SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 10/29/2019 1158859 Ducks make no excuses after clunker of a loss to Golden 1158883 Column: Bulls, Blackhawks and White Sox fans who are Knights unhappy with Dish in its NBC Sports Chicago stalemate 1158860 Defensive depth, development of youth among 5 areas of sho concern during Ducks’ recent trip 1158884 Blackhawks trade Brendan Perlini to the Red Wings for defenseman prospect Alec Regula 1158885 3 takeaways from the Blackhawks’ 5-1 win over the Kings, 1158861 Coyotes complete comeback to beat Sabres in shootout including and Alex DeBrincat ending thei 1158862 Coyotes complete comeback with shootout win over 1158886 Blackhawks grant Brendan Perlini’s trade wish, send Sabres to Red Wings 1158863 Depth is ‘a powerful thing’: A Q&A with GM John Chayka 1158887 More Robin Lehner starts in might be key to fixing on a strong, 3-1 road trip Blackhawks’ kill 1158888 Dylan Strome, Alex DeBrincat help Blackhawks end 4-game losing streak 1158864 Revisiting the Jumbo Joe Thornton nickname, and 1158889 Strengthened middle gives Blackhawks more line options possibly his last game at the Garden 1158890 After requesting trade from Blackhawks, Brendan Perlini 1158865 Blues to have surgery, miss dealt to Red Wings five months 1158891 Red Wings acquire forward Brendan Perlini in trade with 1158866 Bruins players bring spooky good times to Boston Blackhawks Children’s Hospital patients 1158892 NHL Trade Grade: Detroit gets Brendan Perlini from 1158867 These Bruins already feel good, and they should Chicago for Alec Regula 1158868 Bruins' Brad Marchand earns NHL's First Star of the Week after 5-point gem 1158869 Bruins off to great start with their NHL Revenge Tour 1158893 Denver Nuggets remain undefeated with road win over playing nightly Sacramento Kings 1158870 Bruins' Charlie Coyle no longer battling 'the goose egg' 1158894 Games are played, but few can WATCH: Altitude after scoring first goal continues battle with major providers to show Avs, 1158871 Late hit knocks Par Lindholm (upper body) out of Bruins' Nuggets win over Rangers 1158872 Talking Points from the Bruins' 7-4 win over the Rangers 1158895 Columbus Blue Jackets' depth getting tested after two Buffalo Sabres additional injuries 1158874 t was a super first month for Sabres and now we find out if 1158896 Columbus Blue Jackets John Tortorella critical of it lasts goalie's emotional outbursts 1158875 The Wraparound: Coyotes 3, Sabres 2 (SO) 1158897 Injured Blue Jackets Ryan Murray, Alexandre Texier will 1158876 Sabres pay tribute to Phil Housley with video during his miss up to four weeks return 1158898 As power-play woes continue, Blue Jackets’ John 1158877 Sabres game day: Ralph Krueger continues to 'roll four Tortorella offers an angry defense of assistant Brad lines' Larsen 1158878 Sabres' top goaltending prospect Luukkonen getting closer to start for Amerks 1158879 How the Sabres’ offensive zone start percentages have 1158899 Why Jim Montgomery is concerned with Stars’ work ethic changed under Ralph Krueger on the power play in a historically bad start 1158900 Stars defenseman Andrej Sekera will not play vs. Flames Minnesota after awkward crash into boards 1158880 Kylington relieved, Lowry suspended after Heritage 1158901 Shap Shots: English with Gurianov, powerless play and an Classic hit Idaho update 1158881 Flames’ Lindholm won’t be bothered by boo-birds in Carolina Carolina Hurricanes 1158882 ‘It has done so much for this city.’ PNC Arena, home to hockey and , turns 20. New York Islanders 1158902 Detroit Red Wings acquire former first-round pick in trade 1158936 Belmont arena developers ask judge to dismiss Floral with Chicago Blackhawks Park lawsuit 1158903 Detroit Red Wings hope hitting their breaking point 1158937 How a Nystrom family business grew (and continues to Sunday changes their momentum grow) in Joshua Tree 1158904 Detroit Red Wings encouraged by play vs. champs: 'We 1158938 The forwards stepping up in the face of injuries and have to pick up from that' embodying ‘Islander hockey’ 1158905 Red Wings trade for forward Perlini 1158906 Red Wings players maintain respect, admiration for Ken Holland 1158939 With Mika Zibanejad nursing an injury, NY Rangers call-up 1158907 Red Wings acquire Brendan Perlini from Blackhawks for Filip Chytil and Ryan Lindgren Alec Regula 1158908 Red Wings praise Ken Holland’s work prior to Ottawa Senators homecoming 1158940 Nick Paul is trying to show the Ottawa Senators he 1158909 Red Wings to Andreas Athanasiou: Greasy goal could belongs in the NHL lead to more 1158941 SNAPSHOTS: Even with a break in the schedule, the 1158910 How to watch, listen and stream Detroit Red Wings vs. Senators have work to do 1158942 Scott Sabourin has been told he can find a place to stay 1158911 NHL Trade Grade: Detroit gets Brendan Perlini from 1158943 Senators play ‘best game of the year’ with Bobby Ryan as Chicago for Alec Regula a healthy scratch. Now what? Edmonton Oilers Flyers 1158912 JONES: Oilers need good goaltending to help McDavid 1158944 Flyers vs. Penguins: Will go back to Brian and Draisaitl Elliott or give Carter Hart a shot at redemption? 1158913 Willis: Should the Oilers trade for a veteran NHL 1158945 Flyers’ week in preview: Sidney Crosby, trip to Jersey on ? itinerary 1158946 Barzal leads Islanders to 5-3 win over Flyers 1158947 Lindsey Vonn gets back at Flyers mascot for his 1158914 Montembeault blitzed by Canucks as Panthers’ point trolling of P.K. Subban streak ends 1158948 Future Flyers Report: Morgan Frost is starting to heat up, 1158915 Top lines are drawn as Panthers roll to victory in German Rubtsov hot on his tail Edmonton 1158949 O’Connor’s Observations: Despite poor showing against Isles, dump-in-heavy Flyers off to strong start by the n 1158916 WAKING UP WITH THE KINGS: OCTOBER 28 1158950 Penguins facing enforcer void without Erik Gudbranson Minnesota Wild 1158951 Penguins assign Joseph Blandisi, Adam Johnson to 1158917 Dallas Stars face the Minnesota Wild Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 1158918 Jordan Greenway looks ready to return to Wild lineup 1158952 Penguins’ Evgeni Malkin pursues U.S. citizenship, 1158919 Wild sends Gerald Mayhew back to Iowa with Greenway, brushes off report of investment gone wrong Fiala back 1158953 Evgeni Malkin, Brian Dumoulin resume practicing with the 1158921 Wild looking for more ‘beast mode’ with Jordan Greenway Penguins back in action 1158954 Penguins are pleased with their new-look power play 1158922 The future of the Wild: Matthew Boldy, Marshall Warren despite a recent 0-for-11 skid and Jack McBain are on the rise together 1158955 Evgeni Malkin back at Penguins practice, targets Saturday return Montreal Canadiens 1158956 Here comes Geno: What it means for the Penguins 1158923 Canadiens Notebook: Trip back to Arizona still special for moving forward 1158957 Juuso Riikola won’t fight like Erik Gudbranson. But the 1158924 Healthy again, Rocket's Noah Juulsen happy to be Penguins might not need him to playing, and contributing, again 1158925 Canadiens' 'Uncle Nate' plays key role in Nick Suzuki's San Jose Sharks development 1158958 Takeaways: For the Sharks, buy-in has to be more than a 1158926 What the Puck: Habs GM tackles comedy in 'Big Marc' slogan McDonald's spots 1158959 Sharks' Radim Simek takes next step in recovery with 1158927 Former Canadiens defenceman Andrei Markov returning AHL conditioning stint to KHL 1158960 Are the Sharks struggling or are they just not very good? 1158928 Melnick’s weekly GBU: The Canadiens avoid entering a dark place just before taking off toward the sunshine 1158929 Meet Jordan Harris and Jayden Struble, the Canadiens prospects following symbiotic paths to the NHL 1158930 Filip Forsberg says he's getting closer to return for Predators 1158931 Healthy and free from frustration, Ryan Ellis is pacing the Predators New Jersey Devils 1158932 Devils’ Connor Carrick has surgery on broken pinky | What it means, how long he’s out 1158933 Ex-Devil Devante Smith-Pelly lands in Russia with KHL team 1158934 Why Devils haven’t been able to halt momentum in stunning early losses 1158935 Despite strange schedule, NJ Devils are gaining momentum in one key area St Louis Blues Websites 1158961 Big blow for Blues: Shoulder surgery KOs Tarasenko for 5 1158999 .ca / Canucks getting scoring from every line in months latest offensive surge 1158962 Late goals allow Blues to avoid loss against hapless Red 1159000 Sportsnet.ca / Growth of returning defender Dermott Wings critical to Maple Leafs' success 1158963 Blues notebook: Steen leaves game, injuries continue to 1159001 Sportsnet.ca / Barry Trotz has transformed Islanders into mount NHL's stingiest team 1158964 Blues’ Vladimir Tarasenko out 5 months with shoulder 1159002 Sportsnet.ca / Ottawa Senators Prospect Report: injury Batherson continues to dominate in AHL 1158965 Blues’ Vladimir Tarasenko will have shoulder surgery, 1159003 Sportsnet.ca / Montreal Canadiens Prospect Report: miss at least five months Caufield still scoring piles of goals 1159004 Sportsnet.ca / Prospect Report: Dube Tampa Bay Lightning working on defensive game in AHL 1158966 Lightning struggling to recapture ‘special’ magic from last 1159005 TSN.CA / Five Takeaways: Canucks vs Panthers season 1159006 TSN.CA / Leafs D-man Barrie trying to ‘find out’ where he 1158967 Curtis McElhinney plays another good game in a loss for fits in the Lightning 1159007 TSN.CA / Defensive issues? Help on the way for Leafs Jets 1158968 Underachieving Leafs need to pick up the pace before it’s 1158987 Lowry lighter in wallet, out two games for illegal check too late 1158988 NHL's west a mediocrity fest, so the panic in Jetsville is a 1158969 Straight shooter Frederik Andersen lays out the challenge tad premature ahead for struggling Maple Leafs 1158989 Jets team defensive play has improved considerably in 1158970 It’s go time for Travis Dermott when Leafs host Capitals recent games, perhaps at expense of scoring 1158971 Tuesday NHL preview: at Toronto 1158990 JETS SNAPSHOTS: Repeat offender Lowry suspended Maple Leafs for dangerous hit on Flames Kylington 1158972 Game Day: Capitals at Maple Leafs 1158991 JETS vs. DUCKS: Winnipeg looks to keep good times 1158973 Maple Leafs Snap Shots: Workers unite! rolling in Anaheim 1158974 Dermott set to make season debut with Maple Leafs on 1158992 Jets’ Lowry suspended two games for hit on Tuesday Calgary’s Kylington 1158975 Barrie frustrated by his shaky start with Maple Leafs SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129 1158976 SIMMONS: Across the board, coaching, players, management, Leafs should be embarrassed by early- season play 1158977 'WAY TOO LONG': Maple Leafs' Travis Dermott to make season debut 1158978 LeBrun: Leafs will improve on potential alone, but can they develop consistent habits to become a winner? 1158979 Why do the Leafs struggle more than the average NHL team in the second half of back-to-back games? 1158980 Monday Morning Leafs Report: Lineup changes; Kasperi Kapanen at home again; Nic Petan opportunity? Canucks 1158993 Canucks Post Game: Pettersson plaudits, Ferland forays, Eriksson respect, Gaudette's gain 1158994 Canucks 7, Panthers 2: Glut of early goals tames toothless Panthers 1158995 Ben Kuzma: Canucks feel Ferland starting to find his game 1158996 Canucks Game Day: Barkov is always a centre of attention for Panthers 1158997 The Armies: The Lotto Line, The Peaky Blinders era, and Schallermania runs wild on you 1158998 How Pettersson and Boeser’s switch to the strong side could unlock the potential of the Canucks’ power play Vegas Golden Knights 1158981 Injured trio returns to Golden Knights practice 1158982 Golden Knights’ William Carrier says fourth line wants to produce more 1158983 Knights’ Pacioretty dishing out assists until his scoring prowess returns Washington Capitals 1158984 For children of NHL players, grasping hockey as a job is a lot to process 1158985 Capitals at Maple Leafs Game 14: Time, TV Channel, Live stream, how to watch 1158986 Can Caps’ John Carlson reach 100 points? Paul Coffey is a believer 1158859 Anaheim Ducks other, they have scored an average of 2.46 goals per game, fifth-worst in the league.

Orange County Register: LOADED: 10.29.2019 Ducks make no excuses after clunker of a loss to Golden Knights

By ELLIOTT TEAFORD |PUBLISHED: October 28, 2019 at 3:24 pm | UPDATED: October 28, 2019 at 3:27 PM

The Golden Knights beat up the Ducks on Sunday in Las Vegas. Then the Ducks them beat themselves up after a 5-2 loss in which they said they failed to play up to the high standards they had established for themselves to start the 2019-20 season.

“We’ve been in games when we’ve come up short, but our compete (- level) has been there,” Ducks center Adam Henrique said. “That’s something, as a group, we have to have in our identity, no matter the game. Hard to play against. Relentless on the puck. Use our speed. Those types of things.

“They brought that and we didn’t.”

The Ducks could have shrugged it off as one of those nights, one of those games, but they didn’t. They could have blamed the grind of the 82-game schedule, but they wouldn’t. They could have blamed injuries to Hampus Lindholm and Josh Manson, their top defense pair, but they didn’t.

They owned up to their many shortcomings.

“There’s going to be nights where you play lights out and you come up short,” Henrique said after the Ducks fell to 7-6-0. “There’s going to be nights where you don’t play great and you come out on top. But we’ve got to give ourselves a chance.”

Right wing Jakob Silfverberg said the Ducks’ lack of push-back was most alarming. The Ducks lost their way within a minute after taking a 1-0 lead on Ryan Getzlaf’s goal less than five minutes into the game. They gave up five consecutive goals before Henrique cut the deficit to 5-2 in the third period.

It was particularly troubling to Silfverberg after the Ducks played so well in a 5-2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche one night earlier in Denver. The Ducks took an early lead against the Avalanche, too, but they maintained it from start to finish, locking down a win with standout play.

“Obviously, a tough one – after a pretty good game in Colorado – to kind of take three or four or five steps back,” Silfverberg said. “It’s tough. We have some things to think about here in the next few days. You’re always trying to find a spark and find something and get something to build on.

“You don’t want to start getting negative on the bench or in the locker room. But it wasn’t just about execution, it was everything. It was moving our feet. It was competing. During the game, while you’re in it, you always try to find that spark. (Sunday), we didn’t do it.

“We’ve got to get right back on the horse. We’ve got to learn from this. You can’t just go home and forget about this. We’ve got to learn from this. We’ve just got to go home and regroup and make sure we come prepared to play on Tuesday.”

The Ducks play host to the on Tuesday at Honda Center, the first game of a season-high seven-game homestand. The stretch of games could help to determine whether the Ducks are playoff contenders or pretenders, something that’s been unclear through 13 games so far.

What’s certain, according to Henrique, is that the Ducks must bounce back immediately.

“You never want to have these nights, but sometimes they happen,” Henrique said. “The response is the key for the group. We’ve got to come out hard and be relentless on the puck, be tough to play against. I think we’ve done a good job at home of creating that identity in our building. That’s what we’re going to need against another tough opponent on Tuesday.”

AROUND THE RINK

The Ducks didn’t practice Monday. … On one hand, the Ducks have given up an average of 2.38 goals per game, the third-best mark in the 31-team NHL going into Monday’s games around the league. On the 1158860 Anaheim Ducks “And it’s no different than (if) we had lost a few in a row and we needed a response,” Eakins said. “And we went into possibly the best team in the league and beat them. Now we come into a team that’s hungry, probably Defensive depth, development of youth among 5 areas of concern during a -contending team and we got our lunch fed to us. Every Ducks’ recent trip night’s going to be a response.

“But the biggest thing for me, especially in back-to-backs, (is) I don’t care. You got to suck it up and play. We’ve got to really suck it up and By Eric Stephens Oct 28, 2019 man up and compete. And if they can beat us because they were better than us some way, then that’s great. We just didn’t have the compete

right through our lineup.” LAS VEGAS – That wasn’t a hockey game the Ducks played Sunday 2. Losing Josh Manson is bad. Losing Hampus Lindholm might be night at T-Mobile Arena. It was a horror movie, with the buried carcass of catastrophic the 2018-19 season reaching out from the grave to clutch them. The official word came from the team as players went through their pre- The Ducks’ five prior defeats, among their previous 12 games, were game skate. Lindholm would be scratched due to a lower-body injury. nothing like the sixth. The 5-2 score barely indicates how much the Vegas Golden Knights dominated. If this was a prize fight, it should have All he did Saturday against Colorado was assist on Anaheim’s first three been stopped early. The Ducks barely registered their 10th shot on goal goals and help keep the dangerous Avalanche from doing anything at before the end of the second period. They were worked over to a tune of even strength. He led the defense and controlled the tempo when 49-15 on the shot counter. The total attempts were an abominable 92-36 necessary. It was a stellar 21-minute effort, as Lindholm tied a career against. high for points in a game and moved into a tie for the team scoring lead.

Every area of their game, outside of John Gibson’s 44 saves in a losing But Lindholm didn’t come out of the game unscathed. He didn’t speak cause, was grisly. And there was zero point in trying to put any lipstick on with reporters afterward because he was receiving treatment on his this pig. injury.

“You never want to have these nights,” said Adam Henrique, who did get “I knew he was questionable last night,” Eakins said. “And then I knew he his team-leading seventh goal. “Sometimes they happen. And then I think was out this morning after treatments.” the response is the big key to the group. There’s going to be nights where you play lights-out and you come up short. And there’s going to be The Ducks were able to manage without Manson, who appears to be out nights where you don’t play great and you come out on top. But, you for an extended period after being sent home from Dallas with what know, we got to give ourselves a chance. We got to come out and play appeared to be an injury to his left knee. But they can’t lose two of their hard. Be relentless on the puck. Be tough to play against. top three defenders and expect to thrive.

[ Listen to Point Breakaway for more Ducks coverage ] Eakins tried to keep two of his pairs together by having Michael Del Zotto jump in to skate with newly acquired Erik Gudbranson. The entire team “I think we’ve done a good job at home kind of creating that identity in our was a mess Sunday and the Del Zotto-Gudbranson combo was among building. That’s what we’re going to need against another tough those that bled shots-against. They were on the ice together for 23 shot opponent on Tuesday.” attempts against and produced only seven. (Natural Stat Trick had them losing 9-3 in the scoring-chance total and 6-1 in high-danger scoring A four-game road trip ended with a 1-3-0 record. The Ducks also have chances). lost four of five going in Tuesday’s game against Winnipeg. And the trip revealed some hard truths going forward. If Lindholm isn’t able to play Tuesday, Eakins may want to consider breaking up Cam Fowler and Brendan Guhle. He previously played Del 1. This is going to be a process Zotto with Fowler while Guhle was sidelined, and he might be able to put A strong start, with six wins in the first eight games, started to get parts of Guhle and Gudbranson in less-taxing situations. Ducks Nation excited about what might be possible for their heroes in Fact is, the Ducks simply don’t have the kind of depth they used to within 2019-20. The road trip offered a reality check. their defensive stable. The Ducks are not talented enough or deep enough to match what some “Our pairing that we play against the other team’s top line is not in our of the best in the Western Conference has to offer. And when lineup,” Eakins said, bluntly. “So that’s tough.” circumstances like Sunday occur, when an angry Vegas team was lying in wait after being spanked by Colorado at home, the result can Hampus Lindholm has a plus-4 rating in 12 games this season. (Gary A. occasionally be ugly. Vasquez / USA Today)

When there isn’t enough skill — or that skill is still in the process of 3. The kids won’t be developing as fast as we want development — some will must help make up the difference. The forwards who make up the Roaring Twenties weren’t expected to “It’s definitely something we’re not proud of,” said Jakob Silfverberg, tear through the NHL as they started to dig into the league this season. licking his wounds inside the T-Mobile visitors’ dressing room. “During But it’s possible that more time is going to be needed for those the season, you’re not going to win all 82 games. There’s a difference youngsters to make a real impact. between losing and losing. Obviously, it’s nothing that represent our club and it’s not the way we want to play. The only encouraging sign coming out of the Vegas loss was that Max Comtois and Troy Terry had the primary passes on the respective goals “Everything but our goaltending was not even close to what it’s supposed for Ryan Getzlaf and Henrique. Along with Sam Steel and Max Jones, to be tonight. Obviously, a tough one after a pretty good game in the group of four’s offensive production has been spotty at best. Colorado (Saturday) night. To kind of step three or four or five steps back like this, it’s always tough. We got some things to think about in the next Comtois does appear to be settling in and finding his place. The 20-year- day or two here.” old responded well to being out of the lineup for two games by scoring goals in Dallas and Colorado before assisting on Getzlaf’s first-period Said Henrique: “We’ve been in games where we’ve come up short. But tally Sunday. His goal against the Avalanche was particularly key as it the compete has been there. I think that’s something as a group where restored a two-goal lead in the third period. we have to have our identity no matter the game. Hard to play against. Relentless on the puck. Use our speed. Those types of things. They The others are scuffling. Terry had just one point – an Oct. 18 goal brought that and we didn’t.” against Carolina – in his first 12 games. Jones had been in more of an energy role before being put with Steel and Terry but he’s got only one Coach Dallas Eakins talked about the high of beating the streaking assist in 11 games. Steel has been a bit better with three assists since Avalanche and the low of stinking it up against the Golden Knights. He coming back from injury. called it a great lesson to “compete, compete, compete.” The Ducks will face many different situations this season, and this is one. What will be All are getting enough minutes and have opportunities to produce. It the response Tuesday against Winnipeg when the Ducks start their needs to start happening a bit more frequently, because they’re being put longest homestand of the year? in roles to provide support scoring or be part of the “committee” that Eakins is counting on. Perhaps sending one down to San Diego might be necessary, but there isn’t a lot on the Gulls’ roster (Daniel Sprong, Kiefer Sherwood?) to make the Ducks better. Let them grow, even if it might be slower than hoped.

4. Vegas is a brutal matchup that they can’t solve

“Leaving Las Vegas” couldn’t be more apropos.

The Golden Knights made the Stanley Cup Final in their storybook inaugural season. They were one failed penalty kill away from advancing to the second round last spring. They’ve got ateam that is expected to put together another long playoff when April rolls around.

And the Ducks have absolutely no answer for them.

The personnel may change but the result stays the same. This is now eight Vegas wins in nine meetings since the Knights came into the league in 2017. Few of those games have been in doubt. The composite score has been Vegas 31, Anaheim 13.

Perhaps no other team has been so difficult for the Ducks to figure out. What is it about the Knights that gives them so much trouble?

“They roll those four lines,” Henrique said. “They play fast. They move the puck fast. And they seem to just throw it out there. They reload. It’s even tough to get odd-man rushes because they’re always back above the puck. That’s what we need in our game. We have had that, but we didn’t tonight.”

It was pretty much the same ‘ol story after Getzlaf’s early goal. Vegas not only swarms around them in each zone but attacks the offensive zone in layers that seemed to always have one trailing player left wide open. And the Knights are very good at the forward driving to the net and finding that trailer for a golden scoring chance.

Eakins got his first taste and it was a bitter one.

“They’ve got three lines of high skill and high speed,” he said. “And then their fourth line is about as heavy as it gets. That’s why they were recently in the Stanley Cup final. And that’s why they will be a top team in this league this year. They’re deep and they’re a very talented group.”

In other words, the Ducks don’t need to place an order for another Pacific Division banner.

5. Make sure Gibson doesn’t get worn down

Even though Sunday’s loss brought back bad memories of their worst play last season, the Ducks generally have been better in front of their star. Vegas was the first team this season to put Gibson under the kind of repeated stress that was prevalent in 2018-19.

But they can’t make Sunday a regular occurrence and must hope that Gibson doesn’t reach a breaking point as he did last February. It is hard to imagine a goalie allowing five goals and being the better of the two on the ice but that’s what Gibson was against the Golden Knights, who had enough chances to score 10. By contrast, Vegas netminder Marc-Andre Fleury basically only had to stay awake as he faced only 15 shots.

The 49 shots faced ramped up Gibson’s average to 32.6 per 60 minutes. Last season, Gibson faced 34.1 and that number moved downward once Bob Murray went behind the bench as coach and moved the Ducks into defending within a zone concept.

There will be sluggish nights when Gibson will need to step up and carry them. And he will still be expected to make the big save when it’s needed. But if they want to get the best out of their star, they’ve got to make sure he isn’t always left stranded on an island.

The Athletic LOADED: 10.29.2019 1158861 Arizona Coyotes

Coyotes complete comeback to beat Sabres in shootout

Associated Press Published 6:59 p.m. MT Oct. 28, 2019 | Updated 10:26 p.m. MT Oct. 28, 2019

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Arizona’s first major road trip was a big success.

It looks as if the Coyotes learned from what happened last season.

Nick Schmaltz scored in the shootout to help the Coyotes beat the Buffalo Sabres 3-2 on Monday night.

Conor Garland and Carl Soderberg scored for Arizona in regulation. Darcy Kuemper made 24 saves and stopped all three Sabres attempts in the shootout.

The Coyotes (7-3-1) closed out a 3-1 road trip, also beating the Rangers and Devils and losing to the New York Islanders on Thursday night.

“We had a trip like this at the end of the year that kind of cost us the playoff spot so all these trips are going to be important,” Garland said. “They’re hard trips for any team going out east or coming out west so to go 3-1, that’s a big-time road trip.”

Schmaltz scored the game-winner on a low shot to the glove side.

“We knew this was a big trip,” Kuemper said. “You want to separate a little bit early. It’s early in the season but these points are huge and we’ve just got to stick with it.”

The Coyotes dominated the last part of the game, outshooting the Sabres 30-15 over the final two periods.

Both teams had prime scoring opportunities in overtime.

The Sabres hit the post twice, and Arizona’s Clayton Keller nearly found himself with an empty net after Hutton mishandled the puck. Buffalo’s Casey Mittelstadt also missed an open corner of the net on a late backhand shot when the puck jumped on him at the very last second.

“I think we got a lot of bounces early in the year,” Mittelstadt said. “It’s gonna find a way to even itself out a little bit, but I think for myself I’ve got to put one of those in for sure.”

Jack Eichel and Jeff Skinner scored for Buffalo (9-2-2), which had won four of five. Carter Hutton made 41 saves.

“We got off to a good start, things seemed to be ticking well. And then our energy level, we seemed to be digging deep the whole rest of the game,” Sabres coach Ralph Krueger said. “We fell back on our heels.”

Eichel opened the scoring with his seventh goal 3:31 into the game, ripping a hard power-play shot from the left circle after a Sabres faceoff win.

Skinner made it 2-0 when he finished a terrific give-and-go sequence. Marcus Johansson got the puck back to Skinner, who converted a one- timer for his seventh goal at 11:16.

The Coyotes got on the board just before the end of the first thanks to a bad-angle goal from Garland. Stationed near the Sabres end line, Garland snuck the puck past Hutton on the short side with 1:10 remaining.

After a series of impressive saves by Hutton in the second period, including a stop on Christian Dvorak from point-blank range, Arizona evened the score on the power play with 3:28 remaining. A tipped puck deflected high into the air, fell onto Hutton’s back and went into the net. Soderberg was credited with the goal.

The Sabres missed a chance to match a franchise-best point total in the opening month of a season. Their 19 points is the franchise’s second- highest point total one month into a season.

Arizona Republic LOADED: 10.29.2019 1158862 Arizona Coyotes

Coyotes complete comeback with shootout win over Sabres

BY ASSOCIATED PRESS OCTOBER 28, 2019 AT 7:34 PM

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — scored in the shootout to help the Arizona Coyotes beat the Buffalo Sabres 3-2 on Monday night.

Conor Garland and Carl Soderberg scored in regulation for Arizona, which improved to 7-3-1. Darcy Kuemper made 24 saves and stopped all three Sabres attempts in the shootout.

Schmaltz scored the game-winner on a low shot to the glove side.

Jack Eichel and Jeff Skinner scored for Buffalo (9-2-2), which had won four of five. Carter Hutton made 41 saves.

The Coyotes dominated the last part of the game, outshooting the Sabres 30-15 over the final two periods.

Both teams had prime scoring opportunities in overtime. The Sabres hit the post twice, and Arizona’s Clayton Keller nearly found himself with an empty net after Hutton mishandled the puck.

The Sabres got off to a solid start, using their speed to find openings in the offensive zone. Eichel opened the scoring with his seventh goal 3:31 into the game, ripping a hard power-play shot from the left circle after a Sabres faceoff win.

Skinner made it 2-0 when he finished a terrific give-and-go sequence. Marcus Johansson got the puck back to Skinner, who converted a one- timer for his seventh goal at 11:16.

The Coyotes got on the board just before the end of the first thanks to a bad-angle goal from Garland. Stationed near the Sabres end line, Garland snuck the puck past Hutton on the short side with 1:10 remaining.

After a series of impressive saves by Hutton in the second period, including a stop on Christian Dvorak from point-blank range, Arizona evened the score on the power play with 3:28 remaining. A tipped puck deflected high into the air, fell onto Hutton’s back and went into the net. Soderberg was credited with the goal.

NOTES

The Sabres had a video tribute in the first period welcoming Coyotes assistant Phil Housley back to Buffalo. Housley had a turbulent stint as head coach of the Sabres from 2017-19, but also spent eight seasons with Buffalo (1982-90) during his Hall of Fame career as a player.

UP NEXT

Coyotes: Return home against Montreal on Wednesday.

Arizona Sports LOADED: 10.29.2019 1158863 Arizona Coyotes Are there areas that could still stand improvement?

I think we’ve been a pretty consistent group but every night you want to be able to bring it — not just certain guys but the entire group Depth is ‘a powerful thing’: A Q&A with GM John Chayka on a strong, 3-1 clicking at its highest rate. I’d say there’s a number of individuals that road trip continue to progress the right way and trend the right way but we still feel have a lot more to give. There have been some guys that have done well that you want to continue to see do well so I think that consistency piece By Craig Morgan Oct 28, 2019 is going to be a big part moving forward.

How would you evaluate Phil Kessel’s play?

BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Coyotes were hooting and howling as they Going into the season, we knew we had to have better offense. Phil entered the dressing room after a 3-2 shootout victory against the Buffalo hasn’t been putting up crazy numbers or anything like that but he has Sabres at KeyBank Center here on Monday, Buffalo’s first home loss in had the desired effect in terms of just when we need a big goal, or we six games this season. need a big play or we need someone to settle things down or kind of lead the way offensively, he’s able to help do that for us. The win, the Coyotes’ second straight in which they overcame a two-goal deficit, completed a 3-1 road trip that pushed their record to 7-3-1 and He knew that he was an elite playmaker, too. If we look at the long term helped them climb within two points of the Pacific Division lead. and variance starts to settle down, I think he’ll be a guy with a lot more points. He hasn’t connected as much as he probably hoped or we hoped Conor Garland couldn’t hear the celebration so well because he had a but again the fundamental play has been good and hopefully that will handful of stitches and some residual blood inside his right ear after continue. taking a puck to the head in the third period. Garland didn’t score off his head like he did last year, but there was another butt goal in Buffalo that What sort of impact has he had on others? Garland set up, and he scored a late first-period goal that sparked the Coyotes’ momentum, just as Nick Schmaltz’s late first-period goal did in His play and his presence has allowed some other guys to kind of find a win in New Jersey on Friday. their footing and start to contribute. Phil brings a sense of calm. We go the first two games of the season where we haven’t scored and most “He’s a blood-and-guts type of guy,” coach Rick Tocchet said of his teams in the past we’ve had would be stressed or panicked and people diminutive leading goal scorer. “He goes around the net.” would start feeling pressure. Phil’s been there. He’s been through the ups and downs of an NHL season and he can talk to our guys and just There was plenty to like about the Coyotes on this trip. They saved their have a calming influence. best performance for the final game. They bounced back from a poorly played loss to the Islanders with two wins. They found ways to win two Phil also takes a lot of the spotlight and attention and focus of other games in which they trailed, they re-established their withering forecheck teams and it allows other guys to play at their best. On any good team, and they ensured a fast start to the season while all but completing the you’ve got to have different points of attack. When there’s just one line first of two brutal opening months. contributing, it’s a good league with good coaches and there’s a lot of pre-scouting so if your goal is to shut one line down it’s a lot easier than if “It’s huge,” said Schmaltz, who scored the only goal of the shootout on you have to shut down multiple lines down. We’ve got some young guys Monday with his favorite backhand-to-forehand move and a shot to the that are trying to find their footing so I think Phil helps with that whole low glove side. “We didn’t play our best games in the middle there but we process. found a way to get two points in New Jersey and six out of eight points is a pretty good trip.” What is your view of your goalie tandem of Darcy Kuemper and Antti Raanta? With the Coyotes having passed the 10-game mark of the season, we caught up with president of hockey operations John Chayka for a wide- Every single night, those guys are giving us a chance to win and I think ranging assessment of his team. they’re both high-end goalies with elite skill levels and I think they’re both highly competitive guys who both have a lot of pride in helping us win What is your overall evaluation of the team after 11 games? and they’re both exceptional teammate so I think we’ve hit the jackpot in It’s a small sample size so you try not to make too many assessments on terms of the goaltending. I just view it as an asset. I see no issues smaller sample sizes but it’s starting to grow. I think for me, it’s more so whatsoever with having two guys like that. We’ve been through injuries in just looking at the general attitude of the team and where their heads are. the past and you just never know. Only one can play at a time but we’re going to need them both to get where we want to get to. To have two Going into the season, I talked a lot to the guys about having a lot to guys like that is certainly a great luxury. prove on an individual player basis, as well as coaching and managing. We’re a motivated group and guys are trying to make their mark You signed four RFAs-to-be to long-term deals before their contracts individually and as a team and so far that’s what I’ve seen and that’s a expired. Let’s starts with Nick Schmaltz and Christian Dvorak. What is positive sign. That’s one of the things that can be a competitive your assessment of their play? advantage for us is that we feel we’ve got a lot to prove and a lot of With all of these guys that we signed to long-term deals, certainly the first people have a lot to prove. 10 games aren’t what we are paying for and those 10 games don’t It’s early, but the fast start has to feel better than what you witnessed the represent the peaks or primes of what they’re capable of doing, but past two seasons, right? having said that, with those two guys who are both young centers, putting them together for stretches has worked. It’s a lot for any young Of course. The last couple of years here we’ve been chasing and it’s centerman to step in and take some hard minutes and be involved in the even harder when you chase so just to get some points certainly helps, guts of the game and playing in all situations. I think putting them but in order to make the playoffs, it’s about the long-run game. Depth is together kind of eased their loads in a lot of ways and they’ve had a lot of going to be tested and your ability to overcome adversity and things like chemistry and synergy and that was what we were hoping. that, but having said that, we’ve done some of that in the past and now it’s nice to get off to a good start and hopefully build off of it. Give credit to (Rick Tocchet) and his staff for putting the puzzle pieces together and finding that synergy. Obviously, they’re different players. It’s a true team with the way it’s been built. I wouldn’t say there’s one or Devo’s not the most dynamic player in the league but he’s a very smart, two guys that are carrying the team. It’s been a collective performance on cerebral player who makes great plays and he’s always on the right side most nights and the games we win, everyone’s kind of doing their part, of pucks. He’s got a conscience out there and he’s always making sure pulling on the rope and contributing. I think that’s strength of our team. that he’s doing the right things. We’ve got good depth, forward depth, defensive depth, two goalies and everyone’s kind of enjoying playing for one another and I think that’s a Schmaltz is that elusive, talented guy that we haven’t had in a long time. powerful thing. Our team defense has been strong. Our goalies are a big His talent level is elite and he’s one of those guys where from a part of that as well, but even our forward group with the way they’re production standpoint, the sky is probably the limit. I still think he’s just playing and the details they have been playing with early has had a major scratching the surface of what he’s capable of. hand in that success. How is Jakob Chychrun progressing? I think a lot of people across the league, ourselves included at times, I’m really impressed. We had a really good group last year on the back forget just how young he still is and how tough it as that age and at that end so any time you make a change there is always uncertainty but he’s position to not just give you glimpses, but play consistently. Chych gives come in and made his mark in a positive way. I think we’ve seen some of us great glimpses but to do it with stability and do it night in and night out, the best hockey of Alex Goligoski’s Coyotes career and Jason Demers I think he is starting to do that. We all know what his skill set is and he has played extremely well and been very consistent. I think Phil has puts in the work every single day to bring the most to the team that he really dialed those guys in and is helping them out and OEL is starting to can but there’s a process that goes along with being a young get going. If that group can hit their ceilings, obviously they’ve got a high defenseman and I think as much as you’d love to skip it and just go right ceiling as a group. to the end stage, you’ve got to grow and you’ve got to go through the ups and downs. Through it all, he is taking a good approach. We’ve heard from Steve Sullivan on the topic of Barrett Hayton’s development. What is your take on that plan? Clayton Keller has one goal (an empty-netter) and seven assists. Any concerns? We’ve brought talented young players into this organization in the past and in a lot of ways out of necessity. We have rushed them or maybe put Looking at his fundamental game, I think it’s much improved and I think them in a position where maybe it wasn’t the best possible position. You he’s really driving offense. As much as Phil is helping creating offense, don’t have a choice sometimes in pro sports, but I think the opportunity to Clayton is creating offense himself and there’s lots of chances and develop Barrett in a winning environment and take things step by step to opportunities on that line. At the end of day, they’ve got to produce and make sure he earns it every step of the way has been a good approach. they know that and they’d like to produce; they’d like to score on their chances but I look at the quality chances and I look at what he’s been Every situation is different. This situation has got pros and cons as well, able to produce in the first 10 games and we’re able to say that if you can but I can’t say it’s any more difficult than throwing a young player into a do that for 82 it’s going to be a very, very successful season for him. high leverage role and seeing if he sinks or swims. And if they sink, you don’t really have an alternative. In this situation, we’ve got depth, we’ve Like any player, there are going to be ups and downs in the season. He’s got good forwards and no matter where is playing in the lineup he’s still a very young player so it’s not unexpected, but my take on Clayton is playing with a good solid line. He has played three really good games he’s shown a lot of maturity and he’s solely focused on helping this team and has made an impact so it’s all positive from my end. win. Everyone wants to judge the point production and his contract but what I know in seeing him every day is he’s the first guy on the ice, is Obviously, he wants to play every single game but I would be more usually one of the last to get off the ice, he’s in the gym, he’s focused on worried if I didn’t know how strong his mindset is and his approach to his recovery and he’s watching tape. He’s doing all the things that he everything. I haven’t seen him take half a step back so for me things are needs to do to be a top player. Whether it’s the next 10 games or the 10 going exceptionally well. games after, we still have full confidence that he’s going to be a top I know you are always looking to improve the team. Do you feel any player in this league so we’ve got to keep working with him and guiding desire to add to this group? him and surrounding him with good people and putting him in the best position to have success. It’s too early. Everyone is taking calls and there’s a lot of discussions but I don’t think anyone’s got a lot of urgency to do much so without really Do you think learning to play with Kessel has been an adjustment for knowing what the options are available to us I can’t really properly Keller? answer that. We have a core group of guys that we think are good, Phil is a Hall of Fame offensive player and I don’t think Clayton has had higher-end NHL players that are either in the prime of their careers or at the luxury of playing with those types of guys in the past. It’s an an age where they want to make a push. adjustment but I think he’d say he’s happy to make the adjustment. You We’ve got a new owner here in Alex Meruelo who wants to be aggressive bring in new people and they take some time to mesh and find each and wants to improve. As a management group, we’ll always be active other’s tendencies and what they’re used to doing. Having said that, and try to understand what the alternatives are and see what are the Clayton is a hockey nerd and he’s watching everything and learning deficiencies of the team and how can we get better and try to push this every day so I have no question that those two will be able to connect in thing even further, but I’ve always been a big believer that ultimately it the near future in a big way for us. comes down to what the group’s telling you with their play.

Vinnie Hinostroza hasn’t scored and has just two points. At what point The Athletic LOADED: 10.29.2019 does that become a concern?

Vinnie plays a tough role and we all know that, but what makes Vinnie special for us is he’s capable of taking that defensive role and still pushing the pace and still tilting the ice and still being a productive player. When he’s at his best, that’s what he’s capable of doing. I don’t think we have seen him at his best yet. That’s the bad news. The good news is the team has had success and it’s still early.

What makes Vinnie unique and what makes him a positive contributor for us is an ability in the past to take those tough assignments and take a lot of those D-zone starts and be able to end up in the offensive zone with scoring chances and driving play. Not every player can do that. He’s a guy that can. It hasn’t been his best yet but when Toc puts together his lineup that’s his mindset. I think he’s got to get his game on track but he is certainly trending in the right way.

Are you content with how your blue line has managed the loss of Niklas Hjalmarsson and Jordan Oesterle?

Hammer is a unique guy. When we went through the different iterations in the summer of “what if,” he’s a guy where there’s not really anyone that can replace him. There’s very few guys in the league who can; probably a handful that are like that him so you know then that you’ve got to become a bit of a different team.

Our D are very active right now. Phil Housley’s got them very involved in the offense so you try to do your best and manage. Every team is going to have injuries and Nick’s loss certainly hurts both on and off the ice, but I think one of our competitive advantages is we have a number of guys that can play in the top four. Right now we’ve got four of them. At one point, we probably had five or six. We’ve been able to sustain here.

Has Housley brought what you expected? 1158864 Boston Bruins opening month, a rare feat these days. In the last 25 years, the only player to score 24 in October was Steven Stamkos in 2017-18.

“Hopefully it continues,” Marchand said. “When we have the group that Revisiting the Jumbo Joe Thornton nickname, and possibly his last game we have that’s consistently dangerous all the way through the lineup, it at the Garden makes it easier on all of us to go out and play our game. I think we’re all seeing benefits from that right now.”

By Matt Porter Globe Staff,Updated October 29, 2019, 12:47 a.m. ■ The Rangers were outplayed from the jump on Sunday, but losing Mika Zibanejad late in the first period surely didn’t help. Another turning point in the game: Brady Skjei inexplicably passing up an open look with most of the net open short side, when a goal could have cut Boston’s Not a regular shooter in his advancing years, Joe Thornton has yet to lead to 3-2 in the second period. Instead, Marchand scored to make it 4-1 score on 11 shots. shortly after escaping the penalty box. In June, Joe Thornton joked he had another five, maybe 10 years left in ■ Anything Marchand is worried about these days, in general? him. “Nope,” he said. “Having fun.” “I got nothing else going on,” he told reporters at the NHL Awards in Las Vegas, “so we’ll see.” Boston Globe LOADED: 10.29.2019 There is a chance, however, Tuesday is the last time Jumbo Joe will suit up on Causeway Street, when the Sharks visit the white-hot Bruins at TD Garden (7 p.m.).

Thornton, 40, signed on for another year at $2 million, the same price and term as Zdeno Chara. Seemingly over the knee trouble that dogged him from 2016-18, he was hoping to build on a solid 16-35—51 line in 73 games last season.

Like the Sharks (4-7-1), Thornton is off to a slow start. His rate of scoring (0.33 points per game), over a full season, would rank as his lowest since his rookie season of 1997-98 (3-4—7 in 55 games). He has four assists in 12 games. Not a regular shooter in his advancing years, he has yet to score on 11 shots.

San Jose, which ends a five-game Eastern road trip Tuesday, has taken a pounding from the Atlantic Division, losing to the Sabres (twice, once at home), Leafs and Senators, and beating the Canadiens. The Bruins have won three in a row and have taken 18 of 22 available points this season, though a team with Timo Meier, Tomas Hertl, Logan Couture, Erik Karlsson and Brent Burns is always tough.

Last Feb. 19, a Thornton hat trick was a highlight of a wildly entertaining 6-5 overtime Bruins victory in San Jose. It was his first hat trick in eight years, a feat he punctuated on the bench by pumping both arms overhead and shouting joyously. Charlie McAvoy blasted home the winner in OT.

A three-time 30-goal scorer in his first six seasons in Boston, Thornton always preferred the setup role. Good thing, since he’s one of the most skilled passers we’ve seen (eighth all-time in assists, 1,069). When he left Boston in a deal for Marco Sturm, Brad Stuart, and Wayne Primeau on Nov. 30, 2005, he had 454 points in 532 games as a Bruin. He has 1,028 points in 1,046 games as a Shark.

Now about that nickname, which has followed Thornton from coast to coast. As uncovered by colleague Kevin Paul Dupont in 1997, just weeks before the Bruins drafted Thornton first overall, it came from Jumbo the Elephant. The Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus star of the 1880s met his end in Thornton’s hometown of St. Thomas, Ontario. There’s a statue there, or at least there was on May 11, 1997, when “Jumbo Joe” first appeared in the pages of the Boston Globe.

■ For the second week in a row, the NHL named a member of Boston’s top line as its first star of the week. Brad Marchand’s line of 3-5—8 in three games was good enough to match David Pastrnak (week ending Oct. 20). Through Sunday, three players leaguewide have had a 5-point night this year: Marchand, Pastrnak and Connor McDavid.

■ Putting Boston’s top-line dominance into further context: Pastrnak, Marchand and Patrice Bergeron have combined for 23 goals this season. That’s one more than the New Jersey Devils (22) and within three of Chicago, Dallas and Minnesota.

■ Pastrnak has scored the first goal of the game five times, two ahead of the next closest (Buffalo’s Victor Olofsson and St. Louis’ Brayden Schenn).

■ With one more game to go, Pastrnak has the record for October points by a Bruin (23), and Marchand (20) needs 1 to pass Adam Oates (20 in 1992-93) to move into second. With 1 more point, Pastrnak could become the 16th player in league history to put up 24 points in the 1158865 Boston Bruins Miscellany

Federer withdraws from Paris

Blues winger Vladimir Tarasenko to have surgery, miss five months Roger Federer has withdrawn from the Paris Masters as the No. 3 seed to get some rest ahead of next month’s ATP Final. The 38-year-old Federer won his hometown Swiss Indoors title for the 10th time on Associated PressUpdated October 28, 2019, 10:49 p.m. Sunday. Federer’s fourth title in 2019 was the 103rd of his career. Federer said he needs ‘‘to make sure not to strain myself because I want to play as long as possible on the ATP Tour. I’m sorry for my French fans, I’ll see them next year at Roland Garros.’ . . . Simona Halep St. Louis Blues forward Vladimir Tarasenko will have surgery on his left defeated US Open champion Bianca Andreescu, 3-6, 7-6 (6), 6-3, at the shoulder on Tuesday and be out at least five months. General manager WTA Finals in Szechuan, China. Halep, a former No. 1 who won the Doug Armstrong announced the move Monday and said the Russian star Wimbledon title in July, saved the match point in the 12th game of the will be placed on long-term injured reserve. Tarasenko left last second set. ‘‘Today was a challenge because she’s almost 10 years Thursday’s 5-2 win over Los Angeles after getting tangled up with Kings younger than me,’’ Halep said of Andreescu, the 19-year-old from defenseman Sean Walker with about 6 minutes left in the first period. He . ‘‘I was really proud of what I did after having a back injury for did not travel with the team for weekend games at Boston and Detroit. almost a month.’ . . . Authorities in Auburn, Ala., continued searching for Tarasenko has three goals and seven assists in 10 games this season Aniah Haley Blanchard, the 19-year-old stepdaughter of Ultimate Fighting for the defending Stanley Cup champion Blues. Championship heavyweight Walt Harris after she was reported missing Red Wings acquire Perlini Wednesday . . . Norm Stoneburgh, a star center with the CFL’s Toronto Argonauts in the 1950s and 1960s, has died. He was 84. The Detroit Red Wings traded 19-year-old defenseman Alec Regula to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for 23-year-old forward Brendan Boston Globe LOADED: 10.29.2019 Perlini, who has been a healthy scratch for most of this season, appearing in just one game. Perlini has 45 goals and 27 assists in 200 appearances with Chicago and Arizona . . . The Columbus Blue Jackets will be without two key players injured in Saturday’s loss to Philadelphia for several weeks. The team put rookie forward Alexandre Texier and defenseman Ryan Murray for several weeks after placing them on injured reserve. The 20-year-old Texier is expected to miss 2-4 weeks with a knee injury. The 26-year-old Murray will be out for up to a month with a broken hand.

Pistons’ Morris fined $35K

The NBA fined Detroit Pistons forward Markieff Morris $35,000 for his offensive language toward a referee, NBA executive vice president Kiki VanDeWeghe announced. The discipline came after Morris’ actions during the Philadelphia 76ers’ 117-111 victory Saturday in Detroit, where Morris is averaging 10.7 points in his first season with the Pistons.

Colleges

Mich. St. president faces trial

A judge ordered former Michigan State University president Lou Ann Simon to stand trial on charges she lied to police about her knowledge of a sexual misconduct complaint against now-imprisoned sports doctor Larry Nassar. The ruling came the same day the school revealed that trustee Nancy Schlichting resigned Saturday over the governing board’s decision last month to drop an independent review of Nassar’s assaults, despite having unanimously voted for the probe in June.

College football

Arizona assistants fired

Arizona football coach Kevin Sumlin fired defensive coordinator Marcel Yates and linebackers coach John Rushing. Sumlin promoted defensive analyst and former NFL assistant Chuck Cecil to interim defensive coordinator and Hank Hobson from analyst to an on-field coaching role . . . The family of UNLV assistant football coach Barney Cotton, 63, said he is progressing well after an Oct. 22 heart transplant at Nebraska Medical Center in his hometown of Omaha. Cotton stepped away from his position as UNLV’s offensive coordinator and tight ends coach in July . . . University of Wyoming football assistant coach Willie Mack Garza resigned after being charged with drunken driving, said coach Craig Bohl, who suspended Garza on Oct. 18 the day after he was cited. Garza resigned as Southern California’s secondary coach in 2011 after an NCAA investigation into recruiting violations while he was an assistant at Tennessee in 2009. Garza was an assistant to Bohl at North Dakota State from 2005-08 and hired at Wyoming in May . . . Nebraska football coach Scott Frost said he wasn’t certain what prompted Indiana athletic director Fred Glass to tell the Indianapolis newspaper the Cornhuskers’ staff doesn’t respect the Hoosiers’ football program after their 38-31 win in Lincoln, Neb., on Saturday, saying the victory was “‘particularly gratifying, particularly knowing Nebraska’s staff had no respect for our program.’’ Glass declined to elaborate, other than to say Nebraska’s staff would know what he was referring to. Said Frost, “We’ve been scratching our heads wondering what that’s all about.’’ 1158866 Boston Bruins

Bruins players bring spooky good times to Boston Children’s Hospital patients

By JIM MAHONEY | PUBLISHED: October 28, 2019 at 8:30 pm | UPDATED: October 28, 2019 at 8:31 PM

Several members of the Boston Bruins trick-or-treated with kids at Boston Children’s Hospital, bringing smiles and cheer to the kids, some of whom may have to miss Halloween night because of illnesses.

The Bruins traded their game jerseys for “Toy Story” themed costumes that included David Pastrnak as T-Rex, Charlie Coyle as Jesse, Danton Heinen as Woody, Patrice Bergeron as Buzz Lightyear, Torey Krug as Mr. Potato Head, Brandon Carlo as Hamm, Charlie McAvoy as Alien and Matt Grzelcyk as Forky.

Boston Herald LOADED: 10.29.2019 1158867 Boston Bruins

These Bruins already feel good, and they should

By MARISA INGEMI | PUBLISHED: October 28, 2019 at 6:30 am | UPDATED: October 28, 2019 at 4:50 PM

NEW YORK — Starting 8-1-2 is going to feel good.

That seems obvious. There’s nothing wrong with 18 points, the second most in hockey. Even with their start, the Bruins have already been hit with plenty of scrutiny in the first 11 games of the young season.

Perhaps that’s the nature of coming off a Stanley Cup Final appearance and returning essentially the same group without many new narratives.

Those narratives range from the top line not scoring enough early on to barely any secondary scoring later, and we’re now at a point where neither of those things are true.

The Bruins aren’t worrying about the early adversity though; they’ve already proven it doesn’t really matter where the scoring is coming from, because it’s coming.

“Right now, we’re confident each night and we’re just kind of rolling it over into the next game,” said Brad Marchand, who was named the NHL’s first star of the week. “Hopefully it continues, but when we have the group that we have that’s consistently dangerous all the way through the lineup, it makes it easier on all of us to go out and play our game. I think we’re all seeing benefits from that right now.”

Even second periods were a concern for a hot second before the B’s owned the frame in Toronto last weekend, then they won the period against the Blues and tallied four times in New York on Sunday.

They weren’t concerned about that, either.

“People talk about the second periods,” said Marchand. “We’re not worried about that (crap). That’s a bit of a joke.”

Marchand also said after the game in New York on Sunday the Bruins “win by committee every night,” which has been the case early. Against the Blues, Anders Bjork pitched in in just his second NHL game of the season; against Toronto, the top line showed but so did Par Lindholm and Brett Ritchie.

In Toronto earlier in the week, Jake DeBrusk and Danton Heinen scored as well. Before that, 14 of the team’s 17 goals came from the top line.

“Regardless of how many people outside of our room talk about scoring, secondary scoring and whatever it is, we’re not worried about that in our room,” said Marchand.

That kind of imbalance long term would be an obvious concern, but if they proved anything last season with the same team that’s back now, it’s that scoring trends can change, as it already has in the early going this time around.

“I think every time we go and play sound hockey the right way, take care of details, get the puck out, that’s when we’re getting some speed and working into our game, our forecheck, getting stuff off the rush,” said Patrice Bergeron, who netted a hat trick on Sunday night. “That’s how it happens.”

It hasn’t been without challenge, either, with this latest stretch including the Leafs twice, the Lightning, the Blues, and then the back-to-back in New York.

The Bruins have garnered some early season swagger; their record is reflective of finding different ways to win, and overcoming obstacles with confidence someone will step up.

On a night Jaroslav Halak allowed four goals — including two late — the Bruins had already scored six times. When they only scored once in Arizona, he bailed them out with a shutout.

So is there anything the Bruins are worried about?

“Nope,” Marchand said. “Having fun.”

Boston Herald LOADED: 10.29.2019 1158868 Boston Bruins like a pissed off hockey team trying to prove a point after stumbling at the end last season.

Certainly, the top line is giving off that attitude after effectively getting Bruins' Brad Marchand earns NHL's First Star of the Week after 5-point shut down last season when it mattered most in the Stanley Cup Final. gem “People talk about our second periods,” said Marchand. “We’re not worried about that [expletive]. That’s a bit of a joke. The more people By Nick Goss October 28, 2019 6:46 PM hype it up the more we try to stay away from it.”

The Bruins left winger, fresh off two goals and five points in the Sunday night win, then shifted into a mock-excited tone with “Yay, we had a great Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand earned the NHL's First Star of the second [period” and continued with the “Hakuna Matata” mantra from the Week on Monday after dominating offensively in his team's three games Black and Gold. from Oct. 21 through Oct. 27. Coyle finally breaks through with first goal Marchand tallied eight points (three goals, five assists) in those three games, including a stellar 5-point performance Sunday night in a 7-4 win “Everybody is going to have their night and if everybody plays their game over the New York Rangers. The veteran left winger scored two goals every game, and does what they do good, then they’re going to be a and added three assists versus the Blueshirts to extend his point streak good player for this team. That’s what has been going on here. We win to 10 games. by committee and that’s why we’re a good team, and that’s why we’re winning games. It doesn’t matter who scores. We’re just as happy for the One of his two goals will be featured on highlight reels all season: next guy as we are for ourselves if we score and produce, and that’s the mentality in this group. Regardless of how many outside this room talk Brad Marchand shows off the nifty mitts as he slides one past about scoring, or secondary scoring and whatever it is…we’re not Lundqvist. pic.twitter.com/DWmdKI1JiR worried about that in this room. We’re worried about winning games and — Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) October 28, 2019 that’s all that matters.”

Marchand ranks fifth in the league in scoring with 20 points (seven goals, Is there anything the Bruins are worried about? 13 assists) through 11 games. The league leader is one of his linemates, “Nope…having fun,” shot back Marchand quickly. David Pastrnak, who has 23 points (11 goals, 12 assists). The worries for this carefree hockey club will obviously come in April, Nashville Predators defenseman Roman Josi and May and June as they already look like they’ll be one of the best teams in goalie Brian Elliott were the league's No. 2 and No. 3 stars of the week, the Eastern Conference, and by extension in the National Hockey respectively. League. The question will become whether they can sustain the level that NEW YORK CITY — Bruins fans have been clamoring for the 2019-20 they are playing at now with an aging core group full of key 30-something NHL regular season to be about a Revenge Tour for the Boston Bruins players, and leap over the wall of fatigue they are expecting to hit later in after what happened in the Stanley Cup Final a little over four months the season when the legs aren’t so fresh all the time. ago. For now, the Bruins are winning hockey games, piling up points, setting It appears that those aggrieved Bruins fans are getting their wish based the pace in early every statistical category both offensively and on the results both in Sunday night’s 7-4 drubbing of the New York defensively and feeling pretty good about themselves as they seek a Rangers, the weekend sweep of the Blues and Blueshirts in back-to-back different, better ending for last season’s heartbreak. They should feel fashion and the 8-1-2 record that the Black and Gold have jumped out to good about the current state of all things Black and Gold, but the Stanley this season after nearly a month’s worth of games. Cup reality is that it’s a long way away from turning last spring’s bitterness into this season’s joy. The Rangers were the unwitting victims on Sunday night as the Perfection Line took a zero in the first period with New York taking the SportsNet.com LOADED: 10.29.2019 lead despite being dominated in the opening 20 minutes, and then shock, awe and destruction ensued with Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak simply taking over the game. The rebuilding Rangers didn’t have anybody that could stop them and didn’t have the firepower to keep up with them, a quality that makes the Bruins so difficult to stop for so many teams across the NHL.

Once they got the engine going in the second period, they scored four unanswered goals to take control of the game and then finished with a pair of Bergeron scores in the third period to cap off his fifth career hat trick.

“They’re going to have good nights when they’re ‘on’ and they’re always going to show up and be ready to go and play well,” said Bruce Cassidy. “They’re ready to go. They’re dialed in. They are good pros and they read off each well and they’re ready to play. [Against the Rangers] they got rewarded more than usual.”

After the game, Brad Marchand laughed off worries about the second periods and concerns about secondary scoring, and basically said the Bruins aren’t worried about anything at this point in the season. Why would they be when they have the NHL’s leading goal-scorer in David Pastrnak (11), the leading point scorer in Pastrnak (25), the leading plus- minus player in Brad Marchand (plus-11), and the leading goals against average and save percentage in (1.48 GAA and .952 save percentage)?

It sounded equal parts defiant and perhaps a little angry after last season’s Game 7 loss in the Stanley Cup Final, and that translated into five goals and 13 points for Boston’s top line.

Right now, they are arguably the best team in the NHL and they aren’t worried about too much when it comes to their game. Instead they feel 1158869 Boston Bruins Is there anything the Bruins are worried about?

“Nope…having fun,” shot back Marchand quickly.

Bruins off to great start with their NHL Revenge Tour playing nightly The worries for this carefree hockey club will obviously come in April, May and June as they already look like they’ll be one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference, and by extension in the National Hockey By Joe Haggerty October 28, 2019 3:07 PM League. The question will become whether they can sustain the level that they are playing at now with an aging core group full of key 30-something players, and leap over the wall of fatigue they are expecting to hit later in the season when the legs aren’t so fresh all the time. NEW YORK CITY — Bruins fans have been clamoring for the 2019-20 NHL regular season to be about a Revenge Tour for the Boston Bruins For now, the Bruins are winning hockey games, piling up points, setting after what happened in the Stanley Cup Final a little over four months the pace in early every statistical category both offensively and ago. defensively and feeling pretty good about themselves as they seek a different, better ending for last season’s heartbreak. They should feel It appears that those aggrieved Bruins fans are getting their wish based good about the current state of all things Black and Gold, but the Stanley on the results both in Sunday night’s 7-4 drubbing of the New York Cup reality is that it’s a long way away from turning last spring’s Rangers, the weekend sweep of the Blues and Blueshirts in back-to-back bitterness into this season’s joy. fashion and the 8-1-2 record that the Black and Gold have jumped out to this season after nearly a month’s worth of games. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 10.29.2019 The Rangers were the unwitting victims on Sunday night as the Perfection Line took a zero in the first period with New York taking the lead despite being dominated in the opening 20 minutes, and then shock, awe and destruction ensued with Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak simply taking over the game. The rebuilding Rangers didn’t have anybody that could stop them and didn’t have the firepower to keep up with them, a quality that makes the Bruins so difficult to stop for so many teams across the NHL.

Once they got the engine going in the second period, they scored four unanswered goals to take control of the game and then finished with a pair of Bergeron scores in the third period to cap off his fifth career hat trick.

“They’re going to have good nights when they’re ‘on’ and they’re always going to show up and be ready to go and play well,” said Bruce Cassidy. “They’re ready to go. They’re dialed in. They are good pros and they read off each well and they’re ready to play. [Against the Rangers] they got rewarded more than usual.”

After the game, Brad Marchand laughed off worries about the second periods and concerns about secondary scoring, and basically said the Bruins aren’t worried about anything at this point in the season. Why would they be when they have the NHL’s leading goal-scorer in David Pastrnak (11), the leading point scorer in Pastrnak (25), the leading plus- minus player in Brad Marchand (plus-11), and the leading goals against average and save percentage goaltender in Tuukka Rask (1.48 GAA and .952 save percentage)?

It sounded equal parts defiant and perhaps a little angry after last season’s Game 7 loss in the Stanley Cup Final, and that translated into five goals and 13 points for Boston’s top line.

Right now, they are arguably the best team in the NHL and they aren’t worried about too much when it comes to their game. Instead they feel like a pissed off hockey team trying to prove a point after stumbling at the end last season.

Certainly, the top line is giving off that attitude after effectively getting shut down last season when it mattered most in the Stanley Cup Final.

“People talk about our second periods,” said Marchand. “We’re not worried about that [expletive]. That’s a bit of a joke. The more people hype it up the more we try to stay away from it.”

The Bruins left winger, fresh off two goals and five points in the Sunday night win, then shifted into a mock-excited tone with “Yay, we had a great second [period” and continued with the “Hakuna Matata” mantra from the Black and Gold.

Coyle finally breaks through with first goal

“Everybody is going to have their night and if everybody plays their game every game, and does what they do good, then they’re going to be a good player for this team. That’s what has been going on here. We win by committee and that’s why we’re a good team, and that’s why we’re winning games. It doesn’t matter who scores. We’re just as happy for the next guy as we are for ourselves if we score and produce, and that’s the mentality in this group. Regardless of how many outside this room talk about scoring, or secondary scoring and whatever it is…we’re not worried about that in this room. We’re worried about winning games and that’s all that matters.” 1158870 Boston Bruins

Bruins' Charlie Coyle no longer battling 'the goose egg' after scoring first goal

By Joe Haggerty October 28, 2019 9:28 AM

NEW YORK CITY — It might be easy to overlook given the five goals and 13 points that the Perfection Line rolled out in a seven-goal offensive explosion against the New York Rangers, but the Bruins also got another important contributor in the 7-4 win over the Blueshirts at Madison Square Garden on Sunday night.

Charlie Coyle scored his first goal of the season in Boston’s 11th game of the year after a dominant training camp segued into a slow start to the regular season. It was part of a four-goal uprising in the second period that tilted the game’s scales in favor of the Black and Gold, and it was a nice piece of teamwork with Charlie McAvoy, as the defenseman wheeled behind the net and fed Coyle, who was cocked and waiting to shoot the puck.

Coyle also added a primary assist on the next Bruins goal scored by Brad Marchand, giving him his first multi-point game of the season. It’s a development that Bruce Cassidy hopes will lead to a hot streak of offensive production from a player who was looking to build on a strong playoff and preseason headed into his first full year in Boston.

Pastrnak accomplishes rare feat with 5-assist game

“I think he’s played well and he makes our team better and we’ve talked about that. You don’t like the goose egg when you’re a forward and he made some plays. I thought he was really dominant tonight. It wasn’t just [Patrice] Bergeron’s line and I thought Charlie McAvoy was good too,” said Cassidy. “He’s moved around and we’ve asked him to do different things and he just shows up and plays. Hopefully this will get him going offensively. Typically, that’s what happens when you’re fighting it a little bit and it takes a little while to work out of it. He’s played better in that area, has had some looks and hopefully that translates to [Tuesday against the Sharks].”

The 6-foot-3, 218-pounder now has a goal and four points in 11 games for the Bruins, and has been bouncing between the second and third line while alternating linemates with David Krejci in and out of the lineup. The hope is that Krejci is finally healthy and ready to resume as the second- line center and perhaps that could mean Coyle developing chemistry with Danton Heinen and Anders Bjork as a third line capable of doing some damage for the Black and Gold this season.

If nothing else, the goal will allow Coyle to focus more on simply playing strong two-way hockey and less on worrying about any zeroes that were beginning to stack up next to his stat line.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 10.29.2019 1158871 Boston Bruins

Late hit knocks Par Lindholm (upper body) out of Bruins' win over Rangers

By Joe Haggerty October 28, 2019 9:12 AM

NEW YORK CITY — The Bruins are already down Joakim Nordstrom, Chris Wagner and David Krejci, and they may have lost another forward to injury after Par Lindholm took a late hit midway through Sunday night’s win over the Rangers.

The versatile Lindholm absorbed the hit in the second period a few beats after breaking the puck out and throwing an outlet pass to his left wing when Rangers youngster Lias Andersson caught him high with a finishing attempt at a check. Lindholm was done for the night after eight shifts and 7:04 of ice time in the 7-4 win over the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden, and Bruce Cassidy didn’t have much of an update following the B’s victory.

“Par left and obviously didn’t come back,” said Cassidy of Lindholm, who has a goal and a plus-2 rating in seven games this season for the Bruins. “I don’t have an update on him other than they told me he wasn’t coming back. An upper body injury. We’ll probably have better news [on Monday].”

There was no penalty called on the play and it remains to be seen if the NHL Department of Player Safety will be looking into it, though there was nothing too egregious about the hit aside from the lateness to it.

Perfection Line leads B's to win in NYC

The Bruins already have Anders Bjork and Peter Cehlarik up on emergency recall due to injuries up front, and they would have to dip into the reserves even more deeply if Krejci isn’t ready to return after missing the last four games with an upper body injury. Cehlarik struggled in his season debut on Sunday as he finished with zero shots on net, a minus-2 rating and he took an offensive zone penalty in one of his first shifts of the game.

“I thought Pete was okay. He didn’t seem to get his legs under him,” said Cassidy. “The funny thing about going down [to Providence] is that you play a lot, you’re one of the better players. Then you need to be ready to go up here and that’s the tough challenge, and I think that’s where [Anders] Bjork has been excellent. He’s sat for long stretches and given us good energy, and I think Pete is going to have to do that at times. He traveled today and it was a little more of a challenge to get his legs going, but I thought he was fine.”

Paul Carey might be the first natural call-up for the Bruins based on a strong start to the season if another player is needed and based on an injury to Brendan Gaunce after he was taken out by a dirty open ice head-hunting hit earlier in the AHL season. Cassidy was, however, hoping that Krejci (upper body) would be ready for Tuesday night’s game against the San Jose Sharks after sitting out this weekend’s back-to-back games against St. Louis and the Rangers.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 10.29.2019 1158872 Boston Bruins

Talking Points from the Bruins' 7-4 win over the Rangers

By Joe Haggerty October 28, 2019 12:00 AM

Here are Joe Haggerty's talking points after a resounding win by the Bruins on Sunday night at Madison Square Garden...

GOLD STAR: Who to pick on the Perfection Line? Would it be Patrice Bergeron with his first hat trick of the season? David Pastrnak with a career-high five assists? Or Brad Marchand, who also joined the five- point club for the Black and Gold in an offensive explosion against a miserable Rangers team? Well, they exploded for five goals, 13 points and a combined plus-13 rating in a dominant performance where nobody on the Rangers roster had an answer for them. So just chalk this one up to a dominant performance from Boston’s best players against a not- ready-for-primetime roster that simply couldn’t match up with their star power. It happens from time to time, but it was good to see Bergeron get on the board with some goals after a slow start this season.

BLACK EYE: A tough break for Mika Zibanejad, who was done for the night after 6:31 of ice time and nine shifts following a heavy first-period collision with Patrice Bergeron. There didn’t appear to be any head contact involved, but instead he didn’t see the hit coming and his head snapped back in a whiplash-type reaction. Given that the Rangers were embellishing with head snaps and dives for penalty calls in the first couple of periods, it seemed natural at the time to wonder if Zibanejad was also doing the same kind of thing. But it was clear when he didn’t return to the game that he was injured, and the Rangers have to hope that the injury isn’t anything serious for one of their best players.

 BRUINS 7, RANGERS 4

Highlights: Hat trick for Bergy

TURNING POINT: The Bruins went into the first intermission actually down 1-0 on the scoreboard after they had dominated play, so things weren’t going all swimmingly after 20 minutes on the road in the second night of a back-to-back. It’s easy to see where they could have run into problems against a quality opponent. Instead the Bruins scored four unanswered goals in the second period, and outshot the hapless Rangers by a 21-5 margin while showing that the Blueshirts are still indeed very much in the middle of a rebuilding project. The Rangers, to their credit, made a game out of it late in the third period by putting up a couple of goals, but a pair of third period Bergeron strikes pretty much put things out of reach.

HONORABLE MENTION: Charlie Coyle finally got his first goal of the season in Boston’s 11th game of the year, and they have to hope that it gets the big center on an offensive tear. Coyle finished off a great play by Charlie McAvoy wheeling around the back of the net and then assisted on another goal while finishing with two points, six shots on net and 20:33 of ice time in a strong, strong performance while still filling in for David Krejci. If this was Coyle’s final game substituting as the No. 2 center then it was also one of his best as he may find himself centering a line between Danton Heinen and Anders Bjork once Krejci is ready to go. That has the potential makings of a dynamite third line for the Black and Gold with Coyle now rolling a bit.

BY THE NUMBERS: 5 — the number of career hat tricks for Patrice Bergeron after scoring a pair of third period goals to get his first hat trick this season.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "People talk about the second periods. We're not worried about that [expletive]. That's a bit of a joke." –Brad Marchand, who confirmed that the only thing the Bruins are worried about is “having fun” during a natural follow-up question.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 10.29.2019 1158874 Buffalo Sabres We don't control schedules, toughness. The most important thing is control what we do each day and we've been doing a pretty good job of that." t was a super first month for Sabres and now we find out if it lasts There are areas of concern. Monday marked the fourth time the Sabres blew a two-goal lead in the month. The shot counters are getting decidedly against the Sabres, too. By Mike Harrington Published Mon, Oct 28, 2019|Updated Tue, Oct 29, 2019 The final count Monday was 44-26 for Arizona, including 15-6 in the third period. That's 170-96 in favor of the opponents in the final 20 minutes of regulation this season. Somehow, the foes only lead in goals, 12-11. That margin won't last unless that Sabres tighten up the shot counts. So that's it for the Sabres for October after Monday's 3-2 shootout loss to Arizona. There are several good takeaways from the month, but also one "We got a point tonight, but you'd like a better response there in the third gnawing question that's pretty similar to the one that hung heavy in the period, especially at home," Hutton said. "Just one of those nights where air Sunday in Orchard Park. we couldn't. It happens. They're a good team and played a really good game and you'll run into that sometimes. You take your point and keep Are these guys really any good? on going." We're about to find out a lot in the next few games. But before any The Sabres had quite a bit more jump than Arizona in the first period but dissection can be started, you have to give it up to the bottom line first. the Coyotes eventually found their legs and got the breaks they needed At 9-2-2, the Sabres' 20 points are tops in the NHL's overall standings. to get back in the game. Not in the middle of the pack. Not hoping to contend. No. 1. Yes, we're Conor Garland's shot from the goal line that eluded Hutton with 1:10 left 11 months removed from the same scenario, but anyone who has in the first period was a huge break. A flub that Hutton should have watched a game can sense things are different this time. Certainly a stopped, a rare misstep in the Buffalo net this month. plus-11 goal differential says that, among other things. "The kid just finds a hole. Granted, I'd play it differently, but it's always At 5-0-1, the Sabres are one of three teams yet to lose in regulation at easier after the fact," Hutton said. "It's one of those things. You take it. home. The power play has been phenomenal at 29.7 percent overall and Stuff happens, you move on and keep competing, look to give our team a an NHL-best 38.1 percent at home. The goaltending has been solid, with chance to win. You give up 44 shots, they only score two and you feel a .926 save percentage that's third in the NHL behind only Boston (.934) like it's a pretty good night. A puck finds the back of the net there, but I and Arizona (.927). felt like I moved on right past it and made a lot of pretty big saves to help Jack Eichel and Jeff Skinner have seven goals apiece and Eichel's 17 get us to overtime." points at home are tied with two guys from Edmonton named McDavid The crowd did its part trying to will the Sabres. The numbers in house are and Draisaitl for the NHL lead on home ice. Victor Olofsson might be the small but the volume continues to be large. If this team keeps winning, NHL's rookie of the month. Ramsus Ristolainen and Kyle Okposo have that could be an even bigger factor as the seats fill up. had their careers reborn under Ralph Krueger. GM Jason Botterill's handiwork was a big improvement over last summer. Things erupted for the Sabres in November last season with that 10- game winning streak. But this team is clearly deeper, more mature and Krueger is obviously an upgrade from Phil Housley and Mike Bales is a better coached. That win streak was built on puck luck in overtime that sort of goalie whisperer who is getting results from Carter Hutton and wasn't sustainable. We're about to find out a lot more about this club. Linus Ullmark almost every night. "People on the outside will start putting expectations on us and standards Still, you wonder. and we have to just stay in the moment," Hutton said. "Ralph does a The Bills are 5-2 and are a good bet to get to 6-2 at the halfway mark good job keeping the team focused in that sense. For us, we know how after facing Washington on Sunday. But seriously now, their five wins are to approach this now. Don't get the cart before the horse by any means." over teams that are a combined 7-30. Buffalo News LOADED: 10.29.2019 Narrative says Bills are paper tiger now – and it's deserved

The Sabres, meanwhile, are facing somewhat of a similar situation, with their opening night win in Pittsburgh by far their best victory. Their first 12 opponents entered Monday with a combined record of 53-68-15 and a points percentage of .445.

Arizona (7-3-1) started a stretch of six games against teams that entered Monday 39-17-9 (.669). The visit by the 'Yotes marked a dramatic change in the opponent dynamic as the upcoming schedule lists Washington, the New York Islanders, Tampa Bay twice in Sweden and Carolina in the first game back in North America.

Through the first 13 games of the season, in fact, the Sabres have not played a single opponent in the top nine of the NHL's overall standings. Those 13 games were played in a stretch of 26 days. That's a ton of hockey in a short time. The Sabres finally get three days between games before Friday's game in DC.

Krueger correctly noted the Sabres felt fortunate to get to overtime and ensure one point and then raised their game to get the far better scoring chances in the OT. It's the first time he's sensed their energy tank a little low.

"You feel it in the coaches room, too. I think you probably feel it as media," Krueger joked. "It's been quite a month, quite a pace. Overall, when we take a deep breath tomorrow and look at the month, we're going to be pleased with what's happened here, then we've got to park it and package and look at the things we did well and the things we need to learn and grow and go back at it."

"It's always tough. There's no freebies in this league," Hutton said. "Even you look at going into Detroit, a team that wasn't playing well on a bad streak. They played well and we found a way to win (2-0 Friday night). 1158875 Buffalo Sabres pregame warmup. Borgen, 22, was recalled from Rochester prior to practice Sunday.

Defenseman Brandon Montour, who returned to practice Sunday, The Wraparound: Coyotes 3, Sabres 2 (SO) remains out day to day as he works his way back from a hand injury.

Next: The Sabres will be off Tuesday and are scheduled to return to By Lance Lysowski Published Mon, Oct 28, 2019|Updated Mon, Oct 28, practice Wednesday. Their next game is Friday on the road against the 2019 Washington Capitals.

Buffalo News LOADED: 10.29.2019

Ralph Krueger watched from behind the Buffalo Sabres bench as his players lost a two-goal lead Monday night in KeyBank Center. His penalty kill allowed the tying goal late in the second period to an opponent on the final game of a long road trip.

Their first period was the highlight of their return home. The Sabres blew a two-goal lead in the first period for the second time this season and lost to the Arizona Coyotes, 3-2.

Nick Schmaltz scored the winning goal in the second shootout round for Arizona. The Sabres (9-2-2) lost their first home game of the season and failed to match the 1975-76 team’s franchise record for the best start to the home schedule. The Coyotes (7-3-1), meanwhile, won three of four games during their road trip.

Jack Eichel and Jeff Skinner scored in the first period for the Sabres, while the Coyotes' regulation goals came from Conor Garland and Carl Soderberg. Carter Hutton made 42 saves in his eighth start of the season.

Birthday goal: Eichel, who turned 23 on Monday, gave the Sabres a 1-0 lead when he scored a power-play goal with a wrist shot from the left- wing circle. The goal occurred only three seconds after Lawson Crouse was penalized for tripping Evan Rodrigues.

The Sabres' power play at home ranked second in the league at 36.8 percent, and Eichel entered the day tied for second in the NHL with eight power-play points. Additionally, the Sabres have scored the first goal in 10 of 13 games this season.

Fast start: Skinner kept the Sabres' fast start going when he scored his seventh goal of the season at 11:16 into the game for a 2-0 lead. Skinner entered the offensive zone and dropped the puck off to Marcus Johansson, who fired a cross-ice pass for the assist.

Late response: The Coyotes spoiled the Sabres' momentum when Garland cut the deficit to one goal at 18:50 into the first period. Garland's shot from the left side of the goal line snuck between Carter Hutton's leg pads.

Close call: The Sabres came within inches of pushing their lead back to two goals when a Coyotes defender committed a turnover near the Arizona net. Kyle Okposo retrieved the puck and, rather than shooting from the slot, passed to Johan Larsson, whose one-timer shot was stopped by goalie Darcy Kuemper.

Difficult bounce: Soderberg tied the score, 2-2, with 3:28 remaining in the second period when he deflected a puck on the power play that sailed over Hutton's head and into the net. The Sabres' penalty kill had allowed only one goal at home this season.

Additionally, Buffalo was in control of the game when Soderberg scored. Earlier in the period, the Sabres' forechecking forced five Coyotes to remain on the ice for almost 3:30. Buffalo was out-shot in the second, 15- 9.

Big saves: Hutton made a number of quality stops on Arizona scoring chances. His glove save on Vinnie Hinostroza prevented the Coyotes from capitalizing on a 2 on 1, and Hutton blocked a shot with his glove earlier on Arizona's successful power play.

Hutton, though, committed the penalty prior to the Coyotes' tying goal.

Paying tribute: Former Sabres coach Phil Housley, now an assistant coach for Arizona, was honored with a tribute video on the KeyBank Center video board midway through the first period. Housley, a Hall-of- Fame defenseman who played eight seasons for the Sabres, waved to the crowd after receiving a round of applause.

Scratches: Defensemen Marco Scandella (lower body) and winger Jimmy Vesey (upper body) remain out because of injury. Additionally, defenseman Will Borgen was a healthy scratch and participated in the 1158876 Buffalo Sabres

Sabres pay tribute to Phil Housley with video during his return

By Lance Lysowski

Phil Housley received a warm welcome from the fans during his first game in Buffalo since being fired as head coach of the Sabres in April.

Housley, now an assistant coach with the Arizona Coyotes under Rick Tocchet, was honored with a tribute video on the scoreboard above center ice during the first period Monday night inside KeyBank Center. He waved to the crowd after receiving a round of applause.

Housley was drafted sixth overall by the Sabres in 1982 and played 608 regular-season games during his eight years with the team. He was hired as coach prior to the 2017-18 season and could not lead the Sabres back to the playoffs. Housley was dismissed in April after guiding his former team to a 58-84-22 record over two years.

The Sabres won 10 games in a row under Housley last November, only to finish 27th in the .

The Hall-of-Fame defenseman scored 338 goals among 1,232 points in 1,495 regular-season games during his career.

Buffalo News LOADED: 10.29.2019 1158877 Buffalo Sabres On the other hand, the Sabres have started to struggle in the first period, allowing 11 goals while scoring nine, though they have scored the first goal in nine of 12 games. They can't afford to fall behind against the Sabres game day: Ralph Krueger continues to 'roll four lines' Coyotes, who have allowed the fewest goals in the NHL. Arizona has also been good in the first and second periods, posting a combined plus- 8 goal differential in the first 40 minutes of games.

By Lance Lysowski Published Mon, Oct 28, 2019|Updated Mon, Oct 28, Home-ice advantage: The Sabres (5-0) are the only unbeaten team at 2019 home this season and are looking to tie a franchise record set in the 1975-76 season by opening the season with six consecutive wins at

home. Balanced scoring has made the difference, at home and on the Matchup: Buffalo Sabres (9-2-1) vs. Arizona Coyotes (6-3-1) road.

Where: KeyBank Center Entering play Sunday, the Sabres and Washington Capitals were the only two teams with four players to score at least five goals this season When: 7 p.m. (Eichel 6, Olofsson 6, Skinner 6, Reinhart 5).

TV: MSG "With our schedule this year it's critical that we can roll four lines in phases of games, especially off back-to-backs," Krueger said. "Being Radio: WGR 550 able to split the minutes up as we did in Detroit was critical to give us a Sabres' lineup: Neither defenseman Marco Scandella (lower body) nor chance to be able to carry a game like that through 60 minutes against a winger Jimmy Vesey (upper body) will be available against the Coyotes. fresh opposition, so we're really pleased with that. ... We're extremely Scandella is out two to three weeks, while Vesey is listed on the team's comfortable o-zone and especially d-zone starts with all four lines right injury report as "week to week." now, and that certainly gives us a lot of comfort."

Defenseman John Gilmour and forward Evan Rodrigues, both of whom Buffalo News LOADED: 10.29.2019 faced the Red Wings in Detroit on Friday, will remain in the lineup. Though defenseman Brandon Montour returned to practice Sunday, he's unlikely to be ready for game action until Friday at the earliest. Montour, 25, was not cleared to hold a stick until approximately a week ago.

Expect the Sabres to be cautious with Montour. They recalled Will Borgen from Rochester to serve as the extra defenseman, which should allow Montour more time to become acclimated to Ralph Krueger's system and to regain his timing on the ice.

“I felt like a hockey player again," Montour said Sunday. "It’s been a while. But yeah, it’s good to be back and kind of get with the team and get that feel again.”

Here's how the Sabres lined up during practice Sunday:

#Sabres Sunday morning look:

—

Olofsson-Eichel-Reinhart

Skinner-Johansson-Sobotka

ERod-Mittelstadt-Sheary

Girgensons-Larsson-Okposo

—

McCabe-Ristolainen

Gilmour-Miller

Dahlin-Jokiharju

Montour-Borgen

— Mike Harrington (@ByMHarrington) October 27, 2019

In net: Carter Hutton (6-1, 2.27, .920) will start Monday night against the Coyotes. The Sabres have three shutouts in 12 games and rank third in the National Hockey League in 5-on-5 save percentage, trailing only Arizona and Boston.

Hutton and Linus Ullmark had alternated in goal until Thursday in New York, when Hutton started back-to-back games for the first time this season. Ullmark then delivered a 41-save shutout Friday in Detroit. Regardless of who starts in goal, it's clear the Sabres are a better defensive team than they were last season.

"Three shutouts is a nice feather in our cap. It's a nice accomplishment, but what's more important is how we're playing defensively," winger Kyle Okposo said.

Second-period success: The Sabres' success in the second period is significant. Remember, last season this team struggled mightily in the second period, recording a negative-25 goal differential. Buffalo has a plus-12 differential entering its game Monday against Arizona. 1158878 Buffalo Sabres “We’re easing him back into it, giving him some game-situational drills or putting him out with the full team, and just being very patient with him,’’ said Dineen, whose club, off to a 5-2-1-1 start, hosts Providence Sabres' top goaltending prospect Luukkonen getting closer to start for Wednesday and Binghamton Friday at . “He’s done his Amerks work on the other side of it, off the ice with his rehab. Getting his health back, that’s priority No. 1.’’

At each stage of his career, UPL has delivered wins like UPS delivers Leo Roth, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle Published 3:39 a.m. ET packages. Oct. 29, 2019 Yes, he has great size. His butterfly extends from Exchange Street to the Genesee River. But Luukkonen is more than just a big man.

The had finished practice for the day, but still on Thanks to ’s highly respected development model, he has the ice were a few players and coaches running shooting drills on impeccable technique, reflexes quick enough to steal your watch and put goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. it back on before you’re missing it, and he controls rebounds like the Cookie Monster corralling a spilled package of Chips Ahoy. At 6-5, 220 pounds, Luukkonen is an NFL defensive end on skates, but 6-7 Tage Thompson, about the size of an NBA small forward, sure set a As for the mental side of his position, one of the most challenging in nice screen for him to work on tips and rebounds. sports, Luukkonen has proven time and again he can handle pressure with the best of them. Reminding scouts of the netminding heroes of his Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen of Finland looks up ice after allowing a goal homeland, like Miikka Kiprusoff, and Tuukka Rask. versus the USA at the IIHF World Junior Championships at the Save-on- Foods Memorial Centre on December 31, 2018 in Victoria, British “I haven’t seen a ton of him, but right away what stands out is that he’s Columbia, Canada. young, but he has come in here very confident,’’ Amerks veteran defenseman Zach Redmond said. “He’s obviously a huge body, takes up “It’s real nice to be back on the ice, with this team and having normal a lot of space and moves well. I haven’t seen a ton, like I said, but I can practices,’’ said Luukkonen, who finally left the ice 30 minutes after most see what all the hype’s about.’’ of his teammates. “It’s been a long time, but practices have started for me so I’m really excited and looking forward to a game.’’ Luukkonen has an older brother who played hockey and a twin brother whose preferred game was soccer. So are hockey fans eager to get a look at one of the hottest goaltending prospects to join the parent Buffalo Sabres organization in years. “I was always a goalie,’’ he said. “But I also played soccer and several other sports and I think that really helps you develop (athletically). I Luukkonen, just 20 years old from Espoo, Finland, was a 2017 second- guess it just came natural for me to be a goaltender, I never think too round NHL draft pick, the 54th selection overall. That’s the highest much about it.’’ goaltender drafted by Buffalo since Sweden’s Jhonas Enroth was selected in the second round, 46th overall, in 2006. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen celebrates after being selected 54th overall by the Buffalo Sabres during the 2017 NHL Draft at the United Center on In their 50-year history, the Sabres have drafted just four in June 24, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. the first round: Bob Sauve (1975), Tom Barrasso (1983), Marty Biron (1995) and Mika Noronen (1997). Biron and Noronen, another Finnish Part of what’s natural is a calm demeanor. goalie, starred in Rochester before launching their NHL careers. “Yes, I do stay calm,’’ he said. “I think that’s a good trait for a goalie, not The buzz over Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen – “UPL’’ for short – is to let too much get to you.’’ understandable. Especially when the pressure is at its greatest, like representing your As a teen-ager, he shined on the world’s biggest stages, leading Team country in the biggest international hockey events. He was teammates Finland to gold medals at the 2016 U18 and 2019 U20 World Junior with Henri Jokiharju, who has been a terrific addition to the Sabres’ Championships and a silver at the 2017 U18 event. defensive corps this season.

At the worlds last January in Vancouver, Luukkonen was 4-2-0 in six “Playing in front of big crowds, especially the world juniors, and knowing games with a 1.80-goals-against average and .932 save percentage, how much attention those tournaments get. The whole hockey world is leading Finland past Team USA 3-2 in the final when he stopped 26 of 28 watching,’’ Luukkonen said. “It’s a huge benefit for young players to learn shots. One was a breakaway with 10 minutes to play on Jack Hughes, to play in those tournaments.’’ the No. 1 overall pick in last June’s draft by New Jersey, one of the tournament’s signature moments. Now he’s in the learning the pro ropes.

But beyond that, Luukkonen won Most Valuable Player honors in the Unlike skaters, the majority of goaltenders take a much slower path to for leading Canada’s top junior league in wins the NHL, and the AHL has been an excellent training ground. Current (38) and shutouts (six), taking the Sudbury Wolves to the playoffs. He Sabre Linus Ullmark of Sweden, a sixth-round pick in 2012, put in three actually made his pro debut with the Amerks last April, stopping 32 of 34 seasons as the Amerks’ workhorse. Ryan Miller, Buffalo’s career wins shots in a victory at Belleville, before undergoing surgery to correct a leader, also put in three seasons in Rochester. nagging hip issue. Dineen said Luukkonen has the work-ethic to understand that like Rome, Jason Robertson of the United States tries to flip the puck over goalie goaltenders aren’t built in a day. He’s also still adjusting to a new culture. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen of Finland to teammate Joel Farabee in Gold “It’s our job to make sure we’re exposing him properly and that he’s Medal hockey action of the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship on developing as he should,’’ Dineen said. “His size, you can’t teach that, January, 5, 2019. but he’s really got a lot of athletic ability and just hockey smarts where he Six months of rehabilitation has him back on the ice and working himself reads the game well. That’s everything I’ve seen in the short window into playing shape. He’s still a short time away from playing a game, but we’ve had him, and hearing last year, how he carried his team (in he’s getting close. Sudbury) to another level.’’

“It’s something that built up over time, a common injury with goalies,’’ Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen of Finland stops Joel Farabee of the United Luukkonen said. “We decided to take care of it now and I’m just excited States in close in Gold Medal hockey action of the 2019 IIHF World to be back. It was a slow process, but now I’m getting the right Junior Championship on January, 5, 2019 at in Vancouver, conditioning. We did a really good job with that in Buffalo (during training , Canada. camp) and it’s helped to have the some of the same coaches here.’’ When Luukkonen is ready to play, the Amerks and Sabres will have a Luukkonen is under the watchful eyes of Sabres goaltending decision to make regarding Sweden’s Jonas Johansson, another top development coach Seamus Kotyk and Amerks interim head coach Gord prospect who is 13-8-2 with a 2.84 goals against average in parts of four Dineen. seasons for Rochester. A third-round pick in 2014, Johansson, 23, has played two full seasons for the , Buffalo’s ECHL affiliate. He’ll be a free agent in 2020. Andrew Hammond, 31, a seven-year pro with 56 NHL starts, is Rochester’s veteran presence in net and the third goalie in the organizational pecking order behind Carter Hutton and Ullmark in Buffalo.

But having Johannson and Luukkonen in the system shows the care being given the goalie position by Sabres’ GM Jason Botterill.

For his part, Luukkonen isn’t looking too far ahead.

“Right now, it’s just getting on the ice, playing in the games soon and seeing how that goes and build from there,’’ he said. “It helped that I got to play one game here last year.''

Like many before him, the first of many on the road to the NHL.

Democrat and Chronicle LOADED: 10.29.2019 1158879 Buffalo Sabres Now with Krueger in charge, the philosophy on how to use players is different.

“I obviously don’t put as much value in zone starts as other coaches in How the Sabres’ offensive zone start percentages have changed under the league, maybe, or analytics would tell you,” Krueger said. “It’s more Ralph Krueger for me about keeping the rhythm and the pace in all of the lines. Making sure nobody goes to sleep on the bench with too many minutes between shifts, I think, is really important in the game today, with the pace of the By Joe Yerdon Oct 28, 2019 game. So we’re extremely comfortable with ‘O’ zone, especially ‘D’ zone starts, with all the lines right now and that certainly gives us a lot of

comfort. And that’s a compliment to the Mittelstadt line that really has As Coyotes assistant Phil Housley returns to Buffalo for the first time stepped it up in the defensive zone and has very little defensive zone since he was fired as the Sabres head coach in April, it’s a good time to time compared to earlier on in the season. That’s one of the reasons point out that there’s been a bit of a difference in how players were we’re able to start anyone there.” deployed in his system last season versus what we’ve seen from Ralph Have a look at the top forwards in offensive zone start percentage under Krueger in his first 12 games. Krueger: How and where players start their shifts, particularly off faceoffs, can Jimmy Vesey — 58.1 sometimes give a look into how some coaches feel about the strengths (and possibly weaknesses) they perceive in their players. Mittelstadt — 57.4

With help from Hockey-Reference.com, we’ll take a look at the offensive Evan Rodrigues — 54.5 zone start percentages at even strength. I’ve chosen even-strength as opposed to 5-on-5 in this case. This will maximize situations when Reinhart — 51.9 players would get offensive or defensive zone draws, factoring in 4-on-4 Eichel — 51.4 and 3-on-3 time, too. Victor Olofsson — 51.0 Under Housley in 2018-2019, the Sabres had definitive roles for forwards — there were those who was going to try and generate offense and Sheary — 50.0 others out there to try and stop the opposing team. It was not difficult to determine who did what. Here were the top five players in o-zone start Sure, some of the same names appear, but the percentages are down percentage: quite a bit, particularly in Sheary and Mittelstadt’s cases. But what’s been more interesting is how the players at the bottom of the list under Casey Mittelstadt — 72.5 Housley have come up under Krueger. Here are the forwards with the lowest offensive zone percentage: Conor Sheary — 70.4 Okposo — 35.0 Jeff Skinner — 67.1 Girgensons — 35.3 Jack Eichel — 62.8 Larsson — 36.2 Sam Reinhart — 62.1 Sobotka — 38.1 Eichel, Reinhart, Skinner, and Sheary were the top-four scorers among forwards last season. We all recall how good the line of Skinner-Eichel- Marcus Johansson — 38.2 Reinhart was last year. They were one of the best lines in hockey for a time, as it was when Jason Pominville played on the right side instead of Skinner —42.0 Reinhart early on. You can certainly understand why Housley leaned so Before the season began, one of the big questions for Larsson was: “Can hard on them all the time, since scoring from the rest of the lineup was someone get him a non-defensive zone start please?” Turns out the guy hard to come by. to do that was Krueger and those efforts have been appreciated.

Here were the five forwards at the bottom of offensive zone start “It’s nice to get us a couple (offensive) starts,” Larsson said. “When percentage: you’re feeling good and when you’re having a decent period or a good Zemgus Girgensons — 15.3 period you might get a couple more. It’s nice that he believes in us and we’re just going to keep working hard for him.” Johan Larsson — 15.6 The lines aren’t numbered this season, but the Skinner-Johansson- Vladimir Sobotka — 32.5 Sobotka unit has been used like a No. 2 line and that they haven’t been leaned on in the offensive zone is impressive given the scoring they’ve Evan Rodrigues — 41.0 produced. In Larsson and Girgensons’ situations, though, being brought Kyle Okposo — 48.6 more into the mix as opposed to just being run out there to defend constantly isn’t lost on them. That they’ve been one of the most It’s almost silly to add Okposo to that list because that’s a break-even consistent lines early on this season can be attributed to Krueger rolling number, but that’s burying the lede here, too. Girgensons and Larsson all four lines regularly. were used almost exclusively to start in the defensive zone. Larsson was second on the Sabres in total number of faceoffs taken behind Eichel. “He believes in us but we also have a responsibility to be good The Ryan O’Reilly trade took away Housley’s favorite player on faceoffs. defensively,” Larsson said. “But we also showed we can chip in a couple To make up for it, he leaned hard on Larsson. But toiling away when the goals and change momentum and that’s a huge thing in this league.” results don’t improve is hard, especially for the guys tasked consistently The Athletic LOADED: 10.29.2019 with trying to stop opponents from scoring.

“It was our role so we accepted it like that, but it’s definitely hard to generate offense when you start in the ‘D’ zone because I don’t know how many goals are scored off of a ‘D’ zone faceoff,” Girgensons said with a laugh. “It happens once in a while, but it’s part of the game that there are players that need to do that. We were OK doing it, it’s part of the team. At the game, you do what you got to do.

“Last season there were definitely a couple times where you get upset that maybe you don’t get out there (for an offensive zone start), but at the end of the day, whatever coach tells you to do you get out there and do it.” 1158880 Calgary Flames

Kylington relieved, Lowry suspended after Heritage Classic hit

Wes Gilbertson

RALEIGH, N.C. — The replays are both painful and powerful.

Painful because Calgary Flames defenceman is being hammered head-first into the Heritage Classic boards, an illegal and unnecessary wallop — there was, after all, just one second remaining in the middle period — that earned Winnipeg Jets centre a two-game suspension from the NHL.

And powerful because of the way that Kylington’s pals reacted to the hellacious hit.

His usual defence partner, , immediately laid a retaliatory cross-check on Lowry as others raced to the scene.

In the melee, Flames goalie tried to slide his downed teammate to safety.

“I just realized right away that there was a scrum right over me and Ritter just yelled ‘Stay down,’ and he tried to pull me out,” Kylington said. “I’ve seen some replays of that hit and I saw what Ritter did and what Ras and Benny () and Mang () did there, too. I’m thankful they stepped up for me.”

Lowry was dinged Monday with a two-game ban for boarding.

Thankfully, the 22-year-old Kylington won’t miss any time.

He returned for the remainder of Saturday’s 2-1 overtime loss to the Jets at in Regina and was a full participant in Monday’s practice in Carolina.

“I’m alright — I was feeling the jaw there right after and in the third period and then the day after, but today it feels a bit better,” Kylington said. “I need to loosen up the neck a little bit, but my head is fine and I’m happy that it wasn’t worse than it was.”

Calgary Sun: LOADED: 10.29.2019 1158881 Calgary Flames The Flames debuted their new-look top trio during Saturday’s Heritage Classic, although it’s tough to showcase an offensive skill-set on the snowy outdoor ice.

Flames’ Lindholm won’t be bothered by boo-birds in Carolina “I’ve played wing for such a long time now,” Lindholm reminded. “I’ll go wherever Bill wants me, but growing up playing centre, that’s where you want to be. You want to have the puck as much as possible and at Wes Gilbertson centre, you have a lot of pucks. That was always my theory. I’ve played wing for a while now, but it’s fun. It’s fun to have the puck and it’s a fun

opportunity for me to play with those two. RALEIGH, N.C. — Calgary Flames forward received a “Obviously, you’re playing with two real skilled guys and I just try to play rude welcome in his initial return to PNC Arena. my game, do the defensive stuff first and then the opportunity in the On Tuesday, it will be worse. offensive zone will come for me, for sure. I’m not trying to force anything. It’s just play good defensively and then the rest will come.” Because after being booed last winter in what had been his home rink for five seasons with the Carolina Hurricanes, Lindholm fired back after the Calgary Sun: LOADED: 10.29.2019 final buzzer by mimicking their Storm Surge celebration.

Although the Flames’ first-liner has admitted he wouldn’t mind a mulligan on that emotional retort, it certainly won’t be forgotten on this latest trip.

“I got booed last year, so I expect to be booed this year, too. Nothing is going to change,” Lindholm shrugged after Monday’s practice in Carolina, the second stop for the Flames on a five-game road-trip that started under snowy skies at the at Mosaic Stadium in Regina. “I’ll just try to focus on my game. And if they start having a lot of focus on me and stop cheering their team, it’s better for us.”

Nobody, you could argue, has been better for the Flames so far this season than the dude in No. 28.

The soft-spoken Swede returns to his old stomping grounds — the Hurricanes shipped him and defensive smoothie to the Saddledome as part of a five-player draft-floor blockbuster in June 2018 — with a team-high seven tallies.

And after hinting for months that he was intrigued by the possibility, Flames head coach just shifted the right-handed Lindholm to centre.

For Tuesday’s clash in Carolina (5 p.m. MT, Sportsnet Flames/Sportsnet 960 The Fan), the 24-year-old will be skating between and on Calgary’s top line.

That’s a spotlight role for a guy who’ll likely also be doubling as Public Enemy No. 1 at PNC Arena.

The Hurricanes made headlines and highlight loops last season thanks to the so-called Storm Surge, a post-win spectacle that started with a Viking clap and culminated in some sort of unique capper — anything from limbo to bowling to a boxing knockout that featured a cameo by former heavyweight champ Evander Holyfield.

But in a Super Bowl Sunday matinee last February, the Flames spoiled the party. And afterward Lindholm — both pleased about helping his squad to a 4-3 victory and also peeved about being jeered during the standard jumbotron salute — raised his arms and trolled the crowd, repeatedly clapping his hands as he headed to the visitors’ locker-room.

The boo-birds noticed.

The volume cranked.

“If I look back, I don’t know if I would have done it,” Lindholm said Monday. “I was so fired up in that moment, and it just happened. If I could take it back, I probably would do it. But it happened and I can’t take it back.

“I was just so fired up. I got booed twice there and it wasn’t my fault — I didn’t want to leave and I got traded still. I didn’t try to force a trade. So overall, I would probably take it back, but it is what it is.”

The Hurricanes faithful will give him an earful again Tuesday.

And there will be plenty of opportunities.

Lindholm is a fixture on the top power-play unit and a regular on the penalty-kill.

He’s always been on the first line, but he’s now manning the middle. , rarely separated from Gaudreau over the past handful of campaigns, has been bumped down the lineup. 1158882 Carolina Hurricanes Another question: why aren’t there more sports bars, restaurants and hotels in the immediate PNC Arena area?

Answer: A lot of the land surrounding PNC Arena is controlled and ‘It has done so much for this city.’ PNC Arena, home to hockey and owned by the state. basketball, turns 20. “We hoped more of the property developed by state government would have been released to the private sector but that hasn’t happened as much as we hoped,” authority member Bill Mullins said. BY CHIP ALEXANDER OCTOBER 28, 2019 04:43 PM Damon’s Grill, a restaurant and sports bar, opened in 2004 on Trinity Road near the Edwards Mill Road intersection. Financial woes caused it to close but it soon reopened under new ownership as The Backyard RALEIGH-It has been 20 years since the doors opened on the Bistro and has become a staple in the area. Entertainment and Sports Arena and the public invited in for a first look. A small hotel, the Comfort Suites, was built behind the restaurant. It has The Carolina Hurricanes had big plans for Oct. 29, 1999 and the game since been converted into a Four Points by Sheraton property. against the New Jersey Devils, the first in the Canes’ new $158 million home. But pregame traffic was a mess. Even team owner Peter It has been a slow go. There was the “Great Recession” and economic Karmanos hopped out of a limo and was in the parking lots that night, downturn from 2007 to 2009, when much commercial development trying to help out. It was exhilarating but nerve-racking. ground to a halt.

“It’s like moving into a new house and inviting 18,000 over for dinner,” The Wade Office Park off Edwards Mill Road did open in 2008 and the Dean Jordan, then the team president, said at the time. mixed-use development has burgeoned in recent years, with offices, homes and apartments. A few restaurants, including Honest Abe’s Amid the chaos of opening night, a game was played and the Devils won Kitchen & Bar, have opened. It was announced last week that a Hilton 4-2. There were, in fact, 18,730 fans at the game and many were Garden Inn hotel would be built in Wade Park, adding more hotel rooms. impressed by the shimmering new arena with its large lower bowl, wide corridors and snazzy terrazzo floors. “At one time there weren’t many rooftops in that area,” authority member Brent Barringer said. “Now there are a lot of rooftops and a million square Flash forward two decades and the multi-purpose arena has aged well, feet of rental and office space.” thank you. A year ago, N.C. State sold land on Trinity Road that was used for It has gone through name changes, from the ESA to RBC Center to PNC parking lots for Wolfpack football games and was a popular tailgating Arena as the naming rights were sold but has kept up with the times with spot. The Station, off-campus housing for NCSU students, opened. such enhancements as an ultra-large scoreboard, 3D projection system and theater lighting. It has hosted Stanley Cup finals and the NHL All- “The development around the arena hasn’t been as robust as people Star game, N.C. State men’s basketball and NCAA tournaments. And thought,” said Harvey Schmitt, former president and CEO of the Greater concerts, the circus, rodeos and monster trucks. Raleigh Chamber of Commerce. “Part of that is who owns the land. I never had high expectations for the development scenario. The Metallica concert in January set a venue record with a crowd of 20,052. The Canes also set a record during the 2019 Stanley Cup “All things considered, the location offers a lot of benefits, not as many as playoffs with 19,495 fans for a New York Islanders game on May 3. you’d get out of a downtown site but it’s a good site. ... The building through the years became a destination facility for a lot of people, not just “It has done so much for this city,” said Steve Stroud, a member and in the city but the region, and provided a lot of memories.” former chairman of the Centennial Authority, the arena landlord. “I personally think the building is why national TV folks refer to us as VALVANO DEPARTURE STALLED ARENA EFFORT ‘Raleigh’ instead of ‘Raleigh, North Carolina.’ It has helped raise the identity of this city. Everyone knows where Raleigh is. Jim Valvano once joked he had a nickname picked out for a new arena: “Jim’s Gym.” Valvano, while coaching at N.C. State in the 1980s, “At one time Reynolds Coliseum provided entertainment opportunities but stressed the need for a new state-of-the-art arena to match the one that PNC Arena has filled a tremendous void in this region. I think it has done would open at North Carolina in 1986 -- the Dean E. Smith Center, everything the authority told the various government entities it would do.” named for the Tar Heels coach.

The Wolfpack, after 50 years of men’s basketball in Reynolds Coliseum Avery Upchurch, then the Raleigh mayor, commissioned a study in 1984 on the NCSU campus, played its first game in the new arena against and appointed a “Committee of ‘85” chaired by Stroud to look over the Georgia on Nov. 19, 1999. Pack guard Archie Miller, now the head coach options. The arena was to be part of a downtown revitalization effort that at Indiana, knocked down a 3-pointer in the final minute to seal a 67-63 also would include a convention center and performing arts center. The victory. estimated cost of the arena was between $60 million and $65 million, with the City of Raleigh to pay $32 million. On the night the arena officially opened, before the Canes’ game, former NCSU chancellor Marye Anne Fox had walked in and quickly observed, “We tried to build it downtown but the politics on the (Raleigh) City “There’s not enough N.C. State in here.” The relationship between the Council changed and the attitude toward the arena changed,” Stroud Hurricanes and Wolfpack, while strained at times by conflicts on said. “They no longer wanted to be involved in it, really didn’t want it scheduling dates or disagreement over the color of the seats, has been a downtown.” peaceful co-existence for the most part. There would be no bond referendum on the downtown project for voters, “I’m biased but I really believe this, we’ve got the best arena in the as Upchurch had wanted. One of the concerns of the council was that a country,” Wolfpack basketball coach Kevin Keatts said. site adjacent to Carter-Finley Stadium was being proposed for a 23,000- seat N.C. State basketball arena that would be the Pack’s place. The Pack has its NCAA and ACC championship banners and honored jerseys displayed in the rafters -- and No. 44, once worn by the Then it all fell apart. incomparable David Thompson, N.C. State’s only retired jersey. The Canes have retired three jerseys -- for Ron Francis, Glen Wesley and Valvano, who coached the Pack to a national championship in 1983, had Rod Brind’Amour -- and also have their banners on display. his program on equal footing with UNC and Duke. But he would leave N.C. State in 1990 amid NCAA and UNC system investigations into the One says “Stanley Cup Champions.” basketball program and allegations of academic improprieties.

WHY NOT A DOWNTOWN ARENA? Wolfpack donors, many soured by Valvano’s forced departure, were no longer interested in putting up the money for a new arena. As Charlie Newcomers to the area, and there are many in the Triangle, often ask the Bryant, then the Wolfpack Club’s executive director put it, “It was wilting same question: why wasn’t the arena built downtown? on the vine.” The short answer: city leaders studied a downtown site in the 1980s and There was a groundbreaking ceremony in the fall of 1993 and the lower did not find it practical. bowl area carved out. And then it became, literally, a big hole in the ground, surrounded by paved parking lots used only for N.C. State Major renovations to PNC Arena had been planned when Karmanos sold football games. his majority interest in the Hurricanes to Dallas billionaire Tom Dundon in January 2018. The authority sought those upgrades while meeting some It would stay that way for a few years until an unexpected turn -- the of Dundon’s requests, such as the new scoreboard in the arena and 3D pursuit of a National Hockey League team. projection system.

THE WHALERS BECOME THE HURRICANES “They’ve done a beautiful job, I think, keeping this building fresh and Harvey Schmitt initially thought the best thing for a new arena would be updated,” Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said Monday. “It doesn’t an American Hockey League team. The Raleigh chamber president feel old at all compared to some some buildings I’ve been into that are 20 attended the 1996 AHL All-Star game in Hershey, Pa., believing an AHL years old and you can definitely tell.” franchise in Raleigh would be the way to secure the arena funding. The money again would come from the city and county, funded by the “We needed to convince people we would have enough active nights in hospitality industry’s hotel/motel and prepared-food tax. Upon final an arena and not need just N.C. State to sustain it,” Schmitt said. approval, the Centennial Authority will receive $9 million a year for 25 years, executive director Jeff Merritt said. But the focus soon changed. The NHL was looking to add expansion franchises and Raleigh soon was in the mix. “Enhancing the fan experience is much more than a slogan,” the authority’s Barringer said. “It’s a reality that you have to do it and it’s a big The Raleigh chamber paid for an economic study, which said the commitment.” economic impact would be more than $100 million a year for Wake County. An ownership group headed by Felix Sabates of Charlotte, a The authority, in its request for more than $200 million, had a strong chatty, wealthy NASCAR team owner, paid to enter an expansion bid in argument: the arena has had a $4 billion economic impact for Wake the fall of 1996 and then made the formal expansion presentation to the County in the past 20 years. In 2018, the estimated economic impact was NHL executive committee in New York early in 1997. $262 million from the arena.

The NHL was definitely interested. The Triangle had the largest TV The authority’s report was prepared by John Connaughton, a UNC market in the nation without a major-league team. The biggest drawback Charlotte economist. It was Connaughton who also handled the report was a lack of an arena. done in 1996 and paid for by the Raleigh chamber, his economic forecast proving to be accurate. Haggling over the size and funding eventually forced Sabates’ group to withdraw their expansion bid but someone else was interested: Peter On Tuesday, the arena will turn 20 as the Hurricanes host the Calgary Karmanos. The owner of the Hartford Whalers, who had his own arena Flames. N.C. State, which won an exhibition game Sunday against frustration issues in Connecticut, was looking to move his franchise. He Mount Olive, will host Georgia Tech in the 2019-20 season opener on also sat in on the expansion presentations, liked what he heard about Nov. 5 at PNC Arena. NCSU’s locker room has undergone renovations Raleigh and soon was in discussions with Stroud and other authority through the years and the Pack has a new basketball floor this season. members. “It turned out to be more than what my original vision was,” said Wendell The Whalers moved in 1997, becoming the Carolina Hurricanes. The Murphy, a major N.C. State donor, former trustee chairman and still an money to build the arena was split among the City of Raleigh, Wake authority member. “I thought we were going to build N.C. State a County, the state, the Hurricanes and N.C. State. basketball arena and it wound up being triple that in terms of the total cost. Construction finally began July 1, 1997, and costs continued to escalate. A redesign of the plans needed to alter the foundation added another $26 “But I think it has been great for Wake County and all of Eastern North million -- the “$26 million oops,” one former authority member called it -- Carolina. All in all, a wonderful project.” and made it a $158 million project. News Observer LOADED: 10.29.2019 “We were supposed to spend $12 million to $15 million to upgrade it to NHL standards,” Karmanos said of the Hurricanes’ commitment. “It turned out to be $40 million.”

A lease was signed -- and later extended through 2024. The Hurricanes were to operate the arena under the auspices of the authority, which is responsible for most of the upgrades and maintenance. N.C. State was to have scheduling-date priorities.

The Canes played their first two seasons at the Greensboro Coliseum while the hole was filled and the arena went up. The date was set for the opening but the certificate of occupancy permit from city inspectors was not issued until 48 hours before the Oct. 29, 1999 opening.

“There was no opportunity for a soft opening,” arena general manager Davin Olsen said. “We basically got thrown to the wolves in our first event.”

Olsen, the first person to skate on the ice at the arena, spent 70 straight hours in the building in final preparations. Any wonder he slipped out into a dark parking lot and did the “Funky Chicken,” a dance taught to him by his mother, when the occupancy certificate was issued?

And then the arena opened. Parking was $7, 18-ounce beers sold for $4.50 and the average price for Canes tickets was $40.

And then the years began to pass. Quickly.

ARENA BUILT TO STAND THE TEST OF TIME

It made it 20 years. Could there be another 20?

Other arenas have come and gone -- the Charlotte Coliseum, once home to the NBA Hornets, opened in 1988 and was razed in 2007.

“They didn’t have the right bones,” Stroud said. “They didn’t put in the suites and upgrades that people were demanding. We’ve got the right bones. With proper upgrades it could easily be good for another 25 to 30 years.” 1158883 Chicago Blackhawks More to the point, in this case, NBC Sports Chicago — which is co- owned by the Bulls, Blackhawks, White Sox and Comcast’s NBCUniversal — has its hands tied by deals it already has negotiated with the market’s other big services. Column: Bulls, Blackhawks and White Sox fans who are unhappy with Dish in its NBC Sports Chicago stalemate should start shopping around If Dish were to get a concession and/or a discount in its contract, rival services would get the same advantages, no matter the terms they previously negotiated by virtue of what are known as “most favored nations” clauses in their deals. By PHIL ROSENTHAL CHICAGO TRIBUNE | OCT 28, 2019 | 7:23 PM That could mean the loss of millions of dollars every month over many

years, money that already has been budgeted and perhaps spent. There’s nothing intrinsically wrong with Dish Network’s refusal to agree to So when NBC Sports Chicago issues a statement referring to Dish’s NBC Sports Chicago’s terms on a new carriage agreement, a stance that “unreasonable demands,” that too is true. has kept the channel off its service since the start of the month. Things could be worse, of course. If Dish considers it smart business — even though it means the Bulls, Blackhawks and, come spring, the White Sox are effectively blacked out In Denver, none of the major TV providers has reached a carriage on Dish and Sling — who’s to say it’s wrong? agreement with Altitude, home to all Nuggets basketball and Avalanche hockey games, so fans there are really in a bind. For Dish, anyway. Altitude’s president told the Wall Street Journal last week that the three The same may be said, however, of NBC Sports Chicago’s business distributors that serve virtually all of Denver — Comcast, Dish Network decision to hold to the price it has set and received from not just and AT&T — “are currently offering between 50% and 70% less to carry Comcast’s Xfinity but AT&T’s DirecTV, RCN, WOW, dozens of smaller the channel” than in their previous deals, which expired in August. carriers and numerous streaming services. So who knows when or if there will be a breakthrough in those Business is business, after all. negotiations? But if Dish and Sling customers who are Bulls, Blackhawks and White At least in Chicago, disgruntled Dish customers have alternatives. Sox fans believe they’re getting the business, caught in the middle of this stalemate, perhaps it’s time for them to start shopping around. Just like when a team makes makes a move (or moves) one doesn’t like, the choices are: The Bulls open up their season against the Hornets tonight on NBC Sports Chicago. If you have DISH or Sling, you'll be missing out. Accept the situation and move on.

Call 800-333-3474 to get your games back NOW! Complain about it despite knowing it won’t change anything. pic.twitter.com/iZJxaYe6Re Choose a different team to support that conducts business the way you — NBC Sports Chicago (@NBCSChicago) October 23, 2019 want.

It would be nice to think there might be some sort of settlement soon Sports being sports, the idea of switching allegiance to another team may between Dish and NBC Sports Chicago, but there’s little reason to expect seem repugnant. But a relationship with a TV provider isn’t personal, it’s one. business . Almost no one walks around wearing Dish Network hats or Sling jerseys. The two sides are too deeply entrenched. If you really want the games on TV, find a business that’s in business to This is a challenging time for the pay-TV business, in general. AT&T on provide them. That’s smart business. Monday announced it lost 1.4 million TV customers in this year’s third quarter. Financial analyst Craig Moffett of MoffettNathanson, pointed to Chicago Tribune LOADED: 10.29.2019 DirecTV losing 5.4% of its subscribers in a research note, an astonishing statistic.

“That’s an annualized rate of decline of 20%,” Moffett said. "Good heavens.”

Many Dish and Sling subscribers no doubt appreciate how Dish is playing hardball with NBC Sports Chicago, holding the line on costs and, by extension, keeping monthly bills in check.

Besides, in addition to NBC Sports Chicago, there will be pressure to reach an agreement in the coming months with Marquee Sports Network, the TV channel the Cubs and Sinclair Broadcast Group intend to launch in February.

There is some truth to the argument from Dish executives that “the regional sports model has been broken for years,” and making non- sports fans subsidize the cost of sports channels, whether they want to watch them or not, seems patently unfair.

Customers who aren’t interested in basketball or hockey may not have even noticed NBC Sports Chicago’s absence from the channel lineup since Oct. 1.

We are disappointed to see NBC Sports Chicago put our customers in the middle of its negotiations by choosing to remove their channel from DISH's lineup. We are working to not only reach an agreement, but a long-term agreement for our customers. -CG

— DISH Answers (@dish_answers) October 23, 2019

Yet spreading the cost of sports networks is how it has long been done in the TV business. Upending the business model now will take some doing. 1158884 Chicago Blackhawks

Blackhawks trade Brendan Perlini to the Red Wings for defenseman prospect Alec Regula

By JIMMY GREENFIELD CHICAGO TRIBUNE |OCT 28, 2019 | 6:35 PM

NASHVILLE-Brendan Perlini will get a do-over. So will the Blackhawks.

The Hawks granted Perlini’s trade request and dealt the little-used forward to the Red Wings on Monday for 19-year-old defenseman Alec Regula, the Wings’ 2018 third-round pick.

Regula, the No. 67 pick last year, has not yet signed an entry-level contract. The Hawks need to sign him by June or they will lose his rights. He has four goals and seven assists in 10 games for the Ontario Hockey League’s London Knights, where last season he was a teammate of Hawks prospect Adam Boqvist.

Perlini, 23, came to the Hawks last November from the Coyotes along with Dylan Strome for Nick Schmaltz. While Strome and Schmaltz have excelled with their new teams, Perlini failed to prove he deserved a regular spot in the Hawks lineup last season.

After scoring 15 points (12 goals, 3 assists) in 46 games with the Hawks, he held out all summer as a restricted free agent before agreeing to a one-year deal worth $874,125 just days before training camp started.

Perlini then found himself in a predicament: He was too valuable to try to send to the minors and risk losing on waivers and not valuable enough to earn a place in the Hawks lineup.

He got into one game this season and saw only 7 minutes, 49 seconds of ice time.

Jeremy Colliton acknowledged the difficult situation Perlini was in before Sunday’s game against the Kings and praised his handling of it.

“He’s a good kid and he’s been a pro throughout,” Colliton said.

It will be a bit of a homecoming for Perlini. Although he was born in the United Kingdom, he moved to the Detroit area and played youth hockey with Red Wings star Dylan Larkin.

Chicago Tribune LOADED: 10.29.2019 1158885 Chicago Blackhawks After a one-game benching in the third game of the season, Nylander has transformed himself into one of the Hawks’ most reliable players and has shown Jeremy Colliton he can be trusted defensively.

3 takeaways from the Blackhawks’ 5-1 win over the Kings, including All of the goals from tonight's 5-1 win over the Kings!#CHIvsLAK Dylan Strome and Alex DeBrincat ending their breakup pic.twitter.com/aUiDM2NQb2

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) October 28, 2019

By JIMMY GREENFIELD CHICAGO TRIBUNE |OCT 28, 2019 | 6:51 AM Shortly after he assisted on Kampf’s goal, the Kings had their own scoring chance. Dustin Brown was alone in front of the net with the puck and was preparing his shot when Nylander burst in from behind and tied up Brown’s stick without taking a penalty. Going on a four-game road trip, no matter whom you’re playing, is difficult enough without carrying the weight of a long losing streak. “I don’t know how many games it’s been, but I feel quite comfortable with him on the ice,” Colliton said. “I thought he was excellent in Carolina also. The fact the Predators, one of the top teams in the Western Conference, Could have easily had a couple points, created a bunch of chances are up first made it even more essential for the Blackhawks to nip that basically by himself with his work ethic. When a guy as talented as he is streak in the bud Sunday. wants to work, he’s going to be a pretty good player. I think that’s the They did, knocking off the Kings 5-1 at the United Center with their best case right now.” offensive output of the season. Nylander came into the season with only 19 NHL games under his belt, “It just helps,” coach Jeremy Colliton said. “Helps the mood, helps the including 12 last season with the Sabres. His five points in nine games energy, guys can be happy on the plane tomorrow and then we get ready are already a point more than he had in his stint with the Sabres last for a really big test in Nashville.” season.

Here are three takeaways from Sunday’s game: This is the first time in his career he hasn’t had to worry about losing his job, though he’s not about to get too relaxed. 1. Don’t break up Alex DeBrincat and Dylan Strome — and don’t overlook Ryan Carpenter. “It feels really good right now,” Nylander said. “Just got to keep working hard every shift and making my plays and good stuff will happen. Feel Late in the third period, when Dylan Strome already had a pair of goals, really comfortable out there. Got to still be confident and make my plays.” he and Alex DeBrincat began to discuss the possibility of a hat trick. 3. Huh, playing with a lead is better than playing from behind. Little did they know a prime opportunity would soon present itself. The duo nearly had a clean 2-on-0, but a Kings defender disrupted things just Before Sunday’s game, the Hawks had not had a two-goal lead since enough that DeBrincat’s pass wasn’t quite on the money and Strome beating the Oilers 3-1 on Oct. 14. wasn’t able to direct it for a shot on goal. Playing from behind, or even playing tight games all the time, can “I’ll blame it on him,” Strome joked. “We were talking about it, figuring we prevent teams from staying loose and playing with abandon. The Hawks’ might get another chance. What are the odds we get a 2-on-0? But it was offensive problems have not allowed them to capitalize on some a good play by their (defenseman). He slid right in the middle of where he excellent goaltending and surprisingly consistent defense. was going to pass it. Just missed me.” When Dylan Strome scored not even three minutes into the game, the After several games apart and neither of them creating much offense, whole team seemed to relax. The Hawks created good scoring chances Jeremy Colliton told Strome and DeBrincat before the game they would and were able to put the Kings away with a three-goal second period. be playing together again. But instead of a top-six role, Colliton moved “We just continued to step on it,” Strome said. "We got that first goal them to the fourth line with defensive specialist Ryan Carpenter. pretty early. I still think we had a really good first period. Then a little It was just one game, but Strome had three points, DeBrincat had two before midway of the second, Kampfy gets that goal and finally that line goals and an assist and Carpenter had an assist. It’s likely this line will got rewarded. They have been playing great. The coaches are loving the see more action together. way they’re playing.

“We were excited before the game to get back together,” Strome said. “Playing with the lead’s definitely nice instead of chasing the game. The “He’s obviously a great player. Tonight he found me a few times, and I biggest thing is we didn’t sit back — maybe a little bit in the third, but still paid him back for one there in the slot. It was nice to be back on his line. found a way to keep a three-goal lead and get a late (goal) there.” A little different with Carpy at center, but he’s very easy to play with. It’s If the Hawks had not hit a ton of posts over the last week, maybe their fun to play with him.” four-game losing streak doesn’t happen. Carpenter assisted on DeBrincat’s goal, but his role was more about “It’s a jolt of confidence to see the puck go in the net,” Jeremy Colliton helping his linemates create scoring chances. said. “To our credit, I thought we were pretty good defensively “We thought putting Carpenter there would give them a bit of protection throughout. They got a few chances in the third. I thought we weren’t defensively,” Colliton said. “Carpenter’s a guy who does a lot of things quite as good in the third as we were in the first two periods, but we got a right away from the puck. He rarely makes a wrong decision in the goal and we built on it and we kept playing.” defensive zone. He can win faceoffs. ... It frees the other two up to push Here’s the coverage from Sunday’s game: the pace and make some plays and have the puck more. It seems whatever line Carpenter’s been on this year, they have the puck a lot. It Maybe the Blackhawks’ scoring problems haven’t been caused by their worked tonight.” line combos.

2. Falling for Alex Nylander. But if Jeremy Colliton breaks up Alex DeBrincat and Dylan Strome again there might be a riot at the United Center. Alex Nylander saw David Kampf all along; that wasn’t a problem. His initial plan was to fake a shot and then pass as Kampf drove toward the DeBrincat assisted on Strome’s two goals, and Strome returned the favor net, but he lost a blade and started to fall. on a tally by DeBrincat as the Hawks put a much-needed pounding on the Kings with a 5-1 win Sunday night to snap their four-game losing For some players, that would have been it for the scoring chance. But streak. Nylander, as Hawks fans are discovering, isn’t like most players. Despite tumbling to the ice, he somehow got the pass off to Kampf, who drilled it It was a veritable offensive explosion for the Hawks, who have been past Kings goalie Jack Campbell to give the Hawks a 2-0 lead. searching for the right chemistry with their top offensive players. Colliton moved DeBrincat and Strome back together on the fourth line with Ryan “As I fell I was like, ‘Oh, I’ve got to pass this quick before I fall,’ ” Carpenter, who also had an assist on DeBrincat’s goal. Nylander said. “I just made a quick decision to pass it quickly before I fell, and it was a nice goal.” The Hawks’ five goals were a season high. They received another strong outing from goalie Robin Lehner, who made 38 saves to improve to 2-1- 2.

After getting shut out against the Hurricanes on Saturday and totaling two goals in their last three games, it took just 2 minutes, 33 seconds into the first period for the Hawks to get on the board on Strome’s first goal.

The Hawks broke it open with three second-period goals, beginning with David Kampf’s first of the season off a nifty pass from Alex Nylander, who played a terrific all-around game. He also saved a goal when he raced back into the Hawks’ zone to tie up Dustin Brown as Brown was alone with the puck in front of the net.

Strome’s second goal of the game and third of the season came with 4:05 left in the second after DeBrincat stole the puck from Jeff Carter behind the Kings’ net. DeBrincat patiently drifted to the side of the net before softly backhanding a pass to Strome, who fired a wrist shot to the right of Kings goalie Jack Campbell.

DeBrincat’s goal, his third of the season, came with 58 seconds remaining in the second. Drake Caggiula finished the scoring with 2:07 remaining with his third goal.

Chicago Tribune LOADED: 10.29.2019 1158886 Chicago Blackhawks

Blackhawks grant Brendan Perlini’s trade wish, send forward to Red Wings

Perlini requested a trade last week after being scratched in all but one game with the Hawks this season.

By Ben Pope Oct 28, 2019, 6:23pm CDT

Brendan Perlini’s mire as a nightly healthy scratch, unable to break into the Blackhawks’ lineup, mercifully ended Monday.

A week after Perlini requested a trade, the Hawks obliged and dealt the 23-year-old forward to the Red Wings in exchange for prospect defenseman Alec Regula.

Despite scoring 12 goals in 46 appearances with the Hawks last season, Perlini wasn’t re-signed this summer until just before training camp began and was never able to rediscover his place in the roster. He’d appeared in just one of the Hawks’ first 10 games.

Reports surfaced recently that Perlini wished to find a new NHL home and he solemnly confirmed that after practice last Friday.

“Obviously, I haven’t gotten in many games this year,” he said. “That’s why I play the game — that’s to play hockey, not miss games and stuff. It’s tough.”

The rebuilding Red Wings, losers of eight consecutive games entering Monday, will certainly offer Perlini more opportunities to make an impact.

In return, the Hawks landed Regula, a 2018 third-round pick playing with the London Knights of the OHL — where he was a teammate of Adam Boqvist last season, and where he will remain for the rest of this season, despite the trade.

Regula, 19, has good size at 6-foot-4, 207 pounds, and has roared out of the gate with London, tallying 11 points in 10 games.

Moving Perlini’s roughly $875,000 cap hit also gives the Hawks a bit more financial flexibility, most notably allowing them to retain Kirby Dach even once Connor Murphy returns in a few weeks from injured reserve.

Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 10.29.2019 1158887 Chicago Blackhawks

More Robin Lehner starts in goal might be key to fixing Blackhawks’ penalty kill

Lehner has stopped an incredible 24 of 25 shots while shorthanded this season. And that’s not far out of line with his career trend.

By Ben Pope Oct 28, 2019, 1:48pm CDT

Robin Lehner turned away all three Kings power plays Sunday, part of an ongoing trend of great shorthanded play.

On paper, the Blackhawks’ penalty kill — even after a 3-for-3 outing in a much-needed win Sunday over the Kings — remains in bad shape.

The Hawks have killed 22 of 30 power plays, a 73.3 percent success rate that ranks 26th in the NHL. It’s barely better than their rate last year of 72.7 percent, which was the worst full-season performance by any team in three decades.

But there’s a clear trend of when the Hawks’ penalty kill is respectable, like it was Sunday, and when it’s not. And it’s determined by the starting goalie.

Robin Lehner and Corey Crawford have started five games each. Lehner has made 24 saves on 25 shots while short-handed, a .960 save percentage that tops his (still solid) .928 even-strength save percentage. Crawford, while virtually identical to Lehner at even strength (.929), has stopped only 10 of 17 shots while short-handed for a .588 save percentage.

Whether those differences are because of a small sample size, luck, their caliber of play or the play of the penalty-kill units is unclear. The answer is probably a mixture of all three.

Certainly, sample size is playing a role. There’s no way Crawford continues to stop fewer than 60 percent of the short-handed shots he faces.

On the other hand, labeling Lehner an excellent penalty-kill goaltender and Crawford a mediocre one can be supported with their career data — even from Crawford’s multiple-Cup-winning prime.

Lehner’s career short-handed save percentage (over 270 games) is .894. Crawford’s is .869, which is in line with the league average.

Narrowing the query to high-danger scoring chances while short-handed, Lehner’s career save percentage is .807, whereas Crawford’s is .758. The league average is .781.

Clearly, there’s something Lehner — the hulking 6-4, 240-pound Hawks newcomer, whose previous career statistics span stints with the Senators, Sabres and Islanders — does differently on the penalty kill.

There’s also something logical to the idea that the Hawks’ penalty-kill units play more effectively in front of Lehner.

His size affords him the ability to play deeper in net and be less exposed by deflections and cross-ice passes, two events that occur much more frequently in five-on-four than in five-on-five situations. That frees up the penalty kill to play more aggressively and pressure the puck toward the perimeter of the defensive zone, rather than collapse passively to protect the crease.

One way or another, improving the PK will be crucial for the Hawks as they enter their second 10-game segment of the season.

They’ll need quite a bit more than six points out of this next portion to stay within striking distance of the playoff line, and doing so won’t be easy, with a four-game trip — beginning Tuesday in Nashville — to start off.

Coach Jeremy Colliton has rewarded Lehner lately for his strong play, starting him in three of the last four games. For the sake of the penalty kill’s viability, continuing that pattern would be a wise move.

Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 10.29.2019 1158888 Chicago Blackhawks ‘‘I’ll blame it on [DeBrincat],’’ Strome joked. ‘‘We were talking about it, figuring we might get another chance to get out there.’’

That’s OK. Keep your hats. For at least one night, the Hawks were Dylan Strome, Alex DeBrincat help Blackhawks end 4-game losing streak feeling the flow.

The five goals the Hawks scored against the Kings were their most this ‘‘It’s really important,’’ DeBrincat said. ‘‘Get the confidence up. If we play season. a full 60 minutes, we’re going to have a good chance to win every night. If we can keep doing that, we’re in pretty good shape.’’

Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 10.29.2019 By Tom Musick | For the Sun-Times Oct 27, 2019, 10:11pm CDT

Blackhawks center Dylan Strome, center, celebrates with teammates after scoring against the Los Angeles Kings during the second period Sunday.

Dylan Strome and Alex DeBrincat have played together since their days with Erie in the Ontario Hockey League.

That was five years ago — almost a quarter of their lifetimes.

‘‘We’re great friends off the ice, so it just helps on the ice,’’ Strome said. ‘‘Obviously, I love playing with the guy.’’

The two combined for six points as the Blackhawks trounced the Kings 5- 1 and snapped a four-game losing streak. Strome had two goals and an assist and DeBrincat a goal and two assists in the Hawks’ highest- scoring effort of the season.

Coach Jeremy Colliton shuffled his lines before the game, putting Strome and DeBrincat on the wings with Ryan Carpenter at center. David Kampf and Drake Caggiula also scored in the Hawks’ first victory since Oct. 18.

Goalie Robin Lehner did his part in net, making 38 saves to improve to 2- 1-2.

Everyone was breathing a sigh of relief as the Hawks prepare to travel to Nashville, Tennessee, for a game Tuesday against the Predators.

‘‘It helps the mood, helps the energy,’’ Colliton said. ‘‘Guys can be happy on the plane.’’

They certainly looked happy on the ice.

Strome started the scoring when he buried a wrist shot from the low slot 2:33 into the first period. After Kampf scored early in the second, Strome struck again with another wrist shot for his second multigoal performance since joining the Hawks.

DeBrincat made it 4-0 in the final minute of the second, and the rout was on. Strome set him up on the goal.

‘‘We’ve played together for a long time here and know where each other is at,’’ DeBrincat said. ‘‘We know the tendencies. We’ve been working on it for a while, and some games it just clicks like that.’’

Colliton praised Carpenter for his role on the line. He finished with an assist and a plus-3 rating.

‘‘They’ve obviously played well together in the past,’’ Colliton said of Strome and DeBrincat. ‘‘We thought putting Carpenter there would give them a bit of protection defensively. Carpenter is a guy, he does a lot of things right away from the puck. He very rarely takes a wrong decision on the defensive zone. He can win faceoffs.

‘‘[Strome] can help him. He’s comfortable playing low, and he can take faceoffs. But it frees those other two up to push the pace and make some more plays and have the puck more. It seems like whatever line Carpenter has been on, they have the puck a lot.’’

Alex Nylander continued his impressive start to the season with an assist on Kampf’s goal. He took the puck to the net but lost his footing. As he fell toward the ice, he slipped a pass to Kampf in front of the crease.

‘‘As I fell, I was like, ‘Oh, I’ve got to pass this quick,’ ’’ Nylander said with a chuckle.

The Kings got on the board early in the third, and Caggiula capped the scoring with 2:07 left.

Strome had a chance at a hat trick in the third, but Kings goalie Jack Campbell stuffed his backhand attempt. 1158889 Chicago Blackhawks If he plays in all four games on the upcoming road trip, the Hawks must then decide if they want to keep Dach on the roster and burn a year of his three-year contract.

Strengthened middle gives Blackhawks more line options Perlini traded:

The Blackhawks traded forward Brendan Perlini to the Detroit Red Wings John Dietz on Monday in exchange for defenseman Alec Regula. The 6-foot-4, 205- pound Regula, who taken by Detroit in the third round of the 2018 draft, will remain with the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League. He is a co- of the team and has 11 points (4 goals) in 10 games. Depth down the middle. Perlini was acquired along with Dylan Strome in exchange for Nick A team can never have too much of it, and GM Stan Bowman definitely Schmaltz last season. He was a healthy scratch in all but one of the sought to strengthen this area for the Blackhawks last off-season. Hawks' games. He accomplished that goal by drafting Kirby Dach third overall and Scouting report signing Ryan Carpenter and Zack Smith in free agency. Even Andrew Shaw can handle those duties in a pinch. Blackhawks vs. Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena, 7 p.m.

These additions have given coach Jeremy Colliton myriad options when TV: NBC SportsChicago • Radio: WGN 720-AM it comes to his forward lines. He proved as much Sunday by playing Dylan Strome at wing on a line with Carpenter and Alex DeBrincat. The skinny: Nashville (7-3-1) has won its last three -- 6-1 over Anaheim, 4-0 over Minnesota and 3-2 in OT against Tampa Bay. The Predators' Just how rare is it for Strome to move from his customary center spot? leading goal scorers are Filip Forsberg (5), Viktor Arvidsson (5), Roman Josi (5) and Colton Sissons (4). … Nashville has 12 goals from its "Probably (under) five games combined in my life," he said after scoring defensemen, while the Hawks have just 1. … The Hawks went 1-2-1 vs. twice and dishing out an assist to DeBrincat in the Hawks' 5-1 victory. the Predators last season. … The Hawks are 1-for-25 on the power play "I'm trying to get used to it. Felt pretty good tonight." over the last seven games. Nashville ranks 14th on the PP with a 21.9- Colliton felt comfortable making the move because of Carpenter. The 28- percent success rate. … The Hawks rank 26th on the penalty kill (73.3 year-old veteran has been one of the Hawks' most responsible defenders percent), while the Predators are 27th (71.4). and he's been the team's best faceoff man as well, winning 55.3 percent Next: Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center, 9:30 p.m. Saturday of his draws. Daily Herald Times LOADED: 10.29.2019 "He rarely takes a wrong decision in the defensive zone," Colliton said. "Stromer can help him. He's comfortable playing low and he can take faceoffs, but I think it frees the other two up to push the pace and make some plays and have the puck more.

"It seems whatever line Carpenter's been on this year, they have the puck a lot."

How long that line stays together is anyone's guess. After all, the reeling Kings have been outscored 15-4 in their last three games and didn't exactly present a stiff test.

Three of the games on this upcoming road trip -- Nashville on Tuesday, Anaheim on Sunday and San Jose on November 5 -- figure to be a different story.

For now, though, Strome's confidence is back after a rough start.

"A couple goals feels good," Strome said. "I'll take that into the road trip and we've got to keep going. We're 3-5-2 now, so obviously not good enough. But we'll get there."

Dach impressing:

The more Kirby Dach plays, the more he impresses.

And the more likely it is he's going to stick with the Hawks all season instead of going back to juniors.

"It's not all going to be perfect," said coach Jeremy Colliton after Dach's fifth game, this one a 5-1 victory over the Kings. "It's hard, especially playing center. It's a difficult league. There's big boys and it's hard in (the) defensive zone and hard to win 50/50s.

"But he protects the puck extremely well (and) when he does get possession, he often makes a play."

On thing that stands out to Colliton is Dach's underrated speed.

"He is a great skater, especially on open ice," the coach said. "Once he gets wound up, he can catch guys, he can pass guys, he can close on guys.

"That's why I think he can be a great forechecker. He (does have to) get to full speed. When he does, it's pretty tough to handle for a defender."

Dach centered the Hawks' third line against Los Angeles, with Brandon Saad and Andrew Shaw as his wingers. He has 1 goal and 1 assist and is averaging almost 12 minutes of ice time in his five appearances. 1158890 Chicago Blackhawks

After requesting trade from Blackhawks, Brendan Perlini dealt to Red Wings

By Charlie Roumeliotis October 28, 2019 5:40 PM

Just days after requesting a trade from the Blackhawks, Brendan Perlini has been dealt to the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for defenseman prospect Alec Regula's rights, the team announced Monday. It's the second time in less than a year that the former 2014 first-round pick has been traded.

Perlini, who was acquired by the Blackhawks in November along with Dylan Strome, signed a one-year, $874,125 extension in September but has been a healthy scratch in nine of 10 games this season. His lone appearance came on Oct. 12 when he logged 7:49 of ice time in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Winnipeg Jets.

Perlini racked up 15 points (12 goals, three assists) in 47 games with the Blackhawks, with his best stretch coming in March when he recorded eight goals and 10 points in the first seven games. But consistency issues have followed him around throughout his career, and both the team and Perlini were ready for a fresh start.

In return, the Blackhawks are receiving the rights to a 19-year-old blue line prospect in Regula, who's serving as the co-captain of the London Knights in the Ontario Hockey League and will remain there for the 2019- 20 season. He has 11 points (four goals, seven assists) through 10 games and leads the team with a +14 rating. He was teammates last season with Blackhawks top defenseman prospect Adam Boqvist.

Regula is a right-handed shot who's known to be a mobile, two-way defenseman. Five of his 11 points this season have come on the power play, so he has some offensive upside.

Regula was drafted by the Red Wings in the third round (No. 67 overall) of the 2018 NHL Draft, but has not signed an entry-level contract yet. The Blackhawks have until June 1, 2020 to do so or else they lose his negotiating rights.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 10.29.2019 1158891 Chicago Blackhawks

Red Wings acquire forward Brendan Perlini in trade with Blackhawks

Associated Press

DETROIT -- The Detroit Red Wings acquired forward Brendan Perlini in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday.

The 23-year-old Perlini has been a healthy scratch for most of this season, appearing in just one game. But he has 45 goals and 27 assists in 200 career appearances with Chicago and Arizona.

Perlini was selected by the Coyotes with the 12th overall pick in the 2014 draft.

The Red Wings parted with defenseman Alec Regula in the deal. The 19- year-old Regula will remain with the London Knights in the Ontario Hockey League.

Regula, a West Bloomfield, Michigan, native, was drafted by Detroit in the third round last year.

Chicago acquired Perlini and Dylan Strome when it traded Nick Schmaltz to Arizona last November. Perlini had 12 goals and three assists in 46 games with the Blackhawks last season.

Perlini set career highs when he had 17 goals and 13 assists in 74 games for the Coyotes during the 2017-18 season.

ESPNChicago.com LOADED: 10.29.2019 1158892 Chicago Blackhawks

NHL Trade Grade: Detroit gets Brendan Perlini from Chicago for Alec Regula

By Corey Pronman Oct 28, 2019 45

The Trade

Chicago receives defenseman Alec Regula

Detroit receives left winger Brendan Perlini

Chicago Blackhawks: B

Regula was a third-round pick by Detroit in 2018. He has been a top player for London this season in the OHL, playing all situations. He provides a size dimension on defense to go along with above-average skill. He plays the bumper role on London’s top power play and has been a big part of their offense this season to go along with tough defensive minutes. His feet are average, good enough to play, but not quick enough to project out as more than a third-pair defender at this stage. I do think Regula will become an NHL player, though, and he becomes one of Chicago’s better defense prospects. He wouldn’t be at the same level as prospects Adam Boqvist or Ian Mitchell, but Regula is right there with Alex Vlasic and Nicolas Beaudin. Regula’s a player who, in discussions with NHL scouts over the past 12 months, I’ve found the industry has become more optimistic about, and he could be a candidate for USA’s World Junior team.

Detroit Red Wings: B-plus

This is the second time Perlini was part of a trade in the past 12 months. What I said about him last November hasn’t really changed much. Perlini is a top-end skater with size and some offensive ability. He has tools, but in Chicago he failed to find a role and wasn’t a regular on any special teams rotation when he was playing last season. Scouts question whether his sense is top-end enough to be a legit top-nine forward, but he’s shown in flashes he could create enough to be that kind of player. There aren’t many 6-foot-3 forwards with his speed and skill, and it’s why a third NHL organization made a bet on him.

Conclusion

Both teams made a trade that made sense for their depth chart.

When you look down the right side of the defense, the Wings have depth coming. Filip Hronek and Moritz Seider are critical components of their rebuild. Antti Tuomisto could be an NHL player. I’m not high on Gustav Lindstrom, but the organization thinks he could play. could play games. Seth Barton has looked promising this season in college. The Red Wings had a reasonable position of strength in terms of right- handed defense prospects to move Regula.

Perlini had no spot in a Chicago lineup that has added Alexander Nylander, Dominik Kubalik and Kirby Dach since the trade last November. Chicago may feel differently, but I don’t see a ton of NHL caliber depth ready to step in from the AHL should injuries arise outside of Dylan Sikura, which Perlini could have provided, which makes me a bit wary of moving someone who has shown he can competently play games.

Even though Perlini is halfway to free agency and needs a new contract after this season, I like this deal a bit more for Detroit given they got a player closer to the league and dealt a player who had a tough road to make their team.

The Athletic LOADED: 10.29.2019 1158893 Colorado Avalanche

Denver Nuggets remain undefeated with road win over Sacramento Kings

By MICHAEL WAGAMAN | The Associated Press PUBLISHED: October 28, 2019 at 10:52 pm | UPDATED: October 28, 2019 at 10:53 PM

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Jamal Murray scored four of his 18 points in the final 31 seconds, Gary Harris added a pair of late free throws and the Denver Nuggets held on after nearly blowing a big lead in the fourth quarter, beating the winless Sacramento Kings 101-94 on Monday night.

The Nuggets (3-0) shook off a sluggish first half, took control in the third quarter with a stifling defense, then held off a late rally by the Kings to remain unbeaten.

Harris scored 17 points as Denver won its fifth straight against Sacramento. Nikola Jokic had nine points on 4-for-15 shooting with 13 rebounds and Will Barton added 13 points and nine rebounds.

Richaun Holmes had 24 points and 12 rebounds for the Kings (0-4). De’Aaron Fox added 20 points and nine assists, and Harrison Barnes and Nemanja Bjelica each scored 12.

Denver led comfortably midway through the fourth quarter before Holmes scored five points as part of a 10-0 run that cut the Nuggets’ lead to 90- 88.

Holmes later scored on a soaring one-handed dunk that made it 95-92, before Murray’s deep shot just inside the 3-point line. After Barnes scored on a putback, Harris and Murray each hit two free throws.

TIP-INS

Nuggets: Denver outscored Sacramento 30-17 in the third quarter. … Murray and Barton were a combined 2 of 12 in the first half when Denver shot 32.7% from the floor.

Kings: The last time Sacramento started 0-4 was in 2008-09, when Reggie Theus was the coach. … Trevor Ariza made three 3s in the first quarter. He went into the night 1 of 7 from beyond the arc. … Holmes was called for a technical for taunting after dunking against Denver’s Mason Plumlee. … Marvin Bagley III missed his second consecutive game with a broken thumb. Harry Giles (left knee soreness) was also held out.

UP NEXT

Nuggets: Host Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday night.

Kings: Host Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday night.

Denver Post: LOADED: 10.29.2019 1158894 Colorado Avalanche plenty of subscribers who do not watch the channel. Therefore, why should those people foot the bill for a service they do not even use?

Comcast said in a release that most of their customers in Colorado and Games are played, but few can WATCH: Altitude continues battle with Utah with access to Altitude do not watch the network, and more than 95 major providers to show Avs, Nuggets percent of those viewers watched less than the equivalent of a game per week.

Neylon said less than 10 percent of Dish customers who have Altitude in By Ryan S. Clark Oct 28, 2019 their package watch the network, with numbers similar to those provided by Comcast.

“The customer who is an avid basketball or hockey fan, those are not There have been countless emails, numerous phone calls and a handful good conversations,” Neylon said of the feedback both he and the of face-to-face meetings, yet the issue itself still remains. company have received from customers seeking Altitude’s return. Altitude TV, the regional sports network that broadcasts the Colorado “Generally, we don’t hear from the other customers other than, ‘I am Avalanche and Denver Nuggets, continues its stalemate with providers paying you too much for channels that I don’t watch.’ If you’re a die-hard Comcast, DirecTV and Dish Network when searching for common Nuggets or Avalanche fan, I get it and I understand it. ground on a new deal. Both sides openly admit there have been ongoing “At the end of the day, from an enterprise perspective, we have to look at discussions where certain proposals have been presented but those all customers and do what’s right for all of our customers and the countermeasures still fall short. company long term.” Coming to terms on a new pact has remained an issue since late August Neylon said he did not want to discuss specifics about the negotiations when Altitude’s 15-year contract with Comcast, DirecTV and Dish but offered two solutions for all parties involved. expired. Altitude has since been removed from all three providers, with the network still broadcasting on alternate cable carriers throughout its The first being Altitude agrees to a rate that the vast majority of 10-state footprint. customers see the value in having. Hutchings has stated Altitude has sought financial terms similar to the contract they initially signed 15 years “We’ve continued to be proactive and bring deals to them that are ago with Comcast, DirecTV and Dish. But the point Neylon raised was equitable solutions for us and the carriers and have been offered very the market has changed over that time, which means the rates must also little in return,” said Matt Hutchings, who is the Executive Vice President adjust to the contemporary landscape. and Chief Operating Officer for Kroenke Sports & Entertainment. “It’s aggravating and most of all, we know the fans are the ones that are His second solution was Altitude offering its product as a standalone losing out. That’s not good. Fans need their games.” channel on Comcast, DirecTV and Dish — allowing those who want the network to pay for it without having other customers supplementing that Hutchings offers just one perspective, with the cable providers each expense. providing another viewpoint starting with Comcast. “We think there is a way out,” Neylon said about a new contract. “The “We know how much Nuggets and Avalanche fans want to watch their way out is that the channel is offered on an a la carte basis, where teams this season,” Comcast said in a statement. “We’ve provided people who want it subscribe or the vast majority of people who have to Altitude with several proposals to ensure Nuggets and Avalanche fans be burdened are burdened at a reasonable rate but not (one that is) can enjoy the games, but unfortunately Altitude has rejected them. We historically derived. would like to reach an agreement with Altitude that’s at a reasonable price for our customers.” “We are not viewing this in a vacuum. I’m looking at this in the total view that a consumer sees on their bill on an every month basis.” DirecTV also had something to offer on the current situation. Another element that makes this particular negotiation unique is the fact “Altitude, unfortunately, forced AT&T to remove its channel from our Altitude’s deals with Comcast, DirecTV and Dish ended at the same time. customers’ lineups,” the statement read. “AT&T made a fair offer to keep the channel available, but Altitude rejected it. Consumers have made Neylon said there have been previous situations when a provider loses a clear they want more choice over the channels they pay to receive in network. He said if DirecTV was not offering Altitude but Comcast and their homes. Our goal is to offer Nuggets and Avalanche games to Dish were, then there would be customers who would switch their service anyone who wants them most at a value that makes sense to our to continue watching the channel. customers overall. We will not agree to bad deals that do a disservice to our customers, even if it means no longer carrying certain content.” But that is currently not an option.

Then there is what Brian Neylon, who is the group president for Finding a new contract that satisfies everyone comes at a critical time in Englewood-based Dish, also presented. the sports calendar. The Avalanche are atop the Central Division and own one of the NHL’s best records with an 8-2-1 mark while the Nuggets “We don’t hate sports and we don’t hate sports fans, but we have to look are off to a 2-0 start after opening the season with wins over the Portland at all of our consumers,” Neylon said. “What it boils down to is we have to Trail Blazers and Phoenix Suns. pay on a minimum number of subscribers, which is in the high double- digits and a slim minority of customers actually watch the programming. Lee Berke, who is the president and CEO of the LHB Sports, That model over the years has been what it has been, but in the new Entertainment & Media, Inc. consulting firm, said the Avalanche and world where customers are looking for alternatives and questioning Nuggets possess the sort of potential that should serve as a substantial value, we think it’s fundamentally unfair that the vast majority of our incentive to get a deal done. But the issues lie in the fact Altitude is an customers are going to have to subsidize the minority of customers who independent RSN and not one in a family of networks, which means they actually want this content. have less leverage compared to that of a FOX Sports RSN package.

“Really, there is a breaking point in the model.” “The main leverage is the success and popularity of the team,” Berke said. “Fans are frustrated and the first Nuggets game was put on Neylon and others who work for cable providers have often cited the broadcast TV. Given the overall situation of the marketplace, it is not that changing landscape of television and how it impacts their business as it surprising, but the public pressure is going to build up from fans and relates to RSNs like Altitude. government officials, from civic groups all being seen as bringing hockey and basketball back to the market.” In the past, there were no alternatives beyond the mainstream cable and satellite providers. But the dynamic has changed with more customers Wait. Is it really possible government officials could get in the middle of a switching to an a la carte approach otherwise known in the mainstream dispute between a regional sports network and three major cable as cord-cutting. That, in turn, is allowing viewers greater freedom in providers? choosing what they want to watch while determining a network’s value. It has happened before, including one recently. The point Neylon, along with Comcast and DirecTV, is making is even though there are customers who want RSNs like Altitude, there are North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper wrote a letter in September addressed to ESPN and numerous cable companies to reach an agreement allowing every state resident with cable access to watch the ACC Network. The state is home to four ACC programs in Duke University, North Carolina State University, the University of North Carolina and Wake Forest University, in addition to the conference’s headquarters being in Greensboro, N.C.

Granted, the Altitude situation does not appear to be at the stage of getting politicians involved, but there is a petition at ipetitions.com claiming more than 35,000 people have virtually signed the document urging Comcast, DirecTV and Dish to resume airing the Avalanche and Nuggets. There were more than 17,000 comments, as of Sunday afternoon, with fans voicing their opinions.

One Avalanche fan wrote: “Seeing the Av’s (sic) play is the reason I pay extra for the sports access to Xfinity. Maybe I don’t need cable tv after all.”

There was one Nuggets fan who said: “The Nuggets are a finals contender and should be on television! They have a great young squad and the fan base has been growing! BRING BACK THE NUGGETS!!!”

Another stated: “It’s a responsibility of both parties to find a resolution soon. You have customers and fans being taken advantage of in various ways.”

Then one fan just bluntly stated the ordeal was simply: “unacceptable.”

“People complain,” Berke said. “They complain to their city council and their congresspeople and to various governmental agencies, and politicians want to be seen as the politician that saved hockey, that saved basketball. That dynamic can be brought about because fans are frustrated, because their teams are doing well and there is a star they want to see on a nightly basis and it plays into that sort of effort.”

One of the things the network has done to become more accessible for local fans who are still left in the dark was broadcasting the Nuggets’ home opener against the Suns at Pepsi Center on KTVD Channel 20. It was the first time in more than 30 years a Nuggets’ game was televised on a local over-the-air broadcast, according to a release from Altitude.

Hutchings said Altitude was able to purchase air time from KTVD to air the game but respectfully declined to discuss the terms of the agreement.

Berke added moves like this have been done before as there are “a variety of tools in the toolbox.” He could not provide a ballpark figure as to how much something like this cost Altitude but described the formula behind it all. Berke said it all depends upon the length of the event and when it is being aired when it comes to determining a final price tag.

Essentially, it comes back to Altitude purchasing two-and-a-half hours of primetime programming and ad revenue on KTVD.

A similar deal is in the works when it comes to televising an upcoming Avalanche game on KTVD, Hutchings said.

“Going forward, we’re buying and paying for all this to get the games out to the fans,” he said. “It’s not economically viable to do this on an ongoing basis, but we are looking at different options until this gets resolved with these carriers and we can get the fans some access to the games.”

Neylon said he also wants to come to an agreement with Altitude that will allow Avalanche and Nuggets fans in the region to follow their teams for the remainder of the regular season.

“We’re a Denver company. We think customer. We think we’re fair,” Neylon said. “We are always available. I don’t care if it’s midnight or noon on Saturday. We are always available for our partners to engage with us. We stand ready to engage with them on a logical, mutually beneficial long-term agreement for them, for us, but more importantly, our mutual viewers.”

The Athletic LOADED: 10.29.2019 1158895 Columbus Blue Jackets

Columbus Blue Jackets' depth getting tested after two additional injuries

Jacob Myers The Columbus Dispatch Oct 28, 2019 at 9:17 PM

Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella responded quickly Monday when asked how the Jackets would deal with losing two regulars to injury.

“It is what it is,” Tortorella said. “We’re getting ready to play our next game. Someone pops up.”

Defenseman Ryan Murray and forward Alexandre Texier were moved to injured reserve Monday after injuries forced them to leave Saturday’s loss at Philadelphia. Murray will miss three to four weeks with a broken hand. Texier will be out two to four weeks with a knee injury.

Defensemen Dean Kukan and Scott Harrington were already filling in for defenseman , who practiced for the first time Monday after missing the past two games with a lower-body injury. With Nutivaara’s potential return Wednesday against Edmonton and Jakob Lilja the expected replacement for Texier, the Jackets believe it’s status quo.

“Just got to get through it, and it's a good opportunity for the other guys,” Nutivaara said. “We've just got to play as a team.”

Lilja has played in eight of 11 games, with two assists. He might get an extended look, as could Kukan or Harrington.

The Jackets could also elect to play younger players if they choose to call up prospects from American Hockey League affiliate Cleveland. The team did not announce any roster moves Monday.

Kukan and Harrington have been healthy scratches for more games than they’ve played this season — three appearances for Kukan, two for Harrington. Trying to fit into the rhythm of the season is an obstacle for players who frequently have been left out of the lineup.

“It's on the player to try to stay sharp in practice as best that he can and get extra work in in all the areas and make sure your conditioning's up to par,” Harrington said. “That's really all you can do, and then hope that you can shake the rust off as soon as possible.”

Murray’s injury history is well-documented, and another chapter was added to that story when he missed the final 34 games of last season, including playoffs, with a back injury. That this injury doesn’t have to do with his back should give people less pause on Murray’s return.

"As the cliche goes, we've got some big shoes to fill,” Harrington said. “You don't want to see someone go down and then look at it as your big break, but that's what it is sometimes, and it's just on the rest of us to try to pick up the slack in his absence.”

Tortorella said Monday that Harrington and Kukan have played “OK,” and reiterated that where they are in the depth chart is where they should be slotted.

“I think the other guys have outplayed them,” Tortorella said. “Not through effort — I just have to make decisions what I think is the top six in that situation.”

Texier has added an offensive spark at times on the third and fourth lines with two goals and an assist in 11 games. Tortorella rejected the notion that the injury might hurt Texier’s growth.

“He gets a little rest,” Tortorella said. “Probably it helps him as a young guy and he gets right back into it.”

Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 10.29.2019 1158896 Columbus Blue Jackets “He’s a good coach and the players like playing for him,” Tortorella said. “I think he’s thorough. I really don’t give a (expletive) what fans think, but it’s kind of gotten to me about this guy here. He’s an important guy to this coaching staff. It gets old for me.” Columbus Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella critical of goalie's emotional outbursts Dispatch Reporter Henry Palattella contributed to this story.

Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 10.29.2019

Brian Hedger The Columbus Dispatch Oct 28, 2019 at 9:16 PM

Joonas Korpisalo’s emotional outbursts during the Blue Jackets’ 7-4 loss Saturday in Philadelphia prompted a stern reaction from coach John Tortorella.

The Flyers scored five straight goals in the final 10 minutes of the third period, including four with Korpisalo in the net, and the 25-year-old goaltender let his emotions boil over. He angrily slammed his stick on the ice after the first of those goals and also smashed it against the right post with a violent swing after Kevin Hayes put Philadelphia up 5-4 on a shorthanded breakaway.

“Can’t happen,” Tortorella said after practice Monday. “Not just Hayes’ goal, there were three goals. It can’t happen again. It won’t happen again. It better not happen again. That’s unfair to everybody.”

Tortorella said he missed the antics during the game, but saw them while reviewing video on the team’s charter flight home.

“It was rectified on the plane,” Tortorella said. “But having said that, Korpi handled himself tremendously after the game because he knew he was wrong. This is something that can turn into a bad situation when there’s body language that is singling out people. That’s not what a team is about.

"Korpi knows that. He knew that right away before anyone talked to him. He handled himself tremendously with the team after that game.”

Tortorella said he can relate to Korpisalo’s emotions but knows that too much is at stake for a goalie to come unhinged.

“Listen, I live in that world,” he said. “Some of the things I’ve done after certain plays, it’s wrong. I understand the emotion part of it with him. I can relate to it. I’ve made huge mistakes that way. But at that position, especially, it can’t happen.”

Milano plea deal?

Sonny Milano missed practiced Monday to make another appearance in New York Criminal Court for a disposition hearing related to three misdemeanor assault charges stemming from an incident July 7 at his Manhattan apartment.

Milano, 23, and A.J. Greer, a 22-year-old Colorado Avalanche prospect, are accused of assaulting an unidentified male acquaintance over a disputed bar tab in the early-morning hours after returning from a New York nightclub.

A press officer from the Manhattan District Attorney’s office said a plea deal could lead to the dismissal of the case at the next disposition hearing, scheduled for Jan. 21 in New York. The prosecution is expected to move for dismissal of the case if Milano and Greer agree to pay the victim’s medical bills and perform five days of community service.

Attempts to reach Milano’s defense attorney, Daniel Ollen, were unsuccessful.

Power-play problems

While the Jackets may sit at 5-4-2, much of the their success this season has come in spite of the power play. As of Monday, the Jackets were 26th in the NHL with a 9.6% success rate.

Tortorella was blunt in his assessment.

“Our power play sucks,” he said. “We’re deliberate. We’re panicking. No one wants the puck. It sucks. That falls on me. We are going to make some changes with personnel as to who is involved on the power play.”

Tortorella also gave a full-throated defense of assistant coach Brad Larsen, when asked about fan-driven online criticisms of his ability to coordinate the power play. 1158897 Columbus Blue Jackets

Injured Blue Jackets Ryan Murray, Alexandre Texier will miss up to four weeks

Brian Hedger The Columbus Dispatch

Allowing five goals in the third period and coughing up a two-goal lead wasn’t the only reason the Blue Jackets had a tough night Saturday in Philadelphia.

Aside from a stinging 7-4 loss to the Flyers, the Blue Jackets also lost two lineup regulars — defenseman Ryan Murray and rookie forward Alexandre Texier — to injuries that will require multiple weeks to heal.

According to a release sent by the team Monday, Murray sustained a broken hand and will miss three-to-four weeks.

Texier, meanwhile, injured his right knee early in the second period after he knocked Philadelphia’s Chris Stewart off balance. Stewart, who is listed at 6-feet-2, 242 pounds fell on the 20-year old’s right leg, twisting it before they both hit the ice.

Murray, 26, has four points on a goal and three assists while skating on the second defense pairing. He had also just started working as the quarterback of the Jackets’ second power-play unit. Texier has three points on two goals and one assist in 11 games.

No further moves were immediately announced Monday, but a player or two could be recalled from the prior to the Blue Jackets’ next game Wednesday against Edmonton at Nationwide Arena.

Defenseman Markus Nutivaara has also missed the past two games with a lower-body injury and is day-to-day, but there were already eight defensemen on the roster. Should Nutivaara miss a third game, Scott Harrington and Dean Kukan will likely be the first options to fill the vacancies.

Jakob Lilja, who has been scratched the past three games, could get back into the lineup for Texier, with other rookie options still in Cleveland.

The Blue Jackets were scheduled to practice at noon Monday at Nationwide Arena.

Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 10.29.2019 1158898 Columbus Blue Jackets Since that date — Jan. 23, 2017 — the Blue Jackets have had the worst power play in the league, clicking at only 15.2 percent through those 211 games.

As power-play woes continue, Blue Jackets’ John Tortorella offers an It’s been more of the same this season, only worse. angry defense of assistant Brad Larsen The Blue Jackets are 25th in the league at 11.4 percent, but the four power-play goals they’ve scored have been offset by the three short- handed goals they’ve allowed, tied for the NHL lead. By Aaron Portzline Oct 28, 2019 “Our power play sucks,” Tortorella said. “We’re deliberate. We’re panicking. No one wants the puck. It sucks. And that falls on me. So we’re going to make some changes in personnel as far as where COLUMBUS, Ohio — If not for Browns coach Freddie Kitchens, the most personnel is and where personnel is involved on the power play, some embattled coach in Ohio might be Blue Jackets assistant Brad Larsen. different bodies going in there.” For almost three years now, the Blue Jackets power play has coughed But Tortorella has no interest in changes at the coaching level, he said. and hacked its way to abysmal numbers, but Saturday, it did more harm than good in a brutal 7-4 loss to Philadelphia. Last season, the Blue Jackets hired Martin St. Louis as a consultant to help with the power play and elsewhere, but he’s stepped back from Most NHL assistants toil under the radar, getting little of the glory in good coaching to spend more time with his kids. times and little of the scorn when it goes sideways. But Larsen has become a reviled target by some in the Blue Jackets’ fan base. Blue Jackets captain Nick Foligno said he wants the power play to attack with the same ferocity as the penalty kill, which was among the top units “It’s bullshit,” Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella said. “Absolute bullshit.” in the NHL last season. Tortorella kept Larsen on his staff when he joined the Blue Jackets early “It’s a case of guys not wanting to be the problem versus guys wanting to in the 2015-16 season, and he kept him in place later when he could be the solution,” Foligno said. “We don’t have five guys grabbing ahold of have asked to replace him. it, or 10 guys grabbing it. We need more of that nastiness. That’s how Asked why he’s stuck with Larsen as his power-play coach, Tortorella did we’re built. not hold back. “Early (in 2016-17), we had Sam Gagner with us and we got confidence “Because he’s a good coach,” Tortorella said. “The decisions made on and it was unreal. It was all really simple at first and then we started the power play don’t fall on Brad Larsen. Brad Larsen does a lot of work making unbelievable plays. I remember going over the boards thinking as far as preparing it and showing the tendencies of the other team. It’s we were going to score.” his power play, but all of the decision-making and all the things we talk Foligno was making a larger point. about as far as how to operate, that does not fall fully on his shoulders, so I call bullshit. “Brad Larsen was the coach then, too,” he said.

“I DON’T READ (SOCIAL MEDIA), (BUT) I HEAR IT. SHUT UP. Notebook BECAUSE HE’S A GOOD COACH AND THE PLAYERS LIKE PLAYING FOR HIM. I THINK HE’S THOROUGH, I THINK HE’S A REALLY GOOD • D Ryan Murray suffered a broken hand during Saturday’s loss and is COACH. AND I REALLY DON’T GIVE A SHIT ABOUT WHAT FANS expected to miss three to four weeks. The Blue Jackets said he was THINK. BUT IT’S KIND OF GOTTEN TO ME A LITTLE BIT ON THIS injured blocking a shot, but none of the three blocked shots for which he GUY HERE. HE’S AN IMPORTANT GUY TO THIS COACHING STAFF, was credited Saturday struck him near the hand. Another source said the AND IT GETS OLD FOR ME.” hand was injured in a scrum early in the game, but Murray continued to play. Tortorella made it clear that while Larsen coaches the power play, he’s not the singular voice in charge of the unit. He does the prep work in • D Markus Nutivaara returned to practice Monday after missing two advance of games, but the coaching of the unit, the personnel changes, games. He’s expected to return to the lineup Wednesday versus etc., are very much collaborative. Edmonton, so the Blue Jackets won’t need to recall a player from AHL Cleveland. “Everybody is involved,” Tortorella said. “I am involved. If you’re going to be mad about the power play, it falls with me. I am the head coach of the • F Alexandre Texier suffered a sprained knee Saturday and will miss two hockey team. I’m involved with (Larsen) and making decisions with him. to four weeks, the Blue Jackets said. Texier got tangled with the Flyers’ It falls to me; not him. Chris Stewart coming out of a faceoff. Texier’s injury means Jakob Lilja will go back into the lineup versus the Oilers. “(Larsen) grinds his ass off to get it ready for the players. And some of it falls on the players, too, as far as getting this done, also. So it’s a group The Athletic LOADED: 10.29.2019 thing. To single out one guy, as usual, it’s always that coach. It pisses me off.”

Blue Jackets defenseman Seth Jones said he was blissfully unaware of the heat Larsen has taken in recent seasons. “I don’t live in your world,” he told a reporter, with a smile.

The reason the power play has been mostly awful for three seasons now is 100 percent on the players, Jones said. (He’s gone 88 regular-season games without a power-play goal, by the way.)

“No, it’s not the coach,” Jones said. “He draws up the plan, gives us a game plan for each game, shows us maybe five to 10 clips before each game of the (opponent’s) penalty kill and it’s our job to go out and execute, be creative and work together to score goals.

“It’s not the coach. It’s not (Larsen) at all. I don’t know where that’s coming from, but I want to put a stop to it. It’s not in this room whatsoever. Players have to be better.”

It’s hard to believe, but true: The Blue Jackets had the best power play in the NHL 46 games into the 2016-17 season. It was clicking at 25 percent on Jan. 23 of that season. 1158899 Dallas Stars

Why Jim Montgomery is concerned with Stars’ work ethic on the power play in a historically bad start

The Stars power play was never this bad last year, and it hasn’t ever been this bad through an entire season in franchise history.

By Matthew DeFranks

McKINNEY — The Stars power play was never this bad last year, and it hasn’t ever been this bad through an entire season in franchise history.

Dallas’ power play will enter Tuesday night’s game against Minnesota 3 for 36 on the power play, an anemic 8.3% that ranks as the second-worst power play in the NHL. Last season, the Stars never dipped that low across 13-game stretches, with the lowest being a 3 for 33 stretch (9.1%) that ended in Calgary. When it did end, Tyler Seguin celebrated by throwing the invisible monkey off power play coach Todd Nelson’s back.

On Saturday night in a 3-0 loss to Pittsburgh that dropped the Stars to 4- 8-1 on the season, Dallas had just two shots on the power play and struggled to enter the offensive zone. Arguably the two best zone entries on the power play came off stretch passes from goaltender Ben Bishop.

What has Stars coach Jim Montgomery diagnosed as the issue particularly on power play entries?

“In particular, speed at the [blue] line together and then knowing our outs, the person with the puck knowing their outs when the pressure comes, where it should go: puck to the goalline, puck to the middle, reverse it up top,” Montgomery said. “That’s primarily execution, attitude and work ethic. If it’s any part of our power play, it’s work ethic.”

John Klingberg has one secondary assist on the power play. Tyler Seguin and Alexander Radulov both are without power play goals despite being set up on their one-timer sides.

The current franchise record for worst power play belongs to the 2010-11 Stars at 13.5%. The current franchise record for worst offense belongs to the 2003-04 Stars at 2.37 goals per game. This year’s Stars are on pace to break both records.

Briefly: Montgomery mixed up the lines for Monday’s practice, showing this look that elevated Joe Pavelski and Alexander Radulov back to top- six roles:

Jamie Benn – Tyler Seguin – Corey Perry

Alexander Radulov – Roope Hintz – Joe Pavelski

Mattias Janmark – Jason Dickinson – Denis Gurianov

Andrew Cogliano – Radek Faksa – Justin Dowling

-- Dallas recalled forward Nick Caamano from AHL affiliate Texas on Monday afternoon, Caamano’s second call-up of the season. He played six NHL games during his first stint, scoring his first career goal. In the AHL, Caamano played two games and had one assist.

Caamano could be a fourth-line option instead of Justin Dowling.

-- The Stars practiced at the StarCenter in McKinney on Monday instead of their customary practice facility in Frisco to allow fans in a different part of the metroplex to attend practice.

Dallas Morning News LOADED: 10.29.2019 1158900 Dallas Stars

Stars defenseman Andrej Sekera will not play vs. Minnesota after awkward crash into boards

By Matthew DeFranks

McKINNEY -- Stars defenseman Andrej Sekera did not practice on Monday morning after crashing awkwardly into the boards during Saturday’s loss against Pittsburgh. Montgomery said Sekera would not play against Minnesota on Tuesday but hoped he could play Friday in Colorado.

Sekera left the game with 13:42 left in the third period after battling Nick Bjugstad for a loose puck and slamming into the boards, shoulder-first.

“He’s just really sore, from his head to arm to his knees to his toes, [after] going to the boards,” Montgomery said.

Sekera has played exclusively on the second pairing, most recently with Esa Lindell. Without Sekera, Montgomery juggled Dallas’ defensive pairings: Lindell was with John Klingberg, Jamie Oleksiak with Miro Heiskanen and Joel Hanley with Taylor Fedun.

“We think Jamie’s done a really good job this year and we like his physical presence playing alongside Miro,” Montgomery said.

Montgomery said the Stars hope forward Blake Comeau (lower-body) can return in 7-10 days, but could not offer an updated timeline on defenseman Roman Polak (fractured sternum).

Dallas Morning News LOADED: 10.29.2019 1158901 Dallas Stars The Stars power play is so bad… It’s actually a serious issue, one the Stars have recognized as the

biggest problem behind their sub-par start to the season. Shap Shots: English with Gurianov, powerless play and an Idaho update Dallas has the 30th-ranked power play with an 8.3 percent conversion rate. The Stars have scored just three goals on 36 opportunities with the man advantage. By Sean Shapiro Oct 28, 2019 It’s not far-fetched to make the claim that the Stars would be at least .500 in the standings if they had a power play that was just below-average instead of putrid. Walking from the elevator toward the Dallas Stars locker room on Thursday, skills coach Stan Tugolukov took a moment to reminisce about The recent 3-0 loss to the Penguins could have been a win with a power- Denis Gurianov. play goal on either of the Stars’ opportunities in the first or second period.

That night, the Stars’ Russian forward had provided all the offense in a 2- The 4-1 loss to the Washington Capitals was lost on the power play, 1 win against the Anaheim Ducks, scoring twice on wide rushes and where the Stars went 0-for-7. That power-play performance dragged beating John Gibson with backhands. everything down, and that ineptitude just mentally drained a Stars team on a night when Washington wasn’t very good. After the game, Gurianov conducted the typical media scrum you’d expect from a two-goal scorer. He discussed his performance, broke We haven’t even gotten to the one-goal losses to the Calgary Flames, down each goal and talked about the merits of a recent AHL stint when Columbus Blue Jackets, Detroit Red Wings and St. Louis Blues. There he found confidence. have been ample opportunities for things to improve had the Stars’ power play simply been competent. Things didn’t get lost in translation, and Gurianov even cracked a joke or two after the media scrum had scattered. He’d come a long way. Perhaps the most frustrating part is the big-name star power has failed to do much of anything. Three years ago, Gurianov stood in the Stars locker room at the practice facility in Frisco and answered questions at Dallas’ development camp The Ottawa Senators are supposed to be bad on the power play. But while using Tugolukov as a translator. have you seen Dallas’ roster? Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin, Alexander Radulov, John Klingberg and Joe Pavelski shouldn’t look hapless when “He doesn’t need me anymore,” Tugolukov said on Thursday. “English is the other team is missing a skater. one of the easier languages to learn. He’s very smart, he picked it up rather quickly.” The other unit has been better, but if it were truly any good, I wouldn’t be writing about it right now. I’ve witnessed Gurianov’s linguistic journey firsthand. Six months after using Tugolukov as a translator, he did his first sit-down interview in No matter the grouping, the Stars simply don’t outwork their opponents English with me for a story at Wrong Side of the Red Line. on the power play. Penalty killers are actually pretty comfortable when the puck is on the perimeter and getting cycled; they can stick to their It was choppy, and then-Texas Stars broadcaster Brien Rea was on hand spots and don’t get put into chaotic situations. to help with any confusion. A few times during that conversation, Gurianov would stop and use an app on his phone to look up a word You put penalty killers into power play-induced chaos by creating after an before answering in English. He was fighting through a language barrier. initial shot. In theory, you have an extra skater on the ice, and you should be able to regain possession after an initial shot. That’s the moment For a couple of years, Gurianov frequently met with an English tutor, when penalty killers are broken out of their structure. That’s when seams either in person or via Skype. The lessons soon became more sporadic, open up and foundations for goals are often created. and by the time Gurianov was playing NHL games during the 2018-19 season, he had the confidence to converse with strangers in English. The lack of power-play success has amplified the other struggles and lack of scoring production from those typically paid to put the puck in the Being able to communicate was important, but the message speaking net. Yes, there are other issues, but a failure to even build momentum English sent was also important to Gurianov. It conveyed his commitment with the man advantage has turned Stars power plays into nearly to staying on the North American career path and his dedication to automatic building blocks for their opponents. eventually becoming an NHL player. Plus, it was also a good way to fill the hours as a teenager living in Austin, Texas. I went over to watch the Idaho Steelheads, Dallas’ ECHL affiliate, play on Sunday afternoon against the Allen Americans. “That was good for me, really good,” Gurianov said. “Once I got comfortable with English, I felt more comfortable with the team.” Idaho lost in overtime, 2-1, but remained the only team in the ECHL without a regulation loss. They sit 5-0-2 in their first seven games. It’s Gurianov’s English journey is similar to his path on the ice. He’s worked been a strong start for new Steelheads head coach Everett Sheen, who hard at his craft, and while his language mastery came a bit quicker, his took over in Idaho this season after Neil Graham joined the Texas Stars’ play on the ice really took off with confidence in the past week. coaching staff this fall. Tuglokov took notice of that on Thursday and mentioned the other big Stars goalie prospect Colton Point didn’t play on Sunday but did pick up key the Stars have circled when it comes to Gurianov’s spot on the NHL a win against Allen on Saturday and is working his way into a time-share roster. with AHL-contracted goalie Tomas Sholl. “Let’s see what he does next game, right?” Tuglokov said. “That’s the It was a slow start for Point after injuring his groin in training camp. He’s thing for him. He can be so good some times and then not so good the also still dealing with neck stiffness that he has to massage out before next one. He knows what he needs to do. Can he keep doing it the next games, which isn’t ideal for a profession built on tracking a puck with game?” your head. Gurianov didn’t score the next game, but he was the Stars’ best forward Point allowed goals on the first two shots he faced on Saturday but in a 3-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Pittsburgh didn’t have a strong rebounded to get the win. He said it was a weird game and blamed answer for Gurianov’s speed on the rush, and over the past three games, himself for the rough start, but he was happy with the recovery and the Gurianov has actually been the model of consistency as opposed to the end results. one searching for it. Dallas has two other NHL-contracted players in Idaho in defenseman “He’s got it now,” said an NHL scout who’s watched Gurianov in the AHL Ondrej Vala and forward Tony Calderone. Stars general manager Jim Nill and NHL over the past couple seasons. “I always really liked his game, and assistant general manager Scott White met with a couple of the but I know there were questions of whether he would really click or not. players and Sheen after Sunday’s game. He’s clicked. He’s in.” Taking the occasional trip to watch Idaho play is a nice reminder of the The Stars power play has turned into a punchline you could fit into a bad travel at the lower minor leagues. stand-up routine. This was Idaho’s third game in less 48 hours, and that also included a six-hour bus ride from Wichita, Kansas, to Allen after a game Friday evening. On Monday morning, the Steelheads had a 4:30 a.m. bus scheduled to take them to the DFW Airport, where the team would fly commercial to San Jose and then catch a connection to Boise.

Stefan Noesen didn’t make the Stars as a training camp invite on a PTO, but his recent AHL play could result in the Plano native forging his path back to the NHL.

Noesen is tied for the AHL league lead with nine goals and is second in league scoring with 12 points for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on an AHL-only contract.

The quick reaction when seeing this production is obvious: Couldn’t Noesen have been an asset for a Stars team that’s struggled to score goals?

Potentially, but it’s important to remember that Noesen didn’t show much offensive flair in training camp with Dallas. He notched just one shot in three preseason games and didn’t look like much more than a replacement-level AHL player, of which the Stars already have a surplus.

I don’t see a spot on Dallas for Noesen — remember, AHL scoring and NHL scoring is very different — but it would be nice to see the DFW native get back to the NHL after injuries derailed him last season with the New Jersey Devils.

Quick Hitters

– Klingberg used new skates for the first time in Saturday’s game. Klingberg likes a softer boot on his skate but wanted one that doesn’t wear down as quickly as the ones he had been wearing for the first 12 games of the season. He mentioned that the new skates should help with his skating confidence.

– I was recently told the Colorado Avalanche were very interested in Pavelski this summer and willing to offer a similar cap hit to Dallas. They just weren’t willing to provide a third year on the contract. This doesn’t mean anything at this point, but I found it interesting.

– When Justin Dowling and his wife Meg got the envelope revealing the gender of their daughter, they passed it over to Taylor and Katie Fedun to set up the gender reveal. Fedun joked on Thursday that he had a big scoop, but there was only a 50-percent chance I would get the story right. Dowling said after practice earlier this week he had a feeling it would be a girl, a sense that turned out to be spot-on when he shot a puck that exploded into pink powder at Sunday’s gender reveal.

– Andrej Sekera’s status for Tuesday is still to be determined, but he’s not expected to miss much time with a lower-body injury sustained on Saturday against the Penguins. Joel Hanley’s performance in two NHL games this season and his showing in a recent AHL game has also given the Stars confidence they could be more cautious with Sekera if needed.

The Athletic LOADED: 10.29.2019 1158902 Detroit Red Wings

Detroit Red Wings acquire former first-round pick in trade with Chicago Blackhawks

Helene St. James, Detroit Free PressPublished 7:33 p.m. ET Oct. 28, 2019 | Updated 8:50 p.m. ET Oct. 28, 2019

The Detroit Red Wings made a trade Monday evening, acquiring a former first-round pick.

General manager Steve Yzerman added left wing Brendan Perlini to the team’s depth chart, sending defenseman Alec Regula to the Chicago Blackhawks in the exchange.

Perlini, 23, was drafted at 12th overall by the Arizona Coyotes in 2014. He has appeared in 200 NHL games, producing 45 goals and 27 assists along with 76 penalty minutes since 2016-17. He had a career-high 30 points in 2017-18.

Perlini, 6-foot-3, 211 pounds, split last season between the Coyotes and Blackhawks, totaling 21 points in 68 games.

Perlini was teammates with Wings forward Dylan Larkin on the Belle Tire bantam team that won a national championship in 2011. The Coyotes drafted Perlini three spots before the Wings drafted Larkin.

It’s the third trade Yzerman has made since taking control of the Wings in April. He acquired forward Adam Erne from his former team, the Tampa Bay Lightning, in August.

On Oct. 6, Yzerman sent underachieving prospect David Pope to the and acquired defenseman Alex Biega.

[Red Wings encouraged by play vs. champs: 'We have to pick up from that']

Regula, 19, was drafted by former Wings general manager Ken Holland in the third round in 2018. The 6-4, 203-pounder has four goals and seven assists in 10 games with the London Knights in the Ontario Hockey League this season. He is the son of former Wings dentist Chet Regula.

Detroit Free Press LOADED: 10.29.2019 1158903 Detroit Red Wings and 221 points last season but they were limited to a Draisaitl assist in the Wings' 2-1 loss on Oct. 18 in Edmonton.

"We did a great job of containing the big two players," Larkin said. Detroit Red Wings hope hitting their breaking point Sunday changes their "They're going to get chances, we know that, (so we need) to keep them momentum to the outside and make it a hard night for them and that means making them defend. Those guys want to play offense, they want to play with the puck."

Dan Gauruder, Special to Detroit Free Press Published 4:26 p.m. ET Oct. Athanasiou at bottom of the list 28, 2019 | Updated 5:06 p.m. ET Oct. 28, 2019 Andreas Athanasiou is tied with the New York Rangers' Kaapo Kakko for the worst plus-minus rating in the league at minus-12.

The Detroit Red Wings' offense perked up Sunday; so did the players' Considering that Athanasiou is still searching for his first goal of the spirits. season, that shouldn't be terribly surprising. Athanasiou, who has contributed three assists, has taken 22 shots on goal after missing the They'll find out Tuesday if the late surge against defending champion St. first two games with an injury. Louis can carry over and produce a victory. He scored 30 goals in 76 games last season, and his drought has been a A three-goal outburst in the third period gave them the lead before they major factor in the Wings' offensive woes. lost in overtime, 5-4. The Wings got a point for their efforts but are saddled with an eight-game winless streak heading into their home game "He's the type of player that gets some real big-time chances at times out Tuesday against Edmonton(7:30 p.m., Fox Sports Detroit). of nowhere with his speed and he's had those chances," Blashill said. "He's getting the chances that he's previously scored on. Right now, "Last night was one of those 'enough is enough' kind of deals," forward they're not going in." Darren Helm said after Monday's practice at Little Caesars Arena. "We came out with a good third period. It wasn't good enough, but the Detroit Free Press LOADED: 10.29.2019 emotion was there and the excitement grew as the third went on. A building block hopefully for this team."

The Wings scored just nine goals in their previous seven regulation losses and were shut out by Buffalo, 2-0, on Friday despite getting 41 shots on goal.

Valtteri Filppula, who re-signed with Detroit on a two-year contract during the offseason, scored his first goal of the season on Sunday. Dylan Larkin collected his first points in six games with a goal and an assist, both in the third. Tyler Bertuzzi gave the Wings a 4-3 lead with his fifth goal of the season.

The Wings haven't won at LCA since their home opener. Goalie Jimmy Howard sees his team "trending in the right way" but acknowledges that momentum can change quickly.

"Each game is like its own chapter, so you're never sure how it's going to play out," he said.

The Wings quickly buried themselves last season by winning only one of their first 10 games. Yet through 12 games this season they have fewer points (seven) than their first dozen a year ago (eight).

"You see it so much in the NHL now, teams get hot and that's what we're looking for really badly, to get hot and get our confidence back as a team," Larkin said.

Detroit Red Wings defenseman Filip Hronek celebrates after scoring a goal against the St. Louis Blues in the second period Sunday, Oct. 27, 2019.

Holland returns to Detroit

Tuesday's game against the Oilers marks the first time longtime Red Wings general manager Ken Holland returns to Detroit as an opponent.

Steve Yzerman's return to the Red Wings in April as the new GM thrilled the fan base. But coach Jeff Blashill hopes they don't forget the three Stanley Cups the Wings won while Holland was running the show.

"The success he had here is remarkable, absolutely 100% remarkable," Blashill said. "These leagues are always going to be cyclical, they just are. Any time you have a draft league and a salary-cap league, they're always going to be cyclical ... He'll be a Hall of Famer without a shadow of a doubt."

One of Holland's last moves was to give Howard a one-year, $4 million extension in March.

"Kenny had a lot of patience with me and allowed me to develop and turn into a pro on my own," Howard said. "I owe him a lot. My family owes him a lot."

Edmonton presents double trouble

The Oilers (8-3-1) feature a dynamic scoring duo of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, who each have 21 points. They combined for 91 goals 1158904 Detroit Red Wings Asked if Filppula, Athanasiou (three assists in 10 games) and Frans Nielsen (no points in nine games) lead the list of Wings who need to produce more, Blashill concurred and added, “but there’s no doubt we need more production from a whole bunch of guys. Detroit Red Wings encouraged by play vs. champs: 'We have to pick up from that' “Some guys have to look in the mirror and play way better. Dylan obviously looked in the mirror and he’s playing way better. We need other guys to look in the mirror and play better.”

Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press Published 6:02 a.m. ET Oct. 28, Larkin said after Friday’s loss to Buffalo he needed to be better, and 2019 backed that up with a goal and an assist.

“I just try and go out and battle for the guys,” he said. “I hadn’t been doing that enough. I hadn’t been playing in the dirty areas enough. I The Detroit Red Wings gave themselves something to build on and really thought Jacob de la Rose’s line started it off with Smitty and Ehner injected a bit of confidence into their veins. — they were digging and winning battles and it was easy to follow them. I An unforgivable penalty aside, their third period Sunday was a blueprint needed to battle harder and the past couple games here our line has for how to succeed: Throw the puck on net, play fast, play hard, don’t let done that and helped our team.” up. They came up short in overtime, but for a team as fragile as the The Wings had lost seven straight games in regulation, which is why Wings, scoring four goals gratified overcoming 2-0 and 3-1 deficits, especially against the defending “We all believe in each other,” Dylan Larkin said after the Sunday champions, warrants feeling better about themselves. The Wings showed matinee against the St. Louis Blues at Little Caesars Arena. “The talk in they can be a good team, that they can play competitively. It’s something the room in the past little bit is, it’s got to be the guys in here to turn this to build on, at least. around and to get that win out of the way. We were close but Detroit Free Press LOADED: 10.29.2019 unfortunately against the defending Stanley Cup champions, close isn’t good enough.

“We believe in each other and that’s the way we have to play to be successful. If we play like that most nights, we are going to get wins.”

The Wings entered the third period down, 3-1. They came out of it at 4-4 after directing 16 shots on net. Larkin made it 3-2, Valtteri Filppula 3-3, and Tyler Bertuzzi, 4-3. Then they figuratively shot themselves in the foot by getting caught with too many men on the ice, enabling Ryan O’Reilly's second goal of the game to make it 4-4. Larkin called it a “mental error in an emotional game.”

Jeff Blashill called it his fault.

“It’s my bench, I’m responsible for it,” he said. “We have to know who we are changing for. We have players on the bench, we have coaches on the bench, there’s no way you can end up with too many men. We’ve taken a couple. It’s a joke. There’s no possible way that that can happen at that point. Ultimately that’s my responsibility so I’ll take responsibility for it.”

It marred what was otherwise the Wings’ best period since their Oct. 10 victory at Montreal. Larkin’s line with Bertuzzi and Darren Helm contributed two goals, and Filppula’s line with Andreas Athanasiou and Anthony Mantha contributed one.

More: 10 games in, Detroit Red Wings not doing anything right

“Something to build off,” Larkin said. “We … had our best period there in a long time and all four lines were rolling. We have to pick up from that.”

That is the urgency needed from the start Tuesday against the Edmonton Oilers. The Wings didn’t look good at the start Sunday, nor did they in their previous game. Tyler Bertuzzi didn’t have an answer for why, but admitted, “that’s a big thing that we need to have, is a better start to kind of get us more into the game. We have to get into the game early and get the emotion and intensity up.”

Jacob de la Rose’s line with Christoffer Ehn and Givani Smith was the only line that looked good from the start, finishing checks and going to the net.

“Against these guys, big guys help you a lot and they’re big and strong and can grind down low,” Blashill said. “ I thought Smitty played well - I trust him out there, he does a pretty good job. That was a good line.”

Filppula made it 3-3, but his first goal of the season — and just his third point — didn’t come until the 12th game even though his average ice time of 15:34 includes more than two minutes per game on man advantages. And shooting the puck remains an issue with Filppula — the goal came as he was attempting a pass to Athanasiou; the puck went in off a Blues defender.

Filppula described his season as “not great. There’s lots to be improved — I have to do more to help the team. When you get a chance, you have to shoot. When those opportunities come, I have to shoot more.” 1158905 Detroit Red Wings

Red Wings trade for forward Perlini

Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News Published 8:40 p.m. ET Oct. 28, 2019 | Updated 8:45 p.m. ET Oct. 28, 2019

The Red Wings acquired Brendan Perlini in a trade with the Blackhawks.

The Red Wings acquired forward Brendan Perlini from Chicago Monday for defenseman Alex Regula.

Perlini, 23, was the 2014 first-round pick of Arizona (12th overall), and has played 200 NHL games with 72 points (45 goals, 27 assists), scoring 17 goals during the 2017-18 season.

Perlini (6-foot-3, 211-pounds), a former teammate of Dylan Larkin playing youth hockey with Belle Tire, has played in one game with the Blackhawks this season.

Regula was a 2018 third-round pick of the Wings, and plays with London in the OHL.

Detroit News LOADED: 10.29.2019 1158906 Detroit Red Wings “We talked after the Ottawa game (Wednesday, 5-2 loss) about our process and continue to focus on that,” Blashill said. “Our last two games, our process put us in position to win those games.”

Red Wings players maintain respect, admiration for Ken Holland Lineup update

Abdelkader (leg) and Adam Erne (upper body) both practiced Monday and appear close to returning to the lineup. Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News Published 4:29 p.m. ET Oct. 28, 2019 | Updated 9:44 p.m. ET Oct. 28, 2019 Abdelkader has missed the last two games, and Erne five of the last six.

“Erne is a possibility, we’ll see,” said Blashill, of Erne playing against Edmonton. “Abby is getting there. I don’t know if he’ll be ready, we’ll see.” Detroit – The Red Wings have faced Ken Holland’s Oilers once already this season, on Oct. 18 in Edmonton. Oilers at Red Wings

But Tuesday night's rematch at Little Caesars Arena will be a bit different, Faceoff: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Little Caesars Arena as Holland returns to the city where he built a team that won four Stanley TV/radio: FSD /97.1 FM Cups and made the playoffs an incredible 25 consecutive years. Outlook: The Oilers (8-3-1) defeated the Wings 2-1 on Oct. 18. … C Leon Fans are grumbling about the last three years running of not making the Draisaitl (21 points), C Connor McDavid (21 points), LW James Neal (10 playoffs, but it’s likely they’ll give Holland – whose Oilers defeated the goals) and G Mikko Koskinen (5-0-0, .922 SVS) have fueled the Oilers’ Wings 2-1 in Edmonton – a positive reception Tuesday night. hot start. “Are you kidding me? Come on, the success he had here is remarkable,” Detroit News LOADED: 10.29.2019 said coach Jeff Blashill, gazing at the pictured Stanley Cups in the Wings’ locker room. “I mean, absolutely, 100 percent, remarkable. These leagues are always going to be cyclical, they just are, with the salary cap and draft. The job he did here was outstanding.

“He’ll be a Hall of Famer, without a shadow of a doubt. I feel really lucky to have worked for two of the most respected men in the NHL in Ken Holland and Steve Yzerman. I certainly have told him that and I’m sure the fans will too.”

Many players believe fans have not forgotten about Holland’s achievements in Detroit and the long-standing success.

“Sometimes in professional sports you’re judged on what you’ve done lately,” Justin Abdelkader said. “Now that he’s in Edmonton, people are, ‘Oh, he was a real good GM and he did have a part in four Cups.’

“All the guys that played for him, and know him personally, know the job he’s done.”

The Red Wings' playoff streak of 25 years is tied for the third-highest in NHL history, and it's possible streaks of that nature won't be matched.

“You wouldn’t think so, especially in this NHL, the way the salary cap affects teams,” Abdelkader said. “In today’s NHL, with the way teams are constructed and the window of opportunity (so small), it’s tough. It’s why GMs have a tough job keeping teams under the cap and competitive.”

Goaltender Jimmy Howard had a unique relationship with Holland, since Holland was a goalie himself in his playing days.

“He has a little soft spot for the goalies,” Howard said. “I always cherished the time here with Kenny and talking to him and learning from him.

“If it wasn’t for Kenny and (former goaltending coach) Jim Bedard, I probably wouldn’t be here. Kenny had a lot of patience with me and allowed me to develop and turn into a pro. I owe him a lot, my family owes him a lot.

“Four Stanley Cups? That’s a pretty successful GM right there.”

Staying positive

The Wings had a spirited, engaged practice Monday, despite the gut- wrenching loss the day before to St. Louis, which extended the Wings’ winless streak to eight games.

The team appears to remain upbeat, focused and optimistic.

“You have to be, you have to find a way to come to the rink every day in a positive mind,” Howard said. “Have some fun and work hard and get better. The last couple of games, we trended in the right way. We just need to put it all together.

“Nobody likes to go through this but we’ve been through it before. You just put your big boy pants on and win a hockey game.”

The Wings have seen enough positive developments in the last two games to give them reason to believe things will turn around. 1158907 Detroit Red Wings

Red Wings acquire Brendan Perlini from Blackhawks for Alec Regula

By Ansar Khan

DETROIT -- The Detroit Red Wings have acquired left wing Brendan Perlini from the Chicago Blackhawks for defense prospect Alec Regula.

Perlini, 23, was the 12th overall selection in the 2014 draft by the Arizona Coyotes. He has appeared in 200 NHL games, collecting 45 goals, 27 assists and 76 penalty minutes. The left-handed shooter has played in only one game this season.

His best season came in 2017-18 with the Coyotes, when he tallied 17 goals and 13 assists.

Perlini signed a one-year contract with the Blackhawks before training camp ($894,125 cap hit) and will be a restricted free agent without arbitration rights following the season.

The 6-3, 211-pound Perlini has past ties to the state of Michigan and was a teammate of Red Wings center Dylan Larkin with the Belle Tire bantam team that won a national championship in 2010-11.

Regula (6-4, 207) was Detroit’s fifth pick (67th overall) in 2018. He has four goals and seven assists in 10 games this season with the OHL London Knights. Regula is a West Bloomfield native whose father, CJ, was the Red Wings dentist.

In three OHL seasons, the right-shooting Regula has 22 goals, 53 assists and a plus-69 rating in 143 games.

Michigan Live LOADED: 10.29.2019 1158908 Detroit Red Wings

Red Wings praise Ken Holland’s work prior to homecoming

By Ansar Khan

DETROIT – Asked about Ken Holland’s impact with the Detroit Red Wings, Jeff Blashill looked up at the Stanley Cup plaques hanging on the wall in the dressing room.

Three of them came with Holland as general manager and another while he was assistant GM, a few weeks before being promoted.

“The success he had here was remarkable,” Blashill said.

Holland will return to Little Caesars Arena Tuesday as the GM of the Edmonton Oilers, who are off to an 8-3-1 start and play the Red Wings for the second time in 12 days.

Holland called the first game, a 2-1 victory for the Oilers, a strange feeling being on the other side after 36 years in the Red Wings organization, the previous 22 as GM before Steve Yzerman was hired in April.

This game figures to be more emotional for Holland. He joined the Red Wings in 1983 as a minor-league goaltender and was hired as a Western Canada scout two years later. He worked his way up from area scout to director of amateur scouting to assistant general manager to GM.

“The job he did here was outstanding,” Blashill, who Holland hired as head coach in 2015, said. “He’ll be a Hall of Famer without a shadow of a doubt. That’s why he’s a highly respected man in hockey and that’s why Edmonton wanted him right way.”

In addition to three Cups during Holland’s tenure as GM, the Red Wings racked up 14 100-point seasons and reached the playoffs 18 times, extending the franchise streak to 25 seasons.

It’s a run that ranks fourth all-time in the NHL and might never be repeated due to the salary cap and parity (Pittsburgh has the longest current streak at 13 seasons).

“That’s going to be tough to try to challenge that, just because every game’s so tight now,” Jimmy Howard said. “Teams slip up and there’s always jockeying in the standings. That 25-year streak will be in the past.”

The Red Wings were the only team to reach the postseason the first 11 years following the implementation of the salary cap in 2005-06.

Despite the accomplishments, Holland became a lightning rod for criticism on message boards, talk radio and the like, for the team’s demise the past few seasons. Many blamed him for bad contracts, being too loyal to some players, signing veteran free agents at the expense of opportunity for younger players and not starting the rebuild before the end of the playoff streak, which was important to ownership.

But no GM enjoyed more success over the past two-plus decades.

“He played a big role in a lot of success in this organization,” Darren Helm said. “He brought in a lot of great players. He’s always been really loyal to a lot of guys and kept them around. I think that was a big part of a lot of success in this organization. I’m very thankful that he drafted me and brought me along and helped a lot of my career throughout the years.”

Holland spoke two weeks ago of the bond he has with players drafted under his watch and the satisfaction of watching them develop. Helm and Howard are among that group.

“If it weren’t for Kenny and probably (former goaltender coach) Jim Bedard, I probably wouldn’t be here,” Howard said. “Kenny had a lot of patience with me and allowed me to develop and turn into a pro on my own (time). I owe him a lot. My family owes him a lot.”

Michigan Live LOADED: 10.29.2019 1158909 Detroit Red Wings Justin Abdelkader (lower-body injury) practiced and is close to returning, Blashill said.

Michigan Live LOADED: 10.29.2019 Red Wings to Andreas Athanasiou: Greasy goal could lead to more

By Ansar Khan

DETROIT – Andreas Athanasiou has a knack for scoring highlight-reel goals with his speed and flair, many on breakaways, some after beating a defender with a slick one-on-one move.

They’re not going in this season. Maybe some grit and grime will help, Detroit Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill said.

“Him and I talked about when they’re not going in, you got to make sure you do everything else right,” Blashill said. “You got to make sure that your game is really sound structurally, and then find your way to the net and score some dirty goals. I think that’s an area that he can keep getting better at, so he doesn’t have to rely on the -type goals.”

Athanasiou has no goals in 10 games (three assists) and his minus-12 rating is tied for the worst in the NHL with New York Rangers rookie Kaapo Kakko.

Athanasiou is getting chances. His shots per game average (2.20) is down from last season (2.84), when he scored 30 goals, but it’s not terrible for a team that’s struggling to score (30th in the league at 2.25 per game).

“He’s the type of player that gets some real big-time chances, at times out of nowhere with his speed, and he’s had those chances,” Blashill said. “If you look back to the number of breakaways he’s had, I think (Valtteri Filppula) had the breakaway the other night and (Athanasiou) pokes at the rebound, it doesn’t go in, but he was right there on it. So, he’s getting the chances that he has previously scored on. Right now. they’re not going in. He’s just got to stay with it.”

Athanasiou said it’s frustrating not converting on several breakaways.

“I want to be able to help the team and put some goals in the net and give us that little bit of edge, but unfortunately they haven’t been going in,” he said. “You just got to keep working through it. I know I’ll get another breakaway and hopefully one goes in sooner rather than later.”

Athanasiou missed most of the preseason and the first two games with an injury. He has played on a line with Valtteri Filppula and Taro Hirose, who also are struggling offensively (one goal, seven points combined). Blashill has juggled lines and tried to get Athanasiou going by playing him with Tyler Bertuzzi or Anthony Mantha (who he skated with on Monday).

“I think he’s played much better in the last number of games,” Blashill said. “He’s been engaged, he had a great back-check (Sunday) at a critical moment -- actually had two great back-checks. But he’s got to get scoring.”

Eight is enough: The Red Wings (3-8-1) will try to stop an eight-game winless streak (0-7-1) Tuesday against the Edmonton Oilers at Little Caesars Arena (7:30 p.m., Fox Sports Detroit).

The Oilers (8-3-1) prevailed 2-1 in the first meeting between the teams on Oct. 18 in Edmonton.

The game will be a homecoming for Oilers’ GM Ken Holland, who spent 36 years with the Red Wings, the past 22 as GM.

Late surge: The Red Wings have outshot Buffalo and St. Louis by a combined margin of 37-10 in the third period the past two games.

“I thought for the most part the last two games we’ve had good process, we put ourselves in position to win those games,” Blashill said. “We have to find a way to win them for sure, we understand that.”

Jimmy Howard, who is expected to start in goal, said: “We’ve been through it before. You just have to put your big boy pants on and go out there a win a hockey game.”

Injury update: Adam Erne (upper-body injury) might return Tuesday after missing four games with an upper-body injury. He skated Monday on a line with Frans Nielsen and Taro Hirose. Evgeny Svechnikov didn’t take part in line rushes after playing only 6:19 on Sunday. 1158910 Detroit Red Wings

How to watch, listen and stream Detroit Red Wings vs. Edmonton Oilers

By Lauren Williams

The Red Wings slump continued this week with a heartbreaking overtime loss to the St. Louis Blues on Sunday night. On Tuesday, Oct. 29, Detroit will look to break that streak against the visiting Oilers, who lead the Pacific Division with 17 points.

Detroit dropped to last in the Atlantic Division after its loss to the Blues.

The Red Wings (3-8) face off against the Oilers (8-3-1) for the second time this season at 7:30 p.m.

WATCH

Broadcast: Fox Sports Detroit

Live Stream: Fox Sports Go | Hulu | PlaystationVue | YouTube TV | fubo (free trial)

LISTEN

Red Wings Affiliates: Detroit (WXYT-97.1 FM/ 1270 AM); Ann Arbor (WTKA-1050 AM); Grand Rapids (WTKG-1230 AM); Kalamazoo (WQLR- 1660 AM); Saginaw (WSGW-790 AM)

Live Stream: TuneIn Radio

Michigan Live LOADED: 10.29.2019 1158911 Detroit Red Wings

NHL Trade Grade: Detroit gets Brendan Perlini from Chicago for Alec Regula

By Corey Pronman Oct 28, 2019 45

Chicago receives defenseman Alec Regula

Detroit receives left winger Brendan Perlini

Chicago Blackhawks: B

Regula was a third-round pick by Detroit in 2018. He has been a top player for London this season in the OHL, playing all situations. He provides a size dimension on defense to go along with above-average skill. He plays the bumper role on London’s top power play and has been a big part of their offense this season to go along with tough defensive minutes. His feet are average, good enough to play, but not quick enough to project out as more than a third-pair defender at this stage. I do think Regula will become an NHL player, though, and he becomes one of Chicago’s better defense prospects. He wouldn’t be at the same level as prospects Adam Boqvist or Ian Mitchell, but Regula is right there with Alex Vlasic and Nicolas Beaudin. Regula’s a player who, in discussions with NHL scouts over the past 12 months, I’ve found the industry has become more optimistic about, and he could be a candidate for USA’s World Junior team.

Detroit Red Wings: B-plus

This is the second time Perlini was part of a trade in the past 12 months. What I said about him last November hasn’t really changed much. Perlini is a top-end skater with size and some offensive ability. He has tools, but in Chicago he failed to find a role and wasn’t a regular on any special teams rotation when he was playing last season. Scouts question whether his sense is top-end enough to be a legit top-nine forward, but he’s shown in flashes he could create enough to be that kind of player. There aren’t many 6-foot-3 forwards with his speed and skill, and it’s why a third NHL organization made a bet on him.

Conclusion

Both teams made a trade that made sense for their depth chart.

When you look down the right side of the defense, the Wings have depth coming. Filip Hronek and Moritz Seider are critical components of their rebuild. Antti Tuomisto could be an NHL player. I’m not high on Gustav Lindstrom, but the organization thinks he could play. Oliwer Kaski could play games. Seth Barton has looked promising this season in college. The Red Wings had a reasonable position of strength in terms of right- handed defense prospects to move Regula.

Perlini had no spot in a Chicago lineup that has added Alexander Nylander, Dominik Kubalik and Kirby Dach since the trade last November. Chicago may feel differently, but I don’t see a ton of NHL caliber depth ready to step in from the AHL should injuries arise outside of Dylan Sikura, which Perlini could have provided, which makes me a bit wary of moving someone who has shown he can competently play games.

Even though Perlini is halfway to free agency and needs a new contract after this season, I like this deal a bit more for Detroit given they got a player closer to the league and dealt a player who had a tough road to make their team.

The Athletic LOADED: 10.29.2019 1158912 Edmonton Oilers It appears the Oilers have gone from their start-of-the-season winning streak to lose-one, win-one, lose-one hockey except this week they went from ghastly to great and back to ghastly again.

JONES: Oilers need good goaltending to help McDavid and Draisaitl Draisaitl, on his 24th birthday, managed an assist on the Oilers goal that made it 4-1 and scored the goal to narrow it to 4-2.

McDavid, coming off arguably his greatest period and overtime of his Terry Jones young NHL career so far to combine with Draisaitl to bring Edmonton back for a huge win over Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals,

had an assist. Way back when, in baseball with the Boston Braves in 1948, it was With both goals coming from members of the Big Four of McDavid, ‘Spawn and Sain and Pray for Rain.’ Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and James Neal who had his 10th of the In hockey, with the Edmonton Oilers in 2019, it’s ‘Draisailt and McDavid year, there continues to be no secondary scoring from the bottom six of and Pray for Goaltending.’ this outfit.

Warren Spawn and Johnny Sain were dominant on the mound for the Indeed, , who failed to score a goal last year in Edmonton otherwise impotent pitching staff of those old Boston Braves. but now has one as a Calgary Flame how one more than Jujhar Khaira, Riley Sheahan, Alex Chaisson, Patrick Russell, Markus Granlund, Sam Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid keep proving they can win games Gagner, Gaetan Haas and Tomas Jurco. more or less by themselves offensively if they get the goaltending behind them. And by goaltending that includes no defenders blowing up and “When we’re ahead in the game, those guys are doing their jobs. When screwing up in front of the guy in goal. we’re chasing the game, it’s hard for them to contribute as much as they want. I think a lot of those guys who feel the pressure.” So far this now 8-3-1 season, Dave Tippett has received excellent twin netminding from his platooning two-games-in, two-games-out rotating The two points gave Draisaitl 21 for the season. But it was too little, too system with netminders Mike Smith and Mikko Koskinen. late for another comeback story for this team that so far this year has trailed in nine of their 12 games so far in this 8-3-1 season. But Tippett guessed wrong last night and broke up his rotation by not giving Koskinen his second game after he was in goal for Edmonton’s The Oilers now head on the road where they have a 3-2-1 record for bounce-back win to make his record 5-0 and the team record at home 5- games in Detroit, Columbus and Pittsburgh with a two-game and five- 0 as well. game road trip ahead of them in November.

The head coach sent Smith to the nets and while he stopped the first The Oilers, as long as they can avoid losing streaks, have given seven shots of the game while the Oilers hadn’t visited Sergei Bobrovsky themselves enough points in the bank, to make the ghastly games like at the other end he returned for the second period and didn’t make a one in Minnesota Tuesday and their first loss at home last night, look like single save and allowed three goals on three shots in a span of two speed bumps if they come back with games like they had against the minutes and 15 seconds and got the hook at 2:36. Washington Capitals.

While there were giveaways involved in front of him on two of them, two But in this Spawn and Sain situation, there are no rainouts in hockey. of the three were probably ones he should have had. Regardless, he Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 10.29.2019 didn’t give the Oilers a chance to win on a night when McDavid and Draisaitl were being defused by the Florida Panthers.

It ended up 6-2.

Tippett, said his decision on his starting goaltender related to the back-to- back games coming Tuesday and Wednesday on the road, but said it was a frustrating night behind the bench.

“It was frustrating to get out-competed,” he said.

“We just didn’t have the execution. We chased the game the whole night.

“Our goaltending was very good. Tonight it was average. And we didn’t give our goaltenders much of a chance.”

The Edmonton Oilers are flying high to start the 2019-20 NHL season, but even teams that touch the top of the standings can see their star players fall off a bit as seen in recent games.

Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl didn’t crowd the scoresheet in a win over Detroit and in a shutout shootout loss to the Jets, which once again underscores the need for the Oilers to conjure goals from their secondary lines.

Host Craig Ellingson talks to hockey beat writer Derek Van Diest about McDavid, Draisaitl and the forwards as well as the team’s continually solid goaltending.

Tippett said the Oilers lost the first shift of the game in the first two periods and it carried over from there.

“Our first shift of the first period and our first shift of the second period we were not very good.”

The shame of the game was that these McDavid-Draisaitl era Oilers had an opportunity to write some history. Only three teams in franchise history started the season 6-0 at home.

The Oilers could have matched the 6-0 starts of the 1985-86, 1986-87 and 2006-07 teams. 1158913 Edmonton Oilers out of the NHL altogether. It’s still worth considering where he slots on a healthy Oilers blueline.

Persson’s return is imminent, and once he comes back Russell will Willis: Should the Oilers trade for a veteran NHL defenceman? undoubtedly shift back to his natural left side. Bear has earned himself everyday employment, so Dave Tippett and his staff would have to decide between Persson, Benning and Pysyk on a nightly basis.

By Jonathan Willis Oct 28, 2019 It’s not clear that decision would break in Pysyk’s favour, despite his ability as a penalty killer. Bear taking a regular shorthanded spot has

allowed the Oilers to muddle through in the absence of Larsson. Russell, Consider two perspectives on the 2019-20 Oilers, both of them equally meanwhile is fine on his off-side in that discipline. The usual argument plausible on the surface. against playing defenders on their off-side is the way it hurts their ability to make outlet passes, but that’s not generally an issue when killing Perspective No. 1: The Oilers are 8-3-1 and leading their division. penalties anyway. They’re doing this despite injuries to Adam Larsson and Joel Persson which have sapped their defensive depth, pushing rookie Ethan Bear into Persson is a 25-year-old rookie and has played reasonably well next to a top-four role and Kris Russell back to his weak side. The team should Oscar Klefbom in an offensive role. His mobility, decision-making and reinforce its early success with a trade for a veteran. skill with the puck all suit him to complementary offensive work. Pysyk is not a natural fit for that assignment, despite his superiority as a defender. Perspective No. 2: Edmonton has an abundance of young defencemen on the way, most of them more highly touted than Bear, who has been a There’s always Benning, and his play has been a bright point for revelation early. The Oilers’ long-term success depends on graduating Edmonton so far. He has two assists, a ridiculous on-ice goal differential those players and it would be a mistake to lose sight of the big picture in and some of the best on-ice shot numbers on the team. He’s certainly the name of patching short-term gaps in the roster. This is especially true been the strong link in the third pair since the promotion of Brandon with Persson back soon and Larsson potentially back by the end of Manning to regular work and arguably was even when he was paired November. with Russell.

The choice between those two viewpoints ultimately falls to Ken Holland Larsson, meanwhile, was projected to miss 6-8 weeks after being injured and the rest of Edmonton’s management team, but that doesn’t mean in the season opener on Oct. 2. Wednesday will mark the four-week observers of the club don’t have their own opinions. Sunday’s game mark, meaning he could be back by mid-November and even assuming against Florida, which saw both the Oilers surrender six goals in their first the worst (a full eight weeks, plus a conditioning stint in Bakersfield to get home loss and a rather successful audition from rumoured trade up to speed) he should return by early December. candidate Mark Pysyk, tended to highlight that divide. Further injuries might well upset matters, but as it stands an Oilers Pysyk, a 27-year-old pending free agent, has been a reliable 18-19 blueline including Pysyk might well slot him in the No. 5 right-side hole in minute defenceman for the past three seasons. He’s fallen out of favour one month’s time. Even without Pysyk, the coaching staff is looking at this year. Last Thursday he scored a goal against the Flames while some difficult decisions no later than December. playing as a forward, a recurring experiment coach Joel Quenneville has This also leaves out the very real possibility of further graduations from indulged in over the early part of the season, when he’s bothered to play the AHL. Pysyk at all. Caleb Jones, a lefty, has mostly played the right side since the start of He was back on the blueline against Edmonton, and fared well, though in last season and is clearly the top defenceman in Bakersfield. He’ll have some ways his presence underlined the challenge Quenneville faces. to clear waivers next season and is a strong candidate for midseason Five of Florida’s six defencemen were right shots, including Pysyk. Their promotion. There’s also 2018 first-rounder Evan Bouchard to consider. four most-used players at 5-on-5 were all righties. Usually teams need a He has four points through eight AHL games. righty to offset all their left-shooting defenders; the Panthers find themselves weirdly in the opposite position. We’ve used Pysyk as our example here because he deserves regular work and because the Panthers really ought to try and trade him Pysyk lined up next to Anton Stralman on a shutdown unit for Florida. somewhere for a left-shot option, but the logic tracks mostly the same for They played eight minutes head-to-head against Connor McDavid at 5- any other plausibly available right-shot stopgap. The time to grab that on-5 and another six against Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, meaning that 84 kind of player was either two weeks ago when everything was falling percent of Pysyk’s minutes came against Edmonton’s two dangerous apart or not until next summer once the Oilers have a better handle on lines. which of their kids are ready and where they’ll need to play. He did as well as anyone on the Florida side could have hoped. He Bear has emerged, Persson might and the Oilers have already played a season-high 19:18, picked up an assist and was even by Corsi weathered the first half of Larsson’s absence. There are more prospects and better than even by on-ice shots in his head-to-head play with coming and probably soon. McDavid. In one notable sequence he made a great defensive play 1-on- 1 against McDavid, nullifying what appeared to be a half-step lead for the If the whole structure still looks a little rickety, that’s standard during a superstar and preventing a chance. period of transition. It doesn’t mean burning futures for a security blanket is a good idea. There’s a reason Pysyk’s name keeps coming up in trade speculation in Edmonton specifically. Not only is he obviously available, but he’s still The Athletic LOADED: 10.29.2019 relatively close to his prime (27), he’s a righty on a team loaded with lefties and his recent results suggest he could well be a fit on the Oilers’ second pairing.

Last season even offers the template for a trade. On Dec. 30, the Oilers picked up another Alberta-born right-shot defender on an expiring contract, one who had also lost his job in Florida: Alex Petrovic. The cost was a third-round pick and the Oilers also slipped in Chris Wideman’s unwanted salary to even out the dollars.

That was a deal Edmonton came to regret. Petrovic had three rough games immediately after the deal. In his fourth he was concussed on a hit by San Jose’s Timo Meier, missing two weeks. It didn’t help, and as the Oilers’ defence got healthy Petrovic fell out of the lineup, unable to unseat an off-side Russell or third-pair righty Matt Benning.

Pysyk isn’t Petrovic, and his slide is of a more sudden nature than the multi-year process which pushed Petrovic out of Florida and eventually 1158914 Florida Panthers Miller's second goal put the Canucks up 6-2 with 29 seconds left in the second. Boeser got on the scoresheet 13:20 into the third, sending a wrist shot into the top right corner.

Montembeault blitzed by Canucks as Panthers’ point streak ends Pettersson got his third assist on the play. He has eight points (one goal, seven assists) in his last four games.

There's a lot of confidence in the Canucks' dressing room these days, ASSOCIATED PRESS | OCT 29, 2019 | 1:28 AM Pettersson said.

"We want to be a playoff team. We want to go deep in the playoffs," Demko said. "And it's just going to get harder as the season goes on. So VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA-Canucks forward J.T. Miller only just building that momentum now and riding it through the season." knew he was on the cusp of his 100th career goal because his parents wouldn't let him forget. NOTES: Pettersson reached 80 points in his 82nd career game. Pavel Bure is the only player who required fewer games (80) to hit the same "They've been putting pressure on me for about a week now so I told plateau with the Canucks. ... Left wing Loui Eriksson returned to the them to stop texting me," he said. Canucks lineup after being a healthy scratch for nine games in a row. He Miller had two goals Monday night, including his 100th in the NHL, and assisted on Schaller's first-period goal. Vancouver scored five times in the first period on its way to a 7-2 victory UP NEXT over the Florida Panthers. Panthers: At the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday night. Josh Leivo added a goal and an assist for the Canucks. Brandon Sutter, Tim Schaller, Jake Virtanen and Brock Boeser also scored. Alex Edler Sun Sentinel LOADED: 10.29.2019 and Elias Pettersson contributed three assists apiece.

The first goal of the game for the 26-year-old Miller marked a milestone, but it wasn't something he was focused on.

"Honestly, you're so wrapped up in the game that you're not really paying attention," Miller said. "It's cool. Obviously I'm happy to do it. I've had a lot of help from other teammates along the way."

Traded to Vancouver from Tampa Bay last June, the versatile forward has concentrated instead on making his mark with the Canucks (7-3-1). He came into training camp wanting to make a good impression and has excelled ever since.

Miller leads the team in goals with six and is second in points with 13.

"I think we're doing a lot of good things right now and the team's building a lot of confidence and I think that's really important," he said.

Miller's line wasn't the only one clicking for the Canucks. In fact, Boeser was the lone forward who didn't have a point in the first 20 minutes.

Vancouver got on the board less than two minutes in and kept up offensive pressure that overwhelmed the Panthers much of the game.

"The first period was pretty good — scoring from everyone," coach Travis Green said. "I thought we played a really direct period. Sometimes that's mistaken for not being offensive, but I thought we supported the puck really well. We were on top of their defensemen in the first period, came out fast and hard."

Thatcher Demko made his fourth start of the season and stopped 27 shots.

Brian Boyle and Mike Hoffman scored for Florida, but the loss snapped an eight-game point streak (4-0-4).

Coming off a 6-2 win Sunday over Edmonton, the Panthers had hoped to rest netminder Sergei Bobrovsky. Sam Montembeault started between the pipes but was replaced early in the first after allowing three goals on nine shots.

Bobrovsky made four saves in 13:42 before the 22-year-old Montembeault returned for the second period. He made some impressive saves and finished with 26.

"Just wanted to change the momentum of the game and see what happened and it worked for about, what, a couple minutes?" Florida coach Joel Quenneville said.

Panthers center Aleksander Barkov said he and his teammates went from playing their best game of the season Sunday to their worst the following night.

“[The Canucks] played a perfect game,” he said. “We just need to move forward.”

Florida replaced Montembeault with Bobrovsky just 6:18 in after Virtanen's third goal in three games gave Vancouver a 3-0 advantage. 1158915 Florida Panthers Still, even though the Panthers have been getting their scoring from all over the place during this road trip, it is Florida’s top line that continues to push the pace.

Top lines are drawn as Panthers roll to victory in Edmonton On Sunday, Barkov recorded his seventh assist in the past three games when he fed Aaron Ekblad for the game’s opening goal 31 seconds into the second period.

By George Richards Oct 28, 2019 “We all like playing with each other, but we know our team is counting on us to be one of the best lines in the league and I think we can be that,”

Huberdeau said before the season started. Two of the top lines in the NHL were on the ice Sunday afternoon in “We know we can help our team offensively, but we have to be better on Edmonton. defense than we were last season. I thought we got scored on more than The Florida Panthers’ trio of Sasha Barkov, Jonathan Huberdeau and we would like. Evgenii Dadonov have not put up the numbers the Oilers’ Big Three have “We don’t really think too much on offense when we go out there, we try so far this season, but on this day it didn’t much matter. and keep things simple and have fun with it. We like playing with the On Sunday, they all not only made it onto the scoresheet but they got the puck. Our goal is to keep possession as long as possible and good desired result on the scoreboard as well. things will happen.”

The Panthers continued their run of picking up points in the standings as Panthers defensemen Aaron Ekblad celebrates his second-period goal they scored three times in the first 2:36 of the second period to hand the against Edmonton. (Perry Nelson / USA Today) Oilers their first home loss of the season with a 6-2 victory. Although the three appear to have a natural ability when together, it took Florida now has points in each of its past seven games as it continues a a while for them to find each other. swing through western Canada on Monday night in Vancouver. Since Last season, Barkov and Huberdeau were not reunited on the same line losing 6-3 at home to Carolina on Oct. 8, the Panthers have amassed 12 until December. Dadonov, who had played with both players at different points in eight games (4-0-4). times in the past, was added later. There was instant chemistry, which The Panthers opened the trip with a 6-5 shootout loss in Calgary on the players say has come naturally. Thursday. The four-game set concludes at Colorado on Wednesday. All three are smart players who see the ice extremely well. Although “It was a heck of a game in a lot of ways,” coach Joel Quenneville said Dadonov is not afraid to shoot the puck like Barkov and Huberdeau, he is after Sunday’s win. also an excellent passer.

When Quenneville came to the Panthers, there were many questions On Sunday, all three scored points. about who would play where and with whom. Just 49 seconds into the third with Florida ahead 3-0, Huberdeau passed One line was never in doubt: The one centered by Barkov. to Dadonov coming around the left side, and the right winger circled behind the net and stuffed it past relief goalie Mikko Koskinen. Barkov, Huberdeau and Dadonov were an offensive highlight in most games last season, with Barkov scoring a franchise-record 96 points. Through 11 games, Barkov, Huberdeau and Dadonov have combined for 11 goals and 35 points. Huberdeau joined his linemate in the 90-point club as the Panthers had two players eclipse the mark in the same season for the first time in their Those numbers don’t jump off the page like the 16 goals and 50 points history. accumulated by Edmonton’s vaunted first line of Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Zack Kassian, but the Panthers are pretty happy with what Dadonov added 28 goals and a career-high 70 points. they’ve got.

All three are on pace to hit around the same amount of points they ended Sunday, Draisaitl (goal, assist) and McDavid (assist) were held pretty with last season, which would place them among the top producing lines much in check, especially when considering those two are tied for the in the league. league lead in scoring.

“We know we all have the skill to score a lot of goals,” Barkov said. “I “We played a 60-minute game and did the right things throughout the think we have really good chemistry together. We seem to know where game, and knew who we were against on the ice,” Barkov said Sunday. each other will be. “They have been hot all season and so we had to be ready every shift, and I thought we were pretty solid. “We all like to pass the puck, create chances and we all like going on the ice with the thought that we’re going to score. I think when we have to “Our whole team did a pretty good job against them, whoever was on the defend, we are good at that as well. We know we can change the ice. We played a pretty good defensive game. We didn’t give them the momentum of a game by going out there and getting a goal.” puck a whole lot. The best way to play against them is to keep the puck in the offensive zone and everyone did that today.” After a slow start to the season, Quenneville did some mixing-and- matching. When the Panthers gave up four goals in a dreadful opening As for Barkov, he continues to say he is gunning for that first goal. This is period against Carolina in the third game, Florida’s top line was broken the longest stretch he has gone without one to start a season since he up. started with the Panthers as an 18-year-old rookie in 2013.

Dadonov was given limited minutes, Huberdeau moved throughout the Before this year, the longest Barkov has gone to start a season without a lineup. Barkov was put between numerous players. goal was six games in both 2014 and ‘17.

After a few games, Quenneville put them back together. Panthers forward Aleksander Barkov (16) gets a shot away in front of Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins during the second period at Rogers Aside for a few hiccups, the three have been producing as expected. Place. Barkov, still looking for his first goal of the season, is tied for 12th Well, sort of. in the league in scoring. (Perry Nelson / USA Today)

Although Dadonov scored his sixth goal on Sunday and Huberdeau has Sunday, he had a number of Grade-A chances early, including a one- five, Barkov still has yet to score a goal. He is ranked third in the league timer stopped by Mike Smith four minutes into the game. with 13 assists in 11 games, making him average better than a point per “I’m just trying to do my thing, trying to score goals and make plays, play night without hitting the back of the net. good defense,” Barkov. “I know I haven’t scored one yet; I have a Almost unbelievably, without scoring a single goal, Barkov is tied for 12th monkey on my back but hopefully someone takes it off. Right now, I’m in the league in scoring. playing a defensive game and doing what I can.” Busy week for Boyle A week ago, Brian Boyle saw his long offseason come to an end as the The Panthers have been pretty good at getting at least a point on the veteran center signed a one-year deal worth $940,000 with the Panthers. road this season.

Boyle flew south and joined his new teammates for practice Monday in Aside from a 6-4 loss at Tampa Bay in the opener on Oct. 3, the Coral Springs, and with Vincent Trocheck out with a foot/ankle injury, he Panthers have at least a point in each of their following six road games went right into the lineup Tuesday against Pittsburgh and centered (3-0-3). Florida’s second line with Brett Connolly and Mike Hoffman. • Trocheck skated on Saturday and Quenneville said it was possible he On Sunday, in his third game with his new team, Boyle scored his first could return Monday in Vancouver or Wednesday against Colorado. goal of the season to give the Panthers a 2-0 lead when he went top Trocheck was hurt blocking a shot with his left leg in the first period in shelf off a pass from Connolly. Nashville.

“Scoring is the most fun thing to do in hockey,” Boyle said. “This has He returned to finish that game, scoring the lone goal for either team in been a lot of fun. You can work hard, do all the right things, but you want the shootout. to score. This feels great.” The Athletic LOADED: 10.29.2019 Playing time for Pysyk

Although it appeared Mark Pysyk was not going to see much ice time this season — at least with the Panthers — that has certainly changed lately.

The veteran defenseman, who is a pending free agent, has been subject to trade rumors that only heated up when he was scratched in five of the first six games.

Then, against Colorado on Oct. 18, Quenneville put Pysyk in as a seventh-defenseman and had him on the third line with Denis Malgin and Frank Vatrano.

Pysyk played so well in his new role that he played forward in three of four games; Sunday, as was the case Tuesday against the Penguins, he was back playing as a defenseman in his hometown of Edmonton after scoring his first goal of the season Thursday in Calgary.

“It has been a little different,” said Pysyk, who said he had not played forward in a game since he was a kid. “There are a lot more forwards, so you don’t play as many regular shifts and, for me, I don’t play that much as a forward. It is a little tough sitting there and then you’re called upon and have to go from sitting on the bench to going 100 miles-per-hour. For me, that’s the most different thing.”

Sunday was the fifth consecutive game with Pysyk in the lineup in one position or the other and he made a great defensive play, slowing McDavid down on a second-period breakaway to keep the Oilers off the scoreboard a little longer.

Hawryluk noticeable in return

With Pysyk in as a forward, someone had to sit and it was Jayce Hawryluk. On Sunday, he was back in the lineup and was all over the ice, ending the day with two points off 16 shifts with three blocked shots.

Hawryluk, who had been scratched in four of the previous five games, also scored his first goal of the season with 20 seconds left.

Scoring from everywhere

In the two games Florida has played so far on this road trip, it has scored 11 goals with only Dadonov getting more than one.

Seven of the goals have come from forwards (Dadonov twice, Huberdeau, Boyle, Noel Acciari, Vatrano and Hawryluk), three from defensemen (MacKenzie Weegar, Josh Brown and Ekblad) and one from Pysyk, a defenseman playing up as a forward at the time.

Stillman brought up

With defenseman Mike Matheson out for at least 10 days because of an injury sustained Tuesday against Pittsburgh, the Panthers recalled rookie Riley Stillman from AHL Springfield.

Stillman was the last defenseman cut from training camp and played in just his second NHL game in his birthplace of Calgary, Alberta, on Thursday.

Although Stillman played hockey as a kid in Coral Springs while his dad Cory played for the Panthers, he was born in Calgary while Cory was with the Flames.

“It is really cool to come back where he started his career,” said Stillman, who made his NHL debut last February in Arizona but was sent back to Springfield right afterward.

Stillman was scratched Sunday, with Pysyk moving to the second defensive pairing with Anton Stralman.

Points away from home 1158916 Los Angeles Kings in the NHL and help a team win hockey games. I’m interested to see how this team lines up for another kick at Vancouver on Wednesday.

LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 10.29.2019 WAKING UP WITH THE KINGS: OCTOBER 28

JON ROSENOCTOBER 28, 2019

GAME STORY

And for every ebb, a flow, for every wax, a wane. The LA Kings ended their second road trip of the season at the converse of where they started it, with Sunday’s second 5-1 loss in as many days to a team adjacent in the standings serving as a cold splash of water in the face and a reminder that despite the shotsball blitzes, there are still holes within their lineup and repairs needed to their psyche. On the micro scale, this wasn’t a “will” issue, as Todd McLellan said, and these games weren’t parallels of the Vancouver game or games last year that got away from the team. This was a sloppy game, one in which Chicago was faster to pucks and harder on them and less turnover-prone. Some of Los Angeles’ mistakes were from one player missing on an aggressive defensive play without effective support, like Ilya Kovalchuk on the Hawks’ first goal or Matt Roy on their second. And on a micro level, the team did adhere to their structural duties in the third period, an appropriate response to McLellan’s call from the night before. But on the macro level, an edict was again sounded, an evolution from that which followed the Vancouver game. “I think this trip was good because it let us know that there are some players that probably can’t play in the league right now, so maybe we’ll have to make some changes,” he said Sunday. “There are some veterans that really have to pick up their play. We’ll have to have a chat with them. And just the good sign about tonight’s game was the will stayed with it in the third period. Woe is us and the big, fat lips that were on the bench that were in the second, they disappeared, so that’s a good sign.”

Bill Smith/NHLI

Nikolai Prokhorkin wasn’t on the ice for any goals in a 5-1 loss – and did an admirable job to prevent one. He went low to block a threatening pass to the slot on a mini two-on-one in the first period, and when converged upon by those whose attempt he thwarted, slickly evaded pressure by moving his feet and banking a cleared puck out of the zone in an escape trick Robert Angier and Alfred Borden would sacrifice their lives and alienate themselves from others to learn more about. He snapped a puck at Robin Lehner from beyond the high slot that generated a rebound pounced on, though the 6-foot-4, 240-pound Swede slid over effortlessly to close the shades. There’s been a ton of unknown with Prokhorkin for so long, and it was ironic that after going years without having seen either him or Dominik Kubalik live and in technicolor, there they were, the two of them, sharing the same ice in front of us. The first NHL data he provided was encouraging. I think there are a lot of people very interested to see more.

Chase Agnello-Dean/NHLI

Roster moves will be made. As always, there is a larger picture in play. Jaret Anderson-Dolan has been very good in Ontario and has a hyperactive, low-center-of-gravity, Alex Iafallo-quality in that he hunts pucks and forces turnovers and is capable of making the players around him better. He may be ready, but as of Monday afternoon, I’m not entirely sure he’s A#1 on the list of forwards who’d be recalled. There’s also Carl Grundstrom, who got the “he’ll be back” treatment from McLellan, who wanted him to get repetitions and build confidence in Ontario while the team was away. He did so, scoring five goals in four games. There’s also Martin Frk, who has NHL experience, a blistering shot, and showed well during camp. There’s also Matt Luff, Mario Kempe and others able to step in if need be. (Lisa Dillman does a good job providing depth on a bunch of these names.) Changes will also be made on the back end. Keep in mind that this won’t be a race to get as many top prospects to the NHL as possible. There needs to be the right environment for them to succeed, the right opening that will allow their skills to flourish. The Kings’ success this decade, particularly in 2014, was built on patience with those on the cusp of an NHL role. There were championship-caliber players blocking them at the time, but the team’s patience with players like Alec Martinez (147 AHL games) and Jake Muzzin (146), for example, were good for their long-term development and allowed them to hit the ground running. It’s one thing to play in the NHL, and it’s another to play 1158917 Minnesota Wild

Dallas Stars face the Minnesota Wild

By The Associated Press OCTOBER 29, 2019 — 2:10AM

Minnesota Wild (4-7-0, seventh in the Central Division) vs. Dallas Stars (4-8-1, fifth in the Central Division)

Dallas; Tuesday, 8:30 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: The Dallas Stars host the Minnesota Wild.

Dallas went 43-32-7 overall and 14-10-2 in Central Division play in the 2018-19 season. Goalies for the Stars compiled a .923 save percentage while giving up 2.2 goals on 31.4 shots per game last season.

Minnesota went 23-22-5 in Western Conference action and 21-18-2 on the road during the 2018-19 season. The Wild averaged 31.3 shots per game last season on the way to scoring 2.6 goals per game.

The matchup Tuesday is the first meeting of the season between the two teams.

Stars Injuries: None listed.

Wild Injuries: Jordan Greenway: day to day (upper body), Devan Dubnyk: day to day (upper body).

Star Tribune LOADED: 10.29.2019 1158918 Minnesota Wild plus-3 rating and 13 shots on goal. His six points this season are tied for the team lead.

What’s happened with Staal, who turns 35 on Tuesday? Jordan Greenway looks ready to return to Wild lineup “He looks like his legs are underneath him. His stride is longer. It’s looking like Eric Staal,” Boudreau said, also pointing to a leg injury that hampered the veteran early. By Randy Johnson Star Tribune OCTOBER 29, 2019 — 12:31AM Star Tribune LOADED: 10.29.2019

“Beast mode,” is how Wild coach Bruce Boudreau described Jordan Greenway’s play in the Wild’s 3-0 victory over Edmonton last Tuesday.

The power forward was living up to the description of his position, using his 6-6, 225-pound frame to keep possession of the puck and defenders at bay as he assisted on two goals during the game’s first 13 minutes.

But just after he bulled his way around the net, fending off the Oilers’ 6-3, 215-pound Riley Sheahan with one arm and then passing to Carson Soucy, whose shot set up Eric Staal’s rebound goal, Greenway was blasted by a shoulder-to-chin check from Edmonton winger Josh Archibald.

“You take a hit like that,” Greenway said, “you’re going to feel it the next couple days.”

Greenway left that game and missed the next two while in concussion protocol. He returned to practice Monday as the Wild prepared for back- to-back road games at Dallas on Tuesday and St. Louis on Wednesday. Forward Kevin Fiala (lower-body injury) also returned to practice after a three-game absence, and the team reassigned forward Gerry Mayhew to Iowa of the AHL. That leaves Boudreau with lineup options for Tuesday’s game.

“They looked good. They looked like they had a lot of energy, a lot of jump,” Boudreau said of Greenway and Fiala. “They’ve got the green light to play. … Hopefully, we’ll have a tough decision to make tomorrow with 13 forwards.”

Greenway

If Greenway is the choice, Boudreau is hopeful the big winger can pick up where he left off.

“He was starting to play with the confidence that he’s a big man and a strong man and he’s not a first-year player anymore,” the coach said. “When he has those things going for him, usually good things fall for him.”

Greenway agreed with Boudreau’s critique.

“It’s something I have to continue to do more consistently. It’s going to help my game,” said Greenway, who hasn’t scored yet this season but has five assists over his past five games. “Being 6-6 and two-whatever-I- am [pounds], it’s definitely something I want to use to my advantage and make sure it’s a focus point for me.”

On the hit that sidelined him, Greenway saw no ill intentions from Archibald.

“It was a good hit,” he said. “Bad play for them; we scored.”

Goalie rotation

Wild goalie Devan Dubnyk, who missed the past two games because of an upper-body injury suffered against Edmonton, likely will play Wednesday at St. Louis, with Alex Stalock penciled in to start Tuesday.

“He’s going to play one of the two,” Boudreau said of Dubnyk, who landed on his back when he was bowled over by teammate Ryan Donato. “We haven’t decided which one yet.” Boudreau added that starting Stalock in the first of back-to-back games “makes good sense to me” based on his 30-save performance in a 5-1 victory over Los Angeles on Saturday.

Dubnyk said he’s improving each day. “It’s still sore, but it’s not really affecting me as far as getting around the ice,” he said.

Staal heating up

Through the season’s first seven games, Staal had a gruesome stat line: no goals, one assist, a minus-10 rating and only 10 shots on goal. He’s turned it around in the past four games with three goals, two assists a 1158919 Minnesota Wild

Wild sends Gerald Mayhew back to Iowa with Greenway, Fiala back

By Sarah McLellan OCTOBER 28, 2019 — 11:38AM

Gerald Mayhew was sent back to Iowa on Monday morning by the Wild.

The 26-year-old winger scored in his first NHL game Oct. 15 at Toronto and added a goal on Saturday in the Wild's victory over the Kings.

He had three goals and three assists in four games with Iowa before being recalled when the Wild was hit with a rash of injuries.

Jordan Greenway (concussion) and Kevin Fiala (lower body) practiced Monday and should be ready to play Tuesday night in Dallas.

Star Tribune LOADED: 10.29.2019 1158920 Minnesota Wild

Wild sends Gerald Mayhew back to Iowa with Greenway, Fiala back

By Sarah McLellan OCTOBER 28, 2019 — 11:38AM

Gerald Mayhew was sent back to Iowa on Monday morning by the Wild.

The 26-year-old winger scored in his first NHL game Oct. 15 at Toronto and added a goal on Saturday in the Wild's victory over the Kings.

He had three goals and three assists in four games with Iowa before being recalled when the Wild was hit with a rash of injuries.

Jordan Greenway (concussion) and Kevin Fiala (lower body) practiced Monday and should be ready to play Tuesday night in Dallas.

Star Tribune LOADED: 10.29.2019 1158921 Minnesota Wild

Wild looking for more ‘beast mode’ with Jordan Greenway back in action

By DANE MIZUTANI | PUBLISHED: October 28, 2019 at 3:06 pm | UPDATED: October 28, 2019 at 7:27 PM

Jordan Greenway did his best Marshawn Lynch impression last week, pushing the puck around the offensive zone during a game against the Edmonton Oilers.

He used every bit of his 6-foot-6, 225-pound frame to fend off a couple of defenders, then slyly shuffled a pass to Carson Soucy as Oilers winger Josh Archibald started to bear down on him.

“I saw the guy coming,” Greenway said. “I just didn’t think he was going to finish his check. I guessed wrong.”

He sure did, and Archibald didn’t hold back, laying a bruising hit that left Greenway face down on the ice, bleeding from the mouth.

Though Greenway got the last laugh when Eric Staal finished off the sequence with a goal, he exited down the tunnel shortly after that, and entered concussion protocol as soon as he got to the locker room.

“It was a good hit,” Greenway said. “Just a bad play by him because we scored.”

Asked specifically about the play after the game, coach Bruce Boudreau credited Greenway for his effort.

“He was in beast mode,” Boudreau said. “He made a great play.”

That’s something the Wild would like to see more out of Greenway moving forward, staring with Tuesday’s game against the Stars in Dallas. He recently got the green light to play again, and participated in Monday’s practice without any limitations.

“It was great to be back on the ice,” he said. “It was getting a little boring for me.”

Sitting out the road game against the Nashville Predators and home game against the Los Angeles Kings was more precautionary than anything else, according to Greenway, as can be expected with head injuries.

“I think maybe it looked a little worse than it actually was for me,” Greenway said. “You obviously take a hit like that and it’s going to hurt for the next couple of days.”

Perhaps the most frustrating thing about the injury was that Greenway was playing so well when he went down. He had a pair of assists in the first period against the Oilers and seemed to be on his way to a career night.

“He was controlling the puck below the circles,” Boudreau said. “He was starting to play with the confidence that he’s a big man and he’s a strong man and he’s not a (rookie) anymore.”

Now the key for Greenway is finding a way to activate beast mode whenever he’s on the ice. The Wild’s biggest player physically, he has the potential to dominate if he continues to play up to his potential.

“It’s more with the puck, and a little bit without the puck , too,” Greenway said. “I’m 6-foot-6, 200-whatever-I-am. It’s definitely something I want to use to my advantage. Just have to make sure it’s a focus for me.”

Which means Greenway isn’t going to back down if another big hit comes his way in the future.

“That happens,” he said. “I’ll be just as physical as I was before. I’m not going to shy away from anything. Nothing is going to change with my game.”

Pioneer Press LOADED: 10.29.2019 1158922 Minnesota Wild “(Hossa and Bergeron) took just as much pride in stripping guys of pucks on the defensive side as (they) did scoring goals on the offensive side,” Hinote said. “Boldy’s the same way. That’s rare for somebody to put that much pride in their defensive game.” The future of the Wild: Matthew Boldy, Marshall Warren and Jack McBain are on the rise together The Wild took Warren 166th overall in the draft, and Hinote thinks that was a steal, too. He couldn’t believe it when he fell.

He believes Warren is the type of player who will wear a letter wherever By Scott Wheeler Oct 28, 2019 he plays and could someday be a captain at the highest level. Whenever USA Hockey staff needed someone to round up the team making sure

everyone was on time, they’d call on Warren to sort them out. Whenever CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. — Sitting five rows above the home team the team was stuck in “travel hell” on a bus, or in an airport, Warren bench inside Conte Forum, at the heart of Boston College’s quiet would calm everyone down. campus, Marshall Warren reflects on his improbable, near decade-long “He was a godsend for us because having a guy like that in the locker relationship with his best friend, Matthew Boldy. room when things go sideways, it’s invaluable to a team,” Hinote said. The pair have somehow managed to follow each other since they met “His leadership skills are off the charts. You’re getting just as good a playing minor hockey at nine years old. person as you are a hockey player.”

In the years that followed they played with and against each other in And Warren’s best friend is not dissimilar. The ‘A’ Boldy wore on his winter and summer hockey. At 15, while Boldy played prep hockey at jersey with USA Hockey spoke to that. Dexter School, Warren did the same at Portledge School. At 16, they Boldy finished last season with 81 points in 64 games, good for fourth on both tried out — and made — USA Hockey’s national development team, Team USA in scoring. (Boston College Athletics) where they spent another two seasons together. After long travel days, when most players took workouts off or breezed In June, they were both drafted by the Minnesota Wild. In September, through them with stretches, Boldy would be in the shooting room, or in they started as freshmen at Boston College. the gym working on less glamorous exercises in an effort to round out his Now, both 18 and still side-by-side, they are looking to continue a joint game, said under-18 team head coach John Wroblewski. path through the NCAA — en route to their dream of playing in the NHL. “He’s a kid who genuinely enjoys the work aspect of being a player and Warren has just finished a 3 p.m. practice with the Boston College that bodes so well for him,” he said. “He’s got everything you need as a Eagles, skating alongside Boldy. He’s wearing a grey hoodie and sweats. player.” He chuckles to himself as he thinks about their long journey together, as Academics won’t be a problem for Boldly either. He has a reputation for if it couldn’t be possible. being an excellent, regimented student who understands the importance “It’s so funny,” Warren said with a laugh. “It’s a crazy ride.” of having his life together away from the rink, Wroblewski said. At the rink, that diligence helped Boldy improve dramatically in his two years Warren was ranked 61st by NHL Central Scouting when the Wild with USA Hockey, adding strong defensive ability to his already selected him in the sixth round in Vancouver. (Boston College Athletics) exceptional offensive talent.

And the connection between the Wild and Boston College runs deeper “He always had solid work ethic but he took it to a whole other level,” than just the two of them. In the locker room, Warren sits next to Wroblewski said. “Every single shift, or every single drill he was in, he sophomore Jack McBain — a third-round pick of the Wild in 2018. Just was one of the hardest workers.” last week, Nikita Nesterenko — a sixth-round Wild pick this June — announced he was switching his commitment from Brown to BC. An But it’s Boldy and Warren’s underrated skills that USA Hockey staff point Eagles plaque commemorating the NCAA accomplishments of new Wild to when discussing the duo’s big upside. general manager Bill Guerin hangs in the concourse at Conte Forum. For Boldy, it’s his skating, which was often the one thing scouts were The future of the Wild has a deep connection to the Eagles. critical of in his game.

Boldy, Warren and McBain represent flickers of light for Guerin’s “His skating is very good for a kid his size. His edge work is actually organization, which desperately needs brighter days. Through a some of the best I’ve ever seen,” Wroblewski said. “He can cross the combination of dumb luck, friendship, and circumstance, these three blue line and cut and carve on a dime and his straight-ahead speed is prospects are pursuing their shared goal at Boston College — and a excellent. If there was something, it’s the first couple of strides.” future in Minnesota — together. Hinote said it almost looks like Boldy is defying the laws of physics with Ask around about the Wild’s prospects with the Eagles and there’s no the way he can move laterally. shortage of excitement. His only criticism of Boldy’s game is an occasional tendency to try to do Legendary Boston College head coach Jerry York sees something in too much with the puck. In junior, it often worked out for him. As he McBain, a big, tall kid who is working on his mobility, that he saw in an progresses, Boldy will have to learn to change things up against better old player of his. defenders, he said.

“He reminds me an awful lot of Brian Boyle when he first came to BC and As a freshman, he has already begun to learn that lesson. Progress has he’s got 14 years in the NHL now,” York said. come slower than he would have hoped, with just one point through four games. Part of that is likely attributed to a change in position. Boldy McBain has just had a three-point weekend against top-ranked Denver, played mostly wing with USA Hockey, but is at centre with the Eagles. which York points to as proof that he’s shown great progress since his His linemate, Avalanche first rounder Alex Newhook, a centre, has been posting 13 points in 34 games as a freshman. He found the adjustment of moved to the wing, to accommodate him. competing against 25-year-olds to be a bit of a shock. Warren celebrates the first goal of his NCAA career. (Boston College Over the summer, McBain worked with his former minor hockey coach Athletics) Daniel Bochner — now a development coach with SKA St. Petersburg in the KHL — on his skating and his shot. For Warren, outside circumstances worked to drive down his value. Playing on a USA Hockey defence that featured two of the most dynamic McBain arrived in Chestnut Hill ahead of the season intent on showing defencemen in the program’s recent history (Flyers first-round pick Cam York he had more to offer. York and 5-foot-7 Hurricanes third-rounder Dom Fensore) limited Warren’s offensive opportunities. The results, while still impressive with There are other NHL star comparables amongst the prospects, too. 34 points in 54 games last season, could have been stronger on a Dan Hinote, associate head coach with USA Hockey, sees similarities different team. between Boldy and Marian Hossa and Patrice Bergeron. While both Hinote and Wroblewski pointed to Warren as a great skater and athlete (something that seems to run in the family, as his younger sister Arielle is a figure skater) it was his offensive instincts that blew The support of the other two Wild prospects away from the rink has them away. helped Boldy through a challenging start. He credits McBain as a real source of guidance, and Warren as a dear friend. “It took me probably two months to figure out that he sees the game differently than a lot of people do. And so I stopped critiquing and started “(Warren) means so well in everything he does. You never see him asking ‘What did you see there that made you go after that puck?’ without a smile on his face. He’s always happy to do things, happy to be because nine times out of 10 he gets (the puck) and it turns into a with the guys, and he’ll help anyone out,” Boldy said. “He’s a little more scoring chance for us,” Hinote said. “He started to explain to me what he gentle off of (the ice) than he is on it.” saw and I would say ‘OK, perfect, then by all means play your game and trust your instincts.’ That’s what sets him apart.” Sitting in the stands at Conte Arena, Warren admits that he’s found the adjustment a little smoother. He scored in his first game on a difficult Wroblewski fell in love with Warren’s fearlessness, his willingness to take wraparound play. chances, and his attack mentality. “I know for me this year, I’m very motivated,” he says. “I’m just trying to “He’s got a very sneaky skillset 5-on-5 offensively. He can make a lot of do my thing: score, get assists, do everything for the team. I want to have plays, he makes really, really smart offensive reads on when to jump in a big year for myself and for the team to prove everyone wrong and for an open shot or even go against a vulnerable opponent,” Wroblewski prove myself right.” said. He wants to show everyone what the future of the Wild looks like. That mentality will serve Warren in the aftermath of a perceived draft snub. His old coaches think he’s precisely the kind of kid who won’t be “In practice, you see Boldy or you see McBain do something and you go, intimidated by where he was selected. ‘Oh wow, hopefully that’s the future,'” Warren said.

At 5-foot-11 and 168 pounds, he’s also not worried about being a lighter And at Boston College, he’s not alone — entirely. A few moments earlier, defenceman. sitting in the same seat, Boldy shook his head when he was asked if he’d decided to live with his best friend during their freshman year. “I think my skating ability is something that’s very strong. I feel comfortable holding the puck on my stick and just making plays. If you “No, we aren’t,” Boldy said with a smirk. “I needed to get away from him.” ask anyone, that’s probably what they’ll say about me,” Warren said. The Athletic LOADED: 10.29.2019 Wroblewski points to the fact that Warren led all program defencemen in points with 11 in 17 games (none of which came on the power play) against college teams last year.

“He’s difficult to knock off his skates. He’s going to have to fill out some more to play in the NHL but … I see a winner out of him,” Wroblewski said.

Both USA Hockey coaches believe Warren and Boldy have what it takes, physically and mentally, to put together big freshman years.

And both players have left early positive impressions on York, who was recently named as a member of the 2019 Hockey Hall of Fame class.

In Warren, York sees a kid with excellent skating who competes hard. And he likes the strides Boldy has taken at centre, a position he has believed was his best since he first watched him play it at Dexter School.

“I really like both draft picks. I think the Wild did their homework,” York said. “They’re balancing it all pretty well right now. They’ve adjusted very well. There’s no issue at all with their character or their work ethic. That’s A-plus.”

Boldy and Warren have always imagined playing together at the highest level. At this point, even Warren’s mother Lisa and Boldy’s mother Jenn are close friends. Their families spent the night before the draft together in Vancouver.

Now, the duo has added McBain to that pursuit — and all three get to dream about what could be.

After getting to know both players at Wild camp during the summer, McBain was happy to take the two freshmen under his wing. He was the first person Warren met when he arrived.

“It’s cool going through the process with them with the same organization. We all have the same goal of ending up and playing there together,” McBain said.

McBain finished eighth on the Eagles in scoring as a freshman, a year after he posted 67 points in 52 games with the OJHL’s Toronto Jr. Canadiens. (Boston College Athletics)

But there is still a long way to go. Boldy is already disappointed with his start.

When he tries to explain the whirlwind he’s been in since the Wild took him 12th overall, he pauses and takes a deep breath, as if to exhale before trying to stay positive.

“It’s been OK. Not great,” he said. “I feel like I’m playing good hockey and getting chances, they’re just not going in. It’s been a lot. Really busy from the draft and everything going through the summer, getting your workouts in, and then figuring out school and getting here.” 1158923 Montreal Canadiens With no injured players on the 23-man roster, there’s a battle for jobs right now with the Canadiens.

In Saturday night’s 5-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Bell Canadiens Notebook: Trip back to Arizona still special for Max Domi Centre, defenceman Mike Reilly was in the lineup after being a healthy scratch for the six previous games. Reilly took Brett Kulak’s spot, while defenceman Christian Folin and forward Jordan Weal were the other healthy scratches. STU COWAN, MONTREAL GAZETTE Updated: October 28, 2019 When asked about the internal competition after Monday’s practice,

Julien said: “It impacts them in a way that they’re working hard, even in A trip back to Arizona will always be special for the Canadiens’ Max practice, to get back in. You saw Reilly’s situation. He was working hard Domi, who started his NHL career with the Coyotes. in practice and when he got in a game at least he didn’t look like a guy who hadn’t played in a long time. So that competition is good and right The Canadiens practised Monday morning in Brossard before heading to now I think they’re all smart enough to understand that we’re as healthy the airport for a flight to Arizona, where they will play the Coyotes as can be. Wednesday night (10 p.m., TSN2, RDS, TSN 690 Radio). After practice, Domi talked about the Impact Arizona coach Rick Tocchet and former “So when that happens, it’s no doubt there are some guys sitting out right Coyotes captain Shane Doan had on him. now that probably should be playing,” the coach added. “But when you can only dress 20 it’s not an easy thing to understand. But as “He’s an unbelievable coach,” Domi said about Tocchet. “What he’s done professionals, they go through it and they abide by it — I guess, if you with that organization … management-wise, they’re great, too. Toch’s want to put it that way — and wait for their opportunity.” fantastic. I’ve learned a lot from him. I still keep in touch with him once in a while, obviously wish him a Merry Christmas and all that stuff. He was Beardless captain and still is a big part of my life. I learned a lot from him and I’m still Captain Shea Weber had a new look at practice Monday after shaving off learning from him.” his beard. The Coyotes selected Domi in the first round (12th overall) at the 2013 The lines NHL Draft. Domi said “the coolest” part about his time in Arizona was getting to know Doan and learn from him. Here’s how the forward lines and defence pairings looked at practice Monday: “Learning from a guy like Doaner on a daily basis and seeing how he interacts with his teammates, his coaches, the fan base, the media … it’s Tatar – Danault – Gallagher just first class all the way,” Domi said. “He’s always got a smile on his face, he’s always happy and he wants to win as much as anyone I’ve Drouin – Domi – Armia ever met. So special, special guy. A big part of this league and a huge Lehkonen – Kotkaniemi – Byron part of this game. You can make an argument he’s the biggest reason why Arizona still has a team … because of Shane Doan.” Cousins – Thompson – Suzuki/Weal

Doan retired after the 2016-17 season. Mete – Weber

Trade pays off for Domi and Habs Chiarot – Petry

The Coyotes traded Domi to the Canadiens last summer in exchange for Reilly – Fleury Alex Galchenyuk. Domi had scored nine goals in each of the two previous seasons in Arizona before setting career highs in goals (28), Kulak – Folin assists (44) and points (72) last season with the Canadiens. What’s next?

“There’s lots of things that go in it,” Domi said about his struggles in The Canadiens will practise at 11 a.m. local time Tuesday at the Gila Arizona. “Obviously, it’s a tough league, it’s how it goes with the ups and River Arena in Arizona as they prepare to face the Coyotes Wednesday downs of the league, battling injuries and stuff like that. You have to night (10 p.m., TSN2, RDS, TSN 690 Radio) to start a three-game road overcome that. Playing in a conference that is maybe a little bit heavier trip. The Canadiens will fly to Las Vegas after that game and play the and you got the L.A. Kings of the world and the Anaheim Ducks, all those Golden Knights Thursday night (10 p.m., TSN2, RDS), followed by a big, heavy teams and their veteran presence. It’s tough to play, tough to game against the Stars in Dallas on Saturday (7 p.m., CITY, TVA Sports, get much going. They play tight defensively and you see a lot of 2-1 and TSN 690 Radio). 3-2 hockey games over on that side. Something I wasn’t used to, obviously, coming from junior.“ Next week, the Boston Bruins will be at the Bell Centre on Tuesday (7:30 p.m., TSN2, RDS, TSN 690 Radio). The Canadiens will then travel to The Coyotes traded Galchenyuk to the Pittsburgh Penguins this summer Philadelphia to play the Flyers on Thursday (7 p.m., TSN2, RDS, TSN in exchange for Phil Kessel. Galchenyuk started the season on the 690 Radio) before wrapping up the week with a game against the Los injured-reserve list and has 0-2-2 totals in the three games he has played Angeles Kings Saturday night at the Bell Centre (7 p.m.., CITY, SNE, with the Penguins. Kessel had 2-4-6 totals in 10 games with the Coyotes TVA Sports, TSN 690 Radio). heading into Monday night’s game against the Sabres in Buffalo. Montreal Gazette LOADED: 10.29.2019 Thriving in the spotlight

Canadiens coach Claude Julien was asked after practice Monday why he thinks Domi — who has 3-7-10 totals in 11 games this season — has had success since the trade to Montreal.

“I think he’s excited to be here,” Julien said. “How can you not? You come to Montreal, the stands are full every game. Great crowd, a great following of fans. We know it’s heavy at times with the number of (fans) following that there is, but on the other side of it it’s great to have that. He loves that. He loves the fact that he’s in a big market.

“At the same time, we put him at centre,” the coach added. “He seemed to thrive on that. It allowed his skating game to pick up and showcase itself. And right now I think he’s just happy. He loves being here, he loves doing what he’s doing and every time you chat with him and try and improve his game in certain areas he’s very open-minded and loves it.”

Battle for jobs 1158924 Montreal Canadiens He’s reluctant to speculate on what might have been had the freak injury not occurred, but clearly is content to be back in the room with his teammates, put in a position to contribute.

Healthy again, Rocket's Noah Juulsen happy to be playing, and “I just want to play and be back in the dressing room with the guys,” he contributing, again said. “Get my game under my feet and go from there. I hope to be back where I was at the beginning of last season.

“It’s special being back with the team, on the ice and in a game … an HERB ZURKOWSKY, MONTREAL GAZETTE Updated: October 28, actual game. Not just skating and practicing. Just feeling that atmosphere 2019 I haven’t felt in so long.”

The Rocket concluded its first 10-game segment with a 4-6 record, one of those defeats coming in overtime. The next 10 games, Bouchard said, When Noah Juulsen says he’s feeling good — invariably the first words will provide a better indicator where the team’s at. that come out of his mouth with everyone he greets — he means it. “As a coach, I expected some ups and downs, figuring each other out,” And it has been a long time since the 22-year-old defenceman, selected he said. “I have to give them time to realize where they’re at. Reality sets in the first-round (26th overall), by the Canadiens in 2015, has been able in a little bit. to state he’s healthy. “We can hold our ground against anybody.” “The questions have been coming for a long time, but I think they’re starting to stop. I’m happy with that,” Juulsen said Monday, after the Montreal Gazette LOADED: 10.29.2019 Laval Rocket practiced for roughly 60 minutes at Place Bell — and after he made it back in time to be included in the team photo, earlier that morning.

“It’s huge for sure. It’s been a long time coming for me to be back,” added the native of Surrey, B.C. “I’m just happy to be back with the guys, playing again. I know people thought I wouldn’t be. Obviously I’m here and doing well. I’m ready to go and am excited.”

Not half as excited as Rocket coach Joël Bouchard, realizing he has another two-way, steady defenceman at his disposal.

“He has to play,” Bouchard stated. “Noah can take the workload. He’ll make mistakes, but needs to get his feet wet. We like him. He’s a prospect and he’s going to play.

“He’s one of those guys that, as a coaching staff, you rely on to be a good partner and make good puck decisions. He makes very few mistakes. He’s not flashy, but he’s a hard, solid player.”

The 6-foot-2, 193-pound Juulsen was assigned to the American Hockey League’s Rocket on Oct. 11, finally making his Laval season debut last week, when the team embarked on a three-game road trip, starting in Belleville, Ont. While he was held without a point, the points will come soon enough. It was more important for Juulsen to regain his confidence, timing and simply feel comfortable in game scenarios.

“For sure, the timing was a little off,” he admitted. “I just wanted to keep it simple, cut my ice in half and make the simple play right away and not put myself in trouble. I think I did that well … and will keep doing that until I feel comfortable.

“Things felt better as the second game went along,” he added. “It’s been a while since I’ve played. I’ll keep building off that.”

Juulsen made his Canadiens debut during the 2017-18 season, following a 31-game stint with Laval, and didn’t look intimidated or out of place, mostly teamed with veteran Karl Alzner, now a Rocket teammate. Recalled in February, Juulsen played 23 games, scoring a goal and two assists.

With Shea Weber sidelined to start last season, Juulsen stuck with Montreal out of training camp, only to suffer a facial fracture after taking two pucks to the face in a November game against Washington. He returned three weeks later, only to play four games before missing the remainder of the season.

Then, when he reported to camp last September, Juulsen started complaining of headaches and wasn’t allowed on the ice. He went for a second medical opinion, where it was discovered he was suffering from a nerve-related visual issue caused by the two pucks he took to the face.

Now that he’s finally healthy again, the former Everett junior wants to show management why they thought so highly of his potential. Juulsen’s a good skater and is considered a rugged, physical player capable of winning battles in the corners of in front of his net. He can kill penalties — one of the Canadiens’ problems this season — and showed some offensive flashes while in junior.

In 44 career NHL games, Juulsen has two goals and eight points. 1158925 Montreal Canadiens “He likes to joke around a little bit,” Thompson said. “He’s just one of those kids that’s fun to be around.”

The Canadiens flew to Arizona after Monday’s practice and will face the Canadiens' 'Uncle Nate' plays key role in Nick Suzuki's development Coyotes Wednesday night (10 p.m., TSN2, RDS, TSN 690 Radio).

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 10.29.2019

STU COWAN, MONTREAL GAZETTE Updated: October 28, 2019

Canadiens head coach Claude Julien has done a good job of slowly breaking rookie forward Nick Suzuki into the NHL.

Through his first 11 games, Suzuki has 3-1-4 totals and a plus-2 rating while averaging 14:09 of ice time, including 2:43 on the power play. Julien has put Suzuki in positions to succeed, using him mostly on the fourth line with favourable matchups, while bumping him up the lineup at times.

Julien has also made Nate Thompson Suzuki’s regular linemate and what the rookie is learning from the veteran centre can only help him moving forward in his career.

“He’s a great example on and off the ice,” Julien said after practice Monday in Brossard about Thompson’s influence on Suzuki. “Off the ice, he’s here early, he takes care of himself, he trains well. On the ice, you can see his experience in what he does and I think in Nick’s situation he’s kind of lucky he’s got a guy like that, not only to look up to but to play with.”

Thompson has 0-5-5 totals and is plus-2 while averaging 13:33 of ice time and winning 54.1 per cent of his faceoffs.

“That line’s been pretty successful for a so-called fourth line,” Julien said. “They’re producing and it doesn’t matter whether it’s Wealer (Jordan Weal) there with them or if it’s (Nick) Cousins and at times Paul Byron, they’re creating things. For Nick, he’s off to a decent start and there’s nothing wrong with where he is right now. We all know what the future holds for him. So as long as he’s having success and he’s gaining confidence and experience, especially next to a guy like Tommy, I think he’s in a great position.”

The one area where Suzuki has struggled is faceoffs, winning only 37 per cent of the 27 draws he has taken. Suzuki could become a centre and Thompson has been giving him some tips on faceoffs, among other things.

“It’s really nice having him in the defensive zone,” Suzuki said about Thompson. “Faceoffs are huge. I’m trying to learn off him for a couple of faceoff tips. I think our whole line has been playing really well together since we’ve been put together. I think just the chemistry that we all have since the start has been really cool.

“Off the ice, he’s been awesome,” Suzuki added about Thompson. “On the ice, he’s been awesome. He’s always the guy that comes up and checks on me, just trying to help me out as much as he can. We’re always talking on the bench, on the ice. In practice, we go over some details in the D zone together. He’s been around a lot and he has a ton of wisdom. He’s been a great guy, too. He’s really smart. He knows exactly where to be on the ice. He’s been around the league so long. He knows the ins and outs of the game and just to be able to see him every day, his habits on and off the ice, is something I’m really learning from.”

The 35-year-old Thompson is enjoying his time with the 20-year-old Suzuki on and off the ice in his big-brother role, or “Uncle Nate” as his teammates call him.

“I think it’s been a good relationship between both of us,” said Thompson, who is in his 13th NHL season with 708 games under his belt. “It’s been a lot of fun playing with him. He’s a kid who’s always having fun. He’s always got a smile on his face and he doesn’t take things too seriously — and I think that’s a good thing. I’m there to help him out in certain situations, but at the same time he keeps it light for me, too. It’s great for me. It keeps me young and having fun.

“He’s a kid who’s pretty mature for his age,” Thompson added. “He knows what he has to do. He’s a smart hockey player, he’s usually in the right spot. Maybe I have to tell him a thing or two every now and then, but not too often. He’s usually doing the right thing, so he’s a lot of fun to play with. He’s extremely smart at both ends of the ice.”

Off the ice, Thompson described Suzuki as a “pretty funny kid.” 1158926 Montreal Canadiens could be a fun thing to play with, with the Big Mac, and that started the conversation about asking Marc Bergevin if he would play the game with us. We shared the scripts with him and he embraced it. He’s a funny guy. People know that … people in Quebec love a good laugh and with Marc, What the Puck: Habs GM tackles comedy in 'Big Marc' McDonald's spots I think we’re going to be able to make people smile.”

Bergevin was paid a nominal fee for the work. McDonald’s has relaunched the Big Mac, the Quarter Pounder and a few other items this BRENDAN KELLY, MONTREAL GAZETTE Updated: October 28, 2019 year.

Courtois also admitted ‘Big Marc’ is in part a humorous reference to the For a McDonald’s TV advertising campaign that launched in Quebec on fact that Bergevin is famous for his well-developed biceps. Monday, the fast-food chain decided to go with a Canadiens “legend” and “That’s part of the joke, yeah, his big arms,” said Courtois. they chose Marc Bergevin. The French-language TV ads will only air in Quebec, though the spot will Really! I know, it kind of boggles my mind, too. I understand that it’s a also run with English subtitles on Corus Entertainment channels. humorous campaign and the spots are indeed very funny, just like the previous McPlayer ads that featured Habs stars like Brendan Gallagher, Montreal Gazette LOADED: 10.29.2019 Jonathan Drouin, Shea Weber and former captain Max Pacioretty.

But you have to wonder why McDonald’s chose a chap who is many things — a controversial general manager, a journeyman NHL defenceman, a notorious joker — but is not a hockey legend, either as a player or a manager.

Bergevin had an undistinguished 20-year career as a player and seven years into his tenure as GM of the Montreal Canadiens, he has had — at best — a checkered history as head of hockey operations for the most storied franchise in the history of the NHL. The Canadiens have missed the playoffs three of the past four seasons under Bergevin’s management and his team has only won one playoff series since 2014.

There is a lot of talk that Bergevin has done better as a manager during the past two years, with a number of promising young players coming down the pipeline and a couple of good trades under his belt, with the addition of players such as Max Domi and Nick Suzuki. But even so, the team still missed the playoffs last season and 11 games into this season, the Canadiens have a middling 5-4-2 record and are out of a playoff spot, sitting in 10th place in the Eastern Conference.

If I was Bergevin — I know, quite a concept! — I would’ve said thanks, but no thanks, when McDonald’s came calling. If I was him, I would’ve been kind of embarrassed by the concept, which is all about how he is a Canadiens legend. I know the ad is joking around, but the joke’s on Bergevin.

The ad starts with Bergevin sitting at his desk across from , who is a real Canadiens legend. Carbo, who will be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame next month, won two Stanley Cups with the Canadiens, including one in 1993 while wearing the “C”, and he went on to win a third Cup with the Dallas Stars in 1999.

In the ad, Bergevin tells Carbo: “Listen, Guy, this year the McDonald’s ad is all about the Big Mac. A classic, so we’re going to need a legend.”

You see Carbonneau looking all happy because he figures he is the legend who is going to star in the ad.

“That’s why I’m going to do it,” says Bergevin.

Ba-Da-Boom.

Like I said, it’s funny. But it’s also so wrong. It speaks volumes to the attitude of Habs management. The team on the ice has underachieved for 26 years under various managers and for seven years under Bergevin’s tenure, but who cares? The arena is packed, the value of the team keeps soaring and Bergevin can joke about being a legend because there is no one in his entourage to bring him back down to Earth. The joke’s actually on the fans.

In an interview, Mélanie Courtois, McDonald’s senior marketing director for Quebec, admitted they were aware that Bergevin is a controversial figure but their marketing team decided he was still a good fit for the campaign.

“We thought about that. Obviously as a brand you need to assess the risk,” said Courtois. “The thing with Marc Bergevin, what we liked about him was his personality. We basically wrote a campaign with him in mind. … This year, the Big Mac is the icon of the campaign … we’re launching Best Burger this year and the Big Mac is the face of that evolution of our core business. We’re basically reinventing a classic, an icon. For us, the Big Mac is almost a legend. And who are we going to choose for that? So there was a lot of discussion around the table, as you can imagine, as to who could play that role. And someone threw in ‘the Big Marc’, which 1158927 Montreal Canadiens

Former Canadiens defenceman Andrei Markov returning to KHL

STU COWAN, MONTREAL GAZETTE Updated: October 28, 2019

Andrei Markov, who was hoping to return to the Canadiens this season, will instead return to the KHL.

It was announced Monday that the 40-year-old defenceman has signed a one-year contract to play the rest of this season with HC Lokomotiv. Markov spent the last two seasons in the KHL with Kazan Ak-Bars, posting 2-12-14 totals in 49 games last season. The previous season, Markov had 5-28-33 totals in 55 games and helped Kazan Ak-Bars win the Gagarin Cup as KHL champions.

During a one-on-one interview with The Montreal Gazette while in town in August, Markov said he was hoping to play in the NHL this season.

“Yes, but it’s not just my decision,” he said. “I’m trying to prepare myself for that, but we’ll see what’s going to happen, you know.”

When asked if his first choice was to play for the Canadiens again, Markov said: “That’s my dream, you know. But like I said, it’s not up to me. We’ll see … we’ll see what’s going to happen. I’m not kind of in a rush. I’ll try to train hard and prepare myself.”

Marky is back in business. pic.twitter.com/kTDgWxRRq3— KHL (@khl_eng) October 28, 2019

Contract negotiations between Markov and Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin broke down two summers ago and ended on a sour note, with the defenceman feeling disrespected and deciding to return home to Russia and play in the KHL. At that time, Markov said the Canadiens were the only NHL team he wanted to play for. This time, he was willing to listen to offers from any NHL team.

Markov played 16 seasons with the Canadiens, posting 119-453-572 totals in 990 games. The Canadiens have missed the playoffs in the two seasons since he left.

Markov represented himself in contract negotiations with Bergevin two summers ago, but hired agent Allan Walsh this summer to represent him.

Scherbak placed on KHL waivers

In other KHL news, former Canadiens forward Nikita Scherbak was placed on waivers Monday by Omsk Avangard after posting 2-4-6 totals and a plus-4 in 16 games this season.

Last season, Scherbak had 4-7-11 totals and minus-10 in 23 games with the AHL’s and 1-0-1 totals and a minus-4 in eight games with the Los Angeles Kings.

The Canadiens selected Scherbak in the first round (26th overall) at the 2014 NHL Draft. He only played 29 games with the Canadiens, posting 5-2-7 totals, before the Kings claimed him off waivers on Dec. 2, 2018.

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 10.29.2019 1158928 Montreal Canadiens · Nate Thompson-Nick Suzuki-Nick Cousins: I’m not sure how much longer Claude Julien keeps Suzuki from playing higher up in the lineup, but in the meantime Suzuki and his two older linemates have quickly become a very productive trio. Suzuki’s last two goals have been the Melnick’s weekly GBU: The Canadiens avoid entering a dark place just direct result of perfect feeds from his 35-year old centre. Cousins has before taking off toward the sunshine brought energy and a strong forecheck to the trio while picking up points in four of the five games he’s played. His first goal as a Hab against San

Jose, when he deposited his own rebound from a difficult angle, showed By Mitch Melnick Oct 28, 2019 off a pair of soft hands that too many of the Montreal wingers don’t seem to possess. And in addition to his smarts and talent on the ice, there’s something else to like about Suzuki. I don’t mind goal celebrations, but I love the exact opposite of that, which is what we see from Suzuki. It’s Ok, I’ll admit I was thinking the same thing after Toronto tied the game hockey’s version of Barry Sanders handing the football to an official after early in the second period Saturday night at the Bell Centre after he scored a touchdown. Montreal had surrendered yet another late-period goal in the first that gave the Leafs some life they shouldn’t have had. · HIT OF THE WEEK: Jesperi Kotkaniemi. Even as Jeff Petry continues to surprise opposing skaters entering the Montreal zone with perfectly For 19:44 the Habs played an almost perfect period of hockey, beating a executed open ice hits (he nailed Tyson Barrie on Saturday night) it was ragged-looking Maple Leafs team to virtually every loose puck. By then Kotkaniemi who seemed to channel his continued offensive frustration they had outshot Toronto 19-4. But when Carey Price stumbled in his early in the game against San Jose when he steamrolled Melker crease after he had set up for a shot from the slot that never came and Karlsson along the boards inside the Sharks zone. But it did little to spark Jake Muzzin beat him blocker side, it had the effect of a needle piercing his offence. After opening the season with two goals in three games, a balloon. The Habs had the lead after 20 minutes, but it didn’t feel like Kotkaniemi has gone eight games without one while picking up just one they did. assist. And when Toronto took control of the game in the second period and tied THE BAD it up, it seemed like the Habs might be headed to their third consecutive loss. And Sunday and Monday talking points about Price’s inability to · Brett Kulak: Back to the press box for a second stint after a very rough raise the level of his game. And Montreal’s fragile defence. And their night against the Sharks. Kulak is handling the puck the way some of us struggles on home ice. And that porous penalty kill. who can remember the comedians of the 1960s and 70s envisioned what Charlie Callas might have looked like had he played hockey. That’s why it’s dangerous to think too far ahead. Or just think too much. · Artturi Lehkonen: On Saturday against Toronto, the rookie Fleury made Yes, Virginia, we know Toronto played the night before against a Sharks a brilliant hard, lengthy pass from inside his own zone right onto the team that used their special teams to knock off the Habs two nights blade of Lehkonen’s stick in the neutral zone. But Lehkonen fumbled it, earlier. But it sure seemed that the late second period combo of a turning it over on a play that finished with Andreas Johnsson’s weird, Montreal penalty kill followed by a Toronto penalty when Alex Kerfoot seeing-eye game tying goal. There always seems to be a lot of zeroes boarded Max Domi changed the entire game. next to Lehkonen’s name. The Leafs lacked the killer instinct that at least a couple of other teams in · Paul Byron: It’s been a long time since Byron was as invisible on a the East, notably the Bruins and Sabres, seem to be applying regularly. Saturday night at the Bell Centre as he was against Toronto. And once the Habs scored off the opening faceoff in the third period, Toronto seemed content to sleepwalk through the rest of the game. · Faceoffs: The Sharks kept icing the puck with the lead, over and over Especially Auston Matthews, who you’d think would be able to elevate again, to slow down the pace of the game while also knowing that they’d his game with the injured John Tavares out of the lineup. At times, win most of the draws deep in their own end. Other than Thompson at Matthews looked downright disinterested. But I’ll let Jeff O’Neill handle 54.1 percent, it’s been a rough start for Montreal centres. You don’t that one. expect Max Domi (46 percent) or Jesperi Kotkaniemi (43.7 percent) to have figured things out this quickly but Phillip Danault at 47.5 percent is And anyway, maybe I’m not giving the Habs enough credit. well below where he finished last season (55.5 percent). As a team, the Once again, for two home games against quality opposition, the Canadiens are near the bottom of the NHL at 47 percent. Canadiens were the better team at five-on-five. Instead of the angst that THE UGLY would have followed a three-game losing streak, perhaps they’ve positioned themselves for some kind of winning streak as they change · PK Unit: Another awful night against San Jose led to an ornery Claude time zones for the first time this season. Julien warning that he’d be harping on it at practice the next day. And sure enough, he did. The best way to combat a poor penalty kill is to stay As long as they spend some of that time killing off penalties. out of the penalty box. The Habs almost managed to do it against THE GOOD Toronto before Drouin knocked Alex Kerfoot’s stick out of his hands late in the second period. The fact that Montreal managed to kill it off at a · Jonathan Drouin: Even though he didn’t score against San Jose, critical stage of the game when the Leafs had momentum after tying the Drouin’s game was still encouraging. That he was able to follow it up with score 2-2 is not to be overlooked. But they’ll need a string of kills on their a pair of dynamic breakaway goals against Michael Hutchinson to spark upcoming road trip through Arizona, Las Vegas and Dallas to feel better the win against Toronto just put an exclamation mark on his first month of about what has been a horrid unit. The only team worse than the Habs’ play at the Bell Centre. Does he have another five months in him like 68.6 percent is Winnipeg at 64 percent (think they miss Dustin this? Byfuglien?). In the meantime, if it doesn’t improve dramatically, maybe · Joel Armia: Faster than you can say “power forward,” Armia again used Julien can do his best impression of a baseball manager putting up four his long reach to strip Jake Muzzin of the puck to walk in and beat fingers to signal an intentional walk. It’ll save everybody a lot of time. Hutchison with a smart shot for the game-winning goal on a power play The Athletic LOADED: 10.29.2019 just seven seconds into the third period. Armia’s six goals leads the Habs. Only five right-wingers in the NHL have scored more often. Scratch that. I don’t know what league David Pastrnak is in right now. Last season, Armia didn’t score his sixth goal until Jan. 18, or his 24th game.

· Brendan Gallagher: The catalyst strikes again to open the scoring Saturday night as he banged in his own rebound after a nifty back pass in tight from Tomas Tatar. After picking up his 300th career point last week, Gallagher will hit another milestone Wednesday in Arizona when he plays career game No. 500.

· Cale Fleury: His first home game against the Leafs turned out a whole lot better than his first game in Toronto. 1158929 Montreal Canadiens had passed away after a battle with multiple sclerosis that pre-dated his birth.

“We were very close. She’s been there from the start,” he said, his voice Meet Jordan Harris and Jayden Struble, the Canadiens prospects cracking. following symbiotic paths to the NHL “It’s alright. She’s in a better place, she’s not suffering anymore, and I just kind of think of it like that. She couldn’t come to my games because she was in the chair, so that’s kind of part of the relief. She can be front By Scott Wheeler Oct 28, 2019 row seats now, just watching, so that gives me a little bit of comfort. Hopefully she’s watching over me.”

Recently, as things got worse, he said the rink – and his teammates, BOSTON — Just after noon on a brisk off-day in October, Jordan Harris Harris chief among them – became his escape, the place he goes not to and Jayden Struble sit side-by-side inside the viewing suite that think about anything else. overlooks the ice at Northeastern University’s Matthews Arena. But the process of working his way back from injury made it more difficult The hall behind them leads to the arena’s second-floor hockey offices. to escape. He’d never been through an injury with that extent of rehab. There, women’s and men’s hockey coaches mingle as players rotate in and out of meetings from the reception area’s red leather seats, essays His conditioning still isn’t back to where he wants it to be, either, so his in one hand and water bottles in the other. At the other end of the rink, role on the team is limited. Sitting out certain exercises in the summer the Huskies fan section, The Dog House, sits empty. was especially hard because the gym is where Struble has always excelled. At St. Sebastian’s, staff used to have to push him to put in the Harris swivels in a desk chair wearing a Canadiens workout t-shirt, his same effort in the classroom as he did in the weight room. Northeastern hat laying on the bar in front of him next to a plastic container of pasta. Struble, to his right in a green athletic shirt and At Northeastern, he’s in general studies because he doesn’t know what sweats, towers over him, big and broad sitting on a high-top barstool. he wants to do yet. He says living away from home is easy because he did that at prep school. School is a different story. Below them, a small group of figure skaters have taken advantage of the open ice. “WELCOME TO HISTORIC MATTHEWS ARENA” is printed “Uhm, you know, I’m getting there,” he says when asked about the across a broadcast booth opposite a jumbotron that looks too big for the student part of being a student-athlete. cozy rink. The massive video screen is the only thing that looks new about the building, which is home to Boston’s sports history. Opened in “I have classes with the boys so it makes it a little easier. College is a lot 1910 as Boston Arena, it hosted the first Bruins and Celtics games different from prep school. Not everything is just labled on the (banners for which hang above the screen) and welcomed every whiteboard. You actually have to go and look at stuff. So that’s a little bit president from Theodore Roosevelt in 1912 to John F. Kennedy in 1946. of an adjustment but I think I’m taking it pretty well.”

Today, Harris and Struble, who’ve arrived in the rink by way of oddly- Struble is 200-plus pounds of muscle because his passion is the gym. similar paths (and who were both taken by the Montreal Canadiens in the Though they lifted just twice a week at St. Sebastian’s, primarily to 2018 and 2019 NHL drafts), call it home. maintain weight, he was always the kid who made the most offseason progress. He had the hockey world talking after his fitness testing results They shake their heads as they consider the rink’s history and their at May’s pre-draft scouting combine. shared New England roots against their rival NHL status. “That kid’s a physical specimen,” said St. Sebastian’s head coach Sean “It’s kind of crazy,” Struble says. “You go into the draft a Bruins fan and McCann. “He’s just a well put together, exceptionally strong kid. But he then you come out drafted by Montreal.” works at it.”

Harris laughs. Struble’s physical development accelerated his commitment to Northeastern. One of the youngest players in last year’s draft (he was “There have been so many jokes about that,” he says. days away from being eligible for 2020) and now in all of college hockey, “So many jokes,” Struble answers, chuckling. Struble had planned on spending a year in the BCHL.

Together, they’ve joined the Huskies and the Canadiens against the Then things changed. odds. When Northeastern’s staff went to watch him his senior year, they Instead of going the junior hockey route in the CHL, the USHL, or the recognized that he already looked and skated like an NHL player, and BCHL, both opted to play prep school hockey; Harris at New could join them a year earlier than anticipated. Hampshire’s Kimball Union Academy and Struble at Massachusetts’ St. “He just dominated the game there. It was almost easy for him at times. Sebastian’s School. He’s a freak athlete. He came in and he’s one of the strongest kids in our Their shared experiences have brought them closer together. Though locker room as a true freshman. In that regard, he’s ready to play,” said they’d played together previously in summer hockey, they’ve now Northeastern assistant coach Mike McLaughlin, who saw Struble play a become roommates on the road. Despite both being lefties, they’ve also lot last season. practiced on the same pairing in recent days. After entering his draft year mostly off the NHL radar, he quickly began to “It’s eerily similar,” Harris says of their symbiotic journeys to this point. fill prep school rinks with scouts.

A challenging post-draft, pre-freshman year summer has turned into an “The big thing for him was just kind of coming to terms with being overwhelmingly tough fall for Struble. watched so much and being scrutinized so much and how do you handle that type of spotlight or pressure? I thought Jayden handled it Shortly after the Canadiens selected him 46th overall at the end of June, exceptionally well,” McCann said. he tore both of his groins at development camp. Though he thinks it may have been the volume of work they were doing, he’s not sure how the “He didn’t put himself above other people even though he was injury actually happened. exceptionally talented and getting a lot of attention. He was a humble kid in that manner and I think that’s why people gravitated towards him. He’s “It just kind of wore on me,” he says, staring at the ground. tremendously skilled but the passion that he brings every single game is kind of a next level in comparison to other players.” The four months since have been filled with daily rehab that pushed into his freshman season, sidelining him for the Huskies’ first three games. (Jim Pierce)

Then, after making his debut in a 2-2 tie against Holy Cross on Oct. 19, Huskies associate head coach Jerry Keefe, who leads the school’s he had to leave the team to go home. recruitment efforts, calls Struble one of the most athletic players he’s ever seen. But it was after conversations with coaches and teammates Struble’s nana – who lived with him, his mom Tara (an occupational that he began to believe in his ability to make the jump at barely 18 years therapist), his step-dad Eric, and his step-brothers Cameron and Dylan – old (he celebrated his birthday on Sept. 8). “He’s got a God-given talent. But I’d say that the things I really liked Then on the ice he’s just a great competitor, like, he just never quits,” about him going through the recruiting process is that he loves to win. So Whitehead added. many people spoke so highly of him as a teammate. He hates to lose. I thought this was the type of kid that we want,” Keefe said. Early on in his third year at Kimball Union, Whitehead believes it became clear that an immediate jump to college was in the cards for Harris. “Obviously the skating ability and the athleticism was off the charts but just him as a teammate, for me, there was something about that that I Matt Underhill, Kimball Union’s assistant coach, went as far as to loved.” compare him to Nicklas Lidstrom. His teachers used to go out of their way to inform the coaches that they’d never know he was a star hockey Though Struble often tries to do too much, McCann echoed Keefe, player by the way he behaved in class. saying it’s never out of selfishness. “He’s such an intellectual off the ice. He’s so pensive and thoughtful. He “It’s more along the lines of ‘I want to win so badly,’ which is a good was so low maintenance from a coaching standpoint,” Underhill said. attribute. It’s just a matter of opening up his vision a little bit more to see “Sometimes you get great players in hockey where you have to keep everything and understand that these opportunities are going to get you your hands on them off the ice and make sure they’re doing the right more, as opposed to forcing the issue,” McCann said. thing. With him there was never any doubt that he was doing things well.”

Struble calls skipping the natural step to junior hockey lucky. Nobody In order to enter Northeastern as a true freshman, Harris (who is now in else agrees. the school’s business program) had to accelerate his schooling and take summer classes when things began to take off. After watching him skate with the team this fall, and work through the long injury process, both Keefe and McLaughlin are confident they made Staff at Kimball Union and Northeastern credited his parents for “doing the right call bringing him in early. something right.” Both work at Boston’s Mass General Hospital, Peter as a physical therapist and Jinny as a nurse. Elijah is studying to become an Off the ice, McCann describes Struble as an outgoing jokester who likes athletic trainer. to have fun and was extremely well-liked by his teammates. On the ice, he’s not surprised by all that Struble has accomplished at such a young Harris jokes about how if he ever runs into injury trouble, he knows who age. Struble, he said, is tremendously powerful and already has a to call. college-level shot, or even above that. “I have a good support system,” he says, smiling. “I think he has the tools to be an impact guy right away,” McCann said. “I don’t see that being an issue for him at all.” By his senior year, there were NHL scouts at every game ahead of his third-round selection by the Canadiens in 2018. Harris didn’t plan on going straight to college last year, either. He too was going to go the junior route. He didn’t even know until midway through his “You see a lot of early commitments get pushed off a year to develop in senior year that Northeastern would welcome him as a true freshman. junior. To Jordan’s credit, I don’t think he gave Northeastern that luxury. He was able to step right in and play,” Underhill said. Unlike Struble, that jump never came down to a question about academics, though. “You can’t find any holes in this kid at all. He plays the game the right way, he’s such a professional off the ice and he’s one of the nicest kids Harris followed his brother Elijah, now a Division III goalie (their dad, you’ve ever met. He’s just all-around unbelievable. What a wonderful Peter, was drafted by the New York Islanders and also played Division I kid.” NCAA hockey as a goalie), to Kimball Union. The two of them, who played one year together at the school when Harris was a freshman Back inside Matthews Arena, the two Huskies trade compliments. (something Harris calls really, really cool because they could never talk “Jayden’s a smart defenceman who can join the offence and likes to play their parents into building a backyard rink), remain the faculty’s all-time physical,” Harris says. favourites. “Jordan is one of the smoothest players I’ve ever seen play the game,” “You won’t find a single person here that speaks anything but huge Struble replies. praise for Jordan. He’s just such a great person, first and foremost,” said Kimball Union head coach Tim Whitehead, who coached in the NCAA for They hope their practice sessions together turn into game action on the more than two decades. “Yes, he’s an elite athlete but he’s an same pairing. Then, someday, they can make their case to the outstanding student, he’s a great citizen, he has a lot of empathy for Canadiens. others.” “It’s definitely really special to both be in the same organization. I At Kimball Union, Harris became a leader on campus. Staff say he would remember the draft experience for myself was kind of a whirlwind so sit at a different lunch table, with a different crowd, every day. He was a seeing Jayden go through it, I can see how he was feeling,” Harris says. straight-A student. He was involved in leadership in the dorm. He would Struble nods. attend other athlete’s games, or support the school’s theatre production. “Just having him too, such a good player to kind of be there before me “The impression he made on everybody here and the relationships he and try to learn from, it’s definitely a good person to have,” Struble says. built were really deep. It probably sounds like I’m exaggerating but I’m “Montreal’s different. It’s crazy. They have so much attention.” not. Like he’s one of those rare kids where if he said he was going to date my daughter, I would say ‘That’s outstanding, that’s great news,’” (Jim Pierce) Whitehead said, laughing. “He’s really special.” After an impressive 13-point freshman year in a significant role, Harris On the ice, Harris led Kimball Union to back-to-back championships, wants to be a leader on a defence that now includes almost exclusively including once as an alternate captain. Though the school has produced freshmen. Last year, what he learned was to play less through his several other NHL draft picks in recent years, Whitehead said Harris rose instincts and more through process and systems, something Struble to the top because all of the players looked up to him. could stand to benefit from.

“He has had to fight his way up the ladder himself. He just plays such a “I thought last year was good. I really did learn a lot, just about the game smooth, controlled, disciplined yet dynamic game. He’s just one of those of hockey and about the way older hockey is played,” Harris says. “Just rare kids that looks like it’s effortless almost because his skating is so mentally, I thought I grew a lot. This year is a year for me to have my elite and his edges,” Whitehead said. “We’ve had really high-end guys, expectations higher for myself.” but Jordan is a special kid. He’s an elite person in addition to being an elite player. We’re all very proud of him here.” And Northeastern’s staff don’t see Harris as an underclassman.

(Northeastern University Athletics) “As a sophomore, he is absolutely a leader. He’s not a rah-rah type of kid, he just goes out and does his job and people follow because they all Like Struble, the 5-foot-11 Harris is also an “animal in the weight room.” know he does the right things,” Keefe said. “He’s going to play a lot of minutes for us in every situation, you name it. We’re looking for big things “You’d never know when you’d meet him because he’s such a mild- from him for sure this year.” mannered guy, but when he gets into the weight room he gets after it. That big year is already well underway. Through six games, Harris already has five points.

Keefe chalks it up to an off-the-charts work ethic. When Harris isn’t the last one on the ice, staff find themselves saying, “Woah, where’s Jordan?”

“I don’t think he thinks of it as work, he’s just got a huge passion to be good. He wants to be a pro, and there’s no doubt in my mind that he’ll get there,” Keefe said.

Off the ice, staff quickly learned that Harris was beyond his years and extremely knowledgeable about the sport. He’s always trying to learn and he wants to be pushed.

On the ice, Keefe and McLaughlin see a player who is tougher than he looks, sees plays develop before they happen, and is a standout defensively.

Like Struble, he was raw when he arrived but he’s a “tremendous skater” who can “really wire it from the blueline.”

“His skating ability is elite NHL level so I think he gets away with a little bit more than a lot of guys. But once he cleaned things up and figured out what it took to play under the pressure of college hockey and knowing that there’s always going to be guys in your face, he was great last year,” McLaughlin said.

This year, that role is even more pronounced. In one game against UMass, after the Huskies took a five-minute major with three minutes left, Harris didn’t come off the ice the rest of the game.

“Jordan plays a ton of minutes, he’s in incredible shape, and he’s an effortless skater. He’s an all-around great player,” McLaughlin said, crediting Keefe for finding gems like him and Struble in the prep circuit.

At Northeastern, where staff demand their student-athletes act like professionals in a college setting, McLaughlin said Harris exemplifies what they want through a quiet, business-like demeanour that includes showing up early and excelling academically.

So when Struble arrived in September, it’s no coincidence the Huskies coaching staff told him to use Harris as his model.

“Our coaches have talked to us about it. There are definitely some similarities there for sure,” Harris says, turning to look at Struble. “Getting to do it together, it’s definitely pretty special.”

The Athletic LOADED: 10.29.2019 1158930 Nashville Predators

Filip Forsberg says he's getting closer to return for Predators

Paul Skrbina, Nashville TennesseanPublished 12:24 p.m. CT Oct. 28, 2019 | Updated 2:16 p.m. CT Oct. 28, 2019

Looks like Filip Forsberg and Matt Duchene are getting well.

The Predators forwards both were on the ice for practice Monday at Centennial Sportsplex, a good sign considering Duchene missed Saturday's game and Forsberg has missed the previous five.

Both have "lower-body" injuries, according to the team. Duchene was on the ice for pregame warmups before Saturday's victory against the Lightning. Forsberg had not been skating with the team since he suffered his injury Oct. 15 against the Golden Knights.

When asked after practice when he might return, Forsberg was coy.

"You know I can't say that," Forsberg said with a laugh. "It's getting there. It's up to the coaches as always. I'm doing everything I can."

The duo had been teaming up with Mikael Granlund and were the Predators' most productive line.

Duchene wore a gold sweater during practice, while Forsberg was outfitted in a white, noncontact sweater.

Duchene has two goals and nine assists in 10 games this season. Forsberg has five goals and three assists.

The Predators will face the Blackhawks at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Brigestone Arena.

STAR CAPTAIN: Predators captain and defenseman Roman Josi was named the NHL's second star of the week. He had two goals and four assists to help the Predators go 3-0 last week and improve to 7-3-1 overall. Boston's Brad Marchand was the first star. He had three goals and five assists in three games. Flyers goalie Brian Elliott was the third star, going 3-0 with a 2.02 goals-against average.

Tennessean LOADED: 10.29.2019 1158931 Nashville Predators “I feel like you can always tell when things start off well for you personally,” Rinne said. “I think you can notice the confidence level, just like being comfortable in different situations, being patient with the puck. He’s always like that. He has that poise, and he’s always been Healthy and free from frustration, Ryan Ellis is pacing the Predators comfortable with the puck. But I feel like now, he’s making great passes, has that extra second to make a decision. Other than that, I feel like he’s

his typical self. He doesn’t act any differently.” By Adam Vingan Oct 28, 2019 That’s precisely what the Predators have counted on Ellis for over the past several years: consistency. No longer burdened by frustration, he’s in a better place to provide that. TAMPA, Fla. — By most measures, Ryan Ellis had a strong 2018-19 season. “I think the biggest thing is just being healthy,” Ellis said. “I think I’m as close to 100 percent as I can be.” He had career highs in points (41) and average ice time (24:01). He played in all 82 games for the first time. His advanced metrics were solid. The Athletic LOADED: 10.29.2019

“I think there’s nothing better than the eye test,” Ellis said. “You can see it when a guy’s involved or when a guy’s pumping his feet, moving, creating things offensively or how good he is in his own end.”

In evaluating Ellis’ performance last season, that is an important distinction. Even as he put up good numbers, it was clear that he wasn’t himself, and it’s even more obvious now. The Ellis who already has 11 assists and 13 points this season looks like a different player.

“Ryan was a little bit injured last year, not to the point that he couldn’t play, but I think a healthy summer and changing up his routine a little bit has allowed him to regain his confidence and thus regain his jump, his speed,” Predators general manager David Poile told local radio station 102.5 FM last week. “Even though he’s a veteran player now, you still need to get your confidence, and if something’s bothering you a little bit, you’re just off. I think last year at different times, he was just off a little bit. This a fantastic start for him.”

At various points last season, Ellis, 28, was given the choice to sit out and heal his unspecified injuries, but he never considered it. As far as he was concerned, it was a non-starter.

Ellis had dealt with worse; he gutted through an injured knee for most of the 2016-17 season, including all 22 playoff games during the Predators’ run to the Stanley Cup final, before having surgery that summer. The six months and 38 games Ellis missed the following season as he recovered were mentally challenging, the decision to play taken from him. (It’s believed that the nagging injuries Ellis endured last season, which he has declined to discuss in detail, were unrelated to his knee.)

“The last couple years, he’s had some injuries, and he’s battled through them,” Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne said. “He’s a tough little guy.”

Ellis’ defining characteristic is his competitiveness. He said it derives from “being undersized and at times undervalued” even as he climbed the ranks as a celebrated junior player before being drafted by the Predators 10 years ago.

It’s why he felt he had more to give despite having his best statistical season.

“If it wasn’t injury-related, it could’ve been better, or I could’ve been more comfortable or whatever you want to say,” said Ellis, who is in the first year of an eight-year, $50 million contract signed in August 2018. “I feel like every year, every guy’s dealing with something, so last year was just (about) getting through (each game). Playing all 82 with what I was dealing with was, I guess, an accomplishment in itself, and then still having a career year.”

Unlike last season, the eye test and analytics are aligned when it comes to analyzing Ellis. His seven primary assists and 11 total assists are both second-most in the NHL among defensemen. He and Roman Josi again have combined to form one of the league’s most effective defensive pairs, with the Predators controlling 57.31 percent of shot attempts, 57.58 percent of scoring chances, 73.68 percent of goals and 58.75 percent of expected goals at five-on-five when they’re on the ice.

Josi and Ellis, who share the team scoring lead with 13 points each, are the first defensive teammates to have at least that many points through the first 11 games in 27 years.

“He’s been playing great,” Josi said after Ellis scored the game-winning goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday. “He makes so many great plays and other things that maybe people don’t see, the little plays he makes back there, the way he creates space for me. He always hits me in the right spot. He’s been unbelievable. I love playing with him.” 1158932 New Jersey Devils

Devils’ Connor Carrick has surgery on broken pinky | What it means, how long he’s out

Updated Oct 28, 2019; Posted Oct 28, 2019

By Chris Ryan

The Devils are on the verge of getting Will Butcher back in their lineup following his injury, but they’re going to be without another defenseman for the near future.

Connor Carrick suffered a broken right pinky finger during last Thursday’s practice in Newark, and he underwent surgery to repair the injury on Friday.

Carrick is expected to miss four-to-six weeks while recovering from the injury, and the team will re-evaluate him in two or three weeks to get a clearer idea of when he’ll be able to return.

In the Devils’ first eight games of the season, Carrick appeared in four of them, serving as a healthy scratch in the other four. He was placed on injured reserve ahead of the team’s 5-3 loss to the Arizona Coyotes on Friday. He has one assist this season.

After being traded to the Devils from the Dallas Stars at the trade deadline last season, Carrick appeared in 20 games to finish the 2018-19 campaign. He then signed a two-year, $3 million deal with the Devils during the offseason as a restricted free agent.

With Carrick sidelined, the Devils will keep Matt Tennyson on the NHL roster going forward, keeping the team at seven defenseman. Tennyson was recalled earlier in October after Andy Greene missed time with his own finger injury, and he remained with Butcher going out for two games shortly after. Tennyson has played in four NHL games this season, posting three assists.

Star Ledger LOADED: 10.29.2019 1158933 New Jersey Devils

Ex-Devil Devante Smith-Pelly lands in Russia with KHL team

Posted Oct 28, 2019

By Chris Ryan

Devante Smith-Pelly has had a strange ride in his hockey career since leaving the Devils, and his new home is on an entirely different continent.

The former Devils winger signed a one-year contract with Kunlun Red Star of the KHL in Russia, putting at least a temporary end to his NHL career.

Smith-Pelly was an unrestricted free agent during the offseason after playing on a one-year deal with the Washington Capitals in 2018-19, and he didn’t garner any interest with NHL clubs.

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That seemed like a cruel twist of fate for Smith-Pelly, who played an integral part of the Capitals’ run to the 2017-18 Stanley Cup. In the 2018 playoffs, Smith-Pelly scored seven goals and logged eight points in 24 games.

But in the 2018-19 season, Smith-Pelly had trouble cracking the Capitals’ NHL lineup, and he played 20 games in the AHL while finishing the season in Hershey.

The 27-year-old spent parts of two seasons with the Devils, joining the team following a trade with the Montreal Canadiens in the second half of the 2015-16 season. He scored eight goals in 18 games to end that campaign, prompting the Devils to give him a two-year contract during the summer of 2016.

His 2016-17 season was a disappointment, going for four goals in 53 games and ending the season on injured reserve. The Devils bought out the final year of his contract during the summer. That cap hit came off the Devils’ books following the 2018-19 season.

Star Ledger LOADED: 10.29.2019 1158934 New Jersey Devils

Why Devils haven’t been able to halt momentum in stunning early losses

Updated Oct 28, 2019; Posted Oct 28, 2019

New Jersey Devils beat New York Rangers, 5-2

By Chris Ryan

The Winnipeg Jets scored the final four regulation goals on opening night. The Florida Panthers scored the final five goals in a 6-4 victory. The Arizona Coyotes scored the final three and five of the last six goals in a 5-3 triumph.

Those three games are ones where the Devils can only look back and wonder what could have been, with multiple-goal leads slipping away in each as momentum drastically shifted against them. Three games that should have ended in victories and six points saw the Devils collect just one, coming in a shootout loss to the Jets in the season opener.

Instead of sitting at a 5-4-1 record if those games went their way, the Devils are 2-5-2, still looking to rebound from their slow start.

“That’s the way things are going right now. We’re making a few mental mistakes a game and they’re costing us,” forward Blake Coleman said. “Not only are we making them, we’re making them at key moments of the game. A goal in the last minute, for whatever reason, seems to hold a little more weight than throughout the period. We gotta to buckle down in specific times of the game, know the situation and play smarter hockey.”

One of the underlying themes in those three losses was allowing a goal in the opening or closing minute of a period. The Jets scored late in the second period. The Panthers scored with eight seconds left in the second period and again 30 seconds into the third. The Coyotes netted one with 16.7 seconds left in the third period with the Devils up 2-0.

All of those goals came with the Devils leading, and all helped turn the tide of the game against them.

“Those are tough. Gotta respond. Have to make sure you have a good shift afterward,” forward Taylor Hall said.

And unfortunately for the Devils, they haven’t had many opportunities to turn things around, simply because they haven’t played many games. The Coyotes contest was the lone game in an 10-day stretch, which ends on Wednesday when the Devils host the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The schedule finally gets more consistent beginning with the Lightning game, and in November, the Devils will play 15 games in 30 days. If they had it their way, they would have been playing again on Saturday following Friday’s loss to the Coyotes.

“You always want to get back at it. I don’t think we’ve ever had this before where you have two games in 11 days,” defenseman Andy Greene said. “It’s a little goofy, but let’s make sure we get better, make sure we’re ready Wednesday.”

Star Ledger LOADED: 10.29.2019 1158935 New Jersey Devils hockey game Friday, Oct. 25, 2019, in Newark, N.J. (Photo: Frank Franklin II, AP)

A six-game homestand comes to an end this weekend. The Philadelphia Despite strange schedule, NJ Devils are gaining momentum in one key Flyers will visit on Friday night, and the Devils will turn right around to area head to Carolina to begin a five-game road trip that will take them through Western Canada.

Bergen Record LOADED: 10.29.2019 Abbey Mastracco, NHL writerPublished 7:05 a.m. ET Oct. 28, 2019 | Updated 9:05 p.m. ET Oct. 28, 2019

NEWARK — The New Jersey Devils played arguably one of their best games of the season this weekend and didn’t come away with a win.

To make matters worse, they hit a strange dip in the schedule where they’re only playing two games in 11 days, including that Friday loss to the Arizona Coyotes at Prudential Center.

Their next game isn’t until Wednesday, so the Devils are left to deal with the stinging disappointment of a game they should have won during a very long layoff.

“You would have liked to get right back on the hopper,” rookie center Jack Hughes said Friday night. “It’s more of a mental thing. We’re pretty rested physically but we’re going to have to sit with this loss for another four days until we get Tampa on Wednesday.”

But the team came away from that game with reasons to be encouraged – the biggest one being the momentum they feel they’re generating on the power play.

The Devils have found the back of the net just three times with the man advantage this season, and it took them six games to do so.

But the numbers are a bit misleading. Technically, the Devils are 3-for-34 on the power play but this latest game had two very abbreviated power plays, including one that lasted all of five seconds, so the chances were limited.

But when they weren’t limited, New Jersey moved the puck, hammered away shots and put bodied in front of the goalie. They left the pass-happy game behind and were opportunistic.

“It felt like we were in their end the whole time firing away,” forward Taylor Hall said. “We had some good looks right in front that throughout the year, those are going to go in.”

There was one power play at 11:14 in the third period that could have made all the difference. Five shots were thrown at Antti Raanta but he managed to track them all.

“I don’t know if we play that any differently,” Hall said. “We had some shots from the outside, had some shots from right in tight there. Over the course of 82 games, those are going to go in. (Kyle Palmieri) had his hand up on one of them. That’s the way it goes. We’ll keep building and working on the power play, but I thought there were some really good things there.”

It’s a weird week where there is more teaching, practicing and video work than actual competitive action, but even with all of the downtime, the Devils do see some progress made.

“The power play is night and day from where it was at the beginning of the year,” coach John Hynes said. “It’s been effective. You can’t control the puck going into the net all night, but we did score on the power play and have scored on the power play in the last few games. But we were in there, we had great chances.”

Up next

The Tampa Bay Lightning have vexed the Devils since the 2018 postseason. The Devils won one game out of five and then lost all three to Tampa Bay last season, all by a large margin. They’ll have a chance to snap that streak Wednesday when the President’s Trophy winners visit Prudential Center.

New Jersey Devils' Taylor Hall (9) fights for control of the puck with Arizona Coyotes' Barrett Hayton (29) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Oct. 25, 2019, in Newark, N.J.

New Jersey Devils' Taylor Hall (9) fights for control of the puck with Arizona Coyotes' Barrett Hayton (29) during the first period of an NHL 1158936 New York Islanders

Belmont arena developers ask judge to dismiss Floral Park lawsuit

By Jim Baumbach

Updated October 28, 2019 1:23 PM

New York Arena Partners -- the developers of the Islanders’ $1.3 billion sports arena and entertainment complex at Belmont Park -- asked a state judge late Friday to dismiss the Village of Floral Park’s lawsuit that seeks to stop construction.

Two state agencies involved in the project’s approval process -- Empire State Development and Franchise Oversight Board -- also filed separate requests to throw out the case in state Supreme Court in Mineola on Friday.

Floral Park’s lawsuit, filed last month, asked a judge to overturn all approvals, stop construction on the site and restart the environmental review process. It cited a flawed public bidding process and an inadequate environmental review that they say does not mitigate the project’s negative impacts on the village.

The Islanders group and the state agencies defended the bidding process, their outreach efforts and their mitigation conclusions in multiple court filings on Friday that totaled more than a thousand pages.

A spokesman for New York Arena Partners, in response to a request for comment, referred to their court papers in which attorney Mylan Denerstein wrote, “There is simply no legal basis to hold this project up.”

NYAP, a partnership between the owners of the Islanders, Mets and Oak View Group, is in the process of building a 19,000-seat arena, 250-room hotel and 350,000 square feet of retail on 43 acres of state land at Belmont.

Empire State Development, the state agency responsible for selecting the Islanders group as the winning bid in December 2017 and overseeing the environmental review process, said in court papers that the Village of Floral Park has been “an unalterable and steadfast foe” of the project.

“As our filing makes clear, the Belmont Redevelopment Project went through a transparent, public process that adhered to all requirements under state law,” ESD spokesman Jack Sterne said. “The Village of Floral Park’s lawsuit is, in essence, an attempt to stop the project simply because the village doesn’t like it – despite broad support from other community stakeholders and ESD’s full compliance with the law.”

The other motion to dismiss the lawsuit was filed by the Franchise Oversight Board, a state agency that oversees horse racing at Belmont and technically sold the Belmont property to ESD to facilitate the project.

Attorneys for Floral Park will get a chance to respond in writing before state judge Roy Mahon will decide whether the lawsuit can proceed.

Floral Park attorney Michael Murphy said, via email, “We will respond in due course and vigorously defend the Village’s claims and its right to protect its residents and community from the severe impacts this project poses.”

Construction on the Islanders’ arena began in August and is ongoing. The arena is scheduled to be open in October 2021.

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 10.29.2019 1158937 New York Islanders deeper by looking into the solar movement and other earth-conscious initiatives.

That’s why Eric thought this spot near Joshua Tree would be such a How a Nystrom family business grew (and continues to grow) in Joshua good fit for a family venture. Tree “The first thing I thought of was my dad because he made all these solar contacts and has been talking a lot about it recently,” Eric said. “I just thought it would be the perfect project for us to do together.” By Josh Cooper Oct 28, 2019 Though the environmental factor of the properties were important to the Nystroms, the financial aspect of them was what enabled the 36-year-old Eric — who made an estimated $14 million-plus over his NHL career with For a week in early May, the scene between two houses in Joshua Tree, the Flames, Stars, Wild and Predators from 2005-06 through 2015-16 — California, looked like an excavation site. to see them as places to buy into. Eric Nystrom and his father Bob — the former a recently retired NHL Eric won’t say what he paid for the properties or how much they cost to player and the latter a member of Islanders dynasty royalty — were using run, but locations in the Joshua Tree area certainly get purchased for pickaxes to dig a trench where a septic line would run between the less than spots in big urban centers. Still, the demand to go there and structures. From dawn until dusk, this was how it looked in the small town stay at an Airbnb is high, and in some cases prices can be comparable to right next to scenic Joshua Tree National Park. major metro areas. “We were basically hitting each other over the head with shovels The Airbnb price listed at Moon Camp — which Eric says is the cost of because we couldn’t stand each other by the weekend,” Eric said, “but the next open date — is set at $199. For the Bohemian, it’s at $119. At the sweat equity aspect of it is a huge component because at the same Moon Camp, a recent check saw the price for Dec. 13-15 (a weekend) at time it’s an investment so you’re doing the best job you can but you also $389 per night. That same weekend, a stay at the JW Marriott L.A. Live want to work within a budget.” for a room with a king-sized bed comes out to $294.12 per night. The investment, in this case, were properties Eric had recently Basically, from an investment perspective, all three homes are likely purchased in Joshua Tree. One is called Moon Camp — which includes working out for Eric and his family, according to former Predators another structure called The Little Dipper — and it is owned by Eric and teammate Victor Bartley, who originally got Eric into spending his hard- Bob. The other, called The Bohemian, has another partner involved. earned NHL money on real estate. The septic line was being dug between The Little Dipper and the main “Joshua Tree is getting great nightly rates but at a substantially less living area of Moon Camp. All have been converted into Airbnbs with a purchase price, so at the end his monthly return skyrockets compared to few different goals in mind. what the guys in the Austin, Portland, L.A. market are making,” said One is clearly the business aspect of it, since Joshua Tree has become a Bartley who himself owns 12 properties and used his entire first-year popular spot for Los Angeles tourists and Southern California locals NHL salary on real estate in Nashville. “Whereas Nashville we’re doing looking to escape the giant urban sprawl and head to the desert. The phenomenal but Joshua Tree’s numbers in terms of how much cash, it’s other is to introduce people to off-the-grid living in the hope that a going to cost you up front (but) is much less than the other spots are.” weekend at one of these properties will get guests to look at the world a Eric is currently getting a Master’s degree in sports business at Michigan little differently. At Moon Camp and The Little Dipper, the water is — his undergraduate alma mater — and real estate was something his delivered. All appliances run on propane and the electricity comes from father always told him about as a good investment. However, Eric never solar energy. became the guy looking into properties during his playing days. That was The Bohemian is on the grid, but photos of it show a more nature vibe. until he met Bartley when they went in on a spot together in Nashville. It opened Eric’s eyes, and after he retired, he started to do more research. “That’s what makes it so unique,” Eric said of the three homes. “It’s that type of — people who are going to National Parks, they’re concerned “I wanted (it) to be my own deal and not having to rely on somebody else about the environment and the carbon footprint. Same with the people in spearheading the whole thing,” Eric said. the area. Tons of solar power out there and my dad, who’s involved with Eric trained in the Los Angeles area for what he estimated to be eight or the property with me. He’s just a huge advocate of solar and he’s all nine hockey offseasons, but he never had been to Joshua Tree. He’d about the environment. And when he saw that aspect of the property, he look at Instagram or Twitter and see people he followed in the national was all about it.” park — which gets 2.8 million annual visitors, according to National “I’ll be honest with you. I’m definitely an environmental guy,” Bob said. Geographic. “I’m so concerned about it, global warming and things like that. As soon “I was seeing people and their location was in Joshua Tree, so people as I saw this and Eric sent me the link I said ‘We gotta do it.’ To me it’s were visiting there a ton,” he said. “And it kept coming up in something that’s so unique and environmentally sound, and I just think it conversations, ‘Have you ever been to Joshua Tree? You know where was a great decision on his part. But when he sent me the information on you should look? Joshua Tree.’ And finally for some reason it came up it I said, ‘We gotta do this.’ with an opportunity to actually get into the market there and we jumped “You just get away and sit outside at night and see the stars and get on that.” away from the TV and radio and chatter and just be amazed by the stars After he took over the properties in May, the real work began. in the sky. It’s unbelievable.” While Eric and Bob, who at age 67 still does Spartan Races and has Eric and Bob Nystrom both have found their calling card in nature, and competed in triathlons, did the manual labor, Eric’s wife Chelsea and investing in homes at Joshua Tree. (Provided by Eric Nystrom) mom Michele, the latter of who Eric said “didn’t stand for the dust in the This feeling of being one with the environment is in the Nystrom family’s desert,” tried to figure out the best interior designs. Instead of getting blood. Bob was born in Sweden and was young when his family moved brand-name decor, Eric and his family made relationships with local to Canada. He said the Swedish mindset of conservation was ingrained shops to get the most authentic look. in him. “We had to come in and think ‘OK, what is the Joshua Tree demographic “My father, when he just came over to Canada, he would just wet himself and how can we deliver the ultimate Joshua Tree experience to the in the shower, shut the water off then soap up and rinse off. There was people who were going to be staying here,’” he said. no such thing as running water,” Bob said. “They just wanted to conserve While Moon Camp and The Little Dipper were off the grid and rustic, Eric, everything and composting and everything like that was just a part of our Chelsea and their other investor made The Bohemian (which Eric said at life.” purchase was a “built house” but also a “blank canvas”) more luxurious. As environmentalism became more prevalent with increased media Eric built an outdoor shower by hand and also gave the property coverage of climate change, so did Bob’s interest in making sure he hammocks, an infra-red sauna, an outdoor fire pit and a vintage vinyl lessened his carbon footprint. The compost pile at the family’s home in record player with old records set on reclaimed wood shelves as artwork. Long Island when Eric was a kid was one thing, but he wanted to go “It’s basically Pinterest on steroids is how I describe it,” Eric said. “Then you see it book up, you think ‘Wow, people really like this place’ and the way it’s just taken off, we’re so excited with how well it’s been doing. And the same thing with Moon Camp.”

The Moon Camp is a dome house with two shipping containers. One week in July, Eric came out and converted one of the shipping containers from a gym into a room with a daybed, hanging swing chairs and a lounge living area with Joshua Tree-esque decor. The place previously had received great reviews on Airbnb, but Eric wanted to upgrade the property to enhance its value to guests.

The renovation surprised Bob, who noted that “Eric was not handy at all” while growing up.

“I told him to weed the garden one day and I was really upset at him and I came home and nothing was done,” Bob recalled, “and he goes, ‘Dad, I don’t know how to weed a garden.'”

While the amenities in the homes that Eric and his family created might be a huge selling point, nature is the calling card of these properties. Chelsea handles the social media and often photos on the Instagram account are of the starry night skies, Joshua trees or the mountains nearby.

Moon Camp at night. (Provided by Eric Nystrom)

With the way Eric and Bob both discuss the venture, it sounds like it won’t be the last. Though Eric’s post-graduate degree has a sports element in its title, he wants to put most of his effort into real estate. That could involve arena deals down the line. But for now it’s these types of properties, ones with a different type of flavor that add a fun, relaxing experience to the user and give Eric a nice starter business for himself and his family.

From a quality perspective, users seem to be having a solid experience. Moon Camp currently has a 4.94 Airbnb average star rating (out of five) after 321 reviews. The Bohemian is 4.85 after 73 reviews. The Little Dipper, which just opened, has eight reviews and a 4.88 star rating.

Making a business out of these high quality, quirky homes fit Eric’s personality as someone who was always more than just a hockey player and had many interests outside the game.

“I mean the guy was creating music for every flight and he’s big into cooking. He wanted to put out his own cookbook,” said former teammate Colin Wilson, who partially credits Eric for helping him find interests away from hockey. “Now he’s getting into real estate and he went back and got his business degree. He’s one of those guys where hockey wasn’t his only identity and the only thing he cared about.”

Eric believes the longer he can keep going, the better. It’s worked so far and provided a quick transition to the next chapter in his life.

“This is my livelihood now, so we want to make sure we’re doing it right,” he said. “We think we have a little niche here with the experience of a property like Moon Camp.”

The Athletic LOADED: 10.29.2019 1158938 New York Islanders The true fourth line — with Ross Johnston, Cole Bardreau and Oliver Wahlstrom — saw only 6-7 minutes at even strength but produced the third goal, with Bardreau recording his first NHL point off a big hit by Wahlstrom to turn a dump-in over. Johnston, as usual, made the most of The forwards stepping up in the face of injuries and embodying ‘Islander his limited minutes, scoring his fifth career goal in just under 400 career hockey’ minutes on the ice.

The 26-year-old Bardreau has experienced it all in six pro seasons, mostly bad luck. He broke his neck in his draft year at Cornell and didn’t By Arthur Staple Oct 28, 2019 get picked, then had myriad injuries in five seasons in the Flyers organization that limited him to fewer than 50 games a season and ran the gamut from a major knee injury to a serious finger infection. “Islander hockey” under Barry Trotz has a pretty clear definition. A lunchpail, hard-hat mentality. No shifts off. And no special treatment for But he was in the right spot last week to get the call when Komarov fell ill even the most skilled forwards — it’s rolling four lines and being in the and now, with two more bottom-sixers sidelined, his stay may last a bit right spots. longer.

The injuries to Matt Martin and Tom Kuhnhackl, both of whom will be out “It seemed like the cards always fell against me when it came to injuries 4-to-6 weeks with left-leg injuries suffered in Friday’s win in Ottawa, at inopportune times and now things are kind of falling for me,” Bardreau haven’t decimated the Isles forward group. Kuhnhackl is the 13th forward said. “You don’t want to see your teammates hurt. But things happen for and Martin has already sat out of three of the first 10 as a healthy scratch a reason, just trying to stay in the moment, not worry about what else is when linemate Casey Cizikas was out. happening and hope for the best.”

But coupled with ’s lengthy illness and Jordan Eberle’s With Noah Dobson in the fold this season, the Islanders could seemingly continued absence, the Isles’ thinnest position has gotten thinner. They afford an injury on defense. Instead they’ve been healthy and effective, went with the 12 healthy forwards on hand for Sunday’s 5-3 win over the keeping Dobson in street clothes for all but three games so far. Lou Flyers, their seventh straight. And, with four days off, there’s no need to Lamoriello said on Sunday they have not considered sending Dobson make a move to add another forward either from Bridgeport — where back to junior. injuries have nagged the struggling Sound Tigers, as well — or outside Now, as the forward depth gets sorely tested, the higher-end players are the organization. absorbing the bigger minutes and the Isles have produced the longest For now, “Islander hockey” means two things: Next man up and a winning streak since 1989-90, as well as the longest winning streak in the reliance on those top-six forwards. league so far this season.

“You definitely want that challenge,” said Mathew Barzal, who scored yet “When guys go down, other guys have to step up,” Beauvillier said. “I another highlight-reel goal with a burst of speed on Sunday to give him think we’ve done the job.” nine points in the first 11 games, including five goals (he reached five The Athletic LOADED: 10.29.2019 goals in game 34 last season). “When you’re out there more, against the other team’s top guys, it shows the trust in my game from Barry.”

Barzal’s jump in even-strength ice time is the most significant of any Islander forward so far this season, from 14:54 last season to 17:59 through 11 games this season. Anders Lee has also had a big jump, from 14:12 to 17:10 as Barzal’s winger.

Lee got the Isles even with a full-effort goal on Sunday, his fourth of the year.

“Anders Lee was a beast today. His goal was a great example of leadership,” Trotz said. “You don’t have a license to do less, you have a responsibility to do more. He knew it was a big game and he did more.”

Next up after those two top-liners? Anthony Beauvillier, from 12:59 a season ago to 14:46 so far. The 22-year-old has also been one of the more consistent Isles forwards so far. The aggressive lead forechecker has meshed well with Brock Nelson and, of late, Derick Brassard on a second line that has plenty of skill but also a bit of determination without the puck.

“I wanted to take another step in my game and I think I have,” Beauvillier said. “I’m doing well getting on pucks. Just fixing my battles, what I’ve been focusing on, trying to win every puck. Maybe not as much points as I want, but after every game I feel good about myself.”

Beauvillier’s inconsistent 2018-19 featured one point in his first 16 games and barely any games with ice time over 18 minutes. He’s already had two 20-plus minute games this season, and riding shotgun with Nelson means Beauvillier sees a lot of top opposing forwards.

“It was about the confidence,” Trotz said. “He had a tough start last year, he focused too much on the points and assists and all that. We got him thinking about playing a real hard game. It’s carried over.”

If the makeshift bottom six can also contribute, as they did on Sunday, that takes some heat off. Michael Dal Colle showed tenacity in Martin’s spot with Cizikas and Cal Clutterbuck on the “fourth” line, which is really the third line now in terms of usage. Dal Colle was a healthy scratch on Friday and would definitely be on the active roster bubble if everyone were healthy, but now that spot with the veterans is up for grabs.

“When the door opens, you either step in and join the part or you get kicked out for non-participation,” Trotz said. 1158939 New York Rangers "It’s a want," Quinn said. "You can’t wait to get in the battle when there are loose pucks, in the offensive zone or in the defensive zone. When a play goes into the corner, you can’t look to see, ‘Should I get over there?’ You’ve got to get over there. If you watch the difference between us and With Mika Zibanejad nursing an injury, NY Rangers call-up Filip Chytil the Bruins, that was the difference. They were quick to the battle, and and Ryan Lindgren from our end of it, we were too slow to the battle."

Jesper Fast expected to play; Henrik Lundqvist 'sore'

Vincent Z. Mercogliano, NHL writerPublished 3:34 p.m. ET Oct. 28, 2019 Zibanejad wasn't the only one to miss practice Monday. Goaltender | Updated 6:58 p.m. ET Oct. 28, 2019 Henrik Lundqvist and forward Jesper Fast were also out.

Like Zibanejad, Lundqvist took a big hit against Boston — two, actually — and was "a little sore," according to Quinn. TARRYTOWN - The New York Rangers have been biding their time before reaching into their supply of prospects and pulling up any players Quinn added that Alexandar Georgiev will get the start in goal against the from AHL Hartford. But with forward Mika Zibanejad nursing an upper Lightning, but Lundqvist will dress as the backup. body injury — and with the Rangers having lost six of their last seven games — they decided to make a pair of moves. Bergen Record LOADED: 10.29.2019

The team announced Monday evening that forward Filip Chytil and defenseman Ryan Lindgren officially been recalled from the Rangers' American Hockey League affiliate.

After going with a 21-man roster through much of the first month of the season, the Rangers are now expanding to the NHL maximum of 23, which increases their salary-cap hit to a total of just over $78.9 million. (The maximum is $81.5 million.) Only 20 players can dress for each game.

Chytil was a first-round pick in 2017 who played 75 games for the Rangers last season, but he was sent to the Hartford after a disappointing training camp. The team's reasoning, at the time, was because the 20-year-old did not earn a spot with their top-nine forwards, and they wanted him to play significant minutes in the minors, as opposed to being buried on the fourth line with the Rangers.

He responded well and is currently tied for the Hartford team-lead with nine points (three goals and six assists) through nine games. He also leads the team with a plus-nine rating and 34 shots.

The offensive skill was never the question with Chytil, rather his ability to be an “all-around player,” as Rangers coach David Quinn put it, and improve his defensive zone coverage.

“Filip’s had a real good year down there,” Quinn said after Monday's practice. “Going down there and just getting points doesn’t necessarily mean you have a chance to get here and have success. What I really like about what Fil has done is he’s gone down there and has been productive offensively, but he’s also done the things that he needs to do to have success at this level.”

Lindgren was the final defenseman cut at the end of training camp, but the 21-year-old clearly impressed Quinn with his defensive instincts and toughness.

What roles the two call-ups will play remains to be seen.

Chytil, who has been working as a center during his time in the AHL, is likely to be inserted into the top nine. But at who's expense?

Zibanejad left Sunday’s 7-4 loss to the Boston Bruins after taking a hard hit to the chest from Patrice Bergeron near the end of the first period. He missed Monday’s practice, with Quinn labeling him as “day-to-day.”

“He feels better today,” Quinn added. “We’ll know more tomorrow.”

His status for Tuesday night's home game against the Tampa Bay Lightning is up in the air, with Chytil the obvious fill-in if Zibanejad is out. But whenever Zibanejad returns, the Rangers will likely have to move one of their other centers — Ryan Strome, Brett Howden or Lias Andersson — to a wing position. It also means that journeymen Greg McKegg and Micheal Haley will be healthy scratches most nights.

The path to playing time for Lindgren is less clear.

The Rangers have used the same six defensemen all season — Jacob Trouba, Brady Skjei, Marc Staal, Tony DeAngelo, Adam Fox and Libor Hájek. One would need to sit for Lindgren to crack one of the three pairs, with fellow left-handed shooters Staal and Hájek the most logical choices.

Perhaps the Rangers will rotate nights off for the time being, but Quinn has been adamant about the Rangers needing to play with more of the grit and physicality that Lindgren brings. 1158940 Ottawa Senators “I just played the right way and it showed that I want to work as hard as I can. I think D.J. saw that and gave me the opportunity with (Pageau) and Brown and I knew I couldn’t let that go.”

Nick Paul is trying to show the Ottawa Senators he belongs in the NHL Now that Paul’s here. He wants to stay but he’ll take nothing for granted.

“I’m happy with what’s being going on these last two games but my goals are still to be reached,” he said. “I want to get better and better Bruce Garrioch every single day and not just be satisfied with playing like this. I want to show them I can be a player in this league.”

Paul has taken steps in that direction. Even Nick Paul wondered about his own future with the Ottawa Senators when he was sent down to the club’s AHL affiliate in Belleville in Ottawa Sun LOADED: 10.29.2019 September.

The 24-year-old winger tried not to let getting sent down get him down, but after trying desperately to make the Senators on a full-time basis for five straight years, you can’t blame Paul for wondering if his days in this organization were numbered and if he was ever going to get another chance to show the people in Ottawa his abilities.

Since being recalled before the club went on a three-game road trip through Vegas, Arizona and Dallas earlier this month, Paul, the last piece remaining in the deal that sent Jason Spezza to the Dallas Stars in July, 2013, has tried to make the most of this opportunity – and it paid off with a three-point effort in the club’s 5-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks Sunday night.

Confidence is such a big part of the game and Paul looks like he has plenty after being named the first star against the Sharks with two goals and an assist.

“It’s huge (to get points),” Paul said Sunday night. “My biggest asset in the AHL was skating with the puck and I’ve been having a little more confidence to do that here instead of just trying to make the quick play. Using my feet, using my legs and skating with the puck and creating space has helped me a lot.

“If the (defence) steps up and I need to chip (the puck) in I guess I’ll chip it in but moving my legs is definitely creating more space for me.”

Playing on a line with centre Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Connor Brown on the right, Paul didn’t know if he would get this chance again. He took the message given to him when he was sent to Belleville by general manager Pierre Dorion and coach D.J. Smith in September on areas to improve to heart.

“I just worked. I knew that’s what they wanted,” said Paul. “D.J. told me when I went down that he needed somebody that checks all the boxes off so I knew what I had to do. I told (Belleville coach) Troy (Mann) I wanted to try (penalty killing) out because I want to be a p.k. guy up here by blocking shots and getting the puck down the ice and being a big draw guy.

“I was a draw guy in Belleville and I want to win some draws here. Luckily I’ve been fortunate enough to take some here and show them that I can. I just want to be an all-around player that checks all the box: Someone that works hard, forechecks, scores, p.k. draws and just trying to check as many boxes to give myself opportunity.”

Paul went to Belleville with the right attitude and he knew he hadn’t done enough to stay.

“It was hard because I worked so hard this summer and the one thing I wanted to do was make the team out of camp,” he said. “Being sent down I didn’t know if I was going to get another shot or not. I wasn’t happy with myself (during the pre-season game) in Vancouver and I know that was on me because I didn’t have a good game.

“So when I got down (to Belleville) I just put my head down and worked as hard as I could and tried to show them that I want another chance and I’m ready. Thankfully, I got that and I knew the second time around I wasn’t going to let that slip.”

When he got the call back to Ottawa, Paul knew he couldn’t waste the chance.

“It’s getting to where (people are saying), ‘When’s Nick Paul going to play?’ and I knew that was on me and I knew I had to capture this moment,” Paul said. “I knew I was going to start on the fourth line and I had to grind my way and show that I can be a responsible player and that you can trust me. 1158941 Ottawa Senators A healthy scratch Sunday for only the second time in his career, Ryan will have a spot in the skate Tuesday because the Senators made a couple of roster moves Monday.

SNAPSHOTS: Even with a break in the schedule, the Senators have The club’s highest-paid player, he hasn’t been producing and the only work to do option for the Senators is to find a way to get him going with some consistency. While the immediate thinking is the club should trade Ryan, it would be difficult to find a team willing to take the final two years of his contract with a $7.25 million cap hit. Bruce Garrioch There isn’t much of a market – if any – for Ryan which means at this

juncture the options are limited. The Senators have also been sitting The Ottawa Senators had Monday off to kick back, relax and reflect on winger Mikkel Boedker regularly and it doesn’t look like he’s going to the first month of the schedule that’s now in the books. contribute much either. Both could help their own cause by working hard in practice because Smith needs to see that area improve first. Coming off a convincing 5-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks Sunday at the Canadian Tire Centre to close out a three-game homestand, the THE LAST WORDS Senators have a six-day break in the schedule and they’d better enjoy it Defenceman Erik Brannstrom only played 7:59 against San Jose while because after this they’ll play 16 games in a span of 29 days starting with Dylan DeMelo had 21:56 of ice-time and turned that into a two-point Saturday’s game against the Boston Bruins on the road. effort. “He’s a true professional,” Smith said. “He comes to practice every Coach D.J. Smith is well aware this break is coming at an odd time. day, he’s in the gym and he just works hard. He does everything right and he’s competitive. He’s probably one of the more under-rated guys “You know you’re going to get slammed later,” Smith said Sunday. that we have here when you look our defence corps. He’s always standing in the right spot. He’s been in the league awhile and he knows With a 3-7-1 record in the first 11 games, the Senators will also have what he’s got to do to stay here.” … Wednesday off, but in between Smith will continue to institute the way he wants this team to play to have success. The Senators have shown Centre Logan Brown was an impressive 7-0 in the faceoff circle Sunday flashes of being competitive, however, there’s room for improvement and … that’s what Smith wants to see. The Senators are hoping to have Artem Anisimov back from his lower “We’re going to work,” Smith said. “Certainly, we’ll work on systems but body injury back soon, but he hasn’t skated yet so it’s doubtful he’ll be we’re going to skate. I think if you skate in practice, you skate in games ready for this weekend against the Bruins. There’s a chance he could be and we’ve got to be ready for a really fast Boston team on Saturday on the ice with the team Tuesday. night.” Ottawa Sun LOADED: 10.29.2019 Smith had zero complaints about the club’s effort against the Sharks. He liked the way the line of J.C. Beaudin, Filip Chlapik and Scott Sabourin contributed with limited ice time. Yes, Beaduin and Chlapik were sent down Monday, but the club may still opt to bring them back.

“Everyone, almost to a man, came to play,” said Smith. “We had 36 hits. That’s the way we’ve got to play. I thought our fourth line did a heck of a job creating energy for us. They were taking short shifts, they got out there and they hit and they got off the ice.

“They gave us enough rest and enough energy to get going.”

The key now is for the Senators to find consistency with the efforts because that will lead to more wins on a regular basis.

“We’re so young, (the inconsistency) is expected,” Smith added. “It’s a lot to expect that every single night, young kids that are just coming from the American league, to be able to (play physically) with some of the NHL’s best.

“They’re going to do their best and they’re going to have ups and downs but now we know what a true 60 minutes looks like for our team. That’s what we’ve got to do if we’re going to continue to win games.”

IS THOMAS CHABOT OKAY?

The Senators weren’t pleased with a blow to the head defenceman Thomas Chabot took from Barclay Goodrow of the Sharks in the final two minutes of the game.

While the Senators are hopeful Chabot is going to be fine to play Saturday against the Bruins, it will be interesting to see if he’s on the ice Tuesday when the Senators skate again. If he’s out for any length of time that would be a difficult blow to the club because he’s Ottawa’s best player and has been averaging 26:34 of time-on-ice in 11 games this season.

Smith certainly voiced his displeasure with the hit while speaking with the media .

“I didn’t like it,” Smith said. “You’ve got one of your better players getting hit with a minute and a bit to go and it’s probably not needed. But, we’ll find out. I think everything is all right but we’ll see what happens.”

The Senators have seven defencemen in camp and Cody Goloubef would be inserted into the lineup if Chabot isn’t able to play.

WHAT NOW FOR BOBBY RYAN? 1158942 Ottawa Senators

Scott Sabourin has been told he can find a place to stay

Bruce Garrioch

Scott Sabourin can make himself at home in his hometown.

The rugged winger, who came to camp on a pro tryout and signed one- year deal worth $700,000 after making the team, has been told by the Senators he can find a place to live.

Playing mostly a fourth-line role, Sabourin, who grew up in Orléans and played junior for coach D.J. Smith in Oshawa, was informed of the decision following the club’s 5-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks Sunday night at the Canadian Tire Centre.

The club posted a video on its site of Smith talking to the players after the win.

“I don’t know if you guys know or not but in the NHL after 23 days in the hotel we have to decide if you’re getting a place or not, (Sabourin) you’re getting a place,” Smith said.

A cheer went up in the dressing room when Smith delivered the news because Sabourin has done his job since signing with the Senators by playing a physical role and keeping the opposition in check.

Ottawa Sun LOADED: 10.29.2019 1158943 Ottawa Senators The power play was held scoreless again, but to be fair, it was up against the top penalty kill in the NHL, which has more than a 93 percent success rate.

Senators play ‘best game of the year’ with Bobby Ryan as a healthy “We played hard; we got pucks behind them and were physical with their scratch. Now what? big players,” Tkachuk said. “It was probably frustrating for them but probably our best game of the year so far.”

“Now we know what I believe 60 minutes looks like for our hockey team, By Hailey Salvian Oct 28, 2019 and that’s what we’ve got to do if we want to continue to win games,” Smith said.

So the question now is: What do you do about Bobby Ryan? On Sunday, while most of his teammates had the morning off, Bobby Ryan was on the ice working with Mikkel Boedker and Cody Goloubef. While the Sharks are struggling to start the season, they are still a talented, albeit aging, team. They are big and have a deep roster and Earlier that morning, Ryan was told in a meeting with coach D.J. Smith were just beat by the Ottawa Senators. After such a successful outing, I that he would be a healthy scratch against the San Jose Sharks on just don’t see who you take out of the lineup to put Ryan back in. Sunday night. Filip Chlapik was called up from AHL Belleville shortly after and arrived at the rink with his gear while Ryan was still on the ice. If Smith wants Ryan in a top-nine role, he is going to have to beat out wingers like Tyler Ennis, Anthony Duclair, Vladislav Namestnikov, Nick Sunday was the second time Ryan has been a healthy scratch in 12 Paul and Connor Brown. Ryan simply hasn’t been better than any of years and the first time for performance-related reasons. those five wingers. This gets even more complicated when Rudolfs “It was hard,” Smith said about the meeting with Ryan. “I told him this Balcers comes back from injury. And Colin White and Artem Anisimov, morning my thoughts, and always not every player agrees, and you too. Personally, I think Logan Brown has been too good to be sent down shouldn’t, to be honest. … The message is clear that if you practice hard when the Senators get some centre depth back, so someone might have and you play hard, you get the rewards.” to shift to the wing.

He further explained that he wants to see Ryan produce offensively on The question just continues to get bigger when you look down the line. the power play and at five-on-five. And if he’s not scoring, he wants to As Drake Batherson, Josh Norris and Alex Formenton become legitimate see him drive play and make some plays for his teammates. NHL players, what do you do with Ryan?

Ryan has struggled in that department to start the season. He is under contract until 2022-23, when he becomes an unrestricted free agent and carries a $7.25 million cap hit. You can’t trade that He hasn’t scored since opening night against Toronto and has tallied only contract without packaging a first-round pick, and in the throes of a three assists for four points in 10 games. At five-on-five and the man rebuild, the Senators cannot do that. advantage, he has registered only 15 shots on goal. In comparison, Brady Tkachuk leads the team with 42. All the Senators can really do is continue to scratch him and hope he finds his way back to being productive through hard work in practice, On Friday against the New York Islanders, Ryan struggled and was which Smith wants to see from all his players. That isn’t ideal for Ryan, limited to only 7:58 of ice time. The next day in practice, he skated on the and I’m sure it’s a hard pill to swallow. It cannot be easy to be thrust out fourth line with Scott Sabourin and J.C. Beaudin, but Smith didn’t like the of the lineup as a 12-year NHL veteran. fit because he thinks Ryan is “a top-nine guy in this league.” But Smith is doing the right thing here by holding Ryan and all his players So, the rookie head coach decided to switch things up 10 games into the accountable and getting young, deserving players who will make up the season and with a 2-7-1 record. future of this team into the lineup.

“There comes a point in every team’s season where different Now, it’s up to Ryan to respond. combinations gotta be tried. We’re going to try younger guys, some faster guys; you’re going to try some things and see what works,” Smith said. Karlsson’s return to Ottawa was overshadowed by Ryan’s healthy “You know, I think it’s no different than with (Anders) Nilsson and (Craig) scratch and the impressive play by the Senators. But have no fear: Here Anderson. Nilsson was really going good, and he got to play three are five bonus thoughts on Sunday’s 5-2 win over San Jose that do not games. Andy works real hard in practice, so he gets to go here today, ignore the fan-favourite Swede: and if he gets hot, then (he will start more).” 1. Last December, when Karlsson made his return to Ottawa for the first The move to scratch the 32-year-old winger is significant not only time, his teammates gave him the rookie lap treatment, letting him skate because it’s the first time he’s being sat for poor play but also because it out by himself in front of over 17,000 fans eager to see the Norris Trophy represents a shift in the rebuild toward giving the kids a shot over the winners return. veterans. On Sunday night, though, in his second game at Canadian Tire Centre, Smith said Chlapik, who initially made the team out of camp but was sent on a different team than the one he was drafted to, things were different. down after the second game of the season, has been the hardest worker “I think last year I didn’t really know what to expect, and the feeling was in Belleville and deserved the call-up. He also kept young players like extremely different than anything I’ve experienced before,” Karlsson said Beaudin and Nick Paul in over Ryan. before the game. “This year, I’m a little bit more comfortable in the And on Sunday, it worked. The Senators played perhaps their most situation I’m in, coming back here as the visiting team. complete game of the season to defeat the Sharks 5-2, once again “I think the dust has settled a little bit, so I think it’s just a bit easier to spoiling Erik Karlsson’s return to Canadian Tire Centre. focus on playing the game, and everything outside the rink is a bit more The Sens got goals from three of their four lines. (Tkachuk, Anthony at ease. I think I’ve talked to everybody about the decision I’ve made, Duclair, Connor Brown and Nick Paul scored.) They were physical, drove and I think everybody is a bit accustomed to it now, so it’s kind of nice play into the Sharks’ zone and, at the risk of sounding cliche, played hard just to come back and be the regular guy that I normally am.” for 60 minutes. As he took the ice Sunday for warmups, still always the first on the ice, “From start to finish, I thought we made it difficult for them,” netminder many fans in “Karlsson” jerseys stood on the glass with signs, showing Craig Anderson said after the game. “We were playing more physical, how much they still care about the former Senators captain. playing tough in front of the net, making it hard for (them) to want to go “I don’t think you can argue and say that he wasn’t the most skilled guy there. who has ever played here,” Mark Borowiecki said Saturday about his “We took a penalty early with (Mark Borowiecki) crushing a guy in front of former teammate. “His natural talent is just unbelievable, and the way the net, but they thought twice about going back to that front of our net that he played in that playoff run for us obviously was a huge part of our again.” success there. “That was a huge year for us, and credit to him for the way he battled through that injury and really carried this team. That was a special run for us, and that sort of encapsulates sort of what he has done for this whole get potentially two top-10 draft picks in what is reported to be a very deep organization.” draft.

Karlsson’s impact also reached the younger players who were involved in JUST POINTING OUT FOR NO REASON THAT NO TEAM HAS HAD that playoff run, notably Thomas Chabot. TWO TOP-10 PICKS IN THE SAME DRAFT SINCE 2002…

The 22-year-old played one full season with Karlsson before he was — TREVOR S. (@SHACKTS) OCTOBER 28, 2019 traded and ended up paired with the Norris Trophy winner toward the end of the year. Goal of the night?

Chabot said just playing with Karlsson taught him a lot about being an Paul, looking like a full-time NHL hockey player, goes bar down on Aaron NHL defenceman. Dell.

“He’s an elite player. He’s won the Norris Trophy twice for a reason, Goodnight, Ottawa. right?” he said. “Just the plays that he makes, the way he always finds a NICK PAUL, BUY YOURSELF A DANG HOUSE IN OTTAWA. OR way to get his shots through to the net — I think those are little things KANATA IF YOU LIKE THE SUBURBS. WHATEVER YOU PREFER. that I noticed especially as an offensive (defencemen) like him. ANYWHOOOO #SENS UP 2-1 PIC.TWITTER.COM/UERGETTO8G “You see all the plays, the way he skates, the poise that he has, so obviously just to be around him was something that I felt pretty fortunate — HAILEY SALVIAN (@HAILEY_SALVIAN) OCTOBER 27, 2019 (about).” The Athletic LOADED: 10.29.2019 2. Games against the Sharks aren’t significant only because of Karlsson. They are also big games for Chris Tierney and Dylan DeMelo, who were sent to Ottawa as a package deal in exchange for the Swede.

When asked at practice Saturday, Tierney said he was surprised about the trade and that he found out about it at the rink at training camp. He was doing a photo shoot and was pulled off the ice and told by management he was going to Ottawa.

“It was kind of nice being at the rink and finding out from management and not from Twitter or anything,” he said. “I was a little sad at first to leave some of the teammates, and the city and the fans are really good there, but I was pretty excited, too, to come into Ottawa and (get) more of an opportunity to play a bigger role here.

“I know Ottawa is a good hockey community and people are really passionate about hockey, so that was exciting, and it’s nice to be close to home and be a part of a young group that is kind of rebuilding and hopefully building something that is hopefully going to be a really good team.”

Tierney has three goals and seven points through 11 games and has been a favourite of D.J. Smith’s for his hard work, consistency and success in the faceoff circle. Meanwhile, DeMelo has been happy with the improvements in his game since getting to Ottawa.

“I’ve gotten more opportunity to show what I can do out here; I haven’t changed anything,” he said Sunday morning. “I’ve just had more of a chance on a nightly basis to show what I can do, so I just kind of took the opportunity and ran with it.”

On Sunday, DeMelo played a season-high 21:56. The 26-year-old had two assists, two hits and five blocked shots and received praise from the head coach after the game.

“He comes to practice every day; he’s in the gym, just works hard, and he does everything right and he’s competitive,” Smith said. “He’s probably one of the more underrated guys we have here when you look at our defence core.

He’s always standing in the right place. He’s a guy who’s been in the league now a while, and he knows what he’s got to do to stay here.”

3. Logan Brown went 7-0 in the faceoff circle Sunday while once again centring what would be the Senators’ top line with Tkachuk and Duclair.

That’s it. That’s the thought.

4. If you think Nick Paul has looked good since his latest call-up, well, you’re correct. And you probably have Red Lobster to thank for it. And also Tkachuk, for this Hall of Fame clip:

咽 PIC.TWITTER.COM/IADJNARL3B

— OTTAWA SENATORS (@SENATORS) OCTOBER 28, 2019

5. To end this odd assortment of thoughts on a positive note for fans, with Sunday’s loss to the Senators, the Sharks fall to 4-7-1.

They are still trying to figure out their rhythm as a team and surely will pick things back up, but the slow start is certainly notable for Sens fans. If you recall, Ottawa holds San Jose’s first-round pick at this year’s draft as part of the Karlsson trade. A poor Sharks season would see the Senators 1158944 Philadelphia Flyers 41 goals and 99 points. That’s the most goals he has scored against any NHL team, and the second-most points; he has 113 against the Isles.

Breakaways Flyers vs. Penguins: Will Alain Vigneault go back to Brian Elliott or give Matt Murray (2.33, .918), coming off Saturday’s 3-0 win in Dallas, is Carter Hart a shot at redemption? expected to get the call for the Penguins. … Travis Konecny has a five- game point streak and has points in nine of the Flyers’ 10 games. The right winger leads the Flyers in goals (6) and points (13) through 10 by Sam Carchidi games. … Morin had two hits, two giveaways, a takeaway, and a minus- 1 rating against the Islanders. … The Flyers’ power play is fifth in the

NHL (26.3% success rate) and their penalty kill is ninth (83.9%). The After an emotional comeback that produced five straight late goals and a Penguins are 21st on the power play (17.6%) and 12th on the penalty kill stirring win Saturday over Columbus, the Flyers were outskated, outhit, (82.1%). and outscored as they dropped a 5-3 decision Sunday to the Islanders. Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 10.29.2019 The emotion should return Tuesday in Pittsburgh. The archrival Penguins, you see, have a way of raising the Flyers’ level of urgency.

“They’re playing some good hockey right now,” captain said about the 7-5 Penguins. “I think for us, it’s about focusing on ourselves. We know we can play better and we will.”

The Flyers (5-4-1), whose three-game winning streak was snapped by the Isles, need to play with much more physicality than they did Sunday, when they were outhit, 34-14, and failed to capitalize on the momentum built by their 7-4 home win over Columbus the previous night.

“We had an emotional game,” Giroux said of the comeback against the Blue Jackets, “and we needed to put that behind us and move forward, and I don’t think we did that.”

The Flyers will face a Pittsburgh team that has been missing three top- nine forwards this month because of injuries, including Evgeni Malkin (leg).

In Sunday’s loss, the Flyers had too many turnovers, struggled on defense, had no answers for the Islanders’ active forecheck, and received subpar goaltending from Carter Hart.

He is 21. There will be growing pains. Deep breath. There. Feel better? https://t.co/nxKCnaNYv3

— Sam Carchidi (@BroadStBull) October 28, 2019

“All of them were stoppable,” Hart said of the five goals he allowed on 14 shots before being replaced in the second period by Brian Ellliott, who stopped all 19 shots he faced.

The Flyers did not practice Monday, so it won’t be known until Tuesday’s morning skate whether coach Alain Vigneault will give Hart (3.32 GAA, .862 save percentage) a chance to redeem himself against the Penguins or go back to Elliott (2.28, .926), who was named the league’s No. 3 star of the week Monday.

The last time Hart faced the Penguins, he was brilliant, stopping 41 of 42 shots as the Flyers won in Pittsburgh, 2-1, in overtime last March 17 to keep their wild-card hopes alive. James van Riemsdyk tied that game with 18.8 seconds left in regulation, and Sean Couturier won it with 3.4 seconds to go in overtime.

Hart had a 1.62 GAA in his first three starts this season and a 5.85 in his last three, including two games in which he was yanked.

After his latest performance, Hart said perhaps he was “overthinking” some things.

His teammates shared some of the blame.

“It’s all of us; we have to help each other, support each other,” defenseman Ivan Provorov said. “There were definitely some rebound goals where we could have helped him. … We didn’t break out [of their zone] as quick, and lots of times they got out of their zone quick and got odd-man rushes.”

The new defensive pairing of Shayne Gostisbehere and Samuel Morin struggled. Morin made his season debut and looked rusty from the long layoff. Robert Hagg might return to the lineup against the Penguins.

The Flyers have dominated the Penguins since they helped open the Pens’ new building (now known as PPG Paints Arena) on Oct. 7, 2010, compiling a 14-3-3 regular-season record in Pittsburgh.

On the flip side, Sidney Crosby, who leads the Penguins with 14 points, has been a certified Flyers killer. In 67 games against the Flyers, he has 1158945 Philadelphia Flyers Where they stand: 2-5-2, last place in the Metro Division. Nico Hischier, who recrntmy signed a seven-year extension for

$50.75M, has no goals, two assists and a minus-4 rating in seven games Flyers’ week in preview: Sidney Crosby, trip to Jersey on itinerary for NJ. Wonder if #Devils are wondering if they jumped the gun a bit? Hischier will be a very good player, but it seemed early for an extension.

— Sam Carchidi (@BroadStBull) October 27, 2019 by Ed Barkowitz, Game No. 13 - Saturday, Nov. 2

vs. Toronto, 7 p.m., NBCSP, 97.5-The Fanatic Flyers’ week in preview: Sidney Crosby, trip to Jersey on itinerary About the Maple Leafs: Lost Saturday to Montreal, 5-2 and are 1-for-13 Scouting report for the Flyers for the next seven days, which include a on the power play in their last six. Will host Washington on Tuesday, their quick day off before they play their third game in four nights Tuesday at only game before coming to Philadelphia. ... Auston Matthews missed a Pittsburgh. few shifts after a heavy hit from San Jose defenseman Brenden Dillon on Thursday night. “I felt like it was a hit to the head,” he said. “It’s a fast Even after Sunday’s loss at the Islanders, the Flyers (5-4-1) have a game. Refs are trying to make the best judgment, but I know what I felt." winning record after 10 games for the first time in eight years. So that’s Matthews played 16:57 on Saturday. progress, right? Where they stand: 6-5-2, fourth place in the Atlantic. Game No. 11 - Tuesday, Oct. 29 Auston Matthews has returned for the third period after this hit from at Pittsburgh, 7 p.m., NBCSP, 97.5-The Fanatic Sharks' Brenden Dillon. About the Penguins: Coming off a shutout win at Dallas that ended a Thoughts on the hit? pic.twitter.com/6mKxi8eEzQ three-game losing streak. Matt Murray stopped 25 shots, and winger Bryan Rust scored in his first game after missing the first 11 because of a — Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) October 26, 2019 hand injury. ... Evgeni Malkin has missed the last 10 games with a lower- body injury. Malkin has 70 points in 56 career regular-season games This week in Flyers history against the Flyers. .... Sidney Crosby leads the Penguins with 14 points Nov. 2, 1975: The Flyers beat the Kansas City Scouts, 10-0, as Bobby (4g, 10a). He has 99 points in 67 regular-season games against Clarke, Orest Kindrachuk and Mel Bridgman each scored two goals. The Philadelphia. The Flyers have won the last four games in Pittsburgh that win improved the Flyers to 20-0-1 in their last 21 regular-season games Crosby has played, including twice last season in overtime when Claude at the . “Who the hell plays well here?” said Scouts team Giroux and Sean Couturier scored game-winners. captain Simon Nolet, a former Flyer. It was a raucous two days at Broad Where they stand: 7-5, fourth in the Metro. & Pattison as the Flyers drilled Boston, 8-0, there the night before.

Inquirer Sports Daily Newsletter Since we’re in history class, it’s worth noting that the Scouts franchise left KC after that season, went to Colorado for six years, and then became Sports news in your inbox daily the New Jersey Devils in 1982.

» READ MORE: Flyers lose to Islanders, Carter Hart accepts List of the week responsibility Looking at the game logs of the Flyers goaltenders early on this season. Special-teams ranks Carter Hart Flyers and this week’s opponents/through Sunday Brian Elliott Power-play Oct. 4 vs. Chi. Shorthanded 31 shots-28 saves (W) Flyers Oct. 9 vs. NJ t-5th (10-38, 26.3 pct.) 25 shots-25 saves (W) 9th (26-31, 83.9 pct.) Oct. 12 at Van. Penguins 24 shots-22 saves (OTL) 21st (6-34, 17.6 pct.) Oct. 15 at Cgy 12th (23-28, 82.1 pct.) 37 shots-35 saves (L) Devils Oct. 16 at Edm. 29th (3-34, 8.8 pct.) 14 shots-10 saves (L, 34:32) t-23rd (27-36, 75.0 pct.) 8 shots-6 saves Maple Leafs Oct. 19 vs. Dal. 16th (8-38, 21.1 pct.) 15 shots-12 saves (L) 22nd (32-41, 78.0 pct.) Oct. 21 vs. VGK Game No. 12 - Friday, Nov. 1 35 shots-33 saves (W) at New Jersey, 7 p.m. NBCSP, 97.5-The Fanatic Oct. 24 at Chi. About the Devils: Jack Hughes, the 2019 No. 1 overall pick, had the first multi-point game of his career in Friday’s loss to Arizona. Hughes, 18, 24 shots-23 saves (W) scored for the second straight game and had two assists after going Oct. 26 vs. CBJ pointless in his first six games. “He’s fun to watch when he’s playing like this,” Jersey goalie MacKenzie Blackwood said. ... Nico Hischier had 26 shots-22 saves (W) missed two games with an upper-body injury, but played 13 minutes, 14 seconds on Friday. ... The Flyers beat the Devils, 4-0, on Oct. 9. ... New Oct. 27 at NYI Jersey will host Tampa Bay on Tuesday. 14 shots-9 saves (L) 19 shots-19 saves

Totals

2-3-1, 3.32 GAA, .862 sv. pct.

3-1-0, 2.28 GAA, .926 sv. pct.

Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 10.29.2019 1158946 Philadelphia Flyers At 17:04 of the third period, James van Riemsdyk found Giroux alone in the slot and the Flyers' captain scored his second of the season.

"We obviously didn't execute as well as we had the past few games and Barzal leads Islanders to 5-3 win over Flyers we paid for it," Flyers coach Alain Vigneault said. "Their forecheck was obviously good because they forced our D into quite a few turnovers tonight and those turnovers were costly."

By SCOTT CHARLES Associated Press Oct 28, 2019 Comments NOTES: Islanders GM Lou Lamoriello announced Sunday morning that forwards Matt Martin and Tom Kuhnhackl will each be sidelined for 4-6

weeks with lower-body injuries. ... New York scratched 19-year-old UNIONDALE, N.Y. (AP) — The New York Islanders have developed a defenseman Noah Dobson for the eighth time this season. ... Flyers reputation for having a strong defense. With their offensive game starting forward Scott Laughton suffered a broken finger Saturday against the to click, the team is beginning to build an intimidating identity. Blue Jackets and will miss the next four weeks. ... The Flyers scratched defenseman Robert Hagg. Mathew Barzal had a goal and an assist and the Islanders beat the Philadelphia Flyers 5-3 Sunday night to extend their winning streak to UP NEXT seven games. Flyers: Visit Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday. Anders Lee, Derick Brassard, Ross Johnston and Ryan Pulock scored as Islanders: Host Tampa Bay Lightning on Friday. the Islanders erased an early one-goal deficit. Semyon Varlamov stopped 28 shots in his third straight win. Delaware County Times LOADED: 10.29.2019 "We've been competing for the last couple of weeks, we play for each other, it's been a lot of fun," Brassard said. "Guys are stepping up, we have good goaltending, everything is clicking right now."

Jakub Voracek, Travis Konecny, Claude Giroux scored for the Flyers, who had a three-game winning streak snapped. Carter Hart made nine saves on 14 shots before being replaced by Brian Elliott midway through the second period.

Voracek scored 1:07 into the game, and the Islanders countered with three straight goals.

Lee hustled and scored on a rebound to even the score at 1-1 at 3:17 of the first. The Islanders captain won a battle behind the net which allowed the Islanders to establish possession, then beat defenseman Travis Sanheim to the side of the net to finish the play. Johnny Boychuk and Barzal assisted on the play.

"He's our leader," Casey Cizikas said following this third game back after missing the previous five with a lower-body injury. "When you see him and he plays like that, getting to pucks, taking the body, fight in those dirty areas, you want to follow him. That's what you want in your captain and he has done a tremendous job at leading us."

Brassard scored his third in as many games after executing a give-and- go with Brock Nelson 65 seconds after Lee's goal. Brassard, a natural center, has played left wing the last three games.

Johnston, usually an enforcer, completed the first-period barrage when he finished a feed from Cole Bardeau at 11:46. Bardeau earned his first NHL point on the play and is one of three rookies to make NHL debuts with the Islanders this season, along with Oliver Wahlstrom and Noah Dobson. Wahlstrom, 19, started the play when he forced Sanheim to turn the puck over in the corner alongside the Flyers net.

Before two costly defensive plays from Sanheim, he helped the Flyers take a 1-0 lead when he delivered a cross-ice pass to set up Voracek for his 199th NHL goal.

"It didn't affect us a lot," Islanders coach Barry Trotz said of the Flyers early goal. "I thought our minds were in the right place. I don't think it even fazed us. You got 59 minutes to get it back."

Konecny cut the Flyers deficit to one, redirecting Justin Braun's shot from the point past Varlamov at 16:38 of the first. Konecny has recorded at least one point in nine of the Flyers' 10 games this season after signing a six-year, $33 million contract in mid-September.

The Islanders answered with two goals in the second period. Pulock hammered a slap shot past Hart at 4:13 of the middle frame to extend New York's lead to 4-2. Cal Clutterbuck and Adam Pelech assisted on the play.

Barzal helped the Islanders seize control when he overwhelmed defenseman Samuel Morin with his speed. Lee chipped the puck out of the defensive zone, Barzal sped past Morin before sending a wrist shot between Hart's pads 1:25 after Pulock's goal, giving the Islanders a 5-2 advantage.

Elliott made 19 saves in relief of Hart after entering the game at the 8:46 mark of the second. 1158947 Philadelphia Flyers

Lindsey Vonn gets back at Flyers mascot Gritty for his trolling of P.K. Subban

By Jordan Hall October 28, 2019 6:30 PM

Touché, Lindsey Vonn … touché.

Gritty, a master of trolling, can respect another one’s work.

If you recall, the Flyers’ mascot had a message for the gold medal- winning Olympic skier who is engaged to Devils defenseman P.K. Subban.

Gritty took a shot at Subban during warmups before the Flyers-Devils game on Oct. 9 at the Wells Fargo Center.

Shots absolutely fired @GrittyNHL @lindseyvonn  pic.twitter.com/TNCJ1DaCh6

— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) October 9, 2019

Pretty good.

So Vonn got Gritty where it hurts … his competition.

View this post on Instagram

@njdevils @subbanator > @grittynhl #keepitinthefamily 

A post shared by L I N D S E Y • V O N N (@lindseyvonn) on Oct 28, 2019 at 5:55am PDT

Ouch.

Gritty won’t love this as he scrolls through his social media accounts. He’s pretty busy, so he’ll see it eventually.

As for the Devils’ mascot, let’s hope he’s staying away from all windows at Halloween parties.

The Devils mascot accidentally broke a glass window at a kids party 

(via @NJDevils) pic.twitter.com/3kD6ubR5fy

— SI NHL (@SI_NHL) July 14, 2019

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 10.29.2019 1158948 Philadelphia Flyers

Future Flyers Report: Morgan Frost is starting to heat up, German Rubtsov hot on his tail

By Brooke Destra October 28, 2019 4:45 PM

It’s time for our weekly check-in on the Flyers’ prospects playing in the AHL, overseas and at the junior and college levels.

• At the start of the season, Morgan Frost went through a three-game stretch without tallying a single point, though he did have his fair share of chances. It was only a matter of time before things started clicking.

Friday night, just past the midway point of the first period, Frost tied things up for the Phantoms when they took on the Charlotte Checkers. This goal is only a taste of what the young center can do.

Despite temperatures in the 70's today in Charlotte.

It's getting Frosty. ❄️ pic.twitter.com/fNX7yM920T

— LehighValleyPhantoms (@LVPhantoms) October 25, 2019

He is currently on a four-game point streak (two goals, four assists) and it doesn’t look like things are slowing down anytime soon. This point streak ties him for the longest point streak of the season for the Phantoms.

• It seems like German Rubtsov picked up right where he left off after an injury just 14 games into last season cut his year short. Just seven games into the 2019-20 season, Rubtsov is making his presence known.

He currently has six points (two goals, four assists). That ties him for first in points alongside Frost.

If Rubtsov can remain healthy for a full season, he’ll become a vital asset to the Phantoms’ success down the road.

Quick hits

• Wade Allison recently sustained an upper-body injury. He did not play in either game this weekend for the Western Michigan Broncos.

• Cam York was back in the lineup after missing three straight games because of a lower-body injury. He earned his first NCAA point with a secondary assist Friday night. In total, he had three assists on the weekend.

GOAL!

Lockwood from Ohrwall & York

WMU leads #GoBlue, 2-1 pic.twitter.com/pWBIDvLVgT

— Michigan Hockey (@umichhockey) October 27, 2019

• Tanner Laczynski had a goal and two assists for Ohio State Friday night.

• Wyatte Wylie had himself a two-point night on Friday in Everett (one goal, one assist) to help his team to a 3-2 victory.

• Mason Millman collected three points (two goals, one assist) with the Saginaw Spirit — one of them being the game-winning goal Sunday against the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.

.@NHLFlyers draft pick @Mason_Millman with the game-winner with 2:33 left in the third!#SAGvsSOO #SoarWithUs pic.twitter.com/BkMu8PcaHk

— Saginaw Spirit (@SpiritHockey) October 27, 2019

• Egor Zamula had a two-assist game Sunday with the as the team picked up a 5-4 overtime victory against the in the Prairie Classic.

A perfect ending  #25Together pic.twitter.com/eDUx6TITSr

— Calgary Hitmen (@WHLHitmen) October 28, 2019

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 10.29.2019 1158949 Philadelphia Flyers ) standings. So why should fans be encouraged by the Flyers’ performance by advanced stats?

The answer is simple: Teams that drive play at 5-on-5 as well as the O’Connor’s Observations: Despite poor showing against Isles, dump-in- Flyers have through the first 10 games tend to do quite well over a full heavy Flyers off to strong start by the numbers 82-game slate. Since 2014-15, only 22 clubs have concluded their 10th game of the season with a 5-on-5 Corsi For Percentage and an Expected Goals For Percentage both over 53 percent. Out of those 22 teams, 18 made the playoffs. By Charlie O'Connor Oct 28, 2019 Now, these clubs did regress a bit in their play-driving the rest of the way,

which makes sense — coaches around the league gradually decipher This time last week, the Philadelphia Flyers were trying to pull how to exploit weaknesses, even of territorially dominant clubs. But out of themselves out of a three-game losing streak, and fans vigorously the group, only the 2017-18 Edmonton Oilers posted a full-season sub- debated whether the team’s results would ever start to match what 50 percent rate by Corsi or xG after such a hot start by the numbers. seemed like a sound process. Unsurprisingly, those Oilers also qualified as one of four teams in our group to miss the playoffs; they the only team that truly fell off a cliff, Well, the results started coming — at least until the process cracked in finishing with just 78 standings points. Twenty of the 22 teams cleared 90 their most-recent game. points, and the group as a whole averaged 100.9 standings points for the season, even with the Oilers dragging down the final number. Still, a 3-1-0 week is nothing to dismiss, particularly when three of their opponents made the postseason in 2018-19. Through 10 games, the In other words, teams that drive play like the Flyers usually reach triple- Flyers find themselves above hockey .500 at 5-4-1, and even have a digit standings points, usually make the playoffs and usually stay well signature win to their credit, a 6-2 thrashing of the Vegas Golden Knights, clear of the 50 percent mark in both raw shot differential and quality- a legitimate Stanley Cup contender. So how seriously should we take the adjusted differential on the season. Philadelphia’s underlying 5-on-5 play Flyers? How seriously are they taking themselves? Let’s take a look. likely won’t stay this good. But barring an Edmonton-like disaster, they look poised to remain relevant all season. 1. The Flyers are (probably) good 3. Tendency toward dump-in entries no accident You have to give the Flyers one thing — they know how to make sure optimism never truly spirals out of control. As early as three games into the season, a trend emerged: The Flyers were dumping the puck into the offensive zone a lot at 5-on-5, eschewing After Saturday’s comeback win at home against the Blue Jackets, the fan a controlled entry-dominant approach in favor of getting pucks deep and base was riding high. It was a thrilling win, and the Flyers’ process relentlessly pursuing them with an active forecheck. Two weeks ago, I couldn’t have been sounder. Earlier in the season, they owned the shot noted that Philadelphia was only gaining the blue line with control of the and chance battles, but weren’t rewarded with victories. Suddenly, puck 37.39 percent of the time — a rate that would have easily been Philadelphia started to see the results, while still dominating opponents lowest in the league in 2018-19, according to Corey Sznajder’s dataset. territorially. The possibility that the Flyers might actually be a fledgling (The New Jersey Devils checked in at 42.1 percent last year.) juggernaut didn’t seem totally ridiculous. There were plausible explanations for the skewed rate through three Then, on Sunday, they delivered their worst all-around performance of games. Maybe that’s how coach Alain Vigneault preferred to attack those the season. teams. Maybe the Flyers’ passing wasn’t crisp enough to create the The loss to the New York Islanders was ugly all around: Carter Hart’s run sequences that lead to controlled entries. Or maybe it was just a small of less-than-impressive work continued, the defense was consistently out sample fluke. of position and the forwards lost too many puck battles that directly led to But now 10 games are in the books, and the Flyers are still employing a transition opportunities for the Isles. The loss in Calgary had been the dump-and-chase-heavy approach to 5-on-5 zone entries. They have Flyers’ worst performance of 2019-20, but at least the team defense was cleared a 40 percent Controlled Entry rate in only two games, and have a largely sound that night. Natural Stat Trick calculated the Flyers allowed full-season mark of 38.30 percent. Could this still just be a coincidence, a 4.81 Expected Goals on Sunday, and that might have been generous, as meaningless trend? Corsica.Hockey pegged it at 7.57, and Evolving Hockey’s model recorded 6.75. It was a rough night. “No, I think we’re putting a lot of emphasis right now on making the other team’s defensemen turn, making them go back for pucks, forcing them But with 10 games in the books, the Flyers’ statistical profile is still into turnover situations where we can press and create that quick strong. At 5-on-5, few teams are driving play better; according to Natural counter, whether it be in the offensive zone or the neutral zone,” Stat Trick, the Flyers rank second in the NHL in score-adjusted Corsi For Vigneault said last Wednesday. “We are chipping more pucks in, and I Percentage (behind only Boston) at 54.09 percent, and fifth in adjusted think, at the end of the day, that’s a read that players are going to get Expected Goals For at 53.75 percent. Special teams have been strong more used to.” as well — they rank in the top 10 in both shot and xG creation on the power play, and they’re in the top 5 in shot and xG prevention on the That’s about as concrete a confirmation as one will get from a head penalty kill. The 10-game mark is accepted as the point in the season coach that a trend is an intentional strategy. It appears Vigneault believes when these metrics begin to truly matter, and the Flyers are right up a north-south, aggressive forechecking game is the best way for this there with the best teams in hockey, even after Sunday’s debacle. group to “play fast,” one of the key mantras of training camp. But it’s not like Vigneault is against controlled entries, as he noted. Still, the Flyers conclude their first 10 games at 5-4-1, pretty much the epitome of mediocre. Presumably, if their process stays strong — and “It’s like anything else — if you’ve got room, use the room, make a play,” they can avoid nights like Sunday and the poor showing in Calgary — the he said. “And if you don’t have room, get it behind them. And that’s what record will improve. But they still have to start winning a lot more games we’ve been stressing, whether it be from our breakout situation, to the than they lose, and for all the good things they’ve done so far, that’s one neutral zone, to the offensive zone.” box the Flyers have yet to check. While early on there’s been a preference for dump-ins over carry-ins, Michael Raffl and Claude Giroux fist-bump during the comeback win over Vigneault doesn’t necessarily believe the Flyers will play this way all Columbus. The Flyers scored five third-period goals in a span of 8:56. season. If teams change how they defend Philadelphia in response to the (Eric Hartline / USA Today) dump-heavy approach, the Flyers will adjust and likely start moving their controlled entry rate closer to 50 percent. 2. Why does 5-on-5 strength matter? “I think it’s a thing that’s going to evolve, in the sense that as players Now that the Flyers are actually winning games, skeptics of their stellar continue to play at a faster pace, sometimes when you’re playing at that advanced metrics have grown quieter. But Philadelphia’s record is still faster pace, you get a little bit more room, then you can use that room,” more fine than fantastic. The Flyers may be “outplaying” their opponents Vigneault said. “Right now, teams are playing us tight. They’ve got most nights, but their place near the top of the 5-on-5 Corsi and xG compact units, so you’ve got to make the high percentage play, and charts hasn’t pushed them to the top of the Eastern Conference (or even that’s chip and go get it.” 4. Penalty kill suddenly a strength? Highway” (which was covered by Rascal Flatts in 2006). There was a brief stunned silence before the scrum of journalists erupted in laughter, There weren’t many positives Sunday, but one unit had a perfect amused as much by the identity of the comedian as the joke itself. If showing: the penalty kill, which held the Islanders off the scoresheet on Giroux is dropping the mic to end postgame interviews, the Flyers must two man-advantage opportunities. While everything else fell apart, the be a loose team. Flyers’ shorthanded units stood tall. 6. Goalie situation suddenly a bit muddled It shouldn’t be a big surprise. Thus far, the penalty kill has been nothing short of outstanding, a complete reversal from the unit’s ineptitude in The Flyers believe Carter Hart is the long-term solution in goal. But they recent years. The Flyers rank ninth with a 83.9 percent efficiency rate, were also aware that a 21-year-old in his second NHL season might and if anything, that undersells the work they’ve done. No team has experience growing pains. After a fast start, that’s the case right now. allowed fewer shot attempts per 60 minutes at 4-on-5 than the Flyers (65.11); only three teams have allowed fewer Expected Goals per 60 It’s been three consecutive underwhelming games for Hart: a 10-saves- (4.62). And the wildest stat of all: On the penalty kill, the Flyers have on-14-shots showing in front of his family in Edmonton; an allowed 13.02 high-danger chances per 60, but they’ve created 10.13. underwhelming performance at home versus Dallas; then a true stinker That’s right, Philadelphia is nearly break-even in high-danger chance on Long Island last night. As a result, it’s no surprise Brian Elliott is differential when playing down a man. getting more work, especially because his recent play has outshined Hart’s. Elliott struggled on Saturday versus the Blue Jackets (the third- Kevin Hayes, Claude Giroux and Ivan Provorov celebrate Hayes’ period offensive explosion bailed him out), but in relief of Hart on Sunday, shorthanded goal against the Blue Jackets. (Eric Hartline / USA Today) the veteran’s rock-solid form in net returned, as he’d shown against Vegas and Chicago last week. The penalty kill isn’t merely playing well, it’s now actively driving victories. The utter suffocation of the Chicago Blackhawks’ power play last The goaltending situation was always sold by the front office as a Thursday (one shot on goal allowed in 6:28) was a large part of why the tandem, even if Hart-crazed fans didn’t want to believe it. And in a Flyers cruised to a win; then on Saturday, Kevin Hayes scored the game- tandem, the “hot” goalie gets the bulk of the starts. But two factors should winning goal in dramatic shorthanded fashion. The penalty kill is now a give the Flyers pause about riding Elliott too heavily. First, Hart simply primary strength of the team. needs to play. Elliott is a perfectly fine veteran goalie, but at 34, he doesn’t provide the upside of Hart. If Philadelphia is going to make any It’s not like the tactics have changed. The Flyers are still using a 1-3 in noise this season, it’s likely going be a result of Hart “arriving” sooner the neutral zone, and they’re basically deploying the same defensive than 21-year-old goalies should, not because Elliott turned back the zone pressure-based strategies that Scott Gordon and Ian Laperriere clock. Then, there’s the injury risk. Elliott is coming off two rough seasons used in the second half of 2018-19. An argument can be made that the in terms of his health, and even though he’s close to “100 percent,” given problem was fixed last year, and this strong start is just carryover from his injury history, it’s not a shrewd bet to give him a heavy load. better tactics. But the additions of Hayes, Justin Braun and Matt Niskanen have helped, too, as has Oskar Lindblom’s elevated role on the Brian Elliott has had the hot hand of late in net for the Flyers. (Eric unit. The PK is really rolling. Hartline / USA Today)

5. Flyers seem like a loose team In explaining why the coaching staff chose Elliott on Saturday even though he’d started the previous two games, Vigneault acknowledged the In a strange way, from the outside, the game in Edmonton felt like a pivot veteran’s injury history has to be taken into account in workload point for the type of culture that Vigneault and his coaches were seeking decisions. to foster in the Flyers locker room. To that point, Vigneault had been willing to react in dramatic fashion to perceived poor efforts — taking a “I’m talking daily with Kim (Dillabaugh), our goaltender coach, and getting hacksaw to the training camp roster after a poor home preseason game feedback on (Elliott),” Vigneault said Saturday morning. “That’s definitely versus Boston, throwing the lines and pairings in a blender after the something that we talked about after the last two games. But since we surprise loss to Lausanne HC, bluntly stating “I wasn’t impressed with didn’t skate yesterday, we just thought (starting him) was the right thing anything we did tonight” after a clunker in Calgary. to do. We are aware of his situation, but Brian’s telling us that he’s never felt this good, so that’s a real positive for our team.” So when the Flyers outshot and outchanced the Oilers but still fell 6-3 to extend their losing streak to three games, Vigneault could have gone in Elliott has held up, despite the increased workload. And with a tough one of two directions: harshly critique his club after the defeat or game against Pittsburgh up next, it would be a mild surprise if Vigneault emphasize the strength of the process and give his team positive didn’t go back to the better-performing goalie on Tuesday, workload reinforcement. Vigneault chose the latter, and the players echoed his concerns notwithstanding. If Elliott continues to play well, however, it will sentiments. Even after the subsequent loss to Dallas — another defeat in be interesting to see if Vigneault can resist the temptation to ride him which the Flyers controlled the territorial battle — the positivity in the hard. locker room was striking. The team believed in what it was doing. 7. A goal that wasn’t That confidence proved justified, and now that wins are coming, it’s morphing into a sense of certainty that more positive outcomes are on Last Monday, it looked like Michael Raffl had scored his second goal of the way. Shayne Gostisbehere acknowledged after Saturday night’s win the season. He stood in front of Vegas goaltender Oscar Dansk when a that at least in the early going, this team feels different than past Flyers shot by Ivan Provorov appeared to change direction and slip into the net. clubs. After a delay, Flyers PA Announcer Lou Nolan came over the Wells Fargo Center speaker system to announce Raffl as the “official” goal “The biggest thing was how we responded going down two goals in the scorer. third,” he said, before making a pointed observation: “Maybe some past teams, we would have folded and gave that one away.” There was just one problem: The puck never touched Raffl, and he knew it. The confidence is showing in a looseness that’s been rare for Flyers players in postgame media availabilities. Hayes was the first to bring “I told Provy right away, after the second period, that I didn’t touch it,” jokes last week, after he was involved in two Joel Farabee-related goals Raffl said. “It was clear to us.” on Thursday that were wiped out due to offside replay reviews. Asked Later in the locker room, Raffl was just as blunt to the media, leading to about the reversals by the traveling media, Hayes took the opportunity for this amusing graphic from NBC Sports Philadelphia that, according to some good-natured ribbing on the rookie. host and reporter Taryn Hatcher, led off Tuesday’s team tape study of “The first one he was too slow, the second one he was too fast,” Hayes the Vegas victory. cracked. “Maybe next time he’ll get it.” PROVY JUST TOLD ME, WHEN THEY DID FILM AFTER THE VEGAS Claude Giroux, not known for being a quote-starved journalist’s best GAME THIS WAS THE FIRST THING THAT POPPED UP ON THE friend after games, got into the action Saturday when discussing the SCREEN. team’s early busy travel schedule. HOCKEY IS TRULY THE BEST. PIC.TWITTER.COM/VJUQVIB2M9

“My friend Tom said to me one time, life is a highway,” Giroux — TARYN HATCHER (@TARYNNBCS) OCTOBER 23, 2019 deadpanned, in a reference to Tom Cochrane’s 1991 hit song, “Life is a The wrong was quickly righted; in less than 24 hours, the NHL reviewed games since the start of 2018-19 (preseason and regular season) prior to the play and agreed with Raffl’s view — Provorov as credited with the Sunday. The rust was obvious. goal. Even though the situation was fairly cut and dry, as James van Riemsdyk — no stranger to disputed goals at netfront — noted, these Morin said last week that nothing can replicate game action, even though types of plays can sometimes be more difficult for players to sort out. he was trying to give maximum effort in practice to stay as close to game shape as possible. He also tried to work on the mental side of his game “There’s sometimes you don’t (know), just in the sense of … if you’re in the press box, and bided his time. battling for position and someone’s whacking you in different spots, a lot of times when you’re battling in front, you don’t necessarily get to see the “Sometimes I watch a game, and I put myself in, I don’t know, Justin puck every time, so you’re not sure of that timing, of how that all works Braun’s shoes,” Morin explained, and it didn’t seem like a coincidence he out,” van Riemsdyk said last Wednesday. “I would say, for the most part, chose the Flyers’ most traditional stay-at-home, defensive defenseman you probably know. But there are some instances where, whether you’re as his model. “Like, what would I have done in that situation?” he battling, there’s sticks being pushed around and you’re getting whacked continued. like that so you’re not really sure in some of those situations, but I would Sunday won’t be the only time Morin plays this season. The organization say for the most part, you probably know.” has shown little inclination to risk losing him on waivers, so the AHL The goal-adjustment process is managed by the NHL, but players will doesn’t appear to be a realistic option. Most likely, he’ll return to serving often try to accelerate it by talking to an on-ice official to give them a as the seventh defenseman after Sunday’s uneven showing, and will heads-up when they’re wrongly credited. Jokes about selfish teammates hope that his second game of 2019-20 — when he gets one — will turn seeking extra points aside, there’s absolutely an honor system in the out better than the first. NHL with goals and assists. After all, even small plays can have an 10. Raffl back in a more comfortable spot impact on a player’s career and future earnings. One of the Flyers’ early pleasant surprises has been Raffl, who through “I think everyone just wants to get it right, ultimately,” van Riemsdyk said. 10 games has five points, largely in a fourth-line role. But the truly “It’s good they have a review process, so they can get that right. … If a impressive part of Raffl’s fast start is that he spent half of his games not guy is in a contract year, those things can add up and make a perception in his usual spot at wing. Instead, Vigneault decided to begin the season change in certain areas. If you’re stuck at 19 goals and you get that 20th, with Raffl at center, where the veteran had played only sparingly at the all the sudden you’re a 20-goal scorer, and maybe that’s worth a little bit NHL level. more to another team.” The move to center was a surprise, especially after news broke that 8. Double-trailer becoming PP2’s entry strategy of choice Connor Bunnaman would make the big club. But Bunnaman moved to The Flyers have long utilized a drop-pass zone entry strategy in moving wing for Game 1, leaving Raffl as the only realistic option to take faceoffs the puck up ice on the power play. But the second unit — or, as and play the middle on Line 4, with Scott Laughton filling in for Nolan Vigneault prefers, “Coots’ unit” — is finding success with a new wrinkle Patrick on the third line. Raffl accepted his new assignment, but on the old tactic. They’re still doing the drop pass, but now, there’s not acknowledged his preference for the wing. just one option for the primary puck carrier as he moves up the ice. There “Yeah, I feel more comfortable on the wing,” he said last week. “It’s are two. where I’ve played most of the time here. But honestly, I didn’t mind As this video shows, the Flyers are now often running two trailers behind playing center, either. I’ve played it growing up, and I’ve played it pro for the defenseman tasked with leading the rush up ice — here, it’s a little bit, so I know what I have to do there. But I’m definitely more of a Gostisbehere and Sean Couturier who follow Provorov as he lugs the winger than a center.” puck toward the neutral zone. It worked to perfection here, as both Why the preference? Aside from familiarity, Raffl explained it mostly Gostisbehere and Couturier had the opportunity to touch the puck on the comes down to how he can maximize the energy he spends on a given move up ice, and Ghost even added a middle lane drive after he helped shift at wing versus center. When playing the latter position, he has to to create the entry, which helped to push the defensemen back just a bit account for the possibility of disaster and the increased responsibilities a and open up more space for Lindblom to try and slip a pass through the center has in dealing with worst-case scenarios. slot area. “I think I can go a little bit more on the offense as a winger, because as a It’s a very north-south strategy. So far, it’s working well for the Couturier- center, I was always worried (about being) stuck in our end, and work led unit, which has already scored multiple goals on the rush. Are there down low, and I was kind of tempted to save my energy in the offensive ways to defend against it? Of course. Just before this goal, Vegas zone,” Raffl said. “If I have to go back, I have to clear things out there, stymied a move up ice by PP2 by pressuring Provorov before his trailers you know? As a winger, it’s a little bit different.” could get set up behind him. But for now, it’s been a clear success. — Archives: Read past O’Connor’s Observations and 10 Things 9. Morin finally gets his chance columns.

At last Tuesday’s practice, Vigneault was asked about the fact that his All statistics courtesy of Natural Stat Trick, Corsica.Hockey, or Evolving defense pairings haven’t been juggled nearly as often as his forward line Hockey. combinations, and whether that implied more satisfaction in his blue-line mix. He confirmed as much, but then quickly pivoted, unprompted, to a The Athletic LOADED: 10.29.2019 new topic: Samuel Morin’s playing time.

“I would like to get Sam Morin in the lineup,” the head coach said.

He liked Morin’s work in practice, Vigneault said, and had been impressed with his preseason work as well. The problem? Before Sunday, Vigneault had no issues with the six defensemen who started, and the group hadn’t suffered any injuries.

“At this time, our six Ds that are there are playing well,” he said. “They’ve all had some good moments, some very good moments and some so-so moments. None of them have played themselves out of the lineup, so Sam’s gonna have to be patient.”

Morin’s patience finally paid off Sunday, when he replaced Robert Hägg (who struggled mightily versus Columbus) against the Islanders. The massive blueliner held his own in the first period, but the wheels came off in the second, as the pairing of Morin and Gostisbehere was repeatedly gashed for dangerous chances and goals against. It wasn’t all Morin’s fault — Gostisbehere had his worst game of the season — but the 24- year-old looked like a player who had appeared in only 12 competitive 1158950 Pittsburgh Penguins Ducks defenseman Korbinian Holzer on Oct. 10 after Holzer slammed Johnson into the end boards.

Captain Sidney Crosby has the other major as a result of wrestling Penguins facing enforcer void without Erik Gudbranson Columbus Blue Jackets forward Pierre-Luc Dubois to the ice after a high hit against forward Jake Guentzel on Oct. 5.

“If one of our guys gets cheap-shotted by a hit or something like that, one Seth Rorabaugh of us is going to step up, regardless of who it is,” forward Jared McCann said. “If you win or lose a fight, it’s not really a big deal. You’re just there

for your teammate. It’s about making a statement that you’re there for Erik Gudbranson’s tenure with the Penguins ended in a fashion many your teammates and I feel like you get a lot more respect from guys for would expect of a man with his stature. doing that.”

He planted several of his right metacarpophalangeal and interphalangeal Not long ago, nearly every team had at least guy whose sole job was to joints into somebody’s temporal bone. fight in response to offending hits.

In layman’s terms, he punched Lightning forward Patrick Maroon on side “It was more than one,” objected defenseman Jack Johnson, who broke of his head. into the NHL in 2006-07. “It’s just changed. The salary cap, I think, has had an impact on that. Just the style, the way the game is played now, is During a 3-2 road loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday, so much more skilled and faster. It’s just evolved into that.” Maroon whacked goaltender Tristan Jarry after a puck was frozen and was taken to task by the rugged Penguins defenseman for the The Penguins certainly employed pure enforcers within the past decade malfeasance. with the likes of and Steve MacIntyre. But those types of players are virtually extinct from the NHL today. Less than 48 hours later, Gudbranson was headed to the Anaheim Ducks in a trade. General manager Jim Rutherford labeled Gudbranson “You don’t need a player that’s going to just be dressed, play two minutes as a “cap casualty” and said the franchise was not completely a game and just have a fight like it used to be,” defenseman Kris Letang comfortable moving him. said. “(Gudbranson) was bringing way more than that. You felt his presence out there with his physical play. He could also play and move. That’s feeling is understandable considering Gudbranson’s departure He’s a good player.” leaves a 6-foot-5, 217-pound void in the lineup. Without him, the Penguins don’t have an accomplished fighter at their disposal, either at If someone is a fighter, he has to have a lot more than that on his the NHL or AHL levels. resume.

But do they need one? “(Gudbranson) could do the job of an enforcer. But he also brought the physical game, he is a guy that can make plays with the puck, he has a Ever since Rutherford took over as general manager in the 2014 good shot. He brought more than just the enforcer kind of role. We’re offseason, the Penguins have been hot and cold with regard to having an going to miss him, that’s for sure. Because he brought maybe a … if a enforcer available. game goes out of hand, he’s back there.”

One of Rutherford’s first moves was to sign rambunctious forward Steve As they prepare for Tuesday’s game against the rival Flyers, an foe Downie, a skilled but volatile player who lasted only one season after which aggravates them like few others, do the Penguins have somebody putting up a respectable 14 goals but an abhorrent 238 penalty minutes. anywhere in their lineup who can fill that role, even if just in an incremental fashion? Less than a year after cutting ties with Downie, the team signed lumbering forward Tom Sestito in February 2016 and kept him around on “I don’t think we’re looking for anyone to go out and fight,” Jack Johnson a handful of two-way contracts. He existed primarily on the AHL roster said. “Fights just happen. They’re less and less in this league. I don’t during his time with the Penguins and was usually only utilized in a think anyone feels they need to fight just because he’s gone. It’s a “break glass in case of emergency” situation. physical game, guys play physical. Guys that aren’t bone-crushing hitters, they’re usually physical in other ways.” Then at the draft in June 2017, after watching several vital members of the 2016 and ‘17 Stanley Cup squads get battered and injured by the “It’s as simple as just finishing a check,” Aston-Reese said. “You don’t opposition repeatedly, Rutherford swung a major trade acquiring forward have to knock a guy on his (butt). But just being physical. That’s Ryan Reaves, the unofficial heavyweight champion of the NHL, in a deal something you can’t shy away from now that (Gudbranson is) gone, which sent forward Oskar Sundqvist, then a prospect, as well as a first- especially.” round pick to the St. Louis Blues. Tribune Review LOADED: 10.29.2019 The trade never paid off as Reaves failed to fully enamour coach Mike Sullivan and was dealt to the Vegas Golden Knights in February 2018.

This past February, with several of the team’s incumbent defensemen injured, Rutherford added Gudbranson in a deal with the Vancouver Canucks.

While lauding his physical gifts, Rutherford stressed the need to add a healthy body on the blue line above all else. While lauding his physical nature, Rutherford stressed the need to add a healthy body on the blue line.

Eight months later, the Penguins no longer have someone — at least a bigger someone — to push back against the Tom Wilsons or Brandon Dubinskys of the NHL.

They profess confidence in their ability to do that post-Gudbranson.

“(Gudbranson’s) job was obviously a litle bit more on that side because of his size,” said forward Zach Aston-Reese. “But I think there’s (remaining) guys that are capable. Everytime, guys have stepped up for each other this year. Like Teddy (Blueger). (Adam Johnson) got hit from behind against Anaheim. Teddy jumped in there and fought. There’s guys that are capable.”

Blueger, all six feet and 185 pounds of him, has one of the team’s two fighting majors this season. He attacked (and lost to) 6-foot-3, 215-pound 1158951 Pittsburgh Penguins

Penguins assign Joseph Blandisi, Adam Johnson to Wilkes- Barre/Scranton

SETH RORABAUGH | Monday, October 28, 2019 5:30 p.m.

With several players on the verge of returning to the lineup from injured reserve, the Penguins assigned forwards Joseph Blandisi and Adam Johnson to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League.

Johnson, 25, was recalled on Oct. 9. In seven games, he scored two points (one goal, one assist). He was sidelined for the past two games due to an undisclosed injury

Blandisi, 25, was recalled on Oct. 11. He also scored two points (one goal, one assist) in seven games.

Forward Alex Galchenyuk and defenseman Brian Dumoulin officially remain on injured reserve due to undisclosed ailments but participated in practice in Cranberry on Tuesday. Coach Mike Sullivan described them as “game-time” decisions for Tuesday’s home contest against the rival Philadelphia Flyers.

Forward Evgeni Malkin also practiced but wore a red “no contact” jersey for most of session. He remains on injured reserve but suggested he wants to return for Saturday’s home game against the Edmonton Oilers.

Tribune Review LOADED: 10.29.2019 1158952 Pittsburgh Penguins

Penguins’ Evgeni Malkin pursues U.S. citizenship, brushes off report of investment gone wrong

SETH RORABAUGH | Monday, October 28, 2019 4:07 p.m.

Penguins superstar forward Evgeni Malkin wasn’t terribly busy over the past three weeks.

True, he had the business of rehabilitating an unspecified injury which has sidelined him since Oct. 5, but beyond the visits with team medical staff and the individual skating sessions, life for an injured player can be boring.

So he found a way to bide his time.

He took on the process of becoming a U.S. citizen.

“My child, he has an American passport,” said Malkin, a native of Magnitogorsk, Russia. “It’s my second home. I’m here (13) years. Maybe he go to school. My wife (is) here. I don’t like U.S. fight against Russia. We have rules in Russia. You have two passports. It’s nothing bad. I’m OK about that. My child has two passports. I’m fine.”

The initial report of Malkin pursuing U.S. citizenship came from Sports.ru, a Russian news site, which reported, at length, of Malkin losing approximately $4 million in a blockchain or cryptocurrency startup in his home country. According to the report, his involvement with the startup could present legal issues for Malkin.

Malkin offered something of a dismissal of the report while speaking with Pittsburgh media after practice in Cranberry on Monday.

“No, forget it.” Malkin said. “Garbage. I don’t like that, you know.

“I don’t want like this right now. It’s garbage for me. I knew I’m a good guy. I don’t know what to say about that. A little like bit crazy this morning for me. I know it’s nothing bad for me.”

Tribune Review LOADED: 10.29.2019 1158953 Pittsburgh Penguins Galchenyuk, who has not played since Oct. 8 due to an undisclosed ailment, has been skating with the team since Friday when he flew to Dallas and participated in a practice at American Airlines Center.

Evgeni Malkin, Brian Dumoulin resume practicing with the Penguins With those regular members of the roster on the verge of returning, the team assigned forwards Joseph Blandisi and Adam Johnson to Wilkes- Barre/Scranton on Monday evening.

SETH RORABAUGH | Monday, October 28, 2019 2:04 p.m. Malkin lauded their contributions, along with rookie forward Sam Lafferty, during the team’s surge.

“Now, we have five good lines,” Malkin joked. “The young guys, they did The last time Evgeni Malkin completed a hockey game, he was not a great job. They helped so much.” happy. Malkin might be in a position to help in the near future. He had scored the only goal in the Penguins’ season-opening 3-1 home loss to the Sabres on Oct. 3. Having watched the majority of his Tribune Review LOADED: 10.29.2019 teammates mostly sleepwalk through an unwhelming performance, Malkin laid it down and dared them to pick it up.

“We need to play faster. We need to play hungry,” Malkin bemoaned. “How we played tonight, we need to change.”

Two nights later, Malkin was injured in an awkward collision into the boards, but his teammates heeded his advice and blasted the Columbus Blue Jackets, 7-2, on Oct. 5. Without Malkin in the lineup, they’ve gone 6- 4-0 and have outscored the opposition, 31-25.

Malkin has noticed.

“We (did) not play great the first game,” Malkin said after he practiced with his team Monday in Cranberry, the first time he’s skated with the squad since being injured. “But the second, third and the last three games, the team (played) amazing. It’s only important if we work hard. We have skilled guys. We have a good power-play unit. We need (to) work hard the whole game.

“I hope when I’m back, we (will) keep going to win. I missed lots of hockey. I want (to be) back soon and to help team to win.”

Malkin practiced for most of the session in a red noncontact jersey and appeared to have few physical limitations. He suggested he could return to the lineup for Saturday’s home game against the Edmonton Oilers.

During his convalescence, Malkin was busy as he pursued United States citizenship.

“My child, he has an American passport,” said Malkin, a native of Magnitogorsk, Russia. “It’s my second home. I’m here (13) years. Maybe he go to school. My wife (is) here. I don’t like U.S. fight against Russia. We have rules in Russia. You have two passports. It’s nothing bad. I’m OK about that. My child has two passports. I’m fine.”

The initial report of Malkin taking steps toward U.S. citizenship came from Sports.ru, a Russian news site, which reported, at length, of Malkin losing approximately $4 million in a blockchain, or cryptocurrency, startup in his home country. According to the report, his involvement with the startup could present legal issues for Malkin.

Malkin offered something of a dismissal of the story while speaking with Pittsburgh media after practice.

“No, forget it.” Malkin said. “Garbage. I don’t like that, you know.

“I don’t want like this right now. It’s garbage for me. I knew I’m a good guy. I don’t know what to say about that. A little like bit crazy this morning for me. I know it’s nothing bad for me.”

Forward Alex Galchenyuk and defenseman Brian Dumoulin appear ready to make a more immediate return for Tuesday’s home contest against the rival Philadelphia Flyers. Both players practiced in regular jerseys had had no restrictions.

Sullivan described each of them as “game-time” decisions.

After playing in a 4-2 home win against the Dallas Stars on Oct. 18, Dumoulin participated in warmups for a 3-0 home loss against the Vegas Golden Knights the next night but was a last-minute scratch and has not played since.

“We had (games on back-to-back nights),” Dumoulin said. “We don’t come in in the mornings. We knew we had to play right away. I was trying to play through something. I got in warmups but I just couldn’t do it.” 1158954 Pittsburgh Penguins “It's my second home. I've been here 14 years,” Malkin said, adding that his young son has an American passport and could eventually go to school here.

Penguins are pleased with their new-look power play despite a recent 0- Malkin also addressed a report from his home country that said he lost for-11 skid millions of dollars in bad investments in Russia that could also lead to legal issues.

“Right now, it's garbage for me,” the 33-year-old said. “I know I'm a good MATT VENSEL Pittsburgh Post-Gazette OCT 28, 2019 5:53 PM guy. I don't know what to say about that. It's a little bit crazy this morning for me.”

Rust pays up on a bet The Penguins have gone six consecutive games without a power-play goal and, after going 0 for 11 over that span, entered Monday with a 17.6 Bryan Rust, who most certainly is not a Michigan man, sported a blue success rate that ranked 21st in the league. But coach Mike Sullivan said and maize ball cap with a big block M throughout the post-practice media that unit has a lot to feel good about, and it’s not just that Evgeni Malkin access Monday. and Alex Galchenyuk will soon be back. The forward, who attended Notre Dame, explained that he had lost a Before mentioning those two, who could both return in the coming days, friendly bet to Jack Johnson after Johnson’s alma mater beat Notre Sullivan rattled off a list of positives that included “a lot of scoring Dame Saturday. That football game wrapped up while the Penguins were chances,” improved execution when the Penguins are breaking out of playing the Stars in Dallas. their zone and then trying to cleanly cross the far blue line and pouncing on loose pucks in the zone. “When we got off the ice, Jack made a point to ask me what size my hat was,” he said. “Came in here today, Jack already had it hung up and “Just from a process standpoint and what we can control, the power ready to go.” play’s been very good,” Sullivan said. “There’s a lot of things … we’ve done a real good job at. What I’d like to see is just a little bit more finish. Post Gazette LOADED: 10.29.2019 And I don’t think they’re far off.”

That viewpoint was echoed by Kris Letang, who said the Penguins have “played a lot better than the percentage we’re at.” He has enjoyed their new approach to the power play, which has been a lot more free-flowing than last season.

“It just keeps you in rhythm. Everybody is interchangeable,” the All-Star defenseman said. “There’s no set position really. Obviously, you want your defensemen on top, but it’s fun to just be able to be free and kind of act your instinct.”

He said that has helped the Penguins with both puck retrieval and back- checking. Instead of getting caught standing still, often they’re already in motion.

Of course, the NHL is a results-oriented business. The more stationary power play they used a year ago, with Phil Kessel anchored in the left circle, was among the best in hockey. But a dozen games is a relatively small sample size. The Penguins say more goals are on the way, along with Malkin and Galchenyuk.

“Obviously, if you add a guy like Malkin to the mix or Galchenyuk to the mix, it just raises the skill level and playmaking ability to another level,” Sullivan said. “But the two groups have done a really good job to this point, in our mind.”

Dumoulin back at practice

Brian Dumoulin practiced for the first time Monday since he was a surprise scratch after skating in pregame warmups before the Oct. 19 loss against Vegas.

“I was trying to play through something and I got in warmups and just couldn’t do it,” said Dumoulin, who has a team-best plus-7 rating in eight games.

Penguins snap a three-game skid with win over Dallas

He didn’t travel with the team on their recent three-game road trip. Instead, he rehabbed his injury in Pittsburgh and skated here Saturday and Sunday.

“It felt good,” he said. “Obviously, with the long trip, it was just me and Geno and Gally here. It’s just good to be back around the guys and see everyone again.”

Sullivan said Dumoulin – who practiced with his regular partner Letang – will be a game-time decision the home game Tuesday night against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Malkin becomes a citizen

Malkin, who also returned to practice Monday, confirmed a report stating that he recently became an American citizen. The Russian has a dual citizenship. 1158955 Pittsburgh Penguins ice Monday in a red non-contact jersey. Late in practice, Malkin pulled on a regular jersey.

During the hour-long practice, the 33-year-old mixed in when the Evgeni Malkin back at Penguins practice, targets Saturday return Penguins did 4-on-4 and 5-on-5 drills. He also got a little work on the second power-play unit.

“I want to do my best and be back as soon as possible,” said Malkin, who MATT VENSEL Pittsburgh Post-Gazette OCT 28, 2019 11:31 AM scored in the season opener then was injured in the next game. “I skated last week every day and I feel good. We’ll see what’s going on the next

couple of days.” When the Penguins took off last week for a three-game road trip through It was a frustrating start to the season for Malkin, who after a long Florida and Texas, Evgeni Malkin remained in Pittsburgh, skating every offseason filled with trade speculation arrived in Pittsburgh motivated and day and tuning in at night to watch his teammates remain fast and feisty in good shape. in his absence. “I miss [the] ice so much. I didn’t play all the time all summer,” he said. “I “The team is playing amazing. It’s all [because] we work hard,” he said missed the last three weeks. It’s a little bit hard [mentally] but I try to stay Monday. “We have skilled guys. We have a good power-play unit. We positive.” just need to work hard the whole game. You see now, we have five good lines.” After a couple of weeks of limited activity, if any at all, he ramped up the intensity of his workouts last week. When he went home and turned on Malkin practiced in a team setting Monday and is targeting a return to his TV, Malkin was pleased with what he saw from his Penguins action Saturday when the Penguins host the Edmonton Oilers at PPG teammates on the road. Paints Arena. “The young guys did a great job. They helped so much. I hope when I get Unless the Penguins plan on pivoting to an all-forward lineup when that back we keep winning,” said the center, who watched them go 7-4-0 after happens, something is going to have to give for a team that suddenly his injury. went from having a surplus of defensemen to carrying too many forwards. Monday, with a full house at Penguins practice, the Penguins rolled through five forward lines, with Malkin mixing in. Johnson and Blandisi Penguins are pleased with their new-look power play despite a recent 0- were the only Penguins in gray jerseys, which suggested they wouldn’t for-11 skid be here much longer. Three emergency call-ups in Sam Lafferty, Adam Johnson and Joseph Dominik Simon remained on the top line with Sidney Crosby and Jake Blandisi gave the Penguins a boost, especially early on, when Malkin, Guentzel. He has as many goals in 12 games as Malkin has in four Alex Galchenyuk, Nick Bjugstad and Bryan Rust were all simultaneously periods, but he continues to make an impact in other ways, such as that on injured reserve. critical back-check in Dallas, while Crosby and Guentzel thrive. So Bjugstad and Rust returned to the lineup Saturday in Dallas, their lone Sullivan is keeping them together for now. win on the road trip. Galchenyuk is on track to play Tuesday when the Galchenyuk skated with Bjugstad and Patric Hornqvist on the second Philadelphia Flyers come to town. Malkin should be a game or two line. But the Penguins are expected to reunite him with Malkin whenever behind his old linemate. Malkin is ready. Who will be the other winger on that line? Hornqvist? Blue-liner Brian Dumoulin practiced Monday, too. Tanev? Bryan Rust?

The Penguins, needing to make multiple roster moves for Galchenyuk The Penguins were intrigued by the idea of putting Tanev with those two and Dumoulin to suit up against the Flyers, reassigned Johnson and and in a small sample size it looked good. His two-way play, speed and Blandisi to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Monday. Lafferty, who has made a tenacity on the forecheck were beneficial for Malkin. But Tanev in recent case to stick around, might get bumped to the press box if he does. games got something going with Teddy Blueger and Zach Aston-Reese. Will Sullivan break that up? “They came up and played really hard hockey for us,” Patric Hornqvist said. “It creates a good competition in this room. We all have to be on our And then there are the final spots in the lineup. Dominik Kahun finally did toes. It doesn’t matter what your jersey number is. That’s what a good some good things during the road trip, including taking advantage of a team does.” fortunate bounce to bury the game-winner Saturday, which was his first goal with the Penguins. But Lafferty has been better at both ends of the And then there are the line combinations, which had to be jumbled due to rink. Plus, he can kill penalties. four key forwards, making $22 million combined, going on injured reserve. Will the Penguins go with what has worked or revert to some of So, yeah, that’s a lot for Sullivan and the Penguins to sort out these next the trios they envisioned a month ago, when they were healthy and few days, while also knocking on wood that there are no setbacks or new wrapping up the preseason? injuries.

The Penguins, who this summer touted their improved forward depth, Post Gazette LOADED: 10.29.2019 obviously feel this is a good problem to have and figure coach Mike Sullivan will find the right fits eventually. But in the short term, the roster puzzle could be a headache, especially with them finding success with a focused, responsible style.

Penguins return from three-game road trip with more than an October sunburn and a belly full of barbecue

“We believe we’ve done a real good job here at executing and working together in five-man groups to play the game the right way,” Sullivan said. “Our challenge is to maintain the same conscientious game as we get healthy. And I think if we do that, this team will accomplish what it set out to accomplish.”

What a difference three weeks makes. After a practice Oct. 7 at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex, a solemn Sullivan announced that Malkin would be out “longer term.” Monday, the coach was talking about what a seven-time All-Star and likely Hall of Famer must do for the Penguins to keep rolling when he returns.

Malkin, who has missed 10 games since suffering a lower-body injury in an Oct. 5 win against Columbus at PPG Paints Arena, stepped onto the 1158956 Pittsburgh Penguins “Obviously having him coming back is going to be a great thing for us,” said Bryan Rust, who just returned to the lineup in Dallas and scored a goal in his season debut. “He’s one of the main engines of this team. Everyone knows that. You can see he’s close and you can see how Here comes Geno: What it means for the Penguins moving forward excited he is. It has an impact on all of us, to be honest.”

Rust is a straight line player by nature, thus, his game never required an adaptation when returning to the lineup. He’s not worried about Malkin By Josh Yohe Oct 28, 2019 fitting in, even though he acknowledged the Penguins have started to play a different game than what they showcased last season.

The Penguins are 7-5-0 and have played well in their past nine games “Guys in this room have really gelled while everyone was out of the despite using a depleted roster that has been without as many as six lineup,” Rust said. “You can really see it. They’ve been great. There’s valuable contributors. They’ve been defensively sound, have received been an identity that has been formed here. The guys who have been out quality goaltending and have played precisely how Mike Sullivan has have realized that and just want to jump right in.” wanted them to operate. All is well. Malkin confirmed that he has been skating on his own for about one But they aren’t really the Penguins without Evgeni Malkin. week. He participated in all of the drills during Monday’s practice and emerged unscathed. Malkin looked slightly fatigued by the end of The 33-year-old superstar made a surprise return to practice Monday, practice, but he’s been out of the lineup for more than three weeks, so shed the red “non-contact” jersey late in the workout and pronounced the conditioning that he worked so feverishly on during the summer has himself eager to make his return Saturday when Connor McDavid and probably absorbed a temporary hit. the Edmonton Oilers visit PPG Paints Arena. Still, Malkin feels good about himself. Malkin is an artist more than he is a hockey player, his east-west game frequently painting beyond the boundaries of which any hockey coach is “Last week I skated every day,” he said. “I’m so excited. The last three comfortable. The Penguins have been at their worst during the past weeks have been a little bit hard (mentally). But I’m just trying to stay couple of years when Malkin has struggled. Thing is, they can’t win the positive, do my best. Work hard.” Stanley Cup without him, either. And they know it. Malkin almost certainly won’t play against the Flyers on Tuesday. Come “There’s no way he isn’t making us better,” Jake Guentzel said. “He’s Saturday, however, he apparently will return. The Penguins are Evgeni Malkin.” scheduled to practice Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, giving him ample opportunity to get acclimated to his linemates and perhaps to a Kris Letang is related to Malkin in that his game, while brilliant at times, slightly new style of play. also is of the high-risk variety. When Malkin and Letang returned from late-season injuries last spring, the Penguins struggled. “I’m happy with what I did last week,” he said. “I’m hoping I’m back against Edmonton.” Letang has adapted his game slightly to fit the straight-line game that Sullivan wants to see. He doesn’t expect Malkin’s return will produce a Practice tidbits negative result. • A report in Russian site Sports.ru on Monday said Malkin has lost “We’ve been playing our best hockey in three years,” said Letang, around $4 million in a Russian investment and that his involvement could offering an impressive review of what the Penguins have done through a see Malkin facing legal issues. dozen games. “I hope nothing changes. We just get more with Geno. Malkin wasn’t the least bit interested in speaking of the report. He’s a top-end talent. He’s only going to help.” “No,” he said. “Forget it. Garbage. I don’t like that. I don’t want this right Letang is convinced that Malkin will showcase his very best form, that the now. It’s garbage for me. I know I’m a good guy. I don’t know what to say turnovers and bad penalties that occasionally plagued him last season about that. A little bit crazy this morning for me. I know it’s nothing bad for will be a thing of the past. me.” “I know how hard he worked this summer and how badly he wants to Two sources close to Malkin said several details of the report are not have a good season,” Letang said. “I know how hard he’s worked to get factual. The sources confirmed to The Athletic Malkin’s involvement in a back. I know how good of a season he wants to have. And I think he will. “business matter that won’t impact Evgeni playing for the Penguins” or He’s had a little setback. But he’s excited.” “prevent Evgeni from traveling outside the United States.” Also, the Malkin spoke glowingly of what the Penguins have accomplished in sources said, Malkin had already pulled from the startup most of his recent weeks, explaining he loves the style they have used while investment, which the sources stressed was “much less significant than watching every game on television. $4 million.”

“We have a good team,” he said. “Great four lines. We didn’t play great in The sources said Malkin was seeking legal counsel to resolve any the first game. But the last three games, the team has played amazing. lingering issues related to that specific business and that he would not be We work hard. We have skilled guys, a good power play. We just need to commenting publicly on the matter. work hard all game. Young guys. They help so much. I hope when I’m Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford said in a text message he did back, we’re going to keep winning. I want to be back soon and to help not have “enough information to comment.” this team win.” • The report also noted that Malkin has become an American citizen. Malkin also said he’s more than willing to adapt his game. Sullivan traveled to south Florida during the summer to have a chat with the future “It’s my second home,” Malkin said. “I’ve been here for 14 years.” Hall of Famer, and one thing that was discussed was Malkin’s tendency to take too many chances. The Penguins don’t wish to remove Malkin’s Malkin’s son, Nikita, was born in the United States during the 2016 natural instincts nor his artistry, but rather, simply wish to see a more Stanley Cup Final. prudent and thoughtful version of the two-time scoring champion. “My child, he has an American passport,” Malkin said. “Maybe he goes to “I just want to play how coach wants,” Malkin explained. “Straight line school (here). My wife (is) here. I don’t like the U.S. fight against Russia. stuff. Simple. Don’t lose the puck in the neutral zone. Just be focused. I We have rules in Russia. You have two passports. It’s nothing bad. I’m still remember last year, so many mistakes. I watch how the team plays OK (with) that. My child has two passports. It’s fine.” now every game on TV. I see how the team plays. You learn. I feel like • Sidney Crosby practiced but Penguins officials said he wouldn’t be I’m ready.” speaking to the media following practice, something of a rarity for one of There is no question Malkin’s presence allows the Penguins to puff out the game’s most accessible athletes. He also didn’t speak in Dallas their chests. The Penguins, on and off the ice, possess a different following the game on Saturday while receiving medical attention swagger when he is around. It’s impossible to miss. because he was struck in the left cheek by a Letang shot. • Alex Galchenyuk and Brian Dumoulin practiced and appear close to returning to the lineup. • The Penguins have sent forwards Joseph Blandisi and Adam Johnson back to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

The Athletic’s Rob Rossi contributed to this report.

The Athletic LOADED: 10.29.2019 1158957 Pittsburgh Penguins “Well, I suppose everybody has their opinions on that matter,” Sullivan said. “What I’ll tell you is that I believe we have a tough team. We’ve got guys that play hard. We’ve got guys that take hits to make plays.

Juuso Riikola won’t fight like Erik Gudbranson. But the Penguins might “You know, you can define toughness in different ways. What’s important not need him to for us is that we have team toughness, and we’re just going to play the game the best that we can so that we can try to dictate the terms and play to our strengths.”

By Rob Rossi Oct 28, 2019 Of those 84 words Sullivan said Saturday morning in Dallas, seven still stand out as the Penguins get ready Tuesday night to re-engage their

historically raucous rivalry with the Philadelphia Flyers in Pittsburgh. Erik Gudbranson is a fighter. Juuso Riikola is a scrapper. We’re. Just. Going. To. Play. The. Game. What’s the difference? You know what? We can cut it in half and make a snappier statement Well, Riikola returned with the Penguins from their three-game road trip that would sound familiar. Sunday. Gudbranson was traded a couple of days prior. Just. Play. The. Game. Score one for the scrappers, right? See what we did there? Sullivan can thank us later. Actually, it would be wrong to read the trade of Gudbranson to Anaheim Now seems the perfect time to bring back the mantra Sullivan made as the Penguins suddenly de-emphasizing players who are reputable famous upon his arrival as Mike Johnston’s replacement in December with their fists. It would be just as wrong to say Gudbranson’s role during 2015. Sullivan hammered “just play the game” like general manager Jim his short stint in Pittsburgh was to fight on the behalf of superstars such Rutherford talks trades with other GMs: daily. as Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin. Eventually, Sullivan transformed the Penguins into a team that was tough Ask around about Gudbranson and people with the Penguins will say he enough to win the Cup in consecutive seasons. Those teams remain the acquitted himself well as a depth and penalty killing defenseman, that his NHL’s only back-to-back champions in the past couple of decades. decision-making with and away from the puck improved quickly under the guidance of assistant coach Sergei Gonchar, and that he had not done There have been encouraging developments form this month — what, anything to deserve falling out of the top six. you’re not encouraged by seven wins in 12 games despite only having Evgeni Malkin for four periods? — that could indicate the Penguins are Of course, neither had Riikola. closer now to what they need to be than they have been at any point In fact, Riikola and Gudbranson each performed so well during training since they last skated with the Cup in Nashville. camp that they appeared set to open the season as the third defense All of their forwards belong in the NHL. Most of their forwards’ strengths pairing. But that never happened, for a variety of reasons that included: are accentuated by Sullivan’s system. Neither was always the case the • rookie John Marino’s emergence last couple of seasons.

• veteran Jack Johnson’s apparent lack of suitors As for the whispers of concern about Malkin’s return from a leg injury somehow messing up good thing, well… • the Penguins’ run of injuries among forwards Rutherford heartily chuckled when we ran that theory, increasingly • that always-pesky-in-Pittsburgh NHL salary cap gaining popularity on social media, by him Friday afternoon. He countered that “nobody is going to tell Geno not to be Geno” — a And, so it was by the Penguins’ 12th game that Gudbranson was gone reference to Malkin’s ability (and admitted over-reliance at times) to and Riikola was finally in the lineup as a defenseman — as opposed to a dangle laterally instead of driving straight ahead. forward, which, bless his heart, Riikola willingly tried to be whenever coach Mike Sullivan made the request the past few weeks. “If I say that our players coming back are going to have to fit into how we’re playing, what I mean is that we have the depth again so that our “Juuso’s a great example of being a great teammate,” Sullivan said best forwards — Crosby, Malkin, Guentzel, whoever — don’t need to Saturday night from outside the visitors dressing room at American play 22 or 23 minutes every game for us to win,” Rutherford said. “Those Airlines Center. “We had discussions with him and his response was guys can play 18 minutes, maybe 20 minutes, because we have enough always, ‘Whatever it takes, coach.’ good forwards to have four lines that play fast, that play the way the “That’s just a testament to his own personal character. He’s a team-first coach wants.” guy. And you just can’t have enough of those on your team.” Perhaps the biggest reason the Penguins can probably play more like Sullivan finished his thought by offering “we have a lot of them on our Sullivan wants is their defense corps again can rely on puck-movers team.” anchoring each pairing. Forwards, even the greatest ones, aren’t able to do much if they can’t get the puck. Had he wanted to, Sullivan could have connected that last line to a few he offered earlier Saturday morning when the topic of toughness was Kris Letang, the Penguins’ No. 1 defenseman, has picked up where he raised — specifically, if Gudbranson’s absence somehow weakened the was left off last season before being injured in the outdoor game in Penguins since he was their fighter. Philadelphia. Where Letang left off then was a level reserved for Norris Trophy candidates. The look on Sullivan’s face hinted that he thought our inquiry revealed a low hockey IQ. And while that might be true, we asked the question for a Marcus Pettersson and Justin Schultz, who compose the second pairing, reason. are strong skaters and passers. So, too, is Marino — to the point that he might eventually be encouraged to dial back a bit his Letang-like dancing We have thought for a while now that Sullivan’s idea of tough — at least through the neutral zone and then deep into the offensive zone. as it applies to an NHL team — does not reflect the view occasionally taken by Rutherford, who has added to (and also subtracted from) the A third pairing of Johnson and Marino looks likely when Dumoulin returns Penguins the likes of Gudbranson and Ryan Reaves since their back-to- from a lower-body injury. That would leave Riikola as the odd-man out, back Stanley Cup seasons. but seventh defenseman would be easier to make sense of than fill-in forward for a player that Rutherford and Sullivan really, really like. In those seasons, by the way, the Penguins lacked a heavyweight. Somehow, they managed to be tough enough to become champions, As he made calls on Johnson and Gudbranson over the past several anyway. weeks, Rutherford also discovered that a few teams would be interested in acquiring Riikola. Those were conversations that Rutherford cut short Those seasons were on our mind when we asked Sullivan if a fighter on straight away. the roster reflects a team’s toughness. If anything, Riikola’s mature handling of hockey business in recent weeks only endeared him more to the Penguins. Soon to turn 26, he has played in only 41 NHL games. History is littered with players of limited experience who struggled with circumstances beyond their control, as Riikola was when his second consecutive strong training camp turned into a bizarre run of inactivity (except, of course, those games as a winger).

He’s a defenseman. Potentially a good one.

“His mobility really helps us get out of our end, get back to pucks. He’s dangerous on that offensive blue line, he can really shoot it, and he’s got some puck poise, he sees the ice pretty well, makes a good first pass,” Sullivan said. “So, he brings a lot to our team.”

Riikola was credited with three hits and two blocked shots Saturday night, when he played at his natural position for the first time this season. He also attempted five shots.

It was a performance Sullivan described as “real strong.”

It was an opportunity that was overdue.

Riikola personifies the scrappiness these Penguins have shown to start the season. Their fighter is gone, but Gudbranson likely didn’t take the Penguins’ fight with him.

The Athletic LOADED: 10.29.2019 1158958 San Jose Sharks enough support coming from behind. That, of course, leads to easy breakouts by the opposition.

“You can have one guy working but if the other four guys on the ice aren’t Takeaways: For the Sharks, buy-in has to be more than a slogan getting up there and working to help him on the forecheck, you’re not going to get much out of it,” Kane said. “We’ve got to forecheck as a unit Twelve games in, Pete DeBoer and Sharks still haven’t gotten everyone of five, and when we did that tonight you saw what it created. on board on a consistent enough basis “We’d spend a lot of time in their zone and able to get some opportunities and when we didn’t do that it was real easier for them breaking the puck out.” By CURTIS PASHELKA 2) Managing risks: Not many areas of the Sharks’ game has caused

them more problems this year than puck management. BOSTON — The Sharks have been wearing some new hoodies before The Sharks have talked a lot on this trip about the need to not beat and after practices and morning skates this year. They’re, of course, teal themselves. But turnovers, like the one that led to Nick Paul’s second and bright, and below the Sharks logo reads a simple slogan. goal and a 3-1 Senators lead in the second period, proved to be too Buy-in. much to overcome.

Right now, as the Sharks get set to face the red-hot Boston Bruins on “Maybe when you’re tired on your shift, you just chip it out and take the Tuesday to finish off a five-game road trip, one wonders if everyone has safe play. That’s what’s costing us right now,” Couture said. “The safe gotten the message. play is there and we’re not making it. We’re trying something a little fancier and it’s biting us right now. I think in our own end we defended A dismal 5-2 loss to the rebuilding Ottawa Senators on Sunday dropped pretty hard for a lot of the game. Just gave them too many odd-man the Sharks’ record to 4-7-1, the farthest they’ve been below a .500 points (rushes).” percentage at this point in a season in a since 2003-04. “Simplifying our game a little bit especially through the neutral zone and The Sharks are a team dotted with stars, with three or even four players the defensive zone,” Kane said. “But at the same time, you’ve got to that might be in the Hockey Hall of Fame one day. But once again, when make some plays. But you’ve got to make the right play at the right time. things went south like they did in the second period after the Senators I think we’re trying to find that balance a little bit. Right now we’re having took a 3-1 lead, too many Sharks players went off on their own direction a tough time doing that.” to try and solve things themselves. In that 2003-04 season, the Sharks won just two of their first 12 games, “We found ourselves in a hole and then I didn’t think we handled it well losing five times to go with five ties. In their next eight games, they would from there,” Sharks coach Pete DeBoer said. “It’s hard playing from win just once, with five other games going to overtime. behind. We started to open up and push too hard, and it comes back down your throat and that’s what happened tonight.” Then, general manager Doug Wilson, just six months on the job at that point, traded goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff to the Calgary Flames, For complete Sharks coverage alleviating a logjam in net. Evgeni Nabokov, without the distraction of having three goalies on the roster anymore, returned to form and helped After the Sharks were hammered by the Senators 6-2 on Dec. 1, 2018 in the Sharks take off, as they lost just one of their next nine games. Erik Karlsson’s first game back in the city he called home for nine seasons, they held a team meeting in Montreal the following day. One has to wonder how much patience Wilson has right now, and what exactly he can do at this point. The Sharks could use another forward to Sure, a roster change was made as Radim Simek replaced Joakim Ryan fit into their top nine, but that’s been the case since the start of free in the lineup that went against the Canadiens that night. But the biggest agency in June, and there isn’t necessarily a ton of cap space right now thing was that everyone got on the same page, and yes, bought in to for him to play with. what DeBoer and his staff were preaching. So until further notice, this is the group the Sharks have. And they better At last, after a substandard 12-10-5 start for a team that began with lick their wounds soon before they play a Bruins team that is off to an 8- legitimate Stanley Cup aspirations, the Sharks began to take off. 1-2 start. “I think what worked for us going into that Montreal game was everybody “We can dwell on it all we want, but at the end of the day we’re going decided and made up their minds they want to buy in to what we’re doing against a real good team in Boston who’s playing some good hockey,” here and what their role is,” Sharks winger Evander Kane said. Kane said. “We’re going to have to be ready to go for that game mentally “We’ve had some guys do that and some guys haven’t done that. To win and physically and be smart with the puck, and at the same time do what in this league you need all 20 guys going. If we make our minds up and we do best as individuals, just buying into our roles a little bit better and decide to play the way we know we can and the way we have to play to working towards that goal and staying within yourself.” win games, then we’ll be a really good team.” San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 10.29.2019 The Sharks feel they’ve got the group right now that can repeat history. But several of their top players have under-performed so far, players that have to be great for the Sharks to have a chance on a nightly basis.

Captain Logan Couture now has nine assists but has just one goal after he had 27 last season, 15 of which came on the road. Timo Meier has two goals, and Tomas Hertl has three. The six defensemen that dressed Sunday have now combined for four goals and 19 assists.

Add it all up and the Sharks are ranked 26th in the NHL right now with 19 even strength goals, and 23rd in average goals per game (2.58).

“We didn’t finish around their net like we’re capable of. But that’s also been the story this season, we’re not finishing,” Couture said. “I can’t be sitting at one goal right now. (Hertl) is at three, (Meier) is at two. We’ve got to score some more goals. We’re 12 games in and I can’t be sitting at one goal.”

The Sharks pointed to a few things in their game that need improvement.

1) The forecheck: Both Couture and Kane mentioned that while the first player in on the forecheck is doing his job, too often there’s been not 1158959 San Jose Sharks

Sharks' Radim Simek takes next step in recovery with AHL conditioning stint

By Marcus White October 28, 2019

Sharks defenseman Radim Simek took another step towards making his season debut Monday, as San Jose announced he will join the AHL Barracuda on a conditioning assignment.

The 27-year-old has not played since tearing the ACL and MCL in his right knee on March 12 against the Winnipeg Jets. The Czech defenseman underwent surgery three days later, returning to practice with the Sharks towards the end of the preseason.

Simek was traveling with the Sharks on their five-game road trip, but he now could conceivably suit up for the Barracuda Wednesday morning against the Bakersfield Condors. He could play a lot in the coming days, as the Barracuda hit the road to play the on Friday and return home to host the at SAP Center on Sunday afternoon.

The Sharks went 29-9-3 in the games in which Simek played last season and they were better defensively with him on the ice. San Jose has gone just 17-25-2 in its last 44 regular-season and playoff games in Simek's absence, and the Sharks allowed more 5-on-5 goals (34) than any other team entering Monday.

Simek alone won't solve the Sharks' problems, as San Jose also ranks dead-last in 5-on-5 save percentage (.880) and 24th in 5-on-5 goals for (19). The blueliner scored just nine points in 41 games last season and hasn't scored more than a half-point per game at the professional level.

But after winning four of their first 12 games, the Sharks could use all the help they can get.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 10.29.2019 1158960 San Jose Sharks DeBoer has not hidden his desire for more from the 23-year-old forward, either. When asked before the Toronto game on Friday about Meier’s play on a line with Couture and Marleau, he called Meier “a work in progress. I still think he’s trying to find his way.” Are the Sharks struggling or are they just not very good? Meier is relied upon to get to the front of the net and create chaos in the crease. Most of his goals are going to come from close range. But instead of getting to those hard areas, most of his shot attempts don’t By Kevin Kurz Oct 28, 2019 seem to be all that dangerous. He leads the Sharks with 15 shots that have missed the net, one more than Burns, who routinely fires away from the point simply looking for a deflection. OTTAWA — The situation was so eerily similar, Pete DeBoer couldn’t help but chuckle just a little bit. Is it possible that Meier is feeling the weight of that big new deal?

Shortly after the second time the Sharks got whacked by the lowly “I don’t really think of that,” Meier said on Wednesday morning in Senators in as many seasons at Canadian Tire Center, this time 5-2 on Montreal. “It doesn’t matter what contract I’m on, I want to help the team. Sunday night, the Sharks coach was reminded that when Ottawa beat I want to win as a team. Individually, I want to get better every year and them on Dec. 1 last season, 6-2, it was the low point of what ended up take another step and improve on and off the ice. That’s where I have being a very successful season. expectations for myself. Be better every day.”

“It’s been two pretty rock-bottom nights the last two (years) here,” DeBoer, though, figures it’s only natural for Meier to be feeling a bit more DeBoer replied. “The good thing is we got off the mat last year, and pressure to produce after breaking through for 30 goals last season. we’ve got to do the same this year.” “That’s human nature, right? You score 30 last year, you want 35 or 40 The thing is, though, the Sharks didn’t look quite as bad during any this year,” he said. “You go six, seven or eight games in and you’re not stretch last season as they have for the first dozen games this season. scoring, it starts to weigh on you. (It’s) not unexpected, not something we They have now lost eight of their first 12 (4-7-1), so the sample size isn’t haven’t seen before. He knows how to handle it. We’ve had that small anymore. They are the league’s worst 5-on-5 team by far, key conversations about it. He’ll work his way out of it.” players aren’t performing as expected, several depth players look like What has the message been? they may not belong in the NHL, and the goaltending, while looking better than last season on several nights, has still combined for just an .887 “Those conversations are always about reminding them what they are as save percentage, 27th in the NHL. players when they’re most successful,” DeBoer said. “With Timo, it’s words like firm, direct, power, stop and start, hard to play against. And Not even a complete shuffle of the four lines helped against the when you’re chasing offense, a lot of times you’re not using those words. Senators, who are headed for another draft lottery and may be the worst You’re looping and you’re cheating. It’s just resetting his foundation as a team in the league (and who, by the way, also own the Sharks’ 2020 first- player.” round pick from the Erik Karlsson trade). Prior to the Senators game, Hertl pointed to an aggressive forecheck as After generating just 17 shots and precious few scoring chances in a 4-1 a part of the Sharks’ game that needed to improve. loss to Toronto on Friday, DeBoer decided on Sunday to move Timo Meier to the right wing of Tomas Hertl’s line, with Evander Kane on the “We don’t have many goals 5-on-5. It’s kind of a struggle for us because left wing. Logan Couture centered Patrick Marleau and Kevin Labanc, we win so far thanks to PK or power play,” Hertl said. “Every forward, we while Joe Thornton moved to Dylan Gambrell’s left wing on the third line have to — especially me, too — step up and be a little bit better, with Marcus Sorensen on the right. Barclay Goodrow, Melker Karlsson especially in (the offensive) zone because normally we’re one of the best and Noah Gregor comprised the fourth line. forechecking teams. But now, it seems like last couple games we barely get on forecheck.” It didn’t work. The Sharks got off to a decent start in the first period with a few shifts in Ottawa’s end, but after Connor Brown’s goal on a broken There’s obviously a system to the forecheck and it’s one of the primary play at 6:34, the Senators outplayed the Sharks for the remainder of the reasons they have been successful under DeBoer, as the Sharks are one night. According to Natural Stat Trick, the Senators had 26 scoring of just four teams to make the playoffs in each of the last four seasons. chances to 19 for the Sharks at 5-on-5. But for whatever reason, the execution hasn’t been there early on.

The only thing keeping the Sharks competitive these days is their special That includes on Sunday night in Ottawa. Of the Sharks’ 36 shots, just 21 teams. Kane’s power-play goal tied the game at 1-1, and the Sharks’ top- came at even strength. They were outshot 17-10 at 5-on-5 through two ranked penalty kill fought off four Senators advantages, but at even periods when the game was still competitive. strength they were outscored 5-1. Again, this is the Senators. They’re not good. Can you imagine how this would look if their special teams weren’t up to par? Couture said: “A few times we dumped to their goaltender and he played the puck. He made it easier for them to break out. We didn’t get the The Sharks’ minus-15 goal-differential at 5-on-5 is last in the NHL by a second and third guy up on the forecheck. First guy was doing his job margin of six (six!) goals. Considering the line shuffling didn’t make them and then the second and third guys weren’t there for him to support. Or any better, it’s becoming fairly obvious that they don’t have the horses up (the first guy) wasn’t doing his job when the second or third guy was front to comprise a four-line attack. there. It was just a lot of things that didn’t go right.”

And four effective lines is what the Sharks need if they’re going to be Kane, who has scored six of his seven goals this season on the power successful. This isn’t a team that can rely on a superstar like Connor play, echoed the captain. McDavid, Jack Eichel or Sidney Crosby to take over a game. They need scoring by committee, like they had last season when four different “You can have one guy working his bag off, but if the other four guys on players eclipsed the 30-goal mark. the ice aren’t getting up there and working to help him on the forecheck you’re not going to get much out of it,” he said. It starts with the top players. Couture, who has one goal in 12 games, made sure to take personal responsibility and point that out after the The defensemen didn’t look much better than the forwards on Sunday game. night. Karlsson was on the ice for all five Senators goals, while partner Brenden Dillon also was a minus-4, getting beat much too easily on “I can’t be sitting at one goal right now,” he said. “Tommy (Hertl) is at Anthony Duclair’s third-period goal that put the game away. Marc- three, Timo is at two. We’ve got to score some more goals. We’re 12 Edouard Vlasic was on the ice for four high-danger scoring chances games in, and I can’t be sitting at one goal.” against and none for, as he continues to do essentially nothing productive (perhaps it’s time to try rookie Mario Ferraro alongside Burns, While Couture is correct, it’s Meier’s performance that might be the most rather than Vlasic?). perplexing so far this season. In the first year of a four-year, $24 million contract, he has just two goals and two assists for four points. The situation playing out with Karlsson, the Sharks’ most important player, is also similar to last season. It took him until about mid- November to really find his game, and after his first return trip to Ottawa went off the rails, the Sharks regrouped in Montreal one night later and were among the best teams in hockey for the following six weeks. Karlsson led the way during that run in which they were 16-3-2 until the two-time Norris Trophy winner first hurt his groin on Jan. 16.

“As a team and as individuals I don’t think that anyone is pleased with the way that we played tonight,” said Karlsson, whose minus-11 rating is the third-lowest in the league. “It’s not a representation of this organization and this team. … It’s moments like this that we have to stay true to ourselves and believe in ourselves and know who we are as individuals and as a team, and find a way to pull through. I think we do a lot of good things, but when things don’t work out the way that you want, sometimes it gets frustrating and you kind of get away from that.”

Whether Karlsson improves and finds that level from the middle of last season will be vital in determining whether the Sharks can turn it around. But he’ll need some help from the guys up front, too, because when they’re not doing their job, no one looks good.

Couture said: “It was our whole team. You can’t pin (Sunday’s loss) on one guy. He tried his hardest. He was creating offensively. We didn’t do a good enough job supporting him all over the ice and giving him outs.”

DeBoer said: ”We’re 12 games in and there’s a handful of key guys for us that haven’t played well. That’s on me to get them back to the level they need to be at. … If you’re minus-8 or 10, you’re not winning hockey games like that. We’re playing from behind in a lot of these games and instead of sticking with it and trusting the group and the system, everyone wants to step out and fix it themselves. It doesn’t work that way. Eventually, you have to learn that lesson.”

The Athletic LOADED: 10.29.2019 1158961 St Louis Blues “They weren't bad,” Berube said of those on that line Sunday. “They had some good puck movement in the offensive zone. 'Thommer' (Thomas) can make plays; those guys need a guy to get them the puck.”

Big blow for Blues: Shoulder surgery KOs Tarasenko for 5 months While players such as Schenn (who with his nine goals already could be on his way to a career season), Schwartz, O'Reilly and David Perron are established veterans, the expectations will be raised on the team's young crops of forwards: Thomas, Sammy Blais, Zach Sanford and Robby By Tom Timmermann St. Louis Post-Dispatch Fabbri. All have the potential to be goal-scorers in the NHL, but haven't shown it yet. (Or, in the case of Fabbri, haven't shown it since having two knee surgeries.) There was a banner-raising ceremony, a trip to the White House and the first game back against Boston, the team the Blues vanquished to win “We're going to need guys to keep stepping up,” Perron said. “And it's a the Stanley Cup. Each has been one hurdle to get past on the way to the great opportunity for young guys that will probably have better looks, Blues putting last season behind them and giving their sole focus to this better chances, and that's what you crave for as a young guy, to have season. more ice time, better players to play with. We're looking forward to see what's going to happen and the guys that will step up in those roles.” Now, the party really is over. That was a position Perron was in at the start of his career. The Blues announced on Monday that forward Vladimir Tarasenko, who has led the team in goals in each of the past five seasons, will need “For me, I wasn't always playing every game my first couple of years,” surgery on his left shoulder and will be re-evaluated in five months. That Perron said, “and then you become a regular player and you start craving would put his possible return around the beginning of April, which is the more ice time, power-play time, things like that. Sometimes it's frustrating final week of the regular season. because you think you should deserve more. But it's not the situation and here we are, we have the situation where there's going to be some time. Monday was an off day for the Blues after back-to-back games over the Vladi's arguably our best player so there's going to be some offensive weekend and players and coach Craig Berube were not available for chances for a lot of those guys.” comment. General manager Doug Armstrong has scheduled a session with the media on Tuesday. The top prospect in the system, forward Jordan Kyrou, is recovering from surgery of his own, an offseason repair of a kneecap injury. Kyrou is Tarasenko was hurt in the game with the Kings on Thursday. He split two about a week away from returning to practicing with the Blues' San defenders for a partial breakaway but in an effort to slow him, Antonio farm team, and then will need some time after that to get back to defenseman Sean Walker used his elbow to lift Tarasenko's left arm, game speed. While the Blues figure to fast track him now, it's hard to see which apparently is when the injury occurred. Tarasenko got a shot off him being NHL ready before mid-November. and then held his left arm against his side as he skated to the bench. He didn't immediately go to the dressing room, but did so before the period The top scorer at the moment in San Antonio is Nathan Walker, with ended. He did not return to the game or make the weekend trip to Boston seven goals and five assists. He's had two consecutive three-point and Detroit. games and on Monday was named the American Hockey League player of the week. But Walker is a 25-year-old left winger who has played in 12 Tarasenko is one of only two NHL players with a streak of five NHL games (with Edmonton and Washington) and whose high goal- consecutive 30-plus-goal seasons. Last season, he had 33 goals and 35 scoring total in the AHL for one season is 17. assists in the regular season and another 11 goals and six assists in the playoffs. He was off to a slow start this season, with three goals and With Kyrou not ready, that will shift attention to Klim Kostin, who has seven assists in 10 games. But he seemed to have found his form, with played well in San Antonio though his goal-scoring numbers haven't three goals coming in the four games before the one in which he was shown it. Kostin has one goal and four assists in eight games for the hurt. His ability to score from anywhere — in close, outside and from odd Rampage after making a good showing in training camp, with three goals angles — makes him a dangerous attacking player. and three assists in five games. But all those points came in the first three games and he leveled off as camp wound down. The Blues think “It's tough,” Blues center Ryan O'Reilly said after Sunday's game in Kostin's game is better suited to the structure of the NHL than the more Detroit. “He's a huge part of our team. It's a tough loss and you can see wide-open AHL, though they also think his game would benefit from more tonight it obviously impacts us. We all have to be better when we're time in the AHL. missing him.” For the weekend, the Blues put Colton Parayko into Tarasenko's spot on Playing without Tarasenko will be a new experience for the Blues. He the power play. Parayko and his big shot give that unit a different look. has missed only 15 games over the previous five seasons, though he has had two offseason surgeries in that time. He had an operation for a "It does for sure," Berube said. "He's a shooter over there and it's a right- dislocated shoulder — the same shoulder that was injured this season — hand shot, so it's a one-timer. It's a little bit of a different look, plus we've after being injured in the final game of the 2017-18 season. He had an got a righty in the slot too so it changes the dynamic a little bit." arthroscopic procedure on his knee after the 2018-19 season. Because of the length of Tarasenko's absence, the Blues have put him Armstrong said after last season that Tarasenko played through the end on long-term injured reserve, which will free up the amount of his salary of the year with a sore shoulder, but the team never said any surgery — $7.5 million — of cap space. That will give the Blues space to call up was done. someone that they wouldn't have had otherwise, though no one they will consider makes anywhere close to that. Berube said before the game in Boston that the offense would be doing the same things with Tarasenko out. St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 10.29.2019

"No different than when he's playing," he said. "Same thing. Somebody else will go in his spot, that's it. There's nothing else we can do."

Because 30-goal scorers are not readily available on the waiver wire or by trade, at least not in October, the answer for the Blues will have to come from within.

On Saturday, in the team's first game sans Tarasenko, Oskar Sundqvist started in that spot. But not much came of it against Boston. On Sunday in Detroit, Robert Thomas was put in Tarasenko's spot alongside Brayden Schenn and Jaden Schwartz. The results were better, though there also was a difference in the class of opponent. Thomas, a 20-year- old in his second NHL season, had just one shot on goal in 15:29 of ice time. He scored his first goal of the season in the game with the Kings, the contest in which Tarasenko got hurt. 1158962 St Louis Blues even when O’Reilly drove the net and ended up beyond the goal line. He tried to reverse direction and stuff the puck in, but the puck went across the crease. O’Reilly went around the goal and got the puck on the other side. He gave it to Perron, who briefly had it, then gave it back to Late goals allow Blues to avoid loss against hapless Red Wings O’Reilly, who had the right angle for his second goal of the night.

“I was pretty upset when I missed the open net,” O’Reilly said, “and then came around and Perron, it’s an amazing play, everyone’s shifting over By Tom Timmermann St. Louis Post-Dispatch 20 hrs ago 0 and the net’s open for a split second. He just holds on to it, sucks everyone across, I just try to get in a one-time position. He makes a beautiful play that gave us momentum.” DETROIT – The ending for the Blues was a happy one: David Perron scoring 1:28 into overtime to give the Blues a 5-4 win over the Red “I have a good look at the net,” Perron said, “and there are guys flying to Wings. That goal was made possible by a power-play goal by Ryan block the shot. I feel he’s going to have a better look than me. Thankfully O’Reilly with 4:38 to play in regulation that tied the game. it went in. It’s one off those if it doesn’t go in, I don’t look good, so I’m glad it went in for him.” The road there was anything but. O’Reilly had one goal, an empty-netter, coming into the game, and left A crisp first period that saw the Blues take a 2-0 lead just 7½ minutes in with three. His linemate Perron, meanwhile, also had a four-point game, turned into a so-so second period and then a third period in which the with three assists and his game-winning goal. Red Wings, losers of seven games in a row and a team that hadn’t scored more than two goals in any of those games, scored three times to That one came after the Blues had taken possession of the puck and take the lead and were poised to pull out a win over the defending were working it around the Detroit end. Jaden Schwartz got off and Stanley Cup champions. The Blues showed resilience and resolve to pull Perron jumped on. Brayden Schenn, who scored his ninth goal of the it out, but something else let them get in that spot to begin with. season in the first period, got Perron the puck and he picked his spot and beat Jonathan Bernier. “That’s a massive two points,” said O’Reilly, who had his second four- point game of the season, with two goals and two assists. “It wasn’t by “I played with Bernier in juniors and I don’t think I ever scored on him any means a perfect game by us. We have to do some things a lot better before,” Perron said. “So it was nice to get one by him. I saw a guy in the for sure. Having a two-goal lead, usually that’s something you close out. lane and I tried to use him. Shot it high blocker it went in, so it’s good.” We found a way to win, and that’s huge; these are obviously very Disaster averted. important points we need. We’re going to have to be better going down the stretch here.” “We take the foot off the gas for a little bit and you see how they hemmed us in multiple times tonight and that’s a lesson for us for sure,” O’Reilly “It would have been a tough (loss),” captain Alex Pietrangelo said. “We said. “In order to do well this season, we have to be consistent. We’re not knew what we did, we gave pretty much everything. Just find a way.” going to be able to get away with one and a half good periods. It has to It was the fourth time in 12 games this season that the Blues have let a be 2, 2½ to have a chance to win.” two-goal lead slip away, though this is the first time they recovered to get St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 10.29.2019 the win. The Blues were paying the price for their emotional and hard- hitting game Saturday in Boston, which ended just 19 hours before the puck dropped at Little Caesars Arena. The team didn’t reach its hotel in Detroit until a little before 2 a.m.

“We just made it hard on ourselves,” defenseman Alex Pietrangelo said. “(Detroit) thrives on turnovers, we turned the puck over. It’s a quick turnaround for us, it’s not an easy game to play. Getting in really late, waking up and playing. Sometimes you just have to find a way to win and we did.”

All’s well that ends well, and for a while it did not look like this would end well for the Blues. They started the third period up 3-1, but had just lost Alexander Steen to a lower-body injury, and then saw the score become 3-2, 3-3 and then 4-3 the other direction. While that was happening, Detroit seemed to have an RV parked in the Blues’ end of the ice, outshooting them 16-5 in the period (it was 33-20 for the game) and just cycling and cycling the puck to their heart’s content, with the Blues only occasionally coming up for air.

The goal that put the Red Wings ahead, a shot by Tyler Bertuzzi immediately off a faceoff to Jordan Binnington’s left with 8:09 to play in the third, seemed inevitable with the pressure Detroit was putting on. But that goal finally snapped the Blues out of whatever malaise they had been in.

“With their speed, they kept coming at us and we just kind of sat back a bit,” O’Reilly said. “We thought it might be easier, or they were going to give it to us. We got away from the details and they made us pay. They have a lot of skill over there and you open it up like that, they possessed it and were shooting point blank opportunities. Usually when we’re playing our right game, we don’t give those up.

“Once they get that goal, we know we have to go and you could see everyone’s mindset was, get the puck in. You see how much quicker you play and then you get opportunities and we get that power play, which is huge. It’s tough when you’re up a goal to keep that mindset but you have to find a way and it’s something you have to build on.”

“I was very disappointed, very frustrated on the bench that we let that go,” said Perron. “This was more self-inflicted.”

The gift that made it all possible was a too-many-men penalty on Detroit with 4:41 to play in the third. The Blues cranked it up from there and got 1158963 St Louis Blues

Blues notebook: Steen leaves game, injuries continue to mount

By Tom Timmermann St. Louis Post-Dispatch Oct 28, 2019 0

DETROIT — The Blues slipped through the first few weeks of the season in good shape on the injury front, but as October comes to an end, the bumps and bruises are already adding up.

The team went into the weekend without Vladimir Tarasenko, who suffered an upper-body injury against Los Angeles and is scheduled to be re-evaluated on Monday. Sammy Blais hurt his thumb in the Colorado game and missed the Los Angeles game, but he was back in the lineup on Saturday in Boston. But he wasn’t good enough to go on Sunday, and Robby Fabbri took his place. And then Alexander Steen missed the third period on Sunday with a lower-body injury.

Add to that a bout with the flu that kept Jake Allen out of the net on Sunday (“He’s just not quite right,” Berube said), and the Blues’ margin for error is slim. Defenseman Carl Gunnarsson was the only healthy scratch for the Detroit game.

Coach Craig Berube said after the game that Steen’s injury didn’t look serious. “We’ll see Monday,” he said. “He should be OK I think.”

As for Blais, “He’s banged up so we decided not to play him and go with Fabbri,” Berube said. “I knew going into the Boston game he was still pretty nicked up but he wanted to play, so I put him in there. He tried.”

The Blues will be off on Monday after playing three games in four days, so updates may not come until they return to practice on Tuesday prior to their game at Enterprise Center on Wednesday.

SCORES TO SETTLE

Justin Faulk has been the odd-man out for the Blues whenever something Stanley Cup related has arrived. As the one player on the team who wasn’t on the Stanley Cup winning squad last season, he hasn’t taken part in much of the celebration. When the team went to the White House to meet the president? He went out for a sandwich.

But Faulk had his own score to settle on Saturday in Boston. Just as the Bruins were looking for something to feel good about after losing Game 7 to the Blues on home ice in June, Faulk was doing that, too. He played for Carolina last season, which got swept by Boston in the Eastern Conference finals. The loss on Saturday was the sixth in a row for Faulk against the Bruins.

“They’re a familiar team,” Faulk said. “I’ve played against them a lot and had a good battle with them last year and obviously I would like to beat them. It’s been a while for me.”

WALKER SOARING

San Antonio left wing Nathan Walker had back-to-back three-point games over the weekend, with a goal and two assists on Saturday and two goals and an assist on Friday in games against Wilkes-Barre.

Walker, the first Australian to play in the NHL, went into Sunday’s action tied for second in the AHL with 12 points (seven goals, five assists).

NOTES

David Perron’s first two assists gave him 500 points in his NHL career and 300 in his various stints with the Blues. … The game was Alex Pietrangelo’s 700th with the Blues. He’s the seventh Blue to hit that number. … Prior to the loss to Boston on Saturday, the last time the Blues had been shut out was on March 14 of last season at Ottawa.

St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 10.29.2019 1158964 St Louis Blues

Blues’ Vladimir Tarasenko out 5 months with shoulder injury

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS OCTOBER 28, 2019 11:24 AM

ST. LOUIS-Blues forward Vladimir Tarasenko will have surgery on his left shoulder and be out at least five months.

General manager Doug Armstrong announced the move Monday and said the procedure will be performed Tuesday on the Russian star, who has been placed on long-term injured reserve.

Tarasenko left last Thursday’s 5-2 win over Los Angeles after getting tangled up with Kings defenseman Sean Walker with about 6 minutes left in the first period. He did not travel with the team for weekend games at Boston and Detroit.

Tarasenko has three goals and seven assists in 10 games this season for the defending Stanley Cup champion Blues.

Belleville News-Democrat LOADED: 10.29.2019 1158965 St Louis Blues “It’s always a good chance to get and something you’ve got to take advantage of,” said Thomas, who was slowed at the start of the season as he recovered from offseason wrist surgery. “The first couple of games (this season), it was about getting back into the routine. The last couple Blues’ Vladimir Tarasenko will have shoulder surgery, miss at least five of games I felt a lot better, more comfortable and confident. So yeah, months definitely rewarding for all the hard work I’ve put in to get a chance like this.”

Thomas had his moments, possessing the puck and creating some extra By Jeremy Rutherford Oct 28, 2019 zone time for Schwartz and Schenn on some shifts.

“I thought the first two periods were pretty good,” Thomas said. “We had DETROIT — What appeared to be an innocent play will have massive a ton of chances. They’re highly skilled, smart players, so I can definitely impact on the Blues’ chances of contending for the Stanley Cup again in do some more high-risk plays because I know they’ll be able to pull it off. 2019-20. But I haven’t played with those guys much, so it was just kind of feeling out where they are at all times. I know a couple of times I missed them Vladimir Tarasenko, who was injured in Thursday’s game against the Los where I can make the play. I just wasn’t expecting them to be there, that Angeles Kings, will need surgery on his left shoulder, the Blues kind of thing. But I think it’s just about timing and starting to get a feel for announced Monday. He will be re-evaluated in five months. what they’re looking for.”

GM Doug Armstrong will address the situation before Tuesday’s practice. In more even-strength ice time than Sundqvist saw with that line against Boston on Saturday, the analytics with Thomas against a lesser This will be the second surgery Tarasenko has had on the shoulder in 18 opponent in Detroit on Sunday weren’t as good. The line had a Corsi For months. The first one was in April 2018 on the day of the regular-season percentage of 30.77 with four shots for and nine against. finale against Colorado. He injured the shoulder again during Game 2 of the Stanley Cup final against Boston last season. “They weren’t bad,” Berube said. “They got some good puck movement in the offensive zone. Tommer can make plays and those guys need a Here’s the play in which Tarasenko went down last week. You’ll see in guy to get them the puck.” the frame-by-frame shots below that after taking a stretch pass from defenseman Justin Faulk at the red line, he tries to fight for a step on the Schenn said after the game to give it time. Kings’ Austin Wagner before the play is broken up. “(Thomas) played well,” he said. “He’s definitely gifted offensively, has a In real time, it doesn’t appear to be that serious, as Tarasenko isn’t lot of skill, good with his tight turns and making the little plays in the 5- to wincing or propping his shoulder as he skates off. But in the video, you 10-foot areas. Did we score tonight as a line? No. Could we be better as can see how he seems to pull off the play semi-easily and his arm drops a line? Yeah. But it’s going to take some time to build some chemistry briefly after separating from Walker. with each other.”

The Blues announced the next day that Tarasenko would be re- Thomas, who could stand to shoot the puck more after finishing with just evaluated on Monday. A team spokesperson said after Sunday’s 5-4 one attempt directed at the net Sunday, hopes to get the challenge. overtime win over Detroit that nothing had changed with Tarasenko’s status over the weekend. The Athletic reported that, pending further “I definitely feel like I’m ready for that chance,” he said. “I’m going to keep evaluation, the early reports suggested that Tarasenko may not miss working hard and keep capitalizing on this opportunity.” significant time. Additional testing showed the surgery was necessary. Perron, who also broke in with the Blues at age 19 in 2007-08, knows So the Blues will now be without Tarasenko, who had three goals and 10 what Thomas is going through. points in 10 games before the injury. He has been the club’s leading “It’s a different time, for sure,” Perron said. “For me, I wasn’t playing scorer in each of the past five seasons with 182 goals (33, 33, 40, 39 and every game my first couple of years, then you become a regular player 37). So it obviously will be a huge hole to fill. and you start craving more ice time, power-play time, things like that. “It’s a great opportunity for young guys that will probably have better Sometimes it’s frustrating because you think you deserve more, but it’s looks, better chances,” said the Blues’ David Perron, who scored the obviously not the situation. But here we are, we have a situation where game-winning goal in overtime Sunday in Detroit. “That’s what you crave maybe there’s going to be some time. Vladi is arguably our best player, as a young guy, to have more ice time, better players to play with, things so there’s going to be some offensive chances for a lot of those guys.” like that. We’re looking forward to see what’s going to happen and the Berube, asked after the game whether he plans to keep Thomas in guys that will step up in that role.” Tarasenko’s spot, didn’t want to forecast too far in front. In the two games the Blues played without Tarasenko over the weekend, “I’ll see,” he said. “I just put (the line) together tonight. We’ll see.” they went 1-1 with a 3-0 loss to Boston on Saturday and their OT win over Detroit on Sunday. Albeit a very small sample size, neither of the The Blues don’t have many other options to fill in for Tarasenko. They’re two primary fill-ins — Oskar Sundqvist and Robert Thomas — solidified likely not going to separate Perron and O’Reilly, who each had four the line in brief opportunities. But there’s belief within the club that points Sunday and have found tremendous chemistry together. Blais has Thomas could help if given the assignment during Tarasenko’s absence. missed two of the last three games with a thumb injury, and the team has been reluctant to put Robby Fabbri in a top-six role. On Saturday, Blues coach Craig Berube went with Sundqvist, who has been a reliable bottom-six forward who has shown he can play up in the The Blues went into Monday with less than $200,000 of salary-cap lineup in a pinch. But against a formidable Bruins lineup, the results space, according to CapFriendly.com, but they have put Tarasenko on weren’t great, with a Corsi For percentage of 46.15, according to long-term injured reserve, which will free up some space. That could Naturalstattrick.com. Their stat line had them for six shots for and seven allow them to make a call-up from their American Hockey League against at even strength. affiliate, the San Antonio Rampage. Nathan Walker leads that club with seven goals and 12 points. Klim Kostin, who had a productive training Late in the game, with the Blues falling behind against the Bruins, Berube camp, scored his first goal of the season recently and has played better flipped Sundqvist and Sammy Blais on their respective lines, but it didn’t recently. Jordan Kyrou, who is coming off kneecap surgery, just began change anything in the eventual shutout. skating with the team last week, so he’s not in position for a call-up. “Sunny played there most of the game, and they had some The use of Thomas on the top line seems to be the best bet for now. It opportunities,” Berube said. “I thought they were fine. It was a tight- would lessen the effectiveness of the third line, which Sean Tierney of checking game. We got down 2-0 in the third, and I started moving guys @chartinghockey illustrates in the chart below, but the Blues may have around a little bit, looking for some offense.” no choice. A day later, Berube turned to Thomas, for whom fans have been “Schwartz-Schenn-Tarasenko has been the Blues’ most frequently used clamoring to get a top-six opportunity. He was excited to see his name on line combination (shown by the size of their logo), and they’ve been a the board in that spot when he got to the rink. ‘break-even’ group, creating and allowing similar rates of quality shots while together,” Tierney said. “Sundqvist, who has spent some time filling in for Tarasenko on that line, has posted poor results with the other combos he’s skated with. Thomas, another option to take Tarasenko’s spot with Schwartz and Schenn, has enjoyed much more success in other combinations.”

Either way, the loss of Tarasenko will sting. The model created by The Athletic’s Dom Luszczyszyn had the Blues, with Tarasenko, rated as the eighth-best team (expected win percentage of .547) with a projection of 99.8 points and a 90 percent chance of making the playoffs. He re-ran his numbers Monday, and the Blues now rank 11th-best (expected win percentage of .518) with a projected total of 96.2 points and a 79 percent chance of making the playoffs.

“It’s tough,” O’Reilly said before Tarasenko’s surgery was announced. “He’s a huge player for our team. It’s a tough loss and you can see (Sunday), it impacts us. We all have to be better for when we’re missing him.”

The Athletic LOADED: 10.29.2019 1158966 Tampa Bay Lightning The power-play unit seems to spend as much time chasing down the puck as it does shooting it. Once they get set up, the Lightning look good on the power play, but they’re struggling with entering the zone.

Lightning struggling to recapture ‘special’ magic from last season They have specific plays they’re trying to execute, trying to all rush the zone at once, but that’s where they’re getting tripped up. Again, that’s the The penalty kill has cost them points in the standings and the power play scouting and how the league now approaches last season’s most potent has broken momentum power play. The Lightning have to counter.

Once they get in the zone, Tampa Bay has a tendency to cycle the puck. If the shot isn’t just right, they keep passing. Hedman’s game-winning By Diana C. Nearhos goal against Pittsburgh last week went against that trend.

“(Hedman shooting) is a must,” coach Jon Cooper said. “It was nice to BRANDON — Five-on-five play goes up. Special teams go down. see the one go in the other night just to show him that he doesn’t have to be the third choice behind Stammer and (Nikita Kucherov) when it comes the Lightning continue to see-saw through the start of the season as they to shooting.” ready for tonight’s 7:30 game against the Rangers in Madison Square Garden. On the play, Hedman tried to set up Stamkos on a one-timer but Stamkos passed it back. Hedman fired a rocket of a one-timer. His heavy They rank second in the league in five-on-five goal differential at plus-10, shot from the point can be just as lethal. yet they’re 18th in the standings. That discrepancy comes from special teams, especially the penalty kill. The Lightning aren’t panicking over special teams, but they’re very aware of the issues. Practice time spent on both units has increased. Coaches “Five-on-five was a step in the right direction,” Lightning captain Steven are addressing the topic over video and with individual players. Stamkos said about the 3-2 overtime loss to Nashville. “We’re trying to harp on certain areas of the game where we’re improving but penalties “Special teams have to improve, there’s no question,” Cooper said. “It will come back to bite us in the end.” come around. We just can’t get discouraged with it. It’s just tough giving up a point in the standings because of it.” MORE LIGHTNING: The team is on the road again, on the way to some hyped up rookies Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 10.29.2019

The Lightning’s special teams goal differential is minus-five. Their penalty kill sits at 28th out of 31 with a success rate of 69.4 percent. It’s a long way from the same unit that finished last year leading the league at 85 percent.

And it’s costing the Lightning games. They only got one point where they should have had two in the overtime loss on Saturday. And they gave division rival Boston a point in the shootout win, after giving up three power-play goals.

Derek Lalonde, the assistant coach responsible for the penalty kill, sees signs of quality, but also missed plays.

He’s not willing to chalk those misses up to bad luck, either. Not even the one-timer that was going wide on Saturday before deflecting off defenseman Erik Černák and into the net.

“You can call that bad luck or you can call that an excuse,” he said. “It looks like bad luck but prior to that there have been missed opportunities.”

Those missed opportunities come on faceoffs, both the actual faceoff and the ensuing battle. Sometimes they’re missed chances to pressure the opponent or surround the puck.

The actual goal might be bad luck, but a flaw in the play leading up to the goal set it up.

Why isn’t the penalty kill, made up of the same players as last year’s, performing as well?

“It’s the best league in the world because of the personnel but it’s also the best league in the world because of what you’re up against in the other coach’s room,” Lalonde said. “People scout and adjust. We need to evolve.”

Once the kill struggles as a whole, the mistakes can become mental. The shaken confidence then increases the execution issues and the whole unit is less aggressive.

Lalonde pointed to defenseman Victor Hedman’s failed clear that led to the tying goal on Saturday. He is confident that in another situation, five- on-five perhaps, Hedman takes a moment to control the puck and clears it cleanly.

“This is a situation where the penalty kill is struggling, we’re anxious about it and he rushes a clear,” Lalonde said. “He panics on it and doesn’t get it out.”

The issues aren’t all on the penalty kill, though. The power play also has failed to equal last year’s production. Tenth in the league at 24.1 percent is respectable, but it’s disrupting the Lightning’s momentum in games, instead of boosting it. 1158967 Tampa Bay Lightning

Curtis McElhinney plays another good game in a loss for the Lightning

Diana C. Nearhos’ takeaways: Too many too-many-men penalties for the Lightning. A weird intro video reminiscent X-Men

By Diana C. Nearhos

TAMPA — It was another strong game for Curtis McElhinney without anything to show for it. At least the Lightning didn’t make this one so hard for him.

The goalie made 37 saves in an overtime loss to Nashville on Saturday. Yup, 37 saves in a loss.

In three games, McElhinney has faced 117 shots and made 107 saves. He has zero wins. (If nothing else, this is case for why a goalie’s record is overrated.)

This time, he did get support. The 40 shots he saw on Saturday weren’t of nearly the quality he saw in his first two games. Coach Jon Cooper estimated 32 of those shots came at a distance.

It’s still too many shots to give a team but given how poorly the Lightning played in McElhinney’s starts against Carolina and Ottawa, this seems like progress. Now to get him a win.

“Our goaltender played great again,” Steven Stamkos said. As he has now said thrice.

Hopefully this next game looks up for McElhinney. He figures to start Wednesday against New Jersey, in the second half of the back-to-back. The Devils are off to a pretty miserable start, third-worst in both shots and goals and second-to-last in the league.

However, the only team off to a worst start was Ottawa and that one turned into a loss for McElhinney and the Lightning.

Read up on the 3-2 overtime loss

Penalties came back to haunt the Lightning … again. Five penalties turned into two goal, including one to tie the game up late in the third. Read more.

More notes and thoughts from the game

· One too-many-men penalty is an issue but two of them in a game is a concern. The Lightning have had an issue with penalties this year in general, but especially given the handful of too-many-men, a pretty basic element of the game.

· Yanni "Greyhound" Gourde was buzzing. A couple of times, it caught up with him (an offsides call and jumping a faceoff) but he had some pep in his step coming into Saturday's game. His offensive role being mostly at the net front, he doesn't always get to show of his speed. But he's quick.

· Nikita Kucherov had his chances on Saturday, but as has been the case to start the season, he also had his missteps. The winger’s usually exceptional vision has led to turnovers with some passes to nowhere where he’d typically found a teammate

· Steven Stamkos scored his third power-play goal of the year. He’s the only Lightning player with multiple power-play goals. That’s pretty indicative of what’s happening on the power play so far.

· The Lightning have now lost four straight games to the Predators. Last year, Nashville was one of three teams to beat Tampa Bay twice (Minnesota and St. Louis being the others)

· For those who are as amused by little things as I ... both the Lightning and the Bucs are playing Nashville teams this weekend. It seems kind of fitting, though it’d be even better in the same city.

· The Lightning introduced games the last two Saturdays with an interesting video featuring a player in a water tank, like a science experiment or something out of X-Men. Some found it weird and a little disturbing, but a totally official Twitter poll ruled that 57 percent of people like it.

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 10.29.2019 1158968 Toronto Maple Leafs the Canadiens last Saturday, and defensive mistakes have been a particular issue.

“You can’t give away free goals,” Babcock said. Underachieving Leafs need to pick up the pace before it’s too late It is nearly past the time for new faces to begin to feel comfortable in their surroundings, which means that Tyson Barrie is due to revert to the form that made him a near-60-point scorer with the Colorado Avalanche. MARTY KLINKENBERG He has proven to be inconsistent thus far and has only four assists to show for his efforts.

Months after the overachieving Raptors turned Toronto on its head, “It is hard not to get frustrated,” Barrie said Monday. He was acquired concern has begun to grow over the underachieving Maple Leafs. with Alexander Kerfoot in a trade this summer for Nazem Kadri. “I have never had a start to a season like this. It has been a bit of an adjustment So far, the defending NBA champions’ brothers on ice have not looked for sure.” much like a team capable of making a lengthy dash through the playoffs. More was expected than for them to win just six of their first 13 games. The Maple Leafs are nearing the end of a long stretch in a schedule that has been top-heavy with home games. They leave on their first extended Losses have started to pile up heading into Tuesday night’s contest with road trip in the middle of next month. the Washington Capitals at Scotiabank Arena. Another could cause them to fall significantly in the Eastern Conference standings by the end of the They need to pick up the slack between now and then before concern for week. them turns into panic. Toronto sports fans are still residing in the afterglow of the Raptors, but when that wears off they will be expecting a It is still early, but pressure is building. With big salaries come greater lot. expectations, and in Canada’s hockey capital that goes for the head coach and players alike. Globe And Mail LOADED: 10.29.2019 Only someone wearing blue-and-white blinders would argue that these struggles were anticipated. The season has gone sideways for certain, if not backward. The Maple Leafs stagger into their meeting with the Capitals with losses in three of their past four and are 6-5-2 over all.

They got thumped in Montreal on Saturday, allowing two goals early and three late. They have beaten only two opponents with a winning record.

It brings them to a crossroads this week.

After playing 12 times in 23 days, including four sets of back-to-backs, this week gets a little easier, with Toronto facing only Washington before a contest with the Red Wings in Detroit on Saturday. The busy start has left little time for practice. There is more of an opportunity now to fix mistakes and for players get some rest.

“This is a great week for us,” Mike Babcock, the Maple Leafs coach, said Monday at the team’s rink in suburban Etobicoke. “It is the first time where we have only two games.

“We should be fresher and better and it should show in our game. I think with a more balanced schedule, we should play harder. We should have a lot of energy tomorrow.”

They will surely need it.

Alex Ovechkin and Co. roll into town with an 8-2-3 overall record and five victories in their last six games. Their run started with a 4-3 win over the Maple Leafs in Washington on Oct. 16. Michael Hutchinson, Toronto’s back-up goaltender, started that night. This time, Frederik Andersen will get the nod in net.

“They are big, they are heavy and they have good depth,” Babcock said. “They are really good.”

Defenceman Travis Dermott, who had a bum shoulder repaired in the off- season, will return to the lineup for the first time since the playoffs. That will strengthen the team but will trigger the first of several moves the organization will have to make between now and the weekend.

Kevin Gravel and Martin Marincin are the most likely candidates to be moved to make room for Dermott.

Zach Hyman, a rugged winger who has scored 40 points two years ago and 41 points last season, is expected to rejoin the team on Saturday. He has not played since undergoing knee surgery in April. His return, coupled with Dermott’s, will likely cause Toronto to waive, trade or farm out three players due to its extreme salary-cap restrictions.

There are a handful to choose from, including Nic Petan, Nick Shore, Dmytro Timashov or even Jason Spezza. It would make for an unceremonious end for the 36-year-old centre, who accepted a massive pay cut and signed with Toronto as a free agent this summer. He has spent 16 years with the Ottawa Senators and Dallas Stars, but has never won a Stanley Cup and wished to play for his hometown Maple Leafs.

The return of Dermott and Hyman will be welcome at a time when the team is struggling. Toronto allowed three goals on breakaways against 1158969 Toronto Maple Leafs “There’s still work to be done, and I think it goes for everyone,” says Andersen. “No team is perfect, but it comes with experience, and … the swagger of having the skill to score is great, and you don’t want to lose that, either. You definitely want to have that belief that no matter what, Straight shooter Frederik Andersen lays out the challenge ahead for you can come back in a game, but you don’t want to make a habit of it, struggling Maple Leafs either.

“So I think the true next step is getting used to starting on time, and almost — not humiliate, that’s not the right word — but almost be By Bruce Arthur overpowering in your skill, where it’s not really about the other team, or what the score is: You know how good you can be, and that’s your standard. It’s not even about winning the game, it’s about being as good Frederik Andersen feels good, really, better than good. The accumulation as you can. Let’s say our ceiling is this high, and sometimes we’ve won of the season, which falls disproportionately on his wide Danish games without being up there. But the more we can do that, the better shoulders as the season grinds through the winter into the spring … that we’ll feel, and the more confidence we can have going forward.” hasn’t really started yet. And since he’s trying to reduce his workload this year, the busy early schedule makes the Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender So much of hockey is effort paired with justified confidence, true. And this feel right on pace. team has the talent to get there. But John Tavares talked about that kind of eff-you hockey last season, too, and they never got there. They talked He’s got a save percentage of .904. He’s not worried. about slow starts last year, too, and about being too in love with their own skill to do all the little things, all the time. A lot of this feels familiar, and “I’ve been feeling great,” says Andersen. “I think I’ve had some great what feels unfamiliar is so many issues cropping up at once. This team is games, and played well (enough) to help win some points. And I mean, built to contend, in a town desperate for it. Pressure builds up. with save percentage, if you look at one game — the Tampa game — then people think my save percentage is so low for the year, I must have Frederik Andersen feels great, though. It’s a start. had a bad start. That’s when people fall into a trap of taking that at face value. And with all the different statistics, I don’t know if people get lazy. I Toronto Star LOADED: 10.29.2019 think oftentimes a lot of fans, media and even players are like, this one number should (tell us everything), where that one number isn’t the whole story.

“Like passer rating. That’s not even how to rate quarterbacks, and I think passer rating is definitely better than save percentage, but that’s just where we’re at right now.”

Luckily, the Leafs have lots of numbers that reflect the deeply uneven team that has started this season. They are 24th in shots and goals against, and have a goal differential that is a fraction above Anaheim’s. The power play isn’t clicking, and neither is the penalty kill. The No. 1 defenceman has missed three straight practices, the No. 1 centre has a broken finger, the No. 1 winger has been bafflingly unproductive at five- on-five, and backup goaltender Michael Hutchinson keeps giving up four to five goals, after which people say: It’s not all his fault.

The underlying puck possession numbers are good, though slightly juiced by games against bad teams (including, right now, San Jose). And defenceman Travis Dermott is back, with winger Zach Hyman right behind.

But this Leafs team simply doesn’t seem inspired all the time, especially in their own end, and the defensive mistakes are piling up. They have a lot of new guys, and they’ve played that heavy schedule, sure. And one thing that has truly dropped off from Toronto last season is save percentage.

But as Andersen notes, if you remove the 7-3 strafing Tampa laid on this Leafs team — a high point in Tampa’s own vaguely unsatisfying hangover start — he’s at .921, and quite happy with how he has played. So if Andersen — who reviews his work after every game with clips from goaltending coach Steve Briere, and is bluntly honest with himself, including in a journal where he writes down his true thoughts after every game so he can let them go — feels great about how he has played, what does that tell you?

One, they’ve only played 13 games. And two, the defence — really, the way this team has often played, without a sense of coherent confidence, but mostly the defence — is an issue.

“We want our guys on offence, we want our guys to understand the game and know when and why and how (to be aggressive offensively),” says coach Mike Babcock. “But you can’t give away free goals … and sometimes when we get arried away, like we did the other night (in a 5-2 loss in Montreal), we pay for it. So there’s a fine line there.

“I think when you first get a group together and they haven’t been together and everyone’s not comfortable, you don’t maybe have the same kind of looseness and energy as you do when you’re built over time. So to me, that’s part of the process we’re in now.”

Andersen has called out this team’s shortcuts before; he is one of the few Leafs who truly has the gravitas and stature to do so. He isn’t quite there yet. 1158970 Toronto Maple Leafs

It’s go time for Travis Dermott when Leafs host Capitals

By Mark Zwolinski

Defenceman Travis Dermott will be walking into a pressure cooker at full boil when he makes his long-awaited return to the Maple Leafs lineup for Tuesday night’s home game against Washington.

A welcome addition after off-season shoulder surgery cost him the first 13 games of the season, Dermott rejoins a blue-line corps in need of immediate help. He’ll be expected to handle a full workload right away, and add a physical element they’ve been lacking while allowing 45 goals — second-most in the NHL — through 13 games.

After Monday’s practice, Leafs coach Mike Babcock said he expects his team to play harder. A hectic October schedule — including four sets of back-to-back games — has been a challenge, the coach added, but with just two games this week and a softer schedule ahead in November, the time has come to step up.

“Obviously, getting Dermy back is going to help, but with a more balanced schedule I think we can play harder,” Babcock said. “We need more out of our guys, and we can get more.”

Dermott welcomes the challenge of not only getting back into the lineup after five-plus months rehabbing his shoulder, but having an impact right off the bat against a tough opponent.

“It’s still the game I’ve been playing my whole life, so it’s not a case of learning anything. It’s just getting back in the game and finding a rhythm, things like that,” said Dermott, who had surgery in early May.

Dermott’s practice reps on Monday were with Justin Holl, a familiar defence partner throughout his pro career.

Once he’s officially activated, Dermott’s return will force a counter move. The easiest swap would be with defenceman Kevin Gravel, who doesn’t need to clear waivers to be sent to the AHL’s Marlies.

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Top defenceman Morgan Rielly missed his third consecutive practice — a maintenance day — but is expected to play Tuesday. Meanwhile, winger Zach Hyman, who had knee surgery in late April, wasn’t cleared to return to the lineup, but Babcock said that could change at any time.

With Dermott, the Leafs receive a boost on and off the ice. The upbeat 22-year-old fits right in with the club’s young corps, and pairs well with the 27-year-old Holl.

“Pretty much my whole pro career has been with Hollsy,” Dermott said of Holl, who will play a career-high 12th game Tuesday. “We’ve grown a chemistry on and off the ice. There’s some music stuff to it now, and if I come back (to game action) with him, he’d be a great guy for me to come back with.”

The Leafs’ situation, though, isn’t all fun and games. At 6-5-2 overall and 4-5-1 in their last 10, they sit eighth in the East in the early going — far below expectations — and hope Dermott can help them turn things around defensively.

“He’s got unbelievable edges, he can pass the puck,” Babcock said of Dermott. “He’s still a young guy sorting it out in his own zone, but he’s a good player. He’s been injured, so that takes time …

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“We’ve seen guys jump back into the regular season without having played — we have seen how that can go — so we’ve talked to (Dermott about) playing without the puck. A D-man’s job is to keep the puck out of his net, that’s the challenge. But yeah, we want him back in there. He’s a good player.”

Toronto Star LOADED: 10.29.2019 1158971 Toronto Maple Leafs

Tuesday NHL preview: Washington Capitals at Toronto Maple Leafs

By Mark Zwolinski

SCOTIABANK ARENA

FACEOFF: 7 p.m.

TV: TSN

RADIO: TSN 1050

NEED TO KNOW

The Capitals sit first in the Metropolitan Division despite a slow start from goalie Braden Holtby. Holtby and veteran forward Nicklas Backstrom are in contract years, but there are no signs that extensions will get done any time soon. At 30, Holtby’s play has declined slightly since last season. Backstrom is 31. The club has $63.5 million U.S. committed to 14 players for next season, so cost and term will be significant factors if they are to remain in Washington.

The Caps lead the Eastern Conference in goals with 50 after 13 games, and defenceman John Carlson (21 points) is tied for second in NHL scoring with the Oilers’ Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. Carlson had a nine-game points streak snapped against Vancouver on Friday.

Alex Ovechkin is always a threat and loves playing the Leafs. He has a career 16.9 shooting percentage against Toronto, his highest against any team he’s faced more than 25 times.

UP NEXT

Saturday vs. Flyers in Philadelphia, 7 p.m.

Toronto Star LOADED: 10.29.2019 1158972 Toronto Maple Leafs edge that Toronto can’t meet. Watch for the Caps to get their hits in early.

MAPLE LEAFS LINES Game Day: Capitals at Maple Leafs LW-C-RW

Andreas Johnsson-Auston Matthews-William Nylander Terry Koshan Ilya Mikheyev-Alex Kerfoot-Mitch Marner

Trevor Moore-Jason Spezza-Kasperi Kapanen WASHINGTON CAPITALS (8-2-3) at TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS (6-5-2) Dmytro Timashov-Nick Shore-Frederik Gauthier 7 p.m., Scotiabank Arena, TSN, TSN Radio 1050 Defence pairs BIG MATCHUP Morgan Rielly-Cody Ceci Alex Ovechkin vs. Jake Muzzin Jake Muzzin-Tyson Barrie A couple of physical specimens could lock horns, as Ovechkin happily Travis Dermott-Justin Holl will run over any opponent try to score while Muzzin, much more than any other Maple Leaf, loves to size up and drill opponents into the Goaltenders boards, if not the open ice. Ovechkin will play in his 50th career game against Toronto and will be on the hunt for his 40th career goal against Frederik Andersen the Leafs; while no one was expecting it could happen, Muzzin will Michael Hutchinson attempt to score for a third consecutive game for the first time in his NHL career. CAPITALS LINES

FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME LW-C-RW

1. Learn the lessons Alex Ovechkin-Nicklas Backstrom-T.J. Oshie

When the teams last met on Oct. 16 in Washington, the Leafs hung in for Jakub Vrana-Evgeny Kuznetsov-Tom Wilson stretches in the second game of a back-to-back set, but lost by one. While Toronto’s best players, Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, have Carl Hagelin-Lars Eller-Garnet Hathaway to take their games to a higher level overall, as important for the Leafs -Nic Dowd-Travis Boyd will be remembering that first contest with the Caps. “You have to play real patient and you’re going to get your chances,” Leafs coach Mike Defence pairs Babcock said. “We’re going to have good energy. We’re looking forward to playing them and getting ourselves on a bit of a roll.” Michal Kempny-John Carlson

2. By committee Dmitri Orlov-Radko Gudas

The Leafs will have Morgan Rielly in the lineup, but not a fully healthy Jonas Siegenthaler-Nick Jensen Rielly, as Toronto’s top defenceman has not taken part in the past three Goaltenders practices. Combine that with the season debut on the blue line of Travis Dermott, and the Leafs potentially will have two members of the defence Braden Holtby corps who are not up to speed. So that’s two pairs of Leafs D-men who Ilya Samsonov could be exposed by a Capitals group that plays hard and honest. It’s going to be incumbent on the Leafs forwards to provide as much helps as INJURIES possible in the defensive zone. Capitals — RW Richard Panik (upper body). 3. First up Maple Leafs — C John Tavares (finger), Zach Hyman (knee). Could we see a rather high-scoring start to the game, considering the talent on each side? It’s quite possible. Prior to games on Monday, the SPECIAL TEAMS Leafs had allowed an NHL-high 16 goals in the first period; second were Power play the Capitals, at 14 goals allowed. What the Leafs want to avoid is opening the door for the Caps in the form of the first goal. Toronto has Capitals: 25% (9th) been down 1-0 in 10 of its first 13 games, while Washington has not lost in five games in regulation when leading after one period. The Leafs talk Maple Leafs: 21.1% (16th) a great better-start game but have done little to back it up. Penalty kill

4. The Carlson factor Capitals: 84.8% (8th) Capitals defenceman John Carlson already is putting himself in the Maple Leafs: 78% (22nd) Norris Trophy conversation as he not only leads all NHL defencemen with 21 points in 13 games, but led all players with 16 assists. Against Toronto Sun LOADED: 10.29.2019 the Leafs in his career, Carlson has just three goals in 30 games, but has 22 points in total, and has more against just four other NHL clubs. Whether on the power play or at even-strength, the Leafs will have at their hands full, and at five-on-five, a hard forecheck on Carlson’s side of the ice will be paramount for Toronto.

5. Physically demanding

Ending a five-game trip that started in Chicago nine days ago and included a swing through Western Canada, the Caps will have extra incentive. If they beat the Leafs, nine wins in October would tie a franchise high; Washington would also have 21 points, which would establish a franchise-high for October. The Leafs aren’t an overly physical team, as their NHL opponents know, so robust Caps such as forward Tom Wilson and defenceman Radko Gudas could provide an 1158973 Toronto Maple Leafs “I have heard about the Calder Trophy in the past, but I never think about it,” Mikheyev said. “I just work hard and play.”

LOOSE LEAFS Maple Leafs Snap Shots: Workers unite! Toronto captain John Tavares did not have his broken finger taped at Monday’s practice and was shooting pucks … Leafs’ 2019 top pick Nick Robertson notched three goals on 10 shots for the Peterborough Petes Lance Hornby against Mississauga on Saturday, giving him 16 goals and 25 points in 14 OHL games. Teammate and fellow Leafs selection Semyon Der-

Arguchintsev has 22, and Sudbury’s Quinton Byfield, seen as a potential Part of the Maple Leafs’ early-season problems? They’re out of practice NHL first overall choice in June, is up top at 31 points … As the Marlies with practices. prepare to get some players back in the fallout from Travis Dermott and Zach Hyman rejoining the Leafs, forwards Pontus Aberg had a goal and Though it’s unusual to hear NHLers welcome more workouts — a better assist on Sunday as the farm team lost 4-3 in overtime at Syracuse. record in four back-to-backs would likely change that tune — Toronto Currently on their annual annual hiatus from Coca-Cola Coliseum with players sounded quite happy that three practices are due this week. After the Royal Winter Fair starting, the Marlies have yet to lose in regulation 13 games in 26 days this month, only two bookings are due, Tuesday at (6-0-2) … Mikheyev now has his own Twitter account @Souperman65, home against Washington and Saturday in Philadelphia. The Leafs have partly to work on his language skills and because “in the NHL you need a record of 0-4 in the second of consecutive games, the ones exposing to be more open for people, it’s very important” … Defenceman Morgan many of their early-season faults. Rielly quietly moved into the top 50 of Toronto franchise scorers the past couple of games. At 256 points, he’s now tied with Max Bentley for 48th “All teams go through it, but I’ve heard we have a lot of back-to-backs … MLSE’s big guns GM Kyle Dubas, club president Brendan Shanahan, this year (14 among 82 games),” said defenceman Jake Muzzin. “So we and chairman Larry Tanenbaum took in Monday’s practice. have to be better at it. It’s nice to get more of a relaxed schedule and just rest and refuel. Toronto Sun LOADED: 10.29.2019 “We need to focus. We talked about some things today and with a couple of practices and a schedule a little spread out, we can get our mind set right going into these games. I don’t mind practice. When you have that many back-to-backs, I didn’t realize how challenging it would be. I haven’t had that many before.”

Muzzin’s former team, the Los Angeles Kings, didn’t play even one set until mid-November last year and this season won’t see their fourth until the end of November. Ditto for the Colorado Avalanche, where Tyson Barrie and Alex Kerfoot were before the Leafs.

More prep time also gives coach Mike Babcock’s staff a chance to use their high-tech toys and for Bacock to bark when he sees mental or technical breakdowns.

“This is a great week for us, the first time there’s been a regular one,” Babcock said. “There has been a lot of hockey played, a lot for any human being. So we should be fresher, better and it should show in our play.

“I’m not trying to make excuses for us because that’s not what I do, but I just think it can really help us to get better. With a more balanced schedule, I think we can play harder.”

EMOTIONAL RESCUE

Cameras caught Muzzin slamming a water bottle in disgust on the bench in Montreal after he was out-hustled on the Canadiens’ winning goal. However, he continues to be a voice of calm in a room that’s getting strafed by critics for mediocre play to date, a mark of 6-5-2.

“I really don’t read or listen to what the outside is saying,” Muzzin insisted. “Inside, I think we’re fine. We know we haven’t played to the best of our ability. (The solution) is in here, we’re getting guys back and we’re hungry to be better. Consistency is the word. We have it in spurts throughout the game. The second period the other night was good (but) we had a slow start and the third was not good enough as well.”

OVIE AND ILYA

Ilya Mikheyev doesn’t expect Alex Ovechkin knows him from the 40 other Russians who have played in the NHL this year.

But as the next countryman behind him in NHL scoring, with 10 points to Ovie’s 14, the Great Eight might take more note of No. 65 on Tuesday. Each man had a point in the first Leafs-Caps meeting, with Mikheyev scoring a lovely breakaway goal from Kasperi Kapanen.

Mikheyev spoke briefly with Washington’s Evgeny Kuznetsov that night, but has yet to be introduced to Ovechkin, who has 667 career regular- season goals.

“I don’t know him (except) through friends,” Mikheyev said Monday. “Big Russian guy. Very strong, very good shot. I don’t know if anyone in the world has his shot.”

As for Mikheyev, Monday’s stats had the 24-year-old tied atop the rookie scoring race with Viktor Olofson of Buffalo and Cale Makar of Colorado. 1158974 Toronto Maple Leafs “I think it has really made me more of a pro, because you learn what you have to do to stay on top of it,” Dermott said. “It’s easy to stay on top of your body when you are just going out and playing every day with your friends. Now when I had to come in and be told I can’t go on the ice, Dermott set to make season debut with Maple Leafs on Tuesday have to go in the gym and do all this extra stuff, it was a lot. But it was a great learning curve and as a young guy, I think it’s good I went through

it.” Terry Koshan Toronto Sun LOADED: 10.29.2019

Travis Dermott will return to the Maple Leafs lineup a little sooner than originally projected.

Still, the 22-year-old defenceman feels like it has been forever.

Dermott will play against the Washington Capitals on Tuesday night at Scotiabank Arena, making his 2019-20 season debut after being medically cleared in his recovery from off-season shoulder surgery.

“It has been way too long,” Dermott said after practice on Monday at the Ford Performance Centre. “It’s probably the longest I have been away from the game I’ve loved most of my life.

“Being back, being in the situation I am in now, where I am cleared medically, it’s what I have been thinking about and dreaming about for the last six months.”

Or close to it. Dermott had surgery on May 10 and was expected to miss a minimum of six months.

For the Leafs, the return of Dermott, who will be paired with Justin Holl, can’t come soon enough, but let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves.

Dermott won’t singlehandedly reverse the slide of a disappointing, underachieving team that has lost four of its past six games to fall to the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, but his return will put the Leafs on the path to being whole again.

Next would be winger Zach Hyman, who has not yet been medically cleared from off-season knee surgery, but could be in time for the Leafs’ next game after Tuesday, in Philadelphia against the Flyers on Saturday.

Captain John Tavares continues to make progress as he recovers from a broken finger, shooting pucks for the first time on Monday since being hurt against Washington on Oct. 16.

Leafs coach Mike Babcock will have some patience with Dermott as the latter gets re-adjusted.

“He has unbelievable edges, can pass the puck, he is still a kid sorting it out in his own zone, figuring out how to play,” Babcock said. “We have seen guys jump in the regular season when they have not been here and how it usually goes (not well right away).

“The No. 1 job for a D-man is to keep it out of your net. So that’s going to be the challenge for him, but you don’t want to be careful with him. You want to get him in.”

The expectation is the Leafs will send defenceman Kevin Gravel to the once Dermott is activated.

Star defenceman Morgan Rielly, meanwhile, missed his third practice in a row with a undisclosed problem, but Babcock said he is not concerned. Expect Rielly to play against the Capitals.

With the roster coming into form, the bigger issue for Babcock is to get his team to win with consistency. A regulation loss on Tuesday would drop the Leafs to 6-6-2; getting traction against a Capitals team that is 8- 2-3 and is rested, having not played since Friday in Vancouver, won’t be easy.

“I think the adversity is outstanding,” Babcock said of his team’s predicament. “I always want it when we’re not going through it. But when we’re in it, I never want it. The league is tough. It’s tough every night, (even) when you have everything going well.

“I like the process. I like what our young players have to go through to be dominant players in the league. The league is not easy. When you want to be a good player it’s hard for you and that’s a challenge for all our young guys.”

Dermott knows that while he’s going to have to hit the ground running, the period of inactivity has been a revelation. 1158975 Toronto Maple Leafs

Barrie frustrated by his shaky start with Maple Leafs

Terry Koshan

Tyson Barrie looks in the mirror and isn’t sure what he sees.

There’s a fine National Hockey League defenceman somewhere in the reflection, but that player hasn’t made himself evident most nights for the Maple Leafs.

Still in adjustment mode after being acquired in the off-season from the Colorado Avalanche, Barrie has been on the ice for an NHL-high 17 goals against, through games on Sunday, during five-on-five play.

At the same time, Barrie has no goals and four assists in 13 games.

“It’s hard not to get a bit frustrated,” Barrie said. “I haven’t had a start to a season like this any time that I can remember. It’s important to stay positive and just try to keep adjusting and try to find where I fit in.

“I think I have to do a better job at finding some holes and creating a little more offence. I’m a defenceman and I have to focus on that first.”

Barrie has been on the for eight Leafs goals at five-on-five. By comparison, usual partner Jake Muzzin, who was leading the NHL in five-on-five minutes at 254 minutes 48 seconds, has been on the ice for 16 Leafs goals and 16 against at five-on-five.

Barrie was third in five-on-five ice time in the NHL at 248 minutes 25 seconds.

Barrie is trying to find his bearings on the power play. With the Avs last season, Barrie averaged four minutes three seconds on the power play per game; with the Leafs, it’s two minutes five seconds.

“We just did the math and said Mo was a 70-point guy,” Leafs coach Mike Babcock said of leaving Morgan Rielly on the first unit and not using Barrie in that spot. “Mo is one of the best players in hockey. I’m not trying to take anything away from anybody else. That’s just the situation.”

Toronto Sun LOADED: 10.29.2019 1158976 Toronto Maple Leafs commanding and, too often, he is forcing turnovers at both blue lines, the kind of plays that get teams beaten.

It’s different with Rielly, who is clearly nursing some kind of injury, but SIMMONS: Across the board, coaching, players, management, Leafs remains in the lineup. He’s scoring at an impressive rate, but not playing should be embarrassed by early-season play from blue line back the way he is capable.

For the Leafs to succeed, they need to be led by a healthy Tavares, by Matthews, by Marner, by Rielly. If all of them aren’t playing the way they Steve Simmons are capable, the Leafs aren’t going to survive by living off of Kerfoot and Mikheyev.

And as sharp as Nylander can look on occasion, his play has been This is not the time to fire Mike Babcock. spotty. He has three goals in 13 games and his penchant for missing the But if something doesn’t change — and soon — with the rather moribund net on good scoring opportunities has become his calling card. He’s on Maple Leafs, the time may be rapidly approaching. pace for 19 goals and 50 points. For a player of Nylander’s talent level, playing entirely with Matthews, those are very low numbers. Thirteen games into this season, the Maple Leafs are a convoluted mess. There is no nice way of sugar-coating this: They are a team lacking in The players aren’t performing to either hockey expectations or contract identity, a club playing far below its capabilities, deficient in structure, not expectations. And the coaching staff, which can only control certain competitive enough to succeed. The coach should be at his wit’s end aspects of the game, has come under question as well. right about now, having never faced a challenge of this magnitude in his What can a coach do? He can influence or change defensive-zone decorated career. coverages. He can influence gap control and taking away time and The Toronto Sun sports cover for Tuesday, Oct. 29’s print edition. space. He can also determine who plays, where they play and how much they play. The staff itself can influence special teams. The players, across the board, should be embarrassed, by the little they’ve accomplished on the ice and the manner in which they have Babcock’s Leafs are second in the NHL in goal-scoring, third-last in performed in the majority of their games to date. By my count, they’ve goals-against. They are second in five-on-five scoring, and second-last in played 13 times, four of them of reasonable quality. five-on-five goals -against. That’s no way to succeed.

If you stretch this into last year’s playoffs against Boston — where, for The Leafs have allowed 37 even-strength goals-against: Boston and the most part, they did play reasonably well — and into the last regular Tampa, combined, have allowed 33. season, the Leafs have won 34 of their past 70 games. The current struggle is new for Dubas in the NHL. He has yet to face a That is no small sample size, even with a roster significantly changed real crisis in his short time as general manager. This may be his first. from a year ago. This is who they are right now. And what makes this so This is even new for Shanahan as an executive, who hasn’t had to deal exasperating is that this isn’t who they should be: Playing at a 90-point with high expectations coming apart at the seams. pace over a 70-game stretch. And the challenge is enormous for Babcock, who is running out of time Not good enough to make the playoffs, let alone win a playoff round, let as Leafs coach. alone contend. Unless this team begins to change drastically. And fast. In assessing teams years ago, the Hall of Famer Cliff Fletcher had a basic arm’s-length approach to evaluating his situation. He would take Toronto Sun LOADED: 10.29.2019 his roster and divide his players into three categories: Those who were playing to expectations; those who were playing beyond expectations; and those who were playing below them.

Then he’d have a sense of what needed to change and why.

Here’s my evaluation of the current Leafs. Those playing above expectations: Ilya Mikheyev, Alexander Kerfoot and Dmytro Timashov. And that’s it. Unless you want to stick Justin Holl in there as well.

Those playing to expectations: Frederik Andersen, Jake Muzzin, Kasperi Kapanen (after getting off the top line) and Trevor Moore.

And those with little expectations to begin with: Fred Gauthier, Nick Shore and Kevin Gravel.

Players falling below expectations are the most concerning here: Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, Morgan Rielly, Tyson Barrie, William Nylander, Andreas Johnsson, Cody Ceci and then the lesser-lights Jason Spezza, Nic Petan and Martin Marincin.

We have no rating at this time, obviously, for John Tavares, Zach Hyman and Travis Dermott.

Using the Fletcher method, the Leafs should be struggling and, in this case, like most teams, will only go as far as the stars take them.

If Matthews doesn’t score, he isn’t making his presence felt enough in other ways. He isn’t creating much offence — he has just three assists. He isn’t hard enough on the puck in the offensive zone an,d now, as w itnessed on Saturday night in Montreal, he’s pressing the way a young man with a huge contract presses when things don’t go his way.

On too many nights, a man that big and that strong, that talented, has been invisible. That’s a problem for the Leafs.

Marner’s play has been problematic as well. In the seven games the Leafs have lost, he does not have a goal in any of them, and just four assists. He’s been a minus-player in every one of those defeats. He may be on pace for another 94-point season, but his play hasn’t been as 1158977 Toronto Maple Leafs “I like the process. I like what our young players have to go through to be dominant players in the league. The league is not easy. When you want to be a good player, it’s hard for you and that’s a challenge for all our young guys.” 'WAY TOO LONG': Maple Leafs' Travis Dermott to make season debut Toronto Sun LOADED: 10.29.2019

Terry Kosha

Maple Leafs Snap Shots: Workers unite!

Travis Dermott will return to the Maple Leafs lineup a little sooner than originally projected.

Still, the 22-year-old defenceman feels like it has been forever.

Dermott has been medically cleared after recovering from off-season shoulder surgery and will play against the Washington Capitals on Tuesday night at Scotiabank Arena.

“It has been way too long,” Dermott said after practice on Monday at the Ford Performance Centre. “It’s probably the longest I have been away from the game I’ve loved most of my life. Being back, being in the situation I am in now, where I am cleared medically, it’s what I have been thinking about and dreaming about for the last six months.”

Or close to it. Dermott had surgery on May 10 and was expected to miss a minimum of six months.

For the Leafs, his return can’t come soon enough. Dermott, who will be paired with Justin Holl against the Caps, won’t singlehandedly reverse the slide of a team that has lost four of its past six games to fall to the second wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference, but his return will put the Leafs on the path to being whole again.

Next would be winger Zach Hyman, who has not yet been medically cleared from off-season knee surgery but could be in time for the Leafs’ next game after Tuesday, on Saturday in Philadelphia against the Flyers.

Captain John Tavares continues to make progress as he recovers from a broken finger, shooting pucks for the first time on Monday since being hurt against Washington on Oct. 16.

Leafs coach Mike Babcock will have some patience with Dermott as the latter gets re-adjusted to game speed.

“Here’s what Dermy can do — he has unbelievable edges, can pass the puck, he is still a kid sorting it out in his own zone figuring out how to play,” Babcock said. “We have seen guys jump in the regular season when they have not been here and how it usually goes (not well right away). He knows that, we talked about it today, he has to play without the puck.

“The No. 1 job for a D-man is to keep it out of your net. So that’s going to be the challenge for him, but you don’t want to be careful with him. You want to get him in, he’s a good player.”

The expectation is the Leafs will send defenceman Kevin Gravel to the Toronto Marlies once Dermott is activated.

Star defenceman Morgan Rielly, meanwhile, missed his third practice in a row with an undisclosed problem, but Babcock said he is not concerned. So expect Rielly to play against the Capitals.

Maple Leafs must look and play bigger

SIMMONS SAYS: Bowman changed Yzerman into a winner. Can Leafs do same with Matthews?

With the roster coming into form, the bigger issue for Babcock is to get his team winning with consistency. A regulation loss on Tuesday would drop the Leafs to 6-6-2 — getting some traction against a Capitals team that is 8-2-3 and has not played since Friday in Vancouver, when they beat the Canucks 6-5 in a shootout, won’t be easy.

“I think the adversity is outstanding,” Babcock said of his team’s predicament. “I always want it when we’re not going through it. But when we’re in it, I never want it. It’s like everybody in life. Even though you know it’s going to make you better and that’s the logical thing to say … you also want to be rolling along. The league is tough. It’s tough every night when you have everything going well. 1158978 Toronto Maple Leafs Even though it’s been less than a full calendar year since he joined the Leafs, Muzzin has already established himself as an important leader in the room.

LeBrun: Leafs will improve on potential alone, but can they develop What he’s not about to do, however, is wax poetically to his teammates consistent habits to become a winner? about what winning a Cup looks like.

“I don’t like to bring up what we did in L.A. or what I did in L.A. with this group here,” Muzzin told me on Monday after practice. “This is a different By Pierre LeBrun Oct 28, 2019 group, it’s a different team, it’s different personnel. But I did learn a lot going through that experience. You learn what it takes to win, and what

kind of team you have to be. I take those lessons and I try to bring it to TORONTO — Jon Cooper recently talked about the “burden’’ his Tampa this group, and that’s the path I’ve taken to try and lead these guys. Also, Bay Lightning were carrying into this season after last spring’s first-round continue to push myself to be better. meltdown. “We have a good group in here,” he added. “I’m not worried, I’m not I love that the Tampa Bay Lightning aren’t shying away. Don’t ignore the scared or nervous or anything. Once we find our way, which I think we’re elephant in the room, stare it right between the eyes. close, it’s continually performing at it every night. It’s a challenge. It’s a long season. It’s a tough grind. There’s a lot that goes into it. I think we’ll Just my own read on things, but I don’t think the Bolts are right just yet. I be alright, though.’’ think there’s some emotional scarring that’s still healing from that four- game sweep to Columbus after putting up 62 wins, it’s why captain Now I suppose some people reading this comment will say ‘well, what Steven Stamkos spoke up so early in the season after a poor team effort else is he going to say?’ My experience is that if a veteran leader of in the third game of the season. Muzzin’s ilk was actually beyond concerned about what he was seeing around him he would either decline to talk about it or try his best to It reminds me of the year the San Jose Sharks coughed up a 3-0 series deflect. lead to the Los Angeles Kings in the spring of 2014. There was baggage from that painful experience that carried into the following year, whether Instead, I think we’ve got a genuine feeling here from a guy who’s seen anyone wanted to admit it or not. But that adversity eventually made the how it’s supposed to work. How an elite team forms the right work habits Sharks better and they would avenge that loss to the Kings two years so that come playoff time, it becomes part of the team’s DNA. later en route to a berth in the Stanley Cup final in June 2016. And Muzzin, while he had his struggles on Saturday night in Montreal, Which brings us to the Toronto Maple Leafs and their emotional scarring. has been one of Toronto’s most reliable players since the start of the season. He’s bringing it. It’s not losing to Boston last spring in seven games that’s the root of it, I mean the Bruins were favored to win, it’s more everything else circling “Muzz is a real team leader,” Babcock said on Monday. “He cares about around it that has followed the Leafs into this season. winning. He’s the only guy on our team that’s lifted the Cup. He understands what it takes. He competes hard. And we enjoy him as a There’s that end-of-season news conference in which GM Kyle Dubas teammate. He’s a guy who plays hard.’’ didn’t immediately endorse the return of Mike Babcock as the team’s coach. Everyone can spin that a million different ways until they’re blue in And you know that’s also what you’ll get from John Tavares, once he’s the face, but I doubt that it was appreciated by the coach, even if it wasn’t back from injury. Morgan Rielly needs to be better and he will be. Auston done purposely. Whatever the case, in this market, that narrative — Matthews is scoring goals but there’s more there for his overall game, some of it true, some of it exaggerated — hung over the club as the and he will find it. Mitch Marner looks to me right now like he’s feeling the season commenced. burden of his contract. He needs to find a way through that. Tyson Barrie is still adjusting to his new surroundings. This is purely anecdotal but I will share it to make a point. I spend my entire weekends in rinks in the Toronto area with all three of my kids who The whole thing is still a work in progress, but I think eventually we’ll see. play minor hockey. I cannot tell you how many people over the past two This team is too talented not to figure it out. weekends have come up to me and asked if I thought Babcock would I asked Babcock in his media session on Monday to gauge where the survive the season as the Leafs coach. Then, on Saturday during team is now through 13 games. “,” my pal from Sportsnet addressed the question of whether or not Babcock was actually in “This is a great week for us. Because this is the first time we’re having a trouble. Friedman answered that there was no evidence to suggest he regular week,” the Leafs coach said. “There’s been a lot of hockey. I think was. I can’t find any evidence, either. we played 12 in 23 and five in eight before, back-to-back’s. You can say whatever you want but that’s a lot of hockey for a human being. So we As far as I can tell, nobody in the Toronto media has made that should be fresher and better and it should show in our play coming up suggestion. So why is this even a thing, this early in the season? here. I’m not trying to make excuses for us here, because that’s not what My two cents? It would be beyond stupid to fire Babcock in-season. He’s I do, but I just think it can really help us get better.’’ among the best coaches in the league and he’s earned the right to see Some Leaf fans are cranky. They want more from this group. The next this through this season. But sure, if it’s another first-round exit, that few weeks are an important little window for the Leafs to quiet the noise means not getting it done after five years. At that point, Dubas probably down. I think you’ll see just that. gets the right to hire his first coach, if he sees fit. The Athletic LOADED: 10.29.2019 For now, though, it’s about navigating the white noise. All of which will dissipate only once this team begins to play a more consistent brand of hockey, and play up to its potential.

The Leafs have meandered their way to a 6-5-2 start, on pace right now for 88 points in the standings, which won’t cut it.

I find it hard to believe that this roster, especially once fully healthy, isn’t on pace for another 100-point plus season.

But what interests me more is how they get there and how they look once the playoffs roll around.

Babcock has preached a very consistent message to this group for a while now. But will this team heed those words and develop enough consistent habits to become a winner?

There’s one Stanley Cup champion in the Leafs dressing room. Jake Muzzin understands the journey. He lived it. 1158979 Toronto Maple Leafs That’s not conclusive by any means. It’s just a theory. But it’s food for thought for a Maple Leafs team that’s gone all-in on skill this season. It should work in the long run, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be bumps along the way. Why do the Leafs struggle more than the average NHL team in the second half of back-to-back games? Another thing that’s not abnormal: the sheer frequency the Leafs have been in this situation this month. Four tired games among the team’s first 13 is nearly a third of their contests to date, an exorbitant ratio that likely has played a large role in the perception surrounding the team. Over the By Dom Luszczyszyn Oct 28, 2019 past three seasons, the league average rate for back-to-backs against rested teams (not including teams playing three-in-four, four-in-six, five- in-seven and six-in-nine) is one in every 17 games. In other words, five The Toronto Maple Leafs are off to a rougher start than expected. After times less often than Toronto’s current rate of nearly one-in-three. their first 13 games, the team is 6-5-2, a pedestrian 88-point pace that Perhaps more cruel for Toronto is that there’s one team, the New York has the fan base even more tense than usual. Rangers, that has been in this situation just three times over the past three seasons – one fewer than Toronto over the last month. Nashville The team is lacking the consistency of an elite club, mired in mediocrity, has been in just five. a place Toronto has been since last January. Based on the team’s win probability from each game in 2019-20, the Leafs have earned 1.3 fewer The big questions now hinge on what’s already transpired and whether or wins than expected, a difference that ranks ninth-worst in the league. not the team could have done anything different. One target of ire is how That’s far from ideal, but an extra win and the team is pretty much right the Leafs have deployed their goaltending duo of Frederik Andersen and on track with where they should be. However, things could be much Michael Hutchinson, with Andersen starting the rested game followed by worse in that department, as it is in Dallas (minus-2.6 wins) and New Hutchinson the next night. Jersey (minus-2.5 wins). It’s an important decision as the difference between Andersen and Where the Maple Leafs are losing ground in the standings is in back-to- Michael Hutchinson — the latter an owner of an .885 save percentage — backs, specifically against rested opponents. Of Toronto’s first 13 games, is massive. In a game where the Leafs would have even odds of victory four have been the second game of a back-to-back against a rested club. with Andersen in net, the odds drop to 45 percent with Hutchinson. That’s The Leafs have dropped all four with only a single, loser point to show for the largest gap in the league. it. That’s not going to cut it. What’s made matters worse is the way the team has played in those losses. They have looked completely out- From that vantage point, the Leafs current strategy makes sense as matched thanks to sluggish play and a series of mental miscues at both Andersen gives the team their best chance to win and the goal is clearly ends of the ice. to capitalize on the first night when the team in front of him is fresh. Toronto has a well-staffed analytics team that has no doubt run the It’s been far from pretty, with perhaps the ugliest performance occurring numbers on this to inform that opinion. I’m just not sure what those this past Saturday against the Canadiens in which the Leafs were numbers are. Perhaps it’s a safeguard against variance by maximizing completely dominated in the first and third periods. At one point near the probability in one of the games, but swapping the order doesn’t materially end of the opening frame, the Leafs had a heinous four percent expected change the team’s expected wins over the two-game stretch. Whether it’s goals rate. A walloping that thorough is exceedingly rare. a 60/45 split or a 55/50 split, the team would still be expected to earn 1.05 wins over the two games. The Leafs’ splits between their first (rested) and second (tired) games of back-to-backs are pretty stark and well above league norm. By shot When the second games are against division rivals like Boston and attempts, Toronto is earning 55.9 percent in rested games, but just 46.3 Montreal as they were this week, the playoff implications alone seem like percent in tired games. The latter number, if it held for the rest of the they’d be worth the flip in order. Putting your best foot forward against the season, would be the worst mark in the league in any of the past three stronger opponent while potentially giving Hutchinson the confidence seasons, by three percentage points. The same goes for their expected boost that may come with playing a weaker team in front of a rested goal rate, which drops from 53.9 percent to a disastrous 40 percent. To group is also a factor here. In any sense, it doesn’t feel like it should be top things off, the Leafs have a 956 PDO in tired games, down from 998 as cut and dry as it currently is. in rested contests, the fourth-largest gap in the league. The discrepancy is largely due to a 6.9 percent shooting percentage and .886 save It certainly hasn’t worked so far – though goaltending obviously hasn’t percentage in tired games. It all adds up to a brutal 33.7 percent goal been the only negative factor – leading to an October that few in Toronto rate in tired games, nearly 20 percentage points off of the team’s rested envisioned to start the season. Back-to-backs aren’t easy for any team, rate. but they’ve been especially hard for the Leafs from top to bottom in the early going. That’s had a large effect on their place in the standings and Quantity. Quality. Results. Regardless of the metric, the Leafs just aren’t how many perceive the team. getting anything in their tired games, with numbers in those games that are well below what should be expected of any team in that situation. The Leafs still have five more back-to-backs this season. They’ll get their next crack at solving their back-to-back struggles Nov. 9-10 at home vs. The problem seems to lie with defence where the team is giving up 14 Philadelphia and then at Chicago. more attempts, 1.5 more goals and 0.9 more expected goals to their opponents. And while the defence in tired games is performing at a rate The Athletic LOADED: 10.29.2019 two-thirds worse than their offence, the Leafs have also struggled at the other end of the ice, too.

When looking through how back-to-backs affect each team individually, it’s also interesting to note that four of the top five teams most susceptible to poor performances over the past three seasons in back-to- backs are teams with a notoriously high skill level: Winnipeg, Washington, Toronto and Tampa Bay. All four see goals percentage dips of 13 percent or more, and that seems to be a product of lesser shot quality. All four see a larger drop in expected goals over Corsi and also see the biggest drops in PDO.

There’s not enough data here to form any conclusions, but a working theory that stems from this might be what effect fatigue has on the skilled elements of the game. While all four teams struggle defensively in back- to-backs, it’s worth noting they also all struggle to convert their chances. These teams thrive on scoring more goals than expected, but that doesn’t seem to be the case in tired games, where it’s perhaps more difficult to generate the quality looks they can on rested nights. It’s sure looked like that for Toronto on tired nights this season, on top of their defensive gaffes. 1158980 Toronto Maple Leafs 8. Will the Leafs keep an extra forward or defenceman when everybody is healthy? (They’re likely to top out at 21 players). And if so, who? What becomes of Shore, who’s proven useful? Do the Leafs keep him and waive Jason Spezza instead? Do both disappear so an extra defender Monday Morning Leafs Report: Lineup changes; Kasperi Kapanen at can stay? Is it a foregone conclusion Timashov sticks around, given he’s home again; Nic Petan opportunity? 23, cheap, and improving?

Back home

By Jonas Siegel Oct 28, 2019 One thing that’s become clear: Kapanen looks, and feels, at home again on right wing.

“I guess in a way,” he said. “Since the season started, I didn’t feel that *The Monday Morning Leafs Report is a weekly collection of quotes, bad, obviously, (but) I wasn’t at my level of game that I expected to be. observations, stats, and notes. Stay tuned each week! But certainly, these past however many games I felt more comfortable.” Zach Hyman joked the other day that he and Travis Dermott might as “He’s got that weight off his shoulders,” Nylander said. “He’s flying well have their names engraved on the treatment tables at the Maple around and making great plays out there and playing more like he was Leafs’ practice facility with all the time they’ve spent there the past few playing last year.” months. Kapanen lasted about seven games as the first stand-in for Hyman on “I was telling (the staff) that we spent more hours at the facility this the left side of Tavares and Marner. He had no goals and two assists and summer than maybe all the years combined,” Hyman said. “That’s what took only nine shots and looked out of sync at left wing, a position he happens when you get injured and you have surgery.” hadn’t played much, if at all, in the NHL. Hyman and Dermott should be back imminently from offseason ACL and He found himself thinking — where to be, what to do — rather than shoulder surgery, respectively. John Tavares will return soon from a reacting on instinct. broken finger. All of that means change is coming in a pretty big way to the Leafs lineup. What we’ve seen so far has been a patchwork “It didn’t feel terrible,” Kapanen said. “I don’t think I did a bad job of it. It’s construction, with Mike Babcock trying to make do without one crucial just, you’re used to doing something on one side for a long time, it’s hard top-six winger, an emerging third pair defenceman and, of late, the to change habits — and you have your certain plays that you have on the team’s strongest two-way force in the middle. right side that I like to do and have. I like the move (back) to the right side.” With everybody back, the lineup will likely look a lot like: Kapanen has six points in six games since the move, including a pair of Some interesting questions and possibilities emerge. shorthanded goals. 1. The Leafs should finally see what kind of destruction their top two lines Kasperi Kapanen has looked like himself again playing right wing. (John can impose with everybody available and at full strength (though Hyman E. Sokolowski / USA Today) may take some time after a six-month absence). They never got that dynamic last season, not with William Nylander not quite himself after A new opportunity for Petan? sitting out the first two months of the season. He played only sparingly with Auston Matthews, and so while the Tavares line rolled, the Matthews Earlier this month, on “Hockey Night in Canada,” Sportsnet’s Elliotte group never quite got on track. How will teams defend the Leafs if both Friedman reported the Leafs’ intent to find opportunity elsewhere for Nic units get going? Petan. The 24-year-old has gotten into only four games so far, though he did earn a positive review from Babcock after a season-high nine-minute 2. Can the Tavares line rediscover last season’s magic? Tavares and outing in Boston last week. Petan said he doesn’t know much about the Mitch Marner started slowly with Hyman missing. Will the 27-year-old Leafs’ plans for him with regard to a trade. puck hunter spur its return to devastation? “I’m kind of maybe in the unknown just a touch,” he said. “Obviously, you 3. Hyman probably bumps Ilya Mikheyev back down to secondary know that guys are coming back in the lineup and things like that.” penalty-kill duty. That gives the Leafs five quality options there up front: Hyman, Mikheyev, Marner, Kasperi Kapanen and Trevor Moore, with He won’t require waivers to return to the Marlies once those injured Frederik Gauthier and maybe Nick Shore remaining as faceoff, get off bodies begin trickling back in the coming days. guys. What Petan can take hope from is the willingness of Kyle Dubas to seek 4. Babcock gets the third line he envisioned with two speedy, puck- out opportunities for guys like him — players who don’t play much and hungry wingers, Kapanen and Mikheyev, flanking Alex Kerfoot. Moore won’t, in all likelihood, as the season rolls along. falls to the fourth line, a spot where he’s probably overqualified. Depth is Josh Leivo put up 10 goals and 18 points over 49 games with the never a bad thing, though. He’ll be needed higher in the lineup again. Canucks after Dubas moved him there following Nylander’s return from a 5. What becomes of the fourth line anyway? What’s made it so effective, contract dispute in December. at least in part, is having a faceoff ace in each circle. Gauthier on the left “They did well with him,” Petan said. “And hopefully, who knows what’s side and Shore on the right have combined to win 60 percent of their going to happen, but stay positive and hope for the best.” defensive zone faceoffs in all situations. What happens when one half of that element disappears and it’s all Gauthier in the circle? Maybe the line In question is whether there’s a team out there that’s seen enough from actually improves with another waterbug in Moore at his side. It bears Petan lately — he played only 18 games last season — to take a chance, noting Gauthier, Shore and Dmytro Timashov have an expected-goals especially with another year, with a $775,000 cap hit, left on his contract. percentage of 34, albeit with a 2.8 percent (yes, you read that right!) offensive zone-start percentage. Most nights they’ve done the job He reiterated what seems obvious. “I just want to play the game,” he Babcock expects, however, pushing the puck forward. said.

6. What kind of impact can Dermott eventually have? Babcock has been The improbable revival of Holl playing the third defenceman on the left side — Rasmus Sandin, Martin Holl played his 11th game of the season over the weekend in Montreal, Marincin and Kevin Gravel — in the 10-to-15 minute range. That will go meaning before October is even through, Holl has matched the total up with Dermott, who averaged over 17 minutes a night last season. He number of games he played for the Leafs all of last season. gives the Leafs a huge boost (over Marincin and Gravel anyway) in the puck-rushing and dishing categories. That’ll help late in games when the Babcock scratched him 71 times a year ago, but he seems to have Leafs are trailing and need a goal. Babcock could also send a few PK become a believer. minutes Dermott’s way and he’s a viable option, potentially, for top-four duty if the Cody Ceci experiment doesn’t pan out. “I think he’s done a nice job for us this year,” Babcock said last week. “He can always skate, but his physical play in the defensive zone, and 7. What does a third pair of Dermott and Justin Holl look like? keeping pucks away from our net and keeping people off our net is the biggest change in his game and his ability to sort it out down low. If you’re an offensive D-man, we can probably turn a blind eye to some poor defensive play at times. If you don’t generate offence, you’ve got to be really good defensively. That’s the bottom line.”

The Leafs have outscored foes 7-5 when Holl has been on the ice at five- on-five. He’s averaging about 13 minutes, logging a season-high 15:33 on Saturday in Montreal.

Load management

It remains to be seen whether the Leafs will take some starts off Frederik Andersen’s workload, especially in light of the struggles of Michael Hutchinson, who has an .885 save percentage. One thing the organization is doing to limit his wear and tear is lightening his load at practice. A day before the Leafs hosted the Bruins earlier this month, with a third goalie on hand to mop up some extra shots, Andersen was on the ice for only 10 minutes of practice.

He stopped 43 of 46 shots the next day in a 4-3 win.

MJ fan (or not)?

It turns out Dermott isn’t some huge fan of Michael Jordan. That’s not why the 22-year-old, who was born when Jordan was in the late stages of his incredible career, wears No. 23, anyway. Dermott actually played his first two NHL games wearing Dion Phaneuf’s old No. 3, a number he was assigned. Evidently, then-Leafs GM Lou Lamoriello thought a larger number would make Dermott look, well, larger himself. Hence, Dermott has worn No. 23 ever since.

Travis Dermott wearing No. 3 in his NHL debut. He wore it only one more game before getting No. 23. (John E. Sokolowski / USA Today)

Protect the puck

One thing to keep an eye on with Timashov: turnovers.

It’s been a point of emphasis for the 23-year-old. “If you turn it over, you know it’s not good,” Timashov said the other day. “You know it’s going to cost your team either a long shift in D-zone, or maybe a scoring chance, so you try to avoid that. I think I’ve been better — better and better. Before it was way more. Now, I’m like, maybe one, maybe two (turnovers per game). But I try to have zero. I’m working on that still.”

Timashov said the best advice he’s gotten about the NHL so far was from Babcock on that very subject. The coach’s advice: “Play simple.”

Former Leafs report

Connor Brown is averaging more than 20 minutes per game with Ottawa, including a career-high 24:17 last week. He played less than 14 minutes a night last year with the Leafs.

The Athletic LOADED: 10.29.2019 1158981 Vegas Golden Knights The Knights defense struggled in recent losses to Colorado, Philadelphia and Nashville in Schmidt’s absence.

“I think it definitely changes the dynamic of our defensive pairings and it’s Injured trio returns to Golden Knights practice definitely good to add that back into the mix,” defenseman Shea Theodore said. “He’s definitely a huge part of our group.”

More Golden Knights: Follow at reviewjournal.com/GoldenKnights and By David Schoen @HockeyinVegas on Twitter.

October 28, 2019 - 5:21 PM LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 10.29.2019

Malcolm Subban was one of three reinforcements who arrived at Golden Knights practice Monday and proclaimed himself game-ready.

To prove it, the goaltender took on all comers in a shootout competition at the end of the workout.

“It’s fun to get back into tracking the puck and getting the patience back,” Subban said. ‘The guys always like to work on shootouts, so it’s fun, too.”

Subban, who’s been out since Oct. 10 with a lower-body injury, was joined at practice by injured defenseman Nate Schmidt and wing Alex Tuch. All three were full participants in the 35-minute skate at City National Arena.

Coach Gerard Gallant said he did not know whether Schmidt or Tuch will be available when the Knights play host to Montreal on Thursday at T- Mobile Arena.

“That’s huge for our team, and to have them out there practicing today, it’s real big and it’s a lot of fun,” Gallant said. “That’s the group. That’s the core group, and it’s good to get them back here for today’s practice.”

With the trio set to return and the Knights off for three days, defensemen Jake Bischoff and Nic Hague, center Nicolas Roy and goaltender Garret Sparks were reassigned to the American Hockey League. The Chicago Wolves play at the Tucson Roadrunners on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Once Schmidt and Tuch are activated from injured reserve, the Knights’ roster would sit at 21. Barring any salary cap considerations, the club can recall up to two players prior to the game against Montreal on Thursday.

The health of defenseman Deryk Engelland also will factor into what happens. Engelland missed the third period of Sunday’s 5-2 win over Anaheim and did not skate Monday. Gallant said he was day to day with a minor lower-body injury.

“We all know that we’re a better team with them in the lineup, so it’s encouraging to see them out there,” left wing Max Pacioretty said of Schmidt and Tuch. “Hopefully they can get up to speed as soon as possible and have a couple good practices and help the team kind of pick up where we left off on that last game.”

Subban was hurt late in the first period of the 4-1 loss at Arizona when Coyotes forward Nick Schmaltz was checked from behind by defenseman Jon Merrill and landed on Subban’s left leg.

Subban left during the first intermission and was scratched the past nine games.

In his place, Oscar Dansk started at Philadelphia on Oct. 21 and stopped 31 of 37 shots in a 6-2 defeat. Sparks was recalled Wednesday and allowed two goals on 14 shots in relief of Marc-Andre Fleury in the 6-1 loss to Colorado on Friday.

“Two weeks felt like two months. It felt like forever,” Subban said. “You want to get in there and give your team a chance to win in that first one you’re out there. To happen the way it did after feeling pretty good in that first 20 minutes, it’s so frustrating.

“It wasn’t anything major, though. I tried to be patient these last couple weeks, but it was tough. I’m back now, so I’m just happy about that.”

Tuch participated in line rushes and drills at right wing with center Cody Eakin and left wing Cody Glass on the third line. He’s been out with an upper-body injury since Sept. 27 when he crashed into the end boards midway through the second period of a preseason game against the Los Angeles Kings at T-Mobile Arena.

Schmidt was hurt in the season opener Oct. 2 against San Jose when he took the brunt of a knee-on-knee collision with Sharks captain Logan Couture. 1158982 Vegas Golden Knights

Golden Knights’ William Carrier says fourth line wants to produce more

By Ben Gotz Las Vegas Review-Journal

October 28, 2019 - 12:47 PM

Updated October 28, 2019 - 5:01 PM

Golden Knights left wing William Carrier already has surpassed his assist total from last season. That said, he didn’t have far to go.

Carrier picked up his second assist Sunday in a 5-2 win against the Anaheim Ducks. He slid the puck to a wide open Ryan Reaves 7:40 into the first period despite drawing a penalty on the play.

He’s now one assist away from tying his career high. And with four points in 13 games, he’s on pace to shatter his previous best of nine in a season.

“That’s these guys,” Carrier said, gesturing to linemates Reaves and Tomas Nosek. “They’ve been scoring this year. We’ve been having good scoring chances. We’re trying to create a little more offense this year. That’s it.”

Carrier, Reaves and Nosek certainly have done that while maintaining their identity as a physical line. Reaves leads the NHL with 60 hits and Carrier is tied for fifth with 44. The two still have managed to be on the ice for five goals this season in 95:30 together.

They were on the ice for 10 goals last season in 433:27.

“We just got back to playing simple (Sunday) and we just got to show up every night now,” Carrier said. “I feel like every second night we haven’t attacked the game (as well).”

Roy impresses, then gets sent down

Nicolas Roy’s Knights’ debut Sunday was picture perfect.

The 22-year-old scored his first goal in his Knights debut Sunday against the Anaheim Ducks and his teammates posed for a celebratory shot in the locker room afterwards.

Nicolas Roy: goal

Squad: goalsssss pic.twitter.com/X8hnJjJ4yH

— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) October 28, 2019

Carrier said it’s the first time he remembers the team doing that. Rookie Cody Glass said the team didn’t take one after his first goal in the season opener against the San Jose Sharks.

Roy was sent down to the American Hockey League’s Chicago Wolves on Monday but Carrier and Reaves were both impressed by the rookie.

“(He was) solid all over the ice,” Reaves said. “Some crazy speed on his goal. Really solid defensively and nice offensive touch.”

Break time

The Knights have played 13 games, tied for the most in the NHL. They don’t play again until Thursday against the Montreal Canadiens, giving them three consecutive days without a game for the second time.

“It’s good to have a break,” coach Gerard Gallant said.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 10.29.2019 1158983 Vegas Golden Knights

Knights’ Pacioretty dishing out assists until his scoring prowess returns

By Justin Emerson

Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2019 | 2 a.m.

If you told Max Pacioretty before the season that he would have 11 points in the Golden Knights’ first 13 games, he might have believed you. But if you told him he would only have two goals, he might push back a bit.

Pacioretty has been a goal-scorer for most of his career, and only four times since his rookie year in 2009 has he finished a season with more assists than goals. This season, he leads the Golden Knights in assists but foresees more scoring in the near future.

“I’d like to produce a little more in the goals column, but that will come. The chances are there,” Pacioretty said. “Whether it’s goals or assists, it doesn’t really matter.”

Pacioretty’s career-high in assists was 34 in 2015-16, and he’s already more than a quarter of the way there. Of his nine helpers, seven were primary assists, meaning that Pacioretty fed the goal-scorer.

“Some nights it seems like you’re the one who’s forechecking every night and some nights you’re the one who seems to be getting the puck in the slot all the time,” center Paul Stastny said. “When you play with linemates who are aggressive like that and don’t just sit in one possession, that’s what’s going to happen.”

Stastny has been the biggest beneficiary of Pacioretty’s play-making. Pacioretty has assisted on four of Stastny’s five goals and has the primary assist on three of those. He’s also assisted on three of linemate Mark Stone’s seven goals.

The Pacioretty-Stastny-Stone combo has been arguably Vegas’ best line since Stone arrived in February. Through 13 games this season it’s been Stastny and Stone putting the puck in the net, but soon enough it’s going to be Pacioretty.

“Half the reason we’re getting these goals is because goalies respect him so much and he’s making nice plays,” Stastny said. “We’re not worried at all. When you get that many good looks and you’re that good of a player, the law of averages always kind of comes back.”

The players and numbers agree: The goals are coming. Pacioretty is shooting 3.7% this year, an enormous drop-off from his career rate of 10.9%. He’s played well enough to accumulate 4.15 expected goals despite just the two actual goals, and at 5-on-5 leads the team with an on-ice Corsi percentage of 58.0% at 5-on-5, according to Natural Stat Trick. He’s also hit the post three times already, most on the team.

It’s not that he minds racking up points, even if those are assists. The biggest change is on the power play, where he lines up on the wall now, ceding the middle of the ice to Stone. It puts Pacioretty in more of a quarterback position where he can either shoot or pass.

“I used to be strictly a passer then I became strictly a shooter, so to be able to be that dual-threat I think can be both beneficial to both me and the team,” Pacioretty said. “It’s been more of a conscious effort to make sure that I can do both. At times in the past I’ve either over-passed or over-shot, and you look at the best players and they’re able to do both.”

Pacioretty has posted a point total in the 60s five times in his career and could be well on his way to doing so again this year. Just expect that goals-to-assists ratio to skew more toward lighting the lamp the rest of the way.

LAS VEGAS SUN LOADED: 10.29.2019 1158984 Washington Capitals similar to a 9-to-5 job. There are some perks and fun things when they go to games, but because it has been such a way of life, they don’t see it as anything out of the ordinary.

For children of NHL players, grasping hockey as a job is a lot to process “Kids make you appreciate the position you are in,” Bouwmeester said.

The Capitals’ Travis Boyd said his 5-year-old daughter, Hayden, is just now starting to “put some stuff together.” There have been a few times Samantha Pell when Boyd was being interviewed between periods and Hayden recognized her dad on television. October 28, 2019 at 3:21 PM EDT “She would be like, ‘Wait, what? Why is Daddy on the TV? What is he

doing?'” he said. Boyd said he has taken Hayden skating a few times When fans stop Washington Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom in already but is waiting until she becomes more confident on skates to restaurants, at the rink or on the street to ask for autographs or photos, introduce her to hockey. For now, he is just happy she is interested. he will occasionally turn to his 6-year-old daughter, Haley, to run through Then there is John Carlson’s 4-year-old son Lucca -- who has a 1-year- a list of questions. old brother, Rudy -- who tells his friends his dad plays hockey, but John “Why are they doing that?” he will ask his wide-eyed daughter. “Do you says, he doesn’t get the whole “hockey is a job” thing. know?” “He thinks it’s like his tee ball team probably in all actuality,” Carlson said. “Yeah, because they love you,” she will respond. “He probably doesn’t think I work.”

Backstrom will prod more: “But why do they love me? Do you know that?” With the Capitals’ kids at different stages of their learning process, players are, too. Ovechkin says he will probably be turning to Backstrom Haley, confident as any 6-year-old could be, isn’t stumped: “Yeah, and Holtby for advice once Sergei is a little older. For now, they are because you play hockey.” happy with a little banter back and forth in the room, about what their son or daughter did that puzzled them, and similarly simple joys. “There you go,” Backstrom says. “We can talk once in a while about the kids or what they do or, you know, For NHL players, explaining what dad does isn’t always easy. From the how lost we are usually,” Holtby said. “Yeah, but it’s never kind of advice; constant travel, such as the Capitals’ 10-day road trip that finally finishes it’s more just us venting about how much we don’t really know what we’re Tuesday in Toronto, to the screaming fans who crowd around after a doing and trying to figure it out along the way.” practice to showing up on the same television screens cartoons do, players and their families often have to answer a lot of questions. So Washington Post LOADED: 10.29.2019 when exactly do kids finally understand their fathers are NHL players? Well, it varies.

The Capitals have 12 players who are fathers, with Nick Jensen and Nic Dowd expecting their firstborns soon. There are 19 total kids across the room, ranging in age from Radko Gudas’s 1-month-old daughter Elvira to Braden Holtby’s 7-year-old son, Benjamin.

Ben and Holtby’s daughter, Belle, 5, are two of the few Capitals children who grasp the concept of their fathers being NHL players, and Ben especially isn’t afraid to tell, well, everyone.

“Definitely some embarrassing moments for us because they’re kids,” Holtby said. “They don’t know; they aren’t scared to announce it sometimes. They don’t understand why Dad doesn’t really want that announced sometimes. I mean, we’re trying to make life as normal as we possibly can.”

The opposite side of the age spectrum is Alex Ovechkin’s son, Sergei, who is just over a year old. Now learning how to walk and talk — his first words (all in Russian) were “mama,” “papa” and “gimme” — Sergei attended his first Capitals game Oct. 14 against Colorado, joining Dmitry Orlov’s first child, Kirill, who is 3 months old. Children such as Holtby’s and Backstrom’s get Ovechkin excited about Sergei’s future.

“I was kind of waiting for that moment when my kid is going to be around with me in the locker room, and as soon as he start to really walk he’s going to be in the locker room with the guys,” Ovechkin said. “The culture that we have here, it is something special, and all the guys love the kids and it is going to be fun for him as well.”

Calgary Flames captain said his almost 2-year-old daughter, Reese, has started to equate anything hockey-related to her dad. Over the past couple of months whenever she sees hockey on television — any team, any player — she will point and say, “Dadda!”

The two were recently at a store called Chapters in Calgary when she saw the Flames’ “C” logo and immediately started saying “Dadda!” Giordano’s 6-year-old son, Jack, is a little more savvy.

“You can tell he sort of thinks he’s the man when I go pick him up at school and other kids recognize who I am, but he’s pretty subtle about it,” Giordano said. “I know he realizes what the other kids are saying, but he doesn’t really react too much, which I think is him trying to play the cool role a little bit, but yeah I’d imagine he loves coming to the rink. He wears No. 5 on his hockey team, so he’s all about it, but he keeps it pretty cool.”

St. Louis Blues defenseman Jay Bouwmeester, who is playing in his 17th NHL season, has three daughters — the oldest is 6½ — but none is all that interested in the sport. They all see Boumeester’s NHL career as 1158985 Washington Capitals If you think the John Carlson for Norris train is strong, many think Morgan Rielly is in that same camp. He's making his case this season as one of the longest-tenured Leafs, earning the A last season and this season, and quarterbacking a lethal power play. He's the one that determines Capitals at Maple Leafs Game 14: Time, TV Channel, Live stream, how how fast the Leafs can play, either skating the puck out of the zone as a to watch one-man breakout or with a quick long pass out.

CAPITALS at MAPLE LEAFS SERIES HISTORY

By Julia Karron October 28, 2019 10:51 AM Number of all-time Meetings: 148

All-Time Series Record: 75-57-10-6

The Capitals will conclude their five game road trip Tuesday night against Last Meeting: Won 4-3 (10/16/2019) the Toronto Maple Leafs. Last 10: Capitals lead 6-4 After rallying from a four-goal deficit against Vancouver, the Caps have accrued at least one point in each of their games on this road swing. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 10.29.2019 Meanwhile, the Maple Leafs have one of the stingiest schedules in October with four back-to-back series of games.

Can the Caps snag their final two points of this road trip and make it even more successful? Tune in to find out.

What: Washington Capitals @ Toronto Maple Leafs

Where: ScotiaBank Arena, Toronto, Ontario

When: Tuesday, October 29, 7:00 p.m. ET

TV Channel: Capitals-Maple Leafs game will be broadcast on NBC Sports. (NBC Sports channel Finder)

Live Stream: You can watch the Capitals-Maple Leafs preseason on NBC Sports live stream page.

Radio: Caps Radio 24/7

CAPITALS-MAPLE LEAFS TV SCHEDULE:

6:00 PM: Caps Faceoff Live

6:30 PM: Caps Pregame Live

7:00 PM: Capitals @ Maple Leafs (LIVE)

9:30 PM: Caps Postgame Live

10:00 PM: Caps Overtime Live

10:00 PM: D.C. Sports Live

CAPITALS-MAPLE LEAFS INJURY REPORT:

Capitals:

Richard Panik, RW, Upper-body, week-to-week

Maple Leafs:

Zach Hyman, LW, Knee, Out indefinitely

John Tavares, C, Finger, week-to-week

Mason Marchment, LW, Undisclosed, Out indefinitely

David Clarkson, RW, Back, Out indefinitely

Nathan Horton RW, Back, Out indefinitely

CAPITALS AT MAPLE LEAFS PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Tom Wilson, F, Capitals (4-3-7)

There's something about playing in your hometown that never gets old. Toronto has had trouble in their own zone, especially against power- forwards like Wilson who crash and bang in the corners to win the puck back for their team. Look for him to use his body to make every forecheck count against his hometown team.

Mitch Marner, F, Maple Leafs (3-12-15)

After signing a monstrous six-year, $10.8 million AAV contract, a lot was expected of the diminutive forward. He's delivered, leading the Maple Leafs in points and tied for second in offensive point shares. If he can find any open space against the Caps defense, he'll be dishing the puck all over the offensive zone.

Morgan Rielly, D, Maple Leafs (3-10-13) 1158986 Washington Capitals In addition to that innate feel for the game, Coffey noted how Carlson has mastered his role on the Caps’ potent power play – something Coffey was quick to point out isn’t as easy as it looks.

Can Caps’ John Carlson reach 100 points? Paul Coffey is a believer “It’s not easy to being at the top (of the umbrella) on that team when you’ve got the other two guys on the flank who want the puck all the time,” he said. “It takes a strong leader to be up there. (Kris) Letang had those issues when he was in Pittsburgh with (Evgeni) Malkin and Sid By Tarik El-Bashir Oct 28, 2019 (Crosby) always wanting the puck. That guy up top, he’s got to move it around but he’s got to take shots sometimes.

TORONTO – It’s been so long, it isn’t plausible anymore. “He’s got good leadership skills. He’s strong, and I don’t mean physically. He’s strong mentally. He knows who he is, and he’s not afraid to make John Carlson’s historic start to the season has people pondering the plays.” following: Can the Capitals’ All-Star defenseman hit 100 points? That all said, Coffey said Carlson also trusts his instincts and doesn’t Someone who knows a thing or two about the topic thinks it could be in over-analyze things, particularly on the man advantage. (He’s currently play this season. tied for second in power play points among all defensemen with six.)

“A guy like Carlson, there’s no reason he shouldn’t be able to get 100 “Carlson is obviously very smart,” he said, “when you’ve got Ovi on the points,” Hall of Famer Paul Coffey told The Athletic. “He’s playing with ice, you get him the puck.” (Alex Ovechkin), arguably the greatest scorer of this time. What Ovi continues to do every season is incredible. So I don’t think getting 100 Coffey also credited Todd Reirden and the Caps’ coaching staff for points should be out of the realm. Carlson is a great player, he plays with allowing Carlson the freedom to utilize his skill set. real good players.” “Carlson is in his prime and he’s got a coach there that lets him play, Coffey racked up 138 points in 1985-86 for the Oilers, second only to the obviously,” Coffey said. “A lot of coaches will take what players do best 139 that Bobby Orr put up for the Bruins in 1970-71. Coffey also away from them. Why they do that, I have no idea. But it looks like they amassed 100 or more points five times. are letting him play.”

Coffey doesn’t know Carlson personally. But he’s watched the 29-year- Then there’s Carlson’s ridiculously fast start to the season, which begins old Washington blueliner grow his game from afar over the years – and with summer training and, more times than not, ends in a career year. appreciates the finished product. “I watch him whenever I get a chance to see Washington play, and he “He’s done what good players do: He’s consistently gotten better,” Coffey looks to me like a guy who doesn’t cheat the game,” Coffey said. “He said. “Believe it or not, 27, 28 is when defensemen should be really – if puts the time in; he makes sure he’s doing all the things that make him they are going to take that next level – hitting their prime. And it looks like be a player he is. Other than a few years, I was a traditionally slow starter he’s doing it. He’s probably figured out his game, he’s probably figured and it used to drive me nuts why I was. A player like Carlson, a player out most things that are in front of him – who’s good, who’s bad, what he like Sid, a player like Connor (McDavid) or Leon (Draisaitl), once you get can do on the ice. It’s all part of maturing as a player. It’s actually nice to off to a good start and get on that roll, it’s a lot of fun.” watch. Although Coffey didn’t offer any advice to Carlson, he did share his “He can move the puck, he defends well and he can shoot it.” approach to each season: he never, ever set a specific goal for point totals. And he’s off to a prolific start. “I know when I played, I only strived for one thing – consistency,” he said. After briefly leading the NHL in scoring, Carlson enters Monday’s games “I didn’t tell myself I wanted to score 30 goals this year, or I wanted 78 tied for second in points with 21 (five goals, 16 assists). With a pair of points. I just kept telling myself, ‘Be as consistent as you can be.’ If goals last Tuesday in Calgary. the Caps’ 11th game of the season, you’re a good player and you’re consistent you’re going to put up Carlson became just the fourth defenseman to record 20 or more points numbers.” in October – and the second-fastest to accomplish the feat. The fastest? Coffey; he needed just 10 games in 1988-89. Asked if he believes Carlson deserves to be a finalist for the Norris Trophy a year after finishing fourth in voting, Coffey hardly allowed the The offensive outburst has Carlson on pace for a whopping 132 points. questioner to finish before answering. While that number seems unlikely, it seems possible that Carlson will end up doing something that hasn’t been done in years. “He’s a good player, period,” said Coffey, who won the Norris three times. “In his own end, the other end, when you’re putting up points like The last defenseman to record 100 points in a season was Brian Leetch, him, you’ve got the puck on your stick. If it was easy, everybody would be who racked up 102 for the Rangers in 1991-92. Leetch was also the last doing it. It’s not easy to get up the ice. It’s not easy to have your head on rearguard to hit 85 points, which he did in 1995-96, also for New York. a swivel all the time, knowing where you’re putting that puck. That’s real talent. Both numbers would represent a big step up for Carlson, who established a career-high with 70 points (13 goals, 57 assists) last “There are some good defensemen in the league right now, so he’s season. obviously going to have some competition. You’ve got to do it for a few years to get recognized, and he’s certainly doing that. I’m sure he’ll tell Coffey believes Carlson is poised to make the leap. you it’s not a big deal to him, but it is. If he keeps playing the way he is, Why? playing for the Washington Capitals, which is a great hockey club, he should be winning the Norris Trophy.” For one, Carlson has elite offensive ability, including some intangibles that simply can’t be taught. Trophy talk aside, what Coffey really wants to see is for Carlson to parlay his hot start into a season for the ages. “The one thing you can’t teach is hockey sense,” Coffey said. “The good, smart players on the backend, they know who they’re playing against all “Hey, listen, I’m a fan now,” Coffey said. “I’m paying my 200 bucks, or the time. They know what they can get away with. whatever it is to watch, and I want to be entertained. Why not? Why not get 100 points? I’ll tell you what, if don’t think you’re gonna, you’re never “For instance, when I was playing against a guy like Mike Bossy, you gonna.” pretty much just had to worry about him scoring against you, picking your pocket or making the incredible smart plays. When I was playing against The Athletic LOADED: 10.29.2019 a guy like Bob Nystrom, you had to have your head up because you know he was going to finish every check on you. He was going to play you hard because he was such an honest player. The good ones – the really good ones – know who they are out against every shift. They know which guys they can make plays on and which guys they can’t.” 1158987 Winnipeg Jets that stretch. will reunite with captain (who has no points in his last six games) and No. 1 centre .

Patrik Laine will move down to play with (who scored the Lowry lighter in wallet, out two games for illegal check overtime winner in Regina) and . However, that’s contingent on Laine being able to play. The winger, who has three goals and 10 assists in 12 games, was shaken up during Monday’s skate at the Honda Center in Anaheim following a collision with defenceman Luca Mike McIntyre Sbisa, who the Jets picked up on waivers last week from the Ducks. Posted: 10/28/2019 8:56 PM "It wasn’t anything major. He’s been dealing with some nicks like everybody else. We’ll have to wait to see how he is (Tuesday) before we make a decision on him," Maurice told reporters following the skate. ANAHEIM — It’s not a bad way to thaw out from Saturday’s snowy Heritage Classic in Regina — soaking up the sun in southern California. With Lowry suspended and no extra healthy forwards, the Jets may have But after a day off to recharge their batteries and work on their golf to call up another player from the Moose as insurance. games, the Winnipeg Jets got back to business Monday and returned to As for the tweaks to the top six, Maurice said the group needs to pick up the ice for practice. the offensive pace. The Jets have been getting plenty of good However, the 6-6-0 Jets be without shutdown centre Adam Lowry as a opportunities but either firing wide or getting denied by good goaltending three-game road trip begins tonight in Anaheim. The 26-year-old forward lately. has been suspended for two games without pay for boarding Calgary "We are not generating in those six players as much as we’d like to, so Flames defenceman Oliver Kylington during Saturday night’s 2-1 we’ll give it a run," said Maurice. "We’re really bearing down. We need to shootout win at Mosaic Stadium. relax a little bit... We’ve missed the net on most of our chances the last The hit happened at the end of the second period. Lowry was assessed a four, five games." minor penalty, while Kylington appeared shaken but returned to action. Connor, who has four goals and two assists, said it’s good to be reunited "Lowry pinches down from his position in front of the net, and, having with the pair he’s spent the majority of his young career with. Connor had seen nothing but Kylington’s numbers for some time, delivers a forceful a few shifts with Wheeler and Scheifele in the third period Saturday, as hit into the back of Kylington, driving him dangerously into the boards," the Jets erased a 1-0 deficit thanks to a power-play goal the NHL department of player safety said Monday afternoon in their video and Little’s OT winner, set up by Connor. Previously, Laine and Ehlers explaining the punishment. have spent time on the top line.

"It is important to note that from the moment Kylington collects the puck "That (top six) group’s been together for the past couple years, so there’s behind the net, Lowry sees nothing but his back. While we acknowledge been lots of line combinations. I think every one of those players is so Lowry’s assertion that he anticipated Kylington opening up as he came elite, they can score different ways and make plays, too. It’s a good up ice so that Lowry could deliver a legal check, the onus is on Lowry to group. I think you can plug anybody into that hole and they’ll have adjust course when that doesn’t happen." success," said Connor.

Following the game, Lowry said he meant no harm. On the positive side, Winnipeg has cut down on goals against of late, thanks largely to ’s strong goaltending but also an "Don’t really know how much time’s left and he’s playing the puck along overall defence-first team approach. the wall. You’re kind of going hard. Obviously, his back is to you, so your trying to catch a piece of him but not anything too much. If you look at it, I "We’re just working right now to make sure we keep it out of our net and get mostly his arm. I think it’s the position he’s put in where it looks worse try to capitalize when you get chances. If it’s 2-1 games for us to get two than it is," said Lowry. points in the standings, then that’s what it’s going to be," Perreault said.

"I’m happy he came back. That’s a tough one. At some point you have to "We work as five men on the ice to defend hard. Helly’s been making protect yourself but at the same time, maybe I don’t have to do that hit." great saves for us, so the time we do have little breakdowns he makes the saves that we need. So that’s kind of the recipe to win games." Lowry is a repeat offender, having been suspended for two games in March for high-sticking Nashville Predators forward Filip Forsberg. He Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 10.29.2019 was also given a one-game banishment in November 2014 for boarding Patrick Kaleta of the Buffalo Sabres. Lowry is making US$2.916 million this season and will forfeit US$71,138.22 in pay. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

Jets head coach will have to shuffle his lines with Lowry out for the Ducks game and Friday’s tilt in San Jose. Lowry can return for the final game of the road trip Saturday against the Vegas Golden Knights.

Andrew Copp is expected to move from the wing back to centre, with moving up to play with him and . That would leave rookie , veteran and centre Logan Shaw, who was called up Monday, to round out the fourth line.

Shaw, 27, is taking ’s spot on the roster. Appleton has been placed on injured reserve and will miss at least a month after breaking a bone in his right foot while throwing a football around with teammates Friday.

The Jets are also without centre Mark Letestu, who remains on IR with an upper-body injury.

Shaw has 180 NHL games under his belt, split between the Florida Panthers, Anaheim Ducks and Montreal Canadiens.

Shaw signed with the Jets organization last year. He leads the Moose in scoring with three goals and two assists in eight games.

Maurice is also shuffling his top lines in an attempt to find a spark. Winnipeg has scored just nine goals in the last six games, going 2-4-0 in 1158988 Winnipeg Jets St. Louis Blues and Colorado Avalanche. (The Jets play 26 of their 82 games within their division).

How they fare against their fiercest rivals will go a long way to NHL's west a mediocrity fest, so the panic in Jetsville is a tad premature determining whether it’s feast or famine this season.

Winnipeg also played just three of its first nine games against the West — the two aforementioned wins over the Wild and Blackhawks, and a By: Mike McIntyre | Posted: 10/28/2019 6:01 PM | Comments: 4 | Last loss against Arizona. The other six contests were against Eastern Modified: 10/28/2019 6:27 PM | Updates opponents, with a 2-4-0 record in that span.

The Jets are now in a stretch of six straight against the West (they’re 2-1- 0 so far, with wins over Edmonton and Calgary and a loss to Los ANAHEIM – No, the Winnipeg Jets aren’t exactly burning up the NHL Angeles), with three more to come on this week’s road trip. Overall, the right now, leaving opponents in their dust. A modest one-game winning Jets are now in the early stages of a stretch where they’ll play nine of 10, streak, which they’ll put on the line Tuesday night here against the and 17 of 21, against the West. (The Jets play 50 of their 82 games Anaheim Ducks, will have to suffice as progress after a few recent within their conference). stumbles. Once again, until Winnipeg starts mixing it up with some of their most But you know what? Take a glimpse around the league and you’ll see familiar foes on a regular basis, it’s tough to get a read of exactly how they’re not alone. Which is why being consistently inconsistent out of the this team really stacks up. chute and far from perfect is perfectly fine for a young club that has undergone plenty of roster turnover. Nobody is running away, with current front-runners in Colorado (8-2-1), Edmonton (8-3-1) and Nashville (7-3-1) allowing everyone to stay within If misery loves company, than so, too, does mediocrity, especially early range. in the season. Throw in defending Stanley Cup champion St. Louis (6-3-3) learning Social media and my email inbox are regularly lit up with calls for change: Monday that sniper Vladimir Tarasenko will be out with an injury until at "Swing a huge trade!" least March, and both the Central and the conference appear to be as wide open as ever. "Play this player over that player!" The St. Louis Blues revealed they will be without right winger Vladimir "Fire Maurice!" Tarasenko for most of the season as he recovers from shoulder surgery.

"Blow it all up!" The St. Louis Blues revealed they will be without right winger Vladimir Tarasenko for most of the season as he recovers from shoulder surgery. With very little salary-cap flexibility Winnipeg Jets general manager is wise to take a slow, steady approach in the evaluation of Minnesota (4-7-0) looks old and slow. Dallas (4-8-1) has disappointed. his players. Chicago (3-5-2) doesn’t appear ready for prime time.

"Arrrgggghhhhh!!!" We’ll learn a bit more over the coming days as the Jets face three teams who are feeling pretty similar about their games. Anaheim (7-6-0) got off Despite the sense of impending doom on the outside, there has been a to a hot start but has faded, of late. San Jose (4-7-1) was expected to be pretty calm, Southern California-like vibe inside the Jets' bubble, so far. a powerhouse again this year but has underwhelmed and Vegas (8-5-0) And for good reason. With a 6-6-0 record and 70 games left, we still have has also been up and down more than coach Gerard Gallant would like. no real idea where this team is headed. From a glass half-full perspective, there’s reason to believe some Don’t believe me? How about the fact they began Monday just one point brighter days could be around the corner if Winnipeg can take care of a out of a wild-card playoff spot, and with only one team to leapfrog. few existing problems. They’re also just three points out of both second and third in their own When it comes to special teams, the power play likely won’t continue to division, and five points out of top spot. be this ineffective, not with all the weapons the Jets have. And the woeful Hardly cause for celebration. But also no reason to push the panic penalty kill can’t get any worse, with all kinds of room to improve. button. The team’s five-on-five scoring woes, and lack of offence in general, is Winnipeg has very little salary-cap flexibility right now to do anything probably just a temporary blip given all the proven firepower up front. significant. But general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff is wise to take a On the blue line, they’ve weathered a big early storm. Nathan Beaulieu is slow, steady approach, allowing further evaluation rather than adopt a on the verge of returning, Sami Niku is on the mend with the Manitoba "sky is falling" mentality. Moose and getting closer, and the door, of course, remains open for an Time is on their side. Patience really is a virtue, no matter what the eventual Dustin Byfuglien return. armchair GMs might be saying. So far, the Jets have been surviving, not thriving. But when it comes to That’s why the few moves we’ve seen so far — such as waiver wire the Mild, Mild West, that’s really all they’ve needed to do to keep their pickups of defencemen Carl Dahlstrom and , and Monday’s heads above water. recall of forward Logan Shaw from the Manitoba Moose to replace the As the saying goes, it’s a marathon, not a sprint. And this race, injured Mason Appleton — have mostly generated a collective shrug somewhat slow out of the blocks, is only just begun. around the league. Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 10.29.2019 Kind of like the team’s overall play.

Yes, the Jets have been mostly "meh" so far this season, with a little bit of good, a little bit of ugly and a lot of in-between. But so has most of the league, where I see plenty of potentially good teams but very few, if any, that appear elite.

It becomes harder to gauge Winnipeg’s current lot in life when you consider they have barely dipped their toes in both the Central Division and Western Conference waters this season.

They’ve faced off against only two divisional foes so far, registering wins against Minnesota and Chicago, and won’t see another Central club until the 18th game of the year. But from that point on, it’s going to be a fairly healthy diet of the Wild, Blackhawks, Dallas Stars, Nashville Predators, 1158989 Winnipeg Jets “We’ve had a number of chances down the slot that we’ve missed the net on,” Jets coach Paul Maurice said. “You think of the first period of the Edmonton game (1-0 shootout win), the shots were 6-1 for them at one point, probably four of our Grade A chances were from the slot that went Jets team defensive play has improved considerably in recent games, wide or were over the net. perhaps at expense of scoring “I think we’re bearing down. I think we’re taking too much time to bear down. We’re really bearing down. We need to relax a little bit. Good players, take the shot.” Ted Wyman With the kinds of players the Jets have, it seems likely the goals will Published:October 28, 2019 come. The defensive play is not such a natural fit. Updated:October 28, 2019 8:33 PM CDT The Jets are now 17th in the league in goals against per game, which suggests their five-on-five defensive play is improving. They were in a lot worse spot a week ago. ANAHEIM — A wise man for his age, Winnipeg Jets 24-year-old defenceman Josh Morrissey is able to pinpoint where things started to go “Our goaltender has been solid for sure but we’ve moved into the middle wrong for his team last season. of the pack on a goals-against basis,” Maurice said. “If we can fight our way into that top-10 with an inexperienced group, we’ll be pretty proud of It was around the end of November, beginning of December and the our defensive game. team was scoring goals in droves, at a rate of about 3.5 per game. “We also feel that our offence, there’s room to improve stylistically. We Something about that offensive explosion had a negative effect on the feel we’re getting more chances but we’ve missed the net on most of our team, which was cruising along in first place in the Central Division at the A chances here over the last three or four games. But on a simple pucks- time. to-the-net basis, we’ve moved into the top 10 so we’re trending in the right way there.” The Jets started to get away from playing sound team defence and they were never really able to recover in the second half of the season. They More than an eighth of the way into the NHL season, the Winnipeg Jets faltered down the stretch, fell out of first place and lost in the first round of are dead last in the NHL in penalty killing and it’s been a big contributor the playoffs to the eventual Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues. to their up and down record.

“Our offensive numbers were off the charts even though our offensive The 6-6 Jets are killing off just 64% of opposition power plays and it’s a game wasn’t necessarily right,” Morrissey said Monday, after practice at number that has to improve considerably in a hurry if the Jets want to be the Honda Center, where the Jets will face the Anaheim Ducks Tuesday taken seriously as playoff contenders. night. “We were giving it up defensively but we were scoring so many goals that it looked OK. It’s not sustainable. We learned that last year “You’ve got to take pride in blocking shots and buying into that grittiness and we’re trying to build it differently this year.” on the penalty kill,” Jets defenceman said Monday.

Things didn’t start much differently this season, as the Jets allowed 3.75 “We’ve also had some tough breaks, bad bounces that have gone in. goals against per game through the first eight games. That seemed You can’t let things bother you. Things happen and you’ve got to learn to somewhat understandable, given they were dressing a new-look and, deal with those and grow as a group. some would say, no-name defence. “We’re working hard on it in practice though and it’s something we’re But lately, things have really turned around. continuing to get better at. We’ve been talking a lot more, communication has been up. We’re starting to play for each other, get a good idea of The Jets have allowed just 1.75 goals per game over the last four games, what each guy does, and learn from each other. It’s been a really good during which they have a 2-2 record. A lot of that has to do with the step.” stellar play of goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, who has a sparkling 2.22 goals against average and .933 save percentage on the season. Winnipeg Sun LOADED 10.29.2019

But they’ve also shown a renewed commitment to team defence — at the expense of offence — which has made for four consecutive close, low- scoring games in a row.

“It’s a nice sign of improvement,” Morrissey said. “We really want to focus on defence first. Everyone sees the talented players we have offensively, especially up front, and you think the goals will come. By building it the right way, focusing on the defensive side of the game first, that offence is going to come as a function.”

The Jets look like a different team than the one that played on the season-opening four-game road trip to the New York area and Pittsburgh.

In the first three of those games, it looked like the Jets were going to be a fun and exciting team to watch because of their ability to score goals and their inability to prevent them.

“If we tried to play run-and-gun hockey, we might score a few more goals like we did early on in the season, but as the year goes on, and the hockey tightens up, you have to be sound defensively,” Morrissey said.

“We could maybe go out there and try to blow the doors off teams with high-risk hockey. We might score a few more goals but in the long run that’s not going to pay dividends. My point being, I think we’re building it the right way here and going forward I think we’re gonna see that defence pay off offensively.”

Technically, it should be paying off already.

In the last few games, the Jets have been generating an incredible amount of Grade A scoring chances, but are simply not finishing. 1158990 Winnipeg Jets The Jets took Sunday off to play golf at Pelican Hills Golf Club in Newport Beach, a day after they beat the Flames in thrilling fashion at a snowy outdoor game in Regina.

JETS SNAPSHOTS: Repeat offender Lowry suspended for dangerous The players loved the experience of the outdoor game and the team golf hit on Flames Kylington event on a sunny California day.’

“The outdoor game was an unreal experience, especially when you get the win, it makes it even better,” winger Mathieu Perreault said. “We got Ted Wyman a day off to enjoy it and now we’re back at it.”

Published:October 28, 2019 The Jets have another off day on Wednesday before playing the Sharks and Vegas Golden Knights on the weekend and it will now be time to get Updated:October 28, 2019 8:32 PM CDT back to normal routines.

Still, many players were buzzing about the spectacle that was the ANAHEIM — You wouldn’t say Adam Lowry necessarily has a reputation Heritage Classic at Regina’s Mosaic Stadium. as a dirty player, but the Winnipeg Jets centre is starting to get a bad “It was unbelievable,” defenceman Anthony Bitetto said. “Everything name with the NHL’s Department of Player Safety. about it. The weather was perfect, the snow. It’s something you’ll Lowry was suspended for the third time in his career on Monday, the remember for the rest of your life and tell your kids about it.” result of a boarding penalty he took against Oliver Kylington of the The memories from the outdoor game and a group golf game are the Calgary Flames during Saturday’s Heritage Classic outdoor game in kinds of things coach Paul Maurice wants for this team. He’s scaling back Regina. on gameday skates and even practises when the schedule is heavy and Lowry will miss two games — on Tuesday against the Anaheim Ducks bringing in more team bonding activities, when possible. and on Friday in San Jose against the Sharks. “I think it’s really good for the team because we’ve identified it as He had a phone hearing with NHL Player Safety Monday morning and something we wanted to do right from training camp,” Maurice said. “How missed the beginning of the Jets practice at the Honda Center. do we get our group together more? I know that sounds crazy, but you’re actually not together that much in an NHL season and that’s changed The Department of Player Safety issued a video Monday explaining it’s more and more as the years have gone on. decision and pointing out that Lowry is considered a repeat offender under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the “Getting the guys together as a group is really important. We knew we’d league and the players association. have an influx of new players, some of them younger, our team would get younger. We like to establish a way of living on the road, almost, where Lowry hit Kylington as he was battling for a loose puck behind the net we do things together that everybody goes to. That will be come part of with Jets defenceman Dmitry Kulikov. With two seconds left in the your team logistics, if you will. second period, Lowry hit the Flames defenceman, from behind, into the glass. “I’ll work with these guys on the road to get them a day where we don’t practice and everybody gets together. The next day at practice, there’s “Lowry inches down from his position in front of the net and, having seen always a lot of chatter. Everybody’s talking to each other so I think it’s a nothing but Kylington’s numbers for some time, delivers a forceful hit into really good thing.” the back of Kylington, driving him dangerously into the boards,” the DoPS video said. TRIO BACK TOGETHER

“This is boarding. It’s important to note, that from the moment Kylington For the first time this year, Maurice has officially reunited the line of Mark collects the puck behind the net, Lowry sees nothing but his back. Scheifele, Blake Wheeler and Kyle Connor.

“This is not a case in which a sudden move by Kylington just prior to The three finished Saturday’s game together and will play together on contact turns a legal hit into an illegal one. Lowry has sufficient time to Tuesday. That means Laine, if he’s healthy enough to play, will be on a adjust his course to deliver a legal check, minimize the force of this check line with Bryan Little and Nikolaj Ehlers. or avoid the check completely. Instead, Lowry finished this check with Maurice said he’s looking to get more production, more finish, out of his force, driving Kylington into the glass.” top-six forwards. Lowry has no points in 12 games this season. “We did it in the third period last game and we put up some offence and LAINE NICKED UP our pace picked up,” Maurice said. “ I haven’t put that line together yet this season but we’re not generating in those six players as much as Jets winger left Monday’s practice early after taking a bump we’d like to, so we’ll give it a run. from new defenceman Luca Sbisa in the corner. “There’s nothing gonna be permanent but Patrik’s not at 100% so we’ll He went down on one knee against the boards, got back up and finished watch his minutes a little bit.” his drill and then slammed his stick against the boards before leaving the ice surface. Winnipeg Sun LOADED 10.29.2019

It doesn’t sound like it’s anything serious and it’s believed he should be OK to play Tuesday, but Jets coach Paul Maurice was erring on the side of caution.

“It wasn’t anything major and he’s been dealing with some nicks like everybody else, but we’ll have to wait and see what he’s like (Tuesday) before we make a decision on him,” Maurice said.

The Jets called up forward Logan Shaw from the Manitoba Moose of the AHL Monday to replace winger Mason Appleton, who is out with a broken foot.

He’ll surely be in the lineup, with Lowry out, and the Jets could need more reinforcements if Laine can’t play.

They do have eight healthy defencemen on the road trip, so it’s possible one of them could play on the fourth line, in a pinch, Tuesday night.

TEAM BONDING 1158991 Winnipeg Jets Kyle Connor-Mark Scheifele-Blake Wheeler Nikolaj Ehlers-Bryan Little-Patrik Laine

Mathieu Perreault--Jack Roslovic JETS vs. DUCKS: Winnipeg looks to keep good times rolling in Anaheim Gabriel Bourque-David Gustafsson-Logan Shaw

Defence Ted Wyman Josh Morrissey- Published:October 28, 2019 Dmitry Kulikov- Updated:October 28, 2019 4:53 PM CDT Carl Dahlstrom- Anthony Bitetto

Goalies Winnipeg Jets (6-6-0) at Anaheim Ducks (7-6-0) Connor Hellebuyck Tuesday, 9 p.m. CT, Honda Center. TV: TSN3, Radio: TSN 1290 THE BIG MATCHUP ANAHEIM DUCKS DUCKS GOALIE AGAINST CONNOR HELLEBUYCK Forwards After a poor start in his first game of the season, Hellebuyck has been very consistent in the Jets net. He’s allowed four goals in the last three Nick Ritchie-Ryan Getzlaf-Maxime Comtois games, shut out Connor McDavid and the Oilers and turned back 29 shots against Johnny Gaudreau and the Calgary Flames. He’ll have to be Rickard Rakell-Adam Henrique-Jakob Silfverberg great again against the Ducks, who feature one of the best goalies in the Max Jones-Sam Steel-Troy Terry league in John Gibson. However, the Jets could also see backup Ryan Miller, who is off to a 3-0 start with a 2.10 GAA and a .929 goals against Devin Shore-Derek Grant-Carter Rowney average. Defence FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME Brendan Guhle-Cam Fowler GET SCORING Michael Del Zotto-Erik Gudbrandson The Jets scored just three regulation-time goals in their last three games and yet managed to win twice. They were shut out by the Edmonton Jacob Larsson-Korbinian Holzer Oilers but won 1-0 in a shootout and then beat the Calgary Flames 2-1 in Goalies overtime in Saturday’s Heritage Classic in Regina. While their overall defensive play has clearly been better, the Jets should be scoring more John Gibson with the kind of talent they have on their roster. They have to start capitalizing on more of their Grade A chances. Ryan Miller

ROAD WARRIORS Injuries

The Jets are 3-2 on the road and 3-4 on home ice, so they’ll look to Jets: D Dustin Byfuglien (suspended), D Nathan Beaulieu, F Mark continue their strong play away from Bell MTS Place in Southern Letestu, F Mason Appleton, RW Patrik Laine, C Adam Lowry California. The Ducks seem to be a much stronger team under new head (suspended) coach Dallas Eakins than they were last year and they’ll surely give the Ducks: D Josh Manson, D Hampus Lindholm, F Ondrej Kase Jets a tough test, particularly with their big forwards putting pressure on Winnipeg’s work-in-progress defence. Special Teams

KILLING TIME POWER PLAY

The Jets just keep on giving up goals while killing penalties and they are Winnipeg: 16.3% (22nd) last in the league in that area. Their defence doesn’t seem built for the Anaheim: 9.7% (27th) penalty kill and they are missing workhorses like Jacob Trouba, Ben Chiarot and Brandon Tanev, who played big roles last year but have PENALTY KILLING moved on to other organizations. There’s no way the Jets can start to win consistently until they shore up their penalty killing. Winnipeg 64% (31st)

POWER UP Anaheim: 78.7% (21st)

On the other hand, the Jets power play hasn’t been great either. Despite Winnipeg Sun LOADED 10.29.2019 having snipers like Patrik Laine, Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor on the ice, they’ve struggled to move the puck and get accurate shots on net. They did get a huge, game-tying power play goal from Josh Morrissey on Saturday night, but then failed to score in two minutes of 4-on-3 overtime. You have to think it will come around for the power play in due time, with all that scoring talent on the roster.

FILLING HOLES

Mason Appleton is out with a foot injury, Adam Lowry is suspended for two games and Patrik Laine is nicked up. Logan Shaw has been called up from the Manitoba Moose and more reinforcements could be on the way if Laine can’t play. The Jets do have eight healthy defencemen on the trip as well, meaning someone could suit up on the fourth line, if necessary.

GAME DAY LINEUPS

Winnipeg Jets

Forwards 1158992 Winnipeg Jets

Jets’ centre Lowry suspended two games for hit on Calgary’s Kylington

Ted Wyman

Published:October 28, 2019

Updated:October 28, 2019 3:55 PM CDT

ANAHEIM — Winnipeg Jets centre Adam Lowry has been suspended by the NHL Department of Player Safety for two games for his hit on Oliver Kylington of the Calgary Flames during Saturday’s Heritage Classic.

Lowry had a phone hearing with NHL Player Safety Monday morning and missed the beginning of the Jets practice at the Honda Center, where they will play the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday.

The Department of Player Safety issued a video Monday explaining its decision and pointing out the Lowry, who has been suspended before, is considered a repeat offender under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the league and the players association.

“Lowry is waiting in a support position as Kylington and Jets defencemen Dmitry Kulikov battle for a loose puck behind the Calgary net,” the video states. “Kylington gains control and, with time running down in the period, shuffles it along the boards and toward the corner while still engaged with Kulikov. Lowry inches down from his position in front of the net and, having seen nothing but Kylington’s numbers for some time, delivers a forceful hit into the back of Kylington, driving him dangerously into the boards.

“This is boarding. It’s important to note, that from the moment Kylington collects the puck behind the net, Lowry sees nothing but his back.

“While we acknowledge Lowry’s assertion that he anticipated Kylington opening up as he came up ice, so that Lowry could deliver a legal check, the onus is on Lowry to adjust course when that does not happen.

“This is not a case in which a sudden move by Kylington just prior to contact turns a legal hit into an illegal one. Lowry has sufficient time to adjust his course to deliver a legal check, minimize the force of this check or avoid the check completely. Instead, Lowry finished this check with force, driving Kylington into the glass.”

Lowry will miss Tuesday’s game and Friday’s game in San Jose.

He has no points in 12 games this season.

The Jets have recalled forward Logan Shaw from the Manitoba Moose of the AHL and he will likely be in the lineup Tuesday.

Jets forward Patrik Laine also left practice on Monday after taking a bump near the boards from new defenceman Luca Sbisa. Jets coach Paul Maurice said Laine is not dealing with anything serious but is “Nicked up just like everyone else.” Maurice said the team will have to wait and see how he feels Tuesday before deciding if he can play against the Ducks.

The 6-6 Jets take on the 7-6 Ducks at Honda Center Tuesday at 9 CT.

Winnipeg Sun LOADED 10.29.2019 1158993 Vancouver Canucks THE FERLAND FORECAST: ‘He wants to be the player we need and in time, you’ll see that’

Micheal Ferland felt pressure from the outset of this season. Canucks Post Game: Pettersson plaudits, Ferland forays, Eriksson He desperately wanted to deliver on the Canucks’ faith that with a four- respect, Gaudette's gain year, US$14 million commitment, the 27-year-old former menace with the Calgary Flames and Carolina Hurricanes had the potential to return to the 20-goal plateau and bring a needed physical element. BEN KUZMA That seemed like a reach because one goal through 11 games isn’t Published:October 28, 2019 going to move the happy meter. But getting his aggressive game back on track was always going to be the winger’s ticket to being more of a factor. Updated:October 28, 2019 11:56 PM PDT He had an assist, four shots, two hits and a take-away Friday and his two helpers Monday will go a long way to restore lost confidence.

Tim Schaller is greeted after scoring his fourth goal in the last three Pretty pretty passing on the Sutter goal that got this party started!  games Monday. pic.twitter.com/YAbjL24YqM— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) October 29, 2019 Points to ponder as the Canucks made amends for blowing a 5-1 lead Friday by building that same advantage after the first period Monday and Ferland sped away to set up Brandon Sutter with a backhand feed on the cruising to a convincing 7-2 decision over the Panthers at Rogers Arena: opening goal Monday and then used his size and presence with the puck to find a wide open Josh Leivo to make it 5-1. PETTERSSON PLAUDITS: ‘Winning is the best thing and it doesn’t come easy’ Ferland was first touted to play with Pettersson and Boeser, which placed a premium on pace, forechecking, playmaking and a net presence. He Elias Pettersson had that look of satisfaction. was then aligned with Bo Horvat and Tanner Pearson and there was a Part of it was the end result and part of it was the Calder Trophy winner great accent on the physical side to bring a needed element. And now starting to look like the kid who took the league by storm last season with with Sutter and Leivo, it’s about being defensively responsible, good in 10 goals in his first 10 games. The encouraging sight Monday was the transition and even better in the offensive zone. slick Swedish centre using his speed and creativity to cause all kinds of “I skated with him in Calgary a bit in the summer when he was younger problems for the opposition. so I know him pretty well — the person and the player he is,” said Elias Pettersson collected his 80th career point on Brock Boeser's goal. Beagle. “He’s very driven. Very hard on himself. A guy who works hard and really wants to be the player that he knows he can be. The main Only Pavel Bure (80 GP) required fewer games than @_EPettersson (82 message is that it takes time. GP) to record his 80th career point with the @Canucks. #NHLStats https://t.co/xHvEhGRHJa— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) October “It’s hard to find your role. When I came here, I broke my arm five games 29, 2019 in and took me 10 to 15 games to find where I fit and what they need me to do. He’s trying to find that fit. We obviously talk and it’s getting to know He easily gained the offensive zone and his three-assist night to make it new guys and which buttons to press and how they tick. eight points (1-7) in his last four games is a sign of encouraging times. He got defenders back on their heels to set up both goals for J.T. Miller “He wants to be the player we need and in time, you’ll see that. The last — the first with a precise pass and the second by wheeling in the couple of games, he’s been more physical and finding his niche.” offensive zone and dropping the puck to Alex Edler for a patented Miller ERIKSSON EARNS RESPECT: ’No complaining, he has stayed positive deflection. and a pro’

“I’m very happy,” said Pettersson, who had four shots, five attempts and There’s a side of the veteran winger that we don’t see on the periphery. three take-aways. “Last game, I felt like I wasn’t moving my feet as much as I want to. Today, I wanted to play fast.” We see the huge contract and the lack of production — just 29 points (11-18) in 81 games last season and only 32 goals in 198 games as a So did everybody else. Canucks free-agent acquisition — and we recoil. And rightfully so.

The frenetic first period included these forays: We know Eriksson is still good defensively and can kill penalties. But he — Every line scored in the opening 10 minutes and every forward had a hasn’t played since the season opener and it’s going to take another point except Boeser, who would close out scoring in the third period. injury or a some seriously indifferent play to make him a regular roster option, unless he plays as well as he did Monday. — The rejuvenated Tim Schaller scored his fourth goal in the last three games. That’s where another side comes in — the respect side.

— The resilient Jake Virtanen netted his third marker in as many nights. “No complaining,” said Beagle. “He has stayed positive and has been the guy I knew from the past, a guy who is just a pro. You never know what — The ridiculed Micheal Ferland showed plenty of giddy-up to set up two this game is going to bring. It’s a business. Things happen that you don’t goals. expect and all you can control is what you do.

— The forgotten Loui Eriksson did some disruptive spade work on the “And that’s what he did, even sitting out. That resonated through the second goal. whole room to see a guy staying out after practice and working out in the gym. Even after 900 (career games), he’s still doing that.” The only remaining drama once the Canucks built a 5-1 lead after 20 minutes was if they would have a flashback to Freaky Friday when they Fourth. Line. HUSTLE. @TimScha11er:  Beagle & Eriksson:  blew that advantage against the Washington Capitals. Not this time. pic.twitter.com/CtwleF3aNr— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) October “It’s great — it keeps everybody excited,” Pettersson said of the glut of 29, 2019 early goals. “I could tell in the room that the guys were confident and Eriksson drew an assist on the opening goal Monday and drew praise wanted to work hard. Winning is the best thing and it doesn’t come easy from Travis Green. with the way we started the season. It takes a lot of hard work and staying humble. “I thought Loui was good tonight,” said the coach. “One thing is he’s a smart guy and when I put him on that line, he knows what kind of game “We’re working hard out there. We’re thinking of all the small details and it’s going to be. I thought he provided a lot of things that (Tyler) Motte did. that’s huge for us. And the way the game ended with Washington, we He looked faster and looked good on that line.” wanted to make sure we played 60 minutes and we really did that tonight.” Eriksson will tell you it’s not fun watching games and that he understands the better the club plays, the less likely he’s going to play. He has stayed physically fit, but the mental battle is the hardest. “It’s not an easy situation that way,” admitted the 34-year-old Swede. “You have to think positive and when you get the chance, do what you’re good at. And that’s what I’m focusing on with the role I play. I’ve probably changed a little bit from the game I used to play, but I still think I can bring something to the table and be an effective player out there.”

Last spring, a struggling Eriksson was finally a healthy scratch and didn’t face the New York Rangers here on March 13. He had but one goal in his previous 20 games and it was one of those ‘now-what?’ moments. However, Eriksson returned next game and four outings later, authored the third four-point night of his career with an empty-net goal and three assists in a 7-4 triumph over the Ottawa Senators on March 20 at Rogers Arena.

“He has been a consummate pro,” added Green. “Sometimes, with young guys if they’re not playing for a while, it can affect them a lot more than an older guy and a guy who has been around. You know as a coach, he is going to give you his best.”

THE GAUDS SQUAD: ‘I’m ready to take that jump to be an impact player every night’

The first recall question to Adam Gaudette on Monday morning was if the promising centre even unpacked his bags in Utica.

“Not really, actually,” he laughed. “It was nice because I didn’t have to pack up. I got a couple of games to get back in it and it was a good stint down there.”

And that tells you a lot about what the Canucks think of their prospect and where he thinks his game is at. Even though the 23-year-old Gaudette managed just one assist and two shots in three NHL regular season games this season, he was quicker, stronger on pucks and noticeable.

Long lauded for “selling out on every shift” by Green, they’re not merely words.

It’s why nobody was surprised that the Canucks recalled a centre, rather than a winger, with Motte on the shelf for two weeks after blocking a shot with his foot Friday. Gaudette is going to play sooner than later and the upcoming three-game California swing should present the opportunity. And little debate because he was going to be the first recall option.

“Yeah, they just said anything can happen — you could be back soon and just be prepared,” said Gaudette, who has 13 points (5-8) in 64 career NHL games. “It means they want me here and they want me to play. I’m going to take advantage of that when I get my chance and try to stick out there.

“I’ve shown I can play at this level and I’ve improved from last year for sure. I’m ready to take that jump to be an impact player every night.”

"I think I've shown I can play at this level, I've improved from last year. I'm ready to take that jump into being an impact player every night." – @Hockey_Gaud pic.twitter.com/2Jwt0GZyJe— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) October 28, 2019

Gaudette had a goal in two AHL games before the recall — he played between Zack MacEwen and Justin Bailey and also centred Nikolay Goldobin and Sven Baertschi — and there’s really nothing more for him to accomplish at the minor-league level, outside of ample ice time.

More importantly, he saw the hunger in Goldobin and Baertschi to get back to The Show. The Comets are 7-0, Goldobin was player of the week and has 10 points (1-9), while Baertschi has nine points (2-7).

“Everybody wants to be up here,” stressed Gaudette. “So, when you get sent down, you have to have the same approach.”

Vancouver Province: LOADED: 10.29.2019 1158994 Vancouver Canucks Added Green: “He had a tough year last year and looks like a different player — right from Day 1. You get a little confidence and when you see it and even the pass he made to Beagle on the breakaway — that’s a big-time pass. I’m happy for him.” Canucks 7, Panthers 2: Glut of early goals tames toothless Panthers Miller’s fine art of the deft deflection

On a night where the Canucks scored in every conceivable way, one Ben Kuzma aspect of J.T. Miller’s game was on display once again.

Published:October 28, 2019 The winger had gone four games without a goal, but his presence through the slot, willingness to win puck battles and play in traffic was Updated:October 28, 2019 11:07 PM PDT going to be rewarded. He ended the onslaught of four goals in the opening 10 minutes by recording his 100th career goal by ripping a wrist shot. The narrative was supposed to be about goaltending. And it was. He then got into position late in the second period to take advantage of However, the significant storyline of the Vancouver Canucks being able scoring play started by the freewheeling and smart-thinking Elias to deploy either of their two capable stoppers — Thatcher Demko got the Pettersson, who finished with three assists. The Calder Trophy winner call Monday while Jacob Markstrom did the physical and mental re-set — spun in the offensive zone, found Alex Edler at the point and Miller found was overshadowed at the other end of the Rogers Arena ice surface. the spot to deflect the shot for his team-leading sixth goal.

The inability of Florida Panthers’ back-up Sam Montembeault to stop “It just happens to go in now,” said Miler. “There are so many times when anything in the opening period forced Sergei Bobrovsky to mop up the you just miss them and that’s something we work on.” spill in the crease until the visitors played musical goalies again to start the second period. See Jake. See Jake skate. See Jake score.

By then the damage had been done by the Canucks. It included the Travis Green had a meeting with Virtanen before the winger was following first-period forays: promoted to play with Bo Horvat and Tanner Pearson on Oct. 20 at Madison Square Garden. The coach wasn’t impressed because he — Every line scored in the opening 10 minutes and every forward had a believed Virtanen had much more to give. point except Brock Boeser, who would later close out the scoring. The logic was that the winger was fast enough, shot hard enough and — The rejuvenated Tim Schaller scored his fourth goal in the last three could be smart enough to complement the line. He was sprung by Horvat games. for a glorious chance and it seemed like a matter of time before his improved play would pay off. — The resilient Jake Virtanen netted his third marker in as many nights. He got the winner in Detroit and scored again Friday. On Monday, his — The ridiculed Micheal Ferland showed plenty of giddy-up to set up two third goal of the young season was another result of being in the right goals. place at the right time. When Horvat sped down the wing and got the — The forgotten Loui Eriksson did some disruptive spade work on the puck to the net, Virtanen was there to ram it in. Nothing complicated. Just second goal. some hustle and desire.

The only remaining drama once the Canucks built a 5-1 lead after 20 “He’s playing well and there’s a reason he’s up on that line,” said Green. minutes was if they would have a flashback to Freaky Friday when they “He’s using his speed and playing smart and not turning pucks over and blew that same advantage against the Washington Capitals. That wasn’t playing well at both ends of the rink. That’s what he needs to do. And it’s going to happen. Not this time. consistency. That’s what we’ve talked about with Jake.”

Here’s what we learned as the Canucks claimed a convincing 7-2 victory Ferland is finding that ferociousness against a club that looked like it was playing its second game in as many Ferland felt pressure from the outset of this season. days and left its Grade A game in Edmonton on Sunday afternoon: He desperately wanted to deliver on the Canucks’ faith that with a four- “You want to play an entertaining style and the game is trending that year, US$14 million commitment. The 27-year-old former menace with way, but you still have to be strong on the puck and win puck battles — the Calgary Flames and Carolina Hurricanes had the potential to return that’s never going to change,” said Canucks coach Travis Green. to the 20-goal plateau and bring a needed physical element. “Working to score and working to defend is going win in the long haul. I thought we played a very direct first period and we supported the puck That seemed like a reach because one goal through 11 games isn’t and were on top of their defencemen. We came out fast and hard.” going to move the happy meter. But getting his aggressive game back on track was always going to be the winger’s ticket to being more of a factor. Schaller’s power is suddenly a thing He had an assist, four shots, two hits and a take-away Friday and his two The fourth-line winger owned it at training camp by admitting he was helpers Monday will go a long way to restore lost confidence. overwhelmed a year ago and vowed to show he’s a much better player — like the one who had a dozen goals with Boston before the Canucks Ferland sped away to set up Brandon Sutter with a backhand feed on the came calling in free agency. opening goal and then used his size and presence with the puck to find a wide-open Josh Leivo to make it 5-1. After moving up and down the lineup and failing to score in his first 23 games last season, he managed just 10 points (3-7) in 47 games and NEXT GAME was a frequent scratch. A legitimate question was what to do with the winger? Wednesday

The answer was wait and see. Schaller gained scoring traction last Vancouver Canucks vs. Los Angeles Kings Tuesday in Detroit and then added a pair on Friday. He struck again 7:30 p.m., Staples Center.TV: SNET1; Radio: SNET 650 AM Monday. LISTEN: In this week’s edition of The White Towel podcast columnist Ed His fourth goal of the season came after Jay Beagle got the puck in deep Willes joins Paul Chapman to dissect the fast start the Canucks have got and Eriksson did some board work before Beagle found Schaller at side off to. Ed surmises that it’s depth that has brought the Canucks to where of the net. He jammed home the offering. they are, the additions of J.T. Miller and Tyler Myers, as well as Jordy “I can’t be taking any shortcuts,” stressed Schaller. “I still have to be Benn, have played as big a role as the growth of talented budding stars dumping the puck in and chipping and chasing, so I’m just going to keep Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes. playing the same way and hopefully, the goals keep coming. My goal The podcast also covers what the Canucks might need to take the team tonight was kind of how we want to define our line. Three guys in on the to the next level, and the state of the west and the surprising teams that forecheck and that’s what we want every shift. Be hard to play against the Canucks will have to keep pace with. and the goals will come.” Vancouver Province: LOADED: 10.29.2019 1158995 Vancouver Canucks (season opener in Edmonton), he came back in after and went to the stats sheet and said: ‘I better have five hits tonight.’ And he did.

“You look for that stuff when the puck isn’t going in, and if takes a big hit Ben Kuzma: Canucks feel Ferland starting to find his game to get the boys going, he’s going to do that.”

Getting going also means getting ice time. Ferland doesn’t play on the power play or kill penalties, so his 11:03 of average ice time is less than BEN KUZMA the 14:06 he had in Carolina. He also had six goals in his first nine games last season and finished with 40 points (17-23) in 71 games. Published:October 28, 2019 Ferland was fourth in Carolina scoring and third in hits, but didn’t score in Updated:October 28, 2019 9:55 PM PDT the final 17 regular-season games and had but one assist in seven postseason games in which he had nagging injuries.

Jay Beagle is the locker-room barometer. Travis Green is buoyed by what he has seen lately of Ferland — he led the club in hits with 27 after 10 games — and believes the winger will find Want a read on whether a cold front is moving in? Ask the always- his way. talkative Vancouver Canucks centre, who has won a Stanley Cup and is often a voice of reason when something seems amiss. “He has been more energetic and looking more comfortable and a bit more rambunctious,” said the Canucks coach. “I’m happy with Ferland. Micheal Ferland is in the crosshairs of scrutiny because the free-agent We’re going to need this guy in certain types of games. He’s going to be acquisition hasn’t been that big wrecking ball with good hands and a a big part of this team.” nose for the net. One goal and three points through 10 games has led to the easy summation that the winger is having a tough transition to a new Vancouver Province: LOADED: 10.29.2019 team.

And there’s something to that.

Ferland was first touted to play with Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser, which placed a premium on pace, forechecking, playmaking and a net presence. He was then aligned with Bo Horvat and Tanner Pearson and there was a greater accent on being physical. And now with Brandon Sutter and Josh Leivo, it’s being defensively responsible, good in transition and effective in the offensive zone.

“I skated with him in Calgary a bit in the summer when he was younger so I know him pretty well,” Beagle said Monday. “He’s very driven, very hard on himself. A guy who really wants to be the player that he knows he can be. The main message is that it takes time.

“It’s hard to find your role. When I came here, I broke my arm five games in and it took me 10 to 15 games to find where I fit and what they need me to do. He’s trying to find that fit. We obviously talk and it’s getting to know new guys and which buttons to press and how they tick.

“He wants to be the player we need and in time, you’ll see that. The last couple of games, he’s been more physical and finding his niche.”

Ferland had an assist, four shots, two hits and two takeaways Friday against the Washington Capitals. On the recent four-game road trip, he scored his first goal by getting to the net and banging home a rebound in St. Louis.

“It was huge to grind it out and get that experience — it felt good,” a relieved Ferland said post-game. “I felt a little bit more confident after that. It’s a hard league to score goals. You have to get to the greasy areas and bang in some of those pucks.”

Ferland was then foiled on a deke at Madison Square Garden in a two- shot, four-hit outing and then dished out three more hits in Detroit.

The Canucks held an optional morning skate Monday and Ferland took the option. However a player needs to physically and mentally prepare for the game is up to the individual on optional days. And just getting away from the rink and the scrutiny isn’t a bad thing.

Ferland felt pressure from the outset to deliver on the Canucks’ faith that with a four-year, US $14-million commitment, the 27-year-old former menace with the Calgary Flames and Carolina Hurricanes had the potential to return to the 20-goal plateau and bring a needed physical element.

Then you don’t score and the mind wanders.

“A couple of games in and you start gripping the stick and you don’t play with the confidence that you’re usually used to,” Ferland said the first week of the regular season.

Pearson can relate to the difficulty in finding traction with a new club because the winger played for three clubs last season.

“It’s definitely not the easiest thing,” he said. “He (Ferland) is a good pro and it’s going to happen for him. He seems in pretty good spirits and is always laughing and having fun with the guys. Even the one game 1158996 Vancouver Canucks percentage into battle. The Canucks also have weekend back-to-back games on their upcoming three-game road trip, so both stoppers are going to keep seeing the net.

Canucks Game Day: Barkov is always a centre of attention for Panthers 4. That Q factor in Florida

Joel Quenneville said his club was “having fun” on a seven-game point streak in which the Panthers went 3-0-4. That’s new territory for the BEN KUZMA demanding bench boss, but Barkov had a four-assist effort Thursday in a 6-5 shootout loss at Calgary and Jonathan Huberdeau was tied with Published:October 28, 2019 Barkov for the team scoring lead with a dozen points. Updated:October 28, 2019 1:02 PM PDT 5. That Q factor in Vancouver

The sidebar to the big story that is Hughes is how he’s been able to "The Canucks not only need to subdue Barkov, who had 35 goals last handle being targeted physically by the opposition. You knew it was season, they’ll have to keep him from triggering the power play because going to occur, you just didn’t know Hughes was so slippery at escaping he scored 13 man-advantage goals in 2018-19." trouble.

NEXT GAME PROJECTED LINEUPS

Monday CANUCKS

Florida Panthers vs. Vancouver Canucks Forwards

7 p.m., Rogers Arena, TV: Sportsnet Pacific; Radio: Sportsnet 650 AM Tanner Pearson — Bo Horvat — Jake Virtanen

THE BIG MATCHUP J.T. Miller — Elias Pettersson — Brock Boeser

Jay Beagle vs. Aleksander Barkov Micheal Ferland — Brandon Sutter — Josh Leivo

Beagle and his fourth-line compatriots were paid the ultimate compliment Tim Schaller — Jay Beagle — Loui Eriksson by Travis Green. Defence “You have to give them credit,” the Vancouver Canucks coach said of Alex Edler — Tyler Myers deploying Beagle between Tim Schaller and Tyler Motte, who’s now injured, in even-strength shutdown scenarios. “They play in the other Quinn Hughes — Chris Tanev team’s zone and sometimes it creates momentum. It’s nice to have a line you don’t have to hide.” Jordie Benn — Troy Stecher

There won’t be anywhere to hide against the Panthers’ top line. While Goalies Barkov didn’t have a goal in his first 10 outings to go with a dozen Thatcher Demko, Jacob Markstrom assists, the centre remains a beast in the middle and one of the league’s better face-off specialists. The Canucks not only need to subdue Barkov, PANTHERS who had 35 goals last season, they’ll have to keep him from triggering the power play because he scored 13 man-advantage goals in 2018-19. Forwards

Enter Beagle. He was third in NHL face-off percentage (63.7) in his first Jonathan Huberdeau — Aleksander Barkov — Evgenii Dadonov 10 games and had won 20 of 30 draws while short-handed. As a key Mike Hoffman — Brian Boyle — Brett Connolly component of the league’s third-ranked penalty kill, Beagle’s effectiveness in a shutdown capacity and as a special-teams stalwart has Frank Vatrano — Denis Malgin — Jayce Hawryluk seen the big centre log north of 13 minutes of ice time on four occasions this young season. That’s considerable because fourth-liners usually get Dryden Hunt — Noel Acciari — Colton Sceviour eight to 10 minutes per game, but this isn’t your usual trio. Beagle had 30 Defence points (13-17) with the Capitals in 2016-17. Mackenzie Weegar — Aaron Ekblad “In Washington, they gave me vital roles, and most of the time it was trying to frustrate the top six,” he said. ‘It’s nice to be given the Mark Pysyk — Anton Stralman responsibility here and make sure we don’t take it for granted.” Keith Yandle — Josh Brown FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME Goalies 1. Improved power in their play Sergei Bobrosvky, Samuel Montembeault The highlight-reel rush of Quinn Hughes dancing around defenders and getting a power-play pass to Brock Boeser in the slot Friday — the INJURIES winger wasted no time roofing the offering — got PP1 pulses racing. Lost Canucks: Tyler Motte (foot, one to two weeks), Antoine Roussel (knee in the blown 5-1 lead in a 6-5 shootout loss to the Caps was the pace, surgery, indefinite). movement and options — even the drop pass — of the first unit that can deploy Elias Pettersson on the left wall to help run the alignment as a Panthers: Vincent Trocheck (undisclosed, day-to-day), Michael Matheson playmaker or finisher. (undisclosed, day-to-day).

2. Finding Horvat’s sweet spot SPECIAL TEAMS

Bo Horvat has logged more than 20 minutes in four games, including a POWER PLAY season-high 23:48 in New Jersey on Oct.19. In his last two, the captain Canucks: 17th (20.9%) played 17:53 Friday, had two assists and won 55 per cent of his draws. Last Tuesday in Detroit, he logged 18:10, had his first career hat trick Panthers: 19th (18.8%) and won 61 per cent of his face-offs. The centre doesn’t kill penalties and obviously wants to play more. The coach wants to keep him fresh. PENALTY KILL

3. Markstrom reset, Demko gets net Canucks: 3rd (88.9 %)

Whatever you want to make of that Friday loss, it’s a chance for Jacob Panthers: 9th (84.6%) Markstrom to do the mental reset tonight while Thatcher Demko takes his Vancouver Province: LOADED: 10.29.2019 impressive 2-1 record, 1.64 goals-against average and .943 saves 1158997 Vancouver Canucks Thatcher Demko, who got the start, got the goal-scoring parade started with a slick outlet pass on the first goal.

“Yeah it was. It was awesome. He made a great play. Not a bad play for The Armies: The Lotto Line, The Peaky Blinders era, and Schallermania a goalie. Did you get an assist on that?” Brandon Sutter asked Demko runs wild on you after the game.

“Almost,” Demko replied.

By Wyatt Arndt Oct 29, 2019 “It was a great play, we got it up quick and we talked about pregame about getting transition good skating, and just managed to get a step on their D-man, and we chipped it around them and it went in for us,” Sutter said. Renowned street poet Carl “CJ” Johnson once lamented “Oh s—-, here we go again.” which seemed quite fitting for the Canucks’ 7-2 victory over Sutter, who played on a line with Ferland and Leivo, also got on the the Florida Panthers. board later in the game, giving the Canucks the dreaded 5-1 lead.

On the heels of a monumental collapse against the Washington Capitals AH 5-1…THE MOST DANGEROUS LEAD IN HOCKEY. last Friday, the Canucks found themselves in familiar territory after going @THESTANCHION up 5-1 against an opponent. The worst lead in hockey was back, and you had to think that was flashing through the Canucks’ minds when they hit — KAI TALKS CANUCKS (@KAITALKSCANUCKS) OCTOBER 29, the four-goal lead. 2019

“Of course it was,” Pettersson said. “The way the game ended against Ferland, who has been showcasing some good passing as of late, got his Washington, we really wanted to make sure we played 60 minutes, and I second assist of the game on Josh Leivo’s goal. It has been a rough start think we did that tonight.” for the player from Swan River, as he has struggled to have an impact on games, but Green feels Ferland is finally starting to gain some For a team that has struggled to close out games cleanly (the Rangers momentum. turtle job and the collapse to the Capitals jump to mind), Monday’s game had to feel good for a club looking to improve. JT Miller, who continues to “I think his game has been fine the last four or five games,” Green said. razzle-dazzle, and occasionally drop a boom-shaka-laka, agreed that it “He’s trying to find his way. He made some really nice plays today. I think felt good to close out the game the way they did. that’s an underrated part of his game, he’s got good vision. When you win a game 7-2 most guys are pretty good in the game, but I thought he “It’s not always going to be like that, but when it does happen, we’re was good again tonight.” going to learn how to play with a lead,” Miller said. “Because as I said, if we want to be the team we talk about being, that’s going to happen a lot You have to love Green keeping it real by explaining that everyone tends this season, we hope so. Tonight was definitely a step in the right to look good in 7-2 wins (he’s right, even Fin was doing solid work direction after what happened in Washington.” dressed up as a mummy), but it’s clearly been an upward trend for Ferland the past few games. Brandon Sutter echoed those sentiments. Obviously Canucks fans remember the Miley Cyrus wrecking ball that “We get up 5-1 last game, and they come back and beat us in the Ferland was in 2015, which might have set unrealistic expectations about shootout,” Sutter said “… I think tonight we came in, sometimes we can him. But when you’ve got a $3.5 million cap hit, people will wonder why get into a bit of a lull, and we came out in the first period and every line he’s struggling to average over 10 minutes a game. Monday, he got his fires right away, gets you going for the game. We came ready to play, two assists in just over 12 minutes of ice time. Green isn’t worried about we’ve got a group that knows how to compete.” that, however.

As for the always exuberant Travis Green, he was absolutely ecstatic “There’s certain players on your team it’s easy to say to get them more after the game, and could hardly contain himself about how the Canucks ice time, but if you’re not killing penalties and you’re not on the power avenged a wrong, and sure, maybe a Netflix series could be made about play it’s hard to get over that 10-minute threshold,” Green said. “I’m the results of the game. happy with Ferlie. We’re going to need this guy when a certain type of game he’s going to be a big part of our team.” “I don’t care about the Washington game now, we’ve had a good game tonight,” Green said. “We’re past Washington. Guys played great Best bet tonight.” When Thomas Drance went to bat for Tim Schaller in the preseason, OK, so maybe Green wasn’t as excited to romanticize the victory as people threw garbage at him. Rotten tomatoes, old shoes, copies of “Big those of us in media row, but at least the third period was something he Shiny Tunes 3,” it was like the walk of shame scene in “Game of could crow about. Finally, a lead in the third period was defended with Thrones.” honor and commitment. But Drance, one to never back down from a challenge, held his head “Third period was a good period, there’s nothing that stood out about it,” high. He’s survived the 100 Year Mason Raymond War. He’d survived Green said. the Jannik Hansen Breakaway Civil War. One more battle for a bottom- six winger wasn’t going to make him sweat. OK, so clearly Green isn’t one to wax poetic about moral victories. So leave it to Jeff Paterson, the wily veteran celebrating his 50th birthday on Well, not publicly, at least. the night, to save the day by asking Green “Well what about the first period?” And while it’s still early on, the return on Drance’s bet on Schaller appears to be huge. “Well that’s better,” Green said. “First period was pretty good. Scoring from everyone. I thought we played a really direct period. Sometimes You want goals? that’s mistaken for not being offensive, but I thought we supported the Yes, you saw that right. Loui Eriksson with the aggressive forecheck puck really well, we were on top of their D-men in the first period and leads to a slick pass from Beagle to Schaller, who would put the puck in came out fast and hard.” with ease. Just like Drance wrote it up. And more importantly, just how Green admitted they wanted to make amends for the Washington game, Schaller wrote it up, too. however. “We’ve talked the last few days about not finishing off the last “My goal tonight was kind of how we wanna define our line,” Schaller game, and guys came out and had a great first period and played well said. “Three guys in on a forecheck, not just one guy, not just two guys. the rest of the way.” Loui and Beagle had a great forecheck there and that’s what we want Now it’s time for you to get on your wireless because it was a 7-2 game, every shift and that’s how we want to play every night, every shift is be so we’ve got a lot of gifs to get through. hard to play against and goals will come.”

Famer’s market Yes, thus began the Peaky Blinders crew, named such because of Loui Eriksson’s Halloween costume. A line that will work hard, sure, but will also get dirty when it needs to. And hey, if some pockets need to be Here’s the video because you have to see how dynamic the Canucks’ picked, so be it. attack has become now that Quinn Hughes is on the team. In the first part of the clip, Maverick requests a fly-by of the Panthers net, but is You want another pocket? denied.

This entire play is started because Tim Hughes gets on his fookin’ horse No worries Canucks fans, as Dekey Pete takes control of the puck and and steals the puck from the Panthers. drives it into the offensive zone and sets up an Edler point shot that is Hughes, perhaps inspired by this blatant theft, then goes to work, tipped home by none other than Miller. stealing the puck as well, ending in a nice finish from two-thirds of the Miller, who seems to be quite good at this tipping the puck business, Lotto Line. explained the secret of how he got so good at it.

This is not the same Tim Schaller Canucks fans saw last season. This is “It just happened to go in, honestly. So many times we miss them or they the Tim Schaller Jim Benning sold Canucks fans on when he signed him. don’t go,” Miller said. Remember what Benning said at the time? OK, we will have to work with this team on not being so humble and to try “He’s responsible defensively and last year showed he can make regular and spice up its goal descriptions a bit. Maybe we can get Kevin Bieksa offensive contributions as well,” Benning said. “We’re excited to welcome to teach the Canucks how to make some milk hot dogs. him to the Vancouver Canucks.” Regardless, all night long the Lotto Line was going for that bonus This comment was used with scorn and derision last year, and has now number. Pettersson feeding Brock for a breakaway? You got it. turned out to be quite accurate. And sure, maybe we’re getting too drunk on Schaller too quickly. But when he’s out there making outlet passes You want to try and feed the puck through the slot with Pettersson like this, it’s hard not to: watching? That’s like trying to toss a French fry to a friend at Granville Island and hoping a seagull won’t snag it mid-air: That pass is so surgical it appeared on an episode of “House.” Or “The Good Doctor” if you want a far worse show to be used as an analogy. What about some vaunted old-school off-wing power-play one-timers, resulting in a Boeser post? This is a Tim Schaller people can get behind. What about the little things? In honor of Loui Eriksson’s return to the Just make sure you get in line behind Drance. He’s been there since Day lineup, here is Pettersson out blocking shots: 1. And while this season hasn’t had the same level of Hogwart’s wizardy on Fast and Furious display from Dekey Pete that we saw last season, rest assured, Elias has The good times kept rolling as Jake Virtanen continued to … some potions brewing. Tonight a wild debate broke out in media row as we tried to figure out if Elias had attempted a goal behind the *checks notes* net:

Drive hard to the net? Was it a puck bobble? Or was Pettersson trying to bust out his wand skills behind the net? Elias confirmed after the game, he was indeed Yes, an oft-used critique of the young man from the wild streets of trying to emulate the Vancouver Warriors stick skills. Abbottsford (you grow up real quick learning to drive and survive on the Go Karts at Castle Fun Park) is his love of circling the net or taking shots “Yeah. I tried to do it. I’ve been working on it for fun a lot. I saw that I had from bad angles. time, so why not. I definitely tried but I had some ice and snow on my stick, so the puck didn’t stick.” Tonight, though? Jake was all about that bass, as he drove deep into the heart of Panthers crease. On one such play, he got a goal from a play Best math that was generated by Bull Horvat: Best Keeping stats What got even weirder was when later in the third period, he had a breakaway and instead of shooting from the boards, he continued to Alex Edler had three assists, and both Myers and Edler were +four. I was drive to the net to get a shot off. unable to locate Big Sexy Myers after the game so I wasn’t able to talk to him further about his hot start but rest assured, it will happen down the Again, as Green said earlier, a lot of players tend to look good in 7-2 line. games. But for a player who is trying to stick a landing in the top six, Jake is putting in good work to stay in the conversation. Peaky Blinders

“There’s a reason he’s up on that line,” Green said. “He’s using his Loui Eriksson’s triumphant return to the lineup netted him one assist, but speed, he’s playing smart. He’s not turning the puck over, and he’s he almost had two. playing well at both ends of the rink.” As Drance said in the press box, “If that pass goes to Schaller, that’s a Also, Jake scoring is good for Vancouver. Because it gives us shotgun goal.” videos. Best jersey Botch

Best use of an iron Any throwback All-Star jersey gets a nod, and throw in Bourdon, and it’s The best part of this shotgun is 100 percent the startled gasp when the an automatic inclusion in The Armies. iron is dropped and security deposit questions ran through their heads, The hideous home and away jerseys are very rare but are also automatic before settling into just enjoying the moment. for being included in any Armies.

Also bonus marks for the Bret Hart style glasses. Burn it.

That deserves a happy Jake Virtanen fly by: VIPs coming through for The Armies as always!

Lotto Max New friends

Last year’s Athlettiestended to be about Pettersson 90 percent of the You have to admit, Loui Eriksson looks like a badass here. games, so Harman is quite right in pointing out that despite putting up points, Petey isn’t the main talking point. How often would he have three There is always a character arc for any maligned player where they go assists in a game and it not end up the headline all around Vancouver? from being the villain to being the underdog hero.

Rest assured, the Lotto Line will get some love for the six points it put up We saw it with Ballard. We saw it with Sbisa. Hell, we saw it with Luongo. on the night. There is just a certain point where a player hits the point of where you’ve That is Miller having around three full hours to pick his spot, sniping run out of jokes to make about their play, and you find yourself rooting for home a goal for the Canucks. the guy. Loui Eriksson has hit that point, and what better place to start than with It still feels weird without Jason around. I wonder what he’d think of his Peaky Blinders era. Hughes season. What his take on the whole Huggy Bear nonsense would be. What he thinks of the Miller trade. Or about Tyler Myers Eriksson riding a horse down Granville street after a game feels like playing so well. something that needs to happen. It’s very much as Kat says, bittersweet to have Drance and Harman Old friends being such a great support group to work with, as writing-wise, this has The Anaheim Ducks win best Halloween costume as they had their been the best time of my life working with these guys. second defensive pairing dress up as an analytics nightmare. But The Armies will never forget where it came from.

Crystal Ball Botch, as always, we miss you.

Drance upon seeing this tweet: “So he becomes me?” And a big tip of the hat to Green for making the Botchford family visit The anatomy of a bad loss happen.

After Harman Dayal described the scariest postgame scrum he’s The Athletic LOADED: 10.29.2019 encountered with Jacob Markstrom after the 6-5 collapse against the Capitals, I thought it would be a perfect time to bring in The Armiesunofficial official NHL consultant Eddie Lack to get his take on bad losses.

Wyatt: “First off, how does media availability work for players? Like say you have an awful game, the equivalent of that third Hobbit movie, something truly inexcusable. Can you just tell the team, ‘No media for me tonight?’ Is there a special hiding room for players who don’t want to go into the locker room right after the game?”

Eddie Lack: “(laughs) No, no special hiding room. I always talked to media no matter what. It’s part of the job! If you’re hurt or need treatment you can get away. I guess you could blame an injury if you really wanted to get away (laughs).”

Wyatt: “After a bad loss, I assume you’d want to get back into the next game as soon as possible. But is there something to the idea of sitting out a game to sort of collect yourself and relax a little bit?

Eddie Lack: “No, not one bit! That’s what’s great about the NHL. Next game comes quick, no time to think. College is so much harder because sometimes you sit on a loss for two straight weeks. That’s tough. Kind of like being a backup goalie (laughs).”

Wyatt: “Did you ever have losses where you felt it was your fault? Did you ever tell your teammates, ‘Sorry man, that one was on me.'”

Eddie Lack: “Of course. I always critique myself more than anyone because I have the highest expectations on myself. Teammates are usually great at picking you up though. That’s what I love that it’s a team game.”

Wyatt: “Did you ever watch film of your bad games or did you just tell the team to burn the tape?”

Eddie Lack: “I always wanted to watch film. When I had stretches where I played a lot of hockey, like the 23 and 28 games in a row I had in Vancouver, Rollie (Melanson) wouldn’t let me watch anything. He just wanted me to focus on what was next because we had games every other day.”

Wyatt: “Do you have a worst loss of all time for yourself?”

Eddie Lack: “Islanders at home. My first year.”

Wyatt: “I was there for that game! You tossed a Gatorade bottle in anger in the locker room after! You guys lost 7-3 I think?”

Eddie Lack: “We were up 3-0 going into the third, and we lost 7-4.”

Wyatt: “How long did it take you to cool down after that one?”

Eddie Lack: “I still haven’t cooled down (laughs).”

A touch of class

The Botchford clan was in attendance Monday at the behest of none other than Green.

They were given a tour of Rogers Arena and got to see the halls that their dad patrolled for so many years.

Pettersson was there on hand to sign jerseys and chat with the kids, showcasing again what a special person he is.

It was in the words of Kat Botchford “a bittersweet moment”, but one that was extremely appreciated by the family. 1158998 Vancouver Canucks The first clip also highlighted how this new formation enables the Canucks to use their bumper (Bo Horvat) as a passing option in the middle of the slot. Most importantly, however, it’s been a lot easier to find Horvat as a shooter for high-danger chances in the middle. How Pettersson and Boeser’s switch to the strong side could unlock the potential of the Canucks’ power play In the old formation, when Pettersson controlled the puck on the right side, Horvat’s being a left shot meant that he wasn’t available as a one- time threat (which is why the Canucks gave the right-handed Josh Leivo so many chances in the bumper). Swapping Pettersson to the left side By Harman Dayal Oct 28, 2019 activates Horvat as a one-time threat in the slot, which you can see translate to a goal against the Rangers.

The Vancouver Canucks need their power play to fire on all cylinders if It’s not just the fact that Horvat is a one-time threat with this new they want to make the playoffs. Given that they have high-end power- formation. It’s simply easier to make plays to the slot on your strong side. play weapons in Elias Pettersson, Brock Boeser and Quinn Hughes at “I think it’s easier to make passes across,” said Pettersson. “It’s easier to their disposal, a productive first unit is a completely reasonable like fake a shot, seam it (across), or go back up top and Quinn can shoot expectation. a one-timer.” Since last season, after Henrik and Daniel Sedin departed, however, the It’s harder for the penalty killer and goaltender to know what Pettersson’s man advantage has largely failed to find its groove, with the Canucks’ 6.1 going to do with the puck. goals per hour with the extra man ranking just 23rd in the NHL. Vancouver’s stationary set-up and predictable looks led to the vast “It’s easier to have some deception when you’re putting it through the majority of their shots coming from the perimeter. Their power play was seam with guys on their strong side,” Thatcher Demko said of what he very easy to game plan around: Just take away the one-timer from sees from the goalie’s perspective. “When they’re on their weak side, Pettersson and chances are they wouldn’t score. they have to (open their body and) face the seam to hit it.”

Assistant coach Newell Brown finally made adjustments after a ghastly 0- The new formation makes for a wide array of plays the Canucks can run. for-7 performance against the Devils. An early look at the changes inspires hope that this could be a breakthrough in perhaps unlocking the “Now all five of us are a threat,” Pettersson said. “I think like the first unit’s sky-high potential. formation before it was pretty obvious that we wanted one-timers on either me or Boeser’s side, so I don’t know we might change back to that Hughes now takes the mantle at the point in Alex Edler’s stead, but more (at some point). I’m not saying I don’t like that other power play — I like importantly, Pettersson and Boeser have swapped wings so that they’re to shoot one-timers — but I think in the moment now that the new look is on their strong sides (the left-handed Pettersson is on the left wing, while better for us.” the right-handed Boeser is on the right wing). A look at how the new power play runs shows that the Canucks aren’t Running a power play is similar in many ways to driving offence in the being overly reliant on Pettersson and Boeser getting shooting NFL. Each player has a very specific role, and there are different threats opportunities. The bumper has been more active as a shooting and a or plays that each group will try to run. Switching the sides of Pettersson passing outlet, and so has J.T. Miller in the net-front role. and Boeser is a huge adjustment — you have a completely different game plan because of the importance of handedness. In the video above, Miller receives the pass from Pettersson and controls behind the net. Because the defenders are all looking at Miller, they have The difference between playing the two wings is simple: On the weak their backs to Horvat and don’t notice him move and create a great lane side, you have to open your body toward the sideboards to receive right in front of the net. passes, while on the strong side you don’t. As such, when you’re on your strong side, you lose the ability to shoot one-timers, but because your Miller and Horvat have interchanged between the slot and net-front roles, hips and feet are directed toward the net you have the leverage to fire a but regardless of their positioning, the Canucks have found a way to wrist shot and pass as you skate toward the net. The defence doesn’t create tip, rebound and deflection chances. know if you’re going to pass or shoot when you’re on your strong side, Some of the chances have come because of redirections in the slot, whereas you telegraph your decision with the puck on your weak side while others have simply been created because Hughes is being used as based on which way your body is facing. a legitimate secondary shooting option. Hughes’ shot has come a long “When you’re on that strong side it’s more natural that you move to the way, and when you pair that with clever screens and tips, it’s a great look net and you move their penalty kill which opens up things,” Pettersson when the more dangerous seams are being taken away. explained to The Athletic. “I feel confident, I feel like I always have Pieced all together, it’s been really encouraging to see how dynamic and momentum downhill when I get the puck. When the closest forward fluid the first unit has looked in its attack. comes to me, the pass up to Quinn is open and if he’s covering the pass up to Quinn, I have more space to work with.” Pettersson and Hughes have drawn a lot of the penalty kill’s attention with this new formation, which as a consequence has created a lot more Moving “downhill” with the puck essentially means that you’re attacking space for Boeser. toward the net with speed. It’s only possible to carry the puck toward the net with speed on the power play on your strong side because the puck Pettersson and Hughes’ ability to keep the puck and make accurate is on the outside, where it’s harder for the defender to do a poke check passes under pressure forces the penalty killers to one side of the ice. because your body is in between and the puck isn’t exposed. Hughes is slow to move the puck across to Boeser on this occasion, but look at how much space the latter still has to attack the net when he One of the biggest advantages of this new formation is the extra motion it receives the puck. allows. The one thing that can’t be disputed, however, is that with the one-timer “The older formation’s a little more of a standstill power play. You’re taken away, it can be harder to get shots that actually get through to the trying to set up your one-timers,” Boeser said. “This formation you got net when there’s less space. This is one of the areas where operating more movement going downhill and hopefully Huggy (Hughes) has the from the weak side can be something that needs adjustment to. middle of the ice up top so if we get it to him, he can bomb away and we crash the net. It definitely creates more movement and more shots.” “It’s a lot that goes into creating that shooting lane, and you got to make sure that you’re coming with speed downhill,” said Boeser. “You can still The goal of most power plays is to break down the penalty kill’s shoot it (without coming with speed), but most likely that defenceman is formation. You want to force the PK to scramble and pull players out of gonna go to one knee and block it. position to chase the puck so it opens dangerous shooting and passing seams. That’s a lot harder to accomplish with a static power play, and “So it’s whether you can pull it inside enough to hit the net far side, or you can see just how much of a difference there is with the new setup. else you have to maybe give a little hesitation and wait a second and then shoot it glove side. Maybe I have to go to behind my back, back up Vancouver’s quick puck movement allows the Canucks to swing the puck to Quinn and, hopefully, he has a shot from there. There’s some different from side to side and through the slot to create clean shooting looks for looks, but you definitely have to be aware about where that defender is.” Pettersson and Boeser, with the first attempt ringing off the crossbar. The king of creating shooting lanes for wrist shots in the NHL is the Maple Leafs’ Auston Matthews. He was routinely able to drag the puck inside to change the release point while completing the shot all in one motion when he was on the strong side for Toronto’s power-play.

“Matthews is super special, he can curl and drag it (inside) like three feet and still snap it home (on the far side),” said Boeser. “It’s just little things like that that we have to work on and practice. Me and Petey both haven’t really been on our strong side. It’s probably the third time that we’ve tried it. We’re rookies at it, so there’s still a lot to learn. We work on those (strong side) shots after almost every practice.”

The sequence above features only a very small drag inside, but it’s exactly what Boeser means when he talks about pulling the puck inside and then aiming for a stick-side goal. For this power-play formation to really boom, the Canucks will need Boeser and Pettersson to improve on finding ways to change the shooting angle and then pick corners as they gain more experience on the strong side.

Vancouver’s old power-play formation was predictable, and teams eventually found ways to anticipate and take the one-time shot away.

By switching Pettersson and Boeser to their strong sides, the Canucks have a rejuvenated first unit that allows the two to attack downhill with speed and deception. The swap has also made for optimal handedness to use Horvat in the slot and Miller down low for passing and shooting options. You’re looking at a formation where all five players are threats in a dynamic and fluid setup with crisp puck movement.

It’s possible that opposing penalty kills catch up to Vancouver’s new look, but the best part about this change is that you can always switch between the static one-time and strong-side formations as you see fit.

“There’s a lot of teams that have the static formation (with guys on their weak sides for one-timers), and penalty kills know how to defend it pretty well,” said Boeser. “To have another look is huge, and we can always go back to the static one, throw it in there to mix up what the PK’s thinking, so it’s huge to have both of them.”

The Athletic LOADED: 10.29.2019

1158999 Websites Despite constant yammering in the market about Pettersson "struggling," last year’s Calder Trophy winner now has 14 points in 11 games.

"We have a wider group," Pettersson said of the talent depth. "A lot of Sportsnet.ca / Canucks getting scoring from every line in latest offensive guys can help this team win. I feel like everyone is buying in, everyone is surge working hard. Also, I’m very happy that all the lines contribute and score goals. It’s really fun right now. At the same time, you’ve got to be humble and keep putting in the work."

Iain MacIntyre | @imacSportsnet October 29, 2019, 2:02 AM The Canucks are 7-3-1 through 11 games after starting 0-2, when they scored only twice. They have outshot their opponent nine times, including

the last seven games. Every Canucks forward earned at least a point on VANCOUVER – In the last seven days, the Vancouver Canucks have Monday. amassed 17 goals in three games and led the National Hockey League in With starter Jacob Markstrom getting a needed reset with goalie coach scoring. Ian Clark, backup Thatcher Demko played Monday for the Canucks and We know, this hardly makes up for the last 49 years. But the rebirth of stopped 29 of 31 shots, including all 15 the Panthers managed in the the Canucks’ offence this season is significant. third period when the game was already decided. Demko’s save percentage of .941 is second in the NHL among goalies who have made The team was 26th in the NHL in scoring the last two years, 29th the at least three appearances. season before that. They expected to be better this season, but no one thought the Canucks would be scoring like it was 2011 in Vancouver. Only the Boston Bruins’ Tuukka Rask (.952) has a greater portion of saves. In Monday’s 7-2 fricasseeing of the Florida Panthers, the Canucks started their touchdown by generating four goals from four different lines "Coming out and putting up five in the first, it sets the tone," Demko said. in the first nine-and-a-half minutes. Then coach Travis Green ran out of "Obviously, we learned a lot from last game. Our focus wasn’t letting that lines, so one of the forward groups went back for seconds and another, one slip; we wanted to keep our foot on the gas and finish strong. Elias Pettersson’s top line, eventually had thirds. "We want to be a playoff team, we want to go deep in the playoffs, (and The universality of Vancouver scoring was impressive enough, but that it games) are just going to get harder as the season goes along. We’re just came one game after the Canucks managed to lose after building a 5-1 building that momentum now and riding it through the season." lead against the Washington Capitals on Friday made Monday’s Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 10.29.2019 fireworks even louder and brighter.

"It’s fun obviously; it’s nice to score seven goals," veteran defenceman Alex Edler said after a three-assist, plus-four night. "But it’s really good to see how we get on the forecheck and stick to our game and try to wear teams down. I thought we did it pretty good tonight.

"I don’t think we played bad in the third period against Washington, but whenever you give up a 5-1 lead, obviously you’re not happy about it. It was important tonight once we got the lead to try to keep going."

Forward J.T. Miller said: "That’s a lot of goals. It’s not always like that. When you… create a lot of odd-man opportunities down low and on the power play, it means you’re doing a lot of good things. We’re just finding a way to take advantage of it and put the puck in the net. We’re going to learn to play with a lead because if we want to be the team we talk about being this season, it’s going to happen a lot."

Miller scored two of the Canucks goals, giving him six goals and 13 points in 11 games since general manager Jim Benning surrendered first- and third-round picks to acquire him in June from the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Miller’s first goal of the night, a top-corner laser from the top of the faceoff circle that made it 4-1 at 9:35 of the opening period — just 86 seconds after Brian Boyle had scored for Florida — was the 26-year-old’s 100th in the NHL.

He said his Pittsburgh-area parents had been pestering him about getting his 100th.

"They’ve been pressuring me for about a week now, so I told them to stop texting me," Miller said. "It’s cool. I’m happy to do it and have a lot of help from some really good teams and teammates along the way."

Here was the difference in the Canucks Monday, when they pulled away from the Panthers, and Friday when they let the Capitals back into the game: In the final minute of the first period, with a chance to take a three- goal lead to the intermission, Canucks defencemen Edler and Tyler Myers each made bold, aggressive challenges in the offensive zone to blow up Florida breakouts and turn the puck back towards the Panthers’ net.

That shift ended with Canucks winger Micheal Ferland easily skating past leaden defenceman Aaron Ekblad to set up Josh Leivo cross-ice and make it 5-1.

When Mike Hoffman got one back for the Panthers on a power play late in the second period, Miller scored again for the Canucks, this time on a deflection. And the only goal of the third period came from the Canucks’ Brock Boeser, who was on the scoring end of one of Pettersson’s three assists. 1159000 Websites “Consistency is the word,” Muzzin said. “Inside, I think we’re fine. We know we haven’t played to the best of our ability. It’s in here. We’re getting guys back, and we’re hungry to be better, so I think those are all good things.” Sportsnet.ca / Growth of returning defender Dermott critical to Maple Leafs' success Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 10.29.2019

Luke Fox | @lukefoxjukebox October 28, 2019, 2:55 PM

TORONTO — Rightly or wrongly, the more patient evaluators of the underwhelming, uber-talented 2019-20 Toronto Maple Leafs have been waiting on three players to return to action before casting their ballots on arguably the league’s most thrilling yet infuriating roster.

Step one towards full health takes place Tuesday, when a medically- cleared Travis Dermott finally steps on game ice since undergoing off- season shoulder surgery.

“It’s been way too long. I think it’s the longest I’ve been away from the game I love most in my life,” Dermott said after Monday’s up-tempo practice. “It’s what I’ve been thinking about and dreaming about for the last six months, so it’s really exciting.”

Dermott, 22, will slot in on his natural side to the left of fellow Marlies graduate Justin Holl on the club’s third pairing and should benefit from being eased in with relatively sheltered minutes against a powerhouse Washington Capitals club.

Although expectations should be tempered for anyone who hasn’t played a shift in nearly seven months, Dermott is a slick-skating puck-mover the organization has targeted for an eventual top-four role.

It’s telling that Dermott’s spot beside Holl has been filled through a patchwork committee of prized teenage prospect Rasmus Sandin, and low-risk, low-reward options like Kevin Gravel and Martin Marincin.

Should Dermott, whom the club has pushed to give some experience playing the right side, excel over the coming months, it’s conceivable he could gradually build a case to see more than the 17:18 of ice time he averaged over 64 appearances last season.

Fun fact: The impending RFA is also entering his platform year.

Although lower on the Leafs’ depth chart than the Jake Muzzins, Tyson Barries and Cody Cecis of the world, Dermott’s accelerated growth into a reliable piece of the puzzle is critical to both him individually and the franchise, considering all three of the aforementioned defencemen are tracking toward unrestricted free agency.

Despite Dermott’s minus-5 rating last season, his first as a full-time NHLer, he flexed flashes of offensive flair (17 points, plus three more in the Boston series) and helped drive possession (55-per-cent Corsi at even strength).

“He’s got unbelievable edges. He can pass the puck. He’s still a kid sorting it out in his own zone, figuring out how to play, and he’s been injured quite a bit. And so that takes more time,” said coach Mike Babcock, cautioning against the challenge of catching up to a league with a three-week head start.

“The No. 1 job for a D-man is keeping it out of your net. And so that’s going to be the challenge for him. But, also, you don’t want to be careful with him. He’s a good player.”

And a well-conditioned one.

Dermott has been punching the clock for intensive rehab and vigorous training sessions with his LTIR mate, winger Zach Hyman (knee), at the Leafs’ west-end practice facility for months. The intensity of his practices has ramped up with this return in mind.

“I sure feel like I’m in shape with the amount of stuff I’ve been doing,” Dermott smiled. “They know I need to be pushed to be ready to go.”

Not quite ready to go are the Leafs’ other two missing cogs, shutdown- line forwards Hyman and John Tavares (finger), the latter still skating by himself and stickhandling with a special lightweight puck.

Also worth noting, the most-used Maple Leaf, defenceman Morgan Rielly, missed his third straight team practice Monday but, Babcock assured, will play Tuesday when the troubled Leafs (6-5-2) look to get back on track. 1159001 Websites • I went to the Hockey Hall of Fame as a paying customer on Saturday for the first time in forever and it was pretty great. My big takeaway: The Stanley Cup gets all the love as the best championship trophy (which it obviously is), but the awesomeness of the individual trophies kind of gets Sportsnet.ca / Barry Trotz has transformed Islanders into NHL's stingiest overshadowed. There’s an entire room full of gorgeous hardware, team starting with the Hart. Great job, hockey!

Red and White Power Rankings

Ryan Dixon | @dixononsports October 28, 2019, 11:15 AM 1. Edmonton Oilers (8-3-1) — Sunday’s 6-2 setback versus the Florida Panthers was Edmonton’s first home loss of the year.

2. Vancouver Canucks (6-3-1) — I’d feel a lot better putting them No. 2 if National Hockey League coaches, just due to the nature of the sport they they hadn’t blown the 5-1 lead they held with 20:01 to play on Friday work in, can’t hope to have the same impact on their team’s fortunes as night versus the Capitals. (Hey, at least they became just the second the guys in the football chapter of their fraternity do. team this season to hold John Carlson without a point!) Let’s see how the But on a weekend where hooded New England Patriots head honcho Bill young Nucks respond Monday night versus the Panthers. Belichick picked up the 300th win of his NFL coaching career — that’s 3. Montreal Canadiens (5-4-2) — The Habs have surrendered eight goals regular season and playoffs combined, if you’re counting — I couldn’t in the final minute of periods this year. It happened again on Saturday help but wonder if the guy who does the most to influence his team in the night, albeit during a much-needed win over the Leafs. world of puck is New York Islanders bench boss and reigning Jack Adams winner Barry Trotz. 4. Toronto Maple Leafs (6-5-2) — Tyson Barrie has an ugly 0-0-0, minus- 9 line in the past 10 games. Travis Dermott and Zach Hyman are The Isles have ripped off seven straight W’s after downing the Ottawa expected back soon and the additions can’t come fast enough for the Senators 4-2 on Friday and dumping the Philadelphia Flyers 5-3 on Buds. Sunday night. A few things are driving the streak. The team’s top two centres are performing well, with Mathew Barzal putting up five goals in 5. Winnipeg Jets (6-6-0) — It was great to see Thrashers/Jets lifer Bryan those seven games, while Brock Nelson has contributed seven points. Little get the overtime winner in the outdoor matchup versus Calgary. On the back end, Devon Toews is becoming an NHL sophomore to watch, netting a goal and five assists for six points during the run. 6. Calgary Flames (6-5-2) — After netting goals in the first two games of the season, No. 1 centre Sean Monahan has failed to find the net in 11 What really stands out, though, is how the club continues to keep the outings. puck out of its net under Trotz. The Islanders surrendered five goals to both Edmonton and Carolina during losses in Games 3 and 4 of the 7. Ottawa Senators (3-7-1) — Connor Brown got his first goal as a season. Since then, it’s been all victories and Sunday’s win over Philly Senator on Saturday during a win over San Jose, but the 25-year-old represented the only time New York has allowed more than two goals does have 10 points 11 games into his new Ottawa life. against during that happy stretch. In Your Ear Remember, this is a team that finished dead last in goals-against and Did you happen to notice all those middling records in the rankings shots allowed in 2017-18, the year before Trotz arrived and turned them above? On the next episode of Tape to Tape, co-host Rory Boylen and I into the stingiest squad in the league. Goalie Robin Lehner was part of will break down why some Canadian teams with high expectations have the solution, too, landing alongside the new coach and forming a strong produced a big ball of average this year. battery with Thomas Greiss. Now, Lehner is in Chicago and Greiss continues to enjoy a great partnership in the crease, teaming up with Senior Writer Ryan Dixon and NHL Editor Rory Boylen always give it Semyon Varlamov. The two men have basically split the playing time 110%, but never rely on clichés when it comes to podcasting. Instead, down the middle so far, combining for a .925 save percentage. they use a mix of facts, fun and a varied group of hockey voices to cover Canada’s most beloved game. Altered duo, same results. The Week Ahead Not all of the Islanders’ underlying numbers are flattering right now, but the squad is doing a good job of controlling high-danger chances against • Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby will go head-to-head in Pittsburgh when games are close. Of course, games, divisions and playoff series all on Saturday (Sportsnet, 1 p.m. ET). tend to be tight in today’s crunched NHL. And with one of the best teachers in the game calling the shots, who knows how far the Islanders • Only two games on Oct. 31 and if you can return from trick-or-treating can go? by 8 p.m. ET, you actually won’t miss a thing!

Other Weekend Takeaways • Speaking of Halloween, forget Wonder Woman, how many kids (and adults) want a Gritty getup for the big night? • For the most part, scorching October paces lose a little steam as the season wears on. But looking at goal-a-game guy David Pastrnak, it Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 10.29.2019 might be okay to let your imagination run wild. I mean, the man plays on something called ‘The Perfection Line,’ so let’s be careful placing limits in general. Pastrnak — your current NHL goals and points leader — Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand torched the New York Rangers on Sunday, one day after blanking the team that beat them for the Cup last year, the St. Louis Blues. With 11 goals in 11 outings, Pastrnak has a real chance to be the first guy to score 65 since Alex Ovechkin in 2007-08.

• Sunday’s 5-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings was just the second regulation-time victory for the Chicago Blackhawks this year in 10 tries. The aforementioned Lehner improved his save percentage to .935, which compares very favourably to the .888 mark posted by Corey Crawford. Both goalies have started five games this year, so maybe it’s time to change the workloads.

• Thus far, the decision to basically salary dump P.K. Subban is working out wonderfully for Nashville. Ostensibly, the Preds moved Subban to clear the space required to sign free agent Matt Duchene. And while Duchene is Nashville’s top-scoring forward with 11 points, the best two totals on the team come from blue-liners Roman Josi and Ryan Ellis (both with 13). As we all suspected, that Nashville D corps is going to be just fine. 1159002 Websites Lassi Thomson, D Age: 19

Drafted: 19th overall in 2019. Sportsnet.ca / Ottawa Senators Prospect Report: Batherson continues to dominate in AHL Team: Tampere, (, Finland)

GP: 14 | G: 3 | A: 3 | Pts: 6

Wayne Scanlan October 28, 2019, 6:12 PM The Senators went off the board to select Thomson 19th overall last June for a couple of reasons. One: they had a need for a right-shot

defenceman after losing Erik Karlsson via trade; two: they liked As the Ottawa Senators delve deeper into their rebuild, they continue to Thomson’s offensive upside. bring new prospects to the organization. At six-feet, 190-pounds, Thomson is not overly large but is a fluid skater This makes it challenging to identify their top prospects in the minor pro with lateral ability and a big shot that he is not afraid to use. ranks, European leagues, junior and college hockey quite. After a strong 2018-19 season with the WHL (17 goals, By next summer, when the Senators hold five selections in the first two 41 points in 63 games), Thomson, 19, returned to Finland this fall and rounds of the 2020 draft, their top-end list could change dramatically. has six points in 14 games with Ilves of Liiga, Finland’s top professional league. Thomson has recorded 54 shots on goal in those 14 games. For now, here’s a look at how five of their top prospects are performing as October draws to a close. Following a strong start, Thomson was seeing his ice time reduced, but after a coaching change his minutes increased and he is averaging This fluid, arbitrary list excludes prospects now with the Senators, such above 15 minutes per game. However, he was injured in a game against as defenceman Erik Brannstrom and centre Logan Brown. on Oct. 19 and hasn’t played since. It can’t be too serious because Thomson was named this week to Finland’s U-20 team for the Four Drake Batherson, RW Nations Tournament in Nov. 8-10. Age: 21 Stream NHL games on Sportsnet NOW Drafted: 121st overall in 2017 Stream over 500 NHL games blackout-free, including the Flames, Oilers, Team: Belleville Senators (AHL) Leafs and Canucks. Plus Hockey Night in Canada, Rogers Hometown Hockey, Scotiabank Wednesday Night Hockey and more. GP: 7 | G: 3 | A: 7 | Pts: 10 Josh Norris, C If there was a single Ottawa prospect not named Brannstrom who had a job waiting for him at the NHL level this fall it was Batherson. Batherson, Age: 20. 21, again trained with NHL superstars Sidney Crosby and Nathan Drafted: 19th overall in 2017. MacKinnon in Halifax in the off-season and put on nine pounds while focusing on nutrition and weight training. Team: Belleville Senators (AHL)

Reporting to camp at six-foot-three, 209 pounds, did Batherson get too GP: 8 | G: 2 | A: 5 | Pts: 7 big, too fast? He seemed a step slower at camp and was sent down to AHL Belleville after two listless NHL games (no points and +/- minus- One of the key pieces in the Karlsson trade was this 20-year-old centre four) to start the season. Point-less in his first AHL game, he scored five who had been San Jose’s 19th overall draft pick in 2017. Norris was on a in Game 2 and hasn’t looked back. roll at the University of Michigan, with 19 points in 17 games before he got injured playing for USA at last year’s world junior tournament. He After scoring once and adding an assist in a 4-3 win over Providence required shoulder shoulder in January and missed the rest of the season. Sunday, Batherson has 10 points in seven games to lead the B-Sens. He was dominant at the AHL-level last season – 62 points in 59 games – After a slow start in Belleville this fall – zero points over his first four and is bound to be recalled by Ottawa, perhaps sooner rather than later. games – Norris has acclimated with seven points in his last four games. Batherson did play 20 NHL games for the Senators last season, On Oct. 19 versus Providence, Norris broke out with his first pro goal and producing nine points. added two assists.

Vitaly Abramov, RW B-Sens head coach Troy Mann said he was his top forward that night. Mann likes Norris’ game, he’s a small player with a sneaky mean streak, Age: 21 but needs time to work on his defensive play. He is pals with USA teammate Brady Tkachuk, which seems to be a key point of entry into Drafted: 65th overall in 2016. the Senators dressing room. Team: Belleville Senators (AHL) Mads Sogaard, G GP:5 | G: 1 | A: 2 | Pts: 3 Age: 18 If Abramov hadn’t suffered a concussion during the pre-season, he Drafted: 37th overall in 2019 probably would have started the season in Ottawa. As it was, the 21- year-old from Chelyabinsk, Russia was a quick recall on Oct. 7, and Team: Medicine Hat (WHL) scored his first NHL goal against the Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues on Oct. 10. With the acquisition of Vladislav Namestnikov, W: 5 | L: 4 | SO: 1 | GAA: 2.54 | SV%: .914 Abramov was sent back down to Belleville and is settling in. After being next to unbeatable to start the season, Sogaard, 18, has On Sunday, he was named the first star of the game in Belleville’s win cooled off somewhat but still has good numbers, with a goals-against over Providence (one goal, one assist). Ottawa’s head coach D.J. Smith well under three per game. likes what he sees in Abramov. The Denmark native, a towering, six-foot-seven presence in the crease, "He scored in every game I watched him play in the rookie games and was drafted in 2019’s second round by the Senators, 37th overall, after practices," Smith said during camp. "He just works, works, works. And Sogaard’s strong season with Medicine Hat in 2018-19, winning 19 he’s got speed." A third-round pick of the Columbus Blue Jackets, games and posting a .921 save percentage and 2.64 goals-against Abramov was acquired by Ottawa at the trade deadline as part of the average. deal for Matt Duchene. On Friday, Sogaard took the loss in a 4-2 game against Edmonton, while Abramov is familiar with the National Capital Region, having played for stopping 35 of 39 Oil Kings shots. In his previous outing, Oct. 20, the Gatineau Olympiques of the QMJHL. In 2016-17, Abramov scored 46 Sogaard was pulled with about nine minutes left in the third period after goals, 55 assists for 104 points with Gatineau. Calgary put six past him on 42 shots. The Tigers rookie goalie, Garin Bjorklund, recorded a 3-2 shootout win on Saturday against Lethbridge as Sogaard backed him up.

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 10.29.2019 1159003 Websites After two banner years with Northeastern University, Primeau has begun his professional career by posting some of the best numbers in the AHL.

Is anyone surprised? Sportsnet.ca / Montreal Canadiens Prospect Report: Caufield still scoring 3. Ryan Poehling piles of goals Age: 20

Drafted: 25th overall in 2017 Eric Engels October 28, 2019, 12:27 PM Team: Laval Rocket (AHL)

GP: 10 | G: 3 | A: 2 | P: 5 MONTREAL — Three years. Let’s just say Poehling wasn’t altogether thrilled to be sent down to the That’s how long it took for general manager Marc Bergevin, assistant AHL on the eve of the NHL’s regular season. general manager Trevor Timmins, director of amateur scouting Shane Churla and their staff of area scouts to fill the Montreal Canadiens’ But after he suffered a concussion and missed eight days of training coffers with the type of young talent that hasn’t flowed through the camp, the Canadiens felt he’d be best served going to the Rocket and organization in over a decade. playing big minutes under head coach Joel Bouchard.

So when you try to identify the top five prospects for the Canadiens, Poehling started slow, going without a point through his first three games. you’re forced to omit some players who you know have the potential to But since then, the St. Cloud State alum has scored points in five of his not only reach the National Hockey League, but to one day excel at that past seven games. He’s winning faceoffs, getting to the dirty areas, level. scoring goals and showing that he’s ready for primetime.

Also not featured here: 20-year-olds Nick Suzuki and Cale Fleury, who And let’s face it: Had the Canadiens not been at full health and loaded have spent the first 11 games of the season on the Canadiens’ NHL with bottom-end depth to start the season, Poehling would have already roster. graduated.

Without further ado, our list ranks these Canadiens prospects by which He ranks third on this list because he will graduate in short order, and ones have the highest ceilings. We see five players with NHL futures, but once he does, we see a player who’s going to be a strong contributor at the hierarchy is based on which one we expect will have the biggest both ends of the ice and in all situations. Maybe he’ll start as a fourth impact over the course of his career. liner, but there’s potential for him to one day be a really solid second-line centre. Sign up for NHL newsletters Stream NHL games on Sportsnet NOW Get the best of our NHL coverage and exclusives delivered directly to your inbox! Stream over 500 NHL games blackout-free, including the Flames, Oilers, Leafs and Canucks. Plus Hockey Night in Canada, Rogers Hometown 1. Cole Caufield Hockey, Scotiabank Wednesday Night Hockey and more. Age: 18 years old 4. Alexander Romanov Drafted: 15th overall in 2019 Age: 19 Team: Wisconsin Badgers (NCAA) Drafted: 38th overall in 2018 GP: 6 | G: 7 | A: 2 | P: 9 Team: CSKA Moscow (KHL) A true freshman leading the NCAA in goals through the first six games of GP: 21 | G: 0 | A: 3 | P: 3 the season is rare, but it’s anything but surprising for a player who shattered the United States National Team Development Program’s goal That Romanov has a place on the KHL’s strongest team—CSKA leads record previously held by Auston Matthews. with 17 wins and 35 points in the standings through 21 games—is something. Caufield had 72 goals for the U-18 team last season—or 17 more than Matthews had in 2014-15—and he’s picked up right where he left off. It’s rare for young defencemen to earn trust in the KHL, but Romanov appears to be earning more and more by the day. Granted, he’s playing Why does he top this list? Well, you can’t ignore when his coach (former a little under 13 minutes per game, but he’s doing exactly what’s NHL player and coach Tony Granato) starts putting Caufield’s name in expected of him so far. He’s got a few assists, 28 shots on net, 18 hits the same sentence as ’s, Alex Ovechkin’s and Steven and 12 blocked shots. Stamkos’s. After last year’s World Junior Championship Bergevin said that he felt I went to Madison to see Cole Caufield plays. @TonyGranato was on Romanov appeared as though he was ready to play in the NHL right fire comparing the kid's shot to Brett Hull's, Steven Stamkos' and Alex now, so the sense is he’ll be in the Canadiens’ fold by next fall. Ovechkin's. But he was right. Caufield lauches rockets. You can read my paper (in French) here. https://t.co/0HeArLCqSo The Moscow native might not have high-octane offence to his game, but he’s a smooth-skating, hard-hitting player who projects to one day be a — Jonathan Bernier (@JBernierJDM) October 20, 2019 top-four defenceman. This kid’s ability to put himself in position to score is elite. His ability to 5. Josh Brook put the puck in the net is also elite. And that’s a good combination to consider when you’re trying to figure out whether or not a prospect has Age: 20 potential to be an impactful NHLer. Drafted: 56th overall in 2017 2. Cayden Primeau Team: Laval Rocket (AHL) Age: 20 GP: 10 | G: 1 | A: 0 | P: 1 Drafted: 199th overall in 2017 You have to see the forest through the trees with this player. Team: Laval Rocket (AHL) Yes, Brook had a rough training camp with the Canadiens. And yes, he’s GP: 5 | Record: 3-2-0 | GAA: 1.99 | SV%: .937 off to a very slow start with the Rocket. But none of that has changed the fact he’s an elite skater who has the offensive ability to potentially How does a seventh-round pick rise to the top of a prospect pool that’s blossom into a power-play quarter back and a top-four defenceman at loaded with NHL potential? Simple: he continues to show he’s going to the NHL level. be a No. 1 goaltender in the NHL someday. What’s clear is that it’s going to take Brook some time to adapt to the game at the professional level. But he’s in the right place, under Bouchard, to undergo that process.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Mattias Norlinder: The 19-year-old defenceman who was drafted 64th overall in 2019 is off to a great start with Modo in the Allsvenskan, Sweden’s second-tier league. He has six goals, including this eye- popper:

Jesse Ylonen: The 20-year-old right winger who was drafted 35th overall in 2018 has four goals and 10 points in 16 games with the Pelicans in the tight-checking Finnish Liiga.

Jordan Harris: The 19-year-old defenceman who was drafted 71st overall in 2018 has five points in his first six games with Northeastern after scoring one goal and adding 12 assists in 39 games with them last season.

Cam Hillis: The 19-year-old forward who was drafted 66th overall in 2018 has five goals and 11 assists for 16 points in 12 games with the Ontario Hockey League’s Guelph Storm after an injury-riddled 2018-19 season limited him to just 33 games.

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 10.29.2019 1159004 Websites “It was evident pretty quickly you could put him in different situations and he could gain trust in defensive roles and penalty-killing roles and big faceoffs. On top of that, some of the plays he makes he shows really good vision offensively. A little like , he’s not flashy, but Sportsnet.ca / Calgary Flames Prospect Report: Dube working on smart.” defensive game in AHL Emilio Pettersen, University of Denver

GP 6 G 1 A 5 PTS 6 Eric Francis | @EricFrancis October 28, 2019, 11:18 AM The Norwegian skyrocketed up the Flames prospect depth charts last year with an outstanding freshman campaign at the University of Denver where the versatile forward finished second in scoring despite being the There’s absolutely no question the Calgary Flames’ top prospect not team’s youngest player. playing in the NHL is Juuso Valimaki. The 5-foot-10, 180-pound centre has followed it up with points in five of However, the 21-year-old first-rounder is only absent from the lineup due his six games early this season to sit tied for third in team scoring. to off-season knee surgery that will likely cost him at least half this season. Artem Zagidulin, Stockton Heat

Given his performance with the club last season, it’s clear the Finnish GP 6 W 5 L 1 GAA 3.24 SAVE % .884 defenceman is not just an NHLer, he’s a future leader with the Flames. It’s probably way too early to put the 24-year-old Russian goaltender Because of his injury status, Valimaki will be excluded from the list of the ahead of Tyler Parsons on the depth chart. After all, Parsons has been organization’s top-5 prospects: hurt and Zagidulin has just a half-dozen games of pro hockey experience in North America. Dillon Dube, Stockton Heat However, with how solid his camp was with the Flames and how quickly GP 7 G 1 A 6 PTS 7 he seems to be adapting to everything, there’s a growing belief in the After a breakthrough training camp a year earlier, Dube’s showing this organization that just like David Rittich before him, the former KHLer may fall wasn’t nearly as overwhelming. not be such a long shot after all.

That said, management is fully convinced the 21-year-old second- “He’s been very good,” said MacLean of the team’s most intriguing free rounder will be a long-time NHLer who can benefit from increased agent signing last season. playing time and experience in the AHL where he shone last year with “When we first saw him in the summer we weren’t sure because he has a more than a point per game. different style than North American goalies. He has a real high IQ and he FANTASY POOL ALERT! reads plays and shots off of the stick well. He plays aggressive when he needs to, and he’s feisty.” Play the Sportsnet Fantasy Hockey Pool presented by RAM for your chance to drive away with a 2020 RAM 1500 Sport or win cash prizes! Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 10.29.2019 It's FREE and easy to play!

His start in Stockton this year hasn’t been overwhelming offensively as he scored his first goal Friday.

However, Canada’s former world junior captain has marching orders on the farm to be better defensively and along the wall. With that in mind, he played the last couple games up the middle before suffering an upper- body injury that kept him out Saturday. He’s expected to be back in the lineup this week, and back up with the big club sometime in the not too distant future.

Jakob Pelletier, Moncton Wildcats

GP 13 G 9 A 13 PTS 22

The Flames first-round draft pick last summer has had a strong start, sitting top-15 in the QMJHL’s scoring race.

He acquitted himself well at the Flames training camp, but the plan all along was to send the 18-year-old left winger down to continue improving on his game.

The 5-foot-9, 167-pound prospect, who is known for his skill, speed and competitive fire, sits tied for 14thin QMJHL scoring early on.

Glenn Gawdin, Stockton Heat

GP 8 G 2 A 6 PTS 8

The former Swift Current Broncos captain was signed as a free agent in 2017 by the Flames due to his character, leadership and hockey sense.

Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman talk to a lot of people around the hockey world, and then they tell listeners all about what they’ve heard and what they think about it.

Those qualities helped the 21-year-old in his first year as a pro last year in the AHL and have given him go-to status with the Stockton Heat this year.

“We rely on him a lot in a game,” said Heat coach Cail MacLean, who raves about the hockey sense he saw from Gawdin as an AHL rookie last year and early this season. 1159005 Websites nights before racing home to face New Jersey on the afternoon of Sunday November 10th. They could not have asked for a better start to the stretch by getting everyone involved offensively on Monday. More than that though, with a taxing schedule, Travis Green was able to roll TSN.CA / Five Takeaways: Canucks vs Panthers four lines all night against the Panthers with only Jordie Benn cresting the 20 minute mark in ice time. The Canucks will certainly be tested in terms Canucks pounded the Florida Panthers 7-2 of travel and fatigue over the next two weeks so any chance they get to rest their top players and not have to push them to the limit is a bonus. To start the stretch like they did on Monday couldn't have been drawn up By Jeff Paterson any better. Alex Edler played 19:37, Chris Tanev logged 19:23 and Bo Horvat was limited to just 15:18 of ice.

TSN.CA LOADED: 10.29.2019 TAKEAWAYS

1) The Vancouver Canucks wanted to make sure that Friday's blown lead loss to Washington was nothing more than a blip on the schedule. By the 6:18 mark of the first period, they seemed to have made their point. The Canucks opened the scoring just 1:14 into the hockey game, extended that lead three minutes later and by the 6:18 mark had built a 3-0 lead and chased Florida starter Sam Montembault. At that point, Friday's meltdown seemed like a lifetime ago. But the hockey gods do apparently have a sense of humour leading the Canucks to the same 5-1 lead against the Panthers that they blew against the Capitals. And although Florida made it a 5-2 game as Washington had done, this time JT Miller's second goal of the game in the final minute of the second period ensured that there would be no repeat of Friday's collapse. Players in the locker room admitted they thought of Friday when the scoreboard showed 5-1 and even 5-2, but the Canucks looked like a much different team on Monday -- one that took the hard lumps of Friday night to heart.

2) It likely hasn't happened often in the 50-year history of the Vancouver Canucks, but on Monday night the team got a goal from each of its four lines in the first 10 minutes of the hockey game. That is the definition of a balanced attack. Brandon Sutter, Tim Schaller, Jake Virtanen and JT Miller had the Canucks up 4-1 by the 9:35 mark. Schaller and Virtanen have each scored in three straight games now. Early in the season, the secondary scoring was provided by defensemen. These days its coming from forwards deeper in the line-up. The Canucks top end players are producing and their scoring is being bolstered by the rest of the forward ranks. That is the recipe for success and a big part of why the Canucks are 7-1-1 in their last nine games.

3) JT Miller could not have asked for a better start in Canuck colours. Coming from a Tampa team that scored in bunches, Miller certainly wanted to contribute to his new hockey club after being acquired at the draft. But things don't always go according to plan. With two goals on Monday, Miller now leads the Canucks with six goals on the season. He had 13 in a disappointing goal-scoring season last year with the Lightning after being a perennial 20+ goal scorer for most of his NHL career. With six goals in 11 games, he's nearly halfway to last year's total and there's still a game to go in the first month of the season. After starting the season, with Bo Horvat and Tanner Pearson, Miller was moved to the left side with Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser and all he's done in be the most-consistent Canuck to this point in the season. He spends almost every shift in the offensive zone and consistently makes smart plays with the puck. He downplayed his ability to tip pucks after Monday's game, but his second goal of the night came on a deflection of an Alex Edler point shot. Miller has been rewarded repeatedly this season by going to the front of the net and staying there. As a former Tampa player, a lopsided win over Florida likely felt extra special.

4) Elias Pettersson had three more points on Monday. It's his second three point night of the season to go along with a pair of two pointers. After a slow start with just two points in his first four games, Pettersson has a dozen points in his last seven outings. And it still doesn't feel like we've seen a dominant performance from the 20-year-old. And that is in no way meant as any kind of criticism. In fact, it's a compliment that he has been as productive as he's been of late and there will still be those special nights ahead. At this point last season, he'd taken the league by storm with 10 goals in his first 10 NHL games. This season, with three assists on Monday, Pettersson now has 3+11=14 and has 1+7=8 on a four game point streak. He's a top-10 scorer in the league and is top eight in assists. And it still feels like his best is yet to come. That should be reason for Canucks fans to be excited.

5) Monday marked the start of one of the toughest stretches of the Canucks schedule. Over a 13-and a half day stretch, the team will play eight games including a pair of back to backs. They will play three in four nights in California, return home for a game against St. Louis and then head right back out on the road to Chicago and Winnipeg on consecutive 1159006 Websites --- Barrie is also adapting to a reduced role on the power play. He

quarterbacked the top unit with the Avalanche logging more than four TSN.CA / Leafs D-man Barrie trying to ‘find out’ where he fits in minutes a night last season. In Toronto, Morgan Rielly is the one defenceman on the first unit. Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Tyson Barrie has gone 10 games without a point – his longest drought since 2013 – but the former "We just did the math," Babcock explained, "and we said, 'Mo's a 70- Colorado Avalanche blueliner has also been on the ice for 17 goals point guy.' Mo's one of the best players in hockey. You know, and I’m not against in five-on-five play, the most in the NHL, Mark Masters writes. trying to take anything away from anybody else, that's just the situation."

Rielly tied Mitch Marner for the team lead with 21 power-play points last season, good for eighth among all NHL defencemen. Barrie finished tied By Mark Masters for fifth with 25 power-play points.

"It’s a different role for me this year," said Barrie, who's averaging about two minutes a night on the man advantage with the Leafs, "and trying to TSN Toronto reporter Mark Masters checks in daily with news and notes feel that out a little bit. And when you're not on that first unit you're not on the Maple Leafs. who practised at Ford Performance Centre on getting as many touches as you would and not feeling the puck quite as Monday ahead of Tuesday’s game against the Washington Capitals. much, so just trying to work around that and find out where I fit in." Tyson Barrie has gone 10 games without a point, his longest drought Since John Tavares went down with a broken finger, William Nylander since 2013. has moved to the top unit taking away one of the best weapons from the "It's hard not to get a bit frustrated," the 28-year-old Leafs defenceman second group. Barrie's power-play unit now includes Trevor Moore, admitted. "I haven't had a start to a season like this any time that I can Kasperi Kapanen, Jason Spezza and Alexander Kerfoot. remember so it’s important to stay positive and just try to keep adjusting "The way we've been injury-wise this year, we haven’t had two units like and find where I fit in here. I got to do a better job finding some holes and we'd like to have," Babcock acknowledged. "We'd like to have one group creating a little more offence, but I'm a defenceman and I got to focus on that goes out there for a 1:10 or whatever and the other group comes that first." and shoots it in the net anyways." Barrie only has four assists, with all of them coming in the first three The Leafs power play is 1-for-13 over the last six games. Toronto is games. But his problems aren't confined to the offensive end. Barrie has converting on 21.1 per cent of its chances this season, 16th in the NHL. been on the ice for 17 goals against in five-on-five play, most in the NHL per the website NaturalStatTrick. The transition from the grinding Babcock calls Rielly 'one of the best players in hockey' Western Conference to the more wide-open Eastern Conference may be a factor. When asked why he opted to keep Morgan Rielly as the 'quarterback' on the top power play unit, Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock "It seems like there's a lot of breakaways on this side," observed Barrie, explained why it was an easy choice and heaped praise on his who spent his previous eight NHL seasons in Colorado. "I mean, we get defenceman. Tyson Barrie also spoke about trying to adapt to his new a bunch and we're giving a bunch so just being aware teams are blowing role on the power play. the zone or leaving a bit easier has been a bit of an adjustment ... I got to tighten it up a bit on the defensive side, maybe on the stretch passes and --- stuff." Rielly has missed three straight practices for maintenance. Is Babcock On Saturday night, Barrie was caught too close to the side boards worried? allowing Montreal Canadiens forward Jonathan Drouin to score on a "Nope," is all the coach would say. breakaway in the opening frame. In the third period, he misplayed the puck at the offensive blueline leading to a second Drouin breakaway Travis Dermott, who underwent shoulder surgery in May, will make his tally. season debut Tuesday against the Washington Capitals.

"The only points that matter in the game are the two the team gets," said "He has unbelievable edges," said Babcock, "can pass the puck, he's still coach Mike Babcock in response to a general question about a kid sorting it out in his own zone, figuring out how to play and he's been defencemen scoring more this season. "Sometimes when we get carried injured quite a bit and so that takes more time. The other thing is, we've away like we did the other night, we pay for it so there's a fine line there." seen guys jump into the regular season when they haven't been here and how it usually goes so he knows that. We talked about it today, he's got It feels like Barrie may be overthinking things right now. He was pasted to play without the puck. The No. 1 job for a d-man is to keep it out of by a big hit from Jeff Petry on Saturday night as he crossed the offensive your net so that will be the challenge for him. But you also don't want to blueline in the first period. be careful with him, you want to get him in, he's a good player." "I had my head down," Barrie said. "I haven't seen it since, but it felt (like) Dermott, who skated alongside friend and former Marlies teammate he got me in the chest first. It's hockey, you're allowed to hit ... it was a Justin Holl at practice, averaged 17:18 of ice time last season. clean hit. It didn’t feel great, but I just got to keep my head up." Morgan Rielly missed his third straight practice with the Maple Leafs but Barrie gets caught admiring the puck pic.twitter.com/xbsf6dxkFi head coach Mike Babcock is downplaying any concern. Mark Masters — Flintor (@TheFlintor) October 26, 2019 weighs in with how much worry there should be with Rielly's health and the potential impact Travis Dermott could have as he is expected to Meanwhile, Jake Muzzin has become the scorer on the pairing of late make his season debut against the Capitals on Tuesday. with two goals in the last two games. And Muzzin even pulled off a little spin move at the offensive blueline on Friday night. That's something --- right out of Barrie's playbook. Auston Matthews was levelled by a high hit from Brenden Dillon on "I'm stoked to see it," said Barrie. "The more spin-o-ramas, the better. I Friday night in Toronto. There was no penalty called and no Leafs player think the fans like it and I’ll have to get back to it a little bit." confronted the Sharks defenceman afterwards. Matthews was forced to the dressing room by the concussion spotter, but did return to the game Jake Muzzin spin-o-rama alert. #LeafsForever after being cleared. pic.twitter.com/WRtcyOF1u6 "Stuff like that, we got to stay on top of that," said Kapanen. "I mean, — Maple Leafs Hotstove (@LeafsNews) October 25, 2019 Matty's one of our best players and I'd like to show a little bit more emotion. And, I'm not saying you got to fight the guy, but just to stand up Barrie on slow start with Leafs: 'It's hard not to get a bit frustrated' for one another and be there. That’s in the past, but from here on out, I Tyson Barrie hasn't had the start to his season that he had hoped and he think we're family here, we're brothers and we're here for one another … admits that there is some frustration that is setting in but he maintains we can take a step up in that area." that it is important to stay positive. Mark Masters has more. Matthews shaken up by this hit from Dillon. #LeafsForever believes the ability to hold three full practices (today, Wednesday and pic.twitter.com/QSkKETTXkh Friday) will be a huge boost.

— Maple Leafs Hotstove (@LeafsNews) October 26, 2019 "This is a great week for us, because this is the first time we have a regular week," the coach said. "There's been a lot of hockey. I think we The Leafs are built for speed and skill, but Kapanen insists toughness is played 12 in 23 and five in eight and four back-to-backs and, you can say still necessary. whatever you want, that's a lot of hockey for any human being. So, we "It's important because teams, for sure, try to come in and kind of bully us should be fresher and better and it should show in our play coming up around and be heavy on us, because they know we're a talented team so here. I'm not trying to make excuses for us, because that’s not what I do, if we show a lot of grit and effort like that it sends a message and it’s but I just think it could really help us to get better." good in the long run, thinking playoff-wise, and it's always a good thing to The Leafs have three back-to-back sets next month but, unlike in have on your team." October, the opponent on the second night will also be playing on "It's important to stick up for each other," Barrie agreed. "We have a consecutive nights. skilled team, we're not the biggest team in the league, but we got to have "With a more balanced schedule we should be able to play harder," each other's backs and if something goes sideways we have to have Babcock said. "I think we can play harder. We need more out of our guys guys who will get in there for each other." and we can get more ... We haven't practised at all and so that's a huge With Nazem Kadri traded, the Leafs lost one of their top agitators. thing for us. If you don't practise, you don't skate so we need to get out Kapanen is trying to fill the void, but points out he's not the only one there and get practising ... get ourselves back on track." capable. ---

"I still feel like I can be better at that, but it's not just me," Kapanen noted. Tavares is working his way back, skating on his own, and today he "There's other guys on the team that are good at that like, (Andreas started shooting pucks again, per The Athletic and TSN's Pierre LeBrun. Johnsson) is a small guy, but he uses his body well and so does (Dmytro Timashov) and Mooresy and, obviously, you got a big body like Muzz John Tavares says he’s coming along. Shot pucks for the first time since and (Cody Ceci) so we got a lot of grit on this team and we just got to do the injury today. Still no firm timeline, he says, but it’s coming along. No a better job of that." setbacks so far.

Babcock often credits Kerfoot for adding a lot of grease to the lineup. — Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) October 28, 2019

"I don’t think there is any issue that way," the coach said when asked --- about the need for edginess. Lines at Monday's practice: Babcock also believes more emotion will come out as the players jell. Forwards "When you first get a group together and they haven't been together and everyone’s not comfortable you don’t maybe have the same looseness Johnsson - Matthews - Nylander and energy you have when you’ve built over time so, to me, that's the Mikheyev - Kerfoot - Marner process we’re in now," Babcock said. Moore - Spezza - Kapanen Kapanen says Leafs must show more grit: 'Teams try to bully us' Timashov - Shore - Gauthier Auston Matthews took a high hit from Sharks defenceman Brenden Dillon on Saturday and one of the takeaways from that game was the fact that Hyman, Petan no one on the Maple Leafs reacted to the play or tried to retaliate in any Defencemen way. The team spoke about the importance of showing grit and toughness and hope that time on the road will help them get closer, Gravel - Ceci which will ultimately make it easier to fight for each other on the ice. Muzzin - Barrie --- Dermott - Holl Toronto has had five road games so far and all have been one-night trips with three coming on the second half of a back-to-back set. Marincin

Matthews is excited about the lengthy Western swing in the middle of Power play units at Monday's practice: November. Dermott "It will be nice to go on the road in a couple weeks," the 22-year-old Marner - Nylander - Matthews centre said after the loss in Montreal, "something we kind of haven't had so far this season, spend time with the guys and mesh more and more." Johnsson

There are a lot of new faces in the dressing room this season including Barrie Barrie, Kerfoot, Ilya Mikheyev, Nick Shore, Timashov, Spezza and Ceci. Even guys like Muzzin, Moore and back-up goalie Michael Hutchinson Kapanen - Kerfoot - Spezza only spent part of last season with the Leafs. Petan^ "When you get to know guys and when you start getting along and you ^ Placeholder for Moore, who was working with PK become buddies and best friends in a lot of cases, you’ll find you’ll do a lot more for a guy on the ice when you really care about them," Barrie TSN.CA LOADED: 10.29.2019 said. "It goes a long way."

From Nov. 10 to Nov. 30 the Leafs will play eight of 10 games on the road. The longest trip is Nov. 16-23 with games in Pittsburgh, Las Vegas, Arizona and a homecoming game for Barrie and Kerfoot in Colorado.

"It's nice to get away from everything," said Muzzin, "and just be on the road with the guys, go for dinners, lunches, movies, whatever it may be, to get away from the city, and just kind of be on our own and do our own thing is always nice."

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Toronto's early-season schedule has been hectic, but this week it finally slows down a bit with only two games on the docket. And Babcock 1159007 Websites As with any player coming back from a lengthy absence, Dermott isn’t expecting to be at his best right away, and neither is head coach Mike Babcock. But as the Leafs navigate a stretch where they’ve lost four of six, it’s enough just to have Dermott back up and running. TSN.CA / Defensive issues? Help on the way for Leafs “He's got unbelievable edges, can pass the puck,” Babcock said. “[But] As Kristen Shilton writes, Maple Leafs blueliner Travis Dermott is cleared we've seen guys jumping into the regular season when they haven't been to return after off-season shoulder surgery as Toronto continues to sort here, and how it usually goes. He knows that. The number one job for a through defensive issues in the midst of a 6-5-2 start. defenceman is to keep it out of your net, and so that's going to be the challenge for him. But getting Dermy back is a help, and with a more

balanced schedule, we should be able to play harder.” By Kristen Shilton TSN.CA LOADED: 10.29.2019

TORONTO – Six months removed from having off-season shoulder surgery, Travis Dermott is finally ready to make his season debut for the Maple Leafs when they face the Washington Capitals on Tuesday.

“I think it’s probably the longest I've been away from the game I've loved most of my life,” Dermott said after Toronto’s practice on Monday. “So being back, being in the situation now where I'm cleared to go medically, it’s what I've been thinking about and dreaming about. It’s really exciting.”

Sitting out the Leafs first 13 games of the season certainly wasn’t easy for Dermott, but it was necessary to address a lingering shoulder problem.

The 23-year-old missed 14 games last season after initially injuring the shoulder in late February, getting back in time for the Leafs’ final four regular-season games and seven playoff contests in their first-round Stanley Cup playoff series against Boston.

Dermott finished that campaign with 17 points in 64 games, while averaging 17:18 of ice time. He was expected to take on a larger role in 2019-20 with the anticipated departure of Jake Gardiner shaking up Toronto’s blueline.

But in early May the Leafs announced Dermott would be going under the knife, impacting his availability to start the season. The whole scenario was admittedly frustrating, but Dermott can see how positive a road it was now that he’s on the other side.

“It’s really made me more of a pro,” he said. “It's easy to stay on top of your body when you're just going out to play the game every day with your friends. When I had to come in and be told that I can't go on the ice and I have to go in the gym, it was a lot, but I think it was a great learning curve. As a young guy, it’s good that I went through it and hopefully I can stay on top of things and it doesn't happen again. But I think I've learned a lot of stuff throughout this process.”

Dermott said all the off-ice workouts have put his conditioning level at an all-time high, but whether that translates into game conditioning remains to be seen. What Dermott hopes will help with that is the ample practice time he’s been able to clock over the last couple weeks while waiting on the green light to return.

Having Dermott back in action should be a welcome boost for the Leafs, who have been sorting out their own defensive issues in the midst of a 6- 5-2 start to the season. Toronto has allowed the third-most goals in the NHL (44), and is averaging 32.8 shots against per game, the eighth most in the league.

Based on Monday’s practice, Dermott will be sliding onto Toronto’s third pairing to start, right beside his former Toronto Marlies defence partner and good friend Justin Holl. That alone is enough to energize Dermott, who well remembers when he and Holl played their first NHL game together on Jan. 31, 2018 and both scored their first NHL goals.

“Pretty much my whole pro hockey career has been with Hollsy,” Dermott said. “Whether he's my partner or not, he's always been right there. We've been growing the chemistry on and off the ice, so if I made my comeback with Hollsy, I think that'd be pretty special for me.”

“He's a great player and he's easy to play with,” added Holl. “He's got good vision, he can find me all over the ice and I hope to find him as well. He’s really good on the offensive blueline too and good on breakouts. There are really not a lot of bad things you can say about him.”

Once the Leafs make it official and activate Dermott off long-term injured reserve, they’ll have to make a corresponding roster move, most likely sending Kevin Gravel back to the Marlies.