk’s first NHL game, played at Edmonton, he slew-footed Oilers defenceman Brandon Davidson, giving him a concussion. Then, with a 1087296 Websites Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 12.08.2017

Sportsnet.ca / Canucks left to fill huge ice time gap with Bo Horvat injured

Iain MacIntyre December 7, 2017, 3:24 PM

VANCOUVER – It’s not the goals and assists that tell you how important Bo Horvat is to the Vancouver Canucks. It’s the time on ice. The Canucks centre leads the National Hockey League team’s forwards with 18:36 of nightly ice time. With second-line centre Brandon Sutter injured, Horvat’s ice time is more than two minutes ahead of the next busiest forward, Sven Baertschi (16:21). Horvat is fourth in average power-play time at 2:47, just marginally behind rookie Brock Boeser and the Sedin brothers, Daniel and Henrik, and fifth in penalty-kill time with an average of 1:51. But the top two penalty-killing forwards are Sutter and Derek Dorsett, who just retired. And among the healthy players who have contributed to the Canucks’ 5- 2-1 surge heading into Thursday’s home game against the Philadelphia Flyers, Horvat has taken twice as many faceoffs (593) this season as the next busiest centre, Henrik Sedin (292). Oh, and for the record, Horvat’s 10 goals and 10 assists in 28 games puts him second in Canucks scoring. All of this is what the team will be missing for as many as six weeks after coach Travis Green confirmed Thursday morning that Horvat suffered a fractured foot late in Tuesday’s 3-0 win against the Carolina Hurricanes. “He’s seeing a specialist today,” Green said. “We don’t know a timeline for sure yet, but it’s going to be multiple weeks – probably up to six weeks. “I don’t think we’re going to just replace Bo Horvat. But teams deal with injuries and we’re going to have to deal with it. It’s going to be a challenge. Burmy (Alex Burmistrov) will go in tonight and Burmy’s a good player. He’s been waiting for a chance. I thought he played well at the start of the year. I thought he dipped. I talked to him the other day: ‘Just hang in there, you’re going to get another opportunity.’ I didn’t expect it to happen this way.” Burmistrov may be a good player, but he hasn’t been good enough to play, even with Sutter out of the lineup with an upper-body injury sustained Nov. 24 when he tried to jump a check along the boards by New Jersey Devils defenceman John Moore. Sutter is believed to be at least a week away, but the Canucks were saying the same thing last week. Burmistrov has been a healthy scratch in nine of the last 11 games. So Burmistrov isn’t replacing Horvat; more likely he’ll replace Sam Gagner or Markus Granlund as those guys get more ice time. “Anaheim has been playing without their top two centres, it seems, for the whole year,” Gagner said, referring to injured Ducks’ Ryan Kesler and Ryan Getzlaf. “It’s just something that comes with the game. “With Bo out, we’re going to need a lot of different guys to step up and kind of fill that void. (But) it’s one that, I think, with what Bo brings to the game, it’s unfillable. But different guys have to step up and make sure they’re doing their job to the best of their ability to help us get wins.” The best hope the Canucks have to keep winning until Sutter, at least, gets back is the Sedins and Loui Eriksson have been easily the Canucks’ most productive line the last three weeks. In their last eight games, the Swedes have combined for eight goals and 25 points. Henrik has averaged just 14:22 of ice time this season under Green, Daniel 14:09. “It’s going to be tough, especially now that we have Sutter and (Horvat) out for a little bit,” Henrik said. “It’s not going to change our mindset; we’re going to go out and play the minutes we get. Whether that’s 11 or 15 or 18, that’s up to (Green).” Asked to explain their recent spike in offensive production, Sedin said: “I think we’ve gotten more ice time. That’s No. 1.” They should get even more ice time now. For depth and to fill payroll space in order to maximize long-term-injured benefits on their salary cap, the Canucks recalled centre Michael Chaput and goalie Thatcher Demko from the Utica Comets. 1087297 Websites Everything points to a career year for Gallagher, and that’s despite the fact he’s playing more than a minute less per game than he was two years ago. If he gets a bit more ice time, something he’s clearly earned, Sportsnet.ca / How Canadiens’ Brendan Gallagher is trending towards a his production could go even higher. career year Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 12.08.2017

Andrew Berkshire December 7, 2017, 3:30 PM

Brendan Gallagher hasn’t played half the amount of games he saw in 2016-17 and he’s already scored three more goals than last season. That improvement comes despite the Montreal Canadiens as a team scoring at essentially the same rate as last season, so there hasn’t been any boost to his numbers from a “rising tide lifting all boats” situation. Gallagher has long been one of the NHL’s premier possession drivers and even-strength shot attempt producers (only Alex Ovechkin, Max Pacioretty, Evander Kane, and Brent Burns took more shot attempts per minute played at 5-on-5 than Gallagher since he entered the NHL). But for most of his career he’s been a bit of a below average shooter for a top-six forward, scoring on just 9.7 per cent of his shots on goal overall. Last season Gallagher experienced the worst shooting percentage of his career, scoring on just 5.3 per cent of his shots on goal, while this year he’s currently at a career high of 14.4 per cent. The immediate question that arises is whether Gallagher’s shooting tendencies have changed, which is something we can look into rather easily. Over the past three seasons Gallagher’s scoring chance production is relatively consistent, though the past two years he’s actually been shooting less from right in front of the net, and more from the high slot. The inner slot or high danger area carries with it the highest expected shooting percentage of anywhere on the ice, but interestingly most of the NHL’s best goal scorers actually prefer to shoot a bit more from the high slot. In that area, there’s a bit more room, meaning a split-second more to pick your spot, move your point of attack with a deke, or avoid a stick check. With that said, moving more of his shots further out from the net without increasing his scoring chance numbers overall shouldn’t really create an inflated shooting percentage. However, one thing to note with Gallagher is that he’s passing the puck a lot more often, and a lot more successfully. He has nearly doubled his completed passes to the slot year over year, from 0.7 per 20 minutes to 1.3, which creates a bit more hesitance among defenders who are used to defending a shoot-first player. Gallagher’s extra focus on playmaking this season has made him the Canadiens’ best scoring chance generator, even if his personal numbers haven’t really moved, and that extra versatility makes him significantly harder to defend. Another added layer of context here is that Gallagher has had his left hand broken by shots twice in the past two seasons: once blocking a shot in 2015-16 and again last season when Shea Weber’s terrifying one-timer hit the same hand, in the same spot, and undid all that healing. Gallagher was quoted last season saying he didn’t think his hand would ever be 100 per cent again, and that worried some about his future production, since his shot was never a bullet, his goal scoring came from his ability to get to the dirty areas and his pure volume. But this season it appears Gallagher’s shot is heavier than it’s ever been, and his release is a little bit quicker. It’s likely that over the off-season he spent a lot of time working on compensating for his hand, and the result has been a vast improvement in the quality of his shot. All this said, a 14.4 shooting percentage is something you can expect out of an Auston Matthews-level talent, not usually a Brendan Gallagher, so he’s not likely to keep that level of finishing ability going all season and push 40 goals. That’s an unreasonable expectation. What we could see is a career year, as players do tend to have those in their mid-20s. And after last season’s bad luck, Gallagher is more than due for a few extra goals. Forty may be unrealistic, but 30 is not. When you add in Gallagher’s improved playmaking ability, and the fact his linemates, Charles Hudon and Tomas Plekanec, are both only scoring on 5.1 per cent of their shots on goal, we’ll likely see a big increase to Gallagher’s assists as well. 1087298 Websites “He’s really driven, he drives the net, he’s a fierce competitor,” he said back in June. “The talent level is the floor with him, the character is the ceiling. He gets to the ceiling.” Sportsnet.ca / Montreal Canadiens Prospect Report: Checking in on Ikonen can start climbing his way there this season. If he does, he might 2017 draft picks fulfill the expectation Timmins laid out—that he can develop into a top-six forward. Eric Engels There’s potential for him to be on Finland’s entry to the WJC, as he’s participated in several international events for the Suomi and was invited December 7, 2017, 1:00 PM to the team’s WJC selection camp roster. To get an idea of what you might see there, here’s some highlights from the 2017 IIHF U18 tournament: In October and November we went in-depth on the most NHL-ready prospects of the Montreal Canadiens, talking to key members of their Scott Walford, D, Victoria Royals, WHL development team for frank assessments on where each player stood. Drafted: Third round, 68th overall In the first month, Canadiens director of player personnel Martin Lapointe focused exclusively on what each of the team’s top-10 prospects needed Season to date: 29 GP | 0 G | 14 A | 14 PTS | +12 to work on in order to take their respective games to the next level. And There’s nothing particularly flashy about Walford, but by all accounts he in the second, Laval Rocket head coach Sylvain Lefebvre updated us on seems to have a good head on his shoulders and an all-around game. the progress his AHL players—some of whom have since ascended to the NHL to help the Canadiens get back into the playoff hunt. “He plays in all situations, has good size, and he’s a really strong skater,” Timmins said at the draft. For December, just a few weeks ahead of the World Junior Championship, we thought it was as good a time as any to look in on the The 6-foot-2, 195-pounder compares his game to Minnesota Wild seven players the Canadiens drafted this past summer. defenceman Ryan Suter’s. If he can develop to become half the player Suter is, the Canadiens will have done well with this third-round We’re going in order. selection. Ryan Poehling, C, St. Cloud State University, NCAA Cale Fleury, D, Regina Pats, WHL Drafted: First round, 25th overall Drafted: Third round, 87th overall Season to date: 12 GP | 4 G | 11 A | 15 PTS | +8 Season to date: 26 GP | 7 G | 9 A | 16 PTS | -2 Reason for optimism: Could this be the big, skilled centre the Canadiens Fleury started his fourth season with the Kootenay Ice before he was have been waiting on for the better part of three decades? It sure seems traded a couple of weeks later to the Regina Pats. He’s lived up to his possible. offensive billing with both teams thus far. Poehling was an enticing pick at 25th overall just based on the fact he He’s the younger brother of Carolina Hurricanes hopeful Haydn Fleury had already completed a season at the college level. Considering he’s and seemingly has nearly as much upside as the 2014 seventh overall already surpassed his rookie-season production—he had seven goals pick. and 13 points—in 23 fewer games is a sign he’s progressing quickly. Timmins referred to Cale as a complete player who skates well and “He has lots of upside, good size, and he plays well in the four corners of moves the puck efficiently. the ice,” said Canadiens vice president of player personnel Trevor Timmins from the draft floor. Fleury’s on his way to continue in his tradition of besting his previous season total, and considering he had 11 goals and 38 points in 70 games Clearly the 6-foot-2, 185-pound Minnesotan is proving that. last season that’s good news for the Canadiens. Here’s a glimpse of what he can do: More from Sportsnet Poehling was a part of the USA’s world junior summer showcase and Toronto Maple Leafs Prospect Report: Which 2017 picks are worthy of was invited to the team’s WJC selection camp roster early this month. WJC? Josh Brook, D, Moose Jaw Warriors, WHL LUKE FOX Drafted: Second round, 56th overall Edmonton Oilers Prospect Report: Yamamoto the only WJC lock Season to date: 4 GP | 0 G | 2 A | 2 PTS | +3 MARK SPECTOR Brook suffered a broken wrist on Sept. 22, but was able to return sooner Jarret Tyszka, D, Seattle Thunderbirds, WHL than expected from surgery. He’s an offensive defenceman who’s billed as a player that does everything well. Drafted: Fifth round, 149th overall He told Sean Farrell of NHL.com after Montreal’s development camp that Season to date: 27 GP | 3 G | 13 A | 16 PTS | -6 he gained confidence with the things development coach Francis Bouillon was able to teach him. Sensing a pattern here? We are. “Whenever we were on the ice for practices they were addressing me You want big, versatile defencemen? Draft them out of the WHL. That’s with a ton of stuff, talking about what I can work on and what I need to where Tyszka has opened some eyes, as a member of the Seattle improve on and change in my game, even my posture when I’m skating, Thunderbirds over the past three seasons—including this one. when I’m turning, how I hold my stick, and it was awesome,” said Brook. He’s off to a good start, and fulfilling some of the promise that had After putting up eight goals and 40 points with Moose Jaw in his draft Timmins compare him to Canadiens prospect Noah Juulsen—who was year, it’ll be interesting to see how he applies what he learned in August selected by the team in the first round of the 2015 draft. to games upcoming on the Warriors’ schedule. “He wants to be the guy,” said Timmins. This video will give you a sense for what Timmins and the Canadiens Cayden Primeau, G, Northeastern University, NCAA saw when they drafted the 6-foot-1, 182-pound Roblin, Man., native. Drafted: Seventh round, 199th overall Joni Ikonen, C, KalPa Kuopio, FIN Season to date: 11 GP | 5-3-1 | .920 SA % | 2.06 GAA Drafted: Second round, 58th overall He’s the son of former NHLer Keith Primeau, and the Canadiens made a Season to date: 29 GP | 3 G | 3 A | 6 PTS | -2 trade with the Philadelphia Flyers just to sneak him into their 2017 haul. Perhaps Ikonen started a little slower out of the gate than the Canadiens Primeau has allowed only 21 goals in 11 games with Northeastern this and their fans might have expected. From the draft floor, Timmins season, which is pretty exceptional for a rookie. He currently leads all of compared him to Canadiens forward Artturi Lehkonen. Hockey East in GAA and save percentage. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087299 Websites But there needs to be a real in-depth, comprehensive investment plan to get young players and families involved. The excitement of a new team can only carry you four or five years.” TSN.CA / NHL gives Seattle green light to pursue expansion franchise If approved, the Seattle bid would have a couple years to lay that foundation while Key Arena is being renovated. Environmental and traffic studies will prevent shovels from being in the ground until some time in By Frank Seravalli 2018. In the meantime, the NHL will also need to sort out its own divisional alignment. Seattle perfectly balances out the current geographic PALM BEACH, Fla. — One hundred years after the Stanley Cup resided imbalance, placing 16 teams in both the West and the East. But the in Seattle, NHL hockey is finally on the horizon in the Pacific Northwest. Pacific division – which Seattle would call home – has eight teams whereas the Central division only has seven. The NHL invited a prospective Seattle ownership group, led by billionaire David Bonderman and Hollywood producer Jerry Bruckheimer, to “Gary and I have had some preliminary discussions with some ideas – formally apply for expansion as the league’s 32nd club, commissioner but I think that would be way premature to talk about that, because Gary Bettman announced Thursday. there’s been no decision to expand,” Daly said. “There’s been an invitation to submit an expansion application.” “That doesn’t mean we have granted an expansion team,” Bettman said. “We have agreed as a league to take and consider an expansion Right now, that Seattle is the only city invited to apply despite application and to let them run a season-ticket drive in the next few expressions of interest from Houston and a deferred application from months.” Quebec City, should tell you everything you need to know about the legitimacy of their application process. The NHL’s Board of Governors set the expansion fee at $650 million (U.S. dollars) for entrance in 2020-21, some 30 per cent more than Bill The NHL has had its sights set on Seattle for a while. Foley and the Vegas Golden Knights agreed to pay in 2016. “Our plan,” Bettman said, “is just to look at Seattle at this point in time.” Unlike when Vegas first popped up on the radar, Bonderman’s Seattle bid is beginning on second base. In 2014, Foley was only first permitted TSN.CA LOADED: 12.08.2017 to seek deposits for season tickets to demonstrate potential interest. He was then invited to formally apply for expansion nearly a year later after proving the interest. That Seattle has already jumped to Step 2 in the process signifies Bettman’s confidence in their ability to pull it off. “From everything I know viscerally, I think it'll be a good market,” Bettman said. “I think the geographic rivalry with Vancouver as potential will be nice. Building up a bigger presence in the Pacific Northwest for the NHL, a place that we know has great hockey interest at a variety of other levels, it's an intriguing possibility. But we've got homework to do.” The NHL was intrigued enough by the Pacific Northwest in 2015 that it continued dialogue with three separate potential ownership groups, but none of them featured a concrete arena plan. None of those three interested parties applied at the time. The fee to apply is $10 million, with $2 million of that being nonrefundable, even if the application is unsuccessful. Bettman’s announcement came just one day after Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Oak View Group to embark on a $600 million renovation of KeyArena, former home of the NBA’s Supersonics. “That’s what’s changed,” deputy commissioner Bill Daly said. “We now have an interested ownership group, we have a commitment on an arena, and we have a market we now have to explore.” As much as the NHL expanding to Seattle seems like a done deal – speculation Bettman said he “can’t stop” – a big indicator of success of the application will be the interest in season-ticket deposits. Vegas tore through nearly 13,000 deposits without corporate support in short order. It may not be as quick for Seattle. Yes, the prospering 14th-largest market in the U.S. is hungry for a winter pro sports team since the Sonics bolted for Oklahoma City, but economic studies suggested there is not a significant amount of disposable income from residents to spend on tickets. Plus, at least a little skepticism remains about the interest level in hockey. Former NHL GM Russ Farwell, who has lived in Seattle for more than two decades owning and running the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds, is curious to see how it will play out. “This is the last place in the U.S. for hockey to catch on,” Farwell told TSN. “I don’t know how many hardcore hockey fans there are in Seattle. I wonder how many right now would step up and buy tickets. Pro sports are different, but we’ve run consumer polls and the response from fans has been, ‘No thanks, we’ve already gone to our one hockey game this year.’ It is frustrating.” That isn’t to suggest Farwell believes the NHL won’t work in Seattle. It has in far less traditional markets. “There is no reason to think the NHL can’t work here,” he said. “We’re two hours from the Canadian border. It’s cold in the winter. There’s money here. It’s a great city. But there are only eight hockey rinks from Everett to Tacoma. It’s worked in places with less of a grassroots base. 1087300 Websites

TSN.CA / Lovejoy becomes first active NHL player to pledge brain

By Rick Westhead

New Jersey Devils defenceman Ben Lovejoy is the first active National Hockey League player to pledge his brain to the Concussion Legacy Foundation in Boston. “Hockey has been so good to me,” Lovejoy said in a Dec. 6 interview with TSN. “It’s helped me make a ton of friends, travel the country and world, and given me an amazing job that has paid me really well. My entire life has revolved exclusively around hockey and I want to give my brain to help make this game safer.” The 33-year-old native of Orford, N.H., has played nine seasons in the NHL with New Jersey, Pittsburgh and Anaheim. He was a member of the Stanley Cup-winning Penguins during the 2015-16 season. Lovejoy was undrafted after playing NCAA hockey at Boston College and Dartmouth College. Lovejoy said that while he has never had a diagnosed concussion, he’s pledging his brain because, “I am a believer in science.” “I’m spoiled to have done this for so long,” he said. “I’ve had teammates who are superstars and others who are minor-league role players who have struggled, missed time, and ended careers because of concussions. I want to do anything I can to help.” Chris Nowinski, the Concussion Legacy Foundation’s co-founder and CEO, said brain donation is critical to developing methods to prevent and treat neurological disorders. “Professional athletes can create better outcomes for themselves, their teammates, and their children by pledging their brain or raising funds,” Nowinski said. The foundation works alongside scientists at the CTE Center at Boston University. Dr. Ann McKee, a neuropathologist there, has studied the brains of more than 100 former pro football players and a handful of former NHL players to establish whether repeated head trauma leads to CTE. Westhead: Years away from testing for CTE in living subjects TSN Senior Correspondent Rick Westhead joins the Afternoon Ride to discuss Boston University research that could lead to a CTE test for living subjects. Westhead shares how, when asked, members of the Toronto Maple Leafs said they would take the CTE test, but wouldn’t walk away from the game given the results. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, can only be detected through a postmortem examination of the brain. The brain-withering disease has been linked to mood swings, depression and violent behaviour and is caused by repeated blows to the head, researchers say. Dr. McKee has diagnosed CTE in four former NHL players – Reggie Fleming, Rick Martin, Bob Probert and Derek Boogaard. Former NHL player Steve Montador also had CTE, according to researchers with the Canadian Sports Concussion Project in Toronto. Former NHL players including Craig Adams, Ted Drury, Shawn McEachern and Bob Sweeney have pledged to donate their brains to the C.T.E. Center, said Nowinski. In 2008, Keith Primeau was the first former NHL star to pledge his brain. TSN.CA LOADED: 12.08.2017 1087301 Websites resume, he is still a 23-year-old with just over 100 games of NHL experience.

The best-case scenario if you are the Leafs or other Eastern Conference TSN.CA / The Lightning might be even better than you think contenders? Teams start finding holes in the Lightning defence and get into the trading goals business. The worst-case scenario? Tampa Bay mostly sustains on both ends of the ice. By Travis Yost If they do, we might be witness to one of the best regular-season performances we have seen in a long time. The Tampa Bay Lightning are on fire. TSN.CA LOADED: 12.08.2017 With 40 points in 27 games, Jon Cooper’s Bolts are starting to create real separation from the muddied middle of the Eastern Conference. They’re doing so with one of the league’s most prolific offences, plus defence and goaltending that has been surprisingly stingy. If you looked at the standings through Wednesday night, you would surely identify Tampa Bay as one of the league’s best teams. That comes with the territory when you’re sporting a 19-6-2 record. Unfortunately, records aren’t always the best indicator of a team’s true performance – game states like 3-on-3 overtime and the shootout can cloud the meaningfulness of a team’s record, especially when a sample is less than 30 games. What’s my point? Tampa Bay may actually be better than they appear. Through 27 games, Tampa Bay has amassed a +17 goal differential at 5- on-5 and a +32 goal differential across all situations. Both of those numbers are tops in the NHL by a considerable margin. (Another way to read this: Tampa Bay’s a very strong 5-on-5 team with an exceptional power-play unit. Add good goaltending to the mix and you have an elite hockey team.) If those numbers seem steep it’s because they are. A +32 goal differential over 27 games means their average game sees the Lightning winning by more than a goal. How ridiculous is that sort of run? I went and looked at some of the best goal differentials we have seen since the 2007-08 season and what it meant for a team’s finish in the standings. Predictably, all of these teams comfortably exceeded the 100-point mark. But make careful note of where Tampa Bay would land within this hierarchy: Embedded Image If Tampa Bay can somehow sustain their current pace, they would end up with the best goal differential we have seen in the modern era – better than all of those great Washington teams – better than Mike Babcock’s vaunted 2007-08 Red Wings, and so on. I’d be remiss to point out that (again, not surprisingly) a number of these teams ended up winning the Stanley Cup. So, which players are driving the bus in Tampa Bay? We have heard an awful lot about the Lightning’s top 5-on-5 line of Vlad Namestnikov, Steven Stamkos, and Nikita Kucherov. They’ve been sawing opponents in half, game in and game out, and are one of the big reasons why the Lightning are in such a fantastic spot. But it’s not just a three-man effort. Secondary players like Yanni Gourde, Alex Killorn, and Brayden Point are also having phenomenal years. On the defensive side, all of the talk centres on annual Norris Trophy candidate Victor Hedman. But the defender with the highest goal differential is actually the youngster Mikhail Sergachev, who has fit like a glove alongside veteran Anton Stralman. So, yes, Tampa Bay has a ridiculous top unit. But they’re getting real production from their depth, too. Just look at how many players are in the green heading into December: Embedded Image As you can see, this is a pretty strong 5-on-5 team across the board. But most players see their goal differentials jump up (in some cases, considerably) when we bring in all situations data. That’s the beauty of seeing significant ice time on a power-play unit that’s converting on 29 per cent of their chances. So, where do you go if you are a team like the Toronto Maple Leafs – a team with legitimate division title hopes? I don’t think there’s much of a reason to believe the Tampa Bay offence will slow down. But you do have to wonder if Andrei Vasilevskiy will be able to sustain his performance over a full season. Bolts’ skaters have a pretty proven track record of scoring production pre-dating this season, and their power play in the Stamkos era has always graded out well. Vasilevskiy, at least relatively speaking, is a bit more of an unknown. His 93.2 save percentage is one of the highest in the league, and although he came into the league with an impressive 1087302 Websites “Playing against him in practice every day, I could see the skill set and instincts,” Tavares said. “You could see his game grow and grow and now he’s a horse for us.” USA TODAY / For Islanders, defenseman Nick Leddy has entered 'elite' Tavares said Leddy makes him better because he can play with him in conversation games and against him in practice. When Weight took over as head coach last season, the first player he Kevin Allen, USA TODAY Sports Published 4:30 p.m. ET Dec. 7, 2017 | talked to one-on-one was Leddy. He wanted to tell him that he believed Updated 5:07 p.m. ET Dec. 7, 2017 that Leddy could be, or should be, a greater difference-maker than he was.

Weight said Leddy accepted that challenge. New York Islanders coach Doug Weight said he recently read an article that listed the top 12 candidates for the Norris Trophy at the quarter mark “The maturity in a player isn’t just about becoming a father, coming to the of this season and was stunned by the absence of one name. rink early to stretch and taking care of your body,” Weight said. “Sometimes maturity is accepting coaching and becoming more "How can Nick Leddy not be on that list?” Weight asked. “He deserves to competitive and more prepared. Sometimes it’s wanting to be the best.” be in the top three right now. I’m not being a promoter. I’m being honest.” USA TODAY LOADED: 12.08.2017 Weight said his No. 1 defenseman has been the fire-starter of the team’s 16-9-2 record and a primary reason why the Islanders are viewed as one of the most improved teams. The Islanders finished 41-29-12 last season and missed the playoffs. Leddy’s slick skating and puck magic have allowed him to register six goals and 17 assists for 23 points, making him the league’s second- highest scoring defenseman. He is the quarterback on an Islanders offense that ranks second with a 3.67 goals-per-game average. “Wanting to be great is something that has to click inside you,” Weight told USA TODAY Sports. “He has that over the last 12 months.” The Leddy advantage is speed and acceleration. “All you need to do to know how fast Leddy is is to watch the overtime of our game with Edmonton a few weeks ago and watch Leddy’s ability to catch Connor McDavid from behind,” Islanders captain John Tavares said. Leon Draisaitl and McDavid combined on the game-winning goal, but Leddy rocketed up ice stride-per-stride with McDavid, whose powerful skating style gives him the edge in the majority of races. Weight is a former Oilers player and has respect for McDavid’s ability, but he believes Leddy is in McDavid’s league as a speedster. “I don’t know who I would put money on in a race, but I think I would put it on Nick and I think I would be comfortable doing it,” Weight said. Weight said Leddy skates like no one he has ever seen. “I’m talking (Pavel) Bure, or any name you can put out there,” Weight said. According to Weight, Leddy is shooting more and becoming more of “a deceptive player.” Leddy has 70 shots in 27 games, for a career-high 2.59 shots per game. “A year ago I would have said that he doesn’t have any Erik Karlsson in him,” Weight said. “Now, he’s ripping across the blue line and darting across the ice.” Tavares said what makes Leddy special is an ability to aggressively join the rush and still be a factor defensively if the puck turns the other way. “It’s amazing how he can get back (on defense) when he has three or four strides to make up,” Tavares said. The real change in Leddy may be his transformation into a high-grade defender. “He plays against the best players in the world every game,” Weight said. “He’s forcing (assistant coach) Luke Richardson or me to say, ‘Who do I want against (Nikita) Kucherov?’ It’s him. That’s the level he’s been playing at. He is playing physical. He’s learned he can play with an edge and be better.” Leddy is a soft-spoken leader, a humble guy who is flashier on the ice than off the ice. “I’m just trying to improve every year,” Leddy, 26, said, adding that his defensive improvement is about experience. “It comes with games played and experiences you’ve had,” Leddy said. “It’s about learning through reading and reacting. The hardest thing about the NHL is everything happens so fast.” Tavares saw this Leddy leap coming last season. He told USA TODAY Sports before the 2016-17 season that he viewed Leddy as a Norris Trophy-caliber defenseman.