SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 12/05/17 Columbus Blue Jackets 1086577 What we learned this week in the NHL: The Kings are 1086617 Blue Jackets | Top line cooking; Tortorella tinkers with back others 1086578 Eric Stephens’ NHL power rankings (Dec. 4, 2017) 1086618 Blue Jackets | Opportunity knocks for Scott Harrington, 1086579 Ducks put faith in the process leading to results Gabriel Carlsson 1086619 Blue Jackets | Sonny Milano sent down in numbers crunch Arizona Coyotes 1086580 Arizona Coyotes sign 2017 first-rounder Pierre-Olivier Dallas Stars Joseph to entry-level deal 1086620 Want to know why the Stars have won five in a row? All 1086581 Coyotes sign first-round pick Joseph to three-year contract you have to do is look inside their brains 1086582 Arizona Coyotes recall Kyle Capobianco from Tucson 1086621 NHL recognizes Faksa in Dallas Stars’ recent surge Roadrunners Detroit Red Wings Boston Bruins 1086622 Red Wings flip Scott Wilson for 5th-round pick, now hold 9 1086583 Anton Khudobin can’t pick up where he left off picks in 2018 1086584 Bruins defeated in Nashville 1086623 Mental toughness scrutinized as Red Wings seek end to 1086585 Bruins face hot Predators, but roster decision could loom 7-game skid 1086586 Bruins dig early hole, fall to Predators 1086624 Detroit Red Wings vs. Jets: Time, TV/radio, 1086587 Bruins notebook: David Backes reaches 500-point game info milestone with dad in attendance in Nashville 1086625 Wings send Scott Wilson to Sabres for draft pick 1086588 Bruins dig early hole, fall 5-3 to Predators 1086626 Wings GM: Play 'unacceptable;' mum on Blashill 1086589 Khudobin hopes to keep his winning streak going as he 1086627 Red Wings: First step to recovery is competing gets back in 1086628 Red Wings, Generals 4th-Annual Alumni Game slated for 1086590 Cast your vote in NBC Sports Boston's annual '20 under Friday night, December 8th at the Dort Federal Event Cen 25' ratings 1086629 Red Wings trade Scott Wilson to Sabres for fifth-round 1086591 Impending return for DeBrusk means B's need to make a pick roster decision 1086592 Bruins fight back late before falling to Predators, 5-3 Edmonton Oilers 1086593 Talking Points: Early mistakes prove costly for Bruins 1086630 Starting status against Flyers up in air for Oilers goalie 1086594 Bruins know early deficit is 'not a good recipe for winning Brossoit games' 1086631 New Oilers forward chasing his hockey dream around the world Buffalo Sabres 1086632 Lowetide: Total recall for Oilers in bringing Brandon 1086595 Sabres Notebook: Rodrigues recalled; Wilson acquired Davidson back from Wings; Beaulieu ill 1086596 Much-needed shake-up underway for Sabres, starting with Florida Panthers Moulson 1086633 Barzal scores shootout winner, Islanders edge Panthers 5- 1086597 Sabres acquire forward Scott Wilson from Red Wings 4 1086598 Sabres' O'Reilly knows Moulson move could be just the 1086634 Another game, another new line for Panthers' Vincent start Trocheck 1086599 Sabres' waiving of Moulson hits Okposo, Eichel hard 1086635 Panthers' Capuano to face former team for first time since 1086600 Sabres Prospects: Cliff Pu finds his scoring groove being fired by Islanders 1086601 Sabres recall Evan Rodrigues, send Kyle Criscuolo to 1086636 Panthers lose to Islanders in shootout after Roberto Amerks Luongo leaves game with injury 1086602 Sabres will waive Matt Moulson 1086603 Sabres goalie prospect selected for Finland's world juniors camp 1086637 What we learned from the Kings' defeat of the Blackhawks 1086638 No grudge match for and Calgary Flames when Kings host Wild 1086604 Flyers goalie Elliott back to haunt former team 1086639 What we learned this week in the NHL: The Kings are 1086605 Flames leader Giordano pumped by milestone back 1086606 Flames lose to freefalling Flyers, Elliott 1086640 Anze Kopitar says late-November victory over Ducks 1086607 Milestone holds great significance to Flames fueled Kings’ fire Giordano 1086641 Jonathan Quick, Kings stop Blackhawks for fifth straight 1086608 Game Day: Flames face a desperate Flyers squad tonight win 1086609 Flames Prospect Update: Dillon Dube starts to dominate 1086642 Eric Stephens’ NHL power rankings (Dec. 4, 2017) 1086643 WAKING UP WITH THE KINGS: DECEMBER 4 1086644 JOHN STEVENS ON CUTTING DOWN SHOTS AND 1086610 'You're never getting comfortable:' John McDonough faces CHANCES, KOPITAR, KUEMPER, FOLIN, JOKINEN a new set of challenges with the Blackhawks 1086611 Letting his guard down about dyslexia struggles helped blueliner Brent Sopel find purpose 1086612 Tommy Wingels enjoys being in the center of the action 1086613 Chicago Blackhawks Forsberg getting little offensive support Colorado Avalanche 1086614 The Morning After: Three stars, five takeaways from the Avalanche’s loss to the Dallas Stars 1086615 Struggling Colorado Avalanche confident it can shake slide and not repeat last season’s historic misery 1086616 Everything you need to know about Buffalo Sabres at Colorado Avalanche Philadelphia Flyers 1086645 Minnesota Wild aiming for improved defense against red 1086680 Flyers change all four lines, seeking to snap losing streak hot LA Kings 1086681 Flyers-Flames preview: Can Philly contain Johnny 1086646 Wild-Los Angeles game preview Gaudreau and end 10-game losing streak? 1086647 Ironing out the little things are big in Devan Dubnyk's 1086682 Flyers end 10-game losing streak as Brian Elliott makes success 43 saves 1086648 After losing job with Wild, Darcy Kuemper rebounding in 1086683 Flyers 5, Flames 2: Flyers break their losing streak and Los Angeles other quick observations 1086649 Leg is ‘strong and sturdy,’ and so is Wild forward Charlie 1086684 Recent Devils trade should open Ron Hextall's eyes Coyle 1086685 Future Flyers Report: Honors, shutouts and more for 1086650 John Shipley: Wild in danger of drifting into irrelevance Carter Hart 1086686 Flyers breaking up top line Monday vs. Flames MontrealCanadiens 1086687 Flyers-Flames observations: Losing skid is finally over 1086651 Canadiens Notebook: Jonathan Drouin still out with a 1086688 'Such a relief' as Flyers put 10-game skid to bed with win lower-body injury over Flames 1086652 St. Louis Blues at Canadiens: Five things you should know 1086653 Stu Cowan: Habs' Jordie Benn scores one for stay-at- Pittsburgh Penguins home defencemen 1086689 Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry prepares for stiff tests ahead 1086654 Canadiens' Jacob De La Rose takes advantage of time on 1086690 Vintage in midst of prolific scoring streak top line 1086691 The Penguins finally will face some divisional opponents 1086655 Canadiens successfully erase their wretched start to the this week season 1086692 Sidney Crosby has found his scoring touch in the past two weeks Peter Diana/Post-Gazette Nashville Predators 1086656 Predators' Ryan Johansen day-to-day with upper-body injury 1086693 Three things to know: Sharks’ minor league coach 1086657 Nashville Predators 5, Boston Bruins 3: 3 things we reaches remarkable milestone learned 1086694 Sharks forward is responding to DeBoer’s criticism: ‘I wanted to prove a point’ New Jersey Devils 1086695 Sharks lose to Caps in regulation for just the second time 1086658 How Devils lined up in practice entering important week of in 18 years Metropolitan Division play 1086696 Three takeaways: Sharks take exception to Caps’ 1086659 Ex-Devil Scott Stevens to join NHL Network as analyst ‘premeditated’ fight with Thornton 1086660 Why game vs. Blue Jackets will be character test for 1086697 Washington Capitals get rare win over San Jose Sharks Devils 1086698 Sharks and Capitals, forever linked, could not be more 1086661 How Devils' Nico Hischier has settled into role, adapted to different this season playing with Taylor Hall 1086699 Chippy game goes way of the Capitals, Sharks end 1086662 NHL Network hires Devils Hall of Famer Scott Stevens roadtrip with loss 1086663 Devils Daily Faceoff: Three storylines for Dec. 4 1086664 Struggling Devils must regroup quickly against Blue St Louis Blues Jackets 1086700 Blues looking for an encore against , but with 1086665 Pavel Zacha frustrated not being in Devils' lineup more goals 1086666 Devils coach John Hynes keeps his messages consistent 1086701 St. Louis comptroller extends legal battle over Scottrade Center financing New York Islanders 1086702 Blues' Blais is back in , but not as a fan this time 1086667 Islanders win shootout after Panthers goalie exits with 1086703 Preview: Blues at Montreal injury 1086704 Yeo happy with Blues' 'energy' last game 1086668 Islanders beat Panthers in shootout on Mathew Barzal’s Tampa Bay Lightning 1086669 Jack Capuano fondly recalls his time as coach of the 1086705 Lightning out in Seminole Heights to support community Islanders 1086706 Lightning continues to boost community hockey initiative 1086707 Lightning’s Jake Dotchin takes a step toward returning 1086708 A visit from Lightning players brings cheer to Seminole 1086670 Rangers must sustain recent success after slow start, Heights especially with upcoming games against divisional rivals 1086671 Rangers hanging onto Mika Zibanejad’s positive injury Maple Leafs news 1086709 Staying on the attack key for the Maple Leafs 1086672 Rangers’ season is going to start to feel real now 1086710 KOSHAN: Maple Leafs' Nylander could get shot at centre 1086673 Henrik Lundqvist will start against Penguins, then may get as Bozak nurses illness some rest 1086711 Leafs visit patients at Hospital for Sick Children 1086712 Visit to Sick Kids a highlight for the Leafs NHL 1086713 No luck for Maple Leafs' Marner? Keep working, Babcock 1086674 After making all the stops in goal, nothing can stop Carter says Hart of the Everett Silvertips 1086714 As SickKids prepares to rebuild, the Leafs join the fight 1086675 One of Seattle’s biggest sports days occurs outside of arena 1086676 KeyArena MOU approved by Seattle City Council; will NHL announcement soon follow? Ottawa Senators 1086677 Dorion studying roster options for his struggling Senators 1086678 Duchene still trying to adjust to role in Ottawa 1086679 Anderson says the answers have to come from within Websites cont'd 1086734 Passer, not patter what matters for quiet Canuck Pouliot 1086750 TSN.CA / Nylander practises at centre as Bozak battles 1086735 Canucks prospect Evan McEneny undergoes knee illness surgery 1086751 TSN.CA / Struggling Marner says his puck luck ‘sucks’ 1086736 10 thoughts on the Canucks, including some appreciation 1086752 TSN.CA / TSN Hockey's Top 10 Storylines of the Week for Troy Stecher 1086753 TSN.CA / Sparks seeing the results of more serious approach Vegas Golden Knights 1086754 TSN.CA / TradeCentre: Five options for Oilers in net 1086715 Golden Knights forward David Perron close to return 1086755 TSN.CA / Sabres goalies garnering trade interest 1086716 Leadership in locker room helps keep Golden Knights’ lulls 1086757 TSN.CA / Pondering what the next Doughty and Karlsson to minimum deals might look like 1086717 New hockey fans learn the game at Vegas Golden Knights 1086758 TSN.CA / Rumour Mill: Doughty, Karlsson to top $9M U AAV? 1086759 USA TODAY / What could have been: Team USA's Washington Capitals potential Olympic roster if NHL players were participating 1086718 Capitals forward Andre Burakovsky on schedule to return to the lineup early next week Winnipeg Jets 1086719 Alex Ovechkin powers Capitals to rare victory over Sharks 1086730 Jets captain Wheeler named NHL's first star of the week; 1086720 Capitals’ T.J. Oshie exits with ‘upper-body’ injury against Habs goalie Price No. 2 San Jose Sharks 1086731 Attention to detail runs in the family of Jets goalie 1086721 Brett Connolly hoping to ‘stay poised’ after returning to Hellebuyck lineup 1086732 Jets living in the moment… Wheeler named first star 1086722 Ovechkin paces Caps over Sharks with 7th goal in 6 …Numbers on the rise for Laine…Power play is red- games hot…Conno 1086723 Andre Burakovsky nearing return for Capitals 1086733 Jets cookin' at home again 1086724 NHL Power Rankings: Line changes fueling Caps' recent surge 1086725 Game 28: Capitals vs. Sharks Date, Time, How to Watch, SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129 Game Thread 1086726 4 reasons why the Capitals beat the Sharks 1086727 T.J. Oshie leaves game after taking awkward hit to the head from the butt of Joe Thornton 1086728 Andre Burakovsky to begin practicing with team, when will he return to the lineup? 1086729 With Burakovsky and Stephenson out, Travis Boyd will make his long-awaited NHL debut Websites 1086737 The Athletic / NHL Trends: A look at who's up and who's down after November 1086738 The Athletic / Grassroots to Gold: Despite some resistance, Hockey Canada aims to change minor hockey culture 1086739 The Athletic / Canadiens successfully erase their wretched start to the season 1086740 The Athletic / U.S., Canada women shaping their Olympic identities one showdown at a time 1086741 The Athletic / Red Wings debacle in Montreal raises questions about direction of the franchise 1086742 The Athletic / Seattle City Council approves KeyArena renovation proposal, so what's next? 1086743 .ca / Maple Leafs’ Nylander-at-centre conversation has been renewed again 1086744 Sportsnet.ca / Markus Naslund talks Sedins’ ascension and who’s next for Canucks 1086745 Sportsnet.ca / Oilers rallying around Laurent Brossoit after near-collapse 1086746 Sportsnet.ca / Karlsson and Doughty poised to set new course for star free agents 1086747 Sportsnet.ca / Down Goes Brown Weekend Wrap: Too soon to buy Canadiens stock 1086748 Sportsnet.ca / Flames Notebook: Is Sam Bennett turning a corner? 1086749 Sportsnet.ca / Q&A: Daniel Briere on life and career in new autobiography 1086577 Anaheim Ducks

What we learned this week in the NHL: The Kings are back

Helene Elliott

What we learned in the NHL over the last week of play: The Kings’ slump is over Remember the 1-6-1 slump that triggered flashbacks to the bad old days of the last few seasons? Neither do the Kings, who have a five-game winning streak and have regained the Pacific Division lead. “I think part of it is we’re getting scoring from up and down our lineup, which I think is key to win in this league,” right wing Dustin Brown said Monday. “We’re getting big goals from so-called third- and fourth-liners. That helps.” It also helps that they’ve given up only six goals in that streak. “We’re not giving up very many scoring chances, which is a staple. When we’re on our game, it’s always there,” Brown said. Ducks struggles continue The Ducks, or what’s left of them while they endure a plague of injuries, made a good move in acquiring established center Adam Henrique and depth forward for defenseman Sami Vatanen and a conditional draft pick. The Ducks’ depth on defense made turnover-prone Vatanen expendable. They should be formidable up the middle when Ryan Kesler (hip surgery) and Ryan Getzlaf (facial bone surgery) return, but they’ll have to end a 1-4-2 slump to stay near the playoff pack. They’re scoring only 2.59 goals per game and giving up a league-worst average of 36.3 shots against per game. They’re on the downside A 10-1 loss to the on Saturday left the Detroit Red Wings’ faces as red as the color of their classic uniforms and extended their winless streak to 0-4-3. “Basically embarrassed everyone that played for the Winged Wheel tonight,” team captain Henrik Zetterberg said, according to the Detroit News. “We have to live with that.” In pursuit of a miracle, paralyzed by a hockey injury, Jack Jablonski finds purpose, and sees movement, off the ice The Philadelphia Flyers’ winless streak hit 0-5-5 after a 3-0 loss to the Boston Bruins on Saturday. Fans didn’t even stick around the Wells Fargo Center to boo them at the end of the game or to repeat their previous calls for the firing of coach Dave Hakstol. Their streak ended Monday with a 5-2 win at Calgary. They’re on the upside The Pittsburgh Penguins are again playing like Stanley Cup champions and have a season-best four-game winning streak. Rookie goalie Tristan Jarry has stepped in for injured Matt Murray, and Sidney Crosby has scored at least one goal in five consecutive games. “We’re back,” forward Evgeni Malkin told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The Dallas Stars, who had a slow start, stretched their winning streak to five games by sweeping a home-and-home series with the Chicago Blackhawks. “It’s how you deal with adversity,” coach Ken Hitchcock told the Dallas Morning News. “You can build or you can crumble, and we’re building.” Twin accomplishments Vancouver forward Daniel Sedin joined his twin, Henrik, in the ranks of players who have scored 1,000 points. It was fitting that Henrik set up the power-play goal that made them the only brothers to have each scored 1,000 points. They’re class acts off the ice, too, and have generously supported causes related to children’s health.

LA Times: LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086578 Anaheim Ducks 13. Islanders (15-8-2). Offensive defenseman Nick Leddy is headed for a career season. GM Garth Snow gets a lot of grief but there’s been good value for that seven-year commitment made in 2015. (12) Eric Stephens’ NHL power rankings (Dec. 4, 2017) 14. Capitals (15-11-1). Evgeny Kuznetsov racked up assists in the first few weeks and now is scoring goals. Eight of his nine have come in the past eight games. (13) By Eric Stephens | [email protected] | Orange County Register 15. Rangers (14-10-2). Litmus tests coming up with games at PUBLISHED: December 4, 2017 at 2:42 pm | UPDATED: December 4, Washington and Pittsburgh before returning home for New Jersey. (14) 2017 at 5:33 PM 16. Flames (14-11-1). Jaromir Jagr has only one goal and six assists in averaging 13 minutes of ice time over 16 games. He’s also 45 so we’ll cut the future Hall of Famer some slack. (11) Patience still matters, it seems, in an increasingly impatient world. 17. Wild (13-10-3). Need to be better than 4-5-0 within division to keep Within the hockey universe, Kevin Cheveldayoff is considered to be pace with the leaders. If Zach Parise (back) can get back before the new among the most patient of NHL general managers. Proof of that is his year, it’ll help their cause. (18) unwillingness to break from a core he built in Winnipeg even when there were growing pains after a surprise berth in the 2015 Stanley Cup 18. Canucks (13-10-4). It’s going to be a heck of a Calder Trophy race playoffs. and Brock Boeser (13 goals, 12 assists) is right in the middle of it. (19) And when there were tough times with missed postseasons the past two 19. Blackhawks (12-10-5). A 7-3 bouncing of Anaheim was the only years, Cheveldayoff resisted any notion of fifth-year coach Paul Maurice highlight as they’ve since dropped four in a row and backbone goalie paying the price. In fact, Jets owner Mark Chipman exercised his own Corey Crawford is now out for a bit. (17) patience in handing both multiyear extensions before this season. 20. Canadiens (13-12-3). If – who’s 5-0 with a 1.20 goals- Amid expectations that have never been higher since the move from against average since returning from injury – drags this group into the Atlanta, Winnipeg is meeting them two months in. The Jets are 13-3-2 playoffs, he should be part of the Hart Trophy mix. (27) since their last pair of back-to-back losses, both losses. The only other consecutive failures came in the season’s opening two games. 21. Bruins (12-8-4). Good health matters. The B’s are getting bodies back – Brad Marchand in particular – and it shows in winning six of Blake Wheeler may be the league’s most underrated player. Mark seven. Tuukka Rask is finding his form. (25) Scheifele is a star and Patrik Laine could also be one for years. Scheifele and Laine were drafted along with goalie Connor Hellebuyck, 22. Ducks (11-11-5). New center Adam Henrique is off to an ideal start defensemen Jacob Trouba and Josh Morrissey and forwards Nikolaj but these missed opportunities to stash away points on a challenging Ehlers, Adam Lowry and Kyle Connor. trip might come back to haunt them. (20) As a squadron, these Jets are in full flight. (Records in parentheses are 23. Hurricanes (11-9-5). You’d like to see GM Ron Francis make a trade as of Sunday’s games). to get this franchise moving. He’s got defensive depth and Buffalo’s Evander Kane and his 12 goals are available. (24) 1. Jets (17-6-4). They hung a touchdown on two teams (Minnesota, Vegas) and wrapped up a 3-0-1 week with a 5-0 drubbing of Ottawa. 24. Avalanche (12-11-2). They’re respectable, which says something Impressive. (7) after the disaster that was 2016-17. But they’re not a playoff team, especially in that rugged Central. (22) 2. Predators (16-7-3). Barring injury, Pekka Rinne is going to get to 300 wins this season and all with the same franchise. At 35, he’s as steady 25. Oilers (11-14-2). Can Jesse Puljujarvi, the No. 4 pick in 2016, stick in as ever with flashes of brilliance thrown in. (2) this latest NHL shot? Two goals in a win over rival Calgary don’t hurt. (28) 3. Lightning (18-6-2). After cooling off with no goals in six games, Nikita Kucherov potted two in win over San Jose. Tyler Johnson also snapped 26. Senators (9-10-6). An 0-6-1 run was snapped Friday but it doesn’t get a 15-game cold snap with two. (3) any easier as their seven-game trip takes them out to California. (21) 4. Blues (17-8-2). Back-to-back home losses to Ducks and Kings and just 27. Panthers (10-13-3). Jonathan Huberdeau, Sasha Barkov and Vincent four goals scored in three-game losing streak, but Patrik Berglund has Trocheck are at or near a point per game. Alas, they still need about six two goals in first three games this season. (1) more forwards and a defense. (29) 5. Kings (17-8-3). Outscored teams 16-5 on a 4-0-0 trip. Darcy Kuemper 28. Red Wings (10-12-5). After a 10-1 beating in Montreal for their (4-0-2, 1.72 GAA, .944 SV%) is giving them quality work in backup role to seventh consecutive loss, Henrik Zetterberg said, “We basically Jonathan Quick. (10) embarrassed everyone that played with the winged wheel tonight, and we’ve got to live with that.” (23) 6. Blue Jackets (17-9-1). Big center Pierre-Luc Dubois, the fourth overall pick in the 2016 draft, made the team at 19 straight out of juniors and is 29. Flyers (8-11-7). Dave Hakstol still has his job after his club went starting to earn rave reviews. (4) down for the 10th straight time but he may not survive their upcoming trip to western Canada. (26) 7. Maple Leafs (17-10-1). It isn’t getting much attention but Nazem Kadri is putting together another strong season. On pace to top last year’s 30. Coyotes (7-18-5). New Jersey castoff Scott Wedgewood got a career-high 32 goals. (5) shutout against his former team, and Dylan Strome, a No. 3 overall pick in 2015, scored his first NHL goal. (30) 8. Golden Knights (16-9-1). A 6-7-1 road record is a bit disconcerting but the VGK’s are back home and got their fifth different overtime winner 31. Sabres (6-17-4). It just continues to get worse. 1-9-2 since Nov. 7. Sunday against Arizona, this one from Reilly Smith. (6) ’s goal Saturday ended their goal drought at 232 minutes, 9 seconds. Brutal. (31) 9. Sharks (14-9-2). Joe Pavelski getting his 300th goal only cements his status as a San Jose institution and Chris Tierney has become a nice do- all-the-little-things depth center. (9) Orange County Register: LOADED: 12.05.2017 10. Devils (15-7-4). Sami Vatanen played a team-high 22:47 in his first game since the Ducks finally opted to move him. He’s on their top pairing with Andy Greene. (8) 11. Stars (16-10-1). If they’ve solved their road issues – and they’ve won their past three – this explosive team is going to be a player in the Central. Tyler Seguin seems to score in bunches. (16) 12. Penguins (15-10-3). Racked up three easy wins against sad sacks Philadelphia and Buffalo (twice), which helped Tristan Jarry ease into starting role while Matt Murray gets healthy. (15) 1086579 Anaheim Ducks “At times, it’s been there,” Bieksa said. “We’ve played some good hockey at times. The end of the day, you need points though. This road trip’s been against some very good teams. The last three games have been Ducks put faith in the process leading to results against three of the top five teams in the league. “Vegas is one of those teams as well. And Ottawa’s a good team. So it doesn’t get any easier. Keep plugging away and keep doing our thing. By Eric Stephens | [email protected] | Orange County Register Just try to collect points right now.” PUBLISHED: December 4, 2017 at 8:46 pm | UPDATED: December 4, Corey Perry scored a goal without being in action Monday, while Adam 2017 at 8:48 PM Henrique has to wait further for his first with the Ducks. Henrique had appeared to get it Saturday night with a second-period shot that changed course as it got by Nashville goalie Pekka Rinne. The NASHVILLE, Tenn. — There are the results and then there is the reason it changed direction is that Perry got his stick on it as the NHL process. made the official scoring change. Both are meaningful. Results are the end game everyone wants but how It gave the winger his fifth goal of the season. An assist that had been every team across sports talks about the process makes it a contagion given to Cam Fowler was taken away as the two helpers on the goal they all now share. The NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers essentially gave their went to Henrique and Brandon Montour, who had given the center the extended rebuilding strategy a moniker that’s repeated over and over. key pass for his one-time shot. “Trust The Process” is the catchphrase and it isn’t limited to rebuilding. When you take the sliver within the sports landscape that is the Ducks and their current trip, there is the belief that they’re doing things the right Orange County Register: LOADED: 12.05.2017 way and that the results they covet will come. So far, they haven’t. Just four points have been earned on a six-game journey that started in Los Angeles, wound itself around the Midwest and has now circled itself back to Las Vegas, where the Ducks will pay their first visit to T-Mobile Arena and play the Vegas Golden Knights. But they’re putting belief in the how. How they’ve played in all but one stop. Toss aside the blowout in Chicago and how their efforts could – and perhaps should – have pocketed wins in L.A., Columbus and Nashville. How they did earn one in St. Louis. As their battered lineup has been a season-long transit station, the Ducks are thinking that they’ve reached a level of consistency – even if the string of wins has yet to arrive. “You hope so,” Ducks defenseman Kevin Bieksa said. “The process everyone talks about is just doing the same things every day, regardless of the score and regardless of who we’re playing.” To break that down further, Bieksa points to their defensive work being the focal point. With key forwards still on the shelf due to injury, it has to be. “So we have to have guys down low,” he said. “We have to be protecting the middle of the slot and not giving up those grade-As (chances). We have to be breaking the puck out clean and special teams has to be good right now, especially with guys hurt. You need special teams to be really good. “So that’s the process. That shouldn’t change depending on the score or what club we are playing.” Over the five previous road games, the Ducks have allowed 15 goals in regulation. It isn’t that impressive until you discount the seven Chicago scored. Their response to that has been effective hockey, perhaps a level of consistency they’ve finally displayed. “As a coach, you only look at your last one and we say yes,” said Ducks coach Randy Carlyle, adding typical caution. “But if we throw another stinker like we did in Chicago, it brings you back to reality in a hurry. So we don’t want to get too far ahead of ourselves.” Carlyle added a minor gripe in the NHL’s wisdom to have the Ducks play in Vegas on Tuesday and then come home to face a rested Ottawa team the next night. An ever-changing lineup has been the bigger worry. Though he traveled with the team Monday, Hampus Lindholm is dealing with an upper-body issue that the coach said “could take some time” to get past. How much time is not known but it makes him questionable to play at the least. The flip side is Rickard Rakell flew across the country to practice at Bridgestone Arena, which could make him possible after missing five games because of an upper-body injury. Rakell got hurt colliding with Bieksa in a Thanksgiving Day practice and didn’t feel well after playing the Black Friday game against Winnipeg. “I felt good today,” Rakell said. “Bad luck. I’m just hoping to be back with the team.” Jakob Silfverberg (upper body) won’t play a third consecutive game as he returned to Anaheim but Carlyle said the winger was due to skate and could be an option for Wednesday. For now, the Ducks will do with who they’ve got and put trust in the overall game they’re trying to build. 1086580 Arizona Coyotes

Arizona Coyotes sign 2017 first-rounder Pierre-Olivier Joseph to entry- level deal

Richard Morin, azcentral sports Published 7:10 p.m. MT Dec. 4, 2017 | Updated 8:34 p.m. MT Dec. 4, 2017

The Arizona Coyotes on Monday announced the signing of their 2017 first-round pick Pierre-Olivier Joseph to a three-year, entry-level deal. Joseph, 18, was drafted 23rd overall by the Coyotes in the 2017 draft. The defenseman is currently in his third season with the QMJHL's Islanders, where he has tallied 21 points in 23 games this season. The Laval, Quebec, native posted 39 points in 62 games last season — as well as six points in 13 playoff games in March. The terms of the deal were not disclosed. Prior to his selection in June, the 6-foot-2-inch, 161-pound Joseph was ranked No. 42 on NHL Central Scouting's 2017 draft rankings.

Arizona Republic LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086581 Arizona Coyotes

Coyotes sign first-round pick Joseph to three-year contract

By Matt Layman December 4, 2017 at 2:51 PM

The Arizona Coyotes have signed their first-round pick from the most recent draft, defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph, to a three-year entry- level contract. Terms of the deal weren’t given. Joseph is an 18-year-old left-handed-shooting defenseman whom Arizona took with the 23rd overall selection in June. He’s currently the captain of the and has three goals and 18 assists in 23 games this season. “He’s got the full package. He thinks the game very well. He’s a good skater with good skills,” assistant general manager Steve Sullivan told Arizona Sports’ Craig Morgan after Joseph was drafted. “He’s just a tall, slight player so it’s just a maturity thing. There are no major holes to his game. He just needs time to put on the weight and strength and he’ll have that time.” Over the course of three seasons in Charlottetown, Joseph has 10 goals and 56 assists in 132 games.

Arizona Sports LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086582 Arizona Coyotes

Arizona Coyotes recall Kyle Capobianco from

By Matt Layman December 4, 2017 at 1:43 PM

The Arizona Coyotes announced Monday that they recalled defenseman Kyle Capobianco from the AHL’s Tucson Roadrunners. The move corresponds with a transaction the Coyotes reportedly made earlier in the day, placing defenseman Joel Hanley on waivers, per 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station’s Craig Morgan. Capobianco has never played in the NHL and has been a prospect with the Coyotes organization since he was drafted by Arizona in the third round (No. 63 overall) of the 2015 NHL Draft. In 17 games with the Roadrunners this year, Capobianco has two goals and 12 assists in 17 games with a +8 plus-minus rating and 12 penalty minutes. Hanley, meanwhile, appeared in four games for the Coyotes this year after playing nine contests with Tucson. He did not record a point as he averaged 10:45 of ice time per game.

Arizona Sports LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086583 Boston Bruins Spooner, a natural center, looks as though he is being cast into more regular work on the wing.

“It’s what we want from him on a regular basis,” said Cassidy, referring to Anton Khudobin can’t pick up where he left off Spooner’s aggressiveness off the wing in Philadelphia, where he scored his first goal of the season. “Attack the net, use his speed to score goals. It was a great play by him. By Kevin Paul Dupont “If he’s going to be on the wing, he is going to be in those situations Globe Staff December 5, 2017 more, as opposed to being in the middle of the ice. Instead of looking to dish, he’s going to be on the outside, looking to attack.”

More of the same from Spooner will leave him working from the lane, NASHVILLE — Anton Khudobin, the NHL’s only undefeated goalie to with the pivot roles held by Patrice Bergeron, Riley Nash, Sean Kuraly, have played at least 10 games this season, was back in the cage and Krejci. Monday night when the Bruins faced the Predators at Bridgestone Arena. “We’ve really liked what Nash and Kuraly have done to solidify the Khudobin, 31, sat out the last three games while Tuukka Rask regained bottom of the lineup,” said Cassidy. “They give us a heavier-looking his form in starts against Edmonton (L), Tampa (W), and Philadelphia lineup. So that’s where [Spooner] fits right now.” (W), the Finnish stopper registering a 1.67 goals-against average and .940 save percentage in those starts. “He’s just got to relish it. And from talking to him, he’s much more open to it. He just wants to play, get healthy, play with good players. And if he The question was, could a rested “Doby” sustain what had been a stellar ends up back in the middle, fine. But right now he is OK with playing the start to 2017-18? He was 7-0-2 in 10 games. wing.” “Just give us a chance to win — hopefully he is still in form,” said coach Once DeBrusk gets back, it could mean shipping a body back to AHL Bruce Cassidy, musing before the game over what he hoped to see from Providence. Competition for roster spots is part of the lifeblood of a Khudobin, who hadn’t played since the Nov. 24 win vs. the Penguins. team’s organizational depth chart. “That’s the risk you take by not starting him. He’s sat for a little while, but as a guy who’s used to that, we hope that he’ll find his game quickly and “The players are aware of what’s going on,” noted Cassidy. “We’ve tried we are good in front of him.” to create a healthy competition throughout the lineup. We’ve seen it at times up front, where we’ve used younger guys over more established But Khudobin could not continue the form that led to his hot start, as he guys. You are starting to see it on the back end with [Matt Grzelcyk] surrendered four goals on 14 shots and was lifted early in the second staying in there. Saw it in net. period of the Bruins’ 5-3 loss to the Predators. “So I think it’s good if it makes your team better. It’s not personal; it’s the The Bruins came in having won six of their last seven, and their play in business side of it.” front of their goalie — be it Khudobin or Rask — had been key to the dramatic turnaround. Their defensive play in front of Rask, in particular, David Backes, in the lineup for a third time after returning from colon over the first six weeks of the season was spotty. But the overall surgery, remains about 10 pounds below last season’s playing weight. adherence to defending by both forwards and blue liners had been much He has not been using extra protection over his abdominal area, despite improved following a disappointing loss in Anaheim Nov. 15, when a surgeons removing some 10 inches of his colon following complications peeved Cassidy sternly stated it was time to see better defense, related to diverticulitis. especially behind the blue line and in net. “The scar tissue is my extra protection,” said Backes. “Stretches of the game, we’re getting our game back quicker,” said Cassidy, noting his club’s ability to avoid protracted defensive lapses. He was still looking for his first point since his return. “We are not losing it for [long]. I think only the first period in San Jose “My excuses are out the window,” said a smiling Backes before notching [Nov. 18] and late in the New Jersey game [Nov. 22] were the longest his 500th career point on an assist on Zdeno Chara’s goal in the third stretches. I think we are able to get our game back sooner, so we don’t period. “It’s time to get back, and it’s been great to be back. The results lose a lot of energy trying to find it.” on the ice have been great, too. The guys are smiling, and morale’s Khudobin, whose career record was 51-45-9 prior to this season, has high.” never had such a successful streak. He was 7-6-1 last season, finishing strongly after a spotty and sometimes-injured stretch actually led the Bruins to place him on waivers at midseason. His career high for wins Boston Globe LOADED: 12.05.2017 came with Carolina in 2013-14, when he was 19-14-1. Khudobin returned to Boston as a free agent in the summer of 2016, a second run in Black and Gold after initially being dealt to the Hub by Minnesota during general manager Peter Chiarelli’s regime. Upon signing up for his Boston redux, he knew his role would be as Rask’s second, but he continues to make clear that his aim is someday to be a No. 1. “In the AHL, I’ve been a No. 1 goalie pretty much all the time,” said the Kazakhstan-born stopper. “When I got to the NHL, I knew I had to go through the No. 2 job. Right now, it’s pretty much the same. “What’s the difference, or what do I change in preparation? I don’t change anything. I do everything I’ve been doing for years, whether I play more or less. “It’s just harder when you are not playing as much, to go in there and be ready 100 percent. I mean, you are ready 100 percent — but it’s harder to go in there and play when you don’t feel the game.” Jake DeBrusk sat out his third straight game, but Cassidy said he could be back in the lineup when the Coyotes visit the Garden Thursday. The rookie left winger had been playing well of late, until his head was banged into the glass by the 6-foot-4-inch, 220-pound Darnell Nurse in a Nov. 26 loss to the Oilers. “It’s only been two games, so I don’t feel I’m too out of the loop,” said DeBrusk, “but it [stinks] watching.” With DeBrusk still hors de combat, Cassidy rolled out the same lineup he used for the 3-0 win Saturday in Philadelphia, featuring Ryan Spooner as David Krejci’s left winger. 1086584 Boston Bruins the season, a 6-3 loss in Denver that had Khudobin relieving Rask after 40 minutes.

It grew worse in the second. Ex-BU standout Nick Bonino supplied the 3- Bruins defeated in Nashville 0 lead at 2:15, shoveling the puck into an open left side after Viktor Arvidsson’s shot from the high slot was blocked and kicked left. On his knees, Bonino collected the loose puck and popped it home, Khudobin By Kevin Paul Dupont unable to scurry to the left post after having committed on the Arvidsson attempt. Globe Staff December 5, 2017 Kevin Fiala knocked home the 4-0 lead, leading to Khudobin’s exit at the 4:10. NASHVILLE — In a city known for country songs filled with soulful lyrics, Enter Rask, who had started the previous three games. Cassidy had little the Bruins dusted off a time-worn golden oldie here Monday night: the choice but to exit Khudobin stage left. Of the four goals, Khudobin might too little, too late Black-and-Gold blues. have been at fault on Smith’s first, having given up a fat rebound into the slot. But all in all, the Predators feasted off good chances, while the Faced with a 4-0 deficit early in the second period, the Bruins rallied to Bruins were unable to generate the same quality offerings. close within a goal early in the third, but ultimately danced the two-step hot-foot out of Bridgestone Arena with a 5-3 loss to the Nashville “We gave up some really good scoring opportunities,” noted veteran Predators. winger Brad Marchand. “You can’t do that against that team. They are pretty deep and play hard. They didn’t deserve a lot, we kind of gave it to “Diggin’ yourself a 4-0 deficit is certainly not a good recipe to win games,” them. Tough to lose like that.” said Bruins winger David Backes, who picked up his 500th career point amid the third-period rally. “The second half of the game was much better Finally, working with their first power play of the night, the Bruins put one for us, but too little, too late. up on the board at 10:14 of the second. McAvoy ripped it home from the right circle, set up perfectly by Heinen, who dished a pass from behind “We need to be starting on time. They scored on their second shift of the the goal line. game. And even then, it’s early, we can start being harder on pucks . . . but it took us halfway through [the game] to get that, and by then they “When we made mistakes, we allowed them the good ice, uncontested,” had four in the back of our net.” said Cassidy. “You can’t do that against any team, let alone a team like Nashville. Some mistakes there that were big ones.” Amid the early meltdown, coach Bruce Cassidy brought out the hook for starting goalie Anton Khudobin, who entered the night with a near- pristine 7-0-2 record. But due in large part to shoddy all-around defense — not unlike what Tuukka Rask saw for the first five weeks this season Boston Globe LOADED: 12.05.2017 — “Doby” allowed four goals on 14 shots by the opening five minutes of the second period. “That was more on the team,” said Cassidy, whose squad had won six of its previous seven games. “One of those things, it wasn’t going our way. Anton made a big save on a 2-on-1 in the first, got beat by a few. So we went in another direction [to Rask] to get the guys’ attention as well.” Rask needed only to make three saves over the remainder of the second, and the Bruins finally saw some light late in the period when Charlie McAvoy ripped home a Danton Heinen pass for a power-play strike. It was only the club’s third power-play goal in 13 games — a disturbing trend for a club with sights on reaching the playoffs for a second season in a row. The Bruins made a strong push early in the third, with both Zdeno Chara and David Pastrnak connecting within 75 seconds of one another, trimming the Predators’ lead to 4-3. Chara, with help from Backes, notched his on a 57-foot wrister that eluded goalie Pekka Rinne after it took a funny hop upon bouncing about 3 feet in front of his crease. Pastrnak ripped his home from the left circle after the puck stayed alive deep in the Nashville end when it ricocheted off a linesman. It looked perhaps like the Bruins might salvage a point out of the mess. Sensing the potential upset, Nashville coach Peter Laviolette called a timeout when Pastrnak’s goal went in at 5:48. Their heads cleared, the Predators needed only 34 seconds for another Boston boo-boo to occur — a bollixed puck at Boston’s offensive blue line — and Filip Forsberg raced in to bury the 5-3 dagger. “That happens many times, probably when a game is not going your way,” said Khudobin, clearly frustrated by his night in the net, highlighted by his early exit. “You have to change something, maybe to keep the guys going or whatever.” Had it not been for Craig Smith, the former Wisconsin Badger, it wouldn’t have been a bad first period for the Bruins. But Smith, who turned pro in 2011 after two years in Madison, connected twice, leaving the Bruins in a 2-0 deficit at the first intermission. It took the Bruins about 10 minutes to get their legs going, but they controlled the flow for much of the back half of the first period. Tim Schaller and David Krejci each had solid attempts among the Bruins’ 13 shots, both snuffed out by Rinne. And at the other end, Khudobin robbed Roman Josi at the end of a 2-on-1 rush. In their previous seven games, which included six wins, the Bruins had allowed only 13 goals, just under two goals per game. The Predators needed only 20 minutes to break through that barrier. Their five goals allowed in regulation added up to the Bruins’ worst night since Game 3 of 1086585 Boston Bruins

Bruins face hot Predators, but roster decision could loom

Steve Conroy Monday, December 04, 2017

NASHVILLE — The Bruins will face perhaps their toughest test to date tonight when they take on the Nashville Predators, who are not only very good but quite hot. The defending Western Conference champions, whom the B's beat on opening night at the Garden, are 12-2-1 since Nov. 3 and 10-2-1 at home this season. The B's have scored some good wins against top teams this year like Tampa Bay, Pittsburgh, New Jersey and Los Angeles, and they'll be up against the iron again tonight. “They've got (defensemen) who can get up on a four-man attack. Obviously their power-play is deadly (ranked second in the league) so we need to have good discipline, which we've had. So hopefully we can stay out of the penalty box,” said coach Bruce Cassidy. “They're just a team that knows how to win. They play fast, they're aggressive so you have to be on your toes. I think we can counter some of that if we are. We did on opening night. We were able to skate and make some of our own plays. That's part of our plan — let's worry about ourselves and play our game.” The only change for the Bruins from Saturday in Philadelphia will be in net, with Anton Khudobin facing off against Pekka Rinne. The Preds do have a key injury. Center Ryan Johansen is out of the lineup with an upper body ailment. Jake DeBrusk (upper body) continued to skate with the team but will miss his third straight game. Cassidy believes he's a possibility for Thursday's game against Arizona. The B's are currently at the roster limit of 23, and they would have to make a corresponding roster move for DeBrusk to be taken off injured reserve. Cassidy acknowledged there is some intrigue around how that might play out. “The players are aware of what's going on. We've tried to create a healthy competition throughout the lineup,” said Cassidy. “We've seen up front where we've used younger guys over more established guys, and you're starting to see it on the back end with (Matt Grzelcyk) staying in there. We saw it in nets. So I think it's good if it makes your team better. We have good character in the room so guys understand what we're trying to do. It's not personal, it's the business side of where you've got to do your part and do it well. And if not, there's people pushing you. That's what we want. We want a deep organization and we're starting to see some of that.” Unless another player gets dinged tonight, which would kick the decision down the road again, the B's would most likely be deciding to move one of three players — Matt Beleskey, Paul Postma or Frank Vatrano — all of whom would require waivers to go to Providence. At this point, they probably would not want to lose their seventh defenseman, Postma, and Vatrano could very well get claimed if exposed to waivers. That would leave Beleskey, who most likely would not get claimed given his contract status (two more years at $3.8 million). If Beleskey went to Providence, that would give the B's about $1 million of cap relief.

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Bruins dig early hole, fall to Predators

Steve Conroy Monday, December 04, 2017

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Bruins deserve some credit for getting up off the mat and giving the Nashville Predators a brief scare Monday night, but it’s tough to take any solace after spotting the opponents a four-goal lead just 24:10 into the game. The B’s did not play well in the second period, and though they scraped back to get within a goal in the third, they wound up with a well-deserved 5-3 loss to the Preds. Anton Khudobin lost his magic touch, suffering his first regulation loss of the season, and he didn’t stick around until the end. After giving up the fourth goal, he was pulled in favor of Tuukka Rask. After the B’s got on the board with a second-period power-play goal by Charlie McAvoy, they cut it to 4-2 at 4:33 of the third when David Backes pushed a puck out high to Zdeno Chara, who sent a bouncing puck past Pekka Rinne (37 saves). Then the top line pressured Nashville heavily, leading to David Pastrnak’s 14th goal of the season, a short-side wrister at 5:48. Nashville coach Peter Laviolette had seen enough and called a timeout to settle his players. Just 34 seconds later, the Preds had a two-goal advantage again. Roman Josi spotted Filip Forsberg behind the B’s defense and sprung him for a breakaway. Forsberg snapped an almost perfect shot off the post and in to beat Rask. The B’s had a great chance to draw back within a goal on a power play when Pastrnak missed an open tap-in. One of the hallmarks of the Bruins’ recent upswing has been the ability to play with a lead, but last night, they allowed the first goal of the game for the first time since spotting the San Jose Sharks a 1-0 lead on Nov. 18. Then they gave the Nashville the second, third and fourth goals. The B’s had a tremendous opportunity on the first shift when Pastrnak, thanks to a Patrice Bergeron pass, found himself all alone in front of the net with all the time in the world. Pastrnak tried to go between his legs and fool Rinne, and the move might have worked had he been able to elevate the puck. He wasn’t, and Rinne made the stick save. Then on the next shift, the Preds took the lead at 1:26. David Krejci’s soft clear attempt never made it out of the defensive zone, and Alexei Emelin fired a puck that produced a fat rebound off Khudobin, trying to regain his form after watching for three games. It went right to Craig Smith, who was left all alone to pop it into the net, one of his two goals. The B’s actually played well for stretches of the first, out-shooting the Preds 13-11 and just missing on a couple of tip attempts. But it seemed as though every mishandle of the puck turned into a prime Nashville scoring chance. It looked like the B’s would go into the first intermission with a manageable one-goal deficit, but the Preds and Smith struck for one more with 17.4 seconds left. The B’s had a faceoff in the Nashville zone, but off the draw, Kevin Fiala flipped the puck high out of the zone. Mattias Ekholm beat Danton Heinen for the bouncing puck and then dished it to the open Smith, who beat Khudobin to the glove side. The downward spiral had begun. Before the second period was five minutes old, the Preds had a 4-0 lead.

Boston Herald LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086587 Boston Bruins “That’s where he fits right now and he’s just got to run with it,” Cassidy said. “Talking to him, he’s much more open to it. He just wants to play. He’s playing with good players. If he ends up back in the middle fine, but Bruins notebook: David Backes reaches 500-point milestone with dad in right now he’s OK playing the wing. At least that’s what’s been indicated attendance in Nashville to me and it showed in his play.”

Steve Conroy Tuesday, December 05, 2017 Boston Herald LOADED: 12.05.2017

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — David Backes would have preferred to notch his milestone in a winning effort and he was still smarting over a bad shift he had that led to the Nashville Predators’ insurance goal in the Bruins’ 5-3 loss last night. But Backes, whose father Steven was in the stands at Bridgestone Arena, did indeed take a brief moment to relish his 500th career NHL point, notched on an assist when the B’s were mounting their comeback attempt that ultimately fell short. Backes pushed a loose puck out to Zdeno Chara and the captain beat Predators goalie Pekka Rinne with a bouncing shot. “It’s a special thing,” said Backes, who scooped up the puck for the souvenir. “In this league to be able to play multiple years, to have 500 points is an honor. It’s a testament to a lot of the guys I played with that make me look good. To get it in a win would have been much more sweet. But I’ve got to get 501 and a win on Thursday (at the Garden against the Arizona Coyotes) and that’s going to be our focus when we get home and get a little rest.” Backes had been stuck on 499 since Oct. 26, mostly because he missed a dozen games following colon surgery after a couple of bouts with diverticulitis. While he absorbed a minus-2 last night, he is generally pleased with how he’s felt since his return. “I feel like I’m skating well,” he said. “I feel like the time of working with (skating and skills coach Kim Brandvold) and getting a little more personal attention with the puck and being able to get into the group with a little more patience and poise (has helped).” Backes said he’s still about eight pounds below his usual weight due in part to the surgery but also some self-imposed tweaks to his diet (less red meat, more fish and vegetables). He likes where he’s at right now. “I’m gaining a little back, but I don’t think I need to gain it all back,” he said. “I think I’m in a good spot right now and perhaps with my new cleaner diet without all the meat weighing me down, it might be a better look for me.” Jake DeBrusk (upper-body injury) continues to skate with the team but missed third straight game. Coach Bruce Cassidy believes the rookie winger is a possibility for Thursday’s home game against the Arizona Coyotes. The B’s are currently at the roster limit of 23 and would have to make a corresponding roster move for DeBrusk to be taken off injured reserve. “The players are aware of what’s going on,” Cassidy said. “We’ve tried to create a healthy competition throughout the lineup. We’ve seen up front where we’ve used younger guys over more established guys and you’re starting to see it on the back end with (defenseman Matt Grzelcyk) staying in there. We saw it in nets. So I think it’s good if it makes your team better. We have good character in the room, so guys understand what we’re trying to do. “It’s not personal, it’s the business side of where you’ve got to do your part and do it well. And if not, there’s people pushing you. That’s what we want. We want a deep organization and we’re starting to see some of that.” Barring another injury, general manager Don Sweeney will have a tough roster decision to make. The three players scratched last night were defenseman Paul Postma and wingers Matt Beleskey and Frank Vatrano. All three players require waivers to be assigned to Providence of the AHL, and Vatrano would most likely get scooped up. Postma is likely safe as the seventh defenseman, which leaves Beleskey, a healthy scratch seven of the last eight games. Beleskey’s contract situation ($3.8 million per season for two more years) would make it unlikely for him to be claimed. That would seem to make him the most likely candidate to go to Providence, unless Sweeney can swing a trade. Ryan Spooner was again on center David Krejci’s left wing. Cassidy said with Riley Nash and Sean Kuraly solidifying the bottom-six center roles, Spooner’s future could be as a winger. 1086588 Boston Bruins “Obviously, it’s a game of mistakes,” Pastrnak said. “But tonight, it felt like every single mistake hurt us.”

Bruins dig early hole, fall 5-3 to Predators Boston Herald LOADED: 12.05.2017

Steve Conroy Tuesday, December 05, 2017

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Bruins deserve some credit for getting up off the mat and giving the Nashville Predators a brief scare last night, but it’s tough to take any solace after spotting the opponents a four-goal lead just 24:10 into the game. The B’s did not play well for most of the first two periods, and though they scraped back to get within a goal in the third, they wound up with a well- deserved 5-3 loss to the Preds. Anton Khudobin lost his magic touch, suffering his first regulation loss of the season, and he didn’t stick around until the end. After giving up the fourth goal, he was pulled in favor of Tuukka Rask. It’s not like the B’s were consistently awful. They had a 40-25 edge in shots and spent long periods of time in the offensive zone, but they made enough miscues to allow the talented, opportunistic Predators to bury them. “We were doing some things well. We were separating down low. It’s that when we made mistakes, we allowed them the good ice uncontested, and you can’t do that against any team, let alone a team like Nashville,” coach Bruce Cassidy said. “The thing we take away from this one is we played well enough to win for a lot of the game, but when we broke down, the breakdowns were too big.” One of the hallmarks of the Bruins’ recent upswing has been the ability to play with a lead, but last night, they allowed the first goal of the game for the first time since spotting the San Jose Sharks a 1-0 lead on Nov. 18. Then they gave the Nashville the second, third and fourth goals. The B’s had a tremendous opportunity on the first shift when Pastrnak, thanks to a Patrice Bergeron pass, found himself all alone in front of the net with all the time in the world. Pastrnak tried to go between his legs and fool Pekka Rinne (37 saves), and the move might have worked had he been able to elevate the puck. He wasn’t, and Rinne made the stick save. Then on the next shift, the Preds took the lead at 1:26. David Krejci’s soft clear attempt never made it out of the defensive zone, and Alexei Emelin fired a puck that produced a fat rebound off Khudobin. It went right to Craig Smith, who was left all alone to pop it one of his two goals. “Tough bounce. It hit the totally wrong side of my pad. Tough bounce,” Khudobin said. It looked like the B’s would go to intermission with a manageable one- goal deficit, but the Preds and Smith struck with 17.4 seconds left in the first. The B’s had a faceoff in the Nashville zone, but off the draw, Kevin Fiala flipped the puck high out of the zone. Mattias Ekholm beat Danton Heinen for the bouncing puck then dished it to the open Smith, who beat Khudobin to the glove side. The Preds made it 3-0 at 2:15 of the second on a play off the draw to the right of Khudobin. The puck came back to Viktor Arvidsson at the blue line, and he sent it right back down the slot, where Colton Sissons made a one-touch pass to Nick Bonino. Khudobin was aggressively playing the point shot, and Bonino had a wide-open net. At 4:10, the Preds chased Khudobin. There was a puck battle in the neutral zone along the right boards, and Fiala was able to control the puck behind Charlie McAvoy (minus-3). He broke in on a 2-on-1 against Zdeno Chara. The captain did everything to take away the pass, so Fiala just walked in and beat Khudobin with a backhander. Khudobin was done for the night. “We left him out to dry,” Torey Krug said. The B’s got one back on a McAvoy power-play goal in the second and then made it a game when Chara and Pastrnak scored 1:15 apart early in the third. After Pastrnak’s goal, his 14th of the season, Nashville coach Peter Laviolette called a timeout. Just 34 seconds later, the Preds had their two-goal lead back. The B’s couldn’t get the puck deep, and Roman Josi turned it into instant offense, springing Filip Forsberg for a breakaway. He beat Rask with a shot off the post and in at 6:22. The B’s pulled Rask for an extra skater with 3:10 left but couldn’t score. 1086589 Boston Bruins

Khudobin hopes to keep his winning streak going as he gets back in

By Joe Haggerty December 04, 2017 12:00 PM

NASHVILLE – The four-game win streak where he made consecutive starts was fun while it lasted for backup Anton Khudobin, but it will be back to normal when he starts on Monday night against the Nashville Predators. It will be nine days between his start against the Predators and his Black Friday win against the Pittsburgh Penguins, and presumably Khudobin has cooled off a little bit after ripping off four wins in a row. It’s really not even much in the way of hyperbole to say Khudobin’s 7-0-2 beginning to the year saved the Bruins season when Tuukka Rask was struggling to find his way, and Bruce Cassidy played his own big part in the pivotal stretch by betting on the Bruins back-up. Now Khudobin will need to re-adjust back to going long stretches between starts and continuing to make peace with the role he signed up for when he returned to the Bruins. It isn’t always that easy, but Khudobin is hoping he can still ride out the winning streak a little bit longer. “I still don’t want to deal with [the big breaks between games] to be honest with you. When I got to the NHL I knew I had to go through it when I got the No. 2 job, but I do everything that I’ve done for years to get ready to play whether it was more or less,” said Khudobin. “It’s just harder when you’re not playing as much to go out there and be 100 percent. It’s harder to be cold, and then go out there and play. “I think my game is pretty good right now. The winning part is a lot better than last year. You always expect that you’re going to play really well and you expect it. I’m not going to predict anything, but hopefully [the winning streak] will continue.” Clearly the Bruins are hoping for more of the same from an athletic, unpredictable goalie in Khudobin that’s still tied for second in the NHL with a .932 save percentage, and is likewise tied for third in the NHL with a 2.22 goals against average that’s shared with one other goaltender in Andrei Vasilevskiy. But part of the downside to getting Tuukka Rask back on track with three straight starts was the cooling effect it might have on Khudobin, who will get his chance to disprove that narrative against a red-hot Predators group that’s again playing like the Western Conference champs they were last season.

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Cast your vote in NBC Sports Boston's annual '20 under 25' ratings

By DJ Bean December 03, 2017 5:52 PM

Once again, fans will have the opportunity to vote for Boston’s best young athletes in NBC Sports Boston’s annual “20 Under 25” list. For multiple reasons, this list should look pretty different from last year’s. For starters, 8 of the 20 players on last year’s list have since turned 25, including the top two -- Mookie Betts (No. 1) and Xander Bogaerts (No. 2). One of the players from the 2016 list has also since been traded -- Jacoby Brissett (No. 19). But the question isn’t about who’s off the list or who figures to drop -- and there’s at least one candidate there in Malcolm Mitchell (No. 5 last year). Rather, it’s about the pretty large of new additions. The Bruins certainly have a few candidates. Charlie McAvoy was on last year’s list at No. 16, but youngsters Danton Heinen (22 years old), Jake DeBrusk (21) and Anders Bjork (21) should also end up on the list. The Patriots added Brandin Cooks in the offseason; he should near the top of the list. But in my opinion, this list could be topped by a Celtic. Jaylen Brown was No. 6 last year, but the 21-year-old could push for No. 1. Of course, he’d need to beat out 19-year-old teammate Jayson Tatum for that honor. What’s wild is that Kyrie Irving (25 years old) just misses the cut; otherwise, it’s possible the top of the list would be all Celtics.

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Impending return for DeBrusk means B's need to make a roster decision

By Joe Haggerty December 04, 2017 3:16 PM

NASHVILLE – Jake DeBrusk isn’t going to return to game action on the two-game Bruins road trip, but the 21-year-old is on the verge of getting back into the lineup and giving Boston their full and complete group of forwards. DeBrusk (upper body) took part in Monday’s morning skate at Bridgestone Arena and has skated with the team over the last few days, and is on track to return for Thursday night’s home tilt against the Arizona Coyotes. DeBrusk has only missed a couple of games with the injury, but hopes that he can jump back into the lineup wielding a hot stick like he did just prior to getting hurt with two goals and five points in his last five games played. DeBrusk is currently on injured reserve to allow the Bruins to put off a roster move until after their current road trip, but something will have to give if the B’s come out of Monday night’s game completely healthy. Matt Beleskey, Frank Vatrano and Ryan Spooner are the most likely moveable Bruins pieces up front once DeBrusk comes off the injury list, but it remains to be seen which road the Bruins want to go down with a surplus up front. “The players are aware of what’s going on. We’ve tried to create a healthy competition throughout the lineup. You’ve seen it at times up front where we’ve used younger guys over more established guys,” said Bruce Cassidy. “You’re starting to see it on the back end with Grzelcyk staying in there, and we’ve seen it in net. So I think [the competition] is good if it makes you better. We have good character in the room, so guys understand what we’re trying to do. It’s not personal. That’s the business side of it where you need to do your part and do it well, or there are guys pushing you.” There is clearly risk in losing Vatrano for nothing if they expose him to waivers in order to send him to the AHL, and Spooner hasn’t been able to buck up his trade value just a few games removed from a groin injury. It would be a major organizational decision to bury Beleskey’s contract in the minor leagues despite his offensive struggles (zero points and a minus-8 in 14 games) again this season, and it doesn’t appear that the B’s are ready to go down that road yet. It might be easy to just send Sean Kuraly or Danton Heinen to the AHL instead given that both players aren't waiver-eligible, but both players have carved out pretty solid roles on the team at this point. A trade of either Spooner or Vatrano might be a possibility, but it's unclear what kind of value either underachieving player holds in any discussions right now. If forced into a move by DeBrusk’s return, a trip to Providence for Vatrano (two goals in 18 games) would be the most reasonable outcome for the Bruins. Here are the projected Bruins line combos and D-pairings against the Nashville Predators based on morning skate:

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086592 Boston Bruins

Bruins fight back late before falling to Predators, 5-3

By Joe Haggerty December 04, 2017 10:46 PM

NASHVILLE – It would have been quite a statement if the Boston Bruins could have taken one from a red-hot Predators group on home ice where they barely ever lose. Alas, the Bruins didn’t get there despite showing some character in a highly entertaining game they eventually dropped by a score 5-3 to Nashville after a furious third-period comeback at Bridgestone Arena. The Bruins got a quick chance on the opening shift when David Pastrnak found himself all alone in front with the puck, but Pekka Rinne somehow got a glove on Pastrnak’s bid after the winger went through his own legs before shooting. After that, it was the Predators taking advantage of some shaky rebound control from Anton Khudobin, and some poor defensive zone play from Torey Krug. A big Khudobin rebound went straight to Craig Smith for Nashville’s first goal of the game, and then Smith scored again with just 18 seconds to go in the first after three Bruins players, including Krug, converged on the puck carrier in the defensive zone. Nick Bonino scored on a loose puck in front in the second period, and then Kevin Fiala threw a wicked move on Zdeno Chara that twisted him all around before he threw a shot past Khudobin for Nashville’s fourth goal of the game. Khudobin was pulled from the game after that in favor of Tuukka Rask, who was playing in his fourth straight game after being benched for the previous four games in favor of his backup. The Bruins scratched for a power play strike after that in the second period with Danton Heinen and Charlie McAvoy connecting for the Bruins defenseman’s fourth goal of the season. In the third they added another on a knuckling, bouncing point from Zdeno Chara that closed it to within two goals with 15 minutes to play. David Pastrnak scored his 14th goal of the season shortly after that to close things to within a goal in the third period, but another defensive breakdown allowed Fillip Forsberg behind Boston’s top defensive pair for a breakaway score on Rask that iced things for Nashville.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086593 Boston Bruins

Talking Points: Early mistakes prove costly for Bruins

By Joe Haggerty December 05, 2017 1:30 AM

GOLD STAR: Craig Smith and his linemates Kyle Turris and Kevin Fiala were unstoppable in the early portion of the game as they jumped on Bruins mistakes, and scored early and often to build a four-goal lead the B’s couldn’t quite overcome. Smith scored on a rebound goal to open the offense for both sides, and then once again attacked with speed while taking advantage of mistakes in the defensive zone for his second goal of the night. Smith finished with two goals, three points and a plus-2 rating in 14:51 of ice time with seven shot attempts, and did just enough in the early going to push the Predators to the eventual victory. BLACK EYE: The numbers didn’t look horrible for Torey Krug when the game was finally over, but he made enough mistakes in the first period to last for an entire game. Krug lost track of Smith as he was crashing to the net on the first goal of the game, and he left his position to triple team the guy with the puck leaving Smith wide open for Nashville’s second goal. He had a turnover that led to a breakaway chance for Kyle Turris in the first period as well, but Anton Khudobin was able to bail him on that one. Krug stabilized his game after that and finished at just a minus-1 in 20:53 of ice time with seven shot attempts for the Bruins, but there were too many mistakes for Krug and the Bruins in the first period. TURNING POINT: The Bruins closed it to a one-goal game in the third period, and it appeared they were going to overtake the Predators with momentum on their side. But the Predators followed with another counter-punch goal after taking a timeout, and Fillip Forsberg was able to get behind Zdeno Chara and Charlie McAvoy for a breakaway score that iced the game for the Predators. The Bruins didn’t score another goal after that and their momentum was effectively stymied by the one big, final goal on another self-inflicted wound. HONORABLE MENTION: Pekka Rinne gave up three goals to the Bruins, but he also made 37 saves and made the big stops when he needed to in order to secure the win for Boston. Rinne made a huge stop on the first shift of the game when David Pastrnak went through his own legs in the crease for a scoring attempt, and allowed the Predators some time to find their legs before they scored the first four goals of the game. The Bruins made their push in the second and third periods, but Rinne continued to stay calm between the pipes and made 14 saves in the final period while never relinquishing the lead for the Predators. BY THE NUMBERS: 4 – The number of games that Anton Khudobin had won in a row prior to dropping Monday night’s game in Nashville, and the number of goals given up by the Bruins netminder before he was pulled from the game. QUOTE TO NOTE: “Digging yourself a 4-0 deficit is certainly not a good recipe for winning games. The second half of the game was much better, but it was too little, too late. We need to start on time. It took us halfway through to finally get into [the game they wanted].” – David Backes, on falling way behind a red-hot Nashville team in a deficit they couldn’t overcome.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086594 Boston Bruins

Bruins know early deficit is 'not a good recipe for winning games'

By Joe Haggerty December 05, 2017 2:00 AM

NASHVILLE – The Bruins had a particularly vexing brand of frustration as they ushered out of Bridgestone Arena on Monday night after dropping a 5-3 game to a red-hot Nashville Predators group on their home ice. The Bruins outshot the Predators by a 40-25 margin and seemed to control healthy chunks of the 60-minute game at both ends of the ice, and they even finished strong with a couple of goals scored in a third- period barrage. But the B’s also piled up the defensive zone breakdowns and so-so goaltending in the opening 25 minutes of the game, and that was too much to overcome after falling behind by a four-goal margin. “Digging yourself a 4-0 deficit is certainly not a good recipe for winning games,” said David Backes. “The second half of the game was much better, but it was too little, too late. We need to start on time.” A long Anton Khudobin rebound turned into goal No. 1 for the Predators on the stick of Craig Smith, and Torey Krug vacated his defensive position to open up a free lane for Smith to score his second goal after a perfectly chipped pass from Kevin Fiala. Nick Bonino scored on a scramble in front of the Boston net just two minutes into the third period, and then Kevin Fiala twisted Zdeno Chara into a defensive pretzel on a drive to the net before again beating Khudobin with the shot. The Bruins had their problems with a Kevin Fiala-Kyle Turris-Craig Smith line that accounted for three goals, seven points and a plus-6 rating for the game, but the Bruins acknowledged afterward it was much more about shooting themselves in the foot. "The [Predators] are pretty deep, they play hard, but they didn’t really deserve a lot. We just kind of gave it to them. It’s tough to lose like that,” said Brad Marchand, who finished with an assist as one of only three plus players on the Bruins roster along with linemates David Pastrnak and Patrice Bergeron. “We did a good job of pushing back and making it a game, but we need wins. “You can’t give a good team like that so many good scoring opportunities. . . especially unforced. I thought we played the better out of the two teams. No matter the score I thought we played better than they did, but we just gave up a few chances they capitalized on.” There were some positives to be taken from a strong showing against a quality opponent in Nashville that’s playing close to the top of their game. The Bruins enjoyed plenty of offensive chances, they finished with 40 shots on net and they showed ample heart and character in clawing back from a four-goal deficit. But they also let a winnable game slip through their fingers through simple mistakes and mediocre goaltending, and that’s a losing formula we saw far too much of from the Bruins in the first six weeks of the season.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086595 Buffalo Sabres Defenseman Nathan Beaulieu was absent with an illness and wasn't expected to fly with the team to Colorado. He left midway through Saturday's 5-1 loss to Pittsburgh. Sabres Notebook: Rodrigues recalled; Wilson acquired from Wings; "I don't believe he'll be on the team plane just to be cautious about the Beaulieu ill illness," Housley said. Sabres prospects Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Vojtech Budik are one By John Vogl | Published Mon, Dec 4, 2017 | Updated Mon, Dec 4, 2017 step closer to returning to Buffalo. They've been invited to world junior training camps.

Luukkonen was one of three to make Finland's list. Budik will The players who practiced on the Buffalo Sabres' third and fourth lines attend 's camp. Monday have combined for just 12 goals and 20 assists in 127 games. It's no wonder Buffalo is shaking things up. Buffalo selected Luukkonen in the second round of this year's NHL Draft. The 18-year-old is playing in Finland's second league and has a .911 The Sabres have recalled Evan Rodrigues and acquired Scott Wilson via save percentage in 15 games played. trade, moves they hope will increase the production and tenacity among the bottom six forwards. The Sabres picked Budik in the fifth round in 2016. The defenseman has five assists and six points in 27 games for Prince Albert of the Western "I'm going to go out and work as hard as I can to start, and then from Hockey League. there I'll just let my talent work itself out," Rodrigues said Monday. "Just add some pace, add some work ethic, be hard on pucks and when the The world juniors will be held Dec. 26 to Jan. 5 in Buffalo. opportunity comes to showcase my offensive ability, I'll do that." Rodrigues certainly earned the promotion from Rochester. He had five Buffalo News LOADED: 12.05.2017 goals and 10 points in eight games with the Amerks, including three goals and an assist in the last two. The 24-year-old was pushing to start the season in Buffalo before suffering a hand injury during the preseason. He returned to the ice Nov. 17. "I knew once I got hurt I'd probably go down to Rochester," Rodrigues said in KeyBank Center. "I did everything I could to get back up here. I'm ecstatic to be back." To make room for Rodrigues, the Sabres sent center Kyle Criscuolo to Rochester. During practice, Rodrigues centered for left wing Jordan Nolan (two goals, two assists) and right wing Kyle Okposo (three goals, eight assists). The fourth line featured center Johan Larsson (one goal, three assists), left wing Zemgus Girgensons (one goal, two assists) and right wing Sam Reinhart (five goals, five assists). The last line will change with the arrival of Wilson from Detroit. Larsson has no goals and one assist in the last 16 games. Girgensons has nothing to show for his last 19. One will likely take a seat if Wilson makes it to Colorado in time for Tuesday's game against the Avalanche. General Manager Jason Botterill sought someone he knows after watching the Sabres' holdovers fail to impress. Botterill was with Pittsburgh when the Penguins drafted Wilson in the seventh round in 2011, and the forward played parts of the last four seasons with the Penguins. "We are very happy to add Scott to our roster," said Botterill, who gave the Red Wings a fifth-round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft. "Scott is a hard- working, young player that will be a great fit for our club. As a two-time Stanley Cup champion, his experience will be an asset both on and off the ice." Wilson had eight goals and 26 points in 78 games for Pittsburgh last season, then added three goals and six points in 20 playoff games as the Penguins won the Cup. The 25-year-old played three games for Pittsburgh this season before being traded to Detroit in a deal that featured Riley Sheahan heading to the Pens. Wilson has no points in 20 games this year. The 5-foot-11, 183-pounder has 13 goals and 32 points in 123 career games. Phil Housley can't stop games whenever Buffalo makes a mistake, but the coach can blow plays dead during practice. He did it yet again Monday, summoning the players to center ice for a one-sided talk after a sloppy start. "The position we're in, we should have a total commitment to our team game, our practices if we're going to move forward here," Housley said. "I just thought the execution was off." The halting of practice has become common during Buffalo's 6-17-4 start to the season. "We were doing a warm-up drill basically and just not putting the puck on the tape, missing passes," Okposo said. "We've just got to execute. That’s what happens in a game. It's little things, but they can't go on any longer." 1086596 Buffalo Sabres "It's tough," Eichel said. "He's a good buddy. I owe a lot to him. He's been there for me since the day I was drafted. I've obviously become very close with Matt and his family. His wife and his two kids have basically Much-needed shake-up underway for Sabres, starting with Moulson been like family to me. "I feel for him. He's one of the best guys that you can play with. I don't think that there's a bad word to be said about him." By John Vogl | Published Mon, Dec 4, 2017 | Updated Mon, Dec 4, 2017 There are plenty of bad words to be said about the Sabres, who are 1-9- 2 in the last 12 games. The Buffalo Sabres don't want their friendships torn apart. "We're in a business of winning, and we're not doing that right now, so there's going to be some changes," Okposo said. "Unfortunately, it was They should have played better and harder then. that, but we've got to figure out a way to win hockey games." A much-needed shake-up is underway in Buffalo. General Manager Sabres Prospects: Cliff Pu finds his scoring groove Jason Botterill has seen enough of his cellar dwellers. Botterill waived Matt Moulson and acquired a piece of his past Monday, trading for The Sabres could have two new faces in the lineup against the forward Scott Wilson. Avalanche. Buffalo recalled center Evan Rodrigues before Monday's practice and traded for Wilson after boarding the plane. The 25-year-old It's just the start for a team that is a pitiful 6-17-4 heading into Tuesday's arrived from Detroit in exchange for a fifth-round pick in the 2019 NHL game in Colorado. Draft. "When you don't win they're going to dismantle," center Ryan O'Reilly Wilson has played parts of four seasons in the NHL, recording 13 goals said in KeyBank Center. "I've seen it before. It's frustrating. It's tough. and 32 points in 123 games. The forward played 20 playoff games during There's so many good guys here that we have great relationships with, Pittsburgh's successful Stanley Cup run last season, putting up three and when you don't win changes are made. That's how it goes." goals and three assists. Botterill was with Pittsburgh when it drafted Wilson in the seventh round in 2011. On their own, Monday's moves won't turn the Sabres into Stanley Cup contenders. But they send a message that the players had better get There's no way Wilson will be Botterill's final roster move. their stuff together. Kyle Okposo used a stronger word than stuff, though it started with the same letter. "There's so many good guys in this dressing room that you don't want to see any of them leave," O'Reilly said. "If we don't win, it's going to "We've got to win some games," said Okposo, who quickly turned from happen." somber over losing Moulson to angry over Buffalo's plight. "If you don't win games, if you don't have results, good people pay the price for it." It would seem the only players safe from trade chatter are Okposo, who Buffalo News LOADED: 12.05.2017 has a no-movement clause, and franchise center Jack Eichel. Everyone else should be worried until Buffalo assembles a roster that can win. "It's on us," O'Reilly said. "We've got to start doing it for guys' careers, start winning just to keep this group together." Botterill and coach Phil Housley decided Moulson was no longer a fit for the group. The forward failed to produce a point in 14 games and was scratched in 13 others. "We talked quite a bit throughout the last two weeks," Housley said. "Just the direction that our team's going, we have to make roster spots and try to push some other buttons and try to get some internal competition within our team." Deposed GM Tim Murray signed Moulson to a five-year, $25 million contract in July 2014. The contract runs through the end of next season, though the Sabres can buy out Moulson in June. Moulson was a three-time 30-goal scorer with the New York Islanders earlier in his career, but the 34-year-old has seen his numbers plummet. He scored 13, eight and 14 goals during the last three seasons. He has 13 shots and a minus-9 rating while skating 10:17 per game this year. If no team claims Moulson by noon Tuesday, the Sabres will assign him to Rochester. A claim seems unlikely considering a TSN report that said Buffalo was willing to retain part of Moulson's salary in a trade but found no takers. The Sabres do not have salary cap problems, but they will receive $1.025 million in cap relief with the demotion. The 2013 collective bargaining agreement changed the rules regarding contracts buried in the minor leagues, so Moulson will still count $3.975 million toward the Sabres' cap even in Rochester. "It's tough when you lose a guy like that," Okposo said. "He's been my best friend for a while. He means a lot to me. It's tough news, but at the same time it's a business. He knows that better than anybody. "In saying that, it's tough personally, for sure." Okposo and Moulson formed a bond while playing for the Islanders, and they're godfathers to each other's children. "You could go around and ask every single guy in this locker room, and they don't have one bad thing to say about Matt Moulson and the way he is as a person and the way that he carried himself at the rink every day through a really tough situation over the past few years," Okposo said. "He's just a good man." Eichel lived with Moulson throughout his rookie season. 1086597 Buffalo Sabres

Sabres acquire forward Scott Wilson from Red Wings

By John Vogl | Published Mon, Dec 4, 2017 | Updated Mon, Dec 4, 2017

After his new players failed to impress, Sabres General Manager Jason Botterill is looking to people he knows. Buffalo has traded a fifth-round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft to Detroit in exchange for forward Scott Wilson. Botterill was with Pittsburgh when the Penguins drafted Wilson in the seventh round in 2011. "We are very happy to add Scott to our roster," Botterill said. "Scott is a hard-working, young player that will be a great fit for our club. As a two- time Stanley Cup champion, his experience will be an asset both on and off the ice." Wilson has played 123 NHL games during the past four seasons, recording 13 goals and 32 points. The 25-year-old spent his first three years with the Penguins and played three games this year before being acquired by the Red Wings. Detroit sent forward Riley Sheahan and a fifth-round pick to the Penguins in exchange for Wilson and a third-round selection. Wilson played in 20 playoff games during the Penguins' successful Stanley Cup run last spring, recording three goals and six points. Wilson has no points in 20 games this year. The 5-foot-11, 183-pounder is a left-handed shooter who spent three seasons at UMass Lowell.

Buffalo News LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086598 Buffalo Sabres

Sabres' O'Reilly knows Moulson move could be just the start

By John Vogl | Published Mon, Dec 4, 2017 | Updated Mon, Dec 4, 2017

Matt Moulson is the first move. There is no doubt more will follow. With the Sabres sitting at the bottom of the NHL at 6-17-4, a shake-up is sure to come in Buffalo. Monday's decision to waive Matt Moulson is the start. "When you don't win they're going to dismantle," center Ryan O'Reilly told The Buffalo News on Monday. "I've seen it before. It's frustrating. It's tough. There's so many good guys here that we have great relationships with, and when you don't win changes are made. That's how it goes." The departure of Moulson won't have a huge effect on the ice – he had no points in 14 games and was scratched in 13 others – but it should serve as a wake-up call to Buffalo's slumping roster. "He's not the reason why we're losing hockey games, and that's what happens," O'Reilly said. "It's part of the game, and it's something you don't want to see. There's so many good guys in this dressing room that you don't want to see any of them leave. If we don't win, it's going to happen." It would seem the only players safe from trade chatter are franchise center Jack Eichel and right wing Kyle Okposo, who has a no-movement clause. The rest should be worried until Buffalo assembles a roster that can win. "It's on us," O'Reilly said. "We've got to start doing it for guys' careers, start winning just to keep this group together."

Buffalo News LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086599 Buffalo Sabres

Sabres' waiving of Moulson hits Okposo, Eichel hard

By John Vogl | Published Mon, Dec 4, 2017 | Updated Mon, Dec 4, 2017

Matt Moulson is one of Kyle Okposo's best friends. Moulson opened his house to Jack Eichel, who considers himself part of the family. As expected, the news that Buffalo is waiving Moulson hit them hard. "It's tough when you lose a guy like that," an emotional Okposo said Monday. "He's been my best friend for a while. He means a lot to me. It's tough news, but at the same time it's a business. He knows that better than anybody. "In saying that, it's tough personally, for sure." Okposo and Moulson formed a bond while playing for the New York Islanders, and they're godfathers to each other's children. "You could go around and ask every single guy in this locker room, and they don't have one bad thing to say about Matt Moulson and the way he is as a person and the way that he carried himself at the rink every day through a really tough situation over the past few years," Okposo said. "He's just a good man." Eichel lived with Moulson throughout his rookie season with the Sabres. "It's tough," Eichel said. "He's a good buddy. I owe a lot to him. He's been there for me since the day I was drafted. I've obviously become very close with Matt and his family. His wife and his two kids have basically been like family to me. "I feel for him. He's one of the best guys that you can play with. I don't think that there's a bad word to be said about him." The Sabres decided to waive Moulson at noon Monday after watching him fail to produce a point in 14 games and get scratched in 13 others. Buffalo is 6-17-4. "We're obviously not in a good spot as a team with where we are," Eichel said. "Every day it's a competition, and you've got to be your best. Matt was a guy who would show up every day at the rink and be a professional. Whether it was getting on the ice early to shoot or working out or whatever, he did a lot for us, brought a good attitude. He was a great guy to have here." The waiving of Moulson sends a message that the players need to get their stuff together, said Okposo, though he used a stronger word than stuff. "We've got to win some games," Okposo said. "That's what happens in the business. If you don't win games, if you don't have results, good people pay the price for it. "Myself included, I've got to pick my game up. Everybody's got to pick their games up. We've got to find ways to win. We're in a results business. We're in a business of winning, and we're not doing that right now, so there's going to be some changes. Unfortunately, it was that, but we've got to figure out a way to win hockey games."

Buffalo News LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086600 Buffalo Sabres QMJHL Vasily Glotov (forward, ): Has three goals in his last three games, including a two-goal effort in a 6-4 loss to Rimouski Sabres Prospects: Cliff Pu finds his scoring groove Oceanic on Dec. 2. For the season he has 12 goals and five assists in 26 games. By Amy Moritz | Published Mon, Dec 4, 2017 | Updated Mon, Dec 4, NCAA 2017 William Borgen (defense, St. Cloud State): The junior has one goal and seven assists on the season. The Huskies are 11-2-0 overall after a weekend sweep of Nebraska-Omaha. Cliff Pu understands how it looks. The start to his season with the of the was, well, disappointing. Christopher Brown (forward, Boston College): Had one assist in a 5-1 win At least from a production standpoint. over Boston University on Dec. 2, as Boston College split its weekend with its fiercest rival. This season he has four goals and five assists. Coming off a season where he ranked top-10 in the league in scoring, he scored just one goal with five assists in his first 11 games. Jacob Bryson (defense, Providence): The sophomore had two assists in a 5-2 win over New Hampshire on Dec. 1. In 16 games, he has one goal Then he signed his entry-level contract with the Buffalo Sabres, a and 11 assists. standard three-year deal that many players sign during their final year of major-junior hockey in Canada. Ivan Chukarov (defense, UMass): On a two-game point streak with assists in his last two appearances. He missed the first month of the His numbers soared after that. Pu had a three-point night (one goal, two season with an upper body injury. assists) in the next game. In November, he scored nine goals with 14 assists in 10 games. Casey Fitzgerald (defense, Boston College): Has three goals and six assists as Boston College is 9-6-2 overall. Clearly signing the contract, solidifying the next step in his hockey career, took some weight off his shoulders, right? Connor Hurley (forward, Minnesota): After three seasons at Notre Dame, Hurley transferred to the University of Minnesota. He will sit out this "It just happened around the same time," Pu said. "People can look at it season per NCAA transfer rules and have one year of college eligibility and say I got boost from that but I honestly don't think that was the case. left for the 2018-19 season. In 98 career games for the Fighting Irish, Obviously I was happy to sign but I don't think that had anything to do Hurley had 48 points (14 goals, 34 assists). with my play early on in the year. It's just a funny coincidence." Casey Mittelstadt (forward, Minnesota): The Sabres first-round pick in For Pu, the turnaround came through good old-fashioned hard work and 2017 scored his fifth goal of the season in a 3-2 loss to Wisconsin on believing the bounces would start coming his way. Dec. 2. On a three-game point streak he has five goals and 10 assists in his first 17 collegiate games. "I just think I was trying to figure things out," Pu said. "I was bit frustrated but I kept working hard. The bounces started coming my way the last Brett Murray (forward, Penn State): The sophomore has one goal and month and I'm playing with good players. I kept working hard on things I four assists in 16 games. need to, like shooting, and it started kicking in slowly. Sooner or later I would get more numbers. I always trusted myself." Philip Nyberg (defense, UConn): Has two goals and one assist in nine games. Did not play in the Huskies' 4-2 loss to UMass on Dec. 1. Pu is focused on his team in London, but he's waiting to hear if he makes the preliminary roster for Team Canada for the 2018 IIHF World Junior Judd Peterson (forward, St. Cloud State): The senior picked up his ninth Men's Championship. The selection camp is scheduled for Dec. 12-15 at assist of the season in a 7-4 win over Nebraska-Omaha on Dec. 1. He the Meridian Centre in St. Catharines, Ont. Pu was part of the Canadian has 10 points in 13 games. team that participated in the World Junior Summer Showcase in Linus Weissbach (forward, Wisconsin): Suffered what appeared to be a Plymouth, Mich. head injury in the second period of a 5-4 loss on Dec. 1 to Minnesota. He "The summer showcase was fun for me," Pu said. "I got to play with a lot picked up an assist in that game to extend his point streak to five games. of players from across the CHL. It's fun to go up against the best players A native of Sweden, the 19-year-old freshman had five goals and eight around the world and it definitely helps your game when you play against assists in 16 games. a higher level of competition. I tried to keep those habits – my feet Maxwell Willman (forward, Brown): The senior has one goal and four moving and stuff like that. I learned a lot. assists in nine games as Brown is 5-6-0. "It would be a huge opportunity," Pu said of playing for Canada in the Europe World Junior tournament. "I'll work as hard as I can to make that team and if I get the opportunity, it will be a blessing. But if I don't, I'll just keep Rasmus Asplund (forward, Farjestad BK): In 25 games in the SHL, he working hard in London." has four goals and 11 assists. : The Amerks kicked off a four-game, eight-day Marcus Davidsson (forward, Djurgardens): Has one goal and seven road swing with a 5-2 win over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on assists in 21 games in the Swedish Hockey League. Saturday. C.J. Smith leads the team with 22 points (seven goals, 16 assists) in 21 games. Evan Rodrigues earned a call-up to the Sabres Oskari Laaksonen (defense, Ilves): Has three goals and eight assists in after his hot start with 10 points (five goals, five assists) in six games in 30 games in the Under-20 league (Jr. A SM-Liiga). his return from a preseason hand injury. Linus Ullmark picked up his 10th Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (goalie, LeKi): Was named to Finland's win and is 7-0-2 in his last nine starts. preliminary World Junior roster, one of three goalies to head to camp in The Amerks play a three-in-three this weekend, starting at the Springville advance of the event in Buffalo later this month. Has a 2.93 goals against Thunderbirds (Dec. 8), at the (Dec. 9), and at the average and a .911 save percentage for LeKi, a second-tier league in Bridgeport Sound Tigers (Dec. 10). They return to Blue Cross Arena on Finland. Dec. 13 to host Utica. WHL Buffalo News LOADED: 12.05.2017 Vojtech Budik (defense, ): Picked up his fifth assist in a 5-3 win over the Calgary Hitmen on Dec. 1. It was his first point since Nov. 3. On the season he has one goal and five assists. Brandon Hagel (forward, Red Deer Rebels): Suffered an upper body injury in a 4-2 loss to the on Dec. 1 and reportedly is on a week-to-week status. Hagel has seven goals and 16 points in 27 games while Red Deer is winless in its last nine games. OHL Austin Osmanski (defense, ): The East Aurora native has one goal and 10 assists through 26 games. He is a minus-1, has 34 penalty minutes and 46 shots on goal. 1086601 Buffalo Sabres

Sabres recall Evan Rodrigues, send Kyle Criscuolo to Amerks

By John Vogl | Published Mon, Dec 4, 2017 | Updated Mon, Dec 4, 2017

Evan Rodrigues certainly earned this recall. With the slumping Sabres looking for production, they summoned Rodrigues from Rochester on Monday. The forward has five goals and 10 points in eight games with Rochester, including three goals and an assist in the last two games. Rodrigues was making a push for the Sabres' opening-night roster when he suffered a hand injury during the preseason. The Sabres sent him to Rochester to get back into game shape, and it's clear that's happened. To make room, Buffalo sent center Kyle Criscuolo to the Amerks. He had no points in eight games during his first appearances in the NHL. The Sabres are 1-9-2 in their last 12 games. They visit Colorado on Tuesday.

Buffalo News LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086602 Buffalo Sabres

Sabres will waive Matt Moulson

By John Vogl | Published Mon, Dec 4, 2017 | Updated Mon, Dec 4, 2017

Matt Moulson's fall is leading him right out of the NHL. The Sabres have announced they will waive the left winger at noon Monday for purposes of reassignment. If no team claims Moulson by noon Tuesday, he will be sent to Rochester. The decision has been discussed at length by General Manager Jason Botterill and coach Phil Housley. "We talked quite a bit throughout the last two weeks," Housley said after practice in KeyBank Center. "Just the direction that our team's going, we have to make roster spots and try to push some other buttons and try to get some internal competition within our team." Moulson has no points in 14 games this season. He has been scratched in 13 others as the Sabres have started 6-17-4. "It's tough as a coach to make a decision like that, to let a good person go," Housley said. "But under the circumstances that we're in, I'm sure there's going to be a lot of guys affected with the decision, maybe emotionally, maybe it's motivationally." Former Sabres General Manager Tim Murray signed Moulson to a five- year, $25 million contract in July 2014. The contract runs through the end of next season. Moulson has 35 goals and 94 points in 253 games since signing the deal. Moulson was a three-time 30-goal scorer with the New York Islanders earlier in his career, but he has seen his numbers plummet. He has 13, eight, and 14 goals during the last three seasons. The Sabres do not have salary cap problems, but they will receive a little relief with the move. If Moulson clears waivers, he will still count $3.975 million toward the Sabres' cap. They will get $1.025 million worth of relief from his $5 million cap hit. "Just with the position we're in we've got to make some decisions about our team and our lineup," Housley said. "Sometimes they're tough decisions. I think we need to focus as a group on our own game as an individual, but certainly these are the tough ones that you have to make in this business."

Buffalo News LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086603 Buffalo Sabres

Sabres goalie prospect selected for Finland's world juniors camp

By John Vogl | Published Mon, Dec 4, 2017 | Updated Mon, Dec 4, 2017

Sabres prospect Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is one step closer to returning to Buffalo. Finland released the roster for its world junior training camp today, and Luukkonen was one of three goaltenders to make the list. Buffalo selected him in the second round of this year's NHL Draft. The 18-year-old is playing in Finland's second league and has a .911 save percentage in 15 games played. It's been a summer spent across North America for Luukkonen The Finnish camp will run Dec. 15-23, and the team will make its cuts prior to the start of the tournament Dec. 26. The world juniors will run in Buffalo until Jan. 5.

Buffalo News LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086604 Calgary Flames Added Jakub Voracek, “Ells has been great — I think when you look on paper the 10-game losing streak tells a different story, but he gave us a chance to win those games, which is all you can ask for from a goalie.” Flyers goalie Elliott back to haunt former team No doubt entering last season with hopes of establishing himself as a starter capable of signing somewhere for US$4 or $5 million annually, he wound up inking a two-year deal with Philly for $2.75 million a year. ERIC FRANCIS Did he get a bad rap? Published on: December 4, 2017 | Last Updated: December 4, 2017 11:16 PM MST “I think he did – I think that’s a fair statement from you,” said Flames head coach Glen Gulutzan.

“I don’t read so I don’t know how much is held against him, but I know When last we saw Brian Elliott, he was skating to the Calgary Flames from our locker room we have a lot of respect for him. Hard working, bench, shaking his head over a costly goal he was never able to quite good guy and played very well for us to get us in a position for the explain. playoffs.” It ended his night, the Flames season and cost the 32-year-old netminder In fact, just as the Flames credit Smith for saving them from a horrid start millions and millions of dollars. to the season, the lads universally credit Elliott for getting them back into last year’s playoff picture. On Monday, he returned to haunt the Flames again. “We set some records here with ten wins in a row, which we all know he This time as the game’s first star. was a huge part of,” added Gulutzan. Elliott made 43 saves in a 5-2 win over the Flames to snap the “I don’t think playoffs went like anybody wanted them to go. But to take a Philadelphia Flyers’ 10-game losing skid. team from 77 points the year before to 94 is a big step, and I thought he was a huge part of that in the second half. Ells got us on a pretty good It won’t help him recoup the boatloads of bills he lost by virtue of his run.” playoff struggles. It was a run good enough to earn him a hefty contract in Calgary that But you can bet it meant the redemption more than that to him. would’ve far exceeded the deal he landed in Philadelphia. “I really wanted that one tonight,” said Elliott post-game. Until the final two games of the playoffs when his struggles were “You want to win against every one of your past teams. I don’t know if it magnified in the Anaheim series. was (Troy) Brouwer’s first goal, but he can have that one and I can have “The latter half of the year I thought he was up there with anyone in the the W – that’s fine with me. league, (but) it probably didn’t end up the way he wanted it to here – he “Whenever you know you are coming to a city you lived in for a year and just had a rough go for what he actually did for us to get us into that you played and enjoyed yourself, you really look at it as an opportunity to playoff spot,” said Flames captain Mark Giordano, who wasn’t sure if show your stuff one last time and move on from there.” Elliott would be back after the way the four-game sweep went. For those who blocked it from their memory, it was five minutes into the “I think the way it ended was fresh in everyone’s mind. It was a tough last Flames’ final game of the 2017 playoffs when a soft, Patrick Eaves few games, but it’s easy to forget when we went on a 10-game winning wrister from a weak angle somehow found its way through Elliott’s pads. streak he was a big reason for that. He was our best player.” He was immediately pulled — and vilified for the second-straight game — A sentiment the Flyers echoed Monday night. capping the Anaheim Ducks’ first-round sweep of the Flames.

Intentions the Flames had to re-sign him as an unrestricted free agent Calgary Herald: LOADED: 12.05.2017 ended that spring eve, leaving a taste no one involved could get over. It undid several months of shear brilliance by the former St. Louis Blues backup who bounced back from a horrid start in Calgary to backstop the team to a franchise-record, ten-straight wins, ultimately guiding the Flames into the playoffs. He was the backbone of their resurgence. Then came The Goal. Followed by The Departure. Monday night was The Return, pitting Elliott and his Flyers against his replacement, Mike Smith. It was an interesting matchup given the fact Smith has been applauded as the team’s saviour to date, which is in stark contract to the goat horns Elliott was fitted for at this time last season. The fascinating reality is that the Flames have allowed more goals against the first 26 games this season (3.19/game) than they had at this point last year (2.92/game). Difference being, the Flames are now five points better than the 11-13-2 record they had in 2016. The Flames shocked no one when they opted to take a sizeable chance on the 35-year-old Smith via trade, as opposed to bringing Elliott back. Those who follow the Flyers closely say the team’s struggles of late are not a reflection of Elliott’s play, insisting he’s been solid from Day 1. His coach and teammates agree, not that they’d say anything differently. “Our goaltending has been good,” said Flyers head coach Dave Hakstol of his starter, who improved upon his 2.98 GAA and .904 save percentage to move to 7-6-6. “Obviously, Moose (Elliott) is a guy who has played the majority of the games and he’s been really sound for us. He’s been a guy that has consistently shown up and done a very good job for his teammates. He’s been a real positive.” 1086605 Calgary Flames He’s now a fixture on the Flames’ top pairing, the leader in the locker- room and one of only four defencemen to score 100-plus goals in Calgary’s colours. Flames leader Giordano pumped by milestone And it’s been a long while since he spotted a bear on a leash. “You know what? It really helped my career,” Giordano said of that Wes Gilbertson season with Moscow Dynamo, where he totalled five goals, 19 points and 124 penalty minutes in 59 games, including nine playoff showdowns. “I Published on: December 4, 2017 | Last Updated: December 4, 2017 5:56 played a lot. I played a big role. And I feel when I came back to Calgary, I PM MST played a bigger role here too when I came back. “Ten years later, I think it went a long way to the player I am. I came back here with a lot more confidence than when I left, and I think that’s what By comparison, the sight of Sidney Crosby or Connor McDavid — even really was the biggest thing.” at full steam, even with the puck on a string — seems pretty ho-hum.

“One of the funnier moments when I was in Russia?” ponders Calgary Flames mainstay Mark Giordano, turning back the clock a decade to Calgary Herald: LOADED: 12.05.2017 reminisce about spending the winter of 2007-08 with Moscow Dynamo of what is now known as the Kontinental Hockey League. “One time, we were in downtown Moscow, and we looked over and a guy was walking a brown bear. I think it was a black bear actually, a smaller one, but it was still a bear. He had it on a leash. Me and my wife were just like, ‘Wow.’ “You know how, in the city, they have guys playing guitar or whatever for a little bit of cash? I think he was showing off his bear, that was his gig. “We didn’t go near it.” Probably a wise decision. Currently both the captain and the longest-serving skater at the Saddledome, the 34-year-old Giordano marked a significant milestone in Monday’s clash with the Philadelphia Flyers, logging his 700th regular- season game at the level. Only six guys have suited up for more appearances in the Flaming C logo — Giordano’s former teammates Jarome Iginla (1,219) and Robyn Regehr (826) and past fan favourites and franchise icons Al MacInnis (803), Theoren Fleury (791), Joel Otto (730) and Jim Peplinski (711). “I want to play another 700 if I can, if the body holds up,” Giordano told a crowd of reporters after Thursday’s morning skate. “It’s pretty cool to look back and reflect when you hit a number, but it’s still only 700. There’s a lot more games, hopefully, that I can play.” A decade ago, it was no sure-thing that the undrafted, unheralded would even hit triple digits. Despite dressing for 48 contests with the Flames during the 2006-07 campaign, Giordano couldn’t squeeze a one-way contract out of Calgary’s general manager of the day, Darryl Sutter. He had already auditioned 144 nights in the and, feeling like he had proven that he was ready for full-time duties on the biggest stage, instead accepted a one-year offer to skate on what is considered the second-best circuit on the planet. For most of that winter, Moscow Dynamo’s roster included only two Canadians. “Now, it gives you an appreciation of guys who come over here to play and don’t speak English,” Giordano said. “I mean, it’s tough. You go to the supermarket, you try to get a taxi … Little things that you take for granted, it’s tough to do. “And then going to the rink, you don’t understand the coach half the time when he’s telling you the drills. Unless he’s drawing it up on the board, you don’t understand. So you sort of go to the back of the line. “But sometimes it’s a good thing when you just play and don’t overthink it.” He didn’t overthink his overseas move, either, admitting now that his decision “was a risky one — more risk than I realized at the time.” It all worked out. The Flames retained his rights and although Sutter publicly blasted Giordano’s globe-crossing as “a big mistake,” he didn’t hold a grudge. Sometime during that season, Moscow Dynamo pitched a two-year extension. By then, the Flames had assured a one-way deal was waiting back home. Since that stint in Moscow, Giordano has only worn one crest. (Unless, that is, you count his toil for Team Canada at the world championship in 2010 or two turns at the NHL All-Star Game.) 1086606 Calgary Flames But that was it. Laughton scored his second of the game for the Flyers 1:51 into the final frame. Flames lose to freefalling Flyers, Elliott “We have to be able to shrug things off when they happen and move forward,” said Brouwer, who scored his first of the season with 1:45 left in Kristen Odland, Postmedia the first period. “It sometimes we get a little bit down on ourselves. But it’s up to us as leaders to make sure guys stay excited and not get down Published on: December 4, 2017 | Last Updated: December 4, 2017 on ourselves.” 10:58 PM MST They did though, especially considering the Flames came out flying to start the second period with two chances coming from Sam Bennett and Jaromir Jagr. Matthew Tkachuk’s body language and post-game interview said it all. Johnny Gaudreau made a nice play to turn the puck up ice when he got a When asked about where Monday’s 5-2 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers stick on a D-to-D pass between Ivan Provorov and Andrew MacDonald. got away from the Calgary Flames, the 19-year-old left winger sighed. The speedy Flames left winger took advantage of a partial breakaway. Elliott saved the shot, but Gaudreau drew a penalty anyway. “I don’t know,” Tkachuk said. “Pretty much the whole game.” The Flames first powerplay of the night went to work but had nothing to The one-word answers that followed were a good indication of the show for it as Elliott shut the door. frustration that is being felt in the dressing room and outside of it, especially after another gut-shot on Monday, a 5-2 loss to the visiting The wheels fell off shortly after. Philadelphia Flyers at the Scotiabank Saddledome. Elliott was excellent in the first period, and, at one point, the shots were And here you thought the Calgary Flames were going to rebound from 11-4 for the Flames who didn’t allow a single shot on the Flyers only Saturday’s embarrassing 7-5 loss to the Edmonton Oilers … powerplay of the opening frame. He made two timely stops on Micheal Ferland, said no to a Monahan glove-side shot and denied four attempts Instead they followed up that performance — a clash which had head from Frolik. coach Glen Glutzan seriously questioning his team’s ability to harness their nervous energy in big games — and gave up too many chances and Following Brouwer’s goal, Valtteri Filppula responded for the Flyers with made too many mistakes, dropping to 7-8-0 in their own building. 44.0 seconds left in the first period. A sign of things to come. It was the third loss of this four-game homestand with the Flames (14-12- After back-to-back games at Toronto and Montreal on Wednesday and 1) allowing 16 goals, including three on Monday in the span of 71 Thursday, the Flames return home on Saturday for a Hockey Night in seconds in the second period. Canada clash against the Vancouver Canucks. By the way, the Flyers hadn’t notched a win in 10 games and opened their Western Canada road swing with their coach’s future in jeopardy and their intense fanbase demanding an implosion of the team. Calgary Herald: LOADED: 12.05.2017 Flames fans might be feeling the same way soon. They started filing out with 12:56 left in the third period, shortly after Mike Smith allowed a fifth goal on 16 shots. “Whenever you lose, especially two at home in big games and three of your last four at home, there’s frustration in your game and in the players,” said Flames head coach Glen Gulutzan. “I think that’s a natural reaction. We’re all frustrated. Especially coming off the road with the road trip we had. We certainly didn’t have the homestand we wanted, so there’s frustration.” Coincidentally, it was the Saddledome’s fan appreciation night. To make matters worse, Travis Hamonic was ejected after the Flames defender looked to have lowered his shoulder into by the Flames bench. Matthew Tkachuk served a five-minute match penalty, which the Flames killed off. But the entire play illustrated the team’s frustrations, and it’s only Game No. 27 of the 2017-18 NHL campaign. “We put up a lot of shots, but we didn’t have many Grade As,” Tkachuk said, answering only in one-sentence-answers. “Everything wasn’t good.” To make matters worse, Brian Elliott — the Flames’ attempt at an answer to their goaltending woes in 2016-17 — was making the first and only appearance in his former place of employment. The former Flames netminder was apparently channelling the February/March version of himself, back when the future was bright in Calgary and he backstopped the Flames through a 10-game winning streak, en route to the playoffs (of course, the future dimmed quickly in a first-round sweep by the Anaheim Ducks). After the Flames beat the Flyers 5-4 in overtime on Nov. 18, Elliott had the upper hand this time and made 43 saves on 45 shots while Smith allowed five goals on 16 and faced only 21 in the end. The Flames collapse came in the middle of the second period when the Flyers picked up tallies from Scott Laughton, Michael Raffl and Wayne Simmonds. Simmonds, at the 8:42 mark, made it 4-1 on a Flyers powerplay after a bogus high-sticking infraction which had Michael Frolik tagged, despite the fact that it was a Flyers player that had his stick lifted. The Philadelphia club scored nine seconds into the Flames penalty kill. Sean Monahan gave the locals some hope, scoring his 15th of the season with 1:15 left in the second period. 1086607 Calgary Flames And it’s been a long while since he spotted a bear on a leash. “You know what? It really helped my career,” Giordano said of that season with Moscow Dynamo, where he totalled five goals, 19 points and Milestone holds great significance to Flames captain Giordano 124 penalty minutes in 59 games, including nine playoff showdowns. “I played a lot. I played a big role. And I feel when I came back to Calgary, I played a bigger role here too when I came back. Wes Gilbertson “Ten years later, I think it went a long way to the player I am. I came back December 4, 2017 5:56 PM UTC here with a lot more confidence than when I left, and I think that’s what really was the biggest thing.”

By comparison, the sight of Sidney Crosby or Connor McDavid — even at full steam, even with the puck on a string — seems pretty ho-hum. Calgary Sun: LOADED: 12.05.2017 “One of the funnier moments when I was in Russia?” ponders Calgary Flames mainstay Mark Giordano, turning back the clock a decade to reminisce about spending the winter of 2007-08 with Moscow Dynamo of what is now known as the Kontinental Hockey League. “One time, we were in downtown Moscow, and we looked over and a guy was walking a brown bear. I think it was a black bear actually, a smaller one, but it was still a bear. He had it on a leash. Me and my wife were just like, ‘Wow.’ “You know how, in the city, they have guys playing guitar or whatever for a little bit of cash? I think he was showing off his bear, that was his gig. “We didn’t go near it.” Probably a wise decision. Currently both the captain and the longest-serving skater at the Saddledome, the 34-year-old Giordano marked a significant milestone in Monday’s clash with the Philadelphia Flyers, logging his 700th regular- season game at the National Hockey League level. Only six guys have suited up for more appearances in the Flaming C logo — Giordano’s former teammates Jarome Iginla (1,219) and Robyn Regehr (826) and past fan favourites and franchise icons Al MacInnis (803), Theoren Fleury (791), Joel Otto (730) and Jim Peplinski (711). “I want to play another 700 if I can, if the body holds up,” Giordano told a crowd of reporters after Thursday’s morning skate. “It’s pretty cool to look back and reflect when you hit a number, but it’s still only 700. There’s a lot more games, hopefully, that I can play.” A decade ago, it was no sure-thing that the undrafted, unheralded defenceman would even hit triple digits. Despite dressing for 48 contests with the Flames during the 2006-07 campaign, Giordano couldn’t squeeze a one-way contract out of Calgary’s general manager of the day, Darryl Sutter. He had already auditioned 144 nights in the American Hockey League and, feeling like he had proven that he was ready for full-time duties on the biggest stage, instead accepted a one-year offer to skate on what is considered the second-best circuit on the planet. For most of that winter, Moscow Dynamo’s roster included only two Canadians. “Now, it gives you an appreciation of guys who come over here to play and don’t speak English,” Giordano said. “I mean, it’s tough. You go to the supermarket, you try to get a taxi … Little things that you take for granted, it’s tough to do. “And then going to the rink, you don’t understand the coach half the time when he’s telling you the drills. Unless he’s drawing it up on the board, you don’t understand. So you sort of go to the back of the line. “But sometimes it’s a good thing when you just play and don’t overthink it.” He didn’t overthink his overseas move, either, admitting now that his decision “was a risky one — more risk than I realized at the time.” It all worked out. The Flames retained his rights and although Sutter publicly blasted Giordano’s globe-crossing as “a big mistake,” he didn’t hold a grudge. Sometime during that season, Moscow Dynamo pitched a two-year extension. By then, the Flames had assured a one-way deal was waiting back home. Since that stint in Moscow, Giordano has only worn one crest. (Unless, that is, you count his toil for Team Canada at the world championship in 2010 or two turns at the NHL All-Star Game.) He’s now a fixture on the Flames’ top pairing, the leader in the locker- room and one of only four defencemen to score 100-plus goals in Calgary’s colours. 1086608 Calgary Flames during that stretch of futility (including a 5-4 OT loss on Nov. 18 to the Flames), their last victory was on Nov. 9 — a 3-1 win over the Blackhawks. Game Day: Flames face a desperate Flyers squad tonight 3. LAST TIME Sean Monahan scored his first career hat-trick in a span of less than nine Kristen Odland, Postmedia minutes in the second period to help the Flames to a 5-4 overtime victory on Nov. 18 at Wells Fargo Center. It was an excellent comeback for the December 4, 2017 1:07 PM UTC Flames — a collapse for the Flyers who were ahead 3-1 at the end of the first period. Old friend Brian Elliott was lit up for five goals on 31 shots while Mike Smith allowed four goals on 39. Their out-of-town guests have lost 10 in a row. 4. LOOKIN’ AHEAD Easy pickings for the Calgary Flames? Following Monday’s clash, the Flames head east to Toronto and Montreal to face the Maple Leafs on Wednesday (5:30 p.m., Sportsnet, Far from it. Sportsnet 960 The Fan) and Canadiens (5:30 p.m., TSN2, Sportsnet 960 “It’s a dangerous team coming in, even though they haven’t had a ton of The Fan) on Thursday. It’s a week that features no practice days, with success as of late,” cautioned Flames alternate captain Troy Brouwer. travel days both Tuesday and Friday before hosting the Vancouver “That’s what makes them so dangerous is they’re hungry. I know, talking Canucks on Saturday (8 p.m., CBC, Sportsnet 960 The Fan). to a few of the guys over there, that they’re going to have a great effort 5. GAUDREAU BACK AT IT tonight. With a goal and an assist and five shots on net, LW Johnny Gaudreau “They’re going to work hard to try to make things go right for them, so it’s snapped a three-game point-less skid against the Oilers and sits just two going to be a tough game. They have a lot of skill and ability to score points behind the NHL’s leading scorer Nikita Kucherov. Of 700-plus big- goals, and we just have to make sure that we’re making them play the leaguers, the 24-year-old Gaudreau is running third in points — a spot game that we want to play and at the speed we want to play.” he’s occupied for a few weeks now — with 12 goals and 24 assists. The Flames have been licking their wounds since Saturday’s 7-5

humbling from the arch-rival Edmonton Oilers, a result that would have been much more lopsided if the Saddledome hosts didn’t splurge for four Calgary Sun: LOADED: 12.05.2017 goals in a span of 7:16 in a wild third period. The Flyers, meanwhile, have been licking their wounds for most of a month. They’re 0-5-5 in their past 10 contests, including a 5-4 overtime loss to the Flames in a Nov. 18 matinee in the City of Brotherly Love. Sean Monahan was the offensive standout that afternoon, scoring three power-play goals for his first career hat-trick at the NHL level. For go-to guys Claude Giroux and Jakub Voracek, for former Flames netminder Brian Elliott and the rest of the Flyers, it’s now been 25 days since their last triumph — Nov. 9 against the Chicago Blackhawks. “One thing we try not to do is focus on what other teams’ situations are. Again, we try to focus on ours,” stressed Flames head coach Glen Gulutzan. “There’s not one guy in our room that doesn’t understand where they are and the fact that we went into their building and got out- played — in my mind — but came out of there because of the power- play. So we recognize (their losing skid), but it’s certainly not a focal point. Our focal point is cleaning up what we need to do better.” Calgary’s only lineup change against the Flyers is that Curtis Lazar will replace Matt Stajan as fourth-line centre. THE BIG MATCHUP Brian Elliott vs. Sean Monahan The Flames had picked up Brian Elliott last summer, hoping he’d be the answer to their goaltending woes. He was not. Well, other than a 10- game winning streak that helped lift the team into the post-season. But, once there, things fell apart. A new chapter opened for the 32-year-old in Philadelphia and, lately, it has not been good. Winless in eight starts, Elliott has allowed 22 goals in that stretch. But back in the city that was briefly his home, the netminder could be motivated. As for Sean Monahan, who used to try to score on Elliott on a daily basis at practice, he had a hat-trick against his former teammate on Nov. 18 at Philadelphia. Mike Smith looks skyward as Oilers’ Jesse Puljujarvi celebrates his goal Saturday night. FIVE STORYLINES FOR THE GAME 1. REBOUNDING (AGAIN) The past month has been inconsistent for the Flames, who haven’t won more than two straight games since a three-game spree from Oct. 29 to Nov. 5. This past week was a perfect example of the highs and the lows as they were dropped 4-1 by the on Tuesday but rebounded to beat the Arizona Coyotes 3-0. Then, Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers dropped into the Dome and whupped the Flames 7- 5. 2. TOUGH TIMES IN PHILLY The Flyers were shut out for the sixth time this season, a 3-0 loss to the Boston Bruins on Saturday at Wells Fargo Centre. That made it 10 straight defeats for Philadelphia. Oof. Although they’ve picked up points 1086609 Calgary Flames Unfortunately for the Flames and Juuso Valimaki, the bluechip prospect's season to date has been punctuated by injuries. Although he hasn't played a game since November 18th, Valimaki still managed nine points Flames Prospect Update: Dillon Dube starts to dominate in just six contests this past month. He also fired 28 shots on goal (4.7 per game), which gives you an idea of how involved Valimaki is in every contest for the Tri-City Americans. By Kent Wilson 16 hours ago Hopefully, the player can recover from his current injury and be back in game shape for the world j uniors, where he is expected to be a leader for Team Finland. At the NHL level, the Calgary Flames are facing down some grave 5.) Marek Hrivik, C concerns about their on-going inability to defend and win games consistently. 3g-7a-10pts (6g-13a-19pts) Things are rosier for the organization at the amateur level, however, with NHLe: 41 a number of the club's prospects putting together a big November. Thanks to additions like Michael Stone (2017 third round pick, 2018 fith Technically Marek Hrivik isn't a prospect, given that the Slovakia native is round pick), Mike Smith (2018 third round pick), Travis Hamonic (first and actually 27 years old. That said, Hrivik compiled a team-best 10 points in second round picks in 2018, second round pick in 2019 or 2020), and November for the and is now tied for second on the team Curtis Lazar (2017 second round pick), Calgary is staring at an in scoring with Garnet Hathaway. Hrivik has also fired a team-high 51 immediate future with almost no high-end draft picks. As such, they really shots on net and sports the second best point per game pace (1.06) need some of the existing kids to hit in order to keep the organizational behind Andrew Mangiapane. cupboards full. Hrivik has been an AHL journeyman most of his career so usually, it Here are five Flames kids who stood out in November. wouldn't make sense to pay attention to his efforts. However, the Flames are a team struggling to get anything out of their fourth line currently, so 1.) Dillon Dube, C Hrivik might get a shot in The Show if he keeps putting up near-team best numbers on the farm. 10g-8a-18pts (16g-20a-36pts) Notables: NHLe: 34 Many of the standouts we mentioned in the October update slowed Despite an impressive training camp, 19 year old Dillon Dube started out considerably in November, including Matthew Phillips, Adam Ruzicka, slowly with the Kelowna Rockets in October. He turned things around in and Mangiapane. Phillips is now seventh in WHL scoring after scoring at November, however, where he collected 10 goals and 18 points in 11 a point-per-game pace in November, while Ruzicka fell down to 12th games. He also recently scored perhaps the impressive short-handed after managing just 10 points in 11 games. Mangiapane continues to lead goal you'll ever see. the Heat in scoring with 22 points in 20 games, but he has just one point in his last five contests. In his last five contests, Dube has scored 10 points and fired an incredible 31 shots on net. That level of production is closer to what was Adam Fox now has nine points in 10 games for Harvard this year. expected of Dube this year, who will most likely play LW for Team Both player and team have struggled somewhat to live up to the high Canada at the upcoming world junior championships. expectations they set last year, although Fox is still second in team scoring behind 21-year old Ryan Donato. Like Valimaki and Dube, Fox 2.) Glenn Gawdin, C should be a major component of his country's team in the upcoming 9g-9a-18pts (23g-30a-53pts) world juniors. NHLe: 47 Spencer Foo continues to be terribly snakebitten in the AHL. He has managed 41 shots on net so far, but just a single goal (a shooting When the WHL season began, Glenn Gawdin was an undrafted, percentage of 2.4 per cent). Like almost every other recent Flames unsigned 20-year-old junior forward with a career-high point total of 59 acquisition not named “Mike Smith,” both the player and management points. Now he is a contributor on the most dangerous line in the league must be frustrated with how things have gone so far. with Aleksi Heponiemi and Tyler Steenbergen with the Swift Current Broncos. All three guys are first, second, and third in WHL scoring This season was probably 's last chance to respectively, with Gawdin a mere six points away from his previous convince the Flames he could contend for an NHL roster spot, but career best total in just 27 games played. nothing has really worked for the erstwhile Canucks draft pick. With just seven points in 18 games and sporting a team worst -7 rating, Shinkaruk The Flames invited Gawdin as a walk-on to training camp this year, but it is basically playing himself out of the organization's plans. was his huge step forward in the 'Dub that convinced them to ink the player. Of course, it's sensible to be suspicious of older guys who Rasmus Andersson continued his above-average play in the AHL suddenly take a huge step forward in their final junior year, but it makes this past month, scoring four points in seven games and forming the sense for Calgary to take a chance on Gawdin given how thin their centre club's top pairing with Tyler Wotherspoon. Andersson boasts the best ranks are beneath the NHL level. point-per-game and shot-per-game pace amongst Stockton defenders and has cemented himself as the Flames most NHL-ready prospect on 3.) Tyler Parsons, G the blueline. 6-4-0, .920 SV% (8-7-1, .906 SV%) Tyler Parsons had a rude introduction to ECHL hockey. The young The Athletic LOADED: 12.05.2017 goaltender got blown out in his second ever appearance for the Kansas City Mavericks, allowing eight goals on 30 shots back in October. He spent much of the month trying to recover from that performance. It looked like it might be another rough month for the rookie netminder when he allowed six goals in 22 shots on November 1, but he managed to settle in after that and put together a string of above average games. In fact, he was named ECHL player of the week mid-November after winning four straight games with a combined .957 save rate. Parson's numbers are still fairly pedestrian, but much of the blame can be laid on the two blowouts he suffered near the start of the year. If he can continue to put together dominant stretches like his recent run, hit numbers should rapidly improve. 4.) Juuso Valimaki, D 3g-6a-9pts (5g-12a-17pts) NHLe: 25 1086610 Chicago Blackhawks As McDonough says: “The hockey operations people know what a ratings point is.”

About those ratings points — there haven’t been as many in the last two 'You're never getting comfortable:' John McDonough faces a new set of seasons, another cause of worry for the Hawks. When you were once challenges with the Blackhawks irrelevant, the last thing you want is people to start tuning you out again. Crain’s reported in April ratings for Hawks games were down for the Chris Hine second consecutive season and had reached their lowest point since 2011-12. McDonough said the Cubs’ success ate into the Hawks’ ratings Chicago Tribune early in their seasons and affected their overall numbers, but t keep idrhe Hawks also need to keep winning to maintain interest. .

“Winning three Stanley Cups in six years, I think that there was a lot of Turn left off the fourth floor elevators of the new United Center office interest from the casual sports fan and I think a lot of them became building, go to the end of the hallway to find John McDonough’s corner hooked,” McDonough said. “Maybe some of them when we didn’t win the office, near the coffee machines and snack bowls. Stanley Cup, their attention might have gone elsewhere.” Scattered around his desk are several photographs — of his family and There’s also a challenge of marketing the game to newer, younger friends even one of Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr. audiences. That’s why the Hawks have partnered with Univision to broadcast games in Spanish on the radio. But the photo that means the most to McDonough’s career is by the window. It’s of a banner a fan unfurled at the the 300 section of the “We have to make it compelling. We have to make it intriguing and more United Center that read: “Pride is back.” That came about a year and a importantly we have to get into the playoffs and you’ve got to put yourself half into McDonough’s tenure as president of the Blackhawks in 2008, in position to make a run,” McDonough said. just as the Hawks were coming out of the depths of the NHL and becoming Stanley Cup contenders. The Hawks thought they were ready to make a run in the playoffs — until Nashville came along, making it clear they had more ground to make up “People ask, other than winning the Stanley Cups, what is your favorite than they thought. But the process for how the Hawks ge there hasn’t moment? That’s it,” McDonough said. “It was to me the most symbolic, changed. It’s the same front office hashing out problems in a poignant moment since I’ve been here.” “comfortably uncomfortable” atmosphere that McDonough likes. McDonough recently celebrated his 10th anniversary taking over the For instance, Quenneville wasn’t afraid to voice his displeasure over franchise and the picture remains a flashpoint, not only for the job he has Bowman’s firing of his longtime friend and assistant Kitchen. But done, but for the job he still has to do. Quenneville, Bowman and the Hawks moved forward. McDonough knows too well the context behind that photo — that for “It’s never personal,” Quenneville said. “If a situation happens, boom, years pride was absent and the Hawks an embarrassment. The picture is we’re on to the next play and we’re on to the next situation. … a constant reminder that McDonough and his staff must work to keep the Sometimes you say things that people could take it the wrong way, but Hawks relevant. whatever the message is it’s constructive and hopefully productive.” We know that’s not always the case, but that’s the way we operate and you There has, however, been slippage of late. TV ratings over the last few move forward.” seasons are down, the Hawks have had two consecutive first-round playoff exits, the last a humiliating sweep to the Predators. Also the core The Hawks have been a middling team in the Western Conference so far of players who led them to those three Stanley Cups is showing its age. and after every loss, the vultures come out on social media asking for change, usually the heads of Quenneville and Bowman. “You’re never getting comfortable and keeping an eye on every single detail,” McDonough said. “Because I think every one of us, every minute McDonough has a message for that crowd: He sees your frustration, but that we’re here, we’re recognizing that it’s critical that this is sustained. ... don’t expect anything to happen. I don’t know what the next decade is going to bring, but I can tell you that the energy will be even greater, the commitment to being consistently “I have to take a look at the whole scope of who we have here and do I good will be even greater.” have faith in the people making the decisions? ... That answer is absolutely,” McDonough said. “I do see some of those things, but I’m not McDonough laughs when I bring up the philosophy of former 49ers coach going to comment on those. I’m not going to dignify those with Bill Walsh. It’s a philosophy Cubs President Theo Epstein cited when he comments. Joel’s body of work since he has been here is Hall of Fame- left Boston for Chicago six years ago: After 10 years in the same caliber. So has Stan’s. Their passion to get it right and for us to win and organization, a coach or executive benefits from a change in scenery. their relationship has evolved and strengthened.” “I’m very familiar with it and there probably is some truth to it,” The Hawks have come a long way from the time McDonough and Wirtz McDonough said. “But I think you have to refuel, reassess and I think you had their first chat about the job at Champs in Schaumburg in November do have to look at these things in increments of 10 years. You never 2007. McDonough said he didn’t know what Wirtz even looked like before want to be complacent. For me the fire is raging stronger than ever.” speaking with him. The Predators added fuel to that fire last season in April when they swept “We spent five hours talking about philosophies, families, experiences, the Hawks in four games. That marked two consecutive April exits for a school. We laughed a lot and I certainly got the sense at that point he franchise that has grown accustomed to playing into June. was interested in hiring me,” McDonough said. “He’s such a charismatic, fun guy and all he talked about was winning and getting this right for the So what needs to change? long term.” The Hawks made some personnel moves on the ice and off, firing After that, McDonough said, the first four or five years on the job were assistant coach Mike Kitchen and Rockford coach Ted Dent. But upper “like a blur.” management stayed the same and coach Joel Quenneville’s job isn’t in danger. anywhere. When he took over as president, McDonough had a staff meeting at which he told everyone in the office his mandate for harder work and for Many, like Quenneville, general manager Stan Bowman, vice president change. It did not go over well with everyone. of hockey operations Al MacIsaac, executive vice president Jay Blunk and assistant general manager Norm Maciver have been in the “You can just see in the eyes of a lot of these people, ‘I’m out. This isn’t organization for multiple Cup runs, with many of them serving around 10 going to be for me,’ ” McDonough said. So, it became like the resume years in their current positions. Olympics. There were a lot of changes. A fair number of people resigned. A fair number of people we didn’t retain.” But McDonough doesn’t sense any organizational fatigue and there isn’t “continuity for the sake of having continuity.” It’s something that’s rare in There were also changes at the top. The Hawks fired Denis Savard and sports, and McDonough credits Chairman Rocky Wirtz with setting the replaced him with Quenneville. McDonough fired Dale Tallon and tone. replaced him with Bowman. “Everybody matters,” McDonough said. “I want ideas coming from every Then came the first Stanley Cup. Then two consecutive first-round single angle of this organization. Across the aisle, the mutual respect that playoff exits, followed by two more Cups in three years. But while the business people have for the hockey operations and the hockey McDonough has pictures of Cup celebrations in his office, they aren’t as operations have for the business side.” prominent as that picture of “Pride is Back” on the wall. That has been a hallmark of McDonough’s term. “He has been instrumental in rebuilding the franchise, getting it to the level it’s at now,” Patrick Sharp said. “I was here for the whole thing — before John was here a couple years and I saw the transformation when he entered the picture. We’re all thankful for his ideas, his hard work he put in and everything that comes along with it. Added captain Jonathan Toews: “You hear from the fans and hear from people in the organization that stuck around that say how much better the team is run.” McDonough said he asked the man who unfurled the banner if he could have it. “He said, ‘If it means that much to you,’ ” McDonough said. “I said you have no idea.” He keeps it in a drawer in his office. Pride came back shortly after McDonough took the job, and now he never wants it to leave.

Chicago Tribune LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086611 Chicago Blackhawks days a year. Yours was probably the 10th story I have read today, but it stopped me from going out to get a drink. ...

Hi Brent. I am a 2000 born defenseman who is playing in his first year of Letting his guard down about dyslexia struggles helped blueliner Brent junior hockey next year. I have dyslexia and dysgraphia. I just wanted to Sopel find purpose say I remember watching you play in the big show on the blueline for the 'Hawks. Your article made me realize that I need to face my issues and not turn to alcohol as a slippery path. 2:11 PM ET Fans knew Brent Sopel as a journeyman defenseman with shoulder- Emily Kaplan length hair and an infectious smile that was usually missing a few teeth. His 12-year NHL career included stops as a valuable role player for seven teams -- most notably for the Blackhawks' 2010 Stanley Cup- winning team. CHICAGO -- Each weekday at around 8 a.m., Brent Sopel climbs into his car in the western suburbs and turns on an audiobook of the Bible. Close Coaches and teammates knew Brent Sopel as just one of the guys. One to an hour later, after his car scoots through an industrial swath of December in Chicago, he invited teammates Duncan Keith, Jonathan Chicago's West Loop, he parks in the lot of an auto mechanic shop, Toews and 20 military families to his home to open gifts. He brought the nestled next to an overpass. Cup to Chicago's Pride parade in an effort to promote inclusiveness. He was the guy who, while playing for the Vancouver Canucks, bedazzled Every few minutes, a truck swishes by, thumping over a pothole on the his house with so many Christmas lights that his teammates called him road. An alley of the building leads to a door to a warehouse garage. "Griswold," an ode to Chevy Chase's character in the National Lampoon Inside that garage, up a set of unfinished wooden stairs, is a small office "Vacation" movies. that Sopel calls his own. Two small windows overlook the dimly lit warehouse space. On the ice, Sopel shifted from being a power-play specialist to a stay-at- home defenseman who smothered shots with his body. Whatever the The 12-year NHL veteran -- whose hair is cropped short for the first time team needed, whatever would keep him in the league a few more since he was 18 -- sits at his desk and revs up his MacBook. Space is seasons, that's what he would do. He was married by age 22 and a tight; the desk is no-frills, and on it sits an office phone, scattered yellow father by 23. For the most part, he showed up to work every day and kept Post-its and a red Solo cup filled with pens and highlighters. Behind him, to himself. When the NHL deemed him washed up in 2011, he spent four on a shelf in the corner, is the only decoration: three framed photos of his years in Siberia, playing in the KHL, then returned to his adopted home children. of Chicago to play a season in the minors, notching his 1,000th game in Officially, this is where Sopel works part time for a coconut water North America. company and to build a charitable foundation. But unofficially, this is The Brent Sopel nobody knew read at a fourth-grade level. He felt like a where Sopel is offering a lifeline. dumb athlete because teachers, beginning at age 7, told him he was a In March, Sopel wrote an article for The Players' Tribune revealing that dumb athlete. He never took pregame naps because he didn't like being he struggled with a learning disability and alcoholism. Although a phone alone with his thoughts. He barely used a computer other than as a app alerts him that he has now been sober 464 days, there are other vessel to watch movies, and didn't send emails because, as a hockey reminders of how far he has come. Almost every day that he sits at his player, he didn't need to do those things. He drank, and by the end of his desk, sometimes with his shirt sleeves rolled up, a new email or text playing career, he drank a lot. message trickles in from someone who has been touched by Sopel's His body was ravaged by hockey -- his left wrist can't turn more than 90 story. He tries to answer as many messages as he can. In some cases, degrees, "both my hips are messed up, both my knees are messed up. I he offers his phone number. Sometimes, he offers to meet in person. don't know how many surgeries I have had. I have a herniated disk in my He'll do whatever he can do to help others and let them know that they back, multiple surgeries, pins and screws in my body," he says. His are not alone. "It takes a while," he said, joking. "I mean, especially if it's marriage deteriorated while he was in Russia. His relationship with his a long email." four children became strained. The year after he retired, Sopel would go Having reached the quarter mark of the 2017-18 season, it's time to on benders, sometimes for 40 hours straight. "I would drink 60 beers," he review our preseason thoughts on each team, see how they match up says. "In one night." with reality and explore what to expect the rest of the way. Brent Sopel's tiny office in an industrial building in Chicago's West Loop Are the Blackhawks contenders or pretenders? is just a stone's throw from the United Center -- but worlds away from his Stanley Cup-winning turn with the Blackhawks. Emily Kaplan, ESPN The Blackhawks have a lot of the same tools that have made them successful in the past, but they are having an up-and-down season. As a How much did his teammates know? result, it's truly difficult to get a good read on whether they've got the "Nothing," Sopel says. "You're a pro hockey player and you're paid to goods this season. play, so as long as you show up and do your job on the ice, nobody asks The truth is, Sopel still struggles with dyslexia and dysgraphia. He listens questions." to the Bible because he has never actually read the Bible. "I don't even But when his close friends and family got to know this Brent Sopel, they think I could read one sentence of it," he says. "It's too complex." told him he needed help. On Sept. 1, 2016, Sopel went to California for Sopel says it's too much effort to retrain his brain. He can read and write, rehab. He left 45 days later, sober. but it's a battle. "I've made it through this [far]. I'm working my way "I thought my issues were normal because that's all I knew," Sopel says. around it, but writing an email takes forever for me," he says. "When I "In rehab, I had an open mind and really tried to understand a lot of look at my phone sometimes, I'll look back at a text and [realize that] I things, and I did. I got answers to a lot of questions I didn't know I had. missed three or four words." But when I got back it was like, 'OK, well, where do I go from here?'" Seven years ago, not far from this very spot, Sopel was perched on a Hi Brent. Thank you for your response when I wrote to you about the float, being escorted by a police cruiser through a crowd of two million story of our son and his battle with dyslexia as he's climbed up the cheering fans as part of the Chicago Blackhawks' Stanley Cup parade. hockey ladder. Having come off a very strong freshman season playing He was at the top of his profession. college hockey, he is talking with several teams. Ironically, his dyslexia Now, however, in his tiny office near the overpass, Brent Sopel has been seems to be a major topic of concern with many scouts. It sounds like humbled, a 40-year-old man who reads just above a fourth-grade level. they are so misinformed and view it as some sort of "red flag" of disability. There are many talented athletes with it, including yourself. But maybe, just maybe, he thinks, he can help other kids avoid the Anyways, my son is pretty frustrated and is now referring all scouts to mistakes that brought him here. YOUR article. His main goal is to complete college and prove so many people wrong but his love of hockey is undeniable. ... Good afternoon, Mr. Sopel. I wanted to let you know how much your story reached me. I played all the way up to D1. I've been fighting my Hi Brent. Great to see you in control of your destiny. I have always known own demons with booze for a few years now, starting with my sophomore I have dyslexia, but I didn't realize I had ADD as well. That's because I year in college when I was playing/training through my shredded labrum medicated with booze. I did rehab twice in a year, which saved my life. ... in my hip. They fed me Vicodin and tried to get me through my "hip flexor Life will never be easy, but it can always be better than our past. strain."... Anytime after games or practice I had a minor injury or something that was a bother, all I knew to do was to cover it with Dyslexia is a disorder that makes it difficult for people to match letters something and now that pills weren't around, booze was available 365 they see on a page and interpret them into words; it also makes it difficult for accurate or fluid word recognition. A person with dysgraphia has challenges expressing his or her thoughts into written language. Neither That's when his personal demons caught up with him. There is no history disorder is an indicator of overall intelligence. of alcoholism in Sopel's family. But toward the end of his career, social drinking became drinking alone. His wife and four children stayed in The International Dyslexia Foundation has published reports stating that Chicago. His first year in Russia, he returned to visit them once. The between 15 to 20 percent of the population has dyslexia. That's up to one second year, he got a divorce. For the next three years, he didn't see his out of every five people you meet -- and that includes Sopel. He also has kids for the full nine months that he was overseas. dysgraphia. He didn't realize this until he was an adult, when his 10-year- old daughter was diagnosed. As the doctor ran through the symptoms, After he returned to Chicago, to play a final season in the AHL, his they sounded awfully familiar to Sopel. It explains why he can't remember relationships were never the same. "I was still living in fear of my learning the last time he went to a doctor's office; one time he walked out when he disorders, and my future, and my life," says Sopel. "I had done was handed a clipboard in the waiting room. something my whole life, and that was stopping, and I had to figure it out. How do I interview? How do I write a résumé? What do I do for the rest of "It's just too hard for me to fill it out," he says. "All of the questions, my life? I have kids. They have clothes and books that they want. How having to spell things. I just couldn't do it." do I provide? That spiraled me further and further into nothing good, into It also explains some of Sopel's self-esteem issues growing up in a dark black hole." . "Back then, the recognition and diagnosis of dyslexia was Hi Brent, My son has played travel in Newark, DE, for the last completely different," he says. "I struggled, every single day. I was a two years. He is currently 7 years old and in the first grade. We just had class clown and tried to make everyone laugh because then the focus him identified with dyslexia and dysgraphia. He is thankful to have an wasn't on why I wasn't doing well at school. Reading, writing, everything answer to why he had such a hard year. But he is struggling to relate to was a struggle and nobody helped me. I couldn't wait for school to be someone. Can you offer any advice to him? I've told him a lot about you over so I could grab my hockey stick and play, because that was the only to show him dyslexia won't stop him from anything in life because we thing I was good at." found out so early. ... "Everybody wants to hide from life," says Sopel. "Life is not easy. It took Five minutes later, Sopel wrote back: "Tell him finding out this early is a me a long, long time to figure out what my life is like and what it should great thing! No matter what, hard work in anything is what is going to be like." Emily Kaplan, ESPN make him successful." When the writer, Tiffany Buckhorn, read this, she The teachers knew Sopel was good at hockey, too. By 10th grade, he was ecstatic. She got in her car and drove over to her son's Little League was playing in the for the local Saskatoon practice -- and ran onto the field. "Guess who just emailed me Blades, and teachers just seemed to give up. "My stepmom did a lot of back!" she announced. She read the email to her son. "That is so cool," work for me," he says. "Like full reports." On one English final, he wrote he said. his name on the front and, on the back, scribbled: "Sorry I was sick." Sopel plans on working on his college degree. But, like everything else in "I handed it in, and graduated with like a 65 in that class," Sopel says. "I his life, it's a process. To begin taking online classes, he must pass a had no business getting that grade." drug and alcohol counseling course. He still needs to write his final, which he has put off for the past few months because he has been so And then his hockey career took off -- at 18, he was drafted 144th overall busy. (On top of all of this, he's waiting on paperwork to become an in 1995 by the Canucks, and a year later, signed his first professional American citizen, which has become a dragged-out ordeal.) contract. By 1998, when he made his NHL debut for Vancouver, he only had to focus on hockey. Everything else in his life would subside -- for Sopel is working to build a foundation that helps kids with dyslexia. This now. fall, he held his first hockey clinic, for 60 kids. He also invited 10 pro hockey players and 21 kids play together in a game. He has partnered "If it wasn't for hockey, and the structure of hockey," Sopel says, "I think I with a local organization, Dyslexia Buddy Network, in the hopes of would be dead by now. I had nothing." helping increase funding for resources in Illinois schools. The problem was, Sopel couldn't play forever. "We want at least one teacher in each school who is trained," he says. "If you can catch it at a young age, you learn differently, that's all." Hi Brent. Thank you for sharing your story. I can relate to your story about your struggles with a learning disability. I was diagnosed with one On a rainy Wednesday this fall, inside his office beside an overpass, in Grade 3. I have supportive parents and had very supportive teachers, Sopel relaxes in his chair and reflects on how far he's come. "Everybody but I also understand it is hard for teachers to help you. If you ever need wants to hide from life," he says. "Life is not easy. It took me a long, long anything, I am here to help, because I can help you share both sides of time to figure out what my life is like and what it should be like. the story. ... "There were a lot of dark holes for a long time. I found a way out of it, Hi Brent. I heard you other day on the radio in Montreal. Your story hit thank god." home so much that my heart hurt just listening to what you went through. I have a 15-year-old daughter who has struggled with severe dyslexia for years now with unfortunately not much progress from our medical Chicago Tribune LOADED: 12.05.2017 system. It became worse as kids in high school started to make fun of my daughter, accompanied by bullying. My daughter started hurting herself by cutting her wrists. Your story touched me beyond belief. I admire your courage going public and more importantly, educating and trying to help others. I hope somehow my daughter is able to live the kind of normal life a young teenager should be living. In many ways, Sopel represents the average NHL player. He was valuable to any blue line, but just as expendable. After three of his best seasons in Vancouver -- he averaged 34 points and posted a combined plus-17 from 2001-04 -- he was traded to the New York Islanders, who offered him a two-year, $4.8 million contract. Halfway through that deal, he was traded to the Los Angeles Kings, who then traded him back to the Canucks. By the summer of 2007, he was a free agent whom general managers deemed too expensive. At age 30, his career was on the cusp. Sopel spent the following training camp with the Detroit Red Wings, who offered him a one-year, $500,000 deal. The only problem? He'd be competing for the sixth defensive spot all season, and so he asked his agent to look around. Chicago was the landing spot. The Blackhawks needed a veteran to mentor a young group that included Keith and Brent Seabrook. But they also needed Sopel to change everything about his game -- no more power-play time, more time in his own zone. He said yes, because it bought him more time. The move to Chicago revived his career. He played five more seasons -- winning the Cup and finishing out the string with the Atlanta Thrashers and, briefly, the Montreal Canadiens. Then he signed in the KHL to keep playing the sport he loved. 1086612 Chicago Blackhawks Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 12.05.2017

Tommy Wingels enjoys being in the center of the action

12/04/2017, 11:49PM Mark Lazerus @MarkLazerus | email

The warmup session isn’t terribly complicated in hockey. Everybody takes a few shots from the blue line to break in the goaltender, then a few shots from the corner. Then everybody does two two-on-ones (for forwards, it’s one from each side), then three three-on-twos to give the lines and pairings a chance to work together. Then it’s a bit of a free-for-all, with guys lingering and firing away until they’ve had enough. No big deal. But last fall, that was enough to send a San Jose Sharks forward into a near panic. Coach Peter DeBoer had moved this natural winger to center, a position he’d never played before. After warmup, the player went into the dressing room and begged out of the position, saying he just couldn’t do it. “The default option was me,” Tommy Wingels recalled. “They said, ‘Why don’t you try it out?’ ” And that’s how Tommy Wingels, winger, became Tommy Wingels, center. He hadn’t played the pivot since his days at Miami University in the late 2000s, but he acquitted himself well and played center off and on throughout the season. When he was traded to Ottawa, the Senators used him in the middle, too. And now that he’s in Chicago, the Blackhawks have been using him exclusively at center — something nobody saw coming this season. Not even Wingels. It’s one thing to move a young player around to see what he can do. It’s quite another to move a guy in his late 20s, who has been playing wing in the NHL for years. “I always find that centermen can always move to the wing and make that adjustment relatively smoothly,” coach Joel Quenneville said. “But going [from wing] to center, there’s a lot more. You’re busier in all zones, especially in your own end. There’s more awareness positionally. [Wingels] has been surprisingly fitting a good need for us.” Wingels’ usual line, with Lance Bouma and John Hayden, has been arguably the Hawks’ most consistently effective. The three players are all bangers, working hard in the corners and limiting opposing chances. And lately, they’ve been chipping in offensively more. Wingels and Bouma each scored in Nashville last week, and Hayden had two goals and an assist in a seven-game span, earning an in-game promotion to the top line Sunday. It’s nice to be a good shutdown line, or, as Quenneville calls them, “the energy line.” But everybody wants to score, too. “We’re a confident group,” Wingels said. “We know as a group we can be an effective line out there. When the goals come, it raises that confidence level. Why can’t we produce points? That being said, we can’t let the points take away from what makes us a good line, and that’s winning battles, being aggressive, finishing checks.” Wingels’ passion is always evident in his voice, and the Wilmette native has quickly become a vocal presence. But Hayden pointed to his on-ice play — the way he throws his weight around and plays with occasional reckless abandon — as inspirational. In Nashville, Wingels hurled himself in front of a massive slap shot by P.K. Subban on the penalty kill, absorbing one of the hardest shots in the league. “I’ve been impressed with his leadership from the start, from training camp,” Hayden said. “He’s willing to play different roles, and you saw it with that blocked shot that he’ll put everything on the line for the team.” And, it turns out, he’ll play anywhere on the line, too. “Every game, I’m getting more and more comfortable [at center],” he said. “It’s a competitive position all over the ice, which I really enjoy. You’re always involved in the battles, from the faceoff to D-zone coverage. It’s a workmanlike game, and it’s all about your battle level. I think it brings out the best in me.”

1086613 Chicago Blackhawks

Chicago Blackhawks Forsberg getting little offensive support

John Dietz Follow @johndietzdh

Any pitcher who throws gem after gem after gem only to be saddled with a big, ugly "L" on his record can relate to what Chicago Blackhawks goalie Anton Forsberg is going through this season. And so can Hawks coach Joel Quenneville, who zipped a baseball one- liner to the masses after a 3-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday, saying, "It would be nice to get him some run support." No kidding. Forsberg -- the Hawks' backup goaltender who will make his third straight start in place of the injured Corey Crawford at Washington on Wednesday -- has been solid, if not spectacular, most of the season. Yet he sports an unsightly 1-3-3 record. The most frustrating losses may have come Saturday in Dallas and Sunday at home against the Kings. Forsberg stopped 54 of 57 shots, but the Hawks lost 3-2 in a shootout to the Stars and were shut out until 1:46 remained against Los Angeles. "Obviously, it's a little bit frustrating not getting the win," Forsberg said Sunday. "But I can't do anything else. Just keep playing the way I've been doing and focus on my game." The Hawks have not scored more than 3 regulation goals in Forsberg's seven starts. He did have a 3-1 lead in the third period Oct. 9 at Toronto - - a game the Hawks lost 4-3 in overtime -- but since then they have only led for only nine minutes and 45 seconds with Forsberg in net. Said Toews: "We just can't quite seem to get some offense and give him a little padding, give him a little breathing room. He's doing everything we need him to do in there. We just need to support him and create some offense and find some ways to get some wins for him." Forsberg has a .914 save percentage and 3.04 goals-against average, but take out his 5-goal outing against Colorado on Oct. 28 and those numbers improve to .929 and 2.47. "I feel better every night," he said. "I feel more comfortable and like I keep up with the pace and (have) better reads. It's a big difference." The Hawks are hoping Crawford can return Friday or Sunday. Forsberg said he definitely feels pressure with Crawford out. "Of course," Forsberg said. "He's been doing a really good job keeping us in games and winning games for us. It's the same thing I want to do." That will certainly happen if he gets just a little more "run support" from his teammates. Powerless: The Hawks again are struggling on the power play, going a dreadful 1- for-17 in the last four games. They are 0-2-2 over that stretch, with every contest coming down to the end. Had the power play converted a few times, the Hawks might have gone 4-0. They are 8-3-3 in games where they score on the man advantage and 4-7-2 when they do not. Coach Joel Quenneville took Cody Franson off the power play the last two games and has been giving Brent Seabrook more of a chance. Quenneville said Sunday he will give both players the opportunity to show who belongs on one of the two units.

Daily Herald Times LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086614 Colorado Avalanche

The Morning After: Three stars, five takeaways from the Avalanche’s loss to the Dallas Stars

By MIKE CHAMBERS | [email protected] | The Denver Post December 4, 2017 at 6:03 am

Five takeaways: Insulting effort. The Avs allowed a 6-on-4 empty-net goal at 17:24 of the third period. While on the power play, Colorado pulled goalie Semyon Varlamov for a sixth attacker. Devin Shore scored on the empty net with a mid-ice shot. With a two-man advantage, you need better effort in this situation, regardless of the fact Dallas led 5-2 at the time. Doing the math. Colorado, 1-3 on this five-game homestand, has played a Western Conference-low 25 games, so having the third-fewest points in the conference behind Edmonton and Arizona isn’t a fair representation of where it stands. But the Avs have fallen BELOW .500 in real math (12- 13). The NHL says they’re 12-11-2 but that adds up to 13 losses no matter how it looks. The Buffalo Sabres (6-17-4) have a league-low 16 points, and the NHL has made Colorado’s game Tuesday against the lowly Sabres its free game on NHL.TV. Make no mistake, this is a big game for the Avs. They can’t lose to Buffalo at home and truly believe they can turn this thing around with the upcoming road trip at Tampa Bay, Florida, Pittsburgh and Washington. Stoned. The Avs are usually good with the man-advantage in Denver. Not Sunday. They finished 0-for-3 on the power play, just the third time in 13 homes games they have been played. Dallas, which is third in the league in penalty killing, is the only team to prevent Colorado from scoring on the power play at home. The Stars are a combined 9-for-9 on the PK in those three games. No. 600. Erik Johnson played in his 600th career NHL game. Good for him. And good for him to call the team out after the loss. Johnson is the outspoken leader of this team. I like his style. Bad draw. The Avs were 29-36 in faceoffs against the Stars, and continue to sit last in the league in percentage. They are currently at 43.4 percent. Top-line center Nathan MacKinnon was 4-10. Seguin led the Stars at 13-4.

Denver Post: LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086615 Colorado Avalanche

Struggling Colorado Avalanche confident it can shake slide and not repeat last season’s historic misery by Mike Chambers / 10h // keep unread // hide

With the Avalanche (12-11-2) destined to finish on the losing end of a five-game homestand and a difficult four-game trip looming, team members on Monday didn’t want to zero in on two subjects: last season and Buffalo. They didn’t care to compare their current team — 1-3-1 in its last five games — to the one that spiraled out of control at this time a year ago and finished with a league-low and club-record-low 48 points last season. And they didn’t want to talk too much about Tuesday’s opponents, the NHL cellar-dwelling Buffalo Sabres (6-17-4). Beating the lowly Sabres would make the Avs 2-3 on the homestand. Losing to them would put Colorado right back where it came from — the bottom. Although the Avs have played fewer games than most Western Conference teams, they entered Monday’s game 13th in the 15-team conference with 26 points. “I’m not even thinking about last season. It’s irrelevant to me,” Avs center Nathan MacKinnon said. “Each season is its own. That’s something you have to embrace, good or bad, and just enjoy the ups and downs and the many challenges you’re going to face every season. We’re not the first team to go 1-3 on a homestand. We’ll get more than 21 wins this season, I’m sure, but obviously we need to snap out of it and get back to work tomorrow night.” Avs coach Jared Bednar put his team through a light workout Monday, which included a breakaway challenge near the end. The guys were enjoying themselves, trying their hardest to put Sunday’s 7-2 loss to the visiting Dallas Stars out of their minds. The Avs started the season 4-1 but lost three in a row and fell to 4-4. They believe this latest poor stretch will end Tuesday and serve as the beginning of a good one. Everything you need to know about Dallas Stars at Colorado Avalanche “I believe in this group,” Bednar said. “It’s about the process for us. We know that. We lost three in a row earlier in the year and everyone was like, ‘Oh, here’s the old Avalanche.’ We proved that not to be the case, and I believe we’re going to do that again, based on what I’m hearing and what I’m seeing from our team. I’m confident in our work ethic — I thought we had great practice today — and we’re a young team. We’re going to slide in and out of our game a little bit. But we’ve got to continue to improve and move the needle, and keep trying to push our standard. Right now, we haven’t been playing to the standard we set earlier in the year, but I think we’re going to bounce back from that.” Veteran forward Blake Comeau, who will again be an alternate captain Tuesday in the fourth and final game of captain Gabe Landeskog‘s suspension, will make sure the Avs don’t underestimate the Sabres, who have scored just one goal during their four-game losing skid. They are 1- 9-2 in their last 12 games. “It doesn’t matter if we’re playing St. Louis, Chicago or Buffalo,” Comeau said. “We’re 1-3 on this homestand, and we have to stop the bleeding right now before it gets out of control. Whether it’s Buffalo or a first-place team, we’re going to approach it the same way. There’s a lot of parity in this league, and anybody can beat anybody on any given night. We can’t look at Buffalo’s record. We just have to make sure we’re ready.” The Avs begin their four-game trip Thursday at Tampa Bay. They’ll play the Florida Panthers on Saturday and then back-to-back games at Pittsburgh and Washington next week.

Denver Post: LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086616 Colorado Avalanche

Everything you need to know about Buffalo Sabres at Colorado Avalanche

By Mike Chambers | [email protected] | The Denver Post PUBLISHED: December 4, 2017 at 6:19 pm | UPDATED: December 4, 2017 at 8:38 PM

Spotlight on Evander Kane: The Sabres forward leads the team with 12 goals and 24 points but probably won’t finish his third season with Buffalo if he doesn’t sign a contract extension before the March 1 trade deadline. Kane, 26, can become an unrestricted free agent July 1, making him a valuable rental player for a contending playoff team. With just six wins in 27 games, the Sabres are on track to be trade-deadline sellers, and Kane could bring them a sizable return. NOTEBOOK Sabres: They waived Matt Moulson on Monday, and the forward will report to Rochester of the American Hockey League if he clears waivers Tuesday. Moulson, 34, was scoreless in 14 games this season, his fifth with Buffalo. … Former Avalanche forward Ryan O’Reilly is minus-19, tied for the NHL’s worst rating with Arizona defenseman Oliver-Ekman Larsson. Buffalo (16 points) and Arizona (19) are the NHL’s two weakest teams, and they combined to have the six worst plus-minus players in the league. … The Sabres on Monday acquired forward Scott Wilson from the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for a fifth-round pick in 2019. … Buffalo is minus-38 in goal differential and is allowing a league-most 3.44 goals-per-game. Avalanche: Center Dominic Toninato, a first-year pro from Minnesota Duluth, was reassigned to San Antonio of the American Hockey League on Monday, and winger Rocco Grimaldi was called up from the Rampage. Grimaldi is expected to play right wing on the Alex Kerfoot- centered line with Tyson Jost. … Captain Gabe Landeskog will serve the final game of his four-game suspension for his cross check on Calgary’s Matthew Tkachuk. Landeskog practiced Monday with Kerfoot and Jost while J.T. Compher continues to replace Landeskog on the top line with center Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen. … Forward Colin Wilson, who has missed the last three games with a lower-body injury, is cleared to play and expected to center the fourth line, replacing Toninato. … Semyon Varlamov will start in goal. … Defenseman Patrik Nemeth practiced with contact Monday but is a game or two away from returning to the lineup. Nemeth has missed the last 11 games with a back injury.

Denver Post: LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086617 Columbus Blue Jackets

Blue Jackets | Top line cooking; Tortorella tinkers with others

By Michael Arace The Columbus Dispatch Posted Dec 3, 2017 at 8:38 PM Updated Dec 3, 2017 at 8:38 PM

WASHINGTON — Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella is an unapologetic alchemist when it comes to mixing his lines, be it game-to-game, period- to-period or even shift-to-shift. To date, he has yet to discover gold. There is a glimmer, though. Rookie center Pierre-Luc Dubois, 19, has had Artemi Panarin, 26, and Josh Anderson, 23, on his wings for seven games now. They comprise the one line that Tortorella is loath to touch right now. “It really helps when all three guys are playing close together and we’re all touching the puck,” Anderson said. “You see how effective we are. We get a lot of scoring chances.” Saturday night, in a 4-2 loss to the Washington Capitals in Capital One Arena, the trio generated 13 shots on Braden Holtby’s net, including six in the third period. Dubois nearly tied the game with 107 seconds remaining in regulation. He burned a wrist shot through Holtby, but the puck somehow stopped dead a couple of inches in front of the goal line. Panarin thought it was going in: He threw his arms up in the air — rather than fight though a stick-check from Jay Beagle and try to make sure of it — and he’ll probably get some bilingual razzing for his premature celebration when they look at the film. “I think (Panarin) has played well all along,” Tortorella said. “I just think the last two games he has upped his compete. I think he had a little lull there, but the last two games he has played strong. That line has been very good. We’ve got to get the other lines going.” Anderson has two game-winning goals, four assists and 27 shots on goal in the past six games. Goodness, 27 shots on target over six games. That is something. Dubois has one goal, five assists and seven shots on goal in the past four games. Panarin has two goals, two assists, eight shots on net and is plus-four in the past two games. Anderson leads the team with 10 goals. Panarin has a team-leading 20 points in 27 games, and it feels like he’s just getting warm. “I’m looking for some consistency with our lines,” Tortorella said. “I’ve got one of them. I’m not sure where to go with the others, still. I know we’ve talked about that a lot, as far as me moving players around. I just can’t find a consistent line after Luc’s line. ... We’re going to keep trying.” Alexander Wennberg, Cam Atkinson, Nick Foligno and Boone Jenner have put up points in the past, but they have struggled to score with any consistency this season. The problem is exacerbated given the fact that the Jackets have the league’s worst power play. It’s not the end of the world. The Jackets are right there in the fight at the top of their division. Still, Tortorella must keep tinkering. Saturday morning, defenseman Ryan Murray was placed on injured reserve; his roster spot was taken by Matt Calvert, who had missed the previous 12 games with an upper-body injury. Calvert scored a short- handed goal against the Caps. Every time something like that happens, you can almost see cartoon conversation bubbles appear above the heads of the coaches, and they say, “Maybe that will spark something.” Down the stretch, Tortorella moved Foligno into the middle and stuck Calvert and Atkinson on the flanks, and he moved Oliver Bjorkstrand onto the right side of Brandon Dubinsky (and Jenner). The experiments will continue apace until another glimmer appears.

Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086618 Columbus Blue Jackets

Blue Jackets | Opportunity knocks for Scott Harrington, Gabriel Carlsson

By Josh Horton The Columbus Dispatch Posted Dec 4, 2017 at 9:19 PM Updated Dec 4, 2017 at 9:19 PM

Although it’s because of unfortunate circumstances, Scott Harrington and Gabriel Carlsson have a chance to prove their worth with the Blue Jackets. With Ryan Murray on injured reserve and Markus Nutivaara day-to-day because of upper-body injuries, the two young defensemen, who have struggled to see much ice time, are tasked with stepping in and replacing the third defensive pairing. “It feels amazing,” said Carlsson, who was recalled Friday from minor- league Cleveland and played Saturday at Washington for his first NHL game since Nov. 12. “This is the place I want to be and I enjoyed playing last game. I thought it was really fun.” Carlsson has bounced back and forth between the minors and the Blue Jackets to maximize his playing time, but Harrington hasn’t had that luxury as he would need to be exposed to waivers before being sent down. He has spent most of the season as a healthy scratch, playing in only two games before Murray’s injury. Coach John Tortorella has lauded Harrington’s effort in practice and demeanor about the uncertainty of his role, but has also noted he can’t force someone into the lineup if it’s not the best decision for the team. “He’s a good player and we wouldn’t have signed him if we didn’t think he was a good player,” Tortorella said. “I’ve liked his last couple of games and you never know what happens from there.” Despite the uncertainty of the situation, Harrington tries to not let it bother him or affect his play. “All you can do is enjoy the moment and make the most of the opportunities with every game,” Harrington said. “That’s really all I’m trying to do, watch my shifts from every game and try to learn from them and try to be better the next game.” Harrington added it took a couple of periods for him to get used to the speed of play. Against the Capitals, he was tasked with getting used to playing alongside Carlsson, whom he played with a little last season but rarely this season. With no timetable on either Murray or Nutivaara’s return — neither practiced Monday— there’s a chance that Harrington and Carlsson will be the Blue Jackets’ third pair for the foreseeable future. As far as their chemistry, so far, so good. “He’s easy to play with,” Harrington said. “He’s a smart player and he doesn’t leave you hanging out to dry. He provides a lot of support.” “Harry’s a good player and you know what you get when you play with him,” Carlsson added.

Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086619 Columbus Blue Jackets

Blue Jackets | Sonny Milano sent down in numbers crunch

By Josh Horton The Columbus Dispatch Posted Dec 4, 2017 at 8:37 PM Updated Dec 4, 2017 at 8:37 PM

Sonny Milano’s demotion to Sunday to minor-league Cleveland had little to do with poor play or falling out of favor with the Blue Jackets coaching staff. It was due to a numbers crunch with forward Matt Calvert’s return to the lineup. “I’m not sure it’s fair,” coach John Tortorella said Monday. “Sonny and I had a good talk. Our management talked to him, I talked to him. These are tough decisions, but with the makeup of our lines, I have a number of people that I think are struggling offensively that I’ve got to get them in better offensive positions. “Someone had to come out when it comes to an offensive guy and I didn’t want to play a (Oliver) Bjorkstrand or a Sonny on the fourth line, because it doesn’t do them any good.” In practice, Boone Jenner was left wing on the fourth line, centered by Lukas Sedlak, with Tyler Motte on the right. Tortorella said that would “probably” be the line used on Tuesday night against the New Jersey Devils at Nationwide Arena, allowing Bjorkstrand and Calvert to move to more offensive lines. As these things usually go, it’s a fluid situation. Tortorella assured that Milano wouldn’t be forgotten in the American Hockey League. “Sonny will be back,” Tortorella said. “He’s going to be a part of this team. I think his game has dipped a little bit, he agreed with me. I’m not sure these decisions are fair, but they’re the decisions we have to make for tomorrow night’s game. And we’ll see where it goes from there.” Forward and captain Nick Foligno will likely be moved to the left after playing most of the season at center or right wing. It’s not a major change, at least to Tortorella. “He’s fine in any position,” he said. Recently retired two-time Daytona 500 champion Dale Earnhardt Jr. will drop the first puck at Nationwide Arena. His No. 88 Nationwide car will also be on the main concourse.

Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086620 Dallas Stars A foundation of belief.

Want to know why the Stars have won five in a row? All you have to do is Dallas Morning News LOADED: 12.05.2017 look inside their brains

By Mike Heika , Staff Writer Contact Mike Heika on Twitter: @MikeHeika

Radek Faksa says he's "feeling it." Mattias Janmark, too. The two young forwards are playing their best hockey of the season, and it's clear their mental disposition has a lot to do with it. "I just feel confident. The whole team feels confident," said Faksa, who was named the NHL's Third Star of the Week after tallying five goals and two assists in four games. "If we keep winning, it's more fun and we feel confident. You can tell on the ice we play well together, and it's way different than the start of the season." There are so many moving parts in pro sports. You have the health of the team, the decisions of the coaching staff, the fit of the roster by management. Oh yeah, and there's another team on the other side trying to beat you. So as we try to dissect these contests of entertainment, we find it's not always easy to ascertain answers to all of our questions. But if you want to know why the 16-10-1 Stars have won five in a row, all you have to do is look inside their brains. Think too much, worry too much, fear too much, and your muscles don't react the right way. Believe, trust, breathe, and some wonderful things can happen. "We're going at it a different way, and I think everyone's on the same page in here," defenseman Stephen Johns said. "We've got the group in here to go a long ways, and I think we all believe that. That's all you need in the locker room to be successful, and just ride with it." Now, to be fair, you can't just "change your mind," so to speak. The process is complicated, and it requires building the confidence by repeating simple tasks over and over. Jason Spezza has said several times that he likes to understand his assignment ahead of time so he can create a positive environment in his mind. Janmark also is a player who likes to visualize. And that's where success can breed success. "I think the details have to be embraced," coach Ken Hitchcock said. "The details can't be a burden. Once the details are embraced, then you can let your game flow from there. When you're constantly trying to find details in your game, you almost overthink and then there's hesitation. And when you hesitate, you lose confidence." And it's not just the players. The coaching staff came in with a big plan at the beginning of the year and lost confidence when the team didn't get wins. Dallas dominated a lot of early games but was 5-5-0. That, and a few injuries, started a series of changes. The vibe was clear that this wasn't a confident team. But as principals worked hard and put in the details and started to see success, the mindset started to change. So when Faksa now has an open shot, he's quick with his release. When Janmark is flying up the wing, he's confident in his decision-making. When Ben Bishop decides it's time to dive out into the right circle to make a save, the result is positive. And the positivity spreads. "It's everybody," said Tyler Seguin, who had two goals in a 7-2 win Sunday over Colorado and has five goals and two assists during the five- game winning streak. "When you get a guy like Faksa getting five goals in a week, not only does that give him confidence, it gives his linemates confidence, it gives everyone else confidence. It's just been a domino effect throughout the lineup." Dallas won two playoff-caliber games with the Blackhawks and then bounced back to clean up the Avalanche while playing the third game in three cities in four nights. It was a statement that this isn't the same team that struggled at the first sign of adversity earlier in the season. This is a team that's finding its way and starting to believe. "It takes time," Hitchcock said. "It's a lot of work at practice and a lot of continuity at practice and a lot of video work. It takes time to learn to play the right way, and we're starting to learn. We have a long way to go, but we have a real foundation now." 1086621 Dallas Stars

NHL recognizes Faksa in Dallas Stars’ recent surge

BY DAVID HUMPHREY DECEMBER 04, 2017 11:52 AM

Dallas Stars center Radek Faksa was named one of the NHL’s “Three Stars” for his performance for the week ending Dec. 3. Winnipeg Jets right wing Blake Wheeler and Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price were the other players recognized. Faksa registered a league-best five goals (5-2, 7 points) and a plus-7 rating (tied) in four games to lead the Stars (16-10-1, 33 points) to a 4-0- 0 week. He scored his first career hat trick, with all three goals coming in a 6 minute, 46-second span of the second period, in a 3-0 triumph over the Vegas Golden Knights on Nov. 28. Faksa had one goal and one assist, his fifth multi-point outing of the season, in 4-3 overtime victory against the Chicago Blackhawks on Nov. 30. He added one goal in a 3-2 shootout win over the Blackhawks Dec. 2 and one assist in a 7‑ 2 triumph against the Colorado Avalanche Dec. 3.

Star-Telegram LOADED: 12.05.2017

1086622 Detroit Red Wings

Red Wings flip Scott Wilson for 5th-round pick, now hold 9 picks in 2018

Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press Published 2:38 p.m. ET Dec. 4, 2017 | Updated 3:30 p.m. ET Dec. 4, 2017

The Detroit Red Wings made a minor trade Monday, shipping out little- used forward Scott Wilson in order to gain roster flexibility. The Wings acquired a fifth-round pick in the 2019 NHL entry draft from the Buffalo Sabres. The Wings acquired Wilson and a 3rd-round draft pick in 2018 in October in the trade that sent Riley Sheahan and a 2018 fifth-round pick to Pittsburgh. So basically, the Wings end up having flipped Sheahan for a third-round pick in 2018. Sheahan has one goal in 19 games with the Penguins. The move gives the Wings flexibility to call up a player or players from Grand Rapids. The plan for now is to use the 12 forwards left on the roster against the Winnipeg Jets Tuesday, then decide Wednesday whether to make any additions. Wilson appeared in 17 games for the Wings. The Wings now have 17 picks over the next two entry drafts: nine for the 2018 NHL Entry Draft (with one pick in the first, fourth and seventh rounds and two picks in the second, third and sixth rounds) and eight in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft (holding their own draft pick in each round plus the fifth-round pick acquired from Buffalo).

Contact Helene St. James Detroit Free Press LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086623 Detroit Red Wings

Mental toughness scrutinized as Red Wings seek end to 7-game skid

Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press Published 2:58 p.m. ET Dec. 4, 2017

As they seek an end to a bout of losing, the Detroit Red Wings are focused on winning puck battles and responding better when an opponent scores. The Wings host the Winnipeg Jets Tuesday at Little Caesars Arena, desperate to nip a seven-game skid. The Wings have lacked composure especially in the last three games, showing no fight when falling behind. “When teams score, instead of just flushing that out we get tentative and we sit back a little bit, instead of just put the foot on the pedal and go forward,” captain Henrik Zetterberg said. “It’s something that has to get better. Teams will score on us and we have two find a way to get through that. We just have to find a way to do that, and not try too much when we are behind and that way, it costs us another goal. We have to be patient and wait for our chances and at the same time, play with confidence.” The Wings aren’t an elite team, but they are capable of playing better than they have over the last three games. Zetterberg referred to it as not going from “100% to 7%.” Jonathan Ericsson said the Wings “have to be stronger mentally and not let it get to us when they get some goals. We stop playing after they have scored a couple.” The Wings can play with a lot of speed when they bear down, and have the skill to make plays. But that’s been missing especially over the past week. “We have to win puck battles and hold onto the puck more,” coach Jeff Blashill said. “When you do that, even if you don’t create tons of offense, you’re basically playing defense, because the other team is not creating any offense. I just thought as I watched the game, we’d get in on the forecheck, we’d come up with the puck, and then we’d give it away by not holding on to it. That crushes your transition game because now they’re never tired, they’re never going for changes. “You go through stretches like this at times and you have to keep grinding. You can never, ever let yourself as a group slump at all. You have to keep your head up and you have to keep grinding and keep finding ways to win. As a coach, you keep finding ways to get your message across. Sometimes that is talk, sometimes that is meetings, sometimes that is practice. Talk can be cheap, for certain.” The Wings played well as recently as the first period of Thursday’s game against Montreal. Then they played stupid hockey, and followed that up by playing even worse in Saturday’s 10-1 loss at Montreal. Zetterberg said that night the team embarrassed everyone who ever wore a winged wheel, and explained why he said that on Monday. “I didn’t want that to just be a loss,” he said. “The way we lost, I’ve never been a part of that before. I wanted everyone that maybe hasn’t played for that long to realize that that was bad. “You can’t do anything about what happened in the past, but you have to remember how you felt in those moments and make sure that you are come out and perform better. This is not on coaches. It’s not on the system. It’s up to us in here to go out and perform better, and win your battles. You have to go out and show more passion and more grit. We can talk, we can stand here and say things, but we have to go out and do it. There’s enough said in here behind closed doors, with open doors, with coaches. It’s enough talk. We have to go out and show that we are a team and that we stick together and we play for one another.”

Contact Helene St. James Detroit Free Press LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086624 Detroit Red Wings

Detroit Red Wings vs. Winnipeg Jets: Time, TV/radio, game info

Marlowe Alter, Detroit Free Press Published 12:01 a.m. ET Dec. 5, 2017

Detroit Red Wings (10-12-5, 25 points) vs. Winnipeg Jets (17-6-4, 38) When: 7:30 p.m. tonight. Where: Little Caesars Arena. TV: Fox Sports Detroit. Radio: WXYT-FM (97.1 FM; List of Red Wings' radio affiliates). Game notes: The Red Wings will try to end a seven-game losing streak, three days after an embarrassing 10-1 loss in Montreal. On the other end, Winnipeg has won nine of 12 and leads the Central Division. Blake Wheeler leads the Jets with 35 points and Mark Scheifele has a team- best 14 goals to go with 20 assists. ... This is the first meeting between the two teams this season.

Detroit Free Press LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086625 Detroit Red Wings

Wings send Scott Wilson to Sabres for draft pick

Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News Published 1:13 p.m. ET Dec. 4, 2017 | Updated 1:15 p.m. ET Dec. 4, 2017

Detroit — With the reality of a seven-game winless streak swirling everywhere around them, the Red Wings made a minor personnel move Monday in trading forward Scott Wilson to the Buffalo Sabres for a 2019 fifth-round draft pick. Wilson was acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins early this season for Riley Sheahan, with draft picks going both ways. Wilson, 25, didn’t register a point in his 18 games with the Red Wings, mainly playing on the fourth line.

Detroit News LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086626 Detroit Red Wings “I didn’t want that just to be a loss because it wasn’t just a loss,” Zetterberg said. “The way we lost, I’ve never been part of that before. I want them to realize, too, that everyone who hasn’t maybe played for that Wings GM: Play 'unacceptable;' mum on Blashill long, realize that was bad and make sure that doesn’t happen again.” Said Blashill: “When you’re sitting on the bench our you’re representing the winged wheel either by wearing it or coaching it, and you have a loss Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News Published 2:04 p.m. ET Dec. 4, 2017 | like that, that’s ugly, that’s embarrassing. Is it powerful? Yeah, it’s Updated 12:58 a.m. ET Dec. 5, 2017 powerful. It’s important for guys that have been around this organization a long time that have had tons of success, to remind our younger players or new players that this isn’t any organization — you’re representing the Detroit Red Wings.” Detroit — There was no sugarcoating it, and general manager Ken Holland didn’t even try to do so. Saturday’s 10-1 loss in Montreal was about 48 hours old, but it still stuck Detroit News LOADED: 12.05.2017 with Holland in his office Monday afternoon. “Unacceptable,” Holland said. “The last five periods we’ve played have been embarrassing and unacceptable. We didn’t play smart or as a unit. We have to respond now. We have one of the best teams in the league (Winnipeg) coming into our place (Tuesday). It’s a matter of how we respond.” The Red Wings are winless in seven games (0-4-3) and are beginning to sink in the Eastern Conference standings. They’re falling behind teams, and as last year showed, it’s difficult to pass a number of teams once you’re behind in the standings. “I’m concerned,” Holland said. “We have to win some games. We have to string some wins together. We’ve put ourselves in a position where over the next 15 games, we have to play above .500 hockey.” Holland wouldn’t comment on the status of coach Jeff Blashill, whose future has been speculated on by analysts and fans alike, as the Red Wings (10-12-5, 25 points) have had alternating good and bad streaks. Blashill has one year left on his contract, while Holland’s contract at the end of this season. Stuck in a long winless streak, and coming off a particularly embarrassing loss in Montreal, the Red Wings returned to work Monday. The Red Wings did make a personnel move, sending forward Scott Wilson to Buffalo for a 2019 fifth-round draft pick, but aside from that, players focused on the job ahead which Tuesday includes playing the Western Conference-leading Winnipeg Jets (17-6-4, 38 points). “There’s enough said in here behind closed doors, with coaches,” Henrik Zetterberg said. “Enough talk. We have to go out and show that we are a team and we stick together and play for one another.” The speculation surrounding Blashill has died down two days after the loss in Montreal, but it could pick up again if the Red Wings’ aren’t competitive against Winnipeg, or Saturday against St. Louis. “I don’t even pay attention,” said goaltender Jimmy Howard of the rumors around the team. "I don’t even know what’s out there. “We just have to do better as a whole.” Players agreed the losing isn’t on Blashill and his assistants, but rather on themselves. Red Wings defenseman on need to pay attention detail in order to break out of seven-game slump. Ted Kulfan “Absolutely, it’s all good,” Jonathan Ericsson said, on whether the message is getting from the coaching staff to the players. “We’re all on the same page, all of us. We just have to find a way to do it on the ice.” Said Zetterberg: “It’s not on the coaches, not on the system, it’s up to us in here to go out and perform better. Win your battles, go out and show more passion, and show more grit. “We’ll do that tomorrow (against Winnipeg).” Blashill’s message remained largely the same Monday, maintaining faith this team can turn things around. “I’ve been in this business for a long time and you go through stretches like this,” Blashill said. “You have to keep grinding, you can never, ever, let yourself as a group slump at all, and you have to keep your head up and grind, and find ways to win. “In order to win, you have to take a punch. When things aren’t good, it gets harder to get up. Nobody gets you out of it other than yourself. We have to find a way to get out of it.” Zetterberg criticized himself and his teammates after Saturday’s outcome, saying the defeat was an embarrassment to anybody who has worn the winged wheel. 1086627 Detroit Red Wings "We have a big challenge tomorrow and we have to show up."

Red Wings: First step to recovery is competing Michigan Live LOADED: 12.05.2017

Updated December 4, 2017 at 4:04 PM; Posted December 4, 2017 at 3:52 PM By Ansar Khan [email protected]

DETROIT - The Detroit Red Wings returned to practice Monday, stinging from their worst performance in recent memory, trying to flush it from their system as they search for answers. Their slide has reached seven games (0-4-3) and could easily be extended this week when two of the top four teams in the overall standings visit Little Caesars Arena - Winnipeg on Tuesday (7:30 p.m., Fox Sports Detroit) and St. Louis on Saturday (1 p.m., FSD). Players are struggling to explain what has happened. Questions are being raised about coach Jeff Blashill and his staff's effectiveness, but captain Henrik Zetterberg said it's on the players to stop this ship from sinking. "It's not on the coaches, it's not on the system," Zetterberg said. "It's up to us in here to go out and perform better and win your battles. You have to show more passion and more grit and we're going to do that tomorrow." The first step is competing, something they haven't done the past five periods against Montreal, getting outscored 15-2. "In your career you're going to go through those times and it's during those times you realize the character you have," Zetterberg said. "We're going through a tough time here and now we just got to find a way to battle through it. Even if you don't win tomorrow, you just got to go out and have good game, play well and work hard, work as a team. If we do that, eventually we will win enough games and get confidence back and get back at it." Jonathan Ericsson said they had a team meeting prior to Saturday's game. Then they lost 10-1. No meetings have taken place since. "I don't know what there is to say," Ericsson said. He added, "We're on the same page, all of us. We got to find a way to do it on the ice." Prior to the Montreal games, the Red Wings at least battled, losing three of their previous five games in overtime. "You go through stretches like this at times and you got to keep grinding and finding ways to win and as a coach keep finding ways to get your message across," Blashill said. "Sometimes that's talk, sometimes that's meetings, sometimes that's practice. "Our guys, I don't have to convince them they're good enough. They look to plenty of games they've played this season, even games we haven't won, we played really good hockey. But like a lot of teams in the league, we don't have any room for error." That will be the case Tuesday against the Jets (17-6-4), who are tied with Tampa Bay for the most points in the NHL (38). Jimmy Howard will start in goal. The Red Wings did more battle drills in Monday's practice, which Zetterberg said he would like to see more often. From a tactical standpoint, Blashill said they need to hold onto the puck more and win puck battles. They must react better during games when facing adversity. "When teams score on us, instead of just flush that out and focus on what we do, we get tentative and we sit back a little bit instead of just put the foot on the pedal and go forward," Zetterberg said. Zetterberg sent a strong message immediately after Saturday's game, saying the team embarrassed every player who ever wore the winged wheel. "I didn't want that just to be a loss because it wasn't just a loss," he said. "The way we lost, I've never been part of that before. I want them to realize, too, that was bad and make sure that doesn't happen again." Said Tomas Tatar: "I've never been part of that kind of result. This organization deserves much better. 1086628 Detroit Red Wings 73 and 1973-74 before joining the Red Wings broadcast team. He played his junior hockey with the Ontario Hockey League's Peterborough Petes.

*Darren McCarty - As a member of four Red Wings' Stanley Cup Red Wings, Generals 4th-Annual Alumni Game slated for Friday night, championship teams, McCarty played the role of enforcer for much of the December 8th at the Dort Federal Event Center last two decades and teamed up with Kris Draper and Kirk Maltby to form the notorious "Grind Line". McCarty played all but two of his 15 NHL seasons with the Red Wings, scoring 127 goals and recording 1,477 Updated December 4, 2017 at 1:52 PM; Posted December 4, 2017 at penalty minutes in his career. 1:38 PM * Joe Kocur - Known for his physical play, Kocur - one half of the "Bruise By Dominic Hennig [email protected] Brothers" with Bob Probert - was one of the most penalized players in NHL history, amassing 2,519 penalty minutes in stints with the Red Wings, Rangers and Canucks. Flint Firebirds * Brent Fedyk - Drafted by the Red Wings, the right wing suited up for 12 teams in five leagues including the Flyers and the Rangers. Annual Event to raise money and awareness for the Kris Perani Hockey Foundation *John Blum - former standout defenseman for the University of Michigan, a bruising defenseman who played parts of 13 seasons in the NHL Flint, Mich. - The Flint Generals Alumni will once again host the Detroit including stops in Edmonton, Boston and Detroit. Red Wings Alumni for a star-studded contest at the newly renovated Dort Federal Event Center in Flint, Michigan. Legendary Red Wings and Flint *Pat Peake - all-time leading goal scorer for the OHL's Plymouth Whalers Generals players will face off in a special alumni game on Friday night, and a 1st round pick and member of the Washington Capitals in the NHL. December 8th at 7:00 PM. All of the event fundraising proceeds will benefit the Kris Perani Hockey Foundation. * John Ogrodnick - Right wing posted a career-high 55 goals and 50 assists with the Red Wings during the 1984-85 season and finished his "For the fourth consecutive year, it will be great to see the guys back on NHL career in 1993 with 402 goals and 425 assists. the ice and in the crowd, playing the Red Wings alumni team, one of the greatest franchises in the National Hockey League (NHL)," said longtime * Kevin Miller - Michigan State graduate played on the U.S. National Generals defenseman Lorne Knauft. "Hockey fans and sports fans, Team before making the jump to the NHL in 1988. He played for 10 NHL Firebirds fans, Generals fans and Red Wings fans alike, won't want to teams including the Detroit Red Wings. miss it." * Wayne Presley - Right wing first suited up for the Chicago Blackhawks Red Wings fan favorites Darren McCarty, Mickey Redmond and Joe in 1984 where he posted a career-high 32 goals and 29 assists two years Kocur will headline the NHL squad and will be joined by several notable later. Wings alumni including right winger and 50 goal-scorer, John Ogrodnick, right winger Brent Fedyk, center, Kevin Miller and defenseman, John * Rolf Nilsen - Left wing from Norway and Cape Coral, Fla. is a former ski Blum jumper in his fifth season with the Red Wing Alumni. Nilsen is the owner of the newly renovated Dort Federal Event Center and the OHL's Flint Several of Knauft's Generals teammates will also be back on the ice Firebirds. including right wing Jim Duhart, defenseman Stephane Brochu, left wing Jason Payne, defenseman Keith Whitmore, right wing Jason Glover and * Sergei Kharin - forward played for the Winnipeg Jets in the National left wing John Heasty. Hockey League and for Krylia Sovetov Moscow in the Soviet Hockey League. He was the first Soviet born player to play a regular season Despite the all-star lineup, the family-friendly event won't break the bank game for the Jets. as tickets start at $12 dollars and may be purchased at the Dort Federal Box Office or by visiting www.tickemaster.com. Groups of 10 or more * Brian Rolston - Born in Flint, Michigan, the forward won a Stanley Cup are eligible for $2 discounts. Suite rentals are also available by e-mailing championship with the New Jersey Devils in 1995 and has represented Karla Turner at [email protected]. the of America three times in Olympic competition for ice hockey. In the Salt Lake City Olympics of 2002, he won the Silver Medal About The Kris Perani Hockey Foundation - The foundation was created with Team USA. in 2007 in loving memory of Kris Perani. Mrs. Perani loved watching all levels of youth hockey from the mites being put into position to the * Jon Finstrom - Center from New Baltimore, Mich. has 11 professional Bantams with their hard hitting competitive attitude. She would have seasons under his belt and was twice voted the best two-way player in been proud to support the foundation that was created in her name. She the with the Port Huron Border Cats. understood the financial commitment of hockey from house league to the Flint Generals Alumni Roster AAA travel leagues. The relationships built within hockey are priceless. Help support youth hockey by making a tax deductible contribution to the * Lorne Knauft #6 - The defenseman played in eight leagues, including KPHF today. eight seasons with the Generals. He posted a career-high 59 points during the 1996-97 season and was part of the 1999-2000 Colonial Cup The Kris Perani Hockey Foundation Mission Statement - We are an championship team. organization whose goal is to provide hockey players in need with financial assistance. The benefit of sponsoring hockey players in need * Jim Duhart #19 - The right winger suited up for 11 teams, including will strengthen the hockey community and have a positive impact on the seven seasons with the Generals. He posted 198 goals while in Flint. chosen nominees and their families. * Stephan Brochu #5 - Drafted by the Rangers, the defenseman tallied a Live and Silent Auctions and 50/50 Raffle to Benefit the Kris Perani career-high 72 points during the 1997-98 season with the Generals and Hockey Foundation - There will be a live and silent auction running closed out his professional career with in Flint in 2001. throughout the event on December 8th that will include the following items: * Ross Wilson #42 - Right wing suited up for 14 teams in five leagues during his career. He tallied a career-high 53 goals and 56 assists for the Detroit Red Wings jerseys will be auctioned live "off the backs" of Mickey Generals during the 1996-97 season. Redmond, Darren McCarty and Joe Kocur. Silent auction items will include: Flint Generals Alumni signed jersey by John Heasty, Detroit Red * Keith Whitmore #7 - The defenseman got his start in the Ontario Wings 2015 alumni jerseys by Sergei Samsonov and Ted Lindsay, Hockey League before joining the ECHL and, then, signing with the Detroit Red Wings signed sticks from Kindl and Glendening and signed Generals in 1993 where he posted a career-high 19 goals and 59 assists Red Wings pucks from Ericsson, Franzen and Smith along with Flint that season. Firebirds assorted specialty warm up jerseys. * Jason Glover #24 - The right wing played three of his 11 professional About The Arena - The storied Dort Federal Event Center has been a seasons with the Generals, posting 101 goals and 116 assists. sports and entertainment hub for Flint for close to five decades. In * John Heasty #14 - The left wing first took the ice in Flint with the addition to being the current home of the Ontario Hockey League's in 1991 and, later, with the Generals, from 1993-98. Firebirds, it was the former home of the Generals (1969-85, 1992-2010), Spirits (1985-90), and the Bulldogs (1991-92). *Rob Laurie #33 a former standout goaltender for Western Michigan University, Rob had a 10 year professional career in the WPHL and * Mickey Redmond - Former right winger and 10 year NHL veteran, Europe Redmond had back to back 50 goal seasons for the Red Wings in 1972- *Lee Jelenic #24 former member of Yale University who later joined the Flint Generals in the early 2000s in his professional career *Brent Daugherty#29 played three years in the OHL with Sudbury and London and three years of professional hockey which included time with the IHL's Flint Spirits and UHL's Flint Generals *Chad Grills#21 center iceman played in the OHL with Peterborough and the Soo in advance of a 10 year professional career which included the Flint Generals in the mid-90s *Jason Payne#67 played two years in the OHL with London and Barrie and thirteen professional seasons, including three with the Flint Generals *Robbie Nichols#12 played three years in the OHL with Kitchener and North Bay and nine years of professional hockey. Coached professionally for eleven seasons and was recognized as coach of the year for the UHL's Flint Generals in 1996-97. *Ange Guzzo#4 played four years of professional hockey including one season with the CoHL's Flint Bulldogs. *Dale Greenwood#27 Center started his career in Flint in 1999, helping the Generals capture the Colonial cup in 2000 and playing through the 2002-03 season. *Trevor Bremner #32 played four seasons of professional hockey including one with the UHL's Flint Generals in the late 90's.

Michigan Live LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086629 Detroit Red Wings

Red Wings trade Scott Wilson to Sabres for fifth-round pick

Updated December 4, 2017 at 1:08 PM; Posted December 4, 2017 at 12:47 PM By Ansar Khan [email protected]

DETROIT -- The Detroit Red Wings have traded forward Scott Wilson to the Buffalo Sabres for a fifth-round pick in the 2019 entry draft. General manager Ken Holland said the team will not recall a player from the for Tuesday's game against the Winnipeg Jets at Little Caesars Arena (7:30 p.m., Fox Sports Detroit). They will decide on Wednesday whether to promote someone. Wilson, in 17 games for Detroit, had no points and a minus-1 rating while averaging 7:28 in ice time as a fourth-line energy player. He was acquired from Pittsburgh, along with a 2018 third-round selection, on Oct. 21 in the move that sent Riley Sheahan and a fifth- round choice to the Penguins. Wilson has no points in 20 games overall this season. If the Red Wings opt to recall a forward, they have several options, including Matt Puempel, who leads the team in scoring with eight goals and 20 points in 21 games. He was acquired from the New York Rangers on Oct. 21 for defenseman . If they're looking for grit, Tyler Bertuzzi is a possibility. He missed the preseason and the first few weeks of the regular season with a wrist injury. He has five goals and nine points in 12 games.

Michigan Live LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086630 Edmonton Oilers eighth year in this organization. This is home, this is where my comfort is, everything comes easy for me here.

“I lost my confidence (with the Canadiens).” Starting status against Flyers up in air for Oilers goalie Brossoit He played 13 games with them this season.

“It was mix and match for me there. I was the seventh defenceman in Jim Matheson, Edmonton Journal and out. My steadiest partner was Jordie Benn,” said Davidson, who will Published on: December 4, 2017 | Last Updated: December 4, 2017 6:58 be a third-pairing defenceman when he gets into a game with his former PM MST club. Whenever that is. After Saturday’s rough ride in Calgary, Edmonton Oilers coach Todd “When we play him is undetermined,” McLellan said. “This gives us McLellan wouldn’t say if goalie Laurent Brossoit is starting Wednesday organizational depth and somebody who’s familiar with the city, the against the Philadelphia Flyers at Rogers Place. coaching staff, the language we use. That should give him a head-start.” It can mean three things: THIS ‘N’ THAT: The Oilers have only drawn 70 power plays in 27 games (40 at home in 13 games, 30 in 14 games on the road), the fewest in the 1. They’re looking elsewhere in a trade, such as, for Buffalo’s backup NHL. Contrast that with Winnipeg, who has drawn 95 in the same Chad Johnson, who was good in Calgary last season but has poor number of games. Either the officials are turning a blind eye to the Oilers numbers with the Sabres. with the puck or they’re not skating hard enough to draw enough calls … ECHL farmhand goalie Shane Starrett (Wichita) was his league’s 2. They might give Bakersfield farmhand Nick Ellis his first NHL game. goaltender of the month for November with a 1.68 goals-against average in seven games … Kailer Yamamoto is on a near point-a-game pace 3. He’s just being cagey with the struggling Flyers coming to town. back in Spokane with nine points in 10 games but, as in the NHL, he’s Probably door No. 3. having trouble scoring. He has one goal for the junior Chiefs after being unable to break through in his nine games with the Oilers … Tyler When asked if he knew who was going to start against Philadelphia, Benson’s late push for a possible Team Canada world junior invite plows McLellan said he didn’t know. ahead. He has 24 points in 16 games, including 11 goals, for the Vancouver Giants … Iiro Pakarinen had the only goal for AHL Bakersfield “We’ll get through practice tomorrow (Tuesday) and go from there,” he in their 2-1 loss to San Jose Sunday. said.

That sounds kind of vague. Edmonton Journal: LOADED: 12.05.2017 All we know is Brossoit wasn’t ducking how poorly he played in the third period in Calgary with the Oilers up 6-1. “You know what it came down to? I let my body cool off,” Brossoit told Sportsnet’s Mark Spector Monday. “In a situation like that, where we take full control, I know next time to just be sure I’m ready to go both mentally and physically.” Brossoit is easy to like. He’s forthright, has a sense of humour and he’s willing to stand in and answer tough questions about his game. How does the coaching staff raise Brossoit’s spirits after Saturday night? “The first thing is the relationship between that position and (goalie) coach Dustin Schwartz,” said McLellan. “They talk every day about the emotional and physical level needed to play that position, then you go into the technique breakdown. “Rebuilding L.B. right now is one of our goals. It’s not like he’s completely broken but we have to make sure he gets some confidence and we created a number of practice drills today that would work on L.B.’s needs. Our downfall was a seven-minute span from 16 minutes left on the clock to nine (in the third period). Some of it had to do with L.B.’s focus in the net, other things went wrong on the ice that we can cure.” Oilers captain Connor McDavid missed Monday’s practice, still bothered by the flu even though he hasn’t missed a game and was outstanding in Calgary, especially in the first period. “I don’t know if it’s the same bug he had (on the last road trip) but he’s got one” McLellan said. “The flu going through Edmonton is going through the Oilers. “(Ryan) Strome’s had it, (Eric) Gryba had it in Calgary. Unless he takes a turn for the worse, McDavid will play Wednesday.” Currently out with an undisclosed upper-body injury, Adam Larsson can come off injured reserve to play Wednesday, but didn’t skate Monday. “That’s not a positive sign,” said McLellan. “If he doesn’t practise Tuesday, it’s unlikely he’ll come off IR. One of the (health) factors you look at with a defenceman is can he start the night and finish the night? You can’t short-staff the back-end five minutes into a game.” Sounds like he may be back Saturday against Montreal instead. Brandon Davidson, picked up on waivers Sunday, was one of seven healthy defencemen on the ice Monday with Andrej Sekera also taking part in drills as a No. 8, but still a few weeks away from returning off knee surgery. “I haven’t quit smiling since I heard the news,,” said the former Oilers player, traded to Montreal last Feb. 28 for David Desharnais. “This is my 1086631 Edmonton Oilers Walker, who first put on skates at six following brother Ryan, who was into hockey, got hooked even more when he saw Disney’s Ducks movies. New Oilers forward chasing his hockey dream around the world “Yeah, that’s true,” he said. He was born in Wales but moved to Australia, a country of 24 million, Jim Matheson, Edmonton Journal when he was two. The whole country only has 4,000 registered players and 25 rinks.The rinks in Sydney were pretty spartan, like hockey shells. Published on: December 4, 2017 | Last Updated: December 4, 2017 5:55 PM MST “You’d by lucky to get a couple hundred people in there,” he said. “An ice-sheet and a little grand-stand. I remember a couple of teachers telling me that hockey was never going to be a thing for me. Nathan Walker moved from Australia to the Czech Republic at 13. “You’ve got the stereotypical rugby and soccer back home.” Going half way around the globe to chase his hockey dream in a non- Indeed, Australians are known more for their tans and laying on the English speaking country, frankly, boggles the mind of Todd McLellan, as beach than hanging around hockey rinks. not only a coach but the father of two boys. Still, Walker said he never thought the NHL was a million miles away. “I had to move a 17-year-old son (Tyson) across the country for school and it wasn’t easy,” the Edmonton Oilers coach said. “We’re all big, tough “I just wanted to play hockey,” said Walker, who fought Andrew Shaw in hockey guys until that has to happen. the 2016 pre-season. “The commitment level from the player and the family to do that is “He went after one of our guys (Connor Hobbs) and I didn’t like it,” said incredible. Speaks to the type of person Nathan is, speaks to his Walker. character, to handle that move at such a young age, facing adversity, He’s fast and feisty, a good penalty-killer. deals with a lot of emotions being so far from home.” “He looks like a hungry player at practice today and it’s nice to have him,” Walker, claimed on waivers from Washington Capitals on Friday, admits said McLellan, who, for now, has him as an extra forward but will likely he was terribly homesick, billeted with a family that couldn’t communicate eventually play him on the fourth-line. with him, but it was all part of his master plan. Hungry enough to go through a remarkable odyssey to the the NHL. “I actually wanted to leave Australia when I was 11,” said Walker.

Where, he was asked, would he have gone? Edmonton Journal: LOADED: 12.05.2017 “Who knows?” said Walker, laughing when it was suggested he throw a dart at a map. He was playing for an Aussie youth team at a tournament in the steel town of Vitkovice, when he was so good the Czech coaches wanted him on their kids’ team. He never went home, somehow convincing his mother, Ceri, and father, Wayne, over the phone that this was his dream. Of course, Ceri came over for a couple of weeks to check things out before she officially gave the thumbs-up. Again, he was 13. “Being in the Czech Republic was definitely a cultural shock. The first year I billeted with a family there was a lot of Google translation and hand-signals because they didn’t speak English and I didn’t speak Czech,” said Walker, who couldn’t even ask what was for dinner. How many times was he homesick? “Too many to count,” he said. He went to an international school for two years where the classes were in English but hockey took over when he was 15. He’d get up at the crack of dawn, take the tram to the rink, then hang around a restaurant connected to the rink for hours and try to make friends until he’d trek home. Rinse and repeat. Every day, until he eventually played for the Vitkovice senior team, scoring against Canada in the Spengler Cup as a teenager, then hiked off to Youngstown, OH., to play junior in the USHL. The five-foot-nine, 186-pound forward who played centre in Hershey last year before switching over to left-wing in his seven games with the Capitals this year, went through two NHL drafts without hearing his name until the Caps got him as a 20-year-old in the third round in 2014. Two hundred AHL games later, he’s become an NHLer at 23. The Capitals weren’t happy to lose him on waivers and they could well reclaim him if Oilers send Walker to the minors because Washington gets first crack at their former player. “I remember going to the Hockey Hall of Fame when I was there for the world inline hockey championship in Brampton when I was eight or nine and we bought all the Wayne Gretzky videos. You’d throw that in the VCR and watch it for hours,” said Walker, who also watched the NHL online. Gretzky wasn’t his favourite player growing up, though. “(Jaromir) Jagr, he was on a lot of the videos we had too,” said Walker, half Jagr’s age. 1086632 Edmonton Oilers Weber has been with and Jordie Benn this year, Weber is also playing tougher competition. Davidson? He's been with Petry and Benn, good defencemen who play good competition. Mostly third pair, Lowetide: Total recall for Oilers in bringing Brandon Davidson back even with those fine players alongside. That's what I get when sifting through his opponents at Natural Stat Trick (who provided all of the information you see here) and a brief chat with my friend Jared Book. By Allan Mitchell 20 hours ago Conclusion I think the Oilers picked up a helluva player in Brandon Davidson. I'm not certain what the Montreal Canadiens didn't see in him, beyond they have The Edmonton Oilers claimed Brandon Davidson off the waiver wire on options they like better for their third pairing. Sunday, the club's second such transaction in a few short days. In a classic case of “smoke if you've got 'em” the club is taking full advantage What we know today is this: based on the two years we saw him in of being deep in the second division of the overall standings by putting in Edmonton, and a quick numbers peak, Brandon Davidson, along with waiver claims. being a fantastic story, is a damn good NHL defenceman. He should arrive in the city and ease into the third-pairing role quickly. There are no Brandon Davidson is very well known to Oilers fans. He was drafted in negatives in this waiver claim, not for the Oilers. 2010, No. 162 overall, so late in the draft all the suits were gone and the cleaning staff were delivering passive aggressive sighs just outside the draft ropes. Davidson's scouting reports were exactly what you'd expect from a player chosen so late. Mike Remmerde: I usually like late bloomers who come out of nowhere, The Athletic LOADED: 12.05.2017 but this guy’s skating bothers me too much. Has big trouble with pivots. But he’s got really good hockey sense and is a very good puck mover. Probably goes way higher than I like, but if somehow he lasted until the 5th round, I might be interested. The Oilers got him in the sixth round and it was exceptional value as things turned out. Davidson took some time, turning pro at age 21 and splitting his first season between the ECHL and AHL. The Oklahoma City Barons had a strong coaching staff (head coach Todd Nelson, assistant coaches Rocky Thompson and Gerry Fleming) with some impressive results in prospect development during those years. The 2013-14 team had some promising defencemen, with Oscar Klefbom, Davidson, Martin Marincin, Jordan Oesterle, Brad Hunt and Taylor Fedun spending time on their way to getting NHL time. Davidson overcame some things in his build toward becoming an NHL player (including cancer) and he's an easy player to cheer for—his return to Edmonton was met with universal applause from fans and media this weekend. Along with a fabulous story that includes Davidson himself clearly pleased with the transaction, the Oilers are getting a very capable hockey player. 2015-16 Oilers Defence I like using Corsi for 5-on-5 and Corsi Rel when discussing defenders, with the full understanding many who read this have either moved on to other metrics or no longer like the Corsi stat. I prefer it because it delivers a line in the sand for possession, the widest, not the narrowest, to measure performance. It does not represent the complete view, many other things have to be factored into the equation. I am looking for wide and quick over a number of seasons and two teams. Corsi Rel is wonderfully explained here. The Edmonton Oilers were better off with Brandon Davidson (and Oscar Klefbom) on the ice in 2015-16 than they were with other defencemen. Brandon Davidson was excellent in possession his first full NHL season. Edmonton was brimming with quality youth at the time, mostly first-round picks. Davidson, from the bowels of a distant draft, hung with them. He'd also straightened out the skating, showed impressive passing ability and could transport the puck. The Oilers found one, a good one. Only problem? He arrived same time as Klefbom and Nurse, two first-round picks. 2016-17 Oilers Defence In his second full season with the Oilers, Davidson had injury issues (see Matt Tkachuk) and the Oilers obsessed about losing him in the expansion draft. A trade to the Montreal Canadiens meant he would play just 28 games with Edmonton, but as the Rel suggested the young defender was effective when in the lineup. Notice the continuing influx of youth, represented by Matt Benning. 2017-18 Habs Defence After being dealt to Montreal, keeping track of Davidson was difficult because he didn't seem to be a regular in the lineup. The Habs dealt for Jordie Benn at the same time, down the stretch and into the playoffs Montreal used Benn more than Davidson. Which brings us to this year and the trip to the waiver wire. Again Davidson delivers quality in possession. I don't follow the Montreal Canadiens closely enough to estimate where he plays, but if we use logic and reason we can estimate. Jeff Petry plays a lot with , I'll bet they play tough opposition compared to the rest of this group. Shea 1086633 Florida Panthers LaFontaine for sixth on the Islanders' career list with 567 points. ... Panthers forward Connor Brickley was back in the lineup after being a healthy scratch the past four games. ... Islanders C Casey Cizikas Barzal scores shootout winner, Islanders edge Panthers 5-4 missed his third game with a lower-body injury.

BY PAUL GEREFFI Miami Herald LOADED: 12.05.2017 Associated Press DECEMBER 05, 2017 12:13 AM UPDATED 3 HOURS 1 MINUTES AGO

SUNRISE, FLA. Without a word, Mathew Barzal made it clear to his coach that he wanted his first career chance in a shootout. The 20-year-old rookie scored the winning goal in the tiebreaker to lift the New York Islanders over the Florida Panthers 5-4 on Monday night. "He wouldn't stop staring at me as I picked the first two guys (Jordan Eberle and John Tavares)," Islanders coach Doug Weight said. "I wouldn't look at him. Somehow, he thinks that's why I picked him, because he was staring through me. He's a confident kid and wanted to get out there." New York's Anders Lee scored his 100th career goal. Tavares, Brock Nelson and Thomas Hickey also scored in regulation for the Islanders. Jaroslav Halak made 39 saves and stopped all three attempts in the shootout. Barzal backhanded the puck past goalie James Reimer. "Honestly, I didn't even have a move coming into it," Barzal said. "I just was trying to read off him and got in tight there. It's kind of a move I've done for a while and went to my backhand." Panthers goalie Roberto Luongo was injured when he stretched out his right leg to block a shot by Ryan Pulock at 17:29 of the second period. Luongo was helped off the ice by trainers and wasn't able to put any weight on the leg. He did not return. "He's hobbling a bit," coach Bob Boughner said. "Lower body. He's going to be looked at tomorrow by our doctors and get an MRI and see what happens." Luongo allowed one goal on 13 shots. Reimer replaced him and finished with 16 saves. "Obviously, your first thought is you hope he's (Luongo) going to get up and it's just a minor tweak, but obviously that wasn't the case," Reimer said. "We're obviously hoping for the best for him, but at the same point you're just trying to get yourself into the game and ready to go." Denis Malgin, Aleksander Barkov and Aaron Ekblad scored for the Panthers. Keith Yandle had a goal and two assists, and Vincent Trocheck added three assists. Malgin tied the score at 4 when he was left alone in front, took a pass from Trocheck from behind the net and poked in the puck at 5:06 of the third period. After trailing 3-2, the Islanders scored two goals in about two minutes of the second. Nelson tied the score at 3 on his shot from the slot that went through Reimer's legs with 3:41 left. Tavares put the Islanders ahead 4-3 with 1:39 left when he backhanded the puck between Reimer's pads. Barkov gave the Panthers a 3-2 lead on the power play when he took a shot from above the right circle that beat Halak at 10:34 of the second. Barkov has four goals in his past five games. The Islanders took a 2-1 lead on Hickey's goal when his wrist shot bounced past Reimer at 5:35 of the second. The Panthers tied it 2-all on a power-play goal by Ekblad at 8:45 of the second. The Islanders had just killed off a 5-on-3 for 55 seconds and then Ekblad's shot from the left circle got by Halak. Yandle gave the Panthers a 1-0 lead at 10:25 of the first. He corralled a loose puck at the point and fired a wrist shot past Halak. The Islanders tied it on Lee's shot from in front that went through Luongo's legs at 13:51 of the first. NOTES: Panthers associate coach Jack Capuano faced the Islanders for the first time this season. Capuano coached New York from November 2010 until he was fired in January 2017. ... Tavares passed Pat 1086634 Florida Panthers

Another game, another new line for Panthers' Vincent Trocheck

Matthew DeFranks Sun Sentinel

When Panthers center Vincent Trocheck takes the ice for Monday’s game against the New York Islanders, it’ll be more of the same: he’ll have to again adjust to another different line. Trocheck, Florida’s star second-line center, will be flanked by Denis Maglin on his right and Jamie McGinn on his left. It will be the 11th different line combination for Trocheck in the season’s first 27 games. “He’s an engine on whatever line or whatever wingers I put on him,” Panthers coach Bob Boughner said Monday morning. “He runs the line.” Trocheck has been one of the catalysts for Florida’s offense despite his rotating cast of linemates. He leads the team with 10 goals. His 24 points are third among Panthers. The only players with more points are the top- line duo of Jonathan Huberdeau and Aleksander Barkov. But Trocheck has had little help. , who started the season as the second-line right wing, has not scored a goal in 20 of the 21 games he’s played. McGinn has one goal in his last 15 games. Four of his one-time wingers have been healthy scratches at one point this season: Malgin, Connor Brickley, Dryden Hunt and Henrik Haapala. Trocheck said it was the first time he’s had so much flux with his linemates, but said he doesn’t have to restart the chemistry process every time there’s a switch. “I know everybody now at this point,” Trocheck said. “We know each other on this team, we play on the same team. We watch everybody when you’re in a game. You kind of have an idea of how each of them plays. I just have to play to their strengths.” Evgenii Dadonov’s shoulder injury (out 3-5 more weeks) threw a wrench into the Panthers’ plans. Boughner must plug a hole on the top line in Dadonov’s absence, creating one somewhere else in the lineup, including the second line. Malgin brings an element that Florida hasn’t had much on Trocheck’s right wing this season: speed. The 20-year-old played with Trocheck in Carolina on Saturday after occupying the top line for three games when he was called up from AHL affiliate Springfield. “He offered the speed we were looking for down the right side,” Boughner said. “Generally, we don’t want to keep changing too much, but when you have injuries and you have back-to-backs, you got to see what the other team is playing. There will be some slight changes.” Trocheck’s old linemates — Reilly Smith and Jussi Jokinen — are no longer with the Panthers. Florida bought out Jokinen, who signed with Edmonton and was traded to Los Angeles. Florida traded Smith to Vegas, shedding his contract and allowing the Golden Knights to also select Jonathan Marchessault in the expansion draft. Smith and Marchessault have combined for 46 points this season as Vegas has run out to a 16-9-1 start under former Panthers coach Gerard Gallant. Panthers prospect Aleksi Heponiemi was named to Finland's training camp roster for the World Junior Championships in Buffalo later this month, the organization announced Monday morning. Heponiemi, 18, has been tearing up the Western Hockey League in Canada this season, notching 18 goals and 48 assists in just 27 games for the Swift Current Broncos. The Panthers selected Heponiemi in the second round with the No. 40 selection in this summer’s draft. While his numbers are eye-popping, Heponiemi is still a few steps away from the NHL. He’ll have to add weight to his 5-foot-10, 141-pound frame. Heponiemi is from the same city (Tampere) in Finland as Barkov.

Sun Sentinel LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086635 Florida Panthers

Panthers' Capuano to face former team for first time since being fired by Islanders

Matthew DeFranks Sun Sentinel

Prior to this season, Jack Capuano’s greatest connection to the Panthers franchise may have been a sour note in Florida. Capuano, now the Panthers’ associate coach, was previously the head coach of the New York Islanders for seven seasons, including the 2016 playoff series between the two teams. So when Capuano arrived in Sunrise, he immediately heard about that series. When he joined the team, Capuano said Vincent Trocheck told him about the infamous non-tripping call in Game 6 that allowed the Islanders to close out the series. Capuano’s response? “I told him we would’ve beaten them in Game 7 anyway,” Capuano said. Monday’s Islanders-Panthers game will be the first meeting between Capuano and his former team, which fired him in January. As the Islanders coach, Capuano made the playoffs in three seasons and the series win over Florida was his only one in the postseason. He went 227- 192-64 in 483 games. Capuano said he still roots for the Islanders because of the relationships he built during his time there. “I’ve been in this business long enough to realize that sometimes change is good for players and coaches,” Capuano said. “If there’s anybody in that Metro I want to win, it’s them.” Panthers coach Bob Boughner said he didn’t have a prior relationship with Capuano before hiring him and that the first time the two met in person was during the job interview. With the Panthers, Capuano has been put in charge of the defense and penalty kill. “When I took this job, obviously a first-time NHL coach, I wanted to make sure that I went out and got an experienced guy that knows the league and has dealt with the highs and lows of the NHL season,” Boughner said. “Jack’s certainly done that. He’s a bit of a calming effect for me. Lots of times, when I’m fired up and I want to maybe say something, he’ll say ‘Let’s think about this for a second.’” Out of 31 teams, the Panthers currently rank 28th in the league in goals against (3.35 per game), 30th in shots on goal against (35.8 per game) and 30th in penalty killing (74.4 percent). Only one of Florida’s seven defensemen (Keith Yandle) is older than 26 years old. He’s the only defenseman with at least 300 NHL games played. “It’s a young team, just like we were on the island,” Capuano said. “That’s one of the main reasons why I thought this would be a real good situation for me because it’s similar to the teams we had in New York.”

Sun Sentinel LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086636 Florida Panthers But Florida’s larger concern is not Monday’s game but rather Luongo’s health.

Luongo’s injury is the latest this calendar year for him. In October, he Panthers lose to Islanders in shootout after Roberto Luongo leaves game suffered a right hand injury against the Pittsburgh Penguins when his with injury hand was wedged into the goalpost. In March, he missed the last five weeks of the season with a hip injury. Matthew DeFranks In the offseason, Luongo adopted a new gameday routine that was supposed to prevent his hip injury from returning. He’s taken a new Sun Sentinel approach to recovering the day after games, including the occasional maintenance day at practice. The measures couldn’t keep Luongo from a pair of early-season maladies. For part of the four minutes that clouded the Florida Panthers’ 5-4 After returning from a two-week absence earlier this season, Luongo shootout loss to the New York Islanders on Monday night, Roberto regained the form that made him one of the game’s elite goaltenders. In Luongo laid motionless in the crease. His left leg was bent. His right one the 10 games leading into Monday night, Luongo had a .936 save was straight. His face was pinned to the ice. percentage and 2.28 goals against average. He carried the team on most nights, and Boughner often labeled him the team’s best player in some On the ice in front of the Panthers bench, James Reimer warmed, stretches. stretching out, loosening up as he prepared to replace an injured Luongo for the second time in the season’s first two months. A pair of Florida “He is a professional in every sense of the word,” Trocheck said. “He’s a trainers checked on Luongo on the opposite end of the ice, and Colton leader in every sense of the word. He’s a Hall of Famer in every sense of Sceviour and Alex Petrovic watched over their teammate. the word. And he’s a great goaltender on the ice. He’s done everything for this team since he’s been in the organization. There’s not much Luongo would eventually turn over, then limp off the ice, unable to put negative you could say about Lu. He’s a great hockey player, a great any weight on his right leg as he left the game with 17:29 remaining in guy, a great leader.” the second period. He disappeared into the Panthers tunnel at 8:40 p.m. It’s unknown when he’ll reemerge again. Losing Luongo would force Reimer back into the spotlight as the team’s No. 1 starter. In the six games Luongo missed earlier this season, After the game, Panthers coach Bob Boughner didn’t have a timeline on Reimer struggled mightily. He had a .894 save percentage and 3.95 Luongo, saying that he’ll be reevaluated Tuesday and get an MRI. goals against average. He was pulled in back-to-back games as Tampa Boughner said Luongo was “hobbling a bit” after the game but didn’t Bay and Columbus each embarrassed the Panthers. know if it would be a long-term injury. Reimer appeared to be improving in his last couple games, with a strong “I don’t really know, to be honest with you, and make a comment on that,” effort against the Rangers in New York and a 44-save game Saturday in Boughner said. “I don’t know. I would probably say he’s out for Thursday Carolina. if I had to guess.” “It looks like he found his game again,” Boughner said prior to Monday’s Luongo’s pain stemmed from a save he made on Islanders defenseman game. “He’s making some big saves. Louie’s been solid for a few weeks Ryan Pulock. Pulock blasted a slap shot from the blue line in front of the here. If we get that kind of goaltending, giving us a chance to win every New York bench, forcing Luongo to kick out his right leg for a pad save. night, again, it’s about us competing and not having 10 or 15-minute The puck caromed to the boards and Luongo crumpled to the ice. lulls.” The injury worsened a night in which Florida lost its third consecutive

game, and fell farther behind in its attempt to salvage a slow start. The consecutive wins from last week’s road trip drifted deeper into the rear- Sun Sentinel LOADED: 12.05.2017 view mirror as the Panthers missed an opportunity to climb in the weak Atlantic Division. Mathew Barzal scored the game-winning goal in the shootout for New York. Vincent Trocheck, Aleksander Barkov and Jonathan Huberdeau each missed in the shootout for the Panthers. “Me, Barky and Huby, we have to be able to put the puck in the net,” Trocheck said. Keith Yandle and Denis Malgin scored for the Panthers, and Aaron Ekblad and Barkov notched power-play goals for Florida. Yandle and Trocheck each registered multi-point nights. After replacing Luongo, Reimer struggled. He allowed three goals on the first eight shots he faced, including John Tavares’ go-ahead at 18:21 of the second period. Tavares tucked a shot through Reimer’s legs minutes after Brock Nelson beat him on the rush to tie the game at 3. Reimer finished the game with 16 saves on 19 Islanders shots. “Obviously, I wish I would’ve played better in the second,” Reimer said. “That’s how it goes sometimes.” Boughner added: “It was a combination of him coming in cold and obviously, after Louie went down, that took a little bit of wind out of our sails. It took us four, five shifts to find it again. It’s a pretty traumatic thing and it turned the game around a little bit.” Trocheck was a linchpin in Florida’s second-period push that flipped a 2- 1 deficit into a 3-2 lead. While already on the power play, Trocheck drew a roughing penalty by New York’s Cal Clutterbuck. The penalty gave Florida a 5-on-3 advantage, which ended two seconds before Ekblad tied at the game at 2. Fifty-nine seconds after Ekblad’s goal, Clutterbuck again found himself in hot water. After a scrum formed in the far corner of the ice, Clutterbuck banged his stick on the Islanders bench in protest of the officials. He was called for a two-minute unsportsmanlike penalty and a 10-minute misconduct. On the ensuing power play, Barkov buried a shot past Islanders goaltender Jaroslav Halak. Trocheck had assists on both power-play goals. 1086637 Los Angeles Kings

What we learned from the Kings' defeat of the Blackhawks

Curtis Zupke

The Chicago Blackhawks were on tired legs Sunday, but for much of the second period at home against the Kings they were able to channel their trademark quick-strike capability. Slick passing. Great transition game. The Kings could have suffered a loss in the finale of a four-game trip, but they scratched out a 3-1 win behind Jonathan Quick and a rare goal by defenseman Christian Folin. Here’s what we learned: Let’s use the real estate phrase associated with location to describe how the Kings have won five straight games. Quick and Darcy Kuemper have shouldered much of the effort, and often mask shortcomings that pop up, especially on the road. Quick was at this level early in the season, when the Kings were scoring more. That support has dipped some, but he is there and it’s a notable contrast to last season’s opening-night injury that doomed the Kings. “It’s unbelievable,” Folin said. “I get surprised every time. I think the puck’s going to be in the net, and somehow it stays out.” Overshadowed by partner Drew Doughty, Muzzin quietly did the blue- collar work in bodying Blackhawks, shutting down lanes and breaking up shots and passes. He had six blocked shots and helped kill four power plays, however ineffective by Chicago. It was a bland start by their standards. Both teams were exhausted from the schedule and Chicago’s inability to get set up in the Kings zone with the man-advantage drew some boos from the United Center crowd. But from the second period on, the game was another example of the exciting hockey displayed when these teams get together. Long stretches without a whistle. Big scoring chances followed by big stops. There were only 34 faceoffs through two periods, and 60 for the game. It’s too bad these teams won’t meet again until February.

LA Times: LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086638 Los Angeles Kings

No grudge match for Christian Folin and Darcy Kuemper when Kings host Wild

Helene Elliott

It makes for a good storyline, but there’s disappointment in store for anyone who expects Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper and defenseman Christian Folin to approach Tuesday’s game against Minnesota as a grudge match because the Wild let them depart as free agents last summer. Kuemper, who’s expected to back up Jonathan Quick, and Folin, who’s trying to keep a regular spot, had only good things to say about Minnesota on Monday. Folin said he saw Wild coach Bruce Boudreau last summer and joked he was looking forward to this matchup, but didn’t carry any animosity with him when he signed with the Kings and moved west. “It’s just a business. I’m not going to have any sour emotions towards anyone in the Minnesota organization,” said Folin, whose goal against Chicago on Sunday might keep him in the lineup when the Kings try to extend their winning streak to six. “I really enjoyed playing there. I had three great years and I have lots to be thankful for. It was a good time in my life and I made lots of really good friends.” He has felt comfortable with the Kings from the start. “I like being around the guys in the room. You can tell there’s a lot of experience,” said Folin, who shares a South Bay home with Kuemper. “There’s a lot of guys around the room that’s won a couple Stanley Cups, and it shows. It’s fun to be part of it every day and I’m just pushing to get better, something I’ve been doing my whole career.” Kuemper never seized the Wild’s starting job and lost his backup role late last March when Alex Stalock was promoted. “I think I knew I wasn’t going to be back in Minnesota, which was a lot of mixed feelings,” said Kuemper, who is 4-0-2 with a 1.72 goals-against average and .944 save percentage in eight games this season. “It was the only team I’d ever played for and a lot of good experiences there, but I’m really happy to be here now and really happy with how things have been going.”

LA Times: LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086639 Los Angeles Kings

What we learned this week in the NHL: The Kings are back

Helene Elliott

What we learned in the NHL over the last week of play: The Kings’ slump is over Remember the 1-6-1 slump that triggered flashbacks to the bad old days of the last few seasons? Neither do the Kings, who have a five-game winning streak and have regained the Pacific Division lead. “I think part of it is we’re getting scoring from up and down our lineup, which I think is key to win in this league,” right wing Dustin Brown said Monday. “We’re getting big goals from so-called third- and fourth-liners. That helps.” It also helps that they’ve given up only six goals in that streak. “We’re not giving up very many scoring chances, which is a staple. When we’re on our game, it’s always there,” Brown said. The Ducks, or what’s left of them while they endure a plague of injuries, made a good move in acquiring established center Adam Henrique and depth forward Joseph Blandisi for defenseman Sami Vatanen and a conditional draft pick. The Ducks’ depth on defense made turnover-prone Vatanen expendable. They should be formidable up the middle when Ryan Kesler (hip surgery) and Ryan Getzlaf (facial bone surgery) return, but they’ll have to end a 1-4-2 slump to stay near the playoff pack. They’re scoring only 2.59 goals per game and giving up a league-worst average of 36.3 shots against per game. A 10-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday left the Detroit Red Wings’ faces as red as the color of their classic uniforms and extended their winless streak to 0-4-3. “Basically embarrassed everyone that played for the Winged Wheel tonight,” team captain Henrik Zetterberg said, according to the Detroit News. “We have to live with that.” The Philadelphia Flyers’ winless streak hit 0-5-5 after a 3-0 loss to the Boston Bruins on Saturday. Fans didn’t even stick around the Wells Fargo Center to boo them at the end of the game or to repeat their previous calls for the firing of coach Dave Hakstol. Their streak ended Monday with a 5-2 win at Calgary. The Pittsburgh Penguins are again playing like Stanley Cup champions and have a season-best four-game winning streak. Rookie goalie Tristan Jarry has stepped in for injured Matt Murray, and Sidney Crosby has scored at least one goal in five consecutive games. “We’re back,” forward Evgeni Malkin told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The Dallas Stars, who had a slow start, stretched their winning streak to five games by sweeping a home-and-home series with the Chicago Blackhawks. “It’s how you deal with adversity,” coach Ken Hitchcock told the Dallas Morning News. “You can build or you can crumble, and we’re building.” Vancouver forward Daniel Sedin joined his twin, Henrik, in the ranks of players who have scored 1,000 points. It was fitting that Henrik set up the power-play goal that made them the only brothers to have each scored 1,000 points. They’re class acts off the ice, too, and have generously supported causes related to children’s health.

LA Times: LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086640 Los Angeles Kings The Wild come in with 29 points and are coming off home victories over Vegas (4-2) and St. Louis (2-1, OT). … Backup goalie Darcy Kuemper is in his first season with the Kings after playing his first five for the Wild. Anze Kopitar says late-November victory over Ducks fueled Kings’ fire With Quick having played four of the past five games, Stevens was asked if he’s considering playing Kuemper against his former team. He said it’s an option, but him having come from Minnesota “would not be the determining factor.” By ROBERT MORALES | Orange County Register

PUBLISHED: December 4, 2017 at 5:12 pm | UPDATED: December 4, 2017 at 5:35 PM Orange County Register: LOADED: 12.05.2017

EL SEGUNDO — Kings center Anze Kopitar didn’t have to ponder the question very long. In his mind, yes, his team’s 2-1 shootout victory over the rival Ducks on Nov. 25 at Staples Center did have something to do with shaking the Kings from their doldrums. The Kings had lost seven of eight before that game. That the victory over the Ducks included plenty of extracurricular activity perhaps added fuel to a fire that has the Kings on a five-game winning streak. “Absolutely,” Kopitar said Monday, a day after the Kings defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 3-1 to complete a 4-0 trip; it’s only the third time in franchise history the team has done that. “We actually played a pretty good game the game before in Phoenix (a 3-2 overtime loss Nov. 24). Obviously, we didn’t get the result that we wanted, but that point was pretty big. “And then coming home, and the start of the game (against the Ducks) that it was, with three fights and a lot of scraps early and then getting down and needing the full 60 minutes to tie it up. And a shootout is obviously a lottery and we managed to win and, for sure, that was a kick- start to this team.” There is more to this surge that has the Kings (17-8-3) atop the Pacific Division with 37 points, just a point behind Winnipeg for the best record in the Western Conference. Kopitar explained. “I think the biggest difference is we’re just finding a way to win and not really crumble,” said Kopitar, who leads the Kings in points with 31. “And I’m not saying that we crumbled before, but it was just … I don’t know how many of those seven losses were one-goal games, where we just couldn’t get it done.” Five of those losses were by one goal. “Obviously, we’re scoring more goals, that certainly helps,” said Kopitar, whose team hosts Minnesota (13-10-3) on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Staples Center. “You know, give Quickie (Jonathan Quick) a lot more support, obviously. But even last night, it’s 0-0 going into the third and somehow find a way to win.” Right wing Dustin Brown believes more balanced scoring is helping. “I think part of it is we’re getting scoring from up and down our lineup, which is, I think, key to win in this league,” he said. “We’re getting big goals – especially on the road trip – we’re getting big goals from so- called third and fourth liners. That helps. “The one goal that comes to mind is (Adrian) Kempe’s goal in St. Louis. It was late in the period and it restores our two-goal lead going into the third; it’s just a big goal.” That’s not to mention the Kings’ first goal Sunday was scored by defenseman Christian Folin, breaking a scoreless tie. Brown noted the team has been very stingy of late, too. The Kings allowed just five goals on the trip that included wins over Detroit (4-1), Washington (5-2), St. Louis (4-1) and Chicago (3-1). “We’re not giving up very many scoring chances, which is a staple,” he said. “When we’re on our game, it’s always there.” Kings coach John Stevens did not even try to downplay his team’s success over the past week and a half. “We loved the trip,” he said. He broke it down. “I really liked the way we played in our own zone,” he said. “I thought we defended really well, we were really fast, we had really good posture inside the dots, I thought our game in the neutral zone continues to get better. “I think our forecheck’s getting better, but it’s probably one area of our game I’d like to see us get more out of.” ICE CHIPS 1086641 Los Angeles Kings

Jonathan Quick, Kings stop Blackhawks for fifth straight win

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS | PUBLISHED: December 4, 2017 at 5:00 pm | UPDATED: December 4, 2017 at 5:23 PM

CHICAGO — There’s nothing magical about the surging Kings’ rise to the top of the Pacific Division. The formula of tight defense, sharp goaltending and timely scoring is working just fine. Jonathan Quick made 24 saves, Christian Folin scored the game’s first goal midway through the third period and the Kings beat the Chicago Blackhawks 3-1 on Sunday night for their fifth straight win. Folin’s shot from the right point sailed over Anton Forsberg’s glove with Anze Kopitar screening at 9:29. Dustin Brown scored an empty-net goal with 2:03 left to make it 2-0, and Kopitar added another empty-netter after Chicago’s Jonathan Toews scored with Forsberg pulled for an extra skater. “I closed my eyes,” joked Folin, a defenseman who scored his second goal. “I saw two guys right in front, and one of their forecheckers coming hard at me, so I kind of shot it in there hoping for the best. “It’s fun when it goes in. I don’t score too many goals, so I’ll take it.” The Kings have allowed six goals during their streak, which has moved them to second in the Western Conference. Their run follows a 1-6-1 slide. “It’s fun,” Folin said. “I think we’re pushing each other as a group. That’s something we’re going to need going forward.” Quick turned aside some tough chances, especially when Chicago outshot the Kings 15-6 in the second period, before losing a bid for his third shutout this season. “Way too big of a letdown in the second, but Quickie kept us in it,” Kopitar said. “In the third period, we just kind of find a way.” Chicago has lost four straight. Forsberg made 21 saves in his second straight start in place of Corey Crawford, who’s out with a lower-body injury. “It’s a little bit frustrating not getting a win, but I can’t do nothing else,” Forsberg said. “I’ve just got to keep playing the way I’ve been and focus on my game.” The Blackhawks were in position to pull this one out after picking up the pace in the second period – and entering the third with a scoreless tie and some momentum. “The game’s right there for us to make the plays and have a big third period, and it turned out be a tough, tough loss,” Coach Joel Quenneville said. The Kings’ Adrian Kempe narrowly missed on a point-blank tip-in attempt midway through the second, then a loose puck tipped off the right post during a goalmouth scrum. A point shot by Chicago’s Cody Franson glanced of Brandon Saad’s skate at the edge of the crease and clanged off the left post with 5:20 left. Quick then came through with a snappy glove save on Ryan Hartman’s backhander with 1:58 left. Marian Gaborik broke in alone just under two minutes into the third after stealing the puck from Patrick Sharp at the Chicago blue line. Forsberg stopped Gaborik point-blank with a glove save. NOTES Kings forward Torrey Mitchell, acquired from Montreal on Nov. 23 for a conditional 2018 draft pick, made his Kings debut. … The Blackhawks finished a stretch of five games in seven nights. … The Kings next host Minnesota on Tuesday night. … Before the game, Quenneville said he expected Crawford back skating this week, but had no timetable for the goalie’s return to action.

Orange County Register: LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086642 Los Angeles Kings 13. Islanders (15-8-2). Offensive defenseman Nick Leddy is headed for a career season. GM Garth Snow gets a lot of grief but there’s been good value for that seven-year commitment made in 2015. (12) Eric Stephens’ NHL power rankings (Dec. 4, 2017) 14. Capitals (15-11-1). Evgeny Kuznetsov racked up assists in the first few weeks and now is scoring goals. Eight of his nine have come in the past eight games. (13) By ERIC STEPHENS | [email protected] | Orange County Register 15. Rangers (14-10-2). Litmus tests coming up with games at PUBLISHED: December 4, 2017 at 2:42 pm | UPDATED: December 4, Washington and Pittsburgh before returning home for New Jersey. (14) 2017 at 5:33 PM 16. Flames (14-11-1). Jaromir Jagr has only one goal and six assists in averaging 13 minutes of ice time over 16 games. He’s also 45 so we’ll cut the future Hall of Famer some slack. (11) Patience still matters, it seems, in an increasingly impatient world. 17. Wild (13-10-3). Need to be better than 4-5-0 within division to keep Within the hockey universe, Kevin Cheveldayoff is considered to be pace with the leaders. If Zach Parise (back) can get back before the new among the most patient of NHL general managers. Proof of that is his year, it’ll help their cause. (18) unwillingness to break from a core he built in Winnipeg even when there were growing pains after a surprise berth in the 2015 Stanley Cup 18. Canucks (13-10-4). It’s going to be a heck of a Calder Trophy race playoffs. and Brock Boeser (13 goals, 12 assists) is right in the middle of it. (19) And when there were tough times with missed postseasons the past two 19. Blackhawks (12-10-5). A 7-3 bouncing of Anaheim was the only years, Cheveldayoff resisted any notion of fifth-year coach Paul Maurice highlight as they’ve since dropped four in a row and backbone goalie paying the price. In fact, Jets owner Mark Chipman exercised his own Corey Crawford is now out for a bit. (17) patience in handing both multiyear extensions before this season. 20. Canadiens (13-12-3). If Carey Price – who’s 5-0 with a 1.20 goals- Amid expectations that have never been higher since the move from against average since returning from injury – drags this group into the Atlanta, Winnipeg is meeting them two months in. The Jets are 13-3-2 playoffs, he should be part of the Hart Trophy mix. (27) since their last pair of back-to-back losses, both overtime losses. The only other consecutive failures came in the season’s opening two games. 21. Bruins (12-8-4). Good health matters. The B’s are getting bodies back – Brad Marchand in particular – and it shows in winning six of Blake Wheeler may be the league’s most underrated player. Mark seven. Tuukka Rask is finding his form. (25) Scheifele is a star and Patrik Laine could also be one for years. Scheifele and Laine were drafted along with goalie Connor Hellebuyck, 22. Ducks (11-11-5). New center Adam Henrique is off to an ideal start defensemen Jacob Trouba and Josh Morrissey and forwards Nikolaj but these missed opportunities to stash away points on a challenging Ehlers, Adam Lowry and Kyle Connor. trip might come back to haunt them. (20) As a squadron, these Jets are in full flight. (Records in parentheses are 23. Hurricanes (11-9-5). You’d like to see GM Ron Francis make a trade as of Sunday’s games). to get this franchise moving. He’s got defensive depth and Buffalo’s Evander Kane and his 12 goals are available. (24) 1. Jets (17-6-4). They hung a touchdown on two teams (Minnesota, Vegas) and wrapped up a 3-0-1 week with a 5-0 drubbing of Ottawa. 24. Avalanche (12-11-2). They’re respectable, which says something Impressive. (7) after the disaster that was 2016-17. But they’re not a playoff team, especially in that rugged Central. (22) 2. Predators (16-7-3). Barring injury, Pekka Rinne is going to get to 300 wins this season and all with the same franchise. At 35, he’s as steady 25. Oilers (11-14-2). Can Jesse Puljujarvi, the No. 4 pick in 2016, stick in as ever with flashes of brilliance thrown in. (2) this latest NHL shot? Two goals in a win over rival Calgary don’t hurt. (28) 3. Lightning (18-6-2). After cooling off with no goals in six games, Nikita Kucherov potted two in win over San Jose. Tyler Johnson also snapped 26. Senators (9-10-6). An 0-6-1 run was snapped Friday but it doesn’t get a 15-game cold snap with two. (3) any easier as their seven-game trip takes them out to California. (21) 4. Blues (17-8-2). Back-to-back home losses to Ducks and Kings and just 27. Panthers (10-13-3). Jonathan Huberdeau, Sasha Barkov and Vincent four goals scored in three-game losing streak, but Patrik Berglund has Trocheck are at or near a point per game. Alas, they still need about six two goals in first three games this season. (1) more forwards and a defense. (29) 5. Kings (17-8-3). Outscored teams 16-5 on a 4-0-0 trip. Darcy Kuemper 28. Red Wings (10-12-5). After a 10-1 beating in Montreal for their (4-0-2, 1.72 GAA, .944 SV%) is giving them quality work in backup role to seventh consecutive loss, Henrik Zetterberg said, “We basically Jonathan Quick. (10) embarrassed everyone that played with the winged wheel tonight, and we’ve got to live with that.” (23) 6. Blue Jackets (17-9-1). Big center Pierre-Luc Dubois, the fourth overall pick in the 2016 draft, made the team at 19 straight out of juniors and is 29. Flyers (8-11-7). Dave Hakstol still has his job after his club went starting to earn rave reviews. (4) down for the 10th straight time but he may not survive their upcoming trip to western Canada. (26) 7. Maple Leafs (17-10-1). It isn’t getting much attention but Nazem Kadri is putting together another strong season. On pace to top last year’s 30. Coyotes (7-18-5). New Jersey castoff Scott Wedgewood got a career-high 32 goals. (5) shutout against his former team, and Dylan Strome, a No. 3 overall pick in 2015, scored his first NHL goal. (30) 8. Golden Knights (16-9-1). A 6-7-1 road record is a bit disconcerting but the VGK’s are back home and got their fifth different overtime winner 31. Sabres (6-17-4). It just continues to get worse. 1-9-2 since Nov. 7. Sunday against Arizona, this one from Reilly Smith. (6) Jason Pominville’s goal Saturday ended their goal drought at 232 minutes, 9 seconds. Brutal. (31) 9. Sharks (14-9-2). Joe Pavelski getting his 300th goal only cements his status as a San Jose institution and Chris Tierney has become a nice do- all-the-little-things depth center. (9) Orange County Register: LOADED: 12.05.2017 10. Devils (15-7-4). Sami Vatanen played a team-high 22:47 in his first game since the Ducks finally opted to move him. He’s on their top pairing with Andy Greene. (8) 11. Stars (16-10-1). If they’ve solved their road issues – and they’ve won their past three – this explosive team is going to be a player in the Central. Tyler Seguin seems to score in bunches. (16) 12. Penguins (15-10-3). Racked up three easy wins against sad sacks Philadelphia and Buffalo (twice), which helped Tristan Jarry ease into starting role while Matt Murray gets healthy. (15) 1086643 Los Angeles Kings

WAKING UP WITH THE KINGS: DECEMBER 4

JON ROSEN DECEMBER 4, 20170 COMMENTS

GAME STORY Two tired teams took the ice at United Center on Thursday night. The game was played on December 3, so it’s not as if NHL teams are arriving to games comfortably sustained by eight-hour sleeps and deep body massages after a weekend at Terranea, but both the Los Angeles Kings and Chicago Blackhawks were knee deep into a compacted part of the schedule. For Los Angeles, Sunday’s game came at the tail end of a cross-country, four-in-six stretch, and for Chicago, the game punctuated a challenging away-home-away-home-away-home six-in-nine. So, it wasn’t exactly a surprise that the Blackhawks’ second shot on goal came over 13 minutes into a game that took a long time to get airborne. Before some late-period penalty trouble and the flurries that followed – including several threatening missed nets – the Kings were sustained by an emotional jump early in the game but weren’t able to transfer their strong territorial play into a bevy of offensive chances, save for the Jake Muzzin- Marian Gaborik slap/pass and the iron that Tyler Toffoli found from point blank range. At the other end of the rink, Los Angeles’ diverse array of penalty killers – eight forwards logged at least a minute of shorthanded time, led by Jussi Jokinen’s 2:50 – didn’t allow much of a sniff towards Jonathan Quick for the first two penalty kills in the opening period, provoking the Madison Street boo birds. That changed on the final kill, when Quick made a lunging blocker save on Alex DeBrincat at the buzzer, which brought out Frank Pellico’s rendition of Here Come the Hawks instead of some piped-in Chelsea Dagger. Bill Smith/NHLI It was a dicey second period, but Quick again retained the focus and composure necessary to sort through 20 minutes of heavy Chicago zone time. And “heavy Chicago zone time” is much more dangerous and taxing than the sustained pressure from a vast majority of other NHL teams. But as it has been throughout the road trip, the Kings were lifted lifted by a wagons-circling collective defensive unit. They fended off an onslaught that peaked late in the period but was pressured throughout, and while it’s silly to circle the names of several standouts when Los Angeles has been sustained by its team game – would it be possible to circle the names of everyone in the lineup? – the Muzzin-Doughty pairing was excellent, as it should be, and a pillar of the team’s success on the trip. If we’re going to stay with the Kings Twittersphere Whipping Boys, the center matched up most frequently against Patrick Kane and his line was Nick Shore. The Kings won the shot-attempt count over the 5:49 of five-on-five time the two were on the ice against each other, and Kane didn’t factor into any scoring until he was on the ice for a pair of empty- net goals against. Shore has represented the team’s road mode quite well and has two goals, four points and a plus-five rating while averaging 15:17 over 11 road games. He’s responsible, not dynamic, and has factored into the team’s strong play away from Staples Center during its improbable success in the absence of Jeff Carter. Bill Smith/NHLI The Blackhawks are also a good third period team and entered Sunday with a plus-eight goal differential over the final 20 minutes of regulation. (And in walked the 2017-18 L.A. Kings.) Christian Folin’s goal, which followed much higher-quality chances from Alex Iafallo and Marian Gaborik, was scored off a clean Dustin Brown zone entry and a dish back towards the right point. Tanner Pearson had an opportunity to play the puck but instead buzzed through the slot, which along with Kopitar’s presence in front of Anton Forsberg, provided a moving screen that the defenseman timed up perfectly with his shot. Anze Kopitar scored four goals on the trip and Tyler Toffoli added three, but some of the biggest goals during the four road wins were scored by Folin, Jonny Brodzinski, Jussi Jokinen and Adrian Kempe. Los Angeles has lifted its offense by over half a goal per game through the first 28 games despite their leading scorer from a season ago being limited to just six games. There are a number of resurgent individual performances that have influenced this swell, but it speaks to the overall team game and the next-man-up opportunism that the offense has been lifted to the degree that it has.

LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086644 Los Angeles Kings advantage of his size and his smarts and be a presence in the middle of the ice, carry speed in the middle of the ice, end up at the net at the middle of the ice and get pucks off the wall and end up in the middle of JOHN STEVENS ON CUTTING DOWN SHOTS AND CHANCES, the ice, and I think he’s done a really good job in a lot of those areas. KOPITAR, KUEMPER, FOLIN, JOKINEN Certainly, we hand him doing that, but it’s certainly something we’ve emphasized with our teams.

On Dustin Brown and Marian Gaborik approaching 1,000 games played: JON ROSEN It’s impressive. And not only that, at that point, approaching 1,000 DECEMBER 4, 20170 COMMENTS games, they’re still very productive players. It’s an admirable thing in my opinion. If you look at a guy like Brownie, he plays the game extremely hard, he plays every night, he’s up around the 80, 82-game mark every year and plays as hard as anybody in the league. Gabby’s battled On the overall takeaway from the road trip: through a lot of injuries and really takes great pride in his fitness and We loved the trip. I think, like any other point in the season, there’s training and being prepared and is a very elite trained athlete, and I think always going to be parts of your game you want to improve on, but I when you have an older player that’s well trained, he gives himself a really liked the way we played in our own zone. I thought we defended chance to be a good player approaching that mark in his career of 1,000 really well, we were really fast and we had really good posture inside the games. dots. I thought our game in the neutral zone continues to get better, and I On any concern that puck management will be an issue going forward: think our forecheck’s getting better, but that’s probably one area of our game I’d like to see us get more out of. But I really liked the way we were It’s always going to be a concern. I don’t think it’s an issue at all. We playing in our own zone. The commitment in our own zone, the detail in always want to try and manage the puck. I thought Kopi’s line, in our own zone, how fast we were playing in our own zone, I thought it got particular, part of it, the fact that they’re trying to take the game on better and better and better throughout the trip. themselves and they felt like if we could get the first goal in the hockey game, it’d really make a difference, so I think every time they had the On any point prior to the season that foretold Anze Kopitar’s impressive puck they were trying to score as opposed to just trusting the team game bounce-back: a little bit. That team checks very well. They skate pucks off your stick I don’t know if there was appoint where the light bulb went off. I mean, really well, and I think the right play a lot of times is to get pucks in I’ve seen Kopi play at a really high level. He was probably the one guy behind them, but that’s a process that over time we hope we get better that I thought if there’s a guy that can get his game back, it’s him, and we and better at – recognition when there’s an opportunity to make a play on felt very optimistic about him throughout the summer – just the way he the rush, and recognition when [inaudible]. was approaching his summer. Every time you talked to him – Matt Price On Christian Folin’s ability to make an impact despite not being an went over and spent a week with him. He came back here at a point in “every-day player”: the summer. All indications were that his preparation over the summer was going to put him in a position where he could be a really good Well, we hope that he wants to be an every-day player. We’ve tried to player, and what we were hoping to see was what we saw from day one. take advantage of healthy people with the schedule the way it is and get He was a good player the first day on the ice, he was a good player guys in and out to give us fresh legs, but he’s done a good job of getting every day in training camp. He and Brownie haven’t skipped a beat. They better each game. When he doesn’t play, he comes back and is a better seemed like their game was back in order – great chemistry right out of player even though he may have missed a game, but I think he has a the get-go. So, we’ve been kind of optimistic about him from the summer good understanding of his identity. He’s a good, physical, hard-to-play- on. I don’t think there’s any one point where we said, ‘that’s him.’ against defender, and he makes simple decisions with the puck. He’s got Obviously, he’s produced at a really good rate for us, but his quality of good skills. He skates well, he’s well trained, he moves the puck well, play has been there from day one. first-pass, he can kill penalties and he can defend against top guuys, so he gives us some real quality minutes, especially when you’re on the On the biggest influence in cutting down shots and chances against: road. One, it’s a commitment to be there and wanting to do it, and it’s just On Jussi Jokinen’s play leading to Kopitar’s empty-netter, and whether getting five people back quickly and being in the right posture and it’s indicative of anything: starting point. I think we’ve done a really good job at getting people back inside first and then closing quickly. I think earlier in the year we were a Well, there’s a few things there. I think he’s a good penalty killer, he’s a little bit guilty of coming maybe back a little too wide, but I think we were really smart player, positions himself well and has got a lot of composure doing a better and better job of getting the dangerous ice taken care of when he gets the puck and he also gives you another faceoff guy that quickly on entries, which starts with your rush coverage, and then quickly you get in a situation where a puck’s iced. He’s very good in the faceoff fanning out from there. So, I just think our initial starting point with our circle, and I just think he thinks the game really well and has got a lot of coverage has been very good. experience and usually makes the right play at the right time in those situations. On Darcy Kuemper:

He’s been terrific going back to training camp, but I think he’s done a really good job of just getting ready to play. If you look at the situation, LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 12.05.2017 maybe one game this year where he looked a little off. But he’s been outstanding. It’s what you want from your back-up goalie is when he’s asked to come in and play – and a lot of times they’re tough situations. Billy and I talk, and Darcy knows ahead of time when he’s going. He does a really good job of focusing and really getting ready to play, and then he needs to be ready to come off the bench. If you look at the game in Vegas, Jonny went in and got pulled early, and he came in and gave us a chance to get a point in the hockey game. He’s been really good. He’s been really focused. He’s really worked hard at his game, and I know he’s gained the confidence of the team and the staff. [Reporter: Tempted to use him tomorrow against his old team?] We’ve actually looked at the schedule. We’ve talked about it. It’d certainly be an option, but that wouldn’t be the determining factor, just because it was Minnesota. On Kopitar’s ability to hit the middle of the ice with speed: Probably the St. Louis game would be a reference point for him and where he’s most effective. He was just a fixture in the middle of the ice. He was a fixture low in the middle of the ice, he was a fixture on the rush in the middle of the ice and he was a fixture ending up at the net in the middle of the ice. But I think with Kopi, he’s a high-possession guy. He’s one of those guys that has the ability to hold the puck and buy time and people get open away from him, so he is going to have the puck dot-to- boards, but there are clearly a lot of situations where he can take 1086645 Minnesota Wild

Minnesota Wild aiming for improved defense against red hot LA Kings

By Megan Ryan DECEMBER 4, 2017 — 1:31PM

What is Wild coach Bruce Boudreau looking for from his team’s upcoming West Coast road trip? “Six points,” as the coach rather bluntly put it. The Wild embark on a California adventure starting 9 p.m. Tuesday at the LA Kings (17-8-3 for tops in the Pacific Division). The squad has a day off Wednesday but then faces the Anaheim Ducks (11-11-5) at 9 p.m. Friday before finishing the swing 8 p.m. Sunday the San Jose Sharks (14-9-2). Center Anze Kopitar and winger Dustin Brown lead the Kings with 31 points and 23 points, respectively. And Boudreau said he feels like those two players and connecting better than ever this season, which might have something to do with new coach John Stevens. “I coached Brownie when he was young, and he’s playing the same way right now. And when he’s like that, that’s a force,” Boudreau said. “And then when Kopitar is playing like he is, he’s more than a force. He’s as good as there is in the league in that position, and he’s got a lot of pride. And I do believe that he signed the big ticket last year … and he’s certainly earning it.” Boudreau said this incarnation of the Kings reminds him of the team that won the franchise’s first Stanley Cup back in 2011-12: a hard-working, heavy team that plays at a pace not many can match. The Wild will need to pick up its defense in order to keep up with Los Angeles, especially after this past Saturday’s 2-1 overtime victory against the St. Louis Blues that saw the Blues outshoot the Wild 42-25. “It’s human nature to want to score. It’s a lot more fun to play offense than it is playing defense in any sport,” Boudreau said. “But defense wins, and when you get away from that, you might have a lot of induvial success, but you’re going to lose 6-5 and 6-4. And you’re thinking you’re in the games, but you’re cheating the games when you’re doing that.” Boudreau said ideally, his team would come out on top of 2-1 games while allowing fewer than 25 shots and 10 scoring chances. But he recognizes that’s a difficult feat in this league with so many talented players. The only two players not skating Monday at St. Thomas Ice Arena were forward Zach Parise and defenseman Jared Spurgeon, both recovering from back and groin injuries, respectively.

Star Tribune LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086646 Minnesota Wild

Wild-Los Angeles game preview

DECEMBER 4, 2017 — 11:07PM

9 p.m. at Los Angeles Kings • Staples Center • NBCSN, 100.3-FM Preview: The Wild (13-10-3) embarks on a three-game West Coast road trip starting Tuesday at the Kings (17-8-3). Before the week is out, the Wild will have faced the Anaheim Ducks and the San Jose Sharks as well. In its past 23 games against the Kings, the Wild is 13-6-4. Quotable: “For the last seven years, bar maybe a year with L.A., three great teams. So you’re going into a hornet’s nest every night. … It’s a different time change, and there’s a lot of things going on, so it makes for a tough trip. We used to, in Anaheim, salivate when we looked at other teams’ schedules, seeing where they were coming from, how many games they played when they were coming into our building. And I knew L.A. used to do the same thing. And a lot of times, once you got going on a downslide there, it’s not hard to lose three, all three in California.” – Wild and former Anaheim coach Bruce Boudreau. Numbers: Los Angeles has the best penalty kill in the league at 89.5 percent. The team has allowed 10 power-play goals, tied with San Jose for the fewest. Injuries: F Zach Parise (back) and D Jared Spurgeon (groin) are out for the Wild. Forwards Andy Andreoff (upper body), Jeff Carter (lower body) and Kyle Clifford (upper body) are out for the Kings.

Megan Ryan Star Tribune LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086647 Minnesota Wild

Ironing out the little things are big in Devan Dubnyk's success

By Megan Ryan Star Tribune DECEMBER 5, 2017 — 12:44AM

Any time Devan Dubnyk is on the ice — for practice, warm-ups, even in- game — he’s honing his skills. Not that any casual observer would necessarily notice. Because after nine seasons in the league, the 31-year-old Wild goaltender isn’t focused on making wholesale changes to his game to keep him precise. “There’s just a thing here or there that you just need to sharpen up on a little bit,” Dubnyk said. “With me, it’s always going to be just having my feet set and making sure I’m not drifting and being on my angles and not leaving my feet early. … Those are just really important for me. And when I’m in control of rebounds as well as just moving around, it’s always when my feet are set, and I’m not drifting.” Dubnyk managed a bit of extra preparation when he didn’t start at Winnipeg on Nov. 27. He’s won the two games since, allowing only three goals. That’s a marked improvement: In four games before that break, he had given up 18 goals. Yet before that, he set a franchise record with a three-game shutout streak. So that little “refresher course,” as coach Bruce Boudreau called it, seems to have put the goalie back on track. Against St. Louis on Saturday, Dubnyk tied a season high with 41 saves, nine of which came during Blues power plays. In the overtime victory, Dubnyk kept the Wild in the game when St. Louis outshot it 42-25. “I thought we got outplayed pretty good by St. Louis, but we had great goaltending,” Boudreau said. “And sometimes, that can overcome a lot of mistakes.” Much like how he drills the minute details of his game, Dubnyk uses that same narrow attention while playing in tense games such as Saturday’s against St. Louis. “Now just getting a chance to play as many games as I have over the last few years, you just try to stop the next puck,” he said. “And I know it’s cliché, but it’s really the best way to approach it is just, some games are easier than others to not think about the score or the situation. But again, if you just concentrate on those things. And the big one last game was just finding the puck because they were putting so many bodies to the net, and they were getting a lot of shots and a lot of pucks to the net. And so the most important thing was to always make sure I had a sight line on the puck, regardless of where it was or who was in front of me, and then go battle when they throw it to the net.” Defenseman Nate Prosser said when Dubnyk is on top of his game like that, he can win games for the whole team, and that brings confidence to the entire roster. Center Matt Cullen termed Dubnyk’s performance “huge” for the Wild. “He was outstanding last game,” Cullen said. “When you get outshot two to one, obviously your goaltender has a big night. And he was awesome. And he has been. And we’re going to need him to be.” The Wild next face what Dubnyk called “the California gauntlet,” a three- game, six-day swing through the state, starting 9 p.m. Tuesday against the Los Angels Kings (17-8-3). Dubnyk said this is an important part of the season if the Wild (13-10-3) wants to climb back into a playoff spot. And while his recent play has been up, down and then back up again, Dubnyk said he’s ready to even out that volatility. “I guess, what I’ve worked on most in the last couple years is just that understanding, what it is that I need to be doing to give myself the best chance to play well so I can pick up on it right away,” Dubnyk said. “Some nights are harder than others to make the adjustment and get back where I need to be. But I think over the last few years, that’s probably been the biggest part of my game that’s improved that’s allowed me to play consistently is being able to kind of grab on to that mid-game before it costs you and be able to have a good game even if at the start, I wasn’t necessarily feeling well.”

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After losing job with Wild, Darcy Kuemper rebounding in Los Angeles

By CHAD GRAFF | [email protected] | Pioneer Press PUBLISHED: December 4, 2017 at 5:12 pm | UPDATED: December 4, 2017 at 5:14 PM

After losing his backup goalie job last season to a 29-year-old who had spent the whole season in the minors, Darcy Kuemper admitted it was probably time for a change of scenery. Despite coming off the worst season of his career, Kuemper landed the backup gig for the Los Angeles Kings and already has four wins in six starts. The Kings are host to the Wild on Tuesday night. In eight appearances this season, including six starts, Kuemper is 4-0-2 with a 1.72 goals-against average and .944 save percentage. “I guess a fresh start has been good for me,” Kuemper told reporters in Los Angeles. “It’s hard to really comment on (how things ended with the Wild). I’m just happy with how things have been going so far.” While Kuemper said he doesn’t know yet whether he’ll be between the pipes for a 9 p.m. puck drop Tuesday, he looked back fondly on his time in Minnesota. Kuemper, 27, was drafted by the Wild in the sixth round of the 2009 entry draft and earned 89 starts over his five seasons in Minnesota. “I really enjoyed my experiences in Minnesota and enjoyed my time there,” Kuemper told reporters. “Now I’m just excited about a new chapter here in L.A. and I’m really excited about how things have been going so far.” Kuemper’s time with the Wild bottomed out at the end of last season. His hold on the backup job began to slip because of a 3.13 GAA and the Wild eventually called up Alex Stalock to replace him at the end of March. As a free agent this summer, Kuemper said he wasn’t worried he might have to accept a two-way deal to land with a team and eventually signed a one-year, one-way $650,000 deal with the Kings. “You never know what’s going to happen, but I know that I can play in this league, so I was really excited to get the call from L.A.,” Kuemper told reporters. “When I signed here, I was really looking forward to the season and things have been going well here.” Former Wild defenseman Christian Folin said he circled Tuesday’s game on his calendar as soon as the schedule was released. Folin signed a one-year deal worth $850,000 with the Kings last summer after spending the first three years of his career with the Wild. He recorded the best season of his career last season, totaling eight points in 51 games. “I had three great years there,” Folin told reporters. “It’ll be a special game, but still it’s just two points on the line and if we focus on our team game, we’ll be successful.”

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Leg is ‘strong and sturdy,’ and so is Wild forward Charlie Coyle

By CHAD GRAFF | [email protected] | Pioneer Press PUBLISHED: December 4, 2017 at 4:28 pm | UPDATED: December 4, 2017 at 4:28 PM

Charlie Coyle returned early last month from a broken leg and donned pads for his first game in five weeks without so much as a practice under his surgically-repaired right fibula. That night two weeks ago, Coyle admits, he wondered how his leg would hold up during loose-puck battles in the corner. But in the six games since that first contest back, Coyle has quickly put the injury behind him and returned to producing like the forward who amassed a career-high 56 points last season, a much-needed catalyst for a Wild team that has plodded through the first two months of the season. “It’s strong and sturdy,” Coyle said of his leg, which was broken by a Jared Spurgeon shot. “I don’t even think about it at all, which is a good sign. Right away, I didn’t know if it would be a little iffy in the corners or on tight turns. But it’s fine. I hadn’t even thought about it until you just asked me about it.” Since Coyle’s first game back from injury, he has produced five points in six games, which have produced four badly-needed wins. “Not only is he a big body, but for us he gives an extra dimension,” coach Bruce Boudreau said. “He’s an offensive player who can play both ends of the ice. … I think in every game, he’s doing something positive and doing it at center, which I think is as tough a position to play as there is.” While Coyle, 25, has bounced between center and right wing during his six-year Wild career, an ability to produce offense from the middle would certainly help this Wild team, which embarked on a three-game West Coast road trip Monday that begins with a visit to the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday. That West Coast swing is notorious for punishing smaller teams, given the size and physicality of the Kings, Anaheim Ducks and San Jose Sharks. Size isn’t a problem with the Wild. Coyle, who tips the scales at 220 pounds, is the team’s 6-foot-3 third line center playing behind two other good-sized Wild centers: 6-foot-4 Eric Staal and 6-foot-3 Mikko Koivu. “In this league three big centers are hard to contain, and not a lot of teams have them,” Boudreau said. “And if you’ve got them, and you can keep them, then you’re ahead of the game. Now, there’s times when we load up and Charlie goes back to right wing, but he’s never once ever complained about what position he ever played. So he just goes out and works his butt off every day.” As the third-line center, Coyle’s role on a checking line centers on being reliable defensively. So while his four-game point streak is notable, he said he’s more concerned with his play in the defensive zone. “I’m just trying to play my game and do the little things,” Coyle said. “I’ve been playing center since I came back and I’m just trying to focus on my faceoffs and being responsible down low. I think that’s where it starts. I can’t play too safe, but I have to do things the right way and then try to capitalize on the chances. As long as we’re winning, then everyone is happy and it doesn’t matter who gets the points.”

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John Shipley: Wild in danger of drifting into irrelevance

By JOHN SHIPLEY | [email protected] | Pioneer Press PUBLISHED: December 4, 2017 at 3:41 pm | UPDATED: December 4, 2017 at 4:14 PM

The Wild left Monday for the west coast to play three games that even some of their biggest fans won’t see. There are times the Wild inspire Minnesotans to stay up for a late puck drop; this isn’t one of them. After a morning practice at St. Thomas Academy, the Wild took their .500 record (13-10-3) to California for games against the Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks and San Jose Sharks. They start their trip a point out of a Western Conference playoff spot but, you know, it’s early, right? It’s not that the Wild don’t have a shot. It’s not that they’re a terrible hockey team. It’s just that they’re, I don’t know, blaaaaahhhhhhh … the same guys trying to be hard to play against with the same competence. General manager Chuck Fletcher has built a fine team in St. Paul, but this year’s start makes one wonder if it will ever be anything more than fine. The Wild have played in seven postseason series since 2012-13, which has been good for owner Craig Leipold’s bottom line but has done little for maybe the best hockey market in the United States. Disappointment and frustration are easy to find in the pro sports landscape. So are $150 replica jerseys and $30 team caps. This is where last season really comes back to bite the Local 6. If the Wild continue apace, how many hearts will they capture this winter? If the Wild are guilty of anything this early in an 82-game season, it’s not giving fans a single reason to be excited. They know this plot right down to serious injury problems for star forward Zach Parise and the exciting potential of Charlie Coyle, Nino Niederreiter and Mikael Granlund. Only Zucker, with a team-leading 13 goals among 22 points, has been able raise anyone’s heart rate through a couple of dozen games. Last year at this time, the Wild were starting a 12-game win streak that would vault them to the top of the conference standings. Finally, it appeared, Fletcher had found the right coach to get the best out of a young team growing into its immense potential. Then a handful of players, including Parise, got the mumps and the Wild went 4-10-2 in March before ultimately getting smoked in Round 1 of the playoffs by the St. Louis Blues and coach Mike Yeo, who about 15 months earlier had been diagnosed as the Wild’s primary problem. That is the takeaway from last season. It’s a particularly bad time to slink out of town for a road trip few will see. The Wild have had winters mostly to themselves the past several years, but the Timberwolves have stopped being terrible and the Twins are threatening to add a big-time starter to the team that just made the playoffs for the first time since 2010. Worse, the Vikings are one of the NFL’s best teams, and the Super Bowl will be here at the end of January with or without them. That’s a bigger deal than even Crashed Ice. The NHL is different from other sports leagues. Parity is real. Ninety-eight percent of games are tight. Many are decided by a lucky bounce. It’s exhausting, which is why the Wild need to do something exciting here, because right now fans are staring at essentially the same team they’ll be staring at through 2019. Investing in an NHL season takes real effort. Heck, just watching a game requires an appreciation for details other than, say, scoring. As opposed to watching Karl-Anthony Towns and Co. run some opponent out of the gym, which right now is much more entertaining and on pace to happen in the playoffs. So, good luck in California, Minnesota Wild. Better bring back some wins.

Pioneer Press LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086651 MontrealCanadiens Team stretch at #Habs practice in Brossard #HabsIO pic.twitter.com/oPm2EDlmyr— Stu Cowan (@StuCowan1) December 4, 2017 Canadiens Notebook: Jonathan Drouin still out with a lower-body injury Julien had some high praise for veteran centre Tomas Plekanec and his wingers, and , after practice. Stu Cowan, Montreal Gazette Gallagher leads the Canadiens in scoring with 13-6-19 totals, while rookie Hudon has 4-8-12 totals. Plekanec has 3-9-12 totals and a team- Published on: December 4, 2017 | Last Updated: December 4, 2017 2:07 leading plus-8, while averaging 16:44 of ice time and winning 53.5 per PM EST cent of his faceoffs. “He’s a player that we’ve encouraged to not just focus on the defensive part of his game (because) he’s got enough skill to be a good player After enjoying a day off Sunday, the Canadiens were back on the ice offensively, and sometimes you need to encourage players to do that,” Monday morning for practice in Brossard, but centre Jonathan Drouin Julien said about the 35-year-old Plekanec. “But he’s also got some didn’t take part. wingers on each side of him that are playing well. Drouin, who has missed the last two games with a lower-body injury, “As we know, Gally is having an outstanding year so far,” Julien added. skated by himself on the second rink in Brossard before the team “He’s scoring goals, he’s doing the right things, working hard and still practised. When asked after practice if Drouin, who has 5-12-17 totals in doing what he’s done before. The guy on his left right now, Charlie 25 games, was progressing, coach Claude Julien said: “I think so. That’s Hudon, to me has just progressed since Day 1. He just keeps getting what I’m being told … it’s progressing and so it’s getting close.” better and more comfortable and more determined. So he’s got some good linemates, too. Probably not close enough, though, for Drouin to play Tuesday night when the St. Louis Blues visit the (7:30 p.m., TSN2, RDS, “That trio of players, they work hard and they make things happen,” the TSN Radio 690). The Canadiens have a morning skate scheduled for coach continued. “Pleky’s part of that group. He’s the oldest guy, Tuesday morning in Brossard, but it seems unlikely Drouin would play obviously, that has the experience. He’s the one that’s calm and keeps, I before taking part in a full practice with the team. guess, his linemates in line, if I can say that. All three of them are good, honest guys that work hard and want to work with each other, and I know Defenceman Jeff Petry also missed Monday’s practice, taking a therapy they talk a lot.” day instead. , who was sent down to the AHL’s Sunday night, was called up again Monday morning with Drouin still Artturi Lehkonen, who has missed the last 10 games with a lower-body injured and took part in the practice. Carr has a goal and three assists in injury, still isn’t skating, but Julien said the winger has been at the team’s two games since getting called up from Laval. practice facility in Brossard every day for off-ice work. The Canadiens (13-12-3) will be looking to extend their winning streak to “I think we’ll get some news soon here,” Julien said about Lehkonen. “He six games when they face the Blues (17-8-2) with Carey Price in goal for hasn’t skated yet. From what I hear from our trainers, he’s really doing the sixth straight game. Since returning from a lower-body injury that well. So that’s basically all I know for now. They haven’t told me more sidelined him for 10 games, Price has a 5-0-0 record with a 1.20 goals- than he’s coming around well and should be (back) soon.” against average and a .962 save percentage, improving his season record to 8-7-1 with a 2.94 GAA and .905 save percentage. What’s next? The Blues have lost their last three games and are 1-3-1 in their last five. The Canadiens have a morning skate scheduled for 11 a.m. Tuesday in Brossard before facing the Blues at the Bell Centre. The Calgary Flames The Canadiens, who have struggled offensively most of the season, will visit the Bell Centre on Thursday (7:30 p.m., TSN2, RDS, TSN Radio scored 16 goals in their last two games, beating the Red Wings twice by 690), followed by the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday (7 p.m., SN, TVA scores of 6-3 in Detroit and 10-1 at the Bell Centre. Sports, TSN Radio 690). “I keep saying that … we started the season with a bunch of new faces,” Julien said. “It takes time. I would say it takes time and there’s a little bit of chemistry amongst players. We’re also playing better. When you Montreal Gazette LOADED: 12.05.2017 compare our team at the beginning of the year, we had a lot of guys struggling and they’re finding their stride. “So there’s a lot of reasons,” the coach added about the team’s current win streak and offensive explosion. “There’s not one reason, but a lot of reasons for that to come around and I like the fact that (the offence) is spread out and it’s not always relying on the same guys to score goals. That’s what we need.” Only four Canadiens skaters didn’t register a point in Saturday’s rout over the Red Wings: captain Max Pacioretty and defencemen Petry, Karl Alzner and . Price was named the NHL’s second star of the week on Monday after posting a 4-0-0 record last week with a 1.50 goals-against average and a .950 save percentage. Winnipeg right-winger Blake Wheeler was named the first star after posting 2-8-10 totals in four games as the Jets went 3-0-1. Through Sunday’s games, Wheeler ranked fourth in the NHL scoring race with 7- 28-35 totals, trailing only the Tampa Bay Lightning’s dynamic duo of Nikita Kucherov (19-19-38) and Steven Stamkos (11-26-37) and the Calgary Flames’ Johnny Gaudreau (7-28-35). Dallas centre Radek Faksa was named the third star of the week after posting 5-2-7 totals and a plus-7 in four games as the Stars posted a perfect 4-0-0 record. With Petry taking a therapy day, the defence pairings were a mishmash during practice. “I keep saying it, guys, and I’m going to keep saying it again, over and over,” Julien told the media after practice about his defence pairings. “I think our defensive core, we can move parts around and I don’t think it really matters as far as disruption or anything like that. I think they’re all used to playing with each other and that’s a good thing to have.” 1086652 MontrealCanadiens

St. Louis Blues at Canadiens: Five things you should know

Pat Hickey, Montreal Gazette Published on: December 5, 2017 | Last Updated: December 5, 2017 6:00 AM EST

Here are five things you should know about the Canadiens-St. Louis Blues game at the Bell Centre on Thursday (7:30 p.m., TSN2, RDS, TSN-690 Radio): Drouin close, but …: Jonathan Drouin skated for about 40 minutes prior to practice Monday, but he’s expected to miss his third consecutive game with a lower-body injury. General manager engaged in some roster prestidigitation during the weekend, sending Daniel Carr back to the Laval Rocket after Saturday’s 10-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings. But Carr was back on the ice for Monday’s practice and was on the fourth line with and . They had a hand in four goals in Saturday’s 10-1 rout of the Detroit Red Wings. Jacob De La Rose replaces Drouin on the No. 1 line. Price keeps rolling: The Canadiens are on a season-high five-game win streak and Carey Price, who has been between the pipes for all of those wins, will make his sixth consecutive start. He allowed only six goals in those games — that translates to a 1.20 goals-against average with a .962 save percentage. After a horrendous start to the season, Price checks in with a 2.93 goals-against average and a .905 save percentage. The National Hockey League recognized Price’s achievement by naming him the No. 2 star for the past week. The No. 1 star went to Blake Wheeler, who had 10 points in four games for the surprising Winnipeg Jets. Size doesn’t matter: Brendan Gallagher and Paul Byron are two of the smallest players on the Canadiens roster, but they are making huge contributions to the offence. After two seasons struggling with hand injuries, Gallagher leads the team in goals (13) and points (19) and has already surpassed his 2016-17 goal total of 10. Gallagher has a shooting percentage of 14.9 per cent, which ranks just behind Byron, who has the team’s best shooting percentage (20 per cent). Byron is No. 2 on the team with nine goals. A waiver pickup from Calgary in 2015, he’s coming off his first career hat-trick in the lopsided win over the Red Wings. Blues have trouble scoring: While the Canadiens have scored 16 goals in their last two starts, the Blues are on a three-game losing streak and have scored only four goals in those games. Two of those goals were scored by fourth-line centre Kyle Brodziak and the other two were scored by third-line centre Patrik Berglund. Jaden Schwartz leads the Blues with 13 goals and 32 points, while Brayden Schenn has 10 goals and 30 points and Vladimir Tarasenko has 12 goals and 29 points. But the big three have struggled lately and Schwartz has the trio’s only two goals during the past five games. Injury update: While there are indications that Drouin will be back in the lineup sometime before the end of the week — the team has not placed him on the injured reserve list — there’s cautious optimism regarding the team’s other injured players. Artturi Lehkonen (lower-body) and Ales Hemsky are reportedly showing progress, but neither one is skating. Coach Claude Julien said he expected Lehkonen to be back on the ice by the end of the week. There has been no update on goaltender Al Montoya, who suffered a concussion on Nov. 4. Nikita Scherbak, who is recovering from knee surgery, is still one or two weeks away.

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086653 MontrealCanadiens McDavids and (Auston) Matthews, those young kids that have that scoring talent. You can learn some stuff from them, but they can just do stuff with the puck … I mean you could give me 50 years and I probably Stu Cowan: Habs' Jordie Benn scores one for stay-at-home defencemen wouldn’t be able to do it like they do. “It’s nice to watch my brother play and watch him score his goals,” Jordie added. “But to take his game and put it into mine … I’ll probably just stick Stu Cowan, Montreal Gazette to what I’m doing.” Published on: December 4, 2017 | Last Updated: December 4, 2017 5:27 That’s been working pretty well. PM EST

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 12.05.2017 Which one of these four NHL defenceman has the most goals this season: San Jose’s Brent Burns, Tampa Bay’s Victor Hedman, Ottawa’s Erik Karlsson … or the Canadiens’ Jordie Benn? The first three were finalists for the Norris Trophy last season, but the correct answer is Benn. The Sharks’ Burns, who won the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s top defenceman, had one goal going into Monday night’s game against the Washington Capitals, while the Lightning’s Hedman has two goals and the Senators’ Karlsson has one. Benn scored his third goal in the Canadiens’ 10-1 romp over the Detroit Red Wings Saturday night at the Bell Centre, leaving him one short of the career high he set last season when he scored two goals with Dallas and two more with the Canadiens after being acquired in a trade that sent Greg Pateryn and a fourth-round draft pick to the Stars. “When I was in Dallas, I had three goals one season and I scored my third one in like the 75th game of the year,” Benn recalled after the Canadiens practised Monday in Brossard. “Right now, things are going well, pucks are going in. So hopefully they stay that way.” But offence will never be Benn’s No. 1 focus. It’s not what got him to the NHL after never being drafted. Benn was a defenceman as a kid, although he did play a few shifts at forward while growing up in Victoria. “I figured it was too much skating, so I wanted to be a D-man,” Benn said with a smile under his big, bushy beard. Benn gives a lot of credit to his father, Randy, for helping him make it to the NHL. After signing with Dallas as an undrafted free agent, Benn was playing with the AHL’s . Players in the minors are always trying to get their name on the scoresheet so they will get noticed and maybe called up to the NHL, but Benn’s father told him he would have to take a different approach. Benn’s dad noted that the Stars already had offensive defencemen like Stéphane Robidas and Trevor Daley who could carry the puck, but they needed more grit on the back end and someone who could kill penalties. “I took it by myself to listen to what he had to say and I kind of thought: Yeah, you’re on to something,” Benn recalled. “So I took it with a grain of salt … I didn’t switch my game, I just wanted to perfect it as much (defensively) as possible so that I could keep pucks out of the net and it’s worked out for me so far.” After a slow start this season that resulted in Benn being made a healthy scratch by coach Claude Julien for the sixth game of the year, he has rebounded to play some of his best hockey recently. He’s on the No. 1 defence pair beside and is plus-2 for the season with three goals and four assists, while averaging 18:53 of ice time. “It’s awesome,” Benn said about playing beside Weber. “Obviously, he’s a dynamic player, one of the best D-men in the league and has been for a while. I kind of want to pinch myself that I’m playing with Shea. It’s good … we’ve just got to keep it going.” After scoring Saturday against the Red Wings, Benn received a text message from his younger brother Jamie, who knows a thing or two about putting the puck in the net. Jamie won the Art Ross Trophy as the NHL’s leading scorer with the Stars for the 2014-15 season after posting 35-52-87 totals and has 11 goals this season for Dallas. “He throws a nice little brotherly text my way when he sees the puck go in for me,” Jordie said with another smile beneath his beard. “We’re both each other’s biggest fans. Whenever I get a chance to watch him play, obviously, I’m watching and it’s vice-versa. So it was a nice brotherly text from a true goal-scorer.” Jordie said he can learn things about offence by watching his brother play, but added it takes a special skill to score goals the way Jamie does. “A lot of it comes down to just being able to actually do it,” Jordie said. “He’s got this confidence about him that I’d say only real special players have and there’s only a select few in the league like the (Connor) 1086654 MontrealCanadiens

Canadiens' Jacob De La Rose takes advantage of time on top line

Pat Hickey, Montreal Gazette Published on: December 4, 2017 | Last Updated: December 4, 2017 6:15 PM EST

Canadiens coach Claude Julien said he didn’t know what to expect when he plugged Jacob De La Rose into the first-line centre slot normally filled by the injured Jonathan Drouin. “To be honest with you, I didn’t know how it was going to work out,” Julien said of the switch, which will be in effect again Tuesday night when the Canadiens welcome the St. Louis Blues to the Bell Centre (7:30 p.m., TSN2, RDS, TSN 690 Radio). “The only way I could find out was by trying,” said Julien, who moved De La Rose up from the fourth line. “He’s big and he can skate. In my estimation, he has a little more offensive talent than he brings on a lot of nights. First of all, I didn’t want to disrupt my other lines that were playing well. I thought it was the right move to make.” After picking up his first point of the season in a 6-3 win in Detroit Thursday, De La Rose had a career night Saturday. He had a goal and two assists and was plus-4 as Montreal crushed Detroit 10-1 at the Bell Centre. De La Rose said he concentrated on playing his game and he took advantage of increased ice time and the luxury of playing with Paul Byron and Alex Galchenyuk. “With Pauly’s speed, we can get him the puck on the rush and then with Chucky’s skill, we can make a lot of good things happen,” said De La Rose. Byron scored three goals Saturday, including two on breakaways. “The last two games have been my best games point-wise, but there have been other games when I have had better games overall,” said De La Rose, whose days as a No. 1 centre are numbered. Drouin, who will miss his third consecutive game Tuesday, skated for 40 minutes on his own Monday and should be back this week. De La Rose will be going back to the fourth line, where he might find himself in a four-man battle for three spots. The fourth line of centre Byron Froese and wingers Daniel Carr and Nicolas Deslauriers had a hand in four goals Saturday. “There’s a four-man group right now that seems to be finding their confidence and getting more comfortable playing together,” said Julien. “That’s been coming for a while. I’ve seen them getting good scoring chances, but they haven’t produced. It was nice to see those guys rewarded in the last game.” Deslauriers scored his first goal as a Canadien early in the game to end a 60-game drought, but his highlight moment came when he set up De La Rose for a short-handed goal that ended a 49-game drought for De La Rose. “I poked the puck and I got a good bounce,” said Deslauriers. “I’m usually a shooter but I thought, from our blue line in, that I was going to pass the puck. It was the longest 2-on-1 I have ever been involved in, but Rosie went to the net and put his stick there. I waited for the right opportunity and he put it in.” Carr, who has a goal and three assists in the two games he has played since being recalled from Laval, said the players on the fourth line benefited from having played together in Laval. He has a one-way contract and said he used the time in the minors to get back to the things that gave him success earlier in his career. “Nobody grows up saying they dream of playing in the AHL,” said Carr. “I used my time to work on little things like shooting after practice, but mostly I tried to relax and have fun.”

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Canadiens successfully erase their wretched start to the season

By Arpon Basu 21 hours ago The Canadiens have done it.

They have erased their worst start to a season in 76 years. They did so, astonishingly, before Christmas. They did so by winning five games in a row… in eight days. They did so by winning those five games with Carey Price in net. They did so with Carey Price looking like Carey Price in net. This is no small thing. The Canadiens had the worst record in the Eastern Conference at 1-6-1 on the morning of Oct. 21, second-worst in the NHL. Thanks to this five- game winning streak, the Canadiens are now 5-1-1 in their last seven games. So that awful start has been essentially erased. What’s left in between is a 7-5-1 team, which is probably closer to what this Canadiens team is than their first eight games or their last seven games. This is what happens when you open the season shooting 3.4 percent and getting an .878 save percentage at 5-on-5, which were 31st and 30th in the league on Oct. 21. Over the last seven games, the Canadiens are shooting 10.9 percent and getting .971 goaltending at 5-on-5, fourth and first, respectively, over that time. It’s not complicated. In between that start and these last seven games, the Canadiens had a 53.4 Corsi for percentage (sixth in the NHL), a 50.9 goals for percentage (14th), a 54.7 expected goals for percentage (third), a 7.5 shooting percentage (18th) and a .915 save percentage (19th) at 5-on-5 in 12 games. Those are decent underlying numbers. Numbers that suggest this is a team that will battle for a playoff spot. The difference between those numbers and the Canadiens’ current situation, of course, is Price. No, he will not maintain his .962 save percentage and 1.20 goals against average since his return for the rest of the season. But that is, in some ways, irrelevant. What is important is that Price is at the top of his game, and that trickles down to all of his teammates. It makes them feel like they have the best player on the ice in any game, and that they have the advantage in that he doesn’t leave the ice. It makes them feel like they have a chance to win. It makes them confident, a confidence that reflects in so many areas of their play that are in no way impacted by goaltending. This is why Price, when he is at the top of his game, is the most valuable player in the NHL. “Any time he’s in the net for you, you know that at any given point he can literally steal you a game, so I think it alleviates some of that tension, that responsibility that we need to score tonight or we need to play really good defence tonight to have a chance to win,” Paul Byron said last Saturday, after Price’s first game back. “You just go out there and you play hockey and you know that he’s got your back… It certainly takes a load off everybody to know he’s in the net.” How’s this for an example of what Byron is talking about? Since Price’s return, 11 players on the Canadiens have at least four points in five games (Alex Galchenyuk – 8, Byron – 6, Brendan Gallagher – 5, Andrew Shaw – 4, Jonathan Drouin – 4, Jeff Petry – 4, Jacob De La Rose (not a typo) – 4, Daniel Carr (in two games) – 4, Max Pacioretty – 4, Phillip Danault – 4, Tomas Plekanec – 4). Of course, scoring 10 goals in a game helps that, but still. How many Canadiens had four points after the first five games of the season? None. In fact, Drouin was the only player with as many as three points. “It’s just a relaxed feeling when you’re in front of him,” Brendan Gallagher said. “There’s really no panic. He’s making some of the saves that are pretty difficult saves, and he makes them look pretty easy. Not only that, he controls the rebounds, there’s no second chances. It’s obviously pretty impressive what he’s able to do.” That relaxed feeling is what the Canadiens are riding right now. They are performing at every level, and it’s not hard to see that it goes from the net out.

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Predators' Ryan Johansen day-to-day with upper-body injury

Adam Vingan, USA TODAY NETWORK — Tennessee Published 11:12 a.m. CT Dec. 4, 2017 | Updated 11:28 a.m. CT Dec. 4, 2017

The Predators said Monday that center Ryan Johansen is "day-to-day with an upper-body injury." Johansen exited Saturday's victory against the Anaheim Ducks near the end of the second period. He collided with teammate Kevin Fiala at center ice before leaving for the dressing room. Johansen didn't participate in Monday's morning skate and appears doubtful to play against the Boston Bruins at Bridgestone Arena. Since being traded to the Predators from the Columbus Blue Jackets in January 2016, Johansen has missed eight games because of injury, which came consecutively during the playoffs last season. He required emergency thigh surgery in May to treat acute compartment syndrome, ending his season during the Western Conference finals. The Predators are better equipped to withstand Johansen's absence than they were a month ago. Kyle Turris, formerly the Ottawa Senators' first- line center before the Nov. 5 trade that placed him in Nashville, has eight points in 11 games with the Predators.

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Nashville Predators 5, Boston Bruins 3: 3 things we learned

Adam Vingan, USA TODAY NETWORK — Tennessee Published 9:46 p.m. CT Dec. 4, 2017 | Updated 10:44 p.m. CT Dec. 4, 2017

Two months ago, the Predators opened their season with a stinker in Boston. That October loss to the Bruins seems like a distant memory. Since then, Nashville has ascended the NHL standings and is near the top after defeating Boston 5-3 on Monday. Here are three observations from Monday's victory: Without injured center Ryan Johansen on Monday, the Predators' forward line of Kevin Fiala, Kyle Turris and Craig Smith functioned as the team's top unit against the Bruins. Those three developed instantaneous chemistry when Predators coach Peter Laviolette placed them together one month ago, and there was no letdown against the Bruins. Smith scored Nashville's two goals in the first period, depositing a rebound in the first 90 seconds and whipping a last-minute goal past Bruins goaltender Anton Khudobin. Smith, who has 11 goals in 27 games and eight even-strength points in 12 games with Turris as his center, will match his 78-game total from last season with his next goal. Turris had two assists Monday, and Fiala had a slick backhand goal as well as an assist. Fiala, Turris and Smith have combined for 32 points in the Predators' past 12 games. Johansen 'day-to-day' The Predators classified Johansen on Monday morning as "day-to-day." Since being traded to the Predators from the Columbus Blue Jackets in January 2016, Johansen has missed nine games because of injury. Monday's win was the first regular-season game that Johansen has missed in his Predators career. The Predators are better equipped to withstand Johansen's absence than they were a month ago because of Turris, who previously served as the Ottawa Senators' first-line center prior to the Nov. 5 trade that brought him to Nashville. Predators defenseman Yannick Weber, who missed 10 games with a lower-body injury, returned Monday on the team's third defensive pair. The Bruins, trailing 4-0 fewer than five minutes into the second period, didn't fold despite their deficit. Boston scored twice in a 75-second spurt in the third period, slicing its deficit to 4-3 and shining a harsh light on Nashville's recurring third-period issues. Since Nov. 1, the Predators are 12-3-1, but have a third-period goal differential of minus-11. After Laviolette used his timeout to refocus his team, forward Filip Forsberg scored on the following shift to create breathing room. Forsberg is the NHL's only player with a point in each of his team's home games this season.

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How Devils lined up in practice entering important week of Metropolitan Division play

Updated December 4, 2017 at 2:59 PM; Posted December 4, 2017 at 1:37 PM By Chris Ryan [email protected], NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Fresh off their most lopsided loss of the season, the Devils began gearing up for arguably their most important week of hockey during the first half. They will enter Tuesday's game one point behind the Blue Jackets for first place in the Metropolitan Division, and the two teams will play again on Friday at the Prudential Center in Newark. The Devils will then play the surging Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night. The Rangers currently sit in sixth place in the Metro, but they are just five points behind the Blue Jackets in the crowded standings. The Devils played just two intra-division games during October and November, where they beat the Rangers and lost to the Washington Capitals. Including the three games this week, they will play five Metropolitan Division games. Despite Saturday's five-goal defeat, the Devils did not make any changes to their lines or pairings at Monday's practice.

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Ex-Devil Scott Stevens to join NHL Network as analyst

Updated December 4, 2017 at 2:46 PM; Posted December 4, 2017 at 12:00 PM By Chris Ryan [email protected], NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Former Devil captain and three-time Stanley Cup winner Scott Stevens will join the NHL Network as a studio analyst. He will make his debut on "NHL Tonight" at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Dec, 7. Stevens was an on-air analyst for the network during the 2015-16 season before joining the Minnesota Wild as an assistant coach in 2016-17. Stevens resigned in May to spend more time with his family. "I'm thrilled to rejoin the NHL Network team and break down all the exciting storylines taking place in the NHL right now," Stevens said in a statement. "Most importantly, I look forward to teaching the game through on-air demonstrations and continuing to show that Kevin Weekes can still be beat through the five-hole." The Hall-of-Fame defenseman played 13 of his 22 NHL seasons in New Jersey, where he anchored a defense that led the Devils to Stanley Cup titles in 1995, 2000 and 2003. In 956 games with the Devils, he had 93 goals and 337 assists while playing his aggressive, hard-hitting style. Stevens also served as an assistant coach for the Devils from 2012 through 2014. He stepped down but was rehired as a co-head coach following the firing of Peter DeBoer in December of 2014.

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Why game vs. Blue Jackets will be character test for Devils

Updated December 5, 2017 at 6:07 AM; Posted December 5, 2017 at 6:00 AM By Chris Ryan [email protected], NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Metropolitan Division is coming for the Devils After playing just two of their first 26 games against divisional opponents, the Devils will play three straight contests against them, starting with a 7 p.m. matchup on Tuesday against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena. The Devils will then host the Blue Jackets on Friday at the Prudential Center in Newark before visiting the Rangers on Saturday at Madison Square Garden in New York. The Devils have talked about the importance of each game and opponent, but they know intra-division games carry some extra weight. "It's going to be a huge week for sure. Huge games coming up," center Nico Hischier said. "Those teams are all in our division, so they're always huge games. I think those games will show which way we'll go. It's a good character test, because we lost in Arizona. We have to have a bounce-back game (on Tuesday)." The Devils are coming off a 5-0 thumping by the Arizona Coyotes on Saturday, so they will be aiming to rebound against a Blue Jacket team that has won eight of its last 10 games to move one point ahead in the standings. "It's an opportunity for us to bounce back from a performance we really didn't like against Arizona and make sure we get back to our compete level we need as a group," coach John Hynes said. "They know it's about focusing on our game and our detail and getting back to our identity." Cory Schneider will start in net on Tuesday for the Devils after played in Saturday's loss. The team's line rushes in Monday's practice were the same as Saturday. While Hynes didn't announce any other lineup changes on Monday, he said they were possible. Hynes reiterated on Monday how each opponent across the NHL is tough, but the Devils are currently in a divisional race where five points separate first place from the first team out of the playoffs. "Every team in the league is tough to play against, and it's tough to get points against any division, any team, Western Conference, Eastern Conference," Hynes said. "But we're getting in to this week is two Metropolitan Division teams. I don't think this week is any different from any other week, other than the face we're in our division and Columbus is a very good team."

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How Devils' Nico Hischier has settled into role, adapted to playing with Taylor Hall

Updated December 4, 2017 at 5:13 PM; Posted December 4, 2017 at 5:02 PM By Chris Ryan [email protected], NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Nearly two months into his NHL career, Nico Hischier knows he's still learning. The Devils' No. 1 overall pick from the 2017 NHL Draft expects his entire rookie season to be a learning process in some way, and his main focus since training camp has been integrating his game to a new level of competition. Now 26 games in, Hischier is happy with what he's done. "I try to improve every day and it's been good so far," Hischier told NJ Advance Media. "I'm adjusting to the league a little bit more and still I think the whole season is going to be new for me. Every new city, every new rink. Just going to be the whole year, new stuff coming at me. Just excited about it, but I feel good about it right now." Hischier is up to five goals and 13 assists through 26 games, where he has settled into the top-line center role for the Devils. Even with lines getting shuffled on occasion and veteran Travis Zajac returning to action a few weeks ago, Hischier hasn't budged for the most part. During his time on the top line, Hischier has primarily been playing with left wing Taylor Hall. Getting the chance to skate with the Devils' most offensively gifted forward has allowed Hischier to create more and more scoring chances. Hall said recently that he doesn't try to talk too much with Hischier during games. The left wing would rather let the rookie's skill come out than try to pull him in different directions, and Hischier has seen the chemistry build naturally that way. "It's easy to play with him. Obviously he's such a good player and it's just, you've got to dish him the pucks, then he does something with it," Hischier said. "'It's a player you really like to play with and easy to play with, and it's been good so far." With veteran forward Adam Henrique being traded on Thursday for defenseman Sami Vatanen, the Devils will rely on Hischier and other younger Devils to maintain the production they've put up in the early part of 2017-18. Hischier said there was some shock when he heard about the move, and his focus is on maintaining his same level of play. "We lost a really good player, plus (Joseph Blandisi) there too," Hischier said. "But we got a really good player as well. Now it just comes together, and what you can do is stay the same. You've got to play your game, play what you already play and try to help the team."

Chris Ryan Star Ledger LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086662 New Jersey Devils

NHL Network hires Devils Hall of Famer Scott Stevens

Andrew Gross, Staff Writer, @AGrossRecord Published 12:00 p.m. ET Dec. 4, 2017 | Updated 12:01 p.m. ET Dec. 4, 2017

The NHL Network announced today that it has hired Devils Hall of Famer and former captain Scott Stevens as a studio analyst, returning him to his role from 2015-16 before he served one season as a Wild assistant coach. In addition to playing for the Devils from 1991-2004, winning three Stanley Cups, Stevens served as a Devils' assistant coach from 2012-14 and then as a co-coach with Adam Oates and Lou Lamoriello for the latter half of the 2014-15 season. Here's the press release from NHL Network: "NHL Network today announced that Hockey Hall of Famer and three- time Stanley Cup champion Scott Stevens has returned to the network as a studio analyst. Stevens, who was part of NHL Network’s on-air roster from 2015-2016 before serving as an assistant coach for the Minnesota Wild during the 2016-17 season, will make his return on NHL Tonight on Thursday, December 7 at 6:00 p.m. ET alongside Dave Reid and Tony Luftman. Struggling Devils must regroup quickly against Blue Jackets Devils Daily Faceoff: Three storylines for Dec. 4 “I’m thrilled to rejoin the NHL Network team and break down all the exciting storylines taking place in the NHL right now. Most importantly, I look forward to teaching the game through on-air demonstrations and continuing to show that Kevin Weekes can still be beat through the five- hole,” said Stevens. As a member of the Wild coaching staff last season, Stevens helped guide Minnesota to a franchise-record 106 points and 49 wins. Under Stevens’ tutelage, Minnesota finished seventh in the NHL in goals against per game (2.51), and defensemen Jonas Brodin, Matt Dumba and Jared Spurgeon each recorded a career-high in points. Before joining the Wild, Stevens contributed to NHL Network’s studio shows as an analyst and was part of NHL Network’s coverage of the 2016 Winter Classic at Gillette Stadium and the 2016 Stanley Cup Final at PPG Paints Arena and the SAP Center. Across the span of his playing career, Stevens served as captain of three Stanley Cup champion New Jersey Devils teams in 1995, 2000 and 2003. Stevens, who skated in over 1,600 regular season games, never recorded a negative plus/minus rating in any of his 22 seasons as a defenseman. Stevens was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2000 and was inducted to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2007 in his first year of eligibility and was named to the NHL’s “100 Greatest Players” list this past year."

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Devils Daily Faceoff: Three storylines for Dec. 4

Andrew Gross, Staff Writer, @AGrossRecord Published 8:02 a.m. ET Dec. 4, 2017 | Updated 8:02 a.m. ET Dec. 4, 2017

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Devils are back on the ice on Monday with a practice at Nationwide Arena at 1 p.m. following an off-day of cross- country travel on Sunday. The Devils will conclude this three-game road trip against the Blue Jackets on Tuesday (Faceoff: 7 p.m.; Television: MSG Plus; Radio: WFAN-101.9FM/660AM), the start of a home-and-home series that also includes Friday night’s game at Prudential Center. As written in Monday’s edition of The Record, these are important games for a couple of reasons. First, the Devils (15-7-4) have not played great hockey as of late and certainly not in Saturday night’s 5-0 loss at Arizona, the third time they’ve been shut out this season, and by former teammate Scott Wedgewood, no less. Second, Tuesday marks the first of five games against Metropolitan Division rivals the rest of this month and the Devils, who have not made the playoffs since 2012, sit one point behind the first- place Blue Jackets (17-9-1) in the tight divisional race. Here are three storylines for today: First period – Shaking it up? Typically, coming off a defeat such as Saturday night’s, which was similar in its lethargy to a 3-2 loss to the visiting Panthers this past Monday, a coach might look to put together some new combinations. John Hynes did flip-flop left wings Taylor Hall and Marcus Johansson to start the second period, not that that was any more effective. Pavel Zacha, 20, was the extra forward on Saturday and Steven Santini, 22, along with gritty Dalton Prout, were the defensemen not in the lineup. Second period – What is the plan for Zacha? The sixth overall pick in the 2015 NHL Draft has failed to solidify a spot in the improved Devils’ lineup, including a stretch of being a healthy scratch in four of five games from Nov. 9-18. He has two goals and four assists in 21 games and Hynes has consistently said Zacha needs to be more aggressive offensively. He’s also said previously that re-assigning Zacha to Binghamton (AHL) was not presently under consideration. Having Zacha develop into a key contributor for the team is one of the overriding storylines for this season. Third period – Still adapting: Monday’s practice marks the first with the Devils for Sami Vatanen, even though the defenseman has already played two games for the team since being acquired from the Ducks on Thursday in a trade that included fan favorite Adam Henrique being shipped to Anaheim. It should be a good opportunity for Vatanen to further acclimate himself to some of the Devils’ systems’ concepts.

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Struggling Devils must regroup quickly against Blue Jackets

Andrew Gross, Staff Writer, @AGrossRecord Published 12:55 p.m. ET Dec. 3, 2017

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A home-and-home series against the Blue Jackets, a key Metropolitan Division rival, would be crucial games at any point of the season. Now, it’s even a little bit more so for the Devils. “Yeah, it’s huge,” left wing Taylor Hall said. “We’re getting to the part of the season where teams kind of define themselves. The first part of the season is over.” The second-place Devils (15-7-4), one point behind the Metropolitan Division-leading Blue Jackets (17-9-1), are at Nationwide Arena on Tuesday (Faceoff: 7 p.m.; Television: MSG Plus; Radio: WFAN- 101.9FM/660AM) to conclude this three-game road trip and the teams play again Friday at Prudential Center. The Devils are coming off Saturday night’s 5-0 loss to the Western Conference-worst Coyotes and have played two of their less-inspired games of the season over their last three outings, including Monday night’s 3-2 loss to the visiting Panthers in which they were outshot 16-3 in the first period. Plus, the schedule will toughen. So far, the Devils, who have not made the playoffs since 2012 and did not practice on Sunday as they traveled back east from Arizona, have split their only two divisional games, the last being a 3-2 win over the Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 14. This month, the Devils play five divisional games, including Saturday night’s game against the Rangers at The Garden. “Every team now has a grasp on how they want to play and the group they’re going to have,” Hall said. “The last five, six games hasn’t been the greatest hockey for us. It’s important to get back on track and whether we’re winning or losing, it’s playing the right game and the structure. I know it’s cliché but you have to find a way to bring a consistent effort every night. We’ve had it in spurts. But when we play a divisional game, it’s that much more important.” Only four points separates the Devils and the sixth-place Rangers, who have won seven of their last 10 but are currently outside the playoff bubble. The Devils are 4-3-2 since Nov. 16 and have been shut out twice in that span as they’ve averaged 2.1 goals in the nine games. Losing top-line right wing Kyle Palmieri for four to six weeks with a broken right foot suffered on Nov. 20 hasn’t helped. But, other than Palmieri, the Devils are relatively healthy for the first time all season with second-line center Travis Zajac back from offseason surgery to repair a torn left pectoral muscle, depth forward Brian Boyle contributing after being diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia at the start of training camp and second-line left wing Marcus Johansson back in the lineup after he missed 13 games with a concussion suffered on Nov. 1. Plus, the Devils acquired offensive-minded defenseman Sami Vatanen – and put him immediately on the top pair – on Thursday from the Ducks for core member Adam Henrique, expendable because of the rapid development of rookie forwards Nico Hischier and Jesper Bratt, both on the top line with Hall. Still, this feel-good start to the season could quickly evaporate if the Devils don’t respond from a lackluster performance against the Coyotes with urgency against the Blue Jackets. “We’re playing one of the best teams in the conference, the best team in the conference at this point, so it’ll be a good challenge for us,” Hynes said. “It’s double. It’s being able to respond and take lessons from [Saturday’s loss]. Then, we’ve got two games against a very good team that we’ve got to make sure we’re prepared for.”

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Pavel Zacha frustrated not being in Devils' lineup

Andrew Gross, Staff Writer, @AGrossRecord Published 4:44 p.m. ET Dec. 4, 2017 | Updated 5:42 p.m. ET Dec. 4, 2017

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Pavel Zacha was the last player on the ice, being skated hard long after the Devils’ practice had ended on Monday afternoon at Nationwide Arena. It’s seemingly a very good indication the 20-year-old forward will again be a healthy scratch when the Devils conclude this three-game road trip against the Blue Jackets on Tuesday night (Faceoff: 7 p.m.; Television: MSG Plus; Radio: WFAN-101.9FM/660AM, digital One Jersey Network), the start of a home-and-home series with the Metropolitan Division leaders. “I don’t know anything,” an admittedly frustrated Zacha said of Tuesday’s lineup. “But I skated so that tells everything.” Coach John Hynes said lineup changes were being considered for Tuesday night – 22-year-old defenseman Steven Santini has been a healthy scratch for three straight games and gritty defenseman Dalton Prout has been a healthy scratch for 14 straight games – but repeated the organization needs to see a “consistent compete and a tougher player to play against” from Zacha. Zacha, the sixth overall pick in the 2015 NHL Draft, was also a healthy scratch in Saturday’s lackluster 5-0 loss at Arizona and logged just 9:21 in a 2-1 win at Colorado on Friday. That was the last in a stretch of six straight games Zacha was in the lineup after being a healthy scratch in four of five games from Nov. 9-18. “Yeah, frustrating is the right word,” said Zacha, who has two goals and four assists in 21 games after notching eight goals and 16 assists in 70 games as a rookie. “It’s hard to explain. I’m just not happy with what’s going on with my game or that I’m not playing so I’m not really happy. It’s something that’s not fun, too, just to practice.” While Hynes has been clear in explaining to the media what the organization wants to see from Zacha, the 6-foot-3, 210-forward said he’s not sure what he needs to show to get back into the lineup. “To be honest, I don’t know,” Zacha said. “I didn’t talk to anyone so I don’t know what is going on. I’m not playing so the only thing I can do again is practice hard. I’m not feeling great.” When Zacha was out of the lineup last month, Hynes said the organization met with both Zacha and his agent, Patrik Stefan, to make sure everybody was on the same page. Zacha said he was meeting with Stefan on Monday after practice. “He wants to get better,” Devils right wing Jimmy Hayes said. “He continues to build in the right direction. It’s figuring out that he’s got this high-end talent, skill wise, but he’s also got this big body. Once he uses those two things together, he can be a force.” Hynes had said in November there was no consideration of sending Zacha to Binghamton (AHL) and he repeated that stance on Monday. “Our focus with him right now is to be in the NHL and to play,” Hynes said. “We want to be able to teach guys and explain what needs to be done. Our focus still for him is we’re hoping he turns a corner here in his consistency and his compete level. We really like him as a player and he’s a great kid. “We’re not entering that [the AHL] right now,” Hynes added. “We’re trying to entertain the NHL and hopefully he gets it and that’s why we use the word self-starter. You’ve got to be a self-starter in this league to be in every night.” BRIEFS: Hynes announced goalie Cory Schneider would start on Tuesday night. …The NHL Network announced on Monday it had re- hired Devils Hall of Famer Scott Stevens as a studio analyst, a role he filled during the 2015-16 season.

Bergen Record LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086666 New Jersey Devils why we use the word self-starter. You’ve got to be a self-starter in this league to be in every night.”

Devils coach John Hynes keeps his messages consistent Bergen Record LOADED: 12.05.2017

Andrew Gross, Staff Writer, @AGrossRecord Published 5:29 p.m. ET Dec. 4, 2017 | Updated 5:42 p.m. ET Dec. 4, 2017

The Devils had a hard, 50-minute practice this afternoon at Nationwide Arena, where, on Tuesday night, they’ll open a home-and-home series against the Metropolitan Division-leading Blue Jackets (Faceoff: 7 p.m.; Television: MSG Plus; Radio: WFAN-101.9FM/660AM, digital One Jersey Network). Today marked the first practice Sami Vatanen has gone through with the Devils since being acquired from the Ducks on Thursday in a deal that sent Adam Henrique to Anaheim, though the defenseman has already played in two games with the Devils – Friday’s 2-1 win at Colorado and Saturday’s 5-0 loss at Arizona. The Devils, who have played just two divisional games so far (1-1-0), will play three this week as they also host the Blue Jackets on Friday night and face the Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night. “Well, it’s a good opponent,” Hynes said of the Blue Jackets. “It’s really an opportunity for us to bounce back against a performance we really didn’t like against Arizona and make sure we get back to our compete level we need to be at as a group. It’s about focusing on our game and our attention to detail and our identity.” And that’s regardless of whether the Devils are playing in the division or not. “I think every team is difficult to play against,” Hynes said. “This week is two Metropolitan Division teams. Every team presents different challenges. I don’t think this week is any different from any other week other than we’re in our division and Columbus is a very good team. They’re at the top of the division. We know we’re playing a real formidable team that’s playing real well right now.” Hynes announced Cory Schneider, who made 22 saves against the Avalanche before Keith Kinkaid got the start against the Coyotes, would be back in net. And he said he was considering other lineup changes. Dalton Prout (a healthy scratch in 14 straight games) and Steven Santini (who has not dressed for the last three games) worked together as the fourth defensive pair. Also in practice, Pavel Zacha, a healthy scratch at Colorado after logging 9:21 at Colorado, went in for Hayes later in the line drills and then practiced on the power play. However, he was the last Devil on the ice after practice broke up, being skated very hard long after his teammates had gotten in and out of the shower, a likely sign he’s not in Tuesday’s lineup. “We kind of have the same discussion every day about Pav and my answer hasn’t changed from before,” Hynes said. “We had a practice today. I thought he worked hard today in practice. It doesn’t change. There needs to be a consistent compete and a tougher player to play against, a more consistent player to play against. He’s got to be able to get to his assets. He’s got good size, he’s got an excellent shot. He’s got good hockey sense. He can skate. But you’ve got to compete. You’ve got to skate and you’ve got to be a factor in the games and that’s what we’re looking for him to be able to consistently, whether that’s game or practice.” Hynes also repeated the organization is not considering an AHL assignment for Zacha, 20, who has two goals and four assists in 21 games. “Our focus with him right now is to be in the NHL and to play,” Hynes said. “When you work with players and we feel the way we do things here, we like to give players opportunities. We like to have some accountability in there. We want to be able to teach guys and explain what needs to be done. Our focus still for him is we’re hoping he turns a corner here in his consistency and his compete level. We really like him as a player and he’s a great kid. But sometimes young guys go through these situations where you just have to understand at the NHL level. Last year was different. Last year guys had different opportunities to play. Sometimes we played guys and played through it. But this year is a different situation. We feel like we have a more competitive team. We feel like we’re in a more competitive spot. We’ve been pretty thorough in establishing that from Day 1 this year and it’s got to be earned. That’s the maturity part we’re looking for. We’re not entertaining that (the AHL) right now. We’re trying to entertain the NHL and hopefully he gets it and that’s 1086667 New York Islanders

Islanders win shootout after Panthers goalie exits with injury

Staff Report By Associated Press December 4, 2017 | 11:07PM

SUNRISE, Fla. — Mathew Barzal scored the winning goal in a shootout to lift the Islanders over Florida 5-4 on Monday night after Panthers goalie Roberto Luongo was injured in the second period. Anders Lee scored his 100th career goal. John Tavares, Brock Nelson and Thomas Hickey also scored in regulation for the Islanders. Jaroslav Halak made 39 saves and stopped all three attempts in the shootout. Denis Malgin, Aleksander Barkov and Aaron Ekblad scored for the Panthers. Keith Yandle had a goal and two assists, and Vincent Trocheck added three assists. Luongo allowed one goal on 13 shots before he left the game after he was injured when he stretched out his right leg to block a shot by Ryan Pulock at 17:29 of the second. Luongo was helped off the ice by trainers and wasn’t able to put any weight on the leg. He did not return. James Reimer replaced Luongo and finished with 16 saves. Malgin tied the score at 4 when he was left alone in front, took a pass from Trocheck from behind the net and poked in the puck at 5:06 of the third period. After trailing 3-2, the Islanders scored two goals in about two minutes of the second. Nelson tied the score at 3 on his shot from the slot that went five-hole on Reimer with 3:41 left. Tavares put the Islanders ahead 4-3 with 1:39 left when he backhanded the puck between Reimer’s pads. Barkov gave the Panthers a 3-2 lead on the power play when he took a shot from above the right circle that beat Halak at 10:34 of the second. Barkov has four goals in his past five games. The Islanders took a 2-1 lead on Hickey’s goal when his wrist shot bounced past Reimer at 5:35 of the second. The Panthers tied it 2-all on a power-play goal by Ekblad at 8:45 of the second. The Islanders had just killed off a 5-on-3 for 55 seconds and then Ekblad’s shot from the left circle got by Halak. Yandle gave the Panthers a 1-0 lead at 10:25 of the first. He corralled a loose puck at the point and fired a wrist shot past Halak. The Islanders tied it on Lee’s shot from in front that went through Luongo’s legs at 13:51 of the first.

New York Post LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086668 New York Islanders

Islanders beat Panthers in shootout on Mathew Barzal’s goal

By Arthur Staple [email protected] @StapeNewsday Updated December 5, 2017 1:06 AM

SUNRISE, Fla. — It was mild, then it was wild. By the end, the Islanders just wanted the two points to put an emotional game to bed, and it was Mathew Barzal who helped them get there. Barzal scored the lone shootout goal and Jaroslav Halak shut the door on the Panthers after a shaky second period in a 5-4 Islanders win Monday night. The game featured Panthers goaltender Roberto Luongo being carried off the ice after an injury, Cal Clutterbuck being bear- hugged by John Tavares to keep him from going over the boards to confront an official, and another high-scoring game for the league’s highest-powered offense. “It was kind of a crazy game,” said Barzal, who dazzled with a pair of great overtime chances that were denied by Florida backup goalie James Reimer before flipping a backhand past Reimer in the shootout. “I had a couple good chances in OT. We wanted that second point and we got it.” Things started to get going 2:31 into the second. Luongo stretched out to turn aside Ryan Pulock’s slap shot and the 38-year-old former Islander stayed down, appearing to be in serious pain. Luongo barely did anything under his own power as Panthers trainers helped him off the ice in a 1-1 game to stick taps from both teams and applause from the Isles-heavy crowd. Barely three minutes later, the Islanders took their first lead when Thomas Hickey’s shot deflected off a Panther stick and bounced past Reimer. Soon after that, though, the Isles simply lost their cool. While killing a penalty, Clutterbuck dived into a post-whistle scrum between Vincent Trocheck and Anthony Beau villier. Referee Ian Walsh determined that only Clutterbuck deserved a minor, giving the Panthers a 55-second five-on-three. Aaron Ekblad wired one past Halak to tie it at 2 just after Jordan Eberle exited the box. After another scrum in which nothing was called, Clutterbuck — aided by coach Doug Weight, who screamed epithets at Walsh — was whistled for a minor and a misconduct for shouting from the bench. That prompted the sight of Tavares holding Clutterbuck down before his teammate could get on the ice to continue his tirade. Aleksander Barkov scored on that power play, putting the Isles behind. “The second penalty was entirely my fault. I just lost my head there,” Clutterbuck said. “The first, I’ll never feel bad about that. It’s a 20-year- old kid getting roughed up in the corner and I got grabbed the same way I grabbed [Tro check] . . . I owe ’em all a pat on the back. I was real happy the way we responded. But it’s something I’ve got to make sure I don’t do again.” Said Weight, “It’s not a good penalty, but let’s just say I gave him a get- out-of-jail-free card . . . I got everybody revved up on the bench. He and I will have a little serenity session on the plane and we’ll be better.” The Islanders were quite a bit better after falling behind. Brock Nelson had his second goal in 15 games off a feed from Josh Ho-Sang to tie it at 16:19 and Tavares swept one through Reimer’s legs at 18:21 to give the Isles a 4-3 lead after two periods. “It’s really the way we’ve been all year,” Tavares said. “We’ve been resilient and we haven’t let anything distract us.” Even after a breakdown allowed Denis Malgin to tie it at 5:06 of the third, the Isles were strong — particularly Halak, who didn’t look sharp on Barkov’s goal or Keith Yandle’s first-period score but buckled down and finished with 39 saves, plus the final stop of the shootout on Jonathan Huberdeau for the win. “He did just kind of reset,” Weight said. “I loved his game after the [Barkov] goal. We’ve talked about how we need a save at the right time and he gave us a few of those, none bigger than the last one.”

By Arthur Staple Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086669 New York Islanders

Jack Capuano fondly recalls his time as coach of the Islanders

By Arthur Staple [email protected] @StapeNewsday Updated December 5, 2017 1:00 AM

SUNRISE, Fla. — Jack Capuano had to correct himself a few times during a chat with reporters before Monday night’s game, sometimes saying “we” when describing his Panthers’ opponent. Especially when he discussed his finest moment in seven seasons as Islanders coach, their first-round series victory over the Panthers in 2016. Capuano was reminded that the Panthers still believe they were robbed late in Game 6, when Vincent Trocheck was taken down while trying to shoot for an empty net. John Tavares tied it soon after and won it in double overtime. “That’s the first thing Vinny said to me, but I told him we’d have beaten him in Game 7 anyway, so it doesn’t matter,” said Capuano, Florida’s associate coach for rookie head man Bob Boughner. “It was a great series, a hard-fought series, could’ve went either way, and fortunately 91 did what he usually does and came up with a big goal.” Capuano was fired by the Islanders in January and, after strongly considering a similar role with the Sabres, chose to come to the Panthers, a team that has gotten much younger since the Islanders dispatched them two seasons ago. “I follow them, and obviously I’m rooting for them,” Capuano said. “I still have a lot of friends on that team, the coaching staff. If there’s a team in the Metro I want to win, it’s them. Tonight’s another game, but afterwards, I want them to keep climbing the ladder.” Capuano had the longest tenure of any Islanders coach since Al Arbour, so he is well acquainted with nearly the entire roster and takes some pride in seeing what’s developed since he was let go. “It’s about the development of the players, Anders Lee, Josh Bailey, Cal de Haan, Casey Cizikas. There’s a lot of guys we had, just to watch them grow and the success we had,” he said. “It’s a process for us. It’s a young team just like we were on the Island. That’s why I thought this would be a good situation for me.”

By Arthur Staple Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086670 New York Rangers

Rangers must sustain recent success after slow start, especially with upcoming games against divisional rivals

JUSTIN TASCH NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Monday, December 4, 2017, 5:00 PM

There is still farther for the Rangers to go, still more progress to be made as even after winning 11 of 14 games they sit just outside the playoff picture heading into Tuesday's game against the reigning two-time champion Penguins. And that only reaffirms just how badly October went and how close the Blueshirts (14-10-2) were from their season being lost seemingly before it even began. Until a turning point finally came. It was a four-day stretch from Oct. 28 through Halloween, beginning with as embarrassing a period as any of the Rangers have ever played, falling behind in Montreal 3-0 through a first period in which they were outshot 19-2. After tying the game only to lose 5-4, the Rangers admitted they didn't compete and lacked effort in that first period. "You're gonna lose games, you're gonna have bad nights, but when you get your work ethic questioned, I think that was definitely a time where we all had to look in the mirror, for sure," Rick Nash said Monday. With three wins through 12 games, the Rangers didn't play again until three days after losing to Montreal, leading to a long two days of reflection. "It was a long month, to be honest," Marc Staal said. "When you're struggling like a team like that, it's not really enjoyable coming to the rink. The next day kind of bleeds into another one and you're trying to find something to hold onto to get you out of it. You hope those are few and far between." The Rangers have fought their way back to relevance after a terrible start, but now they have to continue their hot streak with upcoming games against divisional foes. The Rangers struck early against Vegas on Oct. 31 but stumbled to a 4-2 deficit through two periods before scoring four in the third to win 6-4, the start of what was a six-game win streak and this stretch of 14 games they're riding. "When you're going through a stretch like we were, when you're as inconsistent as we were, sometimes you need something to shake you out of it," Staal said, referencing that first period in Montreal. "We knew if we, as a group, get that kind of lackadaisical type of effort, we're gonna be in for a long season." There were no players-only meetings, Staal said. He describes the group as close-knit and in constant communication. "We just needed something to go right," he said. Once that finally happened, confidence grew and wins were plentiful. In some recent games, poor starts like they had on a near-nightly basis over the first month have crept back in, only now more often than not they've been able to pull out victories with a steadier foundation underneath them. As things began to go right, the Rangers' confidence only grew. They must continue to do so, especially in weeks like this when they face Pittsburgh, Washington and New Jersey, all division foes sitting above them. It would've been hard to figure they'd even be in this position just over a month ago, but they hit their nadir in Montreal and surged. "It seems like that's kind of when the ship made it's final turn, for sure," Nash said.

New York Daily News LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086671 New York Rangers

Rangers hanging onto Mika Zibanejad’s positive injury news

By Larry Brooks December 4, 2017 | 8:51PM

Measuring progress in recovering from a concussion is an inexact science where one step forward can immediately be followed by two steps back. But Mika Zibanejad does seem to be on the right track. The Blueshirts’ first-line center, sidelined for the last two games with the injury that was triggered by a hit he sustained against Detroit on Nov. 24, was able to work out on the stationary bike at the club’s practice rink Monday. “I can’t tell you exactly where he is on the protocol, but he rode the bike,” said coach , whose team is in Pittsburgh on Tuesday. “He’s following the protocol. It’s day-by-day, how he feels.” David Desharnais will continue to take Zibanejad’s spot between Chris Kreider and Pavel Buchnevich while also sliding into the position temporarily vacated by No. 93 on the first power-play unit. How’s this for a Corsi conundrum: The Kreider-Zibanejad-Buchnevich unit has played 171:31 five-on-five with a very healthy attempts-rate of 55.7 percent. But the unit has combined to score only four full-strength goals while on for eight against, for a minus-four rating. Meanwhile, the Kreider-Desharnais-Buchnevich line has a sickly possession rate of 37.8 in the tiny sample size of 21:46, but has combined to score three goals for a plus-two. Stats are courtesy of naturalstattrick.com. The power-play dynamic has necessarily changed with the lefty Desharnais replacing the right-handed Zibanejad, whose off-side one- timer from the circle has been a substantial weapon. “Our options on our checklist are the same, but I think the process changes a little,” righty quarterback Kevin Shattenkirk said. “When I’m walking the line with the puck, I’m aware that it takes longer for the lefty on that side to get around on it for a shot, so I have to be looking to shoot more myself without giving up on that option. You can’t give away that option. At the same time, we’re developing others. Any good penalty killer understands the options so it’s on us — and on me — to outthink the guys we’re going against. There are always those adjustments to be made off reads and personnel changes, but it is still up to us to execute.” Filip Chytil is on a day-to-day basis for the AHL Wolf Pack after sustaining what has been diagnosed as a cervical sprain when the 18- year-old center went face-first into the glass on a check from behind at 15:49 of the third period of Saturday’s overtime loss to the Marlies. The Rangers play six games in nine days beginning with Friday’s match in Washington that’s the front end of a back-to-back that concludes the following night at home against the Devils and no, Henrik Lundqvist is not going to start them all. Vigneault did not specify when, but the coach did say that he expects Ondrej Pavelec, whose last start came Oct. 28 in Montreal, to get the call a couple of times within that stretch. The 30-year-old Czech backup, who has started three games, played the final 42:22 in relief against the Panthers on Nov. 28 and allowed two goals on 21 shots. Pavelec is 1-4 (two losses in relief) overall with a 3.56 goals-against average and .889 save percentage. “I would say [Pavelec] is going to play at least two,” Vigneault said. “That’s what I’m planning.” New York Post LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086672 New York Rangers “Is this a good test for us? No question,” Lundqvist asked and answered. “But the whole season is a test. That’s the way I approach it.”

Rangers’ season is going to start to feel real now New York Post LOADED: 12.05.2017

By Larry Brooks December 4, 2017 | 6:18PM

Nearly one-third of the way through and it does not feel as if the Rangers season has generated traction. Not the team, which is 11-3 since Halloween; but the season itself. Maybe that is because the Blueshirts have played only 26 games in 61 days since the opening puck drop on Oct. 5 in a schedule that has featured an unusual amount of leisure time. And more to the point, maybe that is because the Rangers have played a sum of only three games — three, total — against the Islanders, Devils, Penguins, Capitals and Flyers in counterpoint to a steady drumbeat of generic matchups that inspire no one. But that is about to change. This is a ye olde Patrick Division week for our heroes, who have two on the road in Pittsburgh Tuesday and in Washington Friday before returning home to face the Devils on Saturday at the Garden. In the vernacular, much more should be known a week from now about this group that trails all three of these upcoming divisional opponents (and the Islanders and Blue Jackets, too, in the newfangled Metropolitan) and is thus on the outside looking in on the playoffs. “I think we’re going to know a lot more not only about our team, but what we’re going to be up against the rest of the year in the playoff race,” Kevin Shattenkirk told The Post following Monday’s practice at home that preceded the flight to Pittsburgh. “But I think even more importantly, we need to find our game on the road and see who we are on the road playing in hostile environments against this kind of quality.” The Rangers have gone 3-5 in their league-low eight road contests. They’ve yet to have longer than a two-game, three-day trip. They have played only one of their scheduled 15 games out of the eastern time zone. Shattenkirk is correct. There are important things to be learned about the 14-10-2 Blueshirts. “Let’s start with Pittsburgh,” Mats Zuccarello said. “We’ve had some big wins there but we’ve also had some ugly games there, too.” Big win: 5-2 last Nov. 21 behind Antti Raanta. Ugly game: 7-2 defeat just under a month later, Dec. 20, in front of Raanta. Big win: 2-1 in Game 7 of the 2014 second round. Ugly game: 6-3 against in the elimination Game 5 of the 2016 first round. “In my opinion, the Penguins are still the team to beat coming off their two Cup wins,” Shattenkirk said. “Washington may not have all the firepower they’ve had the last number of years, but I think they’re playing a little bit of a hungrier game. And the Devils are a very strong team we are going to have to worry about all year.” The Penguins, who are carrying the additional weight of 49 playoff contests the last two springs, have won four straight in front of Tristan Jarry, the freshman netminder who appears to have taken over for the injured Matt Murray as seamlessly as Murray took over for the since- departed Marc-Andre Fleury a couple of years ago. “You have to be on top of it. There’s no question about it,” said Henrik Lundqvist, who is scheduled to make his 15th straight start in what will be his longest run since he went in the final 26 games of 2010-11. “They’re a great team, even though they’ve been a little up and down. “We really have to respect their speed and skill. We have to be ready. This week will be a real challenge for us.” But in the King’s opinion, it’s not necessarily the most defining challenge to meet. As Lundqvist sees it, that comes with maintaining excellence through the grind that might not feature high-anxiety contests such as the three laying immediately ahead. “I think we will find out something about our team this week and it’s obviously very important because all three teams are ahead of us,” the goaltender said. “But I think you find out just as much, if not more, about the consistency the team has over the course of the season. “The way you play every night says more about the group because it’s the teams that are consistent no matter who they’re playing that finish highest in the standings. Some games might be a little more exciting to play, but the other games tell you a lot about your team. 1086673 New York Rangers

Henrik Lundqvist will start against Penguins, then may get some rest

By Barbara Barker [email protected] @meanbarb December 4, 2017 7:03 PM

GREENBURGH, N.Y. — Henrik Lundqvist will be in goal Tuesday against the Penguins in Pittsburgh, Rangers coach Alain Vigneault said on Monday. And then, beginning this weekend when the Rangers begin a stretch of six games in nine nights, Vigneault said he will try to get Lundqvist some rest. Vigneault’s current plan is to give Ondrej Pavelec at least two starts during that six-game stretch. The Penguins are on a four-game winning streak after struggling some early in the season. The Rangers have won five of their last six, but are entering a tough three-game stretch with the Pittsburgh game followed by another game at Washington on Friday and then a home game the next night against the Devils at Madison Square Garden. “We need to be on top of it,” Lundqvist said. “This week is a great challenge for us.” Lundqvist said there can be no let down against the Penguins. “They are a great team even though they have had a lot of ups and downs this year,” he said. “This last stretch they have been picking up their game and you really have to respect their speed and skill. They have smart players who can create stuff out of nothing. I feel like the top guys out there can make some big plays at crucial times of the game.” Added Marc Staal: “It’s a great team and a hard place to play. So, I think we’re all excited for it. We get to play against some of the elite players in the game. It always brings out the best in them . . . I think we’re playing well. We’ve gained a lot of confidence as a team game to game. If we’re not at our best, we now if we stick with it we give our chance to win the game.” Notes & quotes: Mika Zibanejad was at the practice facility and rode the bike, according to Vigneault. Zibanejad has missed two games with a concussion that he suffered against Detroit the day after Thanksgiving. Vigneault did not give a timetable for his return and said he was still following the concussion protocol. “It’s day by day how he feels,” Vigneault said.

By Barbara Barker Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086674 NHL

After making all the stops in goal, nothing can stop Carter Hart of the Everett Silvertips

Originally published December 4, 2017 at 9:48 PM By Seattle Times staff The Seattle Times

It’s three and counting for Everett Silvertips goaltender Carter Hart. For the third consecutive week, and the 12th time in his career, Hart was named the goalie of the week in the Western Hockey League. Hart had two victories last week, one his franchise-record 23rd career shutout. He currently leads the WHL in goals-against average at 1.46 and save percentage at .956. Hart, a 19-year-old from Sherwood Park, Alberta, was selected in the second round, 48th overall, by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2016 NHL draft. • Zach Norvell Jr., a redshirt freshman from Chicago, was selected as the West Coast Conference player of the week. Norvell scored 38 points for the now 12th-ranked Zags in victories over Incarnate Word and Creighton. He hit 14 of 23 shots, and had 10 rebounds and eight assists. Teammate Johnathan Williams won the honor last week. • After averaging 24.5 points and nine rebounds in two victories, Jill Barta was named the women’s WCC player of the week. The junior from Fairfield, Mont., scored 30 points with seven rebounds against Portland State. It was her fifth career game with 30 or more points, setting a school record. Nationally, Barta is 17th in double-doubles, 28th in points per game and 30th in rebounds per game. REIGN • Seattle Reign player Rumi Utsugi was one of 23 players selected for Japan’s national team that will play in the AEFF E-1 Championship. For the Reign in 2017, she played in 20 matches, started 18 and scored one goal with two assists.

Seattle Times LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086675 NHL Monday’s vote won’t be shown on any highlight reels, but that doesn’t mean we should downplay what occurred. It might have been a small crowd — but it was a huge day. One of Seattle’s biggest sports days occurs outside of arena Matt Calkins: Originally published December 4, 2017 at 9:44 pm Updated December 4, Seattle Times LOADED: 12.05.2017 2017 at 11:11 PM By Matt Calkins Times columnist

It wasn’t standing room only like it was 19 months ago. Attendees didn’t cheer or boo after speakers pleaded their cases, either. A cursory glance would suggest this was just another city-council meeting. The reality is — from a Seattle sports standpoint — it might have been the biggest day of the year. Monday afternoon, the city council took the most significant step toward getting the Sonics back yet. With seven “yes” votes to one “no,” (council member Lorena Gonzalez was not present), it approved a Memorandum of Understanding between the city and Oak View Group to renovate KeyArena as early as October 2020. Theoretically, newly elected Mayor Jenny Durkan could overturn the decision greenlighting the $600 million, privately funded remodel, but that seems highly unlikely. And though there is public skepticism as to whether OVG CEO Tim Leiweke can eventually deliver an NBA team to Seattle, it’s safe to say the city made its play. “It’s been a long road,” said council member Debora Juarez. “We can get a world-class arena at little or no cost to the taxpayers.” Flash back about a year and half ago, when the council was voting on a different arena proposal. After buying up a chunk of land in the Sodo District, developer Chris Hansen sought a street vacation on Occidental Avenue that would allow him to break ground should he obtain an NBA team. That meeting was exponentially more crowded and boisterous than the one Monday, as NBA die-hards, Port of Seattle representatives and myriad other groups crammed their way into City Hall. But the council voted Hansen down, prompting pain and anger in Sonics fans throughout the city. Perhaps that’s why there were so many empty seats Monday afternoon. Arena fatigue has become very real, as political twists and contentious debate has stripped people of their enthusiasm. But for those who did make it to City Hall on Monday? Almost universal joy. Lance Lopes, a former Seahawks executive who serves as OVG’s Director of Special Projects, pumped his fist when the vote became official. Leiweke’s daughter, Francesca Bodie, turned to him and said, “We did it.” The crowd, meanwhile, burst into applause — and Leiweke’s face was visibly victorious. Not wanting to get ahead of himself, though, Leiweke opted not to express his excitement verbally. In the 30 seconds he spent with the media, Tim stressed it was still up to Durkan to approve the council’s decision. But that’s sort of like a coach up by 30 points choosing not to celebrate until the clock is at 0:00. The fact is — this thing is happening. So what’s next? Leiweke has stressed from the beginning that hockey will come before , and in the next few months, the NHL is expected to make an announcement regarding a franchise in Seattle. Could be via expansion, could be relocation — but with billionaire investment banker David Bonderman and movie producer Jerry Bruckheimer conveying interest as potential owners, the money would likely be there. As for the NBA? Well, fans might have to be a little (a lot?) more patient with that. The league’s collective-bargaining agreement doesn’t expire until 2024 and, even then, there is no guarantee for expansion. The talent pool is already diluted, and the league is swimming in money. But Seattle’s rapid growth and basketball appetite could have the NBA salivating. So, yes, the Sonics returning just became a very real possibility. With the city taking a concrete step toward building a world-class arena, locals can allow themselves to dream. 1086676 NHL An environmental-impact study of the KeyArena plan is underway, and the city hopes to complete it by late next year so construction can begin. The NHL is expected to make a franchise announcement by July KeyArena MOU approved by Seattle City Council; will NHL regarding the addition of either an expansion or a relocated team to this announcement soon follow? market. The league is dealing with ongoing arena issues in Arizona and Calgary and would like to align its Western and Eastern conferences in what now Originally published December 4, 2017 at 4:25 pm Updated December 4, is a 31-team league. 2017 at 10:28 PM There was some dissent among council members before Monday’s vote, Geoff Baker By Geoff Baker with Mike O’Brien the lone “no.” Member M. Lorena González was not in attendance. Seattle Times staff reporter O’Brien earlier had proposed an amendment to the MOU eliminating a so-called exclusivity clause that prevents the city from giving benefits to any other group proposing an arena of more than 15,000 seats. In swift, workmanlike fashion, the Seattle City Council on Monday approved a deal for a $600 million renovation of KeyArena that could The clause is perceived as a way to block the Sodo group from obtaining soon attract an NHL team and possibly an NBA franchise down the road. its needed part of Occidental Avenue South, because that could be construed as a benefit. O’Brien said he’s worried the clause “would tie The council voted 7-1 to approve a Memorandum of Understanding our hands” in being able to negotiate with another arena group over the (MOU) between the city and the Los Angeles-based Oak View Group 39-year term of the lease. (OVG). They hope to complete the renovation by October 2020, in time to launch an NHL team for the 2020-21 season. OVG co-founder Tim But Councilmember Debora Juarez disputed that, saying it is standard Leiweke was seated in the council chambers with his daughter, company contract language that won’t prevent Hansen’s group from trying to Vice President Francesca Bodie, and his Seattle projects director, Lance acquire the street. Councilmember Kshama Sawant agreed with O’Brien Lopes. that the clause is merely OVG’s way of trying to dictate to the city what it can do. They congratulated one another when the vote passed. It was in stark contrast to a prior arena vote in May 2016, in which the council voted 5-4 “They want a guarantee of a monopoly of this sort of space,” she said. to reject a plan for a new arena in Sodo pitched by entrepreneur Chris Hansen. Sawant voted for the defeated motion, but she also voted “Yes’’ on approving the KeyArena deal, saying it’s not great but represents the Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan must sign off on the new arena plan. best the city can hope to get. “We still have work to do,’’ Leiweke said after the vote. “The mayor was Councilmember Sally Bagshaw, who represents the district containing elected, and she has the right to ultimately make the final decision. We KeyArena, said the city is “getting $600 million that is invested in an respect that process, and until she makes that decision we’re not done. asset that needs some love. Let’s just be frank.” And so we’re going to wait on any public comments until we can give the mayor a chance to weigh in on this.” One person grinning after the vote was Brian Surratt, head of the city’s economic development office. Surratt had been appointed by then-Mayor Durkan is not expected to object. In a statement Monday after the vote, Ed Murray to spearhead the request for proposals process to find a she said, “I look forward to reviewing and signing the MOU later this KeyArena renovation partner. week.” Surratt recently had told Durkan’s camp he’d be leaving his city job to Hansen’s group released a statement after the vote saying it still believes take a private-sector offer with a real-estate company. But he wanted to its Sodo project is the best shot to bring the NBA back to Seattle. This stay on through the conclusion of the council’s vote and did — year he revised his initial proposal, from one seeking up to $200 million in announcing his resignation less than a half-hour after the final tally. public bond funding, to an all-private proposal. “It’s been a long haul,” he said with a smile. In September he offered to renovate KeyArena into a downsized music venue for $100 million if his Sodo arena gets built. The city dismissed the Indeed it has been, for Seattle sports fans as well, hoping to land winter offer as too late and said Hansen’s all-private Sodo plan must continue to teams. But after Monday’s vote, a new ride on that front may just be go through bureaucratic channels pending a decision on whether to getting started. present it to the council.

What’s next? Geoff Baker: Mayor approval: Mayor Jenny Durkan must sign off on the new arena plan. She said in a statement that she hopes to sign it this week. Seattle Times LOADED: 12.05.2017 EIS: An environmental-impact study of the KeyArena plan is under way, and the city hopes to finish it by late next year so construction can begin. NHL announcement: The National Hockey League is expected to announce in July whether it will relocate a team or place an expansion team in Seattle. Project completion: The target date for completion of the renovation is October 2020, in time to launch an NHL team for the 2020-21 season. Hansen wants a second vote by the council on whether to sell him a part of Occidental Avenue South that runs through the site of his proposed arena. The Sodo group contends it needs the full property to better attract NBA investors, and it would not begin building until landing a team. “Having two viable arena options puts Seattle in the best position to attract an NBA team,” the statement said. “If some future NBA ownership group is unable to reach a competitive deal at Seattle Center, having an alternative is vital for the City and Sonics fans. We ask the City Council to consider our revised application.” The OVG proposal does not require it to first acquire teams before the KeyArena renovation begins. Leiweke’s company also has pledged $40 million toward a city transportation fund to mitigate traffic and parking problems around the arena, plus an additional $20 million to local charities. 1086677 Ottawa Senators The fact is the Senators’ record should be better than what it is right now.

This roster has too much skill and talent to miss the playoffs. Last year, they went to Round 3 led by a dazzling effort from captain Erik Karlsson Dorion studying roster options for his struggling Senators and outstanding goaltending from Craig Anderson.

Both have struggled to find their way this season and on that front they’re Bruce Garrioch not alone. Winger Mark Stone has been the club’s most consistent forward, but it’s hard to say , Mike Hoffman, Jean-Gabriel Published on: December 4, 2017 | Last Updated: December 4, 2017 8:54 Pageau and Zack Smith — to name a few — are playing with any kind of PM EST consistency.

“We have to move on and get ready for the next game,” said Boucher. “We knew this was going to be a really tough trip for us and we’ve got to LOS ANGELES — The Ottawa Senators arrived in La La Land in the rebound.” wee hours of Monday morning so they could get adjusted to the three- hour time change. Time is of the essence.

That might not be the only change they need to adjust to in the coming A tough stretch days. The Senators are 1-7-1 in their last nine games. With eight losses in nine games as they prepare to face the Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings back-to-back on Wednesday and Nov. 16: Pittsburgh 3, Ottawa 1 Thursday respectively, the Senators may have hit rock bottom with their Nov. 18: Arizona 3, Ottawa 2 (OT) 5-0 loss to the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday night at the Bell MTS Place. Nov. 19: Rangers 3, Ottawa 0 That was by far their worst defeat of the season. They were terrible in their own end, surrendering 49 shots while offering little push-back. Of Nov. 22: Washington 5, Ottawa 2 the 21 saves Connor Hellebuyck made for the shutout, none of them were memorable because Ottawa had few chances. Nov. .24: Columbus 5, Ottawa 2

“There’s really not much to say,” said forward Nate Thompson. “It was Nov. 25: Islanders 2, Ottawa 1 embarrassing. I’m embarrassed.” Nov. 29: Montreal 2, Ottawa 1

He’s right, the talk needs to turn to action. Dec. 1: Ottawa 6, Islanders 5

The Senators haven’t looked anything like the team that advanced to Dec. 3: Winnipeg 5, Ottawa 0 within one goal of the Stanley Cup final last spring and they’re well aware there’s plenty of outrage from the fanbase in Ottawa that isn’t happy with Ottawa Citizen LOADED: 12.05.2017 the general manager Pierre Dorion, coach or just about anybody on the roster.

Yes, the answers have to come from within, but don’t be surprised if Dorion decides a bigger move needs to be made with either calling up a player or two from Belleville in the next couple of days or making a trade down the line.

The Senators are down, but they certainly aren’t out with only five points separating them from a playoff spot in the Atlantic Division and 57 games left to be played before April rolls around. Still, the time is now on this pivotal seven-game road trip to get this turned around before its too late.

While the players were given their CBA-mandated day off Monday, the belief is Dorion is getting plenty of calls from other GMs around the league willing to help if he wants to make a deal that might help get this ship turned around and back into the playoff picture.

You have to think Dorion spent part of the day huddled with Boucher and the coaching staff to try to find answers. The Senators will be back on the ice Tuesday before bussing from downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday to face the Ducks in Anaheim.

The deal for centre Matt Duchene from Colorado hasn’t had the desired effect just yet, but the Senators may need to look at making a change on their defence, with their play in their own zone horrific at times. Sunday was a good example where they hung their goalies out to dry.

Sure, the Senators could sit still and hope this gets turned around. However, it’s more likely there’s a roster move of some sort in the coming days because Dorion has never been afraid to make changes and he’s described by many as one of the most aggressive GMs in the league when it comes to working the phones.

Depending on the kind of trade Dorion wants to make, the most tangible asset the Senators have is defenceman Cody Ceci. The 23-year-old is highly regarded by many teams in the league but the Senators have never been willing to trade him in the past and the last thing Dorion wants to do is make a change for change sake.

You can bet teams are calling to see if the Senators have any interest in moving Ceci, who has been a lightning rod for criticism. The Avalanche wanted Ceci as part of the deal that brought Duchene here last month, however, Dorion wasn’t going to give him up and got Nashville involved to help make the deal reality. 1086678 Ottawa Senators Theatre in L.A. Live. Perfect weather to go for a skate, but Parliament Hill still looks pretty good for the Alumni game.

THE LAST WORDS Duchene still trying to adjust to role in Ottawa Captain Erik Karlsson, who will be a UFA on July 1, 2019, may be backing away from his comments last week in Brooklyn that he’s going to Bruce Garrioch demand market value whether it’s here or somewhere. In comments to Swedish outlet HockeyNews.se after the loss Sunday in Winnipeg, Published on: December 4, 2017 | Last Updated: December 4, 2017 6:32 Karlsson noted his first priority is to remain with the Senators. There was PM EST a belief from the words he used that he’s going to move on at the end of his deal. “I do not really think it was (what he) said but that’s how they

broke it,” Karlsson said in comments translated by the blog Senschirp LOS ANGELES — It has been exactly one month since Matt Duchene Monday morning. “I want to stay in Ottawa, it’s my home and my first was dealt to the Ottawa Senators in a blockbuster three-way deal with priority. My comment was somewhat taken from its context.” He didn’t the Colorado Avalanche that sent Kyle Turris to the Nashville Predators. back down from saying he will expect to be paid what he’s worth, though. “It’s more so when the time comes whether (it’s me) or someone else, At this point, the 26-year-old Duchene is still trying to find his comfort you’ll see what you’re worth. My priority has always been to stay here my zone on Nov. 5th. whole career.” In a translation sent to this newspaper by HockeyNews.se later in the day, Karlsson added: ”What I said was stupid, maybe. It When the top centre first joined the Senators, he was spending too much wasn’t what I meant. But it is what it is.” time trying to get the puck to his linemates and not using his skills enough. Now, with only one goal in 10 games with his new team, Ottawa Citizen LOADED: 12.05.2017 Duchene has been pressing to score and has been guilty of trying to do too much.

The Senators need him Duchene find his comfort zone because he arrived with big expectations. Other than the loss to the Winnipeg Jets Sunday night, they’ve seen signs that he’s headed in the right direction.

“It’s a lot of transition for him and it’s tough, but now that tough part is gone and he’s got a free mind,” said coach Guy Boucher before the club’s disastrous 5-0 defeat in Winnipeg.

Boucher said it’s difficult for any player who has never dealt before to make the adjustment and pointed to the case last season of centre Derick Brassard, who really didn’t come around until the playoffs.

“I’ve seen junior, American league and the NHL and I don’t think I’ve ever seen a smooth transition,” said Boucher. “It’s easier when it’s a third-liner or a fourth-liner because they don’t have the same pressure. The top guys? They’re asked to come in and right away people are expecting a big change.

“Their expectations are probably out of whack, too, and thinking right now they’ve got to turn some sort of a switch on.

“It’s very difficult especially if you’re a person who’s a people pleaser. You have a nice tendency to over-please and try to fit in. Whether it’s him or other guys, it’s always difficult.”

Duchene said he feels comfortable with the Senators and wants to produce more than he has. That pretty much goes without saying.

“The guys have done a really good job incorporating me in everything on the ice and off the ice,” Duchene said. “There’s a feeling out process with linemates and everything like that and there’s been times we’ve been a hair off because of just getting familiar.

“With the amount of chances we’ve had as a group, it feels like we’re right there and ready to break out as a team.”

He said he’s trying not to let the frustration build up and he’s had several discussions with the coaching staff about making an impact.

“The biggest thing is I’ve been through this (before). This is my ninth season and I’ve gone stretches where I’ve played a lot worse and had these results,” said Duchene. “That’s frustrating, but it’s also encouraging, because you know you’re one step away from breaking out.

‘When you’re an offensive guy, and that’s what is expected of you and the team is losing, it can be tough sometimes, but the most important thing is to be the best you can be for the team. I have to stick with the process, do what I’ve been doing and I know eventually it’s going to go.”

AROUND THE BOARDS

Winger Mark Stone was emotional and not in the mood to talk after the club’s loss to the Jets Sunday. He believes the Senators handed over two points and that’s not acceptable. How does he explain that effort? “If I could, I would,” Stone said. “I don’t know what happened (Sunday). If we could’ve fixed it, we would’ve earlier.” … The Senators were given a bench minor Sunday that caused a 5-on-3 goal when somebody was jawing at the officials. You can’t let frustration boil over that way. … There’s a beautiful outdoor rink outside the Staples Center and the Nokia 1086679 Ottawa Senators

Anderson says the answers have to come from within

Bruce Garrioch

Published on: December 4, 2017 | Last Updated: December 4, 2017 5:28 PM EST

LOS ANGELES — The reality is the Senators need to get their act together.

Coming off an ugly 5-0 loss to the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday night, the Senators had Monday off to do some soul-searching before they return to the ice Tuesday to prepare to face the Anaheim Ducks the following night at the Honda Center.

“We’ve got to buckle down as a group, and as a team, and come together,” said goaltender Craig Anderson. “That’s the biggest message we can share right now: It’s just not one guy on an island making mistakes, it’s everybody. The last thing we need right now is a bunch of individuals trying to figure it out on their own.”

The biggest concern for the Senators in Winnipeg was the lack of compete. If that happens against the Ducks or Los Angeles Kings on Thursday night at the Staples Center, it won’t be a pretty picture.

“We’ve had compete. Even in the seven games that we lost we had the compete level every game,” said coach Guy Boucher on Sunday. “This one (in Winnipeg), that wasn’t us.

“When you don’t have the compete level, you can draw whatever you want on the board, your X’s and O’s don’t matter, your plan doesn’t matter because without the compete level there is no plan.

“We know that’s a physical, tough team in (Anaheim), and we have to be much more ready than we were (Sunday).”

The task, said Anderson, isn’t impossible.

“I played on a team that had five wins at Christmas and made the playoffs,” said Anderson, who didn’t specify what level that was at.

He did, though, point to Andrew (The Hamburglar) Hammond’s remarkable 20-1-2 run in 2014-15 that started on the west coast.

“Hammy came in and ran the table for us,” Anderson said. “I’ve seen stranger things happen. At the end of the day, we came together as a group in those years and that’s what we need to happen.”

Ottawa Citizen LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086680 Philadelphia Flyers Former Flames goalie Brian Elliott (6-6-6, 2.98 GAA, .904 save percentage) will face Calgary’s Mike Smith, who is 12-8-1 with a 2.69 GAA and .920 save percentage. Flyers change all four lines, seeking to snap losing streak New theme song? As he was doing an interview, a smiling (but annoyed) Giroux said: “I Updated: DECEMBER 4, 2017 — 3:42 PM EST can’t focus with that music right now.” “Wannabe” by the Spice Girls was blaring in the background, and a Calgary reporter asked Giroux that, if by Sam Carchidi, the Flyers won Monday, the group’s music would be adopted by the team.

“We might have to do it more often,” he said. CALGARY – In an attempt to end his team’s 10-game losing streak and spread out the scoring, Flyers coach Dave Hakstol is switching up his Somewhere, Kate Smith isn’t happy. lines for Monday night’s game in Calgary. Breakaways Most noteworthy: The top line, which has produced the most even- strength goals of any unit in the NHL, will have a different look. Right For the first time in his young NHL career, Flyers defenseman Travis winger Jake Voracek will drop from the top line and be replaced by Sanheim returned to the arena, the Saddledome, where he played his Wayne Simmonds, who has appeared healthier in the last few games home games for the Calgary Hitmen in the Western Hockey League. … and might be ready to break out of a slump. The Flyers have had winless streaks of 12 games (1998-99) and 11 games (twice, 1968-69 and 1970-71) in franchise history. “It’s the right time to do it,” Hakstol said after the morning skate Monday at the Saddledome. “… It’s a little bit different look with a (new) guy on Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 12.05.2017 each line, and sometimes a fresh look is also a good thing.” Hakstol said Simmonds’ game has been “on track the last few games, and I think it’s a good time for him to have that opportunity as well.” Simmonds, who was headed to a dentist Monday because a tooth was falling out, has been battling numerous injuries this season and has just one goal in his last 18 games. “It happens. No big deal. It’s hockey,” he said of his injuries. Couturier, who has a team-high 14 goals, will center Claude Giroux and Simmonds. “Obviously with 10 losses in a row, you want to switch things up a little bit,” said Couturier, whose team has averaged just 2.25 goals over its last 16 games. “It’s still a good line with Simmer jumping in with us. He creates space for us, and I think that’s what was our biggest quality as a line – creating time and space.” The hope is that Voracek, the Flyers’ leader with 30 points, will jump-start his new linemates, Val Filppula and Michael Raffl. “I think it balances out the lines a little more,” Simmonds said. “Jakey’s a guy who can carry his own line. He usually has the puck.” Voracek said splitting up the top line was inevitable because of the losing streak. “We’re trying to shake some things up and hopefully we get some goals out of those lines and it will help us win games,” he said. “… I think I’m capable of being the same player even without Coots and G.” Here are the tentative lines for tonight: Couturier centering Giroux and Simmonds. Filppula centering Raffl and Voracek. Nolan Patrick centering and Travis Konecny. Scott Laughton entering Taylor Leier and Dale Weise. Leier was a healthy scratch for three games, and he will replace Jori Lehtera. The Flyers are 0-5-5 in their last 10 games. “Through this stretch, the hidden thing is we’ve played a lot of really good hockey,” Hakstol said. “You have to really remain confident. You have to remain together, and on a day like today, when we’ve had a day and a half in between (games), just come back to the rink with a real purpose. Almost a sense of simplicity in how we want to approach our game.” Hakstol said his players need to “trust each other and know your linemate and teammate is going to do his job very well, and make sure you go out and do your job very well and things will be fine.” “Right now, I think it’s a confidence thing,” Giroux said. “When we get that confidence and that swagger back, we’re going to be a good team again. … At the end of the day, we do believe we’re a good team. We believe we can fight for a playoff spot. Now we just have to prove it on the ice.” Goalie matchup 1086681 Philadelphia Flyers

Flyers-Flames preview: Can Philly contain Johnny Gaudreau and end 10- game losing streak?

Updated: DECEMBER 4, 2017 — 10:57 AM EST by Sam Carchidi,

Flames (14-11-1) vs. Flyers (8-11-7) WHEN: 9 p.m. Monday. WHERE: Saddledome. BROADCAST & STREAMING: TV — NBCSP+; Radio — 93.3 FM. SOCIAL MEDIA COVERAGE: Twitter, @BroadStBull; @samdonnellon. KEY PLAYERS: South Jersey’s Johnny Gaudreau leads the Flames and is third in the NHL with 36 points. When Calgary scored a 5-4 overtime win over the host Flyers on Nov. 18, Gaudreau (goal, two assists) and Sean Monahan (three goals, assist) led the way. The Flyers blew leads of 3-1 and 4-3 in that game. Flyers goalie Brian Elliott (6-6-6), winless in his last eight games, is expected to face his former Calgary teammates. Elliott, the goalie in last month’s loss to Calgary, has a 2.98 goals-against average and a .904 save percentage. “He’s played good hockey for us,” coach Dave Hakstol said. “He’s such a good pro and has been a rock for us.” The Flyers are trying to end a 10-game winless streak, during which they have gone 0-5-5. “It becomes a frustration issue, especially for the players,” said Hakstol, whose team is coming off a listless 3-0 home loss Saturday to Boston, the sixth time it has been shut out this season. “You have to have a real short memory in that regard.” Hakstol, whose job might depend on how long it takes to end the slide, said the Flyers’ leaders have kept the team upbeat. “Guys have stayed positive and are still all-in,” he said. The Flyers are led by Jake Voracek’s 30 points (tied for 10th in the NHL) and ’s 14 goals, tied for fifth in the league. They are searching for their first win since a 3-1 victory over Chicago on Nov. 9. THINGS TO KNOW: For rookie Flyers defenseman Travis Sanheim, it will be a homecoming of sorts as he is returning to the arena where he starred for the Calgary Hitmen in the Western Hockey League. … Former Flyer Jaromir Jagr has seven points (goal, six assists) in 16 games with the Flames. … Winger Kris Versteeg, another former Flyer, is scheduled to have hip surgery Monday and will be sidelined for an undetermined period. … Calgary defenseman T.J. Brodie has 16 points but is minus- 10. … Flames goalie Mike Smith is 12-8 with a 2.69 GAA and .920 save percentage. … Both teams are near the bottom of the league in penalty killing. … Only Arizona and Buffalo have fewer wins than the Flyers. … The Flyers’ last road win was Nov. 2 in St. Louis. HEAD TO HEAD: This is the second and final meeting between the teams. The Flyers have a 35-31-5 advantage in the all-time series. The teams split last season’s two games. COMING FLYERS GAMES: Wednesday: 9:30 p.m. at Edmonton. Thursday: 10 p.m. at Vancouver. Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086682 Philadelphia Flyers “Through this stretch, the hidden thing is we’ve played a lot of really good hockey,” Hakstol before the game. “You have to really remain confident. You have to remain together, and on a day like today, when we’ve had a Flyers end 10-game losing streak as Brian Elliott makes 43 saves day and a half in between [games], just come back to the rink with a real purpose. Almost a sense of simplicity in how we want to approach our game.” Updated: December 5, 2017 — 5:02 AM EST Hakstol said his players need to “trust each other and know your linemate and teammate is going to do his job very well, and make sure by Sam Carchidi, you go out and do your job very well and things will be fine.” Captain Claude Giroux said the losing streak had left the Flyers feeling unsure about themselves. CALGARY — The Flyers ended nearly a month of frustration and halted a 10-game losing streak Monday night at the Scotiabank Saddledome. “When we get that confidence and that swagger back, we’re going to be a good team again,” he said before the Flyers scored more goals in any Scott Laughton, Michael Raffl, and Wayne Simmonds scored second- game since a 5-1 win over Florida on Oct. 17. “… At the end of the day, period goals 71 seconds apart as the Flyers defeated Calgary, 5-2, and we do believe we’re a good team. We believe we can fight for a playoff registered their first win since Nov. 9 against Chicago. spot. Now we just have to prove it on the ice.” [Box score, play-by-play] As he was doing an interview earlier in the day, a smiling (but annoyed) Using four new lines in an attempt to energize their offense, the Flyers Giroux said: “I can’t focus with that music right now.” “Wannabe” by the avenged last month’s 5-4 overtime loss to the Flames. In that game, Spice Girls was blaring in the background, and a Calgary reporter asked Calgary had three power play goals. Giroux that, if the Flyers won Monday, the group’s music would be adopted by the team. Former Flames goalie Brian Elliott made 43 saves for the Flyers, who were outshot, 45-21. “We might have to do it more often,” he said. “First and foremost, Moose played great,” said Simmonds, referring to Somewhere, Kate Smith isn’t happy. Elliott by his nickname. Breakaways. Dale Weise was hit in the head by Calgary’s Travis “It’s a big streak to end, and in doing it the way we did tonight with Hamonic early in the third period and did not return. Hamonic received a punctuation is really good for our group,” Elliott said. “We have to take match penalty….Brandon Manning and Andrew MacDonald each that and harness that and take it to the next game.” blocked four shots, and Ivan Provorov had four hits…The Flyers won 58 percent of their faceoffs and they continue to lead the league in that Elliott paused. category. Giroux won 12 of 15 (80 percent). “But we have to enjoy this; we waited a little too long for it,” he added. Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 12.05.2017 Jake Voracek, who had three assists and is now tied for second in the NHL with 26 helpers, said a huge weight was lifted off the team’s collective shoulders. “You have no idea,” he said. “I felt like when I won the world championship in 2010.” His Czech Republic team won the IIHF title that year. “That’s what it feels like tonight,” he said. “It’s such a relief; you have no idea.” Voracek was on a new, physical line with Val Filppula and Michael Raffl. That unit combined for two goals, four assists and a plus-8 rating and did an effective job when matched against Calgary’s top unit of Johnny Gaudreau, Sean Monahan, and Micheal Ferland. The Flyers changed their defense and went with 1-2-2 trap, and although Calgary fired 45 shots, most of them were from the perimeter. “We played a little bit of a different system and I think it worked for us,” defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere said. “We needed to change things up, obviously.” Simmonds, who replaced Voracek on the top line, scored on a power play by tapping in a slick pass from Sean Couturier and giving the Flyers a 4-1 cushion with 11:18 left in the second. Laughton, who had two goals, and Raffl had scored 25 seconds apart before Simmonds notched just his second goal in the last 19 games. All three goals were scored from in front as the Flyers did a great job crashing the net. “We’ve been working hard and everyone’s been staying positive,” Laughton said. “It’s nice to get this one and we have to go into Edmonton (Wednesday) and start a little streak of our own and get back in the swing of things.” “The guys stuck together during a pretty tough stretch here,” coach Dave Hakstol said. Filppula knocked in a rebound with 44 seconds to go in the opening period, knotting the score at 1-all. In the first 40 minutes, the Flyers held a 4-2 lead despite being outshot, 35-15. Laughton made it 5-2 by scoring on a rebound with 18:09 left in regulation. The Flyers were 0-5-5 in their previous 10 games. 1086683 Philadelphia Flyers

Flyers 5, Flames 2: Flyers break their losing streak and other quick observations

Updated: December 4, 2017 — 11:55 PM EST by Marc Narducci,

Line Dance In an effort to shake up his slumping team, Flyers coach Dave Hakstol changed his top line, moving Wayne Simmonds to right wing to join Sean Couturier and Claude Giroux. Jake Voracek moved to the second line with Valtteri Filppula and Michael Raffl. For at least one game, the move couldn’t have worked better as the Flyers snapped a 10-game losing streak with Monday’s 5-2 win at Calgary. Sharp Seconds The second line was hugely productive with all three constantly putting pressure on the Flames defense. The Flyers jumped out to a 4-1 lead and Voracek had three assists. He was by far the most active and effective player on the ice. Late in the first period the second line provided the Flyers first goal when Filppula scored on a rebound. On the goal it appeared as both Raffl and Filppula both got their stick on the puck and Raffl was originally awarded the goal. A key was the play of Voracek who, not only passed it over to Filppula, but also occupied Flames defenseman Dougie Hamilton, allowing Filppula to be unmarked at the left post. Give Andrew MacDonald credit for shooting the puck on goal before Voracek got a stick on it, directing it to Filppula. Happy Returns Flyers goalie Brian Elliott, returning to Calgary, where played last year, was a difference maker. He kept the Flyers in it early by making several key saves, but he’d certainly like to have the first goal back that Calgary scored. Elliott’s inability to control a rebound, resulted in the first goal, by an unlikely source. Troy Brouwer tapped in the rebound off Elliott’s pads. It was his first goal of the year and snapped a string of 32 games without a goal. Elliott came up big, saving the Flyers after Gloucester Catholic product Johnny Gaudreau stole an Ivan Provorov pass and skated in on goal. Elliott played the angle well and made the save. For the most part the Flyers did a good job not giving the speedy Gaudreau much room to operate. Valuable Veteran Former Flyer and future Hall of Famer Jaromir Jagr, 45, isn’t a very good two-way player, but he still has the ability to put pressure on an opposing defense. In the second period he fired a wrist shot that went off the mask of Elliott. Jagr, who entered the game leading the Flames with a plus-7 rating, remains one of the strongest players with the puck and among the most difficult to take it away from him. Simmonds off the schneid Voracek set up the Flyers fourth goal, sending a pass on the power play to Sean Couturier who dropped it off to Simmonds. Having scored just once in his previous 18 games, Simmonds slammed it on from a right angle. Rookie Mistakes Flyers rookie center Nolan Patrick has to be more careful with the puck. A turnover by Patrick led to the second goal when the Flyers couldn’t clear the puck out of their zone after a prolonged possession by Calgary. Eventually recent Flyer-killer Sean Monahan score on a wrist shot through a screen. It was Monahan who had a hat trick in the Flames 5-4 overtime win over the Flyers last month. Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086684 Philadelphia Flyers the Stanley Cup Final that year. But the order now appears to be changing.

Following the Flyers' ninth straight loss this past Tuesday vs. the Sharks, Recent Devils trade should open Ron Hextall's eyes Hextall reiterated to the media that the team he’s assembled is good enough to make the playoffs, while also adding, “I try to make this team better every day if there’s something that can be done.” By John Boruk | NBC Sports Philadelphia December 04, 2017 12:20 PM Which begs the question, exactly which team is Hextall referring to? The one preparing for the Calgary Flames on Monday night or the Philadelphia Flyers of 2020? The New Jersey Devils took a significant step this past week in their quest to be a serious contender in the Eastern Conference playoff picture There’s proof you can address the present and the future at the same by acquiring 26-year-old defenseman Sami Vatanen from the Anaheim time. Ducks in exchange for Adam Henrique, Joseph Blandisi and a third- round pick. Those details are in the Devils and Shero. Seemingly not content with his team’s red-hot start, Devils general Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 12.05.2017 manager Ray Shero jumped at the chance to improve his team, which had nothing to do with navigating the salary cap, bolstering his position in future drafts or building a future contender. It was a pure hockey move to get better right now. Vatanen is a puck- moving, top-four defenseman who gives New Jersey depth and can play in whatever situation the Devils need. The play of Jersey's young forwards made Henrique, a very good two-way center, expendable. For a team that finished dead last in the Eastern Conference a season ago with just 70 points, the Devils have seemingly made a 180-degree turn quicker than if Shero was operating a jet ski. Compared to their neutral-zone trapping Stanley Cup title days, this brand of Devils hockey is actually enjoyable to watch. While they could eventually come back to the Metropolitan Division pack, the Devils have something brewing and Shero is not willing to wait around, sit on his hands and just watch it happen. Since taking over in the summer of 2015, the Devils' GM has made bold moves that have included the additions of Taylor Hall, Kyle Palmeiri, Brian Boyle, Marcus Johansson and now Vatanen. And, of course, he had the first overall pick, Nico Hischier, fall into his lap. While some hockey executives in a similar rebuild may see a light at the end of the tunnel, Shero’s road map has just about avoided the tunnel altogether. Just down the turnpike, Ron Hextall’s turnaround has been a considerably slower process in spite of a one-year head start over Shero. In the three-plus years since taking over as the Flyers' general manager on May 7, 2014, Hextall has executed 15 trades, and almost every transaction has involved future considerations through draft picks and few, if any, difference-makers. The Hextall era started with the lopsided deal in June of 2014 involving Scott Hartnell to Columbus for R.J. Umberger and a 2015 fourth-round pick. All Hartnell did was score 64 goals along with 146 points with the Blue Jackets, while Umberger contributed just 11 goals and 26 points all while playing through injuries he had sustained prior to the trade. Sure, Hextall was able to shave a few years off a contract, but Umberger was simply damaged goods. More recently, there was the 2017 draft day swap of Brayden Schenn to St. Louis for a pair of first-round picks and a possible third, to go along with forward Jori Lehtera. While Schenn has emerged as a No. 1 center for the Blues, Lehtera is now a potential buyout candidate at the end of the season, much like Umberger was after his two years back in Philadelphia. What the Flyers have received in Hextall’s trades have been secondary pieces, hardly key contributors: Jordan Weal (from L.A. as part of the Vinny Lecavalier-Luke Schenn trade), Valtteri Filppula (from Tampa Bay in the deal), and Radko Gudas (from Tampa Bay as part of a Braydon Coburn swap). Once again, role players, but not the necessary moves capable of taking the franchise to the next level. Furthermore, with Hextall's combination of trades and free-agent signings, there’s a widespread belief that the team isn’t surrounding cornerstones Claude Giroux and Jakub Voracek with a supporting cast good enough to be a perennial playoff power and there's a feeling that their prime years are being wasted. And the misery of the current 10- game losing streak doesn't help a single thing. The last time both star players won a playoff series came in 2012 when Giroux was 24 and Voracek was just 22. Since then, there have been three non-playoff seasons and a pair of first-round exits as Giroux and Voracek inch closer to 30. Giroux will turn 30 in January. Regardless of their record, the Flyers have been able to stare down at the Devils within their division, as New Jersey has finished below Philadelphia in the standings every season since 2009-10, even though the Devils eliminated the Flyers from the playoffs in 2012 and went on to 1086685 Philadelphia Flyers game. All three are in the top 20 in the country in that category. It’s been quite the season for these three players.

Quick hits Future Flyers Report: Honors, shutouts and more for Carter Hart • Nothing to see from Sault Ste. Marie’s Morgan Frost last week except for another four-point game. Frost missed Friday because of breaking a By Tom Dougherty | NBC Sports Philadelphia December 04, 2017 9:00 team rule, but returned Sunday and recorded a two-point game. AM Frost has 14 points in his last six games. He has 29 assists and 42 points in 28 games. He leads the OHL with a plus-29 rating and is sixth in points per game at 1.56. Before this week begins, it’s time for our weekly check-in on the Flyers’ prospects playing in the AHL, overseas and at the junior and college • Danick Martel had one assist in three games last week in Lehigh Valley levels. after the Flyers returned him to the AHL. Carter Hart, G, 19, 6-1/177, Everett (WHL) • Dynamo St. Petersburg goalie Kirill Ustimenko has started 14 straight games and 23 of the team’s last 24 games. Ustimenko stopped 56 of 60 While nothing is going right for the Flyers at the NHL level, there’s plenty shots last week. to be optimistic about down on the farm, which many fans don’t want to hear. The hard truth is, the Flyers’ rebuild is bigger than we originally Ustimenko leads the MHL with five shutouts. In 28 games, Ustimenko believed and the team can't hide it anymore. has a 1.79 goals-against average and .925 save percentage. One of the bright spots is Hart, who picked up three honors last week. • After a four-game pointless skid, Mike Vecchione has assists in back-to- Hart was named the WHL Goaltender of the Month for November, the back games. He’s third among AHL rookies with 14 assists and fifth in WHL Goaltender of the Week and also the CHL Goaltender of the Week. points with 20. His phenomenal play didn’t go unnoticed. • German Rubtsov picked up his third goal with Acadie-Bathurst on And Hart continued to be strong in net for the Silvertips last week. Hart Friday night against Val-d'Or and had a two-assist game Sunday against stopped 32 of 33 shots Friday in Everett’s 3-1 win over Kamloops, and Moncton. Rubtsov now has 11 points in 10 games since the Titan then pitched his fourth shutout of the season with a 30-save effort in a 3- acquired him from Chicoutimi. 0 win Saturday over Saskatoon. He’s been so good that even the • Phantoms goalie Alex Lyon had one of his steadiest weeks this season, Saskatoon Twitter account had some fun Saturday night. though it did include a blooper goal last Wednesday in a 3-0 loss to All jokes aside, Hart’s numbers are ridiculous. The 19-year-old is tearing Binghamton. up the WHL and words are getting hard to describe it. Hart has won his Lyon then backstopped the Phantoms to a 7-2 win Friday over Hershey last five starts and eight of his last nine starts. In his lone loss in his last in the first game he’s allowed fewer than three goals since Nov. 8. (The nine games, he allowed two goals on 50 shots. Hart, in November, had a Flyers last won a game Nov. 9.) 1.29 goals-against average and a .960 save percentage. He allowed just 13 goals on the 326 shots he faced in the month. • Oskar Lindblom had an assist in the Phantoms’ win Friday over Hershey. He has 13 points in 23 games but appears to be inching closer This season, Hart leads the WHL with a 1.46 GAA, .956 save percentage and closer to breaking out. and four shutouts, and he missed 12 games this season because of mono. Hart already has a CHL Goaltender of the Year award under his • Both Samuel Morin and Philippe Myers are out with injuries as the belt and probably should have won it again last season. If he keeps this Phantoms’ blue line is quite banged up. It could be a while for both Morin up, it’ll be hard to not give him the award again. If he does get it, he’ll and Myers to return. become the first goalie to win the award twice. • Connor Bunnaman’s seven-game point streak ended Saturday. Asked about his goaltender prospects last Wednesday, Flyers general Bunnaman had an assist Wednesday. During the streak, he had seven manager Ron Hextall told NBC Sports Philadelphia that the Flyers have assists and 10 points. “a couple kids out in junior and in Europe that we’re very high on but that’s in the distant future.” • Matthew Strome had another solid week for Hamilton. Strome had a pair of helpers in the Bulldogs’ 4-3 win Thursday over Saginaw and then You can bet Hart is one of those kids. Hart will be turning 20 in August a goal and two assists Sunday in a 4-3 win over Mississauga. He has and he’ll turn pro next season. The safe money is he’ll spend at least one eight points in his last four games. year with the Phantoms, but we could be seeing him in the Flyers’ orange and black in 2019-20, though that is a very early prediction. • Kelowna’s Carsen Twarynski had another big week but saw a five- game point streak end Saturday night. Twarynski had a hat trick last College prospects Wednesday and then a goal and assist Friday night. He had 10 points during his five-game point streak. The Flyers have a trio of collegiate prospects making noise — two in their sophomore campaigns and one in their junior season — and last week • Owen Sound winger Maksim Sushko had a three-goal, four-point week. was another big week. He has 14 goals and 23 points in 25 games this season. Let’s begin with Cooper Marody, who shined with three assists Saturday • Wyatt Kalynuk had two assists Friday in No. 14 Wisconsin’s 5-4 loss to night for Michigan in an exhibition against the USNTDP U-18 team. The No. 7 Minnesota. Kalynuk, a freshman, leads the Badgers with 12 Wolverines won, 7-3. assists. Tanner Laczynski had a goal and two assists Friday night in No. 11 Ohio Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 12.05.2017 State’s 5-5 tie with Penn State. Laczynski was pointless in a 4-0 loss Saturday to the Nittany Lions. Tanner Laczynski scored on the power play to tie the game at 3 in the third period, with assists from Jobst and M. Miller. His goal came 55 seconds after Joshua's. #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/3ecZLmTp2g — Ohio State M Hockey (@OhioState_MHKY) December 2, 2017 And Wade Allison picked up his 11th goal of the season Friday night in No. 10 Western Michigan’s 4-3 loss to No. 6 North Dakota. Allison has 20 points in 17 games this year. The three prospects are having huge seasons and rank among the best in the nation. Marody has 21 points, tied with four players for fourth in the country. Marody’s 17 assists are second in the nation. Allison and Laczynski each have 20 points, which are tied with two others for fifth in the country. Allison’s 11 goals are tied for third. Marody is averaging 1.5 points per game, which is fifth in the country. Laczynski is at 1.25 points per game, while Allison is at 1.18 points per 1086686 Philadelphia Flyers the first line or the fourth line and it didn’t matter. You could create plays. Coots was on the fourth line back then. G, Danny Briere, JVR (James Van Riemsdyk), (Brayden) Schenn. Just the centermen only, it was fun to Flyers breaking up top line Monday vs. Flames play.” Expected lineup vs. Flames By John Boruk | NBC Sports Philadelphia December 04, 2017 4:00 PM Forwards Claude Giroux-Sean Couturier-Wayne Simmonds CALGARY, Alberta — There’s been so much bad karma lately, that it’s Michael Raffl-Valtteri Filppula-Jakub Voracek come time to break up the one positive on this Flyers team. Jordan Weal-Nolan Patrick-Travis Konecny Head coach Dave Hakstol has elected to split up his trio of Claude Taylor Leier-Scott Laughton-Dale Weise Giroux, Sean Couturier and Jakub Voracek, a line that has generated 43 percent of the team's offensive production at even strength, including an Defensemen NHL-leading 25 goals between them. Ivan Provorov-Andrew MacDonald “It’s the right time to do it,” Hakstol said. “Over the past two, three games and coming down with our last game at home, we just felt it was a good Shayne Gostisbehere-Robert Hagg time to make a change.” Travis Sanheim-Brandon Manning “When a team’s not doing well, you obviously want to switch things up,” Goalies Giroux said. “Hopefully we’ll get some new chemistry and that’s what we’re trying to find right now.” Brian Elliott The Flyers enter Monday night's game against the Calgary Flames on Michal Neuvirth another dreadful scoreless drought, this time stretching over 119:12. Every line has failed to generate a sustained offensive attack, much Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 12.05.2017 stemming from a miserable performance against the San Jose Sharks last Tuesday. While Voracek has been sloppy throughout this recent losing stretch, Hakstol believes Wayne Simmonds deserves a crack at playing on a line that brings more skill and is capable of generating more chances. “We’ve seen Simmer’s game be on track here in the last few games, and I think it’s a good time for him to have that opportunity, as well,” Hakstol said. “Just a little bit of a change and look for the three guys who have been on that line.” After scoring the game-winning goal in four of the Flyers' first five wins, Simmonds' production has dipped dramatically with just one goal over his last 18 games. “I think it balances out a little bit more,” Simmonds said. “Jake’s a guy who can carry his own line. He’s a guy if he’s on the ice, he’s usually got the puck. I’m just going to try and play my game and hopefully it complements [Giroux and Couturier].” But the lack of secondary scoring has been a primary issue for the Flyers as they’ve generated just two or fewer goals in eight of their last 14 games, including four shutouts. Voracek will try to spread the wealth playing alongside Michael Raffl and Valtteri Filppula, the latter of whom has just one even-strength goal in his last 15 games. “Well, you have to change something,” Voracek said. “Ten games? Four games is a long one (losing streak). Ten is too long. Obviously try to shake things up. Hopefully we’ll get some goals out of those lines and help us win a game. That’s what we’re focusing on right now and let’s hope it works.” The Flyers enter their three-game Western Canada stretch staring at potentially breaking the club’s all-time winless streak of 12 games that saw the Flyers go 0-8-4 (four ties) from Feb. 24 to March 16, 1999. “I think mentally it’s really tough,” Giroux said. “You question the way you’re playing. You question if you’re a good team, but at the end of the day, we do believe we can fight for a playoff spot. We've just got to prove it on the ice.” Jagr keeps on rolling If he stays healthy for the remainder of this season, Calgary's Jaromir Jagr will become the NHL’s all-time leader in games played, surpassing Gordie Howe’s 37-year record of 1,767. Of course, Jagr would be closing in on 2,000 games played had he not elected to play in the KHL. Jagr turns 46 in February and is not looking at playing past this season. “I don’t have any plans. I just want to be healthy," Jagr said. "It’s fun, but health is the most important. How is it right now? It’s not perfect, but I just go day by day. I just want to wake up in the morning.” Flyers fans fondly remember Jagr and the excitement he brought to the Flyers' top line playing with Giroux and Scott Hartnell during Jagr's return to the NHL in 2011-12, which happens to be the last time the Flyers advanced past the first round of the playoffs. “Look at how many guys are left there,” Jagr said. “That team was one of the most talented teams I was on. Talented and mean. You could play on 1086687 Philadelphia Flyers • The Flames’ defense has been turnover-prone, especially behind the team’s own net. That led to some excellent chances for the Flyers. Weal made Calgary pay when he jumped on a turnover and tried to stuff it Flyers-Flames observations: Losing skid is finally over home, which created an easy rebound opportunity for Laughton and the Flyers’ fifth goal of the game.

• Flames defenseman Travis Hamonic collided with Dale Weise. By John Boruk | NBC Sports Philadelphia December 04, 2017 11:37 PM Hamonic was ejected for an illegal check to the head even though replay showed that Hamonic didn’t clip Weise. I’m not sure it deserved a match penalty regardless. CALGARY, Alberta — The Flyers stampeded into Calgary and put an Lineups, pairings and scratches end to their longest losing skid since 2008 with a 5-2 win over the Flames on Monday night at the Scotiabank Saddledome. Forwards It was the Flyers’ first win in almost a month after their previous victory Claude Giroux-Sean Couturier-Wayne Simmonds came back on Nov. 9 over the Chicago Blackhawks. Michael Raffl-Valtteri Filppula-Jakub Voracek Dave Hakstol elected to break up the Flyers’ top line and the decision yielded positive results as the line of Valtteri Filppula, Michael Raffl and Jordan Weal-Nolan Patrick-Travis Konecny Jakub Voracek combined for seven points and a plus-8 rating. Taylor Leier-Scott Laughton-Dale Weise The Flyers jumped on the Flames in the second period with three goals Defensemen in a span of 1:11. Ivan Provorov-Andrew MacDonald Voracek assisted on three of the Flyers' first four goals, and Scott Laughton scored twice. Shayne Gostisbehere-Robert Hagg Brian Elliott was spectacular in victory as he stopped 43 of 45 shots. Travis Sanheim-Brandon Manning • Elliott had to produce some key saves during the first 5½ minutes. The Goalies Flames were looking to come out of the chute with some jump after they were completely flat against the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday. They fell Brian Elliott behind, 6-1, in an eventual 7-5 loss. Elliott may be criticized for some of Michal Neuvirth the rebounds, but they’re mostly controlled where he’s in position for the next shot or the rebound is in the vicinity of a teammate. Scratches: Forward Jori Lehtera (healthy), and defensemen Mark Alt (healthy) and Radko Gudas (suspended). • The first goal was an example of when Elliott expected the defense of Travis Sanheim and Brandon Manning to clear the puck. Manning wasn’t Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 12.05.2017 in position and Sanheim took a weak backhanded swipe and whiffed. With that said, if Elliott protects the five-hole, he likely prevents Troy Brouwer’s rebound goal, but it’s a bang-bang play. • The Flyers had a big opportunity early in the opening period when Ivan Provorov threaded a beautiful breakout pass to Jordan Weal. Unable to really make a move, Weal had his shot glance off Mike Smith’s right pad. If Weal had been playing with confidence (like last season), he likely would have challenged Smith a little more. Not a very challenging save for the Flames’ netminder. • I liked the early pressure generated by that new-look line of Raffl, Voracek and Filppula. Raffl and Voracek are very strong on the puck and their size and physicality help them carve out space down low. Together they answered with a goal one minute after the Flames got on the board. Andrew MacDonald pulled the trigger on a shot from the slot, which created a rebound chance and Filppula connected right in front of the Flames’ crease. • Nolan Patrick prevented an early goal when he covered up the back post on a play during which Elliott got caught in traffic on the other side. A good, smart play by the rookie to deny Matthew Tkachuk of a shot on net. • The Flyers’ power play once again looked stale and failed to generate a shot on net in the first period. Sean Couturier had a good look in the slot but his shot clanged off the post. • I didn’t like Provorov’s game through the opening 25 minutes. Coupled with a couple of unnecessary icings, he had the turnover that sprung Johnny Gaudreau free for a breakaway. MacDonald took a hooking minor in an attempt to slow Gaudreau down. The Flyers’ PK did a solid job of not giving the top unit the time and space it had in Philadelphia. • There was a beautiful give-and-go between Raffl and Voracek to set up the Flyers’ third goal. It was a play that started when Raffl forced a turnover in the Flyers’ zone. Raffl has been playing some of his best hockey since his 21-goal season playing alongside Voracek and Claude Giroux. • The Flyers’ power play wasted no time going to work just 10 seconds after Couturier drew a high-sticking penalty. Brouwer committed a giveaway, and Voracek threw it in front where the Flyers had all sorts of net-front presence with Couturier on one side and Wayne Simmonds on the other. Couturier banged away and Simmonds finally stuck it home for a cushy 4-1 lead. • Sean Monahan loves games against the Flyers. Coming off a hat trick in the contest in Philadelphia, Monahan and the Flames capitalized off a Patrick turnover. Monahan picked the top right corner on a perfectly placed shot on Elliott. 1086688 Philadelphia Flyers “It’s one game,” Voracek said. “We fully expect to win on Wednesday. We have to play the same way. We have to be ready. It’s another tough matchup again.” 'Such a relief' as Flyers put 10-game skid to bed with win over Flames Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 12.05.2017

By John Boruk | NBC Sports Philadelphia December 05, 2017 2:15 AM

CALGARY, Alberta — Jakub Voracek called it the biggest win of his career dating back to the 2010 IIHF World Championships when the Czech Republic won the gold medal. “It was such a relief,” Voracek said. “You have no idea. It’s crazy.” No medals were handed out, but a tremendous weight was lifted off the Flyers' shoulders after snapping a 10-game winless streak, their first victory in nearly a month, by beating the Calgary Flames, 5-2, Monday night at Scotiabank Saddledome (see observations). “That’s a big streak to end,” goalie Brian Elliott, whose last win came on Nov. 9, said. “In doing it the way we did tonight with punctuation was really good for our group. We've got to take that and harness that and take that to the next game. We've got to enjoy this. We’ve waited a little too long for it.” The biggest change coming into this game was Dave Hakstol’s decision to move Voracek off the team’s top line and match him with Valtteri Filppula and Michael Raffl. That proved to be a lethal combination as the trio combined for two goals, five assists and a plus-8 rating (see highlights). “It’s a group that makes sense together, and I think you can credit all three of those guys,” Hakstol said. “I thought they were all very good tonight. Fil played a lot of minutes tonight and he played a real strong game with those two guys on his wing. They seemed to click right away, and they played a real strong game through the 60 minutes.” Raffl and Voracek connected on a nifty give-and-go goal in the second period to hand the Flyers a 3-1 lead. “I always like to play with Jake. What’s not to like about it? We’ve been on the same team for five, six years now,” Raffl said. “I’ve played with him for a couple of years so I know what he wants me to do. We talked about it and it was a good start.” Voracek contributed three assists but was more impressed there was nothing attached to Johnny Gaudreau’s name, as the South Jersey native finished with just two shots, no points and a minus-1 rating. “For half the game we matched up against the Gaudreau line, and I think we played them pretty well," Voracek said. "When you score on that line and don’t get scored on, it’s always a success. I think we played a real smart hockey game today and it showed.” Elliott had been relatively solid through the 10-game winless skid, but coming to Calgary was extra special after his last game at the Saddledome was a terrible memory of losing in a first-round four-game sweep to the Anaheim Ducks. Elliott was pulled in the first period of the series-clinching game. In his return, Elliott made 43 saves and earned the game’s No. 1 star. “It was pretty good,” Elliott said. “I got a lot of friends over there but when the puck drops, there’s no friends, and I really wanted that one tonight.” While the Flames outshot the Flyers by a whopping 45-21 margin, the two teams were actually even with nine chances in the high-danger zone of the ice. A product of that was creating turnovers behind the Flames' net. Hakstol not only switched up his lines, but he also altered his system as he employed a 1-2-2 zone for this game that created opportunitistic turnovers for the Flyers. “It was just a different look for us,” Hakstol said. “We made a couple of slight adjustments tonight. Those things just kind of help you refocus a little bit, but it comes back to what the players have done.” “We needed to change something up obviously,” defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere said. “Some little adjustments here and there and I think it worked for us. I think a little more passive works for us and it makes them make plays and we avoid our mistakes.” The Flyers will now travel to Edmonton, where they take on Connor McDavid and the Oilers, looking to start just their second winning streak of the season after opening up their first homestand with back-to-back wins over the Capitals and Panthers. 1086689 Pittsburgh Penguins

Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry prepares for stiff tests ahead

JONATHAN BOMBULIE | Monday, Dec. 4, 2017, 1:36 p.m. Updated 3 hours ago

The Tristan Jarry experiment— handing the reins of championship team to a 22-year-old rookie goaltender and seeing what happens — has been an unqualified success so far. Since Matt Murray went down last Monday with a lower-body injury that's expected to keep him sidelined two to three weeks, Jarry is 3-0 with a .961 save percentage. The only goalie who had a better week is Montreal's Carey Price, the consensus No. 1 goaltender in the world, and his save percentage was only .950 while going 4-0 during that time frame. The tests, however, are about to get much tougher for Jarry. Starting Tuesday night, the Penguins will play home games every other day against the New York Rangers, New York Islanders and Toronto Maple Leafs. All three teams are Eastern Conference playoff contenders. The Rangers and Islanders are 7-3 in their last 10 games. The Leafs are 6-3-1 in their last 10. Jarry's big week came against Philadelphia and Buffalo. The Flyers have lost 10 in a row and the Sabres have dropped 11 of their last 12. Jarry said he finds it in his best interest to treat each opponent as equally dangerous. “You obviously want (a scouting report). It helps with knowing the players and knowing that their tendencies are and what they like to do,” Jarry said after practice Monday morning at PPG Paints Arena. “But going in, confidence-wise, I think that's a mindset I always want to have the same. I want to have the same confidence and the same demeanor every game. I think that's a big thing for me.” Coach Mike Sullivan said he has no reason to think Jarry's performance will fall off when he steps up in class. “At the end of the day, it's a hockey game,” Sullivan said. “Everybody's trying to win. There's a lot of similar strategies that take place throughout the league. It tends to be a copycat league in that regard. I don't think it's any different. We're playing some pretty good teams, and that's going to be a big test in and of itself, but when the puck drops, it's the same game.” Still, it's safe to say the picture of how far along Jarry is in his development will be a lot clearer a week from now than it was Monday morning. Tribune Review LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086690 Pittsburgh Penguins

Vintage Sidney Crosby in midst of prolific scoring streak

Jonathan Bombulie | Monday, Dec. 4, 2017, 8:27 p.m. Updated 6 hours ago

The main character enters a bedroom lit only by a small lamp on the nightstand. He slips off his shoes and places his three Stanley Cup rings on the top of the dresser with a clank. He wearily trudges across the room and sits tentatively on the edge of the bed. As he slowly rocks back and forth, he stares at his hands. He's on the verge of tears. “No goals and three assists in 11 games? Hands, why have you forsaken me?” he screams in desperation into the darkness. And, scene. That certainly would make for a dramatic moment when the movie of Sidney Crosby's life is made someday. It really would give Andy Samberg a chance to show off his serious acting chops. The problem, of course, is it doesn't come anywhere close to reality. If Crosby hadn't been generating any scoring chances during his early season scoring slump that lasted not quite a month, perhaps he would have tried the whole staring-at-his-hands routine. But he was, so he didn't. Instead, he put his faith in math — that the law of averages inevitably would take over and the bounces eventually would even out — and it's paying some handsome dividends these days. “The frustrating part is not getting the chances. That's the frustrating part,” Crosby said after practice Monday at PPG Paints Arena. “As far as them not going in, I feel like experience tells me if you keep getting them, they're going to go in.” They're going in now, all right. Crosby snapped his 11-game drought with a power-play goal against the Buffalo Sabres on Nov. 14. Since that moment, he's leading the league in scoring, recording seven goals and nine assists in his past nine games. “I don't have a great explanation for you,” Crosby said with a shrug. “I think it's just pucks going in the net. Last game, you get an empty netter. Sometimes that's the way it goes. You just try to keep going to the same places and trust it's going to keep going in.” Crosby has at least one goal and one assist in the past five games. According to Elias Sports Bureau, that's the first time he had a run like that in his career, and it's the first time any Penguins player accomplished the feat since Jaromir Jagr in October 1999. In other words, it's vintage Crosby at the peak of his powers. “The way he's playing, he makes everyone want to be better,” defenseman Justin Schultz said. “He's obviously a huge part of this team and a big reason why we've started to get some traction here.” Schultz brings up an interesting point. The Penguins are 6-3 since Crosby ended his goal drought, going on a four-game winning streak for the first time this season. Before that point, the Penguins were limping along with a 9-7-3 record. Do the Penguins win because Crosby scores, or does Crosby score because the team around him is playing winning hockey? Crosby humbly believes the latter. “When a team's playing well, everybody benefits,” he said. His coach forcefully disagrees. “I think he's inspiring with the way he plays,” Mike Sullivan said. “He just plays the game so hard. He plays in the battle areas. I think his game is inspiring to his teammates. It certainly is to his coaching staff. “When he plays that way, I think his energy and his compete level trickles down the bench. I think that's the influence he has on our team. As a result, I think we're getting a more complete game, a more competitive game throughout our lineup when Sid's on his game like he is right now.” Tribune Review LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086691 Pittsburgh Penguins

The Penguins finally will face some divisional opponents this week

SAM WERNER 4:01 PM DEC 4, 2017

The Penguins schedule figures to toughen up this week. After three consecutive games against teams — the Sabres and Flyers — that are a combined 1-13-6 in their past 10 games, this week at PPG Paints Arena will feature three opponents in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff picture. The Islanders and Maple Leafs, who will visit on Thursday and Saturday, are in the playoffs as things currently stand. The Rangers, Tuesday’s opponent, are a point out. “They’re huge games, tight in the standings,” defenseman Justin Schultz said. “Any time you play these guys, you get up for it. We’ve got to be ready.” Sidney Crobsy has multiple points in his last five games. Sidney Crosby said he tries not to focus too much on the standings at this point in the season, but given how few games the Penguins have played against Metropolitan Division foes (just four so far) that’s the best way to keep tabs on how things are shaping up. “I feel like we’ve been playing so much, there hasn’t been a ton of time to watch other teams,” Crosby said. “I think you pay attention to where other teams are. The biggest thing is to worry about yourself. This time of the year you don’t typically look at standings that closely, but given the way our division is, I think it’s normal to want to see where everyone is and where you’re at.” With all three of these upcoming games — plus one more against Colorado next week — at home, the Penguins have a chance here to give themselves a bit of early breathing room in the playoff race. They're just two points behind Columbus for first place in the Metropolitan, but also only three points clear of the Rangers, currently the first team on the outside looking in. “With the way the standings are and how close everyone is, I think that kind of adds to it,” Crosby said. “I think these are games that we should definitely be up for and hopefully kind of keep building on how we’re playing here. We’re doing some good things, and we want to continue that.” Jarry settling in Now two games into his tenure as the Penguins’ temporary starting goalie, Tristan Jarry said he has started to get a bit more comfortable in the role, though some aspects of it still feel new to him. “I would say a couple of things are still there,” he said. “You still get a little bit of nerves before the game, but obviously your clarity with the players gets better every game. You get to familiarize yourself with some of the guys and what they like to do, how they like to play. That obviously helps me in that way.” Jarry has stopped 74 of the 77 shots he has faced since Matt Murray was injured Nov. 27 against Philadelphia, including his first career shutout Friday against the Sabres. Rust’s speed causing trouble One of the Penguins’ problems this season has been taking too many penalties, but that hasn’t exactly been the case for Bryan Rust, who is fourth in the NHL with 15 minor penalties drawn this season. “I think when you look at a guy like Rusty, he uses his speed, he challenges people with speed,” Mike Sullivan said. “With his foot speed, he takes pucks wide and forces defensemen to have to turn and go with him. “I think in Rusty’s case, he’s brave, so he’s willing to get inside and go to the net with the puck, force defenders to have to defend. When that occurs, I think they always run the risk of an infraction.” Post Gazette LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086692 Pittsburgh Penguins

Sidney Crosby has found his scoring touch in the past two weeks Peter Diana/Post-Gazette

SAM WERNER 3:37 PM DEC 4, 2017

Sidney Crosby is good at hockey again. OK, he was never not good at hockey, but his scoring numbers have certainly bounced back to more Crosby-esque levels over the past week or so. Crosby has a notched at least a goal and an assist in each of the Penguins’ last five games, with a total of six goals and six assists over that span. That streak barely stayed alive Saturday night against Buffalo, as Crosby finished off an empty-netter with just more than a minute to go. “I don’t have a great explanation for you,” Crosby said. “I think it’s just the puck’s going in the net. Last game, get an empty-netter, sometimes that’s just the way it goes. I think you just try to keep going to the same places and trust it’s going to keep going in.” Crosby certainly has the body of work to back up that faith in his game, but this recent scoring outburst is coming on the heels of one of the most prolonged offensive dry spells of his career. Before this current goal binge started against Boston on Nov. 24, he had scored just one goal and six assists in the previous 15 games — a stretch that included an 11-game goal drought, the second-longest of Crosby’s career. “Throughout that, there were some games where you feel like you had a ton and could’ve had two or three,” he said. “Then there were other games where there wasn’t much going on. The consistency part of the game is the biggest thing, and I think it’s been there for the last few weeks. As long as the chances are there, you know it’s going to go in.” As a younger player, Crosby might have let himself get frustrated by going three weeks without seeing the puck go in the net. But he credited his experience with allowing him to realize the chances he was creating — pucks trickling just wide, shots off the post, bad bounces off defensemen — would eventually end up in the back of the net. “Things like that that you just can’t control,” Crosby said. “That’s the way it goes sometimes. I think you’re more experienced when it comes to seeing when it’s going like that and just trying to work through it. Not letting it frustrate you too much or get you away from what you believe gives you success.” And Crosby has found that success in a big way. He probably won’t repeat as the Rocket Richard winner, but his overall season numbers now put him on pace for a 35-goal, 85-point season, essentially his final stats from the 2015-16 season. That’s a healthy step up from the 22-goal pace he was on two weeks ago. “I think the frustrating part is not getting chances,” Crosby said. “That’s the frustrating part. As far as them not going in, I feel like experience tells me if you keep getting them, they’re going to go in.” Crosby’s scoring burst hasn’t just helped his own numbers, either. It’s not exactly a coincidence that the Penguins have won four of the five games during his streak. “The way he’s playing, it makes everyone be better,” defenseman Justin Schultz said. “He’s obviously a huge part of this team and big reason we’ve started to get some traction here.” A major reason for the Penguins’ recent run of success has been the increased scoring from their bottom-six forwards, but Crosby’s hot streak has obviously played a role, too. In fact, the two might even be connected. Coach Mike Sullivan often uses the word “inspiring” to describe Crosby when he’s on top of his game and impacting his teammates with his play. This recent run certainly fits that bill. “When he plays that way, I think his energy and his compete level trickle down the bench,’ Sullivan said. “I think that’s the influence that he has on our team. As a result, I think we’re getting a more complete game, a more competitive game throughout our lineup when Sid’s on his game the way he is right now.” Post Gazette LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086693 San Jose Sharks With Joonas Donskoi, Melker Karlsson and Mikkel Boedker sidelined by day-to-day injuries, Marcus Sorensen will make his 2017-18 debut with the Sharks Monday at the Capital One Arena in Washington. Three things to know: Sharks’ minor league coach reaches remarkable Sorensen earned his recall to the Sharks Saturday by scoring 14 points milestone in 17 games with the Barracuda. The 25-year-old Swede made a splash with the Sharks late in the season By PAUL GACKLE | PUBLISHED: December 4, 2017 at 10:19 am | last year, suiting up for 19 games while skating in all six of the team’s UPDATED: December 4, 2017 at 10:38 am Stanley Cup playoff games against the Edmonton Oilers. As the fastest- skating forward in the organization, Sorensen will inject some much- needed speed into the lineup. WASHINGTON — Joakim Ryan can only imagine the scene on the AHL But Sorensen failed to make the Sharks roster out of training camp, Barracuda’s bus ride home from Bakersfield Sunday night. struggling to find the hard inside game that he developed midway through his first season of North American hockey with the Barracuda Get Sharks news in your inbox. Sign up now for the free Sharks Report last winter. newsletter. “Even talking to him after (training camp), he agreed that he was With a 2-1 win over the , the Barracuda earned head inconsistent in bringing that game to the rink,” DeBoer said. “He went coach Roy Sommer’s 700th career AHL victory, giving the league’s all- down there, played really well, was their best player recently. Hopefully, time winningest coach plenty of reason to celebrate. he can play his game up here with us.” “That must have been fun,” said defenseman Joakim Ryan, who suited Tim Heed (upper body) will also be scratched with a day-to-day injury up for 139 games on Sommer’s blue line before joining the Sharks this Monday. season. DeBoer said that defenseman Paul Martin is “very close” to rejoining the “They might have stopped for some beers on the way. I’m sure they had Sharks lineup. a good time. Roy is always happy when you win, no matter what.” 3. Joe Thornton’s fine is ‘no big deal’ The win made Sommer the first AHL coach to reach the 700-win mark. The 60-year-old set the league’s all-time wins record two years ago, Joe Thornton received a $5,000 fine from the NHL Department of Player passing the previous mark of 636 set by AHL legend Fred “Bun” Cook. Safety Sunday, the maximum allowable under the NHL’s collective bargaining agreement with the NHL Players’ Association. Thornton “That’s a lot of fun wins,” said Sharks alternate captain Logan Couture, received the fine for slashing Tampa Bay Lightning forward Tyler who played in 46 games for Sommer with the Worcester Sharks. “Every Johnson on the back of his left leg at 19:51 of the second period time you win with Roy as your coach, you’re having a good time.” Saturday. Roy Sommer of the @sjbarracuda has become the first head coach in It was the first time Thornton has faced supplementary discipline from the @TheAHL history with 700 career regular-season wins league since he received a two-game suspension in 2010 for delivering a hit to the head of David Perron. 1. Roy Sommer, 700 Thornton’s reaction to the penalty? 2. Bun Cook, 636 “Whatever,” the Sharks alternate captain said. “It’s no big deal.” 3. Frank Mathers, 610 San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 12.05.2017 4. John Paddock, 589 5. John Anderson, 424 pic.twitter.com/ZOlwbouAVu — AHL Communications (@AHLPR) December 4, 2017 Sommer reached 700 wins by spending 19-plus season behind the bench of the Sharks’ AHL franchise. His record could be a tough one to break considering that coaches at the AHL level are usually looking for a promotion to the NHL. It’s rare to find a coach who’s wiling to ride buses around the country without the promise of greener pastures down the road. “It takes someone special to stick with it that long in the minors,” Ryan said. “You’ve got to have a true love and passion for the game of hockey, which Roy obviously has. It’s a true love of the game.” Sommer spent two years as an assistant coach on Darryl Sutter’s staff with the Sharks from 1996 to 1998, but he enjoys the process of developing young players and watching them succeed at the next level. “I think he’s comfortable with who he is,” Couture said. “He’s had his chance to coach in the NHL and I’m pretty sure he’s comfortable and confident with what he does down in the AHL.” The Sharks currently have 11 players on their roster who’ve played for Sommer with the AHL Barracuda over the last two seasons. Like our Sharks Facebook page for more San Jose Sharks news, commentary and conversation. In addition to developing the organization’s prospects, Sharks coach Pete DeBoer indicated that Sommer plays just as important a role in building character and helping turn boys into men. “He’s part coach, part father figure, which is great at that level when you have young guys turning pro,” DeBoer said. At this point, Sommer isn’t showing any signs that his enthusiasm for coaching the Barracuda is waning as he approaches his third decade behind the bench, which means he should have a lot of wins left in him. “I hope one day he gets to 1,000,” Justin Braun said. “Maybe he’ll hang it up after that, but we’ll see. I think he’ll coach forever.” 2. Marcus Sorensen will make his 2017-18 debut Monday night. 1086694 San Jose Sharks “He’s done a good job. He’s got more goals than (Joe) Pavelski on a team that’s lacking some scoring. That’s sorely needed and he’s one guy that’s delivered,” DeBoer said. “We’re recognizing it and trying to reward Sharks forward is responding to DeBoer’s criticism: ‘I wanted to prove a that.” point’ Third line center is a key position for the Sharks who made their run to the Stanley Cup Final in 2016 on the strength of their depth down the middle. With Thornton, Couture and Patrick Marleau as their top three By PAUL GACKLE | PUBLISHED: December 4, 2017 at 7:41 am | centers, the Sharks produced a 26-14-4 record over the last 44 games of UPDATED: December 4, 2017 at 7:45 am the season, creating mismatches on each of their top three lines. It’s a formula the Sharks are looking to replicate this winter, making Tierney’s role extra pivotal. If Tierney sputters on the third line, DeBoer WASHINGTON — Chris Tierney is playing with something to prove this will be forced to pull Hertl off Couture’s wing, deflating the Sharks most year and his early season performance is holding the Sharks fragile potent line combination. forward alignment together. “For sure, we need depth in the middle and he’s part of that,” DeBoer Get Sharks news in your inbox. Sign up now for the free Sharks Report said. “It’s no secret that goaltending, defensemen and centermen are newsletter. what everyone is looking for.” After getting called out by head coach Pete DeBoer last spring and Although Tierney is delivering right now, he knows that he will ultimately lowballed by management in contract negotiations over the summer, be judged by his ability to sustain his performance over an 82-game Tierney entered training camp determined to show the Sharks braintrust season. If he can do that, he’ll put himself in a position to be rewarded and his teammates that he’s capable of being the team’s third line center. when contract negotiations resume in the offseason. Through 25 games, he’s delivered, giving the Sharks some much-needed secondary scoring by recording seven goals, which is tied for second on “It’s a one-year contract, so obviously, it’s going to be up at the end of the the team. year,” Tierney said. “I want to give myself every possibility to get the best contract that I can. I’ve got to just keep going and try to build on this right “I came into the year wanting to prove a point. I believe in myself. I think now.” I’m a good hockey player,” Tierney said. “I wanted to come in and show people that I could play an offensive role on the team.” — Joe Thornton received a $5,000 fine from the NHL Department of Player Safety Sunday, the maximum allowable under the NHL’s Tierney took big strides between his rookie year in 2014-15 and his collective bargaining agreement with the NHL Players’ Association, for sophomore season a year later, serving as the Sharks third line center in slashing Tampa Bay Lightning forward Tyler Johnson at the 19:51 of the the last two-plus rounds of the playoffs as the team made its run to the second period Saturday. Stanley Cup Final. San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 12.05.2017 Like our Sharks Facebook page for more San Jose Sharks news, commentary and conversation. But Tierney’s development hit a snag last year as he failed to make another jump forward, scoring just 23 points (11g, 12a) in 80 games, which left him stuck in the fourth line center role. After the Sharks got eliminated from the Stanley Cup playoffs in April, DeBoer called Tierney out by name, insisting that the team needed to get more out of him if it was going to contend in the Western Conference in 2017-18. General manager Doug Wilson didn’t exactly give Tierney a ringing endorsement either when he signed him to a one-year, $735,000 contract in restricted free agency, an underwhelming offer considering that he was matched up against Pittsburgh Penguins superstar Evgeni Malkin in the Stanley Cup Final just a year earlier. In addition, the Sharks signed Ryan Carpenter to a two-year contract. With Joe Thornton, Logan Couture and Tomas Hertl slotted in as the team’s top three centers, simple math suggested that someone would be getting bumped out of the mix this year. Tierney went into his offseason training program with former-NHL all star Gary Roberts determined to ensure that he wouldn’t be the odd man out. “A lot of it was just coming into the gym every day and going there with a purpose,” Tierney said. “Give 100 percent and get 100 percent out of the workout, and really listening, and focusing on my nutrition.” Playing in the Pacific Division against big heavy centers, such as Anze Kopitar, Ryan Getzlaf and Ryan Kesler, Tierney knew he needed to get stronger on the puck, and to do so would require adding lower-body strength. The 23-year-old center added 10 pounds of muscle while improving his speed by doing explosive exercises, such as lunges and squats, and quick feet drills, such as jumping over pylons and hurdles. Tierney made a conscientious effort to follow Roberts’ strict-dietary plan throughout his training, eating organic meals, some vegan, while cutting out eggs, wheat and dairy. “He preaches the same thing all the time, but I think I just dialed in more. I took it a bit more seriously this summer,” Tierney said. The work is paying off. Lacking scoring up front, DeBoer moved Hertl onto Couture’s left wing after just two games, giving Tierney another chance to lock down the third line center position. He’s capitalizing on the opportunity, producing seven goals, 10 points, a plus-three rating and a 52.30 percent possession rating in 25 games. 1086695 San Jose Sharks

Sharks lose to Caps in regulation for just the second time in 18 years

By Paul Gackle | PUBLISHED: December 4, 2017 at 6:44 pm | UPDATED: December 5, 2017 at 3:20 am

WASHINGTON — A road trip that looked promising after a 2-0 start ended in mediocrity as the Washington Capitals picked up just their second regulation win over the Sharks since 1999 with a 4-1 win Monday night. The Capitals (16-11-1) broke things open by scoring three times in a 23- minute span in the middle of the game, sending the Sharks (14-10-2) back to the West Coast with a 2-2 record on their East Coast jaunt. Devante Smith Pelly opened the scoring at 16:49 of the first, redirecting a point shot from John Carlson after Jannik Hansen and Marc-Edouard Vlasic left him open in front of the Sharks net. The goal was the first career tally that Martin Jones has given up in Washington. Jones pitched shutouts at Capital One Arena in each of the Sharks last two trips to the nation’s capitol. Alexander Ovechkin stretched the Capitals lead to 2-0 at 7:11 of the second, burying a breakaway opportunity. Ovechkin pounced on a loose puck after Kevin Labanc sent a pass into Brent Burns skates before sending a backhander into the roof of the net. With his 578th career goal, Ovechkin grabbed hold of 20th place on the NHL’s all-time goals list, passing Mark Recchi. After Timo Meier cut the lead in half by firing a rebound off the end board into the top-left corner at 11:32 of the middle stanza, the Capitals made it 3-1 by capitalizing on a power play opportunity in the final minute of the period. Brett Connolly scored the insurance goal with 52 seconds left in the frame by flipping a backhanded shot into the top shelf after he broke loose following a scramble for the puck at the Sharks blue line. The tally marked the first time this season that the Sharks penalty kill has surrendered goals in back-to-back games. The Capitals scored a second power play goal at 11:36 of the third when Jakub Varana scored from in close off a pass from Tom Wilson. Joe Thornton fought for the first time since he dropped the gloves with on Feb. 23, 2013, mixing it up with Wilson. Wilson appeared to initiate the fight with Thornton because the Sharks alternate captain knocked T.J. Oshie out of the game with a clean hit in the second period. San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086696 San Jose Sharks After the fight, Timo Meier, who scored the Sharks lone goal, engaged in fisticuffs with Brooks Orpik and Barclay Goodrow received a fighting major for dropping the gloves with Alex Chiasson. The Sharks received a Three takeaways: Sharks take exception to Caps’ ‘premeditated’ fight total of 37 penalty minutes in the third, including Dillon’s game with Thornton misconduct penalty for slashing, which will likely result in a fine. “He’s probably the most respected guy in that room. All the guys look up to him,” said Meier, referring to Thornton. “If he goes out there and shows By Paul Gackle | PUBLISHED: December 4, 2017 at 8:54 pm | that he’s willing to pay the price and sacrifice his body, I think it’s great UPDATED: December 5, 2017 at 3:19 am for us to see. “We want to be like him.” WASHINGTON — What started as a promising road trip wound up being 3. Labanc needs another trip to the minor leagues. “pretty average” in the words of Sharks captain Joe Pavelski. The Sharks reassigned to Labanc to the AHL Barracuda for a pair of Get Sharks news in your inbox. Sign up now for the free Sharks Report games on Nov. 5 to give him a chance to regain his confidence. newsletter. It didn’t work. After winning the first two games of their East Coast trip, the Sharks dropped back-to-back games to the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Labanc is riding a 17-game goalless drought after opening the season Washington Capitals, finishing with a 2-2 record. with three goals in four games. He’s picked up just one point in the eight games since he rejoined the Sharks on Nov. 12. Here’s what we learned as the Sharks lost a chippy 4-1 game to the Capitals Monday night. With Joonas Donskoi, Mikkel Boedker and Melker Karlsson sidelined by injuries, Labanc received a golden opportunity to break out of his slump 1. The Sharks take exception to the Capitals decision to fight Joe Monday, skating on Logan Couture’s right wing. Thornton. Instead, he failed to capitalize on several quality-scoring chances, and Pete DeBoer let the Capitals bench know how he felt about their decision his pass into Brent Burns’ skates in the middle of the second led to to engage Thornton in a fight early in the third period and he didn’t hold Alexander Ovechkin’s breakaway goal, giving the Capitals a 2-0 lead. back when he spoke with reporters after the game. Labanc is hesitating to shoot the puck, suggesting that his confidence is DeBoer took issue with the fact that Tom Wilson initiated a fight with waning. He had a golden opportunity to use his shot, which is among the Thornton at 2:14 of the third in response to a hit that he put on T.J. Oshie best on the team, during a two-on-one chance late in the second. with 3:27 left in the second, knocking him out of the game. Instead, he waited and then tried to pass, allowing the defender to break up the play. “If someone were to grab Joe in the heat of the moment after the play because they thought a liberty was taken, then I’ve got no problem with When Donskoi, Boedker or Karlsson returns, it might be a good idea to that,” the Sharks coach said. “But to go into the dressing room, think send Labanc back to the Barracuda where he can regain the mojo that about it, come out in the first shift and do that premeditated crap is just he displayed early in the season after a strong training camp. garbage.” San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 12.05.2017 Thornton turned and hit Oshie with his backside as the Capitals forward was falling to the ice after making contact with Logan Couture. Like our Sharks Facebook page for more San Jose Sharks news, commentary and conversation. By the time that Thornton hit Oshie, the Capitals forward was down on the ice, resulting in a hip-to-head collision into the glass. Oshie spent a couple minutes on the ice before leaving the game with an “upper-body” injury. Here’s a look at Thornton’s hit on Oshie Watch #CapsSharks live: https://t.co/NGTPHxGvna pic.twitter.com/L04bzUEKnr — NBC Sports Capitals (@NBCSCapitals) December 5, 2017 The referees didn’t call a penalty on the play. “He was just falling a little bit. It’s not like I ran him or anything,” Thornton said. “I bumped him and it felt like my hip hit him in the head. Just unfortunate what happened. “You don’t want to see anyone hurt, obviously. It’s just too bad. Hopefully, he gets back quick.” 2. Thornton got the ‘whole bench going’ by sticking up for himself. Thornton is a rare breed. He’s among the NHL’s top-20 scorers of all time and one of the best playmakers the league has ever known, ranking 12th in assists. Nevertheless, when the Capitals decided to come after him, he didn’t skate away and leave matters in the hands of tough guy Brenden Dillon. Instead, he dropped the gloves and went toe-to-toe with Wilson, who entered the game with 55 career fights, according to hockeyfights.com. “It’s no big deal,” Thornton said. “I can take care of myself. It’s never been an issue with me. “I’m a big boy.” The fight was Thornton’s first since he dropped the gloves with Jamie Benn of the Dallas Stars on Feb. 23, 2013. Thornton’s willingness to stick up for himself left an impression on the team, which featured seven players who skated with the AHL Barracuda last year. Kevin Labanc said it got the “whole bench going.” 1086697 San Jose Sharks

Washington Capitals get rare win over San Jose Sharks

Associated Press Updated 9:54 pm, Monday, December 4, 2017

On the same night Tom Wilson beat up a player he grew up admiring, Alex Ovechkin beat the team he grew up rooting for. Ovechkin scored his NHL-leading 20th goal of the season and assisted on another, helping the Capitals snap their recent run of futility against the Sharks with a 4-1 victory in Washington on Monday night. The Capitals beat the Sharks for the fourth time in 18 meetings since Ovechkin entered the league in 2005-06. It’s just Washington’s second regulation win against San Jose in that time and first since Oct. 15, 2009. “It was a situation where everybody step up and everybody play for each other,” said Ovechkin, who considered the Sharks his favorite team as a kid in Moscow. Halting the Sharks’ recent mastery came at a cost: T.J. Oshie left in the second period with an upper-body injury and didn’t return. As Oshie was already engaged with Logan Couture and falling down along the boards, he took Joe Thornton’s backside to the head. Tom Wilson took exception to Thornton’s hit and fought him in the third period of a chippy game that also included a fight between Alex Chiasson and Barclay Goodrow. Devante Smith-Pelly and Jakub Vrana also scored for Washington, which has won two in a row and six of eight. Predators 5, Bruins 3: Craig Smith scored twice and added an assist to lead host Nashville over Boston. Kevin Fiala had a goal and an assist, and Nick Bonino and Filip Forsberg also scored for the Predators. Pekka Rinne made 36 saves. Charlie McAvoy, Zdeno Chara and David Pastrnak scored for the Bruins. Islanders 5, Panthers 4: Mathew Barzal scored the winning goal in a shootout to lift visiting New York over Florida after Panthers goalie Roberto Luongo was injured in the second period. Jaroslav Halak made 39 saves and stopped all three attempts in the shootout. Denis Malgin, Aleksander Barkov and Aaron Ekblad scored for the Panthers. Keith Yandle had a goal and two assists, and Vincent Trocheck added three assists. Flyers 5, Flames 2: Scott Laughton scored twice and Brian Elliott made 43 saves as Philadelphia snapped a 10-game skid with a win at Calgary. The Flames held a wide edge in play, outshooting Philadelphia 45-21, but the Flyers scored three times in a 1:11 span of the second period. San Francisco Chronicle LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086698 San Jose Sharks

Sharks and Capitals, forever linked, could not be more different this season

By Marcus White December 04, 2017 11:34 AM

When we look back on this era, the San Jose Sharks and Washington Capitals will always be linked. They’ve never played each other in the postseason, of course, and that’s part of the reason why: The two franchises are kindred spirits, labelled as perennial disappointments for their perceived perennial postseason failures. The Capitals are “Sharks East,” never having made it past the second round of the postseason in the Alex Ovechkin era. The Sharks have, and even made it to the Stanley Cup Final in 2016, but they’ve never won it, so they’re “Capitals West.” Now, though, the two franchises find themselves on divergent paths. Yes, both teams find themselves in playoff position entering Monday night’s matchup, and only about $1.5 million separates them in salary cap space this offseason. But if you look beneath the surface, the differences are clear, as the Sharks and Capitals are utilizing different blueprints to address their own failures. The Sharks can’t score, but their opponents haven’t scored much, either. Their plus-eight goal differential is tied for the fourth-best mark in the conference, and their possession numbers (top-five in both major metrics, per Puck On Net) bode well for future success. The Capitals can score, but they can’t stop anyone from scoring. They’re one of two playoff teams in the East with a negative goal differential (minus-three), and find themselves in the bottom-10 of both corsi-for and fenwick-for percentage. That’s an unusual place for Washington, long one of the league’s best possession teams, but it’s been by design. The Capitals went all in last year, and they’re paying the price this season. Facing a salary capocalypse, Washington let Karl Alzner, Kevin Shattenkirk, Justin Williams, and Daniel Winnik walk in free agency, lost Nate Schmidt in the expansion draft, and traded Marcus Johansson to New Jersey for salary cap relief. They still re-signed Andre Burakovsky, Evgeny Kuznetsov, and T.J. Oshie, but they’re facing what Chicago has so often. They just don’t have the trophy to show for it. Look no further than their salary cap situation. They currently have just over $800,000 in space, and assuming the cap remains flat, have just over $16 million to sign 11 players next summer. By contrast, the Sharks currently have a little over $6 million, and will have just over $17.5 million to sign five players next summer. Sharks general manager Doug Wilson hasn’t gone all in the same way his Capitals counterpart, Brian Maclellan, has. San Jose’s kept their window ajar by kicking the can down the road, structuring their contracts in a way where decisions on major players are spread out. Their roster is not as deep as the Capitals’ last season, but the Sharks have enough cap flexibility to get there without going all in. Yet, no matter the differences in their respective approach, San Jose will continue to be linked to Washington as long as they also don’t succeed. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086699 San Jose Sharks

Chippy game goes way of the Capitals, Sharks end roadtrip with loss

By NBC Sports Bay Area staff December 04, 2017 6:39 PM

WASHINGTON — Alex Ovechkin scored his NHL-leading 20th goal and assisted on another, helping the Washington Capitals snap their recent run of futility against the San Jose Sharks with a 4-1 victory Monday night. The Capitals beat the Sharks for the fourth time in 18 meetings since Ovechkin entered the league in 2005-06. It's just Washington's second regulation win against San Jose in that time and first since Oct. 15, 2009. It ended a four-game skid in the series. Halting the Sharks' recent mastery came at a cost: T.J. Oshie left in the second period with an upper-body injury and didn't return. As Oshie was already engaged with Logan Couture and falling down along the boards, he took Joe Thornton's backside to the head. Tom Wilson took exception to Thornton's hit and fought him in the third period of a chippy game that also included a fight between Alex Chiasson and Barclay Goodrow. Before those tensions rose, Ovechkin continued his climb up the career list with his 578th goal, passing Hall of Famer Mark Recchi for 20th. He's the 11th player in NHL history to score at least 20 goals in each of his first 13 seasons. Ovechkin, who rooted for the Sharks while growing up in Moscow, turned several defenders inside out and made a perfect pass to set up Brett Connolly's power-play goal. Devante Smith-Pelly and Jakub Vrana also scored for Washington, which has won two in a row and six of eight. Capitals backup goaltender Philipp Grubauer made 24 saves to pick up his first career victory against the Sharks. San Jose's Martin Jones allowed four goals on 29 shots in his second game back from injury, and Timo Meier scored his first goal in eight games and third of the season. NOTES: Connolly has goals in back-to-back games since returning from being a healthy scratch for the previous two. ... Sharks coach Peter DeBoer said D Paul Martin is close to returning from an undisclosed injury that has kept him out since Oct. 12. ... Capitals F Travis Boyd made his NHL debut, replacing Chandler Stephenson, who's day-to-day with an upper-body injury. ... F Andre Burakovsky rejoined the Capitals for their morning skate as he works back from October surgery to repair his broken left thumb. He hopes to return within the next week. UP NEXT Sharks: Return home to face the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday night. Capitals: Host the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday night. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086700 St Louis Blues

Blues looking for an encore against Montreal, but with more goals

By Tom Timmermann St. Louis Post-Dispatch 2 hrs ago

MONTREAL -- After a day off on Sunday, the Blues got back to practice on Monday at Bell Centre, hoping to keep the good feelings going from Saturday's game, even if it was an overtime loss. The Blues play the Canadiens on Tuesday and are looking for back-to- back well-played games for the first time in a while. "We improved in a lot of areas we talked about," forward Kyle Brodziak said. "It felt we more connected as a group, we had the same purpose when we were on the ice. It's unfortunate we didn't get the two points. We were talking about the process and that was a step in the right direction. "I think just losing a couple in a row, you realize realize you need to snap out of it and have everyone get back on the same page." Coach Mike Yeo said he didn't like the score of Saturday's game, a 2-1 loss in extra time to the Wild for the team's third loss in a row, but otherwise, things were positive. "I don't think that the score reflected the game," he said, "and for me that was more important, that we got back to our game. I like the aggressiveness that we played the game with. Obviously any time you're getting over 40 shots on net in another team's building against a team that defends well, you're doing some good things. Obviously we have to find a way to score some more goals; that will be the challenge tomorrow." It looks like the Blues will stick with the line combinations they used on Saturday against Minnesota, which would mean Oskar Sundqvist, Chris Thorburn and Vince Dunn would be out. It also looks like the Blues will stick with the same power-play setup they used against Minnesota, with Vladimir Tarasenko playing with both units. So the lines would be: Schwartz-Schenn-Steen Sobotka-Stastny-Tarasenko Paajarvi-Berglund-Blais Upshall-Brodziak-Jaskin and the defense would be: Bouwmeester-Pietrangelo Edmundson-Parayko Gunnarsson-Bortuzzo It will be a big thing for Sammy Blais, who will get in the lineup a couple hours drive from where he grew up in Montmagny, Quebec. He said he expected about 30 family and friends to make their way over for the game. "For a young guy who's grown up watching this team, that's such a huge part of the culture here," Yeo said, "the only thing he could ever do when he was young was dream about this moment. I'm happy to share it with him." took a slapshot to the mask late in the practice from Joel Edmundson that knocked his mask off and sent him to the locker room. Yeo said after practice that he had spoken to Allen and the goalie said he'd be fine. St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086701 St Louis Blues

St. Louis comptroller extends legal battle over Scottrade Center financing

By Mike Faulk St. Louis Post-Dispatch 11 hrs ago

St. Louis Comptroller Darlene Green on Monday signaled a likely appeal of a judge’s order that she sign off on a $64 million financing agreement between the city and the Blues for renovating Scottrade Center. St. Louis Circuit Court Judge Joan Moriarty last week gave Green until Monday to sign the agreement. A spokesman for Green said she signed the document, but won’t turn it over to the Blues until she has a chance to appeal. “Her attorney is holding the documents in escrow until they determine they can file an appeal,” Green spokesman Tyson Pruitt said Monday. In her order filed Nov. 27, Moriarty said nothing in the city charter gives the comptroller “the discretion to refuse to countersign the financing agreement based on her belief that the expenditure is imprudent.” On Monday, Green’s attorney Elkin Kistner said the court “manifestly failed to appreciate” Green’s authority under the city charter and requested Moriarty change her order. Darlene Green, comptroller of the city of St. Louis. If Moriarty rejects Green’s attorney’s challenge to her Nov. 27 order, it’s likely Green will appeal. Blues spokesman Jeff Rainford said the organization had no comment on Green’s actions Monday. Moriarty rejected Green’s argument that the city charter legally obligated her office not to approve deals that could hurt the city’s credit, so long as they were properly approved by the Board of Aldermen and the Board of Estimate and Apportionment. Green is one of three voting members of the Board of Estimate and Apportionment, and cast the lone vote against the financing agreement there. Moriarty said the law provides only two methods for doing that, neither of which was used in this instance. Under the charter, the comptroller can refuse to sign a contract only if it is executed “without previous authority of law or ordinance.” Green’s only other option to preserve the city’s credit, according to Moriarty, involves securing emergency funding to pay off debts, judgments or other liabilities the city may face. The financing agreement would cover renovations at Scottrade Center taking place in three phases through 2019. The first phase, done this summer, was paid for through unexpected debt taken on by the Blues after negotiations with Green failed, attorneys said. The city would pay the debt, totaling $105 million with interest, over 30 years. Another obstacle remains in having the financing agreement enacted: A lawsuit by Alderman Cara Spencer challenging its constitutionality, which is set for trial in less than a week. Moriarty is also the judge presiding over that lawsuit in which Spencer and two other plaintiffs claim the deal was intended primarily to benefit the Blues and amounts to an unconstitutional giveaway of public funds to a private entity. Attorneys for the city and the Blues have countered that there was clear intent to promote economic development. In court filings last week, the Blues reiterated their desire to see the Spencer case dismissed and made a demand for the plaintiffs to pay their attorney fees, which could be in the six-figure range. The Blues are represented by a team of attorneys from Husch Blackwell, a prominent law firm with offices in St. Louis and 16 other cities. The request for attorney fees is based on the Blues’ allegation that Spencer’s lawsuit is frivolous or in bad faith, of which they will have to convince the judge. Missouri courts rarely award attorney fees, according to legal experts. Out of six claims made against the Blues and the city in Spencer’s lawsuit, two have been voluntarily withdrawn while two more remain under the judge’s consideration for dismissal. St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086702 St Louis Blues have a lot of stuff to learn from the game, but I think I’ve been doing pretty good and the coaches are happy about my game.”

The reduced ice time as a third-line forward compared to the top-line Blues' Blais is back in Quebec, but not as a fan this time status he had in the AHL is the biggest difference and has required some mental fine tuning. By Tom Timmermann St. Louis Post-Dispatch 1 hr ago “I have less ice time than I had in the AHL,” he said, “so when I’m on the ice, I have to have a good shift, and even if I don’t have a good shift, I can’t think about it and have to get ready for the next one. I think that’s the biggest part for me. I’m playing less here, but I’m a rookie and I’m MONTREAL • Blues rookie forward Sammy Blais is young enough — he learning with all these great players, so it’s nice.” turned 21 in June — that the hockey players he grew up idolizing as a kid in Quebec are in some cases still in the NHL. There are all sorts of inherent jitters to playing in front of, in Blais’ case, about 30 family members and friends. Ultimately, though, the Blues see it Some, like Alexei Kovalev and Saku Koivu, have retired, but others, like as a positive, and part of Blais’ maturing in the NHL game. Canadiens goalie Carey Price and forward Max Pacioretty, are still going strong, and Blais will get his first chance to go head-to-head with his “That’s got to be a good thing,” Yeo said. “We should all be excited for childhood on Tuesday when the Blues face the Montreal Canadiens at him. For a young guy who’s grown up watching this team, that’s such a Bell Centre. huge part of the culture here, the only thing he could ever do when he was young was dream about this moment. I’m happy to share it with “I’m probably going to watch (Price) across the red line during warmups him.” to look at what he’s doing because he’s one of the best goalies in the league and I’ve been watching him play when I was growing up,” Blais St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 12.05.2017 said Monday after his first venture onto the ice at Bell Centre. “I was in the stands watching them before. Now I was on the ice this morning. It was very nice.” Blais hails from Montmagny, Quebec, a town about three hours up the St. Lawrence River from Montreal, just on the other side of Quebec City, and in the absence of the Quebec Nordiques, who moved to Colorado a year before he was born, Blais was a fan of the Montreal Canadiens, which is a pretty good option. The long drive cut into the number of games he could get to — 10 to 15, he figures — and so did the fact he went off to play junior hockey when he was 16. Still, as is the case for most red-blooded Quebecois, he was a fan of Les Habitants, even if hockey’s blue bloods haven’t won a Stanley Cup in his lifetime. “I was a big fan of Montreal when I was young,” he said. “I still … it’s kind of different. Now I’m with the Blues, I’m going to play against these guys I’ve been watching all my life. It’s going to be a great experience, in front of my family and friends. It’s going to be a great experience.” Blais is still learning the NHL game. He’s played in just seven NHL games, and has one goal and one assist. He’s only two seasons removed from playing juniors, so the growth in his game has been sudden. In 2015-16, he was playing in Victoriaville and Charlottetown in the Quebec junior league. Now he’s in the NHL, ahead of any schedule he had in mind. “Last year was my first pro year,” he said. “I was not thinking about playing in the NHL as soon as I am right now. I had a good year last year (26 goals and 17 assists at Chicago) and I have confidence with my play and I just have to keep going.” There have been setbacks. Blais was the darling of training camp, with two goals and two assists in seven games as the team gave him a very long look. He didn’t make the team out of camp, to the surprise of many, but was quickly called up five games into the season. He played four games and got sent back to the minors, before being recalled Nov. 23. He’s been back for five games but has been a healthy scratch in two of them. Against Minnesota on Nov. 25, he had a turnover that led to a short-handed goal for the Wild and then rebounded by scoring his first NHL goal later that same game. The Blues have shown the confidence in sticking with him, though his ice time has gone down sharply. In his first NHL game, he played 17:18, and against Minnesota on Saturday, he played just 7:17, though having Vladimir Tarasenko play with both the first and second power-play units probably cost him about 4 minutes. He had a turnover in that game that led to a scoring chance for the Wild, but he came back and made a nice setup for Robert Bortuzzo for a scoring chance for the Blues that didn’t produce a goal. “Players reward you when you show confidence in them, I know that,” Blues coach Mike Yeo said. “There was a bad turnover last game, he knows that. At the same time, if you play in fear ... you have to make plays in this league to win hockey games, and obviously I think it’s an understanding of when and where to make those plays, understanding the risk. That’s part of it. He’s not going to stay here if he’s chipping pucks in all day long and getting off the ice. He’s got to find a way to create offense to make some plays. For him, it’s part of the process.” “It was the same thing last year in the AHL,” Blais said. “At the beginning of the year it was harder. I was coming from juniors, I was learning how to play pro hockey. Now I’m in the NHL, I just have to keep doing what I was doing last year. It’s going to be a long process. I’m still young so I 1086703 St Louis Blues

Preview: Blues at Montreal

By Jim Thomas St. Louis Post-Dispatch 5 hrs ago

BLUES AT CANADIENS When, where • 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Bell Centre, Montreal TV, radio • Fox Sports Midwest, KMOX (1120 AM) About the Canadiens • After struggling mightily early in the season, Montreal (13-12-3) has won its last five games, coinciding with the return of goalie Carey Price from a lower-body injury. Price has a .961 save percentage and a 1.20 goals-against average in those five contests; he’s scheduled to start against the Blues. The Canadiens have had trouble scoring much of the season, but that hasn’t been the case lately, with 10-1 and 6-3 victories over Detroit in their last two games. Brendan Gallagher leads the team in goals (13) and points (19). Jonathan Drouin has missed the past two games with a lower-body injury. St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086704 St Louis Blues

Yeo happy with Blues' 'energy' last game

By Tom Timmermann St. Louis Post-Dispatch 4 hrs ago

MONTREAL • Blues coach Mike Yeo jiggered all four of his lines for Saturday’s game, and when it ended, they were the same way they were at the start. That’s a good sign that Yeo liked what he saw. “I think there was good energy,” he said Monday. “I think every line was contributing, I didn’t feel I had to do anything to try to get guys going. I didn’t feel we had to try to hide anybody in the game. I felt we had everybody and that allowed us to keep on going.” Even though that game ended in a 2-1 overtime loss to the Wild, it looks like Yeo will stay with those groupings for the Blues’ game Tuesday against the Canadiens. That means Alexander Steen with Brayden Schenn and Jaden Schwartz instead of Vladimir Tarasenko, who instead will play with Paul Stastny and Vladimir Sobotka. Yeo and the Blues hope that the momentum generated Saturday, even in a loss, can carry over. “When you play in this business, you have to have a short-term memory,” Stastny said. “It wasn’t just one game, it was a span of four or five games where it was gradually getting worse and worse. We had one good game, now we have to keep building on that. It’s a cliché, but sticking with the process, not looking at the end, kind of starting the game and going from there, is what we have to do. Sometimes things go your way and sometimes they don’t, but if we stick with it for 60 minutes and play the right way, with the group of guys we have here, usually it will be a good outcome for us.” Though the Stastny line didn’t score, Yeo thought the group brought a needed boost to the team. “I liked the edge in (Sobotka’s) game,” Yeo said. “He was all over the ice. He was a factor not only in helping us get to our game but taking them off their game, and that’s something that’s hard to notice sometimes. When you’re out there and you see guys not getting to the puck as quick as they normally do, those things end up being a difference maker. “Stas didn’t get rewarded with a lot of points in that game, but that’s as competitive and solid as he’s been. I thought his play down low, winning battles, allowing us to get to our game, and in the offensive zone, you could see him moving his feet, controlling the puck, making plays. We understand what guys’ best games look like, and that was close to his.” POWER PLAY PIECES Another thing that looks to stay the same is that Vladimir Tarasenko was working with both power-play units Monday. Tarasenko had 9:48 of power-play time — he was out there for every second the Blues had a man advantage — on Saturday, which was the third most for an NHL player this season. Mikko Rantanen and Gabriel Landeskog of Colorado both played 9:51 on the power play on Nov. 18. (The Avalanche were on the power play for 16:54 in that game, so those two got some breaks.) The Blues’ record for power-play time in a game is 14:24 by Alexander Steen in a game against Anaheim on Oct. 11, 2010. The Blues had a man advantage for 16:17 in that game and won 5-1. BLUENOTES Jake Allen took a puck to the mask in practice off a slap shot by Joel Edmundson and left the ice early, though Yeo said Allen had told him he would be fine. … The Blues have had 40 or more shots in seven games this season and are 4-1-2 in those games. … Tarasenko has taken 116 shots on goal this season, the fourth most in the league. Alex Pietrangelo went into Monday’s play tied for second among defensemen with 85 and Colton Parayko was 10th with 77. St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086705 Tampa Bay Lightning

Lightning out in Seminole Heights to support community

By Joe Smith Published: December 4, 2017Updated: December 4, 2017 at 04:04 PM

Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman has enjoyed his few trips to the Seminole Heights neighborhood, which is just a couple miles from downtown Tampa. "Lot of cool coffee shops, some old vintage stuff," Hedman said. "Definitely a place that's on the rise." But for the past couple months, Seminole Heights was struck with tragedy. There were four murders in this neighborhood, with killings suspect Howell Emanuel Donaldson III finally caught in late November following a harrowing, six-week manhunt. Local business were hurt badly too, down on average of 30-percent, according to Tampa interim police chief Brian Dugan. They asked the Lightning for help, and the team stepped up, with Hedman, captain Steven Stamkos and fellow forward J.T. Brown signing autographs Monday night in three locations from 5-6 p.m.. Stamkos will be at Brew Bus Brewing (41010 N. Florida Ave), Hedman at Fodder & Shine (5190 Florida Ave) and Brown, along with Dugan, at Ella's American Folk Art Cafe (5119 N. Nebraska). Fans were encouraged to bring new, unwrapped toys that will be donated to underserved elementary aged children in Seminole Heights for Christmas. Needless to say, this isn't the average autograph signing for these players. "This is a little bit special, no way to look around that," Hedman said. "It's been a tough almost two months for them. For us as an organization, we want to be the ones that go out to the fans, show our faces, give back to them the way they've supported us through everything. It's a no-brainer for us to go down there." This event has been in the works for three weeks, even before the suspect was caught. Dugan had experience with the Lightning before, inviting Brown (along with Rays pitcher Chris Archer) out to trick-or-treat in the community on Halloween. Brown could sense a strong community that was "living in fear" for a couple months. "For all the negativity going on, for that moment, they were able to smile and laugh again," Brown said. "I'm expecting more of that tonight." Anthony Derby, 27, owner of Brew Bus Brewing, said the biggest issues for local businesses were weekends, with his brewery down 50-60- percent. He said Ella's was similar. The locals tried to support, but the neighborhood wasn't drawing as many from downtown or other bay area locales. "We have a lot of regulars that walk here or ride their bike, and after 6 p.m. they didn't feel comfortable," Derby said. But Derby said, with the killing suspect in jail, last weekend was normal business for them. On Monday, there were already a dozen lined up at their door three hours before opening. David Grillo, 62, a retired consultant from Tampa, was first in line at 12:30 p.m, making his first trip to the neighborhood in months. Zach Earnest, 25, a Panthers fan, made the drive from Daytona this morning. "We're just trying to get the awareness out that Seminole Heights isn't branded where the serial killer lives," Derby said. "This is just for people to know there is still good stuff going on in Seminole Heights." Both Hedman and Stamkos, two faces of the Lightning franchise, are in the early stages of starting their own foundations. Brown, one of around 30 black players in the NHL, has been active with the local police departments, including participating in a ride-a-long. "To have the opportunity to have us go out there and help these businesses and the community will be something special," Brown said. Tampa Tribune LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086706 Tampa Bay Lightning "Now I’m meeting a lot of kids and parents who say the reason they started playing hockey was us winning the Stanley Cup. We’re building on that and taking it to the next level. I think it’s going to keep growing.’’ Lightning continues to boost community hockey initiative That’s why the ambition of the Lightning’s program — the franchise already has given away 60,000 street hockey sticks — will always be typified by individual progress. By Joey Johnston | Tribune Staff Published: November 22, 2017Updated: December 4, 2017 at 10:27 AM "Jeff Vinik (Lightning owner) has a great passion for hockey and he wants to share that with others, get everyone in the community to feel that passion,’’ Feaster said. "When we give them a stick and a ball, when we let them play the game, they usually want to continue to play. That’s TAMPA — Since introducing its "Build The Thunder’’ program three the excitement of growing the game.’’ years ago, the Tampa Bay Lightning organization has visited 260 schools to promote hockey and teach the game to students. When the Lightning visits a school, after the demonstrations and games have been completed, infrastructure is left behind. How can progress be gauged? The schools receive 40 sticks, a pair of nets, a box of 36 balls, four sets "You might say we’re similar to the research and development of protective goalie equipment and 40 reversible jerseys. department of a major corporation,’’ Lightning vice president of community hockey development Jay Feaster said. "We’re engaging with "Long after we’re gone, we want them to keep playing,’’ Feaster said. "It’s future players and future fans. We are creating the future wave. all about growing the participation and awareness of the game at all levels, but especially the youth level. "We (recently) had a coach say three of his players didn’t play at all until our street hockey (presentation) at school. Then they went to the Ice "If we fall short of what we need for the funding, we have an owner Sports Forum and registered for the Learn to Skate program. Next year, (Vinik) who says, ‘I believe in this and I’m committed to it.’ So it’s going to those kids could be with a rec hockey program. They might join a travel keep going. It’s an investment in the community and our future.’’ team. That’s how it goes from nothing to potentially something. Those kind of things are cool to hear about.’’ And it continues to grow. Jassen Cullimore, the Lightning’s director of community hockey and a Brick by brick. former NHL defenseman, brings the organization’s "street team’’ to Stick by stick. schools for high-energy street hockey demonstrations in gymnasiums (or sometimes parking lots). Tampa Tribune LOADED: 12.05.2017 Occasionally, when the students are asked if they’ve seen the Lightning play, no hands are raised. "But inevitably, when you see them (students) again, you’ll hear things like, ‘Hey, I was watching the game the other night and I was wondering why so-and-so wasn’t in the lineup,’" Feaster said. "It’s amazing how quickly they will catch on. So the little things we see and hear like that tell us we’re making progress in a market where ice hockey is not necessarily in every kid’s DNA.’’ Cullimore and his crew recently visited the Avante Garde Academy charter school in the Westchase area, basically taking over the day’s physical-education classes. While speaking to the sixth-graders, Cullimore excitedly explained how a lifetime of work paid off during his 2003-04 season with the Lightning, who won the Stanley Cup championship. He talked about his day with the Cup in his hometown, when a parade was held. The next morning, Cullimore said he ate breakfast cereal out of the Cup. Any questions? One hand was raised. "What kind of cereal?’’ With a sheepish grin, Cullimore said it was Lucky Charms. "You never know what’s on the mind of these kids,’’ Cullimore said. "It’s great. Even though we keep giving the same message and teaching the same game, we always remind ourselves, ‘Hey, this group is seeing us for the first time. Let’s make it special. Let’s keep the energy up.’ "When they get out there, the more they handle the ball, the more they touch it, the more interested they get. We want them to become Lightning fans or try to skate. Every little bit helps. It pays dividends for the sport overall. It helps our franchise. It’s good all around. We continue to see things grow.’’ The latest evidence came last month, when the Lightning announced a partnership with the NHL and NHL Players’ Association to build 10 outdoor street hockey rinks over the next three years in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Polk and Manatee counties. Additionally, the Lightning will establish an indoor street hockey "hub,’’ which will serve as headquarters for its Community Hockey Development department. "It’s like night and day from when I first came to the Lightning (in 1997- 98),’’ Cullimore said. "We were losing 50 games a year. The first three years, we had three new owners, three new GMs, three new coaches. But we stuck with it and ultimately we won the Stanley Cup (in 2004). 1086707 Tampa Bay Lightning

Lightning’s Jake Dotchin takes a step toward returning

By Joe Smith, Published: December 4, 2017 Updated: December 4, 2017 at 08:36 PM

TAMPA — Lightning defenseman Jake Dotchin took another step towards his return Monday with his first full practice in a couple weeks. Dotchin was still in a red non-contact jersey, so he’s not expected to play Tuesday against the Islanders. "He was zipping around there in his red jersey," coach Jon Cooper said. "Got to get this to blue (jersey)." Dotchin has missed six games since suffering the "freak," undisclosed injury in a Nov. 18 loss to the Islanders. While Dotchin is feeling better, he’s being cautious before coming back. "We’re getting there," Dotchin said. "This is something I don’t really want to rush back into. I want to feel 100 percent with this, and not only feel comfortable, but feel confident in it as well. (Monday) was a positive step)." Dotchin’s injury has hurt the Lightning blueline, as he was typically Victor Hedman’s partner in the top pairing. Tampa Bay has had to shuffle the lineup a bit, including alternating Slater Koekkoek and Andrej Sustr. Veteran defenseman Braydon Coburn (undisclosed) is also banged-up, and did not practice Monday. Coburn missed Saturday’s game and appears questionable for Tuesday. "He’s making progress," Cooper said. Dotchin said he thought his injury would heal more quickly, but it ended up taking him a week to feel better. "It’s in the home stretch now," Dotchin said. "Hope to be back soon." With Coburn and Dotchin likely out Tuesday, Jamie McBain was recalled from Syracuse. CONACHER STAYS: While F Cory Conacher was thought of as a temporary fill-in with C Cedric Paquette’s one-game suspension Saturday, he’s sticking around "for now," Cooper said. Conacher has scored two goals in two games he’s played this season, coming on separate callups, including one in Saturday’s win over San Jose. Conacher practiced on a line with Yanni Gourde and Alex Killorn Monday. "He’s played well for the time he’s been in there," Cooper said. We shuffled the deck a little bit (with lines), but he’s played well. Not looking to make any changes as of yet." START THE FIRE? During the Lightning’s slump — a stretch of losing four of six games — Cooper lamented how his team needed to regain that "60 minute fire" of competitiveness. And there was progress made in that aspect in Saturday’s win over San Jose. Tampa Bay will need it in a tough week hosting the Islanders (which beat the Lightning 5-3 on Nov. 18), Colorado and Winnipeg, which is tied with the Lightning for best record in the league). "We didn’t play with that energy all on the road trip," Cooper said. "Probably since that California trip, (Saturday) was as close to the way we we played out there. It’s been a little inconsistent." Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086708 Tampa Bay Lightning (Monday) is a special day for me to see everyone here, back smiling again."

Darren had a big smile on his face as he approached Stamkos on A visit from Lightning players brings cheer to Seminole Heights Monday evening. Darren was wearing a cast over his right hand, thanks to a broken thumb suffered last week. That injury kept Darren, a defenseman, out of his roller hockey playoffs Monday at United Skates. By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer But this was one heck of a consolation prize. The Lightning got Darren Published: December 4, 2017 involved in hockey two years ago, giving every kid at his Woodmont Charter School a street hockey stick and ball as part of its grassroots Updated: December 4, 2017 at 11:23 PM "Build the Thunder" campaign. Soon, Darren was hooked, shooting into the family’s laundry basket.

On Monday, Darren shook Stamkos’ hand with his left, then had the All- TAMPA — For weeks, Jasmine Armstead and her Temple Terrace family Star center sign the blade of his stick. Jasmine told Stamkos about stayed away from Seminole Heights. Darren’s injury. That was difficult for the pregnant mother of two, who had worked at the Stamkos smiled: "You’ll be back out there before you know it." neighborhood’s United Methodist Church as a preschool teacher. Armstead’s mother lived nearby. So Armstead, 31, and her sons, Darren, Just like Seminole Heights. 11, and Darshaun, 5, would frequent local spots like Ella’s, Front Porch and Fodder & Shine. Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 12.05.2017 That was until a serial killer murdered four people over two months, including Armstead’s family friend, Ronald Felton. "It was really heartbreaking," Armstead said. "So close to home." But Armstead was back Monday afternoon, joining several hundred others in a packed Brew Bus Brewing, where Lightning captain Steven Stamkos, Darren’s favorite player, was signing autographs. Defenseman Victor Hedman drew a large crowd at nearby Fodder & Shine, with wing J.T. Brown at Ella’s. With the suspected killer in custody, the Lightning wanted to help bring normalcy to a neighborhood that had lived in fear. The team hoped to bring a boost to local businesses, some of which were down 30 percent during the six-week manhunt. The Armsteads got in line three hours before Stamkos was scheduled to appear. "I don’t think a serial killer would have stopped (Darren)," Armstead said. "The minute I said, ‘Stamkos,’ he was like, ‘Stamkos!’ He was very excited." For the Lightning players, this was no ordinary autograph signing. They loved seeing the smiles, and sometimes screams, of fans, signing everything from PlayStation controllers to jerseys to spray-painted portraits. Fans were encouraged to bring toys to be donated to underserved elementary-aged kids in Seminole Heights for Christmas. "This is a little bit special, no way to look around that," Hedman said. "It’s been a tough almost two months for them. For us as an organization, we want to be the ones that go out to the fans, show our faces, give back to them the way they’ve supported us through everything. It’s a no-brainer for us to go down there." This event has been in the works for three weeks, even before suspect Howell Emanuel Donaldson III was caught in late November. Tampa interim police chief Brian Dugan said he met with some local businesses who were down by an average of 30-percent. They tried to figure out how to get people back out. Dugan suggested a toy drive. "Someone said, ‘How about the Lightning?’?" Dugan said. Dugan had experience with the Lightning, as a former security rep and now as police chief. He had invited Brown, along with Rays pitcher Chris Archer, to join trick-or-treaters in Seminole Heights on Halloween. Brown could sense a strong community then. "For all the negativity going on, for that moment, they were able to smile and laugh again," Brown said. Anthony Derby, 27, owner of Brew Bus Brewing, said while locals were still trying to support businesses, the biggest issues came drawing people on weekends. Derby said his business was down 50 percent revenue on Fridays and Saturdays, saying Ella’s was similar. "We have a lot of regulars that walk here or ride their bike, and after 6 p.m. they didn’t feel comfortable," Derby said. "We’re just trying to get the awareness out that Seminole Heights isn’t branded where the serial killer lives." With most of the Lightning players living around downtown Tampa, Stamkos said there was often a lot of talk in the dressing room about the search for the serial killer. "It’s something that shook the community," Stamkos said. "It’s been tough to watch, and I know it’s been frustrating to people to see this going on in our backyard. Our message is, ‘We’ve got your back.’ 1086709 Toronto Maple Leafs on last week’s Western Canadian road swing. Experience is the short answer for the late-game sea change.

“We figured out we’re no good when we sit back,” said veteran Staying on the attack key for the Maple Leafs defenceman Morgan Rielly. Said Carrick: “You can’t say you’ve been there and done that until you’ve By Dave Feschuk been there and done that.” Mon., Dec. 4, 2017 Staying on the attack has been the difference. Heading into Monday’s slate of games, the Maple Leafs were leading the league in third-period goals with 41. Their third-period goal differential — an impressive plus-14 — ranked second to the L.A. Kings’ other-worldly plus-23. That’s A few insights could be gleaned from Mike Babcock’s post-practice rat-a- impressive work in important moments. tat with the media Monday. “We’ve sharpened up defensively as well — knowing that the quicker we For one, the coach isn’t a fan of rationalizing Mitch Marner’s six-game can get it out of our zone, the quicker we can dominate in their end and pointless streak as the product of bad bounces, even if Marner had just tire them out,” said Andersen. “It tends to be the team that’s hemmed in spent time with reporters lamenting his recent run of rotten puck luck. their zone that’s working the hardest.” “I don’t believe in luck,” Babcock said. “I believe in preparation. When There are months of labour still to come, of course. Every team’s a you do enough work, you get lucky. Just get to work.” perpetual work in progress. As for who’ll come to work as a centreman on Wednesday — let’s just say Babcock, as he put to bed the hockey- For another, Babcock doesn’t see William Nylander as a regular related questions for another day, finished strong. centreman, even though Nylander spent Monday’s practice skating between Marner and James van Riemsdyk in the illness-induced “I’m trying to catch Willie, trying to catch Mitch, trying to catch all those absence of Tyler Bozak. Still, given how career winger Patrick Marleau young guys being good. And when you play centre, you’re often caught didn’t appear enamoured with a cameo at centre earlier this season, being bad,” Babcock said. “I don’t really need to catch ’em doing that. So Babcock wasn’t ruling out Marner being in the middle come Wednesday’s that’s why (Nylander) isn’t there (regularly).” home game against the Flames. Toronto Star LOADED: 12.05.2017 “Who knows?” Babcock said. “If we’ve got to use (Nylander at centre), we’ll maybe try him there.” For all the mini-crises continually at play, it was easy enough to forget that the Maple Leafs had emerged from the weekend three points out of the East lead; and that, heading into Monday’s slate of games, they’d scored more goals than any team in the league — 98 in 28 games. A year ago at the 28-game mark, they’d managed just 81 goals. Twelve months on, this is a better team still improving. Still, Babcock spent another part of Monday reminding the cameras that the Leafs, no matter the local obsession with the practice-day line combos to come, haven’t been particularly good on home ice of late. They’ve lost two straight at the Air Canada Centre, falling behind early in losses to the Coyotes and Capitals. They carried that habit into Saturday’s 2-1 loss on the road in Vancouver. “We’ve been off to slow starts, and that’s got to change,” said Marner, making an observation with which Babcock surely couldn’t quibble. All of it was a reminder that every season has its issues. As goaltender Frederik Andersen said, “You’re always looking to improve something.” Lately, the Leafs have struggled with lax beginnings. It wasn’t long ago that they couldn’t always muster an appropriate ending. Last season, it’s easy enough to forget, the Maple Leafs were too often run ragged in a third-period fire drill. Though they led after two periods in 41 of their 82 games — second-most in the league behind the Capitals — they failed to covert those leads into the full two points 10 times. Their 76 per cent conversion rate ranked 25th in the league. And the Leafs’ frequent failure to secure all those easy points was symptomatic of a young team still learning its way. “We’d have leads and teams would make pushes, and we’d stop making plays,” said second-year forward Connor Brown. “We’d flip the puck out, and we’d just play on our heels.” Opponents quickly caught on to Toronto’s self-destructive pattern. “The NHL’s a predatory league — the other team smells blood, they’ll let you beat yourself,” said defenceman Connor Carrick. “We say it ourselves. ‘Hey, we can score a couple on this team.’ ‘We can hunt this group.’ Maybe last year teams said stuff like that about us.” It wasn’t just the other teams. Babcock more than occasionally tsk-tsked his squad’s lack of third-period drivetrain. “Tight and tentative never got you anywhere in life,” Babcock said around this time last year, speaking of his team’s late-game play with a lead. “When you get in your car . . . you don’t put one foot on the brake and one foot on the gas. The long skinny one on the right, you just push it down. The car goes better.” That was Babcock’s way of saying he wanted his team to keep attacking no matter the score. A year later, the message appears to have been well-absorbed. This year the Leafs have led after two periods in 10 of their 28 games. They’ve turned all 10 of those leads into victories — a 100 per cent conversion rate kept intact in wins in Calgary and Edmonton 1086710 Toronto Maple Leafs chance that night. You do good things, usually the coach is not that dumb. He figures it out and he plays the guys who are playing the best. Brownie (Connor Brown), we could talk about that — what line is Brownie KOSHAN: Maple Leafs' Nylander could get shot at centre as Bozak on? I don’t know what line he is on. I just know he plays lots all the time.” nurses illness What Nylander does know is he’s going to have to shoulder more responsibility if he does find himself in the middle on Wednesday. Postmedia News “There’s more down-low play in the D zone and boxing out and stuff, it’s a little different than playing the wing,” Nylander said. “You just have to Published:December 5, 2017 take care of your defencemen. You get the puck through the middle of the ice more often.” Updated:December 5, 2017 5:43 AM EST Toronto Sun LOADED: 12.05.2017

The uncertainty regarding the status of Tyler Bozak could force the hand of Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock. During practice on Monday, as the Leafs returned to the ice following their trip through Western Canada, Babcock had William Nylander centring James van Riemsdyk and Mitch Marner. Bozak, of course, has been in that spot previously, but was absent from the team’s workout at the MasterCard Centre because of an illness. It’s the same issue that kept Bozak out of the lineup for the Leafs’ game in Vancouver on Saturday, a 2-1 Toronto loss to the Canucks. Bozak’s availability for the Leafs’ next match, versus the Calgary Flames at the Air Canada Centre on Wednesday, could become clearer on Tuesday. “It’s something that … who knows?” Babcock said. “If we got to use (Nylander), we will maybe try him there. “(We’re) trying to catch Willie, try to catch Mitch, try to catch all those young guys being good. When you play centre you’re often caught being bad. I don’t really need to catch him doing that. So, that’s why (Nylander) isn’t (used as a centre regularly).” William Nylander versus the Carolina Hurricanes on Nov. 25, 2017 Also on Monday, Nazem Kadri centred Marleau and Leo Komarov; Auston Matthews was between Connor Brown and Zach Hyman; and Dominic Moore centred Matt Martin and Josh Leivo. Nylander has taken 214 faceoffs this season, usually when playing with Matthews, who then reverts to the centre position once the draw has been taken. Nylander’s winning percentage in the circle is 54.7%, behind only Patrick Marleau (56.9%) among Leafs who have taken at least 100 draws. Monday marked the first time this season Nylander has practised in the spot, and though the Swede has played centre for the Leafs in the past, it has been sporadically. There have been times when Babcock has put forth the notion that Nylander will be an everyday centre — during a trip last February, for example, Babcock said he saw Nylander as a centre “for sure” — but he has not voiced as much recently. Babcock was asked again on Monday: Does he view Nylander as a centre in the long term? “I don’t know,” Babcock said. “I’m just trying to win the game against Calgary and go from there.” There’s no denying Nylander’s talent. When he’s at the top of his game, he has the skill and the smarts to be one of the Leafs’ most electrifying players. The rub is that Babcock, at times, still has to light a bit of a fire under Nylander, and as such, might not be able to fully trust Nylander in a full- time role at centre. At least, not yet. Nylander is 21 and not only has many productive years ahead of him in the NHL, but also will mature. It’s an interesting time for Nylander, who is set to become a restricted free agent next summer and likely will be looking for a long-term contract in the range of $6 million US per season. The opportunity to become a centre well into the future could further present itself considering Bozak and Moore will be unrestricted free agents in 2018. When the Leafs lost in Vancouver, Nylander’s run of four consecutive games with a point — his longest streak of the season — came to an end. What was making Nylander effective? “He just competed,” Babcock said. “He worked hard. Everybody is all fired up about what line you’re on … you’re in the lineup, you’re getting a 1086711 Toronto Maple Leafs

Leafs visit patients at Hospital for Sick Children

Published:December 4, 2017 Updated:December 4, 2017 10:47 PM EST By DAVE ABEL

The Toronto Maple Leafs honoured a tradition dating to the 1920s Monday when they visited patients at the Hospital for Sick Children. “It was very exciting. I met Morgan (Rielly) and William (Nylander). Usually I take pills and I feel sick. Seeing these people, it makes me forget about of all of that,” said Anthony, a 9-year-old patient at the hospital. As for the players, it wasn’t just another public relations event. The whole team was involved. Leafs winger Mitch Marner noted every kid wants to be home for Christmas. “The thing about this is always wanting to make the kids feel better. Make sure this lasts them for a long time. Its about making everyone happy,” he added. Toronto Sun LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086712 Toronto Maple Leafs to have and he has elevated Morgan’s play too.” … In the Flames’ lone visit to Toronto last season, Andersen made 26 saves and Mitch Marner scored the winning goal in a 4-0 Leafs win on Jan. 23. Visit to Sick Kids a highlight for the Leafs Toronto Sun LOADED: 12.05.2017

Terry Koshan Published:December 4, 2017 Updated:December 4, 2017 11:17 PM EST

The Maple Leafs conducted their annual team visit to the Hospital for Sick Children on Monday afternoon, an outing that they are more than happy to make. “This day is always circled on the calendar pretty early on when you find out you’re going to do it,” defenceman Morgan Rielly said. “It’s a good chance to spend a day around some kids who aren’t having the best health at the moment. Going there and being a part of their day is fun. It’s a good thing that we do.” For coach Mike Babcock and the players, giving back to the community, especially when it involves children who face daily health challenges, is paramount. “I think it’s important when you are blessed to play in the National Hockey League and you get a little notoriety, and then you have a chance to make other people’s lives better, I think you should,” Babcock said. “It’s a great day for our players, a great day for the staff there. The staff there … it’s a place you should go see one time and just see the magic that happens. It’s an absolute magical place with magical people and it makes you feel great to go there.” The visit included players and kids playing video games with each other, as well the Leafs taking the time to meet some of the young patients and listen to their stories. “It’s something that hits home and it’s an honour to go and see them and spend some time with them and hopefully brighten their day,” forward Connor Brown said. RING OF TRUTH Ron Hainsey had not yet received official confirmation, but the Leafs defenceman expected he will be presented with his 2017 Stanley Cup ring at some point when the Leafs visit the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday. “It would be great,” Hainsey said. “It’s hard to believe it’s almost six months coming up since the middle of June (when Hainsey and the Penguins beat the Nashville Predators in Game 6 on June 11 to win the Cup). “It went by quick. From the end of February (when the Carolina Hurricanes traded him to Pittsburgh) to now, it has been a fast nine months. I haven’t been sitting around thinking about going back because we’ve been so busy, but it will be great to see everyone.” Though Hainsey was a teammate of Sidney Crosby for just a few months, the Penguins captain’s work ethic rubbed off. “It was tremendous, the whole group,” Hainsey said. “He sets the tone. He has set the tone for the league for 12 years, or whatever it is. Certainly, it was great to be a part of that for that stretch.” SMALL TASTE OF HOME When the Leafs play host to the Calgary Flames on Wednesday, it will mark one of three home dates for Toronto in the month of December, compared to 10 on the road. In 13 home games in 2017-18, the Leafs hold a record of 8-5-0. “Sometimes you get a little cuter at home and cute doesn’t lead to winning a whole lot of hockey games,” Babcock said. “We have to do a better job here at home, getting ourselves re-established. We should be a dominant, dominant home team.” The Leafs’ schedule in January is the opposite, more or less, as they play eight games at home and four on the road. LOOSE LEAFS The subtleties of Hainsey’s game in the defensive zone bring applause from goaltender Frederik Andersen. “He does a lot of smart, small plays,” Andersen said. “Little plays that (make Andersen’s job easier). He’ll get a stick on a pass or make a little chip for a good breakout. He’s a great guy 1086713 Toronto Maple Leafs

No luck for Maple Leafs' Marner? Keep working, Babcock says

Terry Koshan Published:December 4, 2017 Updated:December 4, 2017 10:09 PM EST

If Mitch Marner figures he isn’t enjoying much puck luck or is snake- bitten, it might fall on deaf ears in Mike Babcock’s office. “I don’t believe in that,” the Maple Leafs coach said. “I don’t believe in luck. “I believe in preparation. Worry about things you can control. You can control your work ethic. Just get to work. That’s it.” After scoring 19 goals in 77 games as a rookie last season, Marner has two goals in 28 games, putting him on pace for six. Marner has scored on 3.8% of his 53 shots on goal in 2017-18; last year, he was good on 10.8% of his 176 shots on goal. “It sucks, the chances I have had that should probably go in but don’t,” Marner said. “I try to do the right things. I think the scoring will come, so I have to be patient with it and make sure you’re helping out in other aspects.” Marner could be on the cusp of breaking out. His Corsi is 55.5%, the best among the Leafs. Toronto Sun LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086714 Toronto Maple Leafs When SickKids decided to launch its $1.3-billion campaign to tear down its current campus and rebuild, there was one partner they imagined

standing alongside. As SickKids prepares to rebuild, the Leafs join the fight The Leafs.

When SickKids asks for help, they answer. By Scott Wheeler 9 hours ago Many in the Leafs organization have been touched personally by the hospital, spanning decades.

Last Friday, eight-year-old James Hack was finishing his 14th round of In 1993, Bowen’s son Sean had Leukemia when he was one year old. chemotherapy at The Hospital for Sick Children. Back then, Doug Gilmour, Felix Potvin, Mike Foligno, Glenn Anderson and others paid him a visit. On Saturday, he played his first hockey game of the season in nearby Aurora, Ont., something he’d been waiting for since treatment began. “Sean wasn’t going to know anybody or remember but it’s so important for the parents (like me) who are going through this kind of thing to see By Monday afternoon, back inside SickKids, he was meeting his idol – the support they get and having athletes and heroes come in is as big a Auston Matthews – while his dad circled the room with a piece of his boost to the parents as it is to the young kids,” Bowen told The Athletic. equipment. For generations, Leafs players have visited SickKids. After retirement, “Can you sign his armour?” Wayne Hack asked each member of the Darryl Sittler has continued that tradition. So he too was there, at the Toronto Maple Leafs. Gardens he used to call home, to help SickKids build theirs.

James plays centre because of Matthews. He professes his love for “When you go there once it sticks with you forever. You come out of taking faceoffs and scoring goals like No. 34. there a different person. You see the good things that are going on there, you see the families and the trauma that they’re dealing with,” Sittler said. Whenever he’s healthy enough he stays up with Wayne to watch – or goes to a game. To this day, Sittler runs into fans who remind him of the impact of his visits. Last April, he was diagnosed with a cancerous tumour. Seven months later, after coming to SickKids every two weeks for treatment, Wayne “They’ll say ‘when I was six years old, I was in SickKids, you came and said the hospital had begun to “really almost feel like home for James.” visited.’ That memory sticks with those patients forever,” he said. “SickKids has made a difference in so many peoples’ lives. I have The Leafs’ annual Christmas visit to SickKids marked the whirlwind end grandkids now and you appreciate when they’re healthy, you never take of the first part of a long journey. it for granted but if something happens and there was an issue it’s “This is amazing. This is overwhelming for him. It’s just so great for us as phenomenal that we have SickKids in Toronto that our kids and parents to see him so happy. It’s really, really exciting,” Wayne said, grandkids can have access to.” smiling and looking across the room while James played Carlton the Ron MacLean and his wife Cari never had kids, but they’ve been in and Bear in a game of air hockey. out of SickKids on a too-regular basis. When SickKids asked him help, “SickKids is awesome. We’re so blessed that they took such good care of he responded like everyone else. him and us and treated us so well and so kind and warm.” He remembers visiting Eric and Kina Lindros when their son Carl Pierre Monday’s visit gave James a much-needed boost. received treatment at SickKids. He remembers visiting fellow broadcaster Chris Cuthbert when his son Jason stayed there. When Curtis Joseph “It was fun. I beat the bear in air hockey and I got to meet Matthews,” created a room in the hospital, his likeness was painted onto the mural. James said in a hush, wearing his Leafs jersey and an Aurora Tigers cap. The history of the Leafs and SickKids — and their buildings — are intertwined. “It feels weird meeting somebody that’s been on TV before. He was nice to me and it helped me feel better.” “SickKids and the Leafs, they’re both true blue. Terry Fox looked up to Darryl Sittler for that very reason: that he was just a great booster of the 12.05.2017= hospital. Conn Smythe, the people who built the Gardens on a miracle at On Oct. 27, inside the walls of what was once Maple Leaf Gardens, the height of the depression, somehow SickKids in ’49 seemed similarly hundreds of SickKids patients, their families, and donors gathered for the unbelievable at the end of World War II. For 100 years the Leafs have launch of the biggest fundraiser in the history of Canadian health care been visiting SickKids. We all bleed a little blue and acknowledge how when a massive ‘VS.’ sign lit. special the Leafs are to SickKids,” MacLean said.

“This is no ordinary rink. It’s a temple. A shrine. A frozen cathedral. This “We love SickKids because of the doctors, the nurses, the staff, the is the storied home of Toronto’s boys in blue. The reason it’s here is the patients, the families, the people who make this Toronto’s greatest team reason we’re here. A passion for the city. A monument to what we can of all. For any of these kids who had a blue hiccup along the way, they’re build together. Pride in who we are when we roar as one. The great through their blue moment now and different is special and we’re all depression couldn’t stop us. Toronto magnates like J.P. Bickell led the going to do this together and be part of this amazing team that is charge to raise the money. Workmen took shares instead of pay. We SickKids.” built this within one year,” bellowed the familiar voice of Leafs play-by- A banner hangs inside the atrium at SickKids. play man Joe Bowen. On it, a young girl stands, arms crossed in defiance as a blue arrow rises “Across town is another building that mattered just as much to Bickell and above her waist with a message: $570-million raised towards a $1.3- benefactors like him. SickKids. By the 40s, the Victorian Era hospital on billion goal. College St. was a fire trap with ants on the operating tables and staff in full rebellion. The place was crowded with patients but there was no room Nearly halfway there. for modern medicine. It was time for a new SickKids. Could Toronto do Down a long corridor on the second floor, Hannah Kirk bounces, a hand- it? Eighty-seven thousand donors large and small said yes. In ’49, we drawn sign in her hands that reads “Go Leafs Go.” laid the cornerstone. When it opened, there were 14 ORs, rooms for 635 patients, everything up to date. The people who gave came in droves to She’s waiting for one person: Auston Matthews. see what they’d built. The biggest children’s hospital in the world. But now it’s 70 years old and we’re limited by our old building. This is a town And she wants to sing him a song. that bleeds blue. We know it bleeds a lighter blue too. SickKids blue. When Matthews arrives, he sits with Kirk on a black leather couch and We’re putting the team that built SickKids back together. The Leafs are hands her his knapsack, filled with Leafs paraphernalia. on it. You’re on it. And every citizen who cares about kids is on it. It’s time for this team to step up. We built SickKids once and we’re poised to She hums him a song in between games of air hockey with William do it again. Game on.” Nylander and Jake Gardiner. Around her, Morgan Rielly and Nazem Kadri play bubble hockey with other kids while Mitch Marner and Matt Martin team up with a pair of boys in a game of NHL 17.

Wendel Clark, their parents’ idol, mingles with a previous generation.

The rest of the Leafs sign autographs while Mike Babcock wears an apron and serves cookies.

The room is cramped and hot, but it’s the only one in the hospital big enough to accommodate a few dozen people.

Someday, SickKids hopes there will be a new room.

Maybe, like Sittler and Clark before him, Auston Matthews can pay that room a visit, too.

Or maybe the next Auston Matthews can.

The Athletic LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086715 Vegas Golden Knights

Golden Knights forward David Perron close to return

By David Schoen Las Vegas Review-Journal December 4, 2017 - 5:56 PM Updated December 4, 2017 - 6:12 PM

Injured Golden Knights forward David Perron was back in his maroon practice jersey Monday at City National Arena alongside linemates Erik Haula and James Neal. Whether Perron is skating with them against Anaheim on Tuesday at T- Mobile Arena remains to be seen. “He’s not cleared yet,” Knights coach Gerard Gallant said. “I’ll know a lot more (Tuesday) after practice.” Perron was placed on the injured-reserve list after he suffered an upper- body injury Nov. 24 during a collision with San Jose’s Timo Meier early in the second period of the Knights’ 5-4 victory. Perron wore a red, noncontact jersey during the Knights pregame skate Sunday and stayed on the ice afterward to work with injured goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury. He was a full participant in Monday’s practice. “We’ll talk with the doctors and everything, but it shouldn’t be too far out now,” Perron said. “I took some one-on-ones at the end of practice in the corner, feeling the contact a little bit. Get guys pushing me in the boards, things like that, and it felt pretty good.” Perron was the second-leading scorer for the Knights when he went down, and his absence has been noticeable on the power play. The Knights are 0 for their last 12 with the man advantage and 1-for-15 overall in the past five games. Perron also spoke candidly about the play in which he was injured, and called Meier’s shoulder thrust at the end of the hit “unnecessary.” “Honestly, I kind of ran into him, and I get that part,” Perron said. “But, for me, when you see a guy who’s vulnerable like I was, you just kind of try to slow him down a little bit or do anything you can to not get the high part of the body. “I thought he kind of leaned his shoulder in, and kind of for no reason, for me, but I’ll get over it.” Fleury update Fleury appeared on the ice at the end of practice Monday and worked with Knights goaltending coach Dave Prior for the second straight day. The veteran goalie, who suffered a concussion Oct. 13, remains on track to return to the team this week. “They’re building it up, and that’s all I know,” Gallant said. “It’s slowly and it’s a process, like (general manager) George (McPhee) mentioned (Sunday).” Special guests The Knights will have company on their upcoming road trip. The traditional Dad’s Trip will take place in Nashville (Friday) and Dallas (Saturday), as 21 of the players’ fathers will travel with the team and experience life on the road. The fathers are coming from as far as Finland (Erik Haula) and Sweden (Oscar Lindberg). In addition to attending the games, they’ll visit the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville and AT&T Stadium in Dallas. Day off Jonathan Marchessault, who had a goal and set up Reilly Smith’s overtime winner Sunday against Arizona, did not practice (illness). He is expected to play Tuesday against the Ducks. LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086716 Vegas Golden Knights

Leadership in locker room helps keep Golden Knights’ lulls to minimum

By Steve Carp Las Vegas Review-Journal December 4, 2017 - 3:07 PM

When things go bad, it takes a strong locker room to get through it. The Golden Knights may have stopped the bleeding of a three-game losing streak with Sunday’s 3-2 overtime win over Arizona, but it doesn’t mean they’re in the clear. The Knights (16-9-1) face a challenge Tuesday at T-Mobile Arena in the Anaheim Ducks, before back-to-back road games at Nashville on Friday and Dallas on Saturday. So what helped the Knights put the brakes on the losing streak? And what can help them keep from falling backward again this week? In a word, leadership. The veteran players in the locker room are keeping everyone accountable and there has been no finger-pointing or excuse-making. The ironic thing about that is this is a team that does not have a captain, preferring to spread the leadership responsibilities between six players. “I think it’s worked out pretty well,” coach Gerard Gallant said Monday. “We have good leaders. We have no issues with our team. They like each other. They enjoy coming to the rink every day.” Veteran defenseman Deryk Engelland said the fact that everyone buys in makes being a leader easier. “We’ve got a lot of character here and that’s what kept the skids to a minimum,” he said. “You just try and lead by example and show the younger guys the way, and I think the leaders in our room have done a good job of that.” Defenseman Luca Sbisa said it’s the little things, like a few encouraging words quietly on the side to someone who’s struggling or just being there in a supportive role. “You’ve got to know the right time when to say something,” he said. “A lot of the leaders in our room have been around and learned from pretty good players.” It would be easy to play the injury card as an excuse. Starting goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury sustained a concussion on Oct. 13 and has missed 22 straight games. The Knights also are without high-scoring veteran forward David Perron, who has been out since Nov. 25 with an upper- body injury. His six goals and 19 points have been missed and his absence forced Gallant to shuffle his lineup to find someone to play with Erik Haula and James Neal. Perron practiced Monday and could be back in the lineup as early as Tuesday against the Ducks. Fleury skated and worked out for the third day in a row and could participate in a full practice Wednesday. The Knights are also without rugged right wing Will Carrier who has been a member of the team’s hard-working fourth line of Pierre-Edouard Bellemare and Tomas Nosek that has been consistently effective. Carrier, who was injured Nov. 25 at Arizona, is also on the IR with an upper-body injury. Every team struggles at some point during an 82-game season. But the Knights have kept the lulls to a reasonable number. They had their 1-4-1 stretch on the East Coast road trip in late October-early November and they snapped the recent three-game skid Sunday. “Look at Montreal. They were struggling. Now they’ve won five straight,” Gallant said. “Nobody likes to lose two, three in a row. But that happens during a season. You try to end those losing streaks as quickly as possible.” LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086717 Vegas Golden Knights it’s more natural for a right-handed shooter to pass the puck left than it is right.

It was the monitor in the back of the classroom who asked about New hockey fans learn the game at Vegas Golden Knights U Medicine Hat. He had done his homework. He had read that Medicine Hat was the By Ron Kantowski Las Vegas Review-Journal English interpretation of a Blackfoot word for the headdress worn by medicine men when the herds that roamed the Canadian prairie December 4, 2017 - 1:43 PM consisted of buffalo, not forecheckers with hard noses and sharp elbows. Updated December 4, 2017 - 4:26 PM Murray Craven said that is one theory about how his hometown got its name. There are others he said with a telltale snicker. He didn’t expound.

I guess I’ll just have to sign up for Session 7. Class was in session. Roll wasn’t called, but judging from the attire of the undergrads, Fleury and Neal and Vegas Strong were present and LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 12.05.2017 accounted for. Misha Donskov, the Golden Knights’ director of hockey operations, brought the player development pyramid and a PowerPoint clicker. Murray Craven, senior vice president, brought 17 seasons of NHL expertise as a player and his left-handed hockey stick, in case there were any right-handed center icemen in the classroom. SHORT DESCRIPTION (Las Vegas Review-Journal) Neophyte Golden Knights fans brought a yen for hockey knowledge. None, as far as I could tell, brought an apple or a six-pack of Molson Golden for the teachers. This was the second installment of Vegas Golden Knights University at T-Mobile Arena. Tuition costs $495 for five sessions, and one also gets to skate on Knights home ice before class begins. Which is pretty cool, unless one has weak ankles. No, you don’t get to drive the Zamboni. But afterward there are free chicken Parmesan and cheese sliders, and you get to ask Muzzy Craven questions. Best of all, you get to stick around and watch the Golden Knights give a live demonstration of what you have just learned. A game ticket is included in the tuition fee. Learn the lingo “We’re trying to make the game more enjoyable for the people who come to our classes that they can appreciate whether they are in T-Mobile Arena or watching on TV,” said Craven, who scored 266 goals in 1,071 NHL games. “Things like the lingo of the announcers on TV. People in this room want to understand.” So the people in the room know now what playing the “off wing” means (a right-handed shooter playing on the left wing, and vice versa), and where the “house” or “home plate” is on the ice (the area in front of the net “between the dots” where most goals are scored, aka “the slot,” aka “good ice”). They did not learn what a “two-hander” is. There are three sessions to go. There still is time. The curriculum before Sunday’s game against Arizona was about Creating Offense. Last month it was an Introduction to Hockey. Sessions 3, 4 and 5 will focus on Defensive Strategy, Special Teams and a Day in the Life of a Coach. (They didn’t specify which one. A wiseguy in back was hoping for Punch Imlach.) Craven was asked if there would be a sixth session that covered the two- handed slash and other tactics made famous by the Broad Street Bullies, which is what the Philadelphia Flyers were called before he joined them in 1984. He said no, but that the present day Flyers could benefit from a Session 6, because they are 8-11-7 and in last place in the Metropolitan Division. The session on creating offense lasted 90 minutes, 30 more than scheduled. Nobody nodded off. It wasn’t like being lectured on the Louisiana Purchase during American History 101. These students paid rapt attention, giving credence to the notion they were becoming hockey fans for life, as well as potential Golden Knights season-ticket holders. “That’s the idea,” Craven said about the first part of the equation. The second went without saying. Craven knowledge It was an intimate setting during which the students of the game were encouraged to ask questions. Some took notes. A few went up to Craven afterward for 1-on-1 time. He was happy to oblige, especially if you were a right-handed center. Craven explained that a left wing who fashions himself a goal scorer prefers to play with a right-handed center, because 1086718 Washington Capitals good training camp for the most part, and now he gets an opportunity to play his first game. It’s always special for any player.”

‘Unicorn team’ Capitals forward Andre Burakovsky on schedule to return to the lineup early next week The Capitals have historically struggled against the Sharks, posting just one regulation win in the past 25 meetings. How does Trotz explain that?

“Every team has a unicorn team,” Trotz said. “I think every team has that. By Isabelle Khurshudyan December 4 at 12:41 PM The ones that come to mind for me with this club are obviously San Jose is one and Dallas. Those are the two. We’ve been a unicorn for a few franchises, too. I just think everybody has one of those.” Forward Andre Burakovsky participated in the Capitals’ morning skate on Monday, the first time he’s been on the ice with the team since he had Here’s what the Capitals’ lineup is expected to look like against the surgery on his thumb in late October. Burakovsky’s left thumb is still Sharks: wrapped and he said his timing with the puck doesn’t feel quite right yet, Forwards but he’s targeting a return to the lineup early next week. Alex Ovechkin-Nicklas Backstrom-Tom Wilson “It all depends how fast I can get my timing in the game back,” Burakovsky said. “I mean, you saw on two-on-ones out there, I was a Jakub Vrana-Evgeny Kuznetsov-T. J. Oshie little bit off with the timing. It still feels a little bit weird when I’m skating with the puck and shooting, not in my thumb or anything. I just haven’t Travis Boyd-Lars Eller-Brett Connolly been handling the puck for a while or shooting the puck for a while. Devante Smith-Pelly-Jay Beagle-Alex Chiasson “It’s kind of like starting all over a little bit. So, I just have to get back. I’m Scratched: Tyler Graovac, Chandler Stephenson (“upper body”) probably not going to get back in the lineup until I feel really comfortable with my timing and my shot and stickhandling.” Defensemen [Capitals’ Nicklas Backstrom is well aware of his long goal drought] Brooks Orpik-John Carlson Burakovsky said he plans to practice with the team tomorrow “and see Dmitry Orlov-Matt Niskanen how that feels.” This is the second time in as many seasons that Burakovsky’s play has been interrupted by a hand injury — last year, he Christian Djoos-Madison Bowey broke his right hand. He missed 15 games, and when he got back to the Scratched: Taylor Chorney lineup, he scored one goal and five assists over the last 12 games of the season. Goaltenders “All the X-rays have been looking really good, and it’s been healing really Philipp Grubauer (starter) proper,” Burakovsky said. “I really like soft gloves, so I’m always bending them a lot before I use them. So, probably going to stop doing that now.” Braden Holtby When Burakovsky plays again, he’s expected to plug in somewhere in Injured reserve the top-nine forward corps, potentially starting on a third line with Lars Andre Burakovsky Eller because Washington’s top two lines have been playing well lately. Burakovsky scored 12 goals and 23 assists in 64 games last season, and Washington Post LOADED: 12.05.2017 he had one goal and three assists in the nine games before he got hurt this year. Burakovsky has missed the past 18 contests. [The Capitals are tired of Brooks Orpik being an advanced-stats punching bag] Before Burakovsky gets back, the Capitals will have to clear some salary cap space to activate him off long-term injured reserve, so the team will potentially waive a forward. “We’ll get a couple practices in and see where he is after that,” Coach Barry Trotz said. “But he’s getting closer. I think his date is next week, early next week. I think he’s on schedule, if not ahead of schedule.” Boyd to make debut Forward Chandler Stephenson is out with an undisclosed “upper-body” injury that’s considered “day-to-day,” though Trotz said he expects him to be back “fairly soon.” In the meantime, the Capitals recalled forward Travis Boyd, and he’ll make his NHL debut against the San Jose Sharks on Monday night. It’s a long time coming for Boyd, who’s played in 208 straight games, including the playoffs, for the , the longest active iron man streak in the American Hockey League. “I’m beyond excited,” Boyd said. “I’ve obviously been looking forward to this moment since I started playing hockey. I’m really excited and just hope that my nerves aren’t too bad tonight.” [Capitals put it all together to beat Columbus, 4-3] Boyd has scored three goals and 17 assists in 23 games with Hershey this season. He’s a natural center, so he’ll be slightly out of position when he skates on Eller’s left wing on Monday night. “He’s been [Hershey’s] best player for two-plus years down there,” Trotz said. “We had virtually no injuries at the forward position. I think he deserves a shot to come up and play. I also think it gives us a better feel for what we have down in Hershey, too, and he was one of the guys who deserved to come up a few times. . . . “This is a small window for us to take a look at Travis. Knock on wood we don’t have any more injuries, but it’s a small window for us to take a look at what he can bring, and I think with his skill set, he’s been a productive offensive player and his hockey IQ is very good. I thought he had a really 1086719 Washington Capitals out of first place in the Metropolitan Division. But the Capitals might have also suffered an important loss Monday night: Top-six forward T.J. Oshie suffered an undisclosed “upper-body” injury in the second period on a hit Alex Ovechkin powers Capitals to rare victory over Sharks from Joe Thornton and did not return to the game. “Osh is one of our best players,” said forward Tom Wilson, who later fought Thornton in response to the hit. “He’s one of the leaders in this By Isabelle Khurshudyan December 4 at 10:02 PM room. Honestly, it’s not great to see that hit in that instance. Obviously hoping Osh makes a full recovery and feels better soon.”

Washington Post LOADED: 12.05.2017 As Alex Ovechkin rumbled down the ice, Capitals fans at Capital One Arena simultaneously leaned forward in their seats, preparing for something spectacular and getting in position to jump and celebrate when it inevitably happened. Sprung free for a breakaway, Ovechkin didn’t disappoint, elevating a backhand shot past San Jose Sharks goaltender Martin Jones. “I don’t have a good backhand, but it goes in,” a modest Ovechkin said afterward. “I try to do it in the third period, but I don’t have that skill. One worked. I’ll take it.” He celebrated alone, lifting his stick in triumph before his teammates could join him. It was a fitting picture for how Ovechkin has been in a league of his own for the past 12 years. The Washington Capitals’ 4-1 win Monday night was Ovechkin’s latest message to the rest of the NHL. At 32 years old, Ovechkin scored his league-best 20th goal of the season in just his 28th game, putting him on pace for 59 goals, which would be his best goal-scoring production since the 2007-08 season, when he scored 65 goals as a 22-year-old. Ovechkin added an assist, his eighth of the season, on Brett Connolly’s power-play goal later in the second period. Entering the game, Washington had just one regulation win against San Jose in the teams’ past 25 meetings. Coach Barry Trotz referred to the Sharks as the Capitals’ “unicorn team.” Ovechkin was a San Jose fan growing up, and it was poetic that he was the one to help the Capitals finally sink the Sharks. Ovechkin’s goal gave him 578 for his career, moving him past Mark Recchi for 20th place all time. Ovechkin has played more than 700 fewer games than Recchi, and if Monday’s performance was any indication, Ovechkin has a lot more left in him. “To do it with a difference of 700 games, that just blows my mind,” Trotz said. “You can’t even keep up with all the guys he passes — that [Mike] Bossy guy and that Recchi guy today,” goaltender Philipp Grubauer said, grinning at some of the Hall of Fame company mentioned with Ovechkin. And about that backhand? “He’s been working on it for ages,” Grubauer said. “Since I’ve been here, he’s been working on his backhand, and it paid off today.” Trotz said it was immediately clear that Ovechkin “had lots of jump” against the Sharks. “Every time he got the puck, you’re going, ‘He might go end-to-end here,’ ” Trotz said. The captain has had more of those kind of nights this season. By Ovechkin’s standards, the 2016-17 season was an off year for him with 33 goals, just 16 of them coming at even strength. The sharp drop in production — he scored 50 the year before — invited questions about Ovechkin’s conditioning, if he was devolving into purely a power-play specialist and if it was a sign that perhaps Ovechkin was starting to look his age. But Ovechkin opened this campaign with hat tricks in his first two games, and he hasn’t slowed down much since, quieting any critics. The most encouraging part for the Capitals is that 14 of his 20 goals have been at even strength, two away from his 82-game total last year just two months into the season. With Washington not as deep as it was a year ago, Ovechkin’s resurgence has played a large part in the team winning five of the past six games. “If he can have those nights every night, he’ll be a force, and we’ll be a force,” Trotz said. Entering Monday’s game, the Sharks were second in the NHL with just 2.24 goals allowed per game, and Jones had been particularly dominant in his career against the Capitals, compiling a 4-0-0 record with a .963 save percentage and a 1.00 goals against average. Capital One Arena had been particularly sweet to him: He had not allowed a goal in his previous two starts here. That run ended 16:49 into the first period, when Devante Smith-Pelly deflected in defenseman John Carlson’s shot. Ovechkin, Connolly and rookie Jakub Vrana each got pucks past Jones from there, and the win moved Washington (16-11-1) to just two points 1086720 Washington Capitals

Capitals’ T.J. Oshie exits with ‘upper-body’ injury against San Jose Sharks

By Isabelle Khurshudyan December 4 at 11:34 PM

Capitals forward T.J. Oshie suffered an undisclosed “upper-body” injury during the second period of Washington’s game against the San Jose Sharks on Monday night. The team then announced he would not return to the game and would be reevaluated Tuesday. On a penalty kill, Oshie hit Sharks forward Logan Couture in the corner. With Oshie low and unbalanced, San Jose’s Joe Thornton crunched Oshie’s head against the glass with his backside. Oshie crumpled to the ice and remained down in apparent pain before head athletic trainer Jason Serbus attended to him. Oshie then skated back to the bench on his own power, and he went straight to the locker room. Here's a look at Thornton's hit on Oshie Watch #CapsSharks live: https://t.co/NGTPHxGvna pic.twitter.com/L04bzUEKnr — NBC Sports Capitals (@NBCSCapitals) December 5, 2017 Through 28 games, Oshie has 10 goals and 13 assists this season, the first of the eight-year deal he signed this summer. He is coming off a career year last season, when he scored 33 goals in 68 games. Four of the 14 games he missed were due to a concussion, and the other 10 were for a shoulder injury. Capitals Coach Barry Trotz did not provide an update on Oshie’s health after the game, and he said he would let the NHL’s department of player safety determine whether Thornton’s hit was an illegal one because it was late. Capitals forward Tom Wilson fought Thornton in the third period in response to the hit. “He’s an honest player,” Wilson said of Thornton. “He was one of my favorite players growing up. He’s what’s good for the game, and in that instance, that hit, I didn’t like personally and I don’t think our team liked. Any time a guy is down, it’s kind of a no-hit zone. It’s part of the game. He stood up for himself afterwards. I respect him for that. But Osh is one of our best players. He’s one of the leaders in this room. Honestly, it’s not great to see that hit in that instance. Obviously, hoping Osh makes a full recovery and feels better soon.” Said Thornton: “He was just falling a little bit. It’s not like I ran him or anything. I bumped him and it felt like my hip kind of hit him in the head. So it’s just unfortunate what happened.” To Thornton’s point, the hit is unlikely to receive any discipline from the department of player safety because in the NHL rule book under illegal checks to the head, “whether the opponent materially changed the position of his body or head immediately prior to or simultaneously with the hit in a way that significantly contributed to the head contact” is a factor considered. Sharks Coach Peter DeBoer was unhappy that Wilson challenged Thornton to a fight. “If someone would have grabbed Joe in the heat of the moment after the play because they thought a liberty was taken, then I’ve got no problem with that,” DeBoer said. “To go into the dressing room, think about it, come out in the first shift and do that premeditated crap is just garbage.” While the Thornton hit may not receive any league discipline, a slash by San Jose’s Brenden Dillon on Capitals defenseman Madison Bowey “will get a look” from player safety, according to a source. The NHL has been cracking down on slashes, fining players more often for that this season. Dillon got a game misconduct and a five-minute major for the slash, and Trotz said after the game that Bowey is “okay.” Dillon with the 2-handed swinging chop on Bowey with 4.6 seconds left in the game. pic.twitter.com/ql0uaqfMqY — StopThrowingHats (@stopthehats) December 5, 2017 Washington Post LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086721 Washington Capitals

Brett Connolly hoping to ‘stay poised’ after returning to lineup

By Matthew Paras - The Washington Times - Monday, December 4, 2017

Barry Trotz wanted Brett Connolly to control his emotions. After Connolly returned from a concussion on Nov. 12, the Capitals coach said the 25- year-old spent his next seven games trying to force too many situations. So with other forwards available, Trotz scratched a healthy Connolly for the next two games. But with the Capitals’ recent third-line “crushed by the numbers,” Trotz went back to Connolly on Saturday — and the forward scored on his very first shift, 63 seconds into the Capitals’ 4-3 win against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Connolly said he’s just trying to stay poised. “Any time you score, you ask anyone, you feel good right away,” Connolly said. “It was nice to get that one and I can just go out there and make good plays and be confident and all that. This is a step in the right direction, for sure.” Connolly admitted “nothing was really going” after he came back from missing seven games with a concussion. In his absence, the Capitals benefitted from Chandler Stephenson’s emergence. When he returned, Connolly found himself on the team’s fourth line, and was bumped out of the lineup when Tyler Graovac returned from injured reserve. Trotz said Connolly put pressure on himself to make plays after being hurt. The Capitals coach added Andre Burakovsky, who has been out since Oct. 24 with a fractured thumb, is likely to do the same when he returns, which Trotz said would “get him a good seat on the bench” if he tries to force it. “Sometimes you’ve got to slow it down,” Trotz said. “And the reason they [force things] is because they care. I’m not making light of it, they really do. They want to get back in the lineup and have an impact. They care. Sometimes they try too hard.” Before inserting him back in the lineup, Trotz said he told Connolly that he needed to “control his focus.” Already trying to makeup for lost time from the injury, Connolly was in a slump to start the season. He had just two goals on the year — each coming a month apart. In some ways, Connolly’s inconsistency has been the story of his career. The Tampa Bay Lightning drafted him with the sixth overall pick in 2010, but traded him midway through his fourth season. He wound up a free agent in 2016, signing a one-year, $850,000 contract with the Capitals. While he initially provided stability to the Capitals’ third- line last year, Connolly was benched in the playoffs, seeing his ice time gradually decline until Trotz opted to go with seven defensemen against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round. But Connolly, who signed a two-year, $3 million contract in the offseason, has shown flashes, and he was a contender in training camp to be in the Capitals’ top six. Last season, he scored a career-high 15 goals despite seeing just 10:41 of ice time per game. He thrived next to Burakovsky and center Lars Eller. On Saturday, Connolly was again reunited with Eller. On their first shift, Eller found a wide-open Connolly in the center of their offensive zone — and Connolly scored with a wrist-shot right past reigning Vezina Trophy winner Sergei Bobrovsky. “It’ll come,” Connolly said. “Last year, this was kind of the time that me, Lars and Burky really took off. … Obviously, you want to have good starts to the year every year, but sometimes it doesn’t happen. Sometimes things go against you, but you’ve still gotta focus on little things and practice hard and things will turn around for you.” Washington Times LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086722 Washington Capitals the Sharks‘ zone, before Devante Smith-Pelly’s fourth goal of the season put them in front, 1-0.

Vrana would find retribution later with a third-period goal, pushing the Ovechkin paces Caps over Sharks with 7th goal in 6 games Capitals up 4-1, giving them wins in four of the last five games. Washington Times LOADED: 12.05.2017 By Todd Dybas - The Washington Times - Monday, December 4, 2017

By mid-ice, the odds had shifted to Alex Ovechkin’s favor. He was steaming across the rink’s midpoint, with San Jose goaltender Martin Jones sliding forward from his goal to cut down space and Sharks defenseman Brenden Dillon desperately trailing him. Ovechkin, an owner of 577 career goals, was alone with the goaltender. Ovechkin’s elevated backhand shot going by Jones simply felt like a culmination of the obvious. One of the greatest goal scorers in league history was loose, alone and at full speed. Any non-goal outcome would have been more surprising. The goal at 7:11 of the second period of the Capitals’ 4-1 rambunctious win against the San Jose Sharks on Monday put Ovechkin’s season total at 20. He is the first in the league to reach that mark, separating him by a goal from Tampa Bay right winger Nikita Kucherov, who was idle Monday night. The goal pushed Ovechkin to 20th all-time, breaking a tie with Mark Recchi. Ovechkin reached 578 goals in 949 games. It took Recchi 1,652. “That blows my mind,” Capitals coach Barry Trotz said. “That you can pass some great players in this league in terms of production, and to do it in a difference of 700 games, that blows my mind. I don’t even know how to respond to that.” It was also part of a recent surge. Ovechkin has seven goals in his last six games. That, coupled with a rapid rate of goal-scoring to start the season, has moved Ovechkin, 32, to the 20-goal mark in 28 games. It took him 45 games to reach this point last season, when whispers about his speed and mounting age led to questions if he could survive in a speedier NHL. Ovechkin’s strike was a highlight in an eventful second period. T.J. Oshie had dropped to a knee after a collision in the corner along the boards. He had just lost his skate edge, but while down there, San Jose’s “Jumbo” Joe Thornton skated in, leading to a meeting between Oshie’s head and Thornton’s rear. The meeting of cranium and buttock left Oshie face down on the ice. He eventually rose, skated off slowly, then went to dressing room. Oshie did not return. “He was just falling a little bit,” Thornton said. “It’s not like I ran him or anything. I bumped him and it felt like my hip kind of hit him in the head. So it’s just unfortunate what happened.” Brett Connolly took Oshie’s place on the power play and scored at 19:08 to put the Capitals in front, 3-1. That Washington defenseman Tom Wilson dropped his gloves to the ice, then right hand into Thornton’s face 2:19 into the third period was not a surprise. The exchange made clear what Washington thought of Thornton’s hit on Oshie. Coaches from each side yelled expletives at each other following the fight. “He’s an honest player,” Wilson said of Thornton. “He was one of my favorite players growing up. He’s what’s good for the game, and in that instance, that hit, I didn’t like personally and I don’t think our team liked. Any times a guy is down, it’s kind of a no-hit zone. It’s part of the game. He stood up for himself afterwards. I respect him for that. But Osh is one of our best players. He’s one of the leaders in this room. Honestly it’s not great to see that hit in that instance. Obviously hoping Osh makes a full recovery and feels better soon.” “If someone would have grabbed Joe in the heat of the moment after the play because they thought a liberty was taken, then I’ve got no problem with that,” Sharks coach Peter DeBoer said. “To go into the dressing room, think about it, come out in the first shift and do that premeditated crap is just garbage.” Pop was elusive for much of the first. The Capitals were not credited with a shot until 5:24 into the period, a clean opportunity in front for Jakub Vrana that Jones handled. San Jose already had six shots by then, pelting Philipp Grubauer with deliveries off drop passes that led to slap shots for Brent Burns or via traffic in front provided by Joel Ward. Washington’s breakthrough came after a pivot in activity. Lars Eller’s stickwork put him through the neutral zone then in a clean spot for a shot that thunked into Jones‘ pads. The Capitals began to carry more play in 1086723 Washington Capitals

Andre Burakovsky nearing return for Capitals

By Matthew Paras - The Washington Times - Monday, December 4, 2017

Capitals forward Andre Burakovsky will return to practice Tuesday for the first time since undergoing surgery to repair his fractured thumb on Oct. 24. He skated with the team on Monday. Burakovsky had been doing conditioning drills for the last few weeks, but Monday marked his first appearance alongside the rest of his teammates. Burakovsky has missed the Capitals’ last 18 games and originally had a time frame of missing 6-8 weeks. Burakovsky said he was rusty with his timing, considering his time off. “It’s kind of like starting all over a little bit,” Burakovsky said. “So, I just have to get back. I’m probably not going to get back in the lineup until I feel really comfortable with my timing and my shot and stickhandling.” Capitals coach Barry Trotz said Burakovsky could return next week, but had to get “some team reps” in first. “We’ll get a couple of practices and see where he is after that, but he’s getting closer,” Trotz said. “I think his [return] date is next week, early next week. I think he’s on schedule, if not ahead of schedule.” When he returns, Burakovsky will slot into the Capitals’ top nine, likely on the third line next to Lars Eller and either Chandler Stephenson or Brett Connolly. Right now, Stephenson is day-to-day with an upper-body injury. Burakovsky, 22, has one goal and three assists in nine games this season for the Capitals. He also missed 15 games last season with a broken hand. “All the X-rays have been looking really good and it’s been healing really proper,” Burakovsky said. Washington Times LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086724 Washington Capitals

NHL Power Rankings: Line changes fueling Caps' recent surge

By J.J. Regan December 04, 2017 5:00 AM

Two weeks ago, many were clamoring for the Caps to go back to their old top line of Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom and T.J. Oshie. With the team scuffling and the top stars struggling to put points on the board, it seemed like putting back together a line with a history of success made a lot of sense. Barry Trotz did not do that. Instead, he put Ovechkin back with Backstrom, but added Tom Wilson on the right wing. Oshie moved down to the second line with Evgeny Kuznetsov and Jakub Vrana. The results speak for themselves. CHECK OUT THIS WEEK'S NHL POWER RANKINGS In the five games since Trotz changed the lines, Ovechkin has six goals, Backstrom has five assists, Kuznetsov has four goals and Oshie has six assists. More importantly, the Caps won four of those five games. The problem with putting Ovechkin, Backstrom and Oshie back together is that it would make the team too top-heavy. They do not have the depth they have had in recent years so putting all three players on the top line is a major risk. Two scoring lines are better than one and clearly the Caps have two at the moment and it has propelled them to their recent success. Washington will still need contributions from the bottom six as well, but they got that on Saturday in a win over Columbus with goals from Brett Connolly and Alex Chiasson. No team can be successful if their top players don't produce. The team's new lines have fixed that problem for now and it is why the Caps are rising in this week's NHL Power Rankings. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086725 Washington Capitals

Game 28: Capitals vs. Sharks Date, Time, How to Watch, Game Thread

By J.J. Regan December 04, 2017 6:00 AM

What: Washington Capitals vs. San Jose Sharks Where: Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C. When: 7:00 p.m. ET How to WATCH: Capitals-Sharks will be broadcast on NBC Sports Washington (Channel Finder) Live Stream: You can watch the Capitals-Sharks game on NBC Sports Washington's live stream page. You can also stream the game online with no cable TV subscription on fuboTV (try for free!). WHEN IS THE CAPITALS-SHARKS GAME? The Capitals (15-11-1) take on the Sharks (14-9-2) Monday, December 4 at 7:00 p.m. ET at Capital One Arena. WHAT CHANNEL IS THE CAPITALS-SHARKS GAME ON? The Capitals-Sharks game will be broadcast on NBC Sports Washington. Coverage kicks off with Capitals FaceOff at 6:00 p.m. followed by Capitals GameTime at 6:30 p.m. Stay with NBC Sports Washington following the game for Caps Extra, Caps Overtime at 10:00 p.m. and Caps in 30 at 11 p.m. for all your postgame coverage. (NBC Sports Washington channel Finder) 6:00 p.m. — Caps FaceOff 6:30 p.m. — Caps GameTime 7:00 p.m. — Capitals vs. Sharks 9:30 p.m. — Caps Extra 10:00 p.m. — Caps Overtime 11:00 p.m. — Caps in 30 WHERE CAN I STREAM THE CAPITALS-SHARKS GAME? The Capitals-Sharks game, as well as Caps GameTime and Caps Extra, is available to stream live here through NBC Sports Washington's live stream page and is available to authenticated NBC Sports Washington subscribers on desktops, tablets, mobile devices and connected TVs anywhere in the United States. The game is also available to stream, along with all the pregame and postgame shows, on fuboTV (try for free). CAPITALS-SHARKS OPEN THREAD Use the comment section below to discuss the game action with other Capitals fans. For all the latest Caps coverage, follow Capitals Insider Tarik El-Bashir, Capitals correspondent JJ Regan and the NBC Sports Capitals account on Twitter. Be sure check out our Capitals page and NBC Sports Washington's Facebook page. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086726 Washington Capitals

4 reasons why the Capitals beat the Sharks

By J.J. Regan December 04, 2017 10:35 PM

The San Jose Sharks have had the number of the Washington Capitals over the years, but that was not the case on Monday. The Caps were finally able to beat San Jose and they did so in convincing fashion with a 4-1 win. Here’s why they won. Alex Ovechkin does it all With the Caps leading by one in the second period, Ovechkin was able to pounce on a flubbed shot by Brent Burns and was off to the races. Ovechkin took the breakaway from the defensive zone, avoided the sweep check from Brenden Dillon and backhanded a shot past Martin Jones for the highlight reel goal. The second period was a sloppy one for Washington and the Sharks were retaking the momentum. Ovechkin’s goal was critical in re-establishing control of the game. Brett Connolly restored the Caps’ two-goal lead. Or did he? Yes he did. Did he really? Yes. He did. A bizarre sequence unfolded late in the second period. After Brenden Dillon was called for high-sticking and T.J. Oshie left the game after a hit from Joe Thornton, Connolly found himself playing with the top power play unit. He took advantage with a top-shelf goal to beat Jones. Or did he? The Caps thought he scored, but the puck was in and out so fast the referees let the play continue. After the next stoppage, the play was reviewed and Connolly was correctly awarded the goal. Or was he? At that moment, the Sharks decided to challenge the goal as offside. After another review, the goal was still upheld and Connolly was mercifully awarded the goal. The Sharks were also given a delay of game penalty for the challenge. Philipp Grubauer’s third period Through 40 minutes Grubauer looked good, but not great. That changed at the start of the third when Grubauer made a number of fantastic saves to ensure the Sharks could not make a game of it. His best save sequence came with 15:25 remaining in the third. Jannik Hansen hit Marcus Sorensen on the cross-ice pass to the right, but Grubauer was there with the pad to deny him. The Sharks were able to control the rebound and Sorensen fed it back to a wide-open Hansen on the left who was again denied by a sprawling Grubauer. Hansen and Sorensen kept digging for the puck but were ultimately unable to solve the German netminder. Grubauer faced nine shots in the third, the most he faced in any period on Monday, and he turned aside all nine. The Sharks devolving in the third At the start of the third, Tom Wilson called Thornton to account for his hit on Oshie. The two fought, then went to their respective penalty boxes. Issue over, right? Not for the Sharks. Whether they were upset by Wilson fighting Thornton, they were frustrated by the direction the game was going or they were just plain crazy, San Jose went nuts for most of the period. In all, the Sharks were assessed 37 penalty minutes (six minors, three majors and one 10-minute misconduct) in the final frame compared to Washington’s 18. It’s hard to mount a comeback when you are constant shorthanded. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086727 Washington Capitals

T.J. Oshie leaves game after taking awkward hit to the head from the butt of Joe Thornton

By J.J. Regan December 04, 2017 9:21 PM

T.J. Oshie took a very awkward looking hit from Joe Thornton in the second period of Monday's game between the San Jose Sharks and Washington Capitals that sent Oshie down to the ice. Oshie went in for a hit on Logan Couture but the hit left him off balance and falling. With Oshie low to the ice, a trailing Thornton hit Oshie's head straight into the boards...with his butt. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086728 Washington Capitals

Andre Burakovsky to begin practicing with team, when will he return to the lineup?

By J.J. Regan December 04, 2017 4:00 PM

A return for Andre Burakovsky could be coming very, very soon. Though he will not be playing in Monday’s game against the San Jose Sharks, the Swedish winger did participate in the morning skate and said he will practice with the team on Tuesday. How he feels and looks in practice will determine just how quickly he returns to game action. “We'll get a couple practices in him and see where he is after that, but he's getting closer,” Barry Trotz said after Monday’s morning skate. “I think his date is next week, early next week is the original date. I think he's on schedule if not ahead of schedule.” Burakovsky has not played since he broke his thumb against the Florida Panthers on Oct. 21. His projected return was mid-December, but he told the media he believes he may be ahead of schedule. “All the x-rays have been looking really good, it's been healing real proper,” Burakovsky said. “I think we looked into I was maybe going to play in the next week here, but we'll see. We'll see when I'm playing next game, but our timeframe goes into next week.” While out, Burakovsky has been doing drills on the ice with strength and conditioning coach Mark Nemish. His return to the lineup, however, will depend on several other factors outside of his conditioning. “You can skate all you want at ‘Camp Nemo’ and do all the drills, but you've got to be out there with guys moving around,” Trotz said. “It's easy skating in circles in small areas, but he has to make plays when people are trying to hit you. There's a lot going on, you tend to lose all your detail when you're out for a while. Instead of staying on the wall, you just start filtering into the middle. Just systematically, you're not as sharp.” Cleaning up the details and working on his timing at practice, as well as getting full clearance from the doctors, are the only hurdles left standing between Burakovsky and his return. HOW TO WATCH CAPS-SHARKS Tuesday and Thursday will provide Burakovsky two opportunities to practice, but it seems optimistic to believe he could return for Friday’s game. More likely, he will be back in the lineup sometime next week when the team will play four games: at the N.Y. Islanders on Monday, home against Colorado on Tuesday, at Boston on Thursday and home against Anaheim on Saturday. If Burakovsky remains on schedule, chances are we will see him back in the lineup sometime during that stretch. This marks the second straight season in which a hand injury has taken Burakovsky out of the lineup, something that is not lost on him. "I really like soft gloves so I'm always bending them a lot before I use them," he said. "I'm probably going to stop doing that now." Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086729 Washington Capitals

With Burakovsky and Stephenson out, Travis Boyd will make his long- awaited NHL debut

By Tarik El-Bashir December 04, 2017 12:57 PM

Travis Boyd will finally make his NHL debut Monday night vs. the Sharks after awaiting his turn for two-plus seasons. For the 5-foot-11, 185-pound Boyd, who was recalled Sunday, it’ll mark the realization of a childhood dream when he lines up against San Jose. For the Caps, it’ll be their first chance to see how close the 2011 sixth- round pick is to being a full-time NHL player. HOW TO WATCH CAPS-SHARKS “We want to see what his resume looks like at the National Hockey League level before you can say, ‘Hey, we can put him or there,’” Coach Barry Trotz said of Boyd. “We’ve got to see what the resume looks like on a first-see basis, and see if he can build a little bit of a resume so that we can do certain things.” Based on morning skate rushes, Boyd will play on the third line with Lars Eller and Brett Connolly. Boyd is replacing Chandler Stephenson, who is day-to-day with an upper-body injury that he suffered Saturday. (Boyd getting a shot also means that Tyler Graovac will miss a second straight game as a healthy scratch.) Boyd’s challenge on this recall will be twofold: he’s a right-shot who is shifting from first line center (with the Bears) to third line left wing against the Sharks and he’s probably not going to get much time to show what he’s got. Stephenson figures to be back “fairly soon” according to Trotz, and Andre Burakosky, who has missed 18 games, is also nearing his return. So, yeah, no pressure kid. “Travis is going to play a little bit out of position today but…he’s been their best player for two-plus years down there,” Trotz said. “I think he deserves a shot to come up and play. I also think it also gives us a better feel for what we have down in Hershey.” As for switching from center to wing, Trotz said he suspects 24-year-old Minnesotan will figure it out. “He’s a good hockey player; he’ll adjust,” Trotz said. “Obviously some of the wall plays and stuff that he doesn’t get he doesn’t get at the center position will be a little bit foreign to him. …His skill level will have to dictate how well he can do there.” Boyd said his parents, brother, girlfriend, daughter and other family members will be in attendance at Capital One Arena, where he’ll become the fourth player to make his NHL debut for Washington this season, joining Madison Bowey, Christian Djoos and Nathan Walker. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086730 Winnipeg Jets

Jets captain Wheeler named NHL's first star of the week; Habs goalie Price No. 2

By: The Canadian Press Posted: 12/4/2017 11:38 AM | Last Modified: 12/4/2017 9:00 PM

NEW YORK - Winnipeg Jets captain Blake Wheeler was named the NHL's first star of the week on Monday, with Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price and Dallas Stars centre Radek Faksa also earning honours. Wheeler led the league with two goals and eight assists, including a trio of three-point performances, to propel the Jets to a 3-0-1 week and the top of the Western Conference standings. The 31-year-old Plymouth, Minn., native leads the NHL with 28 assists and ranks fourth in the league with 35 points through 27 games this season. Price went 4-0-0 with a 1.50 goals-against average and .950 save percentage to help the Canadiens (13-12-3) post a perfect week and extend their win streak to five games overall. The four-game win streak comes after he missed 10 games with a lower-body injury. Faksa had an NHL-best five goals and plus-7 rating in four games to power the Stars (16-10-1) to a 4-0-0 week. Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 12.05.2017 1086731 Winnipeg Jets This past summer, though, he got down to serious business when he travelled to Kelowna, B.C., to work with sports performance coach Adam Francilia. They focused on biomechanics; how the body moves as a Attention to detail runs in the family of Jets goalie Hellebuyck goalie and what muscles he uses for different moves. He was Winnipeg's starter last season, but the Jets brought in veteran Steve Mason, who's out with a concussion. By: Judy Owen, The Canadian Press It was believed Mason would get the bulk of starts, but Hellebuyck Posted: 12/4/2017 2:30 PM | Last Modified: 12/4/2017 8:59 PM quickly excelled and has been the go-to guy. "People expressed that it wasn't good enough," he said with a wry smile. "But I used that as motivation this summer. WINNIPEG - Connor Hellebuyck's path to the NHL began with a little baseball glove and a mini hockey stick. "I've always known I was better than what I showed. I showed glimpses of it last year, but I couldn't figure out that consistency so then I went and Armed with the tiny equipment, a young Hellebuyck would stand in front tried to find that consistency and that's exactly what I got." of the TV in his Commerce, Mich., home and mimic the goalies on the screen. One day when he was about four years old, the future netminder Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 12.05.2017 of the Winnipeg Jets surprised his father. "He sat in front of the (Detroit) Red Wings game and he's just like making moves and I thought he was just copying the goalie," Chuck Hellebuyck said in a recent phone call. "It was kind of cute when he was watching and then there was a breakaway on the Red Wings' goalie. The goalie just went right down, did a sprawl right down on the ice, and the shot actually went up. The guy shot the puck towards the top of the net. "And I looked at Connor and he was actually up. His arms were up, his glove was up, his head was up. He was watching the puck, he wasn't watching the goalie. He was playing the game in his mind and he was watching the puck. And I'm like, holy cow, this kid really is a goalie." The 24-year-old has actually become a great goalie for the Jets this season, his third in the NHL. He's posted a 15-2-3 record, including his first shutout of the season in Sunday's 5-0 win over the Ottawa Senators. He has a .925 save percentage and 2.31 goals against average. His play has helped propel Winnipeg to a 17-6-4 mark, good for first in the Western Conference. The team's 38 points also ties Tampa Bay for top spot in the league, although the Lightning have a game in hand. The Jets will play the Lightning on their current road trip, which begins Tuesday in Detroit and continues Thursday against the Florida Panthers and Saturday versus Tampa Bay. Hellebuyck's family will make the short drive to Detroit. A lot of his success can be traced to family traits such as extreme focus, attention to details and a competitive nature. Chuck, who used to race stock cars as a hobby, is an electronics expert and works for Microchip Technology Inc. as a technical training engineer. He's also written 12 books to help people get started with electronics and has a blog and a YouTube channel called CHEP 3D Printing and Electronics, which features a weekly show about 3D printing. Mother Erin has written children's books and is an artist. Connor remembers the time she created a miniature Harry Potter Hogwarts house. Brother Chris is 14 months older and owns Gamers Option. He customizes electronic products such as Xbox controllers and hula hoops that light up. Sister Brittany, 20, attends college and is majoring in engineering with a focus on biomedical. Chris also played college and junior hockey as a centre. He joined Connor with the North American Hockey League's Odessa Jackalopes for five games in 2011-12. That love of hockey includes an annual family barbecue and street hockey tournament that began 25 years ago as a birthday party for Chuck's nephew. Chris and Connor took over the late-spring event two years ago and are captains of their teams. About 20 relatives and friends play and take turns in goal. "We're super competitive," Hellebuyck said with a chuckle prior to facing the Senators. "Even when we're playing ping-pong in my basement, you can see tempers are flying and we hate to lose." While he often comes across to fans and media as very serious, Hellebuyck says that's not the case. "I always want to be doing something — something fun, cracking jokes. I'm pretty easy going," he said. "For my summer, I'll get my work done and then after that I'll go fishing, go golfing. I'll go to the bowling alley, play poker with my friends. It's always something." 1086732 Winnipeg Jets Sunday marked the 100th NHL game for Laine and after scoring his 13th of the season, the Finnish forward is up to 49 goals for his young career.

For the sake of comparison, Toronto Maple Leafs centre Auston Jets living in the moment… Wheeler named first star …Numbers on the Matthews has 53 goals in 106 games. rise for Laine…Power play is red-hot…Connor and Mason are taking the trip…Petan heating up Laine finds himself one goal behind Scheifele for the team lead and is up to 21 points in 27 games this season.

On the road again Ken Wiebe Following Sunday’s game, Maurice said that both left-winger Kyle Connor Published:December 4, 2017 and goalie Steve Mason would be accompanying the team for this three- Updated:December 4, 2017 9:58 PM CST game road trip that opens Tuesday in Detroit against the Red Wings. Connor missed Sunday’s game with a foot injury and is considered day- to-day, while Mason has missed the past four games after suffering a DETROIT – Paul Maurice is becoming an expert at the art of deflection. concussion after taking a slapshot to the mask from San Jose Sharks forward Jannik Hansen. With the Winnipeg Jets in the midst of the most successful run in franchise history, the head coach has been preaching the importance of Mason has been skating with goalie coach Wade Flaherty and he’ll need simply staying in the moment. to pass his concussion protocol test before he’s ready to return to game action. With expectations clearly on the rise with the Jets entering Monday tied for first overall in the NHL and in top spot of both the Western “He’s feeling really good. He’s going to do the test here in the next day or Conference and Central Division standings, Maurice has made a habit of so,” said Maurice. “He went hard (Sunday) for an extended period on the not spending too much time – at least publicly – enjoying the wins. ice. No shots, but positioning, things like that. So he’s moving along quite quickly.” Well, not enjoying the wins would be a stretch, but Maurice isn’t about to let his group get complacent reading all of the glowing press clippings, as Petan earns nod more national media members begin to pay closer attention to what’s going on in Winnipeg. Jets prospect and Moose forward Nic Petan was named American Hockey League player of the week after recording two goals Keeping an even keel is always an important part of the job, whether a and eight points in three games. team is flying high or trying to dig its way out of a hole. Petan is up to three goals and 16 points in 17 games with the Moose But after hearing Jets forward Mathieu Perreault call Sunday’s 5-0 victory since his demotion. over the Ottawa Senators one of the most dominant performances he’s seen in his NHL career – one that’s spanned nearly 450 games – it was a Speaking of Jets prospects on a roll, forward Jack Roslovic is up to 13 bit surprising to hear Maurice dismiss the latest triumph so easily. goals and 28 points in 24 games this season, which leaves him tied for top spot in the AHL scoring derby with Chris Bourque of the Hershey “It was a good win. We’ll absolutely leave this one here,” Maurice said Bears. Sunday night. “That wasn’t Ottawa’s best game. I’ve watched them play now. They’re capable of some better hockey. So it was just a 60-minute, The Moose have won nine consecutive games and don’t play again until two pointer. We forget this one as fast as we played it.” Saturday when they host the x. It’s a long season and Maurice realizes how quickly things can change, Winnipeg Sun LOADED 12.05.2017 but this group is showing signs that the early success can be sustained over time, provided the Jets keep working on the things that have taken them to this point. Going into Monday’s action, the Jets found themselves in fifth place in both goals for per game (3.44) and goals against per game (2.63). Powerful stuff The Jets power play has turned into quite a weapon this season and thanks to delivering three goals on the man-advantage in consecutive games, they moved up to second spot in the NHL, operating at 27.4%, just behind the Tampa Bay Lightning. “We have a lot of weapons. We’re passing it very well right now. These guys know exactly what they’re doing and where to put the puck,” said Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck. “It’s hard for teams to defend that many weapons. We have goal scorers in every spot. What are you going to do with only four guys (defending)?” The scary thing for the Jets is that defenceman Dustin Byfuglien has eight power-play assists, but is still searching for his first goal. “When it’s going, it’s going really good,” said Wheeler. “We’re blessed, really. Laine and Mark Scheifele are two of the better right shots in the world and they’re on the same power play unit so it makes a really tough match up to take both of them away. We try to stay fast and try to get as many pucks to the net. Sometimes they all seem to go in. Sometimes it goes cold but you want to stay with the same trigger points. Goal scorers find those lanes. Between Scheifele and (Laine), they always seem to be open. It’s a matter of getting them the puck.” The ability to not just rely on the top unit has been important to the sustained success. “It’s huge. The power play is definitely something that’s been awesome for us,” said Jets centre Mark Scheifele. “We just got to keep it going and continue to learn. There’s still things we can fix and still things we can work on. I think we need to keep that mentality to not be complacent. We need to continue to work on things and continue to get better because we know every team is doing that as well.” Laine hits century mark 1086733 Winnipeg Jets The Jets fired 49 shots on Ottawa, a season high and one away from a franchise record, while Jet’s goalie Connor Hellebuyck faced 21. He managed to stop them all to earn his first shutout of the year. He said the Jets cookin' at home again team’s playing so well lately that he’s been used to not facing a ton of shots.

“It feels like I finally got the monkey off my back,” said Hellebuyck on Taylor Allen earning his first shutout this season. “This is more of a team shutout. When the guys are playing as good as they are in front of me, it makes Published:December 3, 2017 my life a lot easier. When one guy is feeling it, you can see it go through the locker room. That’s what we have in here now.” Updated:December 3, 2017 10:55 PM CST Not a happy homecoming for Stone

The closest Ottawa came to scoring was when Senators’ forward and Bell MTS Place is not where you want to be if you’re a visiting team trying Winnipeg native Mark Stone had a shot ring off the goalpost five minutes to get back on track. into the game. The Jets gathered the rebound and took the puck down The Ottawa Senators, who have lost seven out of their past eight games, the ice and scored to make it a 2-0 game. got blasted 5-0 by the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday night. The 5-0 loss to the Jets also ended Stone’s five game point streak. The The Jets’ dominance at home continues, where they haven’t lost since former Brandon Wheat King forward leads the Senators in scoring this Nov. 4 when they fell 5-4 in overtime to the Montreal Canadiens. The last year with 14 goals and 11 assists. He said his team played with a lack of time the Jets lost in regulation at home was on Oct. 17, when they lost 5- confidence and effort on Sunday night. 2 to the Columbus Blue Jackets. The team is now 10-2-1 at home and 9- It’s about as embarrassing as I’ve ever felt playing in the NHL so 0-1 in their past 10 games at Bell MTS Place, giving them sole definitely one we’ve got to wash away,” Stone said. possession of first place in the Western Conference. Winnipeg Sun LOADED 12.05.2017 Out of all those victories, Jets’ forward Mathieu Perreault thinks their latest win might be their most impressive one yet. “Maybe one of the most dominating performances I’ve been part of in this league, to be honest,” said Perreault, who had a goal and two assists. “From the first minute, we took over the game. I think at one point the shots were 40-something to 15. We were in their end the whole game. Our gap was tremendous. We didn’t give them nothing. They had a couple chances and (Hellebuyck) shut the door. Other than that, we really had control of the game the whole time.” Power play keeps rolling A key reason for home success has been the power play. It only took two minutes into the game for the Jets’ power play to get rolling, as Mark Scheifele made Ottawa pay for a too-many-men-penalty to open the scoring. The Jets finished the night 3-for-5 on the power play, which moved them ahead of the Nashville Predators for the second-best power play in the league at 27.4%. The Tampa Bay Lightning has the best power play in the league at 27.8%. It was also the second game in a row where the Jets scored three power-play goals, as the Jets went 3-for-5 on Friday against the Vegas Golden Knights. It hasn’t been just one power-play unit working for the Jets either, as both lines have been getting it done for the team. “It creates a little challenge between the two (power-play units),” Perreault said. “If they don’t score, we get a chance to go out there and show them that maybe we should be the first unit. Right now, it has been a lot of fun and it’s great to have two units that can definitely score.” No Connor, no problem Jets’ head coach Paul Maurice had to tweak his lineup heading into Sunday’s tilt with Ottawa as Kyle Connor missed the game with a lower- body injury. Connor, who is listed as day-to-day, was injured in Friday’s 7-4 win over Vegas. His absence led to Perreault getting promoted from the fourth line to the first line to play alongside Blake Wheeler and Scheifele. The line didn’t miss a beat without Connor, as Scheifele, Perreault and Wheeler all scored on Sunday. “What a luxury that is to have that kind of depth,” Wheelers said. “It’s a bummer to miss KC (Connor), he has played so well and is confidence is so high. We grab a guy like Matty Perreault seemingly out of nowhere and not miss a beat. He plays so hard. It seems like when he’s out there, no matter what line he’s on, there are so many loose pucks. What a blessing to be able to slot him in when you’re missing a guy.” Perreault has six goals and 12 points in 10 games since he’s returned to the lineup from injury. Shawn Matthias, who has been a healthy scratch the past nine games, got the call to dress with Connor out of the lineup. Matthias played on the fourth line and saw just over 11 minutes of action, registering two shots on goal. The team hopes to have Connor, a Michigan native, back in time for Tuesday’s game in Detroit. Hellebuyck gets first shutout 1086734 Vancouver Canucks “You’ve got to get the guy’s stick and maybe get in front of that one,” he recalled. “But day by day I’m feeling better. Some games, you may be at 80 or 85 per cent, but you have to find a way to be as consistent as you Passer, not patter what matters for quiet Canuck Pouliot can.” It helps that Pouliot and Del Zotto have similar styles in a system that plays to their strengths. It helps build puck-rushing chemistry where they BEN KUZMA instinctively know who’s going and who should hang back. Not that it’s easy. Published:December 4, 2017 “Once where he was carrying the puck in the (offensive) zone and I was Updated:December 4, 2017 4:50 PM PST the second guy I thought: ‘I think I’ll just hold back here,’ ” said Pouliot. “You just read off each other. And if we can both jump up in the play, it

takes a little pressure off you to do it all the time. Derrick Pouliot prefers to let his emerging game do the talking. “One thing I really noticed is that he (Del Zotto) defends hard (a team- The soft-spoken Vancouver Canucks defenceman can defer from doling high 61 hits, 43 blocked shots) and is more of a physical presence than I out the details because he has a willing spokesman in Michael Del Zotto, thought. He has a high compete level.” who will go chapter and verse on any National Hockey League topic. So does Pouliot. He just doesn’t talk about it much. And when it comes to his defensive partner Pouliot, who had five blocked Vancouver Province: LOADED: 12.05.2017 shots, three hits and logged 21:53 in Saturday’s 2-1 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs, Del Zotto knows there is a lot to talk about. There’s the steady improvement since an Oct. 3 trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins and the elite-level passing. And there’s potential for the pending restricted free agent to be part of the club’s future. “Each day he talks a little bit more,” Del Zotto chuckled of Pouliot following Monday’s practice. “We sit beside each other, so we joke around a bit and there’s a little bit more whispering than yelling. But he has been more vocal as each day goes by and it’s showing in his play on the ice, too. “He has been a great for us, especially when Eagle (Alex Edler) went down (Oct. 12). He stepped up and played some big minutes and did a great job. It’s an up-tempo system and that’s the way the game is played now and it suits his style. He’s getting up in the play, he’s making plays and allows us to have the puck in the O-zone, rather than defending a lot. “And he’s good with all his passes. He’s makes great plays and it doesn’t matter in what zone.” Pouliot isn’t going to fill the net — he has three goals in 91 career NHL games — but an ability to transition the puck and make the right reads will make the 23-year-old valuable beyond this season. He has earned the right to remain in the lineup, even when Erik Gudbranson returns from an upper-body injury next week. Derrick Pouliot (right) battles with Toronto Maple Leafs forward Connor Brown during Saturday's game at Rogers Arena. Derrick Pouliot (right) battles with Toronto Maple Leafs forward Connor Brown during Saturday’s game at Rogers Arena. DARRYL DYCK / CANADIAN PRESS The Canucks took a gamble when they shipped Andrey Pedan and a fourth-round draft pick to the Penguins to provide Pouliot an opportunity to grow his game under former junior mentor Travis Green. But it wasn’t really a risk. Pedan was a towering presence and willing combatant, but not a prime puck mover and he hasn’t played an NHL game since the trade. Pouliot had a passing pedigree since his time with Green in Portland, and it just needed to be rekindled. “It’s a big strength of his to pass on the fly with his head up and snap it,” said Green. “That’s an art. He has been really good at it his whole life. Some guys pass in stride cleaner than others. But to be an elite defenceman you have to pass it hard and flat so it hits the blade and sits there. “He’s also done a good job in his own zone and we don’t need him to be something he’s not — not yet. You can be a good player without being No. 1 power-play guy.” Run all this by Pouliot and you get more of nod and a shoulder shrug because he knows he’s still a work in progress. Mention his triumphant return to Pittsburgh on Nov. 22 — the Penguins’ first-round pick of 2012 (eighth overall) had a goal and a season-high 25:08 in a 5-2 victory — and he will say this much: “It was really neat to go back and play. It was a pretty emotional game, even though it was a back-to-back. I felt full of energy.” The native of Estevan, Sask., would rather talk about challenges in his game because he appears to have found a home. It’s why the only goal the Maple Leafs managed Saturday — a James van Riemsdyk tip in the slot — still bugs him because that’s what good players do. They’re not going to let anything slide. 1086735 Vancouver Canucks

Canucks prospect Evan McEneny undergoes knee surgery

PATRICK JOHNSTON Published:December 4, 2017 Updated:December 4, 2017 2:50 PM PST

Evan McEneny’s dream of getting back to the NHL has hit a big bump. McEneny had surgery on an injured left knee suffered in a Nov. 15 hit by the Laval Rocket’s Nicolas Deslauriers. This is the second time he’s suffered a substantial left knee injury, as he missed nearly all of the 2011-12 season — the season ahead of what was supposed to be his 2012 NHL entry draft year — when he tore his anterior cruciate ligament while playing for the of the OHL. With the announcement of McEneny out for 6 months – here is the play where he was hurt on November 15 vs Laval#Canucks #Comets pic.twitter.com/jR4AdsvoPn— Ryan Biech (@ryanbiech) December 4, 2017 According to the Comets, McEneny will be out of action for at least six months, meaning his season is most likely over. Comets General Manager Ryan Johnson confirmed today that Evan McEneny underwent successful knee surgery and is expected to make a full recovery with an estimated timetable of six months. pic.twitter.com/3m20nVQVqx— (@UticaComets) December 4, 2017 The 23-year-old defenceman signed a two-year contract this summer with the Canucks. He played in one game for the Canucks last season and was seen by some as a darkhorse candidate to get more games this year. He’d tallied two goals and five assists in 11 games for Utica before getting hurt. In 2016-17, he was often seen on the first unit power play in Utica and clearly had the confidence of Travis Green. McEneny was considered a hot prospect going in to his draft year, but after going undrafted in 2012, the Canucks were able to scoop him up as a free agent. The Comets say they expect he’ll make a full recovery. Vancouver Province: LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086736 Vancouver Canucks “They want to keep their speed, so they turn away from the puck at times,” said Johnson. “They get ahead of the play then, because they're circling to keep their speed. Or in the D-zone they can get out of position. 10 thoughts on the Canucks, including some appreciation for Troy You do that in the NHL and it ends up in the back of your net. In the NHL, Stecher it's a stop-and-start league.” Another thing new pros need to learn is how to push the pace. By Jason Brough 8 hours ago “In junior or college, they get the puck in the neutral zone, they have the ability to go east-west or plant their feet and make a play,” said Johnson. “In the NHL, as soon as they get the puck, they gotta get up and go. You pull up in the NHL, you better make a play fast or that's a turnover 1. I've been wondering lately if Troy Stecher is the kind of player the heading the other way. So I talk to a lot of our guys about it. It's pace, Canucks might consider locking up long term — especially if they can get pace, pace.” him for a low-ish cap hit. Johnson mentioned as a guy who had to learn that lesson. It Sort of like what the Nashville Predators did with Ryan Ellis (5 years, wasn't so much that Horvat was a poor skater coming out of junior; he $12.5 million), where the player gets some financial security and the just mentally had to pick up the pace. team gets cost certainty. “In junior, he could get away with planting in the neutral zone,” said Stecher is a pending restricted free agent, so I asked Jim Benning on Johnson. “Now one of the most exciting parts of his game is watching Saturday about the possibility of signing the 23-year-old defenceman to him when he gets the puck, that explosiveness in the neutral zone.” more than a bridge deal. 5. Speaking of Horvat, I asked him the other day about the evolution of a “We'll talk about it, we'll see where his year goes,” said Benning. “But if team leader. Now that he's been on the Canucks for a few years, is he you're asking me if he's a core guy for our group moving forward, I would more vocal in the room? say yes he is.” “I try to speak up a little bit more than I used to,” Horvat said. “The first As most of you know, Stecher is from Richmond and grew up cheering three years, I just kept my mouth shut and played hard on the ice and let for the Canucks. Since signing out of college, he's become a real fan my play do the talking. Now I say a bit more stuff in-between periods or favourite thanks to his tireless work ethic, ultra-competitive attitude and before the game.” willingness to sacrifice for the good of the team. I don't think Horvat will ever be super vocal. It's just not his personality. “He's not big, but he's competitive in the battles,” said Benning. “He But that doesn't mean he can't be a leader. After all, the Sedins aren't doesn't lose many battles. He's aggressive, moves the puck up the ice. super vocal either. He's a leader in the room for a young kid. Everyone sees how hard he works and competes.” “They're not constantly talking,” Horvat said of the twins. “But when they talk and voice their opinion, you listen.” Daniel Sedin added, “He's a professional all the way through, off the ice, on the ice. He's one of the guys the young guys can watch.” Only 22, Horvat already feels a responsibility to show the young guys the way. For the record, I have no idea if Stecher would be amenable to an Ellis- type deal. The Canucks may not want to do that, either. All I'm saying is “I like being an approachable guy that's easy to talk to,” he said. he's a guy I'd bet on to keep working and keep battling, even if he did get “Anybody has any questions or any concerns, they can come to me and that financial security. I'll give them my advice. Because I know what it feels like. I've been there.” 2. Saturday against the Leafs, Stecher took a shot off the foot and then a puck off the face. Afterwards, he couldn't breathe out of his bloodied right 6. On that same topic, I asked Daniel Sedin how the leadership evolution nostril, and his teeth hurt, too. went for him and his brother. “I knew I'd come back,” he said. “We knew we'd need everyone to beat “You mature, you get older, you get more confident around the old guys,” this team. I knew if I was capable of playing, I'd play. I didn't want to let Sedin said. “For us, we watched and learned. We watched Markus, my teammates down.” Trevor, Mattias, all the older guys. How they reacted in different situations, when to talk, when not to talk. You've got to pick those things Now, that's not an unusual answer for a hockey player. As Stecher was up, and it takes time.” sure to note, others have played through worse. For now, the Canucks have enough veterans that the young guys don't But Stecher should serve as a great example for Canucks prospects, need to be too vocal. particularly those who weren't drafted in the first few rounds or weren't drafted at all. Previously, , Jannik Hansen and Derek “I think in a perfect team, young guys should be able to tell me or Henrik Dorsett could be held up as proof that hard work can pay off for long if we've done something wrong,” Daniel said. “Obviously, that maybe shots. doesn't happen. We didn't do that when we were young either. But you want to get all the guys comfortable enough to be able to talk and keep I'd think that every team would want one or two of those guys on the each other accountable. I think that accountability usually comes from the roster. older guys. But sooner or later the young guys will have to talk and step up and take over.” Obviously, Chris Tanev is another great example. 7. Who's to blame for Nikita Tryamkin bailing back to Russia? It's a 3. Perhaps that's why I'm cheering for Zack MacEwen to make it to the question that's still being debated in Vancouver. NHL. Undrafted, the 21-year-old forward signed with the Canucks in March out of the QMJHL. He's currently in Utica, where he's scored two From what I've gathered, a lot of Canucks fans believe that Tryamkin goals with seven assists in 16 games for the Comets. should've been given more of an opportunity last season. Perhaps if he'd had a bigger role and gotten the ice time he felt he deserved, he could've This is his first professional season, and the Canucks are extremely been convinced to stay. impressed with his willingness to learn. In other words, a lot of fans blame the Canucks. “In the offseason, we threw the book at him,” said Ryan Johnson, the Canucks' director of player development, in a conversation with The And hey, fair enough. It's never a good look when a highly touted Athletic. “What he did in a short amount of time … he's hungry, he wants prospect chooses to leave. to be a player. He's a big body that plays a physical game. But for a guy that big, he's got some elusiveness to his game. He sees the ice very Just know, though, that Tryamkin really rubbed some people in the well. He's got a great shot. He's still figuring out the American League, as organization the wrong way. they all have to do. But to be able to make the steps that he has in a short amount of time, I'm excited to see him continue to take those From what I've been told — and just so we're clear, this information didn't steps.” come from my chat with Benning — Tryamkin's teammates repeatedly went out of their way to talk to him, invite him on team outings, and 4. During our conversation, Johnson spoke a lot about “bad junior generally make him feel like part of the group, only for their efforts to be habits,” and how prospects need to relearn certain things once they rebuffed more often than not. reach the pros. I do have empathy for Tryamkin, because it must be tough coming to a One of those bad habits he sees is too much circling. new country, especially without knowing the language. But it doesn't sound like he made the best effort to fit in. Nor does it sound like he accepted responsibility for various on-ice mistakes. It's all very unfortunate, because Tryamkin clearly has potential. Maybe he'll be ready to try again someday, and both sides can get another crack at it. 8. In speaking with Benning about the future of the Canucks' defence, it was interesting to me that he didn't mention Erik Gudbranson. He mentioned Stecher, Ben Hutton, and Derrick Pouliot. He also mentioned Olli Juolevi, Philip Holm, and Jalen Chatfield. But not Gudbranson. So I asked for an update on the 25-year-old pending unrestricted free agent. “We can't sign him until after January 1,” said Benning, “so we'll start talking to him then to see where it's at, and where he's at.” Yeah, it wasn't much of an update. The best guess is that Gudbranson is traded before the deadline. I have no idea what the Canucks might get for him. It all depends if a GM is willing to pay up for the intangibles while downplaying the analytics. Not too long ago, Benning was that willing GM. 9. “I love his compete level,” said Travis Green. And you'll never guess which player the coach was talking about. Thomas Vanek! “Maybe his rap is that he doesn't play hard enough, that he's just a goal scorer,” said Green. “But he's got a real inner desire to win. He's extremely smart. He's got great hockey sense.” I have to admit that I've been pleasantly surprised by Vanek. I didn't hate his signing as much as a lot of Canucks fans did, since it was only for a year and the team badly needed to add forward depth. But I really didn't expect to see Vanek win so many puck battles. He's a great passer, too. 10. Canucks stat of the week: The power play is up to 20.6 per cent and the penalty kill is running at 79.8 per cent. Combined, that adds up to 100.4 per cent. Last year, the PP (14.1 per cent) and the PK (76.7 per cent) added up to just 90.8 per cent. So that's a dramatic improvement on special teams. Enjoy the games this week! The Athletic LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086737 Websites New York Islanders: The Islanders were a Metro afterthought before the season started, but they look legit. They’re buoyed by a (perhaps unsustainable) red-hot power play right now featuring arguably the The Athletic / NHL Trends: A look at who's up and who's down after league’s best rookie. November Coldest Teams Ottawa Senators By Dom Luszczyszyn 17 hours ago Last Month Strength: 0.477 Current Strength: 0.455 The end of every month is a great time to look back and reflect on the The Matt Duchene trade was supposed to be a turning point for the previous month of hockey and see which way teams and players are Ottawa Senators and in a way it was. The team is 3-7-1 since the trending. A one month sample is usually obfuscated by hot and cold blockbuster deal (with two of the wins coming against his former team) streaks, so it’s valuable to find ways to separate the signal from the and has fallen hard toward the bottom of the standings, dangerously noise. Those at the extreme ends of the spectrum also make for some close to the league’s bottom five. They’re now 25th and Duchene has great stories. been capital B Bad since arriving. The Athletic has a model we use for projections and probabilities that are It’s not just him though, the entire team has been brutal and the projected updated daily and this provides a look at how much has changed under value for nearly everyone has dropped over the last month. After last the hood on a monthly basis. Our season preview series offered a season’s unexpected playoff run this is probably not where the team snapshot of how and why each team was rated the way it was and this is expected to be, but it’s probably a lot closer to what they deserve an opportunity to provide further context as the season progresses. It’ll compared to last season’s finish. What’s really hurting the team is the hopefully be an interesting sneak peek at how the model operates and play of their starting goalie. Craig Anderson has an .895 save percentage how much perception changes within from month-to-month, and it’s a on the season and that’s obviously not going to cut it. His underrated play question many have asked after seeing the daily probabilities operate. last year was a big part of Ottawa’s surprise season and the team What you’re getting is two articles in one. (Well, technically three). The needed an unlikely re-up in order to repeat the magic. They’re not getting first looks at the teams and players who’ve made the biggest changes that. Instead, they’re getting a harsh dose of what this team really is. from where they were last month. The second is a brief run through of Buffalo Sabres each team with accompanying charts looking at how each player’s value has changed over the last month – an appendix of sorts for the rest of the Last Month Strength: 0.442 league that wasn't mentioned here for those that want to take a deeper dive into every team or simply curious about their own. Current Strength: 0.418 Hottest Teams It’s never a good sign when a team spends consecutive months in this spot. Welcome to Buffalo, where the Sabres are as bad as ever and Nashville Predators somehow maybe even getting worse. What's left to be said about this team? This has been a total team effort of ineptitude. It’s been an Last Month Strength: 0.510 embarrassing start for a team that was supposed to start making some Current Strength: 0.529 noise but have stumbled instead. Their stars aren’t shining as bright as they should be, goaltending is way below par, the defence is a disaster – The Predators had the best record of any team in November and they’re the whole thing is one big gigantic mess. Since the start of the season, showing they’re still the team to beat in the West. The Blues look great no team has fallen harder in projected expectations than the Sabres, and the Jets are on the rise, but it’s still Nashville as the alpha if they going from a projected true-talent 86 point team to what they are now, a keep playing the way they have. Pekka Rinne is playing some of the best projected true-talent 78 point team. This model thinks they’re the worst hockey of his career while Filip Forsberg is staking his claim as one of team in the league, a title they’re probably very familiar with given their the league’s brightest young stars with a sizzling 27 points in 26 games. past half-decade or so. Those guys are leading the way, but they’re getting help as everyone is pulling their weight right now. Honourable Mentions: The big X-factor is obviously the addition of Kyle Turris, giving them a Detroit Red Wings: The Red Wings are exactly who we thought they bonafide 1-2 punch down the middle. I was very skeptical of Nick Bonino were: a not very good hockey team. in that role, but Turris is a great fit and his addition has propelled Kevin Philadelphia Flyers: I don’t quite remember what a Flyers win looks like, Fiala into a major contributor, with 10 points in 15 games since and my model has really downgraded their projected strength as a result. November 1. Along with the underrated Craig Smith, that gives Nashville a solid second line to go with the JOFA unit. Add that to the league’s best To see more charts for how the value of every player on each team has defence and the Preds will be tough to beat. Now imagine how they’ll changed over the last month, go here. look once Ryan Ellis returns. Hottest Players Vegas Golden Knights Mathew Barzal, NYI Last Month Strength: 0.441 Last Month GSVA: 1.01 wins Current Strength: 0.459 Current GSVA: 2.45 wins An expansion team that doesn’t suck is a unicorn in sports. That’s what makes the Golden Knights this season’s best and biggest story. Not many people thought much of the Isles going into the season, but Everyone thought they’d be awful, some thought they’d be 2016-17 they’ve been a steady fixture atop the Metro standings and it is thanks in Colorado bad, and even the most optimistic (this model was among large part to the play of Mathew Barzal. He’s been a revelation so far this them) pictured a bottom feeder. Vegas isn’t that. Instead the team is 15- season and is arguably the Calder front-runner at this point. He’s not only 9-1 and sitting second in its division. This team is a rare breed that has scoring (24 points in 25 games), he’s also providing a sound two-way somehow made it work despite being given mostly scraps with a few game. His line with Jordan Eberle and Andrew Ladd has been the gems sprinkled in between. I still can’t believe Florida just gave Jonathan Islanders best at influencing shot rates and Barzal is currently rocking a Marchessault away; he looks like a legit first line talent these days. There 55 per cent Corsi, which is pretty incredible for any player, let alone a were concerns to start the season about their process, but that’s rookie. He started the season strong, but he really exploded over the last changed since and they’ve really clicked lately. They were a top 10 month, looking like a future superstar. (This is also a pretty good example possession team last month which is pretty crazy to think about for a of how volatile rookie projections can be due to the small sample). By team of misfits. I’m still not completely sold on them given their talent Game Score, he was the best Islander in November with an average level, but they keep surprising and it’s time to start taking these castoffs score of 1.28, much better than the next best, Anders Lee, at 1.08. It was seriously. actually the seventh best score in the entire league. The biggest hole on the Islanders has long been a second pivot behind John Tavares and Honourable Mentions: Barzal is filling the role better than anyone could’ve imagined. New York Rangers: The start of the season looked like the end of the William Karlsson, VGK Rangers as contenders and the end of Alain Vigneault, but they’ve rattled off a number of wins lately and are right back in the thick of things. Last Month GSVA: 0.47 wins Current GSVA: 1.36 wins As a person paid to write about hockey who deals specifically in predictions and forecasts, it’s important to go back often and look at what went right or wrong and why. This take on William Karlsson is the wrongest I’ve ever been. It's an article from after the expansion draft, where I essentially wrote that losing Karlsson would be no big deal as he didn’t really look all that valuable. The best part were these exact words: “He’s still relatively young at 24, but it’s unlikely he gets exponentially better. At this point what you see is usually what you get.” As you now know, this is exactly what did not happen. What we saw is not what we got. He did, in fact, get exponentially better. Whoops. Vegas Karlsson is miles ahead of Columbus Karlsson and the transformation speaks volumes about the pro scouting staff. My biggest concerns were that he didn’t score (he does now), he didn’t shoot the puck (he does now) and he didn’t drive play (he does now). It’s really something else to see a guy break out like this when there were very few signs suggesting he could. Now, he won’t score on a quarter of his shots forever, so expect some regression, but he’s still proving he’s the real deal. Honourable Mentions Brock Boeser, VAN: The other candidate for best rookie has spent the last month filling the net. While my pre-season take on Karlsson was among my worst, calling Boeser already Vancouver’s best player before the season even started was probably among my best, though that may not have even gone far enough. Micheal Ferland, CGY: Calgary has been looking for a right winger to put beside Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan and it looks like they’ve found him. Ferland is four goals off his career high and it’s only December. Coldest Players Michael Del Zotto, VAN Last Month GSVA: 1.43 wins Current GSVA: 0.82 wins This model, and the Canucks coaching staff, were fans of Del Zotto to start, but that opinion has soured over the last month as he’s quickly fallen out of favour among Canucks defenders. He was the top dog for the first part of the season, getting upwards of 25 minutes (!) per night, but has now settled in around 18 or so during November, fifth behind Alexander Edler, Chris Tanev, Ben Hutton, and Derrick Pouliot. The fall has been dramatic. It’s not without reason though. No Canuck got outshot more than Del Zotto since November 1 and his minus-74 Corsi was among the worst of any player in the league for the time frame. I think he’s better than what he’s shown so far, but it’s clear he’s not going to be The Guy in Vancouver. Nick Foligno, CBJ Last Month GSVA: 1.50 wins Current GSVA: 0.98 wins Once lauded (by me) as a secret star, Nick Foligno has fallen on hard times of late and has really struggled this season. It’s been especially bad over the last month where he had just three points in 15 games while being one of the few Blue Jackets to get outshot. Columbus has been a sneaky dominant team at 5-on-5 this season, but you couldn’t tell from looking at shifts with Foligno on the ice. Driving play, particularly on defence, was one of the big reasons Foligno was seen as an unheralded player by the analytics community, but he hasn’t been able to show much of that this season. Columbus is a contender right now, but they’ll need more from their captain in order to take the next step. Honourable Mentions: Jordan Weal, PHI: He looked very promising to finish last season, but has looked anything but this year. He’s been practically non-existent over the last month and it’s no wonder he’s been getting scratched lately. The Athletic LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086738 Websites alone — more than all of the registered players in Finland and Denmark combined.

“We have a ton of great skills coaches in Canada and a lot of great The Athletic / Grassroots to Gold: Despite some resistance, Hockey goaltending coaches and experts,” McNabb said. “It's the structure that Canada aims to change minor hockey culture makes it different.” One of the good things about it though, he said is that Canada's system By Sunaya Sapurji 19 hours ago doesn't produce “a cookie-cutter style of player” where everyone is taught to do the same thing, the same way.

All those associations have their own bylaws and philosophies though Any kind of culture change takes time. It takes money and education and they fall under the purview of 13 member branches, all within the Hockey effort. And, in hockey, particularly in Canada, it can take a long time. Canada umbrella — which not only makes for less consistency but more bureaucracy as well. No one knows this better than Corey McNabb, Hockey Canada's manager of player development. Recently, he was in Thunder Bay giving McNabb said in the association he coaches in he'd like to see the kind of a presentation on long-term athlete development to Hockey Northwestern system implemented in golf, where part of each member's fees goes to Ontario. He started his talk by saying he gets about 100 emails a day. pay for a club pro. “Everything from 'how tight should I tie my daughter's skates' to 'I can't “It would be great if we could charge every parent an extra $100 for the believe you guys are running this forecheck with the Olympic team — year and that money would go towards having a skills coach that is and everything in between,” he told the crowd. employed by the association or a goaltending coach, or one of each,” explained McNabb. “Let's say you have 800 players — that's $80,000 He has an email folder called “beauties” and one can only imagine the you could put directly to that. It's actually going to save parents money horrors contained inside. from having to spend $500 on a goalie school or a skills school because it's all self-contained. And I think we're starting to see some associations That comes with the territory in Canada, where hockey has become such or clubs look at that.” a cultural touchstone that it has been used to sell everything from coffee to cars to appliances, gas, banks, fast food, beer and everything else Hockey in Canada is big business. imaginable. Every parent wants to do right by their child, but there are some who at a In a few weeks, Canadians from coast-to-coast will be bombarded with point lose perspective when it comes to the game. It becomes less about the annual saccharine-filled, jingoistic commercials for the world junior kids having fun and being active and more about chasing the NHL dream hockey championships. The ones that reinforce the notion that hockey is or landing a scholarship. It's created a culture where it's more about the our game and ours alone. end product rather than the experience — and that product costs money. A lot of it. Canada, like many of the other countries featured in this series, has many of the same philosophies for youth development: Small area skills, It's one of the reasons parents can feel pressured into paying for extra small area games, multi-sport play at younger ages, focusing more on lessons, spring hockey, summer schools, dry-land training, private skill development versus winning. hockey academies and the like. It's the notion that if you don't keep up with the Joneses, your kid is going to fall behind. Your child can't be the “But that is not necessarily the same philosophy throughout the actual next Sidney Crosby if they're not in that under-five elite program. minor hockey system,” said McNabb on the phone from his office in Calgary. “Where there is a lot of focus on winning by coaches or Paul Mason knows better than most what it takes to develop a Crosby. associations or even parents — and that just goes back to the He was the NHL superstar's minor hockey coach in Cole Harbour, N.S. competition model. He wants parents to know that when Sid was an actual kid, he was a “When you look at Europe they're not playing full ice, five-on-five games very good multi-sport athlete. In his spare time Crosby would play a lot of with score clocks and referees until their kids are nine or 10. The fact that ball hockey with neighbourhood kids. He would train, by himself, by we do it in places in Canada here when kids are six years old — and running the local Colby Loop. they're probably keeping track of scoring leaders and stuff like that — it's a natural phenomenon to worry about winning versus development. And when you come into the skate shop at Cole Harbour Place, and ask That's probably one of the biggest differences and the earlier you put in a for the “Crosby Cut” — the same as the three-time Stanley Cup competition structure in place and the earlier you place a tiering of champion — this is the kind of edge you'll get: players, it's inevitable that the outcome becomes more important than the process.” “The 'Crosby Cut' is just the standard cut,” said Mason, who runs and owns the skate shop. “It's nothing special.” And that, right there, is a problem. As much as Hockey Canada wants to do the right thing, the scientifically-proven thing, and the cost-effective Crosby, however, was special, a generational talent who would have thing for development, there are also people working against the system succeeded regardless of how many or few extra-curricular programs he — either to make a profit or because it's not the way it's always been was involved in. And Mason, who has coached thousands of children done. This is also true in the U.S., though USA Hockey has found over the years, has only seen one of his like. success in many non-traditional markets. Though there aren't many (or Mason, an elementary school principal, has been a volunteer minor any) of those same markets in Canada. hockey coach in Cole Harbour for 39 years. And in his community of In Europe, this same culture doesn't really exist thanks to their club 30,000 — technically a part of Dartmouth thanks to amalgamation — he system. In places like Sweden and Finland, there are skills and goalie has seen hockey change. coaches available at every club and at every level. In addition, there are “It's 100 per cent worse,” Mason said. “It's not even comparable. Being in regional coaches paid by the federations to oversee both coach and the school system as well and having people know you from hockey we player development — everyone is on the same page. have parents who come to us and ask about, for example, spring hockey. “Everything is supplied and self-contained in a club,” McNabb said. They talk about the expense of spring hockey but they see all these other “Versus in Canada, traditionally you pay for your minor hockey and the kids doing it and they say to you, 'Is it going to put my kid behind the parents go outside the system to a goalie coach or a skating coach or a eight ball?' Is it going to affect them?' I tell them, 'No, it's not.' Kids should skills coach because the club itself does not employ those people and be playing more than one sport. It shouldn't be hockey only, but there is that's a major difference. I think what (the club system) does is that it that perception that (these extra programs) are a way of developing your really helps to put in place consistency and standardization. kid and getting them to the next level. Parents see it and they buy into it. It puts a financial demand on parents and the belief that's what they have “You're bound to have a much more consistent methodology in to do. And that's definitely way worse than it used to be. developing players, whereas in Canada it's much more of a free-market system. There's not as many of those associations or clubs that have that “There's a mindset and I don't know when it started, but you could see it skills person and instead everyone is going out to find different things — more and more — who's going to be The Next One and what do I have to and some of it's good and some of it's not so good.” do to get there?” That same level of standardization is very difficult to do in Canada with He can't believe some of the sacrifices parents are willing to make in roughly 442,163 junior aged players and 3,500 minor hockey order for their kids to get extra hockey outside of the association, which is associations across the country. There are more than 85,000 minor home to roughly 650 players. hockey coaches in Canada from the initiation level to midget hockey “One family mentioned to me, 'We have to decide if we're going to put “The five-year-olds who are coming into the game — even though it's our kids in spring hockey because then we're not going to have our parents who have played the game or are familiar with it — when they summer vacation,'” Mason said. “Wow. That's mind-boggling.” see how it's organized for a five-year-old playing in a smaller area with a lighter puck and a smaller net, they're like, 'Yeah OK, this makes sense. McNabb said the research shows that more hockey isn't necessarily They're small so we shouldn't be playing on a full-sized surface,' ” better. According to Hockey Canada's long-term player development McNabb said. “That generation is going to come through now with a manual, specializing in hockey before the age of 10 is detrimental, much greater acceptance versus someone who might have had an older leading to overuse injuries, burnout, lack of interest, and retirement from son or daughter who played full-ice 5-on-5 with score clocks and training and competition. referees. Now they come back and say, 'What's this? This isn't real “I'm sure kids would love to eat Fruit Loops for breakfast, lunch and hockey. This isn't the same.' dinner,” McNabb said. “But at a certain point you get tired of eating Fruit “So it's going to take some time for sure to change an entire culture in the Loops. So as a parent you need to be able to look at it and say, 'We need way the game is developed and taught. I think we're going to get there some balance here' and I think that's the key. because there are a lot of good hockey people in this country who “Kids that are on the ice 12 months a year and are always in the pursuit understand and look at the long-term player development and what is the to 'make it' — it puts a lot of unnecessary pressure on kids and best way to develop players.” unnecessary expense in the hands of parents.” That kind of pushback comes with the territory for hockey rule changes in Cole Harbour has had success not only with its NHLers — Crosby, Canada. In 2013, there was a national debate when Hockey Canada Nathan MacKinnon, Joey DiPenta and Cam Russell — but many others, voted to ban bodychecking at the Peewee level (ages 11-12). The same both men and women, who have gone on to play pro hockey or earn night the vote was passed, Don Cherry took to his Hockey Night in scholarships. Canada pulpit to decry the new rule. For decades the Cole Harbour Bel Ayr Minor Hockey Association was a “Don't you wish Hockey Canada would do something instead of being model of consistency in its coaching. It had stalwarts like Mason behind politically correct,” said Cherry on the March 25, 2013 broadcast of the bench who coached players who eventually would return as assistant Coach's Corner. coaches and then as head coaches. There were few, if any, parents “You (Hockey Canada) have good intentions, but the road to hell is involved in coaching teams with their own children. In recent years that paved with good intentions. You’re going to be sorry. You watch and see. has changed. You will be sorry.” “You don't see as many (volunteers), it's mostly parents now,” said Four years later a study conducted by the University of Calgary showed Mason, who coaches Peewee Triple-A. “They're primarily the ones that there was a 64 per cent decrease in concussion risk as a result of the step up. … As of right now we have seven coaches involved on our team Hockey Canada ban and a 50 per cent decrease in “all-injury risk” in and none of us have kids involved and the Bantam AA team is the only Peewee-aged players. The study estimated there were 581 concussions one now with no kids involved. Which used to be right through our saved annually in Alberta and more than 4,800 concussions saved program — that continuous cycle of coaches was there from beginning to annually in Canada. end — you don't see that as much anymore.” It's not expected that the new cross-ice rule will be met with the same He said overbearing parents and the ever-increasing Hockey Canada kind of fervent opposition, considering many associations are already hoops to jump — different policies, courses, certifications and using it. background checks — have led a number of volunteers in his association to leave coaching. McNabb uses the example of futsal, a variation of soccer, that is usually played on a much smaller surface with fewer players. “Anyone who coaches — you're going to lose money — it's a hobby,” Mason said. “It's something you love to do, but as someone who golfs, if I “If five-year-olds learn to play the game of soccer on a full-size field, all had to continually do what I have to do for hockey — I'd drop golf. It they do is kick the ball 20 feet in front of them and then kick it again and wouldn't be a hobby anymore. I've seen that frustration in coaches — kick it again,” McNabb said. “There's never any opportunity for them to we're going through it right now where you can just see where it's just learn how to handle the ball in traffic, so when they get into those that little bit extra that you have to do and coaching itself takes up quite a situations, they can't do it. It's not that much different in hockey. It's much bit of time.” harder to learn the game on a full-sized ice surface and then come back and be really, really good in a small area. It just doesn't happen. It's But it's not all doom and gloom. much easier to learn it in a small area — how to handle the puck in tight Mason said his association has recognized the need to shift some of their and change directions, stop and start — and then graduate to the larger own policies around to make it more inviting for non-parent volunteers. surface because you're always going to go back to the fundamental skill- And he hopes those parents consumed by the race to get their child to set you learned in a small area.” the next level will stop for a minute to remember what should really be He says looking at the NHL and elite-level hockey the way the game is important in youth sports. played now is more conducive to smaller area play, even though they are “I love hockey,” Mason said. “I think it's great. It's the joy of hockey in playing on full sheets of ice. The game has become more compact in what you're able to teach kids. Our Peewee kids are fundraising so we design and that's why many NHL coaches use small ice drills in their own can buy clothing for a homeless shelter and they're going to make practices. sandwich lunches and bring them over to the shelter. These are skills — “We've done studies on games where 84 per cent of the game at a high it's about teamwork, it's about camaraderie and it's all part of the minor level is played blueline-in, either at one end of the other,” McNabb said. hockey experience. Some people will say, 'That has nothing to do with “So if you look, those teams are practicing 85 per cent of the time in a hockey,' but I think it does — that's any team sport. It develops zone — either offence or defence because there's not that much time community members not just hockey players.” where the game actually happens between the bluelines in the neutral In September, minor hockey made headlines in Toronto over Hockey zone and if it does the puck is going through there really, really fast. Canada's mandate issued for cross-ice hockey at the six-and-under level. “The way the game is played now and the skill-set that you need is The move was part of Hockey Canada's Initiation Program which is different than it was years ago where it was more end-to-end type of designed for players aged five and six and provides an entry level to the play.” sport. In 2016, there were 13,248 players who were enrolled in the program across the country. Hockey Canada is hoping their vast vault of education material will help both parents and coaches have a better understanding of what age- Despite the fact that for some 35 years the Initiation Program has always appropriate skill development is all about. In addition to the long-term recommended cross-ice and half-ice games, the idea was finally player development manual, and information about the Initiation mandated in March. Many associations across Canada had already been Program, they also have the Hockey Canada Network an app that has using the format for years, while others had not. everything from drills and coaching plans to articles on nutrition and meal The program is designed with four phases of instruction designed to plans for players and parents. The app is free to download, though teach the skills of skating, shooting, puck control and passing in a there's a premium option from as low as $4 a month. progressive and age-appropriate way. The “games” are more akin to One of the other issues McNabb deals with is seasonal planning in shinny or 3-on-3 in which there are no scorekeepers or officials and the relation to player development. So if you were a 12-year-old player, what focus is on fun and learning. would an optimal calendar look like? But that means trying to get leagues And yet, there is still resistance. and associations to buy-in to change and that's always a difficult proposition. “One of the things we're really trying to look at is the seasonal structure,” said McNabb. “There's no point in starting hockey in August, you rush through tryouts to pick your team. You rush through your regular season only to have it end in January so you can go through a three-month playoff process. We have a ton of kids that are finished their hockey season in January and February because we're trying to follow an NHL- style of playoff system which is designed for professionals and adults, not for a 10-year-old kid. It's still winter in February in most places in Canada, so to me the cultural aspect is the biggest thing that we're really trying to change and I think if we can do that a lot of the other things are going to fall into place to give coaches more time to develop skills and not necessarily worry about the winning and trying to get into playoffs.” McNabb believes the key to developing good players is to develop good coaches. And Canada has its share of those. The biggest challenge he sees going forward is in trying to change the culture surrounding the sport which has taken on a life of its own. “The game is in good shape in so many ways, but there's also a lot of things that we know can be done better. From a personal standpoint, I'd like to see those things happen a little quicker or a little more efficiently, but it's getting there. “Every country has things that they feel are doing really well and things that they feel need to improve on. I'm a big believer in looking at everything that's out there and beg, borrow and steal from the best and from everywhere — every coach, every association and every country to see what you can take and implement to your own benefit. You can't be so regimented in what you do that you're not willing to look at other good ideas. “But you have to have a plan and the courage to stick with it. It might not be the most popular thing right now, but we do believe it's the best thing for players.” The Athletic LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086739 Websites

The Athletic / Canadiens successfully erase their wretched start to the season

By Arpon Basu 21 hours ago

The Canadiens have done it. They have erased their worst start to a season in 76 years. They did so, astonishingly, before Christmas. They did so by winning five games in a row… in eight days. They did so by winning those five games with Carey Price in net. They did so with Carey Price looking like Carey Price in net. This is no small thing. The Canadiens had the worst record in the Eastern Conference at 1-6-1 on the morning of Oct. 21, second-worst in the NHL. Thanks to this five- game winning streak, the Canadiens are now 5-1-1 in their last seven games. So that awful start has been essentially erased. What’s left in between is a 7-5-1 team, which is probably closer to what this Canadiens team is than their first eight games or their last seven games. This is what happens when you open the season shooting 3.4 percent and getting an .878 save percentage at 5-on-5, which were 31st and 30th in the league on Oct. 21. Over the last seven games, the Canadiens are shooting 10.9 percent and getting .971 goaltending at 5-on-5, fourth and first, respectively, over that time. It’s not complicated. In between that start and these last seven games, the Canadiens had a 53.4 Corsi for percentage (sixth in the NHL), a 50.9 goals for percentage (14th), a 54.7 expected goals for percentage (third), a 7.5 shooting percentage (18th) and a .915 save percentage (19th) at 5-on-5 in 12 games. Those are decent underlying numbers. Numbers that suggest this is a team that will battle for a playoff spot. The difference between those numbers and the Canadiens’ current situation, of course, is Price. No, he will not maintain his .962 save percentage and 1.20 goals against average since his return for the rest of the season. But that is, in some ways, irrelevant. What is important is that Price is at the top of his game, and that trickles down to all of his teammates. It makes them feel like they have the best player on the ice in any game, and that they have the advantage in that he doesn’t leave the ice. It makes them feel like they have a chance to win. It makes them confident, a confidence that reflects in so many areas of their play that are in no way impacted by goaltending. This is why Price, when he is at the top of his game, is the most valuable player in the NHL. “Any time he’s in the net for you, you know that at any given point he can literally steal you a game, so I think it alleviates some of that tension, that responsibility that we need to score tonight or we need to play really good defence tonight to have a chance to win,” Paul Byron said last Saturday, after Price’s first game back. “You just go out there and you play hockey and you know that he’s got your back… It certainly takes a load off everybody to know he’s in the net.” How’s this for an example of what Byron is talking about? Since Price’s return, 11 players on the Canadiens have at least four points in five games (Alex Galchenyuk – 8, Byron – 6, Brendan Gallagher – 5, Andrew Shaw – 4, Jonathan Drouin – 4, Jeff Petry – 4, Jacob De La Rose (not a typo) – 4, Daniel Carr (in two games) – 4, Max Pacioretty – 4, Phillip Danault – 4, Tomas Plekanec – 4). Of course, scoring 10 goals in a game helps that, but still. How many Canadiens had four points after the first five games of the season? None. In fact, Drouin was the only player with as many as three points. “It’s just a relaxed feeling when you’re in front of him,” Brendan Gallagher said. “There’s really no panic. He’s making some of the saves that are pretty difficult saves, and he makes them look pretty easy. Not only that, he controls the rebounds, there’s no second chances. It’s obviously pretty impressive what he’s able to do.” That relaxed feeling is what the Canadiens are riding right now. They are performing at every level, and it’s not hard to see that it goes from the net out. The Athletic LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086740 Websites “We’ll continue to take it one game at a time and build confidence and build our team.”

Canada head coach Laura Schuler sees her team’s identity in a similar The Athletic / U.S., Canada women shaping their Olympic identities one light to Team USA. She wants her team to be capable of thinking and showdown at a time playing the game fast while possessing the puck and limiting the opposition’s time with the puck. By Nathan Wells 17 hours ago “Every time we play we continue to get better,” she said. “No doubt about it, the games we’re playing against the boys in the Alberta Major Midget Hockey League are really helping us get our game to where we want to be. We’re really grateful for that opportunity to play against them.” ST. PAUL, Minn. — A crowd of 9,098 at Xcel Energy Center witnessed the fifth of eight games between the United States and Canada women’s Settling on a roster hockey teams in the lead-up to the 2018 Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea. There have been pit stops on the road to PyeongChang. Neither Canada nor the United States’ rosters look the same as when the journey began. While Brianne Jenner scored on a wrist shot 37 seconds into overtime to send the American fans home disappointed, snapping a short winning In Canada’s case, that was part of the original plan. Hockey Canada streak against the Canadians, the 2-1 result mattered less than the invited 28 players to centralize in May. Two additional goalies were progress. available to help. Two players — forward Amy Potomak and defender Erin Ambrose — were already cut following the Four Nations Cup. Three It was the first time the two had played since the U.S. won 5-1 in mid- more will need to follow in order to get down to the maximum 23 players. November to take the Four Nations Cup. Sunday's exhibition was different. It was a different game and different teams. Different players To Sarah Potomak, Amy’s older sister and youngest player left on had opportunities. That process will continue throughout the final three Canada’s roster, the competition for spots has an added effect. exhibitions. “Obviously that’s always in the back of our minds, but we push each “We still have got a little ways to go,” said Team Canada goaltender other. The end goal is to win gold and that’s our biggest focus right now, Shannon Szabados, a veteran of two Olympics. “We’re on the ice a lot just pushing each other,” she said. and we’re together a lot, getting to know each other and getting to know Team USA, on the other hand, added three players from its original 23- the system and where our strengths and weaknesses are and fine-tuning woman roster. Defender Cayla Barnes was called to the national team in that.” late October. Sidney Morin and Haley Skarupa joined the fold last week. Nearly two months away from the opening ceremony, the two squads are While the initial idea was to go forward with the players already named to both happy with the progress made yet not done tinkering. Both have the national team, there was flexibility left open for the possibility of other high hopes in the quest for gold in South Korea, and the race is on to be players added for the Olympic squad. the best. Both Morin and Skarupa made their pre-Olympic debuts Sunday. .@RJOHNST6 TO @BRIANNEJENNER = CANADA 2-1 WIN IN OT. Skarupa took Kessel’s normal spot at forward while the defender Morin PIC.TWITTER.COM/WHOQGFRHEI saw time on the penalty kill. — WOMEN'S HOCKEY GIFS (@CWHLHIGHLIGHTS) DECEMBER 3, “I thought they did a good job” Stauber said. “Sid Morin did a really good 2017 job back there. Handled the pressure well. Just fit in very, very good. Haley Skarupa came in on what we call our ‘white line’ with (Dani) If Team USA forward Amanda Kessel had her way, every year would be Cameranesi and Hannah Brandt and she did a good job too. All in all, like an Olympic year. some real positive things, as I said. Obviously the score isn’t what we wanted, but that’s hockey.” “It’s a really good year for all of us and something we take full advantage of,” Kessel said. “I wish we could do it every year, to be able to train with The U.S. team will make a decision on a final roster for PyeongChang by one another all year-round.” Jan. 1. Every fourth year the prospective U.S. players leave their homes and Options in goal simply focus on hockey. No distractions. Tons of bonding. Training this time out of Wesley Chapel, Florida, 26 Americans centralized on the U.S. Schuler uses the word “evaluation process” to describe the Olympic lead- Women’s National Team get one day off a week. up. The other six are spent preparing for February, working out and buying Every game gives another opportunity to evaluate and better understand into head coach Robb Stauber’s vision and self-described the roster. That’s certainly the case for both teams and their goaltenders. “unconventional” system. Stauber is trying to build a team built on speed With many of the world’s top goalies residing in the two countries, several and possessing the puck as much as possible with good control. are competing for the starting spot. Among other things he also wants to see the Americans, trying to end a “We’re lucky we have three amazing goaltenders. I trust every single one 20-year gold-medal drought, be prepared to handle themselves well in of them in a game,” Brandt said. tight games. Several big contests between the two — like the 2014 Sunday’s starting goaltenders were a contrast in age and experience, Olympic gold medal game and 2016 and 2017 IIHF World being 20 and 31 years old, respectively. Szabados, making her pre- Championships gold-medal games — have been close and gone to Olympic debut against the United States, started the 2014 Olympic gold- overtime. medal game. U.S. starter Maddie Rooney still wears her maroon-and- So far he’s happy with the result. gold UMD Bulldogs mask alongside her red, white and blue USA sweater. “The players are very … in pressure situations when games are tight, games are on the ice, they are handling themselves on the bench,” Both played well. Szabados said she felt like she got into a rhythm early Stauber said. “Over the last several games against Canada they’ve had en route to making 27 saves. Rooney stopped 24 of 26 shots, including a really good emotional control on the bench. That’s critical.” Meghan Agosta breakaway in the first period and multiple chances from Poulin. Brought in as the third goalie to Alex Rigsby and Nicole Hensley, North of the 49th parallel, the Canadian counterparts have been training Rooney continues to get more opportunities to play. 5-6 days a week in Calgary since May. They’ve been playing boys AAA midget teams in the area to test themselves against faster, more physical Szabados shares Canada's net with 2017 Patty Kazmaier winner Ann- players. They’ve been working on conditioning to be more consistent and Renée Desbiens and Geneviève Lacasse. Each has started multiple take over in the third period of games. games. It’s been given extra focus since the Four Nations Cup and paid off “Our other goalies, we needed to make sure they had opportunities Sunday when Team Canada weathered an early onslaught by the host against the U.S. so we can see how they can do as we go forward, country. Canada’s forwards turned the tables, outshooting the Americans keeping in mind that we’re still in an evaluation process,” Schuler said 13-5 in the third period and overtime to get the comeback victory. about starting Szabados. Desbiens and Lacasse each started one of the two games against the U.S. in the Four Nations Cup. “Obviously (being at our best in PyeongChang) is the main goal for both of our teams,” Canadian forward and captain Marie-Philip Poulin said. Playing one another multiple times not only helps the two teams form identities and focus on strengths and weaknesses, but also defines a rivalry. “Both teams are great teams. It’s fun anytime we get to play (the U.S.),” Szabados said. “I think that’s why we play each other so many times. We have that respect for each other, and it helps both teams prepare. Obviously the World Championships and Olympics are a different level, but those games leading up are what prepares you for it.” Two months to go. A lot can change for two teams between now and the opening ceremony. That’s something both teams are counting upon to happen over the final three exhibition games, played Tuesday in Winnipeg. Dec. 15 in San Jose and Dec. 17 in Edmonton. “I feel really good where we’re at. It’s going to be scary what we look like in a few months,” said Kessel about the months of work her teammates and her have put in. What does she think they’ll look like? “The best team in the world.” The Athletic LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086741 Websites Lastly, the coaching market is going to open up even more in the offseason if the Red Wings decide they don’t want to bring Blashill back for the final year of his deal next season. Along with the veterans out The Athletic / Red Wings debacle in Montreal raises questions about there now, it’s possible that Washington’s Barry Trotz hits the market as direction of the franchise will other coaches whose teams don’t reach expectations. The Red Wings shouldn’t make any long-range plans until they know exactly who's available. By Craig Custance 19 hours ago The best course of action, if a change has to happen, is to promote Todd Nelson from Grand Rapids and give him an extended look as the coach of the Red Wings. Nelson interviewed for the Coyotes opening in the offseason and impressed management there with his modern Well, that could have gone better. A home-and-home with a Montreal philosophies. He’s ready to be an NHL head coach somewhere and at Canadiens team that is the Red Wings' direct competitor for the only some point, it makes sense to see if it’s Detroit. realistic playoff spot they’re chasing – the No. 3 seed in the Atlantic – not only extended Detroit’s losing streak, it’s now put everyone on high alert Is there a trade to be made in the short term? at Little Caesars Arena. Holland said he’s been working the phones but the reality is that the most It was six periods of hockey to send the Canadiens a message and, boy, likely trades involving the Red Wings are going to happen closer to the did they ever. trade deadline. “The last five periods have been the worst five periods of hockey we’ve “The answer, for the most part, has to be internal,” Holland said on played this year,” Red Wings GM Ken Holland said during a Sunday Sunday. evening phone conversation, after Detroit lost 10-1 on Saturday and 6-3 on Thursday. “We didn’t compete. We didn’t play smart, didn’t dig in. Barring a miraculous turnaround, defenseman Mike Green will get moved Certainly very disappointing.” but his contract is hefty enough that most contending teams will want to wait until closer to the deadline before taking it on. To say the least. That doesn’t leave a lot of trade options (something we’ll dig into with And so the hopes of gaining a foothold in the playoff race during the more depth this week). The Red Wings' roster and the trade options are friendliest part of their schedule are now dashed. Up next on Tuesday is a bit reminiscent of the time in 2002 when former Tigers GM Dave a Winnipeg Jets team that is emerging as one of the best in the Western Dombrowski went off during a season-ticket-holder event, running Conference, loaded with young talent that will only draw more envy from through the roster of overpaid players and his inability to move them. Red Wings fans. “I love Dean Palmer, he’s a great guy. If you can trade him tomorrow, The collapse raises a slew of questions, starting with the head coach: give me a call. That’s $8.5 million on our budget next year,” Dombrowski said in a recorded speech. It went on from there. How much time does coach Jeff Blashill have left in Detroit? This Red Wings group is no different, loaded down with bad contracts This topic was the impetus behind the phone call to Holland on Sunday given by Holland when they were still trying to contend. Out of respect for and he declined to talk about his coach. Really, it’s a no-win situation. If what they’ve done for the organization, Holland won’t even broach the he throws his support behind Blashill, it ends up looking like the typical ill- idea of a trade for Henrik Zetterberg and Kronwall. fated endorsements that often end up precluding a coaching change. The contracts for Justin Abdelkader, Jonathan Ericsson, Frans Nielsen, In theory, he could come out and say that Blashill is the coach no matter Darren Helm and Danny DeKeyser are currently unmovable. what until the end of the season to put to rest any speculation. But again, there’s no benefit to boxing himself in like that. The reality is that Blashill Trevor Daley is on a reasonable contract and could be moved, something isn’t safe. If the Saturday loss to the Canadiens is a sign that the team Holland should absolutely entertain if the opportunity presents itself. has completely tuned him out, and it’s followed by similar performances Maybe there’s a market for Jimmy Howard but you don’t get the sense this week, a change would have to be made. It would be inexcusable to yet that Holland is quite ready to completely pull the plug on the whole stay the course. operation this season and beyond, something a Howard or Daley trade would do. But to Blashill’s credit, and I realize I’m treading on thin ice with a fan base holding torches and pitchforks, the team had been playing hard for Which brings us to the final point. him until this point. The Wings didn’t always play smart. They weren’t always consistent. But these two games are the first time you suspect Red Wings owner Chris Ilitch has been publicly mum on the direction he they’re tuning him out. wants the team to take this year. (Photo: Paul Sancya/Associated Press) Heading into the second Montreal game, when Niklas Kronwall was Where does ownership stand with the general manager? posed with the question as to whether the heat should be moving to the head coach, he definitely bristled. Holland is being hit with a barrage of criticism and without knowing the mandate from ownership, it’s fair. There’s no margin for error with the “This has nothing to do with any type of structure, doesn’t matter what Red Wings because they are loaded down with contracts that Holland the coach says. If the players don’t do it for 60 minutes, it doesn’t matter negotiated. what he says. We have to do way better job individually and as a team obviously. Just be better, make the right play,” Kronwall said. “If we don’t There’s no help banging down the door from Grand Rapids, especially on it’s going to be tough because our B game isn’t good enough.” defense, because the drafting under Holland over the last five years or so hasn’t been good enough. The Red Wings were built on drafting and They didn’t play with the kind of conviction Kronwall spoke with, a developing but they have failed to hit on enough impact players in recent consistent problem with this team. They tend to say the right thing years to sustain that level of success they've enjoyed in the past. And without translating it onto the ice. If that continues, if there’s too much B while there appears to be talent coming into the organization from recent and C game, a coaching move has to happen. drafts, it's still not the type of talent that’s going to turn the ship in the short term. If the Red Wings make a move at coach, what does it look like? If ownership’s mandate is to keep the Red Wings competitive and help fill This is where it gets complicated. The Red Wings have a general the stands of the new arena, then it’s hard to pile on Holland for not manager in the final year of his contract so now is not the time to be embracing a full rebuild. making long-term solutions behind the bench. The reality is, Holland isn’t the person who should be making that call beyond this season right now. The problem is we don’t know. We only know that the franchise has a GM operating in the final year of his contract, not an ideal circumstance There are plenty of qualified candidates available, like Dave Tippett and for long-term building. Dan Bylsma to start, but it would be counterproductive to make that move midseason. If there’s a new GM in place this summer, he deserves the At some point, Red Wings owner Christopher Ilitch owes it to the fans to opportunity to make that call and not be saddled with a veteran coach on present his vision. Does he have the stomach for a proper tear-it-down a long-term contract. rebuild that could take a good five years to complete? Does he prefer the team competes while waiting for bad contracts to expire? Not only that, but bringing in a veteran coach might be counterproductive in terms of the impact on long-range plans. If this is a lost season, and Because right now, it’s floundering. The coach’s future is uncertain. The it’s trending in that direction, there’s no sense in patching it with solutions GM doesn’t know if he’ll be employed in Detroit beyond this season. The that might get in the way of better lottery chances. team’s play is reflecting the uncertainty. Fans, especially those paying big money to watch it all go down in the new arena, deserve better. The Athletic LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086742 Websites An Environmental Impact Study, financed by OVG in hopes of expediting the process, must be approved, and according to the Seattle City Council, there are several transactional documents that still must be The Athletic / Seattle City Council approves KeyArena renovation reviewed and signed. According to a release issued by the Council proposal, so what's next? following Monday’s vote, the MOU “will soon be memorialized in a Development Agreement, Lease Agreement and Seattle Center Integration Agreement.” By Katie Strang 8 hours ago Though Leiweke was in attendance for the vote on Monday, it has been relatively quiet on OVG’s end in recent weeks and there is the sense that the parties involved hoping to see this process move forward are leery that any sort of public stumping could derail progress made in recent Seattle is one step closer to landing an NHL franchise following weeks. Monday’s city council vote to pass a proposal that details a $600 million plan to renovate KeyArena. Sources told The Athletic last week that both David Bonderman and Jerry Bruckheimer are expected to spearhead an ownership group behind The Seattle City Council, in a full council hearing that lasted more than Seattle’s push for a team, though neither has made any public two hours, voted affirmatively, by a vote of 7-1, to pass the Oak View statements recently. Group’s Memorandum of Understanding outlining a proposal to privately finance the rehabilitation of the former home of the Seattle SuperSonics The NHL’s Board of Governors meeting will take place in Florida later and nearly double its current square footage. this week, and though it is not believed to be an official topic on the agenda, it would not be a shock if the Seattle vote and Houston’s Seattle has long been rumored to be a potential landing spot for the NHL reported interest in obtaining an NHL franchise become topics of should the league consider another expansion franchise and the city’s discussion. hopes of making that a reality gained serious traction in the wake of Monday’s development. Items of interest: Councilmember Lorena Gonzalez was absent from the meeting. One of her spokespersons told The Athletic last week that she Under the current terms of the proposal, championed aggressively by was out of the country but was scheduled to return in time for the vote. the Tim Leiweke-led Oak View Group, construction on the project would Gonzalez missed the meeting on account of an apparent travel begin in 2018 with the completion date slated for 2020. complication … While there seemed to be an overwhelming majority of And though the plan is not contingent upon an anchor tenant in the form support among those in attendance for the meeting, there were multiple of either an NBA or NHL team, the state-of-the-art arena is expected to citizens who expressed concern that the arena was taking priority over further the city’s chances of luring an expansion franchise. some of the city’s other pressing issues such as homelessness and income inequality … One of KeyArena’s current tenants, the WNBA “It certainly puts us in the driver’s seat,” Seattle City Council president Seattle Storm, in a letter read aloud to the council, expressed support for Bruce Harrell said during Monday afternoon’s meeting, which was the plan … Councilmember Sawant explained her affirmative vote as a streamed live on the city’s website. reluctant one and expressed concern from the massive tax benefits a big business was extracting from the city. How it happened: After an opening session devoted to public comments, as well as a chunk of time allotted for council members to address both The Athletic LOADED: 12.05.2017 the benefits of the proposed plan and some of the various concerns, the eight members of the council voted, 7-1. Councilmember Mike O’Brien, who has served on the council since 2010 and represents District 6, was the lone “no” vote, and he said his preference would be to abstain from the vote entirely. Before the plan was moved to a vote, O'Brien proposed an amendment regarding the “exclusivity clause,” of the MOU, citing concerns about OVG having any sort of power over the city’s flexibility to make deals with other entities over the life of the 39-year lease. That amendment was supported by council member Kshama Sawant but was ultimately defeated. O’Brien said he hoped by the time the plan progressed to the stage of reviewing transactional documents that he would change his mind. “I think it’s critically important that we do this right and I’m not convinced, in looking at the MOU, that we’re there quite yet,” O’Brien said. “My preference would have been to abstain today and wait to see what those transaction documents look like, but our council rules prohibit abstentions on the full council. … I’m going to vote no on this, but I want to let the folks know that are continuing to negotiate this that I hope to be in a place, when the transaction documents are ready, that I feel confident voting yes on those documents when they’re here.” What it means: Nothing is imminent. And the NHL has promised nothing to Seattle, despite the city’s bid to build an arena in hopes of securing a team. However, this is considered the first significant step in making a strong case for an expansion franchise. Seattle, as was detailed here last week, would presumably be an appealing market to the league for a number of reasons: a rapidly- growing population, a strong regional foothold in the Pacific Northwest, a built-in rivalry with the Vancouver Canucks and a city chock-full of corporate dollars. That offers no guarantee, however, it’s worth noting that the last expansion franchise — awarded in 2016 to billionaire banker Bill Foley — netted $500 million in expansion fees. Even if the league has no current plans to expand — an NHL source indicated this is indeed the case — it certainly remains an enticing option in the near future, assuming everything moves forward according to plan. What’s next: The MOU now must be signed by the Mayor of Seattle Jenny Durkan, who recently took office (her predecessor, Ed Murray, stepped down in September following multiple allegations of sexual abuse), in order to become official. That is slated to happen later this week, according to those with knowledge of the process. 1086743 Websites Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 12.05.2017

Sportsnet.ca / Maple Leafs’ Nylander-at-centre conversation has been renewed again

Chris Johnston December 4, 2017, 5:04 PM

You can chart the evolution through Mike Babcock’s own words. The Toronto Maple Leafs coach has repeatedly been asked a variation of the same question – is William Nylander a centre? – during a 10-month stretch where he’s been deployed almost exclusively as a winger. Feb. 2, 2017: “I see Willy as a centre, for sure.” April 25, 2017: “Willy’s not going to be a centre next year.” Dec. 4, 2017: “Well obviously it’s something that who knows? I mean if I’ve got to use him, I’ll maybe try him there. I’m trying to catch Willy, I’m trying to catch Mitch [Marner], I’m trying to catch all those young guys being good. When you play centre you’re often caught being bad. I don’t really need to catch him doing that, so that’s why he isn’t there.” The conversation was renewed after Tyler Bozak missed Monday’s practice with an illness. Nylander skated between James van Riemsdyk and Marner in his absence – a development of debatable news value given Babcock’s daily use of the blender and the fact Toronto’s next game isn’t until Wednesday night against Calgary. In all likelihood, Nylander was nothing more than a practice placeholder. The 21-year-old will have to show Babcock that he can handle the defensive zone responsibilities before he’s consistently penciled in down the middle. The coach hasn’t said that outright, but it lingers between the lines. Nylander is already a capable faceoff man – winning 54.7 per cent of 214 draws this season, most of them on his strong side – and a positive driver of possession. Recently the points have started to come after a dry spell. There are signs of progress in his game even if he’s officially considered a right-winger by traditional standards. Truth be told, that’s an outdated label in a league where coaches have shifted the responsibilities assigned to each position. “If I had my way, we wouldn’t have right wing, left wing and centre,” Edmonton’s Todd McLellan said last week. “We’d just have three forwards and they’d just play.” “Everybody has to be able to play down low, everybody’s interchangeable up front,” he continued. “The first guy on the forecheck isn’t always your left-winger, it isn’t always your centreman. They’re forwards and that’s how they play.” There’s an extra layer of interest around the conversation in Toronto because Bozak is currently playing out the final year of his contract and there isn’t a natural replacement waiting in the organization. Cap realities will make it challenging for the team to re-sign Bozak or wade into a free- agent pool that could include John Tavares, Mikael Backlund and Lars Eller, among others, this summer. Even though Patrick Marleau has played a fair bit in the middle this season, that’s come out of necessity for Babcock. He trusts the 38-year- old at centre more than Nylander, Marner or even Bozak in certain situations on the road. It’s certainly not the kind of long-term solution the Leafs will need to settle on at some point. With Auston Matthews and Nazem Kadri slotted in the top two spots for years to come, Nylander could eventually become the No. 3 – hence the heightened interest any time there’s even a whiff of opportunity to play him there. Even though Babcock’s tune has changed in the last year, he hasn’t ruled out the possibility entirely. We just aren’t likely to see it this week when the Flames visit Air Canada Centre. In the NHL, the front office worries about the big picture while the head coach concerns himself with today. “I’m just trying to win the game against Calgary,” Babcock told reporters on Monday. “Let’s go from there.” And let nature take its course. 1086744 Websites

Sportsnet.ca / Markus Naslund talks Sedins’ ascension and who’s next for Canucks

Megan Stewart December 4, 2017, 7:52 PM

It was a welcome return, even if he wasn’t actually in the building. Vancouver Canucks fans heard from former captain Markus Naslund when the retired player voiced the tribute for Daniel Sedin, marking the twin’s 1,000th NHL point in a ceremony Saturday night at Rogers Arena. By the end of the 2-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs, the 37-year-old Swede had 1,002 points. Naslund praised his compatriot that night in a video celebration and again today in a phone interview with Andrew Walker and Scott Rintoul on Sportsnet 650. He said he was honoured to participate in the ceremony and remembers the Sedin twins as teens before they were drafted second and third overall in 1999. In Sweden, he said, they broke records and played at the highest level of the game at a young age, showing their “extreme potential” all the way through. “The commitment they’ve got for the sport and what they have done throughout their career is what’s really taken them to another level. That is tough to predict ahead of time, but it’s been a tremendous career for them both,” he said. Daniel has frequently said he and brother Henrik looked to Naslund as a mentor, but the senior skater who retired in 2009 at 35 years of age said he wasn’t the role model he could have been. “I almost feel bad that I didn’t give them enough attention because I saw them as so mature at an early age. They didn’t ask for a lot of help,” said Naslund, who had 869 points over 16 seasons, including 12 of those in Vancouver. The Canucks retired his No. 19 and he understands how it feels to sense your own “NHL mortality” in the twilight of your playing days. “You see a lot of guys who get older and still have egos, which neither Daniel or Henrik has.” Naslund is not troubled by the fact he is not a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame. “I don’t think I played at a high level long enough and didn’t win a Stanley Cup and didn’t reach the plateaus you need to be considered,” he said. “I’m happy with my carer but I don’t look at myself in that category.” At the other end of his NHL career, Elias Pettersson is only beginning his ascent and has “great potential” as a highly-skilled player now leading the Swedish Hockey League. The upside is also promising with Jonathan Dahlen, he added. “The Canucks have two very interesting players coming up here.” Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086745 Websites This is what team sports are about, right? Reaching down that proverbial mountain, extending a hand for the guy who might be falling behind. Tightening the group; sharing the tough times. Sportsnet.ca / Oilers rallying around Laurent Brossoit after near-collapse “It’s not all on him,” said Letestu, a fourth-line guy who is a true leader inside this room. “The weight he’s probably carrying, finally getting an opportunity to show what he has, and maybe it doesn’t go his way … I’ve Mark Spector talked to him about keeping it big picture. Don’t let 10 minutes of a hockey game define you. The other 50 minutes were pretty good.” December 4, 2017, 5:43 PM And once the kid gets sorted out, it’s time to address the rest of the team.

“As a leadership group you have to say, ‘Hey, he’s going to be all right. EDMONTON — It’s always a long, dusty road to get to that intersection He’s going to be fine.’ As a leadership group there’s a role to be played of Preparation St. and Opportunity Ave. And sometimes, when you finally there. Let’s all get behind this guy, and get ‘er goin’.” get there, the lights are busted. Or you read the damned map wrong, and you’re pointing south, not north. Preparation St. and Opportunity Ave. In the real life National Hockey League those “long road” stories don’t Sometimes, it’s a pretty rough neighbourhood. always have a Hollywood happy ending. So when apprentice Laurent Brossoit stepped in for injured Cam Talbot, his first big chance to be an Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 12.05.2017 NHL No. 1, we wondered: Is this the Disney moment? After all those games in all those leagues — BCHL, WHL, ECHL, AHL, NHL — from the cold obscurity of the Alaska Aces to the barbecue of a basketball town that is Oklahoma City, is this where a minor-league caterpillar turns into a big-league butterfly? Well, on Saturday night in Calgary Brossoit had his second start since Talbot went down. On Monday morning, Jim Matheson’s lede in the Edmonton Journal story said it all: “OK, now what?” “I assess the game honestly, and there were goals I wasn’t happy with,” Brossoit said of a 7-5 Oilers in Calgary, where he nearly blew a 6-1 lead with 15 minutes to play. “I wouldn’t be in the league if those were goals I was happy with. “I played the score, and learned a lesson. I’ll be better for it.” Brossoit is just 24. When the Oilers gave up on Devan Dubnyk it was 2014, a full decade after they’d made him the 14th-overall choice in the 2004 draft. Dubnyk was nearly 28, and had failed miserably at his big chance. His confidence had more holes than a Trump alibi, and three other teams would give up on Dubnyk before he resurrected himself in Minnesota. Brossoit isn’t there yet, but here’s the reality: Philadelphia is in town Wednesday, the Oilers are desperate to win a home game against a team that has dropped 10 straight, and undrafted 23-year-old Nick Ellis — Brossoit’s backup — has yet to play his first NHL minute. This intersection is a two-way stop: Either the Oilers show faith in Brossoit, or they start Ellis — or a goalie they trade for in the next 48 hours — and tell the world they’re moving on from the guy they call L.B. “Certainly rebuilding L.B. right now is one of our goals,” said head coach Todd McLellan. So coach, do you know who gets the start Wednesday? “I don’t at this point. We’ll get through (Tuesday) and go from there.” (Gulp.) Brossoit was a little better than OK against Toronto Thursday, and pretty good with limited work for two dominant Oilers periods at Calgary Saturday. But with the score 6-1, he opened up. Sam Bennett and Johnny Gaudreau scored bad-angle goals from below the circle. A couple wrist shots whistled past, and Edmonton was clinging to a 6-5 lead in a game it had led by five moments before. “You know what it came down to? I let my body cool off,” he said Monday. “In a situation like that, where we take full control, I know next time to just be sure I’m ready to go both mentally and physically.” After a day off Sunday, on Monday morning the job of patching up the young goaler’s psyche fell to his veteran teammates. Guys who all know that Brossoit is the best option currently, and they can’t beat Philly if he isn’t feeling like a winner. “We’ve just got to let him know, we’ve all been there. We’ve all had off nights, or plays that haven’t gone our way — especially early in our career,” said Mark Letestu, who doesn’t have to reach back very far to Kris Russell’s own-goal for a talking point. “Rusty — perfect example. He had a tough night, owned it, came back and had a great night against Calgary two nights later.” 1086746 Websites going to be my No. 1 choice to re-sign here, but you never know what could happen, right?

Doughty appeared to catch himself pledging allegiance to the Kings Sportsnet.ca / Karlsson and Doughty poised to set new course for star before stepping back slightly. He’s won two Stanley Cups with the free agents franchise, sure, but he also sat out most of training camp in 2011 before signing the $56-million, eight-year contract he’s currently playing on. Chris Johnston By actions more than words, the best NHL players of this generation have indicated that they see little value in free agency. December 4, 2017, 11:55 AM There is risk in a physical sport to play a contract out to its conclusion, especially when there’s an option to extend it a year early. There is also no guarantee a top free agent would set off a serious bidding war in There’s a siren call to be found in Drew Doughty and Erik Karlsson’s today’s NHL – not with so many contenders already over-committed on willingness to speak so freely about free agency that may or may not the cap. For example, if Carey Price were available this coming July 1, arrive 18 months from now. could he command more than the $84-million, eight-year deal Montreal extended him to last summer? It hints at a new approach. The possibility that two of the NHL’s top players might be looking to disrupt the established way of doing things. That’s what made the comments from Doughty and Karlsson stand out so much. They seem inclined to test conventional wisdom. Superstars always exchange the leverage of potentially hitting the open market for the security of long-term, guaranteed-money contracts where The pair entered the NHL together as part of the 2008 draft class and they already are. It has been that way, almost without exception, since helped usher in a push towards mobile, puck-moving defencemen. They the salary cap was instituted in 2005 following a season lost to a lockout. are two of the game’s biggest attractions and biggest personalities. They are perennial Norris Trophy contenders. Player movement was further complicated following another lockout, and the signing of a new collective bargaining agreement in January 2013. Backed by a powerful agency in Newport Sports, they also have the That brought about contract term limits, salary variance restrictions and a gravitas to try and blaze a new trail. cap recapture penalty. Only time will tell if that’s truly their intent. Here we are now with labour uncertainty again clouding the horizon and the possibility of a 2019 superclass of UFA defencemen that includes Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 12.05.2017 Karlsson, Doughty and Oliver Ekman-Larsson. None of those men will know what the NHL’s next system looks like while negotiating his next contract. However, we can bank on a couple things: 1.) They’ll want to exert maximum control over the process. 2.) They’ll mitigate their personal risk in the 2020-21 season, when salaries aren’t likely to be paid in full because of another lockout. 3.) They will give no discounts for loyalty, geography or in the name of building a contender. How the players seek to achieve those aims is where this gets interesting. In Karlsson’s words, in particular, you can detect a militant stance that suggests he’s willing to endure an uncomfortable negotiation with his employer. As we mentioned on “” this weekend, the Senators aren’t overly comfortable with it being discussed publicly at all right now. “I think it’s time to realize that when we go to the table, it’s business on both parts, not just [owners],” Karlsson told reporters last week. “That’s the business part of it. That’s the way every player has been treated ever since this league has started, and I think the players have been a little bit on the other side of things when it comes to negotiations.” Consider his frame of reference here: Karlsson was arguably the most outspoken player when the NHL decided to cease Olympic participation. He is also best friends with Daniel Alfredsson, the Senators legend who took perceived hometown discounts with the organization until an emotional 2013 divorce when the favour wasn’t repaid. As much as he loves living and playing in Ottawa, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the 27-year-old is prioritizing business at this stage of his career. The same goes for Doughty. He first mused about the possibility of one day playing for the Leafs on radio this summer and dropped more crumbs during a visit to Toronto in October. Doughty went even deeper in a conversation with The Athletic’s Craig Custance last week – saying that he planned to consult with Karlsson throughout the free-agent process and expects both of them to surpass P.K. Subban’s deal. Custance shared the complete audio of the interview on his “Full 60” podcast and it includes this telling exchange: CC: So you’re thinking about [free agency] already, then… DD: Well I think about it, yeah, but obviously my first want would be to stay in L.A. CC: Is it? DD: Yeah, I think so. You know, I love this organization. Actually I sh— – I love the players, that’s where I would really, really, really feel bad is if I left some of the players. And I’ve done so much in this organization already, I’m comfortable here, you know, I don’t know. Definitely L.A.’s 1086747 Websites Possibility #4: At least one guy actually switches teams in free agency I mean, it has happened before with star defencemen in their prime. There was Scott Niedermayer in 2006 and Zdeno Chara in 2007 and… Sportsnet.ca / Down Goes Brown Weekend Wrap: Too soon to buy uh… basically those two. Canadiens stock Odds of it happening: 7%

Entertainment value for Kings and/or Sens fans: Less than zero. Unless Sean McIndoe the departure came on the heels of a Cup win, this would be devastating. December 4, 2017, 11:23 AM Entertainment value for the rest of us: High, right up until the player ended up signing with your team’s biggest rival. Every Monday, Sean McIndoe looks back at weekend play in the NHL Possibility #5: Both guys end up on the same team and the league’s biggest storylines. You can follow him on Twitter. They’re represented by the same agency. They’ve already admitted Opening faceoff: The great free-agent defenceman apocalypse of 2019 they’re going to work together on this. They seem like friends. Is anyone else getting a Selanne/Kariya vibe here? We’ve reached the point in the season where our attention tends to turn toward the future. Things have settled in, and our view of who’s good and Odds of it happening: 1% who’s not isn’t swinging wildly day to day anymore. But there’s still plenty Entertainment value for Kings and/or Sens fans: We’ll be at the bar. of season left, so it’s tempting to start thinking ahead to the trade deadline, the final stretch run, or the playoffs. Entertainment value for the rest of us: Save us a seat; we can all drown our sorrows while we watch the same team get handed the Stanley Cup Or, as was the case this weekend, to the summer of 2019. for the next few years. If that seems a little too far ahead, we can thank Drew Doughty and Erik NHL on Sportsnet NOW Karlsson. The Kings’ defenceman got the ball rolling with a revealing interview late last week in which he admitted he was already looking Live stream over 300 marquee regular season games, regional matchups ahead to free agency, and that he would be touching base with fellow for the Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames, Vancouver Canucks and 2019 UFA Karlsson to make sure they’re on the same page in terms of Toronto Maple Leafs, and the entire 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs. money. The Senators’ star then stoked that fire by telling a reporter that “When I go to market, I’m going to get what I’m worth.” LEARN MORE Well then. In a league where franchise players almost never make it to Luckily, we still have two more Cups to hand out before the free agency, hearing Doughty and Karlsson muse about it openly was a Doughty/Karlsson armageddon befalls us. Let’s head to the power surprise. Most players would mumble something about not thinking rankings to figure out who’s leading the way for this year’s… ahead, just being focused on winning tonight’s game, and hey let’s get Road to the Cup pucks in deep. Not these two, apparently. The five teams that look like they’re headed towards Stanley Cup– So naturally, fans around the league immediately started in on figuring favourite status. how to react, parsing the specific words — does it mean anything that Karlsson said “when” he goes to market, not if? — and trying to figure out 5. Los Angeles Kings (17-8-3, +22 true goals differential*): They’ve what number Doughty would wear for the Maple Leafs. (That last one retaken the Pacific thanks to five straight wins and a Golden Knights may have just been in Toronto.) Meanwhile, fans in L.A. and Ottawa slump. were really wishing everyone would leave them alone and go back to speculating about John Tavares. 4. Columbus Blue Jackets (17-9-1, +11): They’ve got a big Metro showdown with the Devils this week, as the two will face off in back-to- Well, no such luck today. Instead, let’s try to handicap where the two back games (with two days off in between, for some reason). stars will end up. 3. Winnipeg Jets (17-6-3, +22): They continue their climb up the Possibility #1: Both guys re-sign before actually hitting UFA status rankings, thanks to last night’s dismantling of the Senators. After all the speculation, both players do what virtually everyone else Hey, is it too early to start getting excited about the Jets/Blues home-and- does and sign extensions well before they get to the market — maybe as home in two weeks? early at July 1 of next year. 2. St. Louis Blues (17-8-2, +14): Because I don’t think it’s too early. Odds of it happening: 80% 1. Tampa Bay Lightning (18-6-2, +28): Might want to be careful with Entertainment value for Kings and/or Sens fans: It would be more like those point shots around Nikita Kucherov, guys. relief than entertainment, but they’d take it. (*Goals scored minus goals allowed, without counting shootouts like the Entertainment value for the rest of us: Minimal. NHL does for some reason.) Possibility #2: Both guys re-sign, but at least one makes it to UFA status No. first We are not doing this again. Not this week. Seriously, I know you’re A.K.A. “The Stamkos” waiting for it. Don’t bother. Asked and answered. No. Odds of it happening: 5% We are not doing yet another round of “Gosh, maybe we were all wrong about the Montreal Canadiens.” Entertainment value for Kings and/or Sens fans: Right up there with skydiving with a faulty parachute that doesn’t open the first few times you I mean, this would be what, chapter four of that story? Five? I’ve already pull the chord, but eventually does. lost count, and we’re not even two full months into the season yet. Entertainment value for the rest of us: Strong for a day or two, then We went into the year thinking the Habs were contenders — not minimal. favourites, but one of those second-tier teams that at least had a realistic shot. They were the defending division champions and despite a series Possibility #3: At least one guy gets traded of weird off-season moves, they deserved some respect. Hey, you can’t let him walk for nothing, right? Then the season started, and they were terrible. They couldn’t score, Odds of it happening: 7% shooting a comical 3.0 per cent as a team. And when Carey Price went from slumping to out with an injury, most of us wrote them off. Entertainment value for Kings and/or Sens fans: Solid. They wouldn’t like it, but you’d get a ton in return for either guy. And if it did come to this, So shows up to hold down the fort, the puck starts going plenty of fans in Ottawa or L.A. would have already turned against the in at the other end, and the Canadiens win seven of 10. They were back guy and talked themselves into moving on for the good of the franchise. in the race, the season was saved, and we all had a good laugh about overreacting to the first few weeks. Entertainment value for the rest of us: Sky-high, especially if it comes after months of speculation. Trades are the best. Then came five straight losses, with the nadir being a Saturday night blowout that saw the Leafs embarrass them 6–0 on national television. By the time that one was over, we were hearing about how the core just And indeed, according to reports, the Sabres are ready to start making wasn’t good enough and the rebuild was on the way. We just didn’t know moves. Elliotte Friedman has them willing to listen to offers on anyone who would execute it, since Marc Bergevin was halfway out the door. other than Jack Eichel, including Evander Kane and maybe even Rasmus Ristolainen or Sam Reinhart. Then Price came back looking like the vintage 2015 version, and ever since the Canadiens have been unbeatable. They’ve won five straight, That’s the smart move – clearly the status quo isn’t working in Buffalo. outscoring opponents 24–5 in the process. That includes Saturday But it’s also an admission of failure. This is the team that the Sabres night’s 10–1 humiliation of the Red Wings, the weekend’s biggest spent the last half-decade patiently reshaping themselves into. And now blowout by far. Right now, the Canadiens are a woodchipper. They’re it’s starting to look like all those years landed them Eichel and not much back in the playoffs, holding down third spot in the Atlantic, and they’ll be else. There’s some help on the way, with Alexander Nylander still making playing on home ice for the next two weeks. his way through the system and Casey Mittelstadt in the college ranks. But for the most part, the spoils of the rebuild are already in Buffalo. And So this is the part where we’re supposed to write about how the Habs are the results speak for themselves. fixed, that a healthy Carey Price changes everything for this team, and that Bergevin and Claude Julien were smart not to make any panic Maybe this ends with the Sabres landing the franchise defenceman they moves when the vultures were circling. need so desperately by drafting Rasmus Dahlin. Lord knows, they’ve earned some lottery karma over the years. That’s a long way away, and Well, forget it. We know how this plays out. We write that column, and it’s tough to sell long-suffering Buffalo fans on a 20–per cent chance at the Canadiens will go out and lose 7–0 to the Blues tomorrow to launch a the ping-pong balls. But right now, that may be all the Sabres have to stretch where they drop seven of nine. Then just as we’re backing the offer. moving trucks up to the Bell Centre for the inevitable fire sale, they’ll beat the Lightning 9–2 to launch a win streak. By February, they’ll somehow Tape II Tape manage to be in first place in the Atlantic and last place overall in the same month. Who knows, maybe even the same day. Ryan Dixon and Rory Boylen go deep on pucks with a mix of facts and fun, leaning on a varied group of hockey voices to give their take on the And we’ll be with them the whole way, writing the same “Whoops, spoke country’s most beloved game. too soon” pieces. Just not this week. We all need a break right now. Listen Now | Subscribe | Boylen on Twitter | Dixon on Twitter So let’s leave it at this: Right now, the Canadiens look very good. The Red Wings may not be anyone’s idea of a powerhouse, but they’re Quick shifts: 10 more notable moments from around the league Montreal’s top competition for a playoff spot, at least until the schedule- • On Saturday, we asked whether Cam Talbot‘s injury meant the Oilers’ maker lets the Bruins catch up in the games-played column. Spanking goaltending might sink them. The answer: Nope, as long as they score Detroit back-to-back was an impressive statement. And it’s possible that seven goals a night. Which they did in the weekend’s wildest game, this Montreal team really is better than we thought. earning a 7–5 win over the Flames after nearly blowing a 6–1 lead. The But maybe not. Tune in next week, and the week after, and every week full highlights are worth a WATCH: after that. Maybe by the end of the season we’ll have at least started to • In other Oiler news, they reacquired Brandon Davidson on Sunday, figure these guys out. snagging him off waivers from the Canadiens. Um, the Sabres know they The five teams that look like they’re headed towards watching Rasmus need defencemen, right? Dahlin highlights and playing with draft-lottery simulations. • With apologies to the Flames and Oilers, the most exciting hockey of 5. Florida Panthers (10-13-3, -14): The Atlantic Division may be the weekend came in a wild overtime between the Panthers and sputtering, but at least they own most of the real estate in the bottom five. Hurricanes. 4. Detroit Red Wings (10-12-5, -17): That Montreal game was ugly. You • The Rangers got the outdoor season underway with a weekend practice have to appreciate the symmetry, though. at Central Park. Thousands of fans attended, many of whom were no doubt confused that the league didn’t find a way to make the Blackhawks 3. Philadelphia Flyers (8-11-7, -9): Make it 10 straight losses for a show up. franchise that’s outright flatlining. • Hey, if you’re going to have too many men on the ice, you may as well 2. Arizona Coyotes (7-18-5, -31): Hey, look who’s not on the bottom get your money’s worth: anymore. Let’s hear it, Coyotes fans: We’re No. 2, we’re No. 2! Wait, why are all the eight-year-olds giggling right now? • It took a little longer than we might have expected, but Arizona’s Dylan Strome picked up his first NHL goal on Saturday against the Devils: 1. Buffalo Sabres (6-17-4, -37): Yikes. Senators’ blue-chipper Thomas Chabot got his first the night before: Last week, we went back and forth on whether the Sabres should pass the Coyotes for top spot in the bottom five. This week, there wasn’t much • The Senators snapped their seven-game losing streak in that Friday of a debate. win, but got right back to looking awful in last night’s 5-0 loss in Winnipeg. Let’s start with the good news: The Sabres scored a goal this weekend. It was only one, and it came in the third period of a game that was already • It didn’t take long for Adam Henrique to make an impact in Anaheim. decided. But they did score, and it was the first time they’d put a puck in After being acquired in last week’s big trade, he scored his first as a Duck the net in four games. on Saturday: Now the bad news: Literally everything else. • Viktor Arvidsson helped with a marriage proposal at Saturday’s game: The Sabres have lost four straight, and 11 of 12. They’ve dropped behind Viktor Arvidsson assisting in a marriage proposal, what a beauty the Coyotes into dead last in the league. And despite playing in an pic.twitter.com/Hd327S0QU2 Atlantic Division with only two good teams, they’re 13 points out of the — Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) December 3, 2017 playoff race — which is to say they’re not in the playoff race at all. They’re done. • Finally, Mark Scheifele continues to be one of the league’s most underrated stars. This feature takes a look behind the scenes at how he It gets worse. At their current pace, they’d finish the season with 49 prepares. points, which would be worse than the team’s rock-bottom years of 2013–14 and 2014–15. Those seasons, as you may remember, the Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 12.05.2017 Sabres weren’t exactly trying to make the playoffs, or do much of anything other than pad their lottery odds for Aaron Ekblad and Connor McDavid. Last season, an 81-point finish was enough to cost Tim Murray and Dan Bylsma their jobs. That sent a clear signal that expectations were rising, and all the pain of a long rebuild was supposed to pay off with a run at the post-season, at the very least. Instead, this. So now what? It’s not like Sabres fans can even settle into the “fire everyone” stage of frustration, since the team already did that in the off- season. With the draft and free agency a year away, that leaves trades as pretty much the only option for improving. 1086748 Websites

Sportsnet.ca / Flames Notebook: Is Sam Bennett turning a corner?

Pat Steinberg December 4, 2017, 2:09 PM

After a successful seven-game homestand ended in November, the Calgary Flames have struggled to string together successful outings, and thus successful results, in the nine games since. While the team attempts to stop its meandering trajectory, there might be some positive traction with one embattled player. Prior to Calgary opening a four-game homestand against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Nov. 28th, head coach Glen Gulutzan made an interesting declaration on the struggling Sam Bennett. Bennett had just three points in 23 games heading into said homestand, yet Gulutzan revealed he was coming off one of the most successful 10-game segments of his career. Gulutzan cited scoring chances as his evidence and a little digging seems to back the coach’s claim. Per NaturalStatTrick.com, Bennett has created 14 individual high danger scoring chances over his last 13 games (Gulutzan’s referenced 10-game stretch and the three games since). That number means more when you compare Bennett’s scoring chance outputs prior. At the time of publishing, Bennett has played 26 games this season and has created a total of 19 high danger chances at 5-on-5. That means he had manufactured just five in the first 13 games this season, as opposed to 14 in his 13 most recent outings. That’s a significant shift, so it becomes less surprising to see Bennett with five points in his last three games. The next step for Bennett is to rely less on creating off the rush and start dictating a little more in the offensive zone. While there’s no doubt he’s been far more dangerous the last month or so, Bennett’s possession metrics are still largely unimpressive. Below is a look at Bennett’s shot- based data in the two 13-game stretches we’ve referenced. Period CF% OZS% Oct. 4 – Nov. 4 47.2 58.4 Nov. 5 – Dec. 2 46.3 65.2 Despite getting fed with some of the team’s highest offensive starts, Bennett is still spending far too much time defending. From a team perspective, that’s easier to swallow with Bennett generating meaningful opportunities, but it still points to an area of growth for him and his line. Bennett has been playing almost exclusively with Mark Jankowski and Jaromir Jagr since the latter’s return, and they’ve certainly had their moments. But with all of them well over 60 per cent on the zone start scale, continually being outshot at 5-on-5 isn’t ideal. If they can get things closer to even, Bennett’s trio could really become a dangerous depth line. So, has Bennett really turned a corner? That answer isn’t totally clear, but there’s no doubt he’s been a more dangerous player. If and when his all-around game follows in step, I’ll be a little more convinced the answer to this query is yes. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086749 Websites “Five minutes into free agency I was completely relieved knowing that we had many, many teams call and many offers on the table that already went over and above my expectations. So the worry over whether or not Sportsnet.ca / Q&A: Daniel Briere on life and career in new a team I was interested in would call or whether or not I made a mistake autobiography not negotiating further with Buffalo all went out the window right away. That was a good feeling.

“But then comes the process of figuring out the best place to go, and we Eric Engels started weeding teams out until we had the Flyers, the Canadiens and the New York Rangers. And I was in contract with Chris Drury also, and December 4, 2017, 10:13 AM when he told me he wanted to go to the Rangers that made it easy for me to call the Rangers and say I was out and that I was opening up the

doors for Chris to go there. MONTREAL—The way Daniel Briere tells it in his recently released “Then we had to focus on Montreal and Philly and there was a lot of autobiography Mister Playoffs, he went to bed one night at the beginning back-and-forth trying to take in all the pluses and minuses on each side. of the 2000-01 season convinced he’d wake up as a member of the At the end of the day, it was very close until we came to talking about the Montreal Canadiens. players on each team. I felt the young players coming up on the Flyers’ The kid from Gatineau, Que., who had scored 416 points in 198 games side—Mike Richards, Jeff Carter, Scottie Upshall, Braydon Coburn—and with the Voltigeurs in the QMJHL before being drafted having a chance to play with Simon Gagne and Mike Knuble tipped the 24th overall in 1996, appeared to be on the outs with the Phoenix scale on their side.” Coyotes. He had scored 36 goals and 92 points in 68 AHL games with SN: The book reveals that the Canadiens assured you they would match the Springfield Falcons in 1997-98, managed respectable production in any offer, and it goes into detail about how they presented their interest. spite of being used sparingly over parts of the next two seasons in Can you share with our readers just how far they went to get you? Phoenix, but had failed to gain the trust of Coyotes coach Bob Francis and had been placed on waivers just two games into the 2000-01 Daniel Briere: “Someone showed up at the door, as soon as free agency campaign. opened, with a package from the Canadiens. Talking to [Canadiens legend] Jean Beliveau, talking to [Canadiens legend and then-GM] Bob That’s when the team Briere grew up cheering for had first expressed an Gainey—it was almost surreal to be courted by the greatest hockey interest in him. organization in the world. They gave me a DVD with Kiefer Sutherland “The one thing that was scary at the time was that I had a two-way (who at the time was playing a starring role in the critically acclaimed contract and my NHL salary was over $700,000 and my salary in the television series 24) in a Canadiens jersey pitching me on the team and AHL was $30,000,” said Briere in a telephone interview with Sportsnet the city. My wife at the time was crying when she saw that. this past Sunday. “If you got claimed on waivers then, teams had to keep “They did it all right. There’s nothing you could say that they missed the you for a minimum of 28 days. boat on with their presentation. Their presentation was simply amazing. It “Montreal was afraid to pick me up because my contract was so lopsided touched my heart, and that’s why it hurt so much to turn it down.” in NHL money, but that’s when my agent () talked to the SN: The book is called Mister Playoffs for a reason. In 2010 you put up Canadiens and had agreed with them that we’d raise my salary in the 30 points in the playoffs and came within two wins of bringing the Stanley minors to about $75,000 and cut my NHL salary in half. And I was totally Cup back to Philadelphia. How do you look back at that experience? fine with that because all I wanted was to play in the NHL. I was happy. I knew we had a done deal.” Daniel Briere: “It was probably the best two months of hockey I played in my career. Briere says in the book he had suffered the most devastating blow of his career when he woke up the next morning and was told by the Coyotes “If I remember correctly, for the first three games of the first series he’d be returning to Springfield, Mass. And it’ll probably be a tough one against New Jersey I was held without a point (he remembers correctly) for Montreal fans to absorb, learning that the purported reason the and reporters in Philly were starting to get on me. And then all of a Canadiens didn’t follow through on claiming Briere was because they sudden it just exploded. I finished that series strong (with two goals and didn’t want to free up a roster spot by trading or waiving forward Juha five points in the final two games). Lind, who had spent a total of 60 games over two seasons with the team and scored a measly four goals and six assists before never appearing in “In the second round, against Boston, it was definitely one of the best the NHL again. series I’ve ever played. Had a lot of big goals (Briere scored in five of the seven games and played a huge role in helping the Flyers overcome a 3- As for Briere, he found his way back to Phoenix, scored 11 goals in 29 0 series deficit and a 3-0 Bruins lead in Game 7). games with the Coyotes to close out 2000-01, and started on the path to becoming the player who managed 307 goals and 696 points in 973 “The third round against Montreal was probably my weakest performance regular-season games before retiring as one of the greatest playoff (he had only two goals and three points in five games), but then the finals performers the NHL’s ever known. came against Chicago. When we came home for Game 3 against Chicago—when [coach] Peter Laviolette called me into his office and told Mister Playoffs, as told by Briere to Radio-Canada reporter Martin me he was going to match me up against Jonathan Toews and his line Leclerc, is a riveting read (in French) that takes you through the because he felt our line’s puck possession would match up well against highlights of his life and his hockey career. them—that was one of the greatest compliments a coach has ever given me. Without saying much, he was putting me up against the player who After ripping through it, we had to talk to Briere about that first brush with was probably the greatest player in the NHL at the time. We answered the Canadiens, about his decision as a free agent to choose the the bell and performed well.” (Briere finished the six-game series with 12 Philadelphia Flyers over them in 2007, and certainly about how he points, falling just one point shy of Wayne Gretzky’s record for most scored 116 points in 124 playoff games. points ever recorded in a Stanley Cup Final.) We also made sure to touch on the tumultuous relationship he and SN: If you could put your finger on it, what was it that made you former coach Michel Therrien formed when the two were members of the consistently rise to the occasion in the playoffs? Canadiens during the 2013-14 season. Daniel Briere: “I think it’s a combination of different factors. Growing up I SN: The book is filled with all kinds of fascinating material. Though we always dreamed of playing in the playoffs, I always thought going to bed can’t run through it all, we’d like to start with you on the subject of at night that I would score an overtime winner in the playoffs. I always becoming an unrestricted free agent for the very first time. You had just wanted to be the guy that would make the difference. I visualized myself completed your fourth season with the Buffalo Sabres, recording 95 making the difference. points and co-captaining (with Chris Drury) the team to a Presidents’ Trophy and a run to the Eastern Conference Final. How was the “I remember having conversations with Chris Drury about how most experience of going to market as one of the most sought-after players in players, when they get in those big moments, they’re afraid to make a the world? mistake and afraid to screw it up. But players like us don’t even acknowledge that it’s a possibility that we might not make the big play Daniel Briere: “Very nerve-wracking, demanding, and it’s weird because happen. you go in not knowing if there’s going to be interest. You have a feeling, but there are no guarantees you’ll get what you think you might be worth. “And if it didn’t work out, it just meant my odds went way up for the next You don’t know what the offers will look like. time I’d be in that position. Just that mentality of wanting to be in that moment was a mental challenge I wasn’t afraid of, whereas a lot of guys are.” SN: You finally made it to Montreal after being bought out by Philadelphia in 2013. You say in the book that you had a conversation with general manager Marc Bergevin and coach Therrien that—without being given any guarantees—you’d be used in an offensive role, have a chance to contribute on the power play to help them fill an obvious scoring void. You ended up choosing Montreal over the Nashville Predators, and shortly after your arrival you were put on the back burner by Therrien. The book describes one particular encounter you had in December of that season, where you were summoned to Therrien’s office to review a bad sequence of yours from a previous game and were then told by the coach that, “No one respects you and no one wants to play with you.” How do you process that event now, in retrospect? Daniel Briere: “I’m sure he had a tactic behind it. I would hope so—with him being a coach. I just don’t know and haven’t figured out what it was. I would give him the benefit of the doubt of thinking it was tactical and that it wasn’t just personal, but only he knows that.” SN: If he had berated or embarrassed you and then given you 16-17 minutes of ice time the next night, would you have understood it better? Daniel Briere:“Definitely. That’s what [Sabres coach] Lindy Ruff used to do. He did that to me a few times, but at least he gave me a chance to redeem myself. If you’re doing it to get under the skin of a player, you gotta give them a chance to respond. If you do that and you don’t give them a chance to respond, then it really serves no purpose. “But when you’re told that, the first reaction is you start questioning yourself: ‘Am I a bad teammate? Is it that bad that nobody likes me, nobody wants to play with me?’ “It’s definitely a bad feeling.” SN: How much worse was it given the pressure of being a French Canadian playing for the Canadiens and feeling like you weren’t getting a fair chance to prove you could contribute to the team’s success? Daniel Briere: “I was okay and willing to live with it because all I cared about was trying to find a way to help the team. If the coach or the players didn’t feel like I could keep up with them, I wanted to make sure that in the room I could be the best teammate and the best leader to help them through. “It was the same thing with Michel. I was willing to help him out in the room. I knew he had a bad reputation. I knew that coming in. But I thought he might rely on me to help him out with the dressing room. “That he didn’t was probably the thing I was most surprised with. I don’t know if he felt like I was a threat to him, but it’s the one thing I wish we could have a redo on.” SN: You came to Montreal having scored 109 points in 108 playoff games, and in the second round of the 2014 playoffs Therrien scratched you for what turned out to be a 4-0 loss for the Canadiens in Game 5. Your teammate at the time, David Desharnais, says in your book that he was absolutely shocked. How did you take it? Daniel Briere: “That decision to scratch me in Game 5 made completely no sense to me. I’m not trying to be arrogant here. We all have our strengths and our weaknesses, and there’s things I know I didn’t do well over the course of my career, but the one thing I did was I was a gamer. “When I saw that, I just couldn’t believe it. It made absolutely no sense to me. I didn’t know what the thinking was. We ended up getting beat badly that game, so in a sense maybe he did me a favour. I would not have changed the outcome of the game myself, playing on the fourth line. “But I had an assist in the first game in Boston in overtime, I had a couple of big plays in the sweep over Tampa in Round 1—including the one in overtime when Dale Weise scored. So to me that decision just made no sense. What if we got in the crunch or got to overtime that night? You have someone on the fourth line who has done it many times and has the confidence to do it. It was just baffling to me. It got to the point where I was wondering how much he wanted to win. That’s how deep it goes as a player. But at the end of the day he’s the coach and he’s hired to do that, and I had to go along and had no say. I had to keep moving forward, which I did for the next two games of the series.” Briere played just nine shifts and a total of 8:06 in Game 7 and got the last laugh by setting up Montreal’s first goal and adding one of his own to put the Canadiens up 3-1 with less than six minutes remaining, helping them to the Eastern Conference Final. His book, which is filled with his thoughts on experiences like that, is currently only available in French. But he did mentioned there is a possibility it will be released in English at some point in the near future. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086750 Websites “I think he handles it well, and everyone gets [talked about here, it’s not just one player,” he said. “Everyone knows how he feels. But I think it’s a good thing. You want to be in a position where you have pressure and in TSN.CA / Nylander practises at centre as Bozak battles illness a market that appreciates you and that cares. People want to talk about the Leafs and he gets that. At the same time, when you go through tough stretches it’s hard but everyone has them. He’s a good player and he’s confident in himself.” By Kristen Shilton TSN.CA LOADED: 12.05.2017

TORONTO – William Nylander stayed on the ice so long after Maple Leafs practice on Monday, the dressing room was deserted (save for media) by the time he called it a day. With Tyler Bozak sidelined by illness, Nylander had just finished his first extended session of the season as a centre. The sophomore has slotted in sporadically at morning skates, but on Monday he was the middle man for James van Riemsdyk and Mitch Marner for the entirety of the day’s drills. When called upon, Patrick Marleau has been the Leafs' preferred centre substitute this season. That increases the likelihood Nylander was just a placeholder for Bozak, but he did enter the NHL as a centre and take reps there during the 2015-16 season. Head coach Mike Babcock said last April he wouldn't move Nylander this season, but does Monday's practice now signal a possible position change on the horizon? “I don’t know. I’m just trying to win the game against Calgary, let’s go from there,” Babcock said. “It’s something where, who knows? If we’ve got to use him, we’ll maybe try him there.” It was just days ago that Babcock was defending Nylander and Marner from a growing chorus of critics who seem to only notice their deficiencies. After a strong end to his rookie season and an MVP-worthy turn with gold-medal winning Sweden at the World Championships, Nylander seemed destined to avoid any hint of a sophomore slump. Yet the transition to Year 2 hasn't been entirely smooth. Nylander has racked up only five goals and 15 assists – over 28 games. Six of those points have come in his last seven games, after he broke out of a well- documented 12-game goal drought. He’s played on every one of the Leafs' lines this season, but has yet to find a combination where he thrives. It was Babcock who pointed out that Nylander may not be dominating the scoresheet, but he’s producing at the same scoring pace as he was as a rookie (the numbers are nearly identical – Nylander had six goals and 14 assists in his first 28 games last season). A coach’s public vote of confidence never goes unnoticed by a player, but Nylander also has loftier goals than being “as good” as before. “[Points] come when they come, but you try not to think about it too much,” Nylander said. “Maybe same thing as last year – I started well and then got in a little dip after, but hopefully we’re getting out of that now.” Nylander went through a 27-game stretch from October to December as a rookie where he scored only four goals. Once he got over that hurdle, the consistency in his game was much improved, and he’s aiming to find it again. It's a taller task when the element of surprise with his opponents is long gone, but Nylander doesn’t accept tougher matchups as any excuse for stagnant production. “You have high expectations for yourself, so it doesn’t matter who you play against,” he said. “You still want to produce.” Leo Komarov sees a lot of Nylander, not just from his adjacent stall in the Leafs’ room, but also on the ice when Nylander is rounding out his line with Nazem Kadri. The veteran has watched the 21-year-old’s confidence blossom this season – even amid buzz from the outside that he’s lost his swagger. “I think it’s a lot of just people talking. We know what’s going on with this team,” Komarov said. “Everyone knew he was a great player, but he’s even better this year than last. …Playing in Toronto, everyone is always talking about this or that, but I think from what I see they’re doing really good and we’re winning games and that’s the most important thing.” One of the only Leafs to boast first-hand experience playing alongside Nylander at centre is Zach Hyman. He flanked Nylander when they were with the AHL’s and again in early 2016 with the Leafs. Should Toronto need Nylander to step back in at centre, Hyman sees his speed and skating as the ultimate assets to make it a smooth transition. As for the din of questions surrounding Nylander’s performance this season, Hyman shrugs them off the same way he does interrogations about his own top-line positioning. It simply comes with the territory. 1086751 Websites Lines at Monday's practice Forwards TSN.CA / Struggling Marner says his puck luck ‘sucks’ Hyman-Matthews-Brown Marleau-Kadri-Komarov By Mark Masters van Riemsdyk-Nylander-Marner Martin-Moore-Leivo TSN Toronto reporter Mark Masters checks in daily with news and notes Soshnikov from Maple Leafs practices and game-day skates. The Maple Leafs practised at the MasterCard Centre on Monday. Absent: Bozak (illness) Mitch Marner has now gone six games without a point despite having Defencemen some glorious chances on the Western Canada road swing. What does Rielly-Hainsey he think of his puck luck right now? Gardiner-Zaitsev “Ah, yeah, well it sucks," he said bluntly. "I mean, there’s chances I’ve had that probably should go in that don’t, but it’s about trying to do the Borgman-Polak right things and making sure you’re there defensively and I think the scoring will come so you just got to be patient with it.” Carrick Leafs head coach Mike Babcock's message at the moment is simple. Goalies “I don’t believe in luck," he said. "I believe in preparation. When you do Andersen enough work you get lucky, that kind of thing. So, to me, worry about McElhinney things you can control. You can control your work ethic and just get to work. That’s it.” TSN.CA LOADED: 12.05.2017 Marner on his puck luck right now: 'It sucks Mitch Marner admits that it's not ideal when he's missing scoring chances that he should be capitalizing on but he's remaining focused on all aspects of his game and knows the scoring will eventually start to come. Leafs aim to be ‘dominant’ at home, not ‘cute’ Babcock put his players through a 45-minute on-ice session on Monday, which is a bit longer than usual. He noted it was designed, in part, to get the jet lag out of the legs. After spending most of the last two weeks on the road, Toronto has two home games in the next seven days – against Calgary on Wednesday and then Edmonton on Sunday, with a date against the Penguins in Pittsburgh in between (Saturday night). "We have to do a better job at home," Babcock said. "Sometimes you get a little cuter at home and cute doesn't lead to winning a whole lot of hockey games. It leads to a whole lot of turnovers, so we got to do a better job here at home of getting ourselves re-established. We should be a dominant, dominant home team." The Leafs have lost their last two games at the Air Canada Centre, dropping to 8-5-0 on the season in Toronto. Babcock sticking with ‘safe’ Polak Roman Polak remained on the third blueline pair alongside Andreas Borgman at practice even though the veteran defenceman struggled at times during the recent road trip, taking a pair of penalties on Thursday in Edmonton. He would've sat in the box again on Saturday in Vancouver, but the Canucks scored on a delayed call. "Polie's a big, heavy guy," Babcock said. "He plays safe so that's a big part of it, too. If you feel safe with a guy out on the ice ... a guy's more likely to play." Polak has played the last four games after sitting out the previous three weeks as a healthy scratch. He gives Babcock another option on the penalty kill. For most of the season, the Leafs have leaned heavily on Ron Hainsey and Nikita Zaistev when short-handed. Hainsey leads the NHL in average short-handed ice time per game (4:28) while Zaitsev is third (3:43). Coach not fretting over PK workhorse Hainsey Is Babcock worried Hainsey may wear down? "No, I think he's only playing like 22 minutes a night or something like that. I guarantee you that Hainsey doesn't want to play less. I think with Polie back in the lineup that will slow down ... We're not taking a ton of penalties anyway." Hainsey averages 21:53 of ice time per game. Dreger: The Maple Leafs are a top team in the NHL TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger joins Landsberg in the Morning with guest hosts Matt Cauz and Dave Feschuk to discuss the Maple Leafs west coast road trip which saw them go 2-1, Auston Matthews returning to health, the Canadiens hot streak and the Senators struggles. 1086752 Websites Nevertheless, word came this week that Dorsett’s career is finished, that he can’t continue to play because of the risks involved with his surgically- repaired neck. He ends his career with 127 points, 105 (regular-season) TSN.CA / TSN Hockey's Top 10 Storylines of the Week fights and 1,314 penalty minutes in 515 games. SENS SLUMPING By Scott Cullen It’s not a great time for the Ottawa Senators. Friday’s 6-5 win at the Islanders ended a seven-game winless streak, a miserable stretch that saw them score just nine goals. A Canucks milestone, free agent defencemen from 2019 in the news, Even after the win at the Islanders, the next five games are on the road, Price is back in fine form, Ducks-Devils trade and more in TSN Hockey’s so that’s not an ideal situation, and if this season gets away from them Top 10 Storylines of the Week. that will be a significant disappointment after last season’s appearance in the Eastern Conference Final. DANIEL SEDIN HITS 1,000 There was also another round of the Senators insisting that they are not Vancouver Canucks left winger Daniel Sedin became the seventh active for sale, with rumours suggesting that the team lacks the funds to player to cross the 1,000-point threshold, picking up three points in develop Lebreton Flats for a new arena. Thursday’s 5-3 win at Nashville. MATT MURRAY INJURY The 37-year-old is not playing so much this season, 14:14 time on ice per game is his lowest since 2003-2004, and the Sedins are left to a After winning back-to-back Stanley Cups, the Pittsburgh Penguins have supporting role at this stage of their careers, but hitting a milestone like started this season slowly, in part because their goaltending has not this is a reminder of just how productive they have been for a long time. been as strong as it has been in recent seasons. In his illustrious career, Daniel’s most productive stretch was from 2006- Matt Murray, who is the clear No. 1 between the pipes for the Penguins, 2007 through 2010-2011, when he put up 429 points in 390 games, had a .906 save percentage through 21 games, and suffered a lower- winning the 2010-2011 scoring title with 104 points. body injury after a collision with Philadelphia Flyers winger Jakub Voracek, and that leaves the Penguins in a precarious spot. While production is down this year, the Sedins remain play drivers, controlling 57% of shot attempts during 5-on-5 play, so while the twins In the past few seasons, the Penguins have had the luxury of having may be in their twilight of their careers, they remain productive either Murray or established veteran Marc-Andre Fleury in net, but with contributors, even in their diminished role. Fleury gone to Vegas in the expansion draft, a Murray injury leaves Pittsburgh with 22-year-old Tristan Jarry in net and Jarry has appeared in FREE AGENT DEFENCEMEN just five NHL games in his career. The 2019 free agent class of defencemen – headlined by Erik Karlsson, Jarry did record a 34-save shutout at Buffalo Friday, but this is still a Drew Doughty and Oliver Ekman-Larsson – is very interesting, not least dicey situation if Murray is going to be out long-term. of all because at this early point in the process there is still the possibility that these guys might move. FLYERS SLIDING This could all be fanciful dreaming, by teams that hoping that might be Heading into Saturday’s afternoon contest against Boston (which they able to lure one of these premier talents in free agency, but Karlsson and are losing), the Philadelphia Winless in nine, the Philadelphia Flyers are Doughty both had some interesting comments this week. starting to feel the heat, with fans calling for head coach Dave Hakstol to be relieved of his duties (if not necessarily in such amicable terms). Doughty told The Athletic’s Craig Custance that he’d be discussing free agency with Karlsson. "Right now, we'd be gauging off what Subban The Flyers haven’t been entirely awful – there is some bad luck involved makes," Doughty said, referencing Subban’s $9-million cap hit. "I think in losing four of those games in overtime and one in a shootout – but the both of us deserve quite a bit more than that." season is getting away from the Flyers and if they don’t turn it around soon, they’ll be looking ahead to next season, probably sooner than For his part, Karlsson insisted, “I will get what I’m worth.” expected. Neither of these stances are especially controversial, but it’s unusual for KESSEL hockey players to talk about how much money they will be seeking on a new contract. Doughty noted that there will be some pressure on the With Sidney Crosby going through an early-season slump (he’s since 2019 free agent defencemen to set a new standard for the position. emerged and is producing in typical fashion again) and Evgeni Malkin injured, the early scoring leader on the Pittsburgh Penguins is Phil PRICE RETURNS Kessel, who has 32 points in 27 games, a career-best 1.19 points per game. The Montreal Canadiens’ season was fading away, as they had gone seven straight without a regulation win, and the outlook was bleak. But a Kessel is generating 3.7 shots per game, his highest since 2013-2014, funny thing happened on the way to the draft lottery: the Habs got though he played two-and-a-half minutes more per game back then; superstar goaltender Carey Price back from injury and Price, who had that’s encouraging for the 30-year-old winger’s production moving struggled early in the season, was in fine form, stopping 128 of 133 shots forward, but beware the power play. Kessel has scored 17 of his 32 in his first four games back in the lineup. points with the man advantage, tied with Steven Stamkos for most power-play points in the league. The Canadiens are hardly fixed, as they are still ranked 29th in goals per game (2.48), but if Carey Price is healthy and back to being Carey Price, WILLIAM KARLSSON then they are going to have a chance to be competitive, which is a whole lot better than things looked even a week ago. The Vegas Golden Knights made out pretty well in the expansion draft, but even Vegas has to be surprised by the immediate impact they’ve HENRIQUE-VATANEN DEAL received from centre William Karlsson, who came from Columbus. A couple of teams looking to address positional needs used their depth Karlsson, 24, has scored 10 goals in the past 10 games and is tied for elsewhere on the roster to swing a significant trade. fifth in the league with 14 goals. He has 24 points in 25 games, one off of tying last year’s career-high. He’s shooting 25.5% right now, so that’s not The Anaheim Ducks have had their centre ice position gutted by injuries, going to continue, but Karlsson has been shooting more (28 shots on so they made a deal to acquire Adam Henrique from New Jersey, goal over the past 10 games), so that will help to offset when his sending puck-moving blueliner Sami Vatanen to the Devils. percentages start to fall. DORSETT DONE The good news out of this for Vegas is that Karlsson is young enough to One of the big surprises for the Vancouver Canucks early in this season be a building block. He will be a restricted free agent next summer and is was the production they received from gritty right winger Derek Dorsett, a looking at a hefty increase in salary from the $1-million he’s making this 30-year-old who missed most of last season after he had neck surgery. season. He scored six goals in the first 10 games in this season, stunning TSN.CA LOADED: 12.05.2017 production from a player who had scored more than seven goals in a season once, all while remaining his feisty self – he leads the league with 74 penalty minutes in 20 games. 1086753 Websites Parson, who has since left hockey to work in finance, helped mould the “raw, passionate” goaltender from an early age, and they remain close. He knew instinctively that Sparks didn’t give that NHL tour his best effort. TSN.CA / Sparks seeing the results of more serious approach “We have a little philosophy between the two of us that we’ve had since junior, which is ‘be happy, but never satisfied,’” Parson said. “I thought he got too comfortable after about the third or fourth game. I saw his By Kristen Shilton mannerism in the net change as the games went on. I thought he was too comfortable, and I thought he did not stick to that mindset.”

“I don’t know if my focus was there the way it is now,” Sparks admitted. “I TORONTO — There was nowhere Garret Sparks wanted to be more was caught up in the fact I was in the NHL and I was there at the same than in his net last April, guiding the Toronto Marlies through a playoff time as a bunch of other guys I’ve come up through the system with. We berth they’d fought hard to earn. were all just a little bit starstruck and enjoying the experience, the people we were playing against, the cities we were going to. There were no But that chance was cut short for the netminder. During the second game expectations on us to win hockey games and my mentality wasn’t as of the Marlies’ first-round series against Albany, Sparks suffered a leg sharp.” injury that would cap off a roller-coaster year spent battling ailments, veteran competition and a few problems of his own making. Sparks’ standing with the Leafs took a hit last November when he was suspended three games by the Marlies for violating team policy on social Instead of practising with his teammates, Sparks was relegated to doing media use. Sparks was an administrator on a Facebook page for goalies rehabilitation exercises in the dim hallway outside Ricoh Coliseum’s and directed violent and sexist language at another user who was visitor dressing room. Some days it was strength work with resistance mocking a disabled person. The incident drastically altered his approach bands; others involved pushing a weight-laden sled back and forth the to online interactions. length of a dingy carpet. “I always saw myself as someone normal who gets the opportunity to When the Marlies’ playoff run ended in a second-round defeat, Sparks play a professional sport,” Sparks said. “I was really open and honest used the ultimate sports platitude ¬– “best shape of my life” – to describe with people. I thought that would be a good thing. I thought that made me his progress. With a long summer looming, Sparks resolved not to let the different and human, but really it just made me vulnerable to things headway he made go to waste. getting in the way of where I want to be.” “Last season was a huge period of growth for me, from how it started, to Other than a few emergency recalls, Sparks hasn’t gotten a look from the having my season just taken from me at the end after all I’d done,” Leafs since his first go-around. But they’ve kept the 24-year-old close, Sparks said after practice recently. “It was a lot of things happening to signing him to a two-year, $1.35-million contract extension over the me in a short period of time. [The season] was up, it was down. It was summer that will include the first one-way clause of his career next adversity, it was success. It was being out, coming back, finding your season. When that kicks in Sparks will be owed his full $700,000 salary game again. It gave me an opportunity to maybe step back and focus on regardless of where he plays, while Toronto will also have $850,000 on the important things, the things that make me better, the things that make the books for current backup Curtis McElhinney. my game better and remove everything else that I didn’t think contributed to what I’m trying to do here.” Despite the fact the Leafs have traded for, signed, released and claimed several goalies in the last 15 months alone, management maintains The next four months were transformative for Sparks, both mentally and Sparks has a future with the team. physically. He became an eager student of his own health and nutrition, dropping 10 pounds by shunning empty calories and remaining “The only thing we have to get is to try and keep him healthy,” said purposefully hungry. Any outside distractions that once pulled his focus general manager Lou Lamoriello in July. “Every time things seem to go from the goal of being an elite netminder were cast aside. well he gets an injury. He’s working very hard at it this summer, we’ve put him in a two-year contract to make him understand that we believe in him In coach speak, Sparks finally put in the work. and now it’s up to him to do what has to be done to get that opportunity.” Since he entered the American Hockey League in 2012, Sparks has With the departure of as an untendered restricted free consistently posted strong numbers. In 31 games last season, the agent in June, Sparks started the season with college free agent signee Elmhurst, Ill., native put up a 21-9-0 record, 2.16 goals-against average Kasimir Kaskisuo as his main competition for AHL ice time. That is until and .922 save percentage. But it’s not enough to simply be a good AHL Toronto swapped Tobias Lindberg and a 2018 sixth-round pick with the player. Sparks magnified his focus in the off-season to take the next step. Vegas Golden Knights for goalie Calvin Pickard on Oct. 7. The results so far speak for themselves. After 14 games Sparks leads all Pickard was coming off a starter’s gig with the Colorado Avalanche last AHL goaltenders with double-digit starts in goals-against average (1.64) season, and suddenly the Marlies’ crease was looking awful crowded. and is second in save percentage (.944) with an 11-3-0 record. “It’s a wake-up call every time you’re out of the net and he’s in the net, “My whole mentality is in economy of movement and energy and how all that you have to be at your best when you’re back in there. I don’t think those things are related,” he said of what’s changed this season. “But the either of us has taken a second off since he got here,” said Sparks. way to become economical is to put in the work to perfect those “Obviously when the organization brings in another goalie, you movements and put in the work to give your body an opportunity to get to immediately go to how it impacts you. But I think the only thing it did to the positions you need to get to. I did a lot of that, not with performance impact me was give me a partner here who stabilizes the second half of in mind but longevity, health and overall functionality in net. I wasn’t this goaltending tandem with NHL experience and an insightful mind. saying, ‘Hey, I’m doing this so I’ll have incredible numbers.’ I’m doing it He’s a great teammate and he pushes me every day.” because I’m going to do things right from this point on.” But what is Sparks’ next step? Parson is adamant his protégé is finally Sparks is first to admit he hasn’t always followed that path. Since the ready to be a full-time NHL goalie, and at least one Western Conference Maple Leafs drafted him in the seventh round, 190th overall, in the 2011 scout agrees he would be a solid backup. Yet the Leafs have a system in NHL Entry Draft, Sparks has had just one stint with the big club, when place with their goaltending, where the backup only plays on the second stakes were at their lowest. He was recalled for 17 games with the Leafs night of a back-to-back, which is why they re-signed McElhinney to a two- in November and December of the 2015-16 season, the one head coach year, $1.7-million contract last June. Better a 34-year-old spends his time Mike Babcock prefaced with a promise of pain in store for fans. charting faceoffs from the bench than a mid-20s upstart who needs Sparks' debut was the opposite of painful, a 3-0 shutout of the Edmonton playing time to keep improving. Oilers that drew tears of disbelief from the goalie in an on-ice interview. Sparks has no control over when or if his time will ever come with the He was the first goaltender in franchise history to blank a team in his Leafs. McElhinney is a solid veteran with average numbers this season NHL debut. But from there, Sparks was average at best. His final (2-2-0, 3.07 goals-against, .900 save percentage) but without extenuating numbers were a 6-9-1 record, 3.02 goals-against average and .893 save circumstances, the Leafs likely won’t alter their goaltending plan in- percentage. season. Should the strategy be forced to change, Sparks will be more Mike Parson watched every game Sparks played for the Leafs, and has than ready to contribute. seen at least the highlights from most of his games with the Marlies. It “His confidence is the main thing I’ve seen [this season], and the main was Parson who scouted Sparks for the Ontario Hockey League Guelph thing he’s seen in himself,” Parson said. "The more work [he] put into Storm when he was their goaltending coach. At the time Sparks was being a good goalie in the [off-season] means when you start to hit a bit relatively unknown but Parson saw his potential and encouraged the of a speed bump, his valleys aren’t nearly as severe as they used to be. Storm to draft him in the eighth round of the 2009 OHL Priority Selection. And so he’s becoming more consistent. That’s what you see from a pro goaltender who really understands the game and will one day be an elite goaltender in the NHL.” For now, Sparks has a personal blueprint to follow. With security mostly an illusion in sport, he’s micromanaging where he can to possibly create his own – there’s the pads he personally designed that he says have helped him make saves he wouldn’t have before, the unrelenting commitment to his physical health and that pursuit of being as perfect as possible between the pipes. “This year [Garret]’s really put together the whole package,” said Marlies head coach Sheldon Keefe. “He’s here early. He’s putting in a lot of work to take care of his body, both in being in good shape and staying healthy. So the biggest thing is he’s been able to [play] consistently. He’s been a great goalie in this league, but he’s had interruptions to his season almost every season I’ve been here. This year he hasn’t had that and he proving he’s top of the class in this league.” TSN.CA LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086754 Websites would make his acquisition cost higher than others, even though the Wings have also used Jared Coreau, who is in the AHL. That might be too rich for the Oilers, who know Talbot may only be a few weeks from TSN.CA / TradeCentre: Five options for Oilers in net returning – hopefully at the calibre he played at last season that got them within a couple goals of the Western Conference final.

TSN.CA LOADED: 12.05.2017 By Frank Seravalli

Laurent Brossoit has made just two starts for the Edmonton Oilers with Cam Talbot on the injured list, but his leash was never going to be long with Oil Country in full desperation mode. The Oilers’ season could swirl down the drain with two more weeks of shoddy goaltending. Brossoit, 24, has allowed five or more goals in three of his last five starts and has an .872 save percentage this season. Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli is working the phones to acquire a stopgap in Talbot’s absence, hastened by Brossoit’s shaky outing on Saturday night as Edmonton nearly blew a 6-1 lead in the Battle of Alberta. Talbot is expected to be out until at least Dec. 14, according to coach Todd McLellan. But who is out there for the Oilers? Cap space isn’t an issue – at least not this season. For teams looking to accumulate assets, the Oilers have all of their draft picks. The only complication is that the Oilers are just one contract shy of the 50-man limit, likely necessitating a body-in, body-out trade. After the re-addition of Brandon Davidson, claimed off waivers Sunday from Montreal and expected to play Wednesday against the Flyers, defencemen Eric Gryba and Yohann Auvitu will likely soon be scratched off McLellan’s lineup card. Inconsistent winger Anton Slepyshev, 23, is another potential trade chip. Here are five potential targets for the Oilers in goal: 1. Chad Johnson (Buffalo): The man who saved the Calgary Flames’ season last year is available. Sabres GM Jason Botterill is seeking assets (read: draft picks) in return for the pending UFA. Johnson went 12-3-0 with a .939 save percentage from last Nov. 3 to Dec. 10, while Brian Elliott found his game with the Flames in a similar hole to the one the Oilers are now. Johnson, 31, was actually the Oilers’ top target to backup Talbot in 2016, but he signed with the rival, and then got $2.5 million from the Sabres on a one-year deal last July 1. There may be competition: The Pittsburgh Penguins could also be sniffing around on Johnson. 2. Michael Hutchinson (Winnipeg): The Jets aren’t actively looking to move Hutchinson, not with Steve Mason sidelined with a concussion, but Chiarelli also knows Hutchinson well after drafting him in Boston. Hutchinson, 27, has a gaudy .951 save percentage with the AHL’s this season. He was the odd man out in training camp to Connor Hellebuyck and Mason following a three-year run in the NHL. Eric Comrie has been backing up Hellebuyck with Mason out. Hutchinson is a pending UFA with a $1.15 million cap hit. 3. Michal Neuvirth (Philadelphia): Neuvirth was the Oilers’ original No. 1 choice in free agency to backup Talbot in 2015, Chiarelli’s first summer with Edmonton, but he inked a two-year deal in the goalie graveyard that is Philadelphia. The Oilers ended up trading for Anders Nilsson five days later. Neuvirth, 29, has a .915 save percentage in eight starts for the Flyers this season and is known as an incredibly streaky goalie. When he’s hot, few are better. The Flyers could spell the rest of the season with Alex Lyon or Dustin Tokarski backing up Elliott if the return is right. The complication for Edmonton is that Neuvirth has another year on his deal at $2.5 million and the accounting must make sense with Connor McDavid’s contract kicking in. 4. Calvin Pickard (Toronto): The Maple Leafs acquired Pickard from Vegas in exchange for winger Tobias Lindberg and a sixth-round pick on Oct. 6 - the day after he was waived by the Golden Knights. A number of teams have been kicking themselves for not claiming Pickard. The 25- year-old has a .933 save percentage in eight appearances with the Marlies. His acquisition cost will be higher than others on this list and the Leafs, who appear to be in no rush to move Pickard, may not be willing to throw a life preserver to Edmonton before facing them again on Sunday night. 5. Petr Mrazek (Detroit): Mrazek has struggled to find his game recently for the Red Wings, but a solid netminder is buried somewhere in those pads. Two seasons ago, he capped off an 83-game run that saw him post a .920 save percentage for the Winged Wheel as a 22-year-old. He has just an .899 save percentage in his last 59 appearances. Mrazek counts $4 million against the cap this season. He is just 25, a year older than Brossoit, and will be a restricted free agent after this season. That 1086755 Websites

TSN.CA / Sabres goalies garnering trade interest

Robin Lehner , The Canadian Press

The struggling Buffalo Sabres are receiving calls on the availibilty of their goaltenders, according to TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger. Dreger reports teams to inquire about both Chard Johnson and Robin Lehner, who have combined for a 6-17-4 record this season. Teams are calling Buffalo, inquiring on Chad Johnson and Robin Lehner. Just checking on availability. — Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) December 4, 2017 The Pittsburgh Penguins are believed to be among the teams in the market for a veteran backup option, along with the Edmonton Oilers. Lehner (5-12-2) has started 18 games this season, posting a 2.98 goals against average and a .903 save percentage. Johnson, who spent last season with the Calgary Flames, has struggled in 11 appearences, posting a 1-5-2 record with a 3.64 goals against average and a .883 save percentage. The Sabres sit last in the NHL with 16 points this season. TSN.CA LOADED: 12.05.2017 1086756 Websites Nevertheless, word came this week that Dorsett’s career is finished, that he can’t continue to play because of the risks involved with his surgically- repaired neck. He ends his career with 127 points, 105 (regular-season) TSN.CA / TSN Hockey's Top 10 Storylines of the Week fights and 1,314 penalty minutes in 515 games. SENS SLUMPING By Scott Cullen It’s not a great time for the Ottawa Senators. Friday’s 6-5 win at the Islanders ended a seven-game winless streak, a miserable stretch that saw them score just nine goals. A Canucks milestone, free agent defencemen from 2019 in the news, Even after the win at the Islanders, the next five games are on the road, Price is back in fine form, Ducks-Devils trade and more in TSN Hockey’s so that’s not an ideal situation, and if this season gets away from them Top 10 Storylines of the Week. that will be a significant disappointment after last season’s appearance in the Eastern Conference Final. DANIEL SEDIN HITS 1,000 There was also another round of the Senators insisting that they are not Vancouver Canucks left winger Daniel Sedin became the seventh active for sale, with rumours suggesting that the team lacks the funds to player to cross the 1,000-point threshold, picking up three points in develop Lebreton Flats for a new arena. Thursday’s 5-3 win at Nashville. MATT MURRAY INJURY The 37-year-old is not playing so much this season, 14:14 time on ice per game is his lowest since 2003-2004, and the Sedins are left to a After winning back-to-back Stanley Cups, the Pittsburgh Penguins have supporting role at this stage of their careers, but hitting a milestone like started this season slowly, in part because their goaltending has not this is a reminder of just how productive they have been for a long time. been as strong as it has been in recent seasons. In his illustrious career, Daniel’s most productive stretch was from 2006- Matt Murray, who is the clear No. 1 between the pipes for the Penguins, 2007 through 2010-2011, when he put up 429 points in 390 games, had a .906 save percentage through 21 games, and suffered a lower- winning the 2010-2011 scoring title with 104 points. body injury after a collision with Philadelphia Flyers winger Jakub Voracek, and that leaves the Penguins in a precarious spot. While production is down this year, the Sedins remain play drivers, controlling 57% of shot attempts during 5-on-5 play, so while the twins In the past few seasons, the Penguins have had the luxury of having may be in their twilight of their careers, they remain productive either Murray or established veteran Marc-Andre Fleury in net, but with contributors, even in their diminished role. Fleury gone to Vegas in the expansion draft, a Murray injury leaves Pittsburgh with 22-year-old Tristan Jarry in net and Jarry has appeared in FREE AGENT DEFENCEMEN just five NHL games in his career. The 2019 free agent class of defencemen – headlined by Erik Karlsson, Jarry did record a 34-save shutout at Buffalo Friday, but this is still a Drew Doughty and Oliver Ekman-Larsson – is very interesting, not least dicey situation if Murray is going to be out long-term. of all because at this early point in the process there is still the possibility that these guys might move. FLYERS SLIDING This could all be fanciful dreaming, by teams that hoping that might be Heading into Saturday’s afternoon contest against Boston (which they able to lure one of these premier talents in free agency, but Karlsson and are losing), the Philadelphia Winless in nine, the Philadelphia Flyers are Doughty both had some interesting comments this week. starting to feel the heat, with fans calling for head coach Dave Hakstol to be relieved of his duties (if not necessarily in such amicable terms). Doughty told The Athletic’s Craig Custance that he’d be discussing free agency with Karlsson. "Right now, we'd be gauging off what Subban The Flyers haven’t been entirely awful – there is some bad luck involved makes," Doughty said, referencing Subban’s $9-million cap hit. "I think in losing four of those games in overtime and one in a shootout – but the both of us deserve quite a bit more than that." season is getting away from the Flyers and if they don’t turn it around soon, they’ll be looking ahead to next season, probably sooner than For his part, Karlsson insisted, “I will get what I’m worth.” expected. Neither of these stances are especially controversial, but it’s unusual for KESSEL hockey players to talk about how much money they will be seeking on a new contract. Doughty noted that there will be some pressure on the With Sidney Crosby going through an early-season slump (he’s since 2019 free agent defencemen to set a new standard for the position. emerged and is producing in typical fashion again) and Evgeni Malkin injured, the early scoring leader on the Pittsburgh Penguins is Phil PRICE RETURNS Kessel, who has 32 points in 27 games, a career-best 1.19 points per game. The Montreal Canadiens’ season was fading away, as they had gone seven straight without a regulation win, and the outlook was bleak. But a Kessel is generating 3.7 shots per game, his highest since 2013-2014, funny thing happened on the way to the draft lottery: the Habs got though he played two-and-a-half minutes more per game back then; superstar goaltender Carey Price back from injury and Price, who had that’s encouraging for the 30-year-old winger’s production moving struggled early in the season, was in fine form, stopping 128 of 133 shots forward, but beware the power play. Kessel has scored 17 of his 32 in his first four games back in the lineup. points with the man advantage, tied with Steven Stamkos for most power-play points in the league. The Canadiens are hardly fixed, as they are still ranked 29th in goals per game (2.48), but if Carey Price is healthy and back to being Carey Price, WILLIAM KARLSSON then they are going to have a chance to be competitive, which is a whole lot better than things looked even a week ago. The Vegas Golden Knights made out pretty well in the expansion draft, but even Vegas has to be surprised by the immediate impact they’ve HENRIQUE-VATANEN DEAL received from centre William Karlsson, who came from Columbus. A couple of teams looking to address positional needs used their depth Karlsson, 24, has scored 10 goals in the past 10 games and is tied for elsewhere on the roster to swing a significant trade. fifth in the league with 14 goals. He has 24 points in 25 games, one off of tying last year’s career-high. He’s shooting 25.5% right now, so that’s not The Anaheim Ducks have had their centre ice position gutted by injuries, going to continue, but Karlsson has been shooting more (28 shots on so they made a deal to acquire Adam Henrique from New Jersey, goal over the past 10 games), so that will help to offset when his sending puck-moving blueliner Sami Vatanen to the Devils. percentages start to fall. DORSETT DONE The good news out of this for Vegas is that Karlsson is young enough to One of the big surprises for the Vancouver Canucks early in this season be a building block. He will be a restricted free agent next summer and is was the production they received from gritty right winger Derek Dorsett, a looking at a hefty increase in salary from the $1-million he’s making this 30-year-old who missed most of last season after he had neck surgery. season. He scored six goals in the first 10 games in this season, stunning TSN.CA LOADED: 12.05.2017 production from a player who had scored more than seven goals in a season once, all while remaining his feisty self – he leads the league with 74 penalty minutes in 20 games. 1086757 Websites Now, this is one swing at a player forecast. Maybe you rate Doughty and Karlsson the same. Maybe you think that the cap grows more than it does. Maybe you think the cap stagnates and teams squeeze these guys TSN.CA / Pondering what the next Doughty and Karlsson deals might harder than we would expect. There are a billion different scenarios that look like could impact their next contracts in either direction. But knowing what we know today, the numbers noted above are what I’d consider realistic estimates. It’s hard to envision Doughty or Karlsson By Travis Yost getting anything less than a $10 million AAV deal, and there’s a very real chance that it could get into the $11 million range for a player like Karlsson. While the Kris Russell own-goal story dominated media coverage last That could be why Doughty and Karlsson set such a strong tone more week, an interesting discussion was kicked up by Los Angeles Kings than a year out from the expiration of their respective contracts. Their defenceman Drew Doughty. agents have to be pretty comfortable that a huge payday is on the horizon. The question is: which teams will pay it? Doughty didn’t mince words when talking about his next contract – his current deal is set to expire at the end of the 2018-19 season. He’s TSN.CA LOADED: 12.05.2017 looking at a mega deal and he knows he’ll get it. More interestingly, Doughty mentioned that he’d speak with fellow superstar defender Erik Karlsson to see what type of money the Ottawa Senators captain would be looking for when his contract expires that same summer. Karlsson – who is as buttoned-up as any hockey player with the media – came out with an unexpectedly straightforward tone. “I’m going to get what I’m worth, and it’s going to be no less, no matter where I’m going,” Karlsson told the Ottawa Sun. I thought that statement was fascinating. It’s exceedingly rare you see hockey players so direct and blunt about their contractual future – doubly so for a player who still has more than a year on his current deal. You can read between the lines on what Karlsson inferred there, but I think it’s safe to take him at his word. The Senators aren’t getting him at a hometown discount. If Ottawa somehow lets him walk – 30 other NHL franchises (a) will line up to sign him; and (b) should expect to pay through the nose. This all raises an interesting question about where the Doughty and Karlsson contracts will go. There are a couple of interesting factors at play here. Doughty is unquestionably a top-five defender in the league. Karlsson is undoubtedly the best defender in the league. The rumour mill is hot about the NHL salary cap increasing by 6.6 per cent next year to $80 million. If the league does realize that sort of growth, you can expect top-tier players’ contracts to eat into it proportionately. I was curious about how top-tier NHL defenders have been paid as a proportion of the cap, if only to provide some sort of guidance for what a Doughty/Karlsson contract could look like. I think it’s safe to assume that they’ll both ask for and get max term, which means an eight-year deal that would carry both players into their late 30s. But the dollar value? That’s a bit vaguer. The one good thing about hockey’s current financial landscape is that it’s pretty predictable. Top-tier players generally eat into the same percentage year-over-year, which means that if you can reasonably forecast where the salary cap is going to go, you can also reasonably forecast where a player’s contract should land. To illustrate this, I pulled out the prevailing salaries and cap hits of top- tier players (the five highest-paid players, by position) since the 2014-15 season. As you can see, the numbers rise proportionally with the increase of the salary cap. So, for the most part, the percentage of the cap that these players consume generally remains constant. Embedded Image A top forward will likely consume about 13.4 per cent of the cap, a top defender will consume about 10.6 per cent of the cap, and a top goalie will consume about 10.0 per cent of the cap. (It’s possible that forwards have eaten a tiny bit into defender salaries if you look at the trended data, but for the most part it’s reasonably flat. Even if it were a trend, I’d expect Karlsson and Doughty to reverse that course.) Something to keep in mind about the defender bucket: it’s comprised of seven players – P.K. Subban, Shea Weber, Ryan Suter, Kris Letang, , Victor Hedman and Aaron Ekblad. There’s little doubt Karlsson is a better player than any of those names, and that’s also mostly true for Doughty. So when you consider the percentage of the cap that these guys consume, you should recognize that there’s probably going to be another premium that Los Angeles and Ottawa have to pay. What does this mean for a potential Doughty/Karlsson contract? Let’s assume that Doughty gets about 11 per cent of the cap in any given year, and the league continues to grow around 3.8 per cent year-over-year – that’s the average growth realized in the interval measured here. Let’s assume that Karlsson gets paid 12 per cent of the cap at any given year, which is what the league’s highest-paid defender did over the measured interval. Their contracts could look like this (assuming there’s no back- diving structure): 1086758 Websites As Dater notes, the Avalanche - despite their 12-9-2 start - are not in a position acquire rental players and already have prospects who could by NHL-ready on the blue line by next season. TSN.CA / Rumour Mill: Doughty, Karlsson to top $9M AAV? He believes the Avalanche would want Cole to sign an extension with the team in any deal, but wonders how interested the back-to-back Stanley Cup champion would be in signing with last season's worst team. TSN.ca Staff Cole has been a healthy scratch in three straight games for the Penguins and it's unclear if he'll rejoin the lineup on Friday against the Buffalo Sabres. TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie shut down rumours that a Keep up to date on the latest rumours and speculation around the NHL trade is imminent and believes Pittsburgh will only trade Cole for the right beat with TSN.ca's Rumour Mill. return. Thinking Ahead? TSN.CA LOADED: 12.05.2017 Los Angeles Kings defenceman Drew Doughty is set to become a free agent in the summer of 2019 and he’s already thinking about the monetary value of his contract. In a recent interview with Craig Custance of The Athletic, Doughty said he’d like to stay in touch with Ottawa Senators defenceman Erik Karlsson - also a UFA in 2019 - ahead of the process, so the two can gauge their value together. And it appears Doughty does already have a benchmark in mind. “Right now, I guess we’d be gauging off what P.K. [Subban] makes. I think both of us deserve quite a bit more than that,” Doughty told Custance. Subban has the highest cap hit of any defenceman in the NHL at $9 million with the contract he signed with the Montreal Canadiens in 2014. Brent Burns owns the second highest cap hit among defencemen at $8 million. He signed an eight-year, $64 million extension with the San Jose Sharks last November. According to CapFriendly, Doughty has a $7 million cap hit, while Karlsson carries a $6.75 million AAV. Both Karlsson and Doughty will be 29 in the summer of 2019. As TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun pointed out Wednesday, staying in touch won’t be hard as they’re both clients of Newport Sports Agency. Good for the Kids? Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Lou Lamoriello joined Overdrive on TSN Radio 1050 Toronto on Wednesday and said facing adversity can be good for the team's young players. Both Mitch Marner and William Nylander have struggled to find the back of the net in their sophomore seasons, but Lamoriello believes those struggles could serve as a teaching point for duo. Lamoriello: Adversity is good for Nylander and Marner OverDrive hosts Bryan Hayes, Jeff O’Neill & Jamie McLennan are joined by Maple Leafs GM Lou Lamoriello to get his opinion on how the Leafs are playing so far this season and his thoughts on William Nylander and Mitch Marner’s struggles. Spark from Within? The Ottawa Senators dropped their seventh straight game on Wednesday night and have now won just twice since making a blockbuster move to acquire Matt Duchene from the Colorado Avalanche. The Senators called up 2015 first-round pick Thomas Chabot earlier this week, but he sat out against the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday. TSN 1200’s Ian Mendes believes Chabot should be in the lineup Friday against the Islanders simply as a spark for the team’s lacklustre power play. Power play was flat again tonight. For that reason alone, Thomas Chabot should be in the lineup Friday at NYI. — Ian Mendes (@ian_mendes) November 30, 2017 Chabot has three assists in five games with the Senators this season. He also has two goals and seven points in 13 games with the AHL’s . Ending their skid in Brooklyn won’t be an easy task for the Senators. The Islanders not lost in regulation at home this season, owning an 8-0-2 record. Unlikely Match? According to Adrian Dater of BSN Denver, the Colorado Avalanche are among the teams who have interest in Pittsburgh Penguins defenceman Ian Cole, but a trade seems unlikely. 1086759 Websites

USA TODAY / What could have been: Team USA's potential Olympic roster if NHL players were participating

Kevin Allen, USA TODAY Sports Published 2:48 p.m. ET Dec. 4, 2017 | Updated 2:58 p.m. ET Dec. 4, 2017

USA Hockey officials are in the final stages of determining their men’s roster for the 2018 Olympic hockey tournament, scheduled for February in Pyeongchang, South Korea. Because the NHL is not allowing its players to go for the first time since 1994, the American squad, to be announced Jan. 1, will consist of players from European professional leagues, the American Hockey League and college ranks. Projections of that team will be coming over the next couple of weeks, but what if the NHL had allowed its players to participate in the Winter Olympics? Here is what the American team might have looked like: Centers Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs; Vincent Trocheck, Florida Panthers; Jack Eichel, Buffalo Sabres and Dylan Larkin, Detroit Red Wings Discussion: The Americans are stronger at center than they were in 2014, but the USA’s top centers aren’t as experienced as centers from other countries. If Ryan Kesler was healthy, he would be on the team. Left wings Johnny Gaudreau, Calgary Flames; Anders Lee, New York Islanders; Chris Kreider, New York Rangers; Jason Zucker, Minnesota Wild Discussion: Max Pacioretty has netted 30 or more goals five times over the past six seasons, so it’s hard to leave him off the list. He's having an off year — eight goals (on 117 shots) and 16 points — but you’d have to be looking for reasons to add him at the last minute. Matthew Tkachuk and James van Riemsdyk would have to be under consideration. Right wings Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks; Blake Wheeler, Winnipeg Jets; Phil Kessel, Pittsburgh Penguins; T.J. Oshie, Washington Capitals Discussion: It’s probably too early for Brock Boeser, although he looks like he could contribute. Right wing is a strength for the Americans. Oshie has extra value because of his shootout ability. 13th forward Jake Guentzel, Pittsburgh Penguins Discussion: As a general rule, you would want an extra center in case there are injuries. Guentzel can play center or wing. Tyler Johnson, Paul Stastny and Derek Stepan are also possibilities here. Defensemen Left-shot: Ryan Suter, Minnesota Wild; Zach Werenski, Columbus Blue Jackets; Ryan McDonagh, New York Rangers; Nick Leddy, New York Islanders Discussion: Cam Fowler should receive consideration, along with Shayne Gostisbehere and Brady Skjei. It is time for some younger players to be given an opportunity. Right-shot: John Carlson, Washington Capitals; Seth Jones, Columbus Blue Jackets; Charlie McAvoy, Boston Bruins; Dustin Byfuglien, Winnipeg Jets Discussion: Justin Faulk would be in the conversation, along with Kevin Shattenkirk and Erik Johnson. Goalies Jonathan Quick, Los Angeles Kings; John Gibson, Anaheim Ducks; Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets Discussion: When you consider what Quick’s good health has meant to the Kings this season, he seems like a clear No. 1. USA TODAY LOADED: 12.05.2017