SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 5/23/2021 1213787 has concussion, knee injury; likely to miss 1213818 Those who criticized frontline workers for being at Oilers series playoff game need to give their heads a shake 1213788 Capitals’ Dmitry Orlov not fined for high hit on the Bruins’ 1213819 Edmonton Oilers are bleeding heavily, but they're not Kevan Miller in Game 4 dead yet 1213789 Former Canadien Gilles Lupien’s path to the NHL was a 1213820 Down 0-2, Edmonton Oilers not about to abandon playoff road rarely traveled these days ship 1213790 ‘He’s one of the best defensemen in the league.’ Charlie 1213821 All-Canadian playoff division the experience of a lifetime McAvoy was at the center of the Bruins’ big win in Ga for Oilers 1213791 Bruins Notebook: B’s hope to oust Capitals 1213822 NHL picks today: Expert predictions, odds for 1213792 Boston Bruins D Kevan Miller Out For Game 5 Capitals-Bruins, Hurricanes-Predators, Jets-Oilers and 1213793 Boston Bruins Put Capitals On Lockdown With Game 4 Avalanche Win |BHN+ 1213823 The 5 biggest stories from the ’ 1213794 NHL picks today: Expert predictions, odds for 2020-21 season Capitals-Bruins, Hurricanes-Predators, Jets-Oilers and Avalanche 1213795 How will Kevan Miller’s injury affect the Bruins in Game 5? 1213824 Inside the Panthers’ goalie debate: Bobrovsky, Driedger or 1213796 He can win it for them’: Gerry Cheevers salutes Tuukka Knight for must-win Game 5? Rask after goalie claims Bruins record for playoff wins 1213825 Heat fall, Panthers need miracle on ice after both lose on rare day for Miami sports Flames 1213826 Panthers melt down in Game 4 against Lightning, fall to 1213797 Star goalie Jacob Markstrom vows to be better in second brink of another first-round exit season with Flames 1213827 Panthers crushed 6-2 by Lightning in Game 4, trail 3-1 in series 1213828 Game 4: Panthers on the brink after lopsided loss to 1213798 In a playoff pinch, Maxime Lajoie makes an unlikely Lightning Hurricanes debut 1213829 Game 4: Panthers not afraid of Lightning or Vasilevskiy 1213799 Here’s what the NHL fined the Canes’ Jordan Staal for 1213830 Game 4: Panthers have life against Lightning but this is a tripping Preds’ Luke Kunin new day 1213800 Hurricanes left as much mad as sad after double-overtime 1213831 Ryan Lomberg’s long road to becoming OT hero for loss to Predators Florida Panthers 1213801 Civian: NHL officials aren’t biased, but they’re encouraging 1213832 Lightning’s Nikita Kucherov, Mikhail Sergachev hurt as a lesser product Panthers series takes ugly turn 1213802 ‘Jonathan Toews eats his vegetables’: Billet family helps 1213833 Zach Parise, his role ever shrinking with Wild, is young Chicago Steel players navigate hockey, life summoned to fourth line 1213803 Top Blackhawks prospect Lukas Reichel looking toward 1213834 Golden Knights have no problems sweeping at Xcel NHL after great German season Energy Center 1213804 High-scoring Kubalik deserves more playing time next 1213835 Wild-Vegas game recap season 1213836 Fleury blanks Wild 4-0 as Vegas grabs 3-1 lead in series 1213805 What the Blackhawks are getting in new goalie Arvid 1213837 Vegas blitzes Wild to take 3-1 lead in playoff series Söderblom 1213838 Wild inserts Zach Parise back into lineup for Game 4 1213839 Zach Parise, Kyle Rau likely to play for Wild in Game 4 vs. Golden Knights 1213806 Goalie Philipp Grubauer big reason why Avalanche in 1213840 John Shipley: Wild have been gut-punched by disallowed position to sweep Blues goals 1213807 Avalanche should be well-represented in NHL awards 1213841 Wild on brink of elimination after Game 4 loss to Golden voting Knights 1213808 Avalanche Briefs: Alex Newhook’s first NHL one to 1213842 Wild veteran Zach Parise draws back into lineup for Game remember 4 1213809 Avalanche center Nazem Kadri’s past suspensions 1213843 Russo: Different year, same results as Wild close in on contributed to current eight-game ban, NHL says another first-round exit 1213810 Nazem Kadri got what he deserved Friday. So did the Blues, who gave Avalanche their best shot and still got st Canadiens 1213811 Deen: Avalanche’s Nazem Kadri may appeal suspension, 1213844 Leafs' Matthews leads his team, evens playoff series as he should against Canadiens 1213812 Deen’s List: Avalanche take 3-0 series lead over St. Louis 1213845 In the Habs' Room: Leafs expose Montreal's scoring as Nazem Kadri begins eight-game suspension weakness 1213813 “It was a great moment for all of us” – Paula Newhook on 1213846 Matthews' 3- night cements Leafs' solid 5-1 win over son Alex’s first goal Canadiens 1213847 Liveblog replay: Leafs tie series with 5-1 win over Habs 1213848 Stu Cowan: excited about another shot at Cup 1213814 Dallas Stars announce front office moves, promote Rich with Canadiens Peverley to Director of Player Personnel 1213849 Canadiens Game Day: It's time to put Cole Caufield in the 1213815 Stars’ Jason Robertson on World Championship, lineup impressive NHL rookie season 1213850 Canadiens did what they needed to do in — now they must optimize their lineup to score Red Wings 1213816 Red Wings sign Jonatan Berggren, high-scoring 2018 pick 1213817 Jonathan Bernier hopes to extend stay with Red Wings St Louis Blues 1213852 For Nashville Predators, why does it always take 1213884 Hochman: Berube has been part of rare history before — desperation to bring out their best? winning a series down 3-0 — but Blues' task is daunting 1213885 Goals are at a premium for Blues against Avs 1213886 Blues notebook: Berube wants more energy from Thomas 1213853 Islanders rout Pens to tie series 1213887 Faulk, Bortuzzo still doubtful for Blues' Game 4 on Sunday 1213854 Ilya Sorokin shines for Islanders in place of Semyon 1213888 Colorado looks to secure series against St. Louis in game Varlamov 4 1213855 Dan Feeney’s ‘spectacular’ mullet, beer chugging goes 1213889 Avs score 3 in 2nd, beat Blues 5-1 to take a 3-0 series viral as Jets watch Islanders lead 1213856 Islanders rediscover mojo to tie series with Game 4 win 1213890 As Blues fall into 3-0 hole against Avalanche, Craig over Penguins Berube blasts refs: ‘It’s so one-sided, it’s not even fun 1213857 LI family gets playoff tickets from Islanders co-owner Jon Ledecky 1213858 Dialed-in Ilya Sorokin gives Islanders the confidence they 1213891 Lightning’s Andrei Vasilevskiy stands tall against Panthers needed in Game 4 vs. Penguins 1213892 Forget the rowdy stuff, the Lightning have bigger goals in 1213859 Jets' Dan Feeney gets party started inside Nassau mind Coliseum for Islanders' Game 4 victory 1213893 Lightning-Panthers Game 4 report card: More good than 1213860 Islanders even playoff series with dominating Game 4 win bad over Penguins 1213894 Lightning’s Mikhail Sergachev leaves game after hit into 1213861 Jets rookie Zach Wilson, offensive line bond at Game 4 of boards Islanders-Penguins at Coliseum 1213895 First round: Lightning-Panthers Game 4 live updates 1213862 Ilya Sorokin snuffs out Pens’ attack and other takeaways 1213896 Nikita Kucherov injured, series turns ugly in Lightning’s from a commanding Isles performance Game 4 win over Panthers 1213863 Matt Moulson Remains a Fan Favorite Among Islanders 1213897 Lightning’s ring homage ‘one of the coolest things to Fans happen’ to Yung Gravy 1213864 Islanders Dominating Effort Too Much For Pens in Game 1213898 Lightning’s Nikita Kucherov, Mikhail Sergachev hurt as 4 Win Panthers series takes ugly turn 1213865 Playoff Gameday: Islanders Game 4 Lines, Matchups and Game Notes vs Pens 1213899 Leafs’ John Tavares also injured knee in open-ice collision, out at least two weeks 1213866 David Quinn deserves second NHL chance after Rangers 1213900 The Maple Leafs show what they’re made of in Game 2 firing win over the Canadiens 1213901 Minus Tavares, Matthews leads the way as Leafs down Flyers Habs 5-1 in Game 2 to even series 1213867 Hayes set for sports hernia surgery, per source 1213902 ‘Keep calm and win for John.’ Toronto Star readers wish 1213868 There's time on Patrick, the Phantoms' gig, more in 3 Maple Leafs John Tavares a speedy recovery Flyers thoughts 1213903 Dubas: Leafs’ Tavares suffered knee injury along with concussion in scary collision Penguins 1213904 Leafs GM Dubas says Tavares also suffered knee injury in 1213869 Penguins top line struggling to produce goals hit, calls out ‘disgusting’ newspaper cover 1213870 Tim Benz: No Penguins panic yet, but reasons to grouse 1213905 ‘This is the change we’ve all been talking about.’ Maple 1213871 Penalties, mistakes cost Penguins in Game 4 loss to Leafs program opens doors for racialized coaches and Islanders 1213906 SIMMONS: Matthews' tour de force dominated the Habs 1213872 Islanders to start Ilya Sorokin for Game 4 1213907 SNAPSHOTS: Sandin and family thrilled to see blueliner against Penguins notch first playoff goal 1213873 Brandon Tanev became voice of calm for the Penguins 1213908 Dominant Matthews notches three points as Maple Leafs late in Game 3 even series with Canadiens 1213874 Evgeni Malkin's health and discipline two keys if the 1213909 Concussed Tavares out at least 2 weeks for knee injury: Penguins are going to take series Leafs GM 1213875 Ron Cook: Penguins need signs of life from their top line 1213910 Why Sheldon Keefe is boldly betting on Rasmus Sandin’s 1213876 Stick taps, chirps and observations from ‘payoff’ with the Maple Leafs Penguins-Islanders Game 4 1213911 Maple Leafs report cards: Auston Matthews takes over, 1213877 'We’re not happy': Penguins' stars held silent again as power play comes alive, series is tied Islanders roll to Game 4 victory 1213878 Yohe’s 10 observations: Evgeni Malkin takes blame as Penguins are humbled in Game 4 1213929 Canucks: Brand needs a reset and the team knows it 1213879 Penguins report cards: Evgeni Malkin says ‘whole team 1213930 Travis Green betting on himself to get his club back to not happy’ after Game 4 loss to Islanders playoffs 1213880 Penguins Locker Room: Evgeni Malkin Addresses Bad Game 1213881 Penguins Whiff in Game 4, Bad Mistakes Give Islanders 4-1 Win 1213882 Penguins Have Momentum: Game 4 Lines, Notes & Matchups vs. Islanders 1213883 Tim Burke on Reedy, Coe’s Quick Adjustment to AHL; Cuda Drop Game 1 1213912 Frustrations mount as Wild shut out by Golden Knights 1213913 Video coach assists Golden Knights in another win 1213914 Golden Knights complete sweep in Minnesota, take control of series 1213915 Cody Glass waits turn for playoff debut with Golden Knights 1213916 What Jack Dugan needs to do to play for the Golden Knights 1213917 ‘I lost my mind’: Mark Stone’s emotional goal powers Golden Knights to Game 4 victory over Wild 1213918 Five thoughts on the Golden Knights’ pivotal shutout win over Wild in Game 4 1213919 No Pacioretty? No Problem. Vegas Golden Knights Depth Scoring Shines 1213920 Vegas Golden Knights, Fleury Run Wild Over Minnesota 4-0 1213921 The Capitals, on the brink of early elimination again, will try to bounce back in Game 5 1213922 Capitals’ five-on-five offense sputters in Game 4 loss to Bruins 1213923 NHL picks today: Expert predictions, odds for Capitals-Bruins, Hurricanes-Predators, Jets-Oilers and Avalanche Websites 1213931 The Athletic / NHL business notebook: Arena-cleaning drones, skate decals get exposure, hockey NFT update 1213932 .ca / Leafs make good on promise to play for Tavares with assertive Game 2 win 1213933 Sportsnet.ca / Canadiens' troubling regular-season patterns a concern after Game 2 loss 1213934 Sportsnet.ca / Playoffs takeaways: Lightning's Cooper calls out officials 1213935 Sportsnet.ca / Jets' outstanding defensive commitment paying off against Oilers 1213936 Leafs aim to play faster, dictate terms of Game 2 1213937 Dubas says Tavares did not suffer structural damage after scary Game 1 collision 1213938 USA TODAY / Oilers' Connor McDavid remains without a point; Bruins coach disputes call on injury-causing hit Jets 1213924 DeMelo's desperation play a game saver 1213925 Jets focused on the task at hand 1213926 JETS SNAPSHOTS: Level-headed Jets realize they haven’t accomplished anything yet 1213927 Maurice sparkles as his Jets shine 1213928 Overtime hero Stastny brings so much more than scoring to Jets in their playoff quest

SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129 1213787 Boston Bruins Josh Bailey and Jordan Eberle also scored for New York. Sorokin, who had 39 saves in the Islanders’ 4-3 win in Game 1, was back in goal after started Games 2 and 3 — both losses.

John Tavares has concussion, knee injury; likely to miss series Tristan Jarry had 23 saves for Pittsburgh, and drew mocking chants of “Jar-ry! Jar-ry!” from Islanders fans.

By Staff and wire reports Game 5 is Monday night in Pittsburgh, and Game 6 back at Nassau Coliseum on Wednesday. Updated May 22, 2021, 5:09 p.m. Bailey got the Islanders on the scoreboard first with his second goal of the series 8:07 into the second. Letang pushed New York’s Anthony Beauvillier into Jarry, forcing the goalie back into the goal, and Bailey Toronto captain John Tavares will probably miss the rest of the first- fired a shot past him. round series against the after sustaining a concussion and a knee injury during Game 1. Pulock made it 2-0 with 5:09 left in the middle period as he got the rebound of a shot by Wahlstrom and fired a one-timer off skate of The center’s availability for the rest of the postseason is uncertain, if the Penguins defenseman Cody Ceci and past Jarry. Maple Leafs advance. With the teams skating 4 on 4 in the third period, Pittsburgh’s Kris Letang General manager Kyle Dubas said there is no structural damage to the was whistled for interference to put the Islanders on their third power head, neck, and spine after Tavares took an accidental knee to the face play. Just as a on Scott Mayfield was expiring, Wahlstrom fired a from Canadiens forward Corey Perry. one-timer that was stopped by Jarry. However, Pittsburgh’s Teddy Speaking by conference call before Game 2 on Saturday night, Dubas Blueger knocked the puck in while trying to clear the rebound, putting indicated the knee issue is expected to keep Tavares out of the lineup at New York up 3-0 at 6:04. least two weeks. The best-of-seven series would end May 31 if it went With the Islanders still on a power play, Eberle made it 4-0 just 24 the distance. seconds later as he beat Jarry high on the glove side from the inside “The head injury and concussion, I think it’s very difficult to place a edge of the right circle. timeline on when someone’s going to return,” Dubas said. “We handle Zach Aston-Reese spoiled Sorokin’s shutout bid with a short-handed those in a very conservative nature, and handle them very sensitively.” goal with 2:35 to go. It was his first career playoff goal. Tavares was checked to the ice in the first period of Thursday’s 2-1 loss Marc-Andre Fleury made 35 saves for his 16th career postseason by Canadiens defenseman Ben Chiarot. He fell into the path of an shutout, Nicolas Roy scored twice, and the Vegas Golden Knights beat onrushing Perry, who was unable to avoid contact. Tavares laid Minnesota 4-0 in Game 4 of the first-round playoff series on Saturday motionless before trying to get up as trainers and doctors from both night to push the Wild to the verge of elimination. teams provided attention inside an empty, eerily quiet Scotiabank Arena. Alex Tuch and Mark Stone each got their third goal of the series and Tavares was removed from the ice by stretcher and taken to St. Keegan Kolesar had two assists for the Golden Knights, who have Michael’s Hospital. He received a CT scan and MRI and was discharged scored nine unanswered goals and lead 3-1 in the best-of-seven Friday. matchup. They get Game 5 at home on Monday night. Tavares, who signed a seven-year, $77 million contract in free agency in Joel Eriksson Ek had a goal challenged and erased by a replay review 2018, was Toronto’s third-leading scorer during the NHL’s pandemic- for the second straight game for the Wild, whose other stars continued to shortened season. The former New York Islander had 19 goals and 31 be stymied by Fleury and his defensemen. assists in playing all 56 games. Maple Leafs beat Canadiens 5-1 in Game 2 to tie series Alex Killorn scored a pair of second-period goals and the Tampa Bay Lightning rebounded from their first postseason loss to rout the Florida Auston Matthews broke a tie early in the second period and the Toronto Panthers 6-2 and take a commanding 3-1 lead in the first-round Central Maple Leafs beat the Montreal Canadiens 5-1 in Game 2 on Saturday Division playoff matchup on Saturday. night to even the first-round playoff series.

The reigning Stanley Cup champions pushed their intrastate rivals to the Matthews also had assists, William Nylander added a goal and an assist, brink of elimination by scoring three first-period goals, then building their and Jason Spezza, Rasmus Sandin, and Alexander Kerfoot, into an advantage to 5-1 when Killorn beat goalie Sergei Bobrovsky twice in a empty net, also scored. Jack Campbell stopped 22 shots, and Mitch span of 94 seconds to break the game open. Marner had two assists.

Nikita Kucherov had a goal and three assists, while Andrei Vasilevskiy Jesperi Kotkaniemi scored for Montreal, and Carey Price stopped 29 stopped 39 of 41 shots for the Lightning, who can wrap up the best-of- shots. seven series by winning Game 5 in Sunrise, Florida, on Monday night. The best-of-seven matchup between the rivals shifts to the Anthony Cirelli, Yanni Gourde, and Ondrej Palat scored in the opening Bell for games Monday and Tuesday nights. The Canadiens won period for Tampa Bay, setting the tone for a rough afternoon for the opener 2-1. Bobrovsky, who earned his second start of the series by coming off the bench to win Game 4 in relief. The Maple Leafs were without captain Tavares after he sustained a concussion and knee injury on a scary collision 10 minutes into Game 1. Bobrovsky, a two-time winner, stopped all nine shots he faced in the third period and overtime as the Panthers rallied from a two- goal deficit to tighten the series with a 6-5 victory on Thursday night. Boston Globe LOADED: 05.23.2021 The Lightning scored on three of seven shots in the first period Saturday. The Panthers replaced Bobrovsky with Chris Driedger after Killorn scored on the power play and added another goal off a pass from Steven Stamkos to increase the lead to 5-1.

Jonathan Huberdeau and Carter Verhaeghe had power-play goals for Florida.

Sorokin, Islanders beat Penguins 4-1 to tie series

Ilya Sorokin stopped 29 shots, Oliver Wahlstrom and Ryan Pulock each had a goal and an assist, and the New York Islanders beat the 4-1 in Game 4 to even the first-round series. 1213788 Boston Bruins “You’ve got to play well, I think, first,” Laviolette said. “You’ve got to play a game that can be successful, and that’ll put you in the game. That’ll give you a chance. I don’t think you can have this long-term plan. It’s got Capitals’ Dmitry Orlov not fined for high hit on the Bruins’ Kevan Miller in to be a real short-term plan — shift by shift, period by period, and just Game 4 one game. And that’s all you really talk about, all you really think about: making sure the guys are prepared, making sure they’re ready, and then you go out and fight for it one at a time.”

By Matt Porter Globe Staff Experience and preparation do not guarantee execution. The Bruins are in firm control of this series, with eyes on their target. Updated May 22, 2021, 2:55 p.m.

Boston Globe LOADED: 05.23.2021 The NHL’s wheel of justice kept spinning on Saturday, spitting out its trademark: unpredictable and head-scratching results.

Capitals winger Anthony Mantha received a $5,000 fine for running Bruins goalie late in Game 4. His teammate, Dmitry Orlov, was not penalized for a late, high hit that put Kevan Miller in the hospital Friday night, his actions earning a roughing major that shrank to a double minor upon official review.

The Bruins likely didn’t spend much time, if any, on Saturday discussing which way the Department of Player Safety’s winds were blowing. They have a 3-1 series lead and a closeout opportunity Sunday in Washington.

“Nothing changes for us,” coach Bruce Cassidy said before boarding the team charter. “We’ve said all along, we’re trying to get better every game this series. We want to get to four [wins] first, obviously, and that’s what’s in front of us. We’ve got three. It takes four to win. We’re not getting ahead of ourselves.”

Cassidy’s players had a mental break on Saturday, an optional skate in Brighton before traveling. Miller did not join them. He was resting at home following an overnight stay at Massachusetts General Hospital. He will miss Game 5, at least.

“Went through a number of tests,” Cassidy said. “Feeling a little bit better. That’s what we got.”

Aside from a shift on the third defense pair, the Bruins will not change a lineup that has won three in a row and looked stronger by the game. Connor Clifton will move to his natural right side to replace Miller, and Jarred Tinordi or Urho Vaakanainen will draw in. Neither Jeremy Lauzon (right hand) nor Jakub Zboril (upper body) are ready to play.

Tinordi, 6 feet 6 inches and 235 pounds, is longer and stronger than Vaakanainen (6-1, 185). His size could be useful against a heavy Capitals lineup. He would also be a deterrent for anyone getting their elbows up around Rask.

The rest of the group is on fire, having broken out for four goals Friday and neutralized the Capitals’ powerful forwards. Alex Ovechkin (four shots), Garnet Hathaway (three), and Evgeny Kuznetsov (two) were the only attackers to land more than one shot. T.J. Oshie (lower body) has been all but invisible, submitting 0-0—0 with zero shot attempts on Friday.

At the other end, the Bruins’ top two lines are carving Washington’s No. 1 pair of Orlov and John Carlson, whose expected goals rating — 24.1 percent, according to Natural Stat Trick — is the lowest of any regular duo this postseason. They have been outscored, 3-1, and nearly doubled up in scoring chances (39-20).

“I think your experience tells you that today is a new day, tomorrow is a new day after that,” said Capitals winger Tom Wilson, who has been on the ice for a league-high five 5-on-5 goals this postseason. “I think we know that yesterday wasn’t good enough. It was one bad game and we’re moving forward.”

Make no mistake: even after thoroughly pounding a tired-looking opponent in Game 4, the Bruins don’t have this series wrapped up.

Netminder Ilya Samsonov, likely to make a third consecutive start on Sunday for the first time in his two-year career, has played well. And not only is the Capitals’ core playoff-tested, so too is their coach.

Peter Laviolette was behind the Flyers’ bench when they rallied from 3-0 down in the series, and 3-0 down in Game 7, to knock out the Bruins in the second round of the 2010 playoffs. The winning goal of that game, a stunner at TD Garden, came after the Bruins took a too-many-men penalty. They’ve had two of those in each of the last two games of this series. 1213789 Boston Bruins That was Lupien to a T. In three consecutive AHL seasons, he logged more than 100 penalty minutes, and then did the same in his first three seasons with the Habs. Again, he was a spare part, a third-pairing Former Canadien Gilles Lupien’s path to the NHL was a road rarely backliner, but the NHL of the late ’70s and into the ’90s offered steady traveled these days work to guys who could grind, punch, twist and shout, even if their offensive output was next to nothing. Let the record show that Lupien finished with 30 career points and 416 PIMs.

By Kevin Paul Dupont Globe Staff That’s not where the NHL is today. For the most part, the warp speed of the game has minimized, if not eliminated, the chance for a guy with Updated May 22, 2021, 10:40 a.m. Lupien’s skill set to find any work, never mind an honest paycheck into his late 20s. It’s all speed and skill now, with dustups such as May 21, 1978, relegated to YouTube playback and the memories of old-timers Gilles Lupien, the ex-Montreal defenseman who succumbed to cancer at yelling on their front lawns, their preferred footwear white socks and age 67 on Wednesday, held but a brief role in the rich, emotionally sandals. charged Canadiens-Bruins playoff rivalry that for decades seemed to play out nearly every spring. The Bruins, for instance, in recent years watched AHL prospects Tyler Randell and Bobby Robins try to find a muscle path into the league. Winter had not officially surrendered its grip around here, and we paid Robins averaged more than 200 PIMs in one three-season AHL stretch little attention to the tulips sprouting in the Public Garden, until the Habs (2011-14). Decades ago, that kind of courage and determination routinely and Bruins hunkered down to trade shifts, shots, and punches in April or found a home in an NHL city. May. “It’s different now,” offered Cassidy, who was the coach in Providence Up until 1988, the outcome of those series across nearly a half-century when Randell and Robins flexed their muscles and dreams. “There’s just was agonizing for the Bruins and their fans. But it was typically and not as much opportunity for them. In the old days, just that younger, undeniably compelling theater. Much of Boston fandom lived for the small, skilled defenseman, there wasn’t room for him. There was maybe matchups, as it did Red Sox-Yankees and Celtics-Lakers. The tribalism one on a team, if you were lucky. Now you’re seeing probably up to of it all framed each season, if not the reason to be a fan. three. Back then you had the bigger bodies and they had an easier time cracking the lineup. Now it’s the opposite.” The stringy, 6-foot-6-inch Lupien, by the standards of famed defensemen , , and , was a bit of a curiosity Without question, the NHL in 2021 is highly skilled, faster, and more along that celebrated Habs blue line, After hammering his way through demanding than the one Joseph Leonard Gilles Lupien cracked 43 years three-plus seasons as an AHL strongman/enforcer, he landed full-time ago. Those with his dream and determination must take stock, recalibrate work with Montreal in 1977-78, smack in the middle of its last great their path to the show, and hope that their legs will deliver with the same dynasty (four consecutive Stanley Cup titles, 1976-79). punch of a fighter’s fists.

Lupien was front and center that gory May 21, 1978, night at the Garden, “That’s just the evolution of the game,” said Cassidy, “and people can Game 4 of the Cup Final, when Bruins winger chopped argue about it all day long.” ’s face into a bloody stew with a series of punches. For a relatively itsy-bitsy place on the map, the metro area of Halifax, “And we have blood all over the ice inside the blue line!” exhorted the Nova Scotia (approximate population: 400,000) delivers some gigantic legendary from his broadcast perch that hung all but 30 feet NHL stars, including Brad Marchand, Sidney Crosby, and Nathan above Garden ice. MacKinnnon.

Lupien, just turned 24, tangled in an adjacent tug of war with Bruins MacKinnon, at 25 the youngest of the stellar trio, as of Friday morning led ruffian , a.k.a. “Wire.” It wasn’t nearly the bloodbath of the postseason scoring with a 5-2—7 line in two games (both Avalanche Jonathan-Bouchard main card, but the two big men wrapped up one wins over the Blues). another and wrestled while the Garden crowd hooted and hollered. Once pried apart from Lupien by the linesmen, Wensink raised both arms as if Going back to MacKinnon’s rookie season, 2013-14, the three Halifax he were the newly crowned heavyweight champion of the old West End. standouts rank among the league’s top 10 regular-season scorers: 2. Crosby, Pittsburgh (660 points); 4. Marchand, Boston (582); 10. By today’s standards it sounds primitive, ugly, and lawless. It was all of MacKinnon, Colorado (560). that. And we loved it. Forget slimming down the goalie equipment to increase scoring. Just Lupien, his name engraved on the Cup for Canadiens championships in send us more of those Halifax homeboys. 1978 and ’79, played only 226 NHL games. He stayed connected to the game for far longer as a player agent. The Habs traded him to the “I think we just love hockey up there,” said Marchand, asked Friday Penguins prior to the 1980-81 season, and his final NHL skate came with morning about Nova Scotia’s secret sauce. “You kind of live and breathe the Whalers in October 1981. it at a young age. Over the years, we’ve produced some good players — obviously Sid and Nate are two of the best in the world.” And Marchand By no stretch was Lupien considered among the key Flying Frenchmen makes three. of his era. But he was unquestionably a valued role player in their success, a Quebec-born kid who played for three teams in the Quebec During Bruins off nights during the postseason, Marchand is a committed Major Junior Hockey League, and then had the will and gumption and playoff TV viewer. He gets extra enjoyment when seeing his fellow muscle to force his way onto one of the sport’s greatest rosters of all Halifax natives succeed. time. A reminder, once again, that perseverance is a skill set all its own. “But that’s with all the guys … it’s fun to watch guys you know in the “He had a nice career for a guy who didn’t have the skill set of those top league,” Marchand said. “It adds more to the games when you know three guys in Montreal,” recalled Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy, who was a somebody in it. It makes it a little more exciting, a little more interesting. young teen when Lupien cracked the Habs’ lineup. “I still believe there I’m definitely watching their games and they’re both doing really well — are guys who can find a way to contribute [in today’s NHL] with that style that’s part of it all.” of play.” Reaching out with a text at this time of the year, though, is not part of the Exhibit “A” by today’s standards, noted Cassidy, is Bruins defenseman brotherhood. Kevan Miller, who signed with Boston as a raw, undrafted wannabe out “No, playoffs are a different animal,” said Marchand. “At different times of of the University of Vermont. Miller didn’t punch his way into the NHL, as the year, we’ll text if there is something worth noting, but not this time of Lupien did, but he established his toughness early on when playing for year.” Cassidy’s AHL . He also saw a chance to improve his overall skill set, particularly his skating, and let nothing deter him. ETC.

“He played hard, killed penalties, was tough, and had a bit of that mind- Middleton recalls good old days set, ‘I’m going to make this team through sheer will and effort and physicality,’ ” said Cassidy. Rick Middleton (retired Bruins No. 16) was in the lineup the night of the Hayley Wickenheiser, virtually hours after officially receiving her “wings” Stan Jonathan-Pierre Bouchard skirmish and figured something was (her word) upon completing her education at the University of Calgary’s cooking when coach sent Jonathan, the pugnacious left Cumming School of Medicine, was promoted to senior director of player winger, out for a draw in the Montreal end. development. Dr. Wickenheiser, 42, was hired by the Leafs in August 2018 as assistant director of player development. “Trust me, I remember it all … clearly!” recalled Middleton in a telephone conversation on Friday, the 43rd anniversary of the battle. Danielle Goyette, 55, with two Olympic gold medals (to Wickenheiser’s four), was named Toronto’s director of player development. Goyette Cherry initially had Peter McNab on the ice, flanked by Terry O’Reilly and coached the University of Calgary’s women’s hockey team for 13 years. John Wensink. Canadiens coach had just sent out a defense pairing of Gilles Lupien and Bouchard, the latter of whom, as NHL teams have been slow to fill meaningful positions, at all levels, from Middleton recalled, had yet to skate a shift that night. the abundant ranks of qualified women. The hirings of Wickenheiser and Goyette should shatter ceilings of frozen ice. “So Grapes [Cherry] took Peter off and put Stan out there to take the faceoff,” said Middleton, his laugh about it all still robust 43 years later. Loose pucks “And Grapes never took just one guy off — if he didn’t like something, he’d swap out a whole line or defense pairing. But as soon as that Oft-forgotten about that last great Canadiens Cup run from 1976-79: The happened, we were like, ‘OK, here we go!’ ” Conn Smyth winner in ’76 was Reggie Leach, one of the few times the MVP came from the losing side (Philadelphia). Leach finished the Seconds after the draw, a whistle to stop play proved to be the opening postseason with a 19-5—24 line in 16 games. The Habs needed only 13 bell for the mayhem. games to win the Cup that season, and their leading scorer, no surprise, was (7-10—17). In net, Ken Dryden went 12-1 with a 1.92 “Wensink and Lupien had a brawl the [game] before,” recalled Middleton. GAA and .929 save percentage. Nope, not good enough for MVP. Leach “That’s what precipitated that one — John wanted to get back at him. was originally a Bruins draftee (No. 3 overall in 1970), dealt out of town in John got him down — Lupien was a big guy, 6-6 or 6-7 — and was giving ’72 in the Carol Vadnais swap with the California Golden Seals. But take it to him pretty good.” heart, Canadiens fans, members of Les Glorieux picked up the MVP in The Bruins won that night, 4-3, to even the series at two games apiece, ’77 (Lafleur), ’78 (Larry Robinson), and ’79 (Bob Gainey) … Middleton but lost the next two (4-1 each time) and were forced to witness the will turn in his silver skates as president of the Bruins Alumni Association Habs, with Bouchard and Lupien all smiles, waltz the Cup around the ice at the end of the 2021-22 season. The Oldie Black and Goldies, who in front of a stunned Garden crowd. played 10 games out of the Canton Ice House during the pandemic, will be back to barnstorming in October, playing at charity rinks around New Middleton offered sincere condolences over Lupien’s death this past England. They also plan to play a handful of games the Bruins’ Warrior week, and recalled that the Habs brought up Lupien that year, in part, to practice facility in Brighton … Five NHL coaching jobs remain open: deal with the Bruins’ toughness factor. Buffalo, Arizona, Seattle, Columbus, and the NY Rangers. Claude Julien’s name has not been rumored for any, but from here he looks ideal “That era was a little after the Broad Street Bullies,” Middleton said, to add the kind of basic defensive structure that greatly would help the noting the cantankerous Flyers squads of the ’70s. “We had just beaten Blueshirts. Meanwhile, Gerard Gallant could see a bidding war for his Philly [in the Cup semis]. Montreal had a very talented team. If you services. He’s lived through abrupt dismissals at his last two gigs, Florida remember, in ’76, they beat Philly to win it, and Larry Robinson and Vegas, but he’s an excellent bench boss … Craig Anderson, who annihilated [Dave] Schultz. Philly had their way there a couple of years, turned 40 on Friday, became one of the 12 oldest to win a and Montreal decided they wanted to get bigger and tougher, and Lupien playoff game when he backstopped the Capitals to their Game 1 win over was one of those guys.” the Bruins last Saturday. Meanwhile, the four oldest goalies ever to Stanley Cup playoff overtime is a joy to behold as a fan, but there’s no record the win in a Cup-clinching game: Johnny Bower, Toronto, 39, over denying the physical toll it exacts from the working help. The Bruins Detroit in 1964; , Montreal, 38, over St. Louis in 1968; averaged a game every other night — never more than a single night off Bower, Toronto, 38, over Detroit in 1963; Dominik Hasek, Detroit, 37, between games — for the final six weeks of the regular season, then over Carolina, in 2002; and Terry Sawchuk, Toronto, 37, over Montreal in launched their playoff series with the Capitals that saw the first three 1967. Sawchuk played three more seasons, calling it quits at 40 after games go to OT. three playoff appearance with the Rangers in 1970. The Maple Leafs have not won the Cup since his last day with them in ’67. Reminder: If the Bruins are to win the franchise’s seventh Cup title, they have three more of these best-of-seven series to go. We’re a long way from the 1950s and ’60s, when the 70-game season was capped by only Boston Globe LOADED: 05.23.2021 two playoff rounds to crown a champ.

In those days, with pace of play considerably slower, no player faced suiting up for more than 84 games in a season — and then only if both postseason rounds went their max. Today that number stands at 110, roughly 31 percent higher.

The NHL is slow to change, except for both sides’ willingness over the decades to expand the schedule to boost revenue. Game rosters, meanwhile, have been fixed at 18 skaters and two goalies since the start of the ’80s. Not much relief if, say, game No. 106 goes into double or triple overtime.

Traditionalists likely never will settle for quicker means, such as the shootout, to trim the OTs. But there could be some relief to be had in allowing an extra player or two to suit up once OT arrives. To wit: add a 21st player at the 60:00 mark, and a 22nd at the 80:00 mark.

The extra player(s) would provide some relief for an exhausted lineup at the very least or fill a spot left open by a player who exited because of injury during regulation. It would be a barely detectable change, help relieve some bench fatigue, and possibly prevent games from dragging beyond the 80- or 100-minute marks.

Maple Leafs put women at forefront

Brilliant moves by the Maple Leafs last Monday, placing two high-profile women into management positions, and thus giving young girls reason to aspire to significant jobs in the industry once they’ve hung up the skates as players. 1213790 Boston Bruins the game a lot easier, a lot better, where the space and the time is. He’s a big, strong kid, has a lot of skill, and a great skater.

“I think that it was great, him being able to play with Z and understanding ‘He’s one of the best defensemen in the league.’ Charlie McAvoy was at the commitment side of it at an early age and being able to watch one of the center of the Bruins’ big win in Game 4 the best in the game, one of the best to ever [play]. So I think all of that has just allowed him to continue to build into a dominant player in this league, and he will be for a long time. So, we’re lucky to have him.” By Julian Benbow Globe Staff

Updated May 22, 2021, 7:07 a.m. Boston Globe LOADED: 05.23.2021

Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy embraces big stages and crucial moments. The brighter the lights, the better.

But when Kevan Miller was knocked out of Game 4 of the Bruins’ first- round playoff series against the Washington Capitals on Friday night by a devastating hit from Dmitry Orlov, a different switch flipped.

Since the start of the series, the Bruins emphasized that the Capitals would be physical but they couldn’t get rattled. Instead, they would have to capitalize.

Orlov’s hit earned him a roughing penalty, and McAvoy seized the opportunity.

“I think we kind of had a mind-set of, ‘Hey, let’s make these guys pay in response to the penalties,’ ” he said.

In a matter of 33 seconds, McAvoy set up David Pastrnak for a goal from the right circle. On the way to a 4-1 win, the Bruins never let up. With assists on three of the Bruins’ goals, McAvoy constantly put himself at the center of the biggest win of the series thus far and, after watching the 23-year-old defenseman blossom over the last four seasons, it surprised no one in the Bruins’ dressing room.

“The biggest thing about him is when the spotlight’s on him and the lights get brighter, Chucky shows up to play and he elevates his game,” said fellow defenseman Matt Grzelcyk.

Miller had to be sent to the hospital for scans and evaluation, which left the Bruins scrambling with just five defensemen. McAvoy had no issues with logging long minutes. He was on the ice for 26:18 and made every second count.

Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy has come to expect it.

“Charlie McAvoy thrives with big minutes,” Cassidy said.

Through four games, McAvoy is plus-3 with five assists. Each game he’s been pushed further and further, playing 23:57 in Game 1, 26:49 in Game 2, and 33:52 in Game 3. He’s been a consistent force for the Bruins in a testy series, but just sees it as doing his part.

“Just trying to do whatever the team needs me to do, whatever I can to help us win hockey games,” McAvoy said. “I think that’s everyone’s mind- set. Everybody’s pulling the rope and guys are elevating, the whole team’s elevating. We’re trying to build something here. We’re trying to grow each game.

“Our mind-set is to just do whatever it takes to win. It’s the playoffs now and winning is all that matters. So I’m just trying to pull the rope just like everybody, and I think that’s what the whole team is doing.”

Grzelcyk was on the receiving end of McAvoy’s third assist, a look that was almost identical to Pastrnak’s, and padded the Bruins lead with 5:10 left. Having gone from teammates at Boston University to partners on the Bruins’ top defense pairing, Grzelcyk can appreciate watching McAvoy’s ascent.

‘It’s fun to watch him grow up right in front of our eyes,” Grzelcyk said. “He’s one of the best defensemen in the league.”

McAvoy’s emergence came as the Bruins parted ways with longtime captain and anchor Zdeno Chara, a mentor to McAvoy during his time in Boston who is now watching McAvoy thrive as an opponent with the Capitals. McAvoy has noted the impact Chara had on his development, but downplayed matching up against him.

“I think he’s continued to mature, which is the biggest thing,” teammate Brad Marchand said. “He’s always been a great player. He was able to play at a young age, which obviously takes a lot of talent and ability. But I think each year that goes by, he gets more confident. He understands 1213791 Boston Bruins “Nothing changes for us,” said Cassidy. “We’ve said all along we’re trying to get better in every game in the series. We want to get to four (wins) first, obviously, and that’s what’s in front of us. We’ve got three and it Bruins Notebook: B’s hope to oust Capitals takes four to win. We’re not getting ahead of ourselves here. We’ve got an off-day, a travel day, let the guys take a mental break and then we’ll sit down (Sunday) morning, as we’ve done every game, we reinforce what we’re doing well, correct what we’re not doing right if need be and By STEVE CONROY | [email protected] | Boston Herald that won’t change for (Sunday). I think the leadership group will take care PUBLISHED: May 22, 2021 at 2:25 p.m. | UPDATED: May 22, 2021 at of any message that needs to be said of where we are in the series and 5:37 p.m. that’s how we’ve approached it.”

Mantha fined, Orlov skates

Any hard-earned satisfaction the Bruins may have gained from their Anthony Mantha was hit Saturday with a $5,000 fine for his hit on Tuukka dominant victory over the Washington Capitals on Friday night ebbed Rask in the third period Friday. Mantha, seeing his first playoff action naturally into the cold reality on Saturday morning that they have to do it since coming over from Detroit, was in the box for two Bruin power-play all over again on Sunday night in Game 5 if they want to be quickly done goals. with the Caps for good this year. Somehow Orlov, who left his feet to deliver a late hit that put Miller in the They will have to do it without their most physical defenseman, who has hospital, escaped supplemental discipline. provided inspirational leadership all season.

The B’s will be without rugged defenseman Kevan Miller for the trip to our Boston Herald LOADED: 05.23.2021 nation’s capital, said coach Bruce Cassidy, after Miller took a late, high hit from Caps’ defenseman Dmitry Orlov on Friday. Miller spent the night in the hospital and Cassidy said he was back home on Saturday and “feeling a little better.”

But if the B’s want to close out the series on Sunday, they’ll have to do it without Miller. The only healthy options are Jarred Tinordi or Urho Vaakanainen.

The guess here is that they’ll go with the 6-foot-6 Tinordi against the physical Caps. He’s both bigger and more experienced than Vaakanainen and has been through the wars with the physical Caps. He was the first to challenge Tom Wilson after Wilson’s head-shot on Brandon Carlo in the B’s emotional win on March 5. Tinordi has also still been wearing the face shield he had to don after suffering facial injuries after he was boarded by the Caps’ Garnet Hathaway in a 6-3 Bruins’ win on April 18. Tinordi also played well in the last regular season game when the Caps put most of the regulars in the lineup.

The plan, said Cassidy, would be for the replacement, whomever it may be, to go in on their natural left side and Connor Clifton, whose game has enjoyed a resurgence since going into the lineup for the injured Jeremy Lauzon, to slide over to his natural right side.

There will be a certain level of trust accorded to either Tinordi or Vaakanainen.

“We’ve said this all along. We’re not going to wheel a guy in there who hasn’t played that much and stick him out there for 25 minutes. But you can’t hide guys, either,” said Cassidy. “You can try to support them as best as possible and and protect them in certain situations. But when you go on the road and you don’t have last line change, there are certain match-ups you’re just going to have to live with and expect the player to get it done, whether it’s Jarred or Vaak. They’ve both played a certain amount of games, they’re both good players. I’m sure Cliffy will help them. Cliffy’s been in the heat of the battle here now for a few games so that should be a positive for whoever he’s partnered with. And obviously, if the game goes along and we don’t like it, we’ll switch it. We’re not afraid to do that. We’ve done it before.”

The B’s have a great chance to end this series early and get some healing time before facing either the Penguins or Islanders. But a loss could easily flip the dynamic of the series. It would force a Game 6 in Boston on Tuesday and up the pressure on the B’s to avoid a Game 7 in Washington. And the Caps, only three years removed from the Stanley Cup, have the talent to flip the script.

Caps’ coach Peter Laviolette, of course, led a team that overcame a more daunting task. He was behind the bench in 2010 when the Flyers came back from 3-0 series deficit to stun the Bruins.

“I don’t think you can have this long-term plan,” Laviolette told reporters. “It’s got to be a real short-term plan — shift by shift, period by period and just one game.”

But it would also be surprising if the B’s, as professional an outfit as there is in the league, took their eye off the ball. Cassidy trusts his leadership group to drive home just what the situation is while his staff can focus on the X’s and O’s. 1213792 Boston Bruins

Boston Bruins D Kevan Miller Out For Game 5

Published 16 hours ago on May 22, 2021

By Jimmy Murphy

Boston Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy confirmed Saturday that defenseman Kevan Miller will not play in the potential series-clinching Game 5 against the Washington Capitals Sunday in Washington DC.

“Kevan is back home; spent the night at the hospital; went through a number of tests, feeling a little bit better and that’s what we got,” a clearly perturbed Cassidy said and then gave a blunt and fast ‘Yes’ when asked if Miller is out for Game 5.

As for who will replace Miller in the lineup for Game 5?

“The only two healthy guys we have are [Jarred] Tinordi and [Urho] Vaakanainen so it will be one of those two,” Cassidy said.

Following the 4-1 win by the Boston Bruins over the Capitals in Game 5, Cassidy was much more animated with his frustration over the fact that an opponent was called for a major for leaping into and hitting one of his players, only to see that major be decreased to a double-minor for roughing.

“What happened there is their guy left his feet borderline late and drove right under his chin,” a baffled and ticked-off Cassidy said during his postgame Zoom with the media Friday night. “He told me skating by that when they reviewed it that they felt [Orlov] made contact first to his upper body, but it didn’t look that way to my vantage point. Kevan is in the hospital undergoing some CTs and until he gets back, we won’t know anything there.

It’s obviously frustrating to watch that review and the [major penalty] call go by the wayside. It was essentially a two-minute minor and then later you watch that [interference] penalty assessed to Marchand and it’s just a complete head-scratcher sometimes on what’s a two-minute penalty. But we played through it and we need to take care of our business, and [the officials] need to take care of their business. I didn’t see it the way they did and it’s unfortunate for Kevin, but we’ll see how he is.”

So now, as they did throughout the 2019 , throughout the 2019-20 season, and for 28 games this past regular season, the Boston Bruins will be without what is now their most physical defenseman and a key part of their leadership core for a potential series- clinching game and likely more if the Capitals stave off elimination.

There was no supplemental discipline for Orlov but the NHL Department of Player Safety did announce Saturday that Capitals forward Anthony Mantha was fined $5,000 for goalie interference after running Boston Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask in the third period Friday.

Boston Hockey Now LOADED: 05.23.2021 1213793 Boston Bruins shot attempts overall) busting through with his first goal of the playoff series on a power play chance. Or Connor Clifton blocking three shots while stepping into a bigger PK role once Miller was knocked out of the Boston Bruins Put Capitals On Lockdown With Game 4 Win |BHN+ game.

At a time when the Boston Bruins needed a superior effort to really put their thumb down on the Capitals, it was Boston’s young core superstars Published 18 hours ago on May 22, 2021 that made the impact plays and showed just how good they are amongst the NHL’s constellation of stars. By Joe Haggerty It’s truly got to be a scary thought for other NHL teams that the Bruins are

on the verge of vanquishing the Capitals in five games, and Pastrnak BOSTON – A Stanley Cup playoff series isn’t actually over until the really hasn’t truly unleashed his best brand of hockey yet during this Boston Bruins collect four wins, obviously. postseason.

But the Boston Bruins have now locked a Ted DiBiase Million Dollar “He’s gotten himself in the position to shoot the puck and we design Dream sleeper hold on the Washington Capitals in their first round series plays for him because he can score goals. At the end of the day, good for with the Caps on the brink of elimination. After winning an emotional him. He’s a sniper,” said Cassidy. “Maybe this gets him feeling better double-overtime Game 3 where the Washington Capitals crumbled with a about his shot. He’s still making plays and playing hard. That line is a key mental mistake losing them the game, the Boston Bruins were load. He still had lots of chances 5-on-5 halfway throughout the game expecting a desperate, high-level effort from the Capitals. both in front of the net and off to the side.

Instead, the Bruins essentially dominated the entire 60-minute effort in “Eventually when you get those looks, he’s too good of a scorer for them the most one-sided game of the series with a 4-1 victory over the not to go in. And they did [in Game 4]. They’ve just been making saves Capitals on Friday night to take a 3-to-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. on him. And he’s comfortable with that line. They’ve been playing very The B’s outshot the Capitals by a 37-20 margin, finished on three power well. They’re getting their looks. They’re playing their minutes and they’re play goals in a special teams domination and responded emotionally getting their chances. I didn’t see any frustration with Pastrnak. He stuck after rugged, veteran defenseman Kevan Miller was knocked out of the with it and got rewarded.” game due to a violent, late second period hit from Dmitry Orlov that sent The same could be said for the Bruins, who have stuck with it in the first him to the hospital. round series after clearly not playing their best in a Game 1 loss. Now the To say it galvanized the B’s would be an understatement. B’s have the Capitals on the verge of submission and just need one more winning effort like Game 4 to advance to the next round of the playoffs. “Especially for a guy like [Kevan Miller] that steps up for every guy in the room, we felt like we were going to have to get it done for him. He’s a big part of our team,” said David Pastrnak, who stepped up with a goal and Boston Hockey Now LOADED: 05.23.2021 two points along with 10 shot attempts. “It was our main focus going into the third period: To get it done for him and to get a power play [goal] at the start of the third period to get the momentum going.”

The Bruins did that and then some with a three-goal explosion in the first five minutes of the third period to bust the playoff game wide open.

The Bruins are experienced and poised enough to know, though, that the job isn’t done until the series is over, but it goes without saying they are in complete control of things with a Washington already looking a bit resigned in Game 4. For the Bruins, the most encouraging sign is that they continually get better with each game in the first round series and seem to be building toward bigger and better things to come.

“All facets. Obviously, the special teams speak for themselves,” said Bruce Cassidy, after the Bruins went 3-for-5 on the PP and held the high- powered Capitals power play to one goal on seven tries in an impressive showing. “The structure was excellent [on the PK] and we had some big blocks on [Alex] Ovechkin. Joe [Sacco] and Kevin [Dean] obviously did a good job getting them ready for their power play.

“Our power play made some adjustments and it paid off. We had some shots that went in. Five-on-five? Boy, I thought we didn’t give up much. Guys worked back to position to protect the slot. Just a lot of good stuff defensively. And offensively on the PP and enough 5-on-5 to try to stick down low and create some stuff around the net. Tonight, I thought we were the better team and it ended up playing out like that on the scoreboard.”

That’s all totally by design with the Black and Gold as they keep building on their playoff journey.

“We wanted it and it showed out there. We’ve talked about getting better all the time as we go along, and that includes this series and period to period,” said Cassidy. “We’re starting to see those results, at home at least. Certainly, in Washington we were better in the second game than the first, and we’ve gotten progressively better here at home. We’ve built our game here pretty good.

“I feel like we’ve really wanted to play the right way, get to the net and play behind their ‘D’, all the things that we’ve talked about to make us successful. I think our guys have bought into it. The will to win has to be there or you’re going nowhere in the playoffs. I think we have it.”

None of it even takes into account some dominant performances whether it was three assists and yeoman’s minutes (26:18) logged by Charlie McAvoy on the back end, or David Pastrnak (six shots on net and 10 1213794 Boston Bruins Carolina Hurricanes

Sean McIndoe

NHL picks today: Expert predictions, odds for Capitals-Bruins, Carolina Hurricanes Hurricanes-Predators, Jets-Oilers and Avalanche-Blues Game 3: Predators 5, Hurricanes 4, 2OT (Carolina leads 2-1)

The largest crowd for an NHL game this season — 12,135 — gathered By The Athletic NHL Staff inside Bridgestone Arena on Friday, hoping for the best. Down 2-0 in their first-round series with the Carolina Hurricanes, Game 3 was May 23, 2021 effectively a must-win situation for the Predators. At 14:54 of the second overtime, Matt Duchene gathered a long-range flip pass from Roman Josi and beat Alex Nedeljkovic to keep the Predators’ hopes alive. Earlier The Boston Bruins have the Washington Capitals on the brink of in the week, Predators coach John Hynes challenged his top players to elimination after losing the first game in Washington. The Bruins could be take charge. In addition to Duchene, Ryan Ellis, Filip Forsberg and Ryan the first team to advance to the second round in the Metropolitan Division Johansen scored for the Predators, who have never trailed 3-0 in a with a win on Sunday. Colorado can also advance to the second round playoff series. — Adam Vingan with a win against the St. Louis Blues. The Athletic’s NHL writers continue to make their daily picks for each Stanley Cup playoff game. Game 4 — Colorado Avalanche (-225) at St. Louis Blues (+190)

All lines via BetMGM. If you’d like a free year of The Athletic (or an Total: 5.5 extension!), BetMGM is running a special offer, which also includes $100 PICK in bonus bets. Eric Duhatschek Game 5 — Boston Bruins (-135) at Washinton Capitals (+110) St. Louis Blues Total: 5.5 Sean Gentille PICK Colorado Avalanche Eric Duhatschek Dom Luszczyszyn Washington Capitals Colorado Avalanche Sean Gentille Scott Burnside Boston Bruins Colorado Avalanche Dom Luszczyszyn Sean McIndoe Boston Bruins Colorado Avalanche Scott Burnside Game 3: Avalanche 5, Blues 1 (Colorado leads 3-0) Boston Bruins The Avalanche didn’t get goals from any of their five leading regular- Sean McIndoe season goal scorers. Mikko Rantanen didn’t score. Neither did Nathan Boston Bruins MacKinnon. Or . Or Andre Burakovsky or Joonas Donskoi. But that’s only a small consolation prize for the Blues: Colorado Game 4: Bruins 4, Capitals 1 (Boston leads 3-1) still rolled to take a commanding 3-0 series lead. The Avalanche benefited from an onslaught of depth scoring. Defenseman Ryan Graves The series had been airtight for three games. All three had gone to had a three-point night on his 26th birthday, and fourth-liner Alex overtime — double, at that, in Game 3. The Bruins blew that all to bits in Newhook logged his first NHL goal. Philipp Grubauer was stingy in net, Game 4 with a dominant win to take command of the series. Boston and now Colorado is a win away from advancing to Round 2 for the third controlled the game the entire way by skating well, making good year in a row. — Peter Baugh decisions and smothering most of Washington’s chances. At one point, the Bruins had blocked six of Alex Ovechkin’s seven attempts. The only Game 3 — Edmonton Oilers (-125) at (+105) puck that beat Tuukka Rask was an Ovechkin broken-stick shot that tumbled in off Brandon Carlo. “Boy, we didn’t give up too much,” said Total: 5.5 coach Bruce Cassidy. PICK

Meanwhile, David Pastrnak, who had shot sideways for the first three Eric Duhatschek games, found his aim. Pastrnak buried the game-winning power-play goal in the third period. He set up Brad Marchand for a net-front man- Edmonton Oilers advantage tip. The Bruins’ lone blemish: the loss of Kevan Miller after a high hit from Dmitry Orlov. Miller was taken to the hospital for tests. — Sean Gentille Fluto Shinzawa Edmonton Oilers

Game 4 — Carolina Hurricanes (-145) at Nashville Predators (+120) Dom Luszczyszyn

Total: 5.5 Edmonton Oilers

PICK Scott Burnside

Eric Duhatschek Edmonton Oilers

Nashville Predators Sean McIndoe

Sean Gentille Edmonton Oilers

Carolina Hurricanes Game 2: Jets 1, Oilers 0, OT (Winnipeg leads 2-0)

Dom Luszczyszyn From down and counted out to a 2-0 series lead, the Jets have defied the Nashville Predators critics and the odds. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are point-less through two games, Connor Hellebuyck is playing out of his mind, and Scott Burnside Paul Stastny’s overtime winner sends Winnipeg home to Bell MTS Place in control of the series. For a team that struggled so badly against the Edmonton Oilers all season, the only way this story could read more like a fairytale is if there were a patented Winnipeg whiteout waiting for them in their home rink. It’s been a game of inches — just ask Dylan DeMelo after his desperate shot block — but the Jets have turned those inches into a massive head start in the race to four wins. — Murat Ates

The Athletic LOADED: 05.23.2021 1213795 Boston Bruins “We’re not going to wheel a guy out there who hasn’t played much and stick him out there for 25 minutes,” Cassidy said. “But you can’t hide guys, either. You can try to support them as best as possible, protect How will Kevan Miller’s injury affect the Bruins in Game 5? them in certain situations. But when you go on the road, you don’t have last line change. There are certain matchups you’re just going to have to live with and expect the player to get it done. Whether it’s Jarred or Vaak, they’ve both played a certain amount of games. They’re both good By Fluto Shinzawa players. I’m sure Cliffy will help them. Cliffy’s been in the heat of the May 22, 2021 battle now for a few games. That should be a positive for whoever he’s partnered with.”

The length of Miller’s absence is unknown. The Bruins would like to give On Saturday morning, with doctors’ approval, Kevan Miller felt well Miller plenty of time to recover before he’s needed for battle. enough to go home after spending Friday night at Massachusetts General Hospital undergoing tests and resting. The best way they can do that is by finishing off the Capitals in Game 5.

The Bruins’ medical staff, however, did not give Miller the green light to join his teammates on their southbound flight to Washington. The Bruins The Athletic LOADED: 05.23.2021 will have to play a potential close-out Game 5 on Sunday without their most belligerent strongman. The Capitals, in turn, will feel just a little bit braver.

The Bruins did not enjoy regular-season life without Miller. They went 14- 9-5 when the right-shot defenseman was unavailable because of his injured right knee. With Miller patrolling the defensive zone, the Bruins were 19-7-2.

The 33-year-old may be the No. 5 defenseman. In terms of presence, he is much more than a bottom-pairing defender.

Miller is the heartbeat of the defense. He knows no fear when storming into a corner to pursue a puck or crunch an opponent into the boards. He plays every shift ticked off, a permanent scowl carved into his face. Tage Thompson, in all likelihood, still bears the imprints of Miller’s knuckles in his cheek from their one-sided April 13 fight.

So when Dmitry Orlov launched himself into Miller in Game 4 and dropped him to the ice, the Bruins were not happy that their biggest and baddest brother was left with a serious injury.

“You never want to see a hit like that,” said defenseman Matt Grzelcyk, who has been paired with Miller. “Millsy’s a huge part of our team. He sticks up for everyone. We wanted to do that for him and making sure we’re doing it the right way. We’re beating them on the scoreboard and not taking stupid penalties.”

Washington’s heat seekers were already intent on emptying their tanks in a do-or-die Game 5. Tom Wilson, Alex Ovechkin, Anthony Mantha, Garnet Hathaway and Nic Dowd will hit that much harder without Miller to lower the temperature.

Miller’s exit overlaps with injuries to Jeremy Lauzon (hand) and Jakub Zboril (upper body). The left-shot defensemen could have been good third-pair complements for Connor Clifton. Lauzon likes the rough stuff. When composed, Zboril moves the puck crisply.

Instead, the Bruins will have to choose between Jarred Tinordi and Urho Vaakanainen, neither of whom has appeared in the series.

Tinordi has nine games of playoff experience. Vaakanainen has none. Tinordi is most likely to pull on his jersey and share shifts with Clifton. The 6-foot-6, 205-pound lefty played 22 minutes, 20 seconds against Washington in the regular-season finale. The Bruins will welcome Tinordi’s reach, experience and penalty-killing ability. They will have to live with his foot speed and decision-making.

The son of ex-Capital Mark Tinordi should be motivated to play against his dad’s former employer. The 29-year-old suffered facial injuries when Hathaway launched him into the boards April 18. In his second game as a Bruin, Tinordi made a good impression on his new teammates by challenging Wilson after the heavyweight knocked out Brandon Carlo.

The trouble with deploying Tinordi and Clifton is that the Capitals will have last change in Game 5. Coach Bruce Cassidy is wary of disrupting his players’ rhythm in favor of optimal matchups. He can shelter them for only so long. It may be that Tinordi and Clifton will have to square off against Ovechkin.

In Game 1, with Washington having last change, Ovechkin’s most common five-on-five opponents were Lauzon and Miller. Washington coach Peter Laviolette would prefer to pry Ovechkin away from Grzelcyk and Charlie McAvoy. 1213796 Boston Bruins who scored tonight, (David) Pastrnak. And their supporting guys are tough, they work hard. And they made a great trade to get Taylor Hall. Did you see that goal he scored the other night?

He can win it for them’: Gerry Cheevers salutes Tuukka Rask after goalie “Right now,” Cheevers said, “Washington can’t keep up with them. I’d be claims Bruins record for playoff wins very surprised if they got back in this series. They might win one in Washington, but I don’t think so.”

By Steve Buckley Rask, of course, remains a lightning rod for a lunatic fringe that chooses to believe the goalie on the bench, any goalie on the bench, is better than May 22, 2021 this guy. Which is why it made sense to call the goaltender who formerly held the team record for playoff victories. Surely Gerry Cheevers would

have some opinions about Tuukka Rask. It’s not very often the Boston Bruins do things that require somebody in “I’m enjoying what he’s doing,” he said. “One of the things you have to do the office to dust off old scrapbooks from the days of the Big, Bad Bruins. in this game is learn how to win. I think he has that. He’s going to be fine. We all know why: Not only are we talking about two distinct eras in “He’s a top goaltender and I think he’ll show it this playoff. He’s just got to hockey history, we’re also talking about those Bruins, the Bruins of stay up.” and , of Johnny Bucyk and Pie McKenzie, of Derek Sanderson … and Gerry Cheevers, the Hall of Fame goaltender This is where some of you might want to do some tsk-taking and point who was in the net for the Bruins’ Stanley Cup-clinching victories in 1970 out that more playoff games are played in the modern-day NHL than in and ’72. Cheevers’ day. And that’s true. What’s also true is that in the days of the Original Six, which is when Cheevers arrived in the NHL, it wasn’t Here we are, a half-century later, and Cheevers was back in the news uncommon for goalies to kick around the minors for years. Cheevers may Friday night, his name getting plenty of mentions as the fired-up present- have been only 21 when he made his NHL debut with the Maple Leafs in day Bruins were completing a 4-1 victory over the Washington Capitals in the 1961-62 season, but it wasn’t until he was 26 with the Bruins that he Game 4 of their best-of-seven opening-round playoff series. This is got any appreciable playing time. He spent a ton of time in the American because the Bruins’ Garden party — which gave them a 3-1 series lead Hockey League. Heck, goaltender Johnny Bower played more regular- — happened also to be the 54th career playoff victory for Tuukka Rask, season games in the AHL (592) than in the NHL (552) — and he’s in which set a new team record. And we probably don’t need to tell you that the Hall of Fame. the old mark, 53, belonged to Cheevers. It should also be noted that Cheevers bolted to the WHA’s Cleveland It seems preposterous that Rask has been around so long that he’s now Crusaders for four seasons before returning to the Bruins. registered more playoff victories than Gerry freakin’ Cheevers. But even if you’re in that camp that still wants to criticize Rask for all kinds of But facts are facts: No goaltender in Bruins history has won more playoff things, such as opting out of the Stanley Cup playoff bubble last season games than Tuukka Rask. for family reasons, he’s back and he’s winning. And the guy who formerly held that record thinks Rask has a few more To put things in perspective, when Rask made his NHL debut on playoff wins in him. November 20, 2007, age 20, it was only a few weeks after Jonathan Papelbon closed out the clinching Game 4 of the World Series for the Red Sox. The Patriots were 10-0, with Tom Brady throwing perfect The Athletic LOADED: 05.23.2021 passes to Randy Moss every Sunday and critics starting to grouse that New England was running up the score. One night after Rask’s NHL debut, the Celtics rolled to a 105-82 victory over the Golden State Warriors, backed by their newly-assembled Big Three of Paul Pierce (19 points), Kevin Garnett (20 points) and Ray Allen (21 points).

All those players have moved on. Rask, still only 34, continues to plug away for the Bruins.

This seemed like a good time, then, to call Gerry Cheevers and get his thoughts on Rask, who lost his bid for a shutout in Game 4 when a shot deflected off the stick of Bruins defenseman Brandon Carlo and into the net.

“Well, first of all,” said Cheevers, speaking by phone from his home on Delray Beach, Fla., “I didn’t even know I had the record for most playoff victories by a Bruins goaltender.”

Let’s pause here to point out that Cheevers, 80, speaks with a voice that is clear and distinct. And his memories of this or that game from back in the day are just as clear and distinct. But a record for … what was that? Most playoff victories by a Bruins goaltender? Is that even a thing?

“I’ve been watching all the games, and I heard them mention something about it a couple of days ago, during Game 3,” Cheevers said. “I didn’t even know they were keeping track of that.

“But I cheer for the Bruins, of course, and I’m glad he did it,” he said.

If you’re looking for reasons to be optimistic about Rask manning the pipes for a long Cup run by the Bruins, and even if you aren’t, Cheevers believes Rask “is one of the top two or three goalies of the teams in the playoffs right now. He’s big, he really works on staying up, staying on his feet, and he can win it for them.”

No attempt was made to compare the current Bruins roster with the collection of legends from Cheevers’ day. But without even being asked, Cheevers offered that “during the last two games the Bruins won the boards, they won the 1-on-1’s, and they just don’t quit. They’re a terrific team. They have a great team, which includes the goalie, that includes (Patrice) Bergeron and (Brad) Marchand and (David) Krejci, and the kid 1213797 “He was lights-out to start the year and he got injured and it took him time to come back from the injury,” Treliving reasoned. “He was dealing with a concussion for the first time in his career, and so you point to a period of Star goalie Jacob Markstrom vows to be better in second season with time and say, ‘OK, there’s a reason we think that his play was below Flames what he’s capable of.’ And then you saw at the end of the year, in my mind, he’s back capable. So you’re trying to find reasons and solutions for your questions. That’s what you go through.”

Wes Gilbertson Markstrom, speaking before the boss had his own turn at the podium, refused to use that injury — believed to be the result of his open-ice Publishing date: May 22, 2021 collision with former teammate Tanner Pearson — as any sort of excuse.

“If I wasn’t healthy, I wouldn’t have played,” he stressed. “But yeah, it Jacob Markstrom seems to be taking this playoff miss personally. came at a bad time and obviously when you look at the season, coming back after the injury, I wasn’t playing as good as I need to be as a No. 1 And while there is plenty of blame to go around, that’s not necessarily a goalie in this league. And that’s on me. bad sign for the Calgary Flames. “I just have to be better and be more consistent and keep the level of The workhorse netminder was in an owly mood during his exit interview. play high throughout the season and don’t have that little stint of bad play. That was too long. You can have one or two games where you’re Although his team had been eliminated for a week-and-a-half already, it not good. That’s going to happen. It happens to everyone. But you have was clear that the sting hadn’t dulled any. to keep those little stints short.” Despite a stretch of stingy performances to close out the campaign, the It’ll be a longer off-season than these Flames had been banking on. 31-year-old Markstrom offered a scathing review of his own work. The opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs has featured some dandy If there was a goal-stick within reach and a cross-bar nearby, there might goaltending duels, including Friday’s showdown between Winnipeg’s have been splinters flying. Connor Hellebuyck and Edmonton’s Mike Smith — an overtime game “I think everybody should be a little bit pissed off,” Markstrom bristled. “I that was knotted at 0-0 for 64-plus minutes. know I am for not playing right now.” Markstrom, despite finishing sixth in the league with 22 wins, is watching You expected to hear those sorts of comments from the Flames on what from home. some call “garbage-bag day,” a nickname that harkens back to when And still seething. you’d spot the stars lugging their stuff out of the rink in one or two of those oversized Glads. “You look at the group and you look at the players and the personnel we have, I think we compete with any team,” Markstrom said. “And for us not Nobody, however, was wearing the frustration like Markstrom, who to even be playing in the playoffs, that’s not a good result of a season arrived in Calgary last fall as a prized free-agent pickup. and it’s not good enough. “When you come in as a new player, signing in the off-season to a new “We all have to be better next year.” team, new city and new fans, you want to be a positive impact and you want to be the reason why the team is being successful — and we weren’t,” said Markstrom, with a half-decade remaining on that six-year, US$36-million contract. “So that’s something that doesn’t sit well and Calgary Sun: LOADED: 05.23.2021 that’s all the motivation that I need to have a great summer, get a lot of work in and come back and be better, stop more pucks and just help the team win.”

The Flames, thanks in part to the additions of Markstrom and shutdown Chris Tanev, fancied themselves a could-be contender in 2021, even if now-coach Darryl Sutter — hired midway through the season for a salvage job — is adamant that was crazy-talk.

While the locals ultimately finished four points south of the cut-off in the NHL’s North Division, it wasn’t that close before they won three of four meaningless matchups after their fate was sealed.

There are a lot of questions to answer around the Saddledome as the focus now turns to preparing for 2021-22, but for the first time in a long time, there’s no debate over who will be between the pipes next winter. The Flames will need to ink a budget backup, a job that might not appeal to a guy who is looking to be a 1B since Sutter always leans heavily on his main man.

“I feel today no differently than I did the day we signed him — I think this guy is one of the top goaltenders in the league,” general manager Brad Treliving said of Markstrom.

The Swedish stalwart proved that in early stages of this abbreviated season, erasing more oopsies than a Tide pen.

He was superb again over the final month and change, posting a 2.05 goals-against average in his last 15 starts.

In between, he missed a two-week chunk due to a concussion and then struggled to find his groove when he returned to the crease.

When the Flames plummeted out the playoff picture with eight losses in a nine-game span, one of their many problems was they didn’t get enough saves from their go-to goalie.

During his end-of-season address, Treliving used Markstrom as an example as he detailed the sort of review that is now necessary to determine why a promising posse couldn’t put it all together. 1213798 Carolina Hurricanes “The only way to take him out is just because he got overworked,” Brind’Amour said. “That’d be the only reason.”

TAILWINDS In a playoff pinch, Maxime Lajoie makes an unlikely Hurricanes debut With two goals and three assists, Sebastian Aho is now fifth in playoff scoring in franchise history with 29 points. The four players ahead of him — Eric Staal, Ron Francis, Brind’Amour and Kevin Dineen — all played BY LUKE DECOCK in at least 17 more games than Aho’s 26. ... Aho was tied for fifth in the NHL this postseason going into Saturday’s games. Brett Pesce was tied MAY 22, 2021 02:31 PM for third among defensemen. ... Sunday will be Jordan Staal’s 100th playoff game.

It’s hard to imagine Maxime Lajoie thrown into more difficult circumstances for his debut with the Carolina Hurricanes: A road playoff News Observer LOADED: 05.23.2021 game, in the middle of a hard-fought series, with the team’s best defenseman out.

Lajoie had played in 62 NHL games with the Senators before he was acquired in January, but none with his new teammates, and none in the playoffs. Still, the Hurricanes decided, with Jaccob Slavin out for the second straight game, they were better off throwing the 23-year-old into the deep end of the pool than going back to Jake Gardiner. So, in Lajoie went after spending the entire season with Chicago (AHL).

Paired with Jani Hakanpaa, Lajoie ended up giving the Hurricanes close to 17 solid minutes. He was on the ice for one goal against, but he was also the Hurricanes’ best defenseman in terms of analytics at even strength, albeit in limited usage.

“He did great,” Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “He didn’t look out of place. First couple shifts there, he had a couple chances to score right away. Ripped one right off the goalie’s head. He looked great. Again, that’s a tough spot to throw him in but I thought he was good.”

Lajoie also wasn’t protected in any way, with that pairing sent out for most of the defensive-zone faceoffs and seeing plenty of time against the Nashville Predators’ top two lines, per Natural Stat Trick and Hockey Viz.

“I wasn’t sure what to expect, to be honest with you,” Lajoie said. “They told me I was going to play and told me to play my game. That’s what I wanted to do. It was nice to see they have the confidence in me to take those faceoffs in critical situations.”

Slavin’s absence from Games 2 and 3 remains the elephant in the room, and Brind’Amour tacitly acknowledged that if Slavin were healthy, Jake Bean might not have been on the ice against the Nashville Predators’ top line when Matt Duchene got past Bean to score the double-overtime winner Friday night.

The Hurricanes continue to push Brett Pesce and Brady Skjei to their physical limit, and Dougie Hamilton was right with them Friday, but the unavoidable reality is this is not the same team without Slavin in the lineup. He remains questionable for Sunday’s Game 4, with the Hurricanes up 2-1 in the series.

“Obviously, there’s a huge hole back there with Jaccob not playing,” Brind’Amour said. “It’s obvious. (Pesce) has had to pick up the minutes and (Skjei) and all those guys back there. We’re putting some young kids in situations they probably wouldn’t have been in, because of the injury.”

STICKING WITH NED

Under normal circumstances, it wouldn’t be surprising in the least to see Brind’Amour go to Petr Mrazek in Game 4, regardless of what happened in Game 3. The Hurricanes have been a multiple-goalie team under Brind’Amour, and in last year’s preliminary series against the New York Rangers, James Reimer started Game 3 and completed the sweep even though Mrazek staked the Hurricanes to a 2-0 lead.

But Alex Nedeljkovic has been so good the past two games, Duchene outsmarting him by anticipating the poke-check on the winning goal notwithstanding, that there may be every reason to ride the hot hand. And with a Game 5 definitely on the books now, there’s no risk of Mrazek sitting out for an extended period of time as there would have been if Nedeljkovic started Game 4 of a potential Carolina sweep.

Brind’Amour said it’s a question of mental and physical fatigue at this point after Nedeljkovic has played all 11 periods of the series so far, stopping 103 of the 110 shots he has faced. Because the Hurricanes so often rotated their goalies during the regular season, none of them have been in this position. 1213799 Carolina Hurricanes

Here’s what the NHL fined the Canes’ Jordan Staal for tripping Preds’ Luke Kunin

BY CHIP ALEXANDER

MAY 22, 2021 12:18 PM

Carolina Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal has been fined $5,000 by the NHL for a “dangerous trip” on Luke Kunin of the Nashville Predators, the league said Saturday.

The penalty is the maximum fine allowed under the league’s CBA, the NHL Department of Player Safety said.

Staal and Kunin tangled in the Carolina zone during Game 3 of their Stanley Cup playoff series, with Staal using his right leg to trip Kunin. The tripping penalty was called at 14:05 of the second period, allowing the Preds a 5-on-3 power play that they converted into their first power-play goal of the series.

The Predators won the game 5-4 in double overtime. Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour was critical of the officiating after the game, saying his team was battling hard but adding, “We’re fighting the refs.”

Asked Saturday about Staal’s fine, Brind’Amour said: “I don’t handle any of that stuff. It seems weird he would get a maximum fine for that when I’ve seen a lot worse stuff go on here. I don’t know how they come up with all that.”

Brind’Amour was fined $25,000 by the league for some biting comments about the refereeing in the 2020 playoffs in Toronto.

News Observer LOADED: 05.23.2021 1213800 Carolina Hurricanes weird bounce and nearly getting past Saros and the second finding the net after a Teuvo Teravainen pass.

The Canes had 13 shots in the first overtime and eight in the second. But Hurricanes left as much mad as sad after double-overtime loss to the Preds finally ended it as Duchene got in front of defenseman Jake Predators Bean and scored at 14:54.

“I hadn’t been on this side of it,” Pesce said. “Obviously the (Washington) double OT came out in our favor. It’s not a good feeling.” BY CHIP ALEXANDER But one the Canes must shake quickly. Game 4 on Sunday will have a MAY 22, 2021 07:30 AM 2:30 ET start, cutting into the recovery time.

Brind’Amour sounded as if Slavin’s status for Game 4 was questionable, again saying it would be a game-time decision. He called Nedeljkovic’s It was the kind of game that left everyone limp. effort “awesome” and said the only reason not to play him again Sunday Players, coaches, fans, referees, linesmen, certainly everyone in would be if he felt “overworked” in Game 3. The lineup could stay the Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. same.

Not Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour. He was incensed Friday after Game “I think our group is going to rebound and come out with an even better 3, after the Predators took a 5-4 victory in double overtime on Matt effort next game,” Staal said. Duchene’s goal. He did not like the disparity in the penalties called, which included the only one whistled in either overtime: a hooking call against Canes defenseman Max Lajoie in the second OT. News Observer LOADED: 05.23.2021 To Brind’Amour, the game between two good teams, working hard, pushing themselves to the limit, was even in almost every way except one. Carolina was whistled for seven penalties and Nashville three.

“We played our butts off, played great, played hard,” Brind’Amour said. “We’re playing a great team and we’re in a battle. Nashville is a phenomenal team. But we’re also fighting the refs. It’s that plain and simple.

“You can’t tell me two games in a row we get seven and eight penalties and they get three, when the game is this even? It’s not right. I give my guys tons of credit for just sticking and going and playing their butts off and having a good chance to win.”

Canes captain Jordan Staal, asked about the penalties after the game, said he would not comment. He did say he spent the intermission between the first and second overtimes getting stitches. It wasn’t for a self-inflicted wound.

The Predators had seven power plays in Game but went 0-for-7 as the Canes won 3-0 for a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. They finally scored Friday, and the Canes were hot about that, too.

In the second period of Game 3, the Canes’ Warren Foegele was called for delay of game when it was determined he flipped the puck cleanly over the glass. The officials huddled to talk it over, talk it over, and finally ruled it a penalty as an angry Brind’Amour and the Canes said that the puck first glanced off the boards -- replays indicated it did.

Thirty seconds later, Staal was called for a tripping penalty. The Preds scored on a 5-on-3 power play. Brind’Amour’s eyes behind his mask grew wider and wider, his anger obvious.

But the teams played on. With defenseman Jaccob Slavin missing another game, Brind’Amour leaned a lot on Dougie Hamilton (36:56 in ice time), Brett Pesce (39:27) and Brady Skjei (37:59). Lajoie, playing his first game for the Hurricanes, played almost 17 minutes. and handled himself well enough.

Goalie Alex Nedeljkovic, in his third consecutive playoff start, had 49 saves. Preds goalie Juuse Saros had 52, including 21 in the two overtimes.

Canes forward Steven Lorentz said Thursday that tight playoff games leave those watching sitting on the edge of their seats. It was an edge-of- seat kind of night, the tension mounting with each minute in the overtimes.

It was the second longest playoff game in franchise history, topped only by the epic three-overtime loss to the in Game 3 of the 2002 . Pesce was on the ice and had a nice view of the winning goal in another double-OT playoff game -- Brock McGinn’s score against the Washington Capitols in Game 7 of their 2019 playoff series.

“It’s tough,” Pesce said. “I thought we worked really hard and had a ton of chances to finish that game.”

It was Pesce’s goal with 3:21 left in regulation Friday that tied the score 4-4. He unloaded two shots from beyond the left circle, the first taking a 1213801 Carolina Hurricanes this when the Predators capitalized on a five-on-three Friday night, meanwhile, captain Jordan Staal was getting stitched up from a stray puck in between overtime periods after a non-call on a slash during a Grade A scoring chance that went unpenalized. Civian: NHL officials aren’t biased, but they’re encouraging a lesser product “No comment,” Staal said when asked about the officiating.

Or maybe it was the hooking penalty in double overtime, or the delay of game on Warren Foegele that led to a Predators goal. By Sara Civian Or, perhaps, this has all been brewing since Brock McGinn was called for May 22, 2021 embellishment in Game 1, though Erik Haula was free to embellish in Game 2. McGinn was definitely embellishing, but are we calling this

penalty or not? Remember Good habits SZN, when the Canes became the first team in I’ve been over certain aspects of the officiating since the second period the Central Division to clinch a playoff berth, then they … kinda … just of Game 2 lasted 42 minutes. Not only did the officials micromanage that kept winning? entire game to the point of unwatchability, but then they also decided to Center Vincent Trocheck was asked how they were planning on handling stand there and watch Matt Benning punch Jordan Martinook at least five that stretch — would they pump the brakes and be careful to avoid pre- times after he was already down on the ice. playoff injuries? Listen, you will never convince me that the officials are explicitly and/or “I don’t think anybody on this team’s thinking ‘be careful’ going into a intentionally biased. This is a game of mistakes with a rulebook full of hockey game — there’s a lot on the line,” he said at the time. “We’re ambiguity that only becomes more blurry as the stakes get higher. For trying to win every game going down the stretch here. Nobody wants to the most part, the men in stripes are doing their best. create bad habits going into the playoffs. ‘Being careful’ is definitely There have been a few calls and non-calls that have gone the Canes’ creating a bad habit. Everybody’s going to be coming to play just like way, like a non-penalized puck over glass in overtime. But that’s how it they would the rest of the regular season.” should be in the playoffs, and as brilliant color commentator AJ Mleczko I’ve been thinking of this quote ever since the end of Game 3, a 5-4 pointed out, it’s not in the spirit of the rule to call that penalty right there. decision the Canes lost in double overtime as the series shifted to Or at least that’s the code we’d adhered to forever, and that’s the level of Smashville. But we’ll get to that later. officiating most of us assumed we’d be getting as the playoffs rolled around. Coach Rod Brind’Amour predicted it would be hard, and he obviously wasn’t wrong. Are we changing this or not? If so, can we get a leaguewide memo or something? “It’s going to be maybe the toughest game of the series,” he said after morning skate. “It’s going to be all hands on deck for us to be able to get My issue isn’t that the calls are lopsided in the Predators’ favor, my issue this win. That’s the only way we can approach it. Every team would love is why this is the case. to win the Stanley Cup in 16 games, but that’s highly unlikely.” If their track record through these three games is any indication, the It’ll take at least 17 after Friday and, as heart-and-soul guy Brett Pesce referees are encouraging diving and discouraging any semblance of said postgame, the Hurricanes had “tons” of chances to finish off the game flow. And if you’re an underdog like Nashville, you’d be stupid not game. Instead, it was Matt Duchene bar down after 94 minutes, 54 to play along. Of course, the Predators have morphed their game as a seconds of game time. survival tactic.

You missed Jaccob Slavin. You respected the Predators and their hard- But if you’re the Canes, a team with expectations of a long playoff run fought, well-deserved win. But you’re probably still hanging out with the and perpetually trying to maintain “good habits,” you would be stupid to elephant in the room. play along — sort of. As Trocheck said before the playoffs, “Being careful is definitely creating a bad habit.” “We played our butts off. Played great. Played hard. We’re playing a great team. I didn’t say it, but we’re in a battle. Like I said, Nashville is a The Canes thrive on a fast, fearless game, with everyone (even goalie phenomenal team, but we’re also fighting the refs. Plain and simple,” Alex Nedeljkovic) jumping the rush. Brind’Amour said postgame. “You can’t tell me two games in a row we The Hurricanes need to focus on the bigger picture, and they aren’t get seven, eight penalties and they get three. And when the game’s this winning the Stanley Cup if they lose that mentality. As Brind’Amour even? That’s not right. That’s not right. I give my guys tons of credit for always says, their process can’t change or bend to any opponent. Now just sticking with it and going and playing their butts off and having a the officials seem like an opponent of their own. good chance to win. We still had a chance to win coming back. It wasn’t right. Two overtimes and a knick-knack penalty when there was stuff The Canes will just have to figure out a way to defeat them and the going on all over the ice? It just flipped the momentum and they scored Predators while sticking to their game. on the next shift after because we were out of rotation. That’s not how it should go. I didn’t tell them that, but I’m proud of my group because they just battled.” The Athletic LOADED: 05.23.2021 He was not the only NHL coach speaking up against the quality of officiating Friday night.

“The refereeing, every game, we get one or two calls. It’s usually late in the third period. They’re getting four a game or five a game. I mean, it’s not that lopsided,” Blues coach Craig Berube said. “I’m not sure why we don’t get the calls that we deserve. (Colton) Parayko gets tripped in the corner. They go down and score a goal. He gets tripped in the corner, slew-footed, and they don’t call it, OK? And it cost us a goal. It’s terrible. It’s so one-sided, it’s not even funny.”

The Predators have had 14 power plays in the past two games to the Hurricanes’ six. In both Game 2 and Game 3, Nashville had seven power plays to Carolina’s three.

At least that’s consistent?

Yeah, the Canes technically can kill almost all of these penalties (even without Slavin), and yeah, the Predators have been notorious for stinking on the power play since 1999. But I think the Canes were officially over 1213802 Chicago Blackhawks “Good,” they reply in chorus. There’s a fresh bruise on the face of Canadian Jack Bar — the Steel

announcer calls him “Kit Kat” — and he shows off his scabbed knuckles ‘Jonathan Toews eats his vegetables’: Billet family helps young Chicago and a cellphone with video of the on-ice fight against Muskegon’s Quinn Steel players navigate hockey, life Hutson is passed around, appreciatively.

Simon Latkoczy (nicknamed “Chimp,”

By Neil Steinberg for his athleticism) is a top goalie from Slovakia, which brings up another appeal of billet hosting. May 22, 2021, 8:00am CDT “Having these boys in the house for nine months, I get to ask questions,” says Marcy. “The last few seasons, we’ve had goalies, which are few and far between. What do they do? Why they do it. How they do it. When Even with no one in it, the kitchen in Marcy and Brian Gravenhorst’s watching a game, I see something and can ask, ‘Why do you do that? It Aurora home gives away the game: Something unusual is going on here. doesn’t make sense.’ ” One big bowl is filled with protein bars. Another with Goldfish crackers. A third with clementines. Two large bottles of honey, plus jumbo jars of Such as? Nutella and peanut butter. In the fridge, Gatorade. In the oven, lasagna is baking for dinner. Lots of lasagna. “Sometimes you see a goalie in the goal. Play is going on on the other end of the ice, and all of a sudden the goalie takes the stick and starts “I made two pans,” says Marcy. slapping on the ice. What does that mean? He is signaling to his team; the penalty on the other team ends in approximately five seconds.” A lot of food for a retired couple: Brian is 70, a retired computer programmer. Marcy is 69, a retired special ed teaching assistant. But The Gravenhorst cats are named Brandy and Mac, for Macallan, Brian’s they are not alone. favorite tipple. But the only beverage is lemonade. Players are forbidden to drink alcohol and rigorously abide. “Should I call the munchkins to dinner?” Marcy asks Brian. “They never even ask,” says Brian. “Call the troops!” he decrees. Really? Never? Downstairs clomp Lukas Gustafsson, Jack Bar and Simon Latkoczy, three members of the Chicago Steel hockey team. They are the “The boys are that nice,” says Brian. “We’re not gilding the lily here. They Gravenhorsts’ dinner guests tonight and every night; the three players are that nice, polite, well-mannered human beings.” have lived with the couple for almost nine months. Generally. In six years, the Gravenhorsts have lost two players, at the “Three 18-year-olds,” elaborates Brian, letting that sink in. “Hockey same time, to disciplinary problems. What was it: Crime? Drugs? players are always hungry.” Fighting?

Welcome to the world of hockey billet families. The public is so enamored No. Overly boisterous indoor soccer. with professional sports, parsing every detail of the ’s teams and stars, they might not even be aware of the modest “It wasn’t malicious, they were just getting out of hand, the rockers were traditions of the United States Hockey League. Here, players are paid poking holes into the wall,” says Marcy “They would play around a lot in literally nothing — which is a step up for them, because before they were the bedrooms” — each player has his own — ‘‘and started doing damage paying for the privilege of playing the sport. The USHL is a place to hone to the house. I called the coach and said, ‘These guys gotta go.’ He said, their skills, get accepted to a good college and maybe, just maybe, catch ‘Why didn’t you tell us sooner?’ ” the attention of the pros. Without billet families, the Steel would have trouble putting a team on the A salary of $0 doesn’t leave much for living expenses, however. This is ice, and they know it. where billet families step in, to house them, feed them and mother them, “There are horror stories throughout our league of players in billets that performing various practical tasks, like taking a pair of Finns to the have gone wrong,” says Steel president Dan Lehv. “We’ve been Finnish consulate to vote for the first time. fortunate in Chicago. Our housing coordinator meets with families, tours The Gravenhorsts are the oldest of the Steel’s 15 billet families — homes, goes a layer deeper, surveying the players, the families.” sometimes referring to themselves as “hockey grandparents” — hosting Most players are self-policing. for their sixth year. Like many grandparents, the couple sweats the details. Three flagpoles next to their garage display the national flag for “First of all, hockey players are notoriously known as being good guys,” each player, greeting them when they arrive, plus the American flag over says Lehv. “When they get to this level, there’s so much at stake for the front door. The players are supposed to do their own laundry, but them, there’s a college scholarship sitting in front of them. This league is Marcy won’t allow that — that would involve teenage males fiddling with a ticket for 96% of them. They don’t want to screw that up. But more than her washing machine. They are expected to get their dirty clothes and that, they do come here, their parents did a really good job. They know linen into a clothes hamper which, as any parent of boys knows, is this is part of the hockey culture, to go and live in someone else’s home.’’ already placing the bar pretty high. Even with COVID shortening the season, there was still a waiting list of The Gravenhorsts do this . . . why exactly? families eager to host players.

For Marcy, it is all about hockey. “We were overwhelmed that the families were still lined up to accept players for this season,” said Lehv. “At the same time, our players have “I’m a rabid Chicago Blackhawks fan and have been since forever,” she done an incredible job of taking care of themselves and taking the proper says. They’d hosted foreign exchange students — for at most a few precautions so they don’t bring COVID home to our housing families.” weeks at a time. Then the Chicago Steel moved to Geneva. Though teens are still teens, and during dinner, when Brian leaps up to “They were looking for billet homes,” says Marcy. “We’re not that far from show off his collection of bobbleheads, the trio politely suppress snickers the Fox Valley Ice Arena.” and flash “Oh, that dad . . .” grins at each other. A reminder that not only And Brian, well, he’s married to Marcy, and then there is the joy of do the families have to adjust to the players, but the players must adjust keeping the boys fed. to the peculiarities of family life, like the naughty gnome figurines that the Gravenhorsts liberally scatter around their dining room. “I do grilling, I do ribs, I do pulled pork,” says Brian, “I also do a brisket from time to time, Texas style. We introduce spice to these kids. A lot of Decorum is important; their professional fate can pivot on the ’em have eaten a bland diet all their lives. They really love a brisket.” Gravenhorsts’ good opinion.

Dinner conversation centers around — any guesses? — hockey. “Our Finnish player, the Red Wings are watching him,” Marcy says of a player from the past. “I had an agent from the Red Wings call and talk “How was practice?” Marcy asks. “What did you guys do?” about Victor.” The St. Louis Blues also had inquired about a player’s character, and, yes, she answered positively, despite the urge, as a loyal The Steel, by the way, won the Anderson Cup for the second year in a Blackhawks fan, to deny their hated rival a potential asset. row by scoring the most points this season: 81. Which gives them home- ice advantage facing the Fargo Force in the five-game championship “If someone gets drafted by the Blues, I’m in real trouble,” says Marcy. “I series for the Clark Cup. always tease them, ‘I don’t care what team you play for, but I draw the line at the St. Louis Blues.’ ” “We’re getting ready for Fargo,” Marcy says. “This is it, the finals. They’re really excited about the season. They swept Dubuque. They swept Besides hockey, there is much talk of food: the molten lava cupcakes for Muskegon. And now they’re getting ready to play Fargo.” dessert. Gustafsson, a dual Swedish/American citizen nicknamed “Goose,” passes the salad. The two teams split the first two games, and the series continues this weekend. “You have to eat vegetables at every dinner meal,” says Brian. “Even if you only take a little bit, you HAVE to take some.” The three were not so focused on winning that they overlooked something also very important: They sent Marcy flowers and made a Marcy is the enforcer when it comes to greens. charitable donation in her honor for Mother’s Day.

“I say, ‘Look, you’re hockey players,’ ” she says. “ ‘What you eat affects “That touched me so much,” she says. “It’s bittersweet. I want them to your health later in life. Jonathan Toews eats his vegetables.’ ” (Indeed win the Cup, but it’s a sad time for me. This is when I have to say he does. “So much more satisfying to eat food that you’ve grown goodbye. It’s with tears of joy.” yourself,” tweeted the Blackhawks’ captain, promoting his Green Bronx Machine project, which encourages healthy eating and gardening in Chicago Public Schools.) Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 05.23.2021 Once a newcomer missed the unsubtle eat-your-peas message, and a more seasoned player unceremoniously spooned vegetables onto his plate, earning a scowl.

“He said, ‘If I gotta eat ’em, you gotta eat ’em,’ ” Brian recalls. “And that was it.”

Food costs money, and billet families do get paid by the Steel: $300 per month per player.

“That pretty much covers the meat budget,” says Brian. “We do it because these kids are wonderful human beings. They are working so hard to live their dream. They know they’re not all going to make it, but they’re working hard for it.”

Which brings up another important role for the families.

“Families are providing these players, not just a room and a bed to sleep on, not just nourishment in the form of a family dinner,” says Lehv. “This is the level where the cream rises to the top. Players get weeded out if they’re just not good enough to move on. They’ve been the best players — they haven’t gone through lengthy slumps where they haven’t scored a goal in months, haven’t been scratched from the lineup consistently. This is where hardships happen. These families play such a crucial role, in terms of the psyche of our players, helping them manage a situation that’s completely new to them. They are a shoulder to cry on. They are there for our players in good times and in bad, for everything that happens in the lives of a 16- to 21-year-old over a nine-month period.”

“We know it’s hard for them even though they’re in contact with their families,” says Marcy, who’ll tweet their actual parents updates during games.

Many billet families do not stop being close after players move on.

“What I found out is there are so many relationships that are developed, lifelong,” says Lehv.

And indeed the Gravenhorsts keep photos of players who’ve lived with them previously on the walls of the living room (where they have a pool table for the boys; there’s also a hot tub), and keep up on their current status and careers.

So what have they learned, hosting Europeans?

“One thing we’ve learned over the years, they’re not used to the American friendliness,” says Marcy. “Normally people don’t chitchat. If you’re outside, people will say hello. They don’t do that. We’ve had a couple people ask, ‘How do I respond?’ I tell them, ‘You can wave, you can speak if you want. Smile.’ ”

The Gravenhorsts certainly do. They plan to remain billet grandparents for as long as they are able.

“It brings a lot of laughter and a lot of life into the house,” says Marcy. “We’ve had nothing but fun.”

She has an adult daughter.

“Now I’m raising sons,” she says. “The boys keep us young and it’s fun, and I highly recommend being a billet.” 1213803 Chicago Blackhawks center full time in the NHL, Bowman said, but his newfound positional flexibility nonetheless boosts his stock even more.

Reichel’s Europe-to-NHL transition also should be smoother because of Top Blackhawks prospect Lukas Reichel looking toward NHL after great the team from which he’s coming. Berlin is relatively loaded with NHL German season veterans — it dressed seven players with NHL experience, including Simon Despres (193 career games) and Zach Boychuk (127) — and Reichel said he “learned from those guys a lot.”

By Ben Pope@BenPopeCST May 22, 2021, 6:30am CDT Upon arriving in Illinois this summer, Reichel still will need to adjust to the North American style of play, increase his physicality and keep gaining

weight. Over the last year, he has bulked up his 6-foot frame from 163 On the October night the Blackhawks drafted him 17th overall, Lukas pounds to 176, but Aubin estimated Reichel’s ideal weight will be about Reichel emphatically declared himself two years away from NHL 187 pounds. readiness. For that reason, Reichel might spend the first few months of the 2021-22 Less than one year later, it seems Reichel sold himself short. season in the AHL, although he certainly will be given a chance to prove otherwise in training camp. The Hawks have preferred to groom their top After the 19-year-old forward finishes his run with Germany at the world prospects in Rockford, as they did with Kirby Dach and Adam Boqvist in championships — which began Friday and end June 6 — he almost October 2019. certainly will sign his NHL entry-level contract. “It’s one thing to play in the NHL; it’s another to thrive and have success,” Allain Roy, Reichel’s agent, said the rules prevent Reichel from signing Aubin said. “I wouldn’t be afraid to put him in the [Hawks’] lineup until after the tournament, but once that time comes, “the Hawks are tomorrow morning. It’s just, is it worth it to make him wait a little bit, let planning on it, [and] we’re planning on it.” him grow a little more [in the AHL]? That’s a decision only Chicago can make.” Hawks general manager Stan Bowman and Reichel himself recently said the same. But the Hawks will be eager to promote Reichel once he settles in and finds his rhythm. He looks more likely by the month to enter the NHL well “He’s a player we’d like to get over here to ,” Bowman ahead of his initial two-year timeline. said. “Whether he’s in Chicago or [Rockford next season], we’ll see. But he had a great season, so I’m pretty optimistic about his potential, “He plays the pursuit-type game that we’re looking for,” Bowman said. whether it’s next year or the year after.” “You notice him even when he’s not scoring. He’s involved in the play, down low in his own end or even in the offensive zone. He’s good at “I’m more ready than after the last season,” Reichel said. “I improved a retrieving the puck or pressuring the puck to get it back, and then he has lot this season. We’ll see if the management from Chicago wants me to enough skill to make plays. Style-wise, he’s going to fit in really nicely come over. I’ll be really happy if I can do that.” with our team.” Reichel’s season culminated with a championship as his Eisbaren Berlin Eight Hawks in world championships squad — the same one the Hawks faced in a September 2019 exhibition game — won the DEL, Germany’s top pro league. In addition to Reichel, seven other Hawks are participating in the world championships: Dominik Kubalik (Czech Republic), Brandon Hagel Reichel ranked fifth on Berlin with 27 points (10 goals, 17 assists) in 38 (), Nicolas Beaudin (Canada), Brandon Pirri (Canada), Philipp regular-season games, heating up as winter went on, before adding five Kurashev (Switzerland), Nikita Zadorov (Russia) and overage prospect points in nine playoff games. Max Shalunov (Russia). And late in the championship-deciding game, with Berlin holding a 2-1 But the tournament, which is being held in , , has a younger lead over Wolfsburg, Eisbaren coach Serge Aubin kept Reichel on the flavor than usual. Many of the prime-aged Swedish, Finnish, Canadian ice for the last three minutes. Aubin, a 374-game NHL veteran, trusted no and American stars, such as the Hawks’ Patrick Kane, aren’t attending. one more than his youngest player. Those countries collectively have won the last five titles. “I used him as a [first]-line player,” Aubin said. “He did really well in a lot “It’s going to be a little more wide open,” Roy said. “That’s going to be of different areas, whether it was in the defensive zone [or] playing helpful for the European teams.” against top lines on the other side. ... His skating this year was even better than last year. He’s really an elite skater. And his decision-making was also better. We could see a lot of growth.” Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 05.23.2021 Even as an 18-year-old (before his birthday this week) facing much older, bigger players, Reichel’s natural talent and consistency in all three zones made him an extremely valuable player for Berlin.

“The previous season, he was still a boy playing in a men’s league,” Roy said. “This year, he played more like a man against men.”

Reichel was a staple on Berlin’s top power-play unit, operating along the goal line, where his puck-retrieval and playmaking skills were most efficient. He sometimes killed penalties, too, and he would’ve done more had Aubin not wanted to balance the team’s ice time.

Most notably, Reichel moved from wing — where he’d spent his whole career until last fall — to center for much of the season.

“We wanted to give him more responsibility this year,” Aubin said. “It was challenging a little bit as far as faceoffs — [those struggles] came from him just not being quite strong enough yet. But other than that, his puck support was phenomenal. He really opens the ice up tremendously with his speed.

“So once he got the hang of holding the puck and having good puck support, he really changed the dynamic of our team. Down low, below the goal line in our ‘D’ zone, he was solid. He’s such a smooth skater that it was actually pretty easy for him to be in the right position.”

The Hawks are very excited about Reichel’s move to center. Bowman mentioned it repeatedly this spring. It’s still “too early to tell” if he can play 1213804 Chicago Blackhawks Now, Kubalik did average 18:07 in the last six games. Maybe that trend continues into next season. Also remember that Kubalik benefitted greatly in the second half of 2019-2020 while skating with Jonathan Toews. If Toews returns as expected, that might boost Kubalik's minutes High-scoring Kubalik deserves more playing time next season as well.

Regardless, the affable young pro is looking forward to helping the Hawks take another step forward, both on and off the ice. Follow @johndietzdh "A couple of years ago when I started playing pro hockey I was always Updated 5/22/2021 9:39 PM the youngest guy," Kubalik said. "Now I'm going to be 26. Already you know that you're not young anymore. So you've got to take responsibility, you've got to be the leader. The day after Game 1 of the 2015 Stanley Cup Final, a reporter took the microphone and asked Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper why Steven "You want to be the guy who's going to take responsibility on the ice, too. Stamkos played less than 17½ minutes against the Blackhawks. ... That's what I want to be good at. I want to be the older guy who knows what to do. ... I'm paraphrasing here, but Cooper's response was essentially: "How long should he have played? Would 18 have been enough? Eighteen-and-a- "I'm very excited about (next season)." half?"

It wasn't an extremely testy exchange, but Cooper's point was clear: I'm Daily Herald Times LOADED: 05.23.2021 the coach and, trust me, I know how to manage my guys' ice time.

Which brings us to the very interesting case of Hawks forward Dominik Kubalik.

Extremely gifted offensively, the 25-year-old Czech native scored 17 goals in 56 games, a 25-goal pace over 82 games. This after a rookie campaign in which he pumped in 30 goals and was named a Calder Trophy finalist.

Despite the steady production, Kubalik ranked seventh on the Hawks in 5-on-5 ice time (minimum 200 minutes) behind Patrick Kane, Alex DeBrincat, Pius Suter, Kirby Dach, Mattias Janmark and Vinnie Hinostroza. Taking a wider lens, only 10 of 102 forwards who scored 15- plus times averaged less ice time than Kubalik's 15:31. Seventy-five of them averaged more than 17 minutes.

So what's going on here? Shouldn't Kubalik be playing a lot more?

"Just gotta be a better overall player," Kubalik said. "I've just got to be better with small details -- get the pucks out, find my check; don't just be back-watching and stuff like that. It's just the details."

Maybe. But it's not like Kubalik's analytics paint a dreary picture.

Quite the opposite, actually. According to naturalstattrick.com, here's how Kubalik ranked out of 13 Hawks forwards with at least 200 minutes at 5- on-5:

• First in high-danger percentage (48.7) and high-danger goals percentage (53.33).

• Tied for second in goals-for percentage (50.0) with Hinostroza and Kane. DeBrincat (55.0) led the way.

• Fifth in scoring chance percentage (46.65).

• Sixth in Corsi-for percentage (46.15).

Kubalik spent four seasons in the Czech League and two in the Swiss-A League before joining the Hawks. His wicked shot was on display from the outset, but he also showed no fear in going to the net.

Still, it's defense first for most teams -- and that's definitely the case when it comes to coach Jeremy Colliton. In addition to adjusting to the smaller ice, Kubalik's had to figure out there's no halfhearted shifts in the NHL.

Pause or think too much and you'll get pummeled.

"It's the best league in the world," Kubalik said. "There's lots of great players. That's the biggest difference because every single team in Europe has a couple of good players, (but) you (still) know you're going to be playing in the 'O' zone all the time.

"You just need to get used to it and be ready every shift here. That's just the thing I'm trying to work on. It got better as the year went on. I improved a little bit from last year, too. But still a lot of things to do and I'm going to be working on."

Still, it's more than a bit perplexing why Kubalik isn't averaging 17 to 18 minutes a game. Make him a staple on the top power-play unit by playing him in the slot where he can bury that deadly one-timer, tip in long shots from the point and/or clean up rebounds. 1213805 Chicago Blackhawks main thing I improved and that helped me with a lot of other aspects of my game, as well.”

Holm said, “We talked a lot about tracking. That’s pretty much the thing What the Blackhawks are getting in new goalie Arvid Söderblom we talked about is that you have to have two eyes on the puck and not just one to track the puck. You have to have the nose to the puck all the time and stuff like that. That also improved his rebound control.”

By Scott Powers Playing behind an SHL veteran goalie such as Lindvall had its benefits for Söderblom, too. Holm described Söderblom as quiet, humble and May 22, 2021 hard-working. He sought to compete for the net, but it wasn’t as if he was some cocky young player looking to disrespect Lindvall.

Skellefteå AIK goalie coach Krister Holm assumed this would be a “My goalie colleague this year, I think, was 10 years older than me and development season for Arvid Söderblom. won the prize of the goalie of the league last year,” Söderblom said. “He was a great mentor and a great colleague to look up to and take after There were a number of reasons to believe so. Söderblom was entering both in the gym, the practices and the games. He was a great help for his first full season. He had spent the previous me this season. Also, my goalie coach (Holm), he’s been in that club for season in Allsvenskan, Sweden’s second division, and was in the under- many years and has developed a lot of goalies in Sweden. Both of them 20 division before then. Söderblom was quickly moving up the ranks and helped me a lot this year.” probably would need time to adapt. Plus, he was still just 21 years old. On top of that, Skellefteå’s No. 1 goalie, Gustaf Lindvall, had been the What Söderblom will have to adjust to is playing on the smaller North SHL’s premier goalie the season before. He was firmly in control of the American rink. He’s played a few tournaments in North America, but he team’s net. realizes it’ll take some to get used to it.

Söderblom proved Holm’s assumption wrong. “Especially for a goalie, I think it’s a bigger adjustment to go to the smaller ice with all the angles and stuff like that,” said Söderblom, whose “I didn’t expect that he would be as good as he was,” Holm said by phone sister Vera is a promising women’s player in Sweden. “The Friday. “I thought it would take a longer time for him to learn to play in the players can shoot from basically anywhere in the zone. I think I will have top league. But he, it looked like he did that for a lot of years but it was to adjust my game a little bit. I think it’s a more fun game on the smaller the first year for him. So, he really, really impressed. We thought he ice. You have to be on your toes all the time. It’s more fun, but I think it would play a little bit less games, but he was too good. We couldn’t leave will take some time, maybe, to adjust to angles. I don’t think it’ll be any him on the bench because he was so good.” problem.”

Söderblom pushed for more and more time, and Skellefteå was forced Holm would have loved the opportunity to work with Söderblom for into more of a 1A-1B goalie situation for the season. The 30-year-old another season, but he believes Söderblom is ready to move on to North Lindvall had a .920 save percentage in 31 games, and Söderblom had a America. Holm wouldn’t even be surprised if Söderblom was in the NHL .922 save percentage in 22 games. Only former NHL goalie Viktor Fasth at some point next season. had a better save percentage (.934) than either of them on the season. “His progression has been so big for the last two years,” Holm said. “If Söderblom not only propelled himself within his team and the SHL, but he’s going to continue like that, he’s going to play in the NHL next year. he also drew an abundance of NHL interest and ended up recently We’ll see about that, but he’s really traveled fast the last two years. He’s signing with the Chicago Blackhawks. He’ll make his first trip to Chicago going to work for it, for sure. He’s going to work his ass off. He’s very before training camp in the fall. humble and calm and cool. He’s a cool (goalie). If they’re going to take (him) over to play in the to learn the smaller “It’s really a dream come true,” Söderblom said by phone Friday. “I’ve rink, he’s going to take that as a challenge and work his ass off. After a been dreaming about playing in North America and the NHL since as far couple months in that league, I hope they give him a chance to show as I can remember, actually. Always when me and my brother (Elmer, a what he can do.” Detroit Red Wings prospect) played when we were smaller, we had jerseys of all kinds of different teams. We had Chicago Blackhawks jerseys I remember, too. It was a surreal feeling to sign, really fun, exciting.” The Athletic LOADED: 05.23.2021

Söderblom’s development isn’t completely surprising for those who have followed him over the years. He was thought to be one of Sweden’s top young goalies at an early age and represented Sweden internationally at 17 and 18 years old. He played with Blackhawks defenseman Adam Boqvist on a few teams. Söderblom’s stock dropped over the past few years, and he wasn’t included on Sweden’s World Junior Championship team and didn’t get drafted to the NHL.

Söderblom has always possessed the desired size for a goalie. He’s 6- foot-3 and 180 pounds. He also has the strength to move around the crease.

“He’s very, very explosive,” Holm said. “He can go from side to side. He’s got a lot of power in his legs going sideways. You can also see that when we’re doing the tests in gym that he is very, very strong. He’s one of the most explosive guys when we’re doing the tests. So passing over the central line and one-timers, he’s making that look easy, too. With his positioning, he’s going to get a lot of shots in the belly, and that’s where we want them. He can freeze the puck, and he can also read the game pretty well. Those are pretty much his strengths.”

Something Holm and Söderblom focused on this season especially was Söderblom’s tracking. As the season progressed, he got more comfortable with finding and following the puck into his body.

“The main thing I think improved in the middle of this year I think was the ability to track the pucks all the way into the glove or the blocker, tracking it all the way into the pads,” Söderblom said. “Getting that rotation of my head, so I can reset for the rebounds and everything. I think that was the 1213806 Colorado Avalanche “We know we’re going to get (St. Louis’) best game,” winger Brandon Saad said. “For us, it’s about playing a good team game and sticking with that.”

Goalie Philipp Grubauer big reason why Avalanche in position to sweep Blues Post: LOADED: 05.23.2021

By RYAN O’HALLORAN | [email protected] | The Denver Post

May 22, 2021 at 7:30 p.m.

ST. LOUIS – The Avalanche led 1-0 in the second period of Friday night’s Game 3, but were under siege by the desperate St. Louis Blues.

Goalie Philipp Grubauer was undeterred.

The Avalanche then took a 2-0 lead, but were again facing a sustained Blues’ surge.

Grubauer was unaffected.

Hours earlier, coach said he expected to see the Blues’ best game. Maybe so, but he also saw Grubauer’s top game of the series.

In the Avs’ 5-1 win, Grubauer stopped 31 of 32 shots, including 19 in the second period, helping put his team on the cusp of advancing with a win in Sunday’s Game 4 (3 p.m.).

Through three games, Grubauer has a .944 save percentage (85 saves on 90 shots) and his five goals allowed were second-fewest in the playoffs among goalies who have played at least three games (Vegas’ Marc-Andre Fleury allowed four goals in the Knights’ first three games vs. Minnesota).

“It’s been the story of our year; he’s been our best player on a lot of nights,” defenseman Ryan Graves said. “A lot of nights, (Grubauer) is really good and you don’t notice it because he’s so effortless.”

Graves makes a great point. During this series, Grubauer is an economy of motion. If he has to dash behind the goal to stop a rim-around, he will. If he wants to retrieve the puck in the circle to re-start the power play, he does. But he’s aggressive without making it look like it.

Late in the first period, he stoned Blues winger Ivan Barbashev on three consecutive shots from just outside the crease.

In the second period, Grubauer made nine saves in the first 8 1/2 minutes.

“There were times in the game (Friday) that they were getting chances and taking it to us a little bit and he held it down for us,” Graves said.

The Avalanche defense tightened in the third period, holding St. Louis to only six shots.

“I liked him all night,” Bednar said of Grubauer. “Again, really strong. They had some net-driving plays where guys brought it to the net and had some rebound opportunities. And anything that came up high on him, he did a great job with his glove.”

If Grubauer can win Sunday, he and the Avs will earn time off before its second-round series against Vegas or Minnesota.

“Whenever you get a chance to eliminate a team, it’s always the hardest game to win,” Bednar said. “Our guys understand that.”

Keeler: Nazem Kadri got what he deserved Friday. So did the Blues, who gave Avalanche their best shot and still got stomped.

Bednar has been seeking a more complete game from the Avalanche, which speaks to its talent advantage — it has had lulls in all three games, but holds a 15-5 goals advantage and has yet to trail.

“I liked our (Game 3) start, I didn’t love our second period again, I really liked the way we checked in the third period — more disciplined with the puck, more purposeful with the puck, guys doing the right thing all over the place,” Bednar said.

Fall to the Blues and it’s back to Denver for Game 5. Finish off St. Louis and there will be a break before facing the Vegas-Minnesota winner. 1213807 Colorado Avalanche The Hurricanes’ Jaccob Slavin of Erie just missed my top-six, but he did get my No. 1 vote for the Lady Byng.

Slavin, ranked the best Colorado-born hockey player of all time by The Avalanche should be well-represented in NHL awards voting Post, committed just one minor penalty in 52 games in a top-pair role.

By MIKE CHAMBERS | [email protected] | The Denver Post Denver Post: LOADED: 05.23.2021

PUBLISHED: May 22, 2021 at 3:36 p.m. | UPDATED: May 22, 2021 at 3:39 p.m.

Heading into Game 4 on Sunday and the third possible playoff series sweep in its 25-year history, the Avalanche has the St. Louis Blues on the ropes.

While mostly depth players got the job done for the Avs in Friday’s 5-1 win in Game 3 at Enterprise Center, they wouldn’t be in a position to become the NHL’s first team to advance past the first round this year without the body of work from three key players.

Forward Mikko Rantanen, defenseman Cale Makar and goalie Philipp Grubauer should be finalists for the Hart Trophy, Norris Trophy and Vezina Trophy, respectively, as league MVP, best defenseman and best goalie. The trio supports Colorado’s high-end talent, and when teammates like Nathan MacKinnon, Gabe Landeskog, Devon Toews and Sam Girard are “supporting” pieces, general manager should also receive recognition for building such a star-studded group.

The Professional Hockey Writers Association votes for the Hart and Norris, as well as the Calder Trophy (rookie of the year), Lady Byng Trophy (skill and sportsmanship), Selke Trophy (best defensive forward) and Masterton Trophy (perseverance). My ballot was due Thursday and, among my five selections for each award, I had Rantanen No. 3 for the Hart and Makar No. 1 for the Norris.

Edmonton center Connor McDavid, who had a league-high 105 points in 56 games, will win the Hart in a landslide. But I felt the Avs, as the Presidents’ Trophy winners with the league’s best record, had to have a Hart nominee and Rantanen was my choice with a team-high 30 goals and 66 points in 52 games.

If MacKinnon (65 points in 48 games) didn’t miss four of the last five games, he probably would have held on to the team scoring lead and gained my vote. But Rantanen simply had a better year, producing 10 more goals. Many other voters probably won’t see it that way, because MacKinnon is still more respected around the league. But I went with the facts, not the reputation, and chose not to include two Avalanche players in my top five.

My fourth and fifth selections for the Hart were Boston’s Brad Marchand and Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby.

Makar, meanwhile, is the most dynamic defenseman in the game, and the only one to average a point-per-game (1.00). He had 44 points (eight goals) in 44 games and averaged 24:19 in ice time by adding penalty killing to his skill set. I had Makar for the Norris ahead of Vegas’ Shea Theodore and Arizona’s Jacob Chychrun, the latter of whom led all defensemen with 18 goals. Tampa Bay’s Victor Hedman, the 2018 Norris winner, was fourth on my list followed by Pittsburg’s Kris Letang.

Keeler: Nazem Kadri got what he deserved Friday. So did the Blues, who gave Avalanche their best shot and still got stomped.

Grubauer, among goalies to appear in 25 games, led the league with a 1.95 goals-against average and was tied for first in shutouts with seven. He was second in wins (30) and sixth in save percentage (.922). The Vezina is voted on by the 31 general managers, and Grubauer, a pending unrestricted free agent, could become the Avalanche’s first winner.

The PHWA also votes on an NHL All-Star team, and Grubauer was one of my three choices in net along with Vegas’ Marc-Andre Fleury and former Av Semyon Varlamov of the New York Islanders. I listed MacKinnon, McDavid and Matthews at center, Rantanen, Vegas’ Mark Stone and Chicago’s Patrick Kane as right wing, and Marchand, Chicago ‘s Alex DeBrincat and Vegas’ Max Pacioretty at left wing.

Makar, Theodore, Chychrun and Hedman were my defensemen, along with Carolina’s Dougie Hamilton and the New York Rangers’ Adam Fox. 1213808 Colorado Avalanche

Avalanche Briefs: Alex Newhook’s first NHL goal one to remember

By RYAN O’HALLORAN | [email protected] | The Denver Post

May 22, 2021 at 3:10 p.m.

ST. LOUIS — Alex Newhook completed a unique kind of hat trick in the Avalanche’s 5-1 win over St. Louis Friday night in the teams’ first-round playoff series: He scored a goal for a third different team this year.

Newhook scored seven goals in 12 games for Boston College, five in eight games for the minor-league and now one for the Avalanche in nine regular season/postseason games.

Newhook, 20, played a team-low 8:32 in Game 3, but he made that ice time count by scoring to give the Avs a 2-0 lead.

The Avalanche’s first-round pick in 2019, Newhook started the scoring play with a 2-on-1 break. His centering feed for Valeri Nichushkin didn’t connect, but the puck made it to Ryan Graves, whose shot was turned away by goalie Jordan Binnington and right to Newhook.

“It popped out to me in the slot and I saw a lot of net and was hoping I could put it in, in a big point of the game,” Newhook said. “I was happy to get it home and give us a two-goal lead.”

Said Graves: “Very excited for him. That’s an awesome feeling. I was just trying to get it on net and it got a nice bounce off the goalie’s pads and right to (Newhook).”

Newhook debuted late in the regular season by playing his true center position, but has worked as a fourth-line wing in the playoffs with center Pierre-Edouard Bellemare and wingers J.T. Compher (Games 1-2) and Carl Soderberg (Game 3).

“He’s been getting a little better every game and you’re starting to see flashes of his skill,” coach Jared Bednar said of Newhook. “Maybe it’s not as much in the (offensive) zone as I would like at times, but he’s using his skill to make plays with clean breakouts and good decisions with the puck.”

Berube unplugged. Why did Blues coach Craig Berube wait until after Game 3 to express his series-long displeasure with the officiating?

The Blues have been called for seven penalties of the stick- work/interference variety (not including delay of game) compared to five for the Avalanche. The teams had three apiece in Game 3.

“Every game, we get one or two calls and it’s usually late in the third period; they’re getting four, five a game” Berube said on Friday. “I’m not sure we (got) the calls we deserve. … It’s so one-sided, it’s not even funny.”

Keeler: Nazem Kadri got what he deserved Friday. So did the Blues, who gave Avalanche their best shot and still got stomped.

About Berube’s point concerning late-game penalties, only two of the Avalanche’s penalties have been called in the final 10 minutes of the third period.

Graves shows offense. Graves had one goal and two assists in Game 3, the three points matching his regular season/postseason high. And he did it on his 26th birthday.

“I don’t remember the last time I had a hockey game on my birthday, last year, I was in quarantine so this is a lot better for sure,” he said.

Briefly. Berube told reporters Saturday that defenseman Justin Faulk and Robert Bortuzzo are “doubtful” to play in Game 4. … Defenseman Devon Toews has led the Avalanche in ice time in all three games (26:19, 25:28 and 22:50).

Denver Post: LOADED: 05.23.2021 1213809 Colorado Avalanche

Avalanche center Nazem Kadri’s past suspensions contributed to current eight-game ban, NHL says

By RYAN O’HALLORAN | [email protected] | The Denver Post

PUBLISHED: May 22, 2021 at 11:48 a.m. | UPDATED: May 22, 2021 at 11:54 a.m.

ST. LOUIS — Following the Avalanche’s 5-1 win over the St. Louis Blues on Friday, coach Jared Bednar said he was a “little surprised” by the length of center Nazem Kadri’s eight-game suspension.

Kadri’s ban was a result of his illegal check to the head of Blues defenseman Justin Faulk in Game 2. Kadri is out for the next seven games, which puts nearly all of his second-round status in doubt if the Avalanche complete a sweep of the Blues on Sunday.

What irked Bednar after watching the Department of Safety’s video explanation of the suspension was the citing of Kadri’s disciplinary history.

“You watch the video and they talk about him being a ‘repeat offender’ — he’s been with us 18 months and doesn’t have a history,” Bednar said.

In an email to The Denver Post on Saturday, the NHL office offered clarity on repeat offender status and the 18-month clock.

The NHL said Kadri’s past suspensions contributed to the length of this punishment even if the last one was two years ago while playing for Toronto in the playoffs.

“The 18-month rule is primarily in place to determine fine and forfeited salary maximums and rates,” the league said. “It is not at all meant to periodically erase any player’s supplemental discipline history.”

In the Department of Safety’s section of the league’s website, it states: “It is important to note that even if a player is not defined as a ‘repeat offender,’ his past history may come into consideration when determining future supplemental discipline.”

While playing for the Maple Leafs, Kadri was suspended three games for interference (November 2013), four for an illegal check to the head (March 2015), four for cross-checking (April 2016), three for boarding (April 2018 playoffs) and five for a cross-check (April 2019).

Keeler: Nazem Kadri got what he deserved Friday. So did the Blues, who gave Avalanche their best shot and still got stomped.

Bednar said he watched all of the “head-shot suspensions” for the last year to attain a barometer for Kadri’s potential penalty.

“(There were) a lot of two-gamers getting handed that were significant hits to the head,” Bednar said. “We’ve had some guys put out with hits to the head who are still out. Generally the rule of thumb was in the playoffs you get a little less (of a suspension) — (Kadri) got significantly more.”

Kadri’s suspension was the longest in the playoffs since 2013 when San Jose’s Raffi Torres got six games for a head-shot on Los Angeles’ Jarret Stoll. It is the longest this year in the NHL, eclipsing the seven games Washington’s Tom Wilson got for hitting Boston’s Brandon Carlo.

“It’s done and over with in my book,” Bednar said “It’s like a guy getting hurt and missing time. … We have to live with the decisions they make and we don’t always have to agree. (Kadri) put himself in a bad spot on the hit and now he has to sit awhile.”

Denver Post: LOADED: 05.23.2021 1213810 Colorado Avalanche As play stopped and bodies poured into the crease, Barbashev appeared to wrap a paw around Graves’ neck and fling him to the ice. A dogpile ensued.

Nazem Kadri got what he deserved Friday. So did the Blues, who gave Both men got roughing calls out of the brouhaha, which was laughable. Avalanche their best shot and still got stomped. But the game remained scoreless, even though the Avs had taken the Blues’ best shots, right in the kisser, and everybody knew it. The St. Louis bench included.

By SEAN KEELER | [email protected] | The Denver Post Graves broke the deadlock about two minutes into the second period after zipping out of the penalty box, and that was pretty much that. PUBLISHED: May 22, 2021 at 5:45 a.m. | UPDATED: May 22, 2021 at 9:11 a.m. For all that shoving, all that machismo, the Blues got what they deserved in the end. So did Kadri, now that you mention it.

Nazem Kadri’s rap sheet is so long, at this point, you could zipline that bugger over the Royal Gorge. Denver Post: LOADED: 05.23.2021 Counting Friday night, the Avs center’s now been suspended six times by the NHL since November 2013. It’s the man’s fourth multi-game suspension over his last 23 playoff appearances.

I don’t care what the NHL rulebook says. I don’t care what a good citizen Kadri had been in burgundy for the 18 months prior to Wednesday. Nasty Naz is the walking, breathing, skating, head-hunting definition of a “repeat offender.”

Eight games? He got what was coming. He got lucky.

“It’s a lot of games,” Avs winger Brandon Saad said of Kadri after Colorado stomped the Blues in St. Louis 5-1 to snatch a 3-0 stranglehold in their first-round playoff series. “That’s a tough one for our team. Have to solider on, next man up, and try to win games without him.”

If Game 3 was any harbinger, that shouldn’t be much of an issue. Not during this round, kids.

The Avs are in the Blues’ heads now, as deep and malignant as an ingrown toenail. Coach Jared Bednar’s bunch is doing what great teams do come Cup time — finding different ways, through different heroes, to make the same, salient, unassailable point.

Superior speed, skill and stars pulled the sled in Games 1 and 2. Friday, the Avs mangled St. Louis with guts and depth.

Avs rookie Alex Newhook unleashed his inner Cale Makar on St. Louis, notching his first career NHL goal, a game-winner from the right circle 12:37 into the second period. Defenseman Ryan Graves survived a Blues horse collar to rack up a goal and two assists, while goaltender Philipp Grubauer turned away 31 of 32 St. Louis shots.

“I don’t remember the last time I had a hockey game on my birthday,” chuckled Graves, who turned 26. “Last year we were in quarantine, so it’s (a lot) better than that one, for sure.”

As the Colorado roster was fighting over the fork with which to stick into the Blues’ backsides, the NHL announced Kadri would be suspended eight contests for his shoulder-to-head shot on Blues defenseman Justin Faulk in Game 2.

“I thought the general rule of (thumb) is, in the playoffs, you get a little less,” Bednar said, decrying the punishment. “He definitely got more.”

Hey, in a perfect world, the Kadri strike zone wuld apply to Washington’s Tom Wilson or Vegas’ Keegan Kolesar, too. The NHL’s Department of Player Safety makes the NCAA’s crack enforcement staff look positively apolitical and homogeneous in comparison.

On Planet Bettman, justice is relative. Relative and provincial. And the real shame of the Naz news landing when it did was the degree to which it sucked the oxygen out of the cooler narratives of the evening, the way it overshadowed the Avs’ best playoff performance to date.

Cripes, were they surgical. Especially late. St. Louis, as you’d expect, came out swinging with everything but clenched fists. The hosts outhit the Avs 18-4 in the first period, chippy to the last.

Yet Colorado managed to keep its head and its collective cool, an impressive two-fer when blood pressures start running that high on the road.

The snapshot of the evening, the sequence that flipped the script, landed with about 12 seconds left in the opening stanza. With the Avs plugging away on hope and fumes, Grubauer stoned the Blues’ Ivan Barbashev three straight times with his leg. 1213811 Colorado Avalanche six years ago — in March of 2015 — for a head hit of Edmonton’s Matt Fraser.

Then came a crosscheck in 2016, boarding in 2018 and another Deen: Avalanche’s Nazem Kadri may appeal suspension, as he should crosscheck in 2019.

His play on Justin Faulk was the second head hit he had been suspended for. And neither was malicious. By Aarif Deen When you compare Wilson and Kadri, there seems to be a clear divide of May 22, 2021 when to set a precedent or who to make the poster child of this era’s players. But Kadri has a case here, that’s for sure. And that’s while

acknowledging that he does have a storied past of dirty plays, Faulk hit It’s hard, in theory, to argue the suspension Avalanche center Nazem included. Kadri received Friday night from the NHL’s Department of Player Safety. The ball is in his court. Kadri and his camp have 48 hours from the Kadri is a repeat offender, committing a suspendable offense for the third announcement Friday night to file an appeal. We’ll wait and see if he time in four years during the Stanley Cup playoffs. That part has been follows through. made very clear.

But it’s a lot easier to argue the DoPS’ consistency, or lack thereof, and the idea that Kadri has very much been a poster boy for suspensions that milehighsports.com LOADED: 05.23.2021 others are easily avoiding. The 30-year-old has evidence to appeal his eight-game suspension. And if does, he could very much be successful in decreasing the punishment.

This suspension is not like Kadri’s last two — in 2018 and 2019 with the Maple Leafs against Boston in the first round of the playoffs. In those plays, Kadri was suspended both times for, let’s face it, boneheaded plays where his frustrations and anger got the best of him.

The second year, he cross-checked Bruins’ Jake DeBrusk in the face and was suspended for the remainder of the series. Like his illegal check to the head of Justin Faulk on Wednesday, that hit was also in Game 2.

But that’s where the similarities end.

Kadri did not make a boneheaded play against the St. Louis Blues. He lined up Faulk for a check and got him at the wrong angle at the wrong time, and ended up wiping out the defenseman with a hit to the head. One stride, one look, one second later and it would’ve had a different outcome for both Kadri and Faulk. But such is what happens in a fast- paced game and when you play on the edge the way Kadri does.

The hit should not have warranted discussions that Kadri is a selfish player that hasn’t learned his lesson. The mindset he had in Toronto had been washed away — as we saw during his first playoff run with the Avs where he recorded nine goals and 18 points in 15 games while staying out of trouble. Kadri is not that same player. And the fact that the NHL did not hear that argument and still suspended him for eight valuable playoff games is an atrocity in itself.

And as for the inconsistencies:

You could argue that the issue isn’t that Kadri didn’t get what he deserves. It’s that others in the same situation have not.

Capitals forward Tom Wilson was fined $5,000 less than three weeks ago for punching a defenseless Pavel Buchnevich in the head. He then went on to ragdoll Artemi Panarin but the NHL made it clear that it only fined him for the Buchnevich play.

Wilson had accumulated five suspensions before that incident on May 5. He received two suspensions nine days apart totaling six games late in 2017. Then seven months later, Wilson was suspended for three playoff games for an illegal check to the head of Zach Aston-Reese of the Penguins.

He followed that up fourth months later with what would be his largest suspension to date. He was dinged for 20 games — which he later appealed down to 14 — for yet another illegal check to the head, this time of Oskar Sundqvist.

Then in March of this year, Wilson was handed a six-game suspension for a check on Bruins defenseman Brandon Carlo.

Two months later he punched Buchnevich in the back of the head. After his two previous suspensions for head hits. The NHL made it clear that head hits have no place in the game. Yet this was the hill they were willing to die on. You can’t check a player in the head, but what Wilson did to a defenseless player laying on the ice was fair game.

Kadri was suspended for three games in 2013 for running over Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom. He then received a five-game suspension over 1213812 Colorado Avalanche None of the Avalanche’s five goals came from the top line of Nathan MacKinnon, Gabe Landeskog, Mikko Rantanen, or second-line wingers Joonas Donskoi and Andre Burakovsky. Those five led the Avs in regular-season goals. Cale Makar also did not score. Deen’s List: Avalanche take 3-0 series lead over St. Louis as Nazem Kadri begins eight-game suspension Instead, the five different goal scorers were defenseman Ryan Graves, forward Brandon Saad, and the aforementioned centermen in Newhook, Jost and Compher.

By Aarif Deen St. Louis won the Cup in 2019 by relying on a deep lineup. Colorado is doing that right now. But it also has higher-end talent leading the way May 22, 2021 that the Blues did not have.

First career goal Listen to “Heart of a Landy” on Spreaker. Not many could say their first career NHL goal was a game-winning goal “Players who repeatedly violate league playing rules will be more in the third game of a series that could put your team up 3-0. Newhook severely punished for each new violation.” can.

That statement came straight from the Department of Player Safety’s The 20-year-old capitalized on a loose puck off the rebound of a shot video explaining center Nazem Kadri’s eight-game suspension. from Graves and put it into the open net. Newhook played 8:32, the most ice time he’s seen in the playoffs. Kadri was ejected in the third period of Game 2 for an illegal check to the head of Blues defenseman Justin Faulk. “That was a big point in the game so I was happy to put that home and give us a two-goal lead,” hNewhook said. The news broke during the first intermission of the Avalanche’s 5-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues on Friday at Enterprise Center. Colorado Graves is going to remember this night for a long time as well. built a 3-0 series lead with an opportunity to complete the sweep Sunday. Celebrating his 26th birthday, the big, stay-at-home defenseman scored the opening goal on a breakaway and added two assists. Whether or not the series ends in four games, it’ll end without Kadri. “I don’t remember the last time I had a hockey game on my birthday,” Kadri’s suspension was definitely warranted. And the fact that he had Graves said. already accumulated five suspensions in a career that spans just over 700 games was enough to throw the book at him. His opening goal was every hockey player’s dream. Graves was in the box serving a roughing minor that began late in the first period. Just as But eight games in the playoffs are a lot, regardless of who you’re he stepped out of the box, he went in on a breakaway and beat goalie suspending. The NHL often suspends players for less in the playoffs Jordan Binnington to the puck and shot it towards the open net. because of the importance of each game. Binnington got a piece of it but it still found the back of the net to open the scoring. Which is something Avs coach Jared Bednar referenced as he expressed his disagreement in the lengthy suspension. Happy birthday, Ryan.

“I’m a little surprised, to be honest with you,” Bednar said. “I looked The Avalanche have an opportunity to complete the sweep in Sunday’s through all the headshot suspensions for the last year. A lot of two- matinee matchup. And if history has taught us anything, it’s that a sweep gamers getting handed out. Significant hits to the head. We’ve had some in the Stanley Cup playoffs for this club leads to winning hockey’s holy guys put out with hits to the head and are still out with no suspension.” grail.

“Generally the rule of thumb is that playoffs you get a little less and he Colorado has swept a four-game series just twice in its 25-year history. In got significantly more.” 1996, the Avs defeated the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup Final in four games. And five years later, the Presidents’ Trophy-winning To believe for a moment that Kadri’s hit was intention or that he’s yet to Avalanche opened the 2001 playoffs by ousting the Vancouver Canucks learn his lesson is nonsense. In 2018 and 2019, Kadri made boneheaded in four games before going on to win its second Stanley Cup. plays out of frustration that were deserving of longer suspensions — like the five games he ended up missing in 2019. But this was a hit gone bad Something about that 2001 season sounds all too familiar. Let’s see if — really bad. It was by no means a malicious play. this version of the Avs can continue to mimic the last Cup-winning team.

One extra stride, one second, one look and it would’ve been a shoulder- Another quietly strong game from Grubauer to-shoulder collision. It’s bad luck for all involved. Someway, somehow, Avs goalie Philipp Grubauer has barely been Kadri has not been suspended or faced and discipline from the DoPS talked about in any of the Avalanche’s three wins. Despite surrendering since his arrival in Colorado nearly two years ago. just five goals and holding a .944 save-percentage, Grubauer has often been an afterthought to Colorado’s high-flying offense or physicality from “They lay out the rules of what’s a repeat offender and in my Landeskog. And obviously, Kadri’s suspension. understanding, it’s 18 months,” Bednar said. “So you watch the video and they talk about him being a repeat offender, but he’s not. He’s been with Grubauer once again took a backseat to Newhook, Graves and others on us for 18 months and he doesn’t have any history.” Friday. He made 31 saves, including 16 in the second period. The game was scoreless after 20 minutes and St. Louis outshot the Avs 17-12 in Kadri has struggled in the latter part of 2021. He has just two goals in his that middle period. But Colorado had the first three goals and entered the last 29 games and lost his place on the top power-play unit. But make no third up 3-1. And it was partly thanks to Grubauer. mistake, Kadri is a vital piece of this team. Especially in the playoffs, where he thrived in 2020 and is one of Colorado’s more physical “It’s been the story of our year he’s been playing well all year,” Graves forwards. said of Grubauer. “He’s been our best player a lot of nights. There are nights that Nate takes over or Mikko takes over. But there are a lot of If there was any silver lining from his suspension, it’s that it created an nights that Grubi is really good and you just don’t notice that he’s been so opportunity for the younger centermen to step up. And not long after his good in net. He just makes saves look effortless. Time and time again he suspension was announced, rookie center Alex Newhook scored his first bails us out when we make mistakes.” career goal, the eventual game-winner, to make it 2-0. That was followed by a goal from third-line center Tyson Jost — his first of the playoffs.

J.T. Compher centered the second line in Kadri’s place Friday. And he milehighsports.com LOADED: 05.23.2021 had the empty-net goal.

The Deen’s List:

Depth carries the load 1213813 Colorado Avalanche

“It was a great moment for all of us” – Paula Newhook on son Alex’s first goal

Published 9 hours ago on May 22, 2021

By Adrian Dater

ST. LOUIS – A few minutes on the phone with Paula Newhook, and you quickly get a good idea of where her son, Alex, gets a lot of his energy and enthusiasm from.

The mom of Colorado Avalanche rookie Alex Newhook has run the Boston Marathon three times and has worked as a personal trainer. She speaks in a rapid-fire fashion, with verve and vigor. This, despite having stayed up until 3 or 4 in the morning Saturday, watching an Avs-Blues Game 3 that started at 11:30 Newfoundland time.

How could Mrs. Newhook not be still full of excitement, though, after having watched Alex score his first NHL goal in Colorado’s 5-1 Game 3 victory?

“I’ll never get that vision out of my mind, his smile after the game,” she said from her and her husband’s home in Newfoundland. “He FaceTimed us after the game. He’s so communicative and it was a great moment for all of us. Obviously, we could not be more excited.”

Alex Newhook joined the Avs from the Colorado Eagles earlier this month and hasn’t been out of the lineup since. The 2019 first-round pick of the Avs (16th overall) scored in the second period of the game, and it proved to be the game-winning goal.

“Time stood still for a moment there,” Paula Newhook said. “We were watching with friends and they have a big projector screen on their deck. It was So, it was great to be with them when it happened too. It was a late night, but so worth it.”

Avs coach Jared Bednar has praised Newhook’s play in the postseason, even though his playing time has been fairly sparse (he only played 8:32 in Game 3). Bednar said Newhook “did all the right things” on the goal, which came off a 2-on-1 with Valeri Nichushkin.

So far, Newhook hasn’t seem overwhelmed by the bright lights and added pressure that NHL playoff hockey brings. That fits his personality, his mom said.

“He’s a no-drama guy. Everything is always just ‘OK’,” she said. “From the get-go, he was a very determined person. Early on, he had a goal and he pursued it with passion. At times, we’ve asked ourselves ‘is this going to be too much pressure for him’ with things, but he just was always a happy kid, full of energy.”

Like mom.

Colorado hockey now LOADED: 05.23.2021 1213814 Dallas Stars

Dallas Stars announce front office moves, promote Rich Peverley to Director of Player Personnel

By SportsDay Staff

10:02 PM on May 22, 2021 CDT

The Dallas Stars announced some front office moves Friday, including the promotion of a former player and Stanley Cup winner.

The Stars have promoted Rich Peverley to Director of Player Personnel. He previously served as Player Development Coordinator for six years.

“In his new role as Director of Player Personnel, Peverley transitions into the club’s hockey operations management team of Nill, Assistant General Manager and Texas Stars General Manager Scott White and Assistant General Manager Mark Janko, assisting in the decision-making process with regards to player personnel and the team’s makeup. Peverley will also be heavily involved in professional and amateur scouting, as well as player development.”

Peverley, 38, played in the NHL for nine seasons, the last of which came in Dallas (2013-2014). He began his career in Nashville and also made stops in Atlanta and Boston, winning a Stanley Cup with the Bruins in 2011. Peverley finished his career with 241 points in 442 regular-season games.

Dallas announced other front office moves as well. Former European Amateur Scout Rickard Oquist has been promoted to European Director of Player Personnel. Craig Bonner will now serve as the franchise’s Head Professional Scout.

Dallas Morning News LOADED: 05.23.2021 1213815 Dallas Stars trusts me to be able to do this with this team, then I can really do it. Certainly, performing well offensively also allowed me to start thinking that I do belong here. Eventually, I just got in a groove in March, April and May. Stars’ Jason Robertson on World Championship, impressive NHL rookie season Your line with Roope and Pavelski stuck together more than almost any other line on the team, but if things change next year in terms of line combinations, how quickly can you adapt to new linemates?

By Saad Yousuf Robertson: I would say it’s pretty easy. I think it was the 53rd or 54th games this season (when the line was split up) so I was familiar with all May 22, 2021 of the players on our team. I’ve probably been on the ice with almost every single one of them. I’m pretty familiar with how they play and what they’re going to do. It’s not so much the individual players. We all play Less than a week after concluding his Calder Trophy-worthy rookie the same system. I know where the puck is going to go, they know where campaign in the NHL, Jason Robertson accompanied Team USA to I’m going to put it. You just get familiar with the structure. If you know the Latvia for the 2021 IIHF World Championship. USA played Finland on structure, the plays will be made. It’s not too difficult. Saturday to begin its schedule. Robertson scored a pretty goal in the first period to keep the United States in the game and had an overall good What was it like for you to field questions about being a legitimate Calder game. candidate?

The left wing spoke with The Athletic from Latvia a few days before the Robertson: I started exceeding my own expectations coming into the tournament to talk about his decision to participate in the World year. I knew I had the skill and the smarts to play at that level but not to Championship and reflect on a rookie season in which he exceeded his have all the production. I thought I could do it but I just didn’t think I was own expectations. Answers are lightly edited for length and clarity. (actually) going to do it. But playing the game the right way is something the coaches have always told me. Whatever happens, happens. Bones You guys had an intense schedule this season in the NHL. How is your always told me throughout the year, all this Calder talk and whatnot is body doing and why did you decide to immediately dive into more hockey just white noise in the background. He told me to keep playing my game at the World Championship? and that’s pretty much what I did. I tried to keep that pushed out of my mind. At the end of the day, playing the same way I had been playing, Robertson: Really, I just wanted to play more. Obviously missing the not doing anything different, led to some of that success individually. playoffs, it didn’t feel like a lot of closure to me because I’ve never really Coming into the year, I didn’t have any expectations for that so it was missed the playoffs before so it was kind of a weird feeling, to be honest pretty neat. It’s just still a pity not being in the playoffs. We just missed it. with you. When Team USA called me and they wanted me to go play, I was like — I’m still a young rookie, right? (laughs) I don’t have anything Tyler Seguin mentioned that, while he was still recovering from his to go back home for. I don’t have kids, a family or anything. I don’t have offseason surgery, he would pick you up at the airport after road games to go back home so I can certainly go to Europe and play more hockey. I and drive you home. What were those car rides like? just wanted to play hockey. When Team USA called, I wasn’t going to say no to that. I get to play more games and play against some of the Robertson: We’d chat about whatever the trip was about, wherever we best players in the world, too. It’s going to be fun. played and who we played against. We talked about how next year is going to be a new year for me and how excited he is for next year. It’s Robertson made an immediate impact for Team USA, scoring the lone going to be a lot harder. I already talked to Bones about next year and goal in a 2-1 loss to Finland on Saturday. Aside from the savvy goal, how much harder it’s going to be and how much harder I have to work Robertson had arguably the best performance for Team USA. over the summer to get to even another level.

How is your body overall? A big part of your offseason last year was adjusting your weight and getting it to a place where you comfortable and could be effective. After Robertson: We did a great job of staying ready and well-rested, the best the relentless nature of this past season, where is your weight? that we could, especially at the end of the year. Bones (coach Rick Bowness) did a good job with that. I also started to learn more throughout Robertson: My weight fluctuated throughout the year but it’s not too bad. this year about how important it is to take care of your body. I don’t think I’m pretty content with where it is right now. It’s not going to be too hard there will ever be a schedule like this. It was a good experience. I was for me coming into training camp because I drop weight pretty easily. always ready to go and fortunately didn’t have to deal with any injuries When I come into training camp, I’ll be ready to go. throughout the year. It’s always good to be healthy. After the World Championship, what’s your routine going to be? How do How do you look back at your entire rookie season in the NHL now that you plan to attack this offseason? it’s complete? Robertson: After World Championships, I’ll probably go back home to Robertson: I mean, it started sluggish. I said it in March, too, how sitting Los Angeles for a little bit and then get back to Michigan and get right out those games at the beginning kind of led me to try to get more into back at it with (personal trainer) James (Gonzales) and (personal coach) game mode. Watching those five games, I started to see what the pace Tommy (Mannino). Tommy and I have been talking these past couple of was like and try to earn the ice time. Once I earned it from (Bowness) months as he’s watched the majority of my games so he has an idea of and got ice time, I started to take off and get more comfortable. Certainly, what I need to start to do more throughout the games to create more playing with two of the best players on our team (Roope Hintz and Joe offense. He has an idea and we’ve talked it out together. Off the ice, it’s Pavelski) helped me, too. But playing a lot of minutes, getting touches in, going to be the same thing. Just keep going at it. I’m really excited for feeling the puck and creating plays adds more and more confidence and this offseason because now that I know how it works, I certainly can makes you more comfortable. As the season went along and certainly improve in some areas and just take it to a whole other level. the amount of games we played each week, you just keep playing and keep playing. I didn’t really have to worry about anything other than playing hockey. It was a good year but unfortunately, we just missed out The Athletic LOADED: 05.23.2021 on the playoffs.

Was there a point in the season where you were like, “OK, now I belong in the NHL?”

Robertson: Obviously, when I first got on that line (with Hintz and Pavelski), I was playing with Roope in February or whatever, it was kind of tentative. Bones put me out there to get something going and whatnot. But when I got put on a line with Joe and Roope (on March 25) and then Bones started putting me out there in certain situations and playing me a lot more. That was pretty much when I got the confidence that if Bones trusts me to be out there with three or four minutes (remaining) in a tie game or putting me in during overtimes, then I started to realize that if he 1213816 Detroit Red Wings

Red Wings sign Jonatan Berggren, high-scoring 2018 pick

Updated May 20, 2021; Posted May 20, 2021

By Ansar Khan | [email protected]

After being set back by injuries the past couple of years, Jonatan Berggren experienced a breakout season in the Swedish Hockey League.

Now he is coming to North America, after signing a three-year entry-level contract Thursday with the Detroit Red Wings.

Berggren, a 5-10, 181-pound right wing, tallied 12 goals and 33 assists in 49 games with Skelleftea AIK, leading the team and tying for sixth in scoring in the Swedish Hockey League.

Berggren became only the 13th player in SHL history to compile 40-plus points in a season at age 20 or younger, and the first since Vancouver’s 2017-18. Berggren also tallied four assists in 12 playoff contests, helping his team reach the SHL semifinals.

Berggren is a tremendous skater with high-end skills. He was Detroit’s third pick, 33rd overall in the second round, in 2018. He was drafted three spots after the Red Wings selected Joe Veleno.

Berggren was limited to 16 games in 2018-19 due to a back injury and played only 24 games in 2019-20 because of shoulder surgery.

“He’s a guy who’s faced a lot of adversity with injuries the last couple years,” , Red Wings director of player development, said in October. “These aren’t injuries that are easy to come back from.

“To his credit, going through that, it’s done two things – it’s made him realize what he needs to work on, and it’s also given him time to work on those deficiencies. He was a guy we drafted who was very raw in terms of his physical development. I think the last couple of years the amount of time he’s been able to spend in the gym and off the ice has helped him in that area.”

Berggren turns 21 on July 16 and will compete for a roster spot in training camp but likely will need some development time with the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins.

He has appeared in 99 games for Skelleftea AIK over the past four seasons, picking up 14 goals and 46 assists.

Viro signs entry-level deal

The Red Wings also agreed to terms with defenseman Eemil Viro on a three-year entry-level contract.

Viro (6-1, 171) selected in the third round in 2020 (70th overall), completed his second season with TPS of SM-, Finland’s top professional league. He picked up four goals and 10 assists in 53 games. The left-shooting defenseman appeared in 13 playoff games, picking up a three goals and an assist.

Michigan Live LOADED: 05.23.2021 1213817 Detroit Red Wings

Jonathan Bernier hopes to extend stay with Red Wings

Updated May 20, 2021; Posted May 20, 2021

By Ansar Khan | [email protected]

Jonathan Bernier experienced a lot of losing the past three seasons with the Detroit Red Wings. Now he sees the team potentially turning a corner, and he wants to be here for better days.

“My family and I really like it here,” Bernier said. “I feel comfortable at the rink, on the ice, so it would be my No. 1 choice. I definitely would like to stay here.”

There is no reason why the Red Wings wouldn’t want to retain Bernier, an unrestricted free agent, if they can agree on a contract figure and term.

Bernier, who turns 33 on Aug. 7, has been the team’s most valuable player the past two seasons, with a combined record of 24-33-4, a 2.96 goals-against average and .909 save percentage.

Thomas Greiss had a strong finish and has one year remaining on his contract. The Red Wings have no other NHL-ready goalies under contract or in their system. If they don’t re-sign Bernier, they would need to sign for a veteran free agent or trade an asset for proven goalie. They know what they have in Bernier.

Bernier could seek to join a playoff-contending team, but he enjoys the challenge of playing on a rebuilding club. The Red Wings were headed that way when he signed a three-year, $9 million deal in 2018.

“When I signed, I didn’t see (Henrik) Zetterberg retiring that year, but I knew they were going to that (rebuilding) stage,” Bernier said. “It’s a great challenge, as a goalie especially, you can make that rebuild faster if you’re playing well and get some wins.

“I lived it in Toronto and the one thing I regret is going through the pain and not being there when they’re better. That’s one of the reasons why I want to stay here. I finally see we’re getting better. We got some great, young guys. I can see we’re headed in the right direction, so I’d like to see the process towards the end.”

Detroit is Bernier’s fifth NHL stop. He appreciates what the organization does for its players.

“Original Six, it’s always special to play for a team like that, lots of history, it’s a great organization,” he said. “The setup we have at the rink is amazing, the way they treat us, and great group of guys. That makes a big difference when you’re having fun at the rink. It’s not every team you feel comfortable with and for me I really like the group of guys here.

“I’m excited to see what next year brings.”

If the Red Wings re-sign Bernier – or any of their other UFAs like Luke Glendening (most likely to be re-signed) or Marc Staal – it might not happen until after the July 21 Seattle Kraken expansion draft, to keep them from having to use a protection slot or expose them.

Bernier went 9-11-1, with a 2.99 GAA and .914 save percentage, missing a combined five weeks due to injuries early and later in the season.

He has grown with experience.

“It kind of got to me in Toronto when we were going through the rebuild and lost a lot and all the pressure you put on yourself to win games,” Bernier said. “I think I grew from that point on, and I brought that experience here where I kind of blocked that and played my own game instead of getting frustrated when you lose 2-3 games in a row. I’m a better player because of that, mentally I’m stronger. As you age, you get more mature and know how to deal with situations better.”

Michigan Live LOADED: 05.23.2021 1213818 Edmonton Oilers They so deserve it. Because without their incredible sacrifices we would be much worse off.

I honestly hope those front-line enjoyed every second of the game. Those who criticized frontline workers for being at Oilers playoff game need to give their heads a shake And … thank you.

Cam Tait Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 05.23.2021 Publishing date: May 22, 2021

Talk radio has a bit of everything and makes you think, smile, laugh and — sadly — most of all, roll your eyes, look skyward and wonder out-loud why some folks think what they do.

It makes the world spin, right? Opinions are good to have, and many of them lead to wonderful things.

When I scratch this balding head is when people find it absolutely necessary to call into radio talk shows to complain and discredit a great act of kindness during a most challenging time.

Are you starting to pick up what I am laying down?

Let’s rewind to Thursday morning. The Oilers lost — lots of debate here — the first game of their first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs against the Winnipeg Jets.

But as much as the defeat stings, there was an act of kindness the Oilers Entertainment Group extended which not only was a wonderful way to recognize some of Alberta’s unsung heroes, but also flickered a beacon of hope … that we’re gradually putting COVID-19 in the rear-view mirror.

With anthem singer Robert Clark in the middle, 12 frontline workers stood around him — socially distancing, of course — to sing O Canada.

What could possibly be wrong with that?

Who could dream up ways to rain on that parade? Who would question such an uplifting and right-thing-to-do event?

Turns out a number of people.

They let their fingers do the dialling to call Shaye Ganam, who now sits in the air chair at 630 CHED from 9 a.m. to noon weekdays.

And they were quite to the point on the air, saying it was wrong and a confusing source of mis-messaging.

Really?

I’ll repeat again: really?

Respectfully, I disagree. I also find it quite bold and, frankly, uncalled for.

One has to seriously wonder if any of this callers — and we sincerely hope not — have had COVID-19 and have been in the hospital.

And, if they were, in the confusion and discomfort of this unforgiving and cruel disease, if they ever needed a glass of water, or a blanket, or a painkiller.

Who would they call for that?

Who is the first line of defence for hospital patients who need something?

And who always is there in that dark moment when nobody else is around?

It’s nurses. Frontline workers who have been put to the test over the past 14 months.

Personally, I can’t think of any other people who are more worthy of being the first group of fans to see an Oilers game live.

So I have a suggestion to those people who made comments.

Obviously, you like making phone calls.

Call the Oilers Entertainment Group for starters. See if you can get in touch with every one of those folks at the game.

Either you call them. Or, have them call you.

I challenge you to apologize for publicly mocking them. 1213819 Edmonton Oilers enough,” said Tippett. “There were times in the games where if our execution was a little sharper we could have created a little more.

“That being said, the games are tight. Both games have been won with Edmonton Oilers are bleeding heavily, but they're not dead yet far from Grade A chances — they were just pucks that found their way into the back of the net. We have to find some of those or find some opportunities that we create off some really good plays.”

Robert Tychkowski With as close as the first two games were, maybe it is premature to suggest this thing is over. If Edmonton scores the OT winner on a Publishing date: May 22, 2021 screened wrist shot Friday, everyone is talking about how they played a composed, disciplined shut-down playoff game and found a way to win.

Dead? No. Then again, that’s how close the margins usually are in the playoffs. And in finding a way to lose, the Oilers leave themselves in a position where One foot in the grave? Yes. one bad goal can put them down 3-0 and end their season.

That might not sound like much of a distinction, but it’s the only one the It’s not good. But it’s not over. Edmonton Oilers have right now. “We’ll get it sorted out,” said Larsson. “There’s no doubt in our mind we Down 2-0 in their North Division semifinal against the Winnipeg Jets, the can come back, we just have to find a way to score. If we win Game 3, Oilers are most certainly dealing with a potentially fatal wound. Teams we have a good chance. We just have to focus on that. that lose the first two games of a playoff series at home almost never live to talk about it. “The group will really come together and bring it (Sunday). There is still a lot of hockey to play here.” The Oilers are in big, big trouble.

But they’re not dead yet. And as bleak as it sounds, when still having a pulse is the most important thing the favoured team in a series has going Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 05.23.2021 for it right now, at least it’s something to build on.

“There is no doubt in our mind that we can come back in this series,” said defenceman Adam Larsson, as the Oilers regrouped in advance of a crucial Game 3 on Sunday.

“We’re a group that still believes in each other. We’ve proven throughout the year that we’re a really good team. We’ve responded well when we’ve been down in the hole a little bit. That’s what we’re looking for Sunday.

“We really, really believe we have a chance to go deep. We’re still a confident group that thinks we can come back in this series.”

There might not be as many people outside the Oilers dressing room who share that positivity after 4-1 and 1-0 losses, but the resolve inside hasn’t changed.

To quote the Black Knight in Monty Python’s famous battle scene, the Oilers see this 2-0 deficit as little more than a flesh wound.

“We’re fine,” said Leon Draisaitl, who’s still looking for his first point of the series. “We would have liked our position to be a little different, but that’s the way it is. We’re going to have to fight our way back into it.

“We’ve faced a lot of adversity throughout the whole year and we’ve always come back and made a positive out of it. There’s a lot of trust in our group, a lot of confidence, especially on the road, where we’re a really good team.”

After a brilliant regular season in which everything seemed to go right, none of the Oilers expected to be where they are right now. And the bitter irony in all of this is that a team with four of the last five Art Ross Trophy winners on it is being let down by its offence.

A team that lost too many games over the last 10 years with shoddy defence allows just two goals against with a goalie in net in six regulation periods and is somehow still trailing the series 2-0.

“You’re not going to win many games if you score one goal or less, we’re aware of that,” said Draisaitl, who thinks the floodgates will open soon. “We’re a good offensive team and we know we can score, so our confidence is high. We know we can score enough. We just have to make sure we accept some adjustments and put them into our next game.”

Head coach Dave Tippett thinks his team has done enough to score a bunch of goals, they just haven’t scored them. The chances are there, but the finish is not.

Part of that is because Winnipeg is fast and tenacious around its own net, getting a stick or a body part in front of everything the Oilers try and shoot. And if anything manages to get through, goalie Connor Hellebuyck has been at his Vezina-winning best, stopping 70 of 71 shots.

“The main focus for us is that we’ve had some opportunities that we haven’t got much out of because our execution hasn’t been good 1213820 Edmonton Oilers “There are some things we can be positive about. I thought our battle level was great. And Mike Smith in goal was unbelievable for us tonight. It was fun to be a part of a game like that. It’s what you want. This is why you work all year long, to put yourself in spots like this.” Down 0-2, Edmonton Oilers not about to abandon playoff ship It what was nothing short of a great playoff hockey game to give the nation.

Terry Jones “It’s not the position we want to be in, but there’s no reason we can’t go out there and do what these guys just did to us,” said Ryan Nugent- Publishing date: May 22, 2021 Hopkins.

“We battled both games. We just have to find a way to put one in,” he Teams that fall behind two games early, especially when the first two said of beating last year’s Vezina Trophy winner Connor Hellebucyk, who games are at home, almost never end up coming back to win a Stanley made 38 saves to record the OT shutout and make it 70 of 71 shots he’s Cup playoff series. stopped so far in the series. “There’s no reason we can’t do this. I think the confidence is still in the room to do this.” But it’s been done. Head coach Dave Tippett said he’s witnessed a team that made Most of these guys hadn’t been born the last time the Edmonton Oilers significant progress this year to the point that he doesn’t see anybody did it. And as it happened, they did it against the Winnipeg Jets the last abandoning ship. time the two teams met in a Stanley Cup playoff series, having lost Games 1, 3 and 4 back in 1990. “I think our team has responded to adversity all year,” he said. “We talked about it after the game, there’s been a real growth of our team. We’ve This wasn’t supposed to be an occasion to see what kind of stuff of which continually been getting better all year. We’ve had bumps we had to these new-era Oilers were made. But here they are, more than three cross all year. We had to handle those bumps and come out the other decades later and right back into a two-game playoff deficit against the side.” Jets. This is a team that tied an NHL record 10 straight seasons out of the Friday, it was a totally neutered team, after only the third 1-0 overtime playoffs. They’re embracing the unique experience of this one loss in their playoff history on a goal at 4:06 of overtime by Paul Stastny, opportunity to play in an exclusive Canadian division set of Stanley Cup in a game where they couldn’t buy a bounce or an even break from the playoff games. officials and ran into great goaltending. If McDavid thought it was fun and can’t wait to play another one, you Only four times all season did the Oilers lose two games in a row. But should feel the same way about watching one, too. Saturday, they flew to Winnipeg for Games 3 and 4 at least able to tell themselves they won six straight games against the Jets to conclude On to Game 3. their nine-game regular-season schedule between the two teams. Now they ‘only’ have to win four of five. Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 05.23.2021 If the idea of general manager Ken Holland is to build a collection of valuable playoff experiences, well, this would definitely qualify as a good one. Of course, it would only be a good one if they come back to win this.

Last year, the Oilers were eliminated after four games in the best-of-five Hub City bubble Stanley Cup playoff qualifying series against the Chicago Blackhawks. But those comparisons really aren’t there to make.

Last year, goaltending was abysmal. For a second straight game, Mike Smith was nothing short of sensational in the Edmonton net.

While the total absence of secondary scoring is going to be the focus if they can’t come back, what we’re dealing with here, for only the third time in their careers, is an explosive device dispersal unit that has successfully been employed against the Dynamic Duo of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl in back-to-back games.

Consecutive games in which both players failed to get their name on the score sheet is no small accomplishment by the Winnipeg Jets.

Indeed, the top pair of point producers in the league in back-to-back seasons had a combined 26 points this season in the next game following a pointless outing.

Only once, in three straight games against the Maple Leafs at Rogers Place, did McDavid fail to produce a point.

Edmonton has now only won one of six playoff games in their home arena with no fans in the stands in the Stanley Cup playoffs. So, Dave Tippett’s team won’t be complaining about the change of venue. The Oilers tied with the Washington Capitals for the best road record this year at 19-7-2.

But the big question, considering their own expectations, is how devastating the two losses will be going forward to the back-to-back Sunday-Monday Victoria Day weekend games in Winnipeg.

You’d think the Oilers would have left the ice unbelievably rattled by what had happened to them, but that didn’t appear to be the case.

“Obviously, we’ve dug ourselves a bit of a hole. Obviously, both games could have gone either way,” said McDavid. “We’ve been a good road team all year long and had success in that building as well. And we’ve been good on back-to-backs. 1213821 Edmonton Oilers There are no lack of Canadians on the ice for the Oilers, with B.C. products Ryan Nugent-Hopkins from Burnaby, Jujhar Khaira from Surrey, Tyson Barrie from Victoria, and Ethan Bear and Josh Archibald both born in Regina. products McDavid, McLeod, Mike Smith are from All-Canadian playoff division the experience of a lifetime for Oilers Kingston, Darnell Nurse from Hamilton, James Neal from Whitby and Zack Kassian from Windsor, as well as Alex Chiasson from Montreal.

“It’s a big deal,” Bear said of the experience. “It just makes it that much Terry Jones more intense. It’s pretty cool. It just makes us want to win more.” Publishing date: May 22, 2021 Coach Dave Tippett, who has decided to grow a playoff bear for the occasion, said as a Saskatchewan product, he’s certainly appreciative of being one of the four head coaches involved. “I’ve said since the start of With the Oilers having played their first game and watched the first game the year that this is an unbelievable opportunity. of the Toronto-Montreal series, it hits home. “The emotion of the players and the appreciation of the players for the Regardless of how this works out, these Canadian division Stanley Cup tradition of the game in Canada has been excellent. I’ve said all along if playoff games are indeed historic, unique, once-in-a-career experiences you could have this division with the fans here every night, it would be and should be savoured. incredible. There had to be a lineup of about 100 people in their cars tooting horns before the last game, so you know the people are excited. Whether they’re a rookie like Ryan McLeod, second-year player like You know they’re there. You just don’t get to see ‘em.” Ethan Bear or captain Connor McDavid, maybe they didn’t totally, really realize the full effect of it until they found themselves immersed in it. Win eight games and put up the one and only Canadian division banner and I absolutely believe the Oilers will be able to see them sitting in the You need to play a game. And you need to watch a game, especially if seats again. Has to happen. you’re from the Toronto area and grew up on that rivalry and the history, and especially the total lack of it during your lifetime, like the Mississauga-native McLeod and Newmarket-raised McDavid. Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 05.23.2021 “It is really cool, especially with all the history involved. It’s kind of unreal to be the one to experience it,” said McLeod, the only late-season call up from the American Hockey League’s Bakersfield Condors, who quarantined for a week, cracked the lineup for the last 10 regular-season games and dressed for his second playoff game Friday.

“Playing that first playoff game was a dream come true. You watch it growing up. And to watch Montreal-Toronto for the first time in 42 years … I didn’t know it was that long, to be honest.”

Throughout the 56-game coronavirus-shortened season, you could see it coming, of course.

With the creation of an exclusively Canadian division involving two rounds of playoffs, you knew it would be unique — a once-in-a-career experience.

There was no guarantee of the first Montreal-Toronto playoff series in 42 years or the first Winnipeg-Edmonton Stanley Cup match-up since 1990. But you could see both matchups coming for weeks.

Wednesday, the Oilers finally got going and lost their opener. Thursday, they went home and watched the iconic Leafs-Canadiens series get underway and the Leafs not only lose Game 1 but lose captain John Tavares, taken off the ice by stretcher with a head injury. Friday, they went to Rogers Place for Game 2 and ready to embrace it even more than they did two nights earlier.

McDavid said the anticipation has been part of the experience the way it has worked out with the Canadian teams forced to wait until the American teams had all played a game or two due to COVID-19 outbreaks forcing a rescheduling.

“Everyone has felt fortunate to play in this division, especially as a Canadian kid. It’s been pretty special to play in an all-Canadian division and those rivalries we’ve been dealing with for 56 games now.

“As a Toronto kid, to see the Habs and the Leafs was pretty cool. And as an Oiler, to know the long history between the Oilers and the Jets,” he said of the two teams that met in the final Avco Cup final and six previous Stanley Cup playoff series since the Leafs and Canadiens last played one.

“It’s great to see and it’s great for Canadian hockey.”

McDavid hasn’t exactly been out and about for the first two playoff games in Edmonton but as opposed to being in the bubble for last year’s playoffs, he says he has a sense of the excitement in the city.

“It’s at least a bit more of a normal experience this year than in the bubble,” he said of living at home, driving to the rink and flying to Winnipeg for Games 3 and 4 Sunday and Monday.

“There’s a group of fans that kind of gathers outside before games when we’re driving in. They all have their flags and stuff going. We obviously appreciate their support.” 1213822 Edmonton Oilers Carolina Hurricanes Sean McIndoe

Carolina Hurricanes NHL picks today: Expert predictions, odds for Capitals-Bruins, Hurricanes-Predators, Jets-Oilers and Avalanche-Blues Game 3: Predators 5, Hurricanes 4, 2OT (Carolina leads 2-1)

The largest crowd for an NHL game this season — 12,135 — gathered inside Bridgestone Arena on Friday, hoping for the best. Down 2-0 in By The Athletic NHL Staff their first-round series with the Carolina Hurricanes, Game 3 was May 23, 2021 effectively a must-win situation for the Predators. At 14:54 of the second overtime, Matt Duchene gathered a long-range flip pass from Roman Josi and beat Alex Nedeljkovic to keep the Predators’ hopes alive. Earlier in the week, Predators coach John Hynes challenged his top players to The Boston Bruins have the Washington Capitals on the brink of take charge. In addition to Duchene, Ryan Ellis, Filip Forsberg and Ryan elimination after losing the first game in Washington. The Bruins could be Johansen scored for the Predators, who have never trailed 3-0 in a the first team to advance to the second round in the Metropolitan Division playoff series. — Adam Vingan with a win on Sunday. Colorado can also advance to the second round with a win against the St. Louis Blues. The Athletic’s NHL writers Game 4 — Colorado Avalanche (-225) at St. Louis Blues (+190) continue to make their daily picks for each Stanley Cup playoff game. Total: 5.5 All lines via BetMGM. If you’d like a free year of The Athletic (or an extension!), BetMGM is running a special offer, which also includes $100 PICK in bonus bets. Eric Duhatschek Game 5 — Boston Bruins (-135) at Washinton Capitals (+110) St. Louis Blues Total: 5.5 Sean Gentille PICK Colorado Avalanche Eric Duhatschek Dom Luszczyszyn Washington Capitals Colorado Avalanche Sean Gentille Scott Burnside Boston Bruins Colorado Avalanche Dom Luszczyszyn Sean McIndoe Boston Bruins Colorado Avalanche Scott Burnside Game 3: Avalanche 5, Blues 1 (Colorado leads 3-0) Boston Bruins The Avalanche didn’t get goals from any of their five leading regular- Sean McIndoe season goal scorers. Mikko Rantanen didn’t score. Neither did Nathan MacKinnon. Or Gabriel Landeskog. Or Andre Burakovsky or Joonas Boston Bruins Donskoi. But that’s only a small consolation prize for the Blues: Colorado still rolled to take a commanding 3-0 series lead. The Avalanche Game 4: Bruins 4, Capitals 1 (Boston leads 3-1) benefited from an onslaught of depth scoring. Defenseman Ryan Graves The series had been airtight for three games. All three had gone to had a three-point night on his 26th birthday, and fourth-liner Alex overtime — double, at that, in Game 3. The Bruins blew that all to bits in Newhook logged his first NHL goal. Philipp Grubauer was stingy in net, Game 4 with a dominant win to take command of the series. Boston and now Colorado is a win away from advancing to Round 2 for the third controlled the game the entire way by skating well, making good year in a row. — Peter Baugh decisions and smothering most of Washington’s chances. At one point, Game 3 — Edmonton Oilers (-125) at Winnipeg Jets (+105) the Bruins had blocked six of Alex Ovechkin’s seven attempts. The only puck that beat Tuukka Rask was an Ovechkin broken-stick shot that Total: 5.5 tumbled in off Brandon Carlo. “Boy, we didn’t give up too much,” said coach Bruce Cassidy. PICK

Meanwhile, David Pastrnak, who had shot sideways for the first three Eric Duhatschek games, found his aim. Pastrnak buried the game-winning power-play Edmonton Oilers goal in the third period. He set up Brad Marchand for a net-front man- advantage tip. The Bruins’ lone blemish: the loss of Kevan Miller after a Sean Gentille high hit from Dmitry Orlov. Miller was taken to the hospital for tests. — Fluto Shinzawa Edmonton Oilers

Game 4 — Carolina Hurricanes (-145) at Nashville Predators (+120) Dom Luszczyszyn

Total: 5.5 Edmonton Oilers

PICK Scott Burnside

Eric Duhatschek Edmonton Oilers

Nashville Predators Sean McIndoe

Sean Gentille Edmonton Oilers

Carolina Hurricanes Game 2: Jets 1, Oilers 0, OT (Winnipeg leads 2-0)

Dom Luszczyszyn From down and counted out to a 2-0 series lead, the Jets have defied the critics and the odds. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are point-less Nashville Predators through two games, Connor Hellebuyck is playing out of his mind, and Paul Stastny’s overtime winner sends Winnipeg home to Bell MTS Place Scott Burnside in control of the series. For a team that struggled so badly against the Edmonton Oilers all season, the only way this story could read more like a fairytale is if there were a patented Winnipeg whiteout waiting for them in their home rink. It’s been a game of inches — just ask Dylan DeMelo after his desperate shot block — but the Jets have turned those inches into a massive head start in the race to four wins. — Murat Ates

The Athletic LOADED: 05.23.2021 1213823 Edmonton Oilers Niemelainen entered NHL training camp as one of two assumed Condors with his role and playing time uncertain. Billed as a third-pairing defender who could kill penalties, he showed early he was far more than a depth player. I wrote the following about his first weekend in California: “Touted The 5 biggest stories from the Bakersfield Condors’ 2020-21 season as a big, defensive defenceman with a big wingspan and poor boots, Niemelainen, in fact, is an impressive skater in the AHL and had some

truly rambunctious shifts on the weekend. He pinched effectively, joined By Allan Mitchell the rush several times (four shots over the two games) and looked far more dynamic than the scouting reports.” May 22, 2021 His injury derailed a strong season, but there’s another substantial defender in the system. If he continues to play as he did in February and March, fans will see him in the NHL in the next year or so. The most important role for an AHL team is to produce NHL talent. Ideally, the minor-league roster can produce players in-season who can Jay Woodcroft’s coaching fill areas of need, as the Bakersfield Condors did late this season in sending Ryan McLeod to the parent Edmonton Oilers. One of the building stories in Bakersfield is the coaching staff’s ability to roll impressive and fairly complete players off the assembly line and into Fans should be able to examine the minor league team at the end of a the Oilers lineup. The list of men who have had NHL success since season and identify prospects who could step up to the NHL the following Woodcroft, Dave Manson and J.F. Houle arrived as a coaching staff is campaign. Oilers fans got used to a different system over the past impressive, and their NHL results since arriving show consistent decade or so, with primary talents coming from other leagues and levels. deployment:

The Oilers’ 2010-11 roster is typical of the time. The impact rookies were This is an impressive list for three reasons: Taylor Hall, who had spent 2009-10 in the OHL; Jordan Eberle, who had come from the WHL; and Magnus Paajarvi, who played pro hockey in • Fourth-round (Caleb Jones) and fifth-round (Ethan Bear) picks have Sweden’s top league (called the SEL at the time, it has become the SHL rarely turned out for Edmonton this century. in 2009-10). Linus Omark also contributed, arriving from the KHL, and • Most of these men have been plug-and-play options for Oilers coach Jeff Petry came to Edmonton during the season from the AHL but played Dave Tippett. Bear, Kailer Yamamoto and, more recently, McLeod have at Michigan State in 2009-10. given the team a lift in important positions and at times when the club For Edmonton’s top prospects, the AHL didn’t exist. For players drafted needed solutions. by the Oilers and sent to the AHL, the journey to the NHL often involved • In the three seasons previous to Woodcroft’s arrival, the AHL team cups of coffee with Edmonton during entry deals and then signing with graduated Iiro Pakarinen, Anton Slepyshev, Jujhar Khaira and Jordan another team. Colin McDonald, Chris VandeVelde and Tyler Pitlick are Oesterle. The current pipeline is superior. three examples. NHL head coaching jobs are rare but Woodcroft is getting noticed. In late Now, the organization has finally arrived (again) with a full-fledged AHL April, from Sportsnet mentioned Bakersfield’s coach in team. Oilers fans can finally examine the end-of-season numbers and his 31 Thoughts, saying, “I’m wondering if AHL Bakersfield’s Jay draw conclusions about the future, secure in the knowledge there is an Woodcroft becomes a dark horse for any of these openings. The established feeder system for NHL talent. Condors have a much better record now than before he got there, and Here are the five major stories surrounding the 2020-21 Condors: Oilers prospects who’ve been there are getting better. Long history as an NHL assistant, too.” Ryan McLeod’s NHL readiness There’s more to NHL coaching than developing young talent, but the McLeod began the year impressing with Zug in the Swiss league (4-7-11 league gets younger every year and Woodcroft’s ability to identify and in 15 games) with his speed and skill. Once back in North America, he develop talent is established. showed growth over his rookie AHL campaign (56 games, 5-18-23) with impressive play and outstanding results. His splits show consistency, a Benson and Marody’s emergence strong even-strength point total and pure dominance in on-ice even- Entry-level deals for Tyler Benson and Cooper Marody end this summer, strength goal differential. a natural crossroads for both players and the Oilers organization. Marody McLeod was a dynamo in Bakersfield, getting to pucks in all zones and was acquired by general manager Peter Chiarelli and Benson was easily transporting the puck out of the Condors zone and into the drafted by the same management group, so Ken Holland and the current opponent’s end of the ice. So far in his NHL time (10 games in the regime have no procurement connection to either player. Through their regular season, one assist), he has shown the same ability to retrieve AHL time, Benson and Marody have shown great skill. Including this pucks but points are hard to come by. McLeod’s shooting percentage in year, the boxcar totals are quality. the AHL (22.2 percent) was high and that skewed his minor league Based solely on points, both men are legit NHL prospects and there have numbers. A full NHL season will give fans an idea about where he’ll play been appearances with the Oilers. There are concerns, including foot his career. He is over 50 percent in the faceoff dot, so No. 3 or No. 4 speed. There’s also some question about Benson’s shot and shot centre is his likely NHL destination. He is currently playing a regular shift volume. Marody is a natural centre who moved to wing this season, and with the Oilers in the playoffs and can be expected in the NHL lineup this he is the more dynamic player. fall, as well. It would be easy to write off Benson and Marody as future Oilers, but Markus Niemelainen’s arrival they will have inexpensive contracts next season and are more mature Between Feb. 5 and March 24, Niemelainen played brilliant defence for players. Fans will know this summer how the organization plans to the Bakersfield Condors. A third-round selection from the 2016 draft, he proceed. If I’m betting, Benson may have a clearer path to the NHL roster played in Finland from 2017 on and fans were unable to see his this fall due mainly to position. Left wing is going to see some turnover. progress. He arrived in Bakersfield in time to start the season and Stuart Skinner’s turnaround impressed right away. Skinner was thrust into a tough situation in 2019-20 when Shane Starrett Niemelainen is a big man (6-foot-5, 203 pounds) and can play a physical was injured early. The Condors had injuries and the Oilers recalled style. What stood out for fans was his mobility and willingness to both join several defencemen during the season. He struggled badly, posting a the rush and make solid passes. His range of skills was beyond the .892 save percentage (ranked No. 45 of 49 qualified AHL goalies in scouting reports from his draft day, and it’s clear Niemelainen has made 2019-20) and looked a long way from ever seeing an NHL game. progress in the years since his selection. He sustained a wrist injury that took him out mid-season, but by the end of March (the Condors first 19 Skinner played an NHL game early in 2020-21 (and won), but the big games), he had made a strong impression. Here are the on-ice totals for news is his improvement in the AHL nets. His .914 save percentage each defender during the first half of the year: landed him No. 6 in the league and has him back in the conversation as an NHL option in the future. Max Gildon was on loan from the Florida Panthers and quickly established himself as a fantastic puck-moving option for Bakersfield. The NHL goaltending depth chart should see some tweaks this summer, and Skinner could benefit even if he starts 2021-22 in the minors.

The Athletic LOADED: 05.23.2021 1213824 Florida Panthers

Inside the Panthers’ goalie debate: Bobrovsky, Driedger or Knight for must-win Game 5?

BY DAVID WILSON

MAY 22, 2021 05:25 PM

TAMPA

The Florida Panthers felt good about Chris Driedger after he held the Tampa Bay Lightning to two goals in Game 2 on Tuesday. They felt good about Sergei Bobrovsky after he came on in relief Thursday and shut out the Lightning for the final 25:56 of their Game 3 comeback.

Now they don’t feel great about either of their goaltenders with an elimination game looming Monday in Sunrise.

Two days after benching Driedger for Bobrovsky at the end of the second period, the Panthers benched Bobrovsky for Driedger midway through the second period of a 6-2 loss at . Tampa Bay scored six goals on 26 shots to take a commanding 3-1 series lead and will now have another decision to make in net.

Unlike before Game 4, this one won’t be easy.

“We’ll talk about it,” Quenneville said. “We’ll reconvene and look at options.”

On Thursday, Driedger gave up five goals on 12 shots and prompted Florida to bench him during the second intermission. On Saturday, Bobrovsky gave up five goals on 13 shots and prompted the Panthers to bench him with 12:45 left in the second.

In relief, Driedger gave up one goal on 12 shots. It was not the stalwart relief performance Bobrovsky delivered in Game 3 and leaves Florida without any clear answers for its must-win Game 5.

“It’s 3-1 after one and then they score early,” Quenneville said. “They score the fifth goal — it was just trying to do something different was the thought process on that, slow their momentum down maybe and get some momentum, but a four-goal lead is rather large.”

Bobrovsky has a case — four of the five goals came on either deflections or breakaways and he has fared better than Driedger against high- danger chances this series. Driedger has a case — he was tied for fourth in the NHL in save percentage in the regular season and only allowed a power-play goal Saturday.

Spencer Knight, though, has the most interesting case.

The goaltender has not yet dressed in the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs. He was just playing for the Boston College Eagles in March and only made his NHL debut in April. If he gets into a game, he’ll be the first 19-year-old goalie to appear in the postseason since 1995.

At this point, he might be the best option.

In four regular-season appearances, Knight went 4-0 with a 2.32 goals against average and .919 save percentage. He’s the No. 27 prospect in hockey, according to ESPN.com, and has a big-game pedigree after shutting out Canada to help the United States win the gold medal at the 2021 World Junior Championships in January.

While Quenneville didn’t specifically mention Knight in his postgame press conference Saturday, the coach never ruled out the rookie as a postseason possibility, simply pointing to a “batting order” for his three goalies in the final days of the regular season.

“I don’t want to say never,” Quenneville said May 6, “but I think that the other guys are the candidates and we’re going to go from there.”

If the Panthers are searching for momentum and playing with nothing to lose, Knight should be under consideration when the first-round series resumes at the BB&T Center.

Miami Herald LOADED: 05.23.2021 1213825 Florida Panthers Quenneville must figure out what goalie he trusts most to limit the Lightning, or if anybody can.

Down 3-1, the idea of deploying super-rookie Spencer Knight might be a Heat fall, Panthers need miracle on ice after both lose on rare day for surprise ace ready to be shown. He was 4-0 starting during the season Miami sports and looked great in the brevity of his debut. But is a kid who just turned 20 ready for the postseason stage and its must-win pressure?

Somebody back there needs to give Florida a fighting shot at three BY GREG COTE straight wins or the best regular season in franchise history will have gone for naught. MAY 22, 2021 03:30 PM “We’ll reconvene and look at options,” Quenneville said.

The Panthers ominously trailed 3-1 Saturday after the opening period One game was an unexpected rout. The other game was closer than despite dominating the first 20 in time of possession and shots on goal. your next breath. Both results deflated South Florida on the rarest of days in the region’s sports history. The Lightning struck only three minutes in on an Anthony Cirelli breakaway that caught Florida in a bungled, ill-timed line change. The The Miami Heat lost Game 1 of their NBA first round playoff series, 109- game was 4-on-4, and the Panthers had only three on the ice when the 107, in Milwaukee Saturday, on a Bucks shot with 00.5 left — a half- horn blasted, after apparent confusion on the bench. second —- in overtime. The hole was 2-0 7:24 in when Yanni Gourde, at the edge of the crease, That was just after the Florida Panthers had fallen by a wincing 6-2 in redirected a shot from Nikita Kucherov. Game 4 of their NHL first-round series in Tampa to fall behind 3-1 and reach the brink of elimination. Gourde then let the briefly Cats back in the game by taunting and shoving Jonathan Huberdeau for a two-minute penalty. Florida put five It marked one of the biggest days in South Florida sports history, forwards on the ice and, fittingly, Huberdeau himself took advantage, because it was only the third time in the two franchises’ combined history depositing a power-play goal at 8:49 and then cupping his gloved hand to that both had a playoff game on the same day. (The only other times an ear toward the suddenly quiet crowd. were on April 17 and 20, 2016. Coincidentally, those occasions also found the Panthers and Heat both on the road.) Noise again at 16:45, though, as Ondrej Palat, in close, touched home an Erik Cernak long-range blast to make it 3-1. More noise as Alex Killorn The rarity will recur on Monday, with the Cats facing a literal must-win netted a pair of second-period goals to make it a 5-1 spanking and chase game back home in Sunrise and the Heat again in Milwaukee. Bobrovsky off the ice, replaced by Driedger. The Heat had eliminated favored Milwaukee 4-1 in the second round of It was 5-2 on Carter Verhaeghe’s goal late in the second, but by then the the playoffs last September en route to unexpectedly reaching the NBA game seemed realistically out of reach (even before Tampa scored yet Finals. again). On Saturday, after Jimmy Butler’s driving layup forced overtime, Miami The onus on the Panthers to win Saturday was heavy and clear. In NHL led in the closing seconds on Goran Dragic’s three-point bucket but lost history teams that lead a best-of-7 series 3-1 go on to win and advance on Khris Middleton’s in the last second. at an astronomical 90 percent. The Cats needed to avoid facing that The Heat set a franchise playoff record with 20 made three-point shots, near-impossible hurdle and instead get to 2-2 and head home for Game as Duncan Robinson tied the individual club postseason mark with seven 5 full of momentum and belief, but picked a bad day to have a bad day. threes. The bad news? Miami was better long-range than from 2-point Thursday’s 6-5 overtime thriller had given Florida new life in the series. lead and shot just 36.4 percent overall. The comeback dealt Tampa Bay its first loss all season when leading The team’s two best players, Butler and Bam Adebayo, were a combined after two periods; the Lightning had been 28-0 including 2-0 this series. 8-for-37 shooting. Butler was 4-for-22 for 17 points, after he’d scorched Afterward Quenneville said: “All of a sudden, the picture changes Milwaukee for 40 in Game 1 of last year’s playoff series. completely. We needed something to feel good about ourselves. I knew Expect both to bounce back offensively in Game 2. But can the record- we had a great run for the whole year and all of a sudden the alternative setting three-point shots also be expected? Saturday made it feel like the to [Thursday’s] result would’ve been a really ugly damper on the whole dawn of a seven-game series. And how good can Milwaukee feel to have year.” barely won at home on a day when Butler, Adebayo and Tyler Herro shot Saturday brought those same stakes. Such is the enormous difference a combined 10-for-47? between going down 3-1 and getting level at 2-2. Over on the hockey side, if the Panthers are going to win their first playoff The Miami Heat proved on Saturday they are Milwaukee’s equal and series in 25 years, they’re going to climb a mountain to do it. have plenty of time left in a postseason that has just begun. The rout-loss for a 3-1 series hole puts the historical math anvil-heavy on No such time left for a Florida Panthers team that is one loss away from Panthers shoulders. yet another early playoff exit and that “ugly damper on the whole year.” In league history teams trailing 3-1 in a best-of-7 run the table to win and advance only 9.4 percent of the time. Miami Herald LOADED: 05.23.2021 Florida’s 1-in-10 odds from here are helped by the fact Games 5 and 7, if it gets that far, will be back home in Sunrise. But that is offset by Tampa, reigning hockey champion, being a pedigreed, max-tough foe.

“We’re still ready to win,” said team captain . “Forget about this one really quick, go back home and play the right way for 60 minutes. That’s the only way.”

Coach Joel Quenneville must first sort out his goaltending situation, as that has been one big difference in this matchup of two high-powered attacks.

Chris Driedger was pulled in the previous game after a nightmare five- goal sequence against him. On Saturday, Sergei Bobrovsky started in the crease but also was yanked after five times hearing the home horn blast 1213826 Florida Panthers All-Star left wing Jonathan Huberdeau scrapped with versatile Lightning forward Yanni Gourde in the opening three minutes, and Florida and Tampa Bay went into 4-on-4 action after a pair of roughing penalties. With 17 minutes left in the first, the Panthers’ defense broke down, star Panthers melt down in Game 4 against Lightning, fall to brink of another center Aleksander Barkov made an ill-timed line change, and Lightning first-round exit forward Anthony Cirelli got a breakaway and beat Bobrovsky on Tampa Bay’s first shot of the game.

Less than four minutes later, Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov BY DAVID WILSON intentionally shot wide of net and Gourde deflected in another goal from MAY 22, 2021 03:29 PM the left doorstep to stretch Tampa Bay’s lead to 2-0 with 12:36 left in the first. It was only the Lightning’s third shot on goal of the game.

Huberdeau answered and cut the lead to 2-1 with a power-play goal 1:25 TAMPA later after he drew an unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty from Gourde, but Tampa Bay took a 3-1 lead into the first intermission after Ondrej Palat Alex Killorn stood in Sergei Bobrovsky’s crease as if it was his own. It scored another deflection goal when Florida’s defense lost track of the might as well have been. Lightning left wing in front of the net with 3:15 left. He raised his arms to the sky to celebrate the Tampa Bay Lightning’s “I don’t think we give up a ton of chances,” defenseman Anton Stralman increasingly insurmountable lead. It was another deflection from right in said. “The ones we do give up are just too good.” front of net for another power-play goal to beat the Florida Panthers’ more-maligned-than-ever $70-million goaltender and stretch the Tampa Bay scored twice on its first six shots in the second period — Lightning’s lead to three goals early in the second period. once on a power-play deflection by Alex Killorn and again on a one-timer by the Lightning winger when the Panthers left him all alone — and Florida began Saturday with a chance to even its first-round series Bobrovsky headed to the bench. Two days after he replaced Driedger at against its in-state rival and played most of the first period like a team the end of the second period, his fellow goaltender came to replace him ready to — except for the ambush Tampa Bay had ready. The Lightning before the period was even half over. The celebration was on for the scored on its first, third, sixth, 13th and 14th shots, chased Bobrovsky crowd of 9,762 inside Amalie Arena. from Game 4 with 12:45 left in the second period and delivered the first blowout of the series with a 6-2 win in Tampa. Florida had every reason to believe this season would actually be different. First-year general manager rebuilt the roster and four of After the best regular season in franchise history, the Panthers are now the Panthers’ seven top scorers were newcomers. Quenneville, in his one loss away from bowing out in the opening round of the Stanley Cup second year in South Florida, may well win the Jack Adams Award. The playoffs once again after falling behind 3-1 in the series. Panthers posted their best points percentage ever, were tied for their Florida will need to win three in a row against the reigning Stanley Cup best-ever goal differential despite the shortened season and reached the champion — starting Monday with Game 5 back in Sunrise — to win its traditional 16-team playoffs for only the sixth time. first postseason series since it reached the in its Unless Florida can stage only the 30th 3-1 series comeback in NHL third season of existence. history, another season will still end the same way. The second round of There are questions about how the Panthers can shut down the Lightning the Cup playoffs will arrive and the Panthers won’t be a part of it. power play. There are questions about who will be available after Florida While Florida’s run has lasted longer than it usually does, it now has a piled up nine penalties and three misconducts in the third period. Above chance for a particularly ugly ending in its first postseason series against all, there are questions about the goaltending after the Panthers benched the Lightning. their starter midway through back-to-back games. With a little more than nine minutes left and the Panthers down 6-2, On Thursday, Florida’s two-goal, third-period comeback began after Duclair slashed Kucherov, sending him back to the locker room with an Chris Driedger gave up five goals on 12 shots in the second period and injury. A couple minutes later, right wing Patric Hornqvist sent Tampa coach Joel Quenneville turned to Bobrovsky for the final 25:56 of the Bay defenseman Mikhail Sergachev to the locker room with an injury on overtime win. It made Quenneville’s decision easy for Saturday: He was a late hit. going to stick with Bobrovsky, who stopped all nine shots he faced in Game 4 to keep the Panthers from falling into a near-insurmountable A chippy third period like the one Saturday inevitably could lead to fines three-game hole. or even suspensions.

Bobrovsky spent most of the season as the No. 1 goalie, although he and Quenneville said he felt there was “not much there for me,” but the Driedger mostly alternated starts to stay fresh in the condensed Lightning were openly angered. schedule. Driedger finished the regular season tied for fourth in save percentage, but Bobrovsky was better through three games of the 2021 “We did what we had to do to get the lead and the hockey game ended at Stanley Cup playoffs and is the highest paid player on the team, in the some point in the second. It turned into something different,” Tampa Bay second season of a seven-year, $70-million contract. coach Jon Cooper said. “If it’s not controlled, stuff like this happens tonight and you’ve got superstars lying on the ice hurt. After rallying from a two-goal deficit in the third period Thursday, Florida stuck with everything that worked. It meant Bobrovsky in goal and “Believe me: We’ll be bringing it two nights from now.” defenseman Keith Yandle scratched for the second straight game, two days after he missed his first game since 2009. It meant Anthony Duclair back on the top line next to star center Aleksander Barkov and fellow Miami Herald LOADED: 05.23.2021 winger Carter Verhaeghe, just as they finished Game 4.

The Panthers even started with the line of unlikely heroes that won Game 4. Left wing Ryan Lomberg, center Noel Acciari and winger Frank Vatrano — the fourth line — stayed on the ice to start after they all contributed to the game-winning goal Thursday and they quickly got Florida to work on offense. The Panthers put the first three shots on goal and spent nearly the entire period playing in the offensive zone with a 15- 7 edge in shots on goal, 17-8 edge in scoring chances and 24-11 edge in Corsi, which totals all shot attempts.

“We played well in their zone. We got some shifts in their zone, but they got the goals,” Barkov said. “They found a way to score goals and that’s unacceptable.”

In just three minutes, Florida still fell into a hole it couldn’t climb out of. 1213827 Florida Panthers The series returns to Sunrise for an 8 p.m. puck drop on Monday night at BB&T Center for Game 5.

“We want to go home and play our best game in front of our fans, give Panthers crushed 6-2 by Lightning in Game 4, trail 3-1 in series them something to cheer for,” said veteran defenseman Anton Stralman. “This series is not over, obviously. We’re looking forward to coming back home.”

By DAVID FURONES

SOUTH FLORIDA SUN SENTINEL Sun Sentinel LOADED: 05.23.2021 MAY 22, 2021 AT 5:31 PM

The first three games were a battle. Game 4 was a one-sided mauling.

Behind four points each from Nikita Kucherov and Alex Killorn, the Florida Panthers were crushed 6-2 by the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday afternoon at Amalie Arena.

After Thursday’s Game 3 dramatics to assure the Panthers would return to Sunrise for a Game 5, Florida will now be facing elimination on Monday night at BB&T Center, down 3-1 in the best-of-seven first-round series against the in-state rival and defending Stanley Cup champions.

“The outcome wasn’t what we looked for,” Panthers coach Joel Quenneville said. “We started chasing the game. We’re working. We were doing a lot of good things.

“We’re going back home and taking Monday as one game. Don’t look at anything bigger than that, get some excitement out of that.”

Added forward Sam Bennett: “You’ve just got to move on. It’s a quick turnaround. We’ve got a chance to play on home ice and win on home ice. That’s all we can do.”

Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, back in net after earning the Game 3 win in relief, gave up five goals on just 14 Lightning shots. He was pulled in the second period for Chris Driedger, who had 11 saves on 12 shots on goal.

Florida was dumped despite outshooting Tampa Bay 41-26. Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy finished with 39 saves.

Killorn scored two goals and had two assists. Kucherov, the former NHL MVP, had three assists and tacked on a late goal.

The Lightning led 3-1 at the first intermission, despite the Panthers holding a 15-7 advantage in shots on goal.

Three minutes into the action, Anthony Cirelli scored first on a breakaway goal while the teams were in a 4-on-4 and Aleksander Barkov was skating to the bench for a line change with no one immediately entering to replace him. With three Panthers on the ice, Cirelli was sprung by a pass from Killorn. It was the Lightning’s first shot on goal in Game 4.

“We’ve got to find a way to eliminate those [chances],” said Barkov. “Go home, play in front of our own fans, get excited and play the right way for 60 minutes.”

Roughly four minutes later, Yanni Gourde, screening Bobrovsky, scored on a redirection that Kucherov fired his way from the blue line.

Shortly thereafter, it was Gourde’s unsportsmanlike penalty drawn by Jonathan Huberdeau that led to Huberdeau’s power-play goal in which he blasted a rebound past Vasilevskiy. Patric Hornqvist and Sam Bennett had assists as the Panthers went to the five-forward power play they had success with in Game 3.

The Lightning went back up two goals on another deflection — this time, Ondrej Palat tipping the puck in as Erik Cernak shot it toward the net.

Tampa Bay added to its lead in the second period behind two Killorn goals. First, he tapped in a feed from Kucherov on a power play, and then Steven Stamkos found him in the slot from behind the net for the goal that put the Lightning up 5-1 and led Quenneville to pull Bobrovsky.

Florida got one back late in the period when former Lightning forward Carter Verhaeghe snuck a backhand underneath the crossbar on a power play.

In the third, Kucherov scored to get himself a goal to go with his three earlier assists. He later went down after Panthers winger Anthony Duclair slashed him in the knee/leg area. Multiple skirmishes broke out in the final minutes. 1213828 Florida Panthers The Panthers did not give up their push in the second despite being down by their biggest deficit since the Lightning beat Bobrovsky 6-1 in the second meeting of the season back on Feb. 13.

Game 4: Panthers on the brink after lopsided loss to Lightning There was plenty of fighting after the second Killorn goal.

Pat Maroon potentially getting a look from NHL Player Safety after he boarded Frank Vatrano; a scrum later broke out after Vatrano was cross- Published 14 hours ago on May 22, 2021 checked into Vasilevskiy from Mikhail Sergachev.

By George Richards Florida got a slimmer of life late in the second when Carter Verhaghe worked the puck through the slot on a power play chance, backhanding

the puck top shelf with 1:15 left in the period. The Florida Panthers played one of their most complete periods of these Near the end of the second, Kucherov was called for goalie interference playoffs Saturday in Game 4 yet went into the room down two to the host after a helmet-on-helmet collision with Driedger. Tampa Bay Lightning. Kucherov was pushed into the Florida netminder by Weegar, but took a As good as Florida’s work in the offensive zone was in the first, it was goalie interference call giving the Panthers another power play chance. loose play in the defensive one which were the difference. The Panthers desperately needed to get a goal in the 90-seconds of Tampa Bay took that lead, built on it, and was never really challenged power play time they had to start the third but they didn’t get it. after that opening 20. The Lightning shut things down for a 6-2 win and a commanding lead in this series. Kucherov, who left the game in pain after being slashed by Duclair, added to the Panthers problems when he got another power play goal The Panthers head home for Game 5 on Monday night but are on the with 15:13 remaining and a four-goal mountain against Vasilevskiy (39 brink of elimination down 3-1 in the best-of-7 series. saves) is simply too high to climb. Game 5 is set for Monday at 8. Florida even pulled Driedger (11 saves) on a power play chance and ran The Panthers are now in a must-win situation. out six forwards on a power play. No dice.

Well, if they want to keep playing, that is. Now the Panthers come home trying to extend, and save, their season.

To win this series and move on to the second round, the Panthers will ”You can say this or that, but the outcome wasn’t what we wanted,” have to beat the defending Stanley Cup champions in three consecutive Quenneville said. “We had the perfect start and then started chasing the games. One more loss for Florida and that’s it. game. We did a lot of good things, we had the puck, we had possession. The picture is going home and taking one game Monday. Nothing more ”When you get behind in the playoffs, you need a short memory,” Anton than that. Get some excitement out of that.” Stralman said. “You put this game behind you and go on to the next one. This series is not over. We’re excited about coming home and trying to GOALIE IN GAME 5? play our best game.” As for who would start Game 5, Quenneville predictably, did not say. The Florida’s problems started early. Panthers are planning a rare off-day practice Sunday and more should be known then. After Jonathan Huberdeau went to the penalty box after going at it with Yanni Gourde (while Blake Coleman got some shots in from the bench) Florida could return to Bobrovsky or Driedger but could also throw rookie for a 4-on-4 play. Spencer Knight out there. Knight has been working as the No. 3 goalie with the game group lately but obviously has not played in an NHL The Panthers got caught on a line change when Sasha Barkov went to postseason game before. the bench and no one joined the rush, Florida coughed up the puck in the neutral zone and Anthony Cirelli walked in on Sergei Bobrovsky and “We’ll talk about it,’’ Quenneville said. “We’re talking about practice made it 1-0 at the three-minute mark. tomorrow, we’ll reconvene and look at options.”

It was one of three goals allowed by Bobrovsky in the first and the only FIGHT NIGHT, AGAIN one — he had any sort of a chance on. The two teams mixed it up throughout the series but things amped up in Tampa Bay got its next goal when Gourde got in position on the side of the third period. the net in front to Markus Nutivaara and deflected a long shot from Nikita A number of players were tossed — Hornqvist, Maroon, Lomberg, Luke Kucherov at 7:24. Schenn — in the final minutes of the third. Huberdeau cut the deficit in half by following up a Sam Bennett rebound Two weeks ago, the Panthers and Lightning combined for 154 penalty on a power play chance at 8:49, but the Lightning got it’s two-goal lead minutes. back when Ondrej Palat deflected Erik Cernak’s shot. On Saturday, they combined for 54. “We played in their zone, we got chances in their zone, but they scored the goals. They found way to score goals. We have to find a way to The Hornqvist situation came to a head when he hit Sergachev on what eliminate those.” appeared to be a clean hit. Sergachev was off balance, however, and hit his head into the boards and did not return either. Florida needed a fast start in the second and did not get it.

Far from it. Florida Hockey Now LOADED: 05.23.2021 Alex Killorn took advantage of Anthony Duclair’s holding penalty and scored on a nice pass from Kucherov as he got behind MacKenzie Weegar and was all alone in front of the net.

Bobrovsky’s day came to an early end as Joel Quenneville pulled the plug at 7:15 of the second when Killorn got his second on a nice pass from Steven Stamkos as he slid through the slot to make it 5-1.

That came on Tampa’s 14th shot of the day and it was time for Chris Driedger.

”The fourth goal, there was no one there and we were late on coverage and they seem to exploit that,” Quenneville said. “You have to be perfect killing penalties, but those empty-net tap-ins from the right side … that’s our fault.” 1213829 Florida Panthers

Game 4: Panthers not afraid of Lightning or Vasilevskiy

Published 18 hours ago on May 22, 2021

By George Richards

When it comes to Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy, the Florida Panthers are being careful not to poke the bear going into Game 4 this afternoon at Amalie Arena.

Vasilevskiy may be one of the best goalies in the NHL, but at least this season, he hasn’t looked like it against the Panthers.

“We know he’s a good goalie, but we can beat him and we’re good enough to beat him,” Jonathan Huberdeau said after Florida’s 6-5 overtime win in Game 3 on Thursday night.

“In a lot of games, we scored a lot of goals against him. So I think again, six goals, I think we know we’ve just got to make it difficult for him and the puck will go in. That’s what we did.”

During his 42 regular season starts, Vasilevskiy gave up four goals eight times; Florida scored four on him three times and the five goals he surrendered in Game No. 55 was the most he gave up all year.

As we wrote about before the series started, not only did Florida come into the postseason with 14 goals in its previous three games against the Tampa Bay netminder, but the Panthers were the only team Vasilevskiy had a losing record (2-4) against this season.

In the regular season, Vasilevskiy went 29-6-2 with a 1.97 goals-against average and .930 save percentage against the rest of the Central Division.

Against the Panthers, Vasilevskiy went 2-4-0 with a 3.36 GAA and .898 save percentage.

In the final two games of the season, the Panthers outscored Tampa Bay 9-1 as Vasilevskiy gave up nine goals on 65 shots (.862 save percentage).

“Obviously he is a good goalie as everyone knows,” Sergei Bobrovsky said on the eve of the playoff opener. “It’s a good matchup, a fun challenge for me. It’s one of those things where you have to focus on one shot at a time. I have to anticipate that he’s going to make big saves and I have to make big saves. It should be fun hockey.”

In three playoff games, the Panthers have scored 12 goals.

The six the Panthers put up Thursday are the most allowed by Vasilevskiy since Arizona got a touchdown on Feb. 22, 2020.

Vasilevskiy did hold Florida to one goal in Game 2 but, did he look spectacular in that game?

It was more the Lightning defense suffocating the life out of the Panthers than anything else.

Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper said the Lightning need to help its goalie out a little as it did in Game 2.

“To give up the chances we gave up (Thursday), you can have Vasilevskiy on steroids and it doesn’t matter,” Cooper said. “There’s only so much he can do. I think he’s been exceptional for us. He gives us a chance to win every night.

“We could play a tighter game in front of him. And we’ve done that for periods in this series. At times we haven’t. Vasilevskiy is the least of our worries.”

Florida Hockey Now LOADED: 05.23.2021 1213830 Florida Panthers Yandle warmed up before Game 3 and appeared to be his normal self, joking with teammates and chirping some Tampa players as well.

“We’re always aware of the situation in the regular season, but we made Game 4: Panthers have life against Lightning but this is a new day the decision to go with a different group,’’ Quenneville said referencing the Ironman streak.

“He handled it well. It was not an easy decision to make. He handled it Published 20 hours ago on May 22, 2021 like a great pro.”

By George Richards BARKOV STATUS

Fans of the Panthers, and those on the team, were holding their collective breath when Barkov left the ice after his second shift in the first The Florida Panthers were in a good mood Friday after beating the period and was gone for a while. Tampa Bay Lightning in one of the most exciting games in franchise history the night before. But Saturday is Game 4 of this best-of-7 series Barkov returned to the bench late in the first but did not jump into the and everything is new again. play, Anthony Duclair moving up to the top line with Carter Verhaeghe taking over center duties. Florida must bring the desperation it showed at the start — and end — of Thursday night’s 6-5 overtime win in Game 3. He returned for the second but only played 15:30 in the game. Because Barkov was limited to 1:40 in the first, his icetime was going to go down. Yes, the Panthers could not afford to go down 0-3 in the series and played like it was a must-win game. But it appears Quenneville was holding back on playing Barkov too much after riding him for a game-high 26:28 in Game 2. But to come home down 3-1 isn’t much better. The Panthers have a big hill to climb against the defending champions and that isn’t going to After the game, Quenneville said Barkov was “fine” and said the same change as long as this series continues. thing Friday.

The Panthers, certainly, would like to keep this trend of road teams POWERED UP winning going. The Lightning power play has been a problem for the Panthers the entire “The guys were on a different level last night and the excitement was sky series, so having to kill off 1:38 to start overtime was a concern for high,” Joel Quenneville said Friday afternoon. Florida.

“But, you know, it’s a new day and we have to find a way to balance the “They are as dangerous a power play there is,” Quenneville said. “We momentum. It was a change of being sad to feeling pretty good. Still, a just needed to get thorough that. It was a huge kill and it led to lot of work to be done.” momentum when we did kill it.”

Quenneville gave his team the day off as he has been prone to do pretty In the first three games, Tampa Bay is 5-for-10 and two of their five goals much for the past few months. in the second came on the man advantage.

The Panthers, Quenneville reasons, are better when they are rested and Not only did the Panthers stop the Lightning when it counted most, but after playing with the intensity they did the night before, they probably Florida got its power play going Thursday as well. deserved a day away from the rink. Alex Wennberg helped keep the Panthers in the second by scoring to tie Tampa Bay’s Jon Cooper brought his team out on Friday and there did the score at 3 at the tail-end of a power play; Patric Hornqvist knocked in not seem to be much alarm nor concern that the Panthers took a game in a Jonathan Huberdeau shot to kick off the third and pull the Panthers this series. within a goal.

Ryan Lomberg’s long road to becoming OT hero for Florida Panthers

Cooper said he would have taken a 2-1 series lead if offered before it Florida Hockey Now LOADED: 05.23.2021 started; Victor Hedman said no one goes 16-0 on their way to the championship.

The Lightning have lost playoff games before and know it is how you respond which counts.

“No one is worried in our locker room,” Alex Killorn said. “It’s a series. We’ve been in a lot of these series before. There’s plenty of hockey to be played.”

Said Anthony Cirelli: “At this time of year, you have to have a short memory. Last night happened, that’s how it went and we’ve just got to refocus and be ready for the next game.”

TOUGH DECISION ON YANDLE

Quenneville said he would likely roll out the same lineup in Game 4 which would mean Keith Yandle would be a healthy scratch for a second consecutive game.

Yandle, who holds the NHL’s second-longest Ironman streak with 923 consecutive regular-season games, had not missed a game since 2009.

By playing in all 56 games during the regular season, Yandle’s streak continues into next year.

His run of playing in 57 straight playoff games for the Coyotes, Rangers and Panthers did come to an end.

Quenneville said the decision was “extremely difficult” and said it was just one of many tough decisions the coaching staff has had to make when it comes to who was in and out of the lineup.

Anton Stralman, who came in as the seventh defenseman in Game 2, was up with MacKenzie Weegar on the top pairing Thursday. 1213831 Florida Panthers He continued to attend Calgary development and rookie camps where he attracted attention.

After playing parts of three seasons in the minors, Lomberg made his Ryan Lomberg’s long road to becoming OT hero for Florida Panthers NHL debut with the Flames on Jan. 25, 2018 in the Battle of Alberta at Edmonton.

He got into a fight in that first game, throwing down with Zack Kassian in Published 21 hours ago on May 22, 2021 the third period.

By George Richards Steve Gorten: Ryan Lomberg unlikely hero for Florida Panthers in OT

“It was awesome. Everything I could have imagined and more,” Lomberg said. “That in itself was a dream come true. It was a great milestone for On the day the Florida Panthers signed Ryan Lomberg as a free agent, sure.” general manager Bill Zito made a bold prediction. Lomberg played in seven games for the Flames during the 2017-18 “The fans are going to love him,” Zito said. “He is an energy forward who season and got into three fights. can fly and is an in-your-face, hard forward with hockey sense. He is a very fast, speedy wing who plays with an edge.” Lomberg played in four more games for the Flames the following year but spent all of last season in the AHL with Stockton. Lomberg indeed became a fan favorite in the second half of this season once he got a real chance at some playing time. ALBERTA TO FLORIDA

One of his biggest moments came in April when he and Columbus’ Kole When it came time for free agency, Zito called with an offer and he Sherwood squared off at center ice. jumped at it.

After Lomberg got the takedown, he pulled off his helmet to flip his long Lomberg said there was interest from numerous teams, but hair, a mischievous grin shown on the big screen as he went directly to conversations with Zito and other members of the front office sold him on the penalty box. the opportunity in Florida.

Yeah, the fans were loving Ryan Lomberg. “It is a dream come true,” Lomberg said. “It’s tough, even a few weeks (after signing) to put into words how much this means to me. I’m definitely excited to play in front of Panthers fans,” Lomberg told Florida Hockey Now in October after signing a two-year, one-way deal “This is something I have worked so hard to get for so long now. It has with Florida. been an uphill battle at times, there were times things weren’t going so great for me. But I’m so thankful for the people close to me who They loved him even more on Thursday night. supported me through the tough times. Jumping in for a defensive-zone faceoff in overtime in Game 4, Lomberg “I am very excited for the opportunity in Florida and to show the people in took off after Noel Acciari swept the puck to Radko Gudas along the half the front office what they see in me is what they’ll get every day. This is a wall. great fit for us both. I am excited to get to work and I want to show them I Gudas quickly threw the puck up the ice to Frank Vatrano who saw am worth the opportunity and the contract. I’ll do anything I can do to Lomberg racing up the ice. help the team win.”

Lomberg got the puck in stride as he blew past Norris-winner Victor IN-N-OUT Hedman, walked in on Andrei Vasilevskiy and put a backhander over the Lomberg found consistent playing time in spurts this season. Vezina-winner’s shoulder. After playing in the season opener against Chicago, he sat the next eight “A lot of things have to go, almost everything, has to go perfect in that and spent time on the taxi squad — but since he had the one-way situation,’’ Joel Quenneville said Friday afternoon. contract, was paid NHL money. “Lot of perfect plays happened before Lombo got to it. It was one of those Lomberg then played in 17 consecutive games and got his first NHL goal plays where you don’t expect to score, but you expect to get out of your March 11 in Columbus. He only played six-plus minutes in that game, end. … This was a huge, gigantic goal and a great shot. His first shift in however, and was scratched in the next three. overtime was special.” From March 13-April 19, Lomberg played in seven games and was Said Lomberg: “We were trying to advance the puck past their D. It was a scratched in 14. great play all around. Great execution.” He had been scratched for three consecutive games when he got back in Florida won in overtime and Lomberg is now part of Panthers’ lore. on April 20. But how did he get here? In that game, Lomberg got into the fight with Sherwood, scored his NOT DRAFTED BUT NOTICED second goal of the season and was extremely active and noticeable.

Born in raised in the Toronto area, the Richmond Hill native played youth He hasn’t been out of the lineup since. and prep hockey in Ontario until joining the Muskegon Lumberjacks of Thursday night, he got his first goal in the playoffs — and the first one the USHL as a 16-year-old. against a team other than the Blue Jackets. Following that, Lomberg signed with the University of Maine where he It was a big one. scored 18 goals with 32 points in 66 games for the Black Bears. “He has been a big part of the group, brings enthusiasm to the room, As a 19-year-old, Lomberg was suspended from the the Maine team practices and games,’’ Quenneville said. following charges of assault and disorderly conduct at an off-campus residence in 2013. “He is one of those guys who can be an agitator and is physically engaged. He has speed, does a lot of good things without the puck After pleading guilty in a plea agreement, Lomberg returned to the USHL defensively. where he played a season with the Youngstown Phantoms. “But his speed can be dangerous. He is full of energy. That may have Lomberg did not get drafted, but did get invited to the Calgary Flames’ been the first puck he shot into the net this year. He banged one in. … development camp in 2015. He brings an energy that has really enhanced our team this year. He was so impressive in that camp that he got a minor league contract. It Different guys have added different things. He is one of those guys who was not much, but it was something. plays hard and is no fun to play against.”

Lomberg split his first pro season playing for Stockton (AHL) and Adirondack (ECHL) where he showed (surprise!) speed and toughness. Florida Hockey Now LOADED: 05.23.2021 1213832 Florida Panthers out of it,” Killorn said. “Sometimes, it’s more difficult to do than others. As a team, we’re going to stand up for our players.”

The tactic worked for a bit as the Panthers had six power plays to the Lightning’s Nikita Kucherov, Mikhail Sergachev hurt as Panthers series Lightning’s one after two periods. That Tampa Bay killed off five of them takes ugly turn was a big reason it took control of this game, with Vasilevskiy making some stellar saves. Though Vasilevskiy has given up four or more goals twice in this series, including the Panthers’ come-from-behind, 6-5 victory Thursday, the Vezina Trophy winner delivered when his team needed it. By Joe Smith “I actually felt pretty good,” Vasilevskiy said. “I just tried to play my game May 22, 2021 and tried not to think of any outcome, just kept playing.”

Cooper had said that even if Vasilevskiy had been on steroids in Game Victor Hedman stood on the bench after the second period Saturday 3, he wouldn’t have stopped all the great chances the Panthers had, and yelling — imploring — his Lightning teammates to come off the ice. the No. 1 goalie was “the least of our concerns.” Goaltending has been a difference in the series with the Panthers once again switching theirs as “Calm down!” he yelled, waving his arms. “Let’s go.” Sergei Bobrovsky was pulled after giving up five goals on 14 shots. Could rookie phenom Spencer Knight get the start for Game 5? Players were lingering around, livid with the referees after a stunning no- call moments earlier, when Lightning star Nikita Kucherov was shoved The Panthers have been the better team at five-on-five for good portions into goalie Chris Driedger by MacKenzie Weegar. Kucherov and Driedger of the series, posting a 58.03 expected goals percentage, according to collided helmet-to-helmet, both staying down on the ice for a few scary Natural Stat Trick. Florida is up 107-65 in scoring chances five-on-five moments. Though Kucherov was shoved into the goalie, he was the only and 37-23 in high-danger scoring chances. You could argue Florida had one given a penalty. control of play in the first period but still fell into a 3-1 hole. There was a breakaway goal by Anthony Cirelli, who has two goals in as many Turns out, this was just the beginning of a Sunshine State showdown games, and then two deflections by Yanni Gourde and Ondrej Palat, who series that’s gone from an instant classic to a dumpster fire. moved into second place all time with the Lightning with 34 playoff goals Remember Game 1 when people were calling it one of the best games (passing Hall of Famer Martin St. Louis). they’ve ever seen — a beautiful blend of speed and skill? By late “We had way better in us, we knew it,” Cooper said. “The fact we were up Saturday afternoon, you wondered how many stars would be left 3-1, we didn’t like the way we were playing. We were losing battles down standing. There was Kucherov lying on the ice holding his left leg after a low. We had to make a few adjustments and we got those goals.” dirty slash by Anthony Duclair, and Mikhail Sergachev down for a few minutes after getting blindsided by Patric Hornqvist. Asked what the But the Lightning have feasted on the Panthers with their power play, Lightning could do to keep their composure in the third, Alex Killorn scoring seven times in their first 12 opportunities, including twice in quipped, “Keep your stars on the bench.” (Though coach Jon Cooper Saturday’s game. It’s how Tampa Bay took control in its 5-4 victory in didn’t have an update postgame on either player, early indications are Game 1 in Sunrise. The return of Kucherov, who missed the regular that neither injury is serious.) season after hip surgery, has “added another level to this power play.”

The Lightning won 6-2, taking a commanding 3-1 series lead heading “He’s one of the best, if not the best, half-wall guys in the entire NHL,” into Game 5 in Sunrise. Their dynamic power play continued to shine, Killorn said. “He makes a lot of players around him a lot better.” scoring twice, with Kucherov and Killorn picking up four points. Andrei Vasilevskiy shut the door with 39 saves. The penalty kill went 5-for-6 in a The Lightning aren’t surprised Kucherov has played at this high of a level wild first period. That should be the story. — nine points (three goals, six assists) in four playoff games — even after that long of a layoff. Cooper has been impressed how fast his legs Instead, the focus surrounded the 26 penalties, five misconducts and a and lungs caught up in such a fast-paced playoffs, “He went from zero to few line brawls. All of this could have been avoided. 60,” Cooper said.

“When your players are being told, ‘Don’t do anything stupid, we’re going That’s why it was so concerning for the Lightning to see Kucherov to get you,’ and the other team is getting rewarded, I don’t get it,” Cooper sprawled out on the ice twice Saturday. He came back after the helmet- said. “It’s really frustrating because people come to watch a really to-helmet collision with Driedger at the end of the second. But when intense, good hockey game, and liberties are being taken. Don’t get me Kucherov pushed the puck up the ice from his own zone midway through wrong, we’re not angels out there. I’m not sitting here saying that, far the third, Duclair whipped by and slashed him on the back of the leg. from it. Kucherov was attended to by head athletic trainer Tommy Mulligan, slowly skated off the ice and headed to the dressing room. “But when there’s a standard set and we’re being told things are going to be called and when it doesn’t get done, there’s just confusion. I’ll give our “When you see him go down and he stays down, it’s very concerning,” guys a ton of credit for sticking with and battling through embellishments Killorn said. “Players on our team are not going to stay down unless and non-calls after non-calls after non-calls and having so many not go they’re actually hurt. We hope he’s going to be OK.” the way we want.” “He’s a tough kid,” Gourde said. The good news for the Lightning is that Kucherov’s injury isn’t considered serious, according to a source. It’s hard to know the severity of Though the NHL Department of Player Safety will likely look at Duclair’s Sergachev’s injury, though he did skate off on his own power after hitting slash, Quenneville didn’t seem to think it was dirty. “Not much there for his head against the boards when Hornqvist hit him shoulder-to-shoulder. me,” Quenneville said. “I hope he’s all right.” From what I’m hearing, Sergachev is trending in the right direction. None of the Lightning players on the postgame video calls said they saw Whether either Kucherov or Sergachev is ready to play by Game 5 the Duclair hit or replay. remains to be seen. “You can tell from the reaction from our bench that it’s not the cleanest It didn’t make it easier for the Lightning to see two important players play,” Hedman said. “But it’s out of my reach. We can’t do anything about down on the ice. it now. If it was dirty, we know we have people looking at it. We’ll see.” “There’s nothing wrong with message sending and tone setting,” Cooper Like Cooper said, the Lightning “aren’t angels,” either. There have been said. “It’s part of the game. It’s why we love it. It’s why people come and some questionable hits on both sides, though the only suspension has stand in line for tickets, it’s awesome. But let’s do it in the parameters of been for Sam Bennett’s boarding of Blake Coleman in Game 1. Panthers the game and there’s guys with stripes that control that. But if it’s not fans are likely upset with Ryan McDonagh for his takedown of Mason controlled, stuff like this happens and you’ve got superstars lying on the Marchment a few games ago. ice hurt. You want passion. There’s so much great about it. You want passion, but now you’re skewed on what you’re allowed to do and what This game started off nasty, as shown by Gourde and Jonathan you’re not allowed to do and it keeps … it just could be frustrating.” Huberdeau trading blows in the first period. Killorn said the Panthers were just “trying to get us out of our game.” “We’re not pressing. They’re pressing to get goals, and we’ll try to stay By late in the third, there was Ryan Lomberg taking several punches at Gourde, who stood there and took it. , heading for the bench, made a beeline to Lomberg and the line brawl started.

Asked if the Panthers were playing dirty, Gourde said, “I don’t know. We do our thing, we go to play, we’ve got to finish the game. That’s what matters at that point in the game. We’re going to focus on us, not on them.”

That’ll be important Monday in Game 5, with the Lightning having the chance to close out a series. They’ve talked all along about how their run to the Cup taught them how to be resilient and handle the highs and lows of emotion. You have to imagine they’re going to want to respond physically with the likes of Lomberg and Duclair on Monday night. But will the Panthers pull them out of their game enough to find a way to extend the series?

There’s so much talent on both sides, and it’s been a blast for everyone to watch the likes of Kucherov, Point, Stamkos, Huberdeau and Sasha Barkov make highlight-reel plays all series. You’re just hoping Monday’s matchup looks more like the first few games and not this last one.

“We did what we had to do to get the lead, and the hockey game ended at some point in the second,” Cooper said. “It turned into something different.”

The Athletic LOADED: 05.23.2021 1213833 Minnesota Wild Asked what the team has told him, Parise said, "I think at this point there's not a lot of good that's going to come out of me going into those conversations. Let's keep the focus where it needs to be, on the team. The last thing I want to do here is be a distraction.'' Zach Parise, his role ever shrinking with Wild, is summoned to fourth line The Wild should have traded Parise last summer. Now they're facing elimination in the first round of the playoffs while stuck with a player they have publicly insulted, and Parise might have just one more game this MAY 23, 2021 — 12:14AM season to prove his worth. Jim Souhan

Jim Souhan @SOUHANSTRIB Star Tribune LOADED: 05.23.2021

Zach Parise took the Xcel Energy Center ice for a playoff game Saturday night, returning from inaction to join his hometown team in the twilight of his career. It would have been heartwarming if not for facts.

Fact: Parise was a minus-2 as the Wild lost 4-0 to Vegas, which leads the first-round playoff series, three games to one.

Fact: Parise, making a prorated $13 million a year with four years remaining on his contract, and who fared well on the power play this year, was used on the fourth line and did not receive time on the power play.

Fact: Parise was benched for three of the final four regular-season games and the first three games of this series despite being healthy and his team needing a player with his particular set of skills.

That Parise only belatedly returned to the ice is promising yet ominous. He played because Marcus Johansson broke his left arm in Game 3, on Thursday night. That only an injury to a struggling player would cause the Wild braintrust to bring Parise back is a commentary on his play, and the Wild's altered philosophy.

Former general manager Chuck Fletcher and owner Craig Leipold had to play salesman to get Parise and Suter to sign with the Wild. Parise and Suter received 13-year, $98-million contracts that were bound to become burdens at some point.

Fletcher and Leipold knew they had handed the keys to the franchise to Parise and Suter. Fletcher and coach Mike Yeo knew who held the true power in the organization, and it wasn't them.

When Bruce Boudreau replaced Yeo, after an interim stretch by John Torchetti, Boudreau let his displeasure with Parise be known with snide comments and press-conference eyerolls. But Boudreau did not push back against Parise and Suter in terms of playing time.

New General Manager Bill Guerin and coach Dean Evason have taken a different approach.

They cut back Suter's playing time. When Parise slumped toward the end of the season, Evason benched him.

Which means that Evason and perhaps Guerin are finding fault with more than Parise's play. Because he's better than some of the players playing in front of him.

Parise said was told Friday night that he would be in the lineup.

"I was excited and ready for the chance to get in. and I felt ready to play,'' he said. "It's been difficult but you know right now what's more important is that we're down 3-1 in the series. That's where all the attention should be, is how can we get ourselves back into this series, win a game and bring this back to Minnesota.''

Parise's style should help in the playoffs. He's willing to crash the boards and the front of the net and capable, at least theoretically, of getting the kinds of deflections and putbacks that win in the postseason.

Yet Evason didn't even want him on the fourth line until he ran out of other options.

This managerial development is both encouraging and devastating for the Wild. Encouraging, because Guerin and Evason are willing to do what they believe is best for their team, regardless of contracts and egos. Devastating, because it's hard to imagine Parise, who will turn 37 this summer, playing a major role for this team again.

"I was ready to play,'' Parise said. "I didn't jump in there and feel like I had been off a month or anything." 1213834 Minnesota Wild

Golden Knights have no problems sweeping at Xcel Energy Center

By Randy Johnson Star Tribune

MAY 23, 2021 — 12:10AM

The Vegas Golden Knights began play as an NHL in 2017-18 and enjoyed immediate success, reaching the Stanley Cup Final that inaugural season and playing in the Western Conference final last year.

A thorn in the Golden Knights' side during the regular season, however, has been the Wild, which owns an 11-2-3 mark against Vegas, including 5-1-2 in 2020-21.

Emphasis there is on the regular season. It's the playoffs now, and the Golden Knights are having their say.

With a 4-0 victory over the Wild in Game 4 on Saturday night at Xcel Energy Center, Vegas put the West Division first-round series in a 3-1 headlock with Game 5 coming Monday night in Sin City.

"When you go on the road, you're hoping for a split, but when you win that first game, your mind-set changes,'' Vegas forward Mark Stone said. "We wanted to leave with two after we got that first one.''

While the Wild's 6-0-2 record against Vegas at Xcel was one of the pre- series story lines, Golden Knights coach Pete DeBoer wasn't thinking that way.

"We all know Minnesota's record in here, and we all heard how good they are playing from home from them,'' DeBoer said after Saturday's two- game road sweep. "You take [leading goal-scorer Max] Pacioretty and [defenseman Brayden] McNabb out of the lineup, and there was a lot of things stacked against us. Like our group's done all year, they ignored the noise, went to work and got rewarded.''

The Golden Knights aren't lacking in confidence in playing in St. Paul after their performances in Games 3 and 4. Since the Wild took a 2-0 lead on Thursday, Vegas has outscored Minnesota 9-0.

Saturday's game turned on a few key moments that went the Golden Knights' way.

• After Nicolas Roy's goal gave Vegas a 1-0 lead in the first period, Wild center Joel Eriksson Ek wired a shot past goalie Marc-Andre Fleury 19 seconds later. DeBoer challenged for goaltender interference, wiping out the goal, the second consecutive game in which the Wild had a goal disallowed after replay challenge.

• Alex Tuch, boosted the Vegas lead to 2-0 at 9:08 of the second by flying into the Minnesota zone, splitting a pair of defenders and beating goalie Cam Talbot.

"It looked very simple,'' Stone said, "but I can't say I've been at that speed to make that kind of play.''

• Stone got to show off his wheels later in the second. With the Wild on a four-minute power play, Matt Dumba lost the puck along the boards. Stone collected the puck, chipped it past Ryan Suter at the blue line and skated down the ice to beat Talbot for a 3-0 lead at 13:41. Stone then celebrated exuberant

"Scored the goal, lost my stick, net went off and I lost my mind,'' he said.

Now, the Golden Knights have three chances to finish the series.

"The hardest game is trying to close out a team,'' Stone said. "We're going to have to expect their best effort.''

Star Tribune LOADED: 05.23.2021 1213835 Minnesota Wild

Wild-Vegas game recap

Staff Report

MAY 22, 2021 — 11:21PM

Star Tribune's

1. Marc-Andre Fleury, Golden Knights: The goalie made 35 saves for his 16th shutout in the playoffs.

2. Nicolas Roy, Golden Knights: The center scored twice, including the game-winning goal on an end-to-end rush.

3. Alex Tuch, Golden Knights: The winger's third goal of the series was a second-period insurance marker.

BY THE NUMBERS

1 Shorthanded goal by the Golden Knights' Mark Stone.

2 Overturned goals for Joel Eriksson Ek in the series after Vegas issued a successful coach's challenge for a second straight game.

3 Consecutive losses by the Wild for the first time this season.

111:30: Scoreless streak for the Wild vs. the Golden Knights.

Star Tribune LOADED: 05.23.2021 1213836 Minnesota Wild The boos from the 25% capacity crowd sounded as if they came from a full house. Midway through the second period, when Tuch split the Wild defense and deked Cam Talbot (14 saves) for the 2-0 lead, the arena felt empty again, like it was earlier in the season. Tuch, the Wild's first-round Fleury blanks Wild 4-0 as Vegas grabs 3-1 lead in series draft pick in 2014 who was traded to the Golden Knights in an expansion draft swap, has 18 goals in 51 career playoff games.

POWER OUTAGE By DAVE CAMPBELL Associated Press Parise was bloodied by a high stick from Zach Whitecloud a few minutes MAY 22, 2021 — 11:00PM after Tuch's goal for a double minor penalty.

Soon after the first one was killed, Stone picked up a loose puck in the ST. PAUL, Minn. — The stars are scoring for the Vegas Golden Knights, Minnesota zone and blew by Ryan Suter for the unassisted short-handed all four lines are producing, and the goaltending has been superb. goal to put Vegas in firm control. The Wild fell to 0 for 8 on the power play in the series. That's how to take control of a playoff series. "Fleury's been phenomenal, but we were getting the same looks against Marc-Andre Fleury made 35 saves for his 16th career postseason great goaltenders all year and we were able to score," Wild coach Dean shutout, Nicolas Roy scored twice and the Golden Knights beat Evason said. "We're just not finding the net." Minnesota 4-0 in Game 4 on Saturday night to shove the Wild to the verge of elimination.

Alex Tuch and Mark Stone each got their third goal of the series and Star Tribune LOADED: 05.23.2021 Keegan Kolesar had two assists for the Golden Knights, who have nine unanswered goals and lead 3-1 in the first-round, best-of-seven matchup. They get Game 5 at home on Monday night.

"When you get those leads, sometimes you sit back. I think we did a good job of just pushing forward," Stone said.

Joel Eriksson Ek had a goal challenged and erased by a replay review for the second straight game for the Wild, whose other stars continued to be stymied by Fleury and his defensemen. Their shutout streak reached 111:30, since Eriksson Ek scored in the first period of Game 3.

"To come in here and sweep was a real testament to our group," coach Pete DeBoer said.

Kirill Kaprizov had only two shots on goal, giving him eight in four games. Kevin Fiala, who has no points in the series, smashed his stick in frustration on the crossbar at a stoppage in play right after a couple of denials by Fleury in the third period.

"We have to let this go, and I'm confident that we are going to score, including myself," Fiala said. "I still feel like I'm going to get it done. I had great chances today again."

Since the last time they advanced in 2015, the Wild are 2-10 in the playoffs at Xcel Energy Center. The Golden Knights hadn't won here in regulation in their four-year history until Game 3.

"You're always frustrated when a goalie is playing like that and playing on his head," Wild right wing Marcus Foligno said. "You really can't do much but keep shooting."

PARISE RETURNS

The Wild made some line shuffles after a broken left arm in Game 3 forced out right wing Marcus Johansson, so Zach Parise slotted in after being scratched for the first three games against the speedier Golden Knights. Parise, who's in the ninth season of his 13-year, $98 million contract, and the franchise leader in postseason goals.

Parise was one of the five Wild skaters Roy blazed a trail past for the first goal in the first period of the series for Vegas. Roy had only one goal in 23 previous playoff games for the Golden Knights.

Including Fleury, who had an assist in Game 3, the Golden Knights have used 21 players in the series — and 16 of them have at least one point.

AFTER FURTHER REVIEW

Eriksson Ek, who has been Minnesota's best player of the series after a breakout regular season, tied the game just 19 seconds later — until Vegas video coach Dave Rogowski struck again.

The challenge by the Golden Knights that Foligno was interfering with Fleury at the edge of the crease during Eriksson Ek's shot was affirmed by the officials, just as in Game 3 when Eriksson Ek's goal was waved off. That one was disallowed because the Wild were deemed offside on the play, and the Golden Knights praised Rogowski for his quick thinking to recommend the challenge.

"It was huge to keep the lead there," Tuch said. 1213837 Minnesota Wild "You're always frustrated when a goalie is playing like that and playing on his head," Foligno said. "You really can't do much but keep shooting."

Vegas blitzes Wild to take 3-1 lead in playoff series Star Tribune LOADED: 05.23.2021

By Sarah McLellan Star Tribune

MAY 23, 2021 — 1:18AM

After having its lead scaled back by a Golden Knights coach's challenge in Game 3, a ruling that made Vegas' comeback a little easier, the Wild again had a tally wiped off the scoreboard during Game 4.

This time, the rewind stung even more.

The Golden Knights blanked the Wild 4-0 on Saturday in front of an announced crowd of 4,500 at Xcel Energy Center to take a commanding 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series and force the Wild into a win-or-get- eliminated Game 5 on Monday night at Vegas.

"Maybe having that desperation in our game, just that simplicity going into Vegas, maybe that's what we need," the Wild's Marcus Foligno said.

The Wild, with its first three-game losing streak of the season, team hasn't scored in 111 minutes, 30 seconds.

"I'm confident that we are going to score, including myself," Kevin Fiala said. "I still feel like I'm going to get it done."

Goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury blocked 35 shots for his 16th career postseason shutout, but it was the one puck that did get behind him that provided his team with a momentum swing.

On the shift after the Golden Knights went up 1-0 on a Nicolas Roy end- to-end goal, the Wild answered on a Joel Eriksson Ek shot through a Foligno screen 10:56 into the first period.

Fleury was right behind Foligno when the goal was scored, and Vegas challenged, claiming goaltender interference. The NHL determined Foligno impaired Fleury's ability to play his position in the crease and overturned the goal.

"Inch further out, inch in. I don't know. It's just a tough call," Foligno said. "Does that stuff take the wind out of your sails a little bit? I think so. But if it's goaltender interference, it's goaltender interference."

The league referenced Rule 69.1, which states goals should be disallowed if an attacking player "impairs the goalkeeper's ability to move freely within his crease or defend his goal" through positioning or by contact.

"Do we disagree with it? Sure," Wild coach Dean Evason said. "But nothing we can do about it now."

This was the second straight game in which the Wild — and Eriksson Ek — had a goal disallowed. In Game 2, with the Wild up 2-0, a third goal was taken away after the Golden Knights challenged and the play was deemed offside. Vegas rallied to a 5-2 victory.

"That's something we have to push through," Eriksson Ek said.

In the second period, the Golden Knights ran away from the Wild.

At 9:08, Alex Tuch split the Wild defense before deking around goalie Cam Talbot for his third goal of the first round.

Later in the period, Vegas' Zach Whitecloud high-sticked Zach Parise in Parise's return to the lineup after being a healthy scratch for the previous three playoff games. But not only did the Wild fail to capitalize on the ensuing four-minute power play, the team gave up a shorthanded goal.

Mark Stone stuffed a breakaway behind Talbot at 13:41 for his third goal.

"Fleury's been phenomenal," Evason said. "But we were getting the same looks against great goaltenders all year and we were able to score. We're just not finding the net."

Fifteen different players have registered at least a point for Vegas in the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Wild was shut out for the 11th time in its postseason history.

Fleury has now stopped 112 of 116 shots in the series. 1213838 Minnesota Wild Johansson underwent successful surgery Friday on his broken left arm, Evason said.

"Obviously, whenever you lose a guy with talent and speed like Jojo, it's Wild inserts Zach Parise back into lineup for Game 4 tough," Spurgeon said. "I talked to him a little right after the game [Thursday] and seemed to be in as good of spirits as he could be."

For the Golden Knights, forwards Max Pacioretty (upper-body injury) and By Sarah McLellan Star Tribune Tomas Nosek (undisclosed injury) remained out for Game 4. Defenseman Brayden McNabb also didn't play. MAY 23, 2021 — 12:39AM

Star Tribune LOADED: 05.23.2021 Zach Parise had a different perspective for Game 4.

After sitting as a healthy scratch for the previous three matchups, Parise was back in action Saturday against the Golden Knights at Xcel Energy Center.

The Wild was forced to change its lineup after winger Marcus Johansson was injured in Game 3, suffering a broken left arm after he crashed into a goalpost. Parise, the Wild's all-time leading scorer in the playoffs, joined Nico Sturm and Nick Bonino on the fourth line.

Parise played 12 minutes, 17 seconds and was a minus-2 and had two shots on goal in the Wild's 4-0 loss.

He also took a high stick from Vegas defenseman Zach Whitecloud at 11:32 of the second period; Whitecloud was hit with a double minor and Parise had a bloody cut on his upper lip, giving the Wild a four-minute power play, but it couldn't convert.

"I was excited and ready for the chance to get in," Parise said after the game.

"It's been difficult, [but] what's more important is we're down 3-1 in the series. That's where all the attention should be."

"Zach's played a ton of playoff hockey, and he's a great player," captain Jared Spurgeon said before the game. "He knows what it takes to win. I think the way he plays, he gets to those dirty areas. He plays playoff hockey pretty much every single game."

Parise was idle to start the playoffs, just as he was toward the end of the regular season. The 36-year-old winger was scratched for three of the team's final four games leading up to the first round. He was also benched for a game earlier in the season after he played an extended shift in an overtime loss at Vegas. He also missed time while on the NHL's COVID list.

In 45 regular-season games, Parise totaled seven goals and 11 assists while sliding down the depth chart into a new role on the fourth line. He played fewer minutes, including on the power play.

Rau in, Bjugstad out

The Wild made one other lineup change, scratching and subbing in Kyle Rau where Johansson was playing, next to Kevin Fiala and Victor Rask.

This was Rau's second career playoff game. He also appeared with the Wild during Game 5 vs. Winnipeg in 2018.

Rau spent much of the year as an extra forward for the Wild. He skated in 14 games during the regular season, chipping in two assists.

Wild coach Dean Evason didn't anticipate players who jumped into the series for Game 4 having a tough time adjusting to the intensity of the playoffs.

"I know everyone that's been skating, clearly, is in great shape," he said.

Goalies Marc-Andre Fleury and Robin Lehner both delivered for Vegas during the regular season, getting recognized with the William M. Jennings Trophy, which honors the goaltenders who played for the team that gave up the fewest goals.

But in the playoffs, the Golden Knights have relied on just one goalie. Fleury remained between the pipes Saturday and had a 35-save shutout. He has stopped 112 of 116 shots in the series.

"That's what you want, with any lineup decisions at any position, is make it hard to take him out and make the decision easy on who to play," Vegas coach Pete DeBoer said. "That's all we're looking for everywhere."

Injury update 1213839 Minnesota Wild

Zach Parise, Kyle Rau likely to play for Wild in Game 4 vs. Golden Knights

By Sarah McLellan Star Tribune

MAY 22, 2021 — 7:57PM

Zach Parise is likely to make his first appearance of these playoffs for the Wild in Game 4 against the Golden Knights on Saturday at Xcel Energy Center.

Coach Dean Evason didn't confirm what lineup changes the team will make, saying the team had "a couple of game-time decisions," but Parise appears to be back – leaving the Wild's optional morning skate at a normal time instead of working out late. Parise has been a healthy scratch for the first three games of the series, along with three of the final four games of the regular season.

His return comes after forward Marcus Johansson suffered a broken left arm in Game 3. Johansson underwent successful surgery on Friday, Evason said.

Parise was unavailable for comment Saturday morning.

"Zach's played a ton of playoff hockey, and he's a great player," captain Jared Spurgeon said. "He knows what it takes to win. I think the way he plays, he gets to those dirty areas and he plays playoff hockey pretty much every single game."

Kyle Rau also seems in line to suit for up Game 4. He didn't skate late with the taxi squad; instead, Nick Bjugstad did – suggesting a lineup swap. Bjugstad had been playing on a fourth line with Nick Bonino and Nico Sturm. Rau has logged one other playoff game in his career, with the Wild in 2018.

"We're looking forward to those guys coming in," Spurgeon said.

Both players are joining a series in process, with the Wild down 2-1 in the best-of-seven to Vegas, but Evason doesn't think it'll be difficult for them to capture the urgency of the playoffs and the Wild's situation.

"I know everyone that's been skating clearly is in great shape," Evason said. "If anything, we expect them to be fresh and have the energy and provide us with jump and excitement and all of that good stuff. Hockey's hockey. Yeah, it's ramped up a bit. But it won't take people long to get into it."

About the Golden Knights:

Vegas was boosted in Game 3 by two additions to the lineup. Patrick Brown scored the game-tying goal in his first game since April 3, while Nick Holden picked up two assists in his first game since April 9. Mark Stone scored his first two goals of the playoffs in Game 3, a 5-2 win for the Golden Knights. Max Pacioretty, the team's leading goal scorer in the regular season, still hasn't appeared in the series. Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury has a 1.32 goals-against average and .951 save percentage through three games.

Star Tribune LOADED: 05.23.2021 1213840 Minnesota Wild Does that stuff take the wind out of your sails a little bit? I think so. But if it’s goaltender interference, it’s goaltender interference. Got to be better.”

That’s generous. John Shipley: Wild have been gut-punched by disallowed goals Hey, NHL, want to increase scoring? Don’t make the pad smaller, or widen the net; stop using slow-motion replay to disallow goals. It violates the spirit of the game. Hockey isn’t played in slow-motion; it shouldn’t be By JOHN SHIPLEY | [email protected] | Pioneer Press officiated in slow motion.

PUBLISHED: May 22, 2021 at 10:56 p.m. | UPDATED: May 22, 2021 at 10:58 p.m. Pioneer Press LOADED: 05.23.2021

Vegas Knights coach Peter DeBoer challenged the Wild’s third goal last Thursday and it worked so well, he decided to try it again on Saturday at Xcel Energy Center.

Lo and behold, it worked again.

After saving his team from a 3-0 deficit in Game 3 by crying “offsides!” after Joel Eriksson Ek’s first-period rebound goal last Thursday, DeBoer challenged what initially appeared to be the tying goal in the first period of Game 4 on Saturday.

Wild forward Marcus Foligno was screening Knights Marc-Andre Fleury when Erikkson Ek’s wrist shot from the left circle found the short corner, so DeBoer used his challenge to cry “goalie interference!” Again, the on- ice officials, with help from replay officials in Toronto, upheld DeBoer’s objection.

Eriksson Ek’s goal appeared to tie the game 1-1 only seconds after Nicolas Roy gave the Knights a 1-0 lead on his breakaway goal at 10 minutes, 37 seconds of the fist period. It didn’t, and by the end of the second period, the Wild were down by three in a 4-0 loss.

“Clearly, it hurt us, with momentum, excitement,” Wild coach Dean Evason said. “It wasn’t like we lost our composure after that, but it did hurt us, obviously, not to be tied, 1-1.”

All but dead, the Wild head into Game 5 in Las Vegas staring at yet another first-round playoff elimination after scoring only four goals in four games because two were called back because of infractions not seen by the naked eye. Here is the NHL, perpetually scheming ways to increase scoring and attract new fans, taking away goals. In the playoffs. Twice. In one series. Against the same team.

It’s not a great look, but an interesting path to victory.

Were they penalties? Certainly the offsides on Thursday was, by inches. Did it give Minnesota an advantage? Doesn’t matter. Some video coach who checks on every goal-against spotted it, relayed the information to DeBoer and the coach challenged the call. It was smart.

The Wild were so outplayed in the last two periods of that 5-2 loss that it’s not fair to say the offsides call cost them the game. But it’s also naive to believe it didn’t play a role. A 3-0 deficit is entirely different than a 2-0 deficit, especially on the road in front of a vocal crowd.

That’s a reprieve, and the Golden Knights used it.

On Saturday, Eriksson Ek’s disallowed goal momentarily erased a 1-0 deficit at the mid-point of the first period. Knights center Jonathan Marchessault did the same to the Wild in Game 2 in Las Vegas, and it shifted momentum in their 3-1 win.

Did Foligno interfere with Fleury’s ability to make a play? That’s at least debatable. It was a good hockey screen, and Fleury appeared to initiate the contact. But Foligno had at least part of a skate in the crease, as shown by overhead, slow-motion replay.

“Do we disagree with it? Sure,” Evason said, “but there’s nothing we can do.”

In general, about a dozen things have to go right for an NHL team to score a goal; it seems like throwing the baby out with the bathwater to call one back because a skate is an inch inside the crease or a few inches past the blue line. When he was asked about it the goaltender interference call, Erikkson Ek, who has scored three goals this series but had two called back, said, “I don’t know. I don’t know what to think.”

Foligno called it a “tough call.”

“Inch further out, inch in, I mean, I don’t know,” he added. “It’s just a tough call (in) back-to-back games for Ekker with a called-back goal. 1213841 Minnesota Wild On the other end, Roy scored an empty-net goal to finalize the score at 4-0, giving the Golden Knights a commanding lead in the series, and pushing the Wild to the brink of elimination.

Wild on brink of elimination after Game 4 loss to Golden Knights “We have to let this go,” Fiala said. “I’m confident that we are going to score. Including myself. I still feel like I’m going to get it done; I had great chances today again. I thought Fleury won it for them today again. It’s a 3-1 series. We take it game by game and shift by shift. We don’t give up.” By DANE MIZUTANI | [email protected] | Pioneer Press That’s pretty much the only thing the Wild can do at this point. There’s no PUBLISHED: May 22, 2021 at 9:40 p.m. | UPDATED: May 22, 2021 at other option heading into Game 5. 11:19 p.m. “Maybe having that desperation in our game going into Vegas is what we

need,” Foligno said. “It tough to obviously drop these two games since In hindsight, the Wild scoring a big goal on Saturday night at Xcel Energy we’ve been so good at home. But playoffs is playoffs. We just got to win Center, then immediately having it wiped off the board seems like an one game.” easy way to explain away the 4-0 loss that has them on the brink of elimination. Pioneer Press LOADED: 05.23.2021 That said, blaming the loss solely on a questionable call 10 minutes into the game would be letting the Wild off the hook for some uninspired play over the final 50 minutes of play. Sure, the Wild would’ve loved the goal from Joel Eriksson Ek, especially considering it would’ve leveled the score less than 30 seconds after the Vegas Golden Knights took an early lead.

But the fact of the matter is the Wild had plenty of time to respond. Instead, they crumbled down the stretch, as did any hopes of making a run at the Stanley Cup this season. Not ideal for a team that has prided itself on responding to adversity this season.

After going down quietly in Game 4, the Wild are now faced with a win- or-go-home situation in Game 5 on Monday night at T-Mobile Arena.

As for the loss on Saturday night, the Wild actually started fast once again with nothing to show for it. They controlled the pace for a prolonged stretch of the first period only to fall behind when Nicolas Roy netted a rising shot to make it 1-0 in favor of the Golden Knights.

The defining moment of the game came less than 30 seconds later as Eriksson Ek raced into the offensive zone and beat Marc-Andre Fleury short side to tie the game at 1-1. Or so the Wild thought.

In what can only be described as a stroke of genius, Golden Knights coach Pete DeBoer challenged for goaltender interference, alleging that Marcus Foligno impeded Fleury’s ability to make the save. A couple of minutes later, the officials overturned the goal, ruling that Foligno “impaired” Fleury’s ability to “play his position in the crease” before the goal.

Asked about the call, coach Dean Evason said, “Your guess is as good as ours, right?

“Do we disagree with it?” Evason added. “Sure. But nothing we can do about it.”

Give the Wild some credit. They continued to play after the overturned goal and even managed a few more scoring chances.

“I don’t think it really affected us that badly,” Foligno said. “It would maybe be a different mindset being 1-1 and scoring right away after their first goal. But it is what it is.”

Not surprisingly it ended up biting the Wild as the Golden Knights seized control in the second period. It started with a highlight-reel goal from Alex Tuch to stretch the Golden Knights lead to 2-0. He intercepted a pass in the neutral zone, raced around Matt Dumba like he was standing still, and beat Cam Talbot with an incredible dangle in front.

Not long after that, Zach Parise drew a double minor by taking a stick to the face. What looked like a perfect chance for the Wild to get back into the game turned out to be quote the opposite as Mark Stone scored a shorthanded goal for the Golden Knights to make it 3-0.

“Those are big momentum killers,” Foligno said. “It’s a rolling puck and it slides up (Matt Dumba’s) tape. Give credit to Stone. He anticipated it.”

That paved the way for the third period where the Wild struggled to solve Fleury, continuing a trend that’s plagued them throughout the postseason. The frustration started to mount as time ticked away, evidence by Kevin Fiala shattering his stick over the crossbar after a near miss in front.

“Well, yeah, it’s frustrating,” Fiala said. “It’s great opportunities that aren’t going in. What can I say?” 1213842 Minnesota Wild

Wild veteran Zach Parise draws back into lineup for Game 4

By DANE MIZUTANI | [email protected] | Pioneer Press

PUBLISHED: May 22, 2021 at 7:08 p.m. | UPDATED: May 22, 2021 at 7:12 p.m.

After being forced to watch helplessly from above as the Wild fell behind 2-1 in their first-round series against the Vegas Golden Knights, veteran Zach Parise traded in his suit and tie for his No. 11 sweater on Saturday night at Xcel Energy Center.

Yes, the 36-year-old winger was back in the Wild lineup for Game 4, filling in for the injured Marcus Johansson, and skating alongside Nico Sturm and opposite Nick Bonino.

It marked Parise’s first appearance of this postseason after serving as a healthy scratch in Game 1, Game 2, and Game 3. He’s the all-time leading scorer in Wild playoff history, scoring 34 points (14 goals, 20 assists) in 40 career playoff games with the hometown team.

Asked specifically about Parise before the game, coach Dean Evason tried to shift the narrative to the team as a whole. “We expect our entire group to play the game how we believe we have to play to be successful,” he said. “That’s playing straightforward hockey.”

As for Parise, the Wild decided not to make him available to reporters before the game. That’s been a recurring theme over the past few weeks. In fact, Parise hasn’t been allowed to speak publicly since falling out of the rotation in the final week of the regular season.

“It’s always tough to see a teammate frustrated and be put in a situation like that,” captain Jared Spurgeon said. “The thing with Zach is he doesn’t change. He comes in every day and works hard. He’s great around the locker room. He’s always happy. He’s always working. It’s nice to see the energy that he brings every day.”

In addition to Parise getting the nod, the Wild also called upon Kyle Rau to give them a spark. He played 14 games for the Wild during the regular season and proved to be an extremely responsible player up and down the ice.

Apparently that was enough for the coaching staff to trust putting Rau into the lineup for the biggest game of the season. He took the spot of former Gophers teammate Nick Bjugstad in the lineup and skated alongside Victor Rask and opposite Kevin Fiala

Will it be challenging for Parise and Rau to acclimate to a playoff atmosphere on such short notice?

“I don’t think it should be difficult,” Evason said. “If anything, we expect them to be fresh and have the energy and provide us with jump and excitement and all of that good stuff. It’s ramped up a bit. But it won’t take people long to get into it.”

Pioneer Press LOADED: 05.23.2021 1213843 Minnesota Wild The Wild felt they got kicked in the teeth once more by the officials when 27 seconds after Nicolas Roy scored in the first period, Joel Eriksson Ek tied the score. In Game 3, Eriksson Ek had a goal to make the game 3-0 wiped away because of an offside challenge by Vegas coach Pete Russo: Different year, same results as Wild close in on another first- DeBoer. round exit That ruling was black and white. Nick Bjugstad, scratched Saturday, preceded the puck into the zone.

By Michael Russo This time around was much more subjective when DeBoer made the gutsy decision Saturday to challenge that Foligno impeded Marc-Andre

Fleury’s ability to make the save on the Wild’s best center. The Wild serenaded the 4,500 dismayed fans exiting Xcel Energy Center Replays seemed to show that Foligno was outside the crease and Fleury on Saturday night with Jimmy Buffett’s “Come Monday.” It wasn’t hard to initiated contact with him ever so slightly, but nevertheless, referees Kyle find the irony in the fitting tune since come Monday the Wild’s season Rehman and Dan O’Rourke reversed their initial “good goal” call and could be over. ruled that Foligno impaired Fleury’s ability to play his position. It’s simply amazing that the Wild find themselves in this situation yet Wild coach Dean Evason and Rehman had an animated conversation at again. the bench during the next stoppage and hilariously the referees So close to elimination, so close to perhaps the end of their season, so apparently called the press box during an ensuing TV timeout and downright dejected and disappointed despite boasting a roster that many accused the game ops crew of pressing a boo button that doesn’t even of us felt was more balanced and offensively prolific than any they’ve exist. iced in 20 years. But that’s how loudly and consistently the refs were jeered from that point Yet, here they are again proving the playoffs are a different beast than on by a quarter-full arena. the regular season. The Wild obviously didn’t agree with the call, either, especially since a Kirill Kaprizov has one assist. Kevin Fiala has no points. The team has few weeks ago against Vegas, the Wild lost a similar goalie interference four goals in four games and now faces a stunning 3-1 hole in its first- challenge. round series to the Vegas Golden Knights after being blanked 4-0 at Xcel An exasperated Eriksson Ek said, “I don’t know what to think.” Energy Center on Saturday night for a third straight loss for the first time all season. The Wild kept pushing, but the game basically became out of reach when Ryan Hartman was stick-checked by Chandler Stephenson for a neutral- “It’s frustrating,” said Fiala, who showed that emotion in the third period zone turnover to the worst possible guy — Alex Tuch. The Wild once- when he shattered his stick on the back of Vegas’ goal after the Wild upon-a-time first-round pick, like he was shot out of cannon, erupted into failed to convert on their latest flurry. “It’s not just shots, it’s great the offensive zone, bulled through Matt Dumba and made it 2-0 off a opportunities that aren’t going in. So, yeah, what can I say?” fantastic move. We all knew the Golden Knights, even without Max Pacioretty all series, But the turning point came 2 ½ minutes later when Zach Whitecloud weren’t the or the California teams the Wild munched nailed Zach Parise with a high stick. on all season to pad their stats, their record and in hindsight, probably their inflated belief in themselves. It really never mattered that the Wild Yes, seriously … that, Zach Parise. had a league-high 11 regular-season wins against Vegas since it entered the league. It meant jack squat that Vegas never won in regulation in Parise, the Wild’s all-time leading playoff scorer, was actually called into Minnesota or that the Wild won 19 of their past 23 regular-season home action for the first time this series in Game 4 because Marcus Johansson games. broke his left arm Thursday night. The veteran winger had successful surgery Friday. That’s apparent after Vegas waltzed into Minnesota’s capital city and took both of the Wild’s home games to wrestle back home-ice advantage Parise’s upper lip was cut, the Wild were given a four-minute power play and take a stranglehold in the series. and not only did they fail to score, Dumba blew a tire in the offensive zone and Mark Stone made it 3-0 on a short-handed breakaway. This is the playoffs, and the Golden Knights are playoff-tested. On those power plays, Parise, who finished tied for sixth in the NHL with Problem is, so are the Wild. 12 power-play goals and has 133 in the regular season and playoffs in his career, didn’t move a muscle on the bench. He just watched the Wild They haven’t won a playoff series since 2015 despite making the stumble around the ice for four minutes, cough up pucks left and right postseason every year but one since. They’re 2-10 in their past 12 home and barely threaten Fleury offensively. playoff games since 2015, which is pretty unconscionable when this should be one of the league’s toughest barns. They’re 17-35 in 52 playoff Now, to be fair, Parise has had a tough, tough season, and it’s fair to say games since 2013 and have scored two or fewer goals in 31 of those he was a fixture on a power play this season in the first half that was games. worst in the league. But in a must-win game, Evason decided that playing Hartman or Victor Rask or Nick Bonino was a wiser decision than Parise. As the saying goes, a leopard doesn’t change its spots, and to this point in the series, we’ve seen this script before even if the cast might have “Our power play’s our power play, right?” Evason said when asked why been tweaked the past couple of years. he didn’t use Parise on the power play. “We did change at the end of the four-on-four. We had different people out. But there’s things that we can Now, is the series over? all second guess obviously. But it has to be better.” No. Twenty-nine times since 1942 a team has rallied from 3-1 series’ Evason misspoke or must have been confused because there were no deficits in a best-of-seven to win, and the Wild did it twice 18 years ago. four-on-fours in the game, but it seemed dubious to play Parise and not But Andrew Brunette, Wes Walz and aren’t coming use him where he could be most dangerous, particularly when the Wild’s out of retirement. power play is now 0-for-8 in the playoffs after finishing the regular season 2-for-20 in their final nine games. The Wild are going to have to conjure one serious awakening in the next 48 hours if they plan to steal Game 5 on Monday night in Vegas in order And Evason knew these numbers because he volunteered how bad the to turn this back into a competitive series. But it’s difficult to see how, Wild’s power play has been of late. when their game that was so solid for much of this season has “Clearly, our power play hasn’t done enough again and it’s hurt us all completely vanished. year and it’s hurt us here in the playoffs,” said the coach, who’s now 2-6 “Just got to win battles. I think that’s the biggest thing,” winger Marcus in his NHL playoff career after going 1-12 in four trips to the AHL playoffs Foligno said. “I think we gave them a lot (in Game 3), and the things we in six years with Milwaukee. “We had that stretch where we were great gave them today were in the back of our net. There was a lot better than on it. It’s not enough. It needs to help us.” last game, but it’s still just not good enough.” This is the lowest point in Parise’s career: scratched in three of the final Once the Wild didn’t score on either of the Whitecloud penalties or both four games, put into the regular-season finale so others could rest up for and gave up the Stone shorty, you just knew they were doomed on this the playoffs, scratched the first three games of the postseason and night. skating on the side with the taxi squad. Then he finally gets inserted into the lineup in a must-win game and he just re-assumes his fourth-line spot Fleury, in his 150th career playoff start to tie Grant Fuhr for fourth all with no power-play time. time, went on to record his 16th playoff shutout with 35 saves.

“It’s been difficult, but right now what’s more important is that we’re down There are just too many Wild players MIA right now or underperforming, 3-1 in the series,” Parise said. “That’s where all the attention should be is things that could be eye-openers to Guerin heading into the offseason if how can we get ourselves back into this series, win a game and then the Wild don’t reel off three wins in a row to advance to the next round. bring this thing back to Minnesota.” The Wild aren’t done yet, but “Come Monday,” we’ll find out what they’re Parise, a Minnesota native, has extra incentive for that to happen. If the made of. Wild are eliminated Monday night, one really does have to wonder if If they don’t rediscover their game quickly and steal a victory, the Wild Saturday’s game would have been Parise’s final one in a Wild uniform in will all soon be sitting on a beach eating a “Cheeseburger in Paradise” front of his home-state fans. after another unfulfilling season.

Yes, he has four years left on his contract, but it’s hard to believe that this The Athletic’s 3 stars ugly, uncomfortable situation won’t be addressed this offseason, some way or another. The distraction of him being a healthy scratch or seldom- Mark Stone, Golden Knights: Captain ripped out the Wild’s heart used fourth-liner will undoubtedly be a distraction if it continues next once again with a short-handed goal to put away the game. season, let alone the next four. Marc-Andre Fleury, Golden Knights: Apparently his previous This sure seems like it’s heading for some kind of divorce this summer, tough-goes (3.46 goals-against average) in Minnesota meant nothing: He whether that be buyout or trade because there’s no other way to say it: made 35 saves for his 16th career playoff shutout after giving up only two Down the stretch of the regular season and into the playoffs, the Wild goals in Game 3. determined that they’re a better team without Zach Parise. Alex Tuch, Golden Knights: Continues to haunt the Wild with Then on Saturday night, in a game the Wild desperately needed to win, another breakaway goal, his third in the series. Parise wasn’t one of the 10 players used on consecutive power plays that he drew. The Athletic LOADED: 05.23.2021 A few weeks ago, Parise met with Evason and GM Bill Guerin in St. Louis. He has been kept incommunicado ever since, even as recently as Saturday morning when the Wild said he was “unavailable” after about a dozen requests from reporters to speak to him.

So it was a surprise when Parise sat in front of a Zoom camera after Saturday’s game.

Asked what the communication has been with him behind the scenes, Parise said, “I think at this point there’s not a lot of good that’s going to come out of me going into those conversations. Let’s keep the focus on where it needs to be and on the team. The last thing I want to do here is be a distraction. We will do what we can do to win Game 5 and give ourselves a chance here.”

Give Parise credit for that and for also working hard during every one of his shifts Saturday. That’s what captain Jared Spurgeon expected earlier in the day.

“It’s always tough to see a teammate frustrated and be put in a situation like that,” Spurgeon said. “The thing is with Zach, he doesn’t change either. He comes in every day, works hard, and he’s great around the locker room. He’s always happy. He’s always working.”

One other roster decision made Saturday was to insert Kyle Rau for his second career playoff game and play him on a line with Fiala and Rask, although Rau also saw shifts with Parise and Nico Sturm.

Waiting in the wings, among others, was 20-year-old 2019 first-round pick Matt Boldy, the Hobey Baker finalist from Boston College, USA Hockey world junior gold medalist and freshly recalled player who scored 18 points in 14 games. Some wondered if Boldy would make his NHL debut in an attempt to infuse some offense and give Fiala, a visibly frustrated man who has to be pulling his hair out with the linemates he plays with on a nightly basis, some help.

But the Wild decided to go with the known quantity that is the speedy, hard-checking Rau rather than the inexperienced Boldy in the midst of a pressure-filled playoff series.

“We thought he had a real good game,” Evason said of Rau. “We thought he was strong, physical, thought he created speed, had lots of pace, killed penalties. He had a good game.”

Now Guerin, a couple of Thursdays ago, did say that the Wild would do what they felt was best for Boldy and insinuated that they didn’t want to put him in a position where he was in over his head. Asked after Saturday’s game what the official organizational reason was for not going with Boldy, Evason said, “I’m not going to get into our decisions. Those are our decisions that we do internally. We discussed everything, and we made the decision with the lineup we had here tonight.” 1213844 MontrealCanadiens failed to capitalize on four opportunities in the opening game, while allowing a shorthanded goal — the winner, by Paul Byron.

“I thought we had the puck for the entire second period for the most part,” Leafs' Matthews leads his team, evens playoff series against Canadiens Keefe said. “That caused some fatigue on the other side. We were able to get at them that way. That was a big factor.”

Keefe said he wasn’t surprised to see the penalty total tilted one way, Herb Zurkowsky • Montreal Gazette given how physical the Canadiens have vowed to play.

Publishing date: May 23, 2021 “Montreal’s made it clear, they want to be very physical,” he said. “The term (used) is they want to make it a war. If you’re going to do that,

you’re at risk of getting penalties called against you. It’s our job as a It took two games during the regular season for Toronto’s Auston power-play to make them pay for that.” Matthews to score. And then, he did it 40 more times to lead the NHL. The Leafs added a second power-play goal, by Nylander, in the third Coincidentally, the Maple Leafs’ centre waited until the second period of period, giving them a 4-1 lead and erasing doubts of a Canadiens the second game of the North Division playoff series against the comeback. Canadiens to score on Saturday night.

Matthews produced the winning goal, five minutes into the period, then Montreal Gazette LOADED: 05.23.2021 added two more assists in the Leafs’ 5-1 victory over Montreal at Scotiabank Arena, evening the best-of-seven series 1-1.

It was Matthews’ second career three-point playoff game, and it also ended Toronto’s nine-game post-season losing streak to the Canadiens — Toronto’s last win coming in the Stanley Cup-clinching sixth game of the 1967 final.

Matthews played a complete game, registering four shots and four hits during his 22 minutes, 37 seconds of ice time. And he was dominant in the circle, winning 80 per cent of his faceoffs.

He played like the Leafs’ best player — which he is. That’s what’s expected of the 23-year-old.

“The best way to describe his game was very complete,” Toronto head coach Sheldon Keefe said. “He was competitive. He was physical on the puck. He made plays and scored a huge goal for us. He played with all sorts of authority and was strong on faceoffs.

“No question, Auston was a real difference-maker.”

As superb as he is on the ice, Matthews can be laconic during interviews, while speaking in a monotone. He addresses the media because it’s required. Perhaps he’ll improve as he gets older and matures?

“The response from the group was unbelievable tonight,” he said. “All four lines really worked tonight. We did a better job in the neutral zone of slowing them down and forechecked well. They (the Canadiens) have a lot of speed.

“I try to play hard every night. Obviously going down (one game) this was a bit of a do or die game for us. Everybody stepped up.”

Matthews had that right.

His linemate, Mitch Marner, did what he does best — make plays — and contributed two assists. Nick Foligno moved from the wing to centre, replacing injured captain John Tavares, who suffered a concussion and knee injury on Thursday. While Foligno didn’t register a point, he had three shots, two hits and won 81 per cent of his faceoffs. And winger William Nylander, playing without Tavares on his line, had a goal and assist.

After the Canadiens opened the scoring for the second consecutive game, on a goal by Jesperi Kotkaniemi, the Leafs responded with five unanswered goals, the last coming into an empty net.

The ageless Jason Spezza, at 37, scored the tying goal barely four minutes following Kotkaniemi’s tally.

“For sure, you want to respond,” he said. “You don’t want to let the game get away from you. They’re a team that plays well with the lead. The quicker we can tie the game up, it levels things and allows us to play our game. It was good to have a response.

“That’s very characteristic of how we’ve been all year,” Spezza continued. “I thought it was a big response. We got going as a team once we got a couple in the net, and really started to play good hockey.”

The Canadiens at one point took six successive minor penalties, including all four assessed in the second period. Toronto scored the only two goals of the period, while outshooting the visitors, 20-6. One of the goals, by defenceman Rasmus Sandin, came on the power-play, which 1213845 MontrealCanadiens Montreal Gazette LOADED: 05.23.2021

In the Habs' Room: Leafs expose Montreal's scoring weakness

Pat Hickey • Montreal Gazette

Publishing date: May 22, 2021

Opening a playoff series with a win on the road is usually a reason for optimism, but there was little reason for the Canadiens to feel good with their performance in Toronto after dropping a 5-1 decision to the Maple Leafs on Saturday at Scotiabank Arena.

The best-of-seven North Division series is tied 1-1 but, while coach Dominique Ducharme said the Canadiens are in a good position after winning Game 1, there is one troubling trend as the series moves to the Bell Centre for back-to-back games Monday and Tuesday.

The Canadiens can’t score goals, a problem that has plagued the team in recent playoff series.

Montreal has registered three goals in their first two playoff games and none of them have been scored by the top six forwards. One of their goals was shorthanded and they are 0-for-6 on the power play.

Ducharme tried to look on the bright side Saturday.

“I don’t think (the Leafs) are going to score five goals a night,” Ducharme said. “Tonight was a different night.”

A fair point but, unless the Canadiens find a way to manufacture some offence, two or three goals might suffice for the Leafs.

Montreal and Toronto played on even terms through the first period, but the Leafs seized the momentum in the second period when there were two factors that worked against the Canadiens. They took the only four penalties in the period and had trouble winning faceoffs.

Auston Matthews gave the Leafs their first lead of the series and Rasmus Sandin scored a power-play goal that prompted a coach’s challenge, which was unusual because Carey Price didn’t complain after the puck found its way though the traffic in front of the net.

The replay showed Joe Thornton’s stick making incidental contact with Price’s stick, but the puck was already in the net and the challenge, which was a case of desperation, or wishful thinking, failed.

Ducharme said video coach Mario Leblanc, goaltending coach Sean Burke and team vice-president John Sedgwick who, Ducharme noted, worked at the NHL prior to joining the Canadiens, viewed the action from above and are in radio contact wth the bench. Ducharme said the final decision is his, but he said everyone agreed Thornton touched Price’s stick.

Price, who arguably had the best perspective on what happened, was asked three times whether he thought there was interference on the play and, each time, he said he would have to check the replay.

Jesperi Kotkaniemi replaced the injured Jake Evans and he played well enough to earn another start when the series moves to Montreal.

The 20-year-old Finn, who enjoyed a breakthrough in the playoff bubble in Toronto last summer, scored the only Montreal goal and, on a night when the Canadiens won only 34 per cent of the faceoffs, he won six of 11 for a success rate of 55 per cent. He was the only Montreal centre over 50 per cent as Nick Suzuki won three of 13 and the usually reliable Phil Danault won six of 21.

After Kotkaniemi scored, he pointed to the rafters with four raised fingers. He said he was acknowledging the four healthy scratches who shared the press gallery with him for Game 1.

One of those players is rookie Cole Caufield, who has a reputation for putting the puck in the net at the USHL and U.S. college level. Caufield has scored four goals, including two overtime winners, in 10 NHL games.

When asked if Caufield could be in the lineup Monday, Ducharme replied: “Possible.”

1213846 MontrealCanadiens

Matthews' 3-point night cements Leafs' solid 5-1 win over Canadiens

Pat Hickey • Montreal Gazette

Publishing date: May 22, 2021

Auston Matthews and the Toronto power play came to life as the Maple Leafs defeated the Canadiens 5-1 at Scotiabank Arena on Saturday.

The win deadlocked the best-of-seven North Division semifinal series at 1-1 as it moves to the Bell Centre for games Monday and Tuesday.

Toronto took control of the game in the second period when they outshot Montreal 20-6 and scored twice for a 3-1 lead.

Matthews, who was held off the scoresheet Thursday, gave Toronto its first lead in the series when he scored off the rebound of a shot by Justin Holl at 5:15 to kick off a three-point night. He picked up an assist on Rasmus Sandin’s power-play goal at 12:13 and added a second assist on William Nylander’s power-play goal in the third period. The Canadiens pulled Carey Price with more than six minutes remaining and Adam Kerfoot added an empty-net goal with 1:23 to play.

The Canadiens dug themselves into a hole when they were called for three consecutive penalties. They managed to kill the first two, but Sandin scored on a shot from just inside the blue line. His shot wasn’t contested because the Canadiens concentrated their effort on containing Matthews and Mitch Marner down low and that opened up the lane from outside.

Montreal handed Toronto another power play when coach Dominique Ducharme challenged the Sandin goal, claiming Joe Thornton was guilty of goaltender interference. Thornton’s stick appeared to make minimal contact with Price’s stick, but the replay showed the puck was already in the net. There was no complaint from Price, but the TV coverage showed an agitated Marc Bergevin and the general manager likely had input into the decision to challenge.

Jesperi Kotkaniemi celebrated his return to the lineup by scoring the game’s first goal at 7:57 of the first period. Jack Campbell stopped Joel Edmundson’s drive from the blue line, but a long rebound came back to the Montreal defenceman. His second shot was blocked in front, but Kotkaniemi took advantage of some defensive confusion in front and jumped on a loose puck.

Kotkaniemi struggled through the second half of the regular season and had gone 24 games without a goal. He watched Game 1 from the press gallery, but received an opportunity to play after Jake Evans suffered an undisclosed injury in Game 1.

Veteran Jason Spezza showed the value of fresh legs as he tied the game at 12:23. He came off the bench and beat Price after taking a pass from Zach Bogosian, who knocked Artturi Lehkonen off the puck. It appeared Bogosian was trying to find Wayne Simmonds in the high slot, but Spezza was in full flight when he stepped in front of his teammate and launched a wrist shot to the short side.

The Leafs borrowed a page from the Canadiens’ playbook as they stepped up their physical play and had 20 hits in the opening period to 17 for Montreal.

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 05.23.2021 1213847 MontrealCanadiens

Liveblog replay: Leafs tie series with 5-1 win over Habs

Erik Leijon • Special to Montreal Gazette

Publishing date: May 22, 2021

Canadiens' Joel Edmundson takes Zach Hyman of the Toronto Maple Leafs into the boards in Game 2 of the first round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on Saturday, May 22, 2021, in Toronto.

Article content

Centre Jesperi Kotkaniemi will play in place of the injured Jake Evans for the Canadiens in Game 2 of their first-round series against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena.

Puck drops at 7 p.m. (CBC, SN, TVA Sports, TSN 690 Radio, 98.5 FM).

Otherwise, Montreal is rolling out the same lineup as Thursday’s opener.

Canadiens Game Day: Jesperi Kotkaniemi replaces Jake Evans for Game 2

For the Leafs, captain John Tavares will be sidelined two weeks following his frightening collision with Corey Perry in the first period of Game 1. He suffered a concussion and a knee injury.

Alex Galchenyuk and Pierre Engvall are expected to join the Leafs lineup.

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 05.23.2021 1213848 MontrealCanadiens amount of hockey and the amount of games that we played, you’re really grinding. There was a lot of guys dealing with things. … I’m happy with where I’m at physically here. I felt great coming into Game 1.”

Stu Cowan: Eric Staal excited about another shot at Cup with Canadiens Staal understands the grind of the playoffs and the price that must be paid to win the Cup. He has been there and done that — even if it was 15 years ago.

Stu Cowan • Montreal Gazette “I came here to help this group and to integrate myself within the structure of this team and to play in the playoffs,” Staal said. “It was a Publishing date: May 22, 2021 grind to get there. We’ve talked ad nauseum about the schedule with the schedule we had. I think now having this chance to reset and refocus you got to enjoy it, you got to embrace it. This is why I’m excited to be a part Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Cole Caufield were both 5 years old when Eric of this group, this challenge and this opportunity. Game 2 (Saturday) … I Staal won the Stanley Cup with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006. can’t wait and I feel like I can help this group and be a contributor and try and help us make a difference to win the series and move on.” It doesn’t seem that long ago to Staal, who is now with the Canadiens and has Kotkaniemi and Caufield as teammates.

“Time flies by,” the 36-year-old Staal said during a video conference Montreal Gazette LOADED: 05.23.2021 Friday. “Honestly, time flies by. I was told that at 20 and you kind of take it in and don’t realize.”

Staal was in his second NHL season when he posted 9-19-28 totals in 25 playoff games to lead the Hurricanes in scoring the year they won the Cup. Staal also led the Hurricanes in regular-season scoring that year with 45-55-100 totals after Carolina selected him second overall at the 2014 NHL Draft. The Pittsburgh Penguins took goalie Marc-André Fleury with the No. 1 pick that year.

Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin acquired Staal from the before the NHL trade deadline in exchange for a third-round pick and a fifth-round pick at this year’s draft. With almost 1,300 games of NHL regular-season experience — plus another 62 games in the playoffs — Bergevin was hoping Staal would take some of the pressure off young centres Nick Suzuki, Kotkaniemi and Jake Evans and help the team in the postseason.

Bergevin likes to say there are players who get you into the playoffs and others who get you through the playoffs. The GM is now hoping Staal can help lead the Canadiens through the playoffs.

“I think for every NHL player, anybody that plays the game, anyone that has been out there through the course of regular-season and the playoff games it’s just another level of intensity,” Staal said. “Everything is scrutinized and everything is so important for every single person on your team and that’s what makes it so great when you do have the chance to go all the way and win. It’s so important to have every single person — even guys that come in the lineup at different times. It takes everybody, it truly does, and that’s what makes it so special. You have to embrace that challenge and opportunity and enjoy it and play hard, play free. For us, we got one (win) out of the way and we’ve got to go after three more and we know it’s going to be a huge challenge.”

Staal struggled with the Canadiens during the regular season with 2-1-3 totals and a minus-10 in 21 games after the trade from Buffalo. But he was in the lineup for the Canadiens’ 2-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series Thursday night while Kotkaniemi was a healthy scratch. Kotkaniemi will replace the injured Jake Evans in the lineup for Game 2 Saturday night in Toronto (7 p.m., CBC, SN, TVA Sports, TSN 690 Radio, 98.5 FM).

Staal sat out the last game of the regular season while dealing with an injury he had been playing through. That gave him a nine-day break between games before suiting up for the opener against the Leafs and Staal played very well on a line with Corey Perry and Josh Anderson. Staal had an assist on Anderson’s first-period goal to go along with two shots and three hits in 10:44 of ice time, finishing the game plus-1. He was a physical presence.

The veteran centre said he didn’t pay attention to criticism about him being in the lineup instead of Kotkaniemi for Game 1.

“I haven’t really paid attention to a lot of the chatter surrounding our team in the series,” Staal said. “I think the focus for me and for our group is knowing what we can do every single time we’re on the ice and for me I was in the lineup to be a contributor. It’s playoff hockey, it’s Game 1 and I was excited and that’s all my focus was. Regardless of how I got there I was going to play the way I know I can when the series started. It’s only one (game) and we’ll do it again (Saturday).

“I feel a lot better,” Staal added when asked about the injury he had been dealing with. “I think that break for me personally was huge. With the 1213849 MontrealCanadiens After the game, Ducharme said video replay analyst Mario Leblanc, Sedgwick and director of goaltending Sean Burke were looking for one specific replay angle that showed Thornton interfering with Price’s stick.

Canadiens Game Day: It's time to put Cole Caufield in the lineup “I have the last call always, but we were all in agreement we needed to challenge,” Ducharme said.

When Ducharme announced his starting lineup for Game 1 — making Stu Cowan • Montreal Gazette Caufield, Kotkaniemi and Alexander Romanov healthy scratches — he said that himself, assistant coaches Luke Richardson and Alex Burrows, Publishing date: May 23, 2021 Burke and Bergevin all agreed that the same 20 players should be in the lineup.

Can Cole please come out to play now? When everyone in management starts agreeing on everything, that’s not a good sign in any business. Too many “yes men” isn’t a recipe for A lot of Montreal hockey fans will be asking that question after watching success. the Canadiens lose 5-1 to the Maple Leafs Saturday night in Toronto. The first-round playoff series is now tied 1-1 with Game 3 set for Monday In this case, someone should have spoken up and said it was a good night at the Bell Centre (7 p.m., CBC, SN, TVA Sports, TSN 690 Radio, goal and maybe the Canadiens would have avoided an unnecessary 98.5 FM). delay-of-game penalty.

Heading into this best-of-seven series the Canadiens and their fans When Price was asked after the game about the video review, he said: “I would have happily taken a split of the first two games in Toronto. But the haven’t seen the replay so I can’t really comment on it.” Canadiens scored only three goals in the first two games and if they can The Canadiens should find the old “No Excuses” sign that former coach only average 1.5 goals per game this series won’t last very long. Michel Therrien had installed in the locker room and put it up again Especially not if the Leafs’ power play continues to click, going 2-for-6 in before Game 3 at the Bell Centre. Game 2 after going 0-for-4 in Game 1. “They got a lot of power plays, so it took the momentum out of it and we It’s unfair to think 20-year-old Cole Caufield will be the saviour for the had trouble getting scoring chances after that,” Phillip Danault said after Canadiens, but you have to think he can help the offence and a power the Leafs had six power plays and the Canadiens had only one. play that is 0-for-6 in the first two games after going 0-for-1 in Game 2. Caufield scored four goals in 10 games after joining the Canadiens late in Ducharme said he was surprised by the way the game was called by the the season, but was made a healthy scratch for the first two games of the officials. playoffs. “I think the term they used was they want to make it a war,” Leafs coach “Possible,” Canadiens head coach Dominique Ducharme said after Sheldon Keefe said. “If you’re going to do that, you’re at risk of getting Saturday’s game when asked if Caufield could be in the lineup for Game penalties called against you.” 3. “Like everyone available. We have depth and we’re going to use it.” On social media a lot of Canadiens fans were blaming the referees for Jesperi Kotkaniemi, who was a healthy scratch for Game 1, got the only the loss. goal for the Canadiens in Game 2, opening the scoring at 7:57 of the first period. After that this game was all Toronto, with the Leafs outshooting But when your team can only score three goals in two games, that’s not the Canadiens 34-23. Kotkaniemi replaced Jake Evans, who was injured the referees’ fault and blaming the refs is the oldest excuse in the book. in Game 1, and was at centre on the fourth line between Paul Byron and Is it also the referees’ fault that Tomas Tatar has zero shots on goal after Artturi Lehkonen. two games and Nick Suzuki has only one? Brendan Gallagher and Joel Jason Spezza, Auston Matthews, Rasmus Sandin (power play), William Armia have three shots each and Tyler Toffoli has four. Is that also the Nylander (power play) and Alexander Kerfoot (empty net) scored for the referees’ fault? How about Corey Perry and Lehkonen having one shot Leafs. each?

When asked after the game what gives him confidence that the The three Canadiens with the most shots through two games are Shea Canadiens can score enough goals to beat the Leafs in this series, Weber with eight, Jeff Petry with six and Josh Anderson with six. Weber Ducharme said: “It’s one game at a time. Every game is different. I don’t and Petry are both defencemen. think they’re going to be scoring five goals a night. Tonight was a That’s also not a recipe for success. different night.” After scoring his goal, Kotkaniemi took off his right glove and held up four Former NFL coach Bill Parcells, who won two Super Bowls with the New fingers while looking up into the stands. York Giants, once famously said: “You are what your record says you are.” What did it mean?

On Saturday night, the Leafs looked like a team that finished first in the “We had a good week of practice with the (four) guys who didn’t play all-Canadian North Division with a 35-14-7 record and a plus-39 goal tonight, so we’ve been in the locker room before so that was our thing,” differential. The Canadiens looked like a team that finished fourth with a Kotkaniemi said after the game. 24-21-11 record and a minus-9 goal differential. When asked how he felt on the ice after being a healthy scratch for You have to think Caufield can make them look at least a little bit better. Game 1, Kotkaniemi said: “I felt pretty good the first period. There was a lot of penalties in the second … I think that killed a little bit of the game The Canadiens called for a video review for goalie interference after for me and for the team a little bit. We can’t be in the box that much. Just Sandin made the score 3-1 at 13:20 of the second period. The keep it five-on-five.” Canadiens believed Joe Thornton had interfered with Carey Price’s stick, but it looked very obvious that it was a good goal. Saturday’s game marked the first time the Leafs have beaten the Canadiens in a playoff game since May 2, 1967 when they won their last Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin obviously disagreed and was caught on Stanley Cup with a 3-1 victory in Game 6 of the final at Maple Leaf TV cameras in his private loge standing in front of a giant screen and Gardens. pointing at Price in the crease. An animated Bergevin was seen talking to John Sedgwick (the team’s vice-president of hockey operations and legal Ron Ellis, Jim Pappin and George Armstrong scored for the Leafs in that affairs), while Sedgwick was talking to someone on what looked like a game, while Dick Duff responded for the Canadiens. walkie-talkie. The next time the Canadiens and Leafs met in the playoffs was in 1978 After video review, it was indeed ruled to be a good goal, with the NHL with Montreal sweeping their semifinal series. In 1979, the Canadiens Situation Room simply stating: “Video review confirmed no goaltender swept the Leafs again, this time in the quarterfinals. The Canadiens won interference infractions occurred prior to Rasmus Sandin’s goal.” As a the Stanley Cup in both of those years. result, the Canadiens were given a penalty for delay of game. Luckily for them the Leafs didn’t score on the ensuing power play. The two teams didn’t meet in the playoffs again until this year. The Leafs outshot the Canadiens 34-23 and won 66 per cent of the faceoffs, while Montreal led 44-36 in hits.

The Canadiens went 0-for-1 on the power play, while the Leafs went 2- for-6.

Joel Edmundson led the Canadiens in ice time with 22:35, followed by Petry with 22:33 and Weber with 22:00. Danault led the forwards with 19:29, followed by Suzuki with 18:13 and Toffoli with 16:38.

Danault had a team-leading four shots, while Petry had three. Byron had five hits, while Gallagher, Lehkonen and Weber had four each.

Ben Chiarot had five giveaways and finished minus-2. Byron and Lehkonen were also minus-2.

Kotkaniemi went 6-5 on his 11 faceoffs (55 per cent). Danault went 6-15 (29 per cent), Suzuki went 3-10 (23 per cent) and Eric Staal went 2-4 (33 per cent).

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 05.23.2021 1213850 MontrealCanadiens This starting lineup was a sign that the Canadiens’ physical play in Game 1 had hit its target. And Keefe explaining the Canadiens’ second-period parade to the penalty box further reinforced it.

Canadiens did what they needed to do in Toronto — now they must “Montreal’s made it very clear that they want to be very physical. I think optimize their lineup to score the quote or term was they want to make it a war,” Keefe said. “If you’re going to do that, you’re at risk of getting penalties called against you. It’s our job as a power play to make them pay for that.”

By Arpon Basu The Maple Leafs’ power play did its job, scoring once in the second period and again in the third to put the game essentially out of reach after May 23, 2021 an inexplicably long stretch of little more than failure. If the Leafs’ power play comes out of that feeling revived, it could have a massive impact on the series. It was Jesperi Kotkaniemi’s second shift of the Stanley Cup playoffs, and he was in a situation in which he was failing far more than he was But one thing the Canadiens must not do is allow that second period to succeeding as he struggled over the second half of the regular season. change their game plan of playing physical against the Maple Leafs — because it’s working, even if it didn’t really manifest itself in Game 2. The Kotkaniemi got the puck near the boards in the neutral zone and had fact Keefe felt the need to start Simmonds and say what he said after the three Toronto Maple Leafs players bearing down on him quickly, with game should be proof of it. The Canadiens are hardly the first team to little time to make a play aside from just whacking the puck up the boards say they wanted to make a playoff series a war. toward the offensive zone. Except he didn’t do that. The Canadiens should take that quote from Keefe and plaster it all over He thought quickly and made a better play, finding Artturi Lehkonen their dressing room. streaking through the middle of the neutral zone, and the Canadiens remained in control of the puck. It didn’t lead to a whole lot, but the play It was very appropriate that Rasmus Sandin was the one who got the first was indicative of what Kotkaniemi can bring to the team offensively, how power-play goal for the Leafs, a goal that somehow got unanimous he can think at a playoff pace and make plays, something he had approval from video coach Mario Leblanc, director of goaltending Sean seemingly proved in the playoffs last year. Burke, VP of hockey operations and legal affairs John Sedgwick (and seemingly general manager Marc Bergevin, based on what we saw on On his next shift, Kotkaniemi opened the scoring. television) and, most importantly, Ducharme himself to issue a challenge for goaltender interference. As he celebrated, he removed his glove, looked up into the stands and put up four fingers. There were more than four players sitting up there, Let’s leave that aside for now, as debatable as that unanimous decision but Kotkaniemi was sending a signal to those who were out of uniform for was, because Sandin being the one who scored is what the Canadiens Game 2, much like he was for Game 1. should take away from that.

“That was our thing,” Kotkaniemi said. Sandin was being blamed for Byron’s go-ahead goal in Game 1, a goal that came with the Leafs on the power play. Sandin was right back on Among the group of players sitting up there was Cole Caufield, who had that power play in Game 2. He was given another opportunity because to be wondering what he could do with the same opportunity Kotkaniemi Keefe was able to look past that Byron goal and evaluate the entirety of had gotten. And by the end, after the Canadiens spent practically the Sandin’s Game 1 performance and determined he deserved to play in entire second period sitting in the penalty box and watching the Maple Game 2 even though he has more of a veteran presence in Travis Leafs play with the puck on their way to a 5-1 loss, Caufield also had to Dermott available to him. be wondering why a team that has scored three goals in two games refuses to give him that opportunity. Sandin rewarded that level of trust.

About that second period, Dominique Ducharme and the Canadiens, in “I just think with Rasmus, the payoff can be really big for us in terms of general, appeared quite upset that the officiating seemed one-sided. You his skill set and what he can bring. And that requires a little extra can always question officiating, and there are often questionable calls, patience on our side,” Keefe said. “I just had belief that he was going to but it is generally a crutch to avoid talking about how your team played in be better today than he was in the first game.” a game. Ducharme is not the only coach in these playoffs openly questioning the officiating; he’s just the latest. The payoff can be really big for us in terms of his skill set and what he can bring. “I really liked our first period; I thought we played a solid period,” Ducharme said. “The momentum changed in the second period. It wasn’t Wonder whom else that might apply to? us that changed it, and it wasn’t the Leafs, either.” Ducharme was asked after the game if Caufield could be an option for One thing is certain: It is difficult to be called for a penalty when you have him in Game 3, a game that will be played at the Bell Centre when the puck, and the Canadiens did not have it a whole lot. This was Ducharme would have greater control of the matchups. something Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe was only too happy to point out. His first reaction was to shrug. “I thought we had the puck the entire second period, for the most part, “Possible, like everyone available,” he said. “We have depth, and we’re and I think that really caused some fatigue on the other side, so we were going to use it.” able to really get at them that way,” Keefe said. “I think that was a big factor.” This is an important moment for the Canadiens. Ducharme is correct in saying his team did its job in Toronto, taking Game 1 and getting the split But what is a bigger factor for the Canadiens is that Keefe believed those it needed to steal home-ice advantage from the Leafs. penalties resulted from the Canadiens’ stated goal of playing physical against the Leafs. His starting lineup included Auston Matthews and But when you score three goals in two games, some changes might be Zach Hyman, per usual. But it also included Wayne Simmonds after necessary. Ducharme sent out Phillip Danault, Paul Byron and Josh Anderson. Anderson and Simmonds lined up across one another on the opening “There’s no doubt we’d like more offence,” Ducharme said. “I thought we faceoff and immediately came together in a confrontation. Keefe was created some good chances in the first period; from there, we played the responding to the Canadiens’ stated goal. whole second period short-handed. In the third, let’s say we might not have reacted well to everything that happened.” The result was that Mitch Marner did not play that opening shift; he got out there quickly thereafter, as Keefe sent the Matthews line out again on The reason the Canadiens played the whole second period short-handed the third shift, but that’s not the point. If you want to play physical, the was not the officials; it was what Keefe identified — that the Leafs had primary goal is to make that physical play alter the way your opponent is the puck all the time. For the Canadiens to do that, they could use more playing. speed and skill in their lineup. Alexander Romanov could provide that on the back end, and of course, Caufield could provide it up front. At the second intermission, the Canadiens had generated two shot attempts at five-on-five with Eric Staal and Corey Perry on the ice. Two. And these are the guys Ducharme is playing with Anderson, probably his most effective forward in Game 1 but someone who seemed handcuffed by his linemates and general deployment in Game 2. Ducharme said he felt there were some guys who were not going and therefore they played less in the third period, so it was telling that Byron and Tomas Tatar played less than anyone else in that period.

There are several ways to get Caufield in the lineup; it just takes a commitment to do it and providing him opportunities to do what he does best. The same goes for Romanov and even Jake Evans, whose skating would help the Canadiens get back to their true identity as a speed team.

The Canadiens still have an opportunity here; they accomplished what they set out to accomplish in Toronto. But they did that with a highly conservative lineup, one that does not address their primary need to win this series.

That is goals. Carey Price will likely keep the Canadiens in games, but he will need goals to truly be a difference-maker.

When that is the case, it seems ridiculous to have access to a supremely talented goal scorer and have him sitting in the stands, watching his former fellow healthy scratch signalling to him after scoring a goal.

He should be on the ice celebrating with him instead.

The Athletic LOADED: 05.23.2021 1213851 MontrealCanadiens This starting lineup was a sign that the Canadiens’ physical play in Game 1 had hit its target. And Keefe explaining the Canadiens’ second-period parade to the penalty box further reinforced it.

Canadiens did what they needed to do in Toronto — now they must “Montreal’s made it very clear that they want to be very physical. I think optimize their lineup to score the quote or term was they want to make it a war,” Keefe said. “If you’re going to do that, you’re at risk of getting penalties called against you. It’s our job as a power play to make them pay for that.”

By Arpon Basu The Maple Leafs’ power play did its job, scoring once in the second period and again in the third to put the game essentially out of reach after May 23, 2021 an inexplicably long stretch of little more than failure. If the Leafs’ power play comes out of that feeling revived, it could have a massive impact on the series. It was Jesperi Kotkaniemi’s second shift of the Stanley Cup playoffs, and he was in a situation in which he was failing far more than he was But one thing the Canadiens must not do is allow that second period to succeeding as he struggled over the second half of the regular season. change their game plan of playing physical against the Maple Leafs — because it’s working, even if it didn’t really manifest itself in Game 2. The Kotkaniemi got the puck near the boards in the neutral zone and had fact Keefe felt the need to start Simmonds and say what he said after the three Toronto Maple Leafs players bearing down on him quickly, with game should be proof of it. The Canadiens are hardly the first team to little time to make a play aside from just whacking the puck up the boards say they wanted to make a playoff series a war. toward the offensive zone. Except he didn’t do that. The Canadiens should take that quote from Keefe and plaster it all over He thought quickly and made a better play, finding Artturi Lehkonen their dressing room. streaking through the middle of the neutral zone, and the Canadiens remained in control of the puck. It didn’t lead to a whole lot, but the play It was very appropriate that Rasmus Sandin was the one who got the first was indicative of what Kotkaniemi can bring to the team offensively, how power-play goal for the Leafs, a goal that somehow got unanimous he can think at a playoff pace and make plays, something he had approval from video coach Mario Leblanc, director of goaltending Sean seemingly proved in the playoffs last year. Burke, VP of hockey operations and legal affairs John Sedgwick (and seemingly general manager Marc Bergevin, based on what we saw on On his next shift, Kotkaniemi opened the scoring. television) and, most importantly, Ducharme himself to issue a challenge for goaltender interference. As he celebrated, he removed his glove, looked up into the stands and put up four fingers. There were more than four players sitting up there, Let’s leave that aside for now, as debatable as that unanimous decision but Kotkaniemi was sending a signal to those who were out of uniform for was, because Sandin being the one who scored is what the Canadiens Game 2, much like he was for Game 1. should take away from that.

“That was our thing,” Kotkaniemi said. Sandin was being blamed for Byron’s go-ahead goal in Game 1, a goal that came with the Leafs on the power play. Sandin was right back on Among the group of players sitting up there was Cole Caufield, who had that power play in Game 2. He was given another opportunity because to be wondering what he could do with the same opportunity Kotkaniemi Keefe was able to look past that Byron goal and evaluate the entirety of had gotten. And by the end, after the Canadiens spent practically the Sandin’s Game 1 performance and determined he deserved to play in entire second period sitting in the penalty box and watching the Maple Game 2 even though he has more of a veteran presence in Travis Leafs play with the puck on their way to a 5-1 loss, Caufield also had to Dermott available to him. be wondering why a team that has scored three goals in two games refuses to give him that opportunity. Sandin rewarded that level of trust.

About that second period, Dominique Ducharme and the Canadiens, in “I just think with Rasmus, the payoff can be really big for us in terms of general, appeared quite upset that the officiating seemed one-sided. You his skill set and what he can bring. And that requires a little extra can always question officiating, and there are often questionable calls, patience on our side,” Keefe said. “I just had belief that he was going to but it is generally a crutch to avoid talking about how your team played in be better today than he was in the first game.” a game. Ducharme is not the only coach in these playoffs openly questioning the officiating; he’s just the latest. The payoff can be really big for us in terms of his skill set and what he can bring. “I really liked our first period; I thought we played a solid period,” Ducharme said. “The momentum changed in the second period. It wasn’t Wonder whom else that might apply to? us that changed it, and it wasn’t the Leafs, either.” Ducharme was asked after the game if Caufield could be an option for One thing is certain: It is difficult to be called for a penalty when you have him in Game 3, a game that will be played at the Bell Centre when the puck, and the Canadiens did not have it a whole lot. This was Ducharme would have greater control of the matchups. something Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe was only too happy to point out. His first reaction was to shrug. “I thought we had the puck the entire second period, for the most part, “Possible, like everyone available,” he said. “We have depth, and we’re and I think that really caused some fatigue on the other side, so we were going to use it.” able to really get at them that way,” Keefe said. “I think that was a big factor.” This is an important moment for the Canadiens. Ducharme is correct in saying his team did its job in Toronto, taking Game 1 and getting the split But what is a bigger factor for the Canadiens is that Keefe believed those it needed to steal home-ice advantage from the Leafs. penalties resulted from the Canadiens’ stated goal of playing physical against the Leafs. His starting lineup included Auston Matthews and But when you score three goals in two games, some changes might be Zach Hyman, per usual. But it also included Wayne Simmonds after necessary. Ducharme sent out Phillip Danault, Paul Byron and Josh Anderson. Anderson and Simmonds lined up across one another on the opening “There’s no doubt we’d like more offence,” Ducharme said. “I thought we faceoff and immediately came together in a confrontation. Keefe was created some good chances in the first period; from there, we played the responding to the Canadiens’ stated goal. whole second period short-handed. In the third, let’s say we might not have reacted well to everything that happened.” The result was that Mitch Marner did not play that opening shift; he got out there quickly thereafter, as Keefe sent the Matthews line out again on The reason the Canadiens played the whole second period short-handed the third shift, but that’s not the point. If you want to play physical, the was not the officials; it was what Keefe identified — that the Leafs had primary goal is to make that physical play alter the way your opponent is the puck all the time. For the Canadiens to do that, they could use more playing. speed and skill in their lineup. Alexander Romanov could provide that on the back end, and of course, Caufield could provide it up front. At the second intermission, the Canadiens had generated two shot attempts at five-on-five with Eric Staal and Corey Perry on the ice. Two. And these are the guys Ducharme is playing with Anderson, probably his most effective forward in Game 1 but someone who seemed handcuffed by his linemates and general deployment in Game 2. Ducharme said he felt there were some guys who were not going and therefore they played less in the third period, so it was telling that Byron and Tomas Tatar played less than anyone else in that period.

There are several ways to get Caufield in the lineup; it just takes a commitment to do it and providing him opportunities to do what he does best. The same goes for Romanov and even Jake Evans, whose skating would help the Canadiens get back to their true identity as a speed team.

The Canadiens still have an opportunity here; they accomplished what they set out to accomplish in Toronto. But they did that with a highly conservative lineup, one that does not address their primary need to win this series.

That is goals. Carey Price will likely keep the Canadiens in games, but he will need goals to truly be a difference-maker.

When that is the case, it seems ridiculous to have access to a supremely talented goal scorer and have him sitting in the stands, watching his former fellow healthy scratch signalling to him after scoring a goal.

He should be on the ice celebrating with him instead.

The Athletic LOADED: 05.23.2021 1213852 Nashville Predators Vandy's AD after Year 1: 'I hope it signaled things are different here' It wasn't the lineup. The Canes were just better in Game 1

Titans have more riding on Dez Fitzpatrick than any other '21 pick For Nashville Predators, why does it always take desperation to bring out their best? If this was the end for Pekka Rinne and Preds, it was perfect

A huge result for the Preds was a tough blow for the Canes, their first in these playoffs. Many a playoff series has turned on less than an Gentry Estes emotional night like this. Nashville Tennessean That said, it was just barely enough.

Even with so many contributions from key players, even with Juuse Don't let the good vibes fool you. This was no party off Broadway. Saros matching a franchise record with 52 saves, even with more than 12,000 howling fans in the Preds’ corner, it still took double overtime and Not for the first four hours, at least. days off lifespans and to eke out one game.

How tortuous they were, too. Nashville’s first Stanley Cup playoff game in That’s how good the Canes are. two years was fun for the casual observer, but there were few of those at Bridgestone Arena on Friday night. As Game 3 reached its second The Preds know they can beat them when their season is at stake, overtime, die-hards wearing gold and holding their breath had to grasp because they’ve done it twice in 13 days. what the next goal would mean if the Carolina Hurricanes scored it. A tougher trick? Doing it when their season isn’t on the line. The series, surely. The Nashville Predators’ season. That’d have been all she wrote, probably leading to a disappointing sweep, probably reigniting talk of a roster rebuild that was delayed by this improbable run to the Tennessean LOADED: 05.23.2021 playoffs, but not entirely extinguished.

The Preds were staring down all of it. Backs against the wall, circle the wagons, no margin for error.

And wouldn’t you know, the Hurricanes didn’t score that goal. The Preds did. Matt Duchene, of all players, did. And the shape of a playoff series – maybe even the direction of a franchise – changed as a result of one special moment and a 5-4 victory the Preds simply had to have.

Memorable as Game 3 will be, it wasn’t all that extraordinary in the course of this weird season. Just because we’ve been watching the Preds do this for months, coming through when there’s no other choice.

I don’t know why it takes desperation to bring out the best in this team, but it does.

That’s the magic potion for a group that needs some.

All guts and two goalies, these Preds. And yet they have habitually thrived in pressure-packed moments. Even in the dark days earlier in the season, their best hockey would come while trailing games in the third period. Then came the late-season climb up the standings that no one could have expected.

It's admirable if you didn’t have to wonder why it seems to take reaching peril for this team to finally reach its potential. We don't always see the Preds we witnessed Friday, but this version showed they were capable of outplaying and beating one of the favorites to win the Stanley Cup.

Didn't you just know it'd happen, though, given a 2-0 deficit in the series?

John Hynes sure did. The coach called it after Friday’s morning skate at the arena.

“I believe that our team is going to play really well tonight,” he said. “We need these guys to step up and play well.”

Then look at what happened — and who did it. Duchene’s winning goal came from Roman Josi’s beautiful feed across the ice. Ryan Johansen scored what could have been the winner in the third period, putting the Preds up 4-3. Ryan Ellis scored the game’s first goal, which was important since the Preds had gone the previous four periods without one.

All these highly paid players who hadn’t been doing enough in the series, each of them did enough this time. They played all night as if someone had discovered the turbo button on a video-game controller.

How did Hynes know?

“When you get into the playoffs the way that we’ve gotten into the playoffs,” he said, “you have a track record to respond. … You could see that they were ready to go. It was the very same mentality, feeling around the room, type of pregame skate that we had in some other games that we knew we had to dig in and find a way to win.”

Preds waste opportunity in Raleigh, and that'll be tough to take 1213853 New York Islanders Letang played his 140th career playoff game with Pittsburgh, tying Jaromir Jagr for third place on the franchise list. Crosby leads with 172, and Evgeni Malkin is second with 168.

Islanders rout Pens to tie series JETS IN THE HOUSE

The crowd of 6,800 in attendance featured a group of New York Jets players, including newly drafted Zach Wilson and offensive Staff Report linemen Connor McGodern, George Fant and Greg Van Rozen.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

MAY 22, 2021 AT 6:39 PM New York Daily News LOADED: 05.23.2021

Ilya Sorokin stopped 29 shots, Oliver Wahlstrom and Ryan Pulock each had a goal and an assist and the New York Islanders beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-1 in Game 4 Saturday to even the first-round series.

Josh Bailey and Jordan Eberle also scored for New York. Sorokin, who had 39 saves in the Islanders’ 4-3 win in Game 1, was back in goal after Semyon Varlamov started Games 2 and 3 — both losses.

Tristan Jarry had 23 saves for Pittsburgh, and drew mocking chants of “Jar-ry! Jar-ry!” from Islanders fans.

Game 5 is Monday night in Pittsburgh, and Game 6 back at Nassau Coliseum on Wednesday.

With the teams skating 4 on 4 in the third period, Pittsburgh’s Kris Letang was whistled for interference to put the Islanders on their third power play. Just as a penalty on Scott Mayfield was expiring, Wahlstrom fired a one-timer that was stopped by Jarry, However, Pittsburgh’s Teddy Blueger knocked the puck in while trying to clear the rebound, putting New York up 3-0 at 6:04.

With the Islanders still on a power play, Eberle made it 4-0 just 24 seconds later as he beat Jarry high on the glove side from the inside edge of the right circle.

New York Islanders' Jordan Eberle (7) celebrates as he skates back to his bench after scoring a goal during the third period.

Zach Aston-Reese spoiled Sorokin’s shutout bid with a short-handed goal with 2:35 to go. It was his first career playoff goal.

After a scoreless first period, the Islanders took control in the second.

Nelson’s redirect in front was turned aside by Jarry 2 minutes into the second. Sorokin made a nice stop sliding to his right to deny Sidney Crosby in front 3 1/2 minutes later.

Bailey got the Islanders on the scoreboard first with his second goal of the series 8:07 into the second. Letang pushed New York’s Anthony Beauvillier into Jarry, forcing the goalie back into the goal, and Bailey fired a shot past him.

Pulock made it 2-0 with 5:09 left in the middle period as he got the rebound of a shot by Wahlstrom and fired a one-timer off skate of Penguins defenseman Cody Ceci and past Jarry.

Each team had eight shots on goal in a fast-paced first period. The Islanders got off to a physical start and had more chances in the first half of the period.

Sorokin made a low blocker save on Kasperi Kapanen’s breakaway attempt a minute in. Beauvillier point-blank try in front was deflected by Jarry off the pipes about 6 minutes in. Mathew Barzal fired a shot off the post from the right circle with 2 1/2 minutes left in the period.

SPECIAL TEAMS

The Islanders went 2 for 5 on the power play and are now 3 for 12 in the series. The Penguins were 0 for 1 to fall to 1 for 8.

PLAYING WITH THE LEAD

Bailey’s second-period goal gave the Islanders the lead during the game for just the third time in the series. In their Game 1 win, they led 1-0 and 3-2 but played with the lead for a combined 3:43 before the Penguins tied the score. They won in overtime on Kyle Palmieri’s goal. Pittsburgh never trailed in its wins in Games 2 and 3.

CLIMBING THE LIST 1213854 New York Islanders

Ilya Sorokin shines for Islanders in place of Semyon Varlamov

By Mollie Walker

May 22, 2021 | 8:35PM

Head coach Barry Trotz made one adjustment to his lineup in the Islanders’ dominant Game 4 win, and it was in goal.

Ilya Sorokin earned the starting nod on Saturday, his second of the series, after No. 1 goalie Semyon Varlamov put forth two rocky performances in the Isles’ losses in Game 2 and 3. The rookie netminder shined, turning aside 29 of the 30 shots he faced. He didn’t let in a goal until 17:25 of the third, after the Islanders had already built a comfortable four-goal lead.

The Islanders’ two wins in this first-round series against the Penguins have come with Sorokin in net.

“Every playoff game should have high-level concentration, high level of focus and be ready on 100 percent,” Sorokin said after the win, which evened the series 2-2. “It’s every league playoff game I play, junior or KHL or NHL, and so on.”

Penguins winger Kasperi Kapanen tested Sorokin early after jumping out on a partial breakaway, but the rookie made a pad save at the top of the crease. He came up big again at the end of the period, turning aside a shot from Jared McCann.

Ilya Sorokin came through for the Islanders with a big performance.

But Sorokin’s most impressive save of the night came on Penguins star Sidney Crosby in the second period. Crosby carried the puck across the crease, and Sorokin managed to track it the whole way, refusing to give an opening no matter how long the Pittsburgh star lingered.

“I think the big characteristic of Ilya is, and even shooting him on practice, is his quickness,” said Jordan Eberle, who recorded his first goal of the series in the win. “I mean, laterally, side to side, some of the saves he makes are pretty amazing. It’s impressive to see him, obviously, in his first playoff run. I know he’s been through it in Russia. But to have poise and just his confidence back there and just his calmness, he makes big saves for us, and he’s done it all year.”

The Islanders have been looking for Mathew Barzal to come alive this series, and though he’s progressed from game to game, the team’s top- line center opted for the pass instead of the shot a few more times than usual on Saturday.

Asked if he felt Barzal should be a bit more aggressive on the net, Trotz said “a little bit” but that he was pleased with the 23-year-old center’s contributions overall.

“I looked down at the sheet, and I saw that Matt had six attempts,” the coach said. “So he’s shooting the puck. I just think when he has the opportunity if he gets it he’s so creative at times that sometimes that creativity, he’s looking, doesn’t shoot it and then someone has to jump into a hole and he’s looking for that. You’re one stick away or one turnover away from going the other way.

“I thought he played a real strong game. I liked his compete, he was dangerous, I liked his puck management, his defensive play. He was firm in all those battles and he wasn’t drifting, he was staying under the puck.”

New York Post LOADED: 05.23.2021 1213855 New York Islanders

Dan Feeney’s ‘spectacular’ mullet, beer chugging goes viral as Jets watch Islanders

By Ryan Dunleavy

May 22, 2021 | 6:25pm | Updated

Forget about Zach Wilson’s perfectly coiffed blonde hair — did you see Dan Feeney’s “spectacular” mullet?

Wilson, Feeney and nine other Jets dressed in Islanders jerseys sat rink- side Saturday during the Islanders’ 4-1 win over the Penguins at Nassau Coliseum in Game 4 of the first-round Stanley Cup playoff series.

Feeney – a previously anonymous 26-year-old offensive lineman who signed as a free agent this offseason – went viral when television cameras caught him chugging a beer with a throwback hairstyle.

As the popular hockey podcast @spittinchiclets wrote, “Spectacular mullet.”

Feeney waved for the crowd to get loud as he finished off his drink, pounded the can on his head and screamed, “Let’s gooooo!”

Feeney was a third-round pick out of Indiana by the Chargers in 2017, but his actions Saturday will quickly establish himself as a cult hero among Jets fans. It will be even better if he plays well enough to seize a starting spot at guard on the offensive line.

“Dan Feeney is my new favorite player on the #Jets! Let’s go #Isles!” radio host Jake Asman wrote on Twitter.

Wilson was seen clapping his hands and taking a much calmer approach to the game. In fact, he was shown “aggressively chugging a bottle of water with teammates during a Jumbotron shoutout,” according to an ESPN reporter on the scene.

It’s noteworthy to see the Utah-raised Wilson embracing New York sports life and bonding with his teammates just two days before the on-field work begins in Phase 3 of OTAs at the Jets facility in Florham Park. Everything a rookie quarterback does is viewed through the prism of showing leadership.

Feeney started growing the mullet in Los Angeles last year and joked at the time that it was up to his girlfriend whether or not it stayed. Twitter has decided it must stay now.

“Isles are up 4-0 and they should never play again without Dan Feeney in attendance,” ESPN reporter Ashley Brewer tweeted.

New York Post LOADED: 05.23.2021 1213856 New York Islanders New York Post LOADED: 05.23.2021

Islanders rediscover mojo to tie series with Game 4 win over Penguins

By Mollie Walker

May 22, 2021 | 6:01PM

It took them until Game 4 of their first-round series against the Penguins, but the Islanders rediscovered their brand of hockey.

Rookie goaltender Ilya Sorokin made 29 saves and the Islanders showed the grip they can have on a game when they’re playing to their strengths in a 4-1 victory at Nassau Coliseum on Saturday afternoon.

The Islanders were heavy in all areas of the ice, suffocating along the boards and in control of their rushes. Oliver Wahlstrom and Ryan Pulock each had a goal and an assist as the Islanders’ signature style of play came through just in time to even up the series, 2-2, before the teams head back to Pittsburgh for Game 5 on Monday night.

“You had everybody engaged, and you had everybody contributing,” head coach Barry Trotz said after the win. “If you look at when we have success, everybody contributes and we rely on each other. There’s a great brotherhood in our in our room, and there’s a style that we play. Everybody has a piece of the big picture.”

After shaky outings from No. 1 goalie Semyon Varlamov in Games 2 and 3, Trotz opted to go back to Sorokin, who had started in the series- opening victory when Varlamov was held out for precautionary reasons.

Ryan Pulock celebrates his goal in the Islanders’ win over the Penguins in Game 4.

Sorokin, in just his second career playoff game, came up big barely a minute into the first period with a save on Kasperi Kapanen. He turned aside all eight shots he faced in the Islanders’ most complete first period of the series.

In stark contrast to the first three games of the series, the Islanders didn’t let up immediately after scoring. They protected their lead. In fact, they built on it.

After maintaining possession in the corner, Brock Nelson found Josh Bailey in the left faceoff circle for the quick shot that beat Penguins netminder Tristan Jarry for a 1-0 lead at 8:07 of the second period. There wasn’t much pushback from Pittsburgh as the Islanders continued to hound the puck into the offensive zone.

Later in the second, a shot by Wahlstrom rebounded right to Pulock’s stick. Pulock ripped the puck back in, and it deflected off the skate of Penguins defenseman Cody Ceci to double the score at 14:51.

“We don’t want to get down early,” Mathew Barzal said. “We’re trying to get that first goal. I think in a big game, guys were keeping it simple and getting pucks out, getting pucks in and not trying to do too much.”

Even when defenseman Scott Mayfield was questionably called for holding Penguins star Sidney Crosby just over four minutes into the third, giving Pittsburgh its first power play of the evening, the Islanders didn’t let up on their physicality.

Adam Pelech drew a tripping penalty to negate the play. That’s when the Penguins began to lose their heads. Penguins defenseman Kris Letang then took an interference penalty to give the Islanders a four-on-three advantage. During that stretch, Penguins center Teddy Blueger inadvertently tapped a Wahlstrom shot into the net to put the Islanders ahead 4-0.

“Whatever we did tonight, they’ve probably already forgotten about it, and they’re going to be fresh for Game 5,” Barzal said. “We’ve been in a few playoff series now the last few years, so we’ve got a feel on where our heads need to be at and just where our focus is at.

“We’ll enjoy this one, and then once we leave the rink tonight, it’s a tied series. Three-game series here. It’s gonna come down to three games here.”

1213857 New York Islanders

LI family gets playoff tickets from Islanders co-owner Jon Ledecky

By Andrew Gross [email protected] @AGrossNewsday

May 22, 2021 10:49 PM

Jayson Eisner of Merrick thought he was having a friendly, brief conversation with a restaurant owner.

Instead, the 17-year-old, his brothers, Zach, 24, and Josh, 22, and their father, Troy, 55, wound up with playoff tickets courtesy of Islanders’ co- owner Jon Ledecky.

"He’s a mensch," Troy Eisner said of Ledecky. "He’s a great guy."

Eisner and his sons were back at Nassau Coliseum on Saturday afternoon for the Islanders’ 4-1 win over the Penguins, tickets they had purchased before the first-round series began.

Island Ice: Newsday's podcast about the Islanders. Island Ice: Newsday's podcast about the Islanders.

Island Ice Ep. 89: Game 4 analysis as Isles even series with Penguins

Andrew Gross, Neil Best and Colin Stephenson discuss Game 4 of the Islanders-Penguins, a 4-1 win for the Isles that evened the first-round playoffs at 2-2.

But, on Thursday, without tickets for Game 3, the family decided to eat at Borrelli’s Restaurant Café & Pizzeria in East Meadow — a popular spot for Islanders’ fans close to the Coliseum — to be part of the playoff atmosphere.

The waitress told Troy Eisner that Ledecky was sitting at an adjoining table with a group that included Matt Lauer, the former host of NBC’s The Today Show. As game time neared, Ledecky got up to leave for the Coliseum while the Eisners prepared to order a pizza. Ledecky noticed they were all wearing Islanders’ gear and suggested they, too, should be leaving for the Coliseum.

That’s when Jayson Eisner said they didn’t have tickets.

"I didn’t even know it was him," Jayson Eisner said. "I thought it was the owner of the restaurant."

Ledecky asked the Eisners if they were vaccinated and then gave them a phone number to call. They were going to the game after all.

Before leaving, Ledecky posed for a group picture with the family, taken by Lauer.

At the Coliseum, the Eisners found themselves with tickets at center ice, sitting near former Islander Darius Kasparaitis.

"It was my youngest son’s first playoff game," said Troy Eisner, who added his family had season tickets during the Islanders’ Stanley Cup run from 1980-83. "You should have seen the smile on his face."

The story became public — albeit without the Eisners’ name included — when Troy Eisner called family friend Craig Carton to tell him what happened. Carton, the popular WFAN afternoon host, told the tale on radio on Friday.

"Someone told me he does this a lot," Troy Eisner said of Ledecky. "He wasn’t doing it for publicity. He didn’t know I was going to call up Carton."

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 05.23.2021 1213858 New York Islanders

Dialed-in Ilya Sorokin gives Islanders the confidence they needed in Game 4 vs. Penguins

By Colin Stephenson [email protected] @ColinSNewsday

Updated May 23, 2021 12:59 AM

It shouldn’t have been a surprise, after the way Game 3 went for the Islanders and Semyon Varlamov, to see Ilya Sorokin leading the Islanders onto the ice for warmups before Game 4 Saturday at the Nassau Coliseum.

And when Sorokin calmly and securely handled the first shot of the game from Pittsburgh’s Kasperi Kapanen a minute in, it was pretty evident this game would play out a little differently than Tuesday’s and Thursday’s, when Varlamov allowed questionable goals early in the first period and the Isles went on to lose both.

The Islanders won this one, 4-1, to even the best-of-seven series, 2-2, and Sorokin, who had started Game 1, which the Islanders won, allowed no soft goals and no goals at all until the final minutes of the game when the victory was already secured.

"We have confidence in him, but I think the whole bench said, ‘Hey, he’s dialed in, so we’ve got to be dialed in too,’’’ Barry Trotz said of the first save by Sorokin. "So, yeah, no question, it was nice to play with a lead for once in this series. We haven’t done a whole lot, so it was real key for us.’’

Andrew Gross, Neil Best and Colin Stephenson discuss Game 4 of the Islanders-Penguins, a 4-1 win for the Isles that evened the first-round playoffs at 2-2.

Not that Sorokin had to be spectacular. He made 29 saves, but other than the first one on Kapanen, he wasn’t really tested until the final three minutes or so, when the Isles were ahead by four goals.

The 25-year-old may be an NHL rookie, but he has proven himself in playoff hockey before, having won the , the championship of Russia’s KHL, in 2019. He was the playoff MVP that year, and he said Saturday that he didn’t see much difference playing in the NHL playoffs, as opposed to the KHL playoffs.

"Every playoff game, you should have high level concentration, high level focus, and be ready 100%,’’ said Sorokin, who learned on Friday that he would get the starting nod. "It’s every league playoff game I play, junior or KHL or NHL.’’

The 6,800 fans at the Coliseum Saturday chanted "Ilya, Ilya,’’ and gave him a nice hand after Zach Aston-Reese’s short-handed deflection goal spoiled his shutout bid with 2:35 remaining. The crowd was the largest Sorokin has played in front of this season.

"Finally, we see fans in the game,’’ he said. "It’s very exciting because we play for the fans, and when you see [them] and you hear how loud it is, you feel energy. And… I just enjoyed the game, and enjoyed the moment.’’

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 05.23.2021 1213859 New York Islanders Sorokin did not play in Game 3, so this was his first chance to take the ice with a close-to-normal Coliseum vibe.

"Finally, we see fans at the game," he said. "It’s very exciting, because Jets' Dan Feeney gets party started inside Nassau Coliseum for we play for the fans and when you see and hear (the loudness), you feel Islanders' Game 4 victory energy . . . I just enjoy the game and enjoy the moment."

Just like Dan Feeney, Zach Wilson and their now-fellow Islanders fans everywhere. By Neil Best

Updated May 22, 2021 8:16 PM Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 05.23.2021

Dan Feeney grew up near Chicago, went to college at Indiana and most recently played for the Chargers.

But on Saturday, he became an honorary Long Islander – and he just might be a meme the Islanders take with them on the road to bigger and better playoff things ahead.

On a wild afternoon at Nassau Coliseum, the recently signed Jets offensive lineman, standing beside rookie quarterback Zach Wilson, spoke for most of the building and beyond in the second period when he chugged a (presumably adult) beverage, slammed the container against his mullet-coiffed head and let out an epic cheer – all of it captured on national television.

That as well as anything summed up the day for the home team, which began the afternoon facing the possibility of playing the last game ever at the Coliseum and ended it with a rousing 4-1 victory over the Penguins.

The result tied the teams’ first-round playoff series at 2-2 and ensured at least one more Islanders game at the Coliseum – Game 6 on Wednesday night.

"I’ll tell you what: What a great atmosphere," coach Barry Trotz said when it was over. "They gave us some juice tonight. They were fantastic."

Attendance again was limited to 6,800 or so, but it did not seem to matter.

"The crowd is a big factor in this building, and (they) have to continue to give us their best," Trotz said. "We’ll give our best; they’ve got to give their best. I thought they did today."

Trotz then referenced "the Jets players having a ball at a hockey game" and the Islanders alumni in the house, including Matt Moulson, Richie Hansen, Shawn Bates and Marty Reasoner.

Of course, the party would have been a dud had not the Islanders taken care of business on the ice.

They did, getting off to their best start of the series, playing lockdown defense in front of rookie goaltender Ilya Sorokin and coming at the Pens in waves, with help from every corner of the roster.

It was the Islanders playing the way they were built to play, and it bodes well for their chances in what is now a best-of-three series, starting Monday in Pittsburgh.

"If you look at when we have success, everybody contributes, and we rely on each other," Trotz said. "There’s a great brotherhood in our room and everybody has a piece of the big picture.

"All four lines, when they’re contributing and playing the right way and invested, that’s when we have the best chance to win most nights."

There are no guarantees, of course. These are evenly matched teams, only one of which has Sidney Crosby in its lineup.

"It’s a pretty veteran group over on the other side," Mathew Barzal said, "so whatever we did tonight, they’ve probably already forgotten about it and they’re going to be fresh for Game 5."

But the Islanders do have at least one more game in the series at their not-so-secret weapon of an arena.

"Coming out, you hear them chanting; it’s a fun place to play," Jordan Eberle said. "We fed off their intensity right from puck drop."

Said Trotz, "It was hard not to be excited today. The crowd and the atmosphere in this building is absolutely fantastic." 1213860 New York Islanders get through the neutral zone and allow our forecheck to get in there and play with energy."

Brock Nelson’s forecheck set up Josh Bailey from the left circle to make it Islanders even playoff series with dominating Game 4 win over Penguins 1-0 at 8:07 of the second period. Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry (23 saves) complained that Anthony Beauvillier interfered with him, but Penguins defenseman Kris Letang pushed Beauvillier into his goalie, knocking Jarry back into his net. By Andrew Gross The Islanders then took full control in the third period with the two power- [email protected] @AGrossNewsday play goals. Updated May 23, 2021 12:18 AM Oliver Wahlstrom was credited with a four-on-three goal at 6:04 that the Penguins’ Teddy Blueger knocked into his own net to make it 3-0. Eberle followed with a five-on-four power-play goal 24 seconds later. Semyon Varlamov waited at the end of the celebration line as, one-by- one, the Islanders congratulated rookie goalie Ilya Sorokin after the final Said Trotz, "It was more of an Islanders type of victory." buzzer.

Finally, it was Varlamov’s turn. He threw up his arms and the two Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 05.23.2021 Russians shared a lingering victory hug before joining their teammates at center ice to salute a giddy Nassau Coliseum sellout crowd of 6,800 that included Jets quarterback Zach Wilson and some of his new teammates as well as popular Islanders alumni Matt Moulson, Shawn Bates, Marty Reasoner and Long Island’s Richie Hansen.

The Islanders’ total team effort — a strong start, balanced scoring, structured defense and an edge in special teams — was the story in Saturday afternoon’s dominating 4-1 win over the Penguins in Game 4 of their first-round series.

But the Islanders would not have sent the series back to Pittsburgh for Monday night’s Game 5 tied at 2-2 — which guaranteed at least one more NHL playoff game at the Coliseum — without Sorokin’s 29-save effort.

Island Ice: Newsday's podcast about the Islanders. Island Ice: Newsday's podcast about the Islanders.

Island Ice Ep. 89: Game 4 analysis as Isles even series with Penguins

Andrew Gross, Neil Best and Colin Stephenson discuss Game 4 of the Islanders-Penguins, a 4-1 win for the Isles that evened the first-round playoffs at 2-2.

"He’s been solid in there all year," said Jordan Eberle, one of four goal- scorers for the Islanders. "His quickness and laterally, side to side, some of the saves he makes are pretty amazing. It’s impressive to see him in his first playoff run. I know he’s been through it in Russia. To have his poise and his confidence back there and just his calmness. He makes big saves for us."

Sorokin came within 2:35 of his first NHL playoff shutout — he led CSKA Moscow to the KHL’s Gagarin Cup and was named the playoff MVP in 2019 — before Zach Aston-Reese capped the scoring with a shorthanded goal.

Coach Barry Trotz went back to Sorokin after Varlamov was in net for Games 2 and 3, giving up questionable early goals in each loss. Sorokin made 39 saves in the Islanders’ 4-3 win in Game 1 in Pittsburgh and likely will start Game 5 in what has become a best-of-three series.

"It’s a pretty veteran group over on the other side," said Mathew Barzal, who had two assists on the 2-for-5 power play. "So whatever we did tonight, they’ve probably already forgotten about it and they’re going to be fresh for Game 5. We’ve been in a few playoff series now the last few years, so we’ve kind of got a feel on where our heads need to be at and just where our focus is at.

"Once we leave the rink tonight, it’s a three-game series here."

The Islanders gave themselves a blueprint on how they can advance to the next round. They were hard on the puck and playing up ice from the opening faceoff, as compared to sluggish first periods in the first three games. The team that scored first has won all four games in this series.

"I thought we came out with a really good mindset," Trotz said. "We managed the puck really well. We got off to a better start. There wasn’t much room out there on both sides in that first period. In the second period, we started getting a little more traction and scored the first goal, which is key for us."

"We did a good job in all ends of the ice and in the neutral zone," said defenseman Ryan Pulock, whose shot from the left circle at 14:51 of the second period gave the Islanders a 2-0 lead. "We’ve got to make sure we 1213861 New York Islanders

Jets rookie Zach Wilson, offensive line bond at Game 4 of Islanders- Penguins at Coliseum

By Colin Stephenson [email protected] @ColinSNewsday

Updated May 22, 2021 8:09 PM

If you were a rookie quarterback, looking for a fun way to bond with your new offensive line buddies, what could be better than going to an NHL playoff game at the Old Barn?

Jets quarterback Zach Wilson and a bunch of his offensive linemen took in Game 4 of the Islanders-Penguins Saturday afternoon at the Nassau Coliseum. Wilson didn’t feel like talking to the media, but tackle Conor McDermott didn’t mind.

"It’s fun being out with the guys and the camaraderie of it,’’ said the 6-8, 310-pound McDermott, who grew up in Nashville and described himself as "a diehard’’ Predators fan. "I’m buddies with most of the guys on the (Predators) team, and Nashville’s turning into a hockey town, so I’m a big hockey guy, and I love it.’’

McDermott said Jets guard Greg Van Roten, a Rockville Centre native, organized the team outing.

Members of the New York Jets football team Members of the New York Jets football team

"He set up this week and asked who wanted to come, and we got the O- line and a couple ,’’ McDermott said. "We get the guys together and have bonding time, and it’s the playoffs. It’s great. It’s turning me into an Isles fan.’’

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 05.23.2021 1213862 New York Islanders Game 1. He’s been noticeable — the Penguins have 63 percent of the shot attempts (80-47) with Crosby on the ice at even strength so far this series — but not as dangerous as you’d think.

Ilya Sorokin snuffs out Pens’ attack and other takeaways from a With Evgeni Malkin compromised by a knee injury, Crosby is running the commanding Isles performance Penguins’ show, and it seems the Islanders know it. They don’t want him to have the puck in the offensive zone as much as he has, but the Isles haven’t let him do a ton with it to this point, which sounds somewhat like how the 2019 first-round series went. By Arthur Staple Crosby has 11 points in 13 career playoff games against the Islanders. May 22, 2021 Nine of those came in the five games he played in the 2013 first round, when the top-seeded Penguins pulled out a six-game win over the plucky Isles. Crosby was a huge difference then. This was Islanders hockey all the way through. From a low-event first period that didn’t see much excitement either way to a couple of We’re now eight playoff meetings deep between these teams in the past opportunistic second-period goals to the 4-1 final that evened the series three postseasons, and Crosby’s line is 1-1-2. If the Islanders pull this with the Penguins at 2-2, the Islanders had the most dominating game out, Trotz will have once again done a number on the NHL player he either team has had in the series so far. respects perhaps more than any other.

Let’s discuss. Pelech-Pulock pull it together

Sorokin’s net The Adam Pelech–Ryan Pulock pair has been pinned in its own end by Crosby’s line plenty this series (see above), but the Isles’ top defense Ilya Sorokin was the clear-cut choice to start Game 4 after Semyon pair looked much more like itself Saturday. The duo was hard on the Varlamov gave up five goals on 27 shots in the Game 3 loss. It was Penguins players who crashed the Isles’ net front, the exits were much Sorokin’s first home playoff game and first game in front of a raucous crisper and Pulock contributed a huge goal to make it 2-0 in the second. Coliseum crowd, and he was cool as could be. Barry Trotz has cited Sorokin’s pro experience in Russia, where he backstopped CSKA Scott Mayfield is still the Isles’ best defenseman through four games, but Moscow to a Gagarin Cup two years ago, as a reason the 25-year-old he had a lot of help Saturday. The Islanders looked like the Islanders in isn’t likely to be fazed by the NHL postseason moments. the defensive zone.

“He’s not a pure rookie coming in,” Trotz said. And on Mayfield: All GMs grade out postseason play much more crucially than the regular season. Mayfield had a rough season; the way he’s Sorokin turned aside Kasperi Kapanen’s wrist shot off the rush a minute played through these four games is a reminder that this is when future into Game 4. He kept his net well in shuffling over to deny Sidney Crosby decisions are primarily made for teams that regularly make the playoffs. If on a close-in rebound try in the second. There were a couple of strong you wonder why Mayfield ends up being protected in the Seattle saves on Bryan Rust in the closing minutes. But that was it as far as expansion draft over Nick Leddy, this sequence of games will be a big danger was concerned. Sorokin snuffed out the volume the Penguins like reason. to throw on goal, either covering long shots for whistles or turning rebounds to safe spots. The Islanders were much better in the defensive Wally world zone and neutral zone than they’d been in the previous three games, Oliver Wahlstrom had a tough past couple of games, and the beginning which helped. of Game 4 wasn’t looking much better for him. When Trotz and veteran “Every playoff game, you have a high level of concentration and focus, NHL players use the “playoffs is a different level” cliche, they’re right — and you have to be ready 100 percent — doesn’t matter if it’s in juniors, Wahlstrom has been engaged, he’s been physical, but he hadn’t yet the KHL or the NHL,” Sorokin said. understood that things move at a faster pace this time of year.

Safe to say he’ll be back in net for Monday’s Game 5 in Pittsburgh. He was in it from the second period on Saturday. His smart shot off the Beyond that, it’s hard to predict. But if Sorokin leads the Islanders to the rush forced Jarry to kick a rebound out to Pulock on the second goal. second round or beyond, Lou Lamoriello’s thoughts on the offseason And he uncorked a big shot that Teddy Blueger helpfully shoveled into might take a turn. Varlamov has two years left at a $5 million cap hit, and the net on the rebound in the third, another example of being smart about Sorokin is a restricted free agent who’s arbitration-eligible; a long playoff putting pucks into dangerous areas. run with Sorokin in net should come with a cash register sound in the Mathew Barzal had an impactful game with an assist and some real background every time he wins another playoff game. speed getting into open spaces. But three times in the first two periods So the rest of this series could have implications beyond whether the he passed up a shot from 20-25 feet out and with traffic in front of Jarry. Isles simply advance to the East Division final. Those plays didn’t cost the Isles on Saturday but perhaps will serve as a reminder to Barzal that, like Wahlstrom, you just need to rip it sometimes. Bad boy Brock

Watching Brock Nelson play his best game of the series and also doing the things that have pegged him as a sneaky troublemaker over his The Athletic LOADED: 05.23.2021 recent playoff career makes one think the Isles’ No. 2 center is in the right headspace. Who can forget this gem from the Carolina series in 2019 — one that backfired hard on Nelson after the sweep, mind you, but still was a surprise to some:

Dougie Hamilton tagged him back in the handshake line after the Isles were eliminated. Nelson was at it again after Josh Bailey’s icebreaker in the second on Saturday, taking the long way around to the post-goal celebration to make sure Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry and Kris Letang heard from him.

It’s far more important that Nelson contribute the way he did Saturday, with a crucial assist and a strong game against Crosby’s line, which was shut out for the second straight game. But keep an eye on the pot- stirring. It’s a secret Nelson specialty.

Shutting down Sid

Crosby did have that dangerous chance in the second, but that was about all for him on Saturday. The Penguins have scored 11 goals in four games, and Crosby has one point: his deft, one-handed deflection in 1213863 New York Islanders

Matt Moulson Remains a Fan Favorite Among Islanders Fans

Published 8 hours ago on May 22, 2021

By Christian Arnold

UNIONDALE, N.Y. — New York’s newest sports star Zach Wilson was on hand for Game 4 between the New York Islanders and Pittsburgh Penguins, but on the Nassau Coliseum concourse on Saturday afternoon it was former Islanders forward Matt Moulson that everyone was lining up to see.

The fan-favorite who played parts of five seasons with the Isles during the mid-2000s was on hand for Saturday’s game, which could be one of the last ever played at the Nassau Coliseum. The affinity of the fans never seemed to disappear either, even after he was traded to Buffalo early on during the 2013-14 season.

He was reminded of that again on Saturday as he stood on the Coliseum concourse with a line of fans waiting for pictures and autographs. And even more, walked by shouting his name and asked him to jump on the ice to help the team out.

“I think that was the most nervous I’ve been in my career so far,” Matt Moulson said about the reception he received. Moulson received the loudest ovation of the day when he was featured on the video board during the first period.

“It’s just awesome to be back obviously,” Moulson said. “I enjoyed every minute I was on the Island and to hear an ovation like that it’s very much appreciated.”

Moulson had been a member of the islanders during the team’s first go- around with Pittsburgh in 2013 and he had originally been a Pittsburgh draft pick in 2003. The 2013 season had been the first time the Islanders had made the playoffs

On Saturday, the 6,800 appeared to match the intensity that Matt Moulson felt during that series eight years ago.

“I think this crowd is bringing pretty comparable noise level to that crowd,” Moulson said. “It’s a very energetic bunch and obviously happy to be back in the building. To have all these fans be able to attend a playoff game is huge.”

The Islanders’ time left at the Nassau Coliseum will be dependent on how far they go in the postseason. Saturday’s 4-1 victory meant that the Islanders are guaranteed at least one more game at their longtime home.

Next season they move down the street to UBS Arena, which is in its final stages of construction next to the famed Belmont Park. It meant the visit was a bit of a bitter-sweet occasion for Moulson.

“It’s sad obviously with all the history here,” said Moulson, who witnessed some of the team’s previous attempts at renovating the Nassau Coliseum. “But I’ve been following pretty closely the new building and it looks unbelievable. I’m sure they’ll make some history there as well.”

NYI Hockey NowLOADED: 05.23.2021 1213864 New York Islanders NYI Hockey NowLOADED: 05.23.2021

Islanders Dominating Effort Too Much For Pens in Game 4 Win

Published 9 hours ago on May 22, 2021

By Christian Arnold

UNIONDALE, N.Y. — When the New York Islanders needed to most, they stepped up.

The Islanders’ offensive exploded for four goals and Ilya Sorokin made 29 saves in a 4-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 4 at the Nassau Coliseum. The effort was the best the Islanders have had in the series and sends it back to Pittsburgh even at 2-2.

The New York Islanders scored twice on the power play on Saturday, Jordan Eberle finally found the back of the net and Oliver Wahlstrom also scored his first career playoff goal.

“I think we did a good job on all ends of the ice,” Ryan Pulock said. “In the neutral zone. It’s tight out there. They’re playing well and we have to make sure we get through the neutral zone and to our forecheck… I thought we did a good job all the way through.”

It was a radical departure from Game 2 and Game 3 where the Islanders allowed goals within the first five minutes of the opening faceoff and spent most of the nights playing from behind. The Islanders took command of the game early in the first period and at one point had held a 5-1 advantage in shots.

New York finished the game with 27 shots on goal.

“It was more of an Islander type of victory,” Islanders head coach Barry Trotz said. “Just last game had some momentum swings that you usually don’t see that many when we’re on our game. We were working toward that and I think we got closer to that today.”

Sorokin made a number of strong saves throughout the night in the second playoff start of his NHL career. He was 2:35 away from a shutout before Pittsburgh finally found the back of the net.

“Yesterday I felt good, I had a good practice and I was ready,” Sorokin said about his mindset for Game 4.

It was the second period that the Islanders began to open things up. First Josh Bailey scored his second of the series off a pass from the corner from Brock Nelson. Tristan Jarry was caught deep in his net after Anthony Beauvillier was pushed into him by a Pittsburgh defender and Bailey managed to sneak the shot by.

The Islanders extended the lead to two goals with 5:09 left in the second period. Oliver Wahlstrom put a shot on net and the rebound went right to Ryan Pulock, who fired the puck off a Pittsburgh skater and past Jarry.

New York scored its first of two power-play goals early in the third period. Wahlstrom had a one-timer stopped by Jarry by the rebound was put into the net by Teddy Blueger and gave the Islanders a 3-0 lead at the 6:04 mark.

The New York Islanders capitalized 24 seconds later when Mathew Barzal found Eberle in the slot to make it a 4-0 game. The goal was Eberle’s first of the series and followed up a strong effort he had in game 3 on Thursday.

Zach Aston-Reese was the only Pittsburgh player to score on Saturday, ending Sorokin’s shutout bid at the 17:25 mark.

The Game 4 victory guarantees that the Islanders will play at least one more game at the Nassau Coliseum this season. The Islanders are scheduled to move into UBS Arena in the fall, ending the team’s second run at the Coliseum.

“The crowd is a big factor in this building and they have to continue to give us their best,” Trotz said. “We’ll give our best, they have to give their best and I think they gave it today.”

Game 5 will take place on Monday at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh.

1213865 New York Islanders

Playoff Gameday: Islanders Game 4 Lines, Matchups and Game Notes vs Pens

Published 17 hours ago on May 22, 2021

By Christian Arnold

It’s basically a must-win game for the New York Islanders.

Game 4 gets underway between the Islanders and Pittsburgh Penguins in a mere few hours with the Islanders trailing 2-1 in the series. New York dropped back-to-back games, including an emotionally charged comeback loss in Game 3 on Long Island.

The New York Islanders will need to find a way to replicate the way they played in the third period without allowing Pittsburgh to answer back and stifle any momentum they had picked up from goals tying the game twice on Thursday. Part of the Islanders’ problems has stemmed from their slow starts in the first period, which found them forced to play from behind after early goals against in the first period.

“We’ve been chasing the series the whole time,” Islanders head coach Barry Trotz said on Friday. “So, when you do that, you leave yourself exposed because you’re pushing a little harder in some areas. But, at the same time, we can tighten up some stuff.”

The Islanders allowed a goal 3:22 into the game on Tuesday in a 2-1 loss in Game 2 and Semyon Varlamov allowed another one early, this time 2:01 into the first, on Thursday in Game 3. Both were soft goals to allow by the veteran goaltender.

Varlamov’s play has led to calls from some, including NYI Hockey Now’s own Stefen Rosner, to put Ilya Sorokin in net for Game 4. Trotz didn’t reveal who he was going to play today, but he didn’t appear too overwhelmed by Varlamov.

“Well, I wish we could’ve gotten another save or two,” Trotz said. “Or maybe it was just one short again. They’re tough, lot of traffic, those type of things, but it just wasn’t his night.”

Trotz is expected to go with the same lineup for Game 4 this afternoon. Mike Sullivan is expected to field the same lineup with Tristan Jarry back in goal.

NYI Hockey Now LOADED: 05.23.2021 1213866 New York Rangers Despite all of the candidates on that list having won the Stanley Cup while none on the other has done so?

Apparently extremely late to the party on this, but there is an David Quinn deserves second NHL chance after Rangers firing undercurrent suggesting Joel Quenneville has his sights set on moving to Seattle to become the coach of the Kraken once his season is over with Florida, which might explain why Seattle general manager Ron Francis has moved so slowly on this hiring. By Larry Brooks If the Puddy Tats let Quenneville get away, and certainly so if this is May 22, 2021 | 3:29pm | Updated related to money, then perhaps we should all rethink whether Aleksander Barkov is a slam-dunk to re-up with the Panthers before he becomes eligible to hit the open market a year from July. Can you imagine the uproar had David Quinn played a player like Leo Komarov on the Rangers’ first line the way that Barry Trotz has routinely Of course the Lightning followed the letter of the law with their long-term slotted the plugger onto the Islanders’ top unit since late in the regular injured reserve shenanigans regarding Nikita Kucherov, and please stop season? with the nonsensical premise that he could not have played the final week or two of the regular season, because how would anyone possibly Say after me: Often it is not as much about what the coach does as who know that? the coach is. Oh, his agent and the team said so? The stream of emails and messages from furious fans excoriating Quinn while lauding Trotz following this season’s stream of one-sided Battles of Well, then that’s a horse of a different color, Dorothy. New York provided chuckles, chortles and guffaws. Where would David Quinn best fit next? Post a comment. Quinn was in his third season behind an NHL bench while Trotz was in But you know who else followed the letter of the collective bargaining his 22nd in a sure-shot Hall of Fame career that began, by the way, with agreement law? The Devils when they signed Ilya Kovalchuk to those his Predators winning just two playoff rounds in his 15 seasons behind two, front-loaded $100 million-plus deals in 2010. the Nashville bench. And they were persecuted and selectively prosecuted for circumvention So it can take some time, and I hope that Quinn, who is itching for (with help from cooperating witness Brian Burke, then GM of the big- another shot behind an NHL bench, gets it. market Maple Leafs), because, in broad strokes, Sixth Avenue had no I said this on our “Up in the Blue Seats” podcast last week, and it bears use for New Jersey’s Jeff Vanderbeek ownership. repeating: David Quinn is the person you would choose as your brother, Once the team was sold, applied penalties were wiped off the slate. your best friend. Islanders searching for momentum after roller-coaster Game 3 loss The question is not whether an NHL general manager would choose to hire him as his head coach. The question is which team would mutually Here is what the rule should be: A team can have a postseason roster grow with Quinn. that is over the cap, but game lineups must be compliant.

Was about to report that Paul Maurice would be added to the list of The NHL: No rules in the playoffs. Rangers coaching candidates were he to be dismissed following a potential Jets’ first-round ouster, but this just in: Connor McDavid says Except that is, the ones continually flaunted by Colorado’s Nazem Kadri, Maurice should make the move from Winnipeg to Broadway immediately. generally a regular-season asset who devolves into an undisciplined train wreck in the tournament, now suspended for the third time within his past You do understand that the mayhem the NHL authorizes on the ice every four postseason appearances. night of the playoffs, in which players are permitted to hack, rough, interfere and throw punches without consequence, would be tantamount Finally, let’s hope that neither Turner nor ESPN, the networks that will to Major League allowing — nay, encouraging — pitchers to split the NHL’s national package beginning next year, would cut away throw a stream of 100 mph pitches at batters’ heads during its playoffs from a star player berating his team’s goaltender after a gaffe in overtime because of, well, “intensity,” don’t you? as Alex Ovechkin did to Ilya Samsonov immediately following the Capitals’ Game 3 defeat to the Bruins. How do you think the 1980 Islanders, a team that could look after itself as well as any in NHL history, would have made out against the Flyers And as that scene unfolded, all I was thinking was that Ovechkin was operating under today’s see-no-evil environment? fortunate that the goalie wasn’t Alexandar Georgiev.

Probably not so well in light of the fact that those Islanders were awarded 40(!) power plays in the six-game finals against the Flyers, overwhelming New York Post LOADED: 05.23.2021 beleaguered goaltenders and by scoring 15 power-play goals(!!) in the series, including five(!!!) in the 6-2, Game 3 victory at the Coliseum.

Which reminds me: I must have poked too much fun at Myre at some point of his career, for upon arriving at the press box in Detroit during one of those playoff runs in the Scotty Bowman era, Myre, then working as a scout, was standing in front of my assigned seat while having a conversation with Red Wings broadcaster Paul Woods.

After waiting a fair amount of time, I mentioned to Myre that he was blocking my seat. He took a look at the place card with my name, glanced at Woods, turned to me, scrunched up his face and said, “It figures.”

OK, you’re hiring a head coach for your hypothetical NHL team, but you can pick only one from either Column A or Column B:

Column A: Roger Neilson, Emile Francis, Alain Vigneault, Paul Maurice, .

Column B: Al MacNeil, Claude Ruel, Jean Perron, , Tom Johnson.

Is anyone choosing a coach from Column B? 1213867

Hayes set for sports hernia surgery, per source

BY JORDAN HALL

FLYERS

Kevin Hayes will undergo sports hernia surgery next week in Philadelphia, according to a source.

Players can typically resume full activities six weeks after such a procedure.

"It's going to be a minor surgery," Hayes said May 11 in his end-of-the- season press conference. "Something that we'll fix and we'll be fine."

The Flyers' 29-year-old center had 31 points (12 goals, 19 assists), a minus-2 rating and 127 shots (second on the team) over 55 games this season. Last season, Hayes had 32 points (17 goals, 15 assists), a minus-11 rating and 136 shots through 55 games. He finished 2019-20 with 41 points and was on pace to break his career high of 25 goals (he had 23 in 69 games) before the season was suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic.

In 2020-21, as the Flyers surrendered the NHL's most goals per game at 3.52, Hayes admitted he wasn't pleased with his defensive consistency. One would think the hernia issue started to hinder his game, although Hayes didn't pin anything on the injury.

"I just think it was kind of a mix of everything, the type of season the team had, the type of season the league had, a bunch of different factors," Hayes said. "I felt like my first year in Philly was amazing, it was a great start to my career here, and this year was kind of a little hiccup, not the way I wanted it to go obviously. I want to be a guy that's relied on every single night and a guy that plays the right way, 200-foot game. This year, I can't honestly say that that was the case. I'm kind of going to get away from the rink for a little bit and then get back after I feel better. Get back to work and start working toward next season."

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 05.23.2021 1213868 Philadelphia Flyers Laperriere, 47, has been known to be a good buffer between the players and head coach/management, going back to 2012 when he first started working in the Flyers' player development. He relates well with the players and works well with those above him, which makes him a quality There's time on Patrick, the Phantoms' gig, more in 3 Flyers thoughts candidate. There's a reason why he has stayed in the organization through a regime change.

A guess at another candidate: BY JORDAN HALL John Torchetti, who worked in the Wild organization under Fletcher and

Flyers assistant general manager Brent Flahr when the two were in FLYERS Minnesota. Torchetti, 56, coached the Wild's AHL affiliate and also took Fletcher's 2015-16 Minnesota team to the playoffs in 27 games of interim As the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs continue, the Flyers' offseason of duties. Torchetti gave the Flyers a tip on their 2020 fifth-round pick Elliot looming questions goes onward. Desnoyers.

Despite there being no playoff hockey in Philadelphia, there never seems And perhaps the Flyers would consider promoting Nick Schultz in some to be a dull day. capacity. The 38-year-old is a Flyers player development coach and well- respected. Let's get into our latest three Flyers thoughts. 3. Weirdly watching the playoffs 1. Further patience with Patrick For only the second time in his 11-year NHL career, Justin Braun is not Nolan Patrick didn't sugarcoat the meaning of this summer. competing in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. "It'll be the most important offseason of my life, for sure," Patrick said last Braun has played in 100 career playoff games between his time with the week at his end-of-the-season press conference. "The last couple of Sharks and Flyers. years were tough, so I'm looking forward to having a healthy summer of training. The 34-year-old was one of the Flyers' steadiest defensemen throughout 2020-21, a season in which the club struggled mightily to prevent goals, "Train, be able to do everything, it's exciting. It's been a long time." giving up a staggering NHL-worst 3.52 per game. General manager Chuck Fletcher mentioned the positive fact of Patrick This is a big offseason and season ahead for Braun. He could be being able to get through the season from a physical standpoint. After not snagged by the Kraken in the expansion draft. In 2021-22, he'll be on an playing an NHL game in over 650 days as he recovered from a migraine expiring contract after re-signing with the Flyers last October for two disorder, Patrick played in 52 of the Flyers' 56 games this season. The years. significance of that shouldn't be forgotten. Braun has been a key guy to the Flyers' goal-prevention efforts. It'll be But Patrick's effectiveness on the ice fell short. The 22-year-old center interesting to see if he gets another playoff run with the Flyers. In the finished with nine points (four goals, five assists) and a minus-30 rating. club's regular-season finale last week, Braun suffered a fracture to his left Defenseman Erik Gustafsson finished with more points (10) over 24 foot when he blocked a shot in the first period. He said the recovery games before he was dealt to the Canadiens at the April 12 trade should be a standard four weeks. deadline, so there's no denying the disappointment in Patrick's production. The 2017 second overall pick admitted frustration with how "Brauner has a certain skill set and he maximizes that skill set," Flyers his season transpired, that offensive production did weigh on his mind, head coach Alain Vigneault said after the finale. "Plays the right way, coupled with the other mental and physical challenges of returning from does a lot of little things that might go unnoticed to the usual fan, but in his injury. the game and the way players analyze it, and coaching staff and management analyze it, there are so many subtle, right things that he Fletcher said Patrick wasn't cleared to play until just before January's six- does all the time. That's why he's respected by his peers and the day training camp started. Last offseason, Patrick was able to participate coaching staff." in daily scrimmages in Brandon, Manitoba, but going full steam ahead is another thing.

"It was really hard, I feel like I came in behind the 8-ball," Patrick said of Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 05.23.2021 this season. "I was struggling to find my game and clearly didn't adjust great and get back to the top of my game quick. And it showed."

Many deemed this season the prove-it year for Patrick, but that should truly come in 2021-22. He'll have what should be a normal summer and regular season. He's a restricted free agent this offseason, which features an NHL expansion draft.

So there are decisions ahead and the future is uncertain, but NHL teams don't give up very easily on young talent. It just doesn't happen often and for good reasons. Many have urged patience with Carter Hart and his delicate age of 22. There will be continued patience with the 22-year-old Patrick.

There was a sense of hopefulness around Patrick's 2020-21 season. Now, there's more of an expectation for Patrick to perform in 2021-22. We'll see where the offseason and regular season take it, but neither side is jumping ship just yet.

"I'm a huge fan of Patty," Claude Giroux said last week. "He's got the all the skill set, big body, he competes every night. That's a guy you want to go to battle with. For me personally with Patty, I'm very excited to see him play and come to camp next year."

2. The Phantom of the bench

With the Flyers and Scott Gordon mutually agreeing to part ways Tuesday, the organization is seeking a new bench boss at its AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley. Tony Androckitis of InsideAHLHockey.com reported that Flyers assistant coach Ian Laperriere is the lead candidate to be the Phantoms' next head coach. 1213869 Pittsburgh Penguins

Penguins top line struggling to produce goals

SETH RORABAUGH

Saturday, May 22, 2021 9:08 p.m.

UNIONDALE, N.Y — Arguably, the most consistent offensive force for the Pittsburgh Penguins over the course of the regular season was their top line of Jake Guentzel, Sidney Crosby and Bryan Rust.

Guentzel and Rust were the only members of the team who appeared in all 56 games during the regular season, and Crosby played in 55. Not coincidentally Crosby (24), Guentzel (23) and Rust (22) were the team’s three leading goal scorers.

Yet, through four games of their first-round playoff series against the New York Islanders, Crosby and Rust have been limited to one goal apiece. Guentzel, a prolific record-setting postseason scorer earlier in his career, has yet to find the back of the net this spring.

During Saturday’s 4-1 loss in Game 4 at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, that line did well in terms of puck possession. According to Natural Stat Trick, the trio was on the ice for 19 shot attempts for and nine shots attempt against.

“I thought today, we had some good looks,” Crosby said via video conference. “(The Islanders) are not going to give you a ton. So when you get an opportunity, you’ve got to capitalize, you have to execute. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to do that. We had some really good looks in the second (period) before they scored. We’ve just to execute. That’s really what it comes down to.”

Guentzel, who has absorbed a fair amount of physical abuse from the Islanders this series, leads the team with 19 shots this postseason.

“Jake finds ways to get chances every night,” Sullivan said. “He’s had a handful of chances in this series. He hasn’t converted on them to this point. He’s had a number of pretty good looks. It’s going to take just hard work and ‘stick-to-it-ness.’

“We’ve just got to stay with it. I don’t think we were quite as sharp tonight. We didn’t have as many looks tonight as we had in the first few games. We’re going to have to work for those moving forward. But these guys are good offensive players.”

After the Islanders went with typical starter Semyon Varlamov for Games 2 and 3, each losses, they placed their faith in Ilya Sorokin for Game 4 and he delivered by making 29 saves on 30 shots.

He was also in net for Game 1, a 4-3 overtime win at PPG Paints Arena in which he made 39 saves on 42 shots.

While Varlamov is a rookie, the 25-year-old has plenty of experience having won the gold medal for Russia in the 2018 Olympics as well as the Kontinental Hockey League’s (KHL) championship in 2019.

“He enjoys those moments, just like (Varlamov) does,” Islanders coach Barry Trotz said. “He’s not a guy that is a pure rookie coming into the NHL or these high-pressure situations. He’s had a lot of them. As we’ve brought him along, he just feels very comfortable.”

The Penguins broke up Sorokin’s shutout bid with a short-handed goal by forward Zach Aston-Reese at 17:25 of the third period.

Off the rush, Penguins defenseman Brian Dumoulin fired a wrister from the left circle that Sorokin knocked down with his glove. On the ensuing rebound, Aston-Reese was able to poke the puck in for his first career postseason goal.

It marked the Penguins’ first short-handed postseason score in more than four years. Their last goal on the penalty kill was by Matt Cullen in a 6-2 road win against the Washington Capitals in Game 2 of a second- round series April 29, 2017.

Tribune Review LOADED: 05.23.2021 1213870 Pittsburgh Penguins Goaltending: Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry gave up four goals against New York for the third time in the series.

As mentioned, two of those goals went in off of his teammates. And Tim Benz: No Penguins panic yet, but reasons to grouse Islanders forward Anthony Beauvillier bumped into him on the fourth goal after he was shoved by Kris Letang.

Unlike the Game 1 loss, though, other issues from Game 4 seem to be TIM BENZ more pressing than Jarry’s goaltending.

Saturday, May 22, 2021 8:14 p.m. Meanwhile, the Islanders are now 2-0 in the series when Ilya Sorokin is the starting goaltender. He stopped 29 of 30 shots Saturday. I’ve been

saying since he was benched at the start of Game 2 for Semyon The Penguins’ Evgeni Malkin face washes the Islanders’ Cal Clutterbuck Varlamov that Barry Trotz had made a mistake. in the first period of Game 4 on Saturday. Putting Sorokin back between the pipes for Game 4 was the right I suppose if you predict a series to go seven games, the team you predict decision. And my bet is he’ll stay there the rest of the series. to win is going to have to lose three times. Although coach Mike Sullivan said the Penguins failed to test Sorokin I said the Pittsburgh Penguins would beat the New York Islanders in enough. seven games in their opening-round playoff series. So, at 2-2 after four “We need to be better with our execution through the neutral zone,” games, I’m not pressing the panic button just yet. But there are plenty of Sullivan said. “We need more offensive zone time. We’ve got to get reasons to be upset about how the Islanders managed to even the series pucks through. When we had opportunities to get pucks at the net and with a 4-1 victory in Game 4 on Saturday afternoon. put them in play, we didn’t put as many (shots on goal) as we possibly How did the Penguins manage to lose that one in Long Island? Oh, let us could have.” count the ways. With the way Sorokin has played so far, that’s a message the Penguins Penalties: How many they took (six) wasn’t good. How few they drew should heed. (two) didn’t help, either.

But the bigger issue was when they committed them, and who wound up Tribune Review LOADED: 05.23.2021 in the box.

Three for Evgeni Malkin. One for Kris Letang. When those guys are off the ice, the talent disparity between the Islanders and Penguins shrinks substantially.

And when Jason Zucker got a tripping penalty in the third period (when an Islanders player essentially just stepped on his stick), it truncated the only true power play the Penguins were given after just 30 seconds.

When Letang got another penalty less than a minute later, the Islanders wound up getting power-play goals from Oliver Wahlstrom (4-on-3) and Jordan Eberle in the span of 24 seconds.

“I took three penalties. But I’m not surprised,” Malkin said. “These guys give me penalties every game. I’m not surprised. But that’s OK. I understand. I will be more disciplined next game.

“They play physical. But we need to play smart.”

Were the officials to blame on some of the calls they made against the Penguins and failed to whistle against the Islanders? Yes. I’d say so.

But how the penalty minutes stacked up, in the end, was too much to overcome, and the Penguins deserved to be on the negative end of that tally.

Try the other net: Of the four goals Tristan Jarry allowed, one went off of teammate Cody Ceci and another was pushed in by fellow Penguin Teddy Blueger.

Meanwhile, the Penguins didn’t score until a rather meaningless goal from Zach Aston-Reese in garbage time of the third period.

“They aren’t going to give you a ton (of chances),” Penguins captain Sidney Crosby said. “So when you get an opportunity you have to capitalize. You have to execute. We had a few good looks in the second (period) before they scored (to make it 1-0). We just have to execute. That’s what it comes down to.”

For a team that finally looked like it had remembered how to score again in the playoffs during Game 3’s 5-4 victory, it immediately regressed to coming up dry in Game 4.

Faceoffs: The Islanders won 33 of 50 faceoffs (66%). They have won the faceoff battle each of the last three games.

Winning in the circle has been a particular problem for Crosby. He is 19- 39 in the last three games on draws, just 32.7%.

New York’s Casey Cizikas has been especially good for the Islanders. He’s 43-18 over the four games (70.4%). 1213871 Pittsburgh Penguins “We need to forget this game and forget this day,” Malkin said. “It’s a best-of-three now.”

Penalties, mistakes cost Penguins in Game 4 loss to Islanders Tribune Review LOADED: 05.23.2021

SETH RORABAUGH

Saturday, May 22, 2021 5:55 p.m.

UNIONDALE, N.Y. — If there was any doubt Evgeni Malkin truly has returned, he answered that question fairly quickly Saturday.

To be precise, the Pittsburgh Penguins superstar center made his presence abundantly clear 4 minutes, 7 seconds into regulation during Game 4 of his team’s first-round playoff series against the New York Islanders at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

That’s when he took the first of three penalties on the day after getting tangled up in a scuffle with Islanders nuisance Cal Clutterbuck. It was also the first of the six the Penguins took overall en route to a 4-1 road loss that evened the best-of-seven series 2-2.

Malkin, who happens to be the franchise’s career leader in postseason penalty minutes with 234, summed up the Penguins’ malfunctions in this contest succinctly.

“We understand (that) we take too many penalties tonight,” Malkin said via video conference. “The next game, we need (to) focus and play disciplined. Don’t give them any chance to play power play and (do) not take bad penalties.”

In contrast, the Islanders were penalized only twice.

That discrepancy led to five power-play opportunities for the Islanders and only one for the Penguins. It lasted all of 30 seconds when forward Jason Zucker was called for tripping at 4:34 of the third period.

“We get (30) seconds of power-play time to seven-plus minutes (for the Islanders),” coach Mike Sullivan said. “That’s a big discrepancy. We can’t take the amount of penalties that we took.”

When the Penguins weren’t taking penalties, they were giving the Islanders other opportunities through slipshod puck management or other miscues.

After a quiet first period, the Islanders took a lead at 8:07 of the second. After Penguins defenseman Kris Letang lost a puck on his own end wall, Islanders forward Josh Bailey pumped in a wrister from the left circle for his second goal of the postseason.

Islanders defenseman Ryan Pulock collected his first goal at 14:51 of the second when he chopped a loose puck from above the Penguins’ left circle off that struck Penguins defenseman Cody Ceci’s left skate and deflected into the net.

Any hope the Penguins had to make this a competitive contest was created when Penguins forward Sidney Crosby drew a holding minor on Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield at 4:04 of the third. But it quickly evaporated when Zucker was sent to the box. To make matters worse, Letang was called for interference at the 5:15 mark.

On the ensuing four-on-three power-play sequence, Islanders forward Oliver Wahlstrom stroked a one-timer from the left circle that initially was denied by goaltender Tristan Jarry, who finished with 23 saves. But on the ensuing rebound, Penguins forward Teddy Blueger inadvertently tapped the puck into his own net. Wahlstrom was credited with his first goal at 6:04.

Another power-play score, this time at five-on-four by Islanders forward Jordan Eberle, his first, put the hosts up by four at 6:28.

“It would have been nice to get a (longer) chance on the power play there, try to get ourselves back into it,” Crosby said. “It’s either the penalties or just the timing of them. We’ve just got to do a better job of staying out of the box.”

A short-handed goal at 17:25 of the third by Penguins forward Zach Aston-Reese, the first postseason score of his career, was the lone bright spot on an otherwise dismal performance by the Penguins. 1213872 Pittsburgh Penguins

Islanders to start goaltender Ilya Sorokin for Game 4 against Penguins

SETH RORABAUGH

Saturday, May 22, 2021 2:56 p.m.

UNIONDALE, N.Y. — The New York Islanders are expected to start rookie goaltender Ilya Sorokin for Game 4 of their first-round series against the Penguins at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Saturday.

Sorokin made his postseason debut during Game 1 on Sunday, a 4-3 overtime win at PPG Paints Arena. In that contest, he made 39 saves on 42 shots.

He will be replacing typical starter Semyon Varlamov who had been in net for Games 2 and 3, each losses. During Saturday’s 5-4 home loss, Varlamov made 22 saves on 27 shots.

The Penguins are expected to start goaltender Tristan Jarry. Through three games this postseason, he has a 2-1 record along with a 2.75 goals against average and a .917 save percentage.

Game 4 is slated to begin at approximately 3:12 p.m.

Tribune Review LOADED: 05.23.2021 1213873 Pittsburgh Penguins

Brandon Tanev became voice of calm for the Penguins late in Game 3

SETH RORABAUGH

Saturday, May 22, 2021 12:42 p.m.

The Penguins’ Brandon Tanev celebrates his game winning goal in the third period to beat the Islanders 5-4 on Thursday at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

UNIONDALE, N.Y. — Penguins forward Brandon Tanev has become something of a local cult hero early in the playoffs due to his frantic (or maniacal) approach to his vocation.

Yet, when Game 3 of the Penguins’ first-round series against the New York Islanders at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum devolved into a chaotic situation during the third period with multiple penalties resulting from several scrums and confrontations, it was Tanev who instructed his teammates to remain composed en route to a 5-4 win.

“He was the first guy to start being vocal,” linemate Zach Aston-Reese said via video conference. “He was just telling the boys just relax, calm down. Play a simple game. We’ve just got to get pucks north and get in on the forecheck.

“It’s just a crazy atmosphere. Just got to play the right way to drown out the crowd and limit the Islanders.”

Tavares injury ‘terrifying’ to Penguins

While Game 3 of the Penguins-Islanders series was ongoing, Game 1 of a first-round series between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens was being orchestrated north of the border.

The Canadiens won the game, 2-1, but the contest was marred by a gruesome injury to Maple Leafs forward and captain John Tavares.

Midway through the first period, Tavares was checked to the ice by Canadiens forward Ben Chiarot. As Tavares fell to the ice, Canadiens forward Corey Perry tried to leap past Tavares but inadvertently struck Tavares’s head with his left knee.

Tavares laid on the ice for several moments as an athletic trainer attended to him. Tavares tried to stand up on his own but slumped backward as team staffers attended to him. Ultimately, he was carried off the rink on a stretch and admitted to a hospital.

After Tavares was released from the hospital, the team announced he had suffered a concussion as well as a knee injury.

The Penguins saw replays of Tavares’s injury after their game.

“It’s terrifying,” Aston-Reese said. “We were looking at that, a few of the guys in the changing area after the game. It was scary for sure. I know everyone feels that way. It’s got to be even tougher for the guys on Toronto to see that. Just mentally to finish the game when that happens, it’s got to be really tough. It was good to see him give the thumbs up. I hope he’s doing okay and it’s nothing too serious.”

Tribune Review LOADED: 05.23.2021 1213874 Pittsburgh Penguins offensive zone time. We’ve got to get pucks through. I think when we have opportunities to put pucks on the net and put them in play, we didn’t put as many as we possibly could have.

Evgeni Malkin's health and discipline two keys if the Penguins are going “There’s got to be an element of simplicity associated with our game. It’s to take series just required this time of year.”

So to recap, Malkin promised not to commit so many penalties and says he feels great. Are both of those things true? We’ll see. Mike DeFabo Because one way or another, health and discipline will be two of the 6-7 minutes 5/23/2021 biggest questions for Malkin if the Penguins are going to win the two games to wrap up this series and continue their quest.

Pucks deep UNIONDALE, N.Y. — If the Penguins are going to get to where they want to go this postseason, they need Evgeni Malkin. It can sound like a hockey cliché. But the old “get pucks deep” is a critical part of the way the Penguins need to attack the Islanders' frustrating This is not coming from a columnist who is paid to give opinions. It's from neutral zone clogging system. a beat writer who is supposed to report facts. And that's what it is, a fact based on Jim Rutherford's offseason decision to keep the core together, “I thought we didn’t get pucks as deep as often,” Sullivan said. “When believing they still had elite hockey left. you don’t, it’s hard to establish the zone time and the territory that puts our team at its advantage. The execution through the neutral zone, the The three-time Stanley Cup champion on his own elevates the team with decisions with the puck through the neutral zone on whether or not to try his size, skill and versatile playmaking. Beyond that, his ripple effect on to make a play or whether you’ve got to put pucks below the goal line the lineup slides Jeff Carter down to provide the critical two-way, third- and create your offense different ways." line center that’s been a crucial complement to the recent runs. The Penguins actually were quite good in this regard in the first three But there’s a caveat: If the Penguins are going to get to where they want games of the series. According to stats from SportLogiq, they created to go, they need a certain version of Evgeni Malkin. 3.86 shots from the slot per game off the forecheck. That’s more than Through his first two games back from injury, the star center has shown one more a game than league average this postseason and fifth-best flashes of both the playmaking, point-producing difference maker … and overall. also the one who provides the kindling for a Twitter inferno where people They were also recovering 40.6% of their dump-in attempts. That’s go to burn their garbage takes. second-best among playoff teams. And their forechecking success During the Game 3 win, Malkin recorded a pair of primary assists in his percentage, which is calculated whn the opponent doesn’t reach the return to the ice. Considering he’s played just four games since mid- neutral zone, was 21.9%. That’s fourth-best. March and few can say how close 100% he really is, that’s probably The stats from Game 4 weren’t immediately available but, as Sullivan better than expected. pointed out, it wasn’t nearly as good as the formula they used earlier in During Game 4? Malkin spent four of the first 10 minutes watching from the series. the penalty box. He added a third in the second period to complete the “We’re very much aware of the type of game we have to play,” Sullivan Geno Hat Trick. said. “It boils down to just making good decisions and execution in those “I take three penalties, but I’m not surprised,” Malkin said. “This guy situations.” every game gives me penalties. I’m not surprised. But it’s OK. I Stats of the game understand. I’ll be more disciplined next game." The Penguins lost the face-off battle 33-17.... The Penguins actually out- The Islanders, in particular, are the kind of team that will test Malkin’s hit the Islanders, 34-31, which is surprising against a physical team that temper. Need we remind anyone of the melee that ended with all 10 doled out 70-plus hits in Game 1... The Penguins have been one of the players in the penalty box and 11 total penalties in Game 3? postseason's best teams at blocking shots. But the Islanders held a 14- “We understand they trash talk all the time against us and against Sid,” 11 edge in that stat. Malkin said. “… It’s hard to go away every time. After the whistle, you stay in a battle in front and they’re coming to you. It’s playoff time. If they push your goalie or they push your partners, you need to be strong. Post Gazette LOADED: 05.23.2021 “We understand they’re a physical team. But after the whistle, we need to stay together but not talk too much to them.”

That physicality manifests itself in other ways, too. Anyone who watched Boston’s Jarred Tinordi collide knee-to-knee with Malkin on March 16 knows where the big Russian was injured.

It’s worth wondering if the Islanders were targeting that right knee. Ryan Pulock rocked with the same leg that was already hurt, sending Malkin tumbling to the ice and then skating slowly to the bench.

“I feel great,” Malkin said after the game when asked about his health in general and the process to get back. “I skated a lot before I started playing. I step on the ice and no pain. Nothing. I feel better every game.”

Now, here’s another caveat.

Two games is hardly enough to make a full assessment of Malkin’s game. That’s especially true considering he appeared in just four games since mid-March and his participation was mixed in the week leading up to camp.

The key for a player still ramping up in this series and against this Barry Trotz system is a word coach Mike Sullivan uses often: simplicity.

“I don’t think we generated as much as the first three games,” Sullivan said. “I think Geno’s line was part of that equation. We’ve got to do a better job with our execution through the neutral zone. We need more 1213875 Pittsburgh Penguins Cup in 2016 and 2017. Guentzel, who has taken a physical beating from the Islanders in this series but keeps getting up, has 25 goals and 47 points in 49 postseason games. You have to figure the puck is going to go in for him if he keeps getting shots on net. Ron Cook: Penguins need signs of life from their top line At least that’s what Sullivan is figuring — not just with Guentzel, but with his top line.

Ron Cook “It’s going to take just hard work and stick-to-itiveness,” he said.

4-5 minutes 5/23/2021 If only it were that simple.

I’m not sure where the New York Islanders celebrated their critical 4-1 Post Gazette LOADED: 05.23.2021 playoff win against the Penguins on Saturday night. They could have done a lot worse than Dan Feeney’s house.

Did you see Feeney, the New York Jets’ huge, mullet-headed offensive lineman, in the stands at Nassau Coliseum during the second period after Josh Bailey scored to give the Islanders a 1-0 lead? He crushed a beer, much to the amazement of the Jets’ No. 1 pick, quarterback Zach Wilson, who sat next to him but doesn’t look old enough to be anywhere near an alcoholic beverage and went to BYU where beer-drinking is frowned upon. It brought back wonderful memories from a few years ago of Big Al Villanueva ripping off his shirt and pouring a beer all over himself after a Penguins playoff goal at PPG Paints Arena.

Ah, the good old days.

The point is, the Islanders and their fans had plenty to celebrate on a steamy hot May day on Long Island.

The Penguins and their fans, not so much.

The glaring reason the Penguins came up short was their penalties. They took six, with the Islanders scoring two power play goals in the third period to break open a close game.

But just as obvious was the continued lack of production from the Penguins’ top line. It’s getting a bit ridiculous, isn’t it? Let’s review how little Sidney Crosby, Bryan Rust and Jake Guentzel have done offensively in this series, which is now tied at two games apiece.

• Crosby didn’t get a point for the third consecutive game after scoring a marvelous deflection goal in Game 1. He had just one good scoring chance Saturday when he glided across the Islanders’ goal crease early in the second period only to be denied by rookie goaltender Ilya Sorokin.

• Rust didn’t have a point for the third time in four games. He scored a goal in Game 2, but that was an absolute gift from goaltender Semyon Varlamov, who flubbed a glove-save attempt early in the first period. He has just two goals in his past 18 playoff games.

• Guentzel has gone three games without a point despite putting 19 shots on net in the series. His only point was a secondary assist on Crosby’s goal in Game 1. He has just two goals in his past 14 playoff games.

Who saw this coming?

Crosby, Rust and Guentzel combined for 69 goals and 161 points during the regular season. They were right at the top of the list of reasons the Penguins won the East Division.

On the other hand, maybe we should have expected this. This isn’t the first time the Islanders have tormented Crosby, Rust and Guentzel.

When the Islanders swept the Penguins out of the 2019 playoffs in the first round, Crosby, Rust and Guentzel had just one goal from Guentzel and one assist from Crosby. They were a combined minus-10 in the four games. It was no surprise the Penguins managed only six goals in the series.

It was no fun watching that bad movie.

It’s been no fun watching it again this spring.

“These guys are good offensive players,” Mike Sullivan insisted before the Penguins headed back to Pittsburgh Saturday night, suddenly facing a best-of-three series. “We’ve just got to stay with it.”

It’s nice to think the goals and points will come from the Crosby line, beginning in Game 5 Monday night at PPG Paints Arena.

Crosby is Crosby. He has 69 goals in 172 postseason games. Never underestimate him, right? Rust was a clutch playoff scorer earlier in his career. He had a total of 13 goals when the Penguins won the Stanley 1213876 Pittsburgh Penguins They said it Evgeni Malkin: “We’re not happy. Not just me. The whole team is not

happy. … We need to forget this game. Best of three right now.” Stick taps, chirps and observations from Penguins-Islanders Game 4 Sidney Crosby on the third-period penalties: “It would have been nice to have a chance on the power play there to get ourselves back into it. It’s a big swing. It’s either the penalties or the timing of them. We’ve just got to Mike DeFabo do a better job of staying out of the box.

6-7 minutes 5/22/2021 Mike Sullivan on decision making in the neutral zone: ”I thought we didn’t get pucks as deep as often. When you don’t it’s hard to establish the

zone time and the territory that puts our team at its advantage. ... We’re The Islanders evened the series at two games apiece Saturday afternoon very much aware of the type of game we have to play. It boils down to at Nassau Coliseum with a convincing win, 4-1. Josh Bailey and Ryan just making good decisions and execution in those situations.” Pulock netted second-period goals. A pair of third-period power play Sidney Crosby: “With the position that they were in, you knew they were goals just 24 seconds apart (one an own goal from Teddy Blueger; one going to fight. And I just think that we have to have that same mentality. from Jordan Eberle) sealed it. We can’t wait and see and have that type of approach. We’ve got to go in It was over when: The Penguins were already reeling, down 2-0 in the there and dictate the pace.” third, when they earned a power play that could have got them back in Mike Sullivan on the punch-back from Islanders: “This isn’t anything we the game. Just 41 seconds later, they were killing one instead after didn’t expect. We just have to react the right way.” Jason Zucker and Kris Letang went to the box. Then, to complete the comedy of errors, Teddy Blueger scored on his own net.

Turning point: Puck drop. The Islanders blitzed the Penguins early, Post Gazette LOADED: 05.23.2021 especially in the first half of the first period. Though Pittsburgh escaped to the dressing room after a scoreless period, the tone had been set and the Islanders kept pushing with a pair of second-period goals.

Chirps

Malkin’s early penalties: Evgeni Malkin spent four of the first 10 minutes in the penalty box after committing roughing and high-sticking penalties. Those early mental miscues contributed in some way to the Islanders generating early momentum. Then, Malkin took a third penalty late in the second period. In total, the Penguins were penalized six times.

Letang’s push: Kris Letang played brilliantly in the first three games of the series and had the right idea on Saturday. But the execution was missing. He was trying to clear Anthony Beauvillier from the crease. Instead, he pushed the Islander into Jarry. It prevented the goalie from getting square on the Josh Bailey’s shot.

Tristan Jarry’s right pad: Jarry’s rebound control is typically one of his better attributes. But consistently, he kicks out juicy rebounds when opponents hit his blocker-side right pad. It cost the Penguins a goal when Ryan Pulock gathered the second change and flicked it off Cody Ceci’s skate and into the net.

Islanders targeting Malkin’s injury? Anyone who watched Boston’s Jarred Tinordi collided knee-to-knee with Evgeni Malkin on March 16 knows where the big Russian was injured. Evidently, the Islanders watched the replay, too. On a few instances, it felt like they went after it, including in the second period when Pulock kneed Malkin to the ice.

Stick taps

Barry Trotz’s goaltending switch: The Islanders coach has been comical this series saying only he planned to start a “Russian goalie.” After giving Semyon Varlamov the nod during Game 2 and Game 3 losses, his countryman Ilya Sorokin started Game 4 and was sharp throughout, making 29 of 30 saves to earn the No. 1 star.

Jarry’s save at the buzzer: Already down 2-0, the Penguins were forced to kill a late penalty in the closing minutes of the second period. Just after that kill, Tristan Jarry made one of his best saves of the series. He aggressively came out to the top of his crease to challenge the shot and smother Oliver Wahlstrom’s Grade-A opportunity.

Zach Aston-Reese’s first playoff goal: It was meaningless with the final score, but Aston-Reese might keep the puck after netting his first postseason goal late in garbage time. That line, centered by Teddy Blueger, has been a game-changing factor in this series, especially against Mathew Barzal and the Islanders’ top trio. It was good to see him rewarded offensively for the grind.

Ceci’s offensive zone play: Typically, Mike Matheson is the more aggressive defenseman on the second pair in the offensive zone. Ceci showed his own ability on that side of the ice on several occasions. In the first period alone, he attempted a wraparound on one shift, posted up in front of the net during another, hovered near the face-off dot waiting for a one-timer and pinched down the wall to keep a play alive. It’s striking how much his confidence has grown since Game 1. 1213877 Pittsburgh Penguins The last two games, the Islanders invaded his territory, bumping him or buzzing through his crease any chance they got. The big bodies crowding him appear to be making him uncomfortable. He’s jabbed back in retaliation a few times. 'We’re not happy': Penguins' stars held silent again as Islanders roll to Game 4 victory “We knew their game plan,” Brian Dumoulin said. “They go low to high and put pucks on net. We [need to] box them out early and try to stop the traffic from getting there. … We have to fight for the net front just as much as they do.” Matt Vensel Pulock pushed the lead to 2-0 with 5:09 left in the second period. Jarry 6-7 minutes 5/22/2021 kicked out a juicy rebound with his right pad. Pulock stepped up from the blue line and into a blast. His shot caromed off the skate of Cody Ceci and behind Jarry. UNIONDALE, N.Y. — The first three games of this series were compelling theater, with flared tempers, momentum swings and drama The Penguins, looking to get back within a goal, went to the power play until the final buzzer. early in the third. But it got wiped out by a Jason Zucker penalty. Moments later, after Letang joined him in the box, the Islanders scored Game 4 was anything but that, with the Penguins delivering a dud on a 4-on-3 power play. It was an own goal by Teddy Blueger, who Saturday. accidentally tapped the puck into his net.

The New York Islanders were the better squad from start to finish as they “It hurts,” Sullivan said of those penalties, the costliest of the six they tied the first-round playoff series at two games apiece with their 4-1 win took. “We get [21] seconds of power play time to seven-plus minutes [for over the Penguins at Nassau Coliseum. They again silenced Sidney New York]. That’s a big discrepancy. We can’t take the amount of Crosby’s line, got to Tristan Jarry and frustrated Pittsburgh’s stars with penalties that we took.” their relentless physicality. Jordan Eberle, left alone in front, scored 24 seconds later to make it 4-0. Crosby said “the urgency and just the battle level” the Penguins displayed throughout Thursday night’s thrilling 5-4 win in Game 3 was The rowdy crowd at Nassau Coliseum serenaded the visiting goalie with missing Saturday afternoon, as was the attention to detail that is a loud “Jarry! Jarry! Jarry!” chant led by the New York Jets offensive line, essential this time of year. who were in the crowd in Islanders gear along with their new franchise quarterback, Zach Wilson. Game 5 of the first-round playoff series is Monday back at PPG Paints Arena. Saturday’s loss was the third time in the series Jarry gave up four goals.

“With the position they were in, you knew they were going to fight,” he The lone Penguins goal came late in the third period, when Zach Aston- said. “I just think we have to have that same mentality. We can’t kind of Reese scored short-handed. It was the winger’s first career postseason wait and see and have that type of approach. We’ve got to go in there goal. and dictate the pace.” That was one of just a few bright spots for the Penguins in their listless It would help if the Penguins got more from their top line. The Islanders, loss. led by the defensive duo of Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock, have put on “We generated a couple of chances. And then one shift they get one and the clamps. they follow it up with another one and then we start chasing the game a Crosby was a force in the first half of Game 1 and got on the scoresheet little bit,” Crosby said. “I think it was probably closer than the score but I with that impressive one-handed deflection. He hasn’t tallied a point don’t think it really matters at this point. They played better and deserved since then. to win tonight.”

Jake Guentzel is taking a beating. It seems like every other shift he is The loss ensured that the Penguins will return to Long Island for a Game slowly pulling himself up off the ice as the action heads the other way. He 6. If they don’t rediscover their urgency Monday, it will be an elimination has had chances against the Islanders but has yet to score a goal. He game. has only one measly assist. “We’re not happy. Not just me. The whole team is not happy with what Bryan Rust has had a hard time fighting his way to the net, too. His lone we did tonight,” Malkin said. “We need to forget this game. Best of three goal in the series was the long-range shot Semyon Varlamov whiffed on right now.” in Game 2.

The Penguins were able to secure a split on Long Island because their Post Gazette LOADED: 05.23.2021 other three forward lines all chipped in with at least one goal during Thursday’s win.

But the secondary scoring wasn’t there for them in Game 4. Evgeni Malkin spent more time in the penalty box than he did in the offensive zone. Jeff Carter, who had a dozen goals in his first 17 games with the Penguins, had a quiet game. And in the loss they had just one power play, which they quickly squandered.

Mike Sullivan’s squad only had eight shots from the slot, per Sportlogiq.

“It’s just going to take hard work and stick-to-itiveness. We’ve just got to stay with it,” the coach said. “I don’t think we were quite as sharp tonight. We didn’t have as many looks as we had in the first few games. We’re going to have to work for those moving forward. But these guys are good offensive players.”

Early in the second period, with the game still scoreless, Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin sprawled across his crease to stuff Crosby, who shot out of the corner. Moments later, the Islanders grabbed the lead with a goal from Josh Bailey.

Prior to his shot, Kris Letang pushed Anthony Beauvillier into Jarry, who got jostled out of position. Jarry pleaded for the goal to get waved off, but no luck. 1213878 Pittsburgh Penguins This kind of thing is extremely common among all teams in the postseason, and it’s not the first time the Penguins have informed the league of their dissatisfaction over the years. For the series, the Islanders have received 10 power plays compared with the Penguins’ nine. The Yohe’s 10 observations: Evgeni Malkin takes blame as Penguins are Penguins enjoyed six power plays in the games that have been played in humbled in Game 4 Pittsburgh, compared with only two for the Islanders. Meanwhile, the Penguins received only three power plays in Long Island, while the

Islanders received eight. By Josh Yohe The team official confirmed the Penguins are being told by Mike Sullivan, May 23, 2021 more than ever, to skate away from post-whistle altercations. So far, I’d suggest they haven’t listened to their coach well enough.

• The Islanders deserve some serious credit. They played a perfect game The Islanders punched back on Saturday, but this time it wasn’t with their Saturday. Their defense was airtight, Sorokin was solid and the intensity fists. displayed by the Islanders consumed the Penguins.

Playing their finest game of the series by a mile, the Islanders smothered When the Islanders play like that, they’re very difficult to beat. I doubt the undisciplined Penguins throughout Game 4 in a 4-1 victory, evening they’ll be able to maintain that level of play for the remainder of the things in advance of Monday’s Game 5 in Pittsburgh. series, but they were desperate and responded with pretty close to a flawless game. The Islanders also did a much better job of controlling Rookie Ilya Sorokin got the start for the Islanders and was poised their emotions. They went a little overboard at times during Game 3 and throughout, stopping 29 of 30 shots. Following an evenly played first were lucky not to receive more punishment from the officials. period, the Islanders utterly dominated the game, looking far more passionate and polished throughout the afternoon at the Coliseum. The They did get away with a couple of infractions in Game 4 — Brandon bigger Islanders planted themselves in front of Tristan Jarry and wreaked Tanev was blatantly interfered with in the first period, and Casey Cizikas havoc in the final 40 minutes. should have been penalized for punching Jason Zucker in the third period — but for the most part, the Islanders were really smart while Meanwhile, the Penguins offense was impotent most of the afternoon. In subtly getting under the Penguins’ skin. They’d be foolish to make any particular, the top line of Sidney Crosby, Jake Guentzel and Bryan Rust changes to their game plan. It was perfect. was again held in check. The trio has combined for only two goals in this series, one of which was Rust’s fluke goal in Game 2. • Speaking of Cizikas, Sullivan and the Penguins are showing little interest in getting Crosby’s line away from the great Islanders fourth line. Evgeni Malkin took three penalties in his second game of the series. I just don’t understand it. “Of course we understand we take too many penalties,” Malkin said. Crosby has one point in this series. Rust has one goal in the series, and “Next game we need to focus and play disciplined.” it was on a harmless-looking shot in Game 2. Guentzel hasn’t scored yet. No one needs to heed that advice more than Malkin himself, who This, above anything else, is the biggest problem for the Penguins. It’s acknowledged after the game that sometimes it’s difficult to walk away great that they have better depth scoring this season, and it’s even better from altercations because of some tactics the Islanders have deployed in that, unlike previous seasons, they are showing something of an interest this series. in team defense.

“They give me penalties every game, and I’m not surprised,” Malkin said. But if Crosby’s line doesn’t come to life, the Penguins aren’t going to be “But I understand I have to be more disciplined next game. I will be more playing for long this spring. In fact, they could very easily lose this series disciplined next game. We’re not happy — not just me; the whole team is if the top line doesn’t start to produce. The Islanders’ size is a real not happy. We need to forget this game. Best of three now.” problem for Rust and Guentzel. Rust is having a bad series, something I never say about him. Guentzel, meanwhile, has been invisible and is Ten postgame observations taking a beating. You’ll recall that Shea Weber and the Canadiens beat • It’s not like Malkin completely lost his mind in this game, but he needs Guentzel to a pulp in last summer’s playoffs. I see the same thing to be smarter. Getting into a sparring match with Cal Clutterbuck, which happening now, and the Penguins need to figure something out. These happened early in the first period, serves no purpose for the Penguins. three have been brilliant together all season, but they aren’t clicking. The Penguins want Malkin on the ice. Clutterbuck, while a good fourth- • Letang has been the best player in this series, but he didn’t play well in line player, does not come close to matching Malkin’s importance level. Game 4. He coughed up the puck on a couple of occasions early in the So he needs to make better decisions. first period, which foreshadowed how his afternoon would unfold.

However, I’m not going to be too harsh on Malkin. He had more life than Letang took a really selfish penalty in the third period. The Penguins most of his teammates in Game 4. Maybe he showcased a little too much were down 2-0, and even though a Zucker penalty robbed them of a life, but that’s OK. It happens with him. You take the good and the bad power play, the Penguins were still looking at around 90 seconds of four- with Malkin, and ultimately the good will typically outweigh the bad. The on-four hockey, which is precisely what you want when trailing. Letang NBC broadcast made quite a fuss about the Islanders attempting to get then mindlessly took a blatant interference penalty. under Malkin’s skin. That kind of stuff might work on occasion with Kris Letang, but it doesn’t seem to work with Malkin. When Malkin gets angry He was also largely responsible for the Islanders’ first goal. Josh Bailey’s and plays with emotion, he usually plays his best hockey. shot beat Jarry in the second period, and Letang deserved an assist on the play. He shoved Anthony Beauvillier directly into Jarry a couple of It’s exceedingly clear that Malkin isn’t able to skate to his normal level. moments before Bailey released the shot. Just no awareness, which is He’s not 100 percent, and he’s playing with a knee brace. So, he’s not as sometimes a weakness of Letang’s. He’s having a wonderful series, and dynamic as usual. But he’s still doing some good things, and I believe I’m sure he’ll be fine. Not a great game. he’ll be fine. No, the penalties he took aren’t ideal. But that didn’t lose the Penguins the game. • Jarry is tough to assess. A couple of the goals Saturday were no fault of his, and in this series, an uncommon amount of goals have taken rough • Speaking of officiating, because we all like talking about it this time of bounces for the goaltender. I didn’t like his performance in Game 1. year, the Penguins aren’t too thrilled right now. Most of their annoyance Since then, I don’t see any red flags. goes back to Game 3. I’ve been told that a high-ranking member of the Penguins organization has spoken with the league recently about what However, there is this: Jarry has allowed four goals in three of the four the Penguins are perceiving to be disinterested officiating. In other games in this series. Whether he’s been the victim of bad bounces or words, members of the Penguins organization feel like the Islanders are not, that’s not a particularly becoming number, and much like in Game 2, receiving the freedom to attack the Penguins at will without anything Jarry will be in the spotlight in Game 5. Let’s see how he responds. being called. That the Penguins ended up short-handed Thursday • Back to the blue line. Other than Dumoulin, who has been spectacular, following a battle that saw Crosby cross-checked in the head and Brian and Letang, who has been the series’ best player until Game 4, the rest Dumoulin punched in the back of the head did not go over well with the of the defensive corps hasn’t been great. Penguins. Mike Matheson repeatedly passed up open looks in the first period and looks hesitant in his own territory. Marcus Pettersson is being physically beaten up every game. John Marino and Cody Ceci have been OK but aren’t exactly lighting it up.

The blue line was a tremendous strength for the Penguins during the regular season. Collectively, that group hasn’t been good enough in this series. It’s time for that to change.

• The game’s biggest moment came in the opening minute. Malkin threaded a pretty pass to a streaking Kasperi Kapanen, who had a great look. Sorokin made the save. Massive moment. If Kapanen had scored there, the game could have unfolded in a completely different way. But it didn’t happen.

• Zucker scored a pretty goal in Game 3, but in general, he continues to disappoint. He’s simply not generating any offense. Zucker also took a killer of a penalty early in the third period. Because Crosby’s line had been out for an extended shift, Sullivan went with the second power-play unit when the Penguins received their only chance with the man advantage.

A few seconds later, Zucker took a very clear tripping penalty. You just can’t do that.

• I don’t mean to sound like a know-it-all — trust me, there’s plenty I don’t know — but this series is on track with the way I figured it would go. These are two very good, very prideful teams. I still think the Penguins are a hair better, but this series could go in any direction. First-round series are often dogfights, and this one is no different.

The Islanders were good in Game 4. Really good. It’s time for the Penguins to respond.

The Athletic LOADED: 05.23.2021 1213879 Pittsburgh Penguins Jason Zucker: Penalties by him and Kris Letang doomed the Penguins while it was still 2-0. It’s not a question of effort for him or anyone else — it just wasn’t working. D-plus

Penguins report cards: Evgeni Malkin says ‘whole team not happy’ after Mike Sullivan: It’s tough to blame him for his players taking all those Game 4 loss to Islanders penalties. Heck, it’s tough to blame the players. And it’s not like Sullivan, coming into this game, told his guys, “Hey, let’s have less zone time today.” Still, this was a weirdly flat performance. It’ll be interesting to see what changes come from it. C By Rob Rossi, Sean Gentille, and Josh Yohe Rossi’s grades May 22, 2021 Zach Aston-Reese: Score the only goal for your team, earn one of the

few decent grades. On an afternoon the Penguins would just as soon An old-fashioned whuppin’ is sometimes exactly what a hockey club forget, Aston-Reese getting a goal in one of the last games at the needs. Or so the Penguins can only hope, anyway. Nassau Coliseum was a memorable moment given his Staten Island roots. B-minus “Our whole team is not happy right now,” center Evgeni Malkin said after the Penguins’ 4-1 loss to the Islanders at Nassau Coliseum on Saturday Teddy Blueger: His own goal on the Islanders’ third-period score afternoon. essentially ended what little suspense remained about the result in Game 4. That’s a tough break more than a terrible mistake. Blueger was — and Malkin, held without a point after recording two primary assists in his has been — one of the few centers holding his own on faceoffs. That’s series debut in Game 3, said the Penguins “can’t always … but need to something given the Islanders’ increasing dominance on draws. C-plus skate away” when the Islanders “trash talk” or “push our guys.” The Penguins were penalized six times in Game 4. Brandon Tanev: He set a high bar in Games 1-3. Didn’t rise to it in Game 4. He wasn’t bad, just a little off. Guess if Tanev was going to have one “We took too many penalties,” coach Mike Sullivan said. “That’s the such performance in this series it’s best to have come in a game the takeaway.” Penguins lost convincingly. C

The takeaway for this Stanley Cup playoff series is it stands where it Jeff Carter: He can’t score all the big goals for these Penguins. Though, stood at the start: even. increasingly it’s looking as though he might need to if they’re going to win. A rare (for his Pittsburgh tenure) Bruce Wayne-like performance for And even is probably how things should be between these clubs. Though the Batman. C the Penguins dictated the pace and terms for chunks of Games 1-3, the Islanders imposed their suffocating, defensive identity so thoroughly in Jared McCann: The Cup tournament is cruel, its spotlight so all-powerful Game 4 that a split of the series’ first four games feels as though what that all the good done previously by a player can be melted away in a the hockey gods intended. matter of days. Would be a shame if that is happing to McCann, one of the true bright spots in what has been a shining season for the Penguins. Doesn’t make their Saturday afternoon any less of a missed opportunity, But when this series shifted to Long Island, the version of McCann that though. A win would have given the Penguins full command on the often looked out of place re-emerged. The Penguins need the other guy. Islanders and positioned them to win at home to advance in the D postseason for the first time since 2018. Frederick Gaudreau: What a story he’s penned. What a start he had to Captain Sidney Crosby said Game 4 was closer than its final score. He the series. A loss in the playoffs almost always leads to a lineup change. said the Penguins failed to capitalize on “some good chances” in a Forward Evan Rodrigues, a faster and more versatile lineup fit than second period that ended with the Islanders ahead, 2-0. Gaudreau, is likely to get consideration to play in Game 5. Gaudreau did Still, the Penguins appeared to rarely press Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin, nothing in Game 4 to make Sullivan’s decision which forward to sit all who allowed only winger Zach Aston-Reese’s goal late in the third period. that difficult. D The Islanders held the Penguins to only seven high-danger changes, as Yohe’s grades charted by Natural Stat Trick, after surrendering 32 in the three previous games. Brian Dumoulin: He was excellent. I don’t recall one mistake that Dumoulin made all game, and he made a couple of nifty plays to limit the Reporters from The Athletic grade the Penguins and coach Mike Sullivan damage some of his teammates created. Dumoulin’s late rush also led to after Game 4: Aston-Reese’s goal. Dumoulin was one of the few bright spots. A-minus Gentille’s grades John Marino: He was fine. Nothing spectacular and you’d like to see the Sidney Crosby: His line controlled shot attempts (19-9), shots (11-5), offensive touch from his rookie season surface. But I didn’t think Marino scoring chances (9-7) and expected goals (59 percent). It also scored was a problem at all. B-minus zero goals. Not gonna work. Crosby had a bad break early when a puck Marcus Pettersson: He wasn’t terrible, but it’s becoming increasingly went on edge during a quasi-breakaway. They may not have had a better clear that this is a horrible matchup for Pettersson. He’s one of the NHL’s chance all game. C-minus lighter defensemen, and the Islanders are continually pushing him Jake Guentzel: On one hand, he led the team in shots (six), and nobody around. It’s been a theme all series long, and I don’t see it changing. He else had more than three. On the other … which of those do you needs to be alert and get rid of the puck with a little bit more urgency. C remember? Only one of them came near the paint. That’s a problem. Mix Cody Ceci: He didn’t do anything noticeably poorly, though his level of in another bad penalty, and it’s a whole lot of meh. He’s taking a lot of play in this series has dipped a hair from what he did in the regular punishment, but the results aren’t good enough. D-plus season. He hasn’t been bad by any stretch, but he looked a little shaky at Kasperi Kapanen: He played with Malkin and Jason Zucker again, and times and was caught out of position on a couple of occasions. Not bad. their numbers together were abysmal, but Kapanen looked like the best Could stand to be a little bit better, though. C of the three. That’s not saying much, but he was noticeable. More than Tristan Jarry: They didn’t lose because of him, but he wasn’t great. It’s basically every forward can say. C-minus easy to blame the first goal on Kris Letang and, indeed, shoving a player Evgeni Malkin: He took three penalties and centered a line, somehow, into one’s goaltender is never a wise strategy. However, I’d like to see a that put up an expected goal rate of 20 percent. That says enough — bad bit more in terms of battle-level from Jarry on that play. Watch when he decisions, zero production and an iffy hit on his knee. Not a good day. D gets knocked down or falls down; he always takes a little too long getting back to his feet, which drives a few people in the organization crazy. Too Bryan Rust: You can basically say the same thing about Guentzel and laid back for his own good at times. It can be a strength but not always. Rust. They’re generating attempts, but it’s not enough. Rust had more of That goal really wasn’t his fault, but I didn’t care for the body language. a presence in the slot, but two points in four games between the two of He’s not why they lost, but he wasn’t good, and he’s allowed four goals in them isn’t going to work. C-minus. three of the four games in this series. C-minus Kris Letang: He’s been their best player in this series, but he didn’t have a good day in Game 4. Not at all. The decision to shove a player into Jarry wasn’t smart. The penalty he took in the third period was really selfish, as it was 2-0 Islanders at the time and the Penguins had a four- on-four situation. He also coughed up a couple of really bad turnovers. He needs to get back on track because, until Saturday, he had been enjoying a wonderful series. D

Mike Matheson: I didn’t like his game at all, primarily because of his refusal to shoot the puck. It’s becoming a problem. The game was played on even terms in the first period and, on two occasions, Matheson had really good looks. He forced passes instead of shooting on both occasions. You just can’t do that against Islanders. Matheson looked a little uncomfortable in the defense all season and did again in Game 4. D

The Penguins are tied 2-2 in their best-of-seven East Division semifinal series against the Islanders. Game 5 is at PPG Paints Arena on Monday night.

The Athletic LOADED: 05.23.2021 1213880 Pittsburgh Penguins

Penguins Locker Room: Evgeni Malkin Addresses Bad Game

Published 8 hours ago on May 22, 2021

By Dan Kingerski

Sometimes, it seems Evgeni Malkin has two roles within the Pittsburgh Penguins universe. There are days when the galloping Russian center reminds everyone that he is a former Calder Trophy winner, a Conn Smythe winner, and one of the best of his generation, Russian or otherwise.

But now and again, Evgeni Malkin can send Penguins fans running to the liquor cabinet with head-scratching mistakes, bad penalties, or both.

As the Twitterverse heated up on Saturday afternoon, Evgeni Malkin lit the match. He took a silly roughing penalty just a few minutes into the game. Later in the period, he gave New York a power play with a needless tripping penalty. Sandwiched between his trips to the penalty box were a couple of giveaways.

Malkin dished a little to the officials, too.

“I took three penalties, but I’m not surprised. This guy–every game–gives me penalties,” Malkin said. “I’m not surprised. But it’s okay. I understand. I’ll be more disciplined next game.”

And no shots. At all. Zero shots on goal in Game 4, a Pittsburgh Penguins 4-1 loss to the New York Islanders. The anti-Malkin sentiment, which bubbles to the surface like acne before the Prom, exploded.

It was so relentless that even noted Pittsburgh talker Mark Madden, who is not shy about criticizing athletes, told Pittsburgh Penguins fans to call off the dogs.

Evgeni Malkin seemed to acknowledge a premise that Mike Sullivan downplayed in the postgame press conference. PHN specifically asked Sullivan if the Penguins attempted to assert themselves physically, to the point of distraction.

Sullivan firmly said no.

Malkin said it’s not so easy to avoid getting sucked into the silliness after the whistle.

“It’s hard to go away every time. After the whistle, you skate (inaudible), they come to you. It’s playoffs time,” Malkin said. “If they push the goalie or push your partners, you need to be strong. We understand how they play, they’re a physical team, but after the whistle, we need to stay together.”

Pittsburgh Hockey Now LOADED: 05.23.2021 1213881 Pittsburgh Penguins interference penalty. New York scored on the subsequent power play when Blueger mishandled the puck into his own net.

Just 24 seconds after the backbreaking goal, New York winger Jordan Penguins Whiff in Game 4, Bad Mistakes Give Islanders 4-1 Win Eberle (1) scored his first goal of the series when he was unguarded in the slot. It was a power-play goal and meant New York has outscored the Penguins 7-4 in the third period in this series.

Published 11 hours ago on May 22, 2021 Sorokin stopped the first 27 shots he faced. Jarry was not as lucky. He stopped 23 of 27 shots. By Dan Kingerski You didn’t think this would be easy, did you?

“…More of what we did in Game 3,” Crosby said. “The urgency and the The Pittsburgh Penguins had a chance to make the Saturday afternoon battle level, all those little details that go into winning, there was more of Game 4 the last ever hockey game at the Nassau Coliseum, but instead, that in Game 3 and that’s what it’s going to take to win.” the old barn rocked, and the New York Islanders rolled. Bad penalties, bad decisions, and a lack of good scoring chances doomed the Penguins, as the Islanders outclassed the Penguins 4-1 in Game 4 Saturday at Nassau Coliseum. Pittsburgh Hockey Now LOADED: 05.23.2021

The series is tied 2-2.

The Penguins’ lone bright spot was a shorthanded goal in the waning minutes by Zach Aston-Reese (1), who finished Teddy Blueger’s rebound.

The Penguins were down 2-0 after two periods, but New Yor broke open the game in the third with a pair of goals and dominating play. The Penguins also helped New York’s cause, including an own goal by Penguins center Teddy Blueger which was credited to Oliver Wahlstrom.

New York head coach Barry Trotz did make the goalie change and started Ilya Sorokin, who was very good in the first period and didn’t have to be as good in the second period. Or the third.

The first period ended evenly. Both the Penguins and Islanders had eight shots and no goals, though Evgeni Malkin took a pair of less than desirable penalties. Malkin goaded New York fourth-liner Cal Clutterbuck into coincidental roughing minors early in the first period. Midway through the period, Malkin high-sticked Kyle Palmieri.

“We understand we took too many penalties tonight. Next game we need to focus, play disciplined, and don’t give them any chances to play on the power play,” Malkin said. “…don’t take any bad penalties.”

Malkin also helped linemate Kasperi Kapanen lead all players with three shots.

New York top-line center Mathew Barzal nearly scored his first goal of the series but hit the post when he whizzed a wrist shot past Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry, who was on top of the crease (thus taking away most net).

Both New York and Penguins had one shot on goal with Malkin in the box.

The second period didn’t go well for the Pittsburgh Penguins as New York scored a pair of goals, and Malkin took a third minor penalty.

Midway through the second period, New York winger Josh Bailey was the recipient of a glorious scoring chance and a battle in the crease. New York winger Anthony Beauvillier made contact with Penguins netminder Tristan Jarry, after Kris Letang shoved Beauvillier towards Jarry. A moment later, Bailey’s (2) shot dribbled through Jarry, who was nearly entirely behind the goal line.

Later in the second period, the New York got a little more good luck, and the Penguins got a little more bad luck, though the bad luck was mostly of their own doing. Jarry kicked a rebound back towards the point. Ryan Pulock’s (1) slapshot hit Penguins defenseman Cody Ceci and deflected past Jarry. 2-0.

Officially the Pittsburgh Penguins outshot New York through two periods, but the Penguins had precious few good scoring chances. The Penguins had only two high-danger chances in the second period, compared to six for New York.

Malkin appeared to aggravate his knee injury in the second period but remained in the game. The Penguins’ big center did not have a shot on goal in the first 40 minutes.

In the third period, the Penguins had a chance to come back. Sidney Crosby drew a penalty early in the third, but Jason Zucker took a tripping penalty 29 seconds later, then defenseman Kris Letang took an 1213882 Pittsburgh Penguins The Penguins have also dealt with the New York forecheck better than New York has dealt with the Penguins’ attack. Continue watching that. As long as the Penguins escape their zone with speed, they will control their own fate. Penguins Have Momentum: Game 4 Lines, Notes & Matchups vs. Islanders The Penguins could use a goal or the best from Jared McCann. Jason Zucker scored in Game 3, and more from him wouldn’t hurt the Penguins’ chances, either.

Published 18 hours ago on May 22, 2021 Pittsburgh Penguins Game Notes

By Dan Kingerski -Scott Mayfield became the first Islanders defenseman since 2013 to record three or more points in a playoff game (Mark Streit vs. PIT). He

leads the Islanders in points (4), plus-minus rating (+3), shots (12), and The Pittsburgh Penguins have the chance to put the New York Islanders blocked shots (9) through the series. He had seven shots on goal in in a sleeper hold and take a commanding 3-1 series lead at the Nassau Game 2, becoming the first Islanders defenseman since 2002 to record Coliseum on Saturday afternoon (3 p.m.). The Penguins denied New seven or more shots in a playoff game ending in regulation. York successive goals after New York rallied to tie the game in the third -Cal Clutterbuck scored twice in Game 3 for the first multi-goal playoff period, and the Penguins won 5-4 on a late Brandon Tanev goal. game of his career. But that’s only part of the story, as the game was the wildest Penguins -Ryan Pulock matched a career-high for hits in a playoff game (8) in playoff game in years. The Penguins took six minor penalties in one post- Game 3. whistle scrum just five minutes into the third period. New York took five, though it is debatable if New York didn’t take several more, too. -Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan has 41 career playoff wins behind the Penguins bench. He is two shy of Dan Bylsma for the franchise lead. The Penguins dander was up, but they channeled that into goals by Jeff Carter and Tanev the Game 3 win and 2-1 series lead. If the Penguins -The Penguins are 18-7 in seven-game series in which they have a 2-1 win on Saturday, they will have a chance to end the series on Monday, series lead. They’re 13-5 when they have home-ice advantage. which would make today the final game ever at the Nassau Coliseum. -Jeff Carter has three playoff goals in three playoff games for the New York head coach Barry Trotz opened to door to dumping starting Penguins, including two in Game 3. He has four points (3-1-4) in the goalie Semyon Varlamov in Game 4 in favor of Game 1 winner Ilya series. Sorokin. -Carter has 15 points (12-3-15) in 17 total games since the Penguins “We’ll have to look at it,” Trotz said. acquired him from the LA Kings at the NHL trade deadline.

The momentum is clearly on the Penguins’ side after the Islanders threw -Evgeni Malkin quietly had a pair of assists in Game 3. In his career, he everything at the Penguins but lost. Though anyone who has been is averaging 1.45 points per playoff game against New York. through the playoff grinds knows, a series can turn on one play, one call, or a singular moment. -Sidney Crosby’s 190 playoff points are tied with Brett Hull (190) for the seventh-most points in NHL postseason history. The shot totals in the series have far exceeded expectations, which favors the Penguins. The hitting total heavily favors New York.

We can confidently predict Tristan Jarry will start in goal for the Penguins Pittsburgh Hockey Now LOADED: 05.23.2021 (or Mike Sullivan had better have a good explanation). New York head coach Barry Trotz will speak this afternoon. We don’t expect him to tip his hand on starting goalies, but Sorokin would be our play.

Both teams scored their first power-play goal of the series in Game 3, and both were in the third period. Anthony Beauvillier scored or New York, Jeff Carter for the Penguins. Each team is 1-for-7 on the power play in the series.

Much is being made of Jeff Carter and Brandon Tanev. The pair deserve attention, but the Penguins’ depth is the story. Sidney Crosby-Evgeni Malkin-Jeff Carter-Teddy Blueger are as solid down the middle as any team has iced in a long time. If Carter doesn’t keep scoring at a Wayne Gretzky pace, the team is well-positioned with all-time greats to pick up the slack.

Tactically, it is the Penguins on their toes vs. New York trying to hit them. Or tackle them. Or punch them. Face washes. Jabs. Stick whacks— anything New York can do to disrupt the flow of the game.

When the game is hockey, the Penguins have dominated the series. When New York can get physical, legal or otherwise, the worm has turned.

The Penguins have decisively won each of the first three first periods in the series, as defined by the style of play, shots, chances, and goals.

The Islanders can’t/won’t let that happen in Game 4. Put on your hip boots. It’s going to get thick in Game 4.

The matchup the Islanders have been able to exploit is against Evgeni Malkin’s line. Malkin is not 100%. Trotz was able to get his heavy and productive fourth line against Malkin a few times in Game 3, which turned the tide for the Islanders.

The Penguins fourth line has held Mathew Barzal and Jordan Eberle in check, while the Penguins’ top line has been freed to attack. Beyond goaltending, circle that success as the difference in the series. 1213883 San Jose Sharks “He’s doing a lot of playoff-type things where he’s tough in the circle, helping defensively,” Burke offered. “Hanging onto pucks, possession game, you can see the progress he’s made.”

Tim Burke on Reedy, Coe’s Quick Adjustment to AHL; Cuda Drop Game Meanwhile, for Brandon Coe, the adjustment to the pro game hasn’t 1 been as immediate, but that’s to be expected: The 2020 fourth-round pick is just 19 and would be playing in the OHL if it weren’t for the pandemic.

After playing just one game in the first two months of the season, Coe Published 12 hours ago on May 22, 2021 suited up for 16 of the Barracuda’s last 18 regular season games. And in the playoffs, he’s found himself in San Jose’s top-six with Maxim Letunov By Sheng Peng and Evan Weinger.

“It was a little overwhelming for a little while,” Burke said of Coe getting Josef Korenar held up his end, but the rest of the San Jose Barracuda accustomed to the pro game. “Then he adjusted so much that he’s on didn’t in a 4-1 Game One loss to Henderson last night. our top line now. That’s unusual, but he’s also a bigger, stronger, and more intelligent player.” It was a tight affair early on, Jack Dugan and Jayden Halbgewachs trading first period goals. Standing 6-foot-4, Coe still needs to fill out, but he skates well and has proven to be pro-strong. You can see some of his ranginess here: Zach Gallant helped create a Gage Quinney turnover along the wall, which Jake McGrew scooped up. Halbgewachs slipped behind Ryan In Irvine, San Jose Hockey Now talked to a scout about Coe. The scout Murphy for the equalizer. still wants to see a more assertive streak from Coe with the puck – but he acknowledged how impressive it was to see a 19-year-old hang It was Halbgewachs’s third goal and ninth point in his last 11 regular physically and skate with AHL pros. season/playoff contests. The 24-year-old winger is enjoying a late- season revival after a hip injury hampered him earlier this season. What’s scary? Coe can still get a lot faster and a lot stronger.

“I thought the first period was pretty even,” Roy Sommer said, “I think the “He’s probably ahead of schedule now,” Burke noted. “This is a great chances were three to two for us.” experience because this is playoff hockey, where every inch of ice matters.” From the middle frame on, however, the Silver Knights began to control the tempo, outshooting the Barracuda 25-12. Midway through the second period, Pavel Dorofeyev potted the eventual game-winner. San Jose Hockey NowLOADED: 05.23.2021 A pinching Jaycob McGrew’s drop pass to Maxim Letunov failed to connect, and Maxim Marushev drew two forwards to himself – Letunov and Brandon Coe – before hitting a wide-open Dorofeyev.

San Jose didn’t respond with much pressure on Logan Thompson, though they weren’t helped by the refs missing Ryan Merkley getting high sticked.

“We just couldn’t answer their offense,” Sommer shared. “I think the end of the game, the chances were 19-9 for them.”

Dugan added a couple empty netters for the hat trick to put Game One on ice for Henderson. Game Two of the best-of-three is 1 PM on Sunday at Orleans Arena.

For the Barracuda, however, the bright spot was Korenar, who stopped 30 of 32 shots. The Czech netminder has been a rock since coming back from a month-long stint with the San Jose Sharks, boasting a .953 Save % in three Pacific Division playoff starts.

“He’s solid at this level,” Sommer said. “Most of the goalies that get it done here, are good game in, game out, can play at the next level.”

Both Scott Reedy and Brandon Coe are new to the pro game. It’s a good thing that both are physical specimens, which has helped them adjust with relative ease to the AHL.

In early April, Reedy joined the Barracuda straight out of the University of Minnesota. The 22-year-old quickly established himself as a top-six, all situations force up the middle, which hasn’t surprised the San Jose Sharks’ brass.

“When he came to us, he came in at 6-foot-2, 215 pounds at 8 1/2 % body fat,” director of scouting Doug Wilson Jr. said. “He looks like a pro. I think he’s got the physio and he’s always had the hands.”

Assistant general manager Tim Burke agreed: “He’s physically gifted, he’s a strong kid. Right away, he was ready physically.”

Reedy demonstrated his readiness by potting five goals in 17 games to end the regular season, his ice time steadily increasing. In the playoffs, scouts in Irvine were impressed by the 2017 fourth-rounder’s mature game, especially below the tops of the circles. He’s won plenty of puck battles, lining up with Halbgewachs and Jake McGrew – and the trio teamed up for the game-winner versus Tucson.

Reedy pressured Victor Soderstrom into a turnover; Halbgewachs and McGrew took care of the rest. 1213884 St Louis Blues There were bad breaks, no question. But so much has to go right for the Blues to even win one game against Colorado, let alone four. In fact, the Blues have won only three of the 11 games in the regular season and postseason against these Avs — now you’re telling me they can win the Hochman: Berube has been part of rare history before — winning a next four? series down 3-0 — but Blues' task is daunting But it doesn’t matter if there isn’t belief on press row — what matters is if there’s belief on the bench. And standing behind it. And Berube has been through this. Benjamin Hochman Oh, and the most-recent team to come back from a 0-3 deficit, the 2014

Kings, featured current Blue Kyle Clifford. The coach, who later became famous for his magic-making behind the “If you look at the scope of things, it seems like a very high hill to climb,” bench, first witnessed a little mystical hockey from there in 2010. Craig said Krug, who also recalled Boston winning a series after being down 3- Berube was an assistant coach for the Philadelphia Flyers, who had lost 0, albeit it baseball in 2004. “You’re at the bottom of the mountain, the first game of a playoff series. Then the second. And then, yes, the looking up there and you’re facing a good team and you’ve got to climb third. forward somehow. But that being said, you can’t accomplish that feat if At the time, it had only been done twice in the National Hockey League you don’t look at it one game at a time. — and the Flyers did it. They came back from a 3-0 deficit to win a “It’s happened more and more over the years, not just in baseball, but playoff series. also in our sport of hockey. Obviously, it’s rare. But I don’t think that the It’s only happened one more time since. margins within our games have been indicative of what the scores show. I think it’s been a little bit closer. And you do get inspiration when you do “I talked about it with our team today,” said Berube, whose Blues trail see the other teams that have done it in the past. I know that this group is Colorado, 3-0, entering Sunday’s Game 4 at Enterprise Center. “We capable of it. We just need to go out and show it.” played Boston (in 2010), we’re down 0-3, but really had played pretty good hockey to that point. But again, didn’t get a bounce here, there. And that’s what it really boils down to. And we turned it around. We won a St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 05.23.2021 game, you get some momentum and some confidence, you go win another game, and now it’s a series.”

Blues-Avalanche is not a series. St. Louis has yet to even have a lead in a game. But the Blues believe it’s been a closer series than “three-oh” suggests. They’ll explain it to you as such. Yes, of course, what else are they supposed to do and say? But you hear them talk, and they feel like they’ve got some 2010 Flyers in them.

“We’re right there, every game — we just weren’t able to get the win in the end of it,” said Blues forward Robert Thomas, who has been disturbingly ineffective in the first three games, though most forwards have. “So I think it’s just about staying positive, sticking with what we’re doing and just finding a way to get over that hump.”

In a harbinger of sorts, after the first period of Game 1, the Blues trailed 1-0 … and after the first period of Game 2, the Blues trailed 2-0.

But Berube said Saturday at Enterprise Center, following the team’s workout, that “other than the first two periods in Colorado (in Games 1 and 2), I think the games are pretty even. Or even we’ve been better at times, in my opinion, and they were probably better at some points, too. But I take two periods out of the series and it is a pretty good series so far. Again, we need to we get a bounce here or there, do a better job defending the play, here or there, and we’re not down 0-3. But we can’t worry about that, we’ve got to move on. And we need everybody to compete at a high level and give us our best game tomorrow.”

In Game 4 in 2010, the Flyers got back one of their top players who was out. Alas, that won’t be the case for the Blues, who will be without their leader in points, David Perron (COVID protocol), as well their best defenseman, Justin Faulk (head injury). But on May 7, 2020, Philly’s Simon Gagne returned from injury ... and sure enough, he scored the overtime winner for the Flyers. In Game 5 at Boston, the Flyers won, 4-0, but lost their starting goalie for the rest of the series (magic is hardly mundane). And so, with a backup between the pipes, the Flyers won Game 6, 2-1. And back in Boston, Philadelphia won Game 7, 4-3 (ultimately, the Flyers lost to the Blackhawks in the Stanley Cup Final).

“Yeah, that’s a perfect example,” said the Blues’ Torey Krug, a longtime Bruin who made his Boston debut two seasons after the infamous 2010 postseason. “It was a very good team in Boston that year, but Philly felt like there wasn’t much difference in the games. You know, if you win one, and all of a sudden, a little bit of doubt creeps in. You win a second one, then it’s like, holy crap, and the other team is back on their heels. All of a sudden, it’s a different ballgame. So I do know that the way those guys felt about that series in Boston, and how the momentum can just kind of snowball.

“But none of that matters unless you win the first game. So we just got to focus on that.”

I don’t think the Blues can win this series. They even played well in Game 3, changing their style and enforcing their will, and they lost, 5-1. 1213885 St Louis Blues Colorado goalie Philipp Grubauer left his share of rebounds out there for the taking, as he’s done to a degree all series.

But the Blues couldn’t capitalize. Getting to rebounds is partially a matter Goals are at a premium for Blues against Avs of luck — sometimes the rebound just squirts out your way. Sometimes it doesn’t. But it’s also a matter of crashing the net, setting up net-front, and the Blues simply don’t have enough of that.

Jim Thomas “It’s all about will,” Krug said. “This time of year, that’s what it’s about, having the courage and the will to go to the net. One-on-one battles.

“If you want to be boxed out, it can be an easy game for yourself and Among the myriad problems the Blues have encountered against make it easy on the opponent. If you want to get to the front of the net, Colorado, let’s not forget their goal total. you have to lean on guys and get there, show that you want to be there Five measly goals in three games during this first-round playoff series. and make it hard. Once you do that, it just creates more chances for everyone else.” • One has come on the power play — on seven chances. But overall, give Grubauer and the Colorado defense some credit. Yes, after a strong finish in the regular season, the team’s power play Grubauer had a Vezina Trophy-caliber regular season, and he’s got a has gone dry in the postseason. The Avalanche are shading in Mike 1.67 goals-against average and .944 save percentage in the playoffs. Hoffman’s direction on right wing, and also paying close attention to Ryan O’Reilly in the middle “bumper” position. And without the threat of “He’s been good all year,” Bozak said. “He’s been good his whole career. David Perron on the left wing or flank, there’s less to worry about. He’s a good goaltender.

“We have a lot of zone time,” said Torey Krug, who quarterbacks the first “I think they do a really good job of fronting shots and blocking a lot of unit from up top. “We’re getting some shots and chances, but we haven’t shots. We definitely could’ve got a little bit more traffic, I think, when we been able to convert. were getting shots.

“Obviously this time of year you need your power play to convert in order “Most goalies in this league, if they see it they’re gonna save it. So we to keep your team in a game and give yourself a chance to win.” gotta get guys in front and take away his eyes and get some rebounds and create some scoring chances off of those.” • One goal has come in a shorthanded situation, always a bonus. Otherwise, this series ends Sunday. Scoring shorthanded almost always provides a big lift for teams. During the regular season, for example, the Blues had five goals with their penalty kill unit on the ice, and went 4-0-1 in those games. St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 05.23.2021 Not so on Friday. Tyler Bozak’s shorthanded goal off a steal and a feed from O’Reilly made it a 3-1 game late in the second period. But it generated no carryover momentum into the third period as Colorado won going away 5-1.

“Yeah, we just needed a little more in the third,” O’Reilly said. “They did a good job of putting it behind us and forechecking us well.”

• Lastly, they’ve scored only three goals in 5-on-5 play.

Granted, they’ve padded their stats with a couple of empty-net goals, but Colorado’s top line — the Nathan MacKinnon line — has dominated the Blues’ top line, headed by O’Reilly.

Overall among the Blues’ top regular-season scorers, Hoffman has a goal, Brayden Schenn has a goal, Jordan Kyrou has a goal. And that’s it.

“Our top guys are guys that we rely on and they’ve got to produce,” coach Craig Berube said. “We’ve got to find a way to score more goals.”

As usual, O’Reilly put the onus on himself. After leading the team and finishing tied for 13th in the NHL with 24 goals during the regular season, O’Reilly has no goals and just one assist in the playoffs.

When asked about the lack of scoring by the team’s top two lines this series, O’Reilly replied:

“I’m just speaking for myself. I know I can be a lot better. And I have to find a way to put the puck in the net.

“I had plenty of opportunities (Friday) and still didn’t make enough happen. I wish I had the answer and could adjust it. But it’s over now and I gotta get ready for next game. I gotta make a difference.

“It’s on us, the guys seeing the big ice, the big minutes. We have to find a way to produce and spark the rest of the group.”

There’s no doubt that O’Reilly is missing his linemate for most of the past three seasons, Perron, who as of Saturday remains on the NHL’s COVID list.

“Yeah, he is (missing Perron),” Berube said during Saturday. “But he’s had chances. I thought that line last night had a lot of good looks in the game. David Perron’s a good player for us. We all know that. But he’s unavailable, so I’m not gonna really comment on that.”

For the first time in the series, the Blues outshot the Avalanche on Friday, 32-26. They had several good chances, but couldn’t finish. 1213886 St Louis Blues I’ve ever had a dirty hit and I didn’t start last game. … It’s playoff hockey and stuff happens.”

Notes Blues notebook: Berube wants more energy from Thomas With the Blues watching the ice time for Reinke, who played just 9:19, Niko Mikkola, who played 10:51 in Game 1, played 19:37, the most he’s played in a regulation game in his NHL career. ... Santini was credited Tom Timmermann with eight hits in Game 3. ... Reinke was the first Blue to appear in a postseason game without being in a game in that regular season since

Jake Allen in 2011-12. In 1988-89, Rod Brind’Amour joined the Blues An unspectacular regular season for Robert Thomas — three goals and after the completion of his college career and made his NHL debut in the nine assists in 33 games while missing 19 games with a broken hand — playoffs. has followed him into the postseason.

Thomas has two assists in three playoff games, both secondary assists, St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 05.23.2021 and it says a lot about the Blues’ offense in their series with the Avalanche that those two points put him tied for the team lead with Torey Krug and Tyler Bozak.

“I think he’s gotta play with more energy and confidence in my opinion,” said Blues coach Craig Berube. “That’s a big thing I think I see with him, is the energy level’s a little low for him. He’s gotta find a little more emotion in his game and go out and play with some energy and emotion in the game.

“It’s hard to play the game in the playoffs without energy and emotion. And if he gets his energy levels up and gets more emotionally involved in the game, he’s gonna play better.”

“It’s something I need to improve on and get better at,” Thomas said. “I don’t think I’m playing where I should be playing and at my level. So I think I need to play better and I will come with a lot of energy tomorrow and give it my best.”

Thomas was out with injuries twice during the season, first missing 19 games with a broken hand and then four with an upper-body injury. Over an 82-game season, Thomas’ 12 points would project to about a 30-point season, which would the low for his three-season NHL career.

Faulk, Bortuzzo doubtful

Defensemen Justin Faulk and Robert Bortuzzo, both injured in Game 2 of this series, were both termed “doubtful” on Saturday for participation in Game 4. Jake Walman, in his second day back from getting off the COVID list, skated again in practice and Berube said he was a possibility. Vince Dunn also was on the ice for the team’s optional skate at Enterprise Center on Saturday but he has still not indicated to Berube that he’s ready to return to action.

Walman was on the ice for warmups before Game 3, but didn’t make the game roster. After being off the ice for 10 days, a second skate was needed to get ready for game action.

“That’s a big part of it, a couple skates for sure,” Berube said. “We’ll … see how he feels.

If Walman can get back in the game, that would likely mean Mitch Reinke, who played in just his second NHL game on Friday, would come out. Reinke and Steven Santini both earned praise for their play in a difficult situation from their teammates and Berube. Santini at least had played in two games with the Blues this season. Reinke was playing his first NHL game in more than three years, and was doing it against a high- speed, high-scoring Colorado team.

“That’s why I think I give him so much credit,” defenseman Torey Krug said. “It’s guys in his position, and there’s other guys too that have practiced all year, the taxi squad, they haven’t played any games. It’s a really difficult thing to do to show up every day and know you’re not playing in the lineup, you’ve got to put your best foot forward and continue to get better in practice and be prepared because of instances like this. I give him a lot of credit. They were big for our team. You need depth if you’re going to have a chance to win in the playoffs. They stepped in and did an admirable job. It’s a tough thing to do what he did and I think everyone in that locker room respects it, for sure.”

Colorado’s Tyson Jost, talking about his elbow on Bortuzzo that knocked him out of the third period of Game 2 and all of Game 3, said: “I didn’t even know that I got him there. It was kind of an innocent play, I was just going in there, he was a little bit low. It was a hockey play. It was not intentional, (that) I was going after him with an elbow. That’s not me, not the type of player I am. I think in the four years in the league I don’t think 1213887 St Louis Blues

Faulk, Bortuzzo still doubtful for Blues' Game 4 on Sunday

Tom Timmermann

The forecast for a return to normalcy on the Blues' defense: Doubtful.

That was the term coach Craig Berube used to describe the likelihood of Justin Faulk and Robert Bortuzzo, both of whom missed Game 3 of the series with the Avalanche on Friday night because of injuries suffered in Game 2 on Wednesday, playing in Game 4 on Sunday.

Also uncertain is the status of defenseman Vince Dunn, who took part in the team's optional practice on Saturday, the latest in a series of practices he's been on the ice for but has yet to feel well enough to get in a game.

"There's been no setback for Dunn," Berube said. "When he lets me know if he's ready to play, then we'll decide if we're going to play him. But that hasn't been said yet."

The one player on defense who could get back is Jake Walman, who was on the ice for pregame warmups on Friday but didn't take part in the game after spending 10 days on the NHL's COVID list.

"There's a possibility," Berube said.

With Walman the only player who has a reasonable expectation of getting back into the lineup for Game 4 that means that either Steven Santini or Mitch Reinke will get another game.

Berube said he had no idea when David Perron might be available off the league's COVID list.

The Blues held an optional practice on Saturday in between their late Game 3 and their early Game 4, which starts at 4 p.m. on Sunday ( and NBCSN). Ryan O'Reilly, Brayden Schenn, Zach Sanford and Kyle Clifford were the only forwards who played on Friday who took part and Santini, Reinke, Torey Krug and Marco Scandella were the defensemen who played who were on the ice. The rest were the healthy scratches from Friday. Scandella has sat out a lot of morning skates lately, but he took the ice on Saturday.

A big hit

Sammy Blais was credited with 10 hits in Game 3. He's the sixth Blue since 2000 to have that many in a playoff game. Santini had eight.

St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 05.23.2021 1213888 St Louis Blues

Colorado looks to secure series against St. Louis in game 4

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

MAY 23, 2021 02:03 AM

Colorado Avalanche (39-13-4, first in the West Division during the regular season) vs. St. Louis Blues (27-20-9, fourth in the West Division during the regular season)

FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK LINE: Blues +177, Avalanche -221; over/under is 5.5

NHL PLAYOFFS FIRST ROUND: Avalanche lead series 3-0

BOTTOM LINE: The Colorado Avalanche look to clinch the first round of the NHL Playoffs over the St. Louis Blues in game four. The teams meet Sunday for the 12th time this season. The Avalanche won the last meeting 5-1.

The Blues are 27-20-9 against the rest of their division. St. Louis has scored 36 power-play goals, converting on 23.2% of chances.

The Avalanche are 39-13-4 against opponents in the West Division. Colorado has scored 197 goals and leads the league averaging 3.5 goals per game. Mikko Rantanen leads the team with 30.

TOP PERFORMERS: David Perron leads the Blues with 58 points, scoring 19 goals and registering 39 assists. Brayden Schenn has four goals and two assists over the last 10 games for St. Louis.

Rantanen has 66 total points while scoring 30 goals and totaling 36 assists for the Avalanche. Nathan MacKinnon has five goals and four assists over the last 10 games for Colorado.

LAST 10 GAMES: Blues: 4-4-2, averaging 2.7 goals , 5.1 assists, 3.4 penalties and 7.4 penalty minutes while giving up 2.5 goals per game with a .917 save percentage.

Avalanche: 9-1-0, averaging 4.1 goals , 7.4 assists, 2.6 penalties and 7.4 penalty minutes while giving up 1.8 goals per game with a .931 save percentage.

INJURIES: Blues: Mackenzie MacEachern: out (upper body), Vince Dunn: day to day (upper body), Carl Gunnarsson: out for season (lower body), David Perron: day to day (covid-19), Oskar Sundqvist: out for season (knee).

Avalanche: Jacob MacDonald: out (lower body), Bowen Byram: out (upper body), Matt Calvert: out (undisclosed), Dennis Gilbert: out (face).

Belleville News-Democrat LOADED: 05.23.2021 1213889 St Louis Blues Kadri was given a match penalty for the hit on Faulk, who didn’t return and was scratched with an upper-body injury on Friday.

“I’m a little surprised, to be honest with you,” Bednar said of the length of Avs score 3 in 2nd, beat Blues 5-1 to take a 3-0 series lead the suspension. “I looked through all the head shot suspensions for the last year, a lot of two-gamers getting handed out for significant hits to the head. We’ve had some guys put out with hits to the head that are still out with no suspension. So, I thought, generally the rule of thumb is playoffs BY JOE HARRIS ASSOCIATED PRESS you get a little less, and he got significantly worse.” MAY 23, 2021 12:02 AM THIN BLUE LINE

Along with Faulk, the Blues lost Robert Bortuzzo (upper body) after a hit ST. LOUIS from Jost, leaving St. Louis with just four defensemen to finish Game 2.

Ryan Graves had a goal and two assists, Philipp Grubauer made 31 With Faulk and Bortuzzo out for Game 3, St. Louis was forced to play saves, and the Colorado Avalanche used a three-goal second period to Steven Santini and Mitch Reinke. Santini played in just three regular- beat the St. Louis Blues 5-1 on Friday night and take a 3-0 series lead in season games and Reinke played his lone NHL game in 2018. their first-round West Division matchup. PANDEMIC PLAY Alex Newhook scored his first NHL goal, and Tyson Jost, Brandon Saad The Blues allowed 9,000 fans, nearly 50% capacity, for the game. It was and J.T. Compher also scored for the Avalanche, who can complete a the largest percentage increase since St. Louis began its home schedule series sweep Sunday in Game 4 in St. Louis. on Jan. 18. “I think we’re a little opportunistic tonight,” Avalanche coach Jared

Bednar said. “We had some good opportunities to score some goals, we didn’t execute that well at times and same thing with our breakouts and in Belleville News-Democrat LOADED: 05.23.2021 the neutral zone.”

Tyler Bozak scored for the Blues, and Jordan Binnington made 21 saves.

Graves broke a scoreless tie at 1:57 of the second period. Graves, who had just gotten out of the penalty box, beat Binnington in a race for a loose puck in left circle and chipped it in the empty net.

“I don’t know how it squeaked out, but it kind of squeaked out in a really good spot for me and fortunately it was the second period, so I had to jump on their guy,” Graves said.

Newhook made it 2-0, burying a rebound off a slap shot by Graves with 7:23 left in the second.

“We knew they’re going to come out hard, obviously down 2-0 back in their building, so it’s just all part of hockey, it’s momentum swings,” Saad said. “We knew they’re going to have that push and I think we did a good job of sticking with it.”

Colorado added to its lead with 3:52 left in the second on a diving swipe of the puck by Jost, finishing off a rush moments after Grubauer got in front of a point-blank chance for Jordan Kyrou.

The Blues unsuccessfully challenged for goaltender interference — giving the Avalanche a power play. But Bozak scored a short-handed goal just nine seconds into the penalty kill to cut the Colorado lead to 3-1.

Blues coach Craig Berube was not pleased with the officiating.

“In every game, we get one or two calls,” Berube said. “It’s usually late in the third period. They’re getting four a game or five, how many did they get tonight? Five? It’s not that lopsided. I’m not sure why we don’t get the calls we deserve. (Colton) Parayko gets tripped in the corner, slew- footed, and they don’t call it, OK? And it cost us a goal.

"It’s terrible! It’s so one-sided, it’s not even funny.”

Grubauer was stellar from the start, making 25 saves in the first two periods and several more in the third period as a desperate Blues team tried to come back.

“You just don’t even notice that he’s been so good in there, he just makes saves so effortless,” Graves said. “So, time and time again, he bails us out when we make mistakes.”

Saad’s second goal of the playoffs with 6:18 left in the third sealed the win for the Avalanche. Compher added an empty-net goal.

REPEAT OFFENDER

Avalanche C Nazem Kadri was suspended eight games for his check to the head of Blues D Justin Faulk in the third period of Game 2.

This is the sixth time Kadri has been suspended in his 12-year career, the most recent being a five-game suspension in the 2019 playoffs as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs for a hit on Boston Bruins F Jake Debrusk. 1213890 St Louis Blues The other four have all come in the third period, with the Avs leading 2-1, 3-1, 3-1 and 4-1.

When Berube was asked by The Athletic for his opinion on why the As Blues fall into 3-0 hole against Avalanche, Craig Berube blasts refs: officiating has seemed one-sided to him, he replied: “I don’t know. You’ll ‘It’s so one-sided, it’s not even funny’ have to ask the referees or the league. I don’t have an answer for that.”

But Friday, the Blues coach was more than willing to offer his opinion on a couple of calls in the series he felt were missed. By Jeremy Rutherford In Game 2, Berube had voiced his displeasure with an interference on May 22, 2021 Nathan MacKinnon that was ignored, and in Game 3 he was focused on a slashing call against Schenn and a slew-foot on Colton Parayko that

went uncalled. Colorado led St. Louis 4-1 with 2 1/2 minutes left in Game 3 on Friday The no-call on the slash came with just under four minutes left in the first when referee Chris Lee blew his whistle. It was a holding call against period in a scoreless game. Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog, putting the Blues on a power play. Tarasenko centered the puck to Schenn, who was driving the slot when “A token power play,” St. Louis coach Craig Berube said. he was bowled over by Colorado captain Landeskog and had his stick In other words, the refs gave the Blues a chance on the man advantage broken in two pieces in the process. to keep the running total for the series relatively close. Berube was incensed. “The refereeing, every game, we get one or two calls,” Berube said. “It’s “Yeah, broke his stick, should be a penalty,” he said. usually late in the third period. They’re getting four, five a game. I mean, (the play of the teams) isn’t that lopsided. I’m not sure why we don’t get After the Blues had given up the first goal in games 1-2 and had been the calls that we deserve. outshot by a combined total of 37-11 in the first periods, the Blues had a chance to take their first lead of the series. “It’s so one-sided, it’s not even funny.” “Yeah, it’s disappointing,” O’Reilly said. “It’s a direct scoring chance that It sounded a lot like desperation setting in for the Blues, who are now in a changes the game right there. So it’s disappointing to see, but what can 3-0 hole against the Avs in the best-of-seven series. you do? That happens, they didn’t call it, and you’ve got to move on.” There are many reasons they’re in this position, particularly the lack of The Blues moved on and were trailing the Avs 2-0 late in the second offensive production from their highest-paid forwards. Through three period when they had possession in the offensive zone. Parayko games, Ryan O’Reilly, Vladimir Tarasenko, Brayden Schenn and Jaden appeared to fall in the corner but afterward, Berube said Parayko was Schwartz, who combine for a salary-cap hit of $26,850,000 this season, slew-footed by Girard. have combined for one goal and two points and, collectively, they’re a minus-24. Girard pushed the puck ahead to Landeskog, who created a two-on-one with Tyson Jost, who finished off the play for a 3-0 lead. Berube acknowledged that’s a problem, but on several occasions during his five-minute news conference with reporters, he went out of his way to “Parayko gets tripped in the corner, they go down and score a goal,” criticize the officiating. So before we get into the other issue for a club Berube said, before repeating himself. “He gets tripped in the corner, that could see its season end in Game 4 Sunday at Enterprise Center, slew-footed, and they don’t call it and it cost us a goal. It’s terrible.” let’s dive a little deeper into what he’s talking about with the officiating. However, if the Blues’ season comes to a conclusion Sunday, or soon, So it’s about as even as you’re going to get in the playoffs, especially the area that will get reflected on the most won’t be the officiating — it’ll considering that among the 16 playoff teams, both the Blues and Avs are be the Blues’ anemic offense. around the middle of the pack in penalties. You’ll recall from earlier that their four highest-paid forwards have just But Berube’s beef seems to be the Avs are getting opportunities early in two points. Well, Colorado’s four highest-paid forwards — Mikko games, and the Blues are getting theirs late, perhaps when the game is Rantanen, MacKinnon, Landeskog and Brandon Saad — have a total of out of reach. 20 points in three games, and the Avs have nine players with at least two points. Of the Blues’ 11 penalties, we’re not going to include the four that either don’t create power plays or they’re automatic calls, so they’re not at the Friday morning, Berube was asked about O’Reilly’s play through two referee’s discretion: fighting, coincidental roughing, delay of game games, in which he had no points and was a minus-6. (shooting puck over glass), and delay of game (failed goalie interference challenge). Of the other remaining seven, six of them have been called in “He’s had some opportunities,” Berube said. “I don’t know, you can’t the first two periods with the score tight. really fault his effort. He’s working extremely hard. I think it’s just a matter of time for him and he’ll get it done.” Game 1 Later that night, Berube put O’Reilly on a line with Ivan Barbashev and O’Reilly tripping, first period, 0-0 Jordan Kyrou, and because the Blues had the last change at home, they got their captain away from the MacKinnon matchup. When that Blues’ Justin Faulk slashing, second period, Avs leading 1-0 line was on the ice Friday, the team had 11 shots for and just three Sammy Blais hooking, second period, Avs leading 1-0 against, according to Natural Stat Trick, but no goals.

Game 2 O’Reilly had just one shot attempt in 21:15 of ice time. He did assist on Bozak’s short-handed goal. Ivan Barbashev hooking, second period, Avs leading 2-0 (scored power- play goal for 3-0 lead) “Yeah, just speaking for myself, I know I can be a lot better and have to find a way to put the puck in the net,” O’Reilly said. “I had plenty of Game 3 opportunities tonight and still didn’t make enough happen. I wish I had the answer and adjust it … you’ve got to make a difference. It’s on us, Schenn interference, first period, 0-0 the guys seeing the big ice and the big minutes. We have to find a way to Blais interference, second period, Avs leading 1-0 produce and spark the rest of the group.”

Meanwhile, the Avs have taken eight penalties — five if we exclude The captain, though, is hardly alone in a lineup that severely misses fighting, coincidental roughing, delay of game, etc. — and just one of leading point-producer David Perron, who’s on the COVID-19 protocol those five has been called in the first two periods. list.

Game 3 Berube reunited Schwartz, Schenn and Tarasenko in Game 3, and played them against MacKinnon’s unit. At five-on-five, they did limit the Samuel Girard, first period, 0-0 Avs’ dynamic line to just five shots for when they were on the ice, but they only had five shots and were outscored 1-0.

After cooling off about the penalties, Berube addressed the lack of offense.

“They are creating,” he said. “There were some good looks out there. It’s not going in right now. If I had an answer of why, I would have fixed it already.

“The bottom line is, our top guys that are guys that we rely on, and they’ve got to produce. We’ve got to find a way to score more goals.”

Incredibly, the Blues had more shortcomings with their veterans in Game 3 than they did two defensemen who were playing in their first NHL postseason.

With Justin Faulk and Robert Bortuzzo sidelined with upper-body injuries, Steven Santini and Mitch Reinke were inserted into the lineup and were solid. Santini logged 16:20 of ice time and had three shots on net and laid eight hits. Reinke, playing in just his second NHL game and first since 2018, played 9:19 and had two shots on goal; he was a minus-1.

“I thought they did a great job,” Berube said.

They may not be back in the lineup in Game 4, however. Vince Dunn (upper-body injury) is inching closer to a return and Jake Walman was removed from the COVID-19 protocol list Friday, and there’s a chance he could play Sunday.

It could be the last game of the season, and despite the tremendously long odds of the Blues recovering against the Presidents’ Trophy team in this series, Berube reminded everyone of when he was an assistant coach of the Philadelphia Flyers in 2009-10.

“You focus on what you’ve got to do to win the game,” he said. “I was on the team in Philadelphia when we were down 3-0 to Boston and we came back and beat them in the series. So, it can be done.”

The Athletic LOADED: 05.23.2021 1213891 Tampa Bay Lightning

Lightning’s Andrei Vasilevskiy stands tall against Panthers

By Eduardo A. Encina and Mari Faiello

Published Yesterday

Updated Yesterday

TAMPA — One of Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy’s best attributes is his ability to block out distractions and slow games.

Lost in the chaos that became Tampa Bay’s 6-2 win over Florida in Game 4 of their first-round playoff series Saturday was how Vasilevskiy shut down the Panthers.

Once again, Florida had its share of chances, including seven power plays, but Vasilevskiy stopped 39 of 41 shots in the game as the Lightning took a 3-1 series lead.

Vasilevskiy’s performance came two days after he allowed six goals in the Lightning’s Game 3 loss. He had allowed 11 goals in the first three games of the series.

Vasilevskiy saw a flurry of shots early in Game 4, as the Panthers launched 34 of their shots in the first two periods.

“Obviously, the first (period) wasn’t our best this series, but I actually felt pretty good,” Vasilevskiy said. “I actually saw a few pucks in the first, and I thought we were pretty good in the second, and unfortunately we took a few unnecessary penalties, and I just tried to play my game. I didn’t think about any outcome. I just kept playing.”

Both goals Vasilevskiy allowed were on power plays.

“He’s done a great job,” forward Alex Killorn said. “The way (the Panthers) play, they tend to get some odd-man rushes, they tend to take some risks to get those. And he’s been great for us. I think (Saturday), on the (Lightning penalty kill), he’s facing a lot of high-end shots. And he’s just doing a great job.

“It might have been too much work for him (Saturday). I think we got to stay off the (penalty kill). But all in all, he’s been playing great.”

Vasilevskiy seemed to feed off the energy of the limited capacity crowd of 9,762 at Amalie Arena as Lightning fans chanted “Va-sy, Va-sy” throughout the afternoon.

“That gives me lots of energy after the big saves,” Vasilevskiy said. “Obviously, the fans are a big part of our game. They gave us so much emotion in these two games (at home). I’m pretty sure they’ll give us even more moving forward.”

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 05.23.2021 1213892 Tampa Bay Lightning Lightning coach Jon Cooper would not address the severity of the injuries but was clearly peeved with the way the officials handled the rowdiness in the third period.

Forget the rowdy stuff, the Lightning have bigger goals in mind “We came here to win a hockey game, and we did,” Cooper said. “The power play was outstanding, the penalty killing got the job done. We gamed it out. We’ve got better in us, we know that. We’ve come here to win four, we’ve only won three. We still have to get another one.” By John Romano So let this be the series epitaph: Published Yesterday Ryan Lomberg grabbing Yanni Gourde by the jersey and jerking him Updated Yesterday back and forth in an invitation to fight, and Gourde just grinning and taking it all. It’s the difference between frustration and achievement. Between desperation and poise. TAMPA — Plenty of NHL teams have skilled scorers, and a few have elite goaltenders, too. In the end, it’s the difference between losing and winning.

But not many have that elusive quality that can turn contenders into champions. You can’t measure it, and you can’t fake it. You can’t bully Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 05.23.2021 your way into it, and you can’t acquire it through shortcuts, either.

It’s a presence. A mindset. A confidence that comes from a lifetime of scars.

It’s that quality that allows a team to blow a two-goal lead in the third period, lose Game 3 in overtime and then come back a couple of days later and regain command of a series no matter how ugly, nasty or violent the mood becomes.

Say whatever else you want, the Lightning are cool.

Tampa Bay ignored a potential momentum-swinging loss in overtime on Thursday night, and embarrassed Florida 6-2 on Saturday afternoon in Game 4 to move to within one victory of clinching their first-round series.

If you’re counting, that’s the seventh consecutive time the Lightning have followed up a loss in the postseason with a victory.

“You obviously gain that experience by going through tough losses,” defenseman Victor Hedman said. “We lost the last game in overtime but, you look back, we lost Game 5 against the (Dallas) Stars when we had a chance to win the Stanley Cup. We lost in overtime and the way we reacted after that game gave me a lot of confidence in how we would react after losing (Thursday).

“It just proved once again that what we have in our room is very special. We have so many special leaders. We have got leadership from top to bottom, we’re a confident group when we come to these situations. I’m very proud of the guys for the way we responded.”

The Lightning have now played 26 playoff games over two seasons without losing two in a row. They’ve taken the four-game sweep at the hands of Columbus in the first round of 2019 and matured into the NHL’s ultimate bounce-back team.

For a large part of the game, Florida had fired more than twice as many shots at the goal. At one point, the Panthers had four more power plays than the Lightning. And once the outcome became obvious, the Panthers began hacking and goading the Lightning into scrums in the third period.

Yet none of it mattered.

For the most part, Tampa Bay stuck to its script and focused on the scoreboard. The Lightning had a few senseless penalties of their own, but they had the maturity and composure to avoid anything that would jeopardize the outcome.

“That was a tough loss the last game, for sure, especially when they came back with two goals in the third period, but this is veteran group,” said forward Alex Killorn, who had two goals. “We realize in these playoffs there’s going to be ups and downs. It’s how you handle the adversity, and tonight was a great job.”

The Panthers, meanwhile, have tried everything. They’ve switched goaltenders from Sergei Bobrovsky to Chris Driedger, back to Bobrovsky and then back to Driedger. Finally, with 10 minutes remaining in Game 4, they did without a goaltender for a while.

When all else failed, they began taking aim at Lightning players. Nikita Kucherov had to be helped off the ice after getting slashed in the leg, and Mikhail Sergachev also went down after being driven into the boards. 1213893 Tampa Bay Lightning Patric Hornqvist was in Vasilevskiy’s face during a second-period power play, but the Lightning goaltender at one point managed to make a blocker save while looking over Hornqvist’s left shoulder and stopping the puck on the other side of the Panthers power forward. Lightning-Panthers Game 4 report card: More good than bad Ryan Lomberg tried to get under Vasilevskiy’s skin later in the period, twice crashing into him during a scrum in front of the Lightning net. No worse for wear, Vasilevskiy shortly thereafter slid to his left to stop a By Frank Pastor chance from Markus Nutivaara, left alone in front of the net, during a Published Yesterday delayed penalty against Victor Hedman.

Updated Yesterday Grade: A

Killorn doesn’t just conduct entertaining interviews with teammates and other local sports celebrities on his Sea-Doo. He’s also a heck of a With Yanni Gourde, you take the bad with the good. hockey player, one whose value too often goes underappreciated.

It’s mostly good, as the Lightning’s third-line center is usually generating It was in full view Saturday, as Killorn scored two second-period goals to offense around the net, winning faceoffs, killing penalties or contributing stake the Lightning to a 5-1 lead and had a chance at a natural hat trick on the second power-play unit. during a shorthanded breakaway opportunity later in the period.

He’s often best when he’s at his worst, getting under opponents’ skin and Killorn’s name often comes up in trade speculation, mostly due to his moving them off their game. We saw it all in the first period of Game 4. contract, but he consistently has been one of the Lightning’s best postseason players. Gourde seemed intent on getting into the head of Jonathan Huberdeau and dragged the Panthers wing into a scuffle just minutes into the game, Grade: A pulling one of Florida’s most skilled players into the penalty box with him. Center Anthony Cirelli scored the Lightning’s first goal 37 seconds later Got his back on the resulting four-on-four. The Lightning penalty killers picked up Kucherov after he was Gourde showed some skill of his own just over four minutes later, tipping inexplicably penalized for interfering with goaltender Chris Driedger in a Nikita Kucherov shot from just inside the blue line to double the during a late second-period breakaway. Lightning lead. It was a deft deflection, from a few feet wide of the net Mackenzie Weegar pushed Kucherov from behind as he broke in alone into the short side as he fought for position with Florida defenseman on Driedger, and Kucherov crashed helmet to helmet into the Florida Markus Nutivaara. goaltender, who was down on the ice for a long time after the play. But Gourde’s antics caught up with him later in the period when he was But a Florida power play that had scored twice earlier in the game never penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct against Huberdeau, who made really threatened in the two minutes after the Kucherov penalty, which him pay for the infraction by scoring on the ensuing power play. stretched into the start of the third period. Tampa Bay’s penalty killers “It’s playoff hockey,” Gourde said during a first-intermission interview on didn’t give them the chance. . “Me and Huberdeau, we compete and that’s what Grade: B happens. When guys are competing hard, I think, things can get fired up a little bit. That’s hockey, though.”

Winning hockey, in the Lightning’s case. Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 05.23.2021 Grade: A-minus

Here is how we graded the rest of the Lightning’s performance in their 6- 2 win in Game 4:

Nikita Kucherov was the Lightning’s leading scorer during last season’s Stanley Cup run and a deserving Conn Smythe candidate.

This season, he seems to have a bigger title in mind: Best player in the world.

Rested after sitting out the regular season following hip surgery, Kucherov has been the best player since the start of the postseason. His goal and three assists Saturday gave him nine points, including six assists, in his first four playoff games.

He is especially dangerous on the power play, striking from seemingly anywhere. When he isn’t scoring on a one-timer from the right circle, he is feeding Brayden Point in the slot, setting up Alex Killorn at the top of the crease or, in the case of Gourde’s goal, putting a shot on net from just inside the blue line.

Apparently, the only way to slow Kucherov is to hurt him, which Anthony Duclair did in the third period, slashing Kucherov on the back of the leg on a dirty and unnecessary play well away from the puck. Duclair received a two-minute slashing penalty but seemed to deserve much more.

Grade: A-plus

The Lightning did not lose back-to-back postseason games at any point during last season’s Cup run, Andrei Vasilevskiy winning each of his seven games following a loss.

Two days after allowing six goals in the Game 3 setback, Vasilevskiy was back at the top of his game, stopping 39 of 41 shots. Florida had plenty of good looks and got traffic to the front of the net, but Vasilevskiy tracked the puck well and stayed in control despite the Panthers’ best attempts to rattle him. 1213894 Tampa Bay Lightning

Lightning’s Mikhail Sergachev leaves game after hit into boards

By Mari Faiello

Published Yesterday

Updated Yesterday

TAMPA — A questionable hit late in Game 4 drew ire from the more than 9,700 Lightning fans Saturday at Amalie Arena.

Already down star wing Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay lost another one of its valuable players in Mikhail Sergachev with fewer than four minutes remaining.

The defenseman skated behind the Lightning net and tried to get rid of the puck in the corner. As the puck left his stick, Florida’s Patric Hornqvist collided into Sergachev, sending him into the boards.

Sergachev was slow to get up. He lay on the ice for a few minutes, getting looked at by team trainers before skating under his own power off the ice and down the tunnel to the locker room.

The hit didn’t warrant a penalty for Hornqvist before he and Lightning forward Pat Maroon jarred at the bench, leading to matching 10-minute misconducts.

Lightning coach Jon Cooper did not have an update on Sergachev after the game.

“We’re up 5-2 and make it 6-2 pretty early in the third, you know there’s going to be emotion for the rest of that period,” defenseman Victor Hedman said. “It’s just about playing between the whistles and trying as best as you can to keep your emotions in check.”

Hedman said he thought the team did a good job controlling their emotions for most of the night. He couldn’t answer whether the Panthers might have had ulterior motives down four goals in the third period, though.

“That’s a good question,” he said. “I think you have to ask them.”

Two big questions loomed over the Lightning before the start of their series against the Panthers.

Would Kucherov be ready to go after missing the entire regular season recovering from hip surgery? And — not to be overshadowed — would Steven Stamkos be on the ice for Game 1?

The focus was mostly on Kucherov. He piqued interest throughout the league and he has nine points in four games (three goals, six assists), including a four-point outing on Saturday.

After Stamkos was confirmed “ready to go,” it was business as usual. Yet, the captain’s contributions can’t be overlooked.

In four games, Stamkos has six points (two goals, four assists), with at least one point in every game.

Saturday, Stamkos picked up assists on Alex Killorn’s second goal and Kucherov’s third-period, power-play goal.

“He’s been great,” Killorn said before the game on the Bally Sports Sun broadcast. “He’s been working so hard to be ready for the playoffs. For me, especially, to have a guy like that on my line, that can score from really anywhere in the offensive zone, it’s nice to have and it just adds another threat to your line.”

Loose pucks

• Ondrej Palat’s first-period goal was his 34th career postseason goal, surpassing Martin St. Louis (3) for the second-most in franchise history behind ... you guessed it ... Nikita Kucherov (38).

• Kucherov’s three-assist outing was his sixth career postseason game with three or more.

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 05.23.2021 1213895 Tampa Bay Lightning

First round: Lightning-Panthers Game 4 live updates

By Frank Pastor

Published Yesterday

Updated Yesterday

Nikita Kucherov had a goal and three assists before leaving with an apparent leg injury as the Lightning beat the Panthers 6-2 in Game 4 of their first-round playoff series Saturday at Amalie Arena.

Alex Killorn scored twice ,and Anthony Cirelli, Yanni Gourde and Ondrej Palat added goals for Tampa Bay, which took a 3-1 lead in the series.

Kucherov left in the third period after being slashed in the back of the knee by Anthony Duclair. Defenseman Mikhail Sergachev joined Kucherov in the locker room later in the period after a hard hit into the boards from Patric Hornqvist.

Jonathan Huberdeau and Carter Verhaeghe scored power-play goals for Florida.

Who even was that team?

The Lightning looked nothing like themselves in the final 26 minutes, including overtime, of their Game 3 loss to the Panthers Thursday night.

They backed off on the attack, playing defensively in an attempt to protect a two-, then one-goal lead. They had trouble even getting set up in the Florida zone, let alone create high-danger scoring chances, when gifted a late power play, most of which carried into overtime.

Andrei Vasilevskiy, who seemingly came up with one game-saving stop after another during the regular season, had no answer for Gustav Forsling’s tying goal or Ryan Lomberg’s winner in overtime.

As a result, the Lightning lost for the first time all season when leading after two periods, a stretch of 28 games.

Now the good news.

Tampa Bay continues to lead the series, 2-1. It showed it can still be explosive offensively, setting a franchise record for goals in a postseason period with five in the second period of Game 3. Anthony Cirelli snapped a 28-game scoreless streak. And, outcome aside, the game was as entertaining as they get.

Which brings us to Game 4 this afternoon at Amalie Arena. The Lightning and Panthers have already played two classics in the first three games of the series, so we can probably expect more of the same today. Hits will be delivered, goals will pile up, no lead will be safe, and momentum will change with every rush up the ice.

Fun, no?

Follow our live updates, starting at 12:30 p.m., as the Lightning hope to rebound from their first loss in a series that has been everything it was hoped to be (and more) and move out to a 3-1 lead.

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 05.23.2021 1213896 Tampa Bay Lightning The Lightning killed off the penalty and extended their lead with Kucherov’s power-play goal early in the third to make it 6-2.

Kucherov had four points in the game; he also had three assists. Alex Nikita Kucherov injured, series turns ugly in Lightning’s Game 4 win over Killorn scored two goals and had two assists. Panthers

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 05.23.2021 By Eduardo A. Encina

Published Yesterday

Updated Yesterday

Given the path that the Lightning’s first-round playoff series with the Panthers has taken, both teams had been warned by officials about crossing the line between physical, hard-nosed hockey and dirty play.

But after the Lightning’s 6-2 Game 4 win Saturday afternoon at Amalie Arena, a game that turned from intense to ugly as it went on, Lightning coach Jon Cooper was wondering what he had just watched.

“The hockey game ended about halfway through the second (period),” he said. “It turned into something much different.”

The stomach of every Lightning fan fell at the sight of star forward Nikita Kucherov, who has been the team’s heartbeat this postseason, writhing in pain on the ice midway through the third period after taking a slash to the back of the left knee from Panthers forward Anthony Duclair.

Kucherov skated off, hunched over and unable to put weight on the leg before disappearing down the tunnel as Duclair served a two-minute minor. Then later in the period, defenseman Mikhail Sergachev left the game after taking a blindsided hit into the boards from Florida forward Patric Hornqvist.

The Lightning took a 3-1 series lead with the win in front of a limited capacity Amalie Arena crowd of 9,762 and can send off the Panthers in Monday night’s Game 5 at Sunrise.

Twenty-six penalties were called, 14 in a third period that included nine on the Panthers and five 10-minute misconducts between the teams. Cooper put the onus on the officials, saying they let the game can get out of hand.

“There’s nothing wrong with the message setting and tone setting,” Cooper said. “That’s part of the game. That’s why we love it. … But let’s do it in the parameters of the game, and then there’s guys with stripes on that control that. But if it’s not controlled, stuff like this happens (Saturday) and you have superstars lying on the ice hurt. It just can be frustrating.”

The Lightning not only had to defend a lead in the third period, they had to protect themselves and battle their emotions.

“We had to weather our emotions, there’s no doubt,” Cooper said. “And when our players have been told, ‘Don’t do anything stupid. We’re going to get you’ … we don’t do anything stupid and the other team’s getting rewarded for it? I just don’t get it.

“It’s just frustrating because people are coming to watch a really intense, good hockey game. And liberties are being taken. … Don’t get me wrong. We’re not angels out there. We are far from it. But when there’s a standard set and we’re being told how things are going to be called and when it doesn’t get done, then there’s just confusion.”

Asked if the Panthers were possibly playing to injure once the score got out of hand, Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman said: “I think you have to ask the other team if they were out for anything else. But I thought we did a good job controlling our emotions for most of the night, but it’s the playoffs. Stuff’s going to happen. It’s about how you react, and we won the game, so that’s all that matters.”

Asked for updates on Kucherov and Sergachev, Cooper said, “Nothing. Next question.”

The second period ended with Kucherov racing toward the Florida net on a breakaway. He was pushed from behind by defenseman MacKenzie Weegar and collided hard, head-to-head, with goaltender Chris Driedger.

Both players were strewn across the ice, Kucherov on his knees and holding his head. Driedger took the worst of the collision. And Kucherov had to serve an interference penalty when the dust settled. 1213897 Tampa Bay Lightning

Lightning’s ring homage ‘one of the coolest things to happen’ to Yung Gravy

By Eduardo A. Encina

Published Yesterday

Updated Yesterday

TAMPA — Matt Hauri, better known as rapper Yung Gravy, woke up one morning last month to a flurry of texts from his friends, who sent him screenshots of the Lightning’s newly revealed Stanley Cup championship rings.

Along the base of the ring, the words “Gravy Train” were inscribed, recognizing the rapper’s popular song that became the Lightning’s locker room victory anthem on their way to the Cup.

“Oh, man, I woke up and I had a ton of texts and it was like all people who were hockey fans, I was like, ‘I wonder what’s going on here,’” Hauri said. “It blew my mind. I mean I’d love to get my hands on one of those. That’s got to be one of the coolest things to happen to me.”

Before the Lightning’s first-round playoff Game 4 at Amalie Arena, Hauri performed a 20-minute concert in Thunder Alley, finishing his short set with a live performance of Gravy Train. He wore a blue Lightning jersey with the name “Gravy” on the back before changing into a black alternate Lightning jersey that had a G where the captain patch goes.

Last season, Hauri visited a Lightning practice when the team was playing their global series games in Sweden. Hauri was coincidently on tour there.

“Having that love is awesome, man,” he said. “I’m from Minnesota so I grew up as a hockey kid, but it’s crazy to find a team that showed that much love and one as dope as the Lightning.”

Gravy also has a song entitled Tampa Bay Bustdown, but hadn’t been to the area before doing a show at Jannus Live in St. Petersburg in October 2019.

“That show (is) one of the best shows I’ve ever done,” he said. “I love that show. It was sick.”

He said performing outside Amalie Arena before Saturday’s game was a new highlight.

“This is awesome, man,” Hauri said. “Since coronavirus kind of died down, I’ve only like done like three or four shows. And this is obviously one of the best so far even though it was short. I loved it.”

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 05.23.2021 1213898 Tampa Bay Lightning out of it,” Killorn said. “Sometimes, it’s more difficult to do than others. As a team, we’re going to stand up for our players.”

The tactic worked for a bit as the Panthers had six power plays to the Lightning’s Nikita Kucherov, Mikhail Sergachev hurt as Panthers series Lightning’s one after two periods. That Tampa Bay killed off five of them takes ugly turn was a big reason it took control of this game, with Vasilevskiy making some stellar saves. Though Vasilevskiy has given up four or more goals twice in this series, including the Panthers’ come-from-behind, 6-5 victory Thursday, the Vezina Trophy winner delivered when his team needed it. By Joe Smith “I actually felt pretty good,” Vasilevskiy said. “I just tried to play my game May 22, 2021 and tried not to think of any outcome, just kept playing.”

Cooper had said that even if Vasilevskiy had been on steroids in Game Victor Hedman stood on the bench after the second period Saturday 3, he wouldn’t have stopped all the great chances the Panthers had, and yelling — imploring — his Lightning teammates to come off the ice. the No. 1 goalie was “the least of our concerns.” Goaltending has been a difference in the series with the Panthers once again switching theirs as “Calm down!” he yelled, waving his arms. “Let’s go.” Sergei Bobrovsky was pulled after giving up five goals on 14 shots. Could rookie phenom Spencer Knight get the start for Game 5? Players were lingering around, livid with the referees after a stunning no- call moments earlier, when Lightning star Nikita Kucherov was shoved The Panthers have been the better team at five-on-five for good portions into goalie Chris Driedger by MacKenzie Weegar. Kucherov and Driedger of the series, posting a 58.03 expected goals percentage, according to collided helmet-to-helmet, both staying down on the ice for a few scary Natural Stat Trick. Florida is up 107-65 in scoring chances five-on-five moments. Though Kucherov was shoved into the goalie, he was the only and 37-23 in high-danger scoring chances. You could argue Florida had one given a penalty. control of play in the first period but still fell into a 3-1 hole. There was a breakaway goal by Anthony Cirelli, who has two goals in as many Turns out, this was just the beginning of a Sunshine State showdown games, and then two deflections by Yanni Gourde and Ondrej Palat, who series that’s gone from an instant classic to a dumpster fire. moved into second place all time with the Lightning with 34 playoff goals Remember Game 1 when people were calling it one of the best games (passing Hall of Famer Martin St. Louis). they’ve ever seen — a beautiful blend of speed and skill? By late “We had way better in us, we knew it,” Cooper said. “The fact we were up Saturday afternoon, you wondered how many stars would be left 3-1, we didn’t like the way we were playing. We were losing battles down standing. There was Kucherov lying on the ice holding his left leg after a low. We had to make a few adjustments and we got those goals.” dirty slash by Anthony Duclair, and Mikhail Sergachev down for a few minutes after getting blindsided by Patric Hornqvist. Asked what the But the Lightning have feasted on the Panthers with their power play, Lightning could do to keep their composure in the third, Alex Killorn scoring seven times in their first 12 opportunities, including twice in quipped, “Keep your stars on the bench.” (Though coach Jon Cooper Saturday’s game. It’s how Tampa Bay took control in its 5-4 victory in didn’t have an update postgame on either player, early indications are Game 1 in Sunrise. The return of Kucherov, who missed the regular that neither injury is serious.) season after hip surgery, has “added another level to this power play.”

The Lightning won 6-2, taking a commanding 3-1 series lead heading “He’s one of the best, if not the best, half-wall guys in the entire NHL,” into Game 5 in Sunrise. Their dynamic power play continued to shine, Killorn said. “He makes a lot of players around him a lot better.” scoring twice, with Kucherov and Killorn picking up four points. Andrei Vasilevskiy shut the door with 39 saves. The penalty kill went 5-for-6 in a The Lightning aren’t surprised Kucherov has played at this high of a level wild first period. That should be the story. — nine points (three goals, six assists) in four playoff games — even after that long of a layoff. Cooper has been impressed how fast his legs Instead, the focus surrounded the 26 penalties, five misconducts and a and lungs caught up in such a fast-paced playoffs, “He went from zero to few line brawls. All of this could have been avoided. 60,” Cooper said.

“When your players are being told, ‘Don’t do anything stupid, we’re going That’s why it was so concerning for the Lightning to see Kucherov to get you,’ and the other team is getting rewarded, I don’t get it,” Cooper sprawled out on the ice twice Saturday. He came back after the helmet- said. “It’s really frustrating because people come to watch a really to-helmet collision with Driedger at the end of the second. But when intense, good hockey game, and liberties are being taken. Don’t get me Kucherov pushed the puck up the ice from his own zone midway through wrong, we’re not angels out there. I’m not sitting here saying that, far the third, Duclair whipped by and slashed him on the back of the leg. from it. Kucherov was attended to by head athletic trainer Tommy Mulligan, slowly skated off the ice and headed to the dressing room. “But when there’s a standard set and we’re being told things are going to be called and when it doesn’t get done, there’s just confusion. I’ll give our “When you see him go down and he stays down, it’s very concerning,” guys a ton of credit for sticking with and battling through embellishments Killorn said. “Players on our team are not going to stay down unless and non-calls after non-calls after non-calls and having so many not go they’re actually hurt. We hope he’s going to be OK.” the way we want.” “He’s a tough kid,” Gourde said. The good news for the Lightning is that Kucherov’s injury isn’t considered serious, according to a source. It’s hard to know the severity of Though the NHL Department of Player Safety will likely look at Duclair’s Sergachev’s injury, though he did skate off on his own power after hitting slash, Quenneville didn’t seem to think it was dirty. “Not much there for his head against the boards when Hornqvist hit him shoulder-to-shoulder. me,” Quenneville said. “I hope he’s all right.” From what I’m hearing, Sergachev is trending in the right direction. None of the Lightning players on the postgame video calls said they saw Whether either Kucherov or Sergachev is ready to play by Game 5 the Duclair hit or replay. remains to be seen. “You can tell from the reaction from our bench that it’s not the cleanest It didn’t make it easier for the Lightning to see two important players play,” Hedman said. “But it’s out of my reach. We can’t do anything about down on the ice. it now. If it was dirty, we know we have people looking at it. We’ll see.” “There’s nothing wrong with message sending and tone setting,” Cooper Like Cooper said, the Lightning “aren’t angels,” either. There have been said. “It’s part of the game. It’s why we love it. It’s why people come and some questionable hits on both sides, though the only suspension has stand in line for tickets, it’s awesome. But let’s do it in the parameters of been for Sam Bennett’s boarding of Blake Coleman in Game 1. Panthers the game and there’s guys with stripes that control that. But if it’s not fans are likely upset with Ryan McDonagh for his takedown of Mason controlled, stuff like this happens and you’ve got superstars lying on the Marchment a few games ago. ice hurt. You want passion. There’s so much great about it. You want passion, but now you’re skewed on what you’re allowed to do and what This game started off nasty, as shown by Gourde and Jonathan you’re not allowed to do and it keeps … it just could be frustrating.” Huberdeau trading blows in the first period. Killorn said the Panthers were just “trying to get us out of our game.” “We’re not pressing. They’re pressing to get goals, and we’ll try to stay By late in the third, there was Ryan Lomberg taking several punches at Gourde, who stood there and took it. Luke Schenn, heading for the bench, made a beeline to Lomberg and the line brawl started.

Asked if the Panthers were playing dirty, Gourde said, “I don’t know. We do our thing, we go to play, we’ve got to finish the game. That’s what matters at that point in the game. We’re going to focus on us, not on them.”

That’ll be important Monday in Game 5, with the Lightning having the chance to close out a series. They’ve talked all along about how their run to the Cup taught them how to be resilient and handle the highs and lows of emotion. You have to imagine they’re going to want to respond physically with the likes of Lomberg and Duclair on Monday night. But will the Panthers pull them out of their game enough to find a way to extend the series?

There’s so much talent on both sides, and it’s been a blast for everyone to watch the likes of Kucherov, Point, Stamkos, Huberdeau and Sasha Barkov make highlight-reel plays all series. You’re just hoping Monday’s matchup looks more like the first few games and not this last one.

“We did what we had to do to get the lead, and the hockey game ended at some point in the second,” Cooper said. “It turned into something different.”

The Athletic LOADED: 05.23.2021 1213899 Toronto Maple Leafs

Leafs’ John Tavares also injured knee in open-ice collision, out at least two weeks

Staff Report

REUTERS

PUBLISHED MAY 22, 2021

UPDATED MAY 22, 2021

Toronto Maple Leafs forward John Tavares is hit by Montreal Canadiens defenseman Ben Chiarot in Game 1 of their Stanley Cup Playoffs series Thursday.

The Toronto Maple Leafs will be without captain John Tavares for at least two weeks as he recovers from a knee injury and a concussion sustained in Game 1 of the first-round series against the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday.

Tavares, 30, was checked by Canadiens defenseman Ben Chiarot midway through the first period of Montreal’s 2-1 win. Tavares fell right into the path of Montreal forward Corey Perry, who jumped to try and avoid Tavares, but Perry’s left knee struck the Maple Leafs forward in the head.

Tavares was discharged from an area hospital on Friday morning and is recovering at home.

Tavares out indefinitely after head injury suffered during Game 1

The Leafs said Tavares would be out indefinitely following the injury, but updated that stance Saturday after the knee injury was discovered.

“John was diagnosed with a concussion and also sustained a knee injury on the play, similar to the one sustained by Zach Hyman during the regular season in Vancouver,” Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas said. “It will be a minimum of two weeks on that but obviously our primary concern is the concussion and making sure he returns to full health.

“The knee injury you can give a timeline on but the head injury and concussion, it’s very difficult to place a timeline on when someone is going to return from that. We handle those in a very conservative nature and handle them very sensitively. We will follow the protocols to a ‘T’ on that. We can’t replace that element with John and cannot repair it. We are keeping in mind he has a young family and there is an onus on us to protect him and his future in that regard.”

Tavares, on Friday, took to Twitter to show his appreciation for the support he received following the incident.

“The support I’ve felt since last night cannot be put into words,” he wrote. “I’m thankful to share that I’m back home and recovering. Thank you to my family, friends, teammates, the Maple Leafs organization, Leafs Nation and the hockey community for being by my side.

“Also, thank you to both medical teams, emergency services and everyone at St. Mike’s Hospital for their exceptional care to help me get back on my feet.

“I look forward to when I can wear the Maple Leaf on my chest again. Until then, I’ll be cheering on the boys along with Leafs Nation as we compete in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.”

Tavares was playing in his 37th career playoff game and his 13th since signing a free-agent contract with Toronto prior to the 2018-19 season. Tavares recorded 50 points (19 goals, 31 assists) over 56 games during the regular season.

Globe And Mail LOADED: 05.23.2021 1213900 Toronto Maple Leafs “I was a little nervous to be honest,” Sandin said afterwards, after the review that felt like an eternity. “I haven’t scored in a year and a half, or something like that. So obviously I was pretty happy when they called it.”

The Maple Leafs show what they’re made of in Game 2 win over the He described it thusly, chops to Mitch Marner on the set-up. “It got right Canadiens in my wheelhouse. I took a step into it and hit the right spot this time. Just super-happy.”

Matthews, with three points in a superb performance, preferred to shine By Rosie DiManno Star Columnist the light on Sandin and Spezza.

Sat., May 22, 2021 “He’s so poised and he’s deceptive, he’s extremely skilled,” he said of the 21-year-old Swede whose phone was blowing up with texts from home.

“For how young he is, it doesn’t seem like the big moments shake him at Step up. Man up. Giddy up. all.”

The Maple Leafs have all the horses they need — steeds, studs, stallions On 37-year-old Spezza: “He’s so calm, cool, collected out there. For a and even donkey-work equines — to prevail in this playoff derby with guy like that to continue to make a difference every single night has been Montreal. Gallop out of the first round for a change, like. pretty incredible to watch.’’

If they don’t make post-season asses out of themselves. A second power-play goal in the third, pair of goals in the series now for William Nylander, who was the best Leaf on Thursday. Plus an empty-net On Saturday they didn’t. Just mulish — doubling down on stubbornness cherry on top by Alex Kerfoot. and will, wrapped around skill, bumping off the Canadiens 5-1 to knot the series at one game apiece. “Tonight was very characteristic of how we’ve been all year,” observed Spezza, with a particular shout-out for Sandin. “To see one drop for him With goals from their retro end, their rookie end and their superstar gut. gives him even more confidence.”

As psychically traumatizing as it was to have their captain and leader But full credit, he added, to the stars, none shinier than Matthews. ripped from the lineup by a freak collision in Game 1 — concussed, suffering a knee injury that will require at least a fortnight of recovery but “Auston was our best player. Our best players have been Auston, Mitch, otherwise apparently convalescing comfortably at home; it could have Willy, every night. John. That’s why our team was in first this year. Those been so frighteningly worse — the job hasn’t changed. guys have been clutch for us all year.”

Neither has the team’s manifest superiority over the Habs. This version of the Leafs, more recognizable, was animated and flying from the get-go. Matthews set the tone, taking the body at every What are they made of? What is their pith? opportunity, notably a resonating thwack on Brendan Gallagher.

The right stuff, they’ve proclaimed to a man. More sinewy than playoffs of Even at their not-finest in Game 1, Toronto had withstood all the yore. Some sand injected into their veins. And weary of that sick feeling physicality Montreal could throw at them. in the pit of their stomachs, punted to the post-season roadside. A message was sent from drop of the puck Saturday, with hard-nosed Game 2 of the opening engagement with Montreal at Scotiabank Arena Wayne Simmonds sent over the boards — fleetingly, symbolically — on a was designated as a must-win. If not mathematically in a best-of-seven, starting line with Matthews and Zach Hyman. then unquestionably existentially. Two in the hole is a tall order to invert, with the Habs gaining muscular belief at every stage. Watching from his domicile — cleared of structural damage to head, neck and spine — Tavares was surely heartened by what he saw. Rasmus Sandin roars and draws a crowd — including Auston Matthews, left, Mitch Marner and Joe Thornton — after his power-play goal against Galchenyuk — Chucky, as he’s called, like the demonic doll in those the Canadiens in Game 2 on Saturday night at Scotiabank Arena. horror movies — was dusted off the sideline shelf, inserted into the second forward unit with Nylander and Nick Foligno. Galchenyuk, who’d Harness the emotion, the certitude of destiny developed over an been discarded by the Canadiens and revived his career when acquired outstanding season, even the dismay of John Tavares wrenched from by Toronto in February after winding his way through five other clubs. their midst, and convert it into energy, into doggedness. Pull up socks to pull up even. Six-foot-five winger Pierre Engvall seized the spot vacated by Riley Nash, who’d looked so drastically out of his element in the opener — and They’d had 48 hours to gnaw on this, to ponder and reset and remind understandably so, playing his first game as a Leaf, out of commission themselves how darn good they are. Now prove it in playoffs prime-time for two months with a lower-body injury. showtime. GM Kyle Dubas had prudently provided a safety net for his club, apart Notes to selves: Score first (they didn’t). Come out hitting (check — outhit from grit additions aimed at making the Leafs harder to play against, Montreal 20-17 in the first period). Dominate in the special-teams battles. although he could not have foreseen the calamity of Tavares injured. Added dimension: an impressively strong performance from the bottom- six forwards. Thing is, the Leafs abound in leadership, with so much high-end talent that disruption via injury, even the absence of such a key component as In a word: Respond. Tavares, should not drastically bewilder or fatally sabotage.

Vintage Jason Spezza did, putting Toronto on the board at 12:25 of the The cliché holds true: Your best players have to be your best players. opening frame after Jesperi Kotkaniemi had drawn first blood. Six seconds after Spezza jumped on the ice for that shift, on the change, Further, the players should be able to draw upon the admittedly mild beating Carey Price short-side. Solved the Price booga-wooga early, at adversities they’ve experienced this season. To say nothing of the least. wising-up, one would think, from the dumpster fires of four consecutive first-round dispatchments. Shank of the second period, the Leafs got their first lead of the series, Auston Matthews off a Justin Holl rebound. Then Rasmus Sandin with a Keefe had claimed to take assurance from that, the character and mental Howitzer from inside the blue line, first power-play goal for what has been ripening of his group. a decidedly incoherent man advantage — disadvantage — Toronto PP. “Just the way that the team has remained calm. Remains confident in Third consecutive power play for the Leafs, which had Montreal coach themselves, that the vibe and the mood of the team has been good,” Dominique Ducharme in conniptions. And general manager Marc Keefe said following Saturday’s optional skate. “Whether we’ve lost one Bergeron, up in the suites, in heated objection. game and bounced back or when losses have piled up, the mood of our An ill-advised coach’s challenge — on grounds of goalie interference — team has stayed very good, very confident. confirmed the call on the ice, thereby tacking on a punitive penalty for the “One of the best parts of the playoffs, frankly, is the opportunity to time-waster exercise. respond. When the other team has an edge and the urgency rises a bit. You get a chance to push back.” Push, pull and prevail.

Toronto Star LOADED: 05.23.2021 1213901 Toronto Maple Leafs advantage opportunities thanks to big stops from Price on Matthews and Spezza before Marner dangled around the goaltender only to be denied by Joel Armia in the Canadiens’ crease.

Minus Tavares, Matthews leads the way as Leafs down Habs 5-1 in But the North Division’s No. 1 seed got another crack when Kotkaniemi Game 2 to even series went off for cross-checking, and Sandin blasted a one-timer through a crowd for the rookie defenceman’s first-career playoff goal at 13:20.

Montreal interim head coach Dominique Ducharme curiously challenged By Joshua Clipperton The Canadian Press for goalie interference on Joe Thornton despite there not appearing to be much contact, but the call stood after the referees took a long look. Sat., May 22, 2021 Television cameras caught Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin in discussion

with coaches in Montreal’s private suite in the aftermath of the goal, but TORONTO - Auston Matthews and his teammates watched in stunned Ducharme said he made the final decision. horror as a bloodied John Tavares was stretchered off the ice Thursday “We could see clearly that Thornton was touching (Price’s) stick,” he following a terrifying collision. said. “We had an angle where it was conclusive. It’s my call, but Given a chance to regroup minus their captain and leader, the Maple everyone agreed that we had to challenge it.” Leafs’ best player dragged Toronto into the fight an emotional 48 hours “I didn’t know what the challenge was to be honest,” Sandin said. “Just later. hoping for them to call it a goal. I was a little nervous to be honest, Matthews scored the go-ahead goal and added two assists Saturday as because we were just talking about I haven’t scored in a year and a half the Leafs defeated the Montreal Canadiens 5-1 to even their first-round or something like that. playoff series 1-1. “Super happy.” “It means a lot, not only for the guys in the locker room, but for John The failed challenge handed Toronto another power play, although the himself,” the 23-year-old sniper said. “He’s such a big part of this team. Canadiens survived to only be down two heading to the third. “When something really scary and serious goes down like it did the other “The momentum shifted in the second period,” Ducharme said in night, the response from the group was unbelievable.” reference to the officiating. “We didn’t change it and the Leafs didn’t Released from hospital Friday after undergoing a CT scan and an MRI, change it.” Tavares is out indefinitely, but Toronto general manager Kyle Dubas said Toronto got its fifth man advantage midway through the third, and after before Game 2 the veteran centre avoided structural damage to his Matthews ripped a one-timer off the post, the puck bounced kindly to head, neck and spine when he took an accidental knee to the face from Nylander for him to bag his second of the series at 8:50. Canadiens winger Corey Perry. Keefe said Montreal’s decision to make the series as physical as Tavares messaged and spoke with teammates Thursday night from possible contributed to the Canadiens being whistled for six straight hospital to let them know he was on the mend and to encourage them to penalties. push on without him. “They want to make it a war,” he said. “If you’re going to do that, you’re at “His leadership of our team, despite his situation, didn’t stop,” Leafs head risk of getting penalties called against you. coach Sheldon Keefe said. “That really helped put our guys in the right headspace.” “That’s our job as a power play to make them pay.”

William Nylander, with a goal and an assist, Jason Spezza, Rasmus The Canadiens pulled Price for an extra attacker with 6:30 left in Sandin and Alexander Kerfoot, into an empty net, also scored for regulation, but Kerfoot iced it into the empty net late. Toronto, which got 22 saves from Jack Campbell. Mitch Marner chipped in with two helpers as the Leafs’ struggling power play connected on two The first Montreal-Toronto playoff series since 1979, the Leafs picked up opportunities in the same game for the first time since March 3. their first post-season win over the Canadiens since Game 6 of the 1967 Stanley Cup final, which secured the franchise’s last title. “The only way we can see John is if we win,” Spezza said. “It’s incredible how selfless he is. He’s trying to calm us down, even the night it The home side had a couple of good early chances, but the Canadiens happened. opened the scoring at 7:17 of the first when Kotkaniemi — in the lineup for the injured Jake Evans — shovelled home a loose puck. Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander (88) celebrates his goal with forward Auston Matthews (34) and Morgan Rielly (44) during thrid Toronto responded at 12:25 following a terrific shift in Montreal’s zone. period NHL Stanley Cup playoff hockey action in Toronto on Saturday, A pass by Canadiens winger Artturi Lehkonen went off the referee’s May 22, 2021. skate before forechecking Leafs defenceman Zach Bogosian fed a puck “We care deeply about Johnny and we want to do well for him. We’re in front that a hard-charging Spezza, who was coming off the bench, gonna try to win as many games as we can so we can get him back in stole from teammate Wayne Simmonds and wired shortside on Price to the lineup.” get the Leafs headed in the right direction.

A healthy scratch for Game 1, Jesperi Kotkaniemi replied for Montreal. “The guys just refocused,” Keefe said of his team’s response to the Carey Price stopped 29 shots as the best-of-seven matchup between Tavares injury. “You’re winning for him, you’re winning for all the guys these storied Original Six rivals now shifts to the Bell Centre for Games 3 that don’t get the play, you’re winning for the guy next to you in the room and 4. or the guy on the bench. There’s all sorts of reasons to compete.

The Canadiens took the opener by a 2-1 scoreline on the back of Price’s “We have another one.” 35-save performance and Paul Byron’s spectacular short-handed winner.

Tied 1-1 after 20 minutes Saturday, Toronto took its first lead of the Toronto Star LOADED: 05.23.2021 series at 5:15 of the second period when Matthews — the Maurice (Rocket) Richard Trophy winner with an NHL-best 41 goals — buried a Justin Holl rebound on an odd-man rush.

Matthews, who also won 80 per cent of his faceoffs as part of his standout performance, had seven goals and 14 points in 10 games against Montreal, and has now scored 20 times in 26 combined career outings versus the Canadiens.

The Leafs’ struggling power play, which went 0 for 4 in Game 1 and also surrendered Byron’s highlight-reel effort, was thwarted on two more man- 1213902 Toronto Maple Leafs

‘Keep calm and win for John.’ Toronto Star readers wish Maple Leafs captain John Tavares a speedy recovery

By Cheyenne Bholla Staff Reporter

Sat., May 22, 2021

Even though she’s just five years old, Patrick Marciano’s daughter has memorized the names of about 10 Maple Leafs players’ names.

But Marciano said that ever since Charlotte could speak, team captain John Tavares has been her favourite.

Charlotte was able to show Tavares her love for him when her father took her to the Leafs “Next Gen” game vs. Carolina for her birthday in 2019.

“When she was a baby, she didn’t really know what was going on,” Marciano told the Star in an interview just before the puck dropped for Game 2 of the Leafs-Canadiens playoffs series Saturday.

“This (was) the first game where she knew all the players. She was excited to go, she was excited to be there.”

During the warm-ups, about four rows up from the ice, Charlotte was able to catch Tavares’s attention as she sat on her father’s shoulders holding up a sign that said “Today’s my 4th Birthday. TAVARES U’R my Favourite #91.”

“He saw the sign and she was completely thrilled,” Marciano wrote in his submission to the Star. “He made a fan for life that day and all of us wish him a speedy recovery.”

When asked by the Star why she loves Tavares so much, Charlotte said: “because he wins a lot.”

Hockey is a chance for celebration in the Marciano household — every time the Leafs score, they chant “Go Leafs, Go,” prompting their Amazon Alexa to play “You Make My Dreams” by Daryl Hall and John Oates.

“Charlotte and I always have a dance party whenever the Maple Leafs score a goal,” Marciano said.

So when the Star offered to publish some of the readers’ messages to Tavares for a speedy recovery from his devastating injury, Charlotte and her father didn’t hesitate.

Tavares suffered a knee injury and concussion after getting hit in the head with a knee as he was in Game 1 of the NHL playoffs against the Montreal Canadiens.

“We just want him to have a nice full recovery and come back so he can play again, hopefully this year but if not definitely next year,” Marciano said.

Toronto Star LOADED: 05.23.2021 1213903 Toronto Maple Leafs after Ilya Mikheyev suffered a serious laceration and Jake Muzzin was stretchered off the ice in separate incidents last season.

“In all three of them, we were either on the road or we were at home, but Dubas: Leafs’ Tavares suffered knee injury along with concussion in with no fans, so the player’s family isn’t there,” Dubas said. “They need scary collision someone to be the conduit. Our players and coaches are in the game, our medical staff is attending to an emergency situation. I would never want the families — I just think about my own family if something happened to me — to be unaware of what was happening. By Joshua Clipperton The Canadian Press “You care about the player deeply, and what their status is, but also to be Sat., May 22, 2021 able to provide updates.”

Dubas, who thanked doctors, NHL teams, players and fans for their TORONTO - Maple Leafs captain John Tavares is dealing with a knee support, said the rest of the Leafs’ roster is dealing with the situation as injury as well as a concussion after being stretchered off the ice following best it can. a scary collision in Game 1 of Toronto’s first-round playoff series against “To see something in a completely accidental, freak situation like that Montreal. happen, I think it makes everybody feel vulnerable, especially the players But general manager Kyle Dubas says the veteran centre avoided any who play the game,” he said. “They’re big, strong, young guys, and you structural damage to his head, neck and spine after taking an accidental don’t ever imagine being in that situation. knee to the face from Canadiens forward Corey Perry. “It gives a sense of vulnerability to not only the players on our team, but Speaking with reporters on a virtual conference call prior to Game 2 of both teams and throughout the league. Those are tough things to handle. the Original Six matchup, Dubas indicated the knee issue is expected to As with everything after a moment of trauma, there’s some trepidation keep Tavares out of the lineup at least two weeks. and things sort of slowly start to return back to normal, but I think our guys are handling it as well as possible.” His availability for the rest of the post-season, however, remains up in the air.

“The head injury and concussion, I think it’s very difficult to place a Toronto Star LOADED: 05.23.2021 timeline on when someone’s going to return,” Dubas said Saturday morning. “We handle those in a very conservative nature, and handle them very sensitively. We will follow the protocols to a tee with that.

“We can’t replace that element with John and can’t repair it.”

Tavares was checked to the ice in the first period of Thursday’s 2-1 loss in Game 1 by Canadiens defenceman Ben Chiarot into the path of an onrushing Perry, who was unable to avoid contact. The 30-year-old lay motionless before trying to get up as trainers and doctors from both teams provided medical attention inside an empty, eerily quiet Scotiabank Arena.

Dubas said Tavares, who signed a seven-year, US$77-million contract in free agency in the summer of 2018 and was Toronto’s third-leading scorer during the NHL’s pandemic-shortened season, was taken to St. Michael’s Hospital where he received a CT scan and MRI before being discharged Friday morning.

The GM also voiced the Leafs’ displeasure at the front page of Friday’s Toronto Sun that featured the headline “Captain Crunched” and a picture of a bloodied Tavares.

“The Toronto Sun cover of their newspaper crossed the line, and we found the cover to be disgusting,” he said. “It was extraordinarily insensitive.

Toronto Maple Leafs forward John Tavares (91) is attended to by a trainer after being injured against the Montreal Canadiens during first period NHL Stanley Cup playoff action in Toronto on Thursday, May 20, 2021.

“Just a complete lack of compassion and respect on behalf of the Sun towards John and his family.”

The Sun ran an editor’s note in Saturday’s edition along with four letters criticizing the tabloid’s coverage of the incident.

“Many readers were upset by the Toronto Sun’s front-page picture of Maple Leafs captain John Tavares prior to being stretchered off the ice during Thursday night’s game against the Canadiens under the headline Captain Crunched,” the note read. “This was our coverage of a major news event that had already been witnessed live by millions of Canadians.

“We meant no disrespect to Tavares, his family, the Maple Leafs’ organization or our readers, and we wish the Leafs’ captain a full and speedy recovery.”

The game broadcast on Sportsnet, CBC and TVA attracted a combined audience of nearly 4.5 million viewers.

Dubas was shown on the broadcasts rushing to be with Tavares and communicate with his loved ones by phone — something he also did 1213904 Toronto Maple Leafs Toronto Star LOADED: 05.23.2021

Leafs GM Dubas says Tavares also suffered knee injury in hit, calls out ‘disgusting’ newspaper cover

By Kevin McGran Staff Reporter

Sat., May 22, 2021

Maple Leafs captain John Tavares is dealing with a knee injury as well as a concussion and is not likely to return to the lineup for at least two weeks.

GM Kyle Dubas announced that bit of news in a rare media appearance Saturday, when he thanked fans and hockey people around the league for their support of Tavares as he recovers from a gruesome knee to the head in first period action Thursday in Game 1 of the playoff series against Montreal.

“John was diagnosed with a concussion and also sustained a knee injury on the play, similar to the injury sustained by Zach Hyman in Vancouver in the regular season,” said Dubas. “It would be a minimum of two weeks with that, but obviously our primary concern is the concussion and making sure he returns to full health.

“I’ve been in close touch with him. He’s at home, recovering. And for that we’re thankful.”

On the positive side, Dubas said Tavares had been cleared of all structural damage to his head, neck and spine.

Dubas also took a moment to criticize the Toronto Sun for its “Captain Crunched” headline and accompanying photo that was on the cover of the tabloid on Friday.

“As an organization we felt the Toronto Sun cover of their newspaper crossed the line. We found the cover to be disgusting. We thought it was extraordinarily insensitive on the part of the Sun with regards to the photo and the caption. Just a complete lack of compassion and respect on behalf of the Sun towards John and his family, especially for such an upstanding member of our organization and community and his family that had to endure that.”

Dubas made no comment regarding TV broadcasters who showed replays of the hit. Two media giants – Bell Inc., which owns TSN, and Rogers, which owns Sportsnet – own the team. None of the local newspapers – The Star, The Sun, the National Post nor the Globe and Mail – have any affiliations with the team through ownership.

Dubas is very protective of his players. Last season, when Ilya Mikheyev’s arm was slashed by a skate – with arteries and a tendon cut – in a game in New Jersey, Dubas stayed with the player at a Newark hospital until he was released. Last year, when Jake Muzzin suffered a severe back injury in the playoffs against Columbus, Dubas left the bubble to be with him in hospital. Likewise, with Tavares, Dubas left the game to join Tavares at St. Michael’s Hospital.

“The thing that goes through my mind, in all three, the players’ family weren’t there,” said Dubas. “They need someone to be the conduit. I would never want families to be unaware of what’s happening. You care about the player and you want to be able to updates to the players family.

Team trainers and doctors attend to Toronto Maple Leafs centre John Tavares after getting hit in the head on Thursday.

“In Jake and John’s case, they have young children. They’re watching at home and seeing it, feeling helpless. You want to make sure we’re doing everything we can to provide an update (for families) and also to support medical staff.”

As for when Tavares might return, it was a question without an answer.

“The knee injury you can give a timeline on, but the head injury and concussion, it’s very difficult to place a timeline on that,” said Dubas. “We handle those conservatively and sensitively. We will follow those protocols to a T. We have to be very careful. Keep in mind he’s got a young family and there’s an onus on us to protect him and his future.”

1213905 Toronto Maple Leafs “It’s not just a resource for information, but a real opportunity for those individuals to put that information into practice.”

‘This is the change we’ve all been talking about.’ Maple Leafs program Toronto Star LOADED: 05.23.2021 opens doors for racialized coaches and managers

By Mark Zwolinski Sports Reporter

Sat., May 22, 2021

Mark Fraser saw the promise when he read the press release.

The former Maple Leafs defenceman now works in an equity, diversity and player development role with the club, and he was one of the first to see the final version of Wednesday’s announcement of a new management and coaching development program.

It will provide one full-time position in each area for “Black or Indigenous candidates, or those who identify as part of another marginalized and/or racialized group … looking to gain exposure in a professional sports organization.”

“Before we officially announced it, I got to see the official press release and it became real for me,” said Fraser, who played 219 NHL games with the Devils, Leafs and Oilers between 2006 and 2015 and started his current job in March.

“It’s something myself and my colleagues worked closely on ... We just created two new positions for individuals who are in racialized groups. This is the change we’ve all been talking about for so long.”

Beginning next season, the program will place one candidate in the Leafs’ front office and another in coaching. Both are paid positions, and they’ll work directly with team president Brendan Shanahan, general manager Kyle Dubas and head coach Sheldon Keefe.

“I commend Kyle Dubas for taking charge of this initiative … it’s one that our organization as a whole stands behind,” Shanahan said in the release.

For Fraser, drafted 84th by New Jersey in 2005, the program provides opportunities that have been talked about for several years now. The NHL coaching association unveiled a similar project last year, creating contacts for BIPOC coaches to their NHL counterparts through clinics. Nathaniel Brooks, a respected coach in the GTHL and the Ryerson Rams hockey program, attended those clinics and said they’re making a difference.

“It’s about us creating representation at those levels, in the racialized groups. That’s what is so important to me,” Fraser said. “That is a big thing, that we succeeded in an initiative that will open a pipeline, if you will. That opening of the door for those individuals who felt there never was a door … it’s our organization literally putting its money where its mouth is.”

This past week, the Leafs turned over control of their hockey development operations to two women: Hayley Wickenheiser and Danielle Goyette. The organization has also produced ads promoting positive change and inclusivity. The Leafs lead the NHL with 13 women in the coaching, executive and hockey operations ranks.

Former Maple Leafs defenceman Mark Fraser has been working in an equity, diversity and player development role with the club since March.

The new management and coaching initiative received full support from Kim Davis, the NHL’s senior executive vice-president of social impact and growth, who said it will help the league determine “what the future looks like.”

Fraser said it’s just the start.

“I know there is a ton of people out there who have not seen this opportunity before,” he said, adding the program will lead to roles within MLSE and other sports organizations.

“We didn’t want to just provide a mentorship where people can sit in on seminars or chat with people in groups … people (in racialized groups) have that information already. So we wanted those individuals to get the experience of having their hands in the clay, so to speak. 1213906 Toronto Maple Leafs period, again on the power play, it no longer dreadful, Matthews rang another puck off the post, and William Nylander took advantage by roofing the rebound past a sprawled out, overplayed, Price.

SIMMONS: Matthews' tour de force dominated the Habs “I think Auston was our best player,” said Spezza, who was part of a stronger Game 2 effort for the Leafs. Spezza said it was great to see him score. It picks up the entire bench.

Steve Simmons The Leafs didn’t have Tavares on the bench or in the dressing room and don’t know when he will rejoin the team in any way if only to visit. His Publishing date: May 22, 2021 knee is at two weeks away from being ready. Maybe longer. And the concussion time frame, well, with concussions you never know.

This has been five years and 24-hour tumultuous hours in the making. Coach Sheldon Keefe liked what he saw from the Leafs Saturday night. The first exceptional Stanley Cup playoff night for Auston Matthews. He liked the way the team responded in the 5-1 win. He liked the way they absolutely owned the puck in the second period and a lot of the A personal tribute of sorts to the captain John Tavares, who is home third. He liked the depth of his lineup. Spezza scored from the fourth line, nursing a concussion and an injured left knee. Matthews from the first, Nylander from the second, Alex Kerfoot scored into the empty net. One goal from each unit, although that was slightly It was a night in which Matthews flexed his chest and dominated the distorted by the amount of power-play time the Leafs were given. Montreal Canadiens. And you couldn’t stop watching him. The way the best players perform when the lights are brightest. But it was Matthews, more than anyone else, who stood tall. Keefe said he was “very complete, physical on the puck, made plays, played with all Matthews scored. He set up. He hit. He won faceoffs. He created more sorts of authority and scored a goal for us.” offence. He won loose-puck battles. And he did those emotional dances and fist pumps that have become new to his game, in this, his greatest He could have said he dominated. Matthews did that for the very first season. But this night, so meaningful in so many, was a tour de force for time in the playoffs, dominated his part of 60 minutes, 200 feet, all him. Matthews. The Leafs couldn’t have gotten any better news than that emergence on Saturday night. And it so meaningful for a Maple Leafs team that has invested its future in him and has watched him grow year by year, from goal scorer to player to dominant goal scorer to physical presence to NHL difference- maker. It has been one year and one step at a time, each year getting Toronto Sun LOADED: 05.23.2021 better, growing, learning, this one being his best.

The Leafs couldn’t afford to lose Saturday night. They couldn’t go down 2-0 to the Montreal Canadiens after dropping the opener and losing Tavares for at least two weeks and maybe more. They had to beat the Canadiens for the first time in the post-season in 19,734 days. Now they have to do it again on Monday night.

And like the champion wearing his belt, Matthews walked into the ring and he did everything but put his hand to his ear and ask for applause. There was no one, of course, there to applaud at the Scotiabank Arena. But across the city and the country and in a lot of back yards there were Leafs fans celebrating, fans enjoyed that Matthews left his calling card behind.

This is the beginning of his playoffs, really, of their playoffs. This is the beginning that matters. This is what he can do and how he can do it and he had to know what happened to his friend Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl in Edmonton on Friday night. He knew they came away empty and defeated and are now under severe pressure.

Now all is even as the Leafs head to Montreal for games on Monday and Tuesday and the pressure switches to the Canadiens. Matthews was strong in Game 1, but didn’t score and didn’t change the game, didn’t deliver the kind of 5-1 victory he delivered Saturday night. He had a goal and two assists. He could have had five or so points if he hadn’t hit a post earlier on or if a couple of his setups had been finished properly.

This was Brad Marchand-like. This was Nathan MacKinnon-like. This was Nikita Kucherov-like. Now, it’s Auston Matthews-like.

Matthews set the tone but he was by no means alone. That’s the beauty of hockey. It’s never about one player unless that one player is a goaltender. But one player can make an enormous difference when he has all-world talent. But the Leafs had special play up and down their lineup.

They got a goal off a late line change by Jason Spezza on a forecheck turnover by Zach Bogosian. Spezza from Bogosian. Has there ever been one of those before?

They got a goal on the power play — yep a power-play goal. And more important than that, a goal off a slapshot on the power play. That’s new.

Earlier, Matthews had scored on the kind of play coaches draw up for on a board and no one believes will ever work. Justin Holl wasn’t shooting to score on Carey Price. He was shooting to draw a rebound. Matthews took the puck off Price’s pads and scored his first goal of the series.

Matthews then began the three-way passing play that resulted in the Rasmus Sandin goal that was curiously challenged. And in the third 1213907 Toronto Maple Leafs to support the player and the medical staff as things are happening frantically.”

CHUK CHECKS IN SNAPSHOTS: Sandin and family thrilled to see blueliner notch first Alex Galchenyuk became a rare bird on Saturday night, a first-round draft playoff goal pick of Montreal to appear in a playoff game for the rival Leafs.

Some NHL reclamation projects don’t get past the early trial stage, but Lance Hornby despite Galchenyuk’s nomadic ways – five teams since his departed Montreal in the summer of 2018 – he found a home this year under the Publishing date: May 22, 2021 blue and white tent.

He entered Game 2 as part of a shuffled lineup in the wake of the Tavares injury. Rasmus Sandin’s family was already up late back in Uppsala, Sweden, so a few minutes more for a goal challenge by the Canadiens wasn’t “All credit to Alex,” said Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe before faceoff. “He’s going to matter. come in and worked extremely hard, right from the very first shift he played for us. It’s how he’s moved his feet so a lot of good things The Sandin clan – not to mention other members of the Maple Leafs happen. He’s got a good skill set as well and he’s worked hard at that, power play – didn’t have to disrupt the party. After the special teams’ making some adjustments to get comfortable again.” group lumbered into the playoffs at less than 10% with the man advantage, and was 0-for-4 in a tight Game 1 loss, Sandin slammed his Galchenyuk took his lumps, demoted with the Marlies and putting in long first playoff goal past Carey Price to provide insurance in a 5-1 victory. sessions with development coaches.

It took a little time to confirm after a flimsy-looking objection by the “He didn’t come out of the (Game 1) lineup for anything he’s done or not Canadiens dragged on at the penalty bench. done,” Keefe said. “With John’s absence, it changes the dynamic of our team. We knew Galchenyuk and Pierre Engvall would be factors for us “I was nervous,” said the 21-year-old first-round pick. “I haven’t scored in and here they are, with a great opportunity.” something like a year and a half.” LOOSE LEAFS That was due to injury, COVID-19, a stint on the farm and time needed to break back into the NHL lineup. Zach Bogosian’s absence opened that The Leafs have never fallen behind 2-0 at home in a best of seven since door and Sandin took Travis Dermott’s spot – and the coveted power- 1942, the year they were down three and came back to beat Detroit for play assignment. He was on for a couple of goals in Game 1, but coach the Cup … Auston Matthews’ game winner was the first in playoffs Sheldon Keefe came right back with him and Sandin got to celebrate. against Montreal since Jim Pappin’s, the night the Leafs won their last championship in ‘67. And in one night, Matthews’s three-point “I checked my phone right after the game and couldn’t read through all performance to hit 22 jumped nine Leafs in franchise history; Darcy the texts from back home,” he said Sandin. “I’m super happy for the win.” Tucker, Tom Fergus, Dmitri Mironov, Mark Osborne, Gary Leeman, Joe When William Nylander added another in the third period, it marked two Klukay, Mike Gartner, Russ Courtnall and Pat Boutette. Matthews is now man-advantage goals for Toronto the same night for the first time since tied with Bob Davidson at 39th … 37-year-old Jason Spezza’s goal was March 3. his first playoff point as a Leaf after being blanked in five last year against Columbus. What the public really wants, Joe Thornton – at 41 years, 324 The Canadiens have caused the Leafs fits all year, through 10 regular days – to be the oldest player in franchise history to get a post-season season matches and then Game 1, by throwing as many hits as possible point. Currently, that’s Allan Stanley (41 years, 62 days) according to or through methodical forechecking. On Saturday, the aggressiveness NHL Stats … Keefe’s pre-game vow was to get Mitch Marner’s ice time backfired into six straight short-handed situations after the opening call south of 27 minutes in Game 1. The clock got away from the coach when against the Leafs. Marner was out killing so many penalties and then over-loaded with Matthews in an attempt to tie the game in the third. It was down to 22:50 “Montreal’s made it very clear, they want to be very physical,” said Saturday … Galchenyuk isn’t the highest-drafted former Hab to face the Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe. “I think the term was they want to make it Leafs, that’s 1963’s No. 1 Garry Monahan. a war. If you want to do that, you’re at risk of having penalties called against you.”

In addition to the mix of high sticks and cross checks, the Habs thought Toronto Sun LOADED: 05.23.2021 they had a case for interference on Price with Sandin’s goal, but despite agreement with the coaching staff and their video people to challenge, it was dismissed.

It’s not exactly in the general manager’s handbook, but Kyle Dubas has had to learn on the fly to handle a serious in-game injury to a Maple Leaf.

“Unfortunately, we’ve had in the last 15 to 18 months – between Ilya Mikheyev, Jake Muzzin and then John Tavares – emergency situations on the ice,” Dubas said his Saturday morning update on Tavares.

“Mikheyev severed his artery tendons (his wrist sliced by a skate) in New Jersey), Jake with his spinal issue (in last August’s playoffs against Columbus) and John’s. In all three, we’ve either been on the road or at home with no fans and the player’s family not there.”

TV cameras caught a visibly distraught Dubas on Thursday night in the management suite at Scotiabank, watching with everyone else, the captain prone on the ice, then in great discomfort. Dubas raced down to the dressing room so that Tavares’s wife, Aryne, would be immediately in the loop of developments.

“You care about the player deeply, and what his status is, but it’s also to be able to provide updates to the player’s family. In all three cases – they have partners and in Jake and John’s case they’ve young children and they’re watching that at home – it’s very helpless.

“They need someone to be a conduit between them and the medical staff, with our players and coaches (involved) in the game. You want to make sure we’re doing everything we can to provide an update and also 1213908 Toronto Maple Leafs Canadiens coach Dominique Ducharme challenged, arguing for goaltender interference. It was a desperate grasp, as the only Leaf who might have got in Price’s way was Joe Thornton, and that was with some minimal stick work. Dominant Matthews notches three points as Maple Leafs even series with Canadiens The goal stood after a long review.

“It’s big,” Keefe said of the two power-play goals on six chances. “We can preach process as much as we want and show them the number of good Terry Koshan looks. I was really pleased to see us get rewarded. Those guys needed that and they deserve it.” Publishing date: May 22, 2021 With Tavares out, Keefe moved Nick Foligno into the middle on the

second line and brought Alex Galchenyuk out of the press box to play on We have a series. the left side on the line.

And the Maple Leafs won one for their injured captain. Kerfoot centred the third line, taking the place of a benched Riley Nash, and Pierre Engvall was inserted on the line. With John Tavares recovering at home after suffering a concussion and knee injury in Game 1 against the Montreal Canadiens, the Leafs After the Canadiens took a 1-0 lead on a goal by Jesperi Kotkaniemi at rebounded in a large way on Saturday night. 7:57 of the first period, Jason Spezza tied the game. After a Zach Bogosian forecheck, a quick shot by Spezza, who was in full stride Auston Matthews had a goal and two assists at Scotiabank Arena as the coming off the bench, beat Price on the short side. Leafs beat the Canadiens 5-1, tying the best-of-seven 1-1. In the morning, Keefe said one good aspect of the playoffs is that a team There’s no timeline for the return of Tavares, who was hurt when he was has the opportunity to respond after a loss. With Tavares on their minds, hit by Canadiens defenceman Ben Chiarot and then was accidentally the Leafs got full marks for their response. slammed in the head by the knee of Corey Perry. “(Friday) was a real good opportunity for us to regroup and push past “I think (the win) means a lot, not only for the guys in the locker room, but that, especially after being put at ease that all things considered, John for John himself,” Matthews said. “He’s such a big part of this team and was doing well,” Keefe said. “Credit to John himself. His leadership of our he’s our leader. team, despite his situation, didn’t stop. He took it upon himself to to send messages to the team to reassure the team. “When something really scary and serious goes down like it did the other night, I think the response from the group was unbelievable. It was a big “That really helped put our guys in the right head space. We miss him win.” greatly on the ice, in the room.

The team’s focus was the foundation for a strong effort by the Leafs, who “The guys refocused. You’re winning for him, you’re winning for all the scored two power-play goals in a game for the first time since March 3. guys don’t get the play, and you’re winning from the guy next to you in the room and on the bench.” Matthews led the way, with coach Sheldon Keefe calling his superstar centre’s performance “very complete.” As well as his three points and fine defensive play, Matthews won 16 of 20 faceoffs. Toronto Sun LOADED: 05.23.2021 Canadiens goalie Carey Price, the difference in Game 1 with 35 saves, was not the same in Game 2, while Jack Campbell made 22 saves for Toronto.

The first-round series moves to Montreal for Games 3 and 4 on Monday and Tuesday.

The Leafs had lost their previous nine playoff games against the Canadiens. The most recent win had come on May 2, 1967 — the night they won their most recent Stanley Cup.

“We had a really engaged hockey team,” Keefe said, “all the way through our lineup.”

William Nylander scored on a power play in the third, ripping a shot into an open net after Matthews hit the post. Alex Kerfoot scored into an empty net after the Canadiens pulled Price with more than six minutes left in regulation time.

Toronto scored a pair of goals in the second period to take a 3-1 lead.

Keefe’s message to Matthews was simply to stick with it when Matthews had eight shots on goal in the opener and didn’t score.

After lighting up the North Division with 41 goals during the regular season, Matthews got his first of the post-season at 5:15 of the second to break a 1-1 tie.

He got the puck to Justin Holl, who placed a shot on Price. Holl took something off the shot, seeming to anticipate that a rebound would find its way directly to Matthews, who burst to the net. Sure enough, Price kicked the puck to Matthews and the puck instantly was behind the netminder.

The goal was the winner, this after Matthews led the NHL with 12 game- winners during the regular season.

The Leafs then got a run of three power plays and scored on the third one. Defenceman Rasmus Sandin blasted a shot past Price on a one- timer off a feed from Mitch Marner at 13:20. 1213909 Toronto Maple Leafs caption that accompanied the situation, and just the complete lack of compassion and respect on behalf of the Sun toward John and his family, especially for such an upstanding member of our organization and community, and his family that had to endure that.” Concussed Tavares out at least 2 weeks for knee injury: Leafs GM

Toronto Sun LOADED: 05.23.2021 Terry Koshan

Publishing date: May 22, 2021

John Tavares suffered no structural damage to his head, neck or spine when he was struck in the head by Corey Perry’s knee on Thursday night.

That was some good news on Saturday morning from Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas.

“It was a major concern at the time of incident, so we’re thankful for that,” Dubas said. “John was diagnosed with a concussion, and also sustained a knee injury on the play.”

Dubas said the knee injury was similar to the one suffered by Leafs winger Zach Hyman in Vancouver on April 18, when Hyman sprained a medial collateral ligament.

The knee injury would keep Tavares out of the Leafs lineup for a minimum of two weeks, but that wasn’t foremost for Dubas. Nor was whether the Leafs captain will be able to return to the lineup at some point in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

“Our primary concern is the concussion and making sure that he returns to full health,” Dubas said. “The head injury and concussion, I think it’s very difficult to place a timeline on when someone is going to return from that.

“We handle those in a very conservative nature and handle them very sensitively. We will follow the protocols to a T. We can’t replace that element with John and can’t repair it, so we have to be very careful and keep in mind that he has a young family and there’s an onus on us to protect him in his future in that regard.

“We’ll follow the protocols and the NHL concussion protocol and consult closely with John and the experts in the field and proceed from there.”

Tavares, now resting and recovering at home, stayed overnight at St. Michael’s Hospital on Thursday and was discharged on Friday morning. At the hospital, he had a CT scan and an MRI.

Tavares’ injuries occurred midway through the first period of Game 1 between the Leafs and Canadiens at Scotiabank Arena. After taking a hit from Canadiens defenceman Ben Chiarot outside the Toronto blue line, Tavares fell to the ice and and struck accidentally in the head by the left knee of Perry, knocking Tavares unconscious. As the Leafs’ medical staff worked on Tavares, Dubas rushed from his spot in a private box.

“I would never want the families — I just think about my own family if something happened to me — I would never want them to be unaware of what was happening,” Dubas said. “You care about the player deeply, and what their status is, but it’s also to be able to provide updates to the player’s family.

“They’re watching that from home and seeing it and it’s very helpless. Immediately, you want to make sure that we’re doing everything we can do to provide an update to them and also to be there to support the medical staff and the player, as things are happening frantically.”

Dubas thanked the Leafs’ medical director, Dr. Noah Forman, the team’s orthopaedic consultant Dr. John Theodoropolous and head athletic therapist Paul Ayotte for their care with Tavares on the ice, as well as the Canadiens’ medical staff who assisted.

Dubas also thanked the National Hockey League, from players, general managers to the league itself, for the support that has been shown for Tavares and the Leafs.

Dubas addressed the Toronto Sun’s cover in the Friday editions of the newspaper, calling it “disgusting.”

“We felt the cover crossed the line,” Dubas said. “I understand and we understand that writers and columnists have no input into the covers of papers or headlines, but we just thought that it was extraordinarily insensitive on the part of the Sun, with regard to the photo and the 1213910 Toronto Maple Leafs passed over for opportunities — by Dermott, and even Martin Marincin, in the 2020 playoffs; by Dermott and NHL newcomer Mikko Lehtonen early in the 2020-21 regular season.

Why Sheldon Keefe is boldly betting on Rasmus Sandin’s ‘payoff’ with Even this opportunity really came about only by chance. The Toronto the Maple Leafs Marlies’ season was on temporary hiatus — because of a COVID-19 scare — when Sandin was ready to return from a broken foot he suffered in his first game of the season with the Marlies.

By Jonas Siegel It wasn’t long before Keefe decided to give him a look on the top power- play unit in place of Morgan Rielly. May 23, 2021 Sandin’s energy, creative instincts and willingness to shoot have

delivered a jolt. It’s easy to imagine most NHL head coaches bailing on Rasmus Sandin For months, the Leafs struggled to identify threats outside of Matthews. after Game 1. Rielly’s first instinct was to play quarterback and pass. When he did Twenty-one years-old. Playoff debut. Caught on the ice for two goals shoot, he struggled to get pucks through to the net. Add in Marner, against in an emotional 2-1 loss for a team with championship another pass-first player, and two of the three first-unit locks all season aspirations. Relative veteran — Travis Dermott in this case — available (Matthews being the other) were non-shooters. on standby. If there was a difference in the Leafs’ power play in Game 2, it was shots You’d have to think that most coaches swap out the kid for Game 2. — or attempts, at the very least — coming from all over the place. But not Sheldon Keefe. Matthews had his five looks. Sandin also loaded up for three and scored once. Jason Spezza attempted three shots. So did William Nylander, and Then again, most coaches likely wouldn’t have Sandin, with not even a even Marner. half season’s worth of NHL experience, playing on their No. 1 power-play unit in place of the team’s longest-serving player and alternate captain There was an unpredictably to it all, and it all seemed to start with during a championship-or-bust season. Sandin.

But Keefe would. His presence on the power play could end up being hugely important if the Leafs make a deep run in these playoffs. His playmaking extends “I just think that with Rasmus, the payoff can be really big for us in terms beyond the man advantage, obviously. It’s in the way he looks up ice and of his skill set and what he can bring,” the Maple Leafs head coach unlocks opportunities for the forwards. (He had three five-on-five assists explained of his thinking. “That requires a little extra patience on our side. in nine games during the regular season.) It’s the composure he shows in I just had a belief that he was going to be better today than he was in the moving the puck while under pressure. And he’s figuring out how to take first game.” care of things in his own zone: Shot attempts were 8-3 for the Leafs when he was on the ice five-on-five in Game 2. Expected goals were well Keefe’s bold bet — or perhaps belief is the better way to put it — paid off, above 80 percent. with Sandin ripping a power-play goal past Carey Price, which helped the Leafs to a series-evening 5-1 win on Saturday. There’s an it-factor there with Sandin that Dermott, for instance, lacks — that most defencemen lack for that matter. “It’s a huge, huge goal for our team,” Auston Matthews said afterward, “and I’m sure it felt really, really good for him too.” At this stage of his career, however, it’s a high-risk, high-reward kind of proposition given his inexperience. The goal made it 3-1 for the Leafs and came on the third of four second- period power plays. Another empty trip might have let Montreal back in If the reward came in Game 2, the risk most certainly appeared in Game the game. 1 when the Habs beat the Leafs for both of their two goals when Sandin was out there. It’s the promise of those moments that has Sandin getting this opportunity after a bumpy year of disappointment after disappointment. The Leafs coach went out of his way to stress that, upon further review, Keefe is betting on upside, that Sandin will make a play, even it’s just he was actually pleased with a lot of what Sandin did over 15 minutes in one, that helps the Leafs win a game. the series-opening loss on Thursday.

It’s a “safe is death” kind of approach. Swinging for home runs, not “The short-handed goal, yeah, he makes a mistake there,” Keefe said of singles. It’s going the opposite route of Canadiens coach Dominique the Paul Byron goal that won Game 1 for Montreal. “I think his mistake is Ducharme, who scratched scoring sensation Cole Caufield in Games 1 probably that he didn’t go off the ice on his way back for that puck so that and 2. he wasn’t tired in that instance. That was the mistake. And, of course, that stood out in my mind as well. Ducharme opted for the safety of veterans. Keefe chose to bet on the promise of youth. And Sandin delivered for him in Game 2. “But you go back and you watch the game and you break down the game, you study the game, and you really pick out a lot of really positive Sandin has brought spice, especially, to the Leafs’ once bland power things that you think, for me, I just thought that with that experience and play. playing in that first game, it’s so fast and physical that I thought he would “He’s so poised, and he’s deceptive, extremely skilled, and for how be better today.” young he is, it doesn’t seem like these big moments really shake him at Keefe is betting that in the long run, the Leafs will come out ahead with all,” Matthews said, describing Sandin’s acumen on the power play. “He’s Sandin in the lineup. extremely confident out there, and he usually makes plays and sees the ice well.” One thing we’ve learned over Keefe’s tenure in Toronto is that he’s willing to take chances. He’s in the Fortune Favours the Bold club. He’ll Sandin credited Mitch Marner for setting up his first-ever power-play goal play Matthews, Marner and John Tavares together in an elimination in the NHL, and second NHL goal, period. game. He’ll use a then-18-year-old Nick Robertson in playoff games “When you play with those players that (we) have on the power play, it’s when he hasn’t appeared in the NHL before. He’ll move Nick Foligno out not too hard for me,” he said. “I got (the puck) right in my wheelhouse of his natural position to make up for a Tavares-sized hole at centre. He’ll and I took a step into it. It hit the right spot this time.” see the promise in Sandin, the good — and maybe great — he might bring, and bet on it. Sandin was admittedly nervous on the bench after the Canadiens challenged his goal for Joe Thornton’s prodding of Price. He hadn’t Those rolls of the dice won’t all pay off, but some will. scored in more than a year, with his last goal coming on Jan. 27, 2020, Sandin may be one of them. with the Leafs.

Sandin went 11 months between games, a challenging stretch caused primarily by the pandemic but also the depth chart. He was repeatedly The Athletic LOADED: 05.23.2021 1213911 Toronto Maple Leafs A Jack Campbell (G, No. 36): He didn’t have to make many highlight-reel

saves, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Campbell was at his Maple Leafs report cards: Auston Matthews takes over, power play composed best, stopping 22 of 23 shots. His first NHL playoff win was comes alive, series is tied the kind of worry-free performance the Leafs need.

Pierre Engvall (RW, No. 47): Welcome back to the playoffs, Pierre Engvall. By Joshua Kloke Some decent defensive work with his stick early on, and I liked his ability May 23, 2021 to circle with the puck, with confidence, in the offensive zone and put the puck on net. That approach resulted in goals for him in the regular

season. Trust the process and all that. That sound you hear is a relieved Leafs Nation exhaling, heavily. He fired four shots on goal, tied for second among the Leafs. He looked Two days after a forgettable performance in Game 1 that saw the Leafs eager to create offence off the rush, and he did. He was far, far more struggle after the loss of John Tavares to a freak and horrific injury, they noticeable on Saturday night, in a playoff game, than he had been at looked more like the Leafs who dominated the regular season, playing times in the regular season. That has to bode well for Keefe and the with confidence and exhibiting excellent puck movement in their five-on- Leafs. five play against the Montreal Canadiens. Though he logged a team-low 11:08 TOI, he gets high marks from me for Hell, they even looked like the early-season version of themselves with his ability to keep his nerves in check after not playing in Game 1, and (rubs eyes in disbelief) two power-play goals in a 5-1 win. The first-round because of how much he did with so little time on the ice. He could have series is now tied at one win apiece. been the 3rd star.

There seemed to be a joy in the way they played Saturday. Their captain Morgan Rielly (LD, No. 44): It was Rielly’s heads-up, aggressive skating was top of mind, but in more of a motivating sense compared to with the puck that allowed the Leafs to cleanly enter the offensive zone Thursday night. with possession ahead of their first goal.

“We care deeply about Johnny and we want to do well for him, so we’re Rielly, once again, was a difference-maker for the Leafs with his skating going to try to win as many games as we can so we can get him back in and his ability to move the puck into dangerous areas. One assist and a the lineup,” Jason Spezza said. team-high 23:37 TOI. Yet another game to build off for Rielly.

On to the observations! William Nylander (RW, No. 88): With the puck, Nylander looked dangerous from his first shift. There was some missed defensive Player reports coverage at times, but he more than made up for it with his ability to create offence out of nothing literally on his own. 1st star: Auston Matthews (C, No. 34): Raise your hand if you spilled your drink in excitement when this happened: His third-period goal, in which he didn’t overthink things and just put the puck on net, was the dagger. He showed more and more how well he This was a sign of things to come in one of the best performances of can play without Tavares. He added an assist — and the best quote of Matthews’ playoff career. His physicality created turnovers that resulted the postgame news conference: in scoring chances. Offensively, he was a juggernaut with one goal and two assists. Look, I know it’s a cliché, but Matthews was dialled in. He Jason Spezza (C, No. 19): First things first: I was critical of Spezza’s used his stick incredibly well to elude Canadiens and then to find his Game 1 performance. It’s difficult to catch everything during a game, and linemates. I definitely did not take all of what Spezza did into account. I wish I would have. “No question, Auston was a real difference-maker tonight,” said Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe. Spezza came off the bench to score the Leafs’ first goal, and it felt like a weight came off the team’s shoulders. He continued to play a composed He was a hound on the puck on two separate occasions ahead of his game. His teammates are undoubtedly going to look to him as the series second-period goal. And then there’s his impressive work from the continues. He led the Leafs with five shots. faceoff dot: He won 16 of 20 draws. A- It’s been too long, and I’m going back to the thesaurus tonight to describe Matthews’ dominant game. Dude was “commanding” tonight everywhere Mitch Marner (RW, No. 16): It took some time for Marner to hit his stride, on the ice. and when the game was close, it was worth wondering how things might be different for the Leafs if he’d been a little more trigger happy with the “Auston was our best player,” Spezza said. puck. But perhaps that’s just nitpicking because his playmaking was still Who am I to argue with a Leafs legend? noteworthy, and it resulted in two assists. That playmaking was important on the power play. 2nd star: Rasmus Sandin (LD, No. 38): There was an iffy moment or two in Sandin’s game early on, but it didn’t take long for him to turn the corner B+ and start putting his stamp on the game. He put in the extra efforts to T.J. Brodie (RD, No. 78): Brodie’s pinpoint outlet passing, particularly corral loose pucks, and he continued to move with a confidence beyond under pressure, consistently helped the Leafs. He was, once again, one his years on the power play, especially while under pressure. Sandin got of the Leafs’ best players from the start. results with his first-ever power play and playoff goal. B Also, what’s the over/under on country-wide “WTFs” uttered during that way-too-long Canadiens coach’s challenge on the Sandin goal? A Zach Bogosian (RD, No. 22): Bogosian’s heavy hit on Artturi Lehkonen billion? deep in the offensive zone moments before Spezza’s goal allowed the Leafs to maintain control of the puck. His assist on the goal was certainly The Leafs are a better, more dynamic team with him in the lineup, and warranted. Playing deep seemed to fit him well: Saturday night was evidence. Alex Galchenyuk (LW, No. 12): I liked Galchenyuk’s start: He used his “With Rasmus, the payoff can be really big for us,” said Keefe. energy well to try and create turnovers along the boards. He was pesky 3rd star: Alex Kerfoot (C, No. 15): Once again, Kerfoot really impressed in battles and probably could have played more than the 11:46 he did. me. Some slick movement allowed him to find space and create scoring Ilya Mikheyev (LW, No. 65): I noticed Mikheyev a little more than in chances. I liked Kerfoot’s puck protection and his aggressive play on the Game 1, especially with his pressure on the puck. His line was excellent, first penalty kill, as well. His game might not have been flashy, but it was with all three players over 94 percent five-on-five expected goals for. very effective, and his empty-net goal was deserved. One of the better games I’ve seen him play as a Leaf. B- Nick Foligno (C, No. 71): Foligno came close to scoring. It’s going to take some time for him to adjust to playing centre, especially defensively, with what is now ultimately a new line for him. The Leafs are going to need him to make those adjustments sooner rather than later. But one element there doesn’t appear to be cause for concern over: Foligno went 13-for- 16 on faceoffs, which is obviously impressive.

Zach Hyman (LW, No. 11): Hyman looked fine. Not great, maybe good at times with his fore-checking and physicality, but mostly fine.

Justin Holl (RD, No. 3): The Canadiens were forechecking really heavily, and really well, on their goal. So the goal against isn’t solely on Holl but getting his stick on the loose puck might have helped prevent it.

But there was some great work and quick thinking from Holl as he moved deep into the offensive zone and grabbed the assist on Matthews’ goal.

He settled into the game well and continued to move the puck with purpose.

C+

Joe Thornton (LW, No. 97): Thornton needed to have a better game after his Game 1 performance, and with his ability to get into good spots with his size, he mostly did.

And speaking of good spots, I doubt Sandin ever forgets entering Thornton hug lore here:

Wayne Simmonds (RW, No. 24): Simmonds was not messing around Saturday night. He played on the edge. If his job was to get in the heads of some of the Canadiens, you’d have to consider it a job well done.

Jake Muzzin (LD, No. 8): Muzzin had difficulty controlling the puck at times and didn’t exactly have a standout game. But he didn’t necessarily play poorly either.

Game Score

Game Score is a metric developed by The Athletic’s Dom Luszczyszyn to quickly measure a player’s performance in a single game.

Heat map

Natural Stat Trick helps us out with a snapshot of where the shots were coming from Saturday:

Final grade: A

That, as they say, was more like it.

The Leafs needed to recover from the emotional weight that comes from losing their captain, and they did. Their power play looked a little more dynamic, and there was not nearly as much hesitancy to shoot the puck. Huzzah!

Even if you account for the six minor penalties called against the Canadiens, this was a complete performance from the Leafs. They did not stop moving their feet all night, and the result spoke to their dominant play. If their best player continues to play like one of the best players on the planet, and they get the necessary boosts from depth players such as Engvall slotting in with Tavares out of the lineup, the outlook of this series becomes very different. The Leafs’ depth showed itself in a big way on Saturday night. That can be the difference in the playoffs.

“We had a really engaged hockey game today, all the way through the lineup,” Keefe said.

What to watch for Monday in Game 3: Does Riley Nash get back into the lineup? I don’t see Keefe necessarily wanting to make a change after a win, especially given how effective Engvall in particular played, but perhaps the coach believes he’ll need to shut things down a bit.

Beyond that, does Matthews have another gear to hit? I’m already flipping through the thesaurus just in case …

The Athletic LOADED: 05.23.2021

1213912 Vegas Golden Knights been so good at home. But playoffs is playoffs, and we’ve just got to win one game.”

Frustrations mount as Wild shut out by Golden Knights LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 05.23.2021

By Adam Hill Las Vegas Review-Journal

May 22, 2021 - 10:16 PM

Updated May 22, 2021 - 10:37 PM

Even the pucks that go in the net aren’t resulting in goals for the Minnesota Wild.

That just about sums up how it’s going for a team that dropped its third straight game for the first time this season and trails its first-round playoff series 3-1 to the Golden Knights after a 4-0 loss Saturday at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota.

“It’s frustrating,” forward Kevin Fiala said of an attack that has generated just four goals in four games despite registering plenty of shots on goal. “It’s not just the shots. I feel like it’s great opportunities that aren’t going in. So, yeah, what can I say?”

Teammate Joel Eriksson Ek is one of the few Wild players who has been able to put the puck past Knights goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, but he had a goal disallowed by a challenge for the second straight game.

On Saturday, it was a first period blast that would have tied the game seconds after the Knights had taken the lead. Coach Pete DeBoer successfully challenged again.

“It would have been good for us to get that goal, but it’s something we have to push through,” Eriksson Ek said. “We have to get back to our game. We can’t let those things affect us. We can’t do anything about it. When it’s done, it’s done. We have to come together to work even harder for a new goal.”

It never came despite the Wild putting 35 shots on goal and creating 14 high-danger chances while allowing eight.

“We’re getting those quality looks,” Wild coach Dean Evason said. “Obviously, Fleury has been phenomenal. But we were getting the same looks against great goaltenders all year and were able to score. We’re just not finding the net. We’re likely not putting enough there and likely not simplifying, but you say that and you look at the shots and our quality of chances, we should be able to score a few more goals.”

The Wild know they are running out of time to change that.

They will head to T-Mobile Arena for Game 5 on Monday facing elimination, an outcome that is certain if Minnesota is unable to score goals.

Fiala, who had six shots Saturday and 18 in the series without recording a point, still believes in his team’s ability to create offense, but he knows they can’t obsess over the first four games.

“It’s frustrating, but it’s Game 5 now,” he said. “We have to let this go. I’m confident we are going to score, including myself. I still feel like I’m going to get it done. I had a great chance today again. Fleury won it for them today again. We take it game by game and shift by shift, and we won’t give up.”

Minnesota also must get more out of a power play that is 0-for-8 in the series against the NHL’s top-rated unit. The Wild had a prime chance in the second period Saturday with a four-minute power play because of a double-minor penalty, but allowed a short-handed goal to Mark Stone that put the Knights in control.

Several Wild players credited the Knights’ efforts in front of Fleury to block shots and disrupt lanes to the net. They promise a commitment to get more pucks to the crease and bodies in front to pounce on rebounds, but they have had more than 240 minutes on the ice and yet to consistently execute such a strategy.

“You’re always frustrated when a goalie is playing like that, playing on his head,” forward Marcus Foligno said. “You really can’t do much but keep shooting. We’ve been a resilient group all year, and that’s got to be the mindset for next game. Maybe having that desperation in our game going into Vegas is what we need. It’s tough to drop two, especially when we’ve 1213913 Vegas Golden Knights is the fourth. That the toughest thing about eliminating an opponent is, well, eliminating an opponent.

It’s all true. Monday night, at least to start, will be more about Video coach assists Golden Knights in another win Minnesota’s mindset and focus than anything Golden Knights. You’ll know early how much want and desire and push the Wild have left.

Minnesota fans can only hope it doesn’t mirror that of the team’s ice By Ed Graney Las Vegas Review-Journal crew, which posed for what appeared to be season-ending pictures after Saturday’s game. May 22, 2021 - 9:53 PM Bellowed one glorious and inebriated soul from the rafters … “The Updated May 22, 2021 - 10:35 PM season isn’t over yet!”

Maybe not. But they better hope things don’t hinge on a video review ST. PAUL, Minn. — Perhaps the best thing about all those salary cap come Monday. problems that challenged the Golden Knights this season: Dave Fleury is the team’s MVP right now. Rogowski didn’t count against anything. Dave Rogowski might be next in line. Thank goodness this guy isn’t day to day and a game-time decision.

Little things win in the NHL playoffs, and that apparently includes having a video coach not in need of LASIK surgery, as the Knights on Saturday LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 05.23.2021 again used a successful challenge to deny the Minnesota Wild a goal en route to victory.

A 4-0 win at Xcel Energy Center gave the Golden Knights a 3-1 advantage in this best-of-seven divisional series.

Things now shift to Game 5 on Monday night at T-Mobile Arena. There will be 11,000-plus in attendance.

Things could be off the hook.

It’s incredibly difficult to win this time of year, but the pursuit becomes easier with contributions from those you wouldn’t consider likely suspects.

Like a 36-year-old video coach who spent time as a volunteer for the University of Denver program and then as an analyst (I think that means he’s good at math) in the American Hockey League.

Two-for-two

It was goalie coach Mike Rosati — with a primary assist from Rogowski — who supported a goalie interference challenge from coach Pete DeBoer in the first period.

Joel Eriksson Ek scored to tie the game 1-1, but the Golden Knights thought Wild forward Marcus Foligno impaired goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury’s ability to play his position in the crease.

So, ultimately, did the officials.

Two days earlier, Rogowski thought the Wild were offside before a goal — also by Eriksson Ek — that at the time made it 3-0 for the hosts. The challenge held up, the lead remained 2-0 and the Golden Knights railed for a 5-2 victory in Game 3.

It all means two things: Rogowski deserves a raise and Eriksson Ek is probably sticking pins into a picture of him while cursing Rogowski’s existence.

“(Rogowski) is feeling pretty good right now,” DeBoer said. “It was both Mike Rosati and Dave on goalie interference. Great call. Both (challenges) were impactful on the games.

“With an offside, it’s usually pretty clear and you’re pretty confident (challenging). Goalie interference — you’re never sure. I thought it had all the elements. It was the right call, and I think the right decision.”

Little things from unlikely suspects?

Two big challenges.

A player such as Patrick Brown missing more than six weeks with a torn hamstring getting the call in Game 3 and scoring a game-tying goal.

A defenseman such as Nick Holden also being inserted into the lineup that night and totaling two assists.

A third-line center such as Nicolas Roy helping to save a goal at his own end and then racing up ice to score at the other for a 1-0 edge Saturday.

Fourth is toughest

Wait for it. You’re going to hear from the Knights often in the next 48 hours about how the most difficult game for any team to win in the series 1213914 Vegas Golden Knights But the Knights challenged for goaltender interference, and the NHL’s situation room ruled that Foligno “impaired Marc-Andre Fleury’s ability to play his position in the crease” to nullify the goal.

Golden Knights complete sweep in Minnesota, take control of series “Tough call,” Foligno said. “Does that stuff take the wind out of your sails a little bit? I think so. But if it’s goaltender interference, it’s goaltender interference. Got to be better.”

By David Schoen Las Vegas Review-Journal With the crowd of 4,500 still incensed, the Knights took control by scoring on two of their five shots on goal in the second period. May 22, 2021 - 7:40 PM Tuch turned on the jets after picking up the puck in the neutral zone, split Updated May 22, 2021 - 9:27 PM the Wild’s defensemen and stickhandled around Talbot’s attempted poke-check for a spectacular goal midway through to put the Knights ahead 2-0. ST. PAUL, Minn. — Pete DeBoer doesn’t have to worry about being asked whether the Golden Knights can win in Minnesota. Stone added a short-handed goal that took the Wild’s spirit with 6:19 remaining in the second. Not after Saturday. He pounced on a loose puck when Matt Dumba went down in the Not after the Knights finished a two-game sweep at Xcel Energy Center offensive zone, outraced Wild defenseman Ryan Suter and tucked a and pushed the Wild to the brink of elimination. forehand around Talbot for his third goal in the past two games.

Nicolas Roy scored twice, and Marc-Andre Fleury turned aside all 35 “As a whole, we did a great job,” Stone said. “They get that goal, four shots he faced to lift the Knights to a 4-0 victory over the Wild in Game 4 minutes left in the second period, game looks a lot different 3-1 than of the West Division first-round playoffs. going into the third 3-0. Our penalty kill’s been good, but our goalie’s also been really good.” “We all know Minnesota’s record in here, and we all heard how good they are playing at home from them,” said DeBoer, the Knights’ coach. “To come in here and sweep with their home record is a real testament to our group.” LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 05.23.2021

The Knights took a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series and can close out the Wild in Game 5 on Monday when more than 11,000 fans are expected at T-Mobile Arena.

Despite playing without defenseman Brayden McNabb and forwards Max Pacioretty and Tomas Nosek, the Knights benefited from a successful coach’s challenge for the second straight game and killed a four-minute penalty in the second period.

“You usually go on the road, you’re hoping for a split,” captain Mark Stone said. “But when you win that first game, the mindset changes. We wanted to leave with two after we got that first one. The last five periods have been pretty solid.”

Fleury started for the fourth straight game and recorded his 16th career postseason shutout, tying for third all time.

He stopped Joel Eriksson Ek on a breakaway at the end of the double- minor penalty and had 13 stops in the third period as the Knights sat back and nursed the lead.

“The body feels good. My team’s been great for me,” Fleury said. “They’ve been helping a lot with rebounds and blocking shots and all that stuff. I’ve been getting some goal support the last few games, too.”

The Knights were 2-6 all time in Minnesota entering the series and hadn’t won here in regulation. They went 1-3 during the regular season when the Wild finished 21-5-2 at home.

But the Knights scored nine unanswered goals after the first period of Game 3 and handed the Wild their first three-game losing streak of the season.

Alex Tuch and Stone scored in the second period, and Roy added an empty-net goal.

“You want to get better every night and keep playing your best as you move forward,” DeBoer said. “Our game’s been much more solid every period we played from the team perspective. We’re starting to get rewarded offensively because of that. Guys are feeling good.”

The Knights overcame a few early mistakes in their own zone to take a first-period lead for the first time in the series.

Roy cleared the puck away from the front of the net after Fleury was caught behind his net and skated it out of the zone.

He worked a quick give-and-go with Keegan Kolesar through the neutral zone and then ripped a shot over the glove of Wild goalie Cam Talbot for his second career NHL playoff goal at 10:37.

The Wild appeared to answer 19 seconds later when Eriksson Ek shook free from Stone and beat Fleury, who was screened by Marcus Foligno. 1213915 Vegas Golden Knights

Cody Glass waits turn for playoff debut with Golden Knights

By David Schoen Las Vegas Review-Journal

May 22, 2021 - 5:19 PM

ST. PAUL, Minn. — While the Silver Knights compete in the postseason, Cody Glass is waiting for his chance with the Golden Knights.

Glass was called up from the American Hockey League club after Tomas Nosek was injured in Game 2 of the West Division first-round playoff series, but was a scratch for both games against the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center.

“For me, the message to him going down was just get used to playing in those offensive situations and scoring and creating offense, because that’s what he’s going to be at this level,” coach Pete DeBoer said. “It’s tough down the stretch for young guys to do that. I think he went down there and did that. Now he’s just got to wait for an opportunity when it arises here.”

Glass, the team’s first-round pick in 2017, struggled to generate offense at five-on-five during his time in the NHL and was sent down to the Silver Knights for the second time April 13 to help build his confidence.

In the 13 games with the Silver Knights, he posted three goals and six assists with a plus-1 rating. Glass had five or more shots on goal in seven of those games before he was recalled Wednesday.

With Nosek unavailable, DeBoer opted to use Nicolas Roy as the third- line center and went with veteran Patrick Brown on the fourth line for Game 3. The forward group remained unchanged for Game 4 on Saturday.

Glass, who has yet to appear in an NHL playoff game, scored all four of his goals during the regular season on the power play. The Knights went 1-for-10 with the man advantage in the first three games of the series.

DeBoer said he was able to see several games Glass played with the Silver Knights on TV.

“I liked what I saw,” DeBoer said. “I think most of the games I watched, he was a factor.”

Friendly fire

Brown hadn’t played since April 3 after tearing his hamstring in a game against Minnesota, and it took a bit of time in Game 3 to gain chemistry with linemates William Carrier and Ryan Reaves.

Brown notched the tying goal with a little less than five minutes remaining in the second. But earlier in the period, he absorbed a hard hit in the neutral zone from none other than Carrier, who poked fun at himself Saturday after morning skate for taking out his teammate.

“For me, I’ve just got to stop hitting him,” Carrier said. “That time I hit him was probably not the best play.”

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 05.23.2021 1213916 Vegas Golden Knights

What Jack Dugan needs to do to play for the Golden Knights

By David Schoen Las Vegas Review-Journal

May 22, 2021 - 10:12 am

The Silver Knights are one victory away from playing for the American Hockey League’s Pacific Division championship, and Jack Dugan is a huge reason why.

The first-year forward had a hat trick in his first career playoff game Friday to help the Knights knock off San Jose 4-1 in the opening game of their best-of-three semifinal series. He is the first rookie to score three goals in an AHL playoff game since Tyler Bertuzzi in 2016.

Two of those goals came with San Jose’s net empty, which speaks to the trust the Knights coaching staff has developed in the 23-year-old.

Dugan was on the ice late in the third period while the Knights were nursing a one-goal lead when he notched his first empty-netter with 1:28 remaining.

“He’s a pretty dynamic offensive player,” coach Manny Viveiros said. “For Jack to get to the next level and play for the VGK, he’s going to have to improve his whole 200-foot game. He has to play like he did (Friday). Probably more than anything, I was impressed with the way he was skating.”

Dugan was second on the Knights with 33 points (10 goals, 23 assists) and produced consistently in his first pro season. His longest streak without a point was two games.

If the Silver Knights advance to the championship series, their season will conclude no later than Saturday. At that point, Dugan could be called up as one of the reserves for the Golden Knights if they are still competing in the NHL playoffs.

“That’s something we talked about this week … for him to make that next step and for him to be at times dominant, which he can be, he has to bring his physicality and also move his feet,” Viveiros said. “He responded in a really good way for us.”

Loewen suspended

Silver Knights forward Jermaine Loewen was suspended four games by the AHL for his two-handed slash to Bakersfield’s Vincent Desharnais on May 16.

Loewen’s punishment started Friday with Game 1 of the Pacific Division semifinal series. If the Silver Knights’ season ends before his suspension is completed, the remaining games will carry over to the next time Loewen is active on an AHL club roster.

Viveiros said Loewen let his emotions get the best of him and added that there was nothing Desharnais said or did to precipitate the incident.

“That type of action is certainly not condoned in any way whatsoever, for any reason,” Viveiros said. “Jermaine is a hard player. He’s a tough player, and he’s a fair player. It caught us all off-guard. It caught himself off-guard. I’m not making any type of excuses, but I can certainly guarantee you with a young man like him that will just be a one-off.”

Final stats

Danny O’Regan finished the regular season second in the AHL scoring race with 37 points in 37 games. His 16 goals ranked fourth in the league.

Ryan Murphy led all defensemen with 27 points (five goals, 22 assists), while Dugan was second in rookie scoring.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 05.23.2021 1213917 Vegas Golden Knights That one goal was all Fleury needed. Vegas’ goalie finished with 35 saves to record his first shutout of the postseason and 16th playoff clean sheet of his career, tying him for third on the all-time list. He’s allowed four goals in four games this series. ‘I lost my mind’: Mark Stone’s emotional goal powers Golden Knights to Game 4 victory over Wild “I just go out, try to make the save, I don’t think too much,” Fleury said. “Every night I’m just trying to keep the game close, trying to make that first save, not think too far ahead.”

By Justin Emerson (contact) The Golden Knights put any narrative that they couldn’t win in Minnesota to bed with not only two wins, but two commanding wins. They didn’t Saturday, May 22, 2021 | 9:38 p.m. shrink from a 2-0 deficit after a period in Game 3 on Thursday to win by three goals, then led from whistle to whistle on Saturday.

ST. PAUL, Minn. — In the vault of Mark Stone goal celebrations — a vast Vegas entered the series with a 2-6-0 record at Xcel Energy Center, with assembly, to be sure — there was new addition Saturday that could be the only wins coming in a shootout in 2018 and in 3-on-3 overtime earlier considered the crown jewel of the collection. this month. Those formats don’t exist in the playoffs, so the Golden Knights got down to business and played the Wild out of their own barn. The Golden Knights captain crashed into the goal posts while scoring a short-handed playoff goal against the Minnesota Wild. He immediately And speaking of barns, the Golden Knights will have a chance on popped to his feet without his stick, and proceeded to pump his fist and Monday in Game 5 to clinch a series at T-Mobile Arena for the first time scream in excitement. in the team’s short history. More than 11,000 fans have been approved, which would make it the largest crowd of the season by a factor of a few He clapped and slapped defenseman Nicolas Hague’s hand with all the thousand. force of a man who knew he just won a playoff series, because he almost has. The Golden Knights went into Minnesota and silenced the crowd. Now they get to come home where they’re expecting anything but silence. The Golden Knights beat the Wild 4-0 in Game 4 at Xcel Energy Center and took a 3-1 lead in the first-round series. They’ll have a chance to “We played the full 60 minutes tonight and if we do that we’re really hard clinch at home Monday. to beat,” Roy said. “Then of course we’re really excited to come back to our building. It’s been amazing and it’s going to be even better in these “I kind of just used my speed for the goal,” Stone said. “I lost my stick. games. We’re really fortunate to play at T-Mobile.” Net went off. I lost my mind.”

Social media exploded when it happened, as did the Golden Knights’ bench. The goal negated a four-minute, potentially game-swinging power LAS VEGAS SUN LOADED: 05.23.2021 play by the Wild, and deflated the crowd of 4,500 who were hoping for a tally the other way.

Vegas has been short-handed eight times series, but with the goal now has more short-handed goals than the Wild have power-play goals. It was Stone’s second short-handed goal of the year including the regular season, fifth of his career, and first in the playoffs.

It had every element of what makes Stone so good. He took the puck away from Matt Dumba to show off his defense, skated around Ryan Suter to show off an element of speed that has been the knock on him the past, and deked Cam Talbot to finish it off.

The goal itself was tremendous. The celebration was legendary.

“They’re all up there, it’s really hard to decipher and figure out what one is your favorite,” forward Alec Tuch said of Stone’s celebration. “That’s our captain. He gets us all pumped up, motivates us, doesn’t matter what the score is. He’s pumped to score and we’re pumped for him. You know what, I feel like that energy he brings is taken for granted sometimes by people outside of our locker room. He’s one of the biggest leaders I’ve ever played with.”

That was the biggest momentum swing of the game, but the first came in the first period on the shift after the Golden Knights opened the scoring, the first time this series they netted the first goal of the game. Nicolas Roy had a terrific 200-foot play, batting away a puck that Nick Bonino had earmarked for the Vegas net, then went down the ice and filled the Minnesota net for the 1-0 lead.

But 19 seconds later Joel Eriksson Ek appeared to have evened the game back up. Immediately, though the Golden Knights bench signaled to the officials, indicating they believed Marcus Foligno had interfered with Marc-Andre Fleury on the play.

“We get one screen, one look at one angle on the bench. The one I was looking at looked like it was (goalie interference) but you never know,” coach Pete DeBoer said while crediting video coach Dave Rogowski and goalie coach Mike Rosati. “It was the right call and I think the right decision.”

Turns out they were right.

For the second game in a row a challenge pulled a Minnesota goal off the board and it came at a pivotal point in the game. In Game 3 it kept the Golden Knights from falling behind 3-0, and on Saturday it maintained their 1-0 lead. 1213918 Vegas Golden Knights “He’s feeling pretty good right now,” DeBoer said. “On the goalie interference, it’s Mike Rosati, our goalie coach, and Dave. It was a great call. Both reversed calls, both nights, were impactful on the game. I don’t think they were the difference in the game, but definitely impacted at that Five thoughts on the Golden Knights’ pivotal shutout win over Wild in point in the game.” Game 4 Fleury made sure to say “thanks Dave” during his news conference on Thursday as well.

By Jesse Granger 2. Fleury stays hot

May 23, 2021 As mentioned above, Fleury’s shutout was the 16th of his illustrious career. It helped him pass Chris Osgood and Clint Benedict on the all-

time leaderboard, and tied him with Curtis Joseph for third in NHL history. When the Golden Knights boarded their team plane Wednesday But what Fleury’s done in this series is nearly as impressive as his afternoon in Las Vegas, they were preparing to play two playoff games in career-long accomplishments. The 36-year-old netminder has allowed a building in which they’d never won a game in regulation. only four goals through four games, and has an incredible save In six tries — dating all the way back to 2017 — the Golden Knights had percentage of .966. never won during regulation in St. Paul, Minn. Their 12 overall losses to “Marc-Andre Fleury playing unreal,” Foligno said. “We’ve done a lot of the Wild are also the most against any team in the league. So despite good things in front of him. He’s made some great saves. You can’t quit. Vegas’ brief history in the NHL, the Xcel Energy Center was a bit of a Just have to hope for the next game that we can get a couple by him.” house of horrors for the Golden Knights. A hot goalie can win you a playoff series, and more. We’re not even Four days later, the Golden Knights emerged from the building through the first round, but Fleury has to be in the conversation with undefeated in the postseason, and boarded their plane back to Las Nathan MacKinnon and Nikita Kucherov as early favorites for the Conn Vegas with a commanding 3-1 lead in their first-round best-of-seven Smythe. series. 3. Mark Stone is leading by example Marc-Andre Fleury stopped all 35 shots he faced for his 16th career postseason shutout. Nicolas Roy notched his first multi-goal playoff game Stone is doing an exceptional job in his first playoff series as captain of of his young career and Alex Tuch scored another spectacular goal the Golden Knights. He made another gargantuan play on Saturday, against his former team to lead the Golden Knights to a 4-0 win. single-handedly wrecking the Minnesota power play en route to a short- handed breakaway goal. Those types of series-swinging plays are Here are five observations from a pivotal Game 4. expected out of the team’s best player and leading point man. 1. Vegas video coach Dave Rogowski needs a raise But it’s the more routine plays, in all three zones, that Stone makes that Seconds after Roy opened the scoring for the Golden Knights, Minnesota leave impressions on his teammates. After his goal, Stone chased down forward Joel Eriksson Ek fired a shot through traffic and past Fleury to tie the smaller — and faster — Kevin Fiala on a backcheck that showed the score 1-1. It was the first time Vegas scored first all series, and tremendous effort. Stone tied up Fiala’s stick and prevented a chance in Eriksson Ek’s tally completely nullified that momentum. front of the Golden Knights’ goal.

Not so fast, though. Dave Rogowski — who watches the game in a room Stone leads the Golden Knights in goals (3), points (4) and takeaways full of TV screens beneath the arena — noticed Minnesota forward (6), but has also blocked shots and is sixth on the team with 10 hits. He’s Marcus Foligno make contact with Fleury just before the puck entered playing with intensity in all situations and has come up big when the team the net. It was an incredibly close call, as Foligno’s skate blades only needed him most. His effort during routine plays like getting back on time barely touched the blue paint of the crease before making contact with sets an example for players down the lineup. Fleury. Rogowski and goalie coach Mike Rosati quickly decided the team 4. Vegas’ penalty kill is a weapon should challenge for goalie interference. A deadly power play is often viewed as one of the biggest weapons in the It was a risky call, considering an upheld goal would’ve kept the game postseason. When it’s clicking, it can produce goals to turn a series and tied 1-1 and put Minnesota into a power play with all the momentum in its conjure momentum out of thin air. favor. But it ended up working out for the Golden Knights, as the NHL control room in Toronto decided Foligno’s contact with Fleury was The Golden Knights don’t have that. Their below-average power play has enough to take the goal off the board. continued into the postseason, with only one goal in 11 tries.

“We get one screen with one look at one angle on the bench,” DeBoer However, Vegas’ elite penalty kill might be an equally dangerous said. “The one I was looking at looked like it was (goalie interference) but weapon. The Golden Knights led the NHL with an 86.8 percent kill rate in you never know. With an offside, it’s usually pretty clear, and you’re the regular season, and they’ve killed all eight of the Wild power plays in pretty confident. Goalie interference you’re never sure. I thought it had all this series. the elements to be goalie interference.” Just smothering the Wild power play is enough to build momentum, but Here was the NHL’s explanation: the Golden Knights’ penalty kill takes it a step further. Vegas has actually generated three scoring chances, two high-danger chances and a goal “Video review determined Minnesota’s Marcus Foligno impaired Marc- while short-handed this series. Players such as William Karlsson, Reilly Andre Fleury’s ability to play his position in the crease prior to Joel Smith and Chandler Stephenson use their speed to take advantage of Eriksson Ek’s goal. The decision was made in accordance with Rule 69.1 overaggressive defensemen on the blue line, often sneaking behind them which states, in part, ‘Goals should be disallowed only if: (1) an attacking for an odd-man rush the other way. player, either by his positioning or by contact, impairs the goalkeeper’s ability to move freely within his crease or defend his goal.’” “You want your special teams to grab you momentum, and I think our penalty kill defensively has that ability with the pressure we put on and Fleury said he wasn’t sure right away, but that “in my mind, I knew I didn’t our ability to not get scored on,” DeBoer said. “But we also have the over-challenge outside of my blue (paint), and I stayed kind of deep and ability to make you pay a price offensively with it. When we can get some still got bumped while I was trying to go down and find the puck.” space, or a clear, or catch a power play tired, those guys have great The review wiped off the board what would be the Wild’s only goal of the anticipation and great speed. They’re really good at it. So it’s definitely a game, and helped propel Vegas to victory. It was the second time in two weapon for us defensively and offensively too.” games that Rogowski helped nullify a goal and swing momentum. On Saturday night, it was Stone who poked away a puck from Matt Dumba, Thursday, he called for Peter DeBoer to review Minnesota’s third goal for skated around Jonas Brodin, then deked around goaltender Cam Talbot offside, and after replay, it was also disallowed. It reduced Minnesota’s for a gorgeous short-handed goal. It extended Vegas’ lead to 3-0 and lead to 2-0, and Vegas went on to score five unanswered goals to win 5- iced the win. 2. Just the offensive threat alone of the Golden Knights’ penalty kill will make opposing power plays cautions, leading to more passive defenders pinching at the blue line.

5. Tuch is still the X-factor

Last season, Tuch was often called the Golden Knights’ X-factor in the playoffs. His teammates even joked about it during news conferences, sarcastically referring to him by the nickname.

But a year later, it still holds true. When Tuch is rolling offensively, the Golden Knights are a much more dangerous team. He might not be the consistent goal scorer that Stone or Max Pacioretty are (yet), but he is the most electric player on the team and does things few players can.

Tuch’s goal on Saturday night was a perfect example, as he built up speed in the neutral zone before receiving a pass. He knifed through the Wild defense and fired the puck past Talbot before he knew what was coming.

“It’s definitely a weapon for sure,” Stone said of Tuch’s speed. “Not too many guys can skate at that speed and make those kinds of plays. It looked very simple, but I can’t say I’ve ever been at that speed to make that play, so I think it was probably a pretty tough play and it was a great move.”

Tuch is tied with Stone for the team lead with three goals and tied for second in points. If Vegas ever gets Pacioretty back from injury, Tuch bumps down to the third line and provides an impossible matchup for opposing depth forwards.

The Athletic LOADED: 05.23.2021 1213919 Vegas Golden Knights “I really like that line, I thought we needed that line to have a big game for us and… they did,” said Pete DeBoer. “Kolesar, Janmark and Roy were all real good tonight in all areas. Janmark had some big blocks, Kolesar makes a great play on the first goal, Roy got the two (goals). You need No Pacioretty? No Problem. Vegas Golden Knights Depth Scoring depth scoring in the playoffs and I thought those guys had been spinning Shines (their) tires for a couple of games. They were great.”

Despite being blanked in Game One, the Vegas Golden Knights has seven different players on the scoresheet in the series. The Minnesota Published 5 hours ago on May 22, 2021 Wild has three, and only four goals. By Tom Callahan Don’t forget, the most impressive part of this stretch is that the Golden Knights are doing it without Max Pacioretty in the lineup. During the regular season, he led the team in goals with 24 and was second with 51 If there’s a team that’s faced adversity and overcome it constantly in the points. While he’s still considered day-to-day, having a 3-1 lead in the last four years, it’s the Vegas Golden Knights. series also gives Pete DeBoer the luxury of not rushing him back into the lineup. Perhaps if the VGK were down 3-1 he’d play Game Five. But at Even before blades hit the ice the team had to fight for its own name. this point, perhaps you err far more on the side of caution and let him They had to fight for respect on the ice, and it seemed that even after an continue to rest and rehabilitate. incredible inaugural season that finished with a Stanley Cup Final appearance there were still those who chalked it up to luck. There was a Now, the Golden Knights head home with a chance to wrap up the series stunning loss to the San Jose Sharks after a phantom high- on Monday night at T-Mobile Arena, where capacity has been upped sticking major was whistled against the team resulting in utter collapse. once again heading into Game Five. Game time is slated for 7:30 pm PT. And even this off-season trade winds swirled around the beloved face of the franchise Marc-Andre Fleury as the team prepared for a shortened, COVID-controlled season with its own challenges. Vegas Hockey Now LOADED: 05.23.2021 Yes, the Vegas Golden Knights have been in the thick of the plot from birth, but this year’s team could buck the trend of falling just short for many reasons. Depth scoring is one of them.

It’s funny how the focus goes immediately to the superstars of teams in every sport. Hockey is no exception. We know the name Connor McDavid or Alex Ovechkin immediately. For the Golden Knights, there are several that immediately bring recognition around the league. Fleury, Alex Pietrangelo, Mark Stone and Max Pacioretty are known commodities.

Yet for the Golden Knights or any other team that will find success in the playoffs, it will take contributions from every level. Superstars, stars, established players, rookies and even career journeymen all have a role to play. And perhaps the best – certainly the most entertaining – aspect of it all is that there are no class restrictions on who may step up and play the hero. That’s how we came to know names like John Druce, Joel Ward, and Johan Hedberg.

Just four games in we’ve already seen extreme highs and lows for the Golden Knights. It would be nice to see them level it out a bit, not visiting the poles of great and terrible as much as existing between good and bad. At least two of the nine periods can be classified as terrible, including the opening frame of Thursday’s Game Three. Reilly Smith said the Golden Knights couldn’t have “played any worse” in that period.

Then there was a swing to the polar opposite immediately after: a second period where the entire team was engaged and playing hard. Vegas out- shot Minnesota 22-5 and scored three goals in the period to take a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

In this case, the rally began courtesy of the captain Mark Stone’s first goal of the playoffs. Stone had been relatively quiet the first two games, posting only an assist without the company of usual linemate and VGK regular-season leading goal scorer Max Pacioretty. But in the second period, Stone came through, getting Vegas on the board for the first time in the game. Fittingly, he would cap the scoring into an empty net in a 5-2 final and an incredibly important road win to get back in front of the series.

Smith, William Karlsson and Patrick Brown would also contribute their first goals of the playoffs, spreading the scoring around a bit more as slowly but surely the Golden Knights mount up one by one. In Game Two it was Alex Tuch’s two goals along with Jonathan Marchessault’s single to get them on the scoresheet for the first time in the series.

Looking at Saturday night’s Game Four, it was Nicolas Roy’s turn to score twice and announce his presence in the series. His two goals were bolstered by goals from Stone and Tuch, while Marc-Andre Fleury was once again his ho-hum superstar self making 35 saves for the shutout.

Roy’s linemates Keegan Kolesar (0-2-2, +2) and Mattias Janmark (0-1-1, +2) also had solid games as the third line really made a major impact in the game. 1213920 Vegas Golden Knights

Vegas Golden Knights, Fleury Run Wild Over Minnesota 4-0

Published 5 hours ago on May 22, 2021

By Tom Callahan

The Vegas Golden Knights just put themselves firmly in command of the Honda West Division Semifinal series against the Minnesota Wild with a 4-0 win and a 3-1 series lead heading back to Las Vegas Monday night.

Once again, the Golden Knights ended up getting another player on the scoresheet as Nicolas Roy scored twice to lead the offense. Mark Stone had an excellent all-around game including a goal and a plus-2 rating. Alex Tuch wrapped the scoring for Vegas.

Marc-Andre Fleury picked up his sixth playoff shutout with the Golden Knights on 35 saves. It appeared the Wild had scored to tie the game at 1-1 immediately after Vegas took the lead. But once again head coach Pete DeBoer was spot-on with a coach’s challenge, this time for goaltender interference. Marcus Foligno was ruled to have prevented Fleury from making the save and the goal was disallowed.

“We get one screen, one look, one angle on the bench. The one I was looking at looked like it was (intereference),” said DeBoer. “With offside usually it’s clear, but with goalie interference you’re never sure. I thought it had all the elements… (Fleury) couldn’t establish himself with Foligno in the paint… but you still never know.”

In reality, the Wild has not looked the same since the second period of Game Three, failing to score since. Strangely, Minnesota out-shot the Golden Knights heavily in the game, allowing only nine shots against over the final two periods while putting up 24 of their own. The difference (besides Fleury) seems to be that the Wild are falling a little short on depth and energy. Despite the fairly high shot total allowed tonight, the Golden Knights didn’t really need Fleury to don his cape and tights to defend the lead tonight. Rather it felt the game was under control almost the entire time.

Vegas can now move on to face the winner of the Colorado Avalanche – St. Louis Blues series which the Avs currently lead 3-0 and could close out with a win tomorrow.

The Takeaways

Fleury’s shutout was his 16th career playoff shutout, tying him with Curtis Joseph for third-most all-time. (24) and (23) are just in front of Fleury at the top of the list.

Nicolas Roy joins the list of scorers on the VGK who have tallied multiple goals now. After being blanked in Game One, Vegas has slowly but surely put the offense in gear. And now they seem to be firing on all cylinders.

Alex Tuch and Mark Stone lead the team with three goals each in the post-season so far.

Vegas is still without Max Pacioretty, and also played without Brayden McNabb and Tomas Nosek.

Curiously, Zach Parise did not see any ice time during Minnesota’s four- minute double-minor power play chance in the second period. Parise was the player who was high-sticked to draw the power play, but it appeared he could have returned while the power play was still active but did not.

The Vegas Golden Knights can now close out the series with a win Monday at T-Mobile Arena. Game time is slated for 7:30 pm PT.

Vegas Hockey Now LOADED: 05.23.2021 1213921 Washington Capitals and underwent testing. He returned home Saturday morning, Boston Coach Bruce Cassidy said.

Wilson said the Capitals would spend the lead-up to Game 5 watching The Capitals, on the brink of early elimination again, will try to bounce video and digesting Friday night’s mistakes, with the focus on generating back in Game 5 more offense at five-on-five and on the power play.

“We got to do better. Those are big moments, and we have to find a way to capitalize,” Wilson said. “Every game in the playoffs has a lot of By Roman Stubbs weight. You win a game, and you’re right back in it. We’re focused on winning one game. We’re not looking too big picture right now.” May 22, 2021 at 9:53 p.m. UTC

Washington Post LOADED: 05.23.2021 Most of the Washington Capitals spent Saturday trying to rest and recover, one day after a deflating loss to the Boston Bruins put them in a 3-1 hole in their best-of-seven, first-round playoff series. But a few players, including forward Tom Wilson, wanted to get back on the ice right away.

So on Saturday afternoon, Wilson sauntered out at the team’s practice facility in Arlington, joining a handful of teammates for an optional skate, none of them knowing whether it would be their final off-day workout of the season.

“Your experience tells you today is a new day, tomorrow is another new day after that. I think we know [Game 4] wasn’t good enough,” Wilson said. “It was one bad game, and we have to move forward.”

The Capitals find themselves on the brink of another first-round playoff exit, which would be their third in as many years after they claimed their first Stanley Cup title in 2018. To keep its season alive, Washington will need a drastic turnaround from Friday night’s lifeless showing, when they produced just 20 shots, went 1 for 7 on the power play and were a step behind the speedy Bruins from the outset in a 4-1 loss.

Game 5 is Sunday night at Capital One Arena.

“I just think we didn’t really bring it,” center Lars Eller said. “I want to see a different team in Game 5 at home. I believe we can do that. I’ve seen it before.”

After three tight games to start the series — the teams traded overtime wins in Game 1 and Game 2, then Boston outlasted the Capitals for a 3-2 win in double overtime of Game 3 — Washington, which has one of the NHL’s oldest rosters and several players working through injuries, appeared to run out of gas in Game 4.

“The execution I think was way off last night,” Capitals Coach Peter Laviolette said Saturday. “But we’ve got to move past it regardless. There is no room for the weak in playoffs. You’ve got to respond to everything.”

Laviolette, who was the coach of the Philadelphia Flyers when they rallied from a 3-0 deficit to beat Boston in the 2010 playoffs, said Washington would deploy a “short-term plan” to climb back into the series. That probably won’t include any major lineup changes to get fresh legs on the ice, but Laviolette kept any potential decisions close to the vest Saturday — including in net, where Ilya Samsonov has started the past two games. Rookie Vitek Vanecek remains day-to-day after suffering a lower-body injury in Game 1; 40-year-old Craig Anderson, who started Game 2, was Samsonov’s backup Friday night. Samsonov, who made 33 saves in Game 4, has never started three consecutive games in his two-year NHL career.

“There’s not a lot of moves that could be made. … There might be one or two,” Laviolette said of his lineup. “As we attack the day … you continue to look at the game [Friday] night, five-on-five, you continue to talk about the specialty teams, you talk about the lineup and go from there.”

Washington also dealt with discipline from the league Saturday: Forward Anthony Mantha was fined $5,000, the maximum allowable under the collective bargaining agreement, for goaltender interference on Boston’s Tuukka Rask in Game 4. Mantha drove toward the net and ran into Rask in the third period. Mantha was assessed a minor penalty, and Rask stayed in the game. The 26-year-old winger has two assists in four postseason games.

Defenseman Dmitry Orlov was not given any supplemental discipline for his high hit on the Bruins’ Kevan Miller in the second period. Orlov appeared to make accidental — and not direct — head-to-head contact with Miller on the play. Miller then fell and hit his head on the ice.

Orlov was originally given a major penalty, but it was changed to a double minor for roughing after a review. Miller was taken to the hospital 1213922 Washington Capitals Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 05.23.2021

Capitals’ five-on-five offense sputters in Game 4 loss to Bruins

BY ANDREW GILLIS

CAPITALS

The Capitals came into Game 4 needing a better effort from its lineup at five-on-five, where they’d scored just six goals through three games.

After four games against the Bruins, that number still sits at six goals.

In a 4-1 loss to the Bruins at TD Garden, the Capitals were never a serious threat to score at even strength, and that put them on the brink of a third-straight first round exit in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

“We just need five guys wanting to have the puck, support each other better,” center Lars Eller said. “I think when we're pretty spread out, it feels like it's one or maybe two guys attacking sometimes so we've just got to support each other a lot better than we are right now, attacking with five, defend with five, play faster. Everything. Every aspect of the game, we've got to be better.”

At five-on-five, of which took up 35 minutes and 26 seconds of Friday’s game, the Capitals had just 11 shots on net compared to the Bruins’ 29. The Capitals were out-attempted 41-32 and had one high-danger chance compared to the nine for the Bruins. And all night, it never felt the Capitals were close to breaking through onto the scoresheet.

“It’s not a lot of shots and it’s not good enough on our side,” center Nicklas Backstrom said. “Somehow, we have to create some more offensive chances. I think we’ve just got to move around more and make sure we just create those chances for ourselves. It’s not just going to happen. I just think that when we get a chance there, we have to create some more offensive zone looks. They’re blocking a lot of shots and you’ve got to make it harder for them to defend.”

The Capitals have scored six five-on-five goals this series, four of which have come from the fourth line (all from Nic Dowd and Garnet Hathaway). Although it’s true Tom Wilson has hit two posts in two games, with another from Nicklas Backstrom, the Capitals haven’t gotten the offense they’ve needed, nor the one they had in the regular season.

After four games, the only forwards with a Corsi-For (shot attempts) percentage of more than 50 are: Daniel Carr, Alex Ovechkin and Anthony Mantha. Daniel Sprong has a Corsi-For of 50 percent exactly.

The high-danger chances are even worse, as the only players with at least a 50 percent or higher share are Carr and Mantha.

“We will get together tomorrow to talk, look at things and see where we can be better,” coach Peter Laviolette said. “Like I said, there was a lot of things that seemed like they were off tonight. The jump was off, the compete was off, our execution, 5-on-5 play needs to be better, the specialty teams need to be better so there is a lot of…it was an off night. It just wasn’t a good night.”

Perhaps there’s no better example of the Capitals’ struggles than Mantha, who has 12 shots through four games of the playoffs. Acquired by the Capitals at the trade deadline, his big body presence was designed to give the team a net-front presence that can create for others. And while he’s been one of the best forwards for the Capitals this series, the goals just haven’t been there even if the process has.

With a sputtering powerplay, the Capitals will need to start generating at five-on-five. But for whatever they’ve tried to throw at the Bruins, they have not been able to answer offensively as there’s been no space to breathe.

“I thought we missed the net a lot too,” Lavioltte said. “I thought we had opportunities inside where we finally did get looks that we were looking for in the second and third period on the power play, and it seemed like we missed the net. Some of them got blocked. But we didn’t deliver as many strikes as we needed to on net. And so, I think there were attempts there, but those attempts have got to get through and have got to get on.”

1213923 Washington Capitals Carolina Hurricanes Sean McIndoe

Carolina Hurricanes NHL picks today: Expert predictions, odds for Capitals-Bruins, Hurricanes-Predators, Jets-Oilers and Avalanche-Blues Game 3: Predators 5, Hurricanes 4, 2OT (Carolina leads 2-1)

The largest crowd for an NHL game this season — 12,135 — gathered inside Bridgestone Arena on Friday, hoping for the best. Down 2-0 in By The Athletic NHL Staff their first-round series with the Carolina Hurricanes, Game 3 was May 23, 2021 effectively a must-win situation for the Predators. At 14:54 of the second overtime, Matt Duchene gathered a long-range flip pass from Roman Josi and beat Alex Nedeljkovic to keep the Predators’ hopes alive. Earlier in the week, Predators coach John Hynes challenged his top players to The Boston Bruins have the Washington Capitals on the brink of take charge. In addition to Duchene, Ryan Ellis, Filip Forsberg and Ryan elimination after losing the first game in Washington. The Bruins could be Johansen scored for the Predators, who have never trailed 3-0 in a the first team to advance to the second round in the Metropolitan Division playoff series. — Adam Vingan with a win on Sunday. Colorado can also advance to the second round with a win against the St. Louis Blues. The Athletic’s NHL writers Game 4 — Colorado Avalanche (-225) at St. Louis Blues (+190) continue to make their daily picks for each Stanley Cup playoff game. Total: 5.5 All lines via BetMGM. If you’d like a free year of The Athletic (or an extension!), BetMGM is running a special offer, which also includes $100 PICK in bonus bets. Eric Duhatschek Game 5 — Boston Bruins (-135) at Washinton Capitals (+110) St. Louis Blues Total: 5.5 Sean Gentille PICK Colorado Avalanche Eric Duhatschek Dom Luszczyszyn Washington Capitals Colorado Avalanche Sean Gentille Scott Burnside Boston Bruins Colorado Avalanche Dom Luszczyszyn Sean McIndoe Boston Bruins Colorado Avalanche Scott Burnside Game 3: Avalanche 5, Blues 1 (Colorado leads 3-0) Boston Bruins The Avalanche didn’t get goals from any of their five leading regular- Sean McIndoe season goal scorers. Mikko Rantanen didn’t score. Neither did Nathan MacKinnon. Or Gabriel Landeskog. Or Andre Burakovsky or Joonas Boston Bruins Donskoi. But that’s only a small consolation prize for the Blues: Colorado still rolled to take a commanding 3-0 series lead. The Avalanche Game 4: Bruins 4, Capitals 1 (Boston leads 3-1) benefited from an onslaught of depth scoring. Defenseman Ryan Graves The series had been airtight for three games. All three had gone to had a three-point night on his 26th birthday, and fourth-liner Alex overtime — double, at that, in Game 3. The Bruins blew that all to bits in Newhook logged his first NHL goal. Philipp Grubauer was stingy in net, Game 4 with a dominant win to take command of the series. Boston and now Colorado is a win away from advancing to Round 2 for the third controlled the game the entire way by skating well, making good year in a row. — Peter Baugh decisions and smothering most of Washington’s chances. At one point, Game 3 — Edmonton Oilers (-125) at Winnipeg Jets (+105) the Bruins had blocked six of Alex Ovechkin’s seven attempts. The only puck that beat Tuukka Rask was an Ovechkin broken-stick shot that Total: 5.5 tumbled in off Brandon Carlo. “Boy, we didn’t give up too much,” said coach Bruce Cassidy. PICK

Meanwhile, David Pastrnak, who had shot sideways for the first three Eric Duhatschek games, found his aim. Pastrnak buried the game-winning power-play Edmonton Oilers goal in the third period. He set up Brad Marchand for a net-front man- advantage tip. The Bruins’ lone blemish: the loss of Kevan Miller after a Sean Gentille high hit from Dmitry Orlov. Miller was taken to the hospital for tests. — Fluto Shinzawa Edmonton Oilers

Game 4 — Carolina Hurricanes (-145) at Nashville Predators (+120) Dom Luszczyszyn

Total: 5.5 Edmonton Oilers

PICK Scott Burnside

Eric Duhatschek Edmonton Oilers

Nashville Predators Sean McIndoe

Sean Gentille Edmonton Oilers

Carolina Hurricanes Game 2: Jets 1, Oilers 0, OT (Winnipeg leads 2-0)

Dom Luszczyszyn From down and counted out to a 2-0 series lead, the Jets have defied the critics and the odds. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are point-less Nashville Predators through two games, Connor Hellebuyck is playing out of his mind, and Paul Stastny’s overtime winner sends Winnipeg home to Bell MTS Place Scott Burnside in control of the series. For a team that struggled so badly against the Edmonton Oilers all season, the only way this story could read more like a fairytale is if there were a patented Winnipeg whiteout waiting for them in their home rink. It’s been a game of inches — just ask Dylan DeMelo after his desperate shot block — but the Jets have turned those inches into a massive head start in the race to four wins. — Murat Ates

The Athletic LOADED: 05.23.2021 1213924 Winnipeg Jets Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 05.23.2021

DeMelo's desperation play a game saver

Jason Bell

6-7 minutes 5/22/2021

Winnipeg goalie Connor Hellebuyck earned a 38-save shutout Friday night in Edmonton but the finest save of the night might have been produced by the Jets blue-liner with the Oilers on the power play in the third period.

During a mad scramble, all-star centre Connor McDavid gained possession and fired from close range with Hellebuyck down and out. Tumbling to the ice and with his back to the shooter, DeMelo instinctively threw his arms in the air and and stopped the puck's progress with the his hand.

"That’s playoff hockey. It was a desperation play. To have a feel for what part of the net might have been open, it was pretty spectacular and we were kind of joking about after," defenceman Josh Morrissey said Saturday morning. "It almost looked like he was playing volleyball and he was trying to get a block at the net.

"It was pretty remarkable and that’s the kind of effort we need this time of year to win games. It was a difference-maker (Friday) night."

Paul Stastny's overtime goal staked the Jets to a 1-0 victory and a 2-0 playoff series lead.

DeMelo and Stastny shared the podium in a post-game media conference, and a reporter's query about the unique shot block led to a witty exchange between teammates.

"I just put my hands up and luckily it hit me. Even if you see behind that, it hits me, but all these guys are jumping in front of that puck. You need that type of desperation and sacrifice. It was lucky that it hit me and the guys did a great job on the penalty kill for sure. It was a crazy play, for sure," said DeMelo.

"Was that on that (Oilers) power play?" Stastny turned and asked.

"Yeah, it was on that power play," De Melo answered.

"I had a front-row seat to that in the penalty box here, so I was wondering how that didn’t go in," said Stastny, laughing. "So, now that makes sense. I’ll probably see the replay of that."

Offered DeMelo: "It’s pretty funny. I looked at it after, it's hilarious."

The Jets registered a terrific 17-10-1 road record and have already seized two wins in Alberta to begin the best-of-seven, first-round North Division series.

But they were just .500 on home ice (13-13-2) at empty Bell MTS Place.

There will be no deafening roar of the blinding 'Whiteout' during games 3 and 4 of what the organization hopes is a protracted 2021 playoff run, owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. Morrissey said manufacturing energy and maintaining momentum without the fervour of their fans must be achieved in other ways.

"Playing at home is fantastic. But not having the Whiteout, that’s such an advantage to have. Every home team probably feels the same way but certainly for us, our fans… people packing the streets, it’s a huge advantage to have," he said. "Obviously, we’re going to miss that. But going home, having the last change and the ability to maybe control some of those things a little bit more will be huge.

"But the mindset can’t change for us. We have to sort of keep that hard- style, road-game mindset going home and, obviously, with the back-to- back, those two games are going to happen fast. They’re going to go by in a hurry so we’re going to need to be ready to go and know that they’re only going to push harder and they’re only going to be better themselves."

Game 4 on Monday is set for 8:45 p.m.

1213925 Winnipeg Jets I said before, we know (Edmonton will) be better and those top players for them are going to continue to be better as well."

Winnipeg head coach Paul Maurice has utilized his entire lineup, and Jets focused on the task at hand hasn't been afraid to call on the third defensive pairing of Tucker Poolman and 6-7 rookie Logan Stanley in key situations. The pair has been trapped in its own end on a couple of occasions but has impressed with its size and strength, effective gap and surprising mobility. Jason Bell "Two young players, in terms of games in the NHL, but both of them, for 7-9 minutes 5/22/2021 big men, skate very well. They’re here to defend and they can with size and speed. But Tucker scores the tying goal (in Game 1) and Logan shoots the puck on the game winner. So, there’s offence there, different Andrew Copp either spun cartwheels or sunk into a funk, depending on kinds," Maurice said. how the Winnipeg Jets fared in any given playoff game earlier in his career. "What they’ve done well is they’ve closed ice and they’ve been big, strong men who have killed plays in the corner. They’ve played very well There was no middle ground for the Michigan product. for us."

Six years in, the 26-year-old forward admits he's now able to balance his To maintain the series edge, there can be no abandoning the all-hands- emotions during the pressure-packed NHL postseason. And he refuses on-deck approach now. Expect Maurice to continue to spread out the to elevate the joy level to extremes, even as the Jets possess a 2-0 lead minutes, particularly as the clubs collide in Game 4 just 24 hours later. in their best-of-seven opening-round series with the Edmonton Oilers. "Getting everybody into the flow of the game is important because, as "You just take it one game at a time," Copp said Saturday morning, you saw in the first game, any line for us can step up and make a huge delivering a well-worn cliche with a sincerity that revived its relevance. impact. So, making sure all four lines are in the game, obviously with a "Early in my career, whenever you won a game in the playoffs it felt like back-to-back coming up that’s going to be more important," said Copp. you were going to win the Stanley Cup. Whenever you lost a game in playoffs, it was like the world was ending. Now, a little bit more level- "You never know when games are going to go to overtime… you spread headed. out the minutes a little bit more than the (Oilers) do maybe, it’ll lead to fresher legs in overtime, hopefully." "We still have a ways to go in the series. No one is popping champagne or anything like that. We’re still a focused group. We know a push is coming, for sure." Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 05.23.2021 Indeed, the expectation is the Oilers will turn up Sunday in an ornery mood as the North Division series shifts to the Manitoba capital. Game 3 is set for 6:30 p.m. at the Jets downtown home.

Blue-liner Josh Morrissey maintains the dramatics have only just begun.

"Certainly coming in as the road team into Edmonton, it’s great to get a couple of wins and feel the confidence that we should have from those wins," he said, during a morning Zoom chat with reporters. "Everybody understands you have to win four games to win a series, so there’s a lot of work to be done."

Winnipeg registered a pair of sound victories in Edmonton, the most recent, a 1-0 win, coming Friday night on the strength of veteran centre Paul Stastny's seeing-eye shot that beat goalie Mike Smith just 4:06 into overtime.

Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck was nothing short of brilliant, posting a 38-save shutout, the third playoff goose egg of his career. Overall, he's turned aside 70 of 71 shots, with the lone goal against coming off the stick of Jesse Puljujarvi in Winnipeg's 4-1 triumph Wednesday night in Game 1.

Astonishly, the league's pre-eminent point producers, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, were held off the scoresheet at Rogers Place after running roughshod over the Jets when the Oilers prevailed in seven of nine meetings during the abbreviated regular season.

It's a statistic with no bearing on the state of affairs now, yet the series could turn in a moment owing to Edmonton's star power and the squad's sense of urgency.

"Obviously, I think we’ve played two solid games as a group, been able to find a way to get two big wins on the road. But there’s no celebrating amongst our group, that’s for sure," offered Morrissey. "We know how talented those players are, how talented they are in their ability to score goals and make plays. So, there’s no time to let your foot off the gas or sort of think you have it figured out."

McDavid led the league with 105 points in 56 games, while Draisaitl had 84. Edmonton bench boss Dave Tippett combined their powers for Game 2, and they combined for nine shots but zero goals.

The Jets limited their time and space, stole pucks, blocked shots and tried to rattle them with physicality.

"We can look at a lot of the things we’ve done well, and we should be a confident group in our ability to try to bring our best game," said Morrissey. "But we still are focused on the task at hand and we’re going to have to be even sharper and better as the series goes on because like 1213926 Winnipeg Jets Josh has, is experience now, defending against the best. I think he’s using that. His angles have been fantastic. When to close hard and when to be patient and lay off and let the play develop, choke it off at the net.

JETS SNAPSHOTS: Level-headed Jets realize they haven’t “He’s a veteran guy now, one of those players that came up as a accomplished anything yet youngster and developed and now he’s playing against the world’s best. He’s the one guy on our blue-line that has that experience. He’s been on the ice against those guys, for the most part, for his entire career.”

Ted Wyman THIRD-PAIRING STARS

Publishing date: May 22, 2021 Of course, Morrissey is not doing it alone. His defence partner, Dylan DeMelo, has been excellent, the pairing of Neal Pionk and Derek Forbort

steady, and the third pairing — which includes Tucker Poolman and Despite all the hard work and commitment to detail the Winnipeg Jets rookie Logan Stanley — has exceeded expectations. displayed in winning the first two games of the North Division semifinal in “They’ve both been awesome for us,” Morrissey said. “For Stan, he’s Edmonton, the strong message coming from the team on Saturday was been getting better and better, and the more that he has the opportunity “We haven’t accomplished anything yet.” to play, he’s gonna keep getting better. He’s obviously a big guy. They’re The Jets deserve full marks for winning Game 1 (4-1) and Game 2 (1-0 in both big guys, they have long reaches, and I think they’ve been playing overtime) and bringing a 2-0 lead home for the next two contests at Bell aggressive, with a ton of confidence, and it’s been huge for us to have MTS Place (Sunday and Monday). them playing like that.

They played hard, but with patience, checked aggressively without “It’s gotta be a hard pairing to play against when you have two guys that crossing the line, broke up plays with their sticks, threw themselves in are that big and can both move really well and have nice long reach, so front of shots, got great goaltending and got the big goals when they they’ve been playing great and we’re gonna need them to keep doing needed them. that.”

But all they have to do is think back to 2019 to realize that winning the Poolman scored the game-tying goal in Game 1 and Stanley had the first two games of a series on the road only goes so far. assist on Dominic Toninato’s game-winner.

In 2019, the Jets lost the first two games of a first-round series to the St. HOME SWEET HOME? Louis Blues at Bell MTS Place, then went to Missouri and won the next Under normal circumstances, returning home with a 2-0 lead would be two. They eventually lost that series, but the point is, they’ve still got a lot almost magical for the Jets and their fans. of work to do. One can only imagine what the atmosphere would be like in Bell MTS “Early in my career, whenever you won a game in the playoffs, it felt like Place, were it not for the COVID-19 pandemic, which has prevented fans you were going to win the Stanley Cup,” Jets winger Andrew Copp said from entering NHL arenas in Canada. Saturday before the Jets returned home from Edmonton. There would be a full-on whiteout, 15,000-plus fans screaming their “Whenever you lost a game in playoffs, it was like the world was ending. heads off and thousands more outside the building at a street party. “Now, we’re a little bit more level-headed. You’ve seen it in the playoffs Instead, it will be silent, other than some fake noise designed to create before when we were against St. Louis, down 2-0 going to St. Louis. We atmosphere. still have a ways to go in the series. No one is popping champagne or anything like that. We’re still a focused group. We know a push is coming “Obviously playing at home is fantastic but not having the whiteout … for sure.” that’s such an advantage to have,” Morrissey said.

With goalie Connor Hellebuyck stopping 70 of the 71 shots he faced and “Every home team probably feels the same way but certainly for us, our the Jets clamping down defensively, Oilers superstars Connor McDavid fans and the Jets crowd, the whiteout, the people packing the streets, it’s and Leon Draisaitl were held without points for both games. a huge advantage to have. Obviously we’re going to miss that, but going home, having the last change and the ability to maybe control some of The odds of that continuing are very low, but the Jets have shown they those things a little bit more, will be huge.” can at least limit those players if they stick to the formula that has been working so far. The Jets were a far better team on the road this season than they were at home. They went 17-10-1 on the road and only 13-13-2 at home and “Obviously I think we’ve played two solid games as a group, been able to they have to hope that trend changes now that the series is shifting to find a way to get two big wins on the road, but there’s no celebrating Winnipeg. amongst our group, that’s for sure,” Jets defenceman Josh Morrissey said. “We know how talented those players are, how talented they are in “The mindset can’t change for us,” Morrissey said. “We have to sort of their ability to score goals and make plays. So there’s no time to let your keep that hard style, road-game mindset going at home and obviously foot off the gas or sort of think you have it figured out. with the back-to-back, those two games are going to happen fast. They’re going to go by in a hurry so we’re going to need to be ready to go “We can look at a lot of the things we’ve done well and we should be a and know that (the Oilers) are only going to push harder.” confident group in our ability to try to bring our best game but yeah, we still are focused on the task at hand and we’re going to have to be even sharper and better as the series goes on because like I said before, we know they’re going to be better and those top players for them are going Winnipeg Sun LOADED 05.23.2021 to continue to be better as well.”

Morrissey has played a significant role in the Jets’ success so far.

He has led all Winnipeg players in ice time (average of 24:68) — a significant stat given that the team has only given up one goal in two games despite playing against two of the world’s best players — and has been a force in the corners and in terms of puck movement.

He’s been credited with 10 hits and has been blocking shots and playing in all situations.

Now in his fifth NHL season, Morrissey has become a grizzled veteran and it’s showing in this series.

“(McDavid and Draisaitl) are so hard to handle and it takes a lot of experience,” Jets head coach Paul Maurice said. “The one thing that 1213927 Winnipeg Jets Andrew Copp was doing a desperation dive of his own behind DeMelo on the play and didn’t see the block, but he sees what it signifies.

“It’s what our team has done so far,” Copp said. “Be really committed to Maurice sparkles as his Jets shine defence and do whatever it takes.”

We weren’t sure the Jets had it in them to do this. They claimed to believe, even coming out of that nine-losses-in-10-games nightmare Paul Friesen down the stretch.

Publishing date: May 22, 2021 “If you can go through a stretch like that and come out on the other side of it and not crumble and still be fighting – it doesn’t really get much

worse than that,” captain Blake Wheeler acknowledged. “We’re just really The coach on the hot seat was virtually shimmering when he entered the enjoying this. That’s been Paul’s message to us. Listen, these chances Zoom Room on Saturday. don’t just come around every year. You want to make the most of them.

By some trick of lighting, or perhaps Zoom technology, Paul Maurice’s “And there’s a compete and an energy and a hardness that you’ve got to sports jacket appeared on my computer screen to be sparkling like bring to the table.” something Elvis might have worn on the stage in Vegas. Their belief solidified with the Game 1 win and hardened further in Game Inquiring minds have to know, so when the Winnipeg Jets boss was done 2. discussing defensive techniques and balanced ice time, I inquired about “It’s about smart, smart, hard hockey,” Maurice said. “Then being patient, his attire. relaxing and doing that over and over again. Winning a couple games Hey, someone has to ask the tough ones. helps that continue.”

“It might be the lights in here,” Maurice began. “There’s no sparkle in this Their resolve to do the dirty work is, so far, showing more hardness than jacket. There’s actually no sparkle in my life, Paul.” we suspected they were capable of.

Ah, but there is. Whether it’s Mark Scheifele doing uncharacteristic things in uncharacteristic territory deep in his own zone, defencemen clinging to The 2-0 series lead Maurice’s Jets have on the mighty Edmonton Oilers Oilers forwards like Velcro strips or someone willing to take a hit to make is emitting a glow not seen around this team in some time. a play – it’s all been there.

Considered long shots by all but die-hard fans and contrarians going in, And now it’s the Oilers who have to be doubting themselves. the Jets have turned the tables with two performances that challenge logic itself. They may have the Holy Duo, but the Jets have the heavenly shine only two wins on the road can produce. Shut out the Oilers’ top guns once, good for you. Keep Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl off the scoresheet a second time, while shutting out As for the man who figures to go through hell with a quick first-round the entire team – that’s some otherworldly stuff. playoff exit, he’s starting to get his sparkle back.

Seems not even McJesus can beat the Hand of God, also known as defenceman Dylan DeMelo’s smelly hockey mitt. Winnipeg Sun LOADED 05.23.2021 By now you’ve seen the co-highlight of the night in Winnipeg’s 1-0 overtime shocker in Edmonton, Friday.

The Oilers on their shooting-gallery power play, a rebound found its way to McDavid’s golden stick, with only a wing and a prayer between him and an open Jets net.

The prayer came in the form of DeMelo, on his back and facing away from McDavid, extending his arms up and out, blindly hoping to feel something hit him.

“I was on my back so I have to throw something up,” DeMelo said, post- game. “I was thinking maybe I’ll two-pad stack it, but I don’t think I had the extension. So I just put my hands up and luckily it hit me.”

Pain never felt so good.

The play preserved a scoreless tie and allowed Paul Stastny to become the overtime hero.

It also had teammates staring in disbelief.

“To have a feel for what part of the net might have been open, it was pretty spectacular,” Josh Morrissey said the morning after. “We were joking… it almost looked like he was playing volleyball and he was trying to get a block at the net.”

The soccer analogy – Diego Maradona’s famous “Hand of God” goal – was also in play.

“That is no different than almost an end-to-end rush, where a guy scores a goal,” Maurice said. “And there’s a different kind of respect in the locker-room for guys that are making those plays.”

If the Jets go on to win this best-of-seven, we’ll look back at it – a fluke, an act of desperation and a stroke of brilliance, all in one – as the play of the series.

Not because of its impact in one game, but because of what it will have been emblematic of. 1213928 Winnipeg Jets He sounded the alarm about the Jets starting to cheat the game even before the team went into a tailspin, during which they lost seven in a row and nine of 10 down the stretch.

Overtime hero Stastny brings so much more than scoring to Jets in their It took a while, but the Jets started to get their game right — started to playoff quest play as one instead of as a group of individuals — in time for the playoffs.

They now have won four straight games — two in the regular season and two in the playoffs — and will host Games 3 and 4 at Bell MTS Place Ted Wyman Sunday and Monday nights.

Publishing date: May 22, 2021 “So much of what he does isn’t easily noticed by the way he plays,” Jets coach Paul Maurice said Saturday from Edmonton, before the team

boarded a flight for Winnipeg. On Oct. 9, Winnipeg Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff shipped a “The guy that Paul has always reminded me of is (Hall of Fame centre) fourth-round draft pick and a little-used defenceman to the Vegas Golden Ron Francis. So smart. So positionally right, able to process the game for Knights for veteran centre Paul Stastny. a guy that doesn’t have blinding speed but can get to the right spots. So It was a small price to pay for a player of Stastny’s stature, but the 35- much of what (Francis) did is subtle. year-old’s $6.5 million salary made him expendable for the Golden “And then there’s the maturity in the locker-room, the perspective in the Knights. locker-room at 1,000 games. He’s one of those guys that reaches to The Jets were not about to pass up on the chance to bring back a player everybody in the room. He’s been really, really important. We’ve just they knew and respected immensely, a player who would immediately been a very, very young team for a long time, and there’s a lot of young become a leader in the group and could provide solid production at both habits that come with that. And we’ve just matured a little bit, and Paul ends of the rink. being here has brought a lot of that maturity.”

“It’s like anything, you look at the fit,” Kevin Cheveldayoff said on the day Stastny is not alone in that regard. The Jets are an experienced team, the Jets acquired Stastny for the second time. with captain Blake Wheeler and forwards Nate Thompson, Trevor Lewis and Mathieu Perreault all in their mid-30s. “If you have an opportunity to find a player that you know fits, from a play standpoint, from a personality standpoint, from a teammate standpoint, That veteran savvy has shown through in the patient way the Jets have you take that opportunity and jump at it.” played the first two games of the series. It’s clearly not about individual glory, but about having good sticks, good anticipation and making As low-cost trades go, Cheveldayoff hit this one out of the park. sacrifices like throwing their bodies in front of pucks at every turn.

Stastny not only solidified the Jets’ second line with his 200-foot play — That’s how you keep NHL leading scorer Connor McDavid and 2020 Hart much as he did in 2018 when he came in late and helped the team get to Trophy winner Leon Draisaitl off the scoreboard for two straight games. the Western Conference final — but he played multiple positions with many different linemates, was a strong influence in the locker-room all It’s about following the lead of a player like Stastny, and getting rewarded season, and continued to be the kind of all-around good guy who is for it. revered by the citizens of Winnipeg. “I think we realized, if we want to do something good, we’re going to have All that was before he scored the game-winning goal in the Jets’ 1-0 to do it as a team,” Stastny said. “We’re going to have to sacrifice some overtime victory over the Edmonton Oilers Friday night, a marker that of the way we want to play, especially come playoff time. gave Winnipeg a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven North Division semifinal. “If we’re going to want to win games, we’re going to have to play a more Now, he’s approaching legendary status in the organization, despite team defensive game, we’re going to have to sacrifice more. We’ve been having played only 75 of his 1,001 NHL regular-season games with the doing that, and sacrificing our bodies, all the way down through the Jets. lineup.”

“I don’t think you can sum it up in a sentence or two,” Jets winger Andrew Copp said, when asked to assess the value Stastny brings to the Jets. Winnipeg Sun LOADED 05.23.2021 “The calmness, the poise, that he brings to a line, the experience, easy to play with, can play any situation, centre or wing. It’s tough for me to sum it up in a couple sentences for you guys because what it does to the rest of the team, what his stabilization means for the guys around him, it allows everyone to do what they do best. It brings out the best in everyone and makes the guys around him better.”

Stastny’s winning goal on Friday wasn’t exactly a thing of beauty. He simply threw the puck at the net, using a couple of Edmonton defencemen as a screen, and it found its way behind Oilers goalie Mike Smith, who had a 64-minute shutout going up until that point.

To a man, however, Jets players and coaches pointed to Stastny’s veteran savvy, as the reason the puck went in. It’s overtime and you never pass up a chance to shoot, knowing it’s often a harmless-looking play that leads to the game-winner.

You learn a thing or two when you play 15 seasons in the NHL and when you’ve been in 99 playoff games. That’s on top of growing up in the home of an NHL Hall of Famer, his father Peter Stastny.

Nothing ever seems to faze Stastny, who now has seven goals and 16 points in 19 career playoff games with the Jets.

“He’s just a veteran guy that settles things down,” Jets coach Paul Maurice said.

When the Jets were starting to stray from their game, but were still finding ways to win, at one point this season, it was Stastny who became the team’s conscience. 1213929 Vancouver Canucks And she’s waiting to see what the team does this summer before making a final decision.

“What I really want to see from them is hiring a president of hockey Canucks: Brand needs a reset and the team knows it operations. I thought a consistent problem over the last season, or seasons, is there’s no clear plan being presented,” Chang said. “And even if there is one, Jim (Benning) doesn’t seem capable of presenting it.” Patrick Johnston In Friday’s meeting with the media, Benning spoke about his plans for the Publishing date: May 22, 2021 off-season. The team needs to find new blood for the third line, he admitted. He’ll look to buyouts, he said.

A quick look at Francesco Aquilini’s mentions on Twitter doesn’t paint a And ownership will let him spend again, he intimated, a change from the pretty picture. 2020-21 season when expenditures were dialled down across the board.

There are occasional messages of support, but the overwhelming It didn’t add up to much, Chang said. majority are negative. People calling for him to sell the team, to turn over “Those are things that don’t give me confidence. It’s more of the same,” the front office. Chang said. “The only difference is he actually said the words today that It speaks to the passion Vancouver Canucks fans feel for their team. he is accountable.”

Of course, Twitter doesn’t provide a complete read of the situation. She has, of course, seen how critical people are of the team on Twitter.

People who think about things in professional terms have negative reads “It’s easy to complain on Twitter. You’re just shooting it into this blank on the situation. Many casual fans do, too. space,” she said. “It’s an easy way for people to think they’re speaking to him.” Even the team is aware work needs to be done. With no ability to express their feelings in the arena during a game — the Tom Mayenknecht, principal of Emblematica Brand Builders and a former booing of Mike Gillis, deserved or not, springs to mind — some fans marketing executive for the Vancouver Grizzlies and Toronto Raptors, organized for a banner to fly over the city last month. And those fans are sees very troubling signs. working to organize a protest outside the arena this weekend.

“I think the business operations leadership has increasingly taken the In Chang’s view, direct contact with the team is more impactful in the approach that, ‘Hey, we understand where we’ve made mistakes in the long run. past, i.e., ticket pricing, but we’re committed to doing better.’ I don’t think we’ve heard that kind of definitive message from Jim Benning as general “For season-ticket holders, getting surveys from the league, those I know manager,” Mayenknecht told Postmedia. the team sees,” Chang said. She recently documented filling out her survey responses in a thread on Twitter. “There’s some real positives there, but just the totality of the actions and the totality of the words that have come out of hockey ops, that have “I know of other season-ticket holders who are calling their account come out of Jim Benning’s mouth, I don’t think they have helped the managers and complaining about the situation,” she added. Canucks’ brand.” Chang’s father David, born in Shanghai and raised in Hong Kong, came The prestige of the brand is far removed from where it was 10 years ago. to Vancouver in the early 1970s, when he was just 17.

“At its height, people regarded the Canucks — both in terms of hockey A friend quickly turned him on to hockey. As he grew into adulthood, his ops and business ops — they were not only a premier but an up-and- interest in Canada’s national winter sport waned, but then his daughter coming and even faster-growing organization. And so much of what drew him back into watching hockey when she was a kid. really matters to fans, with all due respect to the suits, is the hockey He worked for Budget Rent-a-Car for 38 years and also ran a highly operations leadership,” Mayenknecht said. successful laundry business, so it’s no surprise that he doesn’t see much He pointed to the decision not to hire a new president of hockey of a plan for the Canucks to turn things around. operations after the departure of Trevor Linden in the summer of 2018 as “The Canucks can play better. I’ve been supporting them because an example. Samantha really loves hockey. She basically trained me to become a “There is a real, in my view, consumer confidence issue in Jim Benning’s hockey fan,” he said. leadership. And I think ultimately ownership is responsible for that “They should change Mr. Benning. He’s been there for too long. I don’t because they had a choice. They had a choice to replace Trevor Linden understand why Aquilini wants to keep him.” in the presidency role and allow Jim Benning to play a second-in- command role, which I believe he’s much more suited for. But they chose He suggested wooing , who has been learning the ropes not to, they chose not to replace that position. of management since retiring as a player two years ago, back from Florida. “The stronger the operations, the more business ops has to work with,” Mayenknecht added. “I like Mr. Green and we have lots of young players,” he said. “Forget and forgive, if they can win more, that’s what they’re supposed to do. You’re “I think they’ve done a lot of smart things and they don’t view themselves not going to win every day but at least you put your effort into it.” as invincible. They really ask a lot of questions of their season-ticket holders. I’ve seen it firsthand. That wasn’t done, you know, much in the Former Canucks owner Arthur Griffiths spoke with Aquilini just last week, late ; it really started in the early 2000s.” as chatter heated up that the owner, now in his 17th year at the helm of the hockey club, was considering changes to the front office. Samantha Chang, a co-host of the highly rated Broadscast podcast, has been a season-ticket holder for a dozen years alongside her dad, David. “I told him, ‘Look, you’ve got a great young core group of players, a great coach and management. I think you just have to chuck out this season. She’s been critical of how the team has been approaching things both on Everything that seemed to possibly go wrong for the team did,” Griffiths and off the ice for some time. They own half-season tickets and, despite told Postmedia. everything, they kept up with their ticket payments this season. His advice going forward is to highlight the stories of the players, to The Canucks offered fans the option of deferring payments to next year, connect with fans that way. The teams he knows best, the teams that knowing it was unlikely they’d play games this season with fans in the went to the Stanley Cup Final in 1982 and 1994, had great characters seats, but the Changs chose not to. that had deep connections with the fans. They’ve paid their money, but the Canucks are treating it as a deposit, “Each one of those players has a story, away from the game. That she said. The money can be refunded anytime. creates a character assessment of that person, whether it’s family, whether it’s friends,” Griffiths said. “I mean, for instance, Brock Boeser, think about his character, his qualities. That young friend of his who died and he pays tribute to on his hockey stick. And then his dad’s health struggles and then of course Markstrom’s dad last year. You know, there were some really remarkable stories. … All those guys in those days (1982 and 1994), how they got here. How they gelled.”

Trent Carroll, the Canucks’ chief operating officer, acknowledged the team knows they need to do better. Before everything stopped on March 12, 2020, the team was in a good spot.

“The team and our young players were playing well, our fans were excited, our 50th season celebrations were underway, the arena was selling out and our season ticket base was growing. Then COVID hit. It knocked us back a step for sure,” Carroll said in an email response to a question on plans to rebuild the team’s brand going forward.

“And this past season obviously took a little bit of wind out of our sails. We fully acknowledge we have a lot of work to do to build back up, both with our team and with the fan experience, both in the arena and the community. What we are really grateful for is our fans are sticking with us.”

Renewals for season tickets are high, probably the strongest in five years, he claimed.

“But we recognize we still have a huge amount of work to do to make sure the brand and fan experience levels are as strong, or better than they were before COVID hit. The work is underway to get fans safely back in the arena again and we are absolutely committed to getting back on track,” Carroll added.

Mayenknecht, though, said the larger context, not just the COVID-19 pandemic, must be considered.

When Mike Gillis was fired and Linden and Benning were hired, the Toronto Maple Leafs, Colorado Avalanche and Edmonton Oilers all made changes at the same time. The path for all three had some bumps — the Oilers especially — but they’re now well on course to being among the league’s best teams.

“Brand is not just a static measure, it’s a relative measure. And what has hurt the Canucks in terms of the brand value is the fact that they’ve stood still and fallen behind,” Mayenknecht said.

“You look at where those other three franchises are right now … all three of them are top franchises in terms of winning percentage this year, and the Canucks have fallen to the bottom. And that translates into brand decline and reputational crisis, let’s put it that way.

“It’s a really important dynamic, and in the business of sport it’s that you’re not just an environment of your own, you’re competing with other brands. And if other brands go down and you stay still, you actually seem to be gaining. If other brands go up and you stand still, you’ll seem to be declining. And the latter applies to the Canucks, and it’s very much in terms of fan base interest.”

Vancouver Province: LOADED: 05.23.2021 1213930 Vancouver Canucks To Green’s credit, his players kept pushing and grinding while running on fumes. The worldwide impact of COVID-19 went beyond 25 people in the Vancouver organization afflicted by a March 31 outbreak and a virus accelerated with the fast-spreading variant first identified in Brazil (P.1). Travis Green betting on himself to get his club back to playoffs People lost jobs and the Aquilini Investment Group lost money with its many ventures outside ownership of the Canucks and Rogers Arena.

The Canucks lost the momentum from a remarkable 2020 playoff run and Ben Kuzma getting it back won’t be easy. Publishing date: May 22, 2021 Special teams plummeted with a 25th-ranked power play and 17th-rated penalty kill. They were affected by indifferent play and injuries, especially Elias Pettersson’s wrist injury, and ailments to PK regulars Brandon Connect the dots and follow the money. Sutter, Tyler Motte, Jay Beagle and Antoine Roussel. A 24th-ranked offence and sixth-worst defence were signposts to a sorry season. One is as vital as the other to kick open the NHL coaching door and not have it eventually slam shut on you. It could have given management and Aquilini Investment Group managing director Francesco Aquilini a diminished view of Green’s value. It takes merit and the confidence of management and ownership to become a bench boss in The Show. It also requires thick skin to “Francesco is very supportive of everything we do,” said Benning. “He’s understand that not everything is in your control. Getting the performance not unlike any owner in the league. We have to present our case and buy-in from players can be easier than being rewarded for your track explain our decisions and he has always really liked Travis. As we talked record and vision of the future. about the best fit, it was a decision he left to me with his support.

Travis Green found himself at the career crossroads when the final “And we thought Travis is the best guy for the job. He has great buzzer sounded to bring an unimaginable and unrelenting season to a communication skills with our younger players and they need to grow and merciless close Wednesday afternoon in a 6-2 loss at Calgary. get better.”

The Vancouver Canucks coach didn’t have a contract extension and Green could benefit next season for years of trust and feel for today’s general manager Jim Benning was being retained. It presented a game. He has put players in positions to succeed — especially the elite scenario where the GM customarily decides who will guide the roster — who may not have been afforded those looks elsewhere — and the fast and Benning has repeatedly supported Green — but this went beyond maturation of Brock Boeser, Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes can be that when the coach finally agreed to a two-year extension Friday. attributed to the coach.

It could have gone south. Boeser was allowed to first unleash his heavy and accurate shot before learning to play without the puck. Pettersson was a winger in Swedish The expansion Seattle Kraken were interested in interviewing Green, if Hockey League and instantly moved to centre here. And Hughes quickly his contract situation wasn’t resolved, and so were others. However, his became a fixture to direct the first power play unit. heart was always here, but did he have to contemplate a possible change of address? Impressive Swedish rookie winger Nils Hoglander was aligned with Bo Horvat and Tanner Pearson on the first day of training camp. And Jack “Maybe a little,” Green admitted during his year-end address Friday. “It Rathbone wound up playing eight games because there’s something got down the wire and it was obviously important for me to get it done special about the blueliner. and for the team to get it done. It was a different season with COVID and how it affected things financially and there was a process to it. “I have no doubt with the young pieces we have that it’s an exciting time in Vancouver and I believe that and good things are on the horizon,” “But ultimately, I wanted to be here and I’m just thankful that we did get it summed up Green. done.”

In the guessing game of who gained or who lost leverage in the process — coach, GM or owner — it’s like fiddling to align a Rubik’s Cube. Vancouver Province: LOADED: 05.23.2021 Three-year contract extensions are the league norm and the trade-off to accept less term is often a sizable salary increase. Green’s expiring four- year contract had an annual value of US$1 million, and while the Canucks didn’t reveal the salary portion of his new deal, it’s not a stretch to suggest he could have at least doubled his annual pay.

Or, perhaps he pushed toward the US$2.75 million annual value of Dave Tippett’s contract with the Edmonton Oilers.

Regardless of the money, the motivation for Green to continue coaching in his home province is beyond admirable because he’s betting on himself. If his club struggles next season and misses the playoffs, he’s going to be under the microscope again as a coach on an expiring contract. But that doesn’t faze the 50-year-old Castlegar native.

“I wouldn’t have signed back here if I didn’t believe in what we’re doing and what we’re capable of doing and where we’re going,” stressed Green. “I didn’t sign just to get two more years of coaching in the NHL. I know Jim (Benning) and our ownership are committed to winning.

“We own this season. It didn’t go the way we wanted and I can understand how people can be frustrated. We need to evaluate and make changes, but I believe we can win with this group.”

The optimism comes from the realization that 2020-21 was a season of survival.

A crazy and compacted 56-game schedule — including a torturous 19 games in the final 32 days — combined with a plethora of injuries and the debilitating and demoralizing novel coronavirus pandemic tested the mettle to remain motivated. 1213931 Websites SkateSkins exposure to NHL players, including goalie Elvis Merzļikins, who inquired about the product after seeing other Latvians use them.

The Athletic / NHL business notebook: Arena-cleaning drones, skate Potential use of something like SkateSkins in the NHL right now is a decals get exposure, hockey NFT update tricky proposition. There isn’t a rule against the product, but there are logistical hurdles where a player may be a sponsored athlete and therefore can’t alter the product on their feet. Licensing, which costs equipment companies $125,000 per category each season, is also an By Sean Shapiro issue. There’s also a hockey ethos of conformity, where putting a custom May 22, 2021 decal on the skate pushes individualism and therefore makes some players worried about using the product.

The hope for Keeler and Ciavarella is exposure and maybe even use of As fans start to return to NHL buildings in larger capacities, how the product by an NHL goalie like Merzļikins could start to normalize the organizations clean arenas before and after events is going to come to concept, which is a necessary step if the product is going to take a step the forefront of discussion. into the professional space.

For the Pittsburgh Penguins, and potentially soon other NHL teams, that It’s an ambitious hope for the company, which now has something to means drones are getting to work. capitalize on in the social-media marketing space after SkateSkins were used in a historic upset against Canada. The Penguins, who had their crowd capacity double from 4,672 to 9,344 from Game 1 to 2 of their first-round series with the New York Islanders, The became the first NHL team to partner with and recently announced a partnership with AERAS, a Pittsburgh-based issue officially licensed Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) in a partnership with company that specializes in cleaning using electrostatic technology Fanaply. delivered by drones to sanitize and disinfect all surfaces, including the players’ benches and seats. So far, the Devils are selling two NFTs, both one-of-one digital items. The first comes with season tickets for the 2021-22 season, while the second Each cleaning takes less than two hours and the current deal runs comes with a meet-and-greet element with notable Devils alumni. through the entirety of the 2022-23 season. It’s an important deal to take note of as the NHL and its teams try to The innovation and invention for AERAS was creating a system that can move into and capitalize on the NFT space, which has blown up within use electrostatic without disrupting a drone’s flight. Previously, the the sports collectible marketplace in the past six months. electrostatic would disrupt the drone’s communication with the pilot. Teams were recently given permission by the league to look into officially Justin Melanson is the director of research and development and co- licensed NFTs, but it comes with a limited time frame and rules for founder for AERAS. He’s also a 107-certified drone pilot who came up quantity, according to sources. Teams have until the end of August to with how to make the cleaning delivery system work. establish any NFT partnerships, and the amount sold is going to be limited and monitored by the league in the immediacy. “It was something where we were talking about this and trying to figure out a solution because otherwise, these two things wouldn’t work Fanaply CEO Grant Dexter, whose company has also minted a recent together,” Melanson said. “Once we were able to find a solution to that NFT line for Dallas Stars forward Tyler Seguin, looks at the officially problem, we realized we had a business.” licensed NFT with NHL teams as a key piece to the future of the space.

AERAS is a company that was created in 2020 during the COVID-19 Most hockey NFTs at this moment, including the Seguin ones, don’t have pandemic and was founded with the ideology of helping sports venues the NHL or team license. It creates an odd situation where the digital art welcome back fans sooner and providing a quick, reliable cleaning either has to strategically hide where a team logo would be or simply just process, according to CEO and co-founder Eric Lloyd. use team colors. The Devils and Fanaply forming a partnership that allows the team to control the crypto-collectible space for its fan base. “This isn’t going away, and even when we get out of COVID, people are going to think more about what other things and pathogens and viruses “This is the next step for the space and it allows teams to do more and could be on their seats,” Lloyd said. “How do we get back to more typical things we’ve seen with bands and others,” Grant said. “The want and peace of mind? It’s cleaning and through innovations like ours.” push is there. Now teams can really benefit themselves more directly.”

AERAS made its professional sports debut earlier this month when it was The Devils have more NFTs planned but haven’t revealed what they will hired to clean and sanitize Churchill Downs before the Kentucky Derby, a be at this point. Grant did discuss how NFTs with team licenses can debut that likely would have happened sooner if not for the company replace some of the typical collectibles from a game. having to wait for approval and working with the Federal Aviation Administration on final logistics and permissions. For example, hard tickets are becoming a thing of the past, and with COVID-19 precautions, the extinction of the hard-copy ticket accelerated. Conversations were already ongoing with the Penguins at that time, but That also killed off the ticket souvenir, proof someone attended a game, completing the sanitization after the horse race helped accelerate talks that many fans tend to hold onto. With NFTs, Grant said, teams could sell as the Penguins were trying to ramp up cleaning efforts for an expanded a digital version of that with tickets sales as an add-on, or sell that at the playoff crowd. game, and create a VIP-type element where the NFTs are time-exclusive in their sale. AERAS is currently in talks with other sports venues and teams about providing the same services as it will for the Penguins. The company “A team could do something with the real-world application where the first didn’t reveal which teams. 1,000 fans in the building can get a certain NFT and that’s the only way a person could acquire it before the secondary market,” Grant said. “That’s SkateSkins, a Buffalo-based company that specializes in customizable real-world value for teams and takes the NFT space into a larger wraps for skates, took its first step into the professional market Friday. audience. Everyone keeps ticket stubs or reminders of games or The company, which is run by Matthew Keeler and Nick Ciavarella, had concerts they went to. This would be like just having it digitally instead of been working mostly with amateur athletes and teams. Keeler and putting it in a shoebox you keep on your desk.” Ciavarella had sent some of their product to professional players, including Auston Matthews, but SkateSkins themselves hadn’t been used in an official game until Latvia upset Canada 2-0 on Friday in the world The Athletic LOADED: 05.23.2021 championships in Riga.

Four players on Latvia, Kristaps Sotnieks, Roberts Bukarts, Rihards Bukarts and Gustavs Grigals reached out through Instagram and ordered custom SkateSkins for the tournament.

Those four players all play in Europe, with Sotnieks playing at the highest level in the KHL with . But this tournament is giving 1213932 Websites scrambly defence by Toronto’s newfangled Tavares-free second unit of Alex Galchenyuk, Nick Foligno and William Nylander. Kotkaniemi, a healthy scratch in Game 1, busted a 24-game goal drought with the marker. Sportsnet.ca / Leafs make good on promise to play for Tavares with assertive Game 2 win From there, however, the Maple Leafs woke up, took hold and never let up.

Spezza struck back less than five minutes later after an excellent, Luke Fox@lukefoxjukebox prolonged cycle shift from the Leafs’ new-look third unit that allowed for an O-zone line change. Spezza hopped off bench, snagged a Zach May 22, 2021, 10:01 PM Bogosian pass intended for Wayne Simmonds and, without hesitation, fired it clean past Carey Price’s short side.

TORONTO – "We're playing for him." In Period 2, Auston Matthews — a beast at both ends all night — scored off the rush by slamming in a Justin Holl rebound off the pad of Price. Those four words, spoken by Morgan Rielly, pulled into sharp intention the Toronto Maple Leafs’ mission. They will rally around John Tavares, Three consecutive Leafs power-plays tilted the ice toward Price, who their fallen captain, and not play the victim this spring. succumbed to a point shot from Rasmus Sandin, now establishing himself as the top unit’s quarterback. "The singular focus is moving on and trying to play long enough so he can come back and have an impact,” Justin Holl echoed. The rookie’s first playoff goal triggered an ill-advised goalie-interference challenge by Montreal coach Dominique Ducharme. Metallica’s “Enter Game 2 — a decisive, assertive 5-1 come-from-behind, run-wild-on-top Sandman” blared throughout Scotiabank Arena during a seemingly victory over the Montreal Canadiens — was the first step toward that simple review. Ducharme was charged with a delay-of-game penalty and gruelling marathon. essentially hemmed in his own players for an additional two minutes.

Remaining Time -1:19 "I have the last call always, but we were all in agreement we needed to challenge," Ducharme said. Matthews dedicates win to Tavares: 'This one's for him' Montreal’s third-period push came up short, and the Maple Leafs cruised From coach Sheldon Keefe’s curveball of starting the pugnacious Wayne to victory with a second power-play goal from Nylander. This marked the Simmonds for puck drop alongside Auston Matthews’ top line to a power- first time since March 3 in Edmonton that Toronto had scored twice in play voodoo doll punctured by a rare point blast, the Maple Leafs one game with the man-advantage. jammed the game to their visitors in a refreshing change of pace from Game 1. Afterward, the Canadiens called attention to the lopsided power-play count. Toronto earned six to Montreal’s one. Their leader has become their carrot, and the Maple Leafs suddenly look like a thoroughbred that’s off and kicking mud. “We had the puck the entire second period,” Keefe said, “That really, I think, caused some fatigue on the other side. We were able to really get “We had a really engaged hockey team here today, all the way through at them that way. I think that was a big factor. our lineup,” coach Sheldon Keefe said, proudly, accurately. “Montreal has made it very clear that they want to be very physical,” he While a recovering Tavares himself couldn’t be in the building Saturday, continued. “I think the term they used was they want to make it a war. If Friday’s news that the star did not suffer any structural damage to his you’re going to do that, you’re at risk of getting penalties called against head, neck and spine was a measure of relief to his friends and you. That’s our job as a power-play, to make them pay for that.” teammates. They had been forced to play two-and-a-half periods of Game 1 with knots in their stomachs, trauma in their hands and worst- Down three goals, Ducharme pulled Price with more than six minutes case scenarios in their minds. remaining on the clock and still failed to gain dangerous O-zone time.

But just as Jason Spezza’s voice helped calm a concussed and confused Alexander Kerfoot deposited an empty-netter. Tavares Thursday during those eons between ice and stretcher, Tavares reached out to his Maple Leafs brethren to reassure. This, only hours A best-of-five series begins anew at Bell Centre Monday night for the first removed from suffering car-accident-like trauma. half of a back-to-back.

The captain sent individual phone calls and group texts. He wanted to “One of the best parts of the playoffs, frankly, is the opportunity to assure his brothers he was going to be OK. respond,” Keefe said. “The other team has an edge, and the urgency rises a little bit more. You get a chance to really push back.” “Credit to John himself. His leadership of our team despite his situation didn’t stop,” Keefe said. “I thought that really helped put our guys in the And all the motivation to do so, with Tavares no doubt watching his right headspace. Of course, we had great concern and fear in that brothers from home, surrounded by family. moment, but after he was feeling better, he made sure to communicate to “This one’s for him, obviously,” Matthews said. “He’s our guy. He’s our his teammates, and I think that really helped our team push past it. We captain.” miss him greatly on the ice. We miss him greatly in the room,

“You’re winning for him. You’re winning for all the guys who don’t get to play. You’re winning for the guy next to you in the room or guy on the Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 05.23.2021 bench. There’s all sorts of reasons to compete. We have another one here to make sure that everybody is on board and doing their job.”

Anyone who has hung around this spinning orb long enough has learned that when you get blindsided by tragedy, a fork appears in your road.

A single unfortunate event can spiral you off course; it can become the reason (or maybe the excuse) for an unravelling. Alternatively, it can steel you. Make you push harder.

The Maple Leafs, Canada’s favourite, looked a shell of themselves after Tavares departed Game 1 under a silent cloud of uncertainty. And, honestly, who could blame them?

So, when Montreal struck first again in Game 2, surely fans fretted that things were tumbling off the rails.

Jesperi Kotkaniemi opened the scoring in Period 1. He banged home a Joel Armia rebound after some fierce Canadiens forechecking and some 1213933 Websites “We had an angle of it that we thought was even more conclusive,” said Ducharme. “I have the last call, always, but we were all in agreement we needed to challenge.”

Sportsnet.ca / Canadiens' troubling regular-season patterns a concern It was practically unanimous among all other viewers that the Canadiens after Game 2 loss shouldn’t have, that putting the Leafs on a fourth consecutive power play — which was finally heating up after scoring on five of its last 77 opportunities prior to the game — would prove even more costly.

Eric Engels@EricEngels Price, who was at the lip of his crease as the puck was sliding by him, didn’t react at all in the moment to Thornton’s little stick lift. When he was May 23, 2021, 12:36 AM asked three times about it afterwards, he repeated some version of, “I haven’t seen the replay, so I can’t really comment on it.”

There was plenty to throw away from this Montreal Canadiens season — Price having to watch it again in slow motion to determine whether or not stuff you couldn’t draw firm conclusions on with the team playing its final it affected his ability to make the save said everything you needed to 25 games in just 44 days after an early-season coaching change and know about the decision to challenge the goal. with several key players injured and no time to practise. It didn’t cost the Canadiens another one, but it cost them energy — and But there were two things you couldn’t turn away from, two things that another two minutes away from the offensive zone. should have alarm bells sounding back in Montreal right about now, with The Canadiens didn’t spend nearly enough time there to begin with, with the Canadiens returning home tied 1-1 in their Stanley Cup Playoffs just 23 shots on net — or just one less than the amount of minutes they series with the Toronto Maple Leafs. were assessed in penalties. The first one — rarely being able to string two good performances Remaining Time -3:11 together — cost the Canadiens Game 2, with the 5-1 score being perfectly indicative of how much worse they were than in their 2-1 win Power play comes alive for Maple Leafs to help take Game 2 over the Leafs in Thursday’s Game 1. The second one is more disconcerting, because Saturday’s game was the first of three in four At least Kotkaniemi had it going on. He scored at 7:57 of the first period nights, with Games 3 and 4 scheduled for Monday and Tuesday at the after two excellent shifts in his first action of the series, replacing injured Bell Centre, and the Canadiens struggled in those situations — centre Jake Evans after being scratched in Game 1. particularly over the final six weeks of the season. But the 20-year-old led the charge too few Canadiens followed. Again, heart-and-soul winger Brendan Gallagher (fractured thumb) was Jason Spezza tied the game in the 13th minute of the first, after the absent from all of those games. Starting goaltender Carey Price, who Canadiens got caught spinning around their own zone, and the Leafs was sensational in Game 1 and was the only reason Game 2 wasn’t lost took over from there. by a wider margin, missed the final month with a concussion, and Phillip Danault, Shea Weber, Paul Byron and Tomas Tatar all missed games “The penalties cut our legs and took away momentum from us,” said while Tyler Toffoli, Eric Staal and Josh Anderson probably weren’t the Danault. only ones playing banged up. Before the Canadiens started taking them, he got caught staring at “With the schedule and how many games we were playing and not Auston Matthews, this year’s Rocket Richard Trophy winner, who beat having that many days (off), the back-to-backs were even tougher,” he him up the ice and scored his first goal of the series to make it 2-1 Leafs said. “We want to play fast pace, and sometimes I thought we just didn’t in the sixth minute of the second period. have the legs under us to play the way we wanted…Some games, we just almost didn’t have our game.” Still, for all the mistakes made in that middle frame, the Canadiens we’re only down two goals going to the third. What about now? Ducharme said after the game he liked the way they generated chances It’s not as if those bumps and bruises completely healed in the eight days in the first and felt the penalties they took were the only reason they fell between the final regular-season game and the first one of these behind in the second, yet he opted to shuffle his deck in a perplexing playoffs. And it’s safe to assume some new ones have formed, after 161 way. The coach, who used every line combination imaginable during the hits were exchanged through the first two of this series. regular season, at one point put Gallagher, Staal and Anderson together for the first time ever. If you’re wondering which of these teams is fresher heading to Game 3, it’s probably the one that spent nearly half the second period of It might have even been by accident, with the lines mixed around again Saturday’s game on the power play. right after that.

“I was surprised by the way it was called tonight,” Canadiens coach “I felt that some guys were not going as well after all of that (in the Dominique Ducharme said. second),” Ducharme said, “and I was just trying to spark something up.”

Gallagher started the parade to the penalty box with a stick shove It was if he soaked the fuse in water before trying to light it, and the through T.J. Brodie’s jaw. The motion alone caught official Eric Furlatt’s comeback bid all but died with Weber crosschecking Pierre Engvall in the attention, as his arm sprung up so quick it might have blocked his view of eighth minute of the third period. Gallagher simultaneously taking Brodie’s stick in the teeth. William Nylander gave Toronto a 4-1 lead while Weber looked on from But the penalty was earned. So was Artturi Lehkonen’s slash, while the the box, and the Canadiens were out-scored 1-0 at 6-on-5 over the final Canadiens were wrapping up killing off the Gallagher penalty. 6:30 of the game.

Jesperi Kotkaniemi’s stick-shattering crosscheck to Morgan Rielly’s arm “We knew we were still in the game and still had a chance to come back,” wasn’t debatable. said Price. “It didn’t work out for us tonight.”

And boy, Ducharme certainly shouldn’t have been perplexed about the The Maple Leafs said they’d win for John Tavares, who suffered a knee delay-of-game penalty assessed for challenging Rasmus Sandin’s injury and a concussion in an accidental collision with Canadiens forward power-play goal to make it 3-1 Leafs with 6:40 to play in the second Corey Perry in Game 1, and they followed through in convincing fashion. period. They proved over the regular season they could handle adversity, Ducharme said he, Canadiens director of legal affairs John Sedgwick bouncing back from a 1-6 stretch in March. They also proved to be the (who previously worked for the NHL’s hockey operations department), North Division’s most consistent team, and did well enough in back-to- video replay analyst Mario Leblanc and director of goaltending Sean back situations (7-7). Burke all felt Joe Thornton had sufficiently interfered with Price to have the goal reversed. The Canadiens went 9-15 in back-to-back games, which tells you how much more taxing their schedule was but also how well they handled what they’re about to face next. “We’ve done it so many times this year and there’s no excuse on that,” said Danault. “We have to bring our best every single game —

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 05.23.2021 1213934 Websites faced. The lone goal allowed was a late, shorthanded goal that made no difference to the outcome.

Sorokin, who said he was excited to play in front of a boisterous crowd Sportsnet.ca / Stanley Cup Playoffs takeaways: Lightning's Cooper calls like the one Saturday, is just the second rookie goalie in Islanders out officials franchise history to win multiple games during a Stanley Cup Playoffs run joining Glenn Resch who did it in 1975.

“It was a shame that we gave up a goal there at the end, but I thought he Mike Johnston@MikeyJ_MMA looked solid,” Trotz told reporters at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. “I thought the team played the right way and we were able to May 23, 2021, 12:16 AM get a victory."

It would be a surprise if the Isles didn’t go with Sorokin again in Game 5. Somebody should check on the condition of Jon Cooper’s tongue Early coach’s challenge, breakaways the difference for Vegas because he was biting it pretty hard following his team’s 6-2 win over the Florida Panthers. Nicolas Roy put the Vegas Golden Knights up 1-0 midway through the first period, yet mere seconds later, Joel Eriksson Ek and the Minnesota Suffice it to say, the Tampa Bay Lightning head coach wasn’t chuffed Wild answered and the home team had the momentum. Unfortunately for with the officiating Saturday afternoon and he had some choice words the crowd at the Xcel Energy Center, it didn’t last. post-game, while trying mightily to avoid saying something that would result in a fine. Marc-Andre Fleury was bumped in his crease and Peter DeBoer challenged for goalie interference. “The hockey game ended halfway through the second,” Cooper told reporters at Amalie Arena. “It turned into something much different.” Fleury’s agent Allan Walsh thought it was the right call to overturn the goal. There were four penalties called (two minors for each team) in the game prior to Alex Killorn making it 5-1 at the 7:15 mark of the second frame. Vegas took back the momentum after the successful challenge and After that the game got chippie and there were an additional 16 penalties winning a battle of the breakaways in the second period ended up being plus five misconducts called before the final horn. the difference in the game.

“We had to weather our emotions there’s no doubt,” Cooper said. “You Alex Tuch put Vegas up 2-0 when he beat Cam Talbot in alone for his know, when our players are being told, ‘Don’t do anything stupid, we’re third of the series against his former team. Less than five minutes later, gonna get you,’ so we don’t do anything stupid and the other team’s Mark Stone extended the lead with an unassisted short-handed getting rewarded for it? I just don’t get it. It’s really frustrating.” breakaway goal.

The Lightning were assessed 11 minor penalties in the game, including Remaining Time -0:51 four in the final 6:19 of the second period – the last of which was a terrible goaltender interference call on Nikita Kucherov Mark Stone gets absolutely fired up after scoring shorthanded against Wild “People are coming to watch a really intense, good hockey game and liberties are being taken,” Cooper added. “Don’t get me wrong, we’re not Fleury then stopped Eriksson Ek on a breakaway during that same Wild angels out there. I’m not sitting here saying that. Far from it. But when power play. It was perhaps the biggest save of the game for Fleury, who there’s a standard set and we’re being told how things are going to be is now tied with Curtis Joseph for third-most playoff shutouts in NHL called and when it doesn’t get done there’s just confusion. history. Fleury also became the fifth goalie in NHL history to play in at least 150 post-season games. “I’ll give our guys a ton of credit for sticking with it and battling through whether it was the embellishment or the non-call after non-call after non- call.” Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 05.23.2021 Kucherov was named first star of the game despite not playing the final nine minutes of the third period. The Russian, who missed the entire regular season after undergoing off-season hip surgery, had had a four- point outing but went down in a heap of pain after taking a slash on the left knee from Panthers forward Anthony Duclair.

Mikhail Sergachev was also hurt on a third-period hit from Patric Hornqvist.

Cooper had no update on either player after the game and quickly moved on from any questions relating to the specific plays that resulted in his players going down.

Losing either player would be a blow to the defending Stanley Cup champions, but in particular the element Kucherov brings to Tampa’s offence cannot be replaced.

The 2019 Hart Trophy winner and leading scorer from last year’s playoffs already has three goals and six assists in four post-season games this month as the Lightning look to close out the series Monday when the teams head back south to Sunrise, Fla., for Game 5.

Before limping down the tunnel Kucherov joined an exclusive club with his three-assist game, becoming just the 11th player in NHL history to record six or more playoff games with three assists or more.

Trotz made right call going back to Sorokin

Ilya Sorokin made 39 saves in a Game 1 overtime win, yet the New York Islanders turned to veteran Semyon Varlomov for Game 2 and Game 3 and the Isles dropped both to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Barry Trotz made the decision to go back to the rookie netminder for a pivotal Game 4 and Sorokin was dialled in, stopping 29 of 30 shots 1213935 Websites They’ve since backed up those words with actions. The Jets were regularly on the right side of the puck and almost always

kept the third forward up high, which helped prevent the Oilers from Sportsnet.ca / Jets' outstanding defensive commitment paying off against gaining much traction in the transition game. Oilers And in case you hadn’t heard, the Jets have managed to hold the top two scorers in the NHL — Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl — without a point in consecutive games after they combined for 34 points in nine Ken Wiebe@WiebesWorld games during the regular-season series.

May 22, 2021, 2:07 AM “I don't think we really look at it that way. I mean, both those two guys are, one or two in the world right now. (The) best two players,” said

Wheeler. “They're creating chances. They're making plays. I think we've WINNIPEG - Connor Hellebuyck has made his case to make room on the just got to try to not give them chances. That's the biggest thing, the marquee. chances they create, they're working for. We saw it all year. We gave them some easy chances and they're in the net, right? Right now, he’s got the billboard all to himself. “So we're just trying to make them work for the chances. With that being In a series that features plenty of star power, it is the Winnipeg Jets said, they're still creating chances. They're still so dynamic.” goalie that’s been shining brightest. Remaining Time -2:24 Thanks to his latest virtuoso performance, which included a 38-save shutout in the 1-0 triumph, the Jets hold a commanding 2-0 lead in the Jets playing series perfectly in containing McDavid, Draisaitl Smythe Division reunion battle with the Edmonton Oilers. Jets defenceman Dylan DeMelo was one of the reasons this game No, this isn’t a simple one-man show. required overtime.

It’s an outstanding defensive commitment by an entire team. Down and seemingly out while laying on the ice and with his back to the play during a penalty-killing situation early in the third period, DeMelo But Hellebuyck, who has turned aside 70 of 71 shots he’s faced in this threw up both of his arms in desperation in an effort to try and prevent series, is doing more than simply giving his teammates an opportunity to McDavid from scoring. win. Sure enough, McDavid’s shot went off the right wrist of DeMelo instead He’s back to playing at a Vezina Trophy level and that’s exactly what the of finding the back of the net. Jets need from him right now. “Honestly, it was just pure chaos and desperation,” said DeMelo. “I just “He’s the reason we have a chance. He’s the reason we are a playoff remember going down and I saw the puck go to McDavid. I was on my team and the reason we have confidence every time we go out there,” back, so I have to throw something up, but I was on my back so I was said Jets captain Blake Wheeler. “You just can’t say enough about thinking maybe I’ll two-pad stack it, but I don’t think I had the extension. having a guy who you believe is going to stop every shot. And when one does go in, you just kind of say, ‘Well, that was lucky.’ It’s such a great “So I just put my hands up and luckily it hit me. Even if you see behind confidence boost for the group where you don’t feel like you have to play that, it hits me, but all these guys are jumping in front of that puck. You perfect hockey. need that type of desperation and sacrifice. It was lucky that it hit me and the guys did a great job on the penalty kill for sure. It was a crazy play for “I think that’s probably what he would say, that it’s his job to clean up our sure.” mistakes. It just gives guys so much confidence to go out there and play with a little bit more freedom, a little bit more confidence knowing that if I While DeMelo missed several shifts getting some medical attention, he make the wrong play at the wrong time, I got a guy back there that can returned to finish the game. bail me out.” “I thought that that was the emotional change to the game,” said Maurice, As for the lone goal in this one, it was the result of an excellent zone whose team also survived a 21-second five-on-three disadvantage. “The entry and net drive by Andrew Copp — and a deft, experienced play by kills on those plays and that was a big deal for our team and (it) kind of veteran centre Paul Stastny, who showed great patience and waited a set the mood right going for the rest of the night. split second for a double screen to develop in front of Mike Smith before “(DeMelo) is a real popular guy in our room, plays a real smart, hard unleashing his shot at 4:06 of the first overtime. game. That goes a long way. They fire that up on the JumboTron, “At first I was going to try and look for (Copp) but he just slashed across. everybody gets a piece of it.” So I figured I'd try to use the D as a screen, and just put the puck on net,” The sacrifice was one of many made by the Jets in this game. said Stastny. “I feel like in overtime, whether you're trying to score or whether you're trying to generate offence, sometimes that's the easiest “We just did everything we could to get the win. It maybe wasn't perfect way to do it. The puck had eyes and fortunately it went in.” or pretty every play, but I think we have a team that can grind real well,” said DeMelo. “And at this time of year, it's going to take everybody. Every Stastny has been praised for his hockey intelligence on countless blocked shot matters, every hit matters. I think we're just coming together occasions and that hockey intelligence was on full display on the as a team and everybody's pulling on the same rope, and it's been a lot overtime winner — which was the second of his 15-year career. of fun here. To come out with two wins here is huge. We still have a lot of “He’s been in enough playoff games to know that anything that goes to work to do and they're not going to roll over.” the net is the right decision,” said Jets head coach Paul Maurice. “He’s The next two games will be played on consecutive days, beginning played two really, really smart games. Some of his positioning in-zone is Sunday in Winnipeg, and the Jets could get another boost to the lineup just veteran. He knows how to change his body angle on so many plays, with the potential return of dynamic winger Nikolaj Ehlers, who has just to get to the right place. missed the past 11 games with a suspected shoulder injury. “He kind of does it on that goal. He sat on the wall for just a bit to open With Pierre-Luc Dubois entering the series on Friday, that would give the up a lane to the inside, almost bait (Oilers defenceman Dmitry Kulikov) a Jets a full complement of forwards for the first time in a month. little bit and then gets a shot to the net.” It turns out that late-season swoon didn’t only remind the Jets they The Jets are doing what many believed simply wasn’t possible. needed to buckle down in terms of style of play, a change in attitude also After dropping nine of the final 12 games during the regular season — followed. including a seven-game losing streak that featured a goal-scoring famine After enduring agony and ample frustration, some perspective was and some defensive-zone deficiencies that have since cleaned up — the required, along with a reminder that the playoffs bring opportunity, as Jets said all of the right things about finding a style of game that would long as a team is willing to do the heavy lifting. allow them to compete in the playoffs. If you can survive a stretch like that without coming apart at the seams, anything is possible.

“We’re just in the moment. We’re enjoying it. We truly are,” said Jets captain Blake Wheeler. “We lost nine of 10 games there coming home. I think it kind of gives you, maybe it takes some of the pressure off and gives you a little bit of a hardness that if you can go through a stretch like that and come out on the other side of it and not crumble and still be fighting, it doesn’t really get much worse than that. We’re just really enjoying this. That’s been Paul’s message to us. Listen, these chances don’t just come around every year. You want to make the most of them. And there’s a compete and an energy and a hardness that you’ve got to bring to the table.

“When you’re playing tight, when you’re worried about making a mistake, worried about making the wrong play, you go half a speed and you end up not playing as much. We’re just loose, enjoying it, having some fun.”

That return to having fun has the Jets two wins away from advancing to the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since 2018.

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 05.23.2021 1213936 Websites With John Tavares out of the lineup for a minimum of two weeks, the Maple Leafs are determined to keep winning so their captain can return.

A healthy scratch in Game 1, Alex Galchenyuk will slot in on the second Leafs aim to play faster, dictate terms of Game 2 line alongside Nick Foligno and Nylander tonight.

"He's a tremendously hard worker and really aggressive on the forecheck," said Holl. "He has been really good at hounding pucks and By Mark Masters getting pucks back to go along with some elite skill that he has. He's been doing a really good job and we're looking for him to provide a spark

tonight." TSN Toronto Reporter Mark Masters reports on the Maple Leafs, who Galchenyuk produced 12 points in 26 games with the Leafs this season held an optional skate at Scotiabank Arena on Saturday ahead of Game while playing primarily with Tavares and Nylander. 2 of Toronto's first-round playoff series against the Montreal Canadiens. "He didn't come out of the lineup because of anything that he had done Rocket Richard Trophy winner Auston Matthews missed four games with or not done," Keefe stressed. "It’s more we liked the Game 1 lineup we a wrist injury and played through pain much of the year. Goalies Frederik had and the look of that, but John's absence changes the dynamic of our Andersen (knee) and Jack Campbell (leg) both missed significant time. team and the look of our team. We knew that both Galchenyuk and William Nylander sat out five games while on the COVID protocol list. [Pierre] Engvall were going to be factors for us and here they are tonight Zach Hyman was sidelined late in the regular season with a knee injury. with a great opportunity." The Leafs have responded well to adversity all season. They just kept on Engvall will play on the third line with Alex Kerfoot and Ilya Mikheyev pushing en route to first place in the North Division. tonight. Keefe had a chat with the 6-foot-5 Swede yesterday. "The team has remained calm and remains confident in themselves," "He missed Game 1 of our series against Columbus as well and came in observed coach Sheldon Keefe. "The mood of the group has stayed very for Game 2 and I thought he made an unbelievable impact and was really good and very confident." good for the remainder of that series," said Keefe. "We're looking for a That wasn't always the case in recent years when Toronto failed to similar type of boost for our group here today with what he brings." advance in the playoffs. A key player has exited early in every series in Leafs 3-in-3: Who will step up in Tavares' absence? the Matthews era. In 2017, gritty defenceman Roman Polak sustained a gruesome injury against the Capitals. In 2018 and 2019 against the A massive Game 2 without John Tavares means someone needs to step Bruins, centre Nazem Kadri was suspended. And defenceman Jake up to fill the void in order for Toronto to even its series against Montreal. Muzzin was knocked out of last summer's series against Columbus. Who will raise their game? What do the Maple Leafs need to clean up tonight? TSN Leafs reporters Kristen Shilton and Mark Masters discuss So, after losing captain John Tavares and Game 1 against the this and more. Canadiens this year, the Leafs have a chance to show this group is different. Marner logged 27 minutes and 23 seconds in Game 1.

"One of the best parts of the playoffs, frankly, is the opportunity to "I'm not comfortable with him playing that much," Keefe admitted. "That's respond," said Keefe. "The other team has an edge and the urgency too much, but it's part of what happens when you're paying in such a tight rises a little bit more, you get a chance to really push back. I'm excited to game and you've got to kill five penalties and then you've got four power have our team do that tonight." plays of your own and then you're down a goal late. We had the benefit in the final four minutes of regulation time there at the end of the game "The important thing is John's OK," said defenceman Justin Holl, "and where we had two timeouts – one that I called and a TV timeout as well. now the singular focus is moving on and trying to play long enough so he Down a goal you're going to keep those guys out there and keep them can come back and have an impact." going. I don't think it would have been as high if the game was a little bit With captain John Tavares sidelined indefinitely the Leafs will be forced different." to make adjustments. But beyond any personnel changes, the team is Marner averaged 22 minutes and 26 seconds of ice time per game this looking to improve their overall game and set a different tone in Game 2. season to lead all NHL forwards. Mark Masters has more. "He's such an important part of what we do," Keefe continued. With Tavares out indefinitely with a concussion, personnel adjustments "Obviously, it was too much the other night, but he and the team would will be made, but the Leafs are also looking to improve their overall team have been questioning had he been sitting on the bench late in the game play. In particular, the Leafs are looking to pick up the pace. and not been out there with a chance to tie it." "Our team can play with more speed," noted defenceman Morgan Rielly. The Leafs rested Marner in the final regular season game. "At times we got stalled a little bit and we weren't moving our feet, especially as D-men, and I think that impacts the forecheck." Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas announced that Tavares did not sustain any structural damage to his head, neck or spine. Tavares was If the Leafs defence isn't moving quickly, that throws the forwards out of struck in the head by the knee of Canadiens forward Corey Perry after a sync and they can't hit the offensive blue line at a high speed. hit from defencemen Ben Chiarot had knocked him to the ice. "Make sure we're moving the puck, moving our feet fast," said winger "John was diagnosed with a concussion and also sustained a knee injury Mitch Marner of the necessary adjustments. "I didn't think we played as on the play," Dubas revealed. "It's a similar injury to the one sustained by quick as we can last game. We got to make sure we're moving the puck Zach Hyman (MCL sprain) in Vancouver in the regular season. It will be a quickly up the ice, getting support around it and then getting it off the wall minimum of two weeks with that, but obviously, our primary concern is and trying to get to the net." the concussion and making sure that he returns to full health." The Leafs also want to get their cycle game going a bit more and grind There is no timeline for a return from the concussion. down a Montreal team that thrives off the rush. Toronto didn't give up much on Thursday, but they never grabbed control of the game. "We handle those in a very conservative nature and handle them very sensitively," Dubas said. "We will follow the protocols to a tee with that. "We limited their scoring chances a lot and didn't allow them to get a lot We can't replace that element with John and can't repair it, so we have to of looks on net," said Holl, "but I thought they did the same to us in some be very careful and keep in mind he's got a young family and there's an ways. It was kind of a transition game more than anything so we're onus on us to protect him and his future in that regard. We'll follow the definitely looking to spend more time in the offensive zone tonight." protocols and the NHL concussion protocol and consult closely with John "We didn’t play well enough the other night," said Keefe, "and, because and the experts in the field and then proceed from there." of that, the game was still up for grabs in that third period. We want to do Tavares suffered knee injury in addition to concussion; out at least two a much better job today of dictating the terms of the game." weeks Leafs determined to keep winning so Tavares can come back and have an impact Kyle Dubas announced that John Tavares suffered a knee injury and a concussion on his collision with Corey Perry. He said it's hard to put a timeline on the captain's return but he'll be a out a minimum of two weeks due to the knee injury.

Dubas is upset with how the Toronto Sun covered the injury on Friday. The newspaper's front page featured a picture of a bloodied Tavares on the ice with the headline, 'Captain crunched.'

"As an organization, we felt the cover of their newspaper crossed the line and we found the cover to be disgusting," Dubas said. "Just a complete lack of compassion and respect on behalf of the Sun towards John and his family, especially for such an upstanding member of our organization and community and his family that had to endure that."

Dubas: Toronto Sun's cover 'crossed the line', it was 'disgusting'

Kyle Dubas acknowledges that the John Tavares situation garners a significant amount of coverage, but the Maple Leafs organization found that the Toronto Sun's cover photo and caption on Friday was 'disgusting' and 'extraordinarily insensitive'.

After missing Friday's practice for maintenance, Campbell was on the ice this morning and Keefe confirmed he's good to go tonight.

TSN.CA LOADED: 05.23.2021 1213937 Websites “They're doing as well as they can be supporting one another and we're trying to support them,” said Dubas. “I think these things are tough. I think a lot of people view athletes as [being] difficult to knock down and difficult to keep out and to see something happen in a completely Dubas says Tavares did not suffer structural damage after scary Game 1 accidental freak situation like that, it makes everybody feel vulnerable, collision especially the players. They’re big, strong young guys and you don't ever imagine being in that situation so I think it creates a sense of

vulnerability.” By Kristen Shilton The loss of their captain has seemed to bolster the Leafs too, though. Morgan Rielly said after Friday’s loss that the team will be “thinking about Tavares every day until he’s back” and that the Leafs will try and “win for TORONTO — John Tavares did not suffer any structural damage to his JT” so he can eventually re-join them on this playoff push. head, neck or spine in a scary on-ice collision during Game 1 of the Maple Leafs’ first-round playoff series against Montreal on Thursday. “When you see [what happened], [it’s like] everything after a moment of trauma, where there's some trepidation,” Dubas said. “And things sort of That was part of a medical update provided Saturday by Leafs’ general slowly start to return back to normal. I think our guys are handling it as manager Kyle Dubas amid Tavares' ongoing recovery. Toronto’s captain well as possible. The outpouring of support has been remarkable. was stretched off the ice midway through the first period on Thursday after taking a hit from Canadiens’ defenceman Ben Chiarot and then an accidental knee to the head from forward Corey Perry. TSN.CA LOADED: 05.23.2021 Dubas confirmed Tavares did sustain a concussion, and revealed Tavares also suffered a knee injury that will require a minimum of two weeks to heal. There is no timeline attached to Tavares’ return from the head injury though, and he remains out of Toronto’s lineup indefinitely.

“We will handle [Tavares' concussion] in a very conservative [way] and handle it very sensitively,” Dubas said. “We will follow the protocols to a tee with that. We can't repair [a head injury] so we have to be very careful and keep in mind that he's got a young family [of two sons] and there's an onus on us to protect him and his future in that regard.”

Tavares was transported directly to St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto following the on-ice incident Thursday, and remained there overnight after being cleared of any structural problems.

Cameras captured Dubas rushing to the ice surface as soon as Tavares was levelled by Perry’s knee to the head. Dubas was on the phone almost immediately, and said his goal in that moment was to provide insight to Tavares’ family, including wife Aryne.

It was an eerily familiar situation for Dubas to find himself. During a game against New Jersey in December 2019, forward Ilya Mikheyev had ligaments in his arms slashed by an errant skate blade and had to be rushed to a local hospital. Last August, Jake Muzzin was cross-checked to the ice during Game 2 of the Leafs’ qualifying-round series against Columbus and was also stretchered off and taken to hospital.

Dubas accompanied both players to seek medical attention, even remaining for days in New Jersey with Mikheyev as he underwent surgery and was released. It’s a spot Dubas hopes not to be in again, but he knows what’s needed from him when such things happen.

“They need someone to be the conduit between them and our medical staff,” Dubas said of contact player’s families. “I would never want the family to not be aware of what was happening. You care about the player deeply, and what their status is, but also to be able to provide updates to the player’s family [when] they're watching that from home and seeing it. It’s a very helpless feeling, so immediately you want to make sure that we're doing everything we can do to be there for them.”

Something Dubas was upset about the day after Tavares’ scene was how it was depicted on the front page of the Toronto Sun. Friday’s Sun cover featured a bloodied photo of Tavares with the caption “Captain Crunched.”

“Their newspaper crossed the line,” Dubas said. “We found the cover to be disgusting. We just thought that it was extraordinarily insensitive on the part of the Sun, with regards to the photo, and the caption that accompanied the situation yesterday. Just [a] complete lack of compassion and respect.”

The Leafs will now have to forge ahead without Tavares for the time being. After Toronto dropped Game 1 of its opening-round series 2-1 on Thursday, they’ll have a chance to even the score in Saturday’s Game 2.

Coach Sheldon Keefe made his lineup adjustments at Friday’s practice, moving Nick Foligno into Tavares’ second line centre spot and adding wingers Alex Galchenyuk and Pierre Engvall to the mix. But Dubas’ concern is less about how the Leafs will operate on the ice moving ahead than how they’re mentally handling the aftermath of Tavares’ injury. 1213938 Websites "Obviously I’m a power play guy and I have been my whole career, ... but at the end of the day, you cheer on our teammates and you be a good teammate," Duchene said.

USA TODAY / Oilers' Connor McDavid remains without a point; Bruins All worked out. The power play connected for a 5-on-3 goal, Johansen coach disputes call on injury-causing hit scored in the third period and Duchene scored in the second overtime for a 5-4 win.

"Those two guys had a good response tonight," Hynes said. "Part of MIKE BREHM | USA TODAY being a team and winning is you have to accept the role that you’re in.

"I give the two guys credit. They came in, they played hard, they played with a little chip on their shoulder tonight, they found a way on the Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid had 105 points in 56 games in a scoreboard. I thought the line played well. That’s what you need." spectacular season.

But after two games of the NHL playoffs, he has zero points, one reason his team is trailing the Winnipeg Jets 2-0 in the first-round series. USA TODAY LOADED: 05.23.2021 Coach Dave Tippett put McDavid and Leon Draisaitl (84 points) together at times for Game 2, usually a winning combination. They combined for nine shots in the 1-0 overtime loss but were held without a point for the second game in a row.

Connor Hellebuyck made 38 saves to shut down the Oilers. But the most impressive save might have been by defenseman Dylan DeMelo, who raised his hand to block a McDavid shot with Hellebuyck out of position during a penalty kill.

"That was a scrambly play," Hellebuyck said. "There were so many bodies in front of me, but that shows why we are where we are. We're grinding and fighting for every second, we're not giving up on a play."

DeMelo said "it was lucky" that the puck hit him, and Paul Stastny (the overtime scorer, who was in the penalty box at the time), said, "I was wondering how that didn't go in. Now that makes sense."

McDavid, whose team was upset in the qualifying round last season, had 22 points in nine regular-season games against the Jets. Winnipeg lost nine of 10 games down the stretch before winning the final two.

The series shifts to Winnipeg, where the Jets will have the last line change and can get the matchups they want.

"We dug ourselves a bit of a hole," McDavid said. "Both games could have gone either way. Obviously, it's not the position we want to be in, but we've been a good road team all year long and had success in that building as well."

Bruins coach unhappy with call

Another playoff day, another trip to the hospital.

Though the incident wasn't as scary looking as the Maple Leafs' John Tavares leaving the ice on a stretcher after taking a knee to the head, the Boston Bruins announced that defenseman Kevan Miller had to go to the hospital for tests Friday night.

Miller was checked by Washington Capitals defenseman Dmitry Orlov during the second period of the Bruins' 4-1 victory, and fell and hit his head.

NHL referees originally looked at calling a major penalty against Orlov, but after a review, the defenseman got a double minor for roughing.

And Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy wasn't happy about that.

"What happened there is their guy left his feet, borderline late, and drove right under his chin," he told reporters.

He said referees told him that Orlov made contact with Miller's upper body, though he disagreed with that assessment.

"Kevan's at the hospital, undergoing some CTs, and until he gets back, we won't know nothing there. Obviously frustrating to watch that call, even the review go by the wayside, essentially a two-minute minor. And later on, you watch the penalty to (Brad) Marchand, and it's just a complete head-scratcher sometimes."

Duchene comes through

Nashville Predators coach John Hynes changed up his power play Friday, removing Matt Duchene and Ryan Johansen with his team down 0-2 in the series against the Carolina Hurricanes.