SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 2/27/2020 1178711 Ducks defenseman Matt Irwin eager to take on new role 1178740 Blue Jackets’ injury problems give Devin Shore chance to with new team shine 1178712 Sonny Milano will ‘try to prove myself’ along with Ducks’ 1178741 -deadline wrapup: Blue Jackets in tough spot, must other newcomers look to draft 1178742 Wild 5, Blue Jackets 4 | Third-period rush not enough for Coyotes weary Jackets 1178713 Playoff push: Coyotes remember previous late-season 1178743 Wild 5, Blue Jackets 4 | The 3-2-1 breakdown rallies 1178744 Early returns with Blue Jackets look promising for Stefan 1178714 He shoots, he … nope: The Coyotes’ eternal quest for Matteau scoring continues Dallas Stars Boston Bruins 1178745 Tough two-game stretch vs. Bruins, Blues will be the 1178715 Bruins’ flameout vs. Calgary had Bruce Cassidy speaking ‘measuring stick’ that proves if the Stars are true conte bluntly 1178746 Stars notebook: Anton Khudobin’s 40 saves vs. Carolina 1178716 Some Bruins odds and ends put goalie in elite NHL territory 1178717 Bruins move to top of NHL Power Rankings in post trade deadline Week 23 Detroit Red Wings 1178718 Nick Ritchie struggles in Bruins debut, but it'll take some 1178747 Detroit Red Wings' Robby Fabbri after knee scare: 'Going time to fit in to have to ... play without fear' 1178748 eager to get started with Red Wings; Tyler Bertuzzi looks past Devil's light fine 1178719 Sabres Game Day: Tough matchup against high-scoring 1178749 Sam Gagner hopes to help Red Wings while showcasing Avs opens road trip himself 1178720 Sabres fail to have the last answer in tough loss to 1178750 Red Wings’ Robby Fabbri avoids serious injury; Tyler Avalanche Bertuzzi: melee part of game 1178721 Kyle Okposo is glad Sabres GM Jason Botterill heard his message 1178722 Adding Wayne Simmonds was smart, low-risk move for 1178751 In battle for top spot in Pacific, Vegas comes out ahead of Sabres Oilers 1178723 Time is running short for the Sabres after disheartening 1178752 Traded Edmonton Oilers forward Sam Gagner moves into loss in Colorado more important role with Red Wings 1178724 Looking back at all of Jason Botterill’s significant moves 1178753 Oilers Game Day: Betting on a win in Vegas this season 1178754 Athanasiou and Ennis get Oilers baptism alongside Connor McDavid Calgary Flames 1178755 Andreas Athanasiou injured, Mike Green elevated in 1178725 GameDay: Calgary Flames at Nashville Predators — Is Oilers’ loss to Vegas Gio good to go? 1178756 Lowetide: Is Andreas Athanasiou the answer to the Jesse 1178726 Just in time, Flames getting more pop from their big guns Puljujarvi question? 1178727 First impressions: Shift-by-shift look at the debut of the Flames new D pairing Panthers 1178757 How Thanos and the Infinity Gauntlet helped the Panthers Carolina Hurricanes earn a titanic win 1178728 His wild NHL story could be a Disney movie. But for David Ayres, one thing was missing 1178729 Grading the Hurricanes’ newcomers: Despite the loss, 1178758 Kings check all boxes in win over Penguins ‘they looked really good’ 1178759 Blake Bolden continues her pioneering role in hockey as scout for Kings Chicago Blackhawks 1178760 Kings hope full commitment to rebuild leads to another 1178730 3 takeaways from the Blackhawks’ 6-5 loss to the Blues, contending team including another third-period meltdown and new goalie 1178761 Cal Petersen, Kings send Penguins to 4th straight loss 1178731 Despite Duncan Keith’s 100th , Blackhawks again 1178762 How Kings prospect Gabriel Vilardi is getting his groove collapse against Blues back 1178732 Colliton lets loose after Chicago Blackhawks blow big lead 1178763 MCLELLAN POST-GAME QUOTES; CARTER’S in St. Louis ATTEMPT TO RETURN HITS A SNAG 1178733 How Blackhawks are trying to stay upbeat despite roster 1178764 FINAL – ONTARIO 4, SAN JOSE 2 – VILLALTA, FIORE, subtractions STOTHERS 1178765 GAME 64: LOS ANGELES VS Colorado Avalanche 1178766 TIM SCHALLER SET FOR REIGN DEBUT TONIGHT 1178734 Kiszla: Spared from trade at deadline, Tyson Jost 1178767 “WATCH HIS ROUTES,” AND WHAT VILARDI LEARNS rekindles that loving feeling with Avs in victory against Bu FROM KOPITAR, ELITE CENTERS; PIT PREVIEW 1178735 Czech Republic natives, J.T. Compher, lead the 1178768 LA KINGS SHARE CONDOLENCES WITH Avalanche to 3-2 win over Buffalo Sabres TSYPLAKOV’S FAMILY; “JUST A GOOD, GOOD HUMAN 1178736 Avs coach Jared Bednar looks like he just left the duck BEING” blind with his camo jacket 1178769 PREVIEW – ONTARIO @ SAN JOSE, 2/26 1178737 Fashion forward? The story of why Avs coach Jared Bednar wore THAT blazer 1178738 Kaut scores first goal as Avalanche defeat Buffalo to win fourth straight game 1178739 Compher, Francouz lead Avalanche to 3-2 win over Sabres Pittsburgh Penguins 1178770 Gameday preview: Wild at Detroit 1178797 Minor league report: Penguins fall to Bruins, 6-2 1178771 Wild's Ryan Donato 'going about his business' 1178798 With 3 Penguins set to debut, a look at Jim Rutherford’s 1178772 Ryan Donato keeps scoring, making case to move up in prior trade-deadline acquisitions Wild lineup 1178799 Patrick Marleau gives Penguins depth up front 1178773 The rise of Kevin Fiala: How he’s making the most of his 1178800 Are Penguins aligning their new-look line combinations in minutes to break games the right way? 1178801 Penguins can't find spark against lowly Los Angeles Montreal Canadiens 1178802 Ten years later, Sidney Crosby reflects on gold-winning 1178774 Canadiens defenceman Victor Mete suffers goal season-ending injury 1178803 After challenging season in Buffalo, Evan Rodrigues ready 1178775 Stu Cowan: Canadiens' Karl Alzner remains a 'Good Guy to do whatever Penguins ask Award' winner 1178804 Penguins-Kings: Game time, TV information and matchup 1178776 Guy Lafleur yearns for day Habs bring back notes to Montreal 1178805 A look at how the Penguins plan to adjust their line 1178777 Canadiens Notebook: Claude Julien says Habs GM has combinations strategy for future 1178778 How the deadline impacted the two most pivotal UFAs Marc Bergevin must re-sign 1178806 Sharks (unfamiliar) territory: It’s tough now, and it could get worse Nashville Predators 1178807 Could Joe Thornton leave Sharks for Maple Leafs in NHL 1178779 Former Predators coach Peter Laviolette named coach of free agency? U.S. National team 1178780 Predators back in playoff position for first time since St Louis Blues November after win over Senators 1178808 Bouwmeester: "A scary thing but ... now I feel pretty good" 1178809 Preview: Blues vs. Islanders 1178810 Bouwmeester 'feeling pretty normal,' isn't sure about his 1178781 How Devils’ Kyle Palmieri handled trade deadline rumors, hockey future and where he sees himself with team going forward 1178811 Blues survive 'crazy game' against Blackhawks 1178782 How a hit by Devils’ Jack Hughes set off a chain of tense 1178812 Blues remain best in West after trade deadline passes moments with Red Wings 1178813 Blues notebook: Any Pietrangelo deal will likely wait until 1178783 The biggest hit of Jack Hughes’ career led to chaos — and after the season some team bonding 1178814 ‘It saved my life’: Jay Bouwmeester recalls critical moments of cardiac episode New York Islanders 1178784 Barry Trotz encouraged by Islanders' effort vs. Rangers Tampa Bay Lightning 1178815 How did the Lightning’s newcomers look? 1178816 The Lightning got their deadline targets in Barclay 1178785 Rangers returning to scene of miracle with way more at Goodrow and Blake Coleman stake 1178817 Film session: What has gone wrong during the Lightning’s 1178786 Rangers defend Jacob Trouba’s crushing hit against three-game slide? Islanders 1178787 Crunching the numbers: Examining the NY Rangers' Maple Leafs after the trade deadline 1178818 Leafs GM Kyle Dubas handles latest dose of bad news 1178788 Rangers' belief system a result of comeback win in with a shrug, or at least a parable about shrugs Montreal 1178819 Maple Leafs’ blue line is a green line with Jake Muzzin out at least a month NHL 1178820 Game Day: Maple Leafs at Panthers 1178789 Jay Wescott keeps Seattle’s monorail running. He also 1178821 No choice for Leafs but to go green on the blue line earned a tryout for the ‘Miracle on Ice’ 1980 US Olympic 1178822 'Biggest game' awaits Maple Leafs in Florida 1178823 Emergency defenceman? Leafs could sure use one now 1178824 Muzzin out 4 weeks with broken hand 1178790 GAME DAY: Canucks at Ottawa Senators 1178825 What Frederik Andersen has unlocked could save the 1178791 SNAPSHOTS: The Ottawa Senators are determined to Maple Leafs’ season compete until the final buzzer 1178792 Top prospect Erik Brannstrom sidelined with wrist injury in Vancouver Canucks Belleville 1178846 Jacob Markstrom undergoes 'minor' procedure on injured 1178793 suits up at the Canadian Tire Centre for the knee first time in three months 1178847 Ben Kuzma: Gaudette's grit, drive should help Canucks centre get to desired level 1178848 Canucks at 50: Another night when 'Burr' and 'Kes' went 1178794 Surging Flyers’ newcomers getting acclimated; New York and 'did it again' Rangers offer next challenge 1178849 Canucks at 50: Kesler's coming-out party launched with 1178795 Flyers rookie Nic Aube-Kubel continues to prove himself 11-game win streak in 2009 1178796 One Flyer was reportedly a hot trade target, but Chuck Fletcher shut it down Vegas Golden Knights 1178826 Pacific Division foes always good news for Golden Knights 1178827 Golden Knights win 7th straight as Marc-Andre Fleury blanks Oilers 1178828 Golden Knights helmet stickers honor boy killed in North Las Vegas 1178829 Marc-Andre Fleury gets start over Robin Lehner 1178830 Pete DeBoer pairs Alec Martinez with Shea Theodore 1178831 Nick Cousins joins growing list of Golden Knights to make memorable debut 1178832 Blog: Golden Knights blank Oilers as winning streak reaches 7 1178833 Vegas Golden Podcast: Everything is coming together for the Golden Knights 1178834 Golden Knights excited for Fleury-Lehner goalie tandem 1178835 Golden Knights Step Up Defense, Smother Edmonton Oilers, 3-0, Before 18,421 Wednesday; Coach DeBoer on Fleury: 1178836 VGK’s Nate Schmidt: Being Involved In Business Outside Rink Makes Him Mentally Sharp 1178837 Capitals’ struggles bear striking similarity to midseason travails of 2018 Cup winners 1178838 The best part of Alex Ovechkin’s 700th goal? Being able to share it with his son. 1178839 A minor league hockey player, knocked out in a fight, is in stable condition 1178840 Player from Capitals' AHL affiliate discharged from hospital after losing consciousness 1178841 Alex Ovechkin's wife, Nastya, shares their engagement story Websites 1178850 The Athletic / Emergency goalies come from everywhere — pulpit, factory floor or even barstool 1178851 The Athletic / 2020 trade deadline aftermath: Sizing up the Stanley Cup race 1178852 The Athletic / Down Goes Brown: Worst to first – every trade deadline of salary cap era ranked 1178853 .ca / Oilers show fatigue as road trip ends with loss to Golden Knights 1178854 Sportsnet.ca / Quinn Hughes on pace to make Canucks history in rookie season 1178855 Sportsnet.ca / Maple Leafs will be tested by loss of Jake Muzzin's leadership 1178856 Sportsnet.ca / 31 Thoughts: Could Joe Thornton's next destination be Toronto? 1178857 Sportsnet.ca / What is the Maple Leafs' bigger concern: Defence or goaltending? 1178858 Sportsnet.ca / Bill Daly: 'There's no easy fixes' for emergency backup situation 1178859 TSN.CA / Dermott aims to step up after Leafs lose 'defensive anchor' Muzzin 1178860 USA TODAY / Blues defenseman Jay Bouwmeester ruled out for season after cardiac episode, still deciding future Winnipeg Jets 1178842 Breaking down Winnipeg's playoff chase 1178843 Game Day: Capitals at Jets 1178844 Jets' playoff ambitions depend on team scoring first 1178845 Scratch, claw and fight: Winnipeg needs to bottle that comeback formula for 17 more games SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129 1178711 Anaheim Ducks

Ducks defenseman Matt Irwin eager to take on new role with new team

By ELLIOTT TEAFORD | Orange County Register PUBLISHED: February 26, 2020 at 4:44 p.m. | UPDATED: February 26, 2020 at 5:08 p.m.

IRVINE — Veteran defenseman Matt Irwin was on the ice for 21:23 on Tuesday at Honda Center. He was credited with two shots on goal, two others that were blocked and a team-leading seven hits. He also blocked three shots, which also led his team.

Instead of bracing for heavy hits on the forecheck from Ducks captain , instead of trying to protect the puck from sly right wing Jakob Silfverberg, Irwin was happy to be lined up with them instead of against them for the first time.

His debut with the Ducks, after being acquired from the Nashville Predators in a trade on Monday, was roughly what he’s come to expect from himself during a 351-game career over eight seasons with four NHL teams. He was solid in all aspects, strong in his own end and physical when necessary.

“It felt good, honestly,” Irwin said Wednesday. “There’s been some heated series with these guys over the years. When I got the call and found out where I was going, it was exciting. It’s obviously a nice place to live, but a veteran group with guys who know how to win.”

The Western Conference finals series between the Ducks and Predators in 2017 was no place for the faint of heart, as Irwin recalled. The Predators survived the series only to be defeated by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Stanley Cup Final.

“In playing those playoff series, they were absolute wars,” Irwin said.

The Ducks aren’t likely to rally for a playoff berth this season, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t any hard work to be done. They acquired Irwin to continue their tradition of hard-nosed play, but also to help mentor a group of young defensemen that includes Christian Djoos, Brendan Guhle and Jacob Larsson.

Irwin said he had just come from a session with the Ducks’ coaching staff before speaking with reporters after his first practice with the team at Great Park Ice. He said the subject of passing along his knowledge to the less-experienced players was a topic of conversation.

“Just share my experiences, help them out with the details of the game, anywhere I can be a benefit to them, if they want to pick my brain, just try to lead by example, play hard,” Irwin said, running down an extended list of possible teachable moments.

“If they have any questions, I’m an open book. I’d love to share my experiences with them and help them grow. We were all there at one . There were guys I leaned on heavily in my first years, Dan Boyle and Scott Hannan when I was in San Jose. You can always grab something from someone.”

EXPANDED ROLE?

With veteran defensemen Cam Fowler, Erik Gudbranson and Hampus Lindholm sidelined by injuries, Irwin’s role could grow for the foreseeable future. Fowler (lower body) and Gudbranson (upper body) could be sidelined for at least another two weeks.

Lindholm was forced from the Ducks’ victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday because of an upper-body injury suffered during a hard crash into the boards in the second period. Coach Dallas Eakins said he was unsure about Lindholm’s status for Friday’s game against the Penguins.

The Ducks recalled Guhle from the San Diego Gulls of the AHL in order to bolster their ranks on defense. They had reassigned him to the Gulls on Tuesday and he was expected to join them for a seven-game trip that started Wednesday in Tucson.

Orange County Register: LOADED: 02.27.2020 1178712 Anaheim Ducks It worked in the first post-trade deadline game Tuesday night as the Ducks got a 4-3 overtime triumph. The five newcomers had varying roles in the victory. Let’s look at the debuts for each.

Sonny Milano will ‘try to prove myself’ along with Ducks’ other Sonny Milano newcomers It didn’t take long for Milano to announce his arrival. And it was the kind of play that has been in short supply in Anaheim.

By Eric Stephens As the sixth minute of the opening period approached, Milano stuck around the net and then hustled into the corner to pressure Oilers defenseman William Lagesson into giving up the puck. Lagesson moved ANAHEIM, Calif. — On the morning of his team’s 63rd game of this it along to Riley Sheahan, but Milano charged after him instead of skating season, Dallas Eakins said something that raised an eyebrow during away from the play. He poked the puck away from Sheahan and kept what is usually a standard question-and-answer session. going after it with his extended stick. It was nudged away from Edmonton’s Jujhar Khaira. And then he not only pushed it away from a “The challenge will be how fast can we become a team,” Eakins said. recovering Lagesson but also surprised Oilers goalie Mike Smith, who “And we’ll start on that journey tonight.” missed with his poke check attempt. Typically, that is the thing an NHL coach doesn’t want to be saying near The individual effort kicked off the scoring. And it immediately endeared the end of February. Constructing a working, successfully operating unit him to the Ducks’ in the stands. out of its parts was supposed to be taken care of months ago. However, this is where the Ducks are, and Bob Murray’s extensive shaving around Anaheim Ducks the edges of a roster that has them near the bottom of the Western Conference put the first-year Eakins in a setting that was familiar to him ✔ when he was in the . @AnaheimDucks Players leaving. Players coming in. Trying to put the right pieces together It's always Sonny in Anaheim.#LetsGoDucks that can produce a winning lineup. Embedded video “And that’s a great luxury of and privilege of coaching in that league,” said Eakins, who led the AHL’s San Diego Gulls for four seasons before 497 being promoted to Anaheim. “On one hand, you get to try different things with your teams and on the ice. But the other thing is it certainly trained 10:21 PM - Feb 25, 2020 you to not be all out of whack when things like this happen. This is just a Twitter Ads info and privacy normal day in the .” 103 people are talking about this Murray used the recent trade deadline to shuffle the deck. Seven deals were executed, six of them on Monday. Five newcomers were in the “Just kept poking at it,” Milano said. “Eventually it went in the net.” lineup for Tuesday’s home game against Edmonton. The turnover was enough for Eakins to joke about having everyone stand up and introduce But that wasn’t the extent of his impact. The 23-year-old former themselves. Columbus first-round pick got a step on Caleb Jones and drew a holding . And then in overtime, Milano managed to get the eternally Long out of playoff position, the Ducks made these deals for the future. dangerous McDavid off the ice by drawing a tripping call. Some were about assets that they hope will have an impact in years beyond this disappointing one. Others were about seeing what this new Perhaps it was fitting that he would reap the benefits of that play. On the blend will produce over the final 19 games and how much more ensuing power play, Milano and Adam Henrique traded places near the construction work will be needed over the summer to have a product that Edmonton net as both worked the puck with Ryan Getzlaf. Milano went to will play meaningful games next February. the front and Henrique moved the puck to his waiting stick on the ice. Perfectly angled, Milano redirected the puck past Smith to end the Ducks’ The final six weeks could be titled, “Show Me Why We Should Keep four-game losing streak. You.” Anaheim Ducks “It’s different for every person, but for guys like me, I’ve been here,” said defenseman Josh Manson, who’s among the core group that Murray ✔ expressed his frustration with. “Obviously, the season has been ups and @AnaheimDucks downs for myself. I want to make an impression the last 20 games. The guys that have just come in, they want to make a new impression. A A Sonny finish in Anaheim. #LetsGoDucks fresh face. They want to show the management they made a good choice. Embedded video

“And, so, they’re going to be chomping at the bit to make a good 458 impression. It’s important to win games and also know where you’re at.” 12:46 AM - Feb 26, 2020 Said Eakins: “This isn’t just auditions for the new guys. This is guys that Twitter Ads info and privacy are going to be a big part of our success in the future. And not the young guys that we talk all the time about, but our guys that are established 79 people are talking about this here. We want them to be better as well.” “We had a set play,” Milano said. “It didn’t work out. But then kind of just Manson is one of those that took note of Murray’s words. And his actions. went with our gut there. Henrique told me to switch out. He made a good It’s too late to do anything about this season, but the Ducks recognized pass and just tap it in.” that they still lagged behind much of the league when it came to having players that could move quickly about the ice and make plays at high The two-goal game snapped a drought where he went 11 games without speed. scoring. His big debut made for a couple interesting notes. Milano became the fourth player in Ducks history to score twice in his first game “I know the direction that he wants to go,” Manson said of Murray. “And I with the team, and he joined Jarrod Skalde to score an overtime goal in know what he’s looking for. I think he’s been pretty clear with that in the his debut. media of what he’s looking for. I know he said it (Monday). I think they had a goal in mind going into the deadline of what kind of turnover they Milano’s final days with the Blue Jackets were spent being a healthy wanted to go towards. From what I had heard, I think he thought he got scratch for the team’s final two games. It was Monday afternoon when it.” the winger learned his fate. “I was napping for my game,” he said. Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen popped up on his cell phone and “It feels good. I had a lot of fun out there. Guys were great. All the new Milano knew exactly what the call was about. Never fully trusted by guys were buzzing around and were picked up by the guys that have Columbus coach John Tortorella, the talented skater will get his latest been here for a while.” opportunity under Eakins. Actually, Irwin wasn’t off on his timeline. His ice time was the most since “I’m here to just try to prove myself and get to know the guys,” Milano March 9, 2017, when he played 22:32 in an overtime game at Los said. “Gain some chemistry quick and just try to run from there.” Angeles. It was his first season with the Predators after playing three seasons with San Jose and one with Boston (which was mostly spent Some of the Ducks’ veterans sent him welcoming texts after the trade. with the Bruins’ AHL team). Once he arrived, Getzlaf gave him a quick lay of the land around Honda Center. Irwin’s debut didn’t go without some hairy moments. Edmonton’s Andreas Athanasiou put a pass through his legs right to Tyler Ennis, By night’s end, the crowd applauded Milano’s effort as he was which was converted into a nice goal as the two Oilers newcomers announced as the game’s first star. combined with Connor McDavid to finish off a 3-on-2 rush. Ennis also got “It’s definitely not how I planned it,” he said, smiling broadly. around him in the third period for a close-in that would result in Athanasiou’s goal to forge a 3-3 tie. Danton Heinen But there were several positives. Irwin was physical all night. If it wasn’t Put on a line with Henrique and Kiefer Sherwood to start the game, the putting an Oiler up against the glass, it was simply halting his progress 24-year-old Heinen had a chance to make an impact right away, but he up the ice without taking a penalty. He was credited with a game-high put a punch-in attempt just wide after Henrique gave him a nice pass in seven hits and tied for the team lead with three blocked shots. Eakins the first period. said he “gave us some really good, hard minutes.”

The former Boston winger had a quiet night in the offensive end, “My game’s pretty simple,” Irwin said. “I just look to get in the way of attempting just one shot despite 18 minutes of action. And his high- guys. It’s not always going to be a big hit. Just kind of impede their sticking penalty was punitive as Draisaitl hammered in his 37th goal of progress. Have good sticks and disrupt things. Whether it’s with my body the season for a 2-2 tie early in the third period. or my stick. That’s kind of how I see my game. It’s developed over the years to be more of that. I’m happy with that role. Minutes later, Heinen balanced his ledger. After Sherwood won a puck battle and Manson got the puck to him. Heinen spotted an open Henrique “I had a lot of fun tonight just getting out there with the guys and the and fed him a pass that the Ducks’ top goal scorer would beat Oilers group. It’s nice to be on this side of things, that’s for sure.” goalie Mike Smith to add to his total. Christian Djoos “Woody was in on the wall and then Mans goes down and makes a play down,” Henrique said. “And he makes that play in. I just tried to get to the The 25-year-old Djoos had a solid rookie season on Washington’s third net on that one. Find the back of the net. Simple hockey play but more defense pairing in 2017-18, but he steadily fell down the organizational often than that, those are the ones that pay off.” depth chart. He spent most of this season with the AHL’s Hershey Bears.

Over his two-plus full seasons with the Bruins, Heinen moved up and Not surprisingly, the trade to the Ducks was heartily welcomed. down Bruce Cassidy’s lineup while also moving up and down in the eye “They have a really good team in Washington,” Djoos said. “There wasn’t of the coach and the fanbase at different times. But the Langley, B.C., a spot for me there. I’m happy that Anaheim is giving me a shot to see native was a fixture in Boston’s run to the Stanley Cup Final last year and what I can do.” part of a young forward mix that provided secondary scoring behind its starry top line of Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak. On Tuesday, Djoos — who was paired with Irwin until the defense got thrown into disarray — found himself defending a two-on-one with Ryan As Nick Ritchie was moved out for him, Heinen is getting top-six minutes Nugent-Hopkins and Draisaitl bearing down on him. But he survived that with Rickard Rakell now on the right side of Getzlaf on the top line. One chance against and logged three of his 16 minutes on the power play. He thing he wants to do with the Ducks is have a more shoot-first mindset. also played alongside Manson and Michael Del Zotto at times and “Naturally, I think I’m a passer,” Heinen said. “But I tell myself to shoot confidently moved the puck along whenever he got it. more. I want to be a shooter.” “That’s where the meat of his game comes,” Eakins said.

“I do see myself as you know a top-six guy,” he added. “That’s what I An additional benefit to the trade for Djoos: The Ducks’ dressing room want to be, and I put pressure on myself to produce offensively and help includes plenty of his countrymen. A native of Gothenburg, Djoos is now the team that way.” part of a Swedish-flavored team that has Lindholm, Rakell, Jacob Though he had just seven goals and 15 assists in 58 games with Boston, Larsson and Jakob Silfverberg. Heinen said he didn’t expect to be traded. He has nothing but fond “That’s great,” Djoos said. “It helps out a lot. From everything outside the memories of coming up with the Bruins and finding his way among a rink to on the ice. I know some of the guys. It’s easy to get in a new team professional group headed by captain Zdeno Chara. with some Swedish guys on it.”

“Those guys there were unbelievable for me,” he said. “They’re guys that Andrew Agozzino just take you in. You never get treated like a rookie. Anything you needed, they were there to help. That was huge for me. Along with the Plucked off waivers, the 29-year-old Agozzino was plugged into the other young guys that were there at the time. I can’t thank them enough fourth-line center role that became vacant when Derek Grant was traded for doing that. I think it improved me as a player for sure.” to Philadelphia. And his initial impression was a positive one.

Matt Irwin Agozzino won three of five faceoffs and even got a look on the Ducks’ second power play unit. He should have had an assist as he carried the The win was enough to wear a big smile. But for the 32-year-old Irwin, puck in on a 2-on-0 and gave Carter Rowney a pass that should have the level of participation he had left him excited about what might be in been buried into the net, but Rowney shanked his shot wide. his future. One puck along the boards did get by Agozzino, allowing a 2-on-1 rush Irwin logged 21 minutes, 32 seconds of ice time against the Oilers. Part for Edmonton, but Jujhar Khaira could not finish Nugent-Hopkins’s pass. of that was soaking up some extra playing time with Hampus Lindholm But Agozzino, whom Eakins and Anaheim’s brass watched often when absent for the second half of the game. But his heavy usage was he led the AHL’s Colorado Eagles in scoring last season, skated well and necessary. And the eight-year veteran ate it up. could really complement a potentially loaded San Diego Gulls team if “It’s been a long time,” Irwin said, thinking back to the last time he had he’s a placeholder until David Backes is ready. played so much. “Maybe my first year in Nashville when we had some The Athletic LOADED: 02.27.2020 injuries. You try to just keep it simple and play to your strengths. When you’re going over the boards every other shift or whatever it might be, you’re really in the game. 1178713 turnaround from when it won only three times in a 15-game stretch earlier this calendar year.

“Even when we were losing a little bit there, I felt like we were playing Playoff push: Coyotes remember previous late-season rallies some good hockey,” Ekman-Larsson said. “But obviously against Tampa [on Saturday] we played almost a perfect game I felt like. And even [Tuesday vs. Florida], like I said, I felt like we were playing good hockey BY MATT LAYMAN FEBRUARY 26, 2020 AT 4:05 PM for the most part.

“It’s just the details, getting to the net and getting a little bit greasier in front of the net and doing whatever it takes. That’s what it’s all about this GLENDALE, Ariz. — Thursday marks 28 years to the day that the time of year. If it goes off your stick or your head or whatever it is, that’s Pittsburgh Penguins lost 8-4 to the Hartford Whalers, completing a 2-10- the kind of goals that we need.” 3 stretch for the Penguins that lasted more than a month. Arizona Sports LOADED: 02.27.2020 A 27-year-old Rick Tocchet, now the coach of the Arizona Coyotes, had an assist for Pittsburgh in that game.

Tocchet, who had been traded to the Penguins in the previous week, was on a new team that was only .500 and in fourth place in its division despite boasting Mario Lemieux, Jaromir Jagr, Ron Francis and other Hall of Famers (as well as Jeff Chychrun, the father of current Coyotes defenseman Jakob Chychrun). The New York Islanders were just three points behind them in the standings, threatening Pittsburgh’s playoff chances.

“I remember just getting there and they were like close to .500. And that team was unreal on paper,” Tocchet said. “I remember they had a team meeting — I was a new guy so I kept my mouth shut, even though I was 10-year veteran — and they all said, ‘Everybody’s got to do their job. And whatever is asked of you to do.’ That’s what we’re asking now.”

There are parallels between that team and the modern-day Coyotes. Today’s Coyotes don’t necessarily boast a lineup stacked with numerous Hall of Famers, but like the ’92 Pens, Arizona is hanging on for dear life late in the season. The Coyotes were in first place at times this year.

Those Penguins successfully rallied to win 12 of their last 18 games after that loss to the Whalers, starting on Feb. 29, a leap day. They made the playoffs, and went on to sweep the Chicago Blackhawks in the final to win the Stanley Cup. This Saturday, the Coyotes play the Buffalo Sabres at home — also a leap day — the first game of 16 remaining. Arizona is currently outside of a playoff spot.

“It’s not about the individual. It’s about the team right now,” Tocchet said Wednesday. “And we have to think that way.”

Current Coyotes captain and defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson had a similar experience. The 2011-12 Phoenix Coyotes went on a five-game losing streak at the start of March and went 4-5-5 in their first 14 games of that month. On March 25, 2012, Phoenix was in seventh place in the Western Conference, and their margin for error in the division was very thin.

Phoenix closed that season with five straight wins, allowing only two goals total in that span. The Coyotes won the division and their first two playoff series before losing in the Western Conference Final.

“We won the division that year and kind of went on a run there late in the season,” Ekman-Larsson said.

“I think it was just everybody wanted to play for each other and blocking shots for each other and whatever it was. And that’s how we got a really tight group. And I feel like we have an unbelievable group here this season, too, and want to do the right thing. But at the same time, we just want that greasy win or whatever you call it to get on track. But I mean it’s 16 games left, and that can happen again.”

So what does it take for a team to go on a hot run late in the year?

“I just felt players dragged you along,” Tocchet said. “You’re in tough situations, you’ve got to make sure you do your job, but you’ve got to drag people with you. And that’s by doing the right thing. If we’re asking for more net-front, make sure you’re the guy leading the charge, and then hopefully somebody will follow you.

“I think that’s the key for us right now is we’re getting sporadic. Not saying sporadic effort, because I think guys are trying, but sporadic pushes at certain times. Every time it seems like to me the other team is making that play in the third period on a mistake we make. Where the teams are making mistakes and we’re not capitalizing.”

At time of this writing, the Coyotes are in fifth place in the division and fourth in the Wild Card picture. Arizona can turn it around and make the playoffs, and what’s more, the team has played better as of late — a 1178714 Arizona Coyotes 2001-02 GPG/league rank: 2.78 (10th)

Leading goal scorers: Daniel Briere (32), Daymond Langkow (27), Ladislav Nagy (23) He shoots, he … nope: The Coyotes’ eternal quest for scoring continues 2002-03 GPG/league rank: 2.49 (21st)

Leading goal scorers: Mike Johnson (23), Ladislav Nagy (22), Shane By Craig Morgan Feb 26, 2020 Doan (21)

2003-04 GPG/league rank: 2.29 (24th)

Oliver Ekman-Larsson shouldered the blame for the Coyotes’ devastating Leading goal scorers: Shane Doan (27), Ladislav Nagy (24), Daymond 2-1 loss to the Florida Panthers at Gila River Arena on Tuesday. It was Langkow (21) Ekman-Larsson’s tripping penalty on Evgenii Dadonov that led to Mike Hoffman’s game-winning, third-period, power-play goal. 2005-06 GPG/league rank: 2.95 (19th)

“I took a bad penalty there in the third,” the Coyotes captain said. “We’ve Leading goal scorers: Shane Doan (30), Mike Comrie (30), Geoff been talking about details for a long time now and that’s what it came Sanderson (25) down to. We couldn’t kill that one off. That’s on me.” 2006-07 GPG/league rank: 2.57 (24th) It was easy to point out the two mistakes that led to Florida’s goals, but Coyotes coach Rick Tocchet had a simpler explanation for a loss that Leading goal scorers: Shane Doan (27), Yanic Perreault (19) dropped the Coyotes out of playoff spot; a position that may be 2007-08 GPG/league rank: 2.55 (21st) permanent with just 16 games to play while other teams have multiple games in hand. Leading goal scorers: Shane Doan (28), Radim Vrbata (27), Peter Mueller (22) “We didn’t capitalize; that’s it,” Tocchet said. “We had a lot of (scoring) chances. They didn’t have much. We didn’t score. That’s it. That’s the 2008-09 GPG/league rank: 2.5 (26th) game.” Leading goal scorers: Shane Doan (31), Olli Jokinen (21) If this sounds familiar, well, that’s because it is. The Coyotes have not 2009-10 GPG/league rank: 2.57 (24th) had a bona fide goal scorer since Keith Tkachuk left town via trade in 2001. It is strange how some pro sports franchises can search for Leading goal scorers: Radim Vrbata (24), Matthew Lombardi (19) decades yet never fill a critical position. The Chicago Bears have never had an elite quarterback. The Suns have never had an elite center. The 2010-11 GPG/league rank: 2.76 (14th) Coyotes have not had an elite center since Jeremy Roenick, and Leading goal scorers: Shane Doan (20), Radim Vrbata (19), Lauri Tkachuk was their last elite goal scorer. Korpikoski (19) Tkachuk is the only player in Coyotes history to reach 40 goals. He did it 2011-12 GPG/league rank: 2.56 (18th) twice, scoring 52 in the team’s first season in the Valley (1996-97), and 40 the following season. The Coyotes have had a player top 30 goals 11 Leading goal scorers: Radim Vrbata (35), Ray Whitney (24), Shane Doan times, but it hasn’t happened since the 2011-12 Western Conference (22) Final run in which Radim Vrbata had 35. 2012-13 GPG/league rank: 2.52 (21st) In that span, every other NHL team except the Ottawa Senators has had at least one 30-goal scorer (Jean-Gabriel Pageau is on pace for 33 goals *Leading goal scorers: Shane Doan (22), Antoine Vermette (22) this season, but Ottawa traded him to the New York Islanders on 2013-14 GPG/league rank: 2.56 (20th) Monday). In that same span, 18 teams have had at least one 40-goal scorer. Leading goal scorers: Antoine Vermette (24), Shane Doan (23)

The acquisitions of Phil Kessel and Taylor Hall were supposed to 2014-15 GPG GPG/league rank: 2.01 (29th) alleviate this issue after the Coyotes finished 29th in the NHL at 2.55 goals per game, but the Coyotes still rank 25th in the NHL with 2.68 Leading goal scorers: Oliver Ekman-Larsson (23), Sam Gagner (15) goals per game this season. The lack of an elite playmaking center 2015-16 GPG/league rank: 2.54 (24th) factors into this equation, but it’s just eye-popping to see how deep this issue runs. If the Coyotes miss the playoffs for a franchise-record eighth Leading goal scorers: Oliver Ekman-Larsson (21), Shane Doan (28) straight season, the lack of goal scoring will be on the short list of issues they must look to solve. 2016-17 GPG/league rank: 2.33 (27th)

Here is a look at the Coyotes’ league rank in goals per game, along with Leading goal scorers: Radim Vrbata (20), Martin Hanzal (16) their leading scorers, for every season in the Valley. 2017-18 GPG/league rank: 2.51 (30th)

1996-97 Goals per game (GPG)/league rank: 2.93 (12th) Leading goal scorers: Clayton Keller (23), Brendan Perlini (17)

Leading goal scorers: Keith Tkachuk (52), Mike Gartner (32), Jeremy 2018-19 GPG/league rank: 2.55 (29th) Roenick (29) Leading goal scorers: Alex Galchenyuk (19), Brad Richardson (19) 1997-98 GPG/league rank: 2.73 (10th) 2019-20 GPG/league rank: 2.68 (25th) Leading goal scorers: Keith Tkachuk (40), Rick Tocchet (26), Jeremy Roenick (24) Leading goal scorer: Conor Garland (22), Christian Dvorak (18)

1998-99 GPG/league rank: 2.5 (18th) * The 2012-13 season was shortened to 48 games by a lockout. Goal- scoring leaders that season reflect an 82-game pace. Both Doan and Leading goal scorers: Keith Tkachuk (36), Rick Tocchet (26), Jeremy Vermette had 13 goals. Roenick (24) 30 somethings 1999-2000 GPG/league rank: 2.83 (12th) As we noted above, every other team except the Senators has had at Leading goal scorers: Jeremy Roenick (34), Shane Doan (26), Travis least one 30-goal scorer since the Coyotes’ run to the 2012 Western Green (25) Conference Final. Here is a look at each team over that span.

2000-01 GPG/league rank: 2.61 (18) If a player reached 40 goals, he is also counted in the 30-goal column. If Leading goal scorers: Jeremy Roenick (30), Keith Tkachuk (29), Shane a player reached 50 goals, he is also counted in the 30- and 40-goal Doan (26) columns. Several teams have players on pace for 30 goals this season who have not yet reached that mark. For instance, Vegas’ Max Pacioretty has 29 goals and Vancouver’s Elias Pettersson has 25. The Coyotes do not have a player on a 30-goal pace.

Team 30 goals 40 goals 50 goals

Arizona 0 0 0

Anaheim 5 1 0

Boston 14 0 0

Buffalo 2 1 0

Carolina 4 0 0

Calgary 7 0 0

Chicago 9 3 0

Colorado 6 1 0

Columbus 6 1 0

Detroit 2 0 0

Dallas 10 2 0

Edmonton 6 3 1

Florida 5 0 0

Los Angeles 3 0 0

Minnesota 4 1 0

Montreal 7 0 0

Nashville 5 0 0

New Jersey 3 0 0

New York Islanders 5 1 0

New York Rangers 3 1 0

Ottawa 0 0 0

Philadelphia 5 0 0

Pittsburgh 8 3 0

San Jose 9 1 0

St. Louis 6 1 0

Tampa Bay 10 5 0

Toronto 9 3 0

Vancouver 1 0 0

Vegas 1 1 0

#Washington 9 6 4

Winnipeg 8 1 0

# Washington was the only team to post a 30-goal scorer in the 2012-13 lockout season of 48 games. Naturally, it was Alex Ovechkin (32).

The Athletic LOADED: 02.27.2020 1178715 Boston Bruins Krejci again had a quiet night (0-0—0 and minus-2) pivoting the second line vs. the Flames, and has scored but once (1-5—6) in the 13 games since the bye break.

Bruins’ flameout vs. Calgary had Bruce Cassidy speaking bluntly The other Boston forwards with only one goal over the last month of play: Karson Kuhlman, Anders Bjork, and Sean Kuraly. Joakim Nordstrom, who sat out Tuesday night, has not scored since the break. By Kevin Paul Dupont Globe Staff, February 26, 2020, 3:20 p.m. Kuhlman is the likely one to take a seat upon Kase’s debut. Kuhlman is a straight-line energy guy while Kase is expected to offer Krejci a faster, more skilled option. It’s almost always a mistake to read much into a couple of bad nights at the opry, but the Bruins were disturbingly off-register in losses Saturday Krejci and Kase are both Czechs who learned the game on wider to Vancouver (9-3) and Tuesday to Calgary (5-2). European rinks. Cassidy is of the mind that Europeans in today’s NHL aren’t much different in their approach to the game than North Time to be alarmed? No. The sons of Delaware North still own a 5-point Americans, in part because many of them come to the league via the lead over the Lightning (three straight losses) in the Atlantic Division, and Canadian junior league or college play. most important, their injuries are few. The latter point is no small feat after five months in the 82-game grind-o-matic. Krejci played two years with Gatineau in the Quebec League before turning pro with AHL Providence. Kase played a season-plus with AHL Yet despite going 10-3-0 since returning from the bye break, the Bruins San Diego. were close to an emotional flatline in the losses to Vancouver and Calgary. “Listen, we’ve got a French Canadian in the middle,” said Cassidy, noting that Patrice Bergeron centers his top line. “We’ve got a Nova Scotian kid The shellacking in Vancouver came at the end of a four-game road trip, [Brad Marchand] and a Czech [David Pastrnak] on the right wing. Those and it was the third game in four nights. Some L’s are virtually written into guys are on the same page every night.” the schedule, and that looked to be one of them, coming only 24 hours after a crazy night of back-and-forth shinny in the thin air of Calgary. Two Czechs could have an advantage in being able to converse in their first language. But Tuesday night on Causeway Street should have been better. Back home. Duly rested (if there is such a thing in late February). No doubt “I just think, being over here long enough, you connect with guys or you Bruce Cassidy thought the same. don’t,” added Cassidy. “Now, communication on the ice? Absolutely . . . the language . . . when they are younger, it’s a great thing to have. I don’t “Didn’t break a sweat, some of them, it looked like,” said the coach. see it any more as a necessity.” In his three-plus years behind the bench, that’s as direct and as pointed A bounce from Bowness as Cassidy has been with his criticism in public, including his comments after being eliminated in a playoff series. Rarely have his charges failed The Stars were 17-11-3 and just holding on to a wild-card spot when they to summon the appropriate effort, but that’s how they played across most canned Jim Montgomery as coach this year. As of Wednesday, they of the 60 minutes. were 20-9-3 (.672) under Bowness, the ex-Bruins coach who now has been behind NHL benches (as head or assistant) for more games than Neither Charlie McAvoy or Tuukka Rask could stop this goal from any other coach in NHL history . . . Ex-Bruins backup Anton Khudobin, Calgary's Matthew Tkachuk Tuesday night. 33, will arrive in town with a 16-7-2 mark, a .931 save percentage, and a “I thought some guys came to play . . . and some guys . . . didn’t,” said 2.21 GAA. He has won 16 games for a third straight season . . . The Cassidy, uncharacteristically measured in his word choices. Bruins’ big line over the last 13 games: Marchand (4-10—14), Bergeron (8-4—12), Pastrnak (8-10—18). Totals: 20-24—44. All other Boston Cassidy later added, “The guys we rely on to play well had a tougher forwards have 15 goals . . . Torey Krug (3-7—10) and Charlie McAvoy (3- time tonight, and that showed up in the end.” 6—9) have produced nearly in lockstep since the bye break . . . The Boston power play was 0 for 1 vs. Calgary and has been challenged of That’s a twist on the old hockey theme that reads: Your best players late, going a paltry 2 for 21 over eight games . . . Ex-Bruin Tyler Seguin have to be your best players. The core group is the reason the Bruins tops the Stars’ scoring list with a line of 16-32—48. It appears he’ll fall woke Wednesday morning with a league-best mark of 39-13-12. short of registering his sixth 30-goal season. He has averaged 34 goals Cassidy chose his words carefully, and might have been even more in his six seasons in Dallas. pointed had his team turned in two such stinkers amid a chase for a Boston Globe LOADED: 02.27.2020 playoff berth. Instead, he made clear his displeasure, tempered by the fact that they’re a lock for a fourth straight trip to the postseason under his tutelage.

Too early to tell on Ritchie

Not a great start for newcomer Nick Ritchie, No. 21 in your program. Riding most of the time with Charlie Coyle his center on the No. 3 line, the ex-Duck was not credited with so much as attempting a single shot.

In the job description under “Power Forward,” shooting is an essential.

However, Ritchie was credited with a game-high seven hits. Body slams also are essential in the power forward business.

“I’m not going to judge him,” said Cassidy, following Ritchie’s debut of 19 shifts and 14:17 of ice time. “He flew in here [Monday night] and he’s trying to get acclimated. So I think there has to be a decent period before we see what we got and then go from there.

“I’d rather watch tapes. Did he finish checks? Did he get inside? Some of those details. I’d rather look at the whole group — we did not have our ‘A’ game.”

Speaking of Kase . . .

Provided Ondrej Kase is 100 percent fit to go, he could make his Boston debut Thursday night at the Garden with Rick Bowness’s Stars in town.

Kase, the prized get in unloading David Backes on the Ducks, projects as the No. 2 right wing to line up with David Krejci and Jake Debrusk. 1178716 Boston Bruins starting the season 1-7-1, the Stars are 36-13-5. They are also one of the best road teams with a record of 18-10-4. Tyler Seguin is starting to wake up (goals in his past two games) and they’ve got some really intriguing Some Bruins odds and ends young players in Roope Hintz (18-14-32), Denis Gurianov (18-9-27) and defenseman Miro Heiskanen (7-25-32). A humbling 5-1 loss at home to Nick Ritchie deserves a mulligan — for now the Blues last week when they had a chance to grab the Central Division lead makes you wonder if the Stars are ready to turn the corner into the

neighborhood of Cup contenders, but Rick Bowness‘ boys are a tough By STEVE CONROY | PUBLISHED: February 26, 2020 at 3:22 p.m. | out on most nights. UPDATED: February 26, 2020 at 3:25 p.m. Boston Herald LOADED: 02.27.2020

If you’re a glass half-full type, you are saying to yourself today that the Bruins’ recent toe stubs didn’t cost them a thing because the Tampa Bay Lightning are suddenly slumping. If you’re a glass half-empty type — and Twitter tells me every day that this is the case for many of you — you are decrying the blown opportunity presented to the Bruins by the Bolts’ three-game losing streak.

Whatever the case, the B’s sit here with a nice — though not necessarily comfortable — five-point lead for the Atlantic Division over Tampa. Could be better, could be worse. As we said a while ago, the race could very well be decided next week when the B’s and Lightning play twice, a home-and-home with a game in Sunrise in between.

But Wednesday was a day of rest for the B’s, so here are a few leftover odds and ends as they figure out a way to get their mojo back after two of the most lethargic losses of the season to the Canucks and Flames.

• Coach Bruce Cassidy was not about to rip Nick Ritchie after a rough debut, which was completely fair and understandable. It was just one game. There were also a couple of promising sequences from Ritchie, including a nifty backhand pass from behind the Calgary net that just missed and coming out ahead in a thunderous collision with Milan Lucic.

But the biggest concern about adding a big body — something the B’s really could use — was whether or not that player could keep up with the team’s fast pace. There were some moments that indicated Ritchie will be greatly challenged to do so. One came in the second period when there was a potential two-on-one but Ritchie just couldn’t make it to the open space that was there to create.

Now Ritchie (taken 15 spots ahead of David Pastrnak in the 2014 draft) was playing without the benefit of a practice with his new team, and he was a day removed from dropping his life in Anaheim and hooking up with his team in Boston. Not quite as easy as it looks. But considering Ritchie’s size, his pace will be something to watch closely.

• On the flip side, the transcontinental trip seemed to energize Danton Heinen. The former Bruin snapped a four-game pointless streak by notching the primary assist on Adam Henrique‘s third-period go-ahead goal for the Ducks against Edmonton. The Oilers tied it up, but Heinen also contributed a strong defensive play in the slot to help the Ducks get to overtime, where they won it.

The B’s needed some brawn and Heinen clearly made himself expendable with a subpar season. But there will be moments when the B’s will miss Heinen’s heady play and versatility.

• Another reason that Cassidy didn’t bust on Ritchie was that there were so many more worthy candidates. Pastrnak made a soft play on the puck along the boards that led to a Flames goal shortly after Brad Marchand‘s shorty tied it up. And Jake DeBrusk is pointless in his last eight games. DeBrusk and David Krejci, his centerman since he was birthed into the NHL, have not had the same chemistry they’ve enjoyed in the past. It would not be a shock if Cassidy moved DeBrusk to the Charlie Coyle line, as he did midway through the game on Tuesday, on a more regular basis.

• The Maple Leafs can’t stand up for falling down. After a great win over the Penguins last Thursday, they followed it up with an embarrassing loss in the David Ayres Show on Saturday. And after another solid win in Tampa on Tuesday, they woke up to the news that defenseman Jake Muzzin, who was one of the guys who was both saying and doing the right things for the mercurial Leafs, is out for a month with a broken hand. They face a huge game on Thursday in Sunrise against the Panthers with third place in the Atlantic hanging in the balance.

• Whatever’s been ailing the B’s the past two games, they need to rid themselves of it quickly. The Dallas Stars, the hottest team in the NHL that few people are talking about, are in town Thursday night. Since 1178717 Boston Bruins 21. Minnesota Wild: They ended up only sending out Jason Zucker after all, but still have some serious rebuilding to do.

22. Chicago Blackhawks: Well, now they know who their starting goalie Bruins move to top of NHL Power Rankings in post trade deadline Week is. 23 23. Montreal Canadiens: They did well to turn nothing into a third round pick in the Kovalchuk trade.

By MARISA INGEMI | February 26, 2020 at 5:55 a.m. 24. Florida Panthers: This might seem low but the Panthers don’t seem to have any direction by trading Trocheck at a deadline where they could have justified being buyers too. What’s the plan here? The trade deadline has come and gone and teams are positioning themselves for the stretch run with the rosters they have. 25. San Jose Sharks: They got a first round pick and they sent Patrick Marleau off to contend for a Cup, but Jumbo Joe stays. Some teams made vast improvements and others bowed out of the race, but plenty of squads remain a mystery. 26. New Jersey Devils: No one could have expected what a nightmare this season turned into, but at least they caught it early and are starting 1. Boston Bruins: They’ve given themselves a little breathing room in the the rebuilding process now. Atlantic despite a horrid loss in Vancouver to end an otherwise successful road trip. 27. Buffalo Sabres: What a mess. Zach Bogosian is gone and they shipped out Conor Sheary and Evan Rodrigues. Then they also added 2. Tampa Bay Lightning: It’s really starting to feel like these teams are A1 Wayne Simmonds. What’s up in Buffalo? and A2 in the NHL. 28. Los Angeles Kings: They have 11 draft picks coming up and they 3. Washington Capitals: Alex Ovechkin finally hit 700, they added need them to reinvigorate them. defenseman Brenden Dillon, and Ilya Kovalchuk joins an already loaded offense. 29. Ottawa Senators: The Sens have traded or lost all but two players who went to the Eastern Conference Final in 2017, which is crazy to think 4. Pittsburgh Penguins: They were stopped by the Caps last week in a about. battle of top teams in the Metro, but this is a team that committed to getting even better at the deadline, too. 30. Anaheim Ducks: They added Danton Heinen who will be a good player for them, but this was also a rebuilding deadline for the Ducks. 5. St. Louis Blues: Marco Scandella is a solid addition to a team that succeeds keeping opponents off the scoreboard. 31. Detroit Red Wings: They did what they had to but it’s going to take a long time for the Red Wings to work their way back into NHL relevancy. 6. Edmonton Oilers: They survived without Connor McDavid and got even better at the deadline with Detroit’s Andreas Athanasiou. Boston Herald LOADED: 02.27.2020

7. Vegas Golden Knights: Now they have Robin Lehner, so if they can stop anybody maybe we finally get a glimpse at their ceiling.

8. New York Islanders: Jean-Gabriel Pageau was a terrific get and they even extended him. He’ll help what can sometimes be a lethargic offense.

9. Carolina Hurricanes: They’re really going for it, 2019 Blue Jackets style. They gave up a hefty price for Brady Skjei but added him and Sami Vatanen to help the blue line, and Vincent Trocheck is sneaky one of the best adds of the deadline.

10. Colorado Avalanche: It feels like a team with so much cap room and on the verge of being a serious contender could have added more than just Vladislav Namestnikov.

11. Dallas Stars: They stayed the same at the deadline and there really wasn’t much to change.

12. Philadelphia Flyers: They made some small improvements and are hanging around in an electric metro.

13. Vancouver Canucks: Kind of surprising they didn’t go after a defenseman, but this team is so hit or miss it may have been hard to commit to going for it this season.

14. : The Leafs loss to an EBUG last week overshadows that they’ve hung around and still have a really good team.

15. Calgary Flames: Erik Gustafsson could be a great add for an inconsistent offense.

16. Arizona Coyotes: They already acted back in December when they added Taylor Hall, and they’re still just on the cusp of the playoffs.

17. Columbus Blue Jackets: It feels like they could be a fun team of destiny type feel if they could stay healthy even a little bit. Not much worth trading by deadline time.

18. New York Rangers: Chris Kreider is staying and for a long time. Whether that means the Rangers have a shot this season remains to be seen, they entered Tuesday night still six points out of a playoff spot.

19. Winnipeg Jets: The Jets are fighting for a spot and still stood pat, so tough to say where it goes for them.

20. Nashville Predators: Nashville, like the Jets, stood pat. They get Ryan Ellis back, though, and have some serious games in hand. 1178718 Boston Bruins

Nick Ritchie struggles in Bruins debut, but it'll take some time to fit in

By Nick Goss February 26, 2020 12:00 PM

Nick Ritchie didn't play well in his Boston Bruins debut Tuesday night, but to be fair, most of his teammates gave a similarly lackluster performance against the Calgary Flames.

Ritchie did not score a goal, tally an assist or register a shot on goal in 14:17 of ice time. The Bruins were out shot 11-4 and outscored 2-0 during 5-on-5 play when Ritchie was on the ice. The physical forward did have seven hits, but that was more of an indication that the Bruins were chasing the play when he was in the game.

LIVE stream the Celtics all season and get the latest news and analysis on all of your teams from NBC Sports Boston by downloading the My Teams App.

Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy was not shy about calling out his players following a 5-2 loss at TD Garden, but he wisely wants to see more of Ritchie before giving a real critique of his game.

"I thought he was fine," Cassidy told reporters when asked about Ritchie's debut. "I’m not going to judge him on a... he flew in here yesterday. He’s trying to get acclimated. There has to be a decent amount of period before we see what we got, and then go from there. I’d rather not, I’d rather watch some tape and see if, did he finish checks, did he get inside?

"Some of the details he’s going to bring to us. Rather look at the whole group, and we just did not have our — the guys we rely on to play, play well, had a tougher time tonight. And it kind of showed up in the end."

Haggerty: B's land back home with a thud

Cassidy made the decision to give Ritchie the first shift of the game, and the chance to develop some chemistry on the third line alongside Charlie Coyle and Anders Bjork. The Flames held a 5-1 edge in shot attempts, a 3-0 advantage in shots on goal and a 1-0 lead in goals scored against the Ritchie-Coyle-Bjork line at 5-on-5. This Bruins line also created zero 5-on-5 scoring chances in 4:57 of ice time together.

"Listen, you give him a chance to start. He’s going to get on the ice eventually anyway," Cassidy said. "That was, they just had (Matthew) Tkachuk and (Milan) Lucic, so you put him out there in case if they want — I think Looch is more about being a body, playing here than anything. But if they want to play that type of game early, then we want to be prepared for it and have (Zdeno Chara) back there as well and be ready to bang.

"But that was the thinking there, certain matchups you’re looking for throughout the game. To be honest with you, I don’t know that we ever truly got them tonight where they were in our favor."

Ritchie doesn't have to score goals to be effective. He's doing his job if he's aggressive on the forecheck, winning puck battles to maintain possession and getting to the front of the net where he can screen the opposing goalie. We didn't see much of those things from Ritchie against the Flames, but fortunately for him and the Bruins, they'll be right back on Garden ice Thursday night against another Western Conference contender in the Dallas Stars.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 02.27.2020 1178719 Buffalo Sabres Vesey-Lazar-Frolik

Girgensons-Larsson-Okposo

Sabres Game Day: Tough matchup against high-scoring Avs opens road Defense pairs rotating. trip — Lance Lysowski (@LLysowski) February 25, 2020

Sick bay: The Sabres might be getting a big break tonight as there are a By Mike Harrington Published Wed, Feb 26, 2020|Updated Wed, Feb 26, lot of goals missing from the Colorado lineup. Stalwarts Mikko Rantanen 2020 (19-22-41), Nazem Kadri (19-17-36) and Matt Calvert (12-13-25) are all out with long-term injuries while Andre Burakovsky (20-25-45) and Matt Nieto (8-12-20) are doubtful due to illiness and an upper-body injury, Matchup: Buffalo Sabres (29-25-8) vs. Colorado Avalanche (36-18-7) respectively. It's a big reason why Vladislav Namestnikov (13-12-25 points) was acquired from Ottawa at the trade deadline. Where: Pepsi Center "We know they're down a few bodies but they've brought some in and When: 8 p.m. ET what's still happening is they're playing an unbelievably strong team game," Krueger said. "The power of the group has been their danger and TV: NBCSN (John Forslund, Ed Olczyk, Brian Boucher) they've continued to win through these injuries. We have to realize how Radio: WGR 550 good the goaltending and the attack have remained."

DENVER -- The Buffalo Sabres are desperate for a win but no opponent In the nets: The likely matchup will be Carter Hutton (12-10-4, has pounded them as much of late as the Colorado Avalanche. The Avs 3.19/.897) for Buffalo against reigning NHL First Star of the Week Pavel have won the last four meetings -- and outscored Buffalo, 20-6, in those Francouz (16-5-3, 2.27/.927) for the Avalanche. Francouz was 3-0-1, games. The count in the last three meetings is an ungodly 15-2 and that 1.46/.941 last week. Krueger confirmed Hutton this morning while includes 6-1 losses in consecutive seasons in KeyBank Center, with this Colorado did not skate. year's drubbing endured on Feb. 4. Out of town I: No other Atlantic Division teams are playing tonight so it's The Sabres are 3-11-4 against the Avs since 2006 and that includes just up to the Sabres to take advantage of one of their games in hand on the 1-5-2 here, with the lone win coming on Dec. 5, 2017. Colorado is third in three teams ahead of them. While Buffalo is off to Vegas to practice on the Central Division, a point behind Dallas and five behind St. Louis. The Thursday, there will be a showdown in Sunrise with Toronto playing at Avs have won three straight, are 7-2-1 in their last 10 games and 11-3-1 Florida. Obviously, somebody has to win that game and it would certainly in their last 15. The Sabres, meanwhile, are 7-3-1 in their last 11. benefit the Sabres more for the Panthers to win -- and to do it in regulation. Colorado center Nathan MacKinnon (33-51-84) is fifth in the NHL in scoring. Edmonton's Leon Draisaitl (37-62-99) has an 11-point lead over Bad night for #Sabres: TOR outshot 14-3 in 3rd, wins at TB 4-3. FLA Boston's David Pastrnak (45-43-88), who is followed by Edmonton's outshot 39-26 but Bobrovsky steals 2-1 W at ARZ. Connor McDavid (31-56-87), and the Rangers' Artemi Panarin (32-53- 3rd in Atlantic through Tues, with BUF needing to capitalize on games in 85), hand: "We have to try to take away their time and space," winger Kyle Okposo GP Pts said today before the Sabres' optional morning skate. "We're very aware of what they did to us the last time in our building. Definitely an TOR 64 74 embarrassing loss for us and they have tremendous offensive prowess and a lot of gamebreakers over there. We have to try to limit their FLA 63 72 opportunities. MON 65 67

"We have to do that by using our legs, getting in front of them. I think the BUF 62 66 big key for our success the last few weeks is our game away from the puck. Tonight it's going to have to be ramped up a couple notches — Mike Harrington (@ByMHarrington) February 26, 2020 because these guys can do some special things with it." Out of town II: The 10:30 game on NBCSN following the Sabres and Avs The newbies: Wayne Simmonds, who is two points shy of 500 in his is Pittsburgh's visit to Los Angeles, which will mark the Penguins debut of career, will make his Sabres debut tonight while fellow trade acquisition Evan Rodrigues and the return of Conor Sheary to the Pittsburgh lineup. Dominik Kahun (lower body) will sit this one out. Kahun skated today and Wednesday's only other game is Edmonton's trip to Vegas, which could is expected to practice Thursday in Vegas. mark old friend Robin Lehner's debut with the Golden Knights after Monday's trade from Chicago. But if incumbent Marc-Andre Fleury gets "We're just going day to day on this. He's already missed a couple games the call, when might Lehner's debut happen? Uh-huh. Friday night -- and it would be too presumptuous of me," coach Ralph Krueger said of when the Sabres are in T-Mobile Arena. Kahun playing Friday night against the Golden Knights. "We just began the medical treatment last night. We'll just take it a day at a time." Buffalo News LOADED: 02.27.2020

"It's for sure my goal and I think it's a pretty good chance," Kahun said after skating today.

Sabres' new acquisition Wayne Simmonds 'can't wait to get started'

Streaking Sabre: Okposo enters today’s game on his first four-game point streak (4+1) since November 2017. With a point tonight, he would have points in at least five consecutive games for the first time since he tallied points in seven straight from Feb. 4-14, 2017.

"It's nice obviously to produce offensively," Okposo said. "I came back (from injury) and we had talked as a line about how we've been playing pretty well but we need to step up and try to contribute offensively and we've been able to do that. Now we have to keep going."

Sabres' lines/pairings in practice. Kahun meeting the team in Denver and Miller out for personal reasons:

Olofsson-Eichel-Reinhart

Skinner-Johansson-Simmonds 1178720 Buffalo Sabres goal was his 12th of the season, three shy of his 2014-15 career high. Okposo has four goals and two assists over his last five games while Girgensons is at 2-2-4 for his last three games.

Sabres fail to have the last answer in tough loss to Avalanche Okposo 4-2-6 in last 5 GP, Girgensons 2-2-4 in last 3 GP https://t.co/XoAKISH1cT

By Mike Harrington Published Wed, Feb 26, 2020|Updated Thu, Feb 27, — Mike Harrington (@ByMHarrington) February 27, 2020 2020 More of the same in the second: Same pattern as Colorado took the lead with a power-play goal, only to see the Sabres forge another tie. Martin Kaut banged home a rebound at 7:15 for his first NHL goal before Curtis DENVER – In a game that carried playoff intensity, the Buffalo Sabres Lazar tied it at 14:56 by deflecting home Jake McCabe's wrist shot from had lots of answers Wednesday night against a team that has Stanley the right point after great work down low from Michael Frolik. Cup aspirations. Lazar: "Both teams are playing for something. We're fighting for our lives. But after coming back to tie the game twice, the Sabres couldn't get It was a playoff atmosphere, playoff game. Every little battle matters and another equalizer with some great chances in the final minute. Former we're learning that. We had some good pushback throughout the game. Sabres draft pick J.T. Compher burned his first organization for the tie- Unfortunately, we couldn't get the last one." breaking goal with 8:06 to play and the Colorado Avalanche held on to beat Buffalo, 3-2, in the opener of Buffalo's four-game Western road trip Sabres stats: Defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen was credited with eight in Pepsi Center. blocked shots and seven hits. Jack Eichel had six shots on goal and again didn't take a faceoff as he's nursing an upper-body injury. Sam Compher took a pass from Joonas Donskoi and was all alone in front as Reinhart was 5-10 on draws in his place. Buffalo defenseman Colin Miller left the slot to move toward Donskoi. Goalie Carter Hutton had no chance to make the save. Compher, taken Kahun sits: Newly acquired Dominik Kahun took a full morning skate but by the Sabres in the second round in 2013, was traded to Colorado in continued to sit out with a lower-body injury that forced him to miss his 2015 in the Ryan O'Reilly deal. last two games in Pittsburgh. Kahun said he wants to play Friday night in Vegas. It was a hard-fought game that saw Colorado outshoot Buffalo, 34-33. The Sabres nearly tied it in the final minute with Hutton on the bench for "That's for sure my goal," Kahun said. "And I think it's a pretty good the extra attacker but Victor Olofsson fired one good chance off the post chance. We'll see." and was robbed on another by goalie Pavel Francouz, the NHL's reigning Greatest Generation: On Military Appreciation Night, the Avalanche First Star of the Week. introduced 97-year-old World War II medic Leila Morrison and pictures of The loss dropped the Sabres to 5-2 in their last seven games and her from 60 years ago were projected on the ice. Morrison "dropped" the prevented them from making up any ground on idle Toronto and Florida ceremonial faceoff between Eichel and Nathan MacKinnon, throwing it in the Atlantic Division. Buffalo remains eight points behind the third- away from the players as the crowd roared. place Leafs with a game in hand and six behind the Panthers. Next: The Sabres flew to Las Vegas after the game and will practice at T- Coach Ralph Krueger: "It was a really good hockey game. If this was the Mobile Arena in Sin City on Thursday afternoon. They meet the Golden fifth game of the season, you'd be quite happy right now. It's just that all Knights there at 10 p.m. EST Friday in what could be the Vegas debut of that matters to us are results. It really hurts but there's a lot to take with former Buffalo goalie Robin Lehner. us here for how we need to play on the road ... Right now all that's at the Marc-Andre Fleury started the Knights' game Wednesday against surface is the pain." Edmonton and that could put Lehner, acquired at the deadline Monday The troublesome PK: The Sabres allowed two power-play goals in the from Chicago, in line to start against one of his four former teams. Lehner game and their 1-for-3 performance dropped them to last in the NHL on played three seasons for the Sabres before Buffalo walked away from the penalty kill, both in overall percentage (74.0) and road efficiency him as a restricted in 2018. (67.8). Buffalo News LOADED: 02.27.2020 "It's unacceptable for us to be in that spot in any category," Krueger said. "What we need to do is continue to work on the simplicity of execution and off second shots. Today we got killed on the second opportunity where the puck focus on the kill was too strong and we need to adjust that. The puck belongs to 'Hutts.' (Hutton). We need to take away the chances and we didn't do it tonight. It's just not good enough."

Simmonds debuts: Buffalo winger Wayne Simmonds, acquired Monday from New Jersey, took a position on the team's second line with Marcus Johansson and Jeff Skinner. He had an immediate physical impact in the first period with booming hits in the offensive zone on Colorado's Vladislav Namestnikov and Ian Cole.

"That was good," Simmonds said. "You start to get into it with a couple knocks. Hit. Got it. That's always a good thing, right? I've got to be a little bit better with the puck but it's an OK start.

"We played a strong game. We didn't carry it for all 60 minutes but I thought we played well for a large chunk of that game there. ... This time of the year, you're going to have to push back and I thought we showed good pushback."

Kyle Okposo is glad Sabres GM Jason Botterill heard his message

First period recap: The teams were tied 1-1 after an entertaining opening 20 minutes. The Sabres had the game's first six shots on goal before the Avs found their legs and took the lead on Gabriel Landeskog's power- play goal at 14:24, an easy tap-in after a neat back pass by Compher. The Sabres tied it at 16:21 on Zemgus Girgensons' tap-in off a backhand pass by Kyle Okposo.

LOG line streaking: The line of Okposo and Girgensons playing the wings for Johan Larsson continues to pile up the offense. Girgensons' 1178721 Buffalo Sabres The Sabres have no choice but to keep winning and hope they continue to keep getting help.

"It would mean a lot," Okposo said of the longshot postseason bid. "I'm Kyle Okposo is glad Sabres GM Jason Botterill heard his message not going to get ahead of myself but to be in the position that we put ourselves in with the ups and downs is a big testament to our club and the direction that we're going. So we just want to keep winning games By Mike Harrington Published Wed, Feb 26, 2020|Updated Wed, Feb 26, and make sure we're right there the last few weeks. 2020 "We're not going to make up the ground we need to looking ahead and looking to see what other teams are doing. It's all about our game and how we play and that's going to bring us the most success." DENVER – Buffalo Sabres winger Kyle Okposo sent a clear message to General Manager Jason Botterill after Sunday's win over Winnipeg and it Buffalo News LOADED: 02.27.2020 certainly seemed to resonate at Monday's NHL trade deadline.

Following the 2-1 win over the Jets that got the Sabres within six points of the final playoff slot in the Atlantic Division with 20 games to go, the veteran said he hoped the team's back-to-back wins over the weekend made the GM's job "a little bit more difficult" and that the players liked the makeup of their dressing room.

While Botterill traded Conor Sheary and Evan Rodrigues, he also surprised observers outside of Buffalo by adding Wayne Simmonds and Dominik Kahun to the mix up front.

"I'm excited," Okposo said Wednesday in Pepsi Center prior to the Sabres' road trip opener against the Colorado Avalanche. "Obviously any time you see guys go it's difficult, but he kept a lot of our group intact and we're looking forward to trying to win some games with the group we have.

"Adding a guy like 'Simmer' is awesome for our group and Dominik is a young player who has shown he can be a solid player in this league. We're excited to have both those guys."

Simmonds made his Sabres debut in the game. Kahun, who has been nursing a lower-body injury and missed his final two games in Pittsburgh, fully participated in the team's optional morning skate and said afterward he feels like he should be able to play Friday in Vegas.

Okposo said Sabres players generally left Botterill alone during the days leading up to the deadline. It was their play on the ice that spoke volumes.

"That's his job," Okposo said of the GM. "There wasn't a whole lot of communication. I know how hard he works and how badly he wants it. I'm sure that he was grinding."

The Sabres made their pleas on the ice. And GM Jason Botterill listened.

Along with Johan Larsson and Zemgus Girgensons, Okposo's line has been grinding since he returned six games ago from an upper-body injury. Okposo scored both of his team's goals Sunday and entered Wednesday on a four-game point streak. Girgensons entered Wednesday with three points in the last two games.

"I came back and we had talked as a line about how we've been playing pretty well but we need to step up and try to contribute offensively and we've been able to do that," Okposo said. "Now we have to keep going. The expectation is there but the way that we play isn't going to change. Whether we get a goal, two goals or no goals, we're going to play the same way."

The Larsson line has succeeded all season in wearing down opposing defenses on the forecheck and coach Ralph Krueger said he's thrilled to see them scoring some goals of their own.

"We feel that all three of them have been really showing a lot more confidence on the puck, all showing the skill that's within them," Krueger said. "Maybe they were stuck in a box in the past and they feel this responsibility now often playing top lines of the other team nailing those lines down into their D zone. It's a pretty good skill set to have.

"They extend those shifts and find the opportune moments to attack, which has been brilliant for us. It's an example for our younger players to see them grind out those long O-zone shifts."

Even with their strong February play, the Sabres still rate less than a 10% chance of making the playoffs. Of course, a couple of weeks ago, the math was less than 1%. And now Toronto defenseman Jake Muzzin is out four weeks with a broken hand suffered Tuesday in Tampa, leaving the Leafs with virtually an entire defense corps from the AHL's Toronto Marlies as Muzzin joins Morgan Rielly and Cody Ceci among the injured. 1178722 Buffalo Sabres And make no mistake, Buffalo builds a bit of goodwill here with Simmonds, too – plenty of contenders looked at Simmonds and scoffed at an already low price. Buffalo did not.

Adding Wayne Simmonds was smart, low-risk move for Sabres It’s possible Simmonds is what he is at this point and Buffalo gave up a conditional fifth-round pick to find that out. It’s also possible that Simmonds isn’t as bad as he’s shown in New Jersey, and if that’s the By Travis Yost case, the Sabres have the inside track on a player most of the league has quit on. Add in the fact that his price tag this summer is going to be

exceptionally lower than what New Jersey paid for him this year, and you Travis Yost has been involved in the world of hockey analytics for a can use the final 20 games to stress test a player for a nominal fee. decade and is part of TSN's Hockey Analytics team. Prior to joining TSN, Buffalo News LOADED: 02.27.2020 Yost was a contributor at the Ottawa Citizen, the Sporting News and NHL Numbers, and he has been a consultant for an NHL franchise. He will be contributing breakdowns on the Buffalo Sabres for The Buffalo News this season. Follow Yost on Twitter: @travisyost.

You might have been surprised to see such a visceral reaction to the Sabres acquisition of forward Wayne Simmonds at Monday's trade deadline. A team seemingly out of the playoff hunt using a draft pick on a forward who has been underwhelming for some time might have seemed unconventional at first, but it doesn’t necessarily make it a bad decision. In fact, I would argue the opposite.

The Sabres are competing with a multitude of issues here, most of which are a direct result of mismanagement, poor coaching, and poor roster development over nearly a decade. It spans multiple front offices and multiple coaching staffs.

Here the Sabres sit during the 2019-20 season, surging in the win/loss column – I use that in the relative sense only – and now living in what can only be considered standings purgatory. They have just a 1 in 20 chance of reaching the postseason, but are comfortably ahead of nine teams in the standings. (If you are a Buffalo Bills fan, you know this story well – not good enough for a playoff berth, not bad enough for a meaningful draft pick.)

While much of this is Buffalo’s own doing, I’m sympathetic to the spot they are in. Logically, the Sabres would be sellers, except (a) there isn’t much to sell on such a top-heavy team; and (b) the team already has a considerable amount of cap flexibility. They also are competing with an understandably ravenous fan base that wants to see a team play meaningful hockey. But Buffalo can’t in good faith be buyers – a 5% playoff probability seems small, but it’s quite large when you remember that it was less than 1% three weeks ago.

In other words: A team that wanted to be sellers really couldn’t, and a team pressured to win now can’t seriously be buyers, either.

That brings me back to Simmonds. A power forward years ago, Simmonds has seen his game deteriorate with age, and so too has his value around the league. The Devils took a flyer on Simmonds this past summer and a mere eight goals later, it’s been a disastrous fit. So much so that New Jersey could only yield a fifth-round pick – or a one in six chance of finding an NHL player – for Simmonds and his expiring contract at the trade deadline. And New Jersey had to retain half his salary.

But here's what makes this an interesting low-risk bet. Buffalo gets a free look at a forward who, fairly recently, was an impact forward. And while Simmonds has looked rough, so has most of the New Jersey roster, too.

If you are looking at a bright side of things, Simmonds has been a pretty decent individual offensive contributor despite a regular changing of environment – this three-year data set spans time in Philadelphia, Nashville and New Jersey.

In the two seasons predating New Jersey, Simmonds posted middle-six scoring rates while getting middle-six usage. What’s really changed considerably year to year is what’s happened defensively. On teams with questionable defensive players in Philadelphia and New Jersey, Simmonds’ numbers went in the tank. In 2018-19, when Simmonds was able to play with competent defensive defensemen in Radko Gudas, Roman Josi and Ryan Ellis? He looked just fine.

Simmonds isn’t the same player he once was, but I think there is real value in figuring out just how much of that degradation is real. The cost is immaterial, and if there’s a chance that the environment around Simmonds was taking a capable middle-six forward and making him look like a fourth-line winger (with comically low shooting percentages, which we are seeing this year), it’s worth something to find that information out. 1178723 Buffalo Sabres The Sabres are dead last in the NHL in penalty killing at just 74 percent. Not only that, but it’s also the worst number in franchise history since the league began keeping track in 1977-78.

Time is running short for the Sabres after disheartening loss in Colorado “It’s unacceptable for us to be in that spot in any category,” Krueger said. “We got killed on the second opportunities where the puck focus on the kill was just too strong. We need to adjust that. By John Vogl Feb 26, 2020 “The puck belongs to (the goaltender). We have to take away the chances and second chances, and we didn’t do it. It’s just not good enough.” DENVER — Ralph Krueger’s way with words came through again. The power play, which scored in four of the previous five games, failed to “If this was the fifth game of the season, you’d be quite happy right now,” bail out the penalty killers with an 0-for-2 showing. the Sabres coach said. “It’s just that all that matters to us right now are results. “Special teams, you’ve got to be better,” Eichel said. “Penalty kill gives up two. Power play has a couple chances, didn’t get one. So, it’s frustrating.” “All that’s at the surface is the pain.” Simmonds joined in the chorus of the downtrodden, bemoaning his poor That was evident as Sam Reinhart sat in a trance in a locker stall, staring passing that helped result in a -13 Corsi during his check-filled debut. at the floor. It was clear in the way Kyle Okposo ran out of words and Jack Eichel had little use for them. “Hit, got hit, but that’s always a good thing, right?” he said. “I’ve got to be a little bit better with the puck, but it was an OK start.” The 3-2 loss to Colorado on Wednesday hurt because of the timing and the fact Buffalo could have (should have?) won. The next start will belong to fellow trade-deadline acquisition Dominik Kahun. He missed the game with a knee injury but should be ready to go “I know we played pretty good,” Eichel said in Pepsi Center, “but we Friday in Vegas. didn’t get any points, and this time of year, that’s what it’s all about.” Kahun could push Jimmy Vesey or Michael Frolik out of the lineup Entering the game, the Sabres needed 29 of a possible 40 points for a against the Golden Knights. Here were the Sabres’ lines against legitimate chance at the playoffs. Now they need 29 out of 38 as the Colorado: margin of error dwindled despite a physical, chance-filled contest that came down to two things: SABRES' LINEUP VERSUS AVS:

The Avalanche got an easy game-winner. OLOFSSON-EICHEL-REINHART

Buffalo’s penalty kill is the worst in franchise history. SKINNER-JOHANSSON-SIMMONDS

The players were still discussing the Avs’ winner long after changing out VESEY-LAZAR-FROLIK of their equipment. GIRGENSONS-LARSSON-OKPOSO Colorado poked the puck free from Rasmus Dahlin and Eichel behind the net, allowing Joonas Donskoi to skate alone to the front. Defenseman MONTOUR-RISTOLAINEN Colin Miller and goalie Carter Hutton went for the puck, and no one was MCCABE-JOKIHARJU available to cover J.T. Compher with 8:06 to play. DAHLIN-MILLER JT COMPHER, 3-2 #SABRES50 #GOAVSGO PIC.TWITTER.COM/OCFHCWUPVM HUTTONHTTPS://T.CO/7YPJONNCJC

— BUFFALO HOCKEY MOMENTS (@SABRESPLAYS) FEBRUARY 27, — JOHN VOGL (@BUFFALOVOGL) FEBRUARY 27, 2020 2020 “To add Dominik into the mix, it’ll create some healthy pressure in our “It’s a simple two-on-two where the puck bounces out and our D in front forward group,” Krueger said. “We look forward to just being able to look makes a decision,” Krueger said. “We’ve got a two-on-one net front, and at different combinations here getting ready for Vegas.” they get a backdoor goal.” Whatever lineup the Sabres roll out, it’ll be looking for points instead of “The goal at the end there, that sucks a little,” Dahlin said. “We lost our commendable play. There are three games remaining on the road trip guy — open net. We can’t do that. We’ve got to take the man.” and 19 overall, and climbing the standings is the goal. This loss didn’t kill them, but it hurt. It was an ironic way to go down because Buffalo was taking the man all night. Paced by new addition Wayne Simmonds in the opening minutes, “Yeah, there’s still games left,” Eichel said. “But every game matters. No the Sabres doled out 27 hits, their 10th-highest total of the season. moral victories now.” Rasmus Ristolainen finished with seven, followed by Simmonds, Johan Larsson, Curtis Lazar and Miller with three each. The Athletic LOADED: 02.27.2020

“Wayne got in on the forecheck, was banging bodies right away, and we followed suit,” Okposo said. “They didn’t have a rush game in the third because we were on them in the first two periods. It’s a testament to how we played, but tough to take the positives out of that.”

There are few positives because the penalty kill is a huge negative. The Avs opened 1-0 and 2-1 leads with power-play goals.

LANDESKOG, 1-0 PPG. NICE PLAY #SABRES50 #GOAVSGO PIC.TWITTER.COM/BYSFENASMA

— BUFFALO HOCKEY MOMENTS (@SABRESPLAYS) FEBRUARY 27, 2020

KAUT, 2-1 PPG #SABRES50 #GOAVSGO PIC.TWITTER.COM/M22VCRJGUT

— BUFFALO HOCKEY MOMENTS (@SABRESPLAYS) FEBRUARY 27, 2020 1178724 Buffalo Sabres The present, however, hasn’t gone as planned. The Sabres have scratched Miller 16 times. His numbers — everything from ice time to points to Corsi — have fallen off a cliff. There are still two more seasons Looking back at all of Jason Botterill’s significant moves this season on the contract that pays $3.875 million per year, so Botterill is hoping this is just a down year and not a downward trend.

July 1, 2019: Acquires forward Jimmy Vesey from the Rangers for a 2021 By John Vogl Feb 26, 2020 third-round pick

Once again, Botterill picked up an established NHL player for a future selection. While not flashy, Vesey averaged 17 goals during his three All Jason Botterill can do now is sit back and watch. seasons in New York. That would have ranked third on the Sabres during The general manager’s season is essentially over following Monday’s that time. trade deadline. He can make a few recalls and pursue a college free This season, he’s tied for sixth with nine goals. Vesey is on pace for 12, agent or two, but any significant moves are finished for Botterill’s teams which would be a career low. in Buffalo and Rochester. July 1, 2019: Signs forward Curtis Lazar, defenseman John Gilmour and So, how did his season go? goaltender Andrew Hammond to one-year, $700,000 contracts Not great. Not fireable. While he certainly won’t be a candidate for GM of By doling out the league’s minimum salary, Botterill improved the Sabres’ the year, Botterill should be around to see some of his prized acquisitions depth. Lazar has been effective in Buffalo and Rochester. Hammond has suit up next season. been solid with the Amerks, starting 14-11-2 and ranking in the top half of Let’s look back at all of Botterill’s significant moves for 2019-20. the American Hockey League in goals-against average.

April 7, 2019: Fires coach Phil Housley Gilmour has bounced between the teams and hasn’t reached the lofty numbers he recorded last season. After 20 goals with the Rangers’ General managers only get to hire a couple of coaches, so getting rid of minor-league team, he has six in 36 games with Rochester and Buffalo. the first one after just two years on the job is a bold move. It started the clock on the GM’s employment status. July 1, 2019: Signs forward Jean-Sebastien Dea to a two-year, $1.4 million deal But it was clear Housley and the players were severely disconnected. The Sabres had to move on, and Botterill decided quickly to do it. Botterill gave his former Penguins prospect a multiyear contract to provide leadership in Rochester and depth in Buffalo. In three games May 8, 2019: Signs European free agent Arttu Ruotsalainen to a three- with the Sabres, Dea has no points or shots while skating just 7:38 a year entry-level deal night. He is pacing the Amerks with 15 goals and 36 points in 50 games.

The diminutive forward was one of the best scorers in Finland, and the July 2, 2019: Re-signs forward C.J. Smith to a two-year, $1.4 million deal Sabres convinced him to sign. They scouted Ruotsalainen frequently while looking at Finnish teammate and 2017 draft pick Oskari Laaksonen. Smith totaled 30 goals last season, finding the net 28 times in Rochester and twice in 11 games for Buffalo. He, too, has experienced a significant Ruotsalainen didn’t make the Sabres out of training camp and returned to dip with 11 goals in 43 games with the Amerks. He hasn’t received a call Finland, where he continues to fill the net. He ranks in the top 10 in to Buffalo, which has him questioning his place in the organization. points per game with 12 goals and 37 points through his opening 38 outings. July 5, 2019: Re-signs forward Zemgus Girgensons to a one-year, $1.6 million contract May 15, 2019: Hires coach Ralph Krueger It was easy to scoff at the decision. Girgensons had been a nondescript Having seen how important communication is between players and fourth-line player, a job that can go to a younger skater making half of coaches, Botterill went out of the box to nab a motivational speaker who Girgensons’ salary. was running a soccer team. It’s been a hit in the dressing room. But few players are providing bang for the buck like Girgensons. He’s on Players have embraced Krueger’s positive, forceful message. Whether pace for 15 goals, which would tie the career high he set as an All-Star in it’s in team meetings or in the media room, the coach makes his point 2014-15. He even filled in as Jack Eichel’s winger while Victor Olofsson with positive words that aren’t sugarcoated. The results aren’t there yet, was injured. He has made a solid case to be re-signed again. but the hire looks solid. July 6, 2019: Signs forward Marcus Johansson to a two-year, $9 million June 7, 2019: Re-signs Jeff Skinner to an eight-year, $72 million contract deal

One of hockey’s worst-scoring organizations couldn’t let a 40-goal scorer After an impressive playoff series with Boston, Johansson sat on the walk. Keeping Skinner was a vital, necessary move. free-agent market for six days. He and the Sabres signed a budget- friendly deal that was fair for both sides. Johansson was one of the Signing him for $9 million per season with a full no-move clause is highly bigger names on the market, and Botterill got him. debatable. It seems like a one-sided negotiation, with Skinner receiving an overpayment and getting a perk that typically results in a giveback. But like so many others, Johansson’s production is way down. It’s largely Even before the left winger went 22 games without a goal and watched due to a position switch. The Sabres still haven’t found their second-line his totals plummet, there were worries about what the deal would look center to back up Eichel, so they moved Johansson from left wing to a like when Skinner turns 30 and still has five seasons left. spot he hadn’t played in seven years. It shows.

June 21, 2019: Drafts Dylan Cozens with the No. 7 overall pick Johansson is on pace for just 10 goals and 25 points. That’s two fewer goals and the same number of points that Casey Mittelstadt put up last Selecting a big, highly skilled center was a no-brainer given the season during his disappointing run as the No. 2 center. organization’s needs. But Cozens is proving the best of the available options, dominating the Western Hockey League and helping Canada July 9, 2019: Acquires defenseman Henri Jokiharju from Chicago for earn gold at the world juniors. forward Alex Nylander

The Sabres signed him to a three-year deal on July 15, 2019, and there’s It was clear Nylander didn’t have a future in the Sabres organization. a good chance that contract will start in Buffalo next season. Jokiharju definitely does. He’s been one of the Sabres’ steadiest defenders, playing in every game after sitting ninth or 10th on the depth June 28, 2019: Acquires defenseman Colin Miller from Vegas for a 2021 chart entering training camp. second-round pick and 2022 fifth-round pick Jokiharju is tied for third among Sabres defensemen with four even- Botterill took advantage of the Golden Knights’ salary-cap woes, plucking strength goals and fourth with 15 points. The 20-year-old still has another the highest-scoring defenseman in the franchise’s brief history for a pair season left on his entry-level contract. of future picks — the distant future. July 12, 2019: Re-signs center Johan Larsson to a one-year, $1.55 against Tampa Bay before getting sent back down. Smith, a fan favorite million deal in Rochester, turned into a punchline in Buffalo. The saga prompted Rodrigues to formally issue his trade request after getting scratched for Just like the Girgensons decision, it was easy to wonder why. Larsson Smith. has been a bottom-six player throughout the worst era of hockey in Buffalo’s history. Jan. 2, 2020: Sabres acquire a 2020 fourth-round pick from Montreal for Marco Scandella; Sabres acquire forward Michael Frolik from Calgary for But he’s on pace for a career-high 22 points while anchoring the that 2020 fourth-round pick checking line with Girgensons and Kyle Okposo. His even-strength goal differential of +7 is third on the team despite starting in the offensive zone After almost six months of having too many defensemen and not enough just 36.8 percent of the time. forwards, a needed deal finally came. It took a bit of three-team creativity, but Botterill brought in a $4.3 million forward and shipped out a $4 million He’s also making a solid case to be re-signed again. defenseman.

July 25, 2019: Goes to arbitration with forward Evan Rodrigues, who is So far, it’s the wrong forward. Frolik has one empty-net goal, two assists awarded a one-year, $2 million deal and 24 shots in his first 17 games with Buffalo. He’s headed toward the It seemed like a fair decision for a versatile forward coming off a nine- short list of worst in-season acquisitions, riding alongside the infamous goal, 29-point season. But Rodrigues immediately found himself in Raffi Torres (no goals, five assists in 14 games in 2010). Krueger’s doghouse, getting scratched in the opening three games and Botterill had no control when the market shifted and Montreal flipped sitting 24 times overall. Rodrigues requested a trade, which finally came Scandella for a second-round pick and a conditional fourth just one at Monday’s deadline. month later, but the optics were again bad.

The main question is why Botterill took almost two months to move a Feb. 14, 2020: Waives defenseman Zach Bogosian disgruntled player out of the dressing room. Once again, the sin was lack of urgency in addressing a problem. It took Aug. 1, 2019: Re-signs forward Remi Elie to a one-year, $700,000 10 weeks from trade demand to departure for Bogosian. contract Understandably, the Sabres preferred to get something — anything — for Claimed off waivers from Dallas last season, Elie had no goals and one a 12-year veteran playing a position of need for many teams. It should assist in a minuscule role with Buffalo before heading to Rochester. He have been clear nothing was coming, and Sabres players watched a put up eight goals and 14 points in 25 games with the Amerks. well-liked teammate dangle in the wind.

Elie has six goals and 11 points in 27 games during an injury-riddled Of course, the situation was of Bogosian’s own doing with his impetuous season with Rochester. request after one scratch. Still, the saga could have ended two months Aug. 3, 2019: Re-signs Jake McCabe to a two-year, $5.7 million contract earlier with the same result.

The sides settled before heading to arbitration. McCabe’s cap hit of $2.85 Feb. 17, 2020: Signs forward Taylor Leier to a one-year, $700,000 million ranks 113th among blueliners, which technically pays him like a contract top-four defender. Krueger took an immediate shine to the defenseman, Unlike Smith, this could be a case of rewarding a player for minor-league naming McCabe an alternate captain. effort. While fighting injuries in Rochester, Leier has eight goals in 20 Regarded as a stay-at-home defenseman, McCabe starts in the offensive games for the Amerks. zone just 43.4 percent of the time, second-last on the Sabres to Gilmour Feb. 24, 2020: Acquires Wayne Simmonds from the Devils for a 2021 (36.3 percent). McCabe is also last in even-strength goal differential at - conditional fifth-round pick 12, more than double the next blueliner (Miller at -6). While Simmonds’ best days are behind him, Botterill filled a need by Aug. 3, 2019: Re-signs goalie Linus Ullmark to a one-year, $1.325 million bringing in a gritty leader with playoff experience for the stretch drive. deal And since the GM gave up essentially nothing to do it, the move looks The Sabres and their netminder went to arbitration but settled before the like a win, especially if Simmonds helps deliver a few victories. judge’s decision. Buffalo is getting good value from a goalie who ranks Feb. 24, 2020: Acquires forward Dominik Kahun from Pittsburgh for 47th in pay and 23rd in save percentage. Rodrigues and forward Conor Sheary

Nov. 24, 2019: Acquires defenseman Matt Spencer from Tampa Bay for Kahun’s offensive numbers with the Penguins nearly equal Rodrigues’ defenseman Devante Stephens and Sheary’s combined, so it appears Botterill got the best player in the Strictly a minor-league move, the Sabres added the right-handed trade. He also maintains control of the pending restricted free agent, Spencer for the left-handed Stephens. while Sheary was set to leave as a UFA and Rodrigues wanted out. Again, the initial take is the move looks like a win. Dec. 15, 2019: Assigns Casey Mittelstadt to Rochester But there have been quite a few losses for the GM. Like the on-ice This is Botterill’s signature in-season moment, acknowledging that his product Botterill assembled, it’s been an up-and-down year with first draft pick needed to go to the minors. The problem is the significant highs and befuddling lows. acknowledgment came well after it became obvious. Jason Pominville and Thomas Vanek (among others) were options to the Pigeonholed by a lack of centers, the Sabres trotted out Mittelstadt for 1 underwhelming quartet of Frolik, Vesey, Sheary and Rodrigues, and the 1/2 ineffective seasons. In his last 24 games with the Sabres, he had one team might have benefited with better production at a lower price. There goal, one assist and 18 shots, averaged 13:24 per night and was were too many defensemen and too few forwards for far too long. scratched three times. Botterill’s salary-cap management is rightfully being questioned as an In his past 24 games with Rochester, he has seven goals and 18 points, overage awaits next season. Injuries handcuffed the GM — season- slowly gaining the offensive confidence he desperately needs — and ending ailments to Vladimir Sobotka ($3.5 million), Matt Hunwick ($2.25 should have been getting sooner. million) and Tage Thompson ($925,000) significantly impacted the bottom line — but Botterill had all season to make space for the bonuses Dec. 30, 2019: Signed forward Dalton Smith to a one-year, $700,000 that will be due to Rasmus Dahlin, Jokiharju and others. Now the Sabres’ contract cap ceiling will be lower than that of other teams in 2020-21. This turned into an optical nightmare. Buffalo tried to pitch the signing as It was wise to trade future draft picks for players who can help now, but a career minor-leaguer finally earning a big-league deal. In reality, the Sabres might miss the playoffs despite giving up three 2021 Botterill had built a team without toughness and someone had to swoop selections: one of their two second-rounders for Miller, a third-rounder for in to stand up to the hard-hitting (cheap-shotting?) Lightning on New Vesey and either a fourth or fifth for Simmonds. It’s not hard to reacquire Year’s Eve. picks at the draft, but Botterill’s targets haven’t helped as much as If Buffalo really believed Smith had earned his NHL chance, he would needed (so far). have stayed longer than 1 minute, 26 seconds, which was his ice time But Jokiharju is a player. Mittelstadt is finally getting development time. The Sabres have a coach who connects with the players. Cozens looks like a future stud.

Those things saved the GM from having a season to forget.

The Athletic LOADED: 02.27.2020 1178725 Calgary Flames scored that between-the-legs beauty to lift his squad to an overtime victory on Halloween night.

FLAMES’ PROJECTED LINEUP GameDay: Calgary Flames at Nashville Predators — Is Gio good to go? Forwards

Johnny Gaudreau – Sean Monahan – Elias Lindholm Wes Gilbertson Andrew Mangiapane – Mikael Backlund – Matthew Tkachuk

Milan Lucic – Derek Ryan – Dillon Dube CALGARY FLAMES Sam Bennett – Mark Jankowski – Tobias Rieder GameDay: Flames at Bruins, the rematch Defence THURSDAY Mark Giordano – TJ Brodie Calgary Flames (33-25-6) at Nashville Predators (31-23-8) Noah Hanifin – Rasmus Andersson 6 p.m. MT, Bridgestone Arena, Sportsnet West/Sportsnet 960 The Fan Derek Forbort – Erik Gustafsson THE BIG MATCHUP Goaltenders Flames D Erik Gustafsson vs. Predators penalty-kill David Rittich Deadline-day acquisition Erik Gustafsson made a positive first impression in the Flaming C, logging a team-high 21 minutes of ice-time Cam Talbot and collecting an assist in Tuesday’s triumph in Boston. The 27-year-old — pried away from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for a third- PREDATORS LINEUP round pick — is getting a crack at quarterbacking Calgary’s top power- Forwards play unit. He showed hints of chemistry with his new PP1 pals on what turned out to be the game-winning tally, funnelling a pass to Matthew Mikael Granlund – Ryan Johansen – Viktor Arvidsson Tkachuk on the right flank and then watching as No. 19 dished to Sean Filip Forsberg – Matt Duchene – Kyle Turris Monahan for a nifty redirect. The Predators have the NHL’s worst penalty-kill stats, and Gustafsson & Co. will try to add to those short- Rocco Grimaldi – Nick Bonino – Craig Smith handed struggles. Calle Jarnkrok – Colton Sissons – Colin Blackwell FIVE STORYLINES FOR THE GAME Defence STATEMENT WIN Roman Josi – Ryan Ellis The Flames certainly had the look of a could-be contender in Tuesday’s 5-2 road victory over the Boston Bruins, who sit atop the overall Mattias Ekholm – Dante Fabbro standings and have suffered just three regulation losses at TD Garden so Jarred Tinordi – Yannick Weber far this season. Sean Monahan scored twice in the second, Mikael Backlund potted a pair in the third and David Rittich was superb from Goaltenders start to finish in the crease as the crew from Calgary continued to pile up points on the road. They’re now 19-13-2 in enemy territory. Pekka Rinne

READY TO GO, GIO? Juuse Saros

There’s a good chance Flames captain Mark Giordano will return to the Connor Ingram lineup against the Predators. The workhorse defenceman was close — close enough to be considered a game-time decision — to lacing ’em up in Boston, but you can’t blame the Flames for being extra cautious with INJURIES such an important piece. Giordano has now missed 10 consecutive contests due to a hamstring injury. If the 36-year-old is green-lighted in Flames — D Mark Giordano (hamstring), D Travis Hamonic (upper Nashville, expect to see him skating alongside TJ Brodie on the top pair. body), D Juuso Valimaki (knee)

FOUR-POINTER Predators — G Pekka Rinne (illness)

With Tuesday’s 3-2 home victory over the Ottawa Senators, the SPECIAL TEAMS Predators climbed into a playoff spot for the first time since mid- Power play (prior to Wednesday’s action) November. They’re two points back of the Flames, with both currently sitting in wildcard berths. So yeah, Thursday’s battle is a biggie. “Things Flames: 20.1% (37-for-184, T-17th) are looking up in this dressing room right now, and guys are starting to work harder,” said Predators defenceman Ryan Ellis. “Like we say — Predators: 16.7% (34-for-204, 24th) ‘Embrace the grind.’ I think we are on the right path.” Penalty kill (prior to Wednesday’s action)

STEADY SHOOTER Flames: 82.4% (7th)

With his first lamp-lighting against the Bruins, Monahan ascended to the Predators: 74.1% (31st) 20-goal threshold for the seventh consecutive season — that’s each and every one of ’em for the 25-year-old centre. In fact, Monahan is the first Calgary Sun: LOADED: 02.27.2020 marksman in Flames’ franchise history to bury 20-plus in his first seven winters in the NHL. In Calgary’s club lore, Jarome Iginla (13), Theo Fleury (10) and Joe Nieuwendyk (8) are the only guys to string together more 20-goal campaigns at any point in their careers.

THIS N’ THAT

Predators netminder Pekka Rinne didn’t even dress against the Senators due to illness, but he was one of three puck-stoppers on the ice for Wednesday’s practice … The Flames and Predators have split a pair of meetings so far this season, with the road team prevailing in both. It was at Bridgestone Arena, remember, that Calgary’s Matthew Tkachuk 1178726 Calgary Flames on Monahan’s first strike in Boston was vintage No. 13. Gaudreau had everybody guessing with a bit of shake and bake, drawing a pair of defenders and then spying his BFF in the spot that he’d just softened.

Just in time, Flames getting more pop from their big guns Monahan’s one-timer wasn’t a howitzer, but he found daylight between Rask’s blocker and the post and made a bit of history in the process, becoming the first corner-picker in Flames’ franchise history to score 20 Wes Gilbertson goals in his first seven campaigns in the bigs. He buried his 21st of this season just 72 seconds later on a nifty re-direct on the man-advantage.

Both great passes, sure, but the Flames rely on Monahan to be a guy NASHVILLE — The captain will be back soon. who makes the most of those Grade-A chances and that’s exactly what And Mark Giordano’s return to game action, whether that comes No. 23 did in Boston. Thursday in Music City or waits until this weekend in the Sunshine State, He’ll need an epic heater to equal his twine-tickling output of 2018-19, will undoubtedly be big news for the Calgary Flames. when he found the back of the net 34 times, but all that really matters is He is, after all, their emotional engine, their best blue-liner, their leading he stays dangerous down the stretch. minute-muncher and a key piece on both sides of special teams. “I mean, it’s nice,” Monahan shrugged when asked post-game about Just as significant, maybe even more so, for the Flames is it seems that extending his string of 20-goal seasons. “But at the end of the day, I want some of their other difference-making dudes are already back. to just be in the playoffs. It’s team-first.”

Back, that is, to looking like their old selves. A playoff invite seems a lot more realistic, likely even, with Gaudreau, Monahan and Backlund looking like their old selves and Matthew Johnny Gaudreau’s season-long stat-line isn’t going to stack up to his Tkachuk continuing to grow into a team-on-his-shoulders type. career-best campaign of a year ago, but the superstar left-winger has been a point-per-game guy since the calendar flipped to 2020. That’s And don’t forget, they’re about to welcome back another biggie. more like it. Giordano has missed 10 in a row since being hobbled by a hamstring His sidekick, Sean Monahan, is once again reminding everyone of his injury but he’s so close that he was officially a game-time decision reputation as a clutch shooter. He tallied twice to spur his squad to against the Bruins. Tuesday’s 5-2 statement win over the league-leading Boston Bruins, The Flames were off Wednesday, so there was no further update, but it’s ending Tuukka Rask’s incredible streak of home-ice success, and now certainly possible the 36-year-old is back on the top defence pair against has four goals in a four-game stretch. the Predators. And second-line/shutdown centre Mikael Backlund, who also “I think until he feels like he’s really, really confident in it, there’s no sense underachieved in the early stages of the season but didn’t catch too putting him on the ice,” Ward said after Tuesday’s win in his old stomping much flak because of all the focus on Johnny and Monny, has been grounds at TD Garden. “If this was a playoff series, it might be different. Calgary’s best-of-the-bunch since the all-star break. But we don’t want to put him in a situation where he goes out there, he’s The way No. 11 responded after Tuesday’s stare-down with Bruins lamp- not 100% confident in what’s going on and then something else happens lighter/pot-stirrer Brad Marchand, deadline-day pick-up Erik Gustafsson and we lose him for a longer period of time. will certainly know not to swipe Backlund’s seat if there’s only room for “So we’re going to take our time with it. We’re going to make sure he four in an Uber. (After Monday’s acquisition of Gustafsson, the Flames’ feels real, real good about it.” contingent of Swedes is now UberXL-sized.) The Flames so far are 6-4 without their captain. They can feel relatively Excited to be a ! Good win for the boys tonight. Let’s keep it rolling! good about that, especially since that includes five wins on the road. pic.twitter.com/D61XodNRYr What they should be most encouraged about, however, is that some of — Erik Gustafsson (@ErkanGustafsson) February 26, 2020 their go-to guys have really raised their games of late.

Backlund sealed the victory in Beantown with an end-to-end rush, then “Any time you have guys out of your lineup, it gives you opportunity to made absolutely sure of it with an empty-netter on that same shift. He’s develop depth,” Ward said, asked what he’s learned about his group notched eight markers, more than half of his winter total, in the past eight since No. 5 was shelved. “So I think we reinforced to ourselves that we dates. have depth in our lineup. I think other guys, in his absence, really “Johnny has been obviously putting points up for a while now,” said stepped up and showed that we have a good leadership group in our Flames interim coach Geoff Ward after Tuesday’s triumph. “I think he has room in terms of how we were preparing to play and how the guys got 19 points in his last 19 games, so he’s not coming around — he’s been along without him. And I think it said something about the competitive scoring. The other two guys, the fact that they’re putting pucks in the juice of our team — we weren’t feeling sorry for ourselves, and we back of the net, that will feed their confidence. Backs will tell you he’s weren’t worrying about what wasn’t there. The guys looked at it as an always been a second-half scorer, and we’re starting to see some of that. opportunity to come together, understanding there was a hole in our And I really liked his response — I thought he competed hard. He came lineup and what we needed to do to be successful without him in it, and off the exchange with Marchand and ended up scoring a couple of goals then just getting to work and doing what we needed to do as a group in so I thought for him, that was huge. order to have success when he was out.

“And when Monny is shooting the puck, he’s at his best. He was a shot- “I think they responded the right way to it. The interesting thing now is first guy (Tuesday) instead of looking for that extra pass, and it ends up when you get a big piece back, what tends to happen sometimes is that in a couple of goals. For us, hopefully those guys build some momentum guys stop playing and sort of relax — ‘Ok, we’ve got this guy back now, off it. And they should because the way that they scored, I think it’s so now we’re OK.’ That can’t be the case for us. When Gio comes back important in terms of the way that they need to play.” in, we have to maintain exactly what we were doing so that it’s easy for him to immerse himself back in and he doesn’t feel like he has to do That hat-trick of forwards will be crucial to the Flames’ push to not only more than what he should be doing.” punch a playoff ticket but perhaps seize home-ice advantage in a jam- packed Pacific Division, a quest that continues with Thursday’s clash with Calgary Sun: LOADED: 02.27.2020 the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena (6 p.m. MT, Sportsnet West/Sportsnet 960 The Fan). The Flames and Predators are currently parked in the two wild-card slots in the Western Conference standings.

Gaudreau’s offensive drop-off has been a hot topic since the fall, but nobody should be complaining about his recent clip.

He has a team-leading 22 points in as many games since New Year’s Day, has been blanked just twice in the past dozen outings and his setup 1178727 Calgary Flames Gustafsson absorbs the hit, but not before banking the puck out to centre and onto the tape of Milan Lucic as the Flames transition up the ice.

Most of the shift is spent in the offensive end with both new guys active. First impressions: Shift-by-shift look at the debut of the Flames new D Gustafsson jumping down low to work a give and go with Lucic at one pairing point. Shortly after, Forbort pinches down the sideboards to thwart a clearing attempt by Anders Bjork.

By Darren Haynes Feb 26, 2020 Shift 2 | Even-strength | 3:50 | 0 SAT

Not much going on this shift that features three stoppages in a 22-second span — offside, hand pass and icing. The most eventful moment is when They say opposites attract and there was definitely a spark in the air on Forbort, as he retreats back into his own end with the puck, crashes into Tuesday night in Boston. the end boards while being harassed from behind by Karson Kuhlman. But Matthew Tkachuk tracks back deep into his own end and right after The debut of Calgary’s new defence pairing — trade deadline day Kuhlman grabs the loose puck from Forbort, Tkachuk promptly strips it acquisitions Erik Gustafsson and Derek Forbort — was a winning one as from him and away the Flames go. the Flames knocked off the Bruins 5-2. Shift 3 | Shorthanded (Forbort) | 6:44 Mikael Backlund — giving him eight goals in his last eight games — and Sean Monahan led the way with a pair of goals each in the important Prolonged Boston pressure leads to a TJ Brodie penalty and our first look victory that keeps Calgary in a playoff spot in the Western Conference. at Forbort on the penalty kill where he lines up alongside Rasmus Andersson. First impression is he is huge and takes up a lot of space — “We played with an awful lot of composure. This is a hard building to play thick body, thick limbs, thick arms. With some strong, relentless work in,” said interim coach Geoff Ward. “We did a really good job in terms of along the boards, Calgary gets the early kill. David Pastrnak has a couple staying focused. We did a really good job in terms of being emotionally shots blocked by Andersson. The best chance is a quick pass out from attached to the game — and not being out of control emotionally. I Brad Marchand to Patrice Bergeron, but Rittich stops it. thought we did a real good job in our end. We kept pucks from moving forward.” Shift 4 | Shorthanded (Forbort) | 8:28

It was a fine night for the two newcomers on the blue line, whose Back out to kill the rest of the penalty kill, Charlie McAvoy bursts into the physical make-up and hockey acumen are nothing alike. zone with the puck, but Forbort is able to back-track just quickly enough to steer the speedy defenceman behind the net, then Forbort slides Gustafsson, 6-foot-0, is listed at a lean 197 pounds, while Forbort, 6-foot- across the top of the crease to block David Krejci’s wrister, after he was 4, tips the scales at 219 pounds. set up by McAvoy. Gustafsson, a power play guy, is at his best with the puck on his stick. Shift 5 | Even-strength (both) | 9:18 | 0 SAT Forbort, born and raised to be a penalty killer, is more akin to the heavy, grinding game. Early on, Gustafsson gets a long wrist shot on net off a face-off win in the offensive zone. You also see Gustafsson demonstrate his blend of But there they were together on the third pairing, with just the morning quickness, strength and an active stick in closing quickly on Sean Kuraly skate to get familiar with each other after a hectic 24 hours, thrown along the sideboards, pinning him briefly. together like a blind date. Shift 6 | Even-strength (both) | 12:26 | -2 SAT “I thought both guys played to their strengths,” said Ward. “I really like what Forbs did down low. He’s able to end cycles, move pucks up walls. Again, Forbort shows no hesitation in pinching down the wall to block He had a couple big shot blocks. Wagner’s clearing attempt. But a little later, he gets caught flat-footed at the blue line as the Bruins chip it out along the boards, creating a partial “Of course, Gus does a lot in terms of moving the puck up. I thought he breakaway for Wagner. However, Gustafsson bails out his partner, racing did a real good job on the power play tonight, doing some stuff around across to knock the puck off Wagner’s stick and take away his scoring the top. He got more comfortable as the game went on. chance. Boston is credited with two shot attempts, but one missed the The improbable win comes at TD Gardens in Boston, no less, where the net and one was blocked. Neither were dangerous. NHL’s No. 1 team overall has been especially lethal at home, entering Shift 7 | Power play (Gustafsson) | 14:50 the night with two regulation losses at home in 32 games. Well, he’s certainly not afraid to shoot the puck. Less than 10 seconds So, it looked good. But, how did it feel? into the power play, Gustafsson steps into a one-timer from Johnny “It felt pretty good,” Gustafsson said afterwards. “I haven’t played a game Gaudreau. A little later, while we’re conditioned to waiting for the bump since last Tuesday or something. But it’s easy to play with Forbs … I back — and so was Gaudreau — Gustafsson bolts up ice with the puck think we played pretty easy. So I think we handled it pretty good. It was and barges into the Bruins zone, only to have the puck knocked away by fun to be out there.” Zdeno Chara’s lengthy pool cue and away goes Coyle on a one-on-one against Gaudreau, which dies when he loses an edge and turns the puck Ward says they will only get better, too. back over to the Flames.

“It takes a little while for them, obviously, to get used to not only each Shift 8 | Even-strength (both) | 17:29 | +2 SAT other but the new teammates, systems and stuff. I thought they both played well. I liked the fact that they got better as the game went on,” he Still down 1-0 and hunting the tying goal, the Bruins send out the said. “Just about everything we felt they could bring, I felt like we were Bergeron-Marchand-Pastrnak line — the more prolific line in the NHL — starting to see more and more of it as the game went on. I’m looking against Calgary’s fourth line of Jankowski-Bennett-Rieder, who are out forward to having them with our group.” with the club’s new D pairing. But in a plot twist, the Flames spend most of the shift in the offensive zone. At one point, Gustafsson’s shot deflects Here’s a shift-by-shift look at how Gustafsson and Forbort impacted the wide and after retrieving the puck and cycling it down low, Mark game. Included for reference is their net shot attempts for/against for Jankowski sends a pass across to Forbort, who fires a shot on net. even-strength shifts. Domination for 95 percent of the shift ends with a scare as Marchand senses a turnover and flies the zone and Bergeron bounces a puck off First period the boards and past Forbort that Marchand pursues. But smartly and Shift 1 | Even-strength (both) | 1:23 | +1 SAT alertly, Rittich races out of his crease and clears the puck to center.

First shift for the new guys is a face-off to David Rittich’s left that turns Second period into a quick, smooth defensive zone exit. Derek Ryan beats Charlie Shift 9 | Even-strength (both) | 2:10 | 0 SAT Coyle, the puck goes to Forbort on the side wall, who quickly dishes to Gustafsson who circles behind the net. With Coyle in pursuit and 6-foot- As Kuhlman races over the Flames blue line with the puck, a textbook 2, 23o-pound Nick Ritchie also lining him up to deliver a heavy thump, angle from Gustafsson takes him heavily into the boards, separating him from the puck. Gustafsson collects it and rims around the end boards where Tkachuk gets on the other end and breaks out alongside Andrew Boston can only manage a sharp angle shot from Carlo, which is Mangiapane. deflected by Jankowski. The final 38 seconds are spent exclusively on the Boston side of center with Forbort sending a couple of shots towards Shift 10 | Even-strength (both) | 5:30 | -1 SAT the net during the gritty, hard-working shift by the Flames fourth line.

Dillon Dube sends a pass back to the blue line where Gustafsson walks Third period to the middle of the ice before letting a dangerous shot that go with several bodies in front. But Tuukka Rask is able find the puck in traffic Shift 18 | Even-strength (both) | 1:22 | -1 SAT and make the save. The play remains in the Bruins end where Gustafsson activates from the blue line again and carries the puck in A clean defensive zone face-off win by Jankowski goes for naught when deep, but his centering attempt is intercepted. Later after going back to Forbort’s short outlet pass is mishandled by Gustafsson leading to the retrieve the puck, Forbort is cut off in the corner by Jake Debrusk, but in Bruins getting possession. But nothing very dangerous ensues and what becomes a 50-50 battle for the loose puck, Forbort and his big Calgary eventually moves the puck up ice. frame prevails and moves it up the sideboards where Calgary carries it to After Forbort ices the puck twice in a row, 30 seconds apart, it’s another center. Forbort also does a good job clearing Krejci from the front of the important moment with Gustafsson and Forbort tired after having been net in one sequence, enabling Rittich to see a point shot from Zdeno on the ice for over a minute already. Boston wins the next face-off and Chara that ends up being harmless. continues to threaten, but with the puck sent in deep to Krejci, Forbort Shift 11 | Power play (Gustafsson) | 8:46 pounces and defending in a way that he can, but Oliver Kylington cannot, he uses his size to pin the Czech centre against the end boards. The While Gustafsson nearly misplays a pass back to the blue line from puck ends up popping out to Dube and while Calgary is turned back Tkachuk, just managing to keep it in, he then settles into that quarterback initially, they are able to eventually exit the zone on a nice calm pass position at the top of the zone and starts working the puck both sides as from Forbort to Gustafsson, who flips the puck out to centre. Both players well as into the middle to Monahan. He eventually sends a pass to his exit the ice after grinding out an exhausting 1:45 shift. right that Gaudreau one-times for a dangerous chance. Shift 19 | Even-strength (both) | 4:40 | -1 SAT Shift 12 | Power play (Gustafsson) | 10:08 The chemistry is evident already as Gustafsson chases down a Bruins After the second power play unit gives up a shorthanded goal to dump in, sends a bank-pass behind the net to Forbort on the other side, Marchand, Gustafsson and the first unit come back out again. After who quickly outlets to Lucic and as easy as you can draw it up, the getting set up again in the attacking zone, again it’s a pass to his right Flames exit the zone and transition up ice. that creates a dangerous one-timer opportunity with Tkachuk whistling a hard shot wide. As the power play is expiring, Gustafsson is in the middle Later in the shift though, there is nearly a fatal lapse. In a poor decision of another chance. Facing some heat from the charging Par Lindholm at while defending an innocuous rush, Forbort lunges at the puck on the blue line, he makes a nifty, but subtle, play to turn and in tight Marchand’s stick and the Bruins winger neatly avoids the stick check, quarters, send a no-look backhand bank pass down to Monahan, who creating a dangerous rush. But the big d-man redeems himself by sends the puck cross-ice to Gaudreau, who then sets up Elias Lindholm recovering in time to get in front of Pastrnak’s dangerous shot and deflect in front for a dangerous redirection. it into the crowd.

Shift 13 | Even-strength (both) | 11:29 | +1 SAT Shift 20 | Even-strength (both) | 7:02 | -1 SAT

Gustafsson works a give and go with Backlund as Calgary gains the A couple failed clears followed by a couple of icings has Calgary on its offensive zone. When Backlund has the puck knocked off his stick and heels as the Bruins continue to push for the tying goal. That’s when then corralled by Pastrnak, it’s Gustafsson’s immediate poke check that Gustafsson decides he’s had enough. Not known for his physicality, he allows the Flames to regain possession. Meanwhile, twice in succession steps into McAvoy, knocking him flying. Bennett pounces on the loose the Bruins get the puck out to the neutral zone — first, Brandon Carlo, puck, shovels it to Forbort and the puck is finally cleared to safety, then Pastrnak — and both times Forbort intercepts it, enabling Calgary to allowing for a wholesale line change. go right back on the attack. Shift 21 | Even-strength (both) | 9:28 | 0 SAT

Shift 14 | Even-strength (both) | 13:25 | -1 SAT Another low-stress shift gets the Flames closer to the finish line, two-goal In that all-important next shift after Monahan’s goal makes it 2-1, lead intact. Gustafsson and Forbort are sent out to defend the Krejci-Ritchie- Shift 22 | Even-strength (both) | 11:00 | +1 SAT Kuhlman line and in a low-stress shift, the only shot attempt the Bruins can muster is a harmless 60-foot wrister from Matt Grzelcyk. Krejci tries to split the defence on a Bruins rush, but Gustafsson is having none of that as he closes quickly to knock the puck away with a Shift 15 | Power play (Gustafsson) | 14:32 good stick and Mangiapane and Backlund combine to get the puck out of The Flames don’t take long to convert their third power play of the night. the zone. Lindholm wins the draw back to Gustafsson, who again walks the puck to Shift 23 | Even-strength (both) | 13:09 | +1 SAT the middle of the ice, makes a fake to his left to shake Par Lindholm and then sends the puck over to Tkachuk on the right. His hard pass into the It’s a big shift as the Bruins’ Chris Wagner just scored from a mad slot is perfectly steered in by Monahan for his second of the game. scramble to cut the deficit to 3-2. Entrusted by Ward to defuse any further momentum is the Ryan line, along with the new guys on the blue line. But “I tried to drive the puck into the middle to see if I could shoot the puck or it turns out to be their most harrowing shift. Gustafsson gets himself in handle the puck or find a player like I did,” Gustafsson explained. “But I trouble when he tries to step up on Kuraly in the neutral zone, only to think I can shoot it a little bit more.” Gustafsson was awarded the second have the Bruins winger neatly sidestep him and move in on a 2-on-1 with assist for his first point with his new team. only Forbort back. Kuraly does a nice job to wait out Forbort as he drops Shift 16 | Even-strength (both) | 16:16 | 0 SAT to the ice, but now Gustafsson has hustled back into the play and taken away Wagner as a passing option out front. So Kuraly does it himself and The size and strength of Forbort is again on display. When Par Lindholm cuts back to the front, forcing Rittich to make an excellent pad save. dumps the puck into the corner and chases after it, Forbort turns and uses his big chassis to prevent Lindholm from getting to the puck while at Shift 24 | Even-strength (both) | 15:16 | +1 SAT the same time, he kicks it ahead with his skate to Backlund in support A four-second shift ends up going down as exactly that, a four-second who carries the puck behind the net and initiates a clean Calgary shift, when a TV timeout prompts Ward to reconsider things and change breakout up the other side. his D pairing.

Shift 17 | Even-strength (both) | 19:09 | 0 SAT Shift 25 | Even-strength (both) | 16:56 | -1 SAT

It’s an important shift with less than a minute remaining and the Bruins With the score still 3-2, Backlund loses the puck in the neutral zone hungry to cut into their deficit before the second ends — and it’s the enabling the Bruins to enter the zone dangerously, but Forbort Bergeron line sent out by Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy to take the aggressively knocks the puck off the stick of Nick Ritchie and Bergeron’s offensive zone draw. While Bergeron beats Jankowski on the face-off, shot attempt is deflected wide by Gustafsson. Shift 26 | Even-strength (both) | 19:11 | -1 SAT

Thanks to a pair of Backlund goals, a three-goal lead suddenly means it’s time to milk the clock, but not without one more showcase as Gustafsson. From his own end, he sends a perfect 120-foot diagonal pass onto the tape of Bennett at the far blue line.

It was viewed as a quiet trade deadline for the Flames, but if the solid play of the two newcomers in game one is a sign of things to come, they were noisier than most people realize.

Next up for Gustafsson, Forbort and company is a big game in Nashville on Thursday, stop three on a five-game road trip. The Flames are in the first wild card spot and two points back, but with two games in hand, is the Predators, who occupy the second wild card spot.

The Athletic LOADED: 02.27.2020 1178728 Carolina Hurricanes And yet, like with a lot of things on Twitter, important details were lost along the way, or left out. The “Zamboni goalie,” as Ayres quickly became known, only described part of his identity. It said nothing of his His wild NHL story could be a Disney movie. But for David Ayres, one lifelong pursuit of this moment; or about his connection with his late thing was missing father, who taught him the game; or about what he’d overcome after a kidney transplant.

Still, Ayres embraced the “Zamboni goalie” moniker, even if it was BY ANDREW CARTER FEBRUARY 26, 2020 12:20 PM something of a caricature. Years ago, the woman he married knew Ayres for driving a Zamboni before she met him. Now he and Sarah have

known each other for about four years, and been married for two and a RALEIGH-More than seven hours before the Carolina Hurricanes’ game half. against the Dallas Stars on Tuesday night, David Ayres walked into the “It’s going to sound like I’m pumping his tires for a little bit,” she said Hurricanes locker room at PNC Arena with his wife by his side. The team during a phone interview earlier this week. “But I don’t know one person had flown Ayres to Raleigh, to celebrate his improbable story, and while that could ever say anything negative about him. … He constantly gives the longest dream of his life morphed into reality parts of it still felt unreal. (at) every opportunity, every chance he can. It began three days earlier, on Saturday night in Toronto. That was when “And he’s the funniest guy you’ve ever met.” Ayres went from the upper deck to the ice; when he went from eating a Reuben sandwich in section 317 to playing goalie for the Hurricanes Not long after they met, Ayres asked her to dinner. During the dinner, he during the final 28 minutes of their victory against the Maple Leafs. asked her if she’d ever heard of a guy known around Toronto as the Zamboni goalie. Even by then, in 2015, Ayres’ story was known around Ayres, from Whitby, Ontario, was 42-years-old, a former Zamboni driver Toronto. He’d turned his stint as the Zamboni driver for the Toronto and the current operations manager of the historic arena where the Marlies, a Maple Leafs minor league affiliate, into an opportunity to Maple Leafs used to play. He’d survived a kidney transplant. He’d lived become the Marlies’ emergency goalie. That’s how Ayres began his his improbable dream of one day playing in an NHL game. Now everyone journey that led to the NHL. wanted to meet him. Looking back, Sarah said Tuesday, it was something of a smooth pick-up At around 11:30 on Tuesday morning, a Hurricanes’ staffer led him line: through the locker room, giving him a tour. Ayres paused to check out the weight room, then the lockers and then walked down a hall where some “Ever hear of that Zamboni goalie guy?” of the team’s players received treatment in a training room. Ayres walked in to cheers. She had heard of him. She’s a hockey fan in Toronto, and hockey fans in Toronto are aware of stories like Ayres’. They married a year and a half “There he is,” one of the players said, his voice rising. later, and Ayres immediately became a father to Sarah’s three children. At Maple Leafs games, Sarah had been there the three previous times “The legend’s here!” another shouted. Ayres had been called down, only for those calls to be false alarms. “Oh, no,” Ayres said, laughing, smiling, downplaying his newfound When reality began to set in Saturday night and it became certain that celebrity. “What a wild ride, man.” Ayres would have to enter the game, Sarah tweeted a profane colloquialism that soon went viral. Andrei Svechnikov, the Hurricanes’ 19-year-old right winger and one of the bright young stars of the NHL, sat on a table to Ayres’ right. “I don’t know if he ever felt like he would go into a game,” she said. “It Svechnikov, the second overall selection in the 2018 NHL draft, had his was kind of a dream sort of thing. But it has meant everything, because entire career in front of him, and his future seemed limitless. Ayres, for him, in his mind, it’s that ultimate achievement, right?” meanwhile, had likely just played in the only NHL game he’ll ever play in Sarah said she doesn’t drink but when her husband entered the game on — and that it happened at all was enough of a miracle that his story Saturday night a Maple Leafs fan bought her a beer. She drank about became national news. half of it to calm her nerves. She’d been on the phone with her mom, When the two met, Svechnikov appeared to be the one in awe. screaming the news. Her heart pounded. Down below, Ayres stepped onto the ice and skated to the net. He thought of the one person who’d “How was New York yesterday, good?” he asked. most appreciate seeing this moment, but who wasn’t around to experience it. Ayres smiled and shook his head. He told the story of being on Stephen Colbert’s late-night show, and skating at Rockefeller Center. Ayres wore SON OF A BEER-LEAGUER a black Hurricanes polo and hat and his wife, Sarah, stood near him, taking in this scene — her husband casually chit-chatting with his former Not long after his NHL debut began, Ayres surrendered two goals on the teammates, for one game, in an NHL locker room. first two shots he faced. Days later, Dundon, the Hurricanes’ owner, told Ayres that he began to feel badly for him when he allowed those early Soon Ayres was in another room, meeting with Tom Dundon, the goals — that he felt like Ayres was overmatched. Ayres, though, entered Hurricanes’ owner, and Rod Brind’Amour, their head coach. They all the arena Saturday night with no shortage of experience against pros. talked like they’d been friends for a long time. Brind’Amour knew the players had something special in the works for the postgame — a special For years, he’d been a practice goalie with the Maple Leafs and the Zamboni ride. But, he said more than once, “We’ve got to win.” Marlies. He knew the tendencies of the players he was facing. He knew how they might try to score against him. After the second goal, Ayres Instead they suffered a 4-1 defeat. No Storm Surge. Ayres’ life moved said days later, recounting the moment, he looked up at the scoreboard closer to returning to normalcy. Fans filed out of PNC Arena. Some of and tried to focus. them wore white Hurricanes’ shirts with the No. 90 and Ayres’ name on the back. Days later, it all still felt surreal. “You can’t go out and embarrass yourself like this,” he told himself.

MORE THAN A ZAMBONI DRIVER Soon it was intermission between the second and third period. His nerves calmed. He didn’t allow a goal in the third period and saved the When Ayres’ story began to spread Saturday night, it sounded like the final eight shots he faced. At one point during a timeout that period, he plot of a Disney movie. A 42-year-old Zamboni driver, thrust into an NHL tried to absorb everything that surrounded him: The scene of 20,000 game. A man who grew up in rinks and atop frozen ponds, achieving a fans. lifelong dream of playing at the highest level of professional hockey. The emergency, on-call goaltender coming to the rescue, leading a team of He wished his dad could see him now. strangers to victory. A kidney transplant survivor who persevered. Ayres became a goalie because of his father, Robert, and he thought It was easy to distill Ayres, and his story, into a tweet or two and, indeed, about what his dad might say if he were around — especially if he were it was the kind of story that seemed made to go viral. By the time he around to see Ayres allow two early goals. He imagined his dad would’ve saved the final eight shots he faced Saturday night, and helped lead the told him to breathe. Hurricanes to a 6-3 victory against the Maple Leafs, Ayres was trending on social media. The public could not get enough of him. “That’s what my dad used to say — ‘Just relax,’ ” Ayres said. “‘You can’t Fifteen years have passed since the transplant. It’s a distant memory but get that one back.’” the scar endures. Ayres has often thought about it in recent days, and so has his mom. That he appeared in an NHL game, after all of these years, That his father wasn’t around to witness Saturday night was perhaps the has brought a sense of catharsis. That’s one reason why Ayres, who is only disappointing thing about it. Robert Ayres died in 2015, leaving more comfortable amid quiet, has embraced the attention. He hopes his behind his wife, Mary, and three children who grew up, like a lot of story can inspire. Canadian kids, with a healthy obsession with hockey. “There’s nothing too big that you can’t handle in life,” Mary said by David Ayres was no different. He began playing when he was about 3. phone. By the time he was 6, he knew he wanted to be a goalie. Other kids could chase glory in the pursuit of scoring. Ayres found meaning in not The next morning, Ayres shared his story in front of a new audience in allowing the puck to pass him by. He didn’t mind the bruises that came Raleigh. with the position, because he viewed those as proof of success. When people go through something like he did, he said, “it’s not the end “As weird as it sounds,” Ayres said, “you come home from a practice, or of the world.” even a game, and you’ve got a couple of bruises here and there, and you don’t look at it as like, ‘Oh that hurts.’ Like, that’s a save. That’s the good WAKING FROM THE DREAM thing about that as a goalie. You look at that differently.” By the time Ayres woke up in Raleigh on Tuesday, he’d slept for about On Saturday nights during Ayres’ childhood, the family made a habit of 12 hours over three nights. He hadn’t had time to sleep, or much of a watching Ayres’ dad play at Scarborough Centennial Arena, outside of need for it, given the adrenaline. Parts of his new life still felt unreal. Toronto. The setting wasn’t fancy and neither were the games. Ayres began the day before, on Monday morning, with an appearance on Ayres said his father was “a beer leaguer,” and that it took the passage of The Today Show. He’d ended Monday on The Late Show with Stephen some years to appreciate the value of seeing his dad compete, Colbert, who worked Ayres into his opening monologue. Toward the end regardless of the quality of competition. Eventually the lessons became of it, Colbert grabbed his leg and said he pulled his hamstring. Moments clearer. later, Ayres rushed to the rescue.

In some ways, they shaped his passion for the sport. He told his parents “It’s David Ayres!” Colbert said. “Zamboni hockey hero! It’s David Ayres, the same thing that a million other Canadian boys tell their own: That one everybody!” day he’d grow up to play in the NHL. That was his goal, from childhood, Soon Ayres was on his way to Raleigh, where Mary-Ann Baldwin, the and he refused to let it die when he realized the odds and while he drifted mayor, had proclaimed Tuesday David Ayres Day. Before Tuesday, he’d through stints with lower-level minor league teams. never even been to Raleigh. Now he had a day in his honor, and Roy He kept it alive in 2005 when, after an extended illness, he needed a Cooper, the governor, had proclaimed Ayres an honorary North kidney transplant. Carolinian. The Hurricanes were selling shirts with Ayres’ name, with proceeds going to the National Kidney Foundation. MOM’S KIDNEY At about 10 a.m. Tuesday, Ayres walked into the media room at PNC It is “pretty rare,” Mary Ayres said during a phone interview earlier this Arena. More cameras awaited. Even after a day full of interviews in New week, for a mother to be able to donate a kidney to her child. But she York City, it still felt a little unnatural to him — that all of this was for him. proved to be a match for her son, and made the easy decision to become He was more the reserved type, he said. For a long time, Ayres had been a donor. The transplant happened at St. Michael’s Hospital, in Toronto. driven by the improbable goal of playing in an NHL game. He never gave much thought to how his life would look, how it might change, if it ever At the time, in 2005, David Ayres feared that his health might preclude actually happened. him from ever playing hockey again. The physical demands of goaltending strain the body in such a way that he knew a return to the When it started to come true, on Saturday night, he was standing in the sport was not necessarily a given. upper deck of in Toronto. He was standing with his wife by his side in section 317, in their usual spot. They preferred it there, “He was devastated because, to him, the first thing that went through his compared to sitting in cramped seats. He did not receive money to be an head was I’m never going to be able to play hockey again,” Mary said. emergency goalie — only tickets for games. Ayres had just finished his “But that just goes to show you he has the drive and he said, ‘Yes, I am’” sandwich when the Hurricanes’ starting goaltender, James Reimer, left going to play again. the game with an injury in the first period. Soon Ayres’ phone buzzed.

By then it might have been easy to give into reality, and to all the He was told to start preparing, just in case. The next period, the evidence that suggested the best moments of Ayres’ life, as a hockey Hurricanes’ back-up goalie, Petr Mrazek, left the net in pursuit of the player, were behind him. He was already 27 — well past the age when puck and collided with a Maple Leafs’ player. Mrazek left the game, too, players reach the highest level, if they’re ever going to. He was facing a with a concussion. Ayres had little time to process what was happening. life-altering transplant that wasn’t guaranteed to work. He heard a voice:

And yet, still, Ayres held onto his belief. He told his doctors they needed “Get your gear on — you’re going in, man.” to be careful with the transplant, that he had a hockey career to get back to. At the time, he was playing for lower-level minor league teams, He always wondered what it might feel like to step onto the ice and enter clinging to hope of working his way up. For years, and years, Ayres stuck and NHL game. around the sport, refusing to let go. “My only thought was let’s go out there and save some pucks,” he said Eventually, he became the operations manager at the Mattamy Athletic later. Centre, where the Maple Leafs played for six decades, until 1999. The building was known then as . Every day, Ayres goes He became the oldest goalie in NHL history to win in his debut. He to work inside of one of hockey’s classic cathedrals. celebrated the moment with teammates he’d known for a little more than an hour. For one night, he was one of them. The people closest to Ayres often speak of his refusal to give up. For evidence, they use the story of his transplant, and how easy it might’ve Soon enough, David Ayres was flying to New York City, where on been for him to slow down, or stop playing. Monday he told his story over and over during two dozen interviews. And after that it was onto Raleigh. “Dave’s 42,” said Mike Hanna, one of his closest friends from back home. He and Ayres coach a team of 13-year-olds together outside of Toronto Later, on Tuesday night, a Hurricanes staffer told Ayres they’d already — the Whitby Wildcats. “He kept working at it, he kept plugging away, he sold 7,000 shirts with his name on them. Before the game, people lined didn’t give up, he didn’t quit. up in the concourse for his autograph, and then Ayres sounded the pregame siren while fans gave him an ovation. “Obviously, the Leafs have been great to him in giving him a great opportunity. But I said he just kept on working and pushing — that just He didn’t know what might come next. Someone asked him about a book shows that anything is possible if you want to put the work in and the or a movie. time and the dedication into it.” “I’ll be going back to work on Thursday morning,” he said. News Observer LOADED: 02.27.2020 1178729 Carolina Hurricanes and five lost. He was just as fast and shifty as advertised, seemingly eager to take on a few different roles. His penalty was obviously the result of just trying to make something happen in a new environment, so Grading the Hurricanes’ newcomers: Despite the loss, ‘they looked really we’ll cut him some slack for that. good’ Not slow.

Not above putting in work on the penalty kill. You can’t be if you play for By Sara Civian Feb 26, 2020 Brind’Amour.

Skjei

Vincent Trocheck lingered around to correct himself after his first post- Skjei’s performance might’ve been the more encouraging of the two — game scrum as a Hurricane — as anything other than a Florida not because we’re comparing forwards to defensemen in an already Panther, for that matter. ridiculous sample size as both play for their second-ever NHL team, but because Skjei was the more controversial acquisition. I’d mentioned his speed, and how comfortable he looked out there despite Carolina’s 4-1 loss to the Stars on Tuesday. Brind’Amour putting him out there with Jaccob Slavin and giving him a team-leading 17:09 even strength TOI was very Brind’Amour. First, it’s “I felt like I fit in here, and they play a style of hockey that I can really get the obvious “see what you have in him” reaction to a trade, and second, used to,” he said. it’s the “everyone’s injured” thing. But it was also a vote of confidence in a change of scenery. Skjei tied a game-leading five shots while serving Then he paused. no power play time. Two of them were pretty damn close, resulting in the “We, not they. We. Not they.” team’s third-highest expected goals (.25, via Natural Stat Trick).

It’s something none of the media contingent would’ve noticed or cared “I wish I could’ve put one of those in the back of the net,” he said. “But about if he didn’t point it out. Hell, about 24 hours prior he’d been running definitely will get more chances and bury a few … I try to just play my through Las Vegas airport security as he was traded for the first time in game and I’ll keep learning throughout this week … As the game went his 6.5-year NHL career. on, I thought I played better.”

But a few hours prior he’d been asked if he had any friends on the That’s for sure. Canes, and he joked “they’re all my friends.” What stuck out to me? The concept of “we” seems important to someone like that. Nedeljkovic Brady Skjei is in a similar boat, as a homegrown Ranger of 3.5 seasons. I can’t think of anything more pointless than Nedeljkovic’s numbers after “It was difficult, the friendships I’ve made and the relationships I’ve made this game — his second career NHL start and third NHL game played — definitely won’t go away,” Skjei said after morning skate. “But I’m excited when you look at what was happening in front of him. Between complete for the new challenge and I’m ready to get going tonight.” collapses on defense, weird bounces and Tyler Seguin putting on some sort of dunk contest, it was hard out there. You don’t want to get too wrapped up in such a small sample size, but folks, this was the most exciting Hurricanes trade deadline of all time and If this were some seasoned veteran I’d nitpick one or two of his goals we obviously cannot help ourselves. Skjei tied a game-high five shots. allowed out of the four, but considering the circumstances, he wasn’t the Trocheck went a game-high 12-5 from the faceoff dot. We’ll go on, but problem. He can’t be the problem or relied on to be the solution if these just know they got going just as they were supposed to Tuesday. Alex next few weeks are going to work out. Nedeljkovic was pretty much fine in his second career NHL start as well. I have loved Carolina’s Joel Edmundson signing so far, and he was “I thought they both were good. I thought Vinny was really good up front, probably in the top three hardest workers of the EBUG game. There’s a and Brady, too,” coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “He had a couple really chance he’s “a little dinged up” from all of that, or just exhausted, or even good opportunities to score and jumped into the play. It’s tough. Those overwhelmed by roles shifting with new faces. Regardless, I’m chalking first games are always tough, especially when you don’t really know our this up to one bad night on his part. But man, it was not that great. systems that well, but I thought they looked really good.” I was impressed as always with Nedeljkovic’s composure in his post- It wasn’t a terrible effort on the Hurricanes’ part by any means — they game interview. outshot, out-Corsi’d, you know the somewhat comforting drill. If only the “That’s sports, you know?” he said. “You’re not going to win every night. rest of the roster could’ve recreated that Dave Ayres magic from the last You’re not going to have your best every night. We’ve got to put it behind game. He was in the building on a day Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin officially us. We’re still in a playoff race, here, obviously. The season’s not over dubbed “Dave Ayres Day” in Raleigh, after all. after one game. We’ve gotta get ready for Friday … it’s frustrating but it’s And the Hurricanes weren’t as bad as the final score suggested, but they gonna happen.” know you can’t let the Stars of all teams get an early, multi-goal lead. I think Nedeljkovic is going to make it in the NHL, but he has a future as a “I think those guys fit in with our style perfectly, as a group we wanted life coach if all else fails. better for them,” captain Jordan Staal told The Athletic postgame. “You The Athletic LOADED: 02.27.2020 always want a big first game and it’s unfortunate, but I think they’re going to be a big add to our team.”

The thing about making a few power moves at the trade deadline — nationally heralded power moves, mind you — is that it just happens so fast. So while it might take a minute for the pieces to fall into place all- around, “the new guys” were generally encouraging in their debut.

Trocheck

I know coaches and teammates discuss plays seconds before they employ them all the time, but there was something so humanizing about the discussion before Trocheck hopped on the Hurricanes’ second power play unit in the third.

That’s a physical embodiment of the reason coaches always temper expectations when exciting, new players join a team.

Trocheck ended the game with 17:06 TOI overall, third among Canes forwards. He had a hyper-noticeable game-lead in faceoffs, with 12 won 1178730 Chicago Blackhawks “Your habits, they protect you when the other team, at home, they’re going to have a push, that’s no surprise,” Colliton said. “They were jumping in, their fourth guy kept beating our fourth guy up-ice and 3 takeaways from the Blackhawks’ 6-5 loss to the Blues, including creating on 4-on-3s, and we’re changing on the backcheck, and I don’t another third-period meltdown and new goalie Malcolm Subban’s outlook know how you win if you do those things.”

3. Malcolm Subban watched from the bench — and that could be his view for a while. By PHIL THOMPSON CHICAGO TRIBUNE |FEB 26, 2020 | 8:38 AM It was a rough night for goalie Corey Crawford, though a four-goal third period didn’t fall completely in his lap.

ST. LOUIS-Jeremy Colliton has a flare for glare. “I think I should have had that fourth one,” Crawford said. “Kind of tricked me a little bit. That’s a really good team. The Blackhawks coach’s level of annoyance tends to match the intensity of his gaze, and his stare while addressing a 6-5 loss to the Blues on “Seems like when they get momentum, they come even harder. It’s tough Tuesday night could have melted a hole in the Enterprise Center ice. as a goalie giving up four in one period. But there’s nothing we can do After coughing up a power-play goal 33 seconds into the game, the now. We’ve just got to find what we did good and move on.” Hawks battled back to take a two-goal lead, then lost it, retook the lead and lost it again. Crawford will have to continue carrying the weight for the Hawks. Malcolm Subban, the former backup the Hawks received Monday from “Right on the first shift, we put ourselves in position where we take a the Golden Knights in the Robin Lehner trade, won’t inherit the same penalty and give them momentum,” he said. “We survived that stretch, timeshare Crawford had with Lehner. two penalties in the first (four) minutes, but found a way to get ourselves back in the game. Subban is young and just getting acclimated, and keep in mind the Hawks also have to evaluate how Crawford, an unrestricted free agent, “But that’s what’s frustrating and that’s what we’ve got to stamp out — fits in their plans, and if so, at what cost. just mental breakdowns that a team like that puts in the back of your net.” Malcolm Subban was surprised by getting traded from the Golden Remember how defensive breakdowns contributed to the Hawks giving Knights but says playing for the Blackhawks is “a huge honor.” up five goals in the third period against the Rangers? Well, they gave up pic.twitter.com/Ahe2nWxgLX four goals in the third against the Blues. — Phillip Thompson (@_phil_thompson) February 25, 2020 Here are three observations from Tuesday’s game. “That hasn’t been nailed down yet,” Colliton said about the goalie 1. The penalty kill stumbled on a night when the power play was clicking. rotation. “For now, Crow will have the ball and we’ll see what he does with it. At this point, it’s good to have Malcolm here, we’ll see him and The Hawks rank 13th in penalty-kill percentage at 81.4%, so it was he’ll get a chance to practice and we’ll go from there.” somewhat surprising that sloppy play led to two power-play goals. Problems on defense plagued them throughout the game. Subban said he saw no signs in Las Vegas that he would be traded.

Ryan O’Reilly’s third-period goal started when Jaden Schwartz “I didn’t really hear anything beforehand, but it’s been great so far," he intercepted Ryan Carpenter’s pass to Patrick Kane and started a said. "Any time you get an opportunity to play for an Original Six breakaway the other way. Schwartz got it to Brayden Schenn, who found franchise, you know it’s a huge honor.” O’Reilly streaking toward Corey Crawford as Hawks skaters tried to catch up. But they were too late, and O’Reilly tied the game 3-3. Here is More Coverage from Tuesday’s game.

“It’s about us,” Colliton said. “We turned pucks over. Duncan Keith scored his 100th career goal, but the Blackhawks couldn’t survive a seesaw battle in the third period of a 6-5 loss to the Blues on “It’s a 3-2 game, we turn the puck over. We turn the puck over on the Tuesday night at the Enterprise Center. second goal, when we’re up 3-1 and in control of the game, playing well. Turned the puck over on the fourth goal (by Zach Sanford, thanks to an It was an odd night for the Hawks as their league-worst power play was Olli Maatta giveaway). We came back a couple times, played to the end, 3-for-3 but their rock-solid penalty kill deserted them, giving up two goals but I don’t know how you expect to win when you make those types of in four chances. mental mistakes.” “We did some good things, put ourselves in a position to get points,” Even worse, the Hawks squandered a 3-for-4 night on the power play; coach Jeremy Colliton said. “But our details of our game were just not they had been last in the league a week ago, but now rank 28th at near good enough to get a win in this building against this team. 15.5%. “The fact we were right there shows we had a chance, but we turned “That’s a good thing for us, no question,” Colliton said. “We haven’t been pucks over (and had) offensive-zone penalties.” able to get it firing consistently. It seems like we’re there. It can help you The loss, coupled with the Flames’ 5-2 win against the Bruins, leaves the win games, especially on the road. It got us back into this one and give Hawks 10 points back in the wild-card race as they cling to faint hopes. us a chance to win in the third.” “Yeah, we’re still not out,” goaltender Corey Crawford said. “This league Duncan Keith netted the first power-play goal — his 100th career goal — can be pretty streaky. We’ve shown we can be streaky, so we’re and assisted on the second. definitely not out of it.”

“I don’t really think we look at it like we’re content with where we’re at — I As for Keith, he needed 1,131 games over 15 seasons to get to the don’t think we should anyway because as soon as you get that feeling, century mark, and it was only the second goal of the season for the 36- then things don’t go your way,” Keith said. “We’re starting to get shots year-old defenseman. He scored almost 11 minutes into the first period and moving the puck quick and we’ve done a good job that way.” for his third milestone in the last week.

2. The Hawks can’t afford mental lapses, especially on the road. With the Hawks down 1-0 and on the power play, Keith put them on the The Hawks have lost seven road games this month and have won two board with a slap shot from 52 feet with Jonathan Toews assisting. (for what it’s worth, they’ve lost two of three home games as well). Keith got his 500th career assist Wednesday against the Rangers and Four of those road losses were by a goal, a point Colliton has his 600th career point on a secondary assist of Alex DeBrincat’s goal emphasized. Friday against the Predators.

“We've come out on the short end of a lot of one-goal games,” he said Keith became just the fourth Hawks defenseman to join the 100-goal club before the game. with Doug Wilson (225), Bob Murray (132) and Brent Seabrook (103).

Details matter. “It’s nice to get a milestone, but it doesn’t really matter,” Keith said. “Always better in a win, and that didn’t happen tonight. It feels good to maybe contribute more on the power play and get more involved there.” The Hawks looked out of sorts at the beginning of the game but quickly recovered.

They committed a penalty 11 seconds into the game and two in the first four minutes. The first penalty set the stage for Brayden Schenn’s power- play goal 33 seconds into the game.

After Keith’s goal evened the score, Connor Murphy followed about three minutes later with an even-strength goal from the blue line.

The Hawks’ Patrick Kane (on the power play) and the Blues’ Robert Thomas traded goals in the second.

The Blues nearly tied the game with about seven minutes left in the second. Ryan O’Reilly tried to tuck in a wraparound, but the puck slid along the goal line behind Crawford.

Chicago Tribune Sports Newsletter 1178731 Chicago Blackhawks He also said the Hawks will have a ‘‘proven NHL goalie . . . next year’’ but didn’t commit to it being Corey Crawford, who is a pending unrestricted free agent.

Despite Duncan Keith’s 100th goal, Blackhawks again collapse against Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 02.27.2020 Blues

Also, traded goalie Robin Lehner tweets about contract negotiations and GM Stan Bowman gives more tidbits about deadline day.

By Ben Pope Feb 25, 2020, 9:39pm CST

ST. LOUIS — In December, the Blackhawks led the Blues 3-0 early in the third period at Enterprise Center. They lost 4-3 in regulation.

On Tuesday, the Hawks led the Blues 3-1 in the second period and 5-4 midway through the third but again crumbled en route to a 6-5 regulation loss.

The good news: The Hawks have been competitive against the defending Stanley Cup champions. The bad news: Their mental fortitude only can endure so many gut punches, even with the playoffs already out of reach.

‘‘It’s about us,’’ said coach Jeremy Colliton, who was as visibly exasperated as he has been all season. ‘‘We turned pucks over. It’s a 3- 2 game, we turn the puck over. We turn the puck over on the second goal, when we’re up 3-1 and in control of the game, playing well. Turned the puck over on the fourth goal.

‘‘I don’t know how you expect to win when you make those types of mental mistakes.’’

The Hawks did produce two silver linings, the first being the 31st-ranked power play’s 3-for-4 outing — its best performance of the season — and the second being defenseman Duncan Keith’s 100th career goal.

Keith became the fourth Hawks defenseman and, fittingly, the 100th in NHL history to reach the milestone. He has seven points in the Hawks’ last four games.

But he, too, was focused only on the Hawks’ horrific play in their own zone.

‘‘[In] the ‘D’ zone, when we have pucks, we’ve got to make sure we get them out,’’ he said. ‘‘The Blues . . . hang on to pucks, [make] little 10-foot passes on the tape and it’s out. And they’re supporting one another; they know where one another’s going to be.

‘‘That’s something we could look at. It’s been a work in progress for us.’’

Lehner tweets about talks

Plenty of speculation has swirled in the lead-up to — and in the aftermath of — the Hawks’ trade Monday of goalie Robin Lehner about what his contract demands might be when he becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer.

Lehner provided some insight Tuesday, tweeting that he ‘‘was willing to do short term’’ but that ‘‘money was never discussed.’’

Asked about those comments, Hawks general manager Stan Bowman said — just as he did Monday — that he didn’t want to talk about the negotiations with Lehner.

Bowman on defensive

Although Bowman didn’t get into the Lehner negotiations, he did offer more insight into the seemingly poor returns the Hawks got for Lehner and defenseman Erik Gustafsson in their deadline trades.

‘‘Your goal, when you’re in that position and you’re talking to teams, is you want to get the best deal you can,’’ he said. ‘‘We didn’t turn down better deals where there were first-round picks involved. The deals happen when the two sides can match. . . . Trust me, we did as much as we could and got the best deal we could.”

Bowman said a few other notable things, too.

He said the Hawks are looking at forward Max Shalunov — a 27-year-old star in the Kontinental Hockey League in Russia, whose NHL rights they own — as well as ‘‘some free-agent players’’ to import from Europe for next season. 1178732 Chicago Blackhawks As outlined above, though, the veterans also are having a role in the sloppy play. So it will be interesting to see how the Hawks fare in stiff tests against Tampa Bay, Florida, Edmonton and St. Louis over the next Colliton lets loose after Chicago Blackhawks blow big lead in St. Louis 11 days.

What will their record be at that point, and does it still matter?

John Dietz "Of course it matters," Colliton said. "You can't help but look at it, and that's how you're measured in the end. To me, we can't get that record where we need it to be until we're more consistent with our play.

ST. LOUIS -- Jeremy Colliton isn't one to show his frustrations very often "I said it (Tuesday) morning: We have played hard and well and during postgame interviews. competed for the most part, but it's up to me to still push them to be better, and tonight wasn't good enough." But there was no mistaking his displeasure after the Blackhawks blew a 3-1 lead Tuesday and dropped a 6-5 decision to St. Louis. Daily Herald Times LOADED: 02.27.2020 "Our details of our game were just not near good enough to get a win in this building against this team," said a seething Colliton.

The second-year coach has been known to look on the bright side after a loss, and he could have easily gone that route considering how close the Hawks came to defeating the defending champions on their home ice.

Instead, he took the road less traveled.

"They were jumping in (on the rush) -- their fourth guy kept beating our fourth guy up ice and creating 4-on-3s," Colliton said. "(Also) we're changing on the backcheck, and I don't know how you win if you do those things."

The Hawks (27-28-8) are all but out of playoff contention now, but that doesn't matter to Colliton. He's still trying to build a culture in which everyone understands that good habits protect you when things get tough.

He preached that in Rockford, and he's doing his best to preach it in Chicago.

The Hawks grabbed a 3-1 lead on goals by Duncan Keith, Connor Murphy and Patrick Kane, but turnovers and sloppy play opened the door for the extremely dangerous Blues. by signing up you agree to our terms of service

• Seconds before St. Louis made it 3-2, David Kampf and Murphy appeared lost deep in the defensive zone as the puck was being retrieved near the blue line by David Perron. Somehow both lost track of Robert Thomas, who sneaked in front of the net just off to Corey Crawford's right side. After accepting a perfect pass from Perron, Thomas wheeled around and easily whipped a shot into the back of the net at 7:38 of the second period.

• As the Hawks were nursing that 3-2 lead early in the third period, Ryan Carpenter tried to slip a short pass to Patrick Kane as both were approaching the offensive zone. A backchecking Jaden Schwartz neatly picked it off, however, and, before you could blink, St. Louis was off on a 2-on-1 that led to Ryan O'Reilly's game-tying goal. If Carpenter just bangs the puck deep into the zone, that scoring play never develops.

• Eleven seconds later, Olli Matta's high-velocity pass to Kirby Dach misfired in the Hawks' defensive zone and was picked off by Zach Sanford. Sanford stopped, shot through a Murphy screen and WHAM -- it was 4-3 Blues with 15:57 remaining.

"I don't know how you expect to win when you make those types of mental mistakes," Colliton said.

The Hawks did take a 5-4 lead when Brandon Saad scored his 19th goal of the season, but the Blues quickly tied it again and got the game-winner when Sanford scored on the power play with Dach in the box for hooking.

"That's a really good team," said Crawford, who hadn't allowed more than 3 goals in his last 12 appearances. "I mean we showed a lot of character to come back. ...

"We can take a page out of their book -- they play the game hard. Seems like when they get momentum they come even harder. It's tough as a goalie giving up four in one period, but there's nothing we can do now.

"We've just got to find what we did good and move on."

They will indeed. And they'll do it with a 'D' corps that includes Slater Koekkoek, Nick Seeler, Adam Boqvist and Lucas Carlsson, as well as plenty of young forwards who are still earning their stripes. 1178733 Chicago Blackhawks

How Blackhawks are trying to stay upbeat despite roster subtractions

By Charlie Roumeliotis February 26, 2020 1:30 PM

ST. LOUIS — The NHL trade deadline is a unique time of year for fans because it serves as a chance to get a read on what the management group feels about your respective team's current state.

There are the buyers who feel they're good enough to make a deep postseason run, the sellers who admit they're looking more towards the future and the ones who stand pat because they're somewhere in between. But to what degree is telling as well.

For example, the Columbus Blue Jackets went for it all last season by acquiring Matt Duchene, Ryan Dzingel and two other players in exchange for a roster player, three prospects and seven draft picks that included a pair of first- and second-rounders, fully knowing all four players could walk away for nothing in the summer. And they did.

Last season, the Blackhawks stood pat. They didn’t have many assets to sell, but they were knocking on the door of a playoff spot and decided to let it ride.

This season was a different story.

Erik Gustafsson and Robin Lehner were traded in separate deals for asset management purposes, and intentionally or not, the message was sent that the Blackhawks weren't good enough to keep the group together for a legitimate playoff push. Despite how deflating the roster subtractions could make them feel, the Blackhawks are trying to maintain a positive attitude for the remainder of the season.

"No letdown, no taking any steps back," Jonathan Toews said before Tuesday’s 6-5 loss to the Blues. "Stay on your routine, stay on your commitment, keeping that upbeat feel in the locker room and going out there having fun, working hard and putting your best foot forward [for] a win and getting two points every night, so that's all we can do."

Head coach Jeremy Colliton commended his group for how they reacted to the outside distractions leading up to the trade deadline. He expects them to respond after it.

"It's our job to compete at the highest level," Colliton said. "I give the guys credit, those two games before the deadline we responded really well to the uncertainty. Pulling a player at the last second and they played hard, and that's what we expect going forward. The team-first priorities at all times and sticking together and playing to the end no matter what. If we do that, we'll get our results and let's see what happens."

It would take a miraculous run for the Blackhawks to make the playoffs at this point after falling below .500 based on points percentage following Tuesday's loss to the Blues. But they're not waving the white flag just yet, even though it would psychologically be easy to pack it in.

"You always want to be in the hunt and just fighting for a playoff spot," Patrick Kane said. "Obviously we'd have to go on a pretty big run to make the playoffs this year, but just take it a game at a time here. We've been playing pretty well as a team to be honest with you. I know the results haven't been there, but we've been playing pretty good, we've been playing some tough teams. I think if we continue on this turn we're probably going to get better results down the stretch."

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 02.27.2020 1178734 Colorado Avalanche And in pro sports, isn’t that the real definition of a labor of love?

Denver Post: LOADED: 02.27.2020

Kiszla: Spared from trade at deadline, Tyson Jost rekindles that loving feeling with Avs in victory against Buffalo

By MARK KISZLA PUBLISHED: February 26, 2020 at 10:36 p.m. | UPDATED: February 27, 2020 at 1:12 a.m.

Loyalty is one of the great illusions in pro sports, where the love between team and player is always conditional, forever tenuous and never perfect.

For example: Barely 48 hours after failing to ship Tyson Jost out of Colorado at the trade deadline, Avalanche coach Jared Bednar had him skating on the second line alongside J.T. Compher and Joonas Donskoi.

Jost responded to his opportunity with a nitty-gritty assist on a goal by Compher that allowed Colorado to beat Buffalo 3-2 on Wednesday night. A lesser man might’ve given up, gone home and cried in his pillow.

“It’s tough at times. I’m not going to sit and say it wasn’t tough,” Jost said. “There’s a lot of nights when you’re just asking: ‘Why?’”

With the outcome hanging in the balance during the final nine minutes of the third period, Jost emerged with the puck from a scrum behind the Sabres’ net and pushed it to Donskoi, whose nifty pass set up Compher for the game-winner.

Jost’s name was whispered so often in the hours prior to the trade deadline Monday that his ears must still be burning. Yes, he was the 10th overall pick in the 2016 draft. But that seems like a long time ago, doesn’t it?

Jost, who had an apparent goal against Buffalo waved off for a high stick, has not put the puck in the net since November and has taken up residence alongside mascot Bernie the St. Bernard in the doghouse.

“I’m confident in the player I am,” Jost insisted. His faith, however, has been severely tested.

The trade deadline passed without Jost’s world being turned upside down. He’s not only still here, he’s filling a key role as Colorado tussles for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, while forwards Mikko Rantanen and Nazem Kadri heal from injury.

“Sometimes,” general manager Joe Sakic said, “the best moves are the moves you don’t make.”

Only the paychecks are a sure thing in pro sports. Love is fickle. That’s why cornerback Chris Harris must chase the green in NFL free agency after bleeding orange and blue for nine seasons. Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado discovered the hard way his hefty $260 million contract offered no guarantees the team would surround him with talent to compete against the Dodgers.

There is no genuine loyalty in pro sports, only survival of the fittest.

Although defenseman Erik Johnson takes great pride in being the longest-tenured member of the Avalanche, maybe the most remarkable thing about his decade-long stint in Denver he has endured nearly 300 losses without ever demanding a trade or being dumped during the rebuild.

“In pro sports, I think ego gets in the way a lot,” Johnson told me in the latest edition of The Kickin’ It with Kiz Podcast.

On the verge of his 32nd birthday, Johnson no longer works on the top defensive pairing. His ice time is not what it once was. But chance to win a Stanley Cup with the Avs has never been so tantalizingly good.

“What happens to a lot of impact guys in pro sports is you might lose a little bit of playing time, or not get as many opportunities as you had in the past. And you complain and want out. But that’s not how I’m wired,” Johnson said.

“I’ve set goals for myself and the team … and we haven’t gotten to those yet. So I have business to finish, and I want to do it here.”

The Avs will go are far in the playoffs as Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar can take them. This team, however, won’t survive the long postseason grind without Johnson and Jost doing the dirty work on which championships are built. 1178735 Colorado Avalanche

Czech Republic natives, J.T. Compher, lead the Avalanche to 3-2 win over Buffalo Sabres

By MIKE CHAMBERS | PUBLISHED: February 26, 2020 at 8:57 p.m. | UPDATED: February 26, 2020 at 9:44 p.m.

Czech, please.

Czech Republic natives Martin Kaut and Pavel Francouz had another memorable night Wednesday in the Avalanche’s 3-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres at the Pepsi Center.

Kaut, a 20-year-old rookie forward, scored his first career goal, and Francouz, a goalie in his first full NHL season, closed the door with 13 third-period saves.

“Just my dream when I was a kid — I finally scored my first NHL goal,” Kaut said.

Kaut and Francouz also starred in Saturday’s 1-0 victory at Anaheim, where Kaut had the game-winning assist and Francouz his first career shutout.

“I think he’s shown that he can play at this level,” Francouz, 29, said of the young Kaut. “He’s really working hard, so I’m really (excited) to see how good he can be.”

Center J.T. Compher also starred in Colorado fourth straight win. He had two points, including the game-winning goal 11:54 into the third period off the hard work of linemates Joonas Donskoi and Tyson Jost. Donskoi had the game-winning assist on a pass from behind goalie Carter Hutton’s cage.

“Our line was getting after it, causing turnovers,” Compher said. “Josty and Donny did a great job on the wall, and great pass by Donny to me.”

Compher assisted on Gabe Landeskog’s power-play goal in the first period. Colorado finished 2-for-2 on the man-advantage after failing to score on 15-of-16 chances in the previous five games.

“It was the difference in the game,” Compher said of the Avs’ success on the power play. “We know that it’s time to step up. Me and Josty are filling in for guys who are (injured), but when we get that opportunity, we have to try to take advantage, and we did a great job tonight.”

The Avalanche (37-18-7, 81 points) leapfrogged Dallas for second place in the Central Division and the Western Conference, with two games in hand over division/conference-leading St. Louis (37-17-10, 84 points).

Box score

It was a 1-1 game after the first period and 2-2 after the second, when both teams had 20 shots. The Avs appeared to take a 3-2 lead early in the third period, but referees ruled that Jost, who hadn’t scored in his previous 35 consecutive games, redirected the shot into the net with his stick above the crossbar.

“Just kind of my luck right now,” Jost said.

The injury-depleted Avs continued to play without four key forwards in Mikko Rantanen, Nazem Kadri, Andre Burakovsky and Matt Calvert. Rantanen (shoulder area) missed his fourth straight game, Kadri (leg) his eighth, Burakovsky (upper body) his second and Calvert (lower body) his fifth. Goalie Philipp Gruabuer (lower body) missed his fifth game and is out indefinitely.

Burakovsky could return on the upcoming three-game trip that begins Friday at Carolina, but everyone else on the injured list will not.

Footnotes. Wednesday marked the beginning of a grueling stretch run, where the Avs will play their final 21 games over 39 days and not have more than a day’s rest between contests. … Forward Vladislav Namestinikov, who was acquired Monday before the trade deadline, played left wing on a line with center Pierre-Edouard Bellemare and Kaut. … Colorado’s healthy scratch was defenseman Mark Barberio. … The Avs are now 12-3-1 in their last 16 games and 18-6-4 against Eastern Conference opponents.

Denver Post: LOADED: 02.27.2020 1178736 Colorado Avalanche

Avs coach Jared Bednar looks like he just left the duck blind with his camo jacket

By JEFF BAILEY PUBLISHED: February 26, 2020 at 7:05 p.m. | UPDATED: February 26, 2020 at 9:43 p.m.

Where’s Jared?

The Avalanche are finally back on TV as Colorado is playing a nationally televised game against the Buffalo Sabres on NBCSN.

Bednar, on Military Appreciation Night at Pepsi Center, decided to go with the camo blazer and it is a thing of beauty… only problem is he looks like he just jumped out of the duck blind and went right to the bench.

“(Military appreciation night) was exactly the thought behind it. That’s the only camo blazer that I have,” Bednar said of his jacket. “It’s actually a friend of mine, his friend started a company called Perfect Pattern and sent it to me. He asked if I would wear it for military night and I said, ‘Absolutely.’

“I’m sure (Nikita Zadorov) absolutely loved it. … They didn’t say much to me, but I saw a couple of guys on the bench give me the look because normally I don’t dress like that. I thought for tonight it was my way of showing some appreciation for the military.”

Coach Bednar is the talk of twitter with his attire tonight. Take a minute and look at his sweet jacket and twitter replies below.

Denver Post: LOADED: 02.27.2020 1178737 Colorado Avalanche Let’s say it went one of two ways. There was J.T. Compher, who offered a succinct viewpoint of his coach’s jacket.

“Um,” Compher said. “He went for it with that one. That’s all I can really Fashion forward? The story of why Avs coach Jared Bednar wore THAT say about it.” blazer And then there was the opinion of one Nikita Zadorov. The Russian defenseman is known for being one of the more adventurous fashionistas By Ryan S. Clark Feb 26, 2020 on the team. Consider what he wore walking into Pepsi Center, for example: a double-breasted dark-colored suit with a white grid pattern, a white dress shirt, a black tie with white polka dots, and shiny black shoes to match. Yes. Yes. Martin Kaut scored his first NHL goal and the Colorado Avalanche have now won four straight games to stay in the fight for their Zadorov has had days at the Avalanche’s practice facility when he will bid to claim the Central Division and the Western Conference crowns. take chances even while casual. Sometimes he dons his trademark shiny black, puffy winter jacket featuring heavy parka fur on the hood. It has That’s great and all, but the real story from the Avalanche’s 3-2 win over prompted teammates to make jokes about Zadorov making a quick trip to the Buffalo Sabres was … Jared Bednar’s suit jacket? Siberia or inquire whether he plans to lead an arctic expedition before ¿Qué dices? going home.

Being the first game of a nationally televised Wednesday Night Hockey He usually takes these comments in stride and is known for reminding broadcast means there are more people watching the Avalanche than his teammates they are simply jealous. normal. So imagine everyone’s surprise whenever those around the “Well, not to be too hard on him,” Zadorov said before laughing, “but I hockey world tuned in to see what Bednar was wearing. He was sporting heard the boys in the room say, ‘It’s Military Night. Not Hunting Games a camouflage blazer that appeared to be better suited for duck hunting Night.'” than an NHL game in which thousands in attendance and millions throughout North America are questioning your fashion choices. Oh, it gets even better.

“I went in for the pregame meetings, the (penalty-kill) meeting and Zadorov was asked what his initial reaction was the first time he saw (power-play) meeting, and it was hanging up there,” veteran Avalanche Bednar wearing such a different-looking choice of attire. defenseman Ian Cole said of the blazer. “I saw it right away and was like, ‘Wow. That’s a jacket.’ He must have lost a bet or something. You have “I couldn’t see him,” Zadorov said. “Because he was all covered in the to ask him.” bushes.”

Anyone who has followed the Avalanche over the past four years has Now, that said, the 24-year-old former Sabres first-round pick could give come to expect a certain visage of Bednar. The 47-year-old has gained a credit where credit was due. reputation for his sharp eye for different suit-and-tie combinations. He “I’ll give him respect,” Zadorov said. “It’s ballsy, for sure. Why not? I’m usually prefers darker colors over something more vibrant. But there is one of the guys who likes to pull out crazy stuff. If he feels comfortable in always a theme with what he is wearing, down to his choice of leather that, go ahead. I know some guys laugh at my stuff sometimes, and we belt, wristwatch and shoes. laughed at his.”

So, what was the deal with this? Granted, he did wear a white shirt with a So would Zadorov ever wear that? green tie and what appeared to be a burgundy pattern to go along with the jacket. “Uh, no,” he said.

The answer? It was the team’s military appreciation night. Every year, the Bednar entered his postgame news conference sans jacket, in just his Avalanche have made a point to go all out for what is considered one of dress shirt, tie and slacks. That is typically how he addresses the media, the most important home games on the calendar from a presentation but nearly every reporter in the room made some comment about why he standpoint. It began with warmups, when each player came out in a wasn’t wearing the blazer. Even Rachel Richlinski, the team’s in-arena military-themed sweater. This year’s choice was a dark green pattern — reporter, snuck in a line about Bednar going to the hunting stand now or to the point the Avs’ logo was the same color. The left jersey number was later. filled with a blue background and white stars, while the right-sided number featured a red-and-white striped pattern as a nod to the All the reactions made Bednar laugh and even joke, “I can only handle so American flag. much flash and dash.”

Leila Morrison, a 96-year-old World War II front-line nurse, was honored Two or three seconds passed before Bednar was asked about the jacket, before the game and received a standing ovation for what she did during why he wore it and the reactions he must have drawn from such a daring the war. She was invited to do the ceremony puck drop. Per usual, the fashion choice. entire evening had a heavy military presence. Every in-arena game, for “I’m sure Z absolutely loved it,” Bednar said. example — such as the UCHealth Challenge — featured those on active duty while also paying homage to those who served years ago. Oh, he said he did.

“(Military appreciation night) was exactly the thought behind it. That’s the “Yeah, OK, good, good. I was wondering,” Bednar said. “They didn’t say only camo blazer that I have,” Bednar said. “It’s actually a friend of mine. much to me, but I saw a couple guys on the bench giving me a look His friend started a company called Perfect Pattern and sent it to me and because normally I don’t dress like that. I thought for tonight, it was my asked if I’d wear it for military night and I said, ‘Absolutely.'” way of showing appreciation for the military.”

As he normally does, Bednar provided a well-reasoned explanation for The Athletic LOADED: 02.27.2020 why he wore the jacket and the meaning behind his decision.

But that still does not mean his players, among others, did not have, uh, a few comments regarding what they were seeing.

“I thought he was ready to head straight to the duck blind after that,” Cole quipped with a big grin.

Cole said there were a few players on the Avalanche bench who were asking, “What is THAT?” upon seeing Bednar’s blazer for the first time. Even a few of the referees asked Cole about Bednar’s outfit.

So, what did some of the other players on the team think about the blazer? 1178738 Colorado Avalanche Footnotes

Francouz improves to 17-5-3 on the season. He is tied for third in the NHL with a .927 save percentage. Colorado was without Andre Kaut scores first goal as Avalanche defeat Buffalo to win fourth straight Burakovsky for the second consecutive game, who is day-to-day with an game illness. … Matt Nieto, who was not a full participant in practice on Tuesday (lower-body), played on the fourth line. … Namestnikov had two shots in 12:17 in his Avalanche debut. … Landeskog was 10-for-14 in the By Aarif Deen - February 26, 2020 circle, taking a majority of the faceoffs for the top line. … MacKinnon finished 3-for-7. … Colorado is three points back of the St. Louis Blues

for first in the Western Conference with two games in hand. … The Avs It was a dream come true for Avalanche rookie Martin Kaut. And his are 12-3-1 over their past 16 games and 9-3-1 in February. mother was here to witness it live. The 2018 first-round draft pick scored his first NHL goal in the second Martin Kaut: First NHL goal with his mother here to see it. Does it get any period to help the Avs defeat the Buffalo Sabres 3-2 on Wednesday. better than that? Colorado (37-18-7) scored twice on the power play and J.T. Compher Pavel Francouz: Proving once again that the Avalanche are in good added the go-ahead goal late in the third period to win its fourth straight hands with Philipp Grubauer injured. games. Gabe Landeskog and Kaut capitalized on the man-advantage, which was mired in a 1-for-16 stretch. Tyson Jost: He did everything but score. Well he did, but it was waved off. Jost had an assist and a team-leading five shots on goal in 17:42. Kaut, 20, picked up the rebound in the slot and fired it past Buffalo’s Carter Hutton to make it 2-1 in the second period. Next up

“It’s a dream for me to score my first NHL goal,” Kaut said. “I just have to The Avalanche hit the road for three games starting with a trip to Carolina keep going and I hope more goals will come for me.” to face off against the Hurricanes on Friday.

Kaut was called up from the Colorado Eagles of the American Hockey milehighsports.com LOADED: 02.27.2020 League after the injury to Mikko Rantanen last Monday. In 2018-19, his first season with the Eagles, Kaut became close with goaltender Pavel Francouz. The two natives of the Czech Republic both came to North America at the same time and developed an instant relationship.

“I’m super proud of course,” Francouz said about his fellow countryman. “This is his fourth game and he scored his first goal. That’s huge for him, that’s for sure. I think he showed that he’s capable of playing this level of game. He’s working hard so I’m really happy to see how good he is.”

Francouz has backstopped the Avalanche during this four-game winning streak, surrendering four goals in the process. Despite being decimated with injuries and scoring a combined nine goals over the past four games, the Avs have been able to rely on the man they call Frankie to lead the way.

“It’s a huge help from the guys playing in front of me,” Francouz said. “We’re playing really well. We don’t allow many chances against and that’s the result of that hard work.”

With the game tied 2-2 late in the third period, the Avs began to apply pressure in the offensive zone. Compher, skating on a line with Joonas Donskoi and Tyson Jost, gave the Avalanche their third lead of the evening.

Jost, who had a goal waved off earlier in the period, fished the puck out from behind the net to Donskoi, who sent a cross-crease pass to Compher for the tap-in goal.

The goal was made possible thanks to Jost’s persistence battling for the puck.

“It’s something that I’ve always had,” Jost said. “Being heavy in the corner and winning those one-on-one battles. Obviously Donny and Comph made a great play. But I think that’s something our line has to do to create offensively.

Avs coach Jared Bednar added: “I thought that line did a great job. They had to play against (Jack) Eichel a lot tonight and did a nice job. A huge goal in the third period. They did everything right. Got the puck behind their D, forechecked, a hard-fought wall battle and Compher finishes it off.”

Landeskog put the Avs ahead in the first period, finishing a behind-the- back pass from Compher on Colorado’s first man-advantage of the evening.

The Sabres fought back to tie the game twice but never led despite controlling play on numerous occasions.

“I liked the way our guys stuck with it,” Bednar said. “I felt like we were sluggish to start the game. We are playing a desperate team in Buffalo that’s been playing really well lately. Dangerous hockey team on the offensive side of it. And I felt like we were having some trouble checking them.” 1178739 Colorado Avalanche UP NEXT

Sabres: At Vegas on Friday in the second of a four-game swing.

Compher, Francouz lead Avalanche to 3-2 win over Sabres Avalanche: At Carolina on Friday to start a three-game trip.

LOADED: 02.27.2020

By PAT GRAHAM AP Sports Writer

DENVER (AP) — J.T. Compher broke a tie on a wrist shot with 8:06 remaining, Martin Kaut scored his first NHL goal and the banged-up Colorado Avalanche won their fourth straight, beating the Buffalo Sabres 3-2 on Wednesday night.

Gabriel Landeskog also scored to help the Avalanche vault into second place in the Central Division.

Pavel Francouz was sharp in stopping 31 shots, including several sprawling saves in the closing minute after the Sabres pulled their goalie for an extra skater. Francouz was recently named the league's first star for the week.

Zemgus Girgensons and Curtis Lazar scored for the Sabres, who have dropped five straight to Colorado. Wayne Simmonds made his Buffalo debut after being acquired from the New Jersey Devils.

Tyson Jost set up the decisive goal by winning a tussle for the puck behind the net and dishing it over to Joonas Donskoi, who then fed it to a wide-open Compher in front. It was Compher's 10th goal of the season.

Jost nearly scored his first goal since Nov. 30 with 17:22 remaining when he redirected in a puck that was near his shoulders. But it was waived off by officials due to a high-stick.

Carter Hutton had 31 saves for Buffalo — and some good fortune, too. He had one puck headed into the net in the second period before it deflected off the skate of a defenesman, clanked off the post and skidded harmlessly into the corner.

Francouz turned in another solid showing. A week ago, he went went 3- 0-1 with a 1.46 goals-against average. He also recently signed a two- year contract extension, too.

"I still don't really know if the hockey world knows who Frankie is," Landeskog said. “But he's proving it game by game.”

Colorado grabbed a one-goal lead in the first and second period, only to see the Sabres tie it up.

Kaut scored on a rebound early in the middle period. Lazar then answered by deflecting in a shot for his first goal since Jan. 14.

In the first, Landeskog scored his 17th goal of the season off a backhanded pass from Compher. The lead lasted just 1:57 before Girgensons scored on a tip-in.

Despite his team being besieged by injuries, Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic resisted the temptation to alter the shape of the squad at the trade deadline. They did add depth by acquiring Vladislav Namestnikov from Ottawa for a draft pick and got goaltender Michael Hutchinson from Toronto.

"We love the chemistry in our dressing room," Sakic told the media.

Landeskog appreciated that belief.

“We're happy with the guys we got," the captain said. "We put ourselves in a position to do some damage down the stretch."

Especially once they return to full health. They're missing forwards Matt Calvert (lower body), Nazem Kadri (lower body), Mikko Rantanen (upper body) and Colin Wilson (lower body), along with goaltender Philipp Grubauer (lower body).

"We have a determined group," coach Jared Bednar said. "That's why we've been able to sustain these injuries."

NOTES: Buffalo RW Kyle Okposo had an assist to stretch his points streak to five games. ... Sabres C Dominik Kahun was a scratch. He was acquired from Pittsburgh at the trade deadline. ... Avalanche F Andre Burakovsky was out with an illness. .... Bednar expects most of the injured players to be back by mid-March. ... Bednar looked sharp on the bench in his camouflage suit coat to commemorate the team's ninth annual Military Appreciate Night. 1178740 Columbus Blue Jackets

Blue Jackets’ injury problems give Devin Shore chance to shine

Brian Hedger The Columbus Dispatch Feb 25, 2020 at 8:36 PM

ST. PAUL, Minn. — When the Blue Jackets arrived late Monday, fresh off a 4-3 overtime victory against the Ottawa Senators at Nationwide Arena, they found a visitor waiting in their hotel lobby.

It was Devin Shore, the versatile 25-year-old power forward that the Jackets acquired from the Anaheim Ducks before Monday’s trade deadline. After grabbing some travel essentials — including his iPad, headphones and dress attire — Shore hopped on a flight to Minnesota feeling hopeful that his new horizon with the Blue Jackets would be brighter.

"I’m really looking forward to getting in there and being part of a playoff race," said Shore, who played the first three-plus years of his NHL career with the Dallas Stars before he was dealt to Anaheim last season. "It should be a breath of fresh air and I’m genuinely thrilled. It should be a lot of fun."

Shore didn’t have a lot of fun with the Ducks, at least not on the ice.

He never won over Anaheim coach Dallas Eakins, and his role diminished. Shore had nine goals and 13 assists in 73 games, split between this season and last, after the Ducks acquired him from the Stars on Jan. 14, 2019, for veteran forward .

"When I got traded from Dallas, it was out of left field and that kind of blindsided me," said Shore, who was on pace for a third straight 30-point season for the Stars at the time of that trade. "This time, I was a little more prepared, but you never know. You kind of prepare for anything (on deadline day) and embrace whatever happens."

The Blue Jackets need him to wrap his arms around what’s become an important role of late. Thanks to a pileup of injuries, which grew to 11 with two more Monday against Ottawa, Shore started as the third-line center against the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday at Xcel Energy Center.

He replaced Riley Nash, who left Monday because of an undisclosed injury after a first-period collision, was the center of a fourth line that has been strong for a few weeks. He also played on one of the penalty-kill units, which ranked 12th in the NHL (81.5%) going into the game against Minnesota.

"(Nash) has probably played his best hockey since he’s come to this team," coach John Tortorella said Tuesday. "He’s out. That hurts, but it is what it is."

That makes Shore the "next man up," which is a mantra he’s eager to fulfill.

"They’ve gotten hit by the injury bug really hard, but they’ve still found a way to be right in the thick of it and that speaks a lot to the depth of the organization and the character of the guys in the room," Shore said. "It’s an exciting thing to be a part of. I’m looking forward to joining along and trying to help out."

Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 02.27.2020 1178741 Columbus Blue Jackets weekend in June. Kekalainen has a cache of young assets and a ton of cap space. Hopefully, he’ll have a plan. He usually does.

Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 02.27.2020 Trade-deadline wrapup: Blue Jackets in tough spot, must look to draft

Michael Arace The Columbus Dispatch Feb 26, 2020 at 11:41 AM

The NHL trade deadline went through Columbus like a gentle zephyr Monday. Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen, pressed with the weight of deadlines past, felt he could ill afford to make another sacrifice to substantially boost his roster. He largely stayed pat.

Last year, Columbus was the tornadic center of deadline day. Kekalainen went “all in” on rentals and used picks and prospects to get center Matt Duchene, defenseman Adam McQuaid, left wing Ryan Dzingel and third- string goaltender Keith Kinkaid.

Kekalainen took his shot. The Jackets swept the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of the playoffs and pushed the Boston Bruins to six games. Then, six unrestricted free agents, including Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky, exited Nationwide Arena. They just visit now.

Kekalainen said he could afford to lose the prospects he gave up at the 2019 deadline. Why? Because he had Alexandre Texier, Emil Bemstrom and Liam Foudy, among others, in the pipeline. It’s not a terrible defense.

This year, barely a breeze emanated from Columbus on deadline day. Kekalainen gave up on the Sonny Milano experiment and traded the former first-round pick to the Anaheim Ducks for a bottom-six forward, Devin Shore. He also sent forward Markus Hannikainen, who has been playing in AHL Cleveland, to Arizona for a conditional seventh-round draft pick.

Offensive help in the form of a top-six forward ― a center, if you dared to dream ― would have sent an electric charge through the fan base, not to mention the locker room. It was not to be.

In the final assessment, Kekalainen said, “We did our best, and that's one thing that we always know, if we do our best we can look in the mirror and say that's all we could get accomplished and I'm fine with that.

“I can assure you, though, that was our best effort to do whatever we could today that would make sense, not only in the short term, but for the long term as well. So, yeah, we're not happy with the injuries that we have, but that's something that's out of our control.”

The Jackets lead the league with more than 370 man-games lost to injury ― which made finding significant offensive help nigh impossible. With three defensemen on the shelf, now was not the time to reach into the team’s deepest pool of positional talent to make a trade.

Doing something for, say, J-G Pageau, then, was fantasy. What’s injured forward Josh Anderson’s value on the open market right now? Not much, apparently.

What is more, Kekalainen could not afford to surrender any more draft picks to facilitate a substantial deadline-day deal.

Since 2018, he has given up one first-round pick, two second-round picks, a third-rounder, two fourths, a fifth and a sixth to swing deals at the deadline. This doesn’t even count the first-rounder he gave up (with William Karlsson) to the Vegas Golden Knights, to protect Anderson, Jack Johnson and Joonas Korpisalo in the 2017 expansion draft.

Draft picks are commodities. They are annual replenishment to revolving rosters and losing them stunts growth. Think sixth- and seventh-rounders are throwaways? Vladislav Gavrikov was a sixth-round pick and Markus Nutivaara a seventh-rounder.

Last year’s Dzingel rental was paid for with Anthony Duclair, who is having a terrific season for Ottawa, and two second-round picks. One or two of those second-round picks would have come in handy if the Jackets had their eyes on, say, Andreas Athanasiou (as was rumored) at the deadline. But Kekalainen didn’t have the picks to spare.

Would the Jackets like to have that Dzingel deal back? Absolutely. Such are the risks on deadline day. Kekalainen had to play it safe this year.

The Jackets have neither a second- nor a third-round pick in next draft. Still, that’s where the action is going to be ― at the draft the last 1178742 Columbus Blue Jackets

Wild 5, Blue Jackets 4 | Third-period rush not enough for weary Jackets

Brian Hedger The Columbus Dispatch

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Even when their legs are toast and they look dead on frozen water, you can’t count out the Blue Jackets until they’ve officially lost.

Despite trailing by three goals to start the third period, skating on weary legs in the finale of a back-to-back and their eighth game in 13 days, the Jackets still managed to give the Minnesota Wild a scare Tuesday night at Xcel Energy Center.

The Wild won 5-4 but not before the Jackets twice pulled within a goal in the third. Goals by Emil Bemstrom and Pierre-Luc Dubois 1:21 apart cut Minnesota’s lead to 4-3 with 16:44 left in the third, and Zach Werenksi scored to make it 5-4 with 3:06 left.

The Jackets also pushed hard in the closing minutes but just couldn’t get another puck past Wild goalie Alex Stalock, who made 24 saves.

Jackets rookie Matiss Kivlenieks was charged with five goals on 40 shots. He was an emergency recall from Cleveland late Monday after Elvis Merzlikins was injured in a 4-3 overtime win over Ottawa. He was expected to back up Joonas Korpisalo but instead made his fourth career start.

Kevin Fiala followed the goals by Bemstrom and Dubois in the third, scoring at 9:57 to make it 5-3. Mikko Koivu had two goals for the Wild. Eric Staal and Ryan Donato scored the other two.

Minnesota led 2-1 after the first period, which should have been a lift for the Jackets after being outskated and outplayed nearly start to finish in the first 20 minutes.

The Wild outshot the Blue Jackets 17-7 in the first, took a 1-0 lead on Staal’s goal 1:34 in and proceeded to make Kivlenieks work hard to keep the lead from growing.

The Wild also built an 11-1 shot advantage before the Jackets struck back with a goal of their own. Foligno tied it at 1 with 6:27 left by putting back a rebound that bounced out to the slot for his third goal in two games and 10th of the season.

It didn’t, however, lessen the Wild’s dominance.

Minnesota got right back to attacking and surged ahead 2-1 when Donato swatted home a loose puck with a backhand in front of the net with 47 seconds left.

Things got worse in the second for the Jackets, who were outshot 13-9 and allowed two more goals. Koivu scored both for the Wild, making it 3- 1 at 12:08 off a loose puck in the low slot and 4-1 at 19:49 by cleaning up a rebound.

Those were the second and third goals for Minnesota’s fourth line and Koivu’s first since Nov. 9, ending a 30-game drought.

The Blue Jackets finally have a chance to rest, briefly, with their next game Friday at Nationwide Arena in a rematch against the Wild.

Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 02.27.2020 1178743 Columbus Blue Jackets That’s three more games than the Islanders (77 points, first wild card), Carolina Hurricanes (74 points) and Rangers (72 points). It’s also two games more than the Philadelphia Flyers (79 points), third in the Wild 5, Blue Jackets 4 | The 3-2-1 breakdown Metropolitan Division, and Florida Panthers (72 points).

Losses in regulation have become a little more common lately in Columbus, but they’re still a rarity if you widen the scope. This was only Brian Hedger The Columbus Dispatch Feb 26, 2020 at 5:50 AM their fourth in the past 20 games (10-4-6) and sixth in the past 36 games (20-6-10).

The past two months put them in this position, despite a mountain of ST. PAUL, Minn. – They had a number of excuses at their fingertips. injuries, but the schedule is winding down now. Opportunities to stack Dinged up? points are dwindling, which is why the first two periods against the Wild stung so much. The Blue Jackets are actually beyond dinged up, going into their 5-4 loss to the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday at Xcel Energy Center with 10 lineup "They just came out and wanted it more than us, and it can’t happen, not regulars out, most for months or weeks. They also haven’t had veteran in the situation that we’re in … where we’re running out of games here to forward Brandon Dubinsky (wrist) all season. say, ‘Well, we’ll get the next one,’" Foligno said. "We’ve got to have a huge one coming up against (the Wild) when we get back and return the Tired? favor."

The game in Minnesota was the Jackets’ eighth in 13 days and second in 2) Ch-ch-ch-changes 24 hours, concluding a back-to-back that began Monday in Columbus with a 4-3 overtime victory against the Ottawa Senators. Tortorella experimented with new forward lines and defense pairings to start this game, which was the first in a Blue Jackets uniform for newly- Out-manned? acquired forward Devin Shore.

The Jackets’ lineup included six rookie skaters plus Jakob Lilja, a first- He wound up changing things again mid-game, but started out with some year forward who doesn’t meet the league’s rookie criteria. Coach John different looks. The top two lines remained intact, with Boone Jenner and Tortorella also started rookie Matiss Kivlenieks in net and had seven Dubois the top two centers, but the bottom two forward groups were players in uniform who began the season with the Cleveland Monsters of reworked. the American Hockey League. Lilja joined rookies Calvin Thurkauf and Kevin Stenlund on the fourth line, Unlucky? while Shore centered a new third line that had Eric Robinson and Emil Bemstrom as his wingers. The Wild’s first goal, and the first goal of the game, was scored by Eric Staal on a wraparound attempt at 1:34 of the first period. The puck hit Defensively, Tortorella broke up all three pairings before going back to Blue Jackets defenseman Scott Harrington in the skate blade and what they’ve been for a few weeks. deflected into the net before Kivlenieks could react. Zach Werenski skated with David Savard, whom he’s played with in the Any combination of those challenges would’ve been understandable, had past, and Savard’s usual partner, rookie Vladislav Gavrikov, was paired the Blue Jackets chosen to go that route, but wandering down Excuse with Scott Harrington. Markus Nutivaara moved from the right point on Avenue isn’t something they’re interested in doing. the top pairing, where he’d been playing with Werenski, to the left side of the third pairing with rookie Andrew Peeke. They refuse to bend, even in the face of logical reasons to give. The defensive shakeup may have been sparked by a search for balance. "No, I’m not even going to go there," captain Nick Foligno said, when asked if a grueling portion of the schedule might have finally caught up to Opposing coaches had begun targeting the Jackets’ third pairing in the Blue Jackets. "No, because everyone has to play 82 games at some matchups, when Harrington and Peeke played together, especially with point. So, I’m not going to allow us to think that we’re tired or … we can’t the advantage of the last change on home ice. Tortorella changed back be. We’re playing this to then play a whole (new) season after this (in the to his previous defensive units in the second period and stuck with those playoffs), so I’m not going to let that slip into our room here. We’ve got to the rest of the game. get over that mentally. 3) Shore’s debut We’re not in a position to be feeling sorry for ourselves and saying ‘We’re tired and this is the situation we’re in.’ No. We need wins and we have to A win would’ve been nice, but Shore delivered the goods with a heavy dig deeper to find them." forechecking effort that led to a goal for Bemstrom that cut the Wild’s lead to 4-2 to start the third. That worked against the Wild in the third, when the Jackets dominated and scored three times to make a game of it, but there wasn’t nearly Shore wasn’t credited with an assist on the goal, even though he twice enough of fire in the first two periods. touched the puck before Bemstrom whacked it home, but he looked comfortable in the Blue Jackets’ system during his first post-trade game. That’s what stung them most. Wearing No. 74, Shore played 12:23, finished with two hits and went 3- for-3 on face-offs. "I mean, I’ve heard coaches say, ‘Tired is an emotion,’" center Pierre-Luc Dubois said. "I don’t know about that, but at this point you’ve got to find a "It was good," Shore said. "It’s a frickin’ hard-working bunch of guys. It’s way. Everybody’s tired. You’ve got to find a way to be sharp mentally and a fun team to be a part of. I don’t think we’re happy with the first two find a way to win games." periods, but we showed a lot of (resilience) and made it close at the end. So, today, for me, was about keeping it simple and getting in with these The Blue Jackets get another crack Minnesota on Friday in Columbus, guys and earning their respect. But it’s a fun group to be part of." looking to split the two-game season series, but until then, here’s a 3-2-1 breakdown from Xcel Energy Center … three takeaways, two questions The newest Blue Jacket wasn’t surprised by his new teammates’ strong and one more thing: pushback in the third.

Three Takeaways "I wouldn’t call it eye-opening," Shore said. "I knew going into this group what they’re about ... it’s contagious and it’s something you want to jump 1) Playoff picture on board with right away and help in any way you can." The regulation loss dropped Columbus into the second wild card in the Two Questions Eastern Conference. The Jackets are one point behind the New York Islanders, who lost in overtime to the New York Rangers on Tuesday, but 1) Why did Kivlenieks start instead of Korpisalo? have played more games than any of the teams bunched up in the hunt for the East’s final two playoff spots. Tortorella said at the morning skate there would be no lineup changes from the Jackets’ OT win Monday against Ottawa, but he wasn’t asked The Blue Jackets have 76 points after 65 games. specifically about the goalie position. Joonas Korpisalo picked up a win in relief against the Senators, after Elvis Merzlikins left with an undisclosed injury, and it was widely assumed he would also play in Minnesota. Instead, Kivlenieks got the nod after re-joining the team as an emergency recall late Monday night.

Tortorella was asked about that decision after the game, but declined to answer in detail.

"We’re playing him," he said, during a terse postgame press conference that lasted less than a minute. "That was our decision."

Only Tortorella, and presumably his assistants and the Jackets’ corner office, knows what went into that decision. Korpisalo missed 24 games prior to Monday’s game because of a torn meniscus in his left knee, but it’s unknown how much that factored into Kivlenieks making the fourth start of his NHL career.

Kivlenieks allowed all five Minnesota goals, but couldn’t have done much about most of them. The Wild swarmed the Columbus zone for most of the first two periods and had numerous scoring chances.

2) What changed in the third?

Goals just 1:21 apart by Bemstrom and Dubois to start the third period cut the Wild’s lead to 4-3 with 16:44 left to play, quickly silencing the building. Kevin Fiala got one back for Minnesota about midway through the period, which turned out to be the winner, but the Blue Jackets turned the table on the Wild for most of the final period.

Rather than struggling to get the puck out of their own zone, the Jackets’ forechecking and cycling games started working and pinned Minnesota in its own end for long stretches. Zach Werenski’s 19th goal cut it to 5-4 with 3:06 left, setting up a frantic finish, but Wild goalie Alex Stalock made a couple big saves to make a slim lead stand up.

What happened in that third period, though? How did the Jackets seemingly flip a switch from being dominated to being dominant?

Foligno thought they played smarter in the third, flipping pucks behind the Wild’s defense and getting on the forecheck, while Dubois felt like it was more about their overall approach.

"I think that third period … we just go," Dubois said. "We just play instead of waiting for the other team to make a mistake. Instead of sitting back and waiting for them to turn the puck over and trying to block everything and keep the middle, I think in the third we just play. We make plays, we skate."

They also controlled the puck.

"I mean, the best defense is offense, you know?" Dubois said. "When you have the puck, you’re probably not going to get scored on, unless you shoot it in your own net. So, I think if we do that in the upcoming games, we might give ourselves a better chance."

One More Thing

Werenski, who leads all NHL defensemen in goals, is now one shy of reaching 20. That’s quite an accomplishment for a defenseman.

Every goal Werenski scores now sets the Jackets’ franchise record for single-season goals by a defenseman even higher, but getting 20 would put him in some elite company. That number has only been reached or exceeded eight times by NHL defensemen in the past five years, including just once last season (Toronto’s Morgan Rielly).

It has also been done just 26 times, by 17 different defensemen, in the past 20 seasons and just 153 times since 1917-18, the farther back stats are tracked on the NHL’s web site.

Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 02.27.2020 1178744 Columbus Blue Jackets Shore met the team in Minnesota and suited up a day after being acquired from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for forward Sonny Milano.

He played 12:23, was credited with two hits and assisted on Emil Early returns with Blue Jackets look promising for Stefan Matteau Bemstrom’s goal 1:55 into the third period. That assist wasn’t credited until Wednesday, but it counts just the same.

Brian Hedger The Columbus Dispatch Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 02.27.2020

Eight years is a long time for a hockey player.

In a sport that moves rapidly ― within games and seasons ― a lot can happen in eight years. And a lot has happened with Stefan Matteau since the New Jersey Devils drafted him 29th overall eight years ago.

For one thing, he doesn’t hear nearly as many “Matteau! Matteau! Matteau!” references as he used to with the Devils, the team that his father, Stephane, famously defeated with a Game 7 double-overtime goal for the New York Rangers in the 1994 Eastern Conference final.

“I heard a lot of it there, but it’s kind of settled down,” said Matteau, who’s now a Blue Jackets forward on his fourth NHL team in a career that includes 361 games and 146 points (69 goals) in the American Hockey League. “It’s so cool what he did and the run they had. It’s obviously a huge part of Rangers history, so it’s pretty sweet.”

It’s also part of Stefan’s history, since he was barely 3 months old when his dad finally got that puck past Devils goalie Martin Brodeur, a hall of famer.

“It wasn’t special (as a kid),” said Matteau, 26. “It was just my father and he's just in the house and that was my dad, but turning pro ... that gave me so much more appreciation for it.”

That’s because of his own hockey career, which can be described as turbulent. Mateau has been at it eight years, mostly slugging away in the AHL while developing in increments. He said he feels like he’s ready to carve out a role in the NHL.

“The last couple years, my mental game has gotten a lot better and my consistency has gotten a lot better,” said Matteau, who has gotten brief stints with the Devils, Montreal Canadiens, Vegas Golden Knights and now Columbus.

“I’m obviously older now, and I’ve never felt more ready than I am now. So it’s all working out. I’ve just got to keep doing everything I can to stick.”

He’s certainly off to a good start.

After signing a two-year, two-way NHL/AHL deal with the Blue Jackets last week, Matteau has two goals, one assist and three points in his first four games. He has good size at 6 feet 2, 208 pounds, and is a versatile winger capable of playing center in a pinch.

It took a slew of Blue Jackets injuries for Matteau to get this chance, after signing an AHL-only contract with the Cleveland Monsters last summer, but “Matteau, Matteau, Matteau!” has made it to Columbus.

“There was not too much going on in the summer, and I didn’t have any contracts,” said Matteau, who led the Monsters with 12 goals and added 16 assists for 28 points. “The (AHL) deal with the NHL opportunity showed up and we thought it was a good idea and a good fit. So I was betting on myself, big time, this year. I was just looking for any opportunity and just stayed focused.”

The bet has paid off, thus far. He’s back in the NHL, at least for the time being, and couldn’t be more motivated to stay this time.

“I came (into the NHL) early, and looking back I don’t think I was ready or even deserved it at that point,” said Matteau, who made his NHL debut in 2012-13 at age 18 with the Devils. “I hadn’t really proven anything. And then, once you’re out (of the league), you’re kind of ‘out,’ right? It’s hard to crawl back in.”

Getting back to the top made that crawl worth it. Now, it’s up to Matteau to stay.

Solid debut

Devin Shore made his Blue Jackets debut Tuesday night at Xcel Energy Center, skating at center of the third line in a 5-4 loss to the Minnesota Wild. 1178745 Dallas Stars the puck. We like our chances as much as anyone else. But we haven’t done anything yet, and we have to keep getting better.”

Hintz of swagger: While Roope Hintz is tied for the team lead with 18 Tough two-game stretch vs. Bruins, Blues will be the ‘measuring stick’ goals this season, he’s been a streaky scorer for the Stars. His goal that proves if the Stars are true contenders Tuesday night in Carolina was just his third in the 12 games since he returned from a two-game absence due to injury.

By Matthew DeFranks 6:48 PM on Feb 26, 2020 It snapped a seven-game goalless streak, the second-longest of his season. Hintz’s goal in Carolina came on the rush on the power play, when he danced around Joel Edmundson before backhanding a shot past Alex Nedeljkovic. BOSTON — Rick Bowness is searching for an ‘X’ beside Dallas in the standings, a signal that his team had finally accomplished something by “Nice to see him have the poise and the confidence to try that 1-on-1 qualifying for the playoffs. But a pair of W’s this week would be quite the move that [Tyler Seguin] tried in Montreal and scored on,” Bowness said. accomplishment in itself. “Almost identical play from the other side. So that confidence is coming back. Confidence that he lost when he was injured, you see it slowly The Stars are amid their busiest month of the season and now face a coming back.” two-game stretch that is their toughest since the start of the season. On Thursday night, they visit the league-leading Bruins, who have 90 points Dallas Morning News LOADED: 02.27.2020 this season and just three regulation losses at home. On Saturday night, they visit the Western Conference-leading Blues, who thrashed Dallas in a four-goal blowout just last week.

Bowness, the Stars’ interim head coach, called the two-game stretch “a measuring stick.”

“We’ll get a good feel of where we are,” Bowness said. “This has been a tough month, we know that. It’s been a grind because of all the travel and everything. It’s been a great opportunity for all of us to see where we are as a team, and these two games are going to give us another evaluation of just where we are.”

Boston and St. Louis were the league’s Stanley Cup finalists a year ago, the last two teams standing during a Game 7 at Boston’s TD Garden. They were also the first two teams the Stars faced this season, a one-two punch that pushed the Stars toward their worst start in franchise history.

Back when the Stars lost to the Bruins on opening night and then to the Blues 48 hours later, this Dallas team was different. It was on its way to a 1-7-1 start, casting questions both about its status as a Stanley Cup contender and about the future of the management and coaching staff.

More than four months later, the Stars have been the league’s best team since the horrific start. They’ve weathered an impromptu coaching change and steadied their play to sniff the top of the Western Conference. Their depth scoring has risen with the emergence of Roope Hintz and Denis Gurianov, and their goaltending has remained spectacular with Ben Bishop and Anton Khudobin.

Still, Bowness doesn’t reflect on the road the Stars have taken to this point with two games against elite teams waiting.

“This is just a normal season, man,” Bowness said. “Expect the unexpected. Every day is a new day and new challenges. So we’re not the same team we were in October. As the season goes along, you’re supposed to improve, you’re supposed to get better. We’ve done that. There’s always challenges, there’s always ups and downs, there’s always bad games, bad streaks, good streaks, good games. There’s all of that.”

The last time the Stars were faced with a measuring stick game, they failed dramatically. The Blues pummeled the Stars 5-1 at American Airlines Center on Friday, a loss captain Jamie Benn called “embarrassing” after the game. The Stars get a chance at revenge Saturday against the Blues, but can also prove themselves true contenders against Boston on Thursday.

The Bruins are the team so many envy around the league. They have a 45-goal scorer in David Pastrnak, a 54-assist player in Brad Marchand and an annual Selke Trophy candidate in Patrice Bergeron. Their offense is eighth in the league at 3.28 goals per game, and their defense (2.45 goals per game) is the only one in the NHL better than the Stars.

The Stars entered Wednesday sixth in the overall league standings, and are 4-7-0 against the five teams above them. That means Dallas is 33- 13-6 against every team beneath them in the standings.

To make a deep playoff run, the Stars will have to beat elite teams. They can begin this weekend.

“We know we’ve got a very good team,” Bowness said. “We know we can defend, and we know we can continue to improve on the offensive side of 1178746 Dallas Stars

Stars notebook: Anton Khudobin’s 40 saves vs. Carolina put goalie in elite NHL territory

By Matthew DeFranks 11:33 PM on Feb 25, 2020

With Tuesday night’s 40-save effort in Carolina, Khudobin now leads the NHL with a .931 save percentage. It was also his eighth game of at least 40 saves since he joined the Stars last season, the second-most in Dallas history behind Kari Lehtonen (19).

For the Stars, Khudobin is a luxury. To be able to trot out the league- leader in save percentage as your backup is a big plus for a team that is trying to keep starter Ben Bishop fresh for a deep playoff run in April and May.

Not quite: After a video review, Hintz’s would-be goal in the second period was ruled no goal. Instead, the Stars went on the power play after Sebastian Aho hooked Hintz and officials ruled that the goal was dislodged before the puck crossed the goalline.

“That could have gone either way,” Bowness said. “That was a very close, tight call and John the referee came over and we talked about that. He said ‘It’s so close, we’ve got to take our time and get it right.’ And you’ve got to trust the guys in Toronto, the referees to get it right, and you live with it.”

Hintz said: “I don’t know if it was or not, but they said it wasn’t, so it wasn’t.”

Dowling down: The Stars sent forward Justin Dowling to AHL affiliate Texas on a conditioning loan, allowing him to play three games in the minor leagues as he comes back from a lower-body injury.

Since Dowling has missed at least 10 games and 24 days with the injury, he is allowed to go on a conditioning loan of three games or six days. When he is recalled to the NHL, it will not count as one of the team’s four allowed post-trade deadline recalls from the AHL.

Dowling has not played since Jan. 29 against Toronto, but returned to practice with the Stars in the last week. Dowling’s loan to Texas leaves the Stars without an extra forward on their current road trip through Carolina, Boston and St. Louis.

Dowling is the third Stars player to go on a conditioning assignment this season, joining defenseman Stephen Johns and Taylor Fedun.

Johns out: Stars defenseman Stephen Johns missed Tuesday night’s game with an upper-body injury and Bowness classified him as day-to- day. Bowness said it was not a head-related injury, and Johns was on the ice for morning skate on Tuesday.

It was the first game Johns missed due to injury since to returned to the lineup Jan. 18 in Minnesota after missing 22 months due to post- traumatic headaches. To make up for Johns’ absence, the Stars shuffled the defensive pairings on Tuesday, with Esa Lindell skating with Andrej Sekera, Miro Heiskanen with Roman Polak and Jamie Oleksiak with John Klingberg.

Dallas Morning News LOADED: 02.27.2020 1178747 Detroit Red Wings

Detroit Red Wings' Robby Fabbri after knee scare: 'Going to have to ... play without fear'

Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press Published 5:12 p.m. ET Feb. 26, 2020 | Updated 7:42 p.m. ET Feb. 26, 2020

Tyler Bertuzzi has moved on, and the Detroit Red Wings believe Robby Fabbri will soon be doing the same.

Fabbri is listed as questionable for Thursday’s game against the Minnesota Wild, after limping off the ice during the third period of Tuesday’s game against the New Jersey Devils. Fabbri was hurt when Devils forward Jack Hughes tripped him with a knee-on-knee hit that led to a fracas in the final minute of the game. He didn’t practice Wednesday.

“We think he’s going to be OK overall,” coach Jeff Blashill said, adding, “I don’t like the hit. He went to kind of take a run at Fabs and you are responsible for your body and it was knee-on-knee.”

Blashill said defensemen Filip Hronek (head) and Gustav Lindstrom (undisclosed) are also questionable for the Minnesota game, but the Wings recalled Dennis Cholowski from Grand Rapids in the evening. That leaves them with two call-ups the remainder of the season.

The Wings (15-46-4) are eliminated from the playoffs but desperate to show some pride as they close out a miserable season. Losing Fabbri would have further lessened what little offensive punch the Wings have. They acquired the former first-round pick because they viewed the 24- year-old as someone who could reboot his career in Detroit. He’d fallen out of step in St. Louis after two major knee surgeries, and needed a fresh start.

The gamble worked: Fabbri is second on the team with 28 points in 47 games since the Nov. 6 trade.

“One of the things when he came over was, I wanted him to make sure he played with the tenacity that is going to allow him to become a really good NHL player,” Blashill said. “With the injuries he had over his time in St. Louis, I think he had lost some of that. It’s important with a guy that’s undersized, that’s not super fast, that he plays with that type of intensity, that ferocity. I think he’s done a really good job of that so far.

“He’s going to have to come back from this scare, because it certainly could have been worse, and play without fear.”

The Wings were mad about the hit, and Tyler Bertuzzi let Hughes know that with a hit late in the game. It was a clean check but Devils enforcer John Hayden retaliated by shoving his stick in Bertuzzi’s face. The NHL fined Hayden $2,016.13, the maximum allowable under the CBA, for cross-checking Bertuzzi.

“I don’t really care, honestly,” Bertuzzi said. “It’s part of the game. Whether it was dirty or not, he’s sticking up for his teammate. I’d probably do the same thing.

“They’re trying to protect him after his hit on Fabs. We were trying to get him back for that. Things solve themselves.”

Blashill coached Hughes at the 2019 World Championship. He made a point of nodding to Hughes as Hughes exited Little Caesars Arena Tuesday.

“I certainly respect him a lot,” Blashill said. “He’s a fierce competitor, a great young player. Just reading a little bit of the notes from him, I think he was sticking up for himself in his mind and I understand that. We’re going to see things through our bench’s eyes and their coaching staff didn’t think it was a penalty. It’s just a different lens that you look at it through.

“At the end of the day, it was a play. Robby is, long-term, going to be all right.”

Detroit Free Press LOADED: 02.27.2020 1178748 Detroit Red Wings “I don’t really care honestly,” Bertuzzi said. “It’s part of the game. Whether it was dirty or not, he’s sticking up for his teammate. I’d probably do the same thing.

Sam Gagner eager to get started with Red Wings; Tyler Bertuzzi looks “Obviously it’s not what I wanted, to get a crosscheck, but like I said, it’s past Devil's light fine part of the game. They’re trying to protect him after his (Hughes) hit on Fabbs.”

Blashill said Wednesday that Fabbri, who has had two significant knee Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News Published 5:04 p.m. ET Feb. 26, 2020 surgeries, likely avoided any sort of long-term injury but is questionable for Thursday’s game against Minnesota.

Blashill hopes Fabbri will continue to play with the tenacity he’s had since Detroit – Sam Gagner has been through this stuff before. He will be an joining the Wings. unrestricted free agent on July 1 and he knew a trade was a possibility. “One of things when he came over was I wanted him to make sure he Sure enough, Gagner found himself part of the package headed to played with that tenacity that’s going to allow him to be a real good NHL Detroit in Monday’s Andreas Athanasiou trade with Edmonton. player,” Blashill said. “With the injuries he had in St. Louis, he had lost “Surprised, but there’s always a possibility when you’re a UFA and the some of that, just from talking to the previous coaches there. It’s team is trying to improve,” said Gagner, who went through his first important for a guy who is undersized and not super fast that he plays practice with the Wings Wednesday. “You kind of figure there’s a with that type of intensity and makes up for it with ferocity, and he’s done possibility.” a real good job of that.”

Detroit Red Wings left wing Tyler Bertuzzi checks New Jersey Devils Ice chips center Jack Hughes off the puck in the second period Tuesday night. Along with Fabbri, Filip Hronek (upper body) and Gustav Lindstrom (arm) Now, though, Gagner is excited to get going with his new team. are questionable for Thursday. Adam Erne, who missed Tuesday’s game, is available. “When I wrapped my head around it I got pretty excited,” Gagner said. “There’s a good opportunity for me to show what I’m capable of and I’m … Gagner renewed an old friendship by joining the Wings. Gagner and excited to get going here.” defenseman Cody Goloubef, who was claimed off waivers Friday, grew up together in Oakville, Ontario. Gagner, 30, had five goals and seven assists in 36 games this season in Edmonton, falling behind on a rapidly growing depth chart. “We’ve been friends since we were 10,” Gagner said.

Gagner has 163 goals and 458 points in 838 career games with … Blashill has coached Team USA at the world championships for the Edmonton, Arizona, Philadelphia, Columbus and Vancouver in his NHL last three years but that streak has come to an end. Peter Laviolette career. Wednesday was named coach of this year’s team.

Gagner talked with general manager Steve Yzerman after Monday’s “I overextended my welcome,” Blashill joked. “I’d like to not be doing it trade, shortly after finding out about the trade from Edmonton GM Ken because we’re in the playoffs but that’s clearly not the case. It was a Holland. great opportunity, I really enjoyed my time doing it. But my kids will be happy.” “Kenny put me on the phone with him (Yzerman) and he said there’s an opportunity here for me, and I just have to come in and take it,” Gagner Wild at Red Wings said. “I feel like I’ve been through this process before with some other Faceoff: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Little Caesars Arena teams and I can fill a leadership role and help the guys get through it, and that’s what I’m here to do.” TV/radio: FSD/97.1 FM

With any trade, there are family considerations. Gagner and his wife Outlook: The Wild (30-25-7) remain on the fringe of the playoff chase Rachel just had a baby girl, five months old, their third child under the thanks to six wins in their last 10 games (6-3-1). … C Eric Staal (44 age of four. points) and LW Zach Parise (21 goals) pace the Wild attack.

“It’s tough,” said Gagner, of moving away for a month. “My wife being Detroit News LOADED: 02.27.2020 from Edmonton, that’s the tough part of it. The great thing is she’s so supportive and she understands how much this means to me, finding a way to extend my career and be an important part of things.

“She flew out here the day I flew out here, so that kind of helped me transition. It’s always great to have that support for sure.”

Gagner will be in Thursday’s lineup against Minnesota, said coach Jeff Blashill.

“I’ve heard great things about him as a person, a teammate, a competitor,” Blashill said. “My message is be a great pro, No. 1. We need great pros around here. No. 2, you’re going to get an opportunity. There's an opportunity to be had, certainly on the power play. We don’t have any right-shot power-play forwards. Luke (Glendening) our only right-shot forward and he’s not a natural power-play guy, so (Gagner) is going to get that opportunity for sure.”

Tyler Bertuzzi says he's not upset about the minimal fine tossed at New Jersey's John Hayden for a crosscheck Tuesday. The Detroit News

The aftermath

On the heels of Tuesday’s dust-up with the Devils, New Jersey forward John Hayden was fined $2,016.13 by the NHL Department of Player Safety for Hayden’s crosscheck to the face of Tyler Bertuzzi.

Hayden was retaliating for Bertuzzi’s hit on Devils forward Jack Hughes, whose knee-on-knee collision with Robby Fabbri began the entire episode.

Bertuzzi said he had no opinion about the fine. 1178749 Detroit Red Wings “We have three kids under the age of 4,” he said. “My wife being from Edmonton, that’s the tough part of it. I think the great thing is, she’s so supportive and she understands kind of how much this means to me, finding a way to extend my career and be an important part of things. Sam Gagner hopes to help Red Wings while showcasing himself She flew out here the day I flew out here, too. That kind of helped me transition. It’s always great to have that support.”

Michigan Live LOADED: 02.27.2020 By Ansar Khan

DETROIT – Sam Gagner’s career has fallen on tough times. He spent half of last season in the AHL, part of this year as a healthy scratch.

But the sixth overall pick from 2007 is only 30 and believes he has a lot of hockey left in him.

The Detroit Red Wings will provide Gagner an opportunity to showcase himself for free agency this summer, and he gives them a right-shooting forward and depth.

Gagner will make his Red Wings debut Thursday against the Minnesota Wild at Little Caesars Arena (7:30 p.m., Fox Sports Detroit). He was acquired Monday, along with two second-round picks, from the Edmonton Oilers for Andreas Athanasiou.

Detroit is Gagner’s sixth NHL stop. Most have been brief. He is mostly identified as an Oiler, having spent nine-plus seasons in two stints with the organization.

“I think initially I have a lot of emotions towards Edmonton and playing there,” Gagner said. “Once I wrapped my head around (the trade), I got pretty excited. I think there’s a great opportunity for me here to show what I’m capable of.

“I’ve felt really good this year. I felt like I’ve played well. I’m excited to get some power-play time. I can kind of fill a leadership role and help the guys kind of get through it.”

Gagner, whose $3.15 million salary needed to be moved to so the Oilers could fit Athanasiou under the cap, will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.

“I have a lot of motivation,” Gagner said. “I have obviously bounced around a little bit. I still feel like I can be a really effective player in this league, and I can help a winning team. I want to help establish that while I’m here the last part of the season, and hopefully find a fit.”

Gagner, mainly a center, practiced Wednesday at right wing on a line with Valtteri Filppula and Tyler Bertuzzi.

“I’ve heard great things about him as a person and as a teammate and competitor,” coach Jeff Blashill said. “My message is be a great pro, No. 1. We need great pros around here. No. 2, you’re going to get opportunity, certainly on the power play. We don’t have any right-shot power-play forwards. Luke (Glendening) is our only right-shot forward and he’s not a natural power-play guy. He’s going to get an opportunity to play on a (top two) line, certainly until (Filip) Zadina gets back (from a foot injury). So, make the most of it.”

Gagner wants to set an example for younger players by working hard, competing and helping the team win.

“I’m excited about the opportunity for growth here,” Gagner said. “I think that obviously the year hasn’t gone the way guys have wanted. There’s still an opportunity here in the last however many games to establish something where we create an identity, create a culture. I want to be a part of that.”

Current Oilers and former Red Wings general manager Ken Holland told Gagner of the culture in Detroit.

“Obviously, it’s a storied franchise,” Gagner said. “I grew up not far from here. I understand what being a Red Wing is all about. When I first came to the league, (Joe Louis Arena) was one of the hardest places to play. You knew it was going to be a tough test every night, and there was a certain aura about being a Red Wing and having that culture. I’m excited to be a part of it.”

Gagner grew up in Oakville, Ontario, with new teammate Cody Goloubef, whom he’s known since he was 10. He played briefly with Alex Biega in Vancouver.

Gagner and his wife had their third child five months ago, so it wasn’t easy leaving Edmonton. 1178750 Detroit Red Wings “You always see things through rose-colored glasses and we’re going to see things through our bench’s eyes. I think their coaching staff didn’t think it was a penalty. It’s just the different lenses that you look at it through. I don’t know who’s right. Ultimately, that’s for others to judge. Red Wings’ Robby Fabbri avoids serious injury; Tyler Bertuzzi: melee That doesn’t diminish my respect for Jack.” part of game Injury updates

Defenseman Filip Hronek practiced Wednesday without an orange non- By Ansar Khan contact jersey and is questionable for Thursday. He has missed four games with an injury suffered after being hit in the head with a shot.

Defenseman Gustav Lindstrom is questionable for Thursday due to an DETROIT – Robby Fabbri’s career has been marred by two major knee undisclosed injury suffered Tuesday. surgeries, so the Detroit Red Wings were relieved to learn the young forward isn’t out long-term following a hit Tuesday that some players No Worlds for Blashill deemed as dirty. USA Hockey tabbed Peter Laviolette to coach this year’s World Fabbri didn’t skate Wednesday. Coach Blashill listed him as questionable Championship, ending Blashill’s three-year run as the team’s head for Thursday’s game against the Minnesota Wild at Little Caesars Arena coach. (7:30 p.m., Fox Sports Detroit) and said it’s not a long-term injury. “I’ve overextended my welcome,” Blashill joked. “I would like to not be New Jersey rookie Jack Hughes, who delivered the hit, received only a doing it because we’re in the playoffs but that’s clearly not the case. It minor penalty and no supplementary discipline by the NHL. The play was a great opportunity. I really enjoyed my time doing it, but my kids will elevated tensions between the teams, leading a melee in the final minute be happy.” after Scott Hayden’s cross-check to Tyler Bertuzzi’s face. Michigan Live LOADED: 02.27.2020 Bertuzzi, who escaped injury, said “Things just got carried away at the end.”

The league fined Hayden $2,016.13, the maximum allowable under the CBA, but didn’t suspend him.

“I don’t really care, honestly,” Bertuzzi said. “It’s part of the game. Whether it was dirty or not, he’s sticking up for his teammate. I’d probably do the same thing.”

Hayden’s hit was in retaliation for Bertuzzi’s clean check on Hughes moments before.

“Obviously, it’s not what I wanted, to get a cross-check but like I said, it’s part of the game,” Bertuzzi said. “Obviously, they’re trying to protect (Hughes) after his hit on Fabbs. Obviously, we’re going try to get him back for that. Things solve themselves.”

After the initial flare-up, Bertuzzi attempted to get at P.K. Subban, who stood over him while he was down and had some words. Officials kept Bertuzzi away, but he managed to throw a glove at Subban.

“It was just a scrum,” Bertuzzi said. “Obviously, things get heated, things get carried away. It’s part of hockey.”

Hughes’ hit is not part of hockey, however. Dylan Larkin called it a “cheap check,” and Justin Abdelkader said it was a “dirty hit.”

Blashill watched the hit again and reiterated his feelings from the night before.

“I don’t like the hit,” he said. “At the end of the day, I thought he took a run at Fabbs. You’re responsible for your body, knee on knee, that’s what that is.”

Blashill hopes this injury doesn’t cause Fabbri to play tentative.

“One of things when he came over was I wanted him to make sure he played with that tenacity that’s going to allow him to be a real good NHL player,” Blashill said. “With the injuries he had taken in St. Louis, he had lost some of that, just from talking to the previous coaches there. It’s important for a guy who is undersized and not super-fast that he plays with that type of intensity and makes up for it with ferocity, and I think he’s done a real good job of that.

“Him and I have talked lots about that. He doesn’t just want to be a player; he wants to be a real good player. He’s going to have to come back from this scare, as what I’d call it, because it could have been worse, and come back and play without fear.”

Blashill knows Hughes well, having coached him at the World Championship.

“I certainly respect him a lot,” Blashill said. “He’s a fierce competitor, a great young player. I think he was sticking up for himself in his mind and I understand that. He’s going to be a great player in this league for a long time without a shadow of a doubt. 1178751 Edmonton Oilers person with the Knights on a six-game heater having beaten St. Louis, Tampa and Washington in that winning stretch. The Oilers were playing without five injured players as well as Zack Kassian, sitting out the last of his seven-game suspension. In battle for top spot in Pacific, Vegas comes out ahead of Oilers “Played a really good first period, but we came out down one, then they put a hard push on in the second, pinning us in our end for long periods of time. I think the fatigue factor came into it,” said Tippett. Jim Matheson, Edmonton Journal It was their third game on the road in four nights.

“They were just better than us,” said McDavid, applauding the effort of LAS VEGAS — Vegas coach Pete DeBoer, who believes in cutting to the Fleury. “He’s been a really good goalie for a long time.” chase, says the high-pitched, high-stakes divisional games like Wednesday’s battle with the Edmonton Oilers are “where the rubber is Koskinen gave up a shake-your-head goal to Max Pacioretty with four hitting the road at this time of year.” minutes left in the first, a period the Oilers thoroughly dominated, he but made up for it in the second. Sixteen shots, 16 saves, including stoning He could read the standings in the Pacific Division like everybody else. Tomas Nosek, while Fleury, who came into the game with a 10-4-1 Vegas: 76 points. Edmonton: 74. career record over the Oilers, had an easy second but stood on his head and got lucky once on a Usain Bolt-like out-of-the-blocks dash by Connor At his morning briefing, DeBoer stayed with the driving analogy. McDavid around Shea Theodore with the puck going off the crossbar.

“We have a chance to put the Oilers in the rearview mirror with a win. I They were 6-0 on the second of back-to-backs. Now, they’re 6-1. love game-planning and I know (Oilers coach) Dave Tippett is doing the same with his team. We lose and we’re back in the mud with everybody MAD MAX else in the division,” said DeBoer, who took over the Golden Knights on Pacioretty scores a ton of goals from the same spot he beat Koskinen Jan. 15 after Gerard Gallant, a month after DeBoer was shown the door late in the first, with a bolt down the wing and a wrister from outside the in San Jose for Bob Boughner. face-off dot, which is why that was his 30th of the year. But Koskinen Or in the ditch with those mud flaps. wasn’t square to the shot, ruining a strong first period for the Oilers. As coaches usually say when asked about a goal: “I think he might want that As it turned out, Vegas ran their winning streak to seven with Marc-Andre one back.” Polite code for mouldy. Fleury getting his 61st shutout in a 3-0 verdict, taking the special-teams battle, something the Oilers have been feeding off all season long with ABOUT THOSE SHUTOUTS their No. 1 power play and No. 2 penalty kill. This was the fourth time the Oilers have been blanked, all on the road. In this one, though, the Oilers were 0-for-3 on the power play, without a They lost 1-0 in a shootout in Winnipeg and 3-0 in Minnesota in late shot to start the third when Vegas was caught for too many men to end October, 3-0 in Arizona Feb. 4, and now this one. Fleury has posted the second period, and their penalty kill, which had only allowed 11 goals shutouts against 26 different franchises, only the sixth goalie to have that in 33 road games, gave up another a few minutes later. at least 26. The others: Ed Belfour, Dominik Hasek, Marty Brodeur, Tomas Vokoun (all 27) and Roberto Luongo (26). “Yeah, it’s won us a lot of games. It’s been great but let us down tonight,” said Oilers captain Connor McDavid. “The one they got was the back- This ’n’ that: Chris Chelios was at the game after playing in Bernie breaker, if we come out to start the third with a power play of our own Nicholls’ charity celebrity golf tournament here. He came as a guest of and score, but we couldn’t find a way.” his old general manager, Ken Holland. He watched McDavid roar up the ice on a power play and laughed softly at the thought of stopping his The Oilers only had one power-play shot in six minutes, while Vegas had zone entry. “Drop the puck 40 feet to a guy who skates 800 miles an eight in their 5:42. hour,” said the Hall of Famer … Anaheim defenceman Hampus Lindholm, who looked in rough shape when he crashed into the end “We had some really good chances in the first we whiffed on,” he added. boards after getting tangled up with Leon Draisaitl, is out day-to-day with “Most games those have been going in for us and the power-play goal a possible back issue. they got the puck bounced around about six times and found its way in.” Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 02.27.2020 Nick Cousins, who didn’t get to Vegas until Wednesday morning after a flight from Montreal, delayed by visa issues following his trade, lifted one over Mikko Koskinen for the insurance goal.

“Long day, I don’t know what time he got up in Montreal to fly here, then he gets to the rink and he doesn’t skate and comes out and plays a game. I guess you play on adrenalin in your first game,” said DeBoer, who then watched Chandler Stephenson pound one off the post and in off a face-off win by Paul Stastny in the third to put it away.

Tippett wasn’t happy with his team’s foul effort against the Ducks in Anaheim on Tuesday, figuring they missed the start time by about an hour on the way to losing 4-3 in overtime. And they were made of sterner stuff here, but they’ve now lost four of their last five, picking up four of 10 available points. And they not only lost the game, they lost winger Andreas Athanasiou, in his second Oilers game since coming over at the trade deadline, with a lower body injury.

He seemed fine in an interview with Sportsnet after the second period, not appearing hurt, but he wasn’t skating while host Gene Principe was talking to him, either.

“I don’t think it’s serious,” said Tippett. “I didn’t see it because of any one play. He was hurt in the second and tried it in the third but couldn’t go.”

Tippett’s pre-game message was clear and concise. Nothing lost in translation.

“Play a solid road game, that’s all.”

And they did but Vegas was better in a game that belonged in April or May in the playoffs, a fantastic piece of theatre, no place for a nervous 1178752 Edmonton Oilers Kris Russell plays when he gets over his concussion issues is anybody’s guess. He’s missed 13 games.

Benning, one of only two Oilers with a plus rating (plus-9, compared to Traded Edmonton Oilers forward Sam Gagner moves into more Kailer Yamamoto’s plus-14), had played 13 straight games after returning important role with Red Wings from a second blow to the head that had him out from Dec. 4 to Jan. 29. He only played 9:23 against Los Angeles on Sunday with Lagesson. In his 13 consecutive games, he’s gone from that low number to 17:38 against San Jose. His truncated season started with 23 games in a row, Jim Matheson, Edmonton Journal then he was hit with back-to-back concussions. His contract is up July 1 and he’s a restricted free-agent.

LAS VEGAS — Former Edmonton Oilers forward Sam Gagner made his IN THE LOOP way to Detroit to practise Wednesday after sorting out some visa issues, Before the Golden Knights traded for goalie Robin Lehner as a big and was on a line with Val Filppula and Tyler Bertuzzi. security blanket for Marc-Andre Fleury — “if anything happened to Fleury He’ll play against Minnesota on Thursday at Little Caesar’s, and on their we didn’t think we were strong enough to win playoff games,” said GM power play, which has 28 goals in 64 games. Kelly McCrimmon — they gave Fleury a heads-up.

“We don’t have any right-shot guys, Luke Glendening’s our only right- They didn’t want him seeing the transaction on TSN. shot forward and he’s not a natural power play guy,” said Wings coach “They were just explaining why, and what it was going to be like,” Fleury Jeff Blashill. said. “I thought it was very nice of them to take the time to talk to me Gagner has three kids under four, including a five-month-old daughter about it before I found out on TV or something.” Cali, so this move is hardly ideal, but he and his wife Rachel, a physician, He knows they’re in a win-now mode. flew to Detroit to be with him. “I get where the team is at, they’ve invested so much into doing well,” The first-ever player to wear No. 89 for the Red Wings, Gagner still has said Fleury, who had Malcolm Subban as his backup for two and a half game as a role player, but he’s played in Arizona, Philadelphia, years. Columbus, Vancouver, Edmonton and now Detroit, with some stops in the AHL the last half-dozen years. Eventually, all the moving may get old This ’n’ that: Tippett said they brought Markus Granlund back from with his family situation. Bakersfield rather than Tyler Benson, with Yamamoto’s sprained ankle, because “he can also play centre and Sam (Gagner) was the one guy A veteran pro scout watching him with the Oilers a few weeks back said: who could jump in there but now he’s gone.” … Defenceman Nick “He can still contribute in a lot of ways and if he wants to keep playing for Holden, who lives in St. Albert, just got a two-year extension for $1.7 the league minimum next year, for sure, he would be a good pick-up.” million a season with the Golden Knights. He’s in their second pairing … Gagner has made over $33 million in salary, but playing for $750,000 Golden Knights forward Nick Cousins also had visa problems after his might not be what he wants, unless it’s back with the Oilers as a bubble trade from Montreal, but they’re cleared up and he played a bottom six- guy. role against the Oilers … Lehner was third in Vezina voting last year while playing for the Islanders, one spot ahead of Fleury. He’s a sheer Oilers general manager Ken Holland thinks Gagner has all the hockey rental. acumen and work ethic to get into team management when he’s finished playing, such as Kris Draper or Shawn Horcoff in Detroit. Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 02.27.2020

“Oh yeah, Sam’s a smart guy,” said Holland. “It was a very tough day for me (trading him). He said he’d never played a playoff game for the Edmonton Oilers and really wanted that. But I also told him when he doesn’t want to play anymore to give me a call and see what he wants to do after hockey. Biggest thing with those jobs is all the travel and being away from your family and you’re doing it for a lot different salary.”

BENNING A HEALTHY SCRATCH

The old right-shot, left-shot defence pairing theory for coaches has Matt Benning forced into a cheerleading role while rookie William Lagesson plays with veteran righty Mike Green, who was playing his 880th NHL game Wednesday against the Golden Knights.

Lagesson may be returning to the farm in Bakersfield, Calif., when comes back next week from his minor shoulder clean-up, but Benning might still be the No. 7 defenceman with Caleb Jones moving back from the second pairing to play with Green.

“The old: You want a left shot with a right shot playing together?” coach Tippett was asked.

“That’s right, left-right.”

Confusing as that is to say and write.

“Even though Lagesson’s a rookie, you don’t think Benning could move over?” he was asked.

“No, I would rather have the left-right guys together,” said Tippett. “I don’t know why it is, but you find very few right-shot defencemen who can go and play the other side.”

He knows Lagesson is still learning the ropes, in just his seventh NHL game Wednesday, but he shoots left, so …

When Klefbom returns, he’ll go back with Adam Larsson in the top two pairings. Tippett has liked Jones’ play with Larsson a lot, but he’ll undoubtedly slide back, which leaves Benning the odd-man out. Where 1178753 Edmonton Oilers around the lineup. He’s also the best hitter on the team, even for his size. He’s also their best PK winger.

SPECIAL TEAMS Oilers Game Day: Betting on a win in Vegas Oilers: PP 53-183 29 per cent, first. PK 149-176 84.7 second

Golden Knights:PP 38-179, 21.2 per cent, 11th. PK 157-202, 77.7 24th Jim Matheson, Edmonton Journal SICK BAY

Oilers: F Kailer Yamamoto, D Oscar Klefbom, F James Neal, F Joakim Game Day: Capitals at Jets Nygard, D Kris Russell, F Zack Kassian (Suspended).

HOCKEY Golden Knights: F Alex Tuch, F Nicolas Roy.

Panthers - Leafs Game Day Game Day Lines (projected)

Edmonton Oilers at Vegas Golden Knights OILERS

WEDNESDAY, 8:30 P.M. Forwards (LW-C-RW)

TV: SPORTSNET WEST; RADIO: 630 CHED Ryan Nugent-Hopkins-Leon Draisaitl-Josh Archibald

The Big Matchup Andreas Athanasiou-Connor McDavid-Tyler Ennis

OILERS POWER PLAY VS. VEGAS PENALTY KILL Markus Granlund-Riley Sheahan-Alex Chiasson

Edmonton has been No. 1 on the PP most of the season, flirting with a Jujhar Khaira-Gaetan Haas-Patrick Russell 30% rate. The Golden Knights are in the bottom third on the PK (24th), Defence playing shorthanded 202 times, so they aren’t very disciplined. Only the Rangers and Ottawa have had to kill more penalties than Vegas. Leon Darnell Nurse-Ethan Bear Draisaitl (12) and Connor McDavid (11) have almost as many PP goals as the entire Golden Knights team (38). The addition of defenceman Caleb Jones-Adam Larsson Mike Green gives the Oilers a different look, a right-shot distributor with William Lagesson-Mike Green the lefties McDavid, Draisaitl and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. Goaltenders Five Things to WATCH: Mike Smith 1. NEW FACE BEHIND VEGAS BENCH Mikko Koskinen When the Oilers saw the Golden Knights last on Nov. 23, a 4-2 win for Edmonton at T-Mobile Arena, Gerard Gallant was the Vegas head coach. GOLDEN KNIGHTS He was fired Jan. 15, the seventh coaching change of the season, and the Golden Knights handed things over to Pete DeBoer, who had been Forwards (LW-C-RW) axed in San Jose, their bitter playoff rival. Vegas is 9-3-2 with DeBoer as Max Pacioretty-William Karlsson-Mark Stone head man. Gallant had two years in, taking them to the Cup final in 2018. When last seen, Gallant was on TSN’s Trade Deadline panel Monday. Jonathan Marchessault-Paul Stastny-Reilly Smith

2. REAVES RUNNING AROUND Will Carrier-Chandler Stephenson-Nick Cousins

Vegas heavyweight Ryan Reaves is pretty much the NHL’s schoolyard Tomas Nosek-Gage Quinney-Ryan Reaves bully because he can be. He’s the toughest guy in the league, and when he plays the Oilers he’s usually taking numbers and laying down the hits. Defence The Oilers are plenty tough when Darnell Nurse and Zack Kassian are Brayden McNabb-Nate Schmidt around, too, but feel it’s counter-productive to match fire with fire with a fourth-line RW (10 minutes a night), unless Reaves is going after Connor Nick Holden-Shea Theodore McDavid or Leon Draisaitl — something he hasn’t done. Alec Martinez-Zach Whitecloud 3. FLOWER POWER Goaltenders Vegas goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury has a new sidekick, former Chicago Marc-Andre Fleury goalie Robin Lehner, after Monday’s trade goings-on. Lehner gives them a terrific No. 1 and No. 1A punch in net now but Fleury has a 10-4-1 Robin Lehner career record against the Oilers. He hasn’t had a great season by his Hall of Fame-to-be standards (2.79 GAA, .906 save percentage), looking Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 02.27.2020 overworked at times, but he’ll probably be at his usual stand vs. Edmonton. His body language was all mad three months ago when McDavid had two goals and Draisaitl three assists.

4. VEGAS ON A ROLL

The Golden Knights have won six straight and they’re not knocking off the Little Sisters of the Poor. They have beaten St. Louis, the Islanders, Washington, Tampa Bay and Florida, with an interlude OT shootout win Sunday against Anaheim. They ended the Lightning’s 11-game winning streak. They have got four 20-goal scorers — Max Pacioretty, Reilly Smith, Mark Stone and Jonathan Marchessault — and Paul Stastny is close with 17. All but nine of Smith’s 50 points are even-strength, too.

5. LITTLE BIG MAN, PART 11

With Kailer Yamamoto out with a sprained ankle, the Oilers are putting Josh Archibald with Draisaitl. Same size (five-foot-eight) but Archibald, who has 10 goals (three empty-net) is about 20 pounds heavier than Yamamoto (175-153). Archibald is the Oilers’ portable forward, moving 1178754 Edmonton Oilers Thrilled to wear an Oiler jersey as a 30-year-old man, not a 12-year-old. “Just like any other kid in Edmonton. In that sense it’s a bit of a dream

come true. A lot of kids in Edmonton, just like myself, grow up wanting to Athanasiou and Ennis get Oilers baptism alongside Connor McDavid play for the Oilers. Doug Weight was my favourite but there was a lot of conversation over dinner about Wayne Gretzky, too. Best player of all- time,” said Ennis, who scored his first-ever goal in Edmonton Dec. 4 when Ottawa was at Rogers Place. Jim Matheson, Edmonton Journal Playing with McDavid right away is obviously a little different than, say,

breaking in with Gaetan Haas—no disrespect to the Swiss centre. But, ANAHEIM — Edmonton Oilers coach Dave Tippett welcomed Andreas he looks around and also sees Leon Draisaitl. Athanasiou and Tyler Ennis to the neighbourhood by putting them on “Two of the best players on the planet and I get to play with Connor (right either side of Connor McDavid against the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday. away),” said Ennis. “House-warming gift,” joked Tippett. Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 02.27.2020 Obviously they’re not coming to the Oilers to be accomplices — Athanasiou from Detroit for two second-round picks and Sam Gagner; Ennis acquired from Ottawa for a fifth-round draft choice.

They’re coming in to be large parts of the puzzle, judging by the company Tippett wants them keeping in their first game.

Athanasiou, or Double-A as everybody calls him, even Tippett because it’s easier to say and spell, can flat out fly. It just so happens that his dad is a pilot for Air Canada, which fits the narrative. It’s also a good story that Ennis grew up in Edmonton, an unabashed Oilers fan.

“Yeah, I had a lot of jerseys. I’d always have one on, playing hockey in the basement,” said Ennis, who was Kailer Yamamoto before there was Kailer Yamamoto, a small guy showing the world size didn’t matter — a first-round draft pick at maybe 160 pounds.

Ennis, a staple at Perry Pearn’s summer 3-on-3 pro camp, is the first Oiler to ever wear 63. He got 63 when he started in the NHL with Buffalo Sabres in 2009 and it’s followed him around, along with his gear.

Athanasiou, who comes from a family of four kids with a stay-at-home mom and his cockpit dad, had number 72 in Detroit and could have had it with the Oilers but is now 28, a number that hasn’t been that illustrious, only Craig Muni and Ryan Jones wearing it for more than three years, with a whole lot of Roman Oksiuta, Lance Nethery, Ken Solheim and Patrick Thoresen in there.

“I think the mascot’s wearing it (72) and i didn’t want to get him a Rolex (to switch),” joked Athanasiou. “Twenty-eight is my mum’s birthday and my brother.”

He’s a long way from that number in goals this year (10) but he did have 30 last season. If he’s a 25-goal scorer with gusts to 30 down the road as an Oiler, they’ll be dancing. Especially Holland.

“Great guy, cares for his players. I was really excited to see him again (after the trade),” said Athanasiou, who was drafted in Detroit on Holland’s watch.

They gave up two second-round draft picks for the 25-year-old, figuring this struggling season is an outlier. Not just the 10 goals but his minus-45 rating. He’s not that bad.

“Lots of empty-net goals and pucks not going in at the other end,” said Athanasiou.

They’re intrigued by how fast he skates, like everybody. He’s not McDavid fast but he’s close, and having them on the same line could be exhilarating. He’s probably in the top three along with Detroit’s Dylan Larkin, but there’s only one McDavid. He bows to his warp speed.

“Fortunately I watched a lot of Oilers games (TV) this year. He’s a fun guy to watch,” said Athanasiou, who is from outside Toronto. “I think you just have to stick to your game plan, and try to open up as much ice as you can. With my speed I’ll be able to open up a bit of extra ice — give him time and space to do his thing.”

Certainly, Athanasiou doesn’t come to work in gum boots.

“It takes work, too — you can’t just rely on it,” he said. “I’ve spent a lot of time working on that fast twitch. It’s everyday work, but it’s definitely one of my strengths.”

The Ennis story is well-worn, of course. Growing up with Jared Spurgeon in the west part of Edmonton, friends from before elementary school, both cut from their Bantam AAA team. Both written off as too small until they weren’t with Ennis’s Oilers debut his 605th NHL game. 1178755 Edmonton Oilers The combination of Jujhar Khaira with Riley Sheahan and Josh Archibald has not worked very well this season. Coming into the game, the Sheahan/Khaira duo had been outscored 18-6 on the year, and while that’s doubtless a little bit exaggerated (an .873 on-ice save percentage Andreas Athanasiou injured, Mike Green elevated in Oilers’ loss to at five-on-five is clearly not the sort of thing that’s going to last), their shot Vegas and expected goal metrics haven’t been good, either.

That trend continued against Vegas, with the Oilers being outshot 8-1 with Khaira on the ice and 7-1 with Sheahan on the ice at five-on-five. By Jonathan Willis Feb 26, 2020 Sheahan’s been asked to do a lot of heavy lifting in defensive

assignments this season, from shifts starting in his own end of the rink to LAS VEGAS — The road forward for the Oilers over the rest of the NHL a significant role in Edmonton’s very successful penalty kill. Tippett saw season runs through Las Vegas. Not only are they in a tight contest with the performance against Vegas as having less to do with the need for a the Golden Knights for first place in the Pacific and not only do they play faster left wing and more to do with fatigue. them twice in March, but there’s also a strong case Vegas is going to be “Shea’s looked tired to me for a couple of games here now,” he said. the team to beat to advance out of the division in the playoffs. “He’s had a hard go of penalty killing and stuff. We’ve got a couple of Wednesday’s game between the teams was many things, but one thing it guys who could use a couple of days rest. That’s what we’re looking at.” wasn’t was overly encouraging for Edmonton. Mike Green’s larger-than-expected role The Golden Knights are a formidable opponent. They have speed Mike Green played 1:53 on the penalty kill against Vegas, bringing him through four lines, a top-six that stacks up well with any in the league, up to 2:29 in a pair of games with the Oilers. Just for context, before and one line in particular — the trio of William Karlsson, Mark Stone and arriving in Edmonton, he had played a total of 2:39 short-handed for Max Pacioretty — that on any given night can own the puck regardless of Detroit all season. Tippett has shown a willingness to use him the quality of the opposition. immediately in a difficult discipline. That line played five minutes head-to-head against Connor McDavid and He’s also shown a willingness to use Green a lot. Undoubtedly the score four minutes head-to-head against Leon Draisaitl and won the had a lot to do with it, but Green played 19:42 against Vegas, making him possession battle in both matchups. It finished the night with an 11-6 the third-most-used defenceman on the blue line. His history of offensive edge in Corsi, a 5-1 edge in shots and a 1-0 goal differential. ability gives the Oilers something Adam Larsson doesn’t have and adds “It’s hard; they have a good forecheck,” William Lagesson said after the a little more dimension to the right side behind Bear. game. “We just have to be a little bit quicker, a little bit crisper and Green played a little bit with all of Edmonton’s lefties. At five-on-five, he cleaner.” spent just over half his time with Lagesson, with the rest split between “They do have a good forecheck, as you say,” Ethan Bear acknowledged Caleb Jones and Darnell Nurse. The Jones/Green combination, which when asked about the Golden Knights’ team speed. “They have a lot of might end up being a regular thing once Oscar Klefbom gets back, fast players out there. I think they’re just right on top of us. From their D looked like a hit early: The Oilers out-attempted the Knights 10-2, and the to their forwards, they didn’t give us much room or space. lone goal they gave up was Theodore’s blast from the point off a faceoff loss, a play that had nothing to do with the defenceman. Early returns on their trade deadline additions were good, too. It’s an interesting point to note, given Tippett will have some decisions to Nick Cousins scored a goal and invigorated a struggling fourth line after make once the defence gets healthy. Another possible outcome: Jones he moved into the middle to replace Tomas Nosek. That unit played a and Larsson continuing to play together but moving down to a third-pair significant role in the Knights’ domination of the latter two periods, with a role with Klefbom and Green playing in the top four. 9-2 edge in shot attempts and a 5-1 margin in terms of shots on net. If I had to bet, though, I’d say it will probably depend on the situation. In Alec Martinez might have been more impressive. After a very good debut games in which the Oilers are leading, Klefbom and Larsson could form for Vegas, he and Shea Theodore were hard-matched against McDavid the second pair; in games in which they’re trailing, Klefbom and Green and held their own, leaving the regular matchup pair of Brayden McNabb could be united. Tippett hasn’t been shy about adapting to situations in- and Nate Schmidt against the Draisaitl line. One of Edmonton’s greatest game, and it’s unlikely he’s suddenly going to get inflexible for the stretch strengths in its middle-third surge up the NHL standings has been the drive. ability to create mismatches thanks to the separation of McDavid and Draisaitl; if Martinez carries on as he’s started, Vegas will be better able The Athletic LOADED: 02.27.2020 to handle it.

Andreas Athanasiou injured

The news on Edmonton’s biggest deadline addition was not as good.

Athanasiou’s second game next to McDavid hadn’t gone all that well in any event. He had difficult moments on offence, where he seemed not to know what to do with the puck when not in scoring position, something that is to be expected as he adapts to a new team and a new system. Edmonton was outshot 6-3 and outscored 1-0 when he was on the ice, but that wasn’t the bad news.

The bad news was the lower-body injury that knocked him out of the game in the second period. He wasn’t made available after the game, and Dave Tippett didn’t have much in the way of an update on his condition.

“Left after the second period,” he said. “Tried it at the start of the third period and left and didn’t play again. He’s got a lower-body injury, so we’ll see.”

He didn’t specify the injury and didn’t know if there was a specific play that had caused it, but the coach was optimistic Athanasiou would not join the ranks of Oilers with long-term health problems.

“I don’t think it’s too serious. I’m hoping; I don’t know. I haven’t talked to him. It was too sore to play in the third.”

The Khaira / Sheahan / Archibald combination struggles again 1178756 Edmonton Oilers time creates problems after entry-level deals expire but that’s the best way to overload a roster.

The McDavid cluster Lowetide: Is Andreas Athanasiou the answer to the Jesse Puljujarvi The Oilers drafted Connor McDavid in 2015’s first round, then proceeded question? to trade away a fortune in draft riches in an effort to boost short-term results. The impact on those draft weekend trades is being felt now, with a lack of strong NHL solutions on entry-level deals (Bear and Yamamoto By Allan Mitchell Feb 26, 2020 excepted). Still, the strongest three-year ‘cluster’ of NHL debuts boasts two brilliant top-end players:

2014-15: Leon Draisaitl (414), Darnell Nurse (342), Jordan Oesterle I believe Ken Holland’s trade for Andreas Athanasiou was the first — and (205) possibly final — attempt to reset the selection of Jesse Puljujarvi at No. 4 in the 2016 draft. 2015-16: Connor McDavid (343), Jujhar Khaira (209), Anton Slepyshev (102) The issues Holland faced when arriving as general manager of the Oilers were myriad. The team needed a co-starter in goal, some puck movers 2016-17: Matt Benning (242), Caggiula (215), Jesse Puljujarvi on defence, an overhaul on the penalty kill and several wingers with (139) speed who could score goals. Holland has been aided by a farm system that has produced men like Ethan Bear and Kailer Yamamoto out of the Athanasiou has played in 294 NHL games, debuting in 2015-16. If he ether and seemingly on demand but the roster is not yet complete. finds a home with the Oilers, it’s one more player who is a fit for the McDavid cluster. I think Athanasiou may eventually occupy the role once Quality. Balance. Depth. Get good players, keep good players. It sounds thought to be Puljujarvi’s to lose. easier than it is but the Athanasiou bet strikes at the heart of the Oilers’ weakness and has the potential to pay off in a big way. One of the key reasons Holland acquired him is to score goals, and Athanasiou’s NHL career is encouraging in this area. All numbers 5-on-5, Quality, balance and depth and these are career numbers, sorted by goals per 60.

The most balanced roster in the history of the Oilers was probably the McDavid: 105 goals on 755 shots in 5598:45 minutes; 13.91 shooting 1986-87 club. That team scored 372 goals (78 goals above average) and percentage and 1.13 goals per 60 allowed just 284 (10 goals fewer than average). The team was loaded with inner-circle Hall of Famers; six in total (Wayne Gretzky, Mark Athanasiou: 63 goals on 535 shots in 3562:52 minutes; 11.78 shooting Messier, Jari Kurri, Glenn Anderson, Paul Coffey and Grant Fuhr). There percentage and 1.06 goals per 60 was a secondary group of brilliant NHL players on that team, led by Draisaitl: 88 goals on 630 shots in 6156:52 minutes; 13.97 shooting , Charlie Huddy, Andy Moog, Esa Tikkanen and Steve Smith. percentage and 0.86 goals per 60 Glen Sather, the Oilers general manager in those years, added two key Nugent-Hopkins: 100 goals on 963 shots in 8493:54 minutes; 10.38 trade deadline 1987 acquisitions (Kent Nilsson, Reijo Routsaleinen) that shooting percentage and 0.71 goals per 60 gave the team overwhelming quality and depth. After the Sports Illustrated article and the playoff loss to the Calgary Flames in 1986, Puljujarvi: 14 goals on 211 shots in 1627:12 minutes; 6.63 shooting Sather pushed his team’s skill to the ultimate in an effort to get to the top percentage and 0.52 goals per 60 of the Smythe Division and into the Stanley Cup final. This is unfair to Puljujarvi, who was a teenager during most of the 1,600 The 1987 team played a classic Stanley Cup final against the minutes listed here, but his goal scoring prowess in Finland’s Liiga aligns Philadelphia Flyers, winning in seven hard-fought games. Edmonton’s with the numbers listed here. Puljujarvi, based on all known math, is advantage came in the strength of its top three lines and defensive unlikely to deliver the kind of scoring ability Athanasiou has displayed in depth. the NHL so far in his career. I wrote about his scoring totals for The Athletic earlier in the month. That kind of balance can’t be managed in today’s NHL, the cap forces teams to deal off talent much earlier than the league did in 1987. One of What does it all mean? the truly amazing facts about the Oilers five Stanley Cup winners from 1984-1990 surrounds the number of men who were on all five clubs. The Oilers don’t have six bona fide NHL skill forwards, but adding Seven in all, Messier, Anderson, Kurri, Fuhr, Huddy, Lowe and Randy Athanasiou (and Tyler Ennis) gives the team impressive options. The Gregg, played on all the championship teams. team badly needs a winger who can score goals, hang around for the next several years and develop chemistry with McDavid, Draisaitl, That’s quality, balance and depth. Nugent-Hopkins and Yamamoto.

The ’80s cluster Athanasiou is a good bet. He was also acquired ahead of his next contract, giving Edmonton a chance to audition him in various roles. His In the 1980s, the Oilers were cashing about three quality freshman per first game saw two points, but the games that he’ll play between now and season, sometimes more. The club was young and talented in 1979 and the end of the regular season will be the real test. just a few short years later were among the best teams the league had ever seen. Here is a three-season run (500 or more career games) of It could be a major addition for the Oilers, now and over the next several NHL debuts beginning with the first year the team was in the NHL, with seasons. career games: The Athletic LOADED: 02.27.2020 1979-80: Mark Messier (1,756), Wayne Gretzky (1,487), Kevin Lowe (1,254), Dave Hunter (746), Dave Semenko (575), Risto Siltanen (562)

1980-81: Paul Coffey (1,409), Jari Kurri (1,251), Glenn Anderson (1,129), Charlie Huddy (1,017), Andy Moog (713)

1981-82: Grant Fuhr (868)

That’s half of an NHL roster, including two goalies, four defencemen, two centres and four wingers. Importantly, there are four top-six forwards and three top-four defencemen. The tough positions to fill all came via the system, albeit at the highest level we’ve ever seen.

Although it’s impossible to duplicate the glory Oilers, the goal for a winning team is to pile as much talent as possible into a small window of development time. A large number of value deals arriving at the same 1178757 Florida Panthers with this one. It would give us momentum, and we have to take care of home ice.”

With the way both Florida and Toronto have played lately, it appears only How Thanos and the Infinity Gauntlet helped the Panthers earn a titanic one of the two will make the playoffs. With two games remaining against win each other (the Panthers play at Scotiabank Arena on March 23), the road to the postseason for each team appears clear cut.

Florida could not afford another loss Tuesday, and by beating the By George Richards Feb 26, 2020 Coyotes with one of the team’s most complete games of the season, it does enter Thursday’s matchup with some positive momentum.

General manager Dale Tallon said his team lost “some of the confidence” GLENDALE, Ariz. — Noel Acciari was walking around Disneyland’s it has been playing with before the All-Star break. Perhaps a win like California Adventure last week when he spotted something in a gift shop Tuesday can help bring some of that back. he just had to have. “No doubt we have a big game coming up. We have had those Following victories this season, the Florida Panthers have handed out a throughout the season,” Sasha Barkov said. small shovel to that game’s MVP as decided on by the previous game’s winner. “We have played Toronto twice already and we handled those games the right way. Right now, every game is big, and that one is huge. We won Over the years, the Panthers have given out all sorts of knick-knacks to this game here by playing the right way and we need this type of effort each other in the postgame locker room — everything from a goofy every game. We need to keep this up.” musketeer hat and a barber’s smock to a custom blue sweatshirt that no one likes to talk about anymore. (Seriously, do not bring up the blue The Panthers lost one of their most popular and talented players on hooded sweatshirt. It has not aged well.) Monday when Vincent Trocheck was traded to Carolina, but new guys Erik Haula and Lucas Wallmark appeared to fit right in to the style of play Acciari wanted to add something to the mix, so he bought the plastic coach Joel Quenneville wants and expects. Infinity Stones Gauntlet from the Marvel blockbuster “Avengers: Infinity War” and brought it into the locker room to add to the shovel giveaway. Florida skated hard throughout and, save for a huge gaffe on a power play in the opening period, played one of its best defensive games of the Tuesday, for the first time, someone was able to finally slip the season. cumbersome thing on and celebrate with the flashing lights and sounds that it makes. The Panthers (especially Riley Stillman) played more physically, cleared loose pucks out in front of Bobrovsky and found timely goals from Frank The Panthers earned a hard-fought 2-1 victory Tuesday against an Vatrano and Mike Hoffman to get a much-needed win. Arizona team that, like them, is fighting for every point it can get to try and qualify for the playoffs. THAT'S HOW IT'S DONE! MIKE HOFFMAN NETS A BEAUT! The large gold fist had been sitting by itself in the Panthers’ dressing #NHL SCOREBOARD: #FLAPANTHERS 2 AT #YOTES room the past two games. 1@FLAPANTHERS IS LIVE ON FOX SPORTS FLORIDA & FOX SPORTS GO. HTTPS://T.CO/MG15X8AYLV Acciari was thrilled to see goalie Sergei Bobrovsky wearing it after his PIC.TWITTER.COM/3WAO1IMRFX high-end performance Tuesday night and hopes to see it worn on many more celebratory nights like this one. — FOX SPORTS FLORIDA & SUN (@FOXSPORTSFL) FEBRUARY 26, 2020 And, hey, the Thanos fist is a little more intimidating than a stuffed Winnie-the-Pooh doll. Acciari could have bought one of those instead. “This was a great team win, and I think our team was the first star of the game because they were great,” said Bobrovsky, who turned in a vintage “Best hundred bucks I have spent,” Acciari said after the game Tuesday. performance with 37 saves, including several highlight-quality stops. “Hey, we want to have a little fun with this. The shovel is cool and all, but it is small, right? I thought that looked a little more tough. “It is a great time to play hockey, and I thought the guys played great tonight. We played smart defensively, had smart puck management. This “This was our first win with it, so we’re working out the kinks. We gave was very important because you look at the standings and see how close out the glove and the shovel. It was funny trying to see everyone grip the everything is.” shovel with that thing on.” BOB WAS NICE BETWEEN THE PIPES TONIGHT—36 SAVES! BOB HOLDS ALL THE POWER TONIGHT! PIC.TWITTER.COM/NIHBWWF3US #NHL FINAL SCOREBOARD: #FLAPANTHERS 2 AT #YOTES 1 PIC.TWITTER.COM/WISQ5HLH2Y — FLORIDA PANTHERS (@FLAPANTHERS) FEBRUARY 26, 2020 — FOX SPORTS FLORIDA & SUN (@FOXSPORTSFL) FEBRUARY 26, The Panthers needed to win Tuesday — whether they knew what was 2020 going on in the standings or not. Florida had not won a game by a 2-1 score all season. The Panthers did Florida entered Tuesday two points back of Toronto for third place in the not get into a run-and-gun battle and shut things down when needed. Atlantic Division as both teams have struggled to find wins of late. They took their first lead on Hoffman’s power-play rocket with 11:10 left Well, earlier Tuesday night, the Maple Leafs found one, winning 4-3 in and held on with solid play on both ends of the ice. Tampa. So, the Panthers played the Coyotes four points out of the These are all good signs heading down the stretch. playoff spot occupied by the Leafs. “It was a full five-man unit in the D-zone tonight,’’ Aaron Ekblad said. With the win, the Panthers headed home Wednesday morning still just “Our wingers locked down the point and did a good job of forcing two points behind the Leafs with 19 games remaining. everything to the outside. … A 2-1 game, that’s what we want. We want And guess who’s coming to Sunrise on Thursday? to find a way to really lock down games and play a playoff-mentality style.” If any game should feel like the playoffs with a month to go in the regular season, it will be Thursday’s showdown with Toronto. Florida ended up 3-2-0 on its five-game Western trip and now comes home for the next five. Three of those games, starting with the Maple “We played a team game. That’s how we are going to win, and now we Leafs, come within a span of four days. have our biggest game of the year probably here on Thursday,” Jonathan Huberdeau said. Being in a playoff chase is fun, although the Panthers have not had much of that lately. “We have to come out and give it everything we have. It is a huge, four- point game which will help get us into the playoffs if we win it. It all starts Beating the Leafs on Thursday and putting on a strong showing during this homestand could go a long way toward ensuring the Panthers are back in the playoffs for the first time in four years.

“When we got the lead (Tuesday), we did a lot of the good things you want to do,” Quenneville said. “We haven’t played many games like that, protecting a lead in a tight game, and it felt like a playoff-type of environment. … Now is the fun time.”

New kids on the block

The Panthers practiced a man down Monday after the deadline-day Trocheck trade but were at full strength Tuesday as both Haula and Wallmark arrived and were on the ice for morning skate.

Haula, who had 29 goals for Vegas two years ago, replaced Trocheck as the center on the second line; Wallmark centered the third.

Both played over 20 shifts with Haula playing a part in Vatrano’s game- tying goal in the second by getting himself in front of goalie Darcy Kuemper at the net.

“I like them a lot,” Quenneville said. “I think both guys give us strength in the faceoff circle, and they are positionally aware and are strong in the puck area. They kept themselves in a lot of plays, we sustained a lot of pucks.”

FRANK VATRANO WENT TO WORK FOR THIS GOAL❕ #NHL SCOREBOARD: #FLAPANTHERS 1 AT #YOTES 1@FLAPANTHERS IS LIVE ON FOX SPORTS FLORIDA & FOX SPORTS GO. HTTPS://T.CO/MG15X8AYLV PIC.TWITTER.COM/WZ2HQ3X7FI

— FOX SPORTS FLORIDA & SUN (@FOXSPORTSFL) FEBRUARY 26, 2020

Matheson returns after health scare

Defenseman Mike Matheson said he had been dealing with a mystery ailment for some time before going to the team’s medical staff to get checked out.

Following Florida’s 5-3 win in San Jose last Monday, Matheson was pulled aside by head athletic trainer Dave DiNapoli and given the bad news: Matheson had tested positive for a virus which would not only keep him off the ice but require him to head back to South Florida.

Although it initially did not appear Matheson would return to the team on this trip, he was cleared later in the week and traveled to Las Vegas.

Matheson sat out Saturday’s game against the Golden Knights but was back Tuesday. He played 14:29 and looked sharp in the win.

“I feel a lot better, and it is great to be back,” Matheson said before the game. “I had been dealing with it for a while, did not know what was wrong.

“It was frustrating to have to leave the team and go home, but it was nice to know what it was and how to get better. My expectation was to make it back on the trip, and it felt good to be able to do that.”

The Athletic LOADED: 02.27.2020 1178758 Los Angeles Kings

Kings check all boxes in win over Penguins

By JACK HARRIS STAFF WRITER FEB. 26, 2020 11:07 PM

Kings coach Todd McLellan had a bit of a wish list for his team coming out of Monday’s trade deadline.

After two consecutive losses and a three-day break, he wanted to see better energy from his squad. After the departure of a fourth veteran position player, defenseman Derek Forbort, during Monday’s deadline, he wanted to see his younger role players take advantage of their newfound opportunities.

And, after his team struggled to contain the Edmonton Oilers’ dynamic duo of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl on Sunday, McLellan was seeking defensive improvement Wednesday night against a Pittsburgh Penguins team led by its own one-two punch of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.

The first-year Kings coach got all three, riding an especially strong night from his top two lines to a 2-1 win in Staples Center.

“We had to check and check,” McLellan said. “At times it was ugly. We had to punt a lot, which isn’t how we always want to play or how we will always play in the future. Hopefully, we can maintain the puck a little bit more and get going. But right now, the guys are playing how they need to play to win. They played hard tonight. That’s part of developing the future.”

Indeed, the Kings weren’t dominant — the Penguins held a 36-22 edge in shots and twice hit the post in the first half — but they were disruptive.

On the opening shift, Anze Kopitar’s top line drew a Penguins penalty. On the ensuing power play, rookie Blake Lizotte redirected defenseman Sean Walker’s shot past goalie Tristan Jarry for the opening goal of the game.

In the second period, Lizotte’s second line, flanked by wingers Trevor Moore and Trevor Lewis, doubled the Kings’ lead when Lewis hit the brakes near the Penguins net to slip by a defender before jamming the puck through Jarry.

Early in the third, winger Bryan Rust took a back-door pass from Malkin and easily beat goalie Cal Petersen — his only blemish on a 35-save performance — to cut the two-goal lead in half.

But from there, the Kings clamped down. Kopitar’s line canceled out Crosby’s, Lizotte’s limited Malkin’s, and Petersen delivered key saves down the stretch.

“It’s players you dream about playing,” Lizotte said of his high-profile matchup. “It’s a challenge for sure. Coaches put that trust in me and you’ve got to deliver. You take that personally. I think I’ve done a pretty good job for the most part. It’s been a lot of fun.”

LA Times: LOADED: 02.27.2020 1178759 Los Angeles Kings “I’m so very happy and so very pleased that she’s taken this step, and she’s just a wonderful individual,” he said on Tuesday in Anaheim, where he joined Bolden for a ceremonial puck drop before a Ducks game. “She’s played hockey and I know she’s going to do great in her job. Blake Bolden continues her pioneering role in hockey as scout for Kings Hopefully she’ll spread the word and we’ll have more girls that are interested in not only playing hockey, but getting into management

positions.” By HELENE ELLIOTTSPORTS COLUMNIST FEB. 26, 2020 6:38 PM Hockey has a long and sometimes uncomfortable history with black players.

From the moment Blake Bolden took to the ice at 7 years old and fell in An all-black league called the Coloured Hockey League was formed in love with skating and the creativity of hockey, she has repeatedly proved the late 1800s in the eastern Canada province of Nova Scotia, but O’Ree people wrong. didn’t break the NHL’s color barrier until 1958. He often was targeted by racial taunts, a problem that has haunted the sport even though there are For years, she was the only girl on a triple-A boys’ team in her hometown now about 30 black players in the NHL. of Cleveland and one of two girls in the league. She also was conscious of being black in an overwhelmingly white sport, though she saw that as In late November, Bill Peters resigned as Calgary’s coach in part incidental. She wanted to stand out because she was good — and she because of a racial slur he directed at a Nigeria-born player a decade was. earlier. Last season, a semi-pro hockey league in Quebec apologized to a player who left the ice in the middle of a game because he and his “My teammates were super respectful. I just had to earn their trust and family were targeted by racial abuse from spectators. The Washington show my skills so they could trust me on the ice,” she said. “After that, I Capitals rallied around a 13-year-old player in Maryland a year ago after think it was smooth sailing with them. Other teams, mmm, not so much, he was the subject of racial taunts. especially when you’ve got a girl beating up on them. It turned out sometimes pretty nasty but I grew out of it.” The NHL has launched many commendable inclusion-driven initiatives, such as its Hockey is for Everyone campaign. Bolden’s hiring is action, She excelled for four years at Boston College and was the team’s captain not just talk, and that’s powerful. as a senior, the same season she was chosen the conference defenseman of the year. She went on to win a championship Bolden hasn’t set an end goal for her career she said because she’s still in the now-defunct Canadian Women’s Hockey League, where she was learning her new duties. She’s determined to prove the Kings right for the league’s first American-born black player. putting their faith in her as well as to open doors to the kids she hopes will follow her path. In 2017, Bolden moved to San Diego, where she coaches teams in the San Diego Junior Gulls’ girls’ hockey programs. She continued her “Sometimes I get an email or an Instagram message saying, ‘Oh, I met career by spending a season in Switzerland and earned a championship you here and I just started to try and play hockey because I was in the National Women’s Hockey League, where she was the first black inspired,’ ” she said, “and that is honestly the most amazing thing to hear player and defender of the year in 2019 while as a member of the Buffalo when you’ve been doing something for so long, that you can really Beauts. change the lives of someone that you don’t even really know but you feel connected to them.” Those accomplishments have brought her the rare and precious opportunity to prove people right. LA Times: LOADED: 02.27.2020

Bolden, 28, was hired by the Kings as a scout for the Pacific region. It’s believed that she is the first black female professional scout in the NHL and is among the few women who scout for NHL clubs, joining Hockey Hall of Fame member Cammi Granato of the incoming Seattle expansion team and Noelle Needham, an amateur scout for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Hayley Wickenheiser, also a Hockey Hall of Famer, is assistant director of player development for the Maple Leafs.

“She’s played at the highest levels and has a real good understanding of the game as it relates to her hockey sense and knowledge,” said Nelson Emerson, the Kings’ director of player personnel. “She’s been on the job for the past two months and has been attending games and filing reports and was part of our pro scouting meetings earlier this month. She’s off to a great start and we’re very encouraged by what she’s contributing already and excited to see her advance even further within her role.”

Bolden focuses on the American Hockey League from her base in San Diego, though she has traveled to San Jose and Bakersfield. “It’s not anything I’ve ever dreamed,” she said of her job, “because I don’t think I saw anybody in the position that I could say, ‘Oh, maybe I want to be a scout.’

“But you can see it, you can be it, like Cammi Granato is a scout. For myself and the Kings organization, I think it’s just another steppingstone for women to get into new opportunities and take off on whatever career path they’d like to follow in a potentially male-dominated area.”

Bolden was at Staples Center earlier this season with a group from Black Girl Hockey Club, a community of black women who share their passion for the sport, when she was introduced to Kings President Luc Robitaille. Their conversation led to interviews and employment, to her surprise. “Just to have that open-mindedness and the foresight to ask me if I’d even be interested in scouting,” she said in praising the Kings’ willingness to be unconventional.

Willie O’Ree, the first black player in the NHL, knows a pioneer when he sees one. And O’Ree, who has spent time with Bolden this month visiting schools and promoting the NHL’s Black History month efforts, considers Bolden a pioneer in a role he never envisioned a black woman would hold. 1178760 Los Angeles Kings And he spoke of the need to fit those pieces around the dwindling group of veterans, notably captain Anze Kopitar and defenseman Drew Doughty, who will remain.

Kings hope full commitment to rebuild leads to another contending team “This was not an easy few months here,” Blake said. “You’re dealing with some very important people in the history of the L.A. Kings [who were traded away]. They’ve been able to do a tremendous amount.”

By JACK HARRISSTAFF WRITER FEB. 26, 2020 1:48 PM “But,” he continued, the first and most painful stage of his club’s rebuild finally behind him, “we’re moving forward.”

LA Times: LOADED: 02.27.2020 Rob Blake points to December 2018 as the start of it all.

That, the Kings general manager said, is when the club’s miscalculation of its own roster became clear, when the organization realized a team once considered a perennial playoff contender was suddenly in need of a full-scale rebuild.

Eight trades, two negated contracts and one coaching change later, the first phase of that process is complete. With Monday’s trade deadline came the final act of a two-season teardown, as veteran defenseman Derek Forbort was sent to the Calgary Flames in exchange for a conditional 2021 fourth-round draft pick.

The makeover that has occurred during the last 13 months has been stark. Long-tenured veterans Jake Muzzin, Kyle Clifford, Tyler Toffoli, Alec Martinez and others were traded away. Dion Phaneuf had his contract bought out, while Ilya Kovalchuk’s was terminated. Former coach John Stevens was fired, eventually replaced when Todd McLellan signed a five-year contract. All the while, the team collected assets for the future, one small move at a time.

“We were pretty vocal on what we were looking for in returns, whether it was picks or prospects,” Blake said. “That started just over a year ago and it continued into this deadline.”

It was like stripping a house down to the studs. First came the demolition, which further drained the Kings’ already declining roster and dropped them to the bottom of the standings. But now, they’ve stockpiled the supplies needed to begin reconstructing.

A few of the notable results:

-- The average age of the lineup has dropped by more than a year (from more than 28 at the start of last season to currently less than 27), and will likely get younger over the offseason as the team incorporates more prospects into its NHL roster.

-- The number of players with contracts worth at least $4 million in annual average value has dropped from 10 to five (not including the cap hit the team will continue to incur next year from Kovalchuk’s terminated deal).

-- The Kings’ pipeline ranking has risen from the bottom-third of the NHL (the Sporting News placed it 24th at the start of last season) to arguably the best in the league.

-- The team went from having 20 picks combined in the 2019, 2020 and 2021 NHL drafts to 30 picks in that span, including 11 in the top two rounds. (Also, given its second-to-last place in the NHL standings, the Kings will have a shot at the No. 1 overall pick this summer, when winger Alexis Lafrenière is expected to become one of the highest-rated picks in recent memory.)

During his media scrum on Monday, Blake began laying out concrete steps to return the club to competitiveness again.

He explained the team’s need to identify which crop of current youngsters in the NHL will be part of the long-term future.

“It’s important for those guys to show what they can do in the next 20 games,” Blake said, referencing a group that includes Austin Wagner, Michael Amadio, Nikolai Prokhorkin, Sean Walker, Carl Grundstrom and others. “Those guys have a lot to prove.”

He began planning out the process for integrating the Kings’ recently drafted prospects — from Gabriel Vilardi (who made his NHL debut Thursday) to last year’s first-round picks Alex Turcotte and Tobias Bjornfot, and whomever else the Kings draft this summer — into the NHL roster.

“Some of these guys have been in the American League for the year,” Blake said. “They’re getting their experience. You saw it with Gabe here recently. I would suspect you would see it with the defensemen that we’ll eventually shore up within the next little while.” 1178761 Los Angeles Kings While the Penguins carried play to the tune of a 21-12 lead in shots on goal, the Kings doubled their lead with 31 seconds remaining in the period.

Cal Petersen, Kings send Penguins to 4th straight loss A simple chip up the boards sprang Lewis into the zone with some speed. Lewis skated in parallel to the goal line, banked a shot off Jarry’s pad and then stuffed the rebound in on the far side for his fourth goal of the season. By ANDREW KNOLL |PUBLISHED: February 26, 2020 at 10:45 p.m. | UPDATED: February 27, 2020 at 12:02 a.m. The 33-year-old Lewis, a two-time Stanley Cup champion, was a topic of trade rumors throughout the month, but he wasn’t moved while GM Rob

Blake shook up his struggling roster by dealing away Tyler Toffoli, Alec LOS ANGELES — Despite a depleted lineup, the Kings managed to earn Martinez, Derek Forbort, Kyle Clifford and Jack Campbell. an upset victory, 2-1, over the heavily supported Pittsburgh Penguins at “We had to check and check. At times, it was ugly. We had to punt a lot,” Staples Center on Wednesday night. McLellan said. “But right now the guys are playing how they need to play The Kings scored early in the first period and late in the second, with to win. They played hard tonight, and part of developing the future is goalie Cal Petersen handling the rest. developing some of those characteristics.”

“I think that’s what got them the game. You see how many grade-A saves The Penguins pressed early in the third period, finding Schultz off a seam that he had against our top guys,” Pittsburgh goalie Tristan Jarry said. pass for a one-timer that Petersen denied. “Maybe if we score on one or two, the game goes a different way.” The Penguins finally broke through 6:42 into the final stanza, when Patric Center Blake Lizotte had a power-play goal and an assist for his second Hornqvist, Evgeni Malkin and Rust connected on a nifty passing play that career multi-point game, right wing Trevor Lewis also scored and concluded with a backhand goal for Rust, his 24th. Petersen made 36 saves as the last-place Kings hung on for their fourth The Kings created a goalmouth scramble but largely checked their way win in seven games. through the third period. They withstood a six-on-five surge in the final Jarry stopped 20 shots, and left wing Bryan Rust scored midway through minute, with Malkin, Crosby and Kris Letang all on the ice. the third period, but the Penguins couldn’t get the equalizer past “I’m aware every time (Crosby) is on the ice. Him, Malkin, they’re Petersen, who earned his seventh career victory and helped spoil the obviously two of the best players in the world and (they are) always in the Penguins debuts of Patrick Marleau and two more deadline acquisitions. play,” said Petersen, who is getting his first extended NHL playing time Perhaps more important than his scoring, the 5-foot-7-inch Lizotte held after the Kings traded Campbell to Toronto. “We got a lead early and his own while matched up against the powerful, 6-foot-3-inch Evgeni stuck with it. We smothered them pretty good.” Malkin for much of the night. Marleau played 19 shifts in his debut for the Penguins, who acquired the “The more responsibilities you have, I think you need to play better,” 40-year-old forward on Monday from San Jose. Conor Sheary and Evan Lizotte said, adding that he felt his line made Malkin’s line defend in order Rodrigues also made their debuts for Pittsburgh after the club’s series of to limit their offensive zone time. moves to bolster its playoff push.

Four trades this month sent away five Kings players, and forward Jeff NO TIME TO WASTE! Carter missed his fourth straight game with a lingering lower-body injury. The @LAKings strike FIRST. #PITvsLAK “There’s relief (after the trade deadline), we addressed the team … this is the group that’s going to move the needle, individually and collectively, Presented by: @HockeyvilleUSA pic.twitter.com/kDvBJMxAX1 and it’s time to begin,” Kings coach Todd McLellan said. — NHL on NBC (@NHLonNBCSports) February 27, 2020

The Penguins have now dropped four straight games, all in regulation, as Sidney Crosby was THAT close. pic.twitter.com/X8YapS83YQ the Metropolitan Division race tightens between them, the Washington Capitals and Philadelphia Flyers. — NHL on NBC (@NHLonNBCSports) February 27, 2020

“You don’t want to drop four in a row, but that’s the reality we face,” team If at first you don't succeed, try again. Trevor Lewis knows the drill. captain Sidney Crosby said. #WNH

The Kings went on the power play early and cashed in 2:34 into the : https://t.co/cI9DObHOTT @NHLonNBCSports game. Some solid work in the corner allowed wing Martin Frk to get the pic.twitter.com/NrYRZfdrhk puck high to defenseman Sean Walker, whose long wrist shot was deflected in by Lizotte. Lizotte’s goal, his fifth, was his first in 23 games — NHL (@NHL) February 27, 2020 since Dec. 17. Orange County Register: LOADED: 02.27.2020 “We got a chance right off the get-go and we were able to capitalize on it,” Lizotte said. “It’s a huge advantage to score first.”

Frk had a team-high two shots on goal in the first period and established his presence from the left faceoff circle.

Soon after, the Kings killed off a penalty, the first of two successful kills on the night. Late in the frame, they got another man-advantage opportunity but did little more than give up a short-handed, two-on-one rush, though they generally limited odd-man attacks Wednesday.

Pittsburgh appeared to have drawn even with 1:36 remaining in the first frame. After defenseman Justin Schultz’s fake shot fooled center Anze Kopitar, leading Schultz to drop behind the net and center the puck for Crosby. It appeared as though the puck caromed into the net, but video review nullified the goal when it showed the puck slid crazily along the goal line but never fully crossed it.

“I saw the signal for a goal, I thought the light went on, I saw some guys lift their hands so yeah I thought it was in,” Crosby said.

Early in the second period, Pittsburgh defenseman Marcus Pettersson dinged the post with a one-timer from the right point. 1178762 Los Angeles Kings attention toward him, Vilardi recognizes that one of his teammates will be open.

It’s simple math. Vilardi was able to attract three San Jose defenders in How Kings prospect Gabriel Vilardi is getting his groove back the initial board work clip, leaving two Reign players open behind the San Jose defense. In the clip against Stockton, Vilardi attracted two Heat players, leaving one of his teammates wide open.

By Jordan Samuels-Thomas Feb 26, 2020 Needless to say, I wasn’t surprised when Vilardi set up Martin Frk with a beautiful feed from below the goal line for his first NHL assist and second

point of the night in his NHL debut against Florida last week. It has been great to finally see Gabriel Vilardi play hockey again. His Vilardi has shown strong offensive instincts especially in the area of consistent and injury-free presence on the ice has been long-awaited for playmaking during 5-on-5 play, and that’s a quality that will only get Kings fans and, knock on wood, having him complete the remainder of better with more game reps at the professional level. this year with only the normal bumps and bruises of a professional season would be a success. Perhaps the most common storyline in my studies and work covering the Kings these last two seasons for The Athletic Los Angeles has been their Health aside, Vilardi — who missed almost all of last season with a back mediocre power play. Analyzing why the Kings’ power play has been so injury — has played very well in his first season as a pro. He has been bad and identifying potential ways that it could be improved always chipping away at not only regaining form but also putting himself back on seems to find its way into most of the Kings work I do. track to the NHL full-time and hopefully becoming an impact player at hockey’s highest level. Their current 16.7 percent clip still isn’t good, so analyzing Vilardi and his power-play potential at the NHL level cannot be ignored. Eight of Vilardi’s At the American Hockey League level, Vilardi has shown the tools of 22 points — one-third total — have come on the man advantage this being the double-threat center that he was drafted to be out of junior who season. Vilardi demonstrates tremendous poise on the PP and looks can both score goals and create plays. While his numbers aren’t very natural in his decision-making. I’d venture to say that on most nights amazing, they’re very good for a rookie forward. Considering all the time the power play is where Vilardi looks the most comfortable and looks he’s spent out due to injury, I’ve been very impressed by his season so most like the player he was pre-injuries. far and how he has handled the physical grind of the professional game. As a right shot, you will most often see Vilardi play on his strong side You can’t talk about a top-15 pick forward without talking about offense. which means he’s not a threat to take a one-timer. Him playing on his Vilardi’s nine goals and 25 points rank fourth for Ontario Reign scorers, a strong-side on the power play makes him more of a passing threat than a rank especially impressive considering he has played less games than shooting threat. Vilardi has the skill and the hockey IQ to be a double- the team’s top three scorers. Vilardi has been a bit streaky this season in threat from this position, but it’s been his shooting that has stood out. production, and I like that because as he continues to get more game reps consistency will come in addition to the big multipoint games he’s It’s probably blasphemy to suggest that anyone can shoot like Auston had so far. Matthews does, so I won’t suggest that. But Vilardi has flashed the ability to occasionally release a quick “angle-changing” wrister past an opposing The attribute I enjoy most about Vilardi is that he loves the puck on his goaltender like we’ve seen from Matthews. stick. Despite his tough luck with injuries and being out of the game for long stretches at a time, he is still the type of player who commands the Here’s a clip of Matthews taking a wrist shot on the power play as a left- puck and works hard to get open. This is an important attribute because handed shot playing on his strong side resulting in a goal against most players would rather have a teammate have the puck on their stick. Montreal goaltender Carey Price. Whether it’s in the open ice or along the boards, Vilardi is active in puck pursuit, and when you play that way, the puck always seems to find you. Coming from the other side this time, here is a clip of Vilardi taking a wrist shot on the power play as a right-handed shot playing on his strong Once the puck hits Vilardi’s stick, he’s creative in space and relatively side resulting in a goal. strong in traffic. He’s not scared to get his nose dirty or take a hit. This clip shows a tremendous individual effort by Vilardi. Here you see the Both Matthews and Vilardi receive a pass while mid-backpedal and, once total package — transition in speed, creativity, playmaking and receiving the puck, direct their momentum toward the goal and change toughness — which results in a goal. the angle of their shots by pulling the puck in toward their bodies to fool the opposing goaltender. The biggest difference between the two is that You hate to see a top prospect take a hit like that, but he would be OK. It Matthews can recreate this shot at will as arguably the best shooter in should be reassuring to see him feel comfortable enough to make such a the world, while Vilardi has shown occasional success in getting this shot play. off and converting it.

Vilardi is very elusive and crafty in open ice. Though this below clip was 5-on 5, Vilardi changed the angle on his very first shot in the NHL by pulling the puck in toward his skates, and the However, it has been Vilardi’s work along the boards and in the corners results brought excitement to Kings fans in Staples Center. that has been most impressive to me, and it’s an attribute that I didn’t think he would be able to translate so quickly from junior to pro. During Anyway, back to the man advantage: Vilardi makes himself a shooting these tight wall-battle situations in the offensive zone, Vilardi has shown threat (again) from the right side of the ice on the power play. He the ability to not only protect the puck through contact while fighting off consistently attacks down toward the goal once the puck hits his stick multiple defenders, but he also shows the rare ability to make a play and with the intention of shooting. find open teammates while under heavy pressure. It’s no surprise that four of Vilardi’s nine goals have come on the power This next clip shows Vilardi fighting off two San Jose Barracuda play with all four PP goals being scored from the right side of the ice. defenders while being poised enough to pass the puck through a third Conversely, three of his four power-play assists have been primary San Jose player, creating a Grade-A opportunity for a teammate. assists coming from the same area.

I really like this play from Vilardi because every time he turns his body Vilardi’s ability to play consistently makes this season a success for both you can see him quickly looking out from the corner of his eye to see the him and the Kings organization. I personally like how his season has play developing in his peripherals. This was an elite-level play. been handled thus far by the organization in giving him consistency and continuity with the Ontario Reign. This next clip shows Vilardi beating two Stockton Heat defenders down low before finding an open man out front. It’s hard to say that Vilardi, who’s still only 20 years old, would be ready for a full-time role at the NHL level as a center. He has a faceoff Vilardi is able to consistently recognize the opportunity and the value of percentage of 48 on the season with an even strength offensive zone attracting the attention that multiple defenders bring. The game is played faceoff win percentage of 41. Vilardi shows good strength when the puck 5-on-5 and most teams play a version of man-to-man coverage in the is on his stick, but like most young players, he needs to improve his defensive zone. So when Vilardi is able to beat the initial player covering strength on the defensive side. If he’s able to stay healthy, strength will him, which causes another player from the opposing team to direct his develop quickly for him in that area. Vilardi is still getting his game back, but he’s now showing a lot of promise. He’s only scratching the surface, rebuilding the foundation that was already there, and it’s only a matter of time before he really breaks out. But for now, it’s great to see him on the ice playing well.

The Athletic LOADED: 02.27.2020 1178763 Los Angeles Kings McLellan, on winning the special teams battle: I think when you do that, you often win the game unless you’re really

weak five-on-five. We only had a couple power plays but we found a way MCLELLAN POST-GAME QUOTES; CARTER’S ATTEMPT TO to get one, and it was nice to see the kid unit, if you want to call it that, RETURN HITS A SNAG get the goal. And the penalty killers did a tremendous job, starting with the goaltender on out.

McLellan, on Cal Petersen, an “unfamiliar” goaltender: JON ROSEN FEBRUARY 26, 2020 He’s played the way he played tonight almost all year in the American League. The reason we don’t have a familiarity with him is because he hasn’t been around a lot, but we think he can do what he did tonight on a Prior to Wednesday’s 2-1 win over Pittsburgh, Todd McLellan shared that consistent basis moving forward. He’s very calm, cool, collected in the Jeff Carter (lower-body) had previously been slated for a return against crease. There’s not a lot of garbage laying around. The guys feel the Penguins, but that plan was pushed back when he didn’t respond confident with him in there, and I just think he’s going to get better as he well to skating on his own on Tuesday at Toyota Sports Performance gets stronger and he goes through the league once or twice and Center. recognizes teams’ tendencies and just gets a good feel for it. It’s all part “We anticipated him being back for today’s game, but when he tried to of the process we’re going through and we’re doing it at every position. skate [Tuesday], it wasn’t good, and then today we just held him off He did a really good job tonight and he’ll get some tough starts down the again. So, day-to-day. Obviously ‘no’ to playing [versus Pittsburgh], and stretch. We hope he’ll continue to give us these nights. we’ll see where he is [Thursday].” McLellan, on any consideration to give Petersen a longer run in goal: It was the fourth consecutive game missed by Carter, who ranks second Not necessarily, nope. We’ll continue to play Quickie as well. We have to on the Kings with 17 goals. The hope is to get him on the ice and back think about moving forward and how we’re going to use these guys next into game action “as soon as we can,” according to McLellan. year as well and train them for that. Jonathan will play some games and “We need him. We need that center ice position filled or at least have that Cal will play some. You see Cal play some back-to-back here already. veteran presence in the lineup that scoring ability. So, we’ll take him any So, we’ll continue to make sure that both of them are part of the team. As time he’s ready.” we’re looking at individuals, we’re also trying to build that team. That team model, we want everybody to be important, and certainly Quickie is. Los Angeles returns to action over the weekend with a back-to-back set that begins at 1:00 p.m. Saturday at home against New Jersey an McLellan, on how the defensive corps responded in their first game since concludes Sunday in Vegas at 7:30 p.m. the trade deadline:

Post-game quotes The D were put in a tough spot. When Derek came back from his injury we had eight of them in practices and eight of them for the games, and Todd McLellan, on whether this was the “better checking effort” he’d we had to talk to them and say, ‘listen, we’re not dressing eight, and very hoped to see: seldom will we dress seven, so two of you have got the short end of the stick on any given night. There are nights you’ll come out because of Certainly, yeah. That’s a very easy question to answer. Teams are still your play, but a lot of nights you’ll come out just for rotational purposes.’ going to get opportunities, but they’re not free ones. At least we’re near The six that are here stuck with it. They didn’t always like what was going our checks or we have the ability to disrupt a free rush. We gave up two, on, but they stuck with it and they played pretty well here. Now’s their maybe three outnumbered rushes the whole night, which is a pretty good time to shine to earn contracts for next year, earn playing time. All six of number in this league. Ione was on the power play and we got a big them had a pretty good night tonight. save, but other than that, it wasn’t free-flowing like the Edmonton game was, so we worked on it, we talked about it, they absorbed it, applied it Thursday, February 27 is an off-day for the team. The next practice is and it certainly helped us tonight. It’s a tough game for us. They’re a scheduled for 11:00 a.m. Friday at TSPC. really good team. They come after you, they’ve got pace and skill. We had to check and check, and at times it was ugly. We had to punt a lot, LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 02.27.2020 which isn’t how we always want to play or we will always play later on in the future. Hopefully we can maintain the puck a little bit more and get going, but right now the guys are playing how they need to play to win, and they played hard tonight. That’s part of developing the future is gaining some of those characteristics at this point right now, and they did a good job.

McLellan, on whether there was relief within the dressing room after the trade deadline:

Yeah, there’s relief. We addressed the team, we laid it out on the line. This is our group, and this is the group that’s going to move the needle as we talked about, individually and collectively, and it’s time to dig in, and we have the right people in the locker room. And that’s not an insinuation on the guys that left, that they were wrong – by no means. But the people that are in the locker room right now, the older players, the veterans, we’ve addressed all of ‘em, and they are aware of what their roles could be and how hard they have to play in practice so that everybody else can keep their eyes on them. And then the followers – so we’ve got the leaders and the followers. We’ve got to do it all together, and tonight we did.

McLellan, on wanting to see how Blake Lizotte’s line fared against tough competition again:

They’re finding roles. If you can imagine down the road if we could have them as a third line checking against one of the team’s top lines and free up others, that would be great. They’re learning that trait right now. Kopi had a lot of minutes, he had a lot of defensive zone draws because he’s our most reliable guy in there. So, he would often start it and then Lizzo would pick up the rest. Unfortunately. it became a three-line game so our fourth line didn’t get much ice time, but that happens. But overall, a good team game. 1178764 Los Angeles Kings There isn’t much margin for error with the standings as tight as they are, and San Diego having two games in hand. We have to win, and we can not afford to give points away. The only thing we can control is how we play. Play well, and we give ourselves a chance to win. Anything less and FINAL – ONTARIO 4, SAN JOSE 2 – VILLALTA, FIORE, STOTHERS we make San Diego’s job easier. This group of players want to be a part of the postseason

LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 02.27.2020 ZACH DOOLEY FEBRUARY 26, 2020

The Ontario Reign bounced back in a big way, with a 4-2 victory over the San Jose Barracuda on Wednesday evening at SAP Center.

After a disappointing defeat against San Jose on Sunday afternoon in Ontario, the Reign got a standout performance from goaltender Matthew Villalta, with a 34-save effort, as they won for the seventh consecutive time on the road. With the victory, coupled with a San Diego loss, Ontario reclaimed the fourth position in the Pacific Division heading into a busy weekend at Toyota Arena.

The Reign got goals from Carl Grundstrom in the first period, and Tim Schaller in the second period, with defenseman Paul LaDue assisting on both tallies. With the score deadlocked midway through the third period, forward Giovanni Fiore got in behind the defense, went to the backhand and roofed his shot past San Jose netminder Josef Korenar for the game-winning goal.

The Reign improved to 11-2-2 in their last 15 games, and are back in action this weekend with home games against Tucson on Friday and Bakersfield on Saturday.

Post-Game Quotes

Matthew Villalta

Giovanni Fiore on his breakaway goal

I just saw our d-man had time back there and I figured all three forwards should stretch. He made a nice pass up to Boumer and Boumer put it right on my tape and I came in and just put it in. [Reporter: Is that a move you’ve done before?] Not necessarily, I don’t usually go on my backhand. I’ve been practicing well, so I figured I’d try it.

On getting this win, in the midst of the playoff push

It’s huge. I mean, every night we show up is huge, we have to win every game we can. I want to play in the playoffs, I’ve never played in the playoffs at the pro level yet. The last two years, I’ve been in a similar situation, racing for the playoffs, and I just want to play in the playoffs. I’ll try to help the team as much as I can.

On finding his role with Ontario, after coming in on a PTO

The staff has been great, the coaches have really been helping me a lot. They knew what I was coming into and they gave me my space and let me breathe a bit. I’ve been finding my stride here in the last couple of games. It’s hard coming in, tough to start, but I’m feeling good right now.

On how good his goaltender was in tonight’s win

Unreal. Matty’s been showing up, every since I’ve been here he’s been showing up in the pipes. He’s helping us win games and we just need to keep going right now and push even more.

Mike Stothers on Matthew Villalta’s performance

Not sure who picks the stars here in San Jose, but there is no doubt he was the star of the game. You could’ve asked any of the 200 fans in attendance and they would agree with me. He was sharp in the first when we started a little sluggish. He held the fort until we got our legs going. He made a huge save in the third before Fiore scored the go-ahead goal immediately thereafter. Awesome job Matty V.

On Giovanni Fiore’s goal, and play as of late

Gio has great offensive instincts and a real nose for the net. He likes to score but he has been trying to be more responsible in all zones. It’s hard when a guy comes in mid way through, he has to earn the trust of his coaches and find a role with his teammates. It hasn’t been easy for him, but he is trying hard to contribute and it is paying off.

On getting a win on a night where San Diego lost and the group didn’t have it’s “A” game 1178765 Los Angeles Kings

GAME 64: LOS ANGELES VS PITTSBURGH

JON ROSEN FEBRUARY 26, 2020

SOG: LAK – 22; PIT – 36

PP: LAK – 1/2; PIT – 0/3

First Period

1) LAK PPG – Blake Lizotte (5) (Sean Walker, Gabriel Vilardi), 2:34

Second Period

2) LAK – Trevor Lewis (4) (Blake Lizotte, Trevor Moore), 19:28

Third Period

3) PIT – Bryan Rust (24) (Evgeni Malkin, Patric Hornqvist), 6:42

Los Angeles Kings (22-35-6) vs Pittsburgh Penguins (37-18-6)

Wednesday, February 26, 2020, 7:30 p.m. PT

Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA

Referees: #22 Ghislain Hebert, #10 Kyle Rehman

Linesmen: #53 Bevan Mills, #88 Tyson Baker

NBCSN, NBC Sports App, LA Kings Audio Network

LAK starters: G Cal Petersen, D Joakim Ryan, D Jack Johnson, LW Alex Iafallo, C Anze Kopitar, RW Dustin Brown

LAK scratches: F Jeff Carter

PIT starters: G Tristan Jarry, D Jack Johnson, D Kris Letang, LW Jason Zucker, C Sidney Crosby, RW Conor Sheary

PIT scratches: D Zach Trotman, F Jared McCann, F Zach Aston-Reese

LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 02.27.2020 1178766 Los Angeles Kings

TIM SCHALLER SET FOR REIGN DEBUT TONIGHT

ZACH DOOLEY FEBRUARY 26, 2020

It’s been quite the two weeks for now Ontario Reign forward Tim Schaller.

Nine days ago, he was acquired by the Kings organization as a part of the Tyler Toffoli trade, and the following day, he met his new team in Winnipeg as the Kings took on the Jets. Schaller did not play that night, but made his Kings debut two days later on February 20 against Florida, and skated with the NHL club in their next contest as well on Saturday as well against Colorado.

Two days after that, the day of the NHL Trade Deadline, Schaller was assigned to Ontario, as announced by Kings General Manager Rob Blake. The following morning, Schaller joined the Reign for his first practice, skating on a line with Gabriel Vilardi and Mikey Eyssimont, before he traveled with the team to San Jose for his first morning skate today, which came sans Vilardi.

As we await tonight’s Reign – Barracuda tilt in San Jose, here’s what Schaller had to say this morning about his impending Reign debut, playing in the AHL, and growing up as a Manchester Monarchs supporter.

Tim Schaller on his thoughts heading into his Reign debut tonight in San Jose

I’m excited. It seems like we have a really skilled and hard-working group here, so I’m looking forward to playing with them and hopefully pull a bunch of wins together and make the playoffs.

On a hectic couple of weeks, and if he’s feeling settled in the South Bay

Yeah, it’s a little different playing in the warm weather, but I like it a lot. Like I said, I’m looking forward to it. I’ve played in the American League before and it’s a really good league with a lot of good players. It’s going to be a good test tonight.

On balancing a desire to play in the NHL, versus the possibility of an expanded role with the Reign

I’m looking forward to it, it’s kind of something I’ve always wanted to do. I was a young guy in the American League one time too, and some of the older guys on my teams then, I still look up to and I still take things that I learned from them in my game. Hopefully I can be a leader and hopefully the younger guys can learn some things.

On growing up watching the Manchester Monarchs, and now playing for the Kings AHL affiliate

It’s pretty surreal, it’s kind of funny how it worked out. As much as I like the sun, I almost still wish [the team] was still back in New Hampshire, that would have been pretty cool It’s funny how things work and I’m really happy to be here.

Puck drop is slated for 7 PM tonight from San Jose – Until then!

LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 02.27.2020 1178767 Los Angeles Kings We’re also fairly close to a Mikey Anderson and/or Kale Clague recall, but as of right now, there are 21 players – and only six healthy defensemen – on the L.A. roster.

“WATCH HIS ROUTES,” AND WHAT VILARDI LEARNS FROM Vilardi will no doubt share the ice with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, KOPITAR, ELITE CENTERS; PIT PREVIEW extending the line of remarkable centers he’s faced in his earliest NHL exposure past Aleksander Barkov, Nathan MacKinnon, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.

JON ROSENFEBRUARY 26, 2020 “That’s kind of the thing I was thinking about after my last game against Edmonton,” he said. “It’s so cool to play against them, but at the same

time, I want to win, I want to be a good player myself, so you’ve got to INSIDERS. A fine Wednesday afternoon to you and yours. The find the fine line. Yeah, it’s pretty cool and obviously I grew up watching Pittsburgh Penguins and star forward Patrick Marleau visit Staples Sid and Malkin, but we’re playing against them, so you can only watch so Center at 7:30 p.m. tonight to wrap up the teams’ two-game season much.” series (NBCSN / NBC Sports App / LA Kings Audio Network) front-ended If there’s a particular center for him to admire, may we suggest the one by a 5-4 Penguins shootout win on December 14. two stalls to his right? Notes! “In my opinion, Kopi’s a top-three center in the league, he’s been a top- — The vitals: Cal Petersen left the ice first and is expected to make his three center on the league for a long time,” Vilardi said. “That’s the way first career appearance against Pittsburgh. It was an optional skate, but he plays in the D-zone – he’s so smart. You watch him on the ice, I Jeff Carter didn’t participate, nor did he skate with the full group on mean, I’ve watched shifts of him all year, just the routes he takes. I think Tuesday. Gabriel Vilardi was also recalled from AHL-Ontario Wednesday that was the biggest thing that when I was watching and talking with morning after practicing with the Reign (but not traveling with them) on guys, like CJ (Craig Johnson) and the development guys, they just said Tuesday, giving the club 21 active skaters, one of whom’s got a big ‘ol to watch his routes, where he is on the ice and that kind of stuff. They’re question mark. The following groups are projected tonight: Iafallo- not saying, ‘hey, we want you to be Kopi in 10 years,’ but obviously, I Kopitar-Brown, Moore-Lizotte-Wagner, Kempe-Vilardi-Frk and think my game, I want to say it’s similar to Kopi’s. I want to be a two-way Prokhorkin-Amadio-Lewis up front with defensive pairings of Ryan- guy who protects the puck, has the puck on his stick a lot and controls Doughty, Hutton-Roy and MacDermid-Walker. Keep in mind there was the tempo of the game.” movement among the left wings during Sunday’s game, so this isn’t a Vilardi felt that the length of time he spent in Ontario allowed him to clear read. Todd McLellan will address the media a few minutes before adjust and make appropriate strides defensively, saying that he’s 5:30. Adrian Kempe, who has one goal and four points in five career improved from an early stretch in which he thought he was a minus-10. “I games against the Penguins, is one point shy of 100 (40-59=99) in his know that stuff doesn’t really mean much, honestly, but still I was bad in career. my own zone, you could say, and then I cleaned that up. Stutts is pretty — Their vitals: No word yet on Pittsburgh’s starting goaltender. Mike good. I like Stutts, he’s straightforward. If he thinks you’re playing bad, Sullivan, like McLellan, will speak two hours before the game. You’ll see he’ll let you know. He’s a good coach, I like him a lot, honestly. He’s forward groups that should feature Zucker-Crosby-Sheary, Rust-Malkin- helped me in his defensive game,” he said last Thursday. Hornqvist, Marleau-Rodriguez-Simon and Recchi-Blueger-Tanev up front Vilardi liked his performance in the first two games, but “the last game with defensive pairings of Johnson-Letang, Pettersson-Schultz and against Edmonton, my legs weren’t there,” he said. “It was tough, it was a Riikola-Ruhwedel. Scripps Ranch native Chad Ruwehdel played for the three-in-four, back-to-back. Colorado’s a really fast team, I thought. It San Diego Ice Arena Oilers, La Jolla Jaguars (where he won a Pee Wee was tiring, honestly. To be honest with you, I wasn’t my best on Sunday. AA state championship), Jr. Gulls and the Jr. Kings before leaving to play That’s the way I took it. I mean, it’s not like they’re going to tell me I two seasons in the USHL and three at UMass-Lowell, where he played terrible or I played great or anything, they just want me to keep appeared in the 2013 Frozen Four. He brought the Stanley Cup to San working. That’s it, they didn’t really say anything, honestly.” Diego in 2017. Forwards Jake Guentzel (IR/shoulder surgery), Zach Aston-Reese (lower-body), Jared McCann (undisclosed) and Nick — The NHL Black Hockey History Tour, a traveling museum co-curated Bjugstad (IR/core muscle surgery) and defensemen Brian Dumoulin by Kwame Mason in which every black player in league history is (IR/ankle) and John Marino (IR/facial fractures) are injured and not represented, will set up at Chick Hearn Court between Georgia and expected to play. Tonight is Evgeni Malkin’s 900th NHL game. His sixth Figueroa Streets between 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. There is no cost to visit the NHL game was played at Staples Center on November 1 2006. It was a mobile museum, and both Willie O’Ree and LA Kings Pro Scout Blake 4-3 overtime win by Pittsburgh in which Malkin scored in his sixth Bolden will be on hand to chat with fans before tonight’s ceremonial puck consecutive game to begin his career. He added the overtime game- drop honors O’Ree. winner on the power play, giving himself seven goals in his first six games. “That is some talented players who are going to be around for — More to come from Todd before the game. Tonight’s officials are many years to come,” Mattias Norstrom said after the game, as recorded referees Ghislain Hebert and Kyle Rehman and linesmen Bevan Mills by the LA Times. and Tyson Baker. Shelby Tweten will perform the national anthem. Thanks as always for reading, Insiders. Let’s talk soon. — [Road apples.] That Jake Muzzin tribute video will have to wait. LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 02.27.2020 Jake Muzzin will be out four weeks with a broken hand. A major blow to a battered #leafs blue-line. Calle Rosen has been recalled from the AHL Marlies.

— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) February 26, 2020

Toronto’s in town a week from tomorrow, which means Kyle Clifford and Jack Campbell are on tap to get their Staples Center tributes before Muzzin. At least I’ll get to see Cousin Calle.

— Gabriel Vilardi was assigned to AHL-Ontario on Monday and skated on a line at the following day’s practice but rather than accompany the team to San Jose, learned he’d be recalled to the parent club instead. This isn’t a big surprise given the uncertainty over Jeff Carter’s availability and some open-ended quotes from Rob Blake, who earlier in the week shared that “as of now, he’s (Vilardi) assigned down.” Asked whether he’d remain down, Blake responded, “we’ll see how the roster takes place throughout the week.” So, there you go. 1178768 Los Angeles Kings most.” Sadly, jerseys from previous eras that remain tucked away are made for these types of moments.

He was more than happy to join Moeller’s effort to reach out on behalf of LA KINGS SHARE CONDOLENCES WITH TSYPLAKOV’S FAMILY; the family. “Guys are smart enough to realize how blessed they are. He’s “JUST A GOOD, GOOD HUMAN BEING” one of those guys,” said Halfacre, who joined the organization in 1993-94 and recalled Tsyplakov’s pride for his home country and eagerness to talk about his home with teammates and staff.

JON ROSEN FEBRUARY 26, 2020 Along with the jersey, the team sent Tsyplakov’s family a personalized letter from President Luc Robitaille and General Manager Rob Blake

offering the organization’s condolences and describing him as a great There’s an underdog quality to both the late 1990’s LA Kings, who had to teammate during his time in Los Angeles. battle and scratch and claw for recognition, and one of that era’s unlikely “Just one of those guys that worked hard to get here, and he didn’t take a key protagonists, 1995 third round draft pick Vladimir Tsyplakov. second for granted,” Halfacre said. “He played in every league in the Tsyplakov, who debuted a week after signing his first NHL contract, world to get here. It adjusts your attitude. It takes a unique person to scored his first goal in his second game off an Eric Lacroix centering keep taking steps and having people telling you, ‘you’re not good pass on a night Wayne Gretzky also scored, a 3-2 win over Jaromir Jagr enough, you’re not good enough.’ ‘Well, I’ll prove it.’” and Pittsburgh at the Great Western Forum on November 14, 1995. “It Sad to hear my friend Vladi Tsyplakov passed away (far right). Such a was a pretty gutsy effort on our part,” King Coach Larry Robinson said class act, and great supporter to our Dynamo Minsk crew. This was after the game, as quoted by Lisa Dillman, then of the LA Times. 2009, training camp in Switzerland. pic.twitter.com/eyR0YLw21R Los Angeles didn’t qualify for the playoffs that year. To the contrary, they — Shawn Simpson (@TSNSimmer) December 15, 2019 would go on to trade the greatest player in the history of the sport. But, two years later and in the first flash of successful reinvention after LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 02.27.2020 Gretzky’s departure, Tsyplakov was part of a 1997-98 group that exceeded all expectations and became the first L.A. team to qualify for the playoffs since the 1993 team’s run. They banked on a Rob Blake Norris Trophy, number-one center and leading scorer Jozef Stumpel and 60 points from Glen Murray – as well as the hardened leadership from the likes of Mattias Norstrom, Ian Laperriere and Sean O’Donnell.

And then there was Tsyplakov, whose 18 goals, 34 assists and 52 points were career-highs across the board during a six-year, 331-game career NHL career sandwiched between experience in the Soviet Championship League, the Colonial Hockey League, the International Hockey League, and after departing North America, the Russian Super League and Belarusian Extraleague. He appeared in two Olympics and finished fourth with Belarus in the 2002 Salt Lake City Games after defeating Sweden in the quarter-final, though perhaps his biggest international goal was the only one scored in St. Petersburg on May 7, 2000, when Belarus upset host Russia, 1-0.

Appreciated by his teammates for his smile and his positive attitude, Tsyplakov passed away on December 14 at the age of 50. “Just really considerate,” Ontario Reign Assistant Coach Jaroslav Modry said of his teammate from 1995-97 and in 1998-99.

“He was a great teammate – always happy, nothing really bothered him. He was always having fun on the ice and always talking to us. Just a good, good human being. I don’t know all the details, but it just kind of catches you off guard, and it’s so sad.”

Tsyplakov left a legacy with those affiliated with the team from that era. Universally, he was recalled as polite and friendly, someone who gradually became more fluent in English but was always eager and willing to speak it. He loved North America, he loved playing hockey, and all accounts – whether relayed from a former Colonial League teammate through Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, or heard first-hand in the Kings offices – depict him as good-natured and funny.

That didn’t mean he wasn’t concerned with how his English came across, as Jeff Moeller, Senior Director, Business Communications and Heritage, shared.

“He had kind of his catch phrase that we would always politely kid with. Instead of ‘thank you,’ he would say ‘saink you.’ Every time you’d see him, he was also so appreciative. He’d always say, ‘saink you.’”

Moeller wanted to reach out to the Tsyplakov family and offer condolences on behalf of the team, but that wasn’t easy in the face of scant information about his passing. “Obviously, someone in Belarus, it’s hard to track down information,” he said.

He was aided by Rob Koch, Senior Director, Team Operations and Hockey Communications, a colleague who’d previously worked for USA Hockey and had contacts within the Belarusian Federation. Upon receiving his family’s contact, Bobby Halfacre of the team’s equipment staff personalized a Tsyplakov jersey from one of the remaining authentic jerseys from that era. He estimates there were “maybe a dozen [home chevron-style jerseys] buried on the shelf at the 1178769 Los Angeles Kings LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 02.27.2020

PREVIEW – ONTARIO @ SAN JOSE, 2/26

ZACH DOOLEY FEBRUARY 26, 2020

WHO: Ontario Reign (26-20-5-1) vs. San Jose Barracuda (17-26-3-2)

WHAT: AHL REGULAR-SEASON GAME

WHEN: Wednesday, February 26, 2020 – 7:00 PM

WHERE: SAP Center – San Jose, CA

TONIGHT’S MATCHUP: The Ontario Reign are back in action to begin a three-in-four set this week, beginning tonight in San Jose. The two teams are set for a rematch this evening, following San Jose’s 5-2 win over the Reign on Sunday afternoon in Ontario.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: The Reign skated this morning in San Jose, with goaltender Matthew Villalta the first goaltender off, as tonight’s expected starter. On late were forwards Drake Rymsha, Johan Sodergran and Jacob Doty, along with defenseman Sean Durzi. Expect to see Tim Schaller in the lineup for the Reign to make his team debut. More to come later today from Schaller in advance of tonight’s game.

PLAYOFF PICTURE: For just the third time in 52 games this season, Ontario ended a game outside of a playoff position, following Sunday’s 5- 2 defeat against San Jose. The Reign, who previously ended a game outside of the Top 4 in the division on January 11 and November 30, sit one point behind San Diego, with the Gulls also owning two games in hand. Both teams are in action this evening, with San Diego in Tucson for a midweek tilt.

BACK-TO-BACK: Ontario lost back-to-back games this weekend for the first time since January 10 and 11, the latter two in a string of three straight losses. Since January 11, Ontario has lost just twice in regulation, and has posted a 10-2-2 mark, good for a .786 winning percentage. The Reign will carry a six-game away winning streak into tonight’s action in San Jose, its longest winning streak on the road this season.

OFFENSE FROM THE DEFENSE: Through Sunday’s games, Ontario ranks second in the AHL in both goals by defensemen (37) and percentage of total goals by defensemen (25%) this season, trailing Charlotte in both categories. The Reign are also one of just two teams in the AHL, along with the Checkers, to have three or more defensemen with eight or more goals scored this season, with Paul LaDue, Austin Strand and Kale Clague all tied for the team lead amongst defensemen.

MAKING MOVES: Ontario has made a slew of roster moves this week, resulting in Tim Schaller and Jacob Doty joining the team tonight in San Jose. Schaller was assigned by the Kings on Monday, and brings 276 NHL games with Buffalo, Boston, Vancouver and Los Angeles, and over 400 career professional games in total. Doty returns to Ontario after he tallied three assists from three ECHL games played with Allen.

BJORN AND RAISED: Reign defenseman Tobias Bjornfot led his team with a goal and an assist on Sunday against San Jose. Bjornfot tied AHL single-game career highs in both categories, as he recorded a multi-point game for the second time as a member of the Reign. The 18-year-old defenseman enters tonight’s game against the Barracuda with five points (3-2-5) from five games played in the head-to-head series.

RED BYRON: Ontario forward Blaine Byron assisted on both Reign goals on Sunday, as he collected his third multi-assist, and fourth multi-point, game with Ontario this season. Byron, who was acquired in a midseason trade with Springfield, tied his AHL career high in assists in a game, which he’s reached three times this season and five times in his career. The 25-year-old forward has 18 points and a +6 rating from 24 games played with the Reign this season.

SCOUTING THE BARRACUDA: San Jose has the five leading scorers in the Reign – Barracuda head-to-head series this season, led by forward Joachim Blichfeld, who leads all scorers with nine points (5-4-9). A quartet of San Jose skaters have seven points in head-to-head play against Ontario this season, including forward Jayden Halbgewachs, who led the Barracuda with a goal and an assist in Sunday’s victory. 1178770 Minnesota Wild

Gameday preview: Wild at Detroit

Randy Johnson FEBRUARY 27, 2020 — 1:07AM

6:30 p.m. at Detroit • Little Caesars Arena • FSN, 100.3-FM

Playoff push continues against weak Red Wings

Preview: The Wild, winner of three of its past four games, will try to continue its push toward the playoffs against the Red Wings, who have lost seven of eight and have only 34 points — 16 fewer than next-to-last- place Los Angeles. Minnesota defeated Detroit 4-2 on Jan. 22 in their only other meeting this season as Eric Staal and Mats Zuccarello each had a goal and an assist and Matt Dumba had two assists. Goalie Devan Dubnyk stopped 25 of 27 shots. … With 67 points, the Wild is three behind Nashville for the Western Conference’s final wild-card playoff spot, and both have 20 games remaining. Winnipeg and Arizona also have 70 points, but the Wild has three games in hand on the Jets and four on the Coyotes.

Players to WATCH: Wild F Kevin Fiala has eight goals and six assists in his past 11 games, including five multipoint efforts. … Red Wings G Jimmy Howard is 15-5-3 with a 2.27 goals-against average and .908 save percentage in 23 starts vs. the Wild. F Valtteri Filppula has five goals and 15 assists in 39 games vs. the Wild.

Numbers: Wild C Mikko Koivu scored twice in a 5-4 win over Columbus on Tuesday, ending a 29-game goal-scoring drought, while C Eric Staal ended a 11-game string without a goal. … The Wild, which plays at Columbus on Friday, is 4-1-1 this season in the opener of back-to-back games but 2-3-1 in the second game.

Injuries: Wild C Luke Kunin (upper body) and D Carson Soucy (upper body) are out. Detroit C Robby Fabbri suffered a knee-on-knee hit in a 4- 1 loss to New Jersey on Tuesday, and his status is uncertain. F Adam Erne (undisclosed) missed Tuesday’s game and is day to day.

Star Tribune LOADED: 02.27.2020 1178771 Minnesota Wild

Wild's Ryan Donato 'going about his business'

The lightly used winger sped in, scored a big goal.

By Randy Johnson Star Tribune FEBRUARY 27, 2020

Ryan Donato’s first thought was to sprint to the goal line.

“I just wanted to get there first and beat out the icing,’’ the Wild forward said, referring his race to the puck against Columbus defenseman David Savard on Tuesday night at Xcel Energy Center.

Donato not only beat out that icing, he fired a shot that hit the side of the net, collected the rebound and sent a pass to defenseman Ryan Suter at the top of the circle. Suter’s shot pinballed around, and Donato, with Savard draped all over him, collected the puck and sent a diving backhander past Blue Jackets goalie Matiss Kivlenieks.

That goal, with 47 seconds left in the first period, gave the Wild a 2-1 lead on its way to a 5-4 victory.

“It was definitely cool,’’ Donato said. “… It’s nice to get rewarded.’’

That was the theme of the night for the Wild’s fourth line — center Mikko Koivu and wingers Donato and Ryan Hartman. The trio combined for six points, with Koivu scoring twice, his first goals since Nov. 9, and Hartman adding two assists and Donato one.

“We’re getting chemistry. It’s nice to just play a simple game,’’ Donato said. “A lot of times you play that style and sometimes it just doesn’t go your way. The puck bounced our way.’’

For the 23-year-old Donato, fourth-line duty has meant making the most of his opportunities. His 12 goals in 55 games rank sixth on the team, and he’s contributing while averaging 10 minutes, 35 seconds of ice time — next-to-last among Wild skaters regularly in the lineup.

Interim coach Dean Evason appreciates how Donato, acquired from Boston for Charlie Coyle near the trading deadline last year, has kept a professional attitude while not seeing big minutes. He pointed to the example of teammate Kevin Fiala, another 23-year-old, who spent 121 games developing in the AHL in Nashville’s organization. In contrast, Donato has had to grow in the NHL while playing only 21 AHL contests.

“[Fiala] spent so much time in the minors building up to this point,’’ Evason said. “Donny, I’m not saying he’s happy or accepting it, he’s just going about his business. He prepares the same way every night and if he does that, he gets stronger defensively each and every game.

“He’s obviously got natural talent to score goals,’’ Evason added, “but he’s got to commit to the areas below the blue line and get pucks out and stay below pucks in key points in games. He’s learning that process.’’

Part of Donato’s learning process comes from playing with Koivu, the team’s no-nonsense captain who the youngster admitted can be intimidating.

“Yeah, sometimes,’’ Donato said.

“He’s a very serious guy. … You just got to take his advice and just do exactly what he says because he knows the drill. He’s been around long enough, and if you want to be around like him, he’s the type of guy you need to listen to.’’

Star Tribune LOADED: 02.27.2020 1178772 Minnesota Wild “For me, I played left wing, center and even right wing,” he said. “I’m looking forward to the challenge to go out there and be successful at center.”

Ryan Donato keeps scoring, making case to move up in Wild lineup TRADE DEADLINE RELIEF

While the stress of the trade deadline was palpable across the NHL, Evason was proud of the way his players continued to go about their By DANE MIZUTANI | PUBLISHED: February 26, 2020 at 3:41 p.m. | business. UPDATED: February 26, 2020 at 3:42 p.m. “Even if they felt it, they didn’t show it,” he said. “That’s a good thing for the team.”

It doesn’t matter where Ryan Donato gets put in the Wild lineup. All he That said, Evason acknowledged that it probably does take some does is score. It’s what he’s done his entire life. pressure off his players, making a playoff push in the Western Conference more attainable. He proved that again during Tuesday’s 5-4 home victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets, netting the puck from in front of the goal while Pioneer Press LOADED: 02.27.2020 being dragged down to the ice.

RYAN DONATO!!!#mnwild pic.twitter.com/I7pLsqmWTJ

— FOX Sports North (@fsnorth) February 26, 2020

He has 12 goals this season, and leads the Wild with an average of 1.36 goals per 60 minutes. Yet, somehow, he still finds himself in the bottom half of the lineup most nights.

It’s nothing personal, according to interim coach Dean Evason, who heaped praise on Donato when asked about him earlier this week.

“It’s a learning process,” Evason insisted. “He’s just a young guy that hasn’t gone through the process.”

In other words, Donato needs to work on becoming a more complete player, using his offensive skills to his advantage while continuing to refine his defensive skills on a nightly basis.

“He’s obviously got natural talent to score goals,” Evason said. “He’s got to commit to the areas below the blue line and get pucks out, and stay below pucks in key points in games. He’s learning that process. And it is a process. He’s done great with it.”

Perhaps the most impressive thing is that Donato hasn’t complained at all.

While he has to be frustrated with his playing time, he has remained accessible in the locker room, willing to answer any question reporters might have for him.

Most recently, Donato smiled as he credited linemates Mikko Koivu and Ryan Hartman with helping him continue to improve his game on a nightly basis, his frustration nowhere to be found.

“We are (building) chemistry,” Donato said. “It’s nice to just play a simple game and get rewarded for it.”

In that same breath, Donato joked that it’s intimidating playing with Koivu, whose stoic demeanor has become his calling card over his 1,000-game NHL career.

“He’s a very serious guy,” Donato said. “That’s the way he is. You’ve just got to take his advice and do exactly what he says because he knows the drill. He’s been around long enough, and if I want to be around like him, he’s the type of guy I need to listen to.”

If Donato keeps scoring at this rate, it’s safe to assume Koivu isn’t going to mind him being around.

NEW MIDDLE MAN

For most of his up-and-down career, Alex Galchenyuk has considered himself a winger.

Which is why his recent move to center has been so impressive. It’s a small sample size, but Galchenyuk has turned some heads as the man in the middle.

“We like how heavy he’s playing the game,” Evason said. “You see him finishing checks and see him outmuscling people for loose pucks down in our zone. We just like how heavy he’s playing in the right areas and not cheating to get out. We really like him there.”

That type of versatility is something Galchenyuk prides himself on. 1178773 Minnesota Wild 20 among the 251 forwards with 500 or more 5-on-5 minutes since Nov. 1.

There’s a bit of a disconnect with Fiala, however. You can be wowed by The rise of Kevin Fiala: How he’s making the most of his minutes to the things he does on the ice. You can be floored with per-minute stats break games that scream “ELITE SCORER.” But then you can come away from his point totals feeling less than impressed. His 17 goals have him tied for 99th in the NHL for the season as a whole. And while his 42 points have him tied for second on the Wild, around the league it’s tied for 83rd. By Tony Abbott Feb 26, 2020 While some of that has to do with his minutes — for the season he’s

averaging 15:08 a game, 204th among forwards — the truth of the matter We’re a little over a year removed from the trade that sent Kevin Fiala to is that Fiala hasn’t been incredibly dangerous every night. Despite being Minnesota. Coming on the heels of a pair of unpopular trades Minnesota’s most prolific shooter, Fiala ranks only tied for third among orchestrated by then-general manager Paul Fenton, the move was Wild forwards in generating expected goals per hour, posting a total (0.8) received with a mix of skepticism and disappointment. that is middle-of-the-pack league-wide.

Fiala was the Wild’s sole return from Nashville for Mikael Granlund. Fiala’s play over the past 11 games, in which he’s blasted 48 shots, Granlund was a legitimate top-line winger who was on track for a third- could show that even this flaw is turning into a strength. Though it’s a straight 60-point season. A homegrown player who had already climbed small sample size, his 1.1 expected goals per hour shows that he’s been to sixth all-time on the franchise points list before his 27th birthday. A fan better in creating a volume of dangerous scoring chances. If he keeps up favorite responsible for one of the biggest goals in franchise history, and anything close to the onslaught we’ve seen, that goal total should more memories on top of that. continue to climb.

And the return for him was a struggling 22-year-old with just one 20-goal Kevin Fiala: Rediscovering his scoring touch season to his name? Career segment 5v5 Goals/60 5v5 Points/60 5v5 Fans who felt disappointment in the return for Fiala could not have felt Shots/60 comfortable with his debut, either. In 19 games last season, Fiala Nashville, 2016-19 0.90 1.77 8.83 mustered just three goals and seven points and looked out of sorts with his new team. Things didn’t look good to start this season either. Fiala Minnesota, first 27 games 0.17 0.51 6.83 finished October with just one assist over eight games, earning a couple of healthy scratches, and putting his name in the NHL’s rumor mill. Minnesota, last 49 games 1.12 2.65 8.55

Since then, however, Fiala has emerged as a different player. For the Even now, with his slow start and five missed games baked into the origin story of the New Fiala, you can read Michael Russo’s terrific equation, Fiala is on track to get 23 goals and 57 points this season. And feature from last month. But whatever initiated the bounceback, Fiala not with the way he’s played since November, he’s got a shot to crack 60 only played himself out of trade talks ahead of this week’s deadline but is points. He would be just the 13th player in franchise history to hit that looking like a core part of the Wild’s future. barrier, and the third (Marian Gaborik, Pierre-Marc Bouchard) to accomplish it by their age-23 season. Since Nov. 1, Fiala leads Minnesota with 41 points in 49 games, and his 17 goals trail only Zach Parise (18). As of late, Fiala has elevated his Before he was fired, Bruce Boudreau rewarded Fiala’s production with a game even further. He has been nothing short of on fire over his last 11 new assignment, moving him up to the first line and top power-play unit, games, scoring eight goals and 14 points. Only three players in the NHL both decisions that have paid dividends for Fiala and the Wild. But one have more goals since Feb. 4, only six have more points. Impressive as has to wonder whether a further increase in minutes would be smart. the point barrage has been, he’s looked even better by the eye test. On one hand, the idea of sticking to what works has some merit. Fiala Against Chicago and Colorado earlier this month, he deked out has logged the most power-play time on the team — and yes, that defenders to score from the outer edge of the slot. In back-to-back includes Ryan Suter — over the past 11 games, so Boudreau and now games versus Chicago and Vancouver, he used his electric skating to Dean Evason have used him there as much as possible. As for 5-on-5 notch breakaway goals on the power play. He added a goal against play, you could argue that deploying him more might be unwise with the Vegas by crashing the Knights’ crease relentlessly. On Tuesday against team in a playoff chase, given the fact that Evolving Hockey rates his Columbus, he helped save the Wild from another potential late collapse defense as below-replacement level. with the game-winning goal in a 5-3 victory. On the other, at some point, the upside has to outweigh the downside, GOAL. KEVIN FIALA (WHO ELSE?) SCORES TO RESTORE THE and that time may have arrived with Fiala. Not only is he the Wild’s best TWO-GOAL LEAD. per-minute scorer at 5-on-5 play, the Wild have outscored the competition with him on the ice, 54-39. And yet Fiala is seventh among 5-3. PIC.TWITTER.COM/JIHXHVSMYQ Wild forwards in 5-on-5 minutes this season. During this streak, he’s up to second, but just 84th overall in the league. He’s still just two years — HOCKEY WILDERNESS (@HOCKEYWILDERNES) FEBRUARY 26, removed from breaking his femur in a playoff game for the Predators, so 2020 some caution is wise, but it might be time to give your game-breaker the And those are just the plays he’s scored on. He brought everyone out of most possible opportunities to break the game. the seats in the Xcel Energy Center with his dominant performance in There’s that word again: Game-breaker. One of the biggest questions overtime against Chicago. Glance at your screen, and you’re liable to see facing this organization is whether the last four months from Fiala are the him going through multiple defenders. Look again and Fiala’s springing a real deal or not. His combination of talent, tenacity and confidence has teammate for a breakaway. him touching a transcendent level right now. But it’s one thing to put He’s been everywhere, and his former GM calling him a “game-breaker” together a strong 43-game stretch. It’s another to close out the season upon arrival is no longer a millstone around the now-23-year-old’s neck. strong, or to repeat that result in the next year. It’s a badge of honor. But let’s not get too lost in nitpicks about Fiala’s game, or the looming On a per-minute basis, his production has been that of a game-breaker. questions he’ll have to answer over the next year. Live in the moment Of the 298 forwards with 500-plus minutes in all situations since Nov. 1, and see that he’s enjoying one of the best seasons we’ve ever seen out Fiala ranks 20th in the NHL with 3.27 points per hour. The 19 players of a young Wild player. See that he’s working offensive magic of the kind ahead of him — the likes of Artemi Panarin, Nikita Kucherov, Connor the State of Hockey just doesn’t see that often. See that Fiala has been a McDavid, Evgeni Malkin, Nathan MacKinnon, Steven Stamkos, Patrick real difference-maker in this 7-3-1 stretch that has the Wild living to fight Kane, David Pastrnak, Auston Matthews and more) read like a Who’s another week in the playoff race. Who of NHL stars. No matter what happens next, it’s been something to behold. Fiala isn’t simply getting fat off the power play, either. He’s been every bit The Athletic LOADED: 02.27.2020 as deadly at 5-on-5 play, scoring 2.65 points per hour — also in the top 1178774 MontrealCanadiens

Canadiens defenceman Victor Mete suffers season-ending injury

THE CANADIAN PRESS

Montreal Canadiens defenceman Victor Mete will miss the rest of the season with a broken foot, the team announced Wednesday.

Mete suffered the injury during the game in Detroit last Tuesday.

The 21-year-old Mete had four goals and 11 assists in 51 games this season. He has four goals and 27 assists in 171 career NHL games with Montreal.

The native of Woodbridge, Ont., was a fourth-round pick (100th overall) of the Canadiens in 2016.

Globe And Mail LOADED: 02.27.2020 1178775 MontrealCanadiens Alzner calls a “people helper” at Vancouver’s GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre.

“My parents are really, really great people,” Alzner said. “I think they’re Stu Cowan: Canadiens' Karl Alzner remains a 'Good Guy Award' winner inclusive, they talk to people all the time. My dad can’t have a conversation with anybody without joking and having a good time. He Veteran defenceman was a positive role model with the Laval Rocket, goes to get a coffee, it should take 30 seconds but it takes him 10 earning the respect of his teammates and coach Joël Bouchard. minutes. That kind of guy. My mom is a very well-rounded person, too.”

Alzner added that his “killer instinct” that helped him to make it to the NHL came from his sister, Pamela. STU COWAN, MONTREAL GAZETTE Updated: February 26, 2020 “She’s a fighter … that’s kind of funny,” Alzner said with a smile.

Despite everything he has gone through in his hockey career the last two When Karl Alzner was with the Capitals, the Washington media came up seasons, Alzner still smiles easily and is enjoying life on Montreal’s South with a new award that was basically created to honour him and the Shore with his wife and three young children. memory of Hockey Hall of Fame beat writer Dave Fay, who covered the team for more than two decades and died in 2007 at age 67. “My goal always was — hockey goals, on-ice goals aside — to try and make as many friends as possible and have as many good relationships In 2016, Alzner was the inaugural winner of the Dave Fay Award, which as possible,” he said. “That’s something that’s usually at the front of my goes to the Capitals player “who exhibits a strong rapport with the life.” media.” Media members who cover the Capitals also call it the “Good Guy Award.” Montreal Gazette LOADED: 02.27.2020 In 2017, Alzner left the Capitals as a free agent and signed a five-year, US$23.125-million contract with the Canadiens. Things haven’t worked out for Alzner on the ice with the Canadiens, but off the ice he remains one of the nicest guys you will ever meet in pro sports. Heck, he’s one of the nicest guys you will meet anywhere.

So, I had a smile on my face Wednesday when Alzner was the player captain Shea Weber picked to lead the team stretch at centre ice as the Canadiens wrapped up practice in Brossard. It’s a spot Alzner never expected to be.

“I thought 100 per cent it wasn’t going to happen,” Alzner said about getting called up from the AHL’s Laval Rocket last week. “I saw some of the other guys get called up throughout the year and I thought for sure it wasn’t going to happen. Honestly, I wasn’t really expecting this.”

Alzner played only nine games with the Canadiens last season and had played none this season before injuries decimated the defence and the 31-year-old finally got called up from Laval last week after Victor Mete fractured his foot and Xavier Ouellet suffered a concussion. Alzner played his second game with the Canadiens in Tuesday’s 4-3 overtime loss to the Vancouver Canucks at the Bell Centre, logging 15:21 of ice time with one shot, two blocked shots and an even in plus/minus.

With 12 years of NHL experience, Alzner could have sulked in Laval and become a bad influence on young players. But he’s simply too good a guy to do that and instead became a positive role model, earning the respect of his teammates and coach Joël Bouchard. Last season, on a scale of 1 to 10, Bouchard said he liked Alzner as a 12. This season, the coach bumped that up to a 14.

“I guess the thing that helps me is I’m not a guy with an ego,” Alzner said after Wednesday’s practice. “I have feelings and my feelings were hurt, for sure. But there’s no ego there. So for me to have people say: ‘Are you even going to report?’ — that’s not even a question. I’m going to go and play and do my thing. I still love to play hockey and when I have that opportunity I’m going to do it.”

It has become pretty obvious Alzner has no future with the Canadiens at this point and he hasn’t had any discussions with GM Marc Bergevin about the possibility of having the final two years of his contract bought out this summer, which would be the best thing for him. Alzner still has a goal of playing 1,000 NHL games (he’s at 684), a milestone he would have reached in the final season of his current contract if he stayed in the Canadiens’ lineup. Now he has an unexpected opportunity to show scouts from other teams he can still play in the NHL.

The #Caps media presented @KarlAlzner with the inaugural Dave Fay Award today after practice. pic.twitter.com/F8JfPoBy3Q— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) April 8, 2016

“I think that people around the league still know my game,” Alzner said. “First and foremost is winning games here and if you win games here then you get more looks. That’s the goal right now.”

They say the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree and being such a good guy comes naturally for Alzner after watching his parents, Gunther and Karin, who are both retired and live in Burnaby, B.C. Gunther was a longtime warehouse manager for Makita Canada and Karin was what 1178776 MontrealCanadiens “Montreal, if you have a good team, it’s the best city in the world to play hockey,” said Lafleur. “It’s just a question of putting a good team together and being a Stanley Cup contender every year.”

Guy Lafleur yearns for day Habs bring Stanley Cup back to Montreal Lafleur’s Canadiens teams of course weren’t just Stanley Cup contenders — most years, they were actually winning hockey’s most Former Canadiens said he, like so many fans, is disappointed but how prestigious prize, leading to the famous line from then-Mayor Jean far the Canadiens have fallen compared to the glory years. Drapeau that the Stanley Cup parade would “follow the usual route.” There was huge pressure on Lafleur and his teammates and they loved

it. BRENDAN KELLY MONTREAL GAZETTE Updated: February 26, 2020 “You liked that pressure because that pressure helped you give 100-per cent every night on the ice,” said Lafleur. “Everybody was very proud of wearing that jersey in our day and they had a real attachment to the Add Guy Lafleur to the long list of people who are unhappy with how far organization and to the fans, too. But hockey’s changed. It’s not the the Montreal Canadiens have fallen compared with their glory days back same any more. It’s more commercialized today. There’s so much money when he was winning Cup after Cup with the franchise. so if the players don’t get the money here, they’ll go some place else. That’s the way it is. And with free agency, it’s tough to keep your star in In an interview Wednesday, shortly before a private launch at the Bell the same place for many years.” Centre for the first wines produced by Guy Lafleur Wine and Spirits, the Flower spoke about how he shared fans’ disappointment with the Montreal Gazette LOADED: 02.27.2020 present-day Habs.

“For us, ex-hockey players or old-timers who’ve played for the organization, we’re not too happy about what we see right now,” Lafleur said. “The team is not winning and we hope one day that the fans will see the good years and will see eventually the Stanley Cup coming back to Montreal.”

Lafleur’s former team is mired in one of its worst slumps in the Habs’ 107-year-plus history. The Canadiens will almost certainly miss the playoffs this year and it will be the third straight season and fourth time in five years the team will not be good enough to reach the post-season. The Canadiens have only missed the playoffs in three consecutive years twice since joining the National Hockey League in 1917.

When Lafleur was asked whether he ever tried to offer his opinion to people like Canadiens president Geoff Molson or general manager Marc Bergevin on how the team is run, his answer was succinct.

“No, they don’t ask us,” Lafleur said with a laugh. “They should sometimes, but they don’t ask us.”

Le Démon Blond, who won five Stanley Cups with the bleu-blanc-rouge in the 1970s, said part of the problem is the organization has set the bar so low and that has lowered fans’ expectations.

“Before the season, everyone (from the team) has been saying in the past couple of years: ‘Well, we’re hoping to make the playoffs,’ ” Lafleur said. “You have to say: ‘We’re hoping to win the Stanley Cup!’ There’s a big difference.”

Lafleur is in good shape now, but he had a rough autumn health-wise. He had quadruple bypass surgery and had a cancerous lobe removed from one of his lungs.

Lafleur retired as a Canadien in November 1984, frustrated that then- coach Jacques Lemaire wanted him to play a more defensive role on the team.

The Habs legend talked on Wednesday about how there have been so few offensive stars on the Canadiens in the more than 35 years since he last played for the team.

Lafleur holds the record as the Canadiens’ leading scorer with 518 goals and 1,246 points. He won three Art Ross trophies for having the most points in the National Hockey League (in 1976, 1977 and 1978) and is tied with Steve Shutt for the most goals in a single season as a Hab (scoring 60 goals in 1977-1978). In addition to scoring 60 that year, he also scored 50 goals in a season five times with the Canadiens.

The only Montreal player to score 50 goals in a season since then is Stéphane Richer, who did it twice, in 1987-1988 and in 1989-1990, but Richer had nowhere near the points totals of the Flower. There have been occasional flashes of offensive spark in the more than three decades since Lafleur left the Habs — courtesy of players like Richer, Mats Naslund, Vincent Damphousse, Pierre Turgeon (briefly), Alexei Kovalev and Max Pacioretty — but they have been few and far between, and most of that action happened a long, long time ago.

One theory is that star players don’t like to come to Montreal because of the pressure, but Lafleur doesn’t buy that for a second. 1178777 MontrealCanadiens Ouellet has missed the last two games while recovering from a concussion.

Top Corner Tomas Tatar. #GoHabsGo | @TomasTatar90 Canadiens Notebook: Claude Julien says Habs GM has strategy for pic.twitter.com/UFODOOxm63— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) future February 26, 2020

"Not everybody knows everything and, unfortunately, we can’t divulge Domi, Drouin miss practice everything," coach says about Marc Bergevin's plan. Forwards Max Domi and Jonathan Drouin both skipped practice Wednesday, taking therapy days.

STU COWAN, MONTREAL GAZETTE Updated: February 26, 2020 Domi has been on a roll recently, picking up two assists in Tuesday’s 4-3 overtime loss to the Vancouver Canucks to extend his point streak to three games with 2-3-5 totals during that span. For the season, Domi has At the end of Wednesday’s practice at the Bell Sports Complex in 15-27-42 totals, well off his pace from last season when he had 28-44-72 Brossard, Canadiens coach Claude Julien had a long on-ice chat with his totals, setting career highs in goals, assists and points. No. 1 line of Phillip Danault, Brendan Gallagher and Tomas Tatar. “Max’s effort is always there every game,” Julien said after Tuesday’s That line has been together since the start of last season and they will game. “When he struggles sometimes it’s puck management and stuff continue to play together for the rest of this season and probably beyond like that. But Max comes to play every game.” after GM Marc Bergevin decided not to move Tatar before Monday’s NHL Domi can become a restricted free agent on July 1. trade deadline. Tatar has one more season after this left on his contract before he can become an unrestricted free agent. Drouin is pointless and minus-10 in eight games since returning from wrist surgery on Nov. 18. He also missed one game with an ankle injury “It’s all strategic,” Julien said about Bergevin’s decision to keep Tatar after returning to the lineup. Drouin is still feeling pain in his wrist and you around. “Everything Marc has done is strategic. There’s reasons for and, have to wonder if he felt pressured to come back too soon with the unfortunately, not everybody knows everything and, unfortunately, we Canadiens trying to keep their playoff hopes alive. can’t divulge everything. There’s conversations, there’s non- conversations, there’s reasons for different things. But, at the end of the “He’s banged up,” Julien said about Drouin. “What you see is what you’re day, it’s all strategic and that’s where the trust has to come into play and getting. So that’s all I can tell you right now.” whether it’s from the fan base, from the players, etc. Top Corner Tomas Tatar. #GoHabsGo | @TomasTatar90 “If you ask any player, they would have loved to have kept (Ilya) pic.twitter.com/UFODOOxm63— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) Kovalchuk and (Nate) Thompson and (Nick) Cousins,” Julien said about February 26, 2020 three players Bergevin traded before the NHL deadline “Those guys, they would have loved to have kept them here, but they also understand that Price showing wear and tear strategically-wise things had to happen here.” Julien wouldn’t confirm who his goalie will be Thursday when the Claude Julien chatting with his No. 1 line of Brendan Gallagher, Phillip Canadiens play the New York Rangers at the Bell Centre (7 p.m., TSN2, Danault and Tomas Tatar at end of #Habs practice #HabsIO RDS, TSN 690 Radio, 98.5 FM), but don’t be surprised if Carey Price pic.twitter.com/QZldUNl0YN— Stu Cowan (@StuCowan1) February 26, makes his 11th straight start. Price has started 16 of the last 17 games 2020 and leads all NHL goalies with 54 starts this season, four more than the Winnipeg Jets’ Connor Hellebuyck. Whatever Bergevin’s strategy is moving forward, he didn’t do a good job of explaining it when he met with the media on Monday. It looks like all the work is starting to catch up with Price, who has allowed at least three goals in seven of his last eight games. It also looks “The core group hasn’t changed,” Bergevin said Monday about his team, like Julien is going to ride Price until the Canadiens’ playoff hopes are which is headed toward missing the playoffs for the third straight season totally gone. and the fourth time in five years. “It doesn’t mean it won’t change. But in this period for which you call the (trade) deadline — which is most of the With a 29-27-9 record, the Canadiens were in fifth place in the Atlantic time rental market — we haven’t changed our plan.” Division after Tuesday’s OT loss, seven points behind Toronto for the third and final playoff spot and the Maple Leafs hold a game in hand. The Bergevin hinted that he might be looking to make a “hockey trade” this Sportsclubstats.com website had the Canadiens’ chances of making the summer when other teams are facing salary-cap issues. playoffs listed at 0.8 per cent.

We’ll have to wait and see. Cette passe soulevée de Gally.

In the meantime, the Tatar-Danault-Gallagher trio will stay together. That saucer pass by @BGALLY17.#GoHabsGo “That’s a line for us that has been pretty consistent, let’s put it that way,” pic.twitter.com/RxPMMtDTNI— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) Julien said. “Every night, for most games, I started them off at the start of February 26, 2020 the game. Most of the time at (the start of) each period. Why? Because Weber hasn’t given up they usually give us good starts. They’re a hard-working trio and they make things happen. Right now with what we’ve got, it’s good to have a Captain Shea Weber was using all the proper clichés after practice little bit of consistency with that line.” Wednesday when asked about the Canadiens’ playoff chances.

A frustrated #Habs fan at practice this morning in Brossard #HabsIO “We’re not done yet,” Weber said. “We still got a long ways to go, but we pic.twitter.com/m1LHzD6pNI— Stu Cowan (@StuCowan1) February 26, got to take it one game at a time. Obviously, we got one point last night. 2020 We need to work on getting points tomorrow and then going forward.

Mete’s season is over “Just one game at a time,” the captain added “We can’t look further than New York right now and they’re actually playing well. So we got to be The Canadiens announced Wednesday that defenceman Victor Mete’s ready for them and make sure it’s our best effort to date.” season is over because of a fractured foot. Weber added that the remaining 17 games can also be used as stepping Mete suffered the injury when he was hit with a shot during a 4-3 loss to stones to next season. the Red Wings in Detroit on Feb. 18. In 51 games this season, Mete had 4-7-11 totals and was plus-5. “We’re still a really young team, too,” he said. “At the same time, there’s a lot of learning to do. Guys haven’t experienced this stuff, need to Julien said after practice that the Canadiens would not be calling up experience it. There’s playoff style games this type of year. Even though another defenceman from the AHL’s Laval Rocket. people doubt us out, we’re still in it. We’ve got to go. There’s a lot that we “We have (Xavier) Ouellett still here, so we have seven Ds here,” Julien can learn and get better and If we don’t make it this year it’s going to help said. next year.” When asked about the Canadiens’ 13-15-6 record at home this season, Weber said: “We just got to be better at home. Honestly, I think guys prepare the same way (at home as on the road). I don’t have an answer for you on what the reason is. Good starts at home, too. It’s just got to find a way to finish the whole 60 minutes.”

As for moving on without the players who were dealt before the NHL trade deadline, Weber said: “We’re all pros here. We know how this business works. Guys come, guys go. It’s obviously hard to lose good teammates. But, at the same time, the guys in here got to step up. Guys that have increased roles, guys that need to play bigger roles, it’s just the way the business works and it’s opportunity.”

Charlie Lindgren est le premier sur la patinoire.@CharlieLindgren is the first player on the ice.#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/uy6uUc50FQ— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) February 26, 2020

What’s next?

The Canadiens have a morning skate scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Thursday in Brossard before facing the Rangers at the Bell Centre (7 p.m., TSN2, RDS, TSN 690 Radio, 98.5 FM). The Canadiens then have a practice scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday in Brossard before facing the Carolina Hurricanes night at the Bell Centre (7 p.m., SNE, CITY, TVA Sports, TSN 690 Radio, 98.5 FM).

Next week, the Canadiens will hit the road for three games starting Tuesday in New York against the Islanders (7 p.m., TSN2, RDS, TSN 690 Radio, 98.5 FM). After that the Canadiens head to Florida to play the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday (7 p.m., TSN2, RDS, TSN 690 Radio, 98.5 FM) and the Panthers on Saturday (7 p.m., CBC, SN, SN360, TVA Sports, TSN 690 Radio, 98.5 FM).

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 02.27.2020 1178778 MontrealCanadiens possible. If not, at some point, it’s either I make the decision that we go one more year or I make changes. But it’s too early to tell you that.”

July is not far away, and though Bergevin didn’t say so, Gallagher is How the deadline impacted the two most pivotal UFAs Marc Bergevin surely one of those players he feels will be very hard to replace. must re-sign Back in early January, we ran an 18-month projection of what the Canadiens will have to accomplish in terms of contracts and roster decisions. By Arpon Basu Feb 26, 2020 Gallagher’s case was an interesting one because what he provides for the Canadiens can’t simply be summarized on a spreadsheet. His numbers are excellent, both the traditional counting stats and just about The Canadiens had just come off the ice after practice on trade deadline any advanced metric you can find. When Gallagher is on the ice, no day, and a crowd of media instantly formed around the locker of Tomas matter who he is facing as an opponent or who he is lining up next to as Tatar. a teammate, the Canadiens usually find themselves playing in the He was a person of interest on this day because his contract is expiring offensive zone. at the end of next season and is also approaching 30 years of age. And, He is extremely valuable to this team. oh yeah, he’s the Canadiens’ leading scorer by a fair margin, so Tatar was a player other teams might actually be willing to pay a high price for. The comparables we used to come up with a projection for Gallagher’s next contract back in January were Anders Lee, James van Riemsdyk If general manager Marc Bergevin weren’t so concerned about and Cam Atkinson, three high-end scorers who had recently signed competing for the playoffs next season, he might have seriously contracts as UFAs. Using their numbers, we came up with…the exact considered moving Tatar. It didn’t happen. contract Kreider just signed with the Rangers, seven years and $45.5 In any case, this was several hours before the actual 3 p.m. deadline million. Monday. So there was a crowd around Tatar. So, what exactly did that nod mean when Gallagher heard about Two lockers to Tatar’s right, Brendan Gallagher was sitting quietly, taking Kreider’s contract details? off his equipment. No one was bothering him, though he would talk to It might mean we nailed our projection. reporters a little later. Except he wasn’t answering questions about potentially being traded in a few hours despite the fact Gallagher was in Over the past two seasons, Kreider has scored 52 goals and 97 points in exactly the same position as Tatar. 139 games. Gallagher is at 53 goals and 90 points in 135 games. Kreider is 28, Gallagher will be 28 at this time next year. Kreider is listed at 6- Gallagher’s contract expires at the end of next season, he makes very foot-3, 217 pounds, Gallagher is not. But, when you look at underlying little money in comparison to his value as a player and basically every numbers, Gallagher makes up for that size disadvantage and then some. team in the NHL would pay a king’s ransom to get him. But no one was talking about Gallagher being traded because Bergevin would never You don’t necessarily need to fully understand what is going on with this trade Gallagher. chart, that comes courtesy of Bill Comeau, to appreciate the significance. The more blue and less red you see, the better. Just keep that in mind. As he was taking his equipment off, he was told of what transpired while he was on the ice practicing, namely that Chris Kreider had re-signed Another difference between Kreider and Gallagher is that Kreider is with the New York Rangers. It was monumental news, and of immediate coming off what could be considered a fair market value contract at relevance in that dressing room. In fact, at those two lockers, Gallagher’s $4.625 million a year for four years, over which time Kreider has scored and Tatar’s. 96 goals. Gallagher is coming with a bargain contract at $3.75 million a year for six years, signed right out of his entry-level contract. He has First, for Tatar, it meant that maybe teams hoping to acquire Kreider scored 84 goals over the last three years, with one year left on his deal, before the deadline would double back to the Canadiens and start so it would be fair to assume that at this time next year Gallagher will sweetening their offers to Bergevin, supply and demand being what it is. have far surpassed Kreider’s 96 goals on the final four years of his But for Gallagher, since Bergevin wasn’t going to trade him, the contract at a far lower price. relevance was quite different. Over the last three seasons combined, Gallagher is 10th in the NHL with “What did he sign for?” Gallagher asked. 70 even-strength goals. Sitting 11th to 15th on that list are David Pastrnak, Kyle Connor, Artemi Panarin, Brad Marchand and Jack Eichel. “Seven years,” was the response. Those five players have an average salary of just over $8.3 million a year, an average that is dragged down because Pastrnak and Marchand “No, how much?” Gallagher asked. are also playing at a ridiculous bargain price. In fact, only five of the 15 When he was told it was for $6.5 million a year, Gallagher simply players on that list make less than $8 million a year: Connor ($7.14 nodded. million), Pastrnak ($6.66 million), Nathan MacKinnon ($6.3 million), Marchand ($6.125 million) and Gallagher. “Pretty good,” he said. We have seen this situation before in Montreal, and we’ve seen how it “Might not be bad for you?” he was asked. ended.

Gallagher nodded again, before saying, “That’s so far away.” For years, Max Pacioretty was considered to have one of the biggest No, in fact it is not so far away. It is coming on July 1, when Bergevin can bargain contracts in the league. It was good for the Canadiens, but not officially sign him to a contract extension. Gallagher’s not the only one, necessarily for him. When it came time for him to get paid what he was as Tatar, Phillip Danault, Jeff Petry and Joel Armia could all sign worth, the Canadiens no longer considered him to be worth his market extensions that day, and nothing is stopping Bergevin from opening value. So he was traded to a team willing to pay him. contract talks with any of those players today if he wants to. Pacioretty never came out and said it, but it was no secret that finding So, it’s not that far away, no matter what Gallagher thinks. himself on lists of the best bargain contracts in the NHL bothered him a great deal, and that he wanted to rectify that with his next contract. “Let’s just say that’s so far away from being something I’m thinking about,” Gallagher clarified, as a group of reporters formed around him. Gallagher, however, doesn’t view it the same way at all.

A few hours later, Bergevin was explaining his work prior to the trade “Actually,” he said Monday, “I’ve probably made more money because I deadline and was asked about the fate of his 2021 unrestricted free signed this contract.” agents. Gallagher explained that had he signed a two-year bridge contract “There’s players on our team that I feel are very hard to replace,” he said. instead of the six-year extension he signed on Nov. 29, 2014, early in the “In July, some of these players, I’ll go to them and see if an extension’s final year of his entry-level deal, it would have been worth a lower annual salary and would have expired after the 2016-17 season. That was the second year in a row Gallagher broke his hand when it was struck by a But in many ways, these two contracts, the ones for Danault and slap shot, this time by Shea Weber. There was a legitimate reason to Gallagher, will be the key dominoes to fall. Two contracts that were each believe, he said, that his next contract would have again been lower than impacted by external forces at the trade deadline. the $3.75 million a year he is making now because of the concern over his mangled hand. The Athletic LOADED: 02.27.2020

“So I would have made even less money,” he said. “There’s something to be said about guaranteed money.”

Then Gallagher smiled, and walked away.

If there’s one thing about Kreider’s contract, it’s that it provides seven years of guaranteed money. It might have even set the benchmark for Gallagher’s next contract.

Elsewhere Monday, New York Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello was doing some work securing his depth at centre, and there had to be an interested observer in Montreal.

Danault is probably another one of the players Bergevin was referring to as being hard to replace, one who might get an opportunity to sign an extension as early as this July. When Lamoriello quickly signed Jean- Gabriel Pageau to a six-year, $30 million contract after acquiring him from the Ottawa Senators, he probably made Danault a bit more money and made life a little more complicated for Bergevin.

Like Gallagher, not everything Danault does can be quantified with goals and assists. He is a two-way centre who, like Pageau, plays a lot of difficult minutes. But, unlike Pageau, Danault has an established history of production.

Danault got his 42nd point of the season with an assist in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Vancouver Canucks. He is likely to surpass the career-high he set last season with 53 points. Pageau has 24 goals this season, but it is the second time in his career he has reached 40 points.

Still, Pageau has some of the same attributes as Danault, making a comparison between the two somewhat reasonable. And if Danault and his agents at Newport Sports decide to make that comparison, as we do here courtesy of Comeau’s chart, it will mean they are looking for well north of $5 million a year on a long-term contract.

Back in January, the comparisons we used to project a five-year, $30 million contract for Danault were Mikael Backlund of the Calgary Flames (5 X $5.35 million) and Charlie Coyle of the Boston Bruins (6 X $5.25 million). We could throw up that same chart comparing Danault to Backlund and Coyle and he will come out looking just as good as he does when compared to Pageau.

Danault, like Gallagher, does not want to think about this right now, even if he is able to recognize that he will need to relatively soon. But he subtly made it clear that he understands his value as well.

“I haven’t thought about it at all because I can’t afford to,” he said Monday. “You have to be sharp mentally every game, especially when you’re going up against the other team’s top lines every night.”

Danault mentioned how his preference would be to go long-term with the Canadiens. He doesn’t want to go anywhere, but it’s hard not to get the sense this will be a tricky negotiation because of everything Danault does for his team, how heavily he is leaned on right now, but how his importance might also diminish as players like Nick Suzuki, Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Ryan Poehling start to mature and command more ice time in the coming years.

Pageau signing that contract Monday only made things trickier.

When Bergevin spent so much time talking about his core Monday, he didn’t single out Gallagher and Danault by name as being the ones who would be first in line to talk about an extension. But seeing as how these two contracts seem like the most volatile he will have on his docket, they will naturally have an impact on the contracts of Tatar, Petry and Armia by establishing how much money there is to work with.

Bergevin said there could be a hockey trade coming in June, and this is a big reason why. Max Domi needs a new contract and it’s not quite clear where in the lineup he would fit in the coming years. Tatar, Petry and Armia could all be candidates to be traded as well.

Or re-signed.

The situation is very fluid. 1178779 Nashville Predators

Former Predators coach Peter Laviolette named coach of U.S. National team

Paul Skrbina, The Tennessean Published 11:45 a.m. CT Feb. 26, 2020 | Updated 11:51 a.m. CT Feb. 26, 2020

Peter Laviolette has landed a job.

And he's going to work with David Poile again.

Laviolette, who was fired as Predators coach in early January, was named the head coach of the U.S. men's national team on Wednesday, USA Hockey announced.

Poile, the Predators general manager, is one of six GM's who help select staff and players for the team, which will play in the 2020 International Ice Hockey Federation Men's World Championships in Zurich and Switzerland from May 8-24.

Laviolette was fired as Predators coach after six-plus seasons. He led the team to its only Stanley Cup Final appearance in 2017, its only Presidents' Trophy in 2018 and its only Central Division titles in 2018 and 2019.

He won a Stanley Cup as coach of the Hurricanes in 2006 and led the Flyers to the Final in 2010.

He also has plenty of international experience. He was head coach of the 2014 IHF men's team, an assistant for the 2014 Olympic team and head coach of the 2006 Olympic team.

He also played on the 1988 and 1994 Olympic teams.

Laviolette is one of eight NHL coaches this season to either be fired or resign.

Tennessean LOADED: 02.27.2020 1178780 Nashville Predators

Predators back in playoff position for first time since November after win over Senators

Paul Skrbina, The Tennessean Published 5:00 a.m. CT Feb. 26, 2020 | Updated 12:03 p.m. CT Feb. 26, 2020

David Poile's inactions spoke louder than his words.

The Predators general manager chose to do mostly nothing Monday on trade-deadline day, save for a minor deal and signing Rocco Grimaldi to an extension.

Instead he expressed confidence that his current roster was good enough to win a spot in the playoffs for the sixth consecutive season.

The Predators proved him right — at least for now — a day later when they slid into the second wild-card slot with a 3-2 victory against the Senators and losses by the Coyotes and Jets.

Nearly three-and-a-half months and one head coach ago was the last time the Predators were in a playoff spot.

They are 9-4-1 in the previous 15 games, with a chance to take over the top wild-card spot Thursday when they will face the Flames at Bridgestone Arena.

Nashville's 70 points are equal to the number the Coyotes and Jets have, but the Predators have four games in hand on the Coyotes and three on the Jets.

They also have two in hand on the Flames, who won Tuesday and hold the top wild-card spot with 72 points.

"The trading deadline is over; I'm glad about that," Poile said Monday. "As they say in GM 101, sometimes the best trades you make are the ones you don't."

Poile said the Predators' struggles "caused me some pause" leading up to the deadline, when he wasn't sure whether he'd buy, sell or stand still. He said he talked to the 30 other teams at least two times each.

In the end, though, his team, he felt, had more answers than any splashy trade.

"The fact I'm standing here and didn't do anything tells you I felt our team was playing well enough," Poile said. "If I go back to the start of the season, I was very bold in my statement about the belief in our team. It's been a rocky road to this point, but I'm totally focused on making the playoffs."

The return of Ryan Ellis helps. The defenseman scored a goal Tuesday in his third game back since missing the previous 20 with a concussion.

The hope that players such as Ryan Johansen, Viktor Arvidsson and Matt Duchene will play closer to expectation exists.

Juuse Saros' improved play in goal provides optimism.

Yes, the team needs to improve on its league-worst penalty kill. Power plays, too, need to be stronger, as they were Tuesday when the Predators scored two such goals, including one from Arvidsson.

"I wasn't overly active in being a buyer," Poile said. "Bottom line was be a seller or keep the band together, which is what we ended up doing."

Whether that will be music to Poile's and the Predators' ears remains to be seen.

But for now, they are right where they've wanted to be for months.

"More or less win and get in," Ellis said.

Tennessean LOADED: 02.27.2020 1178781 New Jersey Devils

How Devils’ Kyle Palmieri handled trade deadline rumors, and where he sees himself with team going forward

By Chris Ryan

DETROIT -- Kyle Palmieri did his best to avoid the trade rumors, particularly on social media. With how much flies around every year leading up to the trade deadline, it’s nearly impossible to avoid.

A fake Twitter account saying Palmieri had been traded away from New Jersey even briefly got Palmieri’s wife.

“It’s crazy everyone has an opportunity to make an account and make a tweet that looks like something that’s official, it’s impossible to avoid," Palmieri said. "But at the same time he’s trying to stay focused and it’s one of those things that maybe when you leave the rink it’s a little bit distracting, but once you get here, the focus is the same. You’re here to make yourself a better player make your teammates better players and help your team try and win games.”

The Devils forward doesn’t need to worry about any more of those rumors for the time being, with the trade deadline now in the rearview mirror. Devils interim GM Tom Fitzgerald added some more clarity, saying he was never seriously considered dealing the team’s leading scorer.

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Palmieri has one season left on his current contract, but from what Fitzgerald said, the team still views the veteran forward as a key piece of the puzzle, even as the organization attempts to add young talent around Nico Hischier and Jack Hughes.

Palmieri would be eligible to sign a contract extension to remain in New Jersey long term as early as July 1. He told NJ Advance Media he hasn’t put much thought into that yet since it’s still a few months down the road. But if the Devils wanted to have those discussions in the summer, he’d have an open ear.

In the weeks leading up to the trade deadline, Palmieri had some conversations with Fitzgerald, and the forward said the GM never brought up the possibility of a trade.

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“Fitzy never came to me — and I think he was pretty clear in the media, saying that he wasn’t shopping guys on this team," Palmieri said. "And I think we have a lot of great pieces and we’re building towards something, and it feels good to be here to be a part of it.”

Even with Fitzgerald trying to add younger assets to the organization, he has indicated the Devils need some sort of veteran presence to help lead the way.

From everything that transpired in the past few days, Palmieri is viewed as a key part of that.

“I take a lot of pride in being a New Jersey Devil, and (Fitzgerald) takes a lot of pride in his job and being able to be a guy who is around this team and is helping build towards getting us back into the playoffs and being a competitive team in that matter," he said. "But my focus, whether or not he said that, is trying to be better and trying to make the New Jersey Devils a better team, and that’s what I’m here to do. That’s what my job is, and I think, up until someone tells me it’s not my job anymore, that’s what my focus stays on.”

Star Ledger LOADED: 02.27.2020 1178782 New Jersey Devils said. "But I think the idea and the sentiment of stepping in and protecting Jack and just letting other teams know that you’re not going to be allowed to push him around and take liberties on him, because there a few times tonight where they took some shots at him.” How a hit by Devils’ Jack Hughes set off a chain of tense moments with Red Wings Star Ledger LOADED: 02.27.2020

By Chris Ryan

DETROIT -- Jack Hughes had already taken a a big (clean) check from Detroit Red Wings forward Tyler Bertuzzi in the second period.

After Robby Fabbri hit Hughes in the corner during the third period, the Devils rookie looped back moments later, looking for some payback.

As Hughes went in for a check as Fabbri skated with the puck, the two players went knee-to-knee, with Fabbri getting injured on the play before skating off the ice to the locker room. Hughes received a tripping penalty.

“I just hit him. Nothing really other than that," Hughes said. "I think he thought it was a dirty hit. I don’t think he returned, right? So that’s the way it goes.”

The Red Wings were clearly upset with the hit, both in the moment and after the Devils’ 4-1 victory at Little Caesars Arena, with some Detroit players calling Hughes’ hit dirty following the game.

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Tensions continued to percolate between Hughes and the Red Wings for the remainder of the game, including some jawing between the two benches following a later shift. Things then completely boiled over in the final minute.

Bertuzzi delivered another hit on Hughes into the boards in the corner. John Hayden, who typically skates on the fourth line, was on the ice with Hughes and Nico Hischier, just in case something happened. Hayden skated over and immediately delivered a high cross check near Bertuzzi’s head, resulting in a mini brawl between everyone on the ice.

Hayden was assessed a five-minute major and a game misconduct, while Bertuzzi and Devils defenseman P.K. Subban both got 10-minute misconducts. He was also fined $2016.13 — the maximum amount allowed under the CBA — for the play, but he won’t face a suspension.

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Tuesday was the first time Hughes really got involved in that physical aspect of the game in the NHL. Joey Anderson had to hold Hughes back following his hit on Fabbri when things appeared to be escalating, and Hughes jumped right into the fray during the ruckus in the final minute.

“Tonight, I probably took a few more hits than I should," Hughes said. "I mean, when you take hit after hit, you kind of want to do something yourself.”

Devils interim coach Alain Nasreddine put Hayden on Hughes’ line for the remainder of the game following the hit on Fabbri. With so much time left, he didn’t want to just park Hughes on the bench to avoid more confrontation.

Hughes’ teammates were happy to see him stick up for himself.

“He didn’t like what happened to him. He thought he kind of got hit there a couple times where he shouldn’t have,” goalie Cory Schneider said. “He hasn’t really done that all year. He’s not the kind of kid who’s gonna run around slashing everybody or trying to get back at everybody who hits him. He takes hits and he keeps going. I think that’s the best thing to do but it was it was good to see a little bit of fire out of him and I know he’s had high expectations for himself all year, so to show some emotion, sort of get fed up with that, I think that’s not a bad thing.”

Schneider had his back to the sequence of events in the final minute before the brawl, so he didn’t directly see the hit on Hughes or Hayden’s cross check, but he said the check on Hughes probably wasn’t necessary, given the score and time of the game.

“You never want to condone a cross check to the face, unfortunately. Obviously I don’t think that was Hayden’s intention, he was just kind of trying to give him a shot and caught him in the wrong spot," Schneider 1178783 New Jersey Devils happened at the end of the game. That’s not something you want to have happen every game, but it is going to happen at times.

“The fact that we stuck up for one another tells me that guys are playing The biggest hit of Jack Hughes’ career led to chaos — and some team for each other and playing for the group.” bonding The adrenaline was still running high in the Devils locker room after the game. Whether you value that type of activity in hockey games, there’s no question NHL players still get excited by it. For Hughes, it was a By Corey Masisak Feb 26, 2020 chance to defend himself. Being the No. 1 pick in the most recent NHL draft makes him a target for other players; being one of the most hyped

prospects in recent league history adds another layer to that. DETROIT — It’s a subjective stat, but Jack Hughes has been on the Hughes has dealt with opponents trying to take runs at him his whole life, receiving end of a hit 68 times this season. That is the third-most on the because he has been the best player on his team or in his league for Devils behind Miles Wood and Nico Hischier. about as long as he could skate. It’s a little different in the NHL, when the On Tuesday night, Hughes decided to hit back. opponents coming after you are older and bigger.

His check of Red Wings forward Robby Fabbri in the third period led to This will also likely be a lesson for Hughes, a teaching moment in a an emotionally charged finish in a 4-1 victory at Little Caesars Arena. season full of them for a teenager trying to make his way in the NHL. He does not have a history of retaliating with violence, and even as he “I probably took a few more hits than I should,” Hughes said. “I mean, matures physically, Hughes is likely going to spend his career making when you take hit after hit, you kind of want to do something yourself.” teams pay for trying to be physical with him with goals, not big open-ice hits. Fabbri hit Hughes behind the Detroit net, going a little high and sticking out his elbow to try to get a bigger piece of . Hughes retrieved “I think he’s done a great job,” Devils forward Kyle Palmieri said. “You the puck, then tried to backhand it toward the net. Fabbri intercepted it can see sometimes that it might wear on him, and there’s a little bit of and tried to skate it out of danger. frustration. It’s a tough league to play in, whether you are 18 or 29 or 34. It’s guys who are all going out there and competing. Sometimes tempers Hughes turned and skated after Fabbri, launching himself into the Red flare, and it’s part of our game. Wings forward to deliver the most violent hit of his young NHL career with a little more than 11 minutes left in the third period. “He’s not a big guy, so he’s not going to go in there and steamroll somebody, but he makes sure to protect himself and he doesn’t put Fabbri was injured on the play and did not return to the game. He has himself in too many vulnerable positions. When that happens, he’s got had multiple knee injuries in the past, so the knee-on-knee contact from guys in here willing to stick up for him.” the hit upset the Red Wings. The Athletic LOADED: 02.27.2020 Hughes hit Fabbri while he still had the puck, but was off-balance from lunging and because Fabbri turned slightly while he was lining him up.

“I thought it was a bad hit,” Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill said. “There was no reason for it. I thought it was a five(-minute major), but they called it a two.”

“It starts with a pretty cheap check,” Red Wings center Dylan Larkin added. “We didn’t like the hit (Fabbri) took … I think it’s a dirty hit, so that’s all I’m gonna say.”

It looked like there might be further violence after the play. Fabbri shook his arm like he was going to drop his gloves, but Joey Anderson and Jonathan Ericsson got between them and prevented an escalation. But the chatter between players at or near the benches ramped up and continued during stoppages in play.

The Red Wings scored on the ensuing power play, so it was a two-goal game for a while. After Nikita Gusev put the outcome to rest with New Jersey’s fourth goal, the temperature started rising again.

Devils coach Alain Nasreddine put John Hayden on the top line with Hughes and Hischier for two shifts at the end of the game, an indication that he did not want any of the Red Wings looking for retaliation.

But Tyler Bertuzzi, who had crunched Hughes with a big hit earlier in the game, checked the rookie in the boards in the final minute and set off a melee. Hayden skated over and cross-checked Bertuzzi in the face, an act he was fined $2,016.13 for by the league.

Everyone on the ice got involved after that. P.K. Subban was engaged with Anthony Mantha, but Bertuzzi was trying to get at Subban and hit him in the body with a couple of gloved punches. A few seconds later, Subban was yelling at Bertuzzi and threw a glove at him while Mantha was holding him back.

Both players ended up in open ice and circling like they wanted to fight. The officials did not let them, and Bertuzzi returned the favor with a glove in Subban’s direction, but eventually peace was restored.

It was a messy, emotional ending to a game that might have otherwise been an afterthought. These two clubs are at the bottom of the NHL standings and both dealt key players in recent days before the trade deadline.

“It was good for our group, team unity,” Nasreddine said. “It hasn’t been an easy year, but here we are. This is the group that we are going to go to battle with the next 20 games that is left. I have a lot of time for what 1178784 New York Islanders

Barry Trotz encouraged by Islanders' effort vs. Rangers

By Denis P. Gorman

Results matter. So, too, does process.

And hours after the 4-3 overtime loss to the Rangers, Barry Trotz felt good about how the Islanders played against their longtime rivals.

"There’s a lot of positives [from] last night, for sure,” Trotz said during Wednesday’s optional practice at Northwell Health Ice Center.

Foremost among the positives was the pressure the Islanders created Tuesday at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum, outshooting the Rangers 45- 28 and finishing with an 84-48 advantage in attempted shots.

“We have to continue to do what we did last night,” Trotz said. “We threw 80-plus shot attempts last night. That was a season high for us. Scoring chances were pretty well in our favor. We just [have] to finish. We [have] to find a way to get pucks to the back of the net.”

Another plus in Trotz’s mind was that they walked away with a point at a spot in the season in which points are valuable. The Islanders have 77 points in 62 games, and heading into Wednesday night's games, are in the first Eastern Conference wild-card spot. They are one point ahead of Columbus, three ahead of Carolina, and five points up on the Rangers.

But it is not out of the realm of possibility that the Islanders could work their way back into one of the top three positions in the Metropolitan Division. They trail division-leading Washington by seven points but are only three points behind Pittsburgh for second, and two back of Philadelphia for third.

And if history is any indicator, it could bode well for the Islanders’ playoff hopes that in the six seasons since the NHL changed its playoff format from 1-8 to a divisional structure, the top three teams in Metropolitan Division averaged 111.5, 102.5 and 100.3 points. In the same window, the two wild-card teams in those years averaged 98.3 and 96.1 points. The Islanders are on pace to finish the season with 101.8 points.

“We can play better,” Trotz said. “But we’re not playing horrible. We’ve been in a position where we’ve played well for long stretches [but] just haven’t gotten the result, and that’s that puck. But if you just stay with it long enough, you’ll get the results. I’m a big believer in that.”

Following practice, the team flew to St. Louis for Thursday’s game against the reigning Stanley Cup champion Blues. Michael Dal Colle and Andy Greene were scheduled to make the trip and be reevaluated Thursday, according to Trotz. Cal Clutterbuck also will make the trip. The only players not going are Casey Cizikas and Adam Pelech.

Notes & quotes: Trotz had high praise for Jean-Gabriel Pageau, who scored a goal, won 10 of 14 faceoffs in 12:07, and fought Jacob Trouba after Trouba’s devastating open-ice hit on Dal Colle. “He’s a hockey player, first and foremost,” Trotz said. “There’s not more you can ask. His play and his actions in the game says all you need to know about Pager.” . . . The players’ fathers will make the trip to St. Louis. “They’re in there already,” Jordan Eberle said. “They feel like they’re a part of it, so it’s great.”

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 02.27.2020 1178785 New York Rangers

Rangers returning to scene of miracle with way more at stake

By Brett Cyrgalis February 26, 2020 | 11:06PM

The last time the Rangers went to Montreal, they did so with a 9-9-2 record, coming off a stinker in Ottawa and quickly dug themselves a 4-0 deficit.

Thursday, they will take the ice at Bell Centre as winners of eight of their past nine and suddenly just four points out of the final playoff spot, having pinpointed that Nov. 23 game against the Canadiens as the turning point in their season.

The Rangers ended up winning that -5 in a wild comeback, but it wasn’t just the result that still resonates with the team three months later.

“I think what happened in that game is there was a belief in each other,” coach David Quinn said Wednesday after a brief optional practice. “I just vividly remember being down 3-0 going into the second period, but we had played well. Just the feeling in the locker room, it felt different. Guys believed. … Then you get down 4-0 and you think all the walls are going to cave in and there’s going to be a little bit of a quit, but it never felt that way on the bench.

“I think that was really what we all allude to when we talk about the turning point — not only the fact that we won the game, but the internal belief in each other. You can’t have success if you don’t have that. We have it.”

That showed through again Tuesday night when the Rangers came out of the trade deadline by pulling out a 4-3 overtime win against the Islanders at the Coliseum even after blowing a 3-1 third-period lead. They got key goals from their top players — Mika Zibanejad netted the winner on a pass from Artemi Panarin, who scored earlier in the night — but also got clutch contributions from the rest of their lineup. The third line (Brett Howden) and fourth line (Greg McKegg) chipped in goals, the rookie defensive pair of Adam Fox and Ryan Lindgren continued to thrive and Alexandar Georgiev stood tall in net.

“We haven’t had passengers,” Quinn said.

That depth will need to continue to show up down the stretch if the Rangers are to keep their playoff hopes alive. After the Canadiens, the Rangers will have another chance to make a dent in the standings with games against the Flyers (seven points ahead) on Friday and Sunday.

The time has come for scoreboard-watching with 20 games left, a long way from where the Rangers stood when they last arrived in Montreal.

“I know we had a lot of question marks before the season started,” Quinn said. “How was Fox going to be? How was Lindgren going to be? Was [Filip] Chytil going to make a jump? How good was [Kaapo] Kakko going to be? How was Brett going to fit in? How was [Jacob] Trouba going to fit in? Was Mika going to continue to move forward? How good was [Chris] Kreider going to be? How was he going to handle — there was a lot of question marks from our end of it. Luckily for us, they all worked out in a positive manner.”

One question now remains. Making the playoffs was never the end-all, be-all for this year’s team, but now that they’re in the race, can they actually pull it off?

“It’s hard not to look at the standings, but you try not to,” said Brendan Lemieux, who scored two goals in that comeback win over the Canadiens. “We’re close and we can smell it and we want to be there. But the only thing we can control is just playing good hockey and worrying about two points every time we get the chance. That’s what we’ve been doing.”

New York Post LOADED: 02.27.2020 1178786 New York Rangers

Rangers defend Jacob Trouba’s crushing hit against Islanders

By Greg Joyce February 26, 2020 | 7:36PM

Jacob Trouba’s hit on Islanders winger Michael Dal Colle on Tuesday night was as bone-crushing as they come, but all within the rules, according to Rangers coach David Quinn.

Dal Colle had his head down to corral a pass just inside his own blue line early in the third period when Trouba came in and leveled him with a shoulder. Dal Colle’s face and chest bore the brunt of the hit and forced him to miss the rest of the Rangers’ 4-3 overtime win.

“I think it’s a hell of a hockey hit and it’s a clean hit,” Quinn said Wednesday. “If you watch what [Trouba] does, he actually pulls his shoulder in tight to his body. It literally is a textbook check. It’s unfortunate that maybe the head is a little bit impacted by it, but it’s a textbook check.”

Islanders coach Barry Trotz saw it differently after the game, calling it “a headshot’ upon initial glance. The league seemed to agree with Quinn, though, as Wednesday came and went without any discipline handed out to Trouba.

Dal Colle, meanwhile, was termed day-to-day by the Islanders, though he was set to make the trip to St. Louis with the team, Trotz told reporters.

Trouba’s huge hit was only part of what had Quinn gushing about his play, saying it might have been his best game as a Ranger. It was also Trouba’s first without Brady Skjei, his childhood friend and former partner on the blue line before Skjei was traded to the Hurricanes on Monday.

“I actually called Troubs the night of the trade and talked a little bit about the impact,” Quinn said. “Obviously Troubs is affected by it personally, but wasn’t affected by it professionally [Tuesday] night.”

Trouba, who turned 26 Wednesday, is now partnered with Brendan Smith.

Pavel Buchnevich practiced Wednesday for the first time since he and goalie Igor Shesterkin were involved in a car crash Sunday night in Brooklyn. While Shesterkin sustained a non-displaced rib fracture, Buchnevich was mostly just shaken up and missed Tuesday’s game because of it.

Buchnevich’s status for Thursday’s game against the Canadiens was to be determined, but he made the trip with the team.

“I think the shock of what happened is starting to wear off,” Quinn said. “He’s certainly back to [himself] today.”

Coming off a 42-save performance against the Islanders, Alexandar Georgiev will be back in net Thursday. Quinn had been riding Shesterkin before he was injured, but declined to say whether he would do the same with Georgiev or give Henrik Lundqvist an occasional start, like in the second half of the back-to-back Friday against the Flyers.

“It’s game-to-game,” Quinn said, “especially with this many games in a short period of time.”

New York Post LOADED: 02.27.2020 1178787 New York Rangers The Skjei trade indicated that the Rangers would like to keep restricted free agent Tony DeAngelo, who’s likely to ask for something around $5 million, if not more. It’ll be very interesting to see what the Rangers counter with and where they ultimately land. Crunching the numbers: Examining the NY Rangers' salary cap after the trade deadline Ryan Strome, another restricted free agent, will probably seek a similar dollar amount coming off a career year.

If the Rangers devote $9 million to $10 million to DeAngelo and Strome, Vincent Z. Mercogliano, NHL Writer Published 3:24 p.m. ET Feb. 26, they’d be left with an 18-man roster and $5 million or $6 million in cap 2020 | Updated 7:32 p.m. ET Feb. 26, 2020 space.

Brendan Lemieux is another RFA and Jesper Fast is an unrestricted free agent. Both will command lesser salaries than DeAngelo and Strome, so The New York Rangers made two big decisions prior to the NHL trade perhaps the Rangers feel they can squeeze them all in. deadline on Monday, agreeing to a seven-year, $45.5 million extension with forward Chris Kreider and trading defenseman Brady Skjei to the They could also hunt for bargains on the free-agent market or look to Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for a 2020 first-round pick. promote cheaper players from within. And they’ll have the option of saving $1.075 million if they send Smith to the AHL, although they’d have Both of those moves have major implications, not only for this season, to replace him with a young defenseman making somewhere in the range but in shaping the Rangers' roster in seasons to come. of $825,000 to $925,000. The $5.25 million the Rangers were going to owe Skjei for each of the There are many other variables, like possible trades or if players like next four seasons is now cleared off their books. At the same time, 2018 first-round picks K’Andre Miller or Nils Lundkvist sign their entry- they've committed $6.5 million per season to Kreider. level contracts. The Rangers could also buyout a veteran like Staal, These decisions will dictate how much salary cap space general which would save $2.133 million, or Smith, which would save $1.567 manager Jeff Gorton and team president John Davidson have this million. offseason — and beyond — as they attempt to assemble a But given the current makeup of the roster, a rough projection of 2020-21 championship-caliber team. roster could like something like… The current cap of $81.5 million is expect to rise by $1 million or $2 Forwards million next season. It's harder to predict for 2021-22, but here's an updated look at where the Rangers stand financially and some of the First line → Kreider (LW) – Zibanejad (C) – Buchnevich (RW) possibilities they'll be considering in the next year or two... Second line → Panarin (LW) – Strome (C) – Kakko (RW) 2020-21 season Third line → Kravtsov (LW) – Chytil (C) – Gauthier (RW) Players under contract Fourth line → Lemieux (LW) – Howden (C) – Fast/Tim Gettinger (RW) Forwards (8): Artemi Panarin ($11.643 million); Chris Kreider ($6.5 million); Mika Zibanejad ($5.35 million); Pavel Buchnevich ($3.25 million); Defense Kaapo Kakko ($925,000); Filip Chytil ($894,166); Brett Howden First pair → Lindgren (L) and Fox (R) ($863,333); Julien Gauthier ($863,333) Second pair → Smith/Libor Hájek/Yegor Rykov/Miller (L) and Trouba (R) Defense (5): Jacob Trouba ($8 million); Marc Staal ($5.7 million); Brendan Smith ($4.35 million); Adam Fox ($925,000); Ryan Lindgren Third pair → Staal (L) and DeAngelo (R) ($925,000) Goalies Goalies (2): Henrik Lundqvist ($8.5 million); Igor Shesterkin ($925,000) Starter → Shesterkin Total cap hit: $67,108,133 (including $7.494 million in buyout penalties; $6.083 million from Kevin Shattenkirk) Backup → Lundqvist

Breaking it down: If cap is $82.5 million, the Rangers would be left with 2021-22 season $15,391,867 in space. If it’s $83.5 million, they would have $16,391,867 Players under contract to play with. Forwards (5): Panarin ($11.643 million); Kreider ($6.5 million); Zibanejad They could add 2018 first-round pick Vitali Kravtsov for $925,000, and ($5.35 million); Kakko ($925,000); Kravtsov ($925,000) he’ll certainly have a chance to make the team out of training camp. If it’s not Kravtsov, they’ll need at least one or two sub-$1 million players from Defense (2): Trouba ($8 million); Fox ($925,000) the system to round out the roster. Goalies (0) That would give them 16 players, with roughly between $14.5 million and $15.5 million to spend filling out the roster. Total cap hit: $36,812,301 (including $2.544 million in buyout penalties)

Hartford Wolf Pack's Vitali Kravtsov practicing with his team at the Breaking it down: It's silly to project what the roster will look like two Champion Skating Center in Cromwell, CT Jan. 22, 2020. The Wolf Pack years from now because the Rangers only have seven sure-fire NHL are the New York Rangers' minor-league affiliate in the American Hockey players under contract. (Assuming Kravtsov has established himself by League. then.)

One of the big questions is what they do with the goalies. Odds are they Consider this the season of possibilities. Big contracts for Lundqvist, find a trade partner for Alexandar Georgiev prior to the draft, but Staal and Smith will have expired, and the major buyout penalties they'll Lundqvist has gone on the record now saying he plans to have an have to endure in 2020-21 will be reduced to a little over $2.5 million. offseason conversation with management about his role. (Unless they buy someone else out between now and then.)

It’s possible Gorton and Davidson want to keep Georgiev and move on One of the top priorities will be locking up Shesterkin, and there are from Lundqvist to free up more money. But the buyout option is far from countless other young players they'll have to decide if they want to hold ideal, with Lundqvist still taking up $5.5 million in cap space next season on to — Buchnevich, Chytil, Lindgren, Howden, Gauthier, etc. Plus, if they go that route. It would only save $3 million, and they’d have to give players like Zibanejad, Kakko and Fox will be due for raises. But coming at least half of that to Georgiev. from a much tighter cap situation this season and in 2020-21, this should be a welcome reprieve. If they stick with the 15-man roster above — including Lundqvist, plus Kravtsov to make 16 — the next question is how will they fill the final The Rangers are already on the verge of contending, at least as far as a four-to-seven spots with approximately $15 million to play with? playoff spot is concerned. Next season should be another step in that direction, with 2021-22 season representing the time when the roster should be fully-molded based on the long-term vision.

Bergen Record LOADED: 02.27.2020 1178788 New York Rangers

Rangers' belief system a result of comeback win in Montreal

By Anthony Rieber

GREENBURGH, N.Y. — The Rangers on Thursday return to Montreal, the scene of one of their biggest wins of the season.

It was Nov. 23, and the Rangers came back from a 4-0 second-period deficit to beat the Canadiens, 6-5.

Considering the state of the Rangers today — playing well and making a bid for a playoff spot — it’s no wonder the phrase “turning point” was thrown around a bunch after Wednesday’s optional practice.

“It was definitely a turning point in the season,” said Brendan Lemieux, whose shorthanded goal tied the game at 5. “We were on the borderline of playing some good hockey and we were starting to show some resilience and then we were able to stay in a game we maybe shouldn’t have. It was a come-from-behind win and it was just a turning point for our group where we realized that no matter the score we’re still in the game and we have the skill and ability to play with, sort of, the best teams in the league.”

Coach David Quinn had just dressed down the team for a 4-1 loss at Ottawa the night before when the Rangers fell behind against Montreal. But Quinn said Wednesday the Montreal game just didn’t have the same bad feel.

“I think we were down 3-0 going to the second period, but played well,” Quinn said. “Just the feeling in the locker room — just felt different. I think guys believed that even throughout that first period that we continued to play well. And then to get down 4-0 and you think all the walls are going to cave in . . . It never felt that way on the bench. I think that was really what we all allude to when we talked about the turning point. Not only the fact that we won the game, but the internal belief in each other. You can’t have success if you don’t have that. We have it.”

And that is what the Rangers were hoping they had built with their roster. But they weren’t sure until Nov. 23 happened.

“I think what happened in that game was a belief in each other,” Quinn said. “I’ve touched on this quite a bit on how we have so many new faces and there was so much uncertainty throughout our roster of what was going to take place this season . . . I think as the season was starting to evolve, I think there became belief in each other. Guys would sit in the locker room [and say], ‘He’s pretty good.’ Or, ‘He’s better than I thought he was going to be.’ And I think there became some internal belief inside the locker room, and that’s where you really get a team concept.”

Notes & quotes: Pavel Buchnevich returned to the ice for the first time since getting injured along with goalie Igor Shesterkin in a car accident in Brooklyn on Sunday. Buchnevich will make the road trip. “The fact that he’s out there moving around is a good sign,” Quinn said. “I think the shock of what happened is starting to wear off.” . . . Alexandar Georgiev will start in goal on Thursday. Quinn did not say if Georgiev or backup Henrik Lundqvist will start on Friday in Philadelphia. “It’s game-to-game,” Quinn said. “Especially with this many games in a short period of time.”

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 02.27.2020 1178789 NHL Wescott moved to the San Francisco area for two decades, then came to Seattle in 2016 to take over monorail maintenance operations. He oversees all aspects of keeping the trains running.

Jay Wescott keeps Seattle’s monorail running. He also earned a tryout When he first began here, KeyArena seemed only an NHL afterthought. for the ‘Miracle on Ice’ 1980 US Olympic hockey team. But before long, it soon became apparent KeyArena would be the city’s future NHL and NBA venue and that the monorail would play an important role.

By Geoff Baker At Tuesday’s media gathering, transit officials trumpeted the monorail as a vital final connection to get fans to the area — and an upcoming

Northgate Mall practice facility — from various Link Light Rail lines. NHL Four decades of hockey history have bookended unexpectedly this week Seattle will build a transit pass into game tickets — becoming the for Seattle Monorail maintenance director Jay Wescott. country’s third pro sports franchise to do that — so fans can travel to the venue for free. On Tuesday, Wescott, 62, and his colleagues stood on a monorail platform watching NHL Seattle and city officials extol a transportation At one point, NHL Seattle CEO Tod Leiweke paused and pointed out mode they describe as vital in getting hockey fans to and from a rebuilt Wescott in the crowd, saluting his work keeping the monorail running KeyArena come October 2021. before alluding to his hockey past — to much applause.

Seeing the NHL come here has Wescott reflecting on his previous “So, you’ve heard about the emergency goalie,” Leiweke said, drawing lifetime as a Clarkson University defenseman — one whom coach Herb laughter in referring to the Carolina Hurricanes pulling former Zamboni Brooks invited to try out for the fabled “Miracle on Ice” 1980 U.S. Olympic driver Dave Ayres, 42, from the stands last weekend to play against the team. Toronto Maple Leafs. “Jay, we’ll talk.’’

Wescott was in a tough East Coast regional tryout camp with guys like Wescott isn’t ready to don any pads in an NHL game. But he’s eager to Jack O’Callahan and Dave Silk, who later became household names 40 play a role, however small, in reviving pro hockey here. years ago this week when the U.S. defeated Finland — having previously “I think it’s exciting to be the connection for a lot of things — to get people stunned the Soviet Union — in Lake Placid to claim the most improbable out here to Seattle Center and then downtown, eventually to the East Winter Olympics gold medal ever. Lake Placid native Wescott, whose Side,” he said. “It’s exciting, but then what they (NHL Seattle) are doing father was director of off-ice officials at the rink where the games took over there with hockey is just great, too. So, whatever we can do to help.” place, settled for watching from the stands after being cut late from the regional tryout. Seattle Times LOADED: 02.27.2020

“I wish I could say that Herb made a mistake,” Wescott said with a chuckle about Brooks, the legendary coach played by Kurt Russell in the movie “Miracle’’ about the 1980 triumph. “I tried out in Boston and I made it through two rounds (of cuts) but I did not make it to Colorado, which is where the final round took place.”

Wescott already knew Silk and O’Callahan, as well as well as the team’s two most-famed members, scoring hero Mike Eruzione and goaltender Jim Craig.

“I played against those guys every year I was at Clarkson,” he said.

But he insists there are no “it could have been me” moments or regrets about his limited taste of hockey history.

“No, not really,” he said. “I think Herb (Brooks) knew exactly what he was looking for. And I was at the games and it was neat. It was an incredible atmosphere. That (Soviet) game, it was only a 10,000-seat facility and it felt like a 100,000-seat facility.”

Wescott was fortunate he got to see the Soviet game in person. He didn’t have a ticket but was lurking near the entrance gate when he saw the security guards excitedly clamoring around then-Buffalo Sabres coach and general manager Scotty Bowman and his entourage.

“I walked right up just as they were letting him through, took his arm and said, ‘Hey, Scotty, how’re ya doing?’ ” Wescott said. “He gives me this look, like, ‘Do I know you?’ But we were already through. I watched the entire game standing in the mezzanine level.”

Wescott notched 29 goals and 106 points over four seasons at Clarkson from 1975 to 1979 — making him one of the school’s top-five scoring defensemen of all-time — under coaching great Jerry York, the NCAA Division I active career wins leader and current men’s hockey coach at Boston College.

Wescott was offered a chance to practice with the Kings’ minor-league Houston Apollos affiliate in the Central Hockey League. But after a few months, Wescott, an undersized 5-foot-9, 160-pounder in an era when CHL players literally fought their way up the ranks, figured he’d be better off using his newly acquired business degree.

He got a job working for the regional development authority tasked with finding uses for the Lake Placid arena and other Winter Olympics facilities.

“We actually did another USA-Russia game that sold out again,” Wescott said. “We did amazing things there with the ski areas, the bobsled and the luge as well.” 1178790 Ottawa Senators

GAME DAY: Vancouver Canucks at Ottawa Senators

Bruce Garrioch

February 26, 2020 5:51 PM EST

THE BIG MATCHUP

Thomas Chabot vs. Elias Pettersson

The Senators defenceman has been a busy man since returning to the lineup Monday against the Jackets, playing two games with 32-plus minutes in ice time. He played only 4:20 against Montreal last weekend, leaving the game as a result of a hit from Brendan Gallagher in the first period. Chabot has his work cut out for him in this one because Pettersson has four goals and six points in three career games against Ottawa. Shutting Pettersson down is pivotal for the Senators in this one.

FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME

1. Start Marcus Hogberg

At some point, he’s going to get sent back to the club’s AHL affiliate in Belleville because he’s an emergency recall and when Anders Nilsson is ready to go Hogberg will have to go back to the AHL. This is a good opportunity for Hogberg to get some NHL experience and, perhaps, coach D.J. Smith will just play musical goalies down the stretch with the netminders alternating the rest of the way.

2. Step up as the top centre

The decision to trade Jean-Gabriel Pageau to the Islanders has rocketed Chris Tierney up the depth chart to the No. 1 spot. He’s going to get plenty of ice time, especially with Colin White injured, and, as a result, Tierney has to chip in offensively. He had a tremendous chance with a shorthanded breakaway against the Predators and missed the net. The Senators need those ones.

3. Stay out of the box

The Senators gave up two power-play goals against the Predators and their penalty killing has been slipping. Of course, moving Pageau and Vladislav Namestnikov means the club is down a couple of guys who killed penalties and Vancouver’s power play is lethal. The Senators have to have more disciplined and they need to avoid the too many men on the ice penalties because they’ve got 15 this season.

4. Don’t forget Tyler Toffoli

The Canucks were aggressive at the deadline by acquiring former 67’s forward Tyler Toffoli from the Los Angeles Kings as a rental. He has 21 goals and 39 points in 62 games this season and is expected to make an impact by providing more offence to help Vancouver down the stretch. This is a pivotal two points for the Canucks.

5. Welcome back Gord Wilson

The legendary TSN 1200 colour analyst is expected to be back where he belongs in the broadcast booth with Dean Brown doing the play-by-play Thursday night. Wilson, who hasn’t missed many in his career since he started working the Senators broadcasts on Day 1 in 1992, had a heart issue and had stents put in. He’s been recovering at home and he’ll be welcomed back with open arms.

Ottawa Sun LOADED: 02.27.2020 1178791 Ottawa Senators “You saw the character, you saw how he plays and the smarts and all that. He’s going to be impactful for us and I’m glad he’s on our side.”

For Trotz to call the picks “nothing” is pretty rich because people around SNAPSHOTS: The Ottawa Senators are determined to compete until the the league will tell you that general manager Pierre Dorion getting three final buzzer picks, including a first- and second-rounder in 2020, was a high price for the Isles to pay.

Pageau started a fight with New York’s Jacob Trouba after he delivered a Bruce Garrioch huge bodycheck on Michael Dal Colle. The fans were even singing “Pageau, Pageau, Pageau” after he scored. February 26, 2020 5:50 PM EST “It’s a warm welcome and I really appreciate it,” Pageau said. “The

organization, the team, all the players here made me feel comfortable, All D.J. Smith wants down the stretch is for the Ottawa Senators to fight really made me feel like I was part of the family. Just to add to that, the to the finish. fans did the same thing. I feel very lucky to be here.”

The Senators will return home Thursday night to face the Vancouver THE LAST WORDS Canucks at the Canadian Tire Centre coming off back-to-back losses on The Senators sent centre Filip Chlapik back to their AHL affiliate in the road in Columbus Monday and Nashville Tuesday, but the club’s Belleville on Wednesday. Unless winger Anthony Duclair or centre Colin head coach has no complaints about the effort. White are ready to return against the Canucks, then the Senators will The Senators lost 3-2 to the Predators and 4-3 in overtime in Columbus have to recall a forward Thursday morning. The Senators plan to give after forwards Jean-Gabriel Pageau (Islanders), Vladislav Namestnikov their young players some NHL experience down the stretch. Duclair and (Avalanche) and Tyler Ennis (Oilers) were dealt at the NHL trade White weren’t in the lineup Tuesday after getting injured Monday in deadline. The club acquired Matthew Peca from Montreal to finish the Columbus. … The Senators Foundation will hold its annual telethon season and brought up Rudolfs Balcers from its AHL affiliate in Belleville. during Thursday’s visit by the Canucks to raise funds for children and youth programs in the area. The telethon will get underway at 6:30 p.m. “We played really hard,” Smith told reporters in Nashville on Tuesday on TSN5 with Tessa Bonhomme, Brent Wallace, Ian Mendes and night. “Five-on-five we played really hard, our penalty kill gave up (two) Christie Bezaire, a foundation board member, a former TV reporter and goals. We played really hard. We finished checks, we had all kinds of Smith’s wife acting as the hosts. Mitel will double all donations made up chances and their goalie (Juuse Saros) kept them out.” to $25,000.

LEANING ON CHABOT

With Mark Borowiecki injured, Dylan DeMelo dealt to the Winnipeg Jets Ottawa Sun LOADED: 02.27.2020 before the deadline and Cody Goloubef picked up on waivers, the Senators limited the ice time for Belleville callups Andreas Englund and Christian Jaros against the Predators. Jaros played 7:08 and Englund was at 7:45.

Smith admitted he’s going to lean heavily on Chabot, who played 32:36 in Nashville and 32:46 in Columbus, the rest of the way.

“Especially when you’re down a goal and you’re trying to tie the game up,” Smith said. “He was the best player on the ice for both teams. He played 32 minutes, he had the puck the whole night, had shots, he was dangerous all over the place and he scored. He’s a world-class player and he’s going to be one of the big reasons of why we start to win games in the future and be a team that can turn the corner.”

Those were pretty big numbers for Chabot.

“I get a lot of ice time and I try to take advantage of that,” said Chabot. “We lost some big leadership in the trade deadline so it’s our job. We always talk about the rebuild, but I think it’s our job as young guys to kind of step it up and make the other players follow us. I think the last two games we’ve done that right.

“It’s a long season, it’s going to be a long process. We’ve got to be patient, but any night we’re going out there we want to win. There’s not one night we’re going to go out and be happy with a loss. We’re competitors, we want to win the games and we’re going to compete.”

A STRONG START

Naturally, the Islanders were thrilled with Pageau in his debut in the club’s 4-3 loss to the cross-town rival New York Rangers on Tuesday night in Uniondale.

Pageau scored his 25th goal of the season, plus he dropped the gloves to come to the defence of a teammate in the second period. Not bad for a guy acquired only 24 hours earlier and then signed to a six-year, $30- million extension before he even put on the uniform.

Coach Barry Trotz told reporters at the Naasau County Coliseum that Pageau was “as advertised” and he’s going to help the club down the road.

“Here’s a player that we wanted him, we’ve got him for the next six years, he’s impactful and you can see how he changes our team in so many ways,” said Trotz. “You saw how he stepped up. What a great pickup by (GM) Lou (Lamoriello). The picks are nothing; I can tell you that because a lot of picks never play. You have a solid guy and he fits right in. 1178792 Ottawa Senators

Top prospect Erik Brannstrom sidelined with wrist injury in Belleville

Bruce Garrioch

February 26, 2020 4:26 PM EST

The road to the playoffs has become a bit more difficult for the Belleville Senators.

Coach Troy Mann told TSN 1200 on his weekly radio hit Wednesday that defenceman Erik Brannstrom, the club’s top prospect in the AHL, is sidelined with a wrist injury and is now listed as day-to-day. Brannstrom had been getting ready to face the Laval Rocket Wednesday night at home.

At this point, he may play Friday on the road in Cleveland, but the Senators are planning to rely on Christian Wolanin to play a big role in Brannstrom’s absence.

“We’ve got a couple of defencemen that are bit banged up and he jammed his wrist last week and we just felt that with nine (blueliners) here we’d give him a couple of extra days rest,” said Mann. “That’s one of the luxuries we have, especially with Wolanin down here to anchor that first power play, that we can give (Brannstrom) the extra day and then go back at it Friday in Cleveland.”

Brannstrom has three goals and 23 points in 27 games with Belleville this season. He suited up for 31 games with Ottawa before being sent down in early December.

Ottawa Sun LOADED: 02.27.2020 1178793 Ottawa Senators been troublesome. Today, I just kind of turned my mind off in the afternoon and got ready to play and it was very refreshing.”

Ryan said he wasn’t nervous by the time the game arrived because he Bobby Ryan suits up at the Canadian Tire Centre for the first time in was finally back where he’s most comfortable on the ice and you get the three months sense that’s the way it will be in his return to Ottawa.

“I was trying to take in a little more and I did that,” Ryan said. “The nerves kind of ratcheted up before as I was getting ready, more so than out on Bruce Garrioch the ice, because once you get out there it’s not hard to get back to work.”

February 26, 2020 4:16 PM EST

Ottawa Sun LOADED: 02.27.2020 This won’t be just another night or another game for Bobby Ryan.

In some ways, this will be a homecoming.

The Ottawa Senators’ winger made his return to the lineup Tuesday night against the Nashville Predators for the first time since he entered the NHL’s Players Assistance program to get help for alcoholism in late- November.

As the Senators open this two-game home stand against the Vancouver Canucks at the Canadian Tire Centre, the 32-year-old Ryan will get the opportunity to skate in front of Ottawa fans for this time since he went public with the reason he left the team Friday. He’s thrilled to be back playing after missing 42 games while entered in the program.

“It was really good and really nice to be back in competition mode,” Ryan told reporters in Nashville following the loss. “I can’t remember the nerves on a game day like this in a long, long time. That’s a good sign and a good feeling again. A win would have been really nice but there was some highs and lows in the game and the energy kind of dipped at points because of the time off.

“I kind of expected that but it was good to be back.”

Ryan played 15:38 against Nashville and had four shots on net with a couple of terrific opportunities. He saw power play time and is the club’s most experienced forward. Nobody is very worried about what Ryan accomplishes on the ice right now, they’re just happy he’s got help and he’s back. Performance expectations can be talked about later on.

“I thought he looked great,” Smith said. “He made a lot of plays, he was smart, he took short shifts, he had chances, had a breakaway but, just for him personally, after all he’s been through and it’s been public. It’s hard not to feel for him and be excited for him and his teammates were certainly very happy to see him out there.”

There was no need for Smith to take Ryan aside before the game to talk about the approach he might take as he makes his return. Ryan has been around a long time, he’s a professional and getting back into the swing of things is going to be a process. That’s just the reality.

“I let him do his thing. He played a lot of games in this league and he’s a really good pro,” said Smith. “He worked really hard to get to this point, he trained hard and you could see he looked quicker and his hands were good and he provided some spark for us. He was good.”

Ryan left the team on Nov. 19 in Detroit after entering the program and returned to Ottawa on Dec. 23. He spent a lot of time skating on his own before he was allowed to begin practising with his teammates again. The process hasn’t been easy, but he’s appreciated all the support he’s gotten from his wife Danielle, along with the Senators organization on the road to his return to the lineup.

Those days skating alone weren’t easy.

“For the first amount of time I came back it was very isolating and almost made it harder I was so isolated,” Ryan said. “You have to go through the protocol and I did that. As I got integrated things got easier and today was one of the best days I’ve had because there’s an end-game in sight and that’s a hockey game at night. Days like this come naturally when you’ve played so many and it was very nice to be familiar.

Since the game in Nashville was the second in a back-to-back after a 4-3 overtime loss Monday in Columbus, Ryan went for a skate in the morning at Bridgestone Arena because he wanted to get back into the routine of playing a game.

“I requested to skate by myself (Tuesday morning) so that was nice and it kind of killed some time,” Ryan said. “I wanted it to feel like as much of a normal game day as possible and the amount of down time for me has 1178794 Philadelphia Flyers Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 02.27.2020

Surging Flyers’ newcomers getting acclimated; New York Rangers offer next challenge

by Sam Carchidi

Derek Grant and Nate Thompson didn’t make splashy debuts with their new team Tuesday, but considering the circumstances, the veteran centers held their own and should get better as they get acclimated to their linemates and Alain Vigneault’s system.

“For the most part, I thought both players showed smarts to their game,” Vigneault said after the Flyers defeated visiting San Jose, 4-2, for their fourth straight win. “And I thought they got better and more comfortable as the game went on.”

Grant centered the third line, with James van Riemsdyk and Tyler Pitlick as his wingers, and Thompson centered Michael Raffl and Nic Aube- Kubel on the fourth line. Both newcomers played about 12½ minutes, including shifts on the penalty kill.

For Grant, it was a particularly long travel day, which contributed to an expected slow start Tuesday. He took a red-eye flight from California and arrived in Philadelphia early in the morning before heading to the Wells Fargo Center for video sessions and the morning skate.

“He flew all night. I knew he would be looking for his legs a little bit,” said Vigneault, whose surging team will host the streaking New York Rangers on Friday.

Despite not getting much sleep, Grant, 29, contributed three hits and won six of 10 faceoffs in the Flyers’ win.

“You’re running on adrenaline and nervous excitement to start,” he said. “I started to settle in as the game went on. It’s always nice to get the first one over with.”

Grant said you’re “gripping your stick a little bit, obviously, in your first game” and “thinking a little bit more than normal. A little bit of different systems and stuff and playing with new guys. But usually it takes a couple practices and you start feeling better. I’m just excited for the opportunity.”

Thompson, 35, echoed Grant’s sentiments. He, too, had a sluggish start but got into a rhythm as the game progressed. He contributed a blocked shot, a takeaway, and two hits, winning 2 of 5 faceoffs. He played 1 minute, 26 seconds on a penalty-killing unit that was 2-for-2.

“I kind of had a rough first period, just kind of getting my timing and getting some chemistry with my linemates and the team,” he said. “I felt as the game went on, we got better and better.”

Thompson and Grant were happy to be traded from non-playoff teams to a contender.

“It’s a great group of guys,” Thompson said of his early impression of his new teammates. “Seems like they are having a lot of fun, so it’s fun to be a part of it. We just need to keep it going.”

Up next: Rangers

The Flyers (36-20-7) will play a home-and-home series with the Rangers (34-24-4) on Friday and Sunday. The Blueshirts have won a franchise- record eight straight road games; overall, they have won four in a row.

The Rangers, who dropped a 5-1 decision in Philadelphia on Dec. 23, will play at Montreal on Thursday.

Breakaways

Travis Konecny has nine points during the Flyers’ four-game winning streak. In that stretch, he had a trio of three-point games. … In his last 14 games, defenseman Matt Niskanen has 13 points and a plus-10 rating. … Former Ranger Kevin Hayes has four goals over his last four games. He has 21 goals, four shy of equaling his career high. … Carter Hart is 17-2-2 at the Wells Fargo Center with a 1.65 GAA and .941 save percentage. He has the lowest goals-against average at home among goalies with at least 20 such appearances, according to the NHL. 1178795 Philadelphia Flyers

Flyers rookie Nic Aube-Kubel continues to prove himself

by Erin McCarthy

Nic Aube-Kubel hadn’t been on the power play in a while. Tuesday night, he wanted to make the most of the opportunity. His hunger paid off — and fast.

With the Flyers having a man advantage less than two minutes into the game, James van Riemsdyk got a rebound and passed to Aube-Kubel, and the rookie sent the puck flying past San Jose goalie Aaron Dell.

What did Aube-Kubel see in that moment?

“I didn’t see much," he said. “JVR just set me up."

The goal, Aube-Kubel’s sixth of the season, punctuated a particularly strong recent stretch for the fourth-liner, who has outlasted fellow rookies Joel Farabee and Morgan Frost. Those two have been demoted to the Phantoms despite making solid impressions in the big leagues earlier this season.

In fact, when Aube-Kubel found the back of the net in Tuesday’s 4-2 win over the foundering Sharks, he was taking Farabee’s spot on the second power-play unit. The 20-year-old Farabee was sent down to the AHL on Monday to make room for the Flyers’ two trade-deadline acquisitions: Derek Grant and Nate Thompson, who centered Aube-Kubel’s line on Tuesday.

“I really like playing with him," Aube-Kubel said of Thompson. "He’s really good defensively in the faceoff circle. He’s going to help our team.”

Aube-Kubel certainly knows how to contribute as a newcomer.

A second-round pick in 2014, he was recalled from the Phantoms in December. A week later, he headed into the league’s Christmas break with his first NHL goal, which came on a power play in the final minutes of a game against the Rangers and was met by the cheers of a home crowd.

In recent weeks, as the playoff hunt intensified, the 23-year-old winger has shown why he deserves to be here. He accomplished a “Gordie Howe hat trick” — a goal, an assist, and a fight — on the road against Washington earlier this month. Last week in Columbus, he logged another critical score, which propelled a Flyers comeback and set the tone for the visiting team’s 4-3 overtime win.

In the locker room Tuesday, Aube-Kubel spoke of patience, of waiting for his NHL shot and the opportunities that came after that. Opportunities to make an impact on power plays and in other key moments, to celebrate goals, and also to make less glamorous plays. He wore an ice pack on his ankle from a blocked shot.

Through his NHL journey so far, he said, he’s been encouraged by his teammates. He’s confident they’ll bring Grant and Thompson into the fold in the same way.

“It’s easy to come in this team and have a lot of friends," he said. “The guys are nice. They were nice to me when I got called up, and for sure they’re going to be nice to them. They fit well on the team so far.”

Others have noticed the team’s cohesiveness, too, and how that’s translated to on-ice success.

“It’s good that we have depth in all four lines,” goalie Carter Hart said. “We’re going to need everybody down the stretch.”

Aube-Kubel will be ready.

Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 02.27.2020 1178796 Philadelphia Flyers

One Flyer was reportedly a hot trade target, but Chuck Fletcher shut it down

By Adam Hermann

February 26, 2020 2:53 PM

The suddenly-ascendant Flyers pieced together a somewhat busy trade deadline, acquiring a pair of depth forwards in Derek Grant and Nate Thompson to pad a playoff run, but things could've been much busier if rival executives had their way Monday.

One young Flyers player not named Shayne Gostisbehere was attracting a lot of attention as general managers circled the wagons before the deadline, according to a report from Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

That player? Scott Laughton:

Another player I heard a lot of teams liked: Philadelphia’s Scott Laughton.

'Chuck (Fletcher) couldn’t hang up fast enough,' another exec joked.

That's a great quote. I can see Fletcher laughing to himself, and quietly hitting "end call," when Laughton's name came up.

And it makes plenty of sense for Fletcher to shut down Laughton talks, on two fronts — both of which should excite Flyers fans.

For one, Fletcher avoiding temptation at the deadline means he has his eyes on the postseason prize. The Flyers, after Tuesday night's win (see story), are just five points behind Metro-leading Washington, with 19 games left before the playoffs. It would take a serious meltdown to miss the postseason, and it seems Fletcher feels like the Flyers can make noise in April (and May, and maybe even June?) so he stood pat.

Also, and this is probably a little more obvious: Laughton has turned into a young, sought-after talent in the eyes of league execs this season.

It's no secret that the 2019-20 season has been the best of Laughton's young career. He's already tied his career high in goals with 12, he's averaging a point every two games, and he's just 25 years old. The hard- nosed 2012 first-round pick is officially coming into his own this year, and he's still under contract through the end of the 2020-21 season. Really, it's an ideal development for the Flyers.

Is Laughton currently the kind of player who defines your team? Not just yet.

But he's become the kind of player other teams want, which is always a good sign.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 02.27.2020 1178797 Pittsburgh Penguins

Minor league report: Penguins fall to Bruins, 6-2

SETH RORABAUGH

Thursday, February 27, 2020 12:13 a.m.

Forwards Riley Barber and Sam Miletic each had a goal and an assist for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in a 6-2 home loss to the Providence Bruins at Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday.

Barber, a native of Washington, Pa., scored his first goal for the Penguins (27-22-3-5) since joining the organization in a trade on Feb. 20. Goaltender Casey DeSmith made 35 saves in the defeat.

Tribune Review LOADED: 02.27.2020 1178798 Pittsburgh Penguins The lone past deadline pick-up still on the Penguins’ roster, Schultz’s acquisition was among Rutherford’s more shrewd moves overall. Always considered a gifted, puck-moving right-handed defenseman, Schultz became a fan flashpoint for what was going wrong with the Oilers from With 3 Penguins set to debut, a look at Jim Rutherford’s prior trade- 2012-16, enough so that Edmonton was willing to give up on him at age deadline acquisitions 25 in exchange for a third-round pick.

But Schultz gradually established himself with the Penguins, part of a defense corps that claimed the Stanley Cup twice. In 2017, in particular, CHRIS ADAMSKI with Kris Letang out for the season Schultz became the Penguins’ power- Wednesday, February 26, 2020 11:39 a.m. play QB and became a 20-minutes-per-game presence while finishing fifth on the team in postseason points (13 in 21 games).

He’d sign, first, a one-year extension and then a three-year deal with the Over the five NHL trade deadlines that Jim Rutherford has presided over Penguins. But that expires this summer, and Schultz is having his worst as Pittsburgh Penguins general manager, he’s acquired eight players season in Pittsburgh after being injured much of last season. It’s almost who played their first post-trade games with the team after the deadline. assured his time with the Penguins is coming to an end — but that doesn’t mean he didn’t bring great value over five seasons. One remains. 2017 But that doesn’t mean by any means that none of the deals were beneficial to the Penguins. After all, those eight combined to win seven Mark Streit Stanley Cup rings with the team in 2016 and/or 2017. Two of the seven who aren’t playing for the Penguins anymore have retired, one was part Rutherford brought in Streit because he wanted to assure depth for his of two deadline deals (coming and going, three years apart) and another injury-riddled blue line down the stretch and during the playoffs. Streit, 39 was part of a separate in-season trade that netted the Penguins one of at the time, provided just that, appearing in 19 regular-season games and their current more versatile forwards. three postseason contests — enough that the Penguins petitioned to have his name inscribed onto the Stanley Cup. Late Wednesday night in Los Angeles, forwards Patrick Marleau, Conor Sheary and Evan Rodrigues are expected to play in their first games for Streit would play just two more NHL games (for Montreal in Oct. 2018). the Penguins since Rutherford traded for them Monday (albeit Sheary But by then, he’d served his purpose. Typically, getting 22 games of played for the Penguins in the past). How history will judge their service in exchange for a fourth-round pick isn’t looked upon too fondly acquisitions (Rutherford submitted a conditional third-round pick and — but when it comes with the Cup, the Penguins will gladly take it. forward Dominik Kahun as compensation) will be determined over the Frank Corrado coming months and years. If Streit was depth, Corrado was deep depth. He played in just seven Here are how players the Penguins netted at the five prior deadlines games for the Penguins over two seasons (none in the playoffs). But worked out: Corrado was brought in from Toronto in a deal that in part was meant to 2015 shed ’s salary, so anything he provided would have been a bonus. Ian Cole Derick Brassard A former first-round pick, Cole was 26 and something of an underwhelming-but-OK bottom-pair defenseman at the time Rutherford In the Pittsburgh pro sports 2010s retrospective, Brassard takes his place traded for him by sending Robert Bortuzzo and a seventh-round pick to next to the likes of Ladarius Green and Chris Archer as acquisitions that the St. Louis Blues. He would end up playing every game for the flopped after their arrival was met with great fanfare. Penguins as part of two Stanley Cup runs, a fact that by definition makes Getting Brassard from the Ottawa Senators in the days leading up to the Cole a success. deadline was considered a coup for Rutherford because “Big Game Cole played about 18 minutes per game for the Penguins, and his Brass” was both considered the jewel of that season’s trade market and plus/minus in addition to more advanced metrics were just good enough because he would fulfill a much-needed niche on the Penguins’ roster. on a team in which others could do the heavy-lifting. But by his fourth Finally, the team had gotten its Jordan Staal back to complement Sidney season with the Penguins, Cole had slid down the depth chart and into Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. something of Mike Sullivan’s doghouse. In the lead-up to the 2018 trade Um, no. Brassard never fit in with the Penguins, and frankly didn’t seem deadline, he was part of what was shipped out for the Penguins to grab as if he wanted to. Brassard indicated he’d rather be in a top-six role than what was thought to be one of the league-wide prizes on the market: centering a “third line” and openly lamented his lack of power-play time. Derick Brassard. He’d tally 23 points in 54 regular-season games and four points in 12 Cole would wind up with the Columbus Blue Jackets, where he finished playoff games for the Penguins, being a minus player who had some of out the 2018-19 season before signing with the Colorado Avalanche the worst possession metrics on the team over his 11 months in where he’s become part of a defense corps for one of the Western Pittsburgh. Conference’s best teams. But this story has a happier ending than could be expected after the Ben Lovejoy Penguins submitted three draft picks, Cole, bruising wing Ryan Reaves and a top goalie prospect in Filip Gustavsson in the complicated three- Like Sheary this year, Lovejoy in 2015 was a former Penguins player team transaction for Brassard. In February 2019, Rutherford found a who was brought back. Lovejoy had just turned 31 when Rutherford sent taker for Brassard and fellow disappointing bottom-six center Riley Simon Despres to the Anaheim Ducks to get him. It was a move that at Sheahan: Florida took on both in exchange for Jared McCann and Nick the time had many Penguins fans scratching their heads because Bjugstad. Though he has slumped badly in recent weeks, McCann Despres was a former first-round pick thought to have high-upside largely has been a revelation. potential while Lovejoy had previously shown to be a depth NHL defenseman. Josh Jooris

Like Cole, though, Lovejoy would appear in every playoff game during Rutherford traded for Jooris to add a body in case it was needed along the Penguins’ run to the 2016 Stanley Cup. He was the lone significant the bottom six. He played in nine games for the Penguins (none in the departure off that team — signing a three-year contract with the New playoffs) and is now playing in Switzerland. Jersey Devils. Lovejoy was dealt to the Dallas Stars at last year’s Erik Gudbranson deadline and announced his retirement after their run to the Western Conference semifinals. In the post-Stanley Cup tenure of Rutherford with the Penguins — after he’d built up capital enough to secure trust among the fanbase — 2016 perhaps the move that drew the most criticism was the trade for Justin Schultz Gudbranson from the Vancouver Canucks for Tanner Pearson (himself an acquisition that didn’t work out).

Yes, Gudbranson’s plus/minus and possession metrics were awful with Vancouver, and his $4 million cap hit threatened to drag the Penguins down until 2021.

In the end, though, the alarmists (as they so often are) were wrong. Gudbranson wasn’t garnering any Norris Trophy consideration, and no, he didn’t help the Penguins win a Stanley Cup (or even a single playoff game, for that matter). But he was much better playing with the talented Penguins than he was in Vancouver, and he helped stabilize what was a fragile ‘D’ corps late last season.

Best of all, even when he became expendable in the lineup early this season, Rutherford had little trouble dumping his contract (to Anaheim in an October trade). So, again, no harm, no foul.

Tribune Review LOADED: 02.27.2020 1178799 Pittsburgh Penguins Brandon Tanev and Zach Aston-Reese — the latter currently sidelined with an undisclosed injury — as a fourth line.

Such a lineup could present ample matchup problems to even the Patrick Marleau gives Penguins depth up front deepest of opponents in the NHL.

SETH RORABAUGH Tribune Review LOADED: 02.27.2020

Wednesday, February 26, 2020 9:25 a.m.

It’s not often a team can add a 1,100-point scorer to its roster.

Then again, when he is 40 years old and only 20 of the 1,186 points he has accrued over his career have come this season, the price isn’t too overwhelming.

And when he is making a league minimum of $700,000 on a two-way contract, it is a lot easier than it would be under other circumstances.

When the Pittsburgh Penguins gave up a conditional third-round draft pick in 2021 to the San Jose Sharks for three-time All-Star and Olympic champion Patrick Marleau, they didn’t have to bankrupt their pool of assets to acquire him.

After all, they don’t need him to be a franchise icon the way he was in San Jose. They already have a handful of those in place.

The Penguins simply need Marleau to be a contributor.

And that is how he likely will start his career as a member of the Penguins.

When Marleau joined his new team Tuesday for practice in El Segundo, Calif., he wasn’t Sidney Crosby’s left winger or Evgeni Malkin’s left winger.

He was Evan Rodrigues’ left winger on the third line.

That assignment illustrates the balance the Penguins have sought throughout their group of forwards seemingly from the moment Mike Sullivan took over as coach in December 2015.

Presumably, if the Penguins ever are inflicted by an unprecedented outbreak of good health, Nick Bjugstad and Jared McCann will line up with Marleau on a sturdy third line of three former first-round picks.

That balance is how this team has operated over the past five seasons.

In 2015-16, after Sullivan replaced Mike Johnston, the Penguins eventually sorted out their lines in a way that had their major offseason acquisition, Phil Kessel, deployed on a line that did not have Crosby or Malkin.

Instead, Kessel eventually settled on a trio that included Nick Bonino in the middle. Along with Carl Hagelin, they formed the famed HBK line, which essentially became the the team’s second line while Malkin, fighting through the effects of an elbow injury, was the third-line center for all intents and purposes.

Even the failed marriage with Derrick Brassard was true to that pursuit as coaches tried to have him center a line with Kessel and some combination that included Bryan Rust or the newly re-acquired Conor Sheary down the stretch of the 2017-18 season. A groin injury to Brassard derailed those plans.

When it became clear Brassard was not amenable to serving as a third- line center for the entirety of the 2018-19 season, he was jettisoned to the Florida Panthers as part of a February trade that landed Bjugstad and McCann.

While the Penguins were humiliated in the postseason by a first-round sweep at the hands of the New York Islanders, Bjugstad and McCann showed promise, as they were used at times in bottom-six roles.

Injuries — Bjugstad’s own as well as other forwards — have not permitted the Penguins to unite Bjugstad and McCann on a potent third line for most of this season. But that design, which was formulated in the preseason along with Patric Hornqvist, could be on the cusp of being realized as Bjugstad is, by most accounts, rounding back into game shape as he recovers from a core muscle injury.

If Bjugstad, McCann and Marleau can line up in a game of consequence, they could allow Sullivan to deploy their feisty line of Teddy Blueger, 1178800 Pittsburgh Penguins

Are Penguins aligning their new-look line combinations in the right way?

TIM BENZ

Wednesday, February 26, 2020 6:35 a.m.

It’s time for our weekly hockey podcast with TribLive Penguins beat writer Seth Rorabaugh.

Lots to kick around here.

John Marino and Brian Dumoulin got back on the ice for practice Tuesday. We get an update on the potential for their returns. Also, Seth seems to think we shouldn’t give up hope on seeing Jake Guentzel before the playoffs are over. He tells us why.

Tuesday was the first look at practice since the Penguins acquired Patrick Marleau, Evan Rodrigues and Conor Sheary prior to Monday’s trade deadline. We’ll examine how the lines look with all those new forward additions.

Here’s the rundown from left-to-right, with the acknowledgement that Zach Aston-Reese is still hurt. Also, Jared McCann took the day off and assistant coach Mark Recchi filled in on the fourth line.

• Jason Zucker-Sidney Crosby-Conor Sheary

• Bryan Rust-Evgeni Malkin-Patric Hornqvist

• Patrick Marleau-Evan Rodrigues-Dominik Simon

• Mark Recchi-Teddy Blueger-Brandon Tanev

I’ll get Seth’s opinion on that alignment, with the prospect that Rodrigues may go where Recchi was and McCann becomes the third-line center.

The Penguins are out west for a few games. They are in Los Angeles Wednesday, Anaheim on Friday, and San Jose on Saturday. The Kings, Ducks and Sharks are the three worst teams in the West. How many points can the Penguins soak up?

Seth weighs in on that Pacific Division swing, too.

Plus, conversations about the goalies, how the rest of the Metro Division stacks up following a slew of trades, and Seth’s trip to get a glance at the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

Tribune Review LOADED: 02.27.2020 1178801 Pittsburgh Penguins The Pittsburgh penalty kill, which recently climbed into the league’s top 10, has given up four power-play goals on nine opportunities during this skid.

Penguins can't find spark against lowly Los Angeles The Penguins appeared to tie it late in the first when a Justin Schultz pass hit Crosby’s skate then the crossbar before dropping straight down. A video review showed the puck somehow skipped along the goal line and stayed out. MATT VENSEL The Kings pushed it to 2-0 with 32 seconds left in the second period. Post-Gazette Jack Johnson got turned inside out by streaking Kings winger Trevor FEB 27, 2020 6:31 AM Lewis. Jarry made the initial save, but Lewis plowed through Jason Zucker to bury the rebound.

The Kings entered the night 7-15-2 since the NHL’s Christmas break and LOS ANGELES — Three squandered power plays. A pair of clanged recently traded three more players away from their most recent Stanley posts. And one frantic but fruitless goal-mouth scramble with less than 20 Cup winning team. Jeff Carter sat out the game due to injury, and seconds left. Jonathan Quick, the man between the pipes back in that 2014 run, worked the door to their bench Wednesday. Yeah, Wednesday was just one of those nights for the Penguins, who out-played the Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center but lost, 2-1, largely Penguins coach Mike Sullivan didn’t believe his players took the Kings due to an unknown, unflappable backup goalie and a few bounces that lightly. didn’t go their way. “I don’t think that was the case at all. We knew this team was going to “It just didn’t seem to want to go in,” Sidney Crosby lamented after the play hard. It wasn’t a case where our guys went out and played a loss. lackadaisical game,” he said. “I thought we had a pretty solid team game, and we just didn’t score.” Added Patric Hornqvist, sighing in disbelief: “We were the better team. … Maybe they were better than us the first 10 minutes. The last 50, I think The Penguins have lost each of their last four games in regulation. They we out-chanced them, we out-played them. But we couldn’t find the back now trail the first-place Washington Capitals, who beat them Sunday, by of the net.” four points in the standings. And they are only eight points clear of the surging New York Rangers, the seventh-place team in the NHL’s most Sidney Crosby (87) shoots past USA goalie Ryan Miller (39) for the stacked division. game-winning goal in the overtime period of the gold medal game at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia. “We know points are important and we want to be playing well this time of year. Obviously, you don’t want to drop four in a row. But that’s the That has been one glaring problem for the Penguins during this season- reality we face,” Crosby said. “I feel like we probably deserved better the long four-game losing streak. They have scored just six goals. Mustering last couple of games, but you don’t get points for that. So we’ve got to one against a last-place Kings organization looking ahead to the draft find ways to win games.” lottery was extra frustrating, especially given who was between the pipes for them Wednesday. One silver lining in the loss was the play of their three deadline additions.

That was Cal Petersen, a 25-year-old Iowa native who got called up While he did not register a point and had just one shot, Patrick Marleau earlier this month after the Kings traded Jack Campbell to the Toronto had a strong debut, displaying his skating and poise. He drew a penalty, Maple Leafs. The unproven Petersen, an All-Star at the American too. Conor Sheary, back in black and gold, kept up on the top line. Evan Hockey League level this season, was making just his fifth NHL start of Rodrigues played 13 shifts but looked like a good fit with his speed and the season and 16th of his career. pesky puck pursuit.

The Penguins didn’t beat Petersen until the 13:18 mark of the third “They were really good,” Sullivan said. “I thought all three of them had a period, pulling within 2-1. Evgeni Malkin whipped a back-door pass to positive impact on the game. So it’s going to give us some options Bryan Rust, who poked it into an open net for his team-leading 24th goal moving forward.” of the season. The Penguins, on their four-game road trip, will next play the Anaheim “Good play by those two guys,” said Hornqvist, who got it started by Ducks on Friday before flying to San Jose for a Saturday matchup with barging into the slot then dishing the puck over to Malkin. “That was a the Sharks. nice goal.”

The veteran forward expressed confidence that more will be on the way. Post Gazette LOADED: 02.27.2020 “Maybe we aren’t executing when we have the chances, but I think we’ve been hard on pucks, and we have been doing a lot of the right things,” Hornqvist said. “If we keep playing these kinds of games, we’re going to score goals.”

The Penguins kept pushing, but Petersen slammed the door shut. He made one last tough stop in the final seconds and finished the night with 36 saves.

Evan Rodrigues takes a faceoff during the third period against the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2020, in Buffalo, N.Y.

“He made a lot of good saves,” his counterpart, Tristan Jarry, said. “That’s what got them the game. You see how many Grade-A saves that he had against our top guys. Maybe if we score one or two, the game goes a different way.”

The Kings didn’t have many chances, but they converted a couple of them.

They scored 2:34 into the game after a questionable penalty called against Kris Letang, a lost faceoff by Teddy Blueger and 94 seconds of zone time for the Kings. Eventually, Blake Lizotte tipped Sean Walker’s point shot past Jarry. 1178802 Pittsburgh Penguins With McCann injured, the Penguins on Tuesday recalled on an emergency basis Sam Lafferty from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League.

Ten years later, Sidney Crosby reflects on gold-winning goal Lafferty began Wednesday’s game on the fourth line with Evan Rodrigues and Dominik Simon. Marleau was with Teddy Blueger and Brandon Tanev on the third. Connor Sheary played on the top line with Crosby and Jason Zucker. And Evgeni Malkin had Bryan Rust and Patric MATT VENSEL Hornqvist back on his wings. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette On defense, Juuso Riikola replaced Zach Trotman in the lineup. FEB 26, 2020 7:43 PM Crosby excited about additions

The captain said Tuesday that he expects the additions of Marleau, Friday marks the 10-year anniversary of arguably the most iconic Sheary and Rodrigues — throw in Zucker, too — to give the Penguins a moment in Canadian sports history, Sidney Crosby’s golden goal in the “big boost.” 2010 Olympics. “I think when you look at the division and how tight it is and the In the gold medal game that year in Vancouver, Crosby scored in opportunity we have down the stretch, we need to find that next level for overtime to give Canada a 3-2 win over the United States, not that you the rest of the season here,” he said. “Adding guys like that is going to needed a reminder. help us do that.”

Crosby was asked if that was the top moment of his accomplished career. Post Gazette LOADED: 02.27.2020 “I don’t know. It’s hard to really rank different things,” Crosby said Tuesday. “It was a pretty unique and special experience. It’s right up there definitely.”

Evan Rodrigues takes a faceoff during the third period against the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2020, in Buffalo, N.Y.

On his gold-winning goal, Crosby cycled the puck with Jarome Iginla then yelled “Iggy!” as he darted to the net. Iginla slipped the pass through to him. Then Crosby snapped a quick shot between the legs of stunned U.S. goalie Ryan Miller.

He tossed his gloves and stick in celebration before getting mobbed in the corner by his teammates. Behind the glass, thrilled fans waved Canadian flags.

A decade later, the 32-year-old reflected on what he felt in that moment.

“Just happiness,” he said. “There was a lot of pressure, a lot of expectations. I think as a kid growing up, you dream of scoring goals like that. So for it to happen in Canada, and the way it kind of unfolded, probably happiness comes to mind.”

He added: “Regardless of where it was, scoring a big goal at the Olympics like that was pretty neat. … [But doing it] in your home country like that, it’s pretty special.”

Excuse me, that’s not Sid

There was an awkward but funny moment Tuesday when a confused television reporter thought Patrick Marleau was Crosby and started asking Marleau what it was like to score such a memorable Olympic goal for his country.

Newly acquired Penguin Patrick Marleau talks to reporters Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020, in Los Angeles.

“I’m not taking credit for that goal,” he said with a laugh. “Sid scored the goal.”

The veteran forward, who did play on that Canadian national team with Crosby, deftly pivoted and pondered what that moment meant to his country.

“It was just amazing to win on home soil. When Sid got that goal, I think everybody flew off that bench. It was quite the celebration in Canada,” Marleau said. “It was very special. I’ll never forget going out [to dinner] in Vancouver after. The streets were just jammed. Everybody was celebrating.”

McCann sits out Wednesday

Jared McCann did not play Wednesday’s game against the Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center due to an upper-body injury, Mike Sullivan said. The coach added that McCann, who did not practice Tuesday but was spotted riding an exercise bike, is still being evaluated so he couldn’t say how long he will be out. 1178803 Pittsburgh Penguins “It’s obviously a high tempo, a lot of speed and obviously a lot of skill in that lineup. I like to say I’m a speedy forward and have some skill,” said the 5-foot-11, 184-pound forward. “Hopefully I can just add to that mix, add to that group.” After challenging season in Buffalo, Evan Rodrigues ready to do whatever Penguins ask

Post Gazette LOADED: 02.27.2020

MATT VENSEL

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

FEB 26, 2020 6:36 PM

LOS ANGELES — A challenging season for Evan Rodrigues coincidentally began in Pittsburgh. Now he hopes it ends there with a Stanley Cup victory lap.

The 26-year-old, acquired from the Buffalo Sabres on Monday, set career highs in goals and points while playing meaningful minutes for the Sabres in 2018-19. But before the puck dropped at PPG Paints Arena for the season opener, new Sabres coach Ralph Krueger informed Rodrigues that he would be a healthy scratch.

“It just started from the get-go,” he said Tuesday. “You never really get into the groove of things. You’re always playing almost not to make a mistake.”

Rodrigues pressed, trying to prove to Krueger that he should be in the lineup. But he was a healthy scratch 24 times and reportedly requested a trade.

Sidney Crosby (87) shoots past USA goalie Ryan Miller (39) for the game-winning goal in the overtime period of the gold medal game at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia.

The Sabres granted his wish Monday, trading Rodrigues and former Penguins winger Conor Sheary to Pittsburgh in exchange for Dominik Kahun.

“I went through the roof,” he said, calling the Penguins a “storied franchise.”

It also didn’t hurt that Sheary was one of his closest friends on the Sabres.

“It was awesome to just pick his brain [on their Monday flight to Los Angeles],” Rodrigues said. “It’s nice to have him here. … I didn’t find out he was part of the trade until it got on Twitter. So when I saw that, it was even more exciting.”

Rodrigues made his Penguins debut Wednesday against the Los Angeles Kings. He opened the game on a line with Dominik Simon and Sam Lafferty.

The Penguins figure to utilize him as a penalty killer down the stretch, especially with Zach Aston-Reese out. Rodrigues also has experience on the power play.

“I’ve always prided myself of being versatile,” he said. “I can play the wing, play center, play PP, PK. So whatever they need me to do, I’m going to do.”

Pirates right fielder Gregory Polanco heads to batting practice Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2020, at LECOM Park in Bradenton, Fla.

Rodrigues, who initially broke into the league as an undrafted player from Boston University, scored nine goals with 20 assists last season. He played all over the lineup, including skating as the No. 1 center in a game against the Penguins. Last summer, an arbitrator awarded him with a $2 million salary for 2019-20.

Rodrigues had just three points, none of them goals, when the calendar flipped to 2020. In the 14 games after that, he scored five goals with one assist.

“I’ve really turned it on. The puck’s starting to go in for me and I’m starting to play the way I know I can play,” he said. “And I’m just looking to continue that.”

All three players added at Monday’s trade deadline are above-average skaters. Rodrigues thinks his game fits how Mike Sullivan’s Penguins want to play. 1178804 Pittsburgh Penguins

Penguins-Kings: Game time, TV information and matchup notes

Staff Report

PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE

Got a news tip? 412-263-1601

FEB 26, 2020 11:00 AM

The Penguins will be facing the Kings tonight in Los Angeles. Here’s everything you need to know about this impending matchup:

Penguins defenseman John Marino skates up ice against the Coyotes Friday, Dec. 6, 2019, at PPG Paints Arena in Uptown.

Noteworthy: The Penguins beat the Kings, 5-4, in a shootout Dec. 14 at PPG Paints Arena. ... Only three Penguins have a negative plus-minus rating this season: Dominik Simon, Justin Schultz and Sidney Crosby. Crosby, a minus-6, hasn’t been a minus for a full season since his rookie year. ... After trading away Tyler Toffoli before the deadline, the Kings have only three players with 30 or more points. Anze Kopitar, with 56, leads the team. ... The Penguins allowed 14 goals in their past three games after giving up two goals or fewer in each of their five previous games. ... Kings goalie Jonathan Quick, the former Conn Smythe winner, is 13-22-4 with a .898 save percentage. ... Bryan Rust, who still leads the Penguins with 23 goals, has only one in his past 10 games.

Did you know?: New Penguins forward Patrick Marleau has played 1,715 career games, fifth most in NHL history. He trails all-time leader Gordie Howe by 52.

Post Gazette LOADED: 02.27.2020 1178805 Pittsburgh Penguins Jared McCann is the No. 3 center McCann didn’t practice Tuesday, though he did ride an exercise bike

outside of the locker room following the team’s workout. It’s not known if A look at how the Penguins plan to adjust their line combinations he was given a maintenance day from practice or if there is a lingering issue that could keep him from playing tonight.

Whenever he is capable of playing, expect McCann to center the By Josh Yohe Penguins’ third line. He has gone 15 consecutive games without a goal and, during the season, the Penguins’ coaching staff and front office Feb 26, 2020 have developed a preference to play McCann at center. He’s capable of playing on the left wing and the team appreciates his versatility.

LOS ANGELES — It probably would be foolish to assume the Penguins However, three wingers were acquired Monday. The team has decided to will maintain steady line combinations starting tonight with their game stick with McCann at center, and it would appear that he and Marleau will against the Kings at Staples Center. Mike Sullivan has had precisely one be mainstays on the third line. The identity of the third player on that line practice with three new forwards and, one of his regulars, Jared McCann, remains a mystery, though Hornqvist and Simon seem to be likely wasn’t able to participate. candidates.

Besides, Sullivan frequently tinkers with line combinations and is a firm Zach Aston-Reese is still considered “week to week,” so it remains believer in keeping duos together while mixing in third wheels when unknown precisely when he will return to the lineup. The Penguins, necessary on each of his units. though, have been delighted with the Aston-Reese – Teddy Blueger – Brandon Tanev line and are perfectly fine with keeping that unit together Still, Sullivan showed his hand a bit during Tuesday’s practice in Los as their fourth line. And it’s not a typical fourth line. Angeles. Some of the Penguins’ ideas for their new players are coming to light, also. As we’ve seen this season, when the Penguins have a lead, they are happy to rely heavily on this line as all three forwards are among the Here’s what you can expect moving forward: Penguins’ best defensive players. Blueger needs to improve upon his 45 percent faceoff win percentage, but still, this is a line configuration that At least, Sheary will play with Crosby in Los Angeles and figures to see pleases the coaching staff. somewhat regular duty there moving forward. Crosby likes having Sheary on his line and was visibly pleased with his return to the Penguins. The It appears likely that, for the time being, Evan Rodriques will receive two were chatty during Tuesday’s practice, and Crosby lit up with a smile some playing time with this line. Make no mistake, this player wasn’t a when asked about having Sheary back on the team. throw-in to the trade between the Penguins and Buffalo. The Penguins are intrigued by Rodrigues’ skill level and are likely to slide him up and “We read off each other pretty well,” Crosby said. “He can play with down the lineup to see what kind of chemistry he can develop with other anyone. He’s a pretty easy guy to play with.” lines. Look for Crosby to play with Jason Zucker and Sheary against the Kings. Sullivan now has a lot of depth, especially if Nick Bjugstad can return to Here’s the thing about Sheary, though: He’s always been a streaky the lineup. Bjugstad, out more than three months after undergoing sports scorer. Sheary has a history of lighting it up in small bursts in general and hernia surgery, skated on his own following Tuesday’s practice but did particularly with Crosby. When he has slumped in the past, Sullivan has not look comfortable. removed him from that line and, at times, removed him from the lineup. The Penguins, though, are quite comfortable with their depth at forward It’s not like there aren’t other options. At times, Dominik Simon likely will and will begin showcasing it tonight. Look for Crosby and Zucker to be a slide back onto Crosby’s right wing, as the captain is comfortable playing set duo on the first line, Malkin and Bryan Rust on the second line, with him and likes his ability to distribute the puck. Simon, however, didn’t McCann and Marleau on the third line and Blueger and Tanev on the play well during the past couple of games, and one of the reasons fourth line. Sheary was acquired was because of his knowledge of playing with

Crosby. The Athletic LOADED: 02.27.2020 “Sid’s an easy guy to play with,” Sheary said.

Not everybody feels that way. But Sheary’s speed and high hockey IQ make him a usable part on that line moving forward.

Sullivan certainly seems comforted by the idea of Sheary and Crosby playing together.

“He brings a speed element,” Sullivan said. “He can finish. He’s good in traffic. A lot of attributes that Conor brings to the table are complementary to Sid.”

Marleau has scored 561 goals in his illustrious NHL career and, by all accounts — and by the evidence on display at Tuesday’s practice — he can still really skate. Thus, when either the Crosby or Malkin line hits a rough patch, there will be a natural temptation to insert Marleau aside one of them.

And sure, it will probably happen from time to time. It makes sense. But make no mistake: This is not why the Penguins acquired him.

They truly traded for Marleau to enhance their bottom-six forwards, plain and simple. He was on the third line during practice and, from what I’ve been told, the coaching staff is pretty intent on leaving him there.

So, don’t be surprised if you see the likely future Hall of Famer skate a few shifts with Crosby or Malkin. It surely will happen at some point. But be surprised if it sticks because that wasn’t why he was acquired.

Marleau isn’t sure how long it will take to adjust to the Penguins but seems legitimately delighted to participate, no matter his line.

“I don’t know how long it’s going to take to be able to just go out there and shut the brain off and play,” he said with a smile. 1178806 San Jose Sharks Gregor leveled Flyers captain Claude Giroux with 5:12 to go in the third period. The officials gave him an illegal hit to the head penalty but it looked clean.

Sharks (unfamiliar) territory: It’s tough now, and it could get worse Gregor and Antti Suomela and defenseman Mario Ferraro and Jacob Middleton all finished with three hits.

“I have a lot of good things to say about the young guys,” Boughner said. By CURTIS PASHELKA | [email protected] | Bay “I thought Noah Gregor got involved physically and not just the hit on Area News Group Giroux. He finished a lot of hits on the forecheck tonight and that shot, you can tell his offensive abilities. I think that Kellman played a great PUBLISHED: February 26, 2020 at 5:09 a.m. | UPDATED: February 26, game. I have no problem with them.” 2020 at 10:20 a.m. “The fact of the matter is on this trip, you have to have some of our

veteran guys pitching in and scoring some goals for us,” Boughner Logan Couture’s game figures to be a little sharper when the Sharks host continued. “We need our top six guys to start putting some points on the the New Jersey Devils on Thursday and the Pittsburgh Penguins on board.” Saturday. Boughner took over this team Dec. 11 with a big challenge ahead of him. As for Tuesday’s game against the Philadelphia Flyers, Couture, who He may have an even bigger one now with the team in such unfamiliar made his return after a seven-week absence with a small fracture in his territory. left ankle, simply gave his team what he had. “For the young guys, we talked about the opportunity they’re going to “I feel alright,” Couture said after the Sharks’ 4-2 loss at Wells Fargo have in the next month and a half, and (how they) may never have a Center. “Wish I played a little bit better, but I’m OK.” better opportunity,” Boughner said Tuesday morning. “For the old guys, the message was (about) how we’re going to react in times like this, in The Sharks will take any positive they can get right now, as they return difficult times. home on a five-game losing streak with the likelihood of more difficult times ahead. “You see your buddies are gone, and we’ve gotten a lot younger. Our lineup’s, let’s be honest, a little weaker, so we have to find ways to stay The Sharks (26-33-4) were already in the midst of a trying season before in games.” Monday’s NHL trade deadline. Taking regulars Brenden Dillon, Patrick Marleau and Barclay Goodrow out of an already depleted lineup that scored just six goals in four road games won’t help. San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 02.27.2020 After Saturday, three of the Sharks’ next four games are against teams still fighting for a playoff spot — Toronto, Minnesota and Colorado, with a game against Ottawa also in the mix. Then seven of their next nine are on the road.

“I think it’s tough scoring goals right now,” defenseman Brent Burns said Tuesday night. “We just have to, you’ve got to almost play a perfect game. I think you’ve just got to try to do the right things when you can.”

Couture came back into the Sharks’ lineup a bit earlier than originally planned. At first, he was just supposed to get in some morning skates before a practice Monday and then aim for a Thursday return.

But things changed, it seemed, after the Sharks dealt Marleau and Goodrow — both top six forwards — before Monday’s NHL trade deadline.

“Yeah, I was cleared,” Couture said. “I still haven’t gotten into a practice. My hands, I knew weren’t going to be great. But I figured, it’s been a rough couple of days.”

Couture had two shots on net in 18 minutes of ice time against the Flyers, playing the game with Evander Kane and Kevin Labanc as his linemates.

“It was nice to see his name on the board,” Sharks interim coach Bob Boughner said of Couture. “After (Tuesday’s) morning skate, he felt that there was a chance he’d play and, obviously I think he’s still getting his feet underneath him.

“I think he’s game speed’s off, but still saying that, he had two or three chances to score goals tonight, so it was good to see him back. But losing three guys and getting one, it’s been a tough couple of days.”

Couture lamented a couple missed scoring chances. He fired a shot right into the belly of Flyers goalie Carter Hart on an odd man rush with Labanc early in the first period, and missed the net wide on another attempt midway through the first period.

“Yeah, by about seven feet,” said Couture, who led the Sharks with 36 points before his injury. “It’s disappointing because I score those goals or those chances and we’re probably still playing right now.”

The Sharks dressed six rookies Tuesday — something that could become the norm going forward.

Boughner liked how the less-experienced players competed, as Joel Kellman and Noah Gregor both scored their second career NHL goals. Gregor’s third period goal came on a one-timer off a pass from Marcus Sorensen. 1178807 San Jose Sharks

Could Joe Thornton leave Sharks for Maple Leafs in NHL free agency?

By Marcus White

February 26, 2020 6:33 PM

Joe Thornton has said his 22nd NHL season won't be his "last hurrah," and the longtime Shark can sign elsewhere this summer as an unrestricted free agent.

Thornton wasn't traded to a contender to pursue his first Stanley Cup before this week's deadline, and winning a ring will be top of mind on July 1. San Jose currently has the second-worst record in the Western Conference, so could Thornton be tempted to leave the Bay Area this summer?

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman predicted Wednesday in his "31 Thoughts" column that the Toronto Maple Leafs "will be a factor" if Thornton decides to sign elsewhere.

"I can’t confirm this, but I believe the Maple Leafs considered adding him now," Friedman wrote Wednesday. "Two things stopped it: 1) their decision not to make short-term fixes after the Carolina loss, and 2) are they really a legit contender if they have to go through Boston or Tampa Bay or both? ... Thornton would have eased the tension right now, but the organization wants to see how everyone top to bottom reacts and performs. Next season is a different story."

The Maple Leafs' last loss before the trade deadline came at the hands of the Carolina Hurricanes and an emergency backup goalie, and the notoriously tranquil Leafs fan base and media circuit reacted about as calmly as you'd expect. Toronto general manager Kyle Dubas was a cooler head, however, opting not to make any major moves while the Leafs hang on to the Atlantic Division's last playoff spot.

Toronto should make the Stanley Cup playoffs, but its path out of the Eastern Conference looks daunting this year and beyond. The Atlantic boasts the NHL's two best teams in the Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning, and both are as well-built for success in the 2021 postseason as they are this spring. Thornton could help the Leafs close the gap, but he'll turn 41 in July and can't do that by himself.

If all goes well this offseason -- and that's still an if -- Thornton's current team would have a clearer route to a Cup. Sharks general manager Doug Wilson has made it clear he intends to build a contending team for 2021. San Jose restocked its draft cupboard ahead of the trade deadline and could use that newfound ammunition to build around a core that Wilson believes in. The Pacific Division is by far the NHL's weakest, too, and the teams ahead of the Sharks all will face a salary-cap crunch of some kind this summer. The opportunity is there to get back into contention that might not have been if San Jose was in another division.

Thornton, for his part, told The Athletic's Kevin Kurz that he believes in the Sharks' ability to contend next season.

"I think we’ve seen -- maybe not to this extent -- but I think last time we missed the playoffs (in 2015), we go to the Cup final (in 2016)," Thornton told Kurz on Tuesday. "We have pieces here that are the backbone of this team, and I hope that’s the case going forward.”

Thornton is at the stage of his career where winning is more important than anything else. As long as he believes he can do that in San Jose as his career winds down, it's hard to envision anything else.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 02.27.2020 1178808 St Louis Blues his family and be around the team and he’ll address those things as the summer progresses.”

Obviously, his wife and three young daughters factor into the decision. Bouwmeester: "A scary thing but ... now I feel pretty good" For now, Bouwmeester is getting used to have an ICD (implantable cardioverter defibrillator) in his chest to monitor and control his heartbeat.

“There’s some restrictions with it just after putting it in —for a little while Jim Thomas — about six weeks,” he said. “And then it’s full range of motion and all that sort of stuff. It’s there but I think over time, it’s not invasive or

anything.” He looked a little pale, his face a bit more gaunt on his already long and As one of the fittest Blues, it might be natural for him to wonder “why lean frame. But considering the circumstances, Jay Bouwmeester looked me?” But Bouwmeester says drop the “me.” He’s only concerned about like a million bucks. the “why.” Just 15 days after he collapsed on the bench at Honda Center in “What caused it? That sort of thing,” Bouwmeester said. “And that’s kind Anaheim, the veteran Blues defenseman met with the media Wednesday of with the doctors and all the tests and things that they’re trying to pin afternoon, flanked by general manager Doug Armstrong in the media down.” room at Enterprise Center. He’s always led an active lifestyle beyond hockey, including hiking, He remembers feeling no ill effects as he skated over to the bench at the biking, camping. And the prognosis is that in time he’ll be able to do the end of a shift. But then his next recollection was being in an ambulance things he enjoys. But for now, it’s therapeutic enough just to be around heading to the hospital. As to what happened in between, when he was his teammates. somewhere between life and death following a cardiac episode? Well, that’s all a blank. “We have a good, close group of guys,” Bouwmeester said. “I think it’s helped me for sure, to come and see them. But I think it’s helped a lot of “It all just came pretty suddenly,” Bouwmeester said. “Everything up to those guys, too, to see me back to normal. that point was normal. I hadn’t been sick or had much going on. It was completely out of the blue.” “For me, the incident, I know it happened but I wasn’t there, you know? There were other people that saw what happened and it was probably Of course there is video of Bouwmeester collapsing on the bench, the more traumatizing for them. I think when they see you up walking around look of extreme concern by teammates Vince Dunn and Alex Pietrangelo it helps get things back to normal.” and others. The paramedics, trainers, medical personnel rushing to the scene. But Bouwmeester expressed little appetite for filling in the blanks Goalie Jake Allen can attest to that. Wednesday. “For us to see him here normal, just Bo being Bo, somewhat makes that “I haven’t looked at (the video),” he said. “Those things sometimes can incident not forgettable — (but) it goes away,” Allen said. “He’s here, he’s not help you. Maybe one day.” healthy, he’s happy. ... A crisis brings a lot of things into perspective one way or another. And I think for us, you take it in the right way. And I think What he does know is that had he been in dozens of other places, he he’s doing the same.” would not have survived the events of Feb. 11.

“Absolutely,” he said. “I’ve gone over this a lot in my head, and there’s a lot of things I do or like to enjoy, and places where this could have St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 02.27.2020 happened and the outcome would’ve been very different.

“From doctors in the hospital to pretty much everyone I talked to, that’s the consensus. It happened in the absolute best place that it could happen. The protocols that they have in place and the way that people responded so quickly: No. 1, it saved my life, and No. 2, the fact they could get on it so fast was very helpful.”

So Bouwmeester expressed thanks to all the medical personnel, starting with Blues head athletic trainer Ray Barile, for saving his life, getting him back on his feet. He said he was humbled by the outpouring of support throughout the hockey community and beyond.

“A scary thing but everything’s been going pretty good lately,” Bouwmeester said. “We’ll just continue to evaluate things as they go.

“I’m at the point now I feel pretty good. That’s kind of the weird thing about this whole thing is you go from something happened totally out of the blue and unexpected, to being in the hospital for a couple of days. And now, there’s some restrictions as to what I can do, but I feel pretty normal. So that’s a good thing.”

He has started coming around the team with some regularity and is expected to begin traveling with the squad in the future. But as Armstrong made clear Tuesday, he’s done playing for this season. Beyond that, it’s still up in the air.

“There’s been a lot going on,” Bouwmeester said. “I think that’s something I’m definitely going to have to evaluate. I wouldn’t say I’ve done that fully yet. There’s decisions I’m going to have to make. That will come later.”

Armstrong expanded on the topic.

“Jay and I have spoken over the last week or so,” Armstrong said. “We both understand that he won’t participate this year in the regular season or playoffs for us. We talked about longer-term things that may or may not happen.

“We both feel — you know, it’s February — you don’t have to make any long-term decisions at this point. He’s gonna take time, get back in with 1178809 St Louis Blues

Preview: Blues vs. Islanders

Jim Thomas

Blues vs. Islanders

When, where: 7 p.m. Thursday, Enterprise Center.

TV, radio: FSM, WXOS (101.1 FM).

About the Islanders: The Isles once again have one of the NHL’s top defenses, ranking fifth at 2.68 goals allowed per game. Semyon Varlamov (19-12-5, 2.51 GAA) and Thomas Greiss (16-8-2, 2.65 GAA) form one of the league’s top goaltending tandems. But the offense can be problematic, ranking 22nd (2.84 goals per game). For example, the Islanders are 6-5-2 in the month of February, scoring only three goals combined in those five regulation losses.

To beef up the attack, they acquired Jean-Gabriel Pageau from Ottawa before the trade deadline Monday. He had quite a debut, scoring his 25th goal of the season and fighting Jacob Trouba in a 4-3 OT loss Tuesday to the New York Rangers. The Isles’ only other 20-goal scorer is Brock Nelson (23), but they have seven other players with 10 or more goals.

Holding down the first wild-card spot in the East, the Islanders (35-20-7) have lost their last four road games.

St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 02.27.2020 1178810 St Louis Blues traumatizing for them. I think when they see you up walking around it helps get things back to normal.

"Hockey has not been at the front of my mind the last couple weeks. It’s Bouwmeester 'feeling pretty normal,' isn't sure about his hockey future surreal because now, I feel pretty good. You can compare it to another injury you’ve gone through or you’re just not playing. You have to remind yourself of what happened. It puts things in perspective. I’m a hockey player, I like to play hockey, so sure, you’d like to be out there, but when Tom Timmermann you put everything in perspective, it’s OK to take a step back right now."

Bouwmeester has played in 1,240 regular-season NHL games with Blues defenseman Jay Bouwmeester, who collapsed on the bench in Florida, Calgary and the Blues. He won a Stanley Cup with the Blues last Anaheim, Calif., on Feb. 11 with a heart condition, said he won’t play season, won an Olympic gold medal with Canada in 2014 and a gold again this season, in the regular season or the playoffs, but that he hasn’t medal at the world championships in 2003. made any decisions yet about his hockey future beyond that. He's well respected, not only from the Blues but throughout the hockey “I'm at the point now I feel pretty good,” Bouwmeester said in a media community. That was evidenced in the aftermath of the incident, when session at Enterprise Center on Wednesday. “That’s kind of the weird the hockey community rallied to his support. thing about this whole thing. Something happened totally out of the blue "The support that people have shown has been pretty humbling," he said. and unexpected, being in the hospital for a couple of days. Now there are "It goes to show you it’s sort of a hockey community and people really do some restrictions as to what I can do, but I feel pretty normal. That’s a care about each other and it’s a small world. I’m very appreciative." good thing.

"There’s been a lot going on. (The future) is something I'm definitely going to have to evaluate. Wouldn’t say I've done that fully yet. There’s St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 02.27.2020 decisions I’m going to have to make."

General manager Doug Armstrong said Bouwmeester would not play again this season, in the regular season or the playoffs.

"Jay and I have spoken over the last week or so," Armstrong said. "We both understand that he won’t participate in the regular season or playoffs for us. We talked about longer-term things that may or may not happen. We both feel, it’s February, we don’t have to make long term decisions at this point. He’s going to take time, get back in with his family and be around the team and he’ll address those things as the summer progresses."

Bouwmeester had just finished a shift in the first period against the Ducks. He skated to the bench, took a seat and soon after feel forward. Players quickly waved for trainers and paramedics and team doctors for the Ducks soon joined in. A defibrillator was used to restart Bouwmeester's heart.

He said as he finished that shift, there was no indication anything was wrong.

"It all just came pretty suddenly," he said. "Everything up to that point was normal, I hadn’t been sick or had much going on. It was completely out of the blue."

Bouwmeester thanked Blues trainer Ray Barile and the training and medical staffs of both teams and he acknowledged how fortunate he was to have this happen where it happened. Had it happened when he was alone, in a hotel room for instance, he would have died.

"I’ve gone over this a lot in my head and a lot of the things I like to do and enjoy and places where this could have happened and the outcome would have been very different," he said. "From doctors in the hospital to pretty much everyone I’ve talked to, that’s the consensus: it happened in the absolute best place it could have happened. The protocols that they have in place and the way that people responded so quickly, No. 1 it saved my life, and two, the fact they could get it on so fast was very helpful."

Bouwmeester said it still has not been determined what happened.

"Not exactly," he said. "That’s going to be an ongoing thing for a while, (with) some tests. The doctors in California and here in St. Louis since I’ve gotten back have been very helpful. I can’t explain that stuff the way a doctor could. From a lifestyle standpoint, as far as nothing out of the blue comes up, everything should hopefully be positive moving forward. We’re just kind of taking small steps right now."

Bouwmeester spent five nights at the UC Irvine Medical Center in Orange, Calif., and had a defibrillator implanted in his chest to deal with erratic heartbeats in the future. He has visited the team on several occasions, usually game days, at Enterprise Center. That presence has been good for both teammates and for Bouwmeester.

"I think it’s helped me for sure, to come and see them," Bouwmeester said. "I think it’s helped a lot of those guys too to see me back to normal. For me, the incident, I know it happened, but I wasn’t there. There were other people that saw what happened and it was probably more 1178811 St Louis Blues “I didn’t say anything to the team about it but guys remember,” Berube said. “They know. They’re smart guys. They remember things. I talked between periods and on the bench about just staying with what we were doing. Because we were getting a lot of opportunities. And get a goal, it Blues survive 'crazy game' against Blackhawks changes things. That’s exactly what happened. We got a goal and it changed things. It changed everything.”

The main point of concern postgame was the penalty kill. The Blues had Tom Timmermann given up four power-play goals to Vegas on Feb. 13, one to Nashville two days later and then stopped all 16 over the next five games. And then came Tuesday. The only time the PK looked good was in the closing By not making a move at the trade deadline, Blues general manager minutes, when they needed it the most. Doug Armstrong made his position clear: We like what we’ve got. This is our team. “It was definitely nice to kill that one off,” O’Reilly said. “We know that was an issue tonight. We’re usually better than that on the penalty kill. The Blues then went out on Tuesday and played nothing like that team We gave up way too much. We left (Jordan Binnington) out to dry there. that Armstrong thought he had, but it didn’t matter because if the method We’re usually better and we shut it down, keep it to the outside and not was unorthodox, the Blues did what Armstrong expected them to do: give them that many point-blank opportunities. It’s an adjustment that we Win. have to make and I think we will.”

This time the Blues were down 3-1 and 5-4, and gave up three goals on “You gotta have a short memory,” said Berube, who thought the first the power play, and did all sorts of things not associated with winning power-play goal was helped by a Chicago penalty, the second one hockey —and still came away with a 6-5 win over the Chicago Binnington would have liked to have back and the third one was a Blackhawks at Enterprise Center. defensive mistake. “You gotta have your guys know the situation and know that probably in a minute the goalie’s coming out. Just go kill it off “That’s not really our style,” said Ryan O’Reilly, who had a goal and an and win the game.” assist, “but I feel at the end of the day, we got two points and a big win for us.”

“You gotta win games a lot of different ways throughout the season,” St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 02.27.2020 coach Craig Berube said, “and this is one of ‘em.”

“Crazy game,” said Robert Thomas.

It was exhausting to watch, with as many ups and downs as a seesaw in a hurricane. The Blues scored two goals in 16 seconds to pull ahead in the third, only to get caught by Chicago and then passed as well. The Blues then needed a bank shot from Justin Faulk to go in — his shot was going wide before hitting a Chicago skate and going in — and the second goal of the night for Zach Sanford, who had his third multi-goal game in the month of February after having none previously in his career.

And fittingly for a game with as much offense, the deciding play of the game was on a penalty kill. Oskar Sundqvist was sent off for tripping with 2:51 to play and Chicago pulled goalie Corey Crawford halfway through for a two-man advantage. After giving up three goals to the league’s worst power play, the Blues stopped them that time to preserve their fifth straight win and stay four points up on Dallas and go five up on Colorado (which has played three fewer games than the Blues).

One of the reasons Armstrong didn’t make a move at the deadline was because of the play of Sanford, who is getting noticed for the goals — 11 in his past 15 games — but is doing so much more. Sanford had gone five games without a goal but had been just as valuable in that span. Against Chicago, he had a career-high nine shots on goal. His first goal put the Blues ahead at 4-3 and his second one put them ahead at 6-5.

“His confidence is at an all-time high,” said Thomas, who recently moved onto a line with Sanford. “I think the biggest thing for him is he’s battling, he’s not losing one-on-one battles, he’s fighting for those pucks and he’s got the confidence in his shot right now. He’s playing unbelievable. Makes it easy to play with.”

“He’s playing a very well-rounded game,” Berube said. “Like if you watch him tonight on the penalty kill, blocking shots and things like that. Back pressure all over the ice. Heavy stick. He’s doing a ton of things, not just scoring goals. He’s doing a lot of good stuff. He’s really dialed in right now.”

On the game-winner, Sanford took a shot that goalie Crawford blocked. The puck took a roundabout path off a couple of skates back to Sanford and he held it long enough for Crawford to start sliding to the left and then put it behind him for his 15th goal of the season, the fourth most on the team.

The comeback shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. When the Blues played Chicago here on Dec. 14, the Blues were down 3-0 in the third period and scored four goals to win it in regulation. So a two-goal deficit this time was nothing.

“Yeah, that went through my head for sure,” said Thomas, who had a goal and two assists. “Even when we were down, I felt like we were taking it to them. They capitalized on some chances there. We knew if we stuck with it and kept on pushing that we’d have success.” 1178812 St Louis Blues “Overall, I think we’re going in the right direction,” he said to reporters. “It all comes back to the same thing in terms of making big moves or making no moves. You see what I did today, so … my hopes and thoughts are today that the way we’re playing we should be a playoff Blues remain best in West after trade deadline passes team.”

The most active Western Conference team was Edmonton. First-year general Oilers manager Ken Holland scrambled to keep his team in the Jeff Gordon chase.

He reached back to his previous team, the Detroit Red Wings, to add The NHL did its annual reset at the trade deadline and Blues fans should forward Andreas Athanasiou and defenseman Mike Green. He also like how the pieces fell and didn’t fall. acquired supplemental scorer Tyler Ennis from Ottawa.

The Western Conference contenders look pretty much the same as they “My message today is I’m here to win,” Holland told reporters. “I’ve come did before the horn sounded Monday at 2 p.m. Central time. Most of the to Edmonton and this team has played hard to put us into a good exciting activity occurred over in the Eastern Conference, where the position. No risk. No reward. I could have sat around and done nothing Tampa Bay Lightning and Carolina Hurricanes were especially but I felt like I had an obligation to pitch in and help a team that’s worked aggressive. extremely hard.”

The Blues remain the team to beat on this side of the league. They Minnesota Wild GM Bill Guerin tried to dump Zach Parise’s remaining fortified their defense last week by acquiring steady Marco Scandella to contract ($7.54 million annual cap hit through 2025) on the New York replace Jay Bouwmeester. Islanders to create long-range payroll flexibility. But he failed to complete a deal that would have sent what remains of Andrew Ladd to the Twin Young forwards Robert Thomas and Zach Sanford emerged as bigger Cities. offensive catalysts in recent weeks and Jordan Kyrou added more speed and skill. So the heavy lifting on the Wild rebuild remains. The same goes for the Chicago Blackhawks, who added middle-round draft picks while moving The Blues reaffirmed their contender status with a four-game winning goaltender Robin Lehner to the Vegas Golden Knights and defenseman streak before the trade deadline. With top gun Vladimir Tarasenko Erik Gustafsson to the Calgary Flames. returning next month from shoulder surgery, they will get even stronger for postseason play. Meanwhile, the Blues have what they need to make another deep playoff run. And their immediate rivals can’t say the same. “From a management perspective, we’re excited about our positioning The league’s most attractive trade target, winger Chris Kreider, stayed heading into the final stretch,” Armstrong said. “The trade deadline is put with the New York Rangers with a seven-year, $45 million contract. past, this is our team, we’re excited about what they’ve accomplished Had Kreider ended up with, say, the Colorado Avalanche, that could thus far.” have been bad news for the Blues.

Adding Kreider would have created an even more formidable offense once forwards Mikko Rantanen and Nazem Kadri get healthy. St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 02.27.2020

Instead, the ’Lanche settled on acquiring forward Vladislav Namestikov from Ottawa and goaltender Michael Hutchinson from Toronto.

“We were looking to see what we could do to add, but we did a lot in the offseason,” General manager Joe Sakic said during a Tuesday news conference. “And this is a team that we really like and believe in, anyway. If there was another deal that made sense for us, we would have looked to do that, but nothing else materialized.”

The Dallas Stars also stood pat. General manager Jim Nill opted not to cough up more prospects and draft picks for short-term help.

“We talked to a lot of teams, we had some things going,” Nill told reporters during a post-deadline news conference. “I get back to the past couple years, we’ve made a lot of trades and used a lot of picks, and I went into this deadline with the mindset that we just can’t keep doing that.”

Since bulwark defenseman Dustin Byfuglien decided not to make a comeback from ankle surgery this season, the Winnipeg Jets lost a potentially huge trade chip to play at the deadline.

Prior to the deadline the Jets added forward Cody Eakin and defenseman Dylan DeMelo. Those moves improved their depth, but didn’t significantly bolster their team.

“The last two (deadlines), we took big swings,” Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff told reporters. “We obviously had the appetite to go after something that we thought was going to fit. You have to find the thing that fits and you have to have the currency and you have to have the appetite. All those three things have to align. For two years in a row we felt that.”

And this time? Not so much.

The Nashville Predators were oddly quiet at the deadline. General manager David Poile is known for making big trades and his sputtering team has frustrated him.

He fired coach Peter Laviolette during the season and replaced him with John Hynes. But at the deadline Poile seemed to be caught halfway between buy mode and sell mode. 1178813 St Louis Blues St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 02.27.2020

Blues notebook: Any Pietrangelo deal will likely wait until after the season

Tom Timmermann

For those waiting for developments on a contract for Blues captain Alex Pietrangelo, the word from general manager Doug Armstrong on Tuesday was keep waiting.

Pietrangelo becomes an unrestricted free agent after the season, and Armstrong suggested that it would be very unlikely that any deal would be reached before the Blues finish their season, which last year came in mid-June, only a couple weeks before free agency began.

“Alex is a 30-year-old pro,” Armstrong said. “He’s the captain of our franchise, he’s someone that I have the utmost respect for. Our goal is still to try to get him signed. I think I’ll address the issue if he doesn’t sign what will happen at that point.

“Our focus is to see if we can get him signed but it’s certainly not going to happen between now and our last regular-season game and if we’re good enough to make the playoffs, (the last) playoff game. It’s not something we’re working on now, it’s not something we’ve worked on all year.”

Defenseman Jay Bouwmeester will hold a news conference on Wednesday for his first public comments since his heart episode on Feb. 11 in Anaheim, Calif.

Armstrong said that Bouwmeester would finish the regular season on long-term injured reserve.

Armstrong said he would like for Vladimir Tarasenko to get as many regular-season games as possible when he returns from his shoulder surgery. He said Tarasenko would accompany the team on their upcoming trip to New York, New Jersey and Chicago, and that after that, Armstrong, Tarasenko and team doctors would meet to determine when he could return to action. After that trip, 13 games remain in the regular season.

“Ideally I’d like to see him get 20 games,” Armstrong said. “That’s not going to happen; closer to 20 than three, I’d be happy.”

He stressed that Tarasenko would not be rushed back into action.

“He’s a key piece of our franchise moving forward so whether it would be a playoff game or getting him back in the lineup, he’s not going to come back until we’re 100% comfortable that he’s going to be able to protect himself in those situations,” Armstrong said. “We’re going to make sure he’s 100% healthy and ready to go. We’re certainly not going to put him in a position where we’re hoping he can survive a game.”

Armstrong said the team’s interest in Chris Kreider of the Rangers waned when it became clear to them they would get Tarasenko back in the regular season and that he couldn’t be fit under the salary cap. Also, the team’s recent win streak simplified things.

“If we hadn’t won the last four we’d be in that quagmire fighting for that last playoff spot,” Armstrong said. “You can’t have a steady diet of giving up three-plus goals a night in the NHL. I don’t care how you’re playing or if they’re fluky goals or lucky goals, no matter what, you can’t count on scoring four-plus a night.”

With the 23-man roster limit off after the trade deadline, the Blues “recalled” Troy Brouwer from , though he never actually went there after being sent down last week. Brouwer stayed in St. Louis awaiting to see what the team did at the deadline.

Brouwer may not be done with being sent down. If Tarasenko comes back in the regular season, the Blues won’t have room for Brouwer under the cap, even with his low salary. But the salary cap doesn’t apply after the regular season ends, so if he had to be sent out, he could be called back for the postseason.

“He’s a great guy in the locker room,” coach Craig Berube said. “Also, he’s played and won a Cup. He knows how to play the game. They’re valuable guys. He may be a little bit older but he still knows how to win.” 1178814 St Louis Blues “There’s been a lot going on,” he said. “I think that’s something I’m definitely going to have to evaluate. But to say I’ve done that … I wouldn’t say fully yet.”

‘It saved my life’: Jay Bouwmeester recalls critical moments of cardiac “Just to clarify, Jay and I have spoken over the last week or so,” Blues episode general manager Doug Armstrong added. “We both understand that he won’t participate this year in the regular season or playoffs for us. We talked about longer-term things that may or may not happen and both feel that it’s February — you don’t have to make long-term decisions at By Jeremy Rutherford this point. So, he’s going to take time. He’ll get back in with his family and Feb 26, 2020 be around the team and he’ll address those things as the summer progresses.”

It’s been a difficult stretch on Bouwmeester’s family, though he was Like he had done thousands of times during his 17-year NHL career, Jay extremely thankful that his dad was on the trip. Dan Bouwmeester was Bouwmeester dumped the puck into the opponent’s zone and went for a able to comfort loved ones back home about what was happening that change. night in Anaheim.

What happened next changed his life. “When people don’t know what’s going on, as far as family, my mom, who were able to get in touch with him and he was able to relay that The 6-foot-4, 206-pound defensemen glided to the Blues’ bench, sat information, was extremely helpful for everybody,” he said. “For me to down and collapsed, suffering what general manager Doug Armstrong have someone like a parent that you’re close with there for that support would describe later as a cardiac episode. was great. Having my dad there really helped (his wife Devon) get sort of “It all just came pretty suddenly,” Bouwmeester said Wednesday at the play-by-play as things were happening.” Enterprise Center, in his first public comments since the incident in Bouwmeester was eventually able to hug his wife, and his three Anaheim on Feb. 11. “Everything up to that point was normal … so daughters, ages 8, 5 and 2. yeah, it really was completely out of the blue.” “I’ve got young kids, and they knew something was up,” he said. “You The next few moments would be traumatizing for everyone involved — can’t really explain the specifics to them. So for them when they on the bench, where teammates alertly called for medical officials; in a physically see you, it’s OK, it’s fine, they move on with things. But suite at Honda Center, where his father, Dan, sat with others on the obviously my wife was happy to see me and I was happy to see her. Dad’s Trip; and back in St. Louis, where Armstrong immediately phoned That’s the most important thing. Anytime you go through something like Bouwmeester’s wife, Devon, who wasn’t watching the game. this, or your family goes through, that’s what you always realize. A defibrillator was applied and Bouwmeester was revived by the medical Sometimes you lose sight of things like that when life gets busy, but this staffs of the Ducks and Blues, and as Bouwmeester was placed on a puts things in perspective. stretcher and moved toward a back hallway, Fox Sports Midwest’s “I was (in Anaheim) for five days, so I got back and that’s all you want to Darren Pang was able to inform viewers live on the air that his eyes were do is be around your family and make sure that they’re OK. We’ll get to open. He was being transported to UC Irvine Medical Center less than the point where I’m sure she’ll want to kick me out of the house. That’s two miles away. why I can come down here, so it’s good.” “By the time I got to the ambulance, I was aware,” Bouwmeester said. “I This wasn’t Bouwmeester’s first trip to Enterprise Center. He’s actually didn’t know what had happened, but I could talk. I knew what was going attended a few games. on at that time. I got extremely lucky that way, where they were able to get there as quickly as they did.” “He’s been coming and visiting the guys on most game days, which is good,” Blues coach Craig Berube said. “We want him around, so he’s The soft-spoken Bouwmeester was even more reserved Wednesday as welcome as much as he wants. The guy has won everything and been he recalled the events from 15 days earlier, especially when describing involved in hockey a long time. He can add a lot of insight, not only to the how he lived to talk about it. players, but the coaches, too. We’ve talked to him … if he wants to come “I’ve gone over this a lot in my head, places where this could have in and talk to us about what he’s seeing, I’m all for it.” happened, and the outcome would have been very different,” Bouwmeester was asked if he would have interest in offering some Bouwmeester said. “From doctors in the hospital to pretty much everyone pointers, and before he could answer, Armstrong chimed in. I’ve talked to, that’s the consensus. It happened in the absolute best place that it could happen because the protocols that they have in place “We’re actually going to start with the (penalty kill) tomorrow,” Armstrong and the way that people responded … it saved my life.” said, laughing.

Wearing a gray zip-up jacket and black jeans, but without the St. Louis That was in reference to a unit which gave up three goals to Chicago, Cardinals hat he usually wears to the rink, Bouwmeester looked which has the NHL’s worst power play, in a 6-5 win over the Blackhawks as well as could be expected. on Tuesday.

“I’m at the point now, I feel pretty good,” he said. “That’s kind of the weird “I don’t want to coach,” Bouwmeester said, smiling. “For me, that side of thing about this whole thing is you go from something that happened things is different. When you’re playing, you’re still a player and you’re totally out of the blue and unexpected to being in the hospital for a couple worried about playing. But yeah, if there’s anything that anybody wants to of days. There are some restrictions to what I can do, but I feel pretty talk about, players and coaches … the Blues have always been a great normal. That’s a good thing.” organization to me, so as long as you’re here, you want to be a part of that.” If those in the Blues’ media room were waiting to hear Bouwmeester acknowledge that he was retiring from the NHL, that never came. After Teammate Brayden Schenn joked that the Blues may not get many issuing a brief public statement on Feb. 18, Bouwmeester wished to words out of Bouwmeester. expound on his appreciation and answer any questions reporters had, which he did for about 20 minutes. “There’s moments when you get ‘chatty Bouw,’ but not very often,” Schenn said. “But I think the presence that he has in this locker room and “I just wanted to say thank to (Blues athletic trainer) Ray Barile and the throughout the organization is incredible. To see his face, whether it be training staffs of both our team and Anaheim, and the doctors and all the morning skates or practices, I think it’s good to see. When he’s around, paramedics and everybody who helped me that night and up to this guys are listening. If he’s talking, guys are listening. Everyone knows if point,” Bouwmeester said. “The support that people have shown has he’s here or not. I just think having Jay-Bo here, it means a lot to us.” been pretty humbling. It goes to show you the hockey community, you know, people really do care about each other. It’s a small world. I’m very “It’s helped me for sure to come and see them, but I think it’s helped appreciative.” those guys to see you,” Bouwmeester said. “For me, the incident, I know what happened, but I wasn’t there. There were other people that saw A question was obviously asked of Bouwmeester about his future, and he what happened and it’s probably more traumatizing for them. So I think answered as best he could. when they see you walking around, it helps get things back to normal.” There is a new normal, however.

Bouwmeester underwent a procedure in Anaheim to have an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) placed in his chest. It restores the heart’s normal rhythm.

“It’s something you’ve never had before,” he said. “It’s there, but I think over time it’s not invasive or anything. Essentially you have a backstop implanted in you where if that were to happen again, it would act as a defibrillator.”

He’d rather not think about it, though. In fact, he hasn’t watched the video from that night.

“No, I haven’t looked at it,” Bouwmeester said. “Being out there in the hospital was pretty good. We were in our little bubble and I wasn’t searching too much out. Those things can sometimes not help you. Maybe one day, I don’t know.”

Doctors haven’t determined exactly what caused Bouwmeester’s cardiac episode, he said, adding they’re still trying to pin it down. But they believe he’ll be able to hold down a healthy lifestyle.

“I consider myself pretty fortunate,” Bouwmeester said. “I’ve always enjoyed being active and doing that stuff. That was really the one thing when I realized what happened, what it was going to be going forward. Can you still do those things that you enjoy? The outlook is that, ‘Yeah you can.’ From my viewpoint, the early stages, that was my biggest concern. It sounds like best-case scenario, it shouldn’t be that much of a concern.”

And if he can’t play again, it’s OK, at least for now.

“It’s tough, but quite honestly, hockey hasn’t really been at the front of my mind the last couple of weeks,” Bouwmeester said. “Like I said, it’s surreal because I feel pretty good. You can compare it to another injury, something that you’ve gone through, where you’re just not playing. But you have to remind yourself of what happened. Yeah, I’m a hockey player, I’d like to play hockey, so sure you’d like to be out there. But it’s OK to take a step back right now.

“I’ve accomplished a lot of things that you set out (to do) when you’re young. I’m proud of a lot of the team accomplishments. I’ve always tried to be a good teammate and fit in on teams. To say that I’ve been a part of some really good teams … obviously last year was special, but other competitions, to go to the Olympics, all the experiences that you have, I’ve been really lucky because I’ve had a lot of good experiences.”

Though this situation didn’t start out that way, it turned out to be.

“I’m just happy he’s healthy and he’s doing well,” Berube said. “It was a tough thing obviously for him and his family and the team. But he’s doing well now, so that’s good news.”

The Athletic LOADED: 02.27.2020 1178815 Tampa Bay Lightning

How did the Lightning’s newcomers look?

By Diana C. Nearhos

Published Yesterday

Updated Earlier today

TAMPA — Blake Coleman, Barclay Goodrow and Zach Bogosian joined the Lightning over nine days this month. Tuesday’s game against the Maple Leafs was the first opportunity to see all three in action.

So, how’d they do?

It’s really too early to ask that question. It takes time for players to learn a new system and settle in. Tuesday morning, assistant coach Derek Lalonde sat down with Goodrow over a computer, and assistant coach Todd Richards was with Bogosian over a whiteboard.

But that doesn’t stop anyone from wanting to know early impressions.

Overall, coach Jon Cooper said, the organization wanted to add depth to the “great core.”

Of Coleman and Goodrow, Cooper said, “Nothing’s going to stop them from getting to a puck. They’re not afraid to go to any area of the ice. They’re gritty. They’re tenacious. They’re just hard to play against.”

He believes the additions will help the Lightning win games in different ways. It’s those players who “push you across the line” down the stretch, he said.

What first impressions did the three newbies make?

Blake Coleman

Cooper’s assessment: “Coleman’s been fantastic. He doesn’t have the points and stuff to show for it, but he’s been great for us.”

Coleman, a forward acquired from the Devils in a Feb. 16 trade, has the advantage in the trio: His home debut was his third game with the Lightning. Tampa Bay brought Coleman in to be a pest, and he has been that. Coleman has been all over the ice, delivering hits and bumping guys. He also fanned on two chances at an open net, but both were moving pucks.

Barclay Goodrow

Cooper’s assessment: “He had the two-on-one (on the penalty kill). He had to set up goals. He’s big, he’s physical, he competes hard. He has all those assets.”

Goodrow, a forward acquired from the Sharks on Monday, kept his shifts short Tuesday, his first Lightning game, a sign of someone finding his way on a new team. Targeted as a “big, physical center,” Goodrow brings another disruptive presence on defense. At one point Tuesday, he turned that on Toronto’s John Tavares, bumping him off-balance and then delivering a little shove to keep him that way.

Zach Bogosian

Cooper’s assessment: “He’s a big boy, he can skate. He did everything we asked of him, broke the puck out. It was too bad because he had a couple of bombs, one that unfortunately hits (Brayden Point) in front."

Bogosian, a defenseman signed as a free agent Sunday, nearly scored on his first shot in his first Lightning game. He fired from just inside the blue line, and the puck went off goalie Frederik Andersen’s glove, then the post.

On the other side of the puck, however, he was beat by Tavares on a slick backhand in the second period. The play was an overall fail. It started with a lazy clear attempt by Steven Stamkos. Then Nikita Kucherov was beaten along the wall. Bogosian was between Tavares and the net but couldn’t do anything to stop the shot.

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 02.27.2020 1178816 Tampa Bay Lightning Goodrow has played in a bigger role, playing with skilled players, as San Jose has dealt with injuries. Over the last few months, someone on the Lightning’s staff has watched just about all of his games live or on video.

The Lightning got their deadline targets in Barclay Goodrow and Blake “He’s been matched up against some really good players and has Coleman handled it really well,” BriseBois said. “So I think he’s somewhat of an underrated player.”

He commented that while the Goodrow brings a different profile, By Diana C. Nearhos Coleman fits the team’s style like some of the players they already have and “we love those guys.” Published Yesterday Coleman is a speedy, relentless forward. He plays similarly to Yanni

Gourde, hard around the net, battling, digging pucks out. TAMPA — When the Lightning met at midyear, they identified a target As they brought in two players in the last two days, the Lightning re- area at the trade deadline: two physical forwards, ideally one being a big assigned Cameron Gaunce and Mitchell Stephens to the AHL. That center. move makes both players eligible for the Calder Cup Playoffs (another Julien BriseBois said they specifically identified Barclay Goodrow and piece of the 3 p.m. deadline). Blake Coleman. They play different games, but both are physical They can be recalled, but NHL teams only have three recalls for the rest forwards and Goodrow is a big center at 6 feet 2, 215 pounds. The trick of the regular season. Now that the Lightning have 13 forwards, and was that neither was necessarily going to be available. seven to nine defensemen, they have a full complement in the NHL. To get the players they wanted, the Lightning paid a premium: both of That number of defensemen is vague as Rutta, McDonagh and Cernak their first-round picks in 2020 plus highly-touted prospect Nolan Foote. are all injured. Cernak could be available for tonight’s game against BriseBois reiterated that if you’re a buyer at the deadline, you’re probably Toronto. McDonagh could return in 10 to 14 days and Rutta likely needs going to pay a premium. He knew he had to be aggressive, and was. another two to three weeks.

“You’re damned if you do, damned if you don’t,” he said. “I decided I was But the Lightning has the reinforcements now. going to take the risk of being damned because I did. We aggressively pursued these players and we paid what we had to pay to get them and make us the best team possible.” Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 02.27.2020 Goodrow came on Monday’s trade deadline from San Jose with Philadelphia’s third-round pick in return for the Lightning’s first and Anthony Greco, who Tampa Bay got from Florida in an AHL trade on Thursday. The Lightning were at the contract limit and needed to move someone; San Jose asked for Greco.

That trade came together shortly after 2:30 p.m. and was announced almost two hours after the 3 p.m. deadline.

Getting Coleman from New Jersey on Feb. 16 required Vancouver’s first- round pick, which the Lightning had from the J.T. Miller trade in June, and Foote.

When Jan Rutta was hurt Feb. 4 and then Ryan McDonagh two days later, the Lightning also started looking for a defenseman, preferably a right shot. Zach Bogosian became available when his contract was terminated by Buffalo.

And so the Lightning have their team.

They looked at other options for physical forwards, but these were the two they felt fit this organization best. Part of that is because of how they play — Coleman fitting a model this team likes and Goodrow adding size at center — but there’s more at play as well.

The 2020 trade deadline was almost as much about next season as the deep run the Lightning hope to make this year. All three players set the Lightning up for the playoffs, but they also make sense with the team’s coming salary cap crunch.

Bogosian signed a one-year contract. Coleman and Goodrow are under contract for one more year with very cap-friendly terms, which is part of why the trades cost so much. Coleman’s cap hit is $1.3 million and Goodrow $925,000.

The Lightning have to re-sign pending restricted free agents Anthony Cirelli, Erik Cernak and Mikhail Sergachev this summer. Coleman and Goodrow are both good players who leave salary cap space for those players.

BriseBois said whoever the Lightning looked at “ideally, they’d be signed to contracts and provide really good value from a cap standpoint.”

He can’t quantify how much, but feels the Lightning is a better team, harder to play against as of Monday than it was two weeks ago.

“We needed a big, physical center and (Goodrow) brings that,” BriseBois said. “He has the size, he also has the physicality. He plays with an edge.” 1178817 Tampa Bay Lightning “When you look at odd-man rushes, they were coming off our power play,” Cooper said. “Their penalty kill probably out-chanced our power play, and their power play scored. So, to me, that was the difference in the game.” Film session: What has gone wrong during the Lightning’s three-game slide? The penalty kill hasn’t been much better. The unit rose from 29th in the league in late October to the top five in a few short months, and it fueled the 11-game winning streak. There have been cases of getting bad bounces, like on the two power-play goals Tampa Bay allowed in Arizona By Joe Smith (one off of Yanni Gourde’s skate and another banked in off goalie Andrei Feb 26, 2020 Vasilevskiy).

But the power-play goals they gave up on Tuesday were more on execution. There was a picture-perfect tip by Tavares on one. TAMPA, Fla. — The Lightning had just tied the game Tuesday midway through their showdown with the Maple Leafs. The other? Nylander was left so wide open in front that he had time to flip the puck between his legs. Erik Cernak stepped out to try to block a shot, But, like the last two losses, all it took was a minute to let it slip away. leaving an opening, and Victor Hedman was in front of the net.

Tampa Bay’s top line was on the ice — Steven Stamkos, Brayden Point The Lightning controlled play in the third period, pulling to within one on a and Nikita Kucherov — for a defensive-zone faceoff. What happened goal by Gourde, but it was too late. next symbolized how the Lightning have managed to lose three straight games in regulation for the first time this season: a lack of execution, “It’s part of that urgency factor,” Shattenkirk said. “It’s a matter of us puck-management issues and good old-fashioned blown coverage. realizing we had only tied the game, let’s not take a breath. We built some momentum and started doing the right things. This year, we’re There was a lost faceoff. A failed clear by Stamkos. A board battle getting the other team’s best shift every game.” Kucherov lost to William Nylander. A bit of overzealousness on the parts of Stamkos and Point to head out of the zone and get on offense, leaving In the 5-3 loss to Vegas last Thursday, Stamkos had tied it 2-2 in the the middle unprotected. second period. But 1 minute, 1 second later, Kucherov tried to stickhandle his way into the Golden Knights zone instead of dumping it in And an all-world center in John Tavares finishing, giving the Leafs the as his team was changing. The turnover led to a two-on-one and a goal lead for good in a 4-3 win at . from Mark Stone.

The Lightning didn’t play poorly Tuesday night, at least not in five-on-five. In Arizona? The same thing. Point had tied it up midway through the They had a good start and a strong finish, but there was too much second. But 53 seconds later, former Hart Trophy winner Taylor Hall sloppiness in the middle. They lost this game because their stunningly forced a turnover from Braydon Coburn behind the net. Hall then flipped futile power play gave up more chances than it created and their recently a pass in front to Brad Richardson. Gourde had allowed him to get inside struggling penalty kill gave up two. position. The Coyotes took the lead and ended up winning in a rout.

The 7-3 loss to Arizona on Saturday? It was an old-fashioned clunker. How did the Lightning take off just after Christmas and win 23 of their “Three periods of bad hockey,” as Kevin Shattenkirk put it. Coach Jon next 26 games? They were on top of their two-way game, defensively Cooper was even more dire: “We’re just not committed to winning the responsible in all zones, making it feel like “there were six of us on the right way right now.” ice,” according to Gourde. Not only were their gaps good, but they protected the middle of the ice and gave up fewer high-danger chances. The Vegas loss wasn’t quite as bad — it could be blamed more on bad They were great at boxing out in front, giving Vasilevskiy a chance to see puck management and penalties. the shots. And the Vezina Trophy winner responded with his best stretch In all three defeats, however, there has been a common thread: The of the season, going 19-0-2. Lightning gave up the go-ahead goal within a minute of tying it up. Then there was the puck management and decision-making. It has “We’ve got to be better in that department,” winger Alex Killorn said. slipped a bit recently. Take this play in the Arizona game, for example. “You’ve got a responsibility when you go on the ice after a goal — that’s Ondrej Palat carried the puck into the Coyotes zone but forced a pass a huge shift. And we’ve got to take more ownership, responsibility in into the middle, and Arizona went the other way on an odd-man rush to that.” score.

This is not where we sound the alarm bells. Let’s not forget that it was “I think a lot of times our (third forward) in the offensive zone hasn’t been only a week ago that Tampa Bay was soaring on a franchise-record, 11- good enough, and it ends up being two-on-one or three-on-two because game winning streak. Despite Tuesday’s loss, the Lightning are still 11 our defensemen are pinching,” Killorn said. “We’ve just got to protect the points up on third-place Toronto. They’re one of the strongest, deepest area in front of the net, which we had been so good (at) in that run. The teams in the league, having been bolstered by three deadline scoring chances were so down when we did that. We’ve got to get back acquisitions. to that hockey.”

The biggest concern was that Stamkos had to leave another game due to The Lightning have three new players — Blake Coleman, Barclay a nagging, undisclosed lower-body injury and missed the entire third Goodrow and Zach Bogosian — to get acclimated. And they’re in the period. Stamkos told me several weeks ago that the ailment is something middle of a five-game homestand, which should give them plenty of he’ll have to “manage” the rest of the season. You can fix a power play. opportunities to work out of this losing streak. It’s hard to replace your captain. But something that veteran wing Pat Maroon said after Saturday’s loss in It would help, however, to improve their puzzlingly problematic play with Arizona struck me on where they were and how they can get back to the man advantage. This group is way too talented — with Kucherov, their winning ways. Victor Hedman, Stamkos, Point and more — to struggle this much. They “We’ve just got to come out and play our game,” Maroon said. “If we play are 6-for-61 (9.8 percent) since Jan. 1 and 4-for-52 in their last 21 games a full 60 minutes and lose the right way, we’ll take that loss and accept (7.6 percent). and move on. But, right now, (negative) things are creeping back into our 6-for-61! game, and we’re getting frustrated when that stuff happens. We’re losing focus and finding a way to chase the game instead of playing the right “The only confidence we can take out of it is we know we have the group way and being smart with the puck. that can do it,” Killorn said. “Once it gets going, it’ll be a momentum shift. Once we get scoring some, we’ll gain some confidence.” “We’ll bounce back,” he continued. “We did something special (in the 11- game winning streak), and we can’t get too down on ourselves. We’ve Right now, Tampa Bay is either missing the net (which it did often got to keep our chin up high and play desperate hockey again.” Tuesday) or overpassing. It’s like they’re getting paid per pass. A couple of turnovers led to Maple Leafs odd-man rushes in the same power play. The Athletic LOADED: 02.27.2020 1178818 Toronto Maple Leafs If Dubas is attempting to brand himself a modern-day Zen-master — perhaps there’s an argument it makes good sense. An 11-time NBA champion coach named Phil Jackson once wrapped his sage-scented career with an appealing bit of mystery by alerting the dynastic Chicago Leafs GM Kyle Dubas handles latest dose of bad news with a shrug, or Bulls to the virtues of group meditation and practice-court yoga. And at least a parable about shrugs given that Jackson’s best players included on-court assassins such as Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, you can see why Dubas might see

Wednesday as a fine moment to take a page from Jackson’s playbook. By Dave Feschuk Sports Columnist Jordan and Bryant, of course, were offensive beasts who also showed monk-like dedication to hellacious defence. Wed., Feb. 26, 2020 With Toronto’s defence corps as depleted as it is — with Morgan Rielly and Cody Ceci both expected to be out until mid-March — Dubas can only hope his offensively gifted stars pay Jordan-esque heed to the less defenceman Jake Muzzin was expected to be out four weeks with a glamorous side of the game. But that’s a leap. broken hand, a YouTube video was posted to the Twitter account of Toronto general manager Kyle Dubas. No, Dubas’s latest contribution to the popular discourse doesn’t feel as calculated as it seems impulsive. And it’s not his first foot-in-mouth The video featured the late British writer Alan Watts reading aloud the indiscretion this week. Consider an overlooked aspect of his memorable story of the Chinese Farmer, a popular parable often used to teach press conference on Monday, the laughable tangential argument that Eastern philosophy to the masses. The farmer in the story takes things Saturday’s 6-3 loss to the Hurricanes in the now-infamous Zamboni as the gurus recommend — that is, with a shrug as they come. When Driver game amounted to a “no-win situation.” friends suggest a particular life event is lamentable — say, that time the farmer’s beloved son breaks his leg — the farmer is unconvinced. “If we won the game, it would be embarrassing as well, because you’re Maybe, he says. down 4-1 and then it’ll be a whole other set of controversy that would come up like ‘Oh geez, the Maple Leafs, it’s their own employee,’” Dubas It’s only after that same broken leg saves the beloved son from being said. “We were in a no-win situation in that game.” conscripted into a bloody war that the farmer seems as though he might be onto something. That, of course, was a ridiculous contention. It wasn’t a no-win. It was a non-win. If the Leafs had scored eight goals on their eight shots on Charming story. And what did it have to do with Dubas’s hockey team lovable David Ayres, it’s possible there might have been a few jokes being life and death to make the playoffs? Clearly this was Dubas, who’s cracked at the Leafs’ expense, sure. That Dubas expressed an ounce of been known to text such stories privately to team members, saying to his concern with the potential blowback from that theoretical scenario — it’s fan base: Don’t overreact to the loss of our best remaining defenceman the latest indication that he’s not only sensitive to criticism, he’s spending for the most important stretch of the season. What seems like adversity too much time anticipating it. He’s not just hyperaware of the current can sometimes breed opportunity. narrative. He’s now attempting to drive it. And this is what any sentient superior at Maple Leafs headquarters ought You have to assume Brendan Shanahan, who lives a hermitlike to be saying to Dubas: Put down the phone. Stay off social media. Let existence as a rarely heard overseer, has already told him to stop. Then the team you built do the talking, for better or worse. Even the worst again, in the smarter-than-thou universe where there’s no differentiation historical caretakers of an organization that loves scapegoating the between good fortune and misfortune, maybe it’s possible there’s a “noise” in this market for its chronic underachievement have always school of thought that insists there’s no difference between good publicity known their argument becomes a lot less buyable when they’re the ones and the kind of the stuff Dubas has spent this week bringing on himself. turning up the volume. Someone needs to tell Dubas that bat-bleep All those years of Lou Lamoriello’s mentorship obviously rubbed off on eccentricity only works for billionaire owners. the young grasshopper. What is he thinking? How does a well-put-together student of analytics Or maybe Shanahan knows there’s no stopping him. This is Dubas trying start coming off as attention-obsessed as , if Brian Burke to navigate the toughest challenge of his professional career. And were a pacifist millennial. maybe, just maybe, we’re seeing the outward signs that he’s in over his Just two days after holding a rambling press conference in which he head, for better or worse. Only the Buddha knows. dropped a bleep-able curse word on live TV while expressing his aw- shucks befuddlement regarding what to do about his team’s Jekyll and Hyde inconsistency, here was Dubas tweeting out more proof he’s lost Toronto Star LOADED: 02.27.2020 the plot.

“The whole process of nature is an integrated process of immense complexity,” says Watts in the YouTube video posted on Dubas’s account.

It sounds vaguely Buddhist. Or perhaps it’s MLSE-approved capitalist. Good fortune, misfortune — either way, we’re gonna make a fortune!

In any event, in sports, watching in bars and living rooms, we mostly do know the rough consequences of many life events, at least as they pertain to our immediate self interest. For Leaf fans the consequence of Muzzin breaking his hand means the misfortune of watching some guys who probably ought to be in the minors play in the majors.

To which Dubas had to retort: Yeah, but the Chinese Farmer. Maybe this was Dubas with a pre-emptive brag: Don’t underestimate the power of the graduates of your Toronto Marlies, he might have been saying. The not-so-vaunted likes of Martin Marincin, Justin Holl, Travis Dermott, Timothy Liljegren, Rasmus Sandin and the just-reacquired Calle Rosen stand to play bigger NHL minutes than anyone might have imagined at the season’s outset, beginning with Thursday’s crucial road date with the Florida Panthers, where the two teams most likely to finish in third place in the Atlantic Division will play a proverbial four-point game.

Maybe this was Dubas saying to his team and its fan base: Don’t panic. The developmental system I masterminded has got this. Just assume your best downward dog and breathe. Oh, and check out the fruits of my latest trip down a YouTube rabbit hole. 1178819 Toronto Maple Leafs Dermott hasn’t had the greatest of seasons. He started late due to a shoulder injury and only recently has looked like the player he was last year. To his credit, Tuesday’s game against Tampa, when he stepped up once Muzzin went down, was probably his best. Maple Leafs’ blue line is a green line with Jake Muzzin out at least a month “Just looking how he played against some of their better people and how competitive he was,” Keefe said, “I thought he just really worked hard and defended our net well.

By Kevin McGran Sports Reporter “He’s been waiting for his chance to take steps … Everybody’s going to be asked to do a little bit and are going to be required to do more.” Wed., Feb. 26, 2020

Toronto Star LOADED: 02.27.2020 SUNRISE, FLA.—It’s fair to say now that the Toronto Maple Leafs defence has a championship pedigree.

The only problem, the championship was the Calder Cup, and the league was one down, the American Hockey League.

But that doesn’t matter to the team or the coach. As injuries have decimated the Maple Leafs blue line — Jake Muzzin is the latest casualty — Sheldon Keefe has drawn from a familiar well.

“If you look at the group, there’s a lot of familiar faces for me,” said Keefe, who coached the Toronto Marlies for four years. “It’s pretty darn close to the Calder Cup championship defence. That’s a good thing.

“I’ve got a comfort level with those guys and confidence in them. They’re a confident group together. These guys are not AHL defencemen.”

Calle Rosen, who was a member of that 2018 Cup-winning team along with Travis Dermott, Martin Marincin, Justin Holl and Timothy Liljegren, was welcomed back to the fold Wednesday. “It was a pretty good squad,” said Dermott, joking the Leafs were just missing Vincent LoVerde, now in the Rangers system, and Andrew Nielsen, now in the Flames system.

Rosen was reacquired from Colorado for goalie Michael Hutchinson. He had been part of last summer’s trade with Nazem Kadri that brought the Leafs centre Alex Kerfoot and defenceman Tyson Barrie.

“Just excited to be back,” Rosen said. “I know most of the guys here so it’s just fun.”

Rosen might see action right away after Muzzin broke his hand Tuesday in Tampa. The 31-year-old, who missed a month after Christmas with a foot injury, will be out at least another four weeks, joining Morgan Rielly and Cody Ceci on the sidelines. Those two remain “weeks” away, according to Keefe.

“It’s really been a crazy year in terms of injuries,” Holl said. “I’ve never been a part of anything like this.”

The injuries leave the Leafs with one of the greenest blue lines in the NHL as they visit Florida Panthers on Thursday night in their ongoing battle for third place in the Atlantic.

“It’s not ideal, but it’s part of the gig, right?” Keefe said. “It’s the reason why you acquire depth, and the reason why you develop players and the reason why you have a good and healthy minor-league system.”

Barrie, at 28, is the grizzled veteran of the group, and the only member of the squad not to have played for Keefe with the Marlies. Rasmus Sandin, now paired with Barrie, played there all of last year and part of this year.

Barrie has 548 NHL games under his belt. The other six healthy defencemen total 496, with Marincin’s 222 at the top and Liljegren’s eight at the low end.

But it’s Dermott, with 151 games, who might face the biggest challenge. His parents and grandparents — and his dog — have come to Sunrise, where Dermott will be relied upon to fill many of Muzzin’s duties. Dermott practised Wednesday with Holl to form what should be the shutdown pair, and he likely will have a bigger role in penalty killing.

“It’s an opportunity for everyone to step up here,” Dermott said. “You want to take the positives out of everything.

“Muzzin is a big part of our team that we lost. It seems like a lot of guys we’re losing are big parts. It’s an opportunity for everyone to grow, guys to step into some shoes that they’re not used to being in. Just learn and get better. And then, by the time everyone gets back, we’ll be that much better.” 1178820 Toronto Maple Leafs

Game Day: Maple Leafs at Panthers

Lance Hornby

February 26, 2020 11:36 PM EST

THE BIG MATCHUP

G Frederik Anderen vs. G Sergei Bobrovsky

A swing game in a tight playoff race comes down to a tale of the twine. Both men have taken abuse, Florida’s ‘Bob’ for his early failures to live up to a big new contract, but he’s finishing the schedule strong. Andersen can be very good, or take on the worst traits of his team when they get pushed into mistakes.

FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME

Put the kids to bed

The Panthers dodge trouble with physical Leaf defenceman Jake Muzzin joining a long Leafs injury list, but no doubt wanted to see rookies Rasmus Sandin and Timothy Liljegren paired together so they could be targeted with a heavy forecheck. Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe indicates they will be split up.

Welcome home

The Panthers came through a long Western U.S. road trip with three wins in five games. But the quick turnaround to Eastern time could leave them a little flat. Aleksander Barkov had six points in as many games at BB & T before the trip and is a known threat to the Leafs. The new Panthers acquired at the trade deadline, Erik Haula and Lucas Wallmark from Carolina, will also be making their home debuts.

Third and long odds

The Leafs have had a few rocky finishes in the third period, but not so the Cats. In the 26 games they have held a lead after two periods, it’s as good as won with a record of 25-0-1.

Auston overdue

Toronto’s leading scorer, Auston Matthews, does not have a goal in three games, stuck on 43, his longest dry spell since early December. His shooting eye was off a bit on some nice power-play chances Tuesday night. But linemate Mitch Marner, who described his efforts in Saturday’s loss to Carolina as doggy doo-doo, looked much better against Tampa Bay.

Help wanted

With so many holes at the back end, Keefe was asking his forwards on Wednesday to be more dedicated on the back check. “It puts a little more onus on our collective group, particularly the forwards, to do a good job of protecting,” he said. “Even when we’re healthy, that’s part of what we talk about all the time, helping our defence.”

Toronto Sun LOADED: 02.27.2020 1178821 Toronto Maple Leafs “It’s definitely a point to be emphasized now. It hurts losing three of your defenceman at any point, especially together, but we know we can step up and do it.

No choice for Leafs but to go green on the blue line “Whatever your role is, play it. You don’t need to necessarily fill the person’s shoes you’re replacing, but just do what you do well.”

Lance Hornby Toronto Sun LOADED: 02.27.2020 February 26, 2020 9:23 PM EST

SUNRISE, Fla. — Don’t worry, Justin Holl says, the depleted Maple Leafs have a Cup-winning defence.

That would be the 2018 Calder Cup, with five members of that Marlies blue-line now thrust into major roles on the eve of what a couple of Leafs called the “most important game of the year” against the Panthers and with 17 more ahead of them down the stretch of a pressure-packed NHL playoff race.

But with a sense of excitement, adventure — and sadness that Jake Muzzin’s broken hand puts him with Morgan Rielly and Cody Ceci on the injured list — the not-ready-for-prime-time players insist they can fit the bill.

Behind senior man Tyson Barrie’s 548 NHL regular-season games, there’s Martin Marincin (222), Travis Dermott (151) Justin Holl (75), rookies Rasmus Sandin and Timothy Liljegren and 16-game journeyman Calle Rosen, reacquired from Colorado Monday and summoned from the farm Wednesday.

Barrie and Marincin have been branded weak links by critics, with Barrie facing a mountain of trade rumours before it was agreed that the pending free agent would stay at least until the end of the year.

But you wouldn’t have known there was a crisis Wednesday as the Marlies grads were reunited with Rosen and all basked in Tuesday’s 4-3 upset of the Tampa Bay Lightning after Muzzin exited in the second period. Sandin and Liljegren had a rough night, but held things together in the late going. And with the unlikely shutdown pair of Holl and the offensive-minded Dermott deployed during the last minute, the win was secured.

“There’s a lot of familiar faces for me,” said their former Marlies mentor Sheldon Keefe. “Bringing Rosen back is pretty close to the Calder- champion defence. That’s the good thing, my comfort level in these guys, my confidence. These guys are not AHL defencemen, that’s the big thing.

“If (Rosen) hadn’t been included in that (July trade to Colorado with Nazem Kadri), he’d have had a really good chance to play in the NHL this season (with the Leafs). We added him for depth and now you’re going to need him. Now other guys have taken on big minutes, big responsibilities and they’re ready for more.”

Based on Wednesday’s practice, first-round picks Sandin and Liljegren won’t be put in a vulnerable tag-team situation again. Sandin was paired with Barrie, Dermott and Holl stayed put, while Marincin will have Liljegren’s back with Holl and Marincin adding penalty killing duties. Muzzin is gone four weeks, Rielly and Ceci won’t be back soon. The Leafs are also without forwards Ilya Mikheyev and Andreas Johnsson, the latter for the rest of the season.

“It’s part of the gig, right?,” said Keefe, whose experience in the AHL through many three-game weekends with injuries and NHL call-ups saw all manner of lineup machinations. “It’s the reason you acquire depth, the reason you develop players, why you have a good and healthy minor- league system. So if these situations happen, you can press on. We’ve done it before without Rielly and Ceci and now Muzzin.”

Holl and Dermott joked that they expected journeyman Vincent LoVerde to walk through the dressing room door and complete the celebratory picture from 2018.

“It’s really been a crazy year in terms of injuries,” Holl said. “I’ve never been part of anything like this.”

He noted the Leafs have been getting it hammered into them by coaches about team defence all year anyway, so why not use the coming days as the ultimate test? 1178822 Toronto Maple Leafs LOOSE LEAFS Keefe on killing three Tampa Bay power plays on Tuesday, one of the

NHL’s best special teams’ group: “We just jumped on loose pucks really 'Biggest game' awaits Maple Leafs in Florida well, maybe caught them cheating just a little bit, maybe not respecting we can jump behind them. It happens to us just the same” … Tyson Barrie noted he was nowhere near the NHL when he was the 19-year-old Rasmus Sandin’s age, never mind in the league being paired with Lance Hornby another youngster, Timothy Liljegren. “I was still a junior (in Kelowna),” February 26, 2020 7:40 PM EST Barrie said. “Playing as well as they are, in the situations they’re in, I can’t imagine what that would’ve been like for me” … Tanner MacMaster scored 23 seconds into overtime as the Marlies won a 4-3 Wednesday schoolday game against Cleveland at Coca-Cola Coliseum. Miikka SUNRISE, Fla. — The Maple Leafs hope another game in Sunrise will Salomaki and defenceman Miles Kapla had their first Marlies goals, both not see the sun set on their tenuous playoff hopes. assisted by Tyler Gaudet, who also scored. Joseph Woll had 14 saves While there has been no real rivalry between these teams since the for the win. Panthers entered the NHL in the mid-1990s, the two are expected to scratch and claw for third place in the Atlantic Division right to the wire in April, with no guarantee the loser will have enough reserve points to get Toronto Sun LOADED: 02.27.2020 in as one of the two wildcard teams. Currently, Metropolitan clubs with more points control those spots.

The Leafs have lost six straight games at BB&T Arena going back to March of 2017, despite a usually vocal turnout of Snowbirds in Toronto sweaters. And a 5-3 loss to Florida at Scotiabank Arena on Feb. 3 halted the Leafs’ last three-game win streak and saw Frederik Andersen hurt his neck. If the Cats win in regulation Thursday, the Leafs will be squeezed out of third again.

“It’s massive,” said defenceman Travis Dermott. “Probably the biggest game of the year for us. We’ve let it down a couple of times in the past with this battle, so we’re definitely coming in with some knives in our back, ready to shoot back at these guys. A win tomorrow would feel big for us.”

Dermott will have about 15 friends and relatives who live in Florida and the Newmarket area coming in support.

SECRET WEAPON?

If former Florida assistant Paul McFarland has a formula to beat his old team, it’s yet to work in this year’s series.

But Toronto head coach Sheldon Keefe says it has been invaluable having him on staff to be briefed on Panthers’ personnel and other Atlantic teams. And now Keefe has another source to mine for intel: Former Florida winger Denis Malgin, traded to the Leafs last week.

“I haven’t done that quite yet, I certainly plan on putting the bug in his ear and see what we might get,” Keefe said. “But the game is still played on the ice. From Paul, we know a lot about their group, we have a pretty good sense.

“We talked today (as a team), the preparation begins now. We didn’t get the result we wanted last time in Toronto, but I liked a lot of things in that game and I think that’s a pretty good recipe for us.”

WILLY TUNED IN

William Nylander’s between-the-legs goal on Tuesday in Tampa Bay was a popular clip, making it to ESPN’s Sports Center as highlight of the night. The power-play strike was also Nylander’s team-best sixth game winner.

“I didn’t really have time to think,” insisted Nylander, now two goals shy of 30. “It just kind of happened. Nice that it went in.”

Where Kasperi Kapanen tried a similar move on Andrei Vasilevskiy on a breakway earlier in the game and couldn’t elevate the puck, Nylander in close quarters was able to roof it.

“I can’t really see anything so I’m going by feel, but you have to get it up,” Nylander said. “Vaslevskiy’s (pad) is right along the ice.”

Keefe has learned to green-light the creativity among Toronto’s forward group in those scenarios and preach defence when the time in right.

“Yes, in those situations, in alone with the goalie like that,” Keefe agreed. “Kappy’s a guy that’s really moved his feet, too, and that’s three (breakaways) in a row. He’s making a really big difference in our team and we need more of that from he and Will. Big-time goal, big-time finish (by Nylander). He’s got those hands in and around the net and it’s nice to see.” 1178823 Toronto Maple Leafs One coach on why Tyson Barrie wasn’t moved at the deadline: “He’s not the kind of player teams want for the playoffs.” Ouch … Is there enough space on Robin Lehner’s neck for a tattoo of the state of Nevada? … Everyone knows Andreas Athanasiou can skate. Now, we’ll see if he can Emergency defenceman? Leafs could sure use one now play a two-way game. The Oilers might need that more than goals … Sebastian Aho, who has 36 goals, has snuck into the Rocket Richard

Trophy race with 11 goals in 11 games this month … Hope the Michael Traikos Vancouver Canucks don’t regret not getting a “name” goalie at the deadline. If their playoff hopes die with Thatcher Demko, it could derail February 26, 2020 7:59 PM EST the 24-year-old’s confidence going forward … Am I the only one who thinks the Rangers could sneak into the playoffs? If so, it will be weird to

see Henrik Lundqvist watching the games from the press box. Does the league allow for an emergency backup defenceman? Ottawa Senators GM Pierre Dorion can talk all day about the many draft Is there a 42-year-old sitting in the stands who can skate backwards and picks that he once again accumulated in yet another fire sale at the trade chip pucks off the glass? deadline, but losing Jean-Gabriel Pageau was not a good look for a franchise that is becoming the NHL’s version of the Montreal Expos when If so, you might want to call Kyle Dubas. The general manager of the it comes to retaining talent. Toronto Maple Leafs could use all the help he can get these days after Jake Muzzin broke his hand in a game against Tampa Bay on Tuesday. It’s one thing to draft and develop players. It’s another to keep them around. Or, here’s an idea, maybe Dubas should have traded for a defenceman at the deadline. The Senators haven’t been doing enough of the latter.

Brenden Dillon? Dylan DeMelo? Zach Bogosian? Kyle Turris left because he wanted a raise. The same goes for Erik Karlsson and Mark Stone. And now Pageau, a hometown kid who began Any one of them would be a welcome addition right now. At least Dubas his hockey life in Ottawa as a bottom-six forward before working his way had the wherewithal to keep Tyson Barrie. up to the top line, priced himself out of the city.

It’s not being a Monday morning quarterback to suggest the Leafs should What’s the message to fans? What’s the message to players? have known Muzzin was going to break his hand a day after the deadline passed. Even before the injury, the Leafs were paper thin on the blue On the same day that the Senators cut ties with Pageau, the New York line. Now, without Muzzin, Morgan Rielly and Cody Ceci, the Leafs will Rangers announced a seven-year extension for Chris Kreider. The try to hold down a playoff spot with a defence that features four players reason for not trading him was simple: Kreider is someone worth keeping who have combined for 123 career NHL games. around for the rebuild. He’s a competitor. He’s team-first. He’s a guy who sets an example with his play on the ice, as well as his work ethic off the Maybe this is for the best. Maybe this will be the thing that finally forces ice. the forwards into back-checking. Talk to members of the Senators and they say the same things about If there was one thing to learn from Toronto’s embarrassing loss against Pageau. Carolina the other night, it is that you play differently when you’ve got a Zamboni driver in net. The Hurricanes allowed just 10 shots once David Bobby Ryan said he “kind of personifies what you want the Sens to be.” Ayres got into the game because they knew every one of them had a When told that Pageau had challenged a much larger Jacob Trouba to a chance of beating their emergency backup goalie. fight after a nasty hit on his new teammate, Thomas Chabot laughed and said he wasn’t surprised. The Leafs, whose defence has largely been plucked from the American Hockey League, now have to think the same way. “He’s such a big competitor and he’s going to do anything for his team. He’s always going to put the team ahead of himself.” The forwards need to change their mindset. They need protect their minor-league defenders. They have to play harder without the puck if Those are qualities that the Senators will need going forward if they hope Rasmus Sandin, Timothy Liljegren and Calle Rosen hope to have a to go from a bottom-feeder to a playoff contender. Maybe one of the guys chance against Florida on Thursday. they pick up in this year’s draft can provide it.

If they do that and actually win, then maybe when Muzzin, Rielly and That is, before management sends them out the door because they Ceci eventually return to the lineup, this will be a different, more asked for a raise. defensively responsible team than before. When the Carolina Hurricanes reached the conference final last year, Best line about emergency backup goalie David Ayres goes to Carey GM Don Waddell told me the challenge was for the team, which hasn’t Price (via Arpon Basu of The Athletic): “I heard the Zamboni driver’s qualified for the playoffs in back-to-back years since 2002, to keep the going to win the Vezina.” … This just in: Connor McDavid makes momentum going. linemates better … Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin had to love hearing His moves at the trade deadline showed how serious he was. Ilya Kovalchuk in his first news conference in Washington describe playing in Montreal as “one of the best decisions of my hockey life.” It’s difficult to find another team that made as many improvements as That’s the sort of compliment that could go a long way in attracting free Carolina, which added second-line centre Vincent Trocheck from Florida agents in the summer … In the time it took you to read this, another Blue and defencemen Brady Skjei (Rangers) and Sami Vatanen (Devils). Jackets player just got injured … Best of luck to Patrick Marleau on trying cap off his (Hall of Fame-worthy?) career with a Stanley Cup. Wish Joe Will it lead to a playoff spot? Maybe. Maybe not. As of Wednesday, Thornton had been afforded the same opportunity. Carolina was two points back of Columbus for the final wild-card spot, with three games in hand. Grit matters in the playoffs. And it doesn’t come cheap. Just ask the Tampa Bay Lightning, who after getting bounced in the first round of last But like last year’s Blue Jackets, at least they’re going for it. At least their year’s playoffs signed Patrick Maroon and then gave up a pair of first- players know that management has given them every chance. That’s round picks for Blake Coleman and Barclay Goodrow at the deadline … more than the Florida Panthers, Toronto Maple Leafs or Calgary Flames The main reason why Coleman and Goodrow went for first-rounders? can say. They are on cheap, controllable contracts. In the cap-crunched world There are two reasons for buying at the trade deadline: To reward the every team is living in, that’s almost as important as goals and assists … players or to rescue them. Waddell was motivated by both. After the dust has settled, I’m predicting a Tampa Bay versus Vegas final … Wayne Simmonds might be the kind of player Buffalo has needed for Following Saturday’s win against Toronto, in which Carolina lost some time, but he’s arrived a couple of years too late. Simmonds has defenceman Brett Pesce to an injury and had to rely on a 42-year-old eight goals this year. He managed just one goal in 19 games after getting emergency backup after both their goalies left the game hurt, Waddell traded to Nashville at the deadline last season. There’s some significant said he couldn’t sit back and not do something to salvage the season. mileage on his body. “You watch what happened Saturday night and how this team responded to that situation. I can’t even think about what those players were thinking minus two goalies, minus (Brett) for most of the game,” Waddell told reporters following the deadline. “We owe it to those players to give them the best chance for success.”

That’s the kind of message that resonates with fans. And for a team that could be a dangerous first-round opponent if it finds its way into the playoffs, it’s something that can further motivate the players.

Toronto Sun LOADED: 02.27.2020 1178824 Toronto Maple Leafs

Muzzin out 4 weeks with broken hand

Lance Hornby

February 26, 2020 11:09 AM EST

SUNRISE, Fla. – The Maple Leafs’ road to the playoffs just got all that harder with confirmation that rock-solid defenceman Jake Muzzin will be out four weeks with a broken hand.

Muzzin, in his first game Tuesday night after signing a new four-year contract, had scored and was providing support to an eventual 4-3 win in Tampa Bay when he departed the game in the second period with a shot block injury.

With Morgan Rielly and Cody Ceci already out a couple of more weeks at least with injuries, Calle Rosen was called up from the AHL Toronto Marlies.

He was just re-acquired on NHL trade deadline day from Colorado, but had this Muzzin mishap occurred 48 hours earlier, the Leafs might have tried harder to land an experienced blueliner.

The latest injury leaves coach Sheldon Keefe with Justin Holl and Martin Marincin as his lone shutdown defencemen, though they might not play together.

With the third pairing of rookies Rasmus Sandin and Timothy Liljegren getting roughed up, but surviving a severe test against the Lightning, Tyson Barrie, Rosen, Travis Dermott, Holl and Marincin will have to form some kind of chemistry.

Keefe will further address the situation this afternoon when the Leafs practice in Sunrise, Fla. The Panthers are a regulation win away here Thursday from knocking the Leafs out of their third-place playoff spot.

The Leafs did survive a three-week absence of Muzzin in January with a broken foot, but that was with Rielly and Ceci healthy.

With the Leafs down to 18 games, the projected four-week absence could optimistically see Muzzin back by the last week of regular season. Among the games he’ll miss is his homecoming to Los Angeles on March 5 with ex-King teammates Kyle Clifford and goalie Jack Campbell.

Muzzin had three goals in his past six games and has 23 points in 53 games this season.

Toronto Sun LOADED: 02.27.2020 1178825 Toronto Maple Leafs You can probably quibble with the Pat Maroon tip that squirted through his pads in Tampa, but otherwise Andersen outclassed reigning Vezina Trophy winner Andrei Vasilevskiy. He pitched a 24-save shutout in the win over the Penguins last week, and while the save percentage number What Frederik Andersen has unlocked could save the Maple Leafs’ that night might tell a different story (.872), Andersen was superb in the season embarrassing loss to the Hurricanes last weekend.

It was the team around him that sunk.

By Jonas Siegel And what he seems to be gleaning, or perhaps reminding himself of again — even after 365 games in the NHL — is that he can’t let the play Feb 26, 2020 of the team in front of him infect his own performance.

“I think that’s one of the things that I’ve gotten better at, especially lately,” SUNRISE, Fla. — It’s after practice on Wednesday afternoon and though he said of his improved mental approach. “But also realizing over my the skies outside will soon turn grey and the rain will fall in South Florida, career that sometimes there’s gonna be swings.” Frederik Andesen looks to be in a sunny mood after a few stormy He seems to trace his struggles on the ice, at least in part, to the months. struggles in between the ears. As an example of the kind of “wrong” thing Maybe he’s feeling the good vibes because the Maple Leafs just he may have focused on, Andersen brings up bad ice. outlasted the Lightning in Tampa on Tuesday night. Or maybe it’s “You’re letting that get to you,” he said. “But when I’m really playing well, because the Leafs’ embattled No. 1 has unlocked something that may it’s not that the ice is better, it’s just that I don’t care about it. I don’t let help him save his team’s season. Nobody is more important to the Leafs that bother me.” right now, with Jake Muzzin joining Morgan Rielly and Cody Ceci on the list of injured defenders, than the 30-year-old Andersen. It all comes back to remaining as much in the present as possible, he said. The Leafs likely need him to enter Beast Mode for the next few weeks just to get into the postseason. Anything less could destroy their “I would love perfect ice every time,” Andersen continued. “I’d love the D chances, with all the youth and inexperience currently on the back end. playing great and blocking shots every time.

So what’s got Andersen feeling so optimistic? “For example, right now, what do we have? Three major D injuries,” he said, citing another example. “It doesn’t change my job at all, to be quite Well, not long ago, amid his worst stretch as a Leaf, Andersen went old- honest … It’s trying to focus more on what I can do and be my best self school. He pulled out a pen and paper and jotted down a list of all the and I know this will help the guys along. But again, I’m in no control of things he could control. He could control his sleep. He could control what how they play, and they’re in no control of how I play.” he ate. He could control how much he rested. He could control his hydration levels. He could control how he prepared to play at practice. New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick’s “Do your job” mentality comes to mind for Andersen. He could control what he did in the net. “Whatever your job is, do your job,” he said “These are these things that I can focus on,” he said. “These are controllables, and non-controllables are all the other stuff, the external And for him that’s stopping the puck. things. That means not concerning himself with the Leafs dressing two rookies “As bad as this is to say,” Andersen paused, “but our play in front of me on defence while Muzzin, Rielly and Ceci are out, or a top pair of 23- doesn’t matter at all to me, really. Whatever is in front of me, I gotta try to year-old Travis Dermott and Justin Holl, technically a first-year player save.” who’s finally gotten an opportunity this season.

Andersen is letting go of the things he can’t control in an attempt to save All Andersen can do is focus on getting in the way of the puck. his season — and perhaps the Leafs’ season along with it. Some technical changes have helped, he acknowledged, and it seems “I think what I learn more and more is when I’m at my best I’m very possible that a first-time push from the backup spot in Toronto may have present and very focused on the things that I can control,” Andersen spurred Andersen to really dig in. explained. “It’s harder than it sounds. But sometimes when you don’t play well a lot of the reason could be that you start focusing on other things. It was just last week, after Andersen and the Leafs were embarrassed in Not that your focus isn’t great. You’re just focused on the wrong things.” Pittsburgh, that it seemed plausible, maybe even likely to some, that Jack Campbell would start two nights later in a home rematch with the Arguably nothing has hurt the Leafs more this season than injuries and Penguins. goaltending, probably in that order. Keefe wouldn’t commit either way after the game, before emerging at Some of that was Michael Hutchinson proving himself not to be an NHL practice a day later to proclaim that Andersen was “our guy.” goaltender, but as much or more — given how much he plays — was Andersen wobbling after a rock-solid November. Even after a pretty solid “When this team’s been at its best, it’s when Fred’s been at his best,” the performance against the Lightning, in which he stopped 26 of 29 shots, Leafs coach said. “Soupy’s come in here and we’ve got confidence in Andersen still owns the second-worst 5-on-5 save percentage since Dec. him in the games that he’s played. But this is a whole different situation, 1 (.901), among the 34 goalies who’ve logged at least 800 minutes. it’s a whole different level of competition, and Fred’s our guy and we need him to be great.” Andersen is second-last (ahead of Braden Holtby, again) in the goals saved above average department. In fact, he’s well into the negative in In the next game, Andersen pitched a 24-save shutout. that regard and has allowed at least three goals in 18 of his last 27 starts, What Keefe seemed to be driving at was Andersen’s importance in the including four or more 10 times. biggest possible picture. If the Leafs were going to do anything special The Leafs won a whole bunch of games through December even while this season, he seemed to be saying, it would be with Andersen in Andersen was slumping, propped up by their offence under Sheldon between the pipes. Keefe. But come January, his propensity for giving up goals he should, Just getting to the postseason at all, in light of the injuries and and normally does, stop, increased. He was memorably pulled against subsequent inexperience it’s brought to the defence, means the Leafs the Oilers on Jan. 6 — Keefe’s attempt to fire up the team — and then need the best version of that guy. Andersen’s play of the past three again a few days later during a brutal loss in Florida against the months won’t be good enough. Panthers. His performance down the stretch might even determine how Kyle Dubas In his final start before his first career All-Star appearance, Andersen was and the front office approach the goaltending position this summer. More hammered for six goals in a loss to the Blackhawks. sluggishness from Andersen would surely rule out an extension on July 1 However, there are signs lately that he’s coming around. and might even cause them to pursue alternatives in the starter’s spot — or look to Campbell as part of a tandem approach. You can see Andersen getting his swagger back, though. He looks a little quieter in the net recently. He’s tracking shots better of late and steering rebounds away from danger.

That was part of this, he said, tweaking his game with help from goalie coach Steve Briere. “But I think the mental part of everyone’s game is so huge. A good example is our game right now. You see how big the swings have been lately, how good we can play. And then all of a sudden we don’t play as well. We don’t focus on the right things and prepare.”

Keeping that focus isn’t easy for anyone, particularly goaltenders on the island of blue paint. It’s why, Andersen said, you don’t see many of them with save percentages in the .930 range.

“It’s close to impossible, probably, to sustain that over a long period of time,” he said. “And that’s why, I think, you can’t get hung up on small stretches.”

It’s why he tends not to dig too deeply into his own numbers — even during this not-so-small stretch. Save percentage isn’t always a reliable indicator of performance as last weekend’s game against the Hurricanes would suggest, though Andersen is currently on track for his worst showing there as a Leaf (.906).

But Andersen is trying to live in the present these days. Onto the next shot.

“It’s like a new hand in poker every time,” he concluded of his challenge night after night. “Every shot against can be a goal, or it can be a game- saver or a momentum change. It’s difficult. But that’s one of the real challenges of playing a lot and finding that and sustaining it over a long time. It’s challenged me and hopefully I can be learning from it.”

The Athletic LOADED: 02.27.2020 1178826 Vegas Golden Knights Edmonton added forward Andreas Athanasiou to join McDavid, which in the speed department means its top line will now be like trying to keep up with Usain Bolt over the last 50 meters.

Pacific Division foes always good news for Golden Knights The Knights certainly answered that challenge Wednesday, with goalie Marc-Andre Fleury turning away all 29 shots.

“The way things are this season, one game can make all the difference, By Ed Graney Las Vegas Review-Journal right?” Fleury said.

February 26, 2020 - 10:38 PM The Canucks, tied for second with 74 points, added goalie Louis Domingue and forward Tyler Toffoli. Updated February 26, 2020 - 10:55 PM Calgary traded for defenseman Erik Gustafsson, who can help the

Flames offensively but mostly forgets the part about defense. Arizona, Pete DeBoer said rubber hits the road this time of year. now somewhat fading in fifth with 70 points, made its big move in December by trading for Taylor Hall. More like meets it, and he wasn’t talking about Connor McDavid being a Bugatti on skates. “Everything is tight,” Knights center William Karlsson said. “We have been on a good roll lately and have showed our true colors and what DeBoer’s point: Now is when an NHL season becomes truly important. we’re made of. But we also know teams like Edmonton and others are good teams and we have to stay focused. Things like (contending for the It means 17 regular-season games remain for the Golden Knights division) is always a year-to-year thing.” following a 3-0 victory against Edmonton on Wednesday night before 18,421 at T-Mobile Arena. Try more game-to-game as the season takes a final few laps up and down 200 feet of ice before playoff matchups are officially set. It means a bunch of that rubber will feature the logos of Pacific Division teams, which is better news for Vegas than a certain roof being close to What is more important … confidence or competence? completion on a certain NFL stadium. Given the Knights are about to face so many Pacific teams, the latter has From its inception in 2017, the Knights have treated division opponents a terrific chance of creating more and more of the former. as their hockey version of the Washington Generals. No matter if the rubber is hitting or meeting the road. They are 51-19-8 in such matchups.

Read that part again. LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 02.27.2020 Even when finishing third last season, Vegas posted a better Pacific record than Calgary and San Jose ahead of them.

It might be a tiny sample of a bigger picture in the history of most NHL sides, unless you haven’t yet existed for three full seasons.

Then it’s a entire rink’s worth of evidence.

“For us, it’s a chance to put (teams) a little in the rearview mirror in the standings,” said DeBoer, who knows the division well having arrived as coach following four-plus seasons in San Jose. “On the flip side, if we don’t get the job done, you’re back right in the middle of the mud with everybody again.

“It’s an opportunity, especially the division games, to really separate yourself.”

Nobody has done much of that. The top four Pacific teams are separated by just six points and the top five by eight. The Knights have won seven straight. Yet the Oilers and Vancouver remain close enough to touch.

But things have been this way all season, which doesn’t necessarily translate to a cluster of great teams. The Pacific is rightly viewed as the NHL’s weakest division, with the Knights owning the least number of flaws over eight rosters.

The bottom of the Pacific (Kings, Sharks and Ducks) is really bad.

Consider: When the Knights beat Tampa Bay on Feb. 2o to assume first place alone in the Pacific, their 72 points would have bested just one team (Florida) in a playoff position from the Eastern Conference.

But a lack of greatness doesn’t mean less drama.

It often means a whole lot more of it.

Of their 17 remaining games, the Knights will face Pacific teams nine times, most of whom at least tried to improve themselves at the trade deadline.

Vegas is the division’s best team with 78 points, but that didn’t stop others from making moves to try to catch the Knights during a stretch run.

Makes sense. No side, but for this current run by Vegas, has shown itself to be elite.

Making a run 1178827 Vegas Golden Knights “In the first period there, head was spinning a little bit with all the travel and stuff like that,” Cousins said. “I felt better as the game went on and obviously nice to contribute because these guys are playing well.”

Golden Knights win 7th straight as Marc-Andre Fleury blanks Oilers Connor McDavid and Draisaitl terrorized the Knights during their careers, combining for 10 goals and 28 points in their first nine meetings.

But the Knights’ new defense pairs did the job, holding the dynamic duo By David Schoen Las Vegas Review-Journal in check.

February 26, 2020 - 9:56 PM Shea Theodore and Martinez drew the assignment against McDavid’s line, while Brayden McNabb and Nate Schmidt were matched up Updated February 27, 2020 - 12:51 am primarily against Draisaitl.

The Knights allowed five total shots on goal in the second period, and the Marc-Andre Fleury barely had time to put on his mask after the national Oilers had one shot on goal from the 11:32 mark of the second period anthems before he was called on to make an important save. until 7:08 remained in the third.

Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl found room near the right faceoff circle and “We knew where they were on the ice and made sure to take their time forced Fleury into a lunging pad save 15 seconds into the game. and space away,” DeBoer said. “There were some long stretches there where we really didn’t give them a lot.” It was a sign of things to come.

Fleury turned away all 29 shots for his fifth shutout, and the Golden Knights opened their four-game homestand with a 3-0 victory over LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 02.27.2020 Edmonton on Wednesday in front of an announced crowd of 18,421 at T- Mobile Arena.

“He was dialed in, and that’s vintage Flower,” coach Pete DeBoer said.

Nick Cousins scored in his debut, and Max Pacioretty collected his 30th goal to help the Knights (35-22-8, 78 points) win their seventh straight and extend their lead in the Pacific Division to four points over the Oilers and idle Vancouver.

Fleury made his first start since the Knights acquired goalie Robin Lehner at Monday’s trade deadline and turned in an inspired performance.

He held the Knights in the game during the first period with 12 saves and improved to 5-0 since turning to the gold pads.

Fleury tied Columbus’ Elvis Merzlikins for the league lead in shutouts and also matched Turk Broda for 17th on the all-time list with his 61st career shutout.

“That was a big game. That was fun to be a part of,” Fleury said. “A good challenge for us, and I thought we (rose) up good.”

Here’s what stood out from the Knights’ win:

Pacioretty looked like that viral video of the javelina sprinting down the street in Arizona on his first-period goal, which came after Edmonton had the Knights on their heels from the opening faceoff.

Pacioretty picked up the puck near his own blue line, blew past Oilers forward Tyler Ennis in the neutral zone and continued down the right wing.

Defenseman Darnell Nurse didn’t close the gap, and Pacioretty snapped a shot to the short-side post that beat Edmonton goaltender Mikko Koskinen at 16:04.

The all-star wing reached the 30-goal mark for the sixth time in his career and first since 2016-17 with Montreal. He has 62 points (through first period), five shy of his career high.

“You just try to put it there and hope for the best,” Pacioretty said. “Sometimes goalies give up a little bit on the short side there and that was the case.”

It’s getting comical at this point.

Cousins became the sixth player this season to score in his Knights debut, joining Cody Glass, Nicolas Roy, Chandler Stephenson, Alec Martinez and Patrick Brown.

Cousins was acquired at the trade deadline from Montreal and didn’t arrive in time to participate in the morning skate Wednesday while he worked out his visa issues. He centered William Carrier and Ryan Reaves after starting out the game on the third line.

Cousins also saw time on the second power play unit and backhanded home a rebound at 5:44 of the third period for his 10th goal to give the Knights some breathing room. 1178828 Vegas Golden Knights

Golden Knights helmet stickers honor boy killed in North Las Vegas

By Alexis Egeland Las Vegas Review-Journal

February 26, 2020 - 6:20 PM

The Golden Knights added stickers to their helmets Wednesday night to honor the 12-year-old boy who died after he and his sister were hit by a truck on their way home from school on Feb. 14.

Alex Bush and his 9-year-old sister, Charlotte, were walking home from Somerset Academy when they were struck in a crosswalk in North Las Vegas.

Our players are wearing stickers to honor the memory of one of our own: Alex Bush, a 12-year-old who tragically lost his life due to a distracted driver while walking home from school.

The sticker on the Golden Knights’ helmets has the boy’s initials and the number 29 on a goalie helmet. The team said in a tweet that the Bush was a goalie in the team’s youth hockey program.

According to the tweet, “Charlotte remains in critical condition from the accident but she is ‘still fighting and still feisty.’”

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 02.27.2020 1178829 Vegas Golden Knights

Marc-Andre Fleury gets start over Robin Lehner

By Ben Gotz Las Vegas Review-Journal

February 26, 2020 - 12:32 PM

Marc-Andre Fleury will start at goaltender for the Golden Knights on Wednesday night against the Edmonton Oilers at T-Mobile Arena while new acquisition Robin Lehner gets up to speed, coach Pete DeBoer said.

DeBoer said it was an “easy decision” to go with Fleury over Lehner. Fleury is 4-0 in his last four starts, and Lehner is still adjusting after being acquired in a Monday trade with Chicago.

“(Fleury’s) been playing great,” DeBoer said. “It gives Robin time to get here and get (acclimated) and get a couple practices in. He’ll get a start here real soon.”

Fleury and Lehner could push each other over the Knights’ final 18 games. Despite Fleury’s winning streak, he’s not having one of his better seasons. His .906 save percentage and 2.79 goals-against average are below his career norms.

Lehner finished third in the Vezina Trophy voting last season and has a .918 save percentage. Lehner, last year’s Masterton Trophy winner who has been open about his battles with mental illness and drug and alcohol addiction, gives the Knights some competition in net.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 02.27.2020 1178830 Vegas Golden Knights “(He) may be a little jet lagged, but (he’s) in the lineup,” DeBoer said. “He’s a versatile guy. That’s the beauty of him. When I went back and looked at Montreal’s usage, they used him first line to fourth line, center, both wings, power play. You’ll probably see him in a lot of different roles Pete DeBoer pairs Alec Martinez with Shea Theodore here going forward.”

Cousins, 26, had 22 points in 58 games this season with the Canadiens.

By Adam Hill Las Vegas Review-Journal

February 26, 2020 - 11:55 am LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 02.27.2020 Updated February 26, 2020 - 8:43 PM

Shea Theodore got a new defensive partner as he was paired with Alec Martinez on the Golden Knights’ second unit Wednesday night.

Coach Pete DeBoer cautioned against reading too much into the shake- up.

“I’m still getting to know the group,” DeBoer said before the game. “So there’s some experimentation, especially with new guys like Alec.

“You’re going to see a lot of different combinations based on the night, who’s going, what’s working. That versatility is a great luxury for a coach to have. We have lots of options. I’m not married to anything, and I don’t want to get into the playoffs and start experimenting. We want to see what we have here right now.”

Martinez, who played his fourth game since he was traded to the Knights, was excited about the opportunity to play with one of the team’s young stars.

“First and foremost, he’s an incredibly talented player,” Martinez said. “If you can’t play with a guy like that, it’s probably on you. I know he’s offensive-minded and strong defensively.

“Tremendous skater, too. We were skating together this morning just talking about it. It’s going to be fun.”

Learning to play with new teammates is just a part of the acclimation process for Martinez, who had spent his entire career in the Kings organization.

One of the best parts of playing in Las Vegas has been the relative lack of traffic.

“I never really understood the ‘Everything in Las Vegas is 15 minutes or less’ thing,” he laughed. “That’s obviously been pretty great. Going down to games and not having to plan for an hour trip is kinda nice.”

DeBoer announced Dave Prior will step away as the day-to-day goaltending coach and be replaced by Mike Rosati.

Rosati has been with the organization as the goaltending development coach and is already familiar with Marc-Andre Fleury. Since he has spent much of that time with the team’s AHL affiliate in Chicago, DeBoer said Rosati has also been able to familiarize himself with new goaltender Robin Lehner, who was playing for the Blackhawks.

“Mike’s a young guy,” DeBoer said. “I don’t know him real well, but his reputation precedes him. I think he’s a teacher, he’s worked under Dave for three years and the timing of this with bringing in Robin and having a chance to really start fresh here works well. I’m excited to get him on board here.”

DeBoer said the move was not health related. Prior, who has been with the Knights as the director of goaltending since the organization’s inception, suffered a heart attack during the inaugural season.

“Dave is still part of the organization,” DeBoer said. “His role has always been bigger than a day-to-day coaching job. He’s going to base out of Ontario and continue to support us that way.”

Forward Nick Cousins made his Golden Knights debut Wednesday night against the Edmonton Oilers and scored for a 2-0 lead in the third period.

He started at left wing on the third line, alongside Chandler Stephenson and Nicolas Roy.

Cousins, acquired by the Knights from the Montreal Canadiens in a Monday trade, didn’t arrive in Las Vegas until Wednesday morning because of visa issues. 1178831 Vegas Golden Knights Cousins joined Patrick Brown (Sunday), Martinez (Thursday), Chandler Stephenson (Dec. 3), Nicolas Roy (Oct. 27) and Cody Glass (Oct. 2) as Golden Knights to score in their debuts this season. Brandon Pirri did it last year, and James Neal, Alex Tuch and Vadim Shipachyov did it in the Nick Cousins joins growing list of Golden Knights to make memorable inaugural season. debut It could be a combination of adrenaline or wanting to impress new teammates, but whatever it is, the Golden Knights have found the right formula. It’s almost too bad that there won’t be too many more team By Justin Emerson debuts this season considering how successful they’ve been. Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2020 | 11:15 p.m. “I don’t have the answer for that, but I know the trade deadline’s over and we won’t have many new guys coming in,” DeBoer said.

It’s becoming a running joke, but when a player makes his Golden But if goalie Robin Lehner, acquired Monday from the Blackhawks, Knights debut, the expectation is that he’s going to score. scores in his team debut whenever that is, maybe don’t be too surprised.

It’s happened six times this season and three times in a week, the latest coming courtesy of Nick Cousins on Wednesday. He woke up 2,500 LAS VEGAS SUN LOADED: 02.27.2020 miles away, got to town too late to practice, but still netted his first with his new team as the Golden Knights shut out the Edmonton Oilers 3-0 at T-Mobile Arena.

“I was thrown right into the fire, but that kind of makes you feel comfortable,” Cousins said. “I’m excited. We still have 17 games left here and this team’s moving in the right direction and playing well lately, so if I can contribute any way I can I’ll be more than happy to do that.”

Cousins had quite a day. The former Montreal Canadiens forward found out Monday that he had been dealt to the Golden Knights about a half- hour after the trade deadline. He wasn’t expecting to be traded, but once he was, he headed off for Vegas.

Or at least he tried to. He was held up at the border, as the Belleville, Ontario, native who had been working in Montreal needed a visa. When it didn’t happen Monday, it became a question of whether he would even play against the Oilers.

It finally cleared Tuesday afternoon, but he couldn’t get on a flight until Wednesday morning. He woke up nearly at dawn and boarded the flight from Montreal. He landed in Vegas at about 10:30 a.m., while his new teammates were on the ice practicing at City National Arena. He didn’t arrive to the rink in time, so the first time he put on skates as a Golden Knight was right before warmups at T-Mobile Arena.

“It’s been a crazy couple of days,” Cousins said. “I wasn’t sure at all what was going to happen. I thought I was going to be staying (with the Canadiens), and next thing you know my agent called me and I was off to Vegas.”

His debut went quite well. In addition to his power-play goal in the third period to give Vegas a 2-0 lead, he skated 12:09 of ice time, took four shot attempts, won four of his five faceoffs and drew a penalty.

“Nick played a great game, much like Alec on his first game,” Max Pacioretty said. “We’re really excited to have these guys and it’s a little bit of icing on the cake to see them pitch in so early.”

It was a night that Cousins and the rest of the Golden Knights could celebrate, a nearly flawless victory against a team right behind them in the Pacific Division hunt. It was their seventh win in a row, their first over the Oilers this season, and their 20th victory in 34 home games this season.

It started with the goalie. Marc-Andre Fleury made 29 saves, including 12 in the first period when Vegas needed him at his best. The Oilers played Tuesday night in Anaheim and seemed to have a better jump to start the game than the Golden Knights, who had not played since Sunday. Despite that, Pacioretty scored the first goal of the game with 3:56 left in the first to put Vegas on top.

“That’s vintage Flower,” coach Peter DeBoer said. “We don’t get out of the first period unless he plays the way he does. He was our best player.”

The Golden Knights found their sea legs in the second. They held the Oilers to just five shots on goal, including keeping them shotless for a span of 10:40 from the end of the second into the third. Vegas didn’t score in the second, but the ice started to tilt. Then 5:44 into the third, Cousins struck.

He was on the second power-play unit with fellow newcomer Alec Martinez, and Cousins positioned himself perfectly in front of the goal so that when Martinez’s shot bounced off the pads, Cousins was there to backhand it home. Shea Theodore added a goal 4:15 later that sealed it. 1178832 Vegas Golden Knights The Golden Knights led in shots on goal 16-5 in the frame. Golden Knights grab lead over Oilers after 1

The team that controlled play for most of the period, had the more Blog: Golden Knights blank Oilers as winning streak reaches 7 dangerous looks and the most shots was trailing after a period. Of course.

By Justin Emerson (contact) The Golden Knights spent a lot of the first period chasing the puck, but one well-placed shot gave them a 1-0 lead over the Edmonton Oilers Published Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2020 | 4 p.m. after a period at T-Mobile Arena on Wednesday.

Updated Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2020 | 9:54 p.m. The game started with the kind of pace you'd expect in a game between these two teams. Leon Draisaitl and his line started against Vegas' fourth

and generated a high-danger chance 15 seconds into the game. The The Golden Knights are on the kind of hot streak that makes fans forget Oilers kept the pressure on early, primarily from the usual Edmonton about earlier struggles. suspects, but Marc-Andre Fleury was on his game early.

Vegas on Wednesday withstood an early charge unscathed in the first, Fleury had to make the early toe save on Draisaitl, but also found himself grabbed momentum in the second and put the game to bed in the third. under siege in the early going. Through 12 minutes and one Edmonton Add it all up and the result is a 3-0 victory over the Edmonton Oilers at T- power play, Fleury had already made 11 saves, with a second Oilers Mobile Arena. power play on deck. Vegas kept Edmonton without a shot one, which included Tomas Nosek getting just enough of Connor McDavid's stick to It was Vegas' seventh win in a row, one shy of the franchise record. It prevent a shot on goal. was the team's third win streak all-time of at least seven games. It was also Marc-Andre Fleury's fifth shutout of the season. He made 29 saves. All of that play in the Golden Knights end, but they were the ones who ended up with a 1-0 lead. It was Max Pacioretty who snaked down the Vegas came into the third period holding a 1-0 lead and hungry for more. right wing and took aim at the short-side corner, hitting it clean and They had played a strong second period after fending off Edmonton's beating Mikko Koskinen at 16:04. attack in the first but couldn't extend their lead. That is until the new guy stepped in. It was Pacioretty's 30th goal of the season, the sixth time in his career he's hit that mark and first time as a Golden Knight. It's been a regular occurrence this season, as Nick Cousins became the sixth Golden Knight this season to score in a team debut, and the third in The Oilers led in shots on goal 12-9 and shot attempts 26-16. the last week. He did so on the power play, picking up a rebound and The last time the Golden Knights met the Edmonton Oilers, it was back in back-handing it into the net at 5:44. November. Vegas was having a putrid month and lost 4-2. But 2-0 wasn't good enough either. Off a faceoff won by Paul Stastny, Things have changed since then. The Golden Knights are riding a six- Vegas struck again. Stasny's draw went to Alec Martinez who slid the game winning streak, currently the NHL's longest, and they have a new puck over to Shea Theodore, who unleashed a howitzer from the point. coach. The puck ricocheted off the right post and into the net, giving Theodore his 10th of the season and the Golden Knights a 3-0 lead one second The standings have held. The Golden Knights and Oilers are first and shy of the halfway mark of the third. third in the Pacific Division, and if the game ends in regulation, the winner will go to bed atop the division. More than half of Vegas' remaining The Golden Knights also shut down a power play that entered the game games are against Pacific foes, making tonight's 7:30 p.m. game against as the best in the league. Edmonton had converted on 29.0% of its the Oilers a crucial battle in the race for the division title. power plays, but went 0-for-3 tonight. In their final two chances, Vegas held the Oilers without a shot on goal. "It always comes down to this, and that's what makes it fun," Vegas defenseman Nate Schmidt said. "You have a chance to really put some The Golden Knights entered the third period with a 1-0 lead courtesy of a of these teams behind you with a win or you're putting yourself right in Max Pacioretty snipe in the first period. He came in down the left wing the thick of it if you don't come up with a quick one tonight." and placed it perfectly in the top corner of the net to beat Mikko Koskinen and open the scoring. The Oilers look a little different than the last time they were in Las Vegas, too. Then it was about slowing Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, as it That was it for awhile. The second period came and went without a goal, always is, the latter of whom leads the NHL in assists and points this and the score remained 1-0 until Cousins' goal, then Theodore's. year. But they were on the same line last time. Whether that makes it Vegas finished with a 33-29 lead in shots on goal. easier to defend is up for debate, but the Oilers went out and got two new wingers at the trade deadline that they have flanking McDavid. Draisaitl is Golden Knights maintain lead over Oilers entering final period on a separate line.

The second period saw the Golden Knights claim the possession That means that, most likely, more than half of the game will be played advantage, but the Edmonton Oilers goalie keep the game close. It was with at least one of Edmonton's monsters on the ice at any given time. Marc-Andre Fleury in the first who needed to play at the top of his game, That poses its own challenge for the Golden Knights. and Mikko Koskinen returned the favor in the second. "I think, depending on how the game is going, we could see any of those Both goalies remained on their game, and Vegas maintained its 1-0 lead combinations, so you have to prepare for all of them," Golden Knights on the Oilers at T-Mobile Arena on Wednesday. coach Peter DeBoer said. "Bottom line, they're two of the top players in the world. However you roll them out there, they're something we have to As much as the Oilers controlled the first period, the Golden Knights did deal with." the same in the second. Vegas kept the game in the Edmonton zone, and the one time the Oilers got loose — Connor McDavid, of course — The Oilers are one of a handful of teams with a winning record against Alec Martinez did a great job of cutting off his angle and forcing him wide Vegas all-time, carrying a 5-4 record into tonight's contest, though they of a clean shot. are just 2-3 at T-Mobile Arena.

Almost all of the period expired before the game was anything other 5- Vegas will counter with two new weapons making their team debut. Most on-5. With 4:57 left in the second Martinez drew a tripping call to send notably is backup goalie Robin Lehner, but forward Nick Cousins figures the Golden Knights to their second power play of the game. They to play a role in the game, as Marc-Andre Fleury will start for the Golden generated a few good looks, but the penalty came and went with the Knights. Cousins was acquired from Montreal at the trade deadline but score still 1-0. didn't arrive until after practice this morning because of visa issues.

The Golden Knights were flagged with a too-many-men penalty in the Cousins' first on-ice interaction with his new teammates will be in a final second of the period, so Edmonton will start the third period with a game, which is the same situation Chandler Stephenson was in last two-minute power play. December when Vegas acquired him from Washington. "That's usually how it goes for most guys — you fit in right away," Stephenson said. "Some guys it's a game, a shift, a period; sometimes it's a little longer. It kind of all depends. I think if you're yourself and play your game and do you, it's a quick transition."

For what it's worth, Stephenson scored a goal in Golden Knights' debut.

LAS VEGAS SUN LOADED: 02.27.2020 1178833 Vegas Golden Knights

Vegas Golden Podcast: Everything is coming together for the Golden Knights

By Justin Emerson, Case Keefer

Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2020 | noon

Justin Emerson and Case Keefer are reunited for their first podcast in more than a month, and use the time to discuss the Golden Knights' win streak, trade-deadline acquisitions and playoff positioning.

With 18 games left in the regular season, the Vegas Golden Knights sit in better position than they have all year.

Justin Emerson and Case Keefer come to a mutual agreement on that opinion on the latest Vegas Golden Podcast, presented by the Credit One Bank Vegas Born card. The overwhelming optimism shooting out of City National Arena and T-Mobile Arena comes from two primary factors — a season-long win streak and a trade-deadline bolstering.

This episode goes deep on both, with the hosts marveling at the way the Golden Knights have mauled the top of the NHL while winning six in a row and wondering how long they can keep it up. A four-game home stand starting tonight against Edmonton — with contests against Buffalo, Los Angeles and New Jersey to follow — looks relatively forgiving.

Helping matters are all the reinforcements the Golden Knights brought in over the last week, headlined by goalie Robin Lehner. The 28-year-old, at least from a statistical standpoint, immediately looks like the best goalkeeper on the roster.

Could he supplant Marc-Andre Fleury and become the starter in the playoffs? That scenario is discussed along with some talk about the roles fellow new guys Nick Cousins and Alec Martinez figure to fill going forward.

LAS VEGAS SUN LOADED: 02.27.2020 1178834 Vegas Golden Knights chance to win the Cup. (I'll) try to be as good as I can and help when I can.”

Golden Knights excited for Fleury-Lehner goalie tandem LAS VEGAS SUN LOADED: 02.27.2020

By Justin Emerson

Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2020 | 2 a.m.

In a future that isn’t that far off, Robin Lehner will be handed the reins of an NHL team and told to go. He’ll be the No. 1 guy, the unquestioned starting goalie.

He’s earned it after two seasons of splitting the net with Thomas Greiss and Corey Crawford in New York and Chicago, respectively. He’s an unrestricted free agent in July, and figures to get a big deal from a team in need of a goalie.

Not yet though.

Lehner was traded on Monday from Chicago to the Golden Knights, a team with an unquestioned No. 1 goalie of their own. When Marc-Andre Fleury has been healthy, he’s started. The Golden Knights didn’t acquire Lehner to staple him to the bench for the season’s remaining 18 games, so it figures that Fleury will cede more games to Lehner than he would have to Malcolm Subban. Subban was dealt to Chicago in the trade.

But as of now, Lehner finds himself in a timeshare for the net for the third in time in less than a season. The first game of the share is 7:30 p.m. today against the Oilers.

“I’ve played with good goalies my whole career ever since my Ottawa days … this, no difference,” Lehner said. “I got to spend time with Corey Crawford this year, which was great, and I get to finish out the year with Marc. It’s a good opportunity for me.”

Fleury has started nearly a third of Vegas’ all-time games, a number that should be higher if it weren’t for a few injuries. He’s struggled this year — his .906 save percentage is his worst in a decade — but he’s showing signs of returning to his old self, with a .926 mark in his last four games.

Fleury would never say he was disappointed in having what could be his first goalie battle with the Golden Knights. He had a rather famous one his final years in Pittsburgh, when Matt Murray came up and Fleury watched from the bench as Murray was on the ice as the clock hit zero on two Penguins’ Stanley Cup championships.

“All that I care about is our team winning, and if it’s me or if it’s Robin playing it doesn’t matter, I just want our team to have success and win games,” Fleury said. “I get where they’re at and coming from, and it’s fine with me. I just care about winning and that’s what matters.”

It’s a good problem to have.

Fleury has had the better career and is the face of the franchise. Lehner has had the more productive recent past, including being a Vezina finalist last season. From the sounds of it, Fleury still has the edge on the depth chart, even if the gap between starter and backup has never been closer.

“I’m a big believer that competition at any position is a great motivational tool and it always pushes — especially competitive people — to new levels,” coach Peter DeBoer said. “It’s like having to healthy-scratch too many good players; there’s no such thing in our world. Those are tough decisions, but they’re decisions you want to have to make as opposed to the alternative.”

The Golden Knights now have one of the best goalie duos in the league, which is something they’ve never been able to say. With 18 games left in the regular season, DeBoer and the coaching staff will decide how many games each goalie gets.

Then the playoffs begin the second week of April. Maybe the final 18 games are an audition for that Game 1 start. Maybe it’s Fleury’s to lose. Either way, Vegas’ goaltending went from shaky to potentially elite.

That’s in large part because of Lehner, and he’s happy to be a part of it. Even if it means sharing the net.

“I’m just here whenever they need me and do the best I can,” Lehner said. “Hell of a hockey team in here and fun to join a team that has a 1178835 Vegas Golden Knights

Golden Knights Step Up Defense, Smother Edmonton Oilers, 3-0, Before 18,421 Wednesday; Coach DeBoer on Fleury: He Was Our Best Player Tonight

February 26, 2020

By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com

There was a playoff-like buzz inside the Big Ice House by the Strip, with the Vegas Golden Knights cloaking division rival Edmonton Oilers and their speedy superstar forward, Connor McDavid, in a big division game Wednesday.

VGK goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury pitched his 61st career shutout just a couple days after the Knights acquired outstanding goalie Robin Lehner from Chicago. Fleury was dialed in and LVSportsBiz.com videotaped post-game comments by the man known as “Flower.”

The Vegas scoring included a goal by newcomer Nick Cousins cleaning up a rebound to make the score, 2-0, in period three. VGK coach Pete DeBoer said Cousins’ had a long day of travel and didn’t skate until he reached T-Mobile Arena. Here’s DeBoer’s post-game comments:

Forward Max Pacioretty opened the scoring in the first period with a wrister from the right side for his 30th of the season.

After the Patches and Cousins goals, VGK defenseman Shea Theodore blasted his tenth goal of the season past Oilers netminder Mikko Koskinen in the final period to complete the scoring.

The Athletic LOADED: 02.27.2020 1178836 Vegas Golden Knights

VGK’s Nate Schmidt: Being Involved In Business Outside Rink Makes Him Mentally Sharp

February 26, 2020

By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com

Nate Schmidt wanted people to know that pro hockey players can focus on hockey at the rink, but also can mentally keep sharp outside the arena by getting involved in business, too.

“There has to be life after hockey.” said Schmidt, who has a car dealership endorsement deal with a local Hyundai dealer.

LVSportsBiz.com talked with Schmidt about business interests outside the rink Wednesday after the Knights practice because five Golden Knights players have invested in a Downtown Summerlin sports restaurant, Players Locker, in collaboration with celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck (who enjoys wearing his VGK number eight hockey sweater.)

VGK forward Alex Tuch is the most involved of the five Players Locker VGK investors, who include Deryk Engelland, Reilly Smith, William Karlsson and Shea Theodore. Schmidt stopped by the Players Locker Monday evening for the grand opening. He even worked the bar that night, too — not drinking but serving drinks.

Schmidt’s point to LVSportsBiz.com was that he didn’t think business outside the hockey rink was a distraction for players and that it actually helped him be more mentally focused.

He said when he’s at the rink there’s no thinking about business. But outside the arena during off hours, getting involved in business can keep him sharp.

“You get to use your mind and keep it sharp,” he said.

Here’s our interview today. You can hear for yourself.

Other Knights players with business interests are Ryan Reaves with his craft beers, and Max Pacioretty, Karlsson and Engelland endorsing cars.

The Knights host the Edmonton Oilers in a Pacific Division showdown at 7 p.m. tonight.

LVSportsBiz.com LOADED: 02.27.2020 1178837 Washington Capitals So will the Caps, who know they have been skating on thin ice for many weeks. Their struggles have been obscured by Ovechkin’s chase for 700 goals, including a binge of 14 goals in seven games that bordered on unbelievable. Capitals’ struggles bear striking similarity to midseason travails of 2018 Cup winners “Let’s not kid ourselves. We went through a rough patch,” Reirden said. “We’re not out of it by any means. . . . Going through that difficult time wasn’t fun for anyone. But that’s part of the process.”

By Thomas Boswell Columnist If all this sounds familiar, it should. The similarities between now and the Stanley Cup season are too many and too obvious to miss. February 26, 2020 at 5:50 PM EST In their championship season, the Caps played so badly at times that

their coach was, twice, on the verge of being fired. Then from Dec. 22 As the Washington Capitals cruised to a three-goal lead over the through Feb. 22, they went 12-14, just in terms of wins and losses, just Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday night en route to a harrowing 4-3 shootout as, this season, from Dec. 23 through Feb. 22, they went 11-13, just win, Capitals General Manager Brian MacLellan looked pleased with his counting wins and losses. In 2018, they didn’t truly wake up until their team’s play for one of the relatively few times since Christmas. final 15 games (12-3), a burst that launched them toward a place in hockey history. “We’re trending in the right direction,” said MacLellan, who added imposing 225-pound defenseman Brenden Dillon and aging but still alie Braden Holtby, who lost his starting job (briefly) back then, is again dangerous winger Ilya Kovalchuk before the NHL’s trade deadline this being pressed by a young goalie with better statistics — this time •23- week. “This feels like a tipping point in the season. We need to take year-old Ilya Samsonov. Just as two years ago, the Caps have title- advantage of it.” contending ability, but their goal differential (plus-29) and their Simple Rating System (0.51 goals per game better than league average, fifth After a 5-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday, MacLellan’s best in the NHL) mean they aren’t favorites. gifted group was on the verge of winning consecutive games in regulation for the first time in nearly a month. Perhaps a troubling two- Again, they have a coach — then veteran Barry Trotz, now second-year month span, in which the Caps went 11-12-1, was coming to an end. coach Reirden — who has plenty to prove about how deeply he can lead a team into the playoffs. Again, the Caps are retooling important units Two years ago, the Caps were in essentially the same position they are entering the last six weeks — this time adding defenseman Dillon just as in now with 19 games left in the season. Then, MacLellan traded for a they got Michal Kempny for the final 22 games of the regular season and key defenseman, the Caps’ veterans focused on committing to a rugged all 24 in the playoffs in 2018. playoff style, and the team rolled into the postseason in excellent health and playing its best. This year, MacLellan went further, adding the 36-year-old Kovalchuk, once an elite scorer, on the third line with center Lars Eller and gritty pest “Yes, it feels like the same sort of things are happening,” MacLellan said. Carl Hagelin. “We’ve been struggling. You’re thinking, ‘This is not good.’ ” “In the playoffs you’re going to need more scoring from your third line. Then it clicks. Kovi fits in well with Eller and Hagelin,” MacLellan said.

“There’s no switch you can turn on just before the playoffs start,” the GM Like Andre Burakovsky and Brett Connolly meshing with Eller in much of said. the Cup run? “Similar,” the GM said.

The best part of Alex Ovechkin’s 700th goal? Being able to share it with How far can the Caps carry all these similarities? In particular, can the his wife and son. Caps care enough? Can they show enough energy on a consistent basis, and are they willing to face the physical punishment in blocked shots, If only professional sports were so neat and precise. Midway through the battles in both creases and on the forecheck that defines them at their second period Tuesday, the Caps had dominated the Jets all over the best? ice. They looked like a team that had rediscovered its hard-to-balance but enormously dangerous identity. Here, three-quarters of the way A minor league hockey player, knocked out in a fight, is in stable through the season, was the Caps team that can blend gifted high-skill condition stars with a disciplined, fundamentally sound structure and a pounding, take-the-body mean streak. The absence of exactly these traits — of toughness and buying in — exposes the Caps when they drift through long stretches, often falling Then it all fell apart. behind early and chasing the game all night, even if they pull out ugly wins. “The first half of the game was closer to our style of play. But we let them back in at the end of the second period. Then we made a couple of “The closer you get to the playoffs, the more exciting it is to play,” Holtby mistakes,” Coach Todd Reirden said. said. “There’s a ton of talent in here. . . . [As the playoffs approach,] we work on the harder things a little more. There were a few shot blocks Suddenly the score was tied at 3 with the Jets on a power play and three tonight. . . . There’s still a lot of work to do. But we’re working again.” minutes left in regulation. One player matters more than Holtby. “This is a development year for A game the Metropolitan Division leader, tied for the third-highest point [Samsonov]. We’ve tested him at times in certain road games against total (84) in the NHL, should have salted away with ease was on the tough teams, and he’s responded really well,” MacLellan said. “But it’s verge of becoming a crushing loss. not time for him to carry the load. We can’t do that to the kid. He’d be Then what would that “tipping point” be tipping toward? okay in relief [in midgame]. But in the playoffs, Braden has to be our guy.” Seasons have many important junctures. This game, a fortunate escape, felt like one. The Caps fought off the buzzing Jets, got to overtime and, in In the tough Metropolitan Division, with the hot Pittsburgh Penguins and a shootout, won on a nifty, slinky backhand by Alex Ovechkin. The rising Philadelphia Flyers trailing the Caps by just four and five points, ugliest of wins suddenly looked almost handsome. respectively, the struggle for playoff positioning probably will go to the last week. Are the Caps ready to rise to the moment? On a night the Caps threw a doozy of a 700th-goal celebration for Ovechkin and his family, the Great Eight responded with the game’s first “This is a veteran group. There are a lot of players in there who’ve won a goal and its shootout clincher. Alex, was that one of your best shootout Cup. Hagelin has won two,” MacLellan said. “They can lead. Sometimes moves ever? they need to be pushed a little. But they all know the time to be rounding into form is now.” “Maybe,” Ovechkin said, acknowledging that shootout fakes have never been one of the best areas of his game. “Sometimes I don’t know what This type of arc worked wonderfully once for the Caps. It’s unwise to I’m going to do. expect lightning to strike twice in the same place. But at least, if you listen hard, you can hear thunder. “I’ll take it.”

Washington Post LOADED: 02.27.2020 1178838 Washington Capitals Alex and Nastya met at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. Ovechkin was invited by the Russian committee, and Nastya, about 15 at the time, was there with her father. The two bumped into each other at one of the events and became friends after he took her number and they started The best part of Alex Ovechkin’s 700th goal? Being able to share it with texting. She was still in Russia while he was with the Capitals in his son. Washington, and so when she lost her phone a couple of months later, they lost connection.

Early in 2015, they reconnected. Ovechkin saw her on Instagram and Samantha Pell commented on one of her photos, and then the two started messaging February 26, 2020 at 9:05 AM EST again. They would talk via FaceTime, and their relationship continued that way for a few months before they saw each other again in person.

She was in Los Angeles studying film with the New York Film Academy, Nastya Ovechkina sat legs crossed in a black leather chair, hair up in a and Ovechkin had a couple of games in Anaheim and Los Angeles with ponytail as her eyes started to drift to the large television in the family the Capitals in mid-February. The two went out to dinner, she attended lounge at Capital One Arena in early February. both games, and soon after she finished her studies, he invited her to come to Washington. An expectant mother for the second time, she rested her hand on her stomach as she watched her husband, Alex Ovechkin, flash across the “I came,” Nastya said. “And after this, I stayed till now.” screen. As she talked about their son, Sergei, her eyes lit up. The family they have created has brought joy and sometimes “happy tears” to The whirlwind continued from there, and they got engaged in the summer Nastya, Alex and their families. of 2015. One day, Nastya was in the shower, with shampoo lathered in her hair, when she suddenly heard a barrage of knocks on the door. The interactions between father and son have revealed a different side of Ovechkin, even as the greatest Russian goal scorer continues to awe on “I was like, ‘What! Do you understand I am just . . .’ and he didn’t stop, the ice. so I was like, ‘Oh, my gosh’ and I got a towel, and I opened the door, and he is on one knee with the flowers and with the ring,” Nastya said. “At Ovechkin is a family man now, trying to spend as much time with Sergei first when I opened the door I thought I would kill him. Can you imagine as possible when he’s not at practice, games or on the road. His first you were in the shower and then you need to get out . . . oh, my God. focus is on family, a notion he makes a point to repeat in conversations. Why you couldn’t just wait? He said: ‘No, no, no. I wanted to right now.’ ”

“He just matured, you know, as anyone would,” Nastya said. “He just Barry Svrluga: How staggering a feat is Alex Ovechkin’s 700 goals? It has a different mind-set now. From when we were first together and now, might be better than Gretzky’s 894. I think he’s grown. Now he is responsible for himself, for me, for his son. … He thinks not about himself, you know? He thinks about how we can In 2016, they signed their marriage certificate in Russia, and a year later, be better, the whole family.” they had their ceremony.

That’s why Ovechkin’s 700th goal ceremony Tuesday night at Capital “Nastya understands [Alex] very well, supports him,” Ovechkin’s mother, One Arena was seen not only as a momentous achievement that will be Tatyana, said of her son through a Russian translator. “Nastya marked in hockey history books but also a significant family memory for understands his soul. She helps him a lot. She cooks great. So yeah, we Ovechkin. are very happy that the family is so nice and their son is wonderful. He is so charming, such a great boy. Very smart and athletic, of course.” As the red carpet was rolled out, Nastya stood next to Alex on the ice at Capital One Arena, with Sergei in her arms before she handed him to her After Sergei arrived, toys started to pile up in their Virginia home, and husband. With Sergei wearing a red “Ovi Jr” Capitals jersey and blowing Ovechkin started to bring Sergei around the locker room with the rest of kisses to the crowd before giving a tiny hug to his father, the moment his teammates. He’s a staple on Nastya’s Instagram stories, with showcased the first major milestone Ovechkin has achieved with Sergei Ovechkin often shown playing with him and making him laugh. in his life. And to Ovechkin, that’s important. “I was kind of waiting for that moment when my kid is going to be around While Ovechkin’s parents are in Russia and making plans to come in with me in the locker room,” Ovechkin said. “The culture that we have person to see the Capitals in the playoffs, having Sergei in his arms was here, it is something special, and all the guys love the kids, and it is going a different type of joy. to be fun for him as well.”

“He’s my boy, I can tell you that,” Ovechkin said. “We play with him all And as the family stood on the ice at Capital One Arena on Tuesday, the time with the stick, and he always wants to be in my arms to hold. It’s Nastya’s face glowing with pride and Ovechkin acknowledging the crowd, like, ‘What do you expect from me?’ when he wants that.” for Nastya and Alex, it was yet another memory of their growing family.

Alex Ovechkin’s 700 NHL goals: Amazing any way you see it “Right now all I think about is family. . . . She is my one, and she takes care of me, takes care of my son and gives me everything I need,” After Ovechkin scored his 700th in Saturday’s matinee against the New Ovechkin said. “I think I can’t find a better one. If I had a chance, I would Jersey Devils, one of the first things he did when he returned to his never change it.” Virginia home was open a package of new mini hockey gear for Sergei. His excitement spoke volumes. He looked as thrilled, if not more, to put the CCM gloves on Sergei’s little hands and see the new mini skates and Washington Post LOADED: 02.27.2020 pads than he did talking to media after his milestone goal.

Ovechkin still carries an everlasting love for hockey, but now it’s shared with his family, and he wants his son — and other children to come — to bask in the glow.

Sergei, who was born in the summer of 2018, already has about five mini sticks he carries around and brings to various places — even on vacation. When there is a broken stick during a game at Capital One Arena, Ovechkin will often catch it and give it to Sergei to play with in the locker room. When Sergei sees his father on TV, he will let out a squeal and scream “Dada!” When Ovechkin comes home, even before he could walk, he would start crawling toward the door.

“You know, everything that me and Nastya do is to try to be on his schedule,” Ovechkin said. “He is still little, and we know at certain times he takes nap, and then we have our time and we go shopping and do some different things, but after that, we try to spend as much time as we can because he miss me, he miss mom and you know, it’s great time.” 1178839 Washington Capitals

A minor league hockey player, knocked out in a fight, is in stable condition

Cindy Boren

February 26, 2020 at 8:40 AM EST

A minor league player for the Washington Capitals’ American Hockey League affiliate was kept in a Pennsylvania hospital overnight Tuesday after being knocked out during a scary in-game fight.

Kale Kessy, a Hershey Bears forward, was in stable condition, the team said, after he and Derek Sheppard, a defenseman for the Charlotte Checkers, squared off following a faceoff at the 11:30 mark of the second period in Hershey’s Giant Center.

The two took off their helmets and dropped gloves, landing a couple of blows before Sheppard’s right hand dropped Kessy to the ice. Sheppard dropped, too, and stopped trying to land blows, instantly signaling to the bench for help with Kessy clearly unconscious.

Medical personnel for both teams rushed onto the ice and, after eight minutes, Kessy, 27, was placed on a stretcher and, with an oxygen mask over his face, he was taken off.

“Per our media and medical team, Kale Kessy was struck in a fight. He lost, but regained consciousness on the ice. He is alert, and in stable condition, and being transported to a local medical facility. Kessy told his teammates before leaving the ice, ‘go win the game,’” the team tweeted.

“He’s doing better,” Bears Coach Spencer Carbery said after the game. “CT scan came back positive, but they’re going to keep him overnight just for observation. All the reports back from the hospital are positive.”

Both teams left the ice and considered whether to cancel the rest of the game. “At one point, we decided we were going to cancel it,” Bryan Helmer, Hershey’s vice president of hockey operations, said (via ChocolateHockey.com). “Once everything settled down and guys kind of refocused over in their dressing room and in ours, we came up with the idea ‘Let’s play this out.’”

Team doctors updated Kessy’s condition for players on both teams and veteran forward Matt Moulson said the team “felt a lot better when we got cleared on what was going on with him.”

Hershey won, 6-1.

Washington Post LOADED: 02.27.2020 1178840 Washington Capitals

Player from Capitals' AHL affiliate discharged from hospital after losing consciousness

By Matt Weyrich

February 26, 2020 7:50 PM

Giant Center, then home of Capitals AHL affiliate Hershey Bears, was the site of a scary moment Tuesday night when prospect Kale Kessy dropped the gloves in the second period of their game against the Charlotte Checkers and started fighting with defenseman Derek Sheppard.

Kessy and Sheppard exchanged blows before the Checkers’ defenseman gained the upper hand and landed a knockout punch.

The Bears’ winger hit his head on the ice before he “lost, but regained consciousness on the ice,” according to a statement released by the team. While being wheeled off the ice on a stretcher, he told his teammates, “go win the game.”

Hershey did just that, dominating the Checkers 6-1 behind a hat trick by Virginia native Joe Snively. Kessy was transported to the hospital where he stayed overnight before being discharged the next morning.

“I would like to send my heartfelt thank you to Hershey Bears fans for their thoughts, prayers, and support following my injury last night,” Kessy said in a statement released by the Bears on Wednesday. “Additionally, I’d like to thank our trainers, doctors, EMTs, Bob Goodman, and Milton S. Hershey Medical Center for providing me immediate and exceptional care. I am feeling better today, and I look forward to rejoining my Hershey Bears teammates soon.”

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 02.27.2020 1178841 Washington Capitals

Alex Ovechkin's wife, Nastya, shares their engagement story

By Gabrielle Hernandez

February 26, 2020 6:13 PM

On Tuesday, as the Washington Capitals honored Alex Ovechkin for his 700th career goals with a pregame ceremony, his wife, Nastya, and their son, Sergei, were proudly by his and even stole some of the spotlight.

While we know the couple is expecting their second child, we hadn't yet heard the story behind their engagement -- until now. Nastya shared that story in a recent interview with The Washington Post.

The couple first met in 2008 at the Summer Olympics in Beijing. They exchanged phone numbers at one of the events and became fast friends. After the Olympics, Ovechkin returned to Washington and Nastya returned to Russia, and the two eventually lost touch after Nastya lost her phone.

Five years later the two reconnected and, eventually, Ovechkin invited Nastya to come to Washington, to which she accepted.

One day while she was in the shower with shampoo in her hair, she heard frantic knocks on the door.

“I was like, ‘What! Do you understand I am just …’ and he didn’t stop so I was like, ‘Oh my gosh’ and I got a towel and I opened the door and he is on one knee with the flowers and with the ring," Nastya said, per The Washington Post. "At first when I opened the door I thought I would kill him. Can you imagine you were in the shower and then you need to get out … oh my god. Why you couldn’t just wait? He said ‘No, no, no, I wanted to right now.'"

In 2016, they went to Russia to sign their marriage certificate and a year later they held their ceremonial wedding.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 02.27.2020 1178842 Winnipeg Jets The Capitals, tops in the Metropolitan Division at 39-18-6, visit Winnipeg tonight to complete the home-and-home series with the Jets. Game time is 7 p.m. at Bell MTS Place.

Breaking down Winnipeg's playoff chase There is no love lost between the Jets and Preds, who collide only once (March 24 at Bridgestone Arena) down the stretch. Winnipeg has a pair of meetings with the Flames in Calgary (March 14, 31) and the Coyotes (March 9 in Winnipeg and April 4 in Glendale). By: Jason Bell Winnipeg also plays twice at home (March 6, 29) against the Pacific Posted: 02/26/2020 10:00 PM Division-leading Vegas Golden Knights (34-22-8) who hold a two-point lead over the Vancouver Canucks and Edmonton Oilers.

"This group has done a great job of staying in the mix here, and with me The Jets play the Oilers twice (Feb. 29 and March 11, both in Edmonton) and (Eakin) our job is to fit in as quickly as possible and help this team and once in Vancouver (March 15). Winnipeg can’t lose sight of the string together a bunch of wins," Dylan DeMelo said. Minnesota Wild (30-25-7) in its rear-view mirror, either. Minnesota is just three points back and has a March 20 visit to Winnipeg on the calendar. Expect a lot of canned, clichéd responses over the next few weeks from the Winnipeg Jets.

Insightful gems such as, ‘We control our own destiny,’ or fan favourite, Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 02.27.2020 ‘Our fate is in our own hands.’ How about the ever popular, ‘The ball’s in our court.’

As frustrating as it will be to hear those hackneyed phrases, they’ll come with a certain amount of truth.

Head coach Paul Maurice and his Central Division squad have 17 games remaining in the 2019-20 NHL season. Of those, 11 are against teams either slightly ahead, even or nipping at Winnipeg’s heels in the Western Conference standings.

Maurice always describes the team’s workload in blocks of games; well, the Jets have a five-week block on the calendar to solidify a spot in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

And the current group of players will have to do.

Monday’s NHL trade deadline came and went with no action in Winnipeg, although two solid veterans — centre Cody Eakin and defenceman Dylan DeMelo — were picked up a few days before the trade freeze. There should soon be an infusion of talent by way of healthy bodies with blue- liner Josh Morrissey (upper body) listed as day to day, and forwards Adam Lowry (upper body) and Mathieu Perreault (upper body) getting closer to a return.

DeMelo, 26, a five-year veteran acquired from the Ottawa Senators on Feb. 18 for a third-round draft pick this summer, said he’s been struck by the cameraderie within the Jets dressing room, and the mix of high-end skill and stubborn work ethic on the ice.

"Watching from the outside, this is a team that has gone through a lot of adversity. They’ve obviously had some big players losses (during the off- season) and just a ton of injuries throughout the year, yet they’ve battled really hard. I think this team would be in an even better spot, because we’ve got some great players that are out," DeMelo said in a recent interview.

"This group has done a great job of staying in the mix here, and with me and (Eakin) our job is to fit in as quickly as possible and help this team string together a bunch of wins."

The Jets did themselves no favours on a four-game eastern road trip that began favourably in Ottawa, went sideways in Philadelphia and Buffalo, and ended with a demonstration of resolute will and solidarity in Washington, D.C.

The Calgary Flames (33-25-6) have 72 points and hold down the first wild-card spot in the conference. Winnipeg (32-27-6) sits tied with the Nashville Predators (31-23-8) and Arizona Coyotes (31-27-8), all with 70 points. But the standings have the Jets positioned below the Predators for the second wild-card spot because they’ve played three more games than their rivals from Tennessee.

Games in hand have value only if they result in victories, and the Predators have been stringing wins together with some regularity lately, going 6-3-1 in their last 10, including triumphs over the Columbus Blue Jackets and Ottawa Senators in their last two outings.

Winnipeg, meanwhile, is 5-4-1 in its last 10 games, including those ugly defeats to the Flyers and Sabres, followed up with a spirited comeback from a 3-0 deficit Tuesday night against the Capitals, who prevailed 4-3 in a shootout on the strength of a filthy deke by Alex Ovechkin, who was honoured before the game after scoring his 700th NHL goal Saturday. 1178843 Winnipeg Jets

Game Day: Capitals at Jets

Scott Billeck

February 26, 2020 10:44 PM CST

THE BIG STORY

Can Jets begin like they ended?

The Jets put up a battle for about 26 minutes in their 4-3 shootout loss to the Washington Capitals. From the point Anthony Bitetto dropped the gloves with Garnet Hathaway, the man that beat Bitetto to put up the 3-0 goal for the Caps, the Jets began to shift gears. Whatever it was, it helped, and the Jets earned a point after getting bullied all over the ice for more than half the game prior. You can play with fire only so many times before you eventually get burned. It would be unwise to spot the Caps a 3-0 lead again on Thursday, and the Jets simply need to get out of the gate faster than a sloth with no limbs.

FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME

What will this team’s lines look like?

On Tuesday, the Jets’ top line began with Jansen Harkins, Blake Wheeler, and Mark Scheifele. It ended with Kyle Connor joining the latter two. Harkins was put on the second line, and Patrik Laine and Nikolaj Ehlers were paired together with Cody Eakin down the middle. Pre-game line rushes as of late have proven mostly useless, a baseline to start the game before the blender gets going. That’s what happens when you rarely play with a lead.

Speaking of leads …

The Jets would love to open the game with the first goal. Any team would. Unfortunately for the club, they can’t seem to pull the trigger first. It has been nine games since the Jets scored first in a game, an ugly trend that has often seen them on the back foot early. To a man, the players want to fix it. It’s good to want things.

Keeping Ovi in check

After a rousing pre-game ceremony to celebrate Alex Ovechkin’s 700th career NHL goal, making him only the eighth player in NHL history to reach the milestone, The Great 8 scored the game’s first goal on Tuesday 1:55 into the game. He also had two great looks in overtime and scored the winning goal to claim the shootout win.

Dig deep

For a long stretch of the game Tuesday, the Jets got thrown around like ragdolls and were helpless to do much about it. Tucker Poolman was belted twice behind his own net, Laine got cranked with a questionable hit, and Neal Pionk was elbowed on the head. And when they tried to do something about it, Tom Wilson stepped in and everyone backed down. No one wants to mess with that guy. Anthony Bitetto’s fight gave the Jets some confidence back in that regard, and the team could use the same boost on Thursday.

Hellebuyck heroics

This is the time of year where exceptional goaltending can turn the tide in the playoff hunt. The Jets are going to lean very heavily on No. 1 goaltender Connor Hellebuyck over the final 17 games of the regular season. That begins on Thursday when Hellebuyck is expected to start after being rested Tuesday. As good as Hellebuyck has been for the Jets, the club needs him to find another level here. Big, boring and unbeatable would be quite welcome at this juncture of the season.

Winnipeg Sun LOADED 02.27.2020 1178844 Winnipeg Jets going out there with the same mindset we had at the end of the game. That’s not going to change. But we need to change our starts.”

What also sticks out about this run of poor starts out of the gate is that it’s Jets' playoff ambitions depend on team scoring first happening against lesser teams. At the moment, seven of the nine teams the Jets have conceded the first goal to are outside of the playoff line. Only Philadelphia and Washington are holding onto a playoff spot.

Scott Billeck Some of the teams, such as Los Angeles, Ottawa and San Jose, for instance, are particularly bad. February 26, 2020 7:26 PM CST And it’s not like the Jets are allowing the first goal but winning regardless

like the Bruins are. The Jets are 4-4-1 during this nine-game stretch. WASHINGTON — It’s a trend that’s hardly in vogue at the moment, Getting nine points out of a possible 18 won’t get you an opponent in the certainly not one suited for this time of year — or any time for that matter. second week of April.

It’s been a topic beaten to death, reanimated and then killed once again But what do the analytics suggest? Are the Jets a team getting screwed at a couple of points in this season. In its current run, the Winnipeg Jets by bad luck? have surrendered the game’s opening goal in nine consecutive contests. The answer is no. The players have been asked over and over again. Answers have come While the Jets are in the middle of the pack at 15th in terms of puck with each question. The usual, “dig our heels in”, “use our speed”, and possession during the past nine games, their expected goals percentage “get pucks deep.” is only good for 28th in the league at just 43.9%. How that breaks down Those sound good in theory, but with 17 games to go and a trend that is in terms of rates is this: The Jets are expected to score 2.07 per 60 costing the Jets priceless points at the moment, talk is cheap. minutes at 5-on-5. Conversely, they’re expected to give up 2.64 goals per 60 in the same scenario. “You don’t want it to be a trend, that’s the biggest thing, and it kind of is right now,” Andrew Copp said when the subject was broached on Much like goals-for/game and goals-against/game, the Jets aren’t Tuesday. “Whether we’re going to get the first one or not, you kind of expected to win much. Overall, including special teams, the Jets score never know, but you have to be ready to play. It feels like our first periods 2.97 goals per game and give up 2.97 goals per game. have been slow.” What all of this numbers mumbo-jumbo is saying is the Jets need to do They have. More on that in a minute. more if they want to make it to the playoffs. While grabbing a point in Washington was a nice reward for 26 minutes of hard work, the numbers Of Winnipeg’s 65 games this season, they’ve scored first in just 29 of — and the record — shows that they can’t do it with consistency. them, good for 22nd in the NHL. The quick math suggests that Jets have trailed first in 36 games this season then, which is third-worst in the When the Jets score first, they have a significantly higher chance of league with only the disastrous Detroit Red Wings and Ottawa Senators bagging two crucial points. When they don’t, they creep closer and closer ahead of them. to their tragic number and mathematical elimination from the playoffs.

And that means when the Jets trail first, they have only a 33.3% chance of winning that particular game. Compare that to, say, the Boston Bruins, Winnipeg Sun LOADED 02.27.2020 who win 61.5% of their games when they give up the first goal.

Naturally, the record isn’t pretty when allowing the other team to score first. The Jets are 12-19-5 on the season compared to the far superior record of 20-8-1 when they manage to grab the first goal.

Don’t think the first goal matters? The numbers speak for themselves.

“We’re not happy with the way that we started the game and that’s something we’ve got to clean up,” Nikolaj Ehlers said after Winnipeg’s loss in Washington. “It’s tough to go out there and get behind one or two and have to start the game that way. That isn’t us and it’s something that we’ve got to get out of. But still, the way we battled back is pretty great.”

In many of those games, they’ve often trailed after one period because of their penchant for sluggish play out of the gate. Their 7-14-4 record highlights the problem there, especially compared to their 15-3-0 record when leading after one.

That is, of course, a representation of a much larger problem where the Jets often get outplayed in the first period.

Winnipeg has scored just 44 first-period goals, good enough for second- worst in the NHL. By comparison, they’re fifth in the league in second- period lamplighters with 78 and 14th with 67 in the third.

Goals against for the Jets are particularly bad in the first and second periods, where they give up the 11th and eighth-most, respectively. Because they’ve trailed 29 games after two periods, the Jets have had to scratch and claw — and simply play better — in the final period. They’ve allowed only 59 goals in the third, or 11th best.

Unsurprisingly, the Jets have only lost one of their 22 games this season when they’ve led after two periods but have just six wins in 29 attempts when trailing after two.

Leaving it until the third period is rather risky.

So, how do you break the vicious cycle?

“It’s just a matter of guys maybe doing something different before the game,” Ehlers said, before adding that he doesn’t know. “It’s not that we’re going out there and just saying, ‘Aw, it’s just another game.’ We’re 1178845 Winnipeg Jets good fortune about Ehlers’ goal, which gave the Jets hope heading into the third period down 3-1 instead of 3-0.

Still, it’s worth noting that Ehlers’ goal was the product of an aggressive, Scratch, claw and fight: Winnipeg needs to bottle that comeback formula two-man forecheck — something we have only seen in spurts from the for 17 more games Jets this season. It’s also worth noting that, if you’re evaluating the game by its boxscore, it will look like Ehlers-Eakin-Laine was a more successful midgame gambit than it really was. With the Jets’ backs up against the wall, Paul Maurice doubled down on two old staples: Connor-Scheifele- By Murat Ates Wheeler and Ehlers/trade-acquisition/Laine. Feb 26, 2020 Of course, this bit of regression was met with overtime progressiveness as a desperate and defensively depleted Maurice ran three forwards at 3- on-3. Blake Wheeler stood gathered in front of reporters in Washington, wearing his custom black, wheel-adorned ballcap and cited his team’s All of this to say: without Ehlers’ fortunate tap-in, Kyle Connor and Mark willingness to fight. Scheifele’s ridiculous third period goals would be footnotes this morning instead of full-blown heroics. “Tony Bitetto finally had enough of getting fucking pushed around for a period and a half, dug his heels in the mud, and gave a little life to our On a team loaded with top goal scorers, no one can match Connor’s high group. That was the turning point in our hockey game.” speed, Holtby-harrowing hands. The goal judge could well have lit his lamp the moment Connor intercepted Ilya Kovalchuk’s pass and then Down 3-0 with 6:23 to go in the second period as Winnipeg was, a dodged a diving John Carlson at the Jets blue line. turning point was sorely needed. The Jets were getting outshot, outbattled, outhit … out-hockeyed entirely, if you’ll accept a made-up Scheifele’s goal was a work of heart. word. An Ehlers pass gave Scheifele a half-step on Dmitry Orlov. Scheifele Bitetto had watched Garnet Hathaway score Washington’s third goal of turned that half-step into drive around Orlov and a game-saving goal that the night just 12 seconds earlier, dropping to minus-two before he was part lucky bounce off of Orlov’s foot and part sprawling, desperate, dropped the gloves. After dumping a waist-high backhand breakout pass timely tribute to Alexander Ovechkin — the greatest goal scorer in towards Patrik Laine, Bitetto was caught behind Hathaway on the hockey. doorstep as Washington turned the puck over and Nic Dowd threw a long The rest of the game is history. shot on net. Hathaway beat him to the rebound and scored an uncontested goal on Laurent Brossoit. The point was stolen. Overtime was forced. The shootout was lost. Winnipeg was up against it in an awful way and had been outplayed for “I was a little frustrated,” Bitetto said. “The goal, I think, was my fault. I most of the game. The comeback took guts and, bounces aside, the can’t let the guy behind me and he bangs it in.” point was well-earned. Bitetto was also part of the duo who got burned by Jakub Vrana’s first The team is still up against it, standings wise, but still in that age-old fight. period rush for Washington’s second goal, although Tucker Poolman was two steps too late to help Bitetto in the middle of the ice. “Say what you will about our team,” said Wheeler, “But we have zero give-up in our room. We’ll just fight and scratch and claw until the very So when Hathaway laid Bitetto out with a big hit right after the Capitals end.” went up 3-0, it was time for Bitetto to make a stand. Keep those claws coming. Winnipeg’s injury issues, roster quality, and “He took a nice run at me and I was like, ‘We gotta do something.’ I difficult schedule in the 17 games it has left give the Jets just a 17 thought it was the right time to do it and a fight’s a fight in hockey.” percent chance of making the playoffs, according to Dom Luszczyszyn’s And that’s where the story diverges. model.

Where Wheeler credited Bitetto’s fight, full stop, as the reason for A big part of those small odds? The Nashville Predators have claws of Winnipeg’s comeback, Bitetto added another important layer. their own.

“We had the big goal going into the third there and I thought we built from The Predators have three games in hand on Winnipeg and four games in that,” he said. “I think we built off of that.” hand on Arizona, giving them a 77 percent chance of making the playoffs, according to Luszczyszyn’s same model. As difficult as Changing the focus to Ehlers’ goal, scored with Bitetto still in the box for Winnipeg found it to scrape a point out of the Capitals in Washington, fighting, may have been traditional hockey modesty on Bitetto’s part. If they’ll have to do at least that well on Thursday to stay in the race. the captain felt that his fight turned the tide, then there’s probably some truth to it. To that end, Josh Morrissey will be reevaluated in Winnipeg today. We’ll have more updates on Niku, plus Adam Lowry and Mathieu Perreault — Still, it’s hard to imagine Winnipeg stealing a point in any capacity without the latter two still week to week — in the coming days. What guts the a terrible giveaway by Michal Kempny and an awful mistake by Braden Jets showed on Tuesday night will have to be shown all over again, night Holtby. in and night out, for such an injury riddled team to overcome its schedule, its extra games played, and its Central Division rivals to steal a playoff Kempny, under pressure from Ehlers, sent a blind pass up the middle of spot. the ice to Cody Eakin. It was the perfect result from a good forecheck: Eakin was alone in the high slot and, although his wrist shot from According to Wheeler, fighting, scratching, and clawing is still on the distance was an easy save for Holtby, luck was on Winnipeg’s side. menu.

Holtby dropped to his knees, thinking he had covered the puck, while “We’ll see if that’s good enough or not but that’s what our group’s made actually dropping it to Ehlers for the tap-in goal. of.”

“He had it at first,” Ehlers told reporters after the game. “It didn’t take long but it just kind of fell down on the ice and I was watching to see if something was going to happen off it, a rebound, and luckily it did.” The Athletic LOADED: 02.27.2020

Let’s be real. Before the game even began, yet another Winnipeg Jet was injured — Sami Niku, this time during the pregame soccer warmup. Add that to Mason Appleton’s injury playing football in Regina, Bryan Little taking an errant puck in the ear, Mark Letestu developing myocarditis, and Dustin Byfuglien spending winter with a fishing rod and not a hockey stick in his hands and it is impossible to say Winnipeg has had luck on its side all year. I’m not going to get carried away screaming 1178846 Vancouver Canucks

Jacob Markstrom undergoes 'minor' procedure on injured knee

PATRICK JOHNSTON

February 26, 2020 5:29 PM PST

The Canucks' star goalie is on the road to recovery.

Vancouver Canucks goaltender Jacob Markstrom has had a “minor lower body procedure,” the team announced Wednesday afternoon.

The team is still calling it a lower-body issue, but it’s believed the star netminder is dealing with a minor meniscus tear in one of his knees.

Update on @j_markstrom from #Canucks GM Jim Benning: pic.twitter.com/KK9VmhsIJL— Vancouver #Canucks (@Canucks) February 27, 2020

Sources suggested Monday that Markstrom was likely to be sidelined for three-to-four weeks. Asked about the timeline on Monday, Canucks general manager Jim Benning didn’t deny it, instead saying that Markstrom would see a specialist on Wednesday when his timeline would be clearer.

Benning said in a statement released via the team’s official twitter account that Markstrom would be re-evaluated in two weeks.

The recovery time for a meniscectomy, the common surgical procedure required to trim partial meniscus tears, is three to four weeks, so Benning’s Wednesday statement fits the projected recovery timeline.

Vancouver Province: LOADED: 02.27.2020 1178847 Vancouver Canucks “Just sticking up for myself,” he said. “I thought it was a high hit and I didn’t even have the puck and he lunged a bit. I kind of got ticked off a bit and it happened.”

Ben Kuzma: Gaudette's grit, drive should help Canucks centre get to It didn’t go unnoticed. desired level “He gives you an honest effort every night and wants to be a player and a good player,” Green said of the club’s fifth-round 2015 draft pick. “I like him a lot.” BEN KUZMA The coach will also like that Gaudette is learning to harness his offensive February 26, 2020 3:04 PM PST ability. That goal against the Bruins is what Gaudette has learned to also adapt to his game.

“Guys are so good with their sticks and picking yours up at the net,” he KANATA, Ont. — Adam Gaudette’s growing game is predicated on said. “You’ve kind of got to be deceptive when you don’t have the puck perspective. and it’s something you learn as you go — to be quick and get on pucks Aside from the camera catching his overzealous goal celebrations, the right away. Vancouver Canucks centre has cemented his roster status by doing all “They (Bruins) are good but so are we, and we proved we can beat the grunt work. anybody,” added Gaudette. “With Hughes and my goal, we’ve been in For every reminder that the Hobey Baker Award winner can convert that situation a couple of times, where he comes down the wall and I’m scoring chances — his quick release in tight quarters off a Quinn Hughes trying to make room. feed found the top corner Saturday against the Boston Bruins — his two “I just tried to get into position for a shot or a rebound on the net and he gritty assists Tuesday in a come-from-behind 4-3 overtime victory over made a nice pass.” the Montreal Canadiens were vital. Gaudette is geared to be a scorer, playmaker and shutdown centre and After starting a scoring sequence, he battled down low to establish hopes to eventually emulate the strong two-way presence of Patrice position and set a screen. It’s why Alex Edler’s wrist shot from the point Bergeron and Jonathan Toews. went through a maze and beat Carey Price to the glove side. “They just play a 200-foot game, can also produce, are good leaders and “This time of the year, if you don’t get to the net and you’re playing can be used in all situations,” said Gaudette. against Price, if he sees it he’s probably going to stop it,” said Canucks coach Travis Green. If the Canucks can say all that about Gaudette one day, he’s going to have a long NHL stay. For Gaudette, hitting double-digits with 11 goals and 19 assists as a responsible third-liner is commendable, but he can’t lose sight of what got him to the NHL. Being as good without the puck as he can be with is is why Green has often lauded Gaudette for “selling out on every shift” in Vancouver Province: LOADED: 02.27.2020 an alignment with Antoine Roussel and Jake Virtanen.

“The confidence level is pretty good right now and if I can get more physically dominant, the confidence will go even higher,” predicted Gaudette.

It won’t be easy because he has to do the tough stuff.

Gaudette has always skated well enough, but understanding that offence comes from a sound defensive posture has been a work in progress. When you put up 30 goals and 60 points at Northeastern and are named the top Division 1 player, it can go to your head. Not Gaudette.

He knows he can be stronger on pucks and better in board battles to create more scoring chances. Scoring off the rush is tougher in today’s NHL because teams defend so well. And getting gritty has never been a problem for Gaudette.

“That is what has got me to this point,” said the 23-year-old native of Braintree, Mass. “I’m not overly skilled but I’ve got more skilled each year just by working on it, and that’s something that has pushed me to the next level. It has always been the work ethic and second efforts on pucks.

“I find we’re spending more time in the O-zone and that’s nice, but we’re still working with each other to figure some stuff out. We’re trying to hang on to pucks longer and get them (opposition) running around in the D- zone, so we can get some momentum. That’s huge.”

So is soaking up tutelage from the ultimate survivor in Roussel and learning to mesh with Virtanen, who scored his career-high 18th goal of the season Tuesday by getting his power-play shot away quickly to pick the top corner on Price.

Roussel would approve.

“He’s always talking,” said Gaudette. “We sit next to each other in the locker room and we’re always suggesting things and thinking, ‘What if we did this and what if we did that?’ It’s great. You figure yourself out more and learn his tendencies and he figures out mine and we go off that.”

Gaudette’s persistency against Chicago on Feb. 12 drew the ire of Blackhawks defenceman Connor Murphy. He laid a questionable hit on Gaudette, who then dropped the mitts in convincing fashion. 1178848 Vancouver Canucks Polak before somehow finding Mason Raymond at the side of an open net.

When Raymond scored to make it 2-0, he thrust his arms in the air as if Canucks at 50: Another night when 'Burr' and 'Kes' went and 'did it again' to say “Finally!”

Finally, his first goal in 27 games.

Staff Reporter “He was praising God,” Kesler said.

February 26, 2020 7:55 AM PST “It was a great play by Kes, a long time coming,” Raymond said. “It felt really, really good.”

The home winning streak in the 2008-09 season showed flashes of what Before the Vancouver Canucks could be the best team in the NHL two was building to the Canucks President’s Trophy winning teams in the seasons running, and before they could become Western Conference 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons. But Ed Willes reminds us that it was Champions and get to the , they had to make Rogers prudence by GM Mike Gillis that kept Alain Vigneault behind the bench Arena a fortress, a nasty place to play. In the 2008-09 season they set a as a lengthy losing streak earlier that season saw many calling for team record win streak at home. The last of those wins, a 3-0 shutout Vigneault’s head. Willes wrote: over a tough St. Louis Blues team on March 19, 2009 was covered by Jason Botchford. He wrote: But Gillis’s contribution goes beyond the scoreboard. Again, this starts to get a little nebulous, but his best moments since he’s taken over have The story is as tired as it is amazing, as absurd as it is remarkable. The come when the heat has been highest. They’ve also involved not so one thing it’s not is boring. much what he did as what he didn’t do.

Yes, Ryan Kesler and Alex Burrows did it again. Gillis demonstrated a cool head for command during the now-famous January losingstreak, which might be the defining moment of this Where would the Canucks be without them? Definitely not where they sit Canucks season. now, alone in fourth place in the Western Conference, riding an historic 11-game home winstreak, and just three points behind the division- With the team in the throes of an eight-game slide, there was pressure leading Calgary Flames. on Gillis to fire coach Alain Vigneault and some of it, according to sources, came from the highest reaches of the organization. Been away since Roberto Luongo’s last shutout in November? You won’t believe what’s happened since to a pair of shutdown checking forwards. The situation apparently came to a head following the 4-3 overtime loss to Minnesota on Jan. 31, but Gillis’s support of Vigneault remained Kesler, the penalty killer with no vision, has become a playmaker. unwavering. The next game, Alex Burrows scored the short-handed Burrows, the agitator with no hands, a goal-scorer. game-winner against Carolina and the Canucks have gone 20-5-1 since. How can it continue? The pair, whose heart lately has been dwarfed only Now, it’s a given his personality could use some work. In a market that is by their soul, showed no signs of slowing down Thursday in a 3-0 win passionate about this team, it’s important that the face of the franchise against the St. Louis Blues. cracks a smile every now and then. If he’s going to stick around, it would In a game that the Canucks were due to lose — no team can win them all also help if he developed a tougher hide. — Kesler and Burrows started a car that was huffing for the first half of But the good news is, in his first year, he hasn’t made any rookie the game on one cylinder, Roberto Luongo. mistakes. It could be Gillis is just a prickly sort. It could also be he can do The Canucks looked flatlined with only four shots on net in the first half of the job. the game. They went the first 11:18 of the second period without a shot.

At one point the shots were 18-4, all St. Louis. Vancouver Province: LOADED: 02.27.2020 There were the Canucks stuck in the mud of this swamp of a scoreless game when Burrows pulled out his defibrillator in the second period. He cut through the slot, took a long feed from Henrik Sedin, calmly gloved the puck to the ice. He then teed up a shot that whizzed by goalie Chris Mason.

“He’s scoring so much for us, we’re relying on him to score almost every night,” Kesler said of Burrows, who now has 10 goals in his past 13 games.

Burrows is making scoring goals look so easy. In a word, it’s changed everything. No longer can Burrows fly around the ice trying to get under opponents’ skins. This team can’t afford to have him in the penalty box.

He’s now the Canucks‘ second-leading goal scorer. With 23, he’s just three behind Daniel Sedin.

“I’m putting pressure on myself to score every night,” Burrows said. “Especially playing with the twins. A load of the offence has to come from us. And now my teammates are expecting me to score goals. I’m one of those guys now.”

Those “guys” have to stay out of the box, and on the ice. They have to show up when their teams need them most.

“I can’t put the team down a man now,” Burrows said. “I just can’t take penalties like I used to. I still like to get in those scrums, though.”

It’s been a long time since the Sedins have had a fit on their line as good as Burrows.

“The twins like to cycle but Burr is good at helping them and finding the holes,” head coach Alain Vigneault said. “He was given an opportunity and he’s certainly jumped on it.”

Kesler made sure his former checking partner’s goal was enough when, in the third, he shook off a hard hit along the side boards from Roman 1178849 Vancouver Canucks that Ryan was prepared to take advantage of those opportunities in front of him.”

The additions of Sundin and Demitra remain controversial. Demitra Canucks at 50: Kesler's coming-out party launched with 11-game win because he was swapped in for Markus Naslund, the team’s former streak in 2009 captain. Sundin because he only arrived mid-season on a huge salary.

But in Gillis’s estimation, they did as much as anyone to guide Kesler towards the player he became. PATRICK JOHNSTON “Ryan was a centre-ice man. He was put on right wing with two veteran February 26, 2020 4:21 PM PST players and he reacted the way we hoped he would react,” he said. “His game went to a new level, he started to see the ice and view the game

as more than north-south. Those two players added subtlety to his game. Thirty-one teams have won 12 or more games in a row at home in the They were constantly telling him places to go. And they fed off his speed history of the National Hockey League. and his tenacity.”

The 2008-09 Vancouver Canucks won 11 straight. And it took a loss in a In Gillis’s mind, the Kesler success story was yet another lesson in how shootout for them not to be the 32nd team to win a dozen in a row in the our perceptions are often wrong. The hive mind struggles to deal with friendly confines. people, ideas or items that don’t quite fit into the pre-conceived boxes we carry around in our heads. Over the course of that season, Ryan Kesler tallied 59 points. What Kesler achieved 11 years ago this month shattered what had been About one-third of those, 19 points in all, came in that 11-game home thought of him before. stretch that began with a 4-3 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Feb. 3, 2009. The 11th win, a 3-0 shutout, came March 19 vs. St. Louis. “It’s easy to misunderstand people who are driven, who are outliers, who are unsatisfied with complacency,” Gillis said. “They can get labelled as In between were wins over Chicago, Montreal, Tampa Bay, Columbus, troublesome.” Minnesota, San Jose, Los Angeles, Colorado and Dallas. Interspersed were a few losses — the Canucks went 5-4 on the road in that period — but at home they were perfect. Vancouver Province: LOADED: 02.27.2020 It was the beginning of what would prove to be the peak of Kesler’s career. After the season, he earned his first Selke Trophy nomination as the league’s top defensive forward.

A year prior, Kesler had been viewed as a capable, but hardly game- changing, third-line centre.

Linemates Mats Sundin, Pavol Demitra and Ryan Kesler (left to right) celebrate Kesler’s goal against the Carolina Hurricanes during their Feb. 3, 2009 NHL game at GM Place, a victory that launched the Canucks’ 11-game home-ice winning streak. Ward Perrin/Vancouver Sun / PNG files

Chalk this remarkable step forward to a couple of fateful choices by the powers that be: first, that general manager Mike Gillis chose to ignore the Kesler doubters, of whom there were many, and second, that Kesler was put on a line with veteran stars Pavol Demitra and Mats Sundin.

After having been the team’s third-line centre for the most part since first breaking into the NHL in 2003-04, Kesler was moved to the wing as head coach Alain Vigneault looked for a second scoring line behind the Sedin twins. In January 2009, Kesler was put on what became known as the RPM Line with left-winger Demitra and centre Sundin.

And with that, begat the Kesler that lives on in the memories of so many Canucks fan. A cantankerous, two-way player, a guy who could take over games with his skill and desire.

“I had heard lots of things about Ryan before accepting the job,” Gillis recalled Tuesday. “I had one long-time player tell me Ryan Kesler couldn’t make a play with a pencil.

“But being somewhat of a contrarian, I tend to not listen to that and make up my own mind and I came to see Ryan was a person ready to do whatever it takes to make the team successful.”

Hired in the spring of 2008, Gillis was handed a mandate by new owner Francesco Aquilini to win the Stanley Cup. If that meant changing the culture of the organization as a whole as well as the culture within the team itself, so be it.

Veteran Mats Sundin (right) was a key mentor for his young linemate Ryan Kesler during the 2008-09 NHL season. Ric Ernst/The Province / PNG files

Kesler, Gillis came to realize, could be a key leader in support of the obviously burgeoning stars that were the Sedins.

“He had a lot more to give than what people thought,” Gillis said. “We decided to give him a bigger leadership role.

“There’s lots of people that when they’re growing and maturing are misunderstood, and that stays with them for a long time. … All of us felt 1178850 Websites “I was all right until they discovered my weakness — shots on goal,” Schaefer told reporters.

There was Chris Levesque, a 23-year-old third-string goalie for the The Athletic / Emergency goalies come from everywhere — pulpit, University of British Columbia who was informed the Canucks needed factory floor or even barstool him while studying in the library for a geography test the next morning.

Or Brett Leonhardt, who worked for the Capitals’ team website when he suited up for the first 10 minutes of a game in 2008. Once the team’s By Jayson Jenks backup goalie arrived at the arena midway through the first period, Leonhardt returned to his job, which meant he was behind a camera in Feb 26, 2020 the locker room as players answered questions about … him.

Or Paul Deutsch, a 51-year-old embroidery shop owner who hadn’t Have you heard the one about the ordained minister and the hockey played in a competitive hockey game in more than 30 years when he president? nearly suited up for the Wild. Deutsch went through pregame warmups until the team’s minor-league goalie showed up. One night in 1943, the goalie for the Bruins got sick right before a game against the Maple Leafs. That was juuuuuust a bit of a problem since the But in the rich history of emergency goalies, there is no story like the Bruins didn’t have a backup. story of English Alfie Moore.

Bruins president Art Ross needed a last-minute replacement. He asked a It was April 5, 1938. Game 1 of the Stanley Cup final. Chicago friend for a recommendation. The friend told him about a “fellow” in Blackhawks vs. the hometown Toronto Maple Leafs. Toronto named George Abbott — or, as he was better known in his day In the afternoon, the Blackhawks learned that goalie Mike Karakas would job, The Reverend George Abbott. be unable to play because of a broken big toe. For reasons that aren’t It was one hell of a prayer. entirely clear but seemed to be logical at the time, the Blackhawks brain trust was determined to replace Karakas with Dave Kerr, the gifted goalie Abbott, who played a bit of rec hockey when not saving souls, allowed of the New York Rangers. seven goals on 44 shots. After the first one, a Bruins player reached into the net to retrieve the puck and, unaware of his new goalie’s occupation, To be clear, the Rangers had lost in the first round of the playoffs. colorfully blurted out, “Never mind that so-and-so.” He later asked Abbott What happened next is a bit murky, but Maple Leafs owner Conn Smythe for forgiveness. supposedly refused to give the Blackhawks permission to play Kerr. That After the game, Art Ross offered The Reverend $150 despite a Bruins led to a meeting with NHL president Frank Calder, who ruled that Kerr loss. couldn’t play because he had already been bounced from the playoffs.

“Oh no!” Abbott told him. “That was my good deed for the day.” So the Blackhawks needed a goalie, and since it was the home team’s responsibility to furnish a replacement, the Maple Leafs had one ready “Well,” Ross said, “doesn’t your church need a new steeple or and waiting: Alfie Moore. something?” That is when the controversy exploded. Apparently, the Maple Leafs had Abbott took the money. called Moore, an old minor-league goalie, and told him to bring his gear to the arena. Smythe greeted him at the entrance to Maple Leaf There is nothing in sports like the emergency backup goalie in hockey, as Gardens, carried his equipment and ushered him into a little room, where we learned again over the weekend when David Ayres helped the Smythe told Moore to wait. Hurricanes beat the Maples Leafs in Toronto. There is one other minor detail to the story: As legend has it, Moore had They have come from the ranks of accountants and Zamboni drivers, spent the day buried in the bottom of pints in a Toronto tavern. emerged out of bars and barbershops, gone years without playing a minute and appeared in Stanley Cup finals. In other words, he was some version of shitfaced.

One worked for a printing company. One was 46 years old. And one was Shortly before the game, Moore was told to go to the Blackhawks locker improbably, inexplicably a sportswriter. room because he would start in goal. When Moore entered the dressing room, however, none of the Blackhawks had any idea what was going It is hard to tell exactly how or when this all started. For years, teams on. Kerr was getting dressed as if he was the one who was about to play. carried only one goalie, even in the playoffs. If a goalie got hurt, it was the home team’s responsibility to have a ready replacement on hand (the “Right then I knew I had been made the sucker,” Moore said later. “I was NHL made teams carry two goalies starting in 1965). As far back as so mad that when Smythe poked his head into the door, I told him, ‘I 1929, the NHL also employed an official emergency goalie for the entire hope I stop every puck you fellows fire even if I have to eat the rubber.’” league. (In 1932, for example, the job fell to Petch Cude, which is just one of many tremendous names encountered while researching this If Moore was mad, Bill Stewart, the coach of the Blackhawks, was irate. story.) The Blackhawks claimed they had no idea Kerr was ineligible until Moore showed up and told them. They believed Smythe and his right-hand man, This tradition of scrambling to find a goalie at the last possible minute has Frank Selke, had pulled a dirty trick. led to some wonderful moments. In the corridor between the two dressing rooms, Stewart saw Smythe and In 1951, the Blackhawks lost their goalie in the middle of a game, so the proceeded to berate him. Soon, Selke walked up to the argument. public address announcer got on the mic and asked, “Would Marcel Pelletier please go to the Hawk dressing room?” And so Pelletier stood “You’re a liar,” Stewart yelled at Selke. up in the crowd, took 18 minutes to change into his pads and finished the “You are the guy that’s always been talking about fighting everybody,” game in net. Smythe said, according to a totally real-sounding quote in the next day’s Six years later, the Bruins’ goalie dislocated his shoulder eight minutes paper, “but you can’t call my pal Selke a liar and get away with it.” into the first period. Boston’s best option was Lefty Wilson — the Red So Smythe punched Stewart in the face. Stewart punched him right back Wings’ “portly” 38-year-old assistant trainer. Wilson left the end of in the face. They stood there punching each other in the face until a Detroit’s bench, removed his red jacket and suited up for the final 52 couple of former Toronto players broke it up. minutes for the Bruins. Mind you, this was all before the game. He gave up one goal and made 23 saves against the team that employed him. In the meantime, Moore’s new Chicago teammates supposedly held him under a cold shower and forced coffee down his throat just to sober him Joe Schaefer, a Long Island factory worker, was the Rangers’ designated up some. emergency goalie for seven years before he finally got into a game, only to surrender five goals. “When we were warming up, Stewart said, ‘Take it easy, don’t shoot too hard. I don’t want him hurt,’” recalled Johnny Gottselig in the Chicago Daily News. “But he was stopping everything, laughing, waving at his friends.”

Moore wasn’t laughing when the Maple Leafs scored just 1:53 into the game. It looked like a disaster, and Stewart was still fuming.

After the first period, he stood outside his dressing room and loudly talked about “the Toronto racketeers who were Smythe’s bodyguards” — the two former Toronto players who broke up the fight. One of those former players, Hal (Baldy) Cotton, heard Stewart running his mouth and so he punched Stewart in the face. Stewart entered the locker room with a bruised cheek and blood running down his face, at which point he apparently gave a rather rousing pep talk.

Moore didn’t allow a goal the rest of the way. The Blackhawks won, 3-1, and went on to win the Stanley Cup. Alfie Moore was a certified legend. Neither booze nor the Maple Leafs could stop him.

Many years later, a newspaperman asked him if he was, in fact, drunk that day. Moore supposedly scratched his head and said, “I’ve always been sorta hazy about that. I had quite a few beers that day and I just can’t remember.”

The Athletic LOADED: 02.27.2020 1178851 Websites of the field though, specifically, the next team up that happens to be in their division.

Boston: At 12 percent, the Bruins are bar none the biggest threat to the The Athletic / 2020 trade deadline aftermath: Sizing up the Stanley Cup Lightning’s chances this season, especially as they’re on a crash-course race in the second round in what could be one of the best playoff series in recent memory. With Tampa Bay forming its own super line of Brayden Point, Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos to combat the Ratatouille line (I didn’t come up with this, but it’s way better than the Perfection By Dom Luszczyszyn line), it has potential to be an incredible display of power versus power Feb 26, 2020 that the league hasn’t seen in a long while. Not in the parity era anyways.

After Tampa Bay added Coleman, the Bruins had to respond and they did so in two separate deals with Anaheim. The first was the big one as The deadline has passed and while it was an eventful one, it’s hard to the team snatched the under-appreciated Ondrej Kase, a player who say that it was a very impactful one in terms of the players added. After should be a perfect fit in the team’s top six, giving the Bruins arguably every deadline, I usually do a post-mortem that evaluates how the one of the league’s best second lines. contending class looks because the landscape generally sees a decent shift. Kase has been an analytics darling for a couple of years now but has taken a step back this season in terms of his play-driving. In prior years This year was different. The past couple of seasons have felt like an the Ducks were dominant with him on the ice but that’s lessened under arms race for contenders, adding key pieces with big value. But those new coach Dallas Eakins. His production has been decent to players weren’t available at this year’s deadline, especially with the compensate for that though as he’s scored 1.74 points-per-60. That’s a biggest fish, Chris Kreider, opting to re-sign with the Rangers. Instead, second line rate, which is impressive considering he’s scoring on fewer this year was all about fit — finding the missing piece that might show than half his shots compared to the last two seasons. The other move more and hopefully become a contributing player. was more lateral in value than anything (and arguably a downgrade) as both Danton Heinen and Nick Ritchie grade out as fine middle six In that vein, there wasn’t as much movement in each team’s Stanley Cup forwards. But again, it’s about fit and balance where Ritchie likely chances as in past years – that will come in the final quarter as the new provides more offense than the defensively-minded Heinen does. That’s additions make their mark – but it’s still worth checking in where each a need on this team where more depth scoring is necessary come playoff team stands. time. In the salary cap era, parity has been the key word for the playoffs and The Bruins’ chances improve further without Joakim Nordstrom and Chris while that’s still partly true, it feels like there’s a lot more separation this Wagner weighing down the fourth line, but there’s still time for the team season between the teams in the upper echelon and the rest of the field. to figure out the right mix. In terms of total talent, Boston is the closest My prediction model believes there are currently six teams with a Stanley team to the Lightning right now. If they weren’t in the same conference, Cup chance higher than eight percent, but the next highest after that sits let alone division, each team’s chances would be higher. at just four percent. It’s those former teams, the contenders, that will be the focus here as they make up three-quarters of the championship St. Louis: The Bruins have slightly more value throughout the lineup, but probability pie, but there are 10 others that deserve some say too – last year’s Cup winners have just as strong of a chance of winning it all especially when St. Louis found itself in that group last season. thanks to being in the other conference. In the West, the reigning champs are the team to beat by a fair margin thanks to how they’ve played this Tampa Bay: Once again, it’s Tampa Bay. Same as last year. Same as season without one of their best players, super sniper Vladimir the year before that. Third time’s the charm? Tarasenko. Early on the team started slow, but over the last two months, Jokes aside, winning it all isn’t easy in hockey, even when a team has the Blues have begun to look like the dominant possession team that the best odds. A 21.5 percent chance of winning the Stanley Cup means took the league by storm in the second half of last season. The a 79.5 percent chance of not winning at all. Being the likeliest doesn’t goaltending results haven’t been there, but when you’re clicking at a 56 mean it’s a guarantee, but the more times a team is in this position, the percent expected goals rate over an extended period, you’re on a good better the possibility they’ll finally pull through. path. Jordan Binnington doesn’t have a long track record, but from what we’ve seen it’s safe to bet on him getting back on track and when that The Lightning took their lumps last season and have done everything clicks with the Blues’ regained possession game, the team will look they can to make sure that this is finally the year, even struggling early to nearly unbeatable. make sure the machine would be rolling come playoff time. The system has changed, the team is even stronger defensively and there’s a better The Blues have been controlling games handily of late and the addition balance throughout the lineup between skill and muscle. That ideology of Marco Scandella should only further that as he’s had a complete played out in the team’s deadline targets, adding Blake Coleman last turnaround this season in his play-driving ability. Scandella struggled in week and then Barclay Goodrow on deadline day, two players who play a his time with Buffalo before this year, but he looks to be back to the hard-nosed game. I noted in 16 Stats that the former move improved competent second pairing defender he was in Minnesota. It’s been night Tampa Bay’s Cup chances by three percent, but that’s since been and day with his expected goals percentage going from a sub 45 percent lessened by three straight losses that’s dropped Tampa Bay’s odds of expected goals rate in his first two seasons in Buffalo, to well above winning the division, plus other teams – namely Boston – making their break-even this season with the Sabres and Canadiens. It’s not a own additions. splashy move, but it adds much-needed stability and depth on the left side in the wake of Jay Bouwmeester’s unfortunate cardiac episode. He’s That, plus the Goodrow addition. While I was a big fan of the Coleman already had a strong start with the Blues (with an average Game Score move, adding Goodrow doesn’t move the needle as much and for now, of 1.99 in his first four games) and makes the team’s blue line look even actually has a negative effect on the team’s chances due to his high ice- more stacked than it already is. That line of defense in front of Binnington time with San Jose. That’ll be fixed in the model in a week or so when we is why this team looks ready to defend last year’s Stanley Cup win. The start seeing how each player is used on their new team, but for now, I’m emergence of players like Robert Thomas and Zach Sanford, plus the at the mercy of his prior usage. Goodrow does have decent defensive rise of Alex Pietrangelo might make this team even stronger. upside but gives a lot of that impact back with his lack of offensive contribution. For the price Tampa Bay paid, I’m not sure it was worth it, Colorado: The difference between first and second in the Central is huge. even if it only ended up being a pick swap. It means the difference between playing the worst Western playoff team or playing Dallas, the third or fourth-best team in the West. That partly Coleman definitely feels like a missing piece addition, a guy that really explains why Colorado’s odds are nearly two percentage points lower solidifies the team’s top nine with his play-driving prowess and ability to than they are for St. Louis. get pucks on net. The team as a whole looks stacked from top to bottom. The Lightning have star-power and depth in spades, more than I can Winning the division will be tough with all the injuries the Avalanche are recall seeing from any other team in recent memory. From top to bottom dealing with, but once fully healthy this looks like an impressive and deep this Lightning team might even be better than last year’s version, but it’s group. That was something that couldn’t be said last season, but the worth noting that at this time last year the team’s chances of winning team’s offseason moves have paid off handsomely. In Nazem Kadri, were even higher at 26 percent. That might have more to do with the rest Joonas Donskoi and Andre Burakovsky, the Avalanche essentially added an entire second line and all three have been important contributors for The team’s deadline additions should mitigate that, however. Pittsburgh the team this year. But it goes beyond that too as Valeri Nichushkin has went big on improving its forward depth, first by making a big splash and thrived in his new locale while others like Matt Calvert have really finally landing Jason Zucker, who has looked like a perfect fit next to stepped up. A former one-line team now has one of the deepest forward Sidney Crosby with five points in seven games. After that move though I groups in the league. Colorado also added Vladislav Namestnikov to the have mixed feelings about the forwards the team acquired. Conor Sheary mix, and while it’s not a flashy add, he can provide some value in a is a nice value add, especially if he can reignite his chemistry with fourth-line role. It leaves former 10th overall pick, Tyson Jost, potentially Crosby, but he’s likely a downgrade over a younger Dominik Kahun. on the outside looking in despite a strong season at 5-on-5. That’s how Evan Rodrigues, who was also acquired in the deal, looks like little more deep this group is now. than a fourth-line body and I can’t see him being in the team’s top 12 forwards when everyone is healthy. To be honest, I’d have a hard time On defense, Cale Makar already looks like an elite blueliner for years to placing Patrick Marleau in that top 12 either once Nick Bjugstad comes come and has almost single-handedly transformed the makeup of the back (if he ever does) and while he had a nice start with San Jose, his overall group here – a massive upgrade over Tyson Barrie who the team best days are way behind him. He’s pointless in his last eight games. The used to bolster its forward ranks. From top to bottom the Avalanche look Zucker add is top-notch and the Penguins inch close to 10-1 odds pretty set at defense too. because of it, but the rest of the team’s additions don’t look all that great.

Though it would’ve been nice to see the team go bigger at the deadline, Toronto: The Leafs ranking this high despite their season and the likely the Avalanche are a legitimate contender, a strong team that didn’t need path of doom of going through both Tampa Bay and Boston likely sounds to make many adds. Over the last two months, the Avalanche rank fifth in crazy. I get it, they’ll be big underdogs in each series. But when fully expected goals percentage (with the four teams in front of them all likely healthy this is still a very talented team, one we haven’t seen in its full contenders too) and when fully healthy they’re a beast of a team that will form once this season (and won’t at all due to the injury to Andreas be tough to stop. This may not be their year to win it all, but they’re right Johnsson). That team, minus Johnsson, might be intact come playoff there to represent the West and a path to the final is plainly in sight. With time and it’s then where we might finally see what GM Kyle Dubas has this core and the way the team is building, it won’t be the last chance for envisioned for this group (if they make it, which is no guarantee at 80 this group either. They’ll be an elite group for years to come. percent – and that’s without factoring yet another major injury, this time a Vegas: The Golden Knights slumped hard in the middle of the season – broken hand for Jake Muzzin, yikes). enough to get their coach fired – but they’re back with a vengeance. The Despite the injury luck that’s hit a top-heavy group combined with shaky team is red hot of late winning six straight games to vault themselves to goaltending, the team has a very strong record (23-13-4) and very strong the top of the Pacific division where they rightfully belong as the underlying numbers (54 percent expected goals) under new coach strongest team in the group. All year the team has been a puck Sheldon Keefe. It hasn’t been pretty at times, but there’s enough talent possession powerhouse, and now they’re finally seeing the results to here to surprise – if they want to. It’s readily apparent on some nights like show for it, peaking at the right time. Over the last month, the team has recent wins against Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh, but less so on other been above 60 percent in both actual and expected goals at 5-on-5. The nights like the team’s embarrassing losses last week to Buffalo, Golden Knights lead the league in expected goals percentage, winning Pittsburgh and a Zamboni driver. Which team shows up the rest of the the scoring chance battle more than any other team and it’s for that way will dictate just how far this team goes and with an inactive deadline, reason that they’re the favorites to come out of the Pacific. Dubas has put the onus on the roster to figure it out with the players With the relative weakness of the remainder of their division, Vegas has already in the room. the easiest path to the Stanley Cup compared to the other contending Dallas: Of the 12 teams with Stanley Cup chances higher than two teams and that’s one reason the team’s chances are so high, despite the percent, Dallas’ roster of skaters is by far the weakest with a total value likelihood the Golden Knights finish with fewer than 100 points. What of 18.1 wins, nearly two wins lower than the next best team. The Stars really helps things is that Vegas addressed perhaps it’s biggest issue at look closer to “the rest” then they do to the other dark horse candidates the deadline by acquiring goaltender Robin Lehner from Chicago. Lehner here, but instead they nearly lead the group at 4.5 percent. That’s was sensational last year and has followed that up with another strong because of goaltending as Ben Bishop currently holds the highest showing this year, ranking 18th in goals saved above expected. He gives projected value. Goaltending is notoriously fickle so that’s not the best the team not only much-needed stability behind Marc-Andre Fleury to thing to hang your hat on, but as it stands now if there’s any goalie most ensure a playoff spot, but arguably an upgrade over the team’s starter likely to steal a series, it’s Bishop. The Stars didn’t make any moves and who ranks 72nd this year in goals saved above expected at minus-12.5. have a tough Central division to deal with, but as long as they get That’s been a major reason the team hasn’t been able to out-score goaltending they have a fighting chance in the playoffs. opponents as often as expected. That chance has shrunk though under new coach Rick Bowness. Despite That addition more than anything gives plenty of reason to believe in the the stronger record, the Stars have looked worse at 5-on-5 with their Golden Knights this year and it’s the biggest reason that Vegas saw the expected goals rate dropping to just under 50 percent with their new biggest jump in Stanley Cup chances after the deadline. The other coach, down from 53.6 percent previously. The goal percentage has additions are OK and give the team extra depth with Nick Cousins, in followed too. That the team is 20-9-3 under Bowness with just a plus-four particular, having a decent under-the-radar year with an average Game goal differential screams good fortune in close games more than Score of 0.54. That’s a savvy upgrade over Cody Eakin. But Lehner is anything. the big one, and with him, the team added a goaltender that has the power to steal a series or two, just like Fleury did in the team’s inaugural There is a flip-side though and it’s the bad fortune the team’s offensive season. This time around, the team in front is much stronger though, stars have had this season. Maybe it’s systemic, but long term I’d expect making Vegas a legitimate Stanley Cup threat. Tyler Seguin (62-point pace), Jamie Benn (46), Alex Radulov (48) and Joe Pavelski (39) to produce more than they have this season. If they Pittsburgh: Through the season’s first couple months it looked like the play up to the form many expect of them, there’s plenty of reason to Penguins would be a real problem for the rest of the league. The way believe in Dallas this season. they were thoroughly dismantling teams, dominating the run of play and winning games was exceptional. That they were doing it with the list of Philadephia: The Flyers added some fringe pieces at the deadline in injuries they had only added to that. Nate Thompson and Derek Grant that I honestly can’t see being in their top 12 once fully healthy. Nolan Patrick hasn’t played a game this season It seemed once that cleared up the team would only trend up further, but due to a migraine disorder, but he’s progressing and his addition could in fact, it’s been the opposite experience as the Penguins’ underlying be a decent one for the Flyers in solidifying the team’s depth down the numbers have dropped extensively over the last two months. The other middle. The Flyers are a deep team, but with Claude Giroux declining five contenders are all in the top five for expected goals percentage over this year the team is low on elite talent outside of Selke favorite Sean the last two months. The Penguins rank 19th at 49 percent, a huge step Couturier. To contend, Philadelphia needs some version of the Giroux back from the 54.4 percent they were at prior, which ranked second they’ve had over the previous two seasons – a guy who can tip the league-wide. The loss of Jake Guentzel can’t be undersold here and with scales in a power versus power matchup. him, the Penguins would be a lot closer to Boston than they are now. The team is still the favorite to come out of the Metropolitan, but their chances Aside from Giroux, Shayne Gostisbehere needs to step his game up too of winning it all have certainly dropped with a recent decline in play. That as he’s been awful enough this season that healthy scratching him for the Penguins are in the league’s tightest division doesn’t help. Robert Hagg makes sense. So while the Flyers may not have made a big splash at the deadline, internal improvement might be all they need to make some noise – even if they’re still a fair bit away from going the that the forwards that should be top liners haven’t looked like that either. distance. My model uses three seasons of data (most recent being weighted the heaviest), so it expects bouncebacks for a few players like the struggling Carolina: For the Hurricanes, a lot depends on injury timelines which Filip Forsberg, Matt Duchene, Viktor Arvidsson, Ryan Johansen and have been murky, to say the least. The team lost elite defenseman, Mikael Granlund. When the list of disappointments is that long, it’s no Dougie Hamilton, in January for an indefinite amount of time and had a wonder that a team many expected to contend is instead fighting for their rough time injury-wise over the weekend in losing stud defender Brett playoff lives. Time is running out for this team to figure things out. Pesce long-term, as well as both goalies for the next little bit. The first game with third-stringer Alex Nedeljkovic didn’t exactly go well. I assume The potential is there and I wouldn’t want to play them in the first round, everyone will be available for the playoffs, but their uncertain regular but at some point, they have to put it together. There’s an argument they season timelines do lessen the team’s chances of making it in the first have under John Hynes with a better a record and a current 9-4-1 run, place and earning an optimal seeding. That lowers their overall chances. but their underlying numbers at 5-on-5 have all taken a hit. Nashville Regardless, the team was very busy at the deadline, making three key needs a huge final quarter that proves the team still has it, otherwise the additions to varying degrees of effectiveness. Predators will likely be first-round fodder.

Vincent Trocheck isn’t the player many believe he still is, but he’s a Vancouver: Of all the additions made before the deadline, Tyler Toffoli is decent second-line caliber center who should fit in better on Carolina in a behind only Zucker for value added. It was a sorely needed move in scoring role further down the lineup. He’s a big upgrade over Erik Haula Vancouver where the team lives and dies by its star players. The whose defensive game has plummeted since coming back from injury, as Canucks aren’t a deep team and will be tested down the stretch with all outlined in my trade deadline primer. Sami Vatanen is an average their injuries, but should they qualify, they can make some noise as long defender that gives the team depth in the wake of all their injuries and as they don’t finish in a wildcard spot. As it stands the team still doesn’t should thrive in a third-pairing role when everyone is healthy. If he’s your have the complete roster that’s to be expected of a contender, but that best defenseman it’s a problem, but in Carolina, with plenty of support, will come with time. The top end is in place to build around and this he should be fine. season will bring much-needed playoff experience for a young group, but likely nothing more. This is only the beginning though and the Canucks That leaves us with Brady Skjei whose numbers have been lacking after look primed to climb up the contending ladder in years to come. a strong start to his career. The team is in a bit of a jam with all their injuries and he could be a good fit if he also moves down the lineup (he Edmonton: No team did a better job at the deadline than the Oilers, in my was third on the Rangers in forward quality faced), but I’m a bit skeptical opinion, addressing big needs in a year where there’s a legitimate path to considering his weak defensive numbers over the past few years, the second round. That might be where this team ends, but that’s a win especially this year. By RAPM, his impact on expected goals against is for a club that’s languished at the bottom of the league since its previous the 12th worst in the league among defenders. playoff run three seasons ago. And on a team with two of the best players in the world, you can’t count them out to go deeper either. This Carolina has a smart front office that generally deserves the benefit of team’s biggest issue was their depth and that’s been addressed with the the doubt so we’ll see how things play out, but in any sense, the additions of Andreas Athanasiou, Tyler Ennis and Mike Green. Hurricanes did indeed get better at the deadline. For now, my model Athanasiou is the big get and has huge upside paired with Connor believes they’re the third-best team when fully healthy in a stacked Metro McDavid as the fastest duo in the league (though it could also be one of division. the worst defensive duos in the league too), while Ennis brings scoring Washington: At the start of 2020, I wrote about how each team’s upside with the versatility to play anywhere in the lineup. He started last performance was expected to change in the second half and noted that night on a line with McDavid and Athanasiou and the trio did not Washington was due for a fall from its pace at the time of 120 points. disappoint with two points apiece (McDavid added a third with the man Since that post, the Capitals are a rather pedestrian 10-9-1, good for the advantage) and a 76 percent expected goals rate. Not a bad first 11th worst record in hockey over the time frame. Regression! One of the impression. reasons to believe in Washington early is that the team actually had Green isn’t what he used to be, but a puck-mover is sorely needed on strong underlying numbers for once, but those too have gone down with that blue line which still looks pretty sketchy. None of it is enough to be a the team earning a 20th ranked 49.7 percent expected goals share since contender, but it adds another layer to the team outside its stars while with an equal share in actual goals. That stretch has deflated the team’s giving their biggest one an actual weapon on his wing without sacrificing already meager odds of winning their second Stanley Cup in three the team’s depth up the middle. I’m a big fan. seasons to just 2.6 percent – way below what most reasonable people would expect. Especially if this stretch is Washington’s typical “coast in Calgary: The Flames’ chances are depressed partially by the fact that the games that don’t matter” part of the season. playoffs still are no guarantee for them at 71 percent. The core has seriously underperformed expectations and the depth hasn’t been able to I think Washington is much better than stated here – my stance for the support the team’s best players enough, save for a breakout season from last few years after the Capitals have repeatedly been a model-breaking Andrew Mangiapane. If the team’s top guys can get back to the level they team – but they do have causes for concern like Evgeny Kuznetsov’s showcased last season, they can be a sneaky team that can upset in a play this year, Braden Holtby as the starter, a thin defense corps and weak Pacific, but that’s looking less likely as the season progresses. Erik whether the bottom six can continue out-scoring teams the way it has. Gustafsson is fine depth on defense, but he too needs to find last year’s That last part is still critical as the top six, specifically the top line, still isn’t form as he’s been a defensive disaster this season. out-scoring opponents at 5-on-5 on the whole. Those are the guys you need to lean on and win matchups with in the playoffs and it’s why the Islanders: If the Islanders were able to pull the trigger on Zach Parise at team’s chances aren’t as high as they should be. Bottom sixes aren’t the deadline, I’d be much higher on their chances. He’s the type of usually dependable and if that dries up for Washington, most contending scoring forward they desperately need, even if he is 35. What they did teams can outmatch what the Capitals have. add does help them solidify their identity as one of the stingiest teams in the league. Andy Greene is no Adam Pelech, but he’s a fine stop-gap With that being said, the additions the team made are very good ones. rental with the latter out of the lineup. The cost to acquire Jean-Gabriel Ilya Kovalchuk adds some scoring punch and responsible two-way play Pageau was sky-high, but there’s no doubt he fills a big hole for this team (yes, really) to make that bottom six more dependable while Brenden as a sound third-line center. The team has been mediocre since its epic Dillon solidifies the top pair with his stingy defense (his defensive RAPM 17-game point streak and their current odds reflect that in a strong Metro ranks eighth among defenders over the last two seasons), looking like a division, but there’s still time to build back up with a now deeper lineup. perfect fit next to John Carlson who could benefit from a steady partner Despite the result, last night’s game against the Rangers was exceptional while he freelances. That pushes some defenseman down and allows and exactly what the Islanders need to show, controlling play all game. them to be properly slotted. The team is great, but I don’t think there’s that much separating them from the Carolina’s and Philadelphia’s of the Metro, let alone matching up with the depth and high-end talent that each of Tampa Bay, Boston and Pittsburgh possess. The Athletic LOADED: 02.27.2020

Nashville: The Predators are in a state of disarray this season, on pace for only 93 points. Blame goaltending, blame special teams and blame the team’s top forwards not producing as expected. That last point is critical as it’s no longer a problem of the team lacking elite forwards, it’s 1178852 Websites Final grade: D+. The Kings’ Carter deal saves it a bit, but otherwise this was almost as bad as 2011 without any of the pre-deadline fireworks. It’s the year that fans officially started to worry about the deadline.

The Athletic / Down Goes Brown: Worst to first – every trade deadline of #13. 2016 salary cap era ranked Biggest trade: Eric Staal going from Carolina to the Rangers for two second-rounders and a prospect who didn’t pan out. It was a classic case of a rebuilding team sending a longtime franchise player to chase a Cup By Sean McIndoe with a contender, but Staal went pointless in the Rangers’ opening round playoff loss. Feb 26, 2020 Most important trade: The Oilers gave up on Justin Schultz, sending him

to the Penguins for a third. He’d help the Pens win the next two Cups. There have been 15 trade deadlines in the salary cap era, and out of all Worst trade: Dustin Jeffey, Dan O’Donoghue and James Melindy from of them, 2020 was definitely the most recent. Arizona to Pittsburgh for Matia Marcantuoni. I’m pretty sure at least three That’s about all we can say with any certainty right now. Monday’s of these four players are made up. deadline was high on volume, but the impact of those moves remains to Trade you totally forgot about: Niklas Backstrom to the Flames. Wait, he be seen, even as some initial reactions have already surfaced. That’s played for Calgary? (Double-checks.) Oh, that Niklas Backstrom. how these things work, after all – the deadline arrives, and we all start ranking the winners and losers. OK, sure: Michael Sdao, Eric O’Dell, Cole Schneider and Alexander Guptill from Ottawa to Buffalo for Jason Akeson, Phil Varone and Jerome Well, forget that. I say we aim a little bigger. Let’s not just stop at one Leduc. I’m 100 percent sure that seven of these seven players are made trade deadline; let’s pass judgment on all of them. Or at least, all of them up. since the salary cap arrived, since we’re constantly told that that changed everything. So today, let’s count down all 15 deadlines of the cap era to Final grade: C-. I got to be part of Sportsnet’s live broadcast of this one, remember the big deals, the worst busts, some random crap you’d long so it was probably my fault. since forgotten, and which ones actually delivered for NHL fans. #12. 2010 #15. 2011 Biggest trade: Eesh. Maybe Lubomir Visnovsky to Anaheim for Ryan Biggest trade: The Oilers sending Dustin Penner to the Kings for Whitney? That one didn’t work out so well for Edmonton, which was prospect , a first and a second. That’s right, we sat around weird, because they were so well-run back then. all day to see where Dustin Penner wound end up. For what it’s worth, Teubert was a bust, but the first turned into Oscar Klefbom. Most important trade: The Bruins got Dennis Seidenberg from Tampa for not all that much, and he was a key part of their blue line for years, Most important trade: Probably Penner, as sad as that it is, since he including a Cup win. helped the Kings win a Cup in 2012. Other than that, the Canucks traded for Maxim Lapierre and Chris Higgins to add depth for a long playoff run. Worst trade: The runaway Cup-favorite Capitals gearing up for the close- checking playoffs by making separate deals for defensemen Joe Corvo Worst trade: Fighting for top seed in the East, the Penguins had already and Milan Jurcina and grinders Scott Walker and Eric Belanger, then pulled off a significant hockey trade to land James Neal. But they went losing in the first round because they couldn’t score. cheap on their big deadline rental, sending a seventh-round pick to the Senators for 38-year-old Alexie Kovalev. He didn’t do much, and the Trade you totally forgot about: Matthieu Schneider going from Vancouver Pens were upset in a first round that saw them lose game seven 1-0. to Arizona. Yeah, apparently they still made that in 2010.

Trade you totally forgot about: Bryan McCabe to the Rangers. In related OK, sure: The Leafs trading Martin Skoula to the Devils literally one day news, Bryan McCabe was apparently a Ranger? after acquiring him.

OK, sure: The Canadiens added a future Wrestlemania main eventer. Final grade: C. It was crazy busy, with 30 trades on deadline day alone and 12 more in the two days before. But it was a real quantity-over- Final grade: D. This could surprise you, since you might remember the quality thing. 2011 season having more action. It did, but not in the days leading up to the deadline; big trades involving names like Tomas Kaberle, Kevin #11. 2017 Shattenkirk, Blake Wheeler, Craig Anderson, Francois Beauchemin and Biggest trade: Either Kevin Shattenkirk to Washington or Martin Hanzal Mike Fisher were all done in mid-February. If anything, 2011 marked the to Minnesota, both of which involved a first-round pick. year when GMs realized they didn’t have to wait until the last minute to do their shopping, a trend that’s been looming over deadline days ever Most important trade: The Blues used the first from the Shattenkirk deal since. to get Brayden Schenn. But it could also be the Penguins getting veteran Ron Hainsey from Carolina, as he’d end up being a big part of their Cup #14. 2012 run after injuries decimated the blue line. Biggest trade: Zack Kassian for Cody Hodgson. Yes, really. The deal Worst trade: Jarome Iginla from Colorado to L.A. for future broke late on deadline day, and with both players still early in their considerations that turned into, uh, nothing. I named this my worst trade careers, it launched all sorts of debate over who won and how the trade of the decade. (Shout out to the Flames giving up a second for Curtis would look years down the road. Lazar, though.) Most important trade: Jeff Carter from Columbus to the Kings actually Trade you totally forgot about: The Mark Streit era in Tampa, which happened several days ahead of the deadline, but it’s pretty much the lasted about eight minutes. only pick we can make here. Johnny Oduya from the Jets to the Hawks is a distant second. OK, sure: Lowe-for-Samuelsson would have been a blockbuster if it was Kevin and Ulf in 1991. Keegan for Philip, not so much. Worst trade: Buffalo sending Paul Gaustad to the Predators for a first- round pick. You know that thing where every fan base thinks their Final grade: C+. In hindsight, the Hanzal and Shattenkirk deals both bottom-six depth guys should be worth a first on deadline day? Blame being duds provided a lot of ammo for the “only one team can win the this trade. Cup so why bother trying” brigade.

Trade you totally forgot about: A still-figuring-it-out Ben Bishop going #10. 2015 from St. Louis to Ottawa Biggest trade: In terms of big names, they don’t come much bigger than OK, sure: Remember when Brian Burke said people would eventually Jaromir Jagr. Let’s pretend he was still in his prime and not 43 when he remember the seven-player Dion Phaneuf blockbuster as the Keith Aulie went from New Jersey to Florida for a second and third. trade? Two years later, the Leafs traded Aulie to Tampa for Carter Ashton, a forward who scored zero goals in 54 games in Toronto. Most important trade: The Hawks added veterans Antoine Vermette and OK because there was also a second-rounder in the trade… which went Kimmo Timonen in what probably stands as the last example of an to Boston? eventual Cup winner trading high picks for old-school rentals. Trade you totally forgot about: Olli Jokinen going to the Flames for the Worst trade: The Sabres sending Michal Neuvirth to the Islanders for only playoff action of his 17-season career. Chad Johnson and a third. Neuvirth was having a way better season, why would any team ever… oh, right. OK, sure: That weird trade with the Lightning that saw the Maple Leafs acquire an injured Olaf Kolzig. Trade you totally forgot about: Marek Zidlicky going to Detroit for the playoff run reminds us Zidlicky once played for the Red Wings, who once Final grade: B. This one felt like a dud at the time, but holds up made playoff runs. surprisingly well in hindsight.

OK, sure: The David Clarkson for Nathan Horton will never stop being #6. 2019 glorious. Biggest trade: Days after trading Matt Duchene to Columbus in a pre- Final grade: B-. The Jagr sweepstakes were fun and the Hawks did some deadline deal, the Senators waiting until the last minute to send Mark work. Otherwise, meh. Stone to Vegas.

#9. 2020 Most important trade: It will probably end up being Stone, but the Bruins getting Charlie Coyle also had an impact. Biggest trade: It was almost that Zach Parise deal that came out of nowhere, generated a ton of debate, and then ended up not happening. Worst trade: The Blue Jackets didn’t just give up two second-rounders for Given that, and Chris Kreider staying put, we were left with quasi-big one playoff goal from Ryan Dzingel, they also sent Anthony Duclair to names like Ondrej Kase, Ilya Kovalchuk, Andreas Athanasiou and Ottawa. Vincent Trocheck. That’s not bad, but not exactly anyone’s idea of an all- Trade you totally forgot about: Do you remember Derick Brassard in star squad. Colorado? Neither do any of the goalies the Avs faced in the playoffs.

Most important trade: Time will tell. But Robin Lehner going to Vegas OK, sure: Heh heh. They traded for “Pu”. feels like it could end up having a major impact at some point if things break the right way. Final grade: B. Stone may be the best player traded at a deadline in the last six or seven years. Worst trade: Again, there’s no way to know for sure without benefit of hindsight. But the Islanders gave up a ton for Jean-Gabriel Pageau, and #5. 2006 it’s hard to defend Florida’s Trocheck deal as anything beyond a salary Biggest trade: Mark Recchi went to the eventual Cup champs in Carolina. dump. (Doug Weight did too, but that was earlier in the season.) Trade you totally forgot about: Hopefully none of them, since it was two Most important trade: Defying conventional wisdom, the eighth-place days ago. But it was nice to see T.J. Brennan continue his quest to Oilers gave up a first to acquire goaltender Dwayne Roloson. That ended belong to every franchise in the NHL without ever getting a real shot at up saving their season, and probably would have won them a Cup if he the big leagues. hadn’t got hurt in the final. OK, sure: The weirdly retained salary on Lehner’s contract is now the Worst trade: Despite being Cup front-runners, the Senators settled for best goaltender on the Maple Leafs roster, MY COLUMN: Tyler Arnason as their big deadline pickup. He didn’t score in 19 regular Final grade: TBD, but for now let’s give it a B-. It was fun, with a record season games, and was scratched in the playoffs. number of deals coming in on Monday and a few curveballs. But while Trade you totally forgot about: Less than four years after winning the we’ll have to wait and see how it all plays out, at this point it doesn’t feel MVP, Jose Theodore went from Montreal to Colorado for one season of like we saw any game-changers. David Aebischer. #8. 2018 OK, sure: Luke Richardson played for the Maple Leafs in the 80s. Biggest trade: Rick Nash going from the Rangers to the Bruins. Am I the Apparently he did again in 2006, so way to strike while the iron is hot, only one who was stunned to remember this was only two years ago? JFJ.

Most important trade: It’s a different Rangers deal, as they sent Ryan Final grade: B. The first post-lockout deadline had some fireworks, and McDonagh and J.T. Miller to the Lightning a package of players and the biggest moves were made by the eventual finalists. picks. McDonagh is still a key part of the Lightning’s Cup hopes, and #4. 2007 Miller was part of another big deal with the Canucks. Biggest trade: Keith Tkachuk going to the Thrashers for Glen Metropolit Worst trade: The Knights sending a first, second and third to the Wings and two firsts (and then being traded back to St. Louis in the offseason for Tomas Tatar, who was benched during their playoff run. He ended up for one of those same firsts, because apparently the NHL doesn’t have a as part of the Max Pacioretty deal, but imagine if they’d used those picks “no take-backs” rule). to get something that actually helped them in the postseason. Most important trade: Maybe not most important, but the most dramatic Trade you totally forgot about: Thomas Vanek was traded, obviously, and move of the day was the late-breaking deal that sent Ryan Smyth from nobody could tell you from where to where without looking it up. Edmonton to the Islanders, even as everyone thought he was about to OK, sure: You know it’s a crazy deadline when Mark Letestu gets traded re-sign in Edmonton. twice in one day. Worst trade: A year after their Arnason disaster, the Senators learned Final grade: B-. Nash ended up being kind of a bust, but there were their lesson and went big on, uh, Oleg Freakin’ Saprykin. He scored one some reasonably big moves. goal in their run to the Cup final.

#7. 2009 Trade you totally forgot about: Bill Guerin was apparently briefly a Shark. And he cost a first-round pick that the Blues used on David Perron. Biggest trade: Let’s say Justin Williams going from the Hurricanes to Kings for Patrick O’Sullivan, which felt kind of big at the time and ended OK, sure: The Kings and Stars hooked up on a trade featuring nine up being massive in hindsight. players and picks, which seemed excessive.

Most important trade: The Penguins got Bill Guerin for next-to-nothing Final grade: B+. This was back when big-name veterans were still viewed from the Islanders, and he helped them win a Cup. But an even bigger with value, and the unfolding Smyth drama was hard to look away from. acquisition came a few days before, when they got from the #3. 2013 Ducks. Biggest trade: Jagr shows up again, this time going from Dallas to Worst trade: The Bruins got a future Hall-of-Famer in Mark Recchi from Boston. But it was overshadowed by Marian Gaborik going from New the Lightning for two prospects who both ended up being busts. But it’s York to Columbus in a six-player blockbuster, and the end of the Jarome was pretty much the platonic ideal of what we’d like a cap era deadline Iginla era in Calgary when he went to the Penguins. day to look like, even if we have to go back a dozen years to find it.

Most important trade: It didn’t make headlines at the time, but the Lightning picking up Ben Bishop for Cory Conacher and a pick turned out to be important. The Athletic LOADED: 02.27.2020

Worst trade: Hm, not sure. Caps fans, any ideas?

Trade you totally forgot about: Jarome Iginla going to the Bruins. Mainly because it turned out that it hadn’t happened after all.

OK, sure: Wade Redden was traded from the Blues, who nobody remembers him playing for, to the Bruins, who nobody remembers him playing for.

Final grade: A-. Two first-ballot Hall-of-Famers traded at the same deadline, and the Iginla trade especially felt huge at the time, even though it didn’t really work out. There were a few other noteworthy deals, including one of the most lopsided in deadline history. A fun day.

#2. 2014

Biggest trade: One of the biggest deals leading into the deadline involved the smallest player, as Martin St. Louis went from Tampa to New York in a blockbuster. But it was overshadowed by a deadline eve blockbuster that came from (almost) out of nowhere: Roberto Luongo going from Vancouver to Florida. He played well there, but this deal freed the Canucks from his contract that sucked, and landed them a goaltender of the future in Jacob Markstrom.

Most important trade: Gaborik went from the Blue Jackets to the Kings, where he’d help them win a Cup.

Worst trade: It came a few days before the deadline, but the big deal that sent Ryan Miller to the Blues didn’t really work out for anyone.

Trade you totally forgot about: Tim Thomas going from the Panthers to the Dallas Stars, a deal he cared about so much that he didn’t even bother updating his pads.

OK, sure: Devan Dubnyk was traded! From, uh, the Predators. To the Canadiens. For basically nothing. And then he didn’t even bother to show up, and everyone was fine with it.

Final grade: A. Multiple blockbusters, a big surprise, and some weirdness. This was a very good deadline.

#1. 2008

Biggest trade: There were some very big moves this year, including Brad Richards going from Tampa to Dallas in a deal that included a young Mike Smith, Adam Foote going to Colorado, and Brian Campbell going to San Jose. Sergei Fedorov headed to Washington for a prospect who never even cracked the NHL.

But the biggest move involved another likely Hall-of-Famer: Marian Hossa, who went to Pittsburgh in a five-player deal that also included a first. It came down to the wire, and was hyped as a jaw-droppeer.

Most important trade: The Hawks landed a young Andrew Ladd, which turned out to help with their eventual Cup run. But I’m going to go with a slightly shakier what-if. The Habs had too many goalies and the Capitals needed one, so the two teams worked a deal sending Cristobal Huet to Washington. He played well down the stretch, then left in free agency. But what if instead, Washington had paid up for a younger Montreal goalie, and acquired Jaroslav Halak instead? How do the 2010 playoffs, and the next decade of Caps history that followed, play out differently if that deal happens?

Worst trade: All the ones the Maple Leafs didn’t make. This was the year of the infamous Muskoka Five, as a Toronto team that was desperate for a rebuild instead became the cautionary example of the danger of giving no-trade clauses to all your key players.

Trade you totally forgot about: I have no memory of Matt Cooke being a Capital.

OK, sure: I also have no memory of Chris Simon being on the Wild.

Final grade: A+. By my count, this deadline featured at least four legitimate blockbusters, plus several more deals that featured star power, or at least name value. A big-market team had a train-wreck week. And as an added bonus, virtually all of this year’s action happened on deadline day itself, with only one trade happening in the days before. It 1178853 Websites was serving the final game of his seven-game suspension for kicking. Kassian will return Saturday against the Winnipeg Jets, but the fatigue you can plainly see comes from players playing more than their usual minutes for too many games in a row. Sportsnet.ca / Oilers show fatigue as road trip ends with loss to Golden Knights “I liked our first period,” Tippett said, “but once we started chasin’ the game, you could see the fatigue factor creeping in.”

As for Koskinen, he made a series of circus saves in the second period Mark Spector | @sportsnetspec to maintain his team’s chances of winning, but alas, he’s not the first to have been outplayed by Fleury. On this night he was just that — the February 27, 2020, 2:12 AM second-best goalie in this game.

“Vintage Flower,” said Vegas head coach Pete DeBoer, whose tendy LAS VEGAS — The Edmonton Oilers could have won this game in the stopped all 29 shots. “We don’t get out of the first period unless he plays opening 15 minutes. Should have, really, because they didn’t have 60 the way he does. He was fantastic.” minutes of chasing down the Vegas Golden Knights in them Wednesday Edmonton has a one-game homestand — a night. affair against the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday — and then it’s back on the Injury-riddled and on the back end of back-to-back road games, road. Edmonton stayed in this game against a red-hot Vegas club as long as They’ll need some horses back. There’s track left in the Pacific Division one could expect before ol’ Bessy just couldn’t keep chuggin’ along race, and Edmonton is running out of steam. anymore. In the end, they lost 3-0 on a night where the other guys had better goaltending and — on the rare occasion this season — better special teams as well. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 02.27.2020 “We needed a powerplay goal,” lamented Leon Draisaitl. “We had enough chances to score, especially the first two powerplays. Just couldn’t get one over the line.”

Draisaitl had copious chances to notch his 100th point of the season but just could not scratch the itch.

“Other than the second period I thought we played a solid game. We created chances. But nights like that, they happen,” he shrugged. “We’ve probably won a lot of games this year where we created a lot less than tonight.”

In the opening 15 minutes, Draisaitl did everything but finish. He later rang one off the post with the score 1-0, early in the third.

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Connor McDavid missed on a pair of chances in the opening 12 minutes that he buries nine out of 10 times. And legendary goalie Marc-Andre Fleury did his Gumby act in the Vegas nets, weathering an offensive storm that could have — should have — yielded at least two early goals, if not more.

Then the puck went down the other way, and the red light went on. A Max Pacioretty rocket from a bad angle that should never go in — especially when the guy at the other end is denying everything — flew short-side on Mikko Koskinen, and even though he played pretty well after that, a beat up Oilers squad needed perfection, and that was provided only by Fleury at the other end.

Edmonton dominated the first period and trailed 1-0 at its conclusion. Ouch!

“They were the better team tonight. I don’t think it was just a hot goaltender,” McDavid said. “They get one on the powerplay, it’s a back- breaker, made it 2-0 with 10 minutes to go. We start the third on the powerplay, and if we find a way to get one there it’s a different game.”

The good news is, Edmonton got three of six points on this road trip, the middle stage of a run that sees them play nine of 12 games on the road, from Florida, to California, to Nashville and Chicago.

The bad news? They’ve now dropped four of their past five.

The injuries are starting to catch up, and Andreas Athanasiou left this one with a lower-body injury in just his second game after coming over in a trade from Detroit.

“It’s been a hard go here, the schedule, and we’ve had players play hard,” allowed head coach Dave Tippett. “We’re hanging around and finding a way to get points. Saturday we get Kass (Zack Kassian) back, and I think we’ll slowly start to get some people back in the next little bit. Hopefully everyone who comes back is fresh and rested, and can help the cause here.”

Edmonton entered the game minus injured players Oscar Klefbom, Kailer Yamamoto, James Neal, Joakim Nygard and Kris Russell, while Kassian 1178854 Websites It’s a recurring comment from teammates and coaches, Hughes’ ability to compartmentalize mistakes and triumphs and not get distracted by either. Sometimes, Hughes actually forgets what happened last game or who’s on the schedule after the next one. He’s a just a kid playing hockey. Sportsnet.ca / Quinn Hughes on pace to make Canucks history in rookie season This is a big week for him.

Hughes and the Colorado Avalanche’s Cale Makar, another dynamic game-changing defenceman, have been front-runners for the Calder Iain MacIntyre | @imacSportsnet Trophy since the season began.

February 26, 2020, 6:45 PM Both quickly became known throughout the Western Conference. But this is Hughes’ first trip to the centre of the hockey universe, which spins on

an axis between Montreal and Toronto. After the Senators game OTTAWA – The question has lingered about Quinn Hughes, but not long. Thursday, Hughes faces the Maple Leafs Saturday in Toronto, where he The answer is coming sooner than anyone thought. spent half his childhood while his dad, Jim, worked in player development for the Leafs. You would need to wait an entire National Hockey League career to confirm a "no." But Hughes is going to answer as a pure rookie, a 20- Clearly, the Canadiens planned for his arrival on Tuesday. year-old in his first season removed from college hockey. Hughes said he wasn’t expecting the gratuitous and unpenalized early Yes, if he stays healthy, Quinn Hughes is going to break Doug Lidster’s cross-check from Domi. 33-year-old record for points in a season by a Vancouver Canucks "He got me right where there’s no padding," he said Wednesday. "It was defenceman. hard enough to kind of snap my head back, too. I’ve just got to be ready Lidster had 63 points in 80 games in 1986-87, the offensive peak by a mentally for that. Like, this is how it’s going to be." blue-liner over the five decades the Canucks have been in the NHL. In 61 He acknowledged that, as everyone told him, intensity, speed and games over fewer than five months, Hughes reached 50 points with an physicality have increased in the stretch drive to the playoffs. assist in Tuesday’s 4-3 overtime win in Montreal. "I’ve loved playing with him every minute," Tanev said of Hughes, who He has 20 games left and has been getting stronger almost by the week. sometimes refers to his 30-year-old defence partner and mentor as ‘Dad.’ He is on pace for 66 points in 81 games unless his production and impact "He’s a great kid, a great player and he keeps getting better. Playing in continue to accelerate. Montreal for the first time is a pretty cool experience. Going back to Stream all 82 Canucks games this season with Sportsnet NOW. Get over Toronto, where he lived, it’s going to be a cool experience. I expect him 500 NHL games, blackout-free, including Hockey Night in Canada, all to be pretty pumped up." outdoor games, the All-Star Game, 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs and more. Hughes’ heart rate isn’t showing. But he did admit that cresting 50 points His first visit to the Bell Centre was actually one of Hughes’ roughest — he’s the first Canucks defenceman since Christian Ehrhoff in 2010-11 games, literally and figuratively. On his first shift, the Canadiens’ Max to get there — is a "pretty cool accomplishment." Domi delivered a sharp cross-check across the kidneys that drove "Especially (since) I’ve got 20 games left here," he said. Hughes to the ice. Just because. On Hughes’ next shift, he was hit heavily by Phillip Danault.

Hughes turned over the puck several times, was partly at fault on one Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 02.27.2020 Montreal goal and unlucky on another. But by the end of the game, which Hughes nearly won in overtime the shift before Tyler Toffoli scored, the five-foot-10 defenceman had an assist and led the Canucks with 22:02 of ice time.

Since returning from January’s NHL All-Star Game in St. Louis, where he played, Hughes has three goals and 16 points in 13 games while averaging 22:06 of ice time — often deployed in a shutdown role with Chris Tanev at even strength.

For the season, Hughes’ 50 points rank fourth among NHL defenceman, sandwiched between Tampa’s Victor Hedman and St. Louis’ Alex Pietrangelo. No defenceman has as many points as he does since the All-Star break.

"For me, what I’ve learned, is your job is to move the puck and then you’ll get it back," Hughes said before the Canucks practised Wednesday in Ottawa ahead of Thursday’s game against the Senators. "That’s the fun thing about playing with good players. The longer you hold on to it, you’ll put yourself in a tough spot. You’ll get hit and stuff like that."

Is he better now than last fall?

"Oh, yeah, absolutely," he said. "The more I play, the more comfortable I get, the better I get."

"I mean this in a good way," Canucks winger J.T. Miller said, "but he doesn’t really have a pulse. I wish I had that (trait) in myself. If it doesn’t go well for him, he turns the page and moves on. If it does go well, he turns the page and moves on. It’s a great quality to have, especially at this time of year. (He is) a super big part of our team and he’s having a helluva year. I’m just happy for him."

Canucks coach Travis Green told reporters in Montreal: "I could probably go on for a while about little things in his game. Incredible skater, great on his edges, great vision. I like that he stays humble. I also like that he can handle highs and lows. If he makes a mistake, he doesn’t crumble. If he gets three or four points, he doesn’t get ahead of himself either." 1178855 Websites Muzzin makes the greatest defensive impact among those players, and it was likely no coincidence that when assistant coach Dave Hakstol gathered the group for a chat after Wednesday’s practice he hammered home the need to focus on something Muzzin does best: Identifying the Sportsnet.ca / Maple Leafs will be tested by loss of Jake Muzzin's proper moments during defensive zone coverage where there’s an leadership opportunity to aggressively break up the cycle.

“There was a little rah-rah in there, too,” said Holl. “Digging in and making those plays is a huge difference in terms of breaking the puck out, as Chris Johnston | @reporterchris opposed to getting stuck in your zone for an extra 30 seconds or 40 February 26, 2020, 11:51 AM seconds.”

The Toronto Maple Leafs practising in Florida. (Chris Johnston/Sportsnet) SUNRISE, Fla. — To understand how quickly Jake Muzzin became part of the Toronto Maple Leafs‘ fabric, it’s instructive to reflect on his uneasy Dermott is tasked with taking on the most added responsibility after being beginning with the team. elevated to Muzzin’s spot on the shutdown pairing alongside Holl. He played more than 11 of the final 20 minutes during Tuesday’s 4-3 win “There’s no question about it: It’s not perfect, it’s what we got,” former against Tampa and hopes to use it as a springboard. coach Mike Babcock said, infamously, on Muzzin’s first day with the Leafs a little more than a year ago. He was referencing the imbalance of “It was a big feel-good period for us going forward,” said Dermott. “It was left- and right-handed shots among the defence corps, but he just as a tough battle there, they were coming at us with a lot of heat and easily could have been talking about how the defenceman felt amid the everyone kind of understood what we had to do. We beared down and shock of his first NHL trade. got it done.”

Those early days in Toronto were tough. Another challenge brought on by Muzzin’s absence is losing his stabilizing voice in the dressing room. He’s elevated his play during the “I was living in a hotel with three dogs and a pregnant wife,” Muzzin said recent stretch of up-and-down performances, and set the right tone in recently. “Yeah, there was a lot of [expletive] going on.” particular after the embarrassing loss against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Fast forward to the dark clouds hovering over the team following Earlier this week, he and Keefe had a conversation about how he could Wednesday’s announcement that the 31-year-old will be out best influence the younger players around him. Amid the stresses of the approximately four weeks with a broken right hand. The injury was playoff chase and with Muzzin having just made a contractual suffered Tuesday night in Tampa during the Leafs’ first game after a commitment to the team, they saw an opportunity. trade deadline where the only notable addition was depth defenceman Calle Rosen — who was recalled from the American Hockey League and “This signing is significant in terms of just giving him the ability to know participated in an afternoon practice at BB&T Center. that he’s really in this with us,” said Keefe. “Not that he wasn’t before, but just having it secured like that we can really get to work.” Home of the Maple Leafs “The core of the team needs to take a jump consistently,” Muzzin said Stream 56 Maple Leafs games this season with Sportsnet NOW. Get before Tuesday’s game in Tampa. “We can’t have it one night and not over 500 NHL games, blackout-free, including Hockey Night in Canada, the next. That’s everyone and that’s bringing along the younger core as all outdoor games, the All-Star Game, 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs and well. We have to give them no option but to come with us.” more. Now they have to play on without him. There’s really no positive spin to be put on losing a heart-and-soul, 22- minute-per-night player in the middle of a tight playoff race. In the words It’s not going to be easy. of teammate Travis Dermott: “Muzz is a massive part of our team, definitely our defensive anchor.” Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 02.27.2020 “It’s not ideal, but I mean it’s part of the gig, right?” added head coach Sheldon Keefe. “That’s the reason why you acquire depth and the reason why you develop players and the reason why you have a good and healthy minor-league system. It’s to be able to have these situations happen and then continue to press on.”

The injury news arrived two days after Muzzin signed a four-year, $22.5- million extension that Keefe felt would give him an amplified voice inside the team. It was a sign that management wanted him around for a window where this young core is expected to develop into a Stanley Cup contender.

And it was telling, that in discussing Muzzin’s new deal on Monday, Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas pointed to the player’s 10- game absence with a broken foot after the Christmas break as a period where his importance was underscored:

“I think it was very apparent when he was out of the lineup that we missed him deeply.”

It’s not a stretch to suggest that his latest injury could cost the Leafs a playoff spot, especially since it follows those to Morgan Rielly (broken foot) and Cody Ceci (ankle).

The Leafs hold a two-point lead over the Florida Panthers for third place in the Atlantic Division heading into Thursday’s game here against the Panthers. And both Rielly and Ceci remain “weeks” away from a return, according to Keefe.

Among Toronto’s seven healthy defencemen, only Tyson Barrie has played more than 250 NHL games. The rest of the group is still looking to gain traction at this level: Martin Marincin (222 games), Dermott (151), Justin Holl (75), Rasmus Sandin (24), Rosen (16) and Timothy Liljegren (eight). 1178856 Websites “Everything was first class — what a great experience,” he says. “I was wearing blue jeans and a T-shirt, because that’s what you wore in juniors. The other players are all in suits. The bus driver stopped me, because he couldn’t believe I was player: ‘You can’t get on this bus.’” Sportsnet.ca / 31 Thoughts: Could Joe Thornton's next destination be Toronto? Back then, Saturday games in Toronto started at 8:00 p.m. There was a curfew at Pearson Airport, so the team had to fly to Chicago on a propeller jet out of Hamilton.

Elliotte Friedman | @FriedgeHNIC The odds for that Sunday game weren’t good for the Penguins, who finished 15 points below the Blackhawks that season. February 26, 2020, 1:11 PM Not that it bothered Redquest.

“I was watching the game, having a great time,” he says. “Chicago Greg Redquest was watching when 42-year-old emergency backup Stadium. Looking around: ‘This is awesome.’” goalie David Ayres stepped on the ice. At 7:13 of the third, Pierre Plante beat Herron to make it 6-1. “I was thinking, ‘The first thing he wants to do is get his NHLPA card,’” Redquest said Tuesday. “I went to golf last summer at Muskoka Bay “Johnny Wilson turned to me, ‘Get in there, kid.’ I was like, ‘Are you Club. With the card, I only had to pay $17. Jordan Binnington’s dad had nuts?’ He said, ‘Get in there.’ I hadn’t faced shots in about two or three to pay about $185.” weeks. It’s like golf. If you’re not doing it every day, you’re not ready.”

It’s the first of many laughs in our 20-minute phone conversation. Redquest held for more than six minutes before Alain Daigle and Bob Redquest is an awesome storyteller. Get ready for a few like this. Murray scored 24 seconds apart. (Murray was one of three current eventual GMs playing defence for the Hawks that night. The others were In 1978, he was a 21-year-old Pittsburgh goalie prospect in his second Dale Tallon and Doug Wilson.) pro season, two years after going 65th in the draft. He was home in Toronto on March 18 thanks to a break in the schedule for the If anything bugs him, it was the final goal. Hall of Famer Stan Mikita International Hockey League’s Flint Generals. made it 9–1 with 2:45 to go. The goalie claims, “Mikita threw it in with his glove. I told (referee Bruce Hood) he couldn’t count that, and he replied, “I was playing cards with my parents, my uncle and a couple of buddies,” ‘I’m not disallowing that in this building!’” Redquest remembers. “Around lunchtime, the phone rings. Someone claiming to be from the Penguins says, ‘Dunc Wilson has a pulled back. Via text, Murray said he didn’t remember scoring on Redquest, but We need you to dress today. Can you be here in 15 minutes?’ believed the Mikita story could be true. (Ace producer Kathy Broderick checked with the NHL to see if any highlights existed. The answer is no, “Now, I was a real prankster back then. And I thought it was someone but this epic is so good we’re sticking with it.) getting me back. So I had a couple of beers and stayed at home. They call again later, asking, ‘Why are you not here?’ Again, I didn’t believe it.” “I don’t remember that one,” Kehoe said. “You try to forget those as soon as you can.” “I remember having to call him and he got there just before the game started,” said Rick Kehoe, who played 906 NHL games and is now a pro “The next day was the day of a lifetime,” Redquest said, continuing the scout for the Rangers. tale. “We went to a bar called Tommy Webster’s in Minnesota. I was with Derek Sanderson — what a perfect gentleman. He treated everyone so “That’s true,” Redquest said. “Right before the game, (GM) Baz Bastien well. Peter Mahovlich, too. To that point the greatest time of my life.” called. That’s when I knew it was serious. It took us about seven minutes to get from Etobicoke to Maple Leaf Gardens. I knew some of the guys One night later, Minnesota blasted Pittsburgh 7–1. Herron played the from training camp. Dave Schultz was like, ‘Where the (bleep) have you whole game. been?’” Bastien told Redquest he’d go back to the minors for the playoffs. The (Redquest told a great story about Schultz, who was three years goalie had other ideas. removed from an NHL-record 472 penalty minutes for the Flyers in 1974- 75. “I sat near the glass for a Philadelphia/Toronto game and screamed “I told him, ‘Baz, I’m going to get married.’” at him the whole time. When I met him in an elevator in Pittsburgh, I He’d play one more year, “Then it became about the kids… and hoped he didn’t remember me.”) (eventually) the grandkids.” Prior to the Toronto call-up, Redquest said he had dressed just one other He now does on-ice instruction at NTR’s goalie school in Newmarket, time for the Penguins, in Montreal: “Denis Herron broke his wrist, so they Ont., and is finishing his 10th season as a coach for the OHL’s Owen brought me in,” Redquest said. “At our practice, my skate blade breaks. Sound Attack. I’m (on the bench) wearing Ken Dryden’s used skates. He’s a size 12 or 13. I’m a nine-and-a-half. We’re losing 9-1. A fan yells, ‘You must really Final NHL stats: one appearance, 12:47 of ice-time, seven saves in 10 stink if they won’t put you in.’” shots against and a 13.85 goals-against average. But if you think he’s bitter, you’d be sorely mistaken. Colin Campbell, now the NHL’s Executive Vice President and Director of Hockey Operations, was a blueliner on that Penguins team. Redquest confirmed one story that illustrates his fun-loving personality: He was traded by Roger Neilson from the 1973 Peterborough Petes for “We weren’t a very good team. It was a crazy way to do business, but hitchhiking during a training run. that was the NHL then,” Campbell said. “As players, you just laugh.” “That’s true. We were preparing for the 1974 World Juniors in (the Soviet Campbell paused. “I think he was also a mailman.” Union). Small town, everyone knew everyone else.” He loves the “Not quite,” Redquest says now. “I had a part-time job at the post office.” memory.

The Hurricanes — aside from head coach Rod Brind’Amour — were So it won’t surprise you to know that he laughed about having the worst laughing when Ayres entered the game on Saturday. After two Toronto goals-against average — until surpassed in 1979-80. His star pupil is goals, they settled down and smothered the Maple Leafs. The 1978 Jordan Binnington. Binnington, unbelievably, also played 12:47 in his first Penguins were laughing for a different reason; they could tell Redquest NHL game, which was three seasons before last year’s breakthrough. had had a few beers. Head coach Johnny Wilson ordered him to stay in Because they were tied, Redquest would tell Binnington, “You haven’t the dressing room. broken my record.” (He speaks glowingly of Binnington’s ability.)

As Redquest cooled his heels, Herron out-duelled Mike Palmateer in a After the trade deadline is a perfect time for a hilarious 20-minute game where the shots were 44–43. The Penguins beat the Maple Leafs conversation. Greg Redquest has an awesome approach to life. 3-2. They had a game to play the next night in Chicago and, after a day “I always tell my goalies that your teammates won’t play for you when off, another in Minnesota. With Dunc Wilson still on the shelf, Redquest you’re negative all the time. They play good for you when you’re made the trip. positive.” Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman talk to a lot of people around the hockey them in playoff position until currently injured reinforcements arrived, and world, and then they tell listeners all about what they’ve heard and what a sweetener for the future. They would have taken Troy Stecher, but the they think about it. Canucks didn’t have the picks and made it very clear certain prospects were not available. Ergo, no match. Toronto was also looking for more of 31 THOUGHTS a Kevin Shattenkirk circa 2017 return than, say, a third-rounder. That’s 1. It was incredible watching the reaction as Ayres’s night unfolded in real right out of the Brian Burke school of managing: don’t make a trade for time. What a great 72 hours for him and wife Sarah. What a statement less than you want, because everyone knows you’ll eventually cave. about the character of the Hurricanes’ players. When Toronto pulled 7. Very, very impressed with the way Stecher handled things. Strong within 4-3, the texts coming in were full of fury: performances amidst the rumours. Told reporters that, as a B.C. lad, he “How can it be allowed for the emergency backup to be a Toronto wants to be a Canuck and then walked the walk. employee?” “I had a friend send me a fake tweet the other day and it scared me a “He’s 42 years old, WTF?” bit,” he said. “It was a fake account, a burner account, and he fell for it.”

“This is a disgrace for the NHL!” The Canucks lost Ben Hutton last season because they couldn’t handle his qualifying offer and that could happen with Stecher in June. If he As the third period unfolded and it became clear Carolina was going to plays this way, he won’t need to worry. win, the notes changed to happiness for David, laughter at Sarah’s tweets, and yes, plenty of rip jobs on the Maple Leafs’ effort. 8. Finally, on Toronto: A few teams were wondering what was up when Dubas sent out a note 45 minutes before the deadline looking for a The EBUG situation will be discussed at next week’s GM meetings in forward. They thought it was weird Dmytro Timashov would be lost on Florida. A couple of years ago, there was a movement to making every waivers and then the Maple Leafs would be trying to add. (Timashov had team hire an additional assistant/video coach with recent asked for a trade weeks ago, and may have asked to be placed on college/junior/professional goaltending experience. That person would be waivers as Sven Baertschi did this year.) Another GM, though, thought required to travel, so if this occurred, each team would have its own Dubas was slyly trying to snare an inexpensive forward at the last second relatively young third goalie. (In the playoffs, teams travel with three.) The from a team that suddenly had one too many. associated cost scuttled the idea. 9. Edmonton, which pitched Marleau before the season, considered him We’ll see what changes here, but I do think there will be a conversation again before his trade to Pittsburgh. about an age cutoff. 10. They lost in overtime Tuesday night in Anaheim, but Oilers fans were 2. Teams can make AHL trades after the deadline, but those players having a collective Twitter orgasm over the two-goal, six-point even- won’t be eligible for the post-season. Carolina needs goaltending, strength night for Andreas Athanasiou, Tyler Ennis and Connor McDavid. Toronto needs defence, Arizona needs scoring. Those organizations Steve Yzerman tried for a first-rounder for Athanasiou, but Ken Holland think unconventionally. I wonder…. held firm.

3. Boy, it was tough reading those Joe Thornton quotes on Tuesday. 11. The move that surprised most was Florida’s trade of Vincent Trocheck. I heard when teams queried the Panthers about it, they asked “It would have been nice to at least have a chance,” he told reporters in what was wrong that made him available? Arizona, Calgary and Philadelphia. “I wanted a shot, you know? Believe it or not. I’ve been Minnesota were among those who made pitches. hunting this thing down for 22 years, so I wanted another shot at it…. Back to the grind, and that’s how it is.” There were a few factors that went into this, but it’s clear that new coach Joel Quenneville and Trocheck didn’t mesh. Chris Johnston reported the Sharks GM Doug Wilson made it clear that interested parties had to be Panthers have been ordered to cut payroll, which certainly fits with the legit Stanley Cup contenders to make the pitch. I heard Boston never move — but Quenneville wanted to send a message while the playoffs went far down the road, and the Dallas interest wasn’t huge. Thornton’s were still within reach that changes were coming if the group didn’t hilarious personality obscures his burning pride/desire, but don’t kid compete harder. The prospects (Eetu Luostarinen and Chase Priskie) will yourself — it’s there. play. Lucas Wallmark played 12:39 in Tuesday’s 2-1 win over the San Jose’s plan is to return to contention in 2020-21, and the big Coyotes, Erik Haula 14:30. Haula is an interesting guy. He’s got a chip question is if Jumbo Joe believes the Sharks can do it. If he doesn’t, he’s on his shoulder, believing he deserves more of a role than he gets. (In going to have to consider breaking his comfort zone. Patrick Marleau’s Minnesota, he was nicknamed “Haula-Famer” because of that.) The speed makes him an easier fit for a mid-season switch. Thornton’s gifts Panthers want attitude. He’ll get a shot there. — his intelligence and skill — are harder to translate at this time of year, 12. The Coyotes got no power plays at home in that one. I thought there but I do think there are teams who would be willing to make it work if he was going to be a homicide post-game. started the season with them. 13. When we reported that Carolina was closing in on Trocheck, a few 4. If Thornton is not sold on the Sharks, and he’s willing to seek out new sources thought we had to be wrong. The Hurricanes were looking for life (boldly go where no one has gone before), my prediction is Toronto defence and goaltending. Initially, we doubted it, too. It aligns with will be a factor. I can’t confirm this, but I believe the Maple Leafs something Marc Bergevin once said: “If a good player becomes considered adding him now. Two things stopped it: 1) their decision not available, you have to try to make it fit.” to make short-term fixes after the Carolina loss, and 2) are they really a legit contender if they have to go through Boston or Tampa Bay or both? Down the middle, the Hurricanes are very strong. Owner Tom Dundon When GM Kyle Dubas said he wanted to see how his group would didn’t want to trade a first- or second-rounder, especially for rentals, but respond to its tough stretch, he meant it. Thornton would have eased the did it for four more years of Brady Skjei. He’s not crazy about rentals in tension right now, but the organization wants to see how everyone top to general (which is why they didn’t pay Chicago’s price for Robin Lehner), bottom reacts and performs. Next season is a different story. but they made the move for Sami Vatanen. You have to reward your team when it earns it, and the Hurricanes earned it. 5. Thornton’s made it clear he will make his salary fit. He’s a left-hand shot who could feed Auston Matthews/John Tavares from his strong side. 14. If I’m wrong about this, I’m sure he’ll let me know, but I understand (They have spent plenty of time with Zach Hyman and William Nylander Chicago indicated it did not want to go past two years on Lehner. on their weak sides, although both have had strong seasons.) There’s the Greyhound connection. People forget, too, that Thornton’s been 15. From talking to other teams, it was interesting to see how Ottawa GM through the ringer. The first playoff series I covered for Hockey Night in Pierre Dorion handled this deadline compared to last year’s. In 2019, Canada was Boston/Montreal 2004, where the Canadiens came back things spun out of control. All of it was public. It was sloppier than the from 3–1 down to win. Thornton came under huge criticism with articles interior of David Amber’s car (which is pretty bad). This time, there was demanding he be stripped of his captaincy. He survived and will walk into much less noise even with so many balls in the air. the Hall of Fame. Good message for Toronto’s young core. Anyway, “He was grinding pretty hard,” another GM said. something to chew on. Dorion wanted a second for Dylan DeMelo, but that wasn’t coming. Last 6. The Maple Leafs made it clear they weren’t trading Tyson Barrie year, he allowed Vegas permission to talk to Mark Stone prior to making unless they received two things: a good-enough replacement to keep the trade, but it put the Senators in a rough spot, so he held back with just moved down 50 or 60 spots to acquire a player making $925,000 for Jean-Gabriel Pageau and the Islanders this time. two playoffs (Tampa added San Jose’s third-rounder, from Philadelphia).

In the end, the strategy paid off: Ottawa got a first and second, the New A few Western Conference people I asked said Goodrow is one of the Yorkers got their man, and Pageau got his extension. (The negotiations few Sharks who has overachieved this season. So I guess the proper got close, somewhere around $250,000 to $500,000 per year. But perspective is, would you move up 50 or 60 spots in the draft for him? If everyone knew the Senators weren’t crazy about term.) We all learn from you’re the Lightning, the answer is yes you would. When you’ve taken what we go through. Anthony Cirelli, Radko Gudas, Nikita Gusev, Alex Killorn, Nikita Kucherov, Ondrej Palat, Cedric Paquette and Brayden Point after the first 16. Dorion also wanted to add a forward who could help AHL Belleville, round — you believe in your scouting staff. and got one in Matthew Peca. Those Senators are first in the North Division and woke up Wednesday third in the league. 28. Took my son and nephew to see the Family Day AHL matinee between Binghamton and Toronto. Cory Schneider looked good. Smooth 17. Calgary also checked into Wayne Simmonds. Second time in two and calm. Hopefully, it translates. years. 29. Pretty crazy stat about Columbus. The Blue Jackets have taken the 18. I understand why Buffalo acquired him. The Sabres are battling for fewest minor penalties in the league this season (167). Six times they’ve positivity in a negative time, and Simmonds has a great attitude. They gone without taking a single penalty, most recently Jan. 16 in New were losing two players who wanted to move, and you need to replace Jersey. The last time this happened was the 1945-46 New York Rangers, them since you’re striving for a miracle finish (Dominik Kahun was the who did it seven times. The record is nine, by Detroit in 1939–40. And it’s other add). The Devils made it very clear Simmonds was not going not like the Blue Jackets are a bunch of softies. anywhere unless the situation was good for him. He’ll get a chance to play good minutes and work towards his next deal. (Hopefully Instigators 30. On the other end, the Islanders are last in power-play opportunities co-host Andrew Peters reads to 18 this week.) with 146. Lowest in a full season since the NHL began keeping records is 191, by the 1977–78 Atlanta Flames. 19. Both Andrew Ladd and Zach Parise waived their respective clauses to switch teams. It’s going to take some time to figure out what happened 31. Was watching Jason Zucker leave morning skate on a freezing day in here, but here’s the best I can give you at this time: This move was on Toronto. No socks. Minnesota winters toughen you up. the table last summer, but then-Wild GM Paul Fenton rejected the idea. Both sides revisited it over the past few weeks, but the issue was money. Parise has $37 million in cap room to go after this season, although only Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 02.27.2020 $19 million is cash. Ladd has $16.5 million in cap room, $12 million in cash ($9 million of it is signing bonuses; Parise has no more).

There were all sorts of issues to consider on keeping money, sweeteners to do so, etc. (There were rumblings Kieffer Bellows was going to be in the deal, for example.) People were concerned about Lou Lamoriello’s reaction if it got out prematurely. For very legitimate reasons, Minnesota was concerned about cap-recapture issues if Parise retired early — although I’m sure the Minnesota native would be amenable to solutions. It’s not an easy deal to make, and who knows where it goes from here.

20. I do believe the Islanders also had interest in Mikko Koivu, who preferred to stay put.

21. At all-star, one individual speculated that six years at $6.75-million AAV would keep Chris Kreider in Manhattan. He was almost bang-on, with seven years and $6.5 being the final numbers. A few potential pursuers indicated afterward they always believed that would be the eventual outcome, although it was in doubt as late as Sunday afternoon. I heard there was one particular team that engaged, but the two sides could not agree on parameters. Educated guess is Colorado, but they weren’t willing to go where the Rangers needed them to go.

22. Moving Skjei allows the Rangers freedom to take care of internal business, like Anthony DeAngelo and Ryan Strome.

23. We’ll see where this stands after the playoffs, but there was some Tyson Jost action. Nazem Kadri’s arrival pushed him to the wing. I don’t think the Avalanche have any problem with his effort; he just fits better as a centre and he’s not going to be in the top six when both Kadri and Nathan MacKinnon are healthy. The one thing I heard about Jost: Colorado liked his playoff performance last spring. So they weren’t unhappy to keep him. We’ll see where it all stands in June.

24. Boy do a lot of teams like Ondrej Kase. (They like his contract — $2.6 million for another season — even more.) The only concern I heard?

“Why does Bob Murray want to deal him?”

For years, Murray wouldn’t even entertain it. Hopefully, he stays healthy.

25. One other Detroit player who had legit interest: Luke Glendening.

“(Yzerman) wasn’t making it easy,” one exec said.

26. Another player I heard a lot of teams liked: Philadelphia’s Scott Laughton.

“Chuck (Fletcher) couldn’t hang up fast enough,” another exec joked.

27. Tampa Bay GM Julien BriseBois did a lot of research into the last decade of deadline moves and decided he was willing to trade first-round picks solely for guys with term. Someone smart pointed out to me that the Lightning didn’t deal a first-round pick for Barclay Goodrow — they 1178857 Websites The biggest positive to my eye is that the Leafs’ most consistently bad area has improved to league average levels. All season long Toronto has given up about 10 per cent more chances off the cycle than the average team, until February when they gave up about 0.5 per cent less. Cutting Sportsnet.ca / What is the Maple Leafs' bigger concern: Defence or down on slot passes and one-timers should make a huge difference for goaltending? goaltenders, even if it hasn’t been the case so far with the Leafs.

Another point I’ve seen made recently is that the Leafs are terrible while shorthanded, and their 26th-ranked penalty kill percentage at just 76.5 Andrew Berkshire per cent would lend a lot of credence to that. But are the skaters the problem, or something else?

After a long stretch of uneven play, a familiar question is coming from The Leafs give up more one-timers than the average team while down a fans and media once again: What’s wrong with the Toronto Maple Leafs? man, and that likely coincides with giving up more East-West passes by forwards below the tops of the faceoff circles. But overall, they protect the As usual, the focus has been on the Leafs’ defensive play, or lack slot very well and have been flat out incredible at fending off opposing thereof, with leads evaporating and goalies being lit up on the regular. I forechecks. was asked how the Leafs have been doing defensively in February because this month they’ve posted the 29th-ranked team save Despite the Leafs’ inconsistent defence at 5-on-5, the penalty kill hasn’t percentage in the NHL at 5-on-5, so it would be logical to assume they’re been a problem for the skaters. They’ve been doing their jobs at an giving up far too many chances. above average level even if they’re lacking natural centres to start the shifts off. This is on the goalies as well. Obviously, this doesn’t completely capture how the Leafs have performed defensively — where there are some glaring weaknesses — but they do Unless Andersen is able to recapture the form he’s expected to have look closer to league average than being bad at 5-on-5 in February by very quickly, we might see a bit more Jack Campbell, who has been very pure rankings. With that said, let’s see if we can’t glean a little more good since joining the Leafs. nuance out of their defensive numbers to see if the issue is more than just Frederik Andersen struggling. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 02.27.2020 Using the same method I used to evaluate the skills of deadline targets for goal scoring, playmaking, and defending, let’s see how much better or worse than league average the Leafs have been in various categories each month of the season.

In this instance, because we’re measuring events that occur against the Maple Leafs, negative numbers are good as they show the events are less frequent than league average. For the purposes of looking at impact on save percentage specifically, we’re going to stick to shots that hit the net in our analysis.

Breaking it down on a month-by-month basis, we can see where things have been a bit more varied over time, and where there are persistent strengths and weaknesses.

The Leafs started the season strong with one of their best months in recent years in limiting shots from the inner slot and cutting down traffic in front of their goaltenders – but they gave up slot passes more often than most teams. Overall, by limiting rush chances, one-timers, and inner slot shots, things should have been going great defensively, but Andersen struggled mightily out of the gate and the Leafs’ offence was terrible during the same period, so despite these good metrics, they got off on the wrong foot.

Andersen rebounded in November and December, but the defence in front of him struggled to limit chances against and allowed more volume from dangerous areas, more deflections, more one-timers, and more rush chances.

In January the Leafs pushed back on the inner slot area, but they were killed from the high slot and hence, the slot overall, giving up over 20 per cent more scoring chances on net than the average team. That extra focus on the inner slot also came with a more conservative approach to defending the blue line, and as a result the Leafs were ripped to shreds off the rush, giving up nearly 47 per cent more than the league average.

In February, things have shifted once more, as the Leafs have given up more inner slot chances than at any other point in the season and are also allowing more deflections on net. But they’ve drastically cut down on slot shots overall, one-timers, rush chances, cycle chances, and slot passes. Overall, February is likely their best defensive month since October, and it hasn’t come at the cost of neutering their offence, but they’re losing the net front battles.

The deflections look a little scary on that chart, and it’s never good to give up a ton of those, but I do think the sample size is so small that there’s a lot of randomness involved in any single month. There appears to be a heavy correlation between deflections and inner slot shots though, so it is an area in which the Leafs are struggling.

There’s still no way I would call the Maple Leafs a strong defensive team, but at 5-on-5 I see more positive movement in February than negative. They’re just not getting the goaltending every team needs to win consistently. 1178858 Websites

Sportsnet.ca / Bill Daly: 'There's no easy fixes' for emergency backup situation

Josh Beneteau | @jbenny15

February 25, 2020, 11:06 PM

NHL Deputy Commissioner Billy Daly said the league will continue to look for better ways to handle emergency backup goalies after 42-year- old Zamboni driver David Ayres had to suit up for the Carolina Hurricanes over the weekend.

Speaking to reporters in Washington, D.C., Daly said “there’s no easy fixes,” but more discussions will be had at the upcoming general managers meetings in Florida.

“It’s something we’ve given some consideration to over the years. As recently as last year, we discussed [it] with the general managers,” Daly said, according to NHL.com. “It happens very, very rarely, but when it happens, it obviously raises everybody’s attention to the issue and whether there are fixes that need to be made to that particular issue.”

Ayres made eight saves on 10 shots to help the Hurricanes beat the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday after both James Reimer and Petr Mrazek went down with injuries. Ayres has since become a media darling — with appearances on the Today Show and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert among many others.

The current rule for emergency backup goalies requires the home team have someone in the building in case both goalkeepers are “incapacitated.” Ayres was the first emergency goalie to actually see the ice since March of 2018, when accountant Scott Foster made seven saves for the Chicago Blackhawks against the Winnipeg Jets.

Daly was asked about ways the NHL could improve the current rule and raised some other questions that, according to him, would need to be answered first.

“We have to work with the [NHL] Players’ Association. Who’s a player? Who’s not a player? What qualifies all of that?” Daly said. “But obviously we want what’s best for the game, and we want to make sure people aren’t putting themselves in danger by playing goal in a National Hockey League game … So that’s obviously something we have to continue to work through.”

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 02.27.2020 1178859 Websites Sandin is just 24 games into his career and still picking up the nuances of the NHL. For example, he struggled to gain inside position in a battle with Patrick Maroon, who stands six-foot-2, 236 pounds, on the Lightning's second goal. Sandin, who's five-foot-11, 183 pounds, believes he needs TSN.CA / Dermott aims to step up after Leafs lose 'defensive anchor' to be quicker in those type of battles. Muzzin "You just got to do it a little bit in a different way," he said of the adjustment. "You maybe have to do it a little earlier, start the box-outs earlier. I mean, all the guys are stronger and smarter as well so they just Mark Masters find different ways to get to the net. You have to outsmart them and already be there before they're trying to be there. You have to do it earlier." TSN Toronto reporter Mark Masters checks in daily with news and notes on the Maple Leafs, who practised at BB&T Center in Sunrise, Fla., on Who needs to step up for the Leafs' depleted defence? Wednesday ahead of Thursday’s game against the Panthers. For the second straight year the Maple Leafs lost a key defenceman the With defenceman Jake Muzzin sidelined approximately four weeks with a day after the Trade Deadline. Who needs to step up right now to help broken right hand, Travis Dermott is getting more responsibility skating their depleted defence? Dave Poulin joins SportsCentre to weigh in. alongside Justin Holl as part of the matchup pair. In the moments after Tuesday's game, Barrie declared that the Leafs "Muzzy's a massive part of our team," Dermott said, "definitely our must take on a next-man-up mentality with Muzzin out. defensive anchor so everyone's got to do a little more defensively to "We're in a spot where we can't let that effect the way we're playing," he make up for that. My game's going along slowly, you try to figure it out said. "It will be a big test for us." game by game, get better game by game." It will be a big test for Barrie as well. The 28-year-old, who will be an But with only 18 games left and Morgan Rielly (broken foot) and Cody unrestricted free agent this summer, is now by far the most experienced Ceci (high ankle sprain) still “weeks” away from returning, according to player on Toronto's back end. coach Sheldon Keefe, the Leafs need Dermott to raise his game. The 23- year-old passed the first test on Tuesday night helping Toronto survive a "Every player, regardless of experience, is going to have to show third-period push by the high-octane Tampa Bay Lightning. leadership in their own manner," Keefe noted. "That said, I mean, Tyson Barrie, right away is the guy that jumps off the page in terms of the "It felt nice for me and Hollsy to be out there at the end," Dermott said of experience he provides on defence. I might be wrong, but he may have the frantic final minutes, "don't get that opportunity too often, but it felt more games played than every other single guy combined. We'll have to nice to be able to shut them down." rely on him in that sense." Dermott missed the start of the season after undergoing summer The coach is right. Barrie has played 548 NHL games while Martin shoulder surgery and hasn't seemed to hit his full stride yet. Marincin (222), Dermott (151), Holl (75), Sandin (24), Calle Rosen (16) "I worry more about the team," said Dermott when asked about his and Timothy Liljegren (eight) have combined to play 496. season. "You worry about yourself, but I think how the team's doing is a "It's not ideal, but, I mean, it’s part of the gig, right," Keefe said. "It's a big indicator ... some ups and downs, obviously, getting back from my reason why you acquire depth and a reason why you develop players injury, getting familiar with everything again, but all good going forward and a reason why you have a good and healthy minor league system. It’s and hopefully we get on a nice little win streak here." to be able to have these situations happen and then continue to press Dermott has posted nine points in 50 games while averaging 16 minutes on." and 40 seconds of ice time. But Keefe liked how Dermott responded Keefe also said it's up to the rest of the lineup to raise their game to while logging almost 23 minutes last night, including more than 11 in the insulate the defence. third. "It puts a little more onus on our collective group, the forwards in "Looking at how he played against some of their better people, how particular, to do a good job of protecting them." competitive he was, I thought he just really worked hard and defended our net well," the coach observed. "When Muzzin went down he had to Jake Muzzin will be out of the lineup for approximately four weeks after take on more yesterday so it's just a good sign that he's up for that suffering a broken hand, leaving a void on Toronto's already depleted challenge. I think he's been waiting for the chance to take steps." blueline. Tyson Barrie has more NHL games on his resume than the rest of the Leafs' healthy defencemen combined and will be relied upon to Not that he needs any extra motivation, but Dermott's family is on this trip help carry more of the load. Mark Masters has more. and they even attended today's practice. John Tavares was asked about Muzzin's looming absence last night. "Nice to have them here, good to have that support," Dermott said with a smile. "My dog was even here, passed out on my mom's lap, I was like, "We can't hang our heads and think ‘Why us?’ ” Toronto's captain said. 'This is crazy,' but I love it." “As a group, collectively, we have to step up and fill that void and continue to play better and when guys get more opportunity, that's their Leafs confident young defenceman can help keep them in the playoff chance to take advantage of it, relish it and thrive with it." hunt Kyle Dubas re-Tweeted a reporter who posted that quote today. The Losing Jake Muzzin was another blow to the Maple Leafs blue line and it Leafs general manager included a link to a video where British wasn't the news Toronto was looking for as they fight to stay in the philosopher Alan Watts tells the story of a man who refuses to think playoffs. Mark Masters has more on why the team is confident their about anything as good or bad, because no one ever knows what will youngsters can help fill the void left behind by some key pieces. happen next. All you can control is your reaction to what life throws at With all the injuries on defence, rookie Rasmus Sandin is also in line for you. more minutes. Sandin, who partnered with Tyson Barrie at practice, "The whole process of nature is an integrated process of immense insists he doesn't feel any additional pressure. complexity, and it’s really impossible to tell whether anything that "Every game I'm playing up here I’m just enjoying it and think it's the happens in it is good or bad," Watts said. funnest thing in the world so I’ll just keep thinking that," he said. William Nylander received Toronto's game ball – the player-of-the-game Sandin was on the ice for all three Tampa goals last night. The Swede award – after Tuesday's win. The 23-year-old provided the highlight of played sparingly in the first two periods before logging 9:34 in the third. the night scoring a between-the-legs beauty on the power play, which ended up as the game-winning goal. "It was up and down," Sandin said of his game. "I feel like just a couple slow plays, but at the end, when Muzz got out, I got a lot of ice time so I "I can't really see anything so I'm just going by feel," Nylander explained, think that got me into the game and that third period was pretty good." "but obviously you have to get it up there if you want to score. I mean, (Andrei) Vasilevskiy is good along the ice so you got to get it up." "That was pretty special," said goalie Frederik Andersen. "It just creates extra reach for him and you don't really expect it so not everyone can pull that off. Good for Willie. It's pretty."

Nylander insists he never practises that move, but Marner has noticed the Swede try and execute it in previous games.

"He's tried that a couple times so it doesn't surprise me that he finally pulled that off," Marner said. "He has the hands for it."

"I didn't really have time to think," said Nylander. "It just kind of happened so it was nice to put one in, that's for sure."

It wasn't just a pretty play, it may have been the best option in that moment after Marner created space by faking out Erik Cernak to deliver the puck down low.

"That's pretty sweet," Barrie said. "He didn't really have much else to do with it, it was his only option, I think, so he put it right upstairs."

Keefe liked the finish as well, but chose to highlight another aspect of Nylander's play.

"He really worked in this game and won a lot of loose pucks for us," the coach said. "It was well deserved for him to get the game ball."

NHL: Maple Leafs 4, Lightning 3

John Tavares scored a pair of goals and William Nylander went between- the-legs for his 28th of the season, as the Maple Leafs responded with a strong effort in Tampa Bay to get the win. Jake Muzzin and Steven Stamkos both left with injuries and didn't return.

Toronto's last two wins – home to the Pittsburgh Penguins and last night in Tampa – were preceded by a practice day. So, that may be a good sign for tomorrow's big game against the Panthers, because the Leafs held a 30-minute workout today.

"I thought today, the vibe and energy around our team has been as good as it's been in a very long time," Keefe noted, "and we earned that through the effort yesterday and the result that we got and we got to continue to feel that way."

The Panthers had the day off after returning from Arizona where they played Tuesday night. Both teams are opting not to skate on Thursday morning.

TSN.CA LOADED: 02.27.2020 1178860 Websites

USA TODAY / Blues defenseman Jay Bouwmeester ruled out for season after cardiac episode, still deciding future

Mike Brehm

St. Louis Blues defenseman Jay Bouwmeester has been ruled out for the rest of the season and playoffs after his cardiac episode earlier this month, but he hasn't decided on his future beyond that.

Bouwmeester, 36, spoke publicly Wednesday for the first time since he collapsed on the bench during a Feb. 11 game at the Anaheim Ducks.

"I feel pretty normal," he said during a news conference. "That's a good thing."

Blues general manager Doug Armstrong said Bouwmeester can take time on longer-term decisions about his hockey future because it's only February.

"There's been a lot going on," Bouwmeester said. "I think that's something I'm definitely going to have to evaluate, but to say I've done that, I wouldn't say fully yet. Obviously, there's decisions that I'm going to have to make."

Bouwmeester needed to be revived by a defibrillator after completing a shift and was taken to the hospital, where he had an internal defibrillator implanted three days later to regulate his heartbeat.

"It just came pretty suddenly," he said. "Everything up to that point was normal."

He praised the work of medical personnel in reviving him.

"It happened in the absolute best place that it could happen because of all the protocols they have in place and how people responded so quickly," he said. "No. 1, they saved my life and No. 2, the fact that they could get on it so fast was very helpful."

The Blues acquired defenseman Marco Scandella to fill his roster spot. That has allowed Bouwmeester to focus on his family.

"As a hockey player, I'd like to play hockey, so I'd sure like to be out there, but when you put everything in perspective, it's OK to just take a step back right now," he said.

He said he hasn't seen footage of the incident or talked to Jiri Fischer or Rich Peverley, who went through similar incidents.

Armstrong said the defenseman will be around the team at home and possibly on the road. Bouwmeester says he's willing to help out as needed.

The 2002 No. 3 overall draft pick is on a one-year deal. He's in his 17th NHL season and has been with the Blues since 2013. He won his first Stanley Cup last season and also won a gold medal with Canada in 2014.

"I think I've accomplished a lot of things that I've set out when you're young," Bouwmeester said.

USA TODAY LOADED: 02.27.2020