SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 8/30/2020 1192416 Column: NHL players hope playoff protest is a real start 1192445 As Black Lives Matter protests continue, Devils GM Tom toward battling racism Fitzgerald remembers Rodney King: ‘We need to get this Arizona Coyotes New York Islanders 1192417 Racial injustice not forgotten as NHL resumes playoffs 1192446 Islanders’ depth reemerges for first time in Flyers series 1192447 Islanders’ Derick Brassard shows why he’s known as ‘Big Game Brass’ 1192418 Nick Ritchie’s hit was big moment in Bruins’ Game 4 loss 1192448 Islanders storm past Flyers to capture crucial Game 3 win 1192419 Bruins’ problems run deep, and that spells trouble 1192449 Barry Trotz trusts Islanders can shift focus back to Flyers 1192420 Lightning strike again, push Bruins to an elimination game 1192450 Barry Trotz pushing all the right buttons for Islanders, both Monday on and off the ice 1192421 Goalie Anton Khudobin’s starring role was a long time 1192451 Semyon Varlamov sharp as Isles beat Flyers in Game 3 to coming take 2-1 series lead 1192422 Bruce Cassidy not thrilled with officiating 1192452 Derick Brassard sets up go-ahead in return to 1192423 Goaltending battle puts Bruins’ season on the brink Islanders lineup 1192424 Bruins-Lightning: Sean Kuraly out for Game 4 1192453 Barry Trotz's decision to start Semyon Varlamov pays off 1192425 In this unusual circumstance, it's very hard to see the in Islanders' Game 3 win over Flyers Bruins coming back from 3-1 1192454 Alain Vigneault's struggle shows how good Barry Trotz is 1192426 The Bruins should have never put Nick Ritchie in a at seeing the big picture situation to cost the team 1192455 Islanders hit reset button, refocus on playoff series with 1192427 Perhaps in desperation, Bruce Cassidy backs Nick Flyers Ritchie's nasty hit 1192428 Bruins vs. Lightning Talking Points: B's miscues pile up in New York Rangers Game 4 loss 1192456 Chris Drury bows out of star-studded Panthers GM search 1192429 Bruins vs. Lightning highlights: Lackluster Game 4 pushes B's to brink Philadelphia Flyers 1192430 Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand make social justice 1192457 Flyers-Islanders Game 4: TV, streaming, notes statement before Game 4 1192458 Observations from the Flyers’ 3-1 loss to the Islanders in 1192431 Bruins vs. Lightning: Karson Kuhlman, Connor Clifton Game 3 return for Game 4 1192459 Islanders get past Flyers, 3-1, to take lead in conference 1192432 Buckley: The undisciplined that may mark the end semifinals of the Bruins’ season 1192460 Tone-deaf Flyers coach Alain Vigneault scolds critics for 1192433 It’s not bad luck. The Bruins are not as good as the questioning his ignorance, then runs away Lightning 1192461 Flyers coach Alain Vigneault explains comments, says he stands for social justice and wants to ‘help society a 1192462 Vigneault hoping Flyers' quick turnaround can be a good 1192434 Column: Time for the NHL to step out of its racial bubble one before they risk losing a generation (or two) of fan 1192463 Flyers’ fast start fizzles out in 3-1 loss to Islanders 1192464 An emotional Alain Vigneault takes a stance on social Colorado Avalanche justice 1192435 Chambers: Avalanche injuries aren’t alarming; depth 1192465 Flyers coach Alain Vigneault issues solemn self-defense makes winning possible to his critics 1192466 Giroux, scoring partners lose spark, Isles take series lead 1192467 Flyers' poor finish to Game 3 puts them in 2-1 series hole 1192436 How the Stars have balanced wrestling with social justice vs. Islanders issues and preparing for Game 4 vs. Avalanche 1192468 Alain Vigneault has heartfelt, impassioned message in 1192437 In Ben Bishop’s absence, Anton Khudobin finds himself in wake of his criticized comments an unfamiliar situation with the Stars 1192469 Flyers vs. Islanders NHL playoffs: Game 3 live stream, 1192438 Joe Pavelski, Jamie Benn address Stars’ discussions of storylines, more racial injustice Detroit Red Wings 1192470 NHL rumors: Sharks, Joel Kellman reach agreement on 1192439 Former Red Wings goalie Manny Legace, on life in the two-year contract NHL bubble and coaching Columbus St Louis Blues 1192471 BenFred: Blues captain Pietrangelo doesn't sound all that 1192440 Golden Knights retake control of series against Canucks jazzed about free agency. Why not avoid it altogethe 1192441 Stars aligning for previously dialed-out Dallas in Edmonton 1192472 Blues face a tricky, and complicated, offseason hub 1192473 For Blues, 'JayBo' was out of sight, but never out of mind 1192442 HUB CITY NOTES: Vegas police union head rips Golden Knights 1192443 Q&A: Oilers GM Ken Holland on improving internally, the flat cap and goaltending 1192444 LA KINGS LOAN JOHAN SODERGRAN TO ALMTUNA IS Tampa Bay Lightning Websites 1192474 Ondrej Palat finds his scoring touch as Lightning beat 1192503 The Athletic / Inside the NHL’s Saturday return, the Bruins in Game 4 league’s time to stand with its players 1192475 Who knew the Lightning could play defense like this? 1192504 The Athletic / ‘How we respond is going to be different’: 1192476 Lightning-Bruins Game 4 report card: Tampa Bay’s top NHL, social equality and what’s next line better than perfect 1192505 Sportsnet.ca / Canucks being tested by Golden Knights' 1192477 Clean hit? ‘Clever’ Yanni Gourde? A bit of defence, special teams Lightning-Bruins drama in Game 4 1192506 Sportsnet.ca / Quick Shifts: Why a Maple Leafs run at 1192478 Lightning-Bruins Game 4 live playoff updates Pietrangleo isn't so crazy 1192479 NHL’s pregame draws attention to racial injustice 1192507 Sportsnet.ca / Black Lives Matter remains focus as NHL 1192480 Lightning players are talking about race, some for the first returns from player-driven postponement time 1192508 Sportsnet.ca / Komarov, Martin power Islanders in swing 1192481 Smith: How Lightning swung series against Bruins with an game of 'a greasy series' evolved mindset 1192509 Sportsnet.ca / Seven potential free-agency destinations for former MVP Taylor Hall 1192510 Sportsnet.ca / NHL's top 20 UFAs of 2020: Latest 1192482 A security guard stands at his post on Bremner Avenue rumours, reports where personnel enter and exit the NHL bubble in front o 1192511 TSN.CA / Canucks vs Vegas Game 3 gameday preview 1192483 Who should the Maple Leafs hire to fill out Sheldon Keefe’s coaching staff? Winnipeg Jets 1192497 Tyson Barrie has some flaws, but would improve Jets defence 1192498 The Canucks and Golden Knights got back at it Saturday SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129 but there's no doubt hockey wants change. 1192499 Golden Knights 3, Canucks 0: It’s all on a knife’s edge as Vancouver drops Game 3 1192500 Patrick Johnston: Canucks’ Bo Horvat ‘C’s the day’ in helping lead NHL Black Lives response 1192501 Block this: Canucks getting almost entire bench blocking shots against Vegas 1192502 The Armies: Canucks stall in attempt to restart playoff mode Vegas Golden Knights 1192484 Robin Lehner, Golden Knights blank Canucks for 2-1 series lead 1192485 Golden Knights select starting goalie for Game 3 vs. Canucks 1192486 Golden Knights unfazed by condensed series schedule 1192487 Police union criticizes Knights for supporting Jacob Blake 1192488 Las Vegas sports face COVID-related economic damage 1192489 Golden Knights, Robin Lehner blank Canucks for Game 3 win 1192490 In backdrop of protests, Golden Knights ready for playoff return vs. Canucks 1192491 Big day for Henry Ruggs as Raiders stage mock game at Allegiant 1192492 ‘Execute for the boys’: Vegas’ Zach Whitecloud comes up big on the penalty kill 1192493 Pandemic Playoffs: Knights Take Series Lead With 3-0 Win Over Vancouver Saturday; Lead Series 2-1 With Second 1192494 Golden Knights Statement, Game Boycott On Racial Injustice Upsets Police Union President Amid Divide Among VGK Washington Capitals 1192495 Capitals ECHL affiliate's new red jersey is very similar to Washington's look 1192496 Capitals have few reinforcements in the system as team ranks dead last in The Athletic's prospect rankings 1192416 Anaheim Ducks Black, was hacked and he was subjected to racist slurs. Last November, Bill Peters resigned as coach of the after acknowledging he had directed a racial slur to a player a decade earlier.

Column: NHL players hope playoff protest is a real start toward battling Former Florida Panthers general manager Dale Tallon racism The Hockey Diversity Alliance, which is comprised of current and former NHL players and advocates for inclusion, issued a statement asking HELENE ELLIOTT commissioner Gary Bettman to suspend games on Thursday “to allow players and fans to reflect on what happened and to send a message AUG. 29, 2020 that human rights must take priority over sport.” The group, which became a source of guidance for other players during the week, also said

the NHL hadn’t agreed to its requests that the league fund social justice One Stanley Cup playoff game had concluded on Wednesday and initiatives, antiracism education and grassroots programs for minorities, players were preparing for the last two games when rumors they’d heard but it hoped to secure those commitments from the league before the crystallized into fact. NBA and WNBA players were refusing to play, playoffs end. intensifying their protests of injustice and systemic racism. NHL players, Those are no-brainer moves for the NHL and the NHL Players’ Assn. The some of them recently awakened from naps, had little time to digest the two groups also should follow the lead of the NBA and National startling news. They believed it was their fight, too, but they didn’t know Basketball Players Assn. in making U.S.-based teams’ arenas available how to enter the fray. as polling places. After the NHL’s mild reaction Wednesday night — a few clichés and a The resumption of play and continued discussion of players’ desire for cursory “moment of reflection” in Toronto — players began to talk among change is sure to produce contentious conversations among fans. themselves to discuss their options. They soon crossed rivalry lines to Discourse on social media has split between those who praise athletes include players on other teams in the Edmonton and Toronto playoff and teams for using their platforms to promote social causes and those bubbles. “We had some discussions, then went to bed,” Boston Bruins who demand a separation between sports and the so-called real world. center Patrice Bergeron said. “We already had some meetings planned The line between sports and society blurred a long time ago, if it ever had with Tampa Bay in the morning and it snowballed from there and we met firm shape, and it’s absurd to expect athletes to “shut up and dribble” for with the Islanders and Philly joined.” the pleasure of people who are uncomfortable hearing them express In Toronto, players who had been fierce opponents the night before sat opinions outside the field of play. Listen or not, as you choose. There’s together on Thursday to explain why they wouldn’t play that day. In much to be learned. Edmonton, all four Western Conference teams gathered in an impressive Antoine Roussel #26 of the Vancouver Canucks scores. display of solidarity while team leaders declared it was time to put action behind their well-meaning words. As a Black player in a league Bruins forward Brad Marchand, who is white, said players aren’t trying to dominated by white men, Vegas Golden Knights forward Ryan Reaves is be political, though he knows their actions will be construed as such. The accustomed to being in the minority. On Thursday he was surrounded by stakes, he said, are bigger than hockey and bigger than sports. “Sports is brothers who have taken up his cause as their own. a luxury. It’s a luxury to watch this game, to play this game,” he said Friday. “But when it becomes about people’s safety and people’s lives “If you look around this room there’s a lot of white athletes in here, and I and people feeling comfortable to be in their own skin, it’s much more think that’s the statement that’s being made right now,” Reaves said. “It’s important than that. great that the NBA did this, and the MLB and the WNBA. They have a lot of Black players in those leagues. But for all these athletes in here, just to “I understand people want to watch the games. And I understand people take a stand and say, ‘You know what, we see the problem, too, and we want to see this, but it’s too bad, you know? We have bigger things that stand behind you.’ I go to war with these guys and I hate their guts on the we care about and want to do and improve upon and the people that we ice, but I couldn’t be more proud of these guys. The statement they made want to support, and that’s what matters. today is something that’s going to last. “I don’t think any of us have the perfect solution, but obviously there are "End Racism" is displayed on the scoreboard Wednesday at Rogers things we can all do to be part of it, and that’s what we’re going to Place in Edmonton. continue talking about today and moving forward.”

“These two days [of postponements] isn’t going to fix anything. But the LA Times: LOADED: 08.30.2020 conversation and the statement that’s been made is very powerful, especially coming from this league.”

The games not played on Thursday and Friday were rescheduled to create TV tripleheaders on Saturday and Sunday. Every series has been close and generally entertaining, so the return to action will be welcome.

But players said it won’t be a return to business as usual because they consider the pause to be a launch point to expand discussions about ending racism in hockey and beyond. “It doesn’t matter who was here first. The whole point is that we’re all having the conversation at this point in time and we’re all looking to educate ourselves and wanting to improve,” said Tampa Bay defenseman Luke Schenn, a former King, who is white.

“We all realize that nothing’s going to be fixed by tomorrow morning, or nothing like that. But this is a situation where everyone needs to continue to learn and ask questions and do what’s right and be a good person in this world and educate your kids and show them the right way. It definitely is a long-term thing, but the point of the pause was to get everyone to kind of sit back and listen and reflect on where do we go from here.”

Where, indeed. Racism has been a thorny issue for the NHL, which had about two dozen Black players on team rosters last season.

FloridaHockeyNow.com reported on Friday that the league is investigating an allegation that former Florida Panthers general manager Dale Tallon uttered a racial slur while his team was in the bubble. In April, a video chat featuring New York Rangers prospect K’Andre Miller, who is 1192417 Arizona Coyotes hockey returned in their afternoon game, the NHL’s first since Wednesday night.

“Being on the ice, you want to win hockey games,” Tampa Bay captain Racial injustice not forgotten as NHL resumes playoffs Victor Hedman said after his team won to take a 3-1 lead in the second- round series. “But I think that goes to show just how close-knit we are off the ice. We can leave what happens on the ice on the ice, and we came Staff Writer together as a big group in these last 48, 72 hours, and I think that goes a long ways to show the hockey community, it’s a big family. I think it says AUGUST 29, 2020 more that you can leave the emotions on the ice and we can all be part and be together off the ice.”

A video message about racism is played before an NHL hockey Stanley Arizona Sports LOADED: 08.30.2020 Cup playoff game between the Boston Bruins against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Toronto, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2020

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Before playoff hockey returned to its usual intensity, the NHL and its players took time Saturday to highlight racial injustice and the sport’s role in confronting it.

Players pushed to postpone two days worth of games to protest the police shooting of Black man Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin, which came three months after the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer. More than 48 hours of reflection culminated with a pregame presentation in Toronto before the Tampa Bay Lightning and Boston Bruins faced off.

Retired goaltender Kevin Weekes narrated a video montage on the subject that included clips by fellow minority players Matt Dumba of the Minnesota Wild and Ryan Reaves of the Vegas Golden Knights.

“In hockey, we often let our effort, determination and passion to win do the talking,” Weekes said. “But when an issue is bigger than the game, we must speak out, starting with three words we need to get comfortable saying: Black Lives Matter. Equality is the only way forward. As players, as fans and as average citizens, we most confront these issues.”

On the ice, the Lightning and Bruins didn’t miss a beat in their hard- fought series. Away from it, players and coaches in the Toronto and Edmonton bubbles got an opportunity to weigh in on matters of racism and police brutality that caused games to be postponed in the NBA, Major League Baseball and other pro sports leagues.

“The decision to postpone our games and sit out was viewed as an opportunity to highlight a bigger issue than hockey,” said Lightning defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk, who was at the forefront of player dialogue in the past few days. “We wanted to make sure that every Black player in this league can feel safe and feel like they have a voice. And we want to make sure that we continue this conversation moving forward and make sure that we keep the sport progressing in the right way.”

Conversations went on among opposing players in each of the Canadian cities hosting games. Reaves and Vancouver Canucks captain Bo Horvat are no fans of each other during games, but their discussion about how to protest played a major role in hockey following the NBA’s lead.

“What we did was the best thing for not only our two teams but I think for the NHL, and we stand by it,” Horvat said. “We obviously know it’s not going to change what’s going on in the world, but it’s going to get people talking and I think that’s the most important thing.”

Canucks coach Travis Green expressed pride in his players and those around the league for sending a “message that will initiate awareness.”

It was a different, and somewhat conciliatory, message coming from Philadelphia Flyers coach Alain Vigneault on Saturday morning. Vigneault had said in previous days he wasn’t aware of anything going on outside the NHL bubble, including racial injustice protests in other sports.

“I never bothered to ask or check with anyone what was going in the world or the NBA. I am guilty of that,” Vigneault said in a prepared statement he read. “I am guilty of not checking up on what was going on in the world and the NBA. But I am a good person. I believe in equality. I believe in social justice. I want to be part of the solution. I want to help society in any way I can.”

Vigneault thanked those who reached out to show support but didn’t take any questions.

If there was any question about what the two-day hiatus would do to the quality of the action, the Lightning and Bruins answered it quickly. Big hits, post-whistle scrums and everything about Stanley Cup playoff 1192418 Boston Bruins Inside the bubble the last two days, there was little talk of hockey. The focus was on social justice and how the NHL can use its platform to improve the lives of people of color.

Nick Ritchie’s hit was big moment in Bruins’ Game 4 loss “There’s bigger things than hockey,” Bruins winger Jake DeBrusk said. “That’s probably one of the things that’s been focused on the most here.”

Matt Porter NBC analyst Anson Carter, a Black Canadian and former Bruins winger, praised the players for their initiative. August 29, 2020 “As a professional athlete, you’re so hyper-focused on the task at hand,” Carter said. “I hope the guys took this time to reflect and understand exactly why we took this pause in the action. As a Black man, I don’t Nick Ritchie was scratched in the final three games of the Carolina have that privilege. I can’t just take a pause in all this.” series, his slower pace and big-body game not a fit in against a smaller, speedier opponent. Halak hits skids

There is a chance he will sit for Game 5 for trying to do his job. Jaroslav Halak’s .833 save percentage over the last two games is his worst stretch since 2010 with the Canadiens, when he had .810 and .820 The burly Bruin is unlikely to be suspended for his crushing second- sets but was otherwise excellent. The worst two-game playoff stretch of period check on Tampa’s Yanni Gourde, which earned him a five-minute Tuukka Rask’s career: .848 in Games 6 and 7 of the 2014 Montreal major for boarding, on replay review. series … Pastrnak was scoreless, but drew four penalties, put six of 11 The hit arrived two seconds after Gourde made a pass, but three factors attempts on net and threw two hits in 20:57 … Pastrnak and Torey Krug could play in Ritchie’s favor: he approached mostly from the side, combined for 11 shots on goal. Kuhlman (three) was the only other Bruin seemed to initiate the hit while Gourde had the puck, and Gourde to land more than two shots. David Krejci, Bergeron, Charlie Coyle, finished the game without an apparent issue. Ondrej Kase, and Charlie McAvoy all finished with one shot, and Marchand (in 22:57) and Matt Grzelcyk (15:35) fired blanks … Kase’s The latter was noted by Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy afterward. goalless streak as a Bruin stretched to 16 games. He nearly ended it after taking a DeBrusk saucer pass with 6:48 left, but he couldn’t shelf a “Clever, obviously,” Cassidy said. “Got them on the power play for five backhand from in tight ... The fourth line, guilty of puck-watching on the minutes, he finished the game, had no problems in the third period. I opening goal, did not play much in the third period. Neither Chris Wagner didn’t agree with the call.” nor Par Lindholm played a shift in the third period. Joakim Nordstrom Asked about Cassidy’s comments, Lightning coach Jon Cooper said took one turn, with Coyle and Kuhlman … Zdeno Chara (16:13; 5:30 on Gourde was clever —- “there’s no doubt about that” —- but Ritchie the penalty kill) played just four shifts in the third, the Bruins chasing the deserved the penalty. score. The big man was dropped early by 5-foot-10-inch Nikita Kucherov, which fired up Tampa. “You could see it from the beginning when he hit “I thought the hit was late,” said Cooper, whose team took advantage of Chara, when he had a great forecheck,” Palat said of Kucherov. “When the five-minute advantage to go up, 3-0. “It’s hitting an unexpecting your star player is doing those little things, everybody’s following him and opponent … In the regular season, for sure, it’s a suspension.” I thought he had a huge game.”

Cassidy disagreed, wondering why there was no penalty call at first. Play Boston Globe LOADED: 08.30.2020 stopped because Gourde was apparently injured.

“[Ritchie] was finishing a check, it happens all the time,” Cassidy said. “He played through a player’s shoulder as I saw it. Shoulder to shoulder, hard. I don’t know if the explanation was it was late or it was a 225-pound man hits a 170-pound man and that’s why the penalty is called.”

Cassidy was annoyed that Cedric Paquette’s pop on Karson Kuhlman — “a very, very, very, very, very similar hit” — was not called. Ritchie was tagged for roughing when he went after Paquette, who has a history of questionable hits.

Ritchie, who was brought in at the deadline to answer for heavier teams like Washington, Tampa, and St. Louis, said he was doing his job.

“I was just finishing my hit,’ he said. “Thought I did a good job keeping my arms down and it was shoulder-to-shoulder. Maybe he wasn’t expecting it and he just got rid of the puck. I’m just playing my game and that’s part of it, sometimes stuff like that happens.

“I’ve got to finish checks. Sometimes you get away with them. There’s been a lot of hits, big hits in this series that maybe haven’t been called and I’ve been flagged a couple times. I just have to keep working and playing my game.”

After two days of player-driven postponement to reflect on systemic racism and police brutality, the playoffs returned with the Bruins and Lightning participating in a three-minute ceremony.

A video was played at Scotiabank Arena that spoke the message loud and clear.

“In hockey we often let our effort, determination and passion to win do the talking,” NHL Network commentator and former goalie Kevin Weekes said in a video. “But when an issue is bigger than the game we must speak out, starting with three words we need to get comfortable saying: Black. Lives. Matter.”

Tampa defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk, who arrived at the rink wearing a Hockey Diversity Alliance hoodie, and Bruins Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron made comments in the video, similar to those they made Friday. 1192419 Boston Bruins The knockout punch came before the period ended, the Lightning cashing in on a five-minute power play awarded when Nick Ritchie buried Yanni Gourde with a late hit that sent the latter careening shoulder-first Bruins’ problems run deep, and that spells trouble into the boards. Cassidy stuck up for Ritchie postgame, but it was a late, ill-timed, ill-delivered swipe that in the regular season would have the Department of Player Safety hauling Ritchie off to the sidelines for at least a game or two. Kevin Paul Dupont Once down, 3-0, the Bruins held a 12-6 shot edge the rest of the way, in August 29, 2020 part because the only urgency left in Tampa’s game was to remain healthy for what could be, if needed, three cracks at deliver the knockout punch and move on to Edmonton for the Eastern Conference Final. The state of Bruins right now is desperate, which is a lot more than can be said about their state of play. Just like two years ago, in a series that ended in five games vs. Tampa, the Bruins have shown an inability to fight inside the Tampa defense and The Bruins were slightly better at times on Saturday afternoon, better grind at Vasilevskiy with first, second, and maybe third chances. Their than the embarrassing 7-1 shellacking they suffered on Wednesday forwards can dart around down low, here and there, but not impose their night, but their 3-1 loss to the Lightning again had them short on will, cause havoc, get the Lightning blue liners or Vasilevskiy off their goaltending, shorter still on generating effective offense, and shortest of game. all on summoning the pushback necessary when falling in arrears on the scoreboard while still holding a chance to win a Cup. It’s not over for the 2019-20 Bruins, but unless they’re holding a different ticket in their game plan, this ticket looks punched. Headed into Game 5 of the series Monday night, the Lightning now have three match points in hand, and they have managed that 3-1 series lead Boston Globe LOADED: 08.30.2020 with top gun Steven Stamkos yet to play in the series and key defenseman Ryan McDonagh hors de combat for the last three games (all Tampa wins).

All Tampa has done is dominate the series since banging home the OT winner in Game 2 — a scoring imbalance that now stands at 11-2 from the point of that OT winner that evened the series, 1-1.

The Bruins, meanwhile, have the lineup they want, without the results they came to expect en route to owning the NHL’s best record in the regular season.

Remember that 100-point Bruins team that went into forced pandemic hibernation at the start of March? It has hobbled its way here to Round 2 of the Stanley Bubble Cup, but what back in March was a team with the look and precision of a Rolex watch now can’t keep up and has both its big and small hands pointed decidedly toward 00:00 time left in the season.

“How many shots did we have today?” asked a disconsolate-sounding David Krejci. “I don’t even know. So I don’t know, we’ve just to get the shots through — there’s no excuse for it. Forwards, we’ve got to get to the net, find the shooting lanes … all those things, you know, you work in practice and you’ve got to show it in the game. So we’ve got to get better at it.”

For the record, the Bruins outshot the Lighting, 30-26. Bruce Cassidy made a point of lamenting missed shots, but those were identical for both sides (18 apiece). The Bruins attempted 16 other shots that the Lightning blocked, while the Bruins shut down 13 by the Bolts.

All in all, it was not in the quantity of shooting or getting rubber to the net. In fact, for the Smoot-loving number crunchers in the crowd, the Bruins actually landed a higher percentage (46.9) of their shots (30 for 64) compared to the Lightning (45.6, 26 for 57).

Far more significant was the fact that Tampa’s franchise tender, Andrei Vasilevskiy, turned back all but one of Boston’s best bids, while Jaroslav Halak again played to his backup billing.

Halak is OK, a solid 35-year-old vet with one good postseason run 10 years ago when he was wearing a Canadiens sweater. Now he is in Black and Gold, 10 years older, eminently competent, but not the guy to buy time, steal a win, filch a series. The Bruins right now need their Fagin in the net.

The spirit crusher came on Ondrej Palat’s clear 35-foot one-timer from the slot that made it 2-0 with 7:31 left in the second. Other than a partial screen out high by Jake DeBrusk, Halak had eyes on it, only for the puck to zip by his raised left glove. Routine stop gone. The playoffs don’t allow for that margin of error, even when there is 27:31 remaining in regulation.

“We need that save,” said Cassidy, who has had to resort to Halak ever since Tuukka Rask packed up after Game 2 of the first-round series vs. the Hurricanes. “[Tampa] is a good hockey club. We’re not scoring a lot right now. Part of that is our own issue about hitting the net. But they’ve got a good goaltender and a good defense, so every goal matters. That one, obviously, at the time was a big one for them.” 1192420 Boston Bruins The netminder got some of his glove on a 40-foot slapper from Palat, but not enough. It was not an easy stop — a one-timer, set up by Anthony Cirelli on the rush — but still a clean look from out high. Halak, who has Lightning strike again, push Bruins to an elimination game Monday stopped 35 of 42 shots in the last two games (.833 save percentage), was not made available for comment.

“It doesn’t help, obviously,” Cassidy said. “I mean [it’s a] one-goal game Matt Porter and feel you’ve played through some stuff again tonight. … So yeah, we need that save. This a good hockey club, we’re not scoring a lot right August 29, 2020 now.”

At 12:29 of the second, the Bruins were down two goals. About a minute Two years ago, the Bruins started the second round with a win over the later, Ritchie barreled into Yanni Gourde, tossing him shoulder-first Lightning. They were then drop-kicked out of the playoffs in four straight against the boards. He was sent off for a major boarding. He later games. answered for his hit, fighting Goodrow.

To the dismay of Black-and-Gold backers, the same result is 60 minutes “I think they’ve taken some frustrated penalties, and I think we’ve had away. some pretty good composure,” Coleman said. “We know it’s going to be important the next few games. We’ve got to stay out of the box, and I Lacking discipline and precision in their attack, Boston suffered a 3-1 loss think everybody in the room likes our five-on-five game right now.” to Tampa Bay on Saturday afternoon in Game 4 of this second-round series, and now stands three periods from the offseason. The Bruins did fine work to kill the first 4:32 of the major, with smart passes and solid structure to slow the bleeding. They were unlucky, Jake DeBrusk scored the only goal for the Bruins with 12:56 to go, but though. Victor Hedman’s drive richocheted off Lindholm’s leg and sailed, there were no furious final few minutes after that third-period tally. Game rainbow-like, into the net at 18:04 of the period. 5 is at 7 p.m. on Monday. It could be their last stand. Down, 3-0, the Bruins couldn’t reward the effort of Pastrnak, who drew a “It’s obviously tough being in this kind of environment and in this kind of holding call on Zach Bogosian late in the second and created a brief five hole,” DeBrusk said, “but that’s how you become a champion.” on three by forcing a hook from Coleman.

The Lightning are looking worthy of that designation. They have Halak had to make a shorthanded save on Coleman on a breakaway, outscored the Bruins, 11-2, in the last seven periods. Tampa has not had and then Bogosian coming out of the box to end a brief five on three. the services of stalwart defenseman Ryan McDonagh in that stretch, and Pastrnak had a screaming one-timer, but couldn’t put anything past has not seen captain and former 60-goal scorer Steven Stamkos since Vasilevskiy. the restart. The Bruins’ comeback attempt began in earnest with 12:56 left on a goal They beat Jaroslav Halak three times on 26 shots with aggression from DeBrusk, whose quick snapshot found the five-hole through a around the net, a softie allowed by the netminder, and a lucky bounce. screen at the tail-end of a power play. The good vibes quickly fizzled. The Bruins played well enough to get chances throughout, but couldn’t The Bolts choked out the Bruins, allowing them two shots the rest of the dial it in. They were off-net with 34 of their 64 attempts, making it easier way, including none in the final 5:52. on Lightning keeper Andrei Vasilevskiy (29 saves). “We’re playing with confidence,” Palat said. “We don’t cheat on the ice. The Bruins went 1 for 4 on the power play, despite logging a combined We’re doing it the right way. We’re staying on the right side of the puck. 3:03 of man-up time to start the second and third periods. We try to not turn the puck over, and I think all four lines are playing good hockey and it’s huge.” “How many shots did we have today?” asked a dejected David Krejci. “I don’t even know. We just have to get the shots through. There’s no All hallmarks of the Bruins’ game during the regular season, when they excuse for it. Forwards, we have to get to the net, find the shooting lanes. were at their best. All those things. You know, you work in practice and we have to show it in a game. We have to get better at it.” If they don’t cobble together some of that Monday, this bubble is as good as burst. Boston weathered the storm early. Halak made two big stops on two-on- ones in the opening minutes. He first denied Barclay Goodrow and later Boston Globe LOADED: 08.30.2020 Nikita Kucherov, the latter stop with his stick as the Tampa superstar was perfectly set up by Brayden Point.

But Chris Wagner, who minutes earlier had danced through Victor Hedman on his way to the net, duffed his breakout pass. He sent it behind Joakim Nordstrom, letting Tampa’s top line come steaming downhill. All five Bruins backchecked toward the net. None of them were effective enough.

Torey Krug stuffed Point on his first try, but was window-washing as Point stickhandled through him. Wagner, Nordstrom and Par Lindholm were caught looking as Ondrej Palat charged in and roofed Point’s quick feed at 8:59 of the first.

The Bruins were in good shape to survive that. They killed a Brandon Carlo slash and the first of Nick Ritchie’s two penalties — a retaliatory roughing after Cedric Paquette drilled Karson Kuhlman — and had a chance to even it when David Pastrnak’s crease-crashing got Erik Cernak heated at the first-period horn.

Clean slate. Two minutes of fresh power-play ice to start the second. And they were spraying shots all over the place. All six attempts on the power play were blocked or off-net.

“We’re just off net with too many good chances today,” coach Bruce Cassidy said.

They again played with fire when Connor Clifton took a bad cross- checking penalty on Blake Coleman. Survived that. But Halak allowed a backbreaker. 1192421 Boston Bruins Khudobin’s long wait to get his playoff chance is somewhat akin to the layoff Bruce Cassidy endured after he was dismissed as the Capitals’ coach early in the 2003-04 season. His didn’t get to direct an NHL bench Goalie Anton Khudobin’s starring role was a long time coming again until Bruins GM Don Sweeney put him in charge in February 2017, a wait of more than 13 years.

“Clearly you always want an opportunity to get back at it,” said Cassidy, Kevin Paul Dupont acknowledging the similarity of their long waits. “I think for Doby, he has carved out a nice career for himself in the NHL. He did a good job for us, August 29, 2020 and I think it obviously gave him confidence. He won a lot of games. Played well. Worked on his game with [goalie coach Bob Essensa], and certainly Bob deserves some credit for that part. The Bruins have had to entrust their net to backup Jaroslav Halak and Dan Vladar, the backup to the backup, for however long their playoff run “But Doby’s the one who has to get in there and manage it. So, we are lasts. All of which has become a bit dicey, as we saw in Wednesday happy for him. Always a popular guy. Great personality.” night’s Game 3 meltdown against the Lightning, which necessitated the Khudobin was a beloved, near-Falstaffian figure in the Bruins’ locker 23-year-old Vladar making his NHL debut, summoned off the bench to room, his smile and wit oft-credited for keeping everyone loose. Media spare a bedraggled-looking Halak some of the carnage. members appreciated his sense of humor, which sometimes had to be Meanwhile, the Stars have hitched their wagon to ex-Bruins goaltender slightly deciphered, be it because of his Russian accent or fractured Anton Khudobin, hired on in Dallas as a free agent two years ago when idioms. the Bruins decided the more experienced Halak, now 35, was the better, To wit, Khudobin savoring a 6-2 win in Arizona at the start of the 2017-18 more accomplished fit to partner with Tuukka Rask. season with the Bruins: “If you win, then you’re on the horse, and if you Today, in part because of a lingering injury to Dallas No. 1 Ben Bishop, don’t, then you’re under it.” the gregarious “Doby” is the main man for the Stars. He backed them to That trademark wit, said Bowness, has been part of what has endeared an opening-round win over the Flames, and as weekend play Khudobin to his Dallas teammates, too. approached, had them positioned with a 2-1 series lead over the slick, powerful Avalanche. Headed into Sunday’s Game 4, he was 6-4 with a “He is a lot of fun to be around,” said Bowness, the NHL’s longest- 2.75 GAA and .913 save percentage. serving coach, dating to his start as an assistant in Winnipeg in 1984-85. “He keeps the guys loose and you never know what is going to come out “I think as soon as he came in, you could tell he’s a really competitive of his mouth next. And with that Russian accent, he’ll catch you off guard guy and a guy that took charge in the locker room, as well,” said smooth a little bit with his sense of humor. But he has been great on the ice for Stars blue liner John Klingberg. “He’s been around this league for a long us, great off the ice for us, and a very, very popular teammate. A great time. He’s a veteran goalie, and both him and Ben have been unreal for signing by us.” us. I think they have been our best players for [the last] two years. " When the Bruins balked at signing Khudobin at his asking price in the “I’ve said this before,” added Stars coach Rick Bowness, who was briefly summer of 2018, they opted to bring in Halak on a two-year deal that bench boss in Boston (1991-92), “but we don’t make the playoffs last paid $5.5 million. The Stars ponied up $5 million for two years of Doby. year without Doby.” That deal now expired, he’ll be a free agent again in October, hitting the The major difference in summer 2020 is that Khudobin, 34, didn’t cede open market for the first time with playoff bona fides on his résumé. It the net back to Bishop in the postseason. Perhaps that would have been looks like that wait will translate to some added wealth. the case if Bishop weren’t injured. Nonetheless, it’s Doby’s show now, his ANSWER MEN first time with a chance to start in the playoffs, 16 years after the Wild drafted him No. 206 overall. Stars respond to adversity

In a world grown accustomed to teenage and 20-something wunderkinds Twice in the span of five days, the Stars clicked off unanswered scoring commanding spotlight and cash, and securing humongous second runs rarely seen in today’s NHL. contracts (see: Jack Eichel, bumped to $10 million a year after playing 209 games), Khudobin has lived a Conastoga-like slow roll to the In Game 6 of their first-round series vs. the Flames, they fell behind, 3-0, postseason center stage. early in the opening period and then pounded in seven straight (four belonging to Denis Gurianov) for a series-clinching 7-3 win. It only took him 16 years, two trades, three free agent signings, and five franchises to make it. Doby knows determination. Next, in Game 2 vs. the Avalanche, the Stars were down a pair midway through the second, and then popped in five straight for a 5-2 win. “I think you probably have to go back to his early years and his upbringing with his parents,” said Stars forward Jamie Benn, marveling “Our team is resilient,” said coach Rick Bowness, noting that digging out over Khudobin’s perseverance, “as a guy who has battled his whole life of holes is not his preference. “Our team is confident in what we do. to make it … battled each and every day to do whatever it takes to get When we bend a little bit, we don’t break. You don’t always fight back in there. You can see all the hard work has paid off. He continues to do it this league, it’s too tough a challenge. But we’ve been able to do that. A each and every day, and he gets results because of it.” lot of it is resilience and a lot is the puck is going in the net for us.”

Khudobin was born and raised in Kazakhstan in a town roughly 300 miles Over the history of the , there have been only 25 from the Chinese border. When their 13-year-old puck-stopping prodigy instances in which a club has been able to put together unanswered was offered a chance to leave town with his coach to play in Russia, streaks of five or more goals three or more times in the same playoff parents Valeri (a welder) and Tatiana (an office worker) cashed out season. Four clubs hold the record for cobbling together five such beefy virtually all their worldly goods and followed the coach to Magnitogorsk. It streaks in one season: Boston (1972), Montreal (’79), New York Rangers was the start of a five-year showcase trek that led to that No. 206 pick in (‘79), and Edmonton (’85). the draft. Longtime Bruins fans will remember the opening round of the 1969 Nearly three years ago, while with the Bruins, Khudobin told your faithful playoffs for a slightly different record-setting reason. puck chronicler that he didn’t “know how many words I can say” to thank Fast developing as the greatest offensive force the NHL had ever seen, his mom and dad for everything they did. the Bruins opened the postseason with back-to-back shellackings of the “I mean, to leave a country where you have an apartment, a car, a job …” Maple Leafs, 10-0 and 7-0. In Game 3, by the time Ron Ellis finally put he noted, “… a place you have everything … and to leave that for one on the board for the Blue and White at 8:23 of the first period, the another country. I was 13, right? I mean, who knows?” Bruins had scored 18 consecutive goals — which stands 51 years later as the greatest unanswered stretch from the start of a series. When the NHL went dark in March because of COVID-19 concerns, Khudobin’s .930 save percentage was best in the league for goalies who If you are just catching up on your scoring, the names on that 18-goal had made a minimum 25 starts. He was 16-8-4 with a miserly 2.22 goals- spree: Phil Esposito (5), John Bucyk (4), Derek Sanderson (2), Ken against mark and stood a chance to win 20 games for the first time. Hodge (2), and one apiece from Fred Stanfield, Ted Green, John “tens of millions of dollars.” Determination, urgency, and money have a McKenzie, Ron Murphy, and Eddie Westfall (opening goal in Game 3). way of getting the job done, don’t they?

Perhaps more memorable than the record: a Pat Quinn elbow, delivered Provided there are no unexpected glitches, the Stanley Cup will be full force along the wall, that KO’d an unaware Bobby Orr, caught with his awarded at the start of October, the bubbles will be dismantled, and head down, in Game 1. furrowed brows will have been erased by a handshake line and the sight of Bettman handing over the Cup to the victorious team’s captain (the Police had to protect Quinn in the penalty box, where crazed fans were commish guaranteed not to be booed). intent on shredding him for the assault of the 21-year-old Orr. Then the work begins, the followthrough in making the sport a better, Later in that game, with 3:46 to go, ex-Bruins forward Forbes Kennedy more welcoming, more inclusive workplace for everyone. If that pulled one of the playoffs’ all-time nutties, fighting anyone in his path, commitment diminishes in the afterglow of one more Cup ceremony, the including goalie Gerry Cheevers. Kennedy, 34, was promptly suspended two-day pause in August will have been a feckless exercise that did by NHL president Clarence Campbell and never played another shift in nothing but interrupt the broadcast schedule. the NHL. Loose pucks Toronto’s Charles McGregor, sports editor of the Telegram, wrote in the next day’s edition: “Did you really enjoy seeing Canada’s national sport Rick Bowness, by the way, was behind the Boston bench, with assistant prostituted once again before an audience of millions on TV … in livid coach Mike O’Connell by his side, the night the Bruins last lost by a half- color?” dozen in a playoff game (9-3 shellacking at the Aud in Buffalo in Game 6 of the division semifinals). It was April 29, 1992. Two nights later at the The concussed Orr returned for Game 2 the following evening at the Garden, the Bruins clinched the series with a 3-2 win, and then went on Garden after overnighting at Mass. General Hospital for observation. to sweep the Habs before getting swept out of the Cup semis by the Years later, Orr wrote that someone, a character hanging outside the Penguins. Just weeks later, GM Harry Sinden canned Bowness and Garden, offered to take care of the offending Quinn. The kid from Parry hired Brian Sutter. Bowness immediately caught on as the first coach of Sound politely declined. the expansion Senators … When the Capitals packed up following their Inside the Garden for Game 2, a near-life-size dummy of Quinn hanged loss to the Islanders, defenseman John Carlson owned a tournament- from the face of the second balcony. The old joint rocked as the Bruins worst minus-11 for his five games. Alex Ovechkin mustered but seven poured in seven more goals against goaltenders Johnny Bower and shots over the final three games. All of which helped usher Todd Reirden Bruce Gamble. out the door. The Capitals will likely cycle in a veteran bench boss from the likes of, say Peter Laviolette, Gerard Gallant, and Mike Babcock … The headline the next morning over the words of Globe columnist Harold Denis Gurianov, who scored four of the goals when the Stars posted the Kaese read: “Barraging Bruins Now 17 To Tepid Toronto’s Zero.” seven-spot against the Flames, was the No. 12 pick in the 2015 draft, and the Bruins followed at No. 13 (Jakub Zboril), 14 (Jake DeBrusk) and As Kaese wrote, “The only question left … is not who will win, but will the 15 (Zach Senyshyn) … The Golden Knights entered Round 2 with ex- Leafs ever score a goal?” Bruin Reilly Smith (3-5—8) tied with Mark Stone (4-4—8) as their top The Bruins broomed the Leafs out in four straight and then fell in six point-producers. Smith, who collected 91 points in his two seasons in games to the Canadiens in the Cup semis. Boston, was flipped in 2015 to the Panthers, part of the enticement for Florida to take Marc Savard’s cap hit off the hands of newly hired GM The Leafs in the spring of ’69 were but two years removed from winning Don Sweeney. the Cup. Fifty-one years later, they are 53 years removed from winning the Cup. The curse of Quinn. Boston Globe LOADED: 08.30.2020

ETC.

Pressure is on to boost diversity

Good on NHL players, the league, and the Players Association for coming around on Thursday. They hit the pause button on Cup play in Edmonton and Toronto after multiple other pro leagues hit the bricks the day before, following the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wis.

Also good that everyone returned to work on Saturday and resumed what thus far has been a superb tournament — an astounding operational achievement, and remarkably intense, high-quality play. The only disappointment here thus far has been the underlying, shall we say, hollowness inherent in watching spectator sports with no spectators in the arena. Not a surprise, of course, and each game has been a reminder that the customer is essential, to feed the deep financial and emotional streams that fuel the industry.

Eventually, fans will return, the bubble will become a distant, though vivid, memory.

Far harder, and more vital, will be for the same players, league officials, and union to engineer and execute an effective plan to develop and advance people of color in the game. More diversity is needed across the board, all roles, including players, managers, and administrators (team and league), coaches, scouts, suppliers, and, even back there with the number-huggin’ analytics dudes.

Granted, meaningful inclusion will be a gargantuan challenge, one that will require courage, intelligence, money, patience, ingenuity, flexibility, and elements no doubt far beyond the ken of your faithful puck chronicler.

But keep in mind, the players, the league, and the union, working in concert, already this summer have demonstrated they can overcome what was believed impossible, and did so in the thick of a pandemic. With money as their lodestar, they created the ongoing Cup tournament, and they pulled it off while surrounded by doubters (hand up here) at a cost that commissioner Gary Bettman estimated in May would be in the 1192422 Boston Bruins job keeping my arms down and it was shoulder to shoulder. Maybe he wasn’t expecting it and he just got rid of the puck. I’m just playing my game and that’s part of it, sometimes stuff like that happens.”

Bruce Cassidy not thrilled with officiating Ritchie doesn’t intend to change his mindset.

Bruins’ coach defends Ritchie “That’s part of the reason why the team brought me in here is to play physical and drive the net,” said Ritchie. “It’s part of my game. I’ve got to finish checks. Sometimes you get away with them. There’s been a lot of STEVE CONROY hits, big hits in this series that maybe haven’t been called and I’ve been flagged a couple times. I just have to keep working and playing my August 29, 2020 game.”

Missing the mark Bruce Cassidy was not about to throw Nick Ritchie under the bus. While the B’s could use a few more saves, they’re not going to survive The big winger put the Bruins down a man twice in the B’s crucial 3-1 any longer than Monday’s Game 5 if they don’t make things any harder loss, the second time for a late hit that drew – upon video review – a five- for Andrei Vasilevskiy. And as Cassidy pointed out, they’ve got to hit the minute major. net. David Pastrnak missed a wide open net on a power play early in the third period and Ondrej Kase appeared to miss the net on a backhander Cassidy was more upset at what he felt were inconsistencies in the with room upstairs. officiating. In the first period, Tampa Bay’s Cedric Paquette took a run at Karson Kuhlman and drove him hard into the boards, his head banging “I thought we deserved a better fate in terms of what we created,” said dangerously off the partition. What looked like a boarding penalty was not Cassidy. “As I said, if you’re going to be off-net you’re not going to score, called, and Ritchie went after Paquette, whipping off his gloves and and that was our problem tonight, with some good looks we were off net. throwing punches while Paquette kept his on and took the blows. Obviously, he made some saves, he always does, solid goaltender, so I thought our creation of offense, getting through the neutral zone, getting Ritchie was assessed the only minor penalty, the B’s killed it off and towards the good ice, all of that was there, just the finish wasn’t.” … seemed to gain some momentum off it that they carried into the second period. Though Jake DeBrusk scored the B’s lone goal on a third period power play, the second line has not had the same positive impact as it did in the But later in the second, Ritchie lined up an unsuspecting Yanni Gourde Carolina series. It did have one good shift late in the game that produced and blasted him into the boards. The hit was from the side, but it was Kase’s missed chance. David Krejci, who seemed to be quietly seething awfully late. Gourde stayed down on the ice until the Lightning trainers as he sat at the podium with Charlie Coyle, was asked if that was came out and he needed some assistance as he moved to come off he something his line could build off. ice. But he was able to return in the third period to finish the game. “He is a clever player,” Tampa Bay coach John Cooper said of Gourde. “But a “I’m not really going to build on anything today. Let’s regroup and get gutsy player for coming back.” ready for next game,” said Krejci tersely.

And just when it appeared as though the B’s were going to survive the The centerman said they simply have to get more shots through. major, the hockey gods had a giant belly laugh at their expense. With 28 “There’s no excuse for it. Forwards, we have to get to the net, find the seconds left in the kill and the Lightning having difficulty penetrating the shooting lanes. All those things. You know, you work in practice and we lower slot, Par Lindholm got a piece of Victor Hedman‘s shot in the high have to show it in a game. We have to get better at it,” said Krejci. slot. The puck popped in the air but continued to sail toward the net, ever so slowly. Jaroslav Halak was never able to relocate it and it dropped Around the boards behind him to give the Bolts a 3-0 lead. The numbers do not favor a Bruins’ comeback in this series. They are 0- While Ritchie’s second hit was clearly late, Cassidy wasn’t ready to for-23 when trailing in series 3-1 and are just 7-16 at extending series concede that, especially after it appeared Gourde was able to sell it into a when down 3-1. Meanwhile, the Lightning have closed out all five series major. in which they’ve held 3-1 leads. …

“There was nothing originally, there was no call, and then it turned into a Sean Kuraly missed his second straight game with an undisclosed injury. five-minute major. I’m not sure, I guess we’ll get an explanation or we Cassidy said he’s day-to-day. won’t, I don’t know, I didn’t get why that changed,” said Cassidy. “Clearly Gourde was down on the play, he’s a good player, a real good player for Boston Herald LOADED: 08.30.2020 them, clever obviously, got them on the power play for five minutes, he finished the game, had no problems in the third period. I didn’t agree with the call. As I said, Kuhlman got hit by Paquette late in the first period, like I said, a very, very, very, very, very similar hit, no call. But I guess we’ll ask that question, find out what the thinking was.”

That’s five ‘verys’ if you’re counting. Cassidy later doubled down on his feelings, and defense of Ritchie.

“He’s finishing a check, it happens all the time. He played through a player’s shoulder as I saw it. Shoulder to shoulder, hard,” said Cassidy. “I don’t know if the explanation was it was late or it was a 225-pound man hits a 170-pound man and that’s why the penalty is called. Like I said, I thought Paquette did the same thing if not worse to Kuhlman in the first period. The standard is set, that’s what officials do, they set the standard and the players adjust to it and adapt to it game in and game out. So no, I thought he did a good job, that’s what he’s asked to do, be hard on people, stick up for your teammates, go to the net, score dirty goals, make plays off the wall, all those things. So that hit was part of the job description and he did it. They reversed the call and at the end of the day, it went against us. We want Ritch to be physical, not reckless, and that’s what we thought it was, but it didn’t work out that way.”

Ritchie later fought Barclay Goodrow, took a good punch to the kisser and then landed several shots to the helmet before losing his balance.

“I thought on the play I had no intent to put a guy on the ice and injure anybody,” said Ritchie. “I was just finishing my hit, thought I did a good 1192423 Boston Bruins than they did in the 7-1 Game 3 loss. But Tampa is just too good to spot three goals and expect to come back. Now the B’s need to beat the Lightning three straight games if they want to advance.

Goaltending battle puts Bruins’ season on the brink The B’s goalie tandem that won the Jennings Trophy could have been Halak cannot come up with timely save in Game 4 loss very useful in this series. Rask could have played the first two games, and a fresh Halak could have given Rask a break in the second half of the back-to-back in Game 3. Instead, the 35-year-old Halak looked a tad gassed in Game 3, and the results were predictable. STEVE CONROY Much like our current political climate, there is enough information for August 29, 2020 both sides of the Rask debate to stay entrenched in their thinking. The No. 1 goalie’s departure from the bubble gives his longtime and unrelenting critics another chance to say “See, he’s not there when they Which Tuukka Rask camp you reside in doesn’t really matter right now. needed him.” Meanwhile, Rask’s supporters can smugly say “Miss him a little, don’t ya?” Whether you’ve taken the human, compassionate approach to his absence, or you remain unforgiving about it, one thing is becoming With their once-impressive season hanging in the balance, the Bruins increasingly undeniable: The Bruins miss him. certainly do. But deep down we all knew that was going to be the case.

When Rask left the Toronto bubble on the morning of Aug. 15 to attend Boston Herald LOADED: 08.30.2020 to a family matter, just hours ahead of the Bruins’ Game 3 against the , the B’s chances of winning the Stanley Cup dimmed considerably.

Now, after the B’s lost 3-1 to the Tampa Bay Lightning in Saturday’s Game 4 to fall behind in the series by the same margin, those Cup chances are all but extinguished.

Jarolsav Halak is a battler, and the fact that the B’s are down to their last out is certainly not all his fault. But there was a juncture in Saturday’s game when the Bruins needed him to come up with a makeable save and he didn’t.

The B’s were chasing the game after falling behind 1-0 in the first period on some uncharacteristically sleepy play from the fourth line, but they were making a strong push in the second period. They didn’t score on an early power play to start the period, but they gained momentum from it and were testing Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy.

But on one of the few Tampa Bay counterattacks in the second, the Bolts scored. Anthony Cirelli served up a long distance one-timer to Ondrej Palat at 12:29. Palat’s shot was a hard one, but not particularly well- placed. It was well within Halak’s glove hand, a trouble spot for the netminder throughout the playoffs, and he just missed it.

So instead of being one shot away from tying the game, they were in a 2- 0 hole, with no ladder in sight.

“Well, it doesn’t help, obviously,” said coach Bruce Cassidy, frustrated for a number of reasons. “You’re in a one-goal game and feel you’ve played through some stuff. Again, tonight in the first period, our guy (Karson) Kuhlman gets drilled from behind, we confronted the situation (by Nick Ritchie) and we’re on the short end of the stick. And you saw what happened on a very similar hit later. So there’s a little bit of that going on in this series. We weren’t able to play through the other night (in the Game 3 blowout loss), and then tonight we did a much better job. So, yeah, we need that save. It’s a good hockey club. We’re not scoring a lot right now and part of that is our own issue about hitting the net but they’ve got a very good goaltender and a good defense. Every goal matters and that one, obviously, at the time was a big one for them.”

To be clear, Vasilevskiy did not have to steal this game for Tampa. He stopped 29 of 30 shots, with not a ton of testers in that bunch. And when the B’s were looking to make the late push with Halak pulled for the extra skater, the Lightning defenders refused to give the B’s a sniff. In truth, Halak had to come up with more high degree of difficulty stops than his counterpart. And requiring that he beat a team like Tampa 1-0 is an awfully big ask for the backup – a very good backup, to be sure, but a backup nonetheless.

But much like Rask in his long run last season, Vasilevskiy was good when he had to be. That juncture came in the second period when the B’s gave their push. The 6-foot-3, 215-pound Vasilevskiy held his ground on a couple of occasions when the B’s crashed the net, most notably when Karson Kuhlman took the puck to the net and then when a loose puck squirted out to Joakim Nordstrom, he made a terrific pad save.

That allowed the Bolts to gather themselves and deliver the killer strike from Palat that Halak could not stop. Tampa went up 3-0 late in the second on a goal off a bad bounce late in a five-minute boarding major as a result of Ritchie’s hit on Yanni Gourde. After that, it was about playing for their pride, and the Bruins certainly did a better job of that 1192424 Boston Bruins

Bruins-Lightning: Sean Kuraly out for Game 4

Connor Clifton, Karson Kuhlman back in the lineup for Bruins

STEVE CONROY

August 29, 2020

Sean Kuraly remains out for the Bruins for today’s Game 4 against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. Coach Bruce Cassidy termed the valuable center/wing as day-to-day with an undisclosed injury.

Par Lindholm will stay in Kuraly’s spot as the fourth-line center while Karson Kuhlman will make his series debut as the third line right wing with center Charlie Coyle and left wing Nick Ritchie. Cassidy returns with the conventional 12 forwards/six defensemen alignment, with Connor Clifton going back into the lineup.

As expected, Jaroslav Halak will be back in net after getting pulled in the 7-1 blowout loss in Game 3 on Wednesday.

It has been an unusual 72 hours, to say the least. Game 4 had been originally scheduled for Friday night, but the players, spurred by the NBA and other leagues, staged a strike that shut down the game scheduled for Thursday and Friday in the name of racial issues within their sport and throughout society.

But Cassidy said the team held an energetic practice on Friday and feels there will be no issues in flipping the switch and getting back into playoff mode.

“I think it will be playoff intensity. Because it’s a 12 noon game you may not see the physicality the first shift but, having said that, who knows? I think we’ve played well at this hour,” said Cassidy in a pregame Zoom conference. “I think the day away from the rink (Thursday) physically was good for everybody. I know for our team, we’ve played a lot of hockey, three in four nights. Tampa, same boat. And the mental part is completely different in terms of thinking hockey. Listen, these guys love what they do and both teams will be ready to go simply because they’re back at what they do best and that’s playing hockey. I know for us, we know where we are in the series. There’s lots of urgency and I believe it will be there.”

Boston Herald LOADED: 08.30.2020 1192425 Boston Bruins piece of the saucer pass from Nikita Kucherov, but Halak saw the shot and was able to lift his glove hand to make a futile save attempt. The puck glanced off Halak’s glove and into the net, and the Bruins were In this unusual circumstance, it's very hard to see the Bruins coming back down 2-0 in the second period after playing pretty well in the middle 20 from 3-1 minutes.

In the series, Halak now has an .899 save percentage and has given up close to a handful of goals on shots that need to be stopped. It’s Joe Haggerty pointless to ask what would have happened if Tuukka Rask was in net for the Bruins because that’s not going to happen in this series. But one of August 29, 2020 the few areas where the Bruins might have had an advantage -- goaltending -- is now another department where they are now inferior to the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Bruins postseason in the Toronto bubble was fun while it lasted, but it’s over. Cassidy was asked postgame what his message would be for Game 5, and it was mostly about fixing the many problems that he sees right now. The Black and Gold plummeted to a 3-1 deficit in the best-of-seven series with a 3-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 4 at “We had some breakdowns in front of our net early on, and we have to Scotiabank Arena on Saturday afternoon, and now have no room for correct those and need to be harder. We need to be more assertive in error. those areas. Guys that we rely on to be hard defensively, good awareness, checking players get scored on the first goal. We didn’t This series has been eerily similar to the second round playoff series two manage the puck again. It usually starts there,” said Cassidy, of the years ago, when the Bruins won the first game and then couldn’t muster fourth line getting scored on by Ondrej Palat and Brayden Point yet anything against a Lightning club that blew them off the ice with four again. “You turn pucks over against Tampa, it starts there. You have to straight wins. be more assertive with your feet before you move a puck and take some ice. That one came back at us. It feels like we’re all going to see the same movie again on Monday night in an elimination Game 5. “After that I thought we were better at that. We’ll always talk about the things we do well and correct the things we don’t. I thought the penalty Obviously, the setting is different, with all the Eastern Conference players kill is a good example, we did a good job. This is two games in a row quarantined in Toronto due to COVID-19. And the Lightning are playing we’ve blocked a shot that [ends up] in our net. [That] just doesn’t happen seriously shorthanded with Steve Stamkos and Ryan McDonagh as over a long period of time. So some puck luck is not going our way, but significant missing presences that have both been injured for the bulk of having said that, they are a shot-mentality team, and if we had that the series. But so much remains the same, including Tampa’s strengths mentality too maybe we’d get some of these breaks where pucks go in of depth and skill, and Boston’s sheer inability to score even strength off people. That will be a bit of the message, as well.” which has been their downfall in each of the last three postseasons, including this one. None of this even gets into the fact that teams aren’t coming back from big deficits like this in the bubble because thoughts of home begin to After Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak were the creep into players’ heads at this point. The Bruins have been away from driving forces behind the offense in the Game 1 win, they have been their families for six weeks and many of Boston’s key players have young effectively contained during even strength play just as they were two families that they’re understandably missing right now. years ago vs. Tampa Bay’s big defenders. Bergeron has zero points in each of the last three games and just five shots on net, Marchand has That kind of situation is going to chip some of the resolve away from a just one even strength point and four shots on net in each of the last hockey club that’s down big in a playoff series. three games and Pastrnak has just one even strength assist in the last three games, despite 13 shots on net. That’s just human nature and the Bruins players most definitely fit into that category. Pastrnak missed a wide-open net in the third period after a sweet Bergeron dish that could have eventually made it a one-goal game late in “It’s all a mentality. We have to regroup and focus on one game at a time. the third period. Those kinds of missed opportunities are killers against People have been in worse situations and come out on top,” said Charlie Tampa Bay and make it feel like it’s just not going to happen for Boston. Coyle. “We just have to take it this one, one game at a time. Focus on that next game. That is all we can control right now.” Overall, the Bruins have just two 5-on-5 goals over their last three games, and that’s not going to cut it against Tampa Bay. That was going It’s a nice sentiment from Coyle, but it’s not about mentality when it to be part of the message to the B’s players headed into Game 5, but it comes to the Bruins and Lightning. Tampa Bay has clearly shown in the sure feels like it’s a little too late at this point. last two postseason meetings they are a better hockey club than the Bruins, and they are doing it again this series. In a must-win Game 4, Bergeron, Marchand and David Krejci combined for two shots on net and Jake DeBrusk’s power play goal in the third was The only question now is how many games it will take and what the Boston’s only source of offense. Bruins are going to do about a better team in their division blocking their way these days. That’s just not going to cut it regardless of what’s going on with the defense and the goaltending. It’s clear after four games that something needs to change with the Black and Gold, because it’s not good enough right now. And they may have a “We had an opportunity to even the series. The other day I do feel those long upcoming offseason to think about it. games happen from time-to-time where the other team is better and they take advantage of opportunities, and they keep getting opportunities and Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 08.30.2020 taking advantage of them. I don't think we had our legs in Game 3. This one I thought we did, we had our energy level and we were competing hard, winning our share of races, winning pucks,” said Bruce Cassidy. “To score goals we have to hit the net more often and force him to make saves and control rebounds. We’re just off net with too many good chances today.

“They got another opportunity to build on their lead with what we feel is a questionable call [on Nick Ritchie], they did it. They took advantage of it and that's what good teams do. It put us in a bigger hole and we started working our way out of it, but if you're going to put yourself in a hole you got to score goals to win games. We weren't able to do that.”

But it goes beyond the offense for the sagging Black and Gold.

The killer in the Game 4 loss was Jaroslav Halak whiffing on an Ondrej Palat one-timer under the bar in the second period. Palat got a good 1192426 Boston Bruins the final blow to the Bruins' season when he threw a late hit on Yanni Gourde in the second period of Game 4.

"I had no intent to injure anybody" The Bruins should have never put Nick Ritchie in a situation to cost the team Nick Ritchie talks about his hit against Yanni Gourde pic.twitter.com/69tJNrAha0

— NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSBoston) August 29, 2020 DJ Bean With Ritchie in the box serving five minutes for boarding, the Lightning August 29, 2020 scored to make it 3-0 and put the game -- and likely series -- out of reach.

It stinks that we keep dwelling on Nick Ritchie, but when you tell the story After the game, Cassidy vehemently defended Ritchie, saying the hit of the 2019-20 Bruins, he will unfortunately be a major, major part of it. wasn't that bad. We can agree to disagree on the severity of the hit, but there is not debating the penalties have been costly. Ritchie takes When the Lightning made real upgrades at the trade deadline, the Bruins penalty, other team scores. That's how it's worked the last two games. got Ritchie. When the lineup had questions, the Bruins stuck with Ritchie. And when the season was on the line, that stubborn commitment cost This is cruel to the guy. I'm sure Ritchie wants to work through these them. struggles, but it's seemingly only getting worse. It would have been best for all parties if the Bruins recognized it hasn't worked and sent Ritchie It isn't Nick Ritchie's fault that the Bruins saw him as an answer. It isn't back to the press box. his fault that, after showing he was not that answer, the Bruins doubled down and kept him in the lineup. Maybe they'll do it for Game 5. It should be obvious, but given the Bruins' commitment to the player so far, maybe they really will go down clinging This is more on Don Sweeney and Bruce Cassidy, both of whom are to him. good at their jobs, than it is on Ritchie, who at this point is not good at his. You should have expected more from the Bruins' decision-makers. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 08.30.2020

Let's revisit the trade, which in many ways doomed the Bruins' season. The Bruins approached the trade deadline with the best record in hockey, but obvious issues at wing. They needed a right wing for David Krejci and at least one serviceable option for the third line. was a solid player having a down year; he needed to be the third best player on that third line.

Short on cap space, Don Sweeney sent a first-round pick and a prospect to Anaheim for them to take most of David Backes' contract and send Ondrej Kase back. That gave the Bruins a useful body at wing.

Bruins miscues way too numerous in Game 4 loss

Then on deadline day came the head-scratcher. Heinen to the Ducks for Ritchie, a top-10 pick in 2014 who hadn't lived up to expectations but had size (6-foot-2, 230 pounds) that would have attracted teams in past versions of the NHL.

Ritchie had eight goals in 41 games for the Ducks, which was impressive at first glance, but clearly an outlier given that Ritchie's shooting percentage (11.4) was way higher than his career average entering this season (8.3). He'd also just scored two goals the day before the trade, which helped disguise a not-very-good season as a good one.

Nevertheless, the Bruins took the bait on Ritchie and, in an effort to upgrade from Heinen, downgraded. Who knows what could happen, though? Maybe a change of scenery would benefit the player and uncover something he hadn't been.

Plus, the deal saved money given that Heinen makes just over $1.3 million more a year than Ritchie. Ideally, the Bruins could have used John Moore or somebody else to create more cap space, then had a trade partner retain money on an established winger, because really, Kase and Ritchie were both question marks.

Maybe it's because Heinen is kind of a boring player and maybe it's because Bruins fans incorrectly think they lost the Cup last year because of a lack of physicality, but the Ritchie acquisition was celebrated. It should have been met with skepticism.

Since he's been in the lineup this postseason, it's been clear that Ritchie was not a useful piece. After Game 2 of the first round, the Bruins scratched Ritchie, an apparent sign that they'd seen enough.

Yet when the second round began, Ritchie was back skating to the left of Charlie Coyle on the third line. Maybe it's because Sean Kuraly, used in Ritchie's place to end the Carolina series, wasn't healthy enough for the heavier lifting of third-line duty. Maybe it's because Anders Bjork and Jack Studnicka provided questions of their own.

Whatever the reason, the Bruins went back to Ritchie and stuck with him. He jammed in a goal in Game 2, but his contributions mostly ended there. A bad retaliatory slash in front of two officials led to the Lightning scoring Game 3's first goal, then Ritchie provided what might have been 1192427 Boston Bruins the explanation was it was late or if it was a 225-pound man hitting a 170-pound man and that’s why the penalty is called," said Cassidy.

"I thought Paquette did the same thing, if not worse, to Kuhlman in the Perhaps in desperation, Bruce Cassidy backs Nick Ritchie's nasty hit first period. The standard is set, that’s what officials do, they set the standard and the players adjust to it and adapt to it game in and game out. I thought [Ritchie] did a good job. That’s what he’s asked to do: Be Joe Haggerty hard on people, stick up for your teammates, go to the net, score dirty goals, make plays off the wall and all those things. August 29, 2020 “So that hit was part of the job description and he did it. They reversed

the call and at the end of the day, it went against us. We want Ritch to be Nick Ritchie blasted Yanni Gourde with a late, punishing hit in the second physical, not reckless, and that’s what we thought it was, but it didn’t period of Game 4 on Saturday that earned the plodding Bruins winger a work out that way.” five-minute major for boarding. It bears watching to see if any of Cassidy’s comments have an impact on Ritchie's hit was roundly criticized on the NBC broadcast in the studio how Game 5 is called on Monday night with Boston’s back up against the between periods and had TV analysts, media and Bruins fans alike wall, and a clear need for desperation and urgency out of his Bruins calling for Ritchie to be benched for the rest of the game. It was a clearly team. dirty, ill-advised hit that also led to the Tampa Bay Lightning's crushing Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 08.30.2020 third goal in a 3-1 drubbing of the Bruins in Game 4 in the Toronto bubble.

Ritchie hit Gourde long after he had released the puck, and the impact far away from the boards slammed the Tampa Bay forward awkwardly into the sideboards after the collision. Gourde was able to finish out the game with no injury, and the Bruins winger said postgame he was simply doing his job and finishing his check with some playoff-level emphasis.

"I had no intent to injure anybody"

Nick Ritchie talks about his hit against Yanni Gourde pic.twitter.com/69tJNrAha0

— NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSBoston) August 29, 2020

“I had no intent to put a guy on the ice and injure anybody. I was just finishing my hit, thought I did a good job keeping my arms down and it was shoulder to shoulder,” said Ritchie. “Maybe he wasn’t expecting it [after] he just got rid of the puck. I’m just playing my game and that’s part of it, sometimes stuff like that happens.”

Normally head coach Bruce Cassidy has an even-tempered response postgame to incidents like this, but it sure sounded like he believes the B’s got the short end of the stick.

Perhaps Cassidy is in desperation mode now down 3-1 in a series to Tampa Bay again with little hope of coming back, and backed his power forward’s transgression while chiding Gourde for acting his way into a bigger penalty for the Bruins. This wasn’t the usual Cassidy assessment of things postgame, but perhaps the B’s coach realizes that the same old, same old isn’t working for the Bruins against a deeper, more talented Lightning group.

Or perhaps Cassidy is watching coaches like Craig Berube and Jon Cooper work the officials against the Bruins in playoff series with whining and lobbying, and he’s doing something that he thinks might work for the Black and Gold. Either way it sounds like Cassidy thinks the Bruins got screwed with the five minute major call.

“There was no [penalty] call, and then it turned into a five-minute major. I’m not sure, I guess we’ll get an explanation or we won’t, I don’t know, I didn’t get one of why that changed. Clearly Gourde was down on the play, he’s a good player, a real good player for them, clever obviously, got them on the power play for five minutes,” said Cassidy.

“He finished the game and had no problems in the third period. I didn’t agree with the call. As I said, [Karson] Kuhlman got hit by [Cedric] Paquette late in the first period. [It was] a very, very, very, very, very similar hit, no call. But I guess we’ll ask that question [and] find out what the thinking was.”

Cassidy was referencing a shoulder-to-shoulder hit against the end boards in the first period when Paquette slammed into Kuhlman, and then Ritchie put the Bruins shorthanded for a couple of minutes by jumping a player in Paquette who's never going to answer the bell. Some of the characteristics of the hit were similar, but the Ritchie was definitely later and further away from the boards making it a more reckless action.

Again, Cassidy didn’t see it that way.

“He’s finishing a check, it happens all the time. [Ritchie] played through a player’s shoulder as I saw it. Shoulder to shoulder…hard. I don’t know if 1192428 Boston Bruins in which he was clearly upset at being down 3-1 to the Lightning again a couple of years after the Bruins lost to Tampa in five games.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 08.30.2020 Bruins vs. Lightning Talking Points: B's miscues pile up in Game 4 loss

Joe Haggerty

August 29, 2020

The Boston Bruins are one loss away from exiting the Toronto bubble after losing 3-1 to the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 4 of their second- round series.

Here are some talking points from Game 4:

GOLD STAR: Ondrej Palat has been a killer in this series for the Lightning. Palat scored each of the game's first two goals and gave Tampa Bay a lead it wouldn’t relinquish in the first couple of periods. The first goal was a nice play where he cruised to the front of the net and found a spot in the interior B’s defense before converting a pass from Brayden Point, while the second goal was a one-timer that beat Jaroslav Halak’s glove hand for a crushing 2-0 lead.

Palat finished with the two goals and a plus-2 rating in 18:42 of ice time while putting up five shots on net, one hit and three takeaways in a stellar performance. Palat has been an absolute Bruins assassin in this playoff series with four goals and six points in four games.

BLACK EYE: The Bruins have circled the wagons for Nick Ritchie, but his mistakes were unforgivable in this game. He jumped Cedric Paquette – a guy who's looking for him to do exactly that before he turtles and draws a penalty – and landed in the penalty box after pummeling him, then hit Yanni Gourde far too late with a dangerous hit away from the boards that earned him a five-minute major.

The Lightning scored on that power play to take a 3-0 lead that the Bruins couldn't surmount. That’s two games in a row where Ritchie’s lack of discipline has hurt the Bruins and dug them a hole against a superior Lighting team that’s taking advantage of every chance Boston is giving them.

I expected Ritchie to be benched in the third period, but instead Bruce Cassidy kept rolling him out there and covered for him after the game. I guess the B’s are all-in on Ritchie at this point.

TURNING POINT: The Bruins were still locked in a 1-0 game in the second period and showed signs of taking control of the game, but then disaster struck in the form of Tampa Bay's second score, a soft goal on Halak.

Nikita Kucherov fed Ondrej Palat with the saucer pass and Palat smoked a one-timer under the bar that Halak simply missed with his glove-hand save attempt.

It was a gut punch for the Bruins that pushed them down by two goals and was followed less than two minutes later by Ritchie bludgeoning Gourde with a late hit that put the B’s shorthanded again. Once that sequence happened, it was game over for the Bruins and probably series over with the B’s down 3-1 in the best-of-seven series.

HONORABLE MENTION: Hand it to Jake DeBrusk for being the only player who was able to light the lamp in Game 4. DeBrusk scored on a nice play shooting through an Ondrej Kase screen to make it a 3-1 game in the third period, but that’s as close as the B’s would get after the power play score.

DeBrusk finished with seven shot attempts and was pretty engaged while playing the body and using his skating legs throughout his 14:45 of ice time.

The second line was at least a little better in Game 4 while generating some chances. For the second game in a row, however, the Tampa defense was able to stymie the Perfection Line and pretty much bottle up Boston’s offense just as it did in the teams' playoff series a couple of years ago.

BY THE NUMBERS: .899 – the save percentage for Jaroslav Halak in this series vs. Tampa Bay, which is not going to get it done.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "We've just got to get shots through. There's no excuse for it.” – David Krejci, in a very terse postgame press conference 1192429 Boston Bruins The @NHLBruins get on the board with a Jake DeBrusk PPG!

NBC | @HockeyvilleUSA pic.twitter.com/BFwv3pOu6s

Bruins vs. Lightning highlights: Lackluster Game 4 pushes B's to brink — #StanleyCup Playoffs on NBC (@NHLonNBCSports) August 29, 2020

UP NEXT

Darren Hartwell The Lightning can send the Bruins packing in Game 5, which begins Monday, Aug. 31, at 7 p.m. ET. August 29, 2020 Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 08.30.2020

FINAL SCORE: Tampa Bay Lightning 3, Boston Bruins 1

IN BRIEF: Is this 2018 all over again?

The Lightning carried the momentum of their 7-1 Game 3 rout into Game 4 of their second-round Stanley Cup Playoff series against the Bruins, scoring the first three goals Saturday to cruise to a 3-1 win and take a commanding 3-1 series lead after dropping the series opener.

Ondrej Palat struck first with a goal midway through the first period, then added his second goal of the game at the 12:29 mark of the second frame. Victor Hedman's power play goal with under two minutes to play in the second period was the back-breaker for Boston, which now has been outscored 10-2 over its last two games.

BOX SCORE

Series: 3-1 Lightning

HIGHLIGHTS

The Lightning would have had an earlier lead if not for this beauty of a save by Bruins goaltender Jaroslav Halak.

In the words of Doc... "Magnificent!"

What a stick save #NHLBruins | #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/AkytVdrBEf

— #StanleyCup Playoffs on NBC (@NHLonNBCSports) August 29, 2020

A brutal turnover by the Bruins and a defensive breakdown in front of the net led to Palat's first goal.

Lightning S T R I K E S

The @TBLightning break the ice in Game 4.

NBC | @HockeyvilleUSA pic.twitter.com/C1eoa7nvQq

— #StanleyCup Playoffs on NBC (@NHLonNBCSports) August 29, 2020

Anthony Cerelli set up Palat for a beauty of a one-timer that whistled past Halak's extended glove in the second period to give Tampa Bay a two- goal lead.

Lightning S T R I K E S

The @TBLightning break the ice in Game 4.

NBC | @HockeyvilleUSA pic.twitter.com/C1eoa7nvQq

— #StanleyCup Playoffs on NBC (@NHLonNBCSports) August 29, 2020

Nick Ritchie earned a five-minute major penalty for this ugly hit on Yanni Gourde, who remained on the ice for some time before slowly skating off.

Nick Ritchie's hit on Gourde.

A stupid, ill-timed, dangerous play from Ritchie. pic.twitter.com/PbgOgXjdzI

— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) August 29, 2020

The Lightning capitalized on the penalty thanks to a little puck luck when Hedman's shot from the blue line deflected off Ondrej Kase's skate and looped over Halak to make it 3-0.

Lightning strikes THREE TIMES #GoBolts | #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/nKnIlquViy

— #StanleyCup Playoffs on NBC (@NHLonNBCSports) August 29, 2020

Jake DeBrusk's power play goal in the third period was too little too late for the Bruins. 1192430 Boston Bruins

Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand make social justice statement before Game 4

Darren Hartwell

August 29, 2020

Before the Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning resumed their second-round Stanley Cup Playoff series Saturday, they took a moment to reflect on why they paused in the first place.

Prior to Game 4 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, the NHL played a 90- second video on the Jumbotron with the message "Black Lives Matter" urging its players to confront racism in America.

It's bigger than the game and we have to confront it together.#BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/0gQ0vSoVoW

— #StanleyCup Playoffs on NBC (@NHLonNBCSports) August 29, 2020

Following the video, Lightning defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk and Bruins forwards Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand each issued pre-recorded messages promoting social justice and equality.

"It was amazing to see everyone coming together and realizing this is bigger than sports," Bergeron said, referring to NHL teams' decision to postpone play for two days following the shooting of an unarmed Black man, Jacob Blake, by a white police officer Sunday in Kenosha, Wis.

"It's about human rights. It's about supporting our Black players and being for them and realizing there needs to be change. We want to be part of that change going forward, so this is just the beginning," Bergeron added, while stressing the need for "actions" in addition to reflections and conversations about racism in America.

Marchand echoed Bergeron's comments, calling the last two days "impactful" in his statement.

"We want to continue to use our platform to show that we stand together with all of our players of color and to continue to show that we're going to be better," Marchand said. "We're going to continue to show our support. This is only the start. This is the beginning of a lot of change."

Bergeron and Marchand spoke at length Friday about social justice in America being "bigger than hockey," so it's no surprise to see the veteran leaders represent the Bruins in continuing the conversation.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 08.30.2020 1192431 Boston Bruins

Bruins vs. Lightning: Karson Kuhlman, Connor Clifton return for Game 4

Joe Haggerty

August 29, 2020

The Bruins are making some lineup adjustments headed into a pivotal Game 4 against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The B’s will go back to their normal 12 forwards/six defensemen makeup and insert Karson Kuhlman and Connor Clifton in against the Lightning on Saturday. Kuhlman hasn’t played in over two weeks dating to Game 2 of the Carolina series and Clifton was a healthy scratch in the blowout loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 3.

Sean Kuraly is out for the second straight game with an undisclosed injury and is “day-to-day,” according to head coach Bruce Cassidy.

The move to take Clifton out of the lineup was a bit of a head scratcher given that he’s been one of Boston's more effective defensemen in the physicality and offense department and has the only goal among Bruins defensemen this postseason.

Kuhlman will skate on the third line with Charlie Coyle and Nick Ritchie and will effectively replace Anders Bjork among the forward group.

More importantly, the Bruins are making some adjustments on the penalty kill after they were dinged for three power play goals in Game 3 following a Tampa adjustment that switched Nikita Kucherov to the opposite side of the ice.

“We addressed what happened [in Game 3]. Yesterday was about our neutral zone defense,” said Cassidy. “I think they’re getting through there too easily and we have to be more in sync as a five-man unit. Obviously offensively they make it tough to get inside originally, but you have to get inside for those second and third chance opportunities.

“This morning we touched on a couple of things. We don’t want to overthink things and just go out there and play hockey.”

Here’s the expected lineup for Game 4, which begins at 12 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network:

Marchand-Bergeron-Pastrnak

DeBrusk-Krejci-Kase

Ritchie-Coyle-Kuhlman

Nordstrom-Lindholm-Wagner

Chara-McAvoy

Krug-Carlo

Grzelcyk-Clifton

Halak

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 08.30.2020 1192432 Boston Bruins “The discipline was nothing originally, there was no call, and then it turned into a five-minute major,” said the coach. “I’m not sure, I guess we’ll get an explanation or we won’t, I don’t know. I didn’t get one on why Buckley: The undisciplined penalty that may mark the end of the Bruins’ that changed. Clearly Gourde was down on the play. He’s a good player, season a real good player for them, clever obviously, got them on the power play for five minutes. He finished the game, had no problems in the third period. I didn’t agree with the call.”

Steve Buckley (“Clever” = “embellished.”)

Aug 29, 2020 And then there was Exhibit B.

“In the first period, our guy Kuhlman gets drilled from behind, and we’re going to confront the situation. We’re on the short end of the stick,” In the interest of thinking big picture, in the interest of a getting a better Cassidy said. night’s sleep — and in the interest of helping themselves to a big bowl o’ postseason optimism — this might be a good time for Boston sports fans “Kuhlman got hit by Paquette late in the first period, like I said, a very, to recall the many times one of the hometown teams has picked itself up very, very, very, very very similar hit, no call. But I guess we’ll ask that off the playoff canvas and staged a comeback that clearly falls into the question, find out what the thinking was.” “magical” category. (Here’s hoping the NHL invites a pool reporter to see if Cassidy uses six The 2004 Red Sox, you’ll recall, rallied from 0-3 in the ALCS to topple the “verys” when he asks that question.) Yankees in seven games. Fair point by the coach, but this might be a very, very, very, very, very, The 2016 Patriots did that 28-3 thing to the Atlanta Falcons in Super very bad time for the Bruins to be wandering from Scotiabank Arena to Bowl LI. the political arena by playing what-aboutism. For it’s the Bruins who are facing elimination, not the Lightning, and one of the reasons they’re in a And for something that’s closer to home as pertains to today’s topic — hole is because of this kind of undisciplined play. hockey — there’s Game 7 of the 2013 Eastern Conference quarterfinals when the Bruins, trailing the Toronto Maple Leafs by three goals about “I thought on the play I had no intent to put a guy on the ice and injure halfway through the third period, somehow tied the game and then won it anybody,” Ritchie said. “I was just finishing my hit, thought I did a good in sudden death. (Or to quote former Bruins play-by-play announcer job keeping my arms down and it was shoulder to shoulder. Maybe he Dave Goucher in one of the great calls in Boston sportscasting history: wasn’t expecting it and he just got rid of the puck. I’m just playing my “Bergeron! Bergeron!”) game and that’s part of it, sometimes stuff like that happens.”

But until these Bruins make their bid for another entry in that ever- Any chance Ritchie, whose undistinguished Bruins career began when thickening ledger of magical comebacks, it’s not unfair to wonder whether he was acquired from Anaheim midseason, might “alter his mindset”? Nick Ritchie’s needless, pointless boarding call on the Tampa Bay Lightning’s Yanni Gourde on Saturday marks the unofficial end of a once- “I don’t think so,” he replied. “That’s part of the reason why the team promising campaign. brought me in here is to play physical and drive the net. It’s part of my game. I’ve got to finish checks. Sometimes you get away with them. The Bruins were already trailing by two goals in the second period of There’s been a lot of hits, big hits in this series that maybe haven’t been Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinal, but the five-minute major called and I’ve been flagged a couple times. I just have to keep working on Ritchie for boarding with 6:28 remaining followed by Victor Hedman’s and playing my game.” power-play goal mixed together with that in-the-back-of-your-mind knowledge that Andrei Vasilevskiy was looking mighty fine between the Ritchie has at least one more game this season to keep working. But pipes for the Lightning meant this one was effectively over for the B’s. quite possibly nothing beyond that.

And it was: Tampa Bay 3, Boston 1. See you Monday night for Game 5, The Athletic LOADED: 08.30.2020 with the Lightning now just one victory shy of advancing to the Eastern Conference finals.

If this were a college basketball game, the kids in the end zone would be pointing to Ritchie and hollering “It’s all your fault!” Gourde had already advanced the puck along the boards and into another area code when Ritchie plowed into him, prompting the Tampa Bay center to fall awkwardly on the ice and remain motionless for a few moments.

Off Gourde went to the dressing room. He returned to the fray early in the third period.

We now have two plays by Ritchie that provide bookends to this Boston predicament. In Game 3 of what was then an even series, it was a slash by Ritchie on Kevin Shattenkirk that led to a power-play goal for Ondrej Palat, giving the Lightning a 1-0 lead en route to a 7-1 victory. Moreover, that goal snapped a 0-for-15 power-play streak by the Lightning. The other bookend? The boarding call that sent Ritchie to the box for five minutes, effectively sealed Game 3, and maybe the season with it.

It’s important to note that Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy’s job is to keep his players motivated for Monday night’s Game 5, and it was in that spirit that he looked for ways to defend Ritchie for the call on Gourde. And when he sat down for the postgame video session, the well-prepared coach banked on two pieces of evidence to make his case:

Exhibit A: Initially, no call was made.

Exhibit B: Earlier in the game, Boston’s Karson Kuhlman was crunched into the boards by Cedric Paquette and no call was made — except on Ritchie, who rushed to Kuhlman’s defense and was whistled off for roughing.

Asked about the boarding call on Ritchie, Cassidy produced Exhibit A. 1192433 Boston Bruins “If you’re going to be off net, you’re not going to score,” Cassidy said. “That was our problem tonight with some good looks. We were off net. He made some saves. He always does. Solid goaltender. I thought our It’s not bad luck. The Bruins are not as good as the Lightning creation of offense, getting through the neutral zone, getting toward the good ice — all that was there. Just the finish wasn’t.”

It did not help matters that Nick Ritchie spent more time in the penalty Fluto Shinzawa box (12:00) than he did on the ice (10:18). In the first, the No. 3 left wing took a poorly timed retaliatory penalty when Cedric Paquette belted Aug 29, 2020 Karson Kuhlman into the boards. The Bruins were down a goal at the time, courtesy of a Chris Wagner cough-up and Joakim Nordstrom’s inability to mark Palat in front. A power-play goal could have put the There is no argument here if, in the Round 2 duel between No. 1 left Bruins in a bad spot. wings, you declare the Bruins’ Brad Marchand (four goals, one assist) and the Lightning’s Ondrej Palat (four goals, two assists) a tossup. Both The Bruins killed Ritchie’s roughing infraction. But he went right back in have been excellent. Perhaps even the best players for their respective the box in the second for clobbering Yanni Gourde. teams. Cassidy disagreed more with the boarding call than Ritchie’s intention. But consider the following matchups between starting goalies, No. 1 He may have had a beef. But Cassidy cannot dispute the fact Ritchie put centers, top-line right wings, No. 1 defensemen and power-play himself in position to be whistled. The puck was long gone. Ritchie was quarterbacks in the series: late to the scene.

Andrei Vasilevskiy (.927 save percentage) The Lightning got a break on the five-minute power play. After nearly four minutes of solid penalty killing, Tampa Bay’s Hedman fired a one-timer Jaroslav Halak (.891) that bounced off Par Lindholm and fluttered over Halak’s right shoulder. The greater damage was all the unnecessary calories the Bruins burned Brayden Point (1 G-5 A—6 P) killing the penalty. McAvoy (5:35 total shorthanded ice time), Bergeron Patrice Bergeron (0-1—1) (3:31) and Marchand (3:25) spent too much time trying to keep the puck in front of Halak instead of putting it behind Vasilevskiy. Nikita Kucherov (2-5—7) In the third, Barclay Goodrow, acquired by Tampa Bay from San Jose at David Pastrnak (1-4—5) the trade deadline, may have done the Bruins a favor by asking Ritchie to fight and taking the wing off for another five minutes. Victor Hedman (3-1—4) “Just focus on the next shift,” DeBrusk said of the team’s Game 5 Charlie McAvoy (0-0—0) approach. “Focus on the next shift and win your battles. Beat the guy Mikhail Sergachev (1-2—3) across from you. It’s obviously tough being in this kind of environment and in this kind of hole. But that’s how you become a champion.” Torey Krug (0-3—3) The Athletic LOADED: 08.30.2020 In the playoffs, the teams whose best players are the best players usually win. It is why Tampa Bay is up 3-1 in Round 2 following Saturday’s 3-1 Game 4 win.

The Lightning are better than the Bruins.

It may be unfair, in that way, to compare Vasilevskiy to Halak. The fairer fight for Vasilevskiy, a Vezina Trophy finalist, would have been Tuukka Rask, a fellow nominee for top-goalie honors. But Rask is out of the picture. So it was left to Halak to provide a critical stop in Saturday’s second period with his team down 1-0.

Instead, a stoppable Palat one-timer from distance — 40 feet, by the NHL’s measurement — cleared Halak’s glove. The goalie was late on his push from right to left. Palat’s goal gave the Lightning a 2-0 lead and buckled the Bruins, who had been applying heat on Vasilevskiy. The timing was awful.

“Yeah, we need that save,” Bruce Cassidy said. “This is a good hockey club. We’re not scoring a lot right now. Part of that is our own issue of hitting the net. They’ve got a very good goaltender, good defense. Every goal matters. That one, obviously at the time, was a big one for them.”

Vasilevskiy, meanwhile, looked about 10 feet tall. Goalie coaches often identify Vasilevskiy as the model of modern netminding: square, usually on his feet, active with his hands, excellent at reading plays, flexible as Play-Doh when necessary.

He was one save away from perfect. Vasilevskiy’s lone blemish was Jake DeBrusk’s third-period snipe through an Ondrej Kase screen when Tampa Bay was up 3-0.

Other than that, Vasilevskiy played so effortlessly that he appeared to burrow into the Bruins’ heads. In close, they missed nets — Pastrnak hooked a point-blanker wide left in the third — and overpassed, simply because they believed perfect shots were required to beat the ace.

“First one’s not always going to go in on this guy,” Charlie Coyle said. “He’s a good goaltender. If we get to the net, rebounds and pucks are going to be sitting there sometimes. We’ve got to cash in.”

If one part of his attack bothered Cassidy, it was his players’ inability to make Vasilevskiy earn his saves. The Bruins were tagged with 18 missed attempts, led by Krug (four) and DeBrusk (three). 1192434 Chicago Blackhawks Two days later, Las Vegas Golden Knights players Ryan Reaves and Robin Lehner knelt alongside Dallas Stars players Jason Dickinson and Tyler Seguin during the the U.S. and Canadian anthems.

Column: Time for the NHL to step out of its racial bubble before they risk This week, in an incredible wave of spontaneous activism players losing a generation (or two) of fans spearheaded by players, the NBA, WNBA, Major League Soccer and Major League Baseball postponed games to protest the Kenosha police shooting of Jacob Blake, who is Black, though baseball didn’t cancel its PHIL THOMPSON full schedule. Several NFL teams canceled practices.

AUG 29, 2020 The NHL stood alone among North American major professional team sports and gave the go-ahead to its playoff schedule Wednesday, settling

on its widely mocked “moment of reflection” that consisted of reading a Until this summer, the NHL never had a Colin Kaepernick moment, an generic statement before the Boston Bruins played the Tampa Bay active player kneeling on the ice to protest police brutality. Lightning, asking fans to “end racism” — those words also shown in giant letters on video boards — and expressing the league’s desire to “wish The league hadn’t had a LeBron James, a household name putting his Jacob Blake and his family well” — the public relations equivalent of brand on the line by wearing an “I can’t breathe” T-shirt and rhetorically “thoughts and prayers.” tussling with a president over racial issues. “Eventually words get stale, and it’s about action and making a There hadn’t been a divide in its fan base over protests during national difference,” Colorado Avalanche center Nazem Kadri, who is of anthems or whether there’s space in the sport for social activism. Lebanese descent, said via the Denver Post.

Long before COVID-19 forced games into the Toronto and Edmonton, The league didn’t even bother to distribute a formal statement through Alberta, bubbles, hockey lived in its own racial bubble. Historically, the media and its social channels or stage another moment of reflection fan base has been overwhelmingly white. The players and coaches have during the Avalanche-Stars game later that night. Take heart, the NHL’s been overwhelmingly white. Twitter account did have the presence of mind to post pictures of Vancouver Canucks goalie Louis Domingue’s baked goods and a call for Generally, the hockey community has been forced only to confront race dog lovers to show off their Stanley Pups. in the form of racist taunts directed at black or indigenous players by opponents or fans, such as when four fans were ejected from the United Seemingly a day late and “after much discussion,” the NHL followed the Center in 2018 reportedly for yelling “basketball, basketball, basketball” lead of players, who “believe that the best course of action would be to at then-Washington Capitals forward Devante Smith-Pelly, who is Black. take a step back and not play” Thursday’s and Friday’s games, the league said in a statement. As first reported by FloridaHockeyNow.com on Friday, the NHL is investigating an accusation that recently fired Florida Panthers general In one of the most striking Images from hockey in recent memory, manager and former Chicago Blackhawks general manager Dale Tallon dozens of players of various races gathered behind a dais in a show of used a racial slur while the team was in the Toronto secure zone. solidarity for racial justice.

Tallon told Florida Hockey Now: “I am not racist by any means. I have “I think if you look around this room, there’s a lot of white athletes in here, never said anything of the sort. I am all for peace, am all for this alliance and I think that’s the statement that’s being made right now,” said and what everyone is trying to do right now.” Reaves, who is Black. “It’s great that the NBA did this and the MLB and the WNBA. They have a lot of Black players in those leagues. But for all There’s no conflict within the community when such situations arise. The these athletes in here to take a stand and say, ‘You know what? We see league has a zero-tolerance policy when players, staff or others use the problem too, and we stand behind you. …’ racist slurs, and rightfully so. “I go to war with these guys, and I hate their guts on the ice. But I But what happens when a sport is asked to step out of its comfort zone couldn’t be prouder of these guys. The statement that they’ve made and proactively dive into a taboo subject? What happens when players today is something that’s going to last. These two days isn’t going to fix challenge a portion of their base’s long-held way of viewing the world? anything, but the conversation and the statement that’s been made is Before the NHL and NHLPA formalized a partnership with the “You Can very powerful, especially coming from this league.” Play” initiative to fight homophobia in sports in 2013, the league and the “Especially coming from this league,” though not an intentional jab at the Toronto Maple Leafs stepped out on a limb and allowed their logos to be NHL, speaks volumes. used in a movie about a closeted retired hockey player, a decision that received limited backlash from conservative family groups. As does Dumba’s comment after the event: “It makes me so proud to be an NHL player and see that this is player-driven action.” Former New York Rangers winger Sean Avery appeared in a 2011 video supporting same-sex marriage, and some corners of the hockey world Player-driven. objected. And that’s the crux of the issue. It has been a phenomenal year for social The NHL is at another thorny crossroads this summer and has seemed unrest, for cultural change — a moment in which there’s no room to tepid in picking a path. stand on the sidelines, not even for sports.

Fans and even some players rolled their eyes at the league’s The NHL will look out of step and timid by tiptoeing, reluctantly, into the #WeSkateFor campaign, a catch-all for various social justice movements conversation. The league is reactionary. that kicked off as part of a pregame ceremony for Game 1 of the Blackhawks-Oilers qualifying series. Why? Because they risk the ire of “cancel” trolls with reductionist “stick to sports” chirping on social media? That someone, who shall remain Before that game, however, many hockey fans called for the league and unnamed, might call them out as a “political organization”? its players to show specific solidarity for Black Lives Matter — a movement whose name has been polarizing racially and politically — by That for all their work to promote “Hockey Is for Everyone,” their bread is kneeling during the anthems played before exhibition games. still buttered primarily by white fans whom they don’t want to risk alienating? When no players did, a lot of fans — many of them white — posted pictures of themselves kneeling while wearing their favorite hockey Those concerns might or might not be valid in regard to today’s bottom sweaters as #Kneel4Hockey went viral. line, but it could be costly in the long run.

The next day, Minnesota Wild defenseman and Hockey Diversity Alliance Studies show that attitudes are changing about the relationship between co-founder Matt Dumba, who is Filipino-Canadian, knelt during the sports and activism, despite what the “stick-to-sports” crowd tells you. playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” before Hawks-Oilers Game 1 — a A Nielsen study, “Promoting Racial Equality in Sports,” published in July game he wasn’t playing in — as the Hawks’ Malcolm Subban and Oilers’ shows that 59% of sports fans “expect athletes to personally help Darnell Nurse, who are Black, each put a hand on Dumba’s shoulders. progress the BLM movement.” Another Nielsen article showed that while NHL fans as a whole showed the least support for Black Lives Matter among U.S. sports fan bases at 66% — lower than NASCAR by a percentage point — that’s still two- thirds of the base. And “fans of MLS and NHL are actually more giving when it comes to personally supporting the Black Lives Matter movement with their own time and money,” according to Nielsen.

The survey also showed at least three-fourths of each league’s fan base believe “professional athletes have an important responsibility to speak out to educate and raise awareness” about racial injustice, with MLS and NBA fans showing the strongest support.

Like many sports, the fan base is aging — but few leagues are aging faster than the NHL.

A 2017 Magna Global study for Sports Business Journal showed that the average age of TV viewers who watched NHL games in 2016 had increased by 7 years, to 49, from 10 years earlier. Only NASCAR had aged more rapidly (9 years older, to 58).

MLS and NBA fans remained steadiest in attracting younger fans (1 and 2 years older, to 40 and 42, respectively).

Recent data from the Pew Research Center show that Generation Z and millennials are a lot more receptive to diversity and causes such as climate change than older generations. For example, 43% of Gen Z Republicans say “Blacks aren’t treated fairly,” compared with 20% of Republican-leaning Boomers.

Gen Z and millennials might not just be receptive to ties between sports and social justice causes, they may expect it — if you want their devotion and dollars.

America rapidly is becoming more diverse — with the country projected to be 44% non-white-non-Hispanic in 2030 and 56% in 2060, compared with 40% today — and the NHL well knows it.

This is why the league commissioned the 2018 policy brief “Shifting Demographics and Hockey’s Future,” co-authored by the Brookings Institution’s William Frey and Kimberly Davis, NHL executive vice president of social impact, growth initiatives and legislative affairs.

It examined the economic, political and social clout millennials and minorities will wield in the future and the need to understand their preferences, cultural identities and barriers to inclusion within the sport.

The brief noted that “hockey has a perception in some circles as being ‘not for some’ and ‘only for others.’ Now, more than ever, hockey communities and its leaders must focus on the drastic demographic and cultural change that is coming.”

The revolution already is in progress.

Chicago Tribune LOADED: 08.30.2020 1192435 Colorado Avalanche Footnote. Bednar said defenseman Nikita Zadorov, who didn’t play in the third period of Game 3 because of injury, practiced Saturday and should be in the lineup Sunday.

Chambers: Avalanche injuries aren’t alarming; depth makes winning Denver Post: LOADED: 08.30.2020 possible

MIKE CHAMBERS

August 29, 2020

If the injury-plagued Avalanche rallies from an 0-2 series deficit to eliminate the Dallas Stars, Colorado general manager Joe Sakic and his staff should get the much-deserved credit.

Players win games, but setting the team up for success is on Sakic and his right-hand man, Chris MacFarland, among others. Sakic is a Hockey Hall of Fame inductee but MacFarland’s name cannot be found on any database of junior, college, or professional players.

Despite the massive difference in their hockey backgrounds, Sakic and MacFarland make a great team.

Thanks to them, the Avs have great depth, and without it, they wouldn’t even be in these playoffs — let alone among the eight teams still playing.

Colorado coach Jared Bednar, despite his team’s three days off since Game 3, said he will again be without four key players in Sunday’s Game 4. But the injuries to goalie Philipp Grubauer, defensemen Erik Johnson and forwards Matt Calvert and Joonas Donskoi won’t cause panic. All season, the Avs have found ways to win while some of their best players were unavailable at the same time. And they plan on doing that again.

“We know we’re good enough to win,” star center Nathan MacKinnon said Saturday of the Avs’ injury-depleted lineup. “Obviously, having those injured guys (in the lineup) would help. We were hurt all season. We don’t want to be hurt but we have no choice than to put our best foot forward and hope those guys get healthy, (and) if we can win this series we can get them back in later rounds. So we got to get through this round. Down 2-1, it’s a huge one Sunday.”

The four replacements who began the playoffs as healthy scratches or backups were drafted (forward Tyson Jost), acquired by trade (defenseman Kevin Connauton) or signed via free agency (goalie Pavel Francouz and forward Logan O’Connor). And they each spent time with the Avs’ affiliate, the Colorado Eagles in Loveland.

The Eagles, in their second year as the Avs’ AHL affiliate, are run by Avalanche assistant general manager Craig Billington, another unsung hero of the organization.

“Moving our affiliation up the road (from Denver) was one of the best choices I think our organization has made,” Bednar said Saturday. “Everyone’s kind of on the same page when it comes to the way we want to play as an organization, the structure of our game, although they have a little bit of a different makeup, I just feel like that’s been a home run.

“Some of the depth players we’ve gotten out of there over the last couple years — credit to the coaches and their hard work — they’ve come up, been ready to play and have helped us win hockey games.”

Kiszla: Shut up and play? No way. Protests from Broncos, Avs, Nuggets and Rockies will not be silenced in 2020.

NHL pauses playoffs to protest racial injustice. “It’s something that needed to be done”

Sakic should be a candidate to win the Jim Gregory General manager of the Year Award, which is voted on by 10 print and broadcast media and all 31 GMs. He should be a shoo-in if the Avs rally to eliminate the Stars, because the award is voted on at the end of the second round of the playoffs.

Two areas of the Avalanche have been consistent throughout this season: Injuries and winning.

Without this kind of depth, winning wouldn’t be as frequent, and the Avs wouldn’t be in a position to advance to the Western Conference finals. 1192436 Dallas Stars

Dallas Morning News LOADED: 08.30.2020

How the Stars have balanced wrestling with social justice issues and preparing for Game 4 vs. Avalanche

Matthew DeFranks

4:54 PM on Aug 29, 2020

After two days without hockey in order to direct attention to racial inequality, the Stars will resume their second-round series against Colorado with Game 4 on Sunday evening.

The Stars and Avalanche last played Wednesday night, when Colorado cut Dallas’ series lead to 2-1 with a third-period comeback. The next day, the NHL — at the urging of its players — postponed playoff games scheduled for Thursday and Friday, which included Game 4 of the Stars- Avalanche series.

“Obviously, being a white athlete, we go through life a little differently,” Stars captain Jamie Benn said. “There were some strong words a couple days ago, and we’re never going to know because we’re never in their shoes. It’s important to try and get a grasp of what they’re going through and what we can do to help.”

Benn and forward Joe Pavelski spoke Saturday afternoon about the atmosphere following Game 3′s loss in relation to the social climate and the various postponements around the sports world Wednesday.

“When we got done, there was definitely a different feeling that I don’t think I’ve experienced at times after a game,” Pavelski said. “It wasn’t about the win or the loss at that moment. Just guys sitting around, eating dinner at night, trying to figure out what’s all going on and starting the conversations [about] what’s going to happen these next few days.”

Benn: “For me, it was probably one of those games where I felt pretty anxious to play, wasn’t sure if it was the right thing to do. In the end, we ended up playing and dealt with it after. A couple days to reflect here, and we’re definitely looking forward to tomorrow, but obviously know there’s a lot going on in this world.”

When the Stars return to the ice, they’ll try to quell any momentum the Avalanche built during Game 3.

For 1:15 of the third period Wednesday night, it looked like the Stars could be taking a commanding 3-0 series lead. Benn had just deflected an Esa Lindell point shot to give Dallas a 4-3 lead after being down 3-1. But 75 seconds after that goal, the Avalanche tied the score at 4. They pulled away with two more goals.

While the Stars kept the Avs at bay for most of Game 1 and stormed back from a two-goal deficit in Game 2, it was Colorado with the final answer in Game 3.

The Avalanche finally found the secondary scoring they had missed early in the series, as Anton Khudobin had an uncharacteristically off night for Dallas.

What were the last two days like for Stars interim coach Rick Bowness, wrestling with social issues while also preparing for a hockey game?

“All we can hope is that the stance the players and the league took has some benefit to it,” Bowness said. “We support it, and we hope it’s noticed and the world becomes a bit of a better place because of it, it’s noticed. On top of that, we’re here to win the Stanley Cup. We have to support the protests and support the players and the league on the stance. Again, you hope a lot of positives come out of it. That’s the goal.

“Now we’re playing tomorrow, as a coach, you just can’t take your eyes completely off the goal. Our players came here, they want to win the Stanley Cup. They’re supportive of what’s been going on socially, which we’re very proud of. Now, we’ve got a game tomorrow and it’s back to the playoffs, and it’s back to trying to focus as much as we can. They’re not going to forget about what’s gone on the last couple days, clearly, everyone’s going to continue to support what’s been going on socially. But tomorrow’s a game day, and we have to be ready for that.”

The Dallas Stars celebrate their win following an NHL Western Conference Stanley Cup playoff hockey game, Monday, Aug. 24, 2020 1192437 Dallas Stars

In Ben Bishop’s absence, Anton Khudobin finds himself in an unfamiliar situation with the Stars

Game 4 vs. the Avalanche is expected to be Khudobin’s eighth consecutive start, which would be the most in his Stars career.

Matthew DeFranks

3:44 PM on Aug 29, 2020

Anton Khudobin has rarely been put in this situation: that of a bona fide starter in the NHL.

Sunday’s Game 4 against the Avalanche is expected to be Khudobin’s eighth consecutive start, which would be the most in his Stars career and one away from tying his career-high for most starts in a row. Khudobin once started nine straight games for Carolina in January and February of 2014.

Khudobin is coming off his worst start of the postseason in Game 3, when he allowed five goals on 31 shots on goal during a 6-4 Stars loss. Khudobin had not allowed five goals since Dec. 3 in Winnipeg during a 5- 1 Stars loss.

The Stars still lead the second-round series, 2-1.

Khudobin has assumed the starter’s crease due to an injury to starter Ben Bishop, who has not played since Game 2 of the first round on Aug. 13. Stars interim coach Rick Bowness said Bishop skated again Saturday, but remains unfit to play.

While Khudobin has been solid — especially in a 38-save performance in Game 2 that allowed the Stars to find their game and score five unanswered goals — the Stars will soon need a pair of goaltenders with the upcoming back-to-back. Game 4 against the Avalanche is Sunday at 5 p.m. and Game 5 follows Monday at 8:45 p.m.

Jake Oettinger, who has backed up Khudobin for the last six games with Bishop out, has never played an NHL game.

When asked whether the Stars haven’t needed to rush him back since Khudobin’s played well, Bowness said: “Dobby’s been great, but listen, Bish is unfit to play. It’s as simple as that. I think we’ll just leave it right there.”

Bishop has only played two games in Edmonton (not counting the exhibition against Nashville) and allowed four goals each time.

Heiskanen OK: Bowness said defenseman Miro Heiskanen came out of Game 3 fine physically. Heiskanen was battered by a cross check from Mikko Rantanen at center ice late in Game 3, leading to Pierre-Edouard Bellemare’s empty-net goal that sealed Colorado’s win.

Heiskanen extended his point streak to four games during Game 3 with an assist, but also had a minus-3 rating, his worst of the postseason. Heiskanen leads the Stars during the playoffs in assists (12), points (15) and average time on ice (25:48).

Pavelski paces the offense: A look at the league leaders in goals during the postseason reveals a familiar name despite a subpar regular season: Joe Pavelski. Pavelski has scored seven goals in the playoffs, tied for second-most in the league with five other players, including teammate Denis Gurianov.

During the regular season, Pavelski scored just 14 goals, tying his career-low from when he was a rookie in 2006-07.

“I definitely didn’t score as many goals as I thought I could’ve throughout the regular season,” Pavelski said. “But for me the postseason has always been a fun time to play.”

The Dallas Stars celebrate their win following an NHL Western Conference Stanley Cup playoff hockey game, Monday, Aug. 24, 2020

Dallas Morning News LOADED: 08.30.2020 1192438 Dallas Stars in their shoes. It’s important to try and get a grasp of what they are going through and what we can do to help.”

The Athletic LOADED: 08.30.2020 Joe Pavelski, Jamie Benn address Stars’ discussions of racial injustice

Sean Shapiro

Aug 29, 2020

It was back to business as usual Saturday for the Dallas Stars.

They practiced, there were questions about Ben Bishop’s status, and Joe Pavelski and Jamie Benn were asked about the perception of the Stars wanting to be in the bubble and the play of Denis Gurianov.

There were also subtle reminders that things may be changing in the NHL after player-led action led to the postponement of games for two nights to put a larger focus on racism and the events surrounding the recent police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wis.

The four teams in the Western Conference bubble held a news conference Thursday, with players from all four teams filling the room in solidarity. Jason Dickinson was the Stars’ representative, standing alongside Vancouver Canucks captain Bo Horvat, Vegas Golden Knights forward Ryan Reaves and Colorado Avalanche forwards Nazem Kadri and Pierre-Edouard Bellemare.

Dickinson and Bellemare stood by their teams’ decisions to play Game 3 as scheduled Wednesday, but both alluded to the coming days as important in taking the right steps forward.

Pavelski and Benn, the first Stars players made available to speak to the media since the postponements, looked back on what it felt like before and after the game Wednesday, when games in other leagues were postponed because of athletes’ actions.

“Before the last game, obviously, lots going on, and for me, it was probably one of those games where I felt anxious to play, wasn’t sure if it was the right thing to do,” Benn said. “In the end, we ended up playing and dealt with it after, but a couple of days to reflect here and we are definitely looking forward to tomorrow. But obviously, (we) know there is a lot going on in the world.”

“We played the game. Right or wrong, it was hard to tell,” Pavelski said. “We kind of just played and lost ourselves in competition, and when we got done, there was definitely a different feeling that I don’t think I’ve experienced at times after a game. It wasn’t about a win or a loss at that moment, just guys sitting around eating dinner and trying to figure out what’s all going on and starting the conversation of what’s gonna happen these next few days. It’s unique in a sense (that) we are in this bubble and we are all together. And for me, it’s been good being around teammates, other competitors, and learning and being a part of it. Try to educate yourself along the way, but there is always more to come, for sure.”

Pavelski is from Wisconsin and lives in Madison, about two hours northwest of Kenosha, in the offseason.

“It hits a little bit different ’cause you’ve got family back there, you spend the summer back there, it’s gonna be home base when all of this is done,” Pavelski said. “So, it’s always tough to see something occur with what’s happened and then different protests in Madison. You follow along, definitely. You understand the impact it has on everyone’s lives, and you learn more and more each day. It’s obviously tough to see. It’s a place you call home, and you don’t like to see things happen like that.”

The Stars players talked about the issues and the Black Lives Matter movement as a group Friday, when there was a presentation from the Hockey Diversity Alliance to the players in both bubbles. At the game between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Boston Bruins on Saturday afternoon, a video about what the two-day stoppage meant was played before the national anthems.

Benn was asked Saturday about the pause and how he used it to learn about being an ally as a White athlete.

“I think the impact it’s had on some of the players in our league and people around the world, obviously, being a White athlete, we go through life a little differently,” Benn said. “There were some strong words said a couple of days ago, and we are never gonna know because we are never 1192439 Detroit Red Wings That upper deck (with the pool) at our hotel, everybody was out there. I mean, the NHL thought of everything. They had a Tim Hortons truck, you could get whatever you wanted all day long. They brought in another food truck right there where you could get things. The NHL thought of Former Red Wings goalie Manny Legace, on life in the NHL bubble and everything. coaching Columbus ► Q. How about the testing and feeling safe (from the virus) in that way?

► A. The testing was easy; they had 20 nurses a day there. You had to Ted Kulfan get tested every day and then you had to go on this app, take your temperature every day. I just got up every morning and did it, there was 10:31 PM EDT Aug 29, 2020 never a line, and you go and got it done.

With (eight) teams and 50 people with each team, it was very organized. Life in the NHL hockey bubble? Like I said, weird experience, but I was glad to be part of it.” Manny Legace gives the entire experience a real big thumbs up. ► Q. It sounds real good, but let’s face it, for the teams that are still The former Red Wings goaltender, now the goaltending coach for the there, or will be for a month or more still, it still sounds like a challenge. Columbus Blue Jackets, experienced living in the NHL bubble during ► A. Everybody has to buy in. Let’s be honest, teams like Pittsburgh and these playoffs for the past five weeks. Washington, they didn’t play like themselves. It is tough. You can’t see The Jackets were eliminated last week in the first round by the Tampa your families, you’re in a hotel all day long. You can’t just go out and get Bay Lightning. food. You had to order and there was a little drop off area for Ubereats, DoorDash and all those food-ordering services. “I wish I was still there,” said Legace, alluding to his team being eliminated. “I’m glad I was a part of it. But it’s difficult. Your superstars have to buy in. It’s pretty hard to play in that atmosphere with no fans. “It was actually really, really cool, because how often do you see eight teams walking around a hotel, a hotel that’s closed down for just NHL ► Q. Talk about that: You didn’t play, obviously, but you were there. teams, and your meeting rooms are right across the hall from the New What’s it like without fans in the building? York Rangers, and you have the Carolina Hurricanes and Toronto (Maple ► A. I tell you, some of the teams you’re playing, if you’re playing a Leafs) downstairs. It was just real cool. It was amazing.” strong defensive team that lulls you to sleep, it’s even more difficult when For Legace, a hockey lifer who enjoys and appreciates every facet of the there are no fans. game, the entire bubble experience brought Legace back to when he The (qualifying) round was weird because they didn’t put in any sound (in was a youngster playing hockey. the arena), only for TV. So, when we defeated Toronto, there was no “It reminded me of back when I was a kid,” Legace said. “Every hallway noise in the entire building. They did (put in noise) in the next round and was set up with pingpong tables, so the guys are out in the hallways it was 100 times better. hanging out — you couldn’t go into anyone’s room — they’re hanging out It was just so weird (with no fans). You could literally hear everybody and playing games in the hallways. talking (on the ice, benches). You’re sitting there, and you could hear the “It was a like big tournament, like the Quebec pee-wee tournament. You coaches yell at the players. We were sitting across (from the benches), stay in the hotel, with everybody in the hallways, and it was just amazing top of the upper bowl by the (television) cameras, the players who to experience. weren’t in the lineup and the coaches, and we could hear as if we were standing right next to them. “The NHL has really done a great job with this.” You had to chuckle when you heard something and thought to yourself Legace played 11 seasons in the NHL, including with the Red Wings ‘Well, TV just picked that up’.” from 1999-2006, compiling a .918 save percentage and 2.12 goals- against average in 180 games with Detroit. He helped the Red Wings win ► Q. There is already minor speculation that the bubble format could be the Stanley Cup in 2002, backing up Dominik Hasek. the way to go once the regular season begins (for the 2020-21 season). Or some variation of the bubble. Do you think it would work for the Legace, 47, has earned praise around the league for his work with young regular season? Columbus goaltenders Joonas Korpisalo and Elvis Merzlikins, who thrived just as Columbus lost star goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky last ► A. I could see it for the preseason, definitely. There won’t be anybody summer in free agency. (in the arenas), and just the cost of running it, it’s going to be hard. And especially in the small markets, where as hockey isn’t getting the big Legace, who still lives in the Detroit area, talked about the bubble television revenues like baseball and football, you need the fans. experience and his transition into coaching in an interview with The Detroit News. (But) if we had to do the playoffs again without fans, I don’t think it should happen. It’s just not the same without fans. There’s no home-ice ► Question. This entire bubble thing seems like a success. How was it to advantage. It’s just not even close to the same. live inside of it? It was interesting to do it, and everyone understood why we had to do it, ► Answer. Real cool. You have all these teams walking around the but I don’t think we should do it again for the playoffs. hotel. You go up or down the elevators together, go to restaurants together. You’re sitting there and watching Sidney Crosby walk around, ► Q. You really do realize how important fans are to the entire operation, or Carey Price over there, and you’re like ‘This is a messed up year, but don’t you? this is real cool.’” ► A. The fans are so important, especially when you have a great fan ► Q. From a coaching standpoint it sounds as if it could be really good. base like we have (in Columbus). When we played Tampa the year You can just immerse yourself in hockey every day. It’s just hockey all before, the entire lower bowl in our place never sat down the entire day, every day, while you’re within that setting. game. We have to play with high energy and the fans give you that, they take you to another level.” ► A. You could go watch three games a day at the rink (during the qualifying- and first-rounds) if you wanted to. I did the first few days. I ► Q. Talk about the coaching. How are you enjoying it, and how you do was there for the first round, watched all those games, but it kind of approach it? A lot of people always felt with your temperament and fizzled out after a while. You can only watch so much hockey. personality you’d make an ideal goaltending coach. How has it been?

► Q. Still, it sounds like there could be issues. It could get frustrating just ► A. I love it, absolutely love it. I retired in 2012 and I started (coaching) being there every, every day. in the minors the next season and the last two years I’ve been up here (in the NHL). It’s fun for me, it’s not even work. I just enjoy working with the ► A. Oh yes, a couple days, like when you have off days or a rest day, guys. well, you have literally nothing to do. I’ve just taken little bits from the guys I’ve been around. I was blessed to have some real good goaltending coaches. Just being around Jimmy Bedard (with the Red Wings), and how he handled us and worked with us.

That’s how I try to mimic things. We trusted Jimmy so much, and that’s the key, to get your guys to trust you and have fun. It’s such a long year and stressful.

Everything that these guys have gone through, I’ve gone through. Playing in Europe, playing in the world championships, playing in the Olympics, I’ve been in every situation. You’re trying to figure out how to become a starter, or if you’re backing up for the first time and you how do you sit there for three weeks. I’ve been in all situations, so just try to work with them. I love it. I love working with these guys.

► Q. Your goaltenders played extremely well, and collectively as a team, you guys had a successful season.

► A. “Especially losing three guys that were pretty big stars in this league (to free agency), we could have just crumbled, and the injuries we had, we had 12 guys out of the lineup at one point. But our young guys came up and they didn’t just mix in, they were big parts of every game, and I have to tip my hat to the rest of the coaching staff.

I kind of just worry about my two guys (goaltenders), but they had to worry about 30 or 40 players. And our leadership in the room, those guys never allowed us to fail. These guys put on their hard hats every day and it’s pretty fun to watch.

► Q. How is it like to work with (head coach) John Tortorella? Fans see one side of Tortorella on the bench or in press conferences, but he’s known to have a completely different side away from the camera.

► A. Well, he hates reporters (Legace laughs loudly). But, really, he’s the type of guy who’d give you the shirt off his back. He has his farm where he rescues (different animals) and his wife is amazing, and they just do anything for anyone. The guy is really a great human being.

He’s the type of person that doesn’t let anything fester. If there’s an issue, it’s dealt with right now. He nips it in the bud.

He cares so much about his team, he really loves these guys, and just the way he goes about it, he gets emotional about it which is great.

Detroit News LOADED: 08.30.2020 1192440 Edmonton Oilers In the second, the Vegas had the territorial advantage, looking to extend their lead but were unable to beat Markstrom, who stopped all 15 shots he faced in the period, while Lehner turned away the seven he saw.

Golden Knights retake control of series against Canucks Stone extended the lead to 3-0 on the power play 2:19 seconds into the third period, ripping a shot over the shoulder of Markstrom from the right face-off circle.

Derek Van Diest Vegas stayed on the attack after taking a three-goal lead as they outshot Vancouver 10-9 in the period.

Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 08.30.2020 The Vegas Golden Knights wrestled back control of their second-round series against the Vancouver Canucks with a workmanlike performance Saturday night.

Alex Tuch, Zach Whitecloud and Mark Stone scored for Vegas in a 3-0 victory in Game 3 against Vancouver at Rogers Place.

Goaltender Robin Lehner made 32 saves for his second shutout of the series. Lehner made 26 saves in a 5-0 win in the opening game of the best-of-seven series last Sunday.

Jacob Markstrom made 31 saves in the loss for the Canucks. Game 4 is Sunday (8:30 p.m.) at Rogers Place.

It was the third time this postseason Vancouver has been shutout. They lost 3-0 to the Minnesota Wild in the opening game of their best-of-five qualifying round series.

Vegas has lost just two games through the 2020 postseason so far, going through the seeding round undefeated and then losing one game in the first round against the Chicago Blackhawks.

The Golden Knights had lost Game 2 to the Canucks 5-2 on Tuesday.

Saturday night, Vegas took the first period lead, which they never appeared in danger of relinquishing.

Tuch scored five minutes into the first period to put Vegas ahead 1-0. He took a fantastic weighted pass from Nicolas Roy in behind the Canucks defence and snapped a shot over the shoulder of Markstrom.

Whitecloud increased the lead 10 minutes later following a turnover in the Canucks zone.

Canucks forward Tyler Toffoli attempted a cross-ice pass in his own zone, which was behind defenceman Quinton Hughes and bounced off the boards to Golden Knights forward William Karlsson. He dropped the puck to Max Pacioretty, who had it knocked off his stick and bounced to Whitecloud in the slot.

Whitecloud snapped a shot past Markstrom to put the Golden Knights up 2-0. The goal was awarded to Whitehouse as unassisted.

Vancouver outshot Vegas 16-9 in the first period, but were unable to beat Lehner, who made a number of outstanding stops in the frame.

Lehner was the main reason Vancouver was unable to score on a two- man advantage midway through the period after Jonathan Marchessault and Roy took minor penalties 42 seconds apart.

Lehner was making his fifth consecutive start for the Golden Knights in favour of Marc-Andre Fleury, who has played in two seeding games and one playoff game so far this post-season.

Fleury may get the start in the second game of the back-to-back Sunday. However, it would not be surprising if Vegas head coach Peter DeBoer went back with Lehner.

Acquired in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks in February, prior to the NHL Trade Deadline, Lehner has earned the No. 1 job much to the chagrin of Fleury’s agent Allan Walsh, who sent a tweet on the eve of the series depicting his client with a sword through his back with the name DeBoer engraved on it.

Fleury asked his agent to delete the tweet a day later and the Golden Knights insisted they handled the matter internally.

Vegas had a second social media issue on their hands after the Game 2 loss when Marchessault argued with fans on Instagram using expletive language, apologizing for it the next day.

Regardless, the two incidents do not seem to have phased the Golden Knights, who led the charge in the NHL taking two nights off in support of the battle against racial injustice. 1192441 Edmonton Oilers “It’s been a fun group to be around all year. We’ve won a lot of games and we’ve won them in a lot of ways and right now we have a lot of belief in a lot of the guys in the room.”

Stars aligning for previously dialed-out Dallas in Edmonton hub Perhaps the perception developed partially because of comments from Bowness about how tough it was to be living in the bubble. But he says everybody has embraced it.

Terry Jones I suggested it now appears like they want to be here for a while.

Aug 29, 2020 “We do,” he said. “Our players came into camp early and in great shape physically and mentally and had a very strong, productive training camp

with the mindset that we are here to win the Stanley Cup. At first, the Dallas Stars didn’t appear like they wanted to be here. Now it “It’s the sacrifices that everybody has to make, personally with their looks like they don’t want to leave. families, which we’ve done. There have been a lot of sacrifices made by Things are not always as they appear under the bubble in Hub City here. everybody and now we’re trying to make those sacrifices worthwhile. But as the NHL players returned to action Saturday with three games, the “We didn’t come here because we’re supposed to be here or because Dallas Stars returned their focus to their series with the Colorado the players association and the league asked us to come here. We have Avalanche that resumes Sunday afternoon. our mindset as a group that we’re here to win the Cup.” Throughout the seeding round and throughout the tournament, you could So, there you have it. Six down. Ten to go. be forgiven for concluding that Dallas had less interest in being in the Hub City bubble in Edmonton than any team on the property, other than Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 08.30.2020 perhaps the already departed defending Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues.

Then it looked like somebody flipped the switch and the Stars shifted gears.

What the hell? We’re here. We’ve got just as good a chance to win this as anybody else. We might as well give it a go. That sort of thing.

They only scored four goals in the three-game round robin seeding series and Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin and Alexander Radulov had no goals, no assists and were a combined minus-8.

In their first three games against the Calgary Flames, the Stars only managed seven goals.

Seguin was without a point. Benn and Radulov were quiet with a pair of points each.

If there was a switch that got flipped, it happened there.

In their previous five games before that wild and crazy 6-4 loss to Colorado in Game 3 — the first game in Stanley Cup history that a team led by three, fell behind and came back to win the game — Dallas won five in a row.

In those five games, the Stars scored 24 goals. Benn, Seguin and Radulov combined for six goals and 12 assists and Seguin had three game winners.

I put all of that to leaders Jamie Benn and Joe Pavelski, and then to head coach Rick Bowness himself on the video availability Saturday and it was impressive how forceful they were on the subject.

“Right from Day 1, there wasn’t anyone that is here now who didn’t want to be here,” said Benn. “We’re here for a reason — to win the Stanley Cup. We’ve been committed right from Day 1.

“We had all the guys back in Dallas earlier than some of teams,” he said of the skates and then training camp.

It was true, the Stars didn’t have it dialed up through the seeding round, he admitted, but mostly because it didn’t mean that much.

“Those first three games are a little tricky. We obviously want to go out there and win every game. But did they mean the most? No, but it was ‘Game on’ from there.”

Pavelski said he has some sympathy for people outside the bubble trying to evaluate what’s going on without much contact or interaction within.

“For me, that’s the tough thing about your guy’s job is looking from the outside in. I would never have had that feeling,” he said of the idea that the Stars originally weren’t all in. “There were discussions about the collective-bargaining agreement and how it was going to look to get back and so many details and everything. But as we stayed in contact as a group, it was always about playing if we got that chance. Guys were going to be committed and excited about it.

“We had a 13-day camp back in Dallas and it was as good as I’ve been a part of. The only reason we were coming back to play was to have a chance to be all-in and win the Cup. 1192442 Edmonton Oilers on the puck, shoots it a ton,” said Pavelski. “When he gets that open space on the ice to use his shot, he’s as good as anyone.”

“This is his first run through it (playoffs). This kid’s going to keep getting HUB CITY NOTES: Vegas police union head rips Golden Knights better but when you have that size (6-foot-3) and skating ability, you are going to be a force in this league for a long time,” said Dallas coach Rick Bowness,

Jim Matheson COFFEY IS A MacKINNON FAN

Aug 30, 2020 MacKinnon is leading the points parade in the playoffs, but Paul Coffey also sees an incredibly driven player. “He only wants one thing and that’s

a bloody championship. He wants to win Stanley Cups and that’s special In the wake of the Golden Knights’ organization standing behind their stuff,” said Coffey. players in their fight against racial injustice after Jacob Blake, a Black So does Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers. man, was shot seven times in the back by a white Wisconsin police officer, the president of the Las Vegas police union has ripped the “I would unequivocallly say that it’s burning Connor’s butt to be watching organization in a letter. the playoffs right now, when he knows he’s not in it. And that’s what you want your captain to be,” said Coffey. “It appears the Golden Knights would rather jump on the bandwagon of attacking the profession rather than waiting for the facts of the event HITTING CLOSE TO HOME brought to light,” said Steve Grammas. The shooting of Blake in Kenosha has more meaning for Pavelski than While Grammas said “nobody hates a bad cop more than a good cop” he other players. He grew up three hours away from the Wisconsin city. couldn’t see where the Golden Knights were coming from as they talked “This hits a bit different because I have family back there and it’s going to about what Black people face in America. “It is clear now that your veiled be home base when all this (hockey) is done. To see this (shooting) and support of the heroes of law enforcement, the same ones you praised 1 the different protests in Madison (where Pavelski went to college), you October (after the 2017 mass murder at a concert in Vegas) is only when understand the impact this has on everybody’s lives.” the media or a certain political party or other uninformed athletes tell you it is OK,” he said. THIS ‘N’ THAT

To which Vegas coach Pete DeBoer doesn’t buy at all. Dallas defenceman Miro Heiskanen was shaken up late in Game 3 after a cross-check in the rib area, but Bowness says he’s fine for Game 4 “I can only speak personally. I have a brother-in-law that is a deputy Sunday, ready for his 24-plus minutes a night … Avalanche defenceman police chief. I’ve got another brother-in-law who is retired military,” said Nikita Zadorov, who was rocked by Jamie Benn in Game 3 and didn’t DeBoer on a video conference call. finish the game, probably will be back for Game 4, which means farmhand Connor Timmins, who was in the warmup for Game 3, won’t “I know they (police) know the amount of respect that we have for what suit up. Erik Johnson, Philipp Grubauer, Matt Calvert and Joonas they do and I can tell you the guys in the room have the same amount of Donskoi all remain out … Dallas No. 1 goalie Ben Bishop, who hasn’t respect for what those men and women do every day. So hopefully that played since Game 2 of the Calgary series, skated Saturday but isn’t isn’t misinterpreted,” said DeBoer, who has had considerable feedback ready to back up Anton Khudobin. since the NHL players stood together Thursday, opting out of play for two days. Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 08.30.2020 “Different conversations, different feelings, different layers and that’s what this is all about,” said DeBoer.

When asked how he felt about people saying athletes should stay in their own lane and have sports as an escape from the real world, DeBoer was adamant players have a voice and should use it.

“My response is why are athletes different from lawyers or doctors or reporters or anybody else allowed to have an opinion on things? Doesn’t make a lot of sense to me,” said DeBoer, who is anon-practising lawyer.

Colorado coach Jared Bednar supported his fellow bench boss.

“My dad is career police (Saskatchewan) and I support our men and women in blue. They have a real tough job, but we have to be better in this country as individuals. Education is the first step in the process,” said Bednar.

“I understand that opinion (players should just play) is out there and I look at our guys and they’re much more than just hockey players,” said Bednar. “I know everyone wants to use the game as an escape and there’s times where we’re trying to be the best people we can be, the best fathers, coaches, brothers, and the game takes a back seat sometimes.”

“With this, we’ve had some really good reflective days. We’re just trying to gather as many opinions as possible and ultimately we have to find a way to help and make a difference. We have some really intelligent guys in our group and they have strong perspectives on things … some of the conversations we’ve had are great,” said Bednar.

Colorado centre Nate MacKinnon said he has talked to Black friends in Denver and the team wants to talk to activists in Denver to see what direction they can take.

A STAR IS BORN

Dallas rookie winger Denis Gurianov, playing with Joe Pavelski and Mattias Janmark, has an eye-popping seven goals in 12 games. A coming-out party for the former first-round pick whose defensive play has improved to go with his big-time talent. “He’s got tons of skill, he’s strong 1192443 Edmonton Oilers I bought out (Andrej) Sekera last year. He’s $2.5 million against the cap. I made a deal with Calgary and I took on $750,000 for (James) Neal versus (Milan) Lucic. Part of that is, when you look at the structure of their contracts, one guy can be bought out and one guy can’t. But you Q&A: Oilers GM Ken Holland on improving internally, the flat cap and can’t run an NHL team like that. I’ve still got (Benoit) Pouliot on there. goaltending You just can’t keep buying people out and have money sitting against your cap that you can’t put on the ice.

I bought out Sekera because we had eight NHL defencemen on one-way Daniel Nugent-Bowman contracts. I couldn’t fit them all on the roster. And I was told there were Aug 29, 2020 some good, young defencemen in our system whether it was (William) Lagesson, (Evan) Bouchard, (Caleb) Jones and Bear. We wanted to create some type of opportunity for a young defenceman to make the team. It created an opportunity for Ethan Bear to make the team. After a disappointing end to the season for the Oilers, a critical offseason for Ken Holland has begun. I don’t wanna do buyouts. We wanna put people on the ice and make them better. The less buyout money you have, the better it is. The Oilers GM brought in a new coach and added depth pieces in the first weeks of his first year on the job. The moves helped the Oilers vault You’ve had a chance to watch your team for a full season and now up the standings to fifth in the Western Conference when the regular you’ve watched playoff games. What’s the biggest need for the Oilers season was halted. over the offseason?

But with superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl in their primes, To make our team a little bit better. There’s so many different ways to get expectations are higher than losing in four games to the Blackhawks in a better. qualification round. It’s up to Holland to continue tweaking the roster in Year 2. We went from 25th in the league in points to 12th in points. Now, behind us is a team still playing right now in Vancouver. So, what am I trying to He’s got his work cut out for him. The salary cap remains flat at $81.5 do heading into ’20-21? I wanna hang onto what we’ve got. We were in million; the Oilers have 16 players under contract and have roughly $10 the process of being a playoff team. We were in position to play our way million left to spend. At minimum, Ethan Bear needs a new contract and into the playoffs. You wanna be a playoff team. another goaltender must be signed. That doesn’t leave a lot of wiggle room to improve. You’re looking for specifics (like), “We need more offence” or “We need more defence.” That’s what I’ve gotta assess over the next month or six Still early in the planning stages, Holland took some time earlier this weeks. Most moves that are gonna happen in the league are gonna week to speak with The Athletic about the important fall ahead. happen in the offseason. The offseason is probably gonna be the month of October. History says when the playoffs end in the middle of June like This interview has been edited for length and clarity. they always do, the trades take place after that. This would be the Mark Spector of Sportsnet recently reported things are getting closer on timeframe for teams to reshuffle, to make moves, to rejig, to redo your a contract with Jesse Puljujarvi. If you can get him back on a reasonable team. I’m just in that process. deal, what would that mean to your team – especially given the flat cap? We’ve got a flat cap. When we made deals at the trade deadline, the cap I just know him from afar. I know it was disappointing from both sides. It was projected to go from $84 million on the minimum side to $88 million was so disappointing he wouldn’t sign with us last summer. He was on the maximum side. If you go halfway to $86 million, there’s a big waiting for a trade. There was no trade. Nobody offered anything to make difference between having an $81.5 million cap and an $86 million cap. me want to make a trade. That’s a $4.5 million player. I wouldn’t say it’s affecting 31 teams, but it’s probably affecting 20-25 teams. He had a really good year in Finland. I think he’ll look back years from now on ’19-20 playing in Finland as really good for him in his career. He I’ve talked to some teams to get an idea of what they’re thinking, and was one of the leading scorers in the league. He was an important player they’re getting an idea of what I’m thinking. But you need more teams (in on a good team. He was one of the best and most productive players in the mix). I’m trying to figure out how to make our team better. I don’t have the league. An important thing for all young players is confidence. any specifics for you. Probably had lost his confidence over his time in Edmonton. He went I get that. back and he got his swagger back. He got his confidence back. He feels good about himself. But how do we get better? When I say better, I mean to hold what we’ve got. You know what I’m saying? We’ve had some conversations. Dave Tippett and I – just before we went into the bubble – we had a Zoom call with Jesse and his agent, Markus I guess. Lehto. He’s signed a contract to play for the same Finnish team (Karpat). He’s got an out clause to play in the NHL during the ’20-21 season. The I mean, some of those teams that are in top six or eight, they’re there ’20-21 season isn’t gonna start before Dec. 1. He’s got an opportunity to annually. Boston, Tampa Bay – over the last two, three, four years, you play in Finland now. We’ll see where it goes. build to that. That’s what we did in Detroit. Then you get into that stratosphere. It’s hard to get into that stratosphere. I know the cap’s flat, but lots of owners have lost money during this pandemic. Have you gotten clearance from ownership that you can be a I thought we made some progress this year. I sat at that press cap team next season, or will you have an internal budget below the conference (last) May 6 and I said I wanted us, on March 1, to be cap? controlling our own destiny and being able to play our way into the playoffs. We had done that. The Oilers have always been a cap team. Goals for, we moved up. Goals against, we improved upon. Power play, I just wondered because these are unprecedented times. we improved upon. Penalty killing, we improved upon. Certainly, you can’t count on being one and two (overall) in the power play and penalty If you look at what we’ve got committed – just look at CapFriendly – if killing again. There are some areas you’re gonna fall back on. we’re not a cap team, we’re close. A cap team means you’re $1.5 million to $2 million (below). If the cap’s at $81.5 million, you can’t be at $81.5 Yeah, that’s true. million. You’ve gotta be under it to run your team. I’ve gotta be able to dip into the minor leagues. Basically, where we’re positioned right now, we’re That’s just a reality. So, there are other areas – team defence, 5-on-5 a cap team. scoring – how do we improve those areas? I’m about goal differential. You don’t have to score as much if you give up less. But if you give up a I asked you this last offseason, so I ask you again: Would you consider lot, you’ve gotta score more. Everybody wants to focus on goals and any buyouts? secondary scoring. Certainly, those are areas we’d like to improve upon. How do we improve our differential compared to the other 30 teams? Highly unlikely. Those are the things we’ve gotta figure out. Statistically, what the Oilers accomplished in ’18-19 compared with what Are you leaning one way about which third-round pick you’re going to we accomplished in ’19-20, I thought we were in a good position with 11 give up to Calgary in the Neal-Lucic deal (2020 or 2021)? And since games to go. How do we do that again – and better? I’m not telling you you’re lacking draft picks this year, would you consider trading down from we’re gonna win the Presidents’ Trophy. I know how hard it is. I’ve lived 14th overall in the first round to get yourself another pick or two? it. I’ve done it. We’ve gotta continue with small improvements. We’ve got until the end of the second round to let them know. We’re As I look at our team today versus when we went to training camp, Dave gonna wait until the days leading up to the draft to make the assessment Tippett and I didn’t know much about (Kailer) Yamamoto. He was injured on the third-round pick. I do know which way I’m leaning. But I don’t have and wasn’t able to practice. Well, Yamamoto played on our team the to make the decision today, so why do it? second half of the year and was a great story for us. We now know what Ethan Bear is. We’ve got a good, young defenceman. We now know Would I be open to trading back from the 14th pick? Yeah. I don’t see us Caleb Jones. (Josh) Archibald’s come in and we’ve signed him to a two- leaving the first round. We feel good about pick 14. We think we’re gonna year deal. We’ve got a few more players on our roster at this stage of the get a really good, young player there. But if somebody wants to move up, game that we – as the coach and the manager – have a better I’ve traded back before, and it’s worked out. It depends what’s offered – understanding of what their contributions are. Even in the case of or if anything’s offered. (Joakim) Nygard and (Gaetan) Haas. One guy had three goals and one The Athletic LOADED: 08.30.2020 guy had five goals. But they came over last year and it takes 15 games. They’ve earned our respect enough that we re-signed them to contracts. When they come to training camp, they know what the NHL’s all about – and Dave Tippett and his coaching staff have a better understanding. Now, what does it mean? I don’t know. I’ve gotta watch. But they’re better players today than they were in September.

Part of getting better is internally. Everybody looks externally. Well, we’re in a flat cap. Am I gonna try to make some moves? Yeah. I’m gonna pick up the phone and see what we can do to make ourselves a little bit different, a little bit better. But part of our improvement has to be: Can Ethan Bear back up next year what he did last year and build upon it? Can Caleb Jones do that? Can Yamamoto do that? Are there any kids that are gonna come in and push? And, if they don’t push in training camp, can they come in and make our team halfway through the year like Yamo did and have some impact on our team?

Part of the Oilers for ’20-21 isn’t just going out and saying, “What big trade can I make?” or going out and spending on the open market. We don’t have a ton of cap space. Most teams don’t.

Mike Smith is an unrestricted free agent. Would you like to find someone to work in a tandem with Mikko Koskinen, who’s under contract for two more years, as you did this season? Is that the plan?

Yeah. If you look around the league, it’s really a two-goaltender league. We were almost 50-50 (in terms of starts percentage between Koskinen and Smith). It’s a small list of guys who were on pace to play over 60 games. It looks like it’s gonna be a condensed schedule. You’re gonna have more back-to-backs. You factor the travel that we do in Edmonton, the road trips that we go on, I anticipate that we’re gonna have a two- goalie system.

Our goaltending over the 71 games was a real strength. The coaches – Dustin Schwartz and Dave Tippett – did a great job of getting both guys involved and not letting anybody get rusty. Koskinen had a .917 save percentage throughout the course of the year. Smitty was .902. I thought he had a tough December and then regrouped coming out of the Christmas break. He played excellent in January, February and March. We felt good about the one-two punch, the 1A-1B.

I haven’t talked to anybody’s agent from our team at this point in time. I’m getting my thoughts. I thought we had good goaltending last year. Now we’ve gotta assess exactly how we’re gonna go into the ’20-21 season.

So, would Smith be a consideration then to be brought back?

Yeah. We have not ruled it out.

There’s a flat cap. We are being squeezed. Lots of teams are being squeezed. What does that mean? I don’t know if anyone knows what it means. Rather than race out and just sign five of our guys, and say, “Oh good; we’re done,” I wanna be in position over the next month to have as much flexibility as possible. That doesn’t mean I’m not gonna re-sign these people. I’ve just gotta take some time to assess and make sure it’s in the best interest of our team.

Based on your answer, I’d assume you’re taking a wait-and-see approach with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. He can be signed to an extension but is under contract for one more year.

Yeah. I think in most cases people understand there’s a flat cap. It’s not only flat for ’20-21, it’s gonna be flat for a while. That doesn’t mean you don’t sign people. Everybody’s just gotta get a grasp on what that means for negotiations. 1192444 Los Angeles Kings

LA KINGS LOAN JOHAN SODERGRAN TO ALMTUNA IS

Staff Writer

The LA Kings have loaned forward Johan Sodergran to Almtuna IS (Allsvenskan), according to Vice President and General Manager Rob Blake. He is eligible to rejoin the organization for the 2020-21 season.

Sodergran tallied seven points (2-5=7) in 48 games last season with Ontario (AHL), his first professional season in North America. The Stockholm, Sweden native appeared in parts of the previous three seasons with Linkoping (SHL), posting 13 points (8-5=13) in 63 games. He also represented Team Sweden in the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship. The 20-year old forward was originally selected by the Kings in the sixth round (165th overall) in the 2018 NHL Draft.

LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 08.30.2020 1192445 New Jersey Devils “For the league to do to stand by the players in our league, it’s the only thing to do,” Fitzgerald said. “I applaud the league for recognizing that. I applaud the players for standing up for things that we all believe in. And, hey, hockey will go on.” As Black Lives Matter protests continue, Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald remembers Rodney King: ‘We need to get this right’ The way Fitzgerald sees it, hockey returned this month after a coronavirus-induced 4 ½-month pause, so two more days of no games to make a bold statement about attacking racism is a worthwhile tradeoff.

Randy Miller “There needs to be some sort of statement that enough’s enough,” Fitzgerald said. “We’re going to go a couple days without hockey. That’s

a very, very small piece of what’s going on in the world right now and I’m Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald woke up Friday morning, just proud of our league to stand up and take that stance.” checked his cell phone and found a text from a former boss who was and Get Devils text messages: Cut through the clutter of social media and remains a close friend. text directly with beat writer Randy Miller. Plus, exclusive news and “Happy birthday, bud,” wrote Ray Shero, whose January firing as Devils analysis. Sign up now. GM led to Fitzgerald being promoted from assistant. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. While Fitzgerald was taking a morning walk in his North Reading, Mass, Star Ledger LOADED: 08.30.2020 neighborhood on his 52nd birthday, a phone interview with NJ Advance Media began with talk about what’s been going on this week in the hockey world and the country.

This made Fitzgerald think back to when he was a much younger man and learned that police brutality on Blacks existed. He was 23 with a full head of hair and had just finished his fourth NHL season as a New York Islanders right wing on April 29, 1992, the day the Rodney King riots broke out in Los Angeles.

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Fitzgerald was home in North Reading that day because his team had missed the playoffs, and he remembers seeing video of King beaten with batons by police after his car was pulled over. He remembers seeing the fires in Los Angeles after three of the officers were acquitted, then the rioting spread to big cities across the nation.

“The Rodney King beating … when that happened, it was scary times,” Fitzgerald said. “It was the first time in my lifetime that riots and things like that were possibly happening in every major city. I just remember picking up my fiancé, who my wife’s now, at her work in Boston and then seeing and hearing about it.”

Like a lot of people, Fitzgerald didn’t realize until recently that Rodney King was one of many Blacks who had experienced similar encounters with white police officers. Who could blame Fitzgerald for being a little oblivious until the last few years or even the last few months? After all, he grew up in Billerica, Mass., which is 95 percent white and 1 percent Black, and he’s spent his whole life in hockey, a sports with few Blacks.

“Before social media, unless you read every newspaper in the world or you were on top of every news channel, everybody didn’t know everything that was going on,” Fitzgerald said. “It’s just a different world that we’re living in now as far as news getting broken, news being out there.”

Fitzgerald realized that racial inequality was a problem when he started paying more attention after the George Floyd killing in March led to a lot of protesting, and he’s been paying attention since last Sunday’s Jacob Blake shooting in Wisconsin, which led to outage that spread to the sports world and included the NHL’s playoff schedule for Thursday and Friday being postponed.

“It’s sad,” Fitzgerald said. “This is where we’re at. This is where the world’s at. You’ve got the pandemic and then you’ve got these issues that are happening. They need to stop. It’s plain and simple. They need to stop. Everybody’s job is to do the right thing.”

Fitzgerald has discussed these issues with the Devils’ only Black player, three-time All-Star defenseman/social media giant P.K. Subban.

“I talked to him earlier right after George Floyd (died),” he said. “I just wanted to tell P.K. that I’m supporting him and how proud I am of him being who he is. I told him to continue being who you are. He’s got a huge platform.”

Subban tweeted a response applauding the NHL for closing shop for two days after a lot of players - some Black and many white - voted to strike.

Fitzgerald feels the same as Subban. 1192446 New York Islanders

Islanders’ depth reemerges for first time in Flyers series

Mollie Walker

August 30, 2020

The Islanders pride themselves on being a four-line team and that rang true in their Game 3 victory over the Flyers, in which two of their three goals came from the bottom six.

Through the first two games of the Eastern Conference semifinals series with the Flyers, the Islanders have primarily gotten their scoring from the top two lines and defensemen. The only bottom-six skater to contribute had been Jean-Gabriel Pageau, the Islanders’ trade-deadline acquisition that was meant to add depth down the lineup at center.

Fourth-line winger Matt Martin notched his third goal of the postseason to pull even with the Flyers 1-1 at 7:12 of the second, standing all alone in front of Flyers’ goaltender Carter Hart and tapping in a feed from Mathew Barzal. Then, as the final seconds of the middle frame wound down, Leo Komarov got a stick on a pass from Derick Brassard and got it to trickle in past Hart for the Islanders’ first lead of the night.

“It was huge,” Islanders coach Barry Trotz said of the depth contributions on a Zoom call following Saturday’s 3-1 win. “I think that’s the way we’re built. We’re not probably blessed with a lot of those top-end guys, in terms of the heavy, high offensive guys. But we have a lot of very valuable pieces that can contribute in different ways. You saw that, you got a goal from Martin, you got a goal from Leo [Komarov] and the [Derick] Brassard and Pageau line was very good.”

Matt Martin (right) celebrates with Mathew Barzal after scoring a goal in the Islanders’ 3-1 Game 3 win over the Flyers.AP

Komarov’s late second-period goal was his first this postseason and the second playoff tally of his career. Trotz was unable to contain his smile when asked about Komarov during his postgame presser.

“Anybody who has Leo, he’s obviously a seasoned pro, but he brings people into the fight,” Trotz said. “He’s sometimes not the prettiest guy to watch, but he’s a guy who gets his nose dirty all the time. He’s a guy that can help you in a lot of defensive situations, he can play multiple positions and his experience. He’s one of the guys that you always can have fun with on a daily basis.

“Every team has characters, Leo is a character. Not only that, he’s a good player for us and he’s a good piece.”

Islanders goaltender Semyon Varlamov said the two unexpected days off between Games 2 and 3, along with practice Friday and a morning skate Saturday, helped him settle his game back down after getting pulled in Game 2.

“It was an important game for our team, for me especially after Game 2, I know I didn’t play well,” Varlamov said. “It happens, you know? Nothing goes perfect, especially in the playoffs, there’s a lot of games going on. You lose today, you win tomorrow. So I learned from my mistakes.”

Trotz opted to insert Brassard back into the lineup for the first time in three games, placing him back in his usual third-line role. Ross Johnston was scratched after taking Brassard’s place the last three games.

New York Post LOADED: 08.30.2020 1192447 New York Islanders the left. The one-time slick center for a finesse team has morphed into a grinding winger for a grinding team. Well, there’s some talent, too.

“I think with Brass, he’s a guy who is really a valuable piece for us,” Trotz Islanders’ Derick Brassard shows why he’s known as ‘Big Game Brass’ said. “I thought the [Washington] series was a little different, I needed a different push and I thought the physical play had amped up in that series so we made a switch there.

Larry Brooks “What Brass usually does with us when he gets the opportunity to get back in the lineup, he usually makes the most of it. So I was hoping for August 29, 2020 that response and he made the most of it.”

Of course he did. It was 1-1, Islanders-Flyers, with time ticking down in the second period He is The Notorious BGB. when Ivan Provorov attempted to move the puck up the middle out of the zone. But the puck was deflected by an aggressive Leo Komarov before New York Post LOADED: 08.30.2020 Brassard swooped in to glove it down at the blue line.

Brassard — “Big Game Brass” around these parts — unleashed a shot from the left circle that Carter Hart stopped and put behind the net. And it was there that Brassard, who did not particularly make his bones or establish his reputation by grinding, did just that, grinding down low and winning a puck battle with Matt Niskanen before No. 10 set up Komarov, alone in front, for the 2-1 goal at 19:54.

Of course he did.

That proved to be the winner in Saturday’s 3-1 victory that sends the Islanders into Sunday’s Game 4 with a 2-1 edge in this second-round best-of-seven. The Islanders were the superior team for, say, 30 of the final 40 minutes after the Flyers had seized control and a 1-0 lead in the first period. The Flyers didn’t have the puck nearly enough. The Islanders’ defensive structure remained intact and largely impenetrable. The team’s speed seemed to wear down their opponents. Semyon Varlamov was outstanding when called upon.

Mat Barzal, the wizard between Anders Lee and Jordan Eberle, was divine. The Islanders’ top line dominated the Flyers’ alleged No. 1 trio consisting of Sean Couturier between an all-but-ghostly Claude Giroux and Jacob Voracek. Lee scored a power-play goal in the third period for but the Islanders got their five-on-five goals from Komarov and Matt Martin.

Of course they did.

“We’re not probably blessed with a lot of those top-end guys in terms of heavy, high-offense guys but we have a lot of valuable role players who can contribute,” Barry Trotz said. “Guys feel like they’re a part of it.”

Brassard returned to the lineup on Saturday after having been a healthy scratch for the previous three games with his spot taken by the more physically inclined Ross Johnston. This was something very new for Brassard, who earned his nickname by consistently coming up with big plays in big playoff moments for the 2013-15 Rangers as the Blueshirts’ 1A/1B center.

You know the story from there. To Ottawa in the Mika Zibanejad deal during the summer of 2016. Then to Pittsburgh. Then to Florida. Then to Colorado. Finally, as a free agent last summer to the Islanders, who would become his sixth team in five years.

No longer was it 1A or 1B. Instead, it was to be or not to be an NHL player.

“We have a lot of guys that helped us during the season that are watching in the stands right now,” said Brassard, who has four assists in nine playoff games after recording 32 points (10-22) in 66 regular-season matches. “I mean, I didn’t change anything. I liked the way I played before but my only job was to get ready for my next opportunity.

“Yeah, I wasn’t happy, but it’s team first. That’s the first thing I learned when I came here this summer. We have a really good group of guys here and you just try to move on. You just try to support your teammates. I was lucky enough tonight to help them win a game.”

This is a Lou Lamoriello operation co-produced by Trotz. In their world, there are no small roles and no insignificant role players. Brassard played a majority of his regular season minutes on the line with Anthony Beauvillier and Brock Nelson. His spot on that line is now filled by Josh Bailey.

So it is Brassard on the third line now, getting 11:27 of ice on Saturday skating on the right side with J-G Pageau in the middle and Komarov on 1192448 New York Islanders Halfway through the middle frame, the Isles piled on the pressure and were outshooting the Flyers 9-2. And with 4.1 seconds left before the second intermission, hard work along the boards from Derick Brassard got the puck to Leo Komarov for the tap-in that trickled across the goal Islanders storm past Flyers to capture crucial Game 3 win line for the 2-1 lead.

The Islanders capitalized on the first power play of the night off of hard work from Lee in front of the Flyers’ net to go up 3-1 at 3:41 of the third. Mollie Walker Lee was penalized for playing after his helmet came off at 15:50 and the August 29, 2020 Flyers gave it everything they had by pulling Hart for the 6-on-4 advantage, but the Islanders survived.

“Ideally, we dominate a full 60 minutes but that’s easier said than done,” The Islanders continue to bounce back from each loss with a convincing Martin said. “They’re going to have their pushes and we’re going to have win. ours, obviously we’d like to get off to better starts but we hung in there. Varly made some key saves and we regrouped in the intermission and With a 3-1 victory over the Flyers on Saturday night at Scotiabank Arena came out and got to our game first in the second and carried that out in Toronto, the Islanders took a 2-1 series lead over the Philadelphia through the third.” Flyers in the front end of back-to-back games this weekend. The last time the Islanders won two games in a second-round series was 1993. New York Post LOADED: 08.30.2020 For the second straight game, the Flyers dominated the Islanders in the opening 20 minutes and came out with a 1-0 lead. But the Islanders have continuously managed to shake off every setback and take control of the rest of the game. They did it again Saturday, putting an end to the Flyers’ 8-0 record this postseason when scoring the first goal of the game.

“You talk about getting everything thrown at you, everything from this pandemic, this restart, the Phase 1, the Phase 2, the Phase 3, the bubble, the social issues that have been involved, the days off, the changes of schedule, our group, coming in, understood it would be different and whatever is thrown at us, we won’t waiver,” Islanders coach Barry Trotz said on a Zoom call following the win.

A smiling Leo Komarov (47) celebrates with teammates after scoring the go-ahead goal in the Islanders’ 3-1 Game 3 win over the Flyers.AP

“I think that mindset has paid dividends for us, even if you get scored on early or don’t have a great stretch of a period or two periods that you just get back on track and identify what we need to do to have success. They’ve done a really good job. That comes from really good focus and really good preparation by them and a really good understanding of direction from within the room.”

Protecting a 2-1 lead at the start of the third period after a late goal from Leo Komarov, the Islanders earned the first power play of the night after Robert Hagg was called for slashing. Putting in work in front of Flyers goaltender Carter Hart, Anders Lee flipped the puck, which hit off Hart’s stick and in at 3:41 for the 3-1 score.

Hart again kept the Flyers competitive throughout the game, turning aside 26 of the 29 shots he faced. Islanders goaltender Semyon Varlamov wasn’t tested as much until he saw seven straight shots in the third period, saving 26 of 27 in the game.

The Flyers got their legs underneath them much quicker than the Islanders, after all NHL clubs took off two days from game action in solidarity with protests against racial injustice. With significant pressure in the Islanders zone to start, Philadelphia recorded five of the first six shots of the game.

Unable to maintain possession long enough to get anything going, the Islanders struggled to set anything up in the first period. Following another long shift in the Isles’ zone, Tyler Pitlick sent a hard shot through traffic from the top of the left faceoff circle that beat Varlamov glove side at 14:18 to lift the Flyers up 1-0.

The Islanders’ best chance of the first came on a rebound that Anthony Beauvillier couldn’t put away before Brock Nelson had his shot deflected out of play by Hart. Managing to even the shots on goal 9-9 by the end of the period, the Islanders added some urgency to their game.

“We didn’t have a good first period, they got to their game and took it to us for a while,” Matt Martin said. “I think the intermission was good to regroup. Last 10 minutes of the first was decent but we knew we had to come out with a strong second and we took the game over from there.”

Three minutes into the second period, a strong shift from the Islanders’ first line resulted in a wraparound chance from Mathew Barzal that danced along the goal line before his one-timer went wide. Barzal kept making things happen shortly after that shift, sending a quick feed from the corner to Martin all alone in front of Hart for the easy tap-in to knot the game 1-1 at 7:12 of the second. 1192449 New York Islanders

Barry Trotz trusts Islanders can shift focus back to Flyers

Larry Brooks

August 29, 2020

And so, following two days where their heads were somewhere else, the Islanders have a game to play on Saturday. A relatively important one, too, this Game 3 of this second-round series against the Flyers that is knotted at a game apiece.

“The games are going to be just as intense,” Scott Mayfield said via a Zoom call that followed the team’s practice. “We’re professional athletes, we go out there to win.”

The schedule has changed. Instead of a pair of potential back-to-backs (Games 2 and 3, and then an if-necessary Games 6 and 7), there is only one set — Saturday’s Game 3, followed by Sunday’s Game 4.

The Islanders and Flyers had both held their morning skates before Thursday’s game was postponed and they both had ice time on Friday. Play should not be impacted. Neither should the Islanders’ preparation.

“There’s a lot of trust that goes into that,” said Barry Trotz, whose team lost a 4-3 overtime Game 2 after having taken the opener 4-0. “That’s dialogue. That’s dialogue with the group, that’s dialogue with your leadership.

“As I’ve said, I have a lot of faith and trust in this group that they understand that you have to park certain things. Obviously the social issues are up front but we are in the bubble to try and win a Stanley Cup.

“So [it’s about] getting the players to understand [they’ve] got to park it for the three, four or five hours, or whatever it is, get the job done, and then get back on task on the issues at hand,” he said. “It’s learning to be in the moment and the moment calls you to play hockey, you play hockey. [When] the moment calls you to stand strong for a social issue, that moment they stand strong.”

Islanders have loaned Simon Holmstrom, their 2019 first-round, 23rd overall selection, to Vita Hasten HC of the SHL’s second division. The 6- foot-1 winger, who had an impressive September training camp, spent the season with AHL Bridgeport, recording 15 points (8-7) in 46 games. The Islanders have the right to recall Holmstrom when North American pro leagues are ready to go for 2020-21.

Remainder of the revised schedule: Game 3, Saturday at 7 p.m.; Game 4, Sunday at 8 p.m.; Game 5, Tuesday at 7 p.m.; Game 6 (if necessary), Thursday, TBD; Game 7 (if necessary), Saturday, Sept. 5, TBD.

New York Post LOADED: 08.30.2020 1192450 New York Islanders “If you have to change some laws, get that done. If it’s getting schools, the next generation, to understand love and understanding, let’s get that done. That’s the next step for me.”

Barry Trotz pushing all the right buttons for Islanders, both on and off the He also spoke of playing “almost like a parent role” in supporting his ice players and their causes, such as Trotz’s commitment to people with special needs such as his son, Nolan. Islanders head coach Barry Trotz reacts against the “Listening is a skill, and this is a good time for everybody to listen,” he said, “because there is stuff in this world that everybody pretends they understand, but we don’t understand.” Neil Best He was back behind the microphone before Game 3, with more long and August 29, 2020 thoughtful answers about coaching under these circumstances.

“Every generation has had their moments, from the world wars to Barry Trotz still needs 10 victories before he can start plotting a socially depressions to all those things, and some of them still apply,” he said. distanced parade strategy, so there is a long way to go for the Islanders “One of them is inequality. and their coach. “The next generation, our generation, are going to be tested for sure, and But series by series, week by week, game by game, he continues mostly we have to make the most of it, make sure we’re helping our children get to push the right buttons — not only on the ice but off it. to a place where they’re in a better place than where we are right now.”

Take the Islanders’ 3-1 victory in Game 3 of a second-round playoff Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 08.30.2020 series against the Flyers on Saturday night.

Trotz went back to Semyon Varlamov in goal after having yanked him in Game 2 when he gave up three early scores, and the Islanders stormed back in front of Thomas Greiss to force overtime.

That decision worked.

Varlamov looked more like the player who excelled in the first 10 postseason games, allowing only the one goal and surviving a frantic late flurry by the Flyers, who pulled their goalie during a power play and skated six-on-four.

His biggest save came midway through the third period, when he got his left pad on a shot by Joel Farabee alone in front, keeping the score at 3- 1.

“The maturity of Varly as a pro shows in volumes, and it shows especially after losses,” Trotz said. “That’s the key for being in this league and having success.”

Trotz also dressed Derick Brassard for the first time in the series, having him replace the bigger, tougher, less skilled Ross Johnston as a wing on the third line.

That decision worked, too.

Brassard set up Leo Komarov for the go-ahead goal with 5.1 seconds left in the second period. He did an excellent job keeping the puck in the zone with his glove, took a shot that was saved, then beat Matt Niskanen behind the net to get the puck to Komarov.

“What ‘Brass’ usually does with us when he gets an opportunity to get back in the lineup, he usually makes the most of it,” Trotz said. “I was hoping for that response, and today he provided that.”

Brassard said, “The last couple of days were pretty tough for me; nobody wants to miss games or be a healthy scratch.” He admitted he “wasn’t happy,” but tried to maintain a team-first approach.

So the hockey part is going well for Trotz and the Islanders, who are 9-3 in the Toronto postseason “bubble” and have two victories in the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 1993.

But off the ice, Trotz has been impressive, too, steering the Islanders through the strangest postseason in hockey history, and most recently speaking eloquently on more important matters than mere hockey games.

Trotz is widely known around the league as a mensch who can see the big picture. That never was more evident than over the course of news conferences Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

On Friday, after the playoffs were paused in the wake of the shooting of Jacob Blake by a police officer in Kenosha, Wisconsin, Trotz seemed to be tearing up as he discussed what comes next.

“You’ve got a voice; you’ve got some momentum for the brotherhood,” he said. “It is the next step to have some solutions. 1192451 New York Islanders Tyler Pitlick had given the Flyers a 1-0 lead at 14:18 of the first period but the Islanders took 14 of the next 15 shots, including Martin’s equalizer.

“We just lost it,” Vigneault said. “We stopped being first on pucks. Our Semyon Varlamov sharp as Isles beat Flyers in Game 3 to take 2-1 players stopped making the plays that we needed to make with the series lead puck.”

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Andrew Gross

August 29, 2020

The Islanders got back to business on Saturday night.

Not just playing hockey after the NHL players initiated a two-day shutdown of the playoffs to protest social injustice. But playing the way they’re so comfortable playing.

They outskated the Flyers in a 3-1 win in Game 3 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto to take a 2-1 series lead heading into Sunday night’s Game 4. They got crucial goals from bottom-six forwards Matt Martin and Leo Komarov and their defensemen’s breakout passes helped maximize the team’s speed.

“It’s the way we’re sort of built,” Islanders coach Barry Trotz said. “We’re not probably blessed with a lot of those top-end guys. When you get contributions right through the whole lineup, you’ve got a chance to win every night. It goes to the Islanders’ concept.”

Semyon Varlamov made 26 saves, his biggest robbing Joel Farabee at the crease at 10:02 of the third period to preserve a two-goal lead. He also made four saves on the Flyers’ lone power play late in the third period as the Flyers skated six-on-four with Carter Hart (26 saves) off for an extra skater.

It rewarded Trotz’s decision to go back to him after Varlamov allowed three goals on 10 shots in 15:09 of the Islanders’ 4-3 overtime loss in Wednesday’s Game 2.

“In the playoffs, you have to be able to bounce back,” said captain Anders Lee, whose power-play goal on a backhander at the crease that Hart mistakenly played as a pass to Mathew Barzal made it 3-1 at 3:41 of the third period. “You have to understand the position in the series. You expect a long series. You can’t dwell on the past. After a loss, you’ve got to be the team that wants it more the next night.”

But just as the Islanders have followed their three losses in the postseason with wins, the Flyers have not lost consecutive games since completing a 1-4-1 road trip on Jan. 7.

“I know this group and their ability to bounce back,” Flyers coach Alain Vigneault said. “I think we are going to go home tonight all knowing we could play a lot better than we did.”

Game 3 was originally scheduled for Thursday night before the players opted out for two days.

“I think it speaks volumes to the players we have in this league, the support we have for one another, that we have each other’s backs,” Lee said. “Young kids, they look up to us and think we can set a great example of unity.”

The winner of the Islanders-Flyers series will face either the Lightning or the Bruins in the Eastern Conference final, which will be played in Edmonton. The Lightning took a commanding 3-1 series lead with a 3-1 win in Game 4 on Saturday.

The Islanders’ 2-1 lead going into the third period on Saturday wasn’t commanding, but it was indicative of how dominant they were in the second period.

“We didn’t have a good first period,” said Martin, who took Barzal’s feed from the right corner at the crease to tie the game at 1-1 at 7:12 of the second period. “We came out with a strong second and took the game over from there.”

Still, the Flyers nearly made it to the second intermission with the game tied. But Derick Brassard, keeping the puck in the Flyers’ zone and then retrieving his own rebound, outmuscled defenseman Matt Niskanen for the puck behind the crease and, while falling to the ice, found Komarov open in the low slot. Komarov’s backhand trickled over the goal line for his first of the playoffs with 5.1 seconds remaining. 1192452 New York Islanders

Derick Brassard sets up go-ahead goal in return to Islanders lineup

Andrew Gross

August 29, 2020

Derick Brassard wasn’t happy. But he understood what he needed to do once he was re-inserted into the Islanders’ lineup for Saturday night’s 3-1 win in Game 3 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.

“The last couple of days was tough for me,” Brassard said after logging 11:27 on Jean-Gabriel Pageau’s third line and doing all the work to set up Leo Komarov’s winner with 5.1 seconds left in the second period. “Nobody wants to miss games or be a healthy scratch. But we have great depth in the organization. There are a lot of guys watching that helped us this year.”

It was Brassard’s first appearance in this second-round series after three games as a healthy scratch. The more physical Ross Johnston, a healthy scratch Saturday, took Brassard’s place for the Islanders’ clinching Game 5, 4-0 win over the Capitals in the first round.

“It’s just good to be out there, to help the team,” Brassard said. “I’m trying to be good on the forecheck. I’m trying to create turnovers. I’m trying to put pressure on the defense.”

Brassard has four assists in nine postseason games.

Moment of solidarity

Game 3 was preceded by a moment of solidarity with a sign proclaiming, “We Skate For Black Lives,” highlighting the players’ decision not to play the previous two days.

A video of postseason moments when players have protested, either by kneeling or through words, ended with a message that “Black Lives Matter” must stand out.

Islanders defenseman Ryan Pulock also delivered a video message.

“Our goal as we move forward is that no matter the color of your skin or your sexual orientation, you feel comfortable playing the game of hockey,” Pulock said. “We want equality for everyone.”

Vigneault’s statement

Flyers coach Alain Vigneault did not take questions during his pregame media access. Instead, he read a self-written, four-minute prepared statement pushing back against the criticism he’s faced in media outlets and on social media following his comments on Wednesday and Thursday in which he admitted he was not aware of a wave of social protests among athletes that started in the NBA.

“My honesty, my integrity, my social commitment, for some reason, has been pushed to the forefront,” Vigneault said. “I am guilty of not checking up on what was going on in the world and the NBA. But I am a good person. I believe in equality. I believe in social justice. I want to be part of the solution. I want to help society in any way I can.

“We all have our part to do moving forward to help society fix these issues. Maybe we can all start by being good to one another.”

Notes & quotes

Jordan Eberle had two assists … It marks the first time the Islanders have won more than one game in the second round since 1993 … Flyers forward Scott Laughton had an assist in 12:58 after being a healthy scratch in Game 2 … Forward Michael Raffl was out of the Flyers’ lineup for the first time in the series.

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Barry Trotz's decision to start Semyon Varlamov pays off in Islanders' Game 3 win over Flyers

Colin Stephenson

August 29, 2020

As it turned out, the unplanned, two-day break between Game 2 and 3 of the Islanders’ second-round playoff series against the Philadelphia Flyers had a positive effect on Islanders goaltender Semyon Varlamov, who had been pulled from Game 2 on Wednesday.

“I think so,’’ Varlamov said after he and the Islanders rallied from a first- period deficit Saturday in Toronto to beat the Flyers, 3-1, and take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.

“In the playoffs, you play a lot of games — every other day — and then you don’t have a chance to practice,’’ Varlamov said. “Sometimes, you kind of, like, get away from your game. And then we had a good practice [Friday] and a pregame skate this morning. So I had two practices before this game tonight. I felt good. You know, it’s important to feel good and then feel sharp again. During the practice, [you] make some saves, work on some stuff . . . So, I think, yeah, those two days definitely helped.’’

Before the players on the eight NHL teams still playing in the Toronto and Edmonton bubbles decided to halt play for two days in solidarity with the protests around the sports world following the police shooting of Jacob Blake, an unarmed Black man in Kenosha, Wisconsin, the Islanders had been scheduled to play back-to-back games Wednesday and Thursday. And Varlamov, who had started the Islanders’ first 11 postseason games, was replaced by Thomas Greiss after he allowed three goals on 10 shots in the first period of Wednesday’s game. Coach Barry Trotz had a decision to make: Come back with Varlamov (9-2, 1.69 goals-against average) in Game 3 or give Greiss (0-1, 1.26) his first start of the postseason.

But with Varlamov getting a welcome break, Trotz gave Varlamov his 12th straight start and was rewarded with a 26-save performance, including a third period in which the Russian, 32, stopped 12 shots, including a brilliant left pad save on Joel Farabee with 9:58 left and the Isles up by two, and four huge stops on a Flyers power play when Philadelphia pulled goalie Carter Hart (26 saves) to create a six-on-four advantage.

“The year has been so long, but if you go back to the first 68 games of the regular season, [Varlamov] was very good after a loss,’’ Trotz said. “And he bounced back. I think the maturity of Varly as a pro shows in volumes and it shows especially after losses. That’s the key for being in this league and having successes that you can park everything that happened yesterday and then and reset.’’

Trotz will have another decision to make on Sunday, as the Isles once again face back-to-back games.The noted that with the back-to-backs, it was possible he might use Greiss in both goaltenders, Meaning there is a chance Greiss could get the start in Game 4.Given the way Varlamov played Saturday, though, that seems unlikely.

After the game, Trotz was asked if he was pleased with Varlamov’s performance in Game 3, and if there was a chance he could bring the goalie back for Game 4.

“Yes, and yes,’’ Trotz said.

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 08.30.2020 1192454 New York Islanders justice. I want to be part of the solution. I want to help society in any way I can.

“To all of the people that have texted me and called me in the last 48 Alain Vigneault's struggle shows how good Barry Trotz is at seeing the hours to show their support, I want to say thank you and continue to stay big picture safe. To all of the people in the last 48 hours that have questioned my honesty, and questioned my integrity, questioned my social commitment, I want to say, you also stay safe.

Neil Best “You know, we all have our part to do moving forward to help society fix these issues. Maybe we can all start by being good to one another. August 29, 2020 Society is like a big team; everyone has a role to play. If we work together and do our roles, I am convinced that we can fix society’s issues.” Barry Trotz and Alain Vigneault are paid to win hockey games, not speak eloquently about societal issues or mold young men, the way college Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 08.30.2020 coaches are expected to do.

So one had to feel a little bad for Vigneault, the Flyers coach, on Saturday as he defended himself over charges he seemed out-of-touch and/or indifferent to the issues that led the NHL playoffs to pause for two days.

More on that later. But Vigneault’s struggle served to illustrate by contrast how good Trotz is at this sort of thing.

The Islanders coach has a fine on-ice record with the Predators, Capitals and Islanders, but he also is widely known around the league as a mensch who can see the big picture.

That never was more evident than over the course of news conferences on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

On Friday, after the playoffs were paused in the wake of the shooting of Jacob Blake by a policeman in Kenosha, Wisconsin, Trotz seemed to be tearing up as he discussed what comes next.

“You’ve got a voice; you’ve got some momentum for the brotherhood,” he said. “It is the next step to have some solutions.

“If you have to change some laws, get that done. If it’s getting schools, the next generation, to understand love and understanding, let’s get that done. That’s the next step for me.”

He also spoke of playing “almost like a parent role” in supporting his players and their causes, such as Trotz’s commitment to people with special needs such as his son, Nolan.

“Listening is a skill, and this is a good time for everybody to listen,” he said, “because there is stuff in this world that everybody pretends they understand, but we don’t understand.”

He was back behind the microphone before Game 3 of the second-round playoff series between the Islanders and Flyers, with more long and thoughtful answers about coaching under these circumstances, including giving players space during an uncomfortable, unconventional week.

“Every generation has had their moments, from the world wars to depressions to all those things, and some of them still apply,” he said. “One of them is inequality.

“The next generation, our generation, are going to be tested for sure, and we have to make the most of it, make sure we’re helping our children get to a place where they’re in a better place than where we are right now.”

That sort of eloquence from a coach is difficult to match, more so, as Vigneault noted, when English is not your first language.

But still, Vigneault — a sharp and personable presence in five seasons with the Rangers in the mid-2010s — has to be better than what he showed on Thursday.

He seemed to be the last person in North America to have heard about the shooting and what was going on with other leagues’ reactions to it, blaming it on being “a hockey nerd” focused only on his job.

After taking severe criticism for it, he skipped his Friday news conference, then read from prepared remarks on Saturday before declining to take questions.

“In life, I answer to my parents, I answer to my family, I answer to my friends and I answer to God,” Vigneault said before offering a timeline from Wednesday and Thursday to explain his cluelessness.

“I am guilty of not checking up on what was going on in the world and the NBA. But I am a good person. I believe in equality. I believe in social 1192455 New York Islanders If anything, Trotz is somewhat concerned about mental exhaustion for the players.

“You have to respect what the players have gone through,” Trotz said. Islanders hit reset button, refocus on playoff series with Flyers “You have to respect their space. You also have to respect as much as it isn’t maybe physically demanding for a lot of the players, mentally, a guy like Anders Lee, some of your key people, they’re engaged in conversations, deep conversations, meaningful conversations for a large Andrew Gross part of the day. It is mentally draining. You want to give them a little August 29, 2020 space that way.”

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It’s a new series.

Sort of.

The Islanders and Flyers resumed their interrupted, second-round series on Saturday night with Game 3 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. The game was originally scheduled for Thursday, but the NHL players led a push to boycott two days of playoff games in a stance against racial injustice.

So, Islanders coach Barry Trotz didn’t discount the suggestion that however the series may have proceeded after the Flyers won Game 2, 4- 3, in overtime on Wednesday to even the series despite the Islanders rallying from a three-goal, first-period deficit to force the extra period, a reset button had been hit turning this best-of-seven series into a best-of- five.

“You’re probably correct,” Trotz said. “They won in overtime, momentum. We made our adjustments for the next day. We went through our meetings. Then, everything changed in the middle of the afternoon. I think the last two days have allowed both teams to reflect. We really haven’t talked a lot about hockey. It’s been about the social aspect.”

Both the Islanders and Flyers practiced on Friday but Trotz said, on Saturday, there were not the usual hockey meetings that precede a game.

“We’re all professionals,” Islanders right wing Cal Clutterbuck said. “We’ve stated many times before there’s no extra motivation needed, no lack of focus on the job at hand. The last couple of days have been great for reflection and conversation and that’s going to continue. The focus for us right now is on the Philadelphia Flyers.”

“I really don’t think it will be that hard,” Islanders right wing Jordan Eberle said about refocusing on hockey. “We’ve had a couple of days to recover. We’ve played a lot of hockey so we should be fresh. We’ve had some good discussions over the last day and that will continue. You switch your focus right away to the Flyers, A week here to play a best-of- five.”

The winner of the Islanders-Flyers series will face either the Lightning or the Bruins in the Eastern Conference final, which will be played in Edmonton. The Lightning took a commanding 3-1 series lead with a 3-1 win in their Game 4 on Saturday.

Game 4 in the Islanders-Flyers’ series is Sunday night and Game 5 will be on Tuesday.

Clutterbuck said the weekend back-to-back should not present any added difficulties.

“Not really,” Clutterbuck said. “If you look at the course of a regular season, back-to-backs are a pretty popular thing. They happen all the time. If anything with back-to-backs, you almost feel better on the back end. The physical aspect of back-to-backs isn’t really something new for us. It’s not something we concern ourselves with.

“You can look at it either way,” Clutterbuck added. “If you win the front end of a back-to-back, you get a chance to go out and continue the momentum. If you lose one, then you get a chance to get right back at it, get on the horse again. Quite frankly, I think there is more reading into back-to-backs than the actual situation itself. We know how to handle it and it’s really not that big a deal.”

But two days of group discussions among the four teams remaining in the Toronto bubble about societal issues is not something the players have had to go through before.

Islanders captain Anders Lee was heavily involved in coordinating conversations with the Hockey Diversity Alliance as well as with the NHL Players’ Association in his role as the team’s representative. 1192456 New York Rangers selection in 2021 for its egregious violations (under Chayka) of the league’s combine testing policy.

No, the NHL is not seriously contemplating opening next season under Chris Drury bows out of star-studded Panthers GM search multiple bubbles until coronavirus-related restrictions are eased to allow fans in buildings across the league and to permit ease of transportation across the U.S.-Canadian border.

Larry Brooks The cost would be exorbitant. Managing two bubbles briefly containing 24 teams that became 16 within two weeks is expected to come with a August 29, 2020 price tag of perhaps between $75 million and $100 million. The same protocols and testing would presumably be required within four bubbles that would house 31 teams for months. Chris Drury is a rising star who soon enough will be an NHL general manager. But it won’t be next season. In addition, it is difficult to believe the NHLPA would sign up for months on end of being away from their families in order to shuttle between hotel Slap Shots has learned the Rangers’ assistant GM has withdrawn from rooms and rinks after dozens/hundreds just had been there and done consideration for the vacant spot in Florida following an initial interview that. with the Panthers’ upper management conducted the week of Aug. 16. The Connecticut Yankees fan informed the team of his decision on There is, however, a possibility the NHL could temporarily realign for Friday. 2020-21 to form a Canadian Division in which the seven clubs — Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver The 44-year-old Drury will enter his sixth year in the Rangers’ front office — play exclusively against each other. and fifth as assistant GM. He has become an integral part of the hierarchy that features John Davidson as president and Jeff Gorton as And though the league currently is holding to its schedule to open camps GM. He is also entering his fourth as GM of the AHL Wolf Pack. It was on Nov. 17 and begin a full 82-game season on Dec. 1, several sources his call last summer to hire Kris Knoblauch as Hartford coach, a move have indicated that is unrealistic. that brought immediate results. A late December or January start of a truncated schedule — the league Sources report that another rising star in the industry, Eddie Olczyk, has does not want to extend next season into July, let alone August — where not only been in for an interview but is expected to be among the finalists fans are permitted to attend games in meaningful numbers is probably for the GM position in Florida that became vacant when the team did not the NHL’s best-case scenario for 2020-21. extend the expiring contract of Dale Tallon after the ne’er do well Puddy Friday’s announcement that the Garden would be converted into a polling Tats were bounced out of the qualifying round by the Islanders. place for the 2020 election came in the wake of an agreement between Tallon is now under investigation by the NHL for allegedly using “racially- NBA players and the league that its arenas would be used for that charged” language while in the Toronto bubble, the news first reported by purpose. Florida Hockey Now. Tallon has denied the charge. But Slap Shots has learned that Garden CEO Jim Dolan had initiated The 53-year-old Olczyk, who was a member of the Rangers’ 1994 talks with the Board of Elections weeks ago and an announcement was Stanley Cup championship team and had a stint behind the bench in originally scheduled for next week. Pittsburgh before the age of 40, has been the lead television analyst for MSG will be open to 60,000 assigned, eligible voters on the Nov. 3 NBC’s hockey coverage for more than a decade while holding the same election day from 6 a.m.-9 p.m. and will also be open for early voting position in Chicago. from Oct. 24-Nov. 1 at varying hours. He is highly regarded throughout the industry for his acumen, much in New York Post LOADED: 08.30.2020 the same way John Davidson was before he left the MSG broadcast booth to become president of the Blues in 2006. Indeed, Slap Shots has learned Olczyk had multiple interviews with the Devils for an executive front office position before the team elevated interim GM Tom Fitzgerald into the position on a full-time basis.

Olczyk has a longstanding relationship with Panthers head coach Joel Quenneville, who led the Blackhawks to their three Stanley Cups last decade before moving to Florida last season. Perhaps even more to the point, Olczyk also has a longstanding relationship with club owner Vinnie Viola and his wife, Teresa Viola, through their horse-racing connections and interests.

Slap Shots has been told that Peter Chiarelli, who has been promoted by the NHL for essentially every executive opening that arises, is expected to be among the finalists. Scott Mellanby is another remaining in the mix for a second interview. Kevin Weekes, who began his NHL career in Florida in 1997-98, is also considered a legitimate candidate for the job following the initial round of interviews.

In the parlance of the west (and of Glen Sather, too), “Giddy up.”

For Slap Shots has learned that cost-cutting measures in Arizona — now where have any of us heard that before? — have cost the universally well-regarded John MacLean his job as assistant coach. Johnny Mac, whose No. 15 should have been retired long ago by the Devils, served in that position for three years in the desert after joining head coach Rick Tocchet’s staff in 2017-18.

The Coyotes, operating under the ownership of Alex Meruelo since he purchased the team in July 2019, also relieved a video coach of his duties. Arizona, bounced out of the first round by Colorado after having dispatched Nashville from the qualifiers, are operating without a permanent GM in the wake of John Chayka’s resignation prior to the postseason.

Steve Sullivan is interim GM of the franchise, which Gary Bettman stripped of its second-round draft pick in the 2020 draft and first-round 1192457 Philadelphia Flyers

Flyers-Islanders Game 4: TV, streaming, notes

by Marc Narducci

Three things

1. In his last 25 postseason games, Flyers captain Claude Giroux has one goal, eight assists and has a minus-12 rating. Giroux has not scored in his last 13 postseason games. The last time he scored came on April 20, 2018, when he had a goal in a 4-2 win over Pittsburgh in Game 5 of the first round. The Flyers would eventually lose that series in six games.

2. The Flyers haven’t lost two straight since Jan. 7. Since then, they are 11-0 after a loss. During this year’s playoffs, they are 3-0 after a loss.

Here is a look at the losses and how they rebounded

Aug. 14: 5-0 loss to Montreal in Game 2 Eastern Conference quarterfinal

Aug. 16: 1-0 win over Montreal in Game 3

Aug. 19: 5-3 loss to Montreal in Game 5

Aug. 21: 3-2 win over Montreal in Game 6

Aug 24: 4-0 loss to the N.Y. Islanders in Game 1 Eastern Conference quarterfinal

Aug. 26: 4-3 win OT over Islanders in Game 2

Aug. 29: 3-1 loss to Islanders in Game 3

Aug. 30:

This postseason, the Islanders have not lost consecutive games. Here is how they have done after a loss:

Aug. 5: 3-2 loss to Florida in Game 3 of the qualifying round

Aug. 7: 5-1 win over Florida in Game 4 to clinch the series

Aug. 18: 3-2 loss to Washington in Game 4 of the quarterfinals

Aug. 20: 4-0 win over Washington in Game 5 to clinch the series

Aug. 26: 4-3 loss in OT to Flyers in Game 2 of Eastern Conference semifinal.

Aug. 29: 3-1 win over the Flyers in Game 3.

3. In the first three games against the Islanders, the Flyers have yet to score in the second or third period. They have been outscored, 3-0, in the second period and 6-0 in the third period. The Flyers have a 4-1 edge in the first period. They also scored the lone OT goal in the series.

He said it

“Yeah, I think so. Guys are frustrated. I think we need to take that frustration and bring it as energy. If we do that, we’re going to be in a good spot tomorrow - Giroux when asked if it helps to play the Islanders right away on Sunday night.

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Observations from the Flyers’ 3-1 loss to the Islanders in Game 3

by Marc Narducci

The Flyers got the early goal and momentum Saturday night, but the New York Islanders took control thereafter, and now have a 2-1 lead in the series after a 3-1 win in Game 3.

The Flyers are 7-22 all-time in playoff series they’ve trailed 2-1.

Flyers coach Alain Vigneault explains comments, says he stands for social justice and wants to ‘help society any way I can.’

Here are our observations:

Flyers came out fast: The Flyers came out faster in the first period than they had the first two games. They had six of the first seven shots on goal and were pressuring the Islanders with their forechecking.

Great screens: Tyler Pitlick was the beneficiary of two great screens on the night’s opening goal.

Ivan Provorov set the screen high, James van Riemsdyk was at the doorstep and goalie Semyon Varlamov never got a clear view of the shot. The line of Scott Laughton, Pitlick and van Riemsdyk was on fire that first period. Laughton set up the play by shielding the puck from Leo Komarov and feeding Pitlick at the top of the circle.

Oh well: The Flyers entered the game 8-0 in the postseason when scoring first.

Hart sharp early: The Islanders were putting a lot of pressure on Carter Hart in the first period, especially in the final 10 minutes. Here is a great stop he made on Brock Nelson.

Hart moved quickly laterally and got his glove on the shot just in time to tip it away.

Barzal stepped it up: The Islanders’ Mathew Barzal can break down defenders one-on-one and put a lot of pressure on a defense. He has great speed, and while the Flyers did a good job containing him in the first period, he came out and set the tone in the second. During the first four minutes he had two great chances, missing a one timer and then a wrap-around attempt, but then it was Barzal who set up the Islanders’ equalizer.

Barzal took on two Flyers at the boards and passed to Matt Martin in front who scored the goal. Hart got a piece of it but not enough.

Second period dominance: The Islanders not only outscored the Flyers, 2-0, in the second period, but they outshot them, 15-6. Had Hart not come up big on a few occasions, it could have been worse for the Flyers. The Islanders really went into overdrive after Pitlick scored the game’s opening goal.

Outworking for the second goal: The Islanders’ second goal was set up by Derick Brassard, who kept the play alive with a keep at the blue line.

Brassard then outworked Matt Niskanen behind the net to feed Komarov for a killer of a goal with just 5.1 seconds left in the second period, giving the Islanders the 2-1 lead. A turnover by Ivan Provorov eventually led to this goal, and turnovers in general hurt the Flyers in the second.

Lee in a comfortable position: The Islanders’ Anders Lee makes his living in front of the net and that led to the Islanders’ third goal.

The shot wasn’t a hard one. We’re wondering if Hart had his eye on Barzal, who was alone on the far post.

Big save by Varlamov: In the third period, with the Islanders up 3-1, Semyon Varlamov made this outstanding save on Joel Farabee.

Varlamov, who was pulled in Game 2, was obviously much sharper for Game 3.

Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 08.30.2020 1192459 Philadelphia Flyers scratch Wednesday in Game 2, but he returned to the lineup Saturday and made an immediate impact.

Used mostly as a left winger in the regular season and playoffs, Islanders get past Flyers, 3-1, to take lead in conference semifinals Laughton was shifted to center and he set up the first goal, Pitlick’s drive from just above the left circle late in the first. Van Riemsdyk and Provorov set a double screen in front of Varlamov by Sam Carchidi The Flyers, who were coming off Wednesday’s 4-3 overtime win, entered the night 8-0 in the postseason when they scored first and 0-3 when they

didn’t. With their playoff series tied, Saturday night’s matchup was a vital Laughton’s line, with van Riemsdyk -- who has been a healthy scratch in “swing” game between the Flyers and New York Islanders. four postseason games -- and Pitlick (four blocked shots) had the Flyers’ The pendulum swung to the Islanders. most attack time in the first two periods. (Laughton replaced his close friend, Michael Raffl, in the lineup.) Goalie Semyon Varlamov, rebounding from a poor performance, made 26 saves as the sixth-seeded Islanders defeated the top-seeded Flyers, The Flyers have scored just one goal, total, in their two losses in this 3-1, at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena and took a 2-1 series lead in the series. Eastern Conference semifinals. “Guys are frustrated,” Giroux said. “I think we need to take that frustration Game 4 is Sunday night at 8. and bring it as energy.”

In NHL history, teams that break a 1-1 playoff tie and take Game 3 have They better do it quickly. won 67.1% of the best-of-seven series. A Black Lives Matter video was shown in the arena before the game, and The Flyers are just 7-22 all-time when they trail a series, 2-1. players from both sides tapped their sticks in support. During the video, van Riemsdyk said, in part, that all NHL players “stand in solidarity for the After Robert Hagg was called for slashing, the Islanders capitalized on Black players in our league.” the game’s first penalty and took a 3-1 lead on Anders Lee’s power-play goal with 16 minutes, 19 seconds left. Lee, with position on defenseman At the players’ urging, the NHL postponed two games Thursday and two Justin Braun, put a backhander off Carter Hart’s stick for his third goal of Friday to protest racial injustice after a Wisconsin police officer shot the series. Jacob Blake, a Black man, seven times.

Hart had been anticipating a pass to Mathew Barzal. Breakaways

“We need to be a lot better than we were tonight, especially our top-end The Flyers are 11-0 in games after a loss since Jan. 7. ... Varlamov and guys,” coach Alain Vigneault said. “The great thing about it is we can get Hart are expected to again start on Sunday. Hart said he would be ready right back at it (Sunday).” if called upon, but that it wasn’t his decision. “If not, I know Moose is more than capable,” he said, referring to Brian Elliott by his nickname. Claude Giroux (three shots), Travis Konecny (three shots) and James “He’s had a lot of playoff experience. He’s been great for us this season. van Riemsdyk (two shots) had chances but remained goal-less in the ... Vigneault on the defensive-minded Islanders. “That’s a veteran team post season. Giroux has one goal over his last 25 playoff games. that knows how to play and plays a gritty, greasy game. ... I said this was going to be a greasy series. That means you’ve got to get involved. “Our line can do better; we know that,” said Giroux, who was on a unit You’ve got to want to go to the tough areas. We’ve been good at with Sean Couturier and Jake Voracek. “We generated some offense, but bouncing back. I’m confident that’s what we’re going to do.” ... Nic Aube- at the end of the day, it’s got to go in the net.” Kubel had a game-high six hits. ... In the series, the Flyers are 0 for 4 on Midway through the third period, Varlamov maintained the 3-1 lead with the power play, while the Isles are 2 for 6. his best save of the night as he stopped rookie Joel Farabee from the doorstep. Varlamov had been pulled from Game 2 after allowing three first-period goals. Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 08.30.2020 “I learned from mistakes and moved on,” Varlamov said.

After Tyler Pitlick’s goal with 5:42 left in the first, the Islanders started to tilt the ice and suddenly had an extra gear compared to the Flyers.

In a stretch than spanned until the middle stages of the second period, the Isles outshot the Flyers, 14-1, after Pitlick’s goal and scored the equalizer when Matt Martin converted Barzal’s pass and squirted a point- blank shot off Hart and into the net. Martin got behind defenseman Travis Sanheim and was alone in front with 12:48 left in the second.

“We were playing the type of game we wanted to play, and somehow we just lost it,” Vigneault said. “We stopped being first on pucks. Our players stopped making the plays we needed to make with the puck, and they slowly but surely found the momentum.”

An Ivan Provorov turnover led to Leo Komarov’s goal with 5.1 seconds left in the second, putting the Islanders ahead, 2-1.

“I put my top players on the ice, top line, top D pair,” Vigneault said of the waning seconds of the second period, “and to give up that late goal, you just can’t do that at this time of the year.”

The Flyers, who haven’t scored in the second or third periods in this series, were in retreat mode for most of the second period, during which they were outshot, 15-6.

“Our pace was completely different in the second,” Flyers center Scott Laughton said. “We didn’t make them turn as much as we should have and it showed.”

Laughton, arguably the Flyers’ best forward in the round-robin tournament, struggled with turnovers in the playoffs and was a healthy 1192460 Philadelphia Flyers Questions such as: Did he believe the delay between Wednesday’s game and Saturday’s game would affect his team?

These are questions that would hold Vigneault accountable. However, Tone-deaf Flyers coach Alain Vigneault scolds critics for questioning his protected by social distancing, by the NHL (which was unaware that he ignorance, then runs away would issue his ill-conceived speech), and by the power of being a head coach, Vigneault refused to face any accountability other than his own. He ran away. by Marcus Hayes There are those who will applaud Vigneault for “defending himself.” Well, every shepherd needs sheep. This moment is much bigger than

Vigneault, or his team, or the game. At least his players realize that. Not content to cast himself as just another dismissive, tone-deaf, middle- This is disappointing behavior for a man whose demand for aged white man, which he did Thursday, Alain Vigneault on Saturday accountability completely changed the culture of the hockey team in his cast himself as a victim. first season as Flyers coach. Where have we heard this before? This is remarkable behavior for a man who has fearlessly benched Jake Flyers coach Alain Vigneault explains comments, says he stands for Voracek, James van Riemsdyk and Scott Laughton. social justice and wants to ‘help society any way I can.’ Of course, this is predictable behavior for a 59-year-old white Canadian All Vigneault had to say before his team played Game Three of the NHL millionaire whose personal life was unaffected by the #BlackLivesMatter Eastern Conference semifinal Saturday night was: “Look, I should have protests, spurred by the epidemic of Black Americans being killed by been better prepared for Thursday’s press conference, and I said some white cops and vigilantes, often on camera. AV had no skin in the game. insensitive things, and I support what the players and leagues are doing.” Not until his team informed him that it was boycotting Game Three on Thursday. Then it became all about Me. Then it’s over. Then he’s just another hockey coach who said something dumb. But AV, like most of those afflicted with the insidious, often “My honesty, integrity, my social commitment, for some reason, has been asymptomatic disease of White Male Privilege, has his pride. That pushed to the forefront,” Vigneault said. The reason: What you said is not disease will not let you back down. So, he flexed. only implausible, it’s irresponsible. If nothing else, Vigneault is not irresponsible. The Flyers coach arrived at his noon virtual press conference with five pages of a prepared statement that might have been prepared by his Vigneault then recounted a timeline in which he defended his ignorance worst enemy. It was. Himself. of the most pressing American social issues in decades – issues that had brought sports to a virtual standstill – by saying that, after being made In it, Vigneault, 59, never uttered a word of solidarity or support for his aware of other leagues’ boycotts Wednesday evening, he simply own players, for the NHL, or for athletes all over the world, many of declined to research the matter. whom, since a teenage gunman allegedly killed two protesters in Kenosha, Wis., on Tuesday, have boycotted games and practices to After the Flyers won Game 2 on Wednesday afternoon, “I picked up protest the epidemic of police brutality and vigilantism that affects some food, had a martini, and went to my room to work,” he said, then communities of color. recounted every moment of the next 20 hours.

Instead, the statement concerned how Alain Vigneault had been Vigneault said that by his noon press conference Thursday, after smeared. How Alain Vigneault had been misrepresented. How Alain Vigneault had interacted with, at a minimum, his coaching staff, drivers, Vigneault’s feelings were hurt. servers, and league medical personnel, virtually every news outlet was leading with the specter not only of temporary boycotts but of possible full Two days late. shutdowns. NHL teams were discussing not playing, including his own team. To believe that no player, no coach, no team official, and no one I like AV. else mentioned to Vigneault that his world was burning down around him This is awful. is, for me, a bridge too far.

This is a seminal moment for the entire sporting world and the country in Believe him if you like. which he works. I do believe this: I like Vigneault. I respect what he’s done in Philadelphia and in his “I am for equality. I am for social justice. I am a good person. I believe in career. He’s smart and tough and polished. But, as we witnessed twice equality. I believe in social justice. I want to be part of the solution. I want this week, he’s not perfect. to help society in any way I can.” Dripping with self-righteousness, he scolded those who doubted his Super. truthfulness when he said, on midday Thursday, that (unbelievably) he was ignorant of the boycotts that swept through sports Wednesday. He could have said all that Thursday evening, after the boycotts were finalized, and as his own image was being torched. He could have said Drenched with indignation, he thanked those who had supported him in that Friday, when four Flyers spoke to the press. But Vigneault did not. the previous 48 hours; and then, with dramatic sarcasm, he wished well He could have just released a statement, for goodness’ sake. those who’d criticized him. Then, as though he’d not done quite enough to paint himself as a And, drowning in sanctimony, Vigneault invoked his friends, his parents, caricature of boomer-ism, Vigneault actually chastised anyone who’d had and God as those who are fit to judge him. the audacity to be offended by his missteps of the previous two days. God. “We all have our part to do moving forward to help society fix these If God cares at all for him, He cringed. issues. Maybe we can all start by being good to one another,” he said.

Then, after 4 minutes, 30 seconds of weird self-defense, AV left the dais Vigneault, victim. without taking a single question. Let’s be real here. You can understand Vigneault’s frustration: He seems Questions such as: Why did it take him 48 hours to address his to have tried to be a forthright and decent man his whole life, and now, comments from Thursday? after a few lazy words in perhaps the biggest moment of his life, he has been cast as being, at best, indifferent to racism. Questions such as: Exactly what did he think now about the NHL on Thursday postponing its slate of games and workouts for two days, You can even understand his condescending tone, and the fact that he following the lead of the NBA, WNBA, Major League Baseball, Major refused to take questions. He’s been a coach at some level for almost 35 League Soccer, and 10 NFL teams? seasons, most of them as head coach. Coaches are authoritarian, so they stand interrogation poorly, and avoid it completely if possible. The best coaches – and Vigneault is among the best – are accustomed to speaking with a voice that demands obedience.

He uses that voice to teach lessons.

Hopefully, he can learn them, too.

Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 08.30.2020 1192461 Philadelphia Flyers “To all of the people in the last 48 hours that have questioned my honesty, questioned my integrity, questioned my social commitment,” he added, forcefully, “I want to say …”

Flyers coach Alain Vigneault explains comments, says he stands for He paused again. social justice and wants to ‘help society any way I can.’ “You also stay safe,” he said.

Vigneault said, “We all have our part to do, moving forward, to help by Sam Carchidi society fix its issues. Maybe we can all start by being good to one another. Society is like a big team. Everyone has a role to play. If we work together and do our role, I am convinced that we can fix society’s issues.” Flyers coach Alain Vigneault delivered prepared remarks Saturday afternoon in a Zoom call from Toronto with reporters, reiterating he was a strong supporter of social justice and adding that “we can all start by being good to one another.” Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 08.30.2020

After reading from his statement, which lasted about four minutes, Vigneault did not take questions in the scheduled news conference. The Flyers faced the New York Islanders in Game 3 of their playoff series Saturday night.

The league postponed two games Thursday and two Friday, showing unity after a police officer shot a Black man, Jacob Blake, in Wisconsin.

On Thursday afternoon, before games that day were postponed, Vigneault said he was “invested 24/7 on our team” and that “I really have no idea what’s going on in the outside world.”

Some criticized him sharply for being out of touch with the situation.

“In life, I answer to my parents. I answer to my family. I answer to my friends, and I answer to God,” Vigneault said as the start of his speech Saturday. “Everyone I just mentioned knows that what I’ve said since our postgame on Wednesday is the truth. My honesty, my integrity, my social commitment, for some reason, has been pushed to the forefront.”

After the Flyers’ 4-3 overtime win over the Islanders in Game 2 of their playoff series Wednesday afternoon, Vigneault was asked about the NBA’s postponing games to protest the Blake shooting. At the time, Vigneault said that it was the first he had heard about the decision and that he needed time to learn about the situation.

“We had played a 3 o’clock game, and I didn’t know what was going on [in the NBA], so I didn’t comment,” he said Saturday.

Vigneault, 59, a Quebec native who is the 10th-winningest coach in NHL history, said he got back to his hotel in Toronto at 6:15 p.m. Wednesday, grabbed some dinner and a martini, “and went to my room to work. We were playing in less than 24 hours. I worked late into the night, got up very early the next morning, and continued to work.”

Vigneault, who is trying to win the first Stanley Cup of his 17-year coaching career, said he conducted a coaches meeting from 10:30 to 11:45 a.m. Thursday and then went to get tested for the coronavirus. He returned around noon for his next news conference.

“I never bothered to ask or check with anyone with what was going on in the world or the NBA,” he said. “I am guilty of that. I was totally focused on our next game. Like I said at that 12 o’clock press conference, I am for equality. I am for social justice.”

After that news conference, Vigneault said he went to his team’s pregame meal. When it was done and he left, “I saw players from the four teams who are in the bubble talking. That was my first indication that something was going on,” he said. “Shortly after that, I received a text from one of my players, telling me they were not playing that evening.”

The NHL, after its players took a stand, postponed two playoff games Thursday and two Friday.

“I am guilty of not checking up on what was going on in the world and the NBA,” Vigneault said. “But I am a good person. I believe in equality. I believe in social justice. I want to be part of the solution. I want to help society in any way I can.”

At the conclusion of his speech, Vigneault thanked those who had texted or called him to show their support in the last 48 hours.

“I want to say thank you, and continue to stay safe,” he said.

He paused. 1192462 Philadelphia Flyers In Game 5 of the Montreal series, one night after he produced a shutout in Game 4, he gave up four goals and was eventually pulled in favor of veteran Brian Elliott.

Vigneault hoping Flyers' quick turnaround can be a good one "With a back-to-back you’ve got to take care of your body,’’ Hart said. “That goes for everybody. Just make sure we’re ready to go tomorrow.

“But if not, then I know ‘Moose’ (Elliott) is more than capable ... he’s had Wayne Fish a lot of playoff experience and he’s been great for us this season. At the end of the day, that’s not my decision.’’ flyingfishhockey.com

Burlington County Times LOADED: 08.30.2020 Islanders goalie Semyon Varlamov covers the side of the net as teammate Nick Leddy knocks Flyers captain Claude Giroux off of his feet during Game 3 on Saturday night.

Let’s face it, the Flyers are one bad bounce away from being down 3-0 in their playoff series with the Islanders.

And while you can’t dismiss the Boston “Three Party’’ of 2010 when the Flyers became just the third team in NHL history to overcome a 3-0 deficit, those miracles simply don’t come along all that often.

So the Flyers have to figure out how to get this thing turned around quickly or they will be down by a 3-1 margin in the best-of-seven series, which is no day at the beach.

After Saturday night’s 3-1 loss to New York, in which they failed to win for the first time after scoring first in a playoff game (now 8-1), players and coach Alain Vigneault speculated on what has to change.

“We need to be a lot better than we were tonight,’’ Vigneault said during a Zoom call from Toronto, “especially our top-end guys. The great thing is we can be right back at it tomorrow.

“I know this group and their ability to bounce back, especially going home tonight knowing we can play a lot better than we did. We know we need to regroup and play a good game.’’

The Flyers have been good at puck possession throughout the season but not in this series against the Islanders. For example, in Saturday night’s game they went a stretch of 11:44 late in the first period into the second without getting a shot on net.

“I think we’ve done a decent job keeping them to the outside,’’ said Tyler Pitlick, who scored the Flyers’ only goal. “We’re getting some blocks and doing some stuff there.

“We have to play our game, make the five-foot passes, get out of our zone chips. We have to go north. When we get behind their defense and get on them, we’re good. We had some stretches in the game where we were wearing them out a bit. But we didn’t do it enough.’’

Added Claude Giroux: “When we play our best, I think we’re a hard team to beat. We just have to be able to do that for 60 minutes.’’

Giroux holding the frustration level down

While he hasn’t scored in this postseason and has only one goal in his last 25 postseason games, Giroux continues to plug away. He just doesn’t seem to be getting prime scoring chances.

“Just keep grinding,’’ he said. “I think the last two games were a little better. I think our line (with Sean Couturier, Jake Voracek) can do better. We know that. We generated some offense but at the end of the day it’s got to go in the net.’’

Vigneault would like nothing more than to see this line enjoy a breakout performance.

“We’re reinforcing some of the good things, the good habits we need to do to be successful,’’ Vigneault said. “At this time of the year, (we need to) create space, create ice on the ice – we need to get a little gritty, need to want to go to those tough areas.

“We’re obviously trying to show as much to our players the areas they can exploit.’’

Hart ready for Game 4 but sees options

Things don’t go so well for goalie Carter Hart in the second half of the only back-to-back situation he’s played in during these playoffs. 1192463 Philadelphia Flyers “It was 1-1 25 seconds left in the (second) period,’’ Vigneault said. “Faceoff in the offensive zone. Put my top players on the ice. To give up that late goal, you just can’t do that.’’

Flyers’ fast start fizzles out in 3-1 loss to Islanders Players were clearly frustrated after this one. The Flyers had been 8-0 when scoring first in the playoffs leading up to Game 3.

“We came out strong,’’ Claude Giroux said. “Got that first goal, things Wayne Fish were going well. The second period wasn’t our best hockey.’’ flyingfishhockey.com Van Riemsdyk was reminded the Flyers are 11-0-0 after their last 11 losses.

“I think it’s really important to have a good response,’’ he said. “When Islanders left wing Matt Martin scores on Flyers goaltender Carter Hart you’re facing these situations, this adversity, in the playoffs momentum during second period of Game 3 on Saturday night. swings can be really huge. We’ve had some big responses and we want Listing the reasons why the Flyers find themselves trailing the New York to stick to that.’’ Islanders in their best-of-seven playoff series is as easy as 1, 2, 3. Short shots A lousy first period led to a 4-0 loss in Game 1. A meltdown in the third The Flyers had been 8-0 when scoring first in the playoffs. ... period nearly cost them Game 2 (a narrow Philly win). And a fall-asleep Philadelphia went without a shot for a stretch of 11:44 spanning late in second period proved their undoing Saturday night in a 3-1 Game 3 the first period into the second. ... Once again, the Flyers’ top line of defeat. Sean Couturier, Jake Voracek and Claude Giroux failed to make the So now the Flyers are staring at a 2-1 deficit in the series, with virtually scoresheet. no time to dwell on their problem. Game 4 comes in a hurry – Sunday night (8) at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. Burlington County Times LOADED: 08.30.2020 Typifying the Flyers’ woes in the middle period was a turnover by defenseman Ivan Provorov in the closing seconds. He tried a soft clear, but it clipped off the stick of Leo Komarov and stayed in the zone.

Komarov eventually wound up with the puck in front of the Flyers' net and he poked it past goalie Carter Hart with just 5.1 seconds to play in the period for a 2-1 lead.

What went wrong in the second?

"The pace was completely different in the second period,'' Scott Laughton said. "Didn't think we made them turn as much as we should have. And it showed.''

The Flyers looked like they had carried the momentum from their 4-3 overtime win on Wednesday into the start of this game. They got off to a fast start in the first period only to see it go down the drain in the second.

Coach Alain Vigneault didn’t need to see videotape to know what went wrong in this game. The Flyers should have gotten momentum from a first period goal by Tyler Pitlick. Instead that goal seemed to wake up the Islanders.

“You’re a hundred percent right,’’ Vigneault said in a Zoom call after the game. “I thought we came out real well, loved our pace for the first 10, 12 minutes. We were playing the type of game we wanted to play.

“Then somehow we lost it, we stopped being first on pucks. Our players stopped making the plays that we need to make with the puck. (The Islanders) slowly but surely found momentum. For most of the second period, they were the much better team.’’

Vigneault chose to bring Laughton back into the lineup (after sitting out Game 2) and benched Michael Raffl.

Laughton centered a third line with Pitlick and James van Riemsdyk, which turned out to be the most effective unit for Philadelphia in this game.

"We're comfortable together,'' Laughton said. "Tyler brings a ton of speed and JVR is so smart in front of the net.''

In fact, Pitlick gave the Flyers their only lead of the night when his shot from the left circle appeared to nick off a New York defender’s stick past goalie Semyon Varlamov at 14:18 for a 1-0 edge.

That lead held up until the Islanders scored at 7:12 of the second period when Matthew Barzal set up Matt Martin in front. His short shot squeezed through Hart’s pads.

The Islanders made it 3-1 at 3:41 of the third period on a power-play goal by Anders Lee. That was the first penalty call of the game. Robert Hagg went off for slashing leading to the two-goal New York lead. Hart accidentally tipped Lee’s short shot over his pad into the net.

No doubt the Flyers top line and D-pairing will be watching that Martin goal a few times on videotape Sunday morning. 1192464 Philadelphia Flyers “To all of the people in the last 48 hours that have questioned my honesty, questioned my integrity, questioned my social commitment, I want to say, ‘you also stay safe.'’’

An emotional Alain Vigneault takes a stance on social justice In closing, Vigneault, who didn't take any questions from the media, talked about teamwork, and how it can help in addressing some of society’s challenges.

Wayne Fish "You know we all have our part to do moving forward to help society fix its issues,’’ he said. “Maybe we can all start by being good to one flyingfishhockey.com another. Society is like a big team — everyone has a role to play. If we work together and do our roles, I am convinced that we can fix society’s issues.’’ Name any of the great Flyers coaches — be it Fred Shero, Pat Quinn, Mike Keenan or Ken Hitchcock — and they all had one thing in common: Focus. Burlington County Times LOADED: 08.30.2020 For game preparation, they could hit pause on everything in the world outside of hockey.

Alain Vigneault hasn’t done enough yet to join that list of legends but he’s off to a good start.

At least we know this much — he can concentrate on the task at hand with the best of them.

And that’s why the speech he gave at Saturday afternoon’s scheduled press conference in lieu of the usual question-and-answer session rang so true.

Vigneault had been taken to task the previous two days for declining to comment about the Jacob Blake shooting after Wednesday’s Game 2 of the Flyers’ playoff series against the New York Islanders.

When Vigneault sat down at the head table, he already had compiled a list of comments on a broadsheet notebook.

There was emotion in Vigneault’s voice and at one point he nearly had to stop to compose himself.

"In light, I answer to my parents, I answer to my family, I answer to my friends and I answer to God,’’ Vigneault said. “Everyone I just mentioned knows that what I've said since our post-game on Wednesday is the truth. My honesty, my integrity, my social commitment for some reason have been pushed to the forefront.

"After our last game against the N.Y. Islanders, I was asked about the situation in the NBA. We had played a 3 o'clock game, I didn't know what was going on, so I didn't comment.

“We got back that night at 6:15 at the hotel. I picked up some food, had a martini and went to my room to work. We were playing in less than 24 hours. I worked late into the night, got up very early the next morning (and) continued to work. I conducted our 10:30-to-11:45 coaches meeting. At 11:45 I went to get COVID tested. At 12 o’clock I was back here for a press conference. I was totally focused on our next game.

“I never bothered to ask or check (voice wavering) with anyone what was going on in the world or the NBA. I am guilty of that.’’

Vigneault made it clear he’s sympathetic to this particular cause as well as any others which involve social justice.

By midday on Thursday, Vigneault was finally made aware that something significant was happening throughout the professional sports world.

“Like I said at the 12 o’clock press conference (on Thursday), I am for equality, I am for social justice,’’ Vigneault said. “After that press conference, I went to our pre-game meal. I left there around 12:35 and as I walked out, I saw players from the four teams that are in the bubble talking. That was my first indication that something was going on.

“Very shortly after that, I received a text from one of my players telling me they were not playing that evening. I am guilty of not checking up on what was going on in the world and the NBA. But, I am a good person, I believe in equality. I believe in social justice. I want to be part of the solution. I want to help society in any way I can.’’

The Flyers coach acknowledged everyone who has supported him as well as those who haven’t.

“To all of the people that have texted me,’’ Vigneault said, “and called me in the last 48 hours to show their support, I want to say ‘thank you and continue to stay safe.’ 1192465 Philadelphia Flyers Vigneault continued his play-by-play of his Thursday activities, saying he went to a pre-game meal, then bumped into four players talking about games possibly being canceled that night. "That was my first indication that something was going on," Vigneault said. "Shortly, very shortly after Flyers coach Alain Vigneault issues solemn self-defense to his critics that, I received a text from one of my players, telling me that they were not playing that evening."

Then, he looked toward the camera and forcefully added, "I am guilty of By Rob Parent [email protected] @ReluctantSE on not checking up on what was going on in the world and in the NBA, but I am a good person. I believe in equality. I believe in social justice. I want to be part of the solution. I want to help society in any way I can." Flyers coach Alain Vigneault happened to mention the other day that he doesn't do Twitter. By Saturday he had realized you don't have to be Vigneault went on to thank "all of the people that have texted me and active on social media to have social media smack you around a bit. called me in the last 48 hours to show their support," and wished them to "stay safe." He then addressed his critics who "have questioned my Criticized by media members — including former Calgary general honesty, questioned my integrity and questioned my social commitment, I manager Craig Button — and excoriated on social media for comments want to say you also stay safe. he made in the wake of the Jacob Blake shooting, Vigneault used nearly five minutes of "press conference" time Saturday to apologize for not "We all have our part to do moving forward to help society fix these staying on top of current issues, but also indicating anger at people issues," Vigneault concluded after a pause. "Maybe we can all start by taking what he seemed to deem unwarranted potshots at his character. being good to one another. Society is like a big team. Everyone has a role to play. If we work together and do our roles, I am convinced that we This all apparently stemmed from Vigneault's perhaps naive but honest can fix society’s issues. answers Wednesday night and Thursday to questions about the ongoing protests over the Blake shooting by a cop in Kenosha, Wis., last "I want to thank everyone for being here. Everyone stay safe and that weekend, and their impact on games in the NHL and NBA. On concludes today’s press conference. Thank you. Stay safe." Wednesday night, immediately after the Flyers' 4-3 overtime win in Game He then walked off, perhaps again trying to shift his sole focus toward 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinal series with the Islanders, one of Saturday night's Game 3. two games that hadn't been canceled by the league while the NBA did cancel playoff games that night, Vigneault seemed surprised to be asked about the situation and essentially brushed off the question. Delaware County Times LOADED: 08.30.2020 Then during a Zoom conference Thursday, Vigneault again tried to say he wasn't following the protests because he was too caught up in his job inside the NHL's "bubble" in Toronto.

Sometimes honesty is far from the best policy.

"We played yesterday ... I really have no idea what’s going on in the outside world," Vigneault had said Thursday. "We’re in this bubble right now, and we’re invested 24/7 on our team. I’m working 20 hours a day going through video comparing our group. I don’t do Twitter. I haven’t read a sports article in I don’t know how long and I haven’t read any kind of article in I don’t know how long. I guess I’m a hockey nerd and that’s what I’m doing right now."

The criticism, which began Wednesday night when San Jose's Evander Kane, a Black player, called it "incredibly insulting" of the NHL to have allowed the games to be played, heightened around the Flyers after Vigneault, 59, spoke later that night, and especially after he followed up on Thursday.

On TSN, Canada's all-sports network, Button called Vigneault's words Thursday, "abhorrent and indefensible."

Just a little over the top, perhaps, but that and other criticisms seemed to hit their intended target.

By Friday, Vigneault refused to do a media Zoom chat.

By Saturday, he had it all worked out what he was going to say:

"Being French," Vigneault began, "my English isn't as good as everyone's, so bear with me a little bit here." He then read from hand- printed text on a legal pad.

"In life, I answer to my parents, I answer to my family, I answer to my friends and I answer to God," Vigneault said. "Everyone that I’ve just mentioned knows that what I’ve said since our postgame on Wednesday is the truth. My honesty, my integrity, and my social commitment for some reason has been pushed to the forefront.

"After our last game against the New York Islanders, I was asked about the situation in the NBA. We had played a 3 o’clock game. I didn’t know what was going on, so I didn’t comment. We got back that night at 6:15 at the hotel. I picked up some food, had a martini and went to my room to work. We were playing in less than 24 hours. I worked late into the night, got up very early the next morning and continued to work. I conducted my 10:30 to 11:45 coaches meeting. At 11:45, I went to get COVID tested. At 12 o'clock, I was back here for a press conference. I never bothered to ask or checked with anyone what was going on in the world or the NBA. I am guilty of that. I was totally focused on our next game. Like I said at the 12 o'clock press conference, I am for equality and I am for social justice." 1192466 Philadelphia Flyers Delaware County Times LOADED: 08.30.2020

Giroux, scoring partners lose spark, Isles take series lead

By Rob Parent [email protected] @ReluctantSE on Twitter

Turnovers are one thing, or, in the case of the Flyers in Game 3 Saturday night, two things that played into a 3-1 loss that puts them squarely behind the New York Islanders heading into Game 4 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series.

Joel Farabee and Ivan Provorov committed turnovers that directly led to the Isles’ first two goals. But it was the Isles’ defensive domination of a weak Flyers offensive effort that really laid the groundwork for this turning point defeat in this series, which continues Sunday night at 8 at Scotiabank Arena.

Once again, the Flyers’ top two lines were sub-par, which has been a theme of this series and the last one against the Montreal Canadiens.

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This time, Isles goalie Semyon Varlamov stepped up his game and gained confidence with each feeble Philly shift. Claude Giroux extended his goal-less postseason run of this weird Toronto bubble playoff to 12 games, and over his last 24 postseason games has all of one goal.

“Guys are frustrated,” Giroux said. “I think we can take that frustration and use it as energy.”

They could have taken a power play gift in the waning minutes of the third period and used it as a tool to get back in the game, too. Alain Vigneault pulled goalie Carter Hart and for two minutes with time winding down toward the end the Flyers had a two-man advantage. All to no avail, despite four shots that Varlamov had to stop.

Earlier, he had put a snappy save on Farabee to keep the Isles’ two-goal lead in the third period intact.

But as for that top line of Sean Couturier, Giroux and Jake Voracek? Little to nothing.

Tyler Pitlick had gotten the Flyers off on the right foot with 5:42 left in the first period against Varlamov, who was pulled from his last start after allowing three Flyers first-period goals.

Not so this time: After Pitlick’s goal, the Isles would get 14 of the game’s next 15 shots on goal.

“I think we were playing the type of game we wanted to play,” Flyers coach Alain Vigneault said. “Somehow we just lost it. We stopped being first on pucks. Our players stopped making the plays that we needed to make with the puck. They slowly but surely found momentum.”

Along the way, Mat Barzal took advantage of a turnover and fed Matt Martin for a tying goal 8:12 into the second period.

Then a killer came with five seconds left in the period as Leo Komarov scored after Provorov turned the puck over in the defensive zone.

The Flyers can’t afford to make such mistakes, simply because for the most part their offensive stars have been on August holiday rather than helping everyone make up for the mistakes.

“We need to be a lot better than we were tonight, especially our top-end guys,” Vigneault said. “We need to make the plays that we need to make with the puck. The great thing about it is we can get right back at it tomorrow and that’s what we’re going to do.”

Yes, the best thing the Flyers have going for them entering a quick turnaround for Game 4 is recent history. Dating to Jan. 7, they’re 11-0 in games following losses.

“That’s really important, to be able to have a good response when you’re facing a situation with adversity,” James van Riemsdyk said. “We want to make sure we have a strong game tomorrow night. We’ve had good responses and we have to continue to stick to that.”

1192467 Philadelphia Flyers New York was flat-out better than the Flyers in the second period, outshooting them 15-6. Hart had 23 overall saves by the end of the middle stanza.

Flyers' poor finish to Game 3 puts them in 2-1 series hole vs. Islanders Mathew Barzal continued to be a nightmare for the Flyers, setting up the Islanders' first goal to tie the game at 1-1 a little over seven minutes into the frame.

By Jordan Hall • There were only three penalties called in the game and none through the first two periods. Two of the whistles were on Robert Hagg, who had August 29, 2020 a costly third-period performance. Will it cost him his lineup spot in Game 4? We'll see.

It's not how you start, it's how you finish. The first power play came 2:28 into the third period as Hagg was called for slashing. The old adage summed up how the Flyers lost Game 3 to the Islanders, 3-1, Saturday night at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. New York took full advantage of the opportunity with Anders Lee's third goal of the series, giving the Islanders their commanding 3-1 lead. If the Flyers don't change the script, they'll lose this best-of-seven second-round playoff series. They now trail the series 2-1. The Flyers are • Hart wasn't good but wasn't bad, finishing with 26 saves. Really, he's 7-22 all-time in best-of-seven series when down 2-1. not a problem at all.

Tyler Pitlick scored the Flyers' lone goal, which came in the first period. Just a kid, doing what he does. Four of the Flyers' five goals this series have come in the opening 20 New York goalie Semyon Varlamov rebounded after being yanked in minutes, while the other was Philippe Myers' overtime winner in Game 2. Game 2. He made 26 saves on 27 shots. Do the math there and the Flyers have not scored a goal in the second or third period through three games of the series. • Pitlick, who was acquired in an offseason trade, has 10 goals with the Flyers — eight in the regular season, two in the playoffs. • Once again, Alain Vigneault's Flyers will have to get back up on the horse after a defeat. He's been a rock-solid role forward who can play with a lot of players and is constantly noticeable in his north-south style. Since Jan. 7, in games after their last 11 losses, the Flyers are 11-0-0 and have outscored the opposition 48-22. The 28-year-old has only a $1 million cap hit and can become an unrestricted free agent in the offseason. Another response is needed Sunday night or the Flyers' Stanley Cup hopes will be in serious jeopardy. Ice, broken.

The Flyers have to be a heck of a lot better in the third period against • Scott Laughton was back in the lineup as Michael Raffl came out. New York, which has outscored the orange and black 11-2 in the final stanza this season. Raffl, a key role forward with size and puck-protection ability, played only 10:18 minutes in Game 2 and it's unknown if he's dealing with any "I had said before the series, this is going to be a greasy series," ailments. Raffl missed four games earlier in the tournament because of a Vigneault said postgame in a video interview. "That means that you’ve lower-body injury and he departed Game 1 of this series briefly before got to get involved, you've got to want to go to the tough areas. We’ve returning to the ice not long after he was checked on the bench by Flyers been good at bouncing back and I’m confident that’s what we’re going to director of sports medicine Jim McCrossin. do tomorrow." After leading the Eastern Conference's round robin in points (five) and • The Flyers' big boys were not very noticeable, which should be goals (three), Laughton had not looked like himself at all over the first justifiably disappointing for Flyers fans given how much better the team's and second rounds, going scoreless in seven games with four top producers were in Game 2. giveaways, which led to the 26-year-old coming out of the lineup in Game 2. It did not translate into Game 3. The third line of Pitlick, Laughton and James van Riemsdyk was the Claude Giroux and Travis Konecny remain without a goal in the playoffs Flyers' best unit in Game 3. through 12 games. Konecny led the club with 24 markers in the regular season, while Giroux was fourth with 21. By no means have they been Here's how the Flyers looked at forward: awful, but those two are paid to produce goals. Claude Giroux-Sean Couturier-Jakub Voracek "Just keep grinding," Giroux said postgame in a video interview. "I think the last few games have been a little better. I think our line can do better, Joel Farabee-Kevin Hayes-Travis Konecny we know that. We generate some offense, but at the end of the day, it’s James van Riemsdyk-Scott Laughton-Tyler Pitlick got to go in the net." Derek Grant-Nate Thompson-Nicolas Aube-Kubel Sean Couturier, who had a multi-point Game 2, was held to one shot in Game 3. Jakub Voracek is scoreless in the series after putting up seven • Vigneault's pregame media availability was far from a run-of-the-mill points (four goals, three assists) in six games against the Canadiens session. during the first round. • Prior to puck drop and following the postponement of the playoffs • The Islanders made the Flyers pay dearly for a late second-period Thursday and Friday, there was a special pregame message to put a mistake as they grabbed a 2-1 lead with six seconds left in the middle focus on the current societal issues of racism and racial injustice. stanza.

Both Ivan Provorov and Matt Niskanen were uncharacteristically sloppy in the defensive zone. Leo Komarov finished the sequence by squeaking Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 08.30.2020 the puck past Carter Hart.

A bad and costly lapse by the Flyers, especially given how defensive the Islanders can be when they have a lead later in the game.

"It was 1-1, 25 seconds left into the [second] period, faceoff in the offensive zone, put my top players on the ice — top line, top D pair — and to give up that late goal, you just can't do that at this time of the year," Vigneault said. 1192468 Philadelphia Flyers safe. To all of the people in the last 48 hours that have questioned my honesty, questioned my integrity, questioned my social commitment, I want to say you also stay safe.

Alain Vigneault has heartfelt, impassioned message in wake of his We all have our part to do moving forward to help society fix its issues. criticized comments Maybe we can all start by being good to one another. Society is like a big team; everyone has a role to play. If we work together and do our roles, I am convinced that we can fix society’s issues.

By Jordan Hall I want to thank everyone for being here. Everyone stay safe and that concludes today’s press conference. Thank you, thanks guys, stay safe. August 29, 2020

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 08.30.2020 Alain Vigneault doesn't wear his glasses at press conferences because he's typically never reading anything at press conferences.

On Saturday at noon ET in Toronto, the Flyers' head coach put on his glasses and read an impassioned message that he had written down on multiple pages of paper.

Vigneault was addressing comments that he had made on Thursday at noon ET when he was asked about his thoughts on the postponements around sports in response to the Jacob Blake shooting.

You can read those comments with the full context here.

His comments caused some waves of criticism for lacking empathy or understanding about what had been transpiring in the United States. On Thursday night, following the lead of the NBA players' strike Wednesday, the NHL and NHLPA announced its agreement to not hold playoff games Thursday or Friday in order to highlight the current societal issues of racism and racial injustice.

The Flyers were in the middle of their 4-3 overtime Game 2 win Wednesday as news broke in the NBA. Game 3 of their best-of-seven second-round series against the Islanders was originally scheduled for Thursday night and is now set for Saturday at 7 p.m. ET.

Vigneault, a 59-year-old French Canadian who has brought a blend of lightheartedness and toughness to Philadelphia, has also coached in Montreal, Vancouver and New York. On Saturday, he felt compelled to clarify, explain himself and admit what he was guilty of in this situation involving issues bigger than sports.

Before beginning to read his message and flip the pages of his notepad, Vigneault said, "I took the liberty of writing a few things down. Everyone can hear me? Being French, my English isn't as goodly as everyone's, so bear with me a little bit here."

Here was his message:

In life, I answer to my parents, I answer to my family, I answer to my friends and I answer to God. Everyone that I’ve just mentioned knows that what I’ve said since our postgame on Wednesday is the truth. My honesty, my integrity, my social commitment for some reason has been pushed to the forefront.

After our last game against the New York Islanders, I was asked about the situation in the NBA. We had played a 3 o’clock game, I didn’t know what was going on, so I didn’t comment. We got back that night at 6:15 at the hotel, I picked up some food, had a martini and went to my room to work. We were playing in less than 24 hours, I worked late into the night, got up very early the next morning, continued to work. I conducted my 10:30 to 11:45 coaches meeting, at 11:45 I went to get COVID tested, at 12 o’clock, I was back here for a press conference.

I never bothered to ask or check with anyone what was going on in the world or the NBA. I am guilty of that. I was totally focused on our next game. Like I said at the 12 o’clock press conference, I am for equality, I am for social justice. After that press conference, I went to our pregame meal. I left there around 12:35. And as I walked out, I saw players from the four teams that are in the bubble talking. That was my first indication that something was going on. Shortly, very shortly after that, I received a text from one of my players telling me that they were not playing that evening.

I am guilty of not checking up on what was going on in the world and in the NBA. But, I am a good person. I believe in equality, I believe in social justice, I want to be a part of the solution, I want to help society in any way I can.

To all of the people that have texted me and called me in the last 48 hours to show their support, I want to say thank you and continue to stay 1192469 Philadelphia Flyers

Flyers vs. Islanders NHL playoffs: Game 3 live stream, storylines, more

By Jordan Hall

August 29, 2020

Following an important postponement of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Flyers and Islanders pick back up their best-of-seven second-round playoff series on Saturday with Game 3.

With the Flyers trailing the series 1-0, Laughton was not in the lineup for Wednesday's 4-3 OT win in Game 2. After leading the Eastern Conference's round robin in points (five) and goals (three), Laughton has not looked like himself at all over the first and second rounds, going scoreless in seven games with four giveaways. The surprising dip in play and his absence from the Game 2 lineup made you wonder if he was banged up.

"I’m healthy," Laughton said Friday in a video interview. "I think at this time of the year, you have to elevate your game. I think obviously in some of the games, my puck management could have been better for sure and things like that. Try to work on my game and become better for this team, try to get back in. Once I do that, I know I’ll work as hard as I can to show the boys that I’m here."

James van Riemsdyk, another player who has surprisingly sat in four of the Flyers' 11 games during the NHL's return-to-play 24-team tournament, entered the lineup for Laughton and ended up playing his most minutes of the playoffs at 15:19.

"I thought James played hard [Wednesday]," Flyers head coach Alain Vigneault said Thursday in a video interview. "He's an offensive player that has an ability around the net, but I thought his overall game, him getting in on the forecheck, using his size, helping us kill plays in the neutral zone — I thought his game was good. Scotty, I don't want to get into the reason behind the decision because at this time we are not allowed to comment on player availability."

Laughton is a valuable piece for the Flyers. All it could take is one loss by the team or a so-so game from another forward for Laughton to return to the lineup. He could even return in Game 3.

As we've seen, Vigneault has been quick to make game-to-game adjustments.

• The series now features only one back-to-back set, which comes in Games 3 and 4 following the two-day postponement Thursday and Friday.

In the regular season, the Islanders were tied with three other clubs for playing the league's fewest back-to-back sets at eight, while the Flyers played 13.

New York went 5-3-0 in the first game of back-to-back situations and 6-1- 1 in the second game. The Flyers went 7-4-2 in the first game of back-to- back sets and 6-5-2 in the second game.

The Flyers went 0-2-1 against the Islanders in the regular season; the Flyers were on the second game of a back-to-back set in all three matchups.

During the regular season, Carter Hart and Islanders goalie Semyon Varlamov played only once apiece on no days rest, with both coming in relief duty. In the tournament, the 22-year-old Hart is 1-1-0 with 57 saves on 61 shots in games over a back-to-back set, while the 32-year-old Varlamov is 1-1-0 with 45 saves on 50 shots in games over a back-to- back set.

• Philippe Myers, who scored the Game 2 overtime winner, had four goals in 50 regular-season games. He has three goals in 11 playoff games and is tied with Claude Giroux for the Flyers' second-most shots at 23.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 08.30.2020 1192470 San Jose Sharks

NHL rumors: Sharks, Joel Kellman reach agreement on two-year contract

By Brian Witt

August 29, 2020

The Sharks reportedly have agreed to terms with one of their restricted free agents.

The Athletic's Kevin Kurz reported Friday that San Jose is bringing center Joel Kellman back on a two-year contract extension. San Jose Hockey Now's Sheng Peng confirmed the extension is worth $750,000 in average annual value, citing multiple sources.

According to Peng, the first year of the contract extension is two-way, worth $700,000 in the NHL and $300,000 in the AHL. The second year of the contract is one-way, worth $800,000.

By re-signing Kellman, the Sharks' plan at center is coming into clearer view. Logan Couture and Tomas Hertl are locked into the top two lines, while Kellman might be labeled for the fourth, depending on what happens with Joe Thornton.

Thornton, an unrestricted free agent, likely would serve as San Jose's third-line center if he returns. If he doesn't, however, that's another hole to fill, and potentially one that Kellman could slide into. Dylan Gambrell, Alex True, Fredrik Handemark and a few others could also be in the mix.

Signed by the Sharks out of the Swedish Hockey League in 2019, Kellman, 26, appeared in 31 games for San Jose this past season, registering seven points (three goals, four assists) while winning 47.1 percent of his face-offs.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 08.30.2020 1192471 St Louis Blues Blues coach Craig Berube has expressed his desire to continue to coach Pietrangelo, a statement that should not be overlooked. Armstrong, often icy in these situations, is showing Pietrangelo public love. Pietrangelo is praising St. Louis a lot more than he’s flirting with Toronto. All good BenFred: Blues captain Pietrangelo doesn't sound all that jazzed about signs. Now, how does this turn into good news? free agency. Why not avoid it altogether? Pietrangelo has in his head and his heart a number that will keep him wearing The Note. It should not be based on dollars per season. It should not be based on number of seasons. It should be based on an amount of Ben Frederickson money, in total, that the Blues can spread out over a new contract that gives the captain a raise he has earned while also putting the team in the best chance to win more rings. Blues captain Alex Pietrangelo does not really need any extra advice at the moment. That’s the number to pursue, if staying in St. Louis is priority number one.

He has a supportive wife, Jayne, who keeps him level-headed and will If that number is a fair one, and Armstrong says he can’t make it happen, help him sort through this unfamiliar time as a pending free agent. She’s then Pietrangelo can simply and accurately say he was willing to a St. Louis native, so Blues fans hoping the defenseman returns have compromise more than the Blues. that going for them. He can move on, make more and still be celebrated when he returns, He has an agent, Donald Meehan, who leads one of hockey’s most leaving Armstrong to explain how a captain everyone said they wanted successful firms. Newport Sports Management is kind of like Scott Boras’ back wound up playing somewhere else. group in baseball. General managers might dislike haggling with the Better yet, a deal could be done in St. Louis before Pietrangelo’s free- agency, but they can’t afford to not sign its players. Newport clients reap agent experience even starts. the rewards.

He has a Rolodex of fascinating and nuanced perspectives to turn to for wisdom, from close friend and former Blues captain David Backes, St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 08.30.2020 whose free-agent departure from St. Louis went rather poorly, to veteran defenseman and mentor Jay Bouwmeester, who is proof that sometimes the sweetest part of a career comes after some moves.

But if Pietrangelo can stomach some unsolicited advice from the peanut gallery about how he figures out where he will make his next millions, here it is.

Keep it simple, and keep it real.

Create a list of pros and cons, figure out what you want and pursue it.

Pietrangelo is not yet officially a free agent, as he can’t hear other teams’ official offers until his current contract expires in October, but listening to him describe his current situation, he does not sound all that thrilled to be on the cusp of a full-blown free agency as hockey’s most established available defenseman in a pandemic-altered offseason that has frozen next season’s salary cap at $81.5 million.

Pietrangelo keeps using words like “weird” and “odd” and “not a fun situation to be in.”

I think he’s being genuine.

If he wants to keep his growing family in St. Louis, and he has stressed that is his wish, there is a simple way to expedite the process of finding out if that’s realistic. There’s no real need to wait, either. Pietrangelo and Blues general manager Armstrong could schedule a golf outing and know where things stand before they reach the back nine.

The salary cap for next season is set. The team’s current roster is about $2 to $3 million beneath the cap, but that’s without answers on Vince Dunn and Pietrangelo. Space will have to be made for Pietrangelo if he’s returning, but Armstrong has said he’s willing to make room if that’s the case, and that’s good, considering it was Armstrong’s contract extensions that crowded the books before this Pietrangelo situation could play out. Preliminary contract talks that happened before the COVID-19 pandemic were believed to have the Blues and Pietrangelo at about a $1 million difference per season. Many thought Pietrangelo’s next contract could be somewhere in the range of the eight-year, $72.5 million deal Nashville’s Roman Josi signed last year, earning an average of a little more than $9 million per season. That might be too rich now, considering COVID complications along with the Blues’ roster crunch.

Perhaps Toronto would go higher than the Blues. The Maple Leafs are clearing cap space and need to strengthen their defense. They could sell Pietrangelo on coming home.

But St. Louis is the Canadian’s hockey home, the only one he’s known as a pro. He is the first Blues captain to lift the Stanley Cup as a champion, an accomplishment that has endless leverage for marketing and endorsement opportunities as long as he plays here. Plus, Pietrangelo is the leader of a team still capable of championship competition, playing for a coach he likes and in a system his game thrives in. 1192472 St Louis Blues “Just like we all have to. We all have to improve. When you get beat out in the first round, it’s unacceptable. Myself included.”

What a ride Blues face a tricky, and complicated, offseason There was no puck rack hanging in the locker room this season to highlight each and every victory. We didn’t see as much of the inspiring Laila Anderson. No more “Gloria.” Apparently “Party all the Time” Jim Thomas became the new team victory song, but we never heard it.

All of which begs the questions: Was it as much fun for the Blues this season? Or did it seem more like work? For the longest time, the Blues were looking at a one-track offseason. Namely, would captain Alex Pietrangelo re-sign with the club? Or not? A “Let’s be honest,” David Perron said, smiling, on a Zoom call. “It’s never daunting task to be sure, but not overwhelming in itself. work.”

But in a few all-too-short weeks in the Edmonton bubble, the offseason Yes, the season can be a grind mentally and physically as you work got more complicated. through injuries, and the ups and downs of the hockey life.

Vladimir Tarasenko left the hub city because of more issues with his left “But I think that that’s what athletes do,” Perron said. shoulder. He needs surgery — his third on the shoulder in 29 months — and will miss at least five months. They embrace the grind. They wouldn’t be successfully pros otherwise.

And what about the goalie situation after Jordan Binnington struggled The last 20 months have been quite the grind and quite the ride, unlike mightily for most of his time in Edmonton? Will the Blues now think twice any other team in the NHL. From last in the league in January 2019 to about possibly trading Jake Allen to free up salary cap space to re-sign the Stanley Cup. The amazing victory parade, partying in Las Vegas, a Pietrangelo? short offseason.

The Blues don’t have the cap room to even think about landing a top All kinds of ceremonies (ring, banner, White House trip) to start this scorer to fill in for Tarasenko. And that’s true even if signing Pietrangelo’s season. Climbing to the top of the Western Conference. Jay wasn’t on the to-do list. Bouwmeester’s cardiac episode. The pandemic pause and return to play. COVID-19 issues hitting the team. And first-round failure. “Scoring wasn’t an issue for us last season,” general manager Doug Armstrong said. “Having Vladi in our lineup makes us a better team. (But) Disappointment aside, the Blues probably need one big exhale after no, I don’t think we’re gonna go out and try and replace Vladi with getting bounced by Vancouver. another Vladi. We all know what the salary cap situation is.” “I’ve enjoyed every minute of it,” Berube said. “Winning the championship Then again, what if Pietrangelo leaves as an unrestricted free agent? was a great thing and then coming into this year you didn’t really know Whatever moves Armstrong contemplated to create cap room for what to expect, especially early on — the first 25 games. Pietrangelo, couldn’t they be used to pursue, say, a Taylor Hall? Hall is a “But I thought our team performed very well. I thought our team was pending unrestricted free agent with the Arizona Coyotes. motivated all year, I thought we had a really good season up till the As for Pietrangelo, he has stated how much he’d like to stay in St. Louis. stoppage. First place in the West. Not an easy thing to do. I thought our Armstrong and coach Craig Berube have stated how much they want him guys did a good job of keeping their energy up most of the season, which back. is important.”

“I believe something will get done,” Berube said. Energy shortage

But there are no guarantees. Experience tells us that regardless of the But they couldn’t keep that energy going in Edmonton. Perron mentioned sport, if a contract impasse goes this long — into the offseason — it. Berube talked about not being fully-invested during round-robin play. players are more likely to want to test the market. And it’s clear, St. Louis The Blues never seemed all-in in Edmonton. leanings notwithstanding, Pietrangelo is keeping an open mind. “I thought we got the most comfortable when we finally got to Edmonton,” “There’s so many different ways to look at it, there’s so many different Armstrong said. “I don’t think we were comfortable leading into ways that you can kind of convince yourself to go one way or another,” Edmonton. And I think that showed early on in our first couple weeks he said. “And now that I’ve won (a Stanley Cup) you want to win again. there.” So whether it was here or somewhere else, the goal is always the same He mentioned issues leading up to Edmonton, such as 20 percent of the and those are always a good way to challenge yourself.” team testing positive for COVID-19. All in that group had symptoms, The Blues probably need to clear at least $8 million of cap space to make Armstrong said, such as weight loss. Several players either just had room for Pietrangelo. And that means two of these three players probably babies (Bozak and Carl Gunnarsson among them) or were about to have would have to go: Allen, Alexander Steen or Tyler Bozak. a baby (Ivan Barbashev), which made it tougher to leave home.

All have one year left on their contract, with Allen due $4.35 million this “I thought coming into Phase 3 (training camp), there was a lot going on year; Steen due $5.75 million; and Bozak, $5 million. But Steen turns 37 around our organization,” Armstrong said. next season and Bozak turns 35; the combination of their age and Overall, he was “still sort of digging through” the reasons for the energy contract amount makes them difficult to move. shortage in Edmonton. In addition, Steen has a no-trade contract, while Bozak has a modified Both Armstrong and Berube said the fitness level coming into camp no-trade contract (10 teams). wasn’t ideal from some players. Which brings us back to Binnington and the goalie situation. After “So we didn’t do enough obviously to give ourselves the best opportunity Binnington gave up 19 goals in 3 ½ games in Edmonton, would the Blues to have success,” Armstrong said. feel comfortable moving Allen — who undoubtedly has trade value given his play in the just-completed season? “It’s up to myself, the coaching staff and the players to be more prepared,” Berube said. “We didn’t do a good enough job — that’s the In their end-of-season media sessions Wednesday, both Armstrong and bottom line.” Berube said all the right things about Binnington. But the lack of energy, buy-in, investment — whatever you want to call it “We believe in Binner,” Armstrong said. “He’s a proud, competitive player — was the most puzzling aspect of the Blues’ time in the bubble. and I think he’s gonna come back ready to go and play like he did during the regular season — the first 70 games of the regular season.” “Energy’s a huge thing,” Berube said. “The more I think about the bubble part of it, that energy was lacking there for whatever reason. And we “He’ll move on and he’ll be OK,” Berube said. “He’s performed at a very gotta find that energy next year. That’ll be huge. It’s a big thing.” high level. ... He can look at some things and work on some things, too, and get better. Window open After the Blues traded for Ryan O’Reilly in July 2019, and other moves such as signing Perron, Bozak, and Pat Maroon in free agency, Armstrong talked about the club having a five-year window of opportunity to contend for the Stanley Cup. He believes the players feel the same way.

“We’re entering Year 3 of that,” Armstrong said. “If they don’t believe we can win, I’d be shocked. So I expect they’re gonna be motivated. I expect they’re gonna want to come back and put their best foot forward and be competitive to win a championship.”

Obviously, the view of the window — exactly how much it’s open — changes on a roster without Pietrangelo and Tarasenko. But the Blues still have a lot of very good players, from O’Reilly, Perron, Brayden Schenn and Jaden Schwartz up front, to Colton Parayko on defense.

They have a group of younger players, headed by Robert Thomas, whose games should continue to grow.

With that in mind the Blues don’t want to overreact to what happened in Edmonton — a 2-7-1 record in 10 games and an early playoff exit. Sure, it factors into the overall evaluation, but so does the 71-game regular season in which the Blues posted the second-best overall record in the NHL.

Even so, it’s the playoffs that matter most, and there were definitely areas against Vancouver that were lacking.

“If you break an NHL game down into four components: 5-on-5 play, power play, penalty kill, goaltender, I thought we were strong 5-on-5,” Armstrong said. “And I thought the opposition had the upper-hand in the other areas.”

The road ahead

Given the tight cap situation, any improvement next season most likely must come from within. With Tarasenko probably missing at least two months of the season, a top-six spot is there for the taking by Thomas or Jordan Kyrou.

Other younger players such as Barbashev, Sammy Blais, Zach Sanford, Vince Dunn and Mackenzie MacEachern have the potential to grow their games.

Plans call for the 2020-21 regular season to begin in early December, which doesn’t make for a long offseason. There’s some uncertainty, because that’s not a set-in-stone startup time. COVID-19, after all, seems to have a mind of its own.

But the Blues want to avoid the half-in, half-out nature of the pandemic pause, which never felt totally like the offseason. Players never were sure when to ramp up their training, because they never were quite sure when, or if, the season would resume.

This time around, Armstrong and Berube want the players to take some time off, then start training and training hard on their own.

“I want our team to come in in unreal shape next year,” Berube said. “I don’t want guys coming into camp and not in great shape. It won’t be accepted by us as a coaching staff and as an organization.

“So we’re gonna be demanding on people, and that’s the best way to get better.”

St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 08.30.2020 1192473 St Louis Blues his play over part of the 2017-18 season and early in the 2018-19 Cup campaign when he dealt with hip issues and surgery. Such is fandom.

But if he is done playing hockey, he went out on top, winning a Cup and For Blues, 'JayBo' was out of sight, but never out of mind playing well this season as part of a shutdown D-pairing with Colton Parayko. Coach Craig Berube once likened the challenge of getting through Bouwmeester and Parayko — and their long arms — to trying to navigate the large foam rubber noodles in a car wash. Jim Thomas Beyond his 1,315 career regular-season and playoff games, his two all-

star selections, and all he did as a player, his impact on teammates on In late February, as the Blues were preparing for the stretch run of the and off the ice is even more lasting. regular season (and unaware that the coronavirus was about to shut “I can talk for hours about how much Bo has meant to me as a player,” down their sport), Vince Dunn was asked about the team’s motivation in captain Alex Pietrangelo said. “I mean, obviously, we played hundreds of defending its Stanley Cup. games together as partners. And Olympics and World Cup, the list goes Without hesitation, he said the Blues would like to win another Cup for on and on. Jay Bouwmeester. “He’s really a reason why I am the player I am today. He impacted me in “For sure,” Dunn said at the time. “Obviously, losing him is tough, so many ways. But any time you have someone who’s in a situation knowing that he was such a big piece of it last year. He was — is — such when you went through what Bo went through, they retire, whatever it a big piece of this team this year. may be, you miss the person, right?”

“To see a guy out from a thing like that, it’s nothing you can prepare for. Steen and Pietrangelo are the two longest-tenured Blues, so Pietrangelo It’s really sad that he can’t be a part of it this year. So yeah, we definitely also has been around for all of Bouwmeester’s 565 regular-season and want to do it for him.” postseason games for St. Louis.

Of course, the Blues fell far short of winning one for “Bo” or “JayBo” — as “He’s seen me grow up, you know, as a player and as a person,” the players call him. But their hearts were in the right place. Pietrangelo said. “We became obviously close friends. Our wives are close. And I’m gonna miss having him around if that’s the decision he The most memorable moment of the season, wrenching as it was, was makes. the sight of Bouwmeester collapsing on the Blues’ bench during a Feb. 11 game in Anaheim due to cardiac arrest. The quick work of paramedics “I haven’t talked to him about that. But just not having him around here and doctors on the scene, as well as Blues head athletic trainer Ray for the few months that he was gone, it wasn’t easy. So I know everyone Barile, probably saved his life. in the locker room is gonna miss him. He’s obviously a fun guy to have around.” An ICD (implantable cardioverter defibrillator) was implanted in his chest to monitor and control his heartbeat. Bouwmeester was back around the By all accounts, Bouwmeester didn’t say much. But when he spoke, he team just a couple of weeks later. But then came the pandemic and 4 ½ usually had an impact and often brought a laugh. months without hockey. So it was at the end of the 2018-19 season in a locker room moment When the team traveled to Edmonton on July 26, Bouwmeester was not brought to us in the Blues’ excellent “March Down Market” documentary among the Blues’ 52-person “bubble” contingent. But while he may have about the aftermath of the Stanley Cup championship last summer. been out of sight, the veteran defenseman was never out of mind. The team was getting ready to go out on the Enterprise Center ice for a Just prior to Tom Stillman’s arrival in the Edmonton bubble, the Blues’ team photo before the downtown parade. Philip Pritchard, the Hockey chairman and governor said he had a dream about Bouwmeester. Hall of Fame’s “Keeper of the Cup,” presented Bouwmeester with a gold memento for becoming only the 29th player in hockey history to win the “I had a dream last night or the night before about running into him in sport’s triple crown: An Olympic gold medal, a World Championship gold Edmonton and spending some time with him,” Stillman said at the time. medal, and the Stanley Cup. “What a great pro. What a wonderful person as well. . . . He’s so lacking in presumptuousness or arrogance. Just very straightforward. Yeah, he’s After the chants of “JayBo! JayBo!” by his teammates died down, a great person.” Bouwmeester walked back to his locker stall and said: “This one’s the only one that matters.” During his end-of-season media session Wednesday, general manager Doug Armstrong said he and Bouwmeester texted back and forth prior to Meaning the Stanley Cup, of course. the Blues going into the Edmonton bubble. GORDO GRADES THE BLUES “More just wishing him well, and I was checking in to see how he and his DAVID PERRON, Forward family were doing,” Armstrong said. “I haven’t talked to him since, and whatever his decision is that he wants to make, I’m sure he’ll let me know Perron: report card at the proper time.” GORDO ON PERRON: When Vladimir Tarasenko went down with The presumption, of course, is that Bouwmeester will retire as a result of another shoulder injury, Perron stepped up to drive play from the wing. his life-threatening experience in Anaheim. He turns 37 next month and He scored at a point-per-game pace through the first two quarters of the his contract expired at the end of this season. season and finished with 25 goals, his most since 2013-14. Perron had 324 total shot attempts in 71 games, up from 204 in 57 games the “You know, as a friend it's been a lot of emotions throughout this year,” season before. said Alexander Steen, a teammate during all of Bouwmeester’s seven- plus seasons with the Blues. He scored four goals and added five assists in his nine postseason games while playing a shade more than 20 minutes per game. Other “When he came to St. Louis I think that was a big, huge lift for our club at than those four minor penalties in postseason play, there weren’t many the time. I think we knew we were going to be competitive for a long time demerits in his season file. when he came and decided to stay, and that this is where he wanted to be. Grade: A

“He believed in this, and you know he is going to be very missed if he RYAN O'REILLY, Forward decides to hang ‘em up. You know, we'll cross that bridge when we get there but he definitely has brought a lot to our team, to our community O'Reilly: report card and to me as a friend and my family.” GORDO ON O’REILLY: Once again he stepped up during the As the Blues struggled defensively during their 2-7-1 run in Edmonton, postseason, scoring four goals and adding 11 assists in his nine games. some fans lamented the absence of Bouwmeester and what he might He earned a plus-3 rating and won 62.7 percent of his faceoffs. O’Reilly have meant to the defense. Perhaps some were the same fans critical of was an elite defender during the regular season, earning 69 takeaways while suffering just 22 giveaways and building his Selke Trophy case. But his shot rate plummeted and he scored just 12 goals in 71 games (and GRADE: B just seven in last 53 games) after scoring 28 in 82 games the season before. That’s not good enough for a top-line center. OSKAR SUNDQVIST, Forward

Grade: A-minus Sundqvist: report card

BRAYDEN SCHENN, Forward GORDO ON SUNDQVIST: He was enjoying a strong regular season before suffering a lower-body injury on Jan. 27. He wasn’t quite the same Schenn: report card player when he returned, but overall he finished with 12 goals, 13 assists and a plus-5 rating in 57 games. His 36-11 takeaways-to-giveaways GORDO ON SCHENN: He enjoyed a nice rebound during the regular ration was the team’s best. season, scoring 25 goals — eight more than he scored the previous season in one fewer game. He delivered 119 hits, third-most among But Sundqvist struggled during postseason play, where he produced no forwards on the team, and he improved his faceoff percentage to a goals, one assist, a minus-4 rating. His playing time was down nearly 2 ½ career-best 49 percent. Schenn’s 18.1 percent shooting percentage was minutes from the 2018-19 playoffs and he averaged one fewer hit per also a career best. But he had about half as many takeaways as the game. It wasn't Sunny very often in Edmonton. season before and his possession metrics dipped. Grade: B-minus He landed 35 hits during the postseason but produced just two goals with three assists and a minus-2 rating. SAMMY BLAIS, Forward

Grade: A-minus Blais: report card

JADEN SCHWARTZ, Forward GORDO ON BLAIS: So this is what we know about Sammy: He will play with reckless abandon and run over a lot of foes. But he will also take too Schwartz: report card many penalties and suffer too many injuries. This season he delivered 155 hits in 40 regular season games and 25 more in eight playoff games. GORDO ON SCHWARTZ: After scoring just 11 goals during the 2018-19 Blais has the skill to score 15 to 20 goals per season, but he needs to season, he bounced back with 25 goals and 33 assists this season. He stay healthy and earn more minutes with more disciplined play. As it is he finished well before the pandemic break, producing 16 points in his last contributed seven goals and 10 assists in 48 regular season and playoff 19 games. He played a strong all-around game, delivering 60 hits and games this season. claiming 50 takeaways while earning strong possession metrics. Grade: C-plus Schwartz tried to lead the postseason charge, delivering 18 hits and scoring four times — all at even strength — but his 11 giveaways TYLER BOZAK, Forward contributed to the quick exit. Bozak: report card Grade: A-minus GORDO ON BOZAK: His role and production diminished slightly from ROBERT THOMAS, Forward last season. He produced nine fewer assists in five fewer games while playing about one minute less per game. His possession metrics and Thomas: report card takeaway-giveaway ratio (29-20) remained solid. Bozak’s biggest GORDO ON THOMAS: He took a big step forward and flashed star contribution came in the faceoff circle, where his 55 percent success power in his second season. He produced 42 points with a plus-8 rating gave Berube a second option behind O’Reilly to take big draws. in 66 games after putting up 33 points with a minus-3 rating in 70 games But he struggled on the dot in the postseason (44.8 percent) and as a rookie. Thomas got stronger as the regular season progressed, produced just two assists with a minus-2 rating in eight games. He scoring 38 points in the last 50 games. His primary assist and 5-on-5 blocked nine shots and delivered 15 hits. Given his $5 million cap hit, assist rates ranked among the NHL’s best. Had more takeaways than though, the Blues need much more from him. giveaways (46-30). Grade: C His faceoff work improved in the postseason (54.7 percent, after just 42.9 in the regular season). Alas, he produced just one goal and three assists MACKENZIE MACEACHERN, Forward in eight postseason games and suffered six giveaways. MacEachern: report card Grade: B-plus GORDO ON MACEACHERN: He can skate, he can bang and he ZACH SANFORD, Forward understands his role as a straight-line player. MacEachern delivered 82 hits in regular season despite his limited ice time (8:57 per game). He Sanford: report card scored seven goals in 51 games, which was a nice bonus for a fourth- GORDO ON SANFORD: He, too, made real progress this season. With liner who doesn’t see any power-play or penalty killing duty. He inflicted the help of one four-goal outburst, he finished with 16 goals and doubled 14 hits in less than 35 minutes of playoff ice time, but also took three his 2018-19 total. His 17.8 percent shooting percentage was a fluke, but minor penalties. his earned more playing time each quarter and finished with a plus-13 Grade: C rating. He answered Berube’s challenge to become more physical, delivering 109 hits — up from 48 the season before. TROY BROUWER, Forward

He asserted himself physically in the postseason (23 hits, 12 blocked Brouwer: report card shots) and contributed a goal and three assists with just three giveaways. GORDO ON BROUWER: Berube loves Brouwer's toughness, so he Grade: B-plus played him four times during the postseason after calling on him just 13 times during the regular season. Brouwer responded with eight hits, one IVAN BARBASHEV, Forward goal and one surgical lift and tuck on Antoine Roussel’s undercarriage. Barbashev: report card Sadly, that nifty bit of stick work was one of the few Blues highlights for the entire postseason. GORDO ON BARBASHEV: The Blues missed him during the postseason. He played just three games before and after his paternity Grade: C leave and he still delivered 15 hits. Barbashev’s absence contributed to JORDAN KYROU, Forward the team’s inability to sustain offensive zone pressure. His 144 hits during the regular season ranked second on the team. His ice time Kyrou: report card increased by 2 minutes, to 13:27 per game, and he chipped in with 11 goals and 15 assists in 69 games despite his deployment (60.7 percent GORDO ON KYROU: We saw glimpses of his great offensive promise, defensive zone starts). He remained a liability in the faceoff circle (45.4 but he still has to win over Berube. He produced just four goals and five percent) and his possession metrics slipped a notch. assists in 28 regular-season games while averaging 10:54 per game. His puck management was OK; he produced a 13-6 takeaway-giveaway Parayko scored twice with one postseason outburst, but he earned a ratio. Kyrou got harder on the puck as the regular season progressed. minus-4 rating and endured frustrations at both ends of the ice.

He got a postseason look due to the roster attrition, but produced no Grade: B points in five games. The bulk of his potential remains untapped. JAY BOUWMEESTER, Defenseman Grade: C-minus Bouwmeester: report card ALEXANDER STEEN, Forward GORDO ON BOUWMEESTER: He was doing his usual solid job when a Steen: report card frightening cardiac incident ended his season and likely his career. In 56 games, Bouwmeester blocked 68 shots and earned a plus-6 rating while GORDO ON STEEN: His injury woes, combined with the absence of seeing 58.2 percent of his zone starts in the defensive end. He and Barbashev, kept the Blues from rolling a physical fourth line that could Colton Parayko formed an effective shutdown pairing with their wide mark scoring lines. Steen is a heart-and-soul player and a team leader. wingspan and strong sticks. He paced all Blues forwards with an average of 2:19 in penalty killing time in the regular season, but he produced just seven goals and 10 The Blues missed his leadership when they came back from the assists in 55 games overall. pandemic shutdown and fell flat in bubble hockey.

He had no points and three minor penalties in four postseason games. Grade: B Given his $5.75 million cap hit, that is nowhere near enough. MARCO SCANDELLA, Defenseman GRADE: C-minus Blues 6, Blackhawks 5 JACOB DE LA ROSE, Forward GORDO ON SCANDELLA: GM Doug Armstrong acquired him before the de la Rose: report card trade deadline to replace the fallen Bouwmeester. On balance, Scandella held up. Coach Craig Berube deployed him in a shutdown role, giving GORDO ON DE LA ROSE: He plunged all the way out of the playing him 56 percent defensive zone starts in his 11 regular season games. rotation during the regular season. Then he magically resurfaced in the postseason due to injuries and Barbashev’s absence. He had 17 hits with Scandella battled in the playoffs, blocking 14 shots and landing 11 hits. no penalties in five games in Edmonton, but he also had no takeaways. But like most of his teammates he suffered costly puck mismanagement. He struggled in the faceoff circle in the regular season (44.1 percent) and He had six giveaways and no takeaways in the nine games and finished did worse in the postseason (40 percent). with a minus-3 rating.

De la Rose skated well, but he suffered an ill-timed mishap against the Grade: C Canucks — stepping on a puck in his own zone and keeling over to give away a critical goal. ROBERT BORTUZZO, Defenseman

Grade: C-minus Bortuzzo: report card

VLADIMIR TARASENKO, Forward GORDO ON BORTUZZO: He played a robust style in his limited role, landing 66 hits and blocking 43 shots in his 43 games. Bortuzzo had five Tarasenko: report card hits and four blocked shots in three postseason games. He had just one giveaway, but a minus-3 rating for those games. He earned a plus-12 GORDO ON TARASENKO: During the previous five seasons he scored rating for the regular season, but his Corsi and Fenwick possession 33 or more goals and put 264 or more shots on goal. But this season he metrics took a hit and his expected plus-minute shrank from 14.6 last lasted just 10 games before suffering still another shoulder injury. year to 2.2 this season despite the same sheltered usage (57.1 percent Despite all of his extra time to recover from his surgical repairs, offensive zone starts). He played an average of just 13:07 in regular- Tarasenko failed to answer the postseason bell. He drifted through four season games, down more than two minutes since 2018-19. games in Edmonton without doing much and then shut down again due to lingering shoulder issues, which will require a third surgery. Grade: C

His uncertain future is a massive concern for the Blues. VINCE DUNN, Defenseman

Grade: Incomplete Dunn: report card

ALEX PIETRANGELO, Defenseman GORDO ON DUNN: He took a step back offensively (just 23 points in 71 games), but he increased his defensive zone starts (43.5 percent, up Pietrangelo: report card from 38.9 in 2018-19) as Berube sheltered him less. Dunn’s possession GORDO ON PIETRANGELO: He ranked among the NHL’s top metrics and plus-minus (plus-15) held steady from the season before. defensemen during the walk season of his contract. He quarterbacked He picked up his scoring pace late in the regular season (nine points in the top power-play unit and piled up 43 points in his first 52 games before 17 games), then had a rough postseason all around. He had three cooling off. He finished with 16 goals, 36 assists, 22 power-play points assists in nine games, but he took four minor penalties, finished minus-2 and 225 shots on goal. He enjoyed a decent postseason (one goal, five and had five giveaways with just one takeaway. Dunn suffered some big assists, 33), too. breakdowns in the middle of the ice and the Canucks made him pay.

While he proved his leadership ability as a Cup-winning captain, he didn’t Grade: C-minus have the answers this summer when the Blues folded. And Pietrangelo had his share of postseason mishaps, like blowing up his stick on a CARL GUNNARSSON, Defenseman power-play and handing Tyler Motte a shorthanded goal. Gunnarsson: report card GRADE: A-minus GORDO ON GUNNARSSON: He is a popular teammate and a valued COLTON PARAYKO, Defenseman member of the supporting cast, but there’s not much tread left on his tires. He played in just 61 games during the last two regular seasons and Parayko: report card produced just 14 points. His Corsi and Fenwick metrics regressed by GORDO ON PARAYKO: After a slow start during the regular season, he more than five points from 2018-19 and his expected plus-minus fell from asserted himself offensively. He produced 15 points in 19 games after plus-4.6 to minus-0.1. posting just 13 in his first 45 games. His playing time grew again this Gunnarsson played in six postseason games and earned a plus-2 rating season, up to 23 minutes per game, and he led the team with 106 — but he had five giveaways and he earned three minor penalties. blocked shots. But his expected plus-minus metric regressed from 9.7 to minus-5.1, in part because of the loss of partner Jay Bouwmeester to his GRADE: C-minus cardiac incident. JUSTIN FAULK, Defenseman Faulk: report card when the global pandemic caused an economic catastrophe and forced a flat NHL salary cap for 2020-21. If Faulk’s extension precludes the re- GORDO ON FAULK: He played an offensive role in Carolina, producing signing of free-agent defenseman Alex Pietrangelo . . . well, let’s just say 31 or more points in six consecutive seasons. Back in 2014-15 he broke there will be some second-guessing about that adventure. out for 49 points with heavy power-play usage. Faulk failed to earn that opportunity during his first season here and posted disappointing Armstrong has given himself quite the challenge during this offseason. offensive numbers (five goals, 11 assists, 147 shots on goal, minus-3) as The Blues became less talented with the midseason Robby Fabbri-for- a result. He had one strong playoff game, but overall he produced just Jacob de la Rose swap, although de la Rose did offer some penalty- one point with nine shots on goal in nine games. killing support after arriving from the Red Wings. Also, Fabbri had run his course here. Armstrong’s acquisition of defenseman Marco Scandella to Without offensive pluses to offset his defensive minuses, Faulk endured replace Bouwmeester paid off, especially after he signed a team-friendly a tough first year in the STL. Given his $6.5 million cap figure moving extension. forward, the Blues need much more. Grade: C Grade: D

JAKE ALLEN, Goalie St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 08.30.2020 Allen: report card

GORDO ON ALLEN: He did an excellent job in the No. 2 role this season, posting career bests ratios — 2.15 goals-against average and .927 save percentage — while backing up Jordan Binnington. Advanced metrics credited him with 11.25 goals saved above average. He gave the team a huge playoff lift by beating the Canucks twice even the series at 2-2. Overall he was 2-2 with a 1.89 GAA and .935 save percentage in the Edmonton bubble.

Either he boosted his trade value or earned the chance to bid for the 2021-21 starting role here, depending on how GM Doug Armstrong plays it.

Grade: A

JORDAN BINNINGTON, Goalie

Binnington: report card

GORDO ON BINNINGTON: Overall, he did OK in the regular season. He finished 30-13-7 with a 2.56 GAA and .912 save percentage behind an excellent team defense. But his inconsistency was evident in his ugly road splits (3.20 GAA, .903 save percentage away from Enterprise Center) and his overall struggle in January (3.61 GAA, .866 save percentage in seven games). His expected goals above average sank from 13.74 to 3.31. And his postseason was an unmitigated disaster (0-5, 4.72, .851).

The resilience that bolstered him during the 2019 Stanley Cup run evaporated. He faces a long offseason of self-reflection.

Grade: D+

CRAIG BERUBE, Coach

Berube: report card

GORDO ON BERUBE: The Chief and his staff did an excellent job during the regular season. The Blues avoided the dreaded Stanley Cup hangover. They overcame the loss of top goal-scorer Vladimir Tarasenko to shoulder surgery 10 games into the season to finish first overall in the Western Conference. They battled past other adversity as well, such as Jay Bouwmeester’s scary cardiac episode.

But Berube and Co. did not properly prepare the Blues for bubble hockey after the pandemic shutdown. The defending champions lacked urgency during round-robin play and their jumbled lineups made it more difficult to rebuild chemistry and timing. The Blues got a late start on building their game. And just when they seemed ready to gain the upper hand on the Canucks — they were up 3-1 in Game 5 after winning Games 3 and 4 — they collapsed. Upon further review, starting Jordan Binnington in Game 6 backfired. But at the time, that decision made sense.

The bigger concern is how fragile the Blues became during their aborted Cup defense. Now Berube and Co. face the challenge of fortifying the team’s persona starting with the next training camp.

Grade: C-minus

Armstrong: report card

GORDO ON ARMSTRONG: He brought most of the Cup-winning team back, as you would expect. Clever salary cap management positioned him to do that. Acquiring Justin Faulk in a trade for Joel Edmundson upgraded the talent level on defense, although Faulk struggled to settle into the mix and failed to produce at his previous career levels. Faulk’s contract extension with a $6.5 million annual cap hit became problematic 1192474 Tampa Bay Lightning “He’s been outstanding for us,” Cooper said previously. “He’s probably the guy that gets talked about the least on that line, but you can’t say he’s any less important.”

Ondrej Palat finds his scoring touch as Lightning beat Bruins in Game 4

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 08.30.2020

By Diana C. Nearhos

Published Yesterday

Updated Yesterday

Ondrej Palat has found his scoring touch.

It took the Lightning wing six games to score his first playoff goal this year. Since then, he has four in the last three games, including two in Saturday’s 3-1 win over the Bruins in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series.

Palat scored the first two goals to help give the Lightning a 3-1 series lead. They can close out the series Monday.

Palat also scored the goal that may have been the series’ turning point. In Game 2, the Lightning went into overtime facing the prospect of starting the series down two games. Palat’s overtime goal gave them the first of what is now three consecutive wins.

Palat is showing more confidence in his shot. He’s quicker to settle to the puck and shoot, like in his first goal Saturday.

“(Palat) is a confident player,” said center Brayden Point, who assisted on Palat’s first goal. “He’s superreliable for us. He’s always in the right spot, he’s got tons of skill, he sees the ice well, and he’s got a heck of a shot. To see a couple go in for him now is awesome, and hopefully he can keep that rolling.”

Palat got the Lightning started midway through the first period. He finished a nice play by Point to freeze Bruins defenseman Torey Krug just off the post. Point set up Palat in the slot, and Palat’s shot landed just below the crossbar.

Then in the second period, Palat put a one-timer set up by center Anthony Cirelli over goaltender Jaroslav Halak’s glove.

“We’ve put him in some positions to be able to take shots,” coach Jon Cooper said. “But he’s also got two pretty good players (Point and Nikita Kucherov) that are giving him the puck. You got some guys that can get it to you, and your job is to shoot it. There’s a reason he plays with those guys. It’s because he can.”

Cooper praised Palat as one of the poster children for the “200-foot game.” In addition to offensive play, Palat is hard on the puck and responsible defensively. That’s why Palat is on a line with Point and Kucherov. He adds that element to their highly skilled game.

“He’s the guy that goes into the corners and gets the puck for us,” Kucherov said previously. “He works in front, and that’s huge for us because none of us plays in the middle like that. We play to the outside and create. He’s the guy that competes so hard and gets the puck for us.”

Scoring is not a staple of Palat’s game. He has surpassed 20 goals in a season only once in his seven full seasons in the league, though he had a good shot at doing it again this season before it was shortened by the coronavirus.

Palat started the season strong. He stood out in training camp in September, looking trimmer, faster and more confident. Cooper said speed and trimming some bulky muscle were things Palat could have improved on.

He matched the previous season’s eight goals in the first 21 games. Palat didn’t maintain that scoring pace, but he did have 17 goals in 69 games for the season. His average is about 16.

Cooper calls Palat someone “we’ve never really had to worry about.” But when a forward with an all-around responsible game — someone who can be trusted in the defensive end even if that isn’t his main focus — gets better offensively, that’s always good. 1192475 Tampa Bay Lightning Trailing by two in the final seven minutes, the Bruins still couldn’t manage any decent scoring chances. They fired two errant shots, had one blocked by Hedman, and got off only one shot on goal despite an all-out offensive push. Who knew the Lightning could play defense like this? “Guys were committed, guys were blocking shots, guys were committed to our structure in the neutral zone,” Cooper said. “It was a pretty gutty effort by the guys to shut them down for those last five to six minutes.” They have led the NHL in scoring the past three seasons, but the Lightning are showing off some defensive chops while taking a 3-1 series To be completely accurate, it’s been more like 128 minutes. Which is lead against Boston. how long it has been since Boston scored an even-strength goal.

We love the scorers. They are quick and graceful, and we get to Do that for another 60 minutes Monday night, and the Lightning will be celebrate their triumphs with them in real time. back in the Eastern Conference final.

Of course, we love the goaltender, too. He is stoic and solid, and on his best days looks like some kind of masked nobleman. JOHN ROMANO Then there are the other guys. The nondescript gaggle of defensemen who grunt, block, hit, shove and bleed seemingly on demand. Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 08.30.2020

C’mon, you know who they are. Lately, they’re the ones who look like the backbone of this Lightning team.

Tampa Bay beat Boston 3-1 on Saturday in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinal, putting the Lightning one victory from clinching the series against the reigning Presidents’ Trophy winners.

And in case you haven’t noticed, the Lightning are thriving in this postseason because their defense has been among the best in the bubble. Yes, the team with the shoot-first-and-repeatedly mentality has a born-again defense.

Nine games into the postseason, the Lightning are giving up 2.22 goals per game. Going into Saturday night’s action, that was the second-best average of the eight teams remaining in the playoffs.

Maybe it’s because Tampa Bay was fortunate enough to draw offensively-challenged Columbus in the first round. Maybe the sample size is too small to declare a true turnaround.

Or maybe it’s that the Lightning finally have a bunch of defenders worthy of their high-scoring teammates.

“Obviously, it helps having the best goalie in the league back there making big saves for us,” said defenseman Victor Hedman. “But as a group we’ve really come together and really focused in on the details on the defensive part of the game. We’re still going to score goals, we know that. We have all the skill in the world, so we’re super happy in the way we’ve come together in the defensive part of the game.”

Of course, it’s not just goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy and the guys on the blue line. Forwards Anthony Cirelli, Alex Killorn and Tyler Johnson have helped shut down Boston’s famed Perfection Line in even-strength situations the past two games. Even temperamental scorer Nikita Kucherov got in on the action Saturday, knocking 6-foot-9 Zdeno Chara into the boards and making defensive stops in the final minutes.

And the Lightning have done all of this without Ryan McDonagh the past two games. They’ve done it with 35-year-old Braydon Coburn, whose average time on ice this season was his lowest since he was a 20-year- old rookie on a team that no longer exists.

They’ve done it with 30-year-old Luke Schenn, who never before had made it this far in the playoffs. They’re doing it with Zach Bogosian, who has logged more time as a Lightning player in the postseason than in the regular season. They’re doing it with Kevin Shattenkirk, Erik Cernak, Mikhail Sergachev and Hedman, their one bona fide defensive star.

“The ’D’ have been good, they’ve been predictable. It makes life on a forward a lot easier as far as coming out of the zone,” forward Blake Coleman said. “Had some big shot blocks, strong in front of our net, Vasy has been huge. Pretty much everything we’ve needed has come together. And we’re getting our chance by being responsible defensively, and waiting to counter on them.”

What began as a nail-biter of a series is beginning to look like a rout, and it’s mostly due to Boston’s inability to score even-handed goals against Tampa Bay. Half of Boston’s eight goals have come in power-play situations. In 5-on-5 play, the Lightning have outscored the Bruins 12-4.

Getting early leads has been key, coach Jon Cooper said, because it has forced Boston to chase the Lightning by increasing ice-time for their star players. It also has increased Boston’s level of frustration. 1192476 Tampa Bay Lightning Luke Schenn and Braydon Coburn have been welcome additions to the lineup in the absence of matchup defenseman Ryan McDonagh, and Victor Hedman continues to be a workhorse, logging 27:09 of ice time. He contributed a goal, four shots and four blocks. Lightning-Bruins Game 4 report card: Tampa Bay’s top line better than perfect While the Bergeron line continued to get chances, as it did in Game 3, it had almost nothing to show for them for the second game in a row.

Grade: A Brayden Point, Nikita Kucherov and Ondrej Palat outplayed Boston’s “Perfection Line” in a 3-1 win. Special teams

How do you top perfection? While the Lightning scored on just one of their five power-play chances, they created at least one good scoring opportunity on each of them, and With sublime playmaking, attention to detail and dedication to a 200-foot the goal they did score was an important one. game. With Ritchie serving a five-minute major for boarding Gourde, Hedman The Lightning’s top line of Brayden Point, Nikita Kucherov and Ondrej extended Tampa Bay’s lead to 3-0. The goal not only gave the Lightning Palat might not have a nickname to compete with the Bruins’ “Perfection some satisfaction after the questionable hit, it allowed them to keep Line” of Patrice Bergeron, David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand. momentum at an important point in the game.

But they were the best trio on the ice in the Lightning’s 3-1 victory Tampa Bay started the second and third periods shorthanded after Saturday in Toronto. defensemen Erik Cernak (roughing) and Zach Bogosian (holding) took unnecessary penalties at the end of the previous periods, but the Palat scored two goals, Kucherov had two assists and Point added an Lightning managed to kill off both. assist as Tampa Bay moved within a win of clinching the Eastern Conference semifinal series. Overall, the penalty kill prevented 3 of 4 Bruins chances with the man advantage, including a brief 5-on-3 early in the third period. Palat does so much on the ice — creating turnovers, battling along the boards and in the corners, setting up his linemates — that his scoring is Grade: B-minus almost a bonus. But he is a smart player who always seems to know where to be on the ice and highly skilled, as evidenced by his four goals Goaltending over the past three games. Vasilevskiy has been one of the Lightning’s best players throughout the Point, whose 16 points in 12 postseason games are among the league’s playoffs, compiling a 9-3 record with a .927 save percentage and 1.98 leaders, might be the Lightning’s most exciting player, using his speed to goals-against average, and Game 4 was no exception. rush the puck up the ice and maintain possession in the opponent’s Vasilevskiy nearly recorded his first playoff shutout in Game 4 but had to zone, and his vision to set up teammates for scoring chances, as he did settle for 29 saves on 30 shots. on Palat’s first goal. He gets to the tough areas of the ice and is able to finish, delivering clutch goals in the biggest of moments. The Vezina Trophy finalist was outstanding, particularly during a second- period stretch when the Bruins carried the play and seemed intent on But the star is Kucherov, “a wonderfully gifted player,” in Jon Cooper’s driving to the net and creating pileups. words, who has won his coach’s trust this season by playing conscientiously at both ends of the ice. Kucherov always has been able Vasilevskiy never seemed to lose sight of the puck, was always in to score, but his passing, back-checking and toughness, as evidenced by position and was particularly good with his legs, turning aside shot after a hit on Zdeno Chara that set up a Lightning scoring chance, might be shot with his pads or his skates. even more important to his team’s Stanley Cup chances. Perhaps no save was more important than the one he made on Brandon Put the three together and you get, what? Not perfection, maybe. But Carlo just before the second Lightning goal. Bergeron passed from the something better. left circle to a wide-open Carlo in the slot. Vasilevskiy was in perfect position as Carlo’s shot from between the hashmarks hit him in the mask Here is how we graded the Lightning’s performance in Game 4: before settling into his glove. Offense Grade: A-plus Unlike earlier in the series, when they repeatedly had to battle from behind, the Lightning scored the first goal for the second straight game, forcing the Bruins to chase. FRANK PASTOR

Yanni Gourde’s line continued to make its presence felt. Gourde was his Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 08.30.2020 usual pesky self, creating energy and getting under the Bruins’ skin; Blake Coleman had two great scoring chances and threw a couple of big body checks; and Barclay Goodrow challenged Nick Ritchie to a third- period fight after Ritchie hit Gourde hard into the boards from behind earlier in the game.

The Lightning again got contributions up and down the lineup, including fourth-line center Cedric Paquette, who beat Boston goalie Jaroslav Halak with a hard shot from the slot, but rung it off the post.

Grade: A-minus

Defense

If there’s one thing the Lightning have shown this postseason, it is that they are capable of playing with a lead. Rather than make risky plays while continuing to press for more goals, they have made the safe, smart reads and gotten back to support Andrei Vasilevskiy.

Though they occasionally have spent long periods in their own zone, the Lightning have committed to their structure, gotten in front of shots and retrieved pucks on the few occasions when their goaltender has given up rebounds.

Saturday, they did not allow a shot for almost the final six minutes of the game. 1192477 Tampa Bay Lightning Tuukka Rask opted out to be with his family after the first two games of their first-round series against the Hurricanes.

The Lightning have stuck with their Vezina Trophy finalist, who was not Clean hit? ‘Clever’ Yanni Gourde? A bit of Lightning-Bruins drama in highly tested Saturday, but made 29 saves on 30 shots. Game 4 The Bruins have used three goalies. Jaroslav Halak has started since Rask left, and Dan Vladar finished Game 3, a 7-1 Lightning win, after Tampa Bay chased Halak out of the net. The Bruins’ Nick Ritchie is assessed a major penalty for a second-period hit on the Lightning’s Gourde, who leaves the game but returns to play in the third. MARI FAIELLO A hit by Bruins forward Nick Ritchie left Lightning forward Yanni Gourde Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 08.30.2020 lying on the ice in the second period of Game 4 of their Eastern Conference semifinal Saturday. Gourde eventually skated off under his own power, grimacing, but was back on the bench for the third period in the 3-1 Lightning win.

Ritchie got a five-minute boarding major, and the Lightning got one goal out of it, by defenseman Victor Hedman, for a 3-0 lead.

Ritchie hit Gourde from behind after Gourde had played the puck, and Gourde went flying into the boards at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena. Gourde’s shoulders and head appeared to take the brunt of the contact.

Gourde stayed on the ice for a little more than a minute while he was attended to by athletic trainer Tom Mulligan. Then with the help of Mulligan and defenseman Braydon Coburn, Gourde skated off the ice gingerly on his own, pain showing on his face.

Gourde played 5:25 in the third period, totaling 15:53 for the game.

Ritchie said he was just finishing the hit on the play.

“I had no intent to put a guy on the ice and injure anybody and (was) just finishing my hit,” Ritchie said. “But I thought I did a good job keeping my hands down, shoulder to shoulder, and maybe he wasn’t expecting it, and he had just gotten to the puck, so I’m just playing my game, and that’s part of it.”

Boston's Nick Ritchie skates away after hitting Lightning forward Yanni Gourde into the boards. Gourde did not return to play for the remainder of the second period after skating off the ice on his own. [ NBC ]

Boston coach Bruce Cassidy defended Ritchie’s play and called Gourde’s reaction “clever” because it drew a five-minute penalty for the Bruins. He also pointed out that no penalty was originally called on the play. One was assessed after officials reviewed the play while Gourde was laying on the ice.

“I don’t know why that changed,” Cassidy said. “Clearly, Gourde was down on the play, and he’s a good player, a real good player, clever, obviously. But he got them on the power play for five minutes and finished the game and had no problems in the third period. So I didn’t agree with the call.”

Lightning coach Jon Cooper responded to Cassidy’s “clever” remark saying Gourde is “a clever player, so there’s no doubt about that.”

“But that was a league-reviewed hit, so they didn’t just make up the five minutes,” Cooper said. “There’s a lot of people involved that goes into that.”

Cooper said he thought the league would review the play for supplemental discipline for Ritchie but given that Ritchie served a five- minute major and Gourde was able to come back to play in the third period, he didn’t think Ritchie would be suspended.

“It’s playoff hockey. It’s tough,” Cooper said. “We didn’t hold (Gourde) back. Gordo’s a tough kid. We were trying to err on the side of caution, saying, ‘Gordo don’t come back,’ and he’s like, ‘Not a chance. I want back in this game.’

“So, yes, he is a clever player, but he’s also a gutsy player for coming back.”

Gourde, Blake Coleman and Barclay Goodrow have been the Lightning’s top-performing line in the playoffs. They have been a disruptive presence while adding offensive production.

Ironman in goal

Andrei Vasilevskiy is the only goaltender left in the postseason who has played every one of his team’s games. Other teams have had with injuries or are using goalie tandems. In the case of the Bruins, No. 1 1192478 Tampa Bay Lightning Hedman blocks David Pastrnak shot. Matt Grzelcyk just misses connecting with Brad Marchand at the side of

the net. Lightning-Bruins Game 4 live playoff updates Torey Krug drive from the right point wide of the net.

Bruins generate some chances but no shots, and the Lightning kill the Ondrej Palat’s two goals lead Tampa Bay to a 3-1 victory and a chance penalty. to clinch the series on Monday. Karson Kuhlman goes hard to the net, but Andrei Vasilevskiy makes a One day later, the stakes remain the same. skate save.

Sixteen hours after the Lightning were scheduled to meet the Bruins in Joakim Nordstrom drives the net, taking the puck from his backhand to Game 4 of their conference semifinal series, the teams will play this his forehand, but Vasilevskiy makes a pad save. afternoon at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena. Bruins with six scoring chances in the first five minutes of the period. Win, and the Lightning take a commanding 3-1 series lead. Lose, and the Connor Clifton penalized for crosschecking Blake Coleman. teams are deadlocked at two games apiece. Halk turns aside Palat shot from right circle, and Boston clears the puck. Game 4, originally scheduled for Friday night, was postponed until noon today after NHL players asked the league to postpone two nights of Chris Wagner with a shorthanded chance, but Vasilevskiy makes a stop. playoff games so they could stand in solidarity with those in other leagues opting out of games or practices to protest social injustice and Kucherov wrist shot from the left circle goes off Charlie McAvoy and police brutality in the wake of the shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man, creates a chance in front for Brayden Point and Alex Killorn, but Halak by police in Kenosha, Wis. covers the puck.

The time away from the ice allowed players in the predominantly white Bruins kill the penalty. league to talk about racial issues, some for the first time. Anthony Cirelli shoots a bouncing puck wide of the net from the slot.

It also gave the Bruins another night to sit with the memory of Dangerous pass from Braydon Coburn to Zach Bogosian in front of the Wednesday’s 7-1 blowout loss. The Lightning power-play broke an 0-for- Lightning net. 16 slump since the start of the Columbus series, scoring three times, and Tampa Bay showed great discipline by staying away from penalties for Cedric Paquette shot from the slot beats Halak but goes off the post. the most part. Patrice Bergeron feeds Brandon Carlo in the slot off the rush, but high But the Lightning knows the game was a playoff anomaly, especially shot goes off Vasilevskiy’s mask on into his glove. against a team that had the best record during the regular season. Lightning goal! Palat scores his second of the game on one-timer from Can they keep the momentum going? Follow along with us, starting at the top of the circles after a feed from Anthony Cirelli in the left circle. noon, as the Lightning aim to take control of the series. Lightning 2, Bruins 0.

FINAL SCORE: Lightning 3, Bruins 1 Yanni Gourde down on the ice after being hit late from behind by Nick Ritchie into the boards near the Lightning bench. Gourde skates off Third period under his own power.

Yanni Gourde back on the Lightning bench. Ritchie receives a five-minute major penalty for boarding.

Jaroslav Halak stops Blake Coleman on a 2-on-1 with Barclay Goodrow. Kucherov and Palat now have switched sides on the power play.

Brief 5-on-3 for Boston after Coleman penalty. Palat shot from the top of the slot is blocked by Halak.

Zach Bogosian has a breakaway opportunity out of the box, but Halak Kevin Shattenkirk shot blocked out of play. stops his drive from the right circle. Alex Killron breaks in all alone on Halak and shoots off the post from the Andrei Vasilevskiy makes with stops on Ondrej Kase and Torey Krug. lower left circle.

David Pastrnak misses an open net. Halak partially blocks Tyler Johnson from the left circle.

Anthony Cirelli carries the puck deep into the Boston zone, killing what Lightning goal! After continued pressure in the Boston zone, Victor remains of the Boston power play. Hedman shot from the point goes off Par Lindholm’s leg up over Halak. Nick Ritchie and Barclay Goodrow fight. Both receive five-minute major Lightning 3, Bruins 0. penalties. Zach Bogosian penalized for holding the stick of David Pastrnak with Luke Schenn penalized for hooking Pastrnak, who was trying to split 56.5 seconds remaining in the second period. Schenn and Hedman. First period

Vasilevskiy swallows Pastrnak shot from lower left circle. Jake DeBrusk shoots wide from the left circle off the rush.

Krug shot from the point goes off the post. Andrei Vasilevskiy snags a shot from Karson Kuhlman.

Bruins goal. Jake DeBrusk scores a power-play goal from the lower right Jaroslav Halak shrugs away a Barclay Goodrow shot from the right circle circle after a feed from Charlie Coyle from near the goal line. Ondrej on a 2-on-1 with Yanni Gourde. Kase screens Vasilevskiy on the play. Lightning 3, Bruins 1. Vasilevskiy closes his pads to smother a David Pastrnak wrist shot from Bruins pull Halak in favor of an extra attacker. the top of the right circle.

That’s it. Lightning win, 3-1. Vasilevskiy turns away Brandon Carlo blast from the left circle.

Second period Ondrej Palat breaks up possible 3-on-2 opportunity for Boston.

Bruins will start the period on the power play, as Erik Cernak was Luke Schenn dives to poke puck off Chris Wagner’s stick in the lower penalized for roughing David Pastrnak at the end of the first. right circle after Wagner picked off a pass in the neutral zone.

Victor Hedman collects the puck in the Lightning end and sends it down Nikita Kucherov snapshot from lower left circle goes off the knob of the ice. Halak’s stick and deflects up over the net. Bruins ice the puck. Lightning goal! Ondrej Palat scores from the top of the crease after a Brayden Point steal in the neutral zone. Point stickhandles around Torey Krug, then feeds Palat, who beats Halak up high (8:59). Lightning 1, Bruins 0.

Brandon Carlo penalized for slashing Kucherov, who had the puck in the slot after a Boston turnover.

Halak makes a leg save on Palat slapshot from the right circle.

Pat Maroon loses the puck, and Boston clears the zone.

Bruins kill the penalty.

Halak covers the puck after a clearing attempt from Carlo deflects back toward the Boston goaltender.

Nick Ritchie and Cedric Paquette wrestling in the corner after Ritchie takes exception after Paquette hit Kuhlman into the boards.

Ritchie penalized for roughing with 2:31 remaining in the period.

Boston wins the faceoff, and Brad Marchand skates with the puck out to center ice.

Marchand gets his stick on a Palat pass for Kucherov, and Patrice Bergeron clears the zone.

Halak makes a pad save on a Victor Hedman blast from the top of the slot.

Bruins kill the penalty.

Bruins outshoot the Lightning in the period, 9-8.

Big scrum behind the Lightning net after Erik Cernak hits Pastrnak at the buzzer.

Cernak penalized for roughing.

Pregame

Lightning defenseman Ryan McDonagh did not skate during warmups, so he likely will miss a third straight game.

Based on pregame rosters, it appears the Lightning will stick with the same lineup they used the past two games, with 11 defensemen (including Braydon Coburn and Luke Schenn) and seven forwards.

Captain Steven Stamkos remains out with a lower-body injury.

Andrei Vasilevskiy and Jaroslav Halak will start in goal.

Yanni Gourde’s line will get the first shift, as it has throughout the playoffs.

The Bruins look to be returning to the 12-6 lineup they employed in Games 1 and 2, with forward Karson Kuhlman in place of defenseman Jeremy Lauzon. Sean Kuraly, listed as unfit to play in Game 3, remains out.

FRANK PASTOR

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 08.30.2020 1192479 Tampa Bay Lightning

NHL’s pregame draws attention to racial injustice

The league plays a video focusing on diversity in the NHL and efforts made over the two-day pause in play.

Ahead of Game 4′s puck drop on Saturday afternoon, the Lightning and Bruins lined up on the ice and along their respective team benches as a video played throughout Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena.

The video focused on diversity in the league, specifically focusing on the efforts teams have taken over the past two days — while play was paused — to discuss racial injustice issues.

“As we resume play today, the NHL and our players unite in the fight to end racism,” the narrator began. “We stand together for a common cause that needs action today, tomorrow and well after our Stanley Cup playoffs end. ...

“In hockey we often let our effort, determination and passion to win do the talking. But when an issue is bigger than the game we must speak up, starting with three words we need to get comfortable saying: Black Lives Matter.”

The video featured prominent Black players in the league such as Columbus’ Seth Jones, Vegas’ Ryan Reaves, San Jose’s Evander Kane and Minnesota’s Matt Dumba. As the video ended, players tapped their sticks along the boards and on the ice.

Lightning defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk and Boston’s Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand were featured.

“I think for us, the decision to postpone our games and sit out was viewed as an opportunity to highlight a bigger issue than hockey,” Shattenkirk said in the video. “We wanted to make sure that every Black player in this league can feel safe and feel like they have a voice, and we want to make sure that we continue this conversation moving forward and make sure that we keep the sport progressing in the right way, as well.”

After the 3-1 win, fellow blueliner Victor Hedman said Saturday’s game had a different feeling coming into it.

“The last 48 hours, the conversations we’ve had within our team and within the whole bubble ... has been about anything but hockey, but today was a different day,” Hedman said. “At the end of the day, we’re happy to be back playing. It goes to show what a team can do when they really come together as a group.”

Lightning forward Blake Coleman echoed Hedman’s comments, saying the last 48 hours were important for reflection and effective conversations among the team and in the bubble.

“I think it’s important we did what we did,” Coleman added. “But at the same time, we’re all here to win a Cup, as well, and you have to be able to flip that switch back on. Credit to both teams. I thought that after we had those moments to begin the game there, it was all business and no lack of intensity and everybody was back to it.”

MARI FAIELLO

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 08.30.2020 1192480 Tampa Bay Lightning “A couple of guys reached out when I got to camp,” Joseph said. “I’ve never had an issue with the team. They understand that it’s a problem in the world and they’re trying to learn about it. They reach out to me and a lot of them ask questions, and I think that’s where it starts.” Lightning players are talking about race, some for the first time Joseph is part of an interracial family. He grew up in Montreal with a white mom and a Black dad. He knows things were probably more difficult for his dad than for him. Staff Report “I’ve never been not open about that stuff,” Joseph said. “I think the guys

realize it, and it was easy for me to talk about that stuff. If I can educate Postponing games while living in a bubble gave players a chance to the guys and they can learn from that and try to understand a little bit come together to educate themselves in larger groups. more about the issue in the world, that’s something I’m willing to do.”

Braydon Coburn never expected to be sitting in a Toronto hotel with three other teams discussing racism. But that’s where he and the rest of the Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 08.30.2020 Lightning found themselves Thursday and Friday.

Coburn called the conversations productive and enlightening.

NHL players decided they wanted to hold off on playing in support of protests happening in other leagues around issues of racial injustice. The league supported the decision and postponed Thursday’s and Friday’s games. The playoffs will resume Saturday, with the Lightning playing at noon.

When Coburn and fellow defenseman Luke Schenn were asked Friday about managing back-to-back games earlier in the week, Coburn respectfully declined to answer. He said players wanted to keep the focus on “the issues.”

“We had some great conversations, conversations that I’ve personally never had, and I think a lot of guys have never had,” Schenn said. “We’re definitely learning as we go here and learned a lot of different things here.”

Mathieu Joseph, the only Black player on the Lightning roster, said it was awesome to have his teammates start the conversation. He said it was good to talk about what it’s like in the world outside of the bubble.

The Lightning had a team dinner after Wednesday’s game, as was always the plan, but instead of celebrating the win, talk centered around the NBA players sitting out games in protest.

Coach Jon Cooper described an open forum with all 52 members of the organization in the bubble, multiple people sharing their thoughts.

The next morning, the conversations continued and expanded to include other teams. Schenn said he forgot they’d just played the Bruins and had another game coming up against them as they discussed more important topics.

Being in the bubble, where four teams were together, made these conversations easier. If they were spread across the continent in a normal playoff format, the talks may have stayed within teams. The pause gave them time to talk in larger groups.

The NHL has received some criticism for being late to the table. The league played on while others sat out on Wednesday. Social justice has been a frequent topic in the WNBA, NBA, MLB MLS and the National Women’s Soccer League, all of which are more racially diverse than the predominately white NHL.

“We’re all having the conversation at this point and we’re all looking to educate ourselves and improve,” Schenn said. “We all realize nothing is going to be fixed by (Saturday) morning, but this is a situation where everyone needs to continue to learn and ask questions, do what’s right, be a good person in this world, educate your kids and teach them the right way. It definitely is a long-term thing.”

For Coburn, the biggest thing was hearing other players talk about their experiences and the emotions tied to them. The depth of their emotions jumped out at him right away and touched him.

“People are affected, and as well they should be,” Cooper said. “Because if you’re not, then you’re not caring.”

Well before this — before the Lightning convened for their playoff training camp, as protests around racism and police brutality erupted — a few teammates reached out to Joseph.

He heard from Ryan McDonagh, a native of Minnesota, where George Floyd was killed by police, and from Steven Stamkos, who released a statement on needing to educate himself. 1192481 Tampa Bay Lightning Ritchie: “Just finishing my hit. Maybe he wasn’t expecting it. He had just gotten rid of the puck.”

Well, no. Gourde got rid of the puck a few seconds before. It was long Smith: How Lightning swung series against Bruins with an evolved gone by the time Ritchie hit Gourde shoulder-first into the wall. mindset Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy called Gourde a “clever” player, noting that after he stayed down on the ice for a minute or two, he came back for the third period and seemed OK. By Joe Smith “He played through a player’s shoulder, as I saw it,” Cassidy said. Aug 29, 2020 “Shoulder to shoulder, hard. I don’t know if the explanation was it was late … or the result of a 225-pound man hitting a 175-pound man.”

The take from Cooper: “He’s a clever player, there’s no doubt about that. Lightning star wing Nikita Kucherov is arguably the most gifted player in But it was a league-reviewed hit. They didn’t just make up the five this series. minutes. A lot of people are involved in that. I thought the hit was late, it’s He’s the Hart Trophy winner, a 128-point scorer with an elite hockey hitting an unexpecting opponent. I’m sure it’ll be reviewed. Regular mind and a scorer’s touch. season, for sure a suspension. So clever or not, it would be a suspension. Playoffs? I think the fact they gave him five (five-minute But it’s what Kucherov did near the end of Tampa Bay’s 3-1 win over the penalty) probably took him off the hook for suspension. That would be my Bruins on Saturday afternoon that symbolized the kind of defensive buy- guess. It’s playoff hockey, it’s tough. And the fact Gourdo came back. in that has swung this best-of-seven series. The Lightning lead 3-1 with Gourde is a tough kid. We were trying to err on the side of caution, and Game 5 on Monday. he said, ‘No chance, I’m going back in the game.’ So I’d say, yes, a clever player. But also a gutsy player.” There was just under a minute left, the Lightning clinging to a two-goal lead and the Bruins with an extra attacker. Coach Jon Cooper didn’t put The fact of the matter is this: The Lightning have been the better team, his shutdown Anthony Cirelli line or his relentless Yanni Gourde line on the hungrier team, for the most part in this series, and you’re starting to the ice. It was the top line, with Kucherov, Brayden Point and Ondrej see the frustration from the Bruins. There were the six penalties Boston Palat there to shut it down. They played the final 83 seconds of the took in Game 3, when they lost some composure and the Lightning made game, giving up zero shots on goal. (The Bruins had no shots in the final them pay with three power-play goals. They took a few more bad 5:53.) penalties Saturday, and though the Lightning scored only one power-play goal, those are some hard penalty-kill minutes for some of the Bruins’ top With 35 seconds left, Bruins sharpshooter David Pastrnak darted down to players. the left circle and was open for a cross-seam pass and a potential open net. But Kucherov hustled down to get a stick on the pass, then dug the Boston’s Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand both played more than puck out of the corner and flipped it out to help ice the game. three minutes short-handed Saturday.

“When your star player is doing those little things,” Palat said, “everyone “They’re an exceptional team,” Cooper said. “When you’ve had the lead, is following him.” they had to play a lot of their players a bunch of minutes to get themselves back in it. We weathered the storm when they were pressing, This was an entire team effort. Palat scored two goals and is having a especially when they had all those power plays in the third. That’s when huge series that included the OT winner in Game 2. Victor Hedman you’re hoping fatigue sets in. logged another monster 27-minute performance, scoring a power-play goal at the end of a five-minute man advantage in the second period “On our side, guys are committed. Guys were blocking shots. Guys were (after a dirty hit by Nick Ritchie on Yanni Gourde; more on that later). committed to our structure. The neutral zone. At some point, frustration Goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy was brilliant, especially in the second period, sets in for them a little bit. It was a pretty gutty effort by the guys to shut when the Bruins made a push while down 1-0. Even Cooper deserves them down the last five, six minutes.” some credit for his in-series adjustments, like tweaks on the power play and switching to a seven-defenseman lineup without Ryan McDonagh. Let’s not forget the play of Vasilevskiy. He vowed after an .856 save percentage in last season’s first-round sweep that he had to be better. You know these guys as a high-flying, creative, offensive force. When he won his first Vezina Trophy last summer, he said it doesn’t matter if the Lightning don’t win the Cup. And, so far, Vasilevskiy has They’re fun. They’ll wow you. In the past, they’ve been able to outscore been walking the talk, including playing his best hockey in the second their problems. period when the Bruins were at their best. But you can describe this Lightning group a little differently. It seemed like many things changed once Palat scored his overtime Committed. Responsible. Structured. And they’ve now outscored the winner in Game 2. The Lightning were dealt several examples of President’s Trophy winners 11-2 in the past seven periods. adversity in that game, from the bad luck on the Bruins’ first goal, when Zach Bogosian’s stick broke, to the overturned goal on Point’s offside. “We’re a responsible group,” Hedman said. “We’re super confident in the But they sucked it up, regrouped and never wavered. They were way we play our system. We know when everyone is doing their job, dominant in OT and have been the better team ever since. we’re going to be a tough team to beat. We have the best goalie in the league back there making some big saves for us. But we’ve really come Palat, often the forgotten guy with Point and Kucherov, has been the together and really focused on the details and the defensive part of the engine of any line he’s played on, including the 2015 “Triplets” with game.” Kucherov and Tyler Johnson. He does all the little things well, plays a 200-foot game, is so smart in both ends. As Kucherov said, Palat is the “We’re playing with confidence — we don’t cheat on the ice,” Palat said. guy who’ll work hard to get the pucks for the Lightning. So Palat is getting “We’re doing it the right way, staying on the right side of the puck.” rewarded, scoring twice Saturday, with the second a bad goal by Bruins This didn’t happen overnight. It’s been a gradual process all season. It goalie Jaroslav Halak but the first a great finish on a spectacular took some scars, especially after some offensive arrogance cost them in stickhandling play by Point. Game 1 of last year’s stunning first-round sweep. The Lightning came Point is putting himself in the early Conn Smythe conversation. The kid is into this season focusing on some key areas defensively: cutting down a superstar. slot chances, odd-man rushes and penalties. And it should be noted that while the Lightning are a heavier, harder-to-play-against team thanks to It’s impressive that the Lightning have done this without defenseman their deadline additions, they’ve been the more disciplined team in this Ryan McDonagh, who missed a third consecutive game to an injury series. You can see the Bruins show some frustration with some dumb that’s not believed to be long term. They haven’t had captain Steven penalties, including Ritchie’s suspension-worthy hit on Gourde in the Stamkos for the entire playoffs, and there’s no certainty where he is or second period. whether he’ll be back anytime soon.

The Lightning and Bruins will agree to disagree on this Ritchie hit. Their depth is paying off, and their biggest stars are showing up when they’re needed. “I think it’s just a commitment up and down the lineup,” Blake Coleman said. “Everyone is trusting each other to do their jobs, and when the guy next to you is committed to do what you’re supposed to do, it makes your job a lot easier. The D have been good, been predictable, and that makes life easier for forwards.

“Big shot blocks, we’re strong in front of the net, and Vasy has been great. Everything we’ve needed has come together.”

Kucherov can be an equally marveling and maddening player, as Hall of Famer Phil Esposito pointed out this week. But when Kucherov is engaged, he can really drive this team. It rubs off on everyone else. So when Kucherov helped set the tone with his big hit on Zdeno Chara in the first period and is backchecking in the final minute, it’s an extremely good sign for the Lightning.

“Kuch is a wonderfully gifted player,” Cooper said. “And when he gets all the accolades because of what he brings on the offensive side of things, and oftentimes that player is just offense, you’ll see them win Hart Trophies and get on the front page of the paper. And then there’s a bunch of players that play the 200-foot game, and you saw some of them tonight. You’re seeing it on their end.

“But you look at the offensively gifted players, the reason they play all the time is because they’re smart and they know how to play in their own end. You can’t throw offensive players over the boards for 20 minutes a night if they’re not going to play defense. The growth of Kuch in that regard, it’s been a reason we’re having a lot of the success we’re having. As a coach, you’ve got to trust your players, but you don’t throw players over the board because of the name on the back of their jersey. You throw them over because you trust them. I trust Kuch in all these situations.”

This had been an emotional, “enlightening” 48 hours for the Lightning and the other teams in the bubble, with teams having hard and important conversations after deciding to postpone playoff games Thursday and Friday to support the Black Lives Matter movement.

And it seemed like the NHL struck the right tone in a pregame video montage before Saturday’s noon game. Former Lightning goaltender Kevin Weekes narrated the spot, saying, “When an issue is bigger than the game, we must speak out, starting with three words we need to get comfortable saying: ‘Black Lives Matter.'”

Then there were videos of comments from the Lightning’s Kevin Shattenkirk and the Bruins’ Bergeron and Marchand.

“The decision to postpone our games and sit out was viewed as an opportunity to highlight an issue bigger than hockey,” Shattenkirk said. “We wanted to make sure that every Black player in this league can feel safe and feel like they have a voice. And we want to make sure that we continue this conversation moving forward and make sure that we keep the support progressing in the right way.”

Cooper said that message and those conversations led into Saturday, and the Lightning didn’t want them to be forgotten just because hockey was starting again. He did mention that in their usual pregame meeting Friday, not much hockey was being talked about.

“It was a little different going into today’s game,” Hedman said. “The last 48 hours, the conversations we had within our team and the whole bubble, anything but hockey. Today was a different day. At the end of the day, we’re happy we’re back playing, and this goes to show what our team can do when we really come together as a group.”

The Athletic LOADED: 08.30.2020 1192482 Toronto Maple Leafs And if it’s working for NHL players — and NBA players in their bubble in Orlando, Fla. — then those principles can perhaps be applied on a grander scale as workplaces and schools open up.

A security guard stands at his post on Bremner Avenue where personnel “I really think a lot of these principles are being applied to back-to-school enter and exit the NHL bubble in front of Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. programs, back-to-work programs,” Bogoch said. “The key thing is how they’re implemented in these unique situations. For example, for back-to- school (plans), there’s certain things we can do to make that safer — you can reduce the size of the classes, you can increase the ventilation of the By Kevin McGran Staff Reporter classroom, you can ensure kids wear masks. Sat., Aug. 29, 2020 “Same thing with back-to-work. You can change the structure of the workplace, have people work from home so there’s fewer people under one roof, then it really is just the core application of these fundamental There were skeptics. There were naysayers. There were worrywarts. public health rules.

But, somehow, the bubbles are working. “But we were able to do it in a manner that was conducive for hockey where, of course, you’ve got things like locker rooms and the bench.” More than four weeks and 24,334 nasal swab tests into the hub cities in Toronto and Edmonton, a player has yet to test positive for COVID-19. It’s not like the NHL was immune to the virus. There were 45 confirmed cases among players prior to the entry into the bubbles. “In fairness, I feel like I’m walking on eggshells, it’s not over ’til it’s over,” said Dr. Isaac Bogoch, the University Healthy Network infectious disease Leafs centre Auston Matthews confirmed he had the virus before joining specialist who advised the NHL Players’ Association in the creation of the the team prior to training camp. St. Louis Blues GM Doug Armstrong said bubble. a number of his players had it, hampering his team’s preparedness for the playoffs. The defending Stanley Cup champions were eliminated in The virus has not penetrated the bubble and, perhaps more importantly the conference quarterfinals. for Toronto’s public health, no one associated with the playoffs has infected anybody on the outside. “When they were quarantining, they couldn’t go to the gym or do certain things,” Armstrong said. “It affected each player differently. Some lost a “I think the protocols and the procedures that we put in place have been considerable amount of weight. They all felt some form of a symptom. It working and we’re really pleased with that,” NHL deputy commissioner wasn’t that they had it and didn’t feel anything.” Bill Daly said. “As you know, this particular virus is very contagious. So if you have an incident where one or two or three people test positive and Getting safely to the bubble was always going to be the key. But once they happen to be in a group, it could spread pretty quickly. everyone got there, it’s not like the plan was foolproof. There were leaky spots where players and the general public shared air: the fenced-off “To this point we’ve had no positives, but we wanted to be acting and path down York Street, for example, or within the parking garage or even doing everything possible to minimize that number and zero is a good on the ice at the Scotiabank Arena where maintenance workers wore minimization to this point.” masks and did their best to keep their distance but were still within the That’s all good news for hockey because, given the pandemic shows no vicinity of players. There was food delivery allowed at hotels, and hotel sign of relenting, the NHL may have to revisit the hub cities idea for the workers themselves were not all required to hub themselves off. 2020-21 season. But the risks were deemed to be relatively low. “We’re gonna have to plan for that,” said Mathieu Schneider, special “I really think that if people adhere to the protocols, adhere to the assistant to Donald Fehr, the NHLPA executive director. “The first guidelines, they can continue in a very safe manner but it requires effort quarter, or maybe even the first half, (we’ll need) to have a plan in place and persistence,” Bogoch said. “I don’t think it’s easy.” where maybe we’ll be looking at guys living at home but flying into a bubble city and playing several games, and then flying back out.” In Toronto, teams have made great use of BMO Field, a short walk from Hotel X and a bus ride from the Royal York when teams were still housed In Toronto, the players and league officials have vacated the Fairmont there. There was elbow room there to play football, or frisbee, or soccer, Royal York; that hotel and the fenced-off tunnels to the Scotiabank Arena or just lie in the sun. are now back in the public domain. With four teams left in the Eastern Conference semifinals, the NHL has moved everybody to Hotel X on the Some teams have taken golf excursions amid secrecy and tight security, exhibition grounds. keeping fans and the media away.

The conference semifinals resume Saturday after the players initiated a “I think everybody feels safe in the bubble, no need to have to get out of two-day hiatus as an anti-racism protest for social justice. When this the bubble or urges to leave the bubble,” said Leafs forward Jason round is over, the two surviving Eastern Conference teams will join the Spezza, who was part of the Return to Play committee. “They gave the two surviving Western Conference teams in Edmonton to complete the players enough space to roam around where you feel like you can get conference finals and Stanley Cup final. out, and also knowing that it’s safe and you’re protecting the integrity of the whole thing.” And that’s the goal that keeps them going. Spezza noted that going into the bubble, players were worried about how “We’ve made a commitment to each other, to the group, to come here,” they’d spend their time. Then it hit them: “Everybody was looking for all said Bruins forward Brad Marchand. “We’re all sacrificing to be here. The these options but the reality is when you get into playoff hockey it’s: I drive is there to want to make it all worth it. If you get on the ice, you want slept, I recovered, I got treatment, I played cards with the guys, guys to win, because otherwise, this whole thing is for nothing. played video games, then you got ready for the next game,” Spezza said. “There’s no point coming and being stuck in the bubble if you’re not going “There’s really not a lot you need to do once you get into playoff hockey.” to win.” Schneider was inside the bubble in Edmonton, where the J.W. Marriott Given the highly contagious nature of the virus that caused the hotel is attached to Rogers Place. He noted it felt a little bit old school, pandemic, and its continued presence in both Toronto and Edmonton, it’s with teams sticking to themselves and not intermingling with each other. remarkable how smoothly things are going. “As far as the co-mingling, it was interesting and was kind of neat to “There’s been a good buy-in from the players and from everyone else watch,” Schneider said. “A lot of guys compared it to maybe a world within the bubble,” Bogoch said. “It means the protocols are strong, but it championship atmosphere or to even a youth hockey tournament where still means that we need to continue to adhere to those fundamental everybody’s going back to the same hotel. It’s nothing that they public health principles that were applied to the bubble to keep the experienced at the NHL level.” disinfection out, and to ensure the safety of everyone within.” That may have changed given the extraordinary events of this week Those principles: frequent testing, social distancing, wearing a mask, when players on all teams got together to discuss the right thing to do to frequent hand sanitization. help shine a light on racial injustice. Tuukka Rask left the bubble for family reasons. Some, like Leafs defenceman Jake Muzzin, left for medical treatment. He returned, though the Leafs were eliminated before he was able to play again.

“Everything in there — from food to service to whatever you wanted needed — was all looked after,” Muzzin said. “So everyone did a great job getting this thing set. It was safe. Not once did I feel scared or worried about anything.”

By and large, the plan has worked because the players have been committed to following the protocols. They were giving up a sizable portion of their lives, leaving family and children at home. They were giving up their freedom, all to name a champion. Twenty-four teams, down to 16, now down to eight.

“The hotel situation is not bad,” Marchand said. “The toughest part is being away from the family, which will be long and daunting but again, if you win, the sacrifice is worth it. The families will enjoy all of that.

“We’re grateful for the opportunity to be here. There are a lot of people out there right now that aren’t able to do the things they love, and can’t work, and are losing jobs, and homes, and businesses. The sacrifices we’re making, it’s worth it to be here. We’re lucky to be here, and do what we love, and have an opportunity to play for the Cup.”

Presumably, the NHL will be able to complete its playoffs and a Cup winner will be crowned. And, in back rooms, the league and players are looking to 2020-21.

“I would say our discussions, up until now, I would probably categorize them as spitballing,” Schneider said. “I had the ability to talk to several general managers and key presidents (over) theoretically what next year might look like for the beginning of the season.”

The NHL and NHLPA, the NBA and the NBPA, and other major sports organizations will share information with each other on what has worked, and what hasn’t. Because it’s more than just the top-tier professional leagues looking for solutions. Minor leagues, junior leagues, universities all have a stake.

“There’s going to be challenges at every single level,” Schneider said. “It’s important that we try to figure out how best to try to get as much normalcy as we can. But the priority has always been health and safety, first and foremost.

“I wouldn’t say that we’re in a rush to do anything, but at the same time there is a sense of urgency that we have to try to plan as much as we can in advance.”

Toronto Star LOADED: 08.30.2020 1192483 Toronto Maple Leafs Relevant experience: 13 seasons as NHL head coach, four seasons as AHL head coach.

Why he’s a fit: He’s won a Stanley Cup and a Jack Adams Award. He’s Who should the Maple Leafs hire to fill out Sheldon Keefe’s coaching been in the KHL for the past two seasons, so a return to the NHL might staff? entice him even if it’s not at the centre of a bench.

Peter Laviolette

By Joshua Kloke Age: 55

Aug 29, 2020 Current role: None

Relevant experience: 18 seasons as NHL head coach, one season as an NHL assistant coach. When Sheldon Keefe was appointed as Maple Leafs head coach in November, he stepped onto a bench with three assistant coaches who Why he’s a fit: It feels likely that Laviolette will emerge as a head coach had only been appointed under the consideration of former head coach sometime soon. But given his experience, having won a Stanley Cup and Mike Babcock. Two of those coaches were hired less than six months lost in the final twice previously, the Leafs would have to at least inquire, previously to Keefe’s hire. right? He’s the kind of well-respected name the team seems to be after for one of the vacancies. It left many wondering how long Paul McFarland, hired in May 2019, and Dave Hakstol, hired in June 2019, would stick around with the Leafs. Gerard Gallant

Perhaps then it was no surprise when McFarland announced he would Age: 56 be resigning from the Leafs in May, and the Leafs then announcing in Current role: None August they did not renew the contract of fellow assistant coach Andrew Brewer. Relevant experience: Nine seasons as NHL head coach, seven seasons as an NHL assistant coach. For now, Hakstol is still an assistant coach on Toronto’s bench, though it’s believed he can leave if another opportunity emerges. Why he’s a fit: This feels like a decent fit. Gallant’s two-season spell from 2012 to 2014 as an assistant in Montreal is particularly notable: Gallant So where do the Leafs go from here? James Mirtle wrote this month that will have a very clear understanding of the expectations that come from the Leafs are looking for experience in an assistant coach. But is that the playing in a major market. Players love playing for him, and that kind of be-all and end-all? positive, motivating presence around the Leafs has been missed since Who the Leafs hire as their assistant coaches could reveal plenty about D.J. Smith moved from his job as an assistant coach in 2019 to become the short-term direction of the club. a head coach in Ottawa.

Going all-in on experience, especially in one of the bigger names on this Marc Crawford list, would speak to a shrinking window to win for the club, and the need Age: 59 to bring in voices who have gone deep in the playoffs to help their young core understand what’s required to do just that. Current role: Assistant coach, Chicago Blackhawks

But going with less experience would perhaps speak to the team’s Relevant experience: 16 seasons as NHL head coach, four seasons as continued belief that creative, fresh voices can eventually lead to results. an NHL assistant coach.

It’s for that reason when looking at possible hires, we’ve broken down our Why he’s a fit: The majority of Crawford’s coaching experience in the list into different categories: The experienced coaching veterans, the up- NHL came as a head coach with four organizations from 1994 to 2011, and-comers, and the outside the box choices. Since there could be three but he’s spent parts of the last four seasons as an assistant, both with jobs available, we’re looking at all options: coaches who can run both the Ottawa Senators and the Chicago Blackhawks. He’s won a Stanley special teams, and coaches who can operate a little more behind-the- Cup and a Jack Adams Award, albeit over 20 years ago. scenes with video work. Now, Crawford was suspended by the Blackhawks for one month this The experienced coaches season after allegations surfaced that he physically abused players. He has since apologized for his behaviour. Here’s where the deep pockets of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment could help the Leafs. With coaches falling outside the salary cap, the But he’s under contract with the Blackhawks, and the Leafs would need Leafs could throw more money than other clubs at coaches who could to pry him away from the organization. There is a familiarity there though command larger salaries. The coaches below all have impressive with the Leafs best player, as Crawford coached Auston Matthews during pedigrees, to the extent that some of them might seem like stretches. his lone season playing for Zurich in Switzerland.

But again, with experience being an important factor for the Leafs in this “He helped me out a lot, honestly,” Matthews said. “He was hard on me hire, it’s worth considering all those experienced coaches who are in ways where it helped me learn.” available. Jacques Martin Guy Boucher Age: 67 Age: 48 Current role: None Current role: None Relevant experience: 17 seasons as NHL head coach, 12 seasons as an Relevant experience: Six seasons as NHL head coach, one season as NHL assistant/associate coach. AHL head coach. Why he’s a fit: Martin has been coaching in some capacity in the NHL Why he’s a fit: The Leafs reportedly reached out to Boucher during their since 1986, but it’s his recent five-season stint as an assistant coach with coaching search in 2015. He’s never served as an NHL assistant before the that sticks out. He won two Stanley Cups with but has taken two different teams to the conference finals. He has the the Penguins, and would have garnered some experience working with experience, but it’s worth noting that the record of each team he’s an insanely talented group of forwards. Whereas some of the coaches on coached has declined with each season. He was fired from each team in this list might have a more impressive pedigree as a head coach, his third respective season. Martin’s transition to an assistant role in Toronto might be a little more seamless. Bob Hartley Age: 59 Age: 65 Current role: Head coach, Omsk Avangard (KHL) Current role: None It sounds like Flyers players liked his attention to detail, but it should be noted Knoblauch was put on a bench with an inexperienced head coach Relevant experience: 13 seasons as NHL head coach, nine seasons as in Hakstol and it didn’t end well. He was fired after his second season, in an AHL head coach. which the Flyers missed the playoffs.

Why he’s a fit: James Mirtle broke down the Leafs’ possible interest in But what Knoblauch has going for him, and what could work with this Boudreau, noting how the organization asked for permission to talk to Leafs group, is his strong communication skills and, as with other Boudreau in the last couple of months. From Boudreau’s side, it appears coaches on this list, his experience working with high-end offensive there’s interest in helping the Leafs, his longtime favourite team, finally players. Knoblauch coached Connor McDavid with the Otters. One coach win a Stanley Cup. who has worked alongside him in the past said he’s the type of coach Ken Hitchcock who cares about each individual player. In terms of a personality fit, he fills that aforementioned D.J. Smith role. Age: 68 Brad Lauer Current role: None Age: 53 Relevant experience: 22 seasons as NHL head coach, three seasons as an NHL assistant coach. Current role: Head coach, Edmonton Oil Kings (OHL)

Why he’s a fit: This is admittedly a reach. But if the Leafs want Relevant experience: Seven seasons as an NHL assistant coach, two experience, they’ve got it here. Hitchcock is sixth all-time in games seasons as a WHL head coach. coached in the NHL. But he hasn’t been an assistant coach since 1993, Why he’s a fit: If the Leafs don’t land Boudreau, why not take a look at a and you wonder if he’s the right personality for the job. coach who spent three seasons by his side? Lauer has seven seasons of Darryl Sutter NHL assistant coaching experience with the Senators, the Ducks and the Lightning. He helped on the Lightning power play, one that remained one Age: 62 of the best in the NHL during his two seasons with the team. Lauer agreed to part ways with the club in 2018 but has stayed in hockey, Current role: None coaching the WHL’s Edmonton Oil Kings to two strong seasons and was Relevant experience: 17 seasons as NHL head coach, three seasons as named WHL coach of the year in 2019-20. an NHL assistant coach. One coach who has worked with Lauer told me he maintained a great Why he’s a fit: Another serious reach here, as he said in 2018 that he’s connection with his players by having a calming presence about him. essentially retired from hockey. But Sutter’s work with the Kings to turn Despite his NHL coaching experience, you wonder if the Leafs will want them into a team that could dominate possession seems to at least to land a bigger name to join Keefe on the bench. But seven seasons in suggest it might, maybe, somehow work. the league is more than Keefe and Hakstol have combined, so his name The up and comers remains a possibility.

With two coaching vacancies to fill, it still feels likely that the Leafs look to A.J. MacLean balance out an experienced voice with a younger coach who could Age: 36 connect with the Leafs young core. Current role: Assistant coach, Toronto Marlies (AHL) Andre Tourigny Relevant experience: Five seasons as an AHL assistant coach. Age: 46 Why he’s a fit: If there ends up being three spots to fill on the Leafs Current role: Head coach, Ottawa 67’s (OHL) bench, few would be surprised if current Marlies assistant MacLean fills Relevant experience: 14 seasons as CHL head coach, three seasons as one of those spots. He’s close with Keefe and Dubas, having spent an NHL assistant coach. seven seasons together in both the OHL and the AHL. He would have a clear understanding of what the pair are trying to achieve on the ice. He’s Why he’s a fit: This one might make a lot more sense than you think. affable and easygoing with players and multiple Marlies told me last With the 67’s, Tourigny has won the Matt Leyden Trophy as OHL coach season that working with him is enjoyable, given how receptive he can be of the year in the last two seasons. The 67’s power play has steadily to their ideas on the ice. improved during his three-season stint with the team as well. “He’s a real fun guy to have around the room,” Marlies forward Jeremy Perhaps more importantly, Tourigny spent three seasons as an NHL Bracco said in November. “You can learn a lot from a guy like that.” assistant coach: two with the Colorado Avalanche and one with the Ottawa Senators. During that time, he would have worked with offensive Again, there’s probably an element of that attitude needed on the Leafs weapons like Nathan MacKinnon and Gabriel Landeskog. bench, as well as someone familiar with Keefe and his methods. Those two elements might be enough for the Leafs to overlook his lack of NHL The detractor here is that under Tourigny, the Avalanche power play experience, provided they add another voice who has just that. cratered from 19.8 percent in his first season to 15.0 percent the next season. Yes, the Avalanche were a bad team in that second season, but The outsiders that’s a noticeable dip. The following season, with the Ottawa Senators, The likelihood of the Leafs going outside the box for an assistant coach the power play under Tourigny fired at an ugly 15.8 percent clip. has probably decreased with multiple disappointing seasons. But it’s Kris Knoblauch worth wondering if they do eventually have three assistant spots open if they try to balance a sense of old-school experience with an injection of Age: 41 fresh ideas and creativity. It’s a gamble, but the Leafs have certainly gambled under Dubas before. Current role: Head coach, Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL) Jukka Jalonen Relevant experience: Two seasons as an NHL assistant coach, seven seasons as an OHL head coach. Age: 57

Why he’s a fit: Should Dave Hakstol remain with the Leafs, I wonder if Current role: Head coach, Finnish national team Knoblauch’s name gets brought up. The pair worked together for two seasons in Philadelphia when Hakstol was head coach and Knoblauch Relevant experience: Four seasons as a KHL head coach, eight seasons was a young, up-and-coming assistant who was coming out of coaching as Finnish national team head coach. a good player or two in five seasons with the Erie Otters. Why he’s a fit: He’s arguably the best Finnish coach out there right now, Now, Knoblauch’s time as an assistant coach with the Flyers was brief having coached the perpetually underrated Finnish national team to two and didn’t exactly yield great results. In his first season, the Flyers lost in gold medals in the World Championship, as well as having earned a gold the first round of the playoffs. medal in the world juniors and a bronze medal in the Olympics. In asking around about Jalonen, here’s what I’ve learned: he is a tactical guru who has a track record of getting more out of his players than expected. He’s big into video instruction. He wants to work in the NHL, so much so that he’s hired an agent to help him land an NHL gig.

His experience and profile seem like at least a decent consideration. But where would he fit with the Leafs? They want NHL experience. I wonder if he would fit in Andrew Brewer’s role and still work directly with players while not having much of the limelight whatsoever.

Roger Rönnberg

Age: 49

Current role: Head coach, Frolunda (SHL)

Relevant experience: Eight seasons as an SHL head coach.

Why he’s a fit: Like Jalonen, Rönnberg is one of the best coaches not in the NHL right now. He has won the Swedish Hockey League championship with Frolunda HC twice since taking over in 2013, and also has a world juniors gold medal (2012) to his name as well.

Known for his intense practices, Ronnberg could bring a sense of energy to a Leafs team that was sorely lacking it at times this season.

“A game should be easier than a practice, that’s one of the things in our philosophy here,” said Ronnberg in 2019. “We want to put the players in situations where they have less time and has to make decisions at a higher speed in the game. That’s a way they can bring confidence into the game.”

He’s previously coached Leafs forward Andreas Johnsson.

“If you want to develop your speed and skating, you have to test your ability every night and that comes with pushing yourself above the limit every day,” Ronnberg told Jonas Siegel in 2018. “You can’t be comfortable on doing it in regular speed. You need to push yourself above that limit every day and that demands a lot of character.”

Frolunda has already started their season, however, which might complicate matters for the Leafs.

Steve Thomas

Age: 57

Current role: None

Relevant experience: Five seasons as an NHL assistant coach.

Why he’s a fit: The hockey world hasn’t heard a ton from Thomas lately after he was let go by the Blues after the 2016-17 season, and it’s for that reason he’s in this category. Thomas had previously spent four seasons as an assistant coach with the Tampa Bay Lightning working with, you guessed it, a talented group of forwards.

While optics certainly won’t be the only factor for the Leafs to consider, hiring Thomas might, at least at first, go over very well in Toronto. Thomas was a key contributor in the playoff runs from 1999 to 2001 for the Leafs.

If we’re looking at some intangibles, it also doesn’t hurt to bring in a former player with over 1,000 games under his belt and one who has also never won a Stanley Cup. There could be lessons to impart about the difficulty of going deep in the playoffs.

The Athletic LOADED: 08.30.2020

1192484 Vegas Golden Knights The Knights leaned on Lehner for much of the first period after scoring on two of their first three shots against Canucks goaltender Jacob Markstrom (31 saves).

Robin Lehner, Golden Knights blank Canucks for 2-1 series lead Tuch split the Vancouver defense, settled a saucer pass from center Nicolas Roy and went high over Markstrom’s glove at 4:05 for his team- leading seventh goal in 11 postseason games. He had eight goals in 42 games during the regular season. By David Schoen Las Vegas Review-Journal Tuch is the second player in team history with a four-game playoff goal August 29, 2020 streak, according to NHL public relations, joining Jonathan Marchessault Updated August 29, 2020 in 2019.

“Every time I see Alex with a lot of speed, of course I want to get it to him,” Roy said. “He’s got a hot hand right now, so try to find him, and it’s For two days, the Golden Knights set aside their differences with the been working pretty well.” Vancouver Canucks and stood shoulder to shoulder in protest along with other NHL players. Whitecould notched his second career postseason goal at 5:28 of the first period when he pinched in from the right point after the Knights When hockey resumed Saturday, the Knights were laser-focused and forced a turnover and found a hole over Markstrom’s shoulder. gained control of their Western Conference semifinal series. “I think part of the confidence side for a younger guy is when you do get Goalie Robin Lehner pitched his second shutout in the past week, and those opportunities, you want to go out and execute,” Whitecloud said. the Knights rolled to a 3-0 victory in Game 3 at Rogers Place in “Not only for yourself, you want to execute for the boys.” Edmonton, Alberta.

The Knights have a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series, which continues Sunday. When a series is tied, the winner of Game 3 has gone on to win LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 08.30.2020 the series 67.1 percent of the time, according to NHL public relations.

The Knights set an NHL record by reaching 25 postseason victories faster than any other franchise in history (38 games), beating the previous low of 43 shared by the New York Islanders and Edmonton Oilers.

“We were a lot better tonight. I thought we fixed some of the things that ailed us in Game 2,” coach Pete DeBoer said. “I thought we supported each other a lot better. We were a little heavier, a little harder. … I thought our penalty killing and our goalie was great early.”

Lehner made DeBoer’s decision in net tougher for the second game of the back to back, as he bounced back from a loss in Game 2 on Tuesday with 31 saves.

He made 16 of those stops in the first period and helped the Knights kill off a five-on-three disadvantage with a point-blank save against Bo Horvat, the NHL’s leading goal scorer in the postseason.

Lehner improved to 7-2 with a 2.08 goals-against average and .921 save percentage in the postseason.

“In series like this, it’s really important to get the first goal and not fall behind and chase the game,” Lehner said. “I thought everyone did a great job of pitching in and working hard and blocking shots, doing all the right things. It was really important for the momentum of the game to try to get out ahead and not chase the game.”

Forward Alex Tuch and defenseman Zach Whitecloud scored in the opening 5:28 of the first period.

The game was originally scheduled for Thursday but was postponed when NHL players chose not to participate in protest of systemic racism.

“I knew our team was going to come out and play really hard from the drop of the puck,” Tuch said. “We were ready two days ago; we were ready today. With everything that happened, I think it brought our team closer together. Being able to come together under such an interesting time was huge for our team. We wanted to continue that on the hockey part of it, too.”

The Knights returned to the formula that worked in Game 1, pushing around Vancouver in the final two periods and winning the special teams battle.

The Knights killed all five Vancouver power plays, and Mark Stone tallied his sixth goal of the postseason on a power play early in the third period for a 3-0 lead.

“This group has a lot of belief,” Lehner said. “It’s a very complete team, a very good group. I knew before the game we were going to come out and have a good game. They had a little bit of a push in the first period, but I thought we took over the game after that.” 1192485 Vegas Golden Knights

Golden Knights select starting goalie for Game 3 vs. Canucks

By Ben Gotz Las Vegas Review-Journal

August 29, 2020

Updated August 29, 2020

Robin Lehner will start Game 3 of the Golden Knights’ second-round series against the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday in Edmonton, Alberta.

Lehner has started nine of the Knights’ 11 playoff games and each of the past five. He is 6-2 with a .909 save percentage and 2.34 goals-against average this postseason.

Lehner is coming off his second loss of the playoffs in Game 2 against the Canucks. He allowed four goals on 26 shots in the 5-2 defeat Tuesday in a game in which his defense let him down. The Knights gave up 14 high-danger scoring chances, the third-most they have allowed this postseason.

Coach Pete DeBoer’s decision to start Lehner on Saturday means it’s likely Marc-Andre Fleury will get Game 4 on Sunday. DeBoer started each goalie once when the Knights played on back-to-back days in the first round against the Chicago Blackhawks.

DeBoer said Wednesday “nothing’s changed in my mind that both guys are going to play as we move forward here.”

“I think I’ve said from Day One, I think that’s an advantage for us,” DeBoer said Saturday. “The tighter the schedule, the more back-to- backs, the more your depth comes into play, and that’s at all positions.”

Fleury is 2-0 this postseason with an .886 save percentage and a 2.50 goals-against average. His agent, Allan Walsh, made it clear Aug. 22 that he was unhappy with his client’s lack of playing time with a since-deleted post on Twitter. The tweet showed Fleury with a sword labeled “DeBoer” in his back.

Fleury met with Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon and DeBoer to discuss the tweet and asked Walsh to take down the post. DeBoer said Aug. 23 he was “100 percent” confident the issue was a settled matter.

“All that stuff is noise to us,” DeBoer said. “We’re not going to deal with it or spend any time on it. We’re here for one thing, and that’s to pursue a Stanley Cup. There’s not a doubt in my mind that every guy in that room is fully invested in that.”

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 08.30.2020 1192486 Vegas Golden Knights

Golden Knights unfazed by condensed series schedule

By David Schoen Las Vegas Review-Journal

August 29, 2020

Updated August 29, 2020

Golden Knights coach Pete DeBoer wasn’t surprised when he saw the compacted schedule for the Western Conference semifinals.

DeBoer was informed early in the first round that there could be multiple back to backs as the playoffs progressed.

“We knew this was going to come at us,” DeBoer said Saturday. “You knew you could be into some four (games) in six (days) or five (games) in seven nights. And again, I think we welcome that. It tests your depth, it tests your character. We like where we are on those things.”

The NHL released a revised schedule for the best-of-seven series after players chose not to play Thursday and Friday to protest social injustice and systemic racism.

The Knights defeated the Vancouver Canucks 3-0 Saturday at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, and the teams play the second game of a back to back Sunday in Game 4.

They also could play back-to-back games to finish the series Thursday and Friday should it advance to seven games. That means as many as five games in seven days.

“I’m hopeful we’ll see, I can only speak for our group, but a group of guys that are engaged and committed and not distracted and ready to play,” DeBoer said. “I believe we’re working towards that. These guys are pros. I think they know how to compartmentalize things that are going on.”

Members of the Knights and Canucks met Thursday morning to discuss whether they wanted to play and stood together later that day after players chose to sit out.

Despite that show of solidarity between playoff opponents, Knights right wing Mark Stone expected the intensity to increase throughout the series.

“I think, even from Game 1, it was a feisty game. Game 2, same thing,” Stone said. “It’s the Stanley Cup playoffs. Anyway you slice it, it’s going to be intense. Whether you play five games in seven days, whether you play five games in 10 days, nothing changes. It’s going to be a battle. You’re going to have to battle if you want to move on. I’m sure they’re thinking the same thing on the other side.”

It was an emotional 48 hours for members of the eight remaining teams in the postseason.

While the Knights showed the proper deference for the moment, the players who met the media after Saturday’s morning skate and DeBoer also made it clear their focus is on hockey moving forward.

The Knights practiced Thursday and Friday, when DeBoer admitted they were understandably distracted by more important matters.

“It’s been an enlightening and interesting couple days,” he said. “The goal was to get conversations going, and I don’t think there’s any doubt that went on and, hopefully, will continue. But I think right now, I think I can speak for our whole group, we’re ready to play some hockey.”

“Over the last two days, a predominantly white sport decided to take two days off and step aside from the game to talk about Black issues around North America,” Reaves said. “For those athletes to step aside and say, ‘I’ve never walked a mile in your shoes. I don’t know what your people go through on a daily basis, but we see the problem and we stand behind you,’ it is a very impactful and strong statement.”

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 08.30.2020 1192487 Vegas Golden Knights Grammas wrote, “Your organization is extremely quick to turn their back on law enforcement, which lends me to wonder if we have an incident in Las Vegas, where other sports groups or political parties say what the police did was wrong, with no facts, would you turn on us as well. It Police union criticizes Knights for supporting Jacob Blake appears clear, the answer is yes!”

Grammas cited the Knights’ support after the June 1 shooting of Metro officer Shay Mikalonis. By David Schoen Las Vegas Review-Journal “It is clear, now, that your veiled support of the heroes of law August 29, 2020 enforcement, the same ones you praised for 1 October, is only when the Updated August 29, 2020 media or a certain political party or other un-informed athletes tell you it is OK,” Grammas wrote. “That is not OK to me and it is not OK to the men and women I represent as is evident from the many texts, emails and Facebook posts that I have received.” The president of the union that represents Metro police officers denounced the Golden Knights’ and majority owner Bill Foley’s statement regarding the recent shooting of Jacob Blake and the postponement of Thursday’s game. LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 08.30.2020

Steve Grammas, president of the Las Vegas Police Police Protective Association, expressed his “disappointment” with the Knights and wrote in a letter to the organization, “It appears, to my law enforcement brothers and sisters, that the Golden Knights would rather jump on the bandwagon of attacking the police profession rather than waiting for the facts of an event to be brought to light.”

Grammas confirmed to the Las Vegas Review-Journal on Saturday that he authored the letter and said high-ranking members of the Knights’ organization have reached out to him to continue their dialogue. He declined to comment further.

The Knights organization released a statement Saturday night less than an hour before the start of their Western Conference semifinal game against the Vancouver Canucks.

“We are aware of the recent open letter to our organization from the Las Vegas Police Protective Association,” the team said. “We had a productive conversation with the association on Saturday and look forward to continued dialogue.”

Clark County Sheriff Joseph Lombardo also released a statement Saturday.

“While the LVPPA represents a number of the men and women at the LVMPD, as sheriff I support the rights of everyone including a sports team to express its beliefs without criticism,” Lombardo said.

Knights forward Reilly Smith said Saturday after the team’s morning skate that he heard about the letter but was not comfortable commenting until he reads it.

“I know they know the amount of respect that we have for what they do,” said coach Pete DeBoer, who added that one of his brothers-in-law is a deputy police chief. “I know I can tell you the guys in the (locker) room the amount of respect they have for what those men and women do every day. Hopefully, that isn’t misinterpreted.”

Blake, a Black man, was shot by a white officer in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Sunday. A video of the incident sparked nationwide protests, including the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks refusing to play their playoff game Wednesday in protest of social injustice and police brutality.

Athletes from several professional sports leagues followed by choosing not to participate in games Thursday and Friday. The Knights’ playoff game against the Vancouver Canucks was postponed from Thursday to Saturday.

Knights forward Ryan Reaves, who is biracial, was one of the point men for NHL players on their decision to sit out Thursday and Friday as a form of protest. His father was a sergeant with the Manitoba Sheriff Services in Winnipeg.

The Knights released a statement Thursday that said, in part, “We are committed to bringing about lasting, meaningful change that has been needed for far too long through actions, not words. We understand this one action will not alone solve a deep-rooted systemic problem. However, our hope is that it helps shine a brighter light on the issue of racial equality and helps amplify marginalized voices that need to be heard at this time.”

In the letter, Grammas said he watched the video of Blake being shot and detailed several “facts” of the case, based on a Wisconsin Department of Justice report. 1192488 Vegas Golden Knights Fans won’t have as much spending power, which could result in lower demand for Golden Knights and Raiders tickets, which could force those teams to cut ticket prices to make them more affordable. It also could result in empty seats. Las Vegas sports face COVID-related economic damage Fewer discretionary dollars likely would affect other teams and events in the city as well.

By Mark Anderson Las Vegas Review-Journal “Every week that goes by, economically, you’ve got more and more people being laid off and more people being laid off longer,” Christenson August 29, 2020 said. “None of that bodes well for successful events. … The one thing I think we’ve got going for us is there will be a lot of pent-up demand. As long as the destination can provide a safe experience, I’m pretty The past five months have battered the Las Vegas sports scene, doing confident you’re going to steadily build your event customer.” enormous economic damage that might not be sorted out for years. Lower ticket prices also could mean teams and those who run events are Local fans yearn for the days when they can return to the valley’s venues forced to slash budgets, which could result in layoffs and furloughs. en masse just as they did before the COVID-19 pandemic brought a UNLV’s athletic department will receive about $1.5 million less from the sudden halt to such gatherings in mid-March. Allegiant Stadium, T-Mobile state. Athletic Director Desiree Reed-Francois will have to make up the Arena, the Thomas & Mack Center and Las Vegas Motor Speedway difference, and she recently launched a fundraising campaign to do just among others sit unoccupied for now. that.

Las Vegas economics analyst Jeremy Aguero, whose clients include the That need to raise funds is even more urgent after the Mountain West Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority and UFC, estimates it will postponed the football season until possibly the spring, drying up for now take the Las Vegas economy 18 to 36 months to return to pre-pandemic one of UNLV’s two primary revenue sources. The Rebels’ other prime levels. revenue generator, men’s basketball, could face a truncated schedule or, in the worst case, a cancellation of its season. “2020 is going to be difficult,” Aguero said. “2021 is going to be difficult, too, unless there’s a substantial change … I certainly hope that is the The Raiders had hoped to make this a sparkling debut season at case. The virus is going to dictate the timeline.” Allegiant Stadium, playing in front of 65,000 fans each NFL home Sunday. Now they are scheduled to compete in an empty stadium and, Las Vegas Events president Pat Christenson added a caveat. “The issue according to Forbes, will suffer a ticket value loss of $571 million, the isn’t so much the science … it’s more cultural,” Christenson said. “Who highest in the NFL. can predict when we as a country will start acting collectively responsible? … You’ve got a good portion of this country that’s protesting Aguero said roughly half of those fans would be those visiting Las Vegas wearing masks.” specifically to watch an NFL game in that stadium, which would have produced about $620 million in economic impact. Plus, about 6,000 Aguero’s projection, which is based on a coronavirus vaccine being workers would have had jobs tied to the stadium. developed in the first quarter of 2021 and being effectively distributed within a year, doesn’t necessarily mean all events will be fan-free through Then there are businesses around the stadium that won’t have the foot next year. Fans are expected to be allowed to attend sporting events on traffic otherwise expected. a limited basis during what would be an interim phase. “While I’m absolutely concerned about the impact inside the four walls of Las Vegas Motor Speedway, in fact, hopes to receive governmental the venues that we have and during game day, I think the economic clearance to allow a limited number of spectators next month when implications extend far beyond that,” Aguero said. NASCAR’s South Point 400 takes place. The economic impact from this year’s spring race was $121.5 million, according to the LVCVA. Last The same can be said of other local venues, most notably T-Mobile year’s fall race generated $110.5 million. Arena.

South Point general manager Ryan Growney is hopeful the Sept. 25-27 The Golden Knights are completing their season in a bubble setting in weekend becomes a successful testing ground for fan attendance at Edmonton, Alberta. When T-Mobile will again serve as one of the NHL’s other events. “I think it’s important to start the conversation, to start the most electric settings is anyone’s guess. process and let people see they were able to do this,” Growney said, After a record-breaking season, the Aviators are not playing at all this “that they were able to follow the protocols and do it safely. Then maybe year after minor-league baseball operations were shut down. The we can move on to the next event.” Aviators rely on revenue produced at Las Vegas Ballpark. They don’t This isn’t the first time Las Vegas sports and the area’s economy at large have a lucrative TV contract to help sustain the organization like those for have been dramatically affected by an outside event. the Raiders and Golden Knights.

The Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks resulted in the postponement or Some events were completed just before the COVID-19 shutdown, such cancellation of two local boxing cards and a handful of UNLV sporting as NASCAR’s Pennzoil 400 at LVMS. Also, the Mountain West men’s events, including a Rebels football game against Colorado State. The and women’s basketball tournaments at the Thomas & Mack Center, the 2008 global financial crisis impacted local athletic budgets and the West Coast Conference’s men’s and women’s tournaments at Orleans number of discretionary dollars available to fans. Arena and the Pac-12 women’s tournament at Mandalay Bay Events Center played to their conclusions. Aguero said the previous economic damage from such crises resulted in the loss of “tens of thousands of employees, millions of dollars in wages The WCC, in 2009, became the first conference to play its postseason and salaries, and billions of dollars in total economic activity.” tournament in Las Vegas that didn’t have a team affiliated with the city.

“I guess if there’s one lesson to be learned is that the Las Vegas As for next year’s tournament, WCC Commissioner Gloria Nevarez said economy is remarkably resilient in its ability to kind of bounce back from “especially with the tournament in March, time is our ally there. I think challenges,” Aguero said. “During Sept. 11, people were concerned that there’s optimism about still being able to host it. Whether it looks the no one was going to get in a plane again. Obviously, during the great same as in normal years, we don’t know yet.” recession, Las Vegas was ground zero for a foreclosure crisis that had The Western Athletic Conference wasn’t nearly as fortunate as the WCC, gripped the entire nation. And yet Las Vegas came back stronger every its men’s and women’s tournaments ended prematurely. That cost the single time.” WAC about $250,000 in revenue between unused tickets and unfilled That doesn’t mean, Aguero said, the short-term damage won’t be sponsorships. significant. This crisis is deeper than the prior two, as devastating as Though the Pac-12 canceled its men’s tournament after a day, the those were at the time. conference didn’t take a financial hit because insurance covered the loss. How the financial losses impact the local sports scene can take on any That conference was scheduled to play its football championship number of forms. Allegiant Stadium this season in the first of a two-year contract, but the deal was delayed by a year. Both conferences plan to return their events to Las Vegas in 2021 if health conditions permit.

Other events canceled included the NFL draft, NBA Summer League, Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas Marathon and equestrian World Cup Finals.

The next batch of NFL stars will hear their names called in the 2020 NFL Draft outside of Caesa ...

The next batch of NFL stars will hear their names called in the 2020 NFL Draft outside of Caesars Forum in Las Vegas. (NFL)

Venues throughout the valley are facing revenue losses that were unanticipated when the year began, including at South Point Arena, even though most of its events aren’t ticketed. Revenue there is driven by fans and competitors staying in its hotel.

“It’s safe to say that we’re well over seven figures lost,” South Point Arena general manager Steve Stallworth said.

The financial losses weren’t limited to the event sites.

According to Las Vegas Events, in 2019, the NBA Summer League resulted in an economic impact of $72.6 million for the area and the marathon $110 million. The equestrian finals in 2015 resulted in $24.6 million in economic impact — the last year it was in Las Vegas. The economic impact of the NFL draft last year in Nashville, Tennessee, was $224 million, and the expectation was for an even higher number in Las Vegas.

“What we worry about is keeping the fan support,” said Warren LeGarie, co-founder and executive director of the NBA Summer League. “Like anything else, if you don’t have something, they find interest in other hobbies. We hope the fans, if we’re able to do something in the future, are still going to be there for us.”

Waiting to see

In addition to the Raiders’ season and the NASCAR fall race, some events are still scheduled — for now. That includes the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open at TPC Summerlin, a PGA Tour event that will be played Oct. 8-11 in front of no fans, and a second PGA Tour event was added a week later to replace a canceled tournament in South Korea.

Less certain are the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack, two notable college basketball events at T-Mobile and the Professional Bull Riders World Finals at T-Mobile. The NFR, which according to Las Vegas Events last year created an estimated economic impact of $175.8 million, could keep its Dec. 3-12 schedule in Las Vegas before limited or no fans or search for a city elsewhere for this year’s event.

The Las Vegas Bowl’s immediate future also is less certain after the Pac- 12 and Big Ten conferences announced they were postponing their seasons. The bowl was scheduled to pit teams from the Pac-12 and Southeastern Conference this year. Bowl executive director John Saccenti said game officials will “evaluate the next steps.”

Venue managers throughout the valley take part in a conference call every two weeks to discuss the state of affairs and the efforts being made to move forward.

“It’s honestly one of the most depressing calls I’m on all week,” Stallworth said.

Depressing calls for depressing times in which everyone is searching for answers.

“When this first started, I was kind of looking at a month, six weeks ahead,” Christenson said. “I think about a month into it, it got whittled down to where I’m thinking about a week at a time.”

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 08.30.2020 1192489 Vegas Golden Knights And Whitecloud also scored Vegas’ second goal, the second of his career. It was arguably the best outing that Whitecloud has had as a pro, and it didn’t escape notice.

Golden Knights, Robin Lehner blank Canucks for Game 3 win “Might have been his best game of the playoffs,” DeBoer said. “He was really solid, really physical, really strong out there tonight.”

It was a well-balanced effort with goals from the third line, the defense By Justin Emerson and from their top power play unit. Mark Stone’s power play goal sealed the victory in the third. Just like Game 1, it was a mostly dominant effort. Published Saturday, Aug. 29, 2020 That’s especially true for the man in the crease, who has blanked the

Canucks twice in three games this series. Four early saves from goalie Robin Lehner were likely the difference for “I thought everyone did a great job of pitching in and working hard and the Golden Knights in their Game 3 victory Saturday against Vancouver blocking shots, doing all the right things,” Lehner said. “It’s a very Canucks. complete team, a very good group.” Vegas did a good a job of keeping the Canucks clear of the dangerous LAS VEGAS SUN LOADED: 08.30.2020 scoring areas most of the game. But Vancouver had two early power plays, and that’s where Lehner was great in making the four saves to set the tone for the remainder of the Golden Knights’ 3-0 win.

The Canucks took four shots in the first period from within 15 feet of the net, with those shots combined to have a value of 0.94 expected goals, according to projections on Moneypuck.com. That means one of the attempts should have turned into a goal and early Vegas deficit.

But Lehner turned them all away.

“I knew before the game we were going to come out and have a good game,” said Lehner, who finished with 32 saves. “They had a little bit of a push in the first period, but I thought we took over the game after that.”

Instead of falling behind early, Vegas would tally two first-period goals. It added an insurance goal early in the third period to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven second round playoff series.

Lehner has allowed 19 goals this postseason from an average distance of 13.8 feet, the shortest distance faced by any starting goalie, according to Natural Stat Trick. Most of that came in Game 2, where the Canucks scored four goals from a total distance of 22 feet, including two from just three feet out.

Obviously, shots from in close are harder to stop. The Golden Knights did a much better job limiting those on Saturday, forcing the Canucks to take long-range, low-danger chances.

The Canucks’ 32 shots came from an average distance of 40.1 feet and they took only three shots goal all game from within 10 feet of the net.

“Our attention to detail in those areas was a lot better tonight,” Vegas coach Peter DeBoer said. “They did get some looks, and when they did Robin I thought was right on it. He didn’t leave any pucks laying around, there was no rebounds, he was swallowing up everything.”

The Canucks are too dangerous of an offensive team to go an entire game without some good looks. They dictated play early in Game 3 though — buoyed in part by two power-play chances — in registering six of the game’s initial seven shot attempts. The Canucks would finish with 14 shots in the first, including nine came on the power play.

“We had a few penalties early on and Robin made some huge saves,” said forward Alex Tuch, who scored the team’s first goal. “We knew this was going to be a battle all night and we wanted to go out there and get the first (goal).”

The Golden Knights reestablished tempo in the second period, and after that it was smooth sailing the rest of the way. From the 16:42 mark of the first period through the end of the game, the Golden Knights outshot Vancouver 27-11. After a first period in which the Canucks had seven high-danger chances (according to Natural Stat Trick), they had three the rest of the way.

“We knew we had a lot better than what we showed in Game 2,” Vegas defenseman Alec Martinez said of the defense. “I’m really proud of the guys on the back end, but also the whole squad.”

The back end had quite a night.

Martinez had a team-high nine shot attempts and was second with eight. Martinez and Zach Whitecloud led the team with four shots on goal each, a career-high for Whitecloud to go along with a career-high six blocks. Brayden McNabb had a team-high 26:09 of ice time, the most he’s ever had in a regulation playoff game. 1192490 Vegas Golden Knights It’s also unique that Horvat, the captain of the team opposing Vegas in the series, was one of the ones to reach out to Reaves and support. It’s not something that typically happens between players matching up in a playoff series. In backdrop of protests, Golden Knights ready for playoff return vs. Canucks Reaves and Horvat, as well as their teammates and players from the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche, shared a unifying moment Thursday, standing side-by-side during a press conference. The respect they have for each other is clear. By Justin Emerson It’s also clear once the puck drops, it’s back to hockey. Saturday, Aug. 29, 2020 “We’re ready to go, we’re excited to get back playing,” Stone said. “We

want to win the Stanley Cup, they want to win the Stanley Cup. I think a The Golden Knights will take the ice tonight for a playoff game unlike any lot of us have plenty of friends, not just on our own team but throughout other they’ve had. the league. But when it comes to getting on the ice, it’s a whole different breed.” The league postponed two days of playoff games following a player-led protest of the events surrounding the shooting last week of a Black man by white police in Wisconsin. That included Thursday’s Game 3 of the LAS VEGAS SUN LOADED: 08.30.2020 Golden Knights’ second-round series against the Vancouver Canucks, rescheduled to 6:45 p.m. tonight.

It’s going to be a strange game, because it's an important playoff matchup played in the backdrop of protests throughout the sports world this week. Golden Knights coach Peter DeBoer admitted it’s been a few weird days of practice, but now they feel ready to go.

“It’s been an enlightening and interesting couple of days,” DeBoer said. “The goal was to get conversations going and I don’t think there’s any doubt that went on and hopefully will continue. But I think right now, I think I can speak for our whole group, we’re ready to play some hockey.”

Forward Ryan Reaves was a catalyst for the protest, not just on the Golden Knights but throughout the league. He knew it was going to become something when players from other teams — notably Tampa Bay’s Kevin Shattenkirk and Vancouver’s Bo Horvat — reached out to him Thursday morning.

There was also support inside the Golden Knights. Reaves may be one of the public faces of the movement, but he’s far from the only one part of it.

“One thing we want to focus and stress is that he’s not alone,” forward Reilly Smith said. “It’s not just him that feels passionate about these issues."

With any social movement, there was going to be backlash.

Steve Grammas, the president of the union representing the Las Vegas Metro Police Department, confirmed to the Las Vegas Sun that he sent a letter to the Golden Knights expressing his “disappointment in the organization and the players” for protesting games in response to Blake’s shooting.

“It appears, to my law enforcement brothers and sisters, that the Golden Knights would rather jump on the bandwagon of attacking the police profession rather than waiting for the facts of an event to be brought to light,” Grammas wrote. “It is clear, now, that your veiled support of the heroes of law enforcement, the same ones you praised for 1 October, is only when the media or a certain political party or other un-informed (sic) athletes tell you it is OK.”

Grammas said he has been contacted by “high-ranking representatives with the team and we will continue to have dialogue.”

Smith said Saturday that he was aware of the letter, but had not read it and did not want to comment until he had. DeBoer said his brother-in-law works as a deputy police chief and another who is a retired military member, and hopes the admiration he has for them isn’t skewed.

“I know they know the amount of respect that we have for what they do, and I can tell you the guys in the room the amount of respect they have for what those men and women do every day,” DeBoer said. “So hopefully that isn’t misinterpreted.”

It’s an important game in the series, each team having won one game, but it’s also not easy to immediately get back into playoff mindset. Smith, forward Mark Stone and DeBoer spoke for about 12 minutes combined this morning and most of the questions were not related to the on-ice competition. DeBoer declined to name his goalie and spoke to the challenge of playing back-to-back games in the playoffs, and the challenges of getting back to hockey mode. 1192491 Vegas Golden Knights

Big day for Henry Ruggs as Raiders stage mock game at Allegiant

By Mike Grimala

Saturday, Aug. 29, 2020

If the Raiders’ mock game on Friday was any indication of what will happen when the season begins, then rookie receiver Henry Ruggs is the real deal.

Ruggs was everywhere during the team’s tightly managed practice at Allegiant Stadium, hauling in several passes on deep crossing routes and showing off his preternatural speed by pulling away from the secondary for long gains. The dominant performance was a good sign for the No. 11 overall pick from Alabama, who has sparked the offense throughout training camp.

It appeared as though head coach Jon Gruden was intent on making Friday’s session adhere as close to actual game conditions as possible. The team took the field for pregame warmups, then retreated to the locker rooms like a normal game day. They returned for pregame hype and lineup announcements, with the “starters” getting singled out for individual introductions. Some of the players even got into it by waving to the nonexistent crowd as they ran onto the field.

The team then played two timed “quarters” consisting mostly of 11-on-11 work, with some 7-on-7 sprinkled in. It wasn’t a full-contact session, but players were in pads and the action in the trenches got physical at times.

When the horn sounded for halftime, the team went back to the locker room to simulate the flow of a real game. They returned about 12 minutes later and staged a couple “third-quarter” drives before calling it a day.

Ruggs was the most impressive offensive performer, and quarterback Derek Carr was sharp as well. Backup quarterback Marcus Mariota once again missed practice, though Gruden downplayed his injury and said Mariota would probably be back in three to four days.

On the defensive side, interior lineman Maurice Hurst stood out by getting into the backfield consistently. He blew up two running plays for big losses and also pushed the pocket inward on a passing play to the point where it would have resulted in a sack if the action hadn’t been blown dead.

Undrafted rookie Javin White didn’t make a big splash play but still looked solid in his reps at outside linebacker. The former UNLV star got chipped on one rub route, allowing a running back to beat him to the flat for a 15-yard catch-and-run, but other than that he held his own in his quest to make the roster.

The Raiders would have been playing their third preseason game on Friday, but the COVID-19 pandemic forced the league to cancel all exhibition games. Las Vegas has two more weeks to prepare for the season opener on Sept. 13 at Carolina.

LAS VEGAS SUN LOADED: 08.30.2020 1192492 Vegas Golden Knights “I enjoy both of them just as much,” he said with a chuckle. “Both get the team fired up.”

“It’s just about execution. If you go out there and do your job, and look ‘Execute for the boys’: Vegas’ Zach Whitecloud comes up big on the after the things that you need to do to help the team on the kill, then penalty kill you’re going to keep killing. If you don’t, then you’re not going to kill. It’s as simple as that. It’s the execution factor. Go out and do your job.”

In an extremely short period of time, Whitecloud has become one of By Jesse Granger DeBoer’s most reliable defenders. He leads all Vegas players with 39:13 of shorthanded ice time this season, and the next closest player is Aug 29, 2020 McNabb with nearly seven fewer minutes (32:34).

“When you start to play more and you get a little more responsibility, you Rookie defenseman Zach Whitecloud collected the loose puck in the keep doing what has gotten you to this point, and that is executing, Canucks’ zone, surveyed the layers of traffic in front of the net, and saw paying attention to detail, and just going out and doing your job every an opening to the left of goaltender Jacob Markstrom. day,” Whitecloud said.

Whitecloud fired a wrist shot through the chaos, and straight into the net Martinez has mentored Whitecloud a bit, talking with him regularly during to extend the Golden Knights’ lead to 2-0 in Vegas’eventual 3-0 win over Phase 3’s training camp. Saturday night, he sat at the podium next to Vancouver on Saturday night in Edmonton. him, and you could see the proud look in his eyes when Whitecloud said, “You want to execute for the boys.” It was Whitecloud’s second goal of the postseason after he didn’t score one in his 17 regular-season games as a rookie. It was a full display of “He wants to do it for the boys, and that’s a common theme with him,” his quickly improving offensive instincts, but it might not have even been Martinez said. “I’m really proud to see him get put into those his best shift of the game. opportunities and those situations, and he thrives. That’s a testament to how much he puts in both on and off the ice. He’s a true pro.” A few minutes after Whitecloud’s goal, back-to-back penalties by Jonathan Marchessault and Reilly Smith gave Vancouver an extended He then turned to Whitecloud, who reached his arm across the table for a five-on-three power play. Looking back, it was one of the most important fist-bump – for the boys. sequences of the game.

“That’s a huge momentum opportunity for them, or for us, if we kill it,” The Athletic LOADED: 08.30.2020 coach Peter DeBoer said after the game. “I think we dug in and got some big saves from Robin (Lehner).”

And with all the momentum hanging in the balance, in a series tied 1-1, DeBoer went to his 23-year-old, undrafted rookie to help kill off the two- man advantage.

“I think part of the confidence side for younger guys is when you do get those opportunities you want to go out and execute,” Whitecloud said. “And not for yourself. You want to execute for the boys. You want to execute for your D-partner, for the forwards, for Robin and (Marc-Andre Fleury) on the back end.”

Whitecloud’s selfless attitude shows on the ice, as he’s constantly throwing his body in front of blistering slap shots for the good of the team. He blocked a game-high six shots on Saturday, which was more than double the next closest Golden Knights player.

“I thought Zach was great tonight,” DeBoer said. “It might have been his best game of the playoffs. He had a great jump. I know he scored too, but I thought he was sacrificing his body all over the ice. I can count at least four or five that I remember.”

On March 3, during a regular-season game against the New Jersey Devils, Whitecloud stood in front of a blast from the point that nearly brought him to the ice. But he managed to stay up long enough to block yet another shot before hobbling to the bench.

Lehner was in that night, just as he was Saturday night in Edmonton. He appreciates Whitecloud’s willingness to lay in front of shots.

“I was happy to see him put one in,” Lehner said of Whitecloud’s goal on Saturday. “He works really hard. He’s a real humble, down-to-earth guy and he’s just a good teammate.”

Whitecloud was on the ice for 24 shot attempts against. But of those, nine were blocked and three others missed the net for a total of only 12 shots on goal. Those numbers are inflated thanks to his penalty-killing minutes. At even strength, Whitecloud was on the ice for only four shots against, and no goals, according to Natural Stat Trick.

His selfless mentality permeates the locker room and garners plenty of respect from veterans. None more than Alec Martinez, who has blocked more than 1,000 shots in his career.

“He’s a good, young kid,” Martinez said. “He’s very humble and he works hard. He’s a talented hockey player. He craves that opportunity, and he said so himself.”

Whitecloud relishes opportunities like Saturday’s five-on-three penalty kill, and he’s been producing. I jokingly asked what he enjoyed more, the penalty kill or his playoff goal? 1192493 Vegas Golden Knights

Pandemic Playoffs: Knights Take Series Lead With 3-0 Win Over Vancouver Saturday; Lead Series 2-1 With Second Shutout

August 29, 2020

By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com

There was Pause 1.0 because of a novel coronavirus pandemic back in mid-March.

Then there was Pause 2.0 Thursday because of NHL players boycotting games to protest racial inequality problems in the U.S.

And on Saturday, the Golden Knights returned to the Pandemic Playoffs, playing a clinically sound game in defeating the Vancouver Canucks, 3-0, to take a 2-1 lead in the Best-of-7 second round series.

Postseason star Alex Tuch scored his seventh goal of the playoffs, while emerging defensive star Zach Whitecloud followed Tuch’s early-game tally to give the Knights a 2-0 lead after the first stanza.

VGK goalie Robin Lehner played rock-solid in period one with 16 saves and stonewalled the Canucks in period two as the VGK retained its 2-0 lead after two periods. Lehner finished the shutout by blanking Vancouver in period three. He stopped all 32 shots on goal.

Lehner said the last two days were an emotional time. “Everyone deserves the same chances in society,” he said after the game to the media.

It was the first game back for the Golden Knights after NHL players shut down the playoffs for two days, Thursday and Friday, after the NBA players refused to play Wednesday after a Black man was shot by a white police officer seven times in Kenosha, Wisconsin Sunday. Players in Major League Baseball and Major League Soccer also refused to play games this past week.

Ryan Reaves (center)

Whitecloud was also receiving penalty-killing playing time, teamed with Brayden McNabb to help kill a penalty before VGK forward Mark Stone registered a power-play goal with a wicked top-shelf wrister to give the Knights a 3-0 lead at the 2:19 marker of period three. Stone notched his sixth goal of the postseason.

Also, Golden Knights owner Bill Foley responded to the local Las Vegas police union president about his concerns about the team’s statement and two-day protest against racial injustices. The union president, Steve Grammas, issued this letter:

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LVSportsBiz.com LOADED: 08.30.2020 1192494 Vegas Golden Knights can be revealed. Nobody hates a bad cop more than a good cop. — Steve Grammas, president of the Las Vegas Police Protective Association

Golden Knights Statement, Game Boycott On Racial Injustice Upsets The police officer is the not the only person to not appreciate the Golden Police Union President Amid Divide Among VGK Fans Knights’ comments and playoff boycott about the police shooting in Kenosha.

I spoke with a Golden Knights partial season ticket holder who told me August 29, 2020 he’s contacting the team to not renew his tickets because of the players’ decision to not play the playoff game. By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com Other fans did not like Golden Knights players Robin Lehner and Reaves

taking a knee during the anthem of the Golden Knights-Dallas Stars The Vegas Golden Knights have enjoyed immense popularity in Las game round-robin game earlier this month. Vegas with a rabid fan base for their three years, but the franchise’s As a result, many fans are having heated discussions and statements on statement on the Jacob Blake shooting in Wisconsin and VGK players fan pages and on social media regarding the divide on this issue. Golden joining their NHL brethren to boycott playoff games have upset the local Knights superfan Jason Griego, known a “The Wolverine” at VGK games, police union and some VGK fans, too. observed that the Knights’ decision to pause their Stanley Cup playoff The Golden Knights released a strong statement on racial injustices games “has brought out a significant divide between fans, and also Thursday when VGK players and other NHL players on playoff teams seems to have unraveled the cohesive bond that was once created with chose to not play Thursday and Friday in response to a Black man shot our local police force after the Oct 1 tragedy. multiple times by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin on Sunday. “The change for equality and fair treatment that the players and teams The Golden Knights return to action Saturday and Sunday with Games 3 are supporting needs to be the main focus. Unfortunately I think the and 4 against the Vancouver Canucks this weekend. Only a week ago, perspective of supporting a person with a criminal past that was breaking the big controversy was VGK goalie Marc-Andre Fleury’s agent posting a the law is overshadowing the purpose of equality they’re trying to controversial picture on his Twitter account. Here’s the VGK team address,” Griego commented Saturday. statement: Lan Beyster, leader of the Vegas Golden and Silver Knights Fan Club, When the Knights players did not play their scheduled game against offered this comment to LVSportsBiz.com: Vancouver on Thursday, it upset some fans. “In regards to the statement made from the president of LVMPD, he’s VGK player Ryan Reaves, the team’s only Black player in the playoff entitled to his view/opinions. I don’t agree. This is about racism and I’m game lineup, represented the Golden Knights with representatives from glad the sports world have used their platforms to voice change. The the Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars and Vancouver Canucks at a Knights didn’t jump on any bandwagons. this issue(racism) has been media session Thursday when the players explained why they did not ongoing since the George Floyd incident. ALL lives matter. ALL take the ice after Blake was shot by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin. It was views/opinions matter. It’s up to each individual how they move forward a call for unity to wipe out racism. with the views/opinions.”

But the Knights players’ action and the franchise statement did not go She also posted this on her group’s Facebook page Saturday morning: over well with Metro Police Officer Steve Grammas, president of the Las “If you feel STRONGLY and AGAINST what’s happening surrounding the Vegas Police Protective Association, who criticized the Vegas Golden Knights Organization and their players and want to get rid of your Knights Knights for making statements about the police shooting in Wisconsin swags, DM or CALL me!! I’ll GLADLY take those swags off your hands. without learning all the facts in the case. Here’s an excerpt from No explanation needed. Grammas’ statement: GO KNIGHTS GO!!” “It appears, to my law enforcement brothers and sisters, that the Golden Knights would rather jump on the bandwagon of attacking the police VGK and Dallas players kneel during anthem before first game of round- profession rather than waiting for the facts of an event to be brought to robin series more than two weeks ago at the NHL postseason bubble in light. Watching the video of the incident in Kenosha, I myself have many Edmonton. questions about how the officer ended up using deadly force. Rather than immediately siding with the officer, just because he and I share the same During a media session Saturday morning, VGK coach Pete DeBoer profession, I needed to wait to get FACTS of the incident,” Grammas responded to the Sun’s John Emerson on the topic: wrote in the statement. Here is the complete statement from the Las Vegas Police Protective LVSportsBiz.com asked the Knights to respond but didn’t get a comment Association to the Vegas Golden Knights back Saturday. Dear Mr. Foley and the Golden Knights Hockey Team: Here’s more from the police union chief: My name is Steve Grammas and I am a Police Officer with the Las Your organization is extremely quick to turn their back on law Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and also the President of the Las enforcement, which lends me to wonder if we have an incident in Las Vegas Police Protective Association, which represents over 3,500 Vegas, where other sports groups or political parties say what the police commissioned officers between LVMPD and the City of Las Vegas. did was wrong, with no facts, would you turn on us as well. It appears I write to you and your organization to express my disappointment in the clear, the answer is yes! organization and the players for their position as it relates to the recent When our officer was senselessly shot and paralyzed, you signed some shooting of Jacob Blake. It appears, to my law enforcement brothers and sticks and sent them to his family. No boycott, no postponing of games. sisters, that the Golden Knights would rather jump on the bandwagon of When hundreds of my officers were hit with rocks, bricks, bottles, edged attacking the police profession rather than waiting for the facts of an weapons and even had guns fired at them, the only concern for VGK was event to be brought to light. Watching the video of the incident in figuring out how to finish the Stanley Cup. Again, no threat of cancelling Kenosha, I myself have many questions about how the officer ended up the remainder of the season unless the violence against officers stopped. using deadly force. Rather than immediately siding with the officer, just because he and I share the same profession, I needed to wait to get It is clear, now, that your veiled support of the heroes of law enforcement, FACTS of the incident. What I do know, from the DOJ report, was that the same ones you praised for 1 October, is only when the media or a the suspect was wanted for 3rddegree Sexual Assault, however, as I certain political party or other un-informed athletes tell you it is OK. That believe the reports on this are false regarding the victim being a child. is not OK to me and it is not OK to the men and women I represent as is The suspect was armed with a knife, which precludes an officer from evident from the many texts, emails and Facebook posts that I have closing the distance and going hands on. Officers deployed less lethal received. options, twice, in an attempt to subdue the suspect. And, I did not see this cited by the DOJ but rather the suspects attorney, his 3 children were To close, I ask that the next time VGK makes a statement about police, in the car. This police department does not have body worn cameras, as you all educate yourselves on the issue at hand or wait until more facts is reported, and so we will never have video, firsthand view of the incident or dialogue of the incident. These right now are the only facts that have been substantiated. While all of these may not amount to an officer using deadly force, it plays a part in the total outcome when all of the facts are revealed. I wonder what the opinion of the Golden Knights and their players would be if the following were or are true:

1.What if the suspect told the officers he was going to get a firearm from his car to attempt to take their lives?

2. What if the suspect said he was going back into the car in an attempt to harm the children?

3. What if the suspect was stealing the car and kidnapping the kids from the mother?

4. What if he intended on a murder/ suicide which is all too common in Domestic Violence cases?

Now I do not know if any of the above are true, but neither do you or the players of the Golden Knights. That is why it is important to wait for a full and thorough investigation to happen. Yet you all make statements, boycott playing your sport and call for more action against the police!

Your organization is extremely quick to turn their back on law enforcement, which lends me to wonder if we have an incident in Las Vegas, where other sports groups or political parties say what the police did was wrong, with no facts, would you turn on us as well. It appears clear, the answer is yes!

When our officer was senselessly shot and paralyzed, you signed some sticks and sent them to his family. No boycott, no postponing of games. When hundreds of my officers were hit with rocks, bricks, bottles, edged weapons and even had guns fired at them, the only concern for VGK was figuring out how to finish the Stanley Cup. Again, no threat of cancelling the remainder of the season unless the violence against officers stopped.

It is clear, now, that your veiled support of the heroes of law enforcement, the same ones you praised for 1 October, is only when the media or a certain political party or other un-informed athletes tell you it is OK. That is not OK to me and it is not OK to the men and women I represent as is evident from the many texts, emails and Facebook posts that I have received.

LVSportsBiz.com LOADED: 08.30.2020 1192495 Washington Capitals

Capitals ECHL affiliate's new red jersey is very similar to Washington's look

By Ryan Homler

August 29, 2020

If you didn't know that the South Carolina Stingrays were the ECHL affiliate of the Washington Capitals, you'll have an easier time telling now.

The team, which agreed on a three-year contract extension with the Capitals in July, unveiled its new dark jersey for the 2020-21 season. In short, they are very similar to the Capitals red sweaters.

The new design features essentially the exact same colors, patterns and font. The only major difference is that the front logo is a giant stingray, which is pretty cool.

The Stingrays front office has expressed its love for the Capitals organization in the past, and it appears that they are now working to follow suit. It's hard to not want to model your team's uniform after Washington's crisp red design, as the color combination, style and simplicity all mesh together to create one of the best looks in hockey.

Now, whether one is cheering on the Capitals or the Stingrays, they can always "Rock the Red."

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 08.30.2020 1192496 Washington Capitals a knee on knee hit and a concussion kept him out of the entire 2019 training camp in Washington. That really seemed to set him back as he was concerned the team's top defensive prospect going into the 2019-20 season and was supplanted by Fehervary by the end of camp. Capitals have few reinforcements in the system as team ranks dead last in The Athletic's prospect rankings Leason had a really tough transition to the AHL in his first season and I consider 2020-21 to be a critical year. Don't forget, he was 20 when the team drafted him in 2019 and is now 21. If he progresses in his second professional season, I think there is potential there to be a depth NHL By J.J. Regan winger. If not, I think his NHL prospects will be in serious jeopardy. August 29, 2020 Jonsson-Fjallby's skillset is a carbon copy of Carl Hagelin in that he is an incredibly fast, bottom-six forward without much offensive finish. His play seems to wildly fluctuate at times so consistency is a concern. I see Riat as a Travis Boyd type who is offensively skilled, but not good enough to It's reality check time. Every fan base in the NHL, every single one of be in the top-six. The issue there is that it is often hard for bottom-six them, overvalues their team's prospects. The fact is that when you look players who do not play on the penalty kill to justify their spot in the at the NHL draft, few of those players actually make it to the NHL, let lineup. Finally, there's Gibson, a goalie prospect who, at only 6-foot-1, alone become top-tier players. The odds that all of a team's prospects better continually prove his skill so as not to be passed over by bigger are somehow going to pan out is laughable and this is especially true for netminders, as is the trend in today's NHL. the Capitals. After two consecutive first-round exits, there is going to be a lot of Years of competing for the Stanley Cup and trading away draft picks discussion of changes the Caps can make to once again make them have taken their toll on the team's prospect pool as Corey Pronman of contenders for the final years of the Ovechkin era. If you are expecting a The Athletic ranks the Caps' farm system as 31st in the league, dead mass fusion of young talent in 2020, however, you are going to be last, in his latest rankings. disappointed. If you re expecting the team to seamlessly transition to the This does not mean there aren't NHL players in the system, but this next era of dominance, you are going to be disappointed. There are NHL should tell Caps fans two things. First, you should temper your players within the system, but people should not let their optimism for all expectations for how many of the team's prospects are going to make it Caps prospects lead to undue expectations for the team's young players. to the NHL and how quickly they are going to get there and second, there is not going to be a seamless transition from the Alex Ovechkin contender era to the next era without a rebuild. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 08.30.2020 Not surprisingly, Pronman considers Connor McMichael to be the team's top prospect, but again, Caps fans need to temper their expectations. Pronman labels McMichael as on the bubble between a high-end and very good NHL player. This is not a superstar we are talking about and there probably is not going to be a time we label as the "McMichael era" of the Capitals.

"McMichael isn’t that big or quick, which gives some scouts questions on how his game will translate especially given his lack of speed," Pronman writes.

Seeing McMichael in training camp, it was clear that bulking up needed to be a priority. I don't look at him like a Christian Djoos type of player who's size will be a weakness throughout his career, just that he has not yet physically bulked up to be a professional yet.

Pronman rounds out the team's top-four with Martin Fehervary, Alexei Protas and Alex Alexeyev, all three of whom Pronman labels to be legit NHL players. Other players he lists as having NHL potential are Brett Leason, Axel Jonsson-Fjallby, Damien Riat and Mitchell Gibson.

That's it. That's the list.

Scouts and prospect experts are not infallible so perhaps the ceiling is higher on some of these players than they may project...but they could also be lower. The point is, for all those saying the Caps' problems next season are easily solvable by loading the roster up with all those sure-fire NHL prospects who are all going to turn into top-six forward and top-four defensemen, that's just not realistic.

In terms of the near future of next season, most likely the only players in serious contention to graduate to the NHL full-time are Fehervary and possibly Daniel Sprong. Fehervary had some call-ups in 2019-20 and my biggest note on him is he looked lost at times, but that's it. Both physically and in terms of talent, I thought he was a good fit at the NHL level. Give him a training camp and he could be a third-pair defenseman and possibly get some spot duty on the second pair as a rookie.

But every one of these prospects has noticeable flaws that make them far from sure-fire star players.

Protas had a phenomenal season in the WHL, but his skating is a concern. Pronman wrote, "The stride is fine technically, but he does lack explosiveness and as he advances levels he may struggle with the quicker paces." I am not a scout, but seeing him in the preseason, his skating looked slow and even awkward at times. He got from point A to point B faster than I would have anticipated, but no one is going to call him fast.

Pronman also wrote footspeed was a concern for Alexeyev, but I think the elephant in the room is durability. Alexeyev's WHL career ended with 1192497 Winnipeg Jets We know Barrie moves the puck well, we know that his personal offence was not up to par this season despite nearly hitting the 40-point mark in 70 games, but why the huge drop? Looking into it a bit deeper, Barrie was above 50 per cent in expected goals for percentage this season Tyson Barrie has some flaws, but would improve Jets defence overall, but his numbers saw a gigantic dip while on the ice with the John Tavares line, down into the low 40s, the offence just dried up.

That could be randomness at play, it could be some strange anti- Staff Report chemistry between him and that line, but I don’t think he’s the problem that he was made out to be in Toronto.

After recently breaking down how well Dylan DeMelo fit into the Winnipeg With that said, you don’t want to be relying on Barrie to block shots, win Jets’ lineup, it’s time to continue our look at players available on the free puck battles, recover loose pucks in the defensive zone, or deny zone market this offseason who could help the Jets recapture their competitive entries, but overall he brings a lot to the table. If he’s available at a window. reasonable cap number, I do think he’s a good option for the Jets.

The lack of an increasing salary cap ceiling is going to create a crunch Andrew Berkshire is a hockey writer specializing in data-driven analysis where many teams can’t spend much on free agents. That means there of the game. may be more players than usual willing to slot into a spot in Winnipeg.

One player who is almost the complete opposite of DeMelo in style, but is Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 08.30.2020 worth looking at is Tyson Barrie. Much maligned in Toronto this season, Barrie has a reputation for being all offence and no defence, but the Jets could use a strong transition presence on the blueline to get the puck to their dynamic forwards.

Is Barrie’s reputation accurate? Let’s break things down the same way we did for DeMelo and see how he would fit relative to the Jets’ biggest weaknesses.

Barrie isn’t as strong as DeMelo in turning dump-ins into defensive zone exits, but he’s not too far behind — and there are other areas where he’s a little bit stronger. While Barrie isn’t an excellent defender without the puck, his puck management in Toronto was exceptional in both the defensive and neutral zones, committing very few turnovers while moving the puck efficiently.

Barrie boasted strong zone exit numbers and rarely messed things up with simple plays like D2D passes that plagued the Jets all season long.

The neutral zone specifically was an area where Barrie really stood out from his peers, turning the puck over just 6.2 per cent of the time he played it, far below his team’s average of nine per cent.

Like all players Barrie has his warts, but having a defenceman you can consistently rely on to exit the zone and move the puck through the neutral zone so your forwards can create offence is always a nice thing for a coach to be able to rely on.

So by the percentages, Barrie looks like a nice fit. But what about some of the frequency or pro-rated metrics, especially on the defensive side of the puck. Here, Barrie is behind the performance level of DeMelo — connecting on stretch passes less often and allowing more inner slot shots and slot passes against while he’s on the ice. But in all three metrics, he would still represent an upgrade for the Jets.

Despite his reputation for being a defensive black hole, neither of the most important metrics that measure the highest quality plays against show Barrie to be particularly weak as a Maple Leaf.

To be fair, it’s not like he was playing top level competition every night like Morgan Rielly would be — and matchups have a significant impact on those numbers. I don’t believe the ideal situation would be for him to play top matchup minutes in Winnipeg either, nor would that be the expectation.

With all the ire directed at Barrie in Toronto though, knowing that he wasn’t playing one of those top roles, the question is whether the granular data is missing something with him. How was his performance overall relative to his teammates last season?

Accounting for both offence and defence, while comparing him to his team when he wasn’t on the ice, Barrie appears to have been a huge drag on inner slot shot differential at 5-vs-5 in Toronto, while he hovered very close to team average everywhere else.

On the surface that looks pretty worrying for the Jets, because control of the inner slot was a big issue for them all season long, but we already know that defence from that area was not the issue for Barrie. The issue was that the Maple Leafs got far fewer inner slot shots for while Barrie was on the ice than when he was off, but how much of an impact does a defenceman really have on getting those shots? 1192498 Vancouver Canucks Back-to-backs Not a lot of evidence here, but really they haven’t gone that well for

Jacob Markstrom this year. The Canucks and Golden Knights got back at it Saturday but there's no https://twitter.com/BatchHockey/status/1299940523780710400 doubt hockey wants change. It used to be a lock that the numbers said you should split the

starts…butit turned out not quite to be so cut and dry. Patrick Johnston That said, Thatcher Demko has barely played since hockey returned this Aug 30, 2020 summer. I’m not sure that’s a fire worth throwing him into.

Bizarro world

So the story of the last three days really is about what comes next. Zoom life has a routine. You get used to throwing your hand up, not sure what order you’ll get called upon, if at all. Sometimes that means That much is clear. scrambling for a question right away, hoping you’re not out of appropriate context (or perhaps not.) The players who did talk on Friday, for instance Brayden Coburn and Luke Schenn of the Lightning, didn’t really want to talk hockey. They kept But you know that each session will probably go for about 10 minutes for steering the conversation back to social justice. the coach, 10 minutes or so for the players.

That was an impressive thing. Hockey players, by reputation, don’t weigh It’s been clockwork. It is, to quote someone more famous, what it is. in on big issues very often. It’s part of the culture. If players are engaged with community stuff, they often are more focused on doing, not talking In a strange twist post-game Saturday, Travis Green’s session went its about it. usual ten minutes.

Saturday the dialogue continued. Players on every team were forceful on Then the NHL brought out three players. Sometimes they tell us in it. The work is only starting. More will come, they insisted. advance, but usual you don’t know who the players will be until the camera is turned on at Rogers Place. Nathan MacKinnon says "We were a day late and it's unfortunate" while adding the league is trying to make up for that. It was J.T. Miller, Tanner Pearson and Jacob Markstrom. A trio we’re used to seeing. What comes next What didn’t happen this time out was time for questions for all three. The Canucks had some community-focused diversity programs ready to roll out when Covid stopped everything. Things like getting ball hockey Three questions were allowed to be posed by the NHL: one from Thomas leagues going among communities in the Lower Mainland that might be Drance, another from Iain MacIntyre, a third from Brendan Batchelor. facing barriers in playing more conventional hockey, be it financial or And then the NHL said the media session was over. cultural. We got a brief glimpse of the players looking a little surprised by this The team knows how diverse their fan base already is and they deeply pronouncement. value that diversity. The NHL’s claim on site was that no one had their hand up on Zoom. It’s an interesting tale and there will be more coming on this story. That’s not true. There were at least two reporters who did. (For clarity’s Also, the team’s statement on Thursday: that was heavily player-driven sake, I did not, because I was hoping a fellow member of the PHWA, and the organization was honest in saying they were all in on the Daniel Wagner, would be. Wagner has been on every post-game call and statement the players made. has only bee called up once. I didn’t have a pressing question on this day and I figured that would raise his odds. I was wrong.) The breakouts And even if there were truly no reporters with their hands up, the NHL As for the game, everyone is seeing the problem: Quinn Hughes simply should have gone back up to the reporters upstairs. The policy has hasn’t been able to find the space to operate like he usually does. VGK’s generally been to give everyone one question out of fairness because forecheck is aggressive and impressively intricate. They cycle their points often there are many people on zoom, but sometimes they do allow the of attack so well and take away space as well as time with often inch- on-site reporters to ask multiple questions. perfect reads. It’s a trying situation for everyone. And generally the system has worked If Hughes can’t find his way out, how will any of the Canucks’ other well. But when it doesn’t, it’s stark and given the big weekend this is for defencemen. hockey in general and in Vancouver in particular, cutting off questions after just three is simply unacceptable. It’s a reminder of what Tyler Myers, for all his defensive warts, was brought in for. The man can get the puck up the ice. And none of the Speaking of allegations, Dale Tallon is clearly in some very hot water. other Canucks defencemen as especially adept at this. The former Panthers GM is being investigated for using potentially racist Indeed, only two Canucks defencemen finished positive in shot attempts language earlier this month in the Toronto bubble. in Game 3: Chris Tanev and Alex Edler. In an interview with Florida Hockey Now, Tallon denied he used any That’s good for them, but to steal the old Torts line, that’s not so good for language that would be considered inappropriate or racist. He did the Canucks. speculate that it may have happened Aug. 1, the day his Panthers lost their qualifying round opener, badly, to the New York Islanders. A wrinkle in lines? After the Panthers/Islanders game, Matt Dumba, who is of Filipino- It’s an interesting notion. It’s rarely been seen. Canadian heritage, gave an eloquent speech before the Chicago vs. But it might be worth trying, even if Horvat and Pettersson usually do play Edmonton series opener about racial inequality and Black Lives Matter. in the middle of the ice. Did Tallon make an observation during the speech in a public space that It would also create a Pearson-Miller-Toffoli trio, which would be a heavy, was over heard by someone else in the Toronto bubble? heavy line with punch. TMZ reported that the NHL is actually investigating more than one Shots against incident, possibly even going back years.

Before Saturday, Vegas last gave up 30 shots against in their second That there are even allegations of racist speech is not good. game of the round robin. Even to have the *accusation* tells an outsider something is wrong, The Canucks, on the other hand, have allowed more than 30 for nine somewhere, even if you give Tallon the benefit of the doubt. straight games. Given the bad process that’s evident from so many of Tallon’s decisions over his decade running the Panthers, it’s clear the team’s owners would be wise to dial in on what their organization needs as a whole: the team needs to hire a leader with a proven track record on creating organizational culture of excellence as the No. 1 accountable executive.

That’s not going to happen by hiring one of the more conventional names we’ve heard mooted about in recent days.

Be bold, hockey. Think in big ways about what you can be. You’ve already taken a step off the ice.

And we miss you, king

Sad news Friday, as Jason Botchford family confirmed that the provincial coroner had found our late friend and father of three had died of an accidental overdose of cocaine and fentanyl.

Recreational drug use has been around forever and will continue to be forever. Let’s end the stigma. Let’s look at the issue in holistic terms. Use can be made safer. Instead we’ve done nothing, putting everyone at risk of whatever random dealers want to cut their supply with.

Vancouver Province: LOADED: 08.30.2020 1192499 Vancouver Canucks Here’s what we learned… Tuch rules

If you need a clip to remind yourself of how fast Alex Tuch is, the Golden Knights 3, Canucks 0: It’s all on a knife’s edge as Vancouver sequence that led to his game-opening tally is one. drops Game 3 Like a wide receiver running a fly route, Tuch basically took off down the

ice as his team was breaking out. No Canuck picked up what he was Patrick Johnston doing, and he found a seam between the forechecking Brandon Sutter and the backchecking Jay Beagle, tearing up the ice on a perfect line for Aug 30, 2020 a lofted lead pass by Nico Roy.

Even if Beagle or Sutter had picked up the angle that Tuch was on, given he was already at top speed, could anyone have kept pace? With the Vancouver Canucks having gone down to the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 3 of their Western Conference semifinal series 3-0, the Those chances only come so often upstart Canucks suddenly face life near the edge of a very narrow crossing. As the game went on, the Canucks’ lack of results from a two-man advantage in the first period loomed larger and larger. Such is life in the Stanley Cup playoffs: A great goalie playing against you, a couple of mistakes by your own side and you’re in trouble. The Canucks generated lots of opportunities to score on their first-period power plays, including the 5-on-3. But they came away empty handed, There’s a reason why Vegas has been considered a Stanley Cup partly thanks to some stellar play from Lehner. favourite all season: The Knights have strong goaltending and they punish you for your mistakes most of the time. “I think in the first, in the five on three, we had as many good looks and we executed as well as we could have,” J.T. Miller said. “Easily we could All three Vegas goals on Saturday night came off Canucks miscues. At tied the game or gotten close.” the other end of the ice, Vegas goaltender Robin Lehner stood tall at some key moments in the first period, setting the stage for his teammates In contrast was the Vegas power play, which took advantage of a too- to take control of the game, and with it record his second shutout of the many-men call against the Canucks early in the third period. series. Vegas had looked a little disorganized in their early power plays, but their Canucks coach Travis Green said post-game he was happy with how his effort on the third-period man advantage was clinical. Stone’s snipe came players started the game and thought they were unfortunate to not come off the right wing, wiring a wrist shot over Markstrom’s blocker. away from the first period with any goals. “Ididn’t like the too many men penalty,” Green said. “2-0 going into the “I think we could have easily been up after the first period,” he said. third, we’re right in the game, starting on the power play.”

Vegas coach Peter DeBoer heaped praise on his goalie. Aug 29, 2020

“I thought Robin was our best player in the first 10 minutes,” he said. “I Lights-out Lehner thought our penalty killing and our goalie were great early, which helped The Vegas starter was a big story in the first period, as the Canucks got us get out of that situation.” off 10 shot attempts on their first-period power plays, half of which were Canucks winger Tanner Pearson said the team usually has no problems prime chances. battling back from behind, but didn’t find that groove much as the game But Lehner stood tall, turning away every Canuck effort. progressed. And at even strength, the Canucks had another five scoring chances that “I think there were spurts of the game where we went a few minutes Natural Stat Trick, a tracking website, rated as high-danger, meaning without a shot. That changes momentum. Got to eliminate that,” he said. they were taken from right in front, within a couple of feet of the crease. As the game wore on, he did see his teammates make some mistakes on Faceoff rotation their breakouts as the Vegas forecheck made things difficult for the Canucks’ defencemen, in particular. J.T. Miller has been one of the best Canucks at faceoff time this season. But he took just three draws on Saturday night. “We hit the backside a couple times and didn’t execute,” he said. Miller has generally taken 10 faceoffs per game this season. Game 4 on Sunday night now looms as the biggest one of the Canucks’ season. Such is life on a line with Bo Horvat. Of the teams left in the Stanley Cup playoffs, the Canucks’ captain takes the most per game in the NHL. They didn’t end up in any do-or-die situations in the regular season. They might have found themselves in such a spot in the latter stages of the Miller only took four faceoffs in the last game of the St. Louis series, so regular season, had life not gone on pandemic pause on March 12. perhaps his wrist or hand is bothering him. Maybe that’s why he’s playing with Horvat instead of with Elias Pettersson, with whom he’d been parked In the last round against St. Louis, the Canucks found their way forward all season. after dropping Games 3 and 4 to St. Louis, winning the final two games of the series in impressive fashion. Or maybe it’s just a straight tactical choice. Either way, it’s one to watch.

But Sunday is a different proposition. Vegas look far more motivated than Before faceoff, the NHL played a video supporting Black Lives Matter St. Louis ever did. And the Canucks aren’t working with the 2-0 cushion and showed a quote from Black American writer James Baldwin: they had built against the Blues before dropping those two games in a “Nothing can be changed until it is faced.” row. Bo Horvat’s explanation of how things played out on Thursday was also Plus, the Canucks will surely start Jacob Markstrom for the second night played. in a row. The Canucks’ team MVP is a gamer, but he faced another heavy load Saturday, facing more than 30 shots against for the ninth “So we met as a team in the morning and we felt it was the best decision game in a row. to go to Vegas and get their take on everything. We talked to Ryan and he made some amazing points and really got the ball rolling,” said The big Swede likes to get work, but on back-to-back nights that’s as Horvat. tough as it gets. “We agreed with everything, wanted to be supportive and we felt it was “Our guys are excited to play tomorrow. we had a lot of energy tonight,” the best course of action to take two days, reflect and learn about Green said. everything that’s going on in the world. We stand behind our decision. I’m really proud of our guys to take a stand to come together as one and be Vegas’s goals were scored in the first period by Alex Tuch and Zach united. I’m really proud that we did what we did.” Whitecloud, with a third-period marker coming from Mark Stone.

Vancouver Province: LOADED: 08.30.2020 1192500 Vancouver Canucks Chara. New York Islanders captain Anders Lee and players from the Philadelphia Flyers joined in, too.

“Especially as an American, to see players from other countries — Patrick Johnston: Canucks’ Bo Horvat ‘C’s the day’ in helping lead NHL maybe some who don’t know all the issues that are going on in the Black Lives response States — all join in on this and realize how important it is… to me that meant a lot. I certainly know it meant a lot to Ryan,” Shattenkirk said.

The San Jose Sharks’ Evander Kane and the Minnesota Wild’s Matt Patrick Johnston Dumba, who are involved with the Hockey Diversity Alliance, also got involved with the discussions. Kane tweeted late Thursday morning, Aug 30, 2020 calling on the NHL to postpone that night’s games.

After a series of discussions, both in person and over the phone, the Bo Horvat and his Vancouver Canucks teammates saw how the story eight teams agreed that they wouldn’t play games, that a point had to be was unfolding Wednesday and knew a discussion needed to happen. made in solidarity with protesters calling for racial justice across North America. With WNBA and NBA players walking out in a wildcat strike on Wednesday, forcing the postponement of playoff games that was then Canucks head coach Travis Green said Saturday he was proud of his followed by much of Major League Soccer and players in Major League players, saying it’s never easy to admit you don’t know about something. Baseball, too, the NHL and its players stood out in stark contrast. “These are not always comfortable discussions to have, especially when The NHL’s games went ahead on Wednesday night. But the fact they you’re in the public eye,” he said. “Hopefully it promotes a lot more were still playing stood out even to hockey broadcasters. Kelly Hrudey, discussion and positive action going forward.” Chris Simpson and Chris Johnston all said during Sportsnet’s telecast of “These are hard discussions,” Green added. “That’s probably part of Wednesday’s games, first in Toronto between the Tampa Bay Lightning change is talking about it getting uncomfortable. Discussing things that and the Boston Bruins, then in Edmonton between the Dallas Stars and you don’t fully understand, that you don’t have all the answers to. I can the Colorado Avalanche, that the games shouldn’t have gone on. say that I’m part of that, I don’t understand some of the things that people And so Thursday morning, the Canucks and their scheduled opponents go through. I don’t have all the answers, but I think people starting to talk for that evening in Game 3 of a Western Conference semifinal series, the about it and educate themselves is action in itself.” Vegas Golden Knights, decided to open the door to player-driven action. When play resumed Saturday, it was made clear what the players were Horvat and the team’s leadership group, including Tyler Toffoli, Tanner supporting in choosing to sit out for two days: This was about Black Lives Pearson, Chris Tanev, Alex Edler, Jacob Markstrom and Jay Beagle, Matter. Former player Kevin Weekes, who now works as a commentator sent Golden Knights forward Ryan Reaves a text message asking for a for NBC Sports, narrated a video explaining the issues at hand. meeting. “When an issue is bigger than the game we must speak out, starting with Reaves said he had had a restless sleep, but waking up to messages like three words we need to get comfortable saying: Black. Lives. Matter,” he the one from the Canucks buoyed his spirit. said. “Equality is the only way forward. As players, as fans and as active citizens we must confront these issues.” Other Canucks joined the leadership group and met with a similar number of Knights, including Reaves. Canucks general manager Jim Benning said he wasn’t surprised to see his captain taking on such a big role on a major social issue like Black “It was a collective, it was a bunch of us, the leadership group in the Lives Matter. room,” Horvat said Saturday morning, ahead of that evening’s rescheduled Game 3, of the initial decision to make contact with Reaves “He’s a smart kid and he’s conscientious of other people,” he said. “He that morning. At the same time, the Lightning’s Kevin Shattenkirk, one of has a mature soul.” Reaves’ best friends in hockey (they were long-time teammates in St. Horvat is just 25, but his maturity stood out when Benning and his Louis), also got in touch. management and coaching staff were discussing who to name as the “We thought the best thing to do was see Vegas and see what they team’s new captain last summer. thought we should do,” Horvat went on. “He can bridge the gap between the older players and then all the young “He gave us his perspective on the best course of action,” Horvat said of players,” Benning said. “Beside his skill set on the ice, of being a good the conversation with Reaves. “We agreed and we wanted to back him.” two-way player, he shows up every day and works hard. You know what you’re getting with Bo, whether it’s practice, it’s games, it’s every shift.” Black Lives Matters protests have been going on all summer, first prompted by the death of George Floyd under the knee of a police officer Former Canucks captain Markus Naslund said the captaincy in in Minneapolis, Minn., but they found renewed prominence this week Vancouver does come with more expectations of being a public leader following the shooting in the back of Jacob Blake by police officers in than it does in other cities. Kenosha, Wisc. “I think that the added responsibility helps you grow as a person. The few “I think these things are worse in some areas than in others, and times I’ve met Bo tells me he will handle these things perfectly,” Naslund sometimes it’s hard to understand … but it’s important that we all get said in a text message from his home in Sweden. educated,” Edler said of why it was important for hockey players to speak “I realized that pretty early on (in Vancouver), as you occasionally get up the way they did this week. asked about non-hockey related topics. Although being captain in this era “I think this is bigger than hockey, for us hockey players we have a lot of magnifies the topics a lot more than during my time.” people looking up to us.” Back in November, circumstance meant that Horvat found himself almost With the Canucks taking the ice for what was supposed to be a game- alone among hockey players in being asked to comment on Sportsnet day skate, Reaves called Shattenkirk and found himself talking to a firing Don Cherry after he made xenophobic comments about group of players from the four teams still playing in Toronto. immigrants.

Eventually the eight teams still in the playoffs got their feelings aligned In that moment, Horvat stood up for what was right and said Cherry’s and decided they wouldn’t play games and the league agreed to suspend time was done and that Sportsnet was right to take the position it did. play through the weekend. There was a lot of vitriol directed Horvat’s way for taking a strong stand against xenophobia. Vegas Golden Knights winger Ryan Reaves speaks to the media after the NHL and NHLPA’s announcement to reschedule NHL playoff games “It made me stronger as a person, I think it was a good learning curve for on Aug. 27, 2020 me,” Horvat said of how his criticism of Cherry saw him receive blowback from some of the less-tolerant corners of the Internet and elsewhere. Shattenkirk told NHLPA.com that the conversation in their bubble started that morning when he met with the Bruins’ Patrice Bergeron and Zdeno “There’s no easy subjects to talk about, I’ll be the first to admit it. It’s time for change. as Alex (Edler) says, people do look up to us,” he added. “I think it’s important to speak your opinion. I’m really proud of the guys.”

He’s also realistic about the short-term impact that hockey taking two days off from playing will have. It’s the big picture that matters.

“It’s not going to change what’s going on but it’s going to get people talking and that’s the important thing,” he said. “We were there for a specific reason. We were standing for social change.”

Vancouver Province: LOADED: 08.30.2020 1192501 Vancouver Canucks “We definitely gave them a lot of room,” Marchessault said. “Their skill players, they were coming into our zone like nothing. It was too easy for them.

Block this: Canucks getting almost entire bench blocking shots against “It’s on us to go back to how structured we were in the first game.” Vegas The Canucks need to worry about shot fatigue on Markstrom.

Markstrom has started all 12 playoff games, getting pulled late in the Dean Bennett Vegas Game 1 loss for Thatcher Demko. In that time, Vancouver has been outshot by an average of 36-28, and has yet to outshoot an opponent in the return-to-play tournament (they tied Minnesota in shots twice). The Golden Knights have put 79 shots on net in just two games. To gauge the Vancouver Canucks’ chances of taking the series lead against the Vegas Golden Knights, just trace your finger down the list of The Knights, meanwhile, grappled with their second social media blocked shots. controversy in four days. After Tuesday’s loss, Marchessault got into a word war with people on his Instagram page, firing off some profane On Tuesday, for the first time in the playoffs, almost the entire Canucks’ ripostes to those accusing him of exaggerating how hard he gets hit, bench bought in, with 16 of 18 skaters throwing themselves in front of a known as diving. hail of vulcanized rubber to help goalie Jacob Markstrom preserve a 5-2 win over the Golden Knights. “I just wanted to apologize, sincerely,” Marchessault said. “I think it was childish. It was immature, not professional. That evens the best-of-seven NHL playoff series at one game apiece, with Game 3 set for Thursday at Rogers Place. “It won’t happen again.”

“It lifts the bench up, for sure. You can hear it on the bench when guys Golden Knight Marc-André Fleury, the regular season starting goalie, has block shots,” Vancouver head coach Travis Green told reporters on a seen very little ice time in the playoffs, prompting his agent to post a Zoom call Wednesday. Twitter meme over the weekend of Fleury, on ice in his uniform, being literally stabbed in the back with broadsword bearing DeBoer’s name. “You don’t win if you don’t have certain elements in your game, and sacrifice and will are part of it for sure at this time of year.” Lehner has started the first two games of the Canucks series, but the 5-2 loss raised questions on whether Fleury may be between the pipes in The Canucks, coming off a 5-0 drubbing in Game 1, jumped out to a 2-0 Game 3. lead against the Golden Knights in Game 2 Tuesday before the real shooting started. DeBoer declined to discuss the specific plan but said “both guys are going to play as we move forward here.” The second period was played almost entirely in Vancouver’s end, with the Knights cycling the puck and shooting, reloading and blasting away again. After 60 minutes, the Golden Knights had 93 shot attempts: 40 shots on goal, 40 blocked and 13 missed altogether. Globe And Mail LOADED: 08.30.2020

They managed one goal for their efforts in the second period, but then gave up a late period goal to Elias Pettersson, which Vegas coach Peter DeBoer called “a back-breaker.”

The Canucks have been upping their blocking game as the playoffs have progressed. Against the Minnesota Wild, no more than nine Canucks a night blocked shots. That number went up to an average of 11 against the St. Louis Blues.

Against Vegas, 12 players took the rubber in the Game 1 debacle, while everyone but Adam Gaudette and Brock Boeser weathered at least one shot in Game 2.

Veteran defencemen Alex Edler and Chris Tanev lead the way – by a longshot. The pair have combined for 83 of the 250 blocked shots faced in Vancouver’s 12 playoff games (45 for Edler and 38 for Tanev). One- third of every blocked shot is going off one of them.

“They’re warriors, those two guys,” Green said.

“It rubs off on the team. Veteran guys that have been here for a long time. They’ve gone through some good times with the team. Also gone through some tougher times. They love Vancouver, they love the city and they love winning.

“They lead by example and it’s not just once in a while, it’s every day.”

Golden Knights’ forward Mark Stone said if the Canucks keep selling out to block shots, they’ll just have to find a way to shoot ‘em where they ain’t.

“We just gotta keep wearing ‘em down, wearing ‘em down, keep shooting, finding ways to get pucks through, having traffic in front,” Stone said.

“The quicker you move the puck, get them moving, that’s when you create [shooting] lanes.”

Knights’ forward Jonathan Marchessault said they also have to clean things up at their end of the ice. Pettersson, Bo Horvat and Tyler Toffoli torched them for four goals and eight points Tuesday, exposing goalie Robin Lehner to multiple point-blank scoring opportunities. 1192502 Vancouver Canucks Alas, only one man has the speed to make the back check needed in this situation, and sadly Jeff Tambellini is not around.

Mistakes happen in games, and lots of goals get scored due to them, but The Armies: Canucks stall in attempt to restart playoff mode when you combine it with the overall game, it just felt like mental lapses and not being particularly sharp were a key component in the loss for the Canucks.

By Wyatt Arndt You’d see things like Brandon Sutter being completely unaware of where the puck was, at one point letting a Vegas player blow right by him with it. Aug 29, 2020 Quinn Hughes, normally one of, if not the, most keyed in guys on the ice

felt like he was struggling to control the puck. It feels like a succinct summary of the Canucks’ playoff performance this Alex Edler has seen his name ripped off of the Ring of Honour nominee season, as we never quite know which Canucks team is going to show board and is now back in “He needs to retire, why is he trying to ruin my up on any given night. And don’t get me wrong, there are ups and downs life, why does he hate me so much” territory with some fans. during any playoff run, but something about this team makes it feel like you’re stuck on the old Wild Mouse roller coaster: extreme highs and Truthfully, you could list a lot of players who just felt a bit off when extreme lows and you’re kind of terrified the entire time. watching this game, like they weren’t ready to resume playoff mode quite yet. And to be fair to the Canucks, even though they got shut out for the second time in the series, it wasn’t like Game 1. In that first game, it felt Again, in Game 1 it felt like Vegas pressured the Canucks into making a like the Canucks didn’t even deserve to be on the same rink as Vegas. In lot of mistakes, but in Game 3, the Canucks were the ones running Game 3, it felt more like the Canucks were their own worst enemy. themselves out of the rink.

Now the question is: Which is worse, getting blown out and laughed off of Best I know I’m not the one you thought you knew back in high school the rink, or losing a game that felt like it was extremely winnable? Is it Tobey Maguire in Spiderman 3 where there was no hope to begin with, Vegas made it 2-o on the night when Zach Whitecloud scored his second or is it Tobey Maguire in Spiderman 2 where you just needed more from postseason goal of the year: him? Whitecloud is so new to the NHL he doesn’t even have a player profile I will say there is just something about losing a game you could have won image on NHL.com. There’s nothing wrong with that, yet it still somehow that does tend to sting a little bit harder. It’s the 1994 vs. 2011 theory: feels a bit worse when the NHL equivalent of a Twitter Egg is dunking on 1994 is always going to feel worse because the Canucks were a post a team in the playoffs. At least give the man his profile picture, he’s away. They had you believing right until the final whistle that they might earned it with that goal. win. In 2011 the game felt over halfway through the second period, so it Speaking of the goal, you’ll notice two things. gave you time to gather your thoughts and plan your route home to avoid the car fires. One, Hughes turning the puck over and then losing his guy and then getting caught up chasing the puck. The good news for the Canucks is that they have shown a remarkable resilience during this run. Just when you count them out, they find a way Two, Chris Tanev putting up the nicest screen of the playoffs on Jacob to struggle to their feet and land their own counter haymaker. If it feels Markstrom. like playing with fire, however, you would be correct. You VIPs always tend to see to the heart of the matter — it’s why you get free breakfasts We’ve always known Edler’s butterfly style was more progressive, and on Sundays. The Canucks are basically Yosemite Sam, crammed into a that Tanev’s strict adherence to the stand-up style taught to him by Kirk dark storage shed, and every time they light their match to find their way McLean in the Kits Ice Rink late at night might be exposed come playoff out you just pray it’s not full of dynamite. It’s worked so far, but in the time. playoffs it’s always dangerous to lose a game like that. We’ll take this time to dive into Hughes, though, who through three But as the Canucks are quick to tell you, “short memory” is what will be games has appeared like a mere mortal man. And we’ve talked about it utilized to erase the memory of this loss, it’s their version of a Neuralyzer. before, Hughes sets such a high bar for himself that even being average They get a chance to avenge this game less than 24 hours from now, on a night makes it stand out. due to the NHL trying to end this season quick enough so players don’t Take tonight, for example. His Corsi wasn’t awful, it was just under 50 lose their minds in Edmonton the bubble. percent, but because Hughes is normally leading the charge, it sticks out.

The question now is: What if that storage shed is full of dynamite after And it’s not just the underlying numbers — you can see it in on the ice. all? Hughes is fumbling the puck more than he ever has and falling down far We find out, well, later today. more often than normal. In this clip he makes an uncharacteristic turnover in the neutral zone when his pass gets picked off, then later in Sadly for the Canucks, their best period was the first 20 minutes of this the play, chases down his check and falls to the ice: game — and they ended up walking out of it being down 2-0. One of the reasons they were down a pair of goals was because they continue to You then end up with four Canucks and one Vegas Knight and somehow get torched by El Niño Alex Tuch, who continues to be the fastest kid Chandler Stephenson ends up with a clear lane to the net as both Bo alive: Horvat and JT Miller get caught up in the bystander effect.

With two Canucks players bent over dry heaving, trying to explain to their It’s not like these clips are a mountain of evidence that’s going to make partners how Tuch got away, Alex was busy celebrating getting in behind Hughes scream at us about a code red situation, but it’s just something the Canucks defence to score a goal yet again. At least this time it didn’t we haven’t seen a lot of from Hughes. And maybe we just have to give require a Steve Nash lob pass to get it done, but there is something extra Vegas credit for really leaning on Hughes. Any chance they get, they disheartening about watching Tuch have that much room. If this was Hill make sure to finish their checks and hammer Hughes to the ice. In this Valley, he could have used that space to hit 88 miles per hour. next clip we see Hughes get his pocket picked, then later in the shift he gets clobbered to the ice by Brayden McNabb: As with all goals against, we must assign blame, as is tradition. If we slow down the play, we can see Jay Beagle, Brandon Sutter and Oscar It’s not as if Vegas was the first team to suddenly think, “Hey, maybe we Fantenberg all combine to help out on this buffet of misery: should hit Quinn Hughes. Bold strategy, let’s see if it pays off,” but it feels like Hughes has never been hit this much before. Maybe it’s taking its toll Sutter leaves his guy to pressure the puck, handing off his assignment to on him — sapping his energy or making him rush his passes to avoid Beagle; Beagle then lets off that guy and hands it over to Fantenberg, another hit. who then does what all low-level employees do when their bosses pass the buck onto them: works really really hard so he won’t get yelled at Hughes would later take a penalty chasing down the fastest kid alive and when the project invariably fails. getting beat behind the net, causing him to swing his stick and take out Tuch’s legs: Late in the game on a power play, Miller wires him an awful bouncing From that point forward it was simply a matter of Vegas sitting back and pass. This isn’t condemning Hughes because that’s a tough assignment, riding out the victory, which they did quite easily. Vegas could afford to sit but it feels like even knocking down bad passes or walking the line have back and not attack, and Vancouver never found a way to break through. been few and far between this series: All in all a tidy sum of work for the Vegas hockey club, and a night that Unfair or not, Hughes has set the bar so high that yes, being an average Vancouver might regret for letting it slip away. D-man on a team that so desperately needs its top players to show up as much as possible will stand out. Best ready player one

Again, it’s the way this team is built: Vancouver simply doesn’t have the Pettersson and Tyler Motte were the two Canucks who looked like they depth of other teams to have too many off nights from its stars. We know were back in playoff mode, and Pettersson in particular was noticeably Vegas has the better depth; we know they have a highly skilled team. finding ways to set up his teammates. It’s just that his teammates’ life Vancouver’s chances improve tenfold if Hughes can find another gear choices after they got the puck were questionable. again like he did against Minnesota. Here we see EP40 doing his dekes, dancing past two Knights and finding Which is crazy to say because he’s a 20-year-old rookie, yet here we are. Alex Edler who would … fire a shot wide: That’s how good Hughes is at hockey. After just killing off a penalty, Pettersson snags a pass from Hughes and Best you tried your best cake finds Miller all alone, only to see him … fire the puck wide:

The first period was good hockey from Vancouver as both teams had It wasn’t a game exactly rife with high quality chances, but you get the their chances. Vancouver, though, held an edge in high danger chances idea. Pettersson was the best player in terms of gaining the zone and 5 for and only 1 against, but again, left the period down two goals. Robin trying to find time and space for other players. He didn’t hit the score Lehner was the main difference in the first period (he wasn’t tested much sheet obviously, but it was still a very good effort from the young Swede. after that) but give him credit, he stole that period from Vancouver and Best A for Effort Vegas did enough damage in return to ride out the victory. On a night when effort seemed in short supply, you know one guy was At one point the Canucks even had a lengthy 5-on-3, the first penalty going to step it up, and that is MVP Tyler Motte. It was another one of drawn yet again by Elias Pettersson, on a play in which Troy From those extreme games for Motte, where he gets caved in on scoring Richmond almost scored on a wrister so hard Aberdeen Centre felt it: chances but ends up with a breakaway so everyone remembers the good Lehner had an answer for that shot, as well as every shot he saw with his stuff, but give him credit for creating chances like these: team down two men. Here we have Horvat rifling a shot from the slot: Blocking a shot and getting a breakaway out of it cancels out 20 shots And here we have Elias in the Petterzone unleashing a one-timer that against, it’s just the rules. was stopped easily by Lehner: One area where Motte tends to excel in a more clear manner, however, Those were the best chances of the period and it pretty much went is the penalty kill. Tonight he once again showed why Charlie Hustle downhill from there. makes life miserable for the opposition. Here he skates in on Lehner off a dump-in from his own end and almost ends up getting to it first, and then Best hockey recap for adults ends the shift losing his stick but is still the most effective penalty killer on the ice: The second period was indeed back and forth, in terms of the teams skating the puck at each other, but in terms of actual scoring chances, it Motte is clearly the best bargain on this team from the bottom six, but favoured Vegas heavily. In the second frame the Knights had 10 high- now you just have to wonder if he’s playing himself into a contract that danger scoring chances, and the Canucks had a grand total of zero of will make people yell at him like they do at Beagle. The circle of life in the their own (though I think Natural Stat Trick did Miller dirty and ignored NHL, really. one). It was like the Canucks got caught up in looking for something to watch on Netflix and just spent the entire period looking through the Best unexpected defence catalogue before giving up and turning it off. If you’re wondering what you’re watching, you’re watching the actions Vegas, as is their way, continued to counter-attack the Canucks with their that caused Roussel to get a 10-minute misconduct. This marks the speed, and would continue to find open players in front of Markstrom. second time he’s gotten a misconduct for seemingly nothing. That now makes it a 10-minute misconduct for a hug, and a 10-minute misconduct Here Tanev and Hughes legit just move out of the way because reasons, for a cross-check shove. allowing Shea Theodore to skate right by them and almost score on a pass from Nick Cousins: Or if you want to really drill it down, he’s gotten a misconduct that if, applied to every other player on the ice, would have resulted in 10-minute The Canucks would push back, but their shot selection was like going to misconducts for 80 percent of the players in the game. the No Frills fruit section — the quality just wasn’t there. It was something so out of line that even Louie DeBrusk was openly Vegas would repeatedly counter the Canucks and find a way to get commenting on how unfair it all seemed. That’s how bad it got: Louie players open in front. On this play Mooster Sauce would find himself all DeBrusk was openly campaigning about the unfair treatment of a alone with Markstrom and just narrowly missed scoring: Vancouver Canuck. If that doesn’t show how bizarre this was, nothing will. Wicked Games might as well have been softly playing in the background the entire game with how intimate the opposition was allowed to get with Scrums and shenanigans have been going on all series long, but Markstrom. somehow Roussel is the only one getting called for this. It’s hard to understand and it feels like an unfair reputation call. And again, the Canucks would gain the zone and have their scoring opportunities, but they never really dug in deep enough to get those The most we’ve seen from Roussel aside from chirping people has been dangerous chances needed to really test Lehner. Instead it would be a lot the ol’ “stop and stare” maneuver: of point shots: Admit it, you’ve pulled that same move in beer league. I know I get paid by the gif, but even I don’t have it in me to showcase every low quality shot the Canucks took in the last two periods. It’s hard to view this as anything other than low-end gamesmanship, and for a league that celebrates live chicken-mating call competitions, it feels Best self-inflicted wounds a bit out of place to put Roussel on any sort of list that demands he be put in the corner. All night the Canucks felt like they weren’t in sync so it makes sense they’d take a too many men penalty on the power play. It was that kind of Nobody puts Rooster in the corner. night for Vancouver. And Vegas does what they do best: score in the most boring, efficient way possible: Best Playoff Jake update

Mark Stone’s crazy hair-to-goal ratio continues to keep pace with itself, The most noticeable Jake play was when he pulled up and then which is quite impressive, I won’t lie. shot/passed the puck to a ghost/linemate: Travis Green still hasn’t activated Operation: Treadstone yet, but he tends to wait until halfway through a series before bumping Jake to the top line. So we must wait another game for Playoff Jake to make a possible appearance.

Don’t worry, Jake Truthers, there is still time.

Best request

If a VIP requests it, The Armies supplies it. Along with this clip you’ll find a new Armies coffee mug and a “Stanchie says relax” T-shirt in your locker tomorrow.

Here is the clip of Edler unleashing a pyscho crusher from halfway across the planet on Reilly Smith:

Smith hit the boards so hard his body flopped around like he was an NPC in Max Payne. All that was missing was a film noire dialogue from Edler, waxing poetic about the struggles of life.

“Life knows two miseries. Getting what you don’t want and not getting what you want.”

I sincerely hope every time Edler lands one of his huge hits on someone he whispers a new line each time.

“I didn’t deserve to walk away. There are no happy endings.”

Best Dad move

It wasn’t a banner game from Tanev but I did like him shutting down Shea Theodore like he caught him sneaking back into the house past curfew:

Best consistency

I have talked a lot about the inconsistency of the officials but I do want to say they have been pretty good about calling these garbage slashing calls for both teams:

Like, we won’t even get into the calls they aren’t making, and we won’t ask why they’re focusing just on these weird tiny stick infractions, but I do have to say they have been good at calling both sides for those terrible, horrible penalties.

Best performance

It’s clear to say that Markstrom deserves a raise after this one.

Best re-mix edition

A slingshot so hard it had to have been based off of The Martian. I’m convinced Pettersson watches random movies and thinks to himself, “How can I apply this to hockey?” Watch out, hockey world if he ever watches Inception.

Noted Canucks Nation instigator Jeremy Davis recently commented to me that Pettersson is basically Sylar from Heroes. He just sees something and is able to break it down and understand it completely.

Of course, some people have been debating whether Pettersson meant to slingshot around the net or if instead he was pushed and just made the best out of a bad situation.

And if The Armies had access to locker rooms, we would have confirmed an answer by now.

But I will say there is a golden rule when it comes to Pettersson: If he pulls something crazy off, odds are he meant to do it.

The Athletic LOADED: 08.30.2020 1192503 Websites “Ladies and gentleman, please welcome your Boston Bruins!” announced through the speakers while Audioslave’s “Cochise” rang out.

But as the players gathered at their blue lines and the lights dimmed, The Athletic / Inside the NHL’s Saturday return, the league’s time to something different had to follow. Silence was no longer an option. And stand with its players the typical anthems, sung before each Bruins home game by Todd Angily, had to wait.

In its place, a video began playing on the jumbotron. The Lightning By Scott Wheeler starters, who were facing the flags high behind their nets, turned to look up at the screen behind them for a change. Aug 29, 2020 “As we resume play today, the NHL and our players unite in the fight to

end racism. We stand together for a common cause that needs action TORONTO — On Thursday night, a day after Milwaukee Bucks players today, tomorrow, and well after the Stanley Cup playoffs end,” began decided they weren’t going to play and the sports world came to a halt public address announcer Simon Bennett. once more following the police shooting of Jacob Blake, Steve Mayer, the A video followed, stitched together with scenes from the bubble, from the NHL’s bubble man, met with a group of Vegas Golden Knights players in Western hub’s joint press conference of a day earlier to Matt Dumba’s Edmonton to discuss it all. centre-ice address of four weeks before that. Mayer’s goal was to start a dialogue between the league and its players “In hockey, we often let our effort, determination, and passion to win do where, he hoped, the league could support its athletes in whatever their the talking,” began the video, using the same voiceover from the video eventual return to the ice looked like. the league played during their initial Aug. 1 return. “But when an issue is By then, many of the NHL’s players had decided they weren’t going to bigger than the game, we must speak out, starting with three words that play. The NHL, in response, postponed two days worth of games. we need to get comfortable saying: Black Lives Matter. Equality is the only way forward. As players, as fans, and as active citizens we must When hockey was re-scheduled to return on Saturday, though, the confront these issues. We must be clear about what we skate for. We messaging from the top down had already been muddied. After the skate for Black lives. And even in an empty arena, we never skate alone. players had come together in Edmonton for a joint press conference Together, we must be a part of the movement to end racism. Because unlike any in hockey, Flyers head coach Allain Vigneault plead ignorance what we skate for today will bring us a better tomorrow.” in his Thursday remarks before reading a prepared statement on Saturday. As the video finished, a brief silence hung and the words of Black poet and activist James Baldwin took over the jumbotron: “Nothing can be And less than an hour after Vigneault talked of never bothering to “ask or changed until it is faced.” check with anyone what was going on in the world,” the NHL had to show they were committed to fighting racism in that world. The first video was followed by a second, shot a day earlier. It featured comments from the Lightning’s Kevin Shattenkirk and the Bruins’ Patrice The players had done much of the talking and it was the league’s turn to Bergeron and Brad Marchand. take the 48 hours that preceded their return a step further — and to show they were committed to supporting the players in their efforts. As they each spoke, their words appeared bolded in white on the black screens behind their benches. Before the hockey world got to see what the league and its players were going to to do with Satruday’s return to action, the Lightning, the first Shattenkirk started, looking straight into the camera. team back, elected to put preparation for the game itself on the back “I think for us, the decision to postpone our games and sit out was burner. viewed as an opportunity to highlight a bigger issue than hockey. We On Friday night, when Lightning head coach Jon Cooper met with his wanted to make sure that every Black player in this league can feel safe team before their noon matchup with the Bruins, they didn’t go over tape and feel like they have a voice,” he said. “We want to make sure that we or structure like they normally do the evening before a game in the continue these conversations moving forward and making sure that the bubble. sport is progressing in the right way as well.”

“Consciously, as a coaching staff, you don’t want to take the focus away Bergeron followed. from the last few days and that’s what we did. We meet as a group the “It was amazing to see everyone coming together and realizing this is night before each game and we didn’t do anything really hockey-related. bigger than sports. It’s about human rights. It’s about supporting our There’s no turning the page with what’s gone on but you have to re- Black players and being there for them and realizing we need change. focus,” Cooper said. “It was a delicate balance but we didn’t want to put This is just the beginning,” he said. “We know that there needs to be the game ahead of what’s gone on until this morning.” reflections and discussion and conversations but there also needs to be In Edmonton, too, Canucks coach Travis Green was still trying make actions and we want to be there for that.” sense of the previous two days while his game loomed. Marchand finished. “It’s been an emotional couple of days. Normally, in playoff hockey, your “The last number of days have been very impactful for not only NHL emotions are up and down and you’re trying to control your emotions,” players but people all over the world,” he said. “We want to continue to Green said. “With what happened over the last few days, it’s a different use our platform to show that we stand together with all of our players of type of emotion but well worth it.” colour to continue to show that we’re going to be better. This is the start As Green spoke in Edmonton, Saturday’s new slate of games rolled of the beginning of a lot of change.” around in Toronto. The first sound of hockey’s return to the ice from a The ceremony lasted a little over three minutes. When it was over, the two-day absence was Brad Marchand as he leapt out through the boards players banged their sticks in unison, the building rested in silence for a behind Jaroslav Halak for warmups. brief moment, the anthems were sung, the players stood where they “Oh yeah!” he screamed through the silence, seconds after his Bruins always do — on the bench and their blue lines — and the lights were welcomed to the ice. eventually rose for hockey to be played.

For a brief moment, shortly before noon on Saturday, the pre-game “We just got the thought process going and one of the things that I routines of Marchand’s Bruins and the Lightning played out as they have wanted to do and they wanted to do, was just something that was short nearly a dozen times now at Scotiabank Arena. and simple and yet recognized the return,” Mayer said.

The Bruins, the designated home team, got their introductory hype video, On Friday morning, following his conversation with the Golden Knights, with “Lions Inside” by Valley Of Wolves bellowing through the empty Mayer and the league reached out to each of the eight remaining teams arena. to ask if they could get a representative or two who would be willing to speak for individual vignettes that they would run before each of After warmups had finished, when they returned for the anthems, another now-familiar bubble sound followed. Saturday’s games, hoping they could have a variety of players speak to Horvat said. “I’m really proud of our guys to take a stand to come what the last 48 hours meant. together as one and be united. I’m really proud that we did what we did.”

Those players became Bergeron, Marchand, Shattenkirk, Islanders Back in Toronto, as the day came to a close, Islanders captain Anders defenceman Ryan Pulock, Flyers forward James van Riemsdyk, Lee sat at a podium and tried to make sense of hockey’s small role in a Canucks captain Bo Horvat, and Golden Knights forward Ryan Reaves, 48 hours in sports history. the lone Black player of the group. “As professional athletes, young kids look up to us and I think we can set The NHL quickly worked to shoot each player’s statements and build the a great example of unity and coming together,” Lee said. “I think it was a visuals that would support them inside both arenas. great couple of days for all of us to have conversations I don’t think we have enough.” “We just asked one question and they answered that question. And we took what we felt were the important words and the messaging and that was part of the display that was on our video board,” Mayer said. “When you look at what they had to say, we felt that it really summarized what The Athletic LOADED: 08.30.2020 they were all about and what they were thinking and doing over this two days, recognizing that this was bigger than sports and that they stand together and that they’re going to get better. All of these interviews and statements I felt were very powerful.”

The question posed to each player was the same: What do these two days mean to you, to your team, and to hockey?

“We wanted to make sure that they could articulate why taking this time off was important and I think they all did it in a slightly different way,” Mayer said. “But the message was important. It takes a lot to get in front of people and really express yourself and I really believe the players did an incredible job. (It) was really important to show what has transpired here.”

A few hours after the Lightning defeated the Bruins in the first game back, van Riemsdyk and Pulock followed ahead of the second.

“It has been great to see the players come together and have discussions over the last few days and educated themselves on issues much bigger than the sport of hockey,” van Riemsdyk said. “As far as postponing the games, we felt that it was the best thing for us to do to stand in support of the Black players in our league and also start a conversation about these issues going on. Hopefully it can lead to some action and some change going forward.”

“Our goal moving forward is that no matter the colour of your skin or your sexual orientation, you feel comfortable playing the game of hockey. We want equality for everyone,” Pulock said

In their own way, the players had managed to keep their voices at the centre of the NHL’s messaging. Victor Hedman had spoken about how none of the conversations he’d had with his teammates in recent days were about hockey. Blake Coleman had insisted it was important the players did what they did.

While the Islanders and the Flyers took the ice for the second game of the day, Nathan MacKinnon spoke in the Avalanche’s daily availability.

“Talking to (Nazem Kadri) and (Pierre-Edouard Bellemare), we’d like to figure out a way to contact activists back in Denver. I’m a White person, I don’t know what people are going through and I’m not going to act like it. That’s why you have to ask questions and learn,” MacKinnon said. “We were a day late (to postponing). It’s unfortunate. But we’re doing our best to make up for it.”

In Edmonton, when the day’s third and final game approached puck drop, the lights darkened and the buzzer sounded once more. Robin Lehner joined his teammates on the blue line while Jacob Markstrom remained in the Canucks net.

Fittingly, Reaves got the first word in the pre-game ceremony.

“Over the last two days, a predominantly-White sport decided to take two days off (and) step aside from the game to discuss Black issues around North America. For those athletes to step aside and say ‘I’ve never walked a mile in your shoes, I don’t know what your people go through on a daily basis, but we see the problem and we stand behind you,’ is a very impactful and strong statement,” Reaves said.

Then came Horvat, the last of the day’s jumbotron speakers.

“So we met as a team in the morning and we felt it was the best decision to go to Vegas and get their take on everything. We talked to Ryan (Reaves) and he made some amazing points and really got the ball rolling. We agreed with everything, wanted to be supportive and we felt it was the best course of action to take two days, reflect, and learn about everything that’s going on in the world. We stand behind our decision,” 1192504 Websites that in society as a whole and hockey is a microcosm of that, in White society, we’ve dehumanized Black people. Just like we’ve dehumanized LGBTQ+ people and trans people. There’s no feeling of, you don’t feel like it was you that was killed. And I think that’s the ultimate thing. The Athletic / ‘How we respond is going to be different’: NHL, social Whereas the NBA players are sitting there and they see themselves in equality and what’s next that Black man, they’ve likely experienced being racially profiled. They’ve experienced bigotry.

Abercrombie: I think it’s still very new – not the feeling, not the By Custance, Clark and El-Bashir awareness, but taking action. That action part is still fairly new. Up until Aug 29, 2020 recently there really haven’t been moments where sports leagues have paused for events like this. … The players have a much bigger voice. They are the backbone to all of these sports organizations.

It was a historic week in sports. It was a historic week in the NHL. Ferraro: Honestly, I thought Jason Dickinson’s question he answered Hockey’s version of the postponement of games to focus on racial (Wednesday) night is the reason why it often is different. You’re talking inequality looked different than other sports because, well, hockey looks about a predominantly White sport with a lot of people playing it who different than other sports. It’s primarily White. It’s mostly international. have probably never come across the systematic racism that other There are a lot of nuances. A lot to unpack. And to help make sense of it, people are talking about and other players in other leagues are talking The Athletic asked a group of voices in hockey to weigh in on the same about. For years it’s probably been an issue over there, wherever that is, four questions on race and hockey. The answers are what you’d hope: as opposed to right here. Where it is now. And I would think that has a lot Insightful. In some cases raw. In every case, thought-provoking. to do with the way the response has been reactive and not proactive.

What did you think of the NHL and the players’ decision to postpone Gabriel: It’s the least diverse of all the sports. Hockey is a game that’s games? exclusive, it’s not played by everyone. You can’t just jump outside on a hot summer day and play hockey like basketball, football and soccer. I Ferraro: I thought Wednesday night, they shouldn’t have played the think that’s the answer right there. … Let’s take it easy on them, too. second game. If only to give them time to establish what exactly their When I first started playing pro hockey, did I talk about these issues? No, road forward was going to be. It felt odd and kind of wrong to watch I was a 20-year-old kid focused on playing hockey. Everyone has to (Wednesday) night’s game. What I saw (Thursday) from the players was warm up to these issues. Sometimes it’s a little overwhelming when it just the response that I was happy to see. I was impressed to see it. They’re hits you in the face. Hopefully, as we go along here, it becomes a more making a significant show of support to the players and leagues that had frontal issue. stepped out. King: You have people in our sport who are supportive of the cause but Salvador: It was a significant and important message that was made. they don’t know how to respond and react to the cause. If your network is Abercrombie: The fact that they decided to postpone … shines a light on all White and you have not experienced things, you can only guess or the fact that there shouldn’t be a reward, there shouldn’t be professional envision what everyone is going through. They cannot say they have sports being played if there aren’t actual steps being taken for social experienced it. That’s why I feel there needs to be more representation in justice. … I specifically like what Ryan Reaves and the players that were the board room and youth level. If you have more Black people or people there with him did. I think that speaks volumes. It could be one of the of color or women, then, you are able to have that diversification of greatest sporting moments I’ve witnessed personally. It says, “We may viewpoints. By doing that, you’re able to have a true, holistic vision with not be able to write the bill. We may not be able to carry out the law. But your policies. we can speak up and use our platform to say that things need to be What is a good next step for a league that is still catching up on a race done.” conversation that has existed in other leagues for much longer? Gabriel: You have to plant the tree now and let it grow and see what Salvador: We just have to understand it’s a process. The fact that we happens from here. Very happy that they followed the lead of the have players that feel safe now about talking about inequalities and Milwaukee Bucks. I just think there’s a reckoning coming. … social issues and racism is amazing and awesome. I would never have (Sportsnet’s) Chris Johnston tweeted, “When is the reckoning of hockey thought you would see guys like (Ryan) Reaves and (Kevin) Shattenkirk, culture coming?” I think finally it might be here. (Evander Kane) Kaner and (Matt) Dumba feeling comfortable enough to Hess: It’s important that Black fans and players see those in the come out on these platforms now and really speaking for the National professional leagues standing together with the people on the issue of Hockey League and its members. Black lives. The essential part of this process is, of course, tangible steps The NHL star players are, the majority are always White. It’s not like the to eradicate systemic racism in hockey, and the NHL has the opportunity other sports where you have LeBron James come out and say, “Hey, this to lead the way. is what we’re doing” and the members are going to be unified Boyle: People understand the sacrifices these guys have made to make immediately. This is more grassroots. Everyone is being respectful and sports happen. It’s a different type of league than the NBA, as you know. sensitive of everyone on both sides. Because the fact that it’s been a little As it has been talked about. For me, I don’t know what I would have bit of a slower progression for hockey, the fact that Shattenkirk can call done. I would have never thought of it. It was so unique what the NBA Reaves and say, “Hey, this isn’t right, we need to do something,” to me is did. It certainly brought home what the goal was. … It was eye-opening. paramount. That’s the progress we need.

Why does hockey’s response to social justice issues often look different Abercrombie: (It’s) taking the steps to say, “I’m going to fix my 10-foot than other sports? radius.” There’s not much I can do for someone across the country but Duante’ Abercrombie can definitely take care of his 10 feet. If he hears Salvador: It’s a different league. Its members are different. The something said wrong at the mall or in one of my locker rooms, my peer stakeholders are different. That’s how I’ve always looked at it. We’re not group, my dinner table, that’s where the conversations need to be had. Major League Baseball, we’re not basketball, we’re not football. We’re These conversations are only uncomfortable because you haven’t had unique. How we respond is going to be different. … I try not to compare them before. The more you have uncomfortable conversations, the more our sport to other sports in the sense that we have to do exactly what comfortable you get with having them. everybody else is doing. It can always be criticized, our response as the NHL and the players, but the fact of the matter is we’re seeing Gabriel: (To have success) you have to get uncomfortable and work progression, and the players are definitely unified in taking positions now. really hard at it. Why can’t we do that with human rights? Everybody has an obligation. If you consider yourself a human, you need to get McGillis: It comes from, in my opinion, the fact that since the age of 7, uncomfortable and start making a change. It’s going to cost money, it’s you’re sort of off to the side, in arenas, where most sports are played in going to take a hit to maybe the business side to the NHL in the short schools, and you’re with the same 20 people who come from similar term, but in the long run, it should help make it more diverse and help socioeconomic backgrounds, predominantly Caucasian individuals. … bring more people into the game. It’s going to suck, it’s not going to be Since they all look the same, dress the same, talk the same, they can get fun. If it’s the biggest, most complex issue, we have to put in the biggest, away with behaviors and attitudes that wouldn’t necessarily be condoned most complex effort to make a change. in society. None of this has ever been humanized for them. We’re seeing McGillis: They need to humanize social issues. This sport has never recruitment. They need to go out to headhunters and agents with people done that. People say they get their kids into the sport because they of color, diversity and women. Put them in places and say their interests learn work ethic and leadership skills and teamwork and learning from a align with what the job interest is. It starts with qualified candidates. We boss and taking direction and all these things. Why can’t they learn how don’t want token handouts. If not, the system will break. People who are to treat people? Why can’t they learn how to be inclusive? Why can’t they not qualified will ultimately not have success in their roles. learn about race issues and inequalities and respect and how to treat LGBTQ+ people? The social injustices aren’t new with the sport. Abercrombie: I work with a lot of youth with Little Caps, my own clinics, etc., and I’m starting to see a level of love and appreciation and just Hess: The time for listening and learning is over. We need the NHL to interest in other people’s lives. Before it was you come to the rink and it take tangible steps to diversify hockey, to address hiring disparities, was, “I love you as a teammate. I love everything you do for and with me financial gatekeeping and racism in youth hockey. Education is key, and at the rink. But what you do away from it, I’m not really aware of.” It’s a conversations about police violence against Black people and what the different sense of awareness of their teammates’ lives. Now it’s deeper. league plans to do when an inevitable instance of brutality happens again … Will racism always be there? Unfortunately, I think so. But I think it’s need to be made an ongoing priority. This isn’t a one-time thing, this is a going to be smothered with the new era that’s coming in. There’s been a culture shift. ton of great people, teams, organizations in hockey since the beginning. But that single-minded, small-minded individual and organization, I think Boyle: There has to be a dialogue, right? We had to start somewhere. … they are going to be completely suffocated. We have to continue and I have to continue trying to wrap my head around what that is like. I hope I never have to experience it and my kids never have to experience it. It is still there and we have to keep talking about it. … You have to keep the conversation going and it’s impossible The Athletic LOADED: 08.30.2020 to avoid and that is a good thing. People have been committed and people are being attacked for speaking out. I think what they are doing is extremely brave.

King: Education, education, education. We need to get people exposed to what is happening out there. To get a general understanding of the Civil Rights Movement. What happened in our history. You cannot move forward unless you know your history. How can we directly impact or make changes that are going to positively impact the future of our sport? You are going to get kids to have a better understanding of playing with minorities and people of color. You are going to have to have executives who are like them so they know what it is like to be an executive of color. I believe ability and opportunity have to intersect. When they do, we will have success.

What is your realistic hope for the future in regards to racism and hockey?

McGillis: Realistic? I would like to get it to the point where they recognize there are biases that exist, there’s racism that exists within the sport and society, and there’s a need to do actual things to shift it.

Ferraro: I hope to see or what we’d all like to see: An equality-based result. That is if you’re good enough? You play. Let me back up for a minute – that you have the opportunity to play. If you’re good enough, you make it to the NHL. If you’re qualified, you work in management. The same as anybody else. Just equality. Growth of equality.

Gabriel: I think a lot of us are dreamers. Maybe some more than others. Some guys are going to be an NHL player and people know that when they’re 12 years old. I wasn’t one of those guys. I dreamed and have played games in the NHL and am still trying to get there and playing pro hockey. Why can’t we dream that hockey is just as accepting and maybe even leading the way in all sports on how inclusive we are? Hockey guys are supposed to be the quote-unquote best guys, the most humble, the easiest to talk to. Let’s start backing that up. I’d like to dream that hockey is a game enjoyed by everyone.

Salvador: As long as there continues to be progress and we continue to act as players, regardless of their color, speaking out on these types of issues, that’s what I want to see. To expect 100 percent buy-in is not realistic. To see people comfortable speaking about these issues is what I hope to see in the NHL.

King: My realistic view is that we’re able to get people to believe it exists. That is the first thing. It’s no different than being an alcoholic. Hey, you have an alcohol problem and you get help. We have a problem and then we gotta figure out how prevalent is the problem. We want to go with what the discussion is. But how prevalent is it? We found we have issues in the coaching ranks. We found out we had potential issues in the board room. We found about issues in youth hockey. We have to find the issues and tackle them little by little. We have to educate people through modules and educational materials. The Willie O’Ree movie is one way we have done that. Let’s go and find people who are coming out of university who are qualified. We want qualified candidates. People who understand our sport and have the educational background and have the experience or have something that allows them to showcase our sport. To me, that is critical. If we don’t? We’re taking people who do not understand the culture of our game and it may take them too long to ramp up what we are trying to do. You have to have people who are aware. Companies as teams or corporations, they have to get the right 1192505 Websites “He’s a young guy finding his way through another round of the playoffs,” Green said of his franchise player. “I think he’s fine; I’m not worried about him at all. That (Vegas) team can chew up ice and take away time and space. They’ve got a lot of speed on their team. He’s adapting to it. He’s Sportsnet.ca / Canucks being tested by Golden Knights' defence, special still doing a lot of good things on the power play. I’m not worried about teams him one bit. He’ll be fine.”

Hughes had two shots on goal in 26:22 of ice time and Vancouver was outshot 8-3 when he was on the ice at five-on-five. It was his best game Iain MacIntyre | @imacSportsnet of the series, but the Canucks need something special from their special August 30, 2020 player to be able to take down the Knights over seven games.

Also disconcerting for Vancouver was the lack of shots, hits and faceoffs for power forward J.T. Miller, who had only one shot in 23:30 of ice time EDMONTON – The Vegas Golden Knights are so deep and strong, with — second only to Hughes’ time on ice. One of the best faceoff men in the size, speed and firepower throughout their lineup, it’s easy to overlook NHL this season, Miller took only three draws, possibly indicating the how well they defend. hand or thumb he hurt blocking a shot early in the playoffs is becoming a bigger hindrance. The Vancouver Canucks got a reminder on Saturday when they fell behind by a couple of goals early and rarely threatened before losing 3-0 He’ll have little time to heal or rest in a playoff schedule further to the Knights, who shut down the neutral zone while opening a 2-1 lead compressed by the two-day, player-driven shutdown this week to focus in their Stanley Cup Playoffs series. attention on racism and social justice.

It was the second time in three games that goalie Robin Lehner has shut Vegas coach Peter DeBoer said Saturday morning that he believes the out the Canucks, who had one of the ’s top-10 hectic schedule favours the Knights. offences during the regular season. Vancouver managed only 14 five-on- five shots Saturday and trying to chase down a two-goal deficit against “I’ve said from Day 1, I think that’s advantage to us,” DeBoer said. “The Vegas felt a little like trying to chase down a freight train. tighter the schedule, the more back-to-backs, the more your depth comes into play. And that’s at all positions. I think we welcome that. It tests your The Canucks’ best chances were all early, when the team’s three power depth, it tests your character and we like where we are on those things.” plays in the first 11 minutes included a 78-second five-on-three. The Canucks are being tested now. There is so little margin for error for the Canucks in this series that getting out-goaltended and out-special-teamed creates a gulf between the teams. Vancouver’s marvellous and unexpected playoff run will be a Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 08.30.2020 game away from ending if the Canucks don’t execute and finish better on Sunday when the teams play for the second time in 25 hours.

Livestream the Canucks in the Stanley Cup Qualifiers, plus every game of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs on Sportsnet NOW.

“I thought we were unlucky to be down 2-0,” Canucks coach Travis Green said. “That happens in playoff hockey. I think our team, sometimes when we get down we tend to overpass the puck a little bit. I thought we had a few too many east-west plays in the offensive zone, especially in the second period. I really liked our first period. Skated well, drew some penalties. Give their goalie credit.

“I think we easily could have been up after the first period, but that’s all part of playoff hockey. Sometimes you have a good period but you don’t win it. Sometimes you’re going to play well and it doesn’t go in the net.”

At one stage in the opening 20 minutes, shots were 15-5 for the Canucks while the score was 2-0 for the Knights.

Between those early power plays, when the Canucks tested Lehner nine times but couldn’t get a puck past him, the Knights managed to build its two-goal lead as Alex Tuch and Zach Whitecloud scored on top-corner shots 83 seconds apart, starting at 4:05.

Tuch blew past flat-footed Canucks defenceman Jordie Benn to skate on to Nicolas Roy’s bounce pass, then deftly controlled the puck before burying a rolling forehand over goalie Jacob Markstrom’s left shoulder.

Two shifts later, struggling Vancouver defenceman Quinn Hughes had the puck bounce away from him along the boards for a defensive-zone turnover. Hughes recovered to prevent an initial scoring chance, but Whitecloud swooped in from the blue line to collect the loose puck and shoot far side as Markstrom was being screened by Chris Tanev, Hughes’ partner.

It looked more like bad luck than a bad play by Hughes, but the 20-year- old struggled again to find or create any room at even-strength against the physical Knights.

When the Canucks eliminated the Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues last series, Hughes looked like the best defenceman in the NHL. He hasn’t been the best in any of the games against the Knights, who have stapled the five-foot-10 defenceman more in three games than the Blues managed to tag him in six.

The Knights aren’t letting Hughes skate the puck up ice and at times the rookie looks less confident than he did last week when trying to beat a defender one-on-one. 1192506 Websites And while the timing of the NHL players’ response was a beat too late for many, these guys deserve a bravo for how they’ve responded the past 48 hours.

Sportsnet.ca / Quick Shifts: Why a Maple Leafs run at Pietrangleo isn't so Turns out, embarrassment can switch to pride fast. crazy The Canucks and Golden Knights reaching out to each other amidst a hotly contested series to get the conversation rolling; the Hockey Diversity Alliance challenging the NHL; the Western Conference bubble Luke Fox | @lukefoxjukebox standing together en masse for a common cause; Brad Marchand telling the stick-to-sports crowd where to stick it (“Too bad. We have bigger August 29, 2020 things we care about, want to do, and want to improve on”)… the response has been forceful, unified and, best of all, driven by the players.

A quick mix of the things we gleaned from the week of hockey, serious They are finding a voice and using it all at once. and less so, and rolling four lines deep. Anyone else feel like the Kasperi Once the games stop and they leave the bubble, the real work begins. Kapanen trade happened six weeks ago? These are millionaires who can certainly throw a wad of money to help at 1. The question must be asked (and not only because Toronto is the the grassroots level, then push their respective team owners and centre of the hockey universe): Does Alex Pietrangelo become a Maple sponsors to do the same. Leaf? I also loved Peter Mansbridge’s idea. I get it. These players are heroes, role models to kids. Carving out some time to It’s almost comical that any time the top UFA happens to originate from talk to children about race and the value of inclusion during their off- the Greater Toronto Area, hockey writers pen speculative pieces that he season, which now — hey! — coincides with the school year, is a simple might be coming home. but impactful way to affect change for the future. Understood, Pietrangelo prefers to re-sign in St. Louis, the city that 3. The NHLers’ two-day pause to twist the spotlight toward systematic drafted him 12 years ago, and remain close to his wife’s family and take racism had nothing to do with hockey, but the extra rest could have an a bunch more runs with the core he won a Cup. impact for key injured players trying to climb back into their respective But two things happened this week that make a Pietrangelo signing a series. Erik Johnson, Philipp Grubauer, Tyler Myers, Ryan McDonagh, to little more likely in these parts. name a few.

For one, Kyle Dubas — feeling direct heat for the first summer in his How about Oskar Lindblom? tenure — began clearing salary-cap space, trading away tangible asset The top-six forward has been in the bubble alongside his Flyers for days Kasperi Kapanen for futures and wiggle room. The Leafs GM noted now, playing ping-pong and eating breakfast with the boys. afterward that the Kapanen deal “shows us that our players have good value around the league” and did not rule out dealing more players off his “For the team, it means everything,” says GM Chuck Fletcher, noting that roster. Lindblom’s return to practice had the coaches’ room in tears.

For two, Vladimir Tarasenko’s future in this game has become a giant Kevin Hayes sees him at practice and thinks he’s not far off. The latest question mark. Undergoing a third surgery on his shoulder, the explosive timeline for Lindblom’s return was purposely vague: September. winger won’t even been re-evaluated for another five months. Well, Game 5 goes Sept. 1. The uncertainty surrounding Tarasenko should give Blues GM Doug Armstrong pause at another major investment on the blue line, where “Things took a really bad turn for him in December. Here we are in he’s already deep and must re-sign RFA Vince Dunn — at 23, seven August, and he’s climbing back and getting his career and his life going years younger than Pietrangelo — for a raise. again,” Fletcher says.

Once Dunn is taken care of, does Armstrong not use his available cap “Hopefully we can keep playing long enough that he can come join us.” room to find some scoring to boost a ho-hum offence that ranked 14th in 4. Fletcher says the lack of liquidity in the system under a flattened salary the regular season and 14th in the post-season? cap for potentially three years could be tough for free agents but might be Armstrong’s words say he’d like Pietrangelo to stay put. His actions have good news for fans who like trades. him trading for both Justin Faulk and Marco Scandella during Petro’s “It’s going to force teams to be more creative,” Fletcher says. contract year and signing each to an extension. Maybe that’s just smart insurance. Maybe it’s a sign. “You might see more hockey trades, the dollar-for-dollar trades where teams need to improve or need to upgrade in certain areas. If you don’t The bet here is that the Blues do make an offer, but it’ll be lower than the have the ability to go into the UFA market, you have to be creative and one Pietrangelo could get on the open market. Maybe he takes less to find solutions with other teams. So, it’s going to be very interesting.” stay where he likes. Hey, Steven Stamkos did. Giddy-yap. But if Pietrangelo wants to maximize his next deal, increasingly it feels like that would be elsewhere. 5. No question the most valuable elements the Leafs acquired from Pittsburgh this week were cap space and a first-round pick. Dubas likes big-game hunting (see: Tavares, John) and bold gambits (the Nazem Kadri trade). But Dubas had been eyeing Swedish prospect Filip Hallander, now 20, since the 2018 draft. In a pandemic that might handcuff other GMs, Dubas is backed by cash- rich MLSE and has always been able to structure player-friendly deals “He was right at the near the top of our board when we picked in the that might give him an edge. second round and we selected Sean Durzi [at 52nd overall] and then Pittsburgh selected him [at 58],” Dubas says. “He was right there for us. Toronto’s biggest need is right-shot defenceman, and Pietrangelo is We were kind of hoping he would fall to the next pick that we had gotten miles ahead of the UFA field in this category. in a previous trade [76th overall, where the Leafs chose Semyon Der- Yes, this would mean clearing even more cap space — and, perhaps, big Arguchintsev]. So, we’d done a lot of work on him leading up to the draft.” chip William Nylander — and giving a 30-year-old leader more term than An injury limited Hallander to 27 games with Lulea of the Swedish Elite makes sense. League in 2019-20, but he made noise on that team’s top six late in the But Dubas can’t afford to think small. He has to at least explore the idea. season.

2. I was overcome with disappointment Wednesday night when the “So, we’re excited for him. We think he’ll certainly add to our depth in our games went on, so I picked up my keyboard. prospect pool upfront,” says Dubas, citing the centre’s intelligence and competitiveness as major upsides. The Penguins had previously signed off on loan agreement with Lulea, “Not surprised by it for Doby, and not surprised by it for Jaro. Two good which Dubas was happy to honour. goaltenders getting an opportunity, and here we are.”

“He can come to training camp, and if he makes the team, great. If not, 9. I’m just here for the Vancouver Canucks’ starting lineup reads. he gets loaned back. They were an excellent team last year and should be an excellent team this year,” Dubas explains. “That’s a good setup for 10. Someone hire Joel Ward. us with him, which was also appealing.” The 39-year-old, who retired in 2018 after carving out a 726-game career 6. Perhaps the most interesting nugget Dubas spilled in his Kapanen as an undrafted NHLer, says he wants to coach. trade presser was that he’s entertaining the idea of not spending all the Ward never really hung up the skates. Last summer he could be seen on way to the cap before the puck drops on 2020-21. the ice developing the NHLer who train with Matt Nichol at BioSteel Surely the cap restraints of 2019-20, which were only relieved by heavy Camp. use of LTIR, left him handcuffed in terms of in-season manoeuvring. “I love the game,” Ward told Brian Burke on Hockey Central Friday. “I Dubas says he’s open to accruing space early in the season “so that we want to be back in it. I’ve been out for a couple years now, but I’m still in could add once we got into the year via trade — something that we really tune, I’m still doing my homework, I still watch a lot of games. haven’t been able to do for a while, really, aside from the [Jake] Muzzin “One day I’d like to be behind the bench for sure.” deal,” he noted. 11. Fans have to get resourceful to reach their favourite players during “That’d be a nice benefit to us, to be able to stay flexible during the the postseason. season also.” Matthew Kammerer, an Islanders fan and usher at Nassau Coliseum, 7. Of all the players I’ve had the privilege of watching live this month raised more than $4,500 through GoFundMe so a banner plane could fly inside the Eastern Conference rink, two forwards I knew were good have over the Toronto bubble. stood out as great upon repeat viewings. “Let’s go Islanders” read the sky-high message from the supporters as One is the Islanders’ Anthony Beauviller, and the other is Andrei New York prepared for its Round 2 showdown versus the Flyers. Svechnikov — who is so much more than lacrosse goals. (“The Svech” is coming soon to NHL 21, so Svechnikov went out and bought a “It just kind of went crazy,” Kammerer told NHL.com. “In 24 hours, we PlayStation so he can embarrass goalies virtually as he heals his high- were well past the $3,500 and I shut it off at like $4,580 or something like ankle sprain.) that. It was amazing really, how quickly things can work in the modern world when you have an idea, and people like it. It goes nuts.” Both will become RFAs in the 2021 off-season, whenever that is. I’m no GM, but if I was, I’d want to lock these two up ASAP, which would be the 12. Loving Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Curtis McElhinney’s new 2020 off-season. custom mask featuring courageous black trailblazers Muhammad Ali, Willie O’Ree, Jackie Robinson, Alice Coachman, Tommie Smith and Svechnikov, 20, said Friday that he’s open to early negotiations. John Carlos.

“My agent [Mark Gandler] is going to do that job, and I tell him I don’t want to know anything [until] it’s going to be done,” Svechnikov said on a Zoom call. “I just don’t want to worry about that.” Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 08.30.2020

Carolina GM Don Waddell must also take into account the future of No. 1 defenceman Dougie Hamilton, who will also enter a contract year in 2020-21.

“They are both important players for this organization, and it makes more sense to get to it sooner than later,” Waddell said. “You’re looking at two different types of contracts. [Hamilton] is going to be an unrestricted free agent come next year after the upcoming year. Andrei will be coming off his entry-level deal. So, it’s two different kind of negotiations we’re looking at. There’s no timetable. There’s no deadlines. They both have another year left.

“We have a good relationship with both players. I fully expect both players to want to stay here.”

8. A more imminent UFA of interest is Anton Khudobin, a fine 1B for teams looking to solidify the position.

The 34-year-old Dallas Stars netminder has always carried the load when Ben Bishop goes down with injury, but until this summer the career backup had appeared in just two career playoff games.

With Bishop’s return uncertain, Khudobin has been stellar in the Dallas nets, going 6-4 with a .913 save percentage against some strong offensive squads.

His former coach in Boston, Bruce Cassidy, is taking note.

“For Doby, he’s carved out a nice career for himself in the National Hockey League. He did a good job for us, and it obviously give him confidence. He won a lot of games, played well, worked on his game with Goalie Bob [Essensa]. Certainly, Bob deserves some credit for that part. But Doby is the one that has to get in there and manage it,” Cassidy says. “We’re happy for him. He was always a popular guy, a great personality.”

Cassidy sees a similarity between Khudobin and Jaroslav Halak, who took the former’s spot in Boston behind Tuukka Rask.

“You got a two-headed monster in net. I think both teams are very comfortable in front of their backups. And that matters, too. You can’t be nervous out there if you don’t trust your goaltender. Obviously, if you look at the goals-against numbers, two of the top teams,” Cassidy says. 1192507 Websites “We all need to learn a lot about what’s happening outside of our own lives,” Marchand told reporters Friday. “A lot of us, we don’t truly understand what it’s like in other peoples’ shoes, and we need to. It’s the only way things are going to change.” Sportsnet.ca / Black Lives Matter remains focus as NHL returns from player-driven postponement The NHL ran a quote on the video board saying: “Nothing can be changed until it is faced.”

“As we resume play today the NHL and our players unite in the fight to Chris Johnston | @reporterchris end racism,” the in-arena host said, “we stand together for a common cause that needs action today, tomorrow and well after our Stanley Cup August 29, 2020 Playoffs end.”

Now that the players and league have started looking more intently at TORONTO — Black Lives Matter. this issue, they can’t avert their gaze.

Those words were expressly blared through the Scotiabank Arena sound Even with the chase for the Cup back on. system before the resumption of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Saturday afternoon, part of a pre-game video played during a three-minute Moment of Solidarity. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 08.30.2020 “In hockey we often let our effort, determination and passion to win do the talking,” commentator Kevin Weekes said in the video, which was similar to one played Aug. 1 at the outset of the playoffs. “But when an issue is bigger than the game we must speak out, starting with three words we need to get comfortable saying: Black. Lives. Matter.

“Equality is the only way forward. As players, as fans and as active citizens we must confront these issues.”

The NHL’s player-driven postponement of four games this week followed similar actions taken by athletes in the NBA, WNBA, MLS, MLB and professional tennis.

It happened after a group of players chose to put aside their individual pursuits of the Stanley Cup to take a collective stand. That decision was reached inside the NHL-created bubbles in Toronto and Edmonton during a series of face-to-face conversations, plus conference calls with founding members of the Hockey Diversity Alliance.

It brought members of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Boston Bruins together for a meeting on Thursday morning, less than 12 hours after playing each other. Those teams were immediately back at it Saturday, as Tampa took a 3-1 lead in the second-round series with a 3-1 victory in Game 4.

“It was a delicate balance,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. “But we didn’t want to put the game ahead of what’s gone on, until this morning. That was our message to the guys is just make sure we come to this rink, it’s hockey, and I thought our guys did a really good job focusing.”

“A little bit of difference going into today’s game after the last 48 hours,” Tampa defenceman Victor Hedman added. “The conversations we’ve had within our team and within the whole bubble, interacting with other teams, that’s been anything but hockey. But today was a different day.”

There was no evidence of the competitive edge being dulled during a game that featured a couple spirited scrums and a five-minute boarding penalty to Boston’s Nick Ritchie for a late hit on Yanni Gourde. Ritchie then fought Barclay Goodrow in the third period.

Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy didn’t agree with the major assessed to Ritchie following a video review by the referees: “Gourde was down on the play. He’s a good player, a real good player for them, clever obviously, got them on the power play for five minutes. He finished the game, had no problems in the third period.”

Ondrej Palat scored twice while Hedman added a power-play goal as Tampa moved one win away from reaching the Eastern Conference Final. Jake DeBrusk replied with a goal for the Bruins.

During the 48 hours without games, there was very little talk about hockey around the NHL. The walls of the Toronto bubble were even decorated with messages like “Black Lives Matter,” although those drawings were only visible to the players and staff on the inside.

“There are bigger things than hockey,” DeBrusk said. “That’s probably one of the things that’s been focused on the most here.”

On Saturday morning, Lightning defenceman Kevin Shattenkirk took advantage of the relaxed dress code to arrive for the game in a black “HDA” hoodie. He was among the players shown on the pre-game video discussing the impact of this week’s stand against systemic racism, along with Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron of the Bruins. 1192508 Websites frame. Neither shot was a work of art, yet both were effective and released from the most dangerous area on the ice.

“The big moments are getting bigger,” Trotz said. Sportsnet.ca / Komarov, Martin power Islanders in swing game of 'a “He brings people into the fight. He’s sometimes not the prettiest guy to greasy series' watch, but he’s a guy that gets his nose dirty all the time,” Trotz said.

“He’s one of the guys you can always have fun with on a daily basis. Luke Fox | @lukefoxjukebox Every team has characters. Leo is a character.”

August 29, 2020 “It’s tight,” Komarov reasons. “You just need to throw the pucks to the net and hope for it to go in.”

Coming into this round, Flyers coach Alain Vigneault predicted “a greasy TORONTO – During their combined seven seasons as Maple Leafs, Matt series” smeared with ugly goals and few of them. And the greasier team Martin and Leo Komarov scored a combined zero playoff goals for has the edge. Toronto. “We’re not blessed with a lot of those top-end guys in terms of the heavy During their one month of playoff hockey in Toronto, Martin and Komarov high-offensive guys, but we have a lot of very valuable pieces that can have already combined for four goals. contribute in different ways,” Trotz said. “It’s sort of how we’re built.”

None of those were bigger than the one-two punch the New York So, by the time captain Anders Lee battled for net-front power-play Islanders’ bottom-six veterans supplied in the second period of positioning and banged in a backhanded rebound — again right near and Saturday’s 3-1 Game 3 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers, to restore right through Hart — in the third period, the rest felt elementary. their club’s series lead, now 2-1. Especially with the Flyers averaging just 2.36 goals per playoff game at “There’s really no playbook for this kind of thing,” Martin said. its top six failing to generate.

The teams’ back-to-back had been voluntarily and uniformly postponed Give the Islanders’ defence a two-goal cushion at your peril. And two days by the players in an effort to shift the conversation to racism Varlamov hasn’t lost consecutive starts since March. Once again, the and systematic injustice against Black people in America. Flyers could not generate enough high-danger looks, win enough puck battles or fight their way to the home plate area. A smooth segue from confronting a societal evil to chasing a boyhood dream does not exist. “Our line can do better. We know that,” lamented captain Claude Giroux, still goal-free in these playoffs. But as bubble hockey resumed Saturday, Islanders coach Barry Trotz was confident his group could compartmentalize. They were capable of “Guys are frustrated. We’ve got to take that frustration and bring it as honouring the movement and still zeroing in on the moment. energy.”

“I have a lot of faith and trust in this group that you have to park certain When these two sides pick up their series less than 24 hours from now, things,” Trotz reminded. “We are in the bubble to try and win a Stanley the pressure will be entirely on Philadelphia and its anemic offence to Cup.” make this thing a best-of-three.

The coach wasn’t minimizing the mini strike or the unique and impactful Because as it stands, this series has the Islanders’ grimy boot marks all intrasquad conversations held within Hotel X’s athlete village and two over it. time zones west with the teams in Edmonton. But he understands the very reason their platform exists at all is because fans admire what they “I do think, at the end of the day, you gotta give credit to the opposition. I can conjure on ice. mean, that’s a veteran team that knows how to play a gritty, greasy game,” Vigneault said. “It’s learning to be in the moment. The moment calls you to play hockey, you gotta play hockey. The moment calls you to stand strong for a social “We need to be a lot better than you were tonight — especially our top- issue, that moment they stand strong,” Trotz said. end guys.”

Simple as that.

“The games are going to be just as intense. That doesn’t change Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 08.30.2020 anything,” assures defenceman Scott Mayfield, who quickly reached out to the Islanders’ community relations director to get the ball rolling on his involvement in New York’s minority communities.

“We’re professional athletes. We go out there to win.”

Feels like that is all the Islanders do these days.

The four-line group prides itself on a 200-foot game and has trotted out a consistent even-strength effort now for 12 post-season games and counting.

On Saturday, that entailed snapping the Flyers’ remarkable streak of 18 consecutive wins (including eight playoff wins) when striking first.

Philly’s Tyler Pitlick opened the scoring in the first period by whipping a wrister through five bodies of traffic and past Semyon Varlamov off a nice cycle shift.

And when rookie goaltender Carter Hart denied Brock Nelson with his glove hand in tight and stoned Anthony Beauviller on an odd-man rush, it felt like the Flyers might go 19-0 when drawing first blood.

Then the grinders strapped on their boots and the Islanders’ chip-and- charge formula began yielding results.

A deft forecheck by Mathew Barzal teed up Martin in the slot, and his third of the playoffs tied the game. Komarov, rocking his tilted full cage, scored from a similar spot with a mere 5.1 seconds left in the second 1192509 Websites As much cap room as they seem to have now, one big contract will all but remove that advantage. The fact is if Hall ends up in Colorado, it likely will come at a discount and possibly on a short term.

Sportsnet.ca / Seven potential free-agency destinations for former MVP 3. Edmonton Oilers Taylor Hall The expression “You can’t go home again” comes to mind here, but boy could the Oilers use someone like Hall.

Rory Boylen | @RoryBoylen If he were to go back to the team that drafted him, he wouldn’t have to be the focal point, though a UFA contract would bring certain expectations. If August 29, 2020 the Oilers returned with Hall and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins on the left side, both of their elite centres would have a proven producer next to them at

all times. The Arizona Coyotes “were outclassed,” as head coach Rick Tocchet put Again it comes down to cost, though. Edmonton has $10.1 million in cap it, in their Round 1 series loss to Colorado. Even that might be putting it space, but have a clear need in net and must also sign RFA Ethan Bear mildly. after his solid rookie campaign. Edmonton would need to move out some For 23 of the NHL’s teams, including Arizona, the focus is now turning money to even have a chance here, but perhaps could accomplish that towards an off-season that figures to be unlike any other. And the off the blue line. Coyotes face an especially tough challenge to stay on track and not fall 4. Montreal Canadiens back. They’re without a GM after John Chayka left the team. Reports that Oliver Ekman-Larsson could be available are beginning to build. It’s clear the Canadiens need an offensive specialist and Hall is certainly that. The Habs also have $18.3 million in cap space this off-season, with And, as noted in our updated list of the top 20 UFAs this off-season, Max Domi the most notable player to re-sign. Taylor Hall is one of the most prominent players available on the market. Hall and the Coyotes put off contract talks through the season after he Trade speculation will inevitably swirl around both Domi and Jonathan was acquired from New Jersey in December, but now we can start Drouin, and that could also create space for Hall. Montreal has more than wondering what comes next for the one-time Hart Trophy winner. a few cheap contracts for its young players, so now may be the time to take a swing in free agency. The big question in all this is: What does Hall want as he hits UFA status at 28 years old in a strange time when the salary cap will remain flat? 5. Dallas Stars Where previously you’d assume he could command a huge payday of possibly $9 million or more, what should we expect now and how much Speaking of teams that need offence: The Stars needed that spark for of a discount may he consider taking to join a winning team? much of this season, finishing with the 27th-best offence, though they’re suddenly scoring lots in the playoffs. “I think honestly it’s probably all winning,” he said after the Coyotes were eliminated by Colorado. “Any player at this stage in their career who’s They also have $18.5 million in projected cap space. Third-line shutdown had the career I’ve had, 10 seasons only making the playoffs twice, that’s centre Radek Faksa and backup extraordinaire Anton Khudobin need really what I’m after. We’ll see what happens there. new deals, but the latter may find better opportunity and money elsewhere, if he so chooses. Mattias Janmark and Jason Dickinson are “I don’t think the money is going to be what it was before Covid or before the current middle-of-the-lineup left wingers, and Hall would be an this season, but that’s fine. I think we get paid a lot of money to play a offensive upgrade on either. game and we’ll see what happens.” Other than the Avalanche, Dallas may be the team with the best Stanley From last week’s Sportsnet NHL newsletter, and with free agency less Cup shot on this list, and that would also be attractive to Hall. than two months away (hard to believe!), here are some potential fits for Hall. 6. Calgary Flames

From the Stanley Cup Qualifiers to the Stanley Cup Final, livestream For lovers of rivalries, here’s an interesting thought: What if Hall landed in every game of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs, blackout-free, on the other Alberta NHL city? Sportsnet NOW. The Flames have just shy of $17 million in cap space and a whole bunch 1. Arizona Coyotes to figure out about their team. The defence has five UFAs and one RFA on its own, and if Cam Talbot leaves they’ll surely want another option to Until he leaves, the Coyotes can’t be counted out, although they’re not play with David Rittich. There’s also the matter of Jonny Gaudreau, who the favourites either. This is not an easy one to figure out. has quickly jumped to the top of the trade rumour mill, and just what else could change with the team’s core after back-to-back first round exits. Arizona has less than $2 million in projected cap space so it’ll be necessary to move other pieces out to have a shot at Hall — and what If GM Brad Treliving overhauls the lineup, perhaps Hall could replace does that say about their chances of being a winning team? The Coyotes Gaudreau. were also just penalized a first- and second-round draft pick for violating the league’s combine testing policy, which will further strain their ability to 7. Pittsburgh Penguins compete in the long run. The Penguins’ biggest off-season question is in goal, where both Tristan And what would they feel comfortable paying Hall to make it work? After Jarry and Matt Murray are RFAs, and only one likely to be back. all, Hall had the lowest expected goals for percentage at 5-on-5 among They have roughly $9 million in cap space right now, but it may take all Coyotes forwards and didn’t score once at evens himself. Hall also moving out only one mid-level contract (say, Bryan Rust), to have spent most of the decisive Game 5 against Colorado on the third line. enough room to sign Hall, even for the short-term. The problem is they 2. Colorado Avalanche just added a mid-level contract with the Kasperi Kapanen trade, so this isn’t an obvious one either. The Avs have long been a favourite to land Hall because they check off two boxes: They’re a contender and they have plenty of cap space That said, few teams are as motivated to go all-in on what they have than (roughly $22.3 million next season). But how much do they need Hall? Pittsburgh, who is staring down the final stretch of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin’s careers. Crosby is 33, granted not slowing at all, but They could use a more proven scorer for the left side of the second line, Malkin has just two years left on his contract and there’s no telling what but Andre Burakovsky stepped up in that role this year and will need a happens after that. new contract himself. And while Colorado has cap space for now, they also have to be mindful of Cale Makar and Gabriel Landeskog, who will GM Jim Rutherford is pushing hard to keep this going and improve on both need to be re-upped after next season, and the cap outlook may not back-to-back first-round exits, so Hall must be at least on the radar. be much better at that point.

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 08.30.2020 1192510 Websites Hall acknowledged the current financial landscape of the league due to COVID-19.

“I don’t think the money is going to be what it was before Covid or before Sportsnet.ca / NHL's top 20 UFAs of 2020: Latest rumours, reports this season, but that’s fine,” he said. “I think we get paid a lot of money to play a game and we’ll see what happens.”

In 30 games with the Devils plus 35 with the Coyotes upon being dealt to Emily Sadler | @EmmySadler the desert, Hall tallied a combined 16 goals and 36 assists for 52 points through 65 regular season games in 2019-20 – a far cry from his 39-goal, August 29, 2020 93-point Hart-winning campaign with New Jersey in 2017-18, but a good sign that he’s getting back on track after two years of injuries and trade rumours. Last time we checked in with this year’s most coveted pending unrestricted free agents, we still had 16 teams competing for the Stanley Through nine post-season games with Arizona, the Calgary native had a Cup. pair of goals and six points, matching his previous playoff totals from 2017-18 in a five-game run with New Jersey. Now just eight remain, with the majority of 2020’s class of pending UFAs now outside the NHL bubbles and staring down the biggest decisions of So, the question is: Can the Coyotes win? their careers. “I think the Coyotes have a bright future. They have some great guys, Meanwhile, general managers of the 23 teams no longer contending some good young players. When I get around to crossing that bridge and have already started to make roster adjustments in preparation for next I kind of come to what I want to do, we’ll see,” he said, also addressing season, sorting how to navigate what will be a flat salary cap. The $81.5 the abrupt departure of now-former GM John Chayka and whether that million cap for next year (and most likely the year after, too) will make this factors into his decision. year’s off-season a tough one for many teams and will change the free “It kind of clouds it a bit,” Hall said. “I think John leaving was unexpected agent market — particularly for the bigger-name players at and near the for everyone. I had a good relationship with him. He’s the one that traded top of this list, with teams perhaps less likely to make the kinds of big- for me and obviously had a lot of belief in me, and that was important. money offers we’re used to seeing. “But we’ll see. A change happens a lot in hockey, and you have to be Here’s a look at the top UFAs-to-be right now: ready for that stuff. We’ll see what happens. We’ll see how the 1. Alex Pietrangelo, D, St. Louis Blues conversations go with whoever’s having them.”

Age: 30 3. Braden Holtby, G, Washington Capitals

2019-20 cap hit: $6.5 million Age: 30

“I think at the end of the day, most people believe that Alex Pietrangelo 2019-20 cap hit: $6.1 million would like to remain with the St. Louis Blues, and there is time for both The Washington Capitals’ early departure from the past two post- sides to get serious and work this out,” Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said seasons is yet another example of how quickly a team can go from during the Headlines segment of Hockey Night in Canada earlier this cruising to crossroads. month. “I get the sense that they’ll believe that he’s an unrestricted free agent when they see it, but it is a matter of now seven weeks to see if Following the firing of head coach Todd Reirden, you can’t help but they can hammer this out.” wonder what other big changes might come. Its strong, championship- worthy core is still intact for another year (Alex Ovechkin’s due for UFA Pietrangelo and Blues general manager Doug Armstrong have been on status in 2021), but is Braden Holtby part of that core going forward? the same page all throughout the season, consistent in their desire to get a deal done upon season’s end, and the captain reiterated that stance His numbers exposed how much he struggled to find consistency this during his season-ending media availability following St. Louis’s first- past season, and the emergence of rookie netminder Ilya Samsonov only round playoff loss to the Vancouver Canucks: complicates things – or, perhaps that brings clarity, depending on whether you think Washington should lock up its veteran or go all-in on “Obviously, I want to stay a Blue. Of course I do,” Pietrangelo told Samsonov and use the money saved to add another piece up front. reporters on Tuesday via Zoom. “It’s the only place I’ve known professional hockey.” “It’s still to be decided,” Capitals GM Brian MacLellan said of Holtby’s future with the team, via NHL.com. “I think it’s going to be difficult, but Time is on their side, but the salary cap is not. sometimes opportunities come up that you don’t expect, and I think we’d Early-season reports projected the AAV on Pietrangelo’s next deal to like to play it out and see what happens.” come in at around $8 or $9 million – a fair price, when you look at his The Seattle Kraken will no doubt be watching what happens in performance over the course of this season and his Blues career as a Washington’s crease. whole. One year after leading St. Louis to the Stanley Cup, he scored a career-high 16 goals and was just two points shy of his highest total ever 4. Torey Krug, D, Boston Bruins before the season was put on hold with 12 more games to go. Now that we know we’ve got a flat cap coming for 2020-21, Armstrong will have to Age: 28 move some players if he’s to lock up his captain – as would opposing 2019-20 cap hit: $5.25 million GMs looking to create some cap space to lure in and sign the big-ticket d-man (ahem… we see you, Kyle Dubas). He’s one of the league’s best offensive defencemen with plenty of sandpaper in his game. In other words, should Krug hit the open market, 2. Taylor Hall, LW, Arizona Coyotes there would be a mile-long lineup of GMs vying for his services. Age: 28 Krug has clearly expressed a desire to stay in Boston, and Bruins GM 2019-20 cap hit: $6 million Don Sweeney told reporters during the hiatus earlier this summer he’s hopeful the two sides can find common ground on a new deal. Ten seasons into his NHL career with just two short playoff stints to show for it, Hall’s priority heading into the biggest decision of his career is no Sweeney re-signed would-be restricted free agent Anders Bjork to a surprise: team-friendly, three-year extension in late July. The move gives the GM one less variable when looking at contract talks with Krug and RFA Jake “I think honestly it’s probably all winning,” Hall told reporters last week DeBrusk. following his Arizona Coyotes’ Round 1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche. “Any player at this stage in their career who’s had the career I’ve had, 10 5. Tyson Barrie, D, Toronto Maple Leafs seasons only making the playoffs twice, that’s really what I’m after. We’ll Age: 29 see what happens there.” 2019-20 cap hit: $5.5 million (this AAV is split between Colorado and Age: 30 Toronto) 2019-20 cap hit: $4 million Barrie’s time in Toronto didn’t go how he or the Maple Leafs expected, making a clean split in free agency a certainty for the two sides. Another question mark for Florida.

“I wish I would’ve left a little more of a stamp on the series,” said Barrie, Dadonov quietly put up back-to-back 28-goal campaigns down in Florida, who didn’t register on the scoresheet through all five games of the tallying 65 and 70 points in his past two seasons, and a scoring spree in qualifying round against the Columbus Blue Jackets, following the January had him just three goals shy of that total through 69 games this conclusion of Toronto’s season. season. A quiet post-season didn’t do his stock any favours, but he’s one of the more low-key intriguing names to watch as one of the league’s Barrie struggled for most of the year in Toronto, failing to find the kind of most underrated sharpshooters. chemistry with his new teammates that made him a must-watch rearguard in Colorado. Barrie said it “would be tough” to see his old 10. Tyler Toffoli, RW/LW, Vancouver Canucks Avalanche teammates hoist the Cup this year, but that he’ll be rooting for Age: 27 them and “hoping those guys get it done.” 2019-20 cap hit: $4.6 million Asked about where he might land and what kind of contract he’s looking for going forward, Barrie said, “at this point I have no idea what the future After a down year in 2018-19 with 13 goals and 34 points on a holds.” floundering Kings squad, Toffoli got off to a strong start in Vancouver upon being traded in February. It’s safe to say he will be prioritizing chemistry and opportunity in an effort to regain his game with another squad. A setback in Game 1 of the Qualifying Round against Minnesota had us wondering if we’d seen the last of him this year, but the 28-year-old came 6. Robin Lehner, G, Vegas Golden Knights out flying upon his return in Game 2 of the second round against Vegas. Age: 28 His seamless fit with the Canucks makes him a no-brainer to re-sign, but questions about what he might earn – and what re-signing him might 2019-20 cap hit: $5 million mean for the Canucks in next summer’s expansion draft – make this one tricky. Of the three big-name goaltenders on expiring deals, Lehner might be the most interesting case. Last year’s Masterton Trophy winner thrived as Sportsnet’s Iain MacIntyre wrote in a June edition of his Canucks Mailbag part of an excellent tandem with the New York Islanders and completely that Toffoli is one of GM Jim Benning’s top UFA priorities, along with stole the show in Round 1 of the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs, and then Markstrom. grabbed hold of the No. 1 job for Vegas in the bubble this summer. 11. Mikael Granlund, C/RW, But can he stay? He has no doubt been a great fit, but his counterpart, Marc-Andre Fleury, is under contract for two more seasons at $7 million Age: 27 per, which would make it pretty near impossible to lock up Lehner, too, 2019-20 cap hit: $5.75 million considering there could be a bidding war to land him. Granlund was a deadline acquisition for the Predators in 2018-19, but Regardless of where he ends up, he should garner a more permanent never really gelled in his new surroundings and didn’t make a strong home after back-to-back one-year signings that saw him land in three case for himself this post-season. cities within two years. The Carolina Hurricanes could be an interesting team to watch. With GM David Poile promising changes ahead, there’s really no question that Granlund will be wearing a different sweater come 2020-21. 7. Jacob Markstrom, G, Vancouver Canucks With a flat cap and a down year on the stat sheet, Granlund could be a Age: 30 strong candidate for a short-term deal somewhere to get him back to his playmaking ways. 2019-20 cap hit: $3.67 million 12. T.J. Brodie, D, Calgary Flames Markstrom put up MVP-worthy numbers in Vancouver behind a surprising Canucks club, and has been a tough solve in the post-season, Age: 29 too, as the Canucks stumped the reigning Cup champs in Round 1 2019-20 cap hit: $4.65 million thanks in large part to Markstrom’s heroics. Flames GM Brad Treliving said in the spring he wanted to bring both On GM Jim Benning’s list of priorities, re-signing Markstrom should be Brodie and fellow rearguard Travis Hamonic back into the fold. But with Nos. 1 through 3. the flat cap, will he be able to?

The 30-year-old has been the perfect netminder to complement his club’s As the more offensively gifted of the Flames’ two pending UFA d-men, he young core, which looks capable of continuing some pretty special things could be the more likely — but less affordable — signee in Calgary. this summer and in the seasons to come. Brodie’s name has been in trade rumours before. Now, with another “In my mind, I want to stay in Vancouver. That’s my goal,” he said earlier disappointing post-season in the books, the question in Calgary is this spring from Sweden, via Sportsnet’s Iain MacIntyre. “I’m still a whether (or maybe how much) GM Brad Treliving will opt to split up his Vancouver Canuck and I’m super proud of being it. I have no plans of core and revamp his roster. leaving.” 13. Travis Hamonic, D, Calgary Flames 8. Mike Hoffman, RW/LW, Florida Panthers Age: 29 Age: 30 2019-20 cap hit: $3.857 million 2019-20 cap hit: $5.1875 million Hamonic, who made the decision to opt out of the NHL’s restart this Florida’s got a lot of question marks right now. The team parted ways summer to be with his family, has been a steady presence in Calgary and with general manager Dale Tallon following its qualifying round loss to would no doubt be a smart signing for Treliving to make. The GM has a the Islanders earlier this month, and it’s safe to say plenty more changes little more cap flexibility than some of his NHL peers, but how much will will be on the way once a new GM takes over and puts his or her own he devote to his blue line? stamp on the club. 14. Sami Vatanen, D, Carolina Hurricanes Hoffman looked like a sure rental candidate at the deadline but ultimately wasn’t moved. His strong performance through four games against the Age: 28 Islanders – three goals and five points – should make him a popular 2019-20 cap hit: $4.875 million player among teams looking for another scorer to contend.

9. Evgenii Dadonov, RW, Florida Panthers Vatanen had to wait a while to suit up for a game with the Hurricanes, the 20. Dustin Byfuglien, D, Winnipeg Jets (contract mutually terminated) team that acquired him from the Devils at the deadline, due to the lower- body injury that had him sidelined at the time of the league hiatus. Age: 35 Considering how little he played with his new teammates, Vatanen fit in 2019-20 cap hit: $7.6 million well with the Hurricanes. The club’s depth at the position makes them unlikely to bring him back, however. Byfuglien missed the entire 2019-20 season, undergoing ankle surgery and ultimately taking time to ponder his future in the game. He and the Injuries have prevented the rearguard from ever being able to play a full Jets officially agreed to terminate his contract in April, thus making him a season, which will factor into his next deal. free agent. It’s unclear whether he wants to keep playing at all, but 15. Anton Khudobin, G, Dallas Stars should he wish to continue his career with another team, there would no doubt be plenty of suitors for the big, versatile veteran d-man. Age: 34

2019-20 cap hit: $2.5 million Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 08.30.2020 Every post-season, we re-learn the importance of having not just one solid goaltender but two – just look around the league at all the supposed No. 2s suddenly thrust into starters’ gigs: Jaroslav Halak, Pavel Francouz, Robin Lehner (though, he’s not exactly a backup), and of course, Khudobin. The veteran netminder has started 10 of the Stars’ 12 games this summer, and while he’s not stealing games, they are probably going golfing without him as No. 1 netminder Ben Bishop has been sidelined as “unfit to play.”

Lehner, Markstrom, and Holtby are the biggest names on the goalie market, but Khudobin will be a popular name, too, for contenders looking for an insurance policy.

16. Corey Crawford, G, Chicago Blackhawks

Age: 35

2019-20 cap hit: $6 million

Everything about Khudobin applies to Crawford, too, when it comes to contending clubs looking for veteran help. Like Khudobin, he could be an excellent backup/1B on a short-term deal for a contender going forward should he part ways with the Blackhawks.

His $6-million seasons are over, but his career certainly isn’t. We haven’t had many opportunities to see Playoff Crawford of late, but we got a pretty decent show this summer. The veteran netminder backstopped the Blackhawks to an upset victory over the Edmonton Oilers in the qualifiers and kept the Blackhawks alive in Game 4 of Round 1 against the Vegas Golden Knights.

17. Ilya Kovalchuk, LW, Washington Capitals

Age: 36

2019-20 cap hit: $700,000

Montreal’s Kovalchuk experiment got off to a great start — the veteran proved he’s still got a little magic left in him, and his success looked even better with a $700,000 price tag attached — and saw the club flip him to the contending Capitals for a profit at the deadline. He fell flat in the playoffs with Washington, but it feels likely this wasn’t the last we’ve seen of Kovalchuk in le bleu, blanc et rouge. He could be a strong candidate to return to Montreal as a free agent on another low-cost contract.

18. Erik Haula, LW, Florida Panthers

Age: 28

2019-20 cap hit: $2.75 million

A string of injuries has hindered Haula’s ability to match the success he had with the Golden Knights in 2017-18, and he wasn’t able to strike up any chemistry with the Panthers upon being traded to Florida at the deadline. There’s no doubt he’s been a much-loved and valuable member of each team he’s played on, but durability will factor into his next deal.

19. Wayne Simmonds, RW, Buffalo Sabres

Age: 31

2019-20 cap hit: $5 million

Simmonds has struggled to find his stride since landing in Nashville at the 2018-19 deadline. Since then, he’s scored just nine goals and 28 points in 85 games split between the Predators, Devils and Sabres. He’s just three seasons removed from back-to-back 30-plus-goal campaigns and should be a top candidate for a short-term deal on a team that can help revive his career. 1192511 Websites

TSN.CA / Canucks vs Vegas Game 3 gameday preview

Jeff Paterson

VANCOUVER – After a pause in the schedule to protest social injustice and racial intolerance, the Vancouver Canucks and Vegas Golden Knights will resume their NHL Western Conference semi-final in Edmonton on Saturday night. The Canucks will be looking to pick up where they left off with a 5-2 win on Tuesday to even the series at one win apiece.

Bo Horvat scored twice while Elias Pettersson and Tyler Toffoli each had a goal and two assists leading the Canucks to the Game 2 victory. Tanner Pearson rounded out the scoring with an empty net goal.

For Pettersson, that was his first career three point night in the playoffs and his sixth multi-point game of this post-season – five of them have come in his last seven games. The second-year Swede enters play tonight with 5+11=16 and trails only Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon in NHL playoff scoring. Toffoli made a triumphant return to the line-up after missing 10 games with a suspected high-ankle sprain suffered in Game 1 against Minnesota on August 2nd. He opened the scoring in Game 2 just 1:29 after the opening face-off.

Horvat’s two goal effort was his third in the past eight games. With eight goals, the Canucks captain leads the NHL in playoff goal scoring.

The Canucks are now 8-4 in the Edmonton bubble and have dropped back to back games only once (Games 3 & 4 vs St. Louis).

Jacob Markstrom stopped 38 of 40 shots on Tuesday including 21 of the 22 he faced in a busy second period. Markstrom leads the NHL with 12 post-season starts. He has faced more shots (424) and made more saves (392) than any other netminder in the post-season. In the playoffs, Markstrom has a 2.64 GAA and a 92.5% save percentage.

On Tuesday, Markstrom was helped by the skaters in front of him as the Canucks set a franchise record in the playoffs by blocking 40 shots. Chris Tanev led the way with six followed by Jay Beagle with five.

Alex Tuch and Max Pacioretty scored the Vegas goals in Game 2. They have both scored in three straight games. Shea Theodore leads the Golden Knights in scoring in this series picking up two helpers in each of the first two games. With 4+7=11, he now leads his team in post-season scoring.

Pacioretty has been a one-man shooting gallery. The veteran forward has 13 shots on goal in the first two games on 28 attempts. He had 8 shots/15 attempts in Game 1 and followed that up with 5 shots/13 attempts on Tuesday night.

After a 26-save shutout in last Sunday’s 5-0 Game 1 victory, Robin Lehner gave up four goals on 26 shots in Game 2.

Vegas is 8-2 in the Edmonton bubble and have not dropped consecutive games since resuming play after the COVID hiatus. Prior to play being halted, the Golden Knights had won 11 of 13 games making them 19-4 in their past 23 games. They have not suffered back to back losses since February 8th and 11th against Carolina and Minnesota.

Through the first two games in this series, the Canucks are 1/6 on the power play while the Knights are 2/7.

The break in the series forced the NHL to reformat the dates for the remaining games in this series. Game 4 will now be played on Sunday night with Game 5 on Tuesday. If necessary, Games 6 and 7 are scheduled to go back to back next Thursday and Friday nights.

TSN.CA LOADED: 08.30.2020