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SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 12/19/17 1088958 Ducks can’t protect lead against Devils 1088999 Ken Hitchcock's latest challenge: Balancing Alexander 1088959 Eric Stephens’ NHL power rankings (Dec. 18, 2017) Radulov's infectious energy 1088960 Ducks Gameday: Henrqiue, Vatanen face former teams 1089000 Dallas Stars have found early unexpected help in center for first time Radek Faksa 1088961 Despite chatter, Devils’ Sami Vatanen said being dealt was ‘a shock’ 1088962 Ducks blow leads before former farmhand beats them 1089001 Detroit Red Wings vs. : Time, TV, radio, game notes 1089002 Humdrum Red Wings look east for inspiration 1088963 Join Brendan Perlini for Coyotes Ice Breaker on Monday 1089003 Red Wings adjust lines to spark Andreas Athanasiou, at 6 p.m. Anthony Mantha 1088964 ‘Yotes Notes: Scoring struggles and the PK’s prowess 1089004 Red Wings must make up ground on road Boston Bruins 1088965 Charlie McAvoy, Bruins knock out Blue Jackets 1089005 Oilers Snapshots: Adam Larsson back in lineup for Oilers 1088966 Anders Bjork earns his keep with David Krejci out 1089006 Edmonton Oilers hold off for 1088967 Anders Bjork to be scratched again second-consecutive win 1088968 Bruins going with same lineup as they look to bounce back 1089007 Larsson returns to Oilers' lineup with Sharks up next vs. Columbus 1089008 Forgotten Dwight Helminen was at the heart of one of the 1088969 Harris: Charlie McAvoy and youngest Bruins have Oilers' biggest trade deadline deals breakout night in 7-2 win over Blue Jackets 1088970 Bruins notebook: Upper body injury puts David Krejci back on shelf 1089009 Preview: Panthers at Coyotes, 9 p.m., Tuesday 1088971 Bruins dust Jackets 1089010 Poor third period dooms Panthers in loss to Vegas on 1088972 Bruins roar past Blue Jackets Sunday 1088973 David Krejci a late scratch for Bruins game against Columbus 1088974 Same B's lineup as they brace for glut of games leading 1089011 Expect plenty of chirping when Kings' Drew Doughty faces into holiday an old friend, Flyers' Wayne Simmonds 1088975 Bruins still trying to find the perfect combo for Krejci line 1089012 Kings end three-game winless streak with 4-1 victory over 1088976 Krejci out vs. Sabres after being a late scratch Monday the Flyers 1088977 Talking Points: DeBrusk responds to challenge 1089013 GAME 35: LOS ANGELES AT PHILADELPHIA 1088978 Bruins squash Bobrovsky, Blue Jackets, 7-2 1089014 DECEMBER 18 NOTES: KEMPE REVISITS DRAFT DAY; LEWIS’ FIGHT; DOUGHTY ON SIMMONDS 1089015 DECEMBER 18 MORNING SKATE QUOTES: JOHN 1088979 Sabres Notebook: Winter Classic documentary celebrates STEVENS Buffalo; Josefson back 1089016 December 18 postgame quotes: John Stevens 1088980 Buffalo fans are stars of documentary about first Winter 1089017 December 18 postgame quotes: Martinez, Kempe Classic 1089018 Folin leaves with upper-body injury; no sense yet of 1088981 Joey Anderson named for Team USA severity 1088982 After calling for pride, Sabres' Scandella sees some 1089019 December 18 postgame notes 1088983 Sabres' Josefson closer to return; Rodrigues moves to wing Minnesota Wild 1089020 Marcus Foligno odd man out of Wild lineup Flames 1089021 Gameday preview: Wild at Ottawa 1088984 Goals against in late stages put Flames in a hole 1089022 The curious case of Wild defenseman Matt Dumba 1088985 NHL career cut short by injury, ex-Flame Daniel Tkaczuk has no regrets MontrealCanadiens 1088986 Flames' original Tkaczuk returns to Calgary with no 1089023 Canadiens shut down Shea Weber because of foot injury regrets 1089024 Weber injury latest concern for Canadiens 1088987 Flames explode for big win over Canucks 1089025 Canadiens at Vancouver Canucks: Five things you should know Blackhawks 1089026 Godin: General Weber and the Unknown Defenceman 1088988 Will Blackhawks bench struggling Patrick Sharp for Thursday's game? Nashville Predators 1088989 Patrick Kane named NHL’s first star of the week 1089027 Predators can assert dominance during upcoming Central 1088990 Blackhawks reassign Ville Pokka to Rockford Division stretch 1088991 Struggling Patrick Sharp might be a healthy scratch in 1089028 P.K. Subban's latest target – the barrier between police, Dallas kids 1088992 Sharp next to sit for ? 1088993 Tyson Barrie scores twice as Colorado Avalanche sweeps Pittsburgh Penguins 1088994 Avalanche returns to traditional lineup against Penguins Columbus Blue Jackets 1088995 Blue Jackets’ folksy nicknames part of hockey culture 1088996 Bruins 7, Blue Jackets 2 | Nick Foligno says Jackets show ‘lack of care’ in road loss 1088997 Blue Jackets | Sonny Milano brought back for another try 1088998 Blue Jackets fall to Bruins, 7-2 St Louis Blues 1089030 Devils prospect Joey Anderson named captain of USA 1089070 Blues recall Thompson from San Antonio World Junior team 1089071 Blues give rookie Thompson a second chance 1089031 Devils' lines, pairings vs. Ducks (12/18/17) | Taylor Hall, 1089072 Puck luck: Shots to the foot have been the bane of Blues Kyle Palmieri return 1089032 What expects in 1st game playing against Tampa Bay Lightning the Devils 1089073 Lightning excited about first game against Vegas Golden 1089033 Stefan Noesen scores 2 vs. former team as Devils down Knights Ducks | Rapid reaction 1089034 Ducks' Adam Henrique reflects on 1st game vs. Devils Maple Leafs 1089035 Devils rally past Ducks, 5-3, to spoil Adam Henrique's 1089075 Leafs learning how to win in the Nothing Happens League return 1089076 Arntfields were Leafs’ first family, in 1931 at least 1089036 Devils 5, Ducks 3: Post-game observations 1089077 Goaltending let down Toronto in first NHL game 1089037 Devils' Marcus Johansson aiming for a Thursday return 1089078 Decade-by-decade look at NHL in Toronto's first 100 1089038 Devils Daily Faceoff: Three storylines for Dec. 18 years 1089039 Brian Boyle’s three helpers help Devils rally in win over 1089079 'We have to find a way to get points': Maple Leafs focused Ducks on beating Hurricanes, not 100-year ceremony 1089080 Leafs need points more than a history lesson in 100th New York Islanders anniversary game 1089040 Islanders’ Calvin de Haan could be out for rest of regular 1089081 Mirtle: A deep dive on the Maple Leafs using 'dirty' with apparent shoulder injury breakouts and other noteworthy trends 1089082 Why the Maple Leafs aren't giving Morgan Rielly huge minutes this season 1089041 Kevin Shattenkirk: Former coach’s comment bothered me 1089042 Rangers are getting Mika Zibanejad back Vancouver Canucks 1089043 Mika Zibanejad’s expected return Tuesday should jolt 1089099 Kuzma: Canucks relieved as Brock Boeser suffers bone power play bruise, not foot fracture 1089044 Preparing for Winter Classic a major production 1089100 Ed Willes: This time of the year we can all dream 1089101 10 thoughts on the Canucks, who need a whole bunch of guys to step up 1089045 Warrenspiece: All about thawing out, praising fans, 1089102 Systems Analyst: Breaking down Sunday's game winners re-jigging the power play and good news on the injury fron by Chicago, and Calgary Vegas Golden Knights 1089046 Andrew MacDonald, Radko Gudas settle down Flyers' 1089083 Golden Knights face NHL’s best in Tampa Bay Lightning young defense Tuesday 1089047 Flyers' Claude Giroux credits John Stevens for his strong 1089084 Golden Knights help find homes for rescued Pomeranian foundation dogs 1089048 Flyers-Kings preview: John Stevens trying to end his 1089085 Tampa Bay’s success centers on rise of goaltender Andrei ex-team's streak Vasilevskiy 1089049 Streaky Flyers seek an even keel 1089086 Golden Knights help rescued Pomeranians find new 1089050 Quick hits on Flyers' 4-1 loss to Kings: How to end a homes (winning) streak 1089051 Kings, Jonathan Quick end Flyers' winning streak at 6 Washington Capitals 1089052 Kings offer streaking Flyers another challenge 1089087 Capitals’ T.J. Oshie expected to return from concussion 1089053 Finish-them-off mindset fueling Flyers' surge against Stars 1089054 Amid WJCs snub, Flyers prospect Morgan Frost still 1089088 Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin is showing no signs of slowing dominating OHL down 1089055 Flyers' win streak runs into the wrong team 1089089 All signs to T.J. Oshie returning to the Caps' lineup in 1089056 Flyers' 6-game reign comes to an end Dallas 1089057 Flyers vs. Kings: 3 things to watch in Game 33 1089090 NHL Power Rankings: The Caps are overcoming all 1089058 Flyers 5 takeaways: How to keep from starting a new obstacles, even the loss of Oshie streak after loss to Kings 1089091 Caps players sing Christmas classics for epic holiday CD Pittsburgh Penguins 1089059 Tyson Barrie scores twice as Avalanche beat Penguins 1089060 Sidney Crosby vs. Nathan MacKinnon games are rare and special for friends 1089061 Patric Hornqvist was sent home for further testing. What's the Penguins' next move? 1089062 Shake-up ahead? 'Passion' an issue in Penguins’ latest loss. San Jose Sharks 1089063 Three things to know: former-Sharks coach’s seat isn’t as hot as it looks 1089064 Three takeaways: Sharks lineup ‘thin’ as expected without Couture 1089065 Couture’s absence noticeable in Sharks loss to Oilers 1089066 Without Logan Couture, Sharks fall at Edmonton 1089067 Sharks' rally falls short in bid for revenge vs Oilers 1089068 Sharks activate Boedker, send down rookie defenseman 1089069 Oilers mismanagement opens window of opportunity for Sharks Websites 1089103 The Athletic / LeBrun: Q&A with Steven Stamkos on chemistry with Kucherov, missing the Olympics, and Tavares' 1089104 The Athletic / : Making a difference in the community 1089105 The Athletic / Henrik Zetterberg: Leaving a lasting impact on the franchise 1089106 The Athletic / Systems Analyst: Breaking down Sunday's game winners by Chicago, Winnipeg and Calgary 1089107 The Athletic / Alex Pietrangelo: 'Hardest thing I've ever been through' strengthened commitment to be a good p 1089108 The Athletic / Mark Scheifele: An all-consuming passion for hockey 1089109 The Athletic / Marc-Andre Fleury: His heart is in Western Pennsylvania 1089110 The Athletic / World Junior Championship preview: Team 1089111 .ca / Renewed confidence has Oilers playing like old selves 1089112 Sportsnet.ca / Tough-luck Canucks get rare good news with Boeser diagnosis 1089114 Sportsnet.ca / Weber’s injury tough to swallow for already disappointed Canadiens fans 1089115 Sportsnet.ca / Down Goes Brown Weekend Wrap: Is Babcock to blame for Leafs’ slump? 1089116 Sportsnet.ca / Quick Shifts: Why Kessel called Reaves an idiot 10 times 1089117 Sportsnet.ca / 3 up, 3 down: Trouba stepping up in Byfuglien’s absence 1089118 TSN.CA / Steel ready to take his place on potent top line 1089119 TSN.CA / TSN Hockey's Top 10 Storylines of the Week 1089120 TSN.CA / Matthews skates again, but status remains murky 1089121 TSN.CA / Beyond Matthews, scorers continue to struggle for Leafs 1089122 USA TODAY / New Era Field promises a unique experience for U.S.-Canada world juniors game Winnipeg Jets 1089092 It's Jets' firepower up against Preds' extinguisher in Nashville 1089093 Morrissey adds some O-zone flash to shutdown role on blue line 1089094 TONIGHT:Jets at Predators, 7 p.m.TV: TSN3Radio: TSN 1290 1089095 Jets look to improve road play in key matchup with Predators 1089096 Thorburn excited to see old teammates…Hellebuyck gets an extra day to regroup…Pietrangelo set to return…Injuri 1089097 Mark Scheifele: An all-consuming passion for hockey 1089098 Systems Analyst: Breaking down Sunday's game winners by Chicago, Winnipeg and Calgary

SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129 1088958 Anaheim Ducks

Ducks can’t protect lead against Devils

Staff Report Associated Press

Stefan Noesen scored on a rebound with 4 minutes 7 seconds to play and added an empty-net as New Jersey rallied from a two-goal deficit to defeat the Ducks 5-3 on Monday night. It was the first game between the teams since the late November trade that sent defenseman Sami Vatanen to the Devils for Adam Henrique. Myles Wood had two goals, Jesper Bratt also scored and Brian Boyle had three assists as the Devils won their second straight game to start a six-game homestand. Cory Schneider had 21 saves and was helped by a goalpost on a shot by Rickard Rakell during a power play before Noesen, a former Duck, scored the go-ahead goal. Henrique scored an outstanding goal and had an assist as the Ducks had their point-scoring streak ended at seven games. Ryan Getzlaf and Jakob Silfverberg also scored for the Ducks. Ryan Miller had 29 saves in losing for the first time in regulation in eight tries this season. Noesen put in his own rebound for his fourth goal of the season. His empty-net tally came after Schneider stopped Henrique in front after the Ducks pulled Miller. “I think we stopped skating and then we stopped sharing the puck,” Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said. “I thought we had opportunities to move the puck effectively in the second period and we didn’t.” The Devils made Henrique feel welcome, putting a short tribute on the video scoreboard to celebrate his six-plus seasons in New Jersey. “Nervous, anxious, excited,” Henrique said. “A little bit of everything came into it tonight. It was probably one of the longest games I’ve played, personally. I’m still disappointed to leave the points on the board.”

LA Times: LOADED: 12.19.2017 1088959 Anaheim Ducks 14. Stars (18-14-2). Nine of the next 10 are at home, where they’re a cozy 10-4-0. A winning streak can lift them out of the logjam that is the Western Conference playoff position bubble. (17) Eric Stephens’ NHL power rankings (Dec. 18, 2017) 15. Blackhawks (17-11-5). In a five-game win streak, Corey Crawford has stopped 146 of 153 shots. If he hasn’t been their best player, he’s surely been their most consistent. (18) By ERIC STEPHENS | [email protected] | Orange County Register 16. Penguins (17-14-3). GM Jim Rutherford recently tried to light a fire PUBLISHED: December 18, 2017 at 2:43 pm | UPDATED: December 18, under the champs by threatening changes. A last-second goal by Olli 2017 at 4:08 PM Maatta against lowly Arizona stopped a three-game skid. (13) 17. Wild (17-13-3). Venerable captain Mikko Koivu remains an effective player, but his best offensive days are behind him. The 34-year-old is on Gary Bettman is getting what he wanted. Folks, get ready for a Nashville- pace for just 10 goals and 27 assists. (16) Tampa Bay collision course at the Final. , be damned. Let 1990s-era expansion rule. 18. Flames (17-14-3). This group can’t seem to turn the corner. They’re below average in offense (20th), defense (18th), power-play efficiency Fine, let’s pump the brakes on that for now. A lot can and will happen (20th) and killing (27th). Not a tasty recipe. (15) before we get to June and we’ve learned precious little in the NHL is guaranteed. It isn’t as if Nashville and Tampa Bay have lapped the rest of 19. Bruins (15-10-5). If this team is going anywhere, it’ll have to be the the league. foursome of Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, David Pastrnak and Tuukka Rask leading it. (19) We’ve already seen winning the regular-season title doesn’t mean hoisting the Cup will follow. Chicago did it in 2013 but that was within the 20. Flyers (14-11-7). Team Pendulum has ripped off six straight after confines of a 48-game lockout season (Again, Gary Bettman got what he dropping 10 in a row. Sean Couturier (15 goals, 15 assists) is having the wanted). breakout offensive season fans long pined for. (21) But Nashville has taken off since sage general David Poile 21. Ducks (14-11-8). They’re hanging around, but it took 10 overtimes pulled off the perfect-fit Kyle Turris heist from Ottawa and Tampa Bay without scoring in one to do some 3-on-3 work in practice. With a 2-8 has been cruising along at a high altitude since Steven Stamkos came record in games beyond regulation, that’s an idea long overdue. (22) back healthy. By the way, can teammates share league MVP honors? (Hi, Nikita Kucherov). 22. Hurricanes (14-11-7). Three-time Stanley Cup winner Justin Williams (23 points in 32 games) is still providing consistency at 36. Still has some At the moment, these two might be head and shoulders above the tremendous flow under that helmet, too. (23) competition. Will it stay that way? (Records in parentheses are as of Sunday’s games). 23. Canucks (15-15-4). A team that doesn’t have much margin for error now may have to deal without rookie sensation Brock Boeser (foot), who 1. Lightning (24-6-2). Mikhail Sergachev is among the top scoring leads all first-year players with 17 goals. (20) defensemen with eight goals and 23 points. He’s 19 and, well, GM Steve Yzerman basically stole him from Montreal. (1T) 24. Avalanche (15-15-2). Let’s be real, the Mile High men weren’t going to make the playoffs. But credit captain Gabriel Landeskog, who has two 2. Predators (21-7-4). If Tampa Bay hadn’t stretched its win streak to hat tricks, for heading back toward the 20-goal level. (24) seven, the Stanley Cup finalist would be on top. Just blew through Vancouver, Edmonton and Calgary to a 13-1 count. (4) 25. Oilers (14-17-2). Cam Talbot’s 29-save return from injury was a soothing tonic for a group that has to get it in gear. Lots of home games 3. Golden Knights (21-9-2). Keep questioning their staying power, if you lie ahead, but they’ve been an awful 5-10-0 at Rogers Place. (26) dare. Marc-Andre Fleury is 2-0-1 since coming back from a concussion, with a win over Pittsburgh in his first game against his old team. (7) 26. Canadiens (14-15-4). Brendan Gallagher and Philip Danault each have 19 points, which is the lowest among the 31 around the circuit that 4. Capitals (21-12-1). Not real bullish on their long-term prospects, but lead their team. (25) they’re 7-1-0 over past eight and 10-2-0 over 12. Matt Niskanen’s return to the blue line has been essential. (9) 27. Panthers (12-16-5). Losing Jonathan Marchessault and the salary- cap dump of Reilly Smith to Vegas have simply hurt. Maybe dealing 6-6 5. Blues (22-11-2). Have dropped three of four and scored only three center Nick Bjugstad could fetch something decent? (27) goals over that span. Is it a coincidence the dip comes after losing Jaden Schwartz to a long-term ankle injury? (1T) 28. Red Wings (12-13-7). Now that Philadelphia’s Dave Hakstol is off the chopping block, is it Jeff Blashill’s turn? A 3-1 home win over Toronto 6. Blue Jackets (20-12-1). Cam Atkinson, a 35-goal scorer last season, was a tourniquet, but the bleeding continues. (28) saw some press box duty for a game as he’s been mired in a season- long slump. Just six goals and 11 points. (6) 29. Senators (11-13-7). Shutting out Montreal at the NHL 100 Classic in front of 33,959 should have been the highlight, but owner Eugene Melnyk 7. Kings (20-10-4). John Stevens heads back to Philadelphia in his called out the fan base and threatened relocation. Yeah. (29) second turn as a head coach. His group is licking its wounds after late goals hurt them in twin losses to the Rangers and Islanders. (3) 30. Sabres (8-18-7). Not that it would help much, but a 1-6 record in games decided in is another problem. Jack Eichel did get his 8. Maple Leafs (20-13-1). You think Auston Matthews has an impact on first NHL hat trick Friday. (30) them? An upper-body injury has kept him out for four games and they’ve scored only four goals. The past three have been losses. (5) 31. Coyotes (7-23-5). The team that dropped 11 in a row to open the year now has six consecutive losses and counting. Gotta imagine many 9. Jets (19-10-5). Racked up 94 shots against St. Louis in back-to-back GMs have asked what it’ll take to get Oliver Ekman-Larsson out of there. games over the weekend and got a shutout revenge win over the Blues (31) to cap a mixed-bag week. (8)

10. Sharks (17-10-4). Have collected points in five straight as they’re in the midst of six in a row against the Pacific Division, but leading scorer Orange County Register: LOADED: 12.19.2017 Logan Couture (15 goals) is now out with a concussion. (10) 11. Devils (18-9-5). Kyle Palmieri (foot) comes back against his old Ducks mates Monday after missing nearly a month. Taylor Hall (knee) also returns to give the young squad an added boost. (11) 12. Rangers (18-12-3). Michael Grabner has 16 goals and three assists, but that’s no anomaly. The Austrian speedster has 147 goals and 85 helpers over nine seasons. (12) 13. Islanders (18-12-3). Net front demon Anders Lee has 42 goals over his past 82 games, or the equivalent of a full season if you haven’t deduced that. (14) 1088960 Anaheim Ducks Looking back at his time with the Ducks, Vatanen said the postseasons and the two runs to the Western Conference finals are what stand out.

“I think we were very close in both times when we went to the conference Ducks Gameday: Henrqiue, Vatanen face former teams for first time finals and things like that,” Vatanen said. “It’s the little things that changes the games and everything, but it was close. It was good memories.” By ERIC STEPHENS | [email protected] | Orange County Register Former Ducks players dot the New Jersey roster. Kyle Palmieri is PUBLISHED: December 18, 2017 at 12:54 pm | UPDATED: December expected to return after missing nearly a month because of a foot injury. 18, 2017 at 1:19 PM Stefan Noesen has found a regular role with the Devils after they acquired him off waivers from the Ducks on Jan. 25. Ben Lovejoy is expected to be a healthy scratch. NEWARK, N.J. – Two players that were traded for each other will face In getting the start in goal, Cory Schneider (13-6-4, 2.58 GAA, .921 SV%) their former teams Monday night as the Ducks (14-11-8) continue their is 5-4-1 lifetime against the Ducks. Top scorer Taylor Hall (11 goals, 20 road trip when they take on the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center. assists) will be back after sitting two games because of a bruised knee. Marcus Johansson (ankle) and Mirco Mueller (clavicle) remain out. Adam Henrique and Sami Vatanen were the principals of the Nov. 30 trade between the Ducks and Devils as they changed teams for the first time in their careers. The trade also included coming to Anaheim, while New Jersey could get a third-round draft pick out of it if Orange County Register: LOADED: 12.19.2017 Henrique signs an extension. Henrique talked about his emotions with the Southern California News Group heading into his return. As it drew closer, the veteran center joked about how the plan against the Devils is to “run the goalie” as he referenced former teammates Cory Schneider. “A young, fast team,” Henrique said. “They play aggressive all over the ice. I think that’s one of the biggest things that they have going for them. That’s one of the things Hynesy (Devils coach John Hynes) stresses a lot too. “Fast, young, good skating team. We’re going to have to be on our toes all night.” Ducks coach Randy Carlyle figures to hit Henrique up for any inside information on a team he’ll see only twice in the regular season. New Jersey makes its trip to Anaheim on March 8. “He might do the pre-scout tonight before the game,” Carlyle said. “We’ll ask him and his knowledge. And I’m sure Sami Vatanen on the other side will be asked to do something along the same lines.” Carlyle said it is a unique situation when a player has to compete against the team with which he spent a lengthy of period of time. “Like every player coming back to your former team, playing against your former team in their building, it is special,” he said, recalling when he went back to Pittsburgh the first time after being dealt to Winnipeg. “It is unusual. It’s different. But once the puck drops, it’s usually all over.” It appears Ryan Miller (3-0-4, 1.73 GAA, .945 SV%) will get the start in goal for his first game since getting the Ducks’ only shutout this season, a 3-0 decision over Ottawa. Nick Ritchie (upper body) will be a game- time decision and could draw back in after missing three games. Ryan Kesler (hip) skated before the team’s optional pregame workout. The center isn’t ready to play and it isn’t clear if he will on the trip, though he is steadily trying to ramp up the intensity of his turns on the ice. The Devils (18-9-5) have been one of the NHL’s surprise teams as they sit in playoff position, currently in a tie for second with Columbus behind Washington in the Metropolitan Division. An impressive 9-2-0 start has allowed them to stay up in the standings as they’ve gone 9-7-5 since. A little more than two weeks ago, New Jersey general manager made the move to bring in Vatanen and address a defense corps that had only rookie Will Butcher as a high-level puck mover. Vatanen, 26, had 33 goals, 93 assists and a plus-22 rating in 280 games with the Ducks over six seasons. “I think I’m actually pretty calm right now,” Vatanen said. “I think it will be OK when you start to play and you just think about playing hockey.” Vatanen has yet to score a point in his eight games with New Jersey after getting only a goal and three assists in 15 contests with the Ducks. But that doesn’t concern Hynes. “You can tell right off the bat, one of the main things is he’s a tremendous competitor,” Hynes said. “He’s good in confrontation. He plays the game hard. Moves the puck pretty well. He doesn’t have any points yet but you can see it coming. “We’re real happy with him. One of the things we like about the players we want on our team are high compete level and high hockey sense. He has both of those things. High-character player.” 1088961 Anaheim Ducks games since coming with Henrique from New Jersey. … Andrew Cogliano got his 200th career assist.

Despite trade chatter, Devils’ Sami Vatanen said being dealt was ‘a shock’ Orange County Register: LOADED: 12.19.2017

By ERIC STEPHENS | [email protected] | Orange County Register PUBLISHED: December 18, 2017 at 8:35 pm | UPDATED: December 18, 2017 at 8:58 PM

NEWARK, N.J. — Tucked away back home in Finland, Sami Vatanen didn’t pay any heed to his name being bandied about the trade chatter over the summer as the NHL expansion draft came and went. And when Ducks training camp opened and he was in the process of returning from offseason shoulder surgery, Vatanen simply focused on the future, which was beginning a sixth season with the team that drafted him. So when the big deal went down Nov. 30 and the defenseman was suddenly off to New Jersey while Adam Henrique was heading west, Vatanen was left as shocked as the principal player he was traded for. He didn’t see it coming. “Of course it’s a shock,” Vatanen said. “You never expect that. You’re playing your (butt off) in Anaheim and you’re having fun with the boys and like that. You never know what happens in this business. “It’s part of this one. It’s been all good to come here. I’ve got into the team very well and it’s been nice.” He’s finding his way on the East Coast. Literally. After routinely missing exits on New Jersey’s highway system, Vatanen started to nail it down and get to Prudential Center without getting lost. Making an impact on the ice has taken longer. Vatanen posted his first point, an assist, Monday night in nine games with New Jersey after getting just a goal and three assists in 15 contests with the Ducks. But that doesn’t concern Devils coach John Hynes. “You can tell right off the bat, one of the main things is he’s a tremendous competitor,” Hynes said. “He’s good in confrontation. He plays the game hard. Moves the puck pretty well.” “We’re real happy with him. One of the things we like about the players we want on our team are high compete level and high hockey sense. He has both of those things. High-character player.” The Devils are hoping Vatanen returns to the player who put up 12 goals and 37 points in 2014-15 and nine goals and 38 points in 2015-16. Those years were under Bruce Boudreau and his production dipped when Randy Carlyle returned for his second stint as Ducks coach. Even as he operated more as a third-pair defender, Vatanen doesn’t put a rough 2016-17 at the feet of Carlyle. The ascent of Brandon Montour as a similar right-shot puck mover and the Ducks’ depth on the blue line made them feel comfortable about parting with him to beef up their forward corps. “It’s always (where) different coaches have different systems,” Vatanen said. “You can’t say something like that will change your thing or anything like that. I don’t think I played very well last year. It’s nothing to do with that. It wasn’t a very good year for me. “That’s how the hockey goes sometimes. You just got to work your way out from there.” Carlyle met up with Vatanen on Sunday and wished him well. “Sami was a good player for us,” Carlyle said. “When your deals and hockey trades go down, you have to understand it’s part of the business. I’m sure it was a rough time for him, but he’ll get his feet underneath him. As long as he’s just playing hockey, then it’s easier to move on.” Looking back at his time with the Ducks, Vatanen said the annual postseasons and two runs to the Western Conference finals are what stand out. “We were very close both times when we went to the conference finals and things like that,” Vatanen said. “It’s the little things that changes the games and everything, but it was close. It was good memories.” With New Jersey icing a speedy lineup, Francois Beauchemin was scratched for the first time in 10 games as rookie Andy Welinski drew back into the lineup. … Left wing Joseph Blandisi has played in just three 1088962 Anaheim Ducks The edge seemed safe in the hands of Miller, who made some strong stops on Nico Hischier and Travis Zajac in the first. Kyle Palmieri was foiled in the second on an outstanding left toe save near the post. Ducks blow leads before former farmhand beats them But as the second closed, Wood circled around in the Ducks’ zone and fired a shot that Brandon Montour saw go between his legs and Miller watched go off him and in on the short side to make it 3-2. Carlyle By ERIC STEPHENS | [email protected] | Orange County Register thought Miller did well overall but acknowledged that goal was one the 37-year-old would want back. PUBLISHED: December 18, 2017 at 7:22 pm | UPDATED: December 18, 2017 at 9:04 PM “I thought we played a pretty good game,” Miller said. “The difference was I made two pretty critical errors. Other than that, we’re sitting pretty good. Two mistakes that stand out and they get two pretty good bounces to bookend the mistakes. Not a fun night to watch 3-1 evaporate.” NEWARK, N.J. — In this loss, the Ducks didn’t need to deal with the black hole that has been the five-minute torture test of overtime. During the first television timeout, the sellout crowd of 16,514 chanted Coughing up another lead made sure it never got to that point. Henrique’s name and gave him a rousing standing ovation. The immensely popular Devil during his six-plus seasons returned the Two two-goal margins were lost and then came the game itself for the affection by hopping over the boards, raising his stick in the air and Ducks as they watched former farmhand Stefan Noesen score with 4:07 touching his heart after watching a video montage. left to lift the New Jersey Devils to a 5-3 comeback victory Monday night. “I was aware of it,” Henrique said. “I was kind of counting down the The Ducks (14-12-8) lost Noesen after New Jersey plucked him off seconds to the timeout. I didn’t know what it would be like to watch. It waivers last Jan. 25 in a failed attempt to sneak the Texas-born winger was certainly nice to have a great ovation from the fans there, which was through to their affiliate. Noesen has found a awesome, and the players too. regular grinding role with the Devils and his second-chance shot beat Ducks goalie Ryan Miller. “It was a special night from that side of things. Certainly an experience I’ll always remember.” “It’s nice for Stef,” Devils coach John Hynes said. “I thought he really worked his way to get a good opportunity to be able to come back here Carlyle called Henrique’s play on his goal “special.” Earlier, he praised this year. He came back in great shape and played very well. I’m sure for the veteran’s impact on the team. “To say that we’re happy, that would him to be able to do that against his old team is probably special for him.” be an understatement,” he said. Jesper Bratt pulled the Devils into a third-period tie right after serving two “That’s the kind of player he is,” Carlyle said. “He has that ability to do minutes for tripping up the Ducks’ Cam Fowler. After Devils goalie Cory some things that separate him from other people. It was a good Schneider made a save on Kevin Roy, Bratt got a pass from Coleman homecoming for him. Just too bad we couldn’t get the job done.” and snapped a rising wrist shot past Miller as Fowler defended against the Swedish rookie. And with that went another two-goal lead, one of two the Ducks held within the first two periods. Just two days prior, the 2-0 lead they built against Washington disappeared in the third and defeat followed after Alex Ovechkin’s overtime goal. “Tonight wasn’t very pretty there at the end,” said Miller, who made 29 saves but wasn’t as sharp as he’s been in his first season with Anaheim. “It’s definitely disappointing. Two games in a row like that. We’re just going to have to find ways to sustain the right play.” The Ducks had two power plays in the third, including one that could have snapped the 3-3 tie. Rickard Rakell had Schneider beat but his hard wrist shot hit the post and clanged away. Noesen followed with the winner and then added the finish with an empty-net score. Ducks coach Randy Carlyle loved the jump they had in the first period. Loved that they moved the puck crisply and efficiently. And then, as he said, “we stopped skating. And then we stopped sharing the puck.” “It’s a game of mistakes,” Carlyle summed up. “We made more mistakes than they did.” Adam Henrique’s had an impact-filled night in his return to Prudential Center. After Ryan Getzlaf put a shot through Schneider for a 1-0 lead, 6:49 into the game, the Ducks’ big acquisition fired a perfect lead pass off the boards to spring his linemates, Andrew Cogliano and Jakob Silfverberg. Working on a 3-on-1 rush, Cogliano sent a perfect pass back to Silfverberg and the red-hot winger banged in his team-leading ninth of the season. Silfverberg has goals in three of the four games played since he was sidelined for 11 days due to an upper-body injury. New Jersey’s Miles Wood scored the first of his two goals to kick off the second to cash in Josh Manson’s ill-advised flip of the puck into the stands for a delay-of-game penalty. Sami Vatanen’s point shot got deflected in past Miller, giving him his first point with the Devils since the Nov. 30 swap for Henrique. After an effective Ducks penalty kill on a second straight disadvantage, Henrique made the game’s most dramatic play. Gathering the puck on the right side of the ice, Henrique flipped it over Vatanen and went around him to recover it and go in on Schneider. An impressive backhand shot done at full speed with Vatanen trying in vain to defend wrapped up the highlight-reel play to restore the Ducks’ two-goal lead. Henrique said he saw Vatanen creeping up in the play and was just trying to get the puck into area where he could skate into it. “Patty Elias had a nice one to me for a goal a few years back,” Henrique said. “It was tight. I thought it was the right play at the right time.” 1088963 Arizona Coyotes

Join Brendan Perlini for Coyotes Ice Breaker on Monday at 6 p.m.

Staff Report FOX Sports Dec 18, 2017 at 12:30p ET

Forward Brendan Perlini will be special guest at Monday’s Arizona Coyotes Ice Breaker at the Ice Den Scottsdale, 9375 E. Bell Road, starting at 6 p.m. Fans are invited to attend the event at the 18 Degrees Neighborhood Grill. FOX Sports Arizona host Todd Walsh and Coyotes analyst Tyson Nash will serve as moderators. We’ll take questions for Perlini from the audience and have some special giveaways.

Arizona Sports LOADED: 12.19.2017 1088964 Arizona Coyotes step back into a work mode, you pile a practice on top of it and it’s just a little harder the first day.”

‘Yotes Notes: Scoring struggles and the PK’s prowess Arizona Sports LOADED: 12.19.2017

BY CRAIG MORGAN DECEMBER 18, 2017 AT 5:32 PM

GLENDALE, Ariz. — The Coyotes have scored seven goals during this six-game losing streak (0-5-1) and they have scored more than two goals just once in their last 10 games — a 5-0 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Dec. 2. Entering play on Monday, they were 30th in the NHL in goals per game at 2.20, ahead of only the Buffalo Sabres (2.18). “The players know how I feel,” coach Rick Tocchet said. “We’re a little too perimeter. We haven’t really got shots through from the point as much as I wanted the last 10 games. I think we’re getting a lot of shots blocked. Those two things add up to not scoring goals. “We have to get through the box, we’ve got to stop up pucks in the corners and we’ve got to get some shots through from the point. That will increase your chances, which should help scoring.” PK PROWESS According to NHL.com, the Coyotes have the best penalty kill in the league since Oct. 31 (89.23 percent; 58-for-65 in 23 games). Last season, the Florida Panthers — the Coyotes’ opponent on Tuesday — finished second in the NHL in PK percentage at 85.3 percent. The common denominator is assistant coach Scott Allen, whom the Coyotes hired this summer after he spent last season with Florida. “It’s about the personnel buying into the details within our structure, and I love what our guys are doing right now,” said Allen, who preaches a more aggressive approach to penalty killing. “We’re aggressive with purpose. We don’t just run for the sake of running There are certain situations that have to happen for us to be aggressive. That’s where the teaching comes in.” The Coyotes were near the bottom of the league in PK percentage over the first month of the season, but as they have learned Allen’s system, they have climbed to 13th overall at 82.1 percent. Allen won’t give away team secrets, but he did acknowledge that the unit alters its approach to fit opponents. “Everything starts with our foundation,” he said. “And then we make necessary adjustments in regards to the style, the system, the personnel. We don’t just throw the same look every night at who we’re playing.” Allen said he’s sensed complete buy-in from the players — and even their wives. At Sunday’s Coyotes Christmas party, Jordan Martinook’s wife, Courtney, approached him and was talking about the PK. “I drove home last night and I felt great about that — that his wife was taking pride in it,” Allen said. MERKLEY’S NHL DEBUT Nick Merkley was skating on a line with center Christian Dvorak and left wing Zac Rinaldo on Monday. It appears he will make his NHL debut on Tuesday against the Panthers, although Tocchet said it would be a game-time decision. The Coyotes recalled Merkley from Tucson of the American Hockey League on Sunday. Merkley is hoping his parents, Jeff and Tammy, will be able to fly in from Calgary to see the game. He also planned to send text messages to his brother, Jonathan, and a few friends. “It’s something you dream of,” he said. “I’m just super excited — kind of at a loss for words.” INJURY UPDATE Rinaldo returned to practice on Monday after missing the past two games because he was sick. He is expected to play Tuesday. “I don’t even know what it was. It sucked, though,” Rinaldo said. “I had no energy, sweats, chills, you name it. I didn’t puke. That was the only good thing, but it might have been better if I did because I would have gotten it all out. “When you come back you have to work extra hard because you took a week off. Your body is in overdrive to fight off a sickness so when you 1088965 Boston Bruins turning DeBrusk’s pass into top-shelf cheese at 11:53, making it a 3-0 game.

“Play I’ve seen Marshy do a thousand times,” DeBrusk said. “Saw a Charlie McAvoy, Bruins knock out Blue Jackets seam open. Chuck finished it pretty good.” Josh Anderson tried to initiate a rally by slamming home a net-front goal By Fluto Shinzawa at 8:32 of the third. But the Bruins responded by turning a two-goal game into a laugher. Heinen, Torey Krug, Bergeron, and DeBrusk pumped GLOBE STAFF DECEMBER 18, 2017 pucks past Bobrovsky to give the Bruins a 7-1 lead. “It felt like all of them were really good,” Cassidy said of his young players. “We enjoyed it. You see the results. They’re going to get Charlie McAvoy’s hands are best applied in traditional uses. minutes. They’re going to get responsibility on the power play. A few of them are mixed into the kill. But they’re mostly skilled guys who are going No defenseman wearing Black and Gold completes harder, crisper, or to get a chance to play with the puck. I think they managed it well. They more accurate passes than the rookie, who initiated Danton Heinen’s earned that.” third-period goal by getting the puck up to David Backes.

McAvoy’s hands are soft when he puts pucks in nets. In the second period, after taking a cross-ice feed from Jake DeBrusk on the power Boston Globe LOADED: 12.19.2017 play, the defenseman snapped a riser over Sergei Bobrovsky to give the Bruins a 3-0 lead. But given the hard-rock defenseman’s knack for delivering crunching hits, McAvoy’s hands will have to curl into fists sometimes. The first time just happened to be in Monday’s third period. “I try and play the game with a lot of passion,” McAvoy said. “That’s something he was doing too. Stuff like that’s going to happen. There’s been times along the line this year when something like that might have happened. Tonight, it just did. It happened really quick. I felt like I was able to protect myself pretty well.” By then, the Bruins were up by three goals and cruising to a 7-2 win. In that way, McAvoy did not have to escalate his thump of Pierre-Luc Dubois into a gloves-off showdown. But the rookie took care of his own business and went at it with the first-year center. McAvoy didn’t get a good grip of Dubois with his left hand. But he got enough of Dubois with his right hand, ending the fight with a takedown of Columbus’s talented center. “That’s legit,” coach Bruce Cassidy said of the scrap. “He’s going to have to do it periodically. Because he hits hard. You’d hate to see him get overmatched in a certain situation or go out looking for it when it’s unnecessary. I think it just came together. It happens. He did very well. He’s a strong kid. In college, I don’t assume you do anyway, if ever, along the line. But he’s so strong and smart, I’d imagine he’ll be able to handle himself. I think he’s 1-0 to start, anyway. Good for him.” The fight was one pillar of the Gordie Howe hat trick the 19-year-old posted in just his 31st career regular-season game. Such disagreements will not be central to the prodigy’s plan of attack. He is far too valuable to be spending five minutes in the box or possibly wrecking his point- producing hands. But there are times when declining to back down earns points on the bench. This was one of those times. “Great job by him,” Backes said. “Gordie Howe hat trick as a 19-year-old. Couldn’t be happier for him.” McAvoy had fresh-faced company. While he helped on two of the Bruins’ seven strikes, his fellow youngsters also got in the scoring business. Heinen (one goal, two assists) and DeBrusk (one goal, two assists) led the offense with three-point explosions. Anders Bjork, pushed from the press box to the ice because of David Krejci’s upper-body injury, responded to being a healthy scratch with one assist. “It was an opportunity for them to show their abilities and their talents,” Backes said. “They didn’t disappoint one bit.” Of the bunch, there was probably no player more satisfied than DeBrusk. One game earlier, the left wing played a game-low 7:43 in the 3-2 overtime loss to the Rangers on Saturday. Cassidy parked DeBrusk on the bench because he was neither strong nor responsible with the puck. Against the Blue Jackets, DeBrusk did his best to prove his dissatisfaction with his previous deployment. In the second period, following Brad Marchand’s game-opening goal, DeBrusk helped the Bruins gain a 2-0 lead. After Heinen and Bjork helped win the puck in center ice, DeBrusk tracked it down in the offensive zone and spotted Backes cruising down the right side. Backes reeled in DeBrusk’s pass and punched in a power-play goal at 8:23. Less than four minutes later, DeBrusk was doing his dishing best again. This time, with the puck on the right side, DeBrusk convinced the penalty killers he was going to Patrice Bergeron in the bumper position. By faking to Bergeron, DeBrusk saw a cross-ice seam open. McAvoy did the rest, 1088966 Boston Bruins “We brought both groups in, talked to the vocal guys in each group, and tried to get everyone together on the same page — air out any differences,” Cassidy said. “Sometimes that’s it. Guys get frustrated with Anders Bjork earns his keep with David Krejci out one another. These are skilled guys. They’re used to scoring. If they get overlooked or if there’s a bad decision, there can be a domino effect.”

Adam McQuaid has yet to be cleared for game duty. He may not receive By Fluto Shinzawa clearance for Tuesday’s game in Buffalo, either. Cassidy would prefer McQuaid to increase his practice time before returning. But the Bruins GLOBE STAFF DECEMBER 18, 2017 play four games this week, limiting the defenseman’s chances of practicing . . . Frank Vatrano and Paul Postma were the healthy

scratches . . . Anton Khudobin is slated to start in net against Buffalo on For part of Monday morning, Anders Bjork believed he’d be watching his Tuesday . . . Pastrnak’s third-period assist stretched his scoring streak to teammates play Columbus from the TD Garden press box. Bjork, a 12 straight games. Marchand’s first-period goal gave him a point in nine healthy scratch for Saturday’s 3-2 overtime loss to the Rangers, was straight. Both are career highs . . . Blue Jackets goaltender Sergei expecting Ryan Spooner to get a second straight game in his spot as No. Bobrovsky stuffed Tim Schaller’s first career penalty shot. Schaller 2 right wing. earned the attempt when he was hooked on a third-period breakaway by Jack Johnson. But following the morning skate, David Krejci informed the training staff he was not fit to play because of an upper-body ailment. So even though Krejci made it through the morning spin, he was ruled out against the Boston Globe LOADED: 12.19.2017 Blue Jackets and told to stay home for Tuesday’s game in Buffalo. With Krejci out, Spooner would move to center and Bjork would be in uniform. The rookie did not want to blow his unexpected opportunity. “I think I was just trying to do my best to help the team get the win,” said Bjork, who skated with Spooner and Jake DeBrusk on the second line. “I think everyone played a great game. It was huge for my personal confidence.” Bjork has not had an easy ride. The right wing has been quiet since missing seven games after taking a lick from Toronto’s Matt Martin. He had one goal in six games since his return. Neither the output nor his passive play was good enough for him to earn a seventh straight game against the Rangers. But with Krejci unavailable, Bjork was the Bruins’ best option to assume some of the center’s offensive presence. The rookie had some rough patches in Monday’s 7-2 rolling of the Blue Jackets. But he picked up an assist on Torey Krug’s garbage-time goal, landed three shots on net, was on the ice for DeBrusk’s third-period strike, and played 10:51 without being responsible for either of the Blue Jackets’ goals. “Anders Bjork, after being out of the lineup a couple games, came in and played the hardest-nose type of game he’s played, which opened up some space and dragged Spoons into that kind of hard-nosed game,” David Backes said. “That line was taking hits to make plays and advance pucks. Finally, late in the game, they pick one off and capitalized on it. Well-deserved for the work they put in today.” Heading into Monday’s game, neither Bjork nor DeBrusk had sold the coaches on their dependability. Bjork was a candidate for suit and tie. DeBrusk was benched for parts of Saturday’s game. While Patrice Bergeron has been able to count on Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak as his linemates, Krejci has enjoyed a similar level of familiarity. “They’re good players. We have lots of offense on that line,” Krejci said. “But in the NHL, offense starts with good defense. Sometimes as a young player, you’ve got to realize that’s where you’ve got to start the offense — in your own zone. At the same time, they’re good players.” The Bruins went 1 for 7 on the power play against the Rangers. During 11:45 of man-up play, they put only six pucks on . Naturally, both units spent a good part of Monday’s morning skate rolling through their setups to see how they could place pucks to put themselves in better shooting opportunities. “Trying to make a perfect play is part of the problem,” Cassidy said. “If that’s overthinking or not thinking enough in terms of recovering pucks, I think that was a big part of our success last year, particularly the first group. They got teams out of position or uncomfortable when they recovered pucks. All of a sudden, things opened up for them. More movement. I think they’ve been a little too static at times.” The Bruins responded by going 2 for 4 against Columbus. According to the Bruins’ analytics studies, their percentage of controlled entries is among the five highest in the league. They have used different methods: perimeter attacks with speed, delayed entries by using drop passes to their trailers, and chip-and-chase approaches. Cassidy foresees clean entries being difficult to sustain. Opponents are stacking four penalty killers on the blue line. This discourages power plays from carrying the puck into the offensive zone. Cassidy sees chip- and-chase as the entry his team will have to use more to breach the penalty-killing wall. It’s not as glamorous as a speed entry. But the Bruins have discussed a more blue-collar style in recent meetings. 1088967 Boston Bruins

Anders Bjork to be scratched again

By Fluto Shinzawa GLOBE STAFF DECEMBER 18, 2017

Anders Bjork will be a healthy scratch for the second straight game as the Bruins take on the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday night at TD Garden. Ryan Spooner, who displaced the rookie as the No. 2 right wing against the Rangers on Saturday, will remain on David Krejci’s flank. Tuukka Rask will make his second straight start. Anton Khudobin will be in goal against Buffalo on Tuesday. Adam McQuaid is approaching a return, but will not play Monday. It is unlikely he will play Tuesday, either. Bruce Cassidy would prefer for McQuaid to increase his practice time, although it will be difficult this week because of their four-games-in-six-days schedule.

Boston Globe LOADED: 12.19.2017 1088968 Boston Bruins

Bruins going with same lineup as they look to bounce back vs. Columbus

Steve Conroy Monday, December 18, 2017

Tonight against the Columbus Blue Jackets at the Garden, Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy will stick with the same lineup he went with on Saturday against the Rangers, which means that Anders Bjork, Frank Vatrano and Paul Postma will continue to sit. Tuukka Rask will get the start tonight and Anton Khudobin will go tomorrow night in Buffalo. In their first meeting with the Blue Jackets in Columbus on Oct. 30, the B's spotted them three goals, came back to tie it but then lost in a shootout. The B's are looking to keep up their level of play, even though they've lost their last two. “We easily could have won the last game, but we got a point and it was a tough OT goal against," said winger Brad Marchand. "But we were right in it. So we just have to keep going. We've got to play the same way. We're giving ourselves an opportunity to win every night. If we keep doing that, we're going to win some games. We need a good bounce- back game tonight, make sure we start the right way and get back in the win column.” Tonight is the start of a busy week for the B's as they play four games in six days before the Christmas break. As expected, Adam McQuaid will not make his return to tonight from a broken fibula, but Cassidy did not rule him out for tomorrow's game in Buffalo. With the B's at the 23-man roster limit, they will have to make a roster move. If they intend to make a move for a McQuaid return, they'll have to do it soon. The holiday roster freeze goes into effect at 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday and lasts until 12:01 a.m. on Dec. 28.

Boston Herald LOADED: 12.19.2017 1088969 Boston Bruins So it was a monster night for the new generation of Bruins. If they can keep this up, this will be an interesting season. Cassidy told the kids this game would be a good test for them. Harris: Charlie McAvoy and youngest Bruins have breakout night in 7-2 They passed with the highest marks. win over Blue Jackets

Boston Herald LOADED: 12.19.2017 Stephen Harris Tuesday, December 19, 2017

Charlie McAvoy has been checking items off his hockey to-do list at a frantic pace the past year or two as he makes the impressive transition from Boston University to the Boston Bruins. McAvoy added a big one last night at the Garden with a Gordie Howe hat trick, which means he had a goal, an assist and a fight. It was one of several noteworthy accomplishments by the youngest Bruins, who all seemed to have memorable nights in the 7-2 rout of the disinterested Columbus Blue Jackets. “Oh man, it definitely wasn’t on the list,” McAvoy said with a laugh about his Gordie. But he knew, given his raucous style of play, his first NHL fight was bound to come along. He didn’t imagine he’d also net a sweet power-play goal on a one-timer from the left circle off a feed from Jake DeBrusk (goal, two assists) and an assist on a score by Danton Heinen (goal, two assists). “I definitely try to play the game with a lot of passion,” McAvoy said. “That’s something that (Howe did, too). “Stuff like that is going to happen. There’s been times along the way this year where something like that might have happened. But (last night) it just did. It happened pretty quick. I felt like I was able to protect myself pretty well.” On his very first day as a pro last season at a practice with the AHL Providence Bruins, McAvoy got a quick fighting lesson from rugged winger Tyler Randell. “I worked with (him) for about 15 minutes out in neutral ice after practice,” McAvoy said. “He taught me how to protect myself. He’s a good guy to learn from.” So it was, 53 seconds into the third period, that the 6-foot McAvoy got engaged along the end boards with 6-foot-3 Jackets rookie Pierre-Luc Dubois, and the pair of 19-year-olds went at it. It was the first pro fight for both, though Dubois had three in his Quebec junior loop. Neither greenhorn did much damage, but McAvoy was the aggressor, tossing an uppercut and a pretty good overhand right and ending the bout by putting Dubois down on the ice as the sellout crowd — and his Bruins teammates — went wild. “He’s a strong kid,” veteran Bruins forward David Backes said. “Their young guy was defending himself, too. It was great to see a couple of young guys play a little old-school hockey. Both guys I think showed themselves well. That’s half the battle, showing up. “I think both teams were pleasantly surprised with their guys standing up for themselves. We ended up picking even further after that. (It was) a great job by him, a Gordie Howe hat trick. (For) a 19-year-old, I could not be happier for him.” In his heart, coach Bruce Cassidy probably prefers his talented Calder Trophy candidate not to regularly drop the gloves. But he had no problem with this one. “No, I think those are situations, it’s two young guys, that’s legit,” he said. “He’s going to have to do it periodically because he hits hard. “You’d hate to see him get overmatched in a certain situation or go out looking for it when it’s unnecessary. I think that (fight) just came together. It happens. He did very well. He’s a strong kid. I don’t know if historically (he’s fought), but he’s so strong he’ll be able to handle himself. I think he’s 1-0. Good for him.” Good for McAvoy, too, that he did a very nice David Pastrnak imitation in one-timing DeBrusk’s cross-ice feed past reigning Vezina Trophy winner and Hart (MVP) finalist Sergei Bobrovsky, putting the puck high on the short side before the goalie could move across. “That’s a play I’ve seen (Brad Marchand) do 1,000 times,” DeBrusk said. “I saw a seam open, and Chuck finished it pretty good. (He) went upstairs pretty well.” 1088970 Boston Bruins

Bruins notebook: Upper body injury puts David Krejci back on shelf

Steve Conroy Tuesday, December 19, 2017

The Bruins had been enjoying a run of some good health lately, but it apparently caught up to them. David Krejci was a late scratch last night with what the club described as an upper-body injury. He was termed day-to-day, but he did not travel with the club to Buffalo for tonight’s game against the Sabres. As of last night, the injury was rather mysterious. Krejci was a full participant in the team’s morning skate, took his place in the morning line rushes between Jake DeBrusk and Ryan Spooner and spoke with several reporters after the skate as he normally does. Coach Bruce Cassidy also announced in his morning press briefing that he’d be going with the same lineup as he did on Saturday. But sometime between late morning and pregame warm-ups, something apparently flared up on him. “I feel bad (yesterday) because when I left the ice it was my understanding that he was fine. It’s an upper-body injury, didn’t feel good after he got off the ice. He talked to the trainers about it so, he’s going to deal with that. He won’t travel with us, so he’ll be out (tonight in Buffalo) but he’ll be day-to-day,” Cassidy said before the 7-2 win over Columbus. Earlier this year, Krejci missed 11 games with a back injury and the B’s struggled during that time, going 3-4-4. With Krejci out, Spooner moved back to center and Anders Bjork returned to the lineup after being a healthy scratch for one game. With two power-play goals last night, the Bruins have now scored PP goals in six of their last seven games. But they weren’t feeling all that positive about the man-advantage, especially after a very uneven performance against the Rangers on Saturday. The first unit still had its issues last night. One problem Cassidy sees is the players are sometimes looking for the perfect play, another is that the players can be too “static” and as a result are not recovering pucks well. Cassidy said he’s spoken with the guys on the unit. “We knew we weren’t very good on it the other night and we needed to at least have a conversation about what was going wrong,” said Cassidy. “We brought both groups in and talked to the vocal guys in each group and tried to get everyone together on the same page and air out any differences. Sometimes that’s it. Guys get frustrated. They’re skilled guys and they’re used to scoring. … It’s frustrating for all of us.” While it was the only line not to get on the scoreboard, the fourth line was very good against the Blue Jackets. The trio got 12 shots on net and one from Sean Kuraly hit the post. Tim Schaller also earned a third-period penalty shot — the first of his career. Sergei Bobrovsky thwarted his backhander. “I had an idea and that was what I wanted to do. I wanted to add a little something to it, but I thought maybe I could get him with that. If I could have put it up a little more I might have had him but those goalies always find their way to get in my way,” cracked Schaller, who hasn’t scored since Nov. 6. … As expected, Adam McQuaid did not return last night from a broken fibula, but Cassidy did not rule him out for tonight’s game in Buffalo. With the B’s at the 23-man roster limit, they will have to make a roster move. But if they intend to make a move for a McQuaid return, they’ll have to do it soon. The holiday roster freeze goes into effect at 11:59 p.m. tonight and lasts until 12:01 am on Dec. 28. David Pastrnak stretched his consecutive points streak to a career-high 12 games. The winger assisted on Patrice Bergeron’s goal with 2:34 remaining. Brad Marchand, meanwhile, stretched his career-long streak to nine games with a goal and an assist. He’s notched at least a point in every game since returning from a concussion. … The blowout allowed Cassidy to keep the minutes of top guys reasonable with the second half of the back-to-back in Buffalo tonight. Both Bergeron and Marchand were under 18 minutes, while Zdeno Chara played 22:15.

Boston Herald LOADED: 12.19.2017 1088971 Boston Bruins

Bruins dust Jackets

Steve Conroy Tuesday, December 19, 2017

To say the Bruins were slumping during a two-game losing streak would have been a gross exaggeration of their brief dip. And last night confirmed their game hasn’t slipped at all. The B’s absolutely shredded a good Columbus team in a 7-2 victory at the Garden that saw rookie Charlie McAvoy notch a Gordie Howe hat trick while Brad Marchand, David Backes, Danton Heinen, Torey Krug, Patrice Bergeron and Jake DeBrusk all added tallies. The Bruins had a 45-18 advantage in shots. Both numbers were season bests. “We played our game to a T tonight,” said McAvoy, who dropped the gloves with fellow 2016 first-round draft pick Pierre-Luc Dubois in the third period for his first NHL bout. It was a terrific showing by young and old, but especially the rookies, a couple of whom had been learning tough lessons of late. Heinen earned the No. 1 star with a goal and two assists while DeBrusk, who’d been limited to less than eight minutes Saturday, also had a three-point night. Anders Bjork, a healthy scratch on Saturday, picked up a late assist and drew a key penalty that helped the B’s create some space on the scoreboard in the second period. “In general, you want a couple of (the rookies) to be better than average, the other two or three be average and get some experience, understand what it takes. Tonight, it just felt like all of them were really good,” said coach Bruce Cassidy, who seems to be pushing all the right buttons with his first-year players. “We enjoyed it, and you see the results. They’re going to get minutes, they’re going to get responsibility on the power play, a few of them are mixed into the kill. But mostly the skill guys are going to get a chance to play with the puck, and I thought they managed the puck, so they earned that.” While DeBrusk had a more spectacular night — two pretty helpers on power-play goals by Backes and McAvoy and a nice roof shot late in the game — Bjork’s was more workmanlike, but he felt he answered the coach’s challenge. “It’s huge,” said Bjork, who thought he was going to be scratched again until learning that David Krejci (upper-body injury) wasn’t able to play. “I think that’s what they’re looking for, to have the extra fire in your belly. You saw Jake do it when he missed a game, and I just tried to copy that, do my best, keep it simple but play hard.” The B’s pretty much dominated from start to finish, with Marchand starting it off with his 14th goal of the season late in the first period, snapping a three-game streak in which they had allowed the first goal. As well as the B’s have played during the past month (10-3-1), they haven’t always taken full advantage of their chances. But in the second period, but they seized control not just in the shots column but on the scoreboard with two power-play goals from the second unit. On each of those goals, four out of the five Bruins skaters on the ice were rookies. Down 3-0, the Blue Jackets finally got on the board at 8:32 of the third. Jack Johnson took a big hit from Kevan Miller in the left corner but bounced right back up to feed Alexander Wennberg behind the net. Wennberg dished out front to Josh Anderson, who beat a helpless Tuukka Rask from the top of the crease. The B’s had blown one three-goal lead early in the season to tonight’s opponent Buffalo on Oct. 21, but they were a different team back then. That was not going to happen last night, even against a better team. First, Heinen (eighth) beat poor Sergei Bobrovsky to the short side, then Krug (fifth) scored on a long-range shot. Bergeron chipped in with his eighth and DeBrusk made the rout complete with his seventh, before Seth Jones scored in the waning seconds. “It’s fun when everyone’s having success. I wish (Tim Schaller) would have scored on that penalty shot, but it was one of those nights,” DeBrusk said. “We had no passengers tonight, and everyone contributed. It’s nice for the young guys, but it’s nice for the veteran’s, too. They deserve it. It’s nice to see everyone chip in and have their confidence high.”

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Bruins roar past Blue Jackets

Steve Conroy Monday, December 18, 2017

To say the Bruins were slumping during their two-game losing streak would have been a gross exaggeration of their brief dip. And they proved that their play is right where they want it to be Monday night. The B's utterly dominated a good Columbus Blue Jackets team in a 7-2 victory that saw rookie Charlie McAvoy notch a Gordie Howe hat trick. Brad Marchand, David Backes, Dantno Heinen, Torey krug, Patrice Bergeron and Jake DeBrusk all added tallies while the B's outshot Columbus, 45-18. The Bruins entered the third period with a commanding 3-0 lead before giving up a goal at 8:32. Jack Johnson took a big hit from Kevan Miller in the left corner, but bounced right back up to feed Alexander Wennberg behind the net. Wennberg dished out front to Josh Anderson, who beat a helpless Tuukka Rask from the top of the crease. But the B's ripped off four straight goals before Seth Jones scored in the final seconds. The Bruins began their difficult pre-Christmas week with the surprise absence of second line center David Krejci (upper body, day-to-day), but it didn’t hurt their performance in the first period, when they outshot the Blue Jackets, 16-7

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David Krejci a late scratch for Bruins game against Columbus

Steve Conroy Monday, December 18, 2017

The Bruins had been enjoying a run of some good health lately, but it apparently caught up to them. David Krejci was a late scratch for Monday night's game against Columbus with what the club described as an upper body injury. He was termed day-to-day, but he will not travel with the club to Buffalo for Tuesday’s game against the Sabres. As of game-time, the injury was rather mysterious. Krejci was a full participant in the team’s morning skate, took his place in the morning line rushes between Jake DeBrusk and Ryan Spoone and spoke with several reporters after the skate as he normally would. Coach Bruce Cassidy also announced in his morning press briefing that he’d be going with the same lineup as he did on Saturday. But sometime between late morning and pregame warmups, something apparently flared up on him. Earlier this year, Krejci missed 11 games with a back injury and the B’s struggled during that time, going 3-4-4. With Krejci out, Spooner moved back to center and Anders Bjork returned to the lineup after being a healthy scratch for one game.

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Same B's lineup as they brace for glut of games leading into holiday

By Joe Haggerty December 18, 2017 12:43 PM

BRIGHTON, Mass – The Bruins have enjoyed a lot of down time over the first two months of the NHL regular season, but that’s beginning to change now as they enter the holiday season. Sure they will get the three-day break around the Christmas holiday just like everybody else around the NHL, but they’re heading into that three-day respite with a schedule of seven games in 11 days, including back-to-back games Columbus and Buffalo kicking off tonight at TD Garden. It’s good that this kind of busy sequence didn’t come down when the B’s were injury ravaged over the first few months of the season, but there’s never an easy time to play four 60-minute effort games in a span of six days, including a short rest matinee on Saturday vs. the Red Wings. Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy will undoubtedly roll lines a little more liberally and probably rotate some players into his lineup, but he’s going with the same forwards and D-men in front of Tuukka Rask on Monday night vs. the Blue Jackets. The Bruins are doing what they can during a dense portion of the schedule, and making certain they’re ready to give their best after dropping back-to-back games against the Capitals and Rangers last week. “You just need to make it easy on ourselves by not playing a hard game, and not doing damage to ourselves to make things more difficult,” said Brad Marchand. “You take care of the puck and keep it simple, and then whenever you get a day off you need to rest up and recover. That’s all you can really do.” So Rask will get the nod with Anton Khudobin likely to start against the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday night, and the lineup will be exactly the same as vs. the Rangers with Anders Bjork sitting for the second game in a row:

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Bruins still trying to find the perfect combo for Krejci line

By Joe Haggerty December 18, 2017 11:57 AM

BRIGHTON, Mass – While the Bruins have held strong and consistent with a loaded top line of Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak, it’s been another exercise in change and adjustment for David Krejci. The Czech playmaking center has spent some time centering youngsters Anders Bjork and Jake DeBrusk, but he’s also had others like Ryan Spooner, Frank Vatrano and David Backes filtering in and out at times since he returned from a back injury. Krejci also hasn’t been reunited with Pastrnak after the two Czech forwards started the season together by design, and it feels like the second line is a work-in-progress for the Bruins coaching staff. Krejci has still been pretty solid throughout, however, with two goals and five points along with a plus-1 rating in seven games during the month of December, and there may be more tinkering to come as Bruce Cassidy juggles his forwards. Krejci dinged the crossbar late in the game against the Rangers in a play that could have been a game-winner for the Black and Gold, and shooting a little more often has definitely part of his adjustment playing with younger wingers. “It’s not ideal for David. We’ve decided to leave [Pastrnak] up, so he’s getting some kids and he’s getting Ryan Spooner, who is a centerman. But he does think the game a lot like David, so they could complement each other,” said Cassidy. “I just think you need a heavier presence on the line. What I mean by heavier is net presence and net-drive. It doesn’t have to be a 230-pounder, but it’s a guy that will get to the net for them. “That could be Jake or Anders, and that’s what we’d like to see out of them on a consistent basis. They did on the first goal [vs. the Rangers] that was offside with both Jake and Ryan going to the net. In today’s game you’re allowed that ice and you’re going to get calls if you’re interfered with or whacked. That’s the emphasis for that line. David has been patient, and we appreciate it, where we’re trying to find the right combo.” Truth be told, the injured Peter Cehlarik sounds like the exact kind of player that Cassidy and the B's are looking for on Krejci's line. Bjork is coming off a healthy scratch for not being hard enough on the puck, and that the hope is that he will respond as DeBrusk did so effectively last month. DeBrusk actually had a season-low in ice time in the Rangers loss last weekend because he was also a little too light in his board battles, so both young guys should have something to prove on Monday night against a heavy, hard-working Metro Division team in Columbus. DeBrusk clearly has the tools to play a little bit more of the power forward game despite his average size at left wing, but must play that game while also moving his feet and playing the skating game as well. One thing that might be seen sooner rather than later is a look at Heinen with Krejci on the second line given the way he’s performed this season. Clearly he’s not a big, strong power forward that might be ideal for Krejci, but Heinen has shown significant battle in his game this season for a young guy known more for his skill. The young winger has shown a willingness to pay the price and win battles on the third line, and is on pace for 21 goals and 54 points this season while clearly possessing the offensive skill needed to play with No. 46. The only hesitation would be breaking up a third line of Heinen, Riley Nash and David Backes that’s been very effective, but that hasn’t stopped the B’s coaching staff from kicking it around. “I think it’s a very valid point that’s been discussed,” said Cassidy, when asked about the possibility of moving Heinen with Krejci on the second line. “You can move one of the young kids down with Nash and Backes, and maybe they can pull them along and grown their game. It just means another new winger for him as we’re trying to find the right chemistry for him, but that is definitely a possibility. They played together last year, but I think Danton has grown a lot as a player and would be a better fit.”

Ultimately that’s what it’s all about: Finding the best fit for Krejci to get his line at optimal levels as the Marchand-Bergeron-Pastrnak trio has been for the bulk of this season.

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Krejci out vs. Sabres after being a late scratch Monday

By Joe Haggerty December 19, 2017 1:50 AM

BOSTON – It was almost too good to be true, and so the Bruins had to expect somebody would drop out of their lineup during a busy stretch of seven games in 11 days leading up to Christmas. That “somebody” turned out to be David Krejci, who was out for Monday night’s 7-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets with an upper-body injury that cropped up at the end of that day’s morning skate. Krejci has missed 13 games now this season, with the majority of them due to a bad back that has acted up at points this season. When healthy, Krejci has been pretty good with five goals and 14 points in 18 games, but the Bruins were able to survive without him by placing Ryan Spooner between Jake DeBrusk and Anders Bjork in a fast, skilled kid line. Each of those three forwards had points in the blowout win over the Blue Jackets, and the hope is that the Bruins will get more of that from them with another game together against the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday night. Krejci has already been ruled out of Tuesday night’s game as well with the upper body issue, but beyond that is unknown with the Bruins scheduled to play two games in the final four days leading into the holiday break. “I feel bad today because when I left the ice [Krejci] was, from my understanding, he was fine. It’s an upper-body injury; he didn’t feel good after he got off the ice and talked to the trainers about it,” said Cassidy. “[Krejci] is going to deal with that, he’ll be out…he won’t travel with us. He’ll be out tomorrow, but it will be a day to day [injury after that].” The Bruins would love to get Krejci back as quickly as possible, but the return of Spooner to good health at the end of last week gives the B’s another NHL-caliber option in the middle while giving Krejci some time to recover. Given the upper-body/back issues that Krejci has already dealt with this season, it might be wise to take advantage of the holiday break to give him an extended rest with plenty of hockey still go in the following four months.

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Talking Points: DeBrusk responds to challenge

By Joe Haggerty December 18, 2017 11:09 PM

GOLD STAR: Jake DeBrusk does a good job of responding when challenged, and that happened again on Monday night as he popped up with a three-point night after a career-low amount of ice time against the Rangers last weekend. DeBrusk notched the playmaking, primary assists on both of the power play goals in the second period, including the eventual game-winner to Charlie McAvoy on a sweet, cross-ice seam pass right in front of the net. DeBrusk finished with a goal, three points, a plus-2 rating and four shots on net in 12:03 of ice time. The fact that kind of performance came against a heavy, rugged Blue Jackets group just added even more to what the 21-year-old did in one of his best games of the season. BLACK EYE: It felt like it was more the fault of the defense in front of him than Sergei Bobrovsky himself given that the Blue Jackets were peppered for 45 shots, but giving up seven goals is a tough night at the office by any standard for Sergei Bobrovsky. It really collapsed in the third period when he allowed a knuckling Torey Krug shot to glance off his glove and into the net, and was part of a sequence where four goals got past Bobrovsky to turn it into a laugher of a hockey game. Just on tonight alone, Bobrovsky’s goals against average jumped from 2.27 to 2.44 and his save percentage dropped from .923 to .919 save percentage. TURNING POINT: The Bruins played a strong, dominant first period where Brad Marchand got on the board with the game’s first goal, and the B’s once again ended up on the winning side once they got the advantage. The Bruins outshot the Blue Jackets by a 16-7 margin in that first period, and could have had another goal if Tim Schaller had been able to convert on an open net of a Sean Kuraly rebound. As it was, the Bruins improved to 11-1-3 in the 15 games where they’ve scored the first goal this season. When the opponent scores first, they are 5-9-2 on the season. HONORABLE MENTION: You have to give it to Charlie McAvoy for standing up for himself and dropping the gloves with fellow first-round pick Pierre-Luc Dubois for his first NHL fight, and that led its way to his first Gordie Howe hat trick. The fight was actually a pretty impressive one for McAvoy, who got a couple of punches in before scoring the takedown against the big-bodied forward. It was also part of a night where he scored the game-winning goal, finished with two points, a plus-2 rating, four hits and a blocked shot in 19:41 of ice time. McAvoy said afterward that the fight happened quickly, but you get the sense he’ll be able to defend himself at the NHL level. BY THE NUMBERS: 7 – the season-high for goals for the Bruins on Monday night after previously notching six goals through different times through the first couple of months this season. QUOTE TO NOTE: "I think he's 1-0 in this league now, so good for him.” – Bruce Cassidy, on Charlie McAvoy dropping the gloves for his first NHL fight and collecting a Gordie Howe hat trick as a 19-year-old rookie.

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Bruins squash Bobrovsky, Blue Jackets, 7-2

By Joe Haggerty December 18, 2017 9:43 PM

BOSTON – The Bruins had struggled against the power of the Metro Division for pretty much all of this season, but that’s not the case anymore. The B’s dominated early and often, never trailed in the game and swept the ice with the Columbus Blue Jackets in a strong 7-2 win over them at TD Garden. It snapped a two-game losing streak, and saw the young Bruins players really step up and play strong, hard-nosed hockey against a big, heavy opponent. The seven goals is a season-high for the Bruins in one game after reaching six goals three different times already this season. Danton Heinen led the way with a three-point effort, Jake DeBrusk assisted on a couple of big power play goals for the B’s and Charlie McAvoy registered his first career Gordie Howe hat trick after dropping the gloves with Pierre-Luc Dubois. Brad Marchand opened up the scoring in the first period when he and Patrice Bergeron worked the two-man game before the red-hot Marchand scored his sixth goal in the last nine games. The B’s second PP unit went to work in the second period as Jake DeBrusk fed David Backes for his third goal of the season, and then three minutes later DeBrusk slid a beauty of a cross-ice pass to McAvoy waiting to hammer home the one-timer. Danton Heinen, Torey Krug, DeBrusk and Bergeron added goals in the third period to create the blowout victory, and McAvoy dropped the gloves with Dubois for the first Gordie Howe Hat Trick for a Bruins player since Zdeno Chara in 2013. Bergeron, Backes, Heinen, Ryan Spooner, McAvoy, DeBrusk, and Marchand all registered multi-point games for the Bruins as they exploded for seven goals against the normally stingy Blue Jackets and Sergei Bobrovsky.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 12.19.2017 1088979 Buffalo Sabres "It was tough to see him go down again," coach Phil Housley said of the eight-year veteran. "He's a smart player, and it's good to have him practicing." Sabres Notebook: Winter Classic documentary celebrates Buffalo; After calling for pride, Sabres' Scandella sees some Josefson back With Josefson likely back, Housley shifted Rodrigues to the wing. The forward played the position in college and Rochester before the By John Vogl | Published Mon, Dec 18, 2017 organization moved him to center last season. Rodrigues has two goals and three points in six games after recovering from a broken hand.

"They've got a little bit of everything on that line, so that's why we moved Like the game that it commemorates, the documentary about the original him to the wing," Housley said. "I definitely think he could move up. He Winter Classic in Buffalo is filled with chills, highlights and compelling was off for a long time. He's trying to find his game right now. It's been story lines. Also like the game, it has Three Stars. good at times. He's got to find that consistency, but I really like the way he's been playing." The Third Star of NHL Network's "The First NHL Winter Classic, Hockey Goes Outside" is Sidney Crosby. The Pittsburgh captain used the 2008 Jack Eichel centered Evander Kane and Jason Pominville on the top line. outdoor game against the Sabres as a springboard toward becoming a Ryan O'Reilly was in the middle of Benoit Pouliot and Kyle Okposo. legend, and the film treats him as such. Johan Larsson skated between Zemgus Girgensons and Sam Reinhart. The fans in Buffalo are the Second Star. The roar inside the Bills' stadium Scott Wilson and Hudson Fasching were the extra forwards, and the and the festival in the parking lot are captured well. The passion of Sabres sent Fasching back to Rochester following the workout. He had Western New York sports fans is praised and revered. no points in five games while skating 9:42 per night. As anyone who attended the game can attest, the weather was the First Star. It was a New Year's Day celebration held inside a snow globe, and the flakes created picturesque scenes, unexpected drama and a lasting Buffalo News LOADED: 12.19.2017 impression. Viewers can see for themselves soon. "The First NHL Winter Classic, Hockey Goes Outside" will have a special screening at 6 p.m. Tuesday in (716) Food and Sport. The documentary will air nationwide at 8 p.m. Wednesday on NHL Network. (A clip is available here.) Plenty is packed into the 50 minutes of running time. Narrated by actor Michael Keaton, the documentary tracks the game from its creation to the building of the outdoor rink to the game-ending shootout and beyond. "There was no denying the Winter Classic had the feel of a real event, the likes of which the sports world had never quite seen," Keaton says. The NHL Network original film commemorates the 10-year anniversary of the game, and it digs deep: * NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and executives from NBC Sports discuss how changes in college football bowl games allowed them a window of opportunity. * Dan Craig, the NHL's vice president of facilities and operations, details the problems encountered in building the rink with a limited amount of time in less-than-ideal conditions. * The cameras catch the ball-hockey games, bonfires and tailgating out in a true winter wonderland. "There's loads of people already there, and we're there hours and hours before the broadcast," NBC announcer Darren Pang recalls. "I'm thinking to myself, 'This is really, really neat.'" * Players such as Ryan Miller, Brian Campbell, Jason Pominville and the witty Colby Armstrong provide an in-depth look at the game itself, commenting on the action as they watch a replay of it. * Announcers Bob Costas, Mike "Doc" Emrick, Rob Ray and Pang give their views along with reporters from Pittsburgh and Buffalo, including The Buffalo News' Mike Harrington. * Cameras and microphones go inside the locker rooms, giving a behind- the-scenes look at pep talks and postgame hot chocolates. "Everything kind of worked in our favor that day between the weather, the great crowd, the competitive game, having this young superstar really get to show his stuff at crunch time," says Jon Miller, NBC Sports' president of programming. "It was the perfect experience for us." Jacob Josefson made an immediate impact the last time he returned from injury. He'll get another chance to do it soon. The Sabres center practiced fully again Monday, and he could rejoin the lineup Tuesday when Buffalo hosts Boston. Josefson skated in the middle of Evan Rodrigues and Jordan Nolan during the workout in HarborCenter. Josefson has missed nine games since reinjuring his ankle Nov. 25 in Montreal. He missed 15 games the first time he got hurt, then returned with a goal and assist in two games before departing again. 1088980 Buffalo Sabres

Buffalo fans are stars of documentary about first Winter Classic

By John Vogl | Published Mon, Dec 18, 2017 original Winter Classic in Buffalo is filled with chills, highlights and compelling story lines. Also like the game, it has Three Stars. The Third Star of NHL Network's "The First NHL Winter Classic, Hockey Goes Outside" is Sidney Crosby. The Pittsburgh captain used the 2008 outdoor game against the Sabres as a springboard toward becoming a legend, and the film treats him as such. The fans in Buffalo are the Second Star. The roar inside the Bills' stadium and the festival in the parking lot are captured well. The passion of Western New York sports fans is praised and revered. As anyone who attended the game can attest, the weather was the First Star. It was a New Year's Day celebration held inside a snow globe, and the flakes created picturesque scenes, unexpected drama and a lasting impression. Viewers can see for themselves soon. "The First NHL Winter Classic, Hockey Goes Outside" will have a special screening at 6 p.m. Tuesday in (716) Food and Sport. The documentary will air nationwide at 8 p.m. Wednesday on NHL Network. Plenty is packed into the 50 minutes of running time. Narrated by actor Michael Keaton, the documentary tracks the game from its creation to the building of the outdoor rink to the game-ending shootout and beyond. "There was no denying the Winter Classic had the feel of a real event, the likes of which the sports world had never quite seen," Keaton says. The NHL Network original film commemorates the 10-year anniversary of the game, and it digs deep: * NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and executives from NBC Sports discuss how changes in college football bowl games allowed them a window of opportunity. * Dan Craig, the NHL's vice president of facilities and operations, details the problems encountered in building the rink with a limited amount of time in less-than-ideal conditions. * The cameras catch the ball-hockey games, bonfires and tailgating out in a true winter wonderland. "There's loads of people already there, and we're there hours and hours before the broadcast," NBC announcer Darren Pang recalls. "I'm thinking to myself, 'This is really, really neat.'" * Players such as Ryan Miller, Brian Campbell, Jason Pominville and the witty Colby Armstrong provide an in-depth look at the game itself, commenting on the action as they watch a replay of it. * Announcers Bob Costas, Mike "Doc" Emrick, Rob Ray and Pang give their views along with reporters from Pittsburgh and Buffalo, including The Buffalo News' Mike Harrington. * Cameras and microphones go inside the locker rooms, giving a behind- the-scenes look at pep talks and postgame hot chocolates. "Everything kind of worked in our favor that day between the weather, the great crowd, the competitive game, having this young superstar really get to show his stuff at crunch time," says Jon Miller, NBC Sports' president of programming. "It was the perfect experience for us."

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Joey Anderson named captain for Team USA

By Amy Moritz | Published Mon, Dec 18, 2017

COLUMBUS – Playing the role of Captain America in Buffalo next week will be Joey Anderson. The sophomore at the University at Minnesota-Duluth was named the captain of the U.S. National Junior Team which will play in the IIHF Men's World Juniors Championship in Buffalo. Anderson played for the U.S. team which won the gold medal last year. The third-round pick of the New Jersey Devils in 2016 is ready for the leadership position. "It's going to have to be just an all-around game," Anderson said. "I'm going to have to be a guy that's very responsible defensively. Set a tone playing hard against the other team and conversely in the offensive zone I'm going to have to be one of those guys that's burying my chances. I think just helping to create offense and create space for the guys I'm playing with." Anderson had two assists in last year's tournament, but Team USA coach Bob Motzko saw a player expand his role over the course of the 11-day event. "What makes him a captain is just every day is the same for him in his work ethic and his commitment and his passion for the game," Motzko said. "To have him on the team a year ago, and he developed a role. He took a very strong role on our team last year. He didn't have it at the beginning. As the tournament went on, he quickly showed how responsible he was with important minutes." Team USA wraps up camp on Tuesday then heads to Jamestown for its first against Belarus at Northwest Arena. The U.S. will play Sweden in its final pre-tournament game on Dec. 22 in Erie (Pa.) Insurance Arena. The tournament opens Dec. 26 with the U.S. playing Denmark at 8 p.m. in KeyBank Center.

Buffalo News LOADED: 12.19.2017 1088982 Buffalo Sabres continue working with the D getting their shots through, finding lanes and rewarding the forwards that are going there."

Scandella likes that the whole team is seeing rewards for its work. There After calling for pride, Sabres' Scandella sees some certainly have been lackluster moments during the last six games, but there have also been signs that Buffalo deserved to pick up seven of a possible 12 points. Scandella has points in two of the last four. By John Vogl | Published Mon, Dec 18, 2017 | Updated Mon, Dec 18, 2017 "I've been super happy personally," he said. "Now that we have our group together and are practicing well, I feel like we're going in the right direction and seeing what kind of team we could be." Marco Scandella has established himself as one of the positive thinkers in the Buffalo Sabres' dressing room. He sees the bright side in almost everything. Buffalo News LOADED: 12.19.2017 Losing is the exception. He despises it. He's not used to it. As it happened over and over in Buffalo, he openly called for more pride among the players. He's seeing more as the Sabres welcome the Boston Bruins to KeyBank Center on Tuesday. "I feel like we're earning it right now," Scandella said Monday. "I just feel like the whole team is building a foundation here, and we're headed in the right direction." It clearly took awhile. Buffalo is on a warm streak (2-1-3) after winning only six of its opening 27 games. After the losses, a furious stare accompanied Scandella's calls for pride. "At the time I was just really mad," the defenseman said. "You fight your whole life to play in this league. I came from a winning culture, and I think guys are starting to understand how much fun it is to win, first of all, but what it means to actually work hard." Among the many problems in Buffalo the last few seasons was a sense of entitlement. Players had made it to the NHL, and that seemed enough. It wasn't like that during Scandella's seven seasons in Minnesota. He doesn't want it to be like that in Buffalo. "I think we have a really good, cohesive group with the coaches and everybody," Scandella said. "I just feel like we're building something here. Statistically it shows in the last seven, eight games that we've been playing a lot better. "Everything is up. Everyone is just having more success. Everyone gets more individual success when the team plays better and the team has success. I think we're starting to understand that as a group, and it's huge." Fans had hoped the players understood it already. Losing supposedly taught the Sabres their share of lessons the past few seasons, but an 8- 18-7 record shows not enough learning was done. It's essentially back to Square One with a new group of mainstays. Scandella is one of them. The 27-year-old seems eager to help build a winner during his first season with the club. "You see the passion he has for the game, and that's probably first and foremost," fellow defenseman Josh Gorges said. "When he comes out on the ice, he's there to compete. He has a little bit of sandpaper to his game. He likes the fire. "He's a great guy that kind of just fit in right away, a guy you want to hang around with in the room." When the Sabres acquired Scandella from Minnesota in June, the plan was to increase his workload immensely. They've followed through. After skating 18:20 per night last year, Scandella is averaging 23:41 this year. That trails only top-pair defense partner Rasmus Ristolainen (26:55). Scandella is on the ice in all situations, averaging 2:49 of penalty-kill time (he had 1:40 last year) and 1:35 of power-play work (just 16 seconds last season). "He's doing a great job," coach Phil Housley said. "He's playing on the power play, penalty kill, end of periods, at the end of games whether we're down or up. "One thing I really like about Marco is his attitude and his energy. Every day he brings it, and it's infectious to our team." With seven assists in 33 games, Scandella has nearly reached last year's total of nine. He has 62 shots compared to 88 last season, but none have found the net. Jake McCabe is the only Buffalo defenseman to score, and his two goals have come in the last five games. "I wish we would have more goals and more offensive contributions from our defense," Housley said. "I think it's coming. … I'd definitely like to 1088983 Buffalo Sabres

Sabres' Josefson closer to return; Rodrigues moves to wing

By John Vogl | Published Mon, Dec 18, 2017 | Updated Mon, Dec 18, 2017

Jacob Josefson made an immediate impact the last time he returned from injury. He'll get another chance to do it soon. The Sabres center practiced fully again Monday, and he could rejoin the lineup Tuesday when Buffalo hosts Boston. "Another good-paced practice for him, and we'll see how he is tomorrow," coach Phil Housley said in KeyBank Center. Josefson skated in the middle of Evan Rodrigues and Jordan Nolan during the workout in HarborCenter. Josefson has been out since reinjuring his ankle Nov. 25 in Montreal, forcing him to miss nine games. He missed 15 games the first time he hurt the ankle, then returned with a goal and assist in two games before departing again. "It was tough to see him go down again," Housley said of the eight-year veteran. "He's a smart player, and it's good to have him practicing." With Josefson likely back, Housley shifted Rodrigues back to the wing. The forward played the position in college and Rochester before the organization moved him to the middle last season. Rodrigues has two goals and three points in six games after recovering from a broken hand. "That line today was really good with Nolan, Josefson and Rodrigues," Housley said. "They complement each other well. They've got a little bit of everything on that line, so that's why we moved him to the wing. "I definitely think he could move up. He was off for a long time. He's trying to find his game right now. It's been good at times. He's got to find that consistency, but I really like the way he's been playing. I think he brings offense. He's got good vision. He's set up a lot of players during this span of games that we didn't capitalize on." Jack Eichel centered Evander Kane and Jason Pominville on the top line. Ryan O'Reilly was in the middle of Benoit Pouliot and Kyle Okposo. Johan Larsson skated between Zemgus Girgensons and Sam Reinhart. Scott Wilson and Hudson Fasching were the extra forwards. If Josefson is cleared to play, the Sabres could send Fasching back to Rochester. The holiday roster freeze goes into effect at 11:59 p.m. Tuesday and ends at 12:01 a.m. Dec. 28.

Buffalo News LOADED: 12.19.2017 1088984 In December, seven out of their nine games played so far have featured late goals.

To break those numbers down even further, 13 of their 31 goals allowed Goals against in late stages put Flames in a hole in the first period happened in the final five minutes. Eleven of their 32 total second period goals allowed happened in that time frame. And, surprisingly, only nine of their 36 third period goals allowed happened in Kristen Odland, Postmedia the final stages of the game. Published on: December 18, 2017 | Last Updated: December 18, 2017 “You put it on the table and you mention it,” Gulutzan said. “You make 9:45 PM MST guys aware of it on the bench. And that’s about all you can do.” Meanwhile, it’s the captain’s job to spread the message in the dressing room. Giordano said it’s something they’d like to clean up in the final two This is not a story of Christmas cheer. games before Christmas (Wednesday versus St. Louis and Friday against Montreal) along with the team-goal of cleaning up their man- And the statistics? They’ll leave a Calgary Flames fan feeling like the advantage and sharpening up their penalty kill. Grinch. “Don’t show any frustration and try to keep the guys positive,” Giordano But it’s hard to ignore the team’s penchant for allowing late goals in the said. “There’s no secret our special teams have hurt us. Our powerplay late stages of periods. In fact, it’s happened in 24 of 34 games played has hurt us a little bit the last few games. You can’t be frustrated and if this season; over 70 per cent of the time, the Flames allow a doozy late you go out frustrated, it’s going to get worse. So, just play loose and try in the game. Thirty-three of their 99 goals allowed in regulation have to get one early.” been scored in the final five minutes.

Their record when giving up those crucial, often-decisive markers is 10- 12-2, which is predictable in many ways. To put it into seasonal context: Calgary Herald: LOADED: 12.19.2017 a late goal allowed is like getting coal in your stocking. It’s deflating, disappointing and can ruin Christmas. Or, in hockey at any level, it can simply change the outcome of a game. On home ice, the Flames’ statistics are just as telling. They’ve allowed at least one late goal in a period 11 times on home ice. That’s 11 out of 18 games at the Saddledome where their overall record is 8-10- 0. “Those are important critical times of the game,” said Flames head coach Glen Gulutzan. “I think we’ve addressed our record when we’re leading after two. I think we’re the best team in the when we’re leading after two over the last 100 games. Giving up goals late in periods and late in games, when you are tied — it’s something we have to work through.” The trend started in October with Connor McDavid’s hat-trick marker — albeit, an empty-netter — with 59 seconds left in the third period of a 3-0 loss. It continued from there. They allowed two late goals on Oct. 13 at home versus the Senators, one with 45 seconds left in the first period and another with 1:17 remaining in the second. That eventually led to a 6-0 loss (with another late goal, Ottawa’s sixth, coming with 3:37 left). On Oct. 25, a 5-2 loss at St. Louis, they allowed three late tallies including a crucial one with 2:33 left in the first period to tie the score 1-1 and, with Calgary down only 3-2 in the third period, Paul Stastny’s marker with 3:32 left the third basically sealed the deal. Joel Edmundson had the empty netter. Then, earlier this month, a 7-5 loss to the Oilers on Dec. 2 saw the visitors strike in the final five minutes in all three periods — Ryan Nugent- Hopkins’s third period goal with 1:01 remaining came, disappointingly, after the Flames had rallied with four straight goals to nearly complete the comeback. But, prior to Sunday’s dominant 6-1 win over the Canucks (which did not feature any late goals given up by the Flames), the Flames were able to bounce back against the Canucks in a 4-2 win after allowing Vancouver’s powerplay to score with less than a minute left in the second period. “They do shift the momentum sometimes,” Giordano pointed out. “I think we’ve actually done a good job lately of coming back. Last time we played Van, they got a late one in the third and we came back and stuck with it.” But often times, they’re mood killers. “You don’t want to give those up,” he added. We’ve gotta tighten up that area. Overall, the last five or six games, we’ve played well. we haven’t been getting as many points as we’d like, obviously. “But we’ve been pretty solid lately.” If you’re looking for some type of pattern — there isn’t any. They had a 3-5 record in October when opposing teams score late in periods while they surrendered late goals in eight out of 12 games in that month. In November, nine out of 13 of their games saw late frame letdowns with their record being 6-3 in those games. 1088985 Calgary Flames “That was the one bit of feedback I got. So, you want me to change my personality? You’d have to ask management if it was a personality thing, but you can’t change who you are.” NHL career cut short by injury, ex-Flame Daniel Tkaczuk has no regrets The Blues thought enough of his approach to hire him in a player development role with an eye on helping talented young players. ERIC FRANCIS “I knew I wanted to get into coaching and help young players with some of the stuff I wish I got help with when I was younger,” he said. Published on: December 18, 2017 | Last Updated: December 18, 2017 3:10 PM MST “I try to use my experience to help some of these younger guys, guys who are told how to develop into an NHL game or those who are up for a cup of coffee how to sustain it.” Daniel Tkaczuk and Matthew Tkachuk share similar names, junior stats Tkaczuk vividly recalls his NHL sip, which started with a game at the and were selected sixth overall by the Calgary Flames 19 years apart. ’Dome against Hall of Fame Mighty Ducks Teemu Selanne and Paul Kariya. One is progressing well as one of the NHL’s most well-rounded youngsters, the other played just 19 NHL games in a career that veered “My first goal was in my hometown against the Leafs on Hockey Night in away from what he dreamed it would be. Canada and I had just been called up,” Tkaczuk, a two-way centre, said. The two will be on opposite sides of the battle Wednesday at the “I arrived so late my dad picked me up and I slept at home and my dad Scotiabank Saddledome. When Matthew faces off against St. Louis, drove me in for pre-game skate — that was kind of neat. We won 5-4 in Daniel will be watching from above as a first-year assistant coach with overtime when Val (Bure) scored. the Blues. “Hey, it is a hard business. When you’re a kid dreaming you don’t say, It’s not uncommon for the latter to be asked if he’s related to the former, ‘I’m going to battle through injuries and various circumstances.’ I don’t who came into the league with all the same hype and hope Daniel did 17 look back with regret. How many guys get to play in the NHL, play for years ago. their country and still be involved with it as a coach? “No relation to Matthew Tkachuk but his dad (Keith) is involved in the St. “I had a pretty good ride.” Louis organization,” chuckled Tkaczuk. “Hockey is a funny world that way.” When asked where things started to go sideways for the Toronto native, Calgary Herald: LOADED: 12.19.2017 Tkaczuk starts with the Saddledome in which he’s sitting. “I was actually in a game here against Phoenix and I hit my face on the ice,” said Tkaczuk, who captained the OHL’s Barrie Colts and was the leading scorer of Canada’s silver medal-winning team at the 1999 world juniors. “I was tangled with a guy in the neutral zone and I wasn’t wearing a visor and bounced my face off the ice, got stitched up and came back. We flew to L.A. after the game and when I woke up I had the TV screen thing going (fuzzy vision) so just never was able to fight my way back.” To that point, the AHL call-up had a respectable four goals and 11 points in 19 NHL outings while playing between Dave Lowry and Valeri Bure on Don Hay’s second line during the 2000-01 season. “I’d like to think after having a strong year in the minors (making the AHL all-rookie team) and a strong start, I got the call-up and was contributing,” said Tkaczuk, who had 105 points in 58 games his final junior campaign, compared to Tkachuk’s 107 points in 57 outings. “The numbers were OK and the team was holding its own but then missing a month-and-a-half hurt me developmentally. I lost a step and had other injuries, like a second concussion in the minors. I was a quick thinker and with those injuries I couldn’t really get back to that level.” Tkaczuk returned to lead the Saint John Flames to a Calder Cup ring that year before being traded by GM Craig Button to St. Louis with Freddie Brathwaite in a draft-weekend deal for Roman Turek. What followed was a 10-year odyssey through the AHL, ECHL and all over Europe where he retired with the Nottingham Panthers in 2010. Tkaczuk, 38, never played another NHL game. “I do wish I had a longer NHL career but I look at some of the opportunities I was given — I travelled the world and met some great people and experienced the game,” Tkaczuk, a father of two young boys, said. “There were players far greater than me who never got to play in the NHL. There’s definitely stuff I would have changed, but sometimes circumstances are such you can’t change anything. I look back, and I tried hard. I tried to do what was asked of me by the organization and coaches. It didn’t work out but it wasn’t for a lack of trying.” Tkaczuk tells a tale about an early exchange that might have explained the club’s mindset. “When I first got drafted here, Brian Sutter was the coach and he said, ‘Well, you don’t smile very much,’” said Tkaczuk, a very cerebral, intense type. “I said, ‘No, I am having a great time — that’s just not my personality — that’s not my way. I’m a little more reserved. I’d rather go about my business and do what I can to help the team. 1088986 Calgary Flames “That was the one bit of feedback I got. So, you want me to change my personality? You’d have to ask management if it was a personality thing, but you can’t change who you are.” Flames' original Tkaczuk returns to Calgary with no regrets Daniel Tkaczuk during the 1999 world juniors in Brandon, Man. The Blues thought enough of his approach to hire him in a player ERIC FRANCIS development role with an eye on helping talented young players. December 18, 2017 3:10 PM UTC “I knew I wanted to get into coaching and help young players with some of the stuff I wish I got help with when I was younger,” he said.

“I try to use my experience to help some of these younger guys, guys One is progressing well as one of the NHL’s most well-rounded who are told how to develop into an NHL game or those who are up for a youngsters, the other played just 19 NHL games in a career that veered cup of coffee how to sustain it.” away from what he dreamed it would be. Tkaczuk vividly recalls his NHL sip, which started with a game at the The two will be on opposite sides of the battle Wednesday at the ’Dome against Hall of Fame Mighty Ducks Teemu Selanne and Paul Scotiabank Saddledome. When Matthew faces off against St. Louis, Kariya. Daniel will be watching from above as a first-year assistant coach with the Blues. “My first goal was in my hometown against the Leafs on and I had just been called up,” Tkaczuk, a two-way centre, said. It’s not uncommon for the latter to be asked if he’s related to the former, who came into the league with all the same hype and hope Daniel did 17 “I arrived so late my dad picked me up and I slept at home and my dad years ago. drove me in for pre-game skate — that was kind of neat. We won 5-4 in overtime when Val (Bure) scored. “No relation to Matthew Tkachuk but his dad (Keith) is involved in the St. Louis organization,” chuckled Tkaczuk. “Hockey is a funny world that “Hey, it is a hard business. When you’re a kid dreaming you don’t say, way.” ‘I’m going to battle through injuries and various circumstances.’ I don’t look back with regret. How many guys get to play in the NHL, play for When asked where things started to go sideways for the Toronto native, their country and still be involved with it as a coach? Tkaczuk starts with the Saddledome in which he’s sitting. “I had a pretty good ride.” “I was actually in a game here against Phoenix and I hit my face on the ice,” said Tkaczuk, who captained the OHL’s Barrie Colts and was the leading scorer of Canada’s silver medal-winning team at the 1999 world Calgary Sun: LOADED: 12.19.2017 juniors. “I was tangled with a guy in the neutral zone and I wasn’t wearing a visor and bounced my face off the ice, got stitched up and came back. We flew to L.A. after the game and when I woke up I had the TV screen thing going (fuzzy vision) so just never was able to fight my way back.” To that point, the AHL call-up had a respectable four goals and 11 points in 19 NHL outings while playing between Dave Lowry and Valeri Bure on Don Hay’s second line during the 2000-01 season. “I’d like to think after having a strong year in the minors (making the AHL all-rookie team) and a strong start, I got the call-up and was contributing,” said Tkaczuk, who had 105 points in 58 games his final junior campaign, compared to Tkachuk’s 107 points in 57 outings. “The numbers were OK and the team was holding its own but then missing a month-and-a-half hurt me developmentally. I lost a step and had other injuries, like a second concussion in the minors. I was a quick thinker and with those injuries I couldn’t really get back to that level.” Tkaczuk returned to lead the Saint John Flames to a Calder Cup ring that year before being traded by GM Craig Button to St. Louis with Freddie Brathwaite in a draft-weekend deal for Roman Turek. Daniel Tkaczuk, left, during the DEL Bundesliga playoffs on March 25, 2007. What followed was a 10-year odyssey through the AHL, ECHL and all over Europe where he retired with the Nottingham Panthers in 2010. Tkaczuk, 38, never played another NHL game. “I do wish I had a longer NHL career but I look at some of the opportunities I was given — I travelled the world and met some great people and experienced the game,” Tkaczuk, a father of two young boys, said. “There were players far greater than me who never got to play in the NHL. There’s definitely stuff I would have changed, but sometimes circumstances are such you can’t change anything. I look back, and I tried hard. I tried to do what was asked of me by the organization and coaches. It didn’t work out but it wasn’t for a lack of trying.” Tkaczuk tells a tale about an early exchange that might have explained the club’s mindset. “When I first got drafted here, Brian Sutter was the coach and he said, ‘Well, you don’t smile very much,’” said Tkaczuk, a very cerebral, intense type. “I said, ‘No, I am having a great time — that’s just not my personality — that’s not my way. I’m a little more reserved. I’d rather go about my business and do what I can to help the team. 1088987 Calgary Flames playing hard. Benny had a great game. We had lots of guys going, and we need to continue with that.”

The Flames now prepare for the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday (7:30 Flames explode for big win over Canucks p.m., Sportsnet 360/Sportsnet 960 The Fan) and welcome the on Friday (7 p.m., Sportsnet West/Sportsnet 960 The Fan) before the Christmas break. Kristen Odland, Postmedia

December 18, 2017 7:48 AM UTC Calgary Sun: LOADED: 12.19.2017

Their penalty kill needs work, and their power play is still dreadful. But at the moment, the even-strength play of the Calgary Flames is the one good thing they have going for them. In a bounce-back performance from Saturday’s shutout loss to the Nashville Predators, the offence exploded for five goals — four of which came in the second period to chase starting netminder Jacob Markstrom — as they capped off the season series against the Vancouver Canucks with a 6-1 victory. Meanwhile, back-up netminder David Rittich made 16 saves but saw his bid for his first career National Hockey League shutout thwarted by Markus Granlund, who scored at the 6:43 mark of the final frame. “I don’t really care about that,” Rittich said. “For me, it’s more important the score after the game, and it was 6-1, and we got two points. Yeah, I know a shutout would be nice, but it didn’t happen. “They played like they didn’t need a goalie. I just said, ‘Thanks guys.’” Although he was not tested often, Rittich was consistent and battled adversity, particularly on one play when he tried to clear the puck but sent it straight to Nic Dowd in the slot. The newly acquired Canucks centre gloved it down and shot it at a startled Rittich. Rattled, Rittich sent his stick flying towards Thomas Vanek on the following chance and was handed a “throwing the stick” penalty (yes, that is the official name in the NHL rulebook). They survived 40 seconds of it before the Canucks’ Daniel Sedin was sent to the box for tripping. It mattered not. While the Flames penalty kill was scored on in the third period on the Canucks’ lone goal of the game, their power play prepared for another silent night until Micheal Ferland’s third-period dagger. It was the Flames’ first powerplay goal in six games to end an 0-for-23 drought (including four scoreless man-advantages Sunday) dating back to Dec. 6 against the host . Prior to Sunday’s game, the power play was 3-for-37 in the previous 11 games. With seven seconds left on Dowd’s delay-of-game penalty, Ferland bashed in a rebound on a makeshift unit of Ferland, Mikael Backlund, Sam Bennett, TJ Brodie, and Dougie Hamilton. One reporter, sarcastically, quipped that their PP problems were solved. “Yeah,” Flames head coach Glen Gulutzan replied dryly. “Only took us five tries.” On the other side, the Canucks are missing a large portion of their top players, and, to make matters worse, they lost rookie sensation Brock Boeser, who blocked a shot with a foot injury in the second period. But in the NHL, there is no time to feel sorry for anyone. And that’s especially true of the Flames, who, despite the win, still have problems of their own. Leading the scoring brigade in the second period was Flames captain Mark Giordano, who had a pair of goals, Matthew Tkachuk (who snapped a three-game point-less and goal-less skid) and Bennett (who had a four- point outing) as the Calgary club peppered its hosts with 38 shots. “I think even though the last three games where haven’t got a win, we were playing good hockey, (but) we just weren’t getting rewarded,” Bennett said. “It feels good for everyone (Sunday).” Mark Jankowski put the Flames on the scoresheet 5:45 into the first period of the second half of the back-to-back games. It was a beauty set- up by linemates Garnet Hathaway and Bennett to make the goal happen. Hathaway, the resident mucker, drove to the net and took Canucks Troy Stetcher and Ben Hutton with him while Bennett battled behind the net to feed the puck to Jankowski. The marksman ended the night with three points. “Lots of guys needed it,” Gulutzan added. “This is a stick-with-it league. We had some guys step up from the beginning. Gio. Janks’ line was 1088988 Chicago Blackhawks

Will Blackhawks bench struggling Patrick Sharp for Thursday's game?

Chris Hine Chicago Tribune

Patrick Sharp didn’t have to say he was frustrated. You could hear it in his voice and see it on his face. Although the Blackhawks have won five consecutive games, the 35-year- old’s second tenure with the franchise he helped win three Stanley Cups hasn’t gone as he had hoped. Sharp has scored just one goal since Oct. 18 — yet coach Joel Quenneville has kept him in the lineup. The question: Would Quenneville scratch a player who has meant so much to the Hawks? Quenneville’s motivational weapon has always been ice time, and if Monday’s practice is any indication, Sharp may be getting a wake-up call. Sharp was not in the line rushes as Richard Panik, who is going through struggles of his own, replaced him on the third line with Vinnie Hinostroza and Ryan Hartman. “What do you want me to say?” Sharp said. “I could play faster. I could play with more pace. I could use my speed more. I find myself standing around a little bit too much.” Quenneville could change his mind before Thursday’s game against the Stars, and maybe Monday’s move served as enough of a jolt for Sharp. “As you get older, you know what your strengths are and you know what can get you to places as quick as possible and keep the puck,” Quenneville said. “Naturally you’re probably not as fast as you once were.” Playing with more speed is easier said than done, especially as a player ages. Sharp has been trying to find ways to compensate. “It’s being on the same page as your linemates and teammates, knowing where that puck is going,” Sharp said. “I’m trying to get a head start to get there and then make sure I make better plays.” Captain Jonathan Toews said Sharp has done a commendable job of not letting his individual struggles affect his presence in the locker room. “It’s definitely tough, a guy like him who is accomplished,” Toews said. “He came into this season so excited mentally, emotionally — as motivated as you’ve ever seen to make an impact for this team. “We all know what he’s capable of. It’s a huge tribute to his maturity, his leadership in this room, even though he’s not wearing a letter this time around.” Sharp just wishes he was competing better. “If I’m not playing, I’ll continue to work hard,” he said, “get the legs moving and be ready for when I get the call.”

Chicago Tribune LOADED: 12.19.2017 1088989 Chicago Blackhawks

Patrick Kane named NHL’s first star of the week

Paul Skrbina Chicago Tribune

Patrick Kane recognizes that playing in the NHL comes with its ups and downs. The Blackhawks forward, like his team, is on an upswing. Kane on Monday became the second Hawk this season to be named the NHL’s first star of the week, joining goalie Corey Crawford (Oct. 30-Nov. 5). Kane earned the honor after he scored four goals, including two game- winners, and had an assist in three games to help the Hawks stretch their winning streak to five. “The biggest thing is to try to stay even-keeled,” Kane said, “and be ready for anything.” Kane scored the overtime winner against the Panthers last Tuesday. He had a goal and an assist during a 5-1 win against the Jets two days later. In the process, Kane passed Dennis Hull for fifth in franchise history with 299 goals and also moved into fifth in points with 786. “You’re going to pass some people when you’re playing a lot of games and playing a lot of seasons,” Kane said. “It’s definitely humbling.” Kane leads the Hawks with 14 goals and 34 points this season. Flyers goalie Brian Elliott (3-0, 1.31 goals-against, .943 save percentage) was named the second star of the week. Islanders forward Josh Bailey (four goals, four assists) earned third-star honors. Pokka to Rockford: Defenseman Ville Pokka was all dressed up and had no place to go during his short stint with the Hawks. Pokka, 23, wore a suit and tie as a healthy scratch during his two-game stay with the team, which ended Monday when he was reassigned to Rockford. “I’m just happy to be here,” Pokka said when he was called up. “I don’t mind missing games if I’m up here.” He was called up for depth while Cody Franson and Jan Rutta dealt with injuries. Coach Joel Quenneville said both could be ready to play Thursday against the Stars.

Chicago Tribune LOADED: 12.19.2017 1088990 Chicago Blackhawks

Blackhawks reassign Ville Pokka to Rockford

Chris Hine Chicago Tribune

The Blackhawks reassigned Ville Pokka to Rockford on Monday, the team announced. Pokka came up after both Cody Franson and Jan Rutta were injured recently, but did not play in a game. Franson and Rutta, who both have upper-body injuries, skated Sunday and both are close to returning Thursday against the Stars.

Chicago Tribune LOADED: 12.19.2017 1088991 Chicago Blackhawks

Struggling Patrick Sharp might be a healthy scratch in Dallas

12/18/2017, 05:55PM Mark Lazerus @MarkLazerus | email

Patrick Sharp didn’t really want to talk about it, didn’t want to get into specifics about why he has only one goal in his last 27 games, didn’t want to think about what it would be like to be a healthy scratch for the first time in more than a decade. Perhaps at a younger age, Sharp would have ducked out early and stewed silently. But nine days shy of his 36th birthday, he has been around long enough to know that when a three-time Stanley Cup champion might find himself out of the lineup, it’s significant. So he stood at his stall Monday at MB Ice Arena and answered the questions — briefly but bluntly. ‘‘I’d like to be better,’’ Sharp said. Sharp’s return to the Blackhawks hasn’t quite been the triumph he had hoped it would be. After battling injury and irrelevance for two seasons with the Stars, Sharp hoped to recapture the form that made him a four- time 30-goal scorer. When training camp opened, his surgically repaired hip was at 100 percent, he had the old jump in his legs again and he was elated to be back in his adopted hometown, with the franchise he never wanted to leave in the first place. A goal on opening night, plus two assists in the next three games, only heightened expectations. But it has been a slog since, and Sharp found himself on the outside of the lineup at practice Monday, with coach Joel Quenneville leaning toward scratching him Thursday — against the Stars, no less — in favor of Richard Panik, who has been a healthy scratch himself for three games. ‘‘Look, what do you want me to say?’’ Sharp said when he was asked about what he needs to do to improve. ‘‘I can play faster, I can play with more pace, I can use my speed more. I find myself standing around a little bit too much.’’ A prolonged scoring slump is challenging for any player to handle, let alone one who has scored 280 goals in his career. Jonathan Toews has gone through some similar droughts in the last two-plus seasons, and he can emphasize with his longtime teammate. ‘‘He came into this season so, so excited mentally and emotionally, just as motivated as you’ve ever seen, to make an impact with this team,’’ Toews said. ‘‘We all know what he’s capable of. But I think it’s a huge tribute to his maturity and to his leadership in this room . . . how he’s able to stay with it and go out there and compete the way he has.’’ Sharp has had to accept a diminished role. No longer a top-six player, he’s averaging only 13 minutes, 39 seconds of ice time per game — 16th on the team. He’s still on the power play, and his latest line with Vinnie Hinostroza and Ryan Hartman has been promising and productive. But Sharp hasn’t been able to break through himself. With Panik waiting to get back into the lineup and snap his own 21-game drought, Sharp was the logical, albeit difficult, choice for Quenneville. Perhaps a game off here and there can help keep Sharp fresh. Motivated, too. ‘‘We have some guys who have been out of the lineup for [some] games now, and you don’t want them sitting too long,’’ Quenneville said. ‘‘Up front, maybe there are guys we can move in and out and keep everyone going.’’ Sharp shrugged it off by saying: ‘‘We’ve got a good team, lots of good players. These things are going to happen.’’ They just usually don’t happen to players of his pedigree. ‘‘Sometimes it’s harder on an offensive player [of] his caliber and his level of talent when the pucks aren’t going in and you’re not getting that consistent ice time or the opportunity in offensive situations,’’ Toews said. ‘‘No doubt, it’s tough to keep pushing through. But he’s doing a great job of that so far.’’

Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 12.19.2017 1088992 Chicago Blackhawks Patrick Kane was named the NHL's First Star of the week. He scored 4 goals and added an assist in Blackhawks victories over Florida, Winnipeg and Minnesota. … Sharp next to sit for Chicago Blackhawks? The Hawks assigned defenseman Ville Pokka to Rockford. He was on the roster for five days as Jan Rutta and Cody Franson recovered from injuries. … The IceHogs (15-11-1-1) have lost three straight (one in a John Dietz shootout), scoring just 1 goal in each game. Follow @johndietzdh Daily Herald Times LOADED: 12.19.2017 Seventeen minutes into his first game back with the Chicago Blackhawks, Patrick Sharp took a pass from Artem Anisimov, zoomed into the offensive zone and wristed home a perfect shot that gave his team a 5-0 lead over the Pittsburgh Penguins. An ecstatic Sharp pumped his fist three times, let out a primal scream and was soon mobbed by overjoyed teammates as 21,000-plus shook the United Center with earsplitting cheers. Pat Foley's call that night: "Here comes Sharp, gonna drive the net … shoots … SCORES! Patrick Sharp joining Brandon Saad in his Blackhawks return with a lamplighter!" You couldn't script a better homecoming for a player adored by so many in the city. The fairy tale didn't last long, though, and Sharp -- who has just 2 goals since that wild, crazy opener -- may be a healthy scratch when the Hawks play Thursday at Dallas. "I'm frustrated with how things have gone individually," Sharp said after he didn't skate with the top four lines at practice Monday. Joel Quenneville wouldn't definitively say that Sharp won't dress against the Stars, but the Hawks' coach seems more than willing to rotate some of his forwards for the time being. "There are guys we can move in and out and keep everyone going," Quenneville said. So far that rotation has included Ryan Hartman (scratched in Games 29 and 30) and Richard Panik (scratched the last three games) and could include others going forward. With 2 assists in the last five games, Sharp hasn't been bad and his line has generated a decent of chances. But he isn't scoring and knows he can be better. "I can play faster," Sharp said. "I can play with more pace. I can use my speed more. Find myself standing around a little bit too much." Father Time catches up to everyone, and that includes the 35-year-old Sharp. He battled injuries last season, playing in just 48 games while scoring 8 goals with Dallas. He also missed 14 games with a knee injury when the Hawks won the Cup in 2015. Plenty of players -- from Vinnie Hinostroza to Connor Murhpy to Hartman -- all admitted last week that sitting out is no fun, but added that they feel refreshed upon returning. Sharp didn't know if that would be the case for him, saying: "Yeah, we'll see. If I'm not playing, I'll continue to work hard and get the legs moving and get ready for when I get the call." Jonathan Toews has seen plenty of veterans lose a step or two late in their careers. The Hawks' captain empathized with Sharp but also commended him on staying positive and trying to work through it. "It's definitely tough," Toews said. "He came into the season so excited mentally and emotionally as you've ever seen to make an impact for this team. We all know what he's capable of. "It's a huge tribute to his maturity and to his leadership in this room … just how he's able to stay with it and go out there and compete the way he has. … No doubt it's tough to keep pushing through. He's doing a great job of that so far." D-men update: Cody Franson and Jan Rutta likely will be ready to play Thursday when the Hawks face the Stars in Dallas. Rutta likely draws back in, but Jordan Oesterle's play may force coach Joel Quenneville to sit Franson for now. Franson understands the staff has tough decisions to make, but he reiterated Monday that he hopes he has done enough to earn the benefit of the doubt. Slap shots: 1088993 Colorado Avalanche

Tyson Barrie scores twice as Colorado Avalanche sweeps Pittsburgh Penguins

By MIKE CHAMBERS | [email protected] | The Denver Post PUBLISHED: December 18, 2017 at 10:18 pm | UPDATED: December 18, 2017 at 10:41 PM

No matter how this season goes the rest of the way for the rebuilding Avalanche, sweeping a two-game series against the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions will be a glorious measuring stick. The final measurement was taken Monday. Minus ice-time leader and alternate captain Erik Johnson, the Avs pulled it off, defeating the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-2 for the second time in eight days. “We’re growing as a team. We’re getting better,” Colorado coach Jared Bednar said. “We were a dangerous team and playing on our toes tonight. I think it just shows we’re gradually becoming more consistent at what we’re supposed to do.” On consecutive Mondays, the team with last season’s league-low and franchise-worst 22 wins and 48 points upset the relatively healthy Pens, who fell 2-1 to Colorado on Dec. 11 in Pittsburgh. The Avs pulled off the two victories with just an empty-net assist from leading scorer Nathan MacKinnon, who had a combined four goals and five points in his last two games. Johnson began his two-game NHL suspension Monday at the Pepsi Center. Rookie center J.T. Compher and his line were the heroes to complete Colorado’s three-game homestand. Compher clanged a shot off iron and had a disallowed goal before using a baseball swing for a midair, tap-in goal for a 3-1 lead, and the Avs held on to finish 2-1 on the homestand. Compher and his wingers Sven Andrighetto and Colin Wilson combined for 12 shots, four apiece. “I thought our line did a really good job of getting chances tonight,” Compher said. “‘Ghetto’ and Wils were great.” Defenseman Tyson Barrie had Colorado’s first two goals and goalie Semyon Varlamov was strong in the third period. Barrie broke a 1-1 lead with a power-play goal 5:56 into the second period, and Compher struck at 18:20. Pittsburgh’s Evgeni Malkin got the visitors within a goal 1:35 into the third period, but Varlamov shut the door. Mikko Rantanen had the empty-net goal with 1:33 remaining, with the assist going to MacKinnon. “Secondary scoring is really important. To be a good team, you need that,” said Avs captain Gabe Landeskog, who plays left wing on MacKinnon’s line. “Tonight, guys stepped up. ‘Comph’ has been doing really well lately. We just did a lot of good things tonight. Everybody played the right way, which is a good sign.” In Johnson’s absence, defenseman Patrik Nemeth logged a team-high 24:34 and Barrie had 24:31. “I thought Tyson was outstanding tonight,” Bednar said of Barrie, who put five shots on Pittsburgh goalie Matt Murray. “I loved the way he was shooting the puck.” Pittsburgh outshot the Avs 18-13 in a wild first period. Pittsburgh tied it 1- 1 on a soft shot/goal by defenseman Chad Ruhwedel, his first of the season. Ruhwedel’s shot from against the side boards sneaked through the right armpit of Varlamov and leaked into the net. The Avs scored first with a perfectly placed wrist shot by Barrie 5:04 into the game, and Colorado never trailed — in this game and the series opener a week earlier in Pittsburgh.

Denver Post: LOADED: 12.19.2017 1088994 Colorado Avalanche

Avalanche returns to traditional lineup against Penguins Colorado Avalanche defenseman Tyson Barrie, center, ...

By MIKE CHAMBERS | [email protected] | The Denver Post December 18, 2017 at 9:51 PM

The Avalanche returned to the conventional 12-forward, six-defenseman lineup Monday night against the Pittsburgh Penguins after going with 11 and seven the last six games. The change stems from rookie center Alex Kerfoot’s return from injury and standout defenseman Erik Johnson‘s serving the first game of his two-game NHL suspension for boarding a Tampa Bay forward Saturday. “Bad mistake on my part,” Johnson said after the morning skate at the Pepsi Center. “No excuse from my end, just kind of a dangerous play I shouldn’t make. It’s an expensive mistake.” Johnson, who will $64,516 from his $6 million annual salary, leads Colorado in average ice time at 25:38. The Avs are carrying seven defensemen, including Johnson, so there wasn’t a healthy scratch Monday. They planned to replace Johnson by committee against the Penguins. “All those guys will have to pick up the slack,” Avs coach Jared Bednar said of the six available defensemen. “The partners, you will see them mixed and matched a lot, just to make sure that ice time is distributed evenly. I don’t think we have another guy who can jump in and play 25- plus for us.” Nikita Zadorov started out playing with Mark Barberio, and Patrik Nemeth and Tyson Barrie made up the second pairing. Rookies Sam Girard and Anton Lindholm were together at even-strength. “You will see them all kind of bounce around a little bit, kind of like what we have been doing with seven D,” Bednar said. Kerfoot returned to the lineup after missing three games with the foot injury that forced him out of the Dec. 11 game at Pittsburgh. He centered a line with rookie Tyson Jost and Nail Yakupov. Forward Gabriel Bourque was the Avalanche’s only healthy scratch. Footnotes. Penguins forward Patric Hornqvist was scratched with a lower-body injury. … The Penguins entered Monday having not allowed a power-play goal in their previous eight games (23-of-23). The Pens were 33-of-35 on the penalty kill in their previous 11 games.

Denver Post: LOADED: 12.19.2017 1088995 Columbus Blue Jackets “Growing up in hockey, sometimes you get the ones where you have to be on the team to understand,” he said. “There are other ones where you can kind of figure out with last names. It’s just something that sticks. ... Blue Jackets’ folksy nicknames part of hockey culture It’s easier to remember than first names.” Several teammates gave him the moniker “Hawk” and still call him that. By Allison Ward “They made the observation that I was always circling the Arena District and knowing where to go,” Shelley said. “Who would get us in? I had the The Columbus Dispatch hawk’s eye on the situation for the guys.” @AllisonAWard For some players, Shelley said, a nickname is earned. Posted Dec 18, 2017 at 5:39 AM “You make your teammates your own,” he said. “I think it makes you part of your own group.” Updated at 9:28 AM Foligno said he never liked the nicknames he had while playing for the Ottawa Senators: “Nicky” (“My sisters call me that”) and “Gino.” In joining the Columbus Blue Jackets this season, forward Pierre-Luc He’s fond of Fliggy, though. Dubois figured that, along with a new place to live, he would need a new nickname. “It’s definitely a rite of passage for a lot guys coming to new teams,” Foligno said. “It’s the first ice-breaker. You get a new guy on the team, as “Dubi” — what the rookie has been called on and off the ice since he was soon as you call him by his nickname, usually it’s, ‘All right, you’re one of a kid growing up in Quebec — was, of course, already taken. us.’” “Dubi told me I couldn’t be Dubi anymore,” the 19-year-old said with a to the Jackets from the Chicago Blackhawks during the off-season, his laugh, recalling an early meeting with veteran forward Brandon Dubinsky new teammates kept the nickname his former team had bestowed upon (aka: Dubi). him because it was so fitting. “It was kind of an order: ‘You have to find a new nickname.’” So “Bread Man” (a reference to Panera Bread), he remains. A nickname is all but a requirement — and a rite of passage — for any Dubois, meanwhile, might still be looking for a nickname to stick, but Blue Jacket. most of his fellow players have settled on one. Besides Dubi, the team has many other nicknames that adhere to the During a break from a recent practice, Dubois asked defenseman Scott pattern of shortened last name plus a “y” sound on the end, including “Harry” Harrington what the others call him. “Andy” (forward Josh Anderson), “Bjorky” (forward Oliver Bjorkstrand) and “Korpi” (backup goalie Joonas Korpisalo). “PLD,” Harrington replied without hesitation. And “Bob” has become a brand all its own for Sergei Bobrovsky, the Welcome to the Blue Jackets, PLD. Jackets’ beloved goalie.

“Bob? I don’t think he ever envisioned himself being that,” said forward Nick Foligno, the team captain. “I think a nickname can really define you.” Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 12.19.2017 Foligno can’t remember who coined his moniker, “Fliggy,” but assumes it was fellow forward Matt Calvert: “He just can’t call anyone by their first name,” Foligno said. Neither can other players, coaches or anyone else within the organization, really. Nicknames are common not only at Nationwide Arena but throughout hockey in general, according to those in the sport. And they’re used not only on the ice by coaches and players but also on TV broadcasts and by other members of the media. “It’s folksy, and it’s accepted — that informality,” said Karen Davis, director of communications for the Blue Jackets, who has worked in and around the National Hockey League since 1994. Her nickname around the arena? “KD.” For Coach John Tortorella, nicknames are a must. “I have to call their names out on the bench all night long for line changes — like, for instance, with Pierre-Luc, I’m not going to say, ‘Pierre-Luc, you’re up,’” Tortorella said. “I have to say this in split-second intervals. “I mean, you should hear us talking on the bench. There are no first names. There are really no last names. There are just nicknames.” Tortorella is “Torts” and always has been (unless his wife or mother is addressing him). “It’s part of the sports culture, the locker room, and I live in the sports world. It’s been my job my whole life.” Most of the time, he said, he lets the players dictate the nicknames, but he sometimes devises his own. Dubois? The coach calls him “Luc” or “Lukey,” whereas Dubois’ teammates call him “PL” or “PLD.” Boone Jenner is “Jenns” to Tortorella; to the rest of the locker room, he’s “Bam Bam,” inspired by the Flintstones character. “The trainer Mike Vogt gave it to me my first year (2013),” Jenner said. “He said it’s like me in the forecheck.” Nicknames, Jenner noted, might change throughout a player’s career on the ice. 1088996 Columbus Blue Jackets

Bruins 7, Blue Jackets 2 | Nick Foligno says Jackets show ‘lack of care’ in road loss

By George Richards Posted Dec 18, 2017 at 11:03 PM Updated Dec 18, 2017 at 11:17 PM

BOSTON — Josh Anderson said his team was “easy to play against.” Captain Nick Foligno had even more choice words when it came to the Blue Jackets’ ugly and embarrassing performance Monday night. Foligno said he hasn’t been “this frustrated” after a loss in some time. The Jackets trailed by three midway through the second period and ended up losing 7-2 to the host Bruins. The loss was the second by that score in a week; the Jackets took a similar five-goal loss at home to the Edmonton Oilers last Tuesday. The anger was evident in Foligno’s words and stance standing inside a nearly empty visiting locker room. “We did it the wrong way the whole game,” Foligno said. “It has been a while where I have been this disappointed in a game. Things happen, you can sometimes chalk it up to being flat. “But the lack of emotion, the lack of care, that’s disappointing. We don’t use those words with this team very often. It doesn’t sit well with me.” Coach John Tortorella said before the game his team needed to do more to be a “harder team to play against.” The Jackets were not that Monday as the Bruins seemingly did what they wanted. They had plenty of defensive lapses and didn’t do goalie Sergei Bobrovsky many favors. The first three goals by the Bruins came on passes so crisp Tom Brady would have cheered. “This is a hard one to swallow,” Tortorella said. “We looked a little paralyzed. For what reason, I don’t know. We’re going to try and get better.” The Bruins scored twice on power-play chances in the second period to make it 3-0, putting the Blue Jackets in a difficult position what with Tuukka Rask manning the opposing net. “We were like deer caught in the headlights,” Foligno said. “I have no answer for it. I’m at a loss for words, and that doesn’t happen often. We failed miserably. ... It was a very disappointing game for a team that usually finds a way to answer. That’s what I’m most disappointed about.” The Jackets avoided the shutout midway through the third when Anderson made it 3-1 by scoring off a Alexander Wennberg feed from the board, yet the Bruins kept on coming. “We were still in the game,” Anderson said, “and it got away from us.” Boston made it a three-goal lead again with 7:30 remaining when Danton Heinen scored on a slap shot from the left circle off a slick feed from David Backes. The Bruins poured it on in the latter moments of the third with Torey Krug, Patrice Bergeron and Jake DeBrusk each scoring within a three- minute span. Seth Jones scored the Jackets’ second goal of the game in the final seconds — it was the lone bright spot in five power-play chances — but there would be no five-goal comeback forthcoming in those final 13 seconds. “We have to get better, put some skin on ourselves here and take it right on the chin like we did here tonight,” Tortorella said. “We have to be better for our next game. That’s all we can do. Right through our lineup, we weren’t good and obviously this is the result. It’s one tick in the loss column.”

Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 12.19.2017 1088997 Columbus Blue Jackets

Blue Jackets | Sonny Milano brought back for another try

By George Richards Posted Dec 18, 2017 at 10:06 PM Updated Dec 18, 2017 at 10:06 PM

BOSTON — No player on the Blue Jackets got off to a hotter start than Sonny Milano. The rookie forward not only scored the first goal in the opener, but he got their only goal the following night in Chicago. To follow that up, he scored both goals in a win at Carolina in Game No. 3. Four goals in three games led the Jackets, and only the most optimistic hoped he could continue such a torrid pace. On Dec. 3, after scoring a goal with five assists in the 21 games after his quick start, Milano was sent to the minors. On Sunday, he was brought back and placed on the third line with Boone Jenner and Nick Foligno against the Boston Bruins on Monday night at TD Garden. Milano played two games with minor-league Cleveland before being recalled and skated 8:34 against Arizona on Dec. 9. Milano was promptly sent back to Cleveland. He obviously hopes this stay with the Blue Jackets is a tad longer. If Milano makes it through Tuesday, he will remain with the Jackets through Christmas due to the NHL roster freeze that goes into effect on Wednesday. “I needed to stay sharp and make the most of my opportunities,” Milano said before Monday’s game. “They talk with you when you get sent down, and there is always that hope you’ll get the call to come back. I got a lot of ice time in the four games I played there. It was good to get the minutes.” Coach John Tortorella said he feels much more comfortable with Milano away from the puck than he did last season, and with the Blue Jackets not exactly lighting up the scoreboard (except for six goals against the Islanders), a Milano return looked enticing. On Sunday, the Jackets sent Jordan Schroeder to Cleveland and brought Milano back. “He has shown me signs here that he can play away from the puck,” Tortorella said. “I think we need more offense and he has earned a level of trust with me.” Tortorella split up the top forward line to start the game, but Artemi Panarin, Pierre-Luc Dubois and Josh Anderson were back together by their second scheduled shift. The Jackets started Anderson with Foligno and Jenner. ... The Jackets, as well as the rest of the teams in the league, were without the “NHL 100” patches that had adorned jerseys since last December. The league had all teams wear those patches to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the formation of the NHL for a full calendar year. The Blue Jackets wore them for the last time on Saturday at the .

Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 12.19.2017 1088998 Columbus Blue Jackets

Blue Jackets fall to Bruins, 7-2

Staff Report FOX Sports Ohio Dec 18, 2017 at 11:44p ET

BOSTON (AP) — Led by their young players, the Boston Bruins put up their highest scoring game of the season. Rookie Jake DeBrusk set up second-period power-play goals by David Backes and fellow rookie Charlie McAvoy and added a goal of his own, Tuukka Rask stopped 16 shots to keep up his hot stretch, and the Bruins beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 7-2 on Monday night. Brad Marchand, Danton Heinen, Torey Krug and Patrice Bergeron also scored for the Bruins, who halted a two-game skid. Rask improved to 6- 0-1 in his last seven starts. McAvoy also had an assist and his first career NHL fight. “It was an opportunity for them to show their abilities and their talents,” Backes said of the young players. “They didn’t disappoint one bit.” Josh Anderson and Seth Jones scored, and Sergei Bobrovsky made 38 saves — including a penalty shot by Tim Schaller — for the Blue Jackets. “We have to take it right on the chin like we did tonight and try to get better for the next game. That’s all we can do,” Columbus coach John Tortorella said. “Right through our lineup we weren’t good. Obviously, this is the result.” Columbus lost for the third in four games and was dominated in the first two periods when they fell into a 3-0 hole. Leading 1-0 in the second, DeBrusk made his two very nice cross-ice passes, helping the Bruins converted on consecutive power plays just over five minutes apart. On the first, DeBrusk skated deep down the left wing and sent a pass across to Backes, who one-timed a shot into the net. DeBrusk then set up McAvoy’s goal with a pass across the slot from the bottom of the right circle. McAvoy one-timed it into the net before Bobrovsky could get to the other side of the crease. “It’s fun hockey. It’s nice to see those guys finish,” DeBrusk said. “It’s nice to find those seems and nice that we converted as well. The more seems you find, the more chances you’ll get.” The Bruins owned a 28-14 edge in shots on goal after two periods, dictating play for most of the game. Columbus had just one shot on goal by a forward in the opening period. Anderson converted a feed from Alexander Wennberg 8:32 into the third, but Heinen scored to seal it. Boston then scored three more. “In the third period we fell apart,” Anderson said. “I don’t know what happened.” Rask made a solid pad stop on Cam Atkinson’s partial breakaway with the Bruins on a power play early in the second. Marchand made it 1-0 when he one-timed a drop pass from Bergeron inside the right post for his 14th goal with 5:12 left in the first. Earlier in the period, Schaller missed a wide-open net when he hit the left post on a rebound with Bobrovsky out of position. NOTES: McAvoy got into a fight in the third period. Injured Bruins D Adam McQuaid watched the replay on a TV in the press box, smiled and said: “He just needs an assist now,” referring to a Gordie Howe hat trick of a goal, assist and a fight. … Marchand has at least a point in a career- high nine straight games after missing his previous six with an injury. … Boston C David Krejci was sidelined with an upper body injury and wasn’t expected to travel to Buffalo. … Columbus LW Markus Hannikainen was back in the lineup after being a healthy scratch the previous three games. … The teams face each other one more time this regular season — on March 19 in Boston. The Bruins lost the only other meeting; 4-3 in a shootout in Columbus on Oct. 30.

foxsportsohio.com LOADED: 12.19.2017 1088999 Dallas Stars

Ken Hitchcock's latest challenge: Balancing Alexander Radulov's infectious energy

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

Ken Hitchcock has been very careful with his criticism of Alexander Radulov in the last few games. Radulov is a good player who made a couple of bad plays, and the coach simply wants him to clean up a few messes so that he can get even better. "You just gotta look at it big picture-wise," Hitchcock said. "What he brings to us is exactly what we need, and when there is a faux pas or a mistake, you gotta deal with it." Radulov on Saturday took two penalties late, and that contributed to a 2- 1 overtime loss at Philadelphia. Hitchcock said after the game that the 31-year-old winger has to be smarter at crunch time. "It was two really poor penalties by a good player. It's not team discipline, it's individual," Hitchcock said after the game. "It's disappointing to fight like we fought and battled. It's really disappointing to take those two penalties at the end of the game." Radulov took blame and said he had to learn from the moment, but the skilled forward who was signed as a free agent in the summer presents an interesting petri dish right now for this team. Radulov is third on the team in scoring with 27 points (11 goals, 16 assists) and on many nights has been the team's best player. He creates scoring opportunities because he is so unpredictable and so creative. "He's been great," captain Jamie Benn said. "He's been a leader for our team, and he brings a lot of energy to the team." Radulov's energy is infectious. He is excited in warmups, in practice, off the ice. He brings a love for the game that sometimes spills over, and that's when he can be guilty of stick fouls or bad decisions. So Hitchcock has to balance all of the good things and still find a way to keep one of his most important players on the straight and narrow. "What he brings to us is significant, because his play engages other people in the battle, and that's exactly what we needed when [GM] Jim [Nill] went and got him," Hitchcock said. "We knew this was going to be helpful for the rest of the group. His compete level has elevated our compete level at the puck, and that's what's really helped us." Radulov has said on numerous occasions he has to fix the holes in his game, and he's been very candid that the top scorers have to lead this team. Just 34 games into a four-year contract with the Stars, he said he knows this is a process. "You've got to deal with your emotions," he said Saturday. "Sometimes you get elbowed in the face and you don't get calls. I got frustrated and took stupid penalties. I put my team on their knees, can't do that. I take responsibility for that and make sure it never happens again. I am not going put blame on someone else. It's on me. I've got to work on it, on my emotion, on my stick when I play defense. Just be better." It's something both player and coach believe will happen. "When you play such an emotional game, there's a downside to it," Hitchcock said. "He's a very good player who made a bad mistake, and he'll be better for it because he won't be doing it again." Defenseman Marc Methot has been out since early November with a knee injury. He skated Monday but still has some work to do before he might be ready to play again. "He's not ready to join us on a full-time basis," Hitchcock said. "He hasn't gotten through a practice yet, so I can't give you an exact date. He was to go a little bit longer today, but he wasn't able to. We'll review it and start again [Tuesday]."

Dallas Morning News LOADED: 12.19.2017 1089000 Dallas Stars Those drives are now in the past as Faksa became an NHL regular last season. But no matter whether he’s been in the AHL or NHL, Faksa considers himself very blessed to have spent most of the past four years Dallas Stars have found early unexpected help in center Radek Faksa in the Lone Star State. “I love Texas. It’s probably one of the best states in the US, right? I love the weather, I love the people, I love the city. I’m really, really happy BY STEPHEN HUNT here,” he said.

FRISCO Star-Telegram LOADED: 12.19.2017 Radek Faksa is far from an unknown commodity. After all, the Dallas Stars selected him 13th overall in the 2012 NHL Draft. However, the young center’s recent offensive surge which saw him net his first career hat trick on Nov. 28 at Las Vegas, finish a four-game stretch with seven points (five goals) and earn NHL Third Star of the Week honors on Dec. 5, was somewhat unexpected. “The boys helped me a lot, they set me up a few times. That made it much easier, but I felt confident and I felt really good,” Faksa said. “Sometimes everything’s going in for you, sometimes it’s not. That week, everything went in for me and I appreciate that.” The Dallas Stars (18-14-2) begin a big homestand this week. Nine of their next 10 games are at home, starting with Washington on Tuesday night. As for Faksa, he’s found a role with the Stars that will likely grow. In 33 games played this season, he has 17 points, including 10 goals. He has three game-winning goals. Faksa made his NHL debut in 2015 and as a rookie had 12 points (seven assists) in 45 games. But he really turned heads in the 2016 playoffs, when he had five points (three goals) in 13 games and won over 50 percent of his face-offs, a solid showing from someone making his postseason debut. His transition to the NHL was seamless, which he credits to former teammate Ales Hemsky, a fellow Czech Republic product who mentored Faksa by taking him into his home and showing him the ropes of what it takes to have sustained success stateside. Last season, Faksa set a career-high with 33 points (21 assists) in 80 games. However, last season was defined more by what didn’t happen, missing the playoffs, a feeling he’d rather not experience again, than anything else. “Last year, I found out it’s so hard to get to the playoffs and it won’t happen every year, so we have to enjoy it (when it does happen),” Faksa said. “I still remember the atmosphere in playoff hockey. That’s what you work for, it’s very exciting. I think we’ve got a good chance in the playoffs (this season) if we make it.” During his first two-plus NHL seasons, Faksa has been a fixture on Dallas’ third and fourth lines. And as one of the Stars’ top young centers, he has been especially strong on face-offs. For his short career, Faksa has won 49.3 percent of his playoffs. However, this season he is winning inside the circle 52.4 percent of the time. Faksa’s consistent prowess in the circle has been impressive, but Stars captain Jamie Benn has noticed something equally noteworthy about his 23-year- old teammate. “He puts the effort in and he’s a great professional,” Benn said. “He’s very consistent with that and he’s still learning the game, but he’s a smart player. He’s can play in all situations. We have a lot of confidence in him and when he’s got that in himself, he’s a pretty good player.” Someone else Faksa has made a strong impression on is first-year Stars coach Ken Hitchcock, who after a recent practice called the young center Dallas’ “most improved player by a mile.” “Faksa’s done a great job for us. He’s done a great job killing penalties. He’s gotten so much better over a short period of time,” Hitchcock said. “Where he’s really done a great job is creating offensive opportunities off work, and that’s a real pleasant surprise.” Faksa came to Texas in April 2014, when he was first assigned to the Stars’ American Hockey League affiliate in Cedar Park, on the northern end of Austin. The following season, he made his NHL debut and shuttled between Cedar Park and Dallas. And on several of those drives up and down Interstate 35, he visited a popular spot in West, Czech Stop. On his first visit to the busy kolache shop, he jokes about asking if they had any fellow Czechs working there. They didn’t. 1089001 Detroit Red Wings

Detroit Red Wings vs. New York Islanders: Time, TV, radio, game notes

Marlowe Alter, Detroit Free Press Published 12:52 a.m. ET Dec. 19, 2017

Detroit Red Wings (12-13-7, 31 points) vs. New York Islanders (18-12-3, 39) When: 7 p.m. tonight. Where: , Brooklyn, New York. TV: Fox Sports Detroit. Radio: 97.1 FM (List of Red Wings' radio affiliates). • Live box score Game notes: The Wings are 2-5-5 over their past 12 games. ...This is the first matchup of the season between the two teams. The Islanders are tied with the New York Rangers for the two wildcard spots in the Eastern Conference. Josh Bailey and each have a team-best 40 points for the Islanders. Andres Lee has scored 20 goals.

Detroit Free Press LOADED: 12.19.2017 1089002 Detroit Red Wings

Humdrum Red Wings look east for inspiration

Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News Published 6:48 p.m. ET Dec. 18, 2017 | Updated 7:10 p.m. ET Dec. 18, 2017

Detroit — It’s been a while, feels like a long while, but it’s time to get back on the road for the Red Wings. If you’ve had the sense they’ve set up shop at Little Caesars Arena lately, you’re right. The Red Wings completed a home stand in which they’ve played 13 of 15 games at LCA — with only a 4-4-5 record to show for the home games — and are now playing three games before the Christmas break (and one right after). The last road game for the Red Wings? It was one they’d rather forget, the 10-1 loss Dec. 2 in Montreal. But after spending all this time at home, the Wings are looking forward to going on this East Coast swing. More:Krupa: Red Wings need to think ahead; ‘the process’ isn’t working “It’ll be a good time (to be on the road) if we win,” coach Jeff Blashill said. “If you had your druthers, as a team, as you’d like to spend a week at home and week on the road and mix it up, not go on really long stretches of either. But I do think, especially when you get to the Christmas holiday, it can be an advantage to get on the road and have that bunker mentality and away from some of the commitments you have when you’re at home.” The Red Wings (12-13-7, 31 points) have been about as average as can be, either at or away from LCA. They’re 6-6-6 at home, 6-7-1 on the road. But with the Red Wings in need of points to move up the standings, this trip against Eastern Conference opponents is crucial. “We’ve played well on the road,” forward Justin Abdelkader said. “It’s a good time for us to be on the road and spend a little more time with each other. You have to simplify your game a little bit on the road.” The Red Wings visit Brooklyn to face the Islanders (18-12-3, 39 points) to open the trip (7 p.m./Fox Sports Detroit/97.1 ). The Islanders have scored the second most goals in the East (118 goals) — and allowed the second most goals (115). “You definitely don’t want to give them easy opportunities,” Abdelkader said. “You have to play a smart game because they have a lot of offensive firepower.” Forward Frans Nielsen is in his second season with the Red Wings, but it’s still a charge to head to New York and face the Islanders. Nielsen played his first 10 seasons with the Islanders and has many friends on the team and in the area. “It’s still (exciting),” Nielsen said. “It’s always going to be weird going back there and playing against them. “They’re going to need to switch a few more players before (it’s not going to be weird).” Nielsen isn’t surprised the Islanders have gotten off to such a good start. “They had some question marks heading into the season, players they didn’t know about,” Nielsen said. “But they’ve turned out to be game changers for them. They have some serious talent on that team.”

Detroit News LOADED: 12.19.2017 1089003 Detroit Red Wings "He's been understanding that when we're coaching him we're trying to help him become the very best he can be," Blashill said.

Red Wings adjust lines to spark Andreas Athanasiou, Anthony Mantha Michigan Live LOADED: 12.19.2017

Updated December 18, 2017 at 2:48 PM; Posted December 18, 2017 at 2:33 PM By Ansar Khan [email protected]

DETROIT - Anthony Mantha and Andreas Athanasiou are mired in scoring slumps. But Detroit Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill is seeing more positives in Athanasiou's performance lately than in Mantha's, so their roles were reversed a bit Monday at practice. Athanasiou was moved from fourth-line center to a top-six wing position with Dylan Larkin and Tomas Tatar. Mantha was relegated to the fourth line. Blashill said this is how he'll start Tuesday's game at the New York Islanders (7 p.m., Fox Sports Detroit), the first of four in a row on the road. "We just want to make sure we're rewarding guys when they're doing it right and I thought (Athanasiou) did it right, especially the second and third periods (in Friday's 3-1 win over Toronto)," Blashill said. "And when guys don't do it right, sometimes they need a little bit of a reminder that they have to do it right shift in and shift out. "We have to outwork our opponents, out-compete our opponents and out-detail them. I can't play somebody that's not doing those things ahead of people that are. When people don't do that right, I got to make sure I'm playing the people that are doing that." Mantha said he has not been pleased with his overall game lately. He has no points in six games and just two goals and one assist, along with a minus-9, the past 13 games. "I don't think I've played the way I played earlier this season, not only point-wise, just in general," Mantha said. "I think the last couple of games I had a couple of turnovers, which earlier in the season I didn't really do. I need to bring back my game to a simple game and just make the right plays." Blashill said Mantha has "played pretty well," but has committed too many turnovers. "The second period (Friday), he turned pucks over that we can't turn over," Blashill said. "He'll get lots of chances to play and be important. He's just got to make sure (to) manage the puck through the neutral zone. We can't be a team that turns the puck over through the neutral zone. I'm not saying that you're not going to make mistakes. It's what's the approach over and over again." Mantha failed to register a shot for the first time this season on Friday. Two nights earlier against Boston, he recorded a season-high six shots. "I think a couple of games I passed away a couple of shots and tried making cute plays instead of keeping it simple," Mantha said. "I need to keep working hard. I need to create my chances and shoot more. "One play (Friday), I passed to Larkin on a three-on-one and he got robbed by (James) Reimer. That shot, if I take it, might be a rebound for him or something. I need to keep it simple instead of passing across two or three guys. Just shoot the puck for a rebound." Athanasiou has no goals and two assists, along with a minus-11, in the past 11 games, mostly as the fourth-line center. He attributed his drought to "a few bad bounces" but said the chances have been there. "I know I'll get my chances and eventually they'll go in," Athanasiou said. "Can't really think about it, just be ready for the next game and if I get an opportunity, try to make the most of it. "I hit two posts there and it stays out (on Friday). A lot of nights that goes in. There have been some tough breaks. But you just got to keep shooting when it's not going in and eventually it will." Blashill said as long as Athanasiou competes hard, he will eventually get rewarded. "When (Athanasiou) competes like crazy and works, he's got a real good skill-set, and then he can really use that skill-set," Blashill said. "But you can't be a real good player in this league without competing like crazy, without working like crazy." Blashill said Athanasiou has been receptive to coaching. 1089004 Detroit Red Wings “He has the ability to go against the other team’s best players and certainly him and (Trevor) Daley have been a good pair,” Blashill said. “When he makes a mistake, it usually really shows because he’s so big. Red Wings must make up ground on road But we’re in a tough spot without him. “Going back to last year, I thought he did a great job compared to the previous year of being an option to skate first and then making a play Staff Report with the puck. When he does that, you have way less turnovers and I think he’s got that big body that gives him that extra split-second to make Posted December 18, 2017 at 06:02 AM | Updated December 18, 2017 a decision with the puck and it’s really eliminated a lot of the turnovers.” at 06:07 AM

Michigan Live LOADED: 12.19.2017 The Detroit Red Wings’ inability to capitalize on their home schedule forces them to make up ground on the road to remain in the playoff hunt. The Red Wings play their next four away from home, all against Eastern Conference opponents, including three this week vs. the New York Islanders, Philadelphia and Boston. The Red Wings have gained only 18 of a possible 36 points at home (6- 6-6) and last week relinquished important points to Florida and Boston (in overtime losses), two of the four teams that Detroit is competing with for third place and the final playoff spot in Atlantic Division (Montreal and Ottawa are the others). The Red Wings begin the week trailing the third-place Bruins by four points, but Boston has two games in a hand. Here are five things to watch for this week: Andreas Athanasiou 11-17-17 Andreas Athanasiou has gone 11 games without a goal, during which he has two assists and a minus-11 rating. He’s been centering the fourth line, with Martin Frk for the past six games and a variety of other wingers, as they’ve been using 11 forwards and seven defensemen a lot. Athanasiou probably won’t be moved up to the top nine anytime soon, since coach Jeff Blashill likes his match-up line of Frans Nielsen centering Darren Helm and Luke Glendening. Frk has no goals and two assists in six games since returning from a groin injury. He has gotten some good looks on the power play but has missed the net a few times and has just seven shots. He is trying to find a balance between releasing his shot fast and hard or taking a little off to get better accuracy. Anthony Mantha has gone six games without a point. Detroit Red Wings vs. Philadelphia Flyers - April 6, 2016 Wayne Simmonds and the Flyers have had a lot of success lately against Tomas Tatar and the Red Wings. (MLive/Mike Mulholland) Back-to-back at Islanders, Flyers The Red Wings visit the Islanders Tuesday (7 p.m., Fox Sports Detroit) and Philadelphia Wednesday (8 p.m., NBC Sports Network). The Islanders (18-12-3) are 3-5-1 in their past nine. They’re led by John Tavares and Josh Bailey, who have 40 points each. The Flyers (14-11-7) take a six-game winning streak into Monday’s contest against the Kings. Before this run, they had lost 10 in a row, including four in overtime and one in a shootout. Jakub Voracek leads Philly with 40 points, including 33 assists. The Red Wings snapped a 12-game losing streak in Philadelphia during their most recent visit (3-2 shootout victory Nov. 8, 2016). What does future hold for Mrazek? It has been 40 days since Petr Mrazek played a complete game (6-3 loss at Calgary on Nov. 9) and his last win was on Nov. 5 (4-0 at Edmonton). He has appeared in four games since then – pulled twice (concussion protocol on Nov. 25 and during a blowout loss at Montreal on Dec. 2) and in relief of Jimmy Howard twice. His next start might be Wednesday in Philly, since it’s a back-to-back. But how many games does Mrazek have left as a Red Wing? As long as the team feels it is in playoff contention, it likely will keep Mrazek as insurance in case Howard is injured. If the Red Wings fall out of contention, Mrazek is among the players they hope to move for a draft pick. They had recent discussions with Edmonton (for a fourth- or fifth- round pick). Ericsson most consistent D Jonathan Ericsson is tied for the team’s best plus-minus rating (plus-1). It’s far from impressive, but he has been the team’s most consistent defenseman. 1089005 Edmonton Oilers This ’n that: Ryan Strome’s goal on a great feed from Leon Draisaitl, was the 10,000th in Oilers’ history. The first was from Kevin Lowe, Oct. 10, 1979 in Chicago … Sharks’ defenceman Brenden Dillon was hit while Oilers Snapshots: Adam Larsson back in lineup for Oilers sitting on the bench by a clearing attempt by San Jose defenceman Justin Braun in the first period and went to the dressing room for repairs before returning. Jim Matheson, Edmonton Journal Published on: December 18, 2017 | Last Updated: December 18, 2017 Edmonton Journal: LOADED: 12.19.2017 11:29 PM MST

With Edmonton Oilers defenceman Adam Larsson activated Monday and playing against San Jose Sharks, one shoe had to drop and it was winger Anton Slepyshev losing out, so he’s off to the farm in Bakersfield because he doesn’t have to clear NHL waivers. Drake Caggiula does have to clear, same with Nathan Walker, who played in place of Mike Cammalleri against the Sharks. Caggiula needs waivers because he was an older college free-agent signing. Walker because he’s already been on waivers once and was claimed Dec. 1 from Washington Capitals. Slepyshev looked like he might be a top-nine winger after the playoffs last spring when he scored three times including the series-clinching breakaway goal against San Jose, but he sprained his ankle in offseason training and simply hasn’t done enough in his 15 games with one goal and three points and just 18 shots. He looks like a player, but bottom line: not enough happens on a consistent basis, which is why the Oilers may be trying to trade the 23-year-old. In his 77 NHL games, he has 14 points, just five goals. The married (wife Julia) dad of young son Miron wants no part of going back to the KHL but he can’t gain any traction with the Oiler coaching staff, so he’s back in the minors. Larsson took Yohann Auvitu’s spot in the third pairing after missing eight games with a back problem. Auvitu had played 12 straight games after sitting out eight of 10 before that, mostly with Brandon Davidson or Eric Gryba. Gryba was also scratched for a sixth consecutive game, certainly not a good sign for the veteran, signed to a two-year contract over the summer. They’re keeping eight defenceman on the roster for now, with Andrej Sekera maybe back in the next 10 days, which means something’s got to give back there in terms of a roster move. Three’s company, nine’s a platoon. Larsson was hurt in pre-game warmup for the Maple Leafs home game Nov. 30. “This took way longer (to come back) than I thought,” said Larsson. “I thought I’d be out one or two days, but I had a setback. Felt like I took two steps backward and one step forward.” Sharks Hall of Famer to be Joe Thornton was held together by duct tape, baling wire and a big heart last spring when he played against the Oilers in the postseason because his left knee was a total mess. The ligaments (MCL and ACL) were torn. Somehow he still played four of the six games with two assists. “You get a little bit of pain-killer to be able to play?” Jumbo Joe was asked. “Nah, all natural,” said the Bearded One. “What were you in the playoffs? Twenty percent?” “C’mon, that’s months ago. I can’t remember,” said Thornton. Thornton needed surgery when the playoffs were over. Oiler defenceman Darnell Nurse’s cousin Sarah didn’t suit up for Team Canada against the USA women at Rogers Place Sunday but she’s still in the mix for a spot for the Olympic squad as a forward after scoring in San Jose Saturday night. “She’s not a mucker,” kidded Darnell. “We played hockey against one another when we were little, say, from six to nine years old.” Nurse said the playoff series with the Sharks last spring went by like a blur, the first one he’s been in as an NHLer. No lasting memories of the 7-0 pasting in San Jose in game four? “Nah, I think they burned that (game) tape,” joked Nurse. 1089006 Edmonton Oilers

Edmonton Oilers hold off San Jose Sharks for second-consecutive win

Robert Tychkowski Published on: December 18, 2017 | Last Updated: December 18, 2017

With a 2-11 record after they win a game, and a 5-10-0 record at Rogers Place, the Edmonton Oilers were a risky bet when the San Jose Sharks came to town Monday night. But the statistical long shot paid off big for an Oilers team hoping to salvage its season. The Oilers, who were in command most of the night, survived a third- period charge to post a 5-3 victory over the Sharks and win two in-a-row for just the third time this year. The Oilers, who seem to be closing in on the formula that worked for them last year, improved to 15-17-2 and will have to run the table against St Louis and Montreal if they are to reach their goal of climbing back to .500 by the Christmas break. They stumbled out of the gate, giving up the first goal for the 21st time in 34 games when Joe Pavelski took advantage of Edmonton’s struggling penalty kill at 6:15 of the first period. And given that the Oilers were 5-14- 1 the previous 20 times they had fallen behind 1-0, it didn’t look good. But Edmonton’s offence took off after that, with Mark Letestu and Ryan Strome converting sweet feeds from Leon Draisaitl to make it 2-1 after 20 minutes. The Strome goal was the 10,000th in Oilers history. After Drake Caggiula made it 3-1 six minutes into the second period it looked like the home team might be free and clear. It wasn’t. The Sharks closed it to 3-2 after 40 minutes on a goal from Tomas Hertl to set up the third period finish. Patrick Maroon provided some breathing room with his bullet inside the post at 8:23 to give the Oilers a 4-2 lead, but San Jose wouldn’t go away, closing it to one goal again on Marcus Sorenson’s tally with eight minutes to play. There were some heart-stopping moments in the final seconds until Strome sealed it into the empty net from 150 feet away. Cam Talbot improved his record to 2-0 since returning from seven games out with an injury.

Edmonton Journal: LOADED: 12.19.2017 1089007 Edmonton Oilers There’s no head-to-head individual battle. It’s the playoffs revisited. This is the first meeting between the Sharks and Oilers since last spring when Edmonton knocked off San Jose in six games, with the kill-shot the Larsson returns to Oilers' lineup with Sharks up next Game 5 overtime winner on David Desharnais’s goal. It seems incongruous that the two Pacific Division rivals would finally see one another more than two months after the season started. But there seems to be no rhyme or reason to how the NHL schedule works. Jim Matheson, Edmonton Journal

Published on: December 18, 2017 | Last Updated: December 18, 2017 1:37 PM MST Edmonton Journal: LOADED: 12.19.2017

Adam Larsson will be back on the Edmonton Oilers’ blueline against the San Jose Sharks. Larsson has missed eight games with a back problem that started before the team’s home game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Nov. 30. “I hurt it in the warmup,” said Larsson. “I didn’t think it was that bad at the time. I thought I’d only be out a couple of days but I had a setback. It was like one step forward and two back.” Oilers head coach Todd McLellan wouldn’t say who Larsson would play with or take out of the lineup. “He’ll probably move around because he’s been out three weeks,” he said. Chances are Yohann Auvitu will draw the short straw on the back-end, which is now very crowded because Eric Gryba will be sitting for a sixth straight game. Andrej Sekera isn’t far from being ready, either. With Larsson coming off injured reserve after missing eight games, the Oilers will have to send a player to their American Hockey League farm team in Bakersfield, Calif., to stay at the 23-man roster. It’ll most likely be winger Anton Slepyshev because he doesn’t have to clear waivers to go down. Winger Nathan Walker, who has played one game since being claimed off Washington, could also be in the lineup, replacing Mike Cammalleri. Walker would go on the fourth line with Mark Letestu and Zack Kassian, while Drake Caggiula would move into Cammalleri’s spot on the line with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Patrick Maroon. The Oilers didn’t run lines or defence pairs in practice because the morning skate was optional. The Oilers are a dreadful 57.7 per cent on their home penalty kill, by several miles the worst stat in the league. It’s a good reason why they’re 5-10 at Rogers Place, having allowed a power-play goal almost every game at home, which means they’re basically behind 1-0 before the game starts. In only two home games have they not given up a power- play goal. In two other games, they didn’t take a penalty. Small mercies. Couture, who played against the Oilers with his jaw wired and wearing a cage-mask in the playoffs last spring, is out with a possible concussion. He’s been their best player with 26 points and now Tomas Hertl has to move from wing to centre on the second line. Couture has feasted against the Oilers in the regular season, with 16 goals and 25 points in 26 career games. He has 16 goals against the Canucks too in his career but in 30 games. How about power-play goal? The Sharks kill off 85 per cent of the opposition power plays and also have six short-handed goals, so they’re very dangerous with the puck as well, although Couture has two of the shorties. The Oilers haven’t had a power-play score in 11 of their last 13 games. They hit for two on the road in Montreal and Columbus but they’re 4-for-37 in that span. Leon Draisaitl still doesn’t have a power-play goal after scoring 10 last season. Brent Burns, who won the Norris Trophy last year on the strength of his 29 goals, couldn’t buy one in the first 20 games this season until Nov. 21 against Vegas. But he has five goals in his last five games. He has 128 shots this season but only six total goals for a 4.7 shooting percentage. Last year, he had 320 shots and had a 9.1 shots-to-goals ratio, so almost double the success rate. Nobody gets the puck through from the point more than Burns, changing his shot angle with ease. The Connor McDavid-led line, with Milan Lucic on left-wing and Jesse Puljujarvi on right, has 23 points in the last eight games. McDavid has nine points, Lucic eight and the teenager Puljujarvi six. The line has 10 goals in that time with Puljujarvi scoring four of them. Lucic has taken over from Patrick Maroon on the left side and is playing his best five-on- five hockey since joining the Oilers. And Puljujarvi has figured out that goals in the NHL are generally scored 15 feet or less from the net. Edmonton vs. Sharks’ memory? 1089008 Edmonton Oilers Osgood posted an 18-save shutout in the final season of his four-year apostasy from the Red Wings.

In the aftermath of the near miss, Nedved decided not to re-sign in Forgotten Dwight Helminen was at the heart of one of the Oilers' biggest Edmonton. His late-season run with the Oilers had increased his value in trade deadline deals free agency, and when he signed with Phoenix that August it was seen as a loss for Edmonton. In hindsight, it wasn’t really; the Oilers felt compelled to go out and add Mike Peca in a trade, while Nedved’s own By Jonathan Willis 12 hours ago career went off the rails. He’d end up back in Edmonton, a waiver claim in 2007, but both team and player were diminished and the 19-game stint ended his NHL career. The University of Michigan hockey program has been one of the best at Markkanen ended up having the more substantial long-term impact on churning out talent for the NHL over the last few decades. ‘Red’ the team. After their brilliant late-season showing, the Oilers decided to Berenson, the former long-time coach, represents a huge piece of stick with a Ty Conklin/Markkanen tandem into the next season, 2005-06. hockey history all by himself, spanning from his first major-league game It was a disastrous choice, one that kneecapped a strong Edmonton in Montreal under Toe Blake to young NHLers like Zach Werenski and team and was only solved with the deadline expenditure of a first-round Kyle Connor who played under him. pick for Dwayne Roloson, which sparked the club’s brilliant 2006 playoff run. Mike Cammalleri, Edmonton’s most recent trade addition, played three years there. Among his teammates during that time was another high- That wasn't it for Markkanen; he would back Roloson up in 2006-07 as profile Oiler, Mike Comrie, whose two stints in Edmonton are exceedingly well before returning to Europe. Incredibly, he played seven games in memorable for reasons both good and bad. Finland’s top league this season at 42, meaning his pro career outlasted that of Helminen, the prospect he was traded for. This despite the fact Less memorable was the third Edmonton player on that team in those that as Markkanen’s time in the majors ended, Helminen’s had not yet years. Dwight Helminen was a late pick of the club who never played a even begun. game for the Oilers, a player whose time with the organization was so low-profile that the average reader can be forgiven if he or she forgets It wasn’t for lack of trying on Helminen’s part. him entirely. Nevertheless, Helminen had an interesting and instructive career and also figured into a blockbuster deadline trade that would have Years out of the playoffs, trades like the Nedved deal and a lockout an enormous effect on the team. meant that space with the Rangers’ AHL affiliate was hard to find when Helminen turned pro in 2004-05, so he played much of his first season in It all started in 2002. the ECHL. The Charlotte Checkers were a good team that year, and Helminen led them in playoff goals, playing with former 50-point NHLer The 2002 draft was a mixed bag for Edmonton. Jason Dawe and future Oilers enforcer Steve MacIntyre. It was the second run by Kevin Prendergast, who had at long last Helminen graduated to the AHL in 2005-06, where he was one of four replaced Barry Fraser as the Oilers’ chief scout. Fraser, a key architect of guys under the age of 25 to pot 30 goals for the . the glory years Oilers, had been living off his reputation for ages even as Jarkko Immonen and Alexandre Giroux (another future Oiler, albeit the team missed with first-rounder after first-rounder. The first selection briefly) got looks that year but neither really panned out. Nigel Dawes got of the Prendergast era, Ales Hemsky, was a welcome departure from his shot in 2006-07 and played 200-odd games in the show before going that trend but in many ways, 2002 was where the first seed of on to a second act as a hockey legend in . Prendergast’s eventual departure was planted. All of them got more games than Helminen, who played out his entry- The Oilers had 15 picks that year and did particularly well with their level deal without ever getting a look in the majors. Cut loose by New second-round trio: goalie Jeff Deslauriers, centre Jarret Stoll and York in 2007, he made his way to Jyvaskyla, Finland with his undrafted defencemen Matt Greene. Those picks tend to be overshadowed by the brother Lars: two Americans on a team with 29 Finns, one of whom was failures of that draft: 12 guys who didn’t make it to even 50 games in the former AHL teammate Immonen. The “Athens of Finland” is a city of majors, including a devastatingly unsuccessful first-rounder (Jesse extremes: so-named for its reputation as a centre of education, the city Niinimaki) and the fourth-round selection of a guy who wasn’t even draft- has midnight twilight in the summer, just five hours of daylight in the eligible (Robin Kovar, though that actually kind of worked out). winter, and 328 lakes within its limits. Helminen was one of those dozen guys falling below 50 games; he and It was a good move for Helminen, who put up 20 goals and 45 points, Mikka Luoma (three NHL games) were the only other future major- numbers good enough to relaunch his North American career. Carolina, leaguers picked that year. Helminen wasn’t selected until the eighth his third NHL organization, signed him as a depth player at the age of 25. round, 244th overall, and at that position, it’s hard to label him a failure. Making the league at all from that far back is a genuine accomplishment. That’s where Helminen made the NHL for the first time, playing 23 games for the ‘Canes. He had just a single goal and assist, both of which In 2004, Helminen was named the best defensive forward in the Central came in a single game. Nevertheless, it’s hard to blame him for a lack of Collegiate Hockey Association, a nod to a player who had developed production. Helminen played less than five minutes in half of his contests nicely since being drafted. Previous winners included Mike York and with Carolina and averaged just 6:49 per night overall. Shawn Horcoff as well as other NHLers; as our friend Lowetide would say, it was a good arrow. It was an affirmation of Edmonton's decision to The next year, at 26, he finished off his NHL career with Todd McLellan’s draft him, but also of the New York Ranger's decision to trade for him just San Jose Sharks. He got called up in February, and in his second game a few weeks earlier. with the team had five hits and a blocked shot in a 3-0 loss to Columbus, a performance which caught the coach’s eye. On March 3, 2004, shortly before Helminen won the award, he was traded by Edmonton to New York. The Rangers were in the midst of a “I thought Helminen moving up gave that third line some speed,” fairly epic fire sale, while the Oilers were six points out of the playoffs and McLellan told reporter David Pollak. “It’s nice to see him with his legs and desperately trying to claw their way over the finish line. It was a big trade, his energy take somebody else’s job. It makes it competitive.” and one that would have a serious effect on the Oilers immediately: The next game, his first against his hometown Red Wings, Helminen Nedved was the big name. This was the year of both the Ryan Smyth-at- scored a goal and again won praise from his coach. centre experiment and the attempt to squeeze some last bit of offence out of Adam Oates. Neither move really worked, so the Oilers had limped “Every shift he goes out there, he enhances our opinion of him and I think along with developing pivots Horcoff and Stoll as well as the winger York his teammates appreciate his effort as well,” McLellan told Pollak. down the middle for most of the season. Helminen played just once more before being dispatched to the minors. “Petr is a proven scorer who can play centre, provide us with some He’d come back two months later, playing seven playoff games for a added offence and help us in our drive for the playoffs,” then-GM Kevin Sharks team which advanced to the third round of the playoffs. There Lowe said, and he was right. Nedved put up 15 points in 16 games, and they fell to the rising power of Chicago, a team at the start of a truly the Oilers climbed the standings. special run. It wasn’t enough. The Oil finished with 89 points, two back of the playoffs, Helminen didn’t play in that final series. He had last played in the second despite a plus-13 goal differential that was 20 better than playoff-bound round, against those same Red Wings. He skated 12 shifts and was in St. Louis. A 1-0 Blues victory in the 80th game of the season proved the penalty box for two Detroit goals in what turned into a 7-1 rout of San decisive; former Edmonton captain Doug Weight scored the goal and Jose. It was the final game of his major-league career. future Oilers defenceman Chris Pronger picked up the primary assist. Markkanen was in net and stopped 26-of-27 shots faced, but Chris That summer, Helminen tried something that had worked once before: he signed in Finland, this time with a weak team. He finished second on the club in scoring with just 28 points, edging out another Michigan native: York, who like Helminen had been named the CCHA's best defensive forward as a college player, and whose failings as a centre in Edmonton helped prompt the end of Helminen's time in the Oilers organization. This time, a stint in Finland did little to rejuvenate Helminen's career. While his teammate York used his time with Lahti to launch a five-year stint with the Iserlohn Roosters of Germany's top league (including two as captain), the best job Helminen could land was in a second-tier Czech league. He spent most of the season there, before joining the ECHL’s partially on the recommendation of his cousin later in the season. He had a nice run with the K-Wings, but that was it for his career; he’d play three games for them the next season and then drop off the pro hockey map. It was a standard hockey career arc: peaking in his mid-20s, falling off dramatically at 30. York lived that career arc, too, with the difference being relative ceiling. At 25, York was a top-six NHL forward, and at 30 he was a solid AHL and then European pro. At 25, Helminen was an NHLer; at 30 he was out of the game. It would be wrong to regard such a career as a failure. Twice Helminen played at the world juniors and represented Team USA at the U-17 and U-18 levels as well as part of their national development program. He showed enough to get drafted, but had to prove himself at the college level and then the ECHL before he got an AHL shot; he then had to prove himself repeatedly in the AHL and Europe before he finally worked his way to the NHL. It's hard to make the majors, even for a short time: many try, comparatively few succeed. Helminen was one of those few. He played the games, he scored goals and he saw the thrill of a long Stanley Cup run firsthand. And while his time with the Oilers organization was brief, he figured into a massive deadline trade, a brilliant roll of the dice by Kevin Lowe which came so close to bearing its desired fruit.

The Athletic LOADED: 12.19.2017 1089009 Florida Panthers

Preview: Panthers at Coyotes, 9 p.m., Tuesday

Matthew DeFranks Sun Sentinel

Panthers at Coyotes When/where: 9 p.m./Gila River Arena, Glendale, Ariz. TV: Fox Sports Florida Radio: 560-AM; 640-AM (Palm Beach) Scouting report: The Florida Panthers will try to salvage their five-game trip with a date against the last-place Arizona Coyotes on Tuesday night. The Panthers are coming off a 5-2 loss to Vegas on Sunday night in which former Florida forwards Jonathan Marchessault and Reilly Smith combined for five points. For Florida, stars Aleksander Barkov, Jonathan Huberdeau and Vincent Trocheck didn’t register a shot on goal. … Arizona (7-23-5, 19 points) has lost its past six games, including the past five in regulation. It enters Tuesday’s game as the only team in the NHL without at least 20 points. The Coyotes’ current losing streak is the third one this season of at least five games, including a season-opening 11- game spell. Of Arizona’s seven wins, only three came in regulation. … The two teams engaged in a rare training-camp trade this season, with Florida acquiring Jamie McGinn by sending Jason Demers to Arizona. Radim Vrbata led the Coyotes in scoring last season. …Goaltender Roberto Luongo (lower body) will miss his seventh straight game.

Sun Sentinel LOADED: 12.19.2017 1089010 Florida Panthers

Poor third period dooms Panthers in loss to Vegas on Sunday

Matthew DeFranks Sun Sentinel

The Florida Panthers would like to forget the third period of Sunday’s 5-2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. Entering the period tied at 2, the Panthers had a chance to swing a middling road trip their way with a strong, decisive final frame. Instead, Florida got dominated. It only had two shots on goal, while the Golden Knights racked up 20. “We got to find a way to complete games and at least force it to overtime, guarantee yourself a point and let’s see what happens in overtime,” Panthers coach Bob Boughner said. “Just disappointing that we stood around, we watched too much.” The Panthers went 9:45 between shots on goal, from Aaron Ekblad’s last shot in the second period to Radim Vrbata’s flip on net in the third. Then Florida went another 8:53 between shots on goal, when Mike Matheson fired the Panthers’ last shot of the night 17:25 into the third period. In the first drought, the Golden Knights had seven shots. In the second, they had nine shots. The Panthers had as many penalties as they did shots on goal in the third. Vegas had more shots in the third period than Florida did the entire game (18). “At the end of the day, we got to find a way to produce offense,” Boughner said. “We had plenty of chances in the second period, when the game was 2-2, to go up 3-2, even 4-2. We hit three or four posts, we missed the net on golden opportunities. Those are the differences in the game. You have to be able to bury your chances.” In a season speckled with poor periods (like the first period against Chicago on Nov. 25, or the second period against Dallas on Nov. 14, or the second period against Tampa Bay on Oct. 30), Sunday’s third period may have been the worst of the season. Boughner said the team would go over video before Monday’s practice in Arizona to review the game. “We’re not finishing,” Boughner said. “We’re not executing. Every time you score one, two goals a game, every mistake is magnified.” Evaporating leads Things started off great for the Panthers, who scored two goals in the game’s opening 5:13 in the first period. Radim Vrbata scored his first goal since Oct. 26, as the second power-play unit got on the scoresheet for the first time since then. Mike Matheson scored his second goal of the road trip with a rocket from the left circle. But then Florida blew the lead. Vegas scored the final five goals of the game, though two were empty-net goals late in the third period. “We didn’t execute on our opportunities,” Boughner said. Sunday was the fourth straight time the Panthers blew a 2-0 first-period lead. Florida has had seven 2-0 first-period leads. It’s lost five of them. For the first time, Panthers star forwards Aleksander Barkov, Jonathan Huberdeau and Vincent Trocheck combined for zero shots on goal on Sunday night. But Barkov and Huberdeau helped set up Nick Bjugstad for six shots on goal, with Boughner saying Florida’s top line was the best on the ice Sunday. “We didn’t bury our chances,” Boughner said. “Bjugy had three or four golden opportunities himself. … It would have been a much different game if a couple went in early on Barky’s line.” Huberdeau has one goal in his past nine games. Barkov and Trocheck each have one in their past five.

Sun Sentinel LOADED: 12.19.2017 1089011 Los Angeles Kings

Expect plenty of chirping when Kings' Drew Doughty faces an old friend, Flyers' Wayne Simmonds

Curtis Zupke

If the NHL wanted to give an entertaining glimpse into the on-ice banter between players, it probably couldn’t do much better than to put microphones on Drew Doughty and Wayne Simmonds. The two were close friends when Simmonds played for the Kings early in his career, and they kept in touch after Simmonds went to the Philadelphia Flyers. They will see each other Monday when the Kings play the Flyers at Wells Fargo Center. “I’ll probably be matched up against him a lot tonight,” Doughty said. “The thing I love about Wayne is that we’re very similar off the ice, but when it comes to hockey, we [also] have a lot of similarities. We’re both just absolute competitors. We care so much about the team. He thinks team first. And we just hate losing hockey games. “You see him out there [complaining] to the refs … yelling at the other team or whatever it may be. That’s not because he hates other people, he can’t stand to think of losing. That’s why he’s such a good player. Neither of us have the top skills on our team. Neither are the fastest players … we just have big hearts and we like to compete.” Simmonds has been with the Flyers for seven seasons but is still associated with the Kings. He was MVP of last year’s All-Star game at Staples Center. “Seven years later,” Simmonds said. “It’s almost been a decade. Obviously it’s nice to see the [Kings] and the rise they’ve had. It’s nice to see them, but I’m a Flyer.” Doughty is known for his competitiveness and his tendency to talk to opponents, or “chirping,” as it’s called in hockey circles. He inadvertently zinged the Florida Panthers when asked if playing against friends makes it more fun. “I get up for all games, really,” Doughty said. “It doesn’t matter, unless we’re playing, like, Florida or something weird like that. Every team has a star guy but when I come in here I’ve got to match up against him. I’m excited to play against them. Simmer’s just another one of those guys that I enjoy playing against. It will be a competitive game.” The Kings did not do line rushes at their morning skate but it appears that Marian Gaborik might be centered by Anze Kopitar, with Dustin Brown on the other wing. It’s an expected move since Gaborik returned from a knee injury. “I’m not sure,” Kings coach John Stevens said. “It depends how it’s going. I think Gabby came back and played really well for a stretch. Sometimes it’s just a matter of the game — we’ll see what the matchups are on their side…we’re not quite sure what we’re going to do there yet, but even if we start one way, we can change in a hurry.” Alex Iafallo was with Nick Shore and Trevor Lewis in drills, while Andy Andreoff skated with Torrey Mitchell and Jonny Brodzinski. Andreoff was scratched or injured the past 10 games and Brodzinski has been scratched the past two games.

LA Times: LOADED: 12.19.2017 1089012 Los Angeles Kings

Kings end three-game winless streak with 4-1 victory over the Flyers

Curtis Zupke

With the collar turned up on his black coat, Kings coach John Stevens looked ready to walk out into the chilly winter night in film-noir style. His return to Philadelphia carried dramatic undertones because of what the area means to him, his family and his coaching career. Spike that equation with his team sorely needing to end a three-game winless streak and early on losing a defenseman against a Philadelphia Flyers team riding a six-game win streak. The result, a 4-1 Kings victory Monday night, allowed Stevens some personal satisfaction. “I’ll be totally honest, it’s nice to be where my kids grew up,” said the former Flyers player and coach. “It’s a win for them. This was a big game for us on this trip. I really wanted to take two points home for us. It’s just a nice win against a quality hockey team.” Kings defenseman Christian Folin was sidelined in the first period because of an upper-body injury and there was no immediate update on his status. Down to five defensemen, the Kings powered through with goals by Alec Martinez, Trevor Lewis, Adrian Kempe and Tyler Toffoli. Jonathan Quick made 36 saves to shut the door on a game the Kings knew meant something to Stevens. “I think any time you play one of your old clubs, you’ve got a little extra want going into the game,” Martinez said. “John has been unbelievable for us. He’s come in here and stepped in and encouraged an environment that’s very positive. He’s been awesome for us this year.” The Kings defense supported a strong checking game. Drew Doughty had his usual all-over-the-ice presence and played more than 31 minutes. Martinez played nearly 28 and Anze Kopitar helped tighten the defense after the Kings gave up a power-play goal for the sixth consecutive game. Kempe delivered a crushing goal 4:48 into the third period when he sprung from the penalty box to join a rush and shot the puck between teammate Dustin Brown’s legs. Kempe’s 11th goal made the score 3-1 and was at least the second he shot between a pair of legs. “I don’t want to practice too much on my own guys,” Kempe said. “The goalie was cheating a little bit, far side. If I were to look for the pass, it was open. [But the shot] was open between the legs.” Kempe had just served a cross-checking penalty, one of the Kings’ seven minor penalties. The Kings withstood a 15-shot third period in which Quick helped kill two penalties. “Everyone’s got to dig in,” Martinez said. “It’s not just the five D that are remaining. You’ve got to keep your shifts short. You’ve got to make plays. You’ve got to keep things simple. We got unbelievable goaltending again, from Jonathan Quick, and that’s a huge part of it too.” Flyers goalie Brian Elliott did not give up more than two goals in any game during his team’s winning streak. But Martinez beat Elliott on a slap shot off Torrey Mitchell’s faceoff win and Trevor Lewis scored on a snap shot from the right side to finish a rush. Toffoli finished the scoring with a high shot on a short breakaway, the 100th goal of his career, after Nick Shore stripped the puck from Sean Couturier in front of a crowd of 19,617. “We talked about how important it was to play a really good, solid team game, that we had to play to our identity,” Stevens said. “We knew we had to check this team well.” Stevens said Folin will be further evaluated upon their return home.

LA Times: LOADED: 12.19.2017 1089013 Los Angeles Kings

GAME 35: LOS ANGELES AT PHILADELPHIA

JON ROSEN DECEMBER 18, 20170 COMMENTS

GAME THREADS Los Angeles Kings 2, Philadelphia Flyers 1 First Intermission SOG: LAK – 8; PHI – 9 PP: LAK – 0/1; PHI – 1/2 First Period 1) LAK – Alec Martinez (3) (Torrey Mitchell), 5:27 2) LAK – Trevor Lewis (8) (Nick Shore, Jake Muzzin), 16:46 3) PHI PPG – Jake Voracek (8) (Claude Giroux, Shayne Gostisbehere), 18:04 Second Period Los Angeles Kings (20-10-4) at Philadelphia Flyers (14-11-7) Monday, December 18, 2017, 4:00 p.m. PT Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA Referees: #26 Jake Brenk, #34 Brad Meier Linesmen: #81 Ryan Daisy, #63 Trent Knorr Fox Sports West, FOX Sports GO, FUBO TV, KABC 790, I Heart Radio LAK starters: G Jonathan Quick, D Jake Muzzin, D Drew Doughty, LW Tanner Pearson, C Adrian Kempe, RW Tyler Toffoli LAK scratches: F Kyle Clifford, F Jussi Jokinen, D Kurtis MacDermid PHI starters: G Brian Elliott, D Shayne Gostisbehere, D Robert Hagg, LW Michael Raffl, C Valteri Filppula, RW Jakub Voracek PHI scratches: F Jori Lehtera, D Mark Alt

LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 12.19.2017 1089014 Los Angeles Kings Kempe was selected with the 29th overall pick in the first round of the NHL Draft when it was hosted by the Flyers two weeks after the Kings celebrated a championship on the Staples Center ice. DECEMBER 18 NOTES: KEMPE REVISITS DRAFT DAY; LEWIS’ “It was the team coming into the draft that you knew had won the Cup, FIGHT; DOUGHTY ON SIMMONDS and you knew they had great players, and that was the dream team to be drafted from,” Kempe said. “You hear your name, that’s awesome. I was so excited and proud.” JON ROSEN Kempe, who had primarily spoken with Michael Futa, Mark Yannetti, DECEMBER 18, 20170 COMMENTS Christian Ruuttu and Nicklas Andersson during his draft year, went into the draft knowing that Los Angeles might be his landing spot. Montreal, who owned the 26th pick and selected Nikita Scherbak with it, was another team that he had spoken with somewhat extensively. But, in MORNING SKATE NOTESMORNING SKATE QUOTESVIDEO between the Islanders choosing Joshua Ho-Sang, and the Devils Good afternoon from Philadelphia, Insiders. The Kings skated at Wells choosing John Quenneville, the Kings strode to the podium and called Fargo Arena at 11:30 a.m. this morning, and because they did not get on his name. the ice yesterday, there was a touch more structure to today’s morning “You always want to get drafted as high as possible, and I knew I was skate. There was some power play work, several flow drills, and though ready to go in the first round, maybe second round,” he said. “…Sitting there were no clear line rushes, several transitional drills appeared to there, it was kind of nervous the entire time, but finally getting called up indicate the following lineup: was exciting. It was one of the best feelings I’ve probably ever had.” -Jonathan Quick left the ice and is projected to start in goal. John Of the 210 players selected in 2014, the 21-year-old Kempe ranks 24th Stevens indicated early this morning that some lineup decisions will be with 58 career games played. made closer to game time, so the above isn’t a clear representation of who will be in tonight’s lineup. All players who traveled were on the ice -The Flyers, meanwhile, have won six in a row and tonight will attempt to for the skate. become the second team in NHL history to win seven straight games immediately after a losing streak of at least 10 games. The last team to -Marian Gaborik has jumped up to Anze Kopitar’s line at times since his do that was the 1966-67 Maple Leafs, the last Leafs team to bring the return, and coaches always make adjustments to lines during games, but Stanley Cup to Toronto. Philadelphia has allowed just one power play in this represents the first morning skate in which he, and not Alex Iafallo, three straight games and has gone seven consecutive games without skated to the left of Kopitar and Dustin Brown. Should we expect this to allowing more than two chances. That’s important, because their penalty carry over to the game? “I’m not sure. It just depends how it’s going,” killing overall ranks 29th in the league at 76.9%. The Flyers are the Stevens said. “Gabby came back and played really well for a stretch, so league’s stingiest five-on-five team with 46 goals allowed; the Kings rank sometimes it’s just a matter of the game. We’ll see what the match-ups tied for third with 51 five-on-five goals allowed. Whereas Philadelphia has are from their side. Sometimes you get surprised on the road of what the won back-to-back 2-1 games, Los Angeles has only three wins this match-ups are. Bigger body, faster player, it just depends how the line’s season in which it scored no more than two goals: 2-0 W vs PHI, 10/5/17; doing against the match-ups. We’re not quite sure what we’re going to do 2-1 OTW @ BOS, 10/28/17; 2-1 SOW vs ANA, 11/25/17). there yet, but even if we do start one way, we can change in a hurry.” In the regular season, Brian Elliott is 5-6-2 lifetime against the Kings with -The Kings don’t appear to be a pressing team at the moment, but they’re a 2.25 goals-against average, a .922 save percentage and three aware there are things in their game that can be cleaned up after an 0-2- shutouts. At right, Flyers Assistant Coach Ian Laperriere gives Daryl 1 stretch. Among them is refined use of the forward up high in the Evans a hard time about his fitness-oriented Instagram account. In offensive zone. addition to Lappy, Philadelphia GM Ron Hextall and Goaltending Coach “I think having that good F3, I think it helps us generate a lot more Kim Dillabaugh are among those with ties to the L.A. organization. Both chances in the offensive zone, and also when a puck gets turned over, have championship rings from their Kings tenures. we know who’s got that third guy back and we can usually get the puck -There was, as usual, really good stuff from Drew Doughty this morning. back quicker and transition right away. We just put more of a focus on Tonight, Drew will again counter his longtime friend Wayne Simmonds. having that third guy,” Trevor Lewis said. It’s the latest bout between a pair of All-Stars whose friendship predates Lewis fought Jason Chimera in the first period of the Islanders game, their time in the Los Angeles organization, and, as always, Drew speaks marking his fourth fight in the NHL by HockeyFights.com’s count. He’s colloquially and bluntly. It was fun and interesting to listen to. also scrapped with Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon (in the preseason), St. Drew Doughty, on whether he enjoys playing the Flyers because he gets Louis’ Vladimir Sobotka and Boston’s Chris Kelly. It wasn’t really the to play against Wayne Simmonds: result of anything else that had happened during the shift, but rather that “we just ran into each other, and it just kind of happened from there.” Yeah, I love playing against the Flyers, for sure. I’m probably going to be matched up against him tonight. The thing I love about Wayne, we’re Lewis gave up two inches and 10 pounds to the 6-foot-3, 215-pound very similar off the ice, but when it comes to hockey is where we really Chimera. have a lot of similarities. We both are just absolute competitors. We care “He’s a big boy, but sometimes it happens in hockey and you’ve got to do so much about the team. Everything’s team first, and we just hate losing it,” he said. hockey games. You see him out there, he’s bitchin’ at the refs, yelling at the other team, or whatever it may be. That’s not because he hates other Meanwhile, Drew Doughty had a few opinions of the team’s play over the people, it’s because he can’t stand to think of losing. That’s why he’s final two-thirds of the New York-area portion of the trip. such a good player. Neither of us have the top skills on our team. None of us are the fastest players, best hands, anything like that. We just have “I don’t even think we played poorly in the last two games,” he said. “We big hearts and we like to compete. should’ve won the last two games, in my opinion. Honestly, we have, we just blew it, like blew a lead against the Islanders. The Rangers, we had it Doughty, on anything he might say to Simmonds on the ice tonight: right there to win. We dominated that game in their zone. They just had some rush chances. We get the confidence from knowing when we do Well, I’m sure I may say hello. But besides that, he’s not going to be play the right way, we see how dominant we are. The thing we can’t afraid to run me, I guarantee that. We’re buddies off the ice, but on the allow to happen anymore is if something bad does happen, we can’t go ice, when we’re playing each other, like I said, we’re so competitive. If in the wrong direction and go the other way. That’s what we tend to do. he’s going to be able to run me through the boards, he doesn’t want to They tied it up in the Islanders game and let them get the go-ahead goal, take me out of the game, obviously, but if he has an opportunity to do where instead we should’ve scored that third goal before they tied it up that, he’s going to take me out because he knows I’m an important part and had that two-goal lead. We need to learn from those mistakes, but I to our team and I know he’s an important part to their team. We’re going don’t think we’re lacking confidence right now. I think that we have a lot to do whatever it takes, really. Within the rules. of confidence in the team and in each other, and we’re ready to go Doughty, on whether it’s more fun to play against teams that have tonight. It’s not a lack of confidence thing as to why we’re losing.” players he’s good friends with: -Tonight’s game brings Adrian Kempe back to the Wells Fargo Center, Kind of, because then you have the bragging rights in the summer when where a major leap in his professional career took place. “Been here you see him and whatnot. I get up for all games, really. It doesn’t matter, once. It was a good day,” he said.” unless we’re playing like Florida or something weird like that. But every team has a star guy that when I come in here, I’ve got to match up against him. I’m excited to play against them and usually rise to the occasion. Simmer’s just another one of those guys that I enjoy playing against, and it’ll be a competitive game.

LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 12.19.2017 1089015 Los Angeles Kings by everybody. Guys his age, guys younger, guys older. If you talk to the players, which we have, individually, you come away knowing just how important he is and well respected he is in the locker room. He’s not DECEMBER 18 MORNING SKATE QUOTES: JOHN STEVENS necessarily a rah-rah guy, but he’s very quietly effective leader in all corners of the room.

JON ROSEN LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 12.19.2017 DECEMBER 18, 20170 COMMENTS

MORNING SKATE QUOTES On what he’d like to see to end the road trip on a positive note: We’ve got to get two points. That’s the bottom line, right? It’s the end of a segment for us. Coming on the road and gave ourselves a chance to get points in the last two games. We got one, which is not enough. But Philadelphia is playing well. I think if you looked at their record, they had lost 10 in a row, but five of those games were in overtime. I think they’ve really committed themselves to keeping the puck out of their net, really focused on defense. They don’t give up a lot five-on-five, and I think their special teams, I think their power play is always dangerous, and I think even though the penalty kill numbers haven’t been great, I think they’re extremely aggressive, so we’ve got to be ready for all that. We just need a real good sound team game ourselves. On getting some power play work in this morning: Yeah, we’ve change some things around a little bit in terms of personnel, so we just wanted to get some reps in there with a little resistance. The power play hasn’t really produced in the road, but we think its coming, so we just want to get some touches and hopefully have it sharp going into tonight. On whether entries and/or shots on net could be improved on the power play: It’s funny with your power play – sometimes it comes and it goes like your golf game. Sometimes you get in the zone really well, but you don’t execute in the zone, and sometimes you have trouble getting in the zone, so ideally it starts from faceoffs. If you can win faceoffs or get pucks recovered from faceoffs it allows zone time. They’re a little different. They play that trap down recover style with their forwards so they really put pressure on the puck, but I’d like to see them simple and more volume, just have more of a shot mentality where you get pucks going to the net and get our numbers to the net, more of a simple concept. On whether there would be “any extra gratification” in beating the Flyers tonight: That question came up yesterday. To be honest with you, we’re just looking at Philadelphia as a tough opponent. The team’s playing well right now. If anything, I’ve got a lot of respect and fond ties on my time here. It sounds odd, but my kids, this is home for them, so for them, it’s like coming home. It’s just more about the familiarity with the people here. Philadelphia is a great memory for my family. We’ve spent a lot of time in the area, but the bottom line, it’s trying to get a win on the road against a team that’s playing well right now. [Reporter: You still have your place in-] Sea Isle. Yep, you bet. On whether Jonny Brodzinski and Andy Andreoff might get a look tonight: Every situation, we’re just going to evaluate performance and health. So those guys are both healthy guys, they’ve both given us some quality time, but we’ll make a game-time decision on who goes in and who goes out. But they’re certainly available. On why Dustin Brown has been able to handle a wider workload this season: I think Brownie’s always handled it. If you look at the course of his career, he’s been an all-situations player, he’s been a very effective penalty killer, he’s been a really good net-front guy on the power play. I think Brownie’s just redefined his game, and I think any good player has an identity, and I think Brownie just really reminded himself of what his identity is. Came in ready to go, and just performed very well from the start of training camp. His attitude’s been great, and he’s come in in really good physical condition and he’s performed well from Day One, so we haven’t seen any reason to not keeping him and Kopi together. We’ve done a little bit in game, but they like playing together, they complement each other well, they’ve had a lot of success before in the past, and he’s still a good player. Even though he’s approaching 1,000, he’s still a young man. He’s in his early 30’s. We still think he’s got lots left. [Reporter: he’s part of your leadership group. Is he still playing a vital role in the room, whether it’s dealing with younger guys or in-game stuff?] I think he’s a very important guy on your hockey team. He’s well respected 1089016 Los Angeles Kings

December 18 postgame quotes: John Stevens

Jon Rosen December 18, 20170 Comments

Postgame quotes On Adrian Kempe scoring shortly after leaving the penalty box: We’re not upset about the penalty. He’s playing the game hard. I thought he was terrific tonight. You’re on the road in a building. They’ve got two real quality offensive lines there, and I thought he did a heck of a job tonight. Great to see him rewarded. He’s actually had some big goals for us, timely goals for us, and it’s kind of fitting. I thought he paid a heck of a hockey game tonight. On the importance of receiving a full team effort to end the road trip: It was an important game. We talked all day yesterday and then brought it up again today just about how important it was that we played a really good, solid team game, that we had to play to our identity, that we knew we had to check this team well. Their defense are very involved, and they’re a very good offensive team. So, it was good. Jonny’s Jonny. He gave us a great performance in the net and it really gives our team confidence. I thought it was a really good, solid game from all four lines and all six D. On fighting through adversity in the third period: Yeah, I thought that when that goal was disallowed and then they got the power play right after, the momentum could swing in a hurry. I didn’t like the way we started the period. We kind of turned the puck over there, and you knew they’d come out hard and tried to make a stand there early in the period, and they did, and I just thought we shot ourselves in the foot a little bit. It’s the penalty on Muzz, too. He came from a blatant turnover. I thought we could’ve managed the puck a little better and could’ve made it a little easier on ourselves. But in a game like this, when a team’s on a roll, you’re usually going to have to fight through some adversity, and I thought we did that in the third. On what has been going right on the penalty kill: Well, it hasn’t been that great lately, to be honest with you. It’s something we’ve got to get corrected in a hurry. It starts with your goalie. I think our goalies have been terrific all year, and I think guys have been together a long time. They pressure the puck, they read off the puck really well, and we have some real quality guys that have done a good job in the faceoff circle. I think when we’re really on we limit the time in the zone because we can deny entries that put pucks on the well. We have lots of guys, and we’re probably one of the few teams that uses seven or eight forwards to kill penalties, so as long as we’re getting clears and winning faceoffs, we usually have fresh guys on the ice, which I think helps us. On whether it was good personally to get a win in Philadelphia: That was brought up earlier – playing back in Philly. I’ll be totally honest. It’s nice to be where my kids grew up. It’s home for them. This was a big game for us on this trip. We really wanted to take two points home for us, so it’s just a nice win against a quality hockey team

LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 12.19.2017 1089017 Los Angeles Kings Kempe, on whether he gets any practice at shooting between players’ legs:

I don’t want to practice this too much on my own guys trying to shoot December 18 postgame quotes: Martinez, Kempe between the legs—if you hit the d-man’s foot or something like that. But I saw the goalie was cheating a little bit far side, if I looked for the pads it was open and it was a good opening between the legs. Jessi McDonald Kempe, on three of the four Kings’ goals being scored on Elliott’s glove- December 18, 20170 Comments side: Yeah I mean, as I said, we were three guys coming there and I thought he was cheating a little bit far side–that he was looking for a pass Postgame quotes because we had a couple guys coming back– so I think, I mean it was a little bit of an open spot there on the glove-side and that’s what I tried to Alec Martinez, on getting a team-wide effort for the full 60 minutes: aim for. We knew that we were matched up against a team that had won six in a

row and we knew that we were going to need contributions from everyone in our lineup and you know, I think we did that tonight. LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 12.19.2017 Martinez, on the penalty kill: Special teams can generate momentum in a hockey game and PK is a really big part of that and that’s something that we’ve used this year. And I think past four or five games we’ve been giving up some PK goals and we weren’t happy with it. You know, even the one today, I think we had the right intentions with it. Doughty blocked that shot and I’ll take that play every day of the week. It just bounced right on his tape backdoor, so yes you’re right, that’s something that we take a big focus on. Martinez, on breaking the losing streak: Yeah, I mean we weren’t happy with the outcome of the three games prior on this road trip and that was one thing we just wanted to get two points before we headed home and I think we got a couple of games before Christmas so we just want to go in there playing Kings hockey and playing our team game. Like I said before, I think we got contributions up and down our lineup. Martinez, on what he liked about the defensive play after losing Folin early in the game: I think it’s just everyone, you know, everyone’s just got to dig in. It’s not just the five defensemen that are remaining but I think you’ve got to keep your shifts short, you’ve got to make plays, you’ve got to keep things simple. And we’ve got unbelievable goaltending again from Jonathan Quick and that’s a huge part of it too. But again, the forwards doing little things like getting the puck deep and getting pucks out so we can, as defensemen, change. Whenever you lose a guy in the middle of the game the whole team’s got to step up. And that’s what we did. Martinez, on whether it was nice to get John Stevens the win: Oh for sure. I think anytime you play one of your old clubs you have a little bit of extra want going into the game. But I mean, John has been unbelievable for us and you know, he’s come in here and stepped in and provided an environment and encourages an environment that’s very positive. He’s been awesome for us this year. Adrian Kempe, on the positive takeaways from the game: I think we had a good start. I think first, second period was really good. Obviously we took too many penalties tonight, but the PK did a really good job. I think five-on-five we played well and we bounced back from the last few losses we had. So that was good. Kempe, on not giving up much offensively and on getting contributions from the defensemen: Yeah, I mean mostly what they had was on the power play. And obviously we took too many penalties. As I said, the goalie and our PK did a good job and I mean, we played a good defensive game on the five-on-five. I think we had a good 60 minutes. Kempe, on whether it’s harder for Stevens to get on him for taking a penalty when he scores after coming out of the box: Yeah, I mean, maybe a little bit. It was a good opportunity. And I haven’t scored in awhile so it was a good feeling. Kempe, on whether he let Brown know he was coming up from behind: Yeah. I think he saw me right when I came on too, but I talked to him to let him know I was there and took away that d-man, so it was good. Kempe, on getting the two points after three consecutive losses: Yeah that’s good, that’s the other thing, we bounced back after the last couple of games. We came in here looking for two points and we got it so I mean, I think everyone is happy with that. 1089018 Los Angeles Kings

Folin leaves with upper-body injury; no sense yet of severity

Jon Rosen December 18, 20170 Comments

Injuries Christian Folin left Tuesday’s 4-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers early with an upper-body injury and did not return. “He had an upper-body injury there that he couldn’t continue, and we’ll get him reevaluated when we get home,” John Stevens said. When asked about the severity of the injury, John Stevens said that he had “no idea.” “I just knew he couldn’t continue,” he said. The right-shooting Folin, 26, has two goals and five points in 26 games. He took six shifts, the final of which came in the last minute of the first period. He did not block any shots, or, according to the NHL’s play-by- play log, receive any hits that could provide a theoretical indication of his ailment. Though the Kings have lost 95 man-games to injury, their defense has remained virtually intact. Other than the three games Alec Martinez missed at the outset of the season due to a lower-body injury, or the two- games Oscar Fantenberg missed with an upper-body injury in late October, the blue line has been healthy. Paul LaDue was recalled from to take Martinez’s roster spot at the beginning of the season but did not get into a game, but since his assignment back to the Reign on October 14, no other defensemen have been recalled from the American Hockey League. If Folin is out for any real length of time, the team would most likely recall the 25-year-old right-shooting LaDue, who has averaged nearly 30 minutes a night with the Reign and has four goals and 10 points in 22 AHL games. Kevin Gravel, a left-shot defenseman who has played both sides in both the AHL and NHL, would also be an option, but that would leave Los Angeles with one right-handed shooter and six left-handed shooters on the back end. Though Folin had a giveaway that led to the game-winning goal against late in Friday’s 4-2 loss to the New York Rangers, the team has been happy with both his approach and his consistency. He had averaged 15:40 per game entering Monday night and was appearing in his eighth consecutive game. Los Angeles returns home to face Colorado on Thursday before finishing their pre-Christmas break schedule Saturday at San Jose.

LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 12.19.2017 1089019 Los Angeles Kings

December 18 postgame notes

Jon Rosen December 18, 20170 Comments

Postgame notes -With the win, Los Angeles improved to 46-84-17 all-time against Philadelphia, a record that includes a road mark of 22-41-9. The Kings swept a minimum two-game season series with the Flyers for only the second time in the franchise’s histories (also 2015-16) and are 6-0-1 in their last seven visits to the Wells Fargo Center. Between December 30, 1976 and February 21, 1981, Los Angeles had a 21-game winless streak against Philadelphia (0-17-4). -The Kings improved to 15-5-1 against the Eastern Conference, 6-2-1 against the Metropolitan Division, 17-0-3 when scoring at least three goals, 9-2 in games decided by three or more goals, 12-2-1 when scoring first, 7-2-1 when leading after the first period, 11-1-1 when leading after the second period and 11-6-2 when outshot by their opponent. -Los Angeles, who entered the night with the league’s top penalty kill, have allowed power play goals in six straight games for the first time this season. Prior to this stretch, they had allowed power play goals in back- to-back games only twice. -By outscoring the Flyers 2-0 in the third period, the Kings widened their third period goal differential to +25 (46 GF, 21 GA). -Los Angeles scored four five-on-five goals on Philadelphia, who, entering tonight, had allowed a league-low 46 five-on-five goals. -With his third period goal, Tyler Toffoli hit milestones of 100 career goals and 200 career points. With a +1 rating, he is now a career +102 in 328 career games and leads all players in plus-minus over the last five seasons at +99 (second: Ondrej Palat, +95). By scoring his 16th goal of the season, he equaled his total from 2016-17. -Dustin Brown played his 999th career NHL game. -With his first period goal, Alec Martinez moved within one goal of Larry Murphy (52 goals) for seventh place all-time among Kings defensemen. -With his assist on Trevor Lewis’ goal, Jake Muzzin moved within one point of Jaroslav Modry (129 assists) for 10th place all-time among Kings defensemen, and within one point of Bob Murdoch for ninth place (171 points) all-time among Kings defensemen. -Drew Doughty’s 31:36 of ice time was the fifth time he cracked 30 minutes in a game this season, and the second time he cracked 30 minutes in a game decided in regulation. -Los Angeles attempted 46 shots (25 on goal, 10 blocked, 11 missed). Philadelphia attempted 56 shots (37 on goal, 5 blocked, 14 missed). Shayne Gostisbehere led all skaters with six shots on goal, while Trevor Lewis led Kings skaters with five. Of Los Angeles’ five blocked shots, Alec Martinez had three, Anze Kopitar had one and Drew Doughty had one. -The Kings won 24-of-50 faceoffs (48%). Adrian Kempe won 3-of-6, Anze Kopitar won 9-of-15, Nick Shore won 5-of-14, Dustin Brown won 1-of-4, Tanner Pearson won 1-of-1, Torrey Mitchell won 5-of-9 and Tyler Toffoli won 0-of-1. Tuesday, December 19 is an off-day for the team. The Kings will return to Toyota Sports Center for practice at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 20.

LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 12.19.2017

1089020 Minnesota Wild Star Tribune LOADED: 12.19.2017 Marcus Foligno odd man out of Wild lineup

By Sarah McLellan Star Tribune DECEMBER 18, 2017 — 6:18PM

KANATA, Ontario – As Gustav Olofsson defended winger Zach Parise in front of goalie Steve Michalek, Wild winger Marcus Foligno surveyed the action from along the boards before skating over to assist Parise. While most of his teammates were assigned a day off in Ottawa ahead of Stop No. 2 on a four-game road trip Tuesday against the Senators, Foligno spent Monday afternoon on the ice inside Canadian Tire Centre taking shots and skating laps — the itinerary after being a healthy scratch the night before. "You've got to stay positive and just come to work," Foligno said. A regular in the lineup through October and November, Foligno has been the odd-man out twice in the last three games. Not only has he struggled to score, but the physical edge he was supposed to bring with him after an offseason trade from the Sabres has waned. Amid a transition like this, Foligno expected to have to cope with change but he wanted his style of play to remain the same. And that's what he's trying to rediscover to perform as the player the Wild acquired him to be. "I just have to get back to my old self," he said. Foligno doesn't have to reach too far back in his memory for an example of his potential as a rugged forward. Just last season he buried a career-high 13 goals while tying his best point total at 23. He also racked up the fifth-most hits in the NHL (279), but Foligno used his grit in other ways, too — like on the forecheck and in front of the net. "I didn't hesitate," Foligno said. "Every game I reacted to the situation that was out there however I felt. I think when you overthink the game, it makes you hesitant and you can't be hesitant in this league. I think when it comes to starts, I just have to go out there and be physical and whatever happens, happens. "If it's a night where the puck's following me around, then great. If it's not, I have to work on chasing it. That's something I have to realize right now. I've been overthinking it a little bit too much." The 26-year-old hasn't scored a goal since Nov. 2, a span of 20 games in which he's chipped in just three assists, but it's the subtleties that push the game along where Foligno can excel — the dump-ins, cycle work and momentum-changing hits. Those responsibilities aren't dissimilar from what Foligno delivered when he was in Buffalo before being shipped to the Wild along with winger Tyler Ennis and a 2018 third-rounder on June 30 in exchange for winger Jason Pominville, defenseman Marco Scandella and a 2018 fourth-round pick. But it does take time to adapt to new surroundings, and Foligno gained insight on what to anticipate after chatting with his brother Nick and dad Mike, as both have been traded in their respective NHL tenures — Nick from the Senators to the Blue Jackets, while Mike was included in three swaps. "For the most part their biggest message was you can't change yourself and change the player you are," Foligno said. "You've got to be yourself. You've got to be yourself around new teammates. You can't change for anyone. So I think that's the biggest thing is to just find a rhythm, a routine, and stick with it." With the three-day holiday break looming, Foligno feels enough time has passed for him to familiarize himself with the team and it's up to him to improve. He isn't sure if he'll be in the lineup against the Senators, but he hopes he is. Foligno's eager to show he recognizes what he must do. And it's reversing a change that diminished his strengths. "There's lessons to be learned, and I'm learning them right now," Foligno said. "I just have to make sure that I show up next game and put this behind me, and hopefully it's an upward trend from here." 1089021 Minnesota Wild

Gameday preview: Wild at Ottawa

Staff Report December 18, 2017 — 9:32PM

Wild gameday Preview: The Wild continues its four-game road trip against the Senators after falling 4-1 to the Blackhawks on Sunday. Goalie Alex Stalock made a season-high 42 saves in the game. As for the Senators, they're coming off a 3-0 outdoor win over the Canadiens on Saturday in Ottawa at the NHL 100 Classic. The victory was the team's second in a row, but the Senators have won only three times in their past 15 games. Players to WATCH: Winger Mark Stone leads the Senators in goals (14) and points (28). Center Matt Duchene has two goals and five points in 17 games since Ottawa acquired him from Colorado in a three-team trade. Captain Erik Karlsson has a team-best 19 assists. Numbers: Defenseman Matt Dumba has scored the Wild's past three goals. The Wild is 19-for-19 on the penalty kill over the past four games. Ottawa is 2-10-4 when giving up the first goal. Winger Bobby Ryan has 25 points in 27 career games against the Wild. Injuries: Wild F Zach Parise (back surgery) and G Devan Dubnyk (knee) are out. Senators Ds Mark Borowiecki (concussion) and Chris Wideman (hamstring) are also out.

Star Tribune LOADED: 12.19.2017 1089022 Minnesota Wild

The curious case of Wild defenseman Matt Dumba

By DANE MIZUTANI | [email protected] | Pioneer Press PUBLISHED: December 18, 2017 at 4:08 pm | UPDATED: December 18, 2017 at 4:09 PM

Perhaps no Wild player elicits more reaction, good or bad, from fans than 23-year-old defenseman Matt Dumba. One of the most offensively gifted players on the team desperate for such skills, blessed with an impossible-to-defend slap shot from the point, as well as the ability to ignite a rush with the best of them, Dumba is also one of the team’s most frustrating players, as he frequently jumps up into the play, too often leaving himself out of position. Both sides of the were on display over the weekend. In Saturday’s 3-2 loss to Edmonton, Dumba blistered home a pair of goals from the high slot … and left the Wild shorthanded on a couple of odd-man rushes the other way, one of which ended in easy Oilers goal. In Sunday’s 4-1 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks, Dumba fooled everyone when he teed up a slap shot from the point for his third consecutive team goal, and while he was caught out of position a few times, he had a relatively responsible performance in both ends. “It just seems like they’re going in right now for me,” said Dumba, who is fifth on the team with 17 points (6 goals, 11 assists). “I’m lucky to have that, I guess. It still sucks at the end of the day when we can’t come away with the two points.” While some Twitter critics have been particularly tough on Dumba this season, coach Bruce Boudreau understands that sometimes you have to take the good with the bad when it comes to the polarizing young Canadian. Why would former Gophers, Team USA star Krissy Wendell practice with the Wild? To grow the sport for girls “Well, I don’t mind it, quite frankly, as long as he doesn’t get caught too often,” Boudreau said. “He is leaving (Ryan Suter) back there a little bit. He’s getting a little too excitable, so we’ll have to rein him in a little bit. Still, he’s the one guy on our (blue line) that can do that thing, so we don’t want him to stifle him.” Simply put, it’s about him finding a balance between offense and defense, something Dumba admitted he’s working on. It seems like he’s going to get extra minutes to work through those issues, as Boudreau has opted to keep Suter and Dumba as the team’s first defensive pairing despite the return of Jared Spurgeon, Suter’s former linemate, from injury. “I’m getting this opportunity and trying to make the most of it,” Dumba said. “Now it’s about doing that and also helping the team get these victories.”

Pioneer Press LOADED: 12.19.2017 1089023 MontrealCanadiens

Canadiens shut down Shea Weber because of foot injury

Pat Hickey, Montreal Gazette Published on: December 18, 2017 | Last Updated: December 18, 2017 3:58 PM EST

VANCOUVER — The Canadiens will be without defenceman Shea Weber for the foreseeable future. “Shea has a problem with his foot that’s not getting better,” coach Claude Julien said after the Canadiens practised Monday morning at Rogers Arena. “We’re sending him back to Montreal so our doctors can take a look at him.” It’s the same problem that forced Weber to miss seven games last month. He hasn’t practised on a regular basis since returning to the lineup and Julien said it was obvious that the injury was affecting his play. With Victor Mete off to the world juniors, the Canadiens have only six healthy defencemen, but Julien said the team was unlikely to call up another blue-liner. There were two changes on the forward lines during the practice. Max Pacioretty and Jonathan Drouin were reunited on a line with Paul Byron, while Alex Galchenyuk joins Phillip Danault and Andrew Shaw.

Globe And Mail LOADED: 12.19.2017 1089024 MontrealCanadiens

Weber injury latest concern for Canadiens

Pat Hickey, Montreal Gazette Published on: December 18, 2017 | Last Updated: December 18, 2017 7:58 PM EST

VANCOUVER — The first sign of trouble came when Dominick Saillant, the Canadiens’ public relations director, said coach Claude Julien would update the media on the state of Shea Weber’s health at the conclusion of the Monday morning practice at Rogers Arena. There hadn’t been any concern 30 minutes earlier when the Canadiens hit the ice without Weber. Therapy days had become the norm since Weber missed six games in late November with a lower-body injury. But Saillant’s announcement foreshadowed the bad news from Julien. “Shea’s been dealing with a problem with his foot and its got worse again so we’re going to send him home, and get him reevaluated” said Julien. “We’ve shut him down for the rest of this year.” Julien refused to speculate on the severity of the injury or the length of time Weber might be out. “He was still playing but he wasn’t feeling comfortable and we felt it was best to shut him down and find a solution for this,” said Julien. With Weber out and Victor Mete off to the world junior championships, the Canadiens have been reduced to six healthy defencemen but Julien said there was no immediate plan to call up reinforcements from Laval. If Weber is out for any length of time, it would provide an opportunity for Brett Lernout or Noah Juulsen, the 2015 first-round draft pick who missed the start of the season with a broken foot. Juulsen has a goal and an assist in eight games with the Rocket. The last time Weber was out, the Canadiens managed to weather the storm. They posted 4-1-1 record with Jeff Petry and Karl Alzner moving up to the No. 1 pairing and playing their best hockey of the season. It also helped that goaltender Carey Price came back from his own lower- body injury. Julien used Monday’s practice to try out some different line combinations for Tuesday’s game against the Vancouver Canucks (10 p.m., TSN2, RDS, TSN Radio 690). Max Pacioretty has been reunited with Jonathan Drouin and they’ll try to find the chemistry that wasn’t there in the beginning of the season. Paul Byron completes that line. Alex Galchenyuk moves to a line with Phillip Danault and Andrew Shaw. Pacioretty has scored at least 30 goals in each of the past four seasons and Galchenyuk has hit that mark once but neither is on a 30-goal pace this season. Pacioretty has eight goals and has scored only once in his last 15 games. Galchenyuk has seven goals. “Every once in a while, you try to shake things up,” said Julien. “I didn’t mind what I saw today in our lines. You shake things up but it still boils down to our will and desire. We’ve shown the ability to play some real good hockey games but we haven’t shown the ability to be consistent, night in and night out. The biggest concern for us is how do we get consistent. It’s not matter of who plays with who but how committed we’re going to be. “I understand that over 82 games, you’re not going to be perfect every night, but it’s the compete level and how much you want to get the puck,” added Julien. “We have to get better and puck retrievals, we have to get better at puck battles. Those gritty areas are where we have to be better.” If there’s any concern over Carey Price’s workload, it’s overshadowed by the lack of confidence shown in backup Antti Niemi. Price has made 10 consecutive starts since returning from a lower-body injury. He is 6-3-1 in his current run but his number for the season — 9-10-2 record with a 2.99 goals-against average and a .905 save percentage — are well below expectations.

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 12.19.2017 1089025 MontrealCanadiens

Canadiens at Vancouver Canucks: Five things you should know by Pat Hickey, Montreal Gazette

Here are five things you should know about the Canadiens-Canucks game at Rogers Arena Tuesday (10 p.m., TSN2, RDS, TSN 690 Radio): Weber’s season on hold: Defenceman Shea Weber is out of the Montreal lineup indefinitely as he deals with an injured foot. It’s the same injury that forced him to miss seven games and coach Claude Julien said Weber’s foot wasn’t getting better and he was flying back to Montreal to consult with the team’s doctors. He will miss all three games in Western Canada and his status for the post-Christmas trip to Carolina and Florida is questionable. While Weber is an integral part of the Canadiens’ roster, it should be noted that other players, notably Jeff Petry, stepped up last month and Montreal had a 4-1-1 record. Shuffling the deck: The Canadiens have a 1-3-1 record in their last five games and they are again struggling to score goals. The lack of consistency had Julien shuffling the bodies on what should be his top two lines. Max Pacioretty, who has one goal in his last 15 games, has been reunited with Jonathan Drouin on a line that also includes Paul Byron. Alex Galchenyuk, who has three goals in 21 games, will try to find some chemistry with Phillip Danault and Andrew Shaw, who is the hottest Canadien with four goals in his last nine games and he has moved even with Pacioretty at eight for the season. Montreal Canadiens’ Alex Galchenyuk is stripped of the puck by Los Angeles Kings’ Drew Doughty during third period of National Hockey League game in Montreal on Oct. 26, 2017. Price is the man: This isn’t quite home for Carey Price, who grew up in the B.C. interior, but he enjoys his annual visits to Vancouver. Over the years, he has had great success against the Canucks. He has a career record of 8-2-2 against Vancouver with two shutouts and a 2.14 goals- against average. Brendan Gallagher, who played his junior hockey in Vancouver, has six points — one goal and five assists — eight games. Gallagher has a team-leading 13 goals and his 19 points have him tied with Danault for the team scoring lead, but he has gone five games without picking up a point. Canucks lose Boeser: The Canadiens aren’t alone in dealing with a significant injury. The Canucks have lost rookie right winger Brock Boeser, who suffered a foot injury when he blocked a shot by Mark Giordano in the Canucks’ 6-1 loss to the Calgary Flames Sunday night. Boeser is not only the Canucks’ leading scorer but he is also the top scoring rookie in the NHL with 17 goals and 13 assists. The 20-year-old from the University of North Dakota was considered among the favourites for the Calder Trophy, which goes to the top rookie in the NHL. Boeser went for a scan Monday, which found a bone bruise but no fracture. He is out indefinitely. Canucks in a funk: The lopsided home loss to the Flames Sunday left the Canucks with five losses and one overtime win in their last six games and they have dropped four points behind San Jose in the race for the third spot in the Pacific Division. Vancouver and Montreal have similar problems scoring. The Canucks are 29th in the NHL with 2.59 goals a game, just behind Montreal at 2.61. There is one area where the Canucks excel. They have the fifth-best power play with a success rate of 21.84 per cent. That could pose a problem for the Canadiens’ penalty kill which ranks 25th.

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 12.19.2017 1089026 MontrealCanadiens That helps explain why Weber’s on-ice goals for percentage at 5-on-5 is so much worse than it was last season. But the Canadiens are shooting more and generating more scoring chances with Weber on the ice than Godin: General Weber and the Unknown Defenceman they did last season. In terms of production, Weber has 10 points at 5-on-5 this season in only 26 games compared to 18 in 78 games last season. Obviously, his By Marc Antoine Godin 5 hours ago impact on the power play has gone down, but that could also be a systematic problem in freeing him from opposing penalty killers. The power play has had a 15.9 percent success rate in the games Weber has played and 21.7 percent in the games he’s missed, so there might be VANCOUVER – The Unknown Soldier represents all those who lost their something to that. But again, small samples should come with a warning lives on the front lines. label. The Canadiens have a less solemn version of that, the Unknown There is no good time to lose an impact player. But there are times that Defenceman, he who represents all the mobile puck-movers the team are worse than others, like when a team is about to start a seven-game simply doesn’t have. road trip that could dictate its entire season. The Canadiens' blue line general, Shea Weber, has been missing that By forcing Weber to rest now, the Canadiens are not only risking losing presence next to him for the large majority of this season. And when the him for the three games they are about to play in Western Canada. It is general goes down in battle, it is not only his presence that will be also difficult to see how Weber would come back to play without the missed; it is the Unknown Defenceman’s as well. benefit of a single practice – and with three days worth of turkey and Small samples should come with a warning label. It’s true that the fixings in the system – to play the Carolina Hurricanes on Dec. 27. Canadiens played well in Weber’s absence when he missed seven Weber missing the entire seven-game trip is probably the most likely games earlier this season; they went 4-2-1 and did not allow more than scenario. three goals in any of those games. “We need to get through this,” Julien said. “It’s a long season and he But no team is in a better position when its No 1 defenceman goes down, can’t keep playing on that injury all season. That’s what we’re going to try and since the Unknown Defenceman is not there either, things start to manage over the coming days and coming weeks.” looking rather thin. The Canadiens have rolled the dice with their depth on defence over the The Canadiens defence has had trouble this season breaking out of its last few weeks. The team thought Weber’s injury was healed well enough zone at even strength and as a result the forwards have had difficulty to allow them to put Brandon Davidson on waivers and send Victor Mete gaining speed in the neutral zone. That won’t improve without Weber, to play with the Canadian junior national team. But Weber’s injury got who the Canadiens sent home to Montreal on Monday to rest his injured worse over the last few days, and now the Canadiens are not carrying foot. any extra defencemen on the roster. They may consider calling up Noah Weber is not the type to carry the puck from one end of the ice to the Juulsen, who has been playing very well with the Laval Rocket since his other, but he is adept at thwarting an opposing forecheck more often than return from injury three weeks ago. not. On the nights the Canadiens struggle to get the puck out of their But really, it is the Unknown Defenceman that is needed, a mobile puck- end, it is largely because their defence succumbs to the pressure of mover who can jump up in the play to serve as that fourth man opposing forecheckers. offensively. “Teams forecheck so well these days, they force you to make a play, Even on one foot, Weber has having a good season before being forced they want you to rim the puck around the boards so their d-man can to rest. But his season would have been even better if he had a pinch and hold the zone,” said Jordie Benn, Weber’s most frequent defenceman like that to play next to him. It’s been the reality since the partner since the beginning of November. “We have to counter that by day he was acquired. moving our feet as much as possible to neutralize their forecheck. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. And our forwards are getting Whether Marc Bergevin takes a short or long term view when it comes to good at picking up pucks along the wall with the centre coming down to helping his team over the coming weeks, whether the Canadiens make a support.” move to catch the Boston Bruins and make the playoffs or to build for the future, he will need to address this need one way or the other. But they have to win those battles. Claude Julien again emphasized Monday that is an area where the Canadiens come up short too often. Constantly using the boards to exit the zone or get out of trouble is not The Athletic LOADED: 12.19.2017 the ideal way to create speed heading toward the offensive zone. Benn recognizes that a good first pass on the tape would allow the team’s forwards to gather the speed they need to facilitate an entry at the other blue line. “And once we get into the offensive zone, we need to make sure we’re always attacking with four guys,” he added. “We can be better at that. The teams that have a lot of success have the support of that fourth man. Guys like Seth Jones and Roman Josi are going deep in the offensive zone on every shift. For us, Webby can go. When he shoots, everyone knows what’s coming. Maybe you can say we don’t have that type of player, but we’re all able to do it.” There is a gap between intending to do something and being able to do it, and it is a pretty wide one. Except Benn and the other defencemen can rest assured that Julien is not ready to blame that group for his team’s offensive struggles. “That’s part of the reason, but it’s not the only reason why we’re not scoring,” he said. “It’s too easy to point the finger at our defencemen. We all have to be accountable for that. When we get five scoring chances like we did in the last game and that only a few of them came from between the dots, that’s not the defence’s fault…” Much was made at the beginning of the season of how effective Weber was last season in his own end; he was on the ice for the fewest goals against per 60 minutes of 5-on-5 ice time of any regular defenceman in the league. The caveat is that Weber benefitted from a .954 save percentage when he was on the ice at 5-on-5. This season, Weber’s goals against have gone up considerably, but his on-ice save percentage is .897. 1089027 Nashville Predators

Predators can assert dominance during upcoming Central Division stretch

Adam Vingan, USA TODAY NETWORK — Tennessee Published 2:25 p.m. CT Dec. 18, 2017 | Updated 2:41 p.m. CT Dec. 18, 2017

The Predators' confidence is soaring. It should be. What possibly could they complain about? Each facet of their game is on point, and they returned from a statement-making road trip Sunday on top of the Western Conference standings. About those standings: You’d think that a team that has won 16 of 21 games and collected a league-leading 34 points since Nov. 1 would be stampeding toward a division title. But the NHL is built for parity, which the league isn't shy about sharing. If you need proof, take a look at the cramped Central Division, where nine points separate the first-place Predators from sixth place. That's why the rest of Nashville's 2017 schedule will be pivotal. Five of the Predators' six remaining games this month are against divisional rivals, a prime opportunity for them to build a cushion. "We've been winning, but the other teams have been doing the same thing," Predators forward Filip Forsberg said. "As always, division games are going to be crucial going (forward)." The Predators share the points lead in the Central Division and Western Conference with the St. Louis Blues, who have played three more games. The Blues have maintained consistency as they've navigated injuries of varying degrees to top players. Tuesday's game at Bridgestone Arena against the Winnipeg Jets (7 p.m., Fox TN) has high-scoring potential as the Jets have matched the Predators' offensive output with 78 goals over the past six-plus weeks. "Just looking at the top three right now, us, Winnipeg and St. Louis, obviously three big, strong, physical teams that like to play fast and attack the game," Forsberg said. Not lurking far behind are the Chicago Blackhawks, who have won five consecutive games, Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild. Nashville is 8-1-1 within the Central Division this season. "I think that (competition) helps," Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne said. "I think that improves every single team." Bridgestone announces they will keep naming right at Predators arena through 2025 during a press conference at the Bridgestone Tower. December 13, 2017 It's probably unrealistic to expect the Predators to continue banking points at their current pace. They may need to come close, though, to hold off challengers for their first division title. "Even though you feel like you've been playing really good the whole beginning of the season, we haven't really separated ourselves," Rinne said. "It just means that you've got to keep winning. You've got to keep your standard really high and your game in good shape because you can't afford any losing streaks."

Tennessean LOADED: 12.19.2017 1089028 Nashville Predators “It’s an opportunity to change the conversation,” Foster said. “This takes the politics out of it, takes away the negative perceptions society has right now. This is about the human side of all of us.” P.K. Subban's latest target – the barrier between police, kids Rebecca King, Predators senior director of community relations, said reviews have been rave so far. After one game, King said, the chosen boy was calling the police officer’s wife “Mom.” Joe Rexrode, USA TODAY NETWORK -- Tennessee Published 10:00 p.m. CT Dec. 18, 2017 At the pre-game dinner Tuesday, the awkwardness of sitting with strangers melted quickly. They talked about how AJ and Brandon are both Ohio State fans. About Bennett’s courier business, Anytime Express. About how Morgan would have been working traffic on Rap music boomed from the Nashville Predators locker room, two hours Broadway that night otherwise — and with Lindsey joining her, Morgan’s before puck drop against the Chicago Blackhawks. P.K. Subban stood in parents were watching their 1-year-old son, Asher. the hallway, smiled and said to his guests: “That may or may not be my iPod.” During the game, a 3-2 Predators win, the other four razzed Brandon constantly because he’s a Blackhawks fan. After the game, they hung They laughed. They took pictures with Subban. And then it was off to outside the locker room and got several autographs, including from dinner for Metro Nashville Police officer Kristen Morgan; her wife, Tennessee Titans tight end Delanie Walker, a huge hockey fan and a Lindsey; Hunters Lane High sophomores AJ Branham and Brandon King; friend of Subban’s. and DeAngelo Bennett, father of Brandon and uncle of AJ. Those five people, who would not have had any reason to get together otherwise, Walker, who a few weeks earlier reported death threats after the NFL were about to spend the next five hours together. protests, told AJ (a football player) and Brandon (baseball) to work hard in their sports but focus on their grades. He told Morgan he wants to do a Let me tell you about the latest community venture from Subban, the ride-along with police in his hometown of Los Angeles. Predators defenseman who pledged $10 million to Montreal Children’s Hospital when he was with the Canadiens. When Subban emerged, he hugged Walker and told him what he’s trying to do with the program and that he hopes other athletes and teams will This program — called “P.K.’s Blue Line Buddies” — might be better than follow suit. Walker nodded in approval and said: “That’s the message that one. It’s certainly inspired, and timely, and straight out of his brain: we’re trying to send.” Let’s put police officers with inner-city kids, he thought, and create 41 memorable nights for them to share. A day later, it was still being discussed. So Subban is buying tickets to every home game for a different officer “The boys haven’t stopped talking about this, and I think they will look at and kid, and their guests. They’re eating a deluxe buffet at the Patron things differently from now on,” Bennett said. “Even me, I’m 41, I’ve Platinum Club in Bridgestone Arena and then watching the game from never sat down and had a conversation with a police officer before. Hell, really good seats. They’re seeing Subban before and after the game and it changed my view.” getting autographs from other players. But mostly this is about them.

Since Colin Kaepernick started protesting racial injustice and police brutality during the national anthem in the 2016 NFL preseason, there’s Tennessean LOADED: 12.19.2017 been some productive conversation. Lots of screaming and threats, too. And Subban, a black man from Toronto, has been criticized for not protesting and for saying he would “never” kneel. People should see this program as more than a public-relations bump for Subban and the Predators. Conversations happen face to face and good ones can emerge from discomfort. “I’m all for athletes and people in general exercising their rights,” Subban said of the protests. “I’m making an effort to build a . Trying to create positive energy between police officers that leave their houses every day, leave their families every day and don’t know if they’re going to come back, and our underprivileged youth. “I know that growing up I had a lot of friends in my community that didn’t like law enforcement. And a lot of that has to do with what they’ve seen. I think this hopefully helps law enforcement feel they’re appreciated. It’s a delicate topic, but I think everything with this program is positive.” Ever since President Trump’s divisive Sept. 23 comments about NFL players protesting, followed by league-wide protests in response, followed by angry reactions from some fans, the NFL has done everything but paint the footballs red, white and blue to demonstrate its patriotism. But it was law enforcement that was actually called out in the first place. Just as police brutality is serious, police officers do an incredibly difficult job every day. Just as the broad brush should never be applied to any race, religion or regional origin, it should never be applied to any profession. P.K.'s program is well-received by the Metro Nashville Police Department- and not just because Morgan jumped in because the Hendersonville grad likes Preds hockey. “A lot of kids that age, even when they’re not in trouble, they’re nervous (around police),” she said. “Unfortunately in society that’s what a lot of people are taught, that we’re the bad guy.” Subban wants kids in middle and high schools who have a grasp on current events. The Predators work with various groups in the city to select them, and AJ was chosen because he is part of the YWCA’s MEND program. Former Vandy basketball star Shan Foster is the director of that program, which seeks to end violence against women. “We engage men and boys to change the culture that supports domestic violence, so violence has no legs to stand on,” said Foster, who called Subban’s idea “incredible.” 1089029 New Jersey Devils

New Jersey Devils vs. Anaheim Ducks: LIVE score updates and chat (12/18/17)

Updated December 18, 2017 at 6:56 PM; Posted December 18, 2017 at 6:30 PM By Chris Ryan [email protected], NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Taylor Hall, Kyle Palmieri, Sami Vatanen and the New Jersey Devils will play the second game of a six-game home stand when they host Adam Henrique and the Anaheim Ducks at 7 p.m. on Monday at the Prudential Center. Vatanen and Henrique will play their former teams for the first time since their Nov. 30 trade, while Hall and Palmieri will return to the Devils' lineup following injuries. Join NJ.com's live chat during the game in the comments section. You can also follow along with live score and stat updates above. Devils' lines vs. Ducks

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Devils prospect Joey Anderson named captain of USA World Junior team

Updated December 18, 2017 at 12:35 PM; Posted December 18, 2017 at 12:22 PM By Chris Ryan [email protected], NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Devils forward prospect Joey Anderson was voted captain of Team USA for the upcoming World Junior Championship. Anderson was selected by the Devils 73rd overall in the third round of the 2016 NHL Draft. He is currently in his sophomore season at Minnesota- Duluth, where he has four goals and five assists in 13 games. The 19-year-old right wing is one of a handful of returning players for Team USA at World Juniors, which start on Dec. 26 in Buffalo, New York. Anderson played in seven games last winter, where Team USA beat Team Canada for the gold medal. The Devils have seen plenty of excitement surrounding their prospect pool over the past year, and Anderson's status as captain adds another thing for the Devils to hang their hats on. "That was exciting for us as an organization," Devils coach John Hynes said. "I think when you have your prospects be able to come in and play in high-pressure situations, it's always a good thing. But then to be voted a captain of a World Junior team, I think it's impressive for Joey, but it's also exciting for us." Anderson will be one of a handful of Devils prospects competing in the tournament. Defenseman Reilly Walsh, a 2017 third-round pick, is in competition for a spot on Team USA, while 2016 first-round pick Michael McLeod should play a big role as one of the returning players for Team Canada. Marian Studenic of Slovakia, Jesper Boqvist and Fabian Zetterlund of Sweden, plus Mikhail Maltsev and Yegor Zaitsev of Russia are all competing for World Junior roster spots. The World Junior Championship should give the Devils' prospects plenty of exposure. Last year's tournament helped propel Nico Hischier to the top of many draft boards before the Devils took him first overall in June. With Anderson leading the way for Team USA, the Devils will have one of their top prospects playing meaningful minutes on a big stage. "You're dealing with arguably 20, 21 of the best players in that age group playing in that tournament, and he's the captain," Hynes said. "And I think it goes to what we're looking for in our players. WE just beleive you have to have high-talented players, but you have to have guys that have leadership and character to really be effective."

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Devils' lines, pairings vs. Ducks (12/18/17) | Taylor Hall, Kyle Palmieri return

Posted December 18, 2017 at 12:03 PM | Updated December 18, 2017 at 12:03 PM By Chris Ryan

Taylor Hall and Kyle Palmieri will return to the Devils' lineup when the team hosts the Anaheim Ducks at 7 p.m. on Monday at the Prudential Center in Newark. Hall missed two games with a right knee contusion, while Palmieri was out four weeks with a broken right foot. They will join the Devils for a game against Adam Henrique, who will play in New Jersey for the first time since his Nov. 30 trade to the Ducks.

Star Ledger LOADED: 12.19.2017 1089032 New Jersey Devils Devils center Travis Zajac, who played with Henrique throughout his Devils' tenure, expects it to be a little weird with Henrique on the other side. What Adam Henrique expects in 1st game playing against the Devils "It will be fun. I obviously like Rico a lot, became good friends with him," Zajac said. "Had some highs and lows with him so you don't forget those experiences, but at the same time it will be a lot of fun playing against Updated December 18, 2017 at 12:31 PM; Posted December 18, 2017 at him, taking some face-offs against him hopefully." 9:00 AM

By Chris Ryan [email protected], Star Ledger LOADED: 12.19.2017 NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

When Adam Henrique learned he was traded away from New Jersey, Dec. 18 was one of the first things that came up when talking to Devils coach John Hynes. In the conversation between the two on Nov. 30, Hynes pointed out the Anaheim Ducks would be stopping in Newark to play the Devils just 18 days after the shocking deal. While Henrique jetted out to play a game with the Ducks one day after the trade, the countdown to his return began. Henrique and fellow Ducks forward Joseph Blandisi will play against the Devils on Monday night at the Prudential Center, marking their first return trip to The Rock since the trade that brought defenseman Sami Vatanen to New Jersey. Henrique, who spent all of his professional career with the Devils after they drafted him in the third round of the 2008 NHL Draft, expects a wide range of emotions on Monday. "Nervous, anxious, excited, a little bit of everything," Henrique said. "People have been awesome ever since that day. Lot of very nice messages from fans. A lot of people have reached out and said their thoughts on things, and that's a great feeling. It kind of helps the initial shock pass, and you feel good about you left behind and what I did here in my time, not only at the rink but away from the rink as well." Will Hall, Palmieri, MoJo play? Henrique was dealt to Anaheim early on the morning of Nov. 30, with the team learning about the trade just hours before stepping on the ice for a usual practice. The former Devil echoed the shock he felt that day. "It certainly wasn't a call I was expecting that morning," Henrique said. "But at this point everything's settled in. The guys here have done a great job making it easy for me to adjust and come into this locker room and this systems and this team. After the initial shock, everything's settled down here. Getting through (Monday) will certainly help and all that moving forward. But it is nice to be back." Henrique said he has been in touch with a bunch of guys since the deal, and he expected to have some face time with his former teammates during his two days around the Prudential Center. Following the trade, one of the players Henrique talked to was Taylor Hall. Hall went through some of the same things when he was suddenly traded from the Edmonton Oilers to the Devils in June of 2016. "(Hall) said the same thing, kind of what I was expecting too," Henrique said. "There's not much you can do. There's no way to prepare for it. It's just for us as players, we have a routine and you want to stick with that, and I'm sure (Monday) will be thrown off a little bit. I think the best thing for me will be just once we get the game started and just get into playing another game." At least on the ice, Henrique has settled in nicely in Anaheim, going for three goals and three assists through eight games. With Henrique making his first trip back to his original NHL team, the Devils will very likely have a first-period video tribute, where the words "Henrique! It's over!" will surely echo through the Prudential Center during the course of a montage. Henrique isn't exactly sure how he'll react. "I don't know. I think you just enjoy it. I think you try to take it all in," Henrique said. "I don't know if there's any of that planned or not. If there is, you just try to enjoy that moment, take it in. But we also have a job to do. We have to go play a game. So want to be able to enjoy that part of it, but at the same time you've got to be able to block it out a little bit throughout the game." 1089033 New Jersey Devils

Stefan Noesen scores 2 vs. former team as Devils down Ducks | Rapid reaction

Updated December 18, 2017 at 11:31 PM; Posted December 18, 2017 at 9:38 PM By Chris Ryan [email protected], NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

All the attention prior to Monday's game between the Devils and Anaheim Ducks went to Ducks center Adam Henrique and Devils defenseman Sami Vatanen, who were playing their first games against their former teams after their Nov. 30 trade. Well, so was Stefan Noesen. Noesen, who was claimed off waivers by the Devils in January of 2017, scored the game-winning goal in his first career game against the Ducks, lifting the Devils to a 5-3 win at the Prudential Center in Newark. Noesen added an empty netter with 6.6 seconds left to seal the win. Noesen gave the Devils their first lead with 4:07 left in regulation when he scored off his own rebound from the inside of the right circle. Brian Boyle and Andy Greene assisted on Noesen's fourth goal of the season. Cory Schneider made 21 saves to hold off the Ducks after they pounced on him early in the game with two first-period goals. Prior to Noesen's goal, Henrique also provided a signature moment. Short of a fight, Henrique and Vatanen found the next best way to go head-to-head. And the former Devil got the best of Vatanen. As a Devils power play expired, Henrique flipped a puck from the Ducks' blue line over Vatanen's head toward the Devils' end. Henrique raced past Vatanen before going top shelf with a backhander to beat Devils goalie Cory Schneider for a 3-1 Ducks lead at 11:21 of the second period. The Devils trailed 2-0 after one period off first-period goals from Ryan Getzlaf and Jakub Sillfverberg, both on odd-man rushes. But the Devils converted on the game's first power play at 8:11 of the second period, with Miles Wood tipping a Vatanen shot for his eight goal of the season. That pulled the Devils within 2-1 before Henrique's goal, but Wood answered again to get the Devils back within one. Wood sent an innocent shot while in the right circle, and it managed to get past Ducks goalie Ryan Miller at 18:16 of the second period. Wood's ninth goal gave him a new career high, and it marked his third multi-goal game of the season. The Devils evened the score for the first time since 0-0 when Jesper Bratt netted his 10th of the season. After Bratt emerged from the penalty box for a tripping penalty, he finished a feed from Blake Coleman to tie the game at 5:49 of the third period.

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Ducks' Adam Henrique reflects on 1st game vs. Devils

Posted December 19, 2017 at 6:15 AM By Chris Ryan [email protected],

Adam Henrique went through the emotions he expected in his first game back at the Prudential Center in Newark. Playing his first game against the Devils since his Nov. 30 trade to the Anaheim Ducks, Henrique handled a long, emotional night while en route to a productive night at the office. "I don't know if pumped up is the word," Henrique said after the game. "Nervous, anxious, excited, a little bit of everything kind of came into it. It was probably one of the longest games I've played personally." The Devils spoiled his homecoming with a 5-3 victory on Monday, but Henrique gave the Ducks every chance to win. From the get go, Henrique looked dialed in, and he made the Devils pay twice. He banked a long pass to set up a 3-on-1 and a Jakub Silfverberg goal for a 2-0 lead in the first period. Henrique later flipped a puck through the neutral zone, where he chased it down and finished an incredible backhanded goal for a 3-1 lead in the second period. When Devils coach John Hynes was asked after the game about Henrique's goal. he couldn't help but smile and shake his head. "That's a little bit of Rico there," Hynes said. "He finds ways to do different things. It's a smart play, he's getting cut off at the net, but he makes a dynamic play." Prior to either team scoring, the game reached the first stoppage of the first period, where the Devils paid tribute to their former center. Henrique knew it was coming, and he -- seemingly like everyone else in the building-- anxiously awaited the moment before turning full attention to the game. "The first I just kind of counted the seconds there to the timeout," Henrique said. "I didn't know what it would be like to watch. It was certainly nice to have a great ovation from the fans there, which was awesome, and the players, too, obviously. It was a special night from that side of things. Certainly an experience I'll always remember." Henrique won't see the Devils again until the two teams meet for the second time this season in Anaheim in March. Like Devils defenseman Sami Vatanen, Henrique said the game became more normal as it got going. Being on the ice against former teammates didn't have too much of an impact. "You know those guys, you played a lot with those guys in this rink, in practice," Henrique said. "I just kind of needed to get through those first five minutes and stay my lane. It was a weird game for me, start to finish. Just trying to play my game and not focus on any of that stuff, but it was tough. It was good."

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Devils rally past Ducks, 5-3, to spoil Adam Henrique's return

Andrew Gross, Staff Writer, @AGrossRecord Published 9:48 p.m. ET Dec. 18, 2017 | Updated 11:45 p.m. ET Dec. 18, 2017

NEWARK – Adam Henrique, acknowledging the standing ovation from the Prudential Center crowd chanting his name and the emotional video tribute to his best moments with the Devils, smiled and hopped over the boards, skating with his stick raised and tapping his heart. “That’s cool, I’ve never really been a part of anything like that,” said right wing Stefan Noesen, an ex-Duck also playing his first game against his former team. “He looked over at the bench a couple of times and a bunch of guys were blowing him kisses.” Henrique, the ex-Devil fan favorite had a goal and an assist in his first game against his former team and defenseman Sami Vatanen, acquired for Henrique on Nov. 30, countered with an assist for his first point since the trade. But it was Noesen, admitting he likes to “fly under the radar as much as possible” who had two of the Devils’ three, third-period goals as they twice rallied from two-goal deficits for a 5-3 win on Monday night with top- line wings Taylor Hall and Kyle Palmieri returning to the lineup from injury absences of two and 12 games, respectively. Miles Wood also scored twice for the Devils (19-9-5), who moved back into first place in the Metropolitan Division, Cory Schneider rebounded from allowing two goals on the first four shots he faced to make 21 saves and Brian Boyle, on his 33rd birthday, had his first career three-assist game. “I had three assists in a season, once,” Boyle said. “They’re a very good playoff team,” added Vatanen, 26, who spent his first four-plus NHL seasons with the Ducks and logged a team-high 23:25. “It’s a big character win for us. We didn’t start really well but we found a way to win the game, so it’s a good thing.” Noesen scored the winner at 15:53 of the third period by converting the rebound of his initial shot and added an empty-netter to clinch it 6.6 seconds remaining. Ryan Miller made 29 saves for the Ducks (14-12-8). Rookie Jesper Bratt, moved off the top line to start the game so coach John Hynes could reunite Hall and Palmieri with No. 1 overall pick, was back on Hischier’s right wing to start the third period and he tied the game at 3 at 5:49 of the final period as he exited the penalty box and connected from the left circle on the rush. The video tribute came at 6:28 of the first period and highlighted Henrique’s six-plus seasons with the Devils and his off-ice charity work, culminating with his overtime winner in the decisive Game 6 of the 2012 Eastern Conference final against the rival Rangers and then the words, “Thank You Rico.” “I was just counting down the seconds until the timeout,” said Henrique, who has four goals and four assists in nine games with the Ducks. “I didn’t know what it would be like to watch. It was certainly nice to have a great ovation from the fans. And the players, too. Certainly an experience I’ll always remember. Henrique increased the Ducks’ lead to 3-1 at 11:21 with a great individual effort, popping the puck into the air and past Vatanen at the Devils’ blue line, then rushing past the defenseman and getting to the crease to beat Schneider. A hockey alley-oop play. “Well, that was a nasty play,” Vatanen said. “I have to say, that was very nice. I have to tip my hat. It was something I have never seen.” Wood’s first goal came when he deflected Vatanen’s blue-line shot for a power-play goal to cut the Ducks’ lead to 2-1 at 8:11 of the second period. Wood again made it a one-goal game by circling to the right, taking a pass from Pavel Zacha, and beating Miller to the short side with a wrist shot the goalie should have stopped at 18:16 of the second period.

Bergen Record LOADED: 12.19.2017 1089036 New Jersey Devils “He did a nice job,” Hynes said. “I think you can put Coleman with anyone. He’s going to help.”

3. About that Adam Henrique goal. Devils 5, Ducks 3: Post-game observations Or, in other words, holy improvisation, did you see Adam Henrique’s goal? Andrew Gross, Staff Writer, @AGrossRecord Published 1:06 a.m. ET Coming with speed through the neutral zone against Vatanen, Henrique Dec. 19, 2017 | Updated 1:06 a.m. ET Dec. 19, 2017 lifted the puck, high and up and over Vatanen, who got spun around and had Henrique go right past him and to the crease to give the Ducks a 3-1 lead at 11:21 of the second period. The Devils will be hard-pressed to pack as much into one game as they squeezed into Monday night’s 5-3 win over the Ducks at Prudential “Well, that was a nasty play,” Vatanen said, adding he’d never seen Center. anything like that. Where to start? Adam Henrique’s goal and an assist in his emotional “It’s another team making a play against our team and we need to return to The Rock, complete with video tribute? respond,” Boyle said. “I think we did a good job of that. Sami was involved from start to finish and he made some great plays for us. It’s a Stefan Noesen scoring two goals in the third period in his first game good play by Rico but he’s a good player.” against the Ducks since they tried to sneak him through waivers last season but watched as the Devils gobbled him up.? 4. Hynes was asked if it was emotional for him and the team to see Henrique come back. Sami Vatanen’s first point as a Devil since he was acquired in the deal that sent Henrique to Anaheim? Hynes said it was more emotional the day Henrique was traded, when the two sat in Hynes’ office for about 25 minutes just talking. Brian Boyle with his first career three-assist game – on his 33rd birthday, no less – and his second straight three-point game and just the third Now, Hynes said he’s just happy to see Henrique doing well. three-point game of his career? 5. Henrique, nine games with the Ducks, four goals, four assists. Taylor Hall and Kyle Palmieri returning to the Devils’ lineup from injuries? 6. Vatanen on getting his first point with the Devils, “It’s been a little while Or how about the victory – the Devils’ third straight five-goal performance since I got a point or scored a goal. I just try to play a simple game and at home – launching them back into first place in the Metropolitan throw the puck to the net and sometimes you get good bounces.” Division with the hated Rangers invading on Thursday? 7. Miles Wood’s power-play goal at 8:11 of the second period came as Or the Devils, and Cory Schneider, allowing two goals on the Ducks’ first Vatanen’s blue-line shot went in off Wood’s shin pad. four shots and then twice rallying from two-goal deficits? Wood’s second goal, to bring the Devils within 3-2 at 18:16 of the second Or Miles Wood’s third multi-goal performance of the season, his second period was one Ryan Miller would like back, just a flip from the right circle two-goal outing to go with his first career hat trick? that beat Miller short side. Pretty sure that’s it. “The first one, Sami made a great play on the power play just getting the puck to the net,” Wood said. “The next one, I came out of the corner and “We were playing well and got the lead,” Henrique said. “They kept just kind of spun shot it. I wasn’t trying to score. I was just going to create coming and we kind of sat back in the second half of the game and they something in front. Fortunately it went in.” capitalized on some chances. I had to manage it a little better as the game went on.” 8. One of Pavel Zacha’s best games of the season, with an assist and two shots in 13:22. More importantly, just a relentless work ethic in the As for his experience in the game, Henrique said, “Nervous, anxious, offensive zone. excited. It was probably one of the longest games I’ve played, personally. I’m still disappointed to leave points on the board.” 9. The thread through the Devils three third-period goals, other than Boyle getting an assist on all three? The Andy Greene-Steven Santini “It’s just a character group that we have in here,” Wood said. “It was a defense pair were on ice for all three. good response by our team to score some goals and win the game.” 10. Before the game, it said on the Fire and Ice Live Blog what to watch Some post-game observations: for that the Devils might have to score four goals to win because the Ducks had scored either two or three goals in 10 straight games. Well, 1. Cory Schneider gave up a goal he shouldn’t have, Ryan Getzlaf’s that streak is now 11 straight games and the Devils had four goals until roller from the right circle to open the scoring at 6:44 of the first period. Noesen’s empty-netter with 6.6 seconds to go. After that, Schneider was pretty solid in making 21 saves, including stopping all eight shots he faced in the third period and nine of 10 in the Just sayin’. second period. 11. The Devils have a practice scheduled for 11 a.m. on Tuesday. They’ll Coach John Hynes likened Schneider’s performance to the Devils in this definitely practice on Wednesday before Thursday’s game. game (not usual as the goalie-rest of team dynamic is usually symbiotic). Hynes said Schneider and the team “bent but did not break.” No doubt Schneider gets the start on Thursday against the Rangers as Bergen Record LOADED: 12.19.2017 the Devils reach the third game of this six-game homestand. 2. Jesper Bratt wound up scoring a goa and logging 19:51, the most of any Devils’ forward. Considering he was dropped from No. 1 overall pick Nico Hischier’s top line, where he had been subbing for Kyle Palmieri, to the bottom six to start the game, it truly shows how invaluable this 19- year-old sixth-round pick has become to the Devils. Hynes, to start the third period, put Bratt back on Hischier’s right wing along with Hall, moved Palmieri to Travis Zajac’s line with Brian Gibbons and moved Blake Coleman to Brian Boyle’s left wing along with Noesen. Hynes explained his thinking thusly: He thought Hischier’s line with Hall and Palmieri were just “OK” and he was trying to match Zajac’s line, which started with Coleman and Gibbons against Ryan Getzlaf’s line with Rickard Rakell and Kevin Roy, “a big, heavy line,” Hynes said. So he moves the experienced and savvy Palmieri to help that matchup. Bratt, very strong defensively, helped Hischier’s line match up against Henrique’s line with Andrew Cogliano and Jakob Silfverberg. And Coleman? 1089037 New Jersey Devils

Devils' Marcus Johansson aiming for a Thursday return

Andrew Gross, Staff Writer, @AGrossRecord Published 2:55 p.m. ET Dec. 18, 2017

NEWARK – While Taylor Hall and Kyle Palmieri returned to the Devils’ lineup on Monday night, Marcus Johansson, the third injured top-six forward, will likely be back on Thursday night against the Rangers at Prudential Center. Johansson missed his fourth game with an ankle bruise and remains on injured reserve but participated in the Devils’ optional morning skate. “We’re aiming for Thursday,” said Johansson, who has four goals and three assists in 15 games after being acquired from the Capitals in the offseason and also missed 13 games in November because of a concussion. “It gets old sitting on the sidelines,” added Johansson, injured blocking a shot in a 5-2 loss to the Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Dec. 9. “I just want to get out there and play. I want to be a big part of it. You want to do what you love. But to get a few more days to get ready and get maybe to 100 percent, hopefully that will do the trick.” Johansson said he is still dealing with some lingering pain. The Devils would need to open a spot on the 23-man roster to activate Johansson off injured reserve. Forward Joey Anderson, 19, a third-round pick of the Devils in 2016 and a sophomore at Minnesota-Duluth, was named the captain of the U.S. Junior National Team for the upcoming World Junior Championships at Buffalo, N.Y. Dec. 26-Jan. 5. “That was exciting for us as an organization,” Devils coach John Hynes said. “When you have your prospects be able to come in and play in high pressure situations it’s always a good thing but then to be voted captain of a World Junior team, it’s impressive for Joey.” Briefs Right wing Jimmy Hayes was the spare forward and defensemen Ben Lovejoy and Dalton Prout remained healthy scratches. Prout was scratched for the 21st straight game and he could possibly be re- assigned to Binghamton (AHL) – if he clears waivers – when the Devils activate Johansson. …Ex-Devil Joseph Blandisi, sent to the Ducks on Nov. 30 along with Adam Henrique in exchange for Sami Vatanen, was a healthy scratch for the second straight game after being sidelined the previous four with an upper-body injury.

New York Daily News LOADED: 12.19.2017 1089038 New Jersey Devils Palmieri will be activated today off injured reserve – the Devils have one roster spot open after Nick Lappin was re-assigned to Binghamton (AHL) on Saturday – and return to the lineup after missing 12 games with a Devils Daily Faceoff: Three storylines for Dec. 18 broken right foot suffered blocking a shot at Minnesota on Nov. 20. The two are expected to be reunited on the wings of No. 1 overall pick Nico Hischier as the top line. Andrew Gross, Staff Writer, @AGrossRecord Published 8:44 a.m. ET Dec. 18, 2017 | Updated 9:31 a.m. ET Dec. 18, 2017 Johansson, who also practiced on Sunday and remains on injured reserve with an ankle bruise, was still a possibility for tonight’s game though it’s much more likely he misses his fourth straight game and returns on Thursday night against the Rangers. If Johansson is ready NEWARK – It figures to be an emotional evening tonight at Prudential tonight, the Devils will have to make a corresponding move to open a Center as the Devils face the Ducks (Faceoff: 7 p.m.; Television: MSG roster spot for him. Plus; Radio: WFAN-101.9FM/660AM, digital One Jersey Network). Third period – Don’t forget about Sami: This is also Vatanen’s first game Subtitle: The Return of Adam Henrique. against his former team, though the more emotional game for him will likely be March 18 at Anaheim. The former Devils’ fan favorite makes his first visit back to The Rock since the Nov. 30 trade that saw him, Joseph Blandisi and a third-round Anaheim Ducks defenseman Sami Vatanen (45), from Finland, pick in the 2018 NHL Draft head to the Ducks for defenseman Sami Vatanen and a conditional third-round pick. “I don’t know,” Vatanen said when asked what the weirdest thing for him tonight might be. “It’s guys I played with the whole time. I hope I don’t But the second subtitle is The Return of Taylor Hall and Kyle Palmieri as pass the puck to them. When the game starts, it’s just hockey. I don’t the Devils get two of their top-six forwards back in the lineup from injury really think too much about it.” absences both short and long. And there’s still a remote possibility Marcus Johansson could also be back tonight. The Devils have an optional morning skate scheduled for 10:30 a.m., when the exact lineup will become clear. New York Daily News LOADED: 12.19.2017 It’s the second game of a season-high six game homestand for the Devils (18-9-5), who opened it with a strong 5-2 win over the Stars on Friday night. And that marked the Devils’ second straight impressive home victory after Tuesday’s 5-1 win over the Kings. Compiling points is imperative, though, in the ultra-competitive Metropolitan Division. The Devils start today’s play in second place with the same 41 points as the Blue Jackets, who have played one extra game. The first-place Capitals, who have played two extra games, are two points ahead of the Devils and eight points separates the Capitals from the eighth-place Hurricanes. Right now, the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Penguins are outside the playoff bubble, in sixth place with 37 points and having played two more games than the Devils. The Ducks (14-11-8) have started their six-game road trip 1-0-1 after Saturday’s 3-2 overtime loss at Washington. It marked the 10th straight game the Ducks have either scored two or three goals. Here are three storylines for today: First period – All eyes on Rico: Henrique knows there will be plenty of conflicting emotions for him all day. He got a head start on the reunions when the Ducks practiced at Prudential Center on Sunday. Almost certainly, there will be a video tribute for him and, almost certainly, he’ll be greeted very fondly by the crowd at The Rock, at least at the start. “I think you enjoy it, try to take it all in,” Henrique said when asked what his reaction to a video tribute might be. “I don’t know if there’s any of that planned or not. I think, if there is, kind of enjoy that moment. Try to take it in but we also have a job to do. We’ve got to go play a game. I want to enjoy that part of it but, at the same time, you’ve got to be able to block it out for a bit throughout the game.” Longtime teammate Travis Zajac – he, captain Andy Greene and Henrique were the three players remaining from the Devils 2012 Stanley Cup Finalists to start this season – was asked if it will be odd to see Henrique in a Ducks’ uniform. “It will be,” Zajac said. “It’ll be fun. I like, obviously, Rico a lot. I became good friends with him, had some highs and lows with him. You don’t forget those experiences.” “It’s kind of nice it’s kind of close to the trade,” ex-Duck Kyle Palmieri said of tonight’s game. “It’ll be good to see him again and I’m sure he’s looking forward to this game. I’m pretty close with a lot of the guys and now, with Rico there, I’m closer to a few more guys. It’s always fun to play against your buddies and your old team.” Second period – Returning for the Devils: Hall, the Devils’ leading scorer with 11 goals and 20 assists, will be back in the lineup after missing two games with a right knee contusion suffered in a knee-to-knee hit with Kings defenseman Kurtis MacDermid on Tuesday, a collision Hall acknowledged on Sunday could have had much more serious consequences for him. 1089039 New Jersey Devils

Brian Boyle’s three helpers help Devils rally in win over Ducks

Staff Report By Associated Press December 18, 2017 | 10:17PM

NEWARK, N.J. — Stefan Noesen scored on a rebound with 4:07 to play and added an empty net goal as New Jersey rallied from a two-goal deficit to defeat Ducks 5-3 on Monday night in the first game between the teams since the late November trade that sent defenseman Sami Vatanen to the Devils for the popular Adam Henrique. Myles Wood had two goals, Jesper Bratt also scored and Brian Boyle added three assists as the Devils won their second straight game to start a six-game homestand. Cory Schneider had 21 saves and was helped by a goalpost on a shot by Rickard Rakell during a power play before Neosen, a former Duck, scored the go-ahead goal. Henrique had a wonderful return, scoring a spectacular goal and adding an assist as the Ducks had their point-scoring streak snapped at seven games (3-0-4). Ryan Getzlaf and Jakob Silfverberg also scored for Anaheim. Ryan Miller had 29 saves in losing for the first time in regulation (3-1-4) this season. Noesen put in his own rebound for his fourth goal of the season. His empty-net tally came after Schneider stopped Henrique in front after the Ducks pulled Miller. The Devils twice rallied from two-goal deficits, tying the game 3-all on a wrist shot by Bratt at 5:49 of the third period. The rookie’s 10th goal came just seconds after he finished serving New Jersey’s first penalty of the game. Trailing 3-1 late in the second period, Wood scored on a shot from the right circle that Miller seemed to miss. Henrique had given Anaheim a 3-1 lead 11:21 into the period with a spectacular goal just seconds after a Ducks penalty ended. He took a pass from Josh Manson, skated into center ice and then flipped the puck over Vatanen into the Devils’ zone. He beat the defenseman to the puck and then beat Schneider with a slick backhander into the top of the net. Getzlaf and Silfverberg had staked the Ducks to a 2-0 first-period lead. Getzlaf, who returned to the lineup last week after missing 19 games with a fractured cheekbone, beat Schneider at 6:44 on a 2-on-1 break. Henrique made an outstanding breakoff pass from in front of his net that caught Andrew Cogliano in stride for a great setup on Silfverberg’s ninth goal from in front. Wood got the Devils back in the game, deflecting Vatanen’s power-play shot past Miller at 8:11.

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Islanders’ Calvin de Haan could be out for rest of regular season with apparent shoulder injury

By Arthur Staple [email protected] @StapeNewsday Updated December 18, 2017 7:16 PM

The Islanders had been relatively lucky with health this season. Until Saturday, that is. Calvin de Haan, who has played the third-most minutes on the team this season, will be out for an extended period of time after suffering what’s believed to be a shoulder injury just before Jordan Eberle scored the winning goal in overtime to beat the Kings, 4-3. De Haan was placed on injured reserve Monday after an MRI exam while the team practiced in advance of Tuesday’s game against the Red Wings at Barclays Center. No determination has been made on whether de Haan will need surgery, which would put him out until at least the playoffs. But even without surgery, the Islanders won’t have one of their steadiest defensemen for a while. De Haan, who is a free agent after this season, is second among Isles defenseman with 12 points and is averaging 18:45 of ice time per game. “Visually, his reaction didn’t look great,” coach Doug Weight said of seeing de Haan in pain on Saturday. “A big piece of our defense. Having a really good year, a little anonymity behind it, but he’s a great skater, defends hard, he’s fearless blocking shots.” Weight had been trying to juggle eight defensemen for a majority of the season. Johnny Boychuk missed three games recently and Thomas Hickey has missed the last four, though Hickey came off IR Monday. Now down to seven and in need of someone to pick up those heavy minutes de Haan played, the coach is trying to see this as an opportunity rather than a setback. “We have a lot of guys that have played a lot of minutes in their careers and are on the verge of earning more minutes,” Weight said. “And we’ve been in a bit of a logjam. So I’m comfortable having them take that step. It seems to me the more you throw at them, the more confident they get and it’s been difficult to throw a lot at them because of the amount of guys. This isn’t a good thing by any stretch. Calvin’s come into his own the last two years. But we have the personnel to deal with it.” De Haan has had two previous shoulder injuries, both of which required surgery. One cost him the 2009-10 junior season, the year after the Isles selected him 12th overall; the other ended his 2012-13 season with Bridgeport. That injury was to his left shoulder. Saturday’s injury, when de Haan laid out to break up a two on one and appeared to have Kings forward Tyler Toffoli fall on him, looked as if it was to de Haan’s right shoulder. Only one other Isles regular has missed more than four games to injury, with Nikolay Kulemin recovering from shoulder surgery. Notes & quotes: Weight said Thomas Greiss, who got his first win on Saturday since Nov. 24, will start in goal against the Wings on Tuesday.

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 12.19.2017 1089041 New York Rangers

Kevin Shattenkirk: Former coach’s comment bothered me

By Larry Brooks December 18, 2017 | 4:33PM

Here is an addendum to Capitals coach Barry Trotz’s perceived dis of Kevin Shattenkirk on Dec. 7, the day before the defenseman faced his team for the first time since his short stay in D.C. as a rental following last season’s deadline. “He came up to me and apologized after the game,” Shattenkirk told The Post following Monday’s practice. “He explained what he had said and told me that it had been portrayed differently than he intended. I appreciated that.” Shattenkirk admitted that the comments in which Trotz said that No. 22 was not “a one-two” top pair defenseman were on his mind when he took the ice for the following night’s first shift on which his turnover led to the Caps’ first goal at 0:14. “That game I felt I had a point to prove and then the first shift it’s in the net,” said Shattenkirk, whose Blueshirts meet the Ducks at the Garden on Tuesday. “I felt that I was playing catch-up the rest of the way. “But after the game, talking to him and with the explanation he gave me, I put it out of my mind. It hasn’t stuck with me.” If Henrik Lundqvist seemed all but out on his feet leaving the ice following Saturday’s 3-2 overtime victory in the 5:00 start that followed Friday night’s 4-2 triumph over the Kings at the Garden in which the puck dropped at 7:00, there was a reason for it. “It was the most tired I’ve ever been in the regular season,” the King said on Monday.” I knew it was going to be a physical challenge. I started cramping a little bit in my hands and feet in the third period.” Well, it’s not as if he needed those to stop the puck. Lundqvist is expected to be in nets Tuesday for his 29th start in 34 games. The 35-year-old Swede has thrived under the heavy workload he has sought, going 13-4 with a 2.34 GAA and .928 save percentage in 18 starts in 20 games since the beginning of November. The franchise goaltender averaged 70 starts from 2006-07 through 2010- 11. He started 62 games in 2011-12 and then 43 of 48 in the lockout- truncated 2012-13. The King has averaged 55 starts the last three years, including the 2014-15 season in which he was sidelined for nearly two months with the vascular injury he sustained while being hit in the throat with a shot. The Rangers were shorthanded seven times (for 11:45) on Saturday for the first time since Alain Vigneault took over behind the bench in 2013- 14. The Blueshirts, who killed six and won it on an OT power play on the B’s second too-many-men infraction of the match, were last down a man seven times in the 2012-13 opener (Jan. 19, 2013), also in Boston.

New York Post LOADED: 12.19.2017 1089042 New York Rangers New York Post LOADED: 12.19.2017

Rangers are getting Mika Zibanejad back

By Larry Brooks December 18, 2017 | 11:28PM

Unless something unforeseen develops before Tuesday’s Garden puck drop against the Ducks, it will be Mika in the Middle for the Blueshirts. “I think this is the right time,” said Mika Zibanejad, who missed the past nine games with the aftereffects of the concussion he sustained against Detroit on Nov. 24. “I’ve been taking it step-by-step and now this is another step, and so far so good. “I’m excited to get back. There’s a little more jump to your game.” Zibanejad, such an integral part of the Rangers’ attack both at even- strength and on the first power-play unit, will slide back between Chris Kreider and Pavel Buchnevich on the first line and resume his role as the right-handed presence on the left side of the top man-advantage unit. “It’s comforting to have him back in all situations,” said power-play point quarterback Kevin Shattenkirk. “On the power play, it’s not only the way he shoots the puck, but he makes a lot of poise plays when we need them.” David Desharnais, who filled in for Zibanejad on the top line, will remain in the lineup, moving to the fourth unit between Jimmy Vesey and Paul Carey with Boo Nieves in line to be a healthy scratch. It seems like a counter-intuitive move after the fourth line had established itself as an energy line capable of generating momentum with a strong forecheck. But coach Alain Vigneault is essentially always going to lean toward a veteran’s pure skill as opposed to constructing a lineup from the bottom up in which a fourth-line’s role is uppermost in his calculation. There is this, too: In 60:43, the Vesey-Nieves-Carey unit has a 38.2 percent Corsi rating, all but indistinguishable from the 37.0 rating the Vesey-Desharnais-Carey combination had amassed in 19:21 of five-on- five time (per naturalstatttrick.com). So though the skill sets of the centers differ, small sample-size analytic results do not. “There’s no doubt that Kreids and Butchie are good players, but I also think that Jimmy and Paul are good players,” Vigneault said. “I expect this to be an effective line for us.” Meanwhile, the return of Zibanejad, who played one more game against the Canucks on Nov. 26 two days after taking the causal blow from Darren Helm, will give the Rangers a legitimate top line capable of driving possession time. The Kreider-Zibanejad-Buchnevich trio has a 55.7 percentage possession rating in 171:31, as opposed to the 41.4 rating the line put up while Desharnais filled in for 88:10. “Sometimes those symptoms come a little longer after the hit, and that’s what happened this time,” Zibanejad said when asked if he regretted playing against Vancouver. “You can’t look back and say what I should have done, or whatever. I’m just happy that everything has been progressing the way we wanted it to and the right way. “I’m here now and excited to be back.” The line with Desharnais recorded five goals and was plus-three while the unit with Zibanejad somehow scored only four times in almost double the time while going minus-four, so you can draw your own conclusions over the value of small-sample size Corsi. The Rangers went 5-3-1 without No. 93, who is tied for second on the club in goals scored at 11 with linemates Kreider and Buchnevich, five off the pace set by Michael Grabner. Zibanejad is fourth on the team with 22 points, five behind Mats Zuccarello. The power play, which scored three goals in the last two games, went 5-for-27 in Zibanejad’s absence. “If you’re going to be successful over 82 games, you need to find different ways,” said Henrik Lundqvist, whose team is in fourth place in the eight-team Metropolitan Division in which eight points separate first and last. “You’re going to have injuries, you’re going to have guys out of the lineup and that means different players are going to get opportunities and have to run with it. “Mika has been out for a while and there’s been added ice time for a couple of guys who have done a great job. But he’s such a big part of the team and was playing so well before he got injured.”

1089043 New York Rangers

Mika Zibanejad’s expected return Tuesday should jolt power play

By Brian Heyman Special to Newsday Updated December 18, 2017 6:02 PM

GREENBURGH, N.Y. — The Rangers had the man advantage, and Mika Zibanejad was hovering in his familiar spot at the left circle, waiting for a pass that he could turn into a righthanded, one-time rocket toward the net. The quarterback of the first power-play unit sure enjoyed the view. Kevin Shattenkirk called it “comforting” to have Zibanejad fully back on the power play during practice Monday at the MSG Training Center after missing the last nine games with a concussion. “I told him now I’ve got to readjust back to the way it was,” Shattenkirk said. “It’s good to have that option again and know if I get that puck over there, he’s got his one-timer coming.” The No. 1 center participated in a practice as an extra defenseman last week, but this time Zibanejad went though his first practice with linemates Chris Kreider and Pavel Buchnevich. Coach Alain Vigneault said barring something unforeseen, Zibanejad “should be in the lineup” Tuesday night when the Anaheim Ducks visit the Garden. “It’s obviously tough to be out and tough to watch, but always fun, too, to come back,” Zibanejad said. “I think this is the right time . . . We took it step by step, and it was another step today to practice on my line. So far so good.” The concussion stemmed from a game Nov. 24. Zibanejad played two days later, then had to be shut down. “Sometimes those symptoms come a little bit longer after the hit, and that’s what happened this time,” Zibanejad said. “You can’t look back and say what I should’ve done.” He has 11 goals and 11 assists in 24 games this season. David Desharnais, who will drop to the fourth line, filled in well with seven points across the nine games. The Rangers went 5-3-1 without Zibanejad and are in wild-card position with 39 points. But make no mistake, Zibanejad has been missed. “He’s such a big part of the team,” Henrik Lundqvist said. The Rangers were struggling to produce power-play goals without Zibanejad until going a combined 3-for-8 Friday and Saturday in sweeping Los Angeles and Boston. “I think he just makes our power play so much more dangerous instantly,” Shattenkirk said. “He’s a huge weapon on that side, not only the way he shoots the puck, but he makes a lot of poise plays as well that seem to calm everything down when we need it. He does the same thing five-on- five.” Zibanejad, Kreider and Buchnevich had great chemistry before the injury. Kreider called Zibanejad “an incredible player.” “I think anyone’s going to have chemistry with Mika,” Kreider said. “ . . . I think it’s a big lift for our team getting Mika back.”

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Preparing Citi Field for Winter Classic a major production

By Michael Lewis Special to Newsday December 18, 2017 10:05 PM

For about three hours of hockey on New Year’s Day, it will take hundreds of man hours, some 20,000 gallons of water and a special refrigeration unit to transform a baseball field into a rink. League officials don’t want the Rangers and Sabres skating on thin ice at Citi Field in the 10th NHL Winter Classic. So a two-week process to build an outdoor rink began Sunday. “Anytime you’re working outside, we’re dealing with all sorts of different weather elements, whether it’s sun, rain,” Mike Craig, the NHL’s senior manager of facilities operations/hockey operations, said Monday. “We have a little bit of a mix of that in the forecast. Just trying to figure out how we’re going to run our equipment to accommodate all of that.”

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1089045 Ottawa Senators finally climbed back over the .900 hump in save percentage. He’s now at .901.

BIG BEN IS BACK Warrenspiece: All about thawing out, praising fans, re-jigging the power play and good news on the injury front Earlier Monday, Boucher said that Gabriel Dumont wouldn’t play Tuesday due to an ankle injury suffered Saturday – Nick Paul will step in against the Wild – but that there probably wouldn’t be a call-up from Ken Warren Belleville of the AHL. Late in the day, though, defenceman Ben Harpur returned, raising the possibility that perhaps one of the existing six Published on: December 18, 2017 | Last Updated: December 18, 2017 blueliners has an injury concern. Harpur has registered one assist in 12 11:22 PM EST games with Ottawa. He has two goals and one assist in seven games with Belleville…Fellow defenceman Mark Borowiecki, out of the line-up since suffering a concussion Nov. 19 against the Rangers, is back skating again. “I’m feeling much better, I’ve made some good steps,” he Senators forward Bobby Ryan has been moved to the second power play said. “I’m going to be out a little while longer, but I’m not 19 anymore. I’m unit. Tony Caldwell Postmedia Network not going to rush back and put myself in a tough situation. I’ve got to Come Monday morning, the Ottawa Senators had thawed out, but they make sure I’m 100%.” were still talking about how cool the outdoor game was. Ottawa Citizen LOADED: 12.19.2017 “It was a big, emotional game, because there was a lot of build up around it, a divisional rival (in Montreal),” said winger Zack Smith. “It was pretty big to win that one for where we’re at right now, because it gives us momentum. We have to wins under our belt now, we’re excited to get going again.” THE NEED TO RE-CHARGE Smith says Sunday’s off day was welcome given the attention of the outdoor game and the drain of steady stream of losses on the road in late November and early December. “There was a lot of hype, and especially coming off that 16-day road trip. It feels like about 40 days because you’re losing games.” MORE FANDEMONIUM: Boucher says he spent the day off Christmas shopping, an experience that he says gave him an appreciation for how much the city loves its professional hockey team. “I saw fans all day and they thought (the outdoor game) was unreal on TV. And some of them were at the game, too,” he said. “The people in the stands made it an incredible atmosphere. We won, which made it nicer, but I didn’t think it was going to be like this, to be honest.” The way Boucher sees it, there are moments of joy that come from the success of championships, and there are spectacular stand-alone events that are unforgettable. “It wasn’t just a game,” he said. “It was an experience. We wanted that game to be something we wanted, something we were looking forward to. We were looking forward to the cold, looking forward to ice where puck might bobble like it did when we were young.” MAKING THE GAME MORE SPECIAL Boucher was ecstatic at the energy he saw during Monday’s 65-minute workout – singling out Mark Stone for his passion — where the club addressed its many areas of concerns, including the power play and penalty killing. The Senators special teams have been atrocious. With a 14.9 per cent success rate on the power play, they rank 27th in the NHL. Tuesday, they will be facing a Wild penalty killing team that ranks third in the NHL, at 84.5 per cent. (For comparison’s sake, Ottawa’s 77.3 per cent efficiency in penalty killing ranks them 28th overall). The biggest change is that Bobby Ryan has moved to a second power play unit, with Dion Phaneuf, Thomas Chabot, Ryan Dzingel and Zack Smith. Derick Brassard has moved from second unit to first, joining Erik Karlsson, Mike Hoffman, Stone and Matt Duchene. “It’s no secret that we’re more of a shooting power play,” said Smith. “So we need to get more pucks to the net. For me, in my position, I feel like I need to create better screens, take away the goalie’s eyes. That’s what I’m there for, not to be the quarterback on the power play.” Speaking of special teams, Boucher went there in addressing the potential distraction of Melnyk’s mouthful. “We didn’t even talk about it,” the coach said. “That’s just something that stays on the outside. It’s not going to help our power play or the PK or our five on five game. I don’t go there. That’s above me and outside me. I just coach the game and the players.” MUST HAVE BEEN THE BIG WIN ON PARLIAMENT HILL According to the NHL Network, Daniel Alfredsson is the 25th best captain in league history. The top of the list features Mark Messier, Jean Beliveau and Steve Yzerman…Craig Anderson was given the day off from practice Monday for maintenance issues, but he will start Tuesday against the Wild. After Saturday’s shutout over Montreal, Anderson has 1089046 Philadelphia Flyers

Andrew MacDonald, Radko Gudas settle down Flyers' young defense

Updated: DECEMBER 18, 2017 — 7:30 PM EST by Sam Carchidi,

Veterans Andrew MacDonald and Radko Gudas have stabilized the Flyers’ young defense since returning to the lineup. Entering Monday’s game against Los Angeles, the Flyers were 6-2-1 since MacDonald returned from a leg injury — they were just 3-6-6 without him — and 3-0 since Gudas returned from a 10-game suspension. The Flyers were allowing 1.33 goals in the three games that both were in the lineup since their return. MacDonald has been back on the No. 1 pairing alongside Ivan Provorov, and Gudas has been together with rookie Travis Sanheim. Rookie Robert Hagg, who had been with Provorov during MacDonald’s absence, is now with Shayne Gostisbehere. MacDonald and Gudas have had a calming effect on the defense, captain Claude Giroux said. “They’re both playing really good hockey and logging a lot of minutes,” Giroux said before Monday’s game. “When they have the puck, they usually make the right play. And that veteran presence — not just on the ice, but in the room or on the bench — is really key.” They give the Flyers two veterans “you can talk to on the bench if you have any questions,” Hagg said. “And Gudie is Gudie. He’s playing physical and when an opponent goes into his corner, they know it’s going to be a war.” Sanheim said the defensemen have provided stability and “made it a little easier on some of the younger guys to have that voice and communication from some of the older guys, and they’re obviously key guys on the penalty kill, too. They do a good job blocking shots and getting in lanes.” Stevens returns Kings coach John Stevens returned to the city where he started his head- coaching career. Now in his first year as L.A.’s head coach, Stevens was an associate coach when the Kings won Stanley Cup titles in 2012 and 2014. He coached the Flyers from 2006-09, compiling a 120-109-34 record before being replaced by Peter Laviolette. Stevens, who still has a home in Sea Isle City, N.J., downplayed his return to the Wells Fargo Center. “To be honest, we’re just looking at Philadelphia as a tough opponent,” he said before the game. “The team is playing well right now. If anything, I have a lot of respect and fond ties to my time here. It sounds odd, but for my kids, this is home for them. For them, it’s like coming home with the familiarity with the people here. Philadelphia is a great memory for my family.” Giroux is the only player on the current Flyers team who played for Stevens when he was their head coach. He played parts of three seasons under Stevens. “When I came in the league, he really kept me on my toes,” Giroux said. “He pushed me to be a hardworking player and he really helped me on my work ethic.” Elliott honored Flyers goalie Brian Elliott was named the NHL’s No. 2 star of the week after going 3-0 with a 1.31 goals-against average and .943 save percentage. Chicago’s Patrick Kane (four goals in three games) was the No. 1 star. Elliott was the No. 3 star the previous week. Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 12.19.2017 1089047 Philadelphia Flyers five-on-five goals in the NHL, and L.A. is third. … Doughty has played in 280 straight games. … The Flyers have allowed just one power-play opportunity in each of the last three games. … The Kings are unbeaten in Flyers' Claude Giroux credits John Stevens for his strong foundation regulation (16-0-3) when scoring three or more goals in a game. … Ivan Provorov and Los Angeles’ Jake Muzzin are among the four NHL players with more than 70 hits and 70 blocked shots this season. Updated: DECEMBER 18, 2017 — 1:14 PM EST Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 12.19.2017 by Sam Carchidi,

John Stevens will return to the city where he started his head-coaching career Monday night when his Los Angeles Kings face the streaking Flyers at the Wells Fargo Center. Now in his first year as the Kings’ head coach, Stevens was an associate coach when L.A. won Stanley Cup titles in 2012 and 2014. He coached the Flyers from 2006-09, compiling a 120-109-34 record before being replaced by Peter Laviolette. Stevens, who still has a home in Sea Isle, downplayed his return. “That question came up yesterday, and to be honest with you, we’re just looking at Philadelphia as a tough opponent,” he said after the Kings’ practice Monday morning. “The team is playing well right now.” Stevens, 51, said he has “a lot of respect and fond ties to my time here. It sounds odd, but for my kids, this is home for them. For them, it’s like coming home because of the familiarity with the people here. Philadelphia is a great memory for my family, but the bottom line is we’re trying to get a win on the road against a team that’s playing well.” Captain Claude Giroux is the only player on the current Flyers who played for Stevens when he was their head coach. He played parts of three seasons under Stevens. “When I came in the league, he really kept me on my toes,” Giroux said after Monday’s morning skate at the Wells Fargo. “He pushed me to be a hard-working player, and he really helped me on my work ethic.” Monday, Giroux and the Flyers will try to become the second team in NHL history to win seven straight immediately after a 10-game winless streak. Toronto did it in 1967 and won the Stanley Cup that year. The Flyers have won their last two games by one goal. They are dominating play late in games, having outscored opponents, 9-1, after the second period. (They were outscored by a 14-2 margin after the second period during their 10-game skid.) “I think we go into the third period and if it’s a tie game or we’re up a goal, we feel confident that if we play our game, we’re going to give ourselves a really good chance to win,” Giroux said. “We have to just keep that mindset.” The Kings, who scored an early-season 2-0 win over the Flyers in Los Angeles, have lost three straight on their four-game road trip. The Flyers are a “lot different than the team we saw in the first week of the season. … They’re a more complete team,” said Drew Doughty, the Kings’ outstanding defenseman. As for the team’s recent skid, Doughty said, “You know what: I think we should have won two of the three games, no doubt in my mind. We did some real good things in a few of those games, and we did some things that made us blow the games. We learn from those mistakes.” Stevens said the Flyers played well even during their 10-game losing streak, noting that five of those defeats went past regulation. “I think they’ve really committed to keeping the puck out of their net and really focused on defense,” he said. “They don’t give up a lot five-on-five. … We just need a real good, sound team game ourselves.” The Flyers will use the same lineup as last game, with goalie Brian Elliott making his eighth straight start. Backup goalie Michal Neuvirth was on the ice at the morning skate and is close to returning. During the six-game winning streak, Elliott has a 1.48 goals-against average and a .949 save percentage. He was named the NHL’s No. 2 star of the week Monday after being the No. 3 star the previous week. In his career against the Kings, Elliott is 5-6-0-2 with a 2.24 GAA and three shutouts. Jonathan Quick, who will start for the Kings, is 7-3-0-1 with a 1.64 GAA and two shutouts against the Flyers. Breakaways In five-on-five play, the Flyers have a 58-46 edge this season, and L.A. has outscored its opponents, 65-51. The Flyers have allowed the fewest 1089048 Philadelphia Flyers

Flyers-Kings preview: John Stevens trying to end his ex-team's streak

Updated: DECEMBER 17, 2017 — 10:39 PM EST by Sam Carchidi,

Kings (20-10-4) at Flyers (14-11-7) WHEN: 7 p.m. Monday. WHERE: Wells Fargo Center. BROADCAST & STREAMING: TV — NBCSP; radio — 93.3 FM. SOCIAL MEDIA COVERAGE: Twitter, @BroadStBull; @samdonnellon. KEY PLAYERS: The Kings have lost the first three games of their four- stop East Coast trip, falling to New Jersey, 5-1; the Rangers, 4-2; and the Islanders, 4-3, in overtime. They will try to salvage a victory and end the Flyers’ six-game winning streak. John Stevens, the first-year L.A coach, will be coaching at the Wells Fargo Center for the first time since he directed the Flyers in 2009. Anze Kopitar (17 goals, 39 points), Dustin Brown (12 goals, 27 points), and Tyler Toffoli (15 goals) are Los Angeles’ offensive leaders, and Drew Doughty (25 points, plus-15) anchors the NHL’s stingiest defense (2.38 goals against per game). The Flyers were eighth in the league entering Sunday, allowing 2.75 goals per game. Jonathan Quick, who blanked the Flyers in October, is 15-10-1 with a 2.33 goals-against average and .924 save percentage. Backup goalie Darcy Kuemper (2.11 GAA, .934) has excelled in 10 appearances. The Flyers can tie a bizarre NHL record: most consecutive victories immediately after a winless streak of at least 10 games. They have won six in a row, outscoring their opponents, 21-9, during that span. Jake Voracek (NHL-high 33 assists, 40 points), Claude Giroux (13 goals, 35 points), and Sean Couturier (15 goals, 30 points) are the Flyers’ top scorers. Ex-King Wayne Simmonds has 10 goals. Rookie defenseman Robert Hagg leads the Flyers with a plus-15 rating, followed by Couturier (plus-13), Giroux (plus-9), and Michael Raffl (plus- 8). THINGS TO KNOW: Brian Elliott, 12-6-6 with a 2.61 GAA and .915 save percentage, will make his eighth straight start for the Flyers. … The Flyers’ power play is ranked 15th, while the Kings’ is 26th. … L.A.’s penalty kill is No. 1 in the league (86.7 percent); the Flyers’ PK is 29th with a 76.9 percent success rate, but it has allowed just one PP goal over the last seven games. … There is a chance Michal Neuvirth will be activated and will serve as Elliott’s backup. HEAD TO HEAD: This is the second and final meeting between the teams this season. The host Kings registered a 2-0 win Oct. 5 as Trevor Lewis and Toffoli scored and Quick (35 saves) was flawless. The Flyers have an 86-40-15-5 advantage in the all-time series. The Kings have never swept a season series (minimum of two games) in regulation from the Flyers since the teams started meeting in 1967. COMING FLYERS GAMES: Wednesday: 8 p.m. vs. Detroit. Friday: 7 p.m. at Buffalo. Saturday: 7 p.m. at Columbus. Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 12.19.2017 1089049 Philadelphia Flyers Flyers general manager Ron Hextall pointed to the culture of consistency he nurtured at North Dakota, and players embraced and praised the benefits of his even-keeled approach. Streaky Flyers seek an even keel They still do. Many even sound like him at times, and such was the case Monday. Accentuate the positive. Fix a few things at practice. Work on the little things. It all sounds great until the next buzzer sounds and Updated: DECEMBER 19, 2017 — 3:01 AM EST they’re on the wrong end of a one-goal game. by Sam Donnellon, “I think we played really good hockey over the last two weeks,” Jake Voracek said. “Just got to make sure we don’t get stuck on losing. We have to find a way to win on Wednesday and hopefully start another streak.” From afar, the Flyers are a streaky team. Ten games in a row without a victory, six straight wins to follow. Roll in how they teased and tormented Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 12.19.2017 their fans with lengthy streaks both good and bad last season, and it’s easy to understand how a 4-1 loss to a Los Angeles Kings team Monday – a team that still includes a handful of names etched on the Stanley Cup — can hold greater significance than just the two points lost. “The results would say streaky,” Flyers coach Dave Hakstol said after their winning streak was snapped Monday night. “But we have played good hockey over the whole stretch. Now, it’s about getting results, and tonight we’ve got to look at ourselves and put our finger on a couple things we have to do better and that we are capable of doing better. Turn the page and have a good day of practice tomorrow and we go right back at it and we continue with this busy stretch.’’ To Flyers fans, this is a familiar refrain. We played good enough to win, we just didn’t. Just a few mistakes here or there. We’ll get them next time, which for the Flyers is a Wednesday home game against Detroit, the last of five in a row. “It looks like we played a bad game but we did a lot of good things out there,” their captain, Claude Giroux, said after the game. When pressed of course, when critical mistakes or junctures are pinpointed – like another bout of poor line changes or another lethargic start at home – there is often a combo platter of admission and denial. “I thought we came out flat,” Sean Couturier said when asked what he thought of the team’s start, and indeed they did. The Flyers officially outshot the Kings 8-6 in the first period Monday, but it was a period marked by clean passes bouncing off sticks and inaccurate ones borne more from inattentiveness than any forecheck or pressure. Too often they glided into checks and forechecks, and made sloppy turnovers in dangerous spots on the ice. Regardless of whether Brian Elliott should have made the save on Alec Martinez’s 53-foot one timer from the point for the game’s first goal, you can’t lose a faceoff as cleanly as Scott Laughton did to Torrey Mitchell. An ugly line change that hung Robert Hagg out to dry led to a second Kings goal that period, altering the script of the Flyers victories of late, in which they start slow, surrender the first goal, and rally to win a tight defensive contest. For sure they got one back via a fortuitous bounce on a first-period power play, and had a slew of chances to score later on, but chasing the game against one of the league’s bigger teams and better goalies is a tough road to hoe, even at home. “Yeah, especially that team,” said Couturier. “They have a lot of experience. They have won in the past and they know how to win. When you’re down early in the game and you can’t get back in it early, it gets tougher and tougher. They kind of know how to close games.” For sure that hasn’t been the Flyers m.o. this season. But this modest streak – which followed some unbelievably frustrating finishes during the 10-game winless skein that preceded it — was propelled by protecting one-goal leads late. As the wins mounted though, the Flyers’ jump at the start of games waned. It was a theme after Thursday’s 2-1 victory over Buffalo, and it was a theme after Saturday’s win against Dallas. It was an issue as well in last Tuesday’s 4-2 victory over Toronto. “We got kind of chasing from behind a bit and you try and do a little too much sometimes,” said Elliott, who finally came down to earth a bit Monday after being one of the league’s three stars over the last two weeks. “They’re a good team that turns pucks over and goes the other way, that’s what they do. They stand up at the blue lines, red line and just wait for you to turn it over, and then they go the other way. They’ve done it for a lot of years.” It’s their personality, one forged by former Flyers coach Terry Murray, honed during their two Cup runs by Darryl Sutter, and now tweaked by John Stevens, another former Flyers coach who served as an assistant to both men. The Flyers are still in search of such a reputation. And a coach who can create such. In hiring Dave Hakstol, a college coach three seasons ago, 1089050 Philadelphia Flyers turnpike to take in Monday night’s game with several Phantoms teammates. In and out of the lineup with a series of undisclosed injuries, Morin has played in only 12 games this season and just once since late Quick hits on Flyers' 4-1 loss to Kings: How to end a (winning) streak November. He is expected to return to the lineup full time around the beginning of the new year.

The Phantoms play again on Wednesday at home against Hartford. Updated: DECEMBER 18, 2017 — 9:59 PM EST Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 12.19.2017 by Sam Donnellon,

You lose a faceoff so cleanly in your own zone it leads directly to a blistering uncontested shot and goal from the top of the circle. Torrey Mitchell got an assist from a faceoff win against Scott Laughton. Regardless of whether Brian Elliott should have had Alec Martinez’s 53- foot one timer, you can’t lose a faceoff the way Laughton lost one to Mitchell, leading to the Kings’ first goal early into Monday’s 4-1 streak- breaking Flyers loss. The Kings had lost the first three games of their four-game road trip. So the alternative title to this is, “How to end a (losing) streak.” Laughton’s effort was reflective of another listless Flyers start. Most of the first period was marked by clean passes bouncing off sticks and inaccuracy born out of inattentiveness, gliding into checks and forechecks, and sloppy turnovers in dangerous spots on the ice. Even line changes proved problematic, and indirectly led to the Kings’ second first-period goal, which turned out to be lethal. A little puck luck not enough The Flyers have had a nice run of it during their six-game winning streak after not having much in the 10-game winless streak that preceded it. The goal that cut the Kings first-period lead in half came after a power play shot ricocheted off Drew Doughty to the waiting stick of Jake Voracek on the opposite side of the net. Voracek had the whole open side to shoot at and didn’t miss. Forty-one seconds later, Anze Kopitar hit the goal post after beating Elliott to the stick side (it may have even nicked the butt end of Elliott’s stick.) Earlier in the period, Oscar Fantenberg’s power play shot from the point hit the cross bar and dropped behind Elliott. Robert Hagg alertly cleared it before it could be tapped in. They also successfully appealed what would have been a fourth Los Angeles goal in the third period, arguing that Dustin Brown interfered with Elliott’s ability to make a save. Elliott, the NHL’s second star last week, had his moments – such as a spectacular sprawling save on, and a point-blank glove grab to rob Marian Gaborik in the second. But he was not the same acrobat who fueled much of the six-game streak, allowing four goals on 25 shots, getting beat cleanly on three of the four Los Angeles goals. If not for a few posts (more on that below) and that overturned goal, it could have been worse. Meanwhile Jonathan Quick was, well, Jonathan Quick. Twice the Kings scored immediately after Quick had turned aside a dangerous scoring chance on the other end. Provy a little off Flyers defenseman Ivan Provorov, who is averaging over 25 minutes of ice time this season, had an uncharacteristically sloppy night. He nearly lost the puck skating in front of his own crease in the first period. Then, inexplicably, a soft cross-ice pass in his own zone was picked off by Jonny Brodzinski for a juicy chance in the second period. Move! With a sparse and often dulled crowd, it was sometimes possible to hear things said on the ice. Linesman Ryan Daisy had a tough night, nearly getting clobbered by a Radko Gudas check intended for a Kings forward and later getting bounced by Claude Giroux after he was bounced by Dustin Brown. It was Gudas, by the way, who could be heard shouting “Move!’’ at Daisy after nearly clobbering him. Earlier the Flyers defenseman, who has already served a 10-game suspension, leveled a crushing hit on Kings left winger Alex Iafallo into the sideboards a good three strides after he had passed the puck. There was no call. Phew. Sammy in the house Samuel Morin, the oft-injured 6-7 defenseman whom many Flyers fans are clamoring to be called up once healthy, took the short trip down the 1089051 Philadelphia Flyers “It was kind of a lucky bounce there, but it worked,” said Shayne Gostisbehere, who had six shots and an assist but was minus-3 on the night. Kings, Jonathan Quick end Flyers' winning streak at 6 The Kings, winless in their first three stops on their four-game East Coast trip, looked like the hungrier team in the first period, and Elliott showed signs of fatigue from playing in his eighth straight game. Updated: DECEMBER 18, 2017 — 9:44 PM EST Backup Michal Neuvirth has been recovering from an unspecified injury by Sam Carchidi, and the Flyers have been reluctant to use rookie Alex Lyon. Neuvirth has been practicing with the team and is expected back later this week.

The Flyers have just seven of their remaining 49 games against Western The Flyers missed a chance to go into the NHL record books Monday Conference opponents. They are 9-10-4 against the West. night at the Wells Fargo Center. Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 12.19.2017 They could have tied a bizarre NHL record: most consecutive victories immediately following a winless streak of at least 10 games. Instead, the Los Angeles Kings ended their six-game winning streak with a methodical 4-1 victory. Jonathan Quick stopped 36 of 37 shots as the Kings, coached by John Stevens, ended a three-game skid and handed the Flyers their first loss since Dec. 2. Stevens, who is in his first year as Los Angeles’ head coach, directed the Flyers from 2006 to 2009. Los Angeles swept the season series (minimum of two games) against the Flyers in regulation for the first time since the teams began playing in 1967. The Flyers nearly equaled an odd record set 50 years ago. Toronto had seven straight wins following an 11-game winless streak in 1967. A few months later, the Maple Leafs won the Stanley Cup. (They haven’t won one since that year.) The Kings are a “big, kind of old-school hockey (team). They don’t give up a lot,” said Flyers’ center Sean Couturier, whose team fired most of its even-strength shots from the perimeter. “Five on five, we knew it was going to be a grind and we were going to have to find a way to create our chances and bring pucks to the slot, and I don’t think we did a good job. We have to be better.” Quick made a handful of big saves to keep the Kings ahead while the Flyers were on a third-period power play, Adrian Kempe came out of the penalty box and scored on an odd-man rush, giving Los Angeles a 3-1 lead with 15:12 left. About two minutes later, Drew Doughty made it 4-1, but the goal was disallowed after the Flyers challenged the score and a video review revealed goalie interference on Dustin Brown. Tyler Toffoli iced the win by scoring with 4:29 to go. Playing catch up, the Flyers took lots of third-period chances and, as a result, allowed some odd-man rushes — a rarity during their winning streak. “I thought our guys did a good job — six in a row after not winning for 10,” losing goalie Brian Elliott said. “I think we have to really look at the positive and stop this at a one-game loss and move on to the next game. I don’t think we need to hang our heads too low here.” The Flyers conclude their five-game homestand Wednesday against Detroit. Elliott, rebounding from a shaky first period, made a sensational glove save to deny Marian Gaborik from the slot with 15:45 left in the second, keeping the Flyers’ deficit at 2-1. About five minutes later, Elliott robbed Alex Iafallo from point-blank range. The Flyers were fortunate to only face a 2-1 deficit after the first 20 minutes. The Kings hit a crossbar and a post in the period, one that included goals by Los Angeles’ Alec Martinez and Trevor Lewis. Martinez scored on a point drive that deflected off the Flyers’ Taylor Leier and past Elliott with 14:33 left in the first. A little over 11 minutes later, Trevor Lewis, after a bad Flyers line change, beat Elliott on a right-circle shot he put to the short side, above the goalie’s glove. It’s a save Elliott usually makes, and it put the Flyers in a 2-0 hole. Jake Voracek trimmed the deficit to 2-1, scoring on a power-play after Claude Giroux’s shot took a fortuitous carom — it was blocked by the ever-present Doughty — to the right winger in the right circle with 1:56 left in the first. 1089052 Philadelphia Flyers

Kings offer streaking Flyers another challenge

By Rob Parent, POSTED: 12/17/17, 11:05 PM EST | UPDATED: 18 SECS AGO

It sounds so cliche but rings so true for the Flyers, the team always in search of “playing the right way.” That daily goal has been realized enough this month as to enable the Flyers to not only snap a 10-game losing streak, but turn around and commence what is now a six-game winning streak. That Flyers’ run of success is put on the line again Monday night when they host the Los Angeles Kings at Wells Fargo Center. The Kings are coming off a 4-3 overtime loss to the New York Islanders, but also aren’t far removed from their first 15 games of the season, when they went 11-2-2 to soar to the top of the Pacific Division. Things have cooled for them somewhat since, but at 20-10-4 they are still at the top of the division. But the Flyers have suddenly started to look like they’re on top of their games. “Our mindset is a lot better right now,” Claude Giroux said. “I think we take care of pucks. We make the simple play, the right play, and it is kind of working for us right now. We have to keep building on that.” Similar to the Flyers, the Kings have been streaky of late. The OT loss against the Isles was their third straight, but that came right after an eight-game winning streak. The Kings have many of the same characters that led them to Stanley Cup championships in 2012 and 2014, including Anze Kopitar, Dustin Brown, Jeff Carter and goalie Jon Quick. But the Flyers (14-11-7) say they will approach the game the same way they did during this timely run of six consecutive wins. “Just keep playing the right way, making the right decisions,” defenseman Ivan Provorov said. “If you have to put the puck deep, you have to do that. If you have room you can make plays. It’s just making smart decisions and not forcing the game. “We have a solid four lines, three pairs of D and two goalies and we just have to play our game. If we play hard all 60 minutes, I think lots of times we’ll win the game.” “When we lost 10 in a row a few things didn’t go our way,” Giroux added. “We didn’t play the way we wanted to, but we stuck with it and now we’re playing the right way. The things are going good for us and I think we have to continue playing the same way and keep getting the wins.” Delaware County Times LOADED: 12.19.2017 1089053 Philadelphia Flyers a row. Those Leafs lost 11 in a row before storming back to win seven straight. Those Leafs also went on to win the Stanley Cup.

Hey, who knows anything anymore, right? Finish-them-off mindset fueling Flyers' surge More honors for Elliott

Flyers netminder Brian Elliott was honored by the NHL for the second By Greg Paone | NBC Sports Philadelphia December 18, 2017 1:00 PM straight week. This time, he was named the league's second star of the week after posting a 3-0-0 record, 1.31 goals-against average and .943 save percentage as the Flyers extended their win streak. His best From the upbeat music blaring when you first walk in the locker room to performance last week came Saturday against the Stars when he the jovial tones the players on the team speak with, it's clear times have stopped 27 shots in the 2-1 OT victory. Elliott, who will start Monday vs. changed drastically from a few weeks ago for the Flyers. the Kings and sports a 12-6-6 record, 2.61 goals-against average and .915 save percentage this season, was the third star the previous week. Just over two weeks ago, the music would have been shut off and a straight-laced attitude of needing to play better would have been blatantly Lineup evident during the 10-game skid. No lineup changes are expected for the Flyers Monday. Injured goalie Wins cure all, don't they? Michal Neuvirth, whose missed almost the last two weeks with a lower- body injury, took part in morning skate again, but still isn't ready to go. And the Flyers will be going for their seventh consecutive win when they Alex Lyon will again back up Elliott. host the Los Angeles Kings Monday night at Wells Fargo Center. Claude Giroux-Sean Couturier-Wayne Simmonds Beside the music and the attitude, what has changed over the last few weeks to ignite this stretch of success? The Flyers feel a massive key Michael Raffl-Valtteri Filppula-Jakub Voracek has been their play in tight games, specifically in the third period. Where they would have crumbled weeks ago, they are excelling now. Jordan Weal-Nolan Patrick-Dale Weise "We've come to the conclusion that, obviously, we have to be on the Travis Konecny-Scott Laughton-Taylor Leier same page to win games," Wayne Simmonds said Monday after morning Ivan Provorov-Andrew MacDonald skate. "We've done the exact same thing every single third period. To win games, you have to be consistent and do the same things every night. Robert Hagg-Shayne Gostisbehere "[Saturday vs. Dallas] in the third period, I think everyone thought we Radko Gudas-Travis Sanheim were actually winning the game 2-1 instead of being tied. That sets our expectations high. That's what we expect of ourselves. It was a good Brian Elliott feeling and we kind of knew we were going to win that game, whether it Alex Lyon was going to take 65 minutes or a shootout. ... We've kept it simple. I think that's the main thing for our team — we've kept it simple and Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 12.19.2017 everyone is on the exact same page." The proof is in the pudding of Simmonds' words. During the miserable 10-game losing streak, the Flyers were outscored 10-2 in third periods. Five of those games wound up as one-goal defeats decided in either OT or a shootout. Leads were held at one point or another in six of those contests. Moral of the story? Points were there for the taking and the Flyers left them dangling on the table for the opponent to grab. Now, during this six-game win streak, the Flyers are outscoring the opposition 7-1 in third periods. "We've been going into the third period and we've been on the same page," Flyers captain Claude Giroux said. "We're excited to go out there and win that game. I think we're doing a lot of good things. We were doing a lot of good things when we weren't winning. But now it's more good things, doing the right things. "We go into the third period and it's a tight game or we're up a goal, we feel confident. If we play our game, we're going to give ourselves a chance to win. But we have to keep that mindset." Much like Giroux, head coach Dave Hakstol feels the Flyers were doing good things during the skid, but now they're putting them all together and the wins are the result of just that. "We obviously went through a stretch where we didn't have good third periods and at times we were our own worst enemy," Hakstol said. "Yet even within those periods we were playing pretty good hockey. But we had a tendency to try a little hard or look for a play that wasn't there that comes back to haunt you pretty quickly. "I think that's probably the biggest thing that has been different for us here over the last short stretch — just staying with the game." Facing a defensively sound and structured Kings team that has a plus-22 goal differential and features a world-class goalie in Jonathan Quick, it likely means the Flyers are in for another close game Monday night. And unlike two weeks ago, that's a welcomed situation. Because it's never too close for comfort now. Twisted history The Flyers on Monday can tie a weird, crazy, bizarre and whatever else you want to call it NHL record. They can tie the 1967 Toronto Maple Leafs for the longest winning streak immediately after losing 10 games in 1089054 Philadelphia Flyers up in the air. His WHL numbers are respectable, but he doesn’t seem to have the consistency to excite.

Quick Hits Amid WJCs snub, Flyers prospect Morgan Frost still dominating OHL • As expected, German Rubtsov made Team Russia for the World Junior Championships. Last week, Rubtsov had a goal in two games for Acadie- By Tom Dougherty | NBC Sports Philadelphia December 18, 2017 9:00 Bathurst. AM • Sarnia’s Anthony Salinitri has a three-game point streak after picking up two goals and an assist in three games last week. Salinitri has 33 points in 35 games this season. Before this week begins, it’s time for our weekly check-in on the Flyers’ prospects playing in the AHL, overseas and at the junior and college • Matthew Strome, of the Hamilton Bulldogs, extended his point streak to levels. five games. Strome has three goals and six points during his streak. He has 17 goals in 32 games. Morgan Frost, C, 18, 5-11/172, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL) • Kitchener’s Connor Bunnaman’s point streak reached five games with a The Greyhounds won their 20th straight game Saturday afternoon and goal Friday and an assist Sunday. Bunnaman has seven points during now haven’t lost a game since Oct. 27, and Frost has been at the his current point streak. forefront of Sault Ste. Marie’s winning stream. Frost is averaging two points per game, collecting 40 points during the Greyhounds’ 20-game • Samuel Morin returned to action last Tuesday for the Phantoms but sat winning streak. Last week, Frost had eight points in three games. out Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. He’s been dealing with lower- body injuries. Frost capped off the week with a two goal, two assist effort in Sault Ste. Marie’s 7-1 blowout win over Guelph. He also had a two-goal game • Without any official declarations, it appears Mike Vecchione is dealing Wednesday in the Greyhounds’ 4-1 win over the Flint Firebirds. Frost is with some sort of injury with the Phantoms. Vecchione hasn’t played now second in the OHL in scoring, with 55 points, second in assists with since Dec. 9. 36 and leads the OHL with a plus-42 rating. He’s averaging 1.67 points, • The offense has picked up for Nicolas Aube-Kubel in his second pro third in the OHL and winning 50.1 percent of his faceoffs. season. He had two goals and two assists in four games last week. He As The Athletic’s Charlie O’Connor pointed out, Frost is scoring now has 21 points in 30 games. comparable to what Travis Konecny was during his after-drafted season. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 12.19.2017 Konecny spent one more season in the OHL after the Flyers drafted him in 2015 and then made the team in 2016-17. While it’s easy to look at Carter Hart in awe, Frost is the one prospect who’s breaking out. We knew what Hart was — and what he’s doing in Everett is astonishing. We’ll see Hart plenty next week in the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championships. Frost wasn’t invited to Team Canada’s selection camp this year, but it’s a safe bet he’ll be there next year. We continue to see panic over the Brayden Schenn trade, but that’s misguided. Frost is turning out to be an intriguing prospect, and remember, the Flyers have another first-rounder from St. Louis. Frost is most certainly trending upward. Sound familiar?

Pascal Laberge, C, 19, 6-1/162, Victoriaville (QMJHL) Laberge has played his final game for Victoriaville, as the forward will be traded Monday to the Quebec Remparts, according to La Nouvelle’s Matthew Vachon. After a brief period to start the season, Laberge cooled off considerably and has since been inconsistent. In his final week as a Tigre, Laberge had a three-assist game last Friday night in Victoriaville’s 7-2 win over Shawinigan but was pointless in his two other games. When evaluating Laberge, it’s hard to root against the versatile forward because of his backstory. The 19-year-old faced adversity throughout his draft year and then dealt with concussions during his first season as Flyers property. He’s a kid you want to succeed, and so far, he hasn’t been able to get back to his draft-year production. He has just six goals and 20 points in 31 games this year. He will get a fresh start with the Remparts. Oskar Lindblom, LW, 21, 6-1/192, Lehigh Valley (AHL) We’re starting to see Lindblom come into his own with the Phantoms. The Swedish forward continues to adjust to the North American game, and we’re seeing more consistency from him in the AHL. Last week was no different. Lindblom saw his point streak hit four games before coming to an end Sunday against Bridgeport. Lindblom scored his seventh goal of the season last Wednesday, which capped off a three-goal in a four- game stretch. Then he picked up an assist on Friday against Charlotte and another Saturday against Syracuse. When we look at the advanced metrics, with many thanks to Broad Street Hockey’s Brad Keffer, you can see Lindblom’s Corsi numbers consistently improving, which is an indicator that he’s becoming more comfortable here. Carsen Twarynski, LW, 19, 6-2/201, Kelowna (WHL) We don’t talk a lot about Twarynski, the Flyers’ 2016 third-round pick, but let’s check in on the defenseman-turned-left-winger. Twarynski, who the Rockets acquired last season from the Calgary Hitmen, is producing above a point-per-game in Kelowna. Twarynski had six points in four games last week. He has 24 goals — seven on the power play — and 39 points in 31 games. What exactly kind of future does Twarynski have? It’s tough to get a read on him because he’s a streaky player. Twarynski projects to be a serviceable AHL player, but whether he’ll be an NHLer is 1089055 Philadelphia Flyers

Flyers' win streak runs into the wrong team

By John Boruk | NBC Sports Philadelphia December 19, 2017 12:25 AM

There are certain NHL teams in which establishing a lead against is almost imperative. The Los Angeles Kings are definitely one of those teams. On Monday, L.A. swept its two-game season series against the Flyers with a 4-1 win at the Wells Fargo Center, snapping the orange and black's six-game winning streak (see observations). In a matchup of two of the stingiest even-strength teams in the league, the Kings jumped on top early with a pair of first-period goals. Alec Martinez scored the first on a slap shot that deflected off the Flyers' Taylor Leier, and Kings forward Trevor Lewis followed up with a snap shot that beat Brian Elliott following a poor line change and a mix-up in coverage (see highlights). “The first [goal], he just beat me with the shot,” Elliott, who lost for the first time in seven starts, said. “It was kind of a line change where we lost our coverage.” “I didn’t think we were sharp enough,” head coach Dave Hakstol said. “We start off by giving up a faceoff goal. The second goal is through the neutral zone on a line change. I didn’t think we made them work hard enough for the opportunities that they scored their goals on.” According to the website NaturalStatTrick.com, the Flyers generated 16 scoring chances at even strength but only a season-low two from the high-danger areas, where the Kings controlled the middle of the ice and pushed the play to the perimeter. “It was a tight. Tight game,” Flyers forward Jakub Voracek said. “They didn’t make any mistakes. We had to make a big push to create something 5-on-5. We had a few looks, in the second period especially. We've just got to recover and focus on Wednesday.” The Flyers had the upper hand with six power-play opportunities to the Kings' one, but they couldn’t break through and score more than once against the NHL’s No. 1-ranked penalty kill. “We couldn’t score on the power play,” Voracek said. “The power play lost the game. Unfortunately, we only got one [goal]. Give them credit, they played a good road game. I think (Jonathan) Quick was outstanding in net. We just couldn’t find a way to score more than one.” Impressively, the Flyers had not allowed more than one goal in any period throughout their six-game winning streak. The Kings, the best third-period team in hockey with a 46-21 goal differential, bucked that trend and touched up the Flyers for two goals in the closing period to seal the win. “They have a lot of experience,” Sean Couturier said. “They have won in the past and they know how to win. When you’re down early in the game and you can’t back in it early, it gets tougher and tougher. They kind of know how to close games.” Returning to Philadelphia brought back fond memories for Kings head coach John Stevens, who won a Calder Trophy with the Phantoms as well as coached the Flyers from October 2006 to December 2009. “That was brought up earlier, playing back in Philly,” Stevens said. “I’ll be totally honest, it’s nice to be where my kids grew up. It’s home for them. This was a big game for us on this trip. We really wanted to take two points home for us, so it’s just a nice win against a quality hockey team.” With a win, the Flyers were hoping to match the dubious record held by the 1967 Toronto Maple Leafs, who won seven straight games immediately following a 10-game winless streak. The Flyers feel they can shake off this loss and recapture their winning ways when they close out their five-game homestand against the Red Wings on Wednesday. “I thought our guys did a really good job, six in a row after not winning 10,” Elliott said. “I think we have to really look at the positive and stop this at one game and move onto the next game. I don’t think we need to hang our heads too low here.” Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 12.19.2017 1089056 Philadelphia Flyers • Gostisbehere made an excellent play to break up L.A.’s 2-on-1 shorthanded opportunity when he peeled off the shooter and then broke up the pass. However, the Kings converted as Kempe jumped out of the Flyers' 6-game reign comes to an end box just as the Flyers’ power play expired. Kempe beat Elliott in the same spot as Lewis. Elliott appeared to take a swipe with his glove but just came up empty. By John Boruk | NBC Sports Philadelphia December 18, 2017 9:32 PM • Giroux was given a grade-A chance when Doughty committed a deadly giveaway at the Kings’ blue line to allow him to skate in and fire a shot from the high slot that went just wide of the net. However, L.A. defenseman Muzzin was called for interference on Giroux, which set up The Los Angeles Kings snapped the Flyers’ six-game winning streak on the Flyers’ fifth power-play opportunity. Monday night with a 4-1 win at the Wells Fargo Center. • The Kings forced a neutral-zone turnover and Toffoli easily converted Alec Martinez, Trevor Lewis, Adrian Kempe and Tyler Toffoli all scored as he broke in all alone on Elliott and snapped a shot high glove. for the Kings. Lineups, pairings and scratches Although the Flyers outshot L.A., 37-25, the Kings did an excellent job of keeping them out of the middle of the ice. Forwards The game marked a homecoming for Kings coach John Stevens, who Claude Giroux-Sean Couturier-Wayne Simmonds still owns a home in Sea Isle City, New Jersey. Stevens was behind the bench as a head coach at the Wells Fargo Center for the first time since Michael Raffl-Valtteri Filppula-Jakub Voracek Dec. 5, 2009. Jordan Weal-Nolan Patrick-Dale Weise Jakub Voracek scored the Flyers’ only goal, which came on the power play. Taylor Leier-Scott Laughton-Travis Konecny Monday’s game also marked Brian Elliott’s eighth straight start as he Defensemen stopped 21 of 25 shots. Ivan Provorov-Andrew MacDonald • Travis Konecny tried to run a pick play on Kings defenseman Oscar Robert Hagg-Shayne Gostisbehere Fantenberg, a clear interference. The Flyers had been very disciplined regarding their lack of penalties over the six-game winning streak. That Travis Sanheim-Radko Gudas was not a good way to start. Goalies • There was a heads-up play from defenseman Robert Hagg as he swiped the puck that was laying on the crease after Fantanberg’s shot hit Brian Elliott the post and dropped straight down behind Elliott. Alex Lyon • The Kings scored first as Torrey Mitchell won the offensive-zone faceoff Scratches: Forward Jori Lehtera (healthy) and defenseman Mark Alt and Martinez uncorked a bullet of a slap shot past Elliott that beat him (healthy). blocker high. Elliott dropped into his butterfly pretty quickly and once it deflected off Taylor Leier between the circles, Elliott had no chance of Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 12.19.2017 stopping the shot. • Dave Hakstol likes to refer to the Kings as a “heavy” team. There may not be a more aggressive forechecking team than L.A., a club that gets sticks on bodies and makes you work extremely hard in those board battles. • Once again, the Flyers’ power play showed some different looks. Shayne Gostisbehere moved from the point to the right circle as he essentially swapped spots with Voracek. • I didn’t like how the Flyers played the Kings’ second goal. As Gostisbehere stepped up to play the forward along the bench, it allowed Kings defenseman Jake Muzzin to make a breakout pass to Nick Shore. Shore then dropped it off for Lewis, who beat Elliott short side on the glove hand. Hagg didn’t pick up the coverage, which allowed Lewis to fire an uncontested shot. However, it’s also a shot that Elliott typically stops. • The Flyers won a crucial faceoff in the offensive zone during their second power-play attempt. Claude Giroux wristed a shot that deflected off Drew Doughty cross ice right to Voracek, who one-timed a shot past Jonathan Quick. The goalie couldn’t go post to post quick enough to stop the shot. A fortuitous bounce for Voracek and the Flyers. • The Flyers drew a third power play in the opening minute of the second period when Derek Forbort ran Sean Couturier into the boards for interference. The best chance came when Valtteri Filppula centered a pass that Konecny tried to redirect past Quick through the five-hole. • With each team’s top line on the ice, the Flyers were caught with a terrible gap with Wayne Simmonds, Giroux and Couturier at the goal line and the defense back at the blue line. The result was an easy 3-on-2, but Elliott robbed Marion Gaborik on a point-blank shot from the slot. • Elliott came up big again as Alex Iafallo tried to take the puck around Elliott, who extended his right pad to deny the would-be goal. Six and a half minutes later, Elliott stoned Shore on the backdoor. You don’t think of Elliott as an overly athletic goaltender, but he displayed some athleticism in this game — with his glove and his pads. • Through 40 minutes, the Flyers outshot the Kings, 22-19. However, most of those shots were low-percentage chances. According to the website NaturalStatTrick.com that tracks shot selection, the Flyers had just one high-danger scoring chance to make it a pretty easy night for Quick. 1089057 Philadelphia Flyers stick with it. You cannot play 82 games at the top of your level. It’s impossible. But hands, brain, legs, when it’s on, you feel it.”

2. Creativity Flyers vs. Kings: 3 things to watch in Game 33 All the wins have the Flyers feeling confident, which has allowed them to try some plays they wouldn't have dared during their 10-game losing Dave Isaac streak. They have the ability to play simple, but also can look fancy if they're feeling it. Published 7:00 a.m. ET Dec. 18, 2017 | Updated 11:44 a.m. ET Dec. 18, 2017 “Our mindset is a lot better right now,” Claude Giroux said. “We take care of pucks. We make the simple play, the right play. It’s working for us so we’ve got to keep building on that.” Tonight: Flyers vs. Los Angeles Kings 3. Goalie matchup Site: Wells Fargo Center/Philadelphia, Pa. Expect Brian Elliott once again for the Flyers. In 15 career games against the Kings ha has a 5-6-2 record with a 2.25 goals-against average and Time: 7 p.m. .922 save percentage. TV/Radio: NBCSP/93.3 FM Jonathan Quick has been back to form for the Kings this season and is likely to be between the pipes. In 12 career games against the Flyers he Records: Kings 20-10-4; Flyers 14-11-7 has a 7-3-1 record with two shutouts, a 1.64 goals-against average and PROSPECT WATCH: Morgan Frost tearing it up amid tournament snub .944 save percentage. FLYERS PROJECTED LINEUP Courier-Post LOADED: 12.19.2017 Forwards 28-Claude Giroux, 14-Sean Couturier, 17-Wayne Simmonds 12-Michael Raffl, 51-Valtteri Filppula, 93-Jake Voracek 40-Jordan Weal, 19-Nolan Patrick, 22-Dale Weise 20-Taylor Leier, 21-Scott Laughton, 11-Travis Konecny Defensemen 9-Ivan Provorov & 47-Andrew MacDonald 53-Shayne Gostisbehere & 8-Robert Hagg 6-Travis Sanheim & 3-Radko Gudas Goalie 37-Brian Elliott Injuries/Suspensions D Brandon Manning — injured reserve, right hand injury G Michal Neuvirth — injured reserve, "lower-body injury" KINGS PROJECTED LINEUP Forwards 12-Marian Gaborik, 11-Anze Kopitar, 23-Dustin Brown 70-Tanner Pearson, 9-Adrian Kempe, 73-Tyler Toffoli 19-Alex Iafallo, 21-Nick Shore, 22-Trevor Lewis 15-Andy Andreoff, 71-Torrey Mitchell, 17-Jonny Brodzinski Defensemen 6-Jake Muzzin & 8-Drew Doughty 56-Kurtis MacDermid & 27-Alec Martinez 24-Derek Forbort & 5-Christian Folin Goalie 32-Jonathan Quick Injuries/Suspensions C Jeff Carter — injured reserve, left ankle injury THREE THINGS TO WATCH 1. Voracek's hands It doesn't seem to matter what line Jake Voracek is on. As long as his feet are moving well, his hands are feeding teammates for goals. He added two more Saturday for his league-leading 33. “Sometimes you just don’t have that step, but you have to adjust,” Voracek said. “Usually I’m moving well which is good. There’s another part, which is how quick your brain works. Sometimes you’re slower. Like the first period (Thursday) was horrendous against Buffalo. I was missing passes that I never miss, but it happens sometimes. You just have to 1089058 Philadelphia Flyers That’s the frustrating thing about facing Quick. He’ll give up the rebounds, but he’s athletic enough to make up for putting the puck back in a scoring area. He had a couple big stops against the Flyers in close, Flyers 5 takeaways: How to keep from starting a new streak after loss to including a redirection by Travis Konecny on the power play and stuffing Kings the left post when Wayne Simmonds had the puck at the doorstep. “He’s been in the league for a long time,” said Claude Giroux, who had three shots blocked and missed the net twice. “He’s been frustrating Dave Isaac, Published 10:55 p.m. ET Dec. 18, 2017 teams like that for a while. I think we did a good job of shooting pucks. Maybe we could have did a better job going to the net, but they’re a good team.” PHILADELPHIA — The warning shots came from within the Flyers locker Selke showdown? room only minutes after their good fortune ended. The play of Couturier this season, adding offensive numbers to his Don’t be a streaky team. perennially stellar defense, has put him in the conversation for the Selke Trophy as the “forward who demonstrates the most skill in the defensive Just like the Flyers shouldn’t have lost all 10 in their string of losses, they component of the game.” probably shouldn’t have won all six of the wins that followed and it’s caught up to them. A 4-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings Monday can be He may have to go through Kings captain Anze Kopitar, who won the an outlier if the Flyers make it so. award in 2016 and has finished in the top 10 in voting six times. Monday night Flyers coach Dave Hakstol decided to match Couturier up against “We gotta make sure we don’t get stuck on losing,” said Jake Voracek, Kopitar and they were on the ice against each other for 7 minutes, 45 the Flyers’ lone goal scorer. “We have to find a way to win on seconds. Wednesday and hopefully start another streak.” Couturier won the shot-attempt battle 4-1, but Kopitar won three of the “Yeah the results would say streaky but we have played good hockey five faceoffs they squared off in. Kopitar’s lone shot attempt missed the over the whole stretch,” Flyers coach Dave Hakstol said. “Now it’s about net. getting results and tonight we got to look at ourselves and put our finger on a couple things we have to do better and that we are capable of doing Elliott’s mixed bag better. Turn the page and have a good day of practice tomorrow and we go right back at it and we continue with this busy stretch. Tonight those Even in the Flyers’ 10-game losing streak one of their best assets was are the areas we have to be better in.” their goaltending. Elliott, who was named the No. 2 star of the week, had a rare poor first period. It wasn’t a huge effort problem for the Flyers against the Kings, just a desperate team that had lost three in a row and didn’t want to return Can’t really fault him for the first goal, a blast by Alec Martinez that home to Los Angeles without a victory. deflected off Taylor Leier right in front of him, but the second goal is one he’ll want back. Trevor Lewis beat him clean between his glove and the It’s one of those games where shot attempts won’t tell a very good story post. because the Flyers won that battle 56-46, but the quality was heavily in Los Angeles’ favor. Alec Martinez with one *very* good looking goal to give the LA Kings a 1- 0 lead pic.twitter.com/qWHVggs7DH “It wasn’t our best effort,” Sean Couturier said. “We’ve got to forget about this one and move on to the next one.” — LA Kings (@LAKings) December 19, 2017 Everyone seemed quick to move on to the Detroit Red Wings, who are Trevor Lewis pots a beauty and it's 2-0 Kings! pic.twitter.com/R90BicxkCi only 2-4-4 in their last 10 games. It wasn’t so much about an opponent as much as turning the tide. — NHL Daily 365 (@NHLDaily365) December 19, 2017 Quicksand can swallow you up quick and the Flyers felt that’s what In the second period Elliott bounced back in a big way. He had a terrific happened in their 10-game win streak. As many clichés as they offered glove save on Marian Gaborik as one of his 11 in the middle frame. But about doing the right things and just not getting the results, there was a he gave up another on his short side when Adrian Kempe scored through huge problem with conviction toward the end of that losing streak and a screen. something the Flyers don’t want to have to deal with again any time “The (Lewis) one he just beat me with the shot. It was kind of a line soon. change. We lost our coverage,” Elliott said. “The third one there, he just “We have to be confident and don’t get down on yourself,” Voracek said. shot through a screen. I didn’t see it. I just saw a guy driving back door “Obviously today we lost, but games like that are gonna happen. You and he shot it through a screen.” cannot win every single game right now. Just re-focus. On the other Dave Isaac; @davegisaac; 856-486-2479; [email protected] hand, look at it that way, it’s a good team and good we lost to a team from the West.” KINGS 4, FLYERS 1 Here are four more takeaways from Monday night’s game… Up next: vs. Detroit Red Wings Even strength struggles When: 8 p.m., Wednesday For the second straight game the Flyers relied heavily on their man TV/Radio: NBCSN/97.5 FM advantage. Against the Dallas Stars Saturday, the Flyers scored both their goals on the power play in a 2-1 win and had 12 of their 30 shots Courier-Post LOADED: 12.19.2017 come while up a man. Monday, they got 13 of their 37 shots on the power play and when the teams were at even strength they struggled to get to scoring areas. “They’re that type of team where they’re pretty tight, big, old-school hockey,” Couturier said. “They don’t give up a whole lot and 5-on-5 we kind of knew it was gonna be a grind. We had to find a way to create our chances, bring pucks to the slot. I don’t think we did a good job. We’ve just got to be better.” Quick on his game Kings goalie Jonathan Quick is clearly one of the best in the game. He is fourth in the league in save percentage (.926) among goalies who have played at least 20 games and he gave the Flyers fits once they did break through a stifling Kings defense. “It was tough finding those rebounds,” Couturier said. “At the same time, we’ve got to do a better job creating those chances and jumping on those rebounds.” 1089059 Pittsburgh Penguins on the offensive side of it," Bednar said. "We're growing as a team. We're getting better."

NOTES: Penguins RW Patric Hornqvist was sent back to Pittsburgh to be Tyson Barrie scores twice as Avalanche beat Penguins evaluated for an upper body injury, Sullivan told reporters at morning practice. ... C Dominik Simon was a scratch with an illness. ... Avs F Alexander Kerfoot returned to the lineup after missing three games with a THE ASSOCIATED PRESS | Monday, Dec. 18, 2017, 11:57 p.m. foot injury. He's also wearing shot shields over his skates for added protection. ... The suspension will cost Johnson $64,516. "No excuse Updated 5 hours ago from my end — a dangerous play I shouldn't make," Johnson said Monday morning. "It's an expensive mistake."

UP NEXT Defenseman Tyson Barrie played heavy minutes in the absence of suspended teammate Erik Johnson. Barrie made the most of the extra Penguins: Host Columbus on Thursday. ice time, too. Avalanche: Start a two-game trip Thursday in Los Angeles. Barrie scored twice, Semyon Varlamov stopped 30 shots — even getting a little help from the posts along the way — and the Colorado Avalanche Tribune Review LOADED: 12.19.2017 beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-2 on Monday night. With Johnson serving the first of a two-game suspension for boarding Tampa Bay Lightning forward Vladislav Namestnikov on Saturday, Barrie was on the ice for 24 minutes, 31 seconds and took five shots. He scored his first goal since Oct. 13 in the opening period. He followed that up with another in the second for his fifth career two-goal game. FINAL: @Avalanche (4) - @penguins (2)Recap: https://t.co/PJkL44RSNq #PITvsCOL pic.twitter.com/GjHvBi5Is1 — NHL (@NHL) December 19, 2017 "Obviously, you can't replace E.J. and it will be nice to get him back," Barrie said. "Everybody just has to step up, do the best they can and collectively we can try to pick up the slack." J.T. Compher also scored and Mikko Rantanen sealed the win with a late empty-netter as the Avalanche knocked off the Penguins for the second time in a week to sweep the season series. "We're a dangerous team when we're playing on our toes," Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. Bednar recently mentioned a word to his team he doesn't usually bring up — playoffs. On the outside looking in at the moment with a 16-15-2 record and 34 points, a good stretch could help a team that mustered just 48 points all last season climb right back into the picture. "Put a little pressure on ourselves to be good every night," Bednar explained. Chad Ruhwedel and Evgeni Malkin found the net for the Penguins, who finished a three-game trip with a 1-2 mark. Pittsburgh was a little unfortunate in the second period when Josh Archibald's shot trickled through the pads of Varlamov, clanged off the post, stood on its edge for a moment and fell down on the line for no goal. The Penguins fall to the Avalanche on the road, 4-2.Ruhwedel and Malkin with the goals for Pittsburgh.The #Pens head back to Pittsburgh to take on the Blue Jackets on Thursday night. pic.twitter.com/lbXt2OOkDD — Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) December 19, 2017 "That's an underrated play," Penguins goaltender Matthew Murray said. "It probably doesn't go down as a save, but he clears it out of the way so that's a big play." Malkin lined in a shot just 1:25 into the third to make it 3-2. Ryan Reaves nearly tied it late in the third, but his wrist shot down low clanged off the post. Compher took a baseball swing to knock in a puck out of the air to give the Avalanche a 3-1 lead late in the second. Earlier in the period, Colorado capitalized on a cross-check penalty on Ian Cole as Barrie scored from the blue line. All in all, a forgettable middle period for the Penguins, who were outshot 15-6. "We got outplayed in the second period badly," Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. "I thought they were hungrier than we were." Barrie staked the Avalanche to an early lead in the opening period when he scored his 50th career goal on a wrist shot over the glove of Murray. It lasted all of 5:35 before Ruhwedel's shot hit Varlamov in the right arm, got lost in his jersey for a moment and then rolled in off Varlamov's left skate. "We had a little bit of a slow start, were a little tentative with the puck and we needed some big saves from Varly, but we had some get-up-and-go 1089060 Pittsburgh Penguins “I feel good,” MacKinnon said. “It’s been a good couple months here, a good start to the season. I definitely want to establish myself as one of the best players in the league. I’m not there yet. I know that. Hopefully I Sidney Crosby vs. Nathan MacKinnon games are rare and special for can finish off the season well. Obviously with my success comes team friends success. It goes hand in hand. Hopefully we can start winning a few games in a row here and get back in the playoff mix.”

No matter how much MacKinnon produces, though, it’s tough for there JASON MACKEY not be a little brother-big brother dynamic with Crosby, who has 14 goals and 33 points. 4:53 PM DEC 18, 2017 The production is pretty much on par for Crosby at this point in the season, maybe a little below where he’d normally be. But with all the winning Crosby has done throughout his career, sometimes it helps DENVER — Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon had taken MacKinnon to call up Crosby and just listen. Monday’s morning skate at Pepsi Center and handled his media duties. Before MacKinnon left for the day, though, he made sure to see one of “We definitely talk a lot,” MacKinnon said. “It’s not always about hockey. his best friends, Sidney Crosby. The two caught up in the Zamboni Obviously it’s fun to talk to Sid about hockey. He’s so knowledgable, and entrance prior to the Penguins taking the ice. he’s so smart. He’s won everything there is to win. We’re just friends that both play in the NHL and try to do the best we can.” MacKinnon and Crosby are both from Nova Scotia, MacKinnon from Halifax and Crosby from Cole Harbour, and train together in the summer. Post Gazette LOADED: 12.19.2017 They talk frequently during the season and catch up face-to-face whenever they can. Their relationship makes Penguins-Avalanche games — such as the one Monday night — a little extra special. “[Crosby’s] a great guy to talk to,” said MacKinnon, who’s slightly less reserved than Crosby, perhaps because of his age (22). “He’s funny. I’m sure I lighten him up, too. We always have some good laughs, like any buddies do. It’s normal. We seem to have a good chemistry.” It’s a shame these games only happen twice a year, with the Penguins and Colorado in different conferences. Not only are MacKinnon and Crosby close friends, but now that MacKinnon has seemingly found his game, they’re two of the best in the sport at what they do, which is speed, speed and more speed. MacKinnon suffered through a tough year last year, as the Avalanche finished last in the league by a mile. He produced just 16 goals and 53 points while playing all 82 games, numbers he’s on pace to smash this season. Heading into Monday’s game, MacKinnon already had 15 goals and 38 points, good enough to tie for ninth league-wide. Thirty-three of those points, including 14 goals, have come over his past 22 games, the most NHL player has produced since Oct. 28. MacKinnon also had a league-leading 27 points in 16 games at home before Monday. “I don’t know if we’ll be matched up against each other or not, but obviously have to be aware of him out there,” Crosby said following morning skate. “It’s fun [playing against MacKinnon]. It’s good to see him. We train together in the summer. You see how hard he works. You want to see him do well. That said, when you play against each other, you want to win. That’s just how it goes.” Wednesday will mark the ninth meeting between Crosby and MacKinnon where both will be on the ice. Crosby missed one game against Colorado in 2013-14 and another in 2016-17. The Penguins have won four of seven so far, but both admitted that hockey rarely comes up in their conversations — which MacKinnon said are generally handled with an actual phone call, not via text, at Crosby’s request. “Sometimes you’re not even really talking about hockey that much,” Crosby said. “I think with any friends you have, whether they play hockey or not, it’s always great to talk to someone who’s got a different perspective. I think that’s probably the biggest thing. Everyone goes through different stuff or works through things differently, but that can be the case sometimes.” The biggest attraction to Wednesday’s meeting, again, has been the resurgence of MacKinnon. He’s an elite player who shined at the , even if he refuses to think of himself that way. In a couple years, it’s reasonable to think that he could crack the top five or 10. As Colorado has taken strides toward becoming a better team, MacKinnon’s emergence has been at the forefront of it all. MacKinnon, who was coming off his third two-goal game in the past seven and second in a row, also led the Avalanche in assists (23-tied), shots (103) and game-winning goals (4) before Monday’s game. 1089061 Pittsburgh Penguins “If it’s controlled,” Sheary said. “I think it’s controlled pretty well in most sports. You don’t want to have a review after every single play and take the referee’s job out of it. It obviously went in the Patriots’ favor, but if it Patric Hornqvist was sent home for further testing. What's the Penguins' was the other way, it would have been the same.” next move? New skates for Hagelin If Carl Hagelin has looked even faster these past couple of games, JASON MACKEY there’s a reason. 2:44 PM DEC 18, 2017 “Got new skates,” Hagelin said. “The other ones were getting old, a little soft. New skates give me a little better push.”

Not a different brand or style. Just actually new skates. DENVER — Talk about a shakeup. And they’ve absolutely helped him make a few more plays of late. One nobody wanted, either. “When I feel comfortable on my skates, everything else comes with it,” After general manager Jim Rutherford spoke last Wednesday and floated Hagelin said. “If I string a couple games together where I feel good on my the idea of a shakeup should things not improve, the Penguins have now skates, then all of a sudden the playmaking ability starts coming. lost Patric Hornqvist for at least one game because of an upper-body Hopefully that’s what we’re adding.” injury. Colorado rematch Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said after Monday’s morning skate at Pepsi Center that Hornqvist had been sent back to Pittsburgh for testing The Penguins see the Avalanche just twice a year, so theoretically there and would miss the Avalanche game. shouldn’t be a ton of familiarity. But because of how nuts this schedule has been, with so many games against Western Conference teams, this There’s no timetable for Hornqvist's return, but only because the is the second meeting against Colorado in seven days. evaluation process is ongoing. The Avalanche beat the Penguins, 2-1, at PPG Paints Arena in Dec. 11, In case you’re thinking concussion — Hornqvist was hit in the head with and the Penguins are trying to avoid losing multiple games to Colorado a puck on Dec. 9 against Toronto — the Penguins’ precedent is to for the first time since 2002-03. specifically announce when a player has a concussion. Sullivan also said Hornqvist was hurt in Saturday’s 4-2 win at Arizona. “We just played this team a little while ago,” Dumoulin said. “We know they’re a team that can score. They’re a dangerous team. They’re the So, without Hornqvist, who has 11 goals and 21 points in 31 games, what type of team that will wait for us to make a mistake. It’s always nice happens? playing these Western teams close together because we’re pretty familiar with them. It will be a fun matchup tonight.” It’s a big hit emotionally, one the team's leadership group will have to address. The Penguins will also hope Dominik Simon can play against Post Gazette LOADED: 12.19.2017 Colorado; he missed Monday’s skate because he’s sick and will be a game-time decision. The Penguins could also recall Daniel Sprong to fill Hornqvist's right-wing spot, which we'll get to shortly. The power play seems to be the easiest fix, as Jake Guentzel has proven to be quite capable of jumping on to the top unit. He has five power-play goals and eight points; Hornqvist has six and 10. “Jake’s a little bit different type of player, but he’s got a good stick,” Sullivan said. “He can still go to the front of the net. He’s good in front of the net in the battle areas. He brings an element of playmaking ability to the table that might be a little bit different than Hornqvist, who’s more of a battle guy and just going to the net-front and making it hard for the goaltender.” The real intrigue here is Sprong, who has 15 goals and 22 points in 25 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. The Penguins’ biggest concern with Sprong has been his play away from the puck, something they’ve worked closely with him on improving. If they deem it to be good enough — Sprong is a minus-3 on a very good team, which isn’t a great sign — and Hornqvist is out for any extended stretch, Sprong could get the call. Some football talk Plenty of Steelers-Patriots talk was going around the dressing room at Pepsi Center, and you’ll never believe this one: Brian Dumoulin, who grew up in Maine, went to Boston College and is absolutely a Patriots fan, thought Jesse James caught that ball. “Yeah, I did,” Dumoulin said. “It looked like he was lunging for the . That’s a strange rule, but it’s a rule. A win’s a win.” Dumoulin was happy the Patriots won, of course, but he’s also adopted the Steelers. Like many players, he was most pleased that it was a good game. “I root for both teams being from New England, but it was a good game to watch,” Dumoulin said. “That’s all you can ask for.” Conor Sheary, another Patriots fan, agreed that it was probably a catch. But he also understood why it was overturned. “It’s against the rule, but it looks like a catch,” Sheary said. “According to the rule, it’s not. That’s how they ruled it.” Sheary said he endorses replay in sports, so long as it doesn’t get excessive. 1089062 Pittsburgh Penguins “We can’t score,” Malkin said. “It’s tough to say what we do wrong. I hope next game we score and feel better. It’s not fun because we haven’t scored in [four] games.” Shake-up ahead? 'Passion' an issue in Penguins’ latest loss. 3. The fourth line was actually very good. Josh Archibald drew into the lineup because Patric Hornqvist is hurt and JASON MACKEY Dominik Simon was sick. He teamed with Ryan Reaves and Carter Rowney to form a trio that was actually fairly productive. 12:16 AM DEC 19, 2017 “I thought that line was our best line,” Sullivan said. “They had good energy. They were on the puck. They had some really good scoring chances. They gave our team some momentum. They had a strong DENVER — Urgency. Conviction. Determination. Passion. Emotion. game.” Those five words appeared by the 90-second mark of Penguins coach Archibald was especially noticeably with his skating and corner work, Mike Sullivan’s postgame comments Monday following a 4-2 loss to the stuff that he does surprisingly well for someone his size. Colorado Avalanche at Pepsi Center. He also got a puck past Semyon Varlamov, only to see it somehow stop They described this one and the tenuous state of these Penguins on the goal line. Reaves had another attempt that he dove for that hit the perfectly, in that they need to have all of those things more consistently. post. The Penguins have lost five of their past seven, but this one really hurt. It “I saw it hit the post and kind of disappear,” Reaves said. “I knew I shot it left them with just two of a possible six points on a three-game road trip, right. I didn’t know how far right it shot. I was hoping it kind of trickled and it could trigger the shake-up that general manager Jim Rutherford behind [Varlamov] or kind went off something where somebody could get alluded to last Wednesday. to it. Those were the bounces today.” Sullivan could probably stomach the Penguins losing if they gave their That group accounted for six of the Penguins’ 32 shots on goal and was best, most consistent effort and played a clean game. On Monday, they on the ice for Chad Ruhwedel’s goal in the first period. Reaves saw 8:39 failed to do anything of the sort and thus didn’t give themselves a very of ice time, one of his only busy nights of the season, while Archibald good chance of leaving Denver with a much-needed victory. played 9:27 and Rowney a season-high 16:11. “You win by playing the game with passion and emotion but staying on “ ‘Sully’ gave us an opportunity to go out there and play,” Reaves said. the right side of the line when it comes to the emotion,” Sullivan said. “In “When we get that opportunity, we definitely have to jump on it and make the absence of it, it’s hard to win.” sure that we’re playing responsible and creating some energy, not just running around like idiots, getting some offensive chances and playing This group has found that out the hard way. the body when we can.” As a result, the Penguins are 17-15-3 on the season, which has them two 4. Some of the Penguins’ line changes were ugly. points out of the Metropolitan Division basement. They’re 7-10-2 away from PPG Paints Arena and dropped to 2-6-3 in their last 11 road games The first one, especially. against Western Conference teams. What were Malkin and Phil Kessel doing? They seemed to have little to In those five losses, the Penguins have scored a total of 10 goals. no awareness where the puck was. Other times the Penguins didn’t do a great job placing the puck so they could change with minimal risk. “We can’t score anymore,” Evgeni Malkin said. “I thought we gave up some chances against just off of sloppy line A lack of offense, however, doesn’t fully explain Monday’s loss. There changes, where we didn’t change smart; we didn’t put pucks in the right was much more to it. areas,” Sullivan said. “We put our teammates in some difficult spots, the Here’s what does explain this latest defeat and what it means for the guys coming on the ice. Penguins moving forward: “We’ve got to control what we can out there in order to become more 1. That second period was brutal. difficult to play against and give ourselves a chance to win. I don’t think we did that consistently enough.” The Penguins were OK in the first, a little risky but nonetheless tied at 1 and still very much alive. The middle 20 did them in. 5. So, what happens now? They took four penalties, were out-shot 15-6 and out-attempted 29-10. Rutherford warned last Wednesday in Vegas that a shake-up could be Colorado scored twice to build a 3-1 lead. near if things didn’t turn around. To steal one of Sullivan’s words, the Penguins lacked urgency in their Two of a possible six points on this road trip definitely did little to change game and paid dearly for it. his mind. Now, it’s just a matter of when and what. Tyson Barrie scored his second goal of the game from the top of the slot, Rutherford has until 11:59 p.m. Tuesday to do something before the while J.T. Compher swatted a puck out of the air and past Matt Murray. NHL’s holiday roster freeze. The Penguins could also call up Daniel Sprong. “We got outplayed in the second period badly,” Sullivan said. “I thought they were hungrier than we were. We took penalties. I think we took Whatever Rutherford decides to do, it probably wouldn’t be the worst three or four penalties in the second period. That doesn’t help. We got thing for management to send the message that this current stuff isn’t outplayed. They were better than us.” acceptable. 2. The power play has hit its first rough patch of the season. That’s certainly what Sullivan’s postgame comments echoed, punctuated by the words he chose. It went 0 for 3 Monday and hasn’t scored in four games, going 0 for 13 during that stretch. “Obviously we’d like to see our team play with a lot of conviction and a lot of determination,” Sullivan said. “I think that’s what it takes to win in this The issues are many, but it starts with the lack of a shoot-first mentality, league. Sullivan said. “That’s where the game is rooted — in the passion. We’ve got to find a “I don’t think we’ve been as good,” Sullivan said. “We haven’t executed way to bring more of that more consistently.” as well. We haven’t made as good of decisions. We’ve got opportunities to shoot, and we choose not to. Sometimes our shot selection — when Around the boards we choose to shoot — might not be the right time or the opportune time. I • An interesting part of Sullivan’s postgame media session came when he just think it boils down to execution and being on the same page.” was asked if the Penguins’ mistakes Monday were correctable. His In the scheme of things is this really one of the Penguins’ biggest issues answer: “Some of them are, but yeah … it starts with a sense of urgency, right now? Probably not. There’s plenty more to worry about. winning puck battles, protecting pucks and making smart line changes.” But it’s been one of the few consistent parts of their game this season, • Conor Sheary has one goal in his past 15 games but was noticeably and now it, too, has found a little bit of trouble. more engaged Monday. That earned him a promotion to the top line by the third period. • Jake Guentzel hit the crossbar for the second time in as many games, but hasn’t scored in a career-long eight games. • Sidney Crosby has just two points — a goal and an assist — in his past eight games against Colorado. Maybe it’s a good thing the Penguins are done with the Avalanche for the year. • Speaking of Colorado, the Penguins lost multiple games to the Avalanche in a season for the first time since 2002-03. • The penalty kill gave up a goal, snapping its stretch of eight games in a row without giving up one. It entered 33 of 35 over its past 11. It had allowed 11 shots on goal over its past nine kills but surrendered five to the Avalanche. • Phil Kessel was spotted walking around the dressing room postgame with a noticeable limp. Kessel hasn’t missed a game since 2009-10, so it’s likely not going to change anything lineup-wise. But it’s also entirely possible that he’s not 100 percent and playing through something. • The Penguins failed to win consecutive road games for what would’ve been just the second time all season. • The Penguins are 1-3-2 in their last six regular-season games without Patric Hornqvist. Post Gazette LOADED: 12.19.2017 1089063 San Jose Sharks The Canucks came out hungry after getting thumped by the Nashville Predators 7-1 in their previous game and the Sharks played with complacency after picking up a crucial division win in Calgary the night Three things to know: former-Sharks coach’s seat isn’t as hot as it looks before. Team Teal will be facing an equally desperate team Monday as the Oilers playoff hopes are quickly circling the drain. By PAUL GACKLE | December 18, 2017 at 1:48 PM But the Sharks won’t need to manufacture any extra urgency this time. Playing without Logan Couture, who’s sidelined by a concussion, should give the group all the desperation it needs. EDMONTON, Alberta — Todd McLellan’s seat in Edmonton isn’t quite as hot as it looks from 1,200 miles away in San Jose. Couture is the linchpin that has been holding the Sharks forward group together, so everyone will need to elevate their performance to absorb With that being said, the former-Sharks head coach is getting swept up in his loss. a tornado of drama this season. McLellan’s Edmonton Oilers (14-17-2), the favorite of many pundits to win the Western Conference, are “To be honest, we feel the same way (as the Oilers),” captain Joe underperforming, ranking 14th in the conference with 30 points heading Pavelski said. “The standings are tight. You lose one or two games, into tonight’s showdown with the Sharks (17-10-4) at Rogers Place. you’re right back down. You win a couple, you seem to stay even. On top of that, McLellan got blasted by CBC’s Don Cherry for criticizing “Everyone’s got to be on top of their game.” superstar Connor McDavid in the media and he took some heat for comments about Leon Draisaitl last month that got misinterpreted as an San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 12.19.2017 accusation that the 22-year-old forward is a selfish player. (fast forward to the 3:30 mark of this video to see what Cherry said about McLellan’s comments about McDavid). Despite suggestions in the national media that McLellan could be on his way out of Edmonton if the Oilers are unable to turn things around, local reporters insist that his job is secure beyond the conclusion of the 2017- 18 season. The Oilers aren’t exactly in position to fire McLellan after shuffling through five coaches in a six-year span before they hired him in 2015. More importantly, McLellan led the Oilers to the Pacific Division Final last season, ending an 11-year playoff drought in a town that calls itself the “City of Champions”. The Oilers struggles could just be the natural backslide that a lot of young teams experience after a breakthrough season. The players in the Oilers dressing room certainly aren’t blaming their coach for the team’s sub-.500 record. “He doesn’t play on the ice,” defenseman Darnell Nurse said. “We have the same systems that we had last year, and for the most part, the same personnel. It comes down to us and what we do on that ice.” Nurse dismissed the suggestion that McLellan’s comments about McDavid and Drasaitl created friction in the Oilers dressing room. “That’s just people trying to come up with a story. That’s what happens when you don’t start the way that everyone expects,” he said. “That’s for us to clean up on the ice. We’re very fortunate to have the type of staff that we have.” 2. ‘It’s just a matter of time’. For the first time this season, the Oilers have strung together five quality games in a row, leading Sharks coach Pete DeBoer to believe that his team’s division rival is about to catch fire. Goalie Cam Talbot came off the injured reserve Saturday after missing seven games. Top defenseman Adam Larsson will be rejoining the lineup Monday after being sidelined for the same number of games and 2016 first-round pick (No. 4) Jesse Puljujarvi is emerging as a legitimate scoring threat with six points in seven games. “Their analytics show a team that’s playing very well, and when you watch the video, that’s supports that,” DeBoer said. “It’s just a matter of time. Hopefully, we can hold that off for a night.” The Oilers will be looking to win back-to-back games for just the third time Monday. They rank 29th in home wins (5) and 30th on the penalty kill (73.1 percent). Nevertheless, the Oilers can pull to within six points of the Sharks for third place in the Pacific Division with a regulation win Monday and they can improve to .500 by the Christmas break with three-consecutive home wins this week. “We don’t want them gaining points on us and catching us,” Chris Tierney said, describing the urgency of Monday’s game. “We want to keep them down there and keep getting our (points). That’s our goal tonight.” 3. Finding desperation without Couture. DeBoer called his team’s overtime loss in Vancouver Friday, “as sloppy a defensive effort as we’ve had maybe in my time here.” 1089064 San Jose Sharks 3. The Sharks fumble an opportunity to bury the Oilers. The Sharks started their three-game swing through Western Canada with the goal of creating some separation between themselves and the teams Three takeaways: Sharks lineup ‘thin’ as expected without Couture below them in the Pacific Division standings. They fumbled an opportunity to stretch their lead over the team that By PAUL GACKLE | December 18, 2017 at 11:10 PM eliminated them from the Stanley Cup playoffs last spring to 10 points Monday.

The Oilers have been the league’s biggest disappointment to date, EDMONTON, Alberta — The NHL’s reigning scoring champion got entering Monday’s game ranked 14 out of 15 teams in the Western snuffed out by the Sharks team defense, producing a goose egg on the Conference after reaching Game 7 of the second round of the playoffs scoresheet and just one shot on goal. last spring. Despite holding Connor McDavid in check, the Sharks surrendered five But after stringing together six-quality games in a row, and earning back- goals with Logan Couture sidelined by a concussion, allowing the Oilers to-back wins for just the third time Monday, the Oil Can is suddenly six second and third lines to rack up a combined 10 points. points behind the Sharks for third place in the Pacific Division with two games remaining before the Christmas break. Here’s what we learned Monday as the Oilers (15-17-2) closed the gap with the Sharks (17-11-4) in the Pacific Division to six points with a 5-3 Couture leaves Sharks loss to Canucks with injuryout. win in Edmonton. “Next time we get an opportunity like this, we’ve got to make it count,” 1. The Sharks lineup is as ‘thin’ as expected without Couture. Pavelski said. Head coach Pete DeBoer used the perfect word to describe the Sharks San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 12.19.2017 lineup without Couture: “thin”. Couture’s absence produced a ripple effect throughout the Sharks lineup. It forced Tomas Hertl to move back to center and skate with a pair of wingers, Kevin Labanc and Mikkel Boedker, who are struggling to produce offense. The line entered the game with a combined 13 goals, two fewer than Couture’s team-leading 15. Hertl, whose delay of game penalty led to the Oilers first goal, acknowledged that he struggled in his return to center. “Tough start. It was my mistake. I threw it away,” he said. “I have to be better right away from the start.” The 24-year-old Czech produced a 43.48 percent possession rating and his line was also on the ice for the Oilers second goal with 1:09 left in the first. DeBoer eventually demoted Boedker, who returned to the lineup after missing seven games with a lower-body injury, to the fourth line in the second. The fourth line of Boedker, Danny O’Regan and Joel Ward magnified the impact of Couture’s absence, producing possession ratings of 25 percent, 26.67 percent and 33.33 percent. “It’s thin. Other guys have got to get the job done,” DeBoer said, commenting on his team’s lineup without Couture. “The fourth line got pinned in their own zone for extended periods to point that we couldn’t really play them, and then you overuse other guys. We’ve got to find a way.” Captain Joe Pavelski also acknowledged that Couture’s absence was noticeable. “He’s a tough guy to replace, no doubt about it,” the Sharks captain said. “He takes a line and drives it when he’s out there. Special teams, all that stuff that he does. It’s tough to replace.” 2. The defense is starting to show some cracks. Over the first two months of the season, the Sharks ranked among the NHL’s bottom five in nearly every offensive stat category, getting the job done with a stingy-team defense. Now, the Sharks are finally getting some offense, tallying 22 goals over their last six games. But the defense is starting to show some cracks. With five goals against Monday, the NHL’s second-ranked defense has now surrendered four or more goals six times in their last eight games, producing a goals-against average of 3.63 over that span. Goalie Martin Jones has given up at least four goals in six-consecutive starts. DeBoer said the porousness of the Sharks defense this month is a reflection of his team’s recent tendency to fall behind early. The Sharks have trailed in the first period in six of their last seven games. “You’re getting behind in games and you open it up,” the Sharks coach said. “It obviously creates more offense, but you obviously give up some more, too. That’s probably the biggest thing.” 1089065 San Jose Sharks — The Sharks reassigned defenseman Joakim Ryan to the AHL Barracuda Monday, opening up a roster spot to activate Mikkel Boedker from the injured reserve. Boedker had missed seven games with a lower- Couture’s absence noticeable in Sharks loss to Oilers body injury. The move suggests the Sharks aren’t closing the door on the possibility that Couture could be healthy enough to play when the team returns to By PAUL GACKLE | PUBLISHED: December 18, 2017 at 8:36 pm | action at SAP Center on Thursday. Had the Sharks made room for UPDATED: December 18, 2017 at 9:42 PM Boedker by placing Couture in the injured reserve, he wouldn’t have been eligible to rejoin the lineup until Saturday.

San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 12.19.2017 EDMONTON, Alberta — Life without Logan Couture proved to be as challenging as expected Monday night. With Couture sidelined by a concussion, the Sharks (17-11-4) struggled to generate offense for large chunks of their game against the Edmonton Oilers (15-17-2), producing just 21 shots on goal. They also missed their top scorer’s presence on the defensive side of the puck as the Oilers closed the gap in the Pacific Division to six points with a 5-3 win. “He’s tough to replace, no doubt about it,” captain Joe Pavelski said. “He takes a line and drives it when he’s out there. Special teams, all that stuff that he does, it’s tough to replace.” Despite the absence of their top-defensive forward, the Sharks managed to keep the NHL’s reigning scoring champion, Connor McDavid off the scoreboard. Instead, they got beat by the Oilers second and third lines. The Oilers went into the first intermission with a 2-1 lead thanks to a pair of nifty passes by Leon Draisaitl, who centered the team’s third line. Draisaitl set up Mark Letestu with a one timer in the left circle just after a Sharks penalty expired at 14:42 of the first. With 1:09 left in the period, Draisaitl gave Ryan Strome a look into a gaping net, sliding over a cross-ice pass in front of the crease after he received a feed from Jujhar Khaira at the side of the net. The Oilers second line added to the lead at 6:36 of the middle frame. Drake Caggiula scored his fourth, poking in a Ryan Nugent-Hopkins pass from the side boards after he burned past Pavelski streaking to the net. The Nugent-Hopkins line also scored an insurance goal with 11:37 left in the third, making it 4-2 when Pat Maroon blasted a slapshot into the top- right corner from the left circle on the rush. “The difference in the game was the depth,” head coach Pete DeBoer said, noting that the Sharks lineup was “thin” without Couture. “Others guys have got to get up. They didn’t get the job done…the fourth line got pinned in their zone for extended periods to the point that we couldn’t really play them. Then, you overuse other guys.” Maroon also brought some playfulness to the game, tugging on Brent Burns’ scraggly beard as they feel to the ice in a scrum near the net. “It wasn’t really a tug, he was just kind of petting it,” Burns said. “It’s a nice beard.” The Sharks second-ranked defense is starting to show some cracks, surrendering four or more goals for the sixth time in eight games, producing a 3.63 goals-against average over that span. The game also represented the sixth-consecutive game in which goalie Martin Jones has surrendered four or more goals. “We’ve just got to stay a little tighter in the dzone,” defenseman Justin Braun said. “We’re getting a little loose, leaving maybe a little early.” DeBoer said the Sharks defensive woes are a product of his team’s recent tendency to fall behind early. The Sharks have found themselves trailing in the first period of six of their last seven games. “You’re getting behind in games and you open it up,” the Sharks coach said. “It obviously creates some more offense, but you obviously give up some more, too. That’s probably the biggest thing.” Team Teal did manage to put three goals on the board, the sixth- consecutive game in which they’ve scored three or more. Pavelski opened the scoring on the power play at 6:15 of the first, marking the sixth-consecutive game in which the Sharks resurgent power play has found the net. Burns got the play started by finding Kevin Labanc, who earned the primary assist, with a cross-ice pass, his 14th point in 14 games. Tomas Hertl scored the Sharks second goal, his eighth, in the second, and Marcus Sorensen scored his second goal in as many games in the third. Labanc recorded two assists in the loss. 1089066 San Jose Sharks

Without Logan Couture, Sharks fall at Edmonton

Associated Press Published 10:34 pm, Monday, December 18, 2017

Joe Pavelski, Tomas Hertl and Marcus Sorensen had goals for the Sharks, but playing without center Logan Couture, San Jose fell 5-3 at Edmonton on Monday night. Ryan Strome scored twice to lead the Oilers, who also got goals from Mark Letestu, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Patrick Maroon. Leon Draisaitl had two assists and Cam Talbot stopped 18 shots. Martin Jones finished with 24 saves for the Sharks, who lost their second in a row. “I thought the difference in the game was the depth,” Sharks head coach Peter DeBoer said. “They got some more depth scoring than we did.” Couture, who leads San Jose with 26 points, suffered a concussion in Friday’s loss at Vancouver. The Sharks’ Mikkel Boedker returned after missing seven games with a lower-body injury. With the score tied 1-1, Strome gave the Oilers the lead for good with 1:09 remaining in the first period. Draisaitl made a perfect pass across to Strome to give him a wide-open net to deposit the puck into. It was the 10,000th goal in the Oilers’ franchise history. Edmonton made it 3-1 at 6:36 of the second as Nugent-Hopkins’ pass hit Pavelski’s stick and got past Jones for his 14th. San Jose got that goal right back, however, as Hertl’s shot got past Talbot for his eighth at 8:32. Maroon’s ninth of the season restored the Oilers’ two-goal edge at 8:23 of the third. San Jose cut the margin to 4-3 as Sorensen made a nice deke and scored his second with 8:02 to go. However, Strome sealed the win with an empty-netter with eight seconds left. San Jose started the scoring on the power play at 6:15 of the first as Pavelski swooped in to put a rebound past Talbot for his seventh. Letestu beat Jones with a one-timer shortly after an Edmonton power play expired to tie the game with 5:18 left in the first. Kings 4, Flyers 1: Adrian Kempe jumped out of the penalty box and scored a big goal in the third period, Jonathan Quick made 36 saves and visiting Los Angeles ended Philadelphia’s winning streak at six games. Devils 5, Ducks 3: Stefan Noesen scored on a rebound with 4:07 to play and added an empty-net goal as New Jersey rallied from a two-goal deficit at home. Bruins 7, Blue Jackets 2: Jake DeBrusk set up second-period power-play goals by David Backes and Charlie McAvoy and added a goal of his own, Tuukka Rask stopped 16 shots to keep up his hot stretch, and Boston beat visiting Columbus. Avalanche 4, Penguins 2: Defenseman Tyson Barrie scored twice and Semyon Varlamov stopped 30 shots for host Colorado. San Francisco Chronicle LOADED: 12.19.2017 1089067 San Jose Sharks

Sharks' rally falls short in bid for revenge vs Oilers

By Associated Press December 18, 2017 8:25 PM

EDMONTON — Ryan Strome scored twice to lead the Edmonton Oilers to a 5-3 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Monday night for their second straight win. Mark Letestu, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Patrick Maroon also scored for the Oilers, who have consecutive wins for just the third time this season. Leon Draisaitl had two assists and Cam Talbot stopped 18 shots. Joe Pavelski, Tomas Hertl and Marcus Sorensen had goals for the Sharks, losers of two straight. Martin Jones finished with 24 saves. With the score tied 1-1, Strome gave the Oilers the lead for good with 1:09 remaining in the first period. Draisaitl made a perfect pass across to Strome to give him a wide-open net to deposit the puck into. It was It was the 10,000th goal in the Oilers' franchise history. Edmonton made it 3-1 at 6:36 of the second as Nugent-Hopkins' pass hit Pavelski's stick and got past Jones for his 14th. San Jose got that goal right back, however, as Hertl's shot got past Talbot for his eighth at 8:32. Maroon's ninth of the season restored the Oilers' two-goal edge at 8:23 of the third. San Jose kept coming and pulled to 4-3 as Sorensen made a nice deke and scored his second with 8:02 to go. However, Strome sealed the win with an empty-netter with 8 seconds left. San Jose started the scoring on the power play at 6:15 of the first as Pavelski swooped in to put a rebound past Talbot for his seventh. Letestu beat Jones with a one-timer shortly after an Oilers power play expired to tie the game with 5:18 left in the first. NOTES: It was the first of four meetings between the teams this season. Edmonton was 3-1-1 against San Jose last season, and went on to beat the Sharks in six games in the first round of the playoffs. ... The Sharks were without C Logan Couture, who suffered a concussion in Friday's game against Vancouver. San Jose did get a player back, though, as F Mikkel Boedker returned after missing seven games with a lower-body injury. ... The Oilers had D Adam Larsson back after missing eight games with an upper-body injury. UP NEXT Sharks: Host Vancouver on Thursday night. Oilers: Host St. Louis on Thursday night. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 12.19.2017 1089068 San Jose Sharks

Sharks activate Boedker, send down rookie defenseman

By Marcus White December 18, 2017 4:06 PM

The San Jose Sharks got a boost to their injured forward group to begin the week. The Sharks activated winger Mikkel Boedker from Injured Reserve on Monday. The 28-year-old forward missed the last seven games with an undisclosed injury. Boedker scored only one point in the 12 games prior to his absence. He's in the second year of a four-year contract he signed last offseason, and is coming off his worst offensive season since 2011-12. His return, as well as Joonas Donskoi's last week, gets the Sharks a bit closer to full strength up front. Barclay Goodrow remains on Injured Reserve, while Logan Couture left San Jose's loss on Saturday with a head injury, and will not play Monday. In a corresponding move, the Sharks sent rookie defenseman Joakim Ryan down to the AHL's San Jose Barracuda. Ryan played 24 games in his first stint with the Sharks, but has not played since December 7. Ryan's demotion opens up a spot on the Sharks blueline for Paul Martin, who remains on a two-week conditioning assignment with the Barracuda. The 36-year-old has one assist in four games during his AHL stint. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 12.19.2017 1089069 San Jose Sharks

Oilers mismanagement opens window of opportunity for Sharks

By Marcus White December 18, 2017 1:29 PM

The Edmonton Oilers made the postseason for the first time in a decade last season on the backs of Hart Trophy winner Connor McDavid and Vezina finalist Cam Talbot. They seemed poised for a Stanley Cup run this season, and many more in the years to come. McDavid’s been his stellar self this season, but Talbot it’s in the midst of his worst season, after starting 73 games last year. This, simply, is not the team that eliminated the Sharks in April. Given their last two summers, though, their fall has been entirely predictable. In the last two offseasons, the Oilers sacrificed skill for sandpaper. Out went former first round picks Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle, and Nail Yakupov, and in came Adam Larsson, Milan Lucic, , and Ryan Strome. Hall (11) and Eberle and (13) would be fourth and first, respectively, on Edmonton in goal-scoring this year, while Yakupov has more than, or as many goals as all but five Oilers. Those moves have left Edmonton’s depth decimated, forcing them to rely on McDavid, whose scored or assisted on about 38 percent of their goals this season. With McDavid on the ice during five-on-five play, the Oilers have scored 55.77 percent of the goals, according to Corsica Hockey. With him off of it, that drops to 46.25 percent. After years in the league’s basement, the pressure to get rid of the Oilers’ “underachieving” top picks was strong, especially from the Edmonton media. In the pursuit of being tough to play against, though, they’ve gotten worse. Under Todd McLellan, they’re one of the league’s best possession teams, but they don’t have nearly enough skill outside of McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. Without a Vezina-level performance from a likely exhausted Talbot, they don’t have the defense necessary to mitigate his down year, despite trading away a top winger (Hall) to shore up the blueline. McDavid’s in the third and final year of his rookie deal, meaning Edmonton’s window to surround him with high-end, highly-paid skill players was limited. The Oilers have essentially wasted one of the best team-building opportunities in recent memory, and sit eight points out of a playoff spot as of this writing. That’s left open a window of opportunity for the Sharks, as well as the rest of the division, this season and potentially beyond. McDavid will make $12.5 million against the next season, and the Oilers already have at least $52 million in salary commitments each of the next three seasons. A postseason run through the Pacific Division looks far less daunting without the game’s best player involved. Now, it’s up to the Sharks to take advantage. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 12.19.2017 1089070 St Louis Blues

Blues recall Thompson from San Antonio

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

CALGARY, ALBERTA • Former first-round pick Tage Thompson is back with the Blues. The Blues recalled Thompson from San Antonio of the American Hockey League, placing forward Sammy Blais on injured reserve. In 24 games with San Antonio, Thompson was third on the Rampage in points (16), and tied for third in goals (seven). Thompson played in San Antonio's 4-1 victory over Rockford on Sunday _ he was a minus-1, taking three shots. Thompson, 20, led all scorers among eight teams at the NHL prospects tournament in early September in Traverse City, Mich., with four goals and five assists. He followed that with a strong training camp and preseason with the Blues, making the opening-day roster. He opened the season on the third line with Magnus Paajarvi and Oskar Sundqvist, appearing in four games with three shots, three takeaways and registering five hits. He was minus-3. Thompson averaged 10 minutes of ice time, including some duty on the power play. But after being a healthy scratch in the season's fifth game, against Florida, he was sent down to San Antonio on Oct. 13. While praising Thompson's size, strength and hands, Yeo said at the time that Thompson needed "an understanding to move the puck a little bit quicker, make sure we're not turning the puck over in some areas. Obviously, he's an offensive guy but when the offense isn't going in the net for you, you have to make sure you're not giving up anything against." Blais, who has played in 10 games for the Blues with one goal and two assists, suffered a lower-body injury while drawing a slashing penalty Saturday against Winnipeg and did not play in Sunday's rematch. St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 12.19.2017 1089071 St Louis Blues • Returning to action Sunday after sitting out Saturday’s game with a minor injury, Kyle Brodziak played in his 800th NHL game.

• Blues vice president Steve Chapman will be inducted into the East Blues give rookie Thompson a second chance Coast Hockey League Hall of Fame on Jan. 15 in Indianapolis. St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 12.19.2017 By Jim Thomas St. Louis Post-Dispatch 4 hrs ago

CALGARY, ALBERTA • Even before he left for the NHL prospects tournament in Traverse, Mich., in early September, Tage Thompson’s stated goal was to make the big club. He did just that. He led all scorers at the prospects tournament, with four goals and five assists. He followed that with a strong training camp and preseason with the Blues, making the opening-day roster. “I was obviously very happy when I made it,” Thompson said. “Any time you achieve a goal like that it’s a very rewarding feeling. But obviously, the work’s not done.” He opened the season at forward on a line with Magnus Paajarvi and Oskar Sundqvist, appearing in four games and averaging 10 minutes of ice time including some power-play duty. But after being a healthy scratch in the season’s fifth game, against Florida, he was sent down to San Antonio on Oct. 13. While praising Thompson’s size, strength and hands, coach Mike Yeo said at the time that Thompson needed “an understanding to move the puck a little bit quicker, make sure we’re not turning the puck over in some areas.” Little more than two months later, Thompson is back. After placing Sammy Blais on injured reserve because of a lower-body injury, the Blues recalled Thompson from San Antonio of the American Hockey League. He got the phone call Sunday night while driving home from the Rampage’s 4-1 victory over Rockford. “Obviously, I wasn’t happy being sent down,” Thompson said. “I don’t think anyone is, but there’s a reasoning to it and I understand it. Couldn’t dwell on it or let it bother me. I just had to go down and play, and get better, and keep working and hopefully get my chance back up here.” In 24 games with San Antonio, Thompson was third on the Rampage in points (16), and tied for third in goals (seven). “Now that they’ve given me another opportunity up here, I’ve got to take hold of it and try to hold on as long as possible,” Thompson said. “My focus is just working hard to try to stay here.” A first-round pick by the Blues in 2016, Thompson completed his sophomore year at the University of Connecticut then finished up last season with the of the AHL. This season’s AHL stint in San Antonio should help Thompson’s development. “The guys are older, and a lot more mature (in the AHL),” said Thompson, 20. “They’ve been around for a while. The game’s a lot faster, guys are stronger. I think that’s probably the major difference. In college, you have a little bit more time with the puck, and time to make plays. Up here, your time with and without the puck is very limited.” The pace of play, obviously, is even quicker in the NHL. “The AHL, my time there, has hopefully helped prepare me for this time,” he said. OFF TO CALGARY After a grueling stretch of six games in nine days, the Blues flew to Calgary on Monday morning but don’t play the Flames until Wednesday night. “It’s the end of a tough stretch — that’s certainly not an excuse,” Yeo said. “But what we have now is a day of rest and a practice day and both those things will be good for us.” • SCHEDULE/RESULTS: 2017-18 Blues season After a day off Monday, the Blues are back on the ice for practice Tuesday. BLUENOTES Sunday’s loss to Winnipeg marked the first time all season the Blues had failed to secure at least a point in the second game of back-to-back contests. Previously, they had been 5-0-1, with an overtime loss Dec. 2 at Minnesota. 1089072 St Louis Blues When he was coaching the Rams, Dick Vermeil got so upset seeing his wideouts and cornerbacks going without the padding, that he came out to practice one day during training camp in Macomb, Ill., wearing shorts Puck luck: Shots to the foot have been the bane of Blues with oversized basketball-style knee pads strapped on his legs. Obviously, he was trying to make a point, but the sight was comical.

“I hate to see bare knees and thighs not covered, “ Vermeil said at the By Jim Thomas St. Louis Post-Dispatch 2 hrs ago time. “You’ve got a lot of money invested in those guys, and for them to miss three weeks of practice (with an injury). . . .”

Years later, the NFL instituted a rules change prohibiting players from CALGARY, ALBERTA • Jay Bouwmeester missed two months with a being on the field during a game without all of their padding. An observer fractured ankle after taking a puck off the foot. Carter Hutton and Alex assigned to each game made sure this was the case. Pietrangelo both were sidelined for a week because of it. And of course, Jaden Schwartz will be out at least until late January for the same When it comes to the Blues, Yeo hasn’t resorted to wearing oversized reason. equipment to make his point. The puck off the foot is an occupational hazard in hockey, and boy, has it Edmundson said many NHL skaters simply grew up without using shot- had an impact on the Blues unlike any other injury this season. blockers — and never picked up the habit as they progressed through the sport. In this age of sports science and high tech equipment, is there anything that can be done to better protect players? “They’ve never worn them,” he said. “It might help. It’s all a preference. Our leading scorer, Schenn, he wears them, and I think our whole back “Obviously, there’s shot-blockers,” coach Mike Yeo said recently. “But end wears them. that’s always a struggle trying to get players to buy into wearing them. There’s a comfort issue there. And there’s a performance issue that they “These days, you need that little extra speed, but I don’t think it slows you feel. But yeah, you look around the league, this is a common injury.” down too much. Once you get them on, you don’t even realize they’re on.” The shot-blockers, or foot protectors, are made of super-strong plastics. Some cover basically the entire skate; others cover only the top of the But the need for speed may have resulted in less protection even when foot. They’re not foolproof, but they can help — that is, if you choose to wearing equipment. use them. “Yeah, lighter is faster right?” Bouwmeester said. “That’s just kinda how There is always that train of thought that any “extra” equipment can slow they make (equipment) now. Except the goalies — they don’t get any you down. And in an ultra-competitive, high-performance sport, the last smaller. thing skilled players want — especially those paid to score goals — is anything that’s perceived to hinder movement in the slightest. That’s “Everybody shoots the puck harder, passes (harder). And the equipment, doubly true with today’s hockey placing more of an emphasis on a speed quite honestly, everything is lighter. There’s probably less to it, so that’s game. less protection.” “Around the league, a lot of guys don’t (wear shot-blockers), but I feel like All of which makes you wonder why anyone would want to block a 100 on our team the majority of guys do,” defenseman Joel Edmundson said. mph slapshot in the first place. Especially 80 times in 34 games, as is the “But I think for Schwartzy, it kind of just hit him in a bad spot. And it was a case with Edmundson, who is tied for fourth in the NHL in blocks. tough break for him. “You can’t really think about that,” Edmundson said. “If it happens, it “I don’t think the shot-blocker would’ve stopped that one. It kind of got in happens. It’s just the way hockey goes. . . .You can never really expect the little gap where there’s no protection. So that stuff happens, and that to happen.” you’ve gotta find a way to battle through it.” No, and sometimes it’s just bad luck —or puck luck as they say. Of course, that’s easier to do when it’s a bad bruise that may sideline a St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 12.19.2017 player for a few days as opposed to a broken or fractured bone that could mean a couple of months on the shelf. During his first season in the NHL, Brayden Schenn suffered a broken foot after taking a one-timer off the stick of P.K. Subban. “Obviously, it’s the worst thing when you’re not playing,” he said. “We’re hockey players, that’s what we do. We want to be on the ice. We want to be around the guys. You want to be traveling with the team, doing all that. “When you get put in a situation where you’re not allowed to do that because of (injury), I think the first initial thing is shock. And then you kind of go into thinking a little bit too much. You can only feel bad for a guy like (Schwartz). It’s one thing he got injured; second thing he’s having a career year. You could just tell how much fun he was having out there.” Bouwmeester and Pietrangelo were struck while in front of the net. Hutton’s injury was extra-fluky because while stretching to make a save in practice on a shot by Scottie Upshall, the elastic at the bottom of his leg pads stretched just enough to expose the top of his foot, and did so right when the puck arrived. That’s got to be a thousand-to-one occurrence, or more. As for Schwartz, he was out near the blue line and just a few feet away from shooter Mike Green of Detroit when struck. He wasn’t necessarily trying to block the shot at the time. But the puck found him. “It’s one of those things where maybe you get mad if you didn’t have a shot-blocker on or something like that,” Schenn said. “But it hit him in the ankle, where it’s just wrong place, wrong time really. It’s a wrist shot that probably doesn’t have a whole lot of speed behind the puck and just hits you square, nothing else you can really do about it.” Eschewing protection to maximize speed and maneuverability is not a concept unique to hockey. A longstanding practice by many wide receivers in the was removing knee pads or thigh pads — just to be a little quicker. 1089073 Tampa Bay Lightning

Lightning excited about first game against Vegas Golden Knights

Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer Published: December 18, 2017Updated: December 18, 2017 at 09:02 PM

LAS VEGAS — There was a general curiosity from Lightning players, and others around the league, what exactly hockey would look like in Las Vegas. And before Tampa Bay played its first-ever game against the expansion Golden Knights tonight, coach Jon Cooper got a sneak peek Sunday night, catching the Vegas-Florida game "as a fan." Cooper was blown away, from the raucous and sold-out T-Mobile Arena to the first-place Golden Knights’ shootout win. "Without even looking at the product on the ice, the product outside and the venue — it was spectacular," Cooper said. "I just thought, right away, ‘What a coup for the NHL to open up shop here.’ They’ve done an unbelievable job. The band up top. The chants, right into the goal song. Really well done." Several hundred Lightning fans have made the trip to Sin City, from as far as Newfoundland, to capture the experience. Some of the players’ families are in town, and they’ll see a very good product on the ice, too. Vegas paid a heavy price — a $500 million expansion fee — but was rewarded with a very strong team through the expansion draft. That includes former Lightning forward Jonathan Marchessault, who has 29 points in 29 games (11 goals). The Golden Knights lead the Pacific Division (21-9-2), their 44 points just six shy of the best-in-the-NHL Lightning. The teams have identical home records of 13-2-1. The notion of this being a potential Stanley Cup final preview is not as silly as one would have predicted before the season. "It’s pretty remarkable what’s going on," Cooper said. "You’re looking for holes on that team, and you just don’t see them. They roll four lines at you, six ‘D.’ They’ve played four or five goalies and continue to win, because their team is really good. It was pretty impressive to watch." Center Tyler Johnson, a Spokane, Wash. native, said he loves the fact that teams out West are being added. That includes allowing Seattle to make a bid to be the 32nd NHL team. "I think it’d be awesome," Johnson said. "The guys that play there will love it. The city, they love the pro sports teams. They have a really good following. It’s really close to Vancouver, so you’d get coming down. I think it’s a great option." Those who have already played in Vegas have rave reviews. And not just for the nightlife. "It’s awesome playing there," said Blues forward Brayden Schenn. "Not just because you’re in Vegas. It’s the production and music. It’s always loud. And we played there on a Saturday night. It was awesome." The Lightning has been in Vegas since Saturday night, following its win at the Avalanche. Tampa Bay, staying near the strip, had an off day on Sunday, with a crisp, hour-long practice on Monday at T-Mobile Arena. "If you had to pick a place to have a couple days off, this shoots somewhere to the top of the list," Cooper quipped. "We’re on a 10-day road trip. And it’s good to get away from the rink a little bit. But we came here to win a game." Joe Smith can be reached at [email protected] Follow @TBTimes_JSmith. Tampa Tribune LOADED: 12.19.2017 1089074 Tampa Bay Lightning

Lightning excited about first game against Vegas Golden Knights

Joe Smith Published: December 18, 2017Updated: December 18, 2017 at 09:02 PM

LAS VEGAS — There was a general curiosity from Lightning players, and others around the league, what exactly hockey would look like in Las Vegas. And before Tampa Bay played its first-ever game against the expansion Golden Knights tonight, coach Jon Cooper got a sneak peek Sunday night, catching the Vegas-Florida game "as a fan." Cooper was blown away, from the raucous and sold-out T-Mobile Arena to the first-place Golden Knights’ shootout win. "Without even looking at the product on the ice, the product outside and the venue — it was spectacular," Cooper said. "I just thought, right away, ‘What a coup for the NHL to open up shop here.’ They’ve done an unbelievable job. The band up top. The chants, right into the goal song. Really well done." Several hundred Lightning fans have made the trip to Sin City, from as far as Newfoundland, to capture the experience. Some of the players’ families are in town, and they’ll see a very good product on the ice, too. Vegas paid a heavy price — a $500 million expansion fee — but was rewarded with a very strong team through the expansion draft. That includes former Lightning forward Jonathan Marchessault, who has 29 points in 29 games (11 goals). The Golden Knights lead the Pacific Division (21-9-2), their 44 points just six shy of the best-in-the-NHL Lightning. The teams have identical home records of 13-2-1. The notion of this being a potential Stanley Cup final preview is not as silly as one would have predicted before the season. "It’s pretty remarkable what’s going on," Cooper said. "You’re looking for holes on that team, and you just don’t see them. They roll four lines at you, six ‘D.’ They’ve played four or five goalies and continue to win, because their team is really good. It was pretty impressive to watch." Center Tyler Johnson, a Spokane, Wash. native, said he loves the fact that teams out West are being added. That includes allowing Seattle to make a bid to be the 32nd NHL team. "I think it’d be awesome," Johnson said. "The guys that play there will love it. The city, they love the pro sports teams. They have a really good following. It’s really close to Vancouver, so you’d get Canadians coming down. I think it’s a great option." Those who have already played in Vegas have rave reviews. And not just for the nightlife. "It’s awesome playing there," said Blues forward Brayden Schenn. "Not just because you’re in Vegas. It’s the production and music. It’s always loud. And we played there on a Saturday night. It was awesome." The Lightning has been in Vegas since Saturday night, following its win at the Avalanche. Tampa Bay, staying near the strip, had an off day on Sunday, with a crisp, hour-long practice on Monday at T-Mobile Arena. "If you had to pick a place to have a couple days off, this shoots somewhere to the top of the list," Cooper quipped. "We’re on a 10-day road trip. And it’s good to get away from the rink a little bit. But we came here to win a game." Joe Smith can be reached at [email protected] Follow @TBTimes_JSmith. Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 12.19.2017 1089075 Toronto Maple Leafs efficient, and I think we’re in good enough shape that you can have juice for both ends.”

Watching the offensive struggles of Nylander and Marner this season, Leafs learning how to win in the Nothing Happens League Kadri said he often sees his former self. “That’s exactly how I used to be,” Kadri said. “There’s no question in my By DAVE FESCHUKt mind that those guys are going to become better defensively and more reliable and responsible . . . You start to understand playing good Mon., Dec. 18, 2017 defence translates into offensive chances, because you frustrate teams, you end up forcing turnovers, then you have the puck on your stick. That’s one thing I had to get through my head, and I’m sure (Marner and Nylander will) get it through theirs.” Mike Babcock is, among many things, the richest coach in the NHL, a two-time Olympic gold medallist and a Stanley Cup champion. On Babcock’s career resume comes with a conversation stopper. When Monday he also confirmed himself as the worst hype man in pro sports. critics groan about his defence-first, excitement-snuffing ways, he can point out that, in the span of 10 seasons in Detroit, no NHL team scored Just listen to the way Babcock framed the narrative around Tuesday more goals than the Red Wings (and only the Rangers, Devils and afternoon’s game between his Maple Leafs and the visiting Carolina Sharks allowed fewer per game). Hurricanes at the Air Canada Centre. “The new guys coming in, if they don’t turn out to be good pros, then it’s “It’s going to be tight. There’s going to be no room,” Babcock said of the on us,” Babcock said Monday. “So that’s having a great culture here. impending on-ice traffic jam, before adding the carnival-barking capper. That’s why (Patrick) Marleau’s here. That’s why (Ron) Hainsey’s here. “It’s going to be one of those games where it looks like there’s hardly any That’s why we tried to make the organization better so that there’s no plays taking place whatsoever.” wiggle room for these guys. Because most people follow the path of least

resistance. Sometimes that’s not to the weight room.” He said those words — “hardly any plays taking place whatsoever” — Babcock’s demands for diligence aren’t translating into offence right now. with scary gusto. Clearly this is Babcock’s idealized NHL, the Nothing The Leafs have scored a combined four goals in the past four games, all Happens League. He and his control-freak coaching brethren like it best without the services of top-scoring centre Auston Matthews, who isn’t that way. Nothing horrified Babcock more than the Leafs scoring 19 goals expected to play Tuesday, either. It’s a rough patch, for sure. But in their opening three games this season. Now that they’ve scored a Babcock appears to be successfully making the case around the room combined 10 goals in seven games in December . . . hey, this is more that it’s a rough patch with instructional purposes. like it. “We know this team can fly (offensively). But we know we can’t win that It’s easy to make fun of Babcock for this, of course. And looking at it from way in the playoffs,” Rielly said. “That’s just the way this league is.” 30,000 feet, it’s easy to criticize the league’s leadership for allowing its coaches to wilfully and profitably strangle the fun out of a great sport. But The way this league is, it’s hard to make a case Toronto’s season is in if you’re a fan of the Maple Leafs, and all you’re in it for is to see your imminent peril. In other words, the Maple Leafs, still a solid bet to finish beloved club win a Stanley Cup some time between now and the second in the not-deep Atlantic Division, currently have the competitive hereafter, Babcock’s take on hockey aesthetics is entirely appropriate. It leeway to stick to the principles. And Babcock, with five more years doesn’t matter how it looks as long as it ends in a “W.” remaining on his $50-million deal, can make the case he’ll have another luxury for some time to come: the luxury of not caring how ugly it looks Listening to the sudden flood of Babcock-focused criticism around town, on paper or in person. it’s easy to forget the whole reason Babcock was brought here. He was brought here, not to set off offensive fireworks, but to remake a broken LOADED: 12.19.2017 dressing-room culture that had proven itself unfit to represent the Maple Leaf. You’ll remember the pre-Babcock Leafs, the team whose best player was permitted to treat defence as optional because he was, in the words of then-coach Randy Carlyle, an “artist.” “I think there is a double standard in sports that talented people have to be given a bit more of a rope,” Carlyle said in the fall of 2014. Carlyle was fired a few months later. And a few months after that, Babcock was brought aboard and the artist shipped out. It’s important to remember who oversaw all those moves. It was , the team president who played for Babcock when the coach began a 10- season run in Detroit in 2005-06. Babcock, then and now, made it clear that double standards weren’t a part of his organizational template. “Accountability is for everyone. Otherwise, it becomes a superstar mentality. That’s not winning hockey,” Babcock said in 2005. As much as the league has changed in the past decade-plus, Babcock is saying essentially the same thing today. “If you want to be a star, you have to dig in, put the team first and learn how to play without the puck,” Babcock said this week. It is debatable whether or not Babcock is handling the sophomore seasons of William Nylander and Mitch Marner with a genius’s touch. There are folks who reside in the camps of both players who’ll tell you they will eventually succeed in spite of Babcock’s methods, not because of them. But what can’t be argued is that Babcock is doing what his track record said he’d do: insisting on accountability in every zone from every player. Babcock made those demands previously with Morgan Rielly, denying the Leafs’ best defenceman an offensive leash until Rielly proved himself competent in tending to less glamorous details. He did it with Nazem Kadri, too, sometimes to Kadri’s chagrin. “There was tons of (frustration)” during frequent early tutorials in Babcock’s office, Kadri said Monday. “As an offensive player, having offensive instincts, you don’t want to waste your energy tracking back. But you have to understand you have to work smart, you have to work 1089076 Toronto Maple Leafs People always appreciated going to the game. And I look at it now, it was worth keeping because the team is so good, so fun to watch.”

Toronto Star LOADED: 12.19.2017 Arntfields were Leafs’ first family, in 1931 at least

By KEVIN MCGRAN Mon., Dec. 18, 2017

Back in 1931, when opened, Raymond Arntfield bought season tickets — four of them, at a total cost of $12 — and they’ve been in the family every since. Raymond would bring his son Donald to games. When Donald took over the tickets in the 1960s, he brought his kids. One of them, Andrew, now has the tickets — they cost $19,500 for a pair — and brought his niece, Sarah. Today, Sarah’s son, Tom Cooper, is going to see his first Leafs game. It’ll be a historic one, commemorating the anniversary of the first NHL game ever played. “The Leafs are huge part of the city and this country, and this is a connection for me to my dad and my grandfather,” says Andrew Arntfield, 60. “I’m with (Tom) right now. He’s overwhelmed by it. “We’re carrying it down to another generation.” The game against the Carolina Hurricanes is being held at a special time — 2 p.m. The Leafs have encouraged their season subscribers to either bring a child to the game or donate their tickets back to the Leafs so the team can make sure other kids — from schools and hospitals — get a chance to go. Andrew Arntfield couldn’t be happier to comply, handing the tickets over to his grand-nephew Tom, and Tom’s father, Paul Cooper, with “Go Leafs Go” written on the envelope. “He’s ecstatic, and feeling very lucky,” says Paul Cooper, Tom’s father, who feels lucky to have married into a family with season tickets. “We’re pretty pumped.” The Leafs will be wearing their sweaters, which date back to 1918-19, the season after the franchise’s first Stanley Cup in the NHL. The Arntfields are one of 49 families who have owned season tickets since the Gardens opened. The Arntfield family history is intertwined with that of the city, the Leafs, and hockey itself. “It was a way of life,” says Donald, 92 who has seen the Maple Leafs win the Stanley Cup so often, he can’t remember how many he saw in person. “Dad (Raymond) bought the tickets. He probably went to see them at . I’ve been going since I was six or seven years old. I was at the last Stanley Cup they won (1967). “In between, there were so many. I wasn’t keeping track.” The Arenas/St. Pats/Maple Leafs have won the Cup 13 times in the NHL. In their inaugural season 100 years ago — when nicknames didn’t seem to matter that much — the Toronto team was simply referred to as Toronto or “the Torontos,” wearing a blue shirt with a white “T.” The Toronto team won the NHL championship that first year, then beat the Vancouver Millionaires of the Pacific Coast Hockey Association for the Stanley Cup. The game has changed since Don Arntfield was a youngster watching the likes of , Sweeney Schriner and at the Gardens. “In those days, before the red line (introduced in 1943-44), it wasn’t as fast, but the stickhandling and passing plays were a joy to watch,” says Don Arntfield. “It wasn’t dump it in and let’s go see if we can find the puck. That’s not hockey. But I think it’s getting better these days.” Indeed, the Maple Leafs, though struggling through a three-game losing streak coming into the game, are considered again an elite team in the NHL. There have been some dreary eras, particularly through the 1980s when Harold Ballard owned the team, and just recently when the Leafs missed the playoffs in 10 of 11 years. But the family “never” thought of giving their tickets up, says Andrew Arntfield. “The situation now — and I guess it’s always been like this — is if you give them up, you’ll never get the back again. The waiting list has been so long,” he said. “Even in the dreary years, there was always interest. 1089077 Toronto Maple Leafs

Goaltending let down Toronto in first NHL game

By ERIC ZWEIG Mon., Dec. 18, 2017

As the start of the NHL’s first season approached 100 years ago, there were a few things that everyone agreed on. One was that the were weak. Another was that Toronto’s team — run by the owners of the Arena Gardens on Mutual Street — had plenty of talent, but their goaltending was terrible. The Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators boasted future Hall of Famers Georges Vezina and Clint Benedict in goal. Toronto’s two-man tandem did not measure up. “Sammy Hebert,” noted the Ottawa Journal in early December, “has been playing for some time now but is just fair at his best.” Still, that was better than Art Brooks. “He ducks at the high ones,” the Journal said. Goaltending definitely proved to be the problem when Toronto lost 10-9 to the Wanderers in Montreal on the first night in NHL history, Dec. 19, 1917. It was the league’s first game — the Canadiens and Senators were scheduled to start 15 minutes later in Ottawa — but despite free admission to returned soldiers home from World War I, attendance was said to be only about 700 people. Dave Ritchie of the Montreal Wanderers scored the first goal in NHL history when he beat Hebert one minute into the game. The score was 3- 3 by 7:20 of the first period, but two more Wanderers goals saw Toronto trailing 5-3 at the first intermission. Brooks replaced Hebert to start the second, and while Toronto managed to tie the game 6-6 late in the period, three quick goals put the Wanderers on top 9-6. They went ahead 10-6 early in the third and even though Toronto scored three goals to make it close and was coming on strong as the game ended, it couldn’t get the equalizer. Reg Noble scored four goals for Toronto that night, but Harry Hyland had five for the Wanderers. Joe Malone also scored five for the Canadiens in their 7-4 win over Ottawa. No one would match those numbers in an NHL debut until Auston Matthews scored four for the Maple Leafs last season. Still, it was the bad netminding, not the scoring feats, that stood out. “Toronto fans who saw Toronto beaten 10-9 by Wanderers last night at Montreal,” reported the Daily Star on December 20, 1917, “say the whole trouble was bad goal-keeping. ‘Sammy Hebert couldn’t stop a flock of balloons,’ said one traveler, ‘and Brooks wasn’t any better.’” The first NHL game ever played in Toronto was on Saturday night, Dec. 22, 1917. That day’s Star reported that Hebert and Brooks both claimed to have “rid themselves of all the bad goaltending they had in their system against the Wanderers.” Brooks got the start that night against Ottawa, and though he would surrender the first goal of the game, there was no stopping Toronto on this night. Noble added three more goals, while Corb Denneny and Harry Meeking had hat tricks of their own in an 11-4 victory over the Senators. Newspapers don’t seem to have noted the attendance, but there were enough people there for the Star to comment that “the dense smoke [from their cigarettes] made it difficult to see the puck at times.” The Star pointed out that “the much discussed weakness expected in the Toronto nets was not in evidence. Although four counters were registered against him, Brooks played a cool, collected game throughout.” Still, the weakness in goal for Toronto remained a problem. Soon there were reports that the team had set its sights on acquiring their own future hall-of-fame netminder. “If the Torontos had Harry Holmes” opined the Star on December 27, “they would just about clean up.” And indeed they did. Holmes was signed on January 4, 1918. It was too late to catch the Canadiens in the first-half standings, but Toronto would win the second half and defeat Montreal in the NHL playoffs before beating Vancouver of the Pacific Coast Hockey Association to win the Stanley Cup. Author Eric Zweig has helped produce the NHL Official Guide & Record Book since 1996. His latest book, The Toronto Maple Leafs: The Complete Oral History, from Dundurn Press, is available now. Toronto Star LOADED: 12.19.2017 1089078 Toronto Maple Leafs NOTABLE PLAYERS: F Charlie Conacher (the hard-shooting “Big Bomber” was team’s first national star); D (leading scorer, Cup-winning scorer, first Leaf to have his number retired); D Decade-by-decade look at NHL in Toronto's first 100 years (all-star defenceman); D Red Horner (colourful NHL penalty leader). NOTABLE PEOPLE: (headed investors that purchased St. Pats, builder of the Gardens, manager and briefly coach); J.P. Bickell Lance Hornby (mining executive, lead financier of MLG, began team tradition of charity work); Dick Irvin (won 215 games as coach). Published:December 18, 2017 NOTABLE EVENTS: Smythe changes name to Maple Leafs to honour Updated:December 18, 2017 10:47 PM EST Canadian soldiers, with the logo and colours changing from green and white to blue and white, both possibly borrowed from the U of T … Plans

to build a new hockey palace at Church and Carlton are threatened by The largest shadow in Toronto is not cast by the CN Tower, but the the Great Depression, but Smythe and partners forged ahead … The hockey team that plays nearby. Gardens opened on Nov. 12, 1931, and Leafs won the Cup there its first season. A hundred years into team history, the city has changed dramatically, while its bond with the Maple Leafs has not. NOTABLE T.O: Talking movies debut in theatres … opens … Toronto Stock Exchange pounded in the world-wide crash, driving the “I don’t think Canadian hockey would be anywhere near what it is without city’s jobless rate to 30% … riots … Canadian Bank of the Leafs,” said Minnesota Wild coach Bruce Boudreau, Toronto-born, a Commerce building becomes the tallest in the British empire. Marlies junior and a Leafs forward in the 1970s. “I’ve had a chance to watch them since TV was on in the early 1960s with (Hockey Night in 1937-47 Canada host) Ward Cornell, right through until today. The Leafs are an NOTABLE PLAYERS: F Syl Apps (Olympic track athlete, football player, institution in Canada and I still watch every chance I get.” first Leaf to win Calder Trophy); G Turk Broda (greatest in franchise Boudreau is not alone. The inaugural NHL team, known briefly as the history, five Cups and 302 wins); F (last Leaf to win the Art “Torontos” and then Arenas and St. Patricks, first packed ’em in at the Ross Trophy). 7,500-seat Mutual Arena. In the life span of Maple Leafs Gardens (1931- NOTABLE PEOPLE: (only Leaf to serve as captain, coach and 99), it was estimated 117 million people came to Carlton St. to see GM); Frank Selke (ran the Leafs while Smythe was away in World War hockey or one of the many events held at Canada’s first multipurpose II); Don (Shanty) McKenzie (served in Smythe’s artillery unit and became arena. superintendent of MLG). Today, the Air Canada Centre holds more than 19,000 and Leafs games NOTABLE EVENTS: Leafs come back to win ’42 Cup when trailing dominate broadcast ratings. Their colours fly everywhere, winter/summer Detroit by three games … Broda allows just nine goals in seven-game apparel, car flags, holiday ornaments, all ages, all backgrounds. final against Red Wings in 1945 … Absence of stars during wartime “There might be people in Flemingdon Park who never saw a pair of leads to Ted (Teeder) Kennedy making his debut. skates until they moved here,” observed Mayor John Tory in the book NOTABLE T.O.: Population reaches one million … Queen Elizabeth Way Toronto and the Maple Leafs, A City And Its Team. “Of course, interest is opens … Worst snow storm in city history (52 cm) in ’44 … Toronto also growing in the Blue Jays and Raptors, but the new residents are Airport in Malton and Island Airport each open … Canadian government going to realize it’s a long winter in Canada and you might as well follow considers cancelling the NHL season early in the war, then decides it’s hockey. an ideal morale booster … Singer Neil Young born. “They will see the Leafs are the team that’s most intrinsically woven into 1947-57 the fabric of the city.” NOTABLE PLAYERS: Kennedy (last Leaf to win the Hart Trophy, captain The franchise officially marks its 100th birthday on Tuesday with the and leading scorer in three Cup-winning playoffs); Broda; F Sid Smith “Next Century Game” against Carolina at 2 p.m., bringing it full circle (four-time scoring leader, captain); F George Armstrong (begins 21-year from Dec. 19, 1917 when Toronto and the NHL opened a new chapter, a career to become club leader with 1,187 games played). road game against the Montreal Wanderers. NOTABLE PEOPLE: (coaches Leafs to ’51 Cup); George Though the NHL was formed in November 1917 from the ashes of the Retzlaff (first producer of Hockey Night in Canada); Frank Tunney National Hockey Association with the main intent of freezing out maverick (wrestling/boxing promoter popularizes MLG as multi-sport venue); Toronto Blue Shirts owner Eddie Livingstone, the new three-team group Horace Lapp (first Gardens organist). did not want to leave the town without representation. The Toronto Arena Company, operators of the Mutual St. rink and landlords of the Blue NOTABLE EVENTS: With star players back from service, Toronto Shirts, ran the club for a season, won the first NHL Stanley Cup and were became the first NHL team to win three straight Cups, ’47-49 … The next officially granted the franchise soon after. Bankruptcy led to selling the in ’51 was touched by tragedy when overtime scorer Bill Barilko Arenas to five investors associated with the St. Pats athletic club, who re- disappeared on a float plane fishing trip … The rest of the ’50s were hard branded the team with a nod to the many Irish immigrants in the area. slogging for the Leafs as Detroit and Montreal became the dominant teams. Conn Smythe headed another group that bought the St. Pats on Valentine’s Day 1927, fending off attempts to move the franchise out of NOTABLE T.O.: Yonge subway line opens … Amalgamation of town and ushering in the Leafs era. Here’s a look at how far the team Scarborough, , , York, North York into Metropolitan and the town have come through each of the 10 decades: Toronto … Cruise ship Noronic catches fire, 118 perish … Hurricane Hazel kills more than 80 … Honest Ed’s bargain house opens … Boyd 1917-27 Gang terrorizes in robbery spree. NOTABLE PLAYERS: F Reg Noble (first goal in franchise history, first 1957-67 30-goal scorer); G John Ross Roach (missed only four games in net between 1921-28); F (Led team in scoring five straight years); NOTABLE PLAYERS: C (fluid two-way centre, first Leafs D Ken Randall (Toronto’s first captain). Conn Smythe winner, voted No. 1 in top 100 players in club’s first century); F (six-time all-star and Calder winner); G NOTABLE PEOPLE: Manager and coach Charles Querrie, Johnny Bower; F/D Red Kelly; D Tim Horton. with the first regular radio broadcast of a hockey game, eventually extending the Leafs’ reach across Canada. NOTABLE PEOPLE: (GM/coach gets more wins than anyone in Leafs history); (Conn’s son grows the NOTABLE EVENTS: Toronto loses first game 10-9 in Montreal, the first business and entertainment side of MLG); Paul Morris (Gardens game- goal by Reg Noble … First franchise win, coming at home, is 11-4 night P.A. man starts unbroken four-decade streak); Hewitt, son Bill and against the Ottawa Senators … The Arenas defeat PCHA champion Ward Cornell (HNIC). Vancouver for the Cup and win another as the St. Pats in 1922. NOTABLE EVENTS: Four Cup wins in last years of the Original Six NHL NOTABLE T.O.: Population of the city estimated at around a half-million … Won first Cup in 11 years in ’62, the year Barilko’s body was … Prince Edward across Don Valley opens, links East End to recovered … Last Toronto team to finish first overall in ’63 … Won the downtown … Toronto Transit Commission starts rolling … First Royal ’67 Cup as heavy underdogs with an average age of more than 32 … Winter Fair … First liquor stores open. MLG was the site of many NHL innovations, such as a digital score clock 1927-37 and separate team penalty boxes. NOTABLE T.O.: and “new” City Hall open … NOTABLE EVENTS: After 68 years and 11 Cups, MLG closes with gala Toronto Dominion Centre sets off skyscraper boom … The Beatles make ceremony … Steve Thomas scores OT winner over Habs as Leafs open three visits to MLG … Yorkville becomes a centre of the counter culture ACC … Leafs reach conference final for last time to date. However, profit … CHUM Radio/CHUM charts champion pop music. trumps progress under ownership of Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, complicated by a lockout and power struggles between Peddie, Quinn 1967-77 and new GM John Ferguson Jr. NOTABLE PLAYERS: F (Team Canada ’72 hero); C NOTABLE T.O.: Outbreak of SARS in the GTA, with huge outdoor (captain and NHL record 10-point night); D Borje Salming Rolling Stones concert as part of the recovery … Sheppard subway line (Swede opens the door for European player migration); Dave (Tiger) opens … TFC begins play at BMO Field … Mel Lastman retires from Williams (NHL penalty leader); Keon; F Lanny McDonald; G Mike politics … Ricoh Coliseum fitted for transfer of Leafs farm team from St. Palmateer. John’s, re-christened Marlies. NOTABLE PEOPLE: Harold Ballard (takes over controlling interest from 2007-17 the late Smythe and ); (former Marlies junior boss becomes GM and builds new team through draft); coach Red NOTABLE PLAYERS: F Phil Kessel (leads team in scoring six times); D (Pyramid Power) Kelly. Dion Phaneuf (centrepiece of major trade with Calgary, last team captain); F Tyler Bozak (in the top 25 games-played in franchise history); NOTABLE EVENTS: Leafs bungle first expansion draft, losing key farm D Jake Gardiner (all-rookie team); F Auston Matthews (Calder Trophy, teams and players … Ballard removes Hewitt’s gondola, Cup banners first-overall pick); F Mitch Marner (joins Matthews on all-rookie team). and changes logo … Ballard and Keon have a major falling out, leading to the latter’s self-imposed exile … Leafs lose two bloody playoff series to NOTABLE PEOPLE: Team president Brian Burke (lots of talk, little Flyers. improvement) and coach Ron Wilson (fails to end playoff drought); (MLSE CEO re-organizes company’s sports properties); NOTABLE T.O.: CN Tower completed … Height of MLG as a Brendan Shanahan (new Leafs president); Lou Lamoriello (new GM); concert/sports venue with several top rock acts … Triple-A Leafs coach Mike Babcock (guides young Leafs to first full-season playoff berth baseball team folds, AL grants expansion franchise to Blue Jays … since ’04). Derelict Yonge St. gets facelift … Ground-breaking CITY TV, with its Baby Blue movies, goes on air … is launched. NOTABLE EVENTS: Sundin leaves under a cloud … Franchise-worst seven-year stretch without making playoffs … Epic Game 7 collapse in 1977-87 Boston in 2013 … MLSE purchased by Rogers and Bell communications NOTABLE PLAYERS: F (club’s first 50-goal scorer); F … Leafs beat Detroit in front of 100,000 in New Year’s Day outdoor game (first overall pick in 1985); Sittler takes franchise scoring at University of Michigan. lead; Salming becomes last Leaf to play 1,000 games. NOTABLE T.O.: Between 2.7 and 2.8 million are estimated to live in NOTABLE PEOPLE: Coach (“Captain Video” has Toronto, more than half of them a visible minority … Violence at the G20 memorable two-year run, fired and re-hired in two days); GM Gerry Summit … Mayor ’s antics capture worldwide attention … Pan- McNamara (drafts talented players, but can’t provide support system); Am Games held … Toronto ranked the safest city in North America, (old-school coach was great for the press, but not the fourth in the world … Cup deprivation reaches 50 years. players); Yolanda MacMillan (Ballard’s girlfriend who influenced many of Toronto Sun LOADED: 12.19.2017 the owner’s decisions). NOTABLE EVENTS: Vaive scores 50 goals three times … Leafs suffer record 52-loss season and winless streak of 15 games … Ballard buys the CFL’s Hamilton Tiger-Cats … Major feuds between Ballard and his children, McNamara and the media, McNamara and Brophy and Brophy and his players. NOTABLE T.O.: Pope John Paul II visits … ’s Marathon of Hope comes through town … Mississauga train derailment … Canada’s Wonderland opens … Argos end long drought … Foster Hewitt and Conn Smythe pass away … Video channel MuchMusic hits the airwaves. 1987-97 NOTABLE PLAYERS: C Doug Gilmour (club’s all-time leader in playoff points and Frank Selke Trophy winner); F Dave Andreychuk (last Leaf to score 50); C Mats Sundin (former first-overall pick, acquired for Clark). NOTABLE PEOPLE: GM Cliff Fletcher (set club on fast track to contention); Pat Burns (cop-turned-coach led Leafs to consecutive conference finals in his first two years); Steve Stavro (executor of the late Ballard’s will, gets control in lengthy legal saga). NOTABLE EVENTS: Dramatic turnaround in Burns’ first year features three seven-game playoff series, wins Jack Adams Trophy … Gilmour sets team record with 127 points … First NHL lockout … After death of Ballard, Cup banners and honoured player numbers are restored … Stavro eventually replaces Fletcher with . NOTABLE T.O.: banned from playing City Hall for “offensive” band name … Argos win three Grey Cups … NBA are born … Jays leave for SkyDome, win twice … Passing of Toronto comedy legend John Candy … FAN 590 sports radio debuts. 1997-2007 NOTABLE PLAYERS: Sundin (becomes franchise leading scorer); D Bryan McCabe (last Leafs all-star on the blue line); G Curtis Joseph (fourth in wins by a Leafs goalie); F Tie Domi (passes Williams for Leafs PIM record). NOTABLE PEOPLE: Stavro, are key players in merger with Raptors, creation of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd., and completion of ACC; Mike Smith (“associate” GM); Pat Quinn (as coach reaches franchise-record .591 winning percentage, as GM gambles draft picks for shot at Cup). 1089079 Toronto Maple Leafs

'We have to find a way to get points': Maple Leafs focused on beating Hurricanes, not 100-year ceremony

Lance Hornby Published:December 18, 2017 Updated:December 18, 2017 6:31 PM EST

Two points, not a hundred years of franchise history, will be the number on the minds of the Maple Leafs come Tuesday afternoon. Beat the Carolina Hurricanes, end a three-game losing streak, complete the calendar year of home games on the right note — and then toast the next century, which might even include a Stanley Cup by 2117. With a couple of days’ rest after five games in seven nights, coming to grips with the protracted absence of Auston Matthews and now with defenceman Nikita Zaitsev shelved two weeks, the Leafs need to rebound once the pre-game pomp and ceremony are done. “Time to get refreshed, both physically and mentally,” Leafs coach Mike Babcock urged on Monday. “We’ve been in every game we’ve played the last three, but haven’t found a way to win. We’ve been ahead, behind, in all scenarios. We have to find a way to get points.” The Leafs-‘Canes game cues up exactly 100 years since the Toronto Arenas played on the first day of the newly created four-team NHL. Under rules of the era that favoured shooters, it was a score-a-thon eventually won 10-9 by the home side Montreal Wanderers. Regrettably, Toronto and Carolina might struggle to reach 19 shots each on Tuesday. “We know exactly what we’re getting,” Babcock said of opposite tactician Bill Peters, his old assistant in Detroit. “It’s going to be tight, there’s going to be no room, one of those games that looks like there’s hardly any play. That’s the new NHL, not a lot of space. We’ll have to find a way to make plays.” The Leafs’ recent setbacks underline individual goal slumps up front and the absence of leading scorer Matthews, who remains out with an upper- body injury. The situation has been complicated by Zaitsev’s surprise departure to nurse a lower-body issue. Matthews skated on his own for a second day on Monday, this stint far more encouraging, with nearly a full hour monitored by two trainers. However, with no morning skate on Tuesday owing to the 2 p.m. start and a game in Columbus on Wednesday, it’s doubtful the super sophomore plays in either contest, which would make it six straight no- shows for the Leafs’ best player. “He’s doing good, I don’t know when they’re letting him play,” Babcock said of the club’s medical team, “but he’s doing good.” The bench boss has tried to steer talk away from Matthews’ absence, reminding the media Toronto won its first five games without him in the lineup. It’s getting close to deciding whether Matthews just skips Saturday’s game in New York against the Rangers and rests until after Christmas, buying him three extra days during the NHL holiday break. Babcock’s latest experiment to replace Matthews’ creativity involves pairing William Nylander and Patrick Marleau on the same line. The 21- year-old and 38-year-old have both filled in for Matthews down the middle, with Nylander getting the call at centre against the Canes. “We’ve played Willy there at home before when we’ve controlled the match-up,” Babcock said. “Patty’s a guy who can play down low and look after him if he needs to. (Zach) Hyman, (Connor) Brown and him are a really good line as well, so we always have that option.” At least Babcock doesn’t have to worry about plugging more holes at centre, noting how far Nazem Kadri has come the past couple of years as a better player and role model. “What parts are Naz coming of age, what part is Naz going through enough of a struggle to know it was time to dig in?,” Babcock wondered. “Sometimes as a coach you get way more buy-in when a guy is ready or when the player has arrived and the (winning) culture is already established. That’s what we’re trying to do here now.” Toronto Sun LOADED: 12.19.2017 1089080 Toronto Maple Leafs

Leafs need points more than a history lesson in 100th anniversary game

Lance Hornby Published:December 18, 2017 Updated:December 18, 2017 1:28 PM EST

TORONTO — Two points, not a hundred years of franchise history, will be on the minds of the Maple Leafs for Tuesday’s afternoon tilt against the Carolina Hurricanes. The club-branded ‘Next Century Game,’ cued up with its first ever match on Dec. 19, 1917 when the Toronto Arenas met the Montreal Wanderers, will have more significance in the standings, with the Leafs having just lost three straight. Tomorrow. That’s underlined recent individual goal slumps and the absence of leading scorer Auston Matthews, complicated by a new injury to dependable defenceman Nikita Zaitsev, a lower body issue that will sideline him at least two weeks. Matthews skated on his own for a second day on Monday, but this stint was far more encouraging, nearly a full hour with two trainers. However, with no morning skate on Tuesday owing to the special 2 p.m. start and a back-to-back game in Columbus on Wednesday, it’s doubtful he plays in either, making it six straight no-shows with an undisclosed upper body problem. Head coach Mike Babcock hopes that two days of practice after five games in seven nights will breed winning conditions for his team again. We have to find a way to get points MIKE BABCOCK “Time to get refreshed, both physically and mentally,” Babcock said. “We’ve been in every game we’ve played the last three, but haven’t found a way to win. We’ve been ahead, behind, in all scenarios. We have to find a way to get points.” Babcock’s next notable line experiment involves William Nylander and Patrick Marleau on the same troika, two players who’ve spent time filling in for Matthews in the middle. Nylander gets the call at centre against the Canes. “We’ve played Willy in the middle at home before when we’ve controlled the match-up. Patty’s a guy who can play down low and look after him if he needs to. (Zach) Hyman, (Connor) Brown and him are a really good line as well, so we always have that option.” Heu2019s doing good BABCOCK ON MATTHEWS Babcock has tried to steer talk away from Matthews’ absence, reminding the club won its first five games without him during earlier injury issues. It might be prudent to keep Matthews out of Saturday’s game in New York, too, and until after Christmas, thereby buying him three extra days during the NHL break. “He’s doing good, I don’t know when they’re letting him play, but he’s doing good,” Babcock said. Alternate captain Morgan Rielly said he is looking forward to Tuesday and wearing the special Arena-themed sweaters as well as the opening ceremonies. Ticket holders are being asked to bring a youth as their guest to represent the next hundred years. “It’s a cool opportunity for us to be part of,” Rielly said. “Playing in the outdoor game last year was fun, but this one will be meaningful and getting to wear the old school jerseys will be great.” Toronto Sun LOADED: 12.19.2017 1089081 Toronto Maple Leafs Rielly isn't the only player saying the Leafs haven't substantially changed their system throughout the course of the year. But Toronto certainly

looks different, to the eye. Mirtle: A deep dive on the Maple Leafs using 'dirty' breakouts and other Some of that could be not having Auston Matthews and the match-up noteworthy trends issues that creates. Some of it, too, could be that this is what the Leafs learning Babcock's system looks like, even if it's not always pretty.

By James Mirtle 8 hours ago One thing I wanted to do with this three-day break between games was dig in more on some of the trends in the Leafs' season, something that will help highlight how this team's results are changing beyond just the wins and losses. So I was watching the Maple Leafs' loss in Minnesota last week and trying to put a finger on why, exactly, they looked like such a mess. We know that metrics like puck possession have been trending down slowly throughout the season. We also know that the Leafs have been By the third period, down by a goal and with only eight even-strength getting phenomenal goaltending the last six weeks and, more recently, shots, I started counting how Toronto was exiting their zone and have been having a harder time scoring. attempting to enter the Wild's. What does that look like over time? Often, this simple exercise — looking at if they have control of the puck or not as they change zones — can highlight significant systemic issues. I've broken this analysis up into even strength and special teams, with a This game was no exception. particular focus on shot metrics and shooting percentage. Every chart is a 10-game rolling average, which means there are data points for 10- In that period, before they pulled the goalie, the Leafs blue line exited game segments that form the trend. their zone with control only five times. They made at least 10 attempts, however, to get out of their zone with a dump-out type play. The Let's start with even strength. Gardiner-Zaitsev pair, in particular, struggled. For one, the Leafs have been playing a lot more at even strength as the Their zone entries over the offensive blue line, meanwhile, weren't as big season has gone on. Fewer penalties are being called in their games, of a problem, at least in this game. either as the NHL's slashing crackdown subsides or teams adjust (take your pick). Tyler Dellow picked up on the same thing, albeit using data related to defensive zone faceoff wins. I highly recommend reading his piece and The way to read that is, earlier in the year, the Leafs had some 10-game watching all of the videos, but here's one below highlighting what we're segments where they were playing only 46 minutes at even strength. Of talking about: late, their games have been closer to 50 or 51 minutes at 5-on-5.

0:00 That shift likely hurts Toronto given this is a fairly strong special teams team. Especially on the power play. I met up with Morgan Rielly at practice on Monday to discuss the strategy at play here. I'll let his quotes do the talking. Here's how man advantage minutes are shifting over time, for and against: Have you been trying as a team to change the way you're trying to break the puck out? Yes, that shows that the Leafs have been spending more time on the penalty kill than the power play — for most of the season. And especially Rielly: “Well, I think you're always kind of changing. I mean it changes over the last 15 to 20 games. depending on who you're playing. You're always looking for ways to break out cleaner. That's not really a very good answer but…” The Leafs are 24th in the NHL in time spent on the PK compared to the PP. They have been on the PP 97 times (which is 27th) and on the PK That game against Minnesota, I was looking in particular at how many 105 times (which is 12th lowest). times there were controlled exits and it seemed a lot of them were off the glass or more of a 'dirty' exit of the zone? Is that them causing that? Compared to the rest of the league, Toronto's problem has been drawing penalties more than taking them, which is surprising given their Rielly: “That's a combination of them doing that and us having to adapt. personnel. There's been examples — actually when we played in Carolina, we did that a lot, too, and that resulted in Leivo's goal (see below). You chip it But if they're playing a slower, grinding, dump it out, dump it in style, out, because you want to get behind their defence. But when you look at however, that may be part of why we're seeing that. teams whose D pinch down a lot (on the offensive blue line) to try and keep the puck in the offensive zone, there's lots of examples where Back to the charts. you've got to chip the puck either over them or off the glass and over Yes, that shows that the Leafs have been outshot at even strength in them. You've just got to get the puck out into the neutral zone and then even single 10-game segment this season! Hard to believe they haven't try to stop them out there.” crossed over even once. (Bonus points to that clip for Ray Ferraro mentioning this story.) These totals are score-adjusted, too, so this is not simply a result of the It looks like the wingers are flying deep more than we've seen before and Leafs leading in games and sitting back. then the D is trying to somehow get it through — it's not a pretty breakout On the season, the Leafs have allowed exactly 100 more 5-on-5 shots really. than they've generated. Only Arizona, Anaheim and New Jersey are Rielly: “Yeah. Well, the way we do it is the winger on the puck side worse in that category. usually holds in-zone and far-side winger is supposed to blow out. So So why are they winning so many games? that's just the way we do it.” In a nutshell? Frederik Q. Andersen. Has that changed throughout the course of the year? (I don't actually know his middle name. I'm guessing it doesn't start with Rielly: “Not really. No. We've always kind of done that. We were working Q though. Danish middle names are, I believe, typically maternal last on it in practice just this afternoon, where you go up to the winger and names. I should ask my two Danish cousins. Anyway…) then the weak-side winger goes across the middle to the far blue. That's just how we do it. I mean it just changes depending on who we're playing At even strength, the Leafs goalies are simply stopping more pucks than and who's out there.” their opponents, hence the low OSH% (opponent shooting percentage). That gap in shooting percentage between the two teams is really big — Could that type of breakout contribute to the team getting outshot? unsustainable big. Think of it this way: If both teams average 30 shots, a Rielly: “No. No. I mean as D-men we've got to do a better job of breaking five per cent gap in shooting percentage would make for a 1.5 goal the puck out and playing on offence.” difference over 60 minutes. That will lean you toward winning a lot of games. What's harder to tease out is how much of that gap is due to the Leafs shooters being so dominant? We expect that they're an above-average team at putting the puck in the net, but how much so?

As you can see, the gap is narrowing of late. Toronto has had a harder time converting on 10 per cent of its shots and opponents are starting to score a little bit more.

Their reliance on shooting percentage trends too much is why some of our recent articles have theorized the Leafs could be in for a tough stretch here. (Perhaps it's already started with the three straight regulation losses in Philadelphia, Minnesota and Detroit.)

You can't ride the PDO dragon forever.

*Loud goal horn noise signalling more charts*

Note that I've flipped the colours here, to make sure you're paying attention. (Or due to my error.)

Shooting percentage on the power play can be a lot more volatile than at even strength. There's a smaller sample size and goaltending results are all over the map. Teams sometimes go on huge runs where everything goes in with the man advantage or long droughts where goalies find a way to stifle them.

The Leafs, however, have been remarkably consistent in this department on the power play. They just keep delivering between 10 and 12 per cent shooting, which is very good. This is in part thanks to the system they deploy, which aims to produce a lot of shots from in tight and rebound chances. Credit to Jim Hiller.

This is also partly why some Leafs players have very high shooting percentages early on.

As for the opposition shooting percentage, the Leafs are getting a bit lucky here. You can't expect goalies to post a .925 save percentage while shorthanded for very long. The penalty kill is probably going to start giving up more goals, especially considering…

The Leafs aren't really a heavy volume-shooting team on the power play. They're 10th in shot attempts per minute, ninth in unblocked shot attempts and 10th in shots per minute.

They lead the NHL, by far, however in high-danger chances per minute on the power play, which goes back to the shooting percentage elevation I mentioned above.

What's more concerning to me is the penalty kill numbers here. The Leafs have to get a good save percentage while shorthanded because they don't really keep the shot volume down particularly well. And that's a problem that has gotten worse as the season has gone on.

12.19.2017=

To summarize: The Leafs are playing more of their games at even strength, so they're not going to be able to win as often thanks to a lethal power play. And their shooting percentage is coming back down to earth at 5-on-5.

Is that the breakouts that we saw against Minnesota and in other recent games? Perhaps.

As a whole, though, the Leafs simply don't look that threatening right now at 5-on-5. They don't seem to trust their skill, and they're playing defensive grinder types like Leo Komarov and Roman Polak an awful lot. They're trying to grit the puck into the opposition net, while getting outshot at even strength.

They're also allowing more shots while shorthanded, perhaps as Ron Hainsey is worn down by his workload. (The man is 36 after all.)

So there are some red flags in there for sure. I haven't teased out which trends are due to Matthews being out of the lineup — or playing hurt — but that's an obvious factor, too.

With a ton of road games coming up, these are all key things to watch for. And key reasons why the next few weeks might be a tough go.

The Athletic LOADED: 12.19.2017 1089082 Toronto Maple Leafs “Early on it’s harder to get into a rhythm, but it keeps you fresher for later in the game where you might have to go out there a bit more often,”

Rielly said. Why the Maple Leafs aren't giving Morgan Rielly huge minutes this “Not to make myself sound like a veteran or anything, but when you’ve season been around long enough, you can kind of guess what your minutes are – you know how often you’re going out there, you know how long your shifts are. Certain guys have shorter shifts. I think Connor (McDavid) By Jonas Siegel 17 hours ago probably takes longer shifts than most guys (he's tied for fifth among NHL forwards at 52 seconds) because of his ability to skate. Because often

times I’ll jump out there with him and I’ll change and he’ll be out there Before the Maple Leafs played the Minnesota Wild last week, where still. defenceman Ryan Suter continues to soak up a ton of minutes, Mike “You kind of wish you had extended your shift a bit longer, but you kind of Babcock was asked if he was ever tempted to play Morgan Rielly more get an idea of it and you get used to it and you become more familiar with than he does. it.” The Leafs coach quickly said no. Rielly, interestingly enough, plays the most shifts per game on the Leafs “What we try to do is we try to play him with (Ron Hainsey) in the right (a little more than 30), but keeps them short at 42 seconds. About 200 situations each night to help us win,” said Babcock. “I’m a big believer — other NHL defencemen take longer average shifts this season, led by the success I’ve had in the past — is when you’ve got everybody Suter at 52 seconds. important on your team and when you don’t kill a few people and they run Rielly admires Suter's ability to conserve energy and monitor his overall out of gas. And so, that’s what we try to do, we try to roll him out the output throughout a game. door.” When Babcock talks about keeping “everybody important,” he means Nearly 60 NHL defencemen are playing more minutes on a nightly basis splitting up duties neatly among players. That means Zaitsev and than Rielly, the Leafs apparent No. 1 on the backend. That's by design. Hainsey get the bulk of penalty-killing duty, while Rielly and Gardiner Rielly's 21-plus minutes are used in a strategic, highly structured way — front the power play. Rielly is actually the only Leaf defender drawing a one that sees him grabbing the most shifts of any Leaf on a nightly basis, regular shift on both special-team units — averaging 2:13 on the power but only the fourth most minutes, trailing team leader Nikita Zaitsev along play and 1:20 on the penalty kill. with Hainsey and Jake Gardiner. His 21:31 per game, however, trails Zaitsev (22:50), Gardiner (22:25) The Leafs essentially preserve Rielly to combat the opposition's top lines, and Hainsey (21:51). Though many teams share minutes almost evenly, using him almost exclusively against an opposing team's biggest threats, it's unusual for a team to not lean hardest on their top guy as the Wild do especially when the Leafs play at home with control of the matchups. with Suter or the L.A. Kings do with Drew Doughty. Rielly, though, is Here's a sampling of his duties this season: playing about the same amount of minutes as similar up-and-coming defencemen like Jacob Trouba (21:25), Dougie Hamilton (21:05) and When the Leafs hosted the Edmonton Oilers earlier this month, Rielly Matt Dumba (22:20). played almost 70 per cent of his 5-on-5 minutes against Connor McDavid. Though the Leafs managed to win that game on the unlikely His season-high for ice time this season is 24:30, which came against shoulders of backup goaltender Curtis McElhinney, things didn't go Carolina on Nov. 24. He played a season-low 18:21 in a blowout win over particularly well for the Vancouver native against the league's reigning the Jets on opening night. MVP. Shot attempts were 17-5 in favour of Edmonton when the two went What will be interesting in the coming days and weeks is how many more head-to-head. minutes he plays with Zaitsev sidelined with an injury. If Connor Carrick It was equally tough a night earlier for Rielly in Pittsburgh against Sidney draws into the lineup in the Russian's absence — beside Gardiner — it Crosby. Shot attempts were 9-0 for the Penguins when Rielly faced seems conceivable, perhaps even probable, that Rielly draws a more Crosby, but 5-4 for the Leafs when he matched up with Evgeni Malkin. frequent look killing penalties. If it's Martin Marincin in the lineup, that may not be the case. Rielly, however, has generally thrived in that tough role this season. However, it seems almost certain Babcock will lean harder on Rielly and He's sitting at about 52 per cent possession — top among Toronto Hainsey during 5-on-5 play. If there is one drawback to using the so- defenders — with a scoring chances for percentage of 53 per cent. All called top pair of Rielly and Hainsey in such a targeted way more this in spite of the nightly duels with top lines and a career-low offensive generally, it's the additional ice time Gardiner and Zaitsev receive; the zone start percentage of 41 per cent, which ranks among the bottom 25 pair has struggled at times this season (48 per cent possession). NHL defenders with at least 300 5-on-5 minutes. The Leafs are betting that their strategy pays off in the long run, though. Meanwhile, the season isn't even halfway over, and Rielly is only six Not only will Rielly be fresh for the most part each night, but he will also points from matching last season's total (27). He ranks among the top-20 be fresher come playoff time. defencemen in the league this season in both overall and even-strength production — totalling 21 points through 34 games, including 13 points at “I’m not exactly sure what my average is right now – I think it’s around 21 even strength. and change,” Rielly said. “But if you add two minutes onto your average and make it 23, that’s a big difference. By almost any measure, the 23-year-old has taken a leap forward from last year's bumpy campaign, which eventually saw him dropped from “When you’re in bantam,” he continued, “you just want to score every first-pair duty. shift and take the puck down the ice every shift. And when you’re younger you can do that. Now, when the players are better, they hem The sharp rise is likely due to some combination of the targeting of those you in your own zone and you get tired. You have to monitor that. You minutes, playing with Hainsey and personal growth. have to be aware of it.”

The structured nature of his ice time can mean a little more time on the *Advanced stats courtesy of Natural Stat Trick and Corsica Hockey bench, especially early in games when teams roll four lines. Because he's mostly waiting for that top unit to hop out, Rielly (and Hainsey) might The Athletic LOADED: 12.19.2017 sit an extra shift here and there. Later in games, Rielly finds his ice time typically rises, either because his team needs a goal or the opposition is chasing one, and as a result, playing their best guys more.

During that game against the Oilers on Dec. 10, for instance, Rielly played 6:33 minutes in the first frame and 7:56 as the Leafs protected a lead in the third. Last Friday in Detroit, with his team trailing in what would eventually be a third-straight loss, Rielly garnered 8:24 in the final period against the Red Wings after playing 6:12 in the first. 1089083 Vegas Golden Knights Speaking of Neal, he has scored in each of his last two games, a sign he may be heating up again. He has a team-leading 16 goals.

3. D joins in. Don’t be surprised if one of the Knights’ defensemen scores Golden Knights face NHL’s best in Tampa Bay Lightning Tuesday a goal Tuesday. The Knights have received a goal from one of their blueliners in each of the last four games. By Steve Carp Las Vegas Review-Journal December 18, 2017 - 4:10 PM LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 12.19.2017

In their brief 32-game existence, the Golden Knights have already had some big moments. Tuesday, they face their biggest test yet. The Tampa Bay Lightning, the NHL’s best team, is in town. The Lightning can score. It can play defense. It has superstar players in Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov. It is well-coached by Jon Cooper. Basically, it has set the bar pretty high for the rest of the league. For the Knights, this is the kind of game you look forward to if you’re serious about contending for a championship. “It’s going to be fun to play that game,” Knights coach Gerard Gallant said Monday. “They play a fast game. I talk about our team playing fast, but this is probably the quickest and fastest team in the league. They play an aggressive forechecking game and this year they’re playing better defensively, too. Their goaltending has been excellent all year and they’re at the top of their game.” Along with the Lightning, the Knights have been one of the great stories in the NHL so far. With the Christmas break approaching, the Knights owned a share of first place in the Pacific Division on Monday, a 21-9-2 record and 44 points. They were the fastest first-year team to 20 wins in NHL history and have won the hearts of fans with their gritty style of play and resiliency. Marc-Andre Fleury, who won an emotional game last Thursday against the Penguins, returns to the net Tuesday. He knows what to expect from the Lightning. “It’s going to be a good challenge,” Fleury said. “Obviously, they’re the top scoring team in the league. For me, it’s important I focus on the shooter and trust my teammates to cover for me, too.” Center Pierre-Edouard Bellemare said the Knights better be responsible in all three zones and not turn the puck over. “They have a lot of skilled players and it’s about limiting their opportunities,” Bellemare said. “I think we’ve done a good job of that with the top teams so far. “It doesn’t matter which line we have on the ice. We’ve been doing the job against the other team’s top players.” Defenseman Colin Miller said the Knights aren’t likely to abandon their own style of play for one game. “I think we want to play our game and put pressure on them in their own end,” he said. “It’ll be our best test of the year. You’ve just got to be aware. They’ve got a lot of speed, so if our gaps aren’t sharp and we don’t have five guys defending we can be in trouble.” Special teams could also be the key to Tuesday. The Lightning are the NHL’s best on the power play, converting 27.4 percent of the time. Tampa Bay is also middle of the pack on the penalty kill, ranking 15th among the NHL’s 31 teams at 81.4 percent. The Knights, who are 21st in power play percentage (17.4 percent) and rank 23rd on the penalty kill (79.2 percent), were 0 for 4 with the man advantage Sunday against Florida. “We’ve done a pretty good job lately limiting our penalties,” Gallant said. “We don’t take a lot of penalties. But when we do, you want to kill it off.” Three storylines 1. Firewagon hockey? The Lightning and the Golden Knights like to play fast and this could turn into a wide-open contest given the firepower on display on the ice. The fly in that ointment? The goalies. Tampa Bay’s Andrei Vasilevskiy and the Knights’ Marc-Andre Fleury are among the best and they could keep the red light off. 2. Hot Haula. Erik Haula has registered points in six straight games and the center has scored in four of those six. Look for the Lightning to pay attention to Haula and linemates James Neal and David Perron. 1089084 Vegas Golden Knights Dog lovers interested in adopting the remaining Pomeranians can enter an online promotion for $200 per entry through 11:59 p.m. Jan. 1. Winners of the dogs, which are spayed/neutered, microchipped and Golden Knights help find homes for rescued Pomeranian dogs vaccinated, will be notified by Jan. 5.

By Kimber Laux Las Vegas Review-Journal LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 12.19.2017 December 18, 2017 - 7:53 PM Updated December 18, 2017 - 11:50 PM

With help from the dog-loving Vegas Golden Knights, 15 of the 164 Pomeranian dogs found crammed in the back of a box truck in Sandy Valley in November were placed with new owners Monday afternoon. “We heard about the story, and it was a mutual interest,” said Kim Frank, the Golden Knights’ vice president of marketing. “The guys like animals, and a lot of their wives and families are passionate about dogs. … This was an opportunity to get everyone involved and do something good for the community.” Hundreds of people participated in Monday’s Pucks for Paws event, which raised about $20,000 for the Animal Foundation, foundation spokeswoman Kelly Leahy said. The event featured a live auction of five dogs and chances to adopt one of 10 additional dogs. Five Golden Knights players lined up on the ice after the team’s practice Monday at City National Arena, each clutching a Pomeranian to his chest. The dogs, which had been named by the players, wore tiny Golden Knights sweaters. Zam was the first Pomeranian to be picked, the winning auction participant pledging $1,600 for the mostly white pup with a black head. Brayden McNabb carried Zam off the rink to his new owner as Hat Trick, Goldie, Belley and Georgie were auctioned off for $700 to $1,400 each. Debbie Hottensen, 40, owner of Tiger Lily florist shops, won a dog named Knighty after spending $1,100 on raffle tickets. She also placed the winning bid of $2,000 on a hockey stick the Golden Knights had autographed. Hottensen is a big Golden Knights fan. But she said she bid in the “Pick of the Poms” auction and entered the raffle chiefly to support the Animal Foundation, from which she’s adopted two Chihuahuas. “I know everyone has been going nuts for the Pomeranian dogs nationwide — I’ve heard people have come from other states — I just want to make the point that … there are tons of other dogs like chihuahuas that need a good home,” Hottensen said, clutching her new hockey stick. “This is a good event, it brings awareness, but please don’t forget about the other dogs.” Melissa Chiarello, 28, bought $500 in raffle tickets and won Flash, a white and tan Pomeranian puppy who looked more like a stuffed teddy bear than a dog. Flash will be a Christmas present for Chiarello’s boss’s 8-year-old daughter, she said. Chiarello followed the story of the rescued Pomeranian puppies since it broke Nov. 30. “When I first heard, I was physically sick to my stomach,” she said. “The dogs were very lucky that it wasn’t the middle of July, 180 degrees in that truck. They would have lasted hours, if that. “Thank God it wasn’t that hot, and now they’re going to homes where they are going to be spoiled rotten, just because of what they’ve been through.” Gerald Gurian, 56, of Las Vegas, sat in the front row at the arena, quietly raising his arm to bid $1,000 for the first three Pomeranian dogs in the auction. Gurian pulled his wallet out to show off a studio portrait of his fluffy white Pomeranian, Minka, who died in July at 12 years old. He had just begun considering getting a new pet when he heard the news of the rescued dogs. “I went onto Google to do some searches for little Pomeranian dogs and literally just about a week after I started, I saw the newspaper reported about 164 Pomeranian dogs becoming available,” Gurian said. “Now that is odd, you know, you’re looking for a Pomeranian and suddenly see such vast quantities.” Although Gurian was one of hundreds of participants who went home empty-handed, he said he was comforted that the dogs were going home to good, loving families. 1089085 Vegas Golden Knights LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 12.19.2017

Tampa Bay’s success centers on rise of goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy

By David Schoen Las Vegas Review-Journal December 18, 2017 - 4:30 PM Updated December 18, 2017 - 8:11 PM

Lightning coach Jon Cooper said there are several reasons Tampa Bay has the best record in the NHL. The primary factor has been the play of goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy. “It all starts and finishes with Vasilevskiy,” Cooper said Monday after his team’s practice at T-Mobile Arena. “He’s taken the next step as the starter and really helped us out.” Vasilevskiy leads the NHL in victories with 21 and is tied for second in goals-against average (2.11) and shutouts (three). His .934 save percentage ranks third in the league. The 23-year-old Russian is expected to start Tuesday for the Lightning (24-6-2, 50 points). Tampa Bay is the top-scoring team in the NHL, and right wing Nikita Kucherov leads the league in scoring with 46 points (23 goals, 23 assists). Steve Stamkos is second in the league in points with 43 after missing most of last season with a knee injury. The Knights placed defenseman Luca Sbisa (lower body) on the injured- reserve list Monday and recalled forward Tomas Hyka from Chicago of the American Hockey League. Sbisa was hurt in the third period Dec. 12 when Carolina’s Elias Lindholm fell awkwardly into him behind the Knights’ net. Hyka has 12 points (six goals, six assists) in 16 games with Chicago. The move comes a day before the NHL’s holiday roster freeze goes into effect Tuesday at 11:59 p.m. and lasts until 12:01 a.m. on Dec. 28. During the weeklong freeze, no player on an active NHL roster or injured reserve can be traded, waived or loaned. Teams are allowed to recall players from the minors in case of injury and also can sign free agents. The roster freeze is part of the league’s collective bargaining agreement that ensures a player won’t be moved during the holiday season. When the Knights hit the ice for practice Monday at City National Arena, something didn’t look right with forward David Perron. Turns out the player wearing the maroon jersey and No. 57 helmet was injured forward William Carrier, who decided to prank his teammate. “Just trying to have a little fun,” said Carrier, who is close to returning to the lineup after sustaining an upper-body injury Nov. 25. Goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, the team’s resident prankster, swears he had nothing to do with it. “It actually fooled me,” Fleury said. “I thought it was (Perron) when I first saw him. Then I got a closer look and said, ‘Nah.’ ” Knights defenseman Deryk Engelland reached a personal milestone Sunday when he played in his 500th NHL game. The 35-year-old is in his ninth NHL season after playing nearly 500 games in the minor leagues. “I remember hoping to play in just one (NHL) game,” Engelland said Monday. “It’s a special moment for my family. Hopefully, there’s a lot more games to play.” Cooper said he attended the Knights’ 5-2 victory over Florida on Sunday “as a fan” and came away impressed with the atmosphere at T-Mobile Arena. “First of all, without even looking at the product on the ice, the product outside and the venue, it was spectacular,” Cooper said. “I thought just right away, ‘What a coup for the NHL to open up shop here.’ … And then you look at the product on the ice, it’s pretty remarkable what’s going on. You’re looking for holes in that team, you just don’t see them.”

1089086 Vegas Golden Knights

Golden Knights help rescued Pomeranians find new homes

By Jesse Granger (contact) Published Monday, Dec. 18, 2017 | 10:14 a.m. Updated 2 hours, 5 minutes ago

Golden Knights players skated around the rink at City National Arena today to the cheers of a packed house, but this time the cheers weren’t for the players. They were for the tiny Pomeranian dogs they held in their arms. The Golden Knights joined the Animal Foundation to host a Pucks for Paws event, which raised at least $18,800 for the foundation and helped find homes for some of the 164 dogs rescued last month from a box truck outside of Las Vegas. Police and Clark County officials found dogs confined three to five in a crate and without food, water or proper ventilation in the truck, about 50 miles south of Las Vegas in Sandy Valley. The Golden Knights today auctioned off five of the dogs, which were delivered to their new owners by players Nate Schmidt, Brayden McNabb, Brad Hunt, Pierre-Edouard Bellemare and Jonathan Marchessault. “It’s awesome,” Marchessault said. “I think it’s a good cause, especially before Christmas. It can bring a lot of joy to a family for Christmas and New Year’s.” Spaying or neutering, microchips, up-to-date vaccinations, a starter bag of food, 30 days of pet insurance and a voucher for a complimentary veterinary exam were included with the dogs and paid for by funds contributed by the Vegas Golden Knights Foundation. “It’s great for these dogs to get a home, and we can raise some money while we’re doing it, so it’s great,” McNabb said. The event helped 15 of the Pomeranians find a new home. The rest of the dogs will be up for adoption soon, officials said.

LAS VEGAS SUN LOADED: 12.19.2017 1089087 Washington Capitals

Capitals’ T.J. Oshie expected to return from concussion against Stars

By Isabelle Khurshudyan December 18 at 1:09 PM

Washington Capitals forward T.J. Oshie was a full participant at Monday’s practice, expected to return to the lineup on Tuesday in Dallas after missing the past six games with a concussion. “He’s making the trip,” Coach Barry Trotz said. “I can’t tell you if he’ll play. We’ll see how he is, see how the plane ride is and we’ll make a decision tomorrow.” Oshie got hurt earlier this month in a game against the San Jose Sharks, when Joe Thornton’s backside crunched Oshie’s head against the glass. Through 28 games, Oshie has 10 goals with 13 assists, averaging 18:56 per game as he plays on both special teams. He said this was the fourth documented head injury of his career. “This one was the least severe of the other ones,” Oshie said. “I’m ready to go now.” Asked if suffering four concussions worried him, Oshie said, “Not really.” “I don’t really worry about too much stuff,” Oshie continued. “I mean, obviously, it’d be better to have zero. But it’s a physical game, I like to get out there, and it’s not going to change my game at all. I imagine if I’m out in Dallas, first shift, I’m going to go out and try to hit someone and we’ll go from there.” Oshie will return to a line with center Evgeny Kuznetsov and left wing Jakub Vrana. In 69-plus five-on-five minutes on the ice together, that trio has been on the ice together for six goals while being scored on just once, according to Natural Stat Trick. When that line has been on the ice, the Capitals have taken more than 63 percent of the shot attempts. “The process is kind of the same as it always is,” Oshie said. “You take a couple days until you start feeling a little better, you jump on a bike and then you just keep progressing through the protocols. For the most part, it went pretty smooth. I think you always want to get back earlier as a player and we’ve got a good staff and good docs that hold you back until you’re ready. So I feel ready right now. We’ve a good five days here in a row.” Tuesday’s game in Dallas will mark the first time that this roster of players has been fully healthy. With Oshie getting back in the lineup, Alex Chiasson was moved back down to the fourth line, skating with Jay Beagle and Chandler Stephenson. That means Devante Smith-Pelly is expected to be scratched for the first time this season. The team is riding a three-game winning streak entering the week-long road trip. “I think the lines have been pretty good,” Trotz said. “It creates competition and you have some flexibility. Guys have moved up in lines and have done extremely well and other guys, certain lines have got a little bit of an identity. Sometimes when you get a guy like T.J. back, if I were to put him back with Kuz, for instance, maybe that line is not as effective for a couple games. You don’t know. “But T.J.’s a real good player for us, he’s a big part of what we do and if he’s healthy and ready to go, I have no problem putting him in the lineup. He’s been a terrific player for us since he’s been here.”

Washington Post LOADED: 12.19.2017 1089088 Washington Capitals Washington Post LOADED: 12.19.2017 Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin is showing no signs of slowing down

By Neil Greenberg December 18 at 10:51 AM

When a then 22-year-old Alex Ovechkin signed a $124 million, 13-year contract extension in 2008 — the first $100 million deal in NHL history — many, including myself, didn’t think it would be a good deal for the Washington Capitals franchise due to how forwards age in the NHL. A study released by the University of British Columbia business school found an NHL forward hits his scoring peak at 28. Rob Vollman, in his book Stat Shot: The Ultimate Guide to Hockey Analytics, provided research that showed most players “hit their peak age by age 24 or 25 then decline gradually until age 30, at which point their performance can begin to tumble more noticeably with the risk of absolute collapse by age 34 or 35.” Others, like the number crunchers at Hockey-Graphs.com, felt it was better to say “the average NHL skater plateaus from age 22 to 25” rather than peak, but the gist is the same: As players gets older, they become less effective. The problem with this reasoning is it is based on the aging curve of an average forward. And Ovechkin, even at 32 years old, is showing he is anything but average. Let’s start with the fact that Ovechkin leads the league in goals (23 in 34 games, a 56-goal pace) and shots (156, 4.6 shots per game) this season. Only four players in NHL history — John Bucyk (1970-71), (1971-72), Phil Esposito (1974-75) and Jaromir Jagr (2005-06) — have scored 50 or more goals in their age-32 campaign or later, defined by Hockey-Reference as their age as of Feb. 1 in that season. Only 10 players in NHL history, 32 years old or older, have managed to put at least four shots on net per game while playing at least 70 games in a season. Only Esposito, Hull and Jagr have managed to do both. No one at this age has ever scored 50 goals while averaging over 4.5 shots per game, a feat Ovechkin will accomplish if he maintains his health, scoring and shot volume rate this season. The biggest improvement for Ovechkin this year has been his play at even strength. Scoring a career-low 15 goals at even strength last season — his 14 in 2012-13 was during a strike-shortened season — he already has 15 in 2017-18. In fact, his 1.8 goals scored per 60 minutes is his highest since 2007-08, the first year advanced stats are available for the entire league, and projects to 36 even-strength goals scored over an 82-game season. Since the lockout ended in 2005-06, only three other players, regardless of age, besides Ovechkin have scored that many goals at even strength in a season — Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Steven Stamkos. Ovechkin is the only one to hit that mark more than once. Ovechkin’s individual power-play numbers have declined — he scores 2.7 goals per 60 minutes of ice with the man advantage in 2017-18 compared to 3.4 and 3.2 the two seasons prior. That should improve with him generating more and slightly higher-quality shots on net this season. After taking into account the shot type, distance and angle, Ovechkin is expected to score over two goals more per 60 minutes of power-play time, higher than his expected goal rate of 1.9 per 60 last season. It’s a small difference, but when you consider he is also putting over five more shots on net per 60 minutes with the man advantage in 2017-18 than he did during 2016-17, it is easy to see why his power-play totals could start to take off at any moment. In fact, no forward skating at least 100 minutes with the power-play unit this season has generated more shots per 60 minutes than Ovechkin has this season. In this light, it is hard to overstate the Great Eight’s value to the franchise, even as he matures into his thirties. Take away his goals scored and the team’s goal differential drops from plus-10, the 10th best mark in the NHL, to minus-13, the eighth-worst in the league this season. Washington’s power-play efficiency also drops, from 20.8 to 15.1 percent, and perhaps lower after you subtract Ovechkin’s six power-play assists. And who knows what the franchise would be if not for Ovechkin’s 581 goals scored, good for 20th all time. Adjust those to account for different schedule lengths, roster sizes and scoring environments and he moves up to No. 7. Eventually, Ovechkin will succumb to the effects of aging just like the rest of us. Just don’t ask me when that will be, because it doesn’t look like it will be any time soon. 1089089 Washington Capitals

All signs point to T.J. Oshie returning to the Caps' lineup in Dallas

By Tarik El-Bashir December 18, 2017 1:09 PM

The Caps’ star winger practiced with his teammates on Monday morning, marking the first time he’s been a full participant in a team setting since getting his head smashed into the boards by San Jose’s Joe Thornton on Dec. 4. Oshie resumed skating on Dec. 10 and has steadily been ramping up his level of intensity since. If Oshie receives final clearance from doctors, he’ll suit up in Dallas on Tuesday night. And, as you might expect, he’s pretty excited about the possibility. “I felt great,” said Oshie, who noted that this was the fourth documented head injury of his career. “They’ve got me in pretty good shape while I’ve been away. I feel ready.” Although Coach Barry Trotz said a decision on Oshie’s status won’t be made until Tuesday morning, the fact that he took his normal spot on the right side of the second line with Jakub Vrana and Evgeny Kuznetsov is a strong indication that he’s expected to face the Stars. Oshie was also back in his usual spot on the first unit power play, where he still leads the team in goals on the man advantage (7), despite missing six games. Getting a player with Oshie’s skill set back represents a boost for the Caps, who went 5-1-0 while he was sidelined. But, on the flip side, it also means someone who has been playing well will have to come out of the lineup. “The whole team is playing pretty good hockey right now,” Oshie said. “On the team side, you feel bad that someone is playing good hockey and they’re going to have to sit out.” He added: “Hopefully I don’t mess up the mojo, but selfishly I want to get back in there and join in on some of the fun.” The odd man out on Monday, based on line rushes anyway, was Devante Smith-Pelly, who has not missed a game after winning a spot in training camp. So the plan appears to be for Oshie to bump Chiasson down to the fourth line into Smith-Pelly’s spot. With 13 healthy forwards, Trotz said deciding whom will sit out is going to be based on performance and/or role. But that doesn’t mean it’s always going to be an easy choice to make. “If everybody's playing well,” he said, “I just have to make a tough decision, that’s all.”

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 12.19.2017 1089090 Washington Capitals

NHL Power Rankings: The Caps are overcoming all obstacles, even the loss of Oshie

By J.J. Regan December 18, 2017 6:00 AM

If you were to make a list of the players the Capitals could not afford to lose, chances are T.J. Oshie would be near the top of that list. Unfortunately, the Caps’ winger has missed the last six games due to an upper-body injury he suffered from a hit to the head by Joe Thornton. Yet, even with Oshie out of the lineup the past six games, Washington has managed a 5-1-0 record. Oshie is the undisputed energy leader of the Caps. He was considered so important, in fact, that a team with significant salary cap constraints still elected to re-sign him in the offseason to an eight-year, $46 million deal that carries a $5.75 million cap hit. Oshie’s injury, however, has not cooled off the red-hot Caps who have now won 11 of their last 14 games. It is still clear the team is missing him—their 3-1 loss to the New York Islanders in which the Caps lacked any energy at all is evidence of that—but the way the team has been able to rally without him is impressive. If Washington can win five out of six without Oshie, how much better will they be once he gets back into the lineup?

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 12.19.2017 1089091 Washington Capitals

Caps players sing Christmas classics for epic holiday CD

By J.J. Regan December 18, 2017 5:30 PM

With the Caps on the road this week, Saturday's game against the Anaheim Ducks was the team's last game in Washington before Christmas. To celebrate, the Caps released a video prior to the game of their new Christmas CD, WOW Capitals Tunes.Vol2. Don't remember the first one? Well, that's because they never made one as Andre Burakovsky declares in the first 20 seconds of the video. The video and the CD are, of course, a joke, but thankfully the video features several players butchering singing some of your favorite holiday songs such as Philipp Grubauer forgetting the words to "Joy to the World," Braden Holtby doing his best lounge singer impression and Matt Niskanen walking off camera after saying in a deadpan voice "Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer."

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 12.19.2017 1089092 Winnipeg Jets His former teammates had some shenanigans going during the warmup, shooting pucks at his ankles as he skated by, the 34-year-old right- winger said. It's Jets' firepower up against Preds' extinguisher in Nashville "I think they were trying to hurt me. They know how much of a threat I am," said a laughing Thorburn, who has yet to score this season and has three assists in 21 games. "There were four in a row that caught me By: Jason Bell good. I just giggled. It was all in good fun." Posted: 12/18/2017 12:09 PM | Comments: 2 Thorburn, one-third of the popular GST (Tanner Glass and Jim Slater were his mates) during the team's inaugural 2011-12 season in Winnipeg, was given a loud ovation when his six-year stint with the organization was recognized during a TV timeout. It's the Central's most explosive squad pitted against the division's defensive specialists. "It was emotional, it meant a lot," he said of the friendly welcome from fans. "It was a great moment, one that I won’t forget, just like my time Something's gotta give. here. A lot of good stuff happened to me here. My daughter being born The Winnipeg Jets take on the Nashville Predators Tuesday night at here, a lot of ties, a lot of relationships and friendships. Bridgestone Arena, the second meeting of the NHL season between the "Winnipeg will be in my life and my family’s life for the rest of our lives. divisional rivals. Game time is 7 p.m. (TSN 3, TSN 1290). It’s a chapter that’s over, but at the same time it continues." Winnipeg (19-10-5) has ripped more goals (112) than any other Central

Division team thus far in the 2017-18 season and is the only club in the league with three players who have at least 15 goals prior to Monday Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 12.19.2017 night's slate of games. Second-year sniper Patrik Laine scored his team-leading 16th — and his NHL-best 10th power-play tally — while top-line centre Mark Scheifele's nifty deflection was his 15th, as the Jets blanked the visiting St. Louis Blues 4-0 Sunday. Laine's linemate, Nikolaj Ehlers, also has 15 goals. The Predators, meanwhile, are a stingy bunch, giving up just 85 goals to this point, the fewest of any team in the division. It's been 154 minutes and 59 seconds since the squad's Finnish-born goaltending tandem of Pekka Rinne and Juuse Saros allowed a puck to get past them. In the Preds' last outing, Rinne stopped 32 shots for his third shutout of the season in a 2-0 win over the Calgary Flames. Two nights earlier, Saros stopped all 46 shots he faced in a 4-0 victory over the Edmonton Oilers. Nashville (21-7-4), which also won 7-1 in Vancouver last week, is 6-0-1 this month, 11-1-2 in the past 14 games — the lone regulation loss coming against the Canucks Nov. 30 — and 16-2-2 over its previous 20 contests. The Preds defeated the visiting Jets 5-3 Nov. 20. After 48 shots and nothing to show for them Saturday in St. Louis, the Jets finally had to reason to celebrate after Adam Lowry tapped in his fifth goal of the year past goalie Jake Allen at 4:32 of the second period Sunday to open the scoring against the Blues. It was Winnipeg's 63rd shot at the St. Louis net over nearly 85 minutes of play, a big chunk of them coming from the club's No.1 line of left-winger Kyle Connor (nine shots), right-winger Blake Wheeler (nine shots) and centre Mark Scheifele (four shots). But it was the hustling, hard-checking trio of Lowry and his wingers Brandon Tanev and Andrew Copp that sparked the home side. Tanev beat two defenders to the puck behind the Blues net and slid it over to Copp before getting sandwiched, and Copp connected with Lowry who was left alone on the doorstep. Head coach Paul Maurice said the line — which has 11 points in its last six contests — has been effective in a shutdown role and produces offensively at critical times. "They’re important to us, especially at home — they’ve been great," he said. "They’ve kept good players off the board and found also, every once in a while, a way to generate offence." Lamenting the line's lack of production two weeks ago, Copp was more upbeat Sunday about the trio's recent contribution. "It was nice for our line to be rewarded. We feel like we’re trending in the right direction; we feel like we’ve had a ton of chances lately," he said. Former Jets tough-guy Chris Thorburn had an emotional return to Winnipeg as a member of the Blues. Pegged by coach Mike Yeo to start the game with linemates Paul Stastny and Scottie Upshall, Thorburn, the Winnipeg/Atlanta franchise leader for most regular-season games played (709) admitted he was a bit of a wreck on the first shift. "My legs were numb. I had goosebumps and every emotion that you could imagine," he said after the game. 1089093 Winnipeg Jets Morrissey returned for a final year of junior in 2014-15, finally turning pro with the Moose the following season and picking up three goals and 22 points in 57 games. He also dressed for one NHL game that year Morrissey adds some O-zone flash to shutdown role on blue line when the Jets battled the Montreal Canadiens. Last season, he collected 20 points in his rookie year with Winnipeg but he made his mark as a consistently responsible defender. By: Jason Bell "He's grooming himself into becoming one of those No.1 type of Posted: 12/18/2017 11:49 AM | Comments: 4 defencemen," says captain Blake Wheeler. "How well he plays defensively is just tremendous. When you draft a guy like that, I don't think that's what they expected, necessarily. I remember when he came into camp early on, when he was in junior, a power-play guy, a little guy, Kyle Connor watches Josh Morrissey's shot zip past St. Louis Blues' a quick guy, makes nice plays. I certainly never saw that coming, the goaltender Jake Allen in the third period Sunday. level of defence he can play. Josh Morrissey is showing some of the offensive skills that he's had "He's gone against the best players in the world and taken them out of tucked away until recently. games sometimes." With defencemen Dustin Byfuglien and Toby Enstrom on the shelf with Paired up with Jacob Trouba, a sound defensive effort remains his top injuries, the 22-year-old blue-liner is pushing up the ice with more objective — particularly now with Byfuglien and Enstrom sidelined for regularity, slipping into the slot and releasing more shots than he has extended time. since breaking into the NHL late in the 2015-16 campaign. He leads the team's defence with a plus-seven rating and is averaging He fired a goal and added an assist Sunday in Winnipeg's 4-0 shutout of 19:29 minutes of ice time per game, although he's worked an average of the St. Louis Blues — the fifth and sixth points he's accumulated in two additional minutes over his last five outings. December, his most productive month since securing a regular spot on the Jets' D. "With guys out of the lineup, everybody has got to step up and take on a little bit of those roles," Morrissey says. "For me, I’m just trying to get One of his former junior coaches maintains it was really just a matter of better every single day and get better to help this team win. Our whole time. back end has stepped up with those guys out. "You could see early on he was a gifted player offensively, there was no If he was a well-kept secret in the Manitoba capital before, word around denying it," says Dave Manson, a longtime assistant coach with the the NHL is certainly leaking out now, although Morrissey is taking all the Prince Albert Raiders. "He could see the ice and make plays like very few compliments in stride. guys could do. He always had that side of his game. "It’s always really nice to hear people say nice things about your game... "We really pushed him to learn how to defend, because if you can do that obviously, I really appreciate that. But I’m just here to try and help the you earn a coach's trust to use you in every situation. Once he realized team win every single day and try to get better every single day and be that at the pro level — proper stick positioning, body positioning, plus the the best pro I can. That’s all I try to do every day," he says. fact Josh is super-competitive — that's the reason he's earning more ice time in Winnipeg." Manson, an NHL defenceman for 16 years with seven different clubs including the Jets 1.0 (1993-96), takes great pride in playing a role in Morrissey has carved out a niche as a shutdown specialist in 117 career Morrissey's rapid development and skyrocketing value to the Winnipeg NHL games, but he's taking full advantage of an opportunity to showcase organization. abilities that, until late November, have only occasionally been on display. "I'm not surprised the success he's having in pro," says Manson, who still speaks with a soft, raspy voice — the result of a throat injury sustained Morrissey now has five goals and eight assists in 34 games, third on the 25 years ago during a fight with Sergio Momesso of the Vancouver Jets blue line behind Tyler Myers (5G, 11A) and Byfuglien (0G, 15A). Canucks. "He was a great player for us and helped change the culture in He's flashing the offensive flair that made him one of the most dominant Prince Albert. We're proud of that, obviously. junior defencemen in Canada and captured the attention of the Winnipeg's scouting staff during the 2012-13 "To see him succeed is terrific, and we know how much (the Jets) think of season. him. He's respectful and polite and he's very professional. He's going to be a very good player for a long time because of his competitiveness and Jets head coach Paul Maurice maintains it was only a matter of time his character." before Morrissey began producing more points. Most impressive, he says, is the former Raider all-star rearguard's willingness to play a more Morrissey is in the final year of an entry-level deal that pays him conservative, defensive style — with tremendous success — since he US$832,500 this season. He’s a restricted free agent and will be in line turned pro. for a hefty pay hike. Morrissey's comfort level and effectiveness playing against some of the best forward units in the league automatically translates to increased minutes on the ice and, over time, an expanded role on special teams, he Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 12.19.2017 says. "We've got a player we know has offensive skill and he takes his (defensive) role first. Because of the quality of his play, he plays against the other teams' best in a shutdown role every night. So, he's not cheating... or jumping into holes to try to get some numbers that would get him noticed more as an offensive player. We know it's there. He's looking for it a bit more, which we're fine with," says Maurice, in his 20th season as an NHL head coach and fifth in Winnipeg. "The next stage for him will be running on the back end on one of the power plays. That will be where his numbers will increase drastically. We don't want to add four or five more minutes to a player's game when we love the game he's playing, but he's going to force (himself) into that position by his play." The Jets selected Morrissey with their first-round pick (13th overall) in the 2013 NHL Draft after the six-foot,195-pound Calgarian registered 15 goals and 47 points in his draft year with the Raiders. The following season (2013-14), he boosted those totals big-time, firing 28 goals and adding 45 assists in just 59 games. Perhaps most remarkably, he was called up by the Jets’ then-American Hockey League affiliate, the St. John’s IceCaps, and played eight regular-season contests and participated in 20 playoff games, recording nine points. 1089094 Winnipeg Jets

TONIGHT:Jets at Predators, 7 p.m.TV: TSN3Radio: TSN 1290

By: Mike Sawatzky Posted: 12/19/2017 3:00 AM | Comments: 0

ABOUT THE PREDATORS — The Preds, coming off a 2-0 win over the Calgary Flames on Saturday, have won three straight while outscoring the opposition 13-1 in that span. Pekka Rinne had 32 saves for his third shutout of the season. Nashville has won six of seven games in December, including a shootout win over the Anaheim Ducks. The only defeat was a 4-3 shootout loss to the Vegas Golden Nights on Dec. 8. — Nashville is a league-best 16-3-1 since Nov. 1 and its 21-7-4 record is good for a tie with the St. Louis Blues for top spot in the Central Division. — LW Kevin Fiala, RW Craig Smith and recently acquired C Kyle Turris have formed a potent line. Fiala and Turris have points in seven consecutive games, while Turris has 17 points in 17 games since debuting on Nov. 11 following a trade from the Ottawa Senators. Over that span, Fiala and Turris have led the club with eight goals apiece. — LW Filip Forsberg leads the Preds with 32 points in 32 games, including a club-high 15 goals. LW Viktor Arvidsson and Fiala are next with 23 points each. Nashville’s depth of scoring is obvious, with five more players with at least 20 points, including D P.K. Subban (22 points, six goals), Smith (21 points, 12 goals), D Roman Josi (21 points, seven goals), D Mattias Ekholm (21 points, six goals) and C Ryan Johansen (20 points, four goals). — D Ryan Ellis (knee) is out and not expected to return to the lineup until the New Year.

Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 12.19.2017 1089095 Winnipeg Jets Not one of the outright losses was decided by a single goal and only three of them were decided by as few as two goals. Only four of their wins have been decided by one goal. Jets look to improve road play in key matchup with Predators Almost all of their one-goal games have gone to overtime and you can’t help notice how much better their record would look if they weren’t 0-5 in gimmicky 3-on-3 extra time. Ted Wyman So here’s the checklist for a team that has done many things right to this December 18, 2017 6:12 PM CST point in the season: Win a few more games on the road, win in the division and cut out the lapse games — after Christmas those will become more and more costly. Winnipeg Jets defenceman Josh Morrissey. Oh, and maybe pop in an overtime goal or two. I ran into Winnipeg Jets chairman Mark Chipman on a flight to After Nashville, the Jets will have a couple more tough matchups — Minneapolis on Monday and he said exactly what I was thinking. against the Bruins in Boston on Thursday and in Brooklyn against Andrew Ladd and the New York Islanders on Saturday afternoon. If the Jets play the way they did the last two games, they are going to be awfully tough for any team to beat. A couple of wins in the three games would sure look good heading into the short Christmas break. That includes the Nashville Predators, who appear to be the class of the NHL’s Western Conference right now. Keep playing the way they did on Saturday and Sunday and it’s going to be a very happy holiday. The Jets played a terrific brand of hockey in the back-to-back games on the weekend against the powerful St. Louis Blues. They generated an impressive 94 shots on goal in the two games, Winnipeg Sun LOADED 12.19.2017 against a team that averaged fewer than 29 shots against per game and is one of the stingiest defensive squads in the game. They outplayed St. Louis for 120 minutes. The only St. Louis player they weren’t better than was goaltender Carter Hutton, who stopped 48 shots in a 2-0 St. Louis win on Saturday. The Jets did not get discouraged however and came out with the same intensity, the same physicality and the same ability to generate offensive chances, while skating to 4-0 win on Sunday. Led by impressive sophomore defenceman Josh Morrissey — who did his best Duncan Keith impression Sunday by making several outstanding defensive plays, laying out big hits, scoring a goal and adding an assist — the Jets showed the Blues they are legitimate contenders for top spot in the wildly competitive Central Division. It would be almost impossible for any team to play that way for 82 games but the Jets have already shown an ability to do it relatively consistently. Which brings us back to Tuesday’s game against the Predators, a team that had a consistent enough game to get all the way to the Stanley Cup final last spring. They’ve been stellar again this year and were the better team when the Jets visited Nashville last month. Like the Blues, the Preds are a team the Jets are going to have to beat to make any noise in the standings and during the playoffs. Nashville is tops in the conference with 46 points and the Jets sit just three points back. The Jets come into Nashville on a cold streak on the road. The Jets are 0-4-2 in their last six road games, have been outscored 24-10 over that span and they’ve given up at least three goals in five of the six games. Their power play over the six games was a woeful 2-for-25 (8%) and their penalty kill just 17-for-25 (68%). Those numbers won’t do if the Jets are going to start picking up points away from home again. With a 6-3-1 record against the Central Division, the Jets are holding their own but as evidenced by the intensity of the St. Louis games, these games mean more than others. The combination of ferocious forechecking, solid defensive play and good goaltending — along with an elite home-ice power play — has made them something special to watch and helped them to a record that is nine games over NHL .500 (19-10-5). And yet they’re only a few losses away from being close to the playoff line. Wins on the road and within the division will go a long way toward separating the Jets from then chasing pack. What has held them back from doing that so far has been a series of lapses. When they’ve had off nights, they’ve really been off. In their 10 losses this season, the Jets have been outscored 50-18. By contrast, in their 19 wins, they’ve outscored the opposition 83-28. Some of the games were closer than the score indicated, but basically, for the most part the Jets either win big, or they lose big this season. 1089096 Winnipeg Jets answered that,” said Maurice. “They’ve done a marvellous job of surviving some important people out of their lineup because they’ve got some real good depth here. We feel we’ve developed some depth on our Thorburn excited to see old teammates…Hellebuyck gets an extra day to group so …we miss (Byfuglien) and (Enstrom) for sure. The minutes and regroup…Pietrangelo set to return…Injuries a factor (for both the situations they play in. Everybody has to go through it and to do well teams)…Moose on fire you have to flourish in those times as well.” The Manitoba Moose continued to roll on Saturday, earning a 2-1 victory over the at Ricoh Coliseum. Ken Wiebe Moose goalie Michael Hutchinson made 39 saves as he improved to 10- December 18, 2017 1:23 PM CST 1-2 with one shutout, a 1.76 goals-against average and .949 save % in 13 AHL games this season.

Offensively, the Moose were led by rookie winger Mason Appleton, who ST. LOUIS – Chris Thorburn was doing his best to treat it as just another chipped in a pair of assists and is up to 10 goals and 26 points in 28 game, but playing a first game against his old mates after 10 seasons in American Hockey League games this season. the organization was going to be an emotional experience. The decision for Appleton to leave the Michigan State Spartans program “A little nervous, a little anxious, excited. All of those emotions (after) 10 after his sophomore season is looking like a wise one so far. years with one organization or whatever it was. The first shift will be tough, but once I get that over with it will just be another hockey game The Moose, who improved to 20-5-1-2, face the Marlies on Sunday to hopefully,” Thorburn said after the morning skate and being facing off close out a stretch of three games in three days. against the Winnipeg Jets. “It will be a little different. It’s one I marked on my calendar when I first signed with St. Louis.” Prior to the game, the Moose recalled goalie Jamie Phillips from the Jacksonville Icemen of the ECHL, since Eric Comrie was injured in Thorburn, who played 713 games for the Jets/ Friday’s win over the . franchise between 2007 and 2017, was chosen by the Vegas Golden Knights in the expansion draft but was never signed, making him an unrestricted free agent. Winnipeg Sun LOADED 12.19.2017 The rugged winger then signed a two-year deal worth $1.8 million ($900,000) with the Blues to remain in the Central Division. He’s enjoying his new surroundings, but has kept an eye on what his former team is up to. “(The Jets) are doing a good job, they’re right with us,” said Thorburn. “The standings are close and there’s no question this team, this (Jets) organization was ready to burst out. Hopefully, we can slow them down a bit. We understand the task.” Prior to the game, Thorburn had an opportunity to catch up with a few of his former teammates. “He stopped by to say hello to everybody,” said Jets head coach Paul Maurice. “He’s such a big personality…the guy walks down the hallway and everybody walks out, all the trainers and coaches and players that are there to say hello to him. He’s had a real positive impact on our team and the culture of our group and we’re really glad he’s found a place he can play in and have an impact.” Thorburn had no points on Saturday and took 11 shifts for 6:06 of ice time, recording one hit. He has three assists and 17 penalty minutes in 20 games this season. After starting nine of the past 11 games and appearing in 26 of the first 33 games, Saturday was a good time for Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck to get an extra day of work in as Steve Mason got the call between the pipes. “Sure. We haven’t had enough practice time and certainly when he’s running the number of games that he has you’re really watching that workload,” said Maurice. “So it gives him a chance to get out for a little bit of time and working on some things.” Hellebuyck, who is 16-4-4 with a 2.55 goals-against average and .917 save % in 26 games this season, is expected to get the call in goal on Sunday in the rematch with the Blues. After missing the past three games with a lower-body injury, Blues captain Alex Pietrangelo is expected to be activated off injured reserve and return to the lineup against the Jets. Pietrangelo, who was on the ice on Saturday morning for the Blues optional skate, is having a tremendous season, recording seven goals and 23 points in 30 games while averaging 25:45 of ice time per game. Working through it There were several key cogs missing from both lineups on Saturday – defencemen Dustin Byfuglien and Toby Enstrom for the Jets and blue- liners Jay Bouwmeester and Pietrangelo and forwards Jaden Schwartz and Robby Fabbri for the Blues. Maurice was asked about the injury story line going into the first match- up of the season between the two Central Division rivals. “We’re fine about that. (The Blues) had some big injuries right at the start and the question was how were they going to get out of the gate and they 1089097 Winnipeg Jets “Whether it’s about hockey, or just about random stuff, we’ve really bonded over the last few years, since I’ve met him,” Scheifele says. “He’s just a good human being. It’s turned into a pretty sweet friendship. Mark Scheifele: An all-consuming passion for hockey Obviously, I respect him so much. He’s helped my game grow everywhere — defensive zone positioning and what to do in certain areas, or what routes to take. Things to think about in the neutral zone. How to handle an offensive zone face-off. Pretty much anything you can BY ERIC DUHATSCHEK name. He studies the game a ton. He’s probably the most knowledgeable hockey guy I know. Any question I have, about what I can work on in my game, he always has an idea or a drill that I can work on, to make me On the first Saturday of December 2017, it was a good day to be Mark better.” Scheifele. For the first time since the Winnipeg Jets relocated to Manitoba from Atlanta in 2011, they held down first place in the NHL’s But Oates wasn’t the first Hockey Hall of Famer to influence Scheifele’s Western Conference – and were tied in points atop the NHL standings development. In 2009, when he was a 16-year-old playing for the with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Kitchener Jr. Rangers, Scheifele was the 134th player chosen in the OHL priority draft by the Saginaw Spirit. Scheifele played the 2009-10 season “Hockey Night in Canada,” the program Scheifele watched religiously as for the Kitchener Jr. B team and was considering a scholarship offer to a child growing up in Kitchener, Ont., was in town, serendipitously Cornell University when the OHL’s Barrie Colts traded for his rights in the choosing this weekend to feature Winnipeg on its weekly Hometown middle of August 2010. Dale Hawerchuk, the former Jets’ star, was Hockey segment. Practice was optional that day, which gave Scheifele Barrie’s coach at the time. extra time to go out to The Forks, a popular gathering place, where the Red and Assiniboine rivers meet and “Hockey Night” was taping a fan “He was kind of a gangly kid,” Hawerchuk says. “You could tell he had segment. By January, the rivers have usually frozen over to create the really good hockey sense, really good hands, a good shot. His skating Red River Mutual Trail, which according to the Guinness Book of World was a little suspect but I wasn’t worried about that. But what I remember Records, is the world’s longest natural skating trail. most about in our first meeting is that he knew our roster inside out. At 17, he was saying things like, ‘I know it would be a good situation for me But today, it was unseasonably mild, above zero, and so Scheifele was because I would probably fit in as the second-line centre right behind dressed lightly for his interview on the state of the Jets with the host, (Alex) Burmistrov.' He knew all our guys, the type of players they were. In Tara Slone. The interview would run the next night on the national fact, he knew the whole league already. That first year, whenever there television broadcast, which turned out to be an overwhelming 5-0 Jets’ was a question in our dressing room about a scouting report, he’d be the victory over the visiting Ottawa Senators, keyed by Scheifele and his first guy to say, ‘well, that guy likes to do this, so you’ve got to watch for long-time running mate, Jets’ captain Blake Wheeler. that.’ It was always him and another kid named Eric Bradford. They’d challenge each other, each of them thinking, ‘I know more than you.’ This was a redemptory moment for the Jets, who tend to fall under the radar in Canada, and they had laid an egg the last time they were “We had a rough year that year. It was a total rebuild. But whenever he featured so prominently on national TV, an opening night loss to walked into the rink, Mark had a big smile on his face – and he couldn’t Canada’s team, the Toronto Maple Leafs. That same day, Scheifele had wait to get to work. He had an extra pair of skates at home, so he could been notified by Jets’ staff that, as a result of his work on and off the ice play in the outdoor rink. He just lived hockey 24/7.” during the calendar year of 2017, he’d been chosen as The Athletic Winnipeg's 2017 Person of the Year, something he described as a “huge Philanthropy is part of the landscape for most NHL athletes these days, honor.” Scheifele was chosen ahead of Wheeler and the Winnipeg Blue but it always interesting to discover why a player work with a specific Bombers’ exceptional running back Andrew Harris, partly because of his charity. Scheifele works with KidSport Winnipeg and anchors two of their full-on devotion to his sport. It is a passion he will freely admit is all- four major annual fundraisers. In June, he runs a golf tournament on their consuming. behalf and in August, he runs a two-day hockey camp. KidSport is a national charity, with different chapters all across the country, but the “That’s just the way I am – the person I am, and the fascination I have money they raise in Winnipeg stays in Winnipeg, most of it going to inner with hockey,” Scheifele says. “I’m in love with the game. I enjoy watching city kids. Christine Hoenisch, manager of KidSport in Winnipeg, in on TV. I enjoy being at the rink. I enjoy working out. I enjoy all facets of estimates that in the three years Scheifele’s been involved, a total of it.” $400,000 has been raised, $195,000 of that in calendar 2017. For a city the size of Winnipeg, it is a sum she describes as “incredible for us. In 2017, Scheifele enjoyed an exceptional 12 months. Though the Jets That’s funded over 1,300 kids.” missed the playoffs last spring, Scheifele finished seventh overall in NHL scoring. In the fall, as the Jets soared in the first third of the season, he Scheifele says he chose KidSport Winnipeg as his charity of choice and Wheeler were in lockstep, both consistently producing offence that because growing up, he was immersed in sports and they shaped his life kept him in — or near — the top-10 in scoring. Scheifele is all-consumed and he wanted to help provide similar opportunities for children, by hockey, and thus is sometimes described as a hockey nerd by former especially those who would otherwise be prevented from participating in junior teammates such as the Florida Panthers’ Aaron Ekbald, but that athletics because of family financial constraints. not’s an entirely accurate assessment. No matter how the term has evolved over time, “nerd” still conjures up an image of someone who is “That’s the biggest thing,” he says. “If you affect just one person’s life, it’s the antithesis of an elite-level athlete. ‘Savant’ might be a better all worthwhile.” description, though savant doesn’t completely reflect Scheifele’s Scheifele was particularly struck by the story a young man told at last commitment to incrementally getting better, day after day. summer’s golf tournament, which began with an email to Hoenisch from Some of what makes him one of the NHL’s top players is his God-given a single mother that said her son’s participation in football, thanks to talent. He has a good hockey frame. At 6-foot-3, 207 pounds, he is big KidSport funding, essentially got his life back on the rails, when it was enough to win physical battles and quick enough to keep pace in this threatening to veer off into a world of drug use and truancy. hyper-speedy era. “That was the sort of story you love to hear — that some kid’s life could But he has also invested thousands of hours, rigorously studying and have gone in a whole different direction, and sport grounded him,” training, to get to this point in his evolution. For years, he’s worked with a Hoenisch says. “It doesn’t mean a kid has to excel at that sport either — skills coach separately from the Jets’ staff — Adam Oates, the Hall of just that it might open a door for them, or alter the path of their lives. Famer, who is No. 7 on the all-time assists list and was the player most Once you’re on the field or ice with other kids, you learn about responsible for helping Brett Hull score 741 NHL goals. Oates previously sportsmanship. There’s the camaraderie. You make friends. You’re coached in the NHL with New Jersey and Washington and now works as bonding over something of interest to both of you. We see that quite a bit. a consultant, helping players individually with their skill development. Sports can have an impact on your life, even if you don’t become an NHL Oates was a cerebral player – slow even by the standards of his era – star. It can just allow you to learn something about yourself. Kids – and who forged a 19-year NHL career because of a high hockey IQ. parents – see how hard Mark works, and that’s something else they can point to. No one is born just walking on the ice or scoring every time Most players limit the work they do with their skills coaches to the off- you’re out there. You have to work, work, work at it.” season, but Scheifele says he and Oates speak almost every day. Mark Chipman, the Jets’ executive chairman and governor, is a lifelong Winnipegger and a big fan of Scheifele’s values, on and off the ice. “He’s the son everybody wants to have,” Chipman says. “He is an “It would have been awesome to go to the Olympics,” he says. “It is crazy unbelievable young man, and if you ever wonder why, all you have to do how much talent there is in Canada. You could probably play anyone is spend 30 seconds with his parents. If there’s such a thing as an all- with anyone. You could probably have 50 different combinations of Canadian young man, in my opinion, he is it. He also has a bonafide players that would work. That’s a cool thing for a hockey nut like me to reverence for great play and great players, a humility that’s really think about – what guys would mesh together? What threesomes would remarkable and that manifests itself in a lot of ways – as a teammate, in mesh together? What duos would mesh together? what he does off the ice, in the way he treats people, in the way he looks you in the eye and shakes your hand, all of that. To me, he’s the kind of “It could be a once in a lifetime opportunity. I was disappointed by the guy that makes being in this business good.” decision not to go. I was pretty rattled by it. I definitely try not to think about it too often. You’d just drive yourself nuts.” Not every pro athlete is as committed to their sport as Scheifele is to his – and in fact, many go the other way and like to leave their work behind Much of Scheifele’s recent NHL success has come playing on the same once they exit the rink. line as Wheeler. The two make a point of getting together every summer to catch up and talk hockey. At the NHL’s highest levels, consistency is To Hawerchuk, the value hardcore types such as Scheifele has is that how you separate the really good from the truly great. “their attitudes are infectious to your whole team. As soon as they walk in, the other guys are saying, ‘if he knows all that, why do I not know all When asked if consistency was something you could learn, or if it just that?’ It almost makes them more that way, too. Maybe they do want to gradually happened as he became acclimated to the NHL, Scheifele get away from it all, but then when they get home, they start to think, ‘I answered: “I think it’s a little of both. Part of it is experience. But there’s better check the highlights on the team we’re playing next’ so when I’m also a lot of learning involved. You have to hone your skills to be talking to Scheifele tomorrow, I’ll know what I’m talking about.' Those consistent each and every game in each and every season. That’s things, they’re important – to have leaders like that.” something the best players in the world – the Sidney Crosbys, the Patrick Kanes – do. You know what you’re getting from them each and every Scheifele was the first ever player chosen by the Jets in their Winnipeg night and that’s what makes them star players. Also, every team needs incarnation. When he was handed a jersey on stage at the draft in St. players with different elements because that’s how chemistry is built and Paul, Minn., it had an NHL logo on the crest. The Jets’ uniform and colors how teams are built. Pittsburgh has Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, were still a work in progress. For many of the years that followed, the two very different players, but they’ve had success. Chicago has same could be also said of the team – and its first ever draft choice. Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane, two completely different players. Right from the start, the Jets were cautious with their prospects and erred There are so many different elements to hockey – and you need all of on the side of giving them too much seasoning rather than not enough. them on your team to succeed.”

In Scheifele’s case, it meant he was twice sent back to junior at the start What it tells Scheifele is that a team can get to its ultimate goal – winning of his career, at a time when lots of other organizations were pushing a Stanley Cup – in many different ways. There is no one-size-fits-all path their 18-year-old prospects into their NHL lineups. Winnipeg’s patient you need to follow. The Jets have only made the playoffs once in six philosophy was at odds with the NHL’s evolving win-now zeitgeist. years; and while they were steadfastly pumping young talent into their Matters were further complicated by the fact that many draft experts saw team, draft-and-develop is a slow-go philosophy. The new challenge is Scheifele as a bit of reach at seventh overall — he was projected as a keeping increasingly giddy expectations in check — and about carefully middle first rounder on most draft boards. Many believe it was the building on what was shaping up as a long-awaited franchise turning connection to Hawerchuk, the long-time face of the Jets’ franchise, that point. acted as the tipping point in Winnipeg’s decision to roll the dice on Scheifele, but Hawerchuk said that wasn’t true. “For our team, the way we’ve played is how we got here and so the way we’ve played is how we’re going to stay here,” Scheifele says. “That’s the “They only ever called me once about him and it was maybe two days biggest thought that has to go through our team – that what we’ve done before the draft,” Hawerchuk says. “They said, ‘we just interviewed Mark at the start of the season is what’s got us here, but there’s a lot of games Scheifele and this kid just blew us away in the interview – and is he really left, and a lot of hard work ahead of us to stay up there.” like this all the time?’ and I said, ‘yes he is.’ He’s just so into it.' ” Hawerchuk was like Scheifele a generation ago – an Ontario kid who According to Hawerchuk, the smartest decision the Jets made was went west without any real knowledge of the city where he would forge sending Scheifele back to junior during the NHL’s abbreviated 2012-13 his NHL career and who became an adopted son. Just last month, the lockout season, “even though there was a loophole where he could have Jets inducted Hawerchuk into the Winnipeg Hall of Fame. Others from played in the American League. But Winnipeg let him come back to junior the Jets’ past – including Anders Hedberg and Ulf Nilsson – made it back where he could dominate because they wanted him to be a dominating for the occasion. The next day, at a luncheon, Hawerchuk had a chance player in the NHL. to catch up with Scheifele, his former protégé, to see firsthand how things were evolving, for him and for the team. “At 19, it’s hard to dominate the AHL, but at 19, he had a shot at doing it in the OHL – and he did,” Hawerchuk says. “Which was a great move by “When you go to a city like Winnipeg or Calgary, with a community-based them. Now you see the fruits of that one year – and letting him learn how team, everybody knows you once you’re outside of the arena walls,” to be a dominant player. To ask a guy to be a dominant player in the NHL Hawerchuk says. “The guys that really love the game really love that. if he’s never done it in junior is very difficult.” Even when I played, all we did was watch and talk hockey. That’s Mark Scheifele in a nutshell. He lives and breathes it all the time.” Of the six players chosen ahead of Scheifele in 2011 – Ryan Nugent- Hopkins, Gabriel Landeskog, Jonathan Huberdeau, Adam Larsson, Ryan Strome and Mika Zibanejad – none are contributing to their teams the way he is. The only two challenging Scheifele for best player from his The Athletic LOADED: 12.19.2017 draft class are Nikita Kucherov, chosen 58th overall by Tampa, and Johnny Gaudreau, who went 104th to Calgary.

Scheifele played on the same World Cup team as Gaudreau in September 2016, part of Team North America, or the NHL’s young stars, which were by far the most entertaining entry in the tournament. For that event, Scheifele played on line with fellow Canadian Connor McDavid and American Auston Matthews. Previously, he’d represented Canada twice at the senior world championships and once at the world juniors, gold in 2016, silver in 2014 and bronze in 2013.

Had the NHL opted to compete in the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, he would have been an easy choice to crack what might have been Canada’s deepest roster of forwards ever – and probably would have been slotted in as the right winger on a line with McDavid and a who’s who of potential candidates to play the left side on the line. Scheifele says he tries not to think too much about the NHL’s decision to forgo the Olympics in 2018 because it’s too depressing. 1089098 Winnipeg Jets Right about now, in that screen above, Parayko starts to lick his chops. He sees Brandon Tanev trying to get the edge on Joel Edmundson, and thinks he might be able to light him up on the other side.

Systems Analyst: Breaking down Sunday's game winners by Chicago, The only thing is, that's dumb as can be if you're actually focusing on Winnipeg and Calgary defending. Look at Edmundson's positioning on Tanev. He has an angle, he's pushed him out wide, he's fine. In fact, he's gonna be able to put a lick on him. He doesn't need help. But because Parayko saw a chance to By Justin Bourne 16 hours ago throw a big hit, now here's where we're at:

Ahh, right, the whole hockey puck thing. That's important.

On Sunday, it just so happened that three of the four NHL games pitted From there, the Jets complete what has to be one of the luckiest passes two cities we dutifully cover here at The Athletic, and all three featured of all-time. The puck somehow went under this Blues player here, interesting game winners. So, needless today, it felt like a no-brainer through the armpit hole. today to break those plays down and examine what really happened. The Flames winner was less a product of a pure defensive meltdown as This goal was both a matter of curious circumstance, a goal scorer's it was two pretty skilled offensive players going at two pretty “just okay” mentality, and nice execution. defensive ones.

As you can see below, Wild defender Jared Spurgeon is in the middle of It's four on four, and Flames are in the midst of a regroup. Ben Hutton is the ice, awaiting a Chicago regroup that was seemingly taking a long gaping up with the play, as Johnny Gaudreau has just taken the puck time to develop. back to build a little speed.

This shift started with a faceoff in the Blackhawk end some 40 seconds Now, here's where a matter of simple positioning can cost you. You'd ago and has been all the way down the ice and back once already. generally like to see your defenders inside the dot lines to push the play Spurgeon is in an awkward decision-making spot. If he doesn't change out of the middle to the outside. But as Hutton slides over, he's really now, he risks getting caught out for a long one, particularly if the taking away the middle of the ice. The puck's in the middle, and he is too, Blackhawks execute their regroup well and get set-up in the Wild's end. with half the rink on his right side.

Spurgeon is probably thinking two things: For one, he's already pretty But really, this is all about two great offensive plays to capitalize on that. close to his team's bench, and secondly, the puck carrier has just curled Look at Mark Giordano's back leg and toe flexion in the picture above. back, and now has his back to Spurgeon. He's already pushing hard, building up speed to be able to overtake the Canucks D-man easily by the time he's on him. Also, because the regroup was taking so long to develop, the Blackhawks forward on the bottom of your screen decided to stretch out The next smart read is Gaudreau going nose-to-nose with Markus to the far blueline, as is fairly common for wingers to do. He also sees his Granlund. defender curl back, and decides, ah well, we have solid possession, I'm 40 seconds in, time for a sit-down. If he had just continued toward the open ice by the boards, he'd have brought Granlund over to Giordano, where it's possible Granlund As you can see below, Spurgeon decides he's going for it and hails a could've gotten a stick in to disrupt the Flames D-man from getting clean change. It's the second period, so it's the period with the long change, possession with speed and room. and he might not get another chance for awhile. It ends up being the wrong call, but you can at least sorta process the logic. Hutton makes the read way too late, because really, you could see Giordano coming like a freight train from a full zone away. He could've Here's where things get interesting. So, both key players who changed slid over to make a way better challenge. But credit goes to the Flames here seem to think that Duncan Keith curling back was gonna buy them there for making a couple offensive good reads and executing well. the time they needed to get off and have someone jump out in time. But the Hawks D-man makes a skilled play, a hard backhand pass to his partner that suddenly left Chicago facing the right way with solid The Athletic LOADED: 12.19.2017 possession of the puck, with a lot of space.

But now the fun part! Patrick Kane saw that play develop — in that still shot below you can see him watching it all unfold and reading the play — so he made a bit of an aggressive change.

Whoever was coming on for Spurgeon was either surprised by the change, or wasn't quite ready. The Wild's change is conservative, and as you can see below. Meanwhile, look at the distance still to go for the Blackhawks changing forward, while Kane has both his skates on the ice.

And BAM, just like that the puck is on his tape after a great pass from Jordan Oesterle through the seam, and Patrick Kane is off to do Patrick Kane things.

It's not very often you get to solely assign the blame for a goal against to one guy, but on this Winnipeg goal, our man Colton Parayko pretty clearly has to wear it.

The situation seems black and white: we're looking at a 2-on-2 after a Blues player turned the puck over trying to get the puck back to the point (okay, fine, we'll give that guy some blame, too).

This is as easily defined a defensive situation as they come.

Man-on-man as the Jets move the puck wide and enter the zone.

All good!

There's an interesting phenomenon that I find gets under-discussed: defensemen cheat, too. It's always forwards taking the heat for flying the zone too early, or poking at pucks hoping they'll come free easily rather than stopping and bearing down. But most D who you know as “big hitters” have to take some chances to catch guys by surprise. 1089099 Vancouver Canucks expiring one-year, one-way $6875 500 US deal. “It has translated. He’s getting in on the forecheck and he has been physical.

“He always had the skill and could score. But his overall game has Kuzma: Canucks relieved as Brock Boeser suffers bone bruise, not foot improved and we’ll see where he’s at.” fracture Where the Canucks are at is a different story.

Their entire emerging first line is still sidelined — Sven Baertschi (jaw), Ben Kuzma Bo Horvat (foot) and Boeser — and when you add and December 18, 2017 4:22 PM PST Erik Gudbranson (upper body) and Chris Tanev (groin), the inability to win faceoffs, be better on the penalty kill and score at even strength — just 51 goals to be ranked 28th — is magnified. And that’s without getting into spotty goaltending or being without Boeser for a while. “It’s a relief.” “Nobody is going to feel sorry for us and we can’t feel sorry for In three words, Jim Benning echoed the emotions of not only the ourselves,” added Benning. “We’re going to have to figure out a way. We Vancouver Canucks, but the entire provincial hockey populace Monday. want to be competitive until we start getting some players back. But I’m When a CT scan (computerized axial tomography) earlier in the day not trading any of our young players or giving away draft picks because revealed that Calder Trophy front-runner Brock Boeser suffered a bone that’s the future of the organization.” bruise — and not a feared foot fracture after blocking a Mark Giordano shot Sunday — it turned angst into anticipation. Benning had recently been looking to add a versatile top-nine forward to help bridge the gap until Horvat and Baertschi returned from injury. Knowing the hotshot rookie will soon resume his remarkable National Hockey League season is a boost to the goal-starved club, a fan base “I was talking to teams, but there wasn’t anything imminent,” said that has been entertained, engaged and enamoured with the humble Benning. “We win in Nashville, we beat Toronto and Carolina and as a winger and, of course, the general manager. group, I thought we were getting that confidence and swagger to compete hard every night.” “He felt better when he got up this morning and it (injury) is more day-to- day than week-to-week for his return,” added Benning. “We can’t afford It’s not all bad because there is more hope on the horizon. to lose a player like that.” Centre Elias Pettersson, the fifth-overall pick in June, is impressing in the There’s no immediate timeline for Boeser’s return, but he could sit out Swedish Elite League and has 35 points (11-24) in his first 26 games. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday games and be ready for the first post- Pretty impressive for a slight puck magician playing against men. Adam Christmas test here on Dec. 28 against the Chicago Blackhawks. Gaudette, a fifth-round selection in 2015, had 24 points (12-12) in his first 17 NCAA games in his third year at Northeastern after a stellar 52 points Before Boeser received the encouraging diagnosis, his NHL peers were (26-26) in 37 games as a sophomore. He’s expected to turn pro after this reaching out. Brendan Gallagher was feeling for Boeser because he has season. felt significant shot-blocking pain.

The Montreal Canadiens bulldog winger dropped in front of a Johnny Boychuk slapper in November of 2015, fracturing two fingers on his left Vancouver Province: LOADED: 12.19.2017 hand. He required surgery and was sidelined for 29 games. So it’s not surprising that the former Vancouver Giants standout admires Boeser. The rookie’s willingness to sacrifice his body for the greater good has resonated throughout the league because it’s about more than the points. It’s about winning. The Canucks’ hotshot is the club’s leading scorer with 30 points (17-13) in 32 games and has grown his defensive game. The Giordano wrist shot struck the winger at the top of his left skate and he crawled to the bench in excruciating pain. He was spotted post game on crutches and wearing a walking boot and everybody feared the worst and admired the shot- blocking bravado. “An unbelievable player and that (shot blocking) will go a long way with his teammates,” said Gallagher, who leads the Canadiens with 13 goals and is on pace for a career-high 32. ”I never really measure my success by goals, assists and points, there’s a lot that goes into it. You want to be accountable to your teammates and all the little things that help you win.” From his perch, Benning couldn’t believe what he was seeing Sunday when Boeser struggled to get off the ice. “That was tough,” he recalled. “He has been playing so well for us. When it happened, I thought: ‘This can’t be happening.’” Boeser is leading every offensive rookie category and his 19 power play points (5-14) rejuvenated a sour special-teams when he was promoted to the first unit Nov. 14 in Los Angeles. The club was operating at 14.1 per cent efficiency and it now fifth at 21.8 per cent. Vancouver Canucks right wing Brock Boeser is seen with crutches following a loss to the Calgary Flames in Vancouver, on Sunday. Jonathan Hayward / THE CANADIAN PRESS In Boeser’s absence, the Canucks have recalled winger Reid Boucher from the Utica Comets. The 24-year-old is leading the American Hockey League affiliate with 25 points (13-12), is playing the power play and penalty kill and has taken just three minors penalties. It’s not a stretch to suggest that a guy who managed five goals in 27 games with the Canucks last season — and showed off one of the better releases on the club — should simply slot in to replace Boeser, whose quick, heavy and accurate wrister has been compared to Mike Bossy and Brett Hull. “When we met with him at the exit meeting, we challenged him to put the work in and he came in fit,” Benning said of Boucher, who’s on an 1089100 Vancouver Canucks • Can’t explain this other than my enduring infatuation for underdogs but I suddenly find myself invested in the Buffalo Bills, who haven’t made the playoffs since 1999 and have recorded two winning seasons in the last Ed Willes: This time of the year we can all dream 18 years. As you must know, 1999 was also the year of the Music City Miracle in Nashville — or as Bills fans remember it, ‘The Rob F-Troopin Johnson Game.’ ED WILLES Still, they’re holding down a wild-card spot now and all they need is wins at New England and Miami in their last two games. December 18, 2017 4:15 PM PST Really, how hard can that be?

• And finally, don’t know when the B.C. Lions become Edmonton — West With Christmas just a week away, we offer both the joyful and triumphant Coast division but at least there is now structure and direction in the musings and meditations on the world of sports. Leos’ front office. • I have this dream. On Monday, the Lions announced former Eskimos president Rick LeLacheur has been named the team’s president. In March of 2020, Brock Boeser scores his 41st and 42nd goals of the season in a 5-2 Canucks win over Edmonton which keeps his team in The good news? LeLacheur presided over a relatively stable and first place in the Pacific Division. successful 10 years with the Esks from 2002 to 2011. He’s personable, outgoing and enjoys a close relationship with new Lions GM Ed Hervey, Bo Horvat will notch his 75th point of the season in that game. Elias who held the same position with the Eskimos. And, when you come right Pettersson will add a goal and assist and Jake Virtanen will pick up his down to it, it’s hard to find executives with CFL experience who can walk 24th goal. into the president’s office. In goal, Calder Trophy candidate Thatcher Demko records his 25th win of As for the more realistic news, LeLacheur’s hiring seems to signal owner the season and lauds the work of his blue-line which includes Olli Juolevi, isn’t going to divest himself of the Lions any time soon. Troy Stetcher and second-year sensation Rasmus Dahlin. That’s fine. It’s not like Braley has been very visible in Vancouver the last I want to believe this is possible, mostly because I want to believe there couple of years and if LeLacheur can build relationships with the will be some pay off for this season and the two which preceded it. business and football communities in this province, no one will care who I mean, this can’t go on forever, can it? signs the checks for the Lions. • We’ll know soon enough the full extent of Boeser’s injury but, whatever But this isn’t going to work if Braley does’t invest in the franchise and happens next, the faithful shouldn’t lose sight of a couple of things. continues to operate the Lions on a shoestring budget. There’s a new man in town but if he stuck with the same tired game plan, nothing much Boeser is an elite goal-scorer. That much is self-evident. But the most will change for the Lions. impressive thing about him isn’t the shot or the release or the instincts around the net. It’s the total package, highlighted by his off-the-charts hockey IQ. He reads the game the way a scanner reads a bar code. He’s Vancouver Province: LOADED: 12.19.2017 a step ahead of the play in all three zones and, while he might not be the fastest player, he’s strong on his skates and he has that one stride which buys him time and space. In short, Boeser just plays the game the right way and when you get that from your top offensive player it sets an example for the team and the organization. In time, he’ll prove a worthy successor to the Sedins and he’ll be as good as ever when he returns from this injury because this is a quality kid. We’ve only seen him for 40 games in the NHL but we’ve seen that. • Speaking of things that can’t get any worse, the 12s already needed weeks of counselling to erase the memory of Sunday’s 42-7 loss to the L.A. Rams. But they now have a Twitter thing between stars Earl Thomas and Bobby Wagner to process. In the aftermath of Sunday’s humiliating loss for the Seahawks, Thomas opined that Wagner, who was severely hampered by a hamstring injury, shouldn’t have played. The Rams ran for 244 yards as a team in the slaughter and Todd Gurley accumulated 152 rushing yards and scored four touchdowns in three quarters of work. Wagner, the Seahawks all-pro linebacker, was barely visible before he took himself out of the game in the second half. Afterwards, your agent was there for the end of Thomas’s scrum when the safety applauded Wagner for gutting it out on Sunday. But, at some point, Thomas also said: “The backups could have done just as good,” and that didn’t sit well with Wagner. “E keep my name out yo mouth,” Wagner responded in a tweet. “Stop being jealous of other people success. I still hope you keep balling bro.” Yes, a finely worded riposte. What, precisely, Thomas is jealous of is a matter of some interpretation and this isn’t the first time members of the Seahawks have made intemperate public remarks. But it’s the first time following a 42-7 loss which imperilled the team’s playoff chances. In the good times, the antics made the Seahawks appear colourful. But now the core is aging, the lineup has been decimated by injuries and the whole thing seems to be held together with paper clips and duct tape. The Seahawks will dismiss this latest eruption as one of those things and head coach Pete Carroll addressed it during his radio show on Monday. But this is a bad look for a team that seems to be unravelling. 1089101 Vancouver Canucks 6. OK, let's talk about the goaltending, because it hasn't been good lately.

In fact, I'd say Sunday was Jacob Markstrom's worst game of the 10 thoughts on the Canucks, who need a whole bunch of guys to step up season. A couple of goals beat him on the short side. On another, he over-pushed to one side, allowing Giordano to easily deke him to the other. By Jason Brough 8 hours ago Markstrom now has a save percentage of just .907. Among the 28 NHL goalies that have made at least 20 appearances this season, that ranks him 21st. 1. Just like that, the Vancouver Canucks are minus an entire first line. As I wrote in the pre-season, it's not safe to assume that Markstrom or It's not the end of the world, as the Canucks aren't exactly in the Stanley Anders Nilsson have what it takes to be a No. 1 netminder. It's a really Cup chase. If they miss the playoffs, and it certainly looks like they will, tough job, and only a few are cut out for it. it's probably best for the long-term future anyway. I'm not writing off either of them, because they've both shown they can But temporarily at least, it's a cruel twist for a team that had so badly perform at a high level. But consistently good goaltending is the Canucks' needed that next wave of forwards to push the Sedins into a secondary best chance to survive all these injuries and stay in the playoff chase. If scoring role. Bo Horvat, Sven Baertschi and Brock Boeser have neither of them is up for it, things could get seriously ugly. combined for 35 goals this season, and now all three are injured. 7. Go ahead and kill me in the comments section, but I like a lot about Through 34 games, everyone else on the Canucks has combined for just 's game. 53 goals. Take away Derek Dorsett's seven tallies and the number falls to 46. I realize not scoring goals is an issue. I'm not blind to the obvious. It sure would be nice if he put a damn puck in the net. 2. And to think I was actually worried that I jumped the gun with my column on a potential Canucks collapse. That piece published Friday But Gaunce is good defensively, he plays physical and the thing I like the morning, in the wake of four straight losses and yet another injury, this most is he wins battles all over the ice. That's why the coach keeps one to Chris Tanev. playing him. Later that evening, much to my surprise, the Canucks came out flying And he's going to score soon. You just watch! against San Jose and went on to beat the Sharks 4-3 in overtime. (Don't let me down, Brendan. I'm out on a limb here, buddy.) “We’re not going to sit back,” Travis Green said afterwards. “That’s a slow death.” 8. I can't remember the last time I was so excited to watch Canucks prospects at the world juniors. Maybe 2009 with Cody Hodgson? But It was one of the most entertaining and impressive games of the season, even then, it didn't seem super important that he had a great showing. At and it left me wondering, had I misjudged the resolve of this group? the time, the Canucks already had plenty of hope for the future. Maybe the Canucks weren't finished, after all. This year, four Canucks prospects — Elias Pettersson (Sweden), Olli Alas, two days later, Friday's response was all but forgotten when Boeser Juolevi (Finland), Will Lockwood (USA) and Jonah Gadjovich (Canada) took a Mark Giordano shot to the foot during a 6-1 loss to Calgary. — will be in Buffalo for the tournament. Unfortunately, Kole Lind and Michael DiPietro just missed the cut with Canada. Monday, the Canucks said that it was only a bone bruise for the 20-year- old winger — more of a day-to-day injury than week-to-week, according For most Canucks fans, this will be the first real opportunity to watch to Jim Benning. Pettersson, Lockwood and Gadjovich in action. Juolevi we've all seen in the pre-season a couple of times, but even in his case, I'll be curious to But be warned, Canucks fans, that bone bruises can be notoriously slow find out if he's rediscovered his form after a tough year. to heal. (Just ask Rick Nash.) Pettersson is obviously the main attraction. He's got the potential to be 3. Hopefully the doctors are right and Boeser is back to full strength the best player in the tourney. And wouldn't that provide some much- soon. needed happiness for the fanbase. In the meantime, it'll be interesting to see who steps up in the absence of 9. Not sure if many of you have noticed, but Gustav Forsling is averaging an entire first line. almost 20 minutes per game for the Chicago Blackhawks. To keep things afloat, Green will need to tap into both team pride and The 21-year-old defenceman has three goals and eight assists in 30 individual motivations. For young guys like Jake Virtanen, Nikolay games. Oh, and he also kills penalties and faces tough competition at Goldobin and Reid Boucher, it's an opportunity to prove they're everyday even strength. NHLers. For a slightly more established player like Markus Granlund, it's a chance to earn a bigger contract extension this summer. For a guy like They're even calling him a “potential heir apparent” to Niklas Alex Burmistrov — well, let's face it — it might be the choice between Hjalmarsson. stepping up or finding a new league for next season. And Adam Clendening is in the AHL. 4. I'd like to see Boucher replace Boeser on the first power-play unit. It won't be quite the same, since Boucher is a lefty. But we've seen in the 10. Stat of the week: At 5-on-5, the Canucks have been outscored 19-4 past that the Sedins need a shooting threat with them. in the six games since Horvat has been out. “That's the one thing we've, not asked for, but it's such a huge difference Enjoy the games this week! if you have a guy that can shoot the puck back there,” Henrik said Friday. “It opens up a lot of room for other guys. … Once we set up, they have to respect him.” The Athletic LOADED: 12.19.2017 If not Boucher, then give Boeser's spot to Goldobin or Thomas Vanek. Just don't overthink it. Put a shooter out there. (Please not Sam Gagner.) 5. For Benning's sake, Loui Eriksson, Gagner and Vanek had better be part of the solution. Those three are being paid good money to provide scoring. And in the six games since Horvat has been out, they've combined for just one point: Gagner's OT winner. As you all know, the Canucks' general manager still doesn't have a contract extension, and Eriksson, Gagner and Vanek have a combined cap hit of $11.15 million. When that much money goes to waste, ownership tends to notice. 1089102 Vancouver Canucks he's pushed him out wide, he's fine. In fact, he's gonna be able to put a lick on him. He doesn't need help. But because Parayko saw a chance to throw a big hit, now here's where we're at: Systems Analyst: Breaking down Sunday's game winners by Chicago, Ahh, right, the whole hockey puck thing. That's important. Winnipeg and Calgary From there, the Jets complete what has to be one of the luckiest passes of all-time. The puck somehow went under this Blues player here, By Justin Bourne 16 hours ago through the armpit hole. The Flames winner was less a product of a pure defensive meltdown as it was two pretty skilled offensive players going at two pretty “just okay” On Sunday, it just so happened that three of the four NHL games pitted defensive ones. two cities we dutifully cover here at The Athletic, and all three featured interesting game winners. So, needless today, it felt like a no-brainer It's four on four, and Flames are in the midst of a regroup. Ben Hutton is today to break those plays down and examine what really happened. gaping up with the play, as Johnny Gaudreau has just taken the puck back to build a little speed. This goal was both a matter of curious circumstance, a goal scorer's mentality, and nice execution. Now, here's where a matter of simple positioning can cost you. You'd generally like to see your defenders inside the dot lines to push the play As you can see below, Wild defender Jared Spurgeon is in the middle of out of the middle to the outside. But as Hutton slides over, he's really the ice, awaiting a Chicago regroup that was seemingly taking a long taking away the middle of the ice. The puck's in the middle, and he is too, time to develop. with half the rink on his right side. This shift started with a faceoff in the Blackhawk end some 40 seconds But really, this is all about two great offensive plays to capitalize on that. ago and has been all the way down the ice and back once already. Look at Mark Giordano's back leg and toe flexion in the picture above. Spurgeon is in an awkward decision-making spot. If he doesn't change He's already pushing hard, building up speed to be able to overtake the now, he risks getting caught out for a long one, particularly if the Canucks D-man easily by the time he's on him. Blackhawks execute their regroup well and get set-up in the Wild's end. The next smart read is Gaudreau going nose-to-nose with Markus Spurgeon is probably thinking two things: For one, he's already pretty Granlund. close to his team's bench, and secondly, the puck carrier has just curled back, and now has his back to Spurgeon. If he had just continued toward the open ice by the boards, he'd have brought Granlund over to Giordano, where it's possible Granlund Also, because the regroup was taking so long to develop, the could've gotten a stick in to disrupt the Flames D-man from getting clean Blackhawks forward on the bottom of your screen decided to stretch out possession with speed and room. to the far blueline, as is fairly common for wingers to do. He also sees his defender curl back, and decides, ah well, we have solid possession, I'm Hutton makes the read way too late, because really, you could see 40 seconds in, time for a sit-down. Giordano coming like a freight train from a full zone away. He could've slid over to make a way better challenge. But credit goes to the Flames As you can see below, Spurgeon decides he's going for it and hails a there for making a couple offensive good reads and executing well. change. It's the second period, so it's the period with the long change, and he might not get another chance for awhile. It ends up being the wrong call, but you can at least sorta process the logic. The Athletic LOADED: 12.19.2017 Here's where things get interesting. So, both key players who changed here seem to think that Duncan Keith curling back was gonna buy them the time they needed to get off and have someone jump out in time. But the Hawks D-man makes a skilled play, a hard backhand pass to his partner that suddenly left Chicago facing the right way with solid possession of the puck, with a lot of space. But now the fun part! Patrick Kane saw that play develop — in that still shot below you can see him watching it all unfold and reading the play — so he made a bit of an aggressive change. Whoever was coming on for Spurgeon was either surprised by the change, or wasn't quite ready. The Wild's change is conservative, and as you can see below. Meanwhile, look at the distance still to go for the Blackhawks changing forward, while Kane has both his skates on the ice. And BAM, just like that the puck is on his tape after a great pass from Jordan Oesterle through the seam, and Patrick Kane is off to do Patrick Kane things. It's not very often you get to solely assign the blame for a goal against to one guy, but on this Winnipeg goal, our man Colton Parayko pretty clearly has to wear it. The situation seems black and white: we're looking at a 2-on-2 after a Blues player turned the puck over trying to get the puck back to the point (okay, fine, we'll give that guy some blame, too). This is as easily defined a defensive situation as they come. Man-on-man as the Jets move the puck wide and enter the zone. All good! There's an interesting phenomenon that I find gets under-discussed: defensemen cheat, too. It's always forwards taking the heat for flying the zone too early, or poking at pucks hoping they'll come free easily rather than stopping and bearing down. But most D who you know as “big hitters” have to take some chances to catch guys by surprise. Right about now, in that screen above, Parayko starts to lick his chops. He sees Brandon Tanev trying to get the edge on Joel Edmundson, and thinks he might be able to light him up on the other side. The only thing is, that's dumb as can be if you're actually focusing on defending. Look at Edmundson's positioning on Tanev. He has an angle, 1089103 Websites probably, from what I can remember, one of the first times where we’re 30-plus games into the season and other than four games or so, I’ve played every shift with the same guys. As a player, especially when The Athletic / LeBrun: Q&A with Steven Stamkos on chemistry with you’re having success, that’s exactly what you want. When you have that Kucherov, missing the Olympics, and Tavares' free agency chemistry with guys, it’s just so fun to go out on the ice knowing what each other is going to do and what the other guy is thinking. Obviously, things will go stale at times over the course of an 82-game season, we had two or three games where each of us had to get our games going By Pierre LeBrun 21 hours ago playing with other guys, then we got back together and it’s just a seamless transition back. It’s just been a lot of fun. And when you stick

with a line that long, there’s two things happening: the line is playing well Steven Stamkos in on pace for a career-high 110 points in what has and the team is playing well. Because when one of those two aren’t, been a banner season so far for the most productive line in hockey. More that’s when you see the blender of lines. It’s a testament not only to the importantly to Stamkos, the Tampa Bay Lightning have shot out of a other two guys on my line but also to our team, and the depth and the cannon and lead the NHL standings with a 24-6-2 record through consistency our team has shown this year. Pretty much every line has Sunday. They are a team that began the year hungry to erase last stayed its course and we’re still finding ways to be successful. season’s injury-riddled, non-playoff year. LEBRUN: You’re known as one of the game’s great triggermen. You’re Stamkos, 27, was one of those key injuries, playing only 17 games piling up all these assists this season and I’m thinking, is Steven before a serious knee injury ended his season. Now he’s back healthy Stamkos turning into Joe Thornton –what’s going on? and part of the league’s most dynamic unit with Nikita Kucherov and STAMKOS (laughs): Well you know, it has been a little strange. I can’t sit Vladislav Namestnikov. I caught up with the Markham, Ont., native this here and deny the fact that I’ve always been known as a goal-scorer and weekend during an 18-minute phone call where, as always, Stamkos a guy that likes to shoot the puck and enjoys scoring goals. But at the gave some thoughtful answers on a number of topics: same time, I’ve always tried to round my game off and improve on other LEBRUN: When you see what your team can do when healthy, it must aspects, and just honestly make the right play at the right time, just show you how crazy last year was with all the injuries. You were regardless if it’s a shot or a pass. When I played with Marty and scored a missing almost half the team at one point and still almost made the lot of goals playing alongside him, it was getting him the puck and getting playoffs. I’m guessing that fuelled the hunger to start this season the way open. My job was to shoot. When you play with guys that are playmakers you guys did? first, they want to get you the puck. And it was so interesting when I got to play with Kuch for the first time last year consistently, he’s obviously STAMKOS: Yeah, honestly. It was a tough situation last year with the an unbelievable scorer, but he thinks the same way, too; he’s always just injuries and the position we were in having to make some of the trades trying to make the right play. At the beginning of this year, the right play and then we still almost made it. It just goes to show you when you do for our line was to get him the puck because he was so hot. Everything have a healthy team, we know we can be an elite team. I think it was was going in and we were having a lot of success. We piled up those good to have that chip on our shoulder coming into camp this year. It just points, and assists for me, and it was just reading the plays and making reminded us how hard it is to win in this league and sometimes you need the right play, and for Vladdy and I it was getting Kuch the puck. It still is, that. That’s kind of flown under the radar, but that’s what has been but throughout the course of the year things begin to even out a little bit. fuelling the consistency of our play so far this year. For sure I definitely don’t just think of myself as a playmaker, I still want to score goals and shoot the puck. It’s just been interesting how it’s LEBRUN: You mentioned some of the trades last year. Ben Bishop was broken down this year, I haven’t changed anything from a mindset a popular teammate in your room but the game is a business. Man, has perspective. Andrei Vasilevskiy ever taken the baton from Bishop and not looked back, right? How would put into words the season he’s having? LEBRUN: Your name came up recently when I chatted with John Tavares. Of course, I was talking to him about his pending free agency STAMKOS: Everyone in the room thinks he’s the best goalie in the world 0n July 1, and we were talking about you and what he may have learned right now. In being completely honest, did I personally see that from your experience two years ago when you were a UFA. Now that the happening as quick as it has? Probably not. But did we all envision he shoe is on the other foot and you’re watching Tavares go through the would be one of the best goalies in the league within the next couple of year here, what are your observations? Obviously, a big decision ahead years? Yes. He’s just kind of accelerated that. And you forget how young of him. he is (23) because he’s so mature, he prepares so well, he works so hard. When you put all that together, it’s not a surprise he’s one of if not STAMKOS: Yeah it’s definitely a big decision and a decision that he’s the best goalie right now in the league. He’s a huge reason why we’ve earned every right to make on his own time and on his own terms. He’s had the start that we’ve had. He’s going to be huge if we have any such a smart guy and has such a great supporting cast with his family success down the stretch and hopefully into the playoffs. He’ll be the and friends, I’m sure very similar to mine; it’s just been impressive how main reason why. well he’s played and how well he’s dealt with the so-called distraction of going through a contract year. Especially for such a high-profile player LEBRUN: Your line with Kucherov and Namestnikov has been fun to and playing in New York. It wasn’t easy for me. I have no regrets in how I watch. Namestnikov gets a little lost in the narrative, and it’s not made my decision. But when you’re going through that, it’s definitely in surprising given that you and Kucherov are established stars and used to the back of your mind and it weighs on you a little bit. But it just looks like being in the limelight. But what do you think it’s like for Namestnikov to he’s going out and playing hockey, having fun, and playing extremely be enjoying some of this success? He’s a part of what you guys are well. It’s been impressive for me to see. Because I know exactly how he’s doing. feeling. He’s done a great job of leaving that stuff at home and coming to STAMKOS: He’s a big part. Any time we talk about Kuch and I, I always the rink and playing hockey. try to find a way to throw Vladdy in there because he deserves to be LEBRUN: If he gets to July 1, are you going to be one of the recruiters for there. He’s a great player. We saw what we could do together at the Tampa? beginning of last year before my injury. Obviously, lines got shuffled and trades happened, I know he probably didn’t have the year that he wanted STAMKOS (chuckling): Well, yeah, if he gets to July 1 there should be 30 to. But we knew if we got a chance to play together this year that the teams calling him. But you know, it’s such a long process and things can chemistry was there. He’s played great. He’s so smart and he’s so change in an instant. He’s surrounded by good people. He’s such a responsible, he allows Kuch and I to make some plays knowing that he’s smart guy, whatever decision, whenever he decides to make that back in certain defensive situations and things like that. Vladdy is just decision, it’ll be one that’s well thought-out and the right one for him. such a calm, cool, collected guy. I don’t think, really, he cares whether he gets the spotlight or not. He just wants to go and play and be given an LEBRUN: No doubt you feel pretty good about your decision looking opportunity to show what he can do. And he’s done that. He’s having a back now. You’re on a first-place team that’s got a chance to do tremendous year so far. He’s part of why our line has had success. something special and I think a chance to win for a number of years. But do you ever look back at the teams that had an audience with you and LEBRUN: It’s rare in today’s NHL that lines stay together like you guys wonder how things could have been different or have you always looked have. Even on good teams, lines go in the blender all the time. You guys straight ahead from the moment you decided to re-sign? have pretty much been together all year except for a few times. What’s that like to be a unit for this much time, it’s so rare in today’s game. STAMKOS: You know what, I was extremely happy with my decision the moment I made it. Since Day 1, I was pretty open and candid with the STAMKOS: Yeah it is. We’ve always talked about having a pair at least fact I wanted to come back and I love Tampa. I really thought Tampa had where if things aren’t going well you switch it up. I had that (pairing) with everything that I needed. First and foremost, like you just said: a chance Marty (St. Louis). Since the Marty trade, I have played with a lot of guys to win. That’s what we had done the previous couple of years before I and had success with different guys. We’ve tried different things. This is made my decision, we went to the finals and to the conference finals, getting so close with the group of guys that we have knowing that we’re just going to get better and improve. Here we are today playing really good hockey and giving ourselves a chance. That’s what I wanted. That was a big part of the decision. For me, too, I love living and playing in Tampa with the ownership that we have, the fans that we have, the lifestyle that you have, I mean it’s the whole package. I can honestly say there hasn’t been a day where I thought `What if?’ I think that’s probably the most important thing in making the decision, if you don’t have regrets then you probably made the right one. LEBRUN: I’d say. Now this could be a season, hopefully for you guys, that sees you playing into June. But it could have been an even busier season had you been going to South Korea. I know this ground has been covered before but now the Olympics are actually coming soon, does it hit home more? Especially given what happened with you and Sochi (missed the Olympics due to a broken leg), do you feel robbed a bit? STAMKOS: Yes, I absolutely do. It was tough for me not being able to go to Sochi. It was something I was really looking forward to. Even when the injury happened, I was really working hard trying to come back and possibly play. It didn’t work out. You start thinking four years down the road from there. Then the other injury stuff that I had, just rehabbing, and just giving myself a chance that if there’s that one chance we do go (to the Olympics) that I get off to a good start and prove myself that I can still play at that level … it’s worked out so far but like you said, the dream is over, for this year anyway. And with all the talent that Canada has, as you get older in your career, four years is a long time to look down the road. It was a tough pill to swallow knowing that we weren’t going. It’s very unfortunate, and obviously selfishly for me personally, not having had a chance to go play and represent my country at that level is very disappointing. LEBRUN: I’m not worried about you in four years as a player, I’d be more concerned about whether the NHL actually goes back or not come Beijing in 2022. We’ll see, I guess. Ok, last question. It’s the last game of the regular season, you and Kucherov are tied for the NHL scoring lead, and you’re skating in on a 2- on-0… STAMKOS (interjecting): I’m passing him the puck. LEBRUN: I knew you would say that. How much fun has it been to be 1-2 in the NHL points race? STAMKOS: Yeah it’s cool. It’s just fun to be doing that and having that success as well as the team success. You know Marty and I in that lockout-shortened year we finished 1-2 in the league and weren’t in the playoffs. I was happy for Marty winning it but you could tell it just didn’t mean the same as when you do it in a season where the team has a chance to win. That’s been the really fun part for both Kuch and I, we’re so supportive of each other and we want the other to succeed so much, but when it’s happening with the team playing as well as it is, it just means so much more. Hopefully, we can continue that and continue to help the team win. That’ll make it a lot of fun down the stretch.

The Athletic LOADED: 12.19.2017 1089104 Websites maturity and just be very present, in the moment, great eye contact, no rush, just in the room with those kids for as long as those kids want him to be there. He’s very patient, even when staff come up and ask for a The Athletic / Auston Matthews: Making a difference in the community photo with him. We tend to be a little bit more protective and say it’s really for the kids, but they’ve been clear they want to support the CF staff, too.” BY SCOTT WHEELER Whenever the Leafs have a break in their schedule, Matthews or his father will email or call Charendoff to set up a visit. They also make sure outpatients who aren’t staying at SickKids can come in and spend some time with him. When kids are immune compromised, Matthews has been In the days after the Toronto Maple Leafs selected Auston Matthews first happy to put on gloves, a gown and a mask for his visits. overall at the 2016 NHL draft, he and his father, Brian, began to do their homework. In some cases, Matthews is not much older than the kids he is meeting, as SickKids treats patients up to 18. It started with a Google search of three words. One ever-present sign of his impact in the ward hangs on the wall at “Cystic fibrosis Toronto.” SickKids. Next to the pulmonary function machine are photos of One of the top results was for the SickKids’ Cystic Fibrosis Centre. The Matthews taking the test that all cystic fibrosis patients have to endure. Matthews quietly reached out to the hospital, even before they had set “It’s really uncomfortable for the kids,” Charendoff says of the procedure. foot in the city. They had a personal connection to the disease and “The kids just hate it. Now, when the kids come in and they’re fussing wanted a way to give back in what would be their new home. and they don’t want to do it they can say ‘Look, there’s Auston Matthews Fifteen years earlier, when Matthews was three and a half years old, his — he’s doing it!’ He was a really good sport. He did it and let them take uncle Bill passed away from cystic fibrosis in his early 30s. Bill Matthews photos of him blowing into this tube, which is not your typical hero was an avid hockey fan — a season-ticket holder with the then-Phoenix headshot. Your cheeks are puffed out, you’re blowing really hard, there’s Coyotes — and had introduced his young nephew to hockey by taking a lot of exertion involved. He said 'If it’ll help the kids and motivate them, him to his first NHL games. I’ll do it.' ” “He was the only one in our family that has had it,” Auston Matthews told Matthews' personal touch has made an impression on dozens of Toronto The Athletic's James Mirtle recently. “It was a lot different back then, with families since he first started going to the hospital late last year. On the the stuff that you’ve got to do to stay alive and treatments. It’s a pretty Leafs’ annual team visit to SickKids earlier this month, one parent tough disease. approached him in private to thank him for a visit the week earlier, explaining that Matthews had made her child’s worst day into one of his “He was really close with my dad, so it's just a disease that’s close to not best. only myself but my whole family. SickKids has a really good program, and I’ve met some really good people (on the staff). The lady that runs it, One SickKids patient Matthews has formed a unique bond with is Colton her name’s Lisa. I go over there quite a bit. I just go over there and visit Stothers, a local minor hockey player who suffers from primary ciliary them.” dyskinesia, a rare condition similar to cystic fibrosis. Stothers first met Matthews right before he was scheduled to go on a Make-A-Wish trip to Lisa Charendoff is the hospital’s associate director of community the NHL All-Star Game in Los Angeles last January. relations. She is the one who fielded the Matthews' first phone call in the summer of 2016 after the father and son had a conversation about how When Stothers visited players in the dressing room, Matthews greeted he wanted to make an impact off the ice in Toronto. him by name and they had a moment together. Matthews also made a point to call and talk to Stothers' minor hockey team before one of their Ever since, Matthews has paid SickKids’ cystic fibrosis ward a private games after an early visit. visit once a month, spending one-on-one time with the young children and families battling the disease at the hospital. Off days are few and far “He’s very genuine,” says Rick Stothers, Colton's father. “He’s not a between during an NHL season, but Matthews' visits are long. They also larger-than-life character. Just someone you can relate to, someone you often include additional stops when staff ask if Matthews can see a can talk to. It’s amazing how down-to-earth Matthews is and how much patient in another ward who needs a lift. he and his family are willing to give back to the community on their own. Auston knowing (Colton's) name and remembering him was priceless for He never says no. him. Those little things along the way, it means a ton to him. It just puts an extra step in his stride. Matthews' first visit included a tour of the hospital and a meeting with its cystic fibrosis care leaders. At the time, he didn’t know much about “When you have a disorder or a disability, it’s not something you often SickKids or the Leafs’ longstanding relationship with the hospital. He also bring up. But when someone sees you with a picture of Auston Matthews didn’t want any credit for the visits. or asks ‘How did you get that call for the team?’ it’s an easy conversation and makes other kids aware of the condition he has. It’s more ‘I got to do Quiet by nature, Matthews prefers the privacy that secrecy affords him this today and look who I got to meet.' And then it creates a discussion with the children. and helps to educate others through Auston, giving him a positive spin on “It just kind of worked out,” Matthews says of the relationship. “They have a negative situation. Being at the hospital is never pleasant, but the one of — if not the — biggest research departments for cystic fibrosis (in opportunity to meet Matthews makes it that much easier to do these the world) there.” things. It means the world.” “They weren’t looking for any personal publicity for doing this,” Charendoff said Stothers' all-star experience typifies how Matthews has Charendoff says. “They really just wanted an opportunity to make a gone above and beyond expectations when it comes to dealing with difference for kids and families who have cystic fibrosis. He just, one at a patients. time, meets with patient families. Very quiet, intimate, low key, personal “That kindness — that was extraordinary,” Charendoff says. “A few visits.” weeks after that, (Colton) was hospitalized for weeks. He missed several SickKids staff have been incredibly impressed with Matthews' efforts. games. I let Auston’s dad know, and they sent a note and best wishes to tell him they were thinking of him and hoping he was back to hockey “My impression, from the minute I met him, was that he was an extremely soon. Those little things — nobody’s forcing them to do things like that. respectful, dignified, mature young man,” Charendoff says. “It’s hard to And it’s such a powerful connection for these families. believe that he was at the time 19. He was so down to earth, did not walk in with any kind of attitude or strut, and that first impression was born out “I’m really fond of him and his dad. They’re the real deal, you know? with every subsequent time he came into the hospital. He’s very natural They’re just super nice. He’s so unassuming. Some celebrities want you with these kids and families.” to notice them. He’s just like ‘I’m here for these kids. I’m not here to talk about me.’ It’s really evident.” Early on, Matthews was able to conduct his visits in relative anonymity. These days that’s not possible, particularly in hospital elevators, where Those who know Matthews well aren't surprised by his charitable efforts. he is quickly spotted by guests and staff. But it's a side of Matthews that most fans haven't yet learned much about, given his quiet demeanour and reluctance to dominate the But his rising star hasn't affected his time with cystic fibrosis patients. spotlight. “(Auston and Brian) have never breezed in, breezed out,” Charendoff “He's such a great kid,” says Marc Crawford, the long-time NHL coach says. “They have taken as much time as is necessary. It’s not easy to who worked with Matthews during the 2015-16 season with the Zurich see kids who are struggling, but he has been able to manage it with great Lions. “(The Matthews family) are just high end, quality people.” Auston Matthews, the player, meanwhile, is a story many in Toronto now know well. He is the kid from Scottsdale, Ariz., with the unlikely back story. He scored 40 goals as a rookie — including four in his first game — to win the Calder Trophy. He has a booming, accurate shot and remarkable hand-eye coordination, skills that put him among the NHL leaders in point production right from his first game in the best league in the world. He is also the heir apparent to the captaincy of one of hockey’s most storied franchises. In the calendar year of 2017, he has 39 goals and 70 points in 79 games split between two regular seasons and one playoff round, a spirited six- game battle last spring that pushed the Presidents' Trophy-winning Washington Capitals to their limits. In that series, only the Leafs' second playoff appearance in the last 13 years, Matthews led the way with four goals. On those merits alone, he could have been The Athletic Toronto's Person of the Year — even in a year when Toronto FC delivered its first MLS title. But Matthews' ability to give back, at such a young age, has helped set him apart. “He does a lot of that stuff without telling people,” says Zach Hyman, Matthews' regular linemate. “He likes to stay under the radar. He’s a humble guy. He’s a great role model for kids and a good leader. “The first year, when he came over (to the NHL), you maybe don’t realize how big the Toronto market is. He gets recognized on the streets wherever he goes. He’s that kind of figure in the community. People want to know about him. I think as people get to know him more, they’ll get to see that kind of side of him. Everybody (in the dressing room) knows he’s humble. In the media, he doesn’t really say much about himself or things like that, but he does these things in the community. I think (the city will) get to know him more as time goes on.” Those who have seen it have been won over. Some believe that Matthews has already started to leave his mark in Toronto in a big way, bigger than being the franchise-altering centre who has changed the trajectory of Maple Leafs on the ice. He has given his time and his heart to a cause he believes in. And he started to do so from the moment he stepped foot in Toronto. “The younger kids who watch and or play hockey, their jaws drop and they’re just almost speechless initially,” Charendoff says. “And the parents are so grateful because, when their child is sick, all they want is for their child to have a good day, to smile, to have a lift. To meet a hero like that changes everything in that child’s day or week.”

The Athletic LOADED: 12.19.2017 1089105 Websites player, well, we’re still figuring out what to make of the Pistons. And the Lions just keep on being the Lions.

The down year in Detroit sports across the board allows us to lift up the The Athletic / Henrik Zetterberg: Leaving a lasting impact on the efforts both on and off the ice of one of the last links to a championship- franchise level team this city has. It's a chance to recognize the captain of the Detroit Red Wings. BY CRAIG CUSTANCE It got lost during the death of an owner, the closing of an arena and the ending of a playoff streak that stretched decades, but Zetterberg was the Red Wings' best player last season. And his most impressive work came In February 2014, in a two-bedroom suite in the Olympic Village in Sochi, when the calendar flipped to 2017 and it was clear that the team around Henrik Zetterberg was on his knees, leaning forward, head down — the him wasn’t nearly good enough. Instead of packing it in, he dug in even only position in which he wasn’t in debilitating pain. The room, one he more. shared with Team Sweden and Red Wings teammate Gustav Nyquist, had a beautiful view of the Black Sea, but that brought Zetterberg no The Red Wings' season, and a page of their franchise history, was comfort. crumbling around him and he played each shift like it was Lidstrom and Brendan Shanahan on the ice next to him instead of Ryan Sproul and Nothing did. Drew Miller. He couldn’t lie down. He couldn’t sit up. He couldn’t sleep. If he dozed “Last year, what he did when we were out of the playoffs was just as off, it was only momentarily. Teammates would come visit and it was special. That was to make sure there was no chance we were losing the hard for them to even look at him. He had conversations he doesn't culture,” Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill says. “He had nothing to gain remember having, erased by the pain. from that. His career has been established.” This lasted three days. He was sustained mostly by Strawberry He led the team with 68 points, 20 more than his closest teammate. He McFlurries. Nyquist would get texts from Zetterberg asking him to pick up was a plus-15 on a team that finished with a minus-37 goal differential. two McFlurries from the McDonald's in the athlete dining hall. One he’d eat right away. The other, he’d put in the freezer for later. He was 36 years old. “A lot of McDonald's ice cream. And a lot of empty bottles (Nyquist) had “It was as impressive a year as he’s had,” Kronwall says. “With the to bring in and then go out with fluids,” Zetterberg says. “It was the worst struggles we had as a team, it didn’t faze him. He took a lot on his thing I’d ever gone through pain-wise.” shoulders and that speaks to how bad we were last year — the captain had his best year ever maybe and we still missed the playoffs. That says Zetterberg's wife, Emma, desperately wanted to join him in Sochi. When a lot.” she first got word of his condition, which kicked in after one Olympic game, she left immediately to get on a flight to St. Petersburg before she This season has been impressive for different reasons. For one, he’s got a phone call telling her to hold off. She had to wait. Nobody was sure moving himself up the Red Wings record book. exactly where Zetterberg was headed. He was immobile. She was During a Saturday night game against the New Jersey Devils, Zetterberg scared. It was miserable for everyone involved. assisted on a David Booth goal to pass Pavel Datsyuk to move into sixth “People don’t understand how bad it was,” longtime teammate Niklas place on the Red Wings career list with 919 points. He’ll crack the top Kronwall says. “It was definitely tough. Not only a teammate but a good five when he catches Sergei Fedorov (954). friend for a long time. To see the pain he was in is something you don’t It was an accomplishment Datsyuk appreciated from afar. wish upon anybody.” “Throughout our career we were good friends. We (were) aiming to be Eventually, they found enough painkiller to allow him to start moving leaders and also had friendly competition,” Datsyuk wrote in an e-mail around. He was on the first plane of NHL players headed to New York from Moscow. “We always put our team goals over our own and when Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara saw him laboring at accomplishments. Henrik deserves all of his record-breaking the airport, he grabbed Zetterberg’s gear to ease the load. accomplishments due to his extremely great work ethic and his care “He was really struggling,” Chara says. “He was uncomfortable just to be towards teammates.” sitting. … I just wanted to help him out, put his stuff on the plane so he But his more important accomplishment may be his mere presence. didn’t have to carry it.” During a season in which it’s becoming painfully clear that a serious He got to New York, rushed to Dr. Frank Cammisa’s office for an MRI. rebuild is in need, Zetterberg provides a reminder to what these young Two pieces of his disk in his back had broken and were pinching a nerve, Red Wings are representing. causing excruciating pain. Four hours later, he was in surgery. No better example came than when the Red Wings were humiliated in When the pain was at its worst, on his knees in Russia, he wondered if Montreal 10-1. Zetterberg let his teammates know they not only this was it. He was 33; he’d had a successful career; he’d won an embarrassed themselves, they embarrassed anyone who has ever worn Olympic gold medal; he’d won a Stanley Cup. the Red Wings uniform. Those words have an impact. He let the media know it publicly and the team privately. He’d been battling with back issues since 2006 and now this. This was something unlike anything he’d ever experienced. “We just want to keep the traditions,” Zetterberg said, incorporating Kronwall in with his leadership vision. “Whatever the Yzermans, the “I knew I had played through stuff that I would probably have to pay for Lidstroms, the Drapers, the Chelioses, the Larionovs — all the guys who later,” he says. helped us coming in and being a Red Wing, we want to do the same thing for the young kids coming in.” In those desperate moments, he thought maybe it was time to stop playing. After the surgery, he knew it wasn’t. In his quiet resolve, he That’s just half of what he’s contributing to this city. And to a village started recovery not just to play again but to play that season. thousands of miles away. “It was an extremely aggressive timeline,” Kronwall says. It was entertaining seeing a high-profile hockey star like Zetterberg having a little fun. In truth, the getup was a nod to the southern Sweden But that decision to fight for full recovery, to return to the ice, has put town Molle, where the wedding was taking place. Zetterberg into a position at the end of his career to impact this Red Wings franchise for the foreseeable future. To change and teach the next “It was the first place where men and women would swim together,” generation of players. To leave a lasting impact that ending it all three Emma Zetterberg told The Athletic years later. “They had these old- years ago never would have allowed. fashioned bathing suits with stripes on and we were thinking, since we’re getting married in this cool, little village, why don’t we recreate how it was “You never want to see a guy be hurt and finish that way,” Chara says. over 100 years ago?” “You want to see guys finishing in an honorable way.” Perfectly reasonable idea. He's now getting that chance. “Pavel (Datsyuk) in that bathing suit was amazing to see. Nicklas Henrik Zetterberg is The Athletic Detroit’s 2017 Person of the Year. The Lidstrom and Tomas Holmstrom, it was hysterical,” she says. “We all honor comes during a 2017 that wasn’t exactly a banner year for the strip down to the bathing suits, right away. It was such a good icebreaker. city’s sports scene and its standout athletes. The Tigers' best player Everyone kept the bathing suits. I don’t know who wore it again. Maybe ended up winning a World Series for another team. The Pistons' best Lidstrom.” But quietly, Emma and Henrik made a much more serious decision Awareness night recently at Little Caesars Arena. An 11-year-old boy surrounding that wedding. It was a decision that ended up changing the named Noah Gochanour dropped the puck that night. lives of hundreds, if not thousands, of people in Ethiopia. In some ways, it changed theirs too. Gochanour has Ewing’s sarcoma, a rare form of cancer he’s been fighting for over three years. As documented beautifully and tragically by While the rest of us were scanning items at Bed Bath & Beyond before NHL.com's Nick Cotsonika, Noah is out of treatment options. In our weddings for the registry, they decided they didn’t want gifts. September, doctors found 13 tumors in his lungs. Instead, they wanted everyone attending the wedding to give to a charity. Twice in previous seasons, the Gochanour family spent games in the They just weren’t exactly sure which charity. Zetterberg suite, where Noah fell in love with the sport and the player who made it happen. On this recent November night, Noah got to meet In 2009, Emma started calling around. She wanted to give a large his favorite player. Zetterberg gave him two sticks — one signed so it donation but also wanted it earmarked for specific causes about which could hang on his wall, and one unsigned so his mom would let him play she’s passionate. Charities don’t often want to do that. with it in the living room. She also wanted to be hands-on. This wasn’t going to just be a nice “The joy it brought him and the memories it gave us, that’s a moment no donation. She wanted to be there. She wanted to get dirty. one will forget — from his siblings to me,” his mom, Sara Gochanour, “They were like, 'No, it doesn’t work that way,’ ” she says. “You can’t says. “That’s something that will be with them forever.” earmark the money.” It meant just as much to the Red Wings captain. When kids were in his Finally, a charity called ActionAid, one that focuses on women and suite, he didn’t get to have the intimate interaction. He was on the ice children in poverty, called her up and took her up on the offer. playing. Meeting Noah was different. He got to spend time with him. He got to see a kid facing so much uncertainty and handling it better than “They said, ‘Emma, c’mon, we’re going to Ethiopia,' ” she says. anyone could imagine. After driving 12 hours through Ethiopia in an area without roads, she “It’s amazing to see that little kid who had to go through so much in his arrived in the little village of Kemba. Instantly, she was in love. What had life and he’s the one who spreads all the joy,” Zetterberg says. “I told him, been a long search for a worthy place to send money ended in a ‘Never stop smiling.’ ” moment. In the months that followed the back surgery after the 2014 Olympics, “I remember, she called me from over there and said, ‘I found a place,’ ” Zetterberg approached it like he does everything. He just kept on Zetterberg says. grinding. Whatever it took to get back on the ice before the Red Wings were to compete in the 2014 playoffs, he was willing to do. Once he This is where the wedding proceeds were going. But it has gone well decided he was coming back, he was all in. beyond that in the years since. It started with microloans so the women of the village could buy goats. Then it became a focus on education — Finally, after months of rehab, he rented time on a rink at Cranbrook in first with building an elementary school and then a middle school. Bloomfield Hills. He felt good. He was excited. He laced up his skates, put on full gear and with a skating coach and doctor, he hit the ice. Then, when they realized the kids couldn’t focus on education because they spent so much time in pursuit of clean drinking water, the couple put Eight weeks of rehab led to this moment. He pushed onto the ice, and for in a well. a moment everything was as it should be. Then, he made a left turn and went down. His first thought was that something was wrong with his “Hopefully we can keep going,” Zetterberg says. “Obviously there’s lots skate. He quietly cursed Red Wings equipment manager Paul Boyer, got more villages out there that need help but you have to start somewhere.” up and started skating again. What began as a wedding gift has resulted in 200 kids now in the He was back on his feet, turned right and everything was fine. Then he elementary school and 700 kids in the middle school. The water station turned left and went down again. at the school is now being piped over to the neighboring village. “Go right, no problem,” Zetterberg said. “Go left. Boom. Down again.” Emma has been to the village six times, has created the Zetterberg Foundation to help fund it and the stares that greeted her when she first The playoffs were two weeks away. arrived are gone. Now, they call her Mother Emma. And they hear stories about her husband who helps support the effort by playing a sport they All the recovery and training he did on land had strengthened his legs but can’t quite grasp. He can't wait to be a regular visitor when his hockey the lack of skating neglected a nerve in his ankle that was still damaged, career is over. that was only used when he was on ice, wearing skates and turning left. “They know he’s a hockey player but they don’t know ice,” she says. “It’s He got off the ice and called Emma. She knew how excited he was to get hard for them to understand.” on the ice after the long layoff. She knew how eager he was to get on the ice for the playoffs. Closer to home, Zetterberg is adamant about setting the example for how a player on the Red Wings should conduct himself in the community. He So he was confused by her reaction. wants the young players to notice it, like they notice his focus on winning. “The first thing I said was I couldn’t turn left,” Zetterberg says. “She In January, Zetterberg spearheaded the 15th Smoke Detector Collection started laughing. I’m like, this is not funny. I can’t turn left.” day at the rink. She laughed even more. And then let him in on the joke. Years ago, Brendan Shanahan, the son of a firefighter, noticed while In the movie “Zoolander,” Derek Zoolander, the male supermodel, can’t watching the news how many fires devastated homes in Detroit. He used turn left on the runway. So when Henrik said he couldn’t turn left, she his place on the team to begin collecting smoke detectors before a game immediately thought of Ben Stiller as Zoolander. each season. When he left, Zetterberg kept the tradition going. Henrik, like Derek, was not an ambi-turner. They’ve distributed more than 30,000 smoke detectors because Zetterberg graciously took the baton on something that was Shanahan’s “We just started dying laughing,” Zetterberg says. passion. He got on the ice for two games in that postseason, assisted by ankle “I knew it was going to be kept alive because of him and I was so tape that stabilized things enough for him to make the turns he had to pleased to hear that,” Shanahan, now president of the Toronto Maple make, although going down while moving left was most definitely on his Leafs, told The Athletic. “Things like this, you don’t get the satisfaction — mind. you don’t have any idea of measuring whether or not you’ve helped a family.” But it sent in motion a gradual recovery that finally crescendoed last season. It was the best he’d felt in years. For the first time in his career, No, that close-up impact came in other ways. he played consecutive 82-game seasons. The closing of this year also marked the end of the His motivation is no longer a championship. He’s a realist. He just wants Zetterberg Foundation Suite, in which children and their families to provide the example he got from Red Wings legends when he arrived. impacted by illness or other hardships were hosted by Emma and Henrik for a game. “He’s been trying to follow what I did as far as trying to lead by example, something I learned from Yzerman,” Hall of Famer Nicklas Lidstrom Unlike smoke detectors, the impact of hosting these families was much wrote via e-mail from Sweden. “He’s been doing an excellent job as more real, something Henrik saw up close during Hockey Fights Cancer captain where on most nights, he’s been their best player over the course of his captaincy.” That's gradually starting to change. Sometimes now, it’s Dylan Larkin. Other nights, it’s Anthony Mantha. But Zetterberg is still taking his turn, while still providing that link to the greatest teams ever assembled in this town. It might be awhile before this city sees greatness in its professional teams. It's a professional sports landscape in transition. It's a Red Wings franchise in transition. So for now, the greatness comes in this form. A proud player trying to make one last meaningful contribution to his team

The Athletic LOADED: 12.19.2017 1089106 Websites he's pushed him out wide, he's fine. In fact, he's gonna be able to put a lick on him. He doesn't need help. But because Parayko saw a chance to throw a big hit, now here's where we're at: The Athletic / Systems Analyst: Breaking down Sunday's game winners Ahh, right, the whole hockey puck thing. That's important. by Chicago, Winnipeg and Calgary From there, the Jets complete what has to be one of the luckiest passes of all-time. The puck somehow went under this Blues player here, By Justin Bourne 16 hours ago through the armpit hole. The Flames winner was less a product of a pure defensive meltdown as it was two pretty skilled offensive players going at two pretty “just okay” On Sunday, it just so happened that three of the four NHL games pitted defensive ones. two cities we dutifully cover here at The Athletic, and all three featured interesting game winners. So, needless today, it felt like a no-brainer It's four on four, and Flames are in the midst of a regroup. Ben Hutton is today to break those plays down and examine what really happened. gaping up with the play, as Johnny Gaudreau has just taken the puck back to build a little speed. This goal was both a matter of curious circumstance, a goal scorer's mentality, and nice execution. Now, here's where a matter of simple positioning can cost you. You'd generally like to see your defenders inside the dot lines to push the play As you can see below, Wild defender Jared Spurgeon is in the middle of out of the middle to the outside. But as Hutton slides over, he's really the ice, awaiting a Chicago regroup that was seemingly taking a long taking away the middle of the ice. The puck's in the middle, and he is too, time to develop. with half the rink on his right side. This shift started with a faceoff in the Blackhawk end some 40 seconds But really, this is all about two great offensive plays to capitalize on that. ago and has been all the way down the ice and back once already. Look at Mark Giordano's back leg and toe flexion in the picture above. Spurgeon is in an awkward decision-making spot. If he doesn't change He's already pushing hard, building up speed to be able to overtake the now, he risks getting caught out for a long one, particularly if the Canucks D-man easily by the time he's on him. Blackhawks execute their regroup well and get set-up in the Wild's end. The next smart read is Gaudreau going nose-to-nose with Markus Spurgeon is probably thinking two things: For one, he's already pretty Granlund. close to his team's bench, and secondly, the puck carrier has just curled back, and now has his back to Spurgeon. If he had just continued toward the open ice by the boards, he'd have brought Granlund over to Giordano, where it's possible Granlund Also, because the regroup was taking so long to develop, the could've gotten a stick in to disrupt the Flames D-man from getting clean Blackhawks forward on the bottom of your screen decided to stretch out possession with speed and room. to the far blueline, as is fairly common for wingers to do. He also sees his defender curl back, and decides, ah well, we have solid possession, I'm Hutton makes the read way too late, because really, you could see 40 seconds in, time for a sit-down. Giordano coming like a freight train from a full zone away. He could've slid over to make a way better challenge. But credit goes to the Flames As you can see below, Spurgeon decides he's going for it and hails a there for making a couple offensive good reads and executing well. change. It's the second period, so it's the period with the long change, and he might not get another chance for awhile. It ends up being the wrong call, but you can at least sorta process the logic. The Athletic LOADED: 12.19.2017 Here's where things get interesting. So, both key players who changed here seem to think that Duncan Keith curling back was gonna buy them the time they needed to get off and have someone jump out in time. But the Hawks D-man makes a skilled play, a hard backhand pass to his partner that suddenly left Chicago facing the right way with solid possession of the puck, with a lot of space. But now the fun part! Patrick Kane saw that play develop — in that still shot below you can see him watching it all unfold and reading the play — so he made a bit of an aggressive change. Whoever was coming on for Spurgeon was either surprised by the change, or wasn't quite ready. The Wild's change is conservative, and as you can see below. Meanwhile, look at the distance still to go for the Blackhawks changing forward, while Kane has both his skates on the ice. And BAM, just like that the puck is on his tape after a great pass from Jordan Oesterle through the seam, and Patrick Kane is off to do Patrick Kane things. It's not very often you get to solely assign the blame for a goal against to one guy, but on this Winnipeg goal, our man Colton Parayko pretty clearly has to wear it. The situation seems black and white: we're looking at a 2-on-2 after a Blues player turned the puck over trying to get the puck back to the point (okay, fine, we'll give that guy some blame, too). This is as easily defined a defensive situation as they come. Man-on-man as the Jets move the puck wide and enter the zone. All good! There's an interesting phenomenon that I find gets under-discussed: defensemen cheat, too. It's always forwards taking the heat for flying the zone too early, or poking at pucks hoping they'll come free easily rather than stopping and bearing down. But most D who you know as “big hitters” have to take some chances to catch guys by surprise. Right about now, in that screen above, Parayko starts to lick his chops. He sees Brandon Tanev trying to get the edge on Joel Edmundson, and thinks he might be able to light him up on the other side. The only thing is, that's dumb as can be if you're actually focusing on defending. Look at Edmundson's positioning on Tanev. He has an angle, 1089107 Websites never really into celebrating his birthday. It stuck with him for a long time.”

Seven years later, Pietrangelo celebrated being the No. 4 overall pick by The Athletic / Alex Pietrangelo: 'Hardest thing I've ever been through' the Blues in the 2008 NHL draft, but twice the team sent the defenseman strengthened commitment to be a good person on and off the ice back to junior hockey, delaying the start of his pro career. The second time was a test of his mental toughness because most of the other defensemen selected high in that draft were already in the league — No. Jeremy Rutherford 17 hours ago 2 pick Drew Doughty was in the lineup in L.A., No. 3 Zach Bogosian was in Atlanta, No. 5 Luke Schenn was in Toronto, No. 12 Tyler Myers was in Buffalo and No. 15 Erik Karlsson in Ottawa. “Happiest moment of my life yesterday!” @apetro_27 wrote on Twitter. “Was he disappointed? One-hundred percent,” Joe said. “He was “My best friend and now my wife, couldn't have asked for a better day!” extremely disappointed, but he turned it into a positive thing. He just had to continue doing what he was doing, and my philosophy was, when you A beautiful bride, a handsome head of hair on the Blues defenseman and get there, you're going to stay there.” the appearance of a delightful afternoon. Pietrangelo made the Blues' roster full-time in 2010, and a year later, at “My favorite moment of the day was our 'first look,' when it was just the age 21, he met a young woman named Jayne Cox. She didn't know who two of us to steal a few minutes before the ceremony,” Jayne he was, knew nothing about hockey and he absolutely loved that about Pietrangelo, Alex's wife, told The Athletic. “I don't even know how to her. describe the day, it was like living a dream.” “She thought if I didn’t get a point, or she didn’t hear my name on the With your thumb still pressed on the wedding day frame on your phone, it scoreboard, that I played bad,” Pietrangelo said, laughing. would only be human to wonder how some in this world seem to have it all. A month after the nuptials, Pietrangelo was named the 21st captain of He became a gold medalist at the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, but hockey the Blues. Two months later, a gold medal with Team Canada at the was always second to family, and though he and Jayne were just dating, was draped around his neck. he took a strong interest in supporting Ellie after her diagnosis of a Wilms' tumor, a form of kidney cancer. Ellie is the daughter of Jayne's Pietrangelo, 27, who's in the fifth year of a seven-year, $45.5 million sister, Tara, and brother-in-law, Jeff. contract, won't disagree with you that he's been blessed. But the defenseman has also been dealt his share of heartache and well beyond “With Alex's platform, it was important to us that he not only share Ellie's what many Blues fans might know. story through social media but bring awareness to pediatric cancer,” Jayne said. “Alex has been affected by pediatric cancer more than once “The thing that I always caution people in general is we have the same in his life and any awareness he can bring is special to our family.” problems everybody else has,” Pietrangelo said. “I put my pants on the same way you do, I put my shirt on the same way you do. My job is no In July 2016, Alex officially became part of Jayne's family when he put a different than anybody else's, it's just you watch me do my job. But we go ring on her finger, and a month later the Blues put the 'C' on Pietrangelo's through the same things that everybody else goes through.” chest. The pain cancer has put on Pietrangelo's life has been well-chronicled, Former Blues captain David Backes, who was in their wedding, had losing childhood friend Cosmo Oppedisano at age 11 in 2001, Blues fan signed in Boston, and although Pietrangelo hadn't yet been announced Seth Lange at age 14 in 2014, and longtime youth hockey coach Tyler as his successor, Backes anticipated the promotion and decided to leave Cragg at age 44 in 2015. In addition, Jayne's 8-year-old niece, Ellie, has behind some advice in a letter that he planted in Pietrangelo's car. been battling the disease for three years. He's shown his support for her by shaving his head and involving himself heavily with “Friends of Kids “I put it in an envelope and stuck it in his overhead visor,” Backes told with Cancer.” The Athletic this week. “It probably took him a week to find it when it fell into his lap. The details in the letter will remain between the two of us, but “I’ve lost a few close friends with cancer, so it's a great platform to give it just kind of said, ‘Be true to yourself.' He’s got all the tools and he’s just back and contribute to the community,” Pietrangelo said. “Ellie is cancer- got to be himself to go there and implement them.” free, but now she's in casts for the next 10 weeks because chemo and radiation messed up the way she walks, so the casts will help straighten The words came in handy during a season in which the Blues fired Ken out her tendons. If we can bring awareness, it's a good idea.” Hitchcock and promoted Mike Yeo. But there were times when the atmosphere at the rink was overwhelming and Pietrangelo needed to Today, however, Pietrangelo is trumpeting another platform in the phone Backes. aftermath of a far-less-known agony that his family faced last summer. If you follow him on Instagram, you mourned when he re-posted a picture “I just called him and he said, ‘If you feel like you’re doing too much, then that Jayne published on Dec. 4. let the other guys do some stuff,’ and that’s what I did,” Pietrangelo said. “I started to use those guys as a supporting group and work together as a “There hasn't been a day I haven't shed a tear for you but today my unit instead of me trying to do it by myself. I said, ‘OK, how do I really heart aches a little more knowing we should be holding you in our arms want to be a captain?’ My biggest thing was that I wanted to lead on the and not just our hearts. Many don't understand why we chose to honor ice.” you the way that we did but we loved you even before you were formed in the womb, I'm just sorry they never got to know and love you too. So Pietrangelo helped navigate the Blues into the second round of the for now, I'm hanging onto the promise of Heaven to hold you and baby playoffs, where they lost to Nashville, which eventually fell to Pittsburgh #2. #pregnancylossawareness in the Stanley Cup final. The Blues' series against the Predators ended in Game 6 on May 7, but the feeling was nothing compared to the loss a Sitting across the table from Pietrangelo at Scottrade Center as he little over a month later. shared the picture on his phone, you could only bear to offer your condolences. He graciously accepts your sentiment and gathers himself. 'IT'S DEVASTATING' “It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever been through,” Pietrangelo says. “It was Pietrangelo's teammates were welcoming new children into the world, the hardest thing I’ve ever been through — 100 percent — same with my and he couldn't wait to be the next dad in the locker room. But shortly wife. It goes from the best thing you’ve ever had when you’re expecting before he was scheduled to fly to Sweden for Alexander Steen's to just taken away from you. I don’t want to get into it too much because wedding, the couple got the horrifying news that Gabriel was gone. I’m going to upset myself.” Understandably, it's still too unbearable for Jayne to address, so The strength Pietrangelo has shown in overcoming personal tragedy Pietrangelo speaks for her. while captaining the Blues through a coaching change and turning himself into a defenseman worthy of Norris Trophy consideration is more “My wife, she’s the most important person in the world to me, and than enough reason for The Athletic St. Louis to recognize him for 2017. anytime you see a family member upset, it’s devastating,” he said. Joe Pietrangelo says that growing up in King City, Ontario, his son was The couple went away for 10 days, but returned to St. Louis and began always full of concern and courage. to focus on advanced methods of initiating pregnancy. They had high hopes that it would work, but not much later they found out there had “He had an open eye for anyone that seemed to be a little bit less been a second miscarriage. fortunate than him,” Joe said. “One of his friends, a boy named Cosmo, died at a young age, and I think that may have touched him early in life. “I was pissed at God,” Pietrangelo said. “I'm sitting there playing Play He happened to pass on Alex’s 11th birthday, and after that, Alex was Station and I'm pissed. I was like, ‘How can he do this to us again?’ But she's like, ‘Alright, but we’re going to church, right?’” Jeff and Tara, Ellie's parents, asked Alex and Jayne to attend their church that Sunday. Three years earlier, in a personal prayer session for Ellie after she had been diagnosed, the pastor read scripture verse Mark 5:25 to the family. “And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, 'If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed. Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.” Pietrangelo was wearing a bracelet made specifically for Ellie with that verse inscribed on it, but hadn't heard it in church since the prayer session three years prior. The pastor had no knowledge that he and Jayne were in attendance that Sunday, according to Pietrangelo, nor did he know of their disappointing development. But here he was reading Mark 5:25. “The one day I say, ‘I’m not going to church,’ the pastor reads the same scripture I hadn't heard in three years,” Pietrangelo said. “That’s when I said, 'There’s a plan.' I have a strong faith and that’s why. I think things happen for a reason, as hard as it is to believe.” Pietrangelo has somehow dealt with his emotion while playing arguably his best hockey since joining the Blues. In 31 games, he has seven goals, which is tied for third among all NHL defensemen, and he has 23 points, which is eighth. “I'm lucky that I'm in this game because it's given me a good escape, mentally to just kind of get away from the realities of life,” he said. “But sometimes it's tough not to bring that to work. Sometimes when guys aren't playing the way they should be — I'm not saying always — but sometimes maybe there's something else going on other than them not being a good player or in a slump or whatever.” It has made Pietrangelo's success this season all the more remarkable, and he's now an early candidate for the Norris Trophy, awarded annually to the league's best defenseman. He has never won the award, finishing as high as fourth in voting in 2011-12; he was 16th last season. “I mean it’s no secret, right, everybody wants recognition,” Pietrangelo said. “But I’m OK with the guys in my locker room knowing what I’m doing. I’m OK with just kind of flying under the radar.” The defenseman is more interested in posting on social media to help others than he is posting stats to help himself. At first, he and Jayne wondered whether they should publish their extremely private information, but were glad once they did. “We were kind of saying, ‘Should we tweet it out?” Pietrangelo said. “So, we did and just to see the people commenting that they’ve had the same problems and they’re praying for us … when I go to church now, I’m praying for all those people that are saying they’re praying for us. “We're going through what everybody else is going through, and it's another platform that my wife and I want to start reaching out on. It's a situation that I never thought I'd be in, but it's something that a lot of people go through and they could use the support because it's not an easy thing. Life has unexpected twists and you find a way to get through it, right?” Those closest to Pietrangelo are proud but not surprised. “He’s always looking to get better or do something to better himself or those around him,” Backes said. “I’ve met his family, being in his wedding, and they instilled good Christian Catholic values in him, and he’s a guy that still clings to those faith-based items to keep himself grounded and humble.” “That's just who he is,” Jayne Pietrangelo said. “He has so many admirable qualities, in a career that can be extremely selfish, he is always so selfless. At any moment, he will lend a helping hand, be a voice for different charities, all the while balancing work and our personal life.” Hockey is important to Pietrangelo, it's his job, and he loves it. “But being a good person and being true to who I am and who I was raised as, that's more important to me,” he said. “I'm going to be around a lot longer than my job here, so I want to work on myself as a person. I like what the game has given me, don't get me wrong, but I am who I am and I'm not going to change. I guess I'm just … I'm just a normal person.”

The Athletic LOADED: 12.19.2017 1089108 Websites How to handle an offensive zone face-off. Pretty much anything you can name. He studies the game a ton. He’s probably the most knowledgeable hockey guy I know. Any question I have, about what I can work on in my The Athletic / Mark Scheifele: An all-consuming passion for hockey game, he always has an idea or a drill that I can work on, to make me better.”

But Oates wasn’t the first Hockey Hall of Famer to influence Scheifele’s BY ERIC DUHATSCHEK development. In 2009, when he was a 16-year-old playing for the Kitchener Jr. Rangers, Scheifele was the 134th player chosen in the OHL priority draft by the Saginaw Spirit. Scheifele played the 2009-10 season for the Kitchener Jr. B team and was considering a scholarship offer to On the first Saturday of December 2017, it was a good day to be Mark Cornell University when the OHL’s Barrie Colts traded for his rights in the Scheifele. For the first time since the Winnipeg Jets relocated to middle of August 2010. Dale Hawerchuk, the former Jets’ star, was Manitoba from Atlanta in 2011, they held down first place in the NHL’s Barrie’s coach at the time. Western Conference – and were tied in points atop the NHL standings with the Tampa Bay Lightning. “He was kind of a gangly kid,” Hawerchuk says. “You could tell he had really good hockey sense, really good hands, a good shot. His skating “Hockey Night in Canada,” the program Scheifele watched religiously as was a little suspect but I wasn’t worried about that. But what I remember a child growing up in Kitchener, Ont., was in town, serendipitously most about in our first meeting is that he knew our roster inside out. At choosing this weekend to feature Winnipeg on its weekly Hometown 17, he was saying things like, ‘I know it would be a good situation for me Hockey segment. Practice was optional that day, which gave Scheifele because I would probably fit in as the second-line centre right behind extra time to go out to The Forks, a popular gathering place, where the (Alex) Burmistrov.' He knew all our guys, the type of players they were. In Red and Assiniboine rivers meet and “Hockey Night” was taping a fan fact, he knew the whole league already. That first year, whenever there segment. By January, the rivers have usually frozen over to create the was a question in our dressing room about a scouting report, he’d be the Red River Mutual Trail, which according to the Guinness Book of World first guy to say, ‘well, that guy likes to do this, so you’ve got to watch for Records, is the world’s longest natural skating trail. that.’ It was always him and another kid named Eric Bradford. They’d But today, it was unseasonably mild, above zero, and so Scheifele was challenge each other, each of them thinking, ‘I know more than you.’ dressed lightly for his interview on the state of the Jets with the host, “We had a rough year that year. It was a total rebuild. But whenever he Tara Slone. The interview would run the next night on the national walked into the rink, Mark had a big smile on his face – and he couldn’t television broadcast, which turned out to be an overwhelming 5-0 Jets’ wait to get to work. He had an extra pair of skates at home, so he could victory over the visiting Ottawa Senators, keyed by Scheifele and his play in the outdoor rink. He just lived hockey 24/7.” long-time running mate, Jets’ captain Blake Wheeler. Philanthropy is part of the landscape for most NHL athletes these days, This was a redemptory moment for the Jets, who tend to fall under the but it always interesting to discover why a player work with a specific radar in Canada, and they had laid an egg the last time they were charity. Scheifele works with KidSport Winnipeg and anchors two of their featured so prominently on national TV, an opening night loss to four major annual fundraisers. In June, he runs a golf tournament on their Canada’s team, the Toronto Maple Leafs. That same day, Scheifele had behalf and in August, he runs a two-day hockey camp. KidSport is a been notified by Jets’ staff that, as a result of his work on and off the ice national charity, with different chapters all across the country, but the during the calendar year of 2017, he’d been chosen as The Athletic money they raise in Winnipeg stays in Winnipeg, most of it going to inner Winnipeg's 2017 Person of the Year, something he described as a “huge city kids. Christine Hoenisch, manager of KidSport in Winnipeg, honor.” Scheifele was chosen ahead of Wheeler and the Winnipeg Blue estimates that in the three years Scheifele’s been involved, a total of Bombers’ exceptional running back Andrew Harris, partly because of his $400,000 has been raised, $195,000 of that in calendar 2017. For a city full-on devotion to his sport. It is a passion he will freely admit is all- the size of Winnipeg, it is a sum she describes as “incredible for us. consuming. That’s funded over 1,300 kids.” “That’s just the way I am – the person I am, and the fascination I have Scheifele says he chose KidSport Winnipeg as his charity of choice with hockey,” Scheifele says. “I’m in love with the game. I enjoy watching because growing up, he was immersed in sports and they shaped his life in on TV. I enjoy being at the rink. I enjoy working out. I enjoy all facets of and he wanted to help provide similar opportunities for children, it.” especially those who would otherwise be prevented from participating in In 2017, Scheifele enjoyed an exceptional 12 months. Though the Jets athletics because of family financial constraints. missed the playoffs last spring, Scheifele finished seventh overall in NHL “That’s the biggest thing,” he says. “If you affect just one person’s life, it’s scoring. In the fall, as the Jets soared in the first third of the season, he all worthwhile.” and Wheeler were in lockstep, both consistently producing offence that kept him in — or near — the top-10 in scoring. Scheifele is all-consumed Scheifele was particularly struck by the story a young man told at last by hockey, and thus is sometimes described as a hockey nerd by former summer’s golf tournament, which began with an email to Hoenisch from junior teammates such as the Florida Panthers’ Aaron Ekbald, but that a single mother that said her son’s participation in football, thanks to not’s an entirely accurate assessment. No matter how the term has KidSport funding, essentially got his life back on the rails, when it was evolved over time, “nerd” still conjures up an image of someone who is threatening to veer off into a world of drug use and truancy. the antithesis of an elite-level athlete. ‘Savant’ might be a better description, though savant doesn’t completely reflect Scheifele’s “That was the sort of story you love to hear — that some kid’s life could commitment to incrementally getting better, day after day. have gone in a whole different direction, and sport grounded him,” Hoenisch says. “It doesn’t mean a kid has to excel at that sport either — Some of what makes him one of the NHL’s top players is his God-given just that it might open a door for them, or alter the path of their lives. talent. He has a good hockey frame. At 6-foot-3, 207 pounds, he is big Once you’re on the field or ice with other kids, you learn about enough to win physical battles and quick enough to keep pace in this sportsmanship. There’s the camaraderie. You make friends. You’re hyper-speedy era. bonding over something of interest to both of you. We see that quite a bit. Sports can have an impact on your life, even if you don’t become an NHL But he has also invested thousands of hours, rigorously studying and star. It can just allow you to learn something about yourself. Kids – and training, to get to this point in his evolution. For years, he’s worked with a parents – see how hard Mark works, and that’s something else they can skills coach separately from the Jets’ staff — Adam Oates, the Hall of point to. No one is born just walking on the ice or scoring every time Famer, who is No. 7 on the all-time assists list and was the player most you’re out there. You have to work, work, work at it.” responsible for helping Brett Hull score 741 NHL goals. Oates previously coached in the NHL with New Jersey and Washington and now works as Mark Chipman, the Jets’ executive chairman and governor, is a lifelong a consultant, helping players individually with their skill development. Winnipegger and a big fan of Scheifele’s values, on and off the ice. Oates was a cerebral player – slow even by the standards of his era – who forged a 19-year NHL career because of a high hockey IQ. “He’s the son everybody wants to have,” Chipman says. “He is an unbelievable young man, and if you ever wonder why, all you have to do Most players limit the work they do with their skills coaches to the off- is spend 30 seconds with his parents. If there’s such a thing as an all- season, but Scheifele says he and Oates speak almost every day. Canadian young man, in my opinion, he is it. He also has a bonafide reverence for great play and great players, a humility that’s really “Whether it’s about hockey, or just about random stuff, we’ve really remarkable and that manifests itself in a lot of ways – as a teammate, in bonded over the last few years, since I’ve met him,” Scheifele says. “He’s what he does off the ice, in the way he treats people, in the way he looks just a good human being. It’s turned into a pretty sweet friendship. you in the eye and shakes your hand, all of that. To me, he’s the kind of Obviously, I respect him so much. He’s helped my game grow guy that makes being in this business good.” everywhere — defensive zone positioning and what to do in certain areas, or what routes to take. Things to think about in the neutral zone. Not every pro athlete is as committed to their sport as Scheifele is to his When asked if consistency was something you could learn, or if it just – and in fact, many go the other way and like to leave their work behind gradually happened as he became acclimated to the NHL, Scheifele once they exit the rink. answered: “I think it’s a little of both. Part of it is experience. But there’s also a lot of learning involved. You have to hone your skills to be To Hawerchuk, the value hardcore types such as Scheifele has is that consistent each and every game in each and every season. That’s “their attitudes are infectious to your whole team. As soon as they walk something the best players in the world – the Sidney Crosbys, the Patrick in, the other guys are saying, ‘if he knows all that, why do I not know all Kanes – do. You know what you’re getting from them each and every that?’ It almost makes them more that way, too. Maybe they do want to night and that’s what makes them star players. Also, every team needs get away from it all, but then when they get home, they start to think, ‘I players with different elements because that’s how chemistry is built and better check the highlights on the team we’re playing next’ so when I’m how teams are built. Pittsburgh has Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, talking to Scheifele tomorrow, I’ll know what I’m talking about.' Those two very different players, but they’ve had success. Chicago has things, they’re important – to have leaders like that.” Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane, two completely different players. Scheifele was the first ever player chosen by the Jets in their Winnipeg There are so many different elements to hockey – and you need all of incarnation. When he was handed a jersey on stage at the draft in St. them on your team to succeed.” Paul, Minn., it had an NHL logo on the crest. The Jets’ uniform and colors What it tells Scheifele is that a team can get to its ultimate goal – winning were still a work in progress. For many of the years that followed, the a Stanley Cup – in many different ways. There is no one-size-fits-all path same could be also said of the team – and its first ever draft choice. you need to follow. The Jets have only made the playoffs once in six Right from the start, the Jets were cautious with their prospects and erred years; and while they were steadfastly pumping young talent into their on the side of giving them too much seasoning rather than not enough. team, draft-and-develop is a slow-go philosophy. The new challenge is In Scheifele’s case, it meant he was twice sent back to junior at the start keeping increasingly giddy expectations in check — and about carefully of his career, at a time when lots of other organizations were pushing building on what was shaping up as a long-awaited franchise turning their 18-year-old prospects into their NHL lineups. Winnipeg’s patient point. philosophy was at odds with the NHL’s evolving win-now zeitgeist. “For our team, the way we’ve played is how we got here and so the way Matters were further complicated by the fact that many draft experts saw we’ve played is how we’re going to stay here,” Scheifele says. “That’s the Scheifele as a bit of reach at seventh overall — he was projected as a biggest thought that has to go through our team – that what we’ve done middle first rounder on most draft boards. Many believe it was the at the start of the season is what’s got us here, but there’s a lot of games connection to Hawerchuk, the long-time face of the Jets’ franchise, that left, and a lot of hard work ahead of us to stay up there.” acted as the tipping point in Winnipeg’s decision to roll the dice on Scheifele, but Hawerchuk said that wasn’t true. Hawerchuk was like Scheifele a generation ago – an Ontario kid who went west without any real knowledge of the city where he would forge “They only ever called me once about him and it was maybe two days his NHL career and who became an adopted son. Just last month, the before the draft,” Hawerchuk says. “They said, ‘we just interviewed Mark Jets inducted Hawerchuk into the Winnipeg Hall of Fame. Others from Scheifele and this kid just blew us away in the interview – and is he really the Jets’ past – including Anders Hedberg and Ulf Nilsson – made it back like this all the time?’ and I said, ‘yes he is.’ He’s just so into it.' ” for the occasion. The next day, at a luncheon, Hawerchuk had a chance According to Hawerchuk, the smartest decision the Jets made was to catch up with Scheifele, his former protégé, to see firsthand how things sending Scheifele back to junior during the NHL’s abbreviated 2012-13 were evolving, for him and for the team. lockout season, “even though there was a loophole where he could have “When you go to a city like Winnipeg or Calgary, with a community-based played in the American League. But Winnipeg let him come back to junior team, everybody knows you once you’re outside of the arena walls,” where he could dominate because they wanted him to be a dominating Hawerchuk says. “The guys that really love the game really love that. player in the NHL. Even when I played, all we did was watch and talk hockey. That’s Mark “At 19, it’s hard to dominate the AHL, but at 19, he had a shot at doing it Scheifele in a nutshell. He lives and breathes it all the time.” in the OHL – and he did,” Hawerchuk says. “Which was a great move by them. Now you see the fruits of that one year – and letting him learn how to be a dominant player. To ask a guy to be a dominant player in the NHL The Athletic LOADED: 12.19.2017 if he’s never done it in junior is very difficult.” Of the six players chosen ahead of Scheifele in 2011 – Ryan Nugent- Hopkins, Gabriel Landeskog, Jonathan Huberdeau, Adam Larsson, Ryan Strome and Mika Zibanejad – none are contributing to their teams the way he is. The only two challenging Scheifele for best player from his draft class are Nikita Kucherov, chosen 58th overall by Tampa, and Johnny Gaudreau, who went 104th to Calgary. Scheifele played on the same World Cup team as Gaudreau in September 2016, part of Team North America, or the NHL’s young stars, which were by far the most entertaining entry in the tournament. For that event, Scheifele played on line with fellow Canadian Connor McDavid and American Auston Matthews. Previously, he’d represented Canada twice at the senior world championships and once at the world juniors, gold in 2016, silver in 2014 and bronze in 2013. Had the NHL opted to compete in the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, he would have been an easy choice to crack what might have been Canada’s deepest roster of forwards ever – and probably would have been slotted in as the right winger on a line with McDavid and a who’s who of potential candidates to play the left side on the line. Scheifele says he tries not to think too much about the NHL’s decision to forgo the Olympics in 2018 because it’s too depressing. “It would have been awesome to go to the Olympics,” he says. “It is crazy how much talent there is in Canada. You could probably play anyone with anyone. You could probably have 50 different combinations of players that would work. That’s a cool thing for a hockey nut like me to think about – what guys would mesh together? What threesomes would mesh together? What duos would mesh together? “It could be a once in a lifetime opportunity. I was disappointed by the decision not to go. I was pretty rattled by it. I definitely try not to think about it too often. You’d just drive yourself nuts.” Much of Scheifele’s recent NHL success has come playing on the same line as Wheeler. The two make a point of getting together every summer to catch up and talk hockey. At the NHL’s highest levels, consistency is how you separate the really good from the truly great. 1089109 Websites Fleury could have pouted, could have been overcome by anger and could have resented that his final chapter in Pittsburgh would be completed by Murray, and not him. The Athletic / Marc-Andre Fleury: His heart is in Western Pennsylvania After all, Fleury knew he was leaving Pittsburgh after the season. He had known since February. Fleury and Rutherford got together for a chat before the trade deadline and the general manager asked Fleury if he BY JOSH YOHE wished to be traded. “I wanted to stay,” Fleury said. “I wanted us to win another Cup.” The Penguins were celebrating in their locker room on May 10 in the And so, Rutherford informed Fleury that he wouldn't trade him at the moments following their Game 7 victory in Washington, but someone deadline and, instead, he would be exposed in the NHL expansion draft, was missing. in which the Vegas Golden Knights had already expressed great interest in his services. Finally, Marc-Andre Fleury emerged, still wearing his equipment, the trademark grin that had been largely absent for a couple of years flashing For a guy who knew almost nothing but playing on a great team, the bigger than ever following the unforgettable 2-0 shutout. Before Fleury thought of playing for an expansion team would have seemed like the could make it to his locker, he was intercepted by Jim Rutherford, who is ultimate downer. Fleury, though, is ever the optimist and told Rutherford rarely in the locker room. The general manager gave Fleury a bearhug, to send word to the desert that he would play for the Golden Knights the and at that moment, Rutherford was channeling an entire city. following season. Since then, Fleury has moved on to Las Vegas but left his heart — along However, a storybook ending was his preferred exit strategy, and he was with his charitable spirit, 375 wins, a lifetime of good memories and a seven wins from delivering another Cup to Pittsburgh. final chapter for the ages — in Western Pennsylvania. For that, he has been selected as The Athletic's Pittsburgh's 2017 Person of the Year. “But he did,” Carter Rowney insists. “They both did. We needed both of those goalies to win that Stanley Cup. No doubt about it. And the great “There's only one Flower,” Sidney Crosby says of the 33-year-old Fleury. thing about Flower was, even though I'm sure it killed him that he wasn't “He's the best.” in the lineup and that he wasn't the guy on the ice, he never showed it. He always had that smile on his face, was always making us laugh. There were two goalies in Pittsburgh over the last couple of years, two That's the kind of guy he is.” franchise goalies. But youth was served when the Penguins, following their 2016 Stanley Cup triumph, decided that Matt Murray, 23, was their Just ask Murray. present and future No. 1 goaltender. “He's a friend,” Murray says. “A great friend. He was always there for me This created a horribly uneasy atmosphere for Fleury, the longtime No. 1 from the time they drafted me, really. He was my mentor.” goalie who never wanted to leave Pittsburgh nor the Penguins. Fleury's popularity in Pittsburgh almost seems more widespread than it That the Penguins wouldn't have won the Stanley Cup in 2017 without was during his time with the Penguins. Pittsburgh fans stay up late to Fleury is inarguable. It could also be argued that his greatest deed for watch him play in Vegas. They get a little jealous when those “Flower, those Penguins didn't come that night in Washington, or when he stoned Flower” chants are audible through the TV. a Blue Jackets team that outplayed the Penguins for large chunks of the first-round series between Metropolitan Division heavyweights. Rather, “I don't think it's any kind of secret what kind of a human being Flower is,” the grace that Fleury displayed during a most tumultuous time is what left says Deryk Engelland, who has played with the goaltender in Pittsburgh an indelible mark on the Penguins and Pittsburgh. and Vegas. “Just a special goalie and a special person.” “He's the ultimate professional,” Rutherford says. “He's the best Pittsburgh still weighs on Fleury's mind, too. teammate in all of professional sports. I really believe that. He's a special “You know, the Steelers are good this year, so everyone should be man.” happy,” he says with a laugh. Fleury could have reached a boiling point on a few occasions last spring. Then, he turns serious. After all, he carried the Penguins to the Eastern Conference finals. Murray was injured during the pre-game warm-up before Game 1 against “I hope everyone back home is doing well,” Fleury says. “I really do.” the Blue Jackets in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, and Fleury never missed a beat. He loves it in Vegas and, when he refers to his old team, he calls them “Pittsburgh” and not “the Penguins.” It all makes sense, really. His love He was brilliant in that series and even better against the mighty wasn't just for the organization but the entire city. Capitals, making one of the signature saves of his career against Alex Ovechkin in Game 7. Fleury returns “home” on Feb. 6 at PPG Paints Arena. “Oh my gosh,” he says. “I can't even imagine what that's going to be like. But I know it will Then, Fleury had a shutout in Game 2 against the Senators in the be nice to see everyone again.” conference finals in what would be his final appearance in a Penguins' sweater on Pittsburgh ice. Penguins fans agree with that thought. Fleury still has numerous charitable endeavors in Pittsburgh. His final act before leaving for Vegas Two nights later, he endured a rough first period, allowing four goals in was fitting. Fleury conceived of the idea and ultimately funded a state-of- Game 3. Many in the organization assumed that Fleury would again get the-art playground to be constructed in the McKees Rocks area of the call in Game 4, as he'd carried the Penguins to that point and Murray Pittsburgh, a final touch to an unblemished legacy. wouldn't be prepared to shake off a month's worth of rust in the middle of the conference finals. The greatest goaltender in Penguins' history played a significant role in winning three Stanley Cups. Other than Mario Lemieux and Crosby, it's When Fleury emerged from practice the day before Game 4, the look on hard to imagine a more popular figure in franchise history. his face said that Murray would be starting. And he did. Fleury's inner circle was furious and, frankly, so were many of his teammates. The As much as Pittsburgh still longs for him, he knew leaving was his only veteran Penguins — Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, among others choice. He didn't do it on his terms on the ice but, make no mistake, he — are Murray fans but devoted to Fleury. They had been teammates for did it on his terms off the ice. And to Fleury, that part was always a little a decade, after all. more important. “It was tough,” Fleury says. “Of course I wanted to be out there playing. I “We miss him,” Brian Dumoulin says. “Just a different kind of guy. A had made it that far.” special kind of guy.” That could have represented a symbolic breaking point for Fleury. Fleury smiles and says he misses Pittsburgh, too. “We all miss him a lot and respect the way he handled everything,” Bryan The feeling couldn't be more mutual. Rust says. “Just the best teammate. He has that great sense of humor, he's great with the young guys. He was awesome for us last spring, no doubt about it. I don't know where we would have been without him. He The Athletic LOADED: 12.19.2017 handled everything so well.” 1089110 Websites Dante Fabbro, D, Nashville* NHL draft: First round, 17th overall in 2016 The Athletic / World Junior Championship preview: Team Canada Fabbro has been solid at Boston University, and while he has some puck-moving skill, for Canada I expect him to be a guy who gets matched up against good forwards to make stops. He’s quite smart and can By Corey Pronman 20 hours ago relieve pressure with the puck, but with his average speed and Canada’s depth at defense for their power play units, I don’t expect him to be a difference-maker offensively at the world juniors level. Team Canada enters the 2018 world juniors with intrigue following their * announced on Sunday that Fabbro suffered a lower- invites and cuts from selection camp. Four of the top 13 picks from the body injury and it is unknown if he will be available for the tournament. 2017 NHL draft in Cody Glass (sixth), Michael Rasmussen (ninth), Owen Josh Mahura rejoined the team for the rest of their pre-tournament Tippett (10th) and Nick Suzuki (13th) were cut from the team. While all games. these players are 1999's, making them young for the team, Canada opted for other players to fill roles for reasons such as handedness, Josh Mahura, D, Anaheim* forward positions and special teams deployments. NHL draft: Third round, 85th overall in 2016 The end result is a Canadian team that is not the favorite to win gold, Mahura is a very solid two-way defenseman. Despite suffering a severe which is not common entering this tournament. They have seven first- knee injury two years ago, he skates quite well and can lead a rush. He round picks on this roster, tied with Finland and behind the USA, which isn't dynamic offensively, but he moves the puck well and defensively has 10 plus two other players who likely will be lottery picks. he's mobile and smart enough to close gaps and disrupt plays. This Canadian team is deep in goal and on defense, but the questions Cal Foote, D, Tampa Bay will be up front. They will look to Sam Steel and Jordan Kyrou to be difference makers and will need to find secondary scoring somewhere. NHL draft: First round, 14th overall in 2017 Therefore, all I want from Team Canada: A Kale Clague-Cale Makar Tampa’s first-round pick is a solid two-way defenseman with size and defense pairing. Nobody's ever said no to double kale. puck-moving skill. The 6-foot-4 Foote is out of the defender factory in Kelowna and has shown the ability to play all situations and be matched Onto the analysis, though. Today, I will introduce fans to each of the up against the opponent’s top players in the WHL. His skating does lack players on this team and what they bring to the table. explosiveness and he’s not a dynamic skill guy, but he’s such a smart Drake Batherson, C/RW, Ottawa player with decent hands and the ability to push the play in the right direction. For this team, he provides value at the tail end of the roster. NHL draft: Fourth round, 121st overall in 2017 Alex Formenton, LW, Ottawa I wrote about Batherson recently as one of the top risers from the 2017 NHL draft. You can read what I said there, but I do think he could NHL draft: Second round, 47th overall in 2017 surprise people at this tournament. His ability to possess the puck is at a Formenton, who made the Senators briefly out of camp, is one of the high level, and he looks like a potential NHL player. best pure speedsters outside the NHL. On Canada, he’ll be relied on to Maxime Comtois, LW, Anaheim use his skating to create havoc on the opponents on the forecheck and gain the zone off the rush. His skill isn’t high-end, but he has some skill NHL draft: Second round, 50th overall in 2017 and works hard off the puck. One of the youngest players in last year’s draft, he continues to surprise at every step and seems to be trending up Comtois won his way onto this team with a great game against Russia in as the years go on. the November series and a good December camp. He skates well, competes his butt off to win pucks and has decent instincts. His skill level Jonah Gadjovich, LW, Vancouver isn't zero, but it's mediocre, and he certainly won't be a power play guy for Canada. His role should be to kill penalties and create pressure on NHL draft: Second round, 55th overall in 2017 opposing defensemen. Gadjovich's inclusion on the team is to help fill a certain role for the club. Jake Bean, D, Carolina He gets a lot of opportunities by being great around the net, getting second chances and deflections. He works really hard and can be tough NHL draft: First round, 13th overall in 2016 to beat in a battle. His skill and speed are mediocre at best, but he's shown decent ability at the junior level this season. Bean has a fair amount to prove at this year’s tournament in this author’s view. The former 13th overall pick’s stock hasn’t faded, but he hasn’t Carter Hart, G, Philadelphia taken a noticeable jump forward as of late. He was solid at last year’s tournament and has been good in the WHL, but expectations are for him NHL draft: Second round, 48th overall in 2016 to be great as a returning player with his pedigree and talent. His defense Hart has been one of the very best goalies in Major Junior I have ever wasn’t particularly sharp at the Canada-Russia series and has been a seen. He is the best Canadian U20 goalie since Carey Price. The two- criticism of scouts I’ve talked to lately. The positives for him are his time WHL Goalie of the Year has put up tremendous numbers since hockey sense and how gifted a puck mover he is. Bean has the potential entering the league with this season being his very best to date. His to be a top player at this event. hockey sense is high-end and, despite average size (for a goalie) and not Kale Clague, D, Los Angeles having elite athleticism, he understands his position and the game so well. Hart reacts to shots well, allowing him to put his body in an ideal NHL draft: Second round, 51st overall in 2016 position. Last year’s starting goalie for Canada all but has the job locked up to be their go-to guy in net. Kale is not typically something I endorse, but Kale Clague is a fantastic hockey player and has been dominant this season in the WHL. A Brett Howden, C, Tampa returning member from last year’s team, Clague is expected to eat minutes and be leaned on in tough defensive situations. He’s a great NHL draft: First round, 27th overall in 2016 skater who plays at a pro pace with his reads and moves the puck well. Howden was cut from last December’s camp by Canada, but as one of He has offense to his game, but given the depth of Canada’s blueline he the best players at the IIHF Under-18s, he should be a useful player might not be put in situations to put up points. versus his own age group. Howden is a smart center with size who can Dillon Dube, C, Calgary be impactful at both ends of the rink. He has the vision to create plays but is also a responsible center who can take tough defensive minutes. I NHL draft: Second round, 56th in 2016 expect Canada to lean on his versatility. Dube is an interesting prospect because, while he’s not a projected high Boris Katchouk, LW, Tampa Bay upside type of player, wherever he goes he seems to find success be it in the WHL, NHL camps, last year’s world juniors or the Canada-Russia NHL draft: Second round, 44th overall in 2016 series. Dube skates well, has a fine skill level and, despite being small, is Katchouk is a player I've written about a few times this season as he's an effective two-way forward due to how hard he competes. He’s a looked quite good with the Soo Greyhounds. He's a ball of energy, a player I’ll have a close eye on as opinions on him vary within the industry. player who plays at a quick pace and can make plays while doing so. His skill isn't elite, but he can be a decent player with the puck while putting pressure on the opposition with his speed and physicality. He can be I’ve already written a ton about Thomas this season, between his great useful to Canada on the PK and at even strength. camp with the Blues to his strong play in the OHL. The 20th-overall pick last June was a no-brainer for this team. He brings versatility in how he Jordan Kyrou, RW, St. Louis can be deployed, along with a high-skill package. While he can dangle, NHL draft: Second round, 35th overall in 2016 Thomas’ game is more about playing with pace. He can skate well, makes quick decisions, and finds a way to push the play forward. Kyrou has been one of, if not the most dangerous forward in the CHL this season and will be a go-to player for Canada. His skating is elite, but he Conor , D, Colorado also possesses a high level of skill. At Canada’s summer camp, he was NHL draft: Second round, 32nd overall in 2017 one of the best players for any nation, generating a ton of chances. He can struggle at times with his decisions and play off the puck, but he has Timmins has been very good this season between the OHL, Canada- the ability to be a game breaker. Russia series and the December camp, making his poor summer showing a distant memory as he locked down a spot on Canada's team. Cale Makar, D, Colorado He has a very high hockey IQ. He moves the puck so efficiently despite NHL draft: First round, fourth overall in 2017 not having high-level hands or feet, makes stops and finds a way to make a positive impact on the game. He can be deployed in any situation On Canada, you get a double dose of kale, even if its spelled differently. Canada needs. Back to hockey, however, Makar has been very impressive in his freshman season at UMass. Makar is a dynamic offensive defenseman Tyler Steenbergen, RW, Arizona who can drive play up the ice with his fantastic skating and skill. I’ve been NHL draft: Fifth round, 128th overall in 2017 impressed by how well he’s handled the NCAA pace out of the AJHL, showing the IQ that could let him QB Canada’s top power play unit. I I'm about to spit out a fiery hot take here: The guy with more than a goal wrote more about Makar when I saw him play a college game earlier this per game in the WHL is expected to be leaned on for scoring by Canada. season. Now that we've all made it past that fact, let's talk about what Steenbergen brings to the table. His speed is high-end, he can make Michael McLeod, C, New Jersey skilled plays with the puck at a quick pace and he has a fantastic shot. NHL draft: First round, 12th overall in 2016 While his sniping is his calling card, he's not a one-trick pony; he knows how to move the puck around. He's a player to closely monitor during his I think this is an important two weeks for McLeod. While he had a very breakout season. good 18-year-old season in the OHL, around the scouting community there is a lack of love at times for the speedy big center. While nobody doubts his fantastic skating ability, there are reasonable questions about The Athletic LOADED: 12.19.2017 whether the 12th-overall pick in 2016 has the skill and IQ to be an impact NHL player. This is his chance to show that without Pierre-Luc Dubois or Nolan Patrick blocking him on the depth chart he can be the guy. Victor Mete, D, Montreal NHL draft: Fourth round, 100th overall in 2016 Mete was the talk of the pre-season in Montreal before reality hit as the real season progressed. He’s a great talent with high-end mobility, good skill and vision. He’s not a dominant offensive player, but he can make a lot of plays. His size hampers him defensively at the pro level, but it will be interesting to see how much of a defensive role he gets at the U20 level given his NHL experience. He should be a good player, even if he likely won’t get 25-30 minutes a game. Colton Point, G, Dallas NHL draft: Fifth round, 128th overall in 2016 Point has been nothing short of dominant this season in the ECAC, being one of the best U20 goalies in modern college hockey history. The only teenage goalies to have a better save percentage in college than Point's .938 this season were Jimmy Howard, Connor Hellebuyck, Nick Pisellini, David LeNeveu and Ken Dryden, according to eliteprospects.com. He's a big goalie at 6-foot-4. NHL scouts I've talked to describe how he's always been a big, technically sound goalie, but he's developed into a more dynamic athlete recently. His great season and camp won him the No. 2 goalie job for Canada, beating out the season-long favorite for that job in Michael DiPietro. Sam Steel, C, Anaheim NHL draft: First round, 30th overall in 2016 Canada’s Man of Steel doesn’t have X-ray vision or the ability to travel at the speed of light, but he is an excellent playmaker and a reliable two- way center. Steel was one of the very best players in the CHL last season and was a controversial cut from Canada’s December camp last winter. He is expected to be leaned on to create chances for his teammates and be a leader despite this being his only U20 appearance. Taylor Raddysh, RW, Tampa Bay NHL draft: Second round, 58th overall in 2016 Raddysh, who has been good this season, is a returning member from last year’s team, which wasn’t a given as there was always a question oh how much Dylan Strome and Alex DeBrincat were propping him up. Raddysh is not a dynamic skill player or a speedster, but he’s a smart big man who competes well with good vision and finishing ability. He will likely be a fixture again on Canada’s power play. Robert Thomas, C, St. Louis NHL draft: First round, 20th overall in 2017 1089111 Websites It’s amazing, isn’t it? Play well, win a few — the Oilers have now won seven of their past 11 games — and all of the sudden the game becomes fun again. Sportsnet.ca / Renewed confidence has Oilers playing like old selves The confidence returns, and with that comes your identity. "You earn confidence," began head coach Todd McLellan, "and you earn Mark Spector it by doing things right over and over and over again. @sportsnetspec "It’s been a challenge because sometimes we do that and don’t win, (like games) against Toronto and Nashville. So you get tested with it, but I December 19, 2017, 1:24 AM think we’re doing more good than bad, and we begin to feel good about yourself and your teammates."

Slowly, the feeling returns. Slowly, their identity reappears. Maybe too late, maybe just in the nick of time. Can there still be time? Either way, the Edmonton Oilers — finally — are beginning to resemble the team we parted ways with last spring, an identity that was never supposed to be this hard to find again. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 12.19.2017 The Oilers could have been 10 points behind the third place San Jose Sharks, dead and buried in the Pacific Division after this game. Instead, after a 5-3 win at Rogers Place, Edmonton is six points back with 48 games to play. It doesn’t sound like much, sure. History says it is plenty. "We will believe in this ‘til it’s over," promised Adam Larsson, who returned from injury to play his signature game. "It’s a lot of games — more than half the season left. I’ve seen teams crawl back in February and March. This is a start." Larsson was solid and punitive, leading the Oilers defencemen in ice time (21:55) and hits (five), lending that physical edge that made Rogers Arena so little fun for visitors last season. The Sharks scored first, but by night’s end had just 21 shots on goal. They handled Connor McDavid, rendering him pointless for just the ninth time in 34 games, but others took up the cause. What made this look familiar to the playoff meeting between these two clubs last season was Leon Draisaitl stepping into the void with a two- assist night. He was dealing all evening and could have had a couple more helpers, while the Oilers third-line centre, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had a goal and an assist as well. That’s an attack that can get you somewhere, and a conglomeration of weapons that haven’t fired on the same night in enough games this season. "I think we’ve gotten back to playing fast, playing the way we’re capable of playing and the way we played for most of last year," said Draisaitl. "I think that confidence is coming back and for us now it’s just a matter of keeping that going, being consistent with it." Drake Caggiula drove the net and skated miles, something we thought we’d see more of this season, but for some reason it’s been missing. Cam Talbot was solid if not spectacular in goal. This team simply plays better in front of him than the backup, for whatever reason. And all that talk this season about the Oilers being to slow? Well, much like when the team was winning a year ago, that theme won’t make the morning sportscasts today. "We’re playing with a lot more speed, connecting better in the breakouts and that sets up everything for us," Larsson said. "Earlier this season we had trouble breaking out and it slowed everything down. We’ve got a lot of key pieces back, and there is a lot more connection between forwards and ‘D’, ‘D’ to ‘D’, goalie to ‘D’. When we break out well we look like a fast team." And a team that was having fun again. To the point where Pat Maroon, who sniped the game-winner to buy some much needed confidence, grabbed Brent Burns’ beard and gave it a playful tug. "It wasn’t really a tug. He was just kind of petting it," said Burns. "It’s a nice beard. It happens more than you think." "I do some crazy stuff sometimes," chuckled Maroon. "I was laughing about it and he was laughing about it. I thought he would be mad at first, but he just asked me if I liked it. I said, ‘Yeah, it’s a pretty nice beard.’" The players on both teams had a smile as the replay played out on the scoreboard. "It was a good laugh, actually," said Oscar Klefbom. "It’s crazy how they look, Burns and Thornton. We need more guys like that." 1089112 Websites It’s stunning how quickly and dramatically the Canucks’ course has changed in a couple of weeks.

With the Montreal Canadiens visiting Rogers Arena on Tuesday, the 15- Sportsnet.ca / Tough-luck Canucks get rare good news with Boeser 15-4 Canucks are as near 15th place as the final playoff spot in the diagnosis Western Conference (four points) and in danger of sinking below .500 for the first time since Oct. 20. Iain MacIntyre “We had some momentum, our guys were getting some confidence,” Benning lamented. “(But) the players we lost, it’s hard to replace. Until @imacSportsnet we ran into these injuries. . . we were competitive in every game. We were still competitive when we were missing one or two players, but December 18, 2017, 7:21 PM when you get to six or seven, this is a hard league to stay competitive in.” Other teams manage it. The Anaheim Ducks, for example, have stayed afloat despite missing titanic centres Ryan Getzlaf and Ryan Kesler VANCOUVER – Just for fun, imagine the Vancouver Canucks fully almost all season. healthy – you’ll have to think hard because it hasn’t happened since Game 3 – and make a list of their National Hockey League players in But the Ducks were a 105-point team last year and are trying to win the order from best to worst. Stanley Cup. The Canucks were a 69-point team and are simply trying to improve and build towards something better two or three years from now. Now, cross out the guys who are injured. “It just seems like bad luck,” Benning said. “The injuries we’ve had – Don’t worry too much whether you have Bo Horvat or Brock Boeser at Sven gets a puck in the face and breaks his jaw, Bo slams into the the top of the list because they’re both out for now. Defenceman Chris boards and never really got hit – it’s bad luck. I don’t know what we can Tanev is probably No. 3. He’s hurt, too. And whether you have injured do about that. It’s bad-luck things.” winger Sven Baertschi ranked ahead or behind Danny and Hank Sedin, he’s somewhere in the top seven. They finally got a good-luck thing on Monday. Some of you may have shutdown (and penalty-killing) forwards Brandon Sutter and Derek Dorsett in the bottom half of your lists, but based on role and ice time under Canuck coach Travis Green, they’re probably Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 12.19.2017 both inside the top 10. Top 12 at worst. The Canucks, in a span of about three weeks, have lost six of their top 10 or 12 players. Which is why that warm breeze rushing east over The Rockies on Monday afternoon was British Columbia exhaling that Boeser’s injured foot will keep the talented 20-year-old out a matter of days, not weeks. When the Calder Trophy candidate, who leads the Canucks with 17 goals and 30 points in 31 games, crawled excruciatingly off the ice Sunday and hobbled away after being drilled by Mark Giordano’s shot, it seemed any lingering hope for Vancouver’s season was leaving with him. But a CT scan Monday confirmed that Boeser had escaped any fractures to his left foot — by far the best injury news the Canucks have had during a dark, bleak December. “It’s good news that it’s not broken,” general manager Jim Benning told Sportsnet. “I’m relieved because he has been playing so well for us. His shot and his ability around the net to find pucks and make plays and score goals is huge for us. It’s not fractured, so that’s the good news. It’s still a bone bruise and he could be out a little bit. But I’m just glad he’s not going to be out for six or eight weeks.” The injuries to Horvat (broken foot), Baertschi (broken jaw), Sutter (lower body) and Tanev (lower body) are all long-term. Only Tanev is expected to miss fewer than four weeks. The Canucks hope their seventh injured player, defenceman Erik Gudbranson (upper body), returns soon. He last played on Nov. 22. Tough luck for the Canucks? Absolutely. They’ve been accustomed to it since they entered the NHL in 1970. But eight months ago, Vancouver was a 69-point team going nowhere. Until Horvat broke his foot in an awkward solo collision with the boards two weeks ago, the Canucks were 14-10-4 and digging in for a long fight for a playoff spot. Since then, they are 1-5 and have been outscored 26-6 in the losses. No matter what they say, the Canucks haven’t been close without Horvat and Baertschi and others. Without Boeser long-term, they’d have had zero chance to stay competitive. That’s why the sight of him sliding across the ice Sunday was the low point of the Canucks’ season. “I just thought this can’t be happening,” Benning said. “With the injuries we’ve had so far, like, this can’t be happening. “I’ve never been a part of teams that have lost this amount of top players. A third of our team is out. No matter how hard you try to plan to have depth in the organization, when you’re six or seven guys down, it’s just too many important players to try to replace. Having said that, the players we have left have to work and compete and be competitive until we get injured guys back.” 1089113 Websites It’s stunning how quickly and dramatically the Canucks’ course has changed in a couple of weeks.

With the Montreal Canadiens visiting Rogers Arena on Tuesday, the 15- Sportsnet.ca / Tough-luck Canucks get rare good news with Boeser 15-4 Canucks are as near 15th place as the final playoff spot in the diagnosis Western Conference (four points) and in danger of sinking below .500 for the first time since Oct. 20. Iain MacIntyre “We had some momentum, our guys were getting some confidence,” Benning lamented. “(But) the players we lost, it’s hard to replace. Until @imacSportsnet we ran into these injuries. . . we were competitive in every game. We were still competitive when we were missing one or two players, but December 18, 2017, 7:21 PM when you get to six or seven, this is a hard league to stay competitive in.” Other teams manage it. The Anaheim Ducks, for example, have stayed afloat despite missing titanic centres Ryan Getzlaf and Ryan Kesler VANCOUVER – Just for fun, imagine the Vancouver Canucks fully almost all season. healthy – you’ll have to think hard because it hasn’t happened since Game 3 – and make a list of their National Hockey League players in But the Ducks were a 105-point team last year and are trying to win the order from best to worst. Stanley Cup. The Canucks were a 69-point team and are simply trying to improve and build towards something better two or three years from now. Now, cross out the guys who are injured. “It just seems like bad luck,” Benning said. “The injuries we’ve had – Don’t worry too much whether you have Bo Horvat or Brock Boeser at Sven gets a puck in the face and breaks his jaw, Bo slams into the the top of the list because they’re both out for now. Defenceman Chris boards and never really got hit – it’s bad luck. I don’t know what we can Tanev is probably No. 3. He’s hurt, too. And whether you have injured do about that. It’s bad-luck things.” winger Sven Baertschi ranked ahead or behind Danny and Hank Sedin, he’s somewhere in the top seven. They finally got a good-luck thing on Monday. Some of you may have shutdown (and penalty-killing) forwards Brandon Sutter and Derek Dorsett in the bottom half of your lists, but based on role and ice time under Canuck coach Travis Green, they’re probably Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 12.19.2017 both inside the top 10. Top 12 at worst. The Canucks, in a span of about three weeks, have lost six of their top 10 or 12 players. Which is why that warm breeze rushing east over The Rockies on Monday afternoon was British Columbia exhaling that Boeser’s injured foot will keep the talented 20-year-old out a matter of days, not weeks. When the Calder Trophy candidate, who leads the Canucks with 17 goals and 30 points in 31 games, crawled excruciatingly off the ice Sunday and hobbled away after being drilled by Mark Giordano’s shot, it seemed any lingering hope for Vancouver’s season was leaving with him. But a CT scan Monday confirmed that Boeser had escaped any fractures to his left foot — by far the best injury news the Canucks have had during a dark, bleak December. “It’s good news that it’s not broken,” general manager Jim Benning told Sportsnet. “I’m relieved because he has been playing so well for us. His shot and his ability around the net to find pucks and make plays and score goals is huge for us. It’s not fractured, so that’s the good news. It’s still a bone bruise and he could be out a little bit. But I’m just glad he’s not going to be out for six or eight weeks.” The injuries to Horvat (broken foot), Baertschi (broken jaw), Sutter (lower body) and Tanev (lower body) are all long-term. Only Tanev is expected to miss fewer than four weeks. The Canucks hope their seventh injured player, defenceman Erik Gudbranson (upper body), returns soon. He last played on Nov. 22. Tough luck for the Canucks? Absolutely. They’ve been accustomed to it since they entered the NHL in 1970. But eight months ago, Vancouver was a 69-point team going nowhere. Until Horvat broke his foot in an awkward solo collision with the boards two weeks ago, the Canucks were 14-10-4 and digging in for a long fight for a playoff spot. Since then, they are 1-5 and have been outscored 26-6 in the losses. No matter what they say, the Canucks haven’t been close without Horvat and Baertschi and others. Without Boeser long-term, they’d have had zero chance to stay competitive. That’s why the sight of him sliding across the ice Sunday was the low point of the Canucks’ season. “I just thought this can’t be happening,” Benning said. “With the injuries we’ve had so far, like, this can’t be happening. “I’ve never been a part of teams that have lost this amount of top players. A third of our team is out. No matter how hard you try to plan to have depth in the organization, when you’re six or seven guys down, it’s just too many important players to try to replace. Having said that, the players we have left have to work and compete and be competitive until we get injured guys back.” 1089114 Websites minutes per game. How long he can sustain a high level of play while being taxed as such is anybody’s guess.

It’s going to take a herculean effort from everyone on the Canadiens to Sportsnet.ca / Weber’s injury tough to swallow for already disappointed replace Weber. Canadiens fans “We have to do it as a team,” said Julien. “We need to look at each other and acknowledge that we can play better and we have to play better, and Eric Engels if we can get a more consistent effort it’ll make a huge difference.” December 18, 2017, 6:17 PM Perhaps it will. But the week is off to a bad start for the Canadiens before they’ve even played a game, and that’s a tough reality for their fans to reckon with at The news from Vancouver was delivered like a swift kick in the pills to this stage of what’s already been a disappointing season. Montreal Canadiens fans on Monday. Sudden, shocking, and certainly painful. No. 1 defenceman Shea Weber is being “shut down for a bit,” according Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 12.19.2017 to head coach Claude Julien. You can understand how the team’s supporters were stung by this. It stands to reason Weber’s absence will only serve to help turn this road trip—through Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Carolina, Tampa Bay and Florida—into a graveyard for the Canadiens’ playoff hopes. The boys in bleu, blanc et rouge are seven points out of the second wild- card position in the Eastern Conference and two points back of the Atlantic Division’s third-placed Boston Bruins, who have three games in hand. Weber is on his way back to Montreal to have the injury near one of his feet evaluated by team doctors and is out for an undetermined period of time. There isn’t a single player on the blue line who can adequately fill his role. No one else is being called up from Montreal’s minor league affiliate in Laval for the moment — not that anyone down there can do much to account for his loss anyway. And according to Julien, Weber could be out awhile. “This is the kind of injury he can’t keep playing on,” he said. “We’ll continue to manage his situation over the coming days and coming weeks.” Not good. The optimist might find a silver lining in the way the Canadiens performed in Weber’s recent two-week absence with the same injury when they won four of six games without him. But the truth is Canadiens goaltender Carey Price managed a superhuman save percentage north of .960 in those four wins, and one of them came against the 30th-place Buffalo Sabres, another was against a reeling Ottawa Senators team that had lost six consecutive games, and one more against the 26th-place Detroit Red Wings. Maybe the Canadiens can inspire faint hope on Tuesday with a resilient performance against a Canucks team that’s missing top centre Bo Horvat and top scorer Brock Boeser. But how will they fare against Calgary, who came into Montreal on the second leg of a back-to-back just over a week ago and beat their rested group—which included Weber—in overtime? How will they do against an Oilers team that crushed them 6-2 (with Weber) two Saturdays ago? And what happens if they have to go into back-to-back games against the Hurricanes and league-leading Lightning next week without Weber available? The odds already weren’t in Montreal’s favour to start this road trip, and there’s no denying Monday’s news made them that much weaker. Not that Julien is throwing in the towel. Coming off a disappointing 3-0 loss to the Senators in the NHL 100 Classic this past Saturday, he mixed up his lines at practice on Monday by placing Max Pacioretty with Jonathan Drouin and Paul Byron, moving Alex Galchenyuk down to play with Phillip Danault and Andrew Shaw and rotating Jacob de la Rose into Byron Froese’s spot on the fourth line. Maybe that will help generate some much needed offence at even strength. But moving seventh defenceman Joe Morrow into Weber’s spot next to Jordie Benn, where he played two weeks ago, isn’t likely to help at either end of the ice. There’s only so much Jakub Jerabek and David Schlemko can do. And Victor Mete’s off with Canada at the world junior championship. Jeff Petry, who partners with Karl Alzner, will likely take on the bulk of Weber’s role—as he did in his recent absence—by playing upwards of 30 1089115 Websites Meanwhile, the Habs have lost four of five and are just three points up on Ottawa, who hold two games in hand. It’s looking more and more like the Atlantic may produce only three playoff teams, so there isn’t much room Sportsnet.ca / Down Goes Brown Weekend Wrap: Is Babcock to blame for error here. That may be bad news for a Montreal team that plays its for Leafs’ slump? next six on the road. But look on the bright side, Habs fans. Your playoff hopes may be fading, and your team just got shut out in front of a leaguewide audience. But at Sean McIndoe least your owner hasn’t threatened to make off with the franchise you’ve spent decades supporting. Yet. @DownGoesBrown Road to the Cup December 18, 2017, 10:57 AM The five teams that look like they’re headed towards Stanley Cup– favourite status. Every Monday, Sean McIndoe looks back at weekend play in the NHL 5. Washington Capitals (21-12-1, +8 true goals differential*): Look who’s and the league’s biggest storylines. You can follow him on Twitter. back in the top five for the first time since Week 1. They’ve won 10 of 12, including three straight, to move into top spot of the still-way-too-crowded This was supposed to be a chance for Ottawa to steal the spotlight on Metro. one of the league’s biggest weekends of the year. With the NHL celebrating its 100th anniversary, Ottawa welcomed the hockey world for 4. Los Angeles Kings (20-10-4, +20): Three straight losses opened the the season’s first outdoor game, as well as an alumni game and other door for the Knights to retake the Pacific lead. events at a beautiful second rink at Parliament Hill. Even with the Senators struggling, this was a chance to put all that aside and let a 3. St. Louis Blues (22-11-2, +17): Their big home-and-home with the Jets market that so often plays second fiddle to Montreal or Toronto have its didn’t settle anything, as each team earned a shutout win on home ice. chance to be front and centre for all the right reasons. 2. Nashville Predators (21-7-4, +23): They’ve won three straight, giving But apparently Eugene Melnyk had other ideas. up just one goal in the process. Five of their next six are against Central rivals. The Senators’ owner was the story of the weekend, overshadowing the game itself with his Friday night comments in which he complained about 1. Tampa Bay Lightning (24-6-2, +43): They’re now nine points up on the attendance and suggested that payroll was too high. And, in the biggest Atlantic, with games in hand on second-place Toronto. This race is just headline, he told reporters that he’d never sell the team, but might be about over. open to moving it. *Goals scored minus goals allowed, without counting shootouts like the After everything else they’ve been through this year, you could forgive NHL does for some reason. Senators fans if they heard Melnyk’s musings and headed straight for the bar. Judging by the reactions on social media and radio call-in lines, For the last few months, the Toronto Maple Leafs have been making more than a few did. But let’s be clear on a few points. First, Melnyk’s sporadic appearances in our top five. They’d slip into the fourth or fifth comment about moving was conditional on “if it becomes a disaster,” and spot, stick around for a week or two, and then slide back out to make he acknowledged that the situation isn’t there yet. room for someone else. And in recent weeks, a Leafs appearance would be accompanied by some variation on the same caveat: They’re racking More importantly, an NHL owner can’t just pick his team up and move it up wins, even though they don’t seem to be playing all that great. whenever the whim strikes. Despite the comparisons Melnyk himself tried to draw, an NHL franchise isn’t a McDonald’s or a grocery store. There’s Well, they’re still not playing all that great, but now the wins have dried a reason that we’ve only seen one team move in the last 20 years, up, and so has the offence. The Leafs have dropped three straight in despite many of the league’s markets being far worse off than any worst- regulation, and have managed just four goals in their last four games, case scenario you could conjure in Ottawa. If Melnyk can’t make it work including Friday’s 3–1 loss in Detroit. And as you can probably imagine, then the league would look high and low to find someone else who could that’s led to some handwringing from a Toronto fan base that has some before they’d consider abandoning a market they’ve spent a quarter- experience in that area. century cultivating. First, the qualifiers. This week’s three-game losing streak came on a So what’s Melnyk’s game here? Clearly, he’s disappointed by this year’s tough road trip, and if the team looked sluggish you can attribute some of attendance numbers, especially after last year’s run to the conference that to a schedule that saw them play five times in seven nights. They’ve final. Maybe he thinks that a threat of a move hanging over things will also been without Auston Matthews, out with an upper-body injury that spur fans to reach into their wallets, instead of heading in the other we don’t know the severity of. And while they’ve seen the Lightning pull direction by just tuning out altogether. It’s a bold strategy — let’s see if it away for top spot in the division, they’re still reasonably secure in second pays off. spot, so it’s not like a bad week has torpedoed their playoff hopes. It’s impossible not to wonder how all this is playing in the Erik Karlsson As slumps go, this one isn’t the end of the world. But it’s also part of a camp. The star defenceman was reportedly reprimanded for speaking bigger picture, one that’s seen the Leafs look awfully ordinary after a hot out publicly about the possibility of playing elsewhere; now the owner can start. They’re giving up a ton of shots — 39 or more in eight of their last launch into a tirade about moving the entire team? Star players in this 16 games — and that can’t all be chalked up to score effects. In fact, league usually end up re-signing rather than testing the open market, in there’s a case to be made that the team has been a lot worse than their large part because they value stability. This situation doesn’t seem all record indicates over the last month or so, and only managed to tread that stable anymore. water because their goaltending got red hot just in time. If Frederik Andersen and Curtis McElhinney come back to Earth, the Leafs could be Meanwhile, the hockey world came to Ottawa this weekend, and left with in trouble. headlines about “dark clouds“and a “circus.” That’s probably not what Melnyk had in mind when he was boasting about putting on the greatest Maybe worse, lately the Maple Leafs have been awfully… boring. Lots of outdoor game yet. teams are these days, and boring can win you a lot of games in the modern NHL. But it’s strange to see a Leafs team full of youth, speed With all that going on, the mood in the capital felt dour heading into the and skill suddenly inducing yawns. If anyone should be willing to play a weekend. But the alumni game was fun, the pre-game fan fest attracted little run-and-gun, you’d think it would be these guys. But lately, when it’s a solid crowd, and the weather was cold but otherwise cooperated. By time to hit the gas, they either can’t or won’t. the time Saturday rolled around, a sellout crowd (helped along by plenty of Habs fans) seemed ready to set aside Melnyk’s rant and enjoy a That’s led to some muted grumbling about coach Mike Babcock. There’s game. an easy narrative here: The Leafs were winning playing end-to-end pond hockey until their defensive-minded coach came along and squeezed all They were rewarded with a low-scoring but reasonably entertaining the fun out of them, and now they’re dull and mediocre. That feels a little contest, one that ended with a 3–0 Ottawa win. Karlsson was the driving too easy — Babcock’s defensive system probably isn’t telling them to force for Ottawa, playing an outdoor-record 32 minutes while still finding give up 40 shots a night. time to get weird. That makes it two straight for Ottawa, which isn’t much but sure beats losing 11 of 12. Their owner says we should trust him But at the very least, some of Babcock’s lineup decisions are fair game when he calls them a playoff team; today, they’re six points back, which for questioning. The current flashpoint is Leo Komarov, the 30-year-old is a healthy gap but not insurmountable. winger with just one point at even strength on the year (excluding empty netters) who nevertheless keeps getting more ice time than just about all the forwards. Meanwhile, guys like William Nylander watch from the • Erik Johnson will sit out two games for boarding Tampa’s Vladislav bench. That’s going to get noticed. Namestnikov. So how does this end? Knowing the hockey gods, probably with a • Alex Ovechkin had another overtime winner, this one coming against Komarov hat trick in a blowout win in tomorrow’s matinee against the Ducks: Carolina. If so, we can all shrug and move on. But if this slump drags on, the Atlantic race starts to look very different. The Leafs may not be fun to That gives him a two-goal cushion of Jaromir Jagr on the all-time list. watch anymore, but they’re a team that’s worth keeping an eye on. • The votes are in, and the greatest moment in NHL history is Mario Road to the lottery Lemieux’s five goals scored five ways, which is not actually a moment but we’ll let that slide. Mario beat out ’s flying Cup winner in the The five teams that look like they’re headed towards watching Rasmus final. Dahlin highlights and playing with draft-lottery simulations. • Finally, the Weekend Wrap will be taking next week off, since the 5. Colorado Avalanche (15-15-2, -6): They didn’t beat the Lightning, but Christmas schedule means there wouldn’t be much of a weekend to they put on a heck of a show in nearly coming back from a 5–1 third- wrap. See you in two weeks. period deficit.

4. Detroit Red Wings (12-13-7, -18): Their win over the Leafs marked the end of a five-game homestand, as they head out for their next four. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 12.19.2017 3. Florida Panthers (12-16-5, -20): They lost last night to the Golden Knights, who are basically the director’s-cut alternate ending of what this year’s Panthers could have been. 2. Arizona Coyotes (7-23-5, -44): With six straight losses, the Coyotes look like they’re intent on taking another run at top spot on this list. Not so fast, guys. 1. Buffalo Sabres (8-18-7, -38): Three games, three losses, no hope. The Sabres aren’t going to surrender this spot easily. But it’s getting tight. I’ll be honest. I feel kind of bad about this week’s No. 5 spot. I’m not completely convinced the Avalanche deserve it, especially in a season that’s been mostly positive in Colorado. “Mostly positive” is relative, of course. Last year, the Avs were quite possibly the worst team of the cap era. This year, they’re… well, let’s be honest, they’re still not good. They’re .500 on the nose as far as points percentage, and slightly under in terms of wins and losses. They’re within range of the fringe of the playoff race, but that’s about it. And in the middle of it all, they traded one of their best players. Sure, they’re probably in the bottom-five discussion. That’s especially true around these parts, where we’ve been stubbornly reluctant to give up on the Oilers and have already been burned by the streaky Habs a few times. Now that the Flyers are hot again, somebody has to take the spot. You could make a case for the Canucks, especially with Brock Boeser now hurt. You could make an even better one for the Senators, and they held down the fort last time around, but it feels like their fans have suffered enough this week. So it’s the Avalanche, pretty much by default. I’m guessing Colorado fans won’t mind too much, since they’re watching a team that’s on pace to improve by 34 points, are enjoying a fantastic season from Nathan MacKinnon, and oh yeah, also own Ottawa’s top pick either this year or next. Even their recent losses have been to some of the league’s best teams – two against the Lightning and one to the Capitals. If anything, these days the Avs are probably offering up some hope to Buffalo and Arizona that a lot can change over the course of a year. So sorry, Avalanche fans. At least “barely fifth worst” is still a lot better than “dead last by a mile.” Besides, it’s probably temporary. By this time next week, there’s a good chance you’ll have given up your spot to the Edmonton Oilers or the Vancouver Canucks or the Houston Senators. • That Boeser injury sounds serious. He had to crawl back to the bench after blocking a shot, and was seen after the game with crutches and a walking boot. • The Flames got a big win in that one to snap a three-game losing streak. The Canucks didn’t offer much resistance; David Rittich needed only 16 saves to record his third career win. • Connor Hellebuyck‘s 24-save shutout salvaged the weekend for the Jets, who split their big home-and-home with the Blues. Next up: Yet another Central showdown, this one with the Predators. • Speaking of that Central race, it may be about to get even more crowded: The Blackhawks have now won five straight and are within four points of the Jets with a game in hand. • Cam Talbot is back, and he helped the Oilers get back into the win column with 29 saves in a 3-2 win. The Oilers have alternated wins and losses for their last nine games; they’ll try to break that pattern tonight against the Sharks. • Weirdest goal of the weekend: Ben Bishop learning that crime doesn’t pay, at least when it comes to stealing Shayne Gostisbehere‘s stick: 1089116 Websites 2017 Google rankings than Drouin and Duchene, the only NHLers in the top 10.

4. Great to see much-depended-upon No. 1 goalies like Corey Crawford, Sportsnet.ca / Quick Shifts: Why Kessel called Reaves an idiot 10 times Marc-Andre Fleury and Matt Murray back in uniform — the latter two in the nick of time to face each other Thursday. Luke Fox “It can get a bit lonely at times when you’re hurt. You’re on a different schedule than the whole team, so you don’t see them as much,” Murray @lukefoxjukebox said. “It feels good to be back.” December 18, 2017, 9:53 AM Murray, 23, watched and re-watched the clip of Flyers forward Jakub Voracek crashing into him on a breakaway:

“The ice kinda just blew up underneath his skates,” said Murray, A quick mix of the things we gleaned from the week of hockey, serious defending the man who injured him. “No intent there. He’s a fast skater, and less so, and rolling four lines deep. so when he’s coming in hot like that, a collision can be bad.” 1. Before Ryan Reaves slid on Hockey Night in Canada‘s “After Hours” Murray explained there is no way he could’ve braced himself for impact last month and unveiled his homemade Phil Kessel Thriller T-shirt — a because he had to play the puck and keep his eyes on a shot. sartorial, satirical eureka that Photoshop-mashes American icons Phil and Michael in their primes — he wore it on the Pittsburgh Penguins An excusable jersey foul, in our humble opinion. team plane for Kessel to see. 5. Inexperienced backup Tristan Jarry, a prized prospect in the Penguins “He was laughing. He called me an idiot about 10 times,” recalled system, has appeared in 10 games (5-2-2) out of necessity, but coach Reaves, a grin stretching like the tattoos on his expansive forearms. “He Mike Sullivan believes the cameo will do wonders for the 22-year-old’s got a good laugh out of it.” confidence and development. Most NHL teams don’t dress one solid goalie under the age of 24. The Pens have two. Reaves sent his mom the source image and asked her to go to one of those shirt-pressing spots in Winnipeg before the Penguins touched “We’re fortunate to have these guys in our organization,” said Sullivan, down to play Reaves’ hometown Jets. with a nod to Pittsburgh’s scouting staff. “I wanted to throw something on there. She made it for me, and I wore it “It’s a different challenge when you’re playing on a contending team that for our West Coast swing,” Reaves says. “It’s appeared in a couple of plays in high-stakes environments, and a lot of times there’s a fine line soccer warmups. It wasn’t the best quality, so it shrunk a little bit. I gotta between winning and losing. A lot of times, that timely save can be the make another one, maybe make a few more different ones.” difference.” After wearing the tee on national TV opposite Scott Oake, Reaves said Murray said Jarry (.919 save percentage) was clutch in keeping an he’s been flooded with requests for more Phil the Thriller garb. He uneven Penguins team in the playoff mix during his absence. considered spinning it off into a side business, but his idea got swiped too fast. Christmas is nigh. “It’s no surprise,” Murray said. “He’s a great goalie. He has a great mind- set, so he’s stepped up and is doing a great job. I think he’s stolen a The shirts are now being sold through a few online outlets, including couple games for us. He’s made all the saves he needs to, and then Amazon.com, Mom. some. He’s been stellar.” “Someone else jumped on it and they’re selling them right now. They Enough to make us block out that misguided Antti Niemi experiment. beat me to it,” Reaves shrugged. “I don’t have time to start pressing shirts.” 6. The greatest stat of Chris Neil’s career might not be the 1,026 NHL games played — the hard way. It might be the zero suspensions over the 2. I asked Reaves to pinpoint the biggest difference between playing on course of that 19-year pro journey in which he straddled on the line. the Penguins as opposed to the St. Louis Blues, the only other NHL club he’s known. He gave me three. If you’re around the game for a while, you end up rooting for certain guys more than certain teams. I had a co-op placement in journalism school I. Defensive-zone structure. Pittsburgh places more of an emphasis on that involved covering the North Bay Centennials in 1999. Their best man-on-man D than St. Louis. player was Neil. II. Speed. “This team is faster,” Reaves said, “likes to push the pace It felt like any given night there was a better chance he’d get a Gordie more.” Howe hat trick than not. The talk of the town finished that season with 46 goals, 26 points and 215 penalty minutes in 66 games. III. Confidence. “This team just knows they’re champions for a reason. They’re always in the game; they’re never out. Whether you’re going into Darcy Tucker delivered a timely tweet upon the announcement of Neil’s a period down 4-1 or up 4-1, you know you’re always in the game,” retirement Thursday: Reaves explained. “With the talent this team has, everyone believes we can come back because there’s a lot of firepower here.” 7. The Calgary Flames have lost slightly more faceoffs than they’ve won, but you won’t hear coach Glen Gulutzan complaining. His group has Matt Hunwick, another new addition to a roster silly with champions, actually improved slightly in the circle since the NHL cracked down on agreed that the dressing-room culture is different in Pitt. encroachment. “We hold ourselves to a high standard, so it’s tough when we’re not “It does take away some of the competitiveness,” Gulutzan said, “but it’s winning and playing our best,” the defenceman said. But the Penguins taken away the rugby-style faceoff where everything is tied up and locked have lost as many as they’ve won: 17. “There’s certainly a drive and a down and scrum it out. What it has done is, it’s created more offence, confidence with this group that we should win every night. That’s what we more clean wins. If that’s the intention as far as safety for the officials, I feel.” think it’s had that effect.” 3. For the second straight season, the Penguins were the NHL’s top Gulutzan isn’t the only one who’s noticed that once one centre gets trending team on Google in 2017, the search engine announced. Captain kicked out of a draw, the second man is extra cautious for fear of taking a and Conn Smythe champ Sidney Crosby was the top trending player for two-minute violation penalty. the second straight year. These results, however, are U.S.-based. “Every club probably got stung with one early, so the second guy coming In Canada, the most Googled hockey player was Jonathan Drouin, in is real passive,” he said. “They try to win, but they don’t cheat followed by Matt Duchene — in case you need further proof that we love whatsoever, because they don’t want to get the jump and go down two. trades. You don’t want the penalty, right?” The Ottawa Senators, Canada’s last playoff club standing and a constant These small details can impact outcomes. When Toronto’s Patrick source of rumours and debate, ranked as Google Canada’s top-searched Marleau was tossed for a draw in Philadelphia Tuesday, winger Zach sports team. Hyman lost it, and the Flyers scored off the winning faceoff. Leafs coach Mike Babcock let the linesman hear all about it. For those scoring at home, Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor were Canada’s most-Googled athletes. Ryan Shazier, Georges St.-Pierre, 8. Calling it now: The Vegas Golden Knights will qualify for the 2018 Denis Shapovalov, Serge Ibaka, and Sergio Garcia also garnered higher post-season. 9. Montreal’s Brendan Gallagher, Calgary’s Matthew Tkachuk, and Pittsburgh’s Bryan Rust rank one, two, three in penalties drawn. But known pests Gallagher and Tkachuk have each taken at least 50 per cent more penalties than Rust. Sullivan said most of the minors Rust draws are hooks and holds. “It’s an indication that he plays with his strengths. He uses his speed. He forces opponents to have to defend him. He’s brave. He’s willing to play inside,” Rust’s coach explained. “If he gets a step on a player, he’s willing to take the puck to the net. He gets inside the dots, forces them to defend him, and that usually where infractions occur.” 10. Stacia Robitaille, wife of Los Angeles Kings president Luc, tweeted about her disturbing run-in with Donald Trump. When the Kings win the Stanley Cup, here’s $100 saying they boycott the White House visit. I tweeted about an unwarranted & uncomfortable experience I faced years ago — my tweet was not for money or attention, but in hope that others would not be intimidated by these horrific bullies we face today. Responses I’ve received are why women don’t speak up in first place. — Stacia Robitaille (@StaciaRR) December 13, 2017 11. Maple Leafs winger and one-time all-star Leo Komarov has one goal in his past 21 games and just two even-strength goals all season (one was into an empty net). This despite playing with creative offensive linemates like Nazem Kadri and Marleau for the majority of the time. Komarov ranks fourth among all Leafs forwards in average ice time (16:34). 12. Here’s something not hockey, but it’s really funny. “The Accidental Activist” is a satirical sketch centred around an American baseball pitcher playing in Montreal who runs off the mound during O Canada to relieve himself. America loves him as he embraces his anti- Canada stance.

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 12.19.2017 1089117 Websites

Sportsnet.ca / 3 up, 3 down: Trouba stepping up in Byfuglien’s absence

Steve Laidlaw December 18, 2017, 9:02 AM

Welcome to the fantasy hockey stock market. Each week we will look at three players trending up and three players trending down. Trouba has had a slow start for fantasy owners, taking a backseat to Dustin Byfuglien and Tyler Myers in order to provide the Jets with a consistent defensive presence. His minutes are down from over 24 per game last season to just 21:26, but he has been up over 22 minutes in each of the last four games thanks to Byfuglien’s absence. Trouba has been promoted to the top power-play unit and should produce big points in that role as long as Byfuglien remains on the shelf, which could be weeks. Nashville’s second line has run over the opposition since Kyle Turris was acquired. In 17 games since the big three-way deal Turris, Fiala and Craig Smith have scored 17, 16 and 16 points respectively. Fiala has been particularly lethal of late with six goals and nine points in the past seven games. It would be more enticing if Fiala were playing more than the 14:33 he has averaged per game, but at this point we cannot ignore the results. Ride Fiala until opposing teams find an answer for the Predators’ second line. If you are late to the party on Fiala, consider Smith as an under-owned consolation prize. After a quiet November, Miller has bounced back scoring eight points in eight games this month. His minutes have also climbed to nearly 20 per game after averaging 18 per game through the first two months of the season. With Vegas sustaining its elite scoring figures, Miller is in a great spot to succeed especially with exposure to James Neal and Jonathan Marchessault on the power play. Markstrom has conceded 16 goals in four games. What’s really concerning is that the Canucks appear set to face the next month without the entirety of their top line after Brock Boeser left Sunday’s game with a foot injury. The Sedins have performed quite well stepping up for the already injured Bo Horvat and Sven Baertschi, but without Boeser the burden may be too much to handle. Don’t be shocked if the Canucks go on a horrible slide with their top youngsters out. Hischier has been on a downward slide over the past month scoring just six points in the last 15 games. He is currently riding a five-game scoreless drought. Star linemate Taylor Hall should be returning soon, which will help Hischier plenty, but there are still reasons to be sour on the rookie. For whatever reason the Devils still are not using him on their top power-play unit, which has hurt his chances of racking up cheap points. Of his 20 points only four have come with the man advantage. He needs to get bumped up to the top unit for a better chance of consistently producing points, but that hasn’t happened, not even after Adam Henrique was traded. All the circumstances that had Brodie as a hot option early on are still in effect. He continues to be the lone defenceman used on the Flames’ top power-play unit. However, that power play has slowed to more realistic levels and with it has gone Brodie’s scoring. Over half (nine) of his points have come with the man advantage. This is not a usual trend for Brodie, however his pairing with Travis Hamonic has not been a successful one, hurting his even-strength production. At some point the Flames’ power play will get rolling again, but until then Brodie is going to be a wasted roster space. He has already gone eight straight games without a point. Get out now before any more damage is inflicted.

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 12.19.2017 1089118 Websites This year, Steel has 14 goals and 21 assists through 27 games. The numbers aren’t quite as gaudy as in previous years, but he’s a better player now. TSN.CA / Steel ready to take his place on potent top line “I think I got stronger,” Steel said. “I win more puck battles. I improved on my face-offs a lot and I just matured as a player doing the little things right.” By Mark Masters "He's more experienced and he understands situations better on the ice," said Paddock. “Our team is different. We don’t have as many weapons (this year) so there’s more attention paid to him. He’s captain of the team When Sam Steel takes the ice at this year’s World Juniors his brother, now, it’s more his team so sometimes he may actually be trying too hard. Patrick, will be on his mind. Patrick Steel passed away suddenly in his Besides his ability, he’s always the hardest worker so he could have a sleep in 2011 at the age of 18. He had been playing Junior A Hockey in bad game, but you can’t remain upset long about it because he worked." Canmore, Alberta at the time. Despite being a late cut at last year's selection camp, Craig Button “He’s always with me,” said Steel, a centre with the Regina Pats. “I’m breaks down the impact that Sam Steel can have for Canada up the always thinking about him no matter what the situation. We watched (the middle at this year's World Junior Hockey Championship. World Juniors) growing up so it’s special to be in this situation right now.” Steel generated chemistry with both his linemates before arriving at Has Steel thought about what it will be like to wear the Maple Leaf on Canada’s selection camp last week. He meshed well with Dube during Boxing Day? the CIBC series against Russia. “I’m trying not to think too far ahead right now,” he said. “I don’t know if I’ll “Dillon's a really skilled player and he competes hard, likes to make plays be able to get too much sleep if I think about that too much. But, yeah, so that’s the type of player I love to play with,” Steel said. it’s going to be a special moment for me, my family, everybody and I don’t take it for granted. I’ll go out there and give it all I got.” Meanwhile, Steel and Kyrou found instant chemistry during the Summer Showcase in Plymouth, Michigan. Steel, a first round pick of the Anaheim Ducks in 2016, was a final cut at last year’s Team Canada selection camp. The native of Sherwood Park, “Jordan can fly out there, but he has great vision too and if he gets the Alberta finished last season with 50 goals and 131 points to lead the CHL puck in the right spot he’s burying it,” Steel said. in scoring. Yes, he was motivated by the World Junior omission, but that's not what drives him. All three players can fly. "He's totally focused on doing what he can to be better," said Pats head “It’s our speed,” said Dube when asked what stands out about the line. coach John Paddock. "For him to be drafted in the NHL and be a pro and “Even just in practice today, we’re kicking pucks out and flying around everything he does, part of it is for his brother. He doesn’t talk about it guys so it’s great to play with them. Me and Sammy had some chemistry much so that’s just my opinion, but I think that’s helped him to be even there with Team WHL and we just ran with it and had some fun.” more focused on doing the right things with his eating, his training, “Just all three of us, we’re really explosive,” said Kyrou. “Those first everything. He brings to the rink a pro preparation.” couple steps, we can find each other and beat defencemen wide.” What will the World Juniors mean to Steel? The line of Dillon Dube, Sam Steel and Jordan Kyrou has the potential to “It means a tremendous amount,” Paddock said. “It will mean everything be the driving force of Canada's offence. Steel, the reigning CHL player to him.” of the year, Kyrou, the OHL's scoring leader and Dube, who played at the World Juniors last year, have been building chemistry long before this Steel inspired by brother's memory: "He’s always with me" week. One thing that they all bring to the table? Speed. Sam Steel isn't simply motivated by his own desire to play for Team When asked about that line, Ducharme shifts the conversation back to Canada at the World Juniors. The Regina Pats centre wants to succeed the forward group as a whole. in order to honour the memory of his older brother Patrick, who passed away suddenly in his sleep in 2011 at the age of 18. Patrick had been “All four lines have speed, skill and guys who are reliable,” Ducharme playing Junior A Hockey in Canmore at the time. "We watched the World stressed. “I see us getting help offensively from all four lines. Every line Juniors growing up so it’s special to be in this situation right now," Sam can play against anyone on the other side.” said. And Ducharme plans on giving all of his lines ample opportunity to prove At practice on Monday Steel centred a line with OHL scoring leader that. There will not be much, if any, tinkering in the days ahead. Jordan Kyrou and Dillon Dube, who is one of three forwards returning “This is what we’ll be using for at least Wednesday’s game and probably from last year’s team. While Canadian head coach Dominique Ducharme on Friday,” said Ducharme referring to pre-tournament tilts against the expects scoring to be spread across all four lines, the potential for this Czechs and Swiss. “I’m confident those combinations will work and we trio is huge. want to take the time to build chemistry. If we’re changing lines every day “I’ve never played on a stage this big so it will be a little bit new," Steel it’s hard to build that. One game, sometimes, is not enough. We feel admitted, "but I played some high-stakes hockey going to the finals in the confident with what we had on the ice. It will stay like that for a while.” WHL (last season). It’s not the same kind of stage, but I think playing Time is always a scarce commodity in a short event like the World under pressure is something I’ve gotten more used to.” Juniors, but even more so this year with Canada having a tricky Paddock has seen Steel elevate his game at big moments before. During preliminary round schedule featuring two sets of back to backs. his draft year, Steel wasn’t producing offensively at the level some had “Four games in five nights, but our guys are used to that,” said anticipated. Ducharme. “It’s about getting the proper rest. Rest is a weapon and, at “The so-called experts were asking, ‘What’s wrong? He’s not having that the same time, this week we need to prepare. Once we get to the good a year. Is his ankle bothering him?’ He had tore that up the year tournament we won’t be practicing a lot.” before. But you need top players and we got Cole Sanford (via trade) and Who will score the goals for Canada at the World Juniors? Sam’s game picked up points-wise so if he had Sandy all year he’d have more points. Then, seeing him elevate his game in the playoffs in his Dante Fabbro has been seen in a walking boot, casting doubt on his draft year just showed the kind of player he is. He scores at important availability to play in the World Junior Championships. What is the level times.” of concern for Fabbro's injury? Who will step up and score the goals for team Canada? And speaking of Hockey Canada, what exactly is the Steel had 16 points in 12 playoff games that spring. He elevated his Chevrolet Good Deeds Cup? Bob McKenzie joins Gino Reda to discuss. game once again in last year’s playoffs after Adam Brooks, who had 130 points in the regular season, went down with injury. Dube took to the ice on Monday wearing a regular red jersey before quickly being told to switch to a non-contact yellow one. He admits that “He got double the checking with Brooks being hurt, but he still finished surprised him. second in playoff scoring,” Paddock noted. “For me, he’s a big-game player.” “I’ll be ready to go for Wednesday,” said Dube, who didn't take part in any of the games during the selection camp as he nurses an upper-body Steel had 30 points in 23 playoff games last spring. injury (suspected shoulder). “It’s just precautionary and you never know what can happen at practice. So, just playing it safe.” Ducharme wasn’t as certain that the Kelowna Rocket will be in the lineup for Canada’s first pre-tournament game. “We’ll see,” the coach cautioned. “We just want to make sure when the tournament starts he’s 100 per cent. If he plays it will be because there’s no worries that he’s not 100 per cent. If he’s just at 95 per cent we’ll keep him out on Wednesday.” Dube didn’t miss any time in the WHL due to injury and isn’t worried about going into the World Juniors with limited game action. The Calgary prospect trained under the watchful eye of Flames strength and conditioning coach Ryan van Asten in the summer and learned from veterans like Matt Stajan and Troy Brouwer. “I saw how hard they worked and just to keep up with them was hard,” Dube said. “It was nice for me to mix with them and skate with them all summer. I think from June on I was at a pro level the whole time so I think that helped my conditioning and I carried that on through the whole year. With this injury, rest is good, but I don’t think I’ve lost any cardio heading into the games.” What stood out the most during the summer sessions? “Just being able to do it every single day,” Dube said. “We were in the gym early and they were long days. It’s tough and you get exhausted. Hopefully you create a job with that (work ethic) for the rest of your life.” The work paid off as Dube impressed Flames coach Glen Gulutzan in training camp and almost earned a look in the NHL. “He had a great camp here,” Gulutzan said last month. “The speed, the hockey sense that he had, the ability to play centre and wing so versatility, just a great kid. He was dialled in on the details of the game and the fitness side of the game. I think he’s up on the wall as the top rookie fitness guy and he had a great camp with us. If not for the junior thing and the numbers that we had we might have even kept him longer.” “He had a great training camp for us,” recalled Johnny Gaudreau. “I thought he was going to stick around for a little, that’s how well he did at training camp. Not sure how he’s doing now, but definitely stood out for management and our team.” Canada's Dube nearly earned look with Flames As a returning player from last year's World Juniors, Dillon Dube is expected to play a leadership role on Team Canada this year in Buffalo. The Kelowna Rockets star almost got a look in the NHL this season, according to Flames head coach Glen Gulutzan, who was impressed with the 19-year-old's fitness and hockey sense. Injured defenceman Dante Fabbro watched Monday’s practice from the stands with a walking boot on his left foot. What’s the latest on his status? “We don’t know,” Ducharme said. “We’ll see what the doctors say. He saw another specialist and we’ll know later.” Meanwhile, Fabbro's would-be replacement, Josh Mahura, was kept off the ice on Monday. “He was feeling a bit tired, travelling back and forth, but he should be on the ice with us [on Tuesday],” Ducharme said. It has been a whirlwind couple of days for the Regina Pats defenceman. On Friday night, he choked back tears after getting cut. One day later, after playing a WHL game, Mahura got a call from Hockey Canada to come back. "It all happened pretty quick,” Mahura said on Sunday night. “Since leaving and coming back, I haven't really wrapped my head around everything, but obviously really happy to be back.” Mahura is in a bit of an awkward position. If Fabbro is healthy enough to play in the World Juniors, Mahura will be sent home again. “He understands the situation,” said Hockey Canada senior manager of hockey operations Shawn Bullock. “We made sure it was very clear to him what the understanding is and the situation he's coming into. But he’ll be exactly like the other players. We'll keep him here as long as we need to." “He’s a really good friend of mine,” Mahura said of Fabbro, “and it’s a really tough situation for him to be in. You know how badly he wants to play in this. Hopefully he’s ready to go and if he isn’t then I will be.”

TSN.CA LOADED: 12.19.2017 1089119 Websites Balance has been the name of the game for last year’s Stanley Cup finalists. Filip Forsberg is scoring a point-per-game and newcomer Kyle Turris has had a point-per-game since arriving in a trade from Ottawa, TSN.CA / TSN Hockey's Top 10 Storylines of the Week but Nashville has six more players with at least 20 points. They currently sit second in the Pacific Division, but the expansion Vegas Golden Knights have the best record (20-9-2) in the division, having By Scott Cullen played three fewer games and sitting two points behind the first-place Los Angeles Kings.

That they managed to compile this record while going through a stretch A wild week in Ottawa, Canada’s World Junior roster is set, the Top 25 when they were forced to start their fourth-string goaltender in 13 games NHL players of all-time, Matthews, Bailey and more in TSN Hockey’s Top made it all the more remarkable, but now the Golden Knights are 10 Storylines of the Week. relatively healthy and there are some signs that they might not fade away too quickly. It all started innocently enough, it seemed, with The Athletic’s Craig Custance interviewing Los Angeles Kings defenceman Drew Doughty While it remains to be seen just how well some of Vegas’ surprise about free agency in the summer of 2019. Doughty mentioned that he performers – William Karlsson and Erik Haula come to mind – hold up would consult with Senators defenceman Erik Karlsson, who will also be over the course of a full season, it is encouraging that the Golden Knights a free agent that summer, and everything went haywire. have improved their puck possession stats. Karlsson, naturally, was questioned by Ottawa reporters about it and Through the end of October, they ranked 18th in the league, with a indicated that he would not take a hometown discount with his next deal. 49.0% score-adjusted Corsi, which isn’t all that bad for a team in its first Not an unreasonable position for a player of his stature to take. year of existence, but since then the Golden Knights are sitting at 52.3%, which puts them in the Top 10 since November 1. Unless, of course, that player is on the Ottawa Senators, apparently, because the reported reaction was that owner Eugene Melnyk was With points in the bank and improving shot differentials, the Golden disappointed and it immediately prompted discussion about how soon the Knights look like a team that could stay in the hunt for a playoff spot. Senators might consider dealing their superstar defenceman. For good measure, scoring winger Mike Hoffman’s name found its way into the In a bit of a surprising twist, the Washington Capitals are once again on trade rumour mill this week, and Kyle Turris had some things to say top of the Metropolitan Division. The Capitals opened the season 5-6-1 about his departure. and seemed to have too many holes to really get back among the contenders this season, but they’ve won 10 of the past 12 games and Those stories had legs for most of the week but, really, were just that’s changed the outlook rather quickly. appetizers to Melnyk’s performance on the eve of the NHL 100 Classic outdoor game against Montreal, when the Sens owner said, “I think the Washington has not been a strong possession team (48.4% score- market here has to prove itself, or you have to make changes. We’ve cut adjusted Corsi), so that remains an area of concern, but Alex Ovechkin everything to the bone in the organization. We are probably one of the has 23 goals in 34 games, which puts him on pace for 55 goals over a thinnest management groups in the league. The next thing you have to full season; not bad for a guy who was supposedly in decline last season. look at is players." There are two New York Islanders sitting atop the team’s scoring race It is not unprecedented for an owner to express frustration about their with 40 points in 33 games. One, as expected, is John Tavares. The market, but to do it on the eve of an outdoor game that the Senators are second player is more surprising: it’s right winger Josh Bailey, who plays hosting, and the spotlight (which is rare for Ottawa!) that comes with it, is with Tavares and Anders Lee on one of the league’s most productive unorthodox to say the least. Where's the upside? lines. Questions have been cropping up for years about whether Melnyk has Bailey recorded a career-high 56 points last season, but is on pace to the financial wherewithal to keep the Senators competitive over the long obliterate that number this season. That’s interesting because, like haul – there were rumours, which Melnyk denied, that some Sens Tavares, Bailey is set to be an unrestricted free agent next summer. employees have missed pay cheques – but these aren’t the kinds of questions that dog too many other franchises. Here are the top scorers that are set to be unrestricted free agents in 2018: And after all that bluster, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman quickly put cold water on the notion that the Senators might move. At least the Senators came away from the outdoor game with a 3-0 win TSN.CA LOADED: 12.19.2017 against Montreal, a little good news for the first time in a while, but their owner’s untimely outburst is going to hang over this franchise for a while. Team Canada made its final cuts for this year’s World Junior Hockey Championship. Naturally, Canada has a skilled team that should contend for a gold medal, but there were some surprises, most notably with goaltender Michael DePietro and centre Nick Suzuki among the final cuts. Canada plays its first game of the tournament on Boxing Day, facing off against Finland. With the National Hockey League celebrating its 100th anniversary, TSN issued a list of the Top 25 players in the history of the league. It’s an interesting list, though as with all lists, I’d make a few changes. Toronto Maple Leafs franchise centre Auston Matthews has missed the past four games, with a mysterious injury, and it hasn’t gone very well for the Leafs. They have scored a total of four goals in those four games, losing three, and their only win was a 1-0 win over Edmonton during which Curtis McElhinney recorded a 41-save shutout. The mystery around the injury is because the team won’t divulge what exactly has sidelined Matthews, and the best indication is that he might not have a concussion. Anything that happens with Matthews is a big story in Toronto, but any injury that could have a long-term effect on Matthews is going to be an issue for the Maple Leafs. After Saturday night’s 2-0 win at Calgary, the Nashville Predators have suffered just one regulation loss in their pastfirst-pla 14 games (a 5-3 home loss to Vancouver, believe it or not), giving them the second-best record in the league behind Tampa Bay. 1089120 Websites Hyman is generally super-glued to Matthews’ left wing, but since he’s been out of the lineup, Hyman has played primarily with Marleau. He’s long admired the veteran and has drawn further motivation from seeing TSN.CA / Matthews skates again, but status remains murky how the former Shark carries himself on the ice. “I’ve played with both of them for a while but I’ve never played with them together, so that’ll be fun,” said Hyman of Nylander and Marleau. By Kristen Shilton “They’re both good players and, with Willy in the middle, he uses his speed well and passes well and Patty is just a workhorse and obviously Columnist image an elite shooter so it’ll be fun to play with him.” While appreciative of a three-day break between games, the time off did give the Leafs ample time to consider their flagging offence – and, TSN’s Kristen Shilton writes on the Toronto Maple Leafs, who held an 11 hopefully, how they can improve it. Work on the forecheck and cycling a.m. practice at MasterCard Centre on Monday. the puck were focal points in both Sunday and Monday’s practices, and When Auston Matthews skated prior to Sunday’s practice, it was a fairly the message has been received loud and clear: protect the puck at all low-key workout, with some light shooting and skating drills. On Monday, costs to stay in the offensive zone. he cranked his routine up a notch. “I think we just have to play better with the puck, hold onto the puck more Joined by a trainer and skills coach, Matthews went full-speed through in (their end) and be creating chances,” said Hyman. “If you do that, it several drills similar to what his teammates would be doing later in leads to breaking out quicker and having the puck more, and when the practice, including puck protection work and makeshift battle drills. He other team is changing it gives your D more time.” has missed the Leafs’ last four games after he and teammate Morgan Their lack of sustained pressure in recent weeks has naturally led to Rielly collided in the 4-3 win over the Penguins in Pittsburgh Dec. 9. fewer shots being fired on net. Toronto hasn’t put more than 29 shots on Matthews was clearly pushing himself harder than he had the day before, goal in any of their last six games, while they’ve allowed more than 30 which could be a positive sign that he’s nearing a return for the Leafs. shots against in four games along that same stretch. That explosiveness that makes Matthews so dangerous appears to be “We need to shoot more, but we’re getting chances,” said Andersen. returning as well, and he was snapping the puck with impressive speed “Sometimes it’s not really going your way, but I’m pretty positive we’re and accuracy. When he finished his solo workout, Matthews spent about going to score eventually and when it does start turning, it’s going to be 20 minutes firing on Frederik Andersen and Curtis McElhinney, who good and guys will get their swagger back.” didn’t need to see the pucks fly behind them to know Matthews hasn’t lost much of a step. Marleau has seen a little of everything over the course of his career, and understands why adjusting to a league that’s constantly adjusting to you “His shot is still the same, so that’s good,” Andersen said jokingly after isn’t as easy to accomplish in practice as in theory. getting beat two or three times top-shelf. “We obviously want to see him healthy and make sure he’s good. We’re taking it slow with him.” “At the start of the year, everyone is still trying to play the system and get used to it,” he said. “Now, everyone is pretty dialed in so it’s about doing While the Leafs, who have scored just four goals in their last four games those things to be successful each and every shift. Maybe you’d get and have lost three straight, could certainly use some offensive away with it earlier in the season, but you don’t get away with it now. You reinforcements, they may have to wait a little longer for Matthews to be need those three or four extra chances to get that one goal.” cleared. Despite signs of progress, head coach Mike Babcock was unsure if his centre will be available for Tuesday afternoon’s home game With Matthews’ status still uncertain, the loss of Nikita Zaitsev couldn’t against the Carolina Hurricanes or Wednesday’s contest against the Blue have come at a worse time for the Leafs. He leads the team in ice time Jackets in Columbus. per game (22:50) and has been an impact player at even strength and on special teams. Filling the void of both players will require additional “That’s a great question, I asked the same one,” Babcock said. “He’s commitment from every player. doing good. I don’t know when they’re letting him play but he’s doing good, how’s that?” “We’re going to have to step up with Zaits out, but we have guys who are hungry to play and they should play good,” Andersen said. “You want to For Matthews’ teammates, just seeing him back on the ice and knowing be playing solid in the defensive zone and you want to be scoring more he’s getting closer to rejoining the lineup was enough to offer a boost. goals; that’s something we’ve talked about. But we’re keeping (the “When someone is going through something, as soon as you see him games within reach and you just have to keep going and shoot the puck, back out there on the ice, everyone gets a little bit excited,” said Patrick and eventually it’s going to turn.” Marleau. Goaltenders – and just players in general – are notorious for having strict “You always want to see your teammate and your buddy be back on the pre-game rituals. Andersen has a specific routine he likes to go through ice and get back with us as soon as possible,” added Zach Hyman. “He’s before each game and, with the Leafs almost always playing at the same doing all the stuff he needs to do and it’s a good sign to see him back out time, that routine is rarely disrupted. there.” But for the odd special occasion, like Tuesday’s 2 p.m. start for the Leafs’ William Nylander had moved back to centre in Sunday’s practice, but on Next Century game, Andersen has devised a new regime to be at his Monday he had a new left winger in Marleau. best by puck drop. The veteran skated beside Nylander and Hyman for the first time this “You don’t play a lot of those, so you (draw on) the experience you do season as a trio, and Babcock is hopeful they can generate the have,” he said. “Maybe get up a little bit earlier, have some breakfast, get necessary spark to get the Leafs’ offence humming again. a quick nap in again so you don’t feel like you’re eating pasta for breakfast. That’s just small challenges that those games present, but you “You’re just hoping there’s some chemistry and that they’re going to play just have to adjust a little bit.” well and spend more time in the offensive zone than in their own zone,” Babcock said. “We played Willy in the middle at home before when we Andersen also usually likes to get a skate in before a game, but an early control the matchup, we control the matchup here [Tuesday] so we’re start may make that impossible. Either way, he and the Leafs are looking going to try and do the same thing. Patty…can play down low and look forward to honouring the franchise’s 100th birthday on what Toronto after him if he needs to as well and go from there. Hyman, [Connor] Mayor John Tory has declared “Toronto Maple Leafs Day” in the city. Brown and [Nylander] are a real good line also, so we can always have “Any time you’re involved in an Original Six (team), there’s a ton of that option.” history and tons of great players that have gone before you and you want What Marleau adds to a line with two sophomores is the stability and to represent them well,” said Babcock. “We want to get our franchise poise in the defensive zone that was a bit lacking in Nylander’s first back to its rightful place, we’re working at that, trying to get better each outing at centre on Dec. 10. And in his 19th NHL campaign, Marleau and every day. We understand it’s a process, but I think we have a appreciates the burst of youthful speed and energy that comes from product right now that our fans are proud of and we just have to keep playing with Nylander. getting better.” “I think Willy is highly skilled and very explosive skating-wise so I’ll just try The Leafs have asked season ticket holders or fans who can’t use their and get open and try to complement him,” Marleau said. “I think to have a tickets on Tuesday afternoon to donate them to children who can attend bit more sustained o-zone time, playing heavy, and protect the pucks the game. It should make for a more boisterous atmosphere than the down low, that’s going to create more chances.” Leafs are used to at Air Canada Centre, which should suit the players just fine. “It’s a great time of the year, right around the holidays. Reminds you of being a kid,” said Hyman. “It’s a good time to be playing hockey.”

TSN.CA LOADED: 12.19.2017 1089121 Websites TSN.CA LOADED: 12.19.2017 TSN.CA / Beyond Matthews, scorers continue to struggle for Leafs

By Travis Yost

The good news for the Toronto Maple Leafs? There won’t be much of a playoff chase this year. They are clearly the second-best team in an incredibly weak Atlantic division. And even if things sour down the stretch of the season, it’s hard to see any scenario where they finish lower than third. The bad news? They aren’t playing particularly well these days and a lot of it has to do with their core players struggling to produce. Beyond Auston Matthews, you can pick from any number of skaters who have gone through some sort of rough stretch this year. William Nylander and Mitch Marner are probably the most notable on this front. In 34 games, Nylander has just five goals. And that’s herculean production compared to Marner, who has managed to score just twice this season. For two guys who were fantastic goal scorers in their rookie years, the lack of production has been jarring. From a statistical viewpoint, it’s hard not to notice that both of these guys are shooting at ridiculously low rates. Even if you didn’t rate Nylander or Marner as anything better than second-line wingers, you would never expect them to shoot six per cent - or worse - over a full season. They just haven’t had any shooting luck this season and that sort of stuff is fleeting. At a point the bounces will start to come, and to some degree, the goal-scoring will return. But I do think there’s much more of a discussion to be had here about both of these players, especially at 5-on-5. When shooting percentages move wildly in either direction, it should always raise a flag. But sometimes there can be reasonable justification for those conversion rates skewing from historical averages. In Marner’s case in particular, I think that’s at play. A lot has been made about the shuffling of Marner around the lineup but one of the truisms about his game is that he’s been just materially less dangerous with the puck when in the offensive zone. Last year, Marner was one of the league’s better wingers at generating shots from dangerous scoring areas. This season, those numbers have been scaled back considerably. If you look at Marner’s individual scoring chance generation on a per- game basis, you can see how it’s degraded year-over-year. And while he’s seeing a couple less shifts per-night, the reality is he’s just way too frequently a non-factor in some of these Leafs games. The most notable thing is that in nearly 40 per cent of the games Marner’s played in 2017, he’s generated zero scoring chances at 5-on-5. Last year, that number was 17 per cent (It’s also worth noting that Marner had six games last season where he generated five or more scoring chances in a single game. This season, that number is at zero). Now, it is possible that Marner’s being asked to do more defensively, or is handling more of the distribution and playmaking duties, or is simply still trying to find a ‘best fit’ for potential linemates. But regardless of what the drivers are, we can say with a pretty high degree of confidence that Marner just isn’t nearly as individually threatening as he was a season ago. And even if goal-scoring luck does return to some degree, it’s hard to see how – at least at the prevailing rates – he ends the season as a 20-goal guy for Toronto. The good news for Leaf fans is that we don’t see the same type of story with Nylander. Here’s his year-over-year individual scoring chance impact at even strength for the Leafs: You could make the argument that Nylander’s actually been a bit more threatening this season than last year. Nylander is generating about 1.9 scoring chances per game, which is about 0.3 more than what he did in 2016-17. And he’s actually had a handful of games where he’s been all over the ice - he’s already had four games this year where he has been responsible for 5 or more scoring chances, which is hugely encouraging. And I think that’s why we can’t just paint both of these players with the same brush. Both goal scoring droughts are fluky to some degree, yes. But if both players regress to normal shooting percentages on the scoring chances they are generating, only Nylander would see a substantial rebound in his goal-scoring. That’s because Nylander’s still threatening the opposition on a nightly basis. Marner? Not so much. Right now, Toronto can make do as he tries to find his game. Come playoff time? Neither Marner nor Toronto will have that luxury. 1089122 Websites “That was a magical day,” Gilbert said. “Hopefully 10 years later, almost to the day, we can have another magical day.”

USA TODAY / New Era Field promises a unique experience for U.S.- Canada world juniors game USA TODAY LOADED: 12.19.2017

Kevin Allen, USA TODAY Sports Published 2:59 p.m. ET Dec. 18, 2017 | Updated 3:17 p.m. ET Dec. 18, 2017

Snow is always in the offing during Buffalo winters even if it isn’t in the forecast. “It’s all based on Lake Erie,” Buffalo Sabres executive Mike Gilbert told USA TODAY Sports. “A week ago Sunday when the Bills played against Indianapolis, the whole United States saw eight or 10 inches of snow falling on Orchard Park. I live 20 minutes north of Orchard Park and there wasn’t a flake of snow.” That’s why no one will predict what conditions will be like when Team USA plays Canada on Dec. 29 at New Era Field in the first outdoor game ever played at the IIHF World Junior Championship. Gilbert, directing Buffalo’s hosting efforts, said ticket sales are tracking toward a crowd of about 45,000. “I can guarantee you wouldn’t find many people in our country that would have thought that was possible even a decade ago,” said Pat Kelleher, executive director of USA Hockey. “It’s the first-ever outdoor game in a major IIHF world championship, and as fans, we all like to be part of firsts. Throw in the fact that it’s U.S. and Canada playing and I’m not sure you can get any better.” Because end zone seating is being covered to give the game a more intimate feel, organizers are viewing 47,000 as a sellout. The stadium seats 73,079 for Bills games. “We are at about 35,000 right now and to sell another 12,000 is realistic,” Gilbert said. The WJC features the world’s best teenaged hockey players, many of whom will eventually play in the NHL. The tournament will be played from Dec. 26 until Jan. 5, with the other games at the Sabres’ arena and their practice facility downtown. “This is an event that is more popular in Canada than it is in the United States,” Gilbert said. The WJC is to Canadians what college football bowl games are to Americans. The WJC television ratings are strong in Canada, and Canadian ticket-buyers played a major role in helping Buffalo enjoy success in hosting the WJC seven years ago. According to Gilbert, the Americans are thus far leading the way in ticket sales for the outdoor games. Based on zip code readings, about 60% of the ticket buyers are Americans. Canadian sales for all of the WJC are lower than expected. “This is the opposite of what it was seven years ago,” Gilbert said. “I think in the next week to 10 days we will sell more tickets to Canadians because of our proximity to Canada.” The Buffalo interest may be enhanced by the fact Sabres’ 2017 first- round pick Casey Mittelstadt will play for the Americans. The Americans are the defending gold medalists at the tournament. “And there’s a lot of nationalistic pride in Buffalo,” Gilbert said. The Bills’ game ended at 4:15 p.m. Sunday, and Gilbert said by 6:05 the sub-base of the rink was already being laid. “They worked through the night,” Gilbert said. “And (Monday) afternoon, a second group came in and started putting the boards in and constructing the rink. We are right at it.” Weather forecasts call for temperatures in the 20s for the game. “There is no big snow event that is forecasted,” Gilbert said. “But anything is possible with that lake out there.” Buffalo has a history with the outdoor hockey. The NHL’s first Winter Classic was held at the same stadium on New Year’s Day in 2008. “I would love it to be 30 degrees and overcast and having a little bit of snow coming down (for the WJC outdoor game),” Gilbert said. “That would be perfect.” Gilbert was working with the Sabres a decade ago when snow fell heavily to turn the Sabres vs. Pittsburgh Penguins outdoor game into an instant classic. The stadium looked like a snow globe.