SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 6/19/2021 Arizona Coyotes New York Islanders 1216002 Energized by gold medal with Canada, Coyotes' Michael 1216029 As New York Sports Return to Normal, the Islanders Lead Bunting looks ahead to next season the Way 1216003 Agent: Coyotes have deal in place with prospect Liam 1216030 Islanders’ Barry Trotz may tinker with lineup before key Kirk, a star at World Championship Game 4 1216031 Tampa Bay beating Islanders at own game 1216032 Islanders’ top six can’t find groove against Lightning 1216004 Boston Bruins Sign Anton Blidh To One-Year 1216033 Oliver Wahlstrom an option for Barry Trotz in Islanders' ContractPublished 17 hours ago on June 18, 2021 critical Game 4 against Lightning 1216005 Boston Bruins report cards: From Brad Marchand to Jake 1216034 No doubt about it, Islanders have been there, done that, DeBrusk, who made the grade and who didn’t? come back twice 1216035 Islanders could use an offensive jolt for Game 4 against the Tampa Bay Lightning 1216006 Rene Robert, Sabres 'French Connection' right winger, 1216036 Islanders Offense The Issue, Not The Officiating suffers heart attack 1216037 Islanders Being Reminded Why Tampa Bay is Still the 1216007 Sabres legend Rene Robert, one of ‘French Connection’ Champs trio, has serious heart attack 1216038 NYHN Daily: Islanders Down in a Series Yet Again & More Blackhawks Ottawa Senators 1216008 reportedly did not call police about 1216039 Trailing 2-1 in a series is nothing new for the New York sexual assault allegations in 2010, and the NHLPA decl Islanders and they hope history repeats itself 1216040 Canadian Tire Centre opens vaccination site Monday 1216009 Grégory Hofmann and Justin Danforth getting long- Philadelphia Flyers awaited opportunity with Blue Jackets 1216041 Lindblom feels the love, recalls the positive memories to celebrate honor Detroit Red Wings 1216042 Would Dougie Hamilton fit with the Flyers? Evaluating the 1216010 After Adam Erne’s emergence, Red Wings feel there’s ‘a soon-to-be free agent and if he should be a target lot more there’ 1216011 Four lessons the Red Wings can learn from the NHL’s last Pittsburgh Penguins 4 teams standing 1216043 Ex-Penguins defenseman David Warsofsky signs in Germany 1216044 Penguins A to Z: Casey DeSmith proved he belongs 1216012 What will Oilers do if they must replace Oscar Klefbom? 1216045 First Call: Some confidence in Steelers' Chuks Okorafor; an award for Sidney Crosby as his coach is snubbed 1216046 Her Iron Man suit marks the ultimate Pittsburgh/Marvel 1216013 After career year, Panthers C Aleksander Barkov wins crossover Selke Trophy for first major award 1216047 Why the Penguins Can’t Blow it Up & Start Over 1216014 Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov wins Selke Trophy as top forward on defense San Jose Sharks 1216015 Sasha Barkov wins first Selke Trophy for Florida Panthers 1216048 Doubting Dahlén 1216016 Miami’s stars take a shine to Tropical Breeze Auto Spa: ‘That’s what makes the job worth it’ Kraken 1216049 Seattle hockey history — teams before the Kraken include America’s first winner 1216017 Kings Seasons In Review – Sean Walker St Louis Blues 1216050 BenFred: If Calgary is crazy enough to trade Matthew 1216018 Wild announces ECHL affiliation with Heartlanders Tkachuk, Blues should make bold offer 1216019 Russo: Latest in the Wild’s tricky Kirill Kaprizov contract 1216051 With his Blues future uncertain, Carl Gunnarsson takes talks and the threat of the KHL stock of his career and reflects on St. Louis memories Tampa Bay Lightning 1216020 Canadiens coach Dominique Ducharme self-isolating after 1216052 Lightning’s shot blocking pays off in Game 3 win vs. irregularities in COVID-19 testing Islanders 1216021 In the Habs' Room: 'We just don't quit,' Carey Price says 1216053 Lightning’s Brayden provides remarkable - after OT win scoring consistency 1216022 Carey Price steals Game 3 for Canadiens with 43 saves in 1216054 Lightning-Islanders Game 3 report card: The Bolts’ 3-2 OT win backbone 1216023 Hickey on Hockey: Bergevin deserves much credit for Canadiens' success Toronto Maple Leafs 1216024 Stu Cowan: Canadiens' Brendan Gallagher and GM joined 1216055 TRAIKOS: Maybe losing Ducharme won't be so bad for at the hip Habs 1216025 What the Puck: Canadiens' Marc Bergevin doesn't deserve to win GM award 1216026 Canadiens coach Dominique Ducharme has positive COVID-19 test 1216027 The Canadiens are on a run that has a weirdly special feel to it and it has become impossible to ignore 1216028 Josh Anderson comes alive, Carey Price saves game and Marc-Andre Fleury’s mistake looms large: Playoffs plus/m Vancouver Canucks 1216073 Derek Dorsett gets early Father's Day present with Blue Jackets position Vegas Golden Knights 1216056 Josh Anderson ends slump, gives Canadiens series lead 1216057 Golden Knights star players are again MIA 1216058 Recapping Game 3 between Golden Knights, Canadiens 1216059 Marc-Andre Fleury’s misplay costs Golden Knights in Game 3 loss 1216060 Golden Knights shake up first line for Game 3 in Montreal 1216061 Golden Knights forward finishes third in Selke Trophy voting 1216062 Golden Knights squander chance to lead series, fall in OT to Canadiens 1216063 ‘It’s costing us the series right now’: Power-play struggles sink Golden Knights in Game 3 loss 1216064 Montreal Scores Late To Tie VGK, Then Wins In Overtime Friday; Canadiens Lead Best-of-7 Semifinals, 2-1; Game 1216065 Vegas Golden Knights Stunned In OT As Habs Complete Comeback 1216066 Rapid React: Oh No Marc-Andre Fleury; It’s Not the First Time 1216067 Breaking: Alex Tuch to Top Line; Habs Coach Ducharme Out Due 1216068 Vegas Golden Knights Face Potential Problems at Center Capitals 1216069 The crazy journey of Caps' prospect Connor McMichael in 2021 1216070 Chandler Stephenson carving out key role with Golden Knights 1216071 NHLPA poll names Ovechkin best shot, Backstrom best passer 1216072 Capitals re-sign Pilon, Nardella and Sgarbossa to two-year deals Websites 1216074 The Athletic / Stock up, stock down: Whose chances of making Team Canada’s 2022 Olympic roster have risen, or 1216075 The Athletic / NHL power rankings: Brayden Point is good, officiating is bad, and rappers are wearing jerseys 1216076 The Athletic / DGB Grab Bag: Debating the happiness police, a playoff dream dies and Conan vs. the Leafs 1216077 Sportsnet.ca / Resilient Canadiens steal Game 3, earn series-shifting win without Ducharme 1216078 Sportsnet.ca / Golden Knights face adversity again after uncharacteristic Fleury gaffe 1216079 Sportsnet.ca / How Lamoriello shaped underdog Islanders into Cup contenders 1216080 TSN.CA / Tuch to Golden Knights’ top line presents new wrinkle for Habs 1216081 USA TODAY / Marc-Andre Fleury's gaffe proves costly as Canadiens top Golden Knights in Game 3 1216082 USA TODAY / Montreal Canadiens coach Dominique Ducharme tests positive for COVID-19 before Game 3 against Vega SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129 1216002 Arizona Coyotes Bunting played with and against NHL players in Latvia, and appeared in every game there.

"I've always believed in myself to be able to make that jump to the NHL. Energized by gold medal with Canada, Coyotes' Michael Bunting looks I've been a very solid American league player for a long time," Bunting ahead to next season said. "It was just a matter of me getting my chance and this year, the Coyotes gave me my chance and I didn't take anything for granted and I tried to make the best of the opportunities. Lucky enough it worked out JOSÉ M. ROMERO | Arizona Republic for me."

Arizona Republic LOADED: 06.19.2021 The jetlag has long since worn off, the workouts in preparation for next season are soon to start and the gold medal is never too far away from Michael Bunting.

The Arizona Coyotes forward is enjoying some time at home near Toronto, about a week and a half since playing for Team Canada at the International Federation World Championship and winning a gold medal after Canada lost its first three games of the tournament in Riga, Latvia.

The 2021-2022 NHL season is a bigger one for Bunting, he said Thursday when reached by phone. First, his hope is to re-sign with the Coyotes before becoming a free agent in late July. Then, to show that his breakout rookie campaign of 10 goals and three assists in just 21 games in 2021 is what he is capable of every season.

Playing in the World Championship only further solidified the 25-year-old Bunting's belief that he can be a good NHL player, after getting a chance to prove himself with the Coyotes and spending the four previous seasons at AHL Tucson with the Roadrunners, working toward an opportunity.

"It was a lot of fun. I got to try different things with my game, and it just gave me more confidence going into the next season knowing that I am capable of playing at this level in any situation," Bunting said of the experience in Latvia. "I'm not done proving yet that I do belong in the NHL and I am a solid player.

"I've got to keep proving, like I said, that I do belong and keep producing like I have been. So that's the plan and I've just got to keep it rolling."

Bunting starts skating and working out on Monday, he said, after getting some much-needed time off. He will ramp up the skating sessions come August, and will focus on getting stronger while not adding weight so as to maintain speed and do battle in front of the net, which became his calling card and contributed greatly to his offensive production.

Coyotes/Roadrunners defenseman Kyle Capobianco will join Bunting once a week on the ice.

Neither his agent nor the Coyotes have reached out to let Bunting know that contract discussions have begun, he said, but he feels both parties have simply decided to let him enjoy family time at home before diving into the business side.

As for the team's search for a new head coach, Bunting looks forward to meeting whomever it will be.

"I'm excited to see who it is, and I don't think that will change my mind about anything. Whoever does come in, I'm excited for," Bunting said. "Arizona has become my second home. I'm very comfortable with being there, so I'm excited to see what lies ahead."

Bunting's season debut was March 31, in which he scored a goal. The 2 ½ months that followed saw him register his first career hat trick on April 5 at Los Angeles and later make NHL history by playing his first 14 career games on the road (December 11, 2018 through April 14, 2021).

In that first home game of the season with the Coyotes, April 17, he scored a goal. Soon after that came an unexpected invitation to play for Canada at the World Championship, and then an unprecedented run to the gold medal with Coyotes teammates Adin Hill and Darcy Kuemper also representing Canada.

"Everyone kind of doubted us and counted us out, and for us to be able to overcome all that adversity and win that, I think it felt even better for us," Bunting said.

A celebration in the arena lasted a while, then another one at the team hotel. It wasn't long before the players were packed up and on buses to the airport to head back to North America. 1216003 Arizona Coyotes

Agent: Coyotes have deal in place with prospect Liam Kirk, a star at World Championship

JOSÉ M. ROMERO | Arizona Republic

Former Arizona Coyotes draft pick Liam Kirk's standout performance at the recently completed International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship has apparently earned the native of England an NHL entry-level contract from the organization.

The agency that represents the 21-year-old forward announced via social media early Friday that Kirk had agreed to the deal with the Coyotes, who drafted him in the seventh round in 2018.

Kirk led the preliminary round at the World Championship with seven goals for Great Britain, and finished the tournament tied for the lead in goals despite playing only seven games, as his team didn't advance to the knockout stage. He was named to the event's All-Star team, selected by media members.

The Republic asked Coyotes General Manager Bill Armstrong about Kirk in a story from June 3, and Armstrong said he was impressed with what he saw from Kirk and that he was worthy of further evaluation.

"We're watching him very closely," Armstrong said at the time.

Clearly that was the case, and Kirk could find himself developing at AHL Tucson this coming season. He's the second former seventh-rounder to earn an entry-level contract with Arizona this offseason, with Ben McCartney signing last month.

The Coyotes aren't expected to make the contract official until NHL free agency starts near the end of July.

Kirk, who became the first English-born and trained player to be drafted by an NHL club when the Coyotes selected him, didn't play much hockey last season in Europe due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After the World Championship, there was talk of him playing in Scandinavia, but Kirk had said following his team's game on June 1 that his aim was to get an NHL contract.

Kirk has produced on offense at the junior level. He played with the Peterborough Petes in Ontario, Canada, from 2018 to 2020 and put up 97 points in 110 games over those two seasons.

Arizona Republic LOADED: 06.19.2021 1216004 Boston Bruins

Boston Bruins Sign Anton Blidh To One-Year ContractPublished 17 hours ago on June 18, 2021

By Jimmy Murphy

The Boston Bruins made their second signing in a week Thursday inking forward Anton Blidh to a one-year, two-way contract that will carry a $750,000 NHL cap hit.

The Bruins signed 26-year-old forward Jesper Froden to a one-year $842,500 contract on Monday.

Blidh, 26, is entering his sixth season in the Boston Bruins organization. The 6-foot, 185-pound forward scored one goal in ten games this past season with the Bruins. He had two goals and one assist in 38 career NHL games with the B’s.

In 278 games with the Providence Bruins since coming to North America in 2015, totaling 46 goals, 42 assists, a plus-31 rating and 247 minutes.

The Molnlycke, Sweden native was originally selected by the Bruins in the sixth round (180th overall) of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.

Boston Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney still has plenty of work to do this offseason. Forwards David Krejci, Taylor Hall, Sean Kuraly, and Greg McKegg are unrestricted free agents, as are defensemen Kevan Miller, Mike Reilly, Jarred Tinordi and Steven Kampfer, and goalies Tuukka Rask and Jaro Halak.

Forwards Zach Senyshyn, Nick Ritchie, Ondrej Kase, Trent Frederic, and Cameron Hughes, and defensemen Brandon Carlo and Nick Wolff are all restricted free agents.

The Boston Bruins currently have $29.3 million in salary-cap space.

Earlier this week, both Sweeney and team President Cam Neely indicated that there is mutual interest between the team and Krejci, Rask, and Hall to reach an agreement on new contracts but that they may have to wait until after the July 21 NHL Expansion Draft to put pen to paper with these key unrestricted free agents for the Bruins. Unrestricted Free Agency begins a week later on July 28.

“In talking to both [Krejci and Hall] at the end of the year, and even when Taylor got here, he’s expressed interest, mutual interest, to have him back. [We] had an early conversation with his representatives and obviously, we’ll have to see where all of the pieces fit together,” Sweeney said regarding Krejci. “In David’s case, it’s very unique in the fact that he would like to continue to play with the Bruins, he’s obviously interest that he may return home at some point in time. Whether that’s next year or down the road. His family dynamic is important to him.

“He’s asked to have a little bit of time in the next few coming days to allow him, on his own, to have conversations with his family, and then we’re going to sit back down and have a real honest conversation. I do believe David does want to continue to play and we’d like to make it clear to him that if he’d like to continue his career, this is the place he’ll continue to play should he chose to stay at the NHL level.”

Boston Hockey Now LOADED: 06.19.2021 1216005 Boston Bruins departure of Ondrej Kase … Speed, energy and shot-first approach make him a good right-side follow-up to Pastrnak.

Kevan Miller: B Boston Bruins report cards: From Brad Marchand to Jake DeBrusk, who Played 28 regular-season games after missing all of 2019-20 because of made the grade and who didn’t? his right knee … Was a very good strongman presence on the No. 3 pairing … Bruins missed him in a big way against the Islanders because of the concussion delivered by Dmitry Orlov in Round 1 … Future is very By Fluto Shinzawa Jun 18, 2021 much in doubt.

Tuukka Rask: B

The 2020-21 Bruins had game-breaking talent. There were not many Played the entire year on a torn hip labrum, which speaks to his teams that could silence the No. 1 line. Opponents quaked in their skates toughness and the work of the training staff … Was outstanding against when the second line followed up their first-line mates with even more Washington … Faded in Round 2 when his condition caught up to him … straight-line speed. Impossible to tell how the 34-year-old will recover following hip surgery.

The trouble was how a shortage of depth flared up in the playoffs. This Mike Reilly: B manifests in their year-end evaluations. Gave the Bruins desperately needed puck-moving touch following his Following are marks for how players who appeared in five or more arrival from Ottawa … Was good at getting shots on goal from the point games in 2020-21 performed within their job descriptions and … Not as sturdy a defender as the Bruins would prefer on the second expectations: pairing, but the sides have discussed an extension.

Brad Marchand: A+ Nick Ritchie: B

Finished third in league scoring behind Edmonton’s Connor McDavid and Set a career high with 15 goals … Was a good No. 2 left wing until Hall’s Leon Draisaitl with 29 goals and 40 assists … Led brilliantly in his first arrival… Worked the net-front well on the No. 1 power-play unit for most season as full-time alternate captain … Was second in shorthanded of the season … Hit the wall in the playoffs, when he scored just one goal goals (four) behind Ottawa’s Connor Brown … Still feels the effects of in Game 1 against Washington. 2020 sports hernia surgery. Brandon Carlo: B- Charlie McAvoy: A+ Tough injury luck, starting with a concussion via Tom Wilson and ending Took his biggest step yet as an offensive presence, incorporating top with a second via Cal Clutterbuck … Submitted good defensive work at power-play duties in the playoffs … Did everything his coaches asked five-on-five and penalty kill when healthy … Projection of his next him to do … Showed no signs of missing big brother Zdeno Chara. contract is blurry given his health and defense-first responsibilities.

Jeremy Swayman: A+ Connor Clifton: B-

Exceeded all expectations over 10 starts … Posted a .945 save Played himself squarely into Seattle’s crosshairs with a solid postseason percentage, highest of any goalie with 10-plus appearances … Likely to in which he played both left and right defense … Was reckless at times be the Game 1 starter in 2021-22. during the regular season, which cost him shifts … Even if he’s not in Seattle’s lineup, the Kraken could get something back via trade for the Patrice Bergeron: A cost-controlled (signed through 2023 at $1 million annually) right-shot Showed no signs of a slowdown, finishing as the team’s second-leading defenseman. scorer (23-25—48) … Led the way as first-year captain … Called it “great Trent Frederic: B- news” that his groin held up all year … Entering the final season of his contract. Made an excellent early impression, earning a roster spot when one was not guaranteed … Rapidly made a name for himself as a disciplined Taylor Hall: A agitator, which is not an easy thing to be … Missed time because of an Fulfilled all expectations after his arrival from Buffalo … Impressed his illness, but had gone quiet before then … Concerning how he hit the wall coaches and teammates with his 200-foot zone commitment … Both and never recovered. sides want to continue the partnership, with an extension happening after Steve Kampfer: B- the expansion draft. Was No. 9 on the defense depth chart at the start of the year… Played David Pastrnak: A- more often than expected because of injuries and filled his role when Returned with a thunderclap following hip surgery, scoring five goals and needed… Recovering from hand surgery. three assists in his first four games … Shortage of regular offseason Jeremy Lauzon: B- training may have caught up to him at times … Moved around on the power play after opponents prioritized taking away his one-timer… Started the season on the No. 1 pairing as McAvoy’s partner, exhibiting Should be back to full strength following a normal offseason. peaks-and-valleys play … Got behind after breaking his hand in Lake Tahoe… Limited puck play flared up at times, including overtime of Matt Grzelcyk: B+ Game 2 when his turnover led to Casey Cizikas’ breakaway winner… Overcame rotten early injury luck to settle in as McAvoy’s top-pairing Projects to be a third-pairing defender and penalty killer. partner … Created a superpair with McAvoy because of their combined Curtis Lazar: B- hockey IQ, quickness, speed and chemistry … Did not approach Torey Krug’s ceiling as a first-unit PP quarterback … Uncharacteristic puck Filled his role as No. 4 center and penalty killer after arriving from management in Game 6 led to two gut-punch goals against. Buffalo… Gave the fourth line some lift early at both sides of the rink… Will be OK after spraining his MCL and bruising his ACL in Round 2. David Krejci: B+ Jarred Tinordi: B- Did not score an even-strength goal until April 13. Probably not a coincidence that it was Hall’s first game as a Bruin … Came to life with Impressed his teammates by fighting Wilson after the Carlo incident in Hall on his left flank … Finished fourth on the team in scoring (8-36-44) his second game as a Bruin … Filled a need amid injuries when claimed … Signs point to a return if he wants to continue his NHL career. off waivers from Nashville … Played within his skill set.

Craig Smith: B+ Dan Vladar: B-

Started the year as the No. 3 right wing. Found his groove on the second Had a memorable NHL debut on March 16 against Pittsburgh, stopping line with Hall and Krejci … Fulfilled an elevated role after the Game 2 35 of 36 shots when the Bruins were staggering… Showed abilities to make eye-opening saves, although that isn’t necessarily a signal of sound positioning or tracking … Blew up in his last appearance for the career pace of 12 in 2018-19 … Acknowledged experiencing anxiety second straight season under awful circumstances … Requires waivers because of COVID-19 restrictions. to report to Providence in 2021-22. Jake DeBrusk: D- Jakub Zboril: C+ Scored just five goals, an unacceptable sum for a wing with his speed Was effective at the beginning next to Miller on the No. 3 pairing … and hands … Bounced all around the lineup at both left and right wing, Game started to unravel after Miller’s unavailability and his own upper- partly because of team need, but also because he couldn’t find traction in body injury … Struggled to stabilize performance once things went one spot … Needs to find offseason common ground with Bruce Cassidy poorly. or risk being moved … Felt the isolation of COVID-19 restrictions.

Jaroslav Halak: C The Athletic LOADED: 06.19.2021

Was a serviceable No. 2 until April, albeit not as sharp as he was in previous years … Was diagnosed with COVID-19 at the wrong time, too late to play himself back into the playoff mix … Might be at the end of his NHL road.

Karson Kuhlman: C

Spent part of training camp on the COVID-19 protocol list, which did not help his early-season traction … Delivered speed and energy whenever he played, but offense was not consistently there … Looks like the fourth line is his ceiling.

Greg McKegg: C

Spent most of the season on the taxi squad … Appeared in five games as a depth center and penalty killer… Not much offensive presence.

Anton Blidh: C-

Good teammate, hard worker and willing checker, but limited offensive touch … NHL future is as a fourth-liner and penalty killer, if that … Thursday, he signed a one-year deal for $750,00.

Charlie Coyle: C-

Played through a knee injury all year, which explains the overall quietness of his game … Was missing the last gear of his power and explosiveness, keys to his puck-possession approach in the offensive zone … Was on the ice for 12 five-on-five goals against in the playoffs.

Charlie Coyle had 16 points in 51 games this season and was a minus-8 in 11 postseason games. (Bob DeChiara/ USA Today)

John Moore: C-

Started as the No. 8 defenseman on the depth chart … Got into five games because of injuries, but was shut down following hip surgery … Signed through 2023 at $2.75 million annually.

Zach Senyshyn: C-

Went unclaimed on waivers at the end of camp … Showed good pace in his first game on March 11 against the Rangers, but a lower-body injury knocked him out for two weeks … Was not noticeable upon his return.

Jack Studnicka: C-

Disappointing second pro season after indicating he was ready for full- time NHL play … In retrospect, was put in a tough spot at right wing instead of center, his natural position … Has to make a big step in 2021- 22.

Urho Vaakanainen: C-

Showed bursts of efficiency with his positioning, puck play and awareness … Could not gain the full-time trust of the coaches because of his occasional lack of urgency … Facing a make-or-break season.

Sean Kuraly: D+

Puzzling why such a key bottom-six contributor faded as fourth-line center … Was better at left wing, where he could apply his straight-line speed … Columbus could push for the Ohio native.

Anders Bjork: D

Did not score enough to be a top-six presence. Did not defend reliably enough to be a bottom-six forward and penalty killer. Ultimately paid the price by being moved in the Hall trade … Remains to be seen whether his hockey sense will align with his speed and skill in Buffalo.

Chris Wagner: D

Skating wasn’t as strong as in past years, which cost him his lineup spot 10 times during the regular season … Scored only two goals, well off his 1216006 Buffalo Sabres Rick Martin, Gil Perreault, and Rene Robert combined for 131 goals in the 1974-75 season.

Robert scored at least 21 goals in all seven of his full seasons with Rene Robert, Sabres 'French Connection' right winger, suffers heart Buffalo and cracked the 30 mark five times. But his career with the team attack ended on Oct. 5, 1979, when new coach/GM quickly made his mark on the club by dealing Robert to the Colorado Rockies for defenseman John van Boxmeer, who helped the Sabres reach the Stanley Cup semifinals in 1980. Mike Harrington Jun 18, 2021 Updated 8 hrs ago Playing for former Boston coach and major Buffalo rival Don Cherry,

Robert scored 28 goals for the Rockies in the 1979-80 season before Rene Robert, the right winger on the Buffalo Sabres' famed "French getting traded to Toronto the next year. He finished his career in 1981- Connection" line of the 1970s, is seriously ill after suffering a massive 82, scoring 13 goals for the Leafs. heart attack Tuesday. He is listed in critical but stable condition in a Buffalo News LOADED: 06.19.2021 hospital in Port Charlotte on Florida's west coast.

Robert, 72, has lived in Western New York at least part-time for nearly 50 years, and has split most of his time in recent years between Williamsville and Punta Gorda, Fla. He is a native of Trois-Rivieres, Quebec. Sources confirmed Robert's situation to The News and said he is on life support systems awaiting further procedures on his heart.

Robert's family members, including his two children, are at his side and a family spokesperson asked Sabres fans for privacy and prayers Friday night.

Robert was acquired from Pittsburgh in a nondescript trade for Eddie Shack on March 4, 1972, and was eventually placed on a line with center Gilbert Perreault and left wing Rick Martin. They became the focal point of Buffalo's unlikely 1973 playoff team and the 1975 Stanley Cup finalists, and were the NHL's dominant line throughout the '70s.

Rene Robert (14) joins fellow French Connection linemates Rick Martin (7) and Gilbert Perreault in greeting prior to the new owner's first game on Feb. 23, 2011 in then-First Niagara Center. Martin died three weeks later.

James P. McCoy

Perreault turned 70 in November. Martin died in 2011 at 59 after suffering a heart attack while driving in Clarence.

Perreault's iconic No. 11 was retired by the Sabres in 1990 while Robert's No. 14 and Martin's No. 7 were retired in a joint ceremony in 1995. A French Connection banner that flew in the Aud keeping the three of them together was moved to then-Marine Midland Arena when it opened in 1996. The players were immortalized by a bronze statue unveiled on the arena's Alumni Plaza in 2012.

Robert played eight of his 12 NHL seasons in Buffalo, collecting 222 goals, 330 assists and 552 points. He currently is ninth in franchise history in goals, fifth in assists and sixth in points.

His best offensive season was the '74-'75 campaign, when he collected career highs in goals, assists and points with a stat line of 40-60-100. It was the first 100-point season in franchise history and is one of just six in the club's 51 seasons.

Rene Robert vs. New York Rangers in 1976.

Elected to the Sabres Hall of Fame in 1989 and the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame in 1994, Robert was listed No. 11 in a list of the Sabres' "Golden" team, the top 50 players in franchise history chosen by The News. It was released in 2019 in advance of the club's 50th anniversary season.

Robert was a clutch player for Buffalo in the playoffs, scoring 22 goals with 17 assists in 47 postseason games. Robert's Sabres career is most remembered for his three playoff overtime goals and the most well- known in the hockey world was his game-winner in the famous "Fog Game," Game 3 of the 1975 Stanley Cup Final in the overheated Memorial Auditorium against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Robert's other's iconic goal came in Game 5 of the first round in 1973 at the as he streaked through the faceoff circle and beat Canadiens goaltender Ken Dryden at 9:18 of OT to give the Sabres a 3-2 win. The victory in the first overtime game in franchise history put Buffalo on the national hockey map and got the Sabres within 3-2 in the series. It brought things back to the Aud, where Montreal wrapped up the series in Game 6 in the "Thank You, Sabres" game as the crowd saluted the team with a spontaneous chant as the clock ticked away. 1216007 Buffalo Sabres

Sabres legend Rene Robert, one of ‘French Connection’ trio, has serious heart attack

By John Vogl Jun 18, 2021

Rene Robert, the Sabres legend who is immortalized with a statue outside Buffalo’s arena and his name in the rafters, has suffered a serious heart attack in Florida, according to multiple sources. It is believed to be life-threatening.

Despite spending part of the year down south, the 72-year-old Robert has remained a fixture in western New York since arriving via trade in 1972. The Quebec native was an instant hit in Buffalo, joining center Gilbert Perreault and left wing Rick Martin to form “The French Connection,” one of the most feared lines in NHL history.

Robert scored 40 goals in his first full season and helped lead Buffalo to the Stanley Cup Final in his third. It was just the fifth year of existence for the franchise, and the rapid ascent fueled by The French Connection helped turn the Sabres into an essential part of life in Buffalo.

Robert scored the overtime goal in the famous Fog Game during the 1975 Final, shooting through the mist to give Buffalo a victory over Philadelphia in Game 3. The Flyers won the series in six games, but it was the start of a long run of success for the Sabres.

“He was the missing piece of The French Connection,” Rip Simonick, the Sabres’ equipment manager since Day 1 of the franchise, said by phone Friday. “We were the worst team in the league the year before, but it goes to show you if you put three solid players together, you could go as far as they can carry you.

“Those guys were great as The French Connection, so the competition in practice was just as hard as the games and maybe harder. They had to practice against Don Luce, Craig Ramsay and Danny Gare, so they all honed their skills to become great combinations. That top six was the top six of any era. It was a pleasure to watch.”

Robert spent eight seasons in Buffalo and skated toward the top of the franchise scoring list. His 552 points, recorded in just 524 games, rank sixth all time. Robert is fifth with 330 assists and ninth with 222 goals.

But it was more than just numbers. Perreault, Martin and Robert gave the Sabres an identity in the NHL and on the streets of Buffalo. They were matinee idols, instantly recognizable in restaurants and clubs.

Robert parlayed that into commercials that continue today. His face and pearly whites can be seen in dental implant ads that frequent Buffalo airwaves.

His family has long owned season tickets to the Sabres, allowing them to look up at his name and number. The organization retired his No. 14 in November 1995, six years after inducting him into the team’s Hall of Fame.

Robert reached bronze status in 2012. The Sabres unveiled a French Connection statue outside the doors of KeyBank Center, making it the centerpiece of Alumni Plaza. It is swarmed by picture-taking fans before home games and during off days.

Robert is the second member of the trio to suffer a heart attack. Martin died in a one-car crash in 2011 after having a heart attack while driving. He was 59.

“Every time there is something that involves Gilbert and I and we talk about The French Connection, he’s missed,” Robert said at the statue unveiling.

The Athletic LOADED: 06.19.2021 1216008 Chicago Blackhawks “It’s not about Aldrich’s conduct,” Loggans said. “It’s about the Blackhawks subjecting a young person to the influence of somebody in a control position, namely the video coach, and subjecting the players to a hostile and dangerous environment. Chicago Blackhawks reportedly did not call police about sexual assault allegations in 2010, and the NHLPA declined to get involved, a former “And they became aware of it and hushed it up so that it wouldn’t player’s lawyer says interfere their playoff chances and the Stanley Cup.”

In June 2010, the month after the allegations against Aldrich surfaced, the Hawks beat the Philadelphia Flyers in six games to win the first of By PHIL THOMPSON three championships in a six-year span.

JUN 18, 2021 AT 6:00 PM Loggans also said the players union took a hands-off approach to her client’s original complaint.

“He just reported it to them to see if they would assist him in trying to get Chicago Blackhawks senior management allegedly decided against the Blackhawks to do something,” she said. “He did contact the players calling police after being informed of two players’ sexual assault association, and they didn’t get involved.” allegations against a former video coach, according to a report by TSN’s Rick Westhead, citing an unnamed source. According to her client, “They said it was between them and the Blackhawks.” The attorney representing one of the players in a lawsuit against the Hawks said she was aware of the meeting. “It wasn’t news to me,” The Hawks’ motion this week to dismiss John Doe 1′s lawsuit is based on attorney Susan E. Loggans told the Tribune on Friday. arguments that the plaintiff didn’t exhaust all “administrative remedies” under state law and that he allowed various statutes of limitations to The Hawks did not immediately respond to an emailed request for lapse. comment from the Tribune, and a team spokesman declined to comment to TSN, citing the ongoing lawsuit. Attorney Mike Hughes, a partner with Smith Amundsen who works with employers in labor and employment cases, said the Blackhawks “raised Loggans added that her client sought help from the NHL Players some pretty legitimate defenses.” Association at the time and alleged that “they rebuked him. They did nothing about it.” “None of my analysis goes to whether or not the underlying abuse alleged happened or whether or not the Blackhawks acted appropriately Jonathan Weatherdon, NHLPA senior director of communications, when those issues were raised to the team,” Hughes added. “What they declined via email to comment on behalf of the union, “as this matter is have here are defenses based on civil procedure.” subject to pending litigation between the player and his former NHL organization.” The Hawks said in their motion that the plaintiff first had to pursue his negligence claim under the Illinois Human Rights Act and Illinois Loggans’ client, a former member of the 2009-10 Stanley Cup Worker’s Compensation Act. championship team, sued the Hawks last month, alleging the team was negligent and refused to act when he brought sexual assault allegations “If you are sexually harassed by your employer, you can’t just go into against then-video coach Bradley Aldrich to their attention. court and sue,” Hughes said. “You have to follow the parameters of the Illinois Human Rights Act. You have to file a charge of discrimination with In the suit, the unnamed plaintiff alleges that Aldrich sent inappropriate the Illinois Department of Human Rights or the EEOC (U.S. Equal text messages, turned on porn and masturbated in front of him and Employment Opportunity Commission).” threatened him “if plaintiff did not engage in sexual activity.” The John Doe suit alleges that while the assault and the team’s The plaintiff said he reported the May 2010 incidents to mental skills negligence in handling his complaint occurred in 2010, the Hawks coach James Gary but Gary convinced him the encounters were his own “fraudulently concealed” his report and he suppressed the memory of the fault and the Hawks opted not to take action against Aldrich, according to episode until July 2019. the complaint. Loggans said she disagreed with the Hawks’ arguments. That same month, according to TSN, senior management held a meeting that included then-Blackhawks President John McDonough, general “He has a right to file a civil case regardless of what other remedies manager Stan Bowman, vice president of hockey operations Al MacIsaac available to him,” she said. “There is no legal requirement that you have and Gary. The report states that then-skills coach Paul Vincent told team to do anything before filing a civil case.” executives two players had accused Aldrich of sexual assault and requested they contact the sex crimes division of the Chicago police, and Asked about the Hawks’ statute of limitations argument, she said: “The that the request was denied. Catholic Church waived in many cases because they recognize that if in fact a priest did sexually molest people, that they have a moral obligation Loggans said she wasn’t surprised to see new reports about how the to compensate them. team handled the allegations. “The Blackhawks are just trying to use legal maneuvers to get out of it “This is what happens in these cases, that people keep quiet and then because they don’t want to accept responsibility for what happened.” when they see that it’s coming up they decide that they want to tell the truth,” she said. Chicago Tribune LOADED: 06.19.2021

In a statement released last month after the lawsuit was filed, the Hawks said that the allegations “lacked merit.” Earlier this week, the Blackhawks filed a motion to dismiss the suit.

Loggans also represents a former Michigan high school hockey player, “John Doe 2,” in a second lawsuit against the Hawks. That suit contends that the team failed to investigate Aldrich when the first plaintiff, “John Doe 1,” and his teammate made sexual assault allegations and that the team also provided positive references about Aldrich to future employers.

Aldrich, who became an assistant coach at Houghton (Mich.) High School, pleaded guilty in December 2013 to having sexual contact with a student who later sued the Blackhawks as John Doe 2. Aldrich was sentenced to nine months in jail and five years of probation and was ordered to register as a sex offender.

John Doe 1 said in his suit that in July 2019 he recalled suppressed memories about Aldrich after learning of the Michigan conviction. 1216009 Columbus Blue Jackets “Oh, yeah, that’s a good one,” Danforth said. “I’ve always played the game with grit and a very high compete level. And I’ve always had speed.”

Grégory Hofmann and Justin Danforth getting long-awaited opportunity The Athletic caught up with each player this week to discuss his journey with Blue Jackets to the NHL and how much it means to finally get here.

Grégory Hofmann: Long overdue

By Aaron Portzline Jun 18, 2021 Hofmann’s agent, Claude Lemieux, joined the conversation when Hofmann was asked how long it’s been since he felt like he was capable of playing in the NHL.

With so much turbulence in store for the Blue Jackets over the next six “Can I answer that question?” Lemieux interjected. weeks, it’s hard to imagine what the lineup might look like when the puck drops on the 2021-22 season in the fall. “This probably should have happened six or seven years ago. That’s how much I think about Grégory and his ability. You can look at this kid’s Seth Jones is likely to be traded. Patrik Laine could be on the move. One numbers going all the way back to (2012-13) when the NHL was locked of the goaltenders, Joonas Korpisalo or Elvis Merzlikins, is on the trade out. He’s playing with (Joe) Thornton and (Rick) Nash and hanging with block, too. The expansion draft will take a player, the entry draft could them. He was a kid, and they were grown-ups. He held his own.” add a player (or two), and we should all be wise enough to expect the unexpected. Hofmann was drafted by Carolina (fourth round, No. 103 overall) in the 2011 draft but attempted to play in North America only once. That was in But while all of this swirls and seizes headlines, there are two intriguing 2017, when he attended Hurricanes training camp and returned to players certain to be Blue Jackets next season, two 28-year-old forwards Switzerland when he was cut before the start of the season. who have waited a long time and taken a winding path to finally reach the NHL. It can be a difficult balance for top European players: They’re paid handsomely in some of the world’s best leagues and provided On Monday, forward Grégory Hofmann signed a one-year contract worth apartments, cars, etc., beyond their paychecks. $900,000. Last month, center Justin Danforth signed a one-year contract worth $750,000. Both one-way NHL deals, meaning each player is likely It’s not the NHL, but it’s high living and it’s hockey, and players would pegged for a roster spot in Columbus. rather exist in that world than come to North America and play their way up through the minor leagues, making far less money and riding buses “We think both of these guys are NHL-caliber talents, obviously,” Blue from city to city. Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said recently. “They have the ability to play at the next level and really help us, and they’ve earned Hofmann was waiting on a one-way contract before he would give up a the opportunity. good life in Switzerland, and Carolina wouldn’t budge from two-way offers. Rather than bend their standards or waste an asset, the “We’ve watched them play a ton of games … so many games our scouts Hurricanes were willing to trade Hofmann’s rights. The Blue Jackets sent have watched them play. The talent is there, for sure.” a seventh-round pick in 2022 to Carolina in February.

Not since the early days of the franchise — think David Vyborny, Espen “I was drafted by Carolina but never really got a chance like Columbus Knutsen, etc. — have the Blue Jackets so aggressively mined top has given me for next season,” Hofmann said. “I’ve played some good veteran players in Europe. They can only hope it works as well this time. hockey, but there was not too much interest from Carolina.

Hofmann is 5-foot-10 and 180 pounds. He’s never played a professional “When Columbus came with this trade … after that, everything became game outside of Switzerland but has dominated that country’s league in more clear in my head.” recent seasons, averaging almost a point a game over the past four seasons with Lugano and Zug EV. Hofmann spent four seasons playing with Merzlikins in Lugano, and he said he’s been talking with Merzlikins about life in Columbus and life in “It’s been a long wait for a contract to come over,” Hofmann said. “I’m the NHL. He plans to arrive in Columbus in August to get acclimated to really, really excited, just can’t wait to be there and to pursue the big the city and to skate with some of his new teammates. dream that every hockey player has. I’ve been watching Blue Jackets games for a while now, and I’m ready to come over there and show The Blue Jackets view him as a top-nine or top-six talent, likely at left myself and play some great hockey.” wing. A training camp race between Hofmann and fellow speedsters Liam Foudy and Eric Robinson could draw a crowd in Nationwide. Danforth is 5-9 and 180 pounds. He played more games in the ECHL (47) than in the AHL (21) before heading to Europe three seasons ago, Justin Danforth: A (really) late bloomer where he was the leading scorer on his club all three seasons — the first Danforth, from Oshawa, Ontario, was too small, he said, to even think two with Rauma in Finland, then with Podolsk Vityaz in Russia’s about playing major-junior in Canada, so he played in the Ontario Junior KHL. league with the dream of landing a scholarship to a U.S. college. “I’ve worked hard for this a very long time now,” Danforth said. “To get an It worked. He spent four years at Sacred Heart University, becoming a opportunity, a legit opportunity … I’m just getting ready every day. I’m point-a-game player during his final two seasons. The harsh reality hit enjoying my summer, but I’m dialed in for the task ahead.” right after school, though, when Danforth’s only offer was a tryout The Athletic took a sampling of opinions from scouts or coaches who contract with the ECHL’s . know each player well, asking for an NHL comparison. That is: If After three games in Reading and one as a call-up with AHL Bridgeport, Hofmann and Danforth are able to thrive in the NHL, which current player Danforth signed an AHL contract with Rochester in the Buffalo Sabres would they most resemble? organization. He spent most of the following season with ECHL Hofmann generated two responses: Mike Hoffman (no relation and Cincinnati, lit up the league — 28-31-59 in 44 games — and was named different spelling) of the St. Louis Blues and Ryan Dzingel of the Ottawa the league’s top rookie. Senators. In other words, not the biggest player and not a defensive “After that Cincinnati season … it’s tough at that age (25) and being whiz, but with excellent skating and offensive upside. undrafted to get a look, even a good look in the AHL,” Danforth said. “I’ve “My first mindset is just to work hard,” Hofmann said. “I’m more of an always wanted to play in Europe. The money’s good. You get to travel. offensive guy. I want to create. My weapon is my speed and my shot, “I could see the steps for what had to happen for me to get to the NHL, and I will absolutely use that.” but it was a long way away at that stage in my career. I still had a lot to Danforth drew an easier comparable: Colin Blackwell, a scrappy, bottom- learn. So keep playing hard, bringing that work ethic and keep going. I six energy generator who found a foothold with the New York Rangers went to Finland.” this season. Even Danforth enjoyed that comparison. The two seasons in Finland put him on NHL radars, including that of Blue Jackets scout Josef Boumedienne. Last season, Danforth signed with the KHL and continued to excel and gain the attention of NHL scouts. That attention, combined with conversations he had with KHL teammates who had played in the NHL (Alexander Semin, Mattias Tedenby and Kaspars Daugavins), inspired Danforth’s NHL aspirations.

“We were sitting around at Christmas, and I was having a good season, so I was just picking their brains,” Danforth said. “They thought I could play there.

“I just remember thinking, ‘Holy shit, this is within reach now.’ I called my parents all excited because they’ve been living this with me, too, right? I called them straight away, like, ‘Hey, this could happen.'”

Danforth went to off-season developmental camps with Florida and Buffalo, and he played in a prospects tournament with the Sabres. But he’d never been invited to an NHL training camp until he signed with the Blue Jackets, who see him as a third- or fourth-line center or winger.

“It’s definitely nerve-racking to make another jump, but it’s something I’ve worked at for a long time,” Danforth said. “My family has made a ton of sacrifices, so to see them happy and my grandparents happy, it makes me happy.

“They’re all so happy to have me back playing in North America again, but it’s the NHL, too. This is an exciting time, but there’s a lot of work to get done.”

The Athletic LOADED: 06.19.2021 1216010 Detroit Red Wings the game that I played the most -- in front of the net, down low, being a good 200-foot hockey player. Try to bring that into next season, do that consistently throughout the year.”

After Adam Erne’s emergence, Red Wings feel there’s ‘a lot more there’ Michigan Live LOADED: 06.19.2021

Posted Jun 17, 6:04 AM

By Ansar Khan

The Detroit Red Wings acquired Adam Erne in 2019 as a fourth-line, grinding, energy-type player.

They discovered this past season, when he tied for the team lead with 11 goals, that he is not limited to that role.

Erne, 26, tapped into some offensive potential the Tampa Bay Lightning believed he had when they drafted him 33rd overall in 2013, just three spots outside of the first round.

Steve Yzerman was the Lightning’s general manager at the time, and one of his first trades as Detroit GM was to acquire Erne for a fourth- round pick.

“I’ve gotten to know him since he was 18. I watched him work since his final years of junior, going to the American League, followed me to Detroit,” Yzerman said shortly after the season. “He’s really driven, he wants to be a good player in the NHL, he puts the time in, the work in. It was good to see he earned a bigger role on the team and thrived in it.

“I think we got a real good player who is a little bit of a different dimension -- a big, thick kid who’s got pretty good hands and can play a lot of different situations. I think there’s a lot more there. But I really like Adam’s determination and drive. We all feel good for him.”

Erne is among the Red Wings’ dozen or so restricted free agents. After signing a one-year deal for slightly less than $1 million in 2020, he is expected to ink a multiyear contract this offseason, which would keep him off the unrestricted market next summer.

Erne sees himself as part of the organization’s future.

“I think we’re a young team with some good veteran presence in the room,” he said. “As these young guys and everybody starts to gain some confidence, starts to gain some traction like we did this season every game and every practice, hopefully we can build some momentum.”

Erne spent most of the season on a line with Luke Glendening and Darren Helm, a unit kept intact far longer than any other.

“Those are two really hard-working guys,” Erne said. “A lot of nights we played against other teams’ top lines and we prided ourselves on not giving them much. We tried to keep it simple, get pucks behind their D, just kind of frustrate them, make them play in their zone.”

Erne also played the bumper role on the power play, scoring three goals to tie for the team lead.

Dylan Larkin said Erne plays the right way.

“Him, Glenny and Helmer had an identity to their line; the played hard, they were physical, they spent time in the O-zone by grinding it out and using each other,” Larkin said. “To see him have a good year we were all happy for him. As someone who’s a true professional, he comes to rink and does it right every day.”

Erne tallied 20 points in 45 games, equaling his career-high established in 65 games with Tampa Bay in 2018-19.

It was a significant step from his first season as a Red Wing, when he produced only two goals and five points in 56 games, posting a minus-24 rating.

“It definitely wasn’t the year I wanted last year,” Erne said. “I can’t blame it on anything in particular. I was happy to be able to bounce back this year and produce for the team and contribute more. I put in a lot of work in the offseason and plan to do it again this offseason.”

The feedback he received from Yzerman and coach Jeff Blashill was simple.

“Just continue to do what I was doing,” said Erne, who spends the offseason training at home in Connecticut. “I just tried to build on areas of 1216011 Detroit Red Wings by then. And if they do, the franchise’s culture and ability to get the whole group to buy in will be a major reason.

“In the end, when you play as a group and you play together in what’s Four lessons the Red Wings can learn from the NHL’s last 4 teams considered one of the ultimate team sports — because players can only standing go 45 seconds in a shift, so you need your teammates out there so much more and you have to play as a group,” Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper said Thursday. “You’ve gotta trust your teammates, you’ve gotta trust your process, and when players watch it pay off, some pretty special By Max Bultman Jun 18, 2021 things can happen. And that’s what you’ve just gotta teach along the way.”

In hockey, anything can be a referendum on how to win. And in playoff The lesson: Point-producing defensemen aren’t the only ones who can hockey, it seems like everything is. help drive offense.

Depending on the day, size can be either irrelevant or underrated. The In last year’s article, we touched on the Islanders’ identity: relentless, merits of analytics could be disproven or reaffirmed. Stars can be a cohesive and perfect for playoff hockey. prerequisite for success, or, if a team with several of them loses too So this year, we’ll focus on some of the players who make that identity soon, they can become an obstacle because of their cap hits. This time work: defensemen Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock. This year has been a of year is a narrative free-for-all — a mad scramble to figure out what to bit of a star turn for the pair, both of whom I strongly considered when praise (and copy) from this year’s eventual champion. filling out my Norris Trophy ballot this season. I didn’t end up putting The unsatisfying reality, of course, is that no single maxim will lead to the either on the ballot, but both would have been worthy despite not putting Stanley Cup. It takes a seemingly impossible amount of things going right up the gaudy totals Norris finalists typically carry. to win big in the NHL, and no one secret is the cause of that success. But The calling card of the Pelech-Pulock pair is defense, and for good that doesn’t mean rebuilding teams like the Red Wings can’t learn from reason: Among defensive pairings who played at least 150 five-on-five the ones who do reach those top heights. minutes together this season, they gave up the eighth-fewest expected Last year, we looked at one lesson the Red Wings could learn from each goals per 60 in the league at just 1.65, according to Evolving-Hockey. of the league’s final four teams. This year, three of those same teams That’s an elite mark. (Vegas, Tampa Bay and the Islanders) are right back in the semifinals, But they didn’t just suppress danger. Pelech and Pulock also helped the along with newcomer Montreal. Each took a different road, and, again, Islanders generate 2.66 expected goals for per 60 with them on the ice had many things go right. — good for 17th out of the 144 defense pairs who played at least 150 That’s why it’s no problem there are so many returners in this year’s final five-on-five minutes together this season, and even slightly better than four: They each have much more than just one thing to teach. pairs like Adam Fox and Ryan Lindgren of the Rangers, Roman Josi and Ryan Ellis in Nashville and Brayden McNabb and Shea Theodore in Tampa Bay Lightning Vegas.

The lesson: Sustained success requires culture as much as talent. Considering the point totals of some of those other names generating similar offensive danger, the fact Pulock had just 17 points this season To be frank, there’s no lesson the Red Wings can’t learn from the (and Pelech 14) stands out. Certainly, Pulock has a big shot he can Lightning, the NHL’s reigning champion and most talented team. unleash from the point and is capable of scoring more goals than he did Tampa has the league’s best goalie. It has the league’s best this season. But the Islanders’ standard-bearers are reminders that defensemen, plus three more mutants on the back end. It has a star top- defensemen don’t have to stack points at the level of Fox, Josi or line center, who may also be one of the sport’s most underrated players, Theodore (all excellent players and Norris candidates themselves) to and a recent MVP on his wing. It has a different Selke-caliber pivot and help their teams create offensive chances. former Rocket Richard-winning captain together on line two. It has a The highlight moments that end in goals and assists stick in our minds, checking line that can score. for good reason, but sometimes the timely pokecheck, crisp outlet pass The Lightning really do have everything. (And, yes, that is in part or keep at the offensive blue line is just as instrumental. Every little thing because a fortunately timed surgery helped make it all possible.) a defenseman does on the ice helps add up to whether his team is going to score or get scored on, tilt the ice for better or for worse, and, But beyond the sheer talent assembled in Tampa Bay, which speaks for ultimately, win or lose. itself, is an element that perhaps doesn’t get enough attention: the culture that allows that immense collection of star power to work Vegas Golden Knights together. The lesson: It’s OK to be aggressive acquiring stars — if you’re already Steven Stamkos, a No. 1 pick who at 31 is still putting up a point per on the cusp. game in these playoffs, is averaging just 16 minutes per night this The Golden Knights are a tricky team for an exercise like this because postseason. Tyler Johnson, himself 30 and once upon a time a playoff some parts of their formula are simply unrepeatable for existing teams. headliner for the Lightning, is dutifully plugging away on the fourth line, They built their roster through an expansion draft and had teams literally after a year in which he’s been waived and even healthy scratched on giving them players and draft picks in that process. That’s not the norm. the team’s banner night. And that’s to say nothing of the below-market salaries that Lightning players have taken (most famously Stamkos, but Further, some of their more interesting traits are not exactly lessons Brayden Point’s contract counts as a veritable steal too). you’d recommend a contender aim to mimic. You can file their lack of a star center in that column because though it’s true the Golden Knights “Part of the culture that we have here in Tampa is kind of that team-first have found success without a bona fide No. 1 pivot, the more mentality, and if you want to keep a good team together, guys are going overwhelming evidence suggests you do need at least one such player, if to have to make little sacrifices along the way,” Stamkos said in 2018. not two, to win big. “Whether that’s in terms of money or term or ice time or role on the team. And even this lesson may be a risky one for teams to emulate, with as-of- “That was something that — it’s kind of non-negotiable on this team, in yet unclear future ramifications: Since its early days, Vegas has shown terms of doing whatever it takes to help us keep the core together and (and thus far been rewarded for) a willingness to be aggressive in its keep being a productive team.” pursuit of stars. Three years later, those words ring as true as ever. The core has stayed In 2018-19, it was a big trade for Mark Stone, now the Golden Knights’ together. It has won together. And even now, when there’s no longer captain and one of the sport’s truly elite two-way players. This past enough ice time to give every Lightning player what they likely deserve, summer, it was a big-money signing in Alex Pietrangelo, a proven, Cup- they keep trucking along and doing the job. winning defenseman on the right side. Though the line of Jonathan The realities of the salary cap will come calling eventually, very likely this Marchessault, William Karlsson and Reilly Smith remains one of Vegas’ summer. But the Lightning might just have another ring on their fingers best assets, those two big fish acquired via free agency and trade are now the team’s headliners. And they didn’t have to wait through any kind of rebuild to get them.

The key, however, is that Vegas didn’t force this issue on a team that wasn’t prepared to win right away. Because though Stone and Pietrangelo are two of the Golden Knights’ best players, and may well lead them to a Cup, they’re also 29 and 31. This window won’t stay open forever, and if Vegas had made these moves before they were in position to take advantage, it might have missed out on the best years of the stars it paid so handsomely to acquire.

Players like Pietrangelo and Stone would make any team in the league better. But considering their age and the immense cost (in picks, prospects and cash) to acquire them, it’s only working out this well because the Golden Knights were already a clear-cut playoff team that just needed to get over the top.

That doesn’t apply to the Red Wings right now. Not yet.

So, take a run at Jack Eichel, Dougie Hamilton or Seth Jones? Probably not, unless it’s either too good an offer to refuse, or you’re going to make a series of additional moves to accelerate the contention timeline.

Detroit’s need for a star is clear, and at some point, the Red Wings may need to pursue avenues outside of trying to mine one from the draft. They may even need to give up major assets to do it.

But in hockey, as in life, timing is everything. And the Red Wings’ time is not now.

Montreal Canadiens

The lesson: Depth can overcome the lack of high-end star … in the right circumstances.

The Canadiens have some shared traits with the rest of this group. Like Vegas, they lack a true star center. Like the Islanders, they have a strong, playoff-suited defense corps despite only featuring one high- scoring blueliner in Jeff Petry. And like every team in this year’s final four, they have an elite goaltender keeping them in games.

They also arrived in the final four via the much-maligned North Division, after having the worst regular season of all the 2021 playoff teams, which means plenty will question whether they’re a team from which it’s really worth trying to learn. And, frankly, it’s entirely conceivable the Canadiens don’t make the playoffs next season, once the divisions return to normal.

In fairness, Montreal beat a good Toronto team and then swept a Jets group that snuffed out the league’s brightest stars to get here. And the Canadiens sit knotted with Vegas as the series turns to their home rink. They’ve had a strange road to this point, but they’ve done all you can ask of a team and beaten the players across from them.

And one of the ways they’ve done it, even without a superstar forward, has been by getting contributions from every spot in the lineup.

Montreal has top-six-caliber forwards scattered throughout its top three lines, including Phillip Danault, Brendan Gallagher, Nick Suzuki, , Cole Caufield and Josh Anderson. And in the playoffs, the three forwards who compose the Canadiens’ fourth line — Joel Armia, Eric Staal and Corey Perry — are all among Montreal’s top-five scorers.

That kind of balance means Montreal can score no matter who’s on the ice. And the line of Suzuki, Toffoli and Caufield is a pretty good one to throw out when they desperately need a goal, too.

Like Vegas, you could look at the Canadiens and attempt to conclude they prove you don’t need a star top center to win. But in Suzuki and Danault, Montreal still has two pretty darn good ones — especially with regard to their defensive completeness. They go a long way toward delivering the balance the Canadiens need, and at age 21, Suzuki may well develop that bona fide top-center reputation in the coming years.

Time will tell whether this Canadiens group can make this kind of run again, under more normal circumstances. Maybe, like Vegas last offseason, they’ll even determine the time is right to go chase that superstar headliner.

Or maybe, if Carey Price falls short of a .930 save percentage, this whole approach would crumble.

That’s the risk of searching for concrete lessons in a chaotic game.

The Athletic LOADED: 06.19.2021 1216012 Edmonton Oilers 361 4

52 What will Oilers do if they must replace Oscar Klefbom? 2.8

2.8 By Allan Mitchell Jun 18, 2021 2018-19

398 If Oscar Klefbom is unable to return to the Oilers this fall, general manager Ken Holland has no clear path to replacing him for the $4.167 3 million cap hit the veteran has earned during his current contract. 42 It would be a terrible turn for player, organization and fans. -2.1 The lack of news has fans’ imaginations running wild, and it appears most believe Klefbom will be unable to play out the final two seasons 2.1 (2021-22 and 2022-23) with each day that passes. 2019-20

My lasting memory of Klefbom will forever be his ability to carry the puck 368 up the ice, winding in a serpentine fashion before choosing a deft pass or carry as he approached centre ice. 3

Klefbom possessed (and may still possess) the complete package: 44 Enough skill to make a difference with the puck, enough defensive acumen and ruggedness to battle successfully across all areas of -2.4 defending and coverage. 2.3

When healthy, Klefbom was the best defenceman on the team by some His stellar play against elite competition kept the best opponents under margin. three goals per 60 in all but his sophomore season. In 2016-17, the year Oilers fans would love to see that Klefbom again, but as spring prepares the Oilers had a legit playoff run, Klefbom was at his suppression best. to give way to summer, there’s gathering apprehension. Offence

The radio airwaves and the online voices are full of names who might Klefbom has been a productive five-on-five player with the puck during replace a portion of Klefbom’s considerable ability, but there are none his time with Edmonton, leading regular defencemen in points per 60 in who can deliver the same quality across all skills on a value deal like the the discipline in 2014-15 (0.85) and 2015-16 (1.09). one Edmonton signed with Klefbom. On the power play, Klefbom was highly productive and spent much of his How good was he? time on the No. 1 unit. For his Oilers career, he posted 7-49-56 with the The best way to show Klefbom’s importance to the mid-2010s Oilers is man advantage, delivering 3.89 points per 60. via Puck IQ. The site measures five-on-five time on ice against elites and Klefbom’s ability to pass the puck was a key to his success with the measures performance using DFF percentage (smart Corsi) by giving Oilers, and as was the case with the entire roster, his totals spiked with extra value to close shots and high-danger chances. Klefbom, when the arrival of Connor McDavid. healthy, has been a quality player. In most cases over several years, Klefbom was the best option to play YEAR TOI V ELITES RANK DFF PCT DFF with the high-skill forwards because he was such a good passer. REL GA-60 V ELITES Ice time 2014-15 The single most effective way to ascertain what the head coach thinks of 388 an individual player is time on ice. In Klefbom’s career, injuries have 2 impacted his yearly ice time totals, but his per game TOI reflects just how much each head coach valued him. 44 YEAR OVERALL (RANK) EV TOI (RANK) PP TOI (RANK) 3.5 PK TOI (RANK)

2.6 2013-14

2015-16 15:44 (9)

226 14:58 (6)

7 00:09 (10)

50 00:37 (10)

10.2 2014-15

3.2 21:58 (2)

2016-17 19:46 (1)

491 00:27 (4)

2 1:45 (3)

49 2015-16

0.3 21:51 (1)

2 17:20 (3)

2017-18 1:52 (4) 2:39 (1) Darnell Nurse

2016-17 20:11

22:21 (1) 49.7

18:10 (3) 21:45

2:31 (1) 58.5

1:40 (3) Ethan Bear

2017-18 19:11

22:49 (1) 49

17:49 (3) 15:33

2:45 (1) 48.2

2:15 (2) Oscar Klefbom

2018-19 18:58

23:58 (1) 45.1

19:31 (2) Adam Larsson

1:48 (4) 17:54

1:48 (4) 48.6

2019-20 17:14

25:24 (1) 51.5

18:58 (3) Kris Russell

3:39 (1) 14:19

2:34 (1) 48.9

Klefbom spent five seasons as the top defenceman on the club in terms 16:12 of ice time. That’s a lot to lose to injury for one season, and it would be a mammoth problem if Klefbom doesn’t return at all. 50

His utility made him an answer in all three game states; a complete Caleb Jones defenceman. 13:50

The Oilers had a good season in 2020-21, aided partially by Tyson 49.1 Barrie’s willingness to sign a one-year value contract. 12:55 What will Holland do if Klefbom can’t return? 37.9 Where did the Oilers miss Klefbom most? Matt Benning As Holland heads into the expansion draft and free agency, he’ll know where Klefbom stands in terms of a return to action. Ideally, Klefbom 12:28 gives the thumbs up and it’s full speed ahead. 60 Should that occur, expect Edmonton to go 8-1 at the expansion draft, Tyson Barrie protecting forwards Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Jesse Puljujarvi and Kailer Yamamoto, defencemen Darnell Nurse, Klefbom, Ethan Bear and 17:44 possibly Adam Larsson if he signs before the expansion draft. 53.6 Caleb Jones would be the obvious selection if Larsson doesn’t sign, but reading the tea leaves, that appears to be something less than a lock. Dmitry Kulikov The goalie protected could be any of Mikko Koskinen, Alex Stalock or 16:38 Stuart Skinner, depending on how the Oilers wish to proceed at the position. 53.9

The team’s PK worked well in 2020-21, finishing first in the North Division Evan Bouchard with 6.16 goals-against per hour, via Natural Stat Trick. Coach Dave Tippett used a four-man rotation (Nurse, Kris Russell, Larsson, Bear) and 13:49 deployed third-pairing options Slater Koekkoek and William Lagesson to 42.9 replace Klefbom’s minutes until Dmitry Kulikov arrived via trade. William Lagesson The power play led the NHL in goals per 60, with Barrie posting a 7.07 points per 60 total to finish No. 4 among all NHL defencemen in the 12:49 category. The Oilers may not have Barrie next season, so Klefbom’s return would have filled a void. Nurse and Evan Bouchard are candidates 50 to replace Klefbom-Barrie, but the efficiency of the team may drop with Skater Koekkoek the man advantage. 11:05 At even strength, Edmonton had a tough time replacing Klefbom in 2020- 21. 25

PLAYER 2019-20 TOI 2019-20 GOAL DIFF Tippett auditioned a large group of left-side defencemen for the second 2020-21 TOI 2020-21 GOAL DIFF pairing, with Larsson representing the right side of the duo. It began with Jones on opening night, followed by a rotating group of youngsters and veterans then finally settled on Kulikov after his acquisition.

For the season, Larsson spent 257 even-strength minutes with Russell (47 percent goal differential), 209 minutes with Lagesson (50 percent), 150 minutes with Kulikov (67 percent) and 142 minutes with Jones (42 percent).

Kulikov doesn’t land in Edmonton if Tippett is satisfied with any internal options.

Finding the fix

If Holland returns Nurse, Bear, Larsson (as rumoured) and Russell, Edmonton should be able to cover off the penalty-killing minutes.

The power play may fall to Nurse for a time, with Bouchard poised to take time away as he gets acclimated.

Even strength is the issue, and if Klefbom can’t go, Holland and Tippett have to decide between Jones, Lagesson and Russell — or go outside the organization.

What could it look like?

Edmonton needs an even-strength workhorse who can be signed short term (Dmitri Samorukov and Philip Broberg might be less than a year away) and play on the second pair. Who is it?

Kulikov is the easy answer. He got results during the regular season with Larsson, despite some chaos (as I mentioned in the year-end report card). He struggled in the playoffs, but fans may remember Igor Ulanov having a tough time after the 2000 trade deadline acquisition, but flourishing the following year.

That’s a reasonable, lower-cost bet.

Free agency offers limited options for Edmonton beyond Kulikov, with the most attractive options (Alec Martinez, Jamie Oleksiak, Derek Forbert) likely signed to contracts that exceed actual value by a significant margin.

A possible loud noise

One player to keep in mind is Barrie. If Klefbom doesn’t return, the LTIR money can be applied to Barrie’s contract, thus bringing him back for a year (or longer) on a more generous contract.

If Holland makes that move, it will put him in a difficult spot with the rest of the right-side depth chart. Signing Barrie would impact one of Larsson (may not be re-signed), Bear (could be traded) or Bouchard (he has to play, inconceivable the Oilers would trade him).

It might come down to dealing Bear on the downbeat, possibly for a left- side defenceman of similar value. As righties are unicorns in hockey, Holland could make a deal fairly easily for a solid return.

Trading Bear would be a mistake, despite some struggles last season. He’s young, owns a value contract and can play against elite competition, according to Puck IQ.

If Klefbom can’t return next season, it will put Holland in a tough spot, and the chances of making a decision that sets back the organization increases. The promise of summer remains, but there may be clouds on the horizon.

We wait.

The Athletic LOADED: 06.19.2021 1216013 Florida Panthers

After career year, Panthers C Aleksander Barkov wins Selke Trophy for first major award

BY DAVID WILSON

JUNE 18, 2021 07:55 PM

Aleksander Barkov put together the best season of his still-young career this year. Now the Florida Panthers’ captain also has recognition in the form of his first major trophy.

Barkov won the Frank J. Selke Trophy on Friday. The award is given annually to the NHL’s best defensive forward, as voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association.

It’s a fitting honor for Barkov, who has had a reputation as one of the league’s best two-way forwards ever since he was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. While he has only been to one NHL All-Star Game, Barkov perennially had a reputation as one of the league’s most underrated players because of the end-to-end work he does that doesn’t always show up on the stat sheet.

There was no All-Star Game during the 2020-21 NHL season, but Barkov, 25, certainly would’ve been picked for it as he put together a breakout season to lead the Panthers to the traditional 16-team Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since 2016. The star center set a new career mark with 0.52 goals per game in the shortened 56-game schedule and averaged 1.16 points per game. He also managed a career-best 54.9 win percentage on faceoffs and ranked ninth among forwards in time on ice at 20:56 per game.

The Finnish forward played significant minutes in all three phases for Florida, which set a franchise record for points percentage and tied a franchise record for goal differential. He played 4:02 per game on the power play and 1:25 on the penalty kill. He led all Panthers forwards in time on ice and takeaways, and ranked second in blocked shots. Barkov also led Florida forwards in Corsi percentage — the Panthers attempted 59.4 percent of all shots while he was on the ice for 5-on-5 action.

Barkov was a first-time finalist for the Selke Trophy and beat out Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron and Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mark Stone for the award.

The trophy is Barkov’s second in the NHL. In 2019, he won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, which is given out annually to the “player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability.”

After leading the Panthers to a second-place finish in the Central Division, Barkov is set to enter the final year of his contract. Last month, he expressed interest in reaching an extension with Florida and general manager Bill Zito said it’s “paramount” for the organization to figure out a long-term deal for its best player.

Miami Herald LOADED: 06.19.2021 1216014 Florida Panthers

Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov wins Selke Trophy as top forward on defense

By MALLORY SCHNELL

JUN 18, 2021 AT 8:36 PM

The Florida Panthers’ captain and star center, Aleksander Barkov, was named the recipient of the 2020-21 Frank J. Selke Trophy Friday night.

The award recognizes “the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game,” as selected by the Professional Hockey Writers Association.

Barkov was first in the voting by a landslide, with 62 first-place votes, 16 second-place votes and seven third-place votes.

Also finalists for the award were Patrice Bergeron of the Boston Bruins and Mark Stone of the Vegas Golden Knights. Bergeron came in second place with 15 first-place votes, 30 second-place votes and 24 third-place votes. Stone came in third (11-26-23).

“This recognition of Sasha’s ability stands as a testament to his growth as a player and as a leader,” Panthers General Manager Bill Zito said in a press release. “The Florida Panthers organization is tremendously proud of our captain’s achievements. The Selke Trophy is synonymous with sacrifice, and over the past eight seasons Sasha has demonstrated time and again that he is willing to do what it takes for the team to succeed.”

Barkov, 25, led the Panthers with 26 goals this season, 126 shots on goal and total time on ice with 1,046 minutes, 52 seconds. He also recorded 32 assists and 39 takeaways. In the faceoff dot, Barkov was ranked 10th in the NHL in total face-offs with 1,026, posting a 54.9 win percentage.

After winning the Lady Byng Trophy in 2018-19, Barkov becomes the fifth player in NHL history with career Selke and Lady Byng Trophy wins, joining Pavel Datsyuk, Ron Francis, Anze Kopitar and Ryan O’Reilly.

Sun Sentinel LOADED: 06.19.2021 1216015 Florida Panthers Florida Hockey Now LOADED: 06.19.2021

Sasha Barkov wins first Selke Trophy for Florida Panthers

Published 9 hours ago on June 18, 2021By George Richards

Sasha Barkov is officially underrated no more. On Friday, the captain of the Florida Panthers was named the winner of the Frank J. Selke Trophy which goes to the NHL forward who “demonstrates the most skill in the defensive component of the game.’’

Barkov, who recently completed his eighth NHL season, beat out Boston’s Patrice Bergeron and Mark Stone of the Vegas Golden Knights for the award.

“He’s had a tremendous year,” coach Joel Quenneville said before the start of the playoffs.

“I think Barky represents being a 200-foot player more than anybody in the game. His speed at both sides, both ways, he’s exemplified that consistency as well. He’s had a special year in a lot of ways.”

Barkov was named on 92 of the 100 ballots, including 62 first-place selections, for 780 voting points, ahead of Bergeron.

It is the first major player award won by a Florida player since Aaron Ekblad was named the league’s top rookie in 2015.

Jonathan Huberdeau also won the Calder Trophy in 2013.

Barkov previously won the Lady Byng Trophy which goes to the player who “exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability” in 2019.

Brian Campbell also won the Lady Byng in 2012.

Other Florida Panthers to win a postseason award are Jaromir Jagr (the Masterton Trophy in 2016) and Pavel Bure (Rocket Richard for most goals in 2000 and 2001).

Bill Zito is a finalist for the Jim Gregory Trophy for the GM of the Year. That award will be announced Sunday.

Coach Joel Quenneville placed third in voting for the Jack Adams Trophy which was announced Thursday.

This was one of Barkov’s best seasons in the NHL as he helped the Panthers to a second-place finish in the Central Division and a spot in the playoffs.

Barkov, 25, appeared in 50 games with Florida and scored 26 goals and 58 points. He led Florida in goals, even-strength goals (18), even- strength points (38) and shots on goal (176).

He also led Florida’s forwards in takeaways (39) and total ice time (1,046:52).

On Thursday, the NHLPA released its player poll — and Barkov fared pretty well.

Barkov finished third (behind Sidney Crosby and Patrice Bergeron) as the NHL’s most-complete player getting 14.65% of the vote from his peers. Barkov also finished sixth as the league’s best stickhandler.

By winning the Selke, Barkov is also expected to be named to the All- NHL team — which would make him only the fourth Florida player to be so honored.

Barkov would join John Vanbiesbrouck, Bure and Roberto Luongo as an All-NHL player, although Huberdeau is expected to make the 2021 team as well.

“It means I’m probably doing something right,’’ Barkov told Florida Hockey Now last month when talking about potential awards.

“When the team is having success, that’s where all the recognition comes from. When the team starts to win games, everybody’s paying attention to us.

“They see our team, who is playing well. People are paying attention to our team and our players. It has been a lot of fun this season.’’ 1216016 Florida Panthers Tropical Breeze was born in 2016 when Chin Loy became tired of his job as a respiratory therapist at Jackson Memorial Hospital. At the time, a friend who also works in the car wash industry told Chin Loy his salary from the previous year. Miami’s stars take a shine to Tropical Breeze Auto Spa: ‘That’s what makes the job worth it’ Chin Loy was floored when he heard that figure was more than $2 million.

Right then, he decided to change careers. Josh Tolentino Jun 18, 2021 He started by shifting his schedule at the hospital, freeing time to enroll in auto detailing classes. He received his first certification from a car wash training school in San Diego and convinced Latzos, a friend from his MIAMI — The black bars of the gate entrance to the multimillion-dollar hometown of Brentwood, N.Y., to move to South Florida and help him apartment complex rise some 12 feet and are topped with golden spires. with the business. All told, Chin Loy has taken 50-plus classes, and he The name of the complex is in cursive on a marble plaque at the base of recently earned a certificate in Dallas for tinting. Earlier this year, he a statue to the left of the gate. Such fanciness is common on the tinted the windows of Dolphins offensive lineman Jesse Davis’ house in Venetian Islands and is true for this semi-secluded spot off the nearest Davie. main road. The gated community is surrounded by massive palm trees and the front access point features a security hut. It’s here where Kevin “Kevin has been around for a while,” Davis said. “He’s done the whole Chin Loy is stopped Tuesday morning and greeted by an imposing on- team at one point. He’s somebody you’re familiar with that you can trust. duty guard. He’s gone through our organization and does good work.”

“Who’re you visiting today?” asks the guard, who is wearing a burgundy Expansion has been rapid over the past five years. suit with a black button-up. When Chin Loy first started his business, he offered a basic menu of $50, From the driver’s seat of his all-white 2019 Ford Transit, Chin Loy $75 and $100 car washes, with extra services included in the more lowered the window and pulled out his ID. expensive packages. Now that he has built a larger following and an exclusive clientele, he offers packages for $200, $300 and $400. He is here to see Trevor Ariza, but Chin Loy has a bent for overt professionalism and respect. His biggest selling point to potential clients has been the hassle-free, private and intimate experience. Since Tropical Breeze is based out of a “Mr. Ariza, sir,” he answers, with his business partner, John Latzos, van, Chin Loy travels to a client’s driveway or garage. smiling in the passenger seat. “We’re Tropical Breeze Auto Spa … auto detail and car wash.” “I found out washing a handful of cars per day — that covered what I was making at the hospital,” Jackson said. “That was when I knew I wanted to The guard collects their information and reminds them of the mask- really invest in my business and go all-in.” wearing policy while on the property. He motions the van through and Chin Loy winds his way to Ariza’s crib, located at the end of another long Kevin Chin Loy gained his first pro athlete as a client when he driveway. The 17-year NBA veteran moved into this space after he was approached the Dolphins’ DeVante Parker at a Heat game. traded to the Heat in March. His property sits on the edge of Biscayne Bay, and the backyard has stunning views of the Miami Yacht Club. After six months of balancing both jobs, Chin Loy left Jackson Memorial and became his own boss. At that point, he hadn’t developed any As Chin Loy and Latzos pull up, they see both vehicles Ariza is asking to relationships with professional athletes. Instead, he relied on his friends have serviced — a Mercedes-Maybach and a Rolls Royce Cullinan and word-of-mouth. After leaving the hospital, Chin Loy bought even parked alongside each other in a garage. more equipment, including a steam machine and a foam gun, and purchased a van to serve as his on-the-go detailing center. It’s time to get to work. Latzos hops out of the Transit and opens the back doors. While Latzos begins setting up the equipment, Chin Loy walks Tropical Breeze’s first professional athlete was Dolphins wide receiver toward the garage. DeVante Parker. Chin Loy attended a Heat game in 2017, and during halftime, he perused a club lounge and spotted Parker. Chin Loy timidly Moments removed from practice, Ariza appears from the shadows. The approached Parker and handed him a flyer. 6-foot-8 forward is shirtless and wearing a pair of green shorts. On this morning in late April, Ariza has a rare opportunity to relax before the Heat “I didn’t know how he was as a person, so I just went up to him and travel to San Antonio. He disappears to dip into his backyard pool, but offered DeVante a free wash,” Chin Loy says. “I told him, ‘I’d love to not before he daps up Chin Loy and hands him the keys to the Maybach wash your car for free, if you don’t mind reposting me.'” and the Cullinan. Over the next month, Chin Loy waited anxiously for Parker’s call. This is business as usual for Chin Loy and his company, Tropical Breeze Eventually, his phone rang. Parker took him up on an offer to wash his Auto Spa, a mobile car wash and detailing service. Its extensive clientele BMW i8 and Audi A7. features many athletes and celebrities based across South Florida, including UFC fighter Jorge Masvidal, rapper Lil Baby and Rolling Loud “It was make-or-break for me,” Chin Loy says. “Every hair, crumb, piece CEO Matt Zingler. of dirt … has to be out of here. I wanted it to be spotless for DeVante. So, I just went to town on his cars.” Kevin Chin Loy, right, left his job as a respiratory therapist in 2016 to start Tropical Breeze Auto Spa. Nowadays, Parker, who signed a four-year, $40 million extension in 2019, whips around in a gold Lamborghini Urus. He still trusts Chin Loy Ariza is Chin Loy and Latzos’ second client of the morning. Earlier, they for its weekly washes — and he did as Chin Loy asked. detailed identical vehicles belonging to Heat guard Jimmy Butler at his Recommendations for services such as a private chef, a barber or car mansion in Pinecrest. Depending on the choice of packages, Chin Loy detailing can spread rapidly among athletes, and once Parker became a and Latzos can detail as many as 10 cars a day. frequent customer, he began telling his teammates and other area athletes about Tropical Breeze. Chin Loy, 33, has become a staple in the behind-the-scenes life of professional athletes by providing the most common of services. But in Kings center Hassan Whiteside and Pelicans forward James Johnson, this world, especially in South Florida, car detailing is vital considering who each played for the Heat for five seasons, also approved of Chin the whips involved. As Will Smith rapped in his hit “Miami,” “Hundred Loy’s work. They recommended Tropical Breeze to their teammates, thousand-dollar cars, everybody got ’em!” including guard Duncan Robinson, who drove a Jeep when he entered the NBA in 2018 but now has a Range Rover. It’s tough to get into such coveted spots, to accrue such a coveted list of recurring clients. But Tropical Breeze has done it. “Kevin is a really good dude,” Robinson said. “He’s someone you get along with and trust right away. He’s a good guy to do business with “When I first started, it was about the satisfaction of seeing a dirty car because you trust him with your vehicles. He’s super diligent and very become clean and seeing a customer’s reaction,” Chin Loy says. “Now, professional in how he approaches his work. … He’s always very it’s more about taking a step back and seeing what I’ve built today. The growth and relationships — that’s the best part of the job.” particular with the task at hand, whether it be cleaning the exterior or interior. It’s always super clean and fresh.”

Kevin Chin Loy, right, and John Latzos have provided their detailing service to players for Miami’s largest pro teams.

Tropical Breeze isn’t the only auto detailing company that has made headway in South Florida’s pro sports scene — B’s Auto Detailing also counts Dolphins coach Brian Flores as a client — but it has partnered with the player engagement departments of the Heat, Dolphins, Panthers and Marlins. Throughout the teams’ seasons, Tropical Breeze makes regular stops at practice facilities, offering washes and detailing for coaches and players in addition to private appointments. It has also an agreement with MVP Miami Rentals to detail its luxury cars.

Given the value of his clients’ vehicles, Chin Loy, who aspires to open a garage someday, recognizes the level of care that must go into every wash.

Outside Ariza’s home, he starts his “high tide” premium detail package with a gentle hand wash before using a clay bar to remove any excess dirt. Then Chin Loy pops the hood to remove grease from the engine bay. He dresses the tires and wheels and applies a ceramic coating that comes with a six-month protection guarantee to the exterior.

Then it’s time to go inside the vehicle. Chin Loy and Latzos vacuum the floors, steam-clean the windows, seats, mats and air conditioning vents, and apply a special shampoo to the seats. Finally, Chin Loy applies a solution that sanitizes interior surfaces — a service he added during the COVID-19 pandemic.

After wrapping up the appointment, Chin Loy backs the Maybach and the Cullinan into Ariza’s garage. Before taking off, Ariza retrieves the keys and takes a glance at the shine on the dark hood of his Maybach. He grins and laughs with Chin Loy.

“That smile, knowing you did the best job you could … that’s what makes the job worth it,” Chin Loy says shortly afterward.

With the appointment in the books, Chin Loy and Latzos pull away from Ariza’s complex and cross the bridge that connects the Venetian Islands to the rest of Miami. As he kicks the van into another gear, Chin Loy’s phone chimes. He checks the notification.

It’s a Venmo payment of $1,000 from Butler.

The Athletic LOADED: 06.19.2021 1216017 Los Angeles Kings I didn’t do that as much so I’ve been trying to get back to that lately. I’ve gotten some good bounces and I’ve got to continue to do that for the rest of the season.”

Kings Seasons In Review – Sean Walker Trending Down – While the attempts went the way of the Walker/Maatta pairing, the goals for and against did not match. Among Kings regular defensive pairings, the two with the most goals allowed per 60 minutes were Walker paired with Maatta and Kurtis MacDermid. In some ways, By Zach Dooley15 hours ago this does match the underlying numbers. Walker’s pairings typically are high action, meaning towards the top end in both chances for and against, which you’d tend to expect from a player with his abilities. Friday morning reviews! In other ways though, especially on his pairing with Maatta, the numbers Today we take you into the weekend as we polish off the right side of the didn’t quite matchup. Kings defensive corps, with a look at Sean Walker’s season that was. For the other two members of that group, seasons in review have already There’s no defined stat for “luck” but PDO does a decent job of indicating been completed for Drew Doughty and Matt Roy. it. PDO is a simple statistic that measures shooting percentage for + save percentage for. Across the league, this balances out at 1. Of defensive Walker began the first year of a four-year contract extension, which he pairings around the NHL with at least 300 minutes played this season, signed back in September. Similar to Roy, Walker finished what was just the Walker/Maatta pairing had the fourth lowest PDO at just .953. The his second full season at the NHL level, though it certainly feels like he duo wasn’t perfect, but they likely performed better than the goals for and has been around for longer than that. With an ability to play up and down against went this season. the lineup, and on both the left and right sides, Walker proved to be one of the more versatile members of the Kings backend. He played in 47 of While we saw exactly what Walker can be at the end of the season, he 56 games, missing some time around an extended absence with a facial also had just four points, all assists, from his first 20 games played. injury midseason. Seeing more consistent production over the course of a full season, more in line with his second-half rates, would take the Bowling Green product Sean Walker to that next step in his evolution.

NHL Statline – 47 games played, 5 goals, 13 assists, -13 rating, 18 2021-22 Status – Similar to Roy, Walker recently signed a contract penalty minutes extension that keeps him as a part of the Kings organization through the end of the 2023-24 season. Possession Metrics (Relative To Without) – CF% – 47.5% (-0.9%), SCF – 43.9% (-2.7%), HDCF – 48.2% (+1.7%) With that extension comes added expectations and responsibilities, with Walker and Roy adding solidity to the right side of the blueline in Walker’s season had its share of ups and downs. He missed Opening Southern California. The expectation for both players is that there is still Night while on the NHL’s COVID-19 List but returned to play the next room to grow and get better, entering just their third full season at the seven games before he took a Matt Dumba shot to the face in NHL level. Minnesota, a block that cost him more than three weeks of game action. After returning, it took Walker some time to find his stride offensively, but LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 06.19.2021 he closed the season on a tear as the league’s highest-scoring defenseman during the month of May.

Walker’s close to the season, as elaborated below, came with an increased shot volume and he attributed that to a mindset down the stretch. His head coach noticed the changes in multiple aspects of his game.

“Absolutely, and we talk about his shot, but a lot of his shot is coming of the rush and joining,” McLellan said of Walker in May. “To me, that’s legs, that’s the willingness to use your legs in certain situations and be available and then the shot comes. An aggressive mindset, but not to the point when you’re causing any issues coming back the other way. He’s done a good job of that lately.”

Trending Up – In a lot of ways, Walker and left-shot blueliner Olli Maatta, his most common partner this season, formed an effective pairing, especially as a third pair. The Walker/Maatta duo placed above the 50 percent line in Corsi and high-danger chances, and were above the team average in both categories, plus scoring chances. In terms of strictly creating, no regular pairing created more attempts on a per-60 minute basis than the Walker/Maatta pairing did.

That applies to Walker as a whole, as well. The Kings generated more shot attempts per 60 minutes with Walker on the ice than any other regular blueliner, while he trailed only Doughty in terms of scoring chances for. Individually, Walker is expected to produce offensively, it’s a part of his game. In terms of raw production, Walker saw a slight jump, going from .34 to .38 in points per game from the 2019-20 season. At even strength, Walker jumped modestly in goals, assists and points from last season, as well as shot attempts, as he led all LAK blueliners with 15 even-strength points.

Where he really saw an uptick in production was in the second-half of the season, when he began to generate more shot attempts. From January through March, Walker averaged 3.1 shot attempts per game. From April through the end of the season, that figure jumped to 4.7 attempts per game. In correlation, his points-per-game went from .28 to .50 from the first half to the second half. We saw more of the Sean Walker we expected in the second half of the season, especially down the stretch.

“I think going back to last year, that’s the mindset I’ve always wanted to have,” Walker said of having a shooting mentality. “Coming into this year, 1216018 Minnesota Wild

Wild announces ECHL affiliation with Iowa Heartlanders

By Sarah McLellan Star Tribune JUNE 17, 2021 — 12:30PM

The Wild has a new ECHL affiliate, announcing a multi-year agreement with the Iowa Heartlanders that begins next season.

Wild prospects can be assigned to the Heartlanders throughout the season, and the Heartlanders will serve as a resource for development and personnel needs for the Wild and the (the Wild's affiliate).

The Heartlanders will play at in Coralville, Iowa, a 5,100- seat venue. Their first game will be Oct.22 vs. Kansas City. The Heartlanders are Iowa's first ECHL team, expansion that was approved by the league's Board of Governors in January.

"We are thrilled to announce a new ECHL affiliation agreement with the Iowa Heartlanders," Wild General Manager said in a statement released by the team. "We look forward to being a part of the Heartlanders inaugural season and helping grow the great sport of hockey while also having the opportunity to develop players at both the AHL and ECHL level in Iowa. This is an exciting day for our organization."

Star Tribune LOADED: 06.19.2021 1216019 Minnesota Wild Kaprizov could potentially earn a monster contract in Minnesota or elsewhere if he continues to develop into a true star and the salary cap increases.

Russo: Latest in the Wild’s tricky Kirill Kaprizov contract talks and the So, this is why I wrote in my mailbag, “If Guerin could get Kaprizov threat of the KHL locked up for five years, I think he will have done a real fine job because trust me when I say this Kaprizov deal won’t be easy.”

Both sides seem to be standing their ground, at least for now. By Michael Russo Jun 19, 2021 The Wild don’t want to sign Kaprizov to a contract for less than four years, and Kaprizov doesn’t seem to want a contract longer than three years unless the Wild are willing to pony up now what the future market Make no mistake, as I insinuated in my recent mailbag, the early for Kaprizov could eventually end up being. negotiations between the Minnesota Wild and Kirill Kaprizov’s camp are not going well. So, it was only a matter of time before the threat of the But that isn’t simple either. Kaprizov has played 55 NHL games, so you one and only option Kaprizov has beyond re-signing with the Wild can see where they’d be a little scared paying him north of $10 million a entered the public airwaves. year until there’s more evidence of what type of player he’ll become. What’s more, the Wild have to re-sign restricted free agents Kevin Fiala NHL Network analyst Kevin Weekes tweeted Friday night that talks and Joel Eriksson Ek this summer, fill out the rest of their roster, and between the Wild and Kaprizov had “gone cold” and, “My understanding make sure they save enough cap space to eventually pay their budding is he’s in Moscow and it’s believed CSKA is interested in signing him for prospects if they turn into legit performers. (the) KHL and Olympics.” But remember, as I wrote in March when the two sides sat down for the Now, for the record, the Calder Trophy shoo-in winner is indeed in first time, Artemi Panarin is really the only comparable situation to Moscow. Kaprizov. His agent gave Wild general manager Bill Guerin a heads-up that Panarin came over to the Chicago Blackhawks from Russia, he was a Kaprizov would be in Moscow for a buddy’s wedding this weekend. similar age at the time, he was four years from unrestricted free agency Guerin was given advanced warning that if rumors began to swirl, and he had instant success (61 goals and 151 points in his first 162 Kaprizov’s return to the city where he used to play pro hockey would be games). the reason why. The only difference between Panarin and Kaprizov is Panarin had almost And, also for the record, CSKA Moscow would definitely be interested in 1 1/2 seasons to prove himself and put up big numbers before being re-signing the young star. Of course, they’d love nothing more than to signed by the Blackhawks to a two-year, $12 million bridge deal on Dec. lure Kaprizov back with a pile of money. 28, 2016. But, as of now, Kaprizov wants to play in the NHL and showed just how The Blackhawks ultimately traded Panarin to the Columbus Blue Jackets, successful he can be at that level with a team-leading 27 goals and 51 and then he signed a seven-year, $81.5 million contract ($11.64 million points in his rookie season, so the Wild aren’t yet worried that he’d per season) with the New York Rangers. actually pull that lever so early in contract talks. Panarin played four years before he got the massive contract. Kaprizov But what Weekes, who was represented during his playing days by has played one shortened season. Kaprizov’s agent, tweeted is undoubtedly the biggest source of leverage Kaprizov has in contract negotiations. But this is why Guerin is hesitant to sign Kaprizov to a bridge deal. It conceivably could allow Kaprizov to follow Panarin’s template toward free Kaprizov is the rare “free agent” who can’t sign with another NHL team, agency and give Kaprizov license to skate into the sunset in three years can’t be tendered an offer sheet by another NHL team and can’t file for with another NHL club. salary arbitration from a neutral adjudicator. So, this is not an easy situation for Guerin to navigate, and frankly, why But what Kaprizov can hold over the Wild is the dread that he would would it be, right? It took Kaprizov 5 1/2 years from being drafted to actually remain in Russia and play in the KHL. debut for the Wild. He’s also on his third agent, so you know he expects So, what’s the hiccup in negotiations? to be paid now that he’s finally arrived, delivered and showed he’s the real deal. It’s simple: As I’ve written in The Athletic and voiced on radio and podcasts ad nauseam for several weeks, there’s a considerable disparity But, as long as Kaprizov remains unsigned by the Wild, the option of between what both sides hope to accomplish in a new contract. returning to Moscow will persist and rumors will swirl.

The Wild want to sign the soon-to-be rookie of the year to a seven- or The Athletic LOADED: 06.19.2021 eight-year contract that would assuredly make him the highest-paid player in franchise history. It would also buy out four or five years of Kaprizov’s unrestricted free agency rights.

Kaprizov’s camp, on the other hand, is looking for not just shorter term, but it sure sounds like they’re looking for a two- or three-year bridge deal.

In a normal circumstance with a normal rookie coming off a normal three- year entry-level contract, a bridge deal would make perfect sense for any team. But Kaprizov was drafted in 2015 and is 24, so he can become an unrestricted free agent at age 27 or in three years – the summer of 2024.

So, naturally, the Wild don’t want to sign Kaprizov to a contract that effectively walks him straight into free agency or a year from free agency where he could really play hardball and put the Wild in a position where they’d have to trade him.

But, from Kaprizov’s side, a short-term deal makes sense for a handful of reasons.

First, Kaprizov probably wants to see if the Wild continue to build into a true contender before making a long-term commitment.

Second, even if the Wild were willing to pay him a team-record $8.5 million or $9 million a year, a seven- or eight-year deal would take him to age 31 or 32. A two- or three-year deal takes him to 26 or 27, and 1216020 Montreal Canadiens “But what we do know is in general these infections are going to be milder. So the prevention of serious outcomes is also very key.”

“Sports teams have to have protocols,” she added. “So at this time, these Canadiens coach Dominique Ducharme self-isolating after irregularities type of games are performed under the auspices of public-health in COVID-19 testing departments that have safety plans in place so that should someone become positive, they don’t spread that virus to a lot of other people.”

Ducharme was promoted to the interim post from an assistant’s role after THE CANADIAN PRESS Claude Julien was fired Feb. 24.

PUBLISHED JUNE 18, 2021 The Canadiens finished fourth in the all-Canadian North Division under Ducharme before pulling off upsets of the Toronto Maple Leafs and UPDATED JUNE 18, 2021 Winnipeg Jets in the first two rounds of the playoffs.

The Canadiens had four games postponed in March after two players Canadiens interim head coach Dominique Ducharme has tested positive were placed on the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol list. for COVID-19 and will miss Game 3 of Montreal’s third-round playoff Richardson has never been a head coach in the NHL, but led the series against the Vegas Golden Knights. American Hockey League’s Binghamton Senators from 2012 to 2016. A The NHL announced the positive test Friday afternoon, hours before veteran of nearly 1,500 NHL games, the 52-year-old former defenceman puck drop at the . is in his third season as an assistant with the Canadiens.

The league said in a statement it learned Friday that Ducharme had a Friday’s positive test marks the second time in as many post-season presumptive positive result from a test done in Las Vegas on Thursday, appearances Montreal will have to do without its head coach. one day after the Canadiens’ Game 2 victory. Julien was rushed to hospital and had a stent installed in a coronary That result was confirmed with further testing. artery during last summer’s playoff bubble in Toronto. Associate coach Kirk Muller filled Julien’s role for the remainder of the post-season before The NHL said all tests administered to players, other coaches and Montreal was eliminated by the Philadelphia Flyers. hockey staff both Thursday and Friday returned negative results. Julien was back on the job at training camp ahead of the pandemic- Luke Richardson will run the Canadiens’ bench in Game 3, while fellow shortened 2020-21 campaign, but, along with Muller, was handed his assistants Alexandre Burrows and Sean Burke will also be behind the walking papers with the Canadiens struggling to find traction. bench. This is the second time in the post-season a Vegas opponent has had a Deputy commissioner Bill Daly said in an e-mail to The Canadian Press coaching question mark related to COVID-19. that based on the information the league received, the game was never in danger of being postponed. Colorado’s Jared Bednar missed the team’s morning skate ahead of Game 6 in the second round because of irregularities in his testing result. Ducharme was sent home Friday morning and had his pre-game media He was cleared later that day and coached the Avalanche in a 6-3 loss availability abruptly cancelled following irregularities in testing. that ended their playoff hopes.

Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin said in news conference Globe And Mail LOADED: 06.19.2021 about two hours before Game 3 that Ducharme was “doing fine” at home. He added the team is in contact with public health and the NHL.

Asked how long Ducharme might be sidelined, Bergevin said: “It’s an ongoing situation, so I can’t tell you how long.”

Montreal confirmed the 48-year-old received his second dose of COVID- 19 vaccine June 9.

“We were clear and transparent with the situation and the NHL and (the Quebec government is) comfortable with the game going ahead as scheduled,” Bergevin said. “We didn’t ask for anything, we were really clear and transparent with the situation.”

The GM added Ducharme worked on Friday’s game plan remotely with his assistants

“He prepared the game plan,” Bergevin said. “He’s at home, but he’s implicated with everything that’s going to happen and the game plan for now.”

The Canadiens and Golden Knights were tied at 1-1 in their best-of- seven NHL semi-final showdown after Montreal earned a split in Vegas.

The series is the first cross-border matchup in the NHL this season, made possible by a federal exemption allowing teams to bypass Canada’s 14-day quarantine requirements.

The Ducharme news came hours after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said travel restrictions at the Canada-U.S. border will remain in place for at least another month to prevent a fourth wave of COVID-19.

Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s chief public health officer, was asked about Ducharme’s situation at the House of Commons health committee before the positive test was confirmed.

She said that while the country is fortunate to have vaccines available, none are 100 per cent effective, even with two doses.

“If a vaccine is 80 per cent effective, you might still get a fifth of the population, even after vaccination ... susceptible to infection,” she said. 1216021 Montreal Canadiens Montreal Gazette LOADED: 06.19.2021

In the Habs' Room: 'We just don't quit,' Carey Price says after OT win

Pat Hickey • Publishing date:Jun 19, 2021 • 3 hours ago

Canadiens players mob Josh Anderson, middle, after he scored the winning goal in overtime Friday night at the Bell Centre.

Luke Richardson’s coaching debut was a smashing success and he owes a huge thank you to Carey Price.

Playing like the world’s greatest goaltender, Price made 43 saves to lead the Canadiens to a 3-2 overtime victory over the Vegas Golden Knights at the Bell Centre Friday night. The win gave Montreal 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven Stanley Cup semifinal.

Richardson was pressed into service after Dominique Ducharme tested positive for COVID-19 Friday morning. The coach was in isolation, but his system was in place as Richardson rolled four lines, relied heavily on four defencemen and counted on Price to make the big saves.

“Things went fast and maybe that’s better off,” Richardson said. “We didn’t have too much time to think about it. We just were running things the way Dom runs it here, and (it was) business as usual.”

The Canadiens were outshot 17-3 in the first period and 30-8 after two periods, but Price kept the game within reach until Josh Anderson tied the game with 1:55 left in regulation and then scored the winner in overtime.

Canadiens goalie Carey Price does the splits to rob Golden Knights’ Alex Tuch of a sure goal during the third period Friday night at the Bell Centre.

“It was incredible,” Anderson said of Price’s performance. “Not only to watch him play like that, but for the fans, too. He kept us in the game all game. We wouldn’t be sitting here talking about this without him. He made some crucial saves that really kept us in the game and gave us the opportunity to win.”

“Unbelievable, obviously Carey is a huge reason why we’ve been so successful and no different tonight.” added captain Shea Weber. “I thought we weren’t very good to start. Obviously, they made it a point to have a good start and they were definitely better than us. I thought we got better as the game went on, but without this guy beside us, we wouldn’t have had a chance to do what we did.”

“We can take some confidence out of this game,” Anderson added. “It’s not the start that we wanted in the first couple periods, but when everything was going tough, we just try to be physical and get on the forecheck as much as we can. You started to see that more later in the third period. And then, obviously, in overtime we were all over them. I thought there, they were tired, and that was the key to our success.”

Fatigue — mental and physical — might have been a factor in Anderson’s goals. He had an empty net after Marc-André Fleury went behind the net and misplayed the puck and the Vegas defence was nowhere to be seen when Paul Byron set Anderson up on a 2-on-0 break for the winning goal.

The win gave the Canadiens a 4-0 record in overtime games in the playoffs and they continue to defy the odds.

“We just don’t quit, pretty much the easiest way to explain it,” Price said. “We’ve gone through a lot of adversity and we keep responding well to it. Not having Dom behind the bench was another twist we have to deal with.”

The officiating was spotty at best in this game and, while the referees tend put away their whistles and let them play in overtime, it was difficult to miss Jonathan Marchessault’s high stick which left Corey Perry with a bloodied nose, but went uncalled.

Vegas failed to capitalize on four power plays and is now 0-for-10 in the series, while the Montreal has killed off killed off the last 25 power plays it has faced.

The series resumes at the Bell Centre on Sunday (8 p.m., CBC, SN, TVA Sports, TSN-690 Radio, 98.5 FM). 1216022 Montreal Canadiens

Carey Price steals Game 3 for Canadiens with 43 saves in 3-2 OT win

Pat Hickey • Publishing date:Jun 18, 2021 • 5 hours ago

Josh Anderson tied the score late in the third period and then scored at 12:53 of overtime to give the Canadiens a 3-2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights Friday night at the Bell Centre. The victory gave the Canadiens a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven Stanley Cup semifinal.

Game 4 is scheduled for Sunday at the Bell Centre (8 p.m., CBC, SN, TVA Sports, TSN-690 Radio, 98.5 FM).

Anderson tied the score with 1:55 to play in regulation. Anderson had an empty net after Golden Knights goalie Marc-André Fleury went behind the net and misplayed the puck.

Carey Price made 43 saves as the Canadiens ran their overtime record in the playoffs to 4-0.

The Canadiens started the third period on the power play for 1:42, but they failed to get a shot on goal. Alex Pietrangelo joined the rush 30 seconds after the penalty expired and beat Price with a low shot to the blocker side for a 2-1 lead. It was his third goal of the series.

A giveaway by Eric Staal allowed the Golden Knights to score the first goal early in the second period. Staal had the puck behind the Montreal net and tried to find Corey Perry in front, but the pass was picked off by Nicolas Roy who went upstairs against Price.

But the Vegas lead was short-lived because, 38 seconds later, Cole Caufield beat Fleury on a breakaway. Caufield settled a wobbly stretch pass from Nick Suzuki to beat Fleury high on the glove side to extend his point streak to five games. Suzuki’s assist was his first point against the team that drafted him.

The goaltenders had to make back-to-back saves on breakaways with a little more than six minutes to play in the second period. After Fleury closed the five hole on Caufield, Price made a save on Alex Tuch.

Assistant coach Luke Richardson assumed the head coaching duties after Dominique Ducharme tested positive for COVID-19 Friday morning. Ducharme, who tested positive again later in the day, went into isolation after the first test and there were reports he could out of action for 10 days.

General manager Marc Bergevin said the Canadiens would follow a game plan outlined by Ducharme and the coach continued to have input from a distance.

Vegas had its best start of the series and outshot Montreal 17-3 in the first period, but was unable to get the puck past Carey Price. The Golden Knights were outshooting the Canadiens 12-0 when Phil Danault registered Montreal’s first shot on goal at 11:27, one second after coming up empty on a power play.

The Canadiens went 0-for-2 on the power play and failed to get a shot on goal. But the special teams story in this series has been the Canadiens penalty-kill. After ranking 22nd in the regular season, the Canadiens have killed the last 25 power plays they have faced and rank No. 1 in the playoffs with a success rate over 92 per cent. Vegas went 0-for-4 Friday and is 0-for-10 for the series.

This is the second consecutive year in which the Canadiens have lost their head coach during the playoffs. During last summer’s bubble in Toronto, former head coach Claude Julien suffered chest pains after Game 1 of the first-round series against Philadelphia. Doctors placed a stent in a coronary artery and associate coach Kirk Muller handled the remainder of the series.

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 06.19.2021 1216023 Montreal Canadiens year NHL coaching veteran Bruce Boudreau. Both candidates have experience coaching in the Western Conference.

The other vacancy is in Arizona and the dysfunctional Coyotes are Hickey on Hockey: Bergevin deserves much credit for Canadiens' dealing with a list of candidates that begs the question: “Who’s he?” success The most recognizable name on the list is St. Louis Blues assistant Mike Van Ryn. Quebec is represented by Syracuse Crunch head coach Benoit Groulx and André Tourigny, the coach of the Ottawa 67s who led Pat Hickey •Publishing date:Jun 18, 2021 • 10 hours ago • Canada’s national junior team to a silver medal earlier this year.

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 06.19.2021 You could have a healthy debate over whether the Canadiens saved general manager Marc Bergevin’s job by reaching the Stanley Cup semifinals.

Personally, I don’t think Bergevin and his flamboyant wardrobe were ever in trouble, but there’s nothing like a playoff run to ensure one’s job security. Now might also be a good time to drop the interim tag from head coach Dominique Ducharme’s job description.

But there’s no doubt the Canadiens’ success on the ice was a major factor in Bergevin being named as one of the three finalists for the Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award. He’s up against 2020 winner Lou Lamoriello of the New York Islanders and Bill Zito of the Florida Panthers.

Most voting for NHL awards is done at the end of the regular season, but the GM award is unique because the selectors vote after the second round of the playoffs. The Canadiens team that rallied from a 3-1 deficit to beat Toronto and then swept Winnipeg is far different from the team that backed into the final playoff spot.

Bergrevin’s fingerprints are all over the Canadiens’ success. The players who have dressed during the first two rounds include a dozen players who weren’t here two seasons ago. Bergevin doesn’t like the word, but this is one great rebuilding job.

While it’s difficult to include playoffs in the voting for the individual awards, it would be interesting to see what the result would be if the NHL extended the voting for coach of the year to include a round or two of the playoffs. If that were the case, there might be some love for Ducharme, whose system has transformed the Canadiens.

Rod Brind’Amour is a deserving winner for the work he did in Carolina and it makes sense that Ducharme wasn’t among the 15 coaches who received votes because he never had a chance to catch his breath during the crowded schedule, which saw Montreal finish wth 11 games in 19 days.

Barry Trotz of the Islanders, who won the award last season, received only one vote this time around. His team is also in the semifinals and he might have garnered more attention if the voting had been conducted after Round 2.

Can’t beat experience: It’s nice to see Lamoriello enjoying success with the Islanders if only because it reflects badly on the Toronto Maple Leafs.

You might recall the Leafs parted ways wth Lamoriello in 2018 and put their faith in Kyle (The Boy Genius) Dubas. Since making that decision, the Leafs haven’t advanced past the first round of the playoffs, while the Islanders have won five series after missing the playoffs in the two previous seasons. Lamoriello’s best move to date was hiring Trotz, who became involved in a contract dispute in Washington after leading the Capitals to the Stanley Cup.

Few coaching vacancies: Claude Julien has told friends he wants to continue coaching, but the smart money says he’ll sit out the season and collect his reported $5 million salary from the Canadiens.

One obstacle to getting back into the game is that there are currently only two head coaching vacancies in the NHL and Julien’s name hasn’t been associated with either team.

One opening is in Seattle, where the expansion Kraken will begin play in October. The No. 1 candidate for the job was Brind’Amour, who is a former teammate and longtime friend of Seattle GM Ron Francis. That possibility ended when Brind’Amour signed a new three-year deal with the Hurricanes.

The Kraken missed out on former Canadiens assistant Gerard Gallant, who joined the New York Rangers. Next up on the list are Rick Tocchet, who reached a mutual agreement to leave the Arizona Coyotes, and 14- 1216024 Montreal Canadiens you can see what he saw. He’s getting a lot of credit because he deserves it.

“He worked incredibly hard. He’s always had a tremendous amount of Stu Cowan: Canadiens' Brendan Gallagher and GM joined at the hip passion for our group. He believes in character, he believes in hard work and I think that’s everything that our team embodies is kind of what he believes in. Very happy for him. He obviously deserves it. I hope he wins it because I feel like he takes a lot of heat, obviously, living in a market Stu Cowan • Publishing date:Jun 18, 2021 • 5 hours ago • like this. But he doesn’t really care. He just kind of goes out and makes the decisions that he thinks are going to be best for our hockey club and as a player that’s what you want.” Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin is not known for being a soft and cuddly guy. The thing all players and GMs want most is to win the Stanley Cup and the Canadiens have a legitimate shot. That’s definitely not how he survived as a rugged defenceman for 20 NHL seasons with eight teams, scoring only 36 goals but picking up Montreal Gazette LOADED: 06.19.2021 1,090 penalty minutes in 1,191 regular-season games.

As GM of the Canadiens, Bergevin famously said “if you want loyalty, buy a dog” when discussing contract negotiations with Alexander Radulov and Andrei Markov after the 2016-17 season.

So it was surprising — and also heartwarming — when Bergevin twice came close to tears last October when talking about Brendan Gallagher after signing him to a six-year, US$39-million contract extension.

“He means a lot to our hockey team,” Bergevin said that day. “Since Day 1 I became a general manager, he’s been on our team. I mean you saw in the playoffs (last year). He got cross-checked in the face (suffering a broken jaw) and he wouldn’t want to miss a shift … he didn’t want to leave. You have guys in the past I’ve seen, they get a slash, they got a fingernail missing and they’re finding a way not to play. This guy is just everything you want about a hockey player. That’s what I love about him. There’s not many Brendan Gallaghers in the . He’s a special one. You love him on your team and you play against him you just don’t like him. He’s special.

“He’s a hockey player through his bones and that’s what I love about him,” Bergevin added.

Gallagher’s rookie season in 2012-13 was also Bergevin’s first as GM. Gallagher and Carey Price are the only two players from that team still with the Canadiens. They are also the only two players who were with the Canadiens in 2014, the last time they advanced to the Stanley Cup semifinals before this year.

This Canadiens team that is now six wins away from the Stanley Cup after beating the Vegas Golden Knights 3-2 in overtime Friday night at the Bell Centre in Game 3 of their semifinal series was built from the ground up by Bergevin — with Gallagher and Price being two key leftover bricks — and there have been a lot of big cracks along the way. But on Thursday, Bergevin was named one of three finalists for the Jim Gregory Award as the top GM for the 2020-21 season, along with the New York Islanders’ Lou Lamoriello and the Florida Panthers’ Bill Zito.

The voting by NHL GMs and a panel of NHL executives, print and broadcast media was done after the second round of the playoffs. If it had been done at the end of the regular season, you have to think Bergevin wouldn’t be among the finalists. But as Bergevin likes to say every year, his goal is to make the playoffs and then “anything can happen.” Anything — and almost everything, including back-to-back overtime wins while facing elimination against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round — has happened this year. The team Bergevin built for the playoffs — adding five key players with Stanley Cup rings to the roster this season — has played the way he believed it would when it matters most.

It makes sense that voting for the top GM isn’t done until after the second round of the playoffs since the ultimate goal is to win the Stanley Cup. The players have two MVP awards — the Hart Trophy for the regular season and the Conn Smythe Trophy for the playoffs — so if there’s only one award for the top GM it should include the playoffs. I have to think Lamoriello is the favourite to win the Jim Gregory Award for the second straight year since the Islanders had a better regular season than the Canadiens and are also in the Stanley Cup semifinals, playing against the Tampa Bay Lightning. But Bergevin definitely deserves to be a finalist.

“One thing about Berg, if he really believes in something nothing’s going to stand in his way of doing it,” Gallagher said Friday morning. “He had a vision of what our team could look like, he’s obviously put in a ton of work in the offseason to build this group. Had some ups and downs, but I think 1216025 Montreal Canadiens But let’s keep it real. This past regular season was not particularly good. Last season was downright terrible, with the team finishing 24th overall. None of this good fortune comes to the Canadiens and Bergevin if not for the pandemic. They only got into the bubble tournament last year What the Puck: Canadiens' Marc Bergevin doesn't deserve to win GM because of the pandemic rule changes and they only made it into the award playoffs this year because they were in a weak division.

And say what you will, but neither the Toronto Maple Leafs nor the Winnipeg Jets were truly formidable opponents. Would Montreal have Brendan Kelly Publishing date:Jun 18, 2021 • 14 hours ago • reached the semifinals if they’d had to play the Lightning, Panthers, Islanders, Bruins or the Avalanche? I doubt it.

Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin celebrates after 3-2 overtime win over the So there’s some luck involved — lot of it. But luck is part of sports and Winnipeg Jets in Game 4 of North Division final to sweep the series and you have to be good to be lucky. And they wouldn’t be seven games advance to the Stanley Cup semifinals. away from winning the Cup without all these savvy moves by Bergevin.

Let us now praise Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin. But let’s Montreal Gazette LOADED: 06.19.2021 also not give him the GM of the year award.

The most important thing to realize with the National Hockey League’s Jim Gregory Award for general manager of the year is that fellow GMs and a panel of league executives and media types voted for the three nominees after the conclusion of the second round of the playoffs. The three finalists are Bergevin, New York Islanders’ Lou Lamoriello and the Florida Panthers’ Bill Zito.

The main reason Bergevin is in the mix for the award is the Canadiens’ surprising playoff run this spring, which has the team in the final four, right in the heart of an exciting semifinal series against the Vegas Golden Knights, which is tied going into Game 3 Friday night at the Bell Centre.

Because if voting was based only on regular-season performance, there is no way Bergevin would’ve been a finalist. I was on the air with TSN 690 host Tony Marinaro on Thursday and we were in the midst of a friendly, if feisty, argument about Bergevin and the nomination. At one point, Marinaro suggested it had been a roller-coaster of a season for the Canadiens and I strenuously begged to differ, suggesting it was more like a terrible regular season.

And so it was. The first 10 games, the Canadiens looked like Stanley Cup champs but, with 20/20 hindsight, we all realize that boffo start was mostly due to the fact the Habs played a bunch of games against a downright stinky Vancouver Canucks team.

Then they went into a tailspin and never really came out of it. Along the way, things were so dire that Bergevin fired coaches Claude Julien, Kirk Muller and Stéphane Waite, and replaced Julien with “interim” head coach Dominique Ducharme. They squeezed into the playoffs by landing in the fourth and final playoff berth in the weak North Division.

Montreal finished 18th overall in the league and 18th-place teams usually don’t make the post-season.

Vegas Golden Knights centre Patrick Brown shoots against Montreal Canadiens defenceman Jeff Petry during the second period of Game 2 at T-Mobile Arena on June 16, 2021, in Las Vegas.

Max Pacioretty's tour of duty with the Habs was ambiguous at best. He scored loads of goals, topping 30 five times while wearing the CH, but he was often a disappointment in the playoffs, Brendan Kelly writes.

It was a middling regular season for the Canadiens and you don’t give the GM of the year award to the guy who runs a middling team. You can say the schedule was tough because of COVID-19, that prominent players were injured, yada, yada, yada. All teams have to deal with these issues and the good teams deal with it well.

So this nomination comes only thanks to this inspirational playoff run. Period. And given that, Bergevin shouldn’t be taking home the hardware.

Now let’s get to this praising Bergevin thing. He deserves all the credit in the world for what’s happening now. The team is three wins away from making it to the Stanley Cup and all of his moves looks positively brilliant. Look at the old-man line of Joel Armia (the not so old man) with the two grey beards, Eric Staal and Corey Perry. Staal and Perry, both of whom appeared to be marginal pickups, are killing it in the playoffs. Need I even add that the CH would be nowhere if it wasn’t for Tyler Toffoli, who is in the midst of the longest points streak of the 2021 playoffs, with eight points?

So my old pal Bergevin has done well. Everyone deserves a second chance. He messed up big-time in his first four or five years in the job, but he was lucky enough to have a very generous understanding boss in Geoff Molson, who gave him another shot. 1216026 Montreal Canadiens Game 4,” the GM said. “He’s at home, but he’s implicated with everything that’s going to happen and the game plan for now.”

When asked if it was possible Joël Bouchard, head coach of the AHL’s Canadiens coach Dominique Ducharme has positive COVID-19 test Laval Rocket, could join the Canadiens’ coaching staff in Ducharme’s absence, Bergevin said: “As of right now, no. We’re going to go with the people we have in place here.”

Stu Cowan • Publishing date:Jun 18, 2021 • 9 hours ago Montreal Gazette LOADED: 06.19.2021

The Canadiens cancelled a scheduled video conference with head coach Dominique Ducharme on Friday morning because of "some irregularities" in his COVID-19 test.

The Canadiens are going to be without head coach Dominique Ducharme, but the question is for how long after he tested positive for COVID-19.

“This morning, we became aware that a test administered yesterday in Las Vegas on Montreal Canadiens head coach Dominique Ducharme indicated a presumptive positive result for the COVID-19 virus that was confirmed on further testing today,” the NHL said in a statement Friday afternoon.

“Coach Ducharme has been partially vaccinated with his second shot administered less than two weeks ago, on June 9. Per NHL COVID Protocols, coach Ducharme was immediately isolated from the team. All tests administered to the players, other coaches and hockey staff from both yesterday and today have returned uniformly negative results. The Canadiens organization has, and will continue to follow, all guidelines aimed at protecting the health and safety of its players, staff and community at large as set by the NHL, the Canadian federal government, the Quebec provincial government, and national and provincial health agencies.”

Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin held a video conference with the media shortly after the NHL released its statement and announced that assistant coach Luke Richardson would take over the head-coaching duties for Game 3 of the Stanley Cup semifinal series against the Vegas Golden Knights Friday night at the Bell Centre and would be joined behind the bench by fellow assistant coach Alex Burrows and Sean Burke, the director of goaltending.

“I’ve talked to Dom twice today,” Bergevin said. “He’s doing fine, he’s at home. As far as how long he’s going to be out, we’re dealing and talking to Health Quebec and also NHL Protocol. It’s an ongoing situation so I can’t tell you how long.

“We were clear and transparent with the situation and the NHL and Health Quebec are comfortable with the game going ahead as scheduled tonight,” Bergevin added. “We didn’t ask for anything, we were really clear and transparent with the situation.”

Bergevin said the Canadiens provided health authorities with information concerning contact tracing for Ducharme.

The Canadiens played the first two games of the series in Las Vegas on Monday and Wednesday in front of crowds of more than 17,000 at T- Mobile Arena and flew back to Montreal on Thursday. The best-of-seven series was tied 1-1 heading into Friday night’s game.

This marks the second straight year the Canadiens have been without their head coach in the playoffs. Last year in the Toronto playoff bubble, Claude Julien was rushed to hospital by ambulance while suffering chest pains following a Game 1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round. Surgery was performed to stent a coronary artery and associate coach Kirk Muller took over the head-coaching duties for the rest of the series with the Canadiens losing to the Flyers in six games.

Julien and Muller were both fired this season after the Canadiens got off to a 9-5-4 start, replaced by Ducharme and Burrows.

“I don’t see any connection between the two,” Bergevin said when asked about the loss of Julien in last season’s playoffs and now Ducharme. “Circumstances are pretty different. But I can guarantee that we’ll be ready tonight for the game.”

Bergevin said Ducharme was in contact with his assistant coaches Friday morning and helped prepare the game plan for Game 3.

“I would say he won’t be in contact between periods (of the game), but he’ll definitely be in touch after the game and he’ll prepare the plans for 1216027 Montreal Canadiens two games of the playoffs. There is something about the role Caufield has played on this team that is, again, weirdly special. He seems to be getting better every game and seems to be embraced by his teammates at the most important time of year. The Canadiens are on a run that has a weirdly special feel to it and it has become impossible to ignore We are watching Caufield grow before our very eyes. Dominique Ducharme (we’ll get back to him in a bit) has stated on numerous occasions how Caufield only needs to be told once about what he did a wrong in a certain situation, and how the very next time that situation By Arpon Basu Jun 19, 2021 arises he has made the adjustment. There was a point in the first period Friday when Nick Suzuki made a ridiculous pass to Caufield in front and the pass bounced off his stick. It was as though he wasn’t ready for it. There are no comparisons to be made here. The next time it happens – because it will happen again with how Suzuki sees the ice and thinks the game and knows what he will do before he Yes, this is as close to a Stanley Cup Final the Canadiens have been does it – it is already clear Caufield will expect that pass, as since they last won the Cup in 1993 (I’m not counting them being down unexpectable as it was. 3-2 to the Rangers in 2014 because they never led that Eastern Conference finals series), but there’s no reason to compare what these He is growing into an impact player. One who was scratched for the first Canadiens are doing to what those Canadiens did. two games of these playoffs.

No, what’s happening here is starting to feel quite special, because Weirdly special. special things are happening to these Canadiens. “Confident but beloved,” a Canadiens front office source replied when Weirdly special things. texted about how Caufield has fit in. “The guys love him.”

After the Canadiens beat the Vegas Golden Knights 3-2 in overtime The Canadiens had a weirdly special seven-game streak of never trailing Friday to a take a 2-1 series lead in the Stanley Cup semi-final, Phillip in a playoff game. How often does that happen? It helps when you have Danault was asked a very straight forward question. a goalie that refuses to allow a first goal.

Does he find this team special? Price has stopped 18 straight shots in overtime in the playoffs, including five Friday night. The Canadiens are 4-0 in overtime. They are 9-0 in “Yes, really,” he replied. “My team is special.” these playoffs when scoring at least two goals. With the Golden Knights How else could you describe what happened in this pivotal Game 3? The up 2-1 in the third period, Price made this save on Alex Tuch that was Canadiens did not deserve to be in overtime. They were dominated for simply bonkers. Nothing that followed ever happens if this save is not the first 40 minutes of this game and it was getting late for the Canadiens made. to mount some sort of a comeback when Marc-André Fleury handed it to “He was unbelievable,” Shea Weber said of his goalie. “He’s a huge them. A routine play behind his net became not the least bit routine, the reason why we’ve been so successful, and it was no different tonight. I puck popped out to Josh Anderson in front of an empty net, and suddenly thought we weren’t very good to start. They made a point to have a good this game was going to overtime. start, and they were definitely better than us. I thought we got better as And then in overtime, Jeff Petry made a strong play at the Montreal blue the game went on, but without Carey, we wouldn’t have had a chance to line, Jesperi Kotkaniemi corralled the puck and saw Anderson alone as do what we did.” Vegas was a bit slow on a change. Kotkaniemi sent an aerial pass Anderson scored a goal in Game 1 against Toronto. It was his first goal Anderson’s way, he managed to knock it down out of the air and stayed in 12 games, and he didn’t score for another 12 games. It was weirdly onside. Paul Byron was following the play closely, picked up the loose special to have him score not only the tying goal in this game, but the puck and made a great yet subtle shot fake before feeding Anderson for overtime winner as well when he had scored only once in 24 games. another tap in with an empty net in front of him. Then there is Ducharme. The Canadiens got a bounce to tie the game and they got a bounce to win it. Hockey is a game of bounces, but when a team starts getting as To have him test positive for COVID-19 prior to this game and be sitting many bounces as this one has, it starts to feel weirdly special. at home watching after everything he has gone through this season, being placed in a position to fail and then failing for much of his time in And this team has reached that point. his dream job right up until the playoffs, is again weirdly special. Danault Let’s take a little look back at the weirdly special things that are starting described the day Friday as an image of their season, with roadblocks to pile up so high right now that it is impossible to ignore. and adversity that his team has overcome. Ducharme has been such a big part of the Canadiens reaching this point because he has remained In Game 1 against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Paul Byron scored one of steadfast in his belief in what he was doing, in his vision for this team and the more incredible shorthanded goals you will ever see, and it was the how it should play. game-winner. In his absence, the Canadiens didn’t exactly play the way Ducharme In Game 5 against the Toronto Maple Leafs, after having squandered a envisioned, but they rewarded a coach whose principles they have 3-0 lead and with their season on the line, the Canadiens found embraced. In this season, in this pandemic world, that is also a weirdly themselves on a two-on-zero break from their own blue line less than a special thing. minute into overtime, with Nick Suzuki converting a Cole Caufield pass to win the game. “Dom spoke with the players before the game and quickly after the game,” said Luke Richardson, who took over for Ducharme as head How often do you see a two-on-zero break in overtime of a playoff coach. “The guys were thrilled for him. I’m sure he’s had lots on his mind game? Almost never. It has now happened twice to the Canadiens in over the course of the day. It’s a difficult year for everybody. This is these playoffs, because Anderson’s game-winner Friday also came in the supposed to be a special time for Dom, so we’re feeling for him for same situation. missing it. We know how much he’s put into it. It was great to hear his In Game 6 against the Maple Leafs, the Canadiens took a 2-0 lead in the voice and the players really responded tonight for him. Even after, they third period, squandered it, and then watched as Carey Price stopped 13 were very excited to hear his voice and to share that celebration with shots in overtime before Kotkaniemi converted another overtime feed him. We kept in contact all day on little details and even in between from Byron to win that game as well. periods, just a few details, as we always do, and share our ideas together in the coach’s room.” In Game 2 of the second round, the only goal of the game came shorthanded from Tyler Toffoli, and the Canadiens’ penalty kill has been Only adding to the weirdly special nature of this team is Richardson another weirdly special thing that continued right through to the game earning his first win as an NHL head coach in the third round of the Friday, with four Golden Knights penalties successfully killed. playoffs. Just after Anderson scored to procure the win, Richardson touched the pin on the lapel of his suit jacket and blew a kiss out toward There is Caufield, the rookie who scored the first Canadiens goal Friday the ice. The pin is for Do It For Daron, the foundation in the memory of and energized the team in the first round after being scratched the first Richardson’s daughter who took her own life after struggling for years with her mental health. The foundation is meant to prevent that happening again.

To see Richardson celebrate his first win as an NHL coach in that way was not weirdly special, it was simply special, something we can’t fully understand but which holds enormous meaning to Richardson.

“I’m so proud for the guys and happy for the guys,” Richardson said. “It’s kind of a relief for Dom in his situation. I guess I would’ve thought my first chance running an NHL bench would be an exhibition game, but it happened to be in the third round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in overtime, so it’s pretty exciting. We’re just hoping to keep this thing going and we get the whole group back together.”

This is not an attempt to project what this team will do. We don’t know that yet. But this franchise has a history of things weirdly falling into place for it, and it’s becoming very difficult not to feel that is what is happening right now. How many weirdly special things need to pile up before considering the entirety of this run to be weirdly special, to consider this group of players to be weirdly special?

The pile is getting too high to dismiss.

The Athletic LOADED: 06.19.2021 1216028 Montreal Canadiens not been for an errant pass from Eric Staal to Golden Knights forward Nicolas Roy, Price might have kept a clean sheet through the majority of the game. He’s shown again throughout this series that if he can see the puck, there’s a great chance he’ll stop it. Despite allowing the Alex Josh Anderson comes alive, Carey Price saves game and Marc-Andre Pietrangelo goal, he continued to be a steady presence. He also made a Fleury’s mistake looms large: Playoffs plus/minus game-saving stop on Alex Tuch on a two-on-one. Who knows where the Canadiens would be had that not happened?

Nick Suzuki: It wasn’t the greatest night for Suzuki in the faceoff circle By Julian McKenzie Jun 19, 2021 (39 percent). However, he blocked key shots and generated some offence, connecting with his fusion partner, Caufield, on a goal. For the people who don’t get “Dragon Ball Z” references, change “fusion partner” Another version of this column would have focused on the Canadiens to Wonder Twin. While I did single him out for two lost faceoffs that led to ending the game with just 19 shots and one goal through 60 minutes. goals against in Games 1 and 2, I think Suzuki has played well during Because let’s be real: The Canadiens’ offence wasn’t good enough. this series.

Carey Price can only do so much. Paul Byron: Byron has had a good series so far. His speed and energy have caused problems for Vegas, and he’s contributed offensively. He The game was tied entering the third period, and the Canadiens showed got an important goal in Game 2 and he assisted on the overtime winner some desperation while playing without their head coach Dominique Friday night. He might not get the same praise as Anderson or Caufield, Ducharme, who is in isolation after testing positive for COVID-19. but I couldn’t leave him out of the pluses. Montreal outshot Vegas in the third period, but still ended regulation with only 20 shots on goal. The minuses

But what a way to get that 20th shot. Eric Staal: It was a tough night in the faceoff dot for Staal, but his biggest mistake came in the second period. An errant pass from behind the net Marc-Andre Fleury might have committed the biggest blunder of the led to Nicolas Roy’s goal, and he knew it. He also had a golden chance postseason so far. Ilya Samsonov knows what that’s like, having given to tie the game while connecting with Corey Perry, seconds after up the puck in similar fashion in the Washington Capitals’ first-round Pietrangelo scored a go-ahead goal for the Golden Knights, but couldn’t series against the Boston Bruins, but if Fleury’s blunder doesn’t take the get a shot off. prize, he definitely gave Samsonov a run for his money. Erik Gustafsson: His play hasn’t warranted more trust, or time, from the The Canadiens weren’t the better team Friday night and had to rely on coaching staff as he was once again the least-used defenceman for the another all-world performance from Price (more on him in a minute). But Canadiens. He wasn’t helpful at either end of the ice. they once again showed an ability to capitalize on mistakes. And if you don’t completely finish them off, as the Leafs and now the Golden The Canadiens’ shot count: Through regulation, only two Canadiens Knights can attest, the Canadiens can keep themselves alive. players had more than two shots on net. Compare that to seven Golden Knights players, including four from Shea Theodore. The Canadiens And now, after their 3-2 win to give them a 2-1 series lead, the outshot the Golden Knights in the third once things became urgent, but Canadiens are as close to the Stanley Cup Final as they’ve been in my their start was unlike the ones they had in Games 1 and 2. Still, life. Montreal lost in six games to the New York Rangers in the 2014 sometimes it pays to be more lucky than good as it was the Canadiens, Eastern Conference Final, but never held a series lead. This year’s not the Golden Knights, who emerged victorious. Canadiens can now say they have a series lead when some said they wouldn’t win a game against the Golden Knights, who suddenly have The officiating: So. Many. Missed. Calls. their back against the wall. Mark Stone and Max Pacioretty, who have been scrambling to play without a capable centre in the absence of The Athletic LOADED: 06.19.2021 Chandler Stephenson, have one assist between them through three games. It’ll be gut-check time in Game 4 on Sunday night.

In the meantime, the Canadiens have the driver’s seat.

It’s time to break down the good and the bad from Game 3.

The pluses

Josh Anderson: Sometimes all you need is a break to go your way. Anderson, who hadn’t scored since Game 1 against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round, got his. Mind you, despite his lack of offensive production, I feel he’s at least tried to contribute in other areas (forechecking, physical presence) and his pick in Game 2 led to a goal in a winning effort. Anderson needed a lucky break and he got one thanks to Fleury’s bumbling blunder behind his own net. But Anderson didn’t stop at one. He and Paul Byron connected in OT on a goal that had Canadiens fans dancing in the downtown streets. Some will say Anderson finally showed up in the playoffs after a long absence. He’s been around — he just didn’t have the goal totals to show for it. Until Friday night’s heroics.

Cole Caufield: Once Caufield was sprung on a breakaway, you could feel the tension and anticipation rise. Canadiens fans hoped the youngster would score to tie the game and bring the 3,500 strong to their feet. Maybe this was just me, but I knew he would score that goal. He had to, of course, as he was all alone. He’s scored plenty of goals at every level he’s played. His confidence seems to grow with every game he plays. Not to mention the Canadiens were being shellacked in the shot count and were down a goal. It was a big-game moment for the young forward and he delivered. I imagine, if you’re reading this, you’re putting money on Caufield being a Calder Trophy winner next season. I am no expert on betting odds or gambling, but I’m imagining it would be a pretty good bet.

Carey Price: The Vegas Golden Knights took 25 shots against Price through the midway point of the game compared to Montreal’s five. The score was tied at one. I believe the term to use here is “goalie’d.” Had it 1216029 New York Islanders general manager, and Barry Trotz, the head coach, both of whom won Stanley Cups elsewhere.

Jaffe said that the Islanders are one of the most respected teams around As New York Sports Return to Normal, the Islanders Lead the Way the N.H.L., and now that they are back on Long Island for good — they are expected to open their new arena in Elmont in the fall — the bond between team and the Long Island fans has been renewed.

By David Waldstein “It feels like the Islanders fans have ownership of their team again,” Jaffe said. “It seems like they feel they are allowed to be invested again.” June 18, 2021 As it was in the previous playoff series against the Boston Bruins,

unmasked fans sang along to the national anthem so vociferously, and Nine months ago, when the Islanders made it to the conference finals of so in tune, that Nicole Raviv, the actual appointed singer, graciously put the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time in almost 30 years, Nassau away her microphone and allowed the audience — after months of quiet Coliseum was dark, empty and silent. seclusion — to thunder on, not that anyone could have heard her, anyway. The Islanders were playing the Tampa Bay Lightning, but the games were staged in a sequestered bubble in Edmonton, Alberta, where “It’s every bit as intense and loud as a big Premier League soccer game,” spectators were barred because of the coronavirus pandemic. said Bruce Clouston, a 28-year-old corporate insurance executive from Australia, by way of Northumberland in the U.K. He moved to Brooklyn But on Thursday, things were largely back to normal at the arena where three years ago and became an Islanders fan. He went to two regular the Islanders have played the vast majority of their home games since season games after the team opened the arena to fans on a limited basis their inception in 1972. Almost 13,000 boisterous fans, many adorned in on March 18. the blue and orange jerseys of their favorite players, packed shoulder to shoulder into an old concrete barn to welcome their team back to an The numbers have grown to almost full capacity, minus about 900 empty N.H.L. conference final — the first time in 28 years that Islander fans seats near the benches and where the teams enter the ice. Thursday’s were able to witness that in person. crowd included the talk show host Jimmy Fallon, the actor Ralph Macchio and a host of Jets football players, who have joined in the festivities. “It feels very much like everything is back the way it should be,” George Pignataro, a retired bank executive from nearby Massapequa, said It was also Clouston’s sixth playoff game this year. When the Isles before Game 3, once again against the Lightning, in Uniondale, the new scored in the previous round, he hugged the unmasked strangers seated epicenter of the lively return of sports to the greater New York area, after next to him. (A handful of ushers carried signs politely requesting fans to months of closures because of the pandemic. wear masks, but almost no one did.)

Tampa Bay went on to win, 2-1, and grabbed a two games to one On Thursday, upon disembarking from the commuter train from Brooklyn, advantage in the Stanley Cup semifinal series. Game 4 is Saturday in Clouston accepted a ride from a fan he had just met. what could be the last Islander home game ever at the Coliseum. Tampa “That would never have happened a few months ago,” he said. Bay, the defending Stanley Cup champions, is 6-1 on the road in the playoffs and showed its mettle in weathering a charged reception. For virtually all of Game 3, Clouston and his fellow fans roared for their team. But in the final minute, as the Islanders skated backward while “It was will that got us through it,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. struggling to set up in the offensive zone, a number of fans grumbled and “We’ll need to have that again if we’re going to come in here in Game 4 booed the perceived lack of urgency. and do the same thing.” The Islanders have reawakened the passion of their fans, and everything For Pignataro and his wife, Barbara, who were season ticket holders for that comes with it. 42 years, along with masses of passionate Islander fans, the game and the series represent a double reawakening. After months of isolation and New York Times LOADED: 06.19.2021 lockdown, life is beginning a return to normal in the New York area, and sports teams have joined in by welcoming back fans by the thousands.

The Yankees and Mets have been playing to increasingly large crowds, with more than 16,000 at Citi Field on Thursday and more than 19,000 at Yankee Stadium for a game against the Red Sox earlier this month.

At , the brief home of the Islanders during an ill- conceived foray into Brooklyn beginning in 2015, the Nets played the Milwaukee Bucks in a critical Game 5 of their N.B.A. playoff series in front of 16,000 exuberant fans.

But the Nets are a relatively new phenomenon in Brooklyn (they moved there from New Jersey in 2012), and their roots have not dug into the fabric of the community as firmly as the Islanders have in Long Island for nearly half a century.

Even with 3,000 more fans at the Barclays Center than were at the Coliseum, it would be hard to fathom them making more noise than Islander fans hoping to relive old glory under the four championship banners that dangle from a low ceiling that intensifies the tumult below.

Since the return of fans into stadiums in the New York area, nothing has quite matched the intensity of what is happening in Uniondale.

“Islander fans are a different breed,” said Billy Jaffe, an analyst covering the series for the NHL Network. Jaffe also served as an analyst on Islanders broadcasts for five years a decade ago. “It’s just a unique, intense fan base, and they have been waiting for this for a long time.”

Similar to the Pignataros, Jaffe was referring to the duality of that wait. In the immediate sense, it has been about returning to the building to shout, chant, sing and bang on the glass together.

In the larger sense, it is about the re-emergence of top-flight hockey amid signs that it is sustainable under Lou Lamoriello, the president and 1216030 New York Islanders

Islanders’ Barry Trotz may tinker with lineup before key Game 4

By Mollie WalkerJune 19, 2021 | 4:06am

At what point would Islanders head coach Barry Trotz feel it’s necessary to make a change in his lineup?

The Islanders aren’t a team that often shakes up its lines. That’s a testament to Trotz’s confidence in his combinations and the chemistry that each trio has been able to develop over, not just months, but in some cases, seasons of skating with one another.

Trotz really only makes lineup adjustments due to injury. Such was the case when captain Anders Lee underwent ACL surgery in March and was ruled out for the remainder of the season. It happened again when Oliver Wahlstrom sustained a lower-body injury in Game 5 of the first- round playoff series against the Penguins.

Otherwise, Trotz is seemingly a believer in the ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ philosophy. But as the Islanders face a 2-1 deficit in the Stanley Cup semifinal series against a tenacious Lightning squad, it may be nearing the time to reevaluate the lineup.

Wahlstrom, the rookie sharpshooter, has been available since the start of the Stanley Cup semifinals, which was evident when he took pregame warmups before the series-opener for the first time since sustaining his injury.

Trotz made it clear, however, that he was comfortable with how Travis Zajac had performed in Wahlstrom’s place on the third line with Jean- Gabriel Pageau and Kyle Palmieri. And even though the Islanders have met their match defensively in the Lightning, it appears Trotz isn’t going to start making any rash lineup decisions over two tight losses.

“We’re looking into it,” Trotz said Friday when asked about making changes. “We played a pretty solid game. I don’t have [a problem with] too many things in our game. I think we have to get to the net better. Obviously, the chances we did have, I thought [Lightning goalie Andrei] Vasilevskiy made some key saves, just like [Islanders goalie Semyon Varlamov] did. But really an even game for me.”

After acknowledging that he has “a lot of faith” in Wahlstrom should he decide to put him back in the lineup, Trotz added that his team isn’t used to changes and can “sometimes go into a bit of a spin cycle” when he makes them.

With all of that being taken under consideration, Trotz said the coaching staff is looking at what is available and are working toward making a decision. But it sounded like Trotz wasn’t at all alarmed by his team’s play in the 2-1 loss in Game 2 Thursday night, which likely means he’ll wait a bit longer to begin making alterations.

“When you’re looking at it, you look at did you play a bad game? Not really. Did you play well enough to win? Yes, but we didn’t win,” Trotz said. “So when you go away from that game, and you [ask], ‘Do we make changes or do you give that group a shot and say this is going we just have to get the next game.’ It’s inches, you win your inches, you win the game. That’s really what we’re going through with our lineup.

“It’s easy to go, ‘Hey, we’re gonna mix up all the lines.’ And then you have everybody going, ‘Alright, were we that bad? What’s wrong? What’s going on?’ ”

Shuffling the lines is certainly on the table right now with a 2-1 series deficit, it just may become the Islanders’ only option should another loss pile on.

New York Post LOADED: 06.19.2021 1216031 New York Islanders

Tampa Bay beating Islanders at own game

By David LazarJune 19, 2021 | 2:22am | Updated

The Islanders have a structure. Every player knows his role and executes it. Defense comes first. Hard work is a necessity.

During this Stanley Cup semifinal series, the Lightning are playing the Islanders’ game, but they’re doing it better.

“They get a lot of credit for how offensive they are,” Islanders head coach Barry Trotz told the media Friday. “They have elite players, but they don’t get enough recognition for their overall five-man game.”

The two teams have faced each other nine times in the playoffs over the past two years. Five of those contests have ended 2-1 — including Thursday’s 2-1 Lightning victory at — and the Islanders have scored more than two goals just once (Eastern Conference finals Game 3 in 2020).

When the teams square off, either the Islanders’ offense falters or the Lightning’s defense excels. Trotz thinks the latter is true.

“Everything we do is working from the inside out,” Trotz said. “They do a really good job. They challenge our exits. They get numbers back quickly. They got a good D-core. They are big and have big sticks. They get back and they work. They don’t get enough credit for how good they defend.”

And when things go awry, the Lightning have perhaps the best goaltender in hockey to save the day. Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 27 of the 28 shots he faced in Game 3, including 14 high-danger scoring chances, according to Natural Stat Trick.

“They have a good goaltender,” Trotz said. “When things do break down, they are able to get a timely save. You are not going to beat him clean. It just doesn’t happen.”

Scoring goals in dirty areas wasn’t a challenge for the Islanders against the Penguins and Bruins in the first two postseason rounds. Now, it is. And the Lightning are thriving in that department.

Tampa Bay scored its two goals Thursday on broken plays. First, Yanni Gourde beat Nick Leddy to a loose rebound. Then, Brayden Point scored from his chest on the game-winner.

“Those aren’t pretty goals. Those aren’t what you would think would be Tampa Bay, east-west, high-skilled goals,” Trotz said. “A lot of will, putting pucks to the net, second efforts.”

In a battle between two teams that practice similar styles, whichever can do it better most likely will be advancing to the Stanley Cup Final.

“There’s no secret. They are a great team. They are known for their structure and their defense,” Lightning forward Blake Coleman said. “You have to be willing to pay the price to get to the net. We have a big heavy group and can play that style of game, too. We know it is going to be a grind to get through the rest of this. We have a ton of respect for the Islanders. It makes our job harder, but it is a great challenge for us.”

New York Post LOADED: 06.19.2021 1216032 New York Islanders

Islanders’ top six can’t find groove against Lightning

By Mollie WalkerJune 19, 2021 | 1:09am | Updated

The Islanders’ bottom six carried the offense during the 2-1 loss in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup semifinal series against the Lightning on Thursday night. While Mathew Barzal had some standout opportunities for the first line, the top six weren’t able to get anything going for a majority of the game.

Particularly in Game 3, Tampa Bay has been successful in stifling the Isles’ second line of Anthony Beauvillier, Brock Nelson and Josh Bailey — who generated a bulk of the team’s offense through the first two rounds of the playoffs. It can’t be connected to being matched up with the Lightning’s top line, considering the aforementioned trio logged most of their ice time against Tampa Bay’s second line of Alex Killorn, Anthony Cirelli and Steven Stamkos.

The Islanders will need a lot more from their top six in order to combat the Lightning. While Barzal has scored two goals in this series so far, and Nelson recorded a power-play goal in Game 2, Beauvillier has gone quiet offensively.

Anthony Beauvillier

Beauvillier hasn’t scored a goal since Game 1 of the second round series against the Bruins. He has seen less ice time as the postseason has progressed, registering a playoff-low 13:40 on Thursday.

“I would say that Beau has another level in his game. I think he’s got stalled out a little bit,” head coach Barry Trotz said Friday. “Some of it is the line a little bit, I need them to be a little bit better. Give credit to Tampa Bay and their team; they’ve done a really good job against Nelly’s line as a whole. But we need just a little bit more and not only that line, but everybody.

“Anthony, I thought, hasn’t had quite the start that I’d like, but knowing Anthony and knowing that line, they’ll get it rolling.”

Through the first three games of the series, the Islanders have held a 31- 21 advantage in high-danger chances at five-on-five over the Lightning. In Game 3, the Islanders posted a 14-5 edge in the same category.

“I wouldn’t say there’s a real large discrepancy five-on-five, but there’s a slight edge for us five-on-five,” Trotz said. “We’re going to have to find a way to finish. You’re not going to beat them a lot of times clean. It just doesn’t happen. You’ve got to get lots of traffic, you’ve got to get second chances, and then you’ve got to somehow get the puck to the back of the net.

“To me, the chances have been pretty even in this series. We got two one-goal games in terms of 2-1 game and one game that sort of got away from us in the third period. But really, it’s been pretty close.”

New York Post LOADED: 06.19.2021 1216033 New York Islanders

Oliver Wahlstrom an option for Barry Trotz in Islanders' critical Game 4 against Lightning

By Andrew Gross

Updated June 18, 2021 4:29 PM

Barry Trotz spent Friday weighing the pros and cons of altering the Islanders’ lineup for Saturday night’s crucial Game 4 of their NHL semifinal series against the Lightning at Nassau Coliseum.

The coach acknowledged that rookie sharpshooter Oliver Wahlstrom was an option to be re-inserted after suffering a lower-body injury in Game 5 of the first-round series against the Penguins.

At the same time, Trotz conceded "this group is used to not a lot of change so when I throw some of those wrenches in, they sometimes go into a little bit of a spin cycle."

It’s a delicate but vital decision for Trotz with the Lightning taking a 2-1 series lead with their 2-1 win in Thursday night’s Game 3 at the Coliseum.

Island Ice: Newsday's podcast about the Islanders. Island Ice: Newsday's podcast about the Islanders.

Island Ice Ep. 100: Isles-Lightning Game 3 analysis

NHL.com's Dan Rosen joins Newsday's Andrew Gross, Colin Stephenson and Neil Best to discuss the Isles' 2-1 loss in Game 3 of the NHL semifinals at the Coliseum.

Wahlstrom, the 11th overall pick in 2018, had a goal and two assists in five games against the Penguins after 12 goals and nine assists in 44 regular-season games. He has a blistering right-handed shot from the left side that could benefit the Islanders — who have scored just five goals in three games against the Lightning — both five-on-five and on the power play.

"Some guys get small in the moment, especially in the playoffs," Trotz said. "I didn’t think Wahlly did. I thought he had a really good start in the playoffs and then he faded a little bit and then he got hurt. I have a lot of faith in what Wahlly can do if we put him in and he is an option for us. We had a big discussion if he comes in the lineup. We haven’t made any decisions."

He would likely be inserted for Travis Zajac, who has a goal and assist in 10 playoff games and has been used on the man advantage the last two games.

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 06.19.2021 1216034 New York Islanders hard. We stick to the process, we’ll be fine. We had more of our game displayed yesterday than we did the game before. I think it’s trending to where we want it to be."

No doubt about it, Islanders have been there, done that, come back Still, the Islanders’ physically wore down both the Penguins and the twice Bruins as each series progressed.

So far, neither the Islanders nor the Lightning have established a physical superiority in this series. By Andrew Gross Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 06.19.2021 Updated June 18, 2021 4:12 PM

The Islanders certainly seem to be in a bit of a predicament, considering the circumstantial evidence of being down 2-1 in their NHL semifinal series against the defending Stanley Cup champion Lightning and facing what nearly amounts to a must-win in Saturday night’s Game 4 at Nassau Coliseum.

But the Islanders can also draw inspiration, motivation and confidence from being in this exact spot twice already in these playoffs. They rallied for six-game wins against the Penguins in the first round and then the Bruins.

So, they know they’re capable of doing it again.

"Yeah, we’ve had success, even being in this position the last two previous times," coach Barry Trotz said on Friday as the team conducted an optional practice at Northwell Health Ice Center in East Meadow. "Absolutely, you look back and go, ‘We’ve been here before.’

Island Ice: Newsday's podcast about the Islanders. Island Ice: Newsday's podcast about the Islanders.

Island Ice Ep. 100: Isles-Lightning Game 3 analysis

NHL.com's Dan Rosen joins Newsday's Andrew Gross, Colin Stephenson and Neil Best to discuss the Isles' 2-1 loss in Game 3 of the NHL semifinals at the Coliseum.

"If you haven’t done it, you always have that doubt. We’ve done it twice already so there should be no doubt in our guys that we didn’t lose the series last night. In some ways, the series might have just begun."

The Lightning won Thursday night’s Game 3, 2-1, at the Coliseum, relying on the same stifling defensive structure that is also the foundation of the Islanders’ success.

The Islanders have been held to five goals in the three games, including a 2-1 win in Game 1 at Amalie Arena.

There are no secrets how the rest of this series will be played, nor how the Islanders, who scored four or more goals in eight of their first 12 playoff games, must find a way to penetrate the Lightning’s inner defense and get more traffic in front of goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy.

"They’ve got long, heavy defense that moves well and Vasilevskiy is one of the best in the league," Mathew Barzal said. "You combine those two things, it makes it tough."

Again, the Islanders are well aware of the difference between tough and impossible.

"Every game is a hard game," Leo Komarov said. "We don’t really look back. We just look forward. We’re focused on the next game and we’ll see how it goes."

Still, to review: The Islanders lost, 5-4, to the Penguins in Game 3 at the Coliseum before winning Game 4, 4-1. Against the Bruins, the Islanders dropped Game 3, 2-1, in overtime at the Coliseum before rebounding for a 4-1 win in Game 4.

"I look back at the Boston series, that Game 3, we should have won Game 3 and we come up with a loss and come back in the dressing room and you have that deflated feeling," Trotz said. "It was no different last night. We were a little deflated because we felt we put out a strong effort. We thought we probably should be going into overtime. But it didn’t happen. So, you just sort of park it and we look forward for the opportunity tomorrow.

"We can look back at those previous experiences and we’ve had good success so there’s no reason for us to have any doubt that this can’t happen again. But it’s on us to do it. Not hope or anything like that. You can’t have any passengers and everybody’s got to pull on the rope really 1216035 New York Islanders Also helpful would be a return by the Brock Nelson line to the form it displayed earlier in the playoffs. Anthony Beauvillier had four goals in the Islanders’ first seven playoff games and has none in the eight since.

Islanders could use an offensive jolt for Game 4 against the Tampa Bay "[Beauvillier] hasn’t had quite the start that I’d like," Trotz said, "but Lightning knowing Anthony and knowing that line, they’ll get it rolling."

The Islanders looked like they belonged against the Lightning for most of the night on Thursday, and for most of the series. But given Tampa’s Updated June 18, 2021 5:29 PM depth, talent and commitment, the Islanders might have encountered a better version of themselves. By Neil Best Of course, the Islanders love articles such as this one expressing doubt

in them. Responding to adversity and criticism is what they do. The Lightning are a hockey puzzle, and the guy charged with solving it is Do Trotz and his men have one more surprise up their sleeves? If so, Barry Trotz. they best reveal it now. The defending Stanley Cup champions have elite offensive firepower, an Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 06.19.2021 elite goaltender, and as they demonstrated to devastating effect in Game 3 on Thursday night, they have a commitment to defense, too.

So what to do in Game 4 on Saturday when the Islanders will try for the third consecutive round to avoid a 3-1 series deficit with a must-have victory at Nassau Coliseum?

Trotz did not go into elaborate detail about his plan when speaking to reporters on Friday — nor should he have — but some of this is not difficult to figure out.

Island Ice: Newsday's podcast about the Islanders. Island Ice: Newsday's podcast about the Islanders.

Island Ice Ep. 100: Isles-Lightning Game 3 analysis

NHL.com's Dan Rosen joins Newsday's Andrew Gross, Colin Stephenson and Neil Best to discuss the Isles' 2-1 loss in Game 3 of the NHL semifinals at the Coliseum.

Job One: Score more. But how?

"We’ve got to get to the net a little bit better," said Trotz, who insisted he was pleased overall with his team’s performance in Game 3, considering it a mostly even game.

Later, he added, "They’re hard to get through, and you just have to will yourself inside. You have to create."

The Islanders have five goals in three games against the Bolts after scoring 15 in the last three games of the second round against Boston.

The Lightning are 6-1 on the road in these playoffs and in five of those victories allowed no more than one goal. When they have a lead in the third period, they impose an Islanders-style vise defensively.

"They don’t get enough credit for how good they defend versus [how] they get a lot of credit for how offensive they are," Trotz said. "They don’t get enough recognition for their overall five-man game, which is a defensive game."

One idea for Game 4 would be to add some youth, speed, shooting ability and power-play punch to what has been a very stable — and staid — lineup of late by dressing Oliver Wahlstrom, who turned 21 on Sunday.

That could mean benching Travis Zajac, 36, who has been a useful, versatile player, or perhaps another creative idea to be determined by the coaching staff.

Zajac has a goal and an assist in 10 playoff games. Wahlstrom had one goal and two assists in five games before suffering a lower body injury from which he now is recovered.

Wahlstrom had 12 goals in 44 games in the regular season.

Trotz said he has faith in Wahlstrom but is wary of mixing and matching lines at this stage. He also must consider factors such as the health of Jean-Gabriel Pageau before icing a potential alternative at center such as Zajac.

"This group is used to not a lot of change," the coach said, "so when I throw some of those wrenches in they sometimes go in a little bit of a spin cycle."

Would inserting Wahlstrom solve the Islanders’ offensive problems? Not necessarily. But it is worth a try after two losses in a row and with some sort of jolt needed before this thing slips away. 1216036 New York Islanders one power-play goal by Victor Hedman, putting a team like the Lightning on the man advantage five times is not a recipe for success against them.

Islanders Offense The Issue, Not The Officiating Last night, the Islanders got back to their composure, only taking the one penalty assessed to Adam Pelech. It allowed them to play almost the entire game 5v5, which when you break down film of the first three games of this series, is a situation I like the Islanders to be very Published 16 hours ago on June 18, 2021By Andy Graziano competitive in, almost level with Tampa.

MAYBE A LITTLE JUGGLING? The Islanders find themselves with quite a hill to climb against the No, I’m not talking about him taking his act on the road in a traveling defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning in their semi-final circus. But, as tough as it may sound at this time of the playoffs to be playoff series. switching up line combinations, it might provide the spark New York With a place in the final on the line, maybe you’re pointing to some very needs to produce more than a meager five goals in three games. questionable calls in both games two and three, in addition to icings If Wahlstrom is re-introduced, does Leo Komarov come out? He has apparently being thrown into the mix, as the reason New York is down done a fine job defensively in the playoffs and Trotz believes this allows two games to one in the series. Mathew Barzal and Jordan Eberle to be more creative, but he did flub a But, it’s not. tremendous scoring chance handed to him off an Eberle pass in the third period. Maybe someone with more offensive skill, be it either Ollie or They simply need to score more goals. Travis Zajac, converts and ties the game. Fine line, remember?

I know it sounds very simplistic, but it’s now evident that the Islanders Does Zajac come out? He has shown tremendous chemistry with J.G came into this series as the highest-scoring team in the playoffs riding Pageau and Palmieri on the third line, but Tampa just possesses too the back of some very poor goaltending by Tristian Jarry and a torn much speed up and down their lineup and there are times where Zajac labrum injury to Tuuka Rask. looks as if he is struggling to keep up.

Andrei Vasilevskiy is arguably the best goaltender in the entire league The Islanders second line of Brock Nelson, Anthony Beauvillier and Josh and is not at all phased by the gravity of the moment nor playing through Bailey have only a Bailey assist on Barzal’s breakaway goal in game one any sort of injury. When the Islanders have been able to punch through and a power-play goal by Nelson in game two. for quality scoring chances, he has been there, steadfast as he was in stopping Anthony Beauvillier late in the second period of game two and On defense, there really isn’t much you can do. Pelech, almost perfect all Kyle Palmieri in the first period last night. playoffs, has just picked a bad time to make a couple of mistakes. Nick Leddy looks as if he’s aged 10 years, his trademark speed becoming less Big moments. Big saves. In games that have proven to be as tight as the a factor as he loses more than half the board battles presented to him in ones we’ve witnessed in this series, they make all the difference when the defensive zone. His brief lapse partially cost the Islanders on the you’re playing a team that simply knows how to lock it down, as Tampa Yanni Gourde goal to open the scoring. More minutes for Noah Dobson did last night. means putting up with the natural and normal imperfection that still exists in his game, as he continues to grow. New York Islanders Tampa Bay Lightning Goalies This series is not over. Not by any means. New York was ‘credited’ last night with 14 high danger scoring chances 5v5, via Natural Stat Trick. Can you remember the 14? I certainly can’t It has just become more of an uphill battle than the Islanders have faced and get the feeling that number might be a bit generous. The reality is this year. once Tampa got their lead, on a late second-period goal by the seemingly unstoppable Brayden Point, they locked it down as champions NYI Hockey Now LOADED: 06.19.2021 do. Clogged the middle, blocked shots and didn’t let anything penetrate the slot.

With Semyon Varlamov pulled and two minutes left, New York generated absolutely nothing.

So, where does head coach Barry Trotz go from here, now faced with having to beat Tampa three out of four games?

TAKE A TRIP TO WALLY WORLD

Since being injured in the second round against the Boston Bruins, Oliver Wahlstrom has been rehabbing a knee injury. Now recovered, he has been practicing with the team and taking part in pre-game warmups for the better part of the last week. The Islanders can certainly use his carefree shooting style in forcing more pucks at the Tampa net, especially if they can find a way to generate more traffic in front of Vasilevskiy.

On the power play is where his impact could be felt the most, as New York generally stocks their five-man unit with a pass-first mentality. Where one goal typically decides playoff games between two almost evenly matched teams, it makes all the difference between winning and losing.

As Trotz himself proclaimed after last night’s defeat, “At the end of the day, it’s a pretty even game, they just capitalized on a scramble at the end of a power play. Its a fine line between winning or losing this time of year.”

That fine line could be assigned number 26.

Oliver Wahlstrom

New York played clean, calm and disciplined in their Game 1 victory. Game 2 brought about a struggle to maintain that composure as Tampa initiated scrums at every opportunity. Even though Tampa only got the 1216037 New York Islanders NYI Hockey Now LOADED: 06.19.2021

Islanders Being Reminded Why Tampa Bay is Still the Champs

Published 17 hours ago on June 18, 2021By Christian Arnold

UNIONDALE, N.Y. — The New York Islanders may have sent a message in the opening game of their series with the Tampa Bay Lightning, but the defending Stanley Cup Champions have been reminding them ever since who the throne still belongs to.

Game 3 was another example of the Islanders being reminded why Tampa Bay is the defending champs. Not only have their best players stepped up when they’ve needed them offensively, but Tampa flexed their defensive muscles by frustrating the Islanders by blocking shots and limiting their chances.

Then of course there is Vezina Trophy finalist Andrei Vasilevskiy and the lights-out way he has played since the opening game.

“Tampa is good all around. They’re the defending Stanley Cup champions,” Matt Martin said after the loss. “They know what it takes to win. They have a couple of top-tier defensemen, four good lines that know what they have to do in their D zone. … There’s a lot of top teams in this league that knows how to take care of their own end, but they’re certainly one of them.”

Tampa Bay is a different storm for the Islanders to weather. They’re a team that has the offense to light teams up, the size to punch teams in the mouth and the defense to stifle even the best offensive teams in the NHL.

Going into the series, the New York Islanders had been averaging 3.6 goals per game through the first two rounds of the postseason and they scored four or more goals in eight of their first 12 playoff games this year. Against Boston, they’ve been averaging just 1.6 goals and they’ve been held to just two or fewer goals in each of the first three games of the series.

“They’ve been in this position a few times. Obviously, they’re Stanley Cup Champions,” Islanders head coach Barry Trotz said about Tampa’s suffocating defense. “They’ve been in these situations. We tried and we’re just going to have to get more pucks and we’re going to have to get inside. We had some chances and Vasilevskiy had a couple of key saves. They didn’t have a lot tonight.

“I thought we were pretty good defensively as well. A lot of stuff they got I think we gave it to them. It’s funny, as you go along this path, you go deeper and deeper, the teams are better and better, and you’ve got to dig in even harder.”

Trotz wasn’t wrong when he said the Islanders played well defensively on Thursday night and Semyon Varlamov’s effort between the pipes was solid, but in the defensive battle, it was clear who had the edge and it made all the difference.

If you’re looking for some solace, the series with Tampa Bay has taken on a similar story arc as the Islanders’ previous two this year. The Islanders split the games on the road, only to drop the third game at home. They’d go on to win the next three games after that in both of those series.

However, Tampa Bay is not Boston and they are certainly not Pittsburgh. No disrespect to those two teams, but Tampa Bay just operates on a higher level and the Islanders are seeing that first hand.

“I think every game’s been tough,” Casey Cizikas said about the series so far with Tampa Bay. “Each team is battling and they want to take care of their own end and limit chances as much as possible. It’s going to be a dog fight every night and we expected that.”

It’s put up or shut up time for the New York Islanders heading into Game 4 on Saturday now. If they tie things up at 2-2 it’s a whole new ball game and recent history is on their side, but a loss, well that would be a tough hole to climb out of.

Regardless, Tampa Bay has reminded the Islanders why they’re still the reigning champs after the Islanders sent a message of their own in Game 1. 1216038 New York Islanders multi-game series schedule that was adopted this season where NHL teams would play back-to-back games in the same city. Patrice Bergeron and others made their way to the top of may polls. (Boston Hockey Now)

NYHN Daily: Islanders Down in a Series Yet Again & More Well, he’s not a finalist for the Selke Trophy as the best two-way forward in the NHL, but Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby has been recognized by his peers as one of the most complete players. Crosby and Boston’s Patrice Bergeron, practically a Selke regular, tied atop the Published 17 hours ago on June 18, 2021By Stefen Rosner complete player category in the NHL Players Association annual poll of players, released Thursday. Crosby and Bergeron each received 23.78 percent of the vote, or 112 votes each. (Pittsburgh Hockey Now) The New York Islanders were shut down by the Tampa Bay Lightning in their Game 3 loss at Nassau Coliseum. The referees left their mark on After a season in which his Florida Panthers set a franchise record for this game, as the interference call on Islanders Adam Pelech turned into points percentage and were two points away from winning the Central the game-winning goal for the Lightning. Division title, Joel Quenneville was a finalist for the Jack Adams Award for top coach during the 2021 NHL season. On Thursday night, it was The Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the New York Islanders 2-1 on announced Rod Brind’Amour — whose Carolina Hurricanes beat out the Thursday in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Semifinals at the Nassau Panthers in the Central — won in a vote by the NHL Broadcasters’ Coliseum. Tampa Bay has a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. Tampa Association. (Florida Hockey Now) got their goals and played dominant defense to preserve their lead on the road. (NYI Hockey Now) Some Detroit Hockey Now readers believe that paying Luke Glendening $1 to stay with the Red Wings is too much. Fans are divided about Islanders defenseman Adam Pelech was called for interference towards whether GM Steve Yzerman should re-sign him. It truly depends on what the end of the second period, a rather weak call, especially in the their other key free agents will be getting if Yzerman decides to bring any playoffs. As that power-play chance expired, with the second-period of them back. (Detroit Hockey Now) clock trickling down, the Lightning were able to score and take a lead. That penalty was the turning point of the game. (NYI Hockey Now) As the Vegas Golden Knights travel to Quebec for Games Three and Four of this Stanley Cup Semifinal series with the Montreal Canadiens, Lou Lamoriello is vying to make a little history this year.The New York they do so with far more questions than answers. Why are the starts so Islanders president and general manager could become the first two-time slow? Why have the forwards not scored much, and beyond that been winner of the Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award. inconsistent at best? When will Vegas’ best players be its best players? Lamoriello was named a finalist for the award for the second consecutive Is Marc-Andre Fleury a superhero, alien, or alien superhero? (Vegas year, along with Marc Bergevin of the Montreal Canadiens and Bill Zito of Hockey Now) the Florida Panthers. (NYI Hockey Now) If you’re getting them for the fourth hole, wing or center, okay, not bad. Is it time for Islanders rookie Oliver Wahlstrom to enter the lineup? Will But if you’re getting them for the third hole, that comes with a rosary.” Anthony Beauvillier wake up? How about Nick Leddy? Arthur Staple That’s what one scout said about veteran UFA centers Travis Zajac, gives his thoughts after the Islanders 2-1 loss in Game 3. (The Athletic) Derek Stepan, Derick Brassard, Brandon Sutter, Derek Ryan, and Carl Soderberg. So the San Jose Sharks, in search of a reliable third-line Defense is the essence of the playoffs, limiting skating space and center, should probably look elsewhere. (San Jose Hockey Now) protecting the net. That is how teams win Stanley Cups, as the Lightning did last season. It’s what the Islanders’ success has been built upon and Rod Brind’Amour of the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday won the Jack where their chances remain for rallying in this NHL semifinal series. But Adams Award for NHL coach of the year as voted by members of the in Game 3, the Lightning out defended them. (Newsday) NHL Broadcasters’ Association. “This is a great honor to even be thought of in this category,” Brind’Amour said. “… I’m really proud to be accepting Not all 2-1 series deficits are created equal, and this one feels different this on behalf of this organization.” (NHL) from the other two the Islanders have faced. Sure, they are capable of coming back against the Lightning even after a 2-1 loss on Thursday Marc-Andre Fleury has worked his way up the NHL goalie leaderboard night in Game 3 of their Stanley Cup semifinal at Nassau Coliseum, just with a style and flair as unique as his personality, and Patrick Roy, Martin as they did against the Penguins and Bruins after losing Game 3s at Brodeur and Grant Fuhr are very much enjoying his journey. (NHL) home. But despite playing the defending Cup champions mostly evenly in defeat, it will be a daunting task to win three of the next four — let alone NYI Hockey Now LOADED: 06.19.2021 three in a row, as they did in the first two rounds. (Newsday)

Brayden Point scored for the sixth straight game, and the Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the New York Islanders 2-1 in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Semifinals at Nassau Coliseum on Thursday. Point’s shot while falling down in the right circle found its way through traffic and gave Tampa Bay a 2-1 lead with 20 seconds left in the second period. It would hold up as the game-winner. (NHL)

The New York Islanders’ toughest challenge in the Stanley Cup Semifinals has become trying to break through against the Tampa Bay Lightning’s stifling defense and goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy. Despite their best efforts and controlling play for much of the final 33 minutes, the Islanders came up short in a 2-1 loss in Game 3 at Nassau Coliseum on Thursday. New York has scored a total of five goals in the first three games and trails the defending Stanley Cup champions in the best-of-7 series heading into Game 4 at home Saturday. (NHL)

The Tampa Bay Lightning have won four straight road games scoring eight goals. They’ve allowed three. “It’s not how many you put in the net, it’s how many you keep out,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper said after a 2-1 win against the New York Islanders in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Semifinals at Nassau Coliseum on Thursday. “That’s something we had to learn along the way. If you can hold a team to one goal, you’re giving yourself a chance to win the game. We did.” (NHL)

As one might expect, the core Boston Bruins players are among the most respected among their peers around the NHL. It was proven out again this season with several Bruins ranking high in the 2020-21 NHLPA Player Poll. Nearly 500 players were surveyed on 14 wide-ranging topics with the majority of players interestingly in favor of the -style 1216039 Ottawa Senators But, the attitude has changed, a first-round exit in four straight against the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2020 served as the wakeup call that the Lightning needed.

Trailing 2-1 in a series is nothing new for the New York Islanders and “We were in the conference finals, and all that, and then you get slapped they hope history repeats itself in the face by Columbus, and that was just a reality check,” added Cooper. “Ever since that Game 4 loss we’ve had a different mindset and it’s worked well for us.”

Bruce Garrioch The Lightning feel they have the right recipe for success now.

Publishing date:Jun 18, 2021 • 10 hours ago • “It’s everyone buying into the system,” captain Steven Stamkos said. “We know what our job is. We talk about in between the second and third. We

have a one-goal lead going into the third period of a playoff game, we The New York Islanders have been here before. know what we have to do and we’ve done it time and time again

What, me worry? “It’s great to see, but this group is comfortable in these situations. It’s the semifinals, this time of the year it’s guys doing whatever it takes to win. Coming off a 2-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning Thursday at home, the That’s the most important thing.” Islanders now find themselves trailing 2-1 in the Eastern conference final with Game 3 for Saturday night at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Clearly, the Isles don’t want to panic. Trotz is the kind of guy who stays Coliseum. on an even keel at all times and he wants to see his team react the same way whether it wins or loses. His attitude was exactly what you’d expect Twice, during these playoffs, against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Round 1 Saturday but it will change completely it New York doesn’t get this series and the Boston Bruins in Round 2, the Isles can draw on their experience tied headed back to Tampa for Game 5. from those two series. In fact, if you listened to New York coach Barry Trotz speak to the media via Zoom Friday if you didn’t know what was Ottawa Sun LOADED: 06.19.2021 happening you’d think the Islanders have the Bolts right where they want them.

Given their track record, and the fact the Isles went on to win those series, Trotz has every right to remain confident.

“We’ve had success being in this position in the previous two rounds,” said Trotz. “Absolutely, you look back and we’ve been here before. We just have to take care of business here. If you haven’t done it before you always have that doubt, but we’ve done it twice already. We didn’t lose the series (Thursday) night and, in some ways, the series might have just begun.

“As we’ve gone along, and every series I look back at, even the Boston series, I thought we should have had Game 3 and we lost. We were deflated and it was no different (Thursday), we were a little deflated because we thought we put out a strong effort and we thought we should be going into overtime. That didn’t happen. So, you just park it and we look forward to the opportunity (Saturday).

“Absolutely, we can look back at the previous experiences and we’ve had good success.”

Trotz said it’s about belief and having everybody on board.

“There’s no reason for us to not think we can’t do it again. It’s on us to do it. It’s not hope or anything like that. We put in the work and it’s not going to be easy,” said Trotz. “The longer you go in the playoffs the teams get better and better. It’s strange how that works. You’ve got to dial in your effort and dial in your work.

“You can’t have any passengers and everybody’s got to pull on the rope really hard and everybody’s pulling you can have success. Usually it’s all about the process vs. the results and if we stick to the process we’ll be fine. We had good discipline, we had more of our game displayed that we did before and so it’s trending to where we want it to be.”

If the Islanders are going to get a win, they have to do a better job in front of Bolts’ goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy. New York has been held to two goals or less in the first three games of this series and if that doesn’t change then this series won’t turn around. The Isles feel they have to do a better job getting to the front of the net.

The Lightning have a 6-1 record on the road in these playoffs and the Coliseum hasn’t been an easy place for road teams because of the raucous crowd that supports the Isles.

The key for the Bolts is they’ve improved their play defensively. They’ve learned from playoff failures in the past and they know what it takes to shut it down in the third period to keep a lead. It’s a big part of the reason why they’re defending Stanley Cup champions.

The Isles didn’t register a shot in the final six minutes of the third as the Bolts closed the door.

“As we grew, I think we had some good offensive players, and we did have a bit of an attitude that it wasn’t good enough to beat you 2-1 we wanted to beat you 8-1,” said Lightning coach Jon Cooper. 1216040 Ottawa Senators

Canadian Tire Centre opens vaccination site Monday

Bruce Garrioch

Publishing date:Jun 18, 2021 • 11 hours ago

You can take your own shot at the Canadian Tire Centre starting Monday.

The Ottawa Senators confirmed Friday that the empty building would be used as a COVID-19 mass vaccination site with Ottawa Public Health ramping up availabilities across the region.

The building was one of five new sites that will accept appointments starting Monday. The others are:

• Minto Sports Complex at the University of Ottawa.

• Horticulture Building at Lansdowne Park

• Canterbury Recreation Complex

• The Nepean Sportsplex curling rink

Anthony LeBlanc, the Senators’ president of business operations, told this newspaper last month that owner Eugene Melnyk had made offers to the provincial government and officials with Ottawa Pubic Health to use the arena as a vaccine site.

“We are privileged and proud to offer the Canadian Tire Centre as a vaccination site for the Ottawa community,” Melnyk said. “It’s an effort that I’ve let provincial representatives know that we’ll be pleased to continue as is needed while our dedicated health-care workers continue the fight against COVID-19.”

The clinic will take place on the arena floor with vaccinations from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Parking will be free and people will be able to enter the rink at Gate 3.

Residents who received shots on or before May 8 are eligible to book appointments and the goal is to vaccinate 2,000 people per day. The sites were added because more shots became available; people need to book through the provincial site.

Soon after the last shot was fired at the rink during an NHL gme last month, the ice surface was taken out and the organization held discussions with the province about using the facility for vaccinations.

The Senators are asking people who come to the arena for vaccinations to bring non-perishable food items that will be donated to the Ottawa Food Bank.

Demand for vaccinations is set to increase with the recent announcement that Ontario has expanded vaccine eligibility.

More vaccines were made available to the city and that’s why Ottawa Public Health was able to expand the number of sites.

The Queensway Carleton Hospital, the Senators and the Senators Community Foundation held two days of COVID-19 drive-thru testing last September. There were long lineups of cars and testing had to be cut off late in the day, but the location proved successful in helping ease the strain on people looking to get tested.

Ottawa Sun LOADED: 06.19.2021 1216041 Philadelphia Flyers

Lindblom feels the love, recalls the positive memories to celebrate honor

BY JORDAN HALL

When the NHL announced Oskar Lindblom as the winner of the 2020-21 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, it was around 8 p.m. ET. For Lindblom, back home in his native Sweden, it was 2 a.m. The Flyers' winger, of course, was informed he had won the award prior to the official announcement Tuesday, but the congratulatory messages poured in overnight.

"When I woke up this morning, I had a couple of text messages from guys on the team," Lindblom said Wednesday. "Family and friends reached out, as well. It's always fun to talk to old teammates when you're home and you have your family here, it's great. I'm happy, I'm happy to win this award. Feels special, a special moment in my life."

Lindblom read the love from his teammates in the morning. On Tuesday night, he had Flyers fans across the Delaware Valley cheering for him and the hockey community saluting his inspirational fight. Lindblom became the fourth Flyer to ever win the Masterton Trophy, which is voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association and given annually to "the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to ice hockey."

The 24-year-old surely matched the description. He played in 50 of the Flyers' 56 games this season, putting up eight goals and six assists. This time a year ago, he was finishing radiation treatments from a cancer battle stemming back to December 2019, when he was diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma.

Lindblom's story of positivity and persistence has touched so many. The Masterton honor had the smiling Swede recalling some of the positive, uplifting memories from his fight.

He mentioned the time when he greeted the team at the Wells Fargo Center on Dec. 17, 2019. The Flyers were coming home from an 0-3-0 road trip during which they learned of Lindblom's sudden and shocking diagnosis. After the Flyers saw Lindblom, they went on to win four straight games.

"I remember that moment so well because everyone was so happy to see me and I was so happy to see them," Lindblom said.

He also highlighted the night of Jan. 11, 2020, when he received a loud and lengthy standing ovation from 19,866 fans at the Wells Fargo Center. Lindblom, who had begun his treatments, was shown on the Jumbotron. The ovation lasted for an entire stoppage of play as Lindblom waved to the crowd.

"That was something that I'll never forget," he said.

Back home in Sweden, Lindblom is training for the 2021-22 season — and appreciating the essence of his fight.

"Just got back here a couple of weeks ago, spending time with my family again, seeing my grandparents that I haven't seen in almost two years," Lindblom said. "Just enjoying life and can be able to do whatever I want to and I feel energized again. ... Hockey-wise, I felt I got better at the end of the season, but I know I've got a lot more in me.

"I want to be the player I was before I got sick. I feel good right now, working out and all of that. That's my goal and I just need to really push myself this summer to really get back in shape. Hopefully I can be the player I was, if not better."

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 06.19.2021 1216042 Philadelphia Flyers The worries about Hamilton Did you catch that “it’s not always pretty” caveat? It looms large over any

analysis of Hamilton, particularly when talking with insiders about him. Would Dougie Hamilton fit with the Flyers? Evaluating the soon-to-be Hamilton, in many ways, is the anti-Seth Jones. Jones is universally free agent and if he should be a target respected by most hockey lifers, who generally view him as something of the ideal, do-it-all top-pair defenseman. Stat-centric observers, on the other hand, tend to see him as overrated. With Hamilton, it’s the By Charlie O'Connor and Sara Civian Jun 18, 2021 opposite. The stats and models present Hamilton as not merely a good defenseman, but a truly elite one. Yet insiders fall more on the “yes, he’s

good, but …” side of the fence. Two weeks ago brought the news that Seth Jones, a logical potential This isn’t mere conjecture. Take a look at some of the excerpts from offseason target for the Philadelphia Flyers, would indeed be available Scott Burnside’s recent piece on the stocks of pending UFAs: this summer. This week, it was Dougie Hamilton’s turn in the “he’s out there” news cycle. We spoke with three separate sources who questioned whether you can win a Stanley Cup with Hamilton as a centerpiece player. On Monday, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported that Hamilton’s team, the Carolina Hurricanes, had given the defenseman permission to speak “My belief has long been you can’t win with him in the playoffs,” one with other teams in anticipation of free agency, unofficially kicking off veteran Eastern Conference source said. Another source suggests that Hamilton Watch. Why did the Hurricanes do it? Most likely, they’re while defending playoff MVP Victor Hedman plays “with the Viking way hopeful that Hamilton’s offers prove not enticing enough to drive him about him, that’s something I think Dougie is missing.” away from Carolina — and if one is, the Canes might be able to extract assets out of that team in the form of a sign-and-trade transaction. The same concerns emerged in Craig Custance and Dom Luszczyszyn’s Player Tiers article from January. They ranked Hamilton in the “2B” Considering Hamilton’s status as a high-end first-pair, right-handed- section, reserved for franchise-caliber players. But there was real shooting blueliner on a contender, he’s a logical option for the Flyers, pushback from insiders. who are looking for just that this offseason, right? Well, not so fast. Friedman reported Tuesday that Hamilton is not Philadelphia’s “top “You guys think Dougie Hamilton is a franchise player?” a Western target” at the moment. That said, considering the frenzied nature of a Conference coach wondered when he saw an early version of the tiers. busy NHL summer, circumstances could always change, even if for now “I would not have Dougie Hamilton in 2B. And I’m a Dougie fan and have they’re not fixated on Hamilton. been for years,” said an Eastern Conference executive. “But for me, he is On paper, at least, Hamilton certainly fits the bill as a plausible 1RD not a franchise player. 3A, for sure, but I struggle with calling him a option, a top-tier replacement for Matt Niskanen. He’s the best franchise player.” defenseman poised to hit free agency, he’s 28 and he has a peerless “Dougie has good analytics, but he’s not a good defender,” said a head statistical track record. So is he the right player for the Flyers and their coach. “Who are you going to win a championship with?” glaring need? The perception gap between the picture that stats paint of Hamilton and The good of Dougie Hamilton the view of many in the game is very real. Hamilton is a big, plus-skating, right-handed top-pair blueliner who So why does it exist? One guess is that Hamilton’s relative lack of scores lots of goals, racks up a ton of points and helps his team physicality — especially given his size — rubs traditionalists the wrong dramatically outshoot and outchance opponents at even strength. way. Phrases like “can’t win with him in the playoffs” always carry an Not a bad resume. undercurrent of skepticism that players who lean more toward the finesse side won’t be able to hold up against the increased intensity of the Going on five seasons now, Hamilton’s teams — both Calgary and postseason; those critiques seem to be especially deployed when those Carolina — have utterly eviscerated the opposition at five-on-five when players have the frames to theoretically be physical yet tend not to do so he has been on the ice. To what degree? Well, when it comes to stats anyway. That said, the style of play in the postseason is different from like Corsi For Percentage and Expected Goals For Percentage, decent the regular season, and considering the amount of money it will take to players tend to be around the 50 percent range, meaning that their teams bring in Hamilton, he needs to excel during that time of the year to be about break even in terms of shot and chance differential when they play. worth the investment. Good-to-great players tend to check in around 53-54 percent, depending on the quality of their team. And to be clear — a 54-46 edge in shots and The second is the simple fact that Hamilton’s primary strength is offense, chances is substantial, especially as sample sizes get larger and larger. not defense, and that’s always going to scare most NHL coaches for the simple reason that his position is defenseman. To be clear — Hamilton As for Hamilton? His worst Corsi For season over the past five years was isn’t a bad defender; his solid PK work over the past few years hints as 55.54 percent. And his worst xG For season was 56.12 percent. In other much. But he’s certainly involved with his fair share of memorable words, Hamilton’s floor for a half-decade has still been “clearly elite” by breakdowns, and those are going to stick in the minds of talent the numbers. evaluators who lean heavily on the eye test. To deploy a player as a big- minutes, top-pair defenseman, a coach has to fully trust that player. Unsurprisingly, the public statistical models that work to tease out the Hamilton’s occasional glaring mistakes can make that difficult, even for a direct impact an individual player has on those percentages love rational coach who knows on some level that Hamilton’s good plays far Hamilton too. Year after year, Hamilton ranks near the top among all outweigh his bad in aggregate. defensemen in Evolving-Hockey’s RAPM model, which accounts for everything from quality of competition to quality of teammates to zone There’s also the question of fit in Philadelphia, both stylistic and personal. starts. In fact, over the past five seasons combined, no blueliner in Hamilton may be a dominant player statistically, but his dominance hockey has had a more positive impact on his team’s shot attempt absolutely leans more toward offense creation rather than prevention. Do differential and expected goal differential than Hamilton, according to the Flyers want another offensive-oriented defenseman, after probably their model. He just doesn’t have bad seasons. having too many of them in 2020-21? Also, Hamilton’s relative lack of physicality doesn’t exactly check the “need to be tougher to play against” All metrics from Evolving-Hockey and even strength only. Season-by- charge that many leveled at Philadelphia in the wake of the season. season data limited to defensemen with at least 300 minutes played. Then, there’s the simple question of whether the City of Brotherly Love But Hamilton’s results aren’t merely hollow, process-based and its hyper-intense approach to sports fandom is the right personal fit achievements. He’s had the fourth-best impact on team goal differential for Hamilton, who is known as more of a low-key personality. He seems over that same five-year span. He’s second in the NHL in goals scored to have found his niche in the passionate but unique Carolina market by a defenseman over that period as well. It’s not always pretty, and after stops in Boston and Calgary — would he even want to relocate to there can be some scary moments from time to time with Hamilton on the the pressure-cooker that is Philadelphia, especially with the weight of a ice. But over a substantial sample, Hamilton has proven that he’s an massive contract on his shoulders? engine that drives his teams to control play and outscore opponents at a legitimately elite level. Bringing in the expert There’s no one better to answer these questions than a beat writer who allowed to offer Hamilton an eight-year term. And if Hamilton gets an has covered Hamilton on a daily basis in Carolina — our very own Sara eight-year term, he’s getting a deal that is easily going to blow past $50 Civian. So what does Sara make of the competing views on Hamilton’s million in overall financial commitment. Signing Hamilton would be an quality as a player, and his potential fit in Philadelphia? era-defining move for the Flyers, and isn’t a move that should be done without serious consideration for potential downsides. Civian: First of all, I think you’ve done an excellent job at weighing the pros and cons of the Dougie Hamilton experience — especially as it That said, most of the critiques thrown Hamilton’s way strike me as either would pertain to the 2021-22 Flyers. unfounded or overblown.

Hamilton makes any team better — full stop. But at an asking price of Hamilton might not be a true shutdown-style defenseman, but when your around $8.5 million AAV for eight years you really have to ask yourself team has the puck 55-60 percent of the time, you don’t really need to be what, specifically, the Flyers need and what direction they’re going in. a defensive stalwart. You just have to be OK, and Hamilton is. As for the “tough to play against” critique — yes, it’s tough to play against mean, Part of the reason Hamilton has been such a massive success with the physical opponents. It’s also tough to play when your team barely has the Hurricanes is their high-octane offensive system that somehow starts puck, and those are the situations that Hamilton forces opponents into. from the blue line out and encourages defensemen to jump the rush. Also, Hamilton may be “offensively oriented,” but the total package of his Brett Pesce once told me he’s “never felt this much freedom” in a system talent makes his overall impact more balanced on the whole. We’re not in his life, and Pesce is a traditional defenseman who has started to put talking about a Shayne Gostisbehere or (gasp) Erik Gustafsson type of up some impressive offensive numbers due to comfort in the system and defenseman here. The “he can’t succeed in the playoffs” critique doesn’t trust from the coaching staff. hold water for me because his advanced metrics over the past five So, while I think “systems” are generally overvalued because they’re seasons in the postseason have been very strong (54.66 percent Corsi mostly the same from team to team, the Canes are a bit different and you For Percentage, 54.32 percent xG For Percentage). And finally, there are absolutely need to factor in that their on-ice structure is basically built for legitimate similarities between the Carolina style of play at even strength Hamilton. Head coach Rod Brind’Amour even encourages mistakes as and Philadelphia’s forecheck-centric approach under Alain Vigneault, long as they’re a product of high-event hockey, aka as long as his particularly how it functioned back in the second half of 2019-20. players are trying to actually do something. Stylistically, the transition between the two clubs would be far easier than, say, Colorado to Philadelphia or from the Isles to the Flyers. Does this sound like it could work for the Flyers? The price and personal fit factors are a different story. Zooming in a bit, Hamilton brings a rush-attempting and play-driving X- factor that’s arguably No. 1 among all NHL defensemen. This is true at Other defensemen would come cheaper from a cap standpoint, at least five-on-five, obviously, and that’ll be most important overall. But I don’t for 2021-22. Friedman linked Jones ($5.4 million cap hit for 2021-22) and even want to think about what the Hurricanes’ power play would look like Matt Dumba ($6 million) to the Flyers in his most recent column; an extra without him and his right shot, and when it comes playoff time we all $2 to $3 million in cap space saved by getting one of them instead of know how much special teams matter. Hamilton would provide more flexibility for Chuck Fletcher to fill other roster holes, such as scoring winger, third-line center and an upgraded His strength is offense, but I wouldn’t necessarily consider his defense a backup goalie as insurance for Carter Hart. And there’s no guarantee weakness. Since he’s a high-event player, when he makes a blunder it’s that Hamilton will prioritize Philadelphia as a destination. probably going to cost his team a goal. So even though the mistakes are few and far between, they’re a result of him actively trying to make a Theoretically, that’s what this “talking period” that Carolina has permitted play, and you’re going to remember that more than an odd-man rush will allow Fletcher to determine, of course. And to be clear — even if miscue or something like that. Hamilton is truly not Philadelphia’s “top target,” that doesn’t mean that they won’t be checking in to gauge interest. Circumstances change It’s up to the team to decide if the small risk that looks bigger than it quickly in the offseason, especially one that is expected to be particularly actually is, is worth it. I will say, the eye test recalls some questionable busy all around the league. moments — and non-moments — you could point to from his playoff games where you’re wondering what happened to the magic. But in In the end, the debate boils down to a simple set of questions: Would 2019-20 he was just coming off a broken leg, and in 2020-21 the injuries Hamilton make the Flyers better? Yes. A lot better? Yes. That’s reason on the Canes (including D partner Jaccob Slavin) and no-shows from enough for Fletcher to make sure he remains on the Flyers’ radar. other players definitely impacted his game. He finished off quite strong. The Athletic LOADED: 06.19.2021 Oh, and have you ever noticed how all the insiders that don’t consider him elite never really give a specific reason? Personally, I think hockey is evolving to be a more free-flowing game and certain folks don’t want to give up the idea that a defenseman needs to be a defenseman and a forward needs to be a forward. Hamilton’s positive impact is clear via Dom’s Game Score data, and watching him provide rush after rush and play after play, that’s good enough for me.

I honestly think the whole “Dougie found his home in Carolina” has been severely exaggerated by both his haters who want to say he can’t perform in a big market, and his lovers who want him to stay in Carolina.

As someone who grew up in Boston, I’ve had this conversation with Hamilton more than a few times. I can’t speak for Calgary, but he genuinely loved Boston and playing for the Bruins. The public perception was what it was, and it might have hurt him when he was an 18-year-old kid, but I really don’t think he cares.

He definitely likes playing for the Canes, but it’s more because he found some guys he really gets along with and, uh, the team is really good. I don’t think it has anything to do with the media — sometimes I think we give ourselves too much credit with the impact we think we have.

Evaluating the fit

There’s always going to be serious risk in handing a player in his late 20s a massive contract in free agency. And let’s not sugarcoat it — the 28- year old Hamilton is going to get an enormous contract from some team.

Carolina’s “sign-and-trade” idea only makes sense if Hamilton ultimately receives offers in the eight-year range, since Carolina (and Seattle, if they acquire his rights before the expansion draft) is the only team 1216043 Pittsburgh Penguins

Ex-Penguins defenseman David Warsofsky signs in Germany

SETH RORABAUGH | Friday, June 18, 2021 1:26 p.m.

Defenseman David Warsofsky spent parts of three seasons with the Penguins organization.

Former Penguins defenseman David Warsofsky has signed with ERC Ingolstadt of Germany’s Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL).

The team announced his signing on its website.

A native of Marshfield, Mass., Warsofsky, 31, has been a member of the Penguins organization over three separate stints. In total, he has played in 19 career games for the Penguins and has two points (one goal, one assist). During the franchise’s run to the Stanley Cup in 2017, Warsofsky was a member of the team’s “Black Aces” group in the playoffs.

His third stint with the organization was spent entirely with Wikes- Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League (AHL) during the pandemic-shortened 2019-20 season. Serving as Wilkes- Barre/Scranton’s captain, Warsofsky scored 33 points (10 goals, 23 assists) in 51 games.

In August of 2020, Warsofsky was dealt to the Toronto Maple Leafs in a multi-player trade that brought forward Kasperi Kapanen to the Penguins.

After being traded to the Carolina Hurricanes this past February, Warsofsky’s entire 2020-21 season was spent as a member of the Chicago Wolves of the AHL. In 22 games with the Wolves, he scored 19 points (two goals, 17 assists).

Tribune Review LOADED: 06.19.2021 1216044 Pittsburgh Penguins While DeSmith performed more than adequately in his role this past season, the guy ahead of him on the depth chart, Jarry, did not, at least in the postseason.

Penguins A to Z: Casey DeSmith proved he belongs That has prompted fair suggestions that the Penguins seek a goaltender that can either replace Jarry or present a greater claim the starting role than DeSmith can offer.

SETH RORABAUGH | Friday, June 18, 2021 8:01 a.m. To be clear, DeSmith belongs in the NHL. As one of the league’s smaller goaltenders, DeSmith relies on his quickness and reflexes to prevent

goals. He has proven his place on the Penguins’ roster repeatedly. In 20 games this past season, Penguins goaltender Casey DeSmith had But factors beyond his control, including next month’s expansion draft, an 11-7-0 record. could dictate where he plays next season. With the Penguins in the midst of their offseason, the Tribune-Review is Tribune Review LOADED: 06.19.2021 looking at all 49 players currently under NHL contracts to the organization in alphabetical order, from mid-level prospect Niclas Almari to top-six winger Jason Zucker.

Casey DeSmith

Position: Goaltender

Catches: Left

Age: 29

Height: 6-foot

Weight: 181 pounds

2020-21 NHL statistics: 20 games, 11-7-0 record, 2.54 goals-against average, .912 save percentage, two shutouts

Contract: Second year of a three-year contract with a salary-cap hit of $1.25 million. Pending restricted free agent in 2022.

Acquired: Undrafted free-agent signing, July 1, 2015

2020-21 season: Casey DeSmith was back in a familiar place this past season.

The NHL.

After spending the vast majority of the 2019-20 campaign with Wilkes- Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League due in part to a salary cap squeeze, DeSmith was back on the NHL roster following the departure of former starter Matt Murray via trade in October.

Reinstalled as the backup — this time to new starter Tristan Jarry — DeSmith was pressed into service early, replacing a struggling Jarry in the second game of the season on Jan. 15.

DeSmith actually recorded the Penguins’ first win of the season by making 20 saves on 23 shots in a 4-3 shootout triumph at home against the Washington Capitals on Jan. 17 when the Penguins opted to bench Jarry for two games in order to let him round out the rough edges to his game.

DeSmith even showed off some slick skills with the puck as he set up forward Teddy Blueger for the team’s first short-handed goal of the season during a 5-4 overtime home win against the Capitals on Jan. 19.

Jarry eventually leveled things off and DeSmith’s starts primarily came in the second portion of games on back-to-back dates in a season full of them due to the league’s schedule format created to work around the pandemic.

Like a lot of goaltenders who were lucky enough to play the worst team in the NHL, DeSmith’s greatest success came against the Buffalo Sabres as each of his shutouts this past season was recorded against Buffalo.

Arguably, the low point of DeSmith’s season, at least based on performance, came in a 7-5 road loss to the Boston Bruins. He made only 21 saves on 27 shots in that setback.

DeSmith’s season came to an end May 3 in a 7-2 road loss to the Philadelphia Flyers. He left the contest after two periods and never returned. After missing the Penguins’ entire six-game postseason run, the team announced DeSmith underwent surgery June 10 to correct a core muscle injury.

The future: DeSmith’s prescribed recovery time is six to eight weeks so he should be healthy by the time training camps open in mid-September.

What camp he’ll be in could be a fair matter to speculate on. 1216045 Pittsburgh Penguins Then again, the travel incurred by the East Division teams between Boston, Pennsylvania, Washington, New York State and New Jersey is a lot easier than, say, the Western Canadian teams traversing between Winnipeg, Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver and the Eastern clubs in First Call: Some confidence in Steelers' Chuks Okorafor; an award for Montreal, Toronto and Ottawa. Sidney Crosby as his coach is snubbed That said, I’m not sure if having a best-of-both-worlds situation is possible unless the East and West don’t play each other at all until the Stanley Cup Final. TIM BENZ | Friday, June 18, 2021 6:04 a.m. Gimme a Jack and … a joke!

Coach Mike Sullivan and his Penguins did little to win over opinions in Steelers offensive lineman Chukwuma Okorafor participates in the the postseason. They were bounced in the first round for a third straight organized team activities Thursday at the UPMC Rooney Sports season. Complex. However, I’d argue Sullivan deserves praise for winning the East Division Friday’s “First Call” has some faith in Steelers tackle Chuks Okorafor. regular-season crown, given the depth of the division and the number of Penguins captain Sidney Crosby gets a little love while his head coach injuries his team sustained in 2021. does not. Plus, a confusing look at the future of NHL divisional play. And a milestone for a local hockey program. Yet not only was Sullivan snubbed as one of the top three finalists for the Jack Adams award as NHL coach of the year, but he also finished only Take a chance on Chuks fifth. One of the biggest questions for the Steelers in 2021 is how tackles Zach The Jack Adams voting. Banner and Chuks Okorafor will perform. For as much of a joke as that may be, how about New York Islanders Banner only got one start under his belt at right tackle in 2020 before coach Barry Trotz only getting one vote. That’s highly questionable, too. tearing his ACL in the season opener. And Okorafor is making the move from right tackle to left tackle in 2021. Carolina’s Rod Brind’Amour won the honor after his Hurricanes claimed the Central Division crown with 36 victories. Yet CBSSports.com is tabbing Okorafor as a player “primed for a breakout” during a contract year. One fewer than Sullivan’s Penguins.

“In his first two seasons combined, which spanned just 120 pass-blocking Calling on Cougars snaps, Okorafor allowed a pressure every 13.3 of those snaps. In a more expanded role last season, playing right tackle, Okorafor surrendered a With the future of Robert Morris’ hockey programs in doubt, Chatham’s pressure once every 26 snaps,” says CBS’ Chris Trapasso. Division III teams are taking on an increased focus under former RMU Colonials assistant Mike Gershon. But, as Trapasso also pointed out, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger held onto the ball for a league-low 2.17 seconds before throwing it. So The Cougars have placed their first four-year performer into professional Okorafor didn’t have to block very long, very often. Under Matt Canada’s hockey. Forward Cory King just signed a pro contract with the HC Giants new system, that might change. in Finland.

Also, we can’t discount that Okorafor was part of a run-blocking group Fellow senior Michael Thamert is expected to sign a deal with KS that resulted in the league’s worst rush offense. Katowice Naprzod Janow of Poland’s second division Friday.

So we might want to pump the brakes on Okorafor cashing in the big The Cougars have a former goalie, Morgan Hudson, playing on a pro bucks during NFL free agency in 2022. deal in Denmark. But he was only with the program for one season.

In good company Tribune Review LOADED: 06.19.2021

Penguins captain Sidney Crosby got some acknowledgement from his fellow players. He and Boston Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron tied for the award of “most complete player” as conducted by the league’s players’ union.

A total of 471 votes were counted. Crosby and Bergeron each received 112. Crosby was also voted “most superstitious” and the league’s sixth- best passer.

Sid should’ve finished higher on the passing list. And if anyone got a vote besides Crosby for “most superstitious,” I’d love to know how that is humanly possible.

Also of interest

Here’s something else noteworthy from that player poll.

The NHLPA voted by a 66% margin that it would like to see a continuation of the “miniseries” format of playing at least two games in a row between clubs in a given city.

That’s not surprising. It seemed to increase intensity, limit travel and potentially increase opportunities for rest if it was extrapolated over an 82-game schedule.

But the same players also said, by a 68% margin, that they’d prefer if the league went back to its old divisional alignment of the Metro, Pacific, Central and Atlantic divisions.

I get that based on the notion that there might be boredom with seeing the same opponents nonstop over in 82 games. But that vote is a bit of a disconnect on the travel topic, isn’t it?

Especially when it comes to going back and forth over the U.S.-Canadian border, which, even in non-pandemic times, could be an annoyance. 1216046 Pittsburgh Penguins So far, the Penguins and Pirates have taken notice. The teams both recently posted messages of support on Rona’s TikTok videos. On Instagram, Pittsburgh Iron Man’s personal account is continuing to gather followers. Her Iron Man suit marks the ultimate Pittsburgh/Marvel crossover Most important to Rona, however, was the support of Rich. Though he was working at Downey’s production company over 2,000 miles away in Los Angeles, he was psyched when Rona shared photos of Pittsburgh Jesse Bunch Jun 18, 2021 11:26 AM7-9 minutes 6/18/2021 Iron Man’s progress.

Unfortunately, Rich never got to see the completed project. On the Somewhere in the chaos of 2020, the definition of “superhero” changed. evening of May 5, the 52-year old died in a car accident, sending waves of shock throughout the Marvel community. During the pandemic, we learned that superheroes aren’t the flying, energy-blasting, flawless beings found on the big screen. They’re the Rich was memorialized on social media by the likes of MCU stars Mark doctors, nurses, truck drivers and other workers who protect us from real Ruffalo, Chris Pratt, Josh Brolin and Jeremey Renner. Downey himself crises — the ones that don’t involve intergalactic destruction. posted an emotional tribute about his friend, who stood by him when the actor was struggling with substance abuse. But could our appetite for cinematic crime fighters finally be returning? And wouldn’t it be cool if one of them was from Pittsburgh? After Rich’s death, Rona was motivated to finish the remaining half of the suit in his memory. On Pittsburgh Iron Man’s right shoulder, he is Thanks to 28-year-old Shannon Rona, of McCandless, the Steel City now remembered with a sticker decal that reads “Same As It Ever Was,” a has a black-and-gold hero to call its own: the Pittsburgh Iron Man. quote Rona pulled from his Instagram bio.

Though Iron Man alter ego Tony Stark is played by Robert Downey Jr. in “I just felt like I had to do something since he inspired it and everything,” the Marvel Cinematic Universe, this Iron Man was spotted hanging she says. “I hope that it would have matched what was in his head when outside Heinz Field earlier this year. With a mechanized helmet and he saw those fan art pictures. I don’t think anyone ever attempted to glowing chest armor, Rona’s suit — and the attention it’s garnered from make a Pittsburgh Iron Man. I hope that it would do justice to that.” members of Downey’s own camp — is a Marvel/yinzer crossover of a super fan’s dreams. Those who knew Rich said the connection he made with Rona highlights the type of guy he was. Stuck in her apartment in October, Rona hatched the idea for Pittsburgh Iron Man after messaging back and forth on Instagram with Jimmy Rich, “Jimmy had the biggest heart,” Brad R. Lambert said in a phone Downey’s longtime assistant and right-hand man. Rich, a proud interview. “He would give you the shirt off his back.” Pittsburgh sports fan known to interact with Marvel fandom on social Lambert, a Los Angeles producer and talent manager who grew up in media, caught Rona’s attention when he shared fan art depicting Iron Pittsburgh, met Rich in 2015 and worked alongside him at Team Man dressed in Pittsburgh Steelers gear. Downey. The two remained close friends until the day he died. With her sales job going virtual, a 3D printer in her living room and the “He acknowledged what lit a fire under people, and what made other blessing of Iron Man’s second-in-command, she got to work. people happy,” he said. “He would do what he could, when he could.” “I’m just a huge Pittsburgh fan in general. That mixed with Iron Man,” Lambert got his start in entertainment when he began to form Rona said while sitting on her sofa beneath a blue Stark Industries flag. relationships with Steelers players in the 2000s. By the time he met Rich, On the opposite wall proudly hang framed selfies of Rona leaning into he was able to leverage his connections to give his friend the ultimate Downey. They’ve met three times. Steelers weekend. “I wanted to make a red-and-gold one, and then said, ‘No, I want to do Lambert remembers Rich flying to Pittsburgh for a game. They sat on the something unique. Everyone has the red-and-gold one made.’ Especially sideline of Heinz Field and watched the team warm up before kickoff. with quarantine, everyone was making suits out of boredom.” That weekend, Lambert introduced Rich to legendary Steelers Rocky Rona’s no stranger to crafting elaborate costumes. She’s been involved Bleier and Lynn Swann. in cosplay — short for costume play — since 2014. Rona has dressed as “Jimmy grew up in the ’70’s, so those guys are his heroes,” Lambert Spock from “Star Trek” and Pepper Potts, also from “Iron Man,” to says. “Rocky actually showed up to coffee and brought his four Super entertain her younger cousins at the family’s annual Halloween party. Bowl rings — which was such a Rock thing to do. Just an amazing As she made connections at local comic conventions, her costumes moment, where Jimmy got to put two on one hand and two on another.” became more complex, incorporating thermoplastic plates of armor that In the month following Rich's death, Rona felt there was more to be done she printed on an Ender3 Pro, a 3D printer. to honor his memory. By pulling together fellow Marvel fans on social The blueprints needed to print a suit can sell for thousands of dollars on media, she made a collective donation to Angels for Animals, an Ohio- Etsy and Patreon, but Rona got a deal through another super fan. based animal rescue group, in Rich’s name. He often posted photos of his Sphynx cat, Prometheus. It took her around two months to print the 5-foot, 5-inch suit and assemble it on a stand in her living room. Some of the project was In the spirit of the past year, when true superheroes revealed themselves completed at HackPGH, a makerspace near Duquesne University. to be the ones in nursing scrubs and N95 masks, Rona would eventually like to do Pittsburgh Iron Man appearances at local hospitals to brighten “The chest is six different pieces welded together and sanded down so the spirits of young Avengers fighting their own battles. you can’t see those seams,” she explained. If not that, Rona said, a visit to the ballpark works, too. The helmet and other sections were similarly crafted by combining smaller pieces, then priming and slathering them with multiple layers of Post Gazette LOADED: 06.19.2021 paint.

“I looked at like 50 different spray yellows online,” she said, laughing. “They’re all a little bit different, though. It’s the weirdest thing. I guess I got lucky to an extent because I had it down to a couple, and I just went with whatever was the same brand that had the black that I was using.”

At the center of the suit’s chest piece is the arc reactor, a shining circular cutout of blue light. In the movies, Downey’s Iron Man uses this fusion core to power the suit. Rona’s version glows like the original but allows for magnetic cutouts to be swapped in for the logos of the Steelers, Pirates, Penguins and Riverhounds. 1216047 Pittsburgh Penguins As Edmonton is proving, even with the best player in the game, and a damn good sidekick, winning isn’t easy.

And you want the Penguins to begin that process with a team capable of Why the Penguins Can’t Blow it Up & Start Over making the playoffs?

Now, if you still think the Penguins can simply rebuild, go back and re- read the last 490 words. And this is why the Pittsburgh Penguins cannot Published 13 hours ago on June 18, 2021By Dan Kingerski simply blow it up now and start over.

If you have the choice between a team which can win the division, and with a tinker or tweak and a bit of luck, make a playoff run — OR — go Sure, let’s go through it step by step. I’ve been questioned on radio, our through the losing gamble of rebuilding, which would you choose? YouTube chats, and by readers in print on what seems to be a simple issue. If only the Pittsburgh Penguins organization would realize they can If you choose the latter, re-read the first 490 words again. There are also no longer win a Stanley Cup and that the best years of Evgeni Malkin are significant financial implications too. Those playoff games bring profit to behind him, they could rebuild and get back to winning Stanley Cups. the organization, which loses money, or breaks even, otherwise.

Am I right? How did others do it?

I know many of you believe that to be true. The sooner the Penguins Now, here’s the good news: it is absolutely possible to rebuild and retool front office led by President of Hockey Operations Brian Burke and on the fly. How many superstars have the Montreal Canadiens, Tampa general manager Ron Hextall dumps Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang, the Bay Lightning, and New York Islanders traded? sooner they begin the rebuild and the sooner the sixth Stanley Cup arrives. Answer: ZERO.

But….No. No, no no no. Tampa Bay and New York built teams through steady and consistent drafting. Our new colleagues Kevin Allen and Bob Duff at Detroit Hockey When people say the Penguins fanbase is spoiled, they don’t just mean a Now did a brilliant piece on how Steve Yzerman built the Tampa Bay lineage of Mario Lemieux, Jaromir Jagr, and Sidney Crosby, which is a Lightning. Get this: Yzerman’s draft success was 54%. lineage that rivals anything the Boston Celtics or New York Yankees ever put together. No, the lineage is only part of the equation. That number doesn’t just mean first-round picks. It’s ALL picks. Add a few solid trades and ta-da, a perennial Stanley Cup contender. The Penguins have also twice been able to build around all-time greats, with a good bit of luck. Montreal GM Marc Bergevin has not drafted especially well but used a consistent team philosophy to construct a team designed for the playoffs. Those of us old enough to remember will recall the first six years of Mario Jesper Kotkaniemi (2018, 3rd overall) and Cole Caufield (2019, 15th Lemieux; we witnessed only one playoff appearance. There was much overall) are the only recent home-grown high picks on the current good fortune and good timing involved in the Penguins’ acquisitions of Montreal roster. Hall of Fame talents and borderline HOF players like Paul Coffey, Mark Recchi, Tom Barrasso, Kevin Stevens, Larry Murphy, Joe Mullen, and so Only a handful of draft picks since 2013 are still on the Montreal roster on. (Caufield, Kotkaniemi, Alexander Romanov, Jake Evans, and Artturi Lehkonnen). Of the group, only the first two were first-round picks. Coffey, Barrasso, Mullen, and Bryan Trottier priced themselves out of their original teams or simply wanted to go. And the Penguins were in the Of course, it helps to have 2005 fifth-overall pick Carey Price in goal. perfect position for each player. He’s pretty good, eh? 2007 second-round pick P.K. Subban brought top defenseman Shea Weber. Otherwise, the Canadiens are a hodgepodge Then the Penguins fleeced Minnesota for Murphy. of role players, small moves, and later picks.

The stars aligned in extraordinary ways for then-GM Craig Patrick. It took a long time to build them to the 2014 Eastern Conference Final and rebuild them to the 2021 NHL Semifinal. Yet no Stanley Cups, either. It all happened a second time from 2003-2006. The Penguins picked at the top or second overall, and the run magically coincided with a crop of Maybe fans will convince Pittsburgh Penguins owner Mario Lemieux to all-time greats. Marc-Andre Fleury, Evgeni Malkin, Sidney Crosby, and move the team to Kansas City finally so that Pittsburgh will get an Jordan Staal were the successive first-round picks. Fleury and Crosby expansion franchise and its own expansion draft? were first overall. Malkin and Staal were second overall. And that’s why the Penguins’ best chance, and the best path is to The odds of another run like that are astronomic. continue forward. Taking steps back usually means exactly that, and there is little guarantee a team ever takes those steps forward. Plenty of other teams have had a similar run of draft slots. Edmonton, Detroit, and Buffalo spring to mind. Edmonton snagged Ryan Nugent- Even with a “goddamn lottery.” Hopkins, Connor McDavid, and Leon Draisaitl. How many great playoff runs have they had? (Forgive me, Sister Katherine Mary).

Poor Buffalo and Detroit. Jack Eichel has had enough in Buffalo. There Pittsburgh Hockey Now LOADED: 06.19.2021 are quiet worries that Dylan Larkin may get fed up if Detroit doesn’t start showing more progress, too.

Recently, New Jersey has also been dominating the top of the draft too. Let me know when Nico Hischier and Jack Hughes are Stanley Cup contenders.

But the Penguins are special, right? The Penguins do things better than other organizations. They’ll be able to do it when everyone else struggles.

Burke’s old poke of the Penguins rebuild strategies, which he now jokingly owns, is apropos.

“What’s the Pittsburgh model? They got a lottery,” Burke once growled to reporters in 2012. “They won a goddamn lottery, and they got the best player in the game (Crosby). Is that available to me? Should we do that? Should we ask the league to do a lottery this year, and maybe we pick first? The Pittsburgh model, my ass.” 1216048 San Jose Sharks

Doubting Dahlén

Published 2 hours ago on June 19, 2021By Sheng Peng

Not everybody’s sold on Jonathan Dahlen.

One NHL scout texted me, after the San Jose Sharks announced that they had signed the 23-year-old winger to a one-year, one-way $750,000 contract: “Dahlen getting a one-way is ridiculous. He played in the Swedish D2.”

That’s in reference to Dahlen spending the last two seasons in Allsvenskan, second-division Swedish hockey — by choice, I should add — because he wanted to lead hometown Timra IK out of relegation. And while Dahlen dominated, scoring 148 points in just 96 games and leading Timra IK into the SHL, it’s all a far, far cry from the NHL.

My guess? Dahlen would’ve simply stayed with his hometown club without a one-way salary guarantee. What a one-way contract means is that Dahlen is making the same salary, no matter where he’s playing, in the NHL or the AHL. A two-way contract means the player receives different salaries, higher if in the NHL, lower if in the AHL.

For the once-again lottery-bound San Jose Sharks, in desperate need of as much talent up front as possible, it’s just money. But will it be money well-spent?

The jury is out, for sure.

Canvassing scouts from other NHL teams, consensus is Dahlen possesses NHL-caliber offensive skill and vision. But is the 5-foot-11 winger quick enough for the best league in the world? Will he be able to handle the pace? Those are the questions that they’re asking.

This mirrors with what another scout said last October: “Besides his strength and conditioning, a scout also told SJHN that the winger needed to pick up his quickness or ‘explosion’ to keep up with the best league in the world.”

Jonathan Dahlen: “I was a little small before.”

“In certain important ways,” ex-Toronto Marlies assistant coach Jack Han wrote in April, “I believe that Jonathan Dahlén is under-skilled.”

This isn’t much sought-after Artemi Panarin coming to the NHL from Russia — in other organizations, Dahlen is seen as depth, and not as a possible top-nine solution, as he’s seen in San Jose.

It doesn’t mean Doug Wilson bet wrong — it happens all the time, one organization views a prospect through a different lenses than another organization — it’s just a note of caution. Let’s not pencil Dahlen into the San Jose Sharks’ top-nine just yet.

Dahlen’s offensive skill and vision give him a chance to make it big in the NHL, but he’s more question mark than answer right now.

San Jose Hockey NowLOADED: 06.19.2021 1216049 Seattle Kraken 1974. They competed under several names: Seattle Ironmen (1944-52), Seattle Bombers (1952-54) and Seattle Americans (1955-58).

The Totems played in Civic Ice Arena before moving to the Seattle Seattle hockey history — teams before the Kraken include America’s first Center Coliseum. They won three WHL Lester Patrick Cup Stanley Cup winner championships (1959, 1967, 1968) and competed in the Central Hockey League in 1974-75, which was their last season.

As the Ironmen, the team played in the Pacific Coach Hockey League — BY LAUREN KIRSCHMAN resurrected as a semi-professional league after World War II. The club, then known as the Seattle Isacsson Iron Workers, had been formed a JUNE 18, 2021 05:00 AM, year before and played in the Northwest International Hockey League. They were renamed when they entered the PCHL. The team won the league in 1948. Seattle’s first NHL team will make its debut in the fall, but the city had a substantial professional hockey history long before the Kraken came to In 1952, the league became the Western Hockey League and the town. Ironmen changed their name to the Bombers the following season.

The city’s history with the sport stretches back to the Metropolitans in the Guyle Fielder, who became Seattle’s greatest scorer in early 1900s. There were the Olympics and the Sea Hawks (No, not those history, made his debut during these years. Fielder played 15 of his 22 Seahawks) and the Totems. The Seattle Thunderbirds —formerly the professional seasons in Seattle. He finished his career with 1,929 points Breakers — have been here since the 1970s. in 1,487 games. He was named the league’s MVP six times.

Want to know more about professional hockey in the Seattle area before “He was the greatest minor league player I’ve ever seen in my life,” said the Kraken take the ice this fall? We got you covered. Fielder’s former coach and Philadelphia Flyer executive Keith Allen. “He could make a play as well as anyone in hockey.” Let’s start at the beginning. Fielder played in an era when the NHL consisted of just six teams, which relegated many accomplished players to the minor leagues. Fielder played just 15 games in the NHL. The Seattle Metropolitans were a professional hockey team based in Seattle that played in the Pacific Coast Hockey Association from 1915- “(Fielder) played his own style of hockey, but (in the NHL) you played the 1924. The PCHA’s most successful franchise, the Metropolitans finished style they wanted.” said former teammate Val Fonteyne, who played in their run with a 112-96 overall record and five PCHA championships, the NHL. They used to tell you if you don’t make the play just dump the puck in. But Guyle used to hang on to it until he made the play. You The Metropolitans, or the Mets for short, played home games in the could get away with that in the minors but not in the NHL.” Seattle Ice Arena, made seven postseason appearances in nine years and played for the Stanley Cup three times between 1916-17 and 1919- In 1955, the PCHL suspended play due to increasing travel costs. 20. The team rebranded as the Seattle Americans a season later. In 1957, In 1917, the Metropolitans became the first American team to win the Fielder broke the professional single-season scoring record and was Cup — 11 years before the New York Rangers became the first NHL named the Most Valuable Player. The team also finished in first place American franchise to win. The Montreal Canadiens, who played in the that year. In 1958 — the team’s last as the Americans — the franchise National Hockey Association, were heavily favored in the series, but won a playoff series for the first time. Seattle won 3-1 by a combined score of 23-11. Bernie Morris scored 14 of Seattle’s goals, including six in Game 4. PREVIOUS EXPANSION ATTEMPTS

While Games 1 and 3 were played under PCHA rules, Games 2 and 4 This isn’t the first time Seattle attempted to secure an NHL expansion were playing using NHA rules. The major differences? The PCHA team — it’s just the first time it’s been successful. allowed forward passing in the neutral zone, but no substitution for In June 1974, the NHL announced that a Seattle group led by lawyer penalized players while the NHA had no forward passing but allowed Vince Abbey had been awarded an expansion team that was set to begin substitutions. The PCHA also played with seven players per side while play during the 1976-77 season. In order to finalize the team, Abbey and the NHA allowed six. his group needed to pay a $180,000 deposit at the end of 1975 and pay The Metropolitans played for the Stanley Cup again in 1919, but the a total franchise fee of $6 million. Abbey also had to repurchase shares championship was canceled after five games due to the flu pandemic in the Totems. (when we have heard that before?) with the series tied 2-2-1. Seattle lost When Abbey missed several deadlines, the NHL threatened to remove the Cup in five games in 2020. the franchise. The Totems folded after the 1974-75 season, which left After the 1923-24 season, the team was informed that the Seattle Ice Seattle without a hockey team for the first time in 20 years. Abbey then Arena would be converted into a parking garage. The team folded in attempted to purchase the California Seals — an NHL team that 1924 when a replacement couldn’t be found. Most members of the competed from 1967 to 1976— but failed. As a result, the NHL removed Metropolitans joined Victoria. the expansion franchise from Seattle.

ESKIMOS, SEA HAWKS AND OLYMPICS A second attempt to secure an expansion team was made in 1990. If a group was willing to meet the $50 million asking price, then-Seattle After the Civic Ice Arena was constructed in 1928, professional hockey SuperSonics owner Barry Ackerly said he would submit an expansion returned to Seattle. Pete Muldoon, who was a former manager of the application as part of a new proposed arena deal. A team led by Metropolitans, was part of the group that formed the Pacific Coast Microsoft executive Chris Larson and former Seattle Totems turned Hockey League. He also served as one of the owners of the Seattle coach Bill MacFarland showed interest. franchise, the Eskimos. The team started play in 1928-29, but folded after the 1930-31 season. But the push for an expansion team stalled. Back then, MacFarland told The News Tribune that Ackerley unexpectedly pulled the application Two years later, professional hockey returned to the city with the creation while the group was in Florida to meet with the NHL. MacFarland said he of the Northwest Hockey League. Seattle’s team was dubbed the Sea and Larson were under the impression they were there to file a formal Hawks. application. Ackerley told The News Tribune he believed the money wasn’t there. The team was sold before the 1940-41 season and was given a new name — the Seattle Olympics. The Olympics went 20-21-7 in their first “We didn’t want to damage our name and reputation with the NHL by and only season. The PCHL folded the following year. offering up something that would be unacceptable to them,” Ackerley said then. “We went to Florida with the intent of pulling the application. SEATTLE TOTEMS (AMONG OTHER NAMES) We just felt it wasn’t going to happen financially.” The Seattle Totems played in the Pacific Coast Hockey League — renamed the Western Hockey League in 1952 — between 1944 and Ackerly withdrew his application in December 1990, telling the NHL he “We’re gonna see more ice surfaces develop,” Davison said. “More was unable to find an ownership group willing to meeting the asking players develop. So I think it’s just a win-win for everybody.” price. News Tribune LOADED: 06.19.2021 MacFarland said both he and Larson were “floored.”

“We couldn’t believe it,” MacFarland told the Seattle P-I. “Why were we here? How could they sit with us and not tell us what they were going to do?”

The league added teams in two cities — Ottawa and Tampa — that were willing pay the amount. At the time, a $50 million expansion fee was more than the value of any NHL team.

SEATTLE THUNDERBIRDS

The Seattle Thunderbirds, who are based in Kent and play in the accesso ShoWare Center, are part of the U.S. Division of the Western Conference in the Western Hockey League.

In 1977, the team moved from British Columbia to Seattle and became the Seattle Breakers. The Breakers, who played in the Seattle Center Ice Arena, existed for eight seasons and finished with a record of 225-319- 32.

The Breakers were sold to new owners after the 1984-85 season and were renamed the Seattle Thunderbirds. Glen Goodall joined the team during the 1986-87 season and remained through 1990. He still holds Thunderbirds’ records in goals, assists and points and his jersey is the only one retired by the team.

“Glen was a fierce competitor,” former Portland Winterhawks star Dennis Holland told NHL to Seattle. “A guy that I loved playing against and we had some great battles. He was very dangerous off the rush with speed and skill. I had lots of respect for him coming into the league at 14, something I know I couldn’t have done.”

At just 14-years-old, Goodall was invited to Seattle’s camp with the chance to make the team. The plan was for him to play in 15 games, but he performed so well that he remained for the full season and spent six more years in Seattle.

“I remember driving into Seattle, in those days we were right downtown, it was something else,” Goodall told NHL to Seattle. “I loved it. I look back on my career and I say this many times, Seattle was the best time of my career. I just loved it.”

In 1989-90, the Thunderbirds enjoyed the best regular season in franchise history. They finished 52-17-3 and ranked No. 1. Due to an increase in popularity, they began playing home games in the Seattle Center Coliseum, which frequently sold out despite holding nearly 12,000 people. The Thunderbirds fell in the division finals.

The Thunderbirds finished the 2016-17 season with the second-most wins in team history (46) and went on to win their first league title, beating the Regina Pats 4-2 in the championship series.

Thunderbird players reacted to the addition of an NHL team shortly after the Kraken announced their name and logo.

“I think it is going to promote hockey all over Washington, especially in the youth,” Thunderbird forward MeKai Sanders, who is from Gig Harbor, told 710 ESPN Seattle. “Being from Washington myself, I am super excited to have a local NHL team to root for.”

Said defenseman Cade McNelly: “Judging by the City of Seattle, there will be so much support from the city for this team. All in all, I’m pretty pumped and excited that Seattle officially has an NHL team and it’s something we can look forward to for hockey being great here.”

EVERETT SILVERTIPS

The Everett Silvertips are a member of the U.S. Division of the Western Conference of the Western Hockey League. Evertt was awarded conditional approval for an expansion franchise in 2021.

The team joined the WHL for the 2003-04 season and broke a number of junior hockey team records for an expansion team in its first year.

The Silvertips, who play at Angel of the Winds Arena, twice played for WHL titles. They lost the championship series to Medicine Hat (4-0) in 2003-04 and Swift Current (4-2) in 2017-18.

Former Silvertips general manager Garry Davidson told Q13 Fox in August 2020 that the addition of the Kraken would be “a great scenario of everyone involved in hockey.” 1216050 St Louis Blues Yes, even if it would mean selling short on Jordan Kyrou’s scoring potential, or dealing the Blues’ No. 16 draft pick, or finding salary-cap space to keep Tkachuk long term.

BenFred: If Calgary is crazy enough to trade Matthew Tkachuk, Blues Such sacrifices might be worth that. should make bold offer Unlike some, I don’t think the Blues need to massively rebuild this offseason. What they do need, though, is a decision on their direction. If the Berube-preferred style is the right direction, and the Blues have a ring Ben Frederickson that suggests it should be, the team needs to start prioritizing players who can and will play that way, every game, no matter what.

Speed and finesse are great, but they can’t be valued over the If accused of spending far too much time thinking about the 2020 NHL intangibles Berube preaches. Too often this season the Blues looked All-Star Game, I would have no defense. Guilty. stranded in between, too trimmed down and hesitant to go toe to toe with The swarm of hockey enthusiasm that descended upon downtown St. the big, bad Vegas Golden Knights and too flat-footed for the speedy Louis during late January 2020, as the defending Stanley Cup champion . Remind me again which team won the recent Blues played host at a renovated Enterprise Center, was a truly postseason series between those two? That’s right. Vegas. unforgettable week that made it seem like nothing was going to stop the A trade for Tkachuk would be a statement that the Blues are prioritizing so-called heartland of hockey’s emergence as an undeniable force for hard noses, fiery bellies and all-around play. years to come. Tkachuk’s 110 goals since his NHL debut in 2016-17 trail the coveted The Blues had five All-Stars. including coach Craig Berube. They had the Jack Eichel by five. His 168 assists during that span lead the coveted Stanley Cup on display. Gabriel Landeskog by 20. Only two players with at least as many career And they had the platform to show the world how the region’s talent- points (278) as Tkachuk has since his NHL debut have handed out more producing conveyer belt was churning out stars of the present and the hits than his 503. When the lefthanded Tkachuk is at his best, he can future, the most obvious example being the two brothers raised on Blues score in ways that drop jaws, then hit you in the jaw. hockey who became the first siblings to compete in an All-Star weekend And then there is the narrative element. Forgive me, I’m a fan of a good in nearly a decade. story. The Blues were on top of the world. Matthew and Brady Tkachuk, sons of If Matthew ever had a cavity, it probably was caused by the gum he and beloved former Blues forward Keith Tkachuk, were the spearhead of an his little brother used to lift from the Blues’ dressing room during Dad’s army of St. Louis-produced talent that was beginning to put its playing days. The stories of their boyhood fights in that place are fingerprints on the league. What could go wrong? legendary, ones of broken fingers and at least one head wound that Then came the COVID-19 pandemic. required medical attention. Robert Thomas housed with the Tkachuk family during his early time with the Blues. Brady attended the Blues’ The after picture shows two first-round playoff exits for the Blues, one Stanley Cup parade. The fit, for both brothers, always has been painfully following a flop during a postseason that was salvaged from the obvious. But now one might really be within reach, offering a set of skills pandemic and another that was undercut by injuries and a deviation from the Blues lack. the all-in, hard-nosed style Berube successfully introduced to the team during its championship run. If Calgary truly is crazy enough to shop Matthew Tkachuk, the Blues should risk getting a little crazy in figuring out how to get him. Part of me can’t help but wonder what might have been next for the Blues if the pandemic had not so rudely interrupted an ascent. St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 06.19.2021

Part of me can’t help but wonder if bringing Matthew Tkachuk home to play for the Blues might help reignite what has cooled.

Remember the roar at Enterprise when he swapped his Flames sweater for a Cardinals one with catcher Yadier Molina’s number? Imagine if he was introduced wearing the Note.

Now, keep reading. Matthew, depending on which hockey insider you believe, could be moved. The Flames missed the playoffs and have not been past the first round since before the 23-year-old forward made his NHL debut. Calgary is at a crossroads.

If the Flames are eyeing a longer-term rebuilding period and want to maximize their return, Tkachuk could draw an impressive package. Could be a non-starter if the Flames view Tkachuk as part of wherever it is their future is going, as they probably should. Could be a good way to expedite a big overhaul if the Flames fear their chances of keeping Tkachuk long-term are not good. He has one season left on his current deal at $7 million before becoming a restricted free agent.

“With 10 goals and 30 points in 45 games, he hasn’t provided what he’s paid to give Calgary,” wrote Ottawa Sun columnist Don Brennan about the former No. 6 draft pick as the Flames’ season derailed. “As a leader on a team that’s 22nd and falling, he seems to be coming up short there, too. Trading Tkachuk shouldn’t be at the top of the to-do list but if somebody is putting a package on the table for the 23-year-old, the Flames shouldn’t hesitate to look inside. It’s not like he should be viewed as the ‘untouchable’ his kid brother Brady is.”

Ouch.

Let’s hope Calgary management is reading and agreeing with that hot take, for the Blues’ sake.

Let’s hope Blues general manager Doug Armstrong quietly is preparing a package aimed at poaching a perfect-fit addition. 1216051 St Louis Blues “But now it’s on all the time,” he said. “I hope he got paid good for that one. He’s big time! Good for him!”

Gunnarsson would be happy to see Pietrangelo win another Stanley With his Blues future uncertain, Carl Gunnarsson takes stock of his Cup, but that sentiment is the same for the others, too. career and reflects on St. Louis memories “Big Rig (Maroon) won back-to-back and he could do it again, so that’s kind of crazy,” Gunnarsson said. “You’re always rooting for the guys, but it’s tough because they’re on different teams now, so you can’t pick one.” By Jeremy Rutherford Jun 18, 2021 Those watching TV or social media lately have been reminded how big- time Gunnarsson was during the 2019 Stanley Cup Final. This week was the two-year anniversary of the Blues’ series win over Boston, including The speculation about what will or should happen with the St. Louis the overtime goal in Game 2 that clinched the franchise’s first-ever Blues defense this summer has many tentacles: Should they protect victory in the final. Torey Krug in the Seattle Kraken expansion draft? If Vince Dunn is going to be exposed, should they trade him first? If Dunn is dealt, could Niko Some fans tagged Gunnarsson’s Twitter and Instagram accounts so that Mikkola be the Kraken’s pick? Is there a way to add a big body, and do he could see the videos of his goal, along with footage of teammates they need one? cheering him loudly when he was the last one into the Blues’ dressing room after a postgame interview that night. The guy who many figured had played his last game with the Blues four months ago is sitting back and watching it unfold like the rest of us. “A little flashback to when it happened,” he said. “It’s so distant in a way but also very present. It gets kind of surreal just thinking back to, ‘Oh, I On Feb. 22, Carl Gunnarsson suffered a torn ACL in his right knee and did score that one.'” missed the remainder of the season. At 34 and in the final year of his contract, it was widely assumed that we had seen the last of him, and After the game, we learned a story that would become a legendary tale in perhaps we have. Blues history: Gunnarsson had met Blues coach Craig Berube in the bathroom before the overtime period and, after hitting the post in the third But the player who will be forever remembered for netting the game- period, told the coach that he just needed one more chance. winning goal in overtime of Game 2 of the 2019 Stanley Cup Final for a 3-2 win over Boston is setting goals in his rehab this offseason for the He got that opportunity and ended the game, and afterward Berube told possibility of playing in St. Louis or somewhere. the rest of the players about the exchange at the urinal.

Gunnarsson and the Blues have had some communication, but basically “That would not have been remembered if (Berube) didn’t say it,” just saying they’ll talk in the coming weeks. Gunnarsson said. “But just a little thing like that captured on video makes the whole story. It’s kind of weird having the pisser story tied to your “I get it,” he said. “We’ve got a couple of guys (whose contracts) are up, name. Yeah, not many guys have that.” and with the expansion draft, a lot of things are going to be tossed around. So it is nerve-racking, but it’s also interesting.” The Blues even included a picture of the urinal in their commemorative Stanley Cup book. Gunnarsson wouldn’t be more than a No. 6 or 7 defenseman, but that’s what the club could have used last season when players like Colton “That’s weird, too, but it adds to the whole Cup run and how things went Parayko, Marco Scandella, Robert Bortuzzo and Dunn went out with down,” Gunnarsson said. injuries. He does have the stick that he used to score that goal but didn’t come up Gunnarsson, though, was unavailable himself after his knee injury in a 3- with the puck and doesn’t even know its whereabouts. 0 loss to Los Angeles in the second month of the season. He went into the corner, and his right skate got caught in the boards while his body “They didn’t let me keep that one,” Gunnarsson said. “I tried to get a hold went the other way. of it, but that was impossible.”

He was in a lot of pain on the ice, but that went away about 10 minutes But again, it’s all about the memory, which the Blues have included in later while laying on the trainer’s table in the Blues’ dressing room. Just their “Champions Walk” area outside Enterprise Center. when he thought he might be OK, however, a team doctor told him, “No, Last week, Gunnarsson watched the video of Champions Walk and saw your ACL is screwed.” the details of the game etched in the stone sidewalk. As someone who tore his left ACL in 2018, Gunnarsson knew what he “I was like, ‘All right, so people can step on me!'” he joked. “No, it’s cool was in for rehab-wise, and he knew that it could be the last time he would because that’s going to be there for a long time.” be wearing the Blue Note. The defenseman, however, may not be with the Blues much longer, “There was a lot of things going through my head at that point, and for seven years after the trade from Toronto that brought him to town. The the last couple of months, too,” he said. “I finally had to come to terms Blues sent Roman Polak to the Maple Leafs for Gunnarsson and a with, ‘You know what, I’m just going to take it week by week.’ I can’t look fourth-round pick in the 2014 NHL Draft, which they used to take goalie at the big picture. It’s too overwhelming.” Ville Husso. Gunnarsson won’t be skating until August, but he has ditched his “It was a different city, a different culture, a totally different mindset,” he crutches. Actually, they were “stolen” from him by daughter Elise (2 1/2 said. “But it was probably good for me to come to a team that was years old) and son Otis (14 months). struggling because I got a ton of ice time and I think I really grew as a “They ran away with them, so I was stuck for a bit, but that’s what kids player.” do,” Gunnarsson said, laughing. After winning the Stanley Cup, Gunnarsson may have been able to get He’s been spending some extra time with them and wife, Josefin, this “even money” in free agency but instead he took a pay cut — $2.9 million summer, and also watching many ex-teammates in the NHL playoffs. to $1.75 million — to get a two-year deal and stay put. There’s Pat Maroon in Tampa Bay, Joel Edmundson and Jake Allen in “I went down in salary, but I thought it was worth it,” he said. “I love it Montreal and Alex Pietrangelo and Ryan Reaves in Vegas. here, my family loves it, and it’s a great city for families.” “With Eddie and Petro, you watch it a little more closely, what they’re And though Gunnarsson has never been a prominent player, he’s felt doing,” Gunnarsson said. “Well, maybe not Petro so much because he’s appreciated by a fan base that has made the nickname “Boom Boom” on that commercial all the time, so you get kind of sick of him.” stick. Gunnarsson was joking about the Honda commercial in which “This lady at this clinic where I do rehab, she mentioned to her daughter Pietrangelo is seen with his wife Jayne and the couple’s four children. that she met me and her daughter said, ‘Oh, Boom Boom!'” he said. “It’s Gunnarsson was in the kitchen, not watching the TV, when the spot not Gunnarsson. It’s Boom Boom. People come up and want me to sign came on the first time. He thought to himself: “I know that voice!'” pucks or pictures, and they want me to put ‘Boom Boom’ on there. It feels kind of weird, but I’ll do it for the fans. “I was never looking for any spotlight. The way I grew up, it was taught that the team is the No. 1 thing. I hope that people see that. You try to teach that to the young kids going forward. I hope we can keep the culture here that the team is No. 1, and it’s always bigger than the individual.”

The Athletic LOADED: 06.19.2021 1216052 Tampa Bay Lightning But Palat and McDonagh went down on their left knees simultaneously to block the puck’s movement.

The rubber caught the back of Palat’s thigh and bounced into the open Lightning’s shot blocking pays off in Game 3 win vs. Islanders ice, allowing McDonagh to snag it and move it out of the zone.

It was these kinds of plays that helped Tampa Bay hold onto a one-goal lead despite an aggressive road game atmosphere. By Mari Faiello McDonagh said the team addressed its shortcomings after Sunday’s Published Yesterday Game 1, knowing they lost because the group didn’t get enough chances by doing the little things, including shot blocking. In the first two games of Updated Yesterday the series, the Lightning combined for 16 blocked shots (eight per game).

“Ever since (Game 1), I feel like everybody’s willingness has gone up It’s been preached all season. And when it comes to translating words even more,” McDonagh said. “(The Islanders have) some big shots from into actions, Lightning defenseman Ryan McDonagh is one of the first to the blue line there that can really hurt you and our forwards are being step up to the ice. courageous and brave there in getting in lanes…”

Blocking shots isn’t fun. Most of the time, it’s pretty painful. A rubber disk And the momentum from said block shots carries over into the room, too. flying at a high speed toward a vulnerable part of your body can, and “It’s a great sign for us and it just keeps our energy on the bench going often does, leave a sting. and keeps those positive vibes going in our room,” McDonagh said. Sacrificing your body like that isn’t easy, McDonagh has said. And he “When guys are mentioned in those blocks, it goes a long way for our should know having led his team with 96 shot blocks during the regular group.” season, 23 more than Norris Trophy finalist Victor Hedman. Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 06.19.2021 But it is needed to win games. And it is partly how the Lightning beat the Islanders in Game 3 with a 2-1 win.

Tampa Bay, which leads the series 2-1, blocked 21 shots on Thursday night, the second-highest count of the postseason behind its series finale at Carolina (22) and just ahead of the series-opening game against the Hurricanes (18).

Lightning Blocked Shot Postseason Totals by Game

Date Round/Game/Opponent Number of Shots Blocked by Lightning

May 16 Round 1, Game 1, at Florida 16

May 18 Round 1, Game 2, at Florida 15

May 20 Round 1, Game 3, vs. Florida 16

May 22 Round 1, Game 4, vs. Florida 12

May 24 Round 1, Game 5, at Florida 16

May 26 Round 1, Game 6, vs. Florida 13

May 30 Round 2, Game 1, at Carolina 18

June 1 Round 2, Game 2, at Carolina 16

June 3 Round 2, Game 3, vs. Carolina 10

June 5 Round 2, Game 4, vs. Carolina 10

June 8 Round 2, Game 5, at Carolina 22

June 13 Round 3, Game 1, vs. Islanders 8

June 15 Round 3, Game 2, vs. Islanders 8

June 17 Round 3, Game 3, at Islanders 21

Through 14 playoff games, Hedman and McDonagh continue to lead the charge with a combined 57 blocked shots (29 of those belonging to Hedman).

In Thursday’s win, 11 different players blocked shots against the Islanders offense. Hedman led with four followed by forward Ondrej Palat, McDonagh and defenseman Mikhail Sergachev, who tallied three a piece.

“I think it’s just guys committing to our game plan and understanding the way to win on the road,” forward Blake Coleman said.

“We knew the Islanders were going to have their surges and you have to come up with some big blocks and guys were willing to sacrifice the body. Eleven different guys, over 20 shot blocks, that’s what you need in the playoffs and that’s how you win games, especially some gritty road games.”

Early on in the second period, New York defenseman Andy Greene tried shooting through traffic toward Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy. 1216053 Tampa Bay Lightning

Lightning’s Brayden Point provides remarkable goal-scoring consistency

By Eduardo A. Encina

Published Yesterday

Updated Yesterday

UNIONDALE, N.Y. — Brayden Point has shown this postseason that he can score many ways, even while getting cross checked from behind in front of the net.

Point’s winning goal in the Lightning’s Game 3 victory over the Islanders on Thursday night wasn’t his prettiest, but it was still one of his most impressive.

His timing was impeccable, scoring shortly after the Islanders had tied the semifinal and injected life into the Nassau Coliseum late in the second period. Point and his fellow first-team, power-play unit members had been on the ice for the entire two-minute man advantage and Point was fighting for position in front of the net as Victor Hedman was about to put a puck on goal.

The rebound kicked out to Point, who swung his stick toward the net as he was falling forward, pushed from behind by Islanders center Casey Cizikas. Through traffic and with help from a Anthony Cirelli screen in the crease, Point found a hole and the back of the net with 14.7 seconds left in the second period.

The score gave Point goals in six straight playoff games, something no player has done in 15 years. Point leads all scorers with 11 goals this postseason (in 14 games) and has three game-winning playoff goals, tied for most with the Islanders’ Ryan Pulock and Vegas’ Max Pacioretty.

“It’s quite impressive the way he does it every single night,” Lightning forward Yanni Gourde said. “He worked so hard and his line has so much chemistry together, they work so well together. Pointer has been very good for us all around the ice. ... It gives the team a boost every time he scores, and you know he’s going to show up every single night, and he’s gonna bring you a compete level as high as he can. And that’s leadership.”

After scoring a league-high 14 goals last postseason on the way to a Stanley Cup, Point has 33 goals in 58 career postseason games. Point’s career .57 goals per game average in the postseason puts him in elite company, just behind the likes of playoff legends like Mario Lemieux, Mike Bossy, Maurice “Rocket” Richard, Cam Neely and Wayne Gretzky.

“He just gets better and better,” said Lightning forward Blake Coleman. “The spotlight’s never too big for him. He seems to step up to whatever the challenge is, whatever the series is he has a way of adjusting his game to be successful in a series. Against the Islanders, it’s more of a competitive physical series and he has no problem playing in that kind of game and that style of game because he competes as well. So it just seems like there’s no stage too big for Brayden.”

This postseason, Point has played well through some physical series. His game isn’t necessarily made for that. At 5-foot-10, 166 pounds, he’s not the biggest guy. But you can’t stop what you can’t catch, and Point’s speed and stick-handling makes him one of the league’s most dangerous goal scorers. His ability to play in some of the dirty areas — whether it’s battling for a puck in the corners or holding his own in front of the net — sometimes goes overlooked.

Lightning coach Jon Cooper said Point worked hard coming up on his skating and his balance. His hockey sense is innate. It’s how Point and Nikita Kucherov seemingly know where the other is at all times. It’s the ability to anticipate and make plays at a high rate of speed. And Cooper said the last intangible was Point learning how to play physically.

“You have to have grit,” Cooper said. “You have to be able to go to areas to make these things happen; if you’re not willing to go there, you’re not going to have this kind of success.”

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 06.19.2021 1216054 Tampa Bay Lightning The game-winning goal was the 11th of the postseason for Point, who has scored in six straight playoff games. He became the first Lightning player to do so and the first in the NHL since Ottawa’s Martin Havlat in 2006. Lightning-Islanders Game 3 report card: The Bolts’ backbone Grade: A-plus

Finding their center By Frank Pastor The Islanders make it difficult to move through the middle of the ice, Published Yesterday putting five guys in the neutral zone and being active with their sticks. But the Lightning used their speed to find ways to maneuver through center Updated Yesterday ice, and one such rush led to the opening goal.

Midway through the first period, a New York line change resulted in an We saw things Thursday night we aren’t used to seeing from Andrei easy entry for Tampa Bay. Ryan McDonagh started the breakout by Vasilevskiy. passing across the ice to Erik Cernak in the defensive zone. With no one to pressure Cernak, he took a stride and hit Blake Coleman on the fly as The Lighting goaltender was caught leaning the wrong way on a bad- he approached the New York blue line. angle shot. He lost sight of the puck after an attempt went between his legs. And he committed a turnover at the side of the net. Coleman’s shot from the left circle was steered aside by Varlamov, but Coleman boxed out defenseman Noah Dobson, retrieved the puck and But in every instance, he was able to recover thanks to his own efforts or threw a blind, backhand pass through the crease. The puck deflected off with the help of his teammates. the skate of Islanders defenseman Nick Leddy to Gourde, who banged it into the open net. With almost no room for error in a tight playoff series, the Lightning’s most important player again made the big saves when he needed to, Credit Coleman’s persistence and Gourde’s opportunism in the offensive helping Tampa Bay to a 2-1 win in Game 3 and its first lead of the zone. But everything started at the other end of the ice. Stanley Cup semifinal series. Grade: A Vasilevskiy stopped 27 of 28 shots, including 20 over the final two periods. His teammates blocked 21 more. Bad choice

Tampa Bay won 2-1 in Game 3 in New York. Cernak likely thought he was bringing calm to a chaotic situation, but all he did was create more confusion. Vasilevskiy has outstanding concentration and an ability to find the puck anywhere on the ice. He makes the most of his size, positions himself With Tampa Bay leading 1-0 and just over three minutes remaining in the well, has tremendous lateral movement, and can make athletic saves second period, New York defenseman Ryan Pulock shot the puck into when necessary. the Lightning zone. The puck took a crazy carom off the boards and hit the back of the net. How tough is he to beat? Just ask Kyle Palmieri, who entered the series with seven playoff goals but has yet to get a puck past the four-time Cizikas collected the puck and put it in front, where Matt Martin shot from Vezina finalist despite numerous quality chances from in close. the left circle. With Cal Clutterbuck battling in front, Cernak tried to push the puck back to Vasilevskiy, but it wound up going off Clutterbuck’s Vasilevskiy shrugged off a Palmieri attempt from the front of the net after skate into the net instead. a Jean-Gabriel Pageau feed from below the goal line in the first period. Though he leaned the wrong way, Vasilevskiy managed to get his head A better choice would have been to knock the puck into the corner. around to deflect a Palmieri shot from above the goal line off his mask Anywhere but toward his own net. later in the period. And he hugged the post to stop a promising Palmieri Grade: D chance from below the left circle in the second. Protecting the lead Vasilevskiy couldn’t locate the puck after a Pageau shot off the rush went through his legs in the second period, but Vasilevskiy was positioned so The Islanders pulled Varlamov in favor of an extra attacker with just well the puck still kicked wide of the net. under two minutes remaining, and the Lightning put on a clinic on how to protect a lead. Vasilevskiy’s ability to play the puck relieves pressure on Lightning defensemen and slows opponents’ ability to forecheck. But a Mathew Barzal fanned on a shot from the left circle, and McDonagh miscommunication with defenseman Mikhail Sergachev in the first period stripped him of the puck. Hedman then cleared the puck out of the zone. resulted in a turnover at the side of the net. Casey Cizikas stole the puck and passed it back out front, but Tampa Bay center Yanni Gourde swept Goodrow created a turnover in the neutral zone. Alex Killorn pounced on into the slot to clear it out of harm’s way. a loose puck and sent it back down the ice. After another clear, McDonagh picked off a pass at center ice in the closing seconds. It seemed only fair after all of the times Vasilevskiy has bailed out his teammates this postseason. Despite a 6-on-5 advantage, the Islanders did not manage a single shot on goal. Grade: A You can’t do it any better than that. Here’s how we graded the rest of Game 3: Grade: A-plus Magic man Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 06.19.2021 Brayden Point never ceases to amaze. His speed is off the charts, and so is his hockey acumen. He shuts down opponents’ top lines and still generates offense. He makes skilled plays in tight spaces. And he does something seemingly every game that leaves you shaking your head.

Game 3 was no exception.

Seconds after a Tampa Bay power play expired in the final minute of the second period, Victor Hedman shot from the left circle. The puck appeared to hit a body in front of the net and deflect back to Point.

Though he was pushed to the ice by Cizikas, Point still managed to gain control of the puck and sweep it toward the net. It went through three sets of legs (defenseman Andy Greene, Lightning center Anthony Cirelli and goaltender Semyon Varlamov) before finding the back of the net. 1216055 Toronto Maple Leafs

TRAIKOS: Maybe losing Ducharme won't be so bad for Habs

Michael Traikos

Publishing date:Jun 18, 2021 • 7 hours ago • 2

If the Montreal Canadiens fail to reach the Stanley Cup final, will COVID- 19 be to blame?

That’s the fear now that head coach Dominique Ducharme is out for the foreseeable future after testing positive for the coronavirus. The news arrived a few hours before Game 3 of the semi-final against the Vegas Golden Knights on Friday.

What awful timing. What a nightmare.

What now?

“I’ve talked to Dom twice today. He’s doing fine. He’s at home,” Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin said in a Zoom news conference prior to Friday’s game. “As far as how long he’s going to be out, we’re dealing with and talking to Health Quebec and also NHL protocols. It’s an ongoing situation, so I can’t tell you how long.”

This is the scenario that the NHL had been dreading ever since it decided not to go back in the playoff bubble this year. With the U.S.- Canada borders opened for the third round, there was always going to a risk that a star player, like Carey Price or Shea Weber or Nick Suzuki, would contract the virus. There was always a risk that COVID-19 would impact the outcome of the games.

Luckily, no Montreal or Vegas players have tested positive. And yet, losing Ducharme for potentially the rest of the series — players had to remain out for at least 10 days during the season, essentially wiping out any chance of his return before the Stanley Cup final — should have a significant impact on the rest of the series. The rookie coach, who has yet to shed the interim title since replacing Claude Julien at the end of February, was largely credited for how far the Canadiens have come this year.

It was Ducharme who devised the suffocating style that Montreal plays and who adapted on the fly in the first round, allowing the Habs to come back from a 3-1 series deficit against the Maple Leafs. With Ducharme out, assistant coach Luke Richardson assumed head-coaching duties, with Alex Burrows and goalie coach Carey Price as his assistants.

“As of this morning, he was in contact with our coaches,” Bergevin said. “He prepared the game plan. And I would say he won’t be in contact between periods, but he’ll definitely be in touch after the game and he’ll prepare the plans for Game 4.”

Ducharme was partially vaccinated, having only received his second dose on June 9, meaning he was about a week shy from being fully immune. No one knows for sure when or where Ducharme tested positive. But it could have been during those few days that the Canadiens recently spent in Vegas for Games 1 and 2.

“This isn’t an isolated incident,” said Bergevin. “It’s happened already with two other teams in the North Division.”

Though the circumstances are obviously different, Montreal is sort of used to being without its coach. A year ago, Julien had a heart procedure a day after Game 1 of its first-round series against Philadelphia and ended up missing the rest of the series, which the Canadiens lost 4-2.

If a similar outcome should occur again, you can bet Habs fans will be attaching an asterisk to whatever team ends up winning the Cup.

Toronto Sun LOADED: 06.19.2021 1216056 Vegas Golden Knights

Josh Anderson ends slump, gives Canadiens series lead

By Adam Hill -

June 18, 2021 - 10:16 PM

Canadiens forward Josh Anderson picked a good time to break out of his slump.

The 27-year-old had one point in his last 24 games before scoring the tying goal with 1:55 left in the third period and the game-winner in overtime as Montreal claimed a 3-2 win over the Golden Knights on Friday night at the Bell Centre to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven Stanley Cup semifinals.

Anderson closed the regular season with 11 straight games without a point. After scoring a goal in the postseason opener against Toronto, he went another 12 games without a point before tapping in Marc-Andre Fleury’s turnover to tie Friday’s game.

He followed that by knocking down a puck at the blue line and crashing hard to the net, where he took a feed from Paul Byron and slipped the puck past a sprawling Fleury with 7:07 left in overtime to ignite a celebration.

“We had to press in the third period, and obviously we got a fortunate bounce on the tying goal,” said Anderson, who had 24 points in the regular season. “In overtime, it looked like we had a lot more energy than them.

“We found a way tonight in a huge game we needed to win.”

They did it despite missing interim coach Dominique Ducharme, who learned hours before the game he had tested positive for COVID-19 and needed to isolate from the team.

“Things went fast, and maybe we were better off that way,” said assistant coach Luke Richardson, who filled in for Ducharme. “We didn’t have too much time to think about it. We’re running things the way Dom runs them, so business as usual.”

Ducharme was leading a coaches meeting at the morning skate when he was informed of the results and immediately isolated from players and staff. He spoke to the team by Zoom before the game and then again after the victory. Richardson said the coaching staff also communicated with him briefly between periods, but in the end it was on Richardson to manage the game.

“I guess I always thought my first chance running an NHL bench would be an exhibition game,” the 52-year-old said. “Instead, it comes in the third round of the Stanley Cup playoffs in overtime. It’s pretty exciting. We’re just hoping to keep this thing going and get the whole group back together.”

Anderson provided the heroics, but the steady presence of goalie Carey Price kept the game close. The Knights outshot Montreal 30-8 through two periods, yet the game was tied 1-1.

“He was unbelievable,” defenseman and captain Shea Weber said. “Obviously a huge reason we’ve been so successful, and no different tonight. We weren’t very good to start, obviously they made a point to have a good start and they were better than us. We got better as the game went on, but without (Price), we wouldn’t have had a chance to do what we did.”

The Canadiens are 9-0 when scoring at least two goals in the postseason, a testament to Price’s play. They have won nine of their last 10.

“We just don’t quit,” Price said. “That’s the easiest way to explain it. We’ve gone through a lot of adversity, and we keep responding well to it.”

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 06.19.2021 1216057 Vegas Golden Knights This Knights are 0-for-10 on the man advantage in the series, 4-for-38 in these playoffs and — wait for it — 15-for-107 since April 1.

No foolin’. Golden Knights star players are again MIA Lots of issues

Smith was asked about the numbers: He said the team’s breakouts have By Ed Graney been bad, it’s not handling pressure, it’s not releasing the puck well and it’s not crashing the net and picking up rebounds. June 18, 2021 - 10:13 PM So, you know, that’s all. Updated June 18, 2021 - 10:14 PM “I loved our game,” Knights coach Pete DeBoer said of its five-on-five play. “If we can play like that for the next week, I have a hard time believing they’re going to beat us two more times. We have to go back The Golden Knights are like any NHL team still alive in the playoffs. They and look at it and take a lot of the real good stuff we did tonight.” own a definite level of star power. What he has to do is get his star players up front going. The best ones Not that you would know it right now. supposedly thrive in such moments. The Knights lost to Montreal 3-2 in overtime of a best-of-seven semifinal Not happening right now. Didn’t happen against Dallas in this particular series Friday night at Bell Centre, where a majority of those expected to round, either. guide the visitors failed miserably. So far, when it comes to those guys, the repeat is a rerun. You usually get what you earn this time of year. You can also be Montreal, which leads the series 2-1 because it was willing to accept a LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 06.19.2021 gift-wrapped victory.

Montreal or Dallas?

It’s not enough sometimes to be the better side five-on-five for around 58 of 60 regulation minutes, which the Knights were. Not when your most important players can’t execute when winning is at stake.

This column could have been led with a dateline of Edmonton, Alberta, given how much this series is beginning to resemble a conference finals loss to Dallas in last season’s playoff bubble.

The guys being paid millions and millions of dollars to score aren’t getting it done yet again.

Top liners in Mark Stone and Max Pacioretty. Misfit liners in Jonathan Marchessault and William Karlsson. A third-first-third liner in Alex Tuch.

They can’t find net.

In three games against Montreal, they haven’t lit a lamp. Not one. Shots were 6-0 in favor of the Knights early Friday. And then 15-2. And then 17- 3. And then 24-5. And then 30-8.

And at that point, score was 1-1.

Final number of shots for the Knights: 45. Canadiens: 27.

“We have to capitalize on scoring chances,” Stone said. “We had lots of looks. We have to bear down. Starting from the top, we have to score goals. There is a lot of us that have to figure that part out.”

The team’s star in net also played a massive part in the loss with a massive blunder.

Marc-Andre Fleury misplayed a puck behind his net with 1:55 remaining in regulation, an awful gaffe that Canadiens forward Josh Anderson calmly slid into the net to force extra time.

Fleury’s play in the opening period of Game 1 allowed the Knights a lead in the series. But he admittedly made a bad decision to use a poke check on a Paul Byron breakout in Game 2. Byron evaded the stick and scored what would be the game-winner of a 3-2 final.

Fleury’s mistake on Friday was far more egregious.

Part of what makes him so popular is the flair by which he performs. His athleticism, even at age 36, remains elite. But he hasn’t made the greatest of decisions when playing the puck the last few games.

This time, Fleury paid dearly for it. A killer, for sure.

“He stood on his head for us all season,” Knights forward Reilly Smith said. “Goals like that are going to happen with bad bounces. We should have done a better job in overtime closing it out.”

While they’re at it, they can also try to improve what is an atrocious power play right now.

Also where those star players exist. 1216058 Vegas Golden Knights

Recapping Game 3 between Golden Knights, Canadiens

By Ben Gotz

June 18, 2021 - 9:29 PM

GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS. CANADIENS

AT A GLANCE

Series recap

Montreal leads 2-1

Game 1 — Knights 4, Canadiens 1

Game 2 — Canadiens 3, Knights 2

Game 3 — Canadiens 3, Knights 2 (OT)

Game 4 — 5 p.m. Sunday, Bell Centre, NBCSN

Game 5 — 6 p.m. June 22, T-Mobile Arena, NBCSN

Game 6 — 5 p.m. June 24, Bell Centre, USA*

Game 7 — 5 p.m. June 26, T-Mobile Arena, NBCSN*

* If necessary

RJ’s three stars

3. Canadiens goaltender Carey Price — He made 43 saves and kept his team in the game when it was getting outworked. An impressive third- period stop on Alex Tuch proved to be crucial.

2. Knights defenseman Alex Pietrangelo — He scored his third goal in two games in the third period to give his team what was almost the game-winning goal. He has eight points in his last seven games.

1. Canadiens right wing Josh Anderson — He scored the tying and winning goals to give Montreal its first lead of the series. He had one goal this postseason before Friday.

Key play

Anderson’s tying goal with 1:55 left in the third period.

The Knights were close to leaving Bell Centre with a win and regaining home-ice advantage. Goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury then bobbled a puck behind his net, sending it off his skate and out toward the goal crease.

Anderson was the first man on it and scored into the wide-open cage to tie the game. A surefire win suddenly was up for grabs.

Key stat

0-for-4 — The Knights’ performance on the power play.

They’re 0-for-10 in the series and 4-for-38 in the postseason. Their 10.5 percent success rate on the power play is the lowest among the 16 playoff teams.

Knights quotable

“It’s just an unfortunate bounce. There’s nothing you can do about it. But I don’t think we played the way we played for the first 60 (minutes) in OT. We were a little too passive, let them come at us and unfortunately gave up that goal.” — Knights captain Mark Stone.

Habs quotable

“We had to press in the third period, and obviously we got a fortunate bounce on the tying goal. In OT, it looked like we had a lot more energy than them. We came out hard and found a way to win the hockey game.” — Anderson.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 06.19.2021 1216059 Vegas Golden Knights The Canadiens played without interim coach Dominique Ducharme, who tested positive for COVID-19 and was placed into league protocol. Assistant Luke Richardson took over duties on the bench, and Montreal was on its heels early. Marc-Andre Fleury’s misplay costs Golden Knights in Game 3 loss After a rare fast start in which the Knights outshot the Canadiens 17-3 in the first period with nothing to show for it, their pressure finally paid off 3:16 into the second period. By David Schoen Canadiens forward Eric Staal tried to start to the breakout up the middle June 18, 2021 - 8:22 PM but instead coughed up the puck to Nicolas Roy. The native of Amos, Updated June 18, 2021 - 10:21 PM Quebec, cashed in with his third goal of the postseason.

It was one of 25 giveaways the Knights forced from Montreal.

Marc-Andre Fleury searched for a way to take out his frustration but But the lead lasted 38 seconds, as Nick Holden’s shot from the point was stopped himself from smashing his stick on the ice. blocked by Nick Suzuki and the Knights were caught up ice. Suzuki found Cole Caufield ahead of the pack, and the 20-year-old rookie beat The Golden Knights goalie faked like he was going to fling the paddle Fleury high to the glove side on the breakaway. into the glass and settled for a hard swat across his leg pads as punishment. “I don’t think there’s any emotional damage,” Stone said. “We liked the way we played. We really do. We played a great 60 minutes. We have to Fleury’s fumble trying to handle the puck in the final two minutes led to capitalize on scoring chances. We had lots of looks, just need to bear the tying goal Friday, and the Knights went on to lose 3-2 to the down.” Canadiens in overtime in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup semifinals at Bell Centre in Montreal. LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 06.19.2021

The Knights trail 2-1 in the best-of-seven series, with Game 4 scheduled for Sunday.

“He’s stood on his head for us all season,” Knights alternate captain Reilly Smith said of Fleury. “Goals like that are going to happen with bad bounces and ice when you’re playing into the summer. It’s not a really big deal. We just have to move forward. We should’ve done a better job in overtime closing it out.”

The Knights played without first-line center Chandler Stephenson (upper body) for the second straight game and were less than two minutes from regaining home-ice advantage after defenseman Alex Pietrangelo’s go- ahead goal early in the third period.

But Fleury’s gaffe helped gift-wrap the underdog Canadiens their second straight win in the series and ninth in the past 10 games.

“I loved our game,” coach Pete DeBoer said. “If we can play like that for the next week, I have a hard time believing they’re going to beat us two more times.”

Fleury, who was appearing in his 161st career postseason game to tie Ed Belfour for third place on the all-time list, was strong all night handling the puck and starting the Knights’ breakout.

But the Vezina Trophy finalist and Conn Smythe Trophy candidate lost control behind the net after a hard dump-in, and Josh Anderson swooped in to score the tying goal with 1:55 remaining in the third period.

“Fleury’s played great for us all year,” Knights captain Mark Stone said. “It’s one mistake. We had to bail him out. We did not play the way we played for the first 60 of the game in overtime.”

Anderson tallied the winner for the Canadiens with 7:07 remaining in overtime. The Knights were caught in a long line change, and Montreal quickly transitioned after a turnover in the neutral zone.

Anderson knocked the puck out of the air after crossing the blue line and buried the return pass from Paul Byron for his second of the game after not scoring since Game 1 of the first round May 20.

The Canadiens improved to 4-0 in overtime during the playoffs, while the Knights fell to 1-3.

”We can take some confidence out of this game,” Anderson said. “It’s not the start that we wanted in the first couple periods, but when everything was going tough, we just try to be physical and and get on the forecheck as much as we can. You started to see that more later in the third period. And then, obviously, in overtime we were all over them.”

Pietrangelo, who had both goals in the Game 2 loss, continued his stellar play with the go-ahead goal early in the third period. He jumped into the rush and beat Canadiens goalie Carey Price with a wrist shot from the high slot 2:22 into the period.

The Knights finished with a 45-27 advantage in shots on goal, but paid for an inept 0-for-4 showing on the power play. 1216060 Vegas Golden Knights Erik Gustafsson-Jon Merrill Carey Price

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 06.19.2021 Golden Knights shake up first line for Game 3 in Montreal

By Ben Gotz

June 18, 2021 - 4:56 PM

Updated June 18, 2021 - 5:14 PM

The Golden Knights are making a major switch in the middle for Game 3 of their NHL semifinal against the Montreal Canadiens on Friday at the Bell Centre.

Alex Tuch is moving to first-line center while Chandler Stephenson remains out with an upper-body injury. Tuch, a natural wing, played one regular-season game at center for the Knights. He said it was the first time he played in the middle since he was 16 or 17.

Tuch does provide the same speed up the middle that Stephenson does, which is one of the things that made Stephenson so effective with left wing Max Pacioretty and right wing Mark Stone.

“I think Patch and Stone are used to playing with a fast center coming through the middle with a lot of speed,” right wing Reilly Smith said Friday morning. “I’m sure that’s something our coaching staff is looking for. … (Tuch’s) kind of like that X factor. You can slot him into any position, and he’ll be pretty productive.”

One thing to monitor in Tuch’s game will be his faceoffs. Draws don’t have a massive impact on wins and losses, but it would help the Knights if their top line wasn’t chasing the puck all night.

Tuch has won 39.5 percent of his 337 career faceoffs. Stephenson won 50.4 percent of his draws this season. Canadiens center Phillip Danault, an excellent defensive player who will likely match up against Tuch’s line, has won 53.1 percent of his career faceoffs.

Taking draws will be one of the only key differences for Tuch at center. The Knights play a fluid style and designate responsibilities on how they enter the zone rather than by position.

“The way we play particularly, they’re interchangeable,” coach Pete DeBoer said. “In all three zones as far as responsibility goes it’s not an issue.”

Tuch moving up shifted Keegan Kolesar back to third-line right wing. The Knights also inserted Tomas Nosek at fourth-line center for the first time since Game 2 against Minnesota in place of Patrick Brown.

Montreal made no changes after its 3-2 win in Game 2 on Wednesday at T-Mobile Arena.

Here’s what the Knights’ lineup looks like:

Max Pacioretty-Alex Tuch-Mark Stone

Jonathan Marchessault-William Karlsson-Reilly Smith

Mattias Janmark-Nicolas Roy-Keegan Kolesar

William Carrier-Tomas Nosek-Ryan Reaves

Alec Martinez-Alex Pietrangelo

Brayden McNabb-Shea Theodore

Nick Holden-Zach Whitecloud

Marc-Andre Fleury

Here’s what the Canadiens’ lineup look like:

Artturi Lehkonen-Phillip Danault-Brendan Gallagher

Tyler Toffoli-Nick Suzuki-Cole Caufield

Paul Byron-Jesperi Kotkaniemi-Josh Anderson

Joel Armia-Eric Staal-Corey Perry

Ben Chiarot-Shea Weber

Joel Edmundson-Jeff Petry 1216061 Vegas Golden Knights

Golden Knights forward finishes third in Selke Trophy voting

By David Schoen

June 18, 2021 - 9:03 am

Updated June 18, 2021 - 9:06 PM

Mark Stone fell short in his quest for the Selke Trophy.

The Golden Knights captain finished third in the voting, with Florida’s Aleksander Barkov winning the award for the NHL’s best defensive forward, the league announced Friday before Game 3 of the Stanley Cup semifinals at the Montreal Canadiens.

Boston’s Patrice Bergeron was the other finalist.

Stone was looking to become the first winger to win the award since Dallas’ Jere Lehtinen in 2003.

Stone had 11 first-place votes and 463 points. Barkov (62 first-place votes, 780 points) was the overwhelming winner, with Bergeron getting 15 first-place votes from the Professional Hockey Writers Association.

Stone posted a team-leading 61 points (21 goals, 40 assists) in 55 games and led the NHL in takeaways (58) for the second time in three seasons. He ranked third in takeaways per 60 minutes (3.63) among players with at least 30 games played.

His on-ice even-strength goal differential (plus-27) was fifth in the league overall and third among forwards, and he tied for 10th with a plus-26 rating.

“He’s probably up there as one of the smartest guys I’ve ever played with,” Knights defenseman Alec Martinez said. “A lot of that helps his defensive game. He’s got one of the best sticks I’ve ever seen. He’s always picking off passes, knocking down passes, stripping guys, things like that.”

Stone was a key member of the league’s top penalty-killing unit during the regular season. The Knights allowed only two goals during Stone’s 74:12 of ice time short-handed, and he scored once.

This was the second time in three seasons Stone was a finalist for the award. He finished runner-up in 2019 to St. Louis center Ryan O’Reilly and was fifth in the voting last season.

Tuch to center

Alex Tuch skated as the first-line center for the Knights with Chandler Stephenson out because of an upper-body injury, and Tomas Nosek returned to the lineup.

The Knights missed Stephenson’s speed through the middle during their Game 2 loss and shuffled lines entering the second period in an effort to find a combination that worked.

Tuch played center May 1 against Arizona to prepare for a situation such as this. Before that, Tuch said he hadn’t played the position since he was a teenager with the U.S. National Team Development Program.

Nosek hadn’t played since Game 2 against Minnesota on May 18.

Habs coach tests positive

Canadiens interim coach Dominique Ducharme tested positive for COVID-19 and wasn’t on the bench for Game 3. Assistant Luke Richardson took over coaching duties.

Ducharme was sent home Friday morning “due to irregularities” in his COVID-19 test result and missed the team’s morning skate.

The team canceled Ducharme’s media availability, and he underwent further testing to confirm his result. Ducharme received his second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine June 9, according to the NHL.

No other players, coaches or staff members from the Canadiens tested positive.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 06.19.2021 1216062 Vegas Golden Knights It took until the Golden Knights' 22nd shot of the game to score, but they finally did at 3:16 of the second period. Nicolas Roy nwas in the right place in front of the net, and a strong Vegas forecheck forced Eric Staal to quickly get rid of the puck behind the Montreal net. It went right to Roy, Golden Knights squander chance to lead series, fall in OT to Canadiens who didn't miss on his quick strike, and the Quebec native playing in his first playoff game in his home province gave the Golden Knights the lead.

Unfortunately for Vegas, the lead didn't last long, and Montreal scored on By Justin Emerson (contact) its fifth shot of the game. Nick Suzuki blocked a Vegas shot and fed the Published Friday, June 18, 2021 | 3 p.m. counter to Cole Caufield to do the rest. Caufield, the rookie who started the year at the University of Wisconsin, had a clean breakaway and Updated Friday, June 18, 2021 | 8:25 p.m. buried his chance 38 seconds after Vegas scored to tie the game.

The game started to open up a bit with about seven minutes to go in the second. Caufield worked his way to another partial break, but was denied The Golden Knights will want to forget what happened Friday night at this time. Moments later Alex Tuch had a breakaway, but Carey Price Bell Centre. The problem is, it might be awhile before they can. made his best save of the game to keep it tied with 6:16 to go in the The Golden Knights missed a chance to take a lead early in the game, frame. allowed the game to get to overtime on a misplay by Marc-Andre Fleury, The Golden Knights again kept the Canadiens from a high quantity of then lost on a Josh Anderson winner in overtime. The Golden Knights chances, but the quality started to catch up. Montreal had just five shots lost 3-2 to the Montreal Canadiens and fell into a 2-1 hole in the Stanley on goal, but had four high-danger scoring chances, according to Natural Cup semifinals. Stat Trick, the same amount as Vegas. Vegas was closing in on the victory when a routine dump-in by the Vegas led 30-8 in shots on goal through two periods. Canadiens turned into a disaster for the Golden Knights. Fleury played the puck behind the net, but sent it right into his skates and it kicked The Golden Knights did everything in the first period but score. After two away to open ice. Anderson was there to put it into the empty net, and games of allowing Montreal to dictate pace in the opening 20, Vegas the Canadiens tied it to force overtime. dominated in the first, but did not score as the first period of Game 3 headed to intermission in a 0-0 tie at Bell Centre in Montreal. Montreal was the aggressor in overtime and was rewarded at the 12:53 mark. Anderson batted a bouncing puck out of the air at the Vegas blue The Golden Knights' troubles in the first two games stemmed from poor line, and Paul Byron went in on Fleury on a 2-on-1. Byron slid the puck starts to the first period, and they flipped the script in Game 3. Vegas had over to Anderson, who finished to complete the unbelievable comeback the first 12 shots of the game, not allowing Montreal to challenge Marc- by the Canadiens. Andre Fleury until 11:27 into the game. Vegas even had the first power play, but did not score on five shots. The Golden Knights started the game with a 17-3 edge in shots on goal after a period, but did not score in the opening frame. It took until the Montreal got its first shot on the power play, but the Golden Knights 3:16 mark of the second, when Nicolas Roy capitalized on a Canadiens continued to maintain possession. They were clean on their breakouts, turnover behind the net and put Vegas on top. they forechecked well and clearly frustrated the Canadiens. THey're only real chance came on a Josh Anderson power move to the net, but Fleury Montreal answered right away, though, when Cole Caufield went the made a save before getting knocked over. other way and scored on a breakaway 38 seconds later. It was just the Canadiens' fifth shot of the game, and the shot total was 22-5 at the time, The Golden Knights finished scoreless on two power-play tries, falling to but Montreal had tied it, where it stayed 1-1 until Alex Pietrangelo put the 0-for-8 in the series and 4-for-36 in the playoffs. Shots ended 17-3 in Golden Knights on top early in the third period. Vegas' favor.

Vegas finished with a 45-27 lead in shots on goal. As hinted at during morning skate, the Golden Knights did line up Alex Tuch as the top-line center, his second time playing in the middle this Game 4 is scheduled for 5 p.m. Sunday in Montreal. season. Tomas Nosek also returned to the lineup for the first time sine Check back to lasvegassun.com later for More Coverage and read below Game 2 against the Minnesota Wild, skating in his usual spot on the for live updates from the game. fourth line.

Misplay by Fleury sends Golden Knights, Canadiens to OT in Game 3 Alex Tuch at center? Golden Knights experimenting ahead of Game 3

The Golden Knights were 1:55 from a Game 3 victory. Then the craziest The loss of Chandler Stephenson was a major factor in the Golden of bounces tied the game for the Canadiens. Knights' 3-2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens in Game 2. Any time a team loses its top-line center is tough, but Vegas didn't have an obvious It was an easy enough dump-in by Montreal, but Marc-Andre Fleury replacement, starting the game with Nicolas Roy in the middle and played the puck into his own skates, allowing an easy tap-in for the moving Keegan Kolesar there by the second period. Canadiens to tie the game and send it to overtime on Friday, 2-2 at Bell Centre in Montreal. The Golden Knights look like they might get even more unorthodox in Game 3, scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. today at Bell Centre in Montreal. It negated what had been a strong third period by the Golden Knights Alex Tuch, a winger, lined up at center between Max Pacioretty and Mark that looked like it would hold up as the winner. Alex Pietrangelo allowed Stone at morning skate. While Stephenson is considered "day-to-day" the Golden Knights to exhale after a frustrating 40 minutes, beating and coach Pete DeBoer didn't commit to Tuch playing center, that's the Carey Price clean on a snipe from the high slot 2:22 into the third. way things were trending.

It was Pietrangelo's third goal of the series, and fourth in his last four "When you get NHL players, all these guys played center at different games. He has 11 points in 16 games this postseason. points in their careers," DeBoer said. "Best player on your team at Vegas kept the pressure on Montreal for the rest of the third, and despite whatever level you're at, you're usually playing center." the Canadiens' push, they didn't generate enough to beat Fleury. That is Tuch has played center this season, lining up there for a late-season until Fleury's gaffe sent the game to overtime. game against the Coyotes. Before that, he said, he hadn't played there Golden Knights, Canadiens tied heading to third period of Game 3 since he was a teenager, but players often insist it doesn't matter.

There has to be some frustration in the Golden Knights' room after two Faceoffs are the most obvious duty of a center, and Tuch has not been periods. They again were the far better team in a period, but again it great in that area, with a 39.5% career win rate. The value of faceoffs is ended in a tie. up for debate, though. Five goals this series have come immediately after a faceoff win, but data doesn't support the idea that draws matter in the Vegas and Montreal each netted a goal in the second period, and despite long run. An individual faceoff can matter, but a good possession team a 51-21 edge in shot attempts for the Golden Knights, Friday's Game 3 often retrieves the puck anyway. will head to the third period in a 1-1 draw at Bell Centre in Montreal. The Golden Knights like to talk about their system in terms of "F1, F2 and LAS VEGAS SUN LOADED: 06.19.2021 F3." It refers to which forward is the first to enter the zone on a forecheck and which duty is assigned to whom. Left wing or right wing matters less than who gets there first, so once the puck is dropped after a faceoff, there are not many differences between the team's forwards.

"Really for centermen, the only difference is taking faceoffs. First guy back in the zone is usually F1 and has those low duties," forward Reilly Smith said. "It shouldn't change too much if the lines are mixed up a little bit."

Outside of the positional letter next to his name, playing Tuch between Stone and Pacioretty makes plenty of sense on its surface. Stephenson is effective there in large part because of his speed, and Tuch matches that. Stephenson may be a better defensive option, but Tuch provides a greater scoring punch.

"He's a guy that can play anywhere in our lineup," DeBoer said.

The downside is Montreal, with the last line change at home, can deploy its shutdown line centered by Selke Trophy candidate Phillip Danault against Vegas' overloaded top line. It pulls Tuch off the third line, which could then become an area the Canadiens could look to exploit. DeBoer mentioned repeatedly during the Minnesota series that he liked having Tuch and Mattias Janmark as third-line forwards for that reason.

Stephenson's absence will be tough to overcome, but rare is the playoff series a team makes it through unscathed. This postseason, Pacioretty, Janmark, Brayden McNabb and Ryan Reaves have all missed multiple games. Stephenson is another bump in the road for the Golden Knights but one they feel they're ready to overcome.

Stanley Cup Playoffs Round 3

Series: Tied 1-1

TV: USA Network (DirecTV 242, Cox 34, CenturyLink 125)

Radio: Fox Sports 1340 AM and 98.9 FM

Betting line: Golden Knights minus-170, Canadiens plus-150; over/under: 5 (minus-140, plus-120)

Golden Knights (9-6, West Division No. 2 seed)

Coach: Pete DeBoer (second season)

Points leader: William Karlsson (13)

Goals leader: Jonathan Marchessault (6)

Assists leader: William Karlsson (9)

Expected goalie: Marc-Andre Fleury (1.92 GAA, .923 save percentage)

Canadiens (9-4, North Division No. 4 seed)

Coach: Dominique Ducharme (first season)

Points leader: Tyler Toffoli (12)

Goals leaders: Joel Armia, Tyler Toffoli (5)

Assists leaders: Tyler Toffoli (7)

Expected goalie: Carey Price (2.14 GAA, .930 save percentage)

Golden Knights projected lineup

Forwards

Max Pacioretty—Alex Tuch—Mark Stone

Jonathan Marchessault—William Karlsson—Reilly Smith

Mattias Janmark—Nicolas Roy—Keegan Kolesar

William Carrier—Patrick Brown—Ryan Reaves

Defensemen

Alec Martinez—Alex Pietrangelo

Brayden McNabb—Shea Theodore

Nick Holden—Zach Whitecloud

Goalies

Marc-Andre Fleury, Robin Lehner 1216063 Vegas Golden Knights Montreal players (and fans) feel they’re being dealt the short straw when it comes to officiating in this series, but even with the massive advantage in power-play chances, Vegas hasn’t taken advantage in the slightest.

‘It’s costing us the series right now’: Power-play struggles sink Golden “I think the power play is the main focus that we have to work on, and it Knights in Game 3 loss has to be a difference-maker in this series,” Smith said.

Vegas’ power-play struggles didn’t start in this series or even in the playoffs. They’ve been a persistent issue all year long. The Golden By Jesse Granger Jun 19, 2021 Knights finished 22nd in the league with a power-play percentage of only 17.8 percent. Of the nine teams with worse power plays, only two

qualified for the postseason and both lost in the first round. In the past 30 years, no team has won the Stanley Cup with a playoff Power-play success has historically been crucial for teams to make deep power-play percentage lower than 11 percent. There has also never runs in the playoffs. Tampa Bay scored at a 22.5 percent clip during last been a Stanley Cup winner with the lowest power-play percentage of any year’s Cup run. The Capitals’ impressive 29.3 percent conversion rate team in the playoffs. led them to a title in 2017-18, and the Penguins had a power play better The Golden Knights are trying to be the first team to do both, and it’s than 20 percent in each of their back-to-back Cups in 2015-16 and 2016- making their path to the ultimate goal incredibly difficult. 17.

Vegas’ power play has been abysmal this postseason, converting 38 Over the past 20 years, only two teams have won a Stanley Cup with a chances with a man advantage (third most in the NHL) into only four power-play conversion rate lower than 12 percent. Those were the 2012- goals. That power-play percentage of 10.5 is the worst of any team in the 13 Chicago Blackhawks (11.4 percent) and the 2010-11 Boston Bruins league this season and is worse than any team to win it all in the last (11.4 percent). And as bad as those power plays were, they were still three decades. better than what the Golden Knights have done this season.

Friday night in Montreal, the Golden Knights’ power-play struggles cost “Our five-on-five play was excellent tonight,” Vegas forward Mark Stone them dearly. Vegas outplayed the Canadiens for the vast majority of said. “We controlled the majority of the game and had tons of scoring regulation, completely dominating possession. Vegas held overwhelming chances, but in a game like this, your power play needs to step up for advantages in shots (45-27), scoring chances (36-22) and high danger you. The last two games, our power play has had to step up, and we chances (18-11). The defensemen broke the puck out of their zone haven’t even gotten us any momentum. It’s about time as a group we seamlessly for most of the contest, allowing the Golden Knights to play in take a little bit more pride in playing on the power play. (We need to) take Montreal’s zone for long stretches of action. that five-on-five mindset to the power play.”

And with that control of play, the Golden Knights earned more than their The Golden Knights outshot Montreal 17-3 in the opening period and had fair share of power-play opportunities. They had four power plays in the four minutes of power-play time, but the score remained 0-0 as the teams first two periods and were unable to generate even a shred of offense entered their dressing rooms for intermission. Stretches like that lead to during those eight minutes with a man advantage. one mistake in the third period losing the team a game. And not only that but repetitive failed attempts with a man advantage can swing “There are a lot of problems (on the power play), I don’t think you can momentum. pinpoint just one,” Vegas forward Reilly Smith said. “Our breakouts have been bad. We’re not doing a good job handling pressure. We’re not “It can,” coach Pete DeBoer replied, when asked if the power-play releasing the puck very well. And we’re not doing a good job crashing the struggles bleed into play at even strength. “I don’t think it did tonight. I net and picking up rebounds. There are a lot of things we have to get think our five-on-five game was good all night. But there’s no doubt that it better at, and it’s costing us the series right now.” can. Like anything that can take momentum from you, like taking penalties, giving up PK goals, all those things can sap momentum from Smith is absolutely right, the Golden Knights’ ineffective power play is the your five-on-five game. Like I said, we’ve got a lot of things in really good biggest reason they trail Montreal 2-1 after three games in their Stanley places right now. The power play is a work in progress, no doubt about Cup semifinal series. it.”

Vegas was leading the game 2-1 with only two minutes remaining when And the onus for Vegas’ struggling power play falls directly on the Marc-Andre Fleury made what will likely go down as one of the biggest shoulders of their top forwards. The Golden Knights have enough mistakes of his long NHL career. He went to play a puck behind the forward talent to create two skilled power-play units, but those forwards Vegas net, but the puck bounced off his skate blade and right into the aren’t making the plays they should be through three games in this crease for an easy goal for Montreal forward Josh Anderson. It was a series. crushing blow that sent the game to overtime where Anderson would win it for the Canadiens following a poorly-timed line change by the Golden Vegas has eight total goals against Montreal in this series. Six of those Knights defense. goals came from defensemen, and the other two came from bottom-six forwards Nic Roy and Mattias Janmark. It’s only been three games, but Fleury’s mistake was crucial. A mishandling of the puck like that can’t Stone and his fellow top forwards realize they need to produce, happen in that moment, but the bigger reason for concern for the Golden especially with the man advantage. Knights isn’t that mistake. It’s the fact that one mistake like that can turn a game that they clearly dominated into a loss. “Our power play needs to be better, starting from the top,” Stone said. “We have to score goals. I’m skunked in the first three games and (I’m) a When you control a game as thoroughly as the Golden Knights did main reason that power play has struggled. There are a lot of us that Friday, you must take advantage of that enough times so that one have to figure that part of it out.” mistake doesn’t lose you the game. Hockey is a game of mistakes, and when you outshoot a team by a ratio of nearly 2-to-1 and only lead by Friday night’s loss was crushing because of the nature in which it one goal late, you’re asking for a collapse like the one Vegas had in happened. It could be a momentum-swinging result but the Golden Montreal. Knights have been through plenty of difficult situations in this postseason and believe they’ll answer. “Goals like that are going to happen with bad bounces, and ice when you’re playing into the summer,” Smith said. “It’s not really a big deal, we “I don’t think there’s any emotional damage,” Stone said. “I think that’s a just have to move forward. We should’ve done a better job in overtime pretty harsh way of putting it. We were down 0-2 to Colorado and we got closing it out. smoked 7-1 in the first game. Then got brutally dominated for 20 minutes, then really deserved to win the game and we lost that one in overtime “We had ample opportunities to score more goals tonight, and I think and we were down 0-2.” that’s where our focus is right now.” The Golden Knights know that a win Sunday would knot the series 2-2 The Golden Knights’ best chances to score should be coming on the and recapture home-ice advantage as the series shifts back to Vegas. power play, but they aren’t. Over the first three games of this series, But it won’t be easy, and in order to win, they’ll undoubtedly need to Vegas has been given 10 power-play chances to only five for Montreal. capitalize on their opportunities. Despite that, the Canadiens have the only power-play goal to this point. The Athletic LOADED: 06.19.2021 1216064 Vegas Golden Knights “We like the way we played today, we really do. We played a great 60 minutes. We have to capitalize on scoring chances,” Stone said after the game.

Montreal Scores Late To Tie VGK, Then Wins In Overtime Friday; LVSportsBiz.com LOADED: 06.19.2021 Canadiens Lead Best-of-7 Semifinals, 2-1; Game 4 In Montreal Sunday

By Alan Snel

It was time for the postgame zoom press conference and Vegas Golden Knights forwards Mark Stone and Tomas Nosek looked down at times, then stared into space and even looked off to the side between questions.

Their body language told the story of the NHL semifinal, Game 3 in Montreal Friday evening. They were answering questions after a painful and disappointing 3-2 overtime loss to the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre after VGK Hall-of-Fame goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury fumbled away a 2-1 lead with only 1:55 left in the final period. Fleury mishandled a puck behind his net, with the puck sliding to the Canadiens’ Josh Anderson, who backhanded the gift into an empty cage.

It tied the game at two. And then Anderson won the game with a little more than seven minutes left in overtime on a 2-on-0 break on Fleury.

And though they were outplayed by the Golden Knights, the Canadiens came away with a win that gave Montreal a 2-1 series lead in the Best-of- 7 NHL Final 4 showdown. Game 4 is Sunday in Montreal. The Vegas- Montreal winner plays the winner of Tampa vs the New York Islanders. Tampa leads that series, 2-1.

Game 4 of VGK vs MTL is Sunday. Photo: NHL

After the game, VGK players stood up for Fleury, a finalist for the NHL’s best goalie award this season and a Quebec native who grew up about an hour outside Montreal.

“He stood on his head all season.” VGK original Misfit Reilly Smith said. “We have to move forward.”

VGK coach Pete DeBoer said the mojo of the late-game error “carried into the overtime.”

He mentioned the message to Fleury after regulation was, “Let’s dig in and get it back.”

VGK fans took this loss hard, too. A few social media comments give you a taste of the reactions.

About 3,500 fans were allowed in the Montreal arena during the COVID- 19 pandemic.

They went away delighted with the Canadiens now two games away from reaching the .

Meanwhile, the Knights know they have to improve on the power play and in other aspects.

“There’s a lot of things we have to get better at,” Smith said after the game.

Canadiens fans celebrated Friday.

The VGK and Canadiens were tied, 1-1, entering the third period and that’s when the numbers guys broke out these numbers: the Knights have outscored opponents, 16-6, in the third period during the playoffs, while the Canadiens are a minus four goals in period three in the postseason. Nic Roy opened the scoring in period two for the Knights before Montreal’s Cole Caufield tied the score at one less than a minute later.

VGK defenseman Alex Pietrangelo scored in period three with a wrist shot from the slot that beat busy Montreal goaltender Carey Price. He stopped 43 of 45 shots. Fleury stopped 24 of 27.

On the Knights’ goal, VGK forward Tomas Nosek did some nice work along the boards to spring Max Pacioretty with a nice pass. Petro received a pass from Patches and fired a shot past Price to give the VGK a 2-1 lead in period three before Montreal tied it with less than two minutes to go. 1216065 Vegas Golden Knights

Vegas Golden Knights Stunned In OT As Habs Complete Comeback

Published 2 hours ago on June 18, 2021By Tom Callahan

Josh Anderson tied the game for the Montreal Canadiens late on a Marc- Andre Fleury puckhandling gaffe and then netted the overtime game- winning goal as the Montreal Canadiens completed the comeback with a 3-2 win on Friday night. The Canadiens now lead the Vegas Golden Knights 2-1 in the best-of-seven Stanley Cup Semifinal series.

After a scoreless first period in which Vegas out-shot Montreal 17-3, the game evened out with Nicolas Roy and Cole Caufield exchanging second period goals to tie the game at one. In the third, Alex Pietrangelo scored his third goal of the series to put the VGK ahead 2:22 into the final frame, but then disaster struck. Fleury, who has had some puckhandling adventures this year, ended up deflecting the puck in front of his own unguarded net for a tap-in goal by Anderson with 1:55 remaining.

In overtime, Anderson struck once again at 12:53, putting a puck past a sprawling Marc-Andre Fleury for the win.

The Takeaways:

That Marc-Andre Fleury giveaway is a killer. I know he played well for most of the game and has for most of the season been the best player on the team, but that can’t happen. As much as everyone says they know they have to pick him up, it’s not that simple. The momentum goes right to the Canadiens and in the OT when they buried the winner you could sense the emotion going in their direction.

Speaking of Montreal, I talked about it before the game but now that the Habs have won Game Three, the pressure goes from the Canadiens right onto the Golden Knights. Trailing 2-1 in the series and another difficult road game ahead, they’ve really done nothing to show that they can score on a consistent basis against the Canadiens. A lot needs to change before Game Four, starting with the top line.

After the game, Mark Stone talked about how his line not scoring in the first three games of the series was unacceptable, and took the blame on his unit for not only five-on-five scoring but also weighing down the power play as well. He knows it. I know it. You know it. That line has to put pucks in the net for this team to advance.

I’ve harped on the power play before, about how a lack of movement off the puck and terrible zone entries have kept the Vegas Golden Knights from doing anything. Tonight it was more of the same. Even the national TV crew picked up on it and made the same comment. My question is, why hasn’t Pete DeBoer tried to change something? It’s not like there’s a glimmer of hope with a PP goal here and there. It’s been a barren wasteland when it comes to the man advantage. And as Reilly Smith pointed out: “it’s costing us the series”.

Credit Carey Price for stopping everything he saw in the first period. It allowed a sluggish Montreal team figuring out how to operate without its head coach behind the bench to find a flow. In the second and third periods, the Canadiens got it back in gear and ended up with the win. Price bought them critical time to get the ducks in a row, and once they did confidence was restored across the board.

Vegas Hockey Now LOADED: 06.19.2021 1216066 Vegas Golden Knights

Rapid React: Oh No Marc-Andre Fleury; It’s Not the First Time

Published 6 hours ago on June 18, 2021By Dan Kingerski

In fairness, Vegas Golden Knights goalie Marc-Andre Fleury had a lot more help than Montreal Canadiens netminder Carey Price. So while Price was a little duckling in a carnival shooting gallery, Fleury had time for bowls of poutine between shots.

Yet the Montreal Canadiens won Game 3 in OT, 3-2.

Montreal didn’t get their first shot of the game for 11 minutes and had just three in the first period.

The Golden Knights held Montreal to just five in the second period.

On the other end of the ice, Price scrambled for his life and that of his team. The Golden Knights had the opportunities and really should have buried Montreal by the middle of the second period, by Price’s acrobatics kept the game tied or close.

But they don’t ask how many saves you made. They ask how many you didn’t make. For 57 minutes, Price didn’t make two saves. Fleury allowed only a breakaway goal by rookie sensation Cole Caufield.

And then FLeury’s old nemesis–bad stickhandling–bit him in a bad way. A bad, bad way.

Late in the third period, with a Game 3 victory waiting, Fleury misplayed a puck off the end wall. Fleury left the crease to play the puck–after NBCsn showed a pair of montages to praise Fleury’s puckhandling–but the puck slid slowly through Fleury’s feet to a grateful Josh Anderson.

Montreal’s grinding forward quickly poked the loose puck into an empty net. The impending 2-1 Vegas win became a 2-2 game and overtime.

Vegas Hockey Now LOADED: 06.19.2021 1216067 Vegas Golden Knights

Breaking: Alex Tuch to Top Line; Habs Coach Ducharme Out Due

Published 10 hours ago on June 18, 2021By Tom Callahan

There’s breaking news on both sides of this Stanley Cup Semifinal series between the Vegas Golden Knights and Montreal Canadiens. Alex Tuch has been elevated to the top line in today’s morning skate with Max Pacioretty and Mark Stone, while Habs head coach Dominique Ducharme appears to have tested positive for COVID-19 and will miss at least tonight’s Game Three.

I like the move from VGK head coach Pete DeBoer to elevate Tuch despite the move leaving the top line without a regular center. This is definitely not the “nuclear option” some national media outlets would have you believe. Looking at faceoff percentages, Max Pacioretty went 20-23 (46.5%) this year, and Mark Stone was 12-18 (40%). Alex Tuch took the fewest draws, going 12-20 (37.5%). So while they’re not the best percentages, only Nic Roy (7-of-12) in Game One has a positive faceoff percentage for the Vegas Golden Knights in any game this series. Not as big a deal as you think.

La Vitesse Tue they say in French – speed kills. That’s exactly what the Golden Knights will hope to accomplish against Montreal tonight, beating the pointed, quick attack the Canadiens employ to the puck. Both Pacioretty and Stone were held at bay in Game Two, and perhaps Tuch can get things going in the right direction with his ability to carry the puck and drive the net to create scoring opportunities.

When it comes to critical defensive zone draws, expect William Karlsson to hit the ice and deal with the puck drops, replaced by Tuch once the puck leaves the zone.

I like it. This will be a lot of fun to watch. Good for Alex Tuch.

For Ducharme, if it is indeed a positive COVID-19 test, he’ll have to miss at least 10 days. This morning’s practice was run by assistant coaches Alex Burrows and Luke Richardson, plus goalie coach Sean Burke. There’s no word yet on if it will be coach by committee or if one person will be designated as the head coach for tonight.

Vegas Hockey Now LOADED: 06.19.2021 1216068 Vegas Golden Knights

Vegas Golden Knights Face Potential Problems at Center

Published 17 hours ago on June 18, 2021By Tom Callahan

Chanlder Stephenson’s absence from Game Two between the Vegas Golden Knights and Montreal Canadiens came as a last-minute surprise to many. Following the game, head coach Pete DeBoer said Stephenson was “day-to-day, upper body” in regards to the injury. DeBoer is not one to reveal a lot when it comes to injuries, so it’s likely we won’t know until game time if Stephenson will play in Game Three. If he doesn’t play, what are the options for the VGK?

In Game Two, Keegan Kolesar was elevated to the top-line center position. He won a couple of key faceoffs that led to goals by Alex Pietrangelo, and didn’t look out of place. I would argue that Max Pacioretty and Mark Stone might be two of the easiest players to play with, elevating anyone’s game that steps between them. It doesn’t mean you can just show up and excel, but it does make life easier.

Perhaps the biggest issue for Vegas is winning faceoffs. As I mentioned Kolesar won a couple of big draws but still finished 5-for-12 over the game. In fact, the VGK as a whole ended up winning 25-of-60 draws in Game Two and really need to up that percentage tonight. Starting with control of the puck is paramount, especially against a team like Montreal that can hold onto the puck very well.

So when it comes to options up the middle, the Vegas Golden Knights actually have several options. A quick check of the roster shows you that eight Golden Knights forwards are listed as natural centers: Cody Glass, Nic Roy, Dylan Sikura, Stephenson, Mattias Janmark, Patrick Brown, William Karlsson and Jonathan Marchessault. We already know Karlsson and Marchessault will stay together with Reilly Smith. Kolesar is definitely an option to go back into that spot. Roy has slid back-and-forth at times this season depending on the lineup. Janmark has proven himself to be a fantastic and flexible addition to the lineup.

But if I were in charge of the lineup decision, I’d roll the dice by inserting Cody Glass into that top-line spot. My reasoning is two-fold. First, Glass stands the best chance of success if he plays with Stone and Pacioretty. Even though he hasn’t played in a while, I’d expect him to hit the ice with energy and enthusiasm, and bringing that type of energy to the top line would definitely give it a boost while knowing he has the safety net of a Selke Trophy finalist on the wing.

Second, Glass struggled to produce at five-on-five but showed an ability to generate power-play goals. He is not afraid to stick his nose in front of the net and the Golden Knights could use that jam in front of Carey Price. The power play has struggled over the course of the post-season, going just 4-for-34 (11.8%) in the playoffs. That’s 15th out of 16 playoff teams. It’s no secret that elevating that stat by just a few percentage points dramatically increases your chance to win hockey games, especially given the Canadiens penchant for heading to the box so far in the series.

It’s possible Stephenson ends up playing tonight. DeBoer alluded to the obvious in saying that this time of year, everyone is banged up. I can say that is very accurate when you’re this deep in the playoffs. It’s just a matter of what you can manage or play through. But if Stephenson is unable to go, I’d like to see Glass get a chance to charge up the Vegas Golden Knights top line for Game Three.

Vegas Hockey Now LOADED: 06.19.2021 1216069 Washington Capitals “With so much in the air, we don’t know what’s going to happen, but [head coach Peter Laviolette] just told me to stay ready," McMichael said. "Obviously, with guys going down, you never know what could happen. So just stay ready and work hard in practice and we’ll see what the The crazy journey of Caps' prospect Connor McMichael in 2021 outcome is."

McMichael did not have to wait long.

BY J.J. REGAN Alex Ovechkin, Evgeny Kuznetsov, Dmitry Orlov and Ilya Samsonov were all added to the NHL's COVID-19 protocol-related absence list on

Jan. 20. After Samsonov tested positive for the coronavirus and it Team USA streamed onto the ice as the clock hit 00:00 having authored became known that all four players were together in a hotel room during a stunning 2-0 upset of Team Canada to win the 2021 World Junior the road trip, all four players were required to miss at least four games. Championship. The screams of joy from the USA players echoed through A very deep offense suddenly became very thin. In addition to missing the rafters of the empty Rogers Place in Edmonton. Watching the the four Russians, in the first game without them Tom Wilson left in the celebration unfold on the ice from the bench sat Capitals prospect third period with a lower-body injury. With no Ovechkin, Kuznetsov or Connor McMichael. Wilson for the following game, Washington suddenly ran out of options McMichael had scored four goals and four assists in the previous six and McMichael got the nod. games for Team Canada, but, just like the rest of his teammates, he was "I got home, back to the hotel from practice and [Caps assistant coach] held off the scoresheet in that final game. Watching USA celebrate, it Scott Arniel gave me a call and just told me I was going to be in the was a moment made all the worse by McMichael knowing exactly how lineup tomorrow and just told me to call my family, let them know," they felt. McMichael said. "It was tough seeing them all throw their gloves up," McMichael told NBC The debut came on Jan. 24 against the Buffalo Sabres. Sports Washington. "I know how good it feels because of the previous year." McMichael lined up at wing instead of his natural position at center. He played 9 minutes, 54 seconds registering one shot on goal and one He'd scored five goals with two assists the year before to help Canada minor penalty. win the 2020 World Juniors. But there was no time to dwell on this loss. "It was exciting," McMichael said. "Obviously I was a little nervous the McMichael spent the day after the tournament with his family in Ajax, first couple shifts but after that, you're just playing hockey. It's like any Ontario. On the following day, the real work began. other game. But yeah, the pace is pretty fast and guys are a lot bigger As the first-round draft pick of the Capitals in 2019, the main goal for and stronger. It was pretty tough, but I had fun." McMichael is to make it to the NHL. He has the skill to do it, but at 20 There were no goals, no highlight-reel plays, but there rarely are for 20- years old he still has to develop into an NHL player. That process began year-olds in their first NHL games. There are other reasons to be excited soon after World Juniors, but was complicated by the COVID-19 about McMichael's future in the NHL which he demonstrated later in the pandemic which hung over the entire season. season while playing in a different league. The 2021 season for McMichael saw him play in his first NHL game and A unique opportunity also brought him to the American Hockey League and the Hershey Bears, but it was a journey that began on that night in Edmonton in The pandemic left McMichael's future uncertain in more ways than one. It Canada's shocking loss to USA. Two days later he was on a plane hung over the hockey season at every level threatening a complete headed for Washington. shutdown at a moment's notice with every player just one positive test away from becoming part of an outbreak. The NHL can consider options "It would have been pretty cool to win back-to-back golds," McMichael like playing in a bubble, realigning to reduce travel, frequent testing, etc. said. "Obviously it sucks knowing the team that we had and what we But what about minor leagues and amateur/junior leagues that do not were capable of. Just looking back at it, it obviously sucks, but you've just have the same financial backing? How would they navigate the got to move to bigger and better things now." pandemic? Making his NHL debut This was the reality many leagues had to consider and it ended up Just to get on the ice for practice was an ordeal for McMichael who was leading to a very unique opportunity for McMichael. subject to a seven-day quarantine when he arrived before he could join The NHL and CHL -- the governing body of Canadian's major junior the team. leagues -- have a player development agreement in place that precludes After seven days, four negative tests, binging "Schitt's Creek" on Netflix players who are younger than 20 or who have not played four seasons in and playing a lot of "Fortnite", McMichael was finally allowed to get on junior hockey from playing in the minor leagues. Those players can play the ice at MedStar Capitals Iceplex and practice with the Caps once they for their junior teams or the NHL, but that's it. They cannot play in the returned from a season-opening road trip. AHL.

"It was good to get out on the ice with the team again, get out of As a player in the Ontario Hockey League, one of the three leagues that quarantine and get my legs moving again," McMichael told reporters. "I make up the CHL, McMichael fell below the age cutoff and had played mean, I haven’t skated with the team since World Juniors, so it was good only three seasons with London, his junior team. In a normal season, to get back out there again.” McMichael would have been assigned to the OHL during Caps training camp and likely would have stayed there the entire season, barring a Over the years as the Capitals have considered themselves Stanley Cup litany of injuries and other player absences. contenders, prospects have struggled to get into the lineup. McMichael joined the taxi squad for a team with an active roster that was four-deep The 2021 season, however, was not a normal year and McMichael found at center and dominant offensively. himself unsure of where exactly he would be playing for much of it with no concrete plan for the 2021 OHL season even as the NHL got back "From the day I got here, I wanted to get a spot on the team and that's underway. kind of been my goal," McMichael said. "Every day I've just practiced with the guys, I try and do my best and try and crack the lineup. You don't "It's kind of frustrating," McMichael said. "You just want to know where want to think about it too much, you don't want to worry about it, you just you're going to be the rest of the season. do what you can control and if that time comes, it'll be an amazing But from this frustration arose an opportunity. With the OHL season on feeling." hold, players who normally would have been considered ineligible for the Just recalling McMichael signaled he had a chance. Since he was minor leagues were granted exemptions and able to play in the minors. playing at World Juniors, the seven-day quarantine would take him past On Jan. 30, McMichael was reassigned from the Caps' taxi squad to the training camp. Yet, the team still recalled him to Washington to be on the Hershey Bears. taxi squad. That was probably where he would stay until his junior hockey season began with the London Knights. "You don’t want young guys not playing and sitting on a taxi squad for the "It is the nose swab, but not the one where it goes right up to your brain," whole year, if there’s availability for them to play somewhere else," he said. "They kind of take it easy on you." general manager Brian MacLellan said to the media in December. "I think that would hurt their development." It took four negative tests over seven days of quarantine just to get on the ice. Once cleared, McMichael was able to join the Caps and was then Going from junior to the professional ranks was a big step, but tested daily. McMichael thrived. Just 13 days after his arrival in Hershey, in just his second game, McMichael had his first professional goal. "You actually don't get the results unless it's positive so if you don't get a phone call or an email, it's pretty good news," McMichael said. "You always want to get the first one out of the way pretty quickly so you're not thinking about it too much," McMichael said. "Obviously I got it Through all the testing, McMichael managed to stay positive. in my second game so it felt good just to get it out of the way and just "It's been a tough year for everyone, everyone's kind of battled through it focus on playing hockey after that." so it's nice to have hockey back again," McMichael said. "We knew As January turned to February which turned to March, there were reports coming into this we'd have a lot of ups and downs whether it was game about how close the OHL was to returning and to having a plan in place postponements or practice postponements. We're just trying to stay to start the season. The process, however, dragged on. Because of the positive and any time you can get on the ice with the guys, it's a great development agreement, the moment the OHL returned to action, time so we're trying to make the most of it." McMichael would have to leave Hershey and return to his junior team. When reassigned to Hershey, McMichael found the process similar in the The uncertainty that left him with was frustrating especially considering AHL as with the NHL. Daily tests became every other day and the nose just how well he was playing at a higher level. McMichael found himself swab was replaced with saliva tests, but the AHL remained diligent in its hoping he would get to stay in Hershey rather than return to London. effort to prevent an outbreak.

"I honestly want to stay [in Hershey] and just play pro hockey," All of these precautions were necessary with COVID ravaging the planet, McMichael said. "I think it would be best for my development." but, unfortunately for McMichael, it came at a time when he was trying to "There's nothing really left for them to prove at the junior level," Hershey adjust to life as a pro. For the first time, he was on his own and had to head coach Spencer Carbery said. "Once they've gotten to the age navigate being an adult while also navigating all the league's health and they're at, they've been drafted, they've dominated major junior, the OHL safety protocols. specifically in his case, for a couple years now. To be honest with you, "Me and a couple guys, we're just at a hotel right now until we know he's past that now. Now he needs to be challenged and now he needs to what's going on for the rest of the year," McMichael said. "We're in a start to integrate pro habits into his game. So this is a really, really pretty nice hotel, we've got a kitchen and stuff so it's not too bad." valuable time for his career." In terms of skill, McMichael has all the tools necessary to succeed. He's Ultimately, the OHL never did return, the only CHL league that did not also a 20-year-old kid and, let's face it, you never know how a 20-year- have a season. That left McMichael in Hershey where he finished the old is going to handle life in the real world. season with 14 goals and 27 points, both team highs, in 33 games. McMichael, however, seemed to enjoy his new schedule. "He's been really, really good since he's come down," Carbery said. "He's had a great attitude, he's worked really hard. Probably the best "In junior you've got to wait for the guys in high school to get out of compliment I could pay him thus far is he's gotten better each game. He's school before you practice so usually you practice around 2," he said. "[In adapted really, really quickly and some of the things that are a lot Hershey], we're getting to the rink around 8 a.m. It's a lot of fun being at different at the pro level than they are at the major junior level, he's the rink earlier in the day and, that way, during the rest of the day you're absorbing information and adapting and continuing to grow and get better able to do recovery stuff, whatever you want to do." each game." Though 2021 was not a typical experience, McMichael still did his best to The uncertainty of where McMichael would play and the looming return of adjust to the professional lifestyle and remain close with teammates. the OHL hanging over his head was not an ideal scenario for McMichael, "The guys are great here," he said. "We've gone golfing a couple times or but being able to play in the AHL was and he took full advantage. going out to eat just on the patio or something, just bonding with the guys "It sucks I can't go back to junior," McMichael said. "Obviously a great so it's been amazing." group of guys. London's a lot of fun working with Dale and Mark Hunter. I What does the future hold? had a lot of fun there, but making the jump to pro early, it's going to benefit me a lot. Just that extra year ... it's amazing. Even when I was up "That kid's going to be a tremendous player for years to come," Hershey in Washington working with those guys, just experience. It's great to have teammate Matt Moulson said. "Obviously, his skill set is not something experience in pro hockey so when you get older, you have a little bit that everyone has. I think he's come a long way from when he first got more experience and can be ready to play as soon as you can." here."

Said MacLellan, "I definitely think that you could make the argument that "He's a gamer," Carbery said. "He is a gamer in a true sense of the word the development process is sped up by him playing [in Hershey] this and when games get tight, when the game's on the line, as a 2001-born year." player that's 185 pounds, he's a dog on the bone."

Life in the pandemic and as a pro McMichael has had success at the junior level, he's had success at the AHL level. The only question is when he will get his shot to find success When McMichael came to Washington after World Juniors, a 20-year-old at the NHL level? with dreams of making the NHL had to sit and wait. He was subject to a week-long quarantine at a hotel upon his arrival. McMichael knows there is more to learn. Though his jump to the AHL was successful, he recognized how much faster, more physical and more "You're just trying to find things to do and just make yourself busy so I skilled the game became just from juniors to the AHL. That was an was playing video games a bit, watching Netflix, stuff like that," important lesson on how hard it will be to make the jump to the NHL. McMichael said. "Honestly, when I first came down to Hershey, I had a few of those With nowhere to go and nothing to do, McMichael did the same thing moments where I was still kind of used to the junior pace," McMichael most of us did during the pandemic. said. "It's a game of inches up here and, in junior, you can kind of get "'Schitt's Creek,'" McMichael said. "I binged watched that one." away with not being as tight on your assignments or whatever it is. It woke me up a little bit and I think that made me realize how difficult it is There was also plenty of time for gaming. "Fortnite" was the game of to play in the NHL and how you've got to be really detailed. I think that I choice. After that was "Call of Duty" though McMichael found it hard to just took a big step forwards in that sense and as the year went on and get into it as "I'm just not too good at it." one I can continue to grow on that."

Then there was the testing. Those are not just empty words.

McMichael was tested for the coronavirus every other day. McMichael was a first-round draft pick, a star at the junior level and went to Hershey soon after making his NHL debut. But there was no frustration from McMichael on not making the NHL right away and he always goals or defend. So I want to get bigger and stronger and little bit faster. I remained open to the coaching he received in Hershey. think I'm able to do that down here in Hershey."

"[McMichael] is an extremely coachable player," Carbery said, "And what The crazy journey that was the 2021 season may have only led to one I mean by that is you tell him something once, it's in his game and he's game in the NHL for McMichael, but despite all the challenges it also has able to integrate that. I'm not going to say that it's perfect and it doesn't better prepared him for his future by providing him the chance to hone his get away from it at times, but he's very receptive and can put things into game in the AHL. He took full advantage. Now it is a matter of continuing his game that you ask of him and is very, very intuitive and smart when it to push, continuing to improve and continuing to develop in order to comes to being coached." become a regular in Washington.

That coaching paid off as McMichael's game seemed to improve over his "Obviously when you're this close, you can almost feel it," McMichael time in Hershey. said. "You've just got to keep pushing."

Having success at each level of the game is a good sign for a prospect, Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 06.19.2021 but showing signs of improvement is just as important. It can be hard to tell if a prospect's success is due to his potential or if he is simply peaking at a lower level. That's why it is so important to see a player improve at whatever level he is playing at regardless of whether it is in juniors or in the pros to try make sure he's not just peaking.

For McMichael, his skill level was past juniors. There was not much more he could learn from a league in which he scored 102 points in 52 games.

While in the AHL, however, Carbery said McMichael was able to make "huge strides."

"Last two games of the season, league championship on the line or regular-season league championship, division title on the line, best two games he's played all season," Carbery said. "And not just the point production, not just the goals, both ends of the ice, his ability to get in on the forecheck as F1, willing to hold onto pucks and manage the puck and not throw hope plays, being able to play in the defensive zone down low, make those reads, close with urgency, all the detail stuff that's going to be so critical for his game at the next level. Best two games he's played all season."

After excelling in the AHL, what does the 2021-22 season now hold for McMichael? Could he crack the NHL roster?

The Caps are strong down the middle, but lack depth at the center position. There are also questions about the future of Evgeny Kuznetsov in Washington. That could leave an opening high in the lineup for a center.

But if the Caps still consider themselves Cup contenders, can they still be that with Kuznetsov out and McMichael in? Perhaps in the future, but that is a lot to ask of a 20-year-old coming off his first season in the AHL and a shortened one at that.

According to MacLellan, McMichael's chances to make the team will depend on his continued development in the offseason.

"I think he finished up the year well," MacLellan said. "I think it's going to be how his offseason goes, what improvements he makes. He's a young guy that we're not going to force into the lineup. We'll see how he does in camp and what he can handle, but he had a really good year. I think he finished up the year on a high, improved in all areas. So we're going to look for opportunities to play him, but we're not going to force him into a situation he can't handle."

Carbery is more optimistic, though he does acknowledge further improvement is still needed.

"I do think [McMichael's] ready and I think he's going to challenge to play in the National Hockey League next year," Carbery said. "The areas that are going to be a focus are the detailed areas of playing the center position in the National Hockey League so faceoffs, breakout routes, his down-low coverage in the defensive zone."

He added, "It's the little things that are going to become critical to playing the center position, 200 feet in the NHL. He's come a long way with his habits, but something that he still needs to continue to engrain in his game so it becomes automatic. Those little things of playing that position which is as hard as any position to play in the NHL."

While the NHL is of course the goal for McMichael, he said he would welcome a return to Hershey in order to continue improving his game for the next level.

"I know it's cliche, but a lot of people say that they've got to get bigger and stronger," McMichael said. "That's for sure the biggest thing for me is just the jump from junior to pro. Everyone's bigger, faster, stronger. You've got to be able to win puck battles and puck possession's a really big thing in the pro level. It creates opportunities for yourself to score 1216070 Washington Capitals

Chandler Stephenson carving out key role with Golden Knights

BY ANDREW GILLIS

When the Capitals let go of Chandler Stephenson in late 2019, they did so with his role — and the salary cap — in mind.

Stephenson was awarded arbitration that summer and was given a one- year, $1.05 million deal. With injuries in the bottom six, and Travis Boyd playing well in Stephenson’s role, the team opted to take a fifth-round selection in the 2021 NHL Draft instead.

But in the time he’s since spent in Las Vegas, Stephenson has carved out a role for himself in the Golden Knights’ top six. This year, in 51 games, he tallied 14 goals and 21 assists. He’s yet to score a goal in the playoffs, but he’s put up six assists in 14 games and helped the team counter Nathan MacKinnon’s speed in the second round of the playoffs.

In 168 games as a Capital, he put up 14 goals and 19 assists. In 92 games as a Golden Knight, he’s scored 22 goals with 35 assists in a complete role reversal for the speedy centerman.

With the Capitals in salary cap trouble, they had to make a move at some point and Stephenson was the easiest man to single out. And as the Golden Knights move deeper in their series with the Canadiens, he’s battling an upper body injury — which has put a strain on the Golden Knights’ top six.

The Stephenson move was similar to the Andre Burakovsky trade, as both were homegrown players who priced themselves out of a role in Washington. In return, the Capitals got a second and third round pick for Burakovsky, but the Avalanche got a player that has shown the ability to score upwards of 25 to 30 goals.

In Washington, Burakovsky maxxed out at 17 goals per game in 79 games in 2015-16. In just two seasons in Colorado, he’s scored 20 and 19 goals, respectively, in just 58 and 53 games.

With a qualifying offer of $3.25 million, the Capitals moved Burakovsky to give themselves more room for Jakub Vrana’s bridge deal.

In both situations, the Capitals had to move a player too expensive for his role with some inconsistencies on the ice. And perhaps more painfully for the Capitals, both players have gone to their new teams and thrived in ways they never did in Washington.

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NHLPA poll names Ovechkin best shot, Backstrom best passer

BY ANDREW GILLIS

The NHLPA Player Poll asked nearly 500 players 14 questions as it pertained to the league in the unique 2020-21 season. And the Capitals had some familiar faces at the top of some categories.

Captain Alex Ovechkin won nearly half the vote (48.95 percent) in the category of “best shot,” just more than 20 percent higher than second- place Auston Matthews.

Ovechkin also finished second in the category of “best goal-scorer” behind Matthews, who carried the vote with 46.27 percent. Those two combined for 80.09 percent of the total vote. Ovechkin finished the season with 24 goals in 45 games and currently is sixth on the all-time goals scoring list.

Center Nicklas Backstrom was named “best passer” with a percentage of 20.72 in a narrow win over Patrick Kane (20.30 percent) and Leon Draisaitl (18.39 percent). Backstrom finished one of his most efficient seasons as a Capital with 53 points and 38 assists.

The other Capital to be named in the top five was John Carlson, who placed fifth in the “best defenseman” category with 2.1 percent behind Victor Hedman, Roman Josi, Cale Makar and Drew Doughty.

Other categories included “best goalie,” which Andrei Vasilevskiy ran away with at 54.12 percent of the vote, “most complete player,” which Sidney Crosby and Patrice Bergeron tied for at 23.78 percent and “who is the one player (any position) you would want on your team in any game?” which Connor McDavid carried the vote for.

As a team, the Capitals tied for fifth in the “favorite reverse retro jersey” category with the Ducks and Panthers. The Avalanche, Kings, Flames and Wild were in the top four of that category.

A few more interesting questions were asked, like if a series-style schedule should be carried forward into future seasons, with 66.3 percent of respondents answering yes. And 68.2 percent of respondents answered no on if regional divisions should be carried forward.

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Capitals re-sign Pilon, Nardella and Sgarbossa to two-year deals

BY ANDREW GILLIS

The Capitals announced early Thursday that they re-signed forward Garrett Pilon to a two-year, $1.5 million contract, then followed up with a deal to keep defenseman Bobby Nardella and forward Michael Sgarbossa for two years.

The first year of Pilon’s deal will be a two-way contract (worth up to $750,000) while the second year will be a one-way contract worth the same amount. Both contracts for Pilon and Nardella are the same. Sgarbossa's contract is a two-way deal worth $750,000 at the NHL level and $425,000 and $500,000 at the AHL level over the next two seasons.

Pilon, 23, played for the Hershey Bears last season and scored four goals with 16 points in 14 games. He made his NHL debut in the Capitals’ last game of the regular season against the Flyers.

In the previous two seasons for the Bears, he’d scored 36 and 33 points and has recorded 85 career points in 146 AHL games.

Before the Capitals, he played in the WHL where he spent two-and-a-half seasons with the Kamloops Blazers before ending his junior career with the Everett Silvertips.

Pilon was the 87th overall pick of the Capitals in the 2016 NHL Draft.

Depending on how the Capitals’ offseason goes and how general manager Brian MacLellan fits the team under the cap, Pilon could have the chance to see legitimate NHL action in 2021 and beyond.

Nardella, 25, played the 2020-21 season with Djurgardens IF in the and had 33 points (seven goals) in 47 games.

The left-handed defenseman played 41 games for the Bears in 2019-20 and had 31 points in 41 games. He was signed as a college free agent in 2019. Nardella isn't a big body at 5-foot-9 and 180 pounds, but has certainly shown a propensity for offense in his time since joining Notre Dame at the NCAA level.

Sgarbossa, 28, played in five games for the Capitals in the 2020-21 season and had two assists. He tallied 10 points in 14 games for the Bears this season as well.

In 55 NHL games with the Capitals, Ducks, Panthers and Avalanche, he has tallied 12 points (two goals).

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 06.19.2021 1216073 Vancouver Canucks The former Canucks coach mentored a sometimes difficult Dorsett in Medicine Hat. It’s where the WHL winger had a 25-goal season and 279 penalty minutes in 2005-06 to prove he could be productive and a pain to play against. And with Dorsett now eager to learn the coaching side, he Derek Dorsett gets early Father's Day present with Blue Jackets position joined Desjardins as an assistant in Medicine Hat for the last half of a COVID-19 affected and reduced 2020-21 season.

“I wanted to get my feet wet and it was one of the best moves I’ve done,” Ben Kuzma stressed Dorsett. “We did a lot of skill development with games only on Publishing date:Jun 18, 2021 • 11 hours ago weekends and sometimes two practices a day, and one would be skills.

“You’ve got to be able to relate to the kids. They have to trust you and with some of my experiences, I can build those relationships.” Father’s Day arrived early for Derek Dorsett. Dorsett is also buoyed by the quick coaching ascension of former The feisty former Vancouver Canucks winger was forced into retirement teammate Alex Burrows. After two years as an assistant with the AHL in November of 2017 by a cervical-disc herniation — adjacent to and affiliate Laval Rocket, he was promoted to the parent Montreal separate from a fusion procedure the previous year — and he has put off Canadiens as assistant this season in a bench shakeup. shoulder surgery despite occasional pain that radiates to the neck. “He’s going to be a head coach in the next few years,” said Dorsett. “He’s Dorsett vowed to return in some capacity to a game that served as his that kind of guy. A born leader. I’m just going to be a sponge and work second family. That patience and passion was rewarded Wednesday and earn as much as I can and I’ll look at every opportunity. when he was named a player development coach with the Columbus Blue Jackets, along with former teammate Mark Letestu. It’s the first step “I’m proud of the career I had and the relationships along the way. I have in Dorsett’s plan to eventually help patrol an NHL bench. three healthy kids and I met my wife playing hockey. I’m a fortunate guy.”

“This is a great opportunity and I’m happy and privileged to be in the NHL Happy Father’s Day indeed. again,” the 34-year-old Kindersley, Sask. native said Friday from a family Vancouver Province: LOADED: 06.19.2021 vacation in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. “I can’t wait to get started and we’ll see where it takes me.

“I had some opportunities right away (after retirement) including coaching, but I was emotionally and physically worn out. A lot of people I talked to — mentors and those who I really look up to like my dad and Willie Desjardins — said to take some time. But you also don’t want to take too long because it will be harder to get in.

“It was the right thing for me to do. It’s kind of the perfect storm.”

Timing was everything. So was circumstance.

On the home front, Dorsett was rocked two years ago when his wife, Allison, was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, a disease of the heart muscle that makes it difficult to pump blood to the rest of the body. She then lost her mother.

However, with advancements in heart treatments, those with the cardiomyopathy infliction can live a near normal life. And with children Dylan, 6, Ethan, 5, and Emma, who turns 3 in August, to parent, it has brought some peace of mind to Dorsett and his wife.

“To keep the family rooted in Columbus, where my wife is close to her doctors, played a major role in the decision,” said Dorsett. “Everything seems to be on the up and we’re in a good spot and excited for this next chapter.”

On the competitive front, this new journey started with coaching a neighbourhood high-school team.

“It brought the fire back,” said Dorsett. “Hockey has given me everything. People I look up to said in a polite way that it would be a disservice for me to not be involved because of a wealth of knowledge and passion.”

That led to two significant developments to keep stoking that fire and turn a 10-year playing career with the Blue Jackets, Rangers and Canucks — 515 games, 127 points (51-76) and 1,314 penalty minutes — into a first step up the NHL coaching ladder.

Six months ago, Dorsett reached out to former teammate and new Blue Jackets director of player development Rick Nash, and general manager Jarmo Kekalainen, with a desire to return on the development side. He never forgot the willingness of former Columbus development coach Tyler Wright to devote time to a raw talent.

“I was a seventh-round draft pick (2006) and he gave me as much time as Derick Brassard, who was a first-round pick that year,” recalled Dorsett. “He pushed me. My first year of pro, I saw a lot of guys called up and I wasn’t one of them. He said you’re in the conversation, so keep working.

“If I didn’t have a guy pushing me along with Hitch (coach Ken Hitchcock) and Scott Howson (former GM), maybe I don’t get the opportunity in Columbus.

Then he crossed paths again with Desjardins. 1216074 Websites Mike Smith: I actually struggled with whether I should say his stock is up or down. His stock went up after a terrific regular season, but then the Oilers got swept in the first round. The reality is that I don’t think Smith, at 39, is on Team Canada’s radar. Great story this year, though. The Athletic / Stock up, stock down: Whose chances of making Team Canada’s 2022 Olympic roster have risen, or fallen, this postseason? Carter Hart: An absolute disaster of a season for the 22-year-old netminder, who still promises to be a stud in this league. But let’s not sugarcoat it: His .877 save percentage sent him sliding down Team Canada’s list. At this point, I’m not sure even a strong fall will be enough By Pierre LeBrun Jun 18, 2021 to get him back in the mix.

Matt Murray: He began the season in January on Canada’s radar given The Stanley Cup playoffs are always an important factor in determining his two Stanley Cups and his performance for Canada at the 2019 IIHF high-level performance as Olympic team roster decisions are made. worlds (.926 save percentage), but his struggles this season in Ottawa (.893) obviously leave him on the outside looking in. In a shortened season, that factor is even more accentuated. Defence Team Canada GM Doug Armstrong and his management staff of associate GM Ken Holland, assistant GMs Don Sweeney, Ron Francis Shea Theodore (Billy Hardiman / USA Today) and Roberto Luongo and Hockey Canada executive Scott Salmond have Stock: Up been holding regular calls since last summer to update and cut down the shortlist of players on the bubble. Shea Theodore: I think Team Canada’s management was higher on Theodore than the outside world dating back to last summer, and My sense is they began the season in mid-January with about 75 players decision-makers might have seen him as a lock. It’s looking like a no- on their long list. Since then, the list has been cut to 45 players or so. brainer to anyone right now after another outstanding season. I think Armstrong is expected to name the coaching staff after the Stanley Cup Theodore is a lock on the left side of the D, then it’s wide open after that. Final. My money’s on Jon Cooper to be the head coach, and how could The left side is always intriguing for Team Canada. anyone argue with that given his Stanley Cup win last season and the Darnell Nurse: Speaking of the left side, a breakout season for Nurse had potential of another this year. him rising up Team Canada’s list. I have no doubt about it. He needs to Sometime after Labour Day in September, Team Canada expects to hold continue that play come the fall, but he’s at least in the conversation. a get-together for coaches, players and management at a location still to Adam Pelech/Ryan Pulock: New York’s blueliners have seen their stock be determined depending on the border reopening. The preference rise with a terrific regular season backed up by their playoff performance. would be in Calgary, home of Hockey Canada, of course. Pelech probably has a better chance because he’s on the left side, so I In the meantime, here’s a fun exercise. I’m going to pretend I’ve been wouldn’t be surprised to see him make the team. secretly dialling into the regular calls the Team Canada management Shea Weber: He began the season on the outside looking in, and it’s team has been holding ever since the bubble last summer, calls that probably still going to be tough sledding to make Team Canada because have continued through these playoffs. of Canada’s strength on the right side (Cale Makar, Alex Pietrangelo, This is not me trying to put together a mock roster. I’m not going through Colton Parayko, Drew Doughty, Dougie Hamilton, Ryan Pulock, Kris all of the players. This is a specific look at some players whose stock has Letang, Aaron Ekblad) and the fact that Weber turns 36 in August. risen or fallen since the season began in January, especially with the But man, his play in these playoffs no doubt has captured Team playoffs in mind: Canada’s attention. Goaltending Morgan Rielly (Dan Hamilton/ USA Today) Carey Price (Stephen R. Sylvanie / USA Today) Stock: Down Stock: Up Samuel Girard: A terrific young defenceman and a player who could still Carey Price: Is there a single player with a Canadian passport whose make Team Canada. But again, the brain trust is watching closely for stock has risen more this spring and summer? After Price’s struggles in performances in big-game moments. The second-round series with the regular season and a concussion to boot, there were a lot of people Vegas hurt his stock. who had him completely off their mock Olympic roster. A nation is Morgan Rielly: Also a player who could still make Team Canada’s roster. relieved. Vintage Price has shown up in these playoffs, and the 2014 However, the first-round upset loss to Montreal and the Leafs’ inability to Olympic gold medalist is the odds-on favourite to start in goal for Canada win in the playoffs, unfortunately, hurts his big-game scale, I suspect, next February, although it’s really close with Marc-Andre Fleury. with the Team Canada brain trust. Marc-Andre Fleury: The Vezina Trophy finalist has backed that up with a Forwards spectacular postseason, reclaiming the net this season in Vegas and very much solidifying his spot as a top-two netminder for Team Canada, Mathew Barzal (Brad Penner / USA Today) if not the outright starter. No Canadian goalie has been more consistent from puck drop in January. Stock: Up

Darcy Kuemper: After an injury-riddled season, Kuemper’s stock rose in Brayden Point: He was already pretty much a lock before the season Hockey Canada’s eyes after he backstopped an unheralded Canadian began and yet still has found a way to push his stock higher. How about roster to a gold medal at the IIHF world championship, absolutely 11 goals in 14 playoff games entering the weekend. Ridiculous! He has throwing his name in the ring for consideration as the No. 3 goalie. 65 points (33 goals, 32 assists) in career playoff games, all in the past four years. Again, through the lens of the Team Canada “big game” Cam Talbot: A fantastic regular season followed by a solid performance criteria, slam dunk! in an opening-round playoff loss to Vegas has Talbot on the radar. Mark Stone: Also a lock before the season began, but he doubled down Jordan Binnington (Isaiah J. Downing / USA Today) on that with another big season and stellar play in the postseason. The fact the Olympic tournament in Beijing will be played on NHL-size ice Stock: Down certainly helps him. Jordan Binnington: The 2019 Stanley Cup champion hasn’t quite lived up Jonathan Huberdeau: He probably started this season on the outside to that standard since, although his uneven performance in 2021 (.910 looking in, but another big season has helped him appear on Team save percentage) was also a reflection of his team’s up-and-down Canada’s radar. He’s got an internal booster in Roberto Luongo, no season. He remains very much in the mix for Team Canada despite this doubt. He has a shot at making it. season. A strong start to next season will put him right there with Kuemper and Talbot for the No. 3 job. Mathew Barzal: Because of Canada’s ridiculous depth at centre, I don’t think Barzal began this season as a lock (although he was for me). But his stock has absolutely risen. If Team Canada thinks he can comfortably play wing in Beijing, he’s in.

Tyler Toffoli: Probably still won’t make it, but there’s no question he’s a player whose stock has steadily risen within Team Canada, putting together a wonderful regular season and then backing that up with a solid postseason.

Pierre-Luc Dubois (Jean-Yves Ahern / USA Today)

Stock: Down

Mitch Marner: I still think he makes Team Canada. Just too talented. But his stock was damaged by scoring zero goals in seven playoff games, and overall that’s a doughnut in his past 12 playoff games. Again, the playoffs matter hugely to Team Canada’s brain trust. But I still think his massive 67-point campaign in 55 games this season is more than enough to get him on as long as his all-around game continues to excel come the fall.

Mark Scheifele: So this is a weird case where his lack of big games in the playoffs the past two years hurts him even though it’s because of an injury in the bubble last summer and a suspension this year. I still think Scheifele finds his way onto the Team Canada roster, but he hasn’t improved his candidacy this year.

Taylor Hall: Another lost season for Hall, who struggled to find his form with the gong show that was Buffalo, was rejuvenated in Boston after the trade but was just OK come playoff time with the Bruins. He would need a huge fall to get back on Team Canada’s radar. I don’t think he’s on the shortlist.

Pierre-Luc Dubois: Speaking of lost seasons, the 22-year-old Dubois began the season definitely on Team Canada’s radar after his playoff performance in the bubble last summer, but a difficult season after his trade to Winnipeg has sent him tumbling down the shortlist. He will need to come flying out of the gate in October to salvage his candidacy.

Again, if I didn’t name a player you like for Team Canada, it’s not because he won’t make it. I was focusing on specific players whose stock rose or fell. I’m not naming a full roster here.

That, I will do in the fall!

The Athletic LOADED: 06.19.2021 1216075 Websites honestly amazing what this team gets away with, and it’s been A Thing in every single series. Good for the Golden Knights for knowing exactly how to skirt the line. That’s some solid veteran experience.

The Athletic / NHL power rankings: Brayden Point is good, officiating is Sean: I want to talk about Stephenson a little more. I’m contractually bad, and rappers are wearing jerseys obligated to spend at least 45 minutes of each day pondering Jack Eichel’s future, so I was checking out how he’d fit (theoretically) on the Golden Knights. It just kind of … makes sense. They’ve swung two big goalie trades, two big winger trades, made a big defenseman signing and By Sean Gentille and Dom Luszczyszyn Jun 18, 2021 generally gone cheap down the middle. Does Eichel make sense there? Maybe with Alex Tuch as the “returned cap space” portion of the deal? Maybe. We said we’d never change the intro to The Athletic’s NHL power rankings. We lied. Dom lied, actually. But whatever — that’s not really the point. The point is that Stephenson’s maturation, as you said, has made that top six Cup-caliber whether Now, tweaks are necessary. You can thank the Stanley Cup playoffs for Vegas goes out and gets Eichel or not. Is Stephenson great? No. He’s that. We ranked the surviving playoff teams from 1-4, based on how good not Eichel. But 35 points in the regular season, decent possession we believe their Cup chances to be. If there was a tie, personal bias won numbers, a goals-for rate above 60 percent … and he makes $2.75 out. We’re not sorry. million. If he were a problem, Vegas would have been up a creek long before his injury. But he’s not. That is it. It’s that simple. First team? Best shot. Fourth team? Worst shot. The other 27 teams get something, too. Dom: This was a great tweet from Travis Yost.

1. Tampa Bay Lightning Apparently, there’s a market inefficiency on Random Fourth Line Centers (that’s what Stephenson was before coming to Vegas), so I’m really Last week: 1 excited for some team to pluck Curtis Lazar out of free agency and turn Series record: Leading 2-1 over the New York Islanders him into a star.

Dom rank: 1 Sean: Does Frederick Gaudreau have more to give? Gotta ask the question. Sean rank: 1 Dom: I really thought Travis Boyd could do it. I’m still holding out hope. Sean: Bruce Cassidy walked so Jon Cooper could run, huh? Indeed, we all saw the New York Saints get hit with a soft call that didn’t decide The Montreal Canadiens (Stephen R. Sylvanie / USA Today) Thursday’s game but … well, it came pretty close. So if you’re keeping 3. Montreal Canadiens track, the refs let the Isles do what they want, except when they don’t. It’s a nice reminder that officiating, bad as it can be, is also chaotic enough Last week: 4 to, with time, turn into a zero-sum game. That’s about the best we can hope for, at least. It sucks, but it sucks for everyone. Series record: Tied 1-1 against the Vegas Golden Knights

Anyway, let’s talk about bad-call-beneficiary Brayden Point for a second. Dom rank: 4 I feel like we haven’t done enough of that here. Sean rank: 4 Eleven goals in 14 playoff games this spring. Six consecutive games with Sean: The biggest question facing the Canadiens is, of course, “What is a goal. Sixteen in his past 19. Thirty-three in 65 career playoff games. going on with Jeff Petry’s eyes?” Sean Fitz-Gerald did a good job of That’s tied for fifth all time among players 25 or younger; he’s behind answering that. Petry himself didn’t shed much light on how he wound up Wayne Gretzky (64), Mark Messier (43), Sidney Crosby (40) and Bryan with his *checks notes* subconjunctival hemorrhage. I have a gross Trottier (34). In other words, he’s going to be in fourth place all by himself theory that I’ll keep to myself. by the end of the series. What a player. If only he were 6-foot-1. In any case, Petry came back in time to help Montreal win a very Dom: God, I love Point. Charlie has by far the best Point tweet in Montreal-ish game. The Canadiens scored first (they’re 9-1 when they do existence because it is evergreen and speaks to his essence completely. that), built a lead on goals from three different lines, fell back and hoped He’s always elevating his game when Tampa Bay needs it most. It’s for Carey Price to fill in the gaps. It worked. I’m not sold on it working pretty incredible that the current best definition of Playoff Performer is a three more times, but it worked. guy who is 5-foot-10 and went in the third round for just that reason. Dom: Montreal looked really in control in the first period, but that third Remember that the next time your favorite GM preaches something period was disaster theatre. The Canadiens got away with it twice in about needing size and toughness in the playoffs. Point has done just Round 1, blowing back-to-back multigoal third-period leads against the fine and is two games away from helping to lead the Lightning to back-to- Leafs before winning in overtime, but it’s not something they should back Stanley Cup Final berths. make a habit of. Vegas loves to stage comebacks and was damn close in 2. Vegas Golden Knights Game 2.

Last week: 2 To Montreal’s credit, the Habs have been pretty damn good so far in Round 3. This was supposed to be another mismatch, but at even Series record: Tied 1-1 against the Montreal Canadiens strength, the team has held its own so far in a very tough arena. In fact, the Canadiens have done even better than holding their own, with a 57 Dom rank: 2 percent expected-goals rate against Vegas on the road. That’s tough to Sean rank: 2 do.

Dom: I wish the first thing that came to my mind about Vegas was how To take some credit away … it’s a pretty nice run of luck not having to go dominant the Golden Knights looked in Game 1 against Montreal. Or up against John Tavares in Round 1, Mark Scheifele in Round 2 and now their strong comeback effort in Game 2. Or how amazing Alex maybe Stephenson in Round 3. Wrap Point and Barzal in bubble wrap Pietrangelo has looked in these playoffs and especially Wednesday. Or the second that series is over if Montreal goes the distance. the effect of missing Chandler Stephenson, who has blossomed into an 4. New York Islanders effective top-six center. But instead, the focus is forever on penalties. Vegas took none in Game 2. None! That’s four of the team’s past six Last week: 3 games where the Golden Knights have taken zero infractions (excluding puck over the glass), and one of those games featured a power play that Series record: Down 2-1 against the Tampa Bay Lightning was evened up after 22 seconds. Amazing discipline. How does this Dom rank: 4 team do it?! Sean rank: 4 That, of course, is not a penalty because it happened in the final two minutes and Vegas was trailing by a goal — so it’s all good, I guess! It’s Dom: Sorry, but being down 2-1 in the series means that, for now, the Dom: For 15 of Alex Ovechkin’s 16 seasons in the NHL, “can’t touch this” Islanders are at the bottom of the pack among semifinalists. Those are refers to the third round. the rules, but this is exactly the environment where #TeamCockroach thrives. Just when you count the Islanders out, there they go again with Sean: In Hammer’s honor, Ovechkin’s next contract is going to bankrupt some sort of witchcraft to win. They thrive on doubt, and they persevere the Caps. when the odds are stacked against them. After the loss Thursday night, 13. Nashville Predators (31-23-2, 64 points) their chances of advancing are just 20 percent. That might as well be 100 percent to them. Dom: Young Thug, officially the second-coolest person ever to wear a Nashville Predators jersey. Working in New York’s favor is that the Islanders have won the expected- goals battle in each of the past two games. Both have been losses, sure, Sean: Only jumping in here to say that I disagree with your assessment. but the team isn’t getting run out of the rink by any means. The Islanders Dom: Big Tim McGraw guy? have been right there with Tampa Bay throughout the series, and it’s difficult to see them losing both games at home playing the way they 14. Edmonton Oilers (35-19-2, 72 points) have been. Sean: Oh, I remember this. Boyz II Men (all of them) did the hook on a Sean: We’ve got a nice little gimmick going here — if they come back we mid-’90s LL Cool J song, and in the video he was lifting weights. Pretty can say, “Well, yeah, #TeamCockroach has been a rankings bit for sure I had the cassingle. weeks.” If they run out of gas: “Well, yeah, we had them at No. 4 for a reason.” Bulletproof. 15. St. Louis Blues (27-20-9, 63 points)

The Jack Adams/GM of the year situations are still fresh on my mind, Sean: This is from the “Country Grammar” video. I’m not sure I can particularly as they relate to the Islanders. Lou Lamoriello is a finalist for impress upon youngsters (like my friend here) how inescapable that song the latter a few months after trading Devon Toews for two second-round was for, like, nine months. Nelly snuck “street sweeper” into the hook, picks. Barry Trotz, meanwhile, got one third-place Adams vote, which ties and it still played ’round the block, as is, on the radio. Wild. him for 13th with Jeremy Colliton. It’s funny to see how credit gets 16. Toronto Maple Leafs (35-14-7, 77 points) parceled out — and it’s funny to see how tired people get of voting for the same guys, year after year. Barry just won a couple of times. Let’s give it Dom: Drake hasn’t tweeted about hockey since this, when the Leafs went to someone else. up 3-1 against Boston in Game 7. Is he to blame for the following decade of L’s? No. It’s the team’s fault for being a bunch of losers. Maybe he’ll Sean found a cool Twitter account of rappers (and other musicians) tweet about Auston Matthews one day. wearing hockey jerseys. So here they are. One for every team except one team. Sucks to suck, Columbus. 17. (23-19-14, 60 points)

5. Colorado Avalanche (39-13-4, 82 points) Sean: I was going to say that this photo should be the basis for that Dallas Tupac statue that everyone lost their minds over last year … Dom: Westside Gunn is apparently the only rapper ever documented in an Avalanche jersey. Is this the main reason the team didn’t make it to Dom: Is it from the same guy who made the Cristiano Ronaldo statue? the third round? Yes. Absolutely. If the Avalanche had more clout, they wouldn’t be golfing right now. 18. New York Rangers (27-23-6, 60 points)

6. Boston Bruins (33-16-7, 73 points) Sean: There’s a nice shot of Method Man in a Rangers jersey (he wore a lot of hockey stuff back then), but this had to be the choice. RZA in Dom: Remember Old Town Road? It’s where Tuukka Rask lives now. Rangers, Inspectah Deck in Islanders, Ghostface in a bathrobe of some sort. 7. Carolina Hurricanes (36-12-8, 80 points) 19. Chicago Blackhawks (25-25-7, 55 points) Dom: Sadly, no actual Hurricanes jerseys, but King Kendrick simply does not miss, so, of course, he’s the one donning some Whalers gear. Dom: Remember when Chance The Rapper was good, then he made an entire album about how much he loves his wife? No one asked for that. 8. Winnipeg Jets (30-23-3, 63 points) 20. Philadelphia Flyers (25-23-8, 58 points) Sean: Dom, very rudely, instructed me to “take care of the blurbs for the older rappers.” I vaguely remember Da Youngsta’s as, like, a Kris Kross Sean: This one is good. I had $100 on Meek Mill and would’ve rather rival. Kris Kross was Coke and Da Youngsta’s were RC Cola, I think. seen Freeway, but this one is good. Wild that one of them ended up in an original Jets jersey, but it speaks to how big hockey jerseys were in the mid-’90s. Dom: Don’t want to burst any bubbles, but this exact photo also exists for … Vancouver? Also, I guess that’s what Future looks like without Dom: See, I wouldn’t have known that. Because I was like 3 when that sunglasses. picture was taken, probably. Sean: Actually, this is what Future looks like without sunglasses. Sean: Read a book. Dom: Oh no. 9. Minnesota Wild (35-16-5, 75 points) 21. Arizona Coyotes (24-26-6, 54 points) Dom: I’m embarrassed that this is the best the Wild could do but also completely surprised any artist was rocking a Wild jersey. Dom: I was shocked to find someone rocking a Coyotes jersey, but the Kachina jersey commands respect. Can’t say much about Joey Bada$$’s Sean: There have to be some photos of Rhymesayers guys in Wild gear. music, but he was fun on Mr. Robot. I refuse to believe otherwise. Sean: Yeah, I figured we were gonna have to use the drummer from 10. Florida Panthers (37-14-5, 79 points) Jimmy Eat World wearing a Charles Barkley jersey instead. We also hit our weekly Kachina quota, so that’s nice. Dom: There are some iconic hockey photos on this list, but this is one that just doesn’t get enough due. This photo is so good that the account, 22. Calgary Flames (26-27-3, 55 points) titled Hockey Rapper, didn’t even care that Ariana Grande does not have bars. Dom: Lil Jon looks a lot better in Vegas gold these days, but it’s pretty crazy to see the quoted tweet from The Hockey News’ Ryan Kennedy 11. Pittsburgh Penguins (37-16-3, 77 points) about Lil Jon being an OG Atlanta Flames fan. It’s a real pity hockey didn’t work out there. Dom: You know exactly who this is. 23. San Jose Sharks (21-28-7, 49 points) Sean: In a constant state of low-grade rage that they still haven’t brought these back. It’s a sin. A sin! Sean: E-40’s pivot into “wine guy who signs his tweets” has brought me a lot of joy. 12. Washington Capitals (32-17-7, 71 points) IF YOU DON’T BELIEVE IN YOU

DON’T EXPECT THEM TO

– E-40

— E40 TERMS & CONDITIONS (@E40) JUNE 9, 2021

24. Los Angeles Kings (21-28-7, 49 points)

Sean: We can double up on Kendrick. If it were “rappers in hockey hats,” Eazy E would’ve won out, but it’s not.

25. Ottawa Senators (23-28-5, 51 points)

Dom: This is the greatest hockey-related photo in history. Bobby Orr has nothing on RiRi.

26. Vancouver Canucks (23-29-4, 50 points)

Sean: I wish there were photos of all the Hot Boy$ in hockey stuff. Put Turk in a North Stars jersey or something.

27. Detroit Red Wings (19-27-10, 48 points)

Sean: Had to deviate from the script for this one.

Dom: That’s a lot better than a second Tupac photo.

28. (19-30-7, 45 points)

Sean: When Phife Dawg died, I went through the first four Tribe records and noted every sports reference he made himself. There were 27, so this isn’t a surprise.

29. Columbus Blue Jackets (18-26-12, 48 points)

Dom: Based on some very brief googling, no famous person has ever worn a Columbus Blue Jackets jersey. Maybe that’s why all of their good players want to leave.

30. Anaheim Ducks (17-30-9, 43 points)

Sean: Charlie Conway didn’t make it to the NHL, but we can bend the rules for Mac.

31. Buffalo Sabres (15-34-7, 37 points)

Dom: The guy’s @ is @WHOISCONWAY, and I think that’s a pertinent question to ask.

Sean: Dom goes 0-for-2 on Griselda affiliates. Score one for the elderly person.

The Athletic LOADED: 06.19.2021 1216076 Websites Blues fans: What about us? We got swept … In favor: Who cares, you should still be drunk from 2019, your team

fought hard to make the playoffs and you’re allowed to enjoy that. The Athletic / DGB Grab Bag: Debating the happiness police, a playoff Oilers fans: We got swept too. dream dies and Conan vs. the Leafs In favor: Yeah, but only after your franchise player had the single best

season of the last two decades. He’s awesome, be happy about that. By Sean McIndoe Jun 18, 2021 Kings fans: We didn’t even make the playoffs.

In favor: But you’re rebuilding and the future looks bright. Focus on that. Debating the issues Sabres fans: Surely you can’t be saying that we can be happy. This week’s debate: We’re into Round 3, which means 15 teams didn’t In favor: Why not? Yeah, your season was a disaster of historic make the playoffs, 12 have already been eliminated, and the four that are proportions. So enjoy it ironically. Find joy in the utter ineptitude. Laugh left haven’t even made the final yet. Are any fans allowed to be happy? to keep from crying and all that. If you’re going to be bad, be memorably Opposed: No! This is the NHL. You get to be happy when your team wins and amazingly bad, right? the Cup. Anything else is pathetic. Opposed: Wait, you’re trying to say that every fan base gets to be In favor: Not this again. happy?

Opposed: Yeah, I know, we kind of touched on this during that whole pity In favor: Yes. party thing you did a few weeks ago. But it keeps coming up. The Opposed: All of them? Hurricanes went out in the second round, in a series where they had home ice, and their fans cheered them like they’d accomplished In favor: YES! something. What a bunch of losers, right? Maple Leafs fans: Even us? In favor: Or maybe they were just happy to be back in a building where they could watch hockey together, and were showing some appreciation In favor: No, not you. for the team that helped make that happen. Maple Leafs fans: But you said …

Opposed: Right, loser stuff, glad we agree. And here’s former NHLer In favor: Look I said I could change the rules, not the immutable laws of Ryan Whitney ripping on Islanders fans for cheering after they won their the universe. second-round series. Hey guys, you used to be a dynasty, remember that? Maple Leafs fans: You’re going to make fun of us in the YouTube section this week, aren’t you. In favor: I mean, a lot of them probably don’t, it was kind of a while ago … In favor: Oh absolutely.

Opposed: Too bad. Ask a grandparent. The point is that when you once Maple Leafs fans: (kick rocks) won 19 playoff series in a row, you look kind of silly getting all excited about winning two. Opposed: Whew, I was worried there for a second.

In favor: Good lord, is that where we’re setting the bar now? This is In favor: But everyone else gets to be happy with this season if they want getting crazy. The Islanders haven’t even been eliminated, and we’re to be. Under the circumstances, it’s pretty amazing that it happened at already mad that their fans are enjoying this playoff run? all. Forget about the scolds and the crusty ex-players. Have a parade for your first-round exit. Hang a banner for staying in the playoff race until Opposed: I think a former player like Whitney would know a thing or two the final month. We can all go back to being insufferable about about a winner’s mindset. Is he wrong? everything next season, but this year, anyone who wants to find any shred of joy in anything their team managed to do is allowed to do it. In favor: Yes! Of course he’s wrong. And so is everyone else who’s constantly giving lectures over fans being happy about anything short of The final verdict: But seriously, not you, Leafs fans. a championship. We’ve been over this, but one more time for those in the back: If it’s an NHL fan’s duty to be miserable any time their team doesn’t The three stars of comedy win it all, that means 97 percent of your audience doesn’t get to enjoy The third star: The Hurricanes play the classics – Hey, speaking of any given season. That is an insane way to market the league. Who hanging banners when you lose, some jokes are just timeless, am I would ever want to sign up for that? right?

Opposed: Winners. The second star: Oops, I think the Predators are done with this joke – In favor: Screw them. And screw anyone who wants to gatekeep other Sometimes, a running joke is fun for everyone, even those on the people’s happiness, especially these days. Look at what we’ve all been receiving end. Sometimes, the punchline gets tired of it and chooses through over the last year-plus. You’re honestly going to lecture violence. somebody for finding some joy in watching their team, even if they end The first star: Blake Wheeler is definitely done with something – I know up being one of the 30 that don’t win the Cup? this seems like it was months ago but let’s remember the good times. Opposed: What, so we just change the rules this year? Unless you’re Blake Wheeler, in which case this was not the good times.

In favor: Why not? In fact, I’m doing that right now. New rule: You’re More like Blake Whee-knee. allowed to enjoy this NHL season, no matter what happened to your Be It Resolved team. No more scolding anyone. We were so close. Hurricanes fans: Sorry to interrupt, but does this mean we can cheer our team after an elimination? More than halfway there. Nine steps out of 16, to be exact. This was the hockey equivalent to taking a no-hitter into the seventh inning — not In favor: Yes. Be as loud as you want. close enough to get too excited, but certainly within range that we could Avalanche fans: We were the favorites but we went out in Round 2 yet start thinking about it. But it was not to be. again. The Montreal Canadiens won Game 2 in Las Vegas on Wednesday, In favor: Sure but your team is stacked and they’re going to contend for meaning they won’t get swept in the third round. And that means we’ve years. Be mad about the loss for a few days, but then feel free to focus lost another chance at the impossible dream: NHL’s first ever Ultimate on the positive. Ultimate Loser. I know a lot of you were on this journey with me, but for those who are This clip is from February 2004, when “Late Night” filmed a week of confused: Every postseason produces an Ultimate Loser, which is the episodes in Toronto. This was back when Toronto was recovering from team that lost to the team that lost to the team that lost to the team that the SARS outbreak and was trying to put its best foot forward for the lost to the Stanley Cup champion. Four degrees of playoff failure, leaving world to see. And what better way to do that than by showing off the very one team as far as a playoff team could possibly be from a best that the city’s most popular sports franchise has to offer? championship. If your team loses in the first round to the eventual champion, well, you could convince yourself that they may have been the We start with a dramatic montage of Conan gearing up, at which point he second best team in the league. But if they’re the Ultimate Loser? reveals the players he’ll be taking the ice with. It’s … um … well, I’m There’s no sugarcoating to be done. You missed by a mile. There’s trying to think of a nice way to say this. It’s not exactly a who’s who of the nothing worse. 2004 Maple Leafs, let’s just say that. There’s no Mats Sundin or Gary Roberts or Joe Nieuwendyk or Alexander Mogilny. Tragically, there’s no Well, except for one possibility: The Ultimate Ultimate Loser, a term we Eddie Belfour. Instead, with one exception, we basically get the taxi came up with two years ago. That would be the team that got swept by squad: Ken Klee, Tom Fitzgerald and Trevor Kidd, all of whom the team that got swept by the team that got swept by the team that got apparently played for the Maple Leafs at some point? swept by the Stanley Cup champion. It sounds almost impossible. It probably is, and it’s never happened in NHL history. But we came close Seriously, I would have loved to have been part of the discussions over with the Penguins in 2019, making it through three rounds of sweeps who’d participate in this. Did somebody have to approach Pat Quinn and before the stupid Bruins and Blues delivered a seven-game classic in the ask him which players he’d allow? Was there a sign-up sheet on the final. That felt like a once-in-a-lifetime near miss, but we gave it a good dressing room wall? Did a producer just barge into the dressing room, run this year. and whoever was too slow to run away got tackled? (Looks at which players are involved.) You know, it might have been that last one. This year, it could have been the Oilers. They were swept by the Jets, who were swept by the Habs. We needed a Vegas sweep in Round 3, So yeah, Conan runs down the lineup. Klee, Fitzgerald and Kidd pretty then a Lightning or Islanders sweep in the final. It was always a long much get zero reaction, which is funny because remember, this is being shot, but that doesn’t make this any less painful. It always hurts when a shot in Toronto. Even Leafs fans are like “Really? Ken Klee?” But the last dream dies. name gets a reaction: Tie Domi, who’s clearly the guy that’s going to make or break the sketch. No pressure, Tie. So be it resolved: Pour one out for the Ultimate Ultimate Loser dream. Then grab a broom and sweep up whatever you just poured out. We start with Conan talking to the players, and I think it’s one of the only times a camera crew has ever been in an NHL dressing room without Obscure former player of the week there being something important written on the whiteboard that we weren’t supposed to see. Good attention to detail by whichever Leafs One of my favorite subplots of any playoff year is when injuries and staffer thought to wipe off the “Just face the Senators in the playoffs” fatigue force teams to dig deep into their depth and play guys they game plan. wouldn’t normally use. Maybe it’s a grizzled veteran or some fringe depth guy. But the best stories of all are when teams turn to young players Conan asks for some fighting tips, because it’s 2004 and the height of who’ve never dressed for a big-league game before. The ol’ playoff NHL the dead puck era so that’s pretty much all hockey has to market. Domi debut. improvs a pretty decent joke about blowing Conan over, and Conan responds with a funny bit about being more of a slap fighter. Somewhere, Lots of famous players have played their very first game in the Alex Semin makes a note to try that in a game some time. postseason, including Hall of Famers like Jarome Iginla and Brett Hull, and current stars like Cale Makar, Charlie McAvoy and Mark Stone. But Conan goes full prop comic on us for a minute, pulling out a skate with dig a little, and you’ll find a much smaller club: The players who debuted training wheels and what I think is an early prototype of those Mark in the playoffs, but never appeared in a regular-season game. Messier concussion helmets. After that, it’s time to hit the ice. But not literally, because he can actually skate a bit. I guess those lessons paid You can find a list here that’s a little outdated (which is why Makar is still off. on it). At first glance, there’s really only one other recognizable name on it: Don Cherry, who famously played his only NHL game for the Bruins in We get a shooting tutorial from Klee, who averaged four goals a season the 1955 playoffs, before going on to a slightly more successful career in over his 14-year career. Conan tries a few shots but can’t get anything coaching and broadcasting. But there’s another guy who stands out, and past Kidd, making him the only hockey player from Boston this century he’s this week’s obscure player. Let’s talk about Eddie Emberg. who can’t score at will on a Maple Leafs goalie.

Emberg was a 23-year-old amateur star from Montreal during the 1945 Next comes a sequence where Conan hacks at pucks, falls over, and postseason. With the NHL ranks depleted by military service, roster spots generally embarrasses himself. I was going to make a joke about Mitch opened up for players who wouldn’t ordinarily get them, and Emberg Marner in the playoffs, but I can’t because one of Conan’s pucks ended up being loaned to the Canadiens during that year’s playoffs. He eventually goes in. got into two games, including a 10-3 win over the Maple Leafs, and in that game he managed to do something that nobody else on that “only Hell yeah, Conan O’Brien is on Team Make the Nets Bigger. This played in the playoffs” list has done: He scored a goal. That makes Eddie proposal is, uh, a little more extreme than I might prefer, but we can work Emberg the only retired player in NHL history, as best we can tell, who with it. scored in the playoffs without ever seeing the ice in the regular season. We get a little bit more hijinks, before we close on the two scenes you While he never made it back to the NHL, Emberg went on to a decent knew were coming. The first is the classic “Watch the newb get creamed career in the Quebec senior league, hanging up his skates in 1952 and into the boards” shot, as all three Leafs skaters fly across the link and going on to join the coaching ranks. leap into Conan for what Mark Scheifele thinks was a pretty clean hit. O’Brien doesn’t seem to be enjoying himself, but he does leave with his (Thanks to reader Michael for suggesting this week’s obscure player.) ACL intact because he wisely didn’t invite Darcy Tucker to be part of this.

Classic YouTube clip breakdown After some obligatory trash talk that includes Conan pointing out how unmotivated Fitzgerald seems, presumably because he’s seen into the One of my favorite TV runs is ending next week, when Conan O’Brien will future and realized what job he’s destined to have in 2021, we get to the host a late-night talk show for the final time. His career has been a main event: The fight with Domi. It goes about as well for Conan as you’d fascinating one, from being a virtual unknown replacing David Letterman expect, which is to say not great but still better than that guy who fell into on “Late Night” to a very brief stint hosting “The Tonight Show” to his the penalty box in Philadelphia. current show on TBS. I had to: Everything ends eventually, but it’s kind of a bummer to say goodbye to a guy who’s been a fixture in late-night comedy for almost three decades. We end with a clip of Conan skating around carrying some big silver So today, let’s remember the time he crossed into my territory by doing thing I do not recognize, and we’re done. All in all, not a bad effort, something near and dear to my heart: Making fun of the Toronto Maple especially since Conan didn’t exactly have a ton to work with. He’s Leafs. apparently launching a variety show on HBO Max, so we’ll wish him the best of luck. And if he’s looking to revive any of his old bits, let’s just say I know of a certain hockey team that’s not especially busy these days. The Athletic LOADED: 06.19.2021 1216077 Websites Perhaps Ducharme saw what we did on the first shift of the second period and noticed the complexion of the game changing.

When Suzuki took a pass in the neutral zone and was met with the full Sportsnet.ca / Resilient Canadiens steal Game 3, earn series-shifting win force of McNabb’s weight, 3,500 fans in attendance simultaneously held without Ducharme their breath. But Suzuki jumped back to his feet and carried Montreal’s best efforts through the rest of the game.

He set up Cole Caufield for a beautiful goal at 3:54 of the second period Eric Engels June 19, 2021, 1:27 AM and drove nearly every offensive thrust Montreal had after finding their legs in the third.

*I understand that I may withdraw my consent at any time. MONTREAL—The Montreal Canadiens were without their coach and without their legs—ripe for the picking for a Vegas Golden Knights team Ever since the fall of 2018, when Suzuki was traded to the Canadiens for that said they were treating this trip back to a bubbled existence as Max Pacioretty, who played 10 years in Montreal and served as captain business—but they did not lay down. for three, we’ve done nothing but talk about his talent, his vision, his skill and his intelligence. Just like Nick Suzuki, who refused to lay down after Brayden McNabb pasted him with an open-ice hit that sent him careening to the ice in a Even McCrimmon started listing off those attributes when asked before heap. Just like Carey Price didn’t lay down after teammate Eric Staal put the series to discuss what the Golden Knights gave up in the young man the puck on a platter for Golden Knights forward Nicolas Roy to open the from London, Ont., whom they drafted 13th overall in 2017. scoring. “Nick has great hockey sense, so when you look at those players who The Montreal goaltender had made 29 saves on 30 shots when Alex have elite-level hockey sense—obviously, our own player, Mark Stone, Pietrangelo took advantage of a rush chance early in the third period and but Paul Stastny’s career has been based on how intelligent he is—that’s broke a 1-1 tie with a shot that beat him low on the blocker side. Price what our scouts saw in (Suzuki),” he started. “I think the other thing with shrugged it off and attacked every other shot that came his way like a Nick is when you watch him play, the puck really comes off his stick. He man possessed. can wrist-shot the puck or snap-shot the puck, it really comes off his stick. But it’s also that way when he passes the puck, and those are what Canadiens' Anderson's skill on full display in Game 3 I call special hands.” To borrow a line from Golden Knights general manager Kelly But what McCrimmon didn’t reference had everything to do with what McCrimmon, who pulled this one out when Marc-Andre Fleury came up they may have miscalculated in allowing Suzuki to be in the deal that saw with this save in his team’s Game 6 win over the Colorado Avalanche: Tomas Tatar and a 2019 second-round pick also traded to Montreal for When Price made that sprawling toe-stop on Alex Tuch with just over 15 Pacioretty. He didn’t talk about his heart, nor his character, nor his minutes remaining in the third period, we didn’t write “nice save” in our toughness—the things that have turned the 21-year-old into a playoff notebook, we wrote “game-saver.” performer haunting his former team right now. Josh Anderson tied the game on a gaffe by Fleury with 1:55 remaining in “We’ve learned a lot about him in a couple years we’ve had him,” said the third period, and he won it on a 2-on-0 break that Jesperi Kotkaniemi Canadiens captain Shea Weber about Suzuki, who has four goals and sent him and Paul Byron on in the 13th minute of overtime. nine points in these playoffs after scoring four goals and seven points in They jumped into each other’s arms behind Fleury’s net. What they 10 playoff games a year ago. “He’s not shy to physical play, to dig his should’ve done was skate the length of the ice to hoist Price over their nose in there. Obviously, he took a big hit, but it felt like it almost fired heads as if he were the Stanley Cup. him up even more, and he came back and kept competing.”

The 33-year-old stopped 43 of 45 shots that came his way and managed How Suzuki & Anderson set the tone for Canadiens in Game 3 to outdo himself in a playoff run that’s seen him turn miracles on a nightly Suzuki did. basis. So did Price. So did Anderson. So did Richardson and the coaching staff. “It was incredible,” said Anderson after notching Montreal’s fourth overtime win of these playoffs. “Not only to watch him play like that, but That’s who these Canadiens are. No matter what they’re faced with—and for the fans, too. He kept us in the game all game. We wouldn’t be sitting they’ve seen it all over this pandemic season—they find a way to the here talking about this without him. He made some crucial saves that other side as a group. From a COVID shutdown halfway through, to really kept us in the game and gave us the opportunity to win.” having to play 25 games over the final 44 days of the season, to all their key players going down with injury as a playoff spot was on the line, to The Canadiens appeared destined for a loss when they gave up the first their recently double-vaccinated coach getting pulled out during the 12 shots of the game. With coach Dominique Ducharme at home, kept in Stanley Cup semifinal, to getting run over by the Golden Knights to start isolation due to a positive COVID-19 test confirmed late on Friday, Luke Game 3, and having to deal with an officiating crew that frankly Richardson was left to run a bench that seemed short on energy and embarrassed itself on the NHL’s biggest stage and in front of even shorter on execution. commissioner Gary Bettman. Richardson on stepping in for Ducharme and preparing Canadiens for “My team is special,” said Canadiens centre Phillip Danault. “I’m so Game 3 happy to be here and to be able to battle with these guys every night. We The Canadiens were smacked around for more than half the game, but give ourselves a chance every night to find our swagger, and it’s nice to with the help of Alex Burrows and Sean Burke, and with Richardson see in the playoffs. We’re having fun and everyone is tight. We have a maintaining his cool and Price flaunting his, they prevailed to a 3-2 win damn good group, and I’m really proud of us.” and take a 2-1 series lead. The Canadiens have shifted this series and are now two wins away from When they got to the room, Ducharme was virtually waiting for them. the Stanley Cup Final because of it, with Game 4 set for Sunday.

“Dom had spoken with the players before the game and quickly after the Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 06.19.2021 game,” Richardson said. “The guys, obviously, we’re thrilled for him. I’m sure he’s had lots on his mind over the course of the day. It’s a difficult year for everybody and this is supposed to be a special time for Dom, so we were feeling for him for missing it. We know how much he’s put in at the end of the year. It was great to hear his voice and the players really responded obviously tonight for him and, and even after we’re very excited for him, to hear his voice and to share that celebration with him. We kept in contact all day on little details and even in between periods, just a few details as we always do, and share our ideas together.”

Oh, to be a fly on the wall for those conversations… 1216078 Websites most central figure in the loss who somehow was excluded from participation.)

No, the Knights skaters wanted to talk about their power play, a unit that Sportsnet.ca / Golden Knights face adversity again after uncharacteristic went 0-for-4 in Game 3 and stands at a troubling 0-for-10 in the series. Fleury gaffe “It’s about time as a group that we take a little more pride playing on the power play,” Stone said. “Skunked in the first three games … there are a lot of us who have to figure that out.” Mark Spector June 19, 2021, 12:54 AM *I understand that I may withdraw my consent at any time.

What’s going wrong with the man advantage? Let Smith count the ways. “Those types of events are tough to recover from.” “There are a lot of problems. I just don’t think you can pinpoint one,” the Vegas Golden Knights head coach Peter DeBoer was talking about the Vegas forward began. “Breakouts have been bad. We’re not doing a gift from the Hockey Gods, delivered via Marc-Andre Fleury, that saw a good job handling pressure. We’re not releasing the puck well. We’re not Montreal Canadiens team skating in an overtime they had absolutely no doing a good job crashing the net and getting rebounds. There are a lot business being in Friday night. of things we have to do better, and it’s costing us the series right now.”

Montreal was outshot 30-8 in the opening 40 minutes, and 40-21 through Still, Vegas was by far the better team Friday, and had this one in the three periods. But there they were, those never-say-mourir Canadiens, bag. playing with house money against a Vegas team that had blown so many opportunities to salt this Game 3 away — you just knew that they would Until, the Gaffe. not be the one to score last. It was a big one. The kind of mistake a series can turn on. Everyone who has been involved in sport knows what happens when one Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 06.19.2021 team lets another hang around — even handing them a free game-tying goal with 1:55 to play to help the Habs along.

Everyone, including the Golden Knights themselves, has watched this same movie at various hockey levels in various countries along the road to this National Hockey League semi-final series.

“We did a pretty job of regrouping between the third period and overtime,” offered Vegas captain Mark Stone.

“Those types of events are tough to recover from,” admitted DeBoer. “We talked between the third and the overtime about trying to get our mojo back. I don’t think we were poor in the overtime, but there’s no doubt that carried into the overtime for sure on the negative side, and gave them some pop.”

You’ve no doubt seen the replay already.

With two minutes remaining in a game the Golden Knights led 2-1, Fleury sashayed behind his net to play a Habs dump-in. There is no serious forecheck, no oncoming Montreal player to force a mistake out of the Vegas goaltender.

However, Fleury doesn’t set his feet, and he doesn’t get the meat of his goal stick on the puck.

Suddenly the puck is in his skates, and now Fleury has gone full “Ministry of Silly Walks.” In an eye-blink, the puck is in front of the net with Fleury is still behind it, and Josh Anderson is scoring a goal that you, the reader, would likely have cashed as well. So open was the net, so generous was the opportunity borne of Fleury’s behind-the-net butchery.

Next thing anyone knew, the teams were skating off the ice for a third intermission, with Fleury’s blood pressure undoubtedly through the roof, having single-handedly wasted a dominant effort by his club with one bonehead mishandling of a puck. An overtime two-on-oh gave birth to Anderson’s overtime winner, and a series that should stand at 2-1 for the Golden Knights now favours the Habs, somehow.

“I saw (Fleury) in the hallway between the third and overtime and just said, ‘Lets get this back,’” DeBoer said. “We’ve handled this type of adversity before — there was one in Colorado — and guys have responded for him throughout the playoffs.”

That’s the disappointment inside the hockey dressing room, as anyone who knows the game would attest. So many times has Fleury saved the bacon of his teammates when they coughed up a puck or made a mistake, to the man the Golden Knights wanted nothing more than to pick their goalie up with an overtime goal.

“It is disappointing,” said Reilly Smith. “He stood on his head for us all season. Goals like that are going to happen. We should have done a better job in overtime closing it out.”

It would be a mistake for Vegas to look back on this loss and blame their goalie. A mistake they were not making in the post-game Zoom calls, we might add. (Zoom calls that somehow did not include Fleury himself; the 1216079 Websites Convincing Trotz to lead this group was an intrinsic part of turning around the franchise, however Lamoriello’s transactions have clearly coincided with the team’s success.

Sportsnet.ca / How Lamoriello shaped underdog Islanders into Cup ADDING ROLE PLAYERS contenders Losing franchise centre and longtime Maple Leafs bedsheet aficionado, John Tavares, on the open market was certainly not an ideal way for Lamoriello to begin his first free agency period with his new team. Mike Johnston June 18, 2021, 8:57 PM Despite losing No. 91, to his former team no less, Lamoriello adapted on the fly and began making subtle roster tweaks that have paid off better

than many expected they would. New York Islanders GM Lou Lamoriello was announced as a finalist for One mark of an impressive team or athlete can be this: their opponents the NHL’s 2020-21 Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award on know exactly what they’re going to do or how they’re going to play yet Thursday and not a soul in the hockey world was surprised. they can’t do anything to stop it. What the 78-year-old has done to help turnaround the storied franchise The Islanders are not a flashy team, they don’t light the lamp at will, but from its doldrums is an impressive, feel-good story that has the Islanders they forecheck, backcheck, play disciplined, get in shooting and passing once again just a handful of wins away from an appearance in the lanes, roll four lines and frustrate opposing teams on a nightly basis. Stanley Cup Final. Much of that credit goes to Trotz for implementing a team system the The Islanders had only won a single playoff series in the 25 seasons group fully bought into. Many of the initial moves Lamoriello made were prior to Lamoriello joining the organization in 2018 after three years spent to support Trotz’s system. helping rebuild the Toronto Maple Leafs. He added bottom-six forwards Leo Komarov and former Islanders fan The Isles have won five playoff series (plus an additional play-in series) favourite Matt Martin – Komarov as a free agent, Martin in a trade for so far in the Lamoriello era, which is more than the previous three AHL/ECHL player Eamon McAdam. Lamoriello got to know the pair decades combined. In fact, the defending Cup champion Tampa Bay during his stint in Toronto and knew what they were capable of. Lightning – who currently have a 2-1 series lead heading into Saturday’s semi-final Game 4 against the Islanders – are the only team with more “He understands building a roster,” Trotz recently said via New York playoff wins in the past three seasons. Post’s Larry Brooks. “There will be a Player A and Player B and the values that a lot of people might put on a certain player because it’s the In many ways, turning the Islanders around wasn’t as daunting a task as sexy thing to do, he understands the intrinsic value of a player in tough the one he faced in Toronto where he needed to retool the core of the games and in the locker room and as a teammate and as a pro. All the roster. On Long Island, most key pieces, including the reigning Calder stuff that you really don’t put a lot of numbers to, everything he does is Memorial Trophy winner Mathew Barzal, were already in place. very thorough and has substance to it. It’s not lacy, fancy stuff. It’s real CHANGING THE CULTURE stuff and he puts a lot of value in that.”

The first dominoes to fall were then-GM Garth Snow and head coach That same summer Lamoriello retained RFAs Brock Nelson, Ryan Doug Weight, both of whom were let go shortly after Lamoriello came on Pulock and Devon Toews, added additional grit in the form of Ross board – although Snow remained in the organization in an advisory role. Johnston and Tom Kühnhackl and upgraded the goalie (more on that below). For Lamoriello, who was initially brought on solely as president of hockey operations before taking over as GM, a culture change meant more than The following year he extended Nelson to the tunes of six years and $36 merely demanding: No more hippie hair and beards on the ice! million, gave RFA Anthony Beauvillier a team-friendly bridge deal, and inked captain Anders Lee to a seven-year, $49-million contract. “It’s my opinion that at this point there’s a culture change that is needed, and there’s new voices needed in different areas,” Lamoriello told During the 2019-20 campaign he traded for Devils captain Andy Greene reporters at the time. “Culture is a very overused word and to add more veteran leadership. Eight days later he acquired Jean- underdeveloped. It’s doing little things a certain way, a different way, a Gabriel Pageau from the Ottawa Senators and promptly signed him to a consistent way.” six-year, $30-million extension. Pageau has been a tremendous addition to the team. This philosophy helped the Hockey Hall of Famer facilitate three Stanley Cup championships during his time with the New Jersey Devils. Prior to the start of the 2020-21 season, Toews was sent to Colorado for a pair of second-round picks and at the trade deadline Lamoriello made “Whether that’s having short hair and clean facial hair throughout the another splash by adding impact rental forwards Kyle Palmieri and Travis regular season or details on the ice like changing hard coming out of the Zajac, the latter of whom he drafted back in 2004 with the Devils. bench, practicing hard, just being a pro,” Barzal said earlier this month via Newsday’s Neil Best. “Whether you’re going out for dinner on the None of the moves above would be considered blockbusters or jaw- road or coming to the airplane, you have to be a pro 24/7.” droppers but they’ve worked out in the team’s favour.

FINDING THE RIGHT LEADERSHIP BUILDING FROM THE NET OUT

Lamoriello’s first and most impactful addition was hiring Barry Trotz, who The Islanders had allowed a league-worst 3.57 goals per game in 2017- had just led the Washington Capitals to that franchise’s first Stanley Cup 18 – the worst team GAA in the NHL since the 2006-07 Flyers. championship. “I do know with Barry’s style and philosophy – we both have that – that’s The Capitals were reluctant to give Trotz the lucrative, long-term contract not going to be too difficult to take care of,” Lamoriello said ahead of the extension he sought (and deserved), so the bench boss resigned. As 2018-19 season. soon as Lamoriello learned this he picked up the phone and within Lamoriello often builds his teams from the net out. He benefitted from several days the Islanders had a new coach. having Martin Brodeur for two decades in New Jersey, also trading for “It’s good to be wanted,” Trotz said after his dramatic team switch. Cory Schneider with the Devils. When he was with the Maple Leafs, one of his biggest moves was trading for Frederik Andersen. The Islanders finished the previous season 35-37-10 and missed the playoffs yet again. Trotz helped guide the Islanders to a 48-26-8 record in After moving on from Jaroslav Halak in the summer of 2018, the team 2018-19 and won the Jack Adams Award for his inaugural season with signed Robin Lehner who had spent three frustrating seasons with the the team. Buffalo Sabres.

“I don’t know what there isn’t there to appreciate about Barry,” Lamoriello Lehner signed for one year and $1.5 million. He and Thomas Greiss went told Sportsnet 590 earlier this month. on to share the William M. Jennings Trophy after the Islanders allowed a league-best 2.33 goals per game. Lehner also won the Bill Masterton This is a modal window. Memorial Trophy and finished third in Vezina Trophy voting for his lone season on Long Island. Lehner was replaced with Semyon Varlamov on a reasonable four-year deal the following summer. The Varlamov/Greiss tandem were ninth in team GAA one season ago and in 2020-21 Varlamov and fellow Russian Ilya Sorokin allowed the second-fewest goals in the league. Sorokin is an RFA this summer but appears to have No. 1 potential.

DRAFT PICKS

It’s too early to judge whether or not Lamoriello has done a sufficient job drafting players with the Islanders. Oliver Wahlstrom and Noah Dobson, whom he selected with the 11th-and 12th-overall picks, respectively, in the 2018 NHL Draft are the only draftees of his to play games so far. Both have been effective at times when in the lineup this season.

The full scope of Lamoriello’s impact on the team won’t be fully known for years, but the short-term turnaround sure is something to marvel at.

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TSN.CA / Tuch to Golden Knights’ top line presents new wrinkle for Habs

By Travis Yost

The Montreal Canadiens were able to steal home-ice advantage from the Vegas Golden Knights after their one-goal victory in Game 2 on Wednesday night. Incredibly, this team is now three wins away from the Stanley Cup Final.

There is a new wrinkle in their third-round series against Vegas, and that’s the loss of Golden Knights first-line centre Chandler Stephenson to injury. Stephenson’s absence is particularly notable for Vegas on two fronts: the centre position is indisputably the weakest area of the lineup, and Stephenson has turned into a very effective player – his speed dynamic perfectly complementing regular linemates Mark Stone and Max Pacioretty.

Stephenson was unavailable in Game 2, and his absence was felt. The Canadiens were able to dictate play, while the Golden Knights leaned on depth options like rookie Keegan Kolesar. But in reality, the team doesn’t have a centre who can fit neatly into Stephenson’s role.

If Friday’s morning skate was any indication, Vegas head coach Peter DeBoer is prepared to try a nuclear option. In the absence of having a centre to move up, DeBoer is moving up his most dangerous player (and, I should note, the only other serious speed option outside of Stephenson) in Alex Tuch.

In short: Vegas is loading up its top line, but it’s a top line that will not feature a single regular centre option. There is an extraordinary trade-off here – the Golden Knights creating a lethal attacking unit, but one that is going to erode any talent advantage it had further down the lineup, and one that might become a mess in the faceoff circle.

We can safely assume that assembly of talent is going to give Montreal some problems – they’re big, physical, and have incredible offensive zone awareness. The Canadiens – especially with last change for the next two games – will likely throw their shutdown line, spearheaded by Philip Danault, against it. What I’m curious to see is the residual effect down the Vegas lineup, and if Montreal’s depth forwards can take advantage.

If you look at the splits of bottom-six forwards for Vegas with and without Tuch on their line, it’s night and day.

Vegas is still a game team when Tuch isn’t available in the bottom six – most of their depth forwards were able to get close to break-even in shots and expected goals without him, and that’s a luxury most teams in the NHL do not have. On the other hand, the degradation in performance from when these forwards are playing with Tuch versus without him is significant, worth about five percentage points across the board.

Tuch has been perhaps been the biggest challenge for the Canadiens defence in the first two games of the series. His line has 57 per cent of the shots and 65 per cent of the expected goals, tops for the Golden Knights. But he has also done it in softer minutes. Consider what the Canadiens threw at him in games one and two:

Montreal’s middle-six has plenty of skill, but there are a number of younger and undersized forwards in that group who would seem to be in for a difficult matchup with a player like Tuch. More polished defensive players (like Danault) or more gifted offensive zone players (like Brendan Gallagher) are surely going to see more of him going forward; players like Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield are going to be spared.

That’s the sort of trade-off you make if you are a Canadiens fan – the best-on-best matchup would always prove difficult in this series, but suddenly the rest of the matchups are starting to look a bit more advantageous.

Enjoy the weekend games!

TSN.CA LOADED: 06.19.2021 1216081 Websites One of the reasons the Canadiens were able to win was the play of Price, who had 43 saves.

"It was incredible, not only to watch him play like that, but for the fans, USA TODAY / Marc-Andre Fleury's gaffe proves costly as Canadiens top too," Anderson said. "He kept us in the game all game and we would not Golden Knights in Game 3 be sitting here talking about this (win) without him.”

USA TODAY LOADED: 06.19.2021

Mike Brehm

The Montreal Canadiens' playoff magic continued Friday night because goalie Carey Price was brilliant and Vegas Golden Knights netminder Marc-Andre Fleury made an ill-timed mistake.

Josh Anderson, who scored on Fleury's misplay behind the net to tie the game with less than two minutes left in the third period, also scored in overtime for a 3-2 victory that gave the Canadiens a 2-1 lead in the best- of-seven Stanley Cup semifinals.

The Canadiens won Game 3 without head coach Dominique Ducharme, who had a positive COVID-19 test confirmed hours before the game. Assistant coach Luke Richardson ran the bench in his absence.

The Golden Knights outshot the Canadiens 45-27, but Price kept Montreal in the game, allowing only goals by Nicolas Roy and by Alex Pietrangelo, his third goal in two games.

Vegas appeared poised for the win, but Fleury misplayed his puck behind the net and it bounced off his skate out front to a wide-open Anderson, who tapped it in.

"It’s just an unfortunate bounce," Golden Knights captain Mark Stone said. "There’s nothing you can do about it."

Fleury, a finalist for the Vezina Trophy and a key reason that the Golden Knights have reached the third round, slammed his stick in frustration.

The goal was Anderson's first since the playoff opener, ending a 12- game drought.

Then he scored in overtime on a skilled play, knocking down the puck to create a 2-on-0 break with Paul Byron for a goal at 12:53.

"Fleury’s played great for us all year. That's one mistake," Stone said of the third-period goal. "We had to bail him out and we did not play the way we did for the first 60 minutes in the overtime."

The Canadiens, the last team to clinch a playoff spot, upset the Toronto Maple Leafs and Winnipeg Jets in the first two rounds and now lead the Golden Knights, who finished 23 points ahead of them in the standings.

Game 4 is Sunday night in Montreal.

Missed call on bloody face

Canadiens forward Corey Perry missed Anderson's winning goal because we was high-sticked in overtime by Vegas' Jonathan Marchessault and had to go to the dressing room with a cut nose.

No penalty was called on the play, but it worked for the Canadiens. And Perry came out to congratulate his team after victory.

Canadiens coach addresses team

Though Ducharme missed Game 3 after a positive COVID-19 test, he did hold a Zoom meeting with the team beforehand and talked to them afterward.

"I feel like we’ve always responded well to adversity, and tonight was just another example," Price said. "Not having Dom behind the bench is just another twist we had to deal with."

General manager Marc Bergevin said Ducharme is doing well, and the team doesn't know how long he'll be out.

Ducharme had to pack up and go home before Friday's practice when his initial test showed a presumptive positive. Richardson was named interim coach and director of goaltending Sean Burke went behind the bench to oversee the defense.

"Things went fast and maybe that’s better off," said Richardson, who picked up his first NHL win. "We didn’t have much time to think about it. We were just running things the way Dom runs it here. Business as usual." 1216082 Websites

USA TODAY / Montreal Canadiens coach Dominique Ducharme tests positive for COVID-19 before Game 3 against Vegas Golden Knights

Mike Brehm

Montreal Canadiens interim head coach Dominique Ducharme has tested positive for COVID-19 and is isolating at home as his team prepares to face the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 3.

Assistant coach Luke Richardson will run the bench with Alex Burrows and director of goaltending Sean Burke in Ducharme's absence. Richardson has head coaching experience in the American Hockey League.

"I've talked to Dom twice today. He's doing fine," general manager Marc Bergevin told reporters. "As far as long he's going to be out, we're dealing and talking to Health Quebec and also NHL protocol, so it's an ongoing situation, so I can't tell you how long."

The Canadiens canceled Ducharme’s pregame news conference Friday after a test from Thursday came back with a presumptive positive result. A second test confirmed the positive.

The league said that all other Canadiens and Golden Knights players and staff have tested negative.

The Canadiens and Golden Knights are tied 1-1 in the best-of-seven Stanley Cup semifinal with Game 3 scheduled for Friday night in Montreal at 8 p.m ET. The Canadiens earned the split after a 3-2 win in Game 2 in Las Vegas.

Ducharme was promoted to interim head coach from assistant after the firing of Claude Julien on Feb. 24.

Under Ducharme, the Canadiens finished fourth in the all-Canadian North Division before upsetting the Toronto Maple Leafs and Winnipeg Jets in the first two playoff rounds.

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