SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 6/6/2021 1215152 A nearly full house was an inspiring sight for all sports fans 1215187 After returning to the Stars late last season, Tyler Seguin’s 1215153 Puck movement was lacking with back-line losses, and focusing on the last phase of his rehabilitation other observations from a worrying Game 4 for the Bruins 1215154 Islanders win a rough-and-tumble game to tie up series with Bruins at two games apiece 1215188 Detroit Red Wings' Moritz Seider to play for bronze at 1215155 Odds are not in favor of a team that pulls goalie for extra World Championship skater, but Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy says why no 1215189 How the Detroit Red Wings spent their summer with 1215156 Bruins forward has come a long way from the after 42 years of chasing player who lacked confidence when acquired 1215190 Detroit Red Wings’ 12 picks in 2021 draft need to give 1215157 Jarred Tinordi steps in for injured Brandon Carlo to quantity and quality provide a presence on the blue line 1215191 Red Wings could go a number of ways with sixth pick in 1215158 What will the Maple Leafs do after yet another draft disappointing end to a season? 1215159 Islanders outlast Bruins to even series 2-2 1215160 Bruins Notebook: Brandon Carlo out, Jarred Tinordi in 1215192 Lowetide: What is Kailer Yamamoto’s future fit on the 1215161 Game 4 takeaways: Barzal's resurgence, Bruins' top line Oilers’ depth chart? struggles 1215162 Barzal, Krejci have very different opinions on Game 4 1215193 What's next for the Wild: A player-by-player breakdown 1215163 Highlights: Islanders even series vs. Bruins with 4-1 win in 1215194 Wild's Jared Spurgeon named a finalist for Lady Byng Game 4 Trophy 1215164 Bruins' new hype video will get fans fired up for Game 4 1215165 Projected lines, pairings for Bruins vs. Islanders Game 4 1215166 Tuukka Rask carried Bruins to pivotal Game 3 win 1215195 About Last Night: Shorty and shutout all the Habs need in 1215167 Talking Points: Barzal Shines, Islanders Beat Boston Game 2 Bruins 4-1 1215168 Fight Night In The First For Game 4 Boston Bruins-New York Islanders! 1215196 Here's who Nashville Predators could protect, leave 1215169 Game 4: Boston Bruins @ Lines, exposed in NHL expansion draft Preview 1215197 What a perfect offseason would look like for the Nashville 1215170 INJURY UPDATE: Boston Bruins Carlo Out For Game 4, Predators Tinordi In 1215171 For the Bruins, no offense plus defensive breakdowns New York Islanders equal a Game 4 loss 1215198 Mathew Barzal leads Islanders past Bruins to tie series 1215172 If Brandon Carlo is out for Game 4, what will the Bruins 1215199 Mathew Barzal’s lifts Islanders to Game 4 win over do? Bruins 1215200 Islanders’ top line continues to be hot topic Calgary Flames 1215201 ‘Dangerous’ Anthony Beauvillier rising to occasion for 1215173 Flames forward Mangiapane leads Canada to gold-medal Islanders game at worlds 1215202 Islanders' physical game becomes even more than that 1215203 Mathew Barzal rises to occasion for Islanders in pivotal third period of Game 4 win over Bruins 1215174 The Hurricanes had the playoff series right where they 1215204 Islanders rally from second-period hole, beat Bruins in wanted it. Then they didn’t Game 4 to even series 1215175 Hurricanes push their own season to the precipice with a 1215205 Kyle Palmieri and Mathew Barzal on the same line? It isn't parade to the penalty box going to happen 1215176 Four second-period goals not enough for the Hurricanes in 1215206 Islanders pride themselves on physical style of play, but wild Game 4 loss to Lightning still shaken by Brandon Carlo injury 1215177 Often overlooked for defensive acumen, Jaccob Slavin 1215207 Islanders coach : You can never relax in the recognized for sportsmanship playoffs 1215178 Hurricanes, pushed to the brink in Game 4, need more 1215208 Islanders style: Play big without the big names discipline if they’re to keep their season alive 1215209 Breaking out the Barzometer: Takeaways from the Islanders’ critical Game 4 win over the Bruins Chicago Blackhawks 1215210 Takeaways: Was This the Islanders Best Game of the 1215179 Matthew Coronato, Sean Behrens headline Postseason? Chicago-connected prospects preparing for NHL Draft 1215211 SERIES TIED: Barzal Leads Islanders to Momentous Game 4 Win Over Bruins 1215212 Fight Night: New York Islanders and Bruins Throw Down 1215180 Avalanche vs. Vegas Golden Knights Game 4: Three keys in First Period of Game 4 for Colorado 1215213 New York Islanders Need to Put More Pressure on 1215181 Chambers: Jared Bednar sounded an alarm the Tuukka Rask in Game 4 Avalanche needed to hear 1215214 For Islanders fans, Return to Normalcy Allowing for Proper 1215182 Day after first loss of playoffs, Avalanche coach Jared Sendoff Bednar analyzes problem 1215183 After 3-2 loss in Vegas, coach Jared Bednar blasts Senators Avalanche with nastiest rip job in franchise history. 1215215 Team Canada to play for gold at world championship after 1215184 How Gabriel Landeskog and the Avalanche plan to get 4-2 upset of USA back on track after letting Game 3 slip away 1215185 5 o’clock showdown: Avalanche plan big team meeting tonight in Vegas 1215186 Scott Takes: Is the writing on the wall for the Avs? Philadelphia Flyers 1215216 NHL insider 'would not be shocked at all' if Jones ends up with Flyers 1215217 Flyers trade tiers: Who’s untouchable and who’s available heading into an offseason of change Pittsburgh Penguins 1215218 Minor league report: Nailers win season finale 1215219 Evgeni Malkin’s knee injury: How bad, who knew and what’s next? 1215220 Kingerski: Malkin, Criticism, Praise, & Paying the Piper 1215221 Dan’s Daily: Vegas Goes Wild, Malkin Was Badly Injured in Playoffs 1215222 Sharks should target five players eliminated from playoffs 1215223 What Are Sharks’ Chances to Draft Hall of Famer at No. 7? 1215224 Sheng’s Daily: Gabriel Is Clancy Trophy Finalist 1215225 Got goals? Lightning score six in a comeback win over Hurricanes 1215226 Well, that Lightning victory was a thrill and a blast. It was also lucky. 1215227 Lightning-Hurricanes Game 4 report card: Engage at your own risk 1215228 Lightning’s Tyler Johnson scores ‘monster goal’ to tie Game 4 vs. Hurricanes 1215229 Second round: Lightning-Hurricanes Game 4 live updates 1215230 Lightning see room for improvement in faceoff circle 1215231 How the Lightning’s Nikita Kucherov took over Game 4 and shifted the series: ‘He was just a beast’ 1215232 It’s tempting to say ‘blow up the Leafs,’ but patience is the smarter play 1215233 Fixing the Leafs: Why trading Morgan Rielly should be on the table. And what if Mitch Marner is their DeMar De 1215234 Leafs star Auston Matthews makes Lady Byng Trophy shortlist 1215235 Badda-Byng! Leafs' Matthews named trophy finalist Vegas Golden Knights 1215236 Graney: Stephenson’s speed helps Knights counter MacKinnon 1215237 Misfit Line comes through for Knights in West Division final 1215238 Max Pacioretty rediscovering old form for Golden Knights 1215239 Golden Knights’ top line outplays Colorado’s in Game 3 victory 1215240 What an ‘electric’ full house means to the Golden Knights: Disco balls, rattling laptops and so much noise 1215241 How T-Mobile Arena Got Its VGK Fan Groove Back Thanks To Attendance That Went From 0 Jan 14 To 17,504 June 4 1215242 Kingerski: 2-1 Deficit? No, This is Golden Knights’ Series to Win 1215243 Vegas Golden Knights Fans Rock T-Mobile in First 100% Capacity Game Websites 1215247 .ca / Islanders tie series vs. Bruins by continuing to embrace four-line identity 1215248 Sportsnet.ca / Hurricanes’ poor discipline proves costly in ‘chaotic’ Game 5 vs. Lightning 1215249 USA TODAY / Islanders' Mathew Barzal, cheap-shotted by David Krejci earlier, scores winning goal to beat Bruin 1215244 JETS SNAPSHOTS: Jets continue to preach patience as they try to dig out of hole against Canadiens 1215245 Readers let Friesen have it for L'Affaire Scheifele 1215246 If Pierre-Luc Dubois is ever going to make impact for Winnipeg Jets this season, the time is now SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129 1215152 Boston Bruins beer can on his head or movie-turned-Netflix star Ralph Macchio exhorting the crowd with his Karate Kid moves, the night never let up.

You knew the night was going to be different when Taylor Hall was the A nearly full house was an inspiring sight for all sports fans first to drop his gloves. Hall hadn’t been in an NHL fight since his rookie season 10 years ago, but here, early in the pivotal game, he was out to set the tone, going punch for punch with hulking Scott Mayfield. Later, it By Tara Sullivan Globe Columnist was Bruins’ big man Jarred Tinordi throwing (and absorbing) haymakers with Islander bruiser Matt Martin. And in between, it was just about Updated June 6, 2021, 12:17 a.m. everybody else, some of it warranted (like the blatant missed crosschecks on David Krejci that finally saw him retaliate with a stick to the groin of Barzal and thus take a trip to the penalty box) and some of it UNIONDALE, N.Y — The late-night delirium enveloping Nassau just a reflection of the night. Coliseum Saturday was not the party the Bruins wanted to attend, not as they eyed a rare two-game road sweep in this second-round playoff visit There was action, and pace, and energy, and passion. All there were to New York. But as the clock ticked down on the Islanders 4-1 win in people. Thank goodness for the people. People rising from their seats in Game 4 for a series now tied at two games apiece, a delighted home unison to cheer or to boo, people joining their voices to chant crowd was more than happy to use their cheers to serenade the Bruins ‘Tuuukkkaaa’ in the derisive way only an opposing crowd can, people to all the way back to Boston. wave their ugly orange towels in cyclones of hope, people to slowly breathe the oxygen back into the world we missed so much. A delighted, nearly full home crowd, that is. When all of it was spent, and the teams made it back to their respective No, this was not the outcome the Bruins were looking for. But this was locker rooms, ice baths and massage specialists awaited. Any other time just the kind of night that sports fans have been looking for, a night sports of the year and players might have wished for a week off. But there is no fans, and maybe a few writers too, have been yearning for, a night to such respite. Playoff hockey is not for the weak. recall all that is wonderful about the people who bring real, live energy and passion to the arenas and stadiums we visit. But it is, once again, as were so loudly reminded Saturday night, for the people. See you at the Garden, Bruins fans. Your turn to make yourself The home crowd was as much a factor in the Islanders win as anything heard. Mathew Barzal did on skates or Matt Martin did with his fists, providing the level of madness, frenzy and energy that threatened to knock this building down before the real wrecking ball makes its already scheduled Boston Globe LOADED: 06.06.2021 appointment.

It’s precisely the type of atmosphere that awaits the Bruins Monday night at TD Garden, the type of atmosphere that bathed the team so lovingly and so successfully back in their Game 1 dominant win, the type of atmosphere we as a sports adoring public missed so much during the pandemic. When you set that grateful return inside a hockey arena, and do it in the postseason, this much we can guarantee: Playoff hockey is going to deliver.

“Right now I’m very excited to go back and play in front of our fans again,” center David Krejci said postgame. “We’re definitely going to use their energy, and it’s Game 5. The playoffs are about making adjustments. We’ll do some adjustments and I’m sure they will as well. We’re going to have to play our best game of the season.”

The Bruins didn’t do that Saturday, a night that included giving up a 1-0 lead midway through the second period, surrendering three third-period goals (though two were empty netters) in a closing stretch that nearly blew the roof off the old Barn, watching David Pastrnak somehow miss a wide open net (and flopping face first on the ice in disbelief when he clanked it off the far post) or somehow let Barzal get an open swing at a puck to score the decisive go-ahead goal.

But that’s the way it goes in playoff hockey, when momentum is fleeting and drama is thick. And that’s the way it was always going to go in this particular series of playoff hockey, one that opened with Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy talking about the mirror image on the other side of the ice. A Bruins-Islanders clash guarantees a night of fighting through a wall of humanity just to get a touch at the puck, of knowing a body or a board is always going to be in your way. Double that in the playoffs, when there is no shift to take it easy, no check to hold up, no ‘get-em-next-time’ to look forward to.

With that much at stake Saturday, why wouldn’t the Islanders use every advantage at their disposal, from the last-line-change advantage for matchups to the last second of play amid the cacophonous crowd. No wonder they came back on the ice for a stick tap to the fans.

“They’re down, 2-1, they’re at home, all of a sudden you don’t get this one and you’re going on the road down two games. We expected their best identity game,” Cassidy said. “Physicality, defense, clogging up the neutral zone, outdefend us, outweigh us, and take their opportunities. I thought we were patient. Going into the third it was 1-1. We were OK. I thought we responded well early with physicality. We dropped our mitts.”

In that environment, the Bruins had little choice. The doors finally reopened and a game straight out of the 1970s walked in, fisticuffs and feistiness going hand in hand on the ice, madness and mayhem going on in the stands. Whether it was old-time Islander crushing a 1215153 Boston Bruins (6-feet-5-inches, 220 lbs.) appeared to be shaking his right hand in pain as he made his way to the ice.

The Isles clearly came into the night wanting to set the physical town. Puck movement was lacking with back-line losses, and other “Dragged into the fight,” as Cassidy said in the morning, expecting a observations from a worrying Game 4 for the Bruins rugged night of action.

Hall hadn’t fought since a brief AHL stint with the 2012-13 Oklahoma City By Kevin Paul Dupont Globe Staff Barons. He’s not that kind of player, anyway, but it could be argued he hasn’t been on NHL teams worth fighting for the length of his career. Updated June 5, 2021, 11:37 p.m. ⋅ The Bruins held a 11-7 edge in the opening 20 minutes, fair indication they weren’t backing away from physical play even without Carlo and Miller. They put only 10 pucks on net in the second, indication The Bruins and Islanders paired up in an old-school playoff grinder that the Isles were pressing them in their own end. Over the final 40:00, Saturday night at Nassau Coliseum, and the Islanders prevailed, 4-1, in the Brins were outshot, 27-18. large part because they continually took away time and space, wore down the Bruins in all zones, and pulled away with three goals in the third ⋅ With about 6:30 gone in the first, hobbled Matt Grzelcyk, possibly with a period — albeit two were into an empty net. hamstring issue, made his way to the Boston bench. He looked fine for the rest of the period, playing 7:28 across 10 shifts. A relief for the Bruins The stiff, stubborn Islanders game was fully anticipated by the Bruins, bench. Grzelyck has become the glue guy on the back end. particularly with the Black-and-Gold vulnerable on the backend without Brandon Carlo and Kevan Miller. Absent key blueline personnel, the With Carlo and Miller hors de combat, the Bruins are going nowhere if Bruins could not move the puck fluidly out of their end and advance it they lose Grzelcyk. through the neutral zone as they did earlier in the series. ⋅ Jarred Tinordi, a guy who plays “true to his game” in Cassidy’s words, The key for Game 5 on Monday night at the Garden, with the series at 2- fought with Isles tough guy Matt Martin in the first. “True to his game” is 2, will be to buy more room via more favorable line matches. The return code for: Narrow skill set. of Carlo and/or Miller would provide a big boost, but there’s no knowing now if either will be fit for action. Part of that skill set is throwing down when necessary and Tinordi responded precisely as needed with the Martin bout. “We expected their best identity game, which would be physicality,” noted Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy, “defense . . . clog up the neutral zone the ⋅ Tuukka Rask made his best stop of the first period at the 14:56 mark best they could . . . try to out defend us and outweight [sic] us and take when Anthony Beauvillier was granted free sailing across the Boston advantage of opportunities.” crease. Weak tea defense by the Black and Gold. But Rask tracked Beauvillier, who cut left-right and tried to slide a backhander inside the Et voila. The Bruins couldn’t manage better than a one-goal lead, blowing right post. Rask stoned him for his sixth stop of the night. a key chance to bump it to 2-0 in the second, and the Islanders pulled out the win with their trademark jaws-of-life approach. Along with a nifty tip Rask made another dandy stop midway through the second, rejecting by Mathew Barzal for the winner. Josh Bailey’s 10-foot sweep in the slot, keeping it even at 1-1.

“I don’t think we were nearly at our best game,” said Cassidy, frustrated ⋅ Krejci was initially whistled off for a five-minute major at 11:16 of the by his club’s play at both ends, focusing on some shoddy D coverage second for his backhand pitchfork into Barzal’s groin. The officials and lack of possession and execution in the attack zone. “I think we reviewed it, and correctly reduced it to a two-minute slash. Barzal acted responded well early with the physicality, dropped our mitts when we had as if he’d never walk again, until he miraculously recovered and logged to, matched them hit for hit. some power-play time with Krejci in the box.

“We just didn’t have our best game executing. Through the neutral zone, Reminiscent of the days of Real Cloutier in Quebec City. The Nords for whatever reason, our D had a tough time moving their feet. There winger often dropped like road kill, only to get out for the PP that his were some things that we just didn’t do that we did in the first three acting teased out of the ref. games to generate offense. Obviously, credit the Islanders. But for us, ⋅ The one shot to beat Rask the first 40 minutes came off Barzal’s perfect when you do it for three straight games . . . why? . . . Were we antsy feed from the rear wall to a wide open Palmieri at the doorstep. Grzelcyk about executing? Did we not have the energy?” followed Barzal to the back and Jeremy Lauzon was picking ice Other observations from the game: dandelions near the left post. Free passage for the alert, opportunistic Palmieri. ⋅ The Bruins blew a prime chance in the second period to take a commanding lead in the series, and perhaps put it away, when they sputtered badly on a power play granted them after taking the 1-0 lead Boston Globe LOADED: 06.06.2021 on David Krejci’s goal at 3:57.

The Isles challenged the Krejci strike, and lost on the video appeal, setting up the Bruins with the two-minute advantage. Great opportunity to take a 2-0 lead and then try to suffocate the Isles with their own relentless forechecking game.

Instead, the Bruins went dormant, didn’t manage a single shot, and then watched Kyle Palmieri pot the equalizer only 41 seconds after the PP went DOA. Tough swing.

⋅ Rare to see David Pastrnak, one of the game’s premier sharpshooters, shank a shot. But with the entire net wide open, he snapped off a feed at 16:58 of the first and watched it clang off the bottom of the right post.

“When’s the last time he missed one like that?!’ said NBC analyst . “Maybe never, with those hands.”

Pastrnak stayed face down on the ice for a few seconds, as much in disbelief as anyone.

⋅ Taylor Hall, scorer, back-checker and . . . punch-thrower. The new Bruins left winger tangled with Isles tallboy Scott Mayfield at 7:28 of the first and got in a pop or two before the two tumbled to the ice. Mayfield 1215154 Boston Bruins underwater. At five on five, the Isles controlled chances, 35-20, and shots, 28-19.

It was an off night for most everyone, including the Grzelcyk-Charlie Islanders win a rough-and-tumble game to tie up series with Bruins at McAvoy pair. They were outshot, 12-4, in 13:04 together at five on five. two games apiece finished it with an empty-netter with 1:03 remaining, after the Islanders locked down the Bruins in the critical final minutes. Once By Matt Porter Globe Staff the Bergeron line hit the ice for its final shift — Cassidy, rolling his lines, had his underperforming third and fourth lines on in the final minutes — Updated June 5, 2021, 10:08 p.m. Jean-Gabriel Pageau cut off Pastrnak’s rush attempt, stole the puck, and seconds later Cizikas had the dagger. Pageau sent home another empty-

net goal with 2.4 seconds left. UNIONDALE, N.Y. — There will be at least one more game here at “They’re down, 2-1, they’re at home,” Cassidy said. “We expected their Nassau Coliseum, the rollicking old barn where Islander greats of the best identity game, which would be physicality, defense, clog up the past show up during playoff games, as did Clark Gillies on Saturday, to neutral zone as best they could, try to out-defend us, outwait us and take chug the last few sips of a beer and crush the can on their heads. advantage of opportunities.” Mathew Barzal made sure of it. The star forward chopped an ankle-high The Islanders did. The Bruins couldn’t wade through the muck, and it’s a puck out of the air past Tuukka Rask with 6:57 remaining in Saturday’s best-of-three series. Game 4, the go-ahead goal in a 4-1 Islanders win that knotted this second-round series, 2-2.

“I didn’t see it until it was in the net,” Rask said. “If you don’t see it, Boston Globe LOADED: 06.06.2021 there’s not a whole lot you can do.”

Rask did everything he could. He was beaten by that, plus a Kyle Palmieri one-timer he barely saw, and nothing else. He made 30 stops, holding the Bruins in it as Semyon Varlamov (28 saves) was doing the same at the other end. He robbed Anthony Beauvillier with a toe save in the first period after the Isles winger dangled across the crease. He slammed his pads on a Josh Bailey one-timer, after Brock Nelson turnstiled Connor Clifton.

Had his teammates done a bit more, they might have been entering Game 5 in Boston (6:30 p.m. Monday) with the Islanders on the ropes.

They couldn’t handle Barzal, who caused what Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy called “two major D-zone breakdowns.” Barzal’s pass to Palmieri, for the tying goal at 6:38 of the second, came as Jeremy Lauzon floated behind the net to cut off Barzal, who was already marked by Matt Grzelcyk. On Barzal’s winner, he lost a lackadaisical check from an out-of-position Jake DeBrusk, and was alone to bat home a loose puck.

The power play let them down after David Krejci opened the scoring, roofing a power-play goal during a net-front scramble at 3:57 of the second. Islanders coach Barry Trotz made a curious challenge, alleging that Brad Marchand’s stick impeded Varlamov’s pads. The review was quick. The Isles earned a delay of game penalty. And then:

“No one wanted to shoot the puck,” Cassidy said of his second unit, which followed the first group on the back-to-back power plays. “Every one of them refused to shoot the puck. … It just kills your momentum.”

Then, there was David Pastrnak.

With 3:02 left in a scoreless first, Pastrnak collapsed, face and stomach down on the ice, in disbelief after missing one of the more wide-open chances of his career. He had the entire net free, from 12 feet out in the left circle … and hit the far post.

Varlamov, challenging Patrice Bergeron’s fake shot on the opposite side, was almost completely out of his crease, his right skate touching the paint. Bergeron slipped a pass to Pastrnak, and … clank.

“That’s when you know, boy, it might be a tough night for us,” Cassidy said. “When your best player hits the post on an open net … it’s going to be one of those nights we’re probably not getting breaks. You’ve got to go earn them yourself.”

They weren’t gifted much from the officials, who rightly called Krejci’s spear between the legs of Barzal (as a slashing minor) but missed the row of cross-checks Barzal threw on Krejci. Several other errant sticks were missed. Cassidy hoped the calls would even out. Krejci refused to blame the officials, noting that everyone has bad days. Including him, in Game 4.

“I don’t want to speak for other guys,” he said, “but I definitely didn’t have it today.”

His line allowed seven scoring chances and earned two, according to Natural Stat Trick. In the scoring chances category, every Bruin line was 1215155 Boston Bruins “Bergeron! Bergeron! Bergeron!” hollered Dave Goucher in the radio broadcast booth as teammates swarmed Bergeron along the boards. “And the Bruins win the series!”

Odds are not in favor of a team that pulls goalie for extra skater, but “To me, the key is to hunt the puck and kind of have that five-on-five Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy says why not try it? mentality,” Bergeron said Saturday morning when asked about six-on- five strategy. “With the extra skater, you can actually be very aggressive and get on that puck and pounce on loose pucks. To me, that is really the By Kevin Paul Dupont Globe Staff key to a successful six on five — and moving the puck quickly.”

Updated June 5, 2021, 5:25 p.m. In the 56 games this postseason, the 16 teams combined for 52:44 of six-on-five play. Most of those minutes, but not all, came late in the third

period, with teams down by a goal. In some cases, usually in very short The rarely lack for drama, the fun often starting spans, clubs accrued six-on-five time during delayed penalties. Overall, from the drop of the opening faceoff. The sweet tension can ratchet even six-on-five time this postseason has averaged more than one minute per a notch or two higher when a team in arrears yanks its goalie for an extra game. skater in hot pursuit of a goal. The Bruins, in their 63 playoff games with Cassidy behind the bench The seconds tick away … a team needs a goal to avoid a loss or possibly headed into Game 4 vs. the Islanders, were outscored, 5-2, since the stave off postseason elimination … the goalie hotfoots it toward the start of the 2017 playoffs in instances with their goalie pulled. bench … the extra attacker pops over the boards … six skaters dash The teams with the most six-on-five goals scored over that stretch: frantically around the opposition’s net, firing shots, scrambling for Colorado, St. Louis, and Toronto (five each). The clubs burned most rebounds, desperate for the tying goal. frequently for empty-netters: Tampa Bay (12), St. Louis and Nashville (11 Football has its Hail Mary play, a long pass into the end zone in hopes of each). a touchdown as the clock winds down toward 00:00. Hockey’s version is Cassidy’s approach, as he noted during his Zoom session after to try to create holy hell around the goalie, sometimes for a couple of Saturday’s morning skate, is to add a net-front player to his No. 1 power- minutes, also with 00:00 looming. play unit. These days, that means swapping out Rask for Nick Ritchie or “Certainly gives you life if you’re able to tie a game late,” mused coach Charlie Coyle, giving the Bruins a big body to park at the top of the Bruce Cassidy, prior to the Bruins taking on the Islanders Saturday night crease. It’s another stick on the doorstep, and another obstacle ideally to at Nassau Coliseum in Game 4 of their second-round series. “I know take away the goalie’s line of sight. that.” The rest of the unit typically will include Charlie McAvoy at the point with In their eight playoff games prior to Saturday, the Bruins did not yank Krejci helping out up high, and top-liners Brad Marchand, David their goaltender for the late extra skater — in part a reflection of their 6-2 Pastrnak, and Bergeron filling their various roles down low. record and an aggregate lead time of 127:01 vs. 70:56. They’ve been out “So that frees up Marchy to move around a little more low,” said Cassidy, front a lot and winning, negating the need for 911 calls to roll out the noting the attack is a variation of his more standard 1-3-1 power-play rescue trucks. approach. “A couple of adjustments, but Bergy stays in the bumper, They needed it Saturday, and the Islanders promptly scored twice to cap Pasta stays in the elbow, and we have two guys up top to help on clear a 4-1 win. [attempts] and to stretch teams out — it’s a good support valve. Then we’ll rotate our plays from there.” In 58 playoff games played this season, teams on the attack with their goalie pulled have scored only three times. The opposition has scored While noting that he’s well aware “the odds aren’t great with it,” Cassidy, 21, including the two the Islanders scored into an empty net Saturday like all coaches, keeps the six on five tucked in his first-aid kit, or perhaps with Tuukka Rask pulled for the 6-on-5 advantage. as his court-of-last-resort remedy.

That makes for a poor 1:7 ratio for teams like the Bruins were, desperate “I mean, why not do it, right?” he said. “You’ve got nothing to lose. Does to come up with the equalizer. it matter, especially in the playoffs, [whether] you lose by one, two or three goals? A loss is a loss.” During Cassidy’s tenure behind their bench in the playoffs, the Bruins have been outscored, 7-2, at 6-on-5.

Over the last three playoff seasons, to provide some comparison, the Boston Globe LOADED: 06.06.2021 ratios have varied significantly:

2020 — 21 goals for the attacking team vs. 34 for the defending team. Approximate ratio, 2:3.

2019 — Eight goals vs. 31 goals. Approximate ratio, 1:4.

2018 — Seven goals vs. 33 goals. Approximate ratio, 1:5.

In the postseason, the added drama around those desperation goals is that they can prove the difference between a season ending, or a season extended, a team moving on to another series, or even winning the Cup.

The Bruins fell two wins short of the Cup in 2013, but one of their most dramatic wins in postseason history, the Game 7 trimming of Toronto on May 13 that season, came with Tuukka Rask swapped out for an extra skater.

The Bruins trailed, 4-3, as the clock ticked down at the Garden, Claude Julien opting to hook Rask to attack with Zdeno Chara the lone defenseman behind , Nathan Horton, Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci, and Jaromir Jagr. With 51 seconds to go, with help from Krejci and Jagr, Bergeron canned the equalizer.

Causeway went crazy, and then crazier still when Bergeron banged the winner out of the reach of a scrambling James Reimer with 6:05 gone in OT. Earlier, the Bruins had fallen behind, 4-1, at the 5:29 mark of the third. It was the comeback of all comebacks. 1215156 Boston Bruins “It has been [everything I hoped],” Hall said Friday morning. “It’s been a lot of fun, this group makes it enjoyable and I don’t think that anyone feels pressure coming into the games. We look to enjoy it, enjoy the Bruins forward Taylor Hall has come a long way from the player who atmosphere. It was a fun atmosphere [Thursday] night. That’s just the lacked confidence when acquired way we’re approaching things. One game at a time. I know that’s cliche, but it’s important not to get ahead of ourselves. They’re a tough team, they’re going to stay in every game, and I don’t think we can expect to have three-goal leads at any time in this series. They’re always going to By Tara Sullivan Globe Columnist be on us, in our face, making the game hard. That’s what makes playoff Updated June 5, 2021, 1:54 p.m. hockey fun.

“I think it has been everything I would have asked for as far as enjoyment in the playoffs. It’s great that we’re winning as a team and I think every Taylor Hall came to Boston with a fascinating addendum to one of NHL’s line and every D pair and Tuukka, everyone is contributing, everyone most impressive résumés. He came with honesty. And candor. The kind should feel good about themselves. That’s a really good feeling. It’s not of honesty and candor rarely acknowledged by athletes of Hall’s caliber just one guy or one line. We’re all contributing and that’s a big part of — ones who trade as much on inner belief as their skills at skating, being on this team.” scoring, shooting or passing. That’s a long way from the guy who only eight weeks ago described “I’m not the most confident hockey player right now,” Hall acknowledged himself as a hockey player in need of a hug. in his introductory Zoom call, back on April 12. “Throughout this year, there have been a lot of struggles, and obviously goal scoring has been one of them. I have to find that part of my game back.” Boston Globe LOADED: 06.06.2021 In revealing how much he had struggled across a 37-game tenure in Buffalo, in sharing how much it wore on him to know his paltry two goals were so far away from his Hart Trophy-winning season in 2017-18, Hall spoke to how much he needed a change of scenery. In doing his part to make sure that change would happen in Boston, he also spoke to the growing role athletes themselves are playing in determining their future.

And there is no arguing he made the right call.

It’s hard to imagine the union going any better.

Hall, slipping into place on the Bruins’ second line alongside David Krejci and Craig Smith, quickly found “that part of his game,” scoring eight goals in 16 regular-season games and adding two more in the opening playoff series win against Washington. And the Bruins are the happy beneficiaries of his awakening, heading into Saturday night’s Game 4 against the Islanders with a 2-1 advantage in their second-round series. While Brad Marchand goes down as the Game 3 hero for his overtime winner and Tuukka Rask will be remembered as the true savior for his brilliance in goal, Hall was a no-doubt third star for his play on the Bruins’ first-period score.

It was enough that Hall set up Smith for the early strike, thus allowing the Bruins to quiet (somewhat, anyway) a raucous Nassau Coliseum. But it was the way he did it, with a ferocious backcheck and steal of the puck, with a heads-up pass to Matt Grzelcyk to get the puck back in the offensive zone, with a speedy recovery back to the wing to be in place for Grzelcyk’s return pass, and finally, with a laser of a pass right to the blade of Smith’s waiting stick.

It was the type of sequence that moved coach Bruce Cassidy to this assessment of Hall when asked whether anything surprises him about Hall’s game:

“I think early on I didn’t realize he’s a 200-foot player in terms of his backchecking, willingness to break up a play,” Cassidy said the day after that overtime win on Long Island. “He’s done that a number of times for us. He can really cover ice. He’s been excellent at that, not quitting on plays, coming back into our end to help keep the puck out of our net.

“When you watch a player on another team, especially a high-end guy, you’re usually looking at what he’s doing with the puck, not without it, so that part has been great for us. I don’t know if ‘surprised’ is the right word. I’m pleased.”

Hall’s contributions have been many, not the least of which is joining with Smith and the always playoff-ready Krejci to take some defensive pressure off the outstanding Patrice Bergeron-David Pastrnak-Marchand top line, a challenge for opposing teams that has made both lines more potent. But the real joy in a deadline-day deal this successful is how happy it makes both sides. Remember, Hall was once the No. 1 overall pick in the entire draft, but as much as he has found individual success since first suiting up for Edmonton in 2011, this is the deepest playoff run of his career.

There’s a reason he OK’d a deal to Boston, content as he was to find a landing place that didn’t need him to be the sun around which every other player orbits, but rather one of the many planets lighting up the entire solar system. 1215157 Boston Bruins good challenge. It’s about being ready to keep looking at video and making adjustments.”

Bruins top shooters quiet Jarred Tinordi steps in for injured Brandon Carlo to provide a presence on the blue line Brad Marchand took a puck off his right foot during power-play drills at the end of the morning skate. He limped off the ice, after leading the post-workout stretch. Cassidy said he was “fine.” Marchand blocked two By Matt Porter Globe Staff shots in Game 4, landing two of his seven shot attempts. The Bruins’ artillery was misfiring. David Pastrnak (four SOG) and David Krejci Updated June 5, 2021, 1:25 p.m. (three) were the only Bruins to land more than two on Semyon Varlamov … One area the Bruins have been dominating: rebounds. Through four

games, they have generated 15 rebounds in this series, according to UNIONDALE, N.Y. — Clad in a Spoked-B T-shirt and shorts, Brandon Natural Stat Trick, on Varlamov and Ilya Sorokin. Tuukka Rask has Carlo stood in the tunnel, watching his teammates run through their allowed six … Jake DeBrusk, who missed his assignment on Mathew morning drills on Saturday. Barzal’s go-ahead goal in the third, skated just three shifts in the second period, and four in the third (11:22 TOI) ... Three years ago Saturday, He had spent a little time riding a stationary bike. According to his coach, fired Islanders general manager Garth Snow and coach Bruce Cassidy, Carlo was “feeling better” after a hit from Islanders Doug Weight and appointed himself GM. Two weeks later, Lamoriello forward Cal Clutterbuck in Game 3 on Thursday left him woozy and hired Barry Trotz as coach … Eight years ago Saturday, Bergeron’s wobbly legged. double-OT winner gave the Bruins a 3-0 lead on the Penguins in the Eastern Conference finals. Rask allowed two goals on 136 shots in that For Saturday night’s Game 4, Cassidy called on Jarred Tinordi, the series (.985), the best four-game stretch of his playoff career. waiver-wire pickup from Nashville who last played in Game 5 of the Washington series after Kevan Miller took a high hit from Dmitry Orlov.

Splitting time with Connor Clifton and Jeremy Lauzon, Tinordi acquitted Boston Globe LOADED: 06.06.2021 himself well. He skated a composed 13:17 with two shots, two hits, two big blocks on the penalty kill and five minutes for fighting Matt Martin. The bout came in the first period, in a scrum after Mathew Barzal dropped Curtis Lazar with a cross-check.

“He’s true to his identity,” said Cassidy, when asked before the game what the 6-foot-6-inch lefthanded shot had done to earn his trust. “He knows he’s got to defend first, be a presence when necessary.”

After the game, Cassidy alluded to the possibility that either Miller, who is skating in Boston, or Carlo could return Monday in Game 5. The other options — Urho Vaakanainen and Jakub Zboril — skated as extras before Game 4.

As the Bruins ran through their morning drills, Clutterbuck was speaking on a Zoom call to reporters for the first time since the Carlo collision.

“Obviously you feel bad, you don’t want to see anybody hurt,” he said. “I’m not going out there and trying to hurt people. That’s not the goal. The goal is to be effective and try and create turnovers … So when that happens, obviously it’s unfortunate. It gives you a bad feeling in your stomach definitely and I don’t like to see that at all. So I hope he’s OK.”

Hall a surprise combatant

It was expected Tinordi, whose previous bout as a Bruin came against Tom Wilson in response to March 5 headshot on Carlo, would shed his mitts if necessary. Taylor Hall? Not so much.

But there was Hall, setting the tone of a rough-and-tumble affair.

The Bruins winger turned the first-period heat to 11 by challenging Scott Mayfeld — at 6 feet, 5 inches and 220 pounds, the largest player in the Isles lineup — to a fight after the defenseman rubbed him out along the boards and threw him down. Both Hall and Mayfield got in a few stiff shots before wrestling each other to the ice.

A top-six dynamo taking on a defense-first blueliner? Let the record show the Bruins finally lost a trade involving Taylor Hall.

Patrice Bergeron, long one of the best faceoff men in the game, has not been his usual self at the dot.

The , who led the NHL with a career-best winning percentage of 62.2 during the regular season, opened the playoffs at 60.3 percent through his first six games, including 72.2 percent in Game 1 against the Islanders.

During the last three games, he is at 38.1 percent (24 for 63).

In Game 3, Bergeron was 6 for 18 (33.3 percent), tied for the second- lowest mark of his 157-game playoff career. He won just 4 of 14 draws (28.6 percent) against Jean-Gabriel Pageau. In Game 4, he improved on those numbers — ever so slightly — with a 10-for-24 (41.6 percent) night overall, including 7 for 16 (43.8 percent) against Pageau.

“We said that all along, they’re a good team in the faceoff circles,” Bergeron said before puck drop. “That’s it. It’s a good matchup. It’s a 1215158 Boston Bruins Rask, Pekka Rinne, and . Or they could find a partner to swap a No. 1 goalie for Nylander, but franchise goaltenders typically have no-movement clauses attached. Not an impossible trade to make, What will the Maple Leafs do after yet another disappointing end to a but a very tight fit to find maybe one trading partner. season? The 2020 free agent market saw Alex Pietrangelo, the Blues’ franchise defensemen, command $8.8 million a year from the Golden Knights. And that was in a pandemic-challenged market. Just as in the goalie scenario, By Kevin Paul Dupont Globe Staff no one’s giving up a franchise defenseman for the slick, productive Nylander. Updated June 5, 2021, 11:08 a.m. Round and round it goes for the Leafs, hogtied by their own spending on

a few forwards and a belief that, come playoff time, offense can carry the It’s hard to find a parallel for Toronto’s soul-crushing Round 1 loss to the day. Even the run-and-gun Oilers of the past, for all their glorious goal Canadiens, the mighty Maple Leafs booted from Stanley Cup play after scoring, eventually added the personnel to ratchet down on defense in holding a 3-1 series lead against a ragtag CH outfit that entered with the the postseason, and backed it all with Hall of Famer Grant Fuhr in net. worst regular-season record (24-21-11) in the 16-horse field. It is going to be one long, painful summer in Toronto, one without obvious The Bruins in 1971 came rollicking into the postseason as the answers toward ending what is now a 54-year Cup drought. gargantuan favorites, fresh off the Cup win in ’70 and having rolled up a The Bruins-Islanders series is a reminder that, of the many great moves record bounty of 399 goals in the regular season (surpassed a decade made in engineering the Islanders dynasty of the early ’80s, later by the powerhouse Oilers). the best probably was just saying no, repeatedly, to legendary Canadiens Like these Canadiens, the ’71 Habs also sent their heavily favored GM . opponent packing in seven games, finishing the job on Boston Garden In the spring of 1973, Pollock hounded Torrey for weeks, hoping he ice (the Leafs likewise expired at home). But that was a much different would surrender the No. 1 pick in the June draft, which the Islanders Montreal roster in ’71, stocked with no fewer than 10 players (Ken “earned” by going a stupefying 12-60-6 in their inaugural season (head Dryden, Jean Beliveau, Serge Savard, et al) who would go on to be coaches: Phil Goyette and Earl Ingarfield). enshrined in the Hall of Fame. Torrey politely, but sternly, rebuffed Pollock’s many entreaties. Pollock In terms of legacy, the 2021 Habs are more akin to the Washington made the last of those offers in the seconds leading up to Torrey Generals than the Flying Frenchmen. announcing his selection at the draft, held in those days in the Queen Shell-shocked as their dispirited players packed bags on “cleaning day” Elizabeth Hotel, just up the street from where the Habs minted Cups at Wednesday, Leafs management offered the expected lines. Team the Forum. president Brendan Shanahan noted the need to soldier on in tough times, Torrey held fast and, as expected, selected the great Denis Potvin, the while recognizing that his emotionally brittle, underperforming bunch franchise defenseman and blue line anchor of the franchise’s four Cup lacked an essential “killer instinct.” wins (1980-83). With the rookie Potvin aboard and Al Arbour their new OK. It didn’t look from here, admittedly some 500 miles to the southeast, coach, the Islanders cut their losses by a third (19-41-18) in Potvin’s first that the Leafs succumbed to a club that was imbued with killer instinct. It season and hoisted their first Cup only seven seasons after Torrey batted looked more like the Leafs remained absent a franchise defenseman (not away Pollock’s myriad bids. new), and an elite No. 1 goaltender (not new Part 2). Pollock, by the way, engineered the trade with the Bruins in the summer Perhaps to Shanahan’s point, the Leafs did miss a certain tenacity from of 1964 that sent Ken Dryden to the Habs just days after the Bruins made their top forwards. Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and William Nylander Dryden the No. 14 pick in the draft. definitely need a growth spurt there, but grit develops from culture and “I don’t know how many times Sammy and I walked around the block on coaching, rather than, say, dipping into the UFA market for a player with that one,” Torrey told your faithful puck chronicler in the thick of the that profile. Islanders’ Cup run. “I listened. But I wasn’t giving up Denis Potvin. No The Leafs look like they need Shanahan and general manager Kyle way. I think he knew it, or at least should have known it. I was adamant.” Dubas to spend these next months enrolled in summer school Torrey, who died three years ago at age 83, never made public what engineering and economics courses. The Leafs’ fortunes and failures are Pollock put on the table. The Habs that spring had won their sixth Cup in built around a lineup weighted too heavily on top-skilled forwards, a small “Trader Sam’s” tenure as GM, and they won thrice more leading up to his number of whom eat up a whole lot of cap space. Shut them down — as leaving the job after the win in 1978. the Habs did in Games 5, 6, and 7 — and there isn’t any more there to carry the day. Pollock no doubt offered up a player or two from the varsity roster, including the likes of, say, Claude Larose, Bob Murdoch, and maybe If anyone in the front office questioned that, then getting bounced out the Michel Plasse. All would have fit Pollock’s “volume” model for such deals. front door of their own building in Round 1 should have proven it to them once and for all. The Habs also made four high picks (Nos. 8, 17, 22, and 32) in that draft. Given Potvin’s pedigree and profile, which also had WHA clubs chasing The payroll math is daunting, especially in the NHL’s flat-cap economy. him, it’s possible that Pollock offered two or more of those slots to Torrey. Their four top-paid forwards — Matthews, John Tavares, Marner, and Nylander — average $10 million each, tying up essentially half the cap of Once turned away by Torrey, Pollock picked Bob Gainey in the No. 8 $81.5 million. That math won’t change over the next three seasons. hole. Not a bad consolation prize — a four-time Selke winner as the NHL’s top defensive forward and the Conn Smythe winner in ’79 as By the eye and calculator of Dave Poulin, ex-Bruin and now a Toronto- playoff MVP. At age 28, Gainey also began an eight-year tenure as Habs based TSN commentator, the Leafs have nine players returning for 2021- captain. 22 and only $18.6 million in spending power to add nine more players just to fill a 20-man roster (three players short of essential staffing). At Had Torrey flipped the No. 1 pick and used the No. 8 to select Gainey, most, they can spend an average of $1.7 million each on players 10-20, the ex-Peterborough Pete no doubt would have been a foundational which points to a bunch of fourth-liners and spare defensemen. piece for the Islanders. But no one in that draft, including Lanny McDonald (No. 4, Maple Leafs) was Potvin’s equal. Torrey’s “no” carried Truth is, the Leafs are stuck, and they could be jammed up for at least the day, and ultimately framed the dynasty. three more years. They can’t move Tavares (four more years at $11 million cap hit). The Blue and White fandom won’t stomach dealing Beyond the hiring of Arbour and overseeing the drafting of , Matthews ($11.6 million) or Marner ($10.9 million), two sublime offensive , Clark Gillies, and others, Torrey’s other most astute moves talents. They certainly can deal Nylander — and might have no included the acquisition of Billy Smith from the Kings in the ’72 expansion alternative — who is the cheapest of the bunch at $6.9 million. draft and the March 1980 deadline deal, also with the Kings, to add Butch Goring. With Nylander off the books, they might be able to use his money to nab a franchise goalie in the free agent market (projected to include Tuukka As great as Potvin was, the four-Cup run might not have happened games (1,680), the first 532 of which were here in the Hub of Hockey. without that Goring glue being added to the forward corps. His last game The three players acquired for him — Marco Sturm, Wayne Primeau, and in the NHL was with the 1984-85 Bruins and he remains a curious, if not Brad Stuart — finished with 2,768 games, 506 of those for the Bruins … dumbfounding, omission to the . The Bruins have three of the five highest-paid players headed to July 28 free agency: Alex Ovechkin ($9.5 million), Ryan Getzlaf ($8.25m), Taylor In the end, the NHL again only nibbled at the edges of attempting a Hall ($8m), David Krejci ($7.25m), and Rask ($7m). Maybe that’s enough culture change when slapping Mark Scheifele with only a four-game to end the “Jeremy Jacobs is cheap” narrative. But probably not … suspension for his assault of Canadiens center Jake Evans in Game 1 of Calgary stepped up this past week and will host the Women’s World the Winnipeg-Montreal series. Championship (Aug. 20-31), filling the void left when COVID-19 concerns If the Jets stretch the Round 2 matchup to a sixth game, Scheifele will be caused Halifax abruptly to cancel the tournament in April. Sadly, the back in the lineup Friday, and he certainly has the talent to be the women won’t get to play inside the Corral, the iconic old rink, adjacent to difference between the Jets winning or losing the series and advancing to the Flames’ current arena, that was razed just months ago. When the the Cup semis. Meanwhile, no telling how long Evans will need to Flames moved from Atlanta to Calgary in the summer of 1980, the Corral recover from the pulverizing body slam Scheifele dealt him, requiring the was their home until the Saddledome was erected leading up to the 1988 ex-Notre Dame standout to be stretchered off the ice. Winter Olympics. Two Bruins memories from the old Corral, which had boards, especially in the corners, that were inordinately high: 1. During What are the chances that Scheifele’s four-gamer will eradicate such one practice, forward Bobby “Newsy” Lalonde, all 5 feet 5 inches of him, predatory hits from the game? Zero. skated by a small gathering of reporters standing at ice level, and all that could be seen of Lalonde was his helmet, which appeared to be attached The NHL, as required by the CBA, placed Scheifele into the wash-rinse mechanically to the top of the boards like some arcade prop; 2. Rogie cycle of its justice system and the Magic 8 Ball in the office of George Vachon, in one wild goalmouth scramble in the Bruins’ net, finally was Parros, head of player safety, came up, “four games.” The next customer able to get back upright on skates just when the puck zipped by him for a through the door, and there surely will be another customer, will be goal. The shot went right through legs, while he was standing, facing the subject to the same wash, rinse, and repeat. The Magic 8 Ball never crossbar. Everyone has a bad night. Even Hall of Famers. stays cold for long.

Gone are the days when a league commissioner could step in (hello, Bowie Kuhn) and invoke the good-of-the-game standard and lay down Boston Globe LOADED: 06.06.2021 the law. The one time he did it, kicking Dale Hunter to the curb for 21 games because of an ugly hit on Pierre Turgeon in the spring of 1993, Gary Bettman was less than three months on the job as NHL commissioner.

The whole justice process has since been rolled into CBA talks, filtered through lawyers, and the result has been that crazy acts perpetrated by the likes of Tom Wilson and Scheifele continue to come along almost at the rate of broken carbon sticks. The Players Association offers nothing in terms of trying to assure a safer workplace. And the band plays on.

At some point, maybe, the league’s Lords of the Boards, GMs, coaches, and players will ask why they continue to suffer such fools and their despicable actions. They don’t need them for the league to succeed, nor do they need them to sell the playoffs. The NHL’s postseason product is, hands down, the most thrilling and entertaining in North American sports, full of speed, drama, athleticism, crazy hops, flared emotions, questionable (sometimes stupefying] officiating, and often boundless suspense of overtime.

Accepting all that as fact, proven decade over decade, we are left to conclude that its only the league itself that doesn’t believe it, doesn’t have enough faith in its own product to stand up to bad actors and say, “Beat it!”

Scheifele’s actions warranted a 10-game suspension, with reinstatement subject to Bettman’s review after the Jets winger served his time. That would have caught everyone’s attention and perhaps helped trigger a culture change to prevent another NHLPA member from being strapped into a stretcher and wheeled down the tunnel. Failing that, maybe a 20- game suspension would do it the next time. Or perhaps a half-season banishment.

It would sink in, eventually, that callous, reckless, predatory acts have no place in the game. These guys just have to start believing in themselves, their product, and their fan base.

The NHL is an entertainment business, and there’s none of that to be found in seeing medical personnel rush the ice and seeing the horrified, stunned looks on the faces of other players, no doubt wondering, “What if I’m next?”

Tuukka Rask again hinted after his Game 3 win over the Islanders that he’s dealing with an injury. The guess all along has been that it’s something in his lower back. But keep in mind, butterfly goaltenders put great pressure on their hips, sometimes resulting in labral tears that can require surgery. No telling if that is what Rask, 34, is dealing with, but it could explain his slow(er) recovery time after saves and his somewhat diminished practice schedule … Joe Thornton, 24 years removed this month from being chosen No. 1 by the Bruins in the draft, said Wednesday that he had yet to decide whether to come back for a 24th NHL season. Jumbo produced a meager 1-0—1 in the Maple Leafs’ seven-game collapse to the Canadiens. Great career, despite no Cup, and should be a first-ballot Hall of Famer. Thornton ranks No. 6 for 1215159 Boston Bruins “The second unit, I was disappointed,” said Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy. “They don’t get a lot of time after the first unit but it was an opportunity for them to step up and no one wanted to shoot the puck. They practice a lot Islanders outlast Bruins to even series 2-2 and we have certain people we want to run it through, but every one of them refused to shoot the puck. … It just kills your momentum.”

On the equalizer, Lazar battled Barzal all along the right side of the By STEVE CONROY | [email protected] | Boston Herald Boston zone, the standout Islander center drew a penalty on the Bruin centerman. But on the delayed call, Barzal took the puck behind the net PUBLISHED: June 5, 2021 at 10:14 p.m. | UPDATED: June 5, 2021 at and fed Kyle Palmieri out front to tie it up. 11:01 p.m. That gave the Isles, who held a 14-10 shot advantage in the second,

some steam and tensions started to run high on a puck scrum in the Whichever team emerges from this East Division playoff series will have corner to Rask’s left. On the outskirts, Barzal cross-checked Krejci three earned their victory and have some scars to show for it. times before Krejci turned around and stuck him hard between the legs, with Barzal going down in a heap in pain. And after Saturday’s Game 4 at Nassau Coliseum, it’s anyone’s guess whether that team will be the Bruins or the Islanders after the Islanders The refs called it a spearing major but upon video review they relented tied up the series 2-2 with a 4-1 victory in a crucible of a playoff game on and gave Krejci just a two-minute minor for slashing at 11:16 and the B’s Long Island. were able to kill it off.

“It has been as expected,” said Tuukka Rask, who made 30 saves in “I wasn’t happy about it,” said Krejci. “I thought he went down pretty easy. another solid performance. “They play a hard game, a heavy game. But it is what it is.” There’s no free real estate out there and it’s been kind of like everybody The refs did miss a few calls against the Islanders, including a Jordan expected. I think the physicality has gotten more and more intense as the Eberle high-stick on Jeremy Lauzon and Brock Nelson hit on Charlie series has gone on.” McAvoy right between the 7 and 3 into the boards. The Islanders broke a 1-1 tie with 6:57 left in the third period on a Mat “I certainly think with the infractions, we haven’t had a lot of calls go our Barzal goal. Scott Mayfield’s shot from the blue line was deflected high in way, the borderline ones,” said Cassidy. “Even the non-borderline ones. I the air and Barzal batted it out of mid-air past Rask for the 2-1 lead. mean Chris Wagner almost got his head taken off in front of the net … From there, the Isles did a good a job locking things down before Casey they see what they see and you can’t do anything about it. You hope that Cizikas and Jean-Gabriel Pageau added late empty-netters to seal the comes around and you earn your calls. We’re not going to bitch about it. victory. It is what is.”

It was knock-down, fight-for-your-ice playoff game from the first drop of Now they’ll head back to Boston for the all-important hinge Game 5 at the the puck. Garden on Monday. Either they go back to Long Island for Wednesday’s Game 6 with a chance to close the Coliseum for good, or they’ll be The first period was scoreless, but there was plenty of action in the fighting for their own lives. opening 20 minutes. “Right now, I’m very excited to go back and play in front of our fans The first fight of the series was started at 7:28 by, of all people, Taylor again,” said Krejci. “We’re definitely going to use their energy. It’s Game Hall. He took the puck in deep behind the net and, after Scott Mayfield 5. Playoffs are about making adjustments. We’ll do some adjustments, rode him off the puck, the Islander defenseman gave him a little I’m sure they will as well. But we’re going to have to play our best game something extra that Hall didn’t like. For the first time in the NHL since he of the season.” threw down with Derek Dorsett on March 3, 2011, Hall dropped the gloves with the much bigger Mayfield, landed a blow and took cover.

That wasn’t the last bout of the period. After Barzal cross-checked Curtis Boston Herald LOADED: 06.06.2021 Lazar in the face, a major scrum broke out. Jarred Tinordi, in for the injured Brandon Carlo, battled heavyweight Matt Martin. Martin landed several rights on top of Tinordi’s helmet before Tinordi took him down.

There were also a couple of glittering scoring chances. The Islanders had the first one off a Charlie McAvoy turnover in the offensive zone. After the cough-up, the puck came back down to Anthony Beauvillier. Beauvillier, who was stopped twice on breakaways by Rask in Game 3, appeared to have Rask sliding the wrong way on his backhand chance but Rask managed to get his pad on the attempt.

As good a chance as that was for the Isles, they could at least tip their cap to Rask for coming up with the save. On his chance, David Pastrnak was left to look up to the heavens and wonder how he could have missed what looked like a sure goal.

Patrice Bergeron appeared to freeze Semyon Varlamov and the entire Islander team before sliding a perfect pass over to Pastrnak. From about eight feet in front of a wide open net from the bottom of the left circle, Pastrnak somehow hit the far post and Varlamov was able to cover it up.

But the B’s did grab the first lead of the game on a power-play goal by David Krejci, his first of the playoffs, at 3:57 of the second. A Pastrnak shot rattled around the crease and, with Brad Marchand and Bergeron battling in the crease, the loose puck came out to Krejci to pop it home.

Islander coach Barry Trotz challenged that Marchand’s stick that was wedged between Varlamov’s left skate and the post constituted interference. It was a coin flip challenge and Trotz lost, which gave the B’s the goal and another power play.

But the B’s did not have the same urgency on the second PP and, shortly after that expired, the Isles evened it up at 6:38. What could have been a turning point in the B’s favor swung the game the other way. 1215160 Boston Bruins so it’s more about after the game and revisit and see (Sunday) how close he is.”

Clutterbuck expresses concern Bruins Notebook: Brandon Carlo out, Jarred Tinordi in Clutterbuck has done his damage to the B’s in this series. The Islanders’ hit machine knocked Craig Smith out of the lineup for Game 2 with a By STEVE CONROY | [email protected] | Boston Herald lower body injury after a neutral zone hit in Game 1 and then he had the hit on Carlo. Neither could be considered out of bounds. PUBLISHED: June 5, 2021 at 7:10 p.m. | UPDATED: June 5, 2021 at 7:27 p.m. “Obviously you feel bad. You don’t want to see anyone get hurt,” said Clutterbuck when asked about the Carlo hit. “I’m not going out there trying to hurt people. That’s not the goal. The goal is to try and be effective and create turnovers. So when that happens, it’s unfortunate While it doesn’t appear that Brandon Carlo is suffering from some of the and gives you a bad feeling in your stomach, definitely. You don’t want to more difficult symptoms his past head injuries have caused, it came as see that at all and I hope he’s OK. I try to take pride in the fact that I play no surprise that he was not in the Bruins’ lineup for Saturday’s Game 4. clean and try to finish my checks the right way and he kind of caught the Carlo was forced to leave Game 3 in the third period after a clean hit by glass in a weird spot. Hopefully he’s alright.” the Islanders’ Cal Clutterbuck caused Carlo’s head to bang into the Faceoffs need improving glass. The B’s defenseman had difficulty regaining his equilibrium and needed some assistance off the ice. Faceoffs were not the strength that they usually are for the B’s in Games 2 and 3, especially for their top draw man Bergeron. After having a “He was on the bike (Saturday morning), so he’s feeling better. We’ll list typically dominant night in Game 1, winning 13 of 18, Bergeron’s won just him as day-to-day, but until he gets on the ice he’s not going to be able to 14 of 39 in Games 2 and 3 while seeing a steady diet of Jean-Gabriel play,” said coach Bruce Cassidy. “We’ll see if he gets on the ice Pageau. (Sunday).” “We said that all along that they’re a good team in the faceoff circle. It’s a Veteran Jarred Tinordi was set to take Carlo’s spot in the lineup and the good matchup, a good challenge and we have to keep looking at the plan was for him to start the game with Connor Clifton. The loss of Carlo video and making adjustments,” said Bergeron. left the B’s with only two right sticks on the back end — Charlie McAvoy and Clifton — and Jeremy Lauzon was tabbed to be the lefty to move over to his off side to play with Mike Reilly. Lauzon had played there a lot when he came up from Providence for good in mid-season last year. Boston Herald LOADED: 06.06.2021

The 6-foot-6 Tinordi, 29, was picked up on waivers on Feb. 27 at a time when the B’s were hard-hit by injuries on the blue line. He’s been a valuable addition to the B’s defense corps depth. Tinordi immediately endeared himself to his teammates when he fought Washington’s Tom Wilson after the Capital forward concussed Carlo on an illegal check on March 5. He also stepped in for the injured Kevan Miller in the clinching game against the Capitals in the first round and got the job done.

Tinordi may have his limitations, but he seems to know what they are.

“He’s true to his identity,” said Cassidy, who chose Tinordi over rookies Jakub Zboril and Urho Vaakanainen. “He knows he has to defend first and be a presence when necessary. He’s good on the penalty kill. He’s got a good stick and is willing to block shots. With his puck play, we’re just asking him to be clean, make the plays that are available to him, good first pass, know where his support is and go from there. He did a good job in Washington in the closeout game. He played good, steady hockey and that will be the ask again. Coming into the middle of a series is always difficult. He did it once before. He’s been around a little bit, so that part of it shouldn’t bother him.”

After the morning skate, Cassidy said that he had expected to have to mix and match his pairs to get through the game. Patrice Bergeron also outlined how the forwards can help against the Islanders’ relentless forecheck.

“Come back quickly to your position. Especially against their forecheck, you try to … deny that speed that they have and the plays that they’re trying to get. Go back to your position, get open, set some picks — legal picks — for the (defensemen) to be able to skate and make that first pass,” said Cassidy.

Miller time coming soon?

Miller, who suffered an apparent head injury when he was hit up high by Washington’s Dmitry Orlov, continued to train back in Boston. Miller could certainly help the B’s back end, for his physicality and experience along with the fact that he’s a right shot.

Cassidy, however, could not yet say if he’ll be available for Monday’s Game 5 at the Garden.

“He’s skating. So as I alluded to with Brandon, there are steps that go along with getting back toward the team, so practicing on the ice is a good thing,” said Cassidy. “I don’t want to speculate because he’s in Boston working out and not here. But, yeah, when you start skating, that does bring you close. How close? I don’t know. The medical team has not filled me in on that because I knew he wouldn’t be available tonight 1215161 Boston Bruins Tuukka Rask was one of the few Bruins players who actually played well in Game 4. He made 30 saves on 32 shots, including seven stops on high-danger scoring chances, per Natural Stat Trick.

Game 4 takeaways: Barzal's resurgence, Bruins' top line struggles The winning goal was batted out of mid-air by Barzal after a blocked shot. Rask admitted after the game he couldn't see the puck until it was in the net, which makes sense given the traffic in front. It was that kind of BY NICK GOSS frustrating night for the Bruins, who wasted another excellent performance from their goalie.

Shots were 27-18 Islanders over the final two periods and the B's didn't BRUINS tally a single shot over the final 6:18 of regulation. The only reason they The New York Islanders overcame a tough overtime loss in Game 3 to were still in the game was Rask, whose save percentage in the series beat the Boston Bruins 4-1 in Game 4 on Saturday night and even their stands at .926 through four games. He actually increased his playoff second-round playoff series at two wins apiece. save percentage from .934 to .935 after Game 4.

For the first time all series, the Islanders out shot the Bruins (34-29) and The veteran netminder has allowed two goals or fewer in three of the four generated more scoring chances (40-27). They also played a strong games in Round 2. He's done his job so far. defensive game that included plenty of physical play and good goaltending from Semyon Varlamov. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 06.06.2021 The series now shifts from Nassau Coliseum back to TD Garden in Boston for a pivotal Game 5 on Monday night.

Here are three takeaways from Game 4.

1) Mathew Barzal's breakout performance

The Islanders' best forward struggled offensively for most of the playoffs and failed to score in each of his team's first eight games. Barzal has been much better in the last two matchups, though, and Game 4 was his best performance of the postseason so far.

Barzal battled B's forward Curtis Lazar along the boards for around 10 seconds in the second period, fighting him off and eventually drawing a penalty before feeding a pretty pass to Kyle Palmieri in front of the net. Palmieri shot the puck past B's goalie Tuukka Rask to even the score at one.

Barzal scored the game-winning goal in the third period when he batted a puck out of mid-air and into the B's net. It was Barzal's second tally in the last two games -- he also scored the tying goal in the third period that forced overtime in Game 3.

Barzal's resurgence is a huge reason why the series is tied, and his next challenge is making this kind of offensive impact in matchups played at TD Garden, where he struggled quite a bit in Games 1 and 2. The Bruins will have the last line change as the home team in Game 5, so you can bet Barzal will face plenty of the Bergeron line and/or the Charlie McAvoy-Matt Grzelcyk pairing Monday night.

2) Rare quiet game from B's top line

The Bruins' top line gave its worst performance of the series.

Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron had tallied at least one point in each of the first three games of this series (one goal, three assists overall), but he was held scoreless Saturday night, which saw his four-game playoff point streak end.

Bergeron tallied just two shots on net in 18:11 of ice time. He also was poor in the faceoff circle, losing 14 of his 24 draws. He went 6-of-18 on faceoffs in Game 3. Bergeron is one of the best faceoff men in the league, so his troubles in this area of late are not only surprising but also a bit concerning for Boston.

One or more of Brad Marchand, David Pastrnak and Bergeron had scored in every game of this Round 2 series before failing to find the back of the net in Game 4.

Pastrnak had a glorious opportunity to give the Bruins a 1-0 lead in the first period but missed a completely wide open net and hit the post.

In addition to not scoring, this line also failed to generate puck possession and scoring chances at its normally high rate.

The Bruins were even in shot attempts but minus-6 in shots on net and minus-2 in scoring chances during the 11:25 that the Bergeron line was on the ice during 5-on-5 action. The B's typically tilt the ice pretty heavily in their favor with the first line on the ice, but that wasn't the case in Game 4.

3) B's waste another good Tuukka Rask game 1215162 Boston Bruins

Barzal, Krejci have very different opinions on Game 4 penalty

BY NICK GOSS

BRUINS

The physicality between the Boston Bruins and New York Islanders was at a very high level in Saturday night's Game 4 at Nassau Coliseum.

We saw two fights in the first 10 minutes of the game and plenty of huge hits throughout as the Islanders emerged with a 4-1 victory to even the second-round playoff series at two wins apiece.

One of the most notable incidents came at 11:16 in the second period when Islanders center Mathew Barzal gave a few cross-checks to David Krejci as the Bruins center was battling for puck possession along the end boards. Krejci eventually had enough and retaliated by driving his stick into Barzal. It looked like the Islanders star was hit in the groin.

Game 4 takeaways: Barzal's resurgence, Bruins' top line struggles

The referees originally assessed a five-minute major penalty to Krejci but after a review the call was changed to a two-minute minor penalty for slashing.

“I was a little surprised. I haven’t seen the clip yet. I felt it was a little vicious,” Barzal said of the play. “But it’s the ref’s call there. It’s a judgment call from them. Yeah, I thought it was a tad vicious.”

Barzal calls slash from David Krejci "a little vicious" pic.twitter.com/uaTMlMcQ7Y— NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSBoston) June 6, 2021

Krejci, as you might expect, had a pretty different view of things.

“Obviously, I wasn’t happy about it,” Krejci said. “He went down pretty easily. But it is what it is. Yeah.”

Krejci did score the Bruins' only goal -- a power-play tally in the second period -- but he was hard on himself, admitting "I definitely didn't have it today."

Game 5 of the series is scheduled for Monday night at TD Garden in Boston. The winner will take a 3-2 lead back to New York with a chance to close out the series.

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Highlights: Islanders even series vs. Bruins with 4-1 win in Game 4

BY NICK GOSS

BRUINS

The New York Islanders have evened their second-round Stanley Cup Playoff series against the Boston Bruins with a 4-1 win in Game 4 on Saturday night.

The B's opened the scoring with a David Krejci power-play goal in the second period, but the Islanders scored the next four (with two empty-net tallies), including the game-winner in the third period from first-line center Mathew Barzal.

Both goalies played really well for the second consecutive game. Tuukka Rask made 30 saves on 32 shots for the Bruins, while Islanders netminder Semyon Varlamov stopped 28 of the 29 shots sent his way.

The Islanders have regained the momentum in this series and should feel plenty confident about their chances entering a pivotal Game 5 on Monday night in Boston. New York was tied 2-2 in the first round and won Game 5 against the Penguins in Pittsburgh before winning that series in six games.

Here's how Game 4 unfolded.

FINAL SCORE: Islanders 4, Bruins 1

BOX SCORE

SERIES: 2-2

HIGHLIGHTS

Taylor Hall's first fight as a Bruins player (and his first with any team since 2011) came against Scott Mayfield 7:28 into the opening period.

David Pastrnak couldn't have had a more wide open net late in the first period but somehow hit the post and didn't score.

David Krejci put the Bruins on the board with a power-play goal in the second period.

The Islanders scored less than three minutes later. Kyle Palmieri capitalized on a good feed from Mathew Barzal.

Barzal scored his second goal in as many games to give the Islanders a 2-1 lead in the third period.

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Bruins' new hype video will get fans fired up for Game 4

BY NICK GOSS

BRUINS

The Boston Bruins used a great Game 4 performance to take a 3-1 series lead in the first round and ultimately eliminate the in five games.

They're hoping to repeat the same scenario in the second around against the New York Islanders.

A win for the Bruins in Saturday night's Game 4 at Nassau Coliseum would give them a commanding 3-1 series lead. Boston won Game 3 in New York when Brad Marchand scored from a tough angle 3:36 into overtime.

The Bruins' latest playoff hype video will get fans excited for the pivotal

Puck drop for Bruins-Islanders Game 4 is at 7:15 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network.

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Projected lines, pairings for Bruins vs. Islanders Game 4

BY NICK GOSS

BRUINS

The Boston Bruins have an opportunity to take a 3-1 lead in their second- round Stanley Cup Playoff series versus the New York Islanders in Saturday night's Game 4 at Nassau Coliseum.

The B's emerged victorious in Game 3 when Brad Marchand scored from a tough shooting angle 3:36 into overtime. Tuukka Rask was tremendous for the B's, making 28 saves on 29 shots, including a couple clutch stops early in overtime.

It wasn't all good for the Bruins, though. They lost defenseman Brandon Carlo in the third period and he didn't return. Carlo did not participate in Saturday's morning skate and is ruled out for Game 4, per head coach Bruce Cassidy.

"Carlo was on the bike today, feeling better,” Cassidy said after the Bruins' morning skate in New York. “We’ll list him as day to day, but until he’s on the ice he’s not going to be able to play or be in the lineup."

Jeremy Lauzon skated in Carlo's spot on the right side of the second pairing with Mike Reilly. Jarred Tinordi took Lauzon's spot on the left side of the third pairing. It wouldn't be surprising if B's head coach Bruce Cassidy changes up these pairings throughout Game 4 because outside of the Grzelcyk-McAvoy pairing, these duos don't have much experience playing alongside each other.

Here are the projected lines and pairings for Bruins vs. Islanders Game 4.

BOSTON BRUINS

FORWARDS

Brad Marchand--Patrice Bergeron--David Pastrnak

Taylor Hall--David Krejci--Craig Smith

Nick Ritchie--Charlie Coyle--Jake DeBrusk

Sean Kuraly--Curtis Lazar--Chris Wagner

DEFENSEMEN

Matt Grzelcyk--Charlie McAvoy

Mike Reilly--Jeremy Lauzon

Jarred Tinordi--Connor Clifton

GOALIES

Tuukka Rask (starter), Jeremy Swayman (backup)

NEW YORK ISLANDERS

FORWARDS

Leo Komarov--Matthew Barzal--Jordan Eberle

Anthony Beauvillier--Brock Nelson--Josh Bailey

Kyle Palmieri--John-Gabriel Pageau--Travis Zajac

Matt Martin--Casey Cizikas--Cal Clutterbuck

DEFENSEMEN

Adam Pelech--Ryan Pulock

Nick Leddy--Scott Mayfield

Andy Greene--Noah Dobson

GOALIES

Semyon Varlamov (starter), Ilya Sorokin (backup)

1215166 Boston Bruins

Tuukka Rask carried Bruins to pivotal Game 3 win

BY NICK GOSS

BRUINS

Tuukka Rask is the reason why the Boston Bruins took a 2-1 lead in their second-round playoff series against the New York Islanders with an overtime victory in Game 3 on Thursday night.

The Bruins goalie made 28 saves on 29 shots in one of his best performances of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Brad Marchand scored the deciding goal 3:36 into overtime to secure a 2-1 win for the Bruins at Nassau Coliseum, but they wouldn't have survived to that point if Rask hadn't made two clutch saves on back-to- back Islanders scoring chances earlier in the OT period.

"He was rock solid," Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy said of Rask.

Cassidy added: "(He) looked really good in overtime, was square to the shooters, any rebounds he was resetting. I thought on the penalty kill he held his ice when he had to. A lot of good things. I thought it was a great goaltending game by their guy and our guy, and that's why it was 1-1 entering overtime. That's what you expect in the playoffs."

Game 3 takeaways: Bruins' blue line depth a major concern despite win

Just how important was Rask's performance in the win?

Well, he finished the game at 2.00 goals saved above expected, per Natural Stat Trick, which is an awesome number. That means the Islanders should've scored three goals instead of one based on the amount and quality of the shots and scoring chances they generated.

Rask also made eight saves on nine high-danger shot attempts by the Islanders. Two of those stops came on breakaway opportunities for Islanders forward Anthony Beauvillier. The B's also went to the penalty kill with just 2:15 left in regulation and Rask stood tall as the Islanders made a strong push for the winning goal.

The only goal Rask allowed wasn't his fault. It took Islanders center Mathew Barzal three whacks at the puck before it crossed the goal line to tie the score with 5:26 remaining in the third period. Barzal had enough time to get three whacks at the puck because Connor Clifton made the wrong play on the Isles center.

Rask has posted a .922 save percentage and a 2.12 GAA through three games in Round 2. He's been even better during 5-on-5 action with a .944 save percentage and a 1.42 GAA. For the playoffs overall, Rask has a .934 save percentage and a 1.93 GAA in eight games, with a .944 save percentage and a 1.59 GAA at 5-on-5.

Simply put: Rask has played fantastic in this playoff run, and he's given the Bruins a chance to win all eight of their games.

Bruins star Pastrnak gifts stick to young Islanders fan in cool moment

Rask's health was a topic of discussion after Game 2 when he didn't seem to be moving great after some of the goals given up in the 4-3 overtime loss Monday night in Boston. He's battled a back injury throughout 2021 and missed a bunch of games during the regular season.

The 34-year-old netminder likely isn't at 100 percent health right now, but he was definitely moving better and tracking pucks better in Game 3. Both are encouraging signs for the Bruins.

"It's always good to have a little extra rest between the games, whether you're injured or not," Rask said. "The season has been very hectic overall. But as far as my health goes, as long as I'm out there it's good enough. That's, I guess, the only thing I can say. It didn't hurt to have those two days (off)."

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Talking Points: Barzal Shines, Islanders Beat Boston Bruins 4-1

Published 5 hours ago on June 5, 2021

By Jimmy Murphy

The New York Islanders beat the Boston Bruins 4-1 in the East Division Final to send the series headed back to Boston for Game 5 Monday tied at two.

GOLD STAR: Mathew Barzal. The Islanders center that way too many Boston Bruins fans and media tend to point out constantly when recalling the botched Bruins’ 2015 NHL Entry Draft, let frustration dominate his play early in this game. With just one goal in nine 2021 Stanley Cup playoff games coming into Game 4, Barzal showed he was feeling the pressure in Game 4. He took offense to the numerous clean hits from the Bruins as they targeted him and took an undisciplined cross-checking penalty on Bruins forward Curtis Lazar 9:23 into the first period after Boston Bruins defenseman Jarred Tinordi drilled him with a clean hit. The Islanders killed that penalty off and from that point on, Barzal was a man on a mission.

The player that the Islanders drafted 16th overall, right after the Bruins took Jakub Zboril (13th), Jake DeBrusk (14th), and Zach Senyshyn (15th), took that frustration and it turned it into motivation. He assisted on Kyle Palmieri’s game-tying goal 6:38 into the second period and then scored the eventual game-winner 13:03 into the final frame.

BLACK EYE: Battered Boston Bruins’ Blue Line. The rotating door that is the 2021 Boston Bruins blue line welcomed Jarred Tinordi back into the lineup for Game 4 after defenseman Brandon Carlo was ruled out. That was thanks to a hard hit on Carlo from Cal Clutterbuck in Game 3 that forced Carlo out early in the third period. Tinordi was solid with two shots and two hits, as well as dropping the gloves with Islanders tough guy Matt Martin, but the battered Bruins’ blue line was once again exposed at times, making some unforced turnovers and being suspect at best traveling through the neutral zone. Boston Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy hinted that regardless of Carlo’s status for Game 5, there could be some more changes coming to the defensive corps.

“We’ll have to look at it, obviously at home, you get last change. …what’s the best fit?” Cassidy said in his postgame Zoom call with the media. “At the end of the day, I thought Tinordi did his job; he played hard, gave us some bite, moved some pucks. I just think we had some unforced errors. Our D gave up some great chances, the one to [Anthony] Beauvillier, another one we might; ve blocked, from two guys, that over the puck well so can’t put on the young guys in that one. So, we were out of sync a little in that regard.”

TURNING POINT: Islanders killing off failed goal challenge. After having a goal challenge on Boston Bruins forward David Krejci’s powerplay goal at 3:57 of the second period denied, the Islanders faced the daunting task of killing off another Bruins powerplay or falling behind 2-0. Instead, they held the Bruins to just two shots on that man advantage and regained momentum in the game and 41 seconds after the Isles killed the Bruins powerplay, Islanders winger Kyle Palmieri tied the game at one. From that point on, the Islanders had a renewed intensity and purpose to their game.

HONORABLE MENTION: The physical play of this series from both teams. Yours truly predicted a seven-game series and it appears we may just be headed for that thanks to what has been an entertaining and physical series by both the New York Islander and the Boston Bruins. Coming into this game, the two teams had combined for 282 hits, and that physicality boiled over into Game 4 as there were two fighting majors in the first period. Boston Bruins winger Taylor Hall fought Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield 7:28 into the opening frame and Jarred Tinordi did the tango with Matt Martin at 9:23. The two teams combined for 30 penalty minutes and 57 hits in another heavyweight battle.

BY THE NUMBERS: 3,711. The number of days since Boston Bruins winger Taylor Hall’s last fight.

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Fight Night In The First For Game 4 Boston Bruins-New York Islanders!

Published 8 hours ago on June 5, 2021

By Jimmy Murphy

The Boston Bruins and New York Islanders were scoreless after one period of play in Game 4 but there was plenty of action and entertainment in what became Saturday Fight Night at the Nassau Coliseum.

The Boston Bruins and New York Islanders had combined for 282 hits in the first three games of the East Division Final and it almost seemed inevitable the individual battles that have been developing through that physical play were going to boil over at some point. Combine that with the fact the Islanders did not want this game to potentially be the last NHL game in the Coliseum and that point arrived in the first period of Game 4. There were two fights, a cross-check to the face of Boston Bruins forward Curtis Lazar from Islanders forward Mathew Barzal, and 29 combined hits.

Star players like Barzal, and before him, Boston Bruins winger Taylor Hall were getting into it, with Hall actually dropping the gloves with Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield 7:28 into the period. As NHL on NBC analyst Pierre McGuire pointed out after Hall got into his first fight since 2011, Hall and Mayfield have been battling each other hard all series and it finally boiled over.

Not even two minutes after Hall and Mayfield traded blows, Boston Bruins defenseman Jarred Tinordi and Islanders forward Matt Martin went toe-to-toe at 9:23 of the opening frame. This fight was the result of a hard hit on Barzal by Tinordi seconds earlier. That hit led to Barzal getting frustrated and cross-checking Laxzar when Lazar came to hit him right after that.

Ironically on Friday, Boston Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy was asked if he thought the officials in the series have done a good job of letting the players play and be physical. While Cassidy didn’t agree with penalties called on Charlie McAvoy and Brad Marchand resulting from scrums, he did agree that the physical play was being allowed and has made for a grueling series for the players and an entertaining one for fans.

“I do think they have allowed this to be what we expected, a physical series between the whistles and two evenly-matched teams battling it out every shift,” Cassidy said.

Boston Hockey Now LOADED: 06.06.2021 1215169 Boston Bruins -Semyon Varlamov replaced rookie goalie Ilya Sorokin for Game 2 and has delivered a pair of splendid performances for the Islanders. He was beaten by a bad angle Brad Marchand shot in overtime that he would Game 4: Boston Bruins @ New York Islanders Lines, Preview probably like to have back, but still stopped 39-of-41 shots in Game 3 while making save after save against a Boston Bruins team that was getting tons of offensive chances. Varlamov is now 1-3 with a 2.83 GAA and a .923 save percentage. Published 11 hours ago on June 5, 2021 -Cal Clutterbuck voiced empathy for Brandon Carlo after his violent, By Joe Haggerty clean hit along the end boards in Game 3 led to the Bruins defenseman exiting the game and will keep him out for Saturday night’s Game 4. It appeared that Carlo’s head smashed against the glass after the massive After seizing control of the best-of-seven series and reclaiming home ice impact, and it’s assumed that Carlo is out with a concussion. advantage with a Game 3 win at Nassau Coliseum on Thursday night, the Boston Bruins will look to take a commanding 3-to-1 lead over the “Obviously you feel bad, you don’t want to see anybody hurt. I’m not New York Islanders with a win in Game 4 of the East Division Final (7:30 going out there and trying to hurt people. That’s not the goal,” said PM ET, NBCSN, CBC, TVAS). Clutterbuck. “The goal is to be effective and try and create turnovers. So, when that happens, obviously it’s unfortunate. It gives you a bad feeling It’s likely to be another heavy, physical showdown between the Bruins in your stomach, definitely, and I don’t like to see that at all. I hope he’s and the Islanders where it’s gone to overtime in each of the last two okay.” games. That’s something that has Isles head coach Barry Trotz jacked and pumped for a Saturday night hockey showdown on Long Island in -The Islanders’ powerplay is 6-for-24 with a 24 percent success rate that the friendly confines of Nassau Coliseum. has them sixth among NHL teams in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

“This is a hell of a series. If I wasn’t coaching, I’d be glued to the TV -The Islanders’ penalty kill has killed off 12 of 18 power-play attempts every night. It’s a physical, determined series by both teams,” said Trotz. against in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, giving them a 66.7 percent success “I’m excited, Saturday night crowd at the Coliseum, Boston Bruins-New rate that’s among the worst of all teams in the Stanley Cup playoff field. York Islanders. Doesn’t get much better than that.”

Patrice Bergeron was focusing on another good start for the Bruins after Boston Hockey Now LOADED: 06.06.2021 an early goal in Game 3 essentially took the Islanders fan out of the game in the first period and allowed the B’s to play a perfect road hockey game.

“Have a good start, we’re focused on that. We know they’re a team that is gonna give you a push,” said Bergeron. “They’re well-coached, they’re going to make some adjustments. [We’ve got to] go out there and be ready for a tight game.”

Boston Bruins Notes

-Boston Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask will be back between the pipes for the B’s after making 28 saves in a strong Game 3 performance. Bruce Cassidy confirmed earlier this week that Rask is dealing with nagging injuries like every other player at this time of year, but the Bruins netminder looked healthy enough on Thursday after a couple days off between Game 2 and Game 3. Rask is 6-2 with a 1.93 GAA and .934 save percentage.

-Brandon Carlo (upper body) is out for Game 4 after getting clobbered by Cal Clutterbuck with a big hit along the end boards in Game 3 that caused a suspected concussion for the Bruins defenseman.

Brandon Carlo, who has a history of concussions, slams his head on the glass after this hit from Cal Clutterbuck.

Jarred Tinordi will draw into the lineup for the Black and Gold as a third pair defenseman, and Jeremy Lauzon will swing around to his right “off” side in a second pairing with Mike Reilly.

That being said Bruce Cassidy expects to do some mixing and matching with the defensemen pairs based on situations and how things unfold on Saturday night.

“You’re probably going to see a lot of different partners tonight together. I expect all six [defensemen] will be their best, and whatever helps us win is how we’ll approach it,” said Cassidy, of a middle pair featuring Reilly and left-handed Lauzon playing on his off side. “I’m sure you’ll see Reilly with different players. There’s no rule that says you have to play pairs every shift. You can mix guys in as the game unfolds and as [things] dictate it.”

–The Bruins’ powerplay is now 8-for-25 in the Stanley Cup Playoffs after going 0-for-2 in Game 3 against the Islanders. The Boston Bruins are scoring at a 32% clip on the powerplay that has them third in the NHL playoff field behind only the Colorado Avalanche and the Tampa Bay Lightning.

-After shutting the Islanders down on three power play chances in Game 3, the Bruins penalty kill has now killed off 24 of 30 power-play attempts against in the playoffs for an 80 percent success rate.

New York Islanders Notes 1215170 Boston Bruins

INJURY UPDATE: Boston Bruins Carlo Out For Game 4, Tinordi In

Published 14 hours ago on June 5, 2021

By Joe Haggerty

The Boston Bruins will have to get through at least one playoff game missing some significant size and strength on their back end.

Already down Kevan Miller after he took a big hit from Dmitry Orlov in the first round vs. Washington, the Bruins will also be missing Brandon Carlo (upper body) for Saturday night’s Game 4 against the New York Islanders at Nassau Coliseum. The 24-year-old shutdown defenseman and ace penalty killer was presumably concussed after absorbing a violent Cal Clutterbuck hit behind the Boston net in Game 3 where Carlo’s head appeared to slam into the glass.

Carlo looked dazed and wobbly immediately after the hit but felt good enough in the days afterward to already be riding the bike and doing off- ice workouts. Still, Carlo will be listed as “day-to-day” with the Bruins and won’t be close to playing until he’s able to resume practicing on the ice with his teammates.

“He’s on the bike today and he’s feeling better,” said Boston Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy of Carlo. “But until he’s on the ice obviously he’s not going to be able to play. We’ll see how he does, but he’s out tonight and we’ll see if he gets on the ice [on Sunday].”

It’s another tough development for Carlo, who missed 28 games during the regular season with a concussion, suffered at the hands of a dirty Tom Wilson head shot, and oblique issues for the Black and Gold.

As far as the Boston Bruins go, you’ll probably see Bruce Cassidy mixing and matching defensemen pairs and playing some guys on their weak sides while missing a couple of rugged right-handed defensemen.

“You’re probably going to see a lot of different partners tonight together. I expect all six [defensemen] will be their best, and whatever helps us win is how we’ll approach it,” said Cassidy, of a middle pair featuring Mike Reilly and left-handed Jeremy Lauzon playing on his off side. “I’m sure you’ll see Reilly with different players. There’s no rule that says you have to play pairs every shift. You can mix guys in as the game unfolds and as [things] dictate it.”

Miller is skating on his own back in Boston, so at this point he may be closer than Carlo to potentially returning to game action. But it remains to see how each player comes back in what can be a very non-linear recovery in the hockey world from concussions.

Boston Hockey Now LOADED: 06.06.2021 1215171 Boston Bruins paid the price for it. It’s why we didn’t score five-on-five. Just turned down way too many shots.”

Cassidy was not happy with the mistakes on the Islanders’ two five-on- For the Bruins, no offense plus defensive breakdowns equal a Game 4 five strikes. Mathew Barzal made a nice play to wear Curtis Lazar’s loss check up and down the wing. But an opening for Kyle Palmieri happened because Jeremy Lauzon retreated below the goal line instead of occupying the net-front area. By Fluto Shinzawa Before Barzal’s winner, DeBrusk approached the No. 1 center along the Jun 6, 2021 wall. This allowed Barzal to hit Scott Mayfield up top. Charlie Coyle deflected Mayfield’s shot. Barzal golfed the puck past Tuukka Rask for

the deciding goal. UNIONDALE, N.Y. — The Bruins were in great shape. They were up 1-0 “Their two five-on-five goals, we had major D-zone breakdowns,” Cassidy at 3:57 of the second period after a power-play goal. They were ready for said. “One, the D behind the net. The other one, on the wall, the winger another one. dives down on Barzal,” Cassidy said. “That’s basic coverage that he has Islanders coach Barry Trotz made an ill-advised decision to challenge to hold his position until the center arrives.” David Krejci’s strike for goalie interference. Referees Jean Hebert and The Bruins may be getting blue-line reinforcements in Game 5. Kevan Chris Lee saw nothing on the replay that suggested Semyon Varlamov Miller has been skating in Boston. He would be a welcome addition to was impeded from playing Krejci’s shot. blunting the Islanders’ forecheck, winning pucks and initiating movement So the Bruins went right back on the power play. They could have the other way. grabbed control of the game with another goal. The Bruins could use the help. Not only did they fail to grab a 2-0 second-period lead, but they also “We feel we’re their equal and more,” Cassidy said of the Islanders. didn’t put a single puck on net. “We’ve just got to go out and prove it on Monday.” “No one wanted to shoot the puck,” coach Bruce Cassidy said of his No.

2 power-play unit after the Bruins’ 4-1 Game 4 loss, which tied the series at 2-2. “They still practice a lot. We have certain people we want to run it The Athletic LOADED: 06.06.2021 through. But every one of them refused to shoot the puck. We had it in the slot, turned down a shot. The elbow, up top. It just kills your momentum.”

It was a night the Bruins could have used another power-play goal. They got nothing at even strength. It was an easy night for Varlamov, who gave the Bruins Game 3 by letting in Brad Marchand’s long-distance, bad-angle goal.

During five-on-five play, the Bruins put 19 shots on goal. Only four of them qualified as high-danger shots, according to Natural Stat Trick. It was the least the Bruins totaled in each of the four games.

The No. 2 line, ripping hot in Game 3, laid an egg. Craig Smith and Taylor Hall recorded only one shot each. Krejci did not control the puck enough to give his linemates room to generate offense.

“I definitely didn’t have it today,” Krejci said.

The nature of the loss was what concerned Cassidy the most. He had few complaints about how his team rumbled through the neutral zone and piled up scoring chances in each of the first three games.

In Game 4, the Bruins looked like they were skating through mud. The Islanders played their best clog-it-up defense of the series.

They gave the Bruins nothing through center ice. They always had numbers back. The Bruins did not see much offensive daylight between the dots.

So if the Islanders have found their game, the Bruins may be in trouble.

“Through the neutral zone, they didn’t change much of what they were doing. Tonight, for whatever reason, we had a really tough time getting our D moving their feet through there. There were some things we just couldn’t do that we’ve done in the first three games to generate offense. Obviously, credit the Islanders. But for us, when you do it for three straight games, then tonight … We’ll have to look at it. Were we antsy? Just not executing? We didn’t have the energy? There’s a lot of different things that go into it. I just don’t believe we got through there crisp and got on the attack, force them to defend and play down low in their end. We didn’t have a lot of extended shifts in their end because of that.”

The Bruins’ inability to pierce the Islanders’ neutral-zone resistance showed in their numbers. Chris Wagner and Jake DeBrusk led all Bruins forwards with two five-on-five shots. Those are not the players the Bruins want ripping pucks on net. All six of their threats on the top two lines had just one apiece.

“The lack of urgency to get a puck to the net, I think, was a bit of the formula tonight in general,” Cassidy said. “We weren’t willing to shoot enough and get some opportunities to get to their goaltender. And we 1215172 Boston Bruins shoot from the point (five shots). Reilly played 22:29, second-most after Charlie McAvoy (29:11).

“That is available to us, the way they defend in their own end,” Cassidy If Brandon Carlo is out for Game 4, what will the Bruins do? said of point shots. “Got to be ready to go low to high and get it back to the net while they’re still recovering. Breakouts, we know he’s (Reilly) going to make good plays. He’ll stretch teams out if there’s an available By Fluto Shinzawa option. And he’s defended well for us. He’s long. I wouldn’t call him a hard player, necessarily. But when it’s his turn to battle, he’s certainly Jun 5, 2021 willing to do it. He’s been a good addition for us. The good thing about Mike is he doesn’t overextend shifts very often. He doesn’t put himself in bad spots where he’s at a disadvantage. He’s a smart hockey player in By late in the third period and overtime Thursday, the Islanders placed that regard when he’s defending. He knows what he’s good at, what he their pucks with purpose. They took some muscle off their dump-ins to can get away with, how to defend to his strengths.” discourage Tuukka Rask, usually efficient at settling pucks, from leaving his crease. They aimed pucks at the flanks of the trapezoid, forcing the Cassidy would likely run Lauzon with Jarred Tinordi on the No. 3 pairing. Bruins defensemen to turn and put themselves in harm’s way. Tinordi performed stoutly in his lone postseason appearance: the Game 5 first-round clincher over Washington. Tinordi played 19:02 of neat, The blueprint on their only Game 2 goal was worth following. efficient, stay-at-home hockey.

“They score that goal, and the thing I noticed, they just started soft- This would require Lauzon to switch to his weak side. It’s not ideal. But dumping pucks, really forechecking hard and putting pressure on our D,” the Bruins do not have any right-shot defensemen available. Urho Rask said. “It becomes very taxing for those guys. But we battled. Glad Vaakanainen and Jakub Zboril, both lefties, are behind Tinordi on the we got the win.” depth chart.

It was signature Islanders hockey. Kyle Palmieri’s initial forecheck gave A Tinordi-Lauzon pair would not be high on foot speed or puck play. But Connor Clifton no time to breathe while retreating for the puck. Palmieri’s they would offer stout resistance to the Islanders’ heavies, particularly arrival allowed Mathew Barzal to gain puck control and go low to high for their fourth line of Matt Martin, Casey Cizikas and Clutterbuck. They have Nick Leddy. Following a D-to-D pass to Ryan Pulock, Sean Kuraly got been difference-makers because of their speed and ferocity. enough of the defenseman’s point shot to steer it wide. New York’s fourth line will lead its team’s charge to even the series. The But in his pursuit of the puck behind the net, Clifton misread its trajectory. Bruins know even rougher stuff is coming. Instead of chasing it short side, Clifton went the long way. This gave Barzal time to settle the puck and push it past Rask with three whacks.

“The goal we gave up, we had a breakdown in front of our net by our D. The Athletic LOADED: 06.06.2021 Took the wrong route,” coach Bruce Cassidy said. “Guy stayed with the puck, Barzal. Tuukka was strong on the post. Unfortunately, just didn’t quite seal it.”

Barzal’s goal was not the only reason for the Islanders’ emphasis on puck placement. The consequence of Cal Clutterbuck’s body slam of Brandon Carlo was another.

That will not change in Game 4.

The Bruins will chase a 3-1 series lead Saturday. Carlo may not be part of the fun.

Cassidy said Carlo was feeling better Friday morning after slamming the left side of his head into the glass in the third period. Cassidy classified the defenseman as day to day.

It would have been a good opening for Kevan Miller. The right-shot defenseman is skating and on the mend following his high hit from Washington’s Dmitry Orlov on May 21. But Miller will not be available, either. Miller’s belligerence, skating and puck clearance are assets the Bruins hope to welcome back, perhaps, for Game 5.

Miller is especially missed on the penalty kill, where he averaged 2 minutes, 26 seconds of ice time per game during the regular season. The PK is Carlo’s bread and butter to an even greater degree. Carlo averaged 2:47 of man-down time per game during the regular season.

“Kevan’s probably got a little more composure when he’s on,” Cassidy said, comparing the veteran to Clifton and Jeremy Lauzon. “He’s been around a little longer. The other guys are building that in. Cliffy, this is a few playoffs for him. You’re seeing more of that in his game — less risk and just a little more efficient play. With Lauzy, he has to learn that part of the game by going through the playoffs. He’s getting better at it.”

If Carlo is out for Game 4, Cassidy’s likeliest maneuver will be to move Clifton onto the second pair with Mike Reilly. They earned results during the regular season.

In 98:58 of shared five-on-five time, according to Natural Stat Trick, Reilly and Clifton helped the Bruins outscore opponents by a 9-2 margin (81.82 goals-for share). Shot share (64.65 SF%) and attempts (63.52 CF%) were also heavily in the Bruins’ favor with Reilly and Clifton roaming the ice.

Reilly, formerly Carlo’s partner, was a three-zone participant in Game 3. He was fast on retrievals, accurate with his outlet passes and eager to 1215173 Calgary Flames Mangiapane was selected as player-of-the-game and also voted as one Canada’s top three performers at the tournament — sharing that distinction with his linemates Connor Brown and Adam Henrique.

Flames forward Mangiapane leads Canada to gold-medal game at That’s not the only hardware that he’ll be headed home with. worlds The only question now is will his medal be gold or silver? And, with two game-winning goals already in the playoff round, how will ‘Eat-Bread — Wes Gilbertson or, if you prefer, ‘Wonder-Bread’ — cap this international breakout?

Publishing date: Jun 05, 2021 “It’s been a crazy tournament — we start off 0-3 as a team and now we’re just playing our best hockey and we’re riding the momentum,” Mangiapane told TSN after Canada advanced to the final. “We have one more game to go, but it’s been great how we’re playing. It’s been great In Calgary, some fans call him ‘Eat-Bread.’ That is, after all, the meaning how we’re coming back and just playing the right way. It’s awesome to of his last name in Italian. see from our group. We have to keep it going, though.” In Andrew Mangiapane’s first appearance on the international stage,

‘Wonder-Bread’ seems like a more appropriate nickname. Calgary Sun: LOADED: 06.06.2021 Fresh off a career-best offensive campaign with the Flames, Mangiapane has now powered Team Canada to Sunday’s gold-medal game at the 2021 IIHF World Hockey Championship in Latvia.

The 25-year-old left-winger was the overtime hero in a quarterfinal upset against Russia and followed up with two more tallies — including another game-winner — in a semifinal victory over the Americans.

“There’s no question that Andrew Mangiapane is the MVP of this team,” praised Dave Reid, a longtime NHL forward and a studio analyst for TSN’s coverage of worlds. “The energy that he brings, the excitement he brings to the team … If you’re a Calgary Flames fan, you saw it when he played with the Flames. Darryl Sutter even commented about the way Mangiapane played during the regular season.

“He’s brought that excitement and that level of intensity to this team, and it has really made a difference from this being just an average team that struggles to score to being a possible gold-medal team that scores at the right time. He has been a delight to watch.”

You’ll get to watch him one more time.

Team Canada faces Finland in Sunday’s championship clash (11 a.m. MT, TSN).

Because the Flames had to play a string of make-up dates against the Vancouver Canucks, Mangiapane was a late arrival at worlds.

By the time he had completed his quarantine requirements, Team Canada had sputtered to an 0-3 start.

Since then?

Mangiapane has racked up seven goals and 11 points in his six outings. He’s now tied for the tournament lamp-lighting lead, and that’s despite his delayed start.

Canada’s lone setback with No. 88 in the lineup was a shootout loss to the Finns in the round-robin finale. They’ll get a crack at avenging that result in the gold-medal matchup.

“It’s crazy how we’ve competed. We’ve been the underdogs probably in every game, and we just keep proving people wrong,” Mangiapane said in Saturday’s post-game interview on TSN. “It’s great to see from our guys — all the character and the battle level. We’re not done, though. We have one more game to take care of business here.”

Mangiapane, one of the few bright spots for the Flames this winter with a career-high 18 goals during the shortened slate, has talked repeatedly about how proud he was to receive that first call to represent his country and has done his darnedest to prolong his stay in Latvia.

After polishing off a sweet feed from Troy Stecher for the sudden-death snipe against the Russians, he played a starring role again in a 4-2 victory over Team USA in Saturday’s semis.

The feisty forward from Bolton, Ont., won a battle along the end-boards early in the second period — showing the relentless work ethic that has made him an emerging fan favourite in Calgary — and made a move to the net, where he eventually poked in a loose puck during a chaotic scramble around the crease.

The would-be winner came on a breakaway early in the third frame. Mangiapane fooled Cal Peterson of the with a crafty deke to his forehand. 1215174 Carolina Hurricanes The Canes will have an extra day to prepare for Game 5 on Tuesday, to mull over what needs to be done. Injured center Vincent Trocheck might be able to return, although that remains in question. The Canes have The Hurricanes had the playoff series right where they wanted it. Then time to try and shake this loss out of their system and get mentally honed they didn’t in for the next one.

But one thing the Canes must do to keep their season alive is beat the reigning Stanley Cup champions, a team with a healthy Kucherov, three BY CHIP ALEXANDER straight times.

JUNE 05, 2021 08:50 PM Do the Canes have that belief in their room?

“One hundred percent,” Fast said.

Jaccob Slavin was quickly surrounded by his teammates on the ice, almost as if he had won the game. News Observer LOADED: 06.06.2021 The Carolina Hurricanes defenseman had gotten off a shot from the bottom of the left circle Saturday, the puck grazing the near post as it sailed past Tampa Bay goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy. Slavin broke into a big smile. So did forwards Steven Lorentz and Cedric Paquette as they skated to him. Amalie Arena was quiet.

At that point in Game 4 of the playoff series, the Canes had scored their fourth goal of the second period for a 4-2 lead. That was four goals past Vasilevskiy, the former Vezina Trophy winner and a 2021 finalist who had given up five total in the first three games. That was against the Tampa Bay Lightning, the 2020 Stanley Cup champion.

“We were in a good spot,” Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour said.

The Canes were in position to collect a second straight road victory. It all seemed to be falling into place. Would they go back to Raleigh with a 2-2 tie in the series, pumped, feeling it, having regained the home-ice advantage?

No, the Canes would not. They couldn’t stay out of the penalty box, they suddenly couldn’t stop the Tampa Bay power play from scoring, they started making mental errors and it all began to unravel and fall apart, ending in a 6-4 loss that was hard for the Canes to stomach.

Slavin, an alternate captain, tried to say all the right things after the debacle, a wild game that started with the Canes’ Warren Foegele and Tampa Bay’s Blake Coleman both whistled for penalties — before the opening draw. Push, shove, whistle, two penalties.

The penalty on Foegele was not costly for the Canes. Others were.

“We took some bad penalties tonight, and if you give that caliber of power play that many chances it’s not a recipe for success,” Slavin said. “We’ve got to stay more disciplined and play hard but play smart, as well, and not give them chances they don’t need. Special teams got us tonight.”

As Canes forward Jesper Fast said, “We had the momentum and it went pretty quickly.”

It had to be a frustrating game for Brind’Amour. There were calls he disagreed with, and there were some he agreed with during the game.

One penalty he did not like was a boarding call against Canes forward Jordan Martinook at 9:09 of the second. It came four minutes after Fast had followed up a Teuvo Teravainen goal with another for a 2-1 lead, and the Lightning quickly converted on a Steven Stamkos power-play score, his first goal of the game.

Nor was Brind’Amour happy after Andrei Svechnikov was called for roughing Yanni Gourde with 53 seconds left in second. Brind’Amour wasn’t so much hot about the Svechnikov call as having Tampa Bay defenseman Mikhail Sergachev cross-check Sebastian Aho in the back at the same spot along the boards, knocking Aho down but not being whistled.

Stamkos scored again on the power play and the Lightning had a 5-4 lead to end the second. When Tampa Bay turned a Jake Bean turnover into a Nikita Kucherov transition score six minutes into the third, it was 6- 4 and the Canes were left discombobulated and unable to answer.

“In the second period we started to take over and we had the momentum and then we made it a little too hard on ourselves, taking too many penalties,” Fast said. “Five on five we’re playing good and doing a lot of good things. I really believe if we play our way and stay out of the box we’re going to turn this series around.” 1215175 Carolina Hurricanes By the time the second period was over, the Hurricanes had gone from two up to one down and Mrazek -- so good in Game 3 and to start Game 4 -- was lunging at shadows. He certainly did on Tampa’s sixth goal from Hurricanes push their own season to the precipice with a parade to the Nikita Kucherov that put the game away, after Bean was pick-pocketed at penalty box the offensive blue line.

So it’ll almost certainly be Alex Nedeljkovic in Game 5, out of desperation as much as necessity, the yawning precipice now all too close. BY LUKE DECOCK Their backs will be against the wall. Their butts can’t be in the box. JUNE 05, 2021 08:05 PM

News Observer LOADED: 06.06.2021 TAMPA, FLA.

There’s no point in blaming the officials or Petr Mrazek or Dougie Hamilton or Jake Bean or any of the obvious if insufficient suspects.

This was a team loss, a collective failure of discipline, that pushed the Carolina Hurricanes to the brink of elimination in a game where they did everything else they needed to win.

If there was one thing the Hurricanes could control, that was entirely within their grasp, it was not putting themselves in a position where penalties could be called against them, giving the Tampa Bay Lightning’s 1.21 gigawatt power play a chance to go to work.

Certainly, they couldn’t do it six times -- 6, seis, seize -- and get away with it.

They most certainly did not.

So the Hurricanes now stare the end of their season squarely in the eyes on Tuesday after Saturday’s whiplash-inducing 6-4 loss. They need only look in the mirror if they wonder how they got there having staked out a two-goal lead in the middle of a wild second period before successfully self-sabotaging themselves with a parade to the penalty box.

“We had the momentum,” Hurricanes forward Jesper Fast said. “It went pretty quick there when they scored three straight goals. It’s tough but we’ve got to find a way to bounce back and unfortunately today we didn’t.”

Even if Tampa got away with an infraction or two, even if the penalty on Jordan Martinook in particular was light, that’s just dancing around the margins. The others -- including two in the offensive zone by Andrei Svechnikov, an infuriating habit that has become a crippling indulgence -- were penalties, by the spirit and the letter of the law.

The rest of it? There’s not much they can do about Andrei Vasilevskiy -- who finally blinked Saturday -- or the rest of the Lightning but play an honest game and hope for the best. That’s hockey. The better team usually, but not always, wins.

But if there’s one critical and cardinal advantage Tampa Bay has in this series, it’s a power play that clicked along at 40% in the first round, scoring eight goals in only six games and is now 5-for-11 in the four games of this series. The Hurricanes can’t compete with that. No one can.

At even strength, the Hurricanes had a 23-22 edge in scoring chances and outscored the Lighting 4-3. Factor in special teams, and Tampa had a 32-24 edge and won 6-4.

That’s the game. That may be the series.

“We took some bad penalties tonight,” Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin said. “If you give that caliber of power play that many chances it’s not a recipe for success. We’ve just got to stay more disciplined and play hard, but play smart as well and not give them chances they don’t need.”

The Bolts may not be the 1956 Montreal Canadiens -- the team that prompted the rule change that penalized players no longer had to serve the full two minutes no matter how many times the opposition scored -- but the man advantage is their trump card. The only way to win that game is not to play at all.

So what did the Hurricanes do, in the midst of that four-goal second period of their own?

Took four penalties. The Lightning scored on three of them and needed only 142 seconds to do it.

“That’s the game in a nutshell,” Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “Cut it any way you want. We can’t take six penalties.” 1215176 Carolina Hurricanes second, Tampa Bay took the 5-4 lead on Stamkos’ score with 23 seconds left.

FIRST PERIOD: TAMPA BAY LEADS 1-0 Four second-period goals not enough for the Hurricanes in wild Game 4 loss to Lightning Tampa Bay’s Brayden Point won’t score an easier goal. After Canes goalie Petr Mrazek had many several sparkling saves, Point was able to drift in alone on the backdoor for a tap-in and 1-0 lead after the first.

BY CHIP ALEXANDER With defenseman Dougie Hamilton late in picking up his man, Point took JUNE 05, 2021 03:41 PM a pass from Ondrej Palat -- Canes defenseman Jaccob Slavin just missed getting a skate on the pass -- and scored his seventh of the playoffs at 14:24 of the period.

It’s now elementary for the Carolina Hurricanes: win or put away the The Lightning outshot the Canes 12-7 in the period, had 14 scoring skates for the season. chances to the Canes’ six, and maintained possession in the Carolina end much of the period. The Canes have had few good offensive The Tampa Bay Lightning streaked to a 6-4 victory over the Canes on chances -- held to two “high danger” -- and gotten better play from its Saturday at Amalie Arena, seizing a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven Stanley fourth line than the top three lines. Cup playoff series. The Canes did kill off two penalties in the first against the Lightning’s Game 5 will be played Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at PNC Arena. The Canes potent power play -- the highlight of the period for Carolina. will either win and hold a postgame Storm Surge, or will form a handshake line to congratulate the series winner. Forward Warren Foegele, who injured a shoulder in Game 3, has been able to play in Game 4. In an odd circumstance, Foegele and Tampa’s The Lightning, the 2020 Stanley Cup champion, showed resilience Blake Coleman both were called for unsportsmanlike conduct penalties Saturday. Tampa Bay fell behind 4-2 in the second period as the Canes jostling on the opening draw. reeled off four straight goals, but scored the last three goals of the period and then picked up the first goal in the third for a 6-4 lead. Talk about an odd start. Canes defenseman Brady Skjei clipped Nikita Kucherov with a high stick in the Canes zone. He was first sent to the Tampa Bay, which scored three power-play goals, got two goals and an penalty box, then told he could leave as Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper assist from both Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov. howled in protest. No penalty was called. It made for a long day for both goalies. Tampa Bay’s Andrei Vasilevskiy Another weird play: play was stopped when the puck slipped down the allowed four goals in the second period and the Canes’ Petr Mrazek, pants of the Canes’ Jordan Staal. starting after a Game 3 victory, was touched for six in the game. GAME SETUP: HANDLING UPS AND DOWNS The Canes took a 2-1 lead in the second period as Teuvo Teravainen and Jesper Fast scored in 39 seconds. After Tampa Bay tied it, Lightning coach Jon Cooper has his own way of describing the Stanley defensemen Dougie Hamilton and Jaccob Slavin both scored in a little Cup playoffs. more than two minutes for a 4-2 cushion. “A big, damn roller coaster,” Cooper said after Tampa Bay’s 3-2 overtime But the Canes continually had their momentum stymied by penalties. loss Thursday in Game 3 against the Canes. Kucherov scored on the power play after a Jake Bean holding call, and Stamkos got his power-play goal with 23 seconds left in the second Cooper also used all the expected coachspeak terms. A team must “turn period after an Andrei Svechnikov roughing penalty. the page,” not get too high or low, must keep “trusting the process.”

In the third, Bean turned the puck over and Tampa Bay scored in “You’ve got to keep going. You can’t hang your head on these,” Cooper transition as Kucherov ripped a shot past Mrazek for his second goal of said. the game at 6:01 of the period. That’s what the Canes did: kept going, They lost the first two games of Slavin had a goal and assist, and Svechnikov two assists for the Canes. the second-round series at home. They lost forward to Brayden Point had a goal and assist for Tampa Bay. an injury before Game 1, Vincent Trocheck in Game 2 and then Warren Foegele in Game 3. SECOND PERIOD: 20 MINUTES, 8 GOALS They also found a way to keep going, win a game and get back in the The second period was wild. There’s no other way to put it as the Canes series. The Canes, with goalie Petr Mrazek in net, were able to control and Lightning combined for eight goals, leaving Tampa Bay in front 5-4. the emotional lows of playing well but losing both games in Raleigh, then won an emotional game in Tampa despite losing a 2-0 lead. Talk about After being generally outplayed most of the first period, the Canes took a ebbs and flows. 2-1 lead, had the Lightning tie it, retook the lead in goals by defensemen Dougie Hamilton and Jaccob Slavin, and then lost it again. “It’s definitely real,” Brind’Amour said Saturday morning. “There’s so much of that going on and that is the key, to just embrace it. You know The Canes first killed off a tripping call against Andrei Svechnikov, then it’s going to happen in the games and there’s going to be ups and downs, got goals from Teuvo Teravainen and Jesper Fast in a span of 39 and things happen for you and against you, and you’ve got to just seconds for the 2-1 lead. Hamilton and Slavin later scored two goals in keeping grinding it out. 2:06. “And understanding that is part of it. It’s part of the process. And not let it The Lightning countered with two power-play goals from Steven Stamkos affect you in a bad way.” and one from Nikita Kucherov. Tyler Johnson’s goal tied it 4-4 with 2:50 left in the period and Stamkos’ second gave Tampa the 5-4 lead. Teams rarely play poorly in the playoffs and win but teams can often play well and lose. The Canes felt that way after the two games in Raleigh. Jordan Staal found Teravainen open in the slot for a quick shot at 4:30 to Some of the Lightning players said the same after Game 3. tie it 1-1. Fast then scored his first of the playoffs at 5:09 for the lead. “I think it might be different if we didn’t play a good game and they won, A boarding penalty against Jordan Martinook allowed Tampa Bay to tie it but I think for the most part we’re pretty happy with the way we played,” on Stamkos’ first goal after the Canes had killed off the first three Tampa Bay’s Brayden Point said after the game. “I liked our game, liked penalties of the game. our compete.” The Canes answered. Hamilton scored on a shot from the point. Slavin It’s simple math now: the Canes either will return to Raleigh with the scored on a shot from the left boards for a 4-2 lead. series tied 2-2 or trailing 3-1. But could the pressure have shifted toward But a penalty against defenseman Jake Bean stalled the momentum. the home team for Game 4? Kucherov made it a 4-3 game with his power-play strike and Johnson tied “The pressure’s there for everybody, always,” Brind’Amour said. it. After a roughing call against Svechnikov with 53 seconds left in the CANES LINEUP Mrazek will again be the starting goalie, Brind’Amour said. The lineup, he said, might not change from Game 3 although Brind’Amour said both Trocheck and Foegele could be game-time decisions.

Foegele did come out for the pregame warmup as did forward Max McCormick.

HISTORY CHECK

Much has been made of how the Canes lost their first two games at home against Montreal in 2006 and then recovered to win four straight, the series and go on to win the Cup. But the Canes also were 1-2 in their series against Buffalo in the 2006 Eastern Conference final heading into Game 4 in Buffalo.

The Canes, with Martin Gerber replacing rookie Cam Ward in net, beat the Sabres 4-0. Gerber also started Game 5 before being lifted for Ward, who took it the rest of the way in the playoffs.

News Observer LOADED: 06.06.2021 1215177 Carolina Hurricanes played between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Montreal Canadiens April 28, 2006 at the Bell Center in Montreal. Rod Brind’Amour scored the winning goal for the Caners in the third period; they won 3-2 to tie the Often overlooked for defensive acumen, Jaccob Slavin recognized for series at 2-2. Chris Seward CHRIS SEWARD sportsmanship “We’re not in a great spot, down 2-1,” Brind’Amour said. “We have to win another game here, but at least we have that opportunity. That’s what our win (Thursday) gave us.” BY LUKE DECOCK With Brind’Amour on the bench, the Hurricanes were also down 2-0 to JUNE 05, 2021 11:28 AM the Washington Capitals in 2019 after losing the first two games on the road, won the next two at home and advanced with a double-overtime

road win in Game 7. TAMPA, FLA. Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal was also part of a pair of comebacks When Jaccob Slavin was announced Thursday night as assisting on from 2-0 down with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2009 on the way to the Sebastian Aho’s goal, his name was pronounced by the public-address Stanley Cup (and a conference finals sweep of the Hurricanes), albeit announcer at Amalie Arena as “Yakob Slah-vin,” not typically the kind of both on the road. gross name-mangling you’d associate with one of the best players in the Despite his experience in the situation, Brind’Amour joked he would NHL. prefer not to be in that position at all. The Carolina Hurricanes defenseman’s two-way acumen has often gone “I’d rather be in their shoes up 2-1, rather than down 2-1,” Brind’Amour overlooked because he doesn’t put up big scoring numbers like some of said. his peers, but that’s starting to change, and not only because of how obviously and grievously the Hurricanes missed him when he was injured Brind’Amour said Warren Foegele (shoulder) and Vincent Trocheck (leg) during the first round. were both game-time decisions for Game 4 on Saturday. Trocheck was injured in an ankle-to-ankle collision with Foegele in Game 2 and did not Slavin on Saturday was named one of three finalists for the NHL’s Lady play in Game 3; Foegele was hurt on a hard check at center ice and Byng Trophy, which recognizes sportsmanship and “gentlemanly lasted only one shift in Thursday’s third period. conduct” and typically goes to the best player with the fewest penalty minutes. Slavin took one penalty in 52 games this season, delay of game Morgan Geekie stepped in for Trocheck on Thursday and Max for flipping the puck over the glass. McCormick would likely be next if neither Trocheck nor Foegele is available. Only one defenseman has won the trophy since 1954 -- Brian Campbell of the in 2012 -- but two were finalists this year, Slavin Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Petr Mrazek (34) stops a shot by Tampa and the Minnesota Wild’s Jared Spurgeon. Toronto Maple Leafs forward Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (86) during the second period in Auston Matthews was the third finalist. Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series Thursday, June 3, 2021, in Tampa. Chris O'Meara AP Three other defensemen -- Campbell, Brian Leetch and Nicklas Lidstrom -- have been named Lady Byng finalists in the past 65 years. Petr Mrazek is expected to return in goal.

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon, last year’s winner, “There are going to be game-time decisions on a couple guys,” forfeited any future consideration in April when he picked the helmet of Brind’Amour said. “As far as the lineup goes, I’m hoping we’ll have the forward Conor Garland off the ice and threw it at his same one.” head, so the competition is wide open.

Going into Game 4 against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday, Slavin is one of only four active players -- and only eight in NHL history -- to play News Observer LOADED: 06.06.2021 in 29 playoff games without taking a penalty. Former Hurricanes forward Manny Malhotra (who never appeared in a postseason game with the franchise) is one of the other seven.

Over the course of his career, only one defenseman in NHL history -- Bill Quackenbush, who won the Lady Byng in 1949 -- has played in at least 200 games and taken fewer penalty minutes per game than Slavin.

Ron Francis won the Lady Byng with the Hurricanes in 2002.

On Thursday, Hurricanes goalie Alex Nedeljkovic was named a finalist for the Calder Trophy, which goes to the NHL’s rookie of the year. Slavin should, but probably won’t, be under consideration for the Norris Trophy that goes to the NHL’s best defenseman. Those finalists will be announced Wednesday.

WAKING THE ECHOES

Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour has tried to shake off any comparisons or similarities to the team he captained to the Stanley Cup 15 years ago, but they’re starting to pile up in this series.

The Hurricanes lost the first two games to the Lightning at home, then switched goalies and won Game 3 in overtime on the road. That’s the same script as the first round in 2006, more or less, although there are so many differences that this is really just a faint echo of the past rather than a repeat of it. (For one, the rookie goalie gave way to the veteran, instead of the other way around.)

Still, a win in Game 4 on Saturday would make it only the 30th playoff series in NHL history where the road team won the first four games, with the first-round series against the Montreal Canadiens in 2006 one of them.

The Canes Mike Commodore (22) lays a big check on Montreal’s Mike Ribeiro (71) during the second period of Game 4 of an NHL playoff game 1215178 Carolina Hurricanes period — not even on Tampa Bay’s power-play opportunity of the period. But that wouldn’t last, and Steven Stamkos broke through for a goal on the Lightning’s first shot on the second power play of the period for a Hurricanes, pushed to the brink in Game 4, need more discipline if goal. That was basically the game. they’re to keep their season alive I’m not saying the Lightning aren’t working hard, but I am starting to think that quote on all of our eighth-grade basketball team T-shirts — “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard” — is nonsense, at least By Sara Civian when you get to this level.

Jun 6, 2021 “Hard work doesn’t allow a single shot on goal for 10 minutes, then talent scores on that one shot” might be a more accurate representation of

what happened Saturday. Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour is becoming notorious for his Regardless, we were looking for a response from the Canes when they expressiveness in his third year at the helm. Whether it’s via blunt were down a goal as they headed into the third. They responded by comments or eyes bulging out of his head, he’s real, he doesn’t seem to allowing another goal. know how to not be real, and it’s refreshing. I hope he never loses that. “Hockey’s a back-and-forth game, and especially when you’re playing One thing I’ve noticed the past two seasons, though: He’s taken on a bit that caliber of team, you’re going to have those ebbs and flows to the of an eye roll whenever he’s asked to draw comparisons between the game. Like you said, yeah, when you score four in a game, you’re feeling Hurricanes of these past three seasons and the 2005-06 Hurricanes he good, and then the momentum kind of swings, and you can’t let that captained to a Stanley Cup. happen,” Slavin said. “Specialty teams are what got us tonight, and you It’s just that there aren’t many on-ice similarities, and that’s OK; the take those out of the game and it’s a different game out there. league has changed so much. The tangibles of championship DNA look Emotionally, we’ve just got to stay in it. We’ve got to continue to do what a little bit younger and faster now. And every team that wins the Cup has we can do to control what we can control, and that’s our work ethic and a little something different to it, something other NHL teams then spend how hard we’re battling. Everything else is just going to come as it the next five years trying to emulate. That’s where the little Brind’Amour comes. We’ve got to be smarter out there, and just continue to work eye roll comes in. hard.”

But the intangibles it takes to win a Stanley Cup remain the same, and We’ve lauded the resiliency of this team all season, but wasting a game resiliency is at the top of the list. It’s also something the Canes have when Vasilevskiy let in four goals seems especially hard to come back been deservedly lauded for all season. from. The Canes now head back to Raleigh for a do-or-die Game 5 on Tuesday. How do they keep the series going? “Nothing’s come easy for this group, ever. Nothing’s ever handed to them,” Brind’Amour said after Game 1. “Everything they’ve gotten, “We’ve got to be way more disciplined,” Fast said. “They came out hard, they’ve earned. There’s never been an easy game. It seems like there’s but in the second period we started to take over and we had the never been anything that’s gone easily. Obviously, we’re in the playoffs. momentum, and we made it too hard on ourselves by taking too many We’re going to have to go earn every inch of ice that we get, every goal. penalties.” But this group’s always bounced back. So I don’t expect anything different.” The Athletic LOADED: 06.06.2021 We’re four games in now, and the Hurricanes trail 3-1 in the best-of- seven series after a 6-4 loss to the Lightning on Saturday. But Brind’Amour’s earlier point holds. That’s basically been the story ever since as they’ve faced Andrei Vasilevskiy the Giant. The Hurricanes finally copped a win in Game 3, and Game 4 on Saturday was giving off the resiliency vibes after a rare early comeback thanks to Teuvo Teravainen and Jesper Fast at the beginning of the second period. Then, they actually earned a two-goal lead in the same period thanks to Dougie Hamilton and Jaccob Slavin. Would this be a tale of resiliency persevering?

Judging by my Twitter mentions, y’all don’t need me to answer that question — the Canes let a two-goal lead and the chance to put a rare L on Vasilevskiy slip away. In retrospect, letting a game in which Vasilevskiy allowed four goals after the Canes had been knocking to no avail all series might be the worst part.

“We scored four on him,” Brind’Amour said. “We needed to win that game. He’s probably not going to let four in again. So I just think, again, we weren’t sharp and then we got going and the penalties killed us.”

Yeah, “the penalties killed us” is the game from the Hurricanes’ perspective summed up in four words. The Canes allowed three goals on six Lightning power-play opportunities, and Brind’Amour would agree they were all fair penalties. Sometimes the truth is so harsh because it’s so simple, and that’s exactly what happened.

“You can’t give them too many cracks at it, right?” Brind’Amour said. “They don’t need a lot of opportunities. They get one good look, and it’s going in the net. They’ve got guys that can finish — that’s just what they do. That’s the story, you can write anything else that you want, you can talk about it, that’s the story right there. You can’t take those penalties, and we did.”

In a series that’s been marked by rising tensions and low-event hockey, the eight-goal second-period floodgates opened. The Lightning rose up, doing what they do — finding comfort in the uncomfortable, holding a team off and then scoring at the perfect time to deflate their opponent.

Before deflation, the Hurricanes did what they do for a while, too. They didn’t allow a Lightning shot on goal for the entire first half of the second 1215179 Chicago Blackhawks “[The Hawks] were a big part of my passion for hockey,” Behrens said. “Winning the three [Stanley] Cups in six years was really cool for me to watch as a young kid growing up.”

Matthew Coronato, Sean Behrens headline Chicago-connected Now the 24th-ranked North American skater, Behrens hasn’t met with the prospects preparing for NHL Draft Hawks yet but could also be on their radar. He’s a projected second- or third-round pick and the Hawks hold two second-round selections.

By Ben Pope@BenPopeCST Behrens is undersized at only 5-10, but his puck-moving skills make him one of the better offensive defensemen available in this year’s draft. Jun 5, 2021, 6:30am CDT “I‘m a two-way defenseman who loves to join the rush,” he said. “I’m a good skater with good [enough] hockey IQ to find passing lanes and open up my teammates. I’m a really good transition player.” Yet again this year, the NHL draft — both the actual event and its extensive lead-up — is entirely virtual. Many 2021 draft-eligible prospects, especially those in Canadian junior leagues, haven’t played a ton of games over the past two years due to For forward Matthew Coronato, whose explosive season with the local the pandemic. That hasn’t been the case for Behrens, however. Chicago Steel rocketed him up the draft rankings, and defenseman Sean Behrens, a Barrington native molded by two years with the U.S. national He played 74 games in 2020-21, including 46 for the U.S. national U18 team, that means their ongoing meetings with NHL franchises are only team (in which he tallied 35 points) and five more in the World Junior through Zoom or phone calls. Championships, after appearing in 88 total games in 2019-20.

“It’s definitely interesting and unique, but at the same time, it’s still really “I got better as the year went on,” he said. “I was developing my game on special,” Coronato said. both ends of the ice, not only offensively — joining the rush at the right times, making smart reads there — but defensively being strong on guys, “I’ve still had a lot of really good conversations, getting to know the being strong on my skates, boxing guys out and closing on pucks quickly, personnel of the teams and them asking me questions about my game which was a big thing I wanted to work on.” and giving me pointers,” Behrens said. “I don’t think it has really affected me. It affects the teams a little more.” He’s committed to Denver for next season.

Coronato and Behrens headline the list of players with Chicago Defenseman Owen Power, a likely bet to go No. 1 overall to the Sabres, connections hoping to hear their names announced at this year’s draft, played this season at Michigan but developed with the Steel in 2019-20. which will be held July 23-24. Wing Mackie Samoskevich, a natural playmaker bound for Michigan next Seven players from the Steel — the Geneva-based junior hockey year, is — as the 26th-ranked North American skater — the second- dynasty fresh off another USHL league championship last month — highest ranked draft prospect from the 2021 Steel. made the NHL Central Scouting Service’s final rankings. The other CSS-ranked players from the 2021 Steel are Harvard-bound Six players hailing from the Chicago area — but now playing across the forward Jack Bar (41st), UMass-committed defenseman Ryan Ufko continent — also made the final rankings. (43rd), Arizona State-bound forward Josh Doan (87th), Boston University-committed forward Jack Harvey (91st) and Boston College- Coronato on Blackhawks’ radar committed defenseman Lukas Gustafsson (186th). A New York native, Coronato arrived in Chicago before this season Meanwhile, Highland Park native Simon Motew played in the OHL last brimming with confidence. year, then tore up a lower-tier junior league with the local Chicago That translated into his performance, as his point production more than Cougars this year due to the OHL’s shutdown. He’s the 129th-ranked doubled from his first Steel season. He finished with 85 points (48 goals North American skater. and 37 assists) in 51 games, ranking second on the team, and added a Wilmette native Cameron Rowe went 9-2-1 with a .933 save percentage team-leading 13 points in eight playoff games. as a freshman at Wisconsin and is the 13th-ranked North American “[I was] just continuing to work on my shot, work on the movement that goaltender. our team liked to use in the offensive zone,” he said. “But a big part of my Minooka native Josh Lopina (139th), a UMass forward, and Chicago offensive production was a result of confidence.” natives Quinn Hutson (177th), a Boston University-bound forward, and Coronato also improved defensively, staying goal-side of opposing Colby Saganiuk (193rd), an OHL-bound forward, are the other CSS- forwards and using his stick to break up plays. But his biggest assets are ranked locals. his energy and motor; he’s constantly moving on the ice and therefore constantly noticeable. Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 06.06.2021 His draft stock surged up from a projected third or fourth-round pick to a nearly certain first-round selection. He finished ninth among North American skaters in the final CSS rankings.

He’ll most likely go between 10th and 20th overall, which puts him on the Blackhawks’ radar for the 11th pick. He certainly wouldn’t mind being chosen by his adopted hometown team.

“I love Chicago,” he said. “I loved being here the last two years. The Blackhawks are a special team and organization, so that would definitely be a great spot to end up.”

This summer, he plans to work on his skating and strength — he measures at 5-10, 180 pounds right now, but hopes to get to between 185 and 187 pounds — in addition to going through the draft process before heading to Harvard next season.

Behrens benefitted from workload

The commute from Barrington to the United Center is long, but the Behrens family nonetheless made the trek often as Blackhawks season- ticket holders. That fandom jumpstarted their son’s own career. 1215180 Colorado Avalanche

Avalanche vs. Vegas Golden Knights Game 4: Three keys for Colorado

By MIKE CHAMBERS | [email protected] | The Denver Post

June 5, 2021 at 8:00 p.m.

The Avalanche and Vegas Golden Knights meet for Game 4 of their second-round playoff series on Sunday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Three keys for Colorado, which leads 2-1:

1. Compete. This should be a given at this time of the year but the Avs lacked intensity in Game 3 and coach Jared Bednar called it like it was. They need to play with more urgency and attack and defend every shift like it was their last. Slump-busting games can happen with extraordinarily hard work and this highly skilled team needs to get back to the basics of winning races to pucks, winning puck battles and creating a strong forecheck. Gaining possession and maintaining it is a strength of both teams but Colorado has not been good at it since the first period of Game 2.

2. Return of MacKinnon. The Avs need superstar center Nathan MacKinnon back in his Game 1 form when he had two goals, three points and eight shots. He assisted on the game-winning overtime goal in Game 2 but was ineffective in Game 3. MacKinnon was credited with a team- high four shots Friday but he didn’t look like himself — not nearly as dangerous as he typically is — and was pointless for just the second time in seven playoff games. MacKinnon can carry this team offensively, but if he and his line aren’t scoring and the depth guys struggle, the Avs are in trouble.

3. Find the flow. Clean breakout exits, limiting turnovers in the middle of the ice and maintaining possession in the offensive zone have been the Avs’ strengths all season. They need to regain that magic and it always starts by moving your feet. If they can find the flow, the shots will come and the scoring opportunities will develop. Vegas outshot Colorado 41-25 in Game 2 and 43-20 in Game 3. If the Avs find their flow those numbers will get reversed and they will have the best chance to win — particularly because goalie Philipp Grubauer is on his game.

Denver Post: LOADED: 06.06.2021 1215181 Colorado Avalanche with a win but we need to be a lot better, and then last night obviously they played a lot better than us. We need to be harder to play against. We need to be more competitive.”

Chambers: Jared Bednar sounded an alarm the Avalanche needed to hear Denver Post: LOADED: 06.06.2021

By MIKE CHAMBERS | [email protected] | The Denver Post

PUBLISHED: June 5, 2021 at 5:09 p.m. | UPDATED: June 5, 2021 at 6:05 p.m.

LAS VEGAS — Avalanche left wing and team captain Gabe Landeskog can handle the now-public criticism from his coach. Ditto for star center and alternate captain Nathan MacKinnon and other key players and leaders of this team.

What Jared Bednar said about his players — particularly his top guys — after Friday’s sloppy Game 3 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights was right on. The Avs stunk.

It’s just not the tone any media member or fan has ever heard from Bednar in his five years behind Colorado’s bench.

Bednar is a classy coach. He’s never previously called anybody out publicly. But the time was right and media and fans must appreciate his honest analysis of how Vegas dominated the Avs for the last five periods of a series Colorado still controls heading into Sunday’s Game 4.

Or was it?

Maybe Bednar feels like that control is slipping away after the Avs’ first loss of the postseason. Following Game 1’s 7-1 rout over the Knights and a good first period in Game 2, Vegas has been the far better team. Colorado has been outshot 73-30 at even-strength over the last two games.

The Avs, the NHL’s No. 1 overall playoff seed as the Presidents’ Trophy winners, have played with no flow and seemingly little confidence for five periods. That’s worrisome.

If it weren’t for the overtime slashing minor from Knights forward Reilly Smith on Rantanen and Rantanen’s ensuing power-play goal in Game 2 at Ball Arena, Vegas would probably have the 2-1 lead in this series.

“For five periods straight now they’ve been far more competitive than we have and to dissect the game any further than that is a waste of time,” Bednar said after Game 3 at T-Mobile Arena.

Bednar was talking about his entire team, save for goalie Philipp Grubauer and winger Valeri Nichushkin, he said Saturday morning.

“That’s just showing his passion and urgency (over) the last four or five years that we’ve had him. That’s nothing new for us,” Landeskog said Saturday during an optional practice. “He’s always honest and tells us how he sees things and that’s what you appreciate in a coach. I don’t know how much he shows that to (the media) but to us he’s always honest and tells us what he thinks.”

An alarm has sounded within the Avalanche, despite its league-leading .857 winning percentage (6-1) in the postseason. For a skilled-and-fast team that has found winning relatively easy outside two COVID shutdowns, suddenly the Avs can’t find the flow that made them the league’s highest-scoring team in the regular season (3.52 goals-per- game) and third stingiest (2.36). Tape-to-tape passes have turned into turnovers, the forecheck has been weak and Vegas is winning most of the races for loose pucks.

“We all know we need to be better,” Landeskog said Saturday. “We’re still up 2-1 in the series and it was our first loss in 2 1/2 weeks. Having said that, we need to learn from it and be better and make sure we bounce back (Sunday). It’s as simple as that. It’s the playoffs. We all need to step up and leadership definitely needs to step up and that’s the way it is following a loss.”

Landeskog, MacKinnon and Rantanen must step up Sunday and Grubauer needs to continue his stellar play. If those guys have great games, the Avs will have a chance to go up 3-1 and close out the series Tuesday at home.

“We definitely need to be better in all areas of the game,” Landeskog said. “That’s the way we felt after Game 2. We got away with Game 2 1215182 Colorado Avalanche

Day after first loss of playoffs, Avalanche coach Jared Bednar analyzes problem

By MIKE CHAMBERS | [email protected] | The Denver Post

June 5, 2021 at 1:47 p.m.

LAS VEGAS — Avalanche coach Jared Bednar, critical of his team’s competitive level in Friday night’s 3-2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 3 of their second-round series, had time to review video of the defeat Saturday morning.

And he’s sure to have plenty to talk about with his players when they meet at 5 p.m.

During an optional skate Saturday at T-Mobile Arena, Bednar pointed to multiple areas the Avs must improve on to get out of a five-period slump that has seen the Knights dominate play. Vegas has outshot Colorado 83-45 in Games 2 and 3 and the Avs’ first loss of the playoffs has set off an alarm.

“We’re still going through video. There’s a lot to look at. But there are some clear things that we have to do and get better here after looking at the last five periods,” Bednar said.

He added: “We have to get on the inside of a lot of plays. Quicker. Our puck support has been poor. We’re not getting to the puck quick enough in a bunch of different areas. Part of it is work-based, part of it is some of the routes we’re taking. The detail of our structure and the way we want to play hasn’t been there.

“I think part of it is, we have to earn the ice that we get. They’re checking the right way. We’ve checked the right way for the better part of the year and we got to get back to that. In order to create offense against a team that’s working and (playing) physical and putting numbers on the puck, you got to get to the inside ice and be willing to go into those hard areas and win some battles. There’s no easy play out there. There’s no easy ice out there. We have some adjustments we have to make, for sure. The more I look at it the clearer picture I’m getting and we’ll make sure our guys are all on the same page after this meeting tonight at 5.”

The Avs still lead the series 2-1. Game 4 is Sunday (6:30 p.m. MT).

Denver Post: LOADED: 06.06.2021 1215183 Colorado Avalanche and dominate a team or shouldn’t, OK? But tonight (the Knights) did. And the last 40 minutes the other night they did. So it’s too long, it’s too long.”

Make no mistake. What Bednar did was a gamble. After 3-2 loss in Vegas, coach Jared Bednar blasts Avalanche with nastiest rip job in franchise history. His rant reeked of desperation for a team that still holds a 2-1 lead in the series.

If the Avalanche goes on to beat Vegas and win the Stanley Cup, the By MARK KISZLA | [email protected] | The Denver Post Bednar Blast will go down in franchise lore with those championship rings PUBLISHED: June 5, 2021 at 5:45 a.m. | UPDATED: June 5, 2021 at in Patrick Roy’s ears as one of the great speeches in franchise history. 11:54 a.m. These harsh words, however, also have the potential to backfire on Bednar. Vegas is the heavier team, and the weight of a long series often rests heavier on the side that likes to play beautiful hockey. LAS VEGAS — If you can’t stand the heat, stay out of the desert. Prior to Game 4, the Avs don’t need a chalk talk. It should be mandatory After the Avalanche wilted in the third period and lost 3-2 to Vegas, for the full squad to take the ice for a practice without pucks and skate coach Jared Bednar took a blow torch to his Colorado players, putting until the weak of stomach ask for a bag to empty their fears. them on full blast for failure to compete. But a hot-and-bothered coach didn’t stop there. Bednar scooped up the ashes and threw them under Maybe Colorado players will respond like champs to the Bednar Blast. the team bus on the sizzling asphalt of the arena parking lot. If the Avs aren’t up to the task and fold, however, it will be remembered “We can dissect the game in 100 different ways in what went wrong. But as the moment when we discovered the boys in Colorado’s locker room it’s a waste of time, a waste of time,” Bednar said Friday night. need a new coach who’s cooler under pressure before this team can win a championship. “The video doesn’t lie. They were the more competitive hockey team from start to finish.”

Oh, burn. Denver Post: LOADED: 06.06.2021

This Bednar Blast, however, had not yet reached full boil. This coach is not a screamer by nature. But if looks could kill and egos in the Colorado locker room are weak, we might as well bury any chance of the Avalanche winning the Stanley Cup in 2021 right now.

On this sweltering spring day in the Nevada desert, the high temperature was 107 degrees. But that was nowhere near as hot as the straight fire Bednar spit after the Avs blew a chance to take a 3-0 stranglehold in this best-of-seven series by allowing two Vegas goals during an ugly 45- second span of the final period.

“We’re kidding ourselves if we think that’s the way we can beat a team that tied us for first in the league,” Bednar said. “We’re going to have to compete way harder that in order to beat them. And the sooner we realize that … if we haven’t already, we’re late to the party.”

I’ve been covering the Avs since they first took the ice in 1995. But I’ve never heard a Colorado coach barbecue his players the way Bednar roasted almost everyone in the locker room on an open spit after this defeat. It was the nastiest rip job in franchise history. After hearing the rant, both my ears required gobs of aloe vera to cool the burn.

“Our hardest working player is Philipp Grubauer,” Bednar said.

The sweet agony of the NHL playoffs is how a series can be turned on its head in a mere 45 seconds.

Despite being clearly outplayed by Vegas since the second period of Game 2, a stretch of rough ice that now spans more than 100 minutes on the scoreboard clock, the Avs were nursing a 2-1 lead late in Game 3, watching clock instead of playing hockey, hoping Grubauer could save their bacon. Again.

Those prayers went poof, however, when Golden Knights Jonathan Marchessault and Max Pacioretty scored within 45 seconds of madness, inciting a capacity crowd to blow the roof off T-Mobile Arena.

“There’s no moment when you can fall asleep,” Avalanche forward Mikko Rantanen said. “Grubi played amazing again. But we can’t rely on him making 50 saves every night.”

Bednar dared to go where most coaches fear to tread. He openly questioned the will of his players to win. If this was tough love, it was wrapped in barbed wire and dipped in hydrochloric acid.

He challenged captain Gabe Landeskog and the team’s leadership. “Go ahead and check the numbers on our top guys and see what they did against their top guys. It’s not close, it’s not close,” Bednar said.

It was a rip job that can’t be spewed more than a single time during a playoff run. I trust Bednar knows how Landeskog, superstar Nathan MacKinnon and the boys in the room will respond.

“It isn’t always pretty. It’s not going to be, especially when you’re a couple of the top teams in the league,” Bednar said. “You’re not going to go out 1215184 Colorado Avalanche Colorado could look to make lineup changes in Game 4. Fourth-line forward Logan O’Connor — the type of hard-working player Bednar likes — is nearing a return from a lower-body injury, and the coach could opt How Gabriel Landeskog and the Avalanche plan to get back on track to re-insert rookies Alex Newhook and Sampo Ranta, both of whom after letting Game 3 slip away played the first two games of the series. Bednar went with Carl Soderberg and Kiefer Sherwood in their places in Game 3, and he said he liked elements of how they played on the fourth line with Pierre- Edouard Bellemare, even if there are areas in which the unit can By Peter Baugh improve. Soderberg scored on a rebound from a shot by Bellemare, and Jun 5, 2021 Sherwood drew a penalty in the third that led to a Rantanen power-play goal.

“They were in better support of the puck and each other compared to our LAS VEGAS — On May 16 at a practice before the Avalanche’s first- other lines,” said Bednar, noting that he pointed out their work ethic while round opener against the Blues, coach Jared Bednar didn’t like what he talking to the team after the second period Friday. “There was a simplicity saw. He wanted his Colorado players to connect on more passes and to to their game. There was a heaviness to their game, and they get skate with more intensity. He let them hear it. rewarded and score a big goal from us in the second period.”

“This is the fucking playoffs!” he screamed. “This is not going to be a Bowen Byram and Jacob MacDonald could be options to sub in on fucking cakewalk!” defense, potentially for Conor Timmins. The top four of Devon Toews, Cale Makar, Ryan Graves and Samuel Girard will remain in the lineup if Well, the first six games of the playoffs might not have been a breeze for healthy, and Patrik Nemeth’s penalty-killing ability makes it tough to take the Avalanche, but Colorado won each contest and, at points, looked him out. nearly unstoppable. Colorado is still without Nazem Kadri, who is five games into an eight- Then Friday night’s 3-2 loss to Vegas happened, and Bednar’s warning game suspension for a hit on Blues defenseman Justin Faulk in the first rang true. The postseason isn’t easy, and the Avalanche, up 2-1 in their round of the playoffs. Kadri had his appeal hearing with a neutral second-round series against Vegas, can’t expect it to be. arbitrator Friday, per a league source, but his camp doesn’t have a “We need to learn from it and be better and make sure we bounce back timeline on when they’ll hear a decision. tomorrow,” captain Gabriel Landeskog said Saturday. “It’s as simple as “I’m confident those guys can get the job done (without Kadri),” Bednar that. It’s the playoffs. We all need to step up.” said of his middle-six forwards. “But no question that we miss a guy like Coming off a Game 3 loss — which Vegas dominated, despite winning Nazem playing against a deep team with a deep group of forwards.” by only a goal — the Avalanche are facing a roadblock for the first time in If the Avalanche can rectify the flaws they showed in Game 3, they’ll be these playoffs. The Golden Knights also outplayed Colorado the last two in good shape Sunday, and a win would put them up 3-1 in the series. periods of Game 2, even though Colorado eked out an overtime win. But Bednar realizes that pulling off a win won’t be easy. “We definitely need to be better in all areas of the game,” Landeskog “It’s a tougher challenge than we’ve ever faced in Vegas being a top said. “They played a lot better than us. We just need to be harder to play team and playing the right way,” he said. “The message is partially going against. We need to be more competitive, on pucks especially. It felt like to be that there’s not any easy ice out there. You’re going to have to go last night we got on our heels” out and earn every inch of ice you get.” Despite trailing 43-20 in shots Friday and spending most of the game in their defensive zone, the Avalanche nearly came away with a win. They were up a goal and needed to hold on for less than six minutes to seize a The Athletic LOADED: 06.06.2021 normally insurmountable 3-0 series lead. But then the Avalanche allowed two goals in a 45-second span, and they couldn’t score in the final stretch of the game. Vegas goalie Marc-Andre Fleury made strong saves late on Valeri Nichushkin and Mikko Rantanen, pulling the Golden Knights back into the series.

“We had a chance to take a stranglehold in the series,” an angry Bednar said after the game. “You have to find ways to win. It isn’t always pretty. It isn’t going to be, especially when you’re a couple of the top teams in the league. You’re not going to go out and dominate a team. You shouldn’t. But tonight they did, and then the last 40 minutes the other night (in Game 2) they did.

“So it’s too long now. It’s too long. We can dissect the game in 100 different ways and what went wrong here, but it’s a waste of time.”

Though Bednar normally keeps his cool in news conferences, Landeskog said his honesty and passion are nothing new to the players behind the scenes. The captain appreciates how his coach tells the team exactly what problems he sees. And, heading into a pivotal Game 4 on Sunday, the captain agreed with his assessment, telling reporters the team also needs to make it harder on Vegas to get through the neutral zone.

After time to process the loss, Bednar stressed Saturday that his team will have to get physical and put players around the puck. The coaching staff is still examining video, and the team has a 5 p.m. meeting to discuss its plans.

“We have to get on the inside of a lot of plays quicker,” Bednar said. “Our puck support has been poor. We’re not getting to the puck quick enough in a bunch of different areas. Part of it is work-based, part of it is some of the routes we’re taking. The detail of our structure and the way we want to play hasn’t been there. We have to earn the ice that we get.”

The coach emphasized checking, saying the Avalanche did a good job with it most of the season and now needs to get back to their good habits. He said they’ll have to be willing to get into hard areas and win battles. 1215185 Colorado Avalanche

5 o’clock showdown: Avalanche plan big team meeting tonight in Vegas

Published 13 hours ago on June 5, 2021

By Adrian Dater

LAS VEGAS – Five o’clock sharp. Don’t be late. Don’t be showing up to the meeting with any margaritas or bloody maries in the system either.

It’s going to be a tough Avalanche team meeting planned at 5 local time here tonight. Coach Jared Bednar has issued a mandatory team meeting at that time, where he gave a preview of what will be on the agenda for his players:

“The message is going to be that there is no easy ice out there, that you’re going to have to earn every inch out there,” Bednar told media this morning from T-Mobile Arena, where the Avs held an optional practice in which about 15 players skated under the tutelage of skills coach Shawn Allard.

Bednar and his two assistant coaches, Nolan Pratt and Ray Bennett, will spend the afternoon poring over video from last night’s Game 3 debacle in which, while the final score (3-2) was close, not much else was about the game. If the Avs had lost the game, where Marc-Andre Fleury had to steal it or the Avs had plenty of good scoring chances, Bednar and the rest of Avalanche Nation probably wouldn’t have this serious a case of concern about what’s going on with the team.

But the fact is, the Avs have been outshot 83-45 the last two games by Vegas and the Golden Knights are seemingly dictating all of the play right now. The Avs outshot opponents most every game in the regular season, almost always having a solid edge in puck-possession time. Right now, it’s the reverse, which is why Bednar is sounding 10-bell alarms.

“Desperation and tenacity on the puck and that’s where we have to get to as a group,” Bednar said. “We’ll make sure we make adjustments and communicate that to our players at our meeting at 5 o’clock tonight”

Avs captain Gabe Landeskog, who had an assist in Game 3 but no shots on net, acknowledged both concern and optimism over where things stand.

“We’re still up 2-1 in the series,” he said. “We’re confident we can make some adjustments. But it’s the playoffs and we need to step up, and leadership really needs to step up.”

As I said last night, I think the Avs should and will go to more of a muck- it-up, neutral-zone trap system that Vegas has used effectively the last two games. The Avs have to try to chop the ice up more into thirds and fight for every inch of every zone, but especially in the middle third of the ice. Landeskog admitted that his team “made it too easy” for Vegas to skate through the neutral zone the last two contests.

Does this mean the Avs will have to play more of “Vegas’ game” moving forward? Maybe. The Avs can’t have a regular-season mentality in which they think it’s going to be fun and freewheeling out there. The playoffs are all about a pure fight, for every inch of that ice and every possession of that puck.

They have to be tougher, mentally and physically. Vegas is full of big guys who play the game hard, and that translates better to the playoffs than regular season. The Avs may not be as big as Vegas, but they can still play tougher against them. They have to skate like they’ve never skated before, have to want this as much as anything they’ve ever wanted in their lives.

If not, it’ll be another soul-crushing, second-round exit for a third year in a row.

Colorado hockey now LOADED: 06.06.2021 1215186 Colorado Avalanche Is it time to panic? No, not yet. Is the writing on the wall? Well, maybe a few letters have been scrawled. But talk to me after Game 4. In two- thirds of this series so far, Vegas has proven to be the better team. Scott Takes: Is the writing on the wall for the Avs? Colorado has survived and found a way to take a 2-1 series lead.

And that’s all they need to do: survive and just keep finding a way. The way isn’t going to find them though. Published 16 hours ago on June 5, 2021 “You look at anyone who’s won anything in this league and you need By Scott MacDonald your goalie to have a big night, you need your special teams to win one, you need your top guys to be your top guys and win one, secondary guys

step up and make a play here or there, and you find ways to win. “We’re kidding ourselves if we think that’s how competitive we need to be “That’s what you have to do: find ways to win. It isn’t always pretty; it’s against the team that tied us for first in the league,” a fervent Jared not gonna be.” Bednar said after Game 3.

The always-stoic Avs head coach rarely shows as much ardency as he did in his post-game presser Friday night. He was clearly displeased, for Colorado hockey now LOADED: 06.06.2021 lack of a better word, with his team’s performance.

“The video doesn’t lie. They were more competitive from start to finish,” he continued. “It wasn’t close.”

No it was not. And let’s face it, it wasn’t close in Game 2 either. The Avs are lucky they have a Vezina finalist between the pipes or this 2-1 series lead Colorado manages to have would be 2-1 in favor of the other guys.

“There’s no moment you can fall asleep,” Mikko Rantanen said. “Grubi played amazing again, but we can’t rely on him to make 50 saves every night.”

“Go ahead and check the numbers on our top guys tonight compared to their top guys. It’s not close. The hardest working player we have right now is Philipp Grubauer,” Bednar agreed.

“For five periods straight they’ve been far more competitive,” he continued. “We caught them on an off-night in Game 1, and we gave them life in Game 2, but we were able to come out with a win because of special teams and our goalie.

“We’re going to have to compete way harder than that if we want to beat them. The sooner we realize that, (the better). If we haven’t already, then we’re late to the party.”

And don’t get it twisted, the Avs know damn well they need to play better than that. Every guy in the locker room knows that. You and I know that.

Perhaps some complacency set in after Game 1, a night when the Avalanche absolutely dominated a flat-footed Vegas team. But you’re kidding yourself if you thought the series would be that easy.

Game 2, the Golden Knights pushed back, and they pushed back hard. In Game 3, well, we all saw it. For a second there it looked like the Avs might’ve gotten lucky again and eked out another, thanks to another timely power-play goal by Rantanen. They were 15 minute away from taking the stranglehold 3-0 series lead. They were 15 minutes away from getting lucky. Again.

And hey, luck, after all, is really all you need in the city of Las Vegas. But luck really only works in the casinos. Inside T-Mobile Arena, however, effort is what is required. The compete-level just wasn’t there, and, quite frankly, it hasn’t been there since Game 1.

“You’re not gonna go out and dominate a team (at this point in the playoffs), but tonight they did, and then the last 40 minutes the other night they did,” Bednar continued. “It’s too long now, it’s too long.

“We can dissect the game in a 100 different ways and what went wrong here, but it’s a waste of time. It’s a waste of time.”

For coach Bednar, it’s simple. His team has lacked the competitiveness that is required at this point in the season, and that’s been obvious in the eye test.

You can have an off-night during the postseason. It’s an isolated incident. But twice in a row and things become a trend. And right now, things are trending in the wrong direction. It’s not “just one game.”

Superficially, a 2-1 series lead seems like no place to panic. But that 2-1 series lead is really a half-baked truth. The Avalanche are in trouble; there’s no doubt about that. Vegas can now see the fear in their eyes. There are chinks in the Avs’ armor, not in the Golden Knights’—and they’ve jousted the Avs right off their high-horse they climbed atop in Game 1. 1215187 Dallas Stars

After returning to the Stars late last season, Tyler Seguin’s focusing on the last phase of his rehabilitation this offseason

By Matthew DeFranks

1:44 PM on Jun 5, 2021 CDT

When Tyler Seguin returns to the ice in the fall, he will do so fully healthy for the first time in quite some time.

Seguin will be 10 months removed from hip surgery that forced him to miss all but three games in the 2020-21 season. He also underwent knee surgery in the past year and scored two goals in his brief season before the Stars were eliminated from postseason contention.

“It was emotional to be back and not fully think that maybe I could have came back, especially this year,” Seguin said during the Stars exit interviews. “You have some days where you don’t know if you’re going to be able to play again. The first game was pretty incredible. The second game, I was starting to feel better.”

During the Stars run to the Stanley Cup Final in 2020, Seguin was dealing with a torn labrum in his hip, an injury that required surgery and a grueling rehabilitation process that was incomplete when Seguin debuted in Florida on May 3.

Seguin said he “never got to really get into the last phase, which was explosive power.”

He’ll be able to train completely this summer.

“Being able to jump with body weight or jog or run, things I haven’t done in really a year now,” Seguin said. “That’s kind of what my next four months, five months is looking like. A lot more rehab to start but a lot more explosive training. I’m really excited to see what I can do this summer.”

The Stars missed Seguin in a variety of areas.

They missed him at center, which became a bigger void when Roope Hintz was out of the lineup dealing with his injured groin. On the power play, his one-timer threat was absent. He was a reliable right-handed center who could take faceoffs on the penalty kill. In overtime, Seguin would have been one of the most-used players. He would have been a staple in the shootouts and might have prevented some of the 14 overtime losses Dallas suffered.

“Some of those issues we’re talking about, they’re fixed as soon as we put a healthy lineup on the ice,” Stars coach Rick Bowness said.

It’s unknown what kind of player the Stars will be getting in Seguin when he returns. He was an 80-point player as recently as 2018-19, but that was before his two surgeries and lengthy recovery period. In his three games, he was a sparkplug on offense when Dallas needed him to be during its playoff push.

His presence will certainly be welcome.

“Understanding how grateful I am to do the things I love and have this lifestyle,” Seguin said. “That all came from not being able to live, be able to be around the guys and play the game I love. That was the biggest thing I learned was just how passionate I still am about the game.”

With Seguin, Hintz and captain Jamie Benn at center (Bowness said the Stars would continue to use Benn in the middle), the Stars appear much deeper at center than they did at points of the season when dealing with injuries.

While the Stars probaly need more scoring to truly compete with top contenders such as Tampa Bay and Colorado for the Stanley Cup, re- adding Seguin is a solid start.

“It’s a big offseason for all of us, our whole organization and definitely, especially for me,” Seguin said. “I’m pumped. It’s going to be fun. It’s going to be a grind, but I’m excited for the challenge.”

Dallas Morning News LOADED: 06.06.2021 1215188 Detroit Red Wings

Detroit Red Wings' Moritz Seider to play for bronze at World Championship

Helene St. James

Detroit Free Press

Detroit Red Wings defense prospect Moritz Seider earned another point at the World Championship, but it wasn't enough to lead Germany into the gold-medal game.

Seider set up Matthias Plachta's in the second period of Saturday's second semifinal in Riga, Latvia, but the Finns held on to win, 2-1.

With Canada beating the U.S., 4-2, that set up Sunday's bronze medal game between Germany and the Americans. Wings defenseman Troy Stecher will play for gold against the Finns, who are the defending champions.

It's the first time since 1953 that Germany has a shot at a medal at the World Championship.

Seider, 20, has continued the strong play that earned him Defenseman of the Year in the , where he recorded seven goals and 21 assists in 41 games for Rögle, followed by five points in 13 playoff games. Seider looked dangerous from the start Saturday, creating a scoring opportunity in the first period when he fired a wrist shot on net. He helped pull the Germans within a goal when he threaded the puck to Plachta for a one-timer.

Seider is expected to make his Wings debut in the fall, and certainly will come to training camp full of swagger after such a stellar 2020-21 season.

Detroit Free Press LOADED: 06.06.2021 1215189 Detroit Red Wings playing hockey with, some of my coaches on teams I played on when I was 10 and 11 that I haven’t seen in quite a while.”

Kirk Maltby How the Detroit Red Wings spent their summer with Stanley Cup after 42 He took it to a couple of restaurants in Cambridge, , and had it at years of chasing his parents’ house for a bit. He also took it to the pediatrics center at a hospital. He then had a party for 300 people. “That night, I slept with it in my bed,” he said. “I had to clean it because it absolutely reeked. I don’t Helene St. James want to tell you what time in the morning it was, but I was there with a little cloth wiping it clean. The guy who takes care of it was in bed long Detroit Free Press ago, so I had to take care of it on my own. I shined it up.”

Jamie Pushor Twenty-four years ago on Monday, the decades-long wait ended for the He had it for about a day in Lethbridge, Alberta. About 1,500 locals had Detroit Red Wings and their fans. On that night in 1997 at Joe Louis their pictures taken with the Cup. He threw a party for about 250 people, Arena, the Wings completed their four-game sweep of the Flyers and including his good friend Chris Osgood. At about 5 a.m., Osgood left with kicked off the Hockeytown dynasty. The Free Press’ new book — the Cup for Medicine Hat, Alberta. “My favorite part,” Pushor said, “was “Stanleytown: 25 Years Later” — tells the behind-the-scenes stories of just seeing how friends you went to school with, your family, nephews, the Stanley Cup's return to Detroit, including how the players celebrated how their eyes lighted up when they saw the Cup. It just radiates glory. that summer. An excerpt from the book: You see people hold it and touch it, and it just leaves you with an Steve Yzerman described the days as tiring. Chris Osgood didn’t sleep at incredible feeling.” all. Joe Kocur And Kirk Maltby went on a cleaning detail in the dead of night. “We had some friends over, we partied all night, and when the sun came Each Red Wing got his hands on the Stanley Cup for 48 hours in the up, we went fishing,” he said. His favorite part of having the Cup was summer of 1997 — and jam-packed his special time with as many sharing it with friends in Michigan — and his beer-league buddies. “Just activities as possible. the chance to have all my friends who’ve lived in Detroit all these years, waiting for a Stanley Cup, to give them a chance to drink out of it, get a Almost everyone threw a big party and shared it with his hometown. picture with it,” Kocur said. “The over-30 team I played with last year at this time, they were all over. We had a team picture taken with the Several took it to hospitals, including Martin Lapointe, who held out the Stanley Cup. The best picture I got was, when you win the Stanley Cup Cup to an old man dying of cancer and getting his final wish. they give you a replica, it’s about 16 to 18 inches high, and my daughter Three Russians — Slava Fetisov, Igor Larionov and Slava Kozlov — took was drinking out of that one and I was drinking out of the main one.” the Cup for its first visit to Mother Russia. Three Swedes — Nicklas Bob Rouse Lidstrom, Tomas Holmstrom and ex-Wing Tomas Sandstrom — took the Cup to their country for only the second time. First off, he claimed he took the Cup to Disney World and on the "Pirates of the Caribbean" ride. Then he claimed he took off with it in the space Trainer John Wharton made sure it went to William Beaumont Hospital in shuttle. In more down-to-earth adventures, he threw a party in Novi for Royal Oak to inspire injured teammate Vladimir Konstantinov and 300. At night, his son Torrey and daughter Calli slept with the Cup. masseur Sergei Mnatsakanov. Senior vice president Jimmy Devellano took it to Toronto to share a quiet evening with his parents. General Darren McCarty manager Ken Holland took it home to Vernon, British Columbia. Equipment manager Paul Boyer took it back to Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, He threw a party for the Cup and took it home to show his parents and where he grew up, and to Lake Superior State, right across the St. Marys brought it over to the arena in Leamington, Ontario, where he played River, where he went to school. while growing up. He took it out with his buddies, who played in a band, and “jammed with it.” He also had a professional photographer take And youngsters named Guyot, Griffin, Kevin and Adam will someday pictures of his son Griffin with the Cup. want to ask their parents about certain pictures of them sitting handsomely in a big silver cup. Tomas Holmstrom

This is how Stanley spent his summer vacation: He took it to his hometown of Pitea, Sweden, which is close to Lapland. He showed it to friends and family and said it helped make for one of the Martin Lapointe best summers he had ever had.

He took the Stanley Cup to Ville Ste-Pierre, Quebec, near Montreal, Nicklas Lidstrom where the town had a parade for him. He took the Cup to a hospital to show it to the father of his sister’s friend. Within a week of the visit, the He had a public viewing of the Cup in Vasteras, Sweden, where he man died of cancer. He had pictures taken of his 16-month-old son, played hockey before coming to Detroit. Then he took the Cup to a public Guyot, “buck naked and sitting in the Cup.” viewing in his hometown of Avesta, where his parents still lived, and threw a party for the Cup. He posed for pictures with the Cup with sons Brendan Shanahan Kevin and Adam. He then put Adam in the Cup and took pictures.

“For all the time I spent parading it around and holding it above my head Aaron Ward in front of hundreds of people, my favorite memory was of a Saturday afternoon in Toronto, when I took it to my father’s grave,” Shanahan said. He went to a professional photographer and had pictures taken with him, “For a Saturday afternoon, the place was totally empty. I just sat there his wife and the Cup. He took it to Windsor and had pictures taken with with it. That was my favorite moment.” Shanahan’s father, Donal, died of the Renaissance Center and in the background. He also Alzheimer’s disease in 1990. Shanahan also displayed the Cup for hours took the Cup to restaurants and the gym where he worked out during the for fans as part of an Alzheimer’s fundraiser in Dearborn, which included summer. Ward had a big bash at a restaurant, then another at home with a softball game in which Wings players (and Zamboni driver Al Sobotka) about 50 friends. He took the Cup to Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann destroyed a media team (with the starting battery of Free Press beat Arbor. His favorite moment, besides the night the Wings won the title, reporter Jason La Canfora on the mound and sports editor Gene Myers was after the party, when he and his wife just sat in bed and looked at behind the dish). the Cup.

Steve Yzerman Chris Osgood

“We did a lot of everything,” he said. “When you have that trophy around, After arriving in Medicine Hat, Osgood had a big party. He took the Cup you don’t sleep a whole lot. We had a couple of parties with it. We had it to the rink where he played as a youngster. He took it to his parents’ out on Lake St. Clair. I think my favorite part was when we took it to house and showed it to friends. “I had it for two days and got no sleep,” Ottawa to my parents’ home and invited over some of the guys I grew up he said. “It was a good time. We had fun.” Kris Draper

“My favorite moment was the excitement of seeing my dad hold the Cup,” he said. “For all the hard work and support your parents give you, to see the excitement they have with it was great. But there was a point in the night that I had to let my dad know that I was the one who won it. He was there for me, but I was the one who won it. I had it next to me in bed, but I didn’t sleep.”

Detroit Free Press LOADED: 06.06.2021 1215190 Detroit Red Wings “We do need help in every area,” he said. “The reality is whoever we pick (this year), in one, two three years, when they’re ready to play, things can change.

Detroit Red Wings’ 12 picks in 2021 draft need to give Steve Yzerman “So our philosophy or plan would be to pick the best prospect on the quantity and quality board. I don’t think we’re in a position with the sixth pick to say, ‘Oh, we definitely need this position.’ … Our intention will be to pick the best prospect we think is available when we pick sixth.”

CARLOS MONARREZ Since he couldn’t rely on the vagaries of ping-pong balls floating around inside an air fryer, Yzerman decided to make his own luck. Like a crafty

gambler, he walked up to the blackjack table, shot his cuffs and stacked There’s an old saying in golf that’s often attributed to Arnold Palmer: “It’s the deck — in a polite Canadian way, of course — by piling up a league- a funny thing, the more I practice, the luckier I get.” high 12 picks in this year’s draft, with seven in the first three rounds.

Steve Yzerman is a golfer, so maybe he’s familiar with it. But even if he If those stupid plastic balls weren’t going to improve his chances of isn’t, Yzerman should have an inherent understanding of the difference landing a star, Yzerman would do it himself. between fortunate happenstance and achievement developed through And then something happened. Yzerman talked about luck one last time rigorous effort. when someone asked if it would be harder to find good players outside of Because Yzerman is definitely going to need some of the latter in this the first round this year because of all the interruptions the coronavirus year’s NHL draft. pandemic caused throughout junior hockey. But it didn’t feel like he was talking about luck at all. It felt like he was explaining the exact plan he The Detroit Red Wings general manager didn’t get much in the way of might have for this year’s draft, as though he’s been practicing it for a the former —some of that good, old-fashioned dumb luck — during while. Wednesday’s NHL draft lottery, when his team failed to move up (or down) and got the sixth overall pick. “I think you can look at it two ways,” he said. “It’s potentially harder to find people. Or you might find people that didn’t play much that maybe you “We didn’t go backwards,” he said after the Wings did exactly that in the saw a year ago that one of our scouts saw a year ago and says, ‘Hey, I’d past four lotteries. really like to pick this player.’ So you can look at it two ways: You’re going to get lucky or you’re going to get unlucky. The continued to ride their lucky streak and got the No. 1 overall pick for the second time in four years. However, it’s important to “I do think there’ll be some really good players that are picked later in the remember most Sabres fans have to live in Buffalo and be known as draft. Maybe they didn’t play at all, maybe they played a little bit or they Buffalonians, so let’s just call it even. played in a men’s league in Europe and hardly got on the ice and you’re going to wake up in three years and go, ‘Wow, I had no idea this guy was Meanwhile, in the tropical paradise that is Detroit, Yzerman spoke going to be this good.’ ” repeatedly about how luck in the draft is as unpredictable as a square puck bouncing on a sheet of ice during an earthquake. With any luck, we might all wake up in three years and say the same thing about the Wings’ GM. “When somebody will ask, ‘When are you going to make playoffs, what’s your timeline here or there?’ ” he said. “I simply can’t give one because it’s a guess. Detroit Red Wings “ … So we kind of keep (sticking) with the method, our methodical approach. We continue to draft and hopefully we get really lucky one year and we get four or five players or three players and that speeds it up a little bit. But unfortunately it does take a long time, and if you get it done quicker you were luckier than most.”

Of course, the Wings were lucky in the draft — 32 years ago. In 1989, they selected Nicklas Lidstrom in the third round, Sergei Fedorov in the fourth round and Vladimir Konstantinov in the 11th round. But even then it took them six years to make it to the Stanley Cup Final and another two years to win the Cup.

In 1990, they drafted Keith Primeau at No. 3 overall and Slava Kozlov in the third round. (Primeau was the only top-six pick for the Wings between taking Joe Murphy No. 1 overall in 1986 and Filip Zadina No. 6 in 2018.) The next year, Martin Lapointe (No. 10 overall) and Chris Osgood (third round). Then Darren McCarty in the second round in 1992.

This means it can’t just be about good luck and bad luck and the sixth overall pick for Yzerman and the Wings. It has to be about the entire draft this year, and next year and every year after that. Not only does Yzerman know this, but he’s confident he doesn’t have to rely on the randomness of a lottery gifting him a top-two pick in order to win a championship.

“For sure, for sure,” he said. “We’re going to do the best we can. If the plan is to be really bad and get a first or second pick, it’s hard to get. As Red Wings fans, we all sit here and have watched the last five years and we haven’t been able to get a top-three pick.

“… We’ll build a good team and we’ll figure out a way. We’ll get a superstar along the way in the draft somewhere.”

Yes, superstars are great, and Michigan's Owen Power magically falling to the Wings would be awesome. Fans in Detroit would rejoice (almost as much as headline writers in Detroit).

But Yzerman knows that what he really needs now is good players everywhere on the ice. And since it takes draft picks a few years to make it to the NHL, it’s hard to say what kind of players the Wings will most need at that time. 1215191 Detroit Red Wings Red Line Report wrote, “Guenther has a long, lean frame and all the tools necessary to develop into a complete, two-way player. He excels at what we refer to as the four S’s: size, skating, skill, and shot.”

Red Wings could go a number of ways with sixth pick in draft Luke Hughes, defenseman, 6-2, 184, U.S. National Team Development Program: A tremendous skater with good size, he averaged nearly a point a game (six goals, 28 assists) in 38 games. Committed to play at Michigan next season, he will follow brothers Quinn (seventh overall to Updated Jun 03, 2021; Posted Jun 03, 2021 Vancouver in 2018) and Jack (first overall to New Jersey in 2019) into the By Ansar Khan | [email protected] NHL.

Button said, “Luke Hughes is the all-around competitively solid defenseman who contributes in all areas.” Michigan defenseman Owen Power is the consensus pick among analysts to be selected first overall by the Buffalo Sabres in this year’s Kent Johnson, center, 6-1, 167, Michigan: A center who played mostly NHL draft. Even if he drops, it is safe to assume he won’t be around for left wing this season, he picked up 27 points, including nine goals, in 26 the Detroit Red Wings at No. 6. games.

But unlike last year, when virtually all projections had the same top-three Button said Johnson is reminiscent of Vancouver’s Elias Pettersson: “He picks (Alexis Lafreniere, Quinton Byfield and Tim Stutzle), this year’s has creativity, imagination and deception along with very good skills that draft could go a number of ways after the first selection. give him the ability to be productive in many different ways.”

“I’ve seen most of the kids that we think are in the top 10 and you’re Jesper Wallstedt, goaltender, 6-3, 214, Lulea (Sweden): Would Yzerman going to get a pretty good prospect,” Red Wings general manager Steve made a bold move by selecting a goaltender this high? Goalies rarely are Yzerman said Wednesday after the draft lottery. “It’s just unusual with drafted in the top 10, but the Red Wings need an elite prospect at this some players not playing, some playing in a men’s league, some in position. Wallstedt is considered one of the best goalie prospects of the different leagues. Everybody’s lists will be so different. There will be past several years, playing a hybrid standup/butterfly style. He posted a maybe a lot of surprises in everybody’s eyes when the draft takes place.” 2.23 goals-against average and .908 save percentage in Sweden’s top men’s league. The draft takes place July 23 (first round) and July 24 (Rounds 2 through 7). This is the fourth year in a row the Red Wings will have a top-six Red Line Report wrote, “He’s incredibly advanced technically for such a selection. They have 12 selections, including Washington’s first-round young age, and plays a calm, controlled game.” pick (either 23rd or 24th).

“(Director of amateur scouting Kris Draper) and the guys will continue to Michigan Live LOADED: 06.06.2021 finalize their list over the next month and be ready to go,” Yzerman said. “Our intention will be to take the best prospect we think is available.”

Here is a look at some players who might be available for the Red Wings at No. 6:

Matthew Beniers, center, 6-1, 175, Michigan: He averaged a point a game this season (24 points in 24 games) and was the second-line center on Team USA’s World Junior Championship team (three points in seven games).

Red Line Report wrote: “His game is all about speed. He’s likely the fastest pure skater in the ’21 draft class, and he’s got the skills to make him constantly dangerous.”

Brandt Clarke, defenseman, 6-2, 185, Barrie (OHL): A terrific puck-mover and playmaker with great vision, Brandt likes to join the rush. He had six goals and 13 points in 24 games for Nove Zamsky in the Slovak Extraliga, the top professional league in Slovakia, while on loan due to the OHL’s season cancellation.

TSN’s said, “Clarke brings a skill-set that includes creativity, boldness and confidence. His game combines elements of and Brent Burns.”

Simon Edvinsson, defenseman, 6-5, 207, Frolunda (Sweden): A left- shooter with tremendous size, good mobility, and a strong shot, he played in three different levels this season. He appeared in 10 games for Frolunda in Sweden’s top men’s league (one assist). He had four points in seven games in the World Juniors.

Red Line Report wrote, “Edvinsson is an unbelievably smooth mover. He’s got great wheels and lateral agility, and his instincts at the offensive end are impeccable.”

William Eklund, left wing, 5-10, 176, Djurgarden (Sweden): He is ranked as the top international skater in this year’s draft by NHL Central Scouting. Eklund possesses speed and hockey sense and collected 23 points in 40 games in Sweden’s top men’s league.

Dobber Prospects called Eklund “a highly skilled offensive player who has shown the ability to produce at a high-level in the SHL … as talented as they come.”

Dylan Guenther, right wing, 6-1, 175, Edmonton (WHL): His season was limited to 12 games, but this skilled right-shooter led the WHL in points per game (2.00). He has a tremendous shot and works well around the net. 1215192 Edmonton Oilers Oddly, the goals aside, these numbers are fairly consistent. I even checked penalties drawn, one of Yamamoto’s great skills, and he had seven in the first half of the season and six in the second half.

Lowetide: What is Kailer Yamamoto’s future fit on the Oilers’ depth chart? His second half is a match, except the goals didn’t show up.

Yamamoto’s season saw him scoring at will (he was 25 percent after his midseason recall a year ago) and then the goals fell off markedly. I By Allan Mitchell looked at his shot totals later in the season (he scored March 6 and 8, his final five-on-five goals of the season), and he wasn’t cashing at all. Jun 5, 2021 His final 32 shots of the season five-on-five didn’t find the net, while his

first 32 shots in the discipline resulted in seven goals (21.9 percent). Picking Kailer Yamamoto in the first round of the 2017 draft was a I checked on injuries, but he played 52 of 56 regular-season games and departure in philosophy for the Edmonton Oilers. Since 1979, they hadn’t four in the playoffs. Yamamoto had wrist surgery in May 2019 but has picked anyone close to as small as the 5-foot-8, 163-pound Spokane been fairly healthy since. He missed two games in late March and didn’t Chiefs right winger. No one had. play the final two games of the season, but the Oilers didn’t indicate there The Oilers’ previous shortest first-rounders had been Tyler Wright (1991), was a significant injury. Rob Schremp (2004) and (2005), all 5-10, and their On March 18, my notes say “Yamamoto had an HDSC and went to the lightest had been Wright and Cogliano, both 175 pounds. tough areas despite getting run over just for fun.” He then missed two The scouting director in 2017, Bob Green, was more focused on skill contests, and in his first game back, he was the most effective member than his predecessors in the job had been, and Yamamoto was the prime of a line with Dominik Kahun and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. example. Despite being undersized and chosen later in the first round, If there was an injury, he was able to play through it. The two missed his junior scoring numbers in his draft year weren’t overwhelmed by games in March would explain the loss of scoring touch if his hand or totals delivered by several of Edmonton’s higher selections earlier in the wrist were injured, but that’s speculative. He did score a power-play goal decade. on April 8. Green saw the WHL star as a future skill winger on one of the top two Absent another explanation, the conclusion has to be that Yamamoto lines, possibly playing right wing with Connor McDavid if things broke regressed to the mean in the second half, and that his season-ending right. shooting percentage (10.94 at five-on-five, 11.6 overall) is true. That What is Yamamoto’s future role on the team? Skill winger, turnover artist, production would see him score 10 to 12 goals per 100 shots. 50-point man and major contributor? That’s the player the Oilers need Keeping the job him to become. There is no one waiting in the wings. Yamamoto is undersized, but in every other way, he represents a quality And that fact makes the lack of goal scoring in the second half of 2020- skill winger. He’s smart, has speed, is relentless in pursuing the puck and 21 disturbing. Let’s start at the beginning. owns great vision and passing ability. He has boundless energy and Stunning offence from deep in the first round takes a licking but keeps on ticking. In his most recent 82 regular-season NHL games, he has scored 19 goals. All of the names on this list, save Yamamoto, were extremely high selections. Despite being a later first-round selection, the offence is in the He’ll have to score 20-plus goals a season consistently to remain in a range with all but McDavid (otherworldly) and Taylor Hall (who is well feature role. clear). In his draft year, all of these prospects were impact offensive There is a hurdle. If the true shooting percentage overall is 11.6 percent, players. A junior player with exceptional offence often translates into a he’ll need to deliver 170 shots, or about two shots per game over an 82- productive skill player in the NHL. game season. In 2020-21, Yamamoto averaged 1.32 shots per game. Edmonton needs Yamamoto to be that productive skill player for a full That’s a huge gap. The young winger needs to pump up the volume. season. Every season. What is Yamamoto’s fit? The North Division’s skill RWs He’s a value contract, a 20-goal and 50-point skill winger who creates Yamamoto was one of 14 right wingers who played big minutes on a skill turnovers for his and makes smart plays all over the ice. He’s a line in the Canadian division in 2020-21. His numbers show a rock-solid player who is finding ways to become more useful on the power play and five-on-five goal differential, but a major slump to end the season (more shooting far more often in high-danger areas he’s often skating in. in a moment) hurt his numbers. Via Natural Stat Trick, here were the If Yamamoto can’t fill that job, he’s likely destined for a Josh Archibald North Division’s skill right wingers, two per team and based on time on role, a third-line winger who kills penalties, gets some extra time on the ice per game during 2020-21 (stats five-on-five): skill lines when an injury occurs and fills a depth position. Among the 14 right-wingers in the North Division this season, Jesse He’s far too dynamic for that to be his destiny. Edmonton has no real Puljujarvi (No. 12) and Yamamoto (No. 14) were clearly off the pace at competition on the horizon unless the plan is to move Draisaitl to right five-on-five individual scoring. wing. For the coming season at least, there is no competition, pending On the other hand, Yamamoto was No. 5 and Puljujarvi No. 7 in on-ice offseason moves. goal differential at five-on-five. When he was recalled in late December 2019, Yamamoto grabbed that The results appear to contradict, as both Oilers wingers spent much of NHL skill job and never let go. This season’s first half was more of the their seasons with Edmonton’s top centres (McDavid and Draisaitl) and same, but in early March, the bloom came off the rose. should have picked up more points on the way. Injury? Can’t find it. Slump? That’s a fact. One theory for Puljujarvi involves defenceman Tyson Barrie getting There’s a job waiting for Yamamoto on the No. 2 line this fall in several secondary assists that would have been awarded to the Finn, but Edmonton. He needs to solidify his claim on it after his goal-scoring logic dictates the impact should have been less than the final numbers ability went away in the second half. show. If the Oilers’ forwards are creating offence, points will come. Oilers general manager Ken Holland didn’t draft him, hasn’t paid him big For Yamamoto, the in-season splits tell a story. At five-on-five, his goal dollars and is looking for the kind of results Yamamoto delivered from scoring was far below the first half of his season: January 2020 through early March 2021. • First 26 games: 6-5-11, 1.77 points per 60 minutes, 30 shots, 20 It’ll be a story to follow in October. percent shooting percentage, 56.2 percent on-ice goal differential

• Second 26 games: 1-4-5, 0.80 points per 60, 26 shots, 3.85 percent shooting percentage, 58.3 percent on-ice goal differential The Athletic LOADED: 06.06.2021

1215193 Minnesota Wild 2021-22 outlook: Either Boldy will prove he's ready to play with the Wild or he'll be back in Iowa, where he had six goals and 12 assists in 14 games after turning pro.

What's next for the Wild: A player-by-player breakdown NICK BONINO

Center/wing (age 33)

By Sarah McLellan Star Tribune The veteran brought Stanley Cup experience to the Wild while also winning faceoffs, working both sides of special teams and lining up at JUNE 5, 2021 — 3:09PM every forward position.

Contract: Free agent.

Wild General Manager Bill Guerin was proud of the team for advancing to 2021-22 outlook: The Wild will explore keeping Bonino, but he may merit the playoffs during a shortened season challenged by the COVID-19 interest from other teams around the NHL. pandemic. "We made some really good steps this year," Guerin said Thursday. Now it's his chance to shape the roster to continue that climb. JONAS BRODIN Here's a look at current Wild players and their status going into the Defense (age 27) offseason: Another quality season by Brodin, who averaged the most minutes and CALEN ADDISON flexed more of his offensive skills by scoring a career-high nine goals. Defense (age 21) Contract: Signed through 2027-28. Addison played most of the season in the minors but was impressive 2021-22 outlook: This is the start of a seven-year, $42 million contract when he suited up for the Wild, making his NHL debut early in the year Brodin signed last offseason, the longest deal on the Wild's books. and then returning in the playoffs as an injury replacement. IAN COLE Contract: Entry level. Defense (age 32) 2021-22 outlook: If he doesn't win a spot with the Wild in training camp, Addison can return to Iowa in the . Acquired in an early-season trade from Colorado, Cole fit in seamlessly — adding a rugged but steady demeanor to the third pairing and a DERECK BARIBEAU winning pedigree as a two-time Stanley Cup champion. Goalie (age 22) Contract: Free agent. Shuffled between Iowa and the Wild's taxi squad. 2021-22 outlook: Cole is open to re-signing with the Wild. Contract: Entry level. JOSEPH CRAMAROSSA 2021-22 outlook: Facing more time in the minors. Center (age 28) MATT BARKOWSKI A fixture on the taxi squad, Cramarossa had an assist in four games with Defense (age 33) the Wild.

Logged just one game with the Wild when the team was shorthanded Contract: Free agent. because of a COVID-19 outbreak; otherwise, Bartkowski was with Iowa. 2021-22 outlook: A possibility for Iowa should the Wild extend Contract: Free agent. Cramarossa a contract.

2021-22 outlook: After three years with the Wild, the journeyman could MATT DUMBA re-sign to stay in the system or move on to a different opportunity. Defense (age 26) LOUIE BELPEDIO Dumba looked more like himself in his second season back from a torn Defense (age 25) pectoral muscle, skating heavy minutes alongside Jonas Brodin and chipping in offense from the back end. Like Matt Bartkowski, Belpedio was called up from Iowa to appear in the Wild's first game back after getting shut down by the virus. Contract: Signed through 2022-23.

Contract: Free agent. 2021-22 outlook: The Wild might have to do some maneuvering to protect him from Seattle in the expansion draft. 2021-22 outlook: Also at the crossroads of remaining a depth option or pursuing a fresh start elsewhere. JOEL ERIKSSON EK

NICK BJUGSTAD Center (age 24)

Right wing (age 28) Finished with the third-most goals on the Wild after racking up a career- high 19 while emerging as a bona fide two-way center. The Blaine native roved all over the Wild's lineup during his homecoming after an offseason trade from Pittsburgh, a versatility that the team relied Contract: Restricted free agent with arbitration rights. on to give it a balanced attack. 2021-22 outlook: Eriksson Ek needs to be re-signed. Contract: Free agent. KEVIN FIALA 2021-22 outlook: A return might depend on how much money the Wild Left wing (age 24) has left after signing its other free agents. With 20 goals and 20 assists, Fiala remained one of the Wild's most MATT BOLDY dynamic playmakers in the offensive zone. Left wing (age 20) Contract: Restricted free agent with arbitration rights. Left Boston College in March to sign with the Wild after getting drafted 2021-22 outlook: Up for a new contract, Fiala is primed to make more 12th overall in 2019. Boldy's still waiting to make his NHL debut. strides in his all-around game. Contract: Entry level. MARCUS FOLIGNO

Right wing (age 29) Aside from being a leader, Foligno was a shutdown specialist, consistent KIRILL KAPRIZOV checker and sparkplug for the offense, as evidenced by his career-high 26 points in 39 games. Left wing (age 24)

Contract: Signed through 2023-24. The rookie revitalized the Wild's offense with his creativity while leading the team and all first-year players in goals (27) and points (51). 2021-22 outlook: The three-year, $9.3 million contract extension Foligno signed before the season signaled how valuable he's become to the Contract: 10.2(c) player. Wild. 2021-22 outlook: Kaprizov is in the unique category of not meeting any JORDAN GREENWAY free-agency requirements ahead of his next deal and can sign only with the Wild. The team's top priority this offseason is locking him — and Left wing (age 24) Eriksson Ek and Fiala — into long-term contracts.

Cut back on the inconsistency that previously plagued his play and set GERALD MAYHEW career highs in assists (a team-high 26) and points (32). Left/right wing (age 28) Contract: Signed through 2021-22. Called up from Iowa to skate in four games with the Wild. 2021-22 outlook: Might be in line for a more lucrative contract if he keeps improving. Contract: Free agent.

ANDREW HAMMOND 2021-22 outlook: An experienced presence for Iowa if the organization signs him. Goalie (age 33) DAKOTA MERMIS Brought in before the season as the Wild's third goaltender, Hammond was a mainstay on the taxi squad and never saw game action with the Defense (age 27) Wild or Iowa. Assigned to the taxi squad as the eighth defenseman, Mermis played Contract: Free agent. three games with the Wild.

2021-22 outlook: Hammond and the Wild could part ways since the Contract: Free agent. organization has enough goalies already under contract. 2021-22 outlook: Might end up in a similar support role for the Wild or RYAN HARTMAN leave for another team.

Right wing (age 26) ZACH PARISE

Started the season on the wing, then became a useful center and was Left wing (age 36) signed to a three-year, $5.1 million contract extension. Dropped to the fourth line, Parise was a healthy scratch for the first time Contract: Signed through 2023-24. in his Wild tenure — including in the playoffs.

2021-22 outlook: A repeat of this season's performance, when Hartman Contract: Signed through 2024-25. handled multiple positions, killed penalties and supplied secondary 2021-22 outlook: Parise plans to be at training camp, and the Wild said scoring, would benefit the Wild. he's still a fit with the team even though his demotion caused speculation BRAD HUNT about whether the two sides could continue to coexist.

Defense (age 32) VICTOR RASK

The Wild's seventh defenseman, Hunt cracked the lineup every now and Center (age 28) then. Took advantage of an opportunity to play after being the extra forward Contract: Free agent. the previous season.

2021-22 outlook: Maybe Hunt sticks around as a fringe defenseman. Contract: Signed through 2021-22.

MARCUS JOHANSSON 2021-22 outlook: Rask would help the Wild's by-committee approach to center if the team doesn't make any changes up the middle. Right wing (age 30) KYLE RAU Injury interrupted Johansson's first season with the Wild and wrapped it early, as he suffered a broken left arm in the playoffs. Left/right wing (age 28)

Contract: Free agent. Rau roamed between the taxi squad and Wild, getting 14 games and one in the playoffs. 2021-22 outlook: The Wild might not have enough room in its budget to re-up Johansson. Contract: Free agent.

LUKE JOHNSON 2021-22 outlook: Probably more of the same for Rau should the Wild work out a deal. Center (age 26) MARCO ROSSI Practiced with the taxi squad most of the year but appeared in 14 games with the Wild. Center (age 19)

Contract: Free agent. His training-camp audition with the Wild never happened because of complications from COVID-19. 2021-22 outlook: Would provide depth at center if the Wild kept him. Contract: Entry level. KAAPO KAHKONEN 2021-22 outlook: The 2020 first-round pick has begun working out and Goalie (age 24) will have to vie for a spot on the roster.

Won nine straight starts at one point and established a Wild rookie record CARSON SOUCY for most wins in a season (16). Defense (age 26) Contract: Signed through 2021-22. Filled out a dependable unit with Ian Cole while boasting a team-high 2021-22 outlook: More NHL reps as the backup. plus-22. Contract: Signed through 2022-23.

2021-22 outlook: Soucy's reliability and manageable contract might make him appealing in the expansion draft if he's available for Seattle to select.

JARED SPURGEON

Defense (age 31)

In his first season as captain, Spurgeon continued to deliver defensively while leading the blue line in points with 25.

Contract: Signed through 2026-27.

2021-22 outlook: Expectations won't change for Spurgeon in his 12th NHL season.

NICO STURM

Center (age 26)

An energetic skater on the fourth line in first full season with the Wild.

Contract: Signed through 2021-22.

2021-22 outlook: Will Sturm's speed earn him a promotion in the lineup?

RYAN SUTER

Defense (age 36)

Suter's average ice time declined, but he remained a key defender in all situations.

Contract: Signed through 2024-25.

2021-22 outlook: A Suter-Spurgeon duo still makes sense.

CAM TALBOT

Goalie (age 33)

Stabilized the Wild's crease as the team's newest starter by going 19-8-5 in the regular season before pitching two shutouts in the playoffs.

Contract: Signed through 2022-23.

2021-22 outlook: There's no reason to believe Talbot's poise between the pipes won't continue to click with the Wild's structure.

MATS ZUCCARELLO

Right wing (age 33)

Zuccarello's passing skills complemented Kirill Kaprizov's scoring instincts, and the two created plenty of offense for the Wild.

Contract: Signed through 2023-24.

2021-22 outlook: Considering their chemistry, Zuccarello and Kaprizov could stay on the same line.

Star Tribune LOADED: 06.06.2021 1215194 Minnesota Wild

Wild's Jared Spurgeon named a finalist for Lady Byng Trophy

By Sarah McLellan Star Tribune

JUNE 5, 2021 — 11:00AM

Jared Spurgeon has stayed on the ice and out of the penalty box for most of his career with the Wild, and the NHL Awards spotlight has finally recognized that efficiency.

Spurgeon is a finalist for the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, which honors the player with the best sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability.

Toronto's Auston Matthews and Carolina's Jaccob Slavin are the other nominees announced Saturday. The award is voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association, and the winner will be revealed during the Stanley Cup playoffs.

In his first season as captain, Spurgeon scored seven goals and had 18 assists for a team-high 25 points among Wild defensemen while averaging 22 minutes, 5 seconds of ice time in 54 games. He committed just three penalties; only Slavin played more minutes per game while taking fewer penalties.

The 31-year-old Spurgeon also has the fewest penalty minutes among active NHL defensemen and is tied for the third fewest penalties among all active players that have logged at least 600 games since entering the league in 2010-11.

Only one other player in Wild history has been a Lady Byng finalist; Mikael Granlund finished third in 2016-17. Spurgeon is the second Wild player this week to be nominated for an NHL award; Kirill Kaprizov was named a finalist for the Calder Trophy as the league's top rookie on Thursday.

Matthews scored an NHL-high 41 goals for the Maple Leafs and ranked fifth in ice time per game among all forwards (21:33) in 52 games while receiving 10 minutes in penalties, the second fewest among the league's top 25 scorers; this is Matthews' second straight nomination after he placed second in voting last year.

Slavin took only one minor penalty – a delay of game infraction for a puck over the glass – while suiting up for 52 games and averaging nearly 23 minutes to help the Hurricanes become one of the best defending teams in the league and capture the Central Division title. His two penalty minutes are the fewest among all skaters who averaged at least 20 minutes and played at least 10 games.

Just three defensemen in NHL history have won this award, with Brian Campbell (Florida) the most recent in 2011-12.

Star Tribune LOADED: 06.06.2021 1215195 Montreal Canadiens The Jets will now need to win in Montreal to keep their season alive. Game 3 goes this Sunday. The Liveblog commenters seemed overly concerned with the hit counter early in the game. Once they saw Price was seeing the puck through traffic with ease, a sense of calm came over About Last Night: Shorty and shutout all the Habs need in Game 2 them.

3. “Habs are playing a great team game and Price is in position everytime. But sorry, I was shocked at how little Winnipeg gave tonight. If Erik Leijon • Special to Montreal Gazette this was the opposite we’d be crucifying the Habs for their lacklustre play. Publishing date: Jun 05, 2021 Montreal is making it miserable for them, but Winnipegs play is awful.” - Kyle Davidson

2. “Such a huge smile on my face , built for the playoffs …I think so , A Tyler Toffoli shorthanded goal was all the offence the Canadiens these guys are playing some good hockey…” -Wayne Authier needed in their 1-0 victory over the Winnipeg Jets in Game 2 of their second-round series. Carey Price made 30 saves for his eighth career 1. (tie) “The more I watch this playoff team, the more they remind me of playoff shutout. the 1993 Habs. No superstars, Goalie playing amazing, blend of vets and young guys. All believing in themselves, working their asses off and If you’re in a rush, here’s the lone tally: playing as a team.” -Bob Taylor

If you’re looking for more detail, here’s what happened over the course of 1. (tie) “just curious, great win tonight, but who was coaching, Jacques a mostly dull, occasionally tense contest. The Jets were down two Lemaire???” -Haari Meech centres with Mark Scheifele suspended for his Game 1 hit on Jake Evans and Paul Stastny out of the lineup. That meant Pierre-Luc Dubois, a centre by trade, helmed the first line and natural winger Andrew Copp Montreal Gazette LOADED: 06.06.2021 centred the second. Former Hab Jordie Benn got his first taste of action in the series in place of Dylan DeMelo. Not ideal for a team desperate for a split at home to start the series.

The Jets came out with more foot speed than in Game 1, but with shooting lanes clogged up by Montreal’s defenders, chances were hard to come by. At the other end, Cole Caufield was likely instructed to shoot after his uncharacteristically generous play in the opener. He and Jesperi Kotkaniemi ended up tying for the team lead in shots with five apiece. Near the end of the period, Dubois and Kyle Connor had a potential two- on-one thwarted by a sliding Ben Chiarot and a back-checking Brett Kulak. It was an otherwise uneventful period, the type an away team would consider a positive. The Jets outhit the Habs, although it was mostly from chasing the puck.

Early in the second, with Paul Byron in the box for high-sticking Adam Lowry, Toffoli took the puck up the ice with confidence, skating when a clearing would’ve been suffice, and toe dragging it long enough to get the defenceman and back-checker out of position. With Artturi Lehkonen bothering Connor Hellebuyck in front, Toffoli’s shot had enough deception to beat the reigning Vézina winner. Jets fans had a brief scare when top blueliner Josh Morrissey got crossed with Lehkonen, inadvertently taking a stick to the throat. He stayed in the game. A breakaway-bound Eric Staal ended the second period, sailing his attempt wide.

It was the fifth consecutive game where the Habs scored first.

Early in the third, Copp nearly became the latest Jet to go down to injury after blocking two shots by his own teammates on the same shift. He stayed in, bruises and all. Shea Weber got a penalty for tripping Nikolaj Ehlers, and the potent Jets power play got a much-needed man- advantage, but the Habs continued to stymie Winnipeg’s offence. Then it was Jeff Petry’s turn to go down in a heap after the puck deflected off his stick and hit him square in the jaw. His chin was bleeding, but not enough to keep him out.

With the Jets needing any signs of offensive life, they allowed consecutive odd-man rushes to the Habs. In each case, Paul Byron and Nick Suzuki elected to hold and shoot on their respective chances, and in both instances Hellebuyck came up large to keep the score to within one. It allowed the Jets to put pressure on the Habs in the closing minutes with their goalie pulled. Price made an initial save off a Neal Pionk point shot, but gave up a rebound to a streaking Derek Forbort. Price was able to slide over and make the pivotal stop on the defenceman.

Price was the hero again moments later, coming out to make the save off Nikolaj Ehlers in the slot. At the other end, Toffoli’s shot on the empty net hit the post, and Pionk had to dive and block Phillip Danault’s attempt on the rebound. The Habs ended up winning the defensive battle, holding on for a 1-0 shutout win.

The Canadiens have not trailed in their last 316:14 of play, since Game 4 vs. Toronto. They’ve also won four straight road games.

Really. He did it all.

Hellebuyck was no slouch, either, making 23 saves. 1215196 Nashville Predators 8 skaters plus a goalie This seems like a more likely option for Poile, though it, too, comes with

some sacrifices. Here's who Nashville Predators could protect, leave exposed in NHL Skaters: Arvidsson, Ekholm, Ellis, Fabbro, Forsberg, Jarnkrok, Josi, expansion draft Kunin

Goalie: Saros. PAUL SKRBINA | Nashville Tennessean This would leave Sissons unprotected and, quite frankly, given his salary and his ability, could make him a much more desirable pick for the Kraken than a Duchene or Johansen. A lot of the Nashville Predators' offseason will hinge on the expansion draft, which begs many questions, including an $8 million question: Will general manager David Poile leave Matt Duchene and/or Ryan Johansen Tennessean LOADED: 06.06.2021 exposed for the Seattle Kraken's picking on July 21.

Would the Kraken be interested in taking either? What could Poile do to potentially entice the Kraken? Work out a deal to retain some salary? Woo the Kraken with draft picks or prospects?

Poile's poker face was in full effect Thursday as he faces many tasks this summer, including re-signing Juuse Saros and possibly Pekka Rinne. Perhaps working out extensions for Mattias Ekholm and Filip Forsberg before their contracts expire after next season. Maybe trying to re-sign Mikael Gralund.

First, though, he and the league's other GMs must submit their protected lists by July 17.

"I couldn't tell you that. I'm not prepared to tell you that. I won't tell you that," Poile said when asked by the Tennessean whether Johansen and/or Duchene could be or would be exposed. "There's no advantage for me to tip my hand to anybody as to what our strategy might be."

There would be advantages to unloading one of their contracts — both financially as it relates to the salary cap, which will remain at $81.5 million again, and performance-wise.

Poile has repeatedly spoken of the importance of top players playing like top players, especially in big moments.

Yes, Duchene scored a winning goal in double-overtime in the playoffs against the Hurricanes. Yes, Johansen had three goals and an assist in the series.

No, neither has put up the numbers expected of players with such contracts. Johansen has 21 goals and 37 assists in 116 games during the last two regular seasons. Duchene has 20 goals and 42 assists in 100 games during the same span.

Johansen has four years remaining on his deal; Duchene five.

Teams can protect seven forwards, three defensemen and one goalie or eight skaters and one goalie. The rules are more complex than that, but for the purposes of this exercise, let's look at how the Predators might approach their list.

Poile said he has his priorities in order on paper and in his head.

"Come to my office; I have lists," Poile said, after joking that he'd like to pick Seattle GM Ron Francis' brain ahead of the draft. "I have files."

Here's how his list could end up looking for the expansion draft under the two scenarios:

7-3-1

Note: Forwards Eeli Tolvanen, Mathieu Olivier and Philip Tomasino and defensemen Jeremy Davies and David Farrance are exempt from being drafted and therefore don't have to be protected. Free agents, such as Mikael Granlund, also don't need to be protected. Roman Josi has a no- movement clause and must be protected (as if the Predators would expose him).

Forwards: Filip Forsberg, Viktor Arvidsson, Colton Sissons, Calle Jarnkrok, Ryan Johansen Luke Kunin, Nick Cousins.

Defensemen: Roman Josi (no-movement clause means he must be protected), Mattias Ekholm,

Goalie: Juuse Saros

This scenario would mean exposing Duchene. It also would mean Dante Fabbro could be selected, something Poile isn't likely to consider. Rocco Grimaldi and Nick Cousins also would be exposed. 1215197 Nashville Predators “He maybe shouldn’t have come back to play at the end,” Poile said. Poile expressed confidence in Arvidsson, who once scored 94 goals in a

three-season span. Those days, however, appear to be behind him. The What a perfect offseason would look like for the Nashville Predators Predators’ core needs a shake-up. Arvidsson, who carries a $4.25 million cap hit through 2024, could fetch future assets that the Predators missed out on by standing pat at the trade deadline.

By Adam Vingan Philip Tomasino replaces Arvidsson in the top six

Jun 5, 2021 The future is bright for 19-year-old forward Philip Tomasino, who had 32 points in 29 games for the Chicago Wolves in his first professional

season and was named to the AHL All-Rookie Team. For an hour Thursday afternoon, Predators general manager David Poile Tomasino played right wing for the Wolves, so if Arvidsson is traded, and coach John Hynes faced questions about the direction of the then the rookie could step into the vacated role in the Predators’ top six. franchise. They offered few specifics. “He deserves a real good chance to try to make our team next year,” Because Poile did not lay out his plan for the next few months, we got to Poile said. thinking: What should his plan be? What would be the ideal offseason for the Predators? At least one of Mattias Ekholm and Filip Forsberg agrees to a contract extension Here is our version: Mattias Ekholm and Filip Forsberg have one year remaining on their Mikael Granlund re-signs contracts and are eligible to sign new ones this summer. Hynes and Poile heaped praise on Mikael Granlund during their news The cap is expected to remain at $81.5 million for the foreseeable future, conference. Poile called him “our most consistent player all season long.” which will make it difficult for the Predators to re-sign Ekholm and Hynes went further. Forsberg without freeing up a large amount of space. If Poile can get at “He’s extremely competitive,” Hynes said. “He’s extremely reliable, least one of them under contract in the next few months, he will have a consistent. He’s durable. He shows up every night. He practices hard. better handle on the cap situation moving forward. Very coachable. He can play in all situations. He can play wing, center. Hynes’ decision to scratch Dante Fabbro in all six playoff games was a Very good penalty killer, can play multiple positions on the power play. major topic of discussion among Predators fans and reporters. You need to have guys like that to win, because he maximizes what his potential is. He maximizes his talent level and his potential because of Fabbro, a pending RFA who turns 23 this month, is still very much in the his durability, his competitiveness. He’s a highly skilled player, but he Predators’ plans. Hynes detailed what he wants to see from Fabbro next doesn’t rely on skill. He relies on his work ethic. … That’s why he earned season. the minutes that he got. He was a really big impact player for us.” “He’s an average-sized defenseman,” Hynes said. “He’s a good skater. Granlund, 29, epitomizes the identity the Predators worked to build this He moves the puck well. We really think his speed and quickness have to season. He is projected to receive a three-year contract with a $5.185 get to another level, and his strength, where he’s going to be in situations million cap hit if he re-signs, according to Evolving-Hockey. That is a where he can play against the Jamie Benns or the Nathan MacKinnons conservative estimate, but the Predators, who have around $17 million in or the (Gabriel) Landeskogs, Tyler Seguin, and those guys in the hard cap space, should try to make it work. areas of the ice. Dante’s a young guy. We really talked with him specifically about his speed, his quickness and just getting physically Juuse Saros signs a shorter-term deal with a cap hit no higher than $4 stronger where he can compete in those areas on a regular basis. million “He’s leaving here a very motivated guy. If he gets better in those areas In Juuse Saros, the Predators seem to have found their next franchise and follows the plan and puts some hard work in this summer, he’s going goaltender. Now they have to pay him. to come in and be a guy that we can rely on and continue to be an The three-year, $4.5 million contract that Saros, 26, signed in July 2018 important part of our organization and our team.” is about to expire. He’s a restricted free agent with 155 games of NHL Fabbro and Alexandre Carrier, 24, have the potential to anchor the right experience, so a shorter-term contract would make sense. Philipp side of the Predators defense for years to come. The team should not Grubauer, for example, signed a three-year, $10 million deal with the give up on Fabbro yet. Colorado Avalanche in 2018. Grubauer, then a 26-year-old RFA, had played 101 games for the Washington Capitals. Matt Duchene struck a defiant tone as reporters peppered him with questions about his lack of production since he signed a seven-year, $56 Saros’ body of work is larger than Grubauer’s when he signed, so would million contract with the Predators in 2019. a three-year, $12 million contract get it done? Saros would receive a well-earned raise, and the Predators would be able to continue “Whether you’re looking at advanced stats or whatever, all that stuff’s evaluating him. very high,” Duchene said. “I’ve done the fact-checking for myself to make sure that I wasn’t missing something. … We haven’t been a team that Pekka Rinne returns for one more season has scored a lot of goals over the last couple years. I think it’s gone Pekka Rinne, 38, did not sound ready to retire when he addressed through the entire lineup. If it was just me, I’d be searching deeper, but reporters Wednesday. He did not rule out the possibility of signing with we’ve had a lot of guys play some good hockey and be snakebitten.” another NHL team this summer, but it is hard to imagine him playing There is some truth in that. Duchene has shot 9.6 percent and 8.2 anywhere else. percent in his two seasons with the Predators, the worst marks of his Saros needs an experienced backup next season. Who better than career. (He is a career 12.5 percent shooter.) Rinne, whose presence has been instrumental to his development? Regardless, scoring 19 goals in 100 regular-season games is “I would say in the next two or three weeks that Pekka and I will get unacceptable. In fact, if Duchene had not scored twice in the Predators’ together again, and we’ll see what he’s thinking about,” Poile said. “But season finale to reach six goals, he would have finished with fewer than as I’ve told him, we would be very, very happy if he wanted to come back fourth-liner Tanner Jeannot. for one more season. I think I speak for everybody in the organization on There also appears to be a disconnect between Duchene and Hynes. that.” Asked how Hynes helped him this season, Duchene offered a lukewarm Viktor Arvidsson is traded for future assets response.

Viktor Arvidsson, 28, has struggled to stay healthy in recent seasons, “I think when we had all the injuries, I think he did a good job helping which has greatly diminished his impact. Poile said Arvidsson is still keep things together,” Duchene said. “I think the guys were a big part of dealing with an upper-body injury that kept him out of the final five games that also, obviously. I think just the work ethic of our team, we all just kind of the regular season and four playoff games. of started, I guess, playing a similar way, and we were all on the same page that way. The consistency started to be there, and we started to kind of grind out some wins. I think that was a big part of it, and that’s kind of his style, for sure.”

Poile said that he would like to talk to Kraken GM Ron Francis to see if there is a deal to be made that would work for both teams. He should do everything within reason to get the Kraken to take Duchene off his hands.

The departures of Duchene and Arvidsson would create an additional $12.25 million in cap space. Those funds could be directed toward re- signing several key RFAs as well as Ekholm and Forsberg.

The Athletic LOADED: 06.06.2021 1215198 New York Islanders “He likes to get to the net and he’s got speed so I need to make sure I’m physical on him,” Mayfield said. “Playoffs you get emotional, I think that’s what it was. He’s not known for doing that. It’s part of the game. It was a good little fight there and you move on.” Mathew Barzal leads Islanders past Bruins to tie series There was more pushing and shoving two minutes later after Barzal was whistled for high-sticking in anticipation of a hit from Lazar. In the skirmish, New York’s Matt Martin and Bruins’ Jarred Tinordi also By VIN A. CHERWOO exchanged punches. ASSOCIATED PRESS

JUN 05, 2021 AT 11:31 PM New York Daily News LOADED: 06.06.2021

Mathew Barzal was at the right place at the right time for the New York Islanders.

Barzal scored the tiebreaking goal late in the third period and the Islanders beat the Boston Bruins 4-1 on Saturday night to even the second-round playoff series at two games apiece.

With the score tied 1-1, the Islanders took their first lead of the game when Scott Mayfield’s point shot was redirected and deflected in front, and Barzal batted the puck out of the air and past goalie Tuukka Rask with 6:57 left.

“A little bit of hand-eye (coordination), a little bit of luck,” Barzal said after scoring for the second straight game. “The puck takes a weird skip. I don’t think many people knew where it was, so just trying to get to the net as quick as I can. Fortunate I don’t think Tuukka could really see it, we had some good net presence.”

Boston pulled Rask for an extra skater with 1:12 left. Casey Cizikas — who had the overtime goal in Game 2 — sealed it with an empty-netter nine seconds later, and Jean-Gabriel Pageau added one with three seconds to go.

Kyle Palmieri also scored for New York and Semyon Varlamov stopped 28 shots.

“Every single guy came to play,” Cizikas said. “Right from the puck drop we were banging, we were crashing, we were getting to the net. We were being hard in our own end when we did have breakdowns Varly came up with some huge saves.”

David Krejci scored for Boston and Rask made 30 saves.

“Just some breakdowns,” Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said. “The lack of urgency to get the puck to the net I thin was a bit of a formula in general tonight. We weren’t willing to shoot enough.”

Game 5 is Monday night in Boston, with Game 6 back at Nassau Coliseum on Wednesday night.

Boston scored first for the third straight game. With Matt Martin off for holding to put the Bruins on their second power play, Krejci put in the rebound of a shot by Pastrnak at 3:57 of the second. The puck was loose in front and came to Krejci on the right side and he quickly put it in.

The Islanders challenged for goalie interference, but it stood after a review, putting the Bruins on another power play.

New York tied it shortly after the penalty expired. Barzal skated back and forth along the right boards while defended by Curtis Lazar, then as he skated behind the net he sent a pass in front to Palmieri, who quickly beat Rask at 6:38. Palmieri, who had two goals in 17 games after being acquired from New Jersey at the trade deadline, got his fifth of the postseason.

“You get an opportunity to get some momentum off the penalty kill and those guys did a great job,” Palmieri said. “It was nice to come back down the other way and tie it up.”

Barzal was down on the ice for several minutes after being slashed by Krejci, putting the Islanders on their first power play of the game with just under nine minutes remaining. New York managed just two shots on goal during the advantage.

The Bruins outshot the Islanders 11-7 in a fast-paced and physical first period.

Mayfield and Boston’s Taylor Hall dropped gloves and traded punches 7 1/2 minutes into the game. Both players were given major penalties for the fight. 1215199 New York Islanders we scored right away that really got us going in the right direction.“I liked Mat’s game, he was dangerous all night and he kept putting the puck to the net and creating. That’s how you’re going to score in the playoffs, and he’s doing it right now.” Mathew Barzal’s goal lifts Islanders to Game 4 win over Bruins

New York Post LOADED: 06.06.2021 By Mollie Walker

June 5, 2021 | 10:12pm | Updated

Mathew Barzal skated out under the bright Nassau Coliseum lights with his helmet off, pumping his fist and repeatedly screaming “our house” to a raucous crowd of 12,000 strong, while his name was announced as the first star of the night.

The 23-year-old Barzal not only swatted home the game-winning goal in the Islanders’ 4-1 victory over the Bruins on Saturday night, but he also maintained the lengthy puck possession that led to the crucial game-tying tally.

Casey Cizikas and Jean-Gabriel Pageau both potted empty-netters for good measure late in the third period as the Islanders knotted the second-round playoff series at two games apiece.

Without Barzal’s heroics, the Islanders would be in a much different situation as they travel to Boston for Game 5 at 6:30 p.m. Monday.

Barzal, who batted a bouncing puck in at 13:03 of the third to give the Islanders a 2-1 lead, just scored his first goal of the postseason in Game 3 on Thursday. Despite Barzal’s struggles early in the playoffs to get on the score sheet, Islanders head coach Barry Trotz said the top-line center was focused on being effective away from the puck and that the points would come soon enough.

Indeed, they have. And just in the nick of time.

Mathew Barzal celebrates after scoring the go-ahead goal in the third period of the Islanders’ 4-1 Game 4 win over the Bruins.

“Honestly, it’s the playoffs,” Barzal said after his second two-point night of the postseason. “As much as I’d love to produce every night, just it’s so tight out there, and sometimes it just doesn’t come that easy. It’s more so, when it’s not coming offensively that night, just make sure I’m not on the ice for any goals against or making that block or just trying to get the puck out. Just playing sound hockey, a lot of shifts are just 50-50, and you just got to grind it out.

“So when things aren’t going my way in the playoffs offensively, that’s really what it comes down to, just battling for the boys.”

The Islanders were down 1-0 early in the second period, after the Bruins had capitalized on the power play with a goal from David Krejci. Barzal fended off Boston fourth-liner Curtis Lazar with some sharp skating along the boards before dishing to Kyle Palmieri for the shot in front to tie it up 1-1 at 6:38.

It’s hard to ignore that Barzal and Palmieri have generated two goals together in the past two games, with Palmieri on the top line for a shift in place of Leo Komarov, who both times was taking a breather on the bench after a penalty kill.

Asked if he is tempted to put Palmieri in place of Komarov on the top line with Barzal and Jordan Eberle, Trotz said prior to the game that it had been considered. Trotz buckled down, however, on his lineup decisions after the win.

“I think Palms is pretty valuable for that line that Pageau is on, that line produces for us,” he said. “ fantasy hockey all you want, Leo’s good with Barzy and when I put Palms there they’ve been good. But both times, it’s been after power plays or just happenstance when guys have issues with equipment or get marked up a little bit.”

Trotz added that he felt the penalty kill gave the Islanders some momentum to build off. When Krejci scored through a scramble in front of Islanders goalie Semyon Varlamov at 3:57 of the second, Trotz challenged for goaltender interference. The goal was upheld and the Islanders were sent right back on the penalty kill.

“We had a huge penalty kill on that challenge, and then [Barzal’s] line came out right after that and they were pretty determined,” Trotz said. “I thought that penalty kill gave us a bit of a boost, and then obviously when 1215200 New York Islanders

Islanders’ top line continues to be hot topic

By Mollie Walker

June 5, 2021 | 4:12pm | Updated

The Islanders’ top line has been a hot topic of conversation since captain , in March, was ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee injury.

Suddenly, usual bottom-six winger Leo Komarov was flanking star center Mathew Barzal, with Jordan Eberle on the other side. It was an abnormal combination in the regular season, but it has become even more of a glaring mismatch in the postseason, which has been made clear by that line’s lack of production.

Eberle and Barzal have combined for just three goals through the first two rounds of the playoffs, and Barzal’s first goal of the postseason came Thursday night in Game 3 of the second-round series against the Bruins.

It’s hard to ignore that Barzal’s goal in the third period of the 2-1 overtime loss came with an assist from Kyle Palmieri, who was on for a shift in place of Komarov. Head coach Barry Trotz said that combination was “happenstance” because of the shift rotation, with Komarov on the bench after a penalty kill.

“It’s something to consider a little bit because of the fact that just the way rotation-wise when Leo is killing penalties, Palms doesn’t kill penalties, so a lot of times after power plays or penalty kills, you come out and you need a winger for Barzy,” Trotz said of rearranging the first line Saturday ahead of Game 4 at Nassau Coliseum. “Sometimes it works out that we go with Palms there. Sometimes we go out with — if [Brock Nelson] and [Josh Bailey] usually kill some penalties, if they’re out there toward the end of a kill then [Anthony Beauvillier] will go. And then you can get Leo back with Barzy, but yeah we’ve considered it a few times.”

Leo Komarov (l) and Mat Barzal make up part of the Islanders’ top line.

There’s no question Komarov brings intangibles to the lineup that are necessary for the Islanders to play their hard-nosed, grinding style of play. However, Barzal hasn’t gotten the support he needs from his linemates to create plays the way that he’s known to. Eberle has consistently been bodied off the puck by the Bruins and Komarov seems to be out of his element next to those two high-skill players.

Bruins defenseman Brandon Carlo was ruled out ahead of Game 4 after taking a hard hit from Cal Clutterbuck in the third period of Game 3. Asked about the play Saturday morning, Clutterbuck expressed remorse.

“Obviously you feel bad, you don’t want to see anybody hurt,” he said. “I’m not going out there and trying to hurt people. That’s not the goal. The goal is to be effective, and try and create turnovers. So when that happens, obviously it’s unfortunate. It gives you a bad feeling in your stomach definitely and I don’t like to see that at all. So I hope he’s OK.”

Trotz said there is a possibility Oliver Wahlstrom, who missed his fifth straight game Saturday with a lower-body injury, could play at some point this series.

“We miss his shot, no question,” Trotz said of the rookie sharpshooter. “We miss his size. Wally is one of those guys that gets pucks out and he wins battles, just as Anders Lee has too. Can you imagine Anders Lee in this series and Wahlstrom in this series? That would be beneficial, but they’re not so we just play with who we have and we like who we have so they’ll get the job done.”

New York Post LOADED: 06.06.2021 1215201 New York Islanders

‘Dangerous’ Anthony Beauvillier rising to occasion for Islanders

By Mollie Walker

June 5, 2021 | 1:53pm | Updated

Anthony Beauvillier has been one of the top two Islanders’ point producers in the playoffs so far, but with the number of opportunities he has had this postseason, the second-line winger could have double his amount of goals.

That has been Beauvillier’s modus operandi during the Islanders’ past two playoff runs: elevating his game from the regular season and generating more high-danger scoring chances when it matters the most.

Heading into Game 4 of the second-round series against the Bruins on Saturday night at Nassau Coliseum, Beauvillier was tied with Jean- Gabriel Pageau for the most points on the team with four goals and five assists. According to Natural Stat Trick, Beauvillier has registered 11 high-danger scoring chances, just one fewer than top-line center Mathew Barzal.

“Beau’s been pretty dangerous,” head coach Barry Trotz said Saturday. “He’s had a few breakaways, I think he’s been noticeable on the forecheck, he’s been good defensively.

“The great thing about Beau is … this is going to be the 40th playoff game in the last three years, I can’t think of too many games where Beau has been a guy I go, ‘Man, he wasn’t very good tonight.’ I can’t remember too many times that that is said in my thoughts after games. He usually raises his game in the playoffs.”

Beauvillier, who will turn 24 on Tuesday and is set to become a restricted free agent with arbitration rights this summer, had more than one opportunity to sway Game 3 in the Islanders’ favor. He had two breakaways, including one just after Barzal’s game-tying tally near the end of the third period, but didn’t convert on either.

Anthony Beauvillier

That Beauvillier has been able to finesse breakaways at all this series has been crucial for the Islanders. There haven’t been many opportunities for his teammates to do so. It’s a part of Beauvillier’s game that he has carried over from last postseason.

During the 2020 playoffs, in which the Islanders came within two wins of the Stanley Cup finals, Beauvillier had nine goals (three of them game- winners) and five assists through 22 games, including the play-in series.

Beauvillier said during this past training camp that he was ready to take the next step in his game: to become a more consistent player and take on a bigger role. There may still be work to be done on his consistency in the regular season, but Beauvillier is once again making his mark on the playoffs.

“I think you can see the talent when he came in, obviously made the team as a young kid,” said Cal Clutterbuck of Beauvillier’s rookie season, when Clutterbuck was in his third season with the Islanders. “Just a raw talent. But his game has evolved over the years, I think he fits in really well with that line with Nelly [Brock Nelson] and Bails [Josh Bailey]. But I think a real sign of somebody’s maturity and their game and where it’s at is their performance when it counts and in the postseason.

“I think last year’s postseason was a really big boost for his confidence and you can see that he’s got that ability to raise his game when it matters. He’s been a real important player for us.”

New York Post LOADED: 06.06.2021 1215202 New York Islanders

Islanders' physical game becomes even more than that

By Colin Stephenson [email protected] @ColinSNewsday

Updated June 6, 2021 1:06 AM

The Islanders pride themselves on being a physical team. Usually, however, that physicality is manifested in the body-checking department, not necessarily the fighting department.

Identity line wingers Cal Clutterbuck and Matt Martin were in the top 10 in the league in hits in the regular season, according to quanthockey.com, with Clutterbuck ranking sixth with 191 and Martin eighth with 181.

That physical style has continued in the playoffs. Entering Game 4 of their second-round playoff series Saturday at Nassau Coliseum against the Boston Bruins, Clutterbuck, Martin and Leo Komarov were second, third and fourth in playoff hits with 50, 46 and 45 in nine games.

In Game 4, a 4-1 Islanders victory that tied the best-of-seven series at 2- 2, the three totaled 10 hits (Clutterbuck and Martin four each, Komarov two).

Island Ice Ep. 95: Isles tie series with Bruins at 2-2

The guys discuss Game 4 of the Isles-Bruins playoff series where Mathew Barzal assisted on the tying goal and scored the winning goal.

Before the game, Islanders coach Barry Trotz explained that there is a tangible value to teams that play a physical game.

"[Physical play] wears you out,’’ Trotz said. "It wears you mentally, and some guys are mentally stronger than others. Some guys have a bigger backbone, as I would say, when it comes to those situations. And that's why I think, in the playoffs, it gets ramped up a little bit. It just does.’’

The Islanders were physical again Saturday night, but this time the physicality included some over-the-edge chippiness and a couple of fights. Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield exchanged punches with Bruins forward Taylor Hall in the first period, and a few minutes later, Martin dropped the gloves with Bruins defenseman Jarred Tinordi.

It was Hall's second NHL fight and his first since 2011. Mayfield, who along with partner Nick Leddy has matched up a lot against the Hall line, chalked up the fight to trying to be physical with the speedy Hall and playoff hockey being "emotional.’’

"He’s not known for [fighting], that’s for sure,’’ Mayfield said. "That’s part of the game, and it was a good little fight there, and we move on.’’

Mayfield was asked if he thought the fights might have helped to get the Islanders going in the game, which was tight throughout, before the Isles opened it up at the end with a couple of empty-net goals.

"I think that can get us going a little bit,’’ he said. "I also think when a guy like Hall steps up like that, I think it gets them going a little bit. And I know Tinordi got inserted in the lineup there [replacing the injured Brandon Carlo], so he stepped up. So it can go both ways. But the crowd was loud. I think everyone heard that. So that helps us.’’

Trotz said he didn’t think the Islanders got a lift from the fights, and the coach seemed to want to make sure everyone knew his team didn’t start the fights in order to get some kind of bounce from them.

"No, I just think they're happenstance,’’ Trotz said. "I think Hall sort of initiated the first one, and I'd have to look at the second one again, but Tinordi came off the blue line to engage with Martin. So as much as you want to put that on us, I think [the Bruins] were looking for a little momentum there, and they didn't get any.’’

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 06.06.2021 1215203 New York Islanders The Bruins scored first when David Krejci popped the puck over Varlamov after a scramble in front of the net at 3:57 of the second period.

It was a power-play goal, owing to Martin being called for a hold. Mathew Barzal rises to occasion for Islanders in pivotal third period of The Islanders challenged on the grounds Marchand had interfered with Game 4 win over Bruins Varlamov, but it was ruled he had not.

After killing the ensuing delay-of-game power play, the Islanders tied it at June 6, 2021 12:17 AM 6:38 of the second when Barzal skated behind the goal with Curtis Lazar chasing him futilely and found Palmieri in front.

It all set up a frenzied final 20 minutes, and Barzal’s big score. It was a third period destined perhaps to define a season, and perhaps to extend an era. "To get that goal at that time to give us a lead, that’s the type of play he makes," Cizikas said. "He doesn’t miss those." The Islanders and Bruins were tied at 1 with 20 minutes to play in Game 4 of their second-round playoff series at Nassau Coliseum on Saturday night, and losing was not an option for the home team. By Neil Best So the Islanders didn’t. Mathew Barzal scored with 6:57 left in the third Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 06.06.2021 period, and after two empty-net goals it was 4-1, with Game 5 in Boston and, yes, at least one more game at the Old Barn on Wednesday.

When he was called onto the ice as the first star, Barzal — who also assisted on the Islanders’ first goal — let out a yell that seemed part celebratory and part cathartic.

Island Ice Ep. 95: Isles tie series with Bruins at 2-2

The guys discuss Game 4 of the Isles-Bruins playoff series where Mathew Barzal assisted on the tying goal and scored the winning goal.

"Just some passion coming out, I guess," he said.

Barzal started slowly in the playoffs but now has strung together several good games — he scored the Islanders’ only goal in Game 3 — which is a good sign for the team.

"It’s fun to watch," Casey Cizikas said. "He’s an elite player with superstar skill."

Barzal swatted a bouncing puck past Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask for the game-winner, but that only was the most dramatic thing that happened in that final period, not the only one.

It included a little bit of everything, including former Islanders great Clark Gillies being shown on the video board chugging a beverage, then smashing the can against his head.

The Islanders had some good chances against Rask early in the third, including a near tip-in by Noah Dobson and a good, hard shot from Ryan Pulock.

But both teams had opportunities as Rask and the Islanders’ Semyon Varlamov held firm in their nets. Some had suggested coach Barry Trotz go back to Ilya Sorokin in goal after Varlamov lost Game 3, but he wisely did not.

The Islanders clamped down in the final minutes and earned a trip back to Boston tied at two games apiece in what has been an entertaining and evenly fought series.

Things took a strange turn in the first period when Scott Mayfield fought the Bruins’ Taylor Hall. The fight wasn’t strange, just the fact Hall was in it. It had been a while between fights for him. Ten years, actually.

Soon thereafter, there was another extended scrum following a high stick by Barzal to which the Bruins took exception.

It ended with the Islanders’ Matt Martin outpointing the Bruins defenseman Jarred Tinordi in a long fight, inspiring "Mat-ty Mar-tin" chants from the crowd.

The best scoring chance of the first period came when Boston’s David Pastrnak hit the far post when confronted with a completely unguarded net.

It was a shocking moment for Pastrnak, who in Game 1 had a hat trick and is a gifted goal-scorer. He fell to the ice in disbelief.

"That one was very fortunate for us," Mayfield said. "Probably one of the best goal-scorers, who hit the post.

"I’m sure he wants that one back." 1215204 New York Islanders The Islanders came out with a hard push fueled by their strong forecheck in a feisty first period. Former Hart Trophy winner Taylor Hall, engaging in just his second NHL fight, dropped the gloves with defenseman Scott Mayfield at 7:28. Matt Martin engaged in a heavyweight bout with Islanders rally from second-period hole, beat Bruins in Game 4 to even defenseman Jarred Tinordi after the Bruins objected to Barzal’s high stick series on Lazar at 9:23, an infraction that may draw a fine from the league.

Barzal later took a stick to the groin from Krejci at 11:16 of the second period he deemed, "a tad vicious," despite the initial five-minute spearing By Andrew Gross call being reduced to a two-minute slash. [email protected] @AGrossNewsday The Islanders were lucky not to trail after an unchecked David Pastrnak, Updated June 5, 2021 11:09 PM getting a cross-ice feed to the left circle from Patrice Bergeron, hit the far post shooting staring at a wide-open net at 16:58.

This game, just like the entirety of this second-round series, was everything NHL playoff hockey is supposed to be. The Islanders and Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 06.06.2021 Bruins again engaged in an even battle at a tension-filled Nassau Coliseum.

It’s only fitting this series is now tied at two games apiece after the Islanders’ 4-1 win on Saturday night and there will be at least one more playoff game at the venerable barn, which again seated a deafening 12,000.

"The biggest game for us so far," said Mathew Barzal, who swatted in the winner at 13:03 of the third period from off the left post. "We go down 3-1 to these guys heading back to TD Garden, that’s a death sentence. So that was a huge game for us tonight. Everyone brought it. Everyone was involved somehow, whether it was scoring or hitting or playing good defense. Everyone was doing something positive."

The resilient Islanders rallied from a second-period deficit as the teams continue to alternate wins to start the series. Game 5 is Monday night at TD Garden and the teams will return to the Coliseum on Wednesday night.

Island Ice Ep. 95: Isles tie series with Bruins at 2-2

The guys discuss Game 4 of the Isles-Bruins playoff series where Mathew Barzal assisted on the tying goal and scored the winning goal.

"We knew how big a game it was," said Kyle Palmieri, who took Barzal’s feed from behind the crease to tie the game at 1 at 6:38 of the second period. "You don’t want to lose two at home and we were ready to go. From the drop of the puck, we were ready to go and we gave our fans something to cheer about. The atmosphere tonight was incredible."

A superb Semyon Varlamov stopped 28 shots, including four shorthanded tries by the Bruins in the first 29 seconds of the third period. But the Bruins only had four more shots the rest of the period and none in the final 6:18.

"It was unbelievable out there," said Casey Cizikas, who, along with Jean-Gabriel Pageau, clinched the game with empty-net goals at the end. "Every single guy came to play. Right from the puck drop we were banging, we were crashing, we were getting to the net. And then when we did have breakdowns, Varly came up with some huge saves."

The Islanders had also faced a 2-1 series deficit in the first round against the Penguins before rallying with three straight wins.

"Every game, every playoff series teaches you lessons," said coach Barry Trotz, who led the Islanders to the Eastern Conference finals last season. "You find value in being down. We were in this position the last series against Pittsburgh. We had a positive experience. We’ve learned some things from that."

"Confidence is something that comes from repetition," defenseman Adam Pelech said. "We’ve been in these spots before."

The game didn’t turn in the Islanders’ favor until early in the second period.

David Krejci gave the Bruins a 1-0 lead with a power-play goal at 3:57 and Trotz unsuccessfully challenged that Brad Marchand interfered with Varlamov by getting his stick on the goalie’s pad. That put the Bruins right back on the power play but the Islanders killed it off, leading to Palmieri’s equalizer.

"Varly couldn’t move his leg and that’s what we told the referee," Trotz said. "We got it wrong so I thanked all the guys for the next penalty kill. They did a great job and gave us momentum back." 1215205 New York Islanders Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 06.06.2021

Kyle Palmieri and Mathew Barzal on the same line? It isn't going to happen

By Andrew Gross [email protected] @AGrossNewsday

Updated June 6, 2021 12:35 AM

Before the Islanders won Game 4 of their second-round series against the Bruins, 4-1, on Saturday night at Nassau Coliseum, Barry Trotz carefully explained the circumstances that led to Mathew Barzal being on ice with Kyle Palmieri for a goal in the previous game.

Barzal’s Game 3 goal off Palmieri’s assist came with his regular linemate, Leo Komarov, on the bench resting after a penalty kill. The same scenario happened in Game 4, with Barzal setting up Palmieri’s second- period goal shortly after a penalty kill.

But Trotz pushed back when asked if that made him think about making the two permanent linemates.

"Palms is pretty valuable for that line that [Jean-Gabriel] Pageau is on," Trotz said. "You can play fantasy hockey all you want. Leo is good with Barzy."

Island Ice Ep. 95: Isles tie series with Bruins at 2-2

The guys discuss Game 4 of the Isles-Bruins playoff series where Mathew Barzal assisted on the tying goal and scored the winning goal.

Still a possibility

Trotz said there is still a chance that Oliver Wahlstrom (lower body) can play in this series after the rookie sharpshooter was injured in Game 5 of the first-round series against the Penguins.

"He potentially could," Trotz said. "We miss his shot, no question. We miss his size. Wahlly is one of those guys that gets pucks out and wins battles. He’s a strong man. Just as Anders Lee is too. Can you imagine Anders Lee in this series and a Wahlstrom in this series? That would be beneficial. But they’re not, so we play who we have and we like who we have."

Lee suffered a season-ending right knee injury on March 11.

Isles aware clock is ticking

In Saturday night’s Game 4 of their second-round series against the Bruins, the Islanders weren’t just potentially playing for their playoff lives but Nassau Coliseum’s as well.

UBS Arena at Belmont Park is targeted to open in November, so this is the Coliseum’s last go-round as an NHL playoff facility.

"I think our attention is just on the series and doing our jobs," Cal Clutterbuck said. "I don’t think we have enough time and effort to really sit there and be nostalgic about the building. The building is great and it’s loud and we do love it, but there’s no extra thought being paid to what it means in this building. That’s all kind of going on outside of the room."

But that doesn’t mean the Islanders aren’t aware of the clock ticking down on the Coliseum.

"I think it’s nice to be aware of the situation," Adam Pelech said. "Even though it’s something that we’re not necessarily focused on, I think it’s something that’s nice to recognize and it would be special to be part of a long run here."

Isles files

Barzal said he was OK after being in obvious pain in the second period as David Krejci caught him in the groin with his stick . . . Defenseman Scott Mayfield had his 12th NHL fight but his first in the playoffs. His third-period assist gave him four in the postseason, tied for eighth among NHL defensemen.

1215206 New York Islanders Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 06.06.2021

Islanders pride themselves on physical style of play, but still shaken by Brandon Carlo injury

By Colin Stephenson [email protected] @ColinSNewsday

Updated June 5, 2021 4:49 PM

The sight of Boston Bruins defenseman Brandon Carlo, on his knees, motionless, and with a glazed look in his eyes Thursday after being checked into the boards by the Islanders’ Cal Clutterbuck in Game 3 of the playoff series between Islanders and Boston, was unsettling.

And Clutterbuck admitted Saturday it left him with a pit in his stomach.

"Obviously, you feel bad,’’ Clutterbuck said, before the teams played Game 4 of their second-round series Saturday night at Nassau Coliseum. "We don't want to see anybody hurt. I'm not going out there trying to hurt people. That's not the goal. The goal is to be effective in trying to create turnovers. And so, when that happens, obviously it's unfortunate. It gives you a bad feeling your stomach, definitely.’’

Carlo has had concussion problems in his past, including this regular season, when he missed three weeks – 10 games – because of a concussion sustained from a head-high hit from Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson on March 5. Wilson was suspended for seven games for the hit.

Island Ice Ep. 95: Isles tie series with Bruins at 2-2

The guys discuss Game 4 of the Isles-Bruins playoff series where Mathew Barzal assisted on the tying goal and scored the winning goal.

Carlo returned and played the rest of the season without incident, but with 13:48 remaining in the third period of the Bruins’ 2-1 Game 3 OT win, the 6-5, 227-pounder went behind the net to move a puck around the boards and was hit – cleanly – by the 5-11, 215-pound Clutterbuck. Carlo’s head hit the glass, and he fell to his knees. He tried to get up, but fell, then stayed down until play was stopped.

Carlo left the game immediately and did not return. He was not in the lineup for Game 4.

"I don't like to see that at all, so I hope he's okay,’’ Clutterbuck said. "I try and take pride in the fact that I go out there and play the game clean, and try and finish my checks the right way. And he just kind of caught the glass in a weird spot.’’

The Islanders pride themselves on being a physical team. Clutterbuck and his linemate, Matt Martin, were both in the top 10 in the league in hits in the regular season, according to quanthockey.com. Clutterbuck was sixth, with 191, and Martin was eighth, with 181. Entering Saturday, Clutterbuck, Martin and Leo Komarov were second, third and fourth in playoff hits, with 50, 46 and 45, respectively, in nine games.

Islanders coach Barry Trotz explained that there is a tangible value to teams that play a physical game.

"If you're going back for a puck, and you've been hit 30 times going back for the puck, that one time when you think you're gonna get hit, and you don't make the play that you should, or, you turn over the puck… it ends up in the back of your net,’’ Trotz said.

"(Physical play) wears you out,’’ he continued. "It wears you mentally, and some guys are mentally stronger than others. Some guys have a bigger backbone, as I would say, when it comes to those situations. And that's why I think, in the playoffs, it gets ramped up a little bit. It just does.’’

The trick is to be able to pound on the opponent in a clean way, without taking penalties. The Islanders, for the most part, have been able to do that. Despite all the hitting they do, their average of 6.4 penalty minutes per postseason game, entering Saturday, was tied with the Minnesota Wild for second-fewest among the 16 teams that made the playoffs.

1215207 New York Islanders Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 06.06.2021

Islanders coach Barry Trotz: You can never relax in the playoffs

By Andrew Gross [email protected] @AGrossNewsday

Updated June 5, 2021 5:23 PM

Barry Trotz’s various descriptions of the Islanders-Bruins’ second-round series as "razor thin" and with "no easy ice" have been apt.

The Bruins held a 2-1 series lead entering Saturday night’s Game 4 at Nassau Coliseum, with the teams splitting the last two games in overtime and a 5-2 Bruins’ win in Game 1 that was tied in the third period. Each team had held a multi-goal lead in one period apiece. Otherwise, it had been a one-goal series.

Which is why the little details that Trotz often cites — everything from faceoffs to defensive spacing to goaltending to special teams — are so important. Particularly special teams’ play with the teams combining for just 11 five-on-five goals over the first three games.

"Five on five, it’s been pretty even," the Islanders coach said. "You can win or lose a game on special teams. It’s a very important part of the game. All that’s important. In that moment, that one second, that one thought where you relax, that might be a goal against. That’s the hard, mental part of playoff hockey that people don’t understand. It’s not going to feel good all the time. It’s not going to look good all the time.

"You could go 58 minutes in a game, 59 minutes in a game where nothing has happened because both teams are razor sharp in terms of their detail and protecting ice," Trotz added. "And in one split second, the game could be over. That’s the hard, mental part of the game. You can’t relax. You have to be on the whole time. And when the game is over, you need to get away from the game because you’ll be mentally fried in about a week."

The Islanders lost Thursday’s Game 3, 2-1, in overtime and Trotz, mindful of the mental toll, scheduled an optional practice for Friday and an optional morning skate for Saturday.

The Islanders killed off both the Bruins’ power plays in Game 3 but went 0-for-3 on the man advantage, including a chance to win the game in regulation after Sean Kuraly was called for cross checking at 17:45 of the third period.

That still left the Islanders a respectable 3-for-9 on the power play through the first three games, including 2-for-3 in a 4-3 overtime win in Game 2 at TD Garden.

But the Bruins went 3-for-6 on the man advantage through the first three games, including 2-for-2 in Game 1.

"We’ve had a couple we’d like back," said Cal Clutterbuck, a key penalty killer. "But it’s a good power play and they evolve over the course of a two-minute power play, especially if you give them some zone time. Just trying to make sure we bear down on our clears and try to win our draws when we get out there. Just trying to force them to dump it, get it back and clear it again."

"They have a ton of skill out there and they have a lot of different looks," said defenseman Adam Pelech, another key penalty killer. "It’s not just one play. It’s not just two plays. There’s a lot of ways they can hurt you. I think we’ve done an OK job. A couple of big kills [in Game 3]. There were some dicey moments, but we got the job done. Some good goaltending helped. There’s definitely ways we can improve. Special teams are going to be a big part of this series moving forward so it’s important we continue to improve."

The best penalty kill, of course, is not taking penalties so discipline is another crucial detail. The Islanders have done a fairly good job of that throughout the playoffs, allowing 18 power plays through their first nine postseason games while getting 22. But the Bruins’ two power plays in Game 3 both came in the third period.

1215208 New York Islanders "With this group, with the four lines, they all know that they’re going to have to play against everybody and they all know that they’re going to have to find ways to contribute. I always say, ‘Know who you are as a player.’ And I think we have a good grasp of who we are. Islanders style: Play big without the big names "Our role players play their role and our skill guys play with their skill and there’s not too much deviating from that. They have good definition of the best version of what they can do in terms of contributions." Updated June 5, 2021 4:04 PM The goal is the Stanley Cup, onto which the winners get their names

etched regardless of how big those names are. There are two local pro teams currently in the playoffs, and one of them features among the most star-studded lineups in the history of New York sports. By Neil Best

The Islanders are the other one. Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 06.06.2021 Not that there’s anything wrong with that.

What they are is a balanced team full of established veterans, headlined by an enigmatic hockey artiste in Mathew Barzal and led by two of the most successful hockey bosses of all time in Lou Lamoriello and Barry Trotz.

Island Ice Ep. 95: Isles tie series with Bruins at 2-2

The guys discuss Game 4 of the Isles-Bruins playoff series where Mathew Barzal assisted on the tying goal and scored the winning goal.

That is what makes their current run of three consecutive years with a least one playoff round victory — their first such streak since the early 1980s — extra-impressive.

All these guys have done lately is win, and regardless of the outcome of Game 4 of a second-round series against the Bruins on Saturday night, they will be back at it in Boston on Monday for Game 5.

The achievement speaks for itself, but for added perspective consider what has become of many of the teams with far greater star power than the Islanders have.

The divisional finals are without a startling number of the NHL’s biggest names.

Consider the East Division. The Islanders took out Sidney Crosby’s Penguins in the first round, just as they did to the Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin last season, just as they did to Crosby two years ago.

So much for the best two players of the 21st Century.

But that is not all. Also missing in the current round are the Oilers’ Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, the Maple Leafs’ Auston Matthews and John Tavares and many other hockey luminaries.

The best player left in the field is the Avalanche’s Nathan MacKinnon. Of the top eight players in a preseason poll by Canada’s TSN, the only ones still playing are MacKinnon and the Lightning’s Victor Hedman.

There are several big-name goaltenders still playing, including all three Vezina Trophy finalists, but among skaters the carnage is remarkable.

But balance has been part of the Islanders’ secret of success, even more so since Tavares left following the 2017-18 season.

Barzal, the Islanders’ regular-season scoring leader with 45 points, tied for 44th place in the league — behind five (!!) Rangers. Josh Bailey was second among the Islander with 35 points, tied for 94th (!) in the league.

In the current series, the Bruins’ top line of David Pastrnak, Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand all have bigger profiles in North America than any Islander.

Trotz has done this both ways, having coached Ovechkin and fellow potential future Hall of Famer Niklas Backstrom for four seasons — including a Stanley Cup in 2017-18 — and other famous names. Now he is superstar-free.

Is there a difference in those two coaching tasks? He said there is.

"We have some people that are top players; I don’t know if they’re considered in the Crosby or Ovechkin type of category," Trotz said before Game 4. "Those players demand ice time and they earn their ice time over the course of time. But also sometimes you have to manage them a little bit more in different areas and different parts of their game. So you find other ways to get other guys involved, which is a little different. 1215209 New York Islanders The game had some nastiness to it, including a pair of fights. The first one, between Scott Mayfield and Taylor Hall, was definitely a surprise, given Hall’s lack of a fighting track record. Mayfield dumped Hall in front of the Islanders net early in the game, and Hall made mention of it to one Breaking out the Barzometer: Takeaways from the Islanders’ critical of the officials; the next shift, Mayfield dumped Hall again and the Bruins Game 4 win over the Bruins winger had enough.

“Good for him,” Mayfield said. “He’s not known for that. Good little fight.”

By Arthur Staple A pivotal challenge

Jun 6, 2021 Krejci’s power-play goal in the second warranted an extra look by Trotz with Marchand digging around in the blue paint, but even the sight of

Marchand’s stick wedged between Varlamov’s skate and the post Much like in Game 4 of the first round against the Penguins, the shouldn’t have been enough for Trotz to challenge for goalie interference. Islanders were at their best in the series-tying Game 4 against the Bruins It was a brief review, the goal stood, and the Bruins went right back on on Saturday night. the power play. It was an impressive kill by the Islanders against a It was a 4-1 final but essentially a one-goal game with very little surprisingly stagnant Bruins advantage, and Palmieri tied it 41 seconds separating the teams until Mathew Barzal’s hand-eye heroics gave the after Jordan Eberle emerged from serving the minor. Islanders the lead late. “I thanked all the guys for the penalty kill — they did a great job,” Trotz Going back to Boston down 3-1 in the best-of-seven series “would have said. “And it gave us momentum after that.” been a death sentence,” according to Barzal. Plus, the win clinched at Hey, Coach, how about more of 21-13-7? least one more game at the raucous Nassau Coliseum. Trotz explained how it was that Palmieri ended up on the ice with Barzal On to the five takeaways: and Eberle for a shift when Barzal tied the score in Game 3 late: Breaking out the Barzometer “Happenstance,” the coach said, though there was a little more to it than that. When Leo Komarov plays on the penalty kill, as he did in the third We had some fun back in March ranking Barzal’s goals in order of period of Game 3, Palmieri subs in on the next even-strength shift. ridiculousness, and there was some real competition at the top. It wasn’t the most consistent season for Barzal, who had nine goals in his first 24 It really hadn’t happened before in the playoffs, but OK. games, then none in the next 10 after we posted that piece. After the kill for the unsuccessful challenge, Palmieri went out for a We need to break out the ol’ Barzometer again for his ankle-high swat second time with Barzal and Eberle in Game 4. Lo and behold, another past Tuukka Rask for the winner in Game 4, Barzal’s second goal in two goal. So does that change Trotz’s mind? games. He also made a Barzal-esque play on Kyle Palmieri’s tying goal “You can play fantasy hockey all you want. I think Leo’s good with in the second, warding off Curtis Lazar for about 10 seconds along the Barzy,” Trotz said. “Palms is pretty valuable with that line (with J-G wall before sneaking down, sucking Matt Grzelcyk out from the net front Pageau and Travis Zajac), too.” and feeding Palmieri for a slam dunk. So that’s a no, then? This is one we’ve seen from Barzal before. He had one against Chicago a couple of years back and one from a greater height to complete a hat trick against the Caps in April, seen below. The Athletic LOADED: 06.06.2021 “A little bit of hand-eye, a little bit of luck,” he said of Saturday’s winner. “I don’t think too many people knew where it was.”

Rating: 4.5 Alonsos. Gotta dip into the baseball catalog for swinging away on a low pitch like that.

Lockdown to close it out

Beyond Barzal, the most impressive thing about Game 4 was what happened after he scored with 6:57 left in the third — basically nothing for the Bruins. They had one shot on Semyon Varlamov, from long range by Connor Clifton, with 6:18 to go. After that, there was one attempt, a shot wide from long range by Grzelcyk. The Bruins couldn’t even get Rask off the ice until there was just over a minute to go, and as soon as he went off, Cal Clutterbuck drilled Brad Marchand to force a turnover and Casey Cizikas eased one into an empty net.

It was reminiscent of how the Islanders closed out Game 2 of their first- round win over the Capitals last summer: The Isles had a 3-2 lead late in the third in that bubble game and just kept it amazingly simple, chipping pucks out of their end and into Washington’s, then grinding away.

This one was more impressive given the circumstances and the expected push from the Bruins’ top guys. It never materialized, and Barry Trotz used all of his 18 skaters to roll through the end of Game 4.

‘A tad vicious’

The Bruins didn’t love seeing Barzal rolling around on the ice after taking a David Krejci pitchfork to a very sensitive area. “He went down pretty easily,” Krejci said of Barzal.

Barzal did deliver a few cross-checks to Krejci’s ribs during a board battle to start that engagement, but Krejci definitely ended it. He was initially assessed a spearing major, but a home-office review from Toronto reduced it to a slashing minor.

“I was a little surprised. It was a tad vicious,” Barzal said. 1215210 New York Islanders

Takeaways: Was This the Islanders Best Game of the Postseason?

Published 5 hours ago on June 5, 2021

By Andrew Battifarano

It was a fight until the finish but the New York Islanders had the final say.

After dropping Game 3 in overtime, the Islanders rallied for four unanswered goals to take Game 4, 4-1, and even up the best-of-7 series with the Boston Bruins.

It was a physical game with fights early, but Mathew Barzal’s go-ahead goal with under 10 minutes to go broke a 1-1 tie and the Isles then added two empty-netters.

There was chaos and energy in this one so let’s break it down a little more.

He had a tying goal in Game 3, and Mathew Barzal continued his strong play in this series but putting his fingerprints all over this one.

With the Islanders down a goal in the second, he worked his magic with the puck by working the puck along the right wing boards before skating behind the net. He made a perfect feed to Kyle Palmieri, who did the rest.

But it was his stick in the third period that won him the game and made him look like he could bat cleanup with the Mets. He cycled the puck in the offensive zone and fed Scott Mayfield at the point. His shot was blocked by Barzal batted the puck out of the air *just* before it hit the ice. Tuukka Rask, who had an excellent game in net, had little chance.

Barzal is heating up and now has seven points in the postseason.

Important penalty kill

The Islanders very much could have lost this game in the second period. Instead, they turned it up a notch after their toughest challenge.

After David Krejci scored the ice-breaker, Barry Trotz and his staffed challenged the goal for goalie interference on Brad Marchand. The call was upheld and the Bruins had the goal and another power play in tow.

The Islanders killed off this penalty and then less than three minutes after the opening goal, Palmieri tied things up. This sequence was the turning point of the game, without a doubt.

Best game of the playoffs?

The Islanders aren’t a team that has dominated possession in many games, especially in these playoffs. But after the first period, the Islanders truly kicked it into gear.

They held over 64 percent of the chances in the middle period and 52.17 in the third at 5-on-5, per Natural Stat Trick. Over the final 40 minutes, they also had seven high danger chances for at 5-on-5.

This was one of those games where the numbers absolutely matched the eye test. The Islanders led handedly in expected goals for and came away with a victory.

The Beauvillier-Nelson-Bailey line produced a whopping 68.18 Corsi for percentage while the Barzal line was just a tick south of 60 percent. Having the top two lines have that production is enormous.

And while Krejci did score, the Islanders did a fantastic job shutting down his line for the most part, most notably Taylor Hall.

Game 5 in Boston is going to be a different animal than this one, but Game 4 switched the momentum toward the Islanders against the Penguins. Can it be the same in this series? We’ll find out Monday night.

NYI Hockey Now LOADED: 06.06.2021 1215211 New York Islanders “It was unbelievable out there,” Cizikas said. “Every guy came to play and right from the puck drop, we were banging, and bashing, and getting to the net.”

SERIES TIED: Barzal Leads Islanders to Momentous Game 4 Win Over Bruins NYI Hockey Now LOADED: 06.06.2021

Published 6 hours ago on June 5, 2021

By Christian Arnold

UNIONDALE, N.Y. — The Boston Bruins tried to rough up Mathew Barzal in Game 4, but the New York Islanders star had the last laugh on Saturday night.

Barzal scored the game-winning goal in the third period to lead the Islanders to a 4-1 win over Boston and evened the best-of-seven series at 2-2. The goal was Barzal’s second of the playoffs and the second consecutive game he’s scored in during the Islanders series with Boston.

“Just the biggest game for us so far,” Barzal said. “We go down 3-1 to these guys headed back to TD Garden, that’s a death sentence. That was a huge game for us tonight. Everyone brought it.”

Saturday was the second straight game that Barzal scored a crucial goal late in the contest. He tied the game in the third period in Game 3 to force overtime.

Barzal scored the go-ahead goal with 6:57 left in the game when the Islanders forward batted the puck out of the air and past Tuukka Rask. Scott Mayfield fired the puck from the blue line and it hit off the skate of a Boston player in front of the net, causing it to pop into the air.

“He’s playing with a lot of confidence right now and to get that goal at that time, that’s the type of play he makes and he doesn’t miss those,” Casey Cizikas said. “He’s working extremely hard, he’s not backing down or letting up… it’s nice to see.”

Cizikas scored on the empty net at 18:57 of the third and Jean-Gabriel Pageau added a second empty netter at 19:57. Kyle Palmieri also scored for New York and Semyon Varlamov made 29 saves in his third straight start of the series.

Saturday was one of the most physical games of the series so far. The New York Islanders and Boston combined for 57 hits through the 60- minute contest and there were a pair of fights in the first period, which included Scott Mayfield and Taylor Hall dropping the gloves.

Fight Night: New York Islanders and Bruins Throw Down in First Period of Game 4

“I think the series has been great so far. We want to bring that physicality,” Scott Mayfield said.

In the second period, David Krejci speared Barzal in the groin during a battle in the corner, sending the 24-year-old to the ice in pain. Barzal didn’t miss any time because of the play and the Islanders received a two-minute power play.

New York went 0-for-2 on the man advantage, while Boston converted on one of their two chances.

“I’m alright now.,” Barzal said about the spear from Krejci. “I was a little surprised. I haven’t seen the clip yet but I felt it was a little vicious but it’s the refs call, a judgment call from them. I thought it was a tad vicious but it’s up to the refs and it doesn’t matter now.”

Boston once again found themselves in the lead first on Saturday night. With Boston on the power play, David Pastrnak flung the puck on net and created a scramble in front of Varlamov.

The puck eventually came loose and Devid Krejci was there to fire it past Varlamov at 3:57 of the second period.

The Islanders managed to answer back less than three minutes later with a goal of their own. With Boston about to be called on a delayed penalty, Barzal danced along the boards working his way around defenders and down behind the net.

Barzal then quickly sent the puck to Palmieri in the slot for the one-timer goal at 6:38 of the second to even the game at one. 1215212 New York Islanders

Fight Night: New York Islanders and Bruins Throw Down in First Period of Game 4

Published 8 hours ago on June 5, 2021

By Jimmy Murphy

The Boston Bruins and New York Islanders were scoreless after one period of play in Game 4 but there was plenty of action and entertainment in what became Saturday Fight Night at the Nassau Coliseum.

The Boston Bruins and New York Islanders had combined for 282 hits in the first three games of the East Division Final and it almost seemed inevitable the individual battles that have been developing through that physical play were going to boil over at some point. Combine that with the fact the Islanders did not want this game to potentially be the last NHL game in the Coliseum and that point arrived in the first period of Game 4. There were two fights, a cross-check to the face of Boston Bruins forward Curtis Lazar from Islanders forward Mathew Barzal, and 29 combined hits.

Star players like Barzal, and before him, Boston Bruins winger Taylor Hall were getting into it, with Hall actually dropping the gloves with Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield 7:28 into the period. As NHL on NBC analyst Pierre McGuire pointed out after Hall got into his first fight since 2011, Hall and Mayfield have been battling each other hard all series and it finally boiled over.

Not even two minutes after Hall and Mayfield traded blows, Boston Bruins defenseman Jarred Tinordi and Islanders forward Matt Martin went toe-to-toe at 9:23 of the opening frame. This fight was the result of a hard hit on Barzal by Tinordi seconds earlier. That hit led to Barzal getting frustrated and cross-checking Laxzar when Lazar came to hit him right after that.

The Boston Bruins lead the best-of-seven series over the New York Islanders, 2-1.

NYI Hockey Now LOADED: 06.06.2021 1215213 New York Islanders The first one, Beauvillier elected to shoot high-blocker, the same place Casey Cizikas won Game 2 for their team. Rask seemed ready for that shot, as he was in the perfect position to stop and control the rebound.

New York Islanders Need to Put More Pressure on Tuukka Rask in On the second breakaway, Rask slid back in his goal but remained Game 4 compact. He did not open up, and again, no rebound opportunity following the Grade A chance.

In overtime, in which the Islanders dominated before Brad Marchand’s Published 16 hours ago on June 5, 2021 goal, Rask came up large.

By Stefen Rosner Tuukka Rask with some major stops just ahead of Marchand’s winner:

The former Vezina winner had failed to control his rebound on Jordan Eberle’s shot in overtime, one of the few mistakes he made. Barzal If the New York Islanders are hoping to even their Second Round series followed it up with a chance of his own off the rebound. with the Boston Bruins one thing has to change, and that’s making life harder on Boston goaltender Tuukka Rask. That is when the Islanders needed to make it count.

Rask, and any goaltender in the sport of hockey will tell you that they are Rask did not have to move too much to stop either shot. at their best when they do not have to do too much. When they can rely on positioning over reflexes, the game becomes much easier to control, When the puck drops for Game 4, the Islanders need to do a better job at and the outcome usually ends up in their favor. getting Rask out of his element and make it harder for him to get comfortable. Relying on structure rather than reflexes is especially critical when playing hurt. Rask is dealing with a nagging injury. That is how they will even up this series on Saturday.

For the veteran netminder, he was able to follow that game plan to a tee thanks to the Islanders’ inability to generate offensive pressure. NYI Hockey Now LOADED: 06.06.2021 The New York Islanders mustered 29 shots through three-plus periods of hockey as Rask played well. However, very few of those shots were challenging for the veteran netminder as he turned aside most with ease.

More often than not, the Islander shots hit Rask right in the logo. He was not forced to move side to side, and one could not tell that he was injured in any way.

It was more quantity over quality, and even then, the quantity should have been much higher.

The 34-year old veteran netminder was not spectacular in the Bruins overtime win because, quite frankly, he did not have to be. He was positionally sound all night long and seemed very comfortable any time the Islanders entered the offensive zone.

The New York Islanders did not get a ton of looks due to the strong Bruins defense but there were times when the chances to let the puck go on Rask were there, but a pass or hesitation erased the opportunity.

The most opportune time to make a goaltender work is when he has to kill penalties. The Islanders were gifted with three power-play opportunities to make up for their lack of offense at even strength. But those opportunities went by the w.

On those three chances, the Islanders totaled five shots. The Bruins had two power-play opportunities in the game and collected eight shots on goal.

The Islanders’ power play had been great through two games at 50% (three for six) but did not have it Thursday night. They were back to turnovers and hesitation.

When the Islanders take any sort of time to shoot, Rask had more time to establish his positioning. He did not have to dive to make any saves or react quickly to a scoring chance. It was as if he was just going through the motions as the pucks came his way.

“We are going to have to get a little greasier,” said Islanders head coach Barry Trotz when asked about doing more to disrupt Rask. “A little harder on him. He was good.”

A greasy goal is just how the Islanders got their only tally of the night, thanks to a strong effort by Mathew Barzal.

First goal of the playoffs from Mat Barzal comes at a GREAT time.

Beating a goaltender of Rask’s caliber is never an easy task. But when a team allows him to get a feel for a game and get in control, the likelihood of scoring decreases exponentially.

It was not to say that the Islanders did not have prime chances to score. Anthony Beauvillier, the Islanders’ hottest forward, had two breakaways and was denied twice.

On both chances, Rask did not have to move. He again relied on his positioning to turn aside both shots. 1215214 New York Islanders lot, which is where I am right now. It is a true family and I don’t feel that any fanbase can relate truly to that.

“That’s what makes the arena special and it’s what makes the Islanders For Islanders fans, Return to Normalcy Allowing for Proper Nassau special.” Coliseum Sendoff Similar to why the Islanders’ “identity line” has captured such a special place in the hearts of the fans, the Coliseum shares that same appreciation. For many Long Islanders, it was the site of their first Published 15 hours ago on June 5, 2021 concert, sporting event, or memory from their childhood.

By Christian Arnold While the Nassau Coliseum underwent a facelift after the team first left in 2015, the bones of the building remained the same.

“It’s just the nostalgia factor. It’s kind of a period of time,” said Devin UNIONDALE, N.Y. — There is nothing more quintessential Long Island Robinson, who was tailgating on Thursday and runs the Islanders- than the sound of car horns blaring “Let’s Go Islanders” along themed apparel outlet Yes Men Outfitters. “You go there and it’s not Hempstead Turnpike as they pull into the Nassau Coliseum on a big flashy at all. A hockey community loves that. Nobody likes their team to game night. And on Thursday night that was the scene that played out be the fast, new, young team. You have a lot more pride when they’re the outside the Coliseum ahead of Game 3 between the New York Islanders gritty, hard-hitting team. I think the team matches the face of the building. and Boston Bruins. And the building is gritty, no-frills, make your own fun. DIY, tailgating. It’s It was the closest to normalcy that’s been felt in the area in over a year just different. It’s a society, unlike any other hockey fanbase.” as 12,000 fans packed the Coliseum, the most the building has seen since prior to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Inside the crowd roared as the Islanders took the ice for warmups and then later reemerged for the start NYI Hockey Now LOADED: 06.06.2021 of the game.

After the national anthem, there was so much noise from the crowd that the NBC broadcast camera was visibly shaking.

Hours before that the parking lot outside the heralded Coliseum was already filling up with fans tailgating. For lifelong Islanders fan Annemarie Briskie, being back outside with her fellow fans and getting ready to go into a full Coliseum was something she thought she might not have gotten to do one final time.

“Really I want to cry I’m so happy,” Briskie told NYI Hockey Now. “It’s just exhilarating after the year we’ve been through. After this whole pandemic, just to have this back again that we didn’t think we’d have back again I’m beyond words. This is very special and the Coliseum is very special.”

If anyone had forgotten what a “special” place the Coliseum has been for the Islanders, Thursday was just the latest reminder. The building came alive with 6,800 fans for the first two home games for New York in the First Round against the Pittsburgh Penguins

When capacity increased for Game 6, the 9,000 fans inside made the building sound as if it had been full.

“This is a throwback building. People are right on top of you,” Islanders head coach Barry Trotz said prior to Game 3 on Thursday. “They feel like they’re all closer. They’re all sitting on your bench basically and the new buildings have a vastness to it that doesn’t quite feel the same, but have a really good atmosphere, like the TD Garden in Boston. It’s a really good atmosphere. They feel like they’re on top of you but not on top of you like on your bench like our building can have that effect.”

Trotz added: “That’s the great thing about our building is that there aren’t too many buildings like that anymore.”

Soon the Nassau Coliseum will be added to that list after the Islanders move to UBS Arena in the fall. The new state-of-the-art arena is scheduled to open in November, which could very well mean the Islanders need to play a few more dates at 1255 Hempstead Turnpike.

However, it doesn’t take away from the significance of Thursday night.

“This is what the Long Island community deserves and has been needing for the last year and a half. The Islanders fanbase is a family and this is coming home for everyone,” said Sarah Holzberg, a fan and former team employee.

That was a sentiment echoed by Andy Hicks, who emigrated to the United States in 2009 and found himself trying to adjust to a new country. Hicks was originally from England and was missing the connection that he had with soccer.

He quickly filled the void with a new passion: the Islanders.

“This is a second home. It’s an incredible place,” Hicks said. “The feeling that you get here just from the ushers who get to know your name if you’re a season ticket holder. From getting to know people in the parking 1215215 Remember, this was pretty much the same Canadian team, with the exception of Mangiapane, that got beaten by the Americans in the round robin. The U.S. is coached by Senators’ associate coach Jack Capuano.

Team Canada to play for gold at world championship after 4-2 upset of “Their intensity from the start was probably a little higher than ours,” said USA U.S. captain Brian Boyle. “We were probably in our own heads a little bit too much early on. We were trying to be perfect instead of playing hockey and playing hard. They took it to us for a while and then we couldn’t catch up.” Bruce Garrioch Boyle admitted playing for a bronze medal on Sunday against Germany, Publishing date: Jun 05, 2021 which lost 2-1 to Finland in the other semifinal, might not be easy for Team USA. This was only the third time in the history of this tourney that Canada and the USA have faced off in a semifinal so this was a tough Team Canada didn’t have a very good start, but it could have a gold own for the Americans to swallow. medal finish. “This is a tough one. It’s been a long couple of weeks. We wanted this After dropping the first three games at the IIHF world championship in one and we just didn’t execute so we have to understand that we can be Riga, Latvia for the first time in the history of the tournament, Canada upset about this but we have to regroup,” Boyle added. “We’ve been here pulled off another upset Saturday afternoon by ousting Team USA in the too long, we’ve sacrificed too much and guys are going playing through a semifinals with a 4-2 victory to qualify for Sunday’s final against Finland lot. A medial is a huge thing so we need to make sure we’re ready.” (1:15 p.m. ET on TSN). Canada won’t have a lot of time to enjoy this win and will have to prepare Many wondered if this might be the worst Canadian team ever for the gold medal game Sunday. assembled for this annual tournament when they dropped a 2-0 decision to Latvia on May 21, followed by a 5-1 loss to the Americans two days “We’re playing with more confidence,” said Brown. “A couple of goals later and a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Germany the next day. went in for us early. We played calm and we wanted the puck and we didn’t lay off the gas that whole third period. We played the majority of But from there, Canada was able to get its act together under coach the third in their end and we were able to close it out. Gerard Gallant and found a way into the medal round. Barely. “With back-to-back games you’ve just got to rest and recover. We’ll have Canada advanced to the quarter-final only because the result of the 24 hours to get ready for this one and to just relax.” Germany-Latvia game to wrap up the round-robin portion of the schedule was decided in regulation.

Led by the line of Anaheim’s Adam Henrique, Ottawa’s Connor Brown Ottawa Sun LOADED: 06.06.2021 and Calgary’s Andrew Mangiapane, Canada has gotten on a roll and received strong goaltending from Arizona’s Darcy Kuemper to get to the final.

First, the Canadians knocked off Russia on Thursday with a 2-1 quarterfinal victory, and then were able to topple the Americans.

“We believed we had a good team in there and we knew we had a lot of good players,” Brown told TSN’s Lindsay Hamilton after the victory. “Those first three games, we just couldn’t score and then then tide turned. They’re going in for us, we feel confident and we’re having a lot of fun.”

One way it turned around for Canadian general manager Roberto Luongo and this group was the arrival of Mangiapane from the Calgary Flames after they wrapped up their season. He has played the role of hero by developing good chemistry with Henrique and Brown. Mangiapane scored twice in Saturday’s win against the U.S. and also had the overtime winner against Russia the previous game.

Henrique, Brown and Mangiapane were named Canada’s top three players of the tournament as the club registered its 42nd win over the U.S. in 49 games at the world championship.

“It’s been a crazy tournament,” Mangiapane told TSN. “We started off 0-3 in the tournament and now we’re just playing our best hockey. We’re riding the momentum.

“We’ve got to one more game to go. It’s been great how we’re playing, great how we’re coming back and we’re just playing the right way. It’s awesome to see from our group. We’ve got to keep going.

“It’s crazy how we’ve competed to get back. We’ve been the underdogs every game and we just keep proving people wrong. It’s great to see all the character and all the battle levels.

“We’re not done and we’ve got one more game here to take care of business.”

Brandon Pirri also scored for the Canadians while Justin Danforth, who played in the KHL this past season, put it away into an empty-netter.

Sasha Chmelevski did bring the Americans to within a goal in the third period, but that was as close as they would get. Canada had a goal called back because of an offside late in the second period that would have given the club a two-goal lead. 1215216 Philadelphia Flyers Many blueliners will be connected to the Flyers in some way this offseason. Dougie Hamilton has been an obvious one and he's still playing in the postseason right now. Jones has been the latest. Both of them won't be the last. NHL insider 'would not be shocked at all' if Jones ends up with Flyers

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 06.06.2021 BY JORDAN HALL

After a playoff-less 2020-21 season in which they surrendered the most goals in hockey, the Flyers have a pivotal offseason ahead.

While Chuck Fletcher said the Flyers can improve everywhere, they're expected to be in the market for a top-pair defenseman. Acquiring such a player is significantly easier said than done, but last offseason the Flyers "didn't fill the void" left by Matt Niskanen, as Fletcher put it in March, and not doing so proved costly.

"We'll have to look at a few different areas to improve, but I anticipate there being some players available," the Flyers' general manager said at his end-of-the-season press conference last month. "We’ll have to go out and see if we can add the right player. Certainly last offseason, we looked at a lot of different options; some cases didn’t break the way we had hoped and in some cases there wasn’t the perfect fit for the type of player we were looking for. We’re going to have to be creative and find a way to improve where we can."

Could Seth Jones be available and a fit for the Flyers? It sure appears he's at least available as Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported Monday that Jones "has informed the Blue Jackets he will not sign an extension at this time and plans to test free agency" when his contract expires after the 2021-22 season.

Given Columbus went 18-26-12 this season and is searching for a new head coach, the odds are against it contending next season. Tie in Jones' reported desire to test free agency next offseason and suddenly the Blue Jackets' defenseman is a popular commodity on the trade market.

And Friedman believes the Flyers are a legitimate possibility. With stick taps to Jason Myrtetus of the Flyers Broadcast Network for highlighting the segment, here's what Friedman had to say Thursday on SiriusXM NHL Network Radio about Jones:

I'm sure he would probably be very interested in going to a place like Dallas or Colorado because he's got attachments to those places; I just don't know if I see the fit. The one team I wonder about right now is Philly: a. They can do it. And b. I wonder how Jones feels about that. That's one of the teams I look at right now and say I would not be shocked at all if he ends up there.

From a Flyers standpoint, there's plenty to like about Jones. He's a righty shot, which would seemingly have him pair nicely with Ivan Provorov. Among all NHL defensemen over the last five seasons, the 6-foot-4, 209- pound Jones ranks seventh in minutes per game (24:49) and tied for ninth with Alex Pietrangelo and Tyson Barrie in even strength points (141).

Some aspects also worth noting:

Over the last five seasons, Jones' on-ice even strength goal differential is plus-2. This season, his defensive zone start percentage at even strength was 44.6 and he has been over 50 only once in his career. For sake of comparison, Shayne Gostisbehere, more of an offensive-minded blueliner, had a 44.2 defensive zone start percentage at even strength this season, just behind Jones. Niskanen had a 55.8 defensive zone start percentage at even strength in his one season with the Flyers.

This season, the Flyers yielded an NHL-worst 3.52 goals per game and clearly want to cut that down next season.

Regardless, Jones was the 2013 fourth overall pick, is still only 26 years old, is a three-time All-Star, plays big minutes and has the ability to help prevent goals. His defensive strengths have been evident in Columbus aside from this past season, which was an ugly one for the Blue Jackets.

Jones, whose father is Sixers assistant coach Popeye Jones, has a cap hit of $5.4 million for next season, per CapFriendly.com and PuckPedia.com. If the Flyers wanted to land Jones, the price in exchange wouldn't be cheap and then they'd have to try to re-sign him. 1215217 Philadelphia Flyers Cam York: It’s not accurate to call any prospect truly untouchable; if Edmonton called up and offered Connor McDavid, for example, I can’t see Fletcher vetoing a deal just because York would be going the other way. But he’s the prospect the Flyers will do everything they can to keep Flyers trade tiers: Who’s untouchable and who’s available heading into out of trade negotiations. They’re high on his upside and feel like he fills an offseason of change a stylistic void in the defense. He’ll have a real shot to make the team out of training camp this September.

The ‘it would take a perfect set of circumstances’ tier By Charlie O'Connor Oskar Lindblom: I don’t think the Flyers would reflexively dismiss a Jun 5, 2021 Lindblom trade possibility out of hand; objectively speaking, there are legitimate questions as to whether he’ll be able to return to full form in the wake of his cancer treatments. But justifiably, the entire organization The Philadelphia Flyers have made it abundantly clear that they hope to absolutely loves the kid. His intangibles are off the charts, and if he can have a busy offseason. return to form — and the organization is betting he can, given a full offseason to train — he’s a coach’s dream as well, given his commitment General manager Chuck Fletcher has a tough task at hand: to fill the to detail, willingness to attack the dirty areas and two-way acumen. holes that showed up during a frustrating 2020-21 campaign despite a Sentimentality only goes so far, to be sure, but I really don’t see Lindblom flat cap environment that, as of yet, hasn’t proved conducive to those leaving this summer. types of moves. But with the expansion draft and actual draft looming in mid-July, there will be events on the hockey calendar that can be Ivan Provorov: He had a down season, and there are legitimate expected to spark transactions — especially trades. questions as to whether he can be a true No. 1 after he struggled in the absence of Matt Niskanen. There’s also the hard truth that if the Flyers Given the Flyers’ relative lack of cap space, especially after re-signing want to shop at the top of the trade market, they’ll have to give to get, their pending restricted free agents, the trade market will be pivotal in and Provorov is a highly valued asset. But I think the Flyers still view determining whether Fletcher and his front office achieve their offseason Provorov as a core piece and would be very hesitant to move him. goals. But in trades, a front office has to give up assets to receive assets. With that in mind, it’s time for another edition of the trade asset tier list, Travis Sanheim: Some may find his placement in this section surprising, breaking down my read on the likelihood of Flyers players to be moved in but the Flyers’ front office remains very high on Sanheim. My read is that the coming months. their view of his 2020-21 season falls far closer to the picture his strong advanced metrics paint than the narrative pushed forth by his most Back in March, with the trade deadline looming, few subtractions from the vehement critics. I don’t think he’d be off the table entirely, and he does team’s lineup were expected. It’s a different story this time around. have a contract negotiation looming this summer, but the Flyers value The no-movement clause players Sanheim.

Claude Giroux: No, Giroux isn’t getting traded to Ottawa. There is a Scott Laughton: It’s just difficult for me to see the Flyers signing him in complicating factor entering the picture, though, in that Giroux’s contract April and then trading him a few months later, even if his deal lacks no- is scheduled to expire at the end of the 2021-22 season, and it’s at least trade or no-movement protection. Plus, they see Laughton as integral to possible for Giroux to decide he wants to continue his career elsewhere the culture they’re trying to foster in the dressing room. I would be once it does. But for now, he’s committed to the Flyers, and he has long shocked if he got moved. expressed a desire to finish his career in Philadelphia if possible. Maybe Wade Allison: Here’s an interesting case, because while Allison was very that changes if the team struggles again next season, but I’m not impressive in his 14-game NHL stint at the end of the season by the eye expecting him to request a trade this summer, nor do I anticipate the test and the numbers, there likely was an element of “he was the only Flyers asking him to waive his NMC. He was the team’s best player this player on the team who didn’t have his soul crushed by the 2020-21 season. campaign” at play, which allowed him to look even better in comparison Kevin Hayes: The Flyers were satisfied with Giroux’s play in 2020-21; to his teammates. In other words, this could be a sell-high opportunity. Hayes, not so much, even accounting for the fact he was playing through That said, Allison brings so many elements lacking in the Philadelphia a core muscle injury. Alain Vigneault’s decision to scratch Hayes late in forward core — shooting ability, physicality, energy, a willingness to the season while publicly holding that the move was not injury-driven was attack the front of the net — that I can’t see the Flyers moving him. But telling. Still, the Flyers aren’t exactly flush with proven center depth, and trying to cash out here wouldn’t be a ridiculous idea. Hayes has his no-movement clause. Tough to see him going anywhere. The ‘if the deal is big enough’ tier They’ll simply bet on a bounce back. Travis Konecny: To be clear, it’s not that I think the Flyers want to trade The basically untouchables Konecny. But if Fletcher wants to be aggressive in trade talks, Konecny’s Sean Couturier: As with Giroux, Couturier comes with the complicating name is going to come up. He’s young-ish (24), on a good contract and a factor of being up for an extension in 2022, and he’s in line for a clear top-six NHL forward, even in the wake of a disappointing season. substantial raise off his bargain of a $4.33 million cap hit. It’ll be a risk of Given the team’s depth on the wing — at the NHL level and in the a contract, given Couturier will be approaching 30 when he signs it. prospect pool — he’s probably a more acceptable “big piece” to relinquish in a deal than, say, Provorov. Again, sometimes you have to That said, my read is that the Flyers are more than willing to commit to give to get. Couturier, and Couturier publicly stated in exit interviews that he’d like to stay in Philadelphia. Add in that he’s the team’s best true-talent player Philippe Myers: If Myers gets moved, my hunch is it would be in a and it’s very difficult to see him included in the kind of “shake-up” trade package for that coveted top-pair defenseman, not a forward. But I don’t the front office could pursue this summer. Barring a dramatic mid- get the sense he’s off the table. Unlike some of the Flyers’ other summer philosophy shift (or a change of heart from the player himself), youngsters who struggled in 2020-21, Myers doesn’t really have a track Couturier stays. record to prove it was a fluke. This really might be all he is. Or he could bounce back and turn into the no-doubt-about-it top-four RHD the Flyers Joel Farabee: There’s something to be said for selling high on the only thought they had back in the second half of 2019-20. He has a wide Flyers youngster who got better in 2020-21, but Farabee really does range of outcomes, and if the Flyers are skeptical and find a team that seem to just be scratching the surface of his two-way potential. I’m sure a falls solidly on the “he’ll definitely become a top-pair defenseman” side, lot of teams would love to acquire him, but you know who also loves him? maybe there’s a deal to be made. The Flyers. The ‘yeah, I could certainly see it’ tier Carter Hart: Yes, Hart had a miserable season. But the Flyers still believe in him, and in any case, it wouldn’t make sense to sell low. Maybe if Shayne Gostisbehere: I was convinced last offseason that Hart’s camp drives an incredibly hard bargain in contract negotiations, Gostisbehere’s time in Philadelphia had finally reached its end, but the status quo changes, but after his 2020-21 campaign, it’s not like they despite clear intent on the part of Fletcher to give Ghost a new home, he have a ton of leverage. Hart will be re-signed and back to prove last ultimately proved unable to find a taker that didn’t require the Flyers to season was a fluke. include a valuable asset in the deal just to take on Gostisbehere’s contract. Ghost stayed and had a pretty solid rebound season. So, why is who simply delivers poor results all around and is called “defensive” by he in this section once again? default. If he’s not taken, however, then it really boils down to how the 2021-22 defense shapes up. I doubt the Flyers would have an issue There are just a lot of factors that make Gostisbehere a logical candidate bringing Braun back — the coaches and front office very much to be moved this summer. The Flyers need cap space, first and foremost, appreciated how he held down the fort in a role beyond his talents out of if they want to be aggressive; clearing Gostisbehere’s $4.5 million cap hit sheer necessity in 2020-21 — but if Fletcher ends up adding multiple would provide that. York is coming and likely is ticketed for Ghost’s defensemen in his quest to reshape the blue line, perhaps Braun current role. There’s the acknowledgment on Fletcher’s part that the mix becomes expendable, and in that case, I’m sure there’d be a team or two on defense probably wasn’t right. There’s the fact that Gostisbehere was willing to take him on. healthy-scratched and waived this past season. The fact that his rebound season probably makes him easier to move. The ‘sure, they’re available, but who’s interested?’ tier

Maybe Ghost ends up sticking around for another season. But he’s a Nicolas Aubé-Kubel: To be clear, Aubé-Kubel almost certainly still has logical cap casualty unless they find another way to clear up cash. value around the league; I imagine he turned the heads of at least a few clubs with his impressive rookie campaign in 2019-20. He even could be Nolan Patrick: Ah, the Nolan Patrick situation. There’s a lot of smoke a plausible option for Seattle in the expansion draft. But his dismal around the idea that Patrick would welcome a change of scenery, and sophomore season moves him back into the “bottom-sixer at best” tier for while there’s been no confirmation on that either way, it makes a degree Philadelphia, and the hard truth is that those guys are always candidates of sense. Patrick’s time in Philadelphia has obviously not gone as hoped, to be traded if another team wants an extra, useful piece added in a in part because of injury/health and in part because he simply hasn’t lived bigger deal. I’m not expecting the Flyers to shop Aubé-Kubel around, but up to pre-draft expectations. Maybe it would all come together for him his job security dramatically decreased due to his poor 2020-21. somewhere else. Robert Hägg: For Hägg, it really just comes down to a numbers game From the Flyers’ perspective, they’d be “selling low” on Patrick if they and where he ultimately fits. If he becomes an extraneous piece, maybe moved him now, but if something’s not working, it’s not working. I don’t the Flyers look to move him, but seventh defensemen don’t have a ton of think the Flyers have given up on the idea of Patrick living up to his open-market value anyway. My guess is he sticks around, but he’s potential in Philadelphia, but I also get the sense they’re far more willing certainly far from untouchable. to move him now than they were last offseason or during the 2020-21 campaign. His value isn’t incredibly high, but perhaps he ends up as the Connor Bunnaman: He’s in the same boat as Aubé-Kubel, except with no secondary piece in a larger deal. fantastic rookie season and even less lineup security.

Any non-York prospect: Sure, there are sub-tiers here. The Flyers still like Morgan Frost, and his value to the organization increases if Patrick is shipped out. Egor Zamula is highly valued. Tyson Foerster and Bobby The Athletic LOADED: 06.06.2021 Brink certainly won’t be given away. But the benefit of having a deep prospect pool — and Philadelphia still does — is that it increases the likelihood that the scouting department for a potential trade partner will find one or two players they’re higher on than the consensus. It’s probably time for the Flyers to cash in on some of these chips. There won’t be room for all of them at the NHL level, after all.

Any future draft picks: I don’t think anything is off the table when it comes to picks. I’m sure Fletcher — and certainly his scouting department — would love to hang on to pick No. 13 in this year’s draft. But if he was open to moving the team’s first-round pick at the deadline before the floor fell out from under the team in March — and I’m confident he was — then he’d certainly be willing to relinquish it for a true long-term, high-end solution on defense. And if he’d be willing to move their first, Philadelphia’s other picks would presumably be fair game as well.

The ‘let’s see how the expansion plays out’ tier

James van Riemsdyk: For my money, JvR seems to be the most likely candidate to be poached by Seattle. He’s a quality player, his contract isn’t onerous for what he provides, and I don’t expect the Flyers to protect him. JvR is still a quality player, and losing him would hurt the Flyers, but it would also open up much-needed cap space for the kinds of additions the Flyers seem intent on making this summer.

Where things get interesting is if Seattle goes elsewhere with its selection, taking a cheap, younger option. Does van Riemsdyk become a trade possibility if Fletcher wants to clear out cap space? The same qualities that theoretically make JvR attractive to the Kraken would likely hold for other clubs, even if that $7 million cap hit is a hefty one. Again, though, if the 32-year old van Riemsdyk hit the UFA market after a 25- goal, 63-point season (his 82-game pace in 2020-21) with strong underlying numbers, does a two-year, $14 million contract really seem all that outlandish? Presumably, JvR could be moved.

Jakub Voracek: I’m also not expecting Voracek to be protected by the Flyers in expansion, nor do I expect Seattle to select him (three years remaining with an $8.25 million cap hit for a 31-year-old is a dicey proposition). And that’s not an easy contract to move via trade. But if cap space needs to be cleared, perhaps Voracek does become an option, if Fletcher gets creative. Parting ways with Voracek certainly would qualify as a big-time “shake it up” move, and while I’m not exactly expecting it, he’s the easiest member of the “core” to envision the team looking to trade, given his lack of a no-move clause and advancing age.

Justin Braun: I still hold that it’s not out of the question that Seattle ultimately settles on Braun, liking his cheap one-year contract and unique standing as an actually useful defensive defenseman, rather than one 1215218 Pittsburgh Penguins

Minor league report: Nailers win season finale

SETH RORABAUGH

Sunday, June 6, 2021 12:28 a.m.

Forwards Cody Sylvester and Patrick Watling each had a goal and an assist for the Wheeling Nailers who won their season finale, defeating the Indy Fuel, 5-2, at WesBanco Arena in Wheeling, W.Va. on Saturday.

Wheeling got three assists from forward Matt Alfaro while goaltender Louis-Philip Guindon made 34 saves on 36 shots in the victory.

The Nailers finished the season in last place of the ECHL’s East Division with a 21-40-6-1 record.

Tribune Review LOADED: 06.06.2021 1215219 Pittsburgh Penguins along with the few people in the Penguins organization with knowledge of the severity of his injuries — dared not say aloud.

This. Was. Bad. Evgeni Malkin’s knee injury: How bad, who knew and what’s next? The first indication of how bad came not even two full days after the Penguins’ loss to the Islanders in Game 6 in the East Division first-round series. Coach Mike Sullivan confirmed to the media that Malkin had By Rob Rossi played the postseason with a significant right-knee injury. A team source with knowledge of Malkin’s injury told The Athletic then that Malkin Jun 5, 2021 expected to need some type of surgery.

“You just hope he gets lucky and it’s not too much,” the source said. “It The days around Memorial Day weekend are Evgeni Malkin’s favorite doesn’t sound great, but you hope the tests show something good.” time of year. Malkin is not expected for training camp in September, the Penguins said For a long time, they meant more to Malkin the hockey player. In normal in their statement Friday night. A more definitive return date could be times — NHL seasons not altered by labor disputes and/or pandemics — known by training camp. those days were nirvana. To play games then meant to be playing in the Malkin, who will turn 35 on July 31, is set to enter the final season of his Stanley Cup Final, which Malkin did in his second and third seasons with contract. His agent, J.P. Barry, and Penguins general manager Ron the Penguins, and then not again until the 10th and 11th. Hextall had planned to work on finalizing an extension — a fourth NHL By those seasons, the days around Memorial Day meant more to Malkin contract that Malkin wanted to be his last, so that he could retire with the the man. It was during those days in 2016 that he became a husband Penguins — later this summer. There was no truth to speculation that and father. Hextall sought to trade Malkin during the offseason.

Malkin had figured on somewhat muted celebrations for the fifth Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, Malkin’s closest friend in the anniversaries of marrying Anna Kasterova and her giving birth to their organization, said after the Penguins’ Game 6 loss that he would not try son, Nikita. This year, the days around Memorial Day weekend would to “play GM” and influence management and/or ownership on any again be more about hockey. Or so he thought, and hoped. decisions regarding the future of Malkin and defenseman Kris Letang, who is also set to play on the final season of his contract. However, team When they weren’t, because the Penguins lost an opening-round sources said Crosby had already and repeatedly made clear his desire to postseason series for the third consecutive season, Malkin was finish as a Penguin with Malkin and Letang as teammates. determined to make the most of his unexpected time with Anna and Nikita. “Sid isn’t playing GM,” one of the sources said. “Mario (Lemieux) knows how strongly Sid feels about this. Mario feels pretty damn strong about it, But a dark cloud was never far even as Malkin shared his love with two from what I know. people that bring the most light to his life. He knew — had known for a while, really — that any day could come with words that could flip his “The stuff about Malkin and Letang being traded — I don’t know where it world the way Anna and Nikita had five years ago. came from, but it’s not something ownership ever said needs to happen. It’s not something Mario wants.” That word came this week, and expecting it hasn’t made accepting it any easier for Malkin. Hextall and hockey operations president Brian Burke met early this week with Lemieux and his majority partner, Ron Burkle, along with Penguins The Penguins announced Friday night that Malkin had undergone CEO/president David Morehouse. Details are not known, but an NHL successful surgery on his right knee. Unspecified procedures were source not affiliated with Malkin or the Penguins said Friday night it would performed by two surgeons at UPMC Montefiore Hospital in Oakland, a be “shocking if Mario and Ron didn’t take care of Malkin, knowing what neighborhood of Pittsburgh known as Western Pennsylvania’s health everybody knows now.” care mecca. “They love Malkin, always have,” the source said. “He went out and Sources told The Athletic that Malkin aggravated his right knee that had played on one leg in the playoffs? It’s clearly a big-time injury. He risked been significantly damaged when the Penguins played the Bruins at PPG everything for that team to give (the Penguins) a chance to win. He might Paints Arena on March 16. A worst-case scenario was feared in the first have been their best player from what I saw — on one fucking leg!” few days after that initial injury, but Malkin and the Penguins were ultimately relieved that multiple torn ligaments in his right knee would not Malkin did not play in Games 1 and 2 against the Islanders. He scored a require season-ending surgery. goal and recorded four assists in Games 3-6 — arguably his best postseason performance since leading the playoffs with 28 points as the There were obvious reasons for what was viewed as a welcome Penguins won their second consecutive title in 2017. development at the time. The Penguins, after a slow start, had emerged as a contender to win the East Division, thanks in no small part to Malkin’s 174 postseason points are second only to Crosby’s 191 with the Malkin’s uptick in scoring after his own slow start. Though he was Penguins. They have been the catalyst for a 14-season run during which expected to miss much of the remainder of the regular season — and the Penguins have never missed the postseason, won the Cup three ultimately would be unavailable for 23 consecutive games — Malkin and times and also made another Cup Final. the Penguins were confident he could return for the postseason, if not a Only Malkin and Lemieux have twice finished as the NHL’s top few knock-the-rust-off games prior. postseason scorer. They also are the only Penguins to win the Calder, And things went precisely according to plan. Malkin played in the Hart, Lindsay, and Conn Smythe trophies. Penguins’ final four regular-season games, restricted only by a heavy Of course, Malkin managed all of that before needing a second major brace on his right knee. surgery on his right knee. He hated wearing the brace, as he had loathed needing a similar one There’s a particular story about Malkin that haunts his mother. during the 2011-12 season. But if the tradeoff this season was similar to then — Malkin won the Hart, Lindsay and Art Ross trophies for the 2011- It’s from when he was a child in Magnitogorsk, Russia. The best player 12 season — a heavy brace on the right knee would not prove too — and youngest by a couple of years — on a youth team, Evgeni took a troubling a burden. fall during a practice a few days before a tournament. When a casted Evgeni entered his childhood house, Natalia acted as would any mother That was not the tradeoff, though. seeing her youngest child quite literally broken. Malkin’s right knee was injured again during the Penguins’ regular- She screamed. Then she wrapped her baby in a hefty hug. season finale against the Sabres at PPG Paints Arena on May 8. “His heart was broken,” Natalia Malkin said, though an interpreter. “His In the moment, he feared the worst. In the extended time between that only wish was to play the games. His father wished to alter the cast for game and the Penguins’ postseason opener, Malkin sensed what he — Evgeni to play. I would not allow it. “Evgeni was never so upset with me. He cried to play. He promised to The Athletic LOADED: 06.06.2021 not get more hurt. It was Evgeni and father against mother. But I was strong.”

And Evgeni was sneaky.

Having successfully begged his mother to approve his attending the tournament to cheer on teammates, Evgeni returned home wearing hockey gear, his injured arm tucked into the jersey sleeve. This prompted another scream from Natalia, one that jarred her son and frightened her husband.

“The dead would hear is how I think it was,” Vladimir Malkin said, through an interpreter. “A strong mother will be at top noise when she is upset.”

After grabbing Evgeni’s arm and pushing up the sleeve to reveal a cast that had been cut to expose his hand, Natalia shot a chilling look at Vladimir before quickly bear hugging a now-confused young boy.

“His father talked of play for your team,” Natalia Malkin said. “This is for the reason my son will play when he should not. I think it’s not to play a game with injury. My husband thinks not the same. Evgeni thinks as his father.

“I say to Evgeni one day he will be parent and think as mother. This is my wish.”

Natalia and Vladimir Malkin shared that story in June 2013. At the time, Evgeni Malkin was two years removed from attempting the unthinkable — returning to play for the Penguins only two months after surgeries to repair torn medial collateral and anterior cruciate ligaments in his right knee.

Injured early in February 2011, Malkin had started lobbying Penguins trainers to clear him for a return in mid-April, during an opening-round series against the Lightning. He nearly wore out the Pittsburgh medical staff, to the point that playing in Round 2 was dangled in exchange for him backing off from pestering the day before and of Game 7 in Round 1.

“He was impossible,” a former Penguins teammate said of witnessing Malkin’s badgering team doctors and trainers at the time. “Don’t get me wrong, I loved it. You see a guy — not just any guy, that guy — doing everything he can just to get in the lineup; that’s another level right there, that’s the reason I get so mad when I hear this crap that Geno doesn’t care. It’s complete bullshit.

“He might care more than anybody. He cares so much he was trying to play when he had no business walking up and down steps. I’m watching him with the trainers or hearing them say how Geno is just crushing them to let him play, and all I can think is: ‘Wait, could he do it? Because he’s freakishly built. Like, could he do it?’

“I don’t know. Probably not. He shouldn’t have done it, that’s damn sure. But that guy was going to try if we had won Game 7. In his mind, he was going to be out there for the next game. I don’t know how they were going to stop him unless they locked him in his house.

“Tell that story to your buddies in the media — the ones that talk shit about Geno. He cares. Probably too much for his own good.”

A lot changed about and for Malkin between his first and second right- knee surgeries.

Not everything. Not the part that has endeared him to Lemieux, Crosby, everybody with the Penguins and an overwhelming majority of fans in Pittsburgh.

Counting the one that drafted him second overall in 2004, Malkin’s known four GMs with the Penguins. Two of those men, Ray Shero and Jim Rutherford, in the past marveled at the degree to which Malkin “cares about our team.”

How this serious setback sets up the future of Malkin and the Penguins is not a topic either party was talking about Friday night. But it’s worth noting something said recently by Burke, who along with Hextall was hand-picked by Lemieux to lead the Penguins into their future. Speaking to prospective season-ticket holders a couple of weeks ago, Burke offered a sentiment about Malkin similar to those from Shero and Rutherford.

“I never knew how much Malkin cared about winning,” Burke said. “I love that guy.”

1215220 Pittsburgh Penguins The Reality Bigger, stronger superstars have a shelf life. The beating they take, the

game-by-game pounding they take because they can, eventually catches Kingerski: Malkin, Criticism, Praise, & Paying the Piper up to everyone.

Malkin has played through it all. A wrist injury. Knee injuries. Everything except a wicked sunburn (looking at you, Florida sun). Published 12 hours ago on June 5, 2021 Malkin has delivered for Penguins fans like few others. He deserves to By Dan Kingerski be in that pantheon of Lemieux, Jagr, Crosby…and Malkin.

Yet, there seems to be a boisterous minority that seeks to take away his effectiveness. That minority seeks to deny what Malkin meant and means Evgeni Malkin is not the savior of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Penguins to the Pittsburgh Penguins. head coach Mike Sullivan instead refers to him as one of the Penguins two generational talents, including Penguins captain Sidney Crosby. The Penguins have won three Stanley Cups. Malkin has a Hart Trophy, a Calder, three rings, a Conn Smyth, two Art Ross honors, a Ted Lindsay, The job of Penguins savior was immediately and then intermittently thrust and leads the league in times overlooked. upon Malkin throughout his career. When the Penguins piled up top-five picks, including Ryan Whitney (5th overall, 2002), Marc-Andre Fleury (1st Malkin doesn’t have to be a top-five all-time player like Crosby to receive overall, 2003), and Malkin was the second overall pick behind Alex the recognition that he is one of the best of the era and has been crucial Ovechkin in 2004, Malkin was to be the man in the middle. to the Penguins’ success.

Brooks Orpik, Whitney, Fleury, and Malkin were to be the Penguins core As Malkin approaches 35-years-old next month, it’s time for everyone to until an improbable lottery win in 2005 delivered Crosby, too. pay the piper. You don’t just dump players that have been a pillar of the organization for 15 years. You don’t whine and complain like children that On Friday, the Penguins revealed that Malkin had what sounds like a a 35-year-old isn’t 25 anymore. serious knee surgery. He will be out of the Penguins lineup beyond September, and that’s all we know. The Penguins said more information And you certainly don’t trade Evgeni Malkin and simply get a younger would be available during the September training camp. one in return.

Here’s betting head coach Mike Sullivan terms him week-to-week (we Time to Pay the Piper kid, we kid). This was always the bargain. Evgeni Malkin played for less than market For Malkin, it’s yet another injury suffered late in the season. value, and in return, he received a full no-movement clause to stay with the Penguins as long he wants. While players like Jonathan Toews, Some truths about Evgeni Malkin have been present from the beginning, Patrick Kane, Alex Ovechkin, and Connor McDavid soaked their teams some have evolved, and some, unfortunately, are staring us in the face. for max dollars, Crosby and Malkin took well less than their market value. Evgeni Malkin Can Carry the Penguins Beyond their play on the ice, their team-first paychecks permitted GMs I don’t know why Malkin assumes beast mode when Crosby is out of the Ray Shero and Jim Rutherford to go crazy on the NHL trade market. And lineup, but it’s true. It’s damn true. Without Crosby for 28 games in 2019- sometimes, they did. The lower-than-market valuation contracts also 20, Malkin heaped the beleaguered Penguins on his back and scored 74 allowed the Penguins to sign free agents and put a competitive team points in 55 games before injuries befell him, too. around them, even as the organization wasted years from 2011-2015 in some sort of hockey adolescence. During Crosby’s absence that season, in which the Penguins surged to first place in the Metro Division, Malkin had a hand in 40% of the Malkin must pay for the audacity of aging. Fans must pay for the Penguins’ goals. enjoyment they received. The Penguins must pay for the benefits they received, too. That’s ridiculous. It’s nearly a miracle that the Penguins window isn’t nailed shut by now. It was the most recent example of Malkin carrying the Penguins in time of They had a real chance this season. They should have beaten the New need. York Islanders handily. The Pittsburgh Penguins significantly outplayed New York, but it was the mid-20s players who came up the short, in net Malkin was on another beast-mode heater in March until Boston Bruins and on the wings. defenseman Jared Tinordi crunched him with a clean hit near the corner. The hit included a knee-on-knee collision, and Malkin was again felled. Sure, the Pittsburgh Penguins could strip the team bare and start a But the big Russian had 12 points (4-8-12) in the eight games prior. rebuild, but–too many people assume this fantastic process would just start all over again; have growing pains for a year, or two, make the He and Kasperi Kapanen looked like world-beaters. playoffs and start winning more Stanley Cups in a few years. Malkin’s Fragility Sorry kids, it doesn’t work like that. Not even in Pittsburgh. There’s no hiding that Malkin has been somewhat injury-prone. He Ask Detroit how it’s going. Maybe ask Buffalo, LA, Chicago, Anaheim, generally plays between 60 and 69 games per 82-game season. Nine Arizona, New Jersey…? times in his 15-year career, he has missed more than 12 games, including missing 23 games in this shortened season. When the Penguins say goodbye, it’s going to begin a hard process that probably won’t end in a Stanely Cup anytime soon. Great teams like the To his credit, Malkin has also played through significant injuries which Washington Capitals, St. Louis Blues, even the Toronto Maple Leafs required more than a little cleanup on the operating table. His wrist was have waited for generations. badly injured in 2017. Or was the wrist in 2016 and a leg in 2017? Or was it both? It’s hard to keep track. The entire hockey universe in Canada hasn’t seen a Cup in 28 years.

He played with one wing for the duration of the Stanley Cup run. Malkin Toronto hasn’t succeeded since Herman’s Hermits, and The Monkees couldn’t shoot the puck in the playoffs but gallantly played on. were Top-40 radio. 1967. Toronto’s last Cup predates Jimmy Hendrix at Woodstock, Led Zeppelin, landing on the moon, and the first Rolling In the 2021 playoffs, Malkin apparently had a torn-up knee. ACL, MCL, Stones farewell tour. meniscus? Doesn’t matter. When a player is out for more than four months, the surgery was significant. And yet Malkin was one of the better Of course, the Penguins are delaying the inevitable. Of course they are! Penguins in Games 5 and 6. By keeping Malkin around, Kris Letang, and even Sidney Crosby, they’re hoping to catch lightning in a bottle one more time. Doesn’t that warrant some praise instead of criticism? They almost had it this year with Jeff Carter. Do you know what other Penguins star was injury-prone like Malkin? Mario Lemieux. Yeah. The time to reload was two years ago when rich offers rolled in for the Penguins core players. But that’s gone, and there’s no sense whining about it now.

Realize, once this is over, the Penguins have to walk through the desert again. It won’t be fun. It won’t be easy. There will be 12,000 fans in the arena, 30,000 fans claiming to have been there and lots more fans who say, “let me know when they make the playoffs.”

Everyone pays the piper. At least these Penguins can still dance, even with one wrist, one leg, or one knee.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now LOADED: 06.06.2021 1215221 Pittsburgh Penguins

Dan’s Daily: Vegas Goes Wild, Malkin Was Badly Injured in Playoffs

Published 21 hours ago on June 5, 2021

By Dan Kingerski

VEGAS — The Bud Moonshine world tour of the Round Two series with the Vegas Golden Knights and Colorado Avalanche series continued Friday. And let me tell you what an amazing experience it is to cover or attend a game at T-Mobile Arena in Vegas. Friday night was the first 100%-capacity game in Vegas in over 450 days, and my god, those fans rattled the place. Montreal is squeezing Winnipeg. There’s more NHL trade talk around Seth Jones. And the Pittsburgh Penguins will probably be without Evgeni Malkin at the start of next season.

Vegas was so loud that my coffee had ripples. Fans literally scream. They jump around. They have a hype man. I’ll post the video below.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: It looks like Evgeni Malkin was in a bad way during the Penguins Round One loss to the New York Islanders. We knew he was hurt, but it appears he was playing through a serious knee injury. Malkin had knee surgery and will be out into next season.

PHN projected the Penguins’ protected list for the Seattle Kraken Expansion Draft, and we wonder if Ron Hextall will have to reconsider his stance of not giving up an asset to protect a player. Could they gamble with Jeff Carter? This could hurt the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Sportsnet: Vegas scored two goals in 45 seconds later in the third period and won 3-2. T-Mobile went bananas. Credit those fans, they could have soured, but they were relentless. Vegas wins, and they d-o-m-i-n-a-t-e-d

Colorado: Adrian Dater ripped into the Avalanche, and so did head coach Jared Bednar. The Avalanche were due for a stinker–but wow, that was horrendous.

Vegas: 17,504 fans absolutely rocked T-Mobile Arena. Relentlessly. Joyfully. It was the first full game since COVID. And they brought their A- Game.

TSN: Montreal is squeezing the life out of the Winnipeg Jets. Ole! Ole! Ole! Montreal won Game 2 with a shutout, and the Habs look pretty, pretty strong.

Boston: Brandon Carlo is a maybe for Game 4.

Detroit: For every hockey lover, THIS is a must read story. How hockey history would have changed. How Gordie Howe’s history would have changed if the Red Wings listened to one person…

Ottawa Sun: NHL trade talk. More landing spots for Seth Jones. Don Brennan did some additional analysis and thinks Jones would fit very well in Colorado or Florida.

I don’t know if you’re still affected by the first steps after COVID, but I am. I get excited as we cross barriers and thresholds, and I look forward to our country getting to that 70% barrier. With 100% fan capacity in Vegas and the raw power of 17,504 fans who are as engaged as any fanbase has ever been, it felt good to be there. The VGK fans are a little funny as they cheer EVERY shot in that “almost” sort of way. They go bananas for everything. And it’s fun.

Marc-Andre Fleury didn’t leave the ice after warm-ups. He stayed on the ice for another minute, just looking around. When the place realized he was hanging, they again went nuts. That was a moment born of 452 days without a full barn. And a player who appreciates his station in life and place in the game. Fleury took it in.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now LOADED: 06.06.2021 1215222 San Jose Sharks The Minnesota Wild have to expose one of Cam Talbot and Kaapo Kahkonen in the expansion draft, but the former's contract ($3.67 million cap hit for two more years) and recent playoff performances (.924 over the last two postseasons) have to be appealing to the Kraken. It should Sharks should target five players eliminated from playoffs be appealing to the Sharks, too, who need to upgrade on Martin Jones.

Talbot could be one of four goalies the Kraken claim, or the Wild keep him after dealing draft picks to the NHL's newest team. Either way, the BY MARCUS WHITE Sharks have an opportunity, as Seattle probably won't keep all four netminders in the former case, while San Jose can help Minnesota recoup the assets required to hang on to Talbot. SHARKS No matter where Talbot is after the expansion, the Sharks should ensure Let's say you're Sharks general manager Doug Wilson. he knows the way to San Jose not long after. He'd be an immediate improvement in net, while allowing young goalies Josef Korenar and You have your work cut out for you this summer, trying to build a team Alexei Melnichuk to gain additional experience in the minor leagues. that can return to the Stanley Cup playoffs while dealing with a flat salary cap and an expansion draft in July. Oh, and you have your highest draft Ryan Nugent-Hopkins pick since 2015. Unlike the other players on this list, the Sharks wouldn't have to trade for Got all that? the Edmonton Oilers center this summer, as the former No. 1 pick is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. But without clearing You have plenty of time to kill, too, with the first round of the draft not out major salary, which is easier said than done given the amount of occurring until July 23. So, how do you spend all of it? By reaching out to trade and movement protection on San Jose's roster, the Sharks can't your recently eliminated colleagues, of course. get into a bidding war for Nugent-Hopkins. The second round of the playoffs is well underway, with quite a few Of course, Nugent-Hopkins might not get the term or salary he's looking franchises looking to make tweaks -- if not full overhauls -- in order to for this offseason. During free agency last fall, few forwards signed for advance beyond the first round next year. Those are the teams you longer than three years, and few teams' cap situations have improved should be eyeing, with many of those teams featuring compelling players since then. who would check off the biggest boxes on the offseason to-do list. The Sharks need depth down the middle, and Nugent-Hopkins -- who Who are those players? Here's a look at five the Sharks should be has scored no fewer than 18 goals in all but one of his 82-game NHL circling this offseason. seasons -- would immediately bolster San Jose at center behind Tomas Mitch Marner and William Nylander Hertl and Logan Couture. Could San Jose, with over $11 million in cap space before the expansion draft, offer Nugent-Hopkins a short-term deal The Toronto Maple Leafs will insist until they're blue in the face -- yes, at a higher cap hit? even bluer than the fans with painted faces in Maple Leaf Square -- that they won't trade one of their Core Four forwards. But with $40 million tied The 28-year-old could get paid while waiting for the market to normalize, up in Marner, Nylander, Auston Matthews and John Tavares, something and the Sharks would add a player who'd improve their roster and/or has to give, right? could be traded at the deadline if San Jose spends another season in the cellar. Depending on Nugent-Hopkins' market, that could be best for both Matthews isn't going anywhere, and neither is Tavares, unless there's parties. another team with its likeness on his childhood bed sheets that will get him to waive a no-movement clause. That leaves Marner ($10.9 million salary cap hit for four more seasons) and Nylander ($6.96 million for Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 06.06.2021 three more), as neither has any trade protection.

The former struggled for his third consecutive postseason, while the latter has faced criticism for a supposed lack of consistency. Both players would've led the Sharks in scoring this year, though, and San Jose should really press Toronto's brain trust on its willingness to part with either player.

Given the Leafs' cap situation, is there a Hockey Trade to be made with one of the Sharks' young wingers and, if needed, some draft capital? Timo Meier ($6 million cap hit) and Kevin Labanc are ($4.725 million) are cheaper and would allow the Maple Leafs to clear space to address other areas on the roster. Wilson can give Toronto something to think about.

Lars Eller

Wilson publicly identified third-line center as one of the Sharks' biggest needs, and Eller would fit the bill. Although he's 32, he has consistently thrived for the Washington Capitals as a shutdown center. He's no slouch offensively, either, scoring 23 points (eight goals, 15 assists) in 44 games this season.

Eller's affordable ($3.2 million cap hit), but he might be too rich for the Capitals' taste this offseason. Washington, even after losing a player to the Seattle Kraken in the expansion draft, will be awfully close to the salary cap for a team that has been eliminated in the first round three consecutive years. Eller hasn't been the problem by any means, but his contract is easily movable and could enable the Capitals recoup some draft picks.

The Caps only have 11 draft picks in the next two years, while the Sharks have 15. If San Jose starts the conversation with its 2022 second-round pick, would Washington listen? The Capitals don't have one after the Anthony Mantha blockbuster, but convincing win-now Washington to part with a prized depth piece could require more sweetening.

Cam Talbot 1215223 San Jose Sharks Sittler (Philadelphia 1992) and Jim McInally (Los Angeles 1968) didn’t make the big show either

The average No. 7 pick — counting only non-active skaters — plays 622 What Are Sharks’ Chances to Draft Hall of Famer at No. 7? NHL games

The average No. 7 forward — counting only non-actives — scores 163 goals, 217 assists, and 380 points over his career Published 12 hours ago on June 5, 2021 The last 10 No. 7 picks were Holtz, Dylan Cozens, Quinn Hughes, Lias By Sheng Peng Andersson, Clayton Keller, Ivan Provorov, Haydn Fleury, Nurse, Matt Dumba, and Scheifele

Finally, let’s go back to Hall of Famers. There’s Federko and Barber at What’s in a draft pick? No.7. Could Suter, Scheifele, or Quinn Hughes (Vancouver 2018) join This week’s Draft lottery confirmed that the San Jose Sharks would pick them? seventh in the first round of the 2021 NHL Draft. This will be San Jose’s Also, let’s compare seventh-overall to the rest of the top-seven: first top-10 selection since 2015 and the first time they’ll pick No. 7. No. 1: Eight Hall of Famers (Gilbert Perreault, Denis Potvin, Guy Lafleur, But not every lottery pick smells as sweet. Eric Lindros, Dale Hawerchuk, Mario Lemieux, Mats Sundin Mike For example, there have been just two Hall of Famers drafted seventh- Modano) and Joe Thornton, Marc-Andre Fleury, Alex Ovechkin, Sidney overall, compared to eight (and many more on the way) who were Crosby, Patrick Kane, Steven Stamkos, John Tavares, Nathan selected first-overall. MacKinnon, Connor McDavid, or Auston Matthews on the way?

Of course, the San Jose Sharks at No. 7 would be thrilled to add to that No. 2: Three Hall of Famers (Brendan Shanahan, Marcel Dionne, Chris two’s company of Bernie Federko (1976) and Bill Barber (1972) this July Pronger) and Patrick Marleau, Drew Doughty, Evgeni Malkin, Victor 23rd. Hedman, Aleksander Barkov, Jack Eichel, or on the way?

Here are some other interesting seventh pick of the NHL Draft stats, No. 3: Three Hall of Famers (, Denis Savard, Pat courtesy of Stathead. Lafontaine) and , Jonathan Toews, Miro Heiskanen, or Leon Draisaitl on the way? Most Games Played: 1,540 (Shane Doan, No. 7 by Winnipeg in 1995) No. 4: Eight Hall of Famers (Ron Francis, Larry Murphy, Steve Yzerman, Most Games Played, Defenseman: 1,417 (Luke Richardson, Toronto Lanny McDonald, Mike Gartner, Paul Kariya, Clark Gillies, Steve Shutt) 1987) and Roberto Luongo, Nicklas Backstrom, or Alex Pietrangelo on the way? Most Goals: 420 (Bill Barber, Philadelphia 1972) No. 5: One Hall of Famer (Scott Stevens) and Jaromir Jagr, Carey Price, Most Assists: 761 (Bernie Federko, St. Louis 1976) Elias Pettersson on the way? Most Points: 1,130 (Federko) No. 6: Four Hall of Famers (Phil Housley, , Doug Wilson, Barber leads the No. 7 group with three All-Star Team appearances Peter Forsberg) — there’s nobody obvious on the way (1976 First Team left winger, 1979 Second Team, 1981 Second Team). So two Hall of Famers at No. 7 isn’t unusual, after all. After No. 1 and Defenseman Ryan Suter (Nashville 2003) was a 2013 First-Team All- lucky No. 4, the top-seven looks to be a bit of a crapshoot in terms of Star and right winger Jakub Voracek (Columbus 2007) was a 2015 First- hockey royalty. Team All-Star. Blueliner Darnell Nurse (Edmonton 2013) might join this select group this off-season. Anyway, hockey royalty or not, No. 7 is a good spot for the San Jose Sharks. Can they reel in a future Hall of Famer? Eight players have reached the 1,000-game milestone:

1,540 (Doan) San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 06.06.2021 1,417 (Richardson)

1,291 (Darryl Sydor, Los Angeles 1990)

1,273 (Martin Gelinas, Los Angeles 1988)

1,244 (Jason Arnott, Edmonton 1993)

1,198 (Suter)

1,029 (Russ Courtnall, Toronto 1983)

1,000 (Federko)

Voracek, at 968, is also approaching this mark.

Here are some other interesting seventh-overall factoids:

Only one goalie, of 53 post-expansion No. 7 selections, has gone seventh — Jamie Storr was selected by the Kings in 1995

Four No. 7 picks have played for the San Jose Sharks: Manny Malhotra (Rangers 1998), Ulf Dahlen (Rangers 1985), Shawn Burr (Detroit 1984), Doug Zmolek (Minnesota 1989)

There are two active No. 7 picks in the post-season right now, and they’re both suspended: Mark Scheifele (Winnipeg 2011), Nazem Kadri (Toronto 2009)

57% of seventh-overall picks in the post-expansion era have played over 500 NHL games

Just three have not played in an NHL game. Obviously, Alexander Holtz, picked by New Jersey last season, has plenty of time to get there. Ryan 1215224 San Jose Sharks

Sheng’s Daily: Gabriel Is Clancy Trophy Finalist

Published 19 hours ago on June 5, 2021

By Sheng Peng

Congratulations, Kurtis!

Gabriel is the San Jose Sharks first-ever King Clancy Trophy finalist, presented “to the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community.” He was nominated along with P.K. Subban and Pekka Rinne.

Per the NHL: “Gabriel is a steadfast advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. He uses his social media accounts to amplify messaging and educate fans and fellow players, while supporting LGBTQ+ causes by participating in events and having candid conversations. In a digital age, he has been able to use his platform on Twitter and Instagram to spread awareness like never before.

“He supported the local San Jose nonprofit, the LGBTQ Youth Space, by donating a custom, game-worn skate to be auctioned by the Sharks Foundation. Featuring the colors of the Pride flag and the message ‘Love is Love,’ the item raised $1,600 in support of the nonprofit.

“Reflecting his interest in raising awareness for racial and social justice, Gabriel’s second skate in the custom set, which features the messages ‘BLM’ & ‘Hope, Empathy, Change,’ will be auctioned by the Sharks Foundation during its Juneteenth auction this summer, with proceeds going to a diversity-focused nonprofit.

“Gabriel has been an ongoing advocate for You Can Play, a nonprofit working to ensure the safety and inclusion for all who participate in sports, including LGBTQ+ athletes, coaches and fans. He also has supported the African American Community Service Agency, Las Lomitas Education Foundation, Housing Industry Foundation, San Jose Firefighters Burn Foundation, Girls on the Run Silicon Valley and the Sharks Foundation.”

It’s a well-deserved honor, and not surprisingly, Gabriel is celebrating by giving back:

Marcus Sorensen gets the last word on the saga of Erik Karlsson’s hacked Twitter:

Mario Ferraro’s Team Canada is set to square off against Kevin Labanc, Ryan Donato, and Sasha Chmelevski’s Team USA in the World Championships semi-finals. Ferraro had a message for his San Jose teammates:

San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 06.06.2021 1215225 Tampa Bay Lightning here for and we’ve seen it all, so nothing’s gonna really surprise this group.”

Kucherov’s first goal, the Lightning’s second power-play goal, provided a Got goals? Lightning score six in a comeback win over Hurricanes spark. He took the puck off the boards after Stamkos’ one-timer hit iron, then launched a rising wrister from above the right circle that filled the net.

By Eduardo A. Encina “The bench stayed calm and we knew what to do,” said Kucherov, whose second goal 6:01 into the third provided the Lightning with a two-goal Published Yesterday cushion. “We just had to make the switch and start playing the right way Updated Earlier today and take care of our zone first and then create some changes down there, and that’s what we did.”

TAMPA — Dating back to the beginning of last postseason, the Lightning have always had an answer. They’ve refused to lose back-to-back playoff Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 06.06.2021 games, entering Game 4 of their second-round series Saturday having won nine straight when coming off a loss.

They’ve done it by remaining calm and confident, by quieting the commotion, each player channeling what led to their laps hoisting Lord Stanley. But as Lightning coach Jon Cooper said following Thursday’s Game 3 loss, no matter what, the postseason can still be a “big, damn roller coaster.”

Saturday’s second period alone — a head-spinning 20 minutes that included eight goals — was one of the wildest siren-sounding rides imaginable.

“That was chaotic,” Cooper said. “It’s a damn circus out there, but definitely no refunds after that one. Take your coach’s hat off, and it was one hell of an entertaining second period.”

Facing a two-goal deficit in the period, the Lightning scored three straight goals in under five minutes, two coming on the power play, to take the lead and regain control of their best-of-seven series with a 6-4 victory.

“Probably the craziest playoff period you’re gonna get to see the rest of the way,” Steven Stamkos said of the highest-scoring postseason period since 2006.

With the victory, the Lightning took a 3-1 series lead over the Central Division champions and are now one win away from the Stanley Cup semifinals. Tuesday’s Game 5 is in Raleigh, N.C.

The Tampa Bay Lightning defeat the Carolina Hurricanes to take a 3-1 lead in the Stanley Cup Second Round best-of-7 series.

This Lightning team has graduated from its “Greatest Show on Ice” past after those years ended in postseason disappointment. Last year’s Stanley Cup run prioritized defense and showed winning in the playoffs is more about stopping goals than scoring them.

But when they found themselves in a feverishly paced shootout, the Lightning showed they could still play this way — and the limited-capacity sellout crowd of 13,773 at Amalie Arena loved it — and still lock down the Hurricanes with defense in the third period.

“It’s not our bread and butter, it’s not what our team preaches,” said Lightning forward Tyler Johnson, whose first postseason goal tied the score at 4 with 2:50 left in the second. “We have to be a lot better defensively than what we were, but I think it says a lot about our group and our character that we didn’t really let it faze us.”

Stamkos scored the go-ahead goal on the power play with 23 seconds left in the second, his second goal in a three-point night. Nikita Kucherov, who assisted on that goal, had two goals of his own, giving him five this postseason. After starting the game 0-for-3, the Lightning power play scored on three straight three man-advantage opportunities.

Victor Hedman prevented a Carolina clearing attempt, sweeping his stick forward, and got the puck to Anthony Cirelli in the far corner. Cirelli passed to Kucherov coming over the right circle, and he quickly tapped a pass to Stamkos. The captain had an open shot from the left circle, beating Carolina goaltender Petr Mrazek top shelf on the near post.

After trailing 1-0 after one period, the Hurricanes took over in the first part of the second, scoring four of the next five goals over a span of 8:11 and taking a 4-2 lead on Jaccob Slavin’s shot from below the left circle.

“There’s a lot of hockey left, so you never know what’s gonna happen,” Stamkos said. “At that point, when you’re down two, you just want to make sure you get the next goal, and that’s what we did. We’ve been in multiple different situations throughout the runs that this core has been 1215226 Tampa Bay Lightning being outscored 2-0 in 5-on-5 situations in Game 3. Yes, power-play goals count. But you can’t always count on getting power plays.

“Five-on-five wasn’t our issue,” Brind’Amour said when someone asked Well, that Lightning victory was a thrill and a blast. It was also lucky. about Tampa Bay’s odd-man rushes. “I don’t know what game you were watching if you think that was our issue.”

Does all of this sound too morbid, because that’s not the point. The By John Romano Lightning have a tremendous opportunity in front of them to be only the second franchise to win back-to-back Stanley Cups in the last 20 years. Published Earlier today They are that good, and that diverse. Updated Earlier today But just because you have a roster filled with All-Stars and trophy

winners and hot shot scorers doesn’t guarantee you anything. The TAMPA — For a few minutes there, Nikita Kucherov again looked like the Lightning learned that lesson in 2019 when they had the best regular best hockey player on the planet. season in a generation and failed to win a single postseason game.

The Lightning defense looked smart, tough and efficient in the third Coach Jon Cooper alluded to that on Saturday when he was asked about period, and the special teams were spectacular for most of the afternoon getting into a high-scoring affair with Carolina. in a 6-4 win in Game 4 against Carolina on Saturday. “There was a time we were kinda the greatest show on ice a few years Yet, if you’re being honest, the Lightning were lucky to have won. ago, and many times those ended up in disappointing playoff outs,” he said. “The team has this ability — it’s probably why we’ve had success They were lucky not to be going back to Raleigh, N.C., with the series the last couple of years — because we have the ability to win different tied, and lucky not to have suffered consecutive losses in the playoffs for ways. If you want to get in a shootout, we do have a group that can do it the first time in more than 30 games. Mostly, they were lucky that the that way. But that’s not ideal.” Hurricanes lost their damn minds. No, it’s not. And the Lightning were fortunate on Saturday that Carolina Carolina had the defending Stanley Cup champions looking shaken and made it a lot easier for them. tentative on their home ice. They were beating them to the puck, they were dominating possession and they were leading 4-2 with the game more than halfway completed. Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 06.06.2021 Then the Hurricanes took two penalties in the final five-plus minutes of the second period and practically punched Tampa Bay’s ticket to the next round of the NHL postseason.

The Tampa Bay Lightning defeat the Carolina Hurricanes to take a 3-1 lead in the Stanley Cup Second Round best-of-7 series.

“We knew coming in that you can’t take penalties against these guys, and we were taking them,” Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “I think there was some frustration, on the guys’ part and mine that, yeah, they were penalties, but there were definitely some (by the Lightning) the other way that were getting let go. I think that’s where the frustration was happening.

“But, again, you can’t take the penalties. It doesn’t matter if you’re getting calls or not. You just can’t take the risk, I guess is the best way to put it.”

This doesn’t mean the Lightning didn’t deserve to win. They surely did. Kucherov looked like a magician for much of the afternoon, Steven Stamkos played the part of a savvy veteran to perfection and Tyler Johnson offered a reminder of his best days in a Lightning sweater.

Even if Carolina gave them a gift, the Lightning had enough experience and skill to pounce on the opportunity. And that’s an enviable quality by itself.

“If they get a good look, they’ve got guys who can finish. That’s just what they do,” Brind’Amour said. “That’s the story. You can write anything else you want, but that’s the story right there. You can’t take those penalties, and we did.”

For the record, the Lightning went 3-of-6 on power plays in Game 4. The Hurricanes went 0-for-2.

Carolina fans on Twitter were apoplectic about the disparity, but the calls were not that egregious. You might pick out a couple of moments when the Lightning could have been whistled for penalties but the biggest non- call of the game went Carolina’s way when Brady Skjei whacked Kucherov in the face with his stick and voluntarily took a seat in the penalty box before the refs decided to set him free.

For the Lightning, the obvious takeaway is how insanely narrow the path to a second Stanley Cup can be.

Even if you believe Tampa Bay is the most talented team in the NHL, even if you are certain the Lightning have the depth and knowledge and experience to win any type of game, you still need to acknowledge how close they were to having this series tied after four games.

It looks like the Lightning handily won a shootout of a game Saturday, but they actually were outscored 4-3 in 5-on-5 situations. And that’s after 1215227 Tampa Bay Lightning There is no more dangerous Kucherov than an angry Kucherov, whether it’s due to opponents trying to get under his skin with hard hits or stick jabs (remember that high stick to the helmet from Brady Skjei in the first period?), or frustration at himself. Lightning-Hurricanes Game 4 report card: Engage at your own risk He takes his game to another level, one his opponents’ simply cannot reach.

By Frank Pastor Grade: A-plus

Published Earlier today Unsung hero

Updated 6 hours ago Can we get some love for Ondrej Palat?

The left wing doesn’t garner anywhere near as much attention as top-line mates Kucherov and Point. But he is one of Tampa Bay’s most valuable We may have mentioned this once or twice, but since the Hurricanes players at both ends of the ice and considerably more skilled than he clearly weren’t paying attention: gets credit for. You don’t want to put the Lightning on the power play. He had two assists in Game 4, setting up Point’s opening goal in the first Louder, for those in the back: period with a tape-to-tape pass from the left circle to the crease and Kucherov’s insurance goal with a nice drop pass in the third. YOU DON’T WANT TO PUT THE LIGHTING ON THE POWER PLAY! Palat had a chance at the winning goal when he broke in alone on Carolina, desperate to avoid slipping closer to elimination in its second- Mrazek with the score tied at 4 late in the second period but was robbed round series against Tampa Bay, played its best 12 minutes of the series by the Carolina goaltender. at the start of the second period of Game 4 Saturday at Amalie Arena. Kucherov and Stamkos were the stars of the game, but Palat was best in The Hurricanes outskated the Lightning, won puck battles and took a supporting role. advantage of their opportunities, scoring four times, including twice in 39 seconds, to seemingly take control, 4-2. For the first time this Grade: A postseason, they made goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy and Tampa Bay First time for everything look beatable. They appeared to be back in the series. I saw two things in the first few minutes I had never seen before in an Until they weren’t. And they had no one to blame but themselves. NHL game. The Hurricanes took three ill-advised, offensive-zone (!) penalties in the Even before the opening puck drop, the Hurricanes’ Warren Foegele and period, and the Lightning turned every one into a dagger through the Lightning’s Blake Coleman were sent to the penalty box for heart. unsportsmanlike conduct after exchanging shoves and cross-checks, and The Tampa Bay Lightning defeat the Carolina Hurricanes to take a 3-1 the game started with only eight skaters on the ice. lead in the Stanley Cup Second Round best-of-7 series. A few minutes later, Kucherov was slow to get up after getting hit in the Steven Stamkos put a rebound into an empty net after Petr Mrazek was helmet by a high stick from Skjei. Skjei first went to the penalty box, then unable to hold on to a Brayden Point shot from the slot and Alex Killorn returned to the Carolina bench after officials told him there had been no rung a rebound attempt off the crossbar, tying the score at 2. penalty on the play.

Then down 4-2, Nikita Kucherov whipped a shot past Mrazek from the A Hurricanes beat reporter tweeted that he was told the linesman called top of the right circle. After a Tyler Johnson even-strength goal off the the high stick but there could not be a penalty on the play because there rush, Stamkos struck again on the power play, finishing a cross-ice pass was no injury or blood resulting from the infraction. from Kucherov. Whatever the explanation, Cooper, visibly incensed after the play, wasn’t In fewer than five minutes, Tampa Bay turned a two-goal deficit into a buying it. one-goal lead. And, in time, a stranglehold on the series. Grade: H, for huh? There is no more dangerous weapon in the NHL right now than the

Lightning power play, which has accounted for five goals in the past two games. Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 06.06.2021 Play with fire, as Carolina did by taking seven penalties and giving Tampa Bay six power plays, and you’re gonna get burned. The ‘Canes got torched.

Grade: A-plus

Here’s how we graded the rest of the Lightning’s performance in their 6-4 win in Game 4:

Playing with a purpose

Think Kucherov was bothered by the penalty he took in overtime of Game 3 that led directly to Jordan Staal’s winning goal?

A little bit. Kucherov, outrageously skilled to begin with, might have been the most determined player on the ice in Game 4, and it made him, in the words of head coach Jon Cooper, “borderline unstoppable.”

He skated with a purpose, fired shots from everywhere and continually kept Carolina guessing. He set up Stamkos’ first goal with a coast-to- coast rush into the Hurricanes’ zone, then assisted on his second by skating to the middle, faking a shot and sending a pass across the ice to the Tampa Bay captain.

Kucherov’s first goal came after he did a nice job of keeping the puck in the zone after a Stamkos shot caromed around the boards. He surprised Mrazek on his second goal, shooting off his back foot from the high slot when most skaters likely would have taken the puck to the net. 1215228 Tampa Bay Lightning the room when you see a veteran guy like that who’s done so much for this team and organization in playing a reduced role.

“But big moments, he’s stepping in there and delivering.” Lightning’s Tyler Johnson scores ‘monster goal’ to tie Game 4 vs.

Hurricanes Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 06.06.2021

By Mari Faiello

Published Earlier today

Updated Earlier today

TAMPA — Tyler Johnson is well-acquainted with Hurricanes goaltender Petr Mrazek. The two saw each other plenty in the 2014-15 postseason, when the Lightning met the Red Wings in the opening round.

Johnson scored six times on Mrazek during that series, and the Tampa Bay forward has found the net another seven times against Mrazek during the regular season.

Johnson got the better of Mrazek yet again during Saturday’s Game 4, scoring the tying goal in the second period of the Lightning’s 6-4 win at Amalie Arena. Johnson’s first goal of the 2021 postseason was the second of four unanswered goals by Tampa Bay.

“To finally score one is good,” Johnson said. “We’re just trying to do whatever we can to help the team here.”

With Tampa Bay trailing 4-3 with 2:50 remaining in the period, defenseman Victor Hedman forwarded the puck to Pat Maroon at center ice. Maroon shuffled the puck to Ross Colton on his left.

The rookie forward took three strides before threading a pass through four Carolina players to Johnson on the right. The puck bounced off the toe of Johnson’s stick, putting it in place for a wrister from the top of the right circle.

The puck bounced off the top of the crossbar in the right corner and landed behind Mrazek to tie the score at 4.

“I just try to play a role, try to help out as much as possible, and being down two there, we needed to kind of settle down,” Johnson said. “We get the next one and then the other one, so it just feels good to be able to contribute.”

Jon Cooper went further. Johnson scored a “monster goal,” the coach said, adding to what Cooper considered an “exceptional” postseason run (one goal, one assist) for the veteran forward.

“To be honest, he’s probably had a better playoffs than he had last year (four goals, three assists),” Cooper said. “He’d be the first to tell you that. But his goal was a monster goal, and if there’s one guy that’s faced Mrazek a lot in his career in the playoffs, it’s Tyler Johnson. And he’s scored some huge goals against him in big moments and none other than the one he scored tonight. It was a big goal for us to crawl back into this.”

Cooper’s right. As part of the “Triplets” line with Ondrej Palat and Nikita Kucherov, Johnson was a big part of the 2014-15 playoff run that ended with a six-game loss to the Blackhawks in the Stanley Cup final.

Johnson is no longer the 29-goal-scorer he was that year or in 2018-19. He’s playing a more diminished role on the team’s fourth line with Colton and Maroon.

The Tampa Bay Lightning hope to stop the Carolina Hurricanes who seek to even the Stanley Cup Second Round series after defeating Tampa Bay 3-2 in overtime in Game 3 on Thursday. Tampa Bay leads the best-of-7 series, 2-1.

But as his teammates will be the first to say, while his lines may have changed, his work ethic and tenacity have not.

“Not a lot of people see what goes on behind the scenes, especially this year with how tough it has been for Johnny, with all those (trade) rumors and everything happening, the waivers,” Steven Stamkos said. “He just comes to the rink and he puts in the work, and he’s been a huge part of this team for a really long time.

“ ... You give all the credit to him, because he’s going out there and doing whatever it takes to help our team win, and that attitude is contagious in 1215229 Tampa Bay Lightning Vasilevskiy saves Aho shorthanded chance from the left circle Hakanpaa blocks Stamkos shot from the left circle

Carolina kills the penalty Second round: Lightning-Hurricanes Game 4 live updates HURRICANES GOAL: Teuvo Teravainen scores on a quick shot from

between the hashmarks off a feed from below the goal line from Jordan By Frank Pastor Staal. Lightning 1, Hurricanes 1.

Published Yesterday HURRICANES GOAL: Jesper Fast beats Jan Rutta to a puck in front of the net and sweeps it past Vasilevskiy. It’s the second Carolina goal in 39 Updated Yesterday seconds. Hurricanes 2, Lightning 1.

David Savard penalized for tripping Warren Foegele, and the Hurricanes get their first power play Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov scored two goals apiece and the Lightning rallied from a two-goal, second-period deficit to defeat the Barclay Goodrow strips the puck from Aho behind the Hurricanes net Hurricanes 6-4 in Game 4 of their second-round series Saturday at Amalie Arena in Tampa. Sergachev hits Aho, and the Lightning clear the puck out of the zone

With 14,000 fans cheering it on, Tampa Bay took a commanding three- Killorn slides the puck back out of the zone games-to-one lead with a chance to clinch when the series returns to Goodrow pass just eludes Coleman’s stick on a shorthanded 2-on-1 rush Raleigh, N.C., for Game 5 Tuesday at PNC Arena. Lightning kill the penalty After combining for a total of 11 goals in the first three games of the series, the Lightning and Hurricanes erupted for 10, including eight in the Goodrow blocks Bean shot from in front second period. Rutta down after hit along the boards. Jordan Martinook called for After falling behind 4-2 in the second period, the Lightning stormed back boarding with three power-play goals, including two by Stamkos. Kucherov had the other. Tyler Johnson also scored in the period. Kucherov whiffs on chance from the doorstep after cross-crease feed from Point Brayden Point opened the scoring in the first, and Kucherov scored his second goal early in the third. LIGHTNING GOAL! Stamkos scores into an empty net after Mrazek can’t hold onto Point shot from the slot and Killorn rebound chance goes off The Hurricanes’ Teuvo Teravainen and Jesper Fast scored 39 seconds the crossbar over to Stamkos in the left circle. 10:06 left in the period. apart in the second to give Carolina a brief 2-1 lead. Dougie Hamilton Lightning 2, Hurricanes 2. and Jaccob Slavin added goals in the period for the ‘Canes. HURRICANES GOAL: Dougie Hamilton beats Vasilevskiy over the right Defenseman David Savard was back in the Lightning lineup after missing shoulder with a shot from the point. Hurricanes 3, Lightning 2 the first three games of the series with an upper-body injury. HURRICANES GOAL: Jaccob Slavin scores on an impossible-angle shot Here’s how it happened: from the left side boards. Fourth goal allowed by Vasilevskiy on 17 shots. Hurricanes 4, Lightning 2. Third period Jake Bean penalized for holding Barclay Goodrow David Savard penalized for interfering with Jordan Martinook Mrazek saves quick shot from Kucherov after faceoff win Blake Coleman shoots wide of the net shorthanded from the slot after a drop pass from Barclay Goodrow LIGHTNING GOAL! Kucherov scores on the power play. 5:22 left in the period. Hurricanes 4, Lightning 3 Goodrow clears the puck out of the Lightning zone LIGHTNING GOAL: Tyler Johnson scores from above the right circle. Tampa Bay kills the penalty Lightning 4, Hurricanes 4. Palat shoots wide of the net on a 2-on-1 Mrazek stones Palat on a breakaway LIGHTNING GOAL! Kucherov scores his second goal of the game from LIGHTNING GOAL! Stamkos scores a power-play goal from the lower the slot after a feed from Palat on a breakaway. Lightning 6, Hurricanes left circle after a cross-ice feed from Kucherov. Lightning 5, Hurricanes 4. 4. First period Killorn misses wide of the net from the right circle Warren Foegele and Blake Coleman are sent to the penalty box for Hurricanes pull Mrazek for an extra attacker with more than two minutes unsportsmanlike conduct even before the opening puck drop, so we’ll remaining start with 4-on-4 play for two minutes Fast tip from in front goes wide of the net Victor Hedman jumps into the play, but Brett Pesce dives and deflects his Vasilevskiy covers with McGinn looking for a rebound. Sergachev shot from the left circle responds with a glove to McGinn’s fast Ryan McDonagh shot from the point doesn’t get through to the net Vasilevskiy saves Necas shot off the rush from the right circle, as well as Mrazek saves Hedman shot from the high slot Aho’s rebound attempt from in close The 4-on-4 expires Goodrow beats two Hurricanes down the ice and kills some time behind the Carolina net Nikita Kucherov slow to get up after getting hit in the helmet by a high stick from Brady Skjei. Skejei goes to the box but then exits as no penalty Lorentz shot blocked, and Vasilevskiy swallows his backhand followup was called on the play. Jon Cooper is not happy. attempt Andrei Svechnikov misses wide from between the circles after a Slavin backhander blocked by Hedman McDonagh turnover in the Lightning zone Second period Andrei Vasilevskiy catches Teuvo Teravainen shot from the right circle Heavy Dougie Hamilton shot from the right circle saved by Vasilevskiy with traffic in front

Brayden Point tripped behind the net by Andrei Svechnikov, and the Jake Bean thwarts Anthony Cirelli wraparound attempt Lightning get their third power play Mrazek stops Barclay Goodrow shot off the rush after cross-ice pass from Yanni Gourde Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 06.06.2021 Pesce shot from right point misses wide

Alex Killorn shoots wide from the left circle

Wraparound chance by Kucherov and backhander by Brayden Point won’t go

Jordan Staal penalized for hooking Barclay Goodrow, and the Lightning get their first power play

Brayden Point has a chance on a backhander during a scrum in front of the net after a Victor Hedman shot from the point, but Pesce forces the puck wide

Sebastian Aho clears the puck

Mrazek stops sneaky low shot from Kucherov with a skate save

Hurricanes kill the penalty

A diving Ross Colton breaks up a scoring chance for Brock McGinn, who broke in all alone on Vasilevskiy

LIGHTNING GOAL! Brayden Point taps in Ondrej Palat pass from the left circle to the edge of the crease with 5:36 left in the period. Lightning 1, Hurricanes 0.

Point draws a hooking penalty from Svechnikov after a nice pass from Kucherov into the slot

Teravainen clears the puck out of the zone after a misfire from Kucherov

Aho gets a clear

Another Carolina clear

Ditto

And, yet another clear

Mrazek saves Sergachev shot from long range, and Carolina kills the penalty

Goodrow backhander goes wide of the net

It’s funny how hockey works sometimes.

With so few goals scored and such a slim margin for error, the team that controls play for the majority of a game doesn’t always win. Conversely, a team can be outplayed but still pull out a victory with an opportunistic goal.

Which is why, as Lightning coach Jon Cooper so often points out, it’s important to trust the process. The playoffs are a “big damn roller coaster,” he said after the Lightning’s overtime loss Thursday in Game 3. You can’t get too high with the highs or too low with the lows.

Play an honest, 200-foot game for 60 minutes, make smart decisions with the puck and fulfill your defensive responsibilities, and more often than not, things will work out in your favor. It’s a formula Tampa Bay rode all the way to a Stanley Cup championship last season.

Which is why Lightning fans should feel good about their team’s chances tonight in Game 4 at Amalie Arena. Despite losing for the first time in the series two nights ago, Tampa Bay players, to a man, said they were pleased with their game, which was their best to that point in the series.

They competed hard, increased their time in the Carolina zone, got their defensemen — particularly Victor Hedman and Jan Rutta — involved offensively, and reignited their power play, converting two of three chances with the man advantage.

If they do the same things tonight, chances are they’ll return to Raleigh, N.C., for Game 5 on Tuesday leading the series 3-1. Of course, it also might help if they improve in the faceoff circle and do a better job of staying out of the penalty box.

Lightning defenseman David Savard, who missed the first three games of the series with an upper-body injury, skated during pregame warmups, paired with Mikhail Sergachev.

The Hurricanes are sticking with Game 3 starter Petr Mrazek in goal, as the veteran stopped 35 of 37 shots on Thursday, including 14 in the third period and overtime. Second-line wing Warren Foegele is back in the Carolina lineup, but forward Vincent Trocheck remains out. 1215230 Tampa Bay Lightning

Lightning see room for improvement in faceoff circle

By Mari Faiello

Published Yesterday

Updated Yesterday

TAMPA — As he did in the first two games of the second-round playoff series, Lightning center Yanni Gourde lined up opposite Hurricanes counterpart Jordan Staal at center ice to begin Thursday night’s Game 3 at Amalie Arena.

And just as in the previous two in Raleigh, N.C., Staal got the better of Gourde, giving Carolina possession of the puck to start the game.

Through the first three games of the series, the Hurricanes have won 54 percent of the faceoffs, including 57 percent (30 of 53) in their 3-2 overtime win in Game 3. They’ve been consistently dominant, winning at least 52 percent in each game.

“It does add up in terms of possession time, but especially (defensive)- zone, offensive-zone faceoffs are important either in creating offense or getting the puck out of your zone,” Lightning assistant coach Jeff Halpern said. “It’s something that we talk about with each individual guy.”

Gourde led the Lightning with 316 faceoff wins during the regular season. Among Tampa Bay skaters with at least 30 games played, Steven Stamkos had the best win percentage, 57.2 (238 of 416).

Stamkos’ productivity in the faceoff circle was a big reason the Lightning feared his absence after he hunched over in discomfort in a noncontact situation in the third period of a win April 8 at Columbus. Stamkos missed the final 16 games of the regular season with a lower-body injury.

“There’s no doubt it’s a concern, and our centers, they’ve got to dig in,” coach Jon Cooper said at the time. “And not every faceoff is won completely clean. It’s on our wingers, as well. A little bit of our faceoff intensity has got to pick up.”

An overtime goal by Jordan Staal gave the Hurricanes a 3-2 win over the Lightning in Game 3 Thursday at Amalie Arena.

Staal ranked third in faceoff win percentage (60.64) this postseason entering Friday’s games, winning 39 of 64 meetings at the dot. Carolina had the fourth-best faceoff win percentage (52.2 percent) in the postseason; Tampa Bay ranked 11th (48.2 percent).

Staal’s faceoff wins have helped Carolina control the pace of games, something that became even more prominent Thursday. He won his first five faceoffs in the opening period before losing to Gourde in the Hurricanes zone with 7:50 remaining in the period, the Lightning’s first faceoff win after eight losses.

It’s an area the Lightning know they have to improve.

“Obviously you want to be starting with the puck more times than not,” center Anthony Cirelli said. “I think our centermen, I know myself, have to do a better job trying to come up with more wins.”

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 06.06.2021 1215231 Tampa Bay Lightning Especially with Kucherov. The Lightning’s franchise leader in career playoff goals and points — passing Hall of Famer Marty St. Louis — picked up where he left off after missing the entire regular season following hip surgery. Kucherov scored back-to-back goals in Game 1 of How the Lightning’s Nikita Kucherov took over Game 4 and shifted the the series against the Panthers — his first game in eight months — to dig series: ‘He was just a beast’ Tampa Bay out of a deficit in an eventual 5-4 win (beating his own record with 11 points in a series). Panthers coach Joel Quenneville said

Kucherov is the kind of dynamic player who can “change the complexion By Joe Smith of a series.” And Kucherov has now done it twice.

Alex Killorn pointed to all the small plays Kucherov made in his own end in the third period when Tampa Bay shut it down, which is reminiscent of The moment Nikita Kucherov took over Saturday’s crazy Game 4 wasn’t how the Russian winger evolved into a bigger leader in last year’s on any timely goal or slick assist. playoffs.

It came when Kucherov got knocked on his rear. “Kuch is a special player, it’s amazing to see what he’s doing with the time he had off all season,” Killorn said. “It seems like he hasn’t lost a Kucherov, 27, is an emotional, intensely competitive player. It’s partly step. He’s doing everything the right way and guys are following him, for what makes the Lightning winger one of the best talents in the world, a sure.” game-changing force. When Kucherov is engaged, he’s nearly impossible to stop. When he’s frustrated, he can blow his top. And you Kucherov’s first goal Saturday came two minutes after Slavin’s. It was a have to imagine how much Kucherov was stewing having to watch the wrist shot on the power play from the top of the right circle — Kucherov’s ending of Thursday’s overtime loss to Carolina from the penalty box. He “office.” It’s the spot where Kucherov takes dozens of shots before and had taken an offensive-zone holding-the-stick penalty, a big no-no in that after practice and in warmups (not to mention the hundreds of shots he type of moment. took a day on the synthetic ice surface in his garage during his rehab).

But with the Lightning losing control of Saturday’s game, and potentially But the dagger by Kucherov came six minutes into the third. He joined a the series, it was how Kucherov kept his cool — then put his team on his rush as a trailer with Ondrej Palat, then ripped a quick snapshot one- back — that could become a turning point in another Stanley Cup run. timer that fooled goaltender Peter Mrazek.

With just under seven minutes remaining in the second period, the “I tried to catch him off guard,” Kucherov said. “I don’t think any goalie is Hurricanes had taken a 4-2 lead. The 13,000-plus at Amalie Arena were expecting that shot coming from that far. I knew it’d take him a little while silenced, maybe a bit freaked out. Defenseman Jaccob Slavin just beat to get on the left side, and I was trying to surprise him and see what Andrei Vasilevskiy with a weird-angled shot. On the next shift, Slavin and happens. It was a nice pass. It was not where I wanted my shot, going Kucherov raced for the puck near the Carolina blue line. It was then five-hole. I wanted to go high. My glove slipped, but I’ll take it.” when Slavin grabbed Kucherov and slammed him to the ice. What Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour — a Cup champion as a player What did Kucherov do? He didn’t slam his stick against the boards. He — admires about Kucherov is how he’s always thinking one or two plays didn’t race after Slavin and retaliate with a slash to the back of the legs. ahead. “With the super-elite guys, the skill set is obvious,” Brind’Amour The 2019 Hart Trophy winner picked himself up, slid into the slot and said. “They know where the puck is going before they get it, they know called for the puck. when it’s on their stick where to go, they’re baiting a guy over here. It’s the stuff that you can’t teach. It’s a special, special talent. The great ones The next thing Kucherov hit was the post. all have it.” The Hurricanes weren’t so lucky after that, as Kucherov scored the first Kucherov has an elite hockey IQ, which is what makes the rest of his of his two goals on the ensuing power play. He set up Steven Stamkos skills that much more dangerous. Even his idols have for the go-ahead goal on another man advantage. And he sealed the marveled at Kucherov’s game. Lightning founder Phil Esposito, a Hall of game with a wicked wrist shot off the rush six minutes into the third. The Famer and one of the league’s all-time goal scorers, once told me he 6-4 win gave the Lightning a 3-1 series lead heading into Game 5 on wished he “had three-quarters or half the talent that Kucherov has when I Tuesday in Raleigh, N.C. was playing.” “He might have taken the game over,” Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper “(Kucherov) can be so dominant, it’s insane,” Esposito said. “He could be said. “He got hit by one of their guys, and he channeled all his energy the as dominant as Sidney Crosby. Or (Connor) McDavid. He can be as right way. He was just a beast out there. He was making the plays all dominant as that. When they are, they make the other guys around them over the place. I thought he might have been the best player on the ice. a lot better. But (Kucherov) is our guy. He’s our Phil Esposito. He’s our When Kuch is doing some of the things he did tonight, he’s borderline Guy LaFleur with the Canadiens.” unstoppable. On Saturday, Kucherov didn’t have to be the Lightning’s Esposito or “It was great to see him do what he did tonight, because we definitely LaFleur. needed him.” Just being himself was more than enough to change the game — and As has been the case in the rest of the playoffs, the Lightning weren’t a maybe the series. one-man show. The penalty kill, led by Barclay Goodrow and Blake Coleman, came up big on a few occasions. Tyler Johnson, put on waivers twice in the offseason and now on the fourth line, added another memorable playoff moment with the tying goal late in the second period. The Athletic LOADED: 06.06.2021 “He’s been exceptional,” Cooper said. Stamkos, making up for lost time after playing just three minutes in last year’s Cup run, scored twice, giving him five goals in the playoffs.

But when the second period quickly turned into a hot mess, with eight combined goals (seven on 17 shots), it was the Lightning’s stars who helped them escape a potentially damning loss.

“It was a damn circus out there,” Cooper said. “But definitely no refunds after that one. Take your coach’s hat off, it was one hell of an entertaining second period.”

When the Lightning were down two goals midway through the second period, their championship mettle really showed.

“Nothing is really going to surprise this group,” Stamkos said. “At this time of year, you check your ego at the door. You need your top players to play really well, and we’ve seen that time and time again.” 1215232 Toronto Maple Leafs chasing games early — and grew more comfortable in low-scoring, grinding games.

The model for patience and success is the reigning champion Tampa It’s tempting to say ‘blow up the Leafs,’ but patience is the smarter play Bay Lightning. There have certainly been ebbs and flows. It’s important to understand how it happened, and that there has been significant pain along the way. Key points to consider on the current Lightning roster:

By Dave Poulin Contributing Columnist Their longest standing player, Alex Killorn, was drafted in the third round in 2007. Sat., June 5, 2021 Steven Stamkos (first overall in 2008) and Victor Hedman (second in

2009) set the foundation. Patience is a word that no true sports fan wants to hear. It defies what Each year since then, at least one key player has been added through being a fan represents. the draft, including home runs on Nikita Kucherov (second round), Ondrej Sports at the professional level is all about winning. Now. Not tomorrow, Palat (seventh round) and both Brayden Point and Anthony Cirelli not next season and certainly not three seasons from now. When winning (successive third rounds). doesn’t happen, change is demanded, as it is now in Toronto after the Elite goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy was a first-round pick, albeit Tampa’s Maple Leafs’ early playoff exit. second choice in 2012 after selecting blueliner Slater Koekkoek. It may seem unusual that a member of the former regime would think the A very stable owner in Jeff Vinik settled into his chair in 2010, followed current management group should be given more time. But as the former shortly after by the management team led by Steve Yzerman and current vice-president of hockey operations for the Leafs and general manager of GM Julien BriseBois. Even after Yzerman’s departure in 2018, the the Toronto Marlies, I think exactly that. BriseBois succession plan continued on course. Coach Jon Cooper has The only way for the Leafs to take the next step is to be patient. The been in place since 2012. enormous task of winning needs time. Changes could have been justified several times along the way — after Of the many technical questions I was asked in my management role, missing the playoffs in 2012, 2013 and 2017, and first-round upsets in proper time allowed was always part of my answer. 2014 and 2019. Pieces were added, others subtracted and creativity was at the forefront. Patience prevailed and was rewarded with the ultimate It’s clear that management is siding with the core four of Auston prize in 2020. Matthews, Mitch Marner, John Tavares and William Nylander. Mega- dollar contracts at multi-year terms are partnerships, and these have Only time will tell if the proper amount of time was allowed for the been forged. They are the foundation. success of this current rendition of the Leafs.

The timing of their contracts relative to the pandemic and flat salary cap isn’t changing, so effective ways to build around them must be found. Toronto Star LOADED: 06.06.2021 From a contractual standpoint, Jake Muzzin and T.J. Brodie should also be considered core players moving forward.

Goaltending: It has to be solidified for the team to be successful. Jack Campbell was a great story this year, and it appears he’ll be part of a two-goaltender system. If Freddie Andersen proves too costly for the internal budget, then the Seattle Kraken could provide a solution. It was through the expansion draft that the Vegas Golden Knights were able to lock in Marc-André Fleury as the cornerstone of their rapid success. No team will have better access to the extended goalie market than Seattle through this summer’s expansion draft. They will essentially have every team’s second goalie available to them. The Leafs should explore a trade scenario.

Morgan Rielly: The top defenceman has one year left on his contract, and this cannot become a distraction as the season progresses. He will certainly be seeking a substantial raise, and the question again will be budgetary fit. If early talks indicate that a fit is too challenging, then options to move him should be explored. He offers everything — both on and off the ice — that an organization covets and would bring a significant return. Of course, he brings those same positive qualities to the Leafs, but the support of the core four may simply not mesh with keeping Rielly.

The Maple Leafs and their fans were shaken by a Game 7 loss to the Canadiens, but staying the course still makes the most sense, Dave Poulin writes.

Zach Hyman: The third priority is essentially out of the Leafs’ control. Hyman’s entering unrestricted free agency. The forward falls behind Rielly in terms of importance simply because of the position he plays. Speculation is that he would be willing to accept a team-friendly deal, but that could be no more than fan-driven hope for the Toronto native’s return. He’s an important part of the core’s success, but every pro athlete takes pride in being compensated for his worth.

A number of other roster decisions remain, but starting with these three will enable a clearer picture on how the other pieces fit.

This year’s team was the best in several years on paper. Many of the questions after recent disappointments had been seemingly answered, and yet it didn’t work.

It doesn’t always translate from paper to ice, and lessons were learned. They played better team defence, were more patient — rather than 1215233 Toronto Maple Leafs Compounding the issue is the status of unrestricted free-agent Zach Hyman, who will need a substantial raise from $2.25 million to stay. The forward would easily get $5 million on the open market, if not more. There aren’t a lot of players like him, much less free agents. He might Fixing the Leafs: Why trading Morgan Rielly should be on the table. And give the Leafs a hometown discount, with a long-term deal and no- what if Mitch Marner is their DeMar DeRozan? movement clause.

To sign Hyman at around $5 million would mean saying goodbye to goaltender Frederik Andersen, who earned $5 million last year and will By Kevin McGran Staff Reporter come close to that as a free agent. But the Leafs will still need a veteran Sat., June 5, 2021 goalie to share duties with Jack Campbell, and will have to pay at least $2 million for a decent one.

So the $7.25 million in cap space created by the free-agent status of Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results Hyman and Andersen could easily go to ... Hyman and another goalie. is the definition of insanity. Budget buys Yet Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan and general manager Kyle Dubas plan to bring back essentially the same team — certainly the That would leave $5.25 million for three forwards (but probably four) and same core — that has disappointed fans in the playoffs for five years one defenceman (but probably two) — an average of $875,000 to $1.3 now. They’re expecting different results. million per signing.

Sure, sports can be quirky: a bounce here, an injury there and things Funny, that’s just about what they paid forwards Jason Spezza might be different. And maybe if John Tavares had remained healthy ($700,000), Joe Thornton ($700,000), Alex Galchenyuk ($1.05 million) we’d be having a different conversation. and Wayne Simmonds ($1.5 million), and defencemen Travis Dermott ($874,125) and Zach Bogosian ($1 million). But if fan patience is wearing thin — and the evidence suggests that it is — then ownership’s patience has to be just as thin. Owners are fans with Spezza will probably return at the team-friendly minimum, which rises to money and power. $750,000 next season. If anyone else from that group wants more money, it won’t be from the Leafs. Dermott has arbitration rights as a Certainly the Rogers side, with playoff broadcast rights, wanted this team restricted free agent, though he may end up in Seattle via the expansion to go much further and would like to see some big “additions.” The Bell draft. side might not care quite as much about the post-season and wouldn’t stand in the way of “subtractions.” Feeding the Kraken

The power broker in the middle is Larry Tanenbaum. Word is, he’s The Seattle Kraken will take a player, and a salary, off the Leafs roster. frustrated. The Leafs have two choices: protect seven forwards, three defencemen and a goalie, or any eight skaters and a goalie. The second option is The Toronto Raptors shook their foundation a few years back, trading a designed for teams that value protecting more than three defencemen. core player in DeMar DeRozan and landing — if only for one year — Kawhi Leonard, who proved to be the missing piece that took a good They’d protect Campbell, the core four forwards, Morgan Rielly, T.J. team to a championship. Brodie and Jake Muzzin. Then they’d have to decide if they want to keep forwards Alex Kerfoot, Pierre Engvall and Adam Brooks — which would Years before, the Blue Jays would never have won the World Series send them down the road of 7-3-1 — more than blueliner Justin Holl, or without Roberto Alomar and Joe Carter, though it cost them core players perhaps Dermott. (Ilya Mikheyev, Rasmus Sandin and unrestricted free in Tony Fernandez and Fred McGriff. agents are exempt).

These Leafs say they will have none of that. If they were to lose Kerfoot, they’d have another $3.5 million in cap space, but would probably use it to find another third-line centre. Holl Shanahan and Dubas made it clear on Wednesday that they are represents $2 million in space, but it’d be hard to replace a big, right- doubling down on the plan that got them here. At this point — seven handed defenceman. years into the Shanaplan — they are betting their futures, their reputations and quite likely their jobs on the core of Auston Matthews, Trading Rielly Mitch Marner, John Tavares and William Nylander. If Dubas insists on keeping his core together, the salary situation is dire. With one year left on his contract at $5 million (U.S.) and a logical What about moving Rielly? He has one year left on a contract that pays successor in house, trading veteran defenceman Morgan Rielly for youth $5 million. He had a terrific post-season, but was really nothing special in and salary relief could be the way to go for the Leafs in the off-season, the regular season. Kevin McGran writes. If the Leafs’ faith in Sandin is real, then the rookie could take over Rielly’s Here’s a closer look at the roster issues Dubas faces, and some role, protected by Brodie. Sandin is primarily an offensive threat, so he solutions that might require breaking his word. plays five-on-five and the power play.

On the money DON'T MISS THE LATEST FROM THE STAR

The GM’s biggest issue is salary-cap space. In his defence, had the The return for Rielly would be solid. The Leafs traded forward Kasperi pandemic never struck, the cap would have risen by at least $5 million Kapanen to Pittsburgh for a first-round draft pick and a highly regarded (U.S.) by now, plenty to sign better support players than those who could prospect (Filip Hallander). Rielly would fetch at least that much, and the only come in at the NHL’s minimum wage. added cap room would help them round out their bottom six forwards with a couple of players at $2 million to $3 million rather than the league By refusing to consider moving any of his core four, he is essentially minimum. committed to coming back with the same roster. Maybe not the same players, but the same types of players. Trading Marner

With eight forwards, five defencemen and one goalie from the playoff run Here’s where it gets tricky. They’ve said they won’t do it. But didn’t the under contract, plus the last year of ’s $1.2-million salary Raptors say they wouldn’t trade DeRozan, like, just days before they did? retention, the Leafs have already spent about $69 million of the $81.5- million cap. That leaves just $12.5 million for at least one defenceman As Shanahan said about his core four, any team would love to land (probably two), four forwards (probably five) and one goalie. Marner ($10.9 million). It would only work for the Leafs if it was talent for talent. (The money doesn’t have to be spent on free agents — prospects Nick Robertson and Timothy Liljegren, say, could be promoted — but the An ideal suitor would be the , who need a passer Leafs are in win-now mode and rookies don’t always help there.) to feed winger Patrik Laine and have a top defenceman in Seth Jones ($5.4-million average annual value) who wants out. Like Rielly, Jones Hyman and Andersen has a year left on his deal. He’s right-handed. Marner for Jones — who would need to agree to a long-term extension — would make the Leafs blue line bigger and tougher and hard to play against, which is the goal in the playoffs.

It would also strengthen the case to trade Rielly (see above) and balance the Leafs’ books. The core four wouldn’t all be forwards. It would be three forwards and a defenceman.

Marner for Buffalo centre Jack Eichel is another possibility. The Leafs would save about $1 million in cap space, but Eichel has a history of injuries. Either Matthews or Tavares would move to the wing in this scenario, which may also be a solution if Hyman leaves.

The Calgary Flames are another target, and the teams have a great history of franchise altering trades (Doug Gilmour, Dion Phaneuf).

How does Marner for Matthew Tkachuk sound? Or Johnny Gaudreau? Or some five-for-five deal with all three involved.

The Flames are in makeover mode. Tkachuk would make the Leafs’ top six tougher. (And imagine what it would do to the Battle of Ontario, with little brother Brady in Ottawa.)

And so ...

It appears that Dubas is stubborn and won’t change his approach. He wants to prove his way is right. Shanahan has faith in that.

They are both right in that you can probably pencil this lineup into the playoffs next year, even if they return to an Atlantic Division with Boston, Tampa and Montreal (all still alive), Florida (which made the post- season), an improved Ottawa team plus Buffalo and Detroit, who will eventually get better.

But stubborn belief has a way of creating blinders.

In the playoffs, the Leafs weren’t tough enough. They cowered from, or got worn down by, Montreal’s hits. They didn’t take the play to the net. (Tavares might have, if he’d been healthy.)

Sure, Dubas added some physical players, an admission that his team hadn’t been hard enough to play against, but they didn’t play that much.

Fearlessness can’t be measured, only witnessed. The physicality of a team ought to start at the top of the lineup. It’s not an add-on at the bottom. It’s a way of playing.

It’s not necessarily needed in the regular season, which is why an analytics-based team can be successful over a full schedule. That’s what talented players who are well-coached and prepared and play to a system can do. In the regular season.

So pencil them in for 50 goals from Matthews and 100 points for Marner.

And bring on the Boston Bruins in the playoffs in 2022, with Dubas’s and Shanahan’s jobs on the line.

Toronto Star LOADED: 06.06.2021 1215234 Toronto Maple Leafs

Leafs star Auston Matthews makes Lady Byng Trophy shortlist

By Star staff

Sat., June 5, 2021

Rocket Richard Trophy winner Auston Matthews is in the running for more NHL hardware.

The Maple Leafs centre, who led the league in goals with 41 and was recently named a finalist for the Ted Lindsay Award, is now also on the shortlist for the Lady Byng Trophy.

Matthews, Carolina’s Jaccob Slavin and Minnesota’s Jared Spurgeon were announced as finalists on Saturday. The award, voted on by hockey writers, recognizes a combination of sportsmanship, gentlemanly conduct and skill. Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon won last season.

Award winners will be announced late in the Stanley Cup playoffs, the league said Saturday. Alexander Mogilny was the last Leaf to win the Lady Byng, in the 2002-03 season.

Matthews was assessed five minor penalties in 52 games this season, and has a total of 56 penalty minutes in his five-season career.

Toronto Star LOADED: 06.06.2021 1215235 Toronto Maple Leafs

Badda-Byng! Leafs' Matthews named trophy finalist

Lance Hornby

Publishing date: Jun 05, 2021

Playoff success didn’t come to Auston Matthews, but more trophy recognition has.

Toronto’s league-leading scorer, winner of the Rocket Richard Trophy with 41 goals, was named Saturday morning as a finalist for the Lady Byng, awarded for exemplary sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard pf play.

The other two finalists are defencemen Jacob Slavin of the Carolina Hurricanes and Jared Spurgeon of the Minnesota Wild. The Byng Trophy is voted on by members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association.

Matthews’ goal total included a league-best 12 game-winners and a tie for fifth in scoring with 66 points. In 52 games games with a plus-21, he averaged 21:33 of ice time and was assessed just five minors. In five NHL seasons he’s yet to pass 60 career penalty minutes and never had more than 14 minutes in one year.

The Byng nomination is his second after being runner-up last season to Nathan MacKinnon of Colorado. Matthews could be the first Leaf to win it since Alexander Mogilny in 2002-03 and the seventh since 1925 after Gord Drillon, Syl Apps, Sid Smith, Red Kelly, Dave Keon and Mogilny. Smith and Keon won it twice.

Earlier this week, Matthews was named a finalist for the Ted Lindsay Award for league MVP as voted by the players, along with Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby.

Slavin was first for the division-leading Canes in ice time at 22:59 and had one minor in 52 games, often playing against top lines, which is a difficult clean sheet for a defenceman to maintain. He added 15 points and was plus-22.

Spurgeon led Wild blueliners with 25 points, was fourth in ice time at 22:05 and tookthree penalties in 54 games. Like Slavin, he’s a first-time finalist. A defenceman hasn’t won the Byng since Brian Campbell of Chicago in 2011-12.

The winner will be announced with other awards during the Stanley Cup final next month.

Toronto Sun LOADED: 06.06.2021 1215236 Vegas Golden Knights “MacKinnon is like a freak of nature, the type of skater he is. So powerful and explosive. That initial or second push, he’s gone at top speed. You see and it kind of wows you.”

Graney: Stephenson’s speed helps Knights counter MacKinnon There wasn’t much of a wow factor from MacKinnon on Friday, only the second time in these playoffs that he has been held without a point. But things can change in a blink, which is about the time it takes for Colorado to strike. By Ed Graney Las Vegas Review-Journal So while the Knights definitely need more scoring from their top line, June 5, 2021 - 3:50 PM shutting things down remains a primary goal. You need speed for that. Updated June 5, 2021 - 10:16 PM Stephenson has it.

It might not be of the wow variety, but it’s still plenty good.

The concept of speed in sports is as much urban legend as Walt Disney being cryogenically frozen. LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 06.06.2021 Don’t overthink it. Mickey Mouse’s father isn’t cooling off somewhere, and fast is fast.

There’s much of the latter in this Golden Knights-Colorado best-of-seven series. There’s also a top-line center not named Nathan MacKinnon who can fly.

Chandler Stephenson can get going, all right, as fine a skater through the middle of the ice as most anyone in the NHL. He’s a counter to the blur that is MacKinnon.

The Knights on Friday beat Colorado 3-2 and trimmed its West Division final series lead to 2-1. It was a victory created in large part by Stephenson’s line bottling up its MacKinnon-led opposition.

“If you ask anyone in the NHL, Boston’s first line and Colorado’s first line would be in the conversation for the best line in the world,” Knights coach Pete DeBoer said. “It’s a big ask. We’re asking Stephenson to play against MacKinnon and that group every single night and try to create offense for us at the same time.”

A sizable challenge

The teams meet for Game 4 on Sunday at what should be another frenzied T-Mobile Arena.

A leading objective for the Knights: Continue owning a keen awareness of MacKinnon and his linemates.

It’s a sizable challenge five-on-five, one Stephenson and Mark Stone and Max Pacioretty more than met in Game 3. But limiting chances at one end hasn’t resulted in them finishing at the other.

The trio has totaled just one goal (Pacioretty’s game-winner Friday) and three assists in the series. Much more is needed from those expected — and a few paid quite handsomely — to deliver.

“It would be nice to click and contribute five-on-five, for sure,” said Stephenson, still looking for his first point after three games while averaging nearly 20 minutes of ice time. “It seems like we’re doing everything except scoring. I think that will come. We’re not getting frustrated with it as a line. We’re getting our opportunities. It would be different if we weren’t.”

Stephenson signed a four-year contract extension in October with the team he helped defeat as a member of the Capitals in the Stanley Cup Final in 2018. His arrival in Las Vegas also meant an eventual ascension to the top line.

A third-round pick of Washington in 2012, he produced career highs in goals (14) and assists (35) this season.

Speed changes everything. Combine it with elite skill and you have a lethal pairing. It’s why MacKinnon teaming with Gabriel Landeskog and Mikko Rantanen can, as DeBoer suggested Saturday, put a fear in your belly if you should lose focus for just one shift.

Stephenson also is fast enough to generate such concern, if nothing else his ability to trail a play and blaze past slower defenders in search of Stone or Pacioretty. Playing fast is one thing. Playing fast alongside teammates adept at possessing the puck can translate to a completely different advantage.

The wow factor

“Ever since I fell in love with hockey, (speed) was a big part of my game,” Stephenson said. “Even now in summer training, I want to be quicker and maintain it as I get older. 1215237 Vegas Golden Knights LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 06.06.2021

Misfit Line comes through for Knights in West Division final

By David Schoen Las Vegas Review-Journal

June 5, 2021 - 3:29 PM

Much of the focus through three games of the West Division final has been on the matchup between the No. 1 lines of the Golden Knights and Avalanche, and rightfully so.

All the while, it’s the Misfit Line that’s provided most of the offense for the Knights.

The trio of William Karlsson, Jonathan Marchessault and Reilly Smith have benefited from the absence of suspended Colorado forward Nazem Kadri and helped keep the Knights in the best-of-seven series.

The Avalanche lead 2-1 in the battle between the top two teams in regular season with a pivotal Game 4 set for Sunday at T-Mobile Arena.

“Those guys have been here since day one,” Knights coach Pete DeBoer said. “And they’re not alone in that group, but that’s the identity of this franchise.”

Karlsson, Marchessault and Smith have been one of the league’s most productive lines the past four seasons and were branded the Misfit Line on social media after the “Golden Misfits” nickname associated with the inaugural team.

They’ve produced four of the Knights’ six goals in the series against Colorado, all at five-on-five and often at key times.

“Obviously, we believe in each other,” Marchessault said. “We’re never going to be satisfied until we actually win it all, and I think we have the team for that.”

Karlsson gave the Knights their first lead in the series when he deftly kicked the puck onto his stick to set up a backhand early in the second period of Game 3.

Marchessault scored his first goal in eight games during the third period Friday to tie the score at 2-2 with 5:18 remaining. He missed his first attempt from in tight but banked the puck off the back of Avalanche goalie Philipp Grubauer from behind the goal line.

“He’s one of the guys who helped build the culture of this team,” captain Mark Stone said of Marchessault. “That’s why you see us able to come back in these games. We could have easily folded the tents, backed off and gone down 0-3. He’s a big guy, big-time player.”

Smith set up Marchessault’s chance in Game 3 and also tallied the tying goal in Game 2 with a nifty move and finish around the net.

When they’re matched against the line centered by Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon, the Misfit Line hasn’t generated a shot attempt (13- 0) at five-on-five in three games, according to NaturalStatTrick.com.

But with the last change at home in Game 3, the Knights were able to get the Karlsson, Marchessault and Smith on the ice against Colorado’s middle six forwards more frequently.

Kadri, who normally centers Colorado’s second line, is serving an eight- game suspension for an illegal check to the head on St. Louis’ Justin Faulk during the first round and is ineligible until Game 7. He appealed to an independent arbitrator and is awaiting the ruling.

Overall in the series, Karlsson, Marchessault and Smith generated 61 percent of the expected goals at five-on-five and have two of their goals on four high-danger chances.

“The last couple games our whole team has taken a dip, but I’m confident those guys can get the job done,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. “But no question that we miss a guy like Naz in a series like this playing against a deep team with a deep group of forwards.

“It’s a tougher challenge than we’ve ever faced in Vegas being a top team and playing the right way.”

1215238 Vegas Golden Knights

Max Pacioretty rediscovering old form for Golden Knights

By Ben Gotz Las Vegas Review-Journal

June 5, 2021 - 12:36 PM

Max Pacioretty’s dramatic walk out for warmups before Game 7 against the Minnesota Wild is a moment many Golden Knights fans will remember forever.

Turns out, it was only the start to an impressive postseason. Pacioretty has jumped back into the lineup after missing 12 games (six regular season, six playoffs) and is picking up right where he left off.

That continued in Game 3 against the Colorado Avalanche on Friday. The left wing recorded his second game-winning goal in four games to lift the Knights to a 3-2 victory in front of the first capacity crowd of the NHL season.

“Truthfully, I really did enjoy it. I’m not just saying that because we came out on top,” Pacioretty said. “It’s just so much fun to play in front of fans, especially our fans. We’ve talked about so often how they’re able to help us take over a game. They stayed positive with us right to the very end.”

Coach Pete DeBoer said Game 3 was as “normal” as Pacioretty has looked since returning.

The 32-year-old scored in his first game back against Minnesota, but DeBoer said he was largely running on adrenaline. Pacioretty has had chances to skate and practice with his teammates since then and rediscover the form that led him to become a point-per-game player for the first time in his career this year.

Pacioretty has four points in four playoff games and has had numerous chances to get more than that. He had breakaways in Games 2 and 3 against the Avalanche but was turned aside by goaltender Philipp Grubauer both times.

“Since he’s been back, he’s been strong,” defenseman Nick Holden said. “He’s been obviously all year really good for us, but in the playoffs now it’s great to see him being able to score.”

Reaves eligible to return

Knights right wing Ryan Reaves is eligible to play in Game 4 on Sunday after serving a two-game suspension for roughing and unsportsmanlike conduct.

The team’s fourth line of left wing William Carrier, center Patrick Brown and right wing Keegan Kolesar has held up well in his absence. The Knights have a 24-7 edge in shot attempts when the trio has been on the ice at five-on-five the past two games.

“I just think we’re playing a real heavy, hard, north game,” DeBoer said. “Those guys, every time they’ve gone on the ice they’ve titled the ice for us that way.”

Knights using doubt

Colorado won the Presidents’ Trophy during the regular season and was a Stanley Cup favorite even before it went up 2-0 in the series.

The Knights always believed they could hang with the Avalanche after going 4-4 against them in the regular season. They proved they could with a strong effort in Game 2 and got back in the series with their Game 3 win.

“There wasn’t many people picking us at the start of the series, and a few that were on the raft I saw jumping with life jackets after Game 2,” DeBoer said. “We know what people are saying out there. I think we’re using that as fuel and motivation. We feel we can play with this team. I think we’ve proven that during the regular season. We’re proving it again right now.”

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 06.06.2021 1215239 Vegas Golden Knights five points in eight playoff games, the most among Knights defensemen and tied for fourth-most among skaters.

“Obviously, I wish I would have played more in the regular season,” Golden Knights’ top line outplays Colorado’s in Game 3 victory Holden said. “Didn’t. But it doesn’t matter now. We’re playing now in the playoffs. All that matters is winning and obviously fortunate to be in the lineup right now and just trying to make the most of it.”

By Ben Gotz Las Vegas Review-Journal 3. PK falls flat

June 5, 2021 - 7:00 am One thing the Knights will have to correct the rest of the series is their penalty kill.

Rantanen scored his second power-play goal in two games 5:04 into the The Golden Knights decided to match strength on strength in Game 3 of third period. The Avalanche are 5-for-13 on the power play in three their second-round playoff series against the Colorado Avalanche on games. Friday at T-Mobile Arena. That’s a problem for the Knights, who were the NHL’s No. 1 penalty- The Knights had last change at home and started their top line of left killing team in the regular season at 86.8 percent. wing Max Pacioretty, center Chandler Stephenson and right wing Mark Stone against the Avalanche’s No. 1 unit of left wing Gabriel Landeskog, center Nathan MacKinnon and right wing Mikko Rantanen. LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 06.06.2021 Colorado’s top line is one of the best in the NHL and had scored a combined 34 points in six playoff games entering Friday. But the Knights’ top guys won their matchup, and that was the key to the team’s 3-2 win.

The Knights trail the best-of-seven series 2-1. Game 4 is Sunday at T- Mobile Arena.

“They’re one of the best lines in the league for a reason,” Stone said. “But we see ourselves as one of the best lines in the league as well.”

Knights coach Pete DeBoer doesn’t typically match lines at home. He thinks the team is at its best when it’s rolling over its groups and getting into a four-line rhythm.

Still, Stephenson’s line played a lot against MacKinnon on Friday. Almost two-thirds of Stephenson’s and Pacioretty’s five-on-five ice time was spent against Colorado’s top group.

The Knights controlled play in those minutes. They had an 11-4 edge in scoring chances when Stephenson and MacKinnon shared the ice at five-on-five, according to the website NaturalStatTrick.com.

The Knights also scored the game-winning goal with both groups on the ice. Pacioretty tipped in a point shot from defenseman Nick Holden with 4:33 remaining.

“We want to make them defend, and it’s no secret that’s the way to play against top guys in the league,” Pacioretty said. “We want to try to play down in their end, have them waste some energy and make them stuck in their own end. It’s not going to be perfect every night. They’re a great line that’s had a lot of success, so we’ve just got to do the best we can every night.”

Here are three more takeaways from the win:

1. Comeback facts

Pacioretty scored one of two third-period goals for the Knights. The other came from left wing Jonathan Marchessault.

The two goals were notable for several reasons.

Pacioretty’s game-winner was the team’s latest go-ahead goal in regulation during a playoff game (55:27). The record previously belonged to left wing William Carrier in the 2020 round robin against Dallas (54:47).

The two goals, scored 45 seconds apart, are the third-closest tallies by the Knights in the postseason. James Neal and William Karlsson scored 21 seconds apart in their inaugural season, and Cody Eakin and Erik Haula struck 26 seconds apart the same year.

“When we scored those two quick goals in the third period, I don’t think I’ve played in a louder building when that happened,” Holden said. “Our rink, the entertainment value’s there, but our fans know how to bring it, and they definitely brought it today.”

2. Holden steps up again

Holden played 17 regular-season games and wasn’t in the lineup when the Knights started the postseason. He’s ended up being one of the team’s most important contributors.

Holden got the primary assist on Pacioretty’s go-ahead goal because it was his shot that was tipped into the net. The 34-year-old veteran has 1215240 Vegas Golden Knights The Golden Knights controlled possession throughout the vast majority of the game, outshooting Colorado an incredible 42-20. But despite their dominance in possession, they struggled to beat Philipp Grubauer and trailed 2-1 in the late moments of the third period. What an ‘electric’ full house means to the Golden Knights: Disco balls, rattling laptops and so much noise “They were huge in the third period for us, sticking with us and keeping the energy levels up,” coach Peter DeBoer said of the crowd. “It was awesome. It was nice to be back at home with a full house.”

By Jesse Granger Players credited the home crowd for helping them maintain their energy level throughout the struggles. Colorado coach Jared Bednar felt that Jun 5, 2021 was the difference in the game and said, “For five periods straight now, they’ve been far more competitive than we have. To dissect it any further is a waste of time. … The video doesn’t lie. They were more competitive It began with the traffic outside of the arena, with thousands of cars lined from start to finish. The adjustment for us now is to outwork our bumper to bumper, winding from the Las Vegas Strip through the Park opponent. They’re a competitive group and we have to crank it up, area around T-Mobile Arena. The swarms of fans sat patiently in their because it’s not close.” cars enduring the 107-degree temperature and they had never been happier to sit in the sweltering heat. The Golden Knights kept the pressure up until Jonathan Marchessault finally broke through with the game-tying goal, which he banked off It had been so long since T-Mobile Arena was at full capacity – 458 days, Grubauer’s back and into the net. to be exact – that the usual annoyances of attending a live sporting event weren’t bothersome at all. “Truthfully I really did enjoy it, and I’m not just saying because we came out on top,” Pacioretty said. “It’s just so much fun to play in front of fans, Eventually, those fans filed into the arena Friday night, and many especially our fans. We’ve talked about it so often how they’re able to cheered until their voices gave out. The Golden Knights completed a help us take over a game, and they stayed positive with us right to the thrilling comeback with two third-period goals in a span of 45 seconds to very end there.” hand the top-seeded Avalanche their first defeat of the postseason, 3-2 in Game 3 of this second-round series, and the players’ ears were ringing Pacioretty’s line rode the wave of momentum from Marchessault’s tying the entire time. goal, giving Vegas a 3-2 lead only 45 seconds later.

The roar of the crowd of 17,504 was enough to shake the building. My “The building was already loud from when Marchessault had scored,” laptop rattled on the press box ledge as I attempted to type after each of said Holden, who fired the shot that Pacioretty deflected into the net, the Golden Knights’ three goals. “and it got much, much louder.”

“Even watching it on TV, it made a huge difference and it finally felt like a Following his goal, Pacioretty was mobbed behind the net by linemates huge playoff game,” an editor messaged me after the game. Mark Stone and Chandler Stephenson.

It was an exceptionally well-played game by both clubs and ended in a “You get that third one and our ears start ringing,” Stone said. “You could dramatic fashion. Was it as cool for the players to experience on the ice feel the intensity and the momentum just shift our way. I think we had as it was for everyone watching? four and a half minutes to get through.”

“It was probably cooler,” Golden Knights defenseman Nick Holden said. Colorado offered plenty of pushback in those final four minutes, creating “To not have full-capacity fans all year, it’s just a different atmosphere. several dangerous chances in an attempt to tie the game. Golden When we came out of warmups and the start of the game, the building Knights goalie Marc-Andre Fleury wasn’t busy on Friday night, with only was loud and energetic. Obviously, when we scored those two goals 20 shots on goal, but he came up with multiple key stops in the waning quick in the third period, I don’t think I’ve played in a louder building.” moments.

The festivities during pregame warmups are finally back to normal in Las The most difficult of those stops came with 44 seconds remaining. Vegas, and will continue Sunday, when the Golden Knights attempt to Gabriel Landeskog found Mikko Rantanen all alone in the slot. Rantanen even the series in Game 4. That means club music blaring at full volume, gathered the puck and fired a hard, low shot that Fleury reacted to just in with bass loud enough to shake a beer off the counter. The fans time to make the stop. Two nights earlier, Rantanen got the better of welcomed the players to the ice, from the ones sitting rinkside, pounding Fleury, beating his glove side to win Game 2 for the Avalanche in on the plexiglass, to those high above in the Hyde Lounge, which is a overtime, but Fleury responded on Friday night. miniature nightclub hanging from the rafters of the building. “Obviously it was frustrating losing that Game 2 in overtime, so I had a Avalanche players were greeted by dancing Las Vegas showgirls along chance to redeem myself a bit there,” he said with a chuckle. “It was the glass on their side of the rink. The Vegas Belles, covered in close. He looked up like he was coming higher, then squeaked it five- glimmering gold sequins and feathers, danced until the last Colorado hole. I was lucky enough to go down quick enough to land on it, and it player went back into the visitors’ dressing room. was a good feeling.”

Vegas is known for its over-the-top pregame ceremonies. And while Fleury’s save sealed Vegas’ win – its first of the series – and sent the COVID-19 protocols prevent the usual on-ice sword fights that preceded crowd into a “Fleu-ry” chant that echoed throughout the concourse until games in past seasons, the arena entertainment staff still found a way to well after the game had ended. put on a show with disco balls hanging high above the ice scattering “Tonight was something else,” Fleury said. “After that big third goal we beams of light to simulate a blizzard, followed by a Golden Knight had, and to make a save and people cheer your name like that gives you character fighting it off with a flaming sword. goosebumps. I still get some now. So, it’s a lot of fun. That’s the reason “The entertainment value is there,” Holden said, “but our fans know how why playing this game can be so much fun.” to bring it and they definitely brought it today.”

The absence of fans over the last year has shown their importance to The Athletic LOADED: 06.06.2021 sports, and particularly to the big-game feel. The Vegas crowd’s reaction to every moment of action magnified the intensity and emotion of the game. The Avalanche are also playing in front of fans — a reduced- capacity maximum of 10,491 — and the atmosphere was very good considering Ball Arena was only 59 percent full, but nothing compared to a packed house.

“The place was electric,” said Max Pacioretty, who scored the game- winning goal late in the third period. “You could probably see and feel it up top, in the stands, though the TV. This is the best place to play, especially in the playoffs. It’s a lot of fun.” 1215241 Vegas Golden Knights In April, attendance was increased to 3,950 a game, or 22 percent of capacity.

Life was returning to the five-year-old sports and entertainment building How T-Mobile Arena Got Its VGK Fan Groove Back Thanks To off the Strip. Attendance That Went From 0 Jan 14 To 17,504 June 4 *

By May 7, VGK attendance in the arena had reached 7,567. June 5, 2021 And when the Knights hosted the first game of the Stanley Cup playoffs By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com on May 16, attendance hit 50 percent of capacity — 8,683. Perhaps you recall Minnesota defeating the Golden Knights, 1-0, in overtime on that Sunday.

The first home games for the Vegas Golden Knights in mid-January were The Golden Knights needed seven games to dispatch nemesis surreal when the NHL’s 56-game pandemic season began. By 7PM Minnesota. In Games 5 and 7 against the Wild, the Knights had 12,156 when the games started, darkness had enveloped the exterior of T- fans in the arena, or 70 percent of capacity. On May 28, the VGK Mobile Arena and there was not a soul in sight on the plaza leading to defeated Minnesota, 6-2, in Game 7 to clinch a playoff series for the first the venue. time at T-Mobile Arena.

In fact, metal barriers ran along the perimeter of the arena plaza. The * atmosphere outside the arena was more spooky and depressing than anything else, exhibiting the life existence of a nuclear winter. There was The Golden Knights moved on to play two games against the Colorado not a person to be seen except maybe another media member coming to Avalanche in Denver in a much-anticipated round two match-up between the game, or leaving the building. That’s a pandemic for you. the two teams with the most points during the abbreviated regular season. The VGK lost both and returned to T-Mobile Arena and a packed Inside the sports venue, there was not a single fan in any of the 17,367 house of 17,504 for Game 3 Friday. fixed seats for NHL games. Instead, just red and gold seat wraps draped on every single seat. When the Golden Knights pulled out a stirring 3-2 comeback win against Colorado thanks to two goals 45 seconds apart by Jonathan Not having fans didn’t stop the VGK game-production folks from cranking Marchessault and Max Pacioretty, the massive crowd at T-Mobile Arena up the volume (and base) for the in-game music, though. And arena erupted in a primal roar that rivaled the noise levels of any VGK home hosts March Shunock and Katie Marie Jones still did their pre-game game during the franchise’s four years at T-Mobile Arena. welcome-to-the-VGK-game schticks even without the fans because the mere traces of a game entertainment atmosphere could trigger Golden Game 4 is Sunday at 5:30PM Vegas time. Knights players to have that extra burst of energy on the ice to perhaps Expect another 17,500 insane fans in the building that was ghostly silent score that game-winning goal or block a shot. Hey, you never know. just outside its doors a mere five months ago. Such was the life of live Vegas Golden Knights games starting Jan. 14 and even in February as America struggled with a pandemic and started the march of vaccination shots across the nation. LVSportsBiz.com LOADED: 06.06.2021 On March 1, the Golden Knights welcomed the first fans back into the arena.

LVSportsBiz.com reported on all eight Las Vegas Raiders home games at Allegiant Stadium without fans in 2020.

And also we reported from all the Golden Knights home games in January and February without fans.

Our conclusion is that major league sports without fans are essentially high-powered, glorified, elite pick-up games with players who are the world’s best athletes competing in some of the planet’s nicest sports venues and wearing impressive uniforms. Sports with fans are a different entertainment genre. There’s a different mojo to the sports product when fans aren’t around in the venue.

The emotionality of the collective experience was missing.

You might as well play Strat-O-Matic or video games that simulate sports games.

The emotional juice was not there.

That all changed at T-Mobile Arena on March 1 when 2,605 fans showed up for a hockey game between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Minnesota Wild. The Knights defeated the Wild, 5-4, in overtime. (Talk about foreshadowing.)

For the first time in 363 days, there were human beings in those arena hockey seats.

There is no disputing the simple fact that as more and more Americans were vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus while still wearing face coverings, less and less Americans were dying from the novel coronavirus.

As vaccinations increased and COVID-19 cases dropped, stadiums and arenas opened their doors to more and more fans.

Drawing 2,605 fans per game (or 15 percent of capacity) in the month of March, the Golden Knights had permission from Clark County to host more fans as the months progressed. 1215242 Vegas Golden Knights everyone’s chanting your name… it gives you goosebumps. I’m still getting them now… that’s what makes playing this game so much fun.”

But I digress. Kingerski: 2-1 Deficit? No, This is Golden Knights’ Series to Win This was about the Golden Knights thumping Colorado. Again. Mercilessly dominating them. It’s about head coach Pete DeBoer, who has taken a couple of teams to the Stanley Cup Final, including the 2016 Published 13 hours ago on June 5, 2021 San Jose Sharks, outcoaching Jared Bednar.

By Dan Kingerski One tactical area in which Vegas has excelled is shutting down Colorado’s top line. Vegas has not played soft or allowed a gap at the

blue line. When teams give MacKinnon space, they also give him speed. Make no mistake, the Round Two clash of the titans between the Vegas Instead, the Golden Knights are hounding Colorado’s top line with Golden Knights and Colorado Avalanche has been anything but an epic Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen for 200 feet. clash. Forecheck, backcheck, paycheck. It’s been a beatdown. DeBoer is going top line vs. top line in his line matchups. Chandler In Game 1, when the Golden Knights were physically and emotionally Stephenson with Mark Stone and Pacioretty is playing tight to Colorado’s spent, Colorado pounded them 7-1. The speed gap was startling. top line. Of course, playing too tight can be dangerous because However, since that moment, since Ryan Reaves planted Ryan Graves MacKinnon’s speed can quickly make space or odd-man rushes and into the ice for hurting Mattias Janmark (you can judge the hockey scoring chances. morality of that), the Golden Knights have pounded Colorado from pillar to post. From forest to the fortress and top to bottom, the Vegas Golden But Nic Holden and Shea Theodore, who have primarily drawn the Knights have snowed over the Avalanche. matchup from the blue line, have been in position to help.

The scoreboard has been remarkably and deceivingly close. The play “You’re not going to completely eliminate them. They’re going to get their has not. chances. They’re one of the best lines in the league for a reason,” Stone said. “But we see ourselves as one of the best lines in the league, as VGK winger Mark Stone nor his compadres were happy about the well. Chandler’s speed has been a key for that…We’re trying to create O- slashing call to Reilly Smith, which led to Mikko Rantanen’s goal the Avs’ zone time, make them come 200 feet. Game 2 win in Denver. If you the puck over with MacKinnon–he’s gone, and it puts a ton of Sorry, it was a penalty. It wasn’t “soft,” as multiple Golden Knights pressure on your defense. I think Theodore back there, with Holden, players called it. It was a VGK mistake, just as Vezina finalist Marc-Andre have done a great job with gaps.” Fleury made a mistake on Friday night when he served an extra-large pizza into the slot for Carl Soderberg to clean up. That’s putting it mildly.

Only Golden Knights mistakes have kept Colorado in Games 2 and 3. Without Nazem Kadri, Colorado looks like a weak one-line team. A soft, weak, outmatched, one-line team. Our sister site in Colorado certainly Otherwise, Vegas has dominated this Games 2 and 3 like few playoff tore into the Avalanche performance. games I’ve ever seen. I covered Pittsburgh vs. New York, Games 5 two weeks ago. That game lasted 83 minutes, and the Pittsburgh Penguins The Vegas Golden Knights have outshot Colorado 74-32 over the last had approximately 70% of the scoring chances, hit a few posts, and lost. five regulation periods. That’s not just good. That’s ridiculous.

The Penguins dominated the following game, too, but they lost and were Mistakes happen. Series can change. But after the last 121 minutes, it done. Vegas was about six minutes from the same fate, but sometimes appears the winner will be determined by one team. the hockey gods get it right. Just like VGK overcame a 2-1 deficit in Game 3, they are well-positioned Vegas deserved Game 2. They took back Game 3 by refusing to lose. to overcame a 2-1 series deficit. They kept coming, coming, and coming until finally, not even Philipp Grubauer could stop them any longer. Deficit or not, the Round Two series is entirely VGK’s to win or lose.

“I think (Game 2) we played a great game and should have had a better outcome,” Jonathan Marchessault said. “We stuck with it. Obviously, Vegas Hockey Now LOADED: 06.06.2021 we’re down 2-1, but tonight, we were the better team.”

Just 45 seconds after Marchessault tied the game, Max Pacioretty deflected Nic Holden’s floating point-shot past Grubauer, and the Vegas crowd went bonkers. My coffee had ripples from the sound.

A 2-1 deficit became a 3-2 Golden Knights win.

“Once we were able to break through, you use that momentum that (the crowd) gives us,” Pacioretty said. “The place was electric. You probably see and feel it…This is the best place to play, and especially in the playoffs, it’s a lot of fun.”

Yeah, we could feel it.

This is my first go covering a Vegas Golden Knights home game. I covered Fleury in Pittsburgh for years, actually from his NHL debut to the 2017 Stanley Cup.

I’ve covered some of the biggest events in hockey. I’ve been in Nashville when the noise level was deafening, but only the old barn in Pittsburgh that used to shake from the crazies in the rafters compared to what I saw in Game 3 (actually, a sequined Elvis and a portly fellow who liked to take off his shirt and wave vigorously used to show up in Pittsburgh, too).

Certainly, none of the arenas built in the last 30 years have the personality or culture of Vegas.

“Tonight was something else,” said winning goalie Marc-Andre Fleury. “We scored that third goal, and then you make a big save, and 1215243 Vegas Golden Knights

Vegas Golden Knights Fans Rock T-Mobile in First 100% Capacity Game

Published 1 day ago on June 5, 2021

By Tom Callahan

T-Mobile Arena was deafening. The Vegas Golden Knights had just taken a 3-2 lead after Max Pacioretty’s deflection to cap a 45-second swing from down a goal to leading a critical Game Three against the Colorado Avalanche.

The sold-out crowd of 17,504 fans was on their feet, threatening to bring the roof down on the place.

“Our fans helped us believe it tonight,” said Pacioretty of the Golden Knights being able to come from behind and beat the Avalanche. “(We were) able to break the tie because Marchy (Jonathan Marchessault) broke the ice and then we got some momentum from the crowd.”

Marc-Andre Fleury has been the face of the franchise since Day One. He was once again tremendous in protecting that late lead for the Golden Knights, making several big saves in the final minutes to preserve the victory.

“Tonight was something else,” said Fleury. “We scored that third goal, and then you make a big save and everyone’s chanting your name… it gives you goosebumps. I’m still getting them now… that’s what makes playing this game so much fun.”

Fleury knew it was something special to have the building full for the first time in over a year. After warmups, he stayed on the ice just a little longer taking it all in, as if to etch it in his memory.

The place went nuts.

“It’s just so much fun to play in front of fans, especially our fans,” said Pacioretty “We’ve talked about so often how they’re able to help us take over a game. They stayed positive with us right until the very end. You use that momentum that they give us… the place was electric. This is the best place to play and especially in the playoffs it’s a lot of fun.”

It’s even more fun when you win, and the fans of the Vegas Golden Knights can head home knowing they had an assist on every goal tonight.

Vegas and Colorado square off in Game Four on Sunday afternoon at 5:30 PT. Colorado leads the best-of-seven series two games to one.

Vegas Hockey Now LOADED: 06.06.2021 1215244 Winnipeg Jets It’s still unknown if Jets veteran centre Paul Stastny will be able to play on Sunday and/or Monday, but he was on the flight to Montreal and there’s a possibility he’ll be in the lineup.

JETS SNAPSHOTS: Jets continue to preach patience as they try to dig Stastny is battling an undisclosed injury and, while he took the game-day out of hole against Canadiens skate on Friday, he was not able to go come game time.

Presumably he’ll do the same thing on Sunday and will try to go in Game 3. Ted Wyman With 20 seconds left in Game 2 on Friday, Phillip Danault of the Publishing date: Canadiens took a slap shot from the boards, directing it toward Winnipeg’s open net. Jun 05, 2021 With goalie Connor Hellebuyck on the bench for an extra attacker, it

should have been an easy goal, but Jets defenceman Neal Pionk dove How do you get back into a best-of-seven series against a team that is across the front of the net and blocked the shot. heading home with a 2-0 lead and has been beating you with stifling It was an example of the type of sacrifice players make in the playoffs defence and world-class goaltending? and it allowed the Jets to get one more chance to tie the game. Winger Surely there’s no simple answer, but it seems the Winnipeg Jets are Kyle Connor wound up getting a decent look at the other end with three taking a simple approach. seconds left, but was stopped by Price.

Before they flew to Montreal on Saturday for Games 3 and 4 of the NHL “It’s huge,” Lowry said of Pionk’s play. “We know what kind of guy he is North Division final on Sunday and Monday at the Bell Centre, the Jets — he’s willing to do anything to win. With 20 seconds left, he takes one players continued to preach patience. (goal) away and gives us a chance to at least go down there and try to tie the game. You saw it, Price had to make a save on KC with three Although Jets fans might be frustrated after their team lost 1-0 on Friday seconds left and that doesn’t happen if Neal doesn’t sacrifice his body. at home — with Carey Price posting a 30-save shutout — the players insist there’s a method to all that’s going on. “It’s one of those things where everyone is willing to do that. To see one of your all-stars jump in front of the puck, it makes it a little easier for the “It’s confidence in our game-plan, knowing that if we’re doing what rest of us to do it as well.” (coach Paul Maurice) is asking, and what we’ve been shown on video, to be successful, it’s going to come,” Jets centre Adam Lowry said. “It’s not Jets fans might be frustrated by how well Price is playing, but he showed going to happen every shift, you’re not going to create a chance every a wonderful human side while in Winnipeg for Games 1 and 2. shift, but if you continue to do it you’re going to start to get your chances, The 33-year-old star goalie from Anahim Lake, B.C., took time to stop you’re going to start being able to get to the net and get those second and talk to a residential school survivor outside a Winnipeg cathedral and third opportunities.” while on his way to the game on Friday night. The Canadiens have done a masterful job of using tight-checking Price’s mother was once chief of a First Nation in B.C., and his defence, active sticks and unrelenting speed to make it hard for the Jets grandmother went to a residential school. to so much as complete passes, let alone create scoring chances. CTV Winnipeg reported that Price gave Gerry Shingoose, a nine-year When they have found a split second to take a shot, Price has been survivor of a residential school in Saskatchewan, a warmup puck extremely sharp. commemorating the playoff series between the Jets and Canadiens. It’s hard to imagine these things changing from the Montreal side for the In return, Shingoose gave Price an orange ribbon and a tobacco tie. Her next two games, especially now that the Canadiens have last change group tied 215 orange ribbons near the cathedral this week as it awaited and can match their shutdown line and defence pairing against the Jets’ answers about the Catholic church’s role in residential schools. Last top scorers. month the bodies of 215 children were discovered buried on the grounds But there doesn’t seem to be any defeatist attitudes within the Jets’ of a residential school in Kamloops, B.C. locker room and frustration is not evident in their words. The tobacco tie was symbolic of a sacred fire that has been lit on the “We are confident in ourselves,” Jets winger Nikolaj Ehlers said. “We grounds of the Manitoba Legislative Building to honour the 215 children. know what it takes. We are playing our game. We are getting our chances and we are confident in our scoring ability. We are going to keep doing what we’re doing and it will be great.” Winnipeg Sun LOADED 06.06.2021 One thing the Jets have to do is get more bodies in front of Price to take away his eyes, although that’s more easily said than done.

“You know what, we have to give them some credit, they’ve got a real big back end,” Lowry said of the Montreal defence group. “They’re really big and strong and they do a great job of boxing guys out and pushing guys to the outside to let Price see the shots from the outside. It’s about moving in and out and trying to get body position and when you do have it, fighting to maintain it. It’s a challenge but you’ve got to be ready to battle.”

Another thing that would help would be scoring the first goal. The Jets have never led through the first two games of the series.

“I think that first goal, especially against a team like this, is crucial,” Jets centre Pierre-Luc Dubois said. “You’re never out of the fight, even if you’re down 2-0 in the game, but getting that first goal opens up the play a bit for them and it’s a team, as you saw (Friday), once they got that lead, they close down the middle of the ice and then they have a really good goalie.”

“If we can get that lead, if we can get the first goal, it definitely changes the rhythm of the game, changes the outlook of the game. A one-goal lead doesn’t mean anything until the game is over, but it can definitely help throughout the game, throughout the whole 60 minutes.” 1215245 Winnipeg Jets Yeah, what’s a little brain injury that doesn’t even leave you on life support?

I know a couple of Parcheesi players I wouldn’t want to mess with, Gary. Readers let Friesen have it for L'Affaire Scheifele “Hey Paul,” wrote Jen. “If hockey or the Jets don’t interest you, find another subject to write about! Let someone else cover the Jets. Or retire!” Paul Friesen Jen’s comment referred to the point in my column where I pointed out I Publishing date: Jun 05, 2021 wasn’t a Jets fan.

I told her having a Jets fan covering the team is a bit like having a member of a political party covering an election. It’s not ideal. The inbox hasn’t been humming like this since Jets captain Blake Wheeler hurled an F-bomb my way. I politely pointed her to where she could go for that kind of pom-pom coverage. Back then, the masses were rushing to my defence. “Thanks for your advice Paul…. Will take it under consideration! Go This time, not so much. Jets!” It seems readers are miffed with the fact I’m not drinking the Jets Kool- Glad to oblige, Jen. Aid where L’Affaire Scheifele is concerned. As for retiring, no way. Not with emails like this last one coming my way. They say the Jets’ Mr. Nice Guy was treated like trash when the NHL banished him for four games for leaving poor Jake Evans of Les “Dear Paul,” Brian began. “I wouldn’t usually stoop to reading the Canadiens unconscious in the first game of their Stanley Cup playoff Winnipeg Sun but was scrolling and came across your piece. Generally series. when writing an opinion piece, even a piece of drivel like yours, you should at least make an attempt at giving your article a shred of veracity.” I wrote the Jets leading scorer got what he deserved, and the responses came fast and furious. This was good.

A few samples follow, and I won’t use their real names because I intend “The hit was perfectly legal in every way,” Brian continued. “You on making fun of them and I didn’t get their permission. mentioned ‘he was going so fast.’ That is exactly what my grandmother said when she saw the hit. “Picture perfect body check,” read the first message. “The only thing wrong here? A seasoned NHL player with his head clearly down not For someone like you who is evidently more suited for a sport like paying attention to anything but an empty net goal. Sorry, I calls ’em as I shuffleboard or competitive knitting I can understand that going fast sees ’em. No suspension.” seems so aggressive.”

You can’t calls anything, buddy, because you can’t sees anything Brian concluded by lamenting the “pansification” of old-time hockey by through the Jets flag you’ve got draped over your head. “snowflakes” like me.

Imagine if someone like Calgary’s Matthew Tkachuk had pulled the same Thanks for taking the time to slog through my drivel, Brian. stunt on Scheifele. You’d be calling for him to be jailed. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to water my pansies before scurrying off Since when does being a fan mean you have to turn off your brain? to my weekly knitting circle.

The inbox was just getting warmed up. Oh, and let your grandma know.

“Why do you write for the Jets?” wrote Ken. “Why do you live in We could always use another good set of hands. Manitoba? I have read a couple of your articles and I think people like you are the problem with society.”

Ken, I don‘t write for the Jets. I write for The Sun. Winnipeg Sun LOADED 06.06.2021

As for why I live in Manitoba, it’s so that I can interact with interesting people like you, of course.

Society has a lot of problems, true. I just don’t put myself near the top of that list, sorry. You’ll find me down with potholes and mosquitoes. Annoying at times, but a charming part of the landscape after you get used to them.

“As for the Scheifele hit,” Ken continued. “You probably never played hockey a day in your life… the last time I checked body contact was still part of the game.”

That’s an insult to the Gretna Gophers, the team I dragged down to mediocrity as a kid, Ken.

Yes, body contact certainly is part of the game. Hitting someone so hard his brain rattles to the point of unconsciousness isn’t anymore, thankfully. You really should read up on that.

Next to weigh in was Kory, who, like Ken, gave me far more credit than I deserve.

“Media comments like yours is why I am starting to lose interest and love of the game!” Kory concluded.

Geez, Kory, you might want to re-examine your love for the game. If I held that kind of power, I’d get the whole world on board with this peace- and-love thing. And we’d be rid of bad country music.

An emailer named Gary wanted to talk about a board game.

“Way off,” he began. “Playing hockey not Parcheesi. A hockey play. No intent to injure. Evans didn’t even require hospital visit.” 1215246 Winnipeg Jets His strategy for working through his own issues is similar to what the Jets need to do to try to get back in this series, even though they have to fight through incredibly tight-checking and Montreal’s all-world goalie Carey Price. If Pierre-Luc Dubois is ever going to make impact for Winnipeg Jets this season, the time is now “One of the keys is just patience,” Dubois said. “I thought yesterday we had some good looks, we had some good chances. We missed some shots, but when you’re playing against a top goalie, you can’t lose confidence in shooting the puck. You can’t lose confidence, you can’t Ted Wyman lose that patience of ‘it’s coming.’ Publishing date: Jun 05, 2021 “They’re a team that defends well and they have one of the best goalies to stop the puck if they make a mistake or they allow a chance. I thought we really brought the pressure there in the second half of (Game 2). If Pierre-Luc Dubois is ever going to make the kind of impact he made When you do that, I think it’s a recipe for success. Obviously, we didn’t when he was a member of the Columbus Blue Jackets, the time is now. win, but if you’re applying pressure like that, getting shots off like that, more often than not you’re gonna be happy with the result.” Dubois was elevated to the top line with the Winnipeg Jets for Game 2 of the North Division final on Friday night — a 1-0 loss to the Montreal There’s no question the ask of Dubois right now is considerable. A player Canadiens — with leading scorer Mark Scheifele suspended. As has can’t just flip a switch and replicate a performance he put in almost a been the case since he arrived in a blockbuster trade in January, his year ago in a series against the Toronto Maple Leafs. impact was minimal. “He was really good in that series last year against Toronto,” Jets coach The 22-year-old centre was an absolute force for the Blue Jackets last Paul Maurice said. “I don’t know if you’ve noticed this though, but if you summer in the NHL playoff bubble, scoring four goals and 10 points in 10 play Toronto things tend to get magnified, right? It’s just a thought. I don’t games. He used his size, strength and skill to impose his will on know if I can prove that.” opponents. Still, Maurice knows Dubois can be more of a factor, even though he We’ve seen nothing like that from Dubois during his time in Winnipeg. could well see a steady diet of Montreal’s shutdown line in Games 3 and 4 if he stays between Blake Wheeler and Kyle Connor on the top line. His last goal was on April 5. “There’s a certain size and physicality to his game that I think can help us He does have three assists in five playoff games and has shown some come out with the puck,” Maurice said. “That’s something he can build on flashes, but all too often he’s just not in sync with his linemates, has and not just finishing checks and those kinds of things. He can take trouble handling pucks and is unable to generate scoring chances. people to the net. “Last year in the postseason was last year and this year is this year,” “He was good in that (Toronto) series and physically dominant. We think Dubois said as the Jets held an optional practice at Bell MTS Place he can do some things that use speed and size with the puck and we Saturday before flying to Montreal for Game 3 on Sunday. saw pieces of that.” “For me, it’s just getting to my game of moving out there, creating space The Jets need to see more than pieces if they’re going to stay alive in for my wingers, creating space for the defensemen, going to the net, these playoffs. trying to attract guys to me and giving time and space for everybody out there.”

Those things are all good attributes of a hockey player but much harder Winnipeg Sun LOADED 06.06.2021 to quantify than generating scoring chances, goals and assists.

Right now, the Jets need Dubois to step up and fill a role. Scheifele is out, Paul Stastny hasn’t played the first two games of the series and the Jets need Dubois to be a No. 1 centre. This is a player who scored 27 goals and 61 points as a 20-year-old with Columbus.

The Jets need that player to show up, stat.

“To be honest I don’t see it as filling in for Mark,” Dubois said of his increased role in this series. “He’s a fantastic player, he’s his own player. I’m my own player. If I try to play like him I’m not helping my team, not helping my teammates out. I have to do what I do best and I don’t see it as shoes to fill.”

It’s been reported many times that Dubois is his own harshest critic, that he puts immense pressure on himself to be successful, yells at himself when he makes plays he doesn’t like.

No doubt it has been difficult for him to transition into playing Winnipeg Jets hockey after coming over from Columbus in the Patrik Laine trade.

You would think he’d be adjusted by now, although he never has been given a chance to settle in with particular linemates for any length of time.

“I just see it as doing what I do best, doing what I can to help this team win,” said Dubois, who will be playing Games 3 and 4 in Montreal, close to where he was born and raised.

“I put a lot of pressure on myself but at the same time, I know when to relax and just go play. There’s nothing you can do to control the surroundings or the circumstances. The only thing you can do is just try to bring your best game to the table.”

Give Dubois credit. He is trying to fight through this season-long slump. He is gracious and talkative with the media, even when faced with tough questions about his play.

And he’s the youngest player on the team. 1215247 Websites more in different areas and different parts of their game, so you find other ways to get other guys involved.

“With this group, with the four lines, they all know that they’re going to Sportsnet.ca / Islanders tie series vs. Bruins by continuing to embrace have to play, they all know that they’re going to have to play against four-line identity everybody and they all know that they’re going to have to find ways to contribute. And they have. I always say: ‘Know who you are as a player.’ And I think we have a good grasp of who we are.”

Iain MacIntyre @imacSportsnet And then the Islanders played Game 4 the way Trotz explained his team. Brilliant. June 6, 2021, 12:33 AM MAT’S BAT ATTACK

With no goals and just four points through his first eight playoff games, Barry Trotz says if he wasn’t coaching, he’d be glued to his television Barzal has been better with each game in this series and was flying on watching the New York Islanders playing their riveting playoff series Saturday. He was the game’s first star, setting up one goal and scoring against the Boston Bruins. another before the Islanders added a couple of empty-netters. But if Trotz wasn’t coaching, the Islanders probably wouldn’t be there. “If we lose three straight in the playoffs and I haven’t produced or my Apart from the Islanders’ defensive stoutness, the evidence of the head game has been off, then obviously I’m hard on myself,” Barzal told coach’s impact is the way New York embraces and embodies the idea of reporters after the game. “This is the playoffs; this is just about winning a four-line team. That, and the fact the Islanders are in their eighth hockey games, whether you’re the guy that night that gets a winning goal playoff series since Trotz arrived three years ago, and New York’s five or the guy that just plays sound all night and helps your team in different series wins – and counting? – are more than the franchise won over the ways. I’m obviously hard on myself, but this time of year it’s just about previous 30 years. getting wins.”

Yeah, there is a “Barry Trotz Effect” to the Islanders, who beat the After disappearing at times amid the physical mayhem during the first two Boston Bruins 4-1 Saturday on Long Island to even the ferocious East games in Boston, Barzal was in the middle of everything on Saturday. Division final at 2-2. He was lucky to escape with only a minor penalty for a high crosscheck CHOOSE PLAN on Curtis Lazar in the first period, and lucky to escape with his reproductive organs intact after getting speared in the crotch by David No individual Islander is as good as the best four Bruins, although New Krejci in the second. York dynamo Mathew Barzal is pretty close when he plays the way he did Saturday, beautifully setting up Kyle Palmieri for his team’s first goal Barzal had given Krejci four, quick crosschecks from behind during a and scoring the winner himself by batting a deflected puck past Bruins puck battle in the corner when the veteran Bruin turned on him. Initially, goalie Tuukka Rask at 13:03 of the third period. Krejci was given a major penalty for spearing but it was reviewed and downgraded to a slashing minor. But the Islanders have depth and balance and, more than that, clarity and consistency among players about their roles and what they have to “He’s an elite player with superstar, superstar skill and when he’s going do each night to help New York win. out there, we’re following right behind him,” teammate Casey Cizikas said after his empty-net goal. “He’s our top guy and you know guys are If you weren’t sure what the Stanley Cup playoffs are all about, you going to try to take runs at him. There’s no give up, there’s no give in that needed to only pay attention to Trotz during his 12-minute pre-game kid. You could see that tonight.” Zoom call with reporters. IT’S PLAYOFFS WHEN… “That’s the hard mental part of playoff hockey that people don’t understand, that it’s not going to feel good all the time, it’s not going to Boston winger Taylor Hall had his first NHL fight since 2011 when he look good all the time,” Trotz explained. “And you might not get nothing accepted a first-period challenge from Islander defenceman Scott done. I mean, you could go 58 minutes, 59 minutes in a game where Mayfield. nothing’s happened because both teams are razor sharp in terms of their “We’re playing a lot against each other,” Mayfield said. “He likes to get to detail and protecting ice and all that. And then one split second, the the net, he’s got speed, so I need to make sure I’m physical on him. game could be over. So that’s the hard mental part of the game that Playoffs get emotional, and I think that’s what that was. Good for him; I people don’t understand. You can’t relax. know he’s not known for doing that, that’s for sure.” “We know that you stick with it, and you’re resilient and understand that

(trailing in a series) is not the way we want it to go. Every team would love to blow through the other team four straight and win a Stanley Cup Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 06.06.2021 and go home. But that’s fantasy, that doesn’t happen. You’ve got to stay in the moment and you’ve got to be willing to commit in all those areas. This is a good series. I was saying, if I wasn’t coaching, I’d be been watching the series because it’s a helluva series right now.”

On his team’s relentless physicality: “You start to take the other person out of their game. That’s what physical play does. It wears you out, it wears you out mentally. Some guys are mentally stronger than others. Some guys have a bigger backbone, as I would say, when it comes to those situations. And that’s why, I think in playoffs, (hitting) gets ramped up a little bit.

“It’s like a boxer. You get hit enough, at some point you’re going to go down. That’s how you win fights. You’ve got to … win your battles to get free from people, and get to the inside. And that’s what playoff hockey is. As much as it is about skill, it’s as much about will.”

And he explained the difference in coaching the four-line Islanders compared to when he won a Stanley Cup in 2018 with the Washington Capitals, whose top-end stars were comparable to the Bruins’ Patrice Bergeron, David Pastrnak, Brad Marchand and Charlie McAvoy.

“It is a little bit (different) I think with the, I’ll say, elite superstars,” he said. “Those players demand ice time and they’ve earned their ice time over the course of time. But sometimes you have to manage them a little bit 1215248 Websites Jaccob Slavin’s sharp-angled snipe gave Carolina a two-goal cushion that appeared to have turned the series around, with the Lightning facing the possibility of seeing the series tied 2-2.

Sportsnet.ca / Hurricanes’ poor discipline proves costly in ‘chaotic’ Game Then something curious happened: Rod Brind’Amour’s boys forgot the 5 vs. Lightning golden rule when facing Tampa.

Don’t take penalties.

Eric Francis @EricFrancis All told the visitors took five in the period, including several bad ones.

June 5, 2021, 9:07 PM Kucherov’s strike with Jake Bean in the box sparked the crowd and the bench, as part of a three-point effort from the playoff scoring leader whose club finished the night 3-of-6 on a power play now operating at 41 per cent this spring. Steven Stamkos said it was, “probably the craziest playoff period you’re going to see the rest of the way.” A roof job by fourth line luxury Johnson was followed by another Stamkos power play goal before the second period ended with the hosts up 5-4. Jon Cooper agreed, comparing it to The Hulk roller coaster at Universal Orlando. Remaining Time -0:53

“That was chaotic — it was a damn circus out there,” smiled the Lightning Johnson rips shot off post and in to beat Mrazek coach. “But, definitely no refunds after that one. Take your coach’s hat off, it was one hell of an entertaining second period.” “To be honest he may have taken the game over,” said Cooper of Kucherov, whose early third-period goal gave the Lightning a 3-1 series CHOOSE PLAN stranglehold.

In a tight-checking series against Carolina, in which both teams have “There was a point in the second period we clearly lost control and he repeatedly lamented how little room there is to make plays, it all suddenly had been hit in a tough manner by one of their guys and he just unfolded into a hockey fan’s dream. channelled all his energy in the right way. It was a 5-on-5 shift and he was just a beast out there. Then we had our power play opportunities Eight goals in a single period, the first time in 11 years an NHL playoff and he was just making plays all over the place. I thought he might have game has seen anything like it. been the best player on the ice tonight, and when Kuch is doing some of Four from the Hurricanes and four from the host Bolts. the things he was doing tonight he’s borderline unstoppable.

How wonderful that a fairly packed arena by the bay got to experience it “It was great to see him do what he did tonight because we definitely live. needed him.”

In fact, the raucous gathering likely did well to spur the madness on, as What Carolina needed was some goaltending, as Game 3 hero Petr the hosts rallied from a 4-2 deficit with four unanswered goals in a 6-4 Mrazek definitely played like he’d had only one start in almost a month, win. stopping just 20 of 26 shots.

In a series that featured just 11 goals in the previous three games, few Expect rookie sensation Alex Nedeljkovic to start Game 5 in Raleigh could have predicted the turn of events, especially since Cooper and Co. Tuesday. won the Stanley Cup a year earlier by making a concerted effort to avoid And expect discipline to be top of mind for the Hurricanes, or this series such rampant red lighting. ends in five. As Tyler Johnson put it, “it’s not our bread and butter — it’s not what our team preaches. We have to be better defensively.” Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 06.06.2021 Remaining Time -1:48

Gotta See It: Hurricanes and Lightning combine for 8 goals in second period

Okay, we get it — defence wins championships.

But on a team spearheaded by Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point and Stamkos (who combined for five goals and eight points) we had to ask Cooper if we are really supposed to believe he’d prefer his team avoids the odd pond hockey production.

“There was a time we were kind of the greatest show on ice a few years ago, and many times those ended up in disappointing playoff outs,” explained the coach. “Probably why we’ve had success the last couple years is the team has this ability to win in different ways. If you want to get into a shootout we have a group that can do it that way. But it’s not ideal. We really have this true belief that it’s what you keep out of your net and not how much you put in the other net. We try to live by that.

“Does it always go by plan? No. But if you want to go far it’s just the mentality you have to have. If you’re defending and you’re checking, eventually your skill takes over at some point and we’ve been fortunate the last couple springs we’ve been able to rise above whether it’s a close checking game or the high flying, high scoring game.”

Point’s first-period strike marked the first time in the series a team scored in the opening frame.

Early in the second Teuvo Teravainen and Jesper Fast scored 39 seconds apart for the ’Canes before Stamkos and Dougie Hamilton traded goals by the midway mark.

Remaining Time -1:22

Hurricanes take the lead with two goals in less than a minute 1215249 Websites "This is about winning hockey games," he said, "whether you’re the guy who gets the winning goal or you’re the guy who plays sound and helps in other ways."

USA TODAY / Islanders' Mathew Barzal, cheap-shotted by David Krejci earlier, scores winning goal to beat Bruins USA TODAY LOADED: 06.06.2021

Chris Bumbaca

USA TODAY

UNIONDALE, N.Y. – This barn hasn’t seen its last hockey. That much is a guarantee for the Nassau Coliseum, where the New York Islanders defeated the Boston Bruins 4-1 on Saturday in Game 4 of their second- round series.

By evening the series 2-2, the Islanders ensured that Game 6 will be played here Wednesday, regardless of the outcome of Game 5 Monday night in Boston. Had the Islanders fallen Saturday, there was a chance that this building would have seen its last professional hockey. The Islanders will move to a brand-new arena in Elmont, New York, starting next season.

Islanders star Mathew Barzal played hero in the victory, scoring the game-winner off a deflection with less than seven minutes remaining.

After being named first star of the game, Barzal skated the customary salute and shouted to the Islanders faithful: “Let’s go. Our house.”

“We go down 3-1 to these guys heading back to TD Garden,” Barzal said, “that’s a death sentence,”

A period earlier, he had been on the receiving end of a cheap shot from Bruins forward David Krejci during a chippy game that featured several skirmishes and fisticuffs.

“As much as you want to put that on us, I think they were looking for some momentum, too," Islanders coach Barry Trotz said.

Barzal had cross-checked Krejci several times before the Bruins player reacted at 11:16 of the second period by using his stick to, seemingly on purpose, hit Barzal in the groin.

"Obviously, I wasn't too happy about it," Krejci said. "He went down pretty easily, but it is what it is

The referees originally whistled Krejci for a major but switched it to a two- minute slashing minor after a review. Barzal was all right after the game, but expressed some surprise that a major wasn't upheld.

“I haven't seen the clip, but I felt it was a little vicious," he said. "It’s the refs' call, a judgment call for them, yeah, I thought it was a tad vicious.”

Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin received a fine of $5,000 for a similar play as Krejci's earlier this season. That amount is the maximum fine under the collective bargaining agreement. There is a chance Krejci could face the same financial sanction after the NHL Department of Player Safety reviews the play.

Krejci had started the game’s scoring with a second-period, power-play goal. The Islanders answered quickly, with Barzal finding Kyle Palmieri in front of the net for the equalizer.

Empty-net goals from Casey Cizikas and Jean-Gabriel Pageau cemented the victory for the Islanders, who got 28 saves from goalie Semyon Varlamov. Boston's Tuukka Rask finished with 30 saves.

This year's NHL playoffs have not been without physicality. On Thursday, the NHL suspended Winnipeg Jets forward Mark Scheifele four games for a hit on the Montreal Canadiens' Jake Evans that resulted in Evans needing to be stretchered off the ice.

In the Vegas-Colorado series, Golden Knights forward Ryan Reeves was suspended for two games for his actions against Avalanche defenseman Ryan Graves during a scrum.

And despite being on the receiving end of a different borderline play Saturday, Barzal found a way to make his star shine in the brightest moment.