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Home , 2006 NHL Entry Draft, Aaron Ekblad, Darren Jensen, Dick Cherry, Dominic Toninato, Jamie Baker (ice hockey)

SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 11/13/2019 1161105 Ducks miss chance to end skid by allowing Red Wings to 1161140 How having an open mind and making a couple of tweaks rally might have saved the Blackhawks season: ‘We’re headed 1161106 Ducks cough up two- lead, lose to Red Wings in OT in 1161107 Whicker: The pains keep growing in Ducks’ OT loss to 1161141 Blackhawks pushing weak-side winger higher to jump-start Red Wings counterattacks 1161108 Ducks stick with goalie rotation as Ryan Miller subs for 1161142 Golden Knights take on the Blackhawks on 3-game losing John Gibson streak 1161143 Blackhawks still haven't hit the jackpot against Vegas 1161144 If Murphy continues to look good in practice, he could play 1161109 Coyotes top Blues in shootout to post historic back- against Nashville Saturday to-back wins 1161145 Jeremy Colliton explains schematic change and why 1161110 Arizona Coyotes pick up second road win in back-to-back Blackhawks made it shootouts 1161146 How Blackhawks goalie Collin Delia turned his leather- 1161111 Coyotes hang on to win thriller, beat Capitals in shootout working hobby into a business 1161112 Arizona Coyotes sign GM John Chayka to contract extension Avalanche 1161147 Avalanche overcome Francouz injury to defeat Winnipeg for third straight win 1161113 Bruins caught short by open, unpredictable game 1161148 Avalanche goalie Pavel Francouz exits Jets game with 1161114 How the Bruins let a win slip away injury 1161115 Observations from the Bruins’ shootout loss to the 1161149 Avs’ Nazem Kadri defends amid firing: Panthers “People maybe took it out of context a little bit” 1161116 Bruins would like Charlie Coyle to be more selfish 1161150 Freshman 15: Avalanche rookie Cale Makar thrives after 1161117 Noel Acciari returns to Garden to face Bruins, and other crossing early-season milestone quick hits for Tuesday night’s game 1161151 Werner, Avalanche shutout Winnipeg 4-0 1161118 Bruins blow four-goal lead in shootout defeat to Panthers 1161152 Avs Game 18 Grades: In Werner we trust 1161119 Bruins notebook: Bruins hope incomplete efforts are 1161153 Adam Werner steals the show in shutout over Winnipeg behind them 1161154 Avalanche Film Room: From breakout to bar down 1161120 Par Lindholm gives Bruins depth down the middle 1161121 Bruins pregame notes: B’s try to snap streak against Panthers 1161155 Blues Jackets getting plenty of shots but aren’t hitting the 1161122 Joe Haggerty's Talking Points from Bruins' 5-4 shootout net loss to the Panthers: Rough night for 1161156 Canadiens 3, Blue Jackets 2, SO | Goals continue to 1161123 Senyshyn forced out of Bruins' loss with a suspected knee prove elusive for Blue Jackets injury 1161157 Elvis Merzlikins gets unexpected start for Blue Jackets 1161124 Noel Acciari excited to return home, face Bruins as 1161158 Portzline: 10 observations from the Blue Jackets’ 3-2 member of Panthers shootout loss to Montreal 1161125 Bruce Cassidy on Don Cherry comments: 'That's not the way that I think' 1161126 Bruins looking for 'better, more consistent effort' in 1161159 Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn are no strangers to internal snapping three-game skid criticism. Will they respond the way they did last se 1161127 Down 4-0? No problem for Panthers, who storm back in 1161160 Craig Ludwig’s letter to Sergei Zubov: Every forward the third and beat Bruins in shootout hoped the puck was on Zubie’s stick 1161128 Nine observations following the Bruins’ fourth straight defeat Red Wings 1161129 Meet TJ the D.J., the man who provides the soundtrack to 1161161 Game thread: Red Wings beat Ducks in OT, 4-3 the Boston sports world 1161162 Red Wings cap improbable comeback in overtime over Anaheim 1161163 In 25th season together, Ken Kal, Paul Woods share 1161130 Sabres enter dangerous part of schedule in return from passion for Red Wings, broadcasting Global Series 1161164 Dennis Cholowski’s OT goal extends Red Wings’ win 1161131 Blackhawks' Alex Nylander ready for opportunity he never streak to three got in Buffalo 1161165 How should the Red Wings handle Taro Hirose right now? 1161132 ‘It’s just nice to go see a friend’: Why Marco Scandella is 1161166 Putting Filip Hronek’s impressive early-career production willing to cross the Atlantic for a specific tatto into context 1161133 Is there a fix for the Sabres’ recent scoring woes? 1161167 Edmonton Oilers get disciplined in San Jose 1161134 Flames ‘trending in the right direction’ at quarter-mark 1161168 Pain and injury can't scare off Edmonton Oilers winger 1161135 Andrew Mangiapane cooking up chemistry on Flames' 1161169 Edmonton Oilers prospects coming along nicely in second line Bakersfield 1161136 One-on-one with Brad Treliving: On scheduling woes, the 1161170 GAME DAY: Special teams battle brewing between trade, and why the Flames’ record is flatt Sharks and Oilers 1161171 From 4 to 97, Oilers both new and old share the stories behind their jersey numbers 1161137 ‘Divisive’ announcer who called Canes ‘a bunch of jerks’ is 1161172 Lowetide: Analyzing Dave Tippett’s defensive usage and fired after another rant what the Oilers will do when Adam Larsson returns 1161138 Seriously, the oral history of the stolen ice cream cone at the Hurricanes game 1161139 Hurricanes vibe check: How sustainable are the highs, how worrisome are the lows? Rangers 1161173 Panthers score 4 goals in third period to tie game, defeat 1161207 Rangers’ Kaapo Kakko, Adam Fox put on clinic in 3-on-3 Bruins in shootout 1161208 Rangers expecting Mika Zibanejad to return to lineup soon 1161174 Down 4-0? No problem for Panthers, who storm back in 1161209 Kaapo Kakko is Rangers’ hero in telling roller-coaster win the third and beat Bruins in shootout 1161210 Rangers’ offensive talent making the most of its chances 1161211 Postgame analysis: Rookies Kaapo Kakko, Adam Fox lead NY Rangers to overtime win 1161175 Kings’ Ilya Kovalchuk reportedly is on the trade block amid 1161212 NY Rangers projected lineup: No Mika Zibanejad or benching Sidney Crosby with Penguins in town 1161176 Matt Luff hopes to make the most of his second chance 1161213 Rangers' Kaapo Kakko caps it off with OT goal to beat with the Kings Penguins 1161177 Anze Kopitar, Sean Walker lead Kings past Wild, snapping 1161214 For Rangers, morning skates are becoming a thing of the 3-game skid past 1161178 Rumors swirl around Ilya Kovalchuk’s status with the 1161215 Ryan Strome thriving on Rangers' top line Kings — scratched or sitting for much longer? 1161216 With ‘a whole new level of swagger,’ Kaapo Kakko taps in 1161179 NOVEMBER 12 RAPID REACTION; MCLELLAN, game-winner in overtime victory over Penguins KOPITAR ON KOVALCHUK: KINGS 3, WILD 1 1161180 GAME 18: LOS ANGELES VS 1161181 KOVALCHUK A “HEALTHY SCRATCH,” PER BLAKE, 1161217 Warrenspiece: Reading between the lines and the BUT FUTURE MURKY Senators' goalie question 1161182 FRIEDMAN: KINGS TELL KOVALCHUK HE’LL BE OUT 1161218 Game Day: Ottawa Senators at Devils OF THE LINEUP FOR THE “FORESEEABLE FUTURE”; 1161219 Crisis? What crisis? No changes on defence for Senators HEALTHY SCRATCH VS MIN despite Monday mess against Hurricanes 1161183 QUICK EXPECTED, KEMPE OUT, ADDITIONAL LINEUP 1161220 Mum's the word for Senators on Don Cherry controversy NOTES VS WILD 1161184 YOU LUFF TO SEE IT: WINGER RECALLED FROM AHL-; RECENT SCOUTING REPORTS 1161221 Hot Flyers, hotter Capitals will meet as Matt Niskanen and Radko Gudas face their former teams 1161222 JOBS 1161185 Wild whiffs on chance to bring momentum home after road 1161223 Famed hockey host Don Cherry defiant after being fired loss to Kings for rant on immigrants: ‘I meant it’ 1161186 Kopitar, Walker lead Kings to 3-1 win over Wild 1161224 Flyers preview: Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals, rematch 1161187 Wild-Los Angeles game recap with Islanders highlight coming week 1161188 Road rally falls short in Wild's 3-1 loss to Los Angeles 1161225 Let's not forget the point of Kevin Hayes and his value to 1161189 Russian Kirill Kaprizov hoping to join Wild next season Flyers 1161190 Wild vying for winning record on road trip in finale vs. 1161226 O’Connor’s Observations: The Flyers are rolling, PK has Kings emerged as a strength, Philippe Myers is finding balan 1161191 Wild wrap up West Coast road trip with loss to last place Kings 1161192 Wild GM Bill Guerin to meet with top prospect Kirill 1161227 Empty Thoughts: Rangers 3, Penguins 2 (OT) Kaprizov in Moscow 1161228 Penguins snap power-play cold spell, still lose to Rangers 1161193 Kevin Fiala is facing his fears after fractured femur, in OT building confidence and speed for the Wild 1161229 Penguins forward Galchenyuk reunited with Jared McCann vs. Rangers 1161230 Penguins’ Sam Lafferty expected to return to lineup 1161194 Jonathan Drouin scores winner, Canadiens beat Blue 1161231 What’s going on with Sidney Crosby … and the Penguins’ Jackets 3-2 in shootout power play? 1161195 In the Habs' Room: It was an ugly win, but Montreal will 1161232 Slow start comes back to bite Penguins during loss to take it Rangers 1161196 Canadiens ride last-minute goal to shootout victory over 1161233 Back in Penguins' lineup, Sam Lafferty makes Madison the Jackets Square Garden debut 1161197 Stu Cowan: Habs weigh in as defiant Don Cherry goes out 1161234 20 Penguins Thoughts: The timeless art of hating your on his shield friends 1161198 Canadiens Game Day: Habs prove again that they simply 1161235 Sidney Crosby mulls surgery for sports hernia that has won't give up bothered him all season 1161199 The ripple effects of Tomas Tatar’s terrible, exceptional season and why him leveling out is vital to the Cana 1161200 Video Review: Carey Price drags the Canadiens to a win 1161236 Sharks top Edmonton Oilers as turnaround continues against the Blue Jackets 1161237 Sharks talk Edmonton Oilers, and Connor McDavid’s sick 1161201 LeBrun Notebook: Wayne Gretzky considering Spengler goal vs. Ducks Cup coaching opportunity 1161238 With Pete DeBoer losing patience, Sharks goalie tries to reset season 1161239 Sharks takeaways: What we learned in 6-3 win over 1161202 Predators-Canucks: TV info, live game score, updates Pacific-best Oilers 1161203 First-time father doesn't look forward to 1161240 With blue line recovering, Sharks look to end homestand long road trips as much as he used to on high note 1161241 Sharks broadcaster shares mental health journey in HEADSTRONG 1161204 Lindsey Vonn, fiancee of Devils’ P.K. Subban, to star in 1161242 Joe Thornton knows he must manage his body ‘for the HBO documentary about end of skiing career (VIDEO) long haul’ 1161205 returns to Nassau Coliseum as Isles expect some players back from injuries 1161206 How Nick Leddy and Johnny Boychuk have formed a special type of chemistry St Louis Blues Vegas Golden Knights 1161243 Blues considering veteran options before turning to 1161270 Golden Knights say they must get back to ‘in-your-face’ prospects hockey 1161244 Blues prospects Kyrou, Kostin playing well while waiting 1161271 Golden Knights launch program for fans to buy game-worn game continues merchandise 1161245 Perron's third reunion with Blues has been even better 1161272 Golden Knights’ Alex Tuch wants to be ‘game-changer’ than advertised upon return 1161246 Preview: Blues vs. Arizona 1161273 On Sports Retail: Golden Knights Will Be Peddling VGK 1161247 Blues bring in veterans McGinn, Brouwer for tryouts Theme Bicycle 1161248 Tarasenko: If you don't want injuries, don't play the sport 1161249 Love of the game drives Brouwer to another chance with Capitals the Blues 1161274 With the Nationals facing questions, the Capitals provide one set of answers 1161275 Caps sprint to front to start another season 1161250 A visit to the Stockholm City Library turns into a proposal 1161276 NHL-best Capitals are new favorites to win 1161251 With the Lighting in Sweden: A reconstructed warship, 1161277 Lars Eller said an issue with his skate caused the offsides, plus ABBA Oshie overtime no goal 1161278 Playing with Siegenthaler, Nick Jensen may finally have Maple Leafs found his fit in Washington 1161252 NHL players pay measured tribute to Don Cherry, but 1161279 Capitals' victory celebration halted as a win suddenly turns most stop short of defending comments into a loss 1161254 Mitch Marner relieved he didn’t break anything, but Leafs winger still faces a four-week rehab Websites 1161255 The Leafs’ Zach Hyman hopes to be the same player 1161294 The Athletic / Sidney Crosby mulls surgery for sports when he returns Wednesday on a rebuilt knee hernia that has bothered him all season 1161256 Wednesday NHL game preview: at 1161295 The Athletic / LeBrun Notebook: Wayne Gretzky New York Islanders considering Spengler Cup coaching opportunity 1161257 Jason Spezza has a soft spot for Don Cherry but agrees 1161296 The Athletic / What’s next for Coach’s Corner and Hockey with the ultimatum Night in Canada? 1161258 Leafs recall Kasimir Kaskisuo to be their new backup 1161297 The Athletic / Goyette on Wickenheiser: The player, the person, the competitor and now the Hall of Famer 1161259 Lou Lamoriello winning on the Island with a familiar 1161298 The Athletic / Could a fall trade improve the fortunes of formula: goaltending and fiscal responsibility your NHL team in 2019-20? 1161260 Don Cherry’s ouster has become as much a political 1161299 The Athletic / Craig Ludwig’s letter to Sergei Zubov: Every argument as a sports story forward hoped the puck was on Zubie’s stick 1161261 Game Day: Maple Leafs at Islanders 1161300 The Athletic / Q&A with Hayley Wickenheiser on becoming 1161262 Maple Leafs' Marner feeling lucky that ankle injury was not a doctor, working with the Leafs and her Hall of Fame worse than it could have been 1161301 Sportsnet.ca / Oilers fail to match Sharks' desperation, 1161263 Kaskisuo joins Maple Leafs as Tavares acknowledges miss to pull away in Pacific players let Hutchinson down 1161302 Sportsnet.ca / Canucks earn emotional victory with 1161264 Hyman pumped for season debut with Maple Leafs, teammate Markstrom on their minds injured Marner keeps chin up 1161303 Sportsnet.ca / Canadiens' grind-it-out win vs. Blue Jackets 1161265 Ex-Leafs GM focusing on the present, not bragging about a sign of growth Islanders' early success 1161304 Sportsnet.ca / Hyman's return, Marner's injury represent 1161266 Can John Tavares drive a line for the Maple Leafs without current Maple Leafs flux Mitch Marner? 1161305 Sportsnet.ca / Flames facing goalie conundrum thanks to 1161267 Bourne: The Leafs are trying to be a different kind of team David Rittich's stellar start and it will take time to make that work 1161306 Sportsnet.ca / Analyzing how Maple Leafs can cope with 1161268 A Week in the Life of Frederik Andersen: Dining with the the loss of Mitch Marner Matthews family, late-nights watching Tiger and fanta 1161307 Sportsnet.ca / Why Senators should consider sending Erik 1161269 Scott Stinson: After his 'you people' diatribe, it's time to Brannstrom to AHL find out if Don Cherry is truly untouchable 1161308 TSN.CA / Five Takeaways: Canucks vs Predators 1161309 TSN.CA / Mitch Marner feels lucky ankle injury wasn’t Canucks worse 1161286 Hollywood North: Bill Murray is in Vancouver 1161310 USA TODAY / Don Cherry tells Tucker Carlson on Fox 1161287 Canucks Post Game: Sutter the hopeful, Horvat the horse, News he was fired for using the words, 'You people' Markstrom the mourner 1161311 USA TODAY / Pro Russian hockey team tweets it wants 1161288 Canucks 5 Predators 3: Busting slumps and blowing out fired Don Cherry as TV analyst to 'talk whatever he thinks candles 1161289 Canucks Game Day: Horvat searching for even-strength scoring spark 1161280 MacKinnon, Makar help depleted Avs squad bury Jets 4-0 1161290 Ben Kuzma: Winging it adds to value of Canucks' 1161281 Goalie stones Jets in first NHL game Gaudette 1161282 Jets' Shaw happy to attend superstar summer school with 1161291 Canucks at 50: Scoring first-ever goal for team always Nathan, Sid, Brad... resonated with Barry Wilkins 1161283 Avs hobbled, but Jets taking nothing for granted tonight 1161292 Elias Pettersson scores twice, Canucks beat Predators to 1161284 Little-known goalie stars as Avalanche blank Jets snap four game slump 1161285 ‘Sad’ day all around as Jets react to Cherry’s firing 1161293 Dhaliwal’s Diary: Elias Pettersson’s big payday, Chris SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129 Tanev’s future and the latest word on Troy Stecher 1161105 Anaheim Ducks

Ducks miss chance to end skid by allowing Red Wings to rally

By ASSOCIATED PRESS NOV. 12, 2019 10:12 PM

Dylan Larkin scored the tying goal during a 6-on-3 advantage with 37 seconds left in regulation, and Dennis Cholowski scored with 2:56 on the clock in overtime to send the to their third straight victory, 4-3 over the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday night.

After Ducks defensemen Brendan Guhle and took penalties 21 seconds apart in the waning moments of regulation, Larkin scored from a sharp angle while the Red Wings had three extra skaters on the ice with their goalie pulled.

Cholowski then got his second goal of the season on a long shot past Ryan Miller, who made 32 saves for Anaheim.

Detroit has its first three-game winning streak this season after winning for just the fourth time in 16 games.

Jakob Silfverberg, Josh Mahura and Cam Fowler scored in the second period for the Ducks, who fell to 2-2-2 on their seven-game homestand. Ondrej Kase and Adam Henrique had two assists apiece, but Anaheim lost for the first time in seven games this season when scoring at least three goals.

Filip Hronek and Andreas Athanasiou scored in the second period for the Red Wings, and stopped 24 shots against his former team.

After a scoreless first period, Silfverberg and Mahura scored 29 seconds apart for Anaheim in the opening minute of the second. Silfverberg hacked at a loose puck underneath Bernier to get his eighth goal of the season, and Mahura put a long shot past a screen.

Hronek connected for his first goal in seven games, but Fowler answered with a slick shot off a cross-ice pass from Ryan Getzlaf. Athanasiou scored late in the second with a slick deflection of Valtteri Filppula’s shot.

LA Times: LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161106 Anaheim Ducks “We were in control of the hockey game for most of the night, played a solid two periods. We had responses when we needed them. You feel we (expletive) away a point that we should have had tonight if we’d played Ducks cough up two-goal lead, lose to Red Wings in OT the same way the whole game.”

"Turnovers put us in a bad spot. We didn't make decisions to put the put deep and keep working. It's a frustrating learning lesson." By ELLIOTT TEAFORD | PUBLISHED: November 12, 2019 at 10:27 pm | UPDATED: November 12, 2019 at 11:33 PM Ryan Getzlaf discusses a frustrating loss in Anaheim tonight. pic.twitter.com/3FtLGjeYBf

— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) November 13, 2019 ANAHEIM — In the end, the game didn’t slip from the Ducks’ grasp at the end. It started well before tied it with a power-play goal "Obviously you want that extra point, but in a long season you try and in the final minute of regulation play and before Dennis Cholowski won it take the positives when you can." for the Detroit Red Wings 4-3 in overtime Tuesday at Honda Center. Erik Gudbranson (@Guddy44) emphasizes the #NHLDucks staying even Before the penalties that left the Ducks facing a six-on-three situation keeled despite a difficult defeat to Detroit pic.twitter.com/6kNe3999Cr with the game on the line, before Larkin’s bank shot and Cholowski’s — Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) November 13, 2019 laser, there was some glaring indecision and uncertainty that proved costly. Small mistakes were magnified, becoming big ones as the game Jakob Silfverberg lit the lamp first tonight and he spoke with progressed. @AlysonLozoff after the loss to Detroit.@AnaheimDucks | #LetsGoDucks pic.twitter.com/lTZmqdOl4F “Turnovers put us in a bad spot,” Ducks Ryan Getzlaf said. “Penalties happen when you turn it over. We decided in the third period — FOX Sports West (@FoxSportsWest) November 13, 2019 we were going to turn the puck over. We didn’t get the puck deep. When you’re ahead in hockey games, you have to get the puck deep, and all Orange County Register: LOADED: 11.13.2019 the way deep.”

The Ducks seized a 3-2 lead entering the third period on goals by Jakob Silfverberg, Josh Mahura and Cam Fowler. They led 2-0 after Silfverberg and Mahura scored 29 seconds apart to start the second. Fowler made it 3-1 later in the period, but the Ducks couldn’t maintain their advantage.

Detroit countered with second-period goals by Filip Hronek and Andreas Athanasiou.

Instead of pressing for more, the Ducks spent too much of the third playing defense. The Red Wings didn’t look especially dangerous, but the Ducks’ inability to play in Detroit’s end began to take its toll. The pressure mounted when Detroit goalie Jonathan Bernier departed for a sixth attacker.

The Ducks’ Brendan Guhle was whistled for tripping at 18:29, setting up a six-on-four situation for the Red Wings. Fellow defenseman Korbinian Holzer then followed Guhle to the box with a questionable hooking at 18:50, making it six-on-three for the final 1:10 of regulation.

It’s not an impossible situation, but it’s not exactly easy either.

Larkin scored at 19:23, after Getzlaf attempted to win a faceoff by shooting the puck out of the defensive zone in one fluid motion. It didn’t work, and the Red Wings maintained possession long enough for Larkin to score on a pinball shot from a sharp angle off goalie Ryan Miller’s right leg.

“You stay tight, you take away where their weapons are,” Ducks defenseman Erik Gudbranson said. “As long as you play your angles correctly and give up the lowest-percentage shot, that’s definitely a situation you can survive. We were doing a good job. It’s just a bad bounce.”

Getzlaf delivered a get-tough message late in a scoreless first period, slashing at Detroit’s Anthony Mantha and igniting a scrum along the boards. The Ducks responded with goals from Silfverberg and Mahura, with Adam Henrique assisting on both, to start the second period.

The good times would not last, though. The Ducks couldn’t pad their lead entering the third period and paid the price for deviating from a game plan that had resulted in an 8-1-0 record when leading going into the third this season. Their loss was their fourth in a row (0-2-2).

The Ducks have one game left on their seven-game homestand, facing the San Jose Sharks on Thursday before starting a four-game trip against the Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues on Saturday. They also face the , Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning.

Thursday would be a good time to clean up their third-period act, lest it become a bad habit.

“We turned it over too much in the third period,” Getzlaf said. “Things like that, those are things you’re taught in pee-wee hockey. We have to learn as a group how effective we can be when you put the puck in deep. I know it’s easier said than done. I’ve been in everybody’s shoes. 1161107 Anaheim Ducks are discouraged by any means. We try to recognize we’re doing all right and focus on the good things.”

It is much more complicated without injured, safety-net defensemen Whicker: The pains keep growing in Ducks’ OT loss to Red Wings Hampus Lindholm and Josh Manson. The other veterans have raised Committed to youth, the Ducks hope they can maintain their confidence their game for Eakins, who wants faster and more frontal play. during a rough stretch The best young players in the NHL are often the best players: Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Mitch Marner. It takes longer for most. Richard Rakell came up on Jan 19, 2013, did not score his first goal until Dec. 22, By MARK WHICKER | PUBLISHED: November 12, 2019 at 7:05 pm | 2014 and did not score his second (and third) until Jan. 11, 2015. UPDATED: November 12, 2019 at 11:12 PM Boston’s David Pastrnak had 10 goals in a 46-game rookie season in 2014-15. He has 15 in the first 17 games of this season.

ANAHEIM — The Red Wings and the Ducks did not bring their memories Steel, Comtois, Terry and Jones won’t be judged by the numbers or the with them Tuesday night. good plays they make. It’s the bad plays they can avoid, particularly when Lindholm and Manson can’t pull them to shore. No assists from behind the net by Keith Carney, who had probably never been there before. No crash-testing of Tomas Holmstrom’s face against “We’ve tried to make it simple but we haven’t been consistent,” Terry the glass, courtesy of Chris Pronger. said. “Dallas talks about playing a direct game. There’s times to take the puck back, but there’s also times to gather it and go back at them instead No Pavel Datsyuk or Henrik Zetterberg skating Game 7 circles around of making a bunch of passes. When we do that, we’re a hard team to the Ducks at Honda Center; no Dan Cleary digging and digging and play against. When we don’t, and when we have those little lapses, that’s scoring a series-winning goal at . what has cost us games.” Most of the thrills and traumas in Ducks’ history have involved the Red That breeds the impatience. Fans see the talent and expect it to climb on Wings in some fashion. They’ve had a strange way of bumping into each a steady curve. It might, except the opponents see it too. other in the spring. But the NHL’s gravitational pull has forced both into reconstruction. The Ducks were 25th in goals scored, with 2.61 per “The young guys are a proud group,” Eakins said. “It’s not like they’re game, but the Red Wings ranked 31st of 31. walking around saying that nothing is wrong and everything’s great. Yeah, we lost to Chicago in overtime, and to Minnesota when we made Detroit isn’t even in the same conference anymore. Yet the series still two mental mistakes, and our special teams aren’t getting it done (4 for produces unique, bizarre games, like Tuesday night’s. 47 on the power play). But you can only think about today. The Ducks led 2-0 and 3-1, then 3-2 after two periods. Penalties by “I’m a big believer in marginal gains. Huge gains are outliers, they’re very defensemen Brandon Guhle and Korbinian Holzer set up a 6-on-3 rare. We’re trying to turn ourselves into everyday NHL players. When you situation for the Wings with 1:10 left. The Ducks’ Jacob Larsson, trying to look at the pennies, the dollars will take care of themselves. We’ll take clear the puck from Ryan Miller’s front porch, swept it onto the stick of the pennies whenever we can.” Detroit’s Dylan Larkin, who tied it. Heaven might be farther away than they’d like. “He did exactly what he’s supposed to do,” defenseman Erik Gudbranson said. “That’s just a bad bounce.” Orange County Register: LOADED: 11.13.2019 The clubs went to overtime, and the Ducks’ Sam Steel passed backward into a void that gets closed decisively in 3-on-3 situations. Miller came way out of the net to prevent a breakaway, but the Red Wings kept the puck and got the game-winning goal on a sizzler of a shot by Dennis Cholowski.

The Ducks have now won three of their past 11 and have lost to Chicago, Minnesota and Detroit at home.

These are the moments when the eyes find Steel, Troy Terry, Max Comtois and Max Jones, the cavalry from San Diego that was supposed to, maybe unrealistically, enliven the franchise.

Dallas Eakins was their coach with the Gulls. Now he and they are together in the big leagues, and the young guys are facing their first season of NHL responsibility. Like Lucy Ricardo on the assembly line, the games start coming fast.

Steel is 21. He had played 22 games before this season with six goals and 11 points. In 14 games this season, he has no goals, seven points.

Terry is 22. Thirty-two games last season with four goals, 13 points. Fifteen games this season, two goals, four points.

Comtois, who was sent down to San Diego on Tuesday, is 20. Ten games last season, two goals, seven points. Thirteen games this season, two goals, five points.

Jones is 21. Thirty games last season, two goals, five points. Fourteen this season, one goal, two points.

The pipeline behind them is dry.

“I was up here at the start of last season and then went back to San Diego,” Terry said at Tuesday’s morning skate. “Then I came back and we were pretty much out of it. I was trying to identify myself in this league, so I just played with no worries, tried to get used to everything. I felt I did a good job of that.

“But this season is different. We have high standards and I’m expected to be a part of it. Some added stuff, but it’s exciting. I don’t think any of us 1161108 Anaheim Ducks

Ducks stick with goalie rotation as Ryan Miller subs for John Gibson

By ELLIOTT TEAFORD | PUBLISHED: November 12, 2019 at 1:23 pm | UPDATED: November 12, 2019 at 3:54 PM

ANAHEIM — Coach Dallas Eakins huddled with his staff after the Ducks’ lopsided loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday. As is their custom, they kicked around a few ideas as they began preparations for Tuesday’s game against the Detroit Red Wings at Honda Center.

Tempting though it might have been to toss John Gibson back in goal after he wasn’t sharp in giving up six goals on 31 shots against the Oilers, the Ducks’ coaching staff decided it was best to stick with their goalie rotation. native Ryan Miller got the call on Tuesday, as scheduled.

“Here’s the problem with that: When he has an average night or a below- average night, his average would be many others’ career games,” Eakins said of Gibson. “That’s why we’re so spoiled as an organization to have a guy like that. You just expect him to stand on his head every night.

“He had an off night from what we’re accustomed to, but for me, it’s just an outlier.”

Gibson gave up an early goal to an unmarked Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and things descended from there during a 6-2 loss in which Connor McDavid scored three goals. Gibson no doubt would have liked a couple of those shots back, and there was strong consideration of playing him Tuesday.

In the end, the rotation remained the same, though. There was no reason to alter it.

“We’re not going to put much stock into that,” Eakins said of Gibson’s lackluster showing Sunday, which dropped his goals-against average to 2.80 and his save percentage to .915. “We’re just going to keep to our game plan with the moving forward.”

Eakins has made it clear the Ducks will not limit Miller to playing in relief of Gibson when the team plays on consecutive nights. There aren’t enough back-to-back situations this season and there’s plenty of work to go around during the 82-game grind that is the NHL schedule.

Gibson (6-8-0) played in 14 of the Ducks’ 18 games before they met the Red Wings. Miller had appeared in five, going 3-0-1 with a 2.31 goals- against average and a .926 save percentage. Overall, the Ducks had the league’s eighth-best goals-against average with a 2.71 mark.

Gibson is likely to start Thursday against the San Jose Sharks.

“It’s funny, but when he walks around, he’s such a kind and kind of quiet kid, but when the lights come up when they’re done signing the national anthem, it’s on for him,” Eakins said of Gibson, a two-time NHL All-Star. “He is highly competitive, and you could see it in (Monday’s practice).

“When we got through with the warm-up drill, it was on for him. He was sending a message to his teammates: ‘I had an off night, but I’m ready to go again. I’m not going to sit and sulk about it.’ And that’s the kind of leadership we need here.”

STATISTICAL MARVEL

Gibson’s career save percentage of .921 is the fifth-highest in league history among goalies who have played at least 200 games, according to research by the Ducks’ crack media relations department. Only Johnny Bower, Ken Dryden, Dominik Hasek and Tuukka Rask (.922 each) lead Gibson.

Rask, of the Boston Bruins, and Gibson are the only active goalies on the list.

Orange County Register: LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161109 Arizona Coyotes

Coyotes top Blues in shootout to post historic back-to-back wins

Richard Morin, Arizona RepublicPublished 9:05 p.m. MT Nov. 12, 2019 | Updated 10:04 p.m. MT Nov. 12, 2019

The Coyotes made history on Tuesday night.

One night after defeating the Washington Capitals on Monday, the Coyotes traveled to face the St. Louis Blues on the second end of a road back-to-back and came out with another victory.

Both wins came via shootout.

According to Fox Sports Arizona, the Coyotes became the first team in NHL history to win road games on consecutive days against the two prior Stanley Cup winners. The Blues won last year, and the Capitals won the year prior.

Per the broadcast, there have been 69 prior occurrences of a team facing the last two Cup winners in a back-to-back situation on the road.

Coyotes winger Clayton Keller, who was born in Chesterfield, Mo., scored for Arizona in front of a hometown crowd and later assisted on the game-tying goal scored by Conor Garland.

The Blues' Jaden Schwartz and Colton Parayko gave St. Louis a one- goal lead after two periods, but Keller found Garland on the power play for the equalizer in the third period.

Coyotes goaltender Darcy Kuemper made 33 saves.

Garland and Nick Schmaltz scored the shootout winners in both games.

With the win, the Coyotes leapfrogged the Calgary Flames and moved into second place in the Pacific Division standings.

Just a boring Tuesday night of @ArizonaCoyotes hockey! #Yoteshttps://t.co/ZFfsl8qxTE

— Ahron Cohen (@ahronCo21) November 13, 2019

The skinny

The score: Coyotes 3, Blues 2 (SO).

The streak: W2.

The record: 11-6-2, 22 points.

The 82-game pace: 47-26-9, 103 points.

The standings: 2nd in Pacific.

The players: Clayton Keller and Darcy Kuemper.

The moment: Conor Garland's power-play goal at 5:58 of the third period.

The number: 69 — Entering play Tuesday, there had been 69 prior occurrences of a team facing the prior two Stanley Cup winners on the road in consecutive days, but the Coyotes became the first two win both such contests.

View from the press box: Can't give away a lead if you never take one, right? The Coyotes never led in this game, but it didn't matter. They put everything on the ice after a rough night of travel and bested another first-place team. A monumental performance, to be sure.

Song of the night: "How Do You Like Me Now?" by The Heavy.

Arizona Republic LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161110 Arizona Coyotes

Arizona Coyotes pick up second road win in back-to-back shootouts

BY ASSOCIATED PRESS NOVEMBER 12, 2019 AT 9:30 PM

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Nick Schmaltz and Conor Garland scored in the shootout, and the Arizona Coyotes snapped the St. Louis Blues’ seven- game winning streak with a 3-2 victory Tuesday night.

Garland’s power-play goal tied it 2-all at 5:58 of the third period. St. Louis native Clayton Keller had a goal and an assist against his hometown team.

Jaden Schwartz and Colton Parayko scored for the Blues, but the defending Stanley Cup champions dropped to 0-2 in shootouts this season.

Arizona improved to 3-0 in tiebreakers after winning in a shootout for the second consecutive night. The Coyotes topped Washington 4-3 on Monday.

After downing both the Capitals and the Blues, the Coyotes are the first team in NHL history to beat the last two Stanley Cup Champions on the road on consecutive days.

Schmaltz is 4 for 6 in shootouts during his career. Garland is 3 for 4.

Darcy Kuemper made 33 saves for Arizona. St. Louis goalie Jordan Binnington stopped 20 shots.

Garland took a pass from Christian Dvorak and scored on a tip-in early in the third. Keller also assisted on the goal.

Schwartz scored at 17:13 of the first. A pass through two Coyotes from Alex Pietrangelo set up Brayden Schenn, who fired a shot from the right circle. Kuemper blocked it but couldn’t corral it. Schwartz pounced on the loose puck in the crease and knocked it in for a 1-0 St. Louis lead.

Each team scored in the second period.

Keller intercepted David Perron’s pass and scored an unassisted goal on a wrist shot from the slot at 6:47 to tie it. Keller, an All-Star forward last season, signed an eight-year contract extension in September.

The Blues got the goal back when Parayko scored his first of the season at 15:41. Oskar Sundqvist hit a streaking Parayko just outside the blue line and he carried the puck and fired from the top of the right circle for a 2-1 lead.

The Coyotes continue their road trip Thursday when they take on the Minnesota Wild.

Arizona Sports LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161111 Arizona Coyotes Arizona will play in St. Louis on Thursday. Puck drop is at 6 p.m., Arizona time.

Arizona Sports LOADED: 11.13.2019 Coyotes hang on to win thriller, beat Capitals in shootout

BY MATT LAYMAN | NOVEMBER 11, 2019 AT 8:12 PM UPDATED: NOVEMBER 12, 2019 AT 7:29 AM

The Arizona Coyotes needed every turn of good fortune and good karma they could get Monday to beat the Washington Capitals on the road in the shootout.

It was the fifth consecutive game in which the Coyotes blew a lead in the second period or later. Losing the game would’ve been the fourth loss in a row — the Coyotes won the first game in the streak of blown leads — but Arizona stayed alive and got the W.

Arizona got out to a 3-0 lead early in the second period, but a pair of goals by Washington’s Evgeny Kuznetsov, one in the second and another in the third, plus a late goal by T.J. Oshie with 1:16 to play made it 3-3.

“We’re happy the way we played for the most part, but obviously blowing the leads is tough,” head coach Rick Tocchet said.

Oshie nearly scored again in overtime, but after a long video review, the play was deemed just barely offside. The Coyotes stayed alive.

“You come back from the dead,” Tocchet said of the overturned goal.

A thrilling, sudden-death 3-on-3 OT didn’t amount to any goals, so a shootout was needed to decide the contest. Oshie and Kuznetsov missed their first two shots. Nick Schmaltz and Conor Garland scored on the Coyotes’ first two shootout attempts to seal a win, earning a badly- needed two points.

Antti Raanta got his third win of the season. He stopped 31 of the Capitals’ 34 shots, plus two more in the shootout.

“Raants stood tall, he was good. He made the saves when he needed to,” defenseman said. “It was a good hockey game. It had a playoff feel too it and I think it was a huge win for us.”

The first Coyotes goal was scored by Clayton Keller, his third of the season. A nifty play by Alex Goligoski set up a chance for Vinnie Hinostroza, who found Keller in the crease. That made it 1-0 Arizona in the first period.

Two more goals in the first 0:45 seconds of the second period made it three nothing. The first was by , who benefited on a bang-bang play in front of the net on a neutral zone takeaway from Brad Richardson.

Then, got yet another breakaway (he has approximately 1,000 of those this season) and scored. He had two breakaways on the night, converting on one. That made it 3-0.

The first Washington goal by Kuznetsov came when Oliver Ekman- Larsson got caught at the end of his shift and couldn’t win a footrace with the goal-scorer. Kuznetsov got on a breakaway and scored on Raanta.

“The gameplan, you’ve got to stay in front of people,” Tocchet said. “And we didn’t get in front of a couple guys. Kuznetsov, especially. You’ve got to back off and you got to get in front of people, and I think we were kind of flat-footed a couple goals.”

Kuznetsov scored again later on a lost faceoff in the Coyotes’ zone. A shot by Washington from up high bounced off the wall, creating a juicy chance for Kuznetsov — he capitalized.

“It was a scrappy game. We had to overcome some circumstances,” Tocchet said. “That’s a good hockey club over there. They’ve got some skill. Kuznetsov — oh my god, was he good tonight. But 3-0 lead, obviously blowing the 3-0, we’re not happy with. But it’s a gutty win for us.”

Arizona went 0-for-2 on the power play but held the Caps scoreless on their three man advantages.

The Coyotes still need to clean up the details. But against a recent Stanley Cup-winning team, the Coyotes get a much-needed win on the road in the first half of a back-to-back. 1161112 Arizona Coyotes

Arizona Coyotes sign GM John Chayka to contract extension

BY MATT LAYMAN | NOVEMBER 11, 2019 AT 11:35 AM UPDATED: NOVEMBER 11, 2019 AT 9:14 PM

The Arizona Coyotes have signed president of hockey operations and general manager John Chayka to a long-term extension, the team announced Monday.

The news was first reported by The Athletic’s Craig Morgan and confirmed by 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station. The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun reported Chayka had a year and a half left on his existing deal.

“John’s intellect, grit, entrepreneurial spirit and creativity are world class, and I know we have the right person at the helm to bring great days ahead here in Arizona for our Coyotes family,” Coyotes president and CEO Ahron Cohen said in a statement.

Chayka took over as GM of the Coyotes in May of 2016, becoming the successor to Don Maloney. At the time, he was 26 years old and became the youngest GM in North American major sports history.

Since then, he’s gone on to make major overhauls to the roster that now has his fingerprints all over it.

Some of his most notable signings include doling out an eight-year contract extension for defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson, a deal that was worth a reported $8.25 million per season. Additionally, major extensions to forward Clayton Keller, Jakob Chychrun, Christian Dvorak and Nick Schmaltz dot the timeline of Chayka’s tenure as GM.

As for trades, Chayka has dealt multiple players who were selected in the first-round. Connor Murphy (20th overall, 2011), Dylan Strome (3rd overall, 2015), Brendan Perlini (12th overall, 2014), (12th overall, 2013) and Pierre-Olivier Joseph (23rd overall, 2017) are some of the players that have been moved. Of those players, only Joseph was actually selected by the Coyotes while Chayka was GM.

Blockbuster trades include sending Strome and Perlini to Chicago in exchange for Schmaltz; trading three prospects, forward Marcus Kruger and a pick to Chicago for Jordan Oesterle, Vinnie Hinostroza, a draft pick and Marian Hossa’s contract; trading Max Domi to Montreal for and later dealing Galchenyuk and Joseph to Pittsburgh for , a prospect and a pick.

Perhaps one of the more under-the-radar transactions of Chayka’s tenure was trading forward Jamie McGinn to the Florida Panthers for defenseman Jason Demers. Demers now plays on the Coyotes’ top defensive pairing with Ekman-Larsson.

Chayka’s first-round draft pick history is comprised of Keller (2016), Chychrun (2016), Joseph (2017), Barrett Hayton (2018) and Victor Soderstrom (2019). Keller and Chychrun have gotten significant NHL playing time while Hayton made the Coyotes’ roster this year. Joseph and Soderstrom await their NHL debuts.

“We are extremely pleased to sign John to a long-term contract extension,” owner Alex Meruelo said in a statement. “John is one of the brightest and hardest-working general managers in the entire NHL and over the past four seasons, he has done an excellent job of rebuilding our franchise and transforming the Coyotes into a contender. I am fully confident that John is the right person to lead us moving forward and help us bring the Stanley Cup to Arizona.”

Arizona Sports LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161113 Boston Bruins “I’ve got to be concerned,” said Cassidy, pondering the alarming givebacks of late. “It’s a strength of our team to close out games. Having a lead going into the third period is a trademark of this team . . . so, yeah, Bruins caught short by open, unpredictable game it is a concern. Part of it is goaltending. Part of it is staying out [of the penalty box].”

To underscore his point, Cassidy quickly thumbed through the parade of By Kevin Paul Dupont Globe Staff,Updated November 13, 2019, 12:36 horribles of how a team like the Panthers, or any team, erases a a.m. substantial deficit.

“You mismanage pucks,” he said. “You give them odd-man rushes. You take penalties and put them on the power play. We did a little bit of both. Gary Bettman said there would be nights like these. When the league You don’t tighten up and protect the slot because typically [defensemen] went all dark 15 years ago — locking the doors for the entire 2004-05 are activating. If you take care of that, you are going back the other way season chiefly to stop player salaries from rocketing into another galaxy and finish the job. We didn’t do any of that very well.” — it was nearly impossible prior to then for teams to erase leads of two goals or more late in the game. Today’s NHL is firewagon hockey. No lead ever safe. It’s just that no one around here, especially the home audience, is accustomed to seeing the Those were the NHL days of the neutral-zone trap, the left-wing lock. The Bruins go up in smoke. dead-puck era. Remember those beauties? If your favorite team was down by a goal headed into the third period, it was usually time to flip They were a tighter, more defensive-minded team for all those years over to your favorite sitcom or cop series. Morning coffee and a game under Claude Julien, but they were also very boring, the defensemen summary sufficed the next day. rarely jumping up into the play. When things were humming along in the first period vs. the Panthers, it was Chara — yep, the nimble 42-year-old Bettman, the NHL commissioner, promised better. The Lords of the — dancing down the left side, dishing right, then sweeping behind the Boards predicted increased scoring, less predictable finishes, action, and Florida net to pop out from behind the right post to pot career goal No. goals galore. 203. It’s a far more open, entertaining, and unpredictable game these days, Chara’s goal provided the 4-0 lead, and the Panthers had the Bruins right even if Bruins fans wore long faces as they shuffled out of the Garden on where they wanted them. The good times were about to roll . . . right over Tuesday night. The Panthers, trailing by a 4-0 score to start the third the Bruins. period, roared back to stick the Bruins in the eye with 5-4 shootout win, built around goals by Aaron Ekblad, Frank “The Springfield Rifle” “I don’t think it’s because of rules,” said Chara, asked his opinion of a Vatrano, Mike Hoffman, and Keith Yandle in a span of 17:31. more open game in 2019. “I think it’s the way teams are structurally coached and obviously it’s a different game — much faster, a skating Yes sir, that’s entertainment. Granted, maybe not all that enjoyable from game, with different systems, different players, different skill sets. More a Black-and-Gold perspective. But entertainment nonetheless, of that than anything else.” particularly if you remember the mind-numbing, emotion-ossifying days of the and ’s New Jersey Trappist Wonks. And often more surprises. After all, that’s entertainment.

For the record, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, it was the first time Boston Globe LOADED: 11.13.2019 in their nearly 100-year history that the Bruins booted away a 4-0 lead in the third period.

The closest “comp,” per ESB, came Dec. 30, 1989, in the old Maple Leaf Gardens, where the Bruins held a comfy 6-2 lead at the 5:00 mark of the third. When it was over that night at the corner of Carlton and Church streets, the Leafs were 7-6 winners over a coached team that was paced in those days by Cam Neely, Ray Bourque, and Craig Janney. Who knew they would be the harbinger of the New NHL? Way ahead of their time.

The post-lockout NHL, now 15 years on, is played at a far faster pace and with a rulebook engineered to promote puck moving, goals, and crazy comebacks. The biggest change out of the lockout was the removal of the center-ice red line. Truth is, the lack of a red line wasn’t a factor in the Bruins turning Grade-A beef into American chop suey Tuesday night. It was more a blend of Florida speed, crazy hops, penalties, one blatant non-call ( allowed to hogtie Patrice Bergeron in front of Tuukka Rask on the 4-4 equalizer) as well as substandard Rask netminding that sent the Panthers high-stepping down Causeway Street.

“It’s on us,” said a disappointed Zdeno Chara, captain of a team that extended its doldrums to 0-2-2 in the last four outings.

For his part, Big Z wasn’t buying into the appreciation, or perhaps the understanding, that games like Tuesday, though hardly the norm, are infinitely more possible nowadays. There would be days like these, the NHL promised. Just eight days earlier, in fact, the Bruins moved to a 3-0 lead over the Penguins at the Garden, only later to have to battle back from a 4-3 deficit to preserve the 2 points.

Obviously, the trend here is not good from a Black-and-Gold perspective. Against Pittsburgh, they proved the old adage that 3-0 is the most dangerous lead in hockey. Only eight days later against the Panthers, they did that one better. Or worse. They’re back in action Friday night in Toronto, where the sons of Bruce Cassidy could go into a 20-man death rattle if they happen to find themselves up by 5-0 at Scotiabank Arena (the old Gardens, still at the corner of Church and Carlton, is now a Loblaws supermarket). 1161114 Boston Bruins It was.

On the tying goal, beat Charlie McAvoy on a rush wide. Pastrnak and were circling away from the loose How the Bruins let a win slip away puck. Cassidy noted that a Panther — it was Huberdeau — was holding Patrice Bergeron’s stick, preventing him from clearing a puck that was in front of him. By Matt Porter Globe Staff, November 13, 2019, 12:01 a.m. Yandle, son of Milton, tucked home the loose puck. From 4-0 to 4-4, the Bruins were on their way to more pain.

The Bruins were playing lights-out. “Structurally we were bad on that last goal,” Cassidy said. “That’s the disappointing part to me. That’s when we’re usually rock-solid.” Really, they were. They certainly were that in the first 40. They mustered seven shots in a Not only did they build a 4-0 lead through two periods of Tuesday night’s tight-checking first, playing stout defense before breaking through in the game, they unwittingly halted a Panthers power play when the house second. Pastrnak’s no-look shot, on a two-on-one with Marchand, gave bulbs at TD Garden mysteriously powered down for a long two-count. him his league-best 16th goal of the seasons. Breaking in against And yet . . . the Black and Gold were in a dark mood afterward, having Ekblad, he was looking toward Marchand until he was nearly even with dropped a 5-4 decision in a shootout. the hashes, then keeping his head and torso turned toward his running mate, and selling the pass until he followed through with his shot. How did it all go wrong? How did they surrender four goals in the final period and 2 points to an Atlantic Division rival? How did this first-place Nordstrom, the fourth-liner, made it 2-0 by rolling down the right wall and team lose its fourth game in a row? ripping one far side, and Bjork bullied a power-play wrister past Bobrovsky. Those pretty second-period snipes, and Chara’s celebration, “Things got compounded,” coach Bruce Cassidy said. were not a talk topic in the dressing room afterward.

Let’s break them apart, since the Bruins will surely be doing so over the “It’s on us,” Chara said. “We gave them too much space and time. We next two days. On a day the first flurries of the season arrived, this one lost a point, and it’s on us . . . We have to realize that teams are ready to snowballed out of control. play us. We have to elevate our game.”

Boston (11-3-4), which takes its four-game skid into a weekend road- In OT, Rask made a one-on-one glove save on Hoffman. But Hoffman home set with Toronto (Friday) and Washington (Saturday), was cruising, got the shootout winner, after Vincent Trocheck and Charlie Coyle having chased Florida starter , the $10 million scored. Hoffman tore the twine, cutting across the slot and sniping netminder. David Pastrnak, Joakim Nordstrom, and Anders Bjork beat underneath Rask’s glove. McAvoy hit the post at the other end. Drive the ex-Blue Jacket with powerful shots. Zdeno Chara picked up loose home safely. change in front to make it 4-0, celebrating his goal with a theatrical uppercut. “The Bruins get a loser point,” analyst said on NESN’s telecast, as the Panthers toasted to their theft. “And that’s exactly what it Bobrovsky was done after 40, taking a knockout punch after stopping 19 feels like.” of 23 shots. His teammates put just 12 pucks on Tuukka Rask in that time. This game was Boston’s. Boston Globe LOADED: 11.13.2019

But 50 seconds into the third, Aaron Ekblad hammered a one-timer from the circle past Rask (four goals on 29 shots). Nordstrom, who lost his stick, was unable to stop Keith Yandle’s cross-ice pass. Rask said he was too deep in his net.

“It’s a poor-angle shot,” Cassidy said. “But a good shot. So you’ve got to get your game back together.”

Plenty of time to do it, even though Frank Vatrano, the ex-Bruins winger, smacked a one-timer past Rask on the power play at 5:26 of the third, with Chris Wagner in the box for slashing. Cassidy said he wasn’t sure why Wagner earned the penalty call. But Vatrano made it 4-2, after Jonathan Huberdeau stickhandled between three Bruins penalty-killers.

“Now all of a sudden they’ve got life,” Cassidy said. “They’re coming.”

Some four minutes later, Panthers winger Mike Hoffman — who was loading up his howitzer from the high slot when the lights went down early in the second period — trickled a soft backhander underneath Rask, who left room under his pad. The netminder, as he usually does, owned his gaffe.

“I should have been sharper. A couple soft goals,” he said. “I take most of the blame on that third period.”

Sam Montembeault, who came in cold and stopped all 15 shots he saw, allowed the Bruins nothing. Boston was outshot, 12-9, in the third, and couldn’t finish the job when Panthers plugger Noel Acciari tripped his old pal with 6:28 left.

“There’s two ways you’re going to calm things down,” Cassidy said. “You’re going to score a goal because they’re coming at you and gambling all over the ice, or you’re going to defend better. And we did neither.”

Montembeault made two saves on the penalty kill.

“I give their goalie a lot of credit for coming in cold,” Cassidy said. “We missed some open nets on the power play. He made some great saves. We hit a crossbar. So now doubt creeps into your mind — is this really happening?” 1161115 Boston Bruins ■ With the Panthers in the Bruins’ zone on the power play 57 seconds into the second period, the house lights went down for reasons that were immediately unclear. Hoffman was loading up a shot from the high slot Observations from the Bruins’ shootout loss to the Panthers when the building went dark for a long two-count. The Bruins wound up killing the remaining 50 seconds of the power play.

■ Pastrnak is so dangerous on a two-on-one because he has mastered By Matt Porter Globe Staff,November 12, 2019, 9:47 p.m. the no-look shot. Breaking in against Ekblad, he was looking toward Marchand until he was nearly even with the hashes, then keeping his

head and torso turned toward his running mate, and selling the pass until Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky held the Bruins scoreless in the first he followed through with his shot. period, but that ended in the second. ■ Rookie winger Zach Senyshyn took one shift in the second period, They built a four-goal lead in the second period Tuesday night and lost it departing for the dressing room with what the club called a lower-body by the end of regulation, giving a point to an Atlantic Division rival. injury. He logged 4:46.

Boston (11-3-4) wound up losing its second shootout in a row, falling, 5- ■ Marchand went after Trocheck after the Panthers center reverse-hit 4, to the Florida Panthers at TD Garden. Pastrnak along the boards 1:08 into the third. Pastrnak was slow to get up, reaching for his mouth. Trocheck took an elbowing penalty and a Vincent Trocheck scored in the second round of the shootout for Florida, roughing minor, Marchand four minutes for roughing. The two jawed at and while Bruin Charlie Coyle matched him in the third, Mike Hoffman each other from their seats in the box. snapped home the winner. Boston Globe LOADED: 11.13.2019 Florida backup Sam Montembeault stopped Chris Wagner, Brad Marchand, and Charlie McAvoy in the fourth round to give the Panthers (9-4-5) a win.

Marchand had a breakaway in OT but was stopped by Montembault, who relieved Sergei Bobrovsky after two periods. Montembeault stopped all 15 shots in 25 minutes of work. At the other end, Tuukka Rask stuffed Hoffman on a clean break-in.

Keith Yandle, the Milton-bred Panthers defenseman, cleaned up a loose puck to tie the score with 1:39 remaining, giving the visitors a point in a game they were trailed, 4-0, after two periods.

Rask, who made several strong stops early, was at fault for Hoffman’s 4- 3 goal at 9:43 of the third. He left a soft backhander trickle through his pads on the penalty kill. He also surrendered one-time goals by ex-Bruin Frank Vatrano and Aaron Ekblad in the period.

After a ho-hum start, the Bruins scored four times in the final nine minutes of the second period to take a 4-0 lead into intermission.

David Pastrnak, Joakim Nordstrom, and Anders Bjork beat Bobrovsky, who allowed three goals in a span of seven shots. Zdeno Chara picked up loose change in the final minute of the period.

Bobrovsky, the $10 million goalie signed through 2026, has not been earning his dough. He entered with the second-worst save percentage (.884) among No. 1 goalies, and had banked an .826 through two periods (19 saves, 23 shots). He took the rest of the night off.

The Bruins, meanwhile, were playing like a team that wanted to end its three-game losing skid. The season-worst streak was all but stopped when Pastrnak ripped a no-look wrister past Bobrovsky’s blocker at 11:55 of the second.

After Pastrnak’s 16th of the season, Nordstrom did his best “Pasta” impersonation, picking up a loose puck, charging down the right wing, and snapping one far side like his superstar teammate might have done. Fourth-liners don’t typically beat $10 million goalies clean, but here we are.

On the power play, Bjork had a little more time to score his third of the season. He swept his stick way back and leaned into a wrister. It had enough power to tick off Bobrovsky’s glove and tumble off the bar and in.

Chara put in his third of the season after dishing to the slot and circling the net, the Panthers standing around in coverage, and chipping rebound high over a prone keeper. The best part was his celebration: The big man lunged low and scooped his glove on the ice, then finished with an uppercut.

It was a knockout punch. The Panthers pulled Bobrovsky to start the third, replacing him with the 23-year-old Montembeault.

Other observations from the Bruins’ shootout loss:

■ The Panthers, who mustered 12 shots through two periods, cut the lead in half in the first six minutes of the third. Ekblad, victimized by Pastrnak on the first goal of the night, hammered home a one-timer 50 seconds into the third. At 5:26, Vatrano, his shot forever his best asset, zipped home a power-play one-timer from the slot. 1161116 Boston Bruins “Facilitator is what we’re going to ask him to do,” Cassidy said before puck drop.

Grzelcyk’s duties on the man-up: Get the puck to the elbows, where Brad Bruins would like Charlie Coyle to be more selfish Marchand and David Pastrnak work their magic, or to Patrice Bergeron in the bumper. If there are shooting lanes, get his shot through. And find the open man on the entry. By Matt Porter Globe Staff,November 12, 2019, 7:38 p.m. “Similar to what we ask Torey, just Torey’s pretty creative at making adjustments on the fly,” Cassidy said. “Faceoff plays, we’re not going to ask Grizz to do that. One of the other guys will have to step up and Charlie Coyle scored the Bruins’ lone shootout goal, but he had an identify which play we’re going to use.” opportunity for another in regulation. Face it Charlie Coyle scored the Bruins’ only shootout goal in their 5-4 loss Tuesday night to the Panthers, roofing a sharp shot past Panthers Krejci took a deflected puck to the face with 4:02 left but returned to the netminder Sam Montembeault. game. He finished with two assists . . . The Bruins are 1-11 in shootout attempts this season . . . Of the former Bruins involved in the game, It was the chance Coyle turned down, late in the third period, that he’ll Frank Vatrano (goal, five shots in 19:20) was more impactful than Noel hear about in the next two days. Acciari (third-period penalty, two shots, 12:50) and Brett Connolly (no Coyle, the third-line center getting a chance to skate on David Krejci’s shots in 12:26). right wing, has been encouraged to fire more. With 3:25 left and the Boston Globe LOADED: 11.13.2019 Bruins holding on to a 4-3 lead, Coyle had the puck in the slot off a Sean Kuraly-forced turnover. Instead of forcing a scrambling Montembeault to make a save, he elected to pass to a covered Joakim Nordstrom.

The Panthers tied the game with 1:39 left, Milton defenseman Keith Yandle doing the honors.

“I’d like to see him go for the dagger there,” coach Bruce Cassidy said of Coyle. “He’s point-blank. Listen, we’ve had this discussion with Charlie, right? This isn’t the first time it’s been brought up to be selfish, shoot the puck more.

“It’ll be brought up again. It’s done now. It’s his call. We’ll just encourage him to be more of a goal scorer there.”

Senyshyn hurt

The Bruins may be calling up another forward from Providence before Friday’s game at Toronto.

Rookie winger Zach Senyshyn, a solid performer in this brief run (two assists in four games), skated just 4:46 before departing with a lower- body injury. Cassidy suspected it was a knee problem, and didn’t know how long Senyshyn would be out.

“He’s trying to get a foothold on a job while guys are injured,” Cassidy said. “He’s been doing a good job for us. But it’s a bit of what’s going on here lately. Seems like we’re losing forwards this year. Last year it was defensemen. We’ll have to rely on someone else to come in and do the job.”

If the Bruins are looking for a right shot to replace Senyshyn, they could turn to Paul Carey. In his first year as Providence captain, he has a team- best 7-6—13 line in 16 games.

Kill is hurting them

Tuukka Rask’s misplay on a Mike Hoffman backhander cut Boston’s lead to 4-3, and gave Florida a 2-for-4 performance on the power play.

The Bruins are stumbling on the penalty kill in their last three games, snuffing out just 7 of 13 chances (53.8 percent), dropping to 12th in the league.

“Seemed like we took a lot of marginal penalties tonight. We didn’t kill them,” Cassidy said. “We’re going to have to address the penalty kill, how we broke down, and get better in that area.”

Washington, in town Saturday, ranks seventh in power-play success (23.9). Toronto, hosting the Bruins on Friday, is 18th (18.2).

Vaakanainen in

With Torey Krug (upper body) out, Urho Vaakanainen made his season debut, opening the night on a third pairing with Connor Clifton. Vaakanainen logged 16:55. The 18th overall pick in 2017, Vaakanainen had two assists in 15 games for Providence.

Krug’s absence also pushed Matt Grzelcyk to the second defense pair, with Krug’s regular partner Brandon Carlo.

Grzelcyk was also the point man on the power play, though Cassidy wouldn’t use the term “quarterback.” That’s reserved for Krug (NHL-best 11 power play assists). 1161117 Boston Bruins

Noel Acciari returns to Garden to face Bruins, and other quick hits for Tuesday night’s game

By Matt Porter Globe Staff, November 12, 2019, 1:06 p.m.

Noel Acciari returns to TD Garden for the first time since signing a three- year deal with the Panthers July 1.

The Bruins take on the Panthers tonight at TD Garden as they try to snap their first three-game losing streak of the year. Quick shifts to get the legs moving on a Tuesday:

■ The Bruins will be without Torey Krug and Jake DeBrusk, meaning promotions for Matt Grzelcyk (No. 1 power-play quarterback) and Charlie Coyle (second-line right wing, with Danton Heinen taking DeBrusk’s spot on the left side). Urho Vaakanainen will open the night with Connor Clifton on Boston’s third pair of defensemen with Krug (upper body) ailing.

■ The Panthers (8-4-5) pulled 2 points out of their back-to-back set against the Islanders and Rangers. Captain Sasha Barkov is hot, having scored in each of his past five games, and moved into ninth place in scoring (5-17—22, 1 point ahead of teammate Jonathan Huberdeau, 9- 12—21).

■ Both teams are coming off shootouts. The Panthers, who beat the Rangers, 6-5, had been 1 for 9 on shootout attempts this season before going 2 for 3 against New York. The Bruins, who lost to the Flyers, 3-2,

■ The Panthers are expected to start Sergei Bobrovsky, who was strong as a Blue Jacket in last year’s second-round series, but ultimately outplayed by Tuukka Rask. He has been dented this year (3.39, .884); only LA’s Jonathan Quick (.866) has a worse save percentage among goalies with more than six starts. The Panthers have allowed 45 goals at five-on-five. Only San Jose (50) has coughed up more.

■ The Bruins, who allowed a league-high 15 shorthanded goals last year, are one of five teams that have yet to surrender one this season. Florida is also in that group. In PP success, the teams rank first (29.8 percent) and eighth (22.6), respectively.

■ It is Miltary Appreciation Night at TD Garden, but it also might be time to recognize Noel Acciari for four years of hard-nosed play. The Johnston, R.I., product returns for the first time since signing a three-year deal with the Panthers July 1.

“You usually just smile at him,” ex-linemate Chris Wagner said of taking warmups against an old friend. “You try not to make it too public. It’s probably a little different for him since he knows the whole team. I’m sure guys will be yelling at him.”

Boston Globe LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161118 Boston Bruins another round of life. But, Hoffman scored in the fourth round to seal it for the Panthers, with Charlie McAvoy stopped in the final attempt.

“It’s going sting for a few days,” said Cassidy. “But maybe it’ll be a good Bruins blow four-goal lead in shootout defeat to Panthers motivating factor for Toronto and Washington.”

The Bruins head to Toronto on Friday night for the first of a back-to-back, By MARISA INGEMI | PUBLISHED: November 12, 2019 at 9:47 pm | as they host the Capitals the next night in Boston. UPDATED: November 12, 2019 at 10:50 PM Boston Herald LOADED: 11.13.2019

The TD Garden lights weren’t the only thing to leave the Bruins in the dark on Tuesday.

A four-goal middle frame powered the Bruins to a big lead before the Panthers surged back with a four-spot of their own late in the third period to force overtime. After a scoreless overtime, Florida finished the comeback in a shootout, edging the Bruins 5-4.

For two periods, it looked like the Bruins inconsistency woes of the past week were behind them. Everything changed when the Panthers attacked in the third.

“Doubt creeps into your mind, like is this really happening,” said Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy. “But this is a team that has closed out games for years. The last goal to me, put everything else aside, is disappointing.”

While the Bruins were on the penalty kill early in the second, the lights temporarily went dark. It didn’t have any effect on play, and the game resumed again moments later, but the ice tilted in the Bruins favor from there — at least in the second. The third period was reminiscent of the past few contests, though, allowing the Panthers to come back.

“We have to play the same way for 60 minutes,” said Zdeno Chara. “We all realize that that was not our 60-minute game. We lost a point. It’s on us.”

A mundane first period was still heavily in the Bruins favor as far as possession time, even though it went to the intermission at 0-0.

By the second, after the brief power outage interrupted the Panthers power play, the Bruins found their scoring touch.

Patrice Bergeron stripped the puck on a back check in the defensive end 11:55 into the second, and backhanded it to David Pastrnak. The winger crossed the blue line and briefly looked to pass to his right to Brad Marchand, but quickly wristed the shot through Sergei Bobrovsky to put the Bruins ahead 1-0.

Two in a half minutes later, and the Bruins were in control.

Joakim Nordstrom carried the puck down the wall and into the circle, and let go a wrist shot right under the faceoff dot that beat Bobrovsky far-side.

On their first power play of the night, the Bruins struck, but it wasn’t any of the usual suspects.

With 2:44 left in the second and 17 seconds remaining on the power play, David Krejci found Anders Bjork at the right circle, and he aimed short-side for a 3-0 lead and his third goal of the season.

They were already secure heading into the final frame with 28.5 seconds left, and Zdeno Chara put the final nail in — or so they thought.

The Bruins captain buried a rebound from a Krejci shot to go ahead 4-0, his third of the year.

Bobrovsky was pulled right before the third, replaced by Sam Montembeault.

The Panthers responded 50 seconds into the third on an Aaron Ekblad blast that beat Tuukka Rask cleanly to make it 4-1. They struck again with 14:34 left on the power play. Former Bruin Frank Vatrano ripped a shot past Rask from the slot to make it a two-goal contest.

With 10:17 left, it was a hockey game.

On another power play, the Panthers made it a one-goal contest. Mike Hoffman slipped a backhand shot past Rask to make it 4-3, and Keith Yandle knotted the thing up with 1:39 to go, coming all the way back from down by four.

Vincent Trocheck scored the lone goal in the second round of the shootout for Florida, and Coyle tied it in the third round to give the Bruins 1161119 Boston Bruins

Bruins notebook: Bruins hope incomplete efforts are behind them

By MARISA INGEMI | PUBLISHED: November 12, 2019 at 6:18 pm | UPDATED: November 12, 2019 at 6:24 PM

Early in the season, second periods were a problem for the Bruins.

For a while it seemed they had cured those woes and were playing a full game; in the past week, they’ve gotten away from that, but how they have has varied.

Against Philadelphia, they showed up in the third period and it salvaged a point, but they’re looking for a more complete effort throughout entire games to get back on track.

“You want to take what we did right in the third period against Philly and kind of bring that for a full 60-minute effort this time around,” said Patrice Bergeron before Tuesday’s game against the Panthers. “We’re playing a good team, a team that has a lot of skill, but I think if we take care of the way we play and take care of details, that’s when we’ve been successful.”

There’s a few elements overall that need to improve, such as the defensive systems — which have taken a hit with injuries a bit now — while the offense has still worked the last few games.

So even in struggles, there’s been some positives; it’s about honing what they showed earlier in the season but going a full 60 minutes. Even in their recent win against Pittsburgh, they didn’t have that. As the schedule gets tougher and busier, they need to find a way to play a complete game.

“Consistency. Against Philly we didn’t finish the first period very well,” said Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy. “The third period we got to our game and were the much better team. That’s typically how we play when we’re playing well, so that’s what we want to see more of. We didn’t get the start we wanted in Detroit and Montreal, so the starts obviously, and keeping it out of our net early. Some of that was we got ourselves into penalty trouble in Detroit, so that’s discipline.

“So a better, more consistent effort from start to finish would be the formula right now.”

Vaakanainen makes season debut

Urho Vaakainanen made his season debut against the Panthers after being recalled on Monday. He was paired with Connor Clifton on the third group.

How long he will be up is unclear, with Torey Krug‘s status still uncertain since sustaining an upper body injury on Sunday night.

“Torey, I don’t believe will be out long term,” said Cassidy. “He may miss a few games, but we’ll see how he goes this week.”

Grz new role

Matt Grzelcyk takes over as the lone defenseman on the power play for as long as Krug is out but has a different type of role than Krug does when he runs it.

“I wouldn’t call it quarterback,” said Cassidy. “The puck will run much more through (Brad Marchand) than (David Pastrnak) and even through Bergy in the bumper. Facilitate is what we’re going to ask him to do, get the puck to the elbows.”

“We’ve seen him do it last year.”

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Par Lindholm gives Bruins depth down the middle

First-year Bruin has chance to show his talents

By STEVE CONROY | PUBLISHED: November 12, 2019 at 4:34 pm | UPDATED: November 12, 2019 at 5:23 PM

There’s an old adage in hockey that says you can’t have too many defensemen. That saying could be extended to centermen as well.

And the Bruins are pretty well covered in both categories. Despite their recent dip in play, they’ve been able to post an 11-3-3 mark with two defensemen — Kevan Miller and , who could be regulars on any other team — out injured all season. They were going into Tuesday’s tilt with another one down (Torey Krug), but they have a first-round draft pick (Urho Vaakanainen) to fill in. We’ll see how that goes.

They haven’t experienced any injury bug with their centermen, but the wealth in that category has allowed coach Bruce Cassidy to experiment in different ways to overcome the loss of a multitude of wingers, including Brett Ritchie, Karson Kuhlman, David Backes and Jake DeBrusk. Instead of just bringing up another body from Providence to fill the holes, he’s been able to move Charlie Coyle up to second-line right wing with David Krejci — an idea that’s long been hatching in Cassidy’s mind. That move was made possible by having Par Lindholm around to use as the center between Anders Bjork and Zach Senyshyn.

From a minutes standpoint, the unit was deployed as a fourth line, but the minutes the threesome saw together were good enough to take another look. Cassidy liked what Lindholm brought.

“I thought he played hard,” said Cassidy. “Coming off of an upper body injury like that, he threw his body around, went to the net. I thought their line, they had another goal come off the board (due to goalie interference) with Senyshyn and Bjork. … Zach’s been involved in some offensive plays and they haven’t hurt us. I didn’t mind their game. You always push for more, but (Senyshyn) is growing his game. With Par, he’s kind of the old man on the line, so he’ll pull those guys along. He’s a good solid player. I liked his game.”

Lindholm is shaping up as one of those signings from Don Sweeney that may have been under the radar at the time but could prove valuable, along the lines of Joakim Nordstrom, Chris Wagner and Riley Nash. Still trying to find his way in the NHL, the 28-year-old Lindholm will play anywhere he’s told. But he played almost exclusively center during his successful career back home in Sweden (he notched 47 points in 49 games in his last season for Skelleftea AIK two years ago) and he’s looking at this opportunity to establish himself here.

“That’s when I play my best hockey. My strengths are pretty much being a solid at both ends of the ice and that shows more as a centerman,” said Lindholm. “I’m going to do the best I can and we’ll see what happens. There are always going to be injuries and things are going to change during the season. I’m just happy I’m getting to play now and I’ll try to play my best hockey.”

While there’s no telling how long the current lines will last, Lindholm said there’s room for growth for his line.

“It was fun. Bjorkie especially is really skilled and they’re fun to play with. Seny’s good, too. I think we played alright. They haven’t been in the league for long and I haven’t been, either, but I think we did OK,” said Lindholm. “When you see them play, you have to adapt to that and I think it’s the same way for them to adapt to me.”

This is only Lindholm’s second year in the NHL. But with his experience in Sweden, he’s no newbie.

“He’s just such a smart player and he’s always in that right spot,” said Senyshyn. “His work ethic is great and he was playing the body a lot. He was really physical and he was around the puck a lot, so it was awesome playing with him and I’m looking forward to doing it again.”

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Bruins pregame notes: B’s try to snap streak against Panthers

By MARISA INGEMI | November 12, 2019 at 12:53 PM

The Bruins have a losing streak.

It’s the first time this season the B’s have lost even two in a row, not to mention three. They gained a point in the shootout loss to the Flyers on Sunday night, but it extended the first rut the Bruins have to dig themselves out of.

In come the Florida Panthers, who had some high hopes heading into the year that haven’t been squashed, but they haven’t exactly lived up to expectations yet, either.

They’re letting in goals, and while the Bruins have had some systematic struggles in their past few games, the offense has still, for the most part, shown up; it might be the perfect recipe to get back on track.

“You want to take what we did right in the third period against Philly and bring that for a full 60 minute effort this time around,” said Patrice Bergeron.

The Bruins stormed back late in the third period while down 2-0 against the Flyers, forcing a shootout and salvaging a point before ultimately losing. It’s the best they’ve looked in the last three games after surrendering five goals to the Canadiens in a loss and then an absolute dud against the Red Wings in Detroit.

That might be a sign of things improving, but even against the Penguins in a win on Monday night a week ago there were some flaws.

A season is never going to go totally perfect like it had been for the most part for the Bruins until this recent stretch, and facing some adversity now might not be a bad thing, especially since it made them stronger last season on their path to the Stanley Cup Final.

Points are important this time of year — as they are at any other time, but especially if the Bruins are hitting a sort of wall — and a vulnerable Panthers team might be the best opportunity.

Game notes

Urho Vaakanainen will make his season debut on the blue line on the same pair as Connor Clifton while Torey Krug is out with an upper body injury sustained on Sunday night.

Jake DeBrusk and David Backes remain out of the lineup with their injuries, while Karson Kuhlman is also still out for the next few weeks.

Tuukka Rask (7-2-1) gets the nod in net.

About the Panthers

The Panthers (8-4-5) have lost two of their last three, but are coming off of a 6-5 shootout win against the Rangers in the middle game of their three-game northeast road trip.

With 60 goals scored, the Panthers are tied for sixth in the NHL, but their 60 allowed is tied for the fourth most in the league. An .883 save percentage is the fifth lowest in the NHL as they’ve struggled to keep the puck out of the net.

Aleksander Barkov leads the Panthers with 22 points, 17 of them assists. Jonathan Huberdeau leads with eight goals, while Evgenii Dadonov has eight goals and eight assists.

Former Bruin Noel Acciari will also make his first return to TD Garden since Game 7 of the Cup Final in June.

Sergei Bobrovsky (6-3-4, .884, 3.39) was the Panthers big free agent acquisition in the offseason, but has gotten off to a slow start in net.

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Joe Haggerty's Talking Points from Bruins' 5-4 shootout loss to the Panthers: Rough night for Tuukka Rask

By Joe Haggerty November 13, 2019 12:13 AM

GOLD STAR: Keith Yandle has enjoyed games at both ends of the spectrum against his hometown Bruins team and he had a spectacular effort against the Black and Gold on Tuesday night. Yandle jumped up to score the tying goal with 1:29 left in the third period and finished with a goal and three points along with a plus-1 rating in a team-leading 25:48 of ice time while spearheading the third-period comeback for Florida. Yandle also finished with five shot attempts and four blocked shots in a gutsy win for Florida. His celebration after his tying goal said it all for a kid playing with a group of local hockey players on the Panthers roster.

Highlights: Four-goal lead disappears in third as B's lose 5-4 in shootout to Panthers

BLACK EYE: Tuukka Rask coughed up four goals on 12 shots in the third period and was one of the main culprits behind a collapse of epic proportions. The first goal allowed came less than a minute into the third and that allowed the Panthers to start gathering some momentum. Rask then allowed a third goal that was as leaky as they come. Mike Hoffman tucked it inside the short-side post when he was late covering the crease. That makes two rough games for Rask in his past three and a big, big role for the Bruins goaltender in a pair of bad divisional losses to the Canadiens and the Panthers.

TURNING POINT: The Bruins were up by four goals and had limited the Panthers to just 12 shots on net in the first two periods, so nobody could have predicted what was going to happen to them in the final 20 minutes. The Bruins totally caved in while allowing four unanswered goals and were outshot 12-9 while taking a pair of penalties that allowed the Panthers to get some life on the power play. The entire third period was a problem for the Black and Gold where Florida kept gathering momentum and the Bruins could do little to stop things whether by scoring another goal or by Rask stepping up and making some key saves. Instead, the Bruins folded and then predictably lost in the shootout as they have a couple of times this season. The result was a fourth consecutive loss.

Bruins blow 4-0 lead and Twitter acts appropriately

HONORABLE MENTION: David Pastrnak brought his A-game to the table on Tuesday night even if many of his teammates didn’t. The 23- year-old scored his 16th goal of the season as part of a four-goal barrage in the second period. He also registered a game-high eight shots on net in his 21:55 of ice time. Pastrnak finished with 11 shot attempts and was okay even after he got clocked with a careless elbow from Vincent Trocheck that elicited a quick response from Brad Marchand sticking up for his linemate in the third period. Unfortunately for Pastrnak and the Bruins, the B’s explosive winger was never chosen to take part in the shootout after. Bruce Cassidy opted for Chris Wagner and Charlie McAvoy among his four shooters instead of No. 88.

BY THE NUMBERS: 9 – The number of road teams that have come back from a four-goal deficit in the third period in NHL history. Home or road, it's only happened 19 times.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "It's on us. We played solid hockey in the first two periods and made some strong plays. Obviously, in the third period, we gave them too much space and time. We need to look at it and we need to play the same way for 60 minutes.” –Zdeno Chara, on the Bruins blowing a four-goal lead in the third period en route to the 5-4 shootout loss.

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Senyshyn forced out of Bruins' loss with a suspected knee injury

By Joe Haggerty November 12, 2019 11:42 PM

BOSTON – It didn’t sound like the news was particularly good for 22- year-old Zach Senyshyn as the young winger was forced out of the Bruins' 5-4 shootout loss to the Panthers on Tuesday night with a left leg injury.

The Bruins winger was done for the night after one shift when he was injured in the second period. It could leave the B’s short another forward with David Backes, Brett Ritchie, Jake DeBrusk and Karson Kuhlman already injured up front.

Bruins blow 4-0 lead and Twitter acts appropriately

Bruce Cassidy said he didn’t have much of an update following the game, but a potential knee injury could be more of a long-term thing than some of the B's other injured bodies.

“They told me he left, lower body. Looked like a knee injury and that he wouldn’t return. Typically I don’t get it, unless a guy’s like, completely gone, I don’t get any updates on what the X-ray showed or didn’t show,” said Cassidy, following the loss where the Bruins blew a four-goal lead in the third period. “He’s trying to get a foothold on a job here while guys are injured and he’s been doing a good job for us. But it’s a bit of what’s going on here lately, it seems like we’re losing forwards this year.

“Last year, it was defensemen and now we’ll have to rely on someone else to come in the lineup and do the job. He’s played well for us, played hard, so you want him to stay healthy and put his best foot forward and get every opportunity. But that’s hockey sometimes. Hopefully, he’s not doing too poorly or too badly and he’ll get back in there when he’s healthy.”

Senyshyn finished with a shot attempt, a hit and a giveaway in 4:46 of ice time.

Senyshyn had a couple of assists in his four games with the Bruin while serving as an injury replacement himself. He’d combined with Anders Bjork to give the B’s a couple of speedy, skilled wingers on the third line once both were given the chance to get into the lineup, so it would be a shame if he can’t continue due to the injury.

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Noel Acciari excited to return home, face Bruins as member of Panthers

By NBC Sports Boston Staff November 12, 2019 3:41 PM

Noel Acciari will return to TD Garden Tuesday night as a member of the Florida Panthers, and the Johnston, R.I. native is pretty excited.

"I'm excited to be here. A different side, but still excited to be back. Expecting a really good game," Acciari said, according to BostonBruins.com's Eric Russo. "We'll see what happens. There's still a couple more things for me to go over to see if I can play, but if I can, it's gonna be very exciting. It will be fun for me. It will be different, that's for sure.

"Boston and New England is what I knew, but I had a great opportunity here in Florida. I thought it was the best opportunity for me and my family. I thought it was the next step in my career and I'm happy with my choice."

Vaakanainen called up to fill in for injured Krug

The grinder has missed the past three games for the Panthers with a lower-body injury, and head coach Joel Quenneville is looking forward to getting the gritty 27-year-old back in the lineup.

"He's been a real good fit for us right from the outset," Quenneville said, according to FloridaPanthers.com's Jameson Olive. "He's a real good pro. He does everything you'd expect or want. He came from a real good organization, as far as doing things the right way."

And what exactly does Acciari do right? Quenneville detailed why the fourth-liner has been so reliable for his squad.

"He's technically sound and has that responsibility and takes pride in being a defensive-type of guy," Quenneville said. "He takes a lot of D- zone faceoffs, kills penalties and blocks shots. He has scored some key goals for us as well. I think the priority for him and for us is to get those [tough] assignments."

Acciari isn't the only former Bruin returning to Boston Tuesday. Frank Vatrano, also a New England native, will take the ice in his third season with the Panthers. Brett Connolly, who spent 2014-16 with Boston, also will suit up.

The B's will be looking to snap a three-game skid by grabbing two points at the Garden against a new-look Panthers squad.

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Bruce Cassidy on Don Cherry comments: 'That's not the way that I think'

By Joe Haggerty November 12, 2019 2:26 PM

BRIGHTON, Mass. — Bruce Cassidy was an unabashed Bruins fan growing up, so it’s no surprise that he was a fan of the “Lunch Pail AC” crew in the 1970’s coached by Don Cherry when he was a young hockey fan growing up in Ontario.

As a Canadian and a lover of hockey, Cassidy undoubtedly grew up with Coach’s Corner on and was one of the millions of Canadians who waited to see what Cherry was going to say every Saturday night. So it probably wasn’t easy for Cassidy to say he disagreed with Cherry’s comments from last weekend's Coach’s Corner that ended up getting him fired from his job as analyst with Hockey Night in Canada as a result.

But that’s exactly what the Bruins head coach did when asked about it following Tuesday’s morning skate as the Cherry firing remains a hot topic for discussions between his ardent supporters, and those that saw his divisive, offensive comments as going too far.

“Hockey vs. politics, I try to stay away from that. I don’t agree with what he said,” said Cassidy. “I love the fact that he was a great coach for the Bruins years ago. I love the way the team played. But that’s just my…not the way that I think.”

HAGGERTY: There's no defending Don Cherry this time

Cherry addressed the issue of Remembrance Day this past weekend during Coach’s Corner when it came to the subject of wearing a poppy symbolic of supporting the troops, and spoke up for the military as he often has during his nearly 40 years of work for Hockey Night in Canada. Unfortunately, Cherry also used that space to single out immigrants using the line “you people that come here”, and that was what ended being totally unnecessary and problematic.

"You people ... that come here, whatever it is. You love our way of life, you love our milk and honey, at least you can pay a couple bucks for a poppy or something like that," Cherry said on Saturday night. "These guys paid for your way of life that you enjoy in Canada. These guys paid the biggest price.”

Clearly nobody is going to argue with Cherry’s wish that more people show symbolic support for the troops, but it was his reference to “you people…that come here” that was divisive, offensive and certainly pointed toward immigrants to Canada.

It was also something that plenty of hockey people, like Cassidy, can’t get behind when one of the NHL’s biggest initiatives right now is “Hockey is For Everyone” that should be welcoming everybody rather than seeking ways to divide.

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Bruins looking for 'better, more consistent effort' in snapping three-game skid

By Joe Haggerty November 12, 2019 3:15 PM

BRIGHTON, Mass. — The Bruins are in the midst of their first extended losing streak of the season after dropping their third game in a row against the Flyers on Sunday night, and they are looking to end that stretch of futility with a couple of big divisional games next on the schedule.

On Tuesday night at TD Garden, the Bruins will host a Florida Panthers club that’s just four points behind the B’s and tied for third place in the Atlantic, and then Saturday will be another road showdown with arguably their most heated rival these days, the Maple Leafs.

After leaky goaltending, penalty troubles and a horrendous start marred each of their last three games, the Bruins are looking more at playing a better all-around brand of hockey than fine-tuning one specific area of their game.

“Consistency. Against Philly we didn’t finish the first period very well. The third period we got to our game and were the much better team. That’s typically how we play when we’re playing well, so that’s what we want to see more of,” said Bruce Cassidy. “We didn’t get the start we wanted in Detroit and Montreal, so the starts obviously and keeping it out of our net early. Some of that was we got ourselves into penalty trouble in Detroit, so that’s discipline. So better, more consistent effort from start to finish would be the formula right now.”

The Bruins have their challenges with Jake DeBrusk, Torey Krug, David Backes and Brett Ritchie all injured and leaving Boston depleted in both the offense and size/strength departments, but the Black and Gold showed in the third period against Philly that they are still capable of playing at a very high level.

“You want to take what we did right in the third period against Philly and bring that for a full 60-minute effort this time around,” said Patrice Bergeron. “We’re playing a good team with a lot of skill, but if we take care of the way we play and the details… that’s how we’ve been successful in this league. You try to carry some of the positives over and leave the rest behind you.

“Every game is a new one and you need to be in that moment. Every year there’s ups and downs in an 82-game season and you obviously have to battle through [them]. We’re a team that loves challenges and we go from there.”

The common denominator in the losses to Detroit and Philly would be that they were against teams that weren’t in the playoffs last season, and perhaps the Bruins underestimated them this time around. That shouldn’t have been the case with a Flyers team that’s won four in a row and is right in the thick of things in the Metro Division, and it certainly won’t be the case against the Panthers or Maple Leafs, who are already nipping at their heels.

If the Bruins once again look this week like a hockey club unable to elevate their game or play like they did in the month of October, then it will be time to get concerned about the B’s after such an impressive start to the year.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161127 Boston Bruins Are the Panthers for real? They might just be, although it is hard to tell based on this one, crazy game.

“That was an improbable one, you don’t expect that,” said coach Joel Down 4-0? No problem for Panthers, who storm back in the third and Quenneville, who couldn’t wipe the smile off his face. “Hey, we were fine beat Bruins in shootout at 0-0 (for the first 31:55) and then we lost our composure and gave up four quick ones. I’m not happy with how the whole second period went.”

By George Richards Nov 12, 2019 So what happened?

After a scoreless first period, the teams continued playing a tough defensive game until David Pastrnak got his 16th of the season 11:55 BOSTON — Dale Tallon’s voice was unmistakable. into the second to break the seal.

The language he was using was understandable. A little more than two minutes later, Boston made it 2-0.

His Panthers gave up four goals in the second period here and Tallon’s Pretty soon it was 3-0, then Zdeno Chara made it 4-0 with 29 seconds disappointment in it all could be heard loud and clear in the hallway of the left before the break. TD Garden press box. This one was as good as done. His mood was considerably brighter not an hour later. “I really cannot explain what happened,” Evgenii Dadonov said, the last Funny how things work sometimes. Florida player still sitting at his locker stall after the game. “I am out of words. I am just thrilled we got two points out of this game. “How about that?” Tallon extolled as he and his merry group of front Unbelievable.” office partners rambled toward the elevator following the Panthers’ most improbable comeback, a 5-4 shootout win over the Atlantic-leading The Panthers were able to score quickly enough against Tuukka Rask to Bruins. not only give themselves a chance but to also have a realistic belief such a comeback could be done. Down 4-0 after a disaster of a second period, the Panthers rallied for their biggest comeback win in franchise history as they came to life after With starting goalie Sergei Bobrovsky on the bench, the Panthers the second intermission. suddenly needed a strong game from their backup. There was no pressure on Montembeault when he skated onto the ice, his team down Aaron Ekblad scored on Florida’s first shift of the third, former Bruin 4-0. Frank Vatrano made it 4-2 just a few minutes later and then Mike Hoffman scored midway through the period to cut the deficit to one. But the pressure sure grew as the game wore on and he answered the challenge. By then, the pressure was starting to grow on backup goalie Sam Montembeault — and he responded by making nine saves in the third “He was put in a situation where he’s sitting there watching and now he’s period to keep things right where they were. in the game and you don’t think anything is going to happen and suddenly you’re in a shootout,” Quenneville said. That allowed Keith Yandle (one of a handful of Panthers with Boston ties) to pounce on a juicy rebound off Sasha’s Barkov shot and fire it top shelf “I commend him for how he handled the stage as it got bigger the longer to tie the score at 4 with 1:39 remaining. he was out there. He was very composed and was himself, he followed pucks through a lot of traffic. He handled a tough situation.” Goaltender Sam Montembeault is surrounded by teammates after the Panthers defeated the Bruins in a shootout. (Greg M. Cooper / USA Ekblad’s goal 50 seconds into the third period got it going for the Today) Panthers. And if it didn’t, perhaps Trocheck’s tussle with Brad Marchand moments after hitting Pastrnak did. Montembeault made six saves in the five-minute overtime session then stopped three of four in the shootout as Hoffman’s goal in Round 4 stood “That goal by Ekblad,” Trocheck said, “gave us a little hope.” up as the winner. Two power play goals (Vatrano, Hoffman) helped. “I went in there with nothing to lose, just wanted to do my job and the guys did an awesome job in coming back,” Montembeault said after he Killing off Noel Acciari’s penalty for tripping with 6:28 left down a goal did led Florida to both of its wins on this three-game road trip. “It was 4-0 as well. Players were diving in front of shots, including one key play in after the second and we could have packed it up in the third and just which Montembeault was out of position. gone home. But we didn’t. It was just a great team win.” ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE! ¯_(ツ)_/¯ After the game, the Panthers, who were left for dead after Boston’s big FINAL / SO: #FLAPANTHERS 5, BRUINS 4. #FLAVSBOS final 9:05 of the second, were ready to party into the chilly Boston night. PIC.TWITTER.COM/UO4CFIJESQ Instead, they boarded their bus, headed to the airport and flew back to — FLORIDA PANTHERS (@FLAPANTHERS) NOVEMBER 13, 2019 South Florida, where they will play 14 of their next 16.

The Bruins have lost four consecutive games (0-2-2) after an 11-1-2 “We had a lot of emotion on the bench because we felt the momentum start. coming our way. We felt like we had a chance,” Trocheck said. “When you are down 4-0, you better take it every shift at a time and chip away at “We were not feeling very good about things for a little bit, but right now, it one-by-one, and that’s what we did. it’s obviously a great feeling,” Yandle said. “I think this team has confidence in itself that was not here in the past “We scored four unanswered goals in the third period against Boston and few years. Down four goals, we still had the belief we could come back. that just shows the character of this team. We did not have the second period we wanted, but we sure came out in the third and showed what “The Bruins are a good team, but, apparently, so are the Panthers.” we had to not only get a point but, ultimately, to win the game.” Yandle does not panic WHAT. A. WIN!@FLAPANTHERS | #NHLTONIGHT PIC.TWITTER.COM/KDFMHZ34TL The Panthers pulled Montembeault with 1:44 remaining in the game for the extra attacker and moments later, he was sent right back out. — NHL NETWORK (@NHLNETWORK) NOVEMBER 13, 2019 That’s because Montembeault now needed to hold down a tie score. Although it is early in the season, the win was huge for the Panthers as it was their first test against a team that could be the best in their division, if Yandle tied it at 4 with 1:39 left, jumping on a puck just below the left not the conference. circle off a shot by Barkov that came out hot.

Florida moved into a tie for second with Montreal in the Atlantic Division, Yandle said he has blown shots like this in the past, but Tuesday, he just three points behind the Bruins. swooped in, saw his spot above Rask’s shoulder and drilled it. “I usually panic when I am in the offensive zone below the circle,” said “It wasn’t easy to sit for two hours and then go in,’’ Montembeault said. Yandle, who grew up in the Boston area. “That is probably the most “We showed a lot of character. Boston is one of the best teams in the excited I have been in scoring a goal in a long time. NHL. If we want to be a playoff team, we have to beat teams like this.”

“It was definitely a great feeling. It was all about being down and Unpack those bags, get comfortable knowing we only had a shift or two left to tie the score, it was about being The six games Florida has played on home ice is the third-lowest amount in Boston. in the league so far this season (Minnesota, Tampa Bay), but that is “We were down four to one of the best teams in hockey. I was excited. about to increase by a lot. This was a fun win for us. We have found a way to battle back in games Florida now begins a stretch of playing 14 of the next 16 in Sunrise. The all year.” Panthers have two one-off trips (one to Carolina, the other to Acciari returns home Washington) during this stretch with the team’s next multi-game road trip not coming until Dec. 21. Speaking of Boston, Acciari was back in a familiar building if not familiar environs as the former Bruins’ fourth-liner was in the visitors locker room “We have played two-thirds of our games on the road, so it is catch-up at the Garden for the first time since he played here with his Providence time,” Quenneville said. “We have to make some hay here. We have to Friars back in 2015. play well at home, establish that, and I think we have for the most part. We have picked up some huge points on the road in some tough spots.” The native missed the past three games after it is believed he pulled a groin muscle at practice. Panthers center Mike Hoffman scores the winning goal to defeat Boston in a shootout at TD Garden. (Greg M. Cooper / USA Today) Acciari did not travel with the Panthers to New York because he was able to get ice and practice on his own back in South Florida. Acciari flew into Weegar remains with team Boston on Monday, he said, and had dinner with about 15 of his former Defenseman MacKenzie Weegar did not play Tuesday after being struck Bruins teammates before playing them Tuesday. in the head by an errant shot Sunday in New York. “I may be on a different side of the building, but I am still excited to be Although Quenneville was not very forthcoming on Weegar’s condition, here,” said Acciari, who left the cap-strapped Bruins for a three-year deal he did confirm that Weegar did not need to visit a hospital in New York with the Panthers on July 1. and that he continued on the trip with his teammates.

“This is going to be different, that is for sure. I know I cannot get too Barkov’s streak ends high with the emotions but I know the last time I played here was in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals. And I am excited to be here with this Lost in the celebration was the end of Barkov’s five-game goal streak. group of guys. I know that group very well, but we play hard, too.” Barkov did have two assists to extend his team lead to 19.

With Acciari back, Dominic Toninato was returned to AHL Springfield. Barkov was also left out of the shootout, with Quenneville saying “he was next up” had it gone five rounds. Barkov is 0-for-4 in shootouts this Acciari was not the only Florida player with Boston connections, joining season and somewhat joked about it after being stopped Sunday in New Yandle, Vatrano, Brian Boyle (from Foxborough) and Mike Matheson York. (Boston College). “What, do you want to ask me about how I suck in the shootout?” he Monty’s big night asked a reporter.

The Panthers did not want to see Montembeault in net Tuesday night Instead of Barkov, Quenneville went with some of the hot hands on and really did not expect to. Tuesday. Vatrano led it off (blocked) with Trocheck (score) following. After Bobrovsky gave up four goals in the final eight minutes of the Jonathan Huberdeau went third (stopped), and Hoffman got the winner second period, the Panthers did not have much choice but to give their on the fourth try. backup a chance. Trocheck is now 3-for-5 in shootouts this season with two game-winning “It’s one of those nights where we’re not happy there,’’ Quenneville said shots (Nashville, Rangers). of Bobrovsky, who stopped the first 18 shots on goal he faced and then “When you go into games, you kind of have an idea of how you want gave up goals on four of the final five. the rotation to be,” Quenneville said. “It was nice to see Hoff step up and “But I liked the response of Sammy coming in. Every game is different, get a goal for us. Trocheck has been hot there.” but our goaltending has to be stronger.” The Athletic LOADED: 11.13.2019 Said Yandle: “I think we just unraveled as a team. We left Bob out to dry there in the second. We were not solid in front of him and they capitalized on their chances. Bob was great early, though, and made a lot of key saves. Boston could have been up big on us early.”

Montembeault rebounded from a shaky first two periods against the Rangers on Sunday to pitch a shutout in the third, overtime and the shootout at Madison Square Garden and get his team two points, and Tuesday he did it again.

Montembeault ended up stopping all 15 shots faced in 25 minutes of work before going 3-for-4 in the shootout.

“We know Monty is a young kid who is going to make mistakes along the way, but look at how he bounced back in the third against New York,” goalie coach Robb Tallas said afterward. “He found his composure and played extremely well for us. Today, he went in with no pressure, but he believed in himself and his abilities. … We know we can trust him.”

The Panthers play host to Winnipeg on Thursday night.

Do not be surprised if Montembeault gets the call against the Jets.

He probably deserves it. 1161128 Boston Bruins Pastrnak sold pass to Marchand the whole way. That’s what Sergei Bobrovsky thought. Same with Ekblad, the lone Panther back. But while he stared at Marchand, Pastrnak whistled a puck over Bobrovsky’s Nine observations following the Bruins’ fourth straight defeat blocker at 11:55 of the second.

6. Matt Grzelcyk replaced Torey Krug (upper body) as the quarterback on the No. 1 power-play unit. Grzelcyk moved both himself and the puck By Fluto Shinzawa Nov 12, 2019 briskly from the point. He led all Bruins with 23:08 of ice time, including 3:37 on the man advantage, and put five shots on net. If Krug walks at

the end of the year, Grzelcyk would be the leading candidate to take his The Bruins took their fourth straight loss Tuesday night at home falling 5- spot next season. 4 in the shootout against the Florida Panthers. They got a point out of the 7. Zach Senyshyn played only one 17-second shift in the second period defeat, but the Bruins find themselves reeling in November after a before exiting because of a lower-body injury. The Bruins are now down dominant October. four right wings: Senyshyn, Karson Kuhlman, Brett Ritchie and David 1. Bruce Cassidy could understand how Florida started its rally to erase a Backes. 4-0 third-period deficit. Joakim Nordstrom lost his stick and Aaron Ekblad 8. Coyle is a better player at center. The Bruins are best served with scored on the exchange. The Bruins then took two borderline penalties Coyle as their No. 3 pivot. But because of the dropping bodies at right which they did not kill. wing, Coyle will have to stay there for now. As the No. 2 right wing, Coyle But he could not accept Keith Yandle’s tying goal with 1:39 remaining in (four shots) has to be more greedy about putting pucks on net. regulation, which made it a 4-4 game. It was bad enough that the Bruins “We’ve had this discussion with Charlie,” Cassidy said. “This isn’t the allowed Denis Malgin to carry the puck through the neutral zone and set first time it’s been brought up to be selfish, shoot the puck more. So it will up Aleksander Barkov for a clean entry across the blue line. It got worse be brought up again. But it’s done now. It’s his call on the ice. He’s been when Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak curled out of position after in the league a long time. So we’ll just encourage him to be more of a Barkov drove to the net and were unable to slow down Yandle’s second goal scorer there.” wave. 9. At one moment, in the opening minute of the second period, Rask Perhaps Jonathan Huberdeau tied up Patrice Bergeron well enough to settled himself to prepare for an oncoming Hoffman snapper from the negate the center’s ability to clear the puck. But the breakdowns high slot. The next moment, as Hoffman let the puck go, the TD Garden happened well before the uncalled infraction. lights went out, prompting an immediate stoppage in play. “This is a team that’s closed out games for years,” Cassidy said. “The “That should have happened in Game 7 of the finals,” Rask cracked. last goal, to me — put everything else aside — is disappointing. We get “That’s never happened. First time today. It was weird. I don’t think it beat 1-on-1 off the rush. Wingers circling out of the scoring area, knowing went in anyways.” the game’s on the line. I could sit here and argue the guy’s holding Bergy’s stick and he can’t clear the puck at the end. But structurally, we The Athletic LOADED: 11.13.2019 were bad on that goal. That’s the disappointing part to me. That’s when we’re usually rock solid.”

2. Tuukka Rask said he should have stopped Mike Hoffman’s power-play goal, which made it 4-3. Hoffman’s backhander slipped under Rask’s strong-side pad. But the breakdown started when Rask overcorrected when Yandle made a cross-crease pass up high to Hoffman.

“It was a bad recovery by me to the post,” Rask said. “Our D was on the lane blocking it. Then he kind of faked a shot and went around. I tried to recover. My leg was up. I don’t know if he was trying to pass it or not. Shouldn’t be a goal.”

3. Cassidy is not happy with the penalty kill, which has been allowed two power-play goals in two of the last three games. Ex-Bruin Frank Vatrano hammered home a man-up one-timer after Huberdeau slipped the puck around the soft sticks of Anders Bjork, Charlie Coyle and Charlie McAvoy.

In both losses, the Bruins gave the Panthers and Red Wings too much space in the middle of the zone.

“We didn’t kill them,” Cassidy said. “Detroit, we had those issues. Not great penalties we took. Guys throwing pucks into the middle of the ice. We’re going to have to sit down and address the penalty kill in those situations — how we broke down — and get better in that area.”

4. Danton Heinen played a season-high 20:27. He deserved every shift.

The No. 2 left wing played one of his best games of the year by protecting the puck, going to the front of the net, winning his battles and setting up linemates Coyle and David Krejci. Heinen assisted on Zdeno Chara’s second-period goal.

5. Chara did not record an assist on the game’s first goal. But the strongman made the play by halting Barkov’s advance and forcing a turnover.

In normal situations, Barkov would have had plenty of time and space as he carried the puck through the neutral zone. But Chara’s reach allows him to reduce both of those commodities more rapidly than any other defenseman in the league. Because Chara closed so quickly, Barkov threw away a pass intended for Evgenii Dadonov. This allowed Bergeron to scoot the other way and hit Pastrnak for a two-on-one rush. 1161129 Boston Bruins we’re barely five minutes into the tell-me-your-story when he stops and says, “I played that last night.”

Played what last night? Meet TJ the D.J., the man who provides the soundtrack to the Boston sports world “‘Wolf Like Me,’” he says. “It’s by TV on the Radio. I played it last night.” And now it’s playing right here at Barismo.

He pauses for a moment, trying to put it all together. And then: Yes, yes, Steve Buckley Nov 12, 2019 he recalls being out one night several years ago when he heard “Wolf Like Me” and thought it would make a good addition to his Fenway Park mix. Every Baby Boomer Boston sports fan’s favorite trivia question is the one in which you’re supposed to name the only guy who played for the Red “It’s a little alternative rock, indy-type thing,” he says. “I played it for the Sox, Bruins and Celtics. first time in 2013 at Fenway, during the World Series run. That was when the players had all the beards, and ‘Wolf Like Me’ was a good fit.” Answer: John Kiley, of course. Kiley, who died in 1993, was the famous- in-his-day organist who for decades serenaded fans before, during and And this serves as a good jumping-off point, because being an in-game after games at Fenway Park and the original Boston Garden. His D.J. for a professional sports team requires having an ear for what’s repertoire rarely strayed from “Everything’s Coming up Roses,” “Life is a around you and then determining if any of what you hear might make a Cabaret,” “Always True to You” and other musical theater classics. fine addition to your repertoire. It’s important to know the old standards for the simple reason that sometimes the familiar lyrics of an ancient Ancient trivia question, new-found relevance: I am sitting across from TJ classic fit perfectly with what’s happening on the field. But if you don’t Connelly at Barismo, a coffee place located inside the old Hubley’s know the new material — or, just as important, how to marry it with the auction house on Broadway in Cambridge, and it suddenly occurs to me game action and the players’ personalities and quirks — then you might that this bearded 42-year-old hipster (“Well, I definitely was a hipster at as well pull any schlub off the street and let ‘em press the buttons. But some point,” he says, wistfully) has eclipsed the great Kiley in terms of then you’d wind up with sound effects of glass breaking whenever a foul Boston sports versatility. While Connelly has never played for any of ball has been hit into the stands, along with other audio cliches that Boston’s big-league sports teams in the manner that Kiley did, he has stamp your product as Anytown, USA and not, sniff, sniff, Boston. used his trusty MacBook Pro, his encyclopedic musical history knowledge and his deft sense of timing to provide in-game soundtracks As TJ recalls, there was no particular reason why “Wolf Like Me” got its for the Red Sox, the Patriots, the Bruins, even the Celtics here and there. airing during the previous night’s Pats-Giants game. It didn’t tie in with a And, yes, in case you were wondering, he’s done a couple of guest spots touchdown, interception, field goal, etc. It’s high energy, he says, and with the Revolution. high energy is always good. But there are plenty of pieces of music he chooses precisely because they complement the game action, and now Can we stop the music for a moment and agree that TJ Connelly has the he’s rifling through the MacBook Pro … “Let’s see, some fun examples,” coolest job in Boston? he says, scrolling.

“Well, yeah, it is a lot of fun,” he says. “I guess in my head I try to think “Build Me Up Buttercup” by the Foundations has been an on-and-off go- of a cooler job and I can’t come up with one. It is cool to be able to make to of TJ’s, depending on his mood. You’ve heard it aplenty after an people happy, bring some joy to people. It would also perhaps be nice to opposing kicker has missed a field goal or extra-point attempt. be able to do something that has a bit more of a lasting effect, and …” “The first time we did it, it was because it was kind of funny, like, why do And here’s where TJ wanders off into some drivel about wanting to make you build me up and here you are missing the kick,” he says. “And the the world a better place, as if we should all feel guilty about not quitting entire crowd was singing the why-do-you-build-me-up-buttercup part and our day jobs to run off and save the rain forests. But while his noble we had stuff we were supposed to do during that stoppage in play and thoughts are, well, noble, let’s applaud the guy for what he has done: In we ended up scrapping it because people were singing for two minutes. an era when many people expect more than a mere athletic contest in It was great but then nobody could think of football anymore, so now I exchange for their hard-earned sports entertainment dollars, TJ provides have to come up with a new one. It’s sort of like telling jokes. If you keep a service that’s so seamless and in-the-moment that you’d think telling the same joke over and over again, sooner or later you need to everything was scripted and then produced in some faraway studio. come up with new jokes.” Or, to make it personal: I am 63 years old and grew up in an era when I There was that time it was raining — “a deluge,” TJ says — and that didn’t need a music track to keep me awake between innings of a Red inspired “Have You Ever Seen The Rain?” by Creedence Clearwater Sox-Senators tilt. The game was the thing. But, and with apologies to Revival. John Kiley fans, this isn’t 1965. That’s why Fenway Park now has gluten- free offerings on the menu, Wally the Green Monster on the field and, “I’m probably not the first stadium D.J. to do this,” he says. “But there yes, overpriced, obstructed-view bleacher seats on top of the for-real was quite a reaction to it. Someone has a really good video of it on Green Monster. YouTube. And it’s just great to be able to bring people together with those kind of emotions.” And Fenway has a D.J. named TJ. But while old-timey terrestrial radio D.J.’s can assume neither your mood nor your whereabouts when they’re Some of what TJ does is kid stuff, such as when he played the theme to playin’ all the hits for you on W-O-L-D-D-D, TJ Connelly knows exactly the 1960s sitcom “Hogan’s Heroes” following Chris Hogan’s first where you are and what you’re watching because he’s right there with touchdown reception as a member of the Patriots. you. “It was a quick, easy one,” TJ says, “but I thought it would go over well.” TJ the D.J. — his given name is Thomas but he’s big on the TJ, and with no periods, please, and, really, this is a big deal to him— has been And then there was that time … working for the Red Sox since 2005, and for the Patriots since 2013. He added the Bruins to his client list in 2017, originally as part of a rotation “I do not remember which visiting coach it was, but he could not find the but he’s now in his first full season. He’s augmented his resume with fill- challenge flag,” says TJ. “So he’s like waving his hands …” in work for the Celtics and Revolution. He could do more, he says, “but Jeff Fisher, head coach, Los Angeles Rams, Dec. 4, 2016. the Celtics have a guy, and he’s great, and I would like to not work 240 nights a year, and I would like to see Maggie sometimes” — this being While the coach was looking for his challenge piece, TJ was looking for Maggie Beiser, his girlfriend. the right piece of music.

“But I love doing this,” he says. “I really do. It’s like doing color TJ got there first, firing up “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” by commentary almost. The extra color commentary. I just react to what’s U2. happening and go back and forth all night long.” “Very few people got it in the moment,” TJ says. “But then after the fact Our meeting takes place early in the afternoon on Oct. 11, the day after you could see people saying, ‘Ahhhhh!’ which was fun.” the Patriots’ 35-14 victory over the Giants at Gillette Stadium. And as if to prove he’s still in game mode — or perhaps always in game mode — And now that Pats linebacker Kyle Van Noy and his defensive cohorts were saying to me, ‘You know that email you were talking about? It is are being addressed in polite society as the “Boogeymen,” a lot of their huge here.’” big plays are getting a big blast of “I’m Your Boogey Man.” TJ uses two versions — the original by KC and the Sunshine Band, which hit No. 1 on In the spirit of filmmaker Quentin Tarantino, TJ found work at a the Billboard Hot 100 in 1977, as well as a heavy metal cover by White Blockbuster video store in Quincy and then got into computer technology. Zombie. Part-time gigs included everything from running a nighttime Karaoke business to programming the jukebox at Charlie’s Kitchen in Cambridge, “When I came into this I was a fan of sitting in a bar and watching a where, he says, “You get good at realizing what people want to hear baseball game, or being out with friends and eating guacamole and when they’re out having a good time. That’s where what had been a watching football,” he says. “My enthusiasm was based on guacamole, hobby started to become an actual job.” not football. He landed work at the old alt-rock FM station WFNX, which he had “I didn’t really understand anything on a deep, strategic level. Now I’ve always looked upon as “one of the most formative musical influences on come to understand why you might take a timeout at a particular my life.” Note that none of these gigs was remotely connected to moment, and that there is going to be an extra pause while the third-base Boston’s professional sports scene, which to hear him talk had always coach is doing signs. I’ve learned that all of that adds to the overall existed out there, somewhere, but never as part of his world beyond the dramatic tension of sports, which is exactly what I’m about — the guac and the beer. But he had been a citizen of Boston’s improvisational emotions behind it, the pacing, the feelings in the room.” theater community for several years, during which he took classes at the North End’s popular Improv Asylum and occasionally performed. Turns Talk about emotions: Having graduated from the days when it was out they needed a tech person, and the person they hired was TJ. guacamole > football, TJ Connelly now is capable of screaming, yelling and exhibiting other fan tendencies. It was while working at the Improv Asylum he became friends with Colleen Reilly, a Red Sox employee who had been taking classes. Reilly, “I will sometimes for the sake of relieving stress give a good holler, one of the original Fenway Park “ambassadors” hired by the team in particularly during a football game,” he says. “Look at that Giants game. 2003, would later gain a measure of fame by portraying the title character It was back and forth, there were turnovers, and it’s difficult because in the music video “Tessie” by the Dropkick Murphys. At the time, though, you’re trying to build energy and keep the crowd into it. But then she was an improv student who fielded Connelly’s questions about the obviously a turnover switches that all around and you have to go from D.J. situation at Fenway. The under-new-ownership Red Sox were offense to defense, and you do get emotional.” moving past the days when organ music still provided much of the in- game entertainment, and it occurred to TJ that a man with his skills might When he joined the Patriots in 2013, he says, “They actually hired me to find work at what was now being trumpeted as “America’s Most Beloved consult. They said, ‘Do you want to come in and listen to what we’re Ballpark.” doing and maybe give us some new stuff to play?’ I said OK, even though I had never consulted on stadium music before.” Reilly told TJ to draft a proposal and that she’d get it to the right people.

The game he did was the Patriots’ Nov. 24 showdown against the “So I write a letter,” says TJ. “It’s basically, hey, if anyone ever needs a Denver Broncos — Installment No. 14 between Pats quarterback Tom day off over there I’d love to try it out.” Brady and the Broncs’ Peyton Manning — and New England trailed 24-0 at halftime. Nothing came of it. About a year later he wrote again.

“The big summer jam was Daft Punk’s ‘Get Lucky,’” he says. “It was a “And then, in April of 2005, they called,” says TJ, who was working for disco-y sounding song. It was a Sunday night, it was cold out, it was Lycos, the Waltham-based internet firm. miserable, and at the two-minute warning I said, ‘Hey, let’s play this, we Recalls Reilly, “The Red Sox asked me what I thought and I said that the might as well give them something to dance to and stay warm. So I intelligence of the D.J. at the Improv Asylum was so on-point that it was started playing ‘Get Lucky’ and everyone in the place started doing their like having an extra cast member. He had creativity and a great sense of little disco business.” timing.”

TJ takes absolutely no credit for the fact that when the Pats came back TJ was invited to Fenway Park with the understanding he would shadow out for the third quarter Brady completed seven straight passes. Nor Megan Kaiser, who was running the Sox’ in-game audio presentation. does he take any credit for the fact that the Patriots wound up winning What he didn’t know was that Kaiser was going to be stepping away from the game in overtime on Stephen Gostkowski’s 31-yard field goal. Again: the job, and that this “shadowing” business was actually an audition. He’s no sports expert. “I’m a theater guy,” he says. “The strategy and the deeper elements of the game are not there for me.” “They had me sit down and do a couple of innings,” he says.

But things did click for him that night, and he’s been Gillette Stadium’s The Red Sox liked what he did. The Red Sox liked him. resident Music Man ever since. And it was TJ who added “Your Love” by the Outfield as the Patriots’ musical equivalent of Red Auerbach’s old “It was like meeting Santa Claus as a young man,” said Charles victory cigar. He does point out, however, that the song was already Steinberg, the dentist-turned-longtime baseball executive who years being used by Scott Zolak, the former Patriots quarterback who now earlier had livened up the in-game experience for his hometown does middays on 98.5 The Sports Hub and is the Pats’ play-by-play radio Baltimore Orioles, and now, having landed in Boston, was trying to do the analyst. same at staid Fenway Park.

“So there’s always a story,” TJ says. “Zolak apparently had a thing on “Picture a younger, slimmer Santa Claus, with that jolly countenance his show where he would play it on Friday or something. I don’t but with dark hair and a dark beard. That was TJ the D.J.” particularly listen to sports radio. Ever. And so at the end of the game, TJ the D.J. became TJ the Fenway D.J. For each game he’d be given an maybe it was 2014, I don’t even know what year it was actually, the other inning-by-inning script of everything that would be taking place, from first- team called a timeout and I started playing it. I had been playing it at pitch ceremonies to the obligatory late-in-the-game playings of “Take Me Fenway for 10 years. It’s a great comeback song. So I played it and Out to the Ballgame” and “Sweet Caroline,” and it was his job to fill in the everyone loved it and they were singing, and we’re about to go and then blanks. He’d supply bits and pieces of this or that music, sometimes to fill the Patriots called a timeout right behind it, with nothing having happened a lull but also to provide the perfect accompaniment to something in between. So I went to turn it back up and the place freaked out and it happening on the field. It’s also his job to deliver a player’s walk-up music kind of became a thing. But I think more people associate it with Scott when a member of the Red Sox is due at bat — music that has been Zolak.” cleared by the team to avoid having lyrics rattling around the old ballyard TJ Connelly did not attend college, but as a kid growing up in Milton he that might not be suitable for the kiddos. was already planning for his future — even if he might not have known it In most cases the player simply chooses his walk-up music and that’s the at the time. In high school, for instance, he was the kid who’d make mix end of it. It was different with Darnell McDonald, a journeyman outfielder tapes for friends … on cassette. who joined the Red Sox in 2010 and had his career year, appearing in “And I was always a computer person,” he says. “I was into it ever since 117 games and hitting .270 with nine home runs. He was so enjoying his I was a kid, and I had email when I was in high school and that was in the Fenway experience he’d frequently change his walk-up music to suit the early 90s. All my friends went to college and when they got there they mood he was in, DM’ing his selections to TJ. At the end of his Red Sox tenure McDonald sent the Fenway D.J. an autographed bat on which he “I ran into him one night, we were all out after a game, and I told him wrote, “TJ — thanks for all the hard work.” that,” TJ says. “I told him I always play ‘Pipeline’ by the Ventures when he went to the mound and at 41 seconds he’d be walking back. He said, It’s not all glitz and glamour for the Fenway D.J.: He also serves as audio ‘As God as my witness I didn’t even know you were playing music.’ I engineer, running the sound board for everything from the microphones said, ‘OK, that’s fine.’” used for pregame ceremonies to pumping up the sound when organist Josh Kantor, a worthy musical descendant of John Kiley, does his thing. TJ has been known to use his various professional sports platforms as a response to news that a musical icon has passed away. That’s what Yes, Fenway Park still has an organist, and, yes, Kantor is just as apt to happened at Fenway Park on April 21, 2016, following the stunning news reach into the past and offer up something from the days of Teddy that Prince was dead at 57. TJ and Kantor played a number of familiar Ballgame and Johnny Pesky. Prince tracks prior to and during the Sox’ matinee against Tampa, with “I enjoy doing songs that are old, I enjoy doing songs that are really old, TJ’s between-innings contributions including “Let’s Go Crazy.” I enjoy doing songs that are new, I enjoy doing songs that maybe just “We began with that because it has that extended into,” he says. “It was came out this week,” says Kantor, 46, who has been Fenway’s organist a way to sort of frame the whole thing and announce the fact you’re since 2003. “It’s all fun for me. I take a lot of requests on Twitter from going to be hearing a lot of Prince songs today.” fans in the stands. Whatever they’re asking for is often the main process of deciding what to play.” His first in-game musical memoriam took place on May 4, 2012, following the death of Adam Yauch (popularly known as MCA) of the Beastie Boys. The way it often plays out is that TJ will drop in music when the Red Sox are coming up to bat, because, he says, “maybe you need more energy “I was very into their records growing up and was a little surprised how to get people psyched up. Plus, we’re going to need to transition into much it affected me, so the tribute at Fenway was a sort of organic someone’s walk-up music.” thing,” he says. “I continue to meet people who were there that night and If the opposing team is coming to bat, Sox fans are more likely to hear loved that a sports stadium would honor a musician that way.” Josh Kantor at the organ. A year later, following the Boston Marathon bombings, TJ and Kantor worked to bring a more distinctive Boston sound to their in-game “We’re in frequent communication with each other before the game, presentation at Fenway. That meant more Dropkick Murphys, of course, during the game, after the game, but we’ve been doing it together for so but also Passion Pit, Gentleman Hall and Hallelujah the Hills. long that we kind of have a bit of an unspoken rhythm,” says Kantor. “For me it’s a terrific situation because he’s great at what he does and I love As recently as two months ago he played tributes at Fenway, Gillette what he does. And he likes what I do as well.” Stadium and the Garden in memory of Ric Ocasek, the lead singer of The Cars, who died on Sept. 15. It’s what happens during an inning that reveals TJ’s repertoire. Moments such as these cannot be planned. Events happen, and “If the catcher runs out to the mound, if it’s our guy I might play Boston’s pro sports teams face a decision: Should this person be something that’s instrumental because you don’t want to play something memorialized, and, if so, for how long? In what way? Connelly walks a that’s suggesting, oh, hey, our pitcher is having trouble or they need to fine line, since, in the end, his job is to entertain, to add fun to the fan change up their signs or whatever the hell it is,” he says. “I might play experience . . . to sometimes push the envelope a little. And yet it begs surf music there. I do that a lot. If our pitching coach comes out, I play the question: What would the late, great John Kiley have thought? something supportive, like, ‘I’ll Be There.’ But I don’t do much with that Following Kiley’s death in 1993, then-Red Sox general manager Lou because sometimes it’s best just not to comment. Gorman told the Boston Herald’s Tony Massarotti, “His organ music was “If the other guy comes out,” says TJ, referring to the pitching coach of symbolic of Fenway Park.” And Kiley himself once said, “I try to play stuff that’s appropriate to baseball. Great ’40s show tunes, stuff from the ’50s the opposing team, “you can play a wide range of — hey, actually I can and ’60s. Yes, even some of the Beatles stuff is OK. You can’t play those show you …” dreary rock things — most of which are sad, about drugs and stuff like He again flips open the cover to his MacBook Pro — the software is that. That’s not in keeping with a ballgame.” QLab, used for big-time Broadway musicals — and reveals row upon row TJ’s rock music is hardly dreary. Nor is it about drugs and stuff like that. of multicolored boxes that are portals to music clips used for home runs But it isn’t Kiley’s stuff, either. (“Go,” by Avancada), doubles (“Dance Yrself Clean,” by LCD Soundsystem), great catches (“It’s Tricky” by Run-DMC), even greater To that, TJ Connelly has a response that is remarkable for its diplomacy. catches (“Jump,” by Van Halen), and players’ walkup music (such as for “X Gon’ Give It to Ya” by DMX for Xander Bogaerts). “I mean, I would hope that I am doing my best to carry on the tradition of keeping the fans into it,” he says. “But the times are always changing. He once played “Wild Thing” by the Troggs after an opposing pitcher had After all, there was a time when there was no organ at baseball games.” thrown what TJ assumed was a wild pitch, the only problem being that the play was ruled a passed ball. This prompted the official scorer that The only thing missing from that quote is some music. I nominate “Carry day, Mike Shalin, to announce to the press box, “Contrary to what you’re On Wayward Son” by Kansas. hearing over the public address system that last pitch was a passed ball.” The Athletic LOADED: 11.13.2019 “You can use ‘Surrender’ when the opposing pitcher comes out,” TJ says. “That’s always fun. When it comes to pulling out the opposing pitcher, I have screens upon screens of these jokes.”

He presses a button and we get a blast of “Take Me, I’m Yours,” by Squeeze.

He presses another button as we get a smidgen a “Danke Schoen,” the Wayne Newton classic.

And another.

“I Guess That’s Why They Call it the Blues,” from Elton John.

“There’s obviously stuff you’d stay away from,” he says. “We’re not going to do anything that has anything to do with anyone’s personal life. For whatever value (opposing players) even hear what we do, I have to imagine that if it’s funny they probably laugh a little bit. But their heads are probably filled with a million other things.”

And talk about timing: Back when John Farrell was the Red Sox’ pitching coach, TJ discovered that his trips to the mound were always the exact same duration: 41 seconds. 1161130 Buffalo Sabres

Sabres enter dangerous part of schedule in return from Global Series

By Mike Harrington Published Tue, Nov 12, 2019|Updated Tue, Nov 12, 2019

The Buffalo Sabres are entering a dangerous part of the schedule.

The Sabres were off again Tuesday, their third consecutive day away from the ice after completing their two-game series in Stockholm against Tampa Bay. They return to practice Wednesday morning in KeyBank Center, then open a stretch of three games in four nights when they host Carolina here Thursday.

That starts a run of 10 games in 17 days for the Sabres. They entered Tuesday in fifth in the Atlantic Division, 10th in the Eastern Conference and 19th overall in the NHL standings. It's a precipitous slide for a team that opened the season 8-1-1 and was first overall as recently as Oct. 29.

The NHL introduced the two-game November Global Series in 2017 after a six-year hiatus from games in Europe that were strictly season openers, including the Sabres' 2011 trip to and Germany.

Teams that make the big trip have to be careful their seasons don't rival the collapse Ottawa endured two years ago. None of the previous four teams to play in the Global Series has won a playoff round, which has to be especially sobering to the Lightning. Here's a look at how the previous visitors to Scandinavia have fared:

Ottawa (2017-18): The Senators started the season strong, with points in 10 of the first 11 games. A pair of 4-3 wins over Colorado in Stockholm left them 8-3-5 on Nov. 11. It was the high point of their season.

They returned home from Sweden, and the offense disappeared – even though they had acquired Matt Duchene from the Avs just before leaving for Sweden.

The Sens went 0-6-1 the rest of November and scored only nine goals in the seven games. A 6-5 win in Brooklyn over the New York Islanders snapped that streak, but it was followed by five more losses, including a 3-2 defeat to the Sabres in KeyBank Center on Dec. 13.

The Sens won just one of their first 13 after the trip and never won three games in a row until March. They finished the season out of the playoffs at 28-43-11. Post-Sweden record: 20-40-6.

Colorado (2017-18): The Avs went 9-9-2 in the 20 games after the Sweden trip – but then ripped off a 10-game winning streak from Dec. 29 to Jan. 22. They never won more than three in a row or lost more than three the rest of the way and finished 43-30-9 before losing in the first round of the playoffs to Nashville in six games. Post-Sweden record: 35- 23-8.

Florida (2018-19): The Panthers split two games with Winnipeg in Helsinki and left Finland at 3-5-3. After six days off, they won their first four games stateside. But they didn't win three in a row again until January and had losing streaks of four, six and seven games. They finished out of the playoffs at 36-32-14. Post-Finland record: 33-27-11.

Winnipeg (2018-19): The Jets left Finland 8-5-1 and won their first three on this side of the ocean. Winnipeg didn't drop three straight until February but then lost eight of 10. The Jets finished 47-30-5 and were six-game losers to St. Louis in the first round after making the West final the year before. Post-Finland record: 39-25-4.

Buffalo News LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161131 Buffalo Sabres my game every day, offensively and defensively. It’s been great dialogue, good feedback coming from [Colliton]. He showed me parts of my game I can do differently and parts that I’ve done well. That’s been really helpful Blackhawks' Alex Nylander ready for opportunity he never got in Buffalo this year. ... I want to be a top player on this team and use my skills to help us win each game."

Nylander has two goals among seven points with a minus-2 rating while By Lance Lysowski Published Tue, Nov 12, 2019|Updated Tue, Nov 12, averaging 12:39 of ice time through 16 games. In addition to a prominent 2019 role at even strength, he has skated with the Blackhawks' second power- play unit. Nylander scored in their season-opening loss against

Philadelphia, a goal that displayed his remarkable shot. PITTSBURGH — Alex Nylander sat at his stall in the PPG Paints Arena Nylander's finest moment of the season thus far came in his first game visitors' dressing room following a morning skate in which he lined up following the healthy scratch. He forced a turnover near the opposing alongside three-time Stanley Cup winner and Chicago Blackhawks blue line by poke-checking the puck off Edmonton Oilers center Connor captain . McDavid's stick, darted into the offensive zone to retrieve the loose puck Nylander untied his skates and smirked while listening to Patrick Kane, and scored on a shot from below the right faceoff dot on Oct. 14. whose long list of accolades includes three Cup victories and a Hart Nylander has 10 takeaways, one less than Kane for the team lead and Trophy, joke about defenseman Olli Maatta, who won back-to-back nine more than he had in 12 games with Buffalo late last season. He Stanley Cups with the Penguins, addressing a group of Pittsburgh began to make progress defensively under coach Chris Taylor in reporters. Rochester last season, resulting in a career-high 12 goals among 31 Nylander then pulled a Blackhawks cap onto his head and beamed when points in 49 games. describing the opportunity he never received with the Buffalo Sabres. Nylander missed time with an upper-body injury but scored in each of his "I think it was time for me," Nylander, a 21-year-old winger, said Saturday final four games with the Americans to earn a promotion to Buffalo. He morning when asked if he needed a change of scenery. "It was really scored in back-to-back games with the Sabres, only to have his ice time good to be traded here. I’m really happy about it. They obviously gave tail off and suffer a lower-body injury that abruptly ended his season. He me a chance at the start. I had a really good training camp last year, and played 19 games for the Sabres over three seasons. it was obviously not fun that I got sent down. It’s nice to get a chance Nylander then became the latest Murray draft pick to be dealt by Sabres here, not just get sent down and come up later. I know I can play in this General Manager Jason Botterill. league, and I’m ready for it." "When you get drafted by a GM and there’s a new GM in town, it’s what However, like many young players, Nylander is still learning to be happens," said former Sabres goalie Robin Lehner, now a teammate of consistent offensively and defensively during his first legitimate Nylander's in Chicago. "That’s what happened in Buffalo. Every single opportunity in the . His speed and skill are up to player that was brought in by Tim was pushed out, which I understand. par, but defensive struggles persist. Similar issues limited Nylander to Need a clean slate for the new GM. He’s ultimately responsible for what only 19 games over three seasons with the Sabres before being traded the product on the ice, so you kind of have to do that. for defenseman Henri Jokiharju in July. "Botterill wanted to bring in his guys and he shipped out everyone else. Nylander, who was selected eighth overall in in the 2016 draft, didn't That’s what happens, and I think Alex’s style of hockey fits the NHL way make much of an impact without the puck during his three seasons with better than the AHL. Obviously he’s growing and maturing as well, but the Rochester Americans. Despite possessing tantalizing talent, he he’s been great for us so far. I think he’s been very unlucky up here as tended to disappear because he wasn't a consistent threat to force well because I think he should have four or five more goals than he has. turnovers on the forecheck. Nylander would show improvement one That will come. He’s a very, very good player." game, only to struggle the next. Sabres-Bruins-Nylander-Scull Nylander has been better in Chicago, though. Before a 3-2 shootout loss in Pittsburgh on Saturday, Blackhawks coach Jeremy Colliton said Lehner, who is also in his first season with the Blackhawks, knew how Nylander's progress over the first month of the season was "very, very difficult life can be as a young player in the NHL. Living in a hotel can be good for a young player." lonely, and there are few distractions from the mental grind of an 82- game season. So, Lehner and his wife invited Nylander to live with them "I think he’s been really good," Colliton said. "Certainly since the first and their two children. couple games of the year, from then until now, he’s improved and it’s exciting for our team to see his development in a really short time. He’s Lehner, 28, has given Nylander advice following games and tries to help come through with some big plays offensively, but I’m comfortable with with the inevitable overthinking that can consume a young player during him on the ice defensively." his first year in the NHL. The latter has been an issue for Nylander before. Less than 12 hours later, Colliton benched Nylander with the score tied in the third period. He did not play the final 9:03 of regulation or the five- He scored 10 goals as a rookie in Rochester in 2016-17 and seemed like minute overtime after being partly responsible for Chicago's blowing a a logical choice to make the Sabres' roster in training camp the following two-goal lead. He was replaced by veteran Andrew Shaw on the season. However, a groin injury suffered during the Prospects Challenge Blackhawks' top line. kept Nylander out of Rochester's lineup until November, and he did not feel 100 percent the rest of the season. Nylander made a weak attempt to backcheck on an odd-man rush that led to the Penguins' first goal and was on the ice when Pittsburgh winger The Sabres sent Dennis Miller, head of rehab and development, to Bryan Rust was left alone on the doorstep to score the tying goal. Sweden to work with Nylander in summer 2018. The result was what Nylander was returned to the top line Sunday for Chicago's 5-4 win Nylander described as the best offseason training of his career, and he against Toronto, though he did not register a shot on goal and was had a strong training camp last fall. However, the Sabres opted to send credited with one giveaway in 12:50. Nylander to Rochester and kept Tage Thompson, whom Botterill acquired from St. Louis in the Ryan O'Reilly trade. Similar lapses led to Nylander's being a healthy scratch Oct. 12, despite having started the season on a line with Toews and Kane. Following two Injuries slowed Nylander last season, too. difficult performances, Colliton used a thorough one-on-one video session to show Nylander situations in which he needed to be better "It was kind of different for me," Nylander said. "I had never been injured defensively. Colliton, who is in his first full season as the Blackhawks' in my life really before until I had my groin injury in my second year. It coach, also wanted to show Nylander a few positive moments from wasn’t what I expected it to be when I came back. It was obviously games. harder than I thought, so that wasn’t a fun year. Then I had these other unfortunate injuries I couldn’t do anything about. I was out a couple Nylander responded with his finest stretch of play in the NHL. weeks here and there. I’m trying to stay healthy this year and I learned a lot from those injuries – what you need to do [to prepare] and always stay "I’m just trying to learn from the veterans here, get feedback from the positive." coaches and get better off the puck," Nylander said. "I want to improve Nylander's trade again raised the question whether the Sabres mishandled his development when they had him turn pro following his draft year, rather than returning him to the 's Mississauga Steelheads.

Nylander has never spoken negatively or expressed regret about that decision. He said he wouldn't change anything he could control about his time in Buffalo. However, there were times during his three seasons he felt he was ready to help the Sabres. A full-time NHL role never came, though.

His focus now is taking advantage of the opportunity he has.

"There wasn’t much I could control," Nylander said of his time in Buffalo. "Obviously, I felt ready sometimes and that I could have played up there, but they decided to keep me down there. I just learned from all that stuff and it’s been really good coming into this organization. It’s been unbelievable."

Pilut returns to Amerks

Defenseman Lawrence Pilut, who practiced with the Sabres during their trip to Stockholm, was assigned to Rochester on Monday. Pilut has one goal among six points in eight games with the Amerks. He missed training camp and the start of the season while working his way back from shoulder surgery.

Additionally, Rochester recalled winger Pascal Aquin from Cincinnati. Aquin, 22, had 27 goals last season with the Cyclones.

Buffalo News LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161132 Buffalo Sabres “My tattoos are articulate in a way. They’re not for everybody and most of the time they’re very elaborate. My clients see them and say, ‘I want

that,’ but I could never come up with that. They come up with keywords ‘It’s just nice to go see a friend’: Why Marco Scandella is willing to and a story and, ‘Just take this and do what you do with it.’” cross the Atlantic for a specific tattoo artist Certainly, not everyone can do what Akermo does.

Akermo grew up in an artistic family on the western coast of Sweden in By John Vogl Nov 12, 2019 the small town of Uddevalla. His father was an artist. So was his grandfather, who died before Akermo was born.

“Mom and dad had a lot of sentimental value for my grandfather’s work, STOCKHOLM — Oscar Akermo is a star in the tattoo world, a young so they would never throw it away and I’m not sure if it was good enough creator whose art could be in a museum rather than on a celebrity’s arm. to be bought or accepted as gifts, so we ended up with all the art that he left behind,” Akermo said. “The whole house was just like a storage That’s how Marco Scandella learned of him. After five years of thinking space for art, so I always drew. I was very fascinated with da Vinci from about getting his own ink, the Sabres defenseman was ready for his first an early age, like his anatomical stuff. The skulls and stuff that he did piece in 2016. Scandella looked at the Instagram page for Bang Bang was amazing to me at like 7 or 8 years old.” NYC, whose clientele includes Miley Cyrus, Rihanna, LeBron James and Justin Bieber. He was also intrigued by body modification. He pierced his ears at age 5. The rock ’n’ roller and self-admitted teenage rebel tattooed himself at 13. Akermo’s portfolio spoke to him. That coincided with the explosion of YouTube. “It’s the shop and he was the prodigy,” Scandella said. “I looked at his “I went into YouTube and tried to get knowledge of how to build a tattoo work and was like, ‘Oh my god. Who is this young kid? I’ve got to get machine,” Akermo said. “I actually managed to build two machines and tattooed by this guy.’” tattooed myself. I came to school and showed my friends, ‘Look, I’ve got The decision has turned into so much more. It’s become a bond, a story a tattoo.’ It wasn’t soon after that I became a tattooer.” of fighting for the universe in Sweden, driving sports cars in Montreal and His parents discovered his designs at a funeral dinner for Akermo’s other people finding themselves through the buzz of a fine-point needle. grandfather. Since it was not the place for an angry discussion, they The friendship is special because Scandella wanted more than just ink. talked about it later. Under calm conditions, his parents recognized his He wanted his body art to tell a story. love and talent.

VIEW THIS POST ON INSTAGRAM “So for my 16th birthday, I actually wished to have a proper tattoo machine from my parents,” Akermo said. “They fulfilled that wish. They SOME PERSONAL REFERENCES FOR MY NEW FRIEND bought me a tattoo machine for my 16th birthday on one condition: That I @SCANDEEZY6 THANKS FOR THE PATIENCE AND TRUST MARCO! wouldn’t work on myself. @BANGBANGNYC @LUNDBERGCUSTOM @TATTOOCYN #TATTOO#BLACKNGREY#LOVE#NEWYORK#BANGBANGTATTOOS “It was obviously the first thing I did, but I think they knew that, too. But from there I had proper gear so I started taking clients. Now I was the A POST SHARED BY OSCAR AKERMO (@OSCARAKERMO) ON JAN tattooer of the school. That was the first year of high school, so that was 31, 2017 AT 12:08PM PST the perfect market for me.” “Just putting something on and saying, ‘That’s symbolic’ is not enough He was into sailor tattoos, anchors, hearts and folk art. At age 17, after for me,” Scandella said. “I need more. I need more out of it.” being awarded an apprenticeship under Pedro Leon, Akermo dropped So does the 24-year-old Akermo, a thin Swede with short hair and dark out of school and expanded his art with his mentor. brown eyes who spoke quietly and thoughtfully over coffee in a “I was doing the traditional stuff – the hearts and the ladies and pinups Stockholm hotel. – but he did people’s kids and dogs and realistic stuff,” Akermo said. “I “My approach to tattoos has always been very intimate for many was amazed, so then I started to do that.” reasons,” he said. “It’s a tattoo. Somebody’s going to live with this for the He began to specialize in black and gray realism. When he started rest of their lives. People think that you walk into a tattoo parlor, you gaining fame at age 19, the work was all about him. choose what you want on the wall, you sit there and you get it. It’s not like that. Most tattoo artists today, they use a different approach than “My agenda was self-centered,” Akermo said. “I wanted to do what I that. It’s more.” wanted to do, and the people were only my canvas. So it could lead towards I didn’t really care as much what they wanted. I wanted to realize “Once you’re sitting with a tattoo artist for eight hours a day over three my own ambitions. days, I feel like you get to know the person,” said Scandella, who had his first session with Akermo in New York in 2016. “Instead of putting music “But today, with time, I’ve found that the one most beautiful thing about on, which I thought was going to happen – I was just going to put music what I do is to be able to meet somebody halfway, make them very on and he was going to tattoo me – I felt like we became friends. We happy, make a piece that they could never themselves have realized and were talking about life.” also for me to make a piece that I’m happy with. So it’s a mutual thing now.” The next year, Akermo flew to Scandella’s home in Montreal for another session. Akermo brought his younger brother and they hung out with VIEW THIS POST ON INSTAGRAM Scandella and his brother, driving the defenseman’s sports cars between ink sessions. SYMBOLS FOR MARCO

“That particular trip really strengthened our friendship,” Akermo said. “I A POST SHARED BY OSCAR AKERMO (@OSCARAKERMO) ON NOV don’t connect with all my clients on a personal level. Marco and his 6, 2019 AT 10:30AM PST brother, they were so kind, and we were a bunch of pals, really.” The friendship with Scandella helped Akermo change his outlook.

Akermo returned to Montreal in 2018. This summer, Scandella flew to “To make a piece of art that means a lot to somebody, that’s the Stockholm. He had absolutely no idea what would be on his body when reward, even if it’s a piece that doesn’t go in my portfolio,” Akermo said. he returned home. “Because I’m very particular about that. Like if I post a skull on my “It’s a huge trust relationship,” Akermo said. “First I need to be a little Instagram, 10 minutes later I’m going to have hundreds of posts about briefed of the direction they want to go. Maybe they have some skulls, so I have to be very particular where I steer my social media ship. keywords, ‘I want a horse or I’d like to make a tattoo with this included That can be very discouraging sometimes when I knew from the somehow, show my house where I grew up, me and my grandfather beginning how this is not going to be a portfolio tattoo. always used to do this, can we somehow incorporate this?’ “I’ve found energy and strength that that doesn’t matter, man. It’s what’s happening right here, right now that is the beauty, and who you can meet, what relations you can establish with people that goes far beyond the tattoo, like with Marco. That’s the beautiful thing. That’s what really means a lot to me.”

Scandella’s tattoos clearly mean a lot to him, though he declined to elaborate on most because of their personal nature. He said the newest one on his arm, done during his recent trip to Stockholm over the summer, symbolizes a good and bad brain angling for control of the universe.

“If you put into hours how many hours I’ve been tattooed, I’d say it’s close to the 50 mark,” Scandella said. “More than that, it’s just nice to go see a friend.”

The Athletic LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161133 Buffalo Sabres NHL. Considering their goals-for per 60 is 2.35, a regression could be coming if there isn’t an adjustment to their attack.

(Courtesy of Shayna Goldman) Is there a fix for the Sabres’ recent scoring woes? How does this get fixed?

It sounds so simple, but going to the net more and shooting the puck By Joe Yerdon Nov 12, 2019 more often would do a world of good. Tons of aimless shots with no traffic in front make for easy saves for the goalie. Just drive the net a little more. Given the past few years, an inability to routinely score goals is nothing new for the Sabres. The start of the season seemed to indicate a change A trade to add a forward would do a lot to help, but the Sabres’ current in that pattern, but a recent slide in which they’ve lost five of the past six area of strength (defense) has been weakened temporarily by assorted games has certainly rekindled some unpleasant memories. injuries. Whether teams are looking for Marco Scandella, Rasmus Ristolainen or Zach Bogosian when he’s back on the ice, making a swap The Sabres have scored 49 goals through 17 games, which puts them in to bring in a NHL forward of similar salary is doable. And teams are the middle of the pack in the NHL at 18th. When you consider last year’s watching the Sabres with these players in mind, but we know trades don’t Sabres were at about 2.7 goals per game, the current rate of 2.9 goals happen easily or without a deadline or a pressing need. per game is still below average. Last season’s top scoring team, the Tampa Bay Lightning, averaged about 3.9 goals per game and the 2019- The offense is in need now. 20 Washington Capitals are on a similar trajectory at about 4.1. The Athletic LOADED: 11.13.2019 Of the 49 goals scored, 38 of them came during the 8-1-1 start to the season. Scoring 3.8 goals per game makes winning games easier to do. But scoring 11 goals in seven games (1.6 per game) — not so much.

They’re not scoring goals — what gives?

As we pointed out before the sweep by the Lightning in Sweden, the power play has been a letdown of late. That didn’t change over the weekend. Power play success comes in spurts. Buffalo’s will rebound at some point because the players involved are too good not to succeed.

The 5-on-5 scoring, on the other hand, is more concerning. The first 17 games have shown a trend as to why. Courtesy of Micah Blake McCurdy’s HockeyViz.com, the Sabres’ unblocked shot rates at 5-on-5 illustrate where the offense is doing the most (and least) work:

That the vast amount of shots are coming from the left circle and from the right point is a fascinating dichotomy. That there’s a little patch in front of the net for opportunity would indicate an area for rebounds and tips. That there’s not more red close to the net is a problem.

The right point is mainly due to Rasmus Ristolainen and Colin Miller, neither of whom is afraid to shoot the puck. It would be ideal if shots were getting through for opportunities in front, be it on a tip or a rebound. But there hasn’t been enough net traffic to make things happen. The easy thing to do is to say luck isn’t on Buffalo’s side there, but a lot of luck can be created. Getting bodies to the net helps make that happen and can also lend assistance to snipers to pick holes to shoot at.

Then who is creating at the net?

Looking through the shot maps of each player through HockeyViz shows a lot of the usual suspects are good at getting chances around the goal. One line that has done it consistently so far this season: Jack Eichel, and Victor Olofsson.

The other line that’s been good around the goal mouth: Zemgus Girgensons, Johan Larsson and , with Okposo himself doing extremely well. The obvious downside here is that line doesn’t have a natural scorer on it. They’re good at generating shots and opportunities, but the finish isn’t there.

Things get a bit odd with the other two lines. Marcus Johansson’s line with Jeff Skinner and Vladimir Sobotka has had a lot of whacks immediately around the net, but with almost no presence in the slot and a lot of action around the right circle and half wall. This speaks to how both Johansson and Skinner are able to create offense and how good Skinner is at getting to the net.

The trio of Casey Mittelstadt, Conor Sheary and Jimmy Vesey has produced 37 unblocked shot attempts at 5-on-5. It’s a bit frustrating they haven’t shot more often because when they’ve done so it’s been in mostly the right areas. Ice time and injuries (to Vesey and now Sobotka) have factored into this, but it would be nice to see them gain the trust to earn more ice time because they could make for a decent line with patience. But patience is thinner when results aren’t there.

The results could get worse. Using expected goals (xG), which factors in shot locations as well as rebounds and rush chances for unblocked shots, the numbers aren’t kind for the Sabres. Their expected goals-for per 60 minutes (xGF60) is 2.14 (via Evolving-Hockey.com) — 28th in the 1161134 Calgary Flames

Flames ‘trending in the right direction’ at quarter-mark

Wes Gilbertson

There’s a lot of hockey to be played.

And, in the case of the Calgary Flames, a lot of room for improvement.

The Flames now have 20 NHL games in the rear-view mirror, hitting what is treated as the quarter-mark of their regular-season schedule with a 10- 7-3 record.

“I think no matter where we are in the standings, we just feel like we have a lot better,” assessed third-line centre Derek Ryan. “We’re trending in the right direction. We’ve been playing better, playing more of a full 60- minute effort, which is important for us as the season rolls on.

“But we just know as a group, the level that we have, the standard that we have … and we’re yet to reach it, I feel like.”

With 62 games to go, there’s plenty of time to peak.

For the sake of comparison, the Flames were 11-8-1 after 20 twirls last season — good for the exact same number of points they now have — before eventually climbing to the top of the Western Conference standings. They have been dogged by inconsistency in the opening weeks of the 2019-20 campaign, but with a 4-1-1 record in their past six skates, there is optimism that they’re turning a corner.

“I just like the way we’re trending,” said Flames head coach Bill Peters.

Heading into Tuesday’s action, the Flames were sitting second in the Pacific Division, although every other club has games in hand.

Calgary Sun: LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161135 Calgary Flames During Saturday’s third-period comeback against the St. Louis Blues, Mangiapane hustled to retrieve Backlund’s dump-in and then put a crisp pass on Tkachuk’s tape in the slot to set up the Flames’ first goal of the Andrew Mangiapane cooking up chemistry on Flames' second line night. They would eventually lose 3-2 in overtime.

“He’s not the biggest guy out there, but he plays big,” Tkachuk said of Mangiapane, who is listed at 5-foot-10 and 184 lb. “He always gets in on Wes Gilbertson the puck first. It seems like he has the puck a ton. So for him to be at his size and be as tenacious as he is and to hound pucks and create a ton of

offence … And he’s only getting better, I think.” Calgary Flames speedster Andrew Mangiapane has finally moved into a That’s because Mangiapane, with three goals and seven points so far place of his own. this season, is feeling more and more comfy in this second-line spotlight. He finally has a space to hone another skill-set. “I would have liked to bury a couple more chances I had, but that will “It’s nice to have a kitchen,” he said. “I’m big on cooking.” come,” he said. “It’s just building chemistry. They’re two great players, so just have to figure out their techniques and things they like to do. You There you have it … In addition to being handy with a puck on his blade, learn what their tendencies are, where they want the puck, their the 23-year-old left-winger is apparently proficient with pots and pans, wheelhouse … That comes with just playing with them. too. “I’m just trying to focus on playing my game, though — be tenacious on “Decent, I’d say. Living on your own in Stockton, you’re kind of forced the puck, forecheck. I know Chucky likes to use down low, use the cycle to,” said Mangiapane, grinning as he prepared to fire a friendly barb at game, and Backs is such a smart two-way guy. So I think it’s a good line his minor-league roommate, current teammate and close buddy Rasmus and I’m just happy and trying to build off it.” Andersson. “And I was taking care of Razzy at the time too, so I was cooking for two, making sure he was fed so he could play his best.” Perhaps, as he continues to cook up chemistry with Nos. 11 and 19, he could have the boys over for a home-cooked dinner at his new pad. Andersson has climbed the ranks with Mangiapane, dating back to their days with the of the Ontario Hockey League, and the What’s his specialty in the kitchen? confirmed his pal has a strong culinary game. “Probably the chicken parm — a good Italian meal,” Mangiapane “He’s a good chef,” Andersson nodded. “He did most of the cooking replied. “That would be my go-to, I’d say.” when we lived together — some good Italian ingredients. I think he Calgary Sun: LOADED: 11.13.2019 enjoys it too, so it’s good.”

To receive the green-light from team brass to check out of the hotel and find permanent accommodations is a milestone-of-sorts for any youngster, and Mangiapane settled into his new digs in late October. (He moved in the day before the squad headed out on a season-long five- game road-trip, so unpacking had to wait a while.)

More importantly, No. 88 is starting to look right at home on the Flames’ second line.

Head coach Bill Peters has been searching for the ideal ingredient to complement centre Mikael Backlund and one-of-a-kind winger Matthew Tkachuk on that trio, and Mangiapane is making the most of his latest audition in that role.

“Mangy has a lot of tenacity to him and he plays with a lot of pace,” Peters praised after Tuesday’s practice at WinSport’s Markin MacPhail Centre. “I think they’ve been very dangerous offensively, and I think he’s been a big part of that.

“He’s hanging onto pucks. He’s not forcing plays. Usually when you play with guys that are more established than you, you’re just thinking about giving them the puck all the time. But he’s not afraid to hang onto it. On a two-on-one, he doesn’t have to defer and pass every time. If the right play is to make the pass, he will. But if he needs to keep it and attack the net himself, he will.”

The Flames, now at the quarter-mark of their regular-season slate, would like somebody to hang on to this top-six slot.

Michael Frolik was once a fixture on the second unit, but he’s bounced around the lineup this fall and was a healthy scratch for the past two games. He’s expected to return to action as a third-liner for Wednesday’s date with the Dallas Stars at the Saddledome (7:30 p.m., /Sportsnet 960 The Fan).

Although there were high hopes for Sam Bennett, undoubtedly Calgary’s best skater during their first-round playoff flop last spring, he hasn’t capitalized on his opportunities to win this job.

Austin Czarnik, a rare right-hander on a roster that is stocked with southpaws, was working briefly with Backlund and Tkachuk before suffering a lower-body injury.

This is Mangiapane’s second crack at it, the biggest difference being that he is now on the left flank and Tkachuk has shifted to his off-wing.

So far, so good. 1161136 Calgary Flames If you look at the other outdoor games of the past, you usually get in there a couple of days before to prepare and there’s a little break there. We didn’t. We played at home on the Thursday before and then One-on-one with Brad Treliving: On scheduling woes, the Milan Lucic afterward went straight from Regina to Raleigh. I don’t want to say it was trade, and why the Flames’ record is flattering jammed in there, but it was kinda jammed in there. Now, with the Grey Cup, I think the building is down for a little bit of time. But every team has stuff going on in their building.

By Eric Duhatschek Nov 12, 2019 Travel’s always difficult here, because there’s a lot of it and this year, there’s a lot of it early. But once the schedule’s out, my theory is, you

don’t bitch about it, you just figure out the best way to manage it. At the After Saturday’s 3-2 overtime loss to the visiting St. Louis Blues, the end of the day, it all works out in the wash. But certainly, this October Calgary Flames became the first NHL team to get to the 20-game mark, and November, you’ve got to manage the schedule – and it’s hard when which is effectively the end of the first quarter. you aren’t playing the way you want to play and you want to practice and there are no practice days. Schedule-wise, the first two months of the Flames’ 2019-20 season were unusual compared to other years. They had 15 games scheduled in Did the first quarter just fly by for you? I mean, it’s Nov. 9 and you’re October and another 14 in November, so by the end of this month, they’ll already 20 games in. It feels as if the NHL is just wrapping up its first have played 29 games already. Last year, by comparison, they had 13 month of a six-month season and yet, your team is barely a month into games in October and 13 in November. the season and already has a quarter of its games played.

That may not seem like a lot — three extra games — but it essentially That’s what it feels like to me too – that we’ve been at it about a month. robs a team of either time off to rest and recuperate, or practice time on It’s crazy. But every team is going to have a challenge with its schedule. the ice, to work out some of the kinks and inconsistencies in their game. Ours is coming early. Systems-wise in Calgary, there shouldn’t be the same learning curve this In the context of all that, can you give me an overall assessment of your year as opposed to last. The Flames are in their second year under team’s performance to date? coach Bill Peters and pretty much returned a set squad from the team that last season rolled up 107 points, which was tied for second overall in For me, I think our record is a little flattering right now. The one theme the NHL with the Boston Bruins. we’ve had is inconsistency in our game. That’s been the challenge for us. Early on, you’re trying to build an identity for your team and some get Other than a change in goal — Cam Talbot in for Mike Smith — and a stability. Sometimes, it’s more difficult if you have a lot of change, which few tweaks around the fringes of the forward group (Garnet Hathaway we didn’t have, but regardless, every year is a new year. So, it’s about and James Neal out; Tobias Rieder, Alan Quine and Milan Lucic in), it’s establishing roles and an identity. Everybody talks about identity for your pretty much a set squad. As such, they also rely on the same people to team, but it’s also about establishing an identity for each individual — do most of the heavy lifting when it comes to being difference makers: and making sure each individual feels a part of the whole, and They had a top-heavy attack last year and they have a top heavy-attack understands where they fit in. The way the league is now, and the way again this year. The same five players that produced 70 or more points a we’re built, you need everybody to contribute — whether you play 10 season ago (, Sean Monahan, Elias Lindholm, Matthew minutes or 25 minutes. That’s probably been the biggest inconsistency Tkachuk and Mark Giordano) are all poised to be top five on the team for us. We haven’t stabilized our game and that’s led to inconsistent play. again in scoring; and the drop-off to No. 6 (Mikael Backlund) is going to be significant again. The good news is, we haven’t played our best and we’ve kept ourselves right in the mix. You hate to be in a situation where you haven’t played Probably the biggest single difference is that unlike last season, when the your best and you’re really chasing — because that’s more difficult. So, goaltending workload between David Rittich and Smith was divided we’re not exactly where we want to be, but we’re playing better and we’re almost evenly (Rittich played 2,503 minutes, Smith 2,400), this year, in the mix here with lots of hockey to go. We know we’re capable of Rittich has been the clear-cut No. 1 and has, for the most part, been more. That’s the other part when you know your group. To a man, they’ll excellent. all say: We’re capable of more. And the group knows it. So, it’s been a good news/bad news start. The good news: On a points- Part of me thinks that in a bottom-line industry such as the NHL, even if per-game basis, the Flames are in the middle of the pack in the Western you’re not playing your best, on the night you earn two points, just take Conference, and thus smack dab in the thick of the playoff race as well. them and move on. Prorated over the course of a full season, 23 points in 20 games translates into a 92-point season which, last year, would have been good I don’t care if it’s Game 1 or Game 82, the result is what counts. You’d enough to make the playoffs in the Western Conference, but not in the rather play poorly and win than play well and lose. Ideally, you want to East. play well and win. So, the result is important, but especially early on, the process matters too because that’s when you’re establishing your game The bad news: They haven’t been able to build up the sort of cushion and that’s also really important. And that’s what’s been a challenge for that helps a team survive a mid-season slump or unexpected run of us. You can’t be frustrated. You’ve just gotta find ways of digging in and injuries. Then again, it isn’t a lot different from last year where, after 20 finding ways to get the collective group and each individual better. And games, the Flames were 11-8-1 for an identical 23-point total and coming that’s sort of where we’re spending our time right now. off a 4-2 win over divisional rivals, the Edmonton Oilers in Game 20. That victory proved to be significant, however, as it kicked off a 12-2-1 run that So, there’s been a lot of talk about Matthew Tkachuk the last 10 days or helped them create some real separation in the standings. The Flames so because the overtime game winner he scored against the Nashville have earned five of a possible six points on their current home stand, Predators is still playing nightly on some of the highlight shows. He which concludes with a visit from the Dallas Stars this Wednesday, at scored another OT game winner last week against the Arizona Coyotes which point they go back on the road for six of the next seven. and then keyed the comeback that allowed you to get a point against St. Louis. I’m sure there was some concern early on because Tkachuk So, at this juncture of the season, we ran some numbers and ideas past missed all but the final few days of training camp, sorting out his new Flames’ general manager Brad Treliving to get his assessment of where contract, that he might be a little slow off the mark. Historically, that has things stand with his hockey club – and where they hope things can go. happened to players who’ve missed all or some of training camp. But for Normally, I wouldn’t start with a scheduling question because at some whatever reason, he’s been really good – and when I say really good, I point, every team is going to play 41 home games and 41 away games, mean he’s been really clutch. When you’ve needed someone to rise to which means every team will face some challenging moments. But this the occasion, invariably, Tkachuk has been that player. And among that year’s schedule is unusually front-end loaded. How much of that has to core group of forwards, he is the youngest guy — his 22nd birthday isn’t do with, first, playing an outdoor game in a neutral site, Regina; and until December. second, having to vacate the Saddledome for most of the second half of Matthew came in late, but one of the things about our early season November, because the CFL Stampeders are hosting the Grey Cup at schedule is that it’s given him a chance to get a lot of reps. Training McMahon Stadium and need the organization’s events’ staff to focus camp is long gone, but he’s caught up to speed really quickly. And that’s their attention on football? a really good point about his age. He’s not 22 yet. So, he’s been a bright spot and I think Elias Lindholm has been a bright spot. He’s picked up from where he left off last year. I think he’s been our most consistent player. I also think our goaltending has been excellent. Now Cam Talbot hasn’t played a ton, but they’ve been good. We’re going to have to get Cam some more games here. But David has been really good.

And, in the context of Rittich’s strong play, when you elevate a goalie to a defined No. 1 role, you never know how that’s going to go. Sometimes, it doesn’t go well — with the added responsibility. We’ve been at it long enough to know you can never anoint someone as an established No. 1 20 games into a season, but Rittich seems to have the right combination of competitiveness, good fundamentals, and he carries himself with genuine confidence. The fact that he’s really well-liked by his teammates is valuable too, because then they want to play for him. But most important of all, he’s stopped a lot of pucks so far.

We’d like to lessen his workload in-game a little, but he’s been really good.

My theory on the Milan Lucic–for–James Neal trade is it’s been a good outcome for both teams so far, even though Neal has piled up the goals in Edmonton and Lucic hasn’t scored a single goal for Calgary. This is a take that is largely rejected by others from the outside. But I just see the way he interacts with his teammates in the dressing room and there’s something going on intangibly in terms of improved chemistry that you cannot see in the raw stats. And if it continues going this way, you’ll get a third-round draft choice out of the deal.

Milan isn’t the same player he was when he was playing for Boston at the age of 24, 25 or 26, but he’s still a presence out there. I know there’s probably going to a disparity, in terms of goals scored (between him and Neal). We’ll see how it all shakes out in the wash. But Milan has brought us a lot of things that aren’t tabulated on the scoresheet — and he’s been a good addition for us. Our guys really appreciate having him.

I’m always struck by the wisdom of Barry Trotz, the New York Islanders’ coach, who was saying on TV the other night — in the context of their unexpected win streak — that the NHL is a good league, a deep league and you’re going to get tested every night by every opponent. And it’s true. The assumption is that there are a few easy marks here and there. That might have been the case once. It isn’t anymore — and hasn’t been for a while.

It’s a really good league. What you did last week or last year doesn’t guarantee anything and doesn’t give you anything. And when I look specifically at our division, all the teams have improved. It’s a good division. And you can go to any game any night — and it’s proven every night — it doesn’t matter who you play, if you’re not prepared to play, you’re not going to win. Things are so tight that even games in October and November, they’re tight and they’re hard and they’re competitive.

I remember talking to (assistant general manager) Don Maloney about this — and how it wasn’t that long ago that the league got going around Christmas time, and people started ramping it up. Now, if you have a bad October, you can be out of the playoffs. You’re not going to make the playoffs in October, but you can certainly put yourself in a position where you’re chasing the rest of the year. I know people will think that’s a cliché or a motherhood statement, but every night, if you’re not good, you’ll have a very difficult time getting two points.

We’re not in a perfect position, but there are a lot of games ahead of us, and if we can get playing properly, we can put ourselves in a real good position. We’re right in the thick of things — but we’ve got to get better here.

The Athletic LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161137 Carolina Hurricanes

‘Divisive’ announcer who called Canes ‘a bunch of jerks’ is fired after another rant

BY SIMONE JASPER NOVEMBER 12, 2019 12:18 PM

The outspoken hockey announcer who called the Carolina Hurricanes “a bunch of jerks” is out of a job.

Don Cherry was fired from Sportsnet after going on a “divisive” rant about immigrants, the Canadian media company announced Monday on Twitter.

It wasn’t his first brush with controversy.

Earlier this year, he called the Canes “a bunch of jerks” for celebrating their wins, The News & Observer previously reported.

Fans of the professional hockey team have since embraced the phrase, which has even appeared on T-shirts.

We’re a bunch of jerks and we have the shirts to prove it.

Available later this week at The Eye. pic.twitter.com/TEefqETEau

— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) February 17, 2019

And when the Canes were seeking a name for a beer earlier this year, suggestions from social media users included “Bunch of Jerks Ale” and “Don Cherry’s Tears.”

Cherry lost his job the same day Raleigh’s NHL team won against the Ottawa Senators — and some Twitter users pointed out the irony.

“Don Cherry gets canned,” one person posted. “Canes blast Canadian team. I find it hard to believe this is a coincidence.”

Others made light of the situation.

“Heartwarming: Carolina Hurricanes Vow To Hold Storm Surge Funeral For Don Cherry’s Career,” another person tweeted.

Heartwarming: Carolina Hurricanes Vow To Hold Storm Surge Funeral For Don Cherry's Career

— Acting the Fulemin (@ATFulemin) November 11, 2019

Cherry met his fate after appearing on “Hockey Night in Canada” on Saturday, ESPN and other news outlets report.

On air, he accused the country’s immigrants of not following the tradition of wearing poppies, a symbol that recognizes those who died in war, USA Today reports.

“I know what I said and I meant it,” Cherry told the Toronto Sun after backlash erupted. “Everybody in Canada should wear a poppy to honour our fallen soldiers.”

In response to the announcer not backing down, one person wrote: “maybe Don Cherry was the real jerk all along.”

News Observer LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161138 Carolina Hurricanes — CONFUSED YET AROUSED BEARS FAN (@PAULSANTORINI) NOVEMBER 12, 2019

I WATCHED THAT VIDEO 15 TIMES AND LAUGHED OUT LOUD Seriously, the oral history of the stolen ice cream cone at the Hurricanes EVERY TIME. MY FAVORITE PART IS THAT YOU JUST KEEP game SMILING.

— JENNIFER (@JSFREEH) NOVEMBER 12, 2019

By Sara Civian Nov 12, 2019 “I just try to be happy,” Campen said with a laughing emoji. “I bet Don Cherry would’ve called me a jerk.”

The two are actually planning something for “next time,” whenever that is, They say great moments are born from great opportunity, and even then and Campen warns y’all to stay tuned. Canes fan Joe Campen never thought he’d walk away from the Hurricanes’ game Monday with a stolen ice cream cone and his first 15 “Canes fans are the best.” minutes of internet fame. The Athletic LOADED: 11.13.2019 SO I’M JUST WATCHING THE @CANES GAME AND… PIC.TWITTER.COM/ZIXTV8M5YK

— BRIANNA AIRINGTON (@BAIRINGTON44) NOVEMBER 12, 2019

Unless — as some Twitter cynics are whining — this video was staged. Posted by Twitter user @bairington44, it already has that has 2.3 million views, 10,800 retweets and 38,000 likes in less than 24 hours.

Noted Ice Cream Thief Weston Davis maintains that he was just messing with his longtime friend (guys being dudes) and he did not think it would turn into this.

“Love to make people laugh,” Davis said.

Does it really matter even if it was planned? It was a much-needed laugh in a particularly tense hockey world Monday night.

“I was just looking at my friend’s phone ’cause he was showing me a video and this guy took my ice cream haha,” Campen detailed the crime of the century to The Athletic. “I didn’t get to lick it yet, I had just got it so at least it was clean.”

The victim said he realized what was happening as he felt the weight of his (vanilla, for the record) ice cream cone leave his hands, but he didn’t know where to look when it hit him that someone was actually stealing his ice cream on live television.

“Joe and I are good friends,” said Davis, who was just called “this guy” by his good friend. “He was standing there behind the camera and I just thought I’d mess with him hoping maybe the camera would get a shot of it.”

While it’s mildly concerning that Davis clearly didn’t care if Campen had licked it yet — and that he was going to return it after he licked it as if nothing had happened — this is a judgment-free zone. Besides, our Robin Hoodsie eventually did the right thing.

“I was friendly about it because I saw him walk off and get me a new one, and we both laughed because it was on TV,” Campen said. “Me and the thief are on good terms and buddies. Actually a really nice guy!”

They have been buddies since eighth grade when Campen moved to Davis’ school and they both played hockey.

Nothing to bond two hockey-loving Caniacs together like an 8-2 win and joint appearances on ESPN and the Hurricanes’ new-and-improved video board.

Except for maybe more ice cream, as promised to Campen by Hurricanes VP of Marketing and Brand Strategy Mike Forman.

NEXT GAME YOU’RE AT, ICE CREAM CONE IS ON US.

— MIKE FORMAN (@MFORMAN5) NOVEMBER 12, 2019

“I’ve never been so famous,” he said. “I’m surprised it’s blown up as much as it did. (But) I’m happy it all blew up like this. … After that four- game losing streak, we needed it.”

The people really did need this buddy-cop movie deleted scene more than any of us could have imagined.

THANKS FOR MAKING US AWARE OF THIS! WE SHOWED IT ON THE VIDEO BOARDS DURING THE GAME!

— CAROLINA HURRICANES (@CANES) NOVEMBER 12, 2019

PIC.TWITTER.COM/WSEURL4W9V 1161139 Carolina Hurricanes danger goals in the league at 26. Logic tells us this means that when they do give up chances, they’re generally giving up the hardest ones for goalies to save.

Hurricanes vibe check: How sustainable are the highs, how worrisome (Then the goalies aren’t saving them, but still.) are the lows? It’s what Brind’Amour means when he says other teams are capitalizing on the Hurricanes taking that one extra breath sometimes. It’s not a habit the Canes can afford to get into. By Sara Civian Nov 12, 2019 Panic meter: 若若若

Goaltending Before the Hurricanes snapped their four-game losing streak in an 8-2 blowout against the Senators on Monday night, before Joel Edmundson’s Petr Mrazek through 12 games played: 8-3-1, 2.51 GAA, .907 save first three points as a Hurricane all came at once and he graced the percentage. Recent losses against the Rangers and the Flyers were locker room with “Any Man of Mine” by Shania Twain, I’d asked Rod rough in the sense that they weren’t his fault, but he didn’t keep the Brind’Amour what his team’s biggest problem was. Canes in the game, either.

“There’s a couple,” Brind’Amour said Monday morning. “When you don’t through seven games played (six started): 2-4-0, 3.10 score, it puts a lot of stress on everything. Every mistake you make gets GAA, .901 save percentage. Two goals allowed in four seconds against magnified because then they become the crucial point of the game, one of the worst teams in the league wasn’t necessarily his fault, but isn’t versus if you’re scoring a couple here or there you’re not talking about instilling any confidence. maybe some of these other mistakes. Right now we have to have the mindset to go in and we might have to win 1-0. If we continue to get Overall, the tandem is below the coveted league average with a .899 scoring opportunities the puck will go in. I’m not too worried about that. save percentage. #It’sTooEarly to declare anyone out of a job — and But it’s the giving up chances, the really easy chances — we gotta get a neither has played himself out of a job — but a few more questionable little harder on the other team.” games from Reimer and the Hurricanes might give another goalie in the pipeline a look. It wasn’t quite time to panic, as there’d been stretches of hope recently, but losses in seven of the previous 10 games isn’t a report card you hang Panic meter: 若若 on the fridge, and Brind’Amour called the latest “very disturbing.” ‘Your best players have to be your best players’

Captain called its first period “a joke.” Several of the Hurricanes players had slow starts this season, which was So the Canes yanked us from their best start in franchise history to two fine until it wasn’t. Some have figured it out while some are still goals allowed in four seconds at Ottawa real quick. They’ve won games struggling. they should’ve lost and lost games they should’ve won. This is just how it Sebastian Aho played with guts and scored two goals the 8-2 win goes in hockey sometimes, but the dramatic pendulum swinging has Monday — a welcome reminder that October just isn’t his thing. After a every opinion feeling like a simultaneous over- and under-reaction. slow start, he’s climbed up to No. 4 on the team in scoring and a tie for All we know is there were definitely problems before Monday’s win, and first in goals with 8-5—13 in 18 games played. those problems will still exist tomorrow. “He was around the puck,” Brind’Amour said. “He was a little more Eight goals and one win later, and there’s a collective relief sigh — conscious of the full game, and I think everyone was.” Dougie Hamilton called a random game in November a “must-win” for a Does Aho think that’s the most confident game he’s played so far this reason. At the same time, the problems plaguing the Canes haven’t season? magically disappeared — the question becomes which ones are long term, and which positive trends are sustainable? “Sure, if you wanna … I don’t know,” he humbly laughed.

The quality and quantity of chances for He’ll be fine.

True to their multi-year reputation, the Hurricanes are second only to Will Nino Niederreiter? We all knew regression from his redemption tour Toronto with 480 shots this season (and one less game played) at even last season was expected, but through 18 games: strength. While they’re (only?) 10th in actual goals with 36 at five-on-five and No. 8 with 44 goals at even strength, they’re first in expected goals Two goals, five assists (four of them secondary), 14 PIMs, one goal and (37.39) and high danger chances (177). one secondary assist on the power play.

The eye test concurs, and all of this is why: The positive is he’s under-performing: He has 4.6 expected goals and 26 high danger chances overall. That’s still not “your best players being your Brind’Amour said he isn’t worried that the goals will come. best players.” The Canes can live with it in light of Aho’s awakening, but they’d obviously like him to start turning that “under-performing” into just Eight goals came when the Hurricanes stuck to their game and were also “performing.” awarded a few lucky bounces Monday. Meanwhile Dougie Hamilton and Andrei Svechnikov are tearing it up in Should you worry? Nah every sense and “the new guys” have picked up slack when Aho and The quality and quantity of chances against Niederreiter have struggled to score.

Brind’Amour and Jaccob Slavin have both expressed concern about the Panic meter: 若 quality of chances allowed through this stretch — Brind’Amour touched Erik Haula’s injury status on it above, Slavin after the loss to the Rangers. The unknown severity of Erik Haula’s injury is the most worrisome “We need to get those things out of our game, we turn pucks over at the problem on this list right now. blue line, I think that’s been the story the last couple of games,” Slavin said. “That’s when other teams are getting up chances and that’s when Carolina’s early-season leading scorer (now tied with Dougie Hamilton we’re giving up goals.” and Aho with eight goals despite missing the past four games) was thought to be day-to-day at first. That’s expected from a blue line full of high-event hockey — to a certain extent. This brand of error has been too prevalent with these Hurricanes “He’s day-to-day. He’s got some lingering effects. It’s his knee that’s lately, even with Brind’Amour’s excellent point that mistakes are bothering him, so we’re just kind of precautionary, really, making sure he magnified when the team can’t score. feels good before we get him back out there,” Brind’Amour said after he missed his first game Nov. 5. “Nothing structural, which is good … I’m This is potentially elucidated in the fact that the Hurricanes have only telling you (what I know) so you’ll stop asking.” given up 396 shots (sixth-best in the NHL) and 325 (ninth-best) scoring chances at even strength, they have given up the fourth-most high That was concerning enough as it is, considering his initial knee injury limited him to 15 games with Vegas last season, but at least it was precautionary.

While it still might be precautionary, the most recent update in Ottawa on Saturday was bleaker.

“He’s not with us, so no update. He’s still suffering from the knee injury that he suffered. I can’t tell you anything other than that, he’s not with us and he’s definitely not day-to-day either.”

You never want to speculate too much on injuries, but going from “day- to-day” to “definitely not day-to-day” with what appears to be a re- aggravation of a serious injury doesn’t seem like good news. Haula’s net- front presence and 11 points in 14 games haven’t been easily replaceable either, especially with Niederreiter slumping and the Canes dropping the first three games in Haula’s absence.

Panic meter: 若若若若

Coaching/leadership/morale

It was fitting that Brind’Amour’s 100th game as Hurricanes head coach was an 8-2 win following an ugly loss, because he’s still that coach Jordan Martinook said he would run through hot coals for — and that still matters.

He’s always going to have that patience with players that sometimes looks like stubbornness from the outside, but those votes of confidence are part of the reason his players tend to step up in must-perform situations.

I was impressed by how well the juggling of the line combinations worked Monday.

They went from:

Niederreiter-Staal-Teravainen

Svechnikov-Aho-Foegele

Dzingel-Wallmark-Necas

McGinn-Luostarinen-Gibbons

To:

Dzingel-Staal-Foegele

Svechnikov-Aho-Teravainen

Niederreiter-Wallmark-Necas

McGinn-Luostarinen-Gibbons

And it worked.

His actual decisions, his handling of the youngsters and the way the team responds to the rare times he’s disappointed are all excellent.

I know you came to this section because you miss Justin Williams, though. Any team is better with his leadership, but I think some of you are forgetting last December. Every team goes through slumps, and not even Williams could’ve prevented last December. It was his response to it that turned things around (among other factors), so in my opinion, we really have no way to judge Jordan Staal’s leadership until the season is over — but I will say that the Hurricanes players have extreme respect for him.

Panic meter: 若

Overall, there have been a few “disturbing” losses and moments in the Hurricanes’ first 18 games of the season, but a quick 8-2 win and a vibe check show they’re probably going to be OK. And so will you.

The jury’s still out on this dude.

The Athletic LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161140 Chicago Blackhawks But last season the Hawks had to scratch and claw back with goalies who had an .898 save percentage over the course of the season. This season, Lehner and Crawford have combined for a .918 save percentage. If the Hawks offense can get back close to last season’s How having an open mind and making a couple of tweaks might have level and the goaltending remains outstanding, there’s plenty of time to saved the Blackhawks season: ‘We’re headed in the right direction’ get back into the playoff picture.

“It’s very nice to have that goaltending, no question,” Colliton said. “They’ve played very well. But going back to last year in the second half By JIMMY GREENFIELD CHICAGO TRIBUNE |NOV 12, 2019 | 5:15 PM five-on-five defensively (we were) pretty good. The penalty kill was the issue in the end. The penalty kill has been better, we’ve got to continue to improve five-on-five defensively and we’ll score enough goals.” A little over a month after Jeremy Colliton took over as Blackhawks coach last season, the chaos that had enveloped the team during the The penalty kill had allowed just two goals in 26 opportunities before coaching change was still showing itself on the ice with one of their worst giving up a pair of goals in Sunday’s 5-4 win over the Maple Leafs. So stretches in over a decade. there’s less of a concern there than there is for the defense to start limiting shots on a regular basis. The Hawks were 4-13-3 in the first 20 games of Colliton's tenure, which included an effort to install a new defensive zone scheme that was hard The 57 shots the Leafs had against them was just the 10th time in the to grasp and seemed to stifle offensive opportunities. last 10 years that any NHL team had put up that many shots on goal. But they had only four high-danger scoring changes, 10 of their shots came Overall, the Hawks were 10-19-6 when Colliton and the coaching staff on power plays and the Leafs — a very good offensive team — were in made an important adjustment. They allowed the weak-side forward — desperation mode throughout the third period trying to tie the game. the weak side refers to whichever side the puck is not on — to anticipate offensive transition and move higher in the zone while playing defense. Still, the defense needs to be better. On Tuesday, Connor Murphy participated in his first full practice since suffering a groin injury last That adjustment, along with a revitalized power play, turned the Hawks month and is traveling with the Hawks on their road trip. He will be season around. They played at a 100-point pace from mid-December on, eligible to come off long-term injured reserve Saturday when they play going 26-15-6 and making a serious push for a playoff spot. the Predators.

But it was too late. The 2½ months of mediocrity caused the Hawks to If Murphy’s return helps tighten up a defense that has allowed an NHL- miss the postseason for a second straight season. worst 36.8 per game and the offense kicks into high gear, the Hawks can be just as entertaining as they were in the second half of last season. Or They're not about to let the season get away from them again. longer. Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews celebrates a goal with teammate “We made a couple tweaks here and there and all of a sudden it just Patrick Kane against the Maple Leafs on Nov. 10, 2019. gives us a little more motion,” Kane said. "A little more speed and more Colliton’s intention was never to stay with last season’s system. He felt it options coming out of our end, which I think helps move us up the ice a wasn’t conducive to playoff success, which requires a much more little bit faster. defensive-oriented approach. With a stronger defense, more depth “I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s opening it up, but we have to be better among the bottom six forwards and superior goaltending, when training defensively. We can’t give up as many shots as we did last game or as camp arrived he switched from last season’s approach that worked so many chances, but a lot of those came from the outside. I think overall well to one he felt would be better defensively and still able to produce we’re headed in the right direction, so try to continue on.” goals. Chicago Tribune LOADED: 11.13.2019 That didn’t happen. The Hawks scored only 33 goals in their first 14 games and — despite getting great goaltending from Robin Lehner and sometimes Corey Crawford — were porous defensively while getting off to a 4-7-3 start.

Instead of waiting until mid-December, Colliton and the coaching staff already have returned to the adjustment from last season that led to Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews and Alex DeBrincat having career years and resulted in the Hawks being in a playoff spot for a brief period before faltering over the last month.

The changes have had an immediate impact. The Hawks have scored 12 goals in their last three games while compiling a 2-0-1 record, easily their best stretch of the season. Each of the games has come against teams well above .500, and with nine of their next 11 against contending teams it was now or probably never.

“I think the adjustment (was) we pushed our wingers higher in mid- December (last season) and I think that helped,” Colliton said. “And then January it was a little bit more about matchups, I would say. But how we’re playing in our own end (now) is very similar to mid-December on.”

Kane said the coaches listened to what the players were sharing about having a hard time finding rhythm offensively, but the changes were ultimately made by a proactive coaching staff.

“They had good communication with us as far as kind of what we’re seeing and talk through some things,” Kane said. “But I think a lot of us probably stressed that it was a different game. There wasn’t as much flow to it and for whatever reason that was, and then they made a change and all of a sudden it seems like we have more options coming out of our end. We have more motion, more speed coming out of our end, which is always a good thing.”

If the Hawks can pick up points at the same pace over the final 65 games of this season that they did last season after instituting their changes, they’ll finish with 96 points, which matches the pace of the current wild- card leaders in the Western Conference. 1161141 Chicago Blackhawks

Blackhawks pushing weak-side winger higher to jump-start counterattacks

Coach Jeremy Colliton expanded on the specific changes the Hawks have made to increase their offensive output lately.

By Ben Pope Nov 12, 2019, 5:13pm CST

After the Blackhawks’ embarrassingly futile loss last week to the Sharks, coach Jeremy Colliton made a season-altering decision: He’d switch back to the more offense-friendly system he let the Hawks use during their 2018-19 spring surge.

That switch has led to the team earning five of six points since.

After the Hawks’ 5-4 victory Sunday against the Maple Leafs, which showed off both their increased offensive aggressiveness and looser defensive structure, Colliton went public with the decision. And after practice Tuesday, he described the changes in greater depth.

In the defensive zone, the Hawks have pushed their winger on the weak side — the side opposite from where the puck is — higher toward the point, so he has more space and a head start for a counterattacking outlet pass if they force a turnover.

That has switched them from ‘‘four low’’ to ‘‘three low,’’ meaning there’s less defensive coverage in the slot but two forwards above the puck to make defensive-zone exits and offensive-zone entries easier.

‘‘Before, we had four low a lot of times to try and overload in certain situations,’’ Colliton said. ‘‘The problem is, when you win the puck back, a lot of times you’re very close together, and it’s harder to make clean plays. It’s harder to exit with space.

‘‘There’s been a lot of talk about how we have been dumping too many pucks in. Well, we’re not trying to dump the puck in. But when you’re attacking and you don’t have numbers, you don’t have space in behind, you have to.’’

The idea is that this new system will give the Hawks more numbers and more space to execute offensive-zone carry-ins. So far, that idea has proved to be correct.

Of course, it has proved to be correct in games against the Canucks and Leafs, two run-and-gun, speed-based teams. It will be more difficult to execute in the next two games against the Golden Knights and Predators, when the Hawks will operate without the advantage of the last change on home ice — which can create more favorable matchups — and against two defensively stout opponents.

Still, even the best defense often can’t stop Patrick Kane on his ‘‘A’’ game, and he’s definitely on his ‘‘A’’ game right now.

‘‘It was a different game [before the switch],’’ Kane said. ‘‘There wasn’t as much flow to it, for whatever reason that was. We’ve tweaked a few things here and there, and all of a sudden it gives us more motion, more speed and more options coming out of our end, which helps move us up the ice a little bit faster.’’

The Hawks’ strong goaltending so far — Robin Lehner and Corey Crawford have combined for a .918 save percentage, the sixth-best in the NHL — gives Colliton more confidence to cut down on defensive support from the forwards.

‘‘We were trying to be tighter in our own end,’’ Colliton said. ‘‘So you push a weak-side forward down, you have that extra safety in the slot. And I think that area had been better. But now when you push him up, the guys that are down low have to do a better job.’’

When Colliton made a similar switch last season, the Hawks played some terrifying hockey but, in general, made up ground in the standings. The coaching staff hopes deciding to do so again will be equally effective with fewer side effects.

‘‘We kind of felt it was time,’’ Colliton said. ‘‘I think we can still hold on to those defensive gains we’ve made and score more goals.’’

Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161142 Chicago Blackhawks

Golden Knights take on the Blackhawks on 3-game losing streak

By Associated Press

Chicago Blackhawks (6-7-4, sixth in the Central Division) vs. Vegas Golden Knights (9-7-3, fifth in the Pacific Division)

Paradise, Nevada; Wednesday, 10 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Vegas will try to end its three-game skid when the Golden Knights take on Chicago.

The Golden Knights are 6-3-1 in Western Conference games. Vegas averages 10.5 penalty minutes per game, the fourth-most in the NHL. Brayden McNabb leads the team serving 24 total minutes.

The Blackhawks are 4-3-3 in conference play. Chicago has converted on 14.5% of power-play opportunities, scoring eight power-play goals.

In their last meeting on Oct. 22, Vegas won 2-1.

TOP PERFORMERS: has recorded 18 total points while scoring eight goals and collecting 10 assists for the Golden Knights. William Karlsson has recorded five assists over the last 10 games for Vegas.

Patrick Kane has recorded 20 total points while scoring eight goals and totaling 12 assists for the Blackhawks. Brandon Saad has scored four goals over the last 10 games for Chicago.

LAST 10 GAMES: Blackhawks: 4-4-2, averaging 2.6 goals, 4.7 assists, 3.8 penalties and 7.6 penalty minutes while giving up 2.9 goals per game with a .925 save percentage.

Golden Knights: 3-4-3, averaging 2.3 goals, 3.2 assists, 4.2 penalties and 8.5 penalty minutes while giving up 3.4 goals per game with a .891 save percentage.

Golden Knights Injuries: Alex Tuch: day to day (upper body).

Blackhawks Injuries: None listed.

Daily Herald Times LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161143 Chicago Blackhawks

Blackhawks still haven't hit the jackpot against Vegas

John Dietz

Seven attempts. Seven failures.

Those are the cold, hard facts when it comes to how the Blackhawks have fared against the Vegas Golden Knights since the expansion team entered the league in 2017-18.

It's a pretty incredible fact when you consider the Hawks' long, rich history.

On the other hand, Vegas was never a typical expansion team. The Golden Knights -- stacked with talented players who were finally put in positions to thrive -- stunned the sports world and reached the Stanley Cup Final in their first season.

They impressed again last season and were barely eliminated by San Jose in the first round.

This season, however, coach Gerard Gallant's squad is scuffling along a bit, having lost seven of its last 10 games.

So no better time than Wednesday for the Hawks to get off the schneid and hand Vegas a loss when the teams meet at T-Mobile Arena.

Asked if the Hawks' dismal record against the Golden Knights has ever been a topic of conversation, captain Jonathan Toews said: "It is now. And it will be tomorrow. We've had 'em in pretty good spots and we've found ways to blow the games."

The first of those bad beats came in January when the Hawks squandered a 3-1 lead by allowing goals to Ryan Carpenter and Paul Stastny. Then on Oct. 22, the Hawks were clinging to a 1-0 lead, but yielded a Nick Holden goal with just 93 seconds remaining. They'd go on to lose in a shootout.

"For some reason they have our number," said Carpenter, who signed a three-year deal with the Hawks in the off-season. "It'd be nice to do it in Vegas, be nice to win there.

"It's a loud building and they play hard there and fast. Once they get the crowd behind them they're a hard team to play."

Said Patrick Kane: "It's probably one of the best places to play in the league now. A lot of excitement going into that building. It's almost like you're playing a hockey game in the middle of a Vegas show."

Vegas was almost impossible to beat at home in its first season, going 29-10-2 for an amazing .731 points percentage. In 2018-19, Gallant's team was 24-12-5 at T-Mobile for a more-than-respectable .646 points percentage.

This season, the Golden Knights are just 4-3-2 (.556).

That first year, it wasn't unheard of for teams to suffer from the Vegas Flu after getting a bit too carried away in Sin City.

"I mean I think it's fun to stay on the strip," Toews said. "It's always exciting to go there. Obviously if you spend a few too many days it could turn into a vacation pretty quick. You could rationalize hanging out in a casino a little bit too long.

"But we're all business. We know what we've got to do."

Kane agreed, and also noted that Joel Quenneville would often treat the players to a couple of days in Vegas during the now-defunct Circus Trip.

So while Kane and Toews may still try their luck a bit at the tables, more than anything they'd just like to see the Hawks hit the jackpot on the ice.

"I think we're all professionals to the point where we're there to play a hockey game, we're there to do our job and hopefully get a win," Kane said.

Daily Herald Times LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161144 Chicago Blackhawks

If Murphy continues to look good in practice, he could play against Nashville Saturday

John Dietz

Defenseman Connor Murphy practiced at Fifth Third Arena Tuesday and might play when the Blackhawks are at Nashville Saturday.

Murphy has missed nine games with a groin injury that landed him on long-term injured reserve. He won't play at Vegas Wednesday but is eligible to come off LTIR for the Predators game.

"He looks good out there and good to have him practicing with the team and on the trip," coach Jeremy Colliton said. "We'll assess it once he's eligible to come off and make a decision."

One thing Murphy will have to get used to is adjusting to how the Hawks are playing. The team has made a schematic change -- pushing a weakside forward higher in the defensive zone coverage -- in an effort to open things up be able to push into the offensive zone with more pace.

"It should be pretty simple," Murphy said. "I've been watching all the games and sitting in the meetings. It makes it a little more clear and you're able to go through that process with the guys."

Once Murphy comes off LTIR, the Hawks could send Adam Boqvist to Rockford, they could carry eight defensemen for a while or they may decide to place Slater Koekkoek on waivers.

What's up, Dach: Kirby Dach scored the second goal of his NHL career in the Hawks' 5-4 win over Toronto Sunday, and he also was on the ice for just 7 minutes and 43 seconds. Originally paired with Dylan Strome and Patrick Kane, Dach has been demoted to a third- and fourth-line role for most of his last seven games.

He has 2 goals and 2 assists in 11 games and averaging 10:48 of ice time, and 9:23 in the last five contests.

"I liked him last game," said coach Jeremy Colliton, who added that Dach's ice time suffered against the Sharks due to the fact the Hawks took 3 third-period penalties. "Very good response after (being a healthy scratch).

"And again, it wasn't to indicate we didn't like his performance. It was just hoping he was going to come back fresh, and if you compare this last game to the one he played before, it was better. And that's what we're looking for."

Daily Herald Times LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161145 Chicago Blackhawks

Jeremy Colliton explains schematic change and why Blackhawks made it

By Charlie Roumeliotis November 12, 2019 2:43 PM

The Blackhawks made a schematic change after their four-game road trip and they've seen the benefits of it immediately. They're 2-0-1 in their past three games and have scored 12 goals over that stretch.

We broke down on Monday what changes were made systematically and how it has freed up the offense, but head coach Jeremy Colliton elaborated on it Tuesday and explained the reasoning behind the decision.

"All it is is, our weak side forward, we pushed him up higher in defensive zone coverage," Colliton said. "Before, we had four low a lot of times, to try and overload in certain situations. That's good, it gets you out of D- zone, but the problem is when you win the puck back, a lot of times you're very close together and it's harder to make clean plays, it's harder to exit with space to make plays. So we were having trouble entering the zone.

"There's been a lot of talk about how we have been dumping too many pucks in. Well, we're not trying to dump the puck in, but when you're attacking and you don't have numbers, you don't have space in behind, you have to, you're forced too. I think we're doing a much better job of getting from D-zone clean, because we have a forward a little bit higher, there's a little more space, it happens quicker. And then I think we've done a good job with the low three [of] someone jumping by and then we can create a little bit more space off the rush and we don't have to chip it in. We can enter clean, make some plays and I think the guys are doing very well."

Patrick Kane, who has erupted for seven points (four goals, three assists) in the past three games since the change, sees the change opening up more opportunities for the Blackhawks on offense.

"I think a lot of us probably stressed that there wasn't as much flow to it, for whatever reason that was," Kane said. "They made a change and all of a sudden it seems like we have more options coming out of our end, we have more motion, more speed coming out of our end, which is always a good thing."

The Blackhawks' dump-in rate, as Colliton noted, has been much higher this season and it’s noteworthy because they generated a lot of their offense off the rush last season from mid-December and on. But what we didn’t know was the exact reason why the Blackhawks altered the way they entered the offensive zone.

Aside from the obvious answer of cutting down on neutral zone turnovers and limiting the amount of odd-man rushes against, Colliton notes the Blackhawks were forced to dump it in more because they weren’t entering the zone with numbers. The defensive scheme didn’t really allow them to.

But with the recent fundamental change, the Blackhawks have more options to exit their own zone cleanly, pick up speed through the neutral zone and do what they do best: by carrying the puck in and having more freedom to create offense. It’s something the coaching staff and players discussed with each other, and the consensus is it will maximize the talent of this group.

"We kind of felt it was time," Colliton said. "I mean, we're always talking with them for sure and guys, they want to score more. They want to produce, guys want to make plays. And so we're just trying to find the balance. We want to continue to work on being good defensively, but we've got to score more than them. I think we can still hold onto those defensive gains we've made and score more goals."

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161146 Chicago Blackhawks ‘Oh, really?’ She said, ‘Yeah, I’m so sorry. This is the total.’ I was like, ‘I honestly don’t ever do this, but do you mind if I just talked to the manager?’ She was like, ‘Oh, I am the manager.’ And, yeah, ha.”

How Blackhawks goalie Collin Delia turned his leather-working hobby “I had always wanted to do that, and he was my first opportunity,” into a business Lammers said of their “meet-cute” moment. “I was able to say, I am the manager.”

When they were paying, Delia’s step-mom took out her wallet, which he’d By Scott Powers Nov 12, 2019 made for her. Lammers asked about it, and Delia mentioned he worked with leather and was trying to start a business. Lammers said she worked

with leather, too, and Delia’s step-mom suggested they exchange An early fall drizzle didn’t deter patrons at the Renegade Craft Fair in information. He wrote his email on some receipt paper. Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood. “I was slightly disappointed at first,” Lammers said. “Oh, an email, that’s It only made the Portiere Leather Company booth all the more inviting. …”

Collin Delia and Ava Lammers, co-owners of the company and a couple, “That’s archaic,” Delia finished. put up a canopy and inserted some furniture in hopes of creating an “That’s archaic and kind of disappointing,” Lammers said. inviting, homey atmosphere. Lammers said she ended up giving Delia the discount because she saw Some of the people who enter the space recognize Delia from his other it was his birthday in his profile. They kept in contact, and that email line of work: Chicago Blackhawks goaltender. (Portiere means goalie in exchange brought them here. Italian.) Pictures of former Blackhawks goalies, including Tony Esposito and Ed Belfour, are on display. There’s also a framed Chicago Tribune Delia and Lammers discovered they both grew up around people who story about Delia’s loves for hockey and leather working. worked with their hands. Both their fathers did some woodworking and carpentry, and Delia’s grandfather was a stonemason. Passersby peruse the wallets, tote bags and duffel bags, all personally crafted by Delia and Lammers. They had only gotten into leather making shortly before meeting, but they were both quite serious about it. This wasn’t just a hobby. As happy as Delia is to talk hockey, what really pushes he and Lammers through the two long days of being on their feet, assembling and Collin Delia shows some of their leather supply in their showroom in disassembling the space and even the rain is engaging in conversation Pilsen. (Scott Powers / The Athletic) after conversation about their shared passion. “I remember when I first started out, I was just tooling around with some Whatever they sold that weekend was nice — Blackhawks defenseman leather, and I remember one day I made a wallet and I came into the Duncan Keith dropped in and bought a wallet — but it wasn’t their locker room in Rockford,” Delia said. “It’s a pretty open environment, and priority. This was more about introducing themselves to the craft I’m like, ‘I’m making wallets now.’ Everyone looked at me, kind of gave community. By having a tent at the fair, interacting with people and me a weird look and keep doing what they’re doing. They didn’t care.” showcasing their products, the couple were realizing their dream of running their own leather goods business. Former Blackhawks teammate John Hayden couldn’t ignore Delia’s leather working. They shared a hotel room in downtown Chicago during Because less than a year-and-a-half ago, Portiere Leather Company training camp last season, and Delia brought his tools with him. didn’t exist. “Our room was a makeshift leather workshop,” said Hayden, who now “I don’t think either of us would be doing this explicitly right now if we plays for the New Jersey Devils. “Stuff everywhere. And it was only loud hadn’t met or taken the chance on each other,” Delia said. when the hammer came out. Surprisingly, no noise complaints.

Days after the fair, Delia and Lammers sit side by side in their company’s “It was awesome. It was cool to hear about a player’s passions outside of showroom on the fifth floor of Lacuna Lofts, a building full of artist-rented hockey. ‘Deals’ found a niche passion that evolved into something bigger spaces in the Pilsen neighborhood. than a hobby. He’s curious and well read, so it was great spending time with him and learning about his leather craft and discussing other things “The craft show was weird, to be in the same space, but hardly interact,” throughout camp.” said the 22-year-old Lammers. “I stepped back and watched him interact with people. I have such an appreciation for him. I got to really see how Delia hand-stitched his first duffel bag during that training camp, and it’s he is in that element without me interacting in that. I can appreciate him his most-prized leather possession to date. Lammers’ favorite self-made for his education and how he communicates with people. He has such a item is an early canvas duffel bag they came up with together. gift for explaining things. That’s true, it is a gift.” Aside from that, they keep little of what they create. Delia and Lammers “If I’m passionate about something, I do,” said the 25-year-old Delia. chose to work with leather because they found they enjoy the process, “Normally, I’m introverted.” from the planning to the hours spent crafting each item, but they also believe it’s an industry they can make an impact in. They recognize the Delia’s other passion, hockey, was about to take over his life again. He demand for fine leather goods, and they want to fill it in a way they don’t had just begun training camp with the Blackhawks. In the coming weeks, believe many businesses do. he would be assigned to the Rockford IceHogs, the Blackhawks’ AHL affiliate, but he and Lammers had planned for that. Their goal in the “I think it’s mostly the education that people receive regarding the leather offseason was to get the company off the ground and then grow it at their industry, the leather itself and their appreciation for the craft and not just own speed. leather working, but also leather tanning,” Lammers said. “And so when someone’s receiving a product from us, you know it’s not the same as That may take time, but everything else has come together quickly. The going into a department store and being like, oh, that’s cute, I’ll buy it. pair first met in 2018 and they now have a place together in Fulton That’s it. That’s the end of the road. And then you have it and it’s cute. Market. But I think for us, we’re so passionate about the people who are tanning It all started in June 2018, when Delia and his step-mom were shopping the leather and the people who are caring for it and the people who are in for a gift for his father at Lululemon in Pasadena, Calif. Lammers was the the industry who really want the best in it, are really putting themselves store manager. out there and spending hours just perfecting leather tanning and leather crafting.” She offered to help Delia, who “somewhat standoffishly” rebuffed her. When he was ready to check out, he told Lammers he was part of the The retail industry is the enemy in some ways. Sweat Collective, Lululemon’s discount program for athletes. But “But a lot of it too, it’s like a rebellion to the retail industry and to these big because Delia said he was buying a gift for his dad, Lammers said he corporations, so to speak,” Delia said. “Because this is the type of couldn’t use the discount. consumer I am, I will compare products, research them, look up exactly “It’s like one of those ‘Seinfeld’ moments that, you know, social where they’re made, how they’re made, where are they getting the interaction,” Delia said. “I just was kind of taken back really. I was like, materials from. If I’m going to spend money on something, I want to have “The first hour of my day is cleaning up after Collin,” Lammers said with a some solace in knowing is it actually as it is advertised. laugh. “We’re very different. He uses every tool. They’re all out in the kitchen as well. I use this and I put it away. I’m a liability with sharp “So for me, I sort of thought if I was buying something that was object. I do spend quite a lot of my time picking up after him.” expensive, an heirloom piece, a piece that somebody would want you know to keep, hand down to somebody, I would want to use the absolute Delia grabs a box and removes the stamp they use for the company’s best materials, I would want to use exceptional craftsmanship and I logo. It’s two crossed goalie sticks and the initial P. would want the company to be completely transparent in what they’re doing. That’s what we seek to embody.” Both Delia and Lammers hail from , though Lammers grew up not caring about the sport. And don’t get Delia started on the name-brand leather bags and purses that populate a city like Chicago. “But we did have some family friends who were from Canada and they were big hockey fans and I was kind of introduced to hockey a little bit,” “I’m not exactly sure how a lot of these big designer brands do it, but you she said. “And I always said the Blackhawks were my favorite team see these specific bags that a lot of people carry with checkered patterns because they had the cutest players, so it’s kind of ironic. But I mean, I’m in different colors and this pebble grain texture and that’s really just a from California, so we don’t really care about hockey too much. But I just pretty big dye press stamping over the leather,” he said. “A lot of times thought the Blackhawks were the cutest. Fun, little circle of life.” those companies that are marketing their bags up and selling them for a thousand dollars, they use top-grain leather. Then you get to the highest She understands that hockey means everything to Delia. So even if the association of good leather, it’s called full-grain. Everything that we use is logo isn’t exactly her cup of tea, she’s behind it. full-grain leather.” “I think it’s a little corny, but I also appreciate him,” Lammers said. “I think So what is full-grain leather? ultimately because of the feedback we’ve gotten, we kind of want to offer a choice of the logo on women’s bags. Some women who are hockey “Pretty much the full grain is the outer layer of the hide that has all the fans love it. We want to reach everyone.” intrinsic strength in it,” he said. “It’s shows the most imperfections, but it’s the most natural. That’s where all the character is. We don’t ever use The Blackhawks signed Collin Delia as a college free agent in 2017. He anything other than that. If they’re going to be paying as much as they signed a three-year extension prior to the 2019-20 season. (Isaiah J. do, we think they deserve the best. And it’s our obligation and we feel as Downing/USA Today) a company to educate people on that.” There are a lot of similarities between hockey and leather working for Collin Delia and Ava Lammers in their workroom in Pilsen. (Scott Powers Delia. Both are obsessions for him. Both are also nearly impossible to / The Athletic) perfect. No goalie stops 100 percent of the shots he faces over time. Leather working is a long and difficult undertaking as well. Delia and Lammers know their goods aren’t inexpensive. A simple wallet costs $175. Their shouldered tote bag sells for $575. But they’re not “I’m the type of person, like whatever it is, hockey, leather work, anything making a ton of profit given the materials they use and the time they that I’m passionate about, I want to know everything about it, and I will spend making their products. stay up and I’ll do it,” Delia said. “You know sometimes you forget to eat. Because you’re so engaged in what you’re doing, you get into like this “Even when we tell people exactly what our profits are — it’s 50 percent existential headspace, you know. Time just flies by. It never seems like and labor is $20 an hour — people are actually very uncomfortable, and I you have enough of it. The same with hockey and you really zone in think it’s because they’ve never heard somebody who they’re buying the during a practice or a game, especially as a goalie, the time just melts product from explain to them exactly how much they’re making off of it,” away.” Lammers said. “And I think even just last weekend at the craft show, seeing these people, while we’re very openly saying, this is how much In an indirect way, the Blackhawks helped Delia get the business up and we pay ourselves, their body kind of tenses up and then they start to running. Delia joined the Blackhawks’ Super Bowl squares pool last relax after a while and they become very appreciative. And that’s so season and came away with $6,250. It went right into the business. worth it for me because you can tell them, yeah, that duffle bag is $1,400, “It’s all the guys’ money that helped us start this,” Delia said. but it also costs $1,000 in materials, and people are like, I get it now, you know. I get that’s why it’s so expensive or whatever. “It takes a village,” Lammers said.

“We probably could sell it for more. But we want them to be as accessible The hockey season presents some challenges for them. Delia has less to as many people as possible. Sure, our stuff is going to be expensive time to put into the business. It’s not ideal for him to be in Rockford, but regardless, but we need to pay rent and we need to pay for the materials they’re making it work. Lammers handles the day-to-day operations in and things like that. But it’s fine quality leather goods and handmade Chicago, and they recently added an apprentice. Delia tries to get back stuff, it shouldn’t only be for the one percent or the elite. I would want as whenever he can. many people as possible to be able to have access to something that’s With the holiday season approaching, they are adding a few items to kind of changing the dynamic of the leather industry.” their inventory. They teased a leather belt on their Instagram account and Delia and Lammers put a lot of thought into their pricing and the are preparing for holiday shoppers. Eventually, Delia and Lammers hope construction of their goods. When they were designing their shoulder tote to expand the business in various directions. Delia would like to get into bag, Lammers focused on getting the strap length right. The bottom of hand-built furniture. He built a couch that sits in the showroom. Lammers their bags remain flat for carrying heavy items. There’s an inside pocket would like to pursue more fashion. They see it becoming more of a to the bag for quick access, and they double stitch areas to ensure lifestyle company. longevity. They guarantee their goods for life. For now, they’re taking it a day at a time. Blackhawks goalie Corey “It really takes a lot of trust in the other person,” Lammers said. “For me, I Crawford has an order in for a duffel bag, but there’s no definitive arrival know what a woman wants for the most part. He knows what a man date. It’s just how it is right now, especially during the hockey season. wants to wear. I don’t know what it’s like to be sitting on your wallet all “Obviously hockey is a very large part of my life and I’ve been doing it for the time. I can’t really speak to that, but I have to really trust that he does. 20-something years, but eventually it ends,” Delia said. “And it’s so I think really to have that trust in each other has made the process important that as athletes, we have something to do. Because life doesn’t smoother.” stop for anybody, you really need to understand that as a person. Delia pulls out his tools to demonstrate how they work. He places a piece Because it is in the end a game and it’s a form of entertainment for of hide onto a table and cuts through it easily with a skife knife. people and also for ourselves, truly if we’re being honest. It’s nice to have something such as this to kind of remind you you’re a still a human. “It cuts that piece like butter,” he said. There’s a human aspect to this.”

He points out the imperfections of the hide, how they trace onto the The Athletic LOADED: 11.13.2019 leather. He explains how to burnish and how the edges become softened. He mentions how they’re looking to add more tools and machines to make the process even easier. He takes out more knives, an edge groover, a tool to punch holes. 1161147 the offensive zone. Later in the period, MacKinnon took the puck nearly coast-to-coast for his second goal of the night.

MacKinnon added another assist in the third period when Joonas Avalanche overcome Francouz injury to defeat Winnipeg for third straight Donskoi netted a rebound puck past Hellebuyck on a power-play win opportunity.

The Avalanche (10-5-2), since going winless in five consecutive games from Oct. 26 to Nov. 5, now ride the momentum of three wins in a row By KYLE FREDRICKSON | PUBLISHED: November 12, 2019 at 8:43 pm heading into a Thursday night road test at Edmonton. | UPDATED: November 12, 2019 at 9:48 PM Denver Post: LOADED: 11.13.2019

WINNIPEG, — The Avalanche appears unable to catch a break from its injury woes.

It didn’t matter Tuesday night, though, in a resilient 4-0 shutout against the Winnipeg Jets at Bell MTS Place.

Third-string goalie Adam Werner made his NHL debut with 40 saves, and the brilliance of Cale Makar and Nathan MacKinnon was on full display as Colorado earned a third consecutive win to begin its long road trip through Western Canada. Yet it didn’t seem plausible to begin the night.

RELATED: Avs Mailbag: Have a question about the team? Ask Mike Chambers here.

The Avalanche injury curse reared its ugly head just 31 seconds into the opening period, with goalie Pavel Francouz as the latest target. It happened when Jets first-line center Mark Scheifele was bumped by defenseman Sam Girard on a rush toward net. Scheifele lost control and bulldozed Francouz, who lay motionless on his back for several moments after appearing to slam his helmet on the ice.

Werner, recalled from the AHL affiliate last week, was ushered into immediate action.

“Of course there are some nerves,” Werner said. “With a short time (to prepare), I just tried to have fun and play my game. … I had a pretty great start there with an easy shot to get the feeling of the puck. The guys helped me so much.”

Colorado Avalanche teammates (6), ...

Fred Greenslade, The Canadian Press via AP

Colorado Avalanche teammates Erik Johnson (6), Joonas Donskoi (72) and Samuel Girard (49) call over to the bench after goaltender Pavel Francouz (39) was involved in a collision with Winnipeg Jets’ Mark Scheifele (55) during first period NHL action in Winnipeg, Manitoba Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2019.

Francouz, making his third straight start for injured Philipp Grubauer, was attended to by athletic trainers who later escorted Francouz off the ice. Francouz did not return, and the team has yet to update his health status, although defenseman Ryan Graves said in the postgame locker room: “I’ve seen (Francouz) walking around, and it seems he’s doing OK.”

Francouz became the seventh high-profile Avalanche player to miss time with injury this season. He joins Pierre-Edouard Bellemare (concussion protocol), Grubauer (lower body), Gabe Landeskog (lower body), Mikko Rantanen (lower body), Colin Wilson (lower body) and (broken jaw).

“It’s a lot of impact players and players at every position,” coach Jared Bednar said. “To see our guys continue to grind and carve out some wins here and there, they’re not always pretty, but you’ve got to try to find a way to win. That’s what we did tonight.”

The Avalanche’s next-man-up philosophy once again paid dividends. And Colorado had its phenomenal rookie defenseman to thank for the necessary spark.

Makar’s blistering start to the season continued with time winding down in the first period. He received a crossing pass from MacKinnon in the slot, weaved between a pair of Winnipeg defenders with nifty stickwork and beat Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck with a quick strike. Makar now touts 18 points (five goals and 13 assists) in 18 games with four goals over his last three outings.

Neither team scored in the second period, but MacKinnon took over in the third. He needed only 18 seconds to bolster Colorado’s advantage off of a clean give-and-go assist from Matt Calvert and a slap shot from atop 1161148 Colorado Avalanche

Avalanche goalie Pavel Francouz exits Jets game with injury

By KYLE FREDRICKSON |PUBLISHED: November 12, 2019 at 6:46 pm | UPDATED: November 12, 2019 at 9:49 PM

WINNIPEG, Manitoba — Avalanche goaltender Pavel Francouz was injured in the first period Tuesday night against the Jets and did not return.

Adam Werner replaced Francouz in net in a 4-0 victory.

The injury occurred less than one minute into the game when Winnipeg first-line center Mark Scheifele was bumped by defenseman Sam Girard deep in the Colorado zone and collided with Francouz, who laid motionless on his back for several moments while being attended by athletic trainers. He later skated off the ice with assistance.

The Avalanche did not have an official health update or return timetable for Francouz after the game.

“I haven’t talked with the trainers yet,” coach Jared Bednar said. “I just got word on the bench he wasn’t coming back.”

Added defenseman Ryan Graves: “I’ve seen (Francouz) walking around and it seems he’s doing OK.”

Francouz had started the previous two games in place of injured Avs goaltender Philipp Grubauer, who is considered day-to-day with a lower- body injury. Grubauer made the trip to Winnipeg but did not replace Franouz in net on Tuesday.

Werner, recalled last week from the AHL-affiliate Eagles, made his NHL debut in filling in for Francouz. The 22-year-old goalie had a .908 save percentage over nine starts with a 5-4-0 record this season prior to joining the Avalanche.

Colorado injury woes continue. Six players were ruled out to begin Tuesday’s game: Pierre-Edouard Bellemare (concussion protocol), Grubauer (lower body), Gabriel Landeskog (lower body), Mikko Rantanen (lower body), Colin Wilson (lower body) and Nikita Zadorov (broken jaw).

Denver Post: LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161149 Colorado Avalanche

Avs’ Nazem Kadri defends Don Cherry amid firing: “People maybe took it out of context a little bit”

By KYLE FREDRICKSON PUBLISHED: November 12, 2019 at 1:20 pm | UPDATED: November 12, 2019 at 1:32 PM

WINNIPEG, Manitoba — Avalanche forward Nazem Kadri is proud of his Lebanese descent as well as the expanding diversity within the NHL.

In the aftermath of Don Cherry’s dismissal from Sportsnet’s “Hockey Night in Canada” for on-air remarks about immigrants, many across the have league expressed outrage. But not Kadri.

Cherry was fired Monday on Remembrance Day, which honors Canada’s veterans, after he said: “You people … you love our way of life, love our milk and honey. At least you could pay a couple of bucks for poppies or something like that. These guys paid for your way of life that you enjoy in Canada.” Cherry, nicknamed Grapes, spent four decades in the NHL between his time as a player, coach and commentator.

Kadri was asked for his response to Cherry’s rant here Tuesday before the Avalanche faced the Jets.

“(Cherry) has been there for so long, it’s going to be hard to see (Hockey Night in Canada) without him, that’s definitely unfortunate,” Kadri said. “I know Grapes and I don’t think it came across like everyone is making it sound. I think with what he said, it was maybe just said incorrectly. People maybe took it out of context a little bit. I know Grapes is a great person and am sad to see him go.”

Kadri’s grandparents raised his father in Kferndenis, Lebanon, and moved the family to Ontario in the late 1960s. Kadri, now in his 11th NHL season, appreciates his roots and how hockey has grown internationally among different cultures.

“The sport brings everyone together with the team values and the work ethic,” Kadri said. “It taught me a lot about those two things. Now, I go watch my little cousins play in their youth development programs and there are a variety of ethnicities on their team. When I was growing up, I was kind of the only one. It’s good to see now.”

Footnotes. Avalanche forward Tyson Jost will move from wing to center against the Jets in the injury absence of Pierre-Eduoard Bellemare (concussion protocol). Coach Jared Bednar said the team will be “shifting around a couple of things with our lines.” … Newly recalled AHL-Eagles defenseman Kevin Connauton and forward Logan O’Connor are joining the Avalanche on their five-game road trip, but neither will suit up against the Jets. … Avs goalie Pavel Francouz will make his third consecutive start in net.

Denver Post: LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161150 Colorado Avalanche could pokecheck while he was defending and get a breakaway on the other end of the ice.”

Perhaps one of the most notable adjustments for Makar has been with Freshman 15: Avalanche rookie Cale Makar thrives after crossing early- his defensive partners. He began the season next to Nikita Zadorov for season milestone eight of the first nine games. Inconsistencies prompted Bednar to exchange Zadorov for Ian Cole for a partnership that lasted six games before Bednar said that dynamic began diminishing.

By Ryan S. Clark Nov 12, 2019 Bednar turned to Ryan Graves, and pairing him with Makar led to immediate results. Graves and Makar started against the Predators and

scored on their first shift. They each finished with their first career three- Fifteen games. That is how much time Cale Makar estimated he needed point outings while combining for eight shots on goal. in his freshman season at the University of before finding Makar carried the Avalanche in the win over the Blue Jackets by scoring a sense of comfort. two goals, including the winner, and taking a career-high seven shots on Look at what happened once he found that stability. goal. Graves had only one shot on goal but did contribute an assist. Bednar said he liked the way Makar played in both games while saying Could it be possible Makar is approaching that same stage with the Graves was “a bit up and down” and noting the Avs won two games with Colorado Avalanche? After crossing that threshold during the weekend, it their new partnership. appears Makar might have found the consistency he has been seeking. The rookie defenseman described his struggles as a “learning curve” in The Avalanche pushed that streak to three straight wins by beating the mid-October when his errors on the offensive and defensive ends proved Jets. Makar finished with one shot, the winning goal, while Graves led all costly. Avs defensemen with three shots on goal.

Makar’s situation appears to have changed. He is showing he can serve Pairing the two has led to Makar’s most consistent offensive production. in the role Avalanche coach Jared Bednar envisioned: a puck-mover He already has taken 12 shots in three games with Graves, four fewer capable of handling the demands of being a top-four option. Tuesday than he had in 12 games in October. served as a potential reinforcement of that idea as Makar scored for the Makar has five goals and 13 assists for 18 points in 18 games. He leads third straight game in a 4-0 win over the Winnipeg Jets at Bell MTS all rookies in assists and points and is tied for first in points per game and Place. power-play points. “He’s been good, and really good in some games,” Bednar said Monday If that is not enough, he is third in points among all defensemen and also before the Avalanche left Denver to embark on a five-game trip through has more points this season than Sidney Crosby, Johnny Gaudreau and Canada that ends in Minnesota. “To see the numbers that he’s put up Taylor Hall, among others. after maybe not being at his best for 17 games is incredible.” “I think we’ve had good and bad, and you guys have seen the good,” Part of what hindered Makar earlier in the season was his defensive play. Graves said Saturday. “The good has been great. He’s been putting it in There were moments in the Oct. 16 overtime loss to the Pittsburgh the back of the net for us, and that’s been nice. It’ll be a work in progress. Penguins and the next game against the Florida Panthers when Makar I think he was really good tonight, and I had some things to work on was caught out of position in sequences that led to goals. tonight. I think as a whole, we can complement each other. He can do his The 21-year-old reigning Hobey Baker Award winner was not on the ice thing. I don’t lead the rush and I don’t take too many chances, so he can for any of the goals allowed Nov. 1 in a 2-1 home loss to the Dallas Stars kind of do his thing and I can complement him the best I can.” or a 3-0 defeat at the Arizona Coyotes on Nov. 2. Having Graves (6-foot-4) and Makar (5-foot-11) together allows Bednar But he was on the ice for Corey Perry’s goal in a 4-1 loss at Dallas on to keep a larger defenseman with a smaller partner. It is a combination Nov. 5. He lost possession in the corner and immediately skated to his that places a right-handed shot with a left-handed option. Plus, it is area of responsibility to the left of Philipp Grubauer’s crease. He worked another pairing featuring a puck-mover in Makar with a more stay-at- to tie up Joel Hanley’s stick at the net front before an attempt from the home option in Graves, who also has a bit of puck-moving prowess. point went off Hanley’s stick, with Grubauer blocking the initial shot only Playing Makar with Cole, Graves and Zadorov — plus Samuel Girard in to have Perry score from the other side. certain sequences — is a bit of a change compared to what happened at He was also on the ice when Nashville Predators defenseman Ryan Ellis UMass, when he had two defensive partners in two seasons. scored Thursday in the Avalanche’s 9-4 victory, which snapped a five- Carvel paired Makar alongside San Jose Sharks rookie defenseman game losing streak. Predators center Ryan Johansen won the faceoff Mario Ferraro when they were freshmen. A year later, he split them up so and fed the puck to Ellis for a shot that went off the post and beat he could give incoming freshmen like Marc Del Gaizo an experienced goaltender Pavel Francouz to tie the score at 1. Makar, after Johansen partner. won the draw, skated to the net front, where he fended off Predators left winger Viktor Arvidsson. “It’s always easier to play with someone you can trust and is not going to snap on you and knows what you are thinking,” said Del Gaizo, a fourth- Another example of Makar working to get into position was when round pick by the Predators in 2019. “That’s how we got along and Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski scored the go- complemented each other so well. If one of us messed up, we knew what ahead goal in the first period of a 4-2 Avalanche victory on Saturday. The we were thinking, and it makes it easier to play with a kid who is a really Avalanche tried clearing the zone, yet the failed exit led to the Blue humble kid and is not selfish.” Jackets getting a chance to reload. Makar skated to the left side of the net after an initial shot attempt went wide, yet he shifted to the right to Del Gaizo said he and Makar did more observing than talking and would mark center Alexandre Texier. Makar was able to tie up Texier’s stick, exchange notes about what they noticed. but Francouz was only able to get a piece of Werenski’s shot before it went into the net. “We read off each other hand in hand,” Del Gaizo said. “If I jumped in the play, he had no problem staying back. If he jumped in, I had no problem “I think as he got physically stronger and matured physically, he became staying back. We were both unselfish and wanted the best for each more and more effective defensively,” UMass coach Greg Carvel said other. That made our job a lot easier. Playing with him is not the hardest about Makar’s transition into a stronger defender. “He’s still a fairly young thing in the world. I think it just goes back to the point he is very selfless. kid who is still maturing physically. His feet are good, and he’s strong and It is easy for a guy of that caliber, that hype and such a dominant figure has really good hockey strength. Stamina was an issue early on. We to think he is better than people, to think he is better than me, to think he would have played him more as a freshman, but he did not have the is better than the team. tank, and that’s part of being young. “To have that factor of humbleness and a team-first mentality, you never “As two years evolved, we could play him more and more because he heard him talk about himself. It was very comforting to have someone could handle it. The fresher he is, his skating is more effective. … He like him while I was a freshman.” became really strong on defensive plays. There were times when he Girard went as far as saying Makar is “a complete defenseman” who has everything to “be one of the best players in the NHL.”

Makar, who made his debut during the , was paired with Girard. It was an athletic, puck-moving combination that used its speed and other skills to retain possession and facilitate play. The two were able to work in tandem so well that either could alter his role at a moment’s notice.

If Makar was jumping into the play, Girard stayed back. If Girard was busy orchestrating, Makar knew to hold off and keep watch in the event a turnover became an odd-man rush.

Girard and Makar are the same age, yet Girard broke into the NHL at 19 with the Predators before joining the Avalanche in the three-team trade involving Matt Duchene.

Now that Makar has played 18 games, what was it like for Girard when he went through his first 18?

“I started with Nashville, and they had a couple good defensemen and they were helping me out a lot,” said Girard, who has played in nearly 170 NHL games. “So, when I came here, Erik (Johnson), Tyson (Barrie), all of those guys, like Gabe (Landeskog) and Nate (MacKinnon), helped me a lot to become a better person and a better player on the ice. I am going to say I am still learning right now.

“That’s the good thing about being in the NHL: You’re still learning every day. It’s pretty fun, and it’s fun for Cale, too, and we’re going to have to keep going.”

Girard, Graves and Makar are members of a defensive unit that began the season as the second-youngest in the NHL, according to CapFriendly, at a time when Cole, 30, was still injured. The team’s average age on defense is 26.4 years after adding Kevin Connauton from the Colorado Eagles.

Does it all seem surreal for Graves, knowing that a year ago he was with the Eagles and now he is logging second-pairing time with another player who was just in college?

“You can’t (go that big picture) yet. It’s too soon,” Graves said. “I mean, I think for me it is just establishing myself and continuing to prove that I can be a player in this league and play minutes and play important minutes. Shut down top lines, play against top power plays, and wherever I fit in, I’m sure pairs will shuffle throughout the year.

“Nothing is set in stone. There will be times when Cale and I will be together and times when we’re not. I like playing with him, and I hope we can keep going like this, but it’s more of seeing what’s working at the time and a dynamic that works for the team.”

The Athletic LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161151 Colorado Avalanche

Werner, Avalanche shutout Winnipeg 4-0

By DJ Stanec - November 12, 2019

The Colorado Avalanche started one of the longest road trips of the season the right way Tuesday night, getting a big shutout win over the Winnipeg Jets 4-0.

It felt like a full team win, as Pavel Francouz got ran into in the first minute of the game by a crashing Jets player. Francouz was able to skate to the locker room on his own power but did not return to action. Thus, Adam Werner was asked to mind the Colorado goal for the remainder of the game. The Avalanche did an excellent job right away, keeping the shots he saw to the outside and clearing away rebounds. Once Werner got settled, it was pretty evident that only the perfect shot would beat him.

Cale Makar got the scoring started for the Avalanche in the first period. He received an incredible cross-ice pass from Nathan MacKinnon and walked into the slot, beating Connor Hellebuyck just under the glove.

MacKinnon added two more goals in the third period before Joonas Donskoi found a rebound on the power play to virtually shut the door on any chances Winnipeg had at making a comeback.

Here are the takeaways from tonights Avalanche victory:

Avalanche have depth at goalie, Werner stands strong.

After Francouz went down in the first minute of the opening period, the Avalanche were forced to call upon Werner. Werner, who has spent this season with the Colorado Eagles was called up when Philipp Grubauer went on the IR. The 22-year-old stood on his head for the Avalanche, stopping all 40 shots he faced, including a few flashy glove-saves on Patrick Laine. No Avalanche goalie has ever gotten a shutout on his first career start before tonight. One of the most significant question-marks heading into this season was the goaltending. Can Grubauer step up? What kind of depth does Colorado have at the position? Well, if tonight showed us one thing, its that goaltending isn’t a question anymore.

Makar doesn’t play like a rookie

Makar continues to make his early case for the Calder trophy. In the blueliners 19:54, he tailed a goal, was +2, and had two takeaways. While the Avalanche have had some injury issues, Makar is one of the players they needed to step up and step up he has. Not only is he helping on the offensive side of the ice, but he is holding his own and controlling play in the defensive zone. Makar added another point tonight to continue his rampage of 18 points in 18 games.

MacKinnon, Calvert, Donskoi line continues to tear teams apart.

When two-thirds of the “MGM line” went out with injuries, the biggest question was, who was MacKinnon going to skate with? After trying a few combinations, Coach Bednar has landed on a top-line comprised of MacKinnon, Matt Calvert, and Donskoi. While they aren’t the full top line we know and love, they sure have been filling the scoring void just fine. The line combined for nine points tonight with MacKinnon getting his second four-point night of the season. One of the reasons this line works so well is because Donskoi and Calvert use their veteran hockey IQ. When playing with MacKinnon, They adjust their game to reflect what works with MacKinnon, and tonight was just one of many examples as to why they work so well together.

What’s next?

The Colorado Avalanche continue their northern road trip against Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday night. Puck drop is set for 7:00 PM MST from Rogers Place. milehighsports.com LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161152 Colorado Avalanche From my eyes, Compher didn’t do a ton offensively, finishing the evening with zero shots on goal despite a good chunk of ice time. He’s got a great shot so when he’s not using it or getting it on net, it’s a little disappointing. I have liked his work on the penalty kill overall. Avs Game 18 Grades: In Werner we trust Mark Barberio – D

I think he forgot to get his skates sharpened before this one. He fell over BY EVAN RAWAL NOVEMBER 12, 2019 at least three times with no one around him in this one. He had his usual “uh oh” moments followed up by some strong play. The penalties

definitely have to stop, as he’s already got four minor penalties in his Erik Johnson – D seven games.

Every time EJ would make a strong defensive play, he would put it in Samuel Girard – B someone’s skates, miss a pass completely, or turn it over. He made a Girard set the tone for himself on the opening shift with some nice work brutal turnover up the middle in the second period to Patrik Laine and maneuvering around some forecheckers to get the puck deep. That’s was bailed out by…checks notes…Adam Werner? when he’s at his best and that’s how he helps this team. His shot Cale Makar – A+ struggled to get through in this one but I liked him defensively.

How do you explain it at this point? He’s a freak of nature. Another goal Joonas Donskoi – A+ and he completely froze the defender to create space for himself. Not Donny went to work to start the third period, being a complete menace on long after, he set up Matt Nieto for a top-notch chance in front. The thing the forecheck and helping keep the Jets hemmed in just prior to that is going under the radar at this point is how much he’s progressing MacKinnon’s goal. He managed to pick up the easiest assist of his career defensively. He looks incredible. on MacKinnon’s second goal, and a good chunk of his goals sure have Matt Calvert – A come from just in front of the net.

Matt Calvert is on pace for 54 points. You could have never have Vladislav Kamenev – C predicted that. His one touch back to MacKinnon on the second goal of Kamenev looked like he was playing it safe big time in this one, not the night was perfect, and his chip out on the third goal was huge. He wanting to get in too deep on the forecheck, as his linemates did a lot of was even blocking shots late in the game, earning that “A” that was on that forechecking and Kamenev stayed up high. He won four his five his sweater in this one. face-offs in this one, and that’s how he can help this team. Jayson Megna – C Matt Nieto – C+ Megna came in and showed some speed early on in this one, and did I liked Nieto on the penalty kill but he had some tough turnovers at the well in his limited minutes. When the Avs got up, it allowed them to give defensive blueline that I wasn’t a big fan of at even strength. A quiter that fourth line a little bit more ice time so he benefited there. game for him, and he was just off on some of his passes. Valeri Nichushkin – B+ Nazem Kadri – C Another strong game without a goal and that’s fine. He did have a Kadri picked up another assist, so he continues to produce, although this chance early in the game that got blocked by the Jets defender. He one was a little late. It would be nice to see a little bit more from him at continues to work hard and has been a menace on the forecheck. even strength overall, but he’s also playing with line mates that no one Tyson Jost – B- anticipated due to the injuries. Although he keeps producing, it still seems like there is more to give. I thought Jost was solid overall, back at center again. He once again got hammered in the face-off circle, and he had a really rough turnover at the Andre Burakovsky – C defensive blue line in the second period, but beyond that played well. He For me, he was a little up and down tonight. He had some neutral zone did get cut up pretty bad at the end so hopefully he’s good to go on turnovers but also managed to pick a few off to take the other way. Thursday. Overall I would say with him, any night he ends with zero shots on net is Ryan Graves – B- probably not his best one overall.

Graves was a wild man last game, and toned it down big time in this one, Adam Werner – A+ eliminating some of the turnovers he had against Columbus. He did kill a I talked to him after practice on Monday and he said he’s always couple of plays in the offensive zone but was good in his own end and on prepared to go in if he’s needed. He sure looked prepared. What a debut the PK. overall. Laine, one of the best shooters in the league, couldn’t get one Ian Cole – D past him, despite trying several different ways, going blocker, glove, low, everywhere. That’s when you know you’re on your game. He looked What is up with Cole and this soft pass up the middle on his backhand? It extremely calm in net and that’s a good quality to have as a net minder. worked once last game but has been a bit of a disaster for the most part. Look for a big story on him on DNVR tomorrow just about his transition to He had one of them go straight to a Jets player in the second period and North America. Werner had to bail him out, then iced it moments later. Took another penalty, but managed to pick up yet another secondary assist in this one. BSN DENVER LOADED: 11.13.2019

Nathan MacKinnon – A+

The superstar center put the team on his back, and in the third period, he put his skate on the Jets throats, scoring just seconds into the second period and killing any momentum the Jets may have had. He took off like a gazelle-person on his second goal of the game and the Jets never had a shot at catching him.

T.J. Tynan – C+

The fourth line had some good moments early in the game but kind of disappeared as the game went on. That’s fine though, as they didn’t do anything to hurt the team. Tynan is a buzzsaw out there and is always moving his feet.

J.T. Compher – C 1161153 Colorado Avalanche That kind of balanced attack is exactly what Colorado needed to keep them afloat during this heinous run of injuries. Of course, it always helps when superstar talents like MacKinnon and Makar play like superstar talents. They’re on fire right now and the team’s ability to survive the Adam Werner steals the show in shutout over Winnipeg injuries is looking a lot better right now.

This Makar stuff is crazy. 18 points through 18 games? You kidding me right now? BY AJ HAEFELE NOVEMBER 12, 2019 And somehow Bowen Byram and Conor Timmins are still to come on this

defense. I’m all for living in the moment, especially when it’s a fun “Next man up.” moment like right now, but wow does that future feel warm and fuzzy.

One of the most reliable axioms across all sports is the idea that when This team was very loose with the puck tonight. Winnipeg is a dangerous injuries strike, whoever steps in as the replacement has to keep the ball offensive team but giving up 40 shots on goal for the second straight rolling. Life is hard and there’s no time to feel sorry for yourself in pro game is discouraging. They need to tighten the screws a bit defensively sports when there’s always a tomorrow to be worried about. because they can’t keep relying on 40-save performances regardless of who is in net. That’s an unacceptable total multiple games in a row. When Philipp Grubauer went down with a minor injury, Pavel Francouz was thrust into the starter’s role. This gave Adam Werner, the fresh-faced It’ll be very curious what happens with the goaltending position for the Swede with very little experience in North America, an opportunity as the Avs. Colorado brought three goaltenders on the road trip, suggesting backup. Grubauer wasn’t far from coming back, but with Francouz now also down, it’s natural to wonder who might be next in line. Their only other That opportunity to watch and learn turned into a need to perform as NHL contract at the position is Antoine Bibeau, who has been hurt most Francouz was hurt just 31 seconds into tonight’s contest against the of his time in the Avs organization. Hunter Miska is starting for the Eagles Winnipeg Jets. now but is on an AHL contract. Maybe Grubauer comes back and solves this issue but if he doesn’t? Carousel time, baby! Enter Werner. BSN DENVER LOADED: 11.13.2019 40 saves later, Werner had his first NHL win and a debut for the ages in a 4-0 Colorado win.

Colorado picked up their third straight win and won the first game of a five-game road trip and it’s background noise.

Nathan MacKinnon had four points, Joonas Donskoi had three, and Cale Makar added another goal and it’s background noise.

The only noise that mattered on this night was the frustration from Patrik Laine and Co. slamming sticks on the ice because they simply couldn’t solve the Werner riddle.

Things started off slowly for Colorado in the first period as Makar added another bit of brilliance after winning the NHL’s Third Star of the Week. His goal, his fourth in the last week, gave the Avs a 1-0 lead after the first period.

That lead held up through two periods as sloppy play dominated the second period and allowed Werner a chance to flex the highlight muscles a bit.

Heading into the third period up just 1-0 with a rookie goaltender making his unexpected NHL debut, the Avs put their foot down as MacKinnon took over the game.

He scored just 18 seconds into the third period and again at 7:13 to give the Avs a 3-0 cushion. A late power-play goal from Donskoi pushed the game to its final score of 4-0.

Throughout it all was Adam Werner making save after save and turning away whatever chances the Jets conjured up. In a game the Avs eventually ran away with, Werner’s performance stands tallest among all the standouts from tonight.

You never know how things are going to ultimately go but on this night, Colorado’s “next man up” answered the bell as well as one possibly could.

GAME TAKEAWAYS

Seriously. Adam Werner was incredible. No other note or takeaway from this game should overshadow what a performance that was.

MacKinnon’s second four-point night in three games should put everyone else on notice. He’s feeling it right now and with the injuries Colorado is facing, he’s putting the offense on his back and dominating stretches of games. Every shift is must-see TV for him.

The makeshift top line with MacKinnon, Donskoi, and Calvert has found unexpected chemistry. Donskoi’s three points have him on pace to obliterate his career-high in points (37) and goals (14). He scored his ninth goal tonight in the 18th game of the season.

Speaking of career years, Calvert told me coming into this season his goal was to hit 30 points, which would top his best mark, set last year, of 26 points. After two points tonight, Calvert is sitting on 12 points. 1161154 Colorado Avalanche Nichushkin gets it back and straight goes to work. He ducks behind the net with Zach Werenski on him, then fends off Jones who has come back for another go-round. Nichushkin’s puck control is fantastic here and he even takes a questionable hit from Jones in the process (not the point of Avalanche Film Room: From breakout to bar down this Film Room but it could have easily been a boarding call. Ref probably didn’t call it because Nichushkin sharply stops and turns into the

hit as it’s coming but who knows. NHL, amirite?) BY AJ HAEFELE NOVEMBER 12, 2019 After Jones, ahem, dislodges the puck free from Nichushkin, Pierre- Edouard Bellemare makes his first appearance here as he gathers the puck in. Colorado’s 4-2 win over Columbus was an entertaining hockey game full of highlights. The Avalanche came back from a 2-1 deficit period in the Masters of nuance second period to earn their second straight home win. Video Player That deficit is where we begin with this edition of Avalanche Film Room. 00:00 Trailing 2-1 halfway through the second period, Colorado was pinned in their own end. When they finally broke out, they turned it into something 00:08 memorable. Bellemare gets the puck and skates right to the corner, opening up ice for Let’s start with gaining control of the puck. Can’t score without it, right? his teammates as the defense is forced to respond to him. With Nichushkin still on the ice and slow to get up after the hit from Jones, Ian Cole sparks the breakout Columbus has a small window of a man advantage here. Video Player Theoretically, Bellemare plays right into the teeth of the defense here as 00:00 he passes the puck to Matt Nieto, who is standing in the middle of three players. What Nieto does is so subtle but so good. Classic Nieto, you 00:07 know? He gets the puck and one-touches it on his forehand for control. The three defenders react accordingly and Nieto, knowing he has Ian Cole has been a polarizing guy for the Avs from the moment they support up top, drops it back to Ryan Graves. signed him. While everyone has their opinions on him, none would have him pegged as an ace puck mover. Cole gets the puck in the corner after Graves tees up the big slapper and because he does this, the high J.T. Compher’s puck support helped Mark Barberio win the puck battle forward in this sequence moves toward him and not the ocean of space behind the net. Makar has slipped into while the Blue Jackets were committing hard on the other side of the ice. Cole has his back to the ice and he takes a quick look over his right shoulder. He puts the puck on his backhand and moves it ahead to Makar gets the puck and slides in, picks his spot, and goes bar down Compher, who is breaking through the center of the ice. with it to tie the game. As he gathers the puck, he keeps his body square to the net, which doesn’t give away any shooting intentions to the Compher gathers the puck in, picks his head up, and spots Tyson Jost in goaltender. Korpisalo is purely guessing and Makar beats him cleanly. the neutral zone. Jost only gets a piece of the puck but Andre Burakovsky skates by picks it up and takes over from there. Little details

Burakovsky takes over Video Player

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00:00 00:12

00:07 I like this clip for two reasons: it gives a great look at what Makar was looking at when he got the puck and because we get an up-close look at Burakovsky has made some spectacular plays this season resulting in what Bellemare does to help Makar out. goals and has absolutely earned this impressive points pace he’s currently on (just under a 60-point pace, for those curious). As Werenski is coming across to block Makar’s shot, watch Bellemare drop his stick on top of Werenski’s to keep him from reaching out and While he doesn’t end up on the scoresheet in this eventual goal, it’s not making an attempt to get his stick on the attempt. Because of this, Makar hard to see the one-man show he put on in the clip above. He gathers is guaranteed a clean look and the result of the play is simply Makar vs. the puck in at center ice and with Seth Jones closing the gap very Korpisalo. quickly, his shooting lane disappears and Jost is covered so he drags the puck around Jones and heads around the net. Makar won and we once again get an idea of the small things Bellemare does regularly to help out. Once around the net, Jones has recovered and is all over him again. Burakovsky whips around back to his forehand and makes a perfect pass BSN DENVER LOADED: 11.13.2019 through traffic to Val Nichushkin, who predictably misses the net on the one-timer.

Nichushkin gets dirty

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00:13

While he missed the net, Nichushkin then shows in this clip why Jared Bednar continues to be totally comfortable with him in the lineup right now. He retrieves the puck and makes a good decision with it by getting it to Cale Makar (almost always a good decision).

Makar puts on a little display of what makes him so ridiculous. He sucks the defender in who positions himself for a blocked shot, opening up the ice for Makar to gobble up. Makar steps around him and when help arrives, he drops the puck back to Nichushkin, whose man had just left him to help reduce the Makar threat. 1161155 Columbus Blue Jackets Foligno’s absence created a vacancy among the forwards and a couple of new line combinations.

Eric Robinson, recalled Sunday from the Cleveland Monsters, filled the Blues Jackets getting plenty of shots but aren’t hitting the net vacancy by slotting into the fourth line on the left wing, skating with rookie Emil Bemstrom on the right wing and Riley Nash — a healthy scratch Saturday at Colorado — in the middle.

Brian Hedger The Columbus Dispatch Nov 13, 2019 at 5:29 AM Alexander Wennberg was promoted from the fourth line to the second, taking Foligno’s spot at center with rookie Alexandre Texier and Cam

Atkinson on the wings. MONTREAL — The worst part is the sheer number of times the Blue On defense, Ryan Murray was activated from injured reserve after Jackets have shot a puck without it going into the net. missing six games because of a fractured hand. Adam Clendening was Going into a game against the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday night at reassigned to Cleveland. the Bell Centre, the Jackets had 571 shots, an average of 33.6 per game Winner, winner earned a dinner that ranked eighth among the NHL’s 31 teams, but just 40 goals to show for it — a league-worst 2.35 per game. Rostislav Klesla played his final game for the Blue Jackets on Nov. 30, 2010, against the St. Louis Blues. It was his 515th career game, all with Those numbers tidily summarize the Jackets’ season, including a 6-8-3 the Jackets, and he headed to Arizona in a trade with 41 career goals to record through the first 17 games and 0-7-3 when opponents score first. his credit. “At times during the games, I just look at us and we’re not far off,” coach That number stood for almost 10 years as the Jackets’ franchise record John Tortorella said Tuesday at the Jackets’ morning skate. “It’s just hard for career goals by a defenseman — until Zach Werenski scored when you’re not scoring some goals and a mistake ends up in the back Saturday against the Avalanche. The goal was Werenski’s 42nd, which of your net. It knocks you down, because we don’t have a bunch of moved him into sole possession of the top spot in roughly half as many confidence offensively.” games (254). It’s not just one or two guys, either. It’s a whole bunch of them. It also earned him a free dinner, which will be split by fellow Blue Jackets Josh Anderson, who came into the season looking to net 25-plus goals, defensemen David Savard and Seth Jones — Werenski's primary had one goal and one assist in his first 11 games — missing six games defense partners in his first four seasons, who have each scored 40 because of an upper-body injury. career goals for Columbus.

Nick Foligno, who missed the game Tuesday while serving the first of a “Me, Savvy and Jonesy had a bet where we had dinner on the line, so three-game suspension for an illegal hit, had one goal and six assists in those two owe me dinner,” Werenksi said of their competition to pass the first 17 games and hadn’t scored since the third game of the season Klesla. “When I got back to the bench, Savvy’s like, ‘You get dinner.’ I (14 games). was like, ‘What?’ and he was like, ‘That’s 42 right?’ So, he kind of reminded me right away.” Cam Atkinson, who scored a career-high 41 goals last season, had three goals, six assists and nine points before facing Montreal, which tied him Werenski isn’t exactly basking in the limelight, though. with Seth Jones for third-most points on the team, but he hadn’t scored in “I mean, I don’t think 42’s going to stand much longer, whether it’s me, more than two weeks (Oct. 24). Jonesy or Savvy (who tops it),” he said. “We’re all kind of right around Jones only had one goal before facing the Canadiens, Zach Werenski there. It’s definitely cool to be the first to break that record, but I’m sure had four goals but only three assists and David Savard hadn’t scored. going forward there’s going to be a lot of records broken by defensemen, goals and points-wise.” “Andy’s been banged up, but he’s healthy, but I didn’t expect his numbers to be where they’re at,” Tortorella said. “I didn’t expect Nick’s Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 11.13.2019 numbers to be where they’re at, didn’t expect Cam’s numbers to be where they’re at, so it’s not just one person. It’s a group that, again, I think are trying, I think have had opportunities. We just have not scored regularly.”

Foligno ‘disappointed’

Foligno doesn’t necessarily disagree with being suspended for an illegal hit Saturday against Colorado Avalanche center Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, but he does disagree with the term of the punishment.

After a hearing Monday, the Blue Jackets’ captain was suspended three games for elbowing Bellemare in the face during an attempted open-ice hit late in the second period. Foligno cited his lack of intent to contact Bellemare’s head and a clean history with the league through 13 years, but it didn’t help him.

“I’m disappointed in that big-time,” he said, after participating in the Jackets’ morning skate. “I respect their decision. Obviously, they’re trying to keep our league safe. I just think with my past and knowing how unintentional it was, I just thought (three games) wouldn’t be the case. But they made their ruling. Have to respect it. Don’t have to like it.”

Foligno expressed remorse for the hit after the game and again Tuesday.

“Do I feel terrible that I hit him? Foligno said. “Absolutely, that I hit him in the head. You don’t want to ever do that to somebody, because I’ve had it done to me. So, I know the feeling. That was never my intent and I explained that to them. They just saw that I obviously made contact with his head and they ruled that way.

“It’s unfortunate just because, you know, I thought the lead up to it — with my history of being in the league this long with no incident — would’ve helped in this regard.”

Lineup changes 1161156 Columbus Blue Jackets

Canadiens 3, Blue Jackets 2, SO | Goals continue to prove elusive for Blue Jackets

Brian Hedger The Columbus Dispatch Nov 12, 2019 at 10:34 PM

MONTREAL — Last week, John Tortorella got a chance to catch up with a friend who plays for the Arizona Coyotes.

He declined to share a name, but the gist of the conversation — at least from the end of the Blue Jackets coach — was about the struggle to score goals. Tortorella brought up energy level, how it needed to be more consistent, and the reply he got hit the bull’s-eye dead center.

"He says, ‘Torts, players just don’t play with energy if you’re not scoring goals,’" Tortorella said Tuesday, recalling the conversation prior to the Blue Jackets’ latest gut-wrenching loss, 3-2 in a shootout Tuesday night at the Montreal Canadiens. "You know, I can talk to them, ‘You gotta reload, yeah, that’s a great reload!’ and this … that doesn’t give them energy.

"They want to see goals scored. So, that’s the battle we’re in right now, but we’ve just got to help them along the way, help each other and see if we can find some traction there offensively."

Traction, however, was elusive yet again.

Despite a strong first period, with Eric Robinson providing a 1-0 lead on his first career NHL goal, the Blue Jackets had another tough night on the scoreboard.

Canadiens goalie Carey Price kept their frustration going strong, while a familiar scenario played out over the final two periods and overtime. Just as they’ve done all season, the Jackets (6-8-4) put plenty of shots on goal. Just as they’ve experienced all too often, it didn’t lead to a bevy of goals.

Robinson’s goal, scored with 3:14 left in the first period, stood as the game’s lone goal through the second and the start of the third — until Brendan Gallagher tied it 1-1 at 3:27 with a long wrist shot that beat Elvis Merzlikins (30 saves) through the pads.

If not for Merzlikins and some active sticks by the Blue Jackets in their defensive zone, the Canadiens could have won in regulation. Instead, the Jackets fought off their surges.

The Jackets also put themselves in the driver’s seat when Zach Werenski scored with 1:53 left in the third for a 2-1 lead, but it didn’t hold up. After Seth Jones’ attempt for an empty-net goal landed just wide left for an icing call, the Canadiens tied it 2-2 off the ensuing face-off.

Tomas Tatar one-timed a pass from Nick Suzuki past Merzlikins with 41 seconds to play and that forced the game past regulation.

In overtime, the Jackets couldn’t beat Price, even with the aid of a 4-on-3 power play, and the game went to a shootout — which the Canadiens won on a goal by Jonathan Drouin in the second round.

"I was excited," Werenski said of his goal. "That was to take the lead. Jonesy misses the empty-netter. Couple inches. Just rolls on him. Then they make a play through us and it’s in the back of our net, which is unfortunate. We’ve got to find a way to close those games out though."

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Elvis Merzlikins gets unexpected start for Blue Jackets

Brian Hedger The Columbus Dispatch Nov 12, 2019 at 5:31 AM

BROSSARD, — John Tortorella and his coaching staff are trying to pull off a balancing act this season.

They want to help the Blue Jackets slide the proverbial puck forward, despite losing in free agency, but they also have an instructional role with a green-tinted roster.

“We’re one of the younger teams in the league again,” Tortorella said Monday after a practice at the Montreal Canadiens’ training facility. “(I’m) trying to be patient (but) also looking for accountability out of players, teaching them what it is to be accountable in the standard of play.”

He was talking about things such as giving a consistent effort and not deviating from the Jackets’ hard-nosed, disciplined style of play, but the word accountable was a fitting choice. Just a minute earlier, Tortorella announced that rookie goalie Elvis Merzlikins, not Joonas Korpisalo, will start against the Canadiens on Tuesday night at the Bell Centre.

That was not the plan last week when the Blue Jackets left on this three- game trip. Korpisalo was supposed to start all three games and Merzlikins, who was assigned to the Cleveland Monsters, was supposed to get two starts in the .

He got one with the Jackets only because Korpisalo boiled over after two goals that eluded him Saturday in a 4-2 loss at the Colorado Avalanche.

After angrily firing the puck into the neutral zone following the first of Cale Makar’s two goals in the second period, Korpisalo again reacted angrily after a goal by Nazem Kadri late in the third. It was reminiscent of a stick- smashing tirade in a 7-4 loss Oct. 26 at Philadelphia, a scene that drew a reprimand and warning from Tortorella.

A bad bounce off Kadri’s slapshot made it 4-2 with 2:06 left to play, and Korpisalo violently smashed his goalie stick into the crossbar. He also fired another puck into the neutral zone and took a final one-armed swipe at the right post.

“Through Korpi’s actions … Korpi sits, Elvis plays,” Tortorella said. “That’s all I have to say about it.”

It comes down to the accountability the Blue Jackets are trying to instill. They have won only one of the past six games (1-4-1), but the only way out of the pit is to dig in unison.

“Through a tough stretch right now, I think it’s important (that) instead of leaning into people, I think we need to do it together,” Tortorella said. “I think we’ve got to try to get out of this together, so that’s the way we’re trying to go about our business.”

Korpisalo is being “leaned into,” now but understands why. Controlling his emotions is something he has strived to improve since his junior-level days in Finland.

“It’s kind of always been there, but it’s how you contain it (and) how you work through it,” said Korpisalo, who had another talk with Tortorella after the latest blowup. “That’s the key thing, I guess. It’s part of the business too. You want to play with emotion. I think it’s a good thing, but just to control it a little bit.”

Perception is the biggest problem. Without context, goalie tirades can be misconstrued by teammates, coaches and opposing teams alike.

“That’s the thing,” Korpisalo said. “I never blame anyone (other) than myself. It’s the same thought. Nothing new. Just got to get better at it.”

Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161158 Columbus Blue Jackets out of the lineup as a punitive measure after having another on-ice meltdown in Saturday’s 4-2 loss to Colorado.

Does Merzlikins get to keep the net given the way he’s played? Or do Portzline: 10 observations from the Blue Jackets’ 3-2 shootout loss to they go back to Korpisalo being the clear No. 1 goaltender after a one- Montreal game cooling-off period?

Tortorella would not discuss the issue Tuesday, so stay tuned.

By Aaron Portzline Nov 12, 2019 “Elvis has played really well for us,” Werenski said. “Chicago, St. Louis and now Montreal. We can close it out. He’s battled hard for us and given us a chance to win all those games.

MONTREAL — Ten observations from the Blue Jackets’ 3-2 shootout “We have to get a win. He’s working hard for us. We have to find a way.” loss Tuesday in Montreal: 3. Eric Robinson breaks through 1. An empty feeling Robinson came into the game with 20 shots on goal in his 14-game NHL When the Blue Jackets left Columbus one week ago, they had a five- career, including five or six Grade A scoring chances that somehow game losing streak as part of their baggage. Here’s guessing they would failed to get past a goaltender. have grudgingly accepted three points on this three-game trip through the desert, the mountains and the snowy north. But when you have wheels like Robinson, you have to know it’s going to happen at some point. Still, Tuesday’s 3-2 shootout loss to the Canadiens in Bell Centre felt like a kick in the groin. At 16:46 of the first, Emil Bemstrom gathered a loose puck to Price’s right and found Robinson alone in the low slot for a bang-bang goal that lit the The Blue Jackets generated 35 shots on goal — stop me if you’ve heard lamp in Bell Centre. this one before — but couldn’t get enough pucks past Montreal goaltender Carey Price, who was fantastic. It gave the Blue Jackets a 1-0 lead they carried until early in the third period. The game was right there for the Blue Jackets to grab. But they couldn’t hold a late 2-1 lead, allowing Montreal to score an extra-attacker goal 1-0 #CBJ with 40.2 seconds remaining, and they couldn’t capitalize on a full two- ERIC ROBINSON GETS HIS FIRST NHL GOAL AFTER BEMSTROM minute four-on-three power play in overtime. RECOVERS THE REBOUND OF A WERENSKI SHOT AND FEEDS Seth Jones sailed a 200-foot clear down the length of the ice in the final ROBINSON. PIC.TWITTER.COM/RZ0RFQZ8MM minute of regulation. Instead of skidding into the vacated Canadiens — ALISON (@ALISONL) NOVEMBER 13, 2019 bench for a 3-1 Columbus lead, it skipped about 3 inches wide. “It’s a relief,” Robinson said. “I felt like it was never going to happen. To “That’s the way it’s going for us right now,” defenseman Zach Werenski see one go in, it felt pretty good.” said. The Blue Jackets grabbed the puck for him as a keepsake. He was In the shootout, Price stopped Cam Atkinson, Gustav Nyquist and Oliver posing for pictures with it in the postgame dressing room. Bjorkstrand, with Atkinson’s shot coming the closest. It hit off the post behind Price and caromed wide. The fact he scored in one of hockey’s most passionate markets and beat one of the NHL’s top goaltenders only made it more special. But the fact Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins stopped shootout attempts by the Blue Jackets lost? Paul Byron (first round) and Nick Cousins (third) but allowed a Jonathan Drouin backhand between his pads in Round 2. “The disappointment of not getting the two points, that’s where my head is right now,” Robinson said. “But the first goal is something I can look “We had over 20 scoring chances in the game,” Blue Jackets coach John back on in the future and appreciate.” Tortorella said. “We didn’t finish. We have the game in hand, just can’t get it done at the end. 4. Ryan Murray avoids injury on scary play

“That’s just the way it’s going.” Earlier in the day on Tuesday, the Blue Jackets activated defenseman Ryan Murray from injured reserve after he missed six games with a HTTPS://T.CO/FXJMT6UC8P PIC.TWITTER.COM/PCW9UEMYYH broken bone in his hand. — ALISON (@ALISONL) NOVEMBER 13, 2019 Most people reading this blog will know of Murray’s unfortunate injury The Blue Jackets went 1-1-1 on the road trip. Not awful, but not good history, so what happened late in the third period on Tuesday seemed enough after opening with a win in Arizona. like just another chapter in cosmic cruelty.

2. Elvis Merzlikins and an elusive first win Murray twisted in the slots as Montreal’s Cale Fleury loosed a shot from above the right circle. The puck nailed Murray on the side and back of his Since his NHL debut debacle in Pittsburgh, Elvis Merzlikins has a .919 right knee, and he crumpled to the ice. save percentage and 2.45 goals-against average. But his three starts have resulted in an overtime loss in Chicago, an overtime loss in St. RYAN MURRAY TAKES A SHOT TO THE RIGHT KNEE AND GOES Louis and now a shootout loss in Montreal. DOWN IN PAIN. HELPED OFF BY HIS TEAMMATES. #CBJ PIC.TWITTER.COM/G4BKX40FGP “I’m tired of that,” Merzlikins said. “I think it means I’m on the right way, doing the right work with (goaltending coach) Manny (Legace). — ALISON (@ALISONL) NOVEMBER 13, 2019

“I think it’s like … the season is still long, but we need wins. This club After less than a minute on the ice, he skated off with the help of needs wins, and my job is to give them those. They gave me three defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov under his left arm and forward Boone chances (the OT losses), and I was close. But that means something is Jenner under his right. missing. I’m going to figure out what is missing and try to change it.” “It was a bit (scary),” Murray said. “Yeah, a little bit. I couldn’t put any Asked earlier if his solid play made the shootout loss more palatable, weight on it at all until I got back here (to the dressing room). Merzlikins was quick to say, “No, I’m going to be happy when I’m going to “Once I started moving it and stretching it, I was like, ‘OK, it’s going to be bring the (first-win) puck to my mom.” OK.'” It’ll be interesting to see who gets the start on Friday in Nationwide Arena Murray took a quick twirl late in the second intermission, then was on the against the Blues. bench for the start of the third. He played 21:16 … and blocked two more The Blue Jackets have used Merzlikins only when starter Joonas shots the rest of the game. Korpisalo needed a break, but that changed on Tuesday. Korpisalo was 5. Now that’s Josh Anderson Josh Anderson has not looked like himself lately. He’s still big and he still The Blue Jackets played the first game Tuesday without captain Nick skates well, but he hadn’t been offensively dangerous and he hadn’t Foligno after the captain was suspended three games for a hit Saturday been a physical menace for quite a while. on Colorado’s Pierre-Edouard Bellemare.

It prompted many — visiting beat writers, NHL scouts, etc. — to wonder if Foligno was expecting a night off. But three? he was playing through an injury. “I’m disappointed in that, big time,” Foligno said. “I respect the decision; Tortorella made it clear after Tuesday’s morning skate that Anderson was obviously, they have to keep our league safe. I just think with my past (no healthy and just one of many Blue Jackets players in an early-season previous suspensions) and with how unintentional it was, I just thought malaise. that wouldn’t be the case. But they made their ruling. You have to respect it. You don’t have to like it, but you have to respect it.” TWO , JUST CATCHING UP…OR SOMETHING. PIC.TWITTER.COM/GNXMKHTO07 Foligno will miss Friday’s game versus St. Louis and Tuesday’s rematch with Montreal. — ALISON (@ALISONL) NOVEMBER 13, 2019 “It sucks, more just right now with our team,” Foligno said. “I want to be In fact, Tortorella was said to have given Anderson a stern talking to there. I need to be there. That’s what pisses me off more than anything. recently regarding his play. It appeared to stoke him on Tuesday, when he was all over the Canadiens. “It’s a crucial time of our season, and I’m not able to be around the guys and make an impact. That’s what stings the most.” Anderson had three shots and led the way with six hits versus the Canadiens, his most noticeable game in weeks. He had at least two 9. Kopisalo: “That’s about it for the stick slamming.” spats with Montreal’s Max Domi, including one that ended with Anderson holding Domi in a full headlock. Korpisalo said he’s done letting his emotions get the best of him. As mentioned above, he was given a night off on Tuesday after losing his “He knows he has to play better,” Tortorella said. “(Physicality) is a big cool on the ice in Denver. He also had a stick-smashing tirade two weeks part of his game.” earlier in Philadelphia.

6. The struggle with six-on-fives “I want to play with emotion,” Korpisalo said, “but not give them a reason to get pissed off at me again. That’s about it for the stick-slamming. It’s The Blue Jackets have allowed three six-on-five goals this season, but pretty clear now.” Tuesday’s by Tomas Tatar was hard to digest. Korpisalo slammed his stick and fired the puck down the ice after a Nick Suzuki tried to sneak the puck across the royal road from the left defensive breakdown allowed Colorado’s Cale Makar to sneak wide open circle, but the puck kicked back to him after getting stopped by a crowd of and give the Avs a 2-1 lead. players in the slot. It was a rifle shot on the crossbar, not one Korpisalo — or any goaltender Suzuki faked a shot, then tried the same pass across the slot and — could be reasonably expected to make. watched it find its target. Tatar got low for more muscle and blasted it into the net before Merzlikins could recover. “It’s a great shot,” Korpisalo said. “But I knew he was going high glove. That’s what that was, just, ‘I knew it!’” AND TATAR TIES IT UP WITH 40 SECONDS TO GO IN REGULATION #CBJ PIC.TWITTER.COM/X01UUFVEZZ When Nazem Kadri scored the 4-2 goal late in the game, Korpisalo bashed his stick twice and sent the puck screaming down the ice again. — ALISON (@ALISONL) NOVEMBER 13, 2019 That puck took a strange bounce after it was deflected by Jackets “It’s a breakdown,” Werenski said. “It goes through our box, through all of defenseman Seth Jones, skipping off the ice and floating over Korpisalo’s our guys. The pass … one of the things we pride ourselves in is not glove. letting it get through the seam. “That was a crazy bounce,” Korpisalo said. “That’s crazy. It hits the stick, “It gets through, and that’s a hard save for Elvis to make. We have to find hits the ice … I’ve never seen that before in my life. a way to make sure the puck doesn’t come through (the circles).” “It was 100 percent the bounce (that I was mad about). Jonesy made a The bigger issue for Merzlikins, he said, was the screen set in front by great play. If you see the replay, it’s huge hustle by Jonesy. He was Cousins. He simply didn’t see the puck. And when Suzuki faked a shot, trying to help me out. ” he fixated on the puck being to his right. Korpisalo said his anger was purely at his own play: “Two goals got “(Suzuki) tried to shoot it, but he didn’t have the angle,” Merzlikins said. “I behind me with two minutes left. It sucks. But it’s not the reaction I saw the guy coming then for the screen. What are you going to think? wanted. It’s emotion. I’m working on it.” You are going to think that he is again going to shoot it. 10. Sugar cubes

“I was focusing on that shot. That’s my mistake. I completely forgot and Atkinson is struggling to score, but Tortorella is sticking with him. He didn’t respect the guy on the far side (Tatar), the one-timer. But the guy played 21:20 on Tuesday, most among all forwards, and was the first guy in front of me did a great job. I didn’t see anything.” out of the shootout. … The Blue Jackets flew home last night after the 7. First shootout of the season game and are off on Wednesday. Back to practice on Thursday. … The Blue Jackets sent defenseman Adam Clendening back to AHL Cleveland In their 18th game of the season, the Blue Jackets finally reached a before the game, clearing a roster spot to activate Murray from IR. … D shootout. There are still five teams — Anaheim, Colorado, Detroit, Los Scott Harrington was a healthy scratch, along with forward Kole Angeles and Minnesota — that have settled all of their business so far Sherwood. this season in regulation or OT. Alison Lukan’s analytics Tortorella has always said he picks his shooters based on who he thinks has played well in that game, so the lineup can vary greatly from The Athletic’s Alison Lukan provided these insights into the Blue Jackets’ shootout to shootout. shootout loss:

Atkinson, with a 15-of-40 (37.5 percent) track record, is a no-brainer. The margins remain incredibly thin for the Blue Jackets. In this game, Nyquist, a free-agent acquisition, figures to see plenty of looks, too. With they lost the quantity battle with just 44.33 percent of all five-on-five shot last night’s miss, he’s 14-of-44 (31.8 percent). attempts. Columbus also toed the line in terms of scoring chance share (49.99 percent) and overall quality (49.9 percent of expected goals). Bjorkstrand, the third-round shooter, would figure to be a threat on the When it was all said and done, the expected goal total, according to shootout, with one of the best shots on the club. But he’s only 1-0f-8 MoneyPuck, was 2.34 to 1.88 in favor of the Habs. (12.5 percent) with Tuesday’s miss. In terms of play in net, Merzlikins played well. He saw slightly more Hate to say it, but they really miss that one guy. unblocked shot attempts (46) than his counterpart, Carey Price (44), and performed right up to expectations, allowing just .01 more goals than 8. Foligno “disappointed, big time” in three-game suspension expected. Price was able to prevent .45 goals more than expected. While they played limited minutes (7:03), Riley Nash’s line, which included Eric Robinson and Emil Bemstrom, tiled the ice the most of any forward group. They had 81.41 percent of expected goals and went +3 in scoring chances and +6 in shot attempts. It’s worth noting Nash was the only Blue Jacket on the ice for both goals for and none against.

Quick special-teams notes: While the power play could not produce a goal, there was progress for a squad trying to find its way. The Blue Jackets’ power play had seven scoring chances while allowing none; and on the other side, the penalty kill was closer to its historical power-killing ways. Playing a man down, Columbus owned the shot quality battle (53.47 percent of expected goals) in four minutes of time.

The top Blue Jackets in terms of game score: Riley Nash (2.22), Eric Robinson (2.04), Zach Werenski (1.97), Emil Bemstrom (1.93) and Cam Atkinson (1.17).

— Data via MoneyPuck, Evolving-Hockey and Natural Stat Trick and reflects score and venue adjusted five-on-five play unless otherwise stated.

The Athletic LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161159 Dallas Stars Seguin said he’s entered some games thinking about results, but most of the time about winning faceoffs and being in the right position on the ice.

“But I got to try to find a better balance, I guess,” Seguin said. “Because, Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn are no strangers to internal criticism. Will obviously, when you’re looking at an 18-game segment, there’s more bad they respond the way they did last season? than good right now. I can be accountable and take ownership of that. Monty came in today and apologized today. I didn’t necessarily need the apology. I understand. I understand I got to get better. Try to turn it around tomorrow night.” By Matthew DeFranks Odds and ends: Forward Mattias Janmark did not practice Tuesday

afternoon in Calgary and is doubtful to play against the Flames because CALGARY, — Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn said they didn’t of a lower-body injury. The team recalled forward Nick Caamano from need an apology. They got one Tuesday anyway. AHL affiliate Texas on Tuesday afternoon.

Two days after Stars coach Jim Montgomery criticized his two highest- -- Montgomery said defenseman Roman Polak is more of a possibility to paid players after an overtime loss to Winnipeg, Montgomery apologized play Thursday against Vancouver than Wednesday against Calgary as to Seguin and Benn before practice Tuesday in Calgary. he returns from a fractured sternum that has kept him out the last 17 games. “I talked to them today,” Montgomery said. “You know what, I told them that I was emotional after the game and I made a mistake. We win as a -- Montgomery said Ben Bishop is expected to start in goal against the team, we lose as a team. Not that I said their names, but everyone could Flames. figure out that I was disappointed with the outcome of the game. My Dallas Morning News LOADED: 11.13.2019 mistake and I apologized to the team for it today, and I apologized to them.”

After a 3-2 overtime loss to the Jets on Sunday, Montgomery was asked if he was disappointed in the scoring of his top players and he replied “Very disappointed.” When asked if he was seeing progress, Montgomery said “No, are you?” Montgomery never mentioned Seguin or Benn by name, but at one point said “You need your No. 1 center, you need your No. 1 left winger to step up and do more.”

This season, Seguin has three goals but is actually tied for the team lead with 11 points through 18 games. Seguin has one goal in his last 13 games. Benn is goalless in his last 13 games, tying a career-long drought, and his only goal this season came on a power play more than a month ago.

Sunday was the 14th time in 18 games that the Stars (8-8-2) did not receive a goal from either Benn or Seguin.

“Coaches are allowed to say that stuff,” Seguin said. “I’m not losing sleep over it. I’m a great judge of my game too. I know when I’m not playing well. Obviously, results are needed in this game. It’s a results business. Results aren’t there right now. We’ve got to find new ways to contribute. I feel like defensively and as far as my position, I’ve been doing a decent job. I haven’t been finding the back of the scoresheet, so you respect the coach’s decision at all times.”

Benn said of Montgomery: “He’s right. There needs to be more expectations out of myself. We didn’t need an apology. It’s hockey, we’re all grown men around here. Leave it at that, we’re moving on.”

Seeing how Benn and Seguin respond to internal public criticism is not new for the Stars after the pair was ripped by CEO Jim Lites last season in late December. After Lites’ comments, Seguin finished with 48 points in the last 44 games, while Benn had 23 points in his last 40 games.

During Tuesday’s practice, as part of a shakeup to the forward lines, Seguin was moved to right wing on a line with Benn at left wing and Justin Dowling at center. In Montgomery’s 113 games as Stars coach, Seguin has started a game at right wing just once. Wednesday night in Calgary could be the second.

“You should get more offense being a winger,” Seguin said. “Obviously, you’re not all the way down in your own zone. No matter where you are on the ice, I’m doing to go out there and do my job, whether it’s the first- line center or fourth-line right wing.”

The Stars entered Tuesday as the third-worst offense in the league, averaging 2.39 goals per game. Last season, under Montgomery, the team was also the third-worst offense in the league. Instead of a potent offense, the Stars rely on stout defense and strong goaltending to win. Seguin was asked if it was a tough style of hockey to play.

“You’d like to see more offense,” Seguin said. “That’s a question for the coach, not me. I’d like to have more offense. The system is the system and when you’re winning games, you’re happy. So I don’t care if I get zero goals or 60 goals, if you win that game or those games that year, you’re successful, I’m all on board. That’s what I’m here for is to win hockey games.” 1161160 Dallas Stars Of all those great defensemen I played with, you created more holes and space than anyone. I’d bet if you asked Guy Lafleur or Steve Shutt they would look at those three, and all are great players, but I imagined they’d say “give me that Zubov guy because all he does is put the puck on your Craig Ludwig’s letter to Sergei Zubov: Every forward hoped the puck was stick when you are within five feet of the net.” on Zubie’s stick Can you imagine the stats you would have had if they kept all the analytics and numbers they keep today? Your exiting the zone. Your created offense and shot share, or whatever they call it. Can you imagine By Sean Shapiro Nov 12, 2019 those numbers? They’d be great.

There’s only a certain percentage of players that played in the late 90s Stanley Cup winner Sergei Zubov will be inducted into the Hockey Hall of that could step in and play today. Mike Modano could do it because he Fame on Monday. Playing 12 seasons in Dallas, he is the franchise’s all- could skate. We could name a few more, but Zubie, you are in a small time leader among defensemen in games, goals, assists, points, power- group. play goals, game-winning goals and time on ice. Playing alongside him Just think about the points you would have had if you played with some was Craig Ludwig. of these forwards that are as skilled now and that work on those skills, or Here are Craig Ludwig’s words on his teammate Sergei Zubov. better yet, are actually allowed to do things that create goals.

Zubie, And the thing about those point totals is you didn’t have to play with us. We were such a defensive-minded team. You probably drooled thinking You should take a smoke break during your speech. about a lot of the players that had the freedom and skill to do what they do now. Seriously, how great would that be? Two minutes into your speech, stop and light up a dart in front of the crowd. I’m sure at times it was really frustrating for you. Because you deserved to play with players that had the same understanding and IQ. It would be the classic of all times. Thank God Mario Lemieux got pissed at you and got you traded out of It’s hard not to think about how you smoked like a fucking chimney. After Pittsburgh. the game I remember you getting out of your gear so quickly. It was like you had a zipper on the front, and you were smoking in the shower. You I don’t think it ever got talked about how strong you were on the puck in would always say you didn’t. But we all saw the smoke, smelt it and saw your own end. You’d go into the corner with somebody and it wasn’t like the ashtray that was in there. it was any different than one of us bigger defensemen going into the corner – nobody could get away from you, and for the most part, you You should have played in the 60s where you could have smoked three came away with the puck. packs a day. And with what you did for my career, I’d be buying you a pack every day if we were still teammates. Typically you put a real defensive-minded guy with someone like Zubie to balance things out. They really didn’t need to do that with you. You were I had the luxury of playing with some great defensemen in my career. as good defensively as you were offensively, but you never got the Larry Robinson and Chris Chelios and you. It’s no wonder I got to play for accolades. such a long time. This honor is way overdue. Just like your jersey is way overdue in the All great players, but each one was totally different, and the first thing fucking American Airlines (Center), for god’s sake. that comes to mind is just how much skill you brought to the game. (NOTE: The Stars announced Zubov’s No. 56 would be retired next The ice that you had in your veins as a defenseman on the offensive blue season on Monday.) line scared the living shit out of me all the time. Because I’d be turning around going the other way expecting a turnover, and the next thing you We would often say, “Can you believe they haven’t put Zubov in the Hall know, I’m making a big lap back because you’ve done something of Fame? This is fucking ridiculous.” incredible at the offensive blue line. It got frustrating when you would listen over the years where people Your patience with the puck. To be able to hold on and hold on and find a would talk on these sports shows and say, “here is who’s going to get spot or find an opening. When you talk to guys like Mo (Mike Modano) nominated,” and you never heard Zubie’s name. It was like, wait a and Hully (), I’m sure you are the best defenseman they ever minute? Really? played with because you had an uncanny way of finding a hole or finding a seam that nobody saw. We would say, “if you are going in that It’s funny. Larry Robinson is in the Hall of Fame. Zubov is in the Hall of direction, keep going because Zubie is going to find the hole.” Fame. Guy Carboneau is in the Hall of Fame. Chelios is in the Hall of Fame. What do they all have in common? I remember we kind of had to talk Hitch (Ken Hitchcock) down sometimes because you would make certain plays through the neutral zone and They were roommates of mine. Hitch was a straight-line kind of coach where you don’t turn pucks over And when you and I were roommates, what’s that show called, The Odd there. Couple? It was like that but it didn’t last long. You probably said, “What But he didn’t give you shit. did I do to deserve this?”

He let you be Zubie, and that was my responsibility — to go to Hitch and I remember we were in New York and you left in the middle of the night. say, “Listen, there is a reason Rick Wilson has me playing with Zubie. The morning I got on the bus and asked what happened. You said, “Oh, Because of the 10 plays that he makes, eight of them are going to you never come in, you come in late, you make noise.” connect and send somebody in on a 2-on-1 one or a breakaway or I call bullshit. You were dead asleep each time. whatever. And the two that don’t, it’s my job and the goaltender to take care of that 2-on-1.” I could call up six teammates and five of them would meet us at the bar, and you would be the one that didn’t. And I give you credit for that, that It was also amazing how you would play east-west. Your feet wouldn’t was you and you knew what you had to do to make sure we won. move, but you seemed to pick up speed all the time. We didn’t have a lot in common, but it seemed like you were always I don’t get it. interested in what we did the night before when we got to practice or the I don’t know the physics of it and I don’t understand it. game the next day. You’d just be listening and smiling and shake your head and laugh and then probably go, “these guys got a fucking There are guys that pick up speed, like Paul Coffey, but Coffey was a problem.” guy that much like Connor McDavid picked up speed going north-south. Zubie, you would pick up speed going east-west, and you just slowed the I remember in the playoffs, it’s when you are eating Sudafeds like they game down to your pace and your speed and allowed other players to are Tic Tacs, and you are gassed and all this kind of shit. But Zubie didn’t find a hole. need anything, he was a machine. I’d start trying to run around the first couple of shifts and I couldn’t even tell you my name with all the shit we were doing, and you’d come back and say, “You have to calm down. Calm down. Where are you going?”

And you know what, I think the reason you were the perfect partner for me is I never had to worry about getting the puck back. You’d rather throw it back to Belfour than give it to me. It was great.

The first thing you think before you get the puck when you play with a guy like that is, “Where is Zubie?” And whether he’s 10 feet or two feet away, you give it to him. Because analytically, we know the play is going to come out of the zone a lot easier on your stick than mine. Mine is going to come off the glass, yours is going to be a saucer pass up the middle or across the ice right on somebody’s tape.

I know for a fact that every forward thought that when we were on the ice as a pair. They were hoping the puck was on Zubov’s stick and not mine.

As I said before, this is an honor that should have come a long time ago. It’s well deserved and I’m glad we don’t have to wait any longer.

Craig Ludwig

The Athletic LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161161 Detroit Red Wings

Game thread: Red Wings beat Ducks in OT, 4-3

Kirkland Crawford, Detroit Free Press Published 5:03 a.m. ET Nov. 12, 2019 | Updated 2:20 a.m. ET Nov. 13, 2019

Detroit Red Wings (6-12-1, 13 points) vs. Anaheim Ducks (9-8-1, 19 points)

When: 10 p.m.

Where: Honda Center, Anaheim, California.

TV: Fox Sports Detroit-plus.

Radio: WXYT-FM (97.1; other radio affiliates).

BOX SCORE

Game notes: This week, the Wings are making their annual trek out to California (and just in time, considering the snow). Detroit has won two in a row, most recently a 3-2 win over Vegas on Sunday night.

Injury update: Abdelkader (mid-body injury) out 3 weeks; Givani Smith recalled

Detroit Free Press LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161162 Detroit Red Wings Silfverberg knocked in a loose puck through Bernier just 20 seconds into the second period, the game’s first goal, his eighth.

Anaheim pushed the lead to 2-0 just 29 seconds later, when Mahura took Red Wings cap improbable comeback in overtime over Anaheim advantage of a Wings mix up on defensive coverage and snapped a shot from the point past Bernier, Mahura’s first goal.

Fowler made it 3-1 with his fourth goal, taking a good feed from Ryan Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News Published 1:24 a.m. ET Nov. 13, 2019 | Getzlaf and beating Bernier wide from the hashmarks. Updated 2:32 a.m. ET Nov. 13, 2019 Smith mixes it up

Givani Smith, recalled from Grand Rapids Monday morning, got into his Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin (71) celebrates after scoring the first NHL fight late in the first period, tangling with Anaheim’s Nicolas tying goal past Anaheim Ducks goaltender Ryan Miller during the third Deslauriers. It came right off the faceoff, after Anthony Mantha and period. Anaheim’s Ryan Getzlaf earned matching slashing penalties.

The start of a three-game road trip through California began on a thrilling, Injury update successful note Tuesday night for the Red Wings. Defenseman Patrik Nemeth was a late scratch because of illness. With Dennis Cholowski scored the winning goal in overtime, at 2 minutes 4 Nemeth out, entered the Wings’ lineup. Luke Glendening seconds, capping a huge, 4-3 comeback victory, the Wings' third (hand) continued to skate, participating in the morning skate. Danny consecutive win. DeKeyser and Justin Abdelkader are both out.

Robby Fabbri continued his impressive play for the Wings, patiently Next finding Cholowski heading down ice, and Cholowski snapped the winner, Cholowski's second goal, past goalie Ryan Miller. The Wings visit Los Angeles Thursday (10:30 p.m./Fox Sports Detroit/97.1) in the middle game of this three-game California trip. The Wings forced overtime when Dylan Larkin tied the score with 36.4 seconds left in regulation, with the Wings enjoying a 6-on-3 man Detroit News LOADED: 11.13.2019 advantage, having pulled goalie Jonathan Bernier and forcing the Ducks into two hooking penalties.

Filip Hronek and Andreas Athanasiou had second-period Wings goals — there were five total goals scored in the period — and Tyler Bertuzzi had a pair of assists, while Bernier stoped 23 shots while backstopping all three victories.

Jakob Silfverberg, Josh Mahura and Cam Fowler (Farmington) had Anaheim goals.

Here are other highlights from Tuesday’s game:

Detroit's goals

Hronek scored his fourth goal, cutting the Ducks lead to 2-1 at 11:33 of the second period. Hronek fired a one-timer from the dot off a Madison Bowey feed.

Late in the second period, Andreas Athanasiou sliced Anheim’s lead to 3- 2 with his third goal. Athanasiou, parked in front of the crease, got his stick on Valtteri Filppula’s shot from the top of the slot, and redirected the puck past goalie Ryan Miller.

Larkin tied it with the Wings enjoying a 6-on-3 man advantage, knocking a loose puck past Miller with just under 37 seconds left in regulation time.

Cholowski then won it in overtime, on a feed from Fabbri, beating Miller from just inside the circle.

Fabbri impresses

The newly acquired Fabbri continued his impressive play since being acquired last week.

Fabbri earned his second consecutive winning assist, and earned a point for a third consecutive game since joining the Wings.

Playing on a line with Andreas Athanasiou and Valtteri Filppula — who was particularly impressive Tuesday, with an assist and fine night in the faceoff circle — Fabbri has strengthened the Wings' lineup in a variety of ways in a small sample size.

Bernier wins

That's three wins in three starts for Bernier, who stopped 23 shots and kept the Wings in the game in the second period as Anaheim threatened to pull away.

Coach said last week neither Bernier or Jimmy Howard grabbed hold of the No. 1 job through most of the first quarter of the season, but Bernier has over the last week.

You can sense Bernier getting more comfortable and confident — as is the team — over the last several games.

Anaheim goals 1161163 Detroit Red Wings "We never stepped on each other from Day One, we always seemed to have a pretty good rhythm," Kal said. "You never know how the chemistry is going to be as to how you call the game, but from Day One, we never really stepped on each other, it's always been a good flow to In 25th season together, Ken Kal, Paul Woods share passion for Red the broadcast. Wings, broadcasting "The other thing is, Paul is so knowledgeable about the game. He's like an encyclopedia. He also let me do my own thing. He never said something like 'Bruce did it this way, or that way'. He just let me be me, Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News Published 5:43 p.m. ET Nov. 12, 2019 | and as an announcer, that's all you can ask for." Updated 5:43 p.m. ET Nov. 12, 2019 Color commentator Paul Woods, left, and play-by-play announcer Ken

Kal, work in their studio above the ice before the start of a game last Detroit — The team is losing more than it’s winning, the schedule is long week at in Detroit. and grueling (that never changes), and the workload never eases. The ability of Woods to dissect every NHL roster, know information about But, don't don’t think for a second Ken Kal and Paul Woods are going to every player, is staggering to those around him. complain. "It really is amazing," Riger said. "He knows every player in the league, They aren’t. They never will. Celebrating their 25th season together — knows everything about everyone. The detail is unbelievable." the longest-running radio team in Detroit Red Wings history — the two Woods had no interest in broadcasting when he retired, but was asked a veteran radio announcers' passion for the game of hockey remains as year after retiring by the Wings, and gave it a try. strong as ever. "I wasn't thinking about doing it at all; I didn't spend much time with the Simply put, they love doing what they do. media when I was playing," Woods said. "I don't think I even enjoyed it “I still get excited about calling hockey games,” said Kal, hours before the the first couple of years. But it was good to be part of the game, and do Wings faced the Boston Bruins last week. “When they’re (the Wings) something with hockey, and slowly it began changing. winning, it’s great. But even when they’re not winning games, I love "You understand what is going on, what needs to be done, and the broadcasting hockey games. Every game is different, you never know preparation that needs to be done, and just like playing, you start to like what is going to happen, and it’s just exciting for me, to get in the booth the preparation and the work and it becomes easier and you enjoy it and start describing the action.” more." While it’s been 25 years for Kal, Woods now is in his 36th season overall, Kal is a lifelong Detroiter who graduated from Dearborn St. Alphonsus having shared the booth with Bruce Martyn for over a decade before Kal (he played and still as a soft spot for baseball) and earned a took over. broadcasting degree from Wayne State. Kal's roots and passion for The game is part of Woods’ fiber, and everyone that knows him knows Detroit sports, Riger said, is another reason for Kal's popularity. that to be true. "He's so great to everybody. If you stop and talk to him, you could be “It becomes a part of your life,” said Woods, who went from playing with there for minutes, he has time for everybody," Riger said. "Great story: In the Wings for seven seasons to becoming a radio analyst a year after his neighborhood for Halloween, he'll get candy for the kids, then all the retiring. “I always enjoyed the game. When I was a young kid, I saw one dads hang out on his patio while the moms have to take the kids out NHL game live. My second game was me playing in it. So it has always trick-or-treating because Ken is telling stories and having beers on the meant a lot to me, it always has, when I see an NHL game. patio with the dads.

“It’s always exciting. It’s still interesting. I never get tired of it.” "He has time for everybody and he bleeds Detroit sports being a lifelong Detroiter." The two longtime voices of the Wings’ radio airwaves on WXYT (97.1 FM) have become synonymous with the team, a comfortable and Kal is adamant that he is, still today, a fan first and foremost. enjoyable reminder that it’s hockey season in Detroit. “I tell fans, “I am just like you, I love sports,'” Kal said. “The only Kal and Woods have their fun while broadcasting games, and make it difference is I call the games, but in reality, I am no different than the fans enjoyable for fans to listen to the games. But at the core of it, both guys out there. I want them (the Wings) to do well, I want the city to do well are fans of the game, can relate to what fans want and need, and and the I want the teams representing the city to do well. I like being in broadcast games accordingly. the stands, interacting with fans.

Jeff Riger, the 97.1 FM sports reporter and intermission host for Wings' "I'm one of them. I want them to win. broadcasts for the past 15 years, says he believes fans become drawn to "But you have to be professional and that means for me, my job is to call the humble and friendly tenor of Kal and Woods. the game and it’s not to editorialize or anything like that. I just call the "They are, and it comes across on the radio, two of the greatest guys game, and every now and then I might add something, but for the most you'll ever meet," Riger said. "They're awesome. When I first took over part, that’s what I’m paid to do. doing the intermission, they could not have been more accommodating. I “Describe the action out there.” learned so much from them. They're legendary. We have great broadcasters in Detroit, we have had Ernie Harwell, we have Dan Thus far, it hasn’t been a successful season for the Wings, who went Dickerson, who is great, and Dan Miller is awesome, George Blaha has through a stretch of losing 12 of 13 games before winning two games done it forever, . over the weekend.

"But Ken and Paul are legends. The success (calling championship Woods, having been through some difficult NHL seasons himself, Wings games), the memories. Not to mention, they're buddies. They understands what players go through. It also lends perspective to what work well off each other. Without sounding too cheesy, they're great announcers and fans had an opportunity to watch for so many years with human beings." the Wings’ organization.

The two announcers are longtime friends, and before older, more weary “I feel so bad when they’re going through hard times because people bones came into play, they would regularly participate in winter sports don’t understand how much that affects (coaches and players). How when the Wings would go on western Canadian road trips. much it hurts them," Woods said. "It’s not like you just move on to the next game. It hurts. "Great fun, great memories," Kal said. “We’ve been blessed in Detroit to have so many good teams over the Now it's coffee or a pregame meal in the media room, primarily, usually years. To see those teams interact, and the education you get by talking about hockey. watching and seeing how things are done. The championship teams, Kal appreciates the smooth transition Woods made possible when Kal to they have this selflessness about them. It’s not about individuals, it’s stepped into the play-by-play chair. about the group. You think about (Steve) Yzerman and (Nick) Lidstrom, they were never above the fray, they were part of the team."

Neither Woods or Kal have any interest in retiring. Both plan on continuing as long as they're able to, and asked to.

You get the sense there will be more milestones than just the 25-year marker.

"Just seems like it was yesterday," Kal said. "Twenty-five years. Before you know it, here we are. Time does go by in a hurry."

Detroit News LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161164 Detroit Red Wings

Dennis Cholowski’s OT goal extends Red Wings’ win streak to three

The Associated Press

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Dylan Larkin scored the tying goal during a 6-on-3 advantage with 37 seconds left in regulation, and Dennis Cholowski scored with 2:56 on the clock in overtime to send the Detroit Red Wings to their third straight victory, 4-3 over the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday night.

After Ducks defensemen Brendan Guhle and Korbinian Holzer took penalties 21 seconds apart in the waning moments of regulation, Larkin scored from a sharp angle while the Red Wings had three extra skaters on the ice with their goalie pulled.

Cholowski then got his second goal of the season on a long shot past Ryan Miller, who made 32 saves for Anaheim.

Detroit has its first three-game winning streak this season after winning for just the fourth time in 16 games.

Jakob Silfverberg, Josh Mahura and Cam Fowler scored in the second period for the Ducks, who fell to 2-2-2 on their seven-game homestand. Ondrej Kase and Adam Henrique had two assists apiece, but Anaheim lost for the first time in seven games this season when scoring at least three goals.

Filip Hronek and Andreas Athanasiou scored in the second period for the Red Wings, and Jonathan Bernier stopped 24 shots against his former team.

After a scoreless first period, Silfverberg and Mahura scored 29 seconds apart for Anaheim in the opening minute of the second. Silfverberg hacked at a loose puck underneath Bernier to get his eighth goal of the season, and Mahura put a long shot past a screen.

Hronek connected for his first goal in seven games, but Fowler answered with a slick shot off a cross-ice pass from Ryan Getzlaf. Athanasiou scored late in the second with a slick deflection of Valtteri Filppula's shot.

NOTES: Red Wings D Patrik Nemeth sat out for the first time all season due to an illness. Alex Biega made his sixth appearance of the season in Nemeth’s spot. ... F Justin Abdelkader sat out for the first time since sustaining a mid-body injury that will keep him out for three weeks. Givani Smith returned from the minors and fought Anaheim’s Nic Deslauriers in the first period. ... Holzer prevented a goal from Anthony Mantha by getting his stick in front of Mantha’s shot at a wide-open net in the second period. ... Guhle made his first appearance for the Ducks since Oct. 27. Michael Del Zotto was scratched to make room.

UP NEXT

Red Wings: Visit the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday.

Ducks: Host the San Jose Sharks on Thursday.

Michigan Live LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161165 Detroit Red Wings “Somebody’s going to be (the 13th forward) and potentially 14 (on any given night),” Blashill said. “That’s just the reality. Somebody’s sitting out. I don’t necessarily think that we’re sitting here today and saying, ‘OK, we’re going to have Taro out for an extended period of time.’ I don’t think How should the Red Wings handle Taro Hirose right now? Taro played poorly. I think he wasn’t able to be as effective offensively as he had hoped to start the year. Doesn’t mean he can’t be later on, and so

right now he’s just kind of the odd guy sitting out. But we’ll see. We’ll take By Max Bultman Nov 13, 2019 that day by day and see if he gets in here soon. If he gets in here soon, then he’ll have to play well.”

A big part of the current dynamic is the Red Wings’ power-play situation. It might not be the most pressing topic of the moment — considering the Hirose’s skill set is especially dangerous when he has time to set up and sudden three-game winning streak currently taking hold for the Red make plays in the offensive zone, such as a well-placed seam pass for a Wings out West — but Tuesday’s dramatic comeback win over Anaheim one-timer. That’s still been the case at times on the man advantage this was the third straight game in which young winger Taro Hirose has been season, and his five power-play assists are tied for the team lead, even a healthy scratch for Detroit. with this absence.

As long as the team’s winning, that will likely continue to fly relatively But with Fabbri now in Hirose’s old spot on the top power-play unit (and under the radar, especially as newly acquired winger Robby Fabbri (who having some success there early) and the second unit trotting out essentially bumped Hirose out of the lineup upon his arrival) continues to Athanasiou and Filip Hronek at the two flank spots to which Hirose is thrive. best suited, he is somewhat squeezed there, too.

But from a bigger-picture perspective, how the Red Wings handle Hirose That fits with the thrust of Blashill’s point: that Hirose hasn’t played badly, in the coming days and weeks is one of the more interesting storylines of he just wasn’t productive enough to hold firm on his lineup spot when the young season so far. The 5-foot-10 winger was one of the biggest Fabbri’s arrival forced a reshuffling. It also doesn’t sound permanent. But surprises of last season’s final month, when he entered the lineup Hirose’s still a young enough player that it’s fair to wonder if the team straight out of Michigan State as a college free agent, then proceeded to might need to consider finding ways to get him back playing soon. It’s post 7 points in 10 games. On a Red Wings team in need of promising been just a week since his last game, so it’s not necessarily urgent, but young scorers, that made him one of the biggest storylines through the with each passing game, that question becomes fairer to ask. summer, training camp and preseason, when he locked down a roster spot and was earning first-power-play reps. If the big concern is finding ways to get him back into the most optimal roles, one option, whenever Hirose gets his next shot, might be to move Now, though, Hirose has been finding himself on the outside of the lineup Hronek to the quarterback spot on the second unit, where Mike Green looking in. And still early into his pro hockey career, it’s worth exploring has been, and slide Hirose back onto the left flank. At the same time, the circumstances and how the Red Wings could, or should, handle him. though, that would remove Hronek from the one-timer-friendly spot at He’s still on an entry-level contract, so he would be exempt from waivers which he’s been very dangerous for Detroit this season. if Detroit wanted to send him down and have him get some games in Grand Rapids. But at the same time, if the Red Wings don’t foresee his Hirose’s still one of Detroit’s 10 most dangerous offensive players, which absence from the lineup as a long-term one, then that kind of move might should normally mean power-play time, but the current configurations be more drastic than is warranted. help highlight how the nature of his skill set can limit him right now.

Part of the current situation has to do with the Red Wings’ suddenly “At Taro’s size and speed, he has to really learn how to be unbelievably crowded winger position. In adding Fabbri and Brendan Perlini via trade crafty, and I’m not saying you can’t — but, like, wall battles are really recently (sending out prospect Alec Regula and fourth-line center Jacob hard for him because he’s getting outmuscled,” Blashill said. “So he’s De La Rose), Detroit’s lineup looks a lot less opportune for Hirose than it gotta find ways to be unbelievably crafty to make sure he keeps did when he chose to sign with the team out of Michigan State last possession of the puck, he’s gotta find ways to be unbelievably crafty to spring. Entering the season, a good argument could have been made for win one-on-one puck battles, and that sometimes takes time. He had Hirose as the team’s fourth-best offensive winger. A top-six role looked played fine, but obviously we don’t score enough and our power play plausible, which was promising because his game — as a smart, creative wasn’t good enough, and he’s somebody that if he’s anything, he’s going playmaker — works best with other offensive-minded players. to be an offensive player, and he hadn’t quite been offensive enough.”

But with the addition of Fabbri in particular (who has thrived on the Blashill’s earlier comment seemed to suggest that a move sending second line with Andreas Athanasiou and Valtterri Filppula), Hirose’s Hirose to the AHL wouldn’t be imminent. And if there’s a good shot he’s options look limited to the third line or being scratched right now. That’s back in the lineup soon, that’s probably the right call. Sending him down largely because it wouldn’t be putting him or the team in a great position just to play one or two games in Grand Rapids wouldn’t do much for him to ask him to play the more hard-forechecking, grinding style of the Red anyway. But if things stay like this too much longer, there are fair Wings’ fourth line. arguments to made either way.

This is not to say the Red Wings don’t trust Hirose defensively. On the side of sending him down: He has yet to spend any time in the AHL, where he could theoretically work on building out more parts of his “He’s a very, very smart player,” Jeff Blashill said Monday. “He’s very game. He wouldn’t be totally out of place as a 23-year-old, and he could smart defensively. So I never had any worries of putting him on the ice conceivably get lots of playing time with some of Detroit’s more skilled against anybody, to be honest with you. I think he’s a really good prospects. The thought of Hirose setting up Filip Zadina (who has been defensive player.” playing well with Dominic Turgeon and Turner Elson of late) is a particularly intriguing idea, as is Hirose joining an already-effective Grand Still, when it comes to matching skill sets, it does make more sense to Rapids power play. put energy players with energy players at that part of the lineup. And from that standpoint, the current lineup has been easy to understand — On the side of keeping him up: If Detroit doesn’t see Hirose as struggling especially since Detroit has won three consecutive games against or as being too far off from his next playing time, then it might as well let Boston, Vegas and Anaheim since Fabbri’s arrival. him have another chance or two in the NHL lineup, whenever those chances arrive, to see if he can more consistently hit his stride again. It’s But that winning streak is also one of the things that makes it hard to not as though the Red Wings’ third line, which is currently being manned assess Hirose’s situation. On the one hand, with all the losing Detroit’s by Adam Erne, Frans Nielsen and Brendan Perlini (who among them already done this year, one can understand if it doesn’t want to mess have 0 points this season), has been productive anyway, and either of with an arrangement that’s resulting in wins. And to hear the Red Wings those two wingers could more naturally slot onto a checking line if need tell it, they don’t seem to think that Hirose’s lost his grip on a lineup spot be. long-term. That means the depth chart isn’t totally hopeless for Hirose. And, to But at minimum, he does not appear to be the nightly given that he was Blashill’s point, someone will always be on the outside looking in, and less than a month ago, which adds some pressure to make good on his Detroit’s current lineup composition means that’ll likely be a somewhat next opportunity. young player, no matter what. Right now, that means the somewhat uncomfortable “wait and see” will probably win the day. It’s a tough break for Hirose, and maybe in the end the tighter depth chart will have to amount to another arrangement. But if there’s any reason for encouragement there, it’s that the coaching staff isn’t sounding too down on him just yet.

“He’s made some plays. To be honest with you, they haven’t ended up in the net,” Blashill said. “That’s not necessarily his fault. He’s put pucks on guys’ sticks, and they haven’t ended up in the net. I just think, for whatever reason, offensively, he was able to have more success (last year). … I just know that he hadn’t been quite as productive, and I know that for a guy with his size and speed, if he’s not really productive, then he’s probably not bringing tons of other elements to the game. … In the end, he just wasn’t quite — for a short period of time, he hadn’t quite been as productive as I’d like him to be, and when he goes back in, I’m hoping he’s more productive.”

The Athletic LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161166 Detroit Red Wings a rookie). Those players would probably be too lofty of comparisons production-wise, because of how young they were.

Still, after whittling down the list, Hronek finds himself in some interesting Putting Filip Hronek’s impressive early-career production into context company.

P.K. Subban had 40 points in his first 79 career games (.51 PPG), 77 of which he played at age 21 in Montreal (though his 14 goals dwarf the By Max Bultman Nov 12, 2019 others in this group). Subban’s now-teammate in New Jersey, Will Butcher, had 44 points in his 81-game rookie season (.54 PPG), during

which he turned 23 midseason. Penguins defenseman Justin Schultz had One year ago this morning, Filip Hronek was down in the American 27 points in 48 games (.56 PPG) as a 22-year-old rookie in Edmonton, Hockey League, just a couple months removed from an NHL training though after two seasons his pace was right at Hronek’s same .49 PPG. camp in which he simply couldn’t get comfortable. And young Rangers defenseman Brady Skjei had 39 points in 80 games in his first full season as a 22-year-old rookie (after 0 in 7 in a brief NHL Not to defer to the beyond-cliche “what a difference a year makes,” but in stint the previous season). this case, how can you not? Nearly a quarter of the way through this season, Hronek is very much entrenched in the NHL, logging more There’s a nice range of eventual successes there, with Subban and his minutes on a nightly basis than any other Red Wings skater. He is Norris Trophy the obvious high end, but also a solid general floor for the scoring more than everyone on the team except the top forward line players who had the kind of early-career success Hronek is enjoying. (Anthony Mantha, Dylan Larkin and Tyler Bertuzzi), and is doing so while Butcher and Skjei both saw their scoring paces slow from those early taking on tough assignments against opponents’ top offensive players. heights, but Skjei has been the Rangers’ second-most deployed So, yeah: What a difference a year makes. defenseman so far this season (Butcher is fifth for New Jersey). Schultz has Norris votes to his name from his 51-point 2016-17 season. (So does “He’s playing amazing right now,” Mantha said Monday, before the Red Matt Carle, another player on the higher end of the production Wings headed off to California for three games this week. comparables, in 2010-11.)

With defensemen, however, it can sometimes be difficult to specify what Granted, point production has really nothing to do with style of play, “amazing” looks like in practical terms. For starters, the nature of the which is important here, but these are some of the few active names who position makes it a harder to statistically capture a player’s impact. have produced at the rate Hronek has early in his career. There’s also the fact that “good defense” sounds nebulous when you’re not looking right at it. Hronek does offer the benefit of being clearly The Penguins’ Justin Schultz had a similarly productive start to his career productive on offense (he has 32 points in 65 career games), but even as Filip Hronek. (Jerome Miron / USA Today) then: It’s all tricky to put into appropriate context. In any meaningful comparison, though, points are really just the surface “He looks like a guy that’s going to be a good, solid, top-four-type D,” of what someone is bringing to a team. So with those players identified, Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill said last week. “I’ve used Mark Giordano we can now go a step further with a couple of value-estimating stats. as a comparison for him, somebody that defends well, is hard, isn’t super The two measures I’ll reference are Evolving Hockey’s Wins Above big, isn’t super fast, but is able to defend well, be hard and obviously put Replacement (WAR), and the even-strength defense (EVD) component up a lot of numbers and run a good power play. Mark’s had an excellent of their Goals Above Replacement (GAR) stat — the former to isolate the career, and he’s only gotten better as the years have gone by. I think Fil players’ overall on-ice value, and the latter to hone in specifically on the looks like a guy who could build into a top-four D. Can he become Mark defensive end. (Here’s an overall explainer of their methodology with Giordano? I don’t know that. But nobody thought Mark Giordano was WAR-type stats for those interested.) going to be Mark Giordano 10 years ago.” Subban in his first full season at age 21 (2010-11): 1.1 EVD (GAR); 0.8 Now, it’s worth noting that Blashill followed that answer by saying WAR Hronek’s last couple of games to that point, losses to Florida and Nashville, hadn’t been as good. He made specific mention of the Butcher’s first full season at age 22/23 (2017-18): 2.8 EVD; 2.4 WAR pressure that came with manning the top defensive pair as such a young player. But still, Blashill said: “I like where he’s at. I think the future’s real Skjei’s first full season at age 22 (2016-17): 0.5 EVD; 2.7 WAR bright with him.” Hronek’s first 65 games at age 21/22 (2018-19/ 19-20 combined for 65 So with that in mind, and enough of an early-career sample to be games): 4.0 EVD; 0.9 WAR meaningful, it’s worth checking in on how Hronek’s first 65 games stack Schultz’s second full season* at age 23 in 2013-14: negative-6.5 EVD; up to others around the league, in an effort to project just how good he negative-0.3 WAR can be for the Red Wings. That comes with the usual caveats, since the sample is still small, the stats aren’t perfect, and the reality is that things * (Since having both of Schultz’s first two seasons would have given him can change quickly for young players. But sometimes, you have to throw substantially more games, and since his first season was just 48 games, caution to the wind in order to try and learn something. we’ll use Schultz’s second season only, in order to give the closest complete point of comparison to the others.) In that spirit, let’s start with a crude, but easily sortable, stat and find some comparable players for Hronek’s near half-point-per-game pace to By WAR, Hronek is in the middle of the pack here — which, again, is start his career at age 22. That specific half-point-per-game threshold already pretty solid company. His individual defensive component of holds no real meaning other than being a round number, so we’ll broaden GAR, however, actually grades out the best of all of the above names at it out to active players who averaged at least .45 points per game during this stage of their careers. His even-strength offense component last year their first two NHL seasons while at or under age 23 (minimum 50 seems to be holding him back a bit in the overall WAR category, which is games). Keep in mind, though, that Hronek could easily fall off that pace interesting, because only a quarter of Hronek’s career points have come between now and the end of the season. on the power play. Also noteworthy: He appears to have taken a step forward offensively at even strength this year (from negative-1.9 EVO last Using the phenomenal hockey-reference.com Play Index, what was year to 0.3 in 2019-20). intended to be a fairly broad search turned up … surprisingly narrow results. Just 22 “active” players met that criteria, and four of those Nonetheless, that mass of numbers there can be a bit dizzying, so let’s players haven’t actually played this year. Only 14 who had were at or get to the point, which isn’t to obsess over the minutia of those figures. above Hronek’s 0.49 points per game to start his career. (Though, if you want to, evolving-hockey.com is a fun place to spend a few hours). For these purposes, they’re really just there to provide Still, even with a relatively small field, some weeding out was necessary. context for the kind of start Hronek is off to, where it could lead, and what Erik Karlsson’s name, for example, came up pretty close to Hronek at that all means for the Red Wings. 0.53 PPG, but his first 60 career games came as a 19-year-old, making it a totally different level of accomplishment. Similar story for Aaron Ekblad, Unfortunately, Blashill’s comparison to Giordano is hard to explore who broke into the league at 18, Drew Doughty, Erik Johnson and Tyler statistically because advanced stats aren’t available prior to 2007, so Myers (19) as well as Charlie McAvoy (19, but turned 20 in December as Giordano’s earliest viewable GAR and WAR are from when he was already 25. It wasn’t until Giordano was 30 that he started getting Norris votes, but he’s gotten them in every season since, building up to his winning the trophy last season. And certainly, if Hronek even approached those heights, the Red Wings would have to be elated. But that’s all aspirational.

For now, it’s fine to be content with the simpler progress he’s made by earning this level of trust from the coaching staff, while continuing to produce at the rate he has. Over an 82-game season, Hronek would be on pace for about 39 points this year, a feat just 32 NHL defensemen accomplished last season.

That’s about one per team, so it makes sense that the Red Wings should have a player pushing for that production level, but that’s part of the franchise’s issue: It hasn’t had a defenseman hit that mark since Niklas Kronwall in 2014-15 (although Mike Green’s per-game pace was there in a couple of injury-shortened seasons). And the fact that Hronek’s defense is becoming reliable, on top of the scoring threat, is what gives him the potential to be the complete package once he develops more fully.

A tough-minutes defenseman who can still produce is a big piece for a rebuilding team to have in place.

Which brings us back to where Hronek is now, and the massive workload he’s logging.

“He’s been thrust into probably too much ice time,” Blashill said this weekend. “Because of the injury to (Danny DeKeyser), we don’t have lots of guys that are ahead of him, so he’s got to bite off tons of minutes, and hard minutes, but he’s doing a good job with it. Would I like to have him maybe backed off a little bit? Yeah, probably, at his age. But he’s also pretty mentally tough. … He’s got a good skill set. He’s really competitive. And he’s mentally tough. Those are good attributes.”

Mantha, for what it’s worth, thinks the biggest confidence-builder for the young defenseman was his performance at the IIHF World Championship last summer, where Hronek led all defensemen at the tournament with 11 points in 10 games for the .

But regardless of where it came from, Mantha has seen that progress show up on the ice so far this season.

“Just the confidence with the puck,” he said. “Making the right play. Before, it was maybe rushed a little bit more, and now he’s really taking the time to make the right play at the right time.”

Where that all leads is still tough to say in the grand scheme. Sixty-five games into his career, Hronek’s producing at a rate that puts him in intriguing company, but it’s still too early to know whether he’ll keep it up as the sample sizes, and challenges, continue to increase.

For now, though, when combined with the perspective from those who see him up close, there’s a picture coming into focus for the Red Wings’ top young defenseman. It’s still a bit hazy, with all the details coming more into view each game, but right now, Hronek’s future does indeed look bright.

The Athletic LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161167 Edmonton Oilers the 6-2 win in Anaheim. He pulled defenceman Joel Persson and forwards Markus Granlund and Gaetan Haas (who has two goals in four games) and replaced them with Brandon Manning, Sam Gagner and Joakim Nygard. Edmonton Oilers get disciplined in San Jose OLD-TIME HOCKEY

A little bit of fun in the second period when Sharks forward Tomas Hertl Robert Tychkowski stuck the hip out on Connor McDavid, sending the captain for a tumble. Interference, but nothing serious. That led to Zack Kassian stepping to

get at Hertl, nullifying the power play, and Brandon Manning getting SAN JOSE — As one fan put it so perfectly on Twitter: The Edmonton thrown out of the game for continuing throw punches at Barclay Goodrow Oilers moms weren’t mad, just disappointed. after the linemen stepped in to break up the fight.

And that had to hurt worse than the 6-3 wooden spooning the San Jose For good measure. Hertl scored the 5-1 goal as soon as he got out of the Sharks gave them Tuesday night in the SAP Center. box.

The Oilers thought they were past the point of having their pants pulled THE MACHINE down by NHL opponents, but they learned the hard way that if they’re not Leon Draisaitl extended his point streak to 10 games (during which time ready to play, they can still be embarrassed. And the red cheeks were he has nine goals and 11 assists) with a goal in the second period and everywhere after this one. an assist in the third, He’s been a machine this season, registering a “I think we weren’t ready,” said Leon Draisaitl in a stunned Oilers point in every game the Oilers played except the two they were shut out dressing room. “They start really strong here at home, everyone knows in. that coming in here, and we weren’t ready. Being down 3-0 in this GAME RELATED building is always hard to come back from. Smith got bombarded in the Edmonton net, five goals on the first 15 “We just got outplayed. We were sloppy and didn’t make the right shots, but he got zero help from the rest of his team. The Sharks were decisions with the puck. You never want games like that to happen, but walking in from the point, standing in front for deflections and parked by they happen. We have to take ownership and make sure we’re ready to the crease for rebounds, with nobody in white sweaters doing much to go coming home.” discourage any of it … Despite all the went wrong, the PK had a good It’s ironic because the Oilers came into this game playing their best night, going 4-for-4 to extend its run to 13 straight kills … Kassian scored hockey of the season, having beaten the New Jersey Devils 4-0 at home his second goal in two games. and the Anaheim Ducks 6-2 on the road to start the mothers trip, but this Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 11.13.2019 was a train wreck from the start, totally uncharacteristic of a team that has been turning a new page this season.

“It doesn’t matter what our record is, we don’t want to have games like this,” said defenceman Darnell Nurse. “We hold ourselves to a high standard, so games like this are unacceptable. It’s not a game we’re going to dwell on, but there are a lot of really good lessons we have to learn.”

All teams have face plants in an 82-game season, but this was as weak as anything the Oilers have shown all year, starting with defensive zone coverage that was straight out of the draft lottery years.

They were down 3-0 after 20, 5-1 after 40 and the third period was just San Jose playing out the string.

“I saw a team that was desperate and trying to get back in the race and a team that was content with where they were at,” said head coach Dave Tippett. “The desperate team usually wins those games. We got out- competed by a desperate team. It wasn’t a good effort by our group right through.

“It shows a little bit of the immaturity of the group to sustain things.”

The Oilers made it kind of interesting in the third, cutting it to 5-2 and then 6-3, but they couldn’t undo the self-inflicted early damage.

“We weren’t ready to go off the hop,” said Connor McDavid. “We made a couple of tries at it, we’d score one and they’d get one right away. It’s tough when you can’t build any momentum. Credit to them. They did everything right.”

The Oilers are still 12-6-2 on the season, still first in the Pacific, but this was ugly.

WHAT TIME IS PUCK DROP?

The Oilers have been getting out to quick starts lately, scoring first in six straight games, three of those in the first three minutes, but they weren’t ready to go in this one.

It was all San Jose out of the gate as they pressed the Oilers hard until they broke — three times in the first 12 minutes. Brent Burns made it 1-0 at 4:01, Evander Kane made it 2-0 at 7:27 and Patrick Marleau piled on at 11:12.

LINEUP CHANGES

Maybe it was an attempt to get everyone a game on the Mom’s trip, or maybe it was a hunch, but Dave Tippett made three lineup changes after 1161168 Edmonton Oilers score goals, except when you go out there on the penalty kill the urge is to stop the other team and maybe create some momentum that way.”

The penalty kill has evolved a great deal since the days when teams Pain and injury can't scare off Edmonton Oilers winger would sit in a box and wait for the attackers to come to them. Now it’s about creating pressure on the offensive team, giving them as little time to think and act as possible.

Robert Tychkowski “If you give guys time and space now, players are so skilled that they will be able to pick you apart,” said Sheahan. “Once a pass gets through a

seam, you kind of lose control. Our mindset is to pressure and not let SAN JOSE — The NHL hasn’t so much made a first impression in them have as much time with the puck.” Joakim Nygard as it’s laid a beating on him. There will be blips on the radar screen where they give up one or two in a Between the long, deep scar that runs along the side of his cheek and game, but there’s no question the PK has taken giant strides forward and the month he spent on the sidelines recovering from a rib injury, the 26- is no small part of the reason Edmonton is first in the Pacific. year-old’s first experience in the North American big leagues has been a “It’s another element of the game you try to be strong in,” said Sheahan. short and painful one so far. “In today’s NHL, special teams are a huge thing. If you have a successful But it hasn’t discouraged him one bit. In fact, his brief taste of the NHL, power play, which we’ve had, and a successful PK, it kind of gives you sour as it might be, has only heightened his desire to carve out a place an edge in winning games.” for himself here. Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 11.13.2019 “I have a lot of energy in me that needs out,” he said of his return to the Edmonton Oilers lineup Tuesday in San Jose. “I’m really glad to be back and playing again.”

He should have been playing his 20th game of the season Tuesday, but things don’t always work out the way a player, or his team, hope.

“It was just bad timing,” he said. “I hadn’t been injured for three years. Then I come here and get a skate blade on my face (in training camp) and then an injury on my back, but there’s not much you can do about it. Just rehab and keep going.”

He was just starting to get comfortable when the injury felled him on Oct. 14, now he has to get back up to speed again as quickly as possible, well aware that everyone else has a big head start.

“I had a couple of good games before my injury, now I’ve been out for four weeks,” said the speedy forward. “But it’s not like I’m starting all over. I have some experience. It’s just hockey. I’m going to skate, that’s what I do best. I don’t have to think so much.”

The one advantage he has is that he’s joining a team that’s playing some very good hockey, which makes it a much easier transition than if he were coming back to a loser. And, when he is up to pace, head coach Dave Tippett believes Nygard will add the kind of ingredients that the Oilers need more of.

“Speed and tenacity,” said Tippett. “When he got hurt he was just starting to come along. He’s one of those European players who is finding his way, but he has a lot of elements to become a good NHL player.

“It’s a process for them to go through, to learn the NHL game. They played their whole life in a European sized rink. It’s a whole different game over here. Things happen a lot quicker, it’s more physical. But he’s embraced all those things, those are big parts of his game.”

ALL GUTS, NO GLORY

When people talk about the penalty kill, it’s usually a bad thing because the subject only comes up when it’s leaking goals.

That’s why it was big news in Edmonton for about two years.

The Oilers have shored things up in that department this year, though, moving from 30th in the league last year to second now.

Still, there is no choice but to focus on it lately, after it killed four straight penalties in the second period in Anaheim to pave the way for a 6-2 Oilers victory.

“We take a lot of pride in it,” said winger Patrick Russell. “There’s a lot of video, a lot of repetition. You have to know when to pressure and when not to pressure, when to be in shooting lanes.

“We’ve found some really good combinations and our goalies have been great, too. You need that, sometimes, because they have a man advantage and they’re going to get some shots.”

A penalty kill can only be successful if the players involved embrace the job and that’s the culture the Oilers have now.

“The mindset is the main goal out there,” said centre Riley Sheahan. “It’s the same as the power play, where you go out there and have the urge to 1161169 Edmonton Oilers eight assists in 13 games and 79 points in his 81 Bakersfield games over the last two seasons.

“A lot of our offence goes through Tyler five-on-five. The goals he’s Edmonton Oilers prospects coming along nicely in Bakersfield scored haven’t been tic-tac-toe back-door tap-ins … they’ve been hard- charging ones where he’s gone to the blue paint. That’s a good sign for him, obviously,” said Woodcroft, acknowledging his terrific playmaking ability which is NHL calibre. Jim Matheson, Edmonton Journal The book on him has long been he has to improve his foot speed just a

touch, but he’s working on it. If Ethan Bear’s rise to playing 20 minutes a night with the Edmonton “Tyler’s gift to me is his work ethic. When he’s at the top of his game he Oilers shows anything, it’s this: getting to the NHL is often not very linear. has something to prove to all the people who question his skating ability Bear didn’t play a game for the Oilers last season and he has saved or his ability to stay healthy, or to go to hard areas,” he said. “His strength them this year with the broken fibula Adam Larsson suffered in Game 1. is trying to out-work opponents for his 40-second shift and as for his skating? Quickness is measured in different ways. I’ve coached players So, who knows when we’ll see their top prospect Evan Bouchard in a in the NHL who didn’t skate as well as Tyler. It’s how they process the game in Edmonton. Or Caleb Jones, who has been the one AHL game. I don’t see Tyler’s foot-speed being an impediment to him getting defenceman playing all situations. Or another D, William Lagesson, who to the NHL.” got his call-up but only practised for a couple of weeks before being sent back. Yamamoto had wrist issues last season which derailed his first pro year. But he’s been healthy, and if he only has nine points, he keeps getting There is no rush to see them in Edmonton — same with Tyler Benson or the Condors to the power play. Kailer Yamamoto at forward— and not just because the Oilers went into Tuesday’s game in San Jose 12-5-2, which shows they don’t need any “His scoring production has slowed in the last seven or eight games but cavalry coming. That said, if you pay your dues, and do what you can in that’ll get sorted out. He’s creating with his speed and getting in on the the AHL … the NHL team will notice. forecheck … He’s demonstrated this year a willingness to get his nose dirty. If you’re not ready to do that you rarely draw a penalty. He’s been “When you see Ethan Bear and Patrick Russell graduating up the food excellent on the cycle,” said Woodcroft. chain,” said Condors’ coach Jay Woodcroft, “it becomes easier to sell to the young players.” Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 11.13.2019

The Condors haven’t had their No. 1 goalie, Shane Starrett, for a month because of a groin issue. They’ve been without their top-six winger Joe Gambardella for a couple of weeks and centre Cooper Marody was out this past Saturday.

But, they’re 6-6-1, 3-1 in their last four.

Benson just got a hat trick and has 13 points in 13 games. Yamamoto has cooled off from his early start but has drawn more penalties than any other Condors player because he’s around the net. Jones, playing the right side as a left shot, plays against all the other team’s best players. Bouchard is coming along nicely. Stuart Skinner has taken the challenge and is the No. 1 in net, for now.

“It’s been a learning curve with the young defencemen. It’s a man’s league and we’re finding out that balance of learning how to manage pucks, make a good first pass, understanding when to join a rush, making the play that’s there … our D corps has been a work in progress,” said Woodcroft.

“Bouchard is playing big minutes and there are learning moments for him but he’s got a fantastic attitude and he comes to the rink every day wanting to grow. His practice habits have improved. He’s using the learning moments to get better and he’s starting to shoot the puck. We’re quite happy with him,” said Woodcroft.

Jones, according to other team’s pro scouts, has been Bakersfield’s best D.

“He’s been our high-minute D man, playing in all situations. He’s done a good job of finding the right time to jump into the play, to add to the offence and he’s concentrating on managing the puck properly. I’ve really liked how he’s defended. He can play either side but he’s been on the right all year,” said Bouchard.

In the net, the No. 3 goalie in the organization, Starrett, has only played two games.

“He’s back practising which is a good sign but he’s week-to-week,” said Woodcroft, who has played his 21-year-olds Skinner nine games and Dylan Wells three. Skinner’s stats could be better (3.03 avg and .889 save percentage) but he’s holding the fort.

“We’ve lost an AHL all-star (second team) in our third game of the year but we’re weathering the storm with his injury. Both goalies have given us decent minutes. We’ve challenged both to step up and seize the net and Stuart has done that this month. He’s finding a way to gain some personal momentum,” said Woodcroft.

Up front, Benson, who could be a third-line LW, second unit PP guy at the NHL level, is a point-a-game player in the AHL. He has five goals and 1161170 Edmonton Oilers Jujhar Khaira – Riley Sheahan – Josh Archibald Markus Granlund – Gaetan Haas – Patrick Russell

Darnell Nurse – Ethan Bear GAME DAY: Special teams battle brewing between Sharks and Oilers Oscar Klefbom – Joel Persson

Kris Russell – Matt Benning Robert Tychkowski Mike Smith

Mikko Koskinen Game Day: Maple Leafs at Islanders SAN JOSE NHL Evander Kane – Logan Couture – Kevin Labanc Little-known goalie stars as Avalanche blank Jets Timo Meier – Tomas Hertl – Barclay Goodrow Edmonton (12-5-2) vs San Jose (7-10-1) Marcus Sorensen – Joe Thornton – Patrick Marleau 8:30 P.M., SPORTSNET/630 CHED Noah Gregor – Dylan Gambrell – Malker Karlsson FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME Radim Simek – Brant Burns POWER VS. POWER Marc-Edouard – Vlasic Erik Karlsson Edmonton comes into this game with the second-ranked power play in the NHL at 29.1 per cent, having scored four goals in the last three Brenden Dillon – Mario Ferraro games. The Sharks, meanwhile, have the best penalty killing in the league (91.2 per cent) and have only given up one power-play goal at Martin Jones home in nine games. Something has to give. Aaron Dell

SHARK HUNT INJURIES

The Sharks started the season slowly (four wins in their first 13 games) SHARKS but appear to be gaining a little momentum lately. They are coming into this game on a three-game winning streak, having beaten Nashville 2-1, Dalton Prout, D. Minnesota 6-5 and Chicago 4-2. The Oilers are 3-0-1 against Pacific Division teams. OILERS

TRADING PLACES Adam Larsson, D, Joakim Nygard, LW

For a guy who is always being asked to shoot more, Connor McDavid is Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 11.13.2019 still managing to find the net with great efficiency. His hat-trick in Anaheim Sunday gives him five goals in the last four games. Meanwhile, 50-goal man Leon Draisaitl has turned set-up man lately, with seven assists in the last four starts.

KILLER COMEBACK

After giving up two power-play goals in the loss to St. Louis, Edmonton’s penalty killers have rebounded with two very strong nights, going four-for- four in the shutout win over New Jersey and five-for-five in the road win over Anaheim. They’ve given up just two goals in the last 20 chances.

FAST LANE

Even during their 5-0 start the Oilers had been guilty of being slow out of the gate, but it’s something they’ve remedied lately. They’ve scored the first goal in six straight games, and in three of them, that goal came inside the first three minutes. They are 9-1-1 when they score the first goal.

BIG MATCHUP

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins vs Erik Karlsson

Assuming Sharks coach Pete DeBoer will want Brent Burns out against Connor McDavid, since Burns is much better defensively than Erik Karlsson, that leaves Karlsson vs. the Ryan Nugent-Hopkins line. There is money to be made there against a defenceman who is much better in the offensive zone than he is in his own. But it cuts both ways — Karlsson is as slick and creative as any blueliner in the league and can generate goals in the blink of an eye. It will be an interesting matchup between a great offensive defenceman and a great two-way forward.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Edmonton — PP 2nd (29.1%), PK 5th (85.7%)

San Jose — PP 13th (21.3%) PK 1st (91.2%)

GAME DAY LINES

EDMONTON

Leon Draisaitl – Connor McDavid – Zack Kassian

James Neal – Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – Alex Chiasson 1161171 Edmonton Oilers Rocky DiPietro. He played for a (Hamilton) Tiger-Cats for a long time. He’s in the (Canadian Football) Hall of Fame. He’s helped my career – a professional athlete who knows the swing of things and the feeling of stress. He’s helped me through some things. There’s a little bit of From 4 to 97, Oilers both new and old share the stories behind their meaning there. jersey numbers Darnell Nurse, D, No. 25: When I was a kid, I had a choice between 5, which was my uncle’s (Donovan McNabb) number (in the NFL); 85, which was my dad’s (Richard) number (in the CFL); and then 25 just By Daniel Nugent-Bowman Nov 12, 2019 because no one had it. I picked 25 just because I wanted to have my own path. I stuck with the 5 – everyone’s got 5 – so that was the cool part about it. So much has changed with the Oilers since the end of last season. Brandon Manning, D, No. 26: I wore 23 in Philly and Chicago and I wore A new GM. A new coach. A winning record. Oh, and a bunch of new 28 in the American League and in junior for a bit, but those weren’t players. available. I just wanted to stick around there, so 26 was simple. But no meaning for me. I had 23 for a while. It’s something where I was working There have been a dozen fresh faces to compete in at least one game with a charity in Chicago that we used. Unfortunately, that will be the end with the Oilers that weren’t on the roster when the 2018-19 campaign of that. I supported the firefighters in Chicago. My dad’s (Leroy) a concluded. That’s a lot of turnover. firefighter, so I’ve been tied to that quite a bit. But I’m not superstitious or Since it was midway through last season when we inquired about the makes me feel better. It’s just a number. story behind players’ jersey numbers, it seemed like a good time for an Leon Draisaitl, C/LW, No. 29: I like the number. I like how it looks. I’ve update. worn it for a while now. Another thing is my dad (Peter), who’s a coach in Every player to suit up for the Oilers is included, with the returnees’ Germany, he used to have a player with 29 (and) he was my favourite answers thrown in again just for fun. player when I was younger. His name is Ben Thomson. He actually played at the U of A, so that has a little bit to do with it as well. , D, No. 4: I wear No. 4 because I’ve had some success with it. That’s the number I got when I went to St. Louis and then I wore it in Joel Persson, D, No. 36: I took it because I had it when I was younger, Calgary. I never picked it to start with. It was just given to me. It’s just a when I was a kid. My former number, 94, was used by a legendary player number I’ve kinda got comfortable with. The history of the number here and wasn’t offered. That’s (Ryan) Smyth’s number and I respect that and means a lot that I could wear a number that (Kevin) Lowe wore. choose a different one.

Adam Larsson, D, No. 6: You know what? I don’t really have a reason for Alex Chiasson, RW, No. 39: I’ve always had a 9 in my number. I do my it. I wore 5 in (New) Jersey and 5 was not available when I got here, so I best. I’ve had 29, 39, 90. I wore 9 when I was young for a while. I like 9. just took the closest one. I wore 7 before, so I might stick with those three Mike Smith, G, No. 41: I played in the minors for four years. It seemed wherever I end up. like every year I had a different number because there was a veteran Joakim Nygard, LW, No. 10: I wanted 11, but that’s up there (in the player who was taking mine. I remember having 29, 27, 31 I believe – all rafters). I can’t get that, so I just picked the closest one. I went with 10. the goalie numbers of guys that I grew up watching. For whatever reason veterans took it here, there, every team I went to. So, I’m like, ‘Screw it. Colby Cave, C, No. 12: (Mats) Sundin was one of my favourite players. I’m going to go to a number that’s not very common for a goalie.’ Forty- Growing up, we had two channels. You always got to watch ‘Hockey one wasn’t back then. I grabbed onto it. No one wanted that number. Night in Canada’ on one channel. You’d see Sundin and the Leafs in the early game and either the Oilers or (Jarome) Iginla – number 12. I Zack Kassian, RW, No. 44: I’ve played on four teams and enjoyed watching him play (with the Flames). My favourite number was was one of my favourite players. Forty-four was available, so I thought I’d 13, but in my minor hockey association (Battleford Minor Hockey try that one out. Association) the number 13 was considered bad luck. In jersey bags that Patrick Russell, RW, No. 52: That was what I got when I got here at you get, they didn’t have number 13. I had to go to number 12. I wore 25 camp. (Laughs.) That’s why I’ve just kept it. I haven’t been asked yet to in Providence (AHL) and Boston. They were both taken when I was change it, so I’ve stuck with it. That’s OK. It’s gotten me this far. I like it. coming here. I thought, ‘Why not? I’ll go back to 12 and see what it’s like coming a little closer to home.’ Markus Granlund, LW/C, No. 60: When I got drafted to Calgary, in my first rookie camp, they game me the number. I’ve been wearing 60 ever Josh Archibald, RW, No. 15: My dad (Jim) played for the University of since that. Nothing special. I don’t really care about what number I’m North Dakota and he was in the North Stars organization for three years. using. He was number 15 and I always wanted to be like him. That was the number I chose when I was pretty young. I’ve been fortunate enough to Ethan Bear, D, No. 74: I got it in camp and stuck with it. When I played wear it through college and now pro. It’s been pretty cool. my first game when I was 20, somebody told me I was the first Oiler to play a game wearing 74. That’s the reason why I’ll keep it. It works for Jujhar Khaira, LW, No. 16: I grew up actually wearing 11. It was my dad’s me. I don’t see why I’d change it. favourite number. I looked up to my dad (Sukhjinder). I wanted to be like him wearing No. 11. Obviously, another great player wore that (in Oscar Klefbom, D, No. 77: I was wearing number 7 when I played in Edmonton). In college, I wore 7. In Bakersfield, I wore 7. Obviously, Sweden. When I came to Edmonton, it wasn’t an option because it’s another great player wore that (in Edmonton). Sixteen was actually the retired, so I went with 77. first number I wore playing hockey. I went back to that. Matt Benning, D, No. 83: In my first training camp I got that number given James Neal, RW/LW, No. 18: I wore 19 in junior. When I went to Dallas, to me. I went through training camp expecting to go to the minors. I stuck the trainers asked what number I wanted to be. I knew 19 was retired, so around, stuck around, stuck around and was here opening day. I didn’t I went with 18. I’ve just stuck with it. It’s been cool to have it on every wanna be an annoying rookie to the trainers, so I didn’t wanna change team. my number. One of my best friends, his favourite player growing up was (Ales) Hemsky. We watched him with the Oilers, so he thought it was the Mikko Koskinen, G, No. 19: When I started hockey – five or six years old coolest thing ever. But there’s no correlation there. I just got that number – they gave me the number 19. I started as a player and I kept it when I out of training camp and I didn’t change it. By the time my first year was went in goal. That happened between nine to 10 or something like that. I over, some guys changed it … but at that point, my parents and family liked a lot. When I was a kid, Detroit was a really strong bought so many jerseys. I didn’t wanna put them through buying new team. They were always on the TV and he was the captain of the team. jerseys. To me, it doesn’t matter. Of course, great players wear number 19. I played with that in all my junior years. When I went to the KHL, 19 was open and I decided to pick Sam Gagner, RW, No. 89: I grew up wearing number 9 because it was it up again. my dad’s (Dave) number when he was growing up. He changed to 15 when he got to the NHL. I always wore 9. Then when I got to London of Riley Sheahan, C, No. 23: I’ve worn 15 my whole career up until here. I the OHL, it was retired because of Darryl Sittler. My birth year is ’89. I decided to switch things up. One of my uncles – an uncle I’m very close figured I’d go with that. There were four or five of us that went with our with – played in the CFL for a long time and he wore number 23. He’s birth year that year. When I came to Edmonton, that was the number I got. I’ve stuck with it ever since. There’s not many in the league. I couldn’t get it when I went to Arizona because of (Mikkel) Boedker, but I switched back to 9.

Gaetan Haas, C, No. 91: I got 92 back home – that’s my birth year – but Jurcs (Tomas Jurco) just take it one week before me. I only have two numbers in my life. I got 11 when I was in juniors. No chance here. (Laughs.) I was like, ‘What am I gonna take now?’ Langer, the equipment manager (Jeff Lang), just told me, ‘Just go with 91’ I was like, ‘Yeah. Sounds good.’ It’s like a mix between 92 and 11.

Tomas Jurco, LW, No. 92: It was the year I was born. I was 26 in Detroit, but I didn’t pick that. They gave it to me. I didn’t like that number. I was 13 in Chicago. That was my number growing up. But I just like 92. I think it looks good. It’s a fresh start.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, C, No. 93: Well, I would have worn 9, but it’s obviously taken here. Ninety-three I also wore when 9 was taken in bantam. I like it. It’s the year I was born. It’s not really the reason that I wear it, but I like Doug Gilmour. That’s a cool addition, too. He was a pretty feisty guy, obviously a great player and (had) a good, long career – and a successful one.

Connor McDavid, C, No. 97: Pretty easy. I chose it when I was seven years old. I made the eight-year-old team with the ’96-borns. I thought it would be cool to wear 97 because I was born in ’97. It’s something that’s stuck with me.

The Athletic LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161172 Edmonton Oilers Puck IQ. That indicates to me that Tippett might be trying to get Nuge’s line some ‘clean air’ against softer competition. Here are RNH’s most common on-ice defencemen:

Lowetide: Analyzing Dave Tippett’s defensive usage and what the Oilers Larsson 5:54 in one game (5:54 per game) will do when Adam Larsson returns Klefbom 103:30 in 19 games (5:26 per game)

Nurse 96:01 in 19 games (5:03 per game) By Allan Mitchell Nov 12, 2019 Persson 47:13 in 10 games (4:43 per game)

Bear 83:13 in 19 games (4:22 per game) Word came out last week that Adam Larsson will return to action in the Interesting group, Persson shows up as a prominent option with the next seven days. The Oilers will improve immediately no matter where Nugent-Hopkins line (he is averaging 5:48 with McDavid, so actually Larsson is slotted, but developments while he was injured gives the team plays more with the top line). Here are the possession and scoring some intriguing options. Since Larsson played just one game, it’s numbers for this group with Nuge, sorted by goal share: possible to drill down on the other names to see where each one fits. Who is the best defenceman so far this season? Which is best suited for Persson: 30-26 shots (54 percent) and 5-1 goals (83 percent) the electric but difficult McDavid minutes? Where should Larsson land when he returns? Let’s have a look. Klefbom: 60-56 shots (52 percent) and 6-4 goals (60 percent)

Even strength with McDavid Bear: 52-36 shots (59 percent) and 4-3 goals (57 percent)

The largest game state is even strength, most of it at 5-on-5. However, Nurse: 55-42 shots (57 percent) and 3-4 goals (43 percent) not all even strength minutes are equal. Dave Tippett makes decisions Larsson: 1-1 shots (50 percent) and no goals about the timing of those important minutes the moment he decides to send (or not send) Connor McDavid over the boards. It isn’t a stretch to Klefbom-Persson have been more successful with Nuge against softer say the most important minutes of the game are with McDavid on the ice. opponents, which makes sense based on skill sets. Klefbom (48) has Those are the segments the Oilers must outscore the opposition. It also had far more offensive zone faceoffs with Nuge than Nurse (35), so follows that if the most important minutes are with McDavid and even it could be a matter of Tippett’s using Klefbom-Persson in a more strength is the largest game state, then Edmonton’s most important offensive role (independent of the forward group). defenceman is the one who plays most with the captain. Right? Well, there’s a problem. Here are the ice time totals for the top four Conclusion: If Nurse-Bear are the strongest options of McDavid and defencemen this season with McDavid at even strength: Klefbom-Persson work well for the Nuge line, that’s a perfect fit for both lines offensively. Sheahan’s tough minutes checking unit has been a Nurse 152:40 in 19 games (8:02 per game) consistent rotation, with five defencemen between 40 and 50 minutes each so far this season. Impossible to draw strong conclusions in normal Klefbom 149:10 in 19 games (7:51 per game) situations with such a small sample size, but the Sheahan line has been Bear 145:00 in 19 games (7:37 per game) unsuccessful at even strength no matter the defenders playing with his line. Larsson 7:22 in one game (7:22 per game) Best defenceman this season So we have four men who play basically the same minutes per game with the captain at even strength. We’ll have to dig deeper to see who Although wildly unpopular with many, I use Corsi Relative when drilling performs best while with McDavid, and Natural Stat Trick breaks down down to find a team’s best defenceman. It values possession and is a individual performances in several important categories, sorted by goal clean assessment. So far this season, it isn’t a close race: share: Ethan Bear 5.04

Bear: 84-68 shots (55 percent) and 10-4 goals (71 percent) Darnell Nurse 2.12

Nurse: 96-85 shots (53 percent) and 15-6 goals (71 percent) Matt Benning 2.04

Klefbom: 60-99 shots (38 percent) and 7-8 goals (47 percent) Brandon Manning 1.68

Larsson: 2-6 shots (25 percent) and no goals Joel Persson -2.00

Darnell Nurse and Ethan Bear are partners so their numbers are very Oscar Klefbom -3.06 similar. Oscar Klefbom has partnered with two rookies (Joel Persson, Bear) and a veteran playing his off-side (Kris Russell) so far this season, Kris Russell -4.81 but those are frightening numbers. Klefbom has been highly productive with McDavid in the past and in 27 minutes with Bear as his partner (with Adam Larsson -9.49 (one game) 97) the numbers are better (21-22 shots, 2-2 goals). A rookie as Edmonton’s best defenceman may seem shocking but Bear’s Puck IQ bins opposition quality faced by each defenceman and further numbers shine like a diamond. One of the things Ken Holland is going to confirms that Nurse-Bear is the strongest option so far this season. Both be dealing with over the next few months will be signing both Nurse and men face elites more often as a percentage of overall ice time and both Bear. Fans of fancy stats are looking forward to seeing the final contract men have played more minutes against elites at 5-on-5 this season. This numbers as there is both great opportunity and incredible danger for the look comes with a sample size warning but Nurse and Bear are near 150 Oilers. minutes with the top line, so those concerns will become less worrisome Larsson’s return as we approach 200 minutes as a sample size. At the beginning of the season, Tippett paired Larsson with Nurse on a Conclusion: All of this tells us that McDavid is best served with Nurse and shutdown pairing. Larsson’s injury forced a change and in the weeks Bear on the ice with him. Tippett shares the minutes currently with the since Nurse-Bear has emerged as the most dominant duo. Larsson and top two pairs, and may continue when Larsson returns. There is some Klefbom have played together for years and that would seem the obvious evidence above that the Oilers might be better off sending some Klefbom choice for Tippett to make when Larsson returns. minutes to the Nurse pair but I’ll bet Klefbom recovers (no matter the partner) as the season wears along. I’m interested in seeing Klefbom-Bear together again, the pair didn’t get much time early but the two have impressive skill sets. Coaches are Even strength with Nugent-Hopkins conservative by nature so that may have to wait until later in the year.

Tippett is changing strategy from the Todd McLellan years, specifically as What does it all mean? it pertains to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. In the past, Nuge would face tough opposition, in fact close to McDavid’s levels. So far this season, Riley These questions usually solve themselves. Larsson’s return may be Sheahan’s time against elites is slightly higher than RNH according to countered with some time off for one of the regulars who has been playing through injury or a new malady may arrive in the coming days. What we can say is this: Larsson’s time away was a blessing in that the win-loss record remains impressive and the extra time allowed a long look at Bear and Persson. The Oilers are getting answers about the young blue and so far it’s been mostly positive.

At some point, maybe around the deadline, we may see a trade if everyone stays healthy. Once Bear hits 40 games, we may see a recall of Caleb Jones, Evan Bouchard or William Lagesson and that may force a move. That may seem counter to Oilers fans’ experience, but it’s important to remember the organization hasn’t enjoyed this kind of close to NHL-ready prospect depth in many years.

The Athletic LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161173 Florida Panthers Bobrovsky stopped 19 of 23 shots in the first two periods. . Play was halted for a few minutes in the first period when the arena lights flickered with the Panthers on a power play. . Bruins D Torey Krug, who left Sunday’s loss to Philadelphia in the third period with an upper-body Panthers score 4 goals in third period to tie game, defeat Bruins in injury, was not in the lineup. . The Bruins entered the game 9-2-1 when shootout scoring the first goal. . Florida C Noel Acciari, who spent the first four years of his career with the Bruins before signing with the Panthers in the

offseason, made his return to Boston. . Bruins LW Brad Marchand was By DOUG ALDEN ASSOCIATED PRESS |NOV 12, 2019 | 11:41 PM playing in his 699th career game. . Yandle has eight assists in his last seven games.

UP NEXT BOSTON-Down four goals after two periods, Florida coach Joel Quenneville switched goalies and the Panthers responded with the Panthers host Winnipeg on Thursday night. biggest comeback in club history. Sun Sentinel LOADED: 11.13.2019 Mike Hoffman scored one of four Florida goals in the third period and added the winner in a shootout as the Panthers rallied from a four-goal deficit and beat the Boston Bruins 5-4 on Tuesday night.

“Obviously, you don't want to be down 4-0 at any point in the game — especially with only one period left,” Hoffman said. “But the guys in here stuck together, dug deep and just tried to chip away.”

The Panthers continued chipping away and won a game they trailed by four goals for the first time since they joined the NHL as an expansion club in 1993-94.

Keith Yandle had a goal and two assists for Florida and Sam Montembeault didn't allow a goal after replacing Sergei Bobrovsky at the start of the third period.

Montembeault finished with 15 saves, six in overtime, and stopped Charlie McAvoy on Boston's last chance in the shootout as the Panthers completed the comeback and gave Quenneville career victory No. 899.

“It's huge. We never gave up. We talked to each other after the second,” Montembeault said.

Aaron Ekblad and Frank Vatrano also scored for Florida. Jonathan Huberdeau added three assists for the Panthers, tying him with Stephen Weiss for the most assists in club history with 249.

Florida won its second straight game in a shootout and picked up four points on a three-game road trip against the Islanders, Rangers and Bruins.

“We found a way to come up with big wins and today was the biggest of them all,” Quenneville said.

David Pastrnak scored his league-leading 16th goal for Boston, which broke a scoreless tie with four goals in the second, but could not hold off Florida.

The Panthers got two power-play goals in the third and scored twice at even-strength before prevailing in the shootout.

“Things got compounded,” Boston coach Bruce Cassidy said. “It seemed like we took a lot of marginal penalties tonight and we didn't kill them.”

Joakim Nordstrom, Anders Bjork and Zdeno Chara also scored for Boston, and Tuukka Rask made 25 saves.

David Krejci had two assists for Boston, which lost its fourth straight.

“We had some looks,” Rask said. “Definitely if it's four-nothing going into the third you expect to win.”

Pastrnak put the Bruins up 1-0 at 11:55 of the second on a wrist shot from the top of the left circle. Nordstrom beat Bobrovsky 2:07 later on a wrist shot from the right circle to make it 2-0 for the Bruins.

Boston added goals by Bjork and Chara, taking a 4-0 lead into the third. Florida regrouped after Quenneville pulled Bobrovsky for Montembeault.

Ekblad scored 50 seconds into the third, Vatrano cut the margin to 4-2 on a power-play goal 5:26 into the period and the Panthers weren't done.

Hoffman scored on a backhand 9:43 into the third and Yandle, who assisted on two of Florida's first three goals, completed the comeback when he scored with 1:39 left in regulation after a rebound drifted to him high in the slot.

NOTES 1161174 Florida Panthers Florida moved into a tie for second with Montreal in the Atlantic Division, just three points behind the Bruins.

Are the Panthers for real? They might just be, although it is hard to tell Down 4-0? No problem for Panthers, who storm back in the third and based on this one, crazy game. beat Bruins in shootout “That was an improbable one, you don’t expect that,” said coach Joel Quenneville, who couldn’t wipe the smile off his face. “Hey, we were fine at 0-0 (for the first 31:55) and then we lost our composure and gave up By George Richards Nov 12, 2019 four quick ones. I’m not happy with how the whole second period went.”

So what happened?

BOSTON — Dale Tallon’s voice was unmistakable. After a scoreless first period, the teams continued playing a tough defensive game until David Pastrnak got his 16th of the season 11:55 The language he was using was understandable. into the second to break the seal. His Panthers gave up four goals in the second period here and Tallon’s A little more than two minutes later, Boston made it 2-0. disappointment in it all could be heard loud and clear in the hallway of the TD Garden press box. Pretty soon it was 3-0, then Zdeno Chara made it 4-0 with 29 seconds left before the break. His mood was considerably brighter not an hour later. This one was as good as done. Funny how things work sometimes. “I really cannot explain what happened,” Evgenii Dadonov said, the last “How about that?” Tallon extolled as he and his merry group of front Florida player still sitting at his locker stall after the game. “I am out of office partners rambled toward the elevator following the Panthers’ most words. I am just thrilled we got two points out of this game. improbable comeback, a 5-4 shootout win over the Atlantic-leading Unbelievable.” Bruins. The Panthers were able to score quickly enough against Tuukka Rask to Down 4-0 after a disaster of a second period, the Panthers rallied for not only give themselves a chance but to also have a realistic belief such their biggest comeback win in franchise history as they came to life after a comeback could be done. the second intermission. With starting goalie Sergei Bobrovsky on the bench, the Panthers Aaron Ekblad scored on Florida’s first shift of the third, former Bruin suddenly needed a strong game from their backup. There was no Frank Vatrano made it 4-2 just a few minutes later and then Mike pressure on Montembeault when he skated onto the ice, his team down Hoffman scored midway through the period to cut the deficit to one. 4-0. By then, the pressure was starting to grow on backup goalie Sam But the pressure sure grew as the game wore on and he answered the Montembeault — and he responded by making nine saves in the third challenge. period to keep things right where they were. “He was put in a situation where he’s sitting there watching and now he’s That allowed Keith Yandle (one of a handful of Panthers with Boston ties) in the game and you don’t think anything is going to happen and to pounce on a juicy rebound off Sasha’s Barkov shot and fire it top shelf suddenly you’re in a shootout,” Quenneville said. to tie the score at 4 with 1:39 remaining. “I commend him for how he handled the stage as it got bigger the longer Goaltender Sam Montembeault is surrounded by teammates after the he was out there. He was very composed and was himself, he followed Panthers defeated the Bruins in a shootout. (Greg M. Cooper / USA pucks through a lot of traffic. He handled a tough situation.” Today) Ekblad’s goal 50 seconds into the third period got it going for the Montembeault made six saves in the five-minute overtime session then Panthers. And if it didn’t, perhaps Trocheck’s tussle with Brad Marchand stopped three of four in the shootout as Hoffman’s goal in Round 4 stood moments after hitting Pastrnak did. up as the winner. “That goal by Ekblad,” Trocheck said, “gave us a little hope.” “I went in there with nothing to lose, just wanted to do my job and the guys did an awesome job in coming back,” Montembeault said after he Two power play goals (Vatrano, Hoffman) helped. led Florida to both of its wins on this three-game road trip. “It was 4-0 after the second and we could have packed it up in the third and just Killing off Noel Acciari’s penalty for tripping with 6:28 left down a goal did gone home. But we didn’t. It was just a great team win.” as well. Players were diving in front of shots, including one key play in which Montembeault was out of position. After the game, the Panthers, who were left for dead after Boston’s big final 9:05 of the second, were ready to party into the chilly Boston night. ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE! ¯_(ツ)_/¯

Instead, they boarded their bus, headed to the airport and flew back to FINAL / SO: #FLAPANTHERS 5, BRUINS 4. #FLAVSBOS South Florida, where they will play 14 of their next 16. PIC.TWITTER.COM/UO4CFIJESQ

The Bruins have lost four consecutive games (0-2-2) after an 11-1-2 — FLORIDA PANTHERS (@FLAPANTHERS) NOVEMBER 13, 2019 start. “We had a lot of emotion on the bench because we felt the momentum “We were not feeling very good about things for a little bit, but right now, coming our way. We felt like we had a chance,” Trocheck said. “When it’s obviously a great feeling,” Yandle said. you are down 4-0, you better take it every shift at a time and chip away at it one-by-one, and that’s what we did. “We scored four unanswered goals in the third period against Boston and that just shows the character of this team. We did not have the second “I think this team has confidence in itself that was not here in the past period we wanted, but we sure came out in the third and showed what few years. Down four goals, we still had the belief we could come back. we had to not only get a point but, ultimately, to win the game.” “The Bruins are a good team, but, apparently, so are the Panthers.” WHAT. A. WIN!@FLAPANTHERS | #NHLTONIGHT PIC.TWITTER.COM/KDFMHZ34TL Yandle does not panic

— NHL NETWORK (@NHLNETWORK) NOVEMBER 13, 2019 The Panthers pulled Montembeault with 1:44 remaining in the game for the extra attacker and moments later, he was sent right back out. Although it is early in the season, the win was huge for the Panthers as it was their first test against a team that could be the best in their division, if That’s because Montembeault now needed to hold down a tie score. not the conference. Yandle tied it at 4 with 1:39 left, jumping on a puck just below the left circle off a shot by Barkov that came out hot. Yandle said he has blown shots like this in the past, but Tuesday, he “It wasn’t easy to sit for two hours and then go in,’’ Montembeault said. swooped in, saw his spot above Rask’s shoulder and drilled it. “We showed a lot of character. Boston is one of the best teams in the NHL. If we want to be a playoff team, we have to beat teams like this.” “I usually panic when I am in the offensive zone below the circle,” said Yandle, who grew up in the Boston area. “That is probably the most Unpack those bags, get comfortable excited I have been in scoring a goal in a long time. The six games Florida has played on home ice is the third-lowest amount “It was definitely a great feeling. It was all about being down and in the league so far this season (Minnesota, Tampa Bay), but that is knowing we only had a shift or two left to tie the score, it was about being about to increase by a lot. in Boston. Florida now begins a stretch of playing 14 of the next 16 in Sunrise. The “We were down four to one of the best teams in hockey. I was excited. Panthers have two one-off trips (one to Carolina, the other to This was a fun win for us. We have found a way to battle back in games Washington) during this stretch with the team’s next multi-game road trip all year.” not coming until Dec. 21.

Acciari returns home “We have played two-thirds of our games on the road, so it is catch-up time,” Quenneville said. “We have to make some hay here. We have to Speaking of Boston, Acciari was back in a familiar building if not familiar play well at home, establish that, and I think we have for the most part. environs as the former Bruins’ fourth-liner was in the visitors locker room We have picked up some huge points on the road in some tough spots.” at the Garden for the first time since he played here with his Providence Friars back in 2015. Panthers center Mike Hoffman scores the winning goal to defeat Boston in a shootout at TD Garden. (Greg M. Cooper / USA Today) The New Hampshire native missed the past three games after it is believed he pulled a groin muscle at practice. Weegar remains with team

Acciari did not travel with the Panthers to New York because he was able Defenseman MacKenzie Weegar did not play Tuesday after being struck to get ice and practice on his own back in South Florida. Acciari flew into in the head by an errant shot Sunday in New York. Boston on Monday, he said, and had dinner with about 15 of his former Although Quenneville was not very forthcoming on Weegar’s condition, Bruins teammates before playing them Tuesday. he did confirm that Weegar did not need to visit a hospital in New York “I may be on a different side of the building, but I am still excited to be and that he continued on the trip with his teammates. here,” said Acciari, who left the cap-strapped Bruins for a three-year deal Barkov’s streak ends with the Panthers on July 1. Lost in the celebration was the end of Barkov’s five-game goal streak. “This is going to be different, that is for sure. I know I cannot get too Barkov did have two assists to extend his team lead to 19. high with the emotions but I know the last time I played here was in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals. And I am excited to be here with this Barkov was also left out of the shootout, with Quenneville saying “he was group of guys. I know that group very well, but we play hard, too.” next up” had it gone five rounds. Barkov is 0-for-4 in shootouts this season and somewhat joked about it after being stopped Sunday in New With Acciari back, Dominic Toninato was returned to AHL Springfield. York.

Acciari was not the only Florida player with Boston connections, joining “What, do you want to ask me about how I suck in the shootout?” he Yandle, Vatrano, Brian Boyle (from Foxborough) and Mike Matheson asked a reporter. (Boston College). Instead of Barkov, Quenneville went with some of the hot hands on Monty’s big night Tuesday. Vatrano led it off (blocked) with Trocheck (score) following. The Panthers did not want to see Montembeault in net Tuesday night Jonathan Huberdeau went third (stopped), and Hoffman got the winner and really did not expect to. on the fourth try.

After Bobrovsky gave up four goals in the final eight minutes of the Trocheck is now 3-for-5 in shootouts this season with two game-winning second period, the Panthers did not have much choice but to give their shots (Nashville, Rangers). backup a chance. “When you go into games, you kind of have an idea of how you want “It’s one of those nights where we’re not happy there,’’ Quenneville said the rotation to be,” Quenneville said. “It was nice to see Hoff step up and of Bobrovsky, who stopped the first 18 shots on goal he faced and then get a goal for us. Trocheck has been hot there.” gave up goals on four of the final five. The Athletic LOADED: 11.13.2019 “But I liked the response of Sammy coming in. Every game is different, but our goaltending has to be stronger.”

Said Yandle: “I think we just unraveled as a team. We left Bob out to dry there in the second. We were not solid in front of him and they capitalized on their chances. Bob was great early, though, and made a lot of key saves. Boston could have been up big on us early.”

Montembeault rebounded from a shaky first two periods against the Rangers on Sunday to pitch a shutout in the third, overtime and the shootout at Madison Square Garden and get his team two points, and Tuesday he did it again.

Montembeault ended up stopping all 15 shots faced in 25 minutes of work before going 3-for-4 in the shootout.

“We know Monty is a young kid who is going to make mistakes along the way, but look at how he bounced back in the third against New York,” goalie coach Robb Tallas said afterward. “He found his composure and played extremely well for us. Today, he went in with no pressure, but he believed in himself and his abilities. … We know we can trust him.”

The Panthers play host to Winnipeg on Thursday night.

Do not be surprised if Montembeault gets the call against the Jets.

He probably deserves it. 1161175 Los Angeles Kings net from high-probability scoring areas, McLellan said bluntly: “We’ve got a guy that has scored 400 NHL goals with a slapper from the hash marks. We pay him handsomely to put those in. He’s got to do that.”

Kings’ Ilya Kovalchuk reportedly is on the trade block amid benching LA Times: LOADED: 11.13.2019

Kings wing Ilya Kovalchuk takes the puck against the Minnesota Wild during the second period on Oct. 26 in St. Paul, Minn.

By JACK HARRIS STAFF WRITER NOV. 12, 2019 10:57 PM

Ahead of training camp this season, Todd McLellan and Ilya Kovalchuk met for lunch near the Kings practice facility in El Segundo.

Over the meal, they talked about Kovalchuk’s past, including a 34-point debut with the Kings last season which he occasionally was benched by interim coach Willie Dejardins.

They talked about Kovalchuk’s family, who moved with him to Southern California, back when the former No. 1 overall draft pick and one-time league-leading scorer was thought to be the missing piece for a Kings team still expected to be contenders.

Most importantly, McLellan and Kovalchuk discussed an upcoming season they hoped would be beneficial for both parties. As the new coach picked up the tab, he tried to plot a more promising future for the veteran forward.

“I talked to him about how I would likely use him, at least to start with,” McLellan said in September, recalling their meeting. “Then after that, he and all the players dictate how much they play.”

Barely a month into the season, however, Kovalchuk and the Kings are seemingly back in the same sticky situation as the end of last season. The team is in last place, Kovalchuk is struggling and was a healthy scratch Tuesday night when the Kings beat the Minnesota Wild 3-1.

The Kings ended a skid at three games behind goals by Anze Kopitar, Jeff Carter and Sean Walker (an empty-netter) and 27 saves from Jonathan Quick.

Tuesday afternoon, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported the Kings are planning to keep Kovalchuk out of the lineup for the foreseeable future. David Pagnotta of the Fourth Period subsequently said the team is exploring trade options for the 36-year-old forward, whose contract carries a $6.25-million annual salary-cap hit and, according to CapFriendly.com, includes a no-movement clause this season. Another report linked Kovalchuk with a move back to the Russian KHL, where he played before signing with the Kings.

Asked before Tuesday’s game about the rumors, Kings general manager Rob Blake offered little information regarding Kovalchuk’s long-term future with the club.

“I don’t know what the lineup is Thursday, I don’t know what the lineup is Saturday,” Blake said. “I know the lineup tonight. He’s a healthy scratch. Unfortunately, everybody knows before warm-ups.”

Blake said he has not received a trade request from Kovalchuk and noted the player’s no-movement clause, which Kovalchuk was noncommittal on potentially waiving it ahead of last season’s trade deadline.

Blake, who met with Kovalchuk on Tuesday afternoon, left open the possibility the winger could return to the lineup in the Kings’ next game.

“We’re in last place right now, so we’ve changed a lot of lineups,” Blake said. “We did this with Tyler [Toffoli]. We did it with [Nikolai] Prokhorkin. We did it with Adrian Kempe tonight. … We’re trying to find the combinations that work to try and score some goals.”

Although Kovalchuk’s nine points rank fourth on the team, his minus-10 rating is the worst on the roster. After tallying six points in the first four games, he has only three in the last 13.

“Kovy’s on board,” McLellan said. “Just like the rest of the players, he’ll get his opportunity to come back in. We have to treat him like any other player.”

McLellan has made his expectations for Kovalchuk clear. After a loss to the Buffalo Sabres last month in which Kovalchuk repeatedly missed the 1161176 Los Angeles Kings Kings general manager Rob Blake updated several injuries. Blake said that former first-round pick Gabe Vilardi is scheduled to return

to full practice with the Reign on Wednesday for the first time this Matt Luff hopes to make the most of his second chance with the Kings season. Vilardi, a 20-year-old forward picked No. 11 overall in the 2017 draft, recently returned to individual skating sessions after a back injury Kings forward plays against the Carolina Hurricanes. kept him off the ice for most of the last year. Blake said Vilardi will likely need at least two weeks of full practices before being ready to make his

season debut in the AHL. By JACK HARRISSTAFF WRITER NOV. 12, 2019 3:32 PM “He’s done everything he can by himself out there, skating-wise,” Blake said. “He needs to be with a group, running into guys, having guys all over the place. Getting reps like that. That’s what we’ll incorporate this At this time last season, Matt Luff appeared to be in the midst of his big week.” break. Defenseman Derek Forbort, who also hasn’t played this season because After earning his first career call-up last November, the Kings forward of a back injury, is a few weeks behind Vilardi in his rehab process. Blake scored in four consecutive games the week before Thanksgiving, tallied said Forbort is progressing in individual skating sessions, but still needs a five points over an eight-game stretch in mid-December and entered the couple more weeks before returning to full practice. Christmas break with seven goals, three assists and a zero plus/minus rating while averaging more than 12 minutes of ice time. Blake said Lewis, who went on injured reserve Monday because of a lower-body injury, is week to week. With his easy smile and slicked-back hair, Luff quickly became a fan favorite, looking like a potential beacon of hope in an otherwise bleak LA Times: LOADED: 11.13.2019 season. While his name produced puns (“Luffer,” “What is Luff?” “What’s Luff got to do with it?”), his play showcased promise. As the Kings entered a rebuild, Luff briefly looked like a ready-made building block for the future.

But by the end of his rookie season, in which he had one point in his final 10 games before being sent to the minors for good, that reality never materialized.

“Going up and down, [you need] to believe in yourself the whole way and don’t lose confidence in your game,” Luff said this preseason. Last season, “I think sometimes I lost it.”

Now, Luff is getting a second chance. After being recalled Tuesday to replace injured forward , he’s bringing a more measured mind-set to what he hopes will be his second extended stint in the league.

Kings right wing Trevor Lewis forechecks during a 5-3 loss to the Canucks on Oct. 30 at Staples Center.

“Getting this recall, it’s all about showing I can play here,” Luff said. “Each time I’m in that lineup it’s about sticking in it and giving them reasons they can’t take me out.”

After his 11-point, 33-game debut season, Luff returned to his hometown near Toronto and tried to reset his game. The 22-year-old undrafted winger trained at the same gym as NHL veterans Tyler Seguin and Michael Del Zotto, picking their brains on how they overcame dry spells in their careers. Luff followed the offseason plan Kings strength coach Matt Price crafted and came back to California for training camp feeling confident.

Then he was optioned to the Kings’ American League Hockey affiliate, the , before the NHL roster had even been trimmed below 30 players.

“Getting cut that early kind of put me down a little bit,” Luff said. “But me and [Reign coach Mike Stothers] talked about it, used it as motivation. You can see in my play, it’s been a lot better since a little hiccup in Ontario. I think it put me back on the right path.”

Luff has been dominant in the AHL this season. His 10 points in 13 games ranked second on the team, and his plus-five rating was fifth (and best among forwards with at least five games).

“He probably didn’t have the camp he wanted to have, or at least we didn’t see it that way,” Kings coach Todd McLellan said. “[He] went down and got his game going. Got a bit of an awakening down there.”

Luff is rejoining a Kings team in the midst of another rough start. They go into Tuesday’s game against the Minnesota Wild in last place in the league with a 5-11-1 record and struggling to score. Luff is expected to be in the lineup, replacing Lewis.

“Was it us missing some things at camp? Or him missing some things at camp? It really doesn’t matter anymore,” McLellan said. “What matters is, what are you going to do now? How can we use you? That’s what we’re trying to figure out.” 1161177 Los Angeles Kings The Kings burst into the game with offensive pressure that resulted in a goal just 70 seconds into the contest. Walker’s shot from the point got underneath Dubnyk, who struggled to locate the puck as Kopitar swept it into the net. Anze Kopitar, Sean Walker lead Kings past Wild, snapping 3-game skid Despite the victory, their second in the past nine games, much of the postgame conversation did center on Kovalchuk and his status with the organization. By ANDREW KNOLL |PUBLISHED: November 12, 2019 at 10:48 pm | UPDATED: November 12, 2019 at 11:44 PM “It’s obviously, definitely not a great situation. Kovy is a good guy. There’s nothing that’s wrong with the attitude. He wants to win, he wants to be the best and he’s a really good guy off the ice,” Kopitar said. “It’s LOS ANGELES — On a night when a few prominent Kings sat out, the just, for whatever reason, it’s not working on the ice.” remaining group stood tall, beating the Minnesota Wild 3-1 on Tuesday before a scant crowd at Staples Center. “It seems like we’ve been on the road for quite a while, so to be home and on this side in front of our fans, it definitely feels great”@AnzeKopitar Center Anze Kopitar, left wing Jeff Carter and defenseman Sean Walker gives it all back to the fans after tonight’s W @CarrlynBathe | scored for the Kings, with Walker and Kopitar each adding an assist. @LAKings pic.twitter.com/WVCCAX2NC2 Defenseman Matt Dumba contributed a goal for Minnesota. Jonathan Quick fended off 27 of 28 shots while Minnesota’s Devnan Dubnyk halted — FOX Sports West (@FoxSportsWest) November 13, 2019 32 of 34 shots. “It was just the structure. We were sticking to our systems, being Three L.A. regulars were out of the lineup. Left wing Ilya Kovalchuk and aggressive at the blue line, and the forwards were really hounding the center Adrian Kempe were healthy scratches. Forward Trevor Lewis was puck”@SeanWalk2 talks about the aggressive @LAKings PK formally placed on injured reserve Monday, now considered week-to- tonight@CarrlynBathe pic.twitter.com/T2XatIt1Z5 week with a lower-body injury. — FOX Sports West (@FoxSportsWest) November 13, 2019 “(Kovalchuk) was a healthy scratch and tomorrow’s a new day,” Kings coach Todd McLellan said. “We got together on the bench and said, ‘Let’s just get pucks deep.’ We’re the most effective when we forecheck well”@Austinwagner97 Kovalchuk’s future with the club now seems nebulous. While the official reflects on the communication that helped make the @LAKings word did not go beyond the big-ticket winger being scratched for the successful tonight@CarrlynBathe pic.twitter.com/A9pivPcRQ5 game, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported that Kovalchuk “will be out of the lineup for the foreseeable future.” — FOX Sports West (@FoxSportsWest) November 13, 2019

Yet Tuesday even the mystery surrounding Kovalchuk did not manage to Orange County Register: LOADED: 11.13.2019 overshadow one of the most complete performances from the Kings in recent memory.

They had an assertive start, including an early goal. When they ceded a goal, rather than compounding their mistake and allowing another, they had a solid push-back. Then they played an aggressive but controlled third period to close out their victory.

“It was a good night for us,” McLellan said. “We played well with the lead. The team’s going to make mistakes but Quickie was there for us when we needed him.”

Kopitar concurred, saying the game “has got to be up there this year” in terms of their most comprehensive efforts.

Walker drove in the dagger, seconds after Wild defenseman Jared Spurgeon made a spectacular effort to prevent an empty-net goal. Walker’s heave from center ice sailed into the open cage to seal a 3-1 victory and snap the Kings’ three-game losing streak.

The Kings slammed the door in the third period, protecting a one-goal lead with tight checking and sound puck management. They also played a penalty-free period after killing all three of their penalties in the game.

They drew the only minor of the final stanza with 5:07 left to play, further quelling the Minnesota rally. The Wild recorded no shots on goal with Dubnyk pulled for the extra attacker.

“Most importantly, we weren’t sitting back and giving them all the time and space,” said Kopitar, who has five points (two goals, three assists) in the past four games.

Minnesota got a goal back and halved the Kings’ lead with 4:20 remaining in the second period. Dumba’s shot caromed off Kings defenseman Ben Hutton’s leg and through Quick.

“Once we got scored on, we kind of gathered and we didn’t panic too much, so that was good to see,” Kopitar said, implicitly contrasting this game to their previous two in which back-to-back goals allowed proved fatal.

The Kings doubled their advantage when Hutton flung the puck to Michael Amadio, whose touch pass set up Carter for a tap-in goal approaching the 11:00 mark of the middle frame.

Although shots were even through 20 minutes, the Kings had stronger opportunities including a point-blank chance for Carter at the side of the net and a breakaway for Tyler Toffoli. 1161178 Los Angeles Kings This season, Kovalchuk has nine points (three goals, six assists) in 17 games. The man who was brought in to boost the Kings’ power play has five power-play goals in a combined 81 games with the organization.

Rumors swirl around Ilya Kovalchuk’s status with the Kings — scratched The Kings once had giddy visions of Kovalchuk positioned on the Kings’ or sitting for much longer? power play in the same spot as Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals when they signed him to a three-year, $18.75 million contract on July 1, 2018. But it hasn’t worked out that way at all.

By Lisa Dillman Nov 12, 2019 This season, Ovechkin has 97 shots on goal, while Kovalchuk has 35 — and seems to see himself primarily as a playmaker.

It’s starting to feel as if the Kings and Kovalchuk are in the early stages of LOS ANGELES — The murky Ilya Kovalchuk saga took another strange what could be a messy divorce. The problems all stem from the fact that twist as the rift between the team and the underproducing forward when the Kings signed Kovalchuk to a three-year contract they granted reopened Tuesday. him a full no-move clause for 2019-20, the current season. Kovalchuk was a healthy scratch for the Kings’ 3-1 win against the It becomes a modified no-trade clause next season where the Kings Minnesota Wild at Staples Center. Hours beforehand, however, there could ask Kovalchuk to submit a seven-team trade list. His cap hit is was this from prominent hockey insider, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, $6.25 million but for this season a total of $5.3 million is devoted to setting off a social media firestorm with this tweet: signing bonuses and his base salary is just $700,000. THERE IS WORD THIS AFTERNOON THAT LA HAS INFORMED ILYA According to Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic, all of Kovalchuk’s bonus KOVALCHUK HE WILL BE OUT OF THE LINEUP FOR THE money will be paid by Dec. 15, which means any team acquiring him FORESEEABLE FUTURE. HE IS WELCOME TO PRACTICE WITH THE after that date would only be on the hook for a prorated portion of that CLUB, BUT HE WILL NOT BE PLAYING. OBVIOUSLY, MORE DETAILS $700,000 base. AS THEY OCCUR. For next season, Kovalchuk’s salary drops to $4.25 million but the cap — ELLIOTTE FRIEDMAN (@FRIEDGEHNIC) NOVEMBER 12, 2019 charge of $6.25 million applies to all three years of the contract.

Representatives of Kovalchuk could not be reached for comment. Sometimes a team will give a player’s representative permission to see if That left it to Kings general manager Rob Blake to attempt to calm the there is interest around the NHL. Even if the Kings were able to find a waters. trade partner, Kovalchuk currently has the ability to veto any trade.

“He’s a healthy scratch,” Blake repeated several times. “Same as Presumably, he’d want to go to a contender. Most of the contenders that Adrian Kempe. The reason we didn’t say anything today was we’ve got a aren’t pushed up against the salary cap and in a position to do something game to play. He’s a healthy scratch.” — for example, the New York Islanders — likely aren’t inclined to disrupt their chemistry for a player who isn’t the force he once was. Blake then was asked specifically about the Friedman report. McLellan insisted that Kovalchuk was “on board.” “He’s being treated as a healthy scratch,” Blake said. “I don’t know what the lineup is Thursday. I don’t know what the lineup is on Saturday. I “Just like the rest of the players, he’ll get his opportunity to come back know the lineup tonight. He’s a healthy scratch. in,” McLellan said. “We have to treat him like any other player. If Toffoli and Kempe and others that maybe haven’t had real good games have “Unfortunately everybody knows before warmups.” had to come out and watch one. We treat everybody the same.”

Blake confirmed that he met with Kovalchuk earlier in day. Team captain Anze Kopitar didn’t want to comment on Kovalchuk’s absence from the lineup, but when he was pressed on the matter, “I usually do with people that are out of the lineup,” he said. “It’s hard eventually relented. taking players out, difficult decisions, difficult conversations. But yes I did. “First of all, it’s — how do you want to call it? — it’s not a great “We’re in last place, right? We’ve changed a lot of lineups. We did with situation,” Kopitar said. “Kovy is a good guy. There’s nothing that’s wrong Tyler (Toffoli). Did it with (Nikolai) Prokhorkin. We did it with Adrian with the attitude or anything. He wants to win. He wants to do the best. Kempe tonight … It happens.” He’s a really good guy off the ice. Everybody can probably say that about him. It’s just, for whatever reason, it’s not working on the ice.” After the game, Kings coach Todd McLellan made some of the same points. With the Kings at an organizational crossroads, one of McLellan’s challenges going forward is going to be putting some of the younger “Healthy scratch and tomorrow’s a new day,” he said. players in the lineup, when they appear ready for NHL duty; and There are plenty of similarities to the latest turn of events and those of inevitably, be obliged to take older players out to create a roster spot. late March last season. Kovalchuk, at odds with interim coach Willie “Our older players have run the marathon once or twice and they have Desjardins, did not travel with the Kings to Calgary for the start of their to make a conscious decision about whether to do it again,” McLellan three-game trip, staying behind in Southern California to work with a said. “If they want to do it and they’re on board, great, we’re ready to run skills coach. His personal Instagram account showed him out with his it with them. children, enjoying ice cream cones. “ That may have seemed like a point of no return but Kovalchuk did end up The kids are running their first and they’re learning lessons as they go, playing the final four games of the season. so they need somebody to lead and somebody to train, and if the veterans are willing to do that, then we’ve got a good blend, a good mix. The arrival of a new Kings coach, McLellan, was supposed to represent a fresh start for the 36-year-old Kovalchuk. But the leash has been much “When you lose more games than you win, it’s miserable. Nobody is shorter this season. happy. Nobody comes to the rink to stay close — or to have moral victories. The attitude and the belief system has to stay up. You have to Colleague Josh Cooper of The Athletic noted Kovalchuk is at a 0.53 be responsible for what you bring to the rink every day. I can tell you — points-per-game average — precisely the exact same as last year when misery has existed because of the losses, but the attitude’s been pretty Desjardins put him on the fourth line and eventually healthy-scratched good. So far, so good.” him. The Athletic LOADED: 11.13.2019 But Kovalchuk’s fourth-line demotion didn’t come until Nov. 25 last season. This season, it came a lot earlier when McLellan put him on the fourth line on Nov. 9 in Montreal. 1161179 Los Angeles Kings McLellan, on how Kovalchuk responded to the news of being a healthy scratch:

Fine. No problem. NOVEMBER 12 RAPID REACTION; MCLELLAN, KOPITAR ON Anze Kopitar, on where Tuesday’s performance ranks this season: KOVALCHUK: KINGS 3, WILD 1 Well, it’s got to be up there this year, for sure. It’s one of those things –

bend but not break. There were times in the second period where we JON ROSEN NOVEMBER 12, 2019 weren’t as sharp as we needed to be, but we didn’t give up a whole lot. Once we got scored on, we just kind of gathered and didn’t panic too much, so that was good to see.

Postgame Quotes Kopitar, on details of the win:

Todd McLellan, on what he liked about the power play: I just think we weren’t sitting back. We were trying to get in, we were trying to score the third goal. We got some chances off that, too, but most Well, that it was successful, but they were aggressive at the right time. I importantly not sitting back and giving them all the time and space, so basically told them – I’ll tell you exactly what I told the guys in between that was very encouraging. periods. We were happy with the penalty kill, we didn’t want to see it again, we won faceoffs, we guaranteed pucks out, we stayed fresh and Kopitar, on keys behind yielding only one goal: we were aggressive, and none of that really had to do with system play or anything like that, it was just read-and-react off each other. It was a Special teams – I shouldn’t say ‘special teams.’ Penalty killing was good. good night. That power play at the end, we were just trying not to cough it up for the chance against. But I think overall it was obviously a good team effort McLellan, on the win: from top to bottom

It was a good night for us. Started fairly well, got the lead – which, we Kopitar, when asked for a comment on Ilya Kovalchuk: haven’t played with the lead very much – and then played well with the lead. The team’s going to make mistakes. Quickie was there for us when No comment. we needed it. Penalty kill was outstanding throughout the game. Power Kopitar, on dealing with the Kovalchuk situation as a player: play, at the end of the night, we still created a good opportunity. You’re playing a little cautious at that time because of the time of game and the First of all, it’s – how do you want to call it – obviously not a great score. I thought we created opportunities that we still need to finish on, situation. Kovy is a good guy. There’s nothing that’s wrong with the some real good scoring opportunities that we’re not getting pucks up or attitude or anything. He wants to win, he wants to do the best, he’s a we’re not holding onto it long enough. Just some plays around the really good guy off the ice. Everybody can probably say that about him. offensive paint. Other than that, it was a good night. It’s just for whatever reason, it’s not working on the ice, and that’s about all I can really put it and all I can say. McLellan, on Ilya Kovalchuk’s status: Postgame Notes Healthy scratch, and tomorrow’s a new day. — With the win, Los Angeles improved to 30-22-15 all-time against McLellan, on any “punitive” element to Kovalchuk’s scratching: Minnesota, a record that includes a home mark of 17-10-6. The Kings are No, not at all. He’s a healthy scratch, and tomorrow’s, whatever it is, 12-5-2 against the Wild in the teams’ last 19 games at Staples Center, Wednesday, away we go. dating back to the 2008-09 season. Both teams are 1-1-0 in the season series with one game remaining, March 7 at Staples Center. McLellan, on balancing needs of younger players and much older players: — With the win, Los Angeles improved to 6-7-0 against the Western Conference, 4-3-0 against the Central Division, 1-3 in two-goal games, 5- Our veteran players, a lot of them have ran – for the media that’s been 3-1 when scoring first, 4-1-0 when leading after the first period, 4-0-0 here before, I use ‘the marathon’ all the time. They’ve won the marathon when leading after the second period and 6-8-0 when outshooting their already, once or twice. They’ve run all 26 miles, and they have to make a opponetns. conscious decision whether they want to do it again or not. And if they want to do it and they’re on board, then great, we’re ready to run it with — Jonathan Quick became the fifth American goalie to surpass 15,000 them. The kids are running their first and they’re learning lessons as they career saves in the win. With a 27-of-28 performance, he has now go, so they need somebody to lean, somebody to train, and if the stopped 15,005 of 16,430 career shots (.913). veterans are willing to do that, we’ve got a good blend and a good mix. When you lose more games than you win it’s miserable. Nobody’s happy. — Anze Kopitar (1-1=2) scored his team-leading sixth goal of the season. Nobody comes to the rink to stay close or have moral victories. But the He leads the team in goals, assists (12) and points (18). attitude and the belief system has to stay up. You have to be responsible for what you bring to the rink every day, and I can tell you misery’s — Drew Doughty finished with two shots, six shot attempts, five hits, four existed because of the losses, but the attitudes have been pretty good, blocked shots and a plus-two rating in a game-high 26:15 of action. so so far, so good. — Sean Walker (1-1=2) recorded his first-career multi-point game. With a McLellan, on whether Kovalchuk is “on board”: 24:35 TOI, he bested his previous career-high by over three minutes. Tuesday’s game was the fourth time in 57 career games he’s logged at Yeah, Kovy’s on board, and just like the rest of the players he’ll get his least 20 minutes. opportunity to come back in. We have to treat him like any other player, and if Toffoli and Kempe and others that maybe haven’t had really good — Jeff Carter played his 998th career game. games have had to come out and watch one, and we treat everyone the same. — The Kings attempted 61 shots (35 on goal, 12 blocked, 14 missed). The Wild attempted 58 shots (28 on goal, 16 blocked, 14 missed). Tyler McLellan, on Matt Luff’s performance: Toffoli finished with a game-high five shots on goal.

Well, I think we saw a better Matt Luff tonight than we did six weeks go, — Los Angeles won 22-of-59 faceoffs (37%). Michael Amadio won 0-of-4, eight weeks ago, whatever training camp was. I thought he played his Anze Kopitar won 7-of-14, Dustin Brown won 1-of-1, Blake Lizotte won 2- role well, he was big, he was strong along the boards. You can see he of-9, Austin Wagner won 0-of-2, Nikolai Prokhorkin won 7-of-16 and Jeff gets himself into some scoring spots. I know he’s got a really good shot. Carter won 5-of-13. He didn’t quite get it off tonight. So, it was a positive night for him. He can have those nights without scoring goals and be an effective player. I think The Kings are scheduled to practice Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Toyota when he was in camp, he felt like he had to score. The scoring will be a Sports Performance Center. bonus as it comes. LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161180 Los Angeles Kings

GAME 18: LOS ANGELES VS MINNESOTA

JON ROSEN NOVEMBER 12, 2019

GAME THREADS

Los Angeles Kings 3, Minnesota Wild 1

Final

Preview

Box Score

Ice Tracker

LA Kings Audio Network

Fox Sports Live Stream (requires subscription)

SOG: LAK – 35; MIN – 28

PP: LAK – 0/2; MIN – 0/3

First Period

1) LAK – Anze Kopitar (6) (Sean Walker, Alex Iafallo), 1:10

Second Period

2) LAK – Jeff Carter (5) (Michael Amadio, Ben Hutton), 10:56

3) MIN – Matt Dumba (3) (unassisted), 15:40

Third Period

4) LAK ENG – Sean Walker (4) (Anze Kopitar)

Los Angeles Kings (5-11-1) vs Minnesota Wild (6-10-1)

Tuesday, Movember 12, 2019, 7:30 p.m. PT

Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA

Referees: #12 Justin StPierre, #21 TJ Luxmore

Linesmen: #87 Devin Berg, #64 Brandon Gawryletz

Fox Sports West, FOX Sports GO, LA Kings Audio Network

LAK starters: G Jonathan Quick, D Ben Hutton,, D Sean Walker, LW Carl Grundstrom, C Blake Lizotte, RW Austin Wagner

LAK scratches: F Adrian Kempe, D Kurtis MacDermid, F Ilya Kovalchuk

MIN starters: G Devan Dubnyk, D Ryan Suter, D Jared Spurgeon, LW Jordan Greenway, C Joel Eriksson Ek, RW Luke Kunin

MIN scratches: F Marcus Foligno, D Nick Seeler

LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161181 Los Angeles Kings

KOVALCHUK A “HEALTHY SCRATCH,” PER BLAKE, BUT FUTURE MURKY

JON ROSEN NOVEMBER 12, 2019

LA Kings General Manager Rob Blake met with members of the media at the start of warm-ups prior to Tuesday’s game against the Minnesota Wild, which followed Elliotte Friedman’s afternoon report that the team had informed Ilya Kovalchuk of an intent to withhold him from the lineup “for the foreseeable future.”

There is word this afternoon that LA has informed Ilya Kovalchuk he will be out of the lineup for the foreseeable future. He is welcome to practice with the club, but he will not be playing. Obviously, more details as they occur.

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) November 12, 2019

Basically, the thrust of what Blake shared was that he’s a healthy scratch, a term he repeatedly used in describing what appears to be a complex situation. A healthy scratch, as in, “the same as Adrian Kempe. The reason we didn’t say anything today is because we’ve got a game today.”

Asked whether he denied the longer-term part of the report, Blake reiterated his initial answer. “He’s a healthy scratch. He’s being treated as a healthy scratch.”

“I don’t know what the lineup is Thursday, I don’t know what the lineup is on Saturday. I know the lineup tonight. He’s a healthy scratch. Unfortunately, everybody knows before warm-ups.”

Blake said he’d met with Kovalchuk and that he usually does with players he takes out of the lineup. “It’s hard taking players out. They’re difficult decisions, they’re difficult conversations. But yes, I did.”

Kovalchuk has three goals, nine points and a minus-10 rating in 17 games, along with a relative possession rate in the red. He’s taken 21 shots and scored two goals in 206:34 of five-on-five time.

“Well, we’re in last place, right? So, we’ve changed a lot of the lineups, we did this with Tyler, we did it with Prokhorkin, we did it with Adrian Kempe tonight. I’m not sure of the D yet, but we’ll see. But it happens,” Blake said.

There’s obviously something more complex in play here, but before anything else is said, Elliotte Friedman is among the smallest class of elite NHL insiders. No one’s suggesting his report is inaccurate.

There are complexities well beyond those I am aware of at the moment. And with that said, of what I do know, it is completely plausible to have doubts of the marriage beyond the shorter-term parameters shared before game time. It’s all a bit murky, and we all hope to add a touch more definition to this story soon. More will follow after the game from Todd McLellan. Until then, two final bits from the press conference:

Rob Blake, on an insinuation that he let Willie Desjardins make lineup decisions last season:

Yeah, and I talk to Todd on a daily basis. I know what the lineup is going in. So, it’s communication between both of us. [Reporter: Was it a Todd decision? Was it your decision? A joint decision?] We’re trying to find combinations that work and try to score some goals. We liked the young kids in Montreal. Thought that was a really good line for us, gave us some energy. Adrian’s struggled. We’re trying to find a way to get him going.

Blake, on whether Kovalchuk asked for a trade:

I don’t control that. I have no control over that situation. [Reporter: But he has not asked you for a trade.] No, and like I said, he has a no-move for a reason.

LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161182 Los Angeles Kings

FRIEDMAN: KINGS TELL KOVALCHUK HE’LL BE OUT OF THE LINEUP FOR THE “FORESEEABLE FUTURE”; HEALTHY SCRATCH VS MINNESOTA

JON ROSEN NOVEMBER 12, 2019

Via Elliotte Friedman of Rogers Sportsnet:

There is word this afternoon that LA has informed Ilya Kovalchuk he will be out of the lineup for the foreseeable future. He is welcome to practice with the club, but he will not be playing. Obviously, more details as they occur.

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) November 12, 2019

So! There’s obviously some news here. Without provoking hysteria, I’ll try to provide whatever context I may. I hadn’t heart of anything fishy until about 3:00 this afternoon, when an interesting mention originating from Edmonton popped up. (It mentioned a buyout, which is not confirmed and I have not heard otherwise, and I retweeted it without reading it properly before undoing the retweet. Please excuse me for that.) There’s also a credible reporter, Igor Eronko, who mentions a KHL team by name. I definitely can’t confirm or deny those two things at this moment but will try to share what I hear as soon as I hear it and provide what context I may. I also have to commute to Staples Center on a Tuesday. The only real initial sense I’ve gotten from the team over the last hour is that what was shared above stands and that he’s basically a healthy scratch.

There were a few Eastern Conference teams last year that kicked the tires on Kovalchuk, who didn’t exactly shut down the idea of waiving his no-movement clause. From last year’s trade deadline:

Ilya Kovalchuk, on whether he would want to move to another team to win a Stanley Cup:

That’s, I have a three-year contract, so you know I think that Rob Blake is going to do what’s the best for the future of this team, so you know my job is just to go out there and play and we’ll see what happens.

Kovalchuk, on whether he’d waive his no-trade clause if the situation was to his liking:

I don’t know, like I said, you should ask Rob about that because I told him that I am going to do whatever is good for the team because you know, I signed here, we went here, my family, we love the city and everything. I think our fans were great to us, so I just want to go out there and play and we’ll see what happens.

Again! This is just important context, not an indication that you should be expecting a trade or some imminent transaction. I didn’t see Kovalchuk on the ice this morning and noted that in addition to Adrian Kempe and Kurtis MacDermid, they’d need to scratch another wing to insert Luff, who should probably slot alongside Nikolai Prokhorkin and opposite Kyle Clifford.

In 17 games this season, Kovalchuk, who has one year remaining on a contract that has a $6.25-million cap hit, has three goals, nine points and a minus-10 rating. More to come from DTLA.

A reminder as reported before that Kovalchuk’s final signing bonus money is payable Dec. 15 after which he’s only collecting on his $700k salary for the rest of the season. He does, however, have a $4.25 M salary on the books for next season… if he’s still in the NHL https://t.co/DGEia1juWX

— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) November 12, 2019

LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161183 Los Angeles Kings in show at home, and Nick and Daryl’s 30-minute pre-game show from the road. “The select broadcasts on 1150 are in addition to the LA Kings Audio Network and are an additional way for our fans to connect with our team while also expanding our partnership with our partners at iHeart,” QUICK EXPECTED, KEMPE OUT, ADDITIONAL LINEUP NOTES VS the Kings said in an email. WILD — More to come this afternoon. Today’s officials are referees Justin StPierre and TJ Luxmore, and linesmen Devin Berg and Brandon JON ROSENNOVEMBER 12, 2019 Gawryletz. Let’s talk soon, Insiders.

LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 11.13.2019

INSIDERS. A quick note on lines and the such. I’ll have more later this afternoon on Matt Luff, but first, a quick run-through of what to expect when the LA Kings face the Minnesota Wild tonight at Staples Center (7:30 p.m. PT / FOX Sports West / FOX Sports GO / LA Kings Audio Network):

Notes!

— The vitals: Today’s skate was optional. Jonathan Quick didn’t participate but is the presumed starter versus the Wild, against whom he’s 13-8-5 in his career with a 2.63 goals-against average and an .898 save percentage. Fellow Conn Smythe Trophy winner Bill Ranford put the pads on and got a good sweat going in his absence. Jack Campbell remained on the ice for extra work with Adrian Kempe and Kurtis MacDermid, so they’re not expected to play tonight. More on Kempe from yesterday.

It’s not clear what the forward group will look like because of the optional skate, but yesterday’s groups might suggest an alignment of Iafallo- Kopitar-Brown, Carter-Amadio-Toffoli, Grundstrom-Lizotte-Wagner and Kovalchuk-Prokhorkin-Clifford. I still think Luff is in, but he’d require a winger to come out of the lineup. Wait for the song. Defensive pairings should be Martinez-Doughty, Hutton-Walker and Ryan-Roy.

— Their vitals: Devan Dubnyk is expected to start in net, per Michael Russo of The Athletic. He’s 9-5-2 in his career against Los Angeles with a 2.33 GAA and a .926 Sv%. This is actually a match-up of the teams with the third-worst 5×5 Sv% in the league (LAK/.891) and the fifth-worst (MIN/.900). Based on yesterday’s line rushes, you should see a forward group of Zucker-Staal-Zuccarello, Parise-Koivu-Fiala, Greenway- Eriksson Ek-Kunin and Donato-Rask-Hartman up front, via Russo. Eric Staal keeps on keepin’ on and has 13 points (6-7=13) in his last 10 games, representative of a Wild group that enters having scored 13 goals amidst a 2-1-0 stretch. “They put together a pretty darn good game 10 days ago or two weeks ago, whatever it was against us,” Todd McLellan said. “Right now, we’re trying to get our own house in order. We’re trying to find our own momentum and push forward. We have done the pre- scout on them. They seem to be a little more confident, but we’re a lot more concerned about our group and we’ll focus on that a lot more.”

— There has been a lifestyle change for Matt Luff, who is no longer a guest in the Moulson household but rather Cal Petersen and Sean Walker’s roommate. “It’s been good,” Luff said. “I’ve got Cal in Ontario. Basically, we were living two guys in a three-bedroom house [with] Walks on the road a lot. I think he paid rent for all October and I didn’t see Walks twice. So, I mean, we’ve just been collecting the check from Walks.”

There’s more to come, but first, a good question was posited. Luff’s shot and his offensive proclivity are known. But what about when things aren’t going well – what are the types of things he has to clean up so he’s able to forge out a lasting NHL career?

“I think I’m cheating for offense. I’m thinking about one side of the puck and not both sides,” he said. “This year, we brought in Hajter (Ontario Assistant Coach Chris Hajt) again, and he’s really put me on the PK for the first time in probably a long time since I’ve been on that. So, he’s giving me a different look on both sides of the puck, and when I’m playing my best, I’m on both sides of the puck and not creating chances and not cheating for offense. I have that ability to be an offensive player, but defense leads to offense at the end of the day.”

— Some of you may have caught a rogue game on iHeart Radio’s AM 1150 on your radio dial. There are 10 additional radio broadcasts remaining, in addition to all games carried on the iHeart Radio app: November 30 vs WPG, December 7 @ CGY, December 28 @VAN, January 29 vs TBL, February 1 vs ANA, February 22 vs COL, March 9 vs COL, March 19 vs BOS, March 21 vs VAN and April 4 vs DAL. The radio simulcast will also include Jesse Cohen’s new pre-game, hour-long call- 1161184 Los Angeles Kings consistency was lacking last year, and it resulted in the Kings yielding an extreme rate of scoring chances against while he was on the ice. It’s part of the reason – along with Willie Desjardins’ lineup decisions – why he wasn’t able to regularly get back into the lineup. On the surface, it sounds YOU LUFF TO SEE IT: WINGER RECALLED FROM AHL-ONTARIO; ridiculous that a player tied for third on the team in goal scoring on RECENT SCOUTING REPORTS January 5 would only see an additional 41 minutes of NHL action through the remainder of the season, but Luff had the seventh-lowest expected

goals-for percentage in the league among players with a minimum 30 JON ROSENNOVEMBER 12, 2019 games and sported the lowest high-danger scoring chance percentage among Los Angeles forwards.

Again, that “body of work,” described by Stothers as being ahead of Matt Luff has been recalled by the LA Kings. Luff, 22, has 10 points (3- schedule, is impressive despite the need to grow as a professional and 7=10) and a plus-five rating in 13 games with Ontario this season and smooth out some bits of jagged detail that for a 21-year-old can be last year totaled eight goals and 11 points in 33 games with Los Angeles. particularly sharp. It is not hard to find 21-year-olds with crooked shot, He shot a crisp 17.8% as he adjusted to structure and forechecking in the chance and possession-based metrics, but it is hard to find 21-year-olds NHL and was prone to being on the ice for scoring chances against while who scored eight times in their first 33 games. sporting a team-low -10.55 xGF%Rel in five-on-five play. “He has made great strides with the Reign and is working on being a Trevor Lewis was placed on injured reserve Monday with a lower-body player the coaches can trust in all situations,” Stothers said. “He injury, so Luff’s recall returns the roster to 23 active players. understands that it’s more than just scoring goals, he has to be You just Luff to see a player step up after his assignment to the AHL. The responsible to the team and know the situations. That will all come with word from the Reign was that he’s been excellent since Carl experience.” Grundstrom’s recall opened up a bit more opportunity. That a player with LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 11.13.2019 as sharp of a wristshot as Luff’s is tied for the team lead in assists is an encouraging sign, as well.

Via ORI on November 9:

Matt Luff on the Reign’s effort and never quit mentality

I think we believe in each and every guy that goes on the ice and that’s a big thing. Line 1 to Line 4, it doesn’t matter who’s out there. You look at Boko, Rymmer and Dots, or Boomer, they’re physical, they got in their guys’ heads and they created chances for us too, so that always helps. At the end of the day, Strander with two big goals and another great night by Cal. Going into games, down goals or up goals, I think we believe in each other to close games down and win games.

Luff, on playing on different lines throughout the game:

Yeah, I mean I don’t really care who I play with, everyone’s here for a reason. It’s pro hockey, everyone’s got great skill and works hard. It doesn’t, I mean it doesn’t matter how many times I’m put out on the ice, I’m going to work hard with whoever I’m with. It’s a win and I’ll keep playing as many minutes as [Stutts] wants and do whatever he wants.

Luff, on hitting two posts on the PP and the Reign’s overall special teams play:

At the end of the day, we gave up two PK goals, which is tough, and I don’t think we got any on the power play today. You’ve got to look at that and that’s not good enough. You’re out there for a reason and you’ve got to shut them down or put one in the back of the net. I think, at this time, it’s kind of frustrating hitting this many posts in the past six or so games, but at one point they’re going to go in and I won’t be complaining then. Right now, it’s just focusing on perfection on both sides of the puck.

November 6:

Mike Stothers, on Luff’s play in all situations:

Luffer’s been good. He had a little bit of a slow start for him, maybe there was a little bit of a disappointment for not sticking up longer with the Kings or not staying with them, and that’s not uncommon. He worked hard in the summer and he wanted to make it, he didn’t, so it takes a little bit of time to get adjusted and I think we’re now seeing the Luffer that we saw in the past. It’s only a matter of time and I’m sure he’ll be back up.

October 23:

Stothers, on Luff generating chances and getting his first goal:

Luffer has been shooting the puck, he just wasn’t finding the mark. Tonight, with great determination, he scored a big goal for us. He is a sniper and eventually they find a way to produce. He is feeling real good on the ice right now so I am sure there will be many more to follow.

More to come from Luff and whether he’ll play tonight. You’re also free to read the Luff letters I penned from over the summer:

If Luff is to make the strongest impression, it’ll be through improved checking and responsible play. He can score, he has a natural intuition to get to soft spots on the ice, he moves his feet and skates well. But the 1161185 Minnesota Wild

Wild whiffs on chance to bring momentum home after road loss to Kings

By Sarah McLellan

NOVEMBER 13, 2019 — 1:58AM

LOS ANGELES – Wild coach Bruce Boudreau was focused on returning to the Twin Cities with a souvenir from the four-game, 10-day road trip that his team didn’t have at the outset.

Momentum.

“I was so counting on winning [Tuesday],” Boudreau said.

But the Wild will travel Wednesday in a similar up-and-down state that it was in when it began this trek more than a week ago because instead of coming home 3-1, it dropped to 2-2 after a 3-1 loss to the Kings at Staples Center.

The opportunity to snag three out of four games was there, though, especially against a Kings squad that has struggled just as much as the Wild.

After falling behind early in the first period, the Wild had three power plays to overcome a one-goal deficit but whiffed on each of them.

Not only that, but the chances were some of the worst stretches by the team – opportunities that did close to nothing for the team’s mojo.

“The thing about the power play, no matter what happens, you've got to do two things,” Boudreau said. “You've got to execute, and you've got to outwork the opposition. And I didn't think we did either. And when you don't do that, you certainly don't get success.”

The Wild had 28 shots on goal and another 30 attempts that were blocked or missed the net, typically enough chances to squeeze out more than one goal.

But where the team didn’t generate any looks was when it pulled goalie Devan Dubnyk to gain an extra attacker with less than two minutes to go in the third period, another missed opportunity that included a three defensemen setup for the Wild.

Los Angeles would go on to score into an empty net.

“We wanted [Brad] Hunt to go out there,” Boudreau said. “We did. I should've called a timeout, and I didn't because we were fresh going out there and they weren't. Hindsight is 20/20, but I should've called a timeout and gotten everybody straight on the same page.”

The first two goals by the Kings came off faceoff wins in the offensive zone, breakdowns that stood out to Boudreau.

“I can't remember the last time we've had faceoff goals against us for making the wrong decision off of a faceoff,” he said. “The guys get back to the point and shoot it and score, and sometimes it's a great shot. But that was just basic stuff that we've done all year and for the last few years, and we didn't do it today and it cost us two goals.”

Kings captain Anze Kopitar scored the first one, shooting in a loose puck that Dubnyk appeared to have covered but didn’t ultimately have control of completely.

“It could trickle behind me and I could just sit there and do nothing and then they whack it in,” Dubnyk said. “It was just one of those feeler plays where it didn’t feel like I got a ton of it, so I just wanted to try to lay back.”

Star Tribune LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161186 Minnesota Wild

Kopitar, Walker lead Kings to 3-1 win over Wild

By JOE REEDY Associated Press

NOVEMBER 13, 2019 — 1:40AM

LOS ANGELES — Anytime the Los Angeles Kings can get an early goal from Anze Kopitar and pair it with key saves from Jonathan Quick, it is usually going to result in a win.

That happened Tuesday night as Kopitar extended his point streak to four games and Quick made 27 saves in a 3-1 victory over the Minnesota Wild.

Kopitar and Sean Walker each had a goal and an assist, and Jeff Carter also scored for the Kings, who snapped a three-game losing streak.

"It was a good night for us. We started off fairly well and we were able to play with the lead," coach Todd McLellan said. "Quick was there for us and our penalty kill was outstanding."

Matt Dumba scored Minnesota's lone goal and Devan Dubnyk stopped 32 shots as the Wild finished a 2-2 road trip.

Kopitar lauded the Kings' defense and the play of Quick, who got his third win of the season. Quick surpassed 15,000 career saves, becoming the fifth U.S.-born goaltender to reach that milestone.

"Jonny has been like that for the past few games. It was more us in front of him; we were giving up grade-A chances and backdoor tap-ins," said Kopitar, who has five points (two goals, three assists) in the past four games.

The Wild were hoping to take advantage of the Kings' struggles killing penalties but couldn't. Los Angeles allowed two power-play goals in Montreal on Saturday night and was 30th in the NHL in penalty killing, but killed off all three Wild power-play opportunities.

"You've got to do two things on a power play: You've got to execute, and you've got to work the opposition," Wild coach Bruce Boudreau said. "And I didn't think we did either. And when you don't do that, you certainty don't get the success and you don't get any shots."

Los Angeles took a 2-0 lead with goals off rebounds. Kopitar opened the scoring 70 seconds in when Dubnyk was unable to secure Walker's slap shot from near the blue line with his pads. Kopitar corralled the loose puck and knocked it in.

The Kings extended their lead to two midway through the second period when Carter knocked the puck into an open net after Ben Hutton's shot in traffic changed direction when it hit Michael Amadio's stick. It was Carter's fifth goal of the season and his first point in five games.

Minnesota got on the board at 15:40 of the second when Dumba scored for the second straight game. The defenseman got control of the puck at the blue line, side-stepped Carter and had his wrist shot from the right faceoff circle go in with a deflection off the far post.

Walker made it 3-1 on an empty-net goal with 47 seconds remaining in the third. It was the first multi-point game of Walker's career.

"We've just got to be a little more dialed in, a little sharper," Dumba said. "Pay attention to those details and hopefully we get a little bit better luck here. It puts a damper on the road trip, for sure."

Star Tribune LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161187 Minnesota Wild

Wild-Los Angeles game recap

NOVEMBER 13, 2019 — 12:38AM

STAR TRIBUNE’S THREE STARS

1. Jonathan Quick, Kings: Goaltender made 27 saves.

2. Jeff Carter, Kings: Wound up with game-winning goal.

3. Matt Dumba, Wild: Scored the Wild’s only goal.

BY THE NUMBERS

0 Goals by the Wild during three power plays.

2 Wins out of four games on this now-completed road trip through California and Arizona.

SARAH MCLELLAN

Star Tribune LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161188 Minnesota Wild “We still believed we could come back obviously, but just didn’t happen for us,” winger Luke Kunin said.

Dubnyk had 32 stops for the Wild. Road rally falls short in Wild's 3-1 loss to Los Angeles The Kings tacked on an empty-net goal from defenseman Sean Walker with 47 seconds to go.

By Sarah McLellan Star Tribune “When we get looks, we gotta capitalize,” Dumba said. “We gotta execute. I know I had one at the start of the third. I put that in the net, it’s NOVEMBER 13, 2019 — 1:00AM a different game. I think we all gotta hold ourselves a little more accountable in that sense and capitalizing and bearing down.”

LOS ANGELES – Instead of traveling in geographical order by playing the two Southern California teams in succession, stops in Anaheim and Star Tribune LOADED: 11.13.2019 Los Angeles bookended the Wild’s four-game, 10-day road trip.

And while the team logged extra air miles with an itinerary like that, the upside was that its final matchup was against one of the few clubs in the NHL below it in the standings – a glorious opportunity to wrap the trek a resounding success at 3-1.

But the Wild couldn’t take advantage of the schedule nor its opponent, sagging for a 3-1 letdown to the Kings on Tuesday in front of 16,099 at Staples Center to finish 2-2 and sit 6-11-1 overall and 3-10 on the road.

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“It puts a damper on it, for sure,” defenseman Matt Dumba said of the outcome’s effect on the trip. “... You got a four-hour trip home tomorrow on a plane. Turns out it’s going to be pretty quiet tomorrow.”

In staying on brand, the Wild fell behind by two goals.

Although the team overcome that deficit at the outset to shrug off the Ducks 4-2 on Nov. 5 and climbed out of that hole twice last Saturday to rally 4-3 over the Coyotes, it couldn’t stage one more comeback against the Kings.

The Wild’s other loss on this road swing was a 6-5 setback to the Sharks on Nov. 7, a close result after the team gave up four goals in the first period.

“It’s a bad formula for success,” coach Bruce Boudreau said. “There’s no doubt.”

Kings captain Anze Kopitar continued the trend of the opposition striking first against the Wild when he put back a puck 1 minute, 10 seconds after the opening faceoff that goalie Devan Dubnyk failed to cover completely.

A pair of power plays later in the period gave the Wild a chance to pull even, but the chances actually seemed to hurt the team’s already disjointed rhythm instead of helping it. The Wild managed just one shot on the two looks and was blanked again early in the second to go 0-for-3. Los Angeles went 0-for-2.

Near the midway point of the second, at 10:56, the Kings doubled their lead.

After winning an offensive-zone faceoff, winger Jeff Carter charged to the net where he put back the rebound from a Michael Amadio shot to make it 2-0.

As if on cue, the Wild responded soon after – recapturing the resiliency that’s fueled its triumphs on this tour of the Pacific Division.

With 4:20 to go in the middle frame, the team trimmed its deficit in half on a shot by Dumba.

The goal was Dumba’s second in as many games, after he contributed to the comeback Saturday in Arizona. This was Dumba’s first goal streak since he scored three in a row Nov. 13-17, 2018.

In the third, the Wild kept applying pressure – cycling the puck in the Kings’ zone and maintaining possession with the aid of its defensemen jumping up into the play.

But the Wild couldn’t find that next goal like it had in its previous games.

Give credit to Los Angeles goalie Jonathan Quick, who was at his best in the third. He totaled 27 saves on the night and had nine in the final 20 minutes. One of his best came against winger Mats Zuccarello from the slot, a puck that appeared to clip Quick in the mask before sailing over the net. 1161189 Minnesota Wild “I think a couple guys got apartments,” Boudreau said. “We play 20 of our first 30 on the road. If we can stay in the hunt at that point in time, I think the middle part of the season will be really good.”

Russian Kirill Kaprizov hoping to join Wild next season

Star Tribune LOADED: 11.13.2019

By Sarah McLellan Star Tribune

NOVEMBER 13, 2019 — 12:37AM

LOS ANGELES – Prized prospect Kirill Kaprizov could debut in the NHL with the Wild as soon as next season. General Manager Bill Guerin has learned that’s what the 22-year-old wants from talking to his agent.

Guerin isn’t worried about Kaprizov making an impact when that happens. He isn’t expecting the forward to swoop in as a savior for the Wild.

“That’s a lot of pressure to put on a player,” Guerin said. “That’s why you see some guys at the [trade] deadline, they go to wherever they’re going and they struggle. They put so much pressure on themselves, and I just want him to be able to come in and just have a lot of support.”

Guerin will be in Russia from Dec. 1-3 to visit with Kaprizov, a trip in which he plans to catch one of Kaprizov’s games with CSKA Moscow in the Kontinental Hockey League and have dinner with the 2015 fifth-round draft pick.

Through 23 games this season, Kaprizov has 13 goals and 25 points, but Guerin recognizes transitioning to the NHL will be quite a change for the winger — a process the Wild wants to help ease.

“He’s going to be coming into a new culture, new league,” Guerin explained. “Everything’s going to be new, and there’s going to be an adjustment period. There are a lot of different pieces to the puzzle that we need, and he’s one of them. But I don’t want it all put on him to where we throw him out on the ice and everything’s fixed. That’s too much on one person.”

Greg Pateryn, who’s missed the entire season after undergoing core muscle surgery Oct. 1, is expected to practice with the Wild when the team returns home.

“He’s doing well,” Guerin said. “He’s progressing.”

Once Pateryn is ready to play, the Wild anticipates keeping eight defensemen on the roster, but it’s unclear if Pateryn will immediately step into the lineup.

“We’re going to have to see how that goes,” coach Bruce Boudreau said. “I don’t want to make any statements on whether he’s jumping right in or whether he’s going to have to fight his way in. When he’s healthy and we see him at practice, then we’ll know what we have.”

Since Pateryn has been sidelined, Carson Soucy has taken the bulk of the minutes next to Brad Hunt on the Wild’s third pairing.

“He’s playing great,” Guerin said of Soucy. “There’s a lot there. He’s an everyday player.”

Nick Seeler, who was a regular with the Wild last season, has played just four games and was a healthy scratch Tuesday against the Kings after he was a late addition to Saturday’s lineup when winger Luke Kunin was sidelined with food poisoning.

Seeler took just two shifts against the Coyotes, playing 1 minute, 15 seconds.

“Always feel for guys like that,” Guerin said. “It’s awful that we have to do that because he works as hard as everybody. He competes like crazy, and you want everybody to be able to play. So you do feel for a guy like that, but we also have to do what we have to do. His attitude has been unbelievable. He gets it. He’s a team guy. Guys that do that are just real good pros.”

Road regulars

The Wild completed its four-game road trip Tuesday, a tour that tied for its longest of the season.

It’ll have another four-game trek to close out the regular season March 29-April 4. 1161190 Minnesota Wild

Wild vying for winning record on road trip in finale vs. Kings

By Sarah McLellan

NOVEMBER 12, 2019 — 10:42AM

LOS ANGELES – None of the Wild’s previous road trips have finished with a winning record, but the team has a chance at that Tuesday when it closes out a four-game, Western Conference swing through the Pacific Division at Staples Center against the Kings.

So far, the team is 2-1 on the trip.

“We certainly would like to do it,” coach Bruce Boudreau said. “I think it’s our turn.”

The formula for success so far has been rally mode.

In its first victory, the Wild overcame a two-goal hole to shrug off the Ducks 4-2. Most recently, the team twice erased a two-goal deficit to take down the Coyotes 4-3 on Saturday.

“They’re not quitters,” Boudreau said. “… Sometimes it gets away from us, as it did in the Dallas game and maybe the first game in Nashville. But it’s a group that’s going to fight to the end, which is great.”

Winger Luke Kunin is ready to return after missing Saturday’s game with food poisoning, but the Wild won’t get winger Marcus Foligno back in the lineup. He remains out with a lower-body injury.

This trip so far has been winger Kevin Fiala’s most productive stretch of the season.

He has four points over the past three games, a span in which he’s scored twice. Against Arizona, Fiala had a goal and an assist.

“I still think there’s a lot more in that body of work that can be done,” Boudreau said. “But so far he’s doing OK.”

About the Kings:

Los Angeles hasn’t improved much since it suffered a 5-1 loss to the Wild on Oct.26. In six ensuing games, the Kings have won just once – a 4-3 overtime decision vs. the Blackhawks on Nov.2. This will be the Kings’ first home game since a three-game Eastern Canada road trip in which the team went 0-2-1. Three of the Kings’ last four games have been decided by one goal. Their 35.6 shots per game average is the most in the NHL.

Star Tribune LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161191 Minnesota Wild Pioneer Press LOADED: 11.13.2019

Wild wrap up West Coast road trip with loss to last place Kings

By DANE MIZUTANI | [email protected] | Pioneer Press

PUBLISHED: November 13, 2019 at 12:05 am | UPDATED: November 13, 2019 at 12:51 am

LOS ANGELES — It’s been so long since the Wild have been home that coach Bruce Boudreau has literally lost track of time.

“I don’t know how many days we’ve been here,” Boudreau joked earlier this week, teeing himself up for the punchline. “I think a couple of guys got apartments.”

It’s been 10 days away from home, to be exact, and even though the Wild would’ve loved to go 100 percent on the West Coast road trip, they will return to the Twin Cities with 4 of 8 points under the belt.

That much was determined Tuesday night at Staples Center, as the Wild suffered a 3-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings, who entered the night with the worst record in the NHL.

“To me I was so counting on winning tonight,” Boudreau said. “That’s all I was thinking about and having that momentum going home.”

That obviously won’t be the case.

That loss capped the longest road trip of the season, which started a week ago with a comeback win over the Anaheim Ducks, followed by a brain fart against the San Jose Sharks and then a comeback win over the Arizona Coyotes.

The loss to the Kings ends a brutal stretch in which the Wild played 13 of their opening 18 games on the road. Not that much of reprieve is on the way. Not yet at least.

“We play 20 of 30 games on the road,” Boudreau said. “If we can stay in the hunt at that point in time, I think the middle part of the season will be really good for us.”

As for the actual game, it started off on the wrong note, as Devan Dubnyk allowed a soft goal 70 seconds into the game. He fell over while trying to cover up an initial shot from the point and Kings captain Anze Kopitar cleaned up the mess with relative ease to make it 1-0.

While it looked like that might be the start of a rough night for Dubnyk, give him credit for bouncing back in a hurry. He made a few big saves in the first period to keep the Wild within striking distance.

But an unfortunate bounce in front of Dubnyk midway through the second period made it 2-0 as Kings winger Jeff Carter netted a tap-in goal after a puck fell right on his stick.

“You don’t see that too often,” Dubnyk lamented. “It was almost like he toe-dragged it out of the air. All I can do is watch him pretty much. He was on the other side of the net. It stinks.”

That continued an alarming trend for the Wild that spanned the entire West Coast road trip.

In every game, the Wild fell behind 2-0 before they really started to compete. And in every game, the Wild battled back to make things interesting down the stretch.

That happened yet again as Matt Dumba cut the deficit to 2-1 late in the second period, dancing on a defender at the blue line before uncorking a wrist shot that snuck into the back of the net.

“We can’t spot them those goals,” Dumba said. “I don’t know. We have to be a little more dialed in, a little sharper, and just pay attention to those details.”

That provided the Wild with some life heading into the third period, and even though they pushed hard for the game-tying goal, they ultimately ran out of gas down the stretch.

“It puts a damper on (the road trip), for sure,” Dumba said. “We have a four-hour trip home tomorrow on a plane. It’s going to be pretty quiet.” 1161192 Minnesota Wild

Wild GM Bill Guerin to meet with top prospect Kirill Kaprizov in Moscow

By DANE MIZUTANI | [email protected] | Pioneer Press

PUBLISHED: November 12, 2019 at 1:57 pm | UPDATED: November 12, 2019 at 10:20 PM

LOS ANGELES — Much of rookie general manager Bill Guerin’s tenure with the Wild is going to be defined by his ability to get top prospect Kirill Kaprizov to the Twin Cities.

No matter how bad things have gotten for the Wild the past couple of seasons, Kaprizov has offered a glimmer of hope from 5,000 miles away.

A fifth-round draft pick in 2015, the 22-year-old Russian sniper has been more of unicorn than anything else. While he’s developed into one of the best players in his homeland’s Kontinental Hockey League — he currently is second in the league with 13 goals — many have wondered whether he is ever going to come to American to play in the NHL.

Which is a big reason Guerin is flying to Moscow at the end of the month. Guerin plans to have dinner with Kaprizov and his agent, Dan Milstein, and watch the young prospect play a game in person. Guerin said his expectation is for Kaprizov to debut for the Wild next season.

“He really wants to come over here next season,” the Wild GM said. “I have no concerns about him playing and having success.”

But Guerin wants to manage expectation, both outward and inward.

Because the Wild haven’t had a game-breaker since Marian Gaborik left a decade ago, there already have been lofty expectations placed on Kaprizov as the future of the franchise. It’s hard not to get excited about him after watching highlights of him in action. He is worth the price of admission whenever he takes the ice.

“There’s going to be an adjustment period,” Guerin said. “There are a lot of different pieces to the puzzle that we need, and he’s one of them. But I don’t want it all put on him to where we throw him out on the ice and everything’s fixed. That’s too much on one person.”

That’s something Guerin wants to stress to Kaprizov, too.

“That’s a lot of pressure to put on a player,” Guerin said. “That’s why we see some guys at the (trade) deadline, they go to wherever they’re going and they struggle. They put so much pressure on themselves. I just want him to be able to come in and just have a lot of support.”

Greg Pateryn hasn’t played this season as he recovers from sports hernia surgery, but it looks as if he could be practicing as soon as this week.

“He’s doing well,” Guerin said. “He’s progressing.”

His potential return to the lineup will force the Wild to make some decisions on the blue line. It’s hard to take Brad Hunt and Carson Soucy out of the lineup right now, and Nick Seeler still offers value as someone who can play in a pinch.

That means the Wild likely will carry a couple of extra defensemen for awhile.

“That’s the plan right now,” Guerin said. “At least for right now.”

Marcus Foligno went down with a lower-body injury last week, and he could miss more time than originally expected.

After being classified as day to day, Guerin noted it could be a little longer than that.

Week to week?

“It’s probably a little closer to that,” Guerin said. “Which really (stinks) because he’s having a great season.”

Pioneer Press LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161193 Minnesota Wild He missed much of training camp due to a work visa delay and had a slow start to the season. Fiala says he has gone back to basics and tried to play more simply. He’s trying to go more into high-traffic areas, which is not easy for somebody who sustained such a serious injury only two Kevin Fiala is facing his fears after fractured femur, building confidence years ago. and speed for the Wild “There’s not a lot of pretty goals in this league,” Fiala said. “The faster you understand it, the better. I was one of the players I still sometimes don’t want to go to the dirty areas and stuff. But that’s what I told myself. By Michael Russo After the injury, I’ve gotta do those stuff because the game’s changed. Nov 13, 2019 Everybody’s getting better, faster. There are a lot more dirty goals than nice goals.”

But sometimes, there still is a mental block during those times he’s along LOS ANGELES — It was the seventh game of the season, the Wild were the boards and is about to get clobbered. In a lot of ways, that’s probably in Montreal, and in a scoreless first period, Kevin Fiala was first into the the reason he doesn’t take care of the puck as much as everybody would boards in his own zone. like.

With Nick Cousins skating in on the forecheck, Fiala didn’t want to take a “It was a tough start mentally, for sure, (after the broken femur),” Fiala hit, so he slammed on the brakes and reached with one hand to poke at said. the puck. Cousins intercepted the puck and set up Victor Mete for an easy goal from the slot. The one thing he did not lose from the injury is his speed. North-south, there are few players faster on the Wild. Fiala, who has had a propensity for turnovers since arriving in Minnesota last season, was highly criticized for bailing on the play. “The speed, we went to the finals, so I did rehab and then had a long summer, so I didn’t work so much on my speed. But I didn’t lose it,” he But the reality is it’s hard to blame Fiala for not wanting to put himself into said. “That was my concern for sure. But no, I didn’t lose it.” harm’s way after a devastating injury he sustained during the Nashville Predators’ run to the Stanley Cup Final in April 2017. Now the hope is he can start to realize some of the expectations created for him, and we are undoubtedly starting to see better all-around play Skating with the puck down the left side of the ice, Fiala was checked from him. into the boards hard by St. Louis Blues defenseman Robert Bortuzzo and fractured the femur in his left leg. In a similar scene to what once “I think there’s a couple reasons why he’s playing better,” said coach happened in San Jose to former Wild defenseman Kurtis Foster, Fiala Bruce Boudreau, who has held a couple of very honest heart-to-hearts was in agony and ultimately removed from the ice on a stretcher and with Fiala. “Whatever they are, I’m just grateful for them and I want him to rushed to a local hospital. continue going. I still think there’s a lot more in that body of work that can be done. But so far he’s doing OK.” For Foster, a broken femur changed the course of his career and Fiala, too, worried his career was threatened. We also saw pretty solid play from the Wild for the most part Tuesday night, but in the end, a fourth consecutive game in which they fell into a “It was scary. I couldn’t move,” said Fiala, who underwent surgery to 2-0 hole was too much of a chore to climb back from. have a rod put in his leg. “It was a long recovery and sometimes there were days in the recovery that I felt like, ‘Am I coming back or not?’ It The Wild had a boatload of chances at even-strength, but they could was kind of up and down. One day felt good, the other day not good. And never get that tying goal after Matt Dumba cut the deficit in half in the first then at one point at five months, it was all gone and all 100 percent.” period.

The Wild’s four-game, 10-day road trip came to an end Tuesday night Now, the Wild, who played 13 of their first 18 games on the road (3-10), with a 3-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings, but if there was source of return to Minnesota for a brief two-game homestand tied with the Kings optimism during the Wild’s 2-2 trip, it’s that Fiala is starting to show for the fewest points in the NHL (13). flashes of the type of player former general manager Paul Fenton hoped “That was a pretty hard-fought game by us for the end of a long road he was acquiring in last February’s trade for Mikael Granlund. trip,” goalie Devan Dubnyk said. “That doesn’t help. It doesn’t make Fiala’s four-game point streak did come to an end, but he worked his butt anyone feel better with where we are right now. If that’s a game in the off during a hard-fought game by the Wild against the Kings. His streak middle of a normal season, you can take something and build off of it, but consisted of three goals and two assists starting with his first goal of the it’s a little tougher to do with where we are.” season Nov. 2 at home against the Blues. It took 70 seconds for the Wild to have to chase the game. Sean Walker Fiala, a healthy scratch twice this season, started to feel more like took a point shot and Dubnyk felt the puck didn’t hit him hard enough, so himself the game before in St. Louis, then scored in the rematch. His play he toppled over thinking the puck was sitting behind him and he needed has gotten better and better since. to freeze it. When he tumbled, the puck popped out just as defenseman Ryan Suter was stopping. Dubnyk said the puck hit Suter and ricocheted “This sport is just confidence in my eyes, or a lot,” Fiala said. “Right now through his five-hole and in, although the off-ice officials decided Anze my confidence is high. So just going to keep it going. It’s a long season.” Kopitar actually buried the rebound.

Fiala, who scored 23 goals two seasons ago before combining for 13 From there, the Wild had so many chances against Jonathan Quick, who between the Wild and Predators last season, turned 23 this summer. entered the game with a 2-8 record with a 4.26 goals-against average That’s way, way, way too early to be giving up on any player, let alone and .866 save percentage. Quick, who made 27 saves, executed a one with the speed and skill Fiala possesses. couple robberies on Luke Kunin, Mikko Koivu, Brad Hunt, Zach Parise and Mats Zuccarello, plus the Wild missed the net 14 times and had Fenton was hoping Fiala could have a breakout season with an elevated another 16 shots blocked. role in Minnesota. When the Wild couldn’t score on an early barrage in the third, it seemed It’s hard to live up to, but the pressure on Fiala was instantly increased like their legs got heavy and chances were few and far between the rest when Fenton called him “electric” and said he had “the ability to be a of the game. game-breaker.” “When we get looks, we gotta capitalize,” Dumba said. “We gotta “He’s got an electric stick. His vision is unique,” Fenton said in February. execute. I know I had one at the start of the third. I put that in the net, it’s “He’s got this ability to find people in really close quarters. You better be a different game. I think we all gotta hold ourselves a little more aware that it’s coming.” accountable in that sense and capitalizing and bearing down.” Fiala heard all of those accolades. So, when he struggled off the hop with It sure doesn’t help the Wild are chasing every game. the Wild and kept giving away pucks last season, the pressure continued to pile up and he started to feel uncomfortable in his surroundings. They rallied for wins after two-goal deficits in Anaheim and Arizona and nearly rallied from a four-goal deficit in San Jose, but as Boudreau said, “It’s a bad formula for success. There’s no doubt. Sometimes you get lucky. Sometimes you come back. But overall if you’re playing from behind you’re not going to win.”

It also didn’t help that the Wild’s power play was just atrocious. On three power plays, they totaled one shot against what was the NHL’s worst home penalty kill and 30th-ranked PK overall.

“The thing about the power play, no matter what happens, you’ve got to do two things, you’ve got to execute and you’ve got to outwork the opposition,” Boudreau said. “And I didn’t think we did either.”

So, when you’re in the position the Wild are in, it’s certainly hard to take the positives from a 2-2 road trip when it could have been 3-1 with a little more execution.

This after three days in LA where Boudreau quipped that “a couple guys got apartments.”

“It puts a damper on it for sure,” Dumba said. “You want to go home. You got a four-hour trip home (Wednesday) on a plane. Turns out it’s going to be pretty quiet. Yeah, it sucks.”

Warning: Don’t disrespect Eric Staal

It was reported after Saturday’s game in Arizona one thing that incited the Wild during their comeback from a pair of two-goal deficits was former teammate Darcy Kuemper talking trash once the Coyotes went ahead 2-0.

Some players found it funny. Others like captain Mikko Koivu did not.

Koivu, who lit into the Wild’s former goalie after scoring a power-play goal against him, indicated after the Wild’s 4-3 win that Kuemper crossed the line and was disrespectful.

Koivu wouldn’t expand, but according to several around the team, the thing that incited a lot of Wild players the most was Kuemper apparently spent much of the first half of the game chirping at, of all people, very accomplished 35-year-old veteran Eric Staal.

This is a guy who has played the second-most games in the NHL since 2003-04 (1,192), scored the fourth-most goals (423), scored the eighth- most power-play goals (128), recorded the fifth-most points (988) and taken the second-most shots (3,776).

“I don’t know if he was just into it and that was his thing, so there was some back and forth,” Staal confirmed after Monday’s practice. “That’s fine. It’s not the only time that’s happened.”

This time though, Kuemper caved and gave up more goals (four) than he had in a start since March 11.

“It got the juices going, but that’s kind of his personality. He likes that,” Staal said of Kuemper. “Maybe he thought that was getting him going, but sometimes karma can pay you back. Luckily it did for us that game and hopefully it continues (in Thursday’s rematch at home against Arizona).”

The Athletic LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161194 Montreal Canadiens Globe And Mail LOADED: 11.13.2019

Jonathan Drouin scores winner, Canadiens beat Blue Jackets 3-2 in shootout

KELSEY PATTERSON

MONTREAL

THE CANADIAN PRESS

PUBLISHED 7 HOURS AGO

UPDATED NOVEMBER 12, 2019

Montreal Canadiens' Brendan Gallagher celebrates his goal with teammates Phillip Danault and Jonathan Drouin after scoring during third period NHL hockey action against the Columbus Blue Jackets, in Montreal, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2019.

Jonathan Drouin scored the shootout winner to give the Montreal Canadiens a 3-2 come-from-behind victory over the visiting Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday night.

Brendan Gallagher and Tomas Tatar scored in the third period for the Canadiens (10-5-3), who were down 1-0 after two. Carey Price stopped 33 of 35 shots.

Eric Robinson and Zach Werenski scored in regulation for Columbus (6- 8-4). Backup goalie Elvis Merzlikins was recalled from the AHL on Monday and made 30 saves.

A frenetic final two minutes of the third period saw Columbus take a 2-1 lead only for Montreal to score the equalizer right after.

Werenski put the visitors ahead with 1 minute 51 seconds left in the game on a beautiful shot into the top corner of the net.

Moments after the Blue Jackets narrowly missed the empty net, Montreal took advantage of the extra skater when Nick Suzuki found Tatar open at the side of the goal with 41 seconds on the clock.

After Columbus failed to take advantage of a power play in overtime, Drouin scored the shootout’s only goal while Price stopped all three Columbus shooters.

The Canadiens have now won six of their past eight games (6-1-1).

It was an electric goaltender battle on full display early on.

Price made three quick saves on a Columbus power play in the first period, including hard shots from Emil Bemstrom and Josh Anderson in the slot.

Merzlikins was also in fine form in the first, making a reaction save on Gallagher’s redirection of ’s shot from the point.

The Blue Jackets rewarded their goalie with a lead just a few minutes later.

Robinson, making his season debut for Columbus, beat Price with a shot between the pads at 16:46 for his first NHL goal. Price could not handle the initial shot from Werenski from the blueline.

The Canadiens fired 14 shots on target, none too dangerous, in a dull second period.

As good as Merzlikins was after 40 minutes, the Blue Jackets netminder gifted the equalizer to Montreal early in the third period.

Gallagher scored his team-leading eighth of the season at 3:27 with a fairly harmless shot from distance that went five-hole on Merzlikins.

The 25-year-old goalie, who began his career in the Swiss league, came into the encounter with an .882 save percentage after four games.

With an assist on Gallagher’s goal, Weber extended his point streak to four games.

Notes: The Jackets finished 0 for 3 with the man advantage. was serving the first of a three-game suspension. This was the first of three meetings between Montreal and Columbus this year. 1161195 Montreal Canadiens

In the Habs' Room: It was an ugly win, but Montreal will take it

PAT HICKEY, MONTREAL GAZETTE

Updated: November 12, 2019

Tomas Tatar said he felt bad as he sat on the bench after the Columbus Blue Jackets took a 2-1 lead over the Canadiens Tuesday night at the Bell Centre.

Tatar had the puck knocked off his stick in the neutral zone and the Blue Jackets took advantage of the turnover to go ahead on a goal by Zach Werenski.

But Tatar got a shot at redemption when he was on the ice after the Canadiens pulled goalie Carey Price for the extra attacker and he scored the tying goal with 39.7 seconds to play. The Canadiens went on to win the game on a shootout goal by Jonathan Drouin.

“We did something we worked on for the power play and (Nick Suzuki) made a good play and I was in position to shoot, Tatar said. The pass was an example of Suzuki’s growing maturity as he found a seam in the Columbus defence.

“He’s a skilled player and we made eye contact and I just got ready for the shot,” Tatar said. “Obviously, it was a beautiful play. I was trying to hide a little bit and I was trying to find my spot. He was trying to be patient and it was a beautiful play.”

“I did a pretty good job off the faceoff,” Suzuki said.” I didn’t have a lot. … I was hanging onto the puck a lot. I just went in tight to Phil (Danault) and he bumped it back and then Tuna did a great job of finding that seam right across the ice and put it in the net.”

The last two minutes of regulation and the overtime provided all the excitement this game had to offer. For most of the game, Columbus played the perfect road game, seldom allowing a second shot and jamming the neutral zone.

“They have a good team and they played really well,” Tatar said. “It was a battle out there, but at the end of the second period, we started pushing. The first goal (by Brendan Gallagher) was huge and we felt we could get two points in this game.”

“It was a good thing we had Carey Price in there,” Gallagher said. “There are games like this when it isn’t our best. It wasn’t terrible, but there are nights when you get two points and those are big points at the end of the year.”

Claude Julien was relieved to escape with the win.

“You come back after the second period you’re still down 1-0 and I said to the guys: You know, you got to stay focused here,” Julien said. “Not every game is going to be easy or we’re going to get a goal or two-goal lead. Sometimes you got to scratch and claw to get those kind of wins.

‘I said give (Columbus) credit,” Julien added. “I even told the guys after two periods: Give them the credit. They’re skating well, they’re not giving us much space, they’re on top of us. They’re playing a really good road game. So I said in those cases we got to find ways to win those kind of games. We got to be focused, we got to get better in certain areas and part of it was we had to win more battles than not. Give our penalty-kill a lot of credit, especially in the overtime. They did a great job at 4-on-3 and allowed us to get into a shootout.”

After the game, the Canadiens announced that rookie Ryan Poehling has been reassigned to Laval, clearing the way for Jesperi Kotkaniemi’s return from a groin injury.

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161196 Montreal Canadiens

Canadiens ride last-minute goal to shootout victory over the Jackets

PAT HICKEY, MONTREAL GAZETTE

Updated: November 12, 2019

One trademark of a good team is the ability to win at home.

Another is to find a way to beat a weaker team, even on nights when you’re not playing your best hockey.

The Canadiens succeeded on both counts as they defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-2 on a shootout winner by Jonathan Drouin Tuesday night at the Bell Centre.

The overtime came after a dramatic finish in regulation. Columbus defenceman Zach Werenski scored with 1:53 to play in the third period to give the Columbus Blue Jackets a 2-1 lead, but the Canadiens pulled Carey Price and Tomas Tatar scored in the final minute after a terrific feed from rookie Nick Suzuki.

There was more drama in the overtime as Montreal killed off a 4-on-3 Columbus power play after Victor Mete hooked Cam Atkinson.

After being outplayed for the first 40 minutes, the Canadiens came out strong in the third period and were a high stick away from drawing even at 1:55. Max Domi deflected a high shot from Brett Kulak, but referee Kyle Rehman didn’t hesitate to wave off the score because it was the result of a high stick.

But Brendan Gallagher scored the equalizer at 3:27 with an atypical effort for the feisty winger. Most of Gallagher’s goals are scored in the dirty areas around the net, but he was crossing the blue line when he unleashed a shot that went through the pads of rookie goaltender Elvis Merzlikins.

The Blue Jackets played a near-perfect road game as they used a strong forecheck to disrupt the Canadiens’ flow and repeatedly dumping the puck out of the zone after Montreal shots.

The Blue Jackets outshot the Canadiens 15-11 in the first period, but the numbers didn’t tell the whole story.

Columbus also enjoyed a wide edge in the quality of the shots. The Canadiens seldom had more than one shot on goal and made life easy for rookie Merzlikins. At the other end of the ice, Carey Price was forced to make half-a-dozen saves from close range.

Montreal was short-handed twice when Shea Weber took a pair of penalties early in the period and the Blue Jackets managed seven shots on goal while playing with the advantage. Columbus was unable to score on the power play, but broke through for a 1-0 lead when Eric Robinson was given some breathing room in the slot and he converted a pass from Emil Bemstrom. Robinson was making his first appearance this season and the goal was his first in the NHL.

The Canadiens had the only two power plays in the second period, but they were unable to capitalize on their opportunities. They had three shots on goal, but weren’t in a position for rebounds and spent most of the time chasing the puck down the ice.

The penalty kill has produced some good results over the past week. The Blue Jackets went 0-for-3 and Montreal has allowed only one goal in 10 opportunities over the past three games. The PK is still a long way from respectability, but it has shown some improvement.

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161197 Montreal Canadiens “Growing up back home (in Ontario), Don Cherry was, like, the guy,” Mete added. “That’s why you watch Hockey Night in Canada, to see what kind of suit he’s going to wear and everything. So it’s definitely way different now.” Stu Cowan: Habs weigh in as defiant Don Cherry goes out on his shield Mete remembers Cherry showing up to watch “a bunch of games” when he was playing for the minor-midget Junior Canadiens in the Greater Toronto Hockey League. One of those games Mete will never forget. STU COWAN, MONTREAL GAZETTE “He came into the room and yelled at me for not skating enough,” Mete Updated: November 12, 2019 recalled with a chuckle. “It was pretty crazy.”

Canadiens head coach Claude Julien had this to say about Cherry: “I’m a It would have been interesting hear the conversation between Bart big-time supporter of our veterans and people that died for the sake of Yabsley and Don Cherry before the Sportsnet president decided to fire giving us the freedom that we have today. But at the same time, I’m also the star of Hockey Night in Canada’s Coach’s Corner on Monday. a big fan of our league that is trying to tell people that Hockey is for Everyone and we like to include people. In today’s society, I think that’s I don’t think Cherry believed he would be fired after his “you people” rant the direction we have to take.” Saturday night, accusing immigrants of not buying poppies. Cherry had crossed the line many times before — insulting francophones, First In an interview with the Toronto Star’s Kevin McGran on Monday, Cherry Nations people, European hockey players, and ranting that female said he doesn’t regret a thing, adding: “I guess I’m going out on my reporters don’t belong in NHL locker rooms. Cherry has always refused shield.” to apologize for anything he says, standing behind his 85-year-old beliefs “If you notice, I never said ‘immigrants,’ I never said anything. I said ‘you and refusing to evolve. people’ and they could have been Scottish, they could have been Irish, If he had apologized to the many, many people he offended this time — they could have been anything, but that’s the way the world is today,” like his sidekick Ron MacLean did after nodding his head in agreement Cherry added. “They listened to those people.” during Cherry’s rant and giving a thumbs-up — Cherry would probably be “You people” became “those people.” back on Coach’s Corner this Saturday. Cherry will never change. But Cherry’s ego was allowed to swell over the years as his previous bosses continually gave him a pass to say whatever he wanted and he Good riddance. could basically dare them to fire him. If he did dare Yabsley this time, it backfired.

The Royal Canadian Legion — the people behind the poppies — Montreal Gazette LOADED: 11.13.2019 wouldn’t even defend Cherry and issued a statement saying: “Mr. Cherry’s personal opinion was hurtful, divisive and in no way condoned by the Legion. We do remain appreciative of his passionate support for Veterans.”

More importantly for Cherry, Budweiser — the major sponsor for Coach’s Corner — found his comments “inappropriate and divisive,” agreeing with Sportsnet’s decision to fire him.

The Canadiens’ Max Domi said after the team’s morning skate Tuesday in Brossard that he still loves Cherry, always has and always will.

“He’s a big reason why most of us play hockey,” Domi said. “We grew up watching Coach’s Corner and stuff. It’s unfortunate what happened. It’s sad. He’s a big part of hockey. That’s all really we can say, unfortunately, nowadays. But you know what, it’s unfortunate.”

When asked if he agreed with Sportsnet’s decision to fire Cherry, Domi said: “I can’t comment on that.”

Domi said Cherry had a huge influence on young hockey players in Canada who grew up watching Coach’s Corner.

“I mean that guy’s been around the game for so, so long,” Domi said. “I know him personally. He’s a great guy. His grandson Del was one of my best friends growing up. I’d go over to (Cherry’s daughter) Cindy’s house all the time and became very close … we were family friends. Like I said, it’s unfortunate how everything unfolded. But 85 years old, that’s a heckuva career. He’ll always be remembered as one of the faces of the sport.”

Don Cherry’s rant on immigrants:

“You people… love our way of life, love our milk and honey. At least you could pay a couple of bucks for poppies or something like that. These guys paid for your way of life that you enjoy in Canada.”

Domi’s father is also a close friend of Cherry’s, which isn’t a surprise because Tie Domi is the NHL leader with 333 career fights and was a star in many of Cherry’s old Rock’em Sock’em videos.

The Canadiens’ Victor Mete also grew up watching Coach’s Corner and said it was “a little bit surprising” Cherry got fired.

“At first when I saw it, I didn’t know what had happened, so I was kind of like a little bit in shock,” Mete said. “But then I kind of saw it and everything. I guess it was kind of the right choice there. 1161198 Montreal Canadiens Price finished the night stopping 33 of 35 shots, plus the three in the shootout, and “Mr. Chill” showed more emotion than usual after the victory.

Canadiens Game Day: Habs prove again that they simply won't give up “You’re calm during the shootout and then, obviously, excited to win,” he said. “It’s a big win coming back after being down with under a minute left. It’s a big two points for us.”

STU COWAN, MONTREAL GAZETTE Indeed.

Updated: November 12, 2019 Nick Suzuki, another rookie who grew up watching Price, is really enjoying watching him up close now.

“It’s still really cool just shooting on him in practice,” Suzuki said. “Getting The first two periods of Tuesday night’s game at the Bell Centre brought to see how good he actually is in person. It’s so tough to score on him back some bad flashbacks from two years ago when the Canadiens were and I’m sure it’s the same for everyone else around the league.” a bad and boring hockey team while finishing 28th in the overall NHL standings. Sweet Hands, Part 1

After 40 minutes, Columbus was leading 1-0 on goal by Eric Robinson at Suzuki made a gorgeous pass to Tatar, who one-timed it into the net for 16:46 of the first period and the Blue Jackets were dominating the the tying goal in the final minute. Canadiens. “He’s a great player,” said Tatar, who was on a line with Suzuki and Instead of having a hot dog in the press lounge during the second Artturi Lehkonen. “He’s very talented, really skilled and just to watch him intermission, I decided to have a coffee instead to stay awake for the last it’s fun. Obviously, he has a great set of hands and really good hockey 20 minutes. sense. I really like to play with him on a line. I think it’s really fun and hopefully we will build on it and we will be better every game. We had a But those flashbacks to two seasons ago were wiped away in the third lot of chances today, we just couldn’t put the puck in the net.” period as the Canadiens proved yet again that they are now a team that doesn’t give up. Brendan Gallagher scored his eighth goal of the season Donnez autant de temps à Suzuki, voyez ce qui se passe… 3:27 into the third period, before Zach Werenski put the Blue Jackets up 2-1 at the 18:07 mark. Sweet Hands, Part 2

Again, the Canadiens didn’t give up with Tomas Tatar scoring his sixth Drouin’s winning goal in the shootout was a beauty as he went to the goal of the season with only 41 seconds left in the third period and goalie backhand before sliding the puck through the five-hole on Blue Jackets Carey Price on the bench for an extra attacker. Then, after a scoreless rookie goalie Elvis Merzlikins, who was playing in only his fifth NHL overtime period, Jonathan Drouin scored the only goal in the shootout for game. a 3-2 victory. “Obviously, I don’t know the goalie, he doesn’t know me,” Drouin said. The Canadiens now have a 10-5-3 record and are 6-1-1 in their last eight “So I just kind of did my little type of thing where I want to go to the right games, while the Blue Jackets fell to 6-9-3. The Canadiens also moved and try and move him a little bit. I was going to shoot at first, but he was into second place in the Atlantic Division, three points behind the Boston blocking the two shots I was looking at. So I tried to open him up and, Bruins (11-3-4). obviously, put it through.”

“We keep saying 82 games and 82 games,” Canadiens coach Claude Man Mountain Julien said during his postgame news conference. “Well, they’re not all After missing practice Monday and skipping Tuesday’s morning skate going to be the same. Some nights you got to really grind it out, some while battling a virus, Canadiens captain Shea Weber logged 23:36 of ice other nights you’re not there like the game in Dallas (a 4-1 loss on Nov. time, had three shots, three hits, three blocked shots, one assist and 2) we just had no legs. Other games you’re feeling good and the other finished plus-2. team isn’t quite and you got a comfortable lead. The 34-year-old, who is on a four-game point streak and has 5-9-14 “So you have to be able to play all those types of games and kind of keep totals for the season, seems to be fully recovered from the foot and knee your focus in the situation and tonight was one of those where we’re surgeries that forced him to miss the first 24 games last season. down 1-0,” Julien added. “You don’t want to give the next goal. You got to stay to a certain extent patient, but you got to do some certain things a “I think at the end of the day it’s just the fact that he started on time made little bit better in order to create that goal and we did that. So there’s a big difference,” Julien said after Tuesday’s morning skate about Weber different ways to win hockey games throughout a season. I’m happy with being healthy from Day 1 of training camp. “He’s feeling better and better our guys that in the third period by sticking with it we eventually kind of all the time. To me, his confidence is where it should be right now. Things got through those guys. For two periods they did a great job in not giving are going well. So, hopefully this little flu bug doesn’t slow him down. But us much and really being on top of us.” he’s been good.

I should have had a hot dog after the second period. “Say what you want, but he missed a whole year before coming back last year late after the season started,” Julien added. “I think he’s on track to Ca-rey! Ca-rey! be where he should be after going through the kind of injury he did a year Price was the obvious choice for the first star after making enough and a half ago.” amazing saves to fill a highlight reel during regulation time and overtime Tout le monde/Everyone: woo! and then stopping all three Columbus shooters in the shootout. Drouin was the second star and Werenski the third star. Jeff Petry continues to be a rock on the Canadiens’ blue line, logging an impressive 32:12 of ice time against the Blue Jackets while finishing plus- Rookie defenceman Cale Fleury was very impressed by Price. 1. “It’s pretty crazy watching him do that stuff,” Fleury said. “Any save that Phillip Danault was just as impressive in the faceoff circle, going 20-for- he makes is usually so routine and then he’ll make the outrageous saves 28 on his draws (71 per cent). like he did there at the end and then in the shootout as well. He’s just so steady. It’s nice to know you got that guy behind you.” Poehling sent down to Laval

Price’s best stop was a sprawling glove save on Werenski with 3:28 left The Canadiens announced after the game that Ryan Poehling had been in overtime just after the net had been knocked off its mooring. sent down to the AHL’s Laval Rocket, which means Jesperi Kotkaniemi is ready to come off the injured list with a groin problem that has sidelined “I didn’t know for sure,” Price said when asked if he knew the net had him for the last six games. been knocked off. “I kind of thought it might be, but just kind of stick with the play.” Poehling logged a team-low 7:50 of ice time against the Blue Jackets and was pointless in four games with the Canadiens after getting called up from the Rocket. The new-look Blue Jackets

The Blue Jackets finished two points ahead of the Canadiens for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference last season, but this is a much different Columbus team.

Artemi Panarin, who led the Blue Jackets in scoring last season with 28- 59-87 totals, signed with the as a free agent this summer, Matt Duchene signed with the Nashville Predators and No. 1 goalie Sergei Bobrovsky signed with the Florida Panthers.

The Canadiens had a 2-1-0 record against the Blue Jackets last season, but lost 6-2 in Columbus on March 28 in what was a huge blow to their playoff hopes.

“No matter what changes they’ve gone through, they still play the same way,” Julien said after the morning skate about the Blue Jackets. “They’re a very aggressive team. They like to play in your face. They’re also a team that (coach) John Tortorella likes them to be physical and all that stuff. So we got to be ready to grind it out tonight.”

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161199 Montreal Canadiens On this night, Tatar drew a penalty and took none. It was his second straight game without a penalty, constituting somewhat of a streak. He’s trying.

The ripple effects of Tomas Tatar’s terrible, exceptional season and why “There’s always going to be two or three penalties. I was really upset it him leveling out is vital to the Canadiens was always me, but you have to live with that, I guess,” he said. “I’m trying to get the guy’s stick. I’ve had so many calls where it was hooks or slashes where sometimes they call these penalties, sometimes they’re not. By Arpon Basu “Obviously now I’m just thinking that I have to be extra careful, so I’m Nov 12, 2019 stepping away from these places and just trying to play more clean. I’m not going to let them make these calls on me all the time.”

Tomas Tatar scored a goal on Tuesday night. It wasn’t just another goal. The thing is, if Tatar steps away from these places, if he’s extra careful, it It tied the game with Carey Price on the bench, converting a sublime feed mitigates what makes him such an effective player. His ability to stalk from Nick Suzuki to get the Canadiens two points they probably didn’t puck carriers in the neutral zone and force turnovers is why Tatar fits so deserve, two points they got in large part because of Price. well in the Canadiens system. It is his aggressiveness without the puck that allows him to do that, removing space from opponents and Tatar’s goal means he has registered at least a point in 12 of his 18 pressuring them into mistakes. To do that he needs to move his feet, games this season, tied for most on the team with Jonathan Drouin, a which would avoid the penalty calls, but he also needs to be in those player whose consistency and engagement and hustle has been places. If he’s not there because he’s afraid of taking a penalty, how can celebrated all season. Tatar’s sixth goal of the season tied Joel Armia for he be the best version of himself? second on the team and his 15th point tied Drouin for the team lead. He is on pace for 27 goals and 68 points this season; that second number “I don’t know, that’s the question,” Tatar said. “I’ll have to think about it, would shatter his career high of 58 points, which he set just last season. but I’d rather step back and try to play softer than to go after it and get called again. That’s something I put in my head and I just live with it now. All should be good in the world of Tatar, a continuation of a lovely redemption story he has written since his trade to Montreal, a trade that “It’s a question for the future. I started to do that, I’d say, the last three came to the forefront again Tuesday when the two primary pieces games. We’ll see if I create something out of it or if something’s going to acquired for Max Pacioretty combined to connect for the game-tying goal. change or not. I hope I will, but I’m just going to be extra careful now and not go as hard at them.” But all is not good in Tatar’s world. He is off the Canadiens’ top line. He is among the most penalized forwards in the NHL. He is not in Claude So here’s the thing about that. The Canadiens’ transition game has been Julien’s good books right now. What might turn out to be the most somewhat off for a few games now. It was no different against Columbus productive season of Tatar’s career has been a bit of a nightmare so far, on Tuesday. The Blue Jackets clogged that neutral zone right up and and the impact on the Canadiens has been widespread and profound. made it so the Canadiens looked like they were skating in mud. It is a vital aspect of their game, what makes them effective, and whenever it is “He’s just one of those players that’s capable of being better,” Julien said lagging a bit they could always count of the line of Tatar, Danault and of Tatar on Saturday morning, prior to a 3-0 win against the Los Angeles Gallagher to build some momentum and get the puck moving in the right Kings. “He’s got to stay out of the box to be better, but also just try and direction, allowing the other lines to follow. find his game. He came in here with the attitude of showing he’s a good player, we know he is, he’s not a bad player right now but I think he can Without Tatar on that line, it’s simply not the same. The consistency of be better.” those clean transitions through the neutral zone haven’t been there with Drouin replacing Tatar at left wing. Not that Drouin has been playing To see just how strange Tatar’s season has been, how hot and cold he poorly, just that he doesn’t have the same chemistry that Tatar has built has been, simply look at the end of regulation against the Columbus Blue with Danault and Gallagher since the beginning of last season. Jackets on Tuesday. His whole weird season played out over a span of about 90 seconds. “For us it’s usually about our skating,” Gallagher said Monday after practice when asked about that lull in the transition game. “Usually when Here’s the goal Tatar scored to tie it up late, paving the way for a we can simplify to that, things kind of start to flow throughout our team. comeback, shootout win for the Canadiens. It’s not as simple as that, but if you can point to one thing, it usually comes from our skating. Now here’s the reason the Canadiens needed to tie it up to begin with, why Tatar needed to be a hero. It was because he had played the role of “Teams know our strength too; they know we’re a skating team and goat — and not the greatest-of-all-time kind of goat — just a minute they’re going to do everything they can to slow us down. That’s playing earlier with this comedy of errors shift at crunch time. up, being in your face and limiting your ability to get to speed. That’s part of video and that’s something we’ve been seeing here for a while.” With all four of his teammates going off for a change, with two minutes left in a tie game, Tatar fails to get the puck deep to complete the change That’s something they saw again Tuesday. safely. Then he’s chasing it and allows Zach Werenski to walk around him and score the tying goal. It was a nightmare shift at a critical time for When Tatar is on that line, the puck moves from zone to zone to zone a guy who is “capable of playing better.” smoothly, often with little opposition and no interruption. It happens as a unit of three, sometimes four if one of the defencemen behind them is Then he gets back on the ice a minute later and scores the tying goal. really on top of it. But when that line is rolling, they don’t need that help. His season in a nutshell if there ever was one. They get out of their zone and through the neutral zone into the offensive zone as cleanly as any other line in the league. “It doesn’t feel good, that’s for sure,” Tatar said of how he felt sitting on the bench after the Werenski goal. “I got the puck, maybe I could have Because they do it together. just tipped it in. But I fell down and maybe I was trying too hard to recover and the D went around me and the puck went in the net. Here is an example of Danault trying to do that Tuesday. He is doing it by himself. It didn’t work. “That’s hockey. Sometimes something goes wrong and obviously you want to make up for it. We still had a minute to go or a minute and a half The puck got in the zone, but it happened in a very un-Canadiens way. It to recover from it, and that’s what we did. It was a beautiful pass from happened with Gallagher standing stationary at the opposing blue line, Nick, and I was fortunate enough to find the back of the net.” with Drouin skating wide on the left side and never approaching the puck, with Danault carrying the puck from his own zone into the Columbus Being Tatar right now is not easy. He’s taken those 10 minor penalties in zone all by himself. That is not how this line is effective and, by 18 games and, in large part, that is why he is no longer playing with extension, it is not how the Canadiens are effective. Phillip Danault and Brendan Gallagher, a combination that was one of the best five-on-five forward lines in the NHL last season. So Tatar is “You see what they’re doing, so you know where the guy’s coming from, trying to adjust. you know where the open ice is going to be,” Gallagher said Monday. “That’s just about talking on the bench and knowing where the other guy is supposed to be.” Knowing where the other guy is supposed to be. That’s chemistry talking right there.

So, the rub is that Danault and Gallagher probably need Tatar with them to be at peak effectiveness in this area of the game. But for Julien to put Tatar back there he will need to see him be effective in the areas of the game where he is normally effective and also stay out of the penalty box. But in order to stay out of the penalty box, Tatar feels he needs to play a way that probably won’t allow him to be as effective in certain areas of the game as he normally is.

Perhaps the game against Columbus will be a turning point for Tatar. A game where his ability to immediately erase an egregious error and contribute to a big win could create a positive snowball for him. A game where maybe he can leave the stress of his penalties behind him and play freely in the neutral zone, the area of the ice where he is most valuable when he is aggressive, not cautious and passive.

The Canadiens kind of need that to happen at some point soon, because even though they are collecting points right now, they are not playing as well as they can. They rely on their top forward line to drive that bus.

What they need right now is to get that top forward line back.

The Athletic LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161200 Montreal Canadiens The fourth line also provided a boost in morale, and though Nate Thompson failed to hit the net with his grade-A scoring opportunity, his effort to create the chance in the first place is worth noting.

Video Review: Carey Price drags the Canadiens to a win against the I don’t want to say the hard work paid off, because that would imply the Blue Jackets Canadiens deserved to score an ugly goal, but given how uneventful the game was up to that point, there was something incredibly fitting about Brendan Gallagher scoring one the flukiest goals of his career.

By Marc Dumont It was one of the rare times Gallagher did not have to emulate the Kool- Aid Man and run through various brick walls made up of much larger Nov 12, 2019 defencemen and fight through an angry goaltender to score a goal.

The Canadiens did not allow the Blue Jackets to have an overabundance Unless they keep a very close eye on the Laval Rocket, Elvis Merzlikins of quality scoring chances, but the ones they did allow are what I would is not a name Canadiens fans have heard often. Those who do monitor describe as Thank goodness Price was on his game-level shots. the American Hockey League will remember Merzlikins losing a goalie It’s the kind of scoring chance you don’t necessarily expect to result in a duel versus Cayden Primeau last week in his only AHL start. save unless you’re a Canadiens fan. Back in the NHL, the Latvian had an opportunity to exact revenge on the Some shoddy defending and an excellent shot by Zach Werenski gave Montreal organization and create a little momentum for the Blue Jackets, the Blue Jackets a late 2-1 lead, but as they’ve made abundantly clear who are struggling to find their bearings this season. And while the 25- this season, the Canadiens have no quit in them. year-old rookie seemed to be well on his way to achieving a little retribution, it was the Canadiens’ star goaltender who stole the show. Ideally, they would never be in the kind of situations that require exciting comebacks in the first place, but the standings don’t have a column for Carey Price wasn’t just good, he was the only reason the Canadiens fans comebacks, just wins. didn’t fall asleep in the third period, seeing as the first 40 minutes evoked the same kind of excitement as three chapters’ worth of Tolstoy And with less than a minute left in the third period, the Canadiens describing the intricacies of farming. rewarded Price’s strong play with a perfect tying goal.

But his effort paid off in the end with a 3-2 win, thanks to a few clutch Credit must be given to Tatar for connecting on the one-timer, but how goals and a perfect shootout performance that illustrated yet again why about that ridiculous pass by Suzuki? It was predictable and yet perfectly he is the team’s most important player. executed.

Scientists are still scrambling to understand how microbes managed to Overtime was not enough to decide a winner, though it did feature infiltrate Shea Weber’s granite-based immune system, and while it may several more key saves by Price. But it was in the shootout when he truly take them a long time to discover a cure, the Canadiens found one for his shone. lack of discipline in the first period. First, he flipped the script on Cam Atkinson, and instead of being the Price served as the inoculation against the two early power plays victim of interference, Price ran his very own version of interference after resulting from Weber offences against Blue Jackets players, making Atkinson forced him to make the first move. seven saves and displaying the kind of puck tracking that allows him to keep the Canadiens in the game when they need it most. Take a look at Price’s glove hand as Atkinson prepares to tuck the puck behind Price. The word savvy immediately comes to mind. When Price sees every deflection and makes minor adjustments without wasting energy, it’s clear he’s on his game. There’s good positioning, and then there’s the kind of positioning that leaves little to no chance for the shooters to score. Speaking of minor adjustments, while there wasn’t much offence to discuss in the first period, Brendan Gallagher gave us the perfect According to my projections, Oliver Bjorkstrand had roughly zero percent example of how he turns low-quality shots into high-danger scoring chance of scoring to extend the shootout. chances. Final Word The man whose hand was broken twice due to point shots still fearlessly After a somewhat disconcerting start to the season, Price, who has faced goes to the net and tips pucks with the best of them. That might explain the third-most high-danger chances in the NHL, sits fourth overall in why he’s matched Alex Ovechkin’s five-on-five goal production in the last goals saved above average. couple of years. It’s not just what he’s doing that’s so encouraging, it’s how he’s doing it. Statistically speaking, no other Canadiens defenceman does a better job controlling the shots at five-on-five than Brett Kulak. But once in a while, He looks just about as comfortable as he can get in the net, and for he gets a little overzealous, which leads to a chaotic scene in the Price, that means a resting heartbeat that’s slightly above zero. He’s also defensive zone and quality scoring chances for opponents. being quite economical when it comes to using his energy at the appropriate times. There was nary a wasted movement on Tuesday Unless you’re a Bell Centre coffee vendor, you didn’t see much action in night. the first period, though some say the camera on top of the penalty box is still spinning to this day. And while it would be fair to declare Price is back, the truth is he never really left. The best way to stop a speedy team like the Canadiens from scoring is to turn the neutral zone into molasses. And the best way to do that is via an aggressive forecheck. The Blue Jackets’ first-period goal allowed them to settle into a boring yet incredibly efficient and frustrating style of play that The Athletic LOADED: 11.13.2019 reduced the Canadiens’ speed to a slow crawl.

There was a point in the third period that marked a shift in momentum, or rather, as close as we can come to describing momentum in this type of sleepy game.

It didn’t score, or even create a high-danger scoring chance, but the Tomas Tatar-Nick Suzuki-Artturi Lehkonen line spent enough time buzzing in the offensive zone to give the Canadiens a glimmer of hope. Although the Canadiens had yet to create much in terms of scoring opportunities, all they needed was one lucky shot to tie the score. 1161201 Montreal Canadiens about it,” added Johnson. “He was all-in. I wasn’t sure how that would be since he had accomplished everything else in the game.”

Talking to the coach was also unique. I mean, it’s Wayne Gretzky, after LeBrun Notebook: Wayne Gretzky considering Spengler Cup coaching all. opportunity “I thought he was quite good talking and connecting to players,” Johnson said. “It was almost harder as a player because it’s Wayne Gretzky, you have to get over who you’re talking to. But he was comfortable talking to By Pierre LeBrun you. And he was comfortable talking about things that weren’t great in your game, too. He would let you know, either way. Which I thought was Nov 12, 2019 a good thing.”

Again, we’re talking the Spengler Cup, not a return to the NHL. But I think It was just over 10 years ago, in September 2009, that Wayne Gretzky it would be fun to see Gretzky coach Canada. stepped down as head coach of the Coyotes. No official word yet out of Buffalo on the status of injured forward It feels like a long time ago already but The Great One coached four Vladimir Sobotka but what I’m hearing is that it’s likely on the longish- years with the Coyotes from 2005-2009, dealing with ownership term side for his absence. instability while dipping his toes in one facet of the game he hadn’t tried Which will only accentuate the Sabres’ search for a top-nine forward. his hand at yet. As we’ve reported before, eventually if/when Buffalo gets a totally healthy Could he be back behind a bench soon? blueline corps, that will be a position of strength it can trade from. Perhaps. Marco Scandella should be back within a week while Zach Bogosian will Sean Burke has approached him about coaching Canada’s entry in the need a bit more time, I think, before appearing in a game. Once he’s Spengler Cup, Dec. 26-31 in Davos, Switzerland. back practising, which should be soon, he’ll need to work up to speed.

Burke, Canada’s GM for the 2018 men’s Olympic team, is Canada’s GM But at some point, the Sabres will trade for a forward, that much is almost for the Spengler Cup squad. certain.

“It was a nice surprise when Sean called,” Gretzky told me Tuesday. “I Negotiations have not officially begun yet with this year’s top two second- thanked him. I was excited about it. Team Canada is pretty special. I contract RFAs, Mathew Barzal and Pierre-Luc Dubois. think the Spengler Cup is the oldest tournament that we know of. It’s a I do believe there have been casual conversations between the Islanders pretty nice honour. I told him I needed some time (to sort things out). The and Barzal’s camp but no sense yet that the real stuff is set to begin. It only problem for me is that it’s over Christmastime. It’s a tough decision may be that Isles GM Lou Lamoriello decides to wait until after the to make. season to get things rolling on that front, which he’s done in the past with “So, we’re talking about it and debating it,” added Gretzky. “But it’s a other young players, so that it’s not a distraction for Barzal. Or at least great honour that he reached out.” wait until later in the season.

It’s not clear yet if Gretzky can swing it, there are family plans at hand Which, well, if you’re Barzal and his agent J.P. Barry of CAA Sports, is (he’s a grandfather as many know) during the holidays of course, plus quite fine. The sense I get is that Barry would be ready to go anywhere, other commitments, but he is certainly looking into what it would take to anytime, once Lamoriello gives the signal, but at the end of the day, the make it happen. more numbers Barzal puts up, the stronger the negotiation case it will be. So really why hurry into this one if you’re the agent unless the player Gretzky means it when he says it’s a huge honour. Playing for Team himself wants it over with. Canada was always as good as it gets for Gretzky, from leading the 1978 world junior tournament in scoring at the age of 16, to all those Meanwhile, still no official talks, either, between the Blue Jackets and memorable Canada Cup moments, to the excitement of being part of the Dubois’ camp, led by Pat Brisson of CAA. For the record, Brisson, first NHL Olympics in 1998 at Nagano (even if No. 99 was left on the Dubois and Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen have all indicated to me a bench during Canada’s semifinal shootout loss); and in retirement, of willingness to start anytime. Nobody is trying to wait this out. So it’s just a course, Gretzky was the architect of two Canadian Olympic squads in question of deciding when is a good time. I would surmise we’ll hear 2002 (gold) and 2006 (QF exit) plus the 2004 entry some news, one way or another, sometime in the New Year that talks (won the tournament) also rank up there for him in his illustrious career. have at least begun.

Coaching Canada, which would be a first, is an idea that I think is quite Habs goaltending appealing to Gretzky. The Spengler Cup has a long, storied history. It is only seven games and he’s only 20 so let me be the first to say, we Everyone who has been there as a player, coach or fan raves about the all need to consider the sample size before projecting crazy things. tournament (I’ve never been, it’s on my bucket list). These are early days … Imagine being one of those European-based Canadian players selected But Cayden Primeau’s .943 save percentage so far with AHL Laval does to the Spengler Cup roster and finding out Gretzky was your head coach at least make you think. Charlie Lindgren has a .897 save percentage in for the event? You’d be pretty jazzed, I think. eight games, although he’s been better of late. Will Gretzky be able to swing it schedule-wise? Not sure. We should Still, how long before it doesn’t become clear that not only is Primeau the know before too long, though. best goalie in the AHL for the Habs but arguably the second-best goalie Gretzky went 143-161-24 as Coyotes coach. I think it tells you something in the entire organization? about him that he was willing to give it a try when his legacy in the game All of which brings me to this very much theoretical scenario: Should was already enshrined for life. There was no need to ever put it on the Carey Price ever go down with a long-term injury this season, which line again. But he took a risk and tried his hand at a very demanding role. nobody wants to see, does Montreal turn to Keith Kinkaid for the majority His players had to adjust to the greatest player ever being behind the of the workload or do they turn to Primeau if he keeps up his stellar play bench. in Laval?

“When you’re around him, even from his first day behind the bench, his Think about the 2014 playoffs when Price was injured. It was No. 3 man passion for the game and his competitive spirit was so obvious,” TSN Dustin Tokarski that actually got the call to start in net over No. 2 man hockey analyst Mike Johnson, who put up 54 points (16-38) under Peter Budaj at the time. Which raised eyebrows. But Tokarksi fared well Gretzky in Phoenix in 2005-06, said Tuesday. in that Eastern Conference final with the Rangers.

“I wasn’t sure what his demeanour would be like but I was impressed My point is that if the Habs just needed a goalie for one or two games, I how invested he was in the game, how he cared about it like we cared think Lindgren gets the call-up to back up Kinkaid, who would start. But I wonder if the Habs ever need longer usage in goal, if it’s not Primeau in that situation that jumps over everyone not named Price.

Food for thought …

By the way, my good pal Arpon Basu pointed this out to me, not to take anything away from Primeau, but there are crazy high save percentages so far in the AHL. Garret Sparks of the (Vegas) leads the AHL with a .953 save percentage in eight games, 20-year-old Russian Ivan Prosvetov (Coyotes fourth-round pick in 2018) is next at .944 and then Primeau at .943.

In all, as of Tuesday morning, there were 13 goalies in the AHL at .930 or better who had played four or more games. By comparison, just six NHL goalies (with four or more games under their belt) were at .930 or higher as of Tuesday morning.

Things that make you go hm.

The Athletic LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161202 Nashville Predators

Predators-Canucks: TV info, live game score, updates

Staff Report

Nashville Tennessean

Published 6:00 a.m. CT Nov. 12, 2019

The Nashville Predators face the on Tuesday to conclude a four-game road trip.

See how to watch or stream the game, and follow along here for live updates throughout the game.

Predators-Canucks TV, streaming info

When: 9 p.m. CT, Tuesday

Where: , Vancouver

TV: Fox Sports (Click here for channel information)

Radio: 102.5 FM

Streaming: NHL.tv, Fox Sports Go app

Tennessean LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161203 Nashville Predators

First-time father Matt Duchene doesn't look forward to long road trips as much as he used to

Paul Skrbina, Nashville Tennessean

Published 5:00 a.m. CT Nov. 12, 2019

SAN JOSE, California — Breaking up a long road trip is hard to do for some NHL players.

Predators forward Matt Duchene used to relish hitting the road for long stretches, such as the 10-night, four-game swing that took his new team to Detroit, Denver, San Jose, Calif., and Vancouver, .

But Duchene received a rare taste of home on the road last week when the Predators visited Denver – and experienced a milestone in the process.

While the game, a 9-4 loss, was forgettable, Duchene took some solace in spending three days with his wife, Ashley, and their son, Beau, who turned 10 months old Nov. 9.

Ashley is from Denver, so she toted their only child, who was born Jan. 9, a week before Duchene's birthday, to her hometown. A break in the schedule, which gave the Predators three off days in Colorado, was too good to pass up, even though they couldn't stay in their old house, which they recently sold.

Duchene said the Predators' seven-day trip in October was particularly difficult because he began missing firsts. But that wasn't the first time Duchene's feelings about the road began to change.

Last year during the playoffs, while he was playing for the Blue Jackets, Duchene began to feel the pain of being away.

"I mean, coming back, how much he had changed," Duchene said. "We were gone for about five, six days to start the playoffs … so I was gone for a while. It's a lot harder.

"I used to really look forward to going on the road, and there's a lot of great things about it, but at the same time when you're not really with the guys and you're just kind of in your room ... you definitely wish you were home with your wife and your son. A little thing that a lot of people don't realize that we go through, but it's part of it and it just makes it that much sweeter when you come home and they're always doing something new that you haven't seen before."

Duchene also has the ears of teammates such as Mattias Ekholm and Matt Irwin, who experienced the same thing last season as first-time fathers.

Nashville is home for the Duchenes now, after Matt signed a seven-year, $56 million deal. The Predators' prized offseason free-agent signee has looked at home with the Predators, too.

He had five goals – including one against the Avalanche on Thursday and two more against the Red Wings two days before – and nine assists in 16 games going into Tuesday's game against the Canucks (9 p.m., Fox TN).

The last game of the road trip means Duchene will be back home to see his family again.

And give his phone – and his wife – a rest.

"I FaceTime a ridiculous amount of times," Duchene said. "My wife's probably annoyed with me most of the time, but it's so nice to be able to see him and he sees me on the phone now and knows who I am and stuff. We kind of interact and get your fill there as much as you can."

Tennessean LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161204 New Jersey Devils

Lindsey Vonn, fiancee of Devils’ P.K. Subban, to star in HBO documentary about end of skiing career (VIDEO)

Updated Nov 12, 2019;Posted Nov 12, 2019

By Chris Ryan

Lindsey Vonn’s professional skiing career ended with her retirement in the winter of 2019 after one final season.

Now Vonn, who is also engaged to Devils defenseman P.K. Subban, will be at the center of an HBO documentary, detailing the final stages of her historic tenure on the slopes. It will debut on Nov. 26.

“I’m making the hardest decision of my life,” Vonn says in the opening to the documentary trailer. “To end my career.”

Vonn finished her skiing career in the 2019 World Championships, where she won a bronze medal, making her the oldest woman to ever medal in the event at 34 years old and giving her a record six World Championship medals.

But the documentary goes far beyond her triumphs on the slope. It details some of the difficult decisions she faced regarding injuries in her final season, plus the behind-the-scenes work and training needed to push herself to maintain her standard of excellence.

“I had this vision of how I wanted to end my career,” Vonn said. “But this hasn’t been at all what I expected.”

Vonn finished her career with four World Cup gold medals, plus a gold medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics.

HBO also has another sports documentary debuting later this year, starring Alabama football coach Nick Saban and New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick, titled “Belichick & Saban: The Art of Coaching.” That documentary will premiere on Dec. 10.

Star Ledger LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161205 New York Islanders

John Tavares returns to Nassau Coliseum as Isles expect some players back from injuries

By Laura Albanese [email protected] @AlbaneseLaura

Updated November 12, 2019 5:32 PM

John Tavares won’t be the only guy coming back to the Coliseum on Wednesday night.

The Islanders are expecting to see a whole slew of familiar faces as they take on the Maple Leafs in their final November game at NYCB Live’s Nassau Coliseum. That includes Casey Cizikas, who left Saturday’s game after taking a puck to the knee, and , who was held out of Sunday’s practice but will be good to go, Barry Trotz said.

And, perhaps in a more limited capacity, they’ll likely also see , who was reinstated from injured reserve after missing nine games because of illness and neck soreness, and Andrew Ladd, who wrapped up his reconditioning assignment with Bridgeport.

Ladd, who tore his ACL last year, hasn’t played with the Islanders since March. Trotz said both would be available, though Komarov did say he likely needs a little more time skating to get fully comfortable. Additionally, Otto Koivula was recalled from Bridgeport.

What it all means is that a team that dominated with some of its key pieces out of commission will now have nearly its full arsenal for what has generally been one of the more frenzied matchups of the last two years. “In a sense, it has a playoff atmosphere,” Jordan Eberle said, recalling the earlier Tavares games against the Leafs. He added wryly, “The fans seem a little more interactive. That’s for sure.”

Tavares’ return last year provided an intense, sometimes hostile backdrop to an already emotional situation. Fans felt spurned by their former captain and were all too eager to express their displeasure, and that’s unlikely to change any time soon.

Adding to the charged atmosphere is the fact that the Islanders are particularly successful against the Leafs when they’re playing a physical, aggressive game. Clutterbuck and Komarov are bruisers who were just behind Matt Martin in hits last season, and their returns could lend a little more muscle to Wednesday’s game. Clutterbuck leads the Isles with 45 hits in 16 games.

“I think it’s more or less just trying to take time and space away from their players,” Clutterbuck said. “They’ve got some world-class offensive talents and it’s not just the big names. They’ve got some depth forwards that are pretty talented and quick as well . . . And the best way to [stop them] is to get some body mass in front of them, between them and the box, so that’s how you have success against teams like that.”

Added Trotz: “That’s part of our DNA. We have to be physical, we’re going to be physical, and we can play a fast game as well . . . It would be a waste if some of our physical players don’t live up to their identity on a nightly basis.”

Still, despite all the extra emotions involved in a Tavares return — “extracurriculars,” as Clutterbuck termed them — Wednesday is nonetheless expected to be a little less fraught than last year.

“There’ll be some [emotions] but it definitely won’t be near the first time, I know that,” said Trotz in a way that seemed to indicate that few things quite lived up to the fan emotion of Tavares’ first game back last year, a 6-1 win for the Isles.

“When the crowds are chanting and they’re into the game, it’s a lot of fun,” Eberle said. “A lot of times, you kind of disregard what they’re saying because Johnny is a friend and it is what it is, but you know, for us, it’s a game where we're going in and trying to get two points and continue to roll.”

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161206 New York Islanders “I do talk a lot out there,” Boychuk said. “And Nick does, too. Though I have to admit, there were times when we first started together that I heard someone yelling and thought it was a guy on the other team trying to get me to give up the puck. He hasn’t always been as loud.” How Nick Leddy and Johnny Boychuk have formed a special type of chemistry “On the bench we do talk about a lot of things, or back in the room,” Leddy said. “He’s definitely gotten me to be a bit more vocal, though I’m not sure anyone could be as vocal as him.”

By Arthur Staple Their total time on ice together at five-on-five, courtesy of Natural Stat Trick, stands currently at 3,829 minutes and 19 seconds over six Nov 12, 2019 seasons. Only two pairs have more time together at 5v5 over that span: Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Justin Braun, who had 4494:25 before Braun was dealt to the Flyers this past offseason, and the runaway leaders, the A partnership that’s spanned six seasons and nearly 64 hours of even- Wild’s Ryan Suter and Jared Spurgeon, who are over 5,000 minutes and strength time on ice together started with a phone call on the craziest day counting. of Nick Leddy’s and Johnny Boychuk’s professional lives. Due to Leddy’s three-game absence and their current deployment, On Oct. 4, 2014, Islanders GM Garth Snow transformed his team within Leddy-Boychuk is Trotz’s third most-used pair this season, behind Adam an hour. First, he traded a pair of second-round picks to the Bruins for Pelech-Ryan Pulock, the No. 1 pair, and Devon Toews-Scott Mayfield. Boychuk, the extremely popular Boston defenseman. The reverberations With Noah Dobson making the squad this season, Boychuk seemed the from that deal had barely settled in before the Isles announced they’d most likely to sit when the 19-year-old Dobson played. It happened just acquired Leddy, a rising star on Chicago’s star-studded, expensive blue once before Boychuk grabbed his spot back. line, for two prospects. Boychuk and Leddy each have two years left on their deals after this one. Not even an hour after that, the new teammates, who had faced one They signed seven-year contracts within 16 days of one another late in another in the 2013 Cup final, were on the phone. that 2014-15 season, Boychuk for $6 million per and Leddy for $5.5 million per, and the Seattle looms before the final season “Yeah, I called him as I was driving down from Boston,” Boychuk said. of both deals. Pulock, Toews and Pelech, all 25, need new deals either “Just figured we were kind of in the same boat, going to a new team and next summer or the one after. So the partnership may not last as long as it’d be nice to talk, get to know him.” Leddy and Boychuk would want. Little did they know that six seasons later, they would still be on the ice But it’s hard to count them out, especially as they’ve adapted to role together more often than not. Boychuk is still there even as he changes over the years. Leddy’s ugly 2017-18, punctuated with a league- approaches 36 years old and his body starts to show the signs of his worst minus-42 rating, came largely with Boychuk sidelined by a bad rough-and-tumble style. He’s missed 48 games to injury over the last knee. Not having the safety net beside him certainly affected Leddy, as three seasons, plus the entire second-round sweep by the Hurricanes did that year’s defense-optional play. last spring after he broke a bone in his leg blocking a shot against the Penguins. Trotz has vigorously defended both of his most senior defensemen. After Leddy’s near hat trick in Ottawa two weeks ago, Trotz, unprompted, told Leddy is as durable as any defenseman in the league — the three games viewers of MSG Network’s postgame show they should “just forget it” he missed to injury last week equal the number of games he’s missed in when it comes to possible rumors of Leddy being traded. The Isles room, the last four seasons combined. But he has had to adjust to a new role and Leddy in particular, had to appreciate that plea. as a mid-pair rotation player and no longer the first defenseman out for power plays, with his ice time so far this season down 3:27 from its peak The interaction underscored another similarity between the two. Since in 2016-17. they arrived on the Island, Boychuk and Leddy have been fairly unfazed by all that’s gone on around them in their six seasons. But here they are, still a pair that has an impact. They are not the Corsi gods they were that first season together, when the Isles had 56.4 “We’ve always just clicked, it’s hard to say why,” Leddy said. “But it’s percent of the shot share and a 58.1 percent expected goals share (not great that we did and we were paired together so soon after we got here. to mention 60 percent of the actual goals) with Leddy and Boychuk on A lot of communication over the years, an ability to talk to one another the ice at 5v5. about what we’re seeing. I think that’s helped.”

Last season, those numbers dipped to 44.8 percent of the shots, 44.1 percent of the expected goals and 50 percent of the actual goals (all numbers from Natural Stat Trick). Barry Trotz’s system has a big effect The Athletic LOADED: 11.13.2019 on shot quality vs. quantity and expected goals, but by any of those measures, the Leddy-Boychuk pair was the least productive of the Isles’ three regular defense pairs.

The chemistry between the two is even harder to measure.

“We’ve always just really played well off each other, even that first season when we’d basically been teammates for a couple days,” Leddy said. “I think our styles mesh pretty well.”

It helps that they became fast friends after that initial phone call. The Boychuks — Johnny, wife Sheena, twin girls Kenzie and Zoey and son Brody — live a few minutes from Leddy. The defense partners still ride together to the rink or to the airport for road trips with the same regularity as they did in 2014-15.

“I didn’t have my car here yet, so it made sense to ride to practice or the airport together,” Leddy said. “We just kind of made it a tradition.”

Christmas is another tradition they’ve kept up since the Boychuks moved from Boston after that first season. “Uncle Nick” comes by to spend part of Christmas Day with the Boychuk crew. “Our house gets pretty crazy at Christmas,” Boychuk said. “He’s part of the family now.”

They seem as different as can be — the boisterous, always-smiling Boychuk and the affable but incredibly quiet Leddy. Boychuk has gotten his quieter, younger counterpart to talk a bit more on the ice, but they have long talked off of it about what they see and experience in games. 1161207 New York Rangers

Rangers’ Kaapo Kakko, Adam Fox put on clinic in 3-on-3

By Brett Cyrgalis

November 13, 2019 | 3:44am

David Quinn joked that the key to being successful in the NHL’s three-on- three overtime is “talent, because that is legit pond hockey.”

But Tuesday night at the Garden, it was fortitude that first got the Rangers there. The trio of Chris Kreider, , and Tony DeAngelo were on the ice for the opening 2:06 of the extra period, hardly giving up a scoring chance while hardly having enough energy to reach the bench.

“I wanted to wheel out three oxygen tanks for all three of them, but I don’t think they were going to allow me to do that,” Quinn said. “That happens a lot in overtime.”

When that trio did get off the ice, two rookies showed the talent — with a great pass from Adam Fox to Kaapo Kakko for the game-winner and a 3- 2 victory over the Penguins.

The overtime scenario has been a point of conversation this season after Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella mentioned there was no need for the shootout if the three-on-three happens to go over the allotted five minutes. There might end up being a rare outlier game that drags on and on, but for the most part, Tortorella is right.

In the 542 games that needed extra time in 2018-19 season, 368 (85 percent) ended in overtime. Figuring out how to win them could eventually prove valuable in the standings.

“There are a bunch of things you can be aware of,” Quinn said, “but really, at the end of the day, it is an NHL version of pond hockey.”

Quinn first saw it last season, his first behind the Rangers bench, when they went 3-9 in the three-on-three, the second-worst record in the league behind the Avalanche (who went 3-12 and still made the playoffs). They were 6-5 in the shootout.

Tuesday was just the third time this the season the Rangers needed extra time. In the first two, they lost in overtime to the Coyotes on Oct. 22, then lost a shootout Sunday night to the Panthers.

But Tuesday also turned out to be when their talent was so abundantly in evidence.

“Just a heck of a play by Fox,” Quinn said.

It also took quite a bit of confidence for Quinn to put Fox and Kakko — along with Pavel Buchnevich — out for the next shift following the first group’s deoxygenating battle. But he went back to that original reason for success in overtime — talent.

“How’d it work out?” Quinn said jokingly. “Because they’re good. They deserve to be out there. They’re good players and they deserved that opportunity.”

New York Post LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161208 New York Rangers

Rangers expecting Mika Zibanejad to return to lineup soon

By Brett Cyrgalis

November 13, 2019 | 2:33am

As Mika Zibanejad’s upper-body/neck injury lingers, the Rangers remain optimistic he will be returning to the lineup soon.

The top-line center missed a seventh straight game Tuesday night, when his team beat the Penguins, 3-2 in overtime at the Garden. Zibanejad is also set to miss the two-game swing through Florida — at the Lightning on Thursday and at the Panthers on Saturday.

Coach David Quinn didn’t want to be specific about a possible return date, but he did think that Zibenjad was going to be with the team in relatively short order.

“I don’t have a date,” Quinn said, “but I don’t think it’s going to be long term.”

Zibanejad was hurt on a reverse-hit from the Bruins’ Patrice Bergeron on Oct. 27, initially returning for one shift before exiting the game. He has skated a few times on his own and has had a few informal skates with teammates in a non-contact jersey.

But now Quinn said Zibanejad is “getting a little rest,” the hope being that when he does come back, it’s not another start-and-stop. The Rangers return from Florida for a matchup against the Capitals next Wednesday, followed by a back-to-back in Ottawa and Montreal starting Nov. 22.

“Some injuries are unpredictable,” Quinn said, “and he’s got one that is unpredictable.”

Goalie Alexandar Georgeiv was solid in making 30 stops in his first start since Nov. 4, having backed up Henrik Lundqvist for the past three.

“He made saves when he had to,” Quinn said, “which is always key when you’re playing a team with that talent.”

Winger Artemi Panarin collected an assist on Adam Fox’s first-period goal, tying his career-high points streak of nine games. During that streak, Panarin has four goals and nine assists.

Following a dreadful performance at the faceoff circle on Sunday, the Rangers had a great third period against the Penguins, winning 12 of 15 draws, and finished with a .490 win percentage. They had gone 4 of 16 in the first period, and then 10 of 30 through 40 minutes.

The Rangers’ lineup was the same as it was for Sunday night’s 6-5 shootout loss to the Panthers, meaning Micheal Haley was the only healthy scratch.

New York Post LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161209 New York Rangers Kakko a marvel all night, Fox and Lindgren carrying the load on the backend, and the overall inconsistency moving to the background at least for one night.

Kaapo Kakko is Rangers’ hero in telling roller-coaster win It was a glimpse into why the organization is hopeful for the future.

“It definitely gives us a lot of confidence,” Fox said.

By Brett Cyrgalis

November 12, 2019 | 10:19pm | Updated New York Post LOADED: 11.13.2019

The Rangers have always known they had talent. So it wasn’t entirely unexpected, though jaws hit the Garden floor, when 18-year-old rookie Kaapo Kakko buried a terrific feed from 21-year-old rookie Adam Fox at 2:24 of the three-on-three overtime to give the Rangers a 3-2 win over the Penguins on Tuesday night.

But how about the final seven minutes of regulation in a tie game, when the emergent Ryan Lindgren went tooth and nail — and got the better of it — with headliner Evgeni Malkin in front of the Rangers’ net, followed up by his partner Fox coming in for a final shove on the future Hall of Famer? Or how about the shift to open overtime from Chris Kreider, Tony DeAngelo, and Artemi Panarin, lasting 2:06, but never resulting in a legitimate scoring chance against?

More? How about Kakko flying up the left wing, managing to hold off the big-bodied Nick Bjugstad, and keeping the puck — while falling down?

All of it, so much more than talent. All of it, adding up to the Rangers (8- 6-2) taking at least one point in six out of the past seven games (5-1-1) since top-line center Mika Zibanejad went down to injury.

The Penguins (10-6-2) might not have had their top center in Sidney Crosby, nursing a lower-body injury back in Pittsburgh. But regardless, this was a heartening performance for a young Rangers team that remains riddled with inconsistency, but ripe with hope.

“You never want to be without your star guys, your veterans. But we’re not coming in here thinking we can’t contribute,” said Fox, who also added the third goal of his career when he roofed one after a terrific cross-ice feed from Panarin with 9.3 seconds left in the first period to give his team a 2-0 lead.

“We have a lot of young guys, and a lot of guys expected to do some things and help win some games,” Fox said. “We’re always looking to contribute.”

The game, and the Rangers, had begun to flatline through a second period when their 2-0 lead evaporated with Pittsburgh goals from Justin Schultz and Jared McCann.

That was The Bad Rangers, as opposed to The Good Rangers, who opened the game with their hair on fire, outshooting the Penguins 9-1 at one point. They were staked to a lead on Kakko’s brilliant breakaway goal at 6:24.

But with the game tied at two, Malkin got to the front of the net, and Lindgren was having none of it. The cross-checks to the back were traded like the two were old postseason opponents — or like Lindgren was a younger version of Marc Staal. It woke the fans up, too. When Lindgren moved on, Malkin shoved him in the back — and in came Fox, for a shove of his own on Malkin.

Intimidation was nowhere to be seen, not for this pair barely able to have a legal drink.

“I like getting into it with people, I’m very competitive,” Lindgren said. “And a guy like Evgeni Malkin, I’m not going to shy down from that.”

Lindgren didn’t even know Fox backed him up, but found out in the locker room after the game.

“I heard the crowd roaring, so I knew something was going on,” Fox said. “Then I saw [Malkin] give Ryan a little shove, so I wasn’t trying to knock him over with mine — just let him know I was there a little bit. Ryan competes, he’s an energy guy. And you feed off that.”

Of course, competitiveness alone only gets a team so far. Goalie Alexandar Georgiev, himself a hopeful at 23 years old, was forced to battle back from the two goals against, and he turned aside all 12 shots he saw in the third period. It allowed the talent to shine through, with 1161210 New York Rangers overtime. Figuring out how to win them could eventually prove valuable in the standings.

“There are a bunch of things you can be aware of,” Quinn said, “but Rangers’ offensive talent making the most of its chances really, at the end of the day, it is an NHL version of pond hockey.”

Turns out, that’s where the Rangers excel.

By Brett Cyrgalis

November 12, 2019 | 6:00PM New York Post LOADED: 11.13.2019

The refrain from Rangers coach David Quinn is that he has a lot of players on his roster that “fancy themselves offensive players.” He previously said that in a negative way, meaning that the terrifically inconsistent start to this season has happened because the two-way effort — and the dedication to playing defense — has not always been there.

But the flip side of that coin is that there are areas of the game where offensive skills and talent can take over, specifically the power play and in the 3-on-3 overtime.

The Blueshirts man-advantage went into Tuesday night’s Garden match against the Penguins having scored at least once in four straight games, going 6-for-13 over that stretch. It had helped make some of the lousy 5- on-5 play easier to swallow, with the team having picked up points in five of their previous six games (4-1-1).

“We have guys that are power-play players,” Quinn said, “so we anticipated having a pretty good power play coming into the season.”

That wasn’t exactly the case a year ago when Quinn took over, as the Rangers were continuing the rebuilding process by selling off veteran assets for picks and prospects. They still managed to finish the season with a 19.4 percent success rate, good for 17th in the league. After this torrid start through the teams first 15 games, they were at 24.1 percent, good for sixth in the league.

“I think there are ebbs and flows of power plays throughout a season,” Quinn said. “Sometimes you can’t explain why you’re not scoring, and sometimes you can’t explain why you are. Productive as we’ve been, I think there’s an element of improvement there that we need to have. I think our entries have to be a lot better.

“But we have been opportunistic. I’ll take the goals more than the picture.”

Meanwhile, the 3-on-3 overtime had been a bugaboo for the Rangers in Quinn’s first season a year ago, having gone 3-9, the second-worst record in the league behind the Avalanche (who went 3-12 and still made the playoffs). Thus far this season, the Rangers had only one game end in overtime, losing to the visiting Coyotes on Oct. 22.

They had an electric overtime period against the Panthers on Sunday night in the Garden, when there wasn’t a stoppage of play until 4:54 of the five-minute period had elapsed. (This in a game when their defensive woes continued, having gone to the extra period tied, 5-5). But it went to a shootout, where they lost in the third round.

When it comes to how to be successful in overtime, Quinn had a pretty simple answer.

“Talent,” he said, “because that is legit pond hockey.”

The Rangers did practice the 3-on-3 a bit in training camp, but the strategy only goes so far.

“There are some things — some scissoring, some legal picks, and patience, because you don’t want to start the other team’s breakout,” he said. “But inevitably what happens in 3-on-3, you get a great chance, you miss it, and you’re not in a position to be a defensive structure, so they’re going the other way. You watch any overtime, that’s what happens.”

The idea overtime is so exciting that there is no need for the shootout was brought up again this year by none other than staunch Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella. His point was that if the 3-on-3 exceeds five minutes, it’s probably not going much longer.

There might end up being a rare outlier game that drags on and on, but for the most part, Tortorella is right. In the 542 games that needed extra time in 2018-19 season, 368 of them (85 percent) ended in the 3-on-3 1161211 New York Rangers Kakko showed his poise on his first goal — a breakaway goal setup by what he called an "amazing" lead pass from Lemieux. Kakko did the rest, moving side-to-side before slotting it past Pittsburgh goalie Matt Murray for a smooth backhand finish. Postgame analysis: Rookies Kaapo Kakko, Adam Fox lead NY Rangers to overtime win Fox has probably been the Rangers' most valuable defenseman, recently teaming with fellow rookie Ryan Lindgren to form a pair that coach David Quinn said is playing at "a pretty high level."

Vincent Z. Mercogliano, NHL writer His goal extended the Rangers' lead to 2-0 with nine seconds to play in the first period, gathering a pass from Panarin and sending his wrist shot Published 10:07 p.m. ET Nov. 12, 2019 | Updated 5:28 a.m. ET Nov. 13, into the top-right corner of the net. That extended Fox's point streak to 2019 five games in a row, with eight points (three goals and five assists) on the season.

NEW YORK - The injuries to veterans Mika Zibanejad and Marc Staal While the Rangers (8-6-2) controlled the first period, the Penguins flipped have thrust added responsibility upon the youth of the Rangers. the script with two goals of their own in the second.

The growing pains have been painfully obvious at times, but the positives They opened the period with a quick score from Justin Schultz, with have outweighed the negatives in recent weeks. Jared McCann adding another on a power play with 7:27 before intermission. McCann's goal ended an 0-for-28 power-play drought for The Baby Blueshirts have registered at least one point in six of the seven Pittsburgh, dating back to Oct. 13. games since Zibanejad sustained his upper-body injury, including a 3-2 overtime win over the Pittsburgh Penguins Tuesday at Madison Square I asked Kakko if he could pinpoint when he started feeling more like Garden. himself and having more fun. "The last six games," he said. "I think against Tampa, I played my best game. After that, it’s been better." All three Rangers' goals were scored by 18-year-old Kaapo Kakko and 21-year-old Adam Fox — two vital parts of the future who are making The easy thing to say is that it was only a matter of time before he started significant strides in the present. hitting his stride, but nothing is guaranteed. Everyone felt it would come eventually, but to be fair, I think this recent hot streak is probably ahead Kakko had two, including the game winner in overtime on an assist from of schedule. We repeat his age all the time — yes, he's only 18 — but it's Fox. because it bears repeating. "He’s a sponge," Kreider said. "And he wants to get better." "We’ve got a lot of young guys here, but a lot of guys who want to contribute, night in and night out," Fox said. "We'll take goals from It'll be very interesting to see how Quinn reacts to this game. Keep Kakko whoever gets them. Tonight, it happened to be rookies." on the third line and top power-play unit, where he's been thriving lately? Or is it time for a new challenge? It's not an easy question to answer, but The two goals were the fifth and sixth of the season for Kakko, who has Quinn made it sound like he won't hesitate once he decides it's time to gotten hot with six points in his last seven games. elevate his prized rookie. "He's not going to be intimidated by any other Nov 12, 2019; New York, NY, USA; New York Rangers right wing Kaapo challenge that is presented to him," Quinn said. "I'm not worried about Kakko (24) is congratulated by goaltender Alexandar Georgiev (40) after moving him up and having him take a step back at all. I think he's scoring the game winning goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins during continuing to build on his confidence level. He's certainly proven he can overtime at Madison Square Garden. have success this year in the National Hockey League, that's for sure."

The No. 2 pick in this year's NHL Draft struggled with confidence early in Funny moment with Kakko, who definitely seems more relaxed lately. the season, but now he seems to be gaining more each game. (And increasingly more comfortable with his English.) He was asked if this goal felt like the wraparound, OT winner he scored in the Traverse "The first couple games were so hard for me, like first 10 games," he City prospect tournament in September. "I think a little bit more exciting," said. "Now I'm scoring goals and I like that. (I’m feeling) more self- he said with a smile, adding, "against a little bit better players." confidence, and it feels better." Nov 12, 2019; New York, NY, USA; New York Rangers right wing Kaapo It's led to a noticeable difference in his presence around the team. Kakko (24) celebrates scoring a goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins "Just talking to him, the way he walks around, there’s just a whole new during the first period at Madison Square Garden. level of swagger to him that I hadn’t seen since he got here — not only As Kreider told me, "Fox has been playing like that all year," which is on the ice, but off the ice," Rangers coach David Quinn said. "There's a true. He's been good from the start. But the floodgates for the points comfort level I think that he's attaining, and you can see his face. There’s have certainly opened up of late. We knew that was his strength — a lot more smiling and a lot more swagger." moving the puck, generating offensive chances — and now that's coming The Rangers began overtime with Artemi Panarin, Chris Kreider and to the forefront. Fox told me his first goal against Tampa was big for him. Tony DeAngelo on the ice, and they logged a long shift of over two "Once I got the first one to maybe take a load off my shoulders, it kind of minutes in the intense three-on-three setting. let me play my game a little more," he said. "It's nice to be able to contribute in that way." "I wanted to wheel out three oxygen tanks," Quinn joked. I asked Fox if the young players have felt the need to step up since When they finally came off, Quinn showed his growing confidence in his Zibanejad and Staal went down. "You never want to be out be without top rookies, sending Kakko, Fox and Pavel Buchnevich out. you know star guys," he said. "They’re veterans, but we're not coming in here thinking we can't contribute. We have a lot of young guys and a lot Fox carried the puck through the neutral zone and drew defenders to the of guys expected to, you know, kind of do some things that help win middle of the ice, sending the winning assist to Kakko on the left side. games."

"I knew (Kakko) came behind me there, and if they didn't let me get to the He didn't score, but Lindgren continues to raise outside (and internal) middle, I was probably going to drop it behind," Fox said. "But they let me expectations by playing well. He wasn't considered one of the top go there, and then I just saw him come on the back door." prospects among the deep group of defensemen the Rangers have While Zibanejad and Staal are hurt, and veterans like Kreider and Brady drafted and acquired in recent years, but he's rising up the pecking order Skjei are battling inconsistency, the Rangers have received most of their fast. "I can't give him enough credit for what he's done as a player," production from players who weren't on the team at this time last year. Quinn said. "Everybody talked about how competitive he was and how hard he was, but this guy has changed his body, he's quicker, he's more Kakko and Fox are both rookies, while Panarin signed as a free agent agile, he does a really good job getting us out of our own end and he over the summer and Brendan Lemieux, who assisted on Kakko's first hasn’t lost his competitive edge. Boy, he's really turned himself into a real goal, was obtained in a February trade with the Winnipeg Jets. good player in a short period of time."

Of the seven 21-or-younger players currently on the roster, Kakko and The Rangers got outshot again (32-27) for the 14th time in 16 games this Fox have been the most impressive. season, but they are narrowing the gap and not giving up the big shot totals we saw as recently as the Carolina game. Quinn thinks it's a step in the right direction. "One of the things we've talked about is, we've got to limit shots," he said. "Too often, we’re around somebody and there isn't enough pride in making sure they don't get a puck to the net. I thought we did a better job of that tonight. I still think there's another level for us to get to, but we can't be giving up the shots we've been giving up. I thought overall, as a team, we were better at not giving up shots and I thought we had better sticks and better gaps."

At the ripe old age of 29, Kreider is one of the wiser voices of reason in the room. This win was a big confidence boost for the young players on the team, but there will surely be more ups-and-downs. "Someone asked me about confidence before," Kreider said. "I don't subscribe to that. Each game is its own individual entity."

Bergen Record LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161212 New York Rangers

NY Rangers projected lineup: No Mika Zibanejad or Sidney Crosby with Penguins in town

Vincent Z. Mercogliano, NHL writer

Published 6:00 a.m. ET Nov. 12, 2019 | Updated 6:21 a.m. ET Nov. 12, 2019

It's going to be another week — if not more — until Mika Zibanejad returns to the New York Rangers' lineup.

In his absence, they've managed to win four out of six. They'll try to make it five out of seven Tuesday night when the Pittsburgh Penguins visit Madison Square Garden.

"I think guys have elevated their game," Rangers coach David Quinn said Monday. "It's an opportunity for people to step up and take a little bit more ownership of their role and (show) what they’re capable of doing. We've got some great goaltending throughout the stretch and we’ve been opportunistic on the power play."

"With that being said," Quinn added. "I’m dying for him to come back."

It appears Quinn will stick with the same lineup he's used the majority of the time Zibanejad has been out, with Alexandar Georgiev returning in goal after three straight starts from Henrik Lundqvist.

The Penguins will be without their star center, too. The team announced Sidney Crosby will miss Tuesday's game with a lower-body injury. That will improve the Rangers' chances against a Pittsburgh team that's 10-6- 1 without any losses to a Metro Division opponent.

It will also help the Rangers (7-6-2) on faceoffs, where Crosby ranks in the top 20 in the NHL with a winning percentage of 55.4. Zibanejad is the only Ranger who has won over 50% of his faceoffs, with Ryan Strome next in line at 49.6%.

The Rangers had a brutal showing in Sunday's 6-5 shootout loss to the Florida Panthers, winning just 24% of their faceoffs.

"That was a beatdown on the dots," Quinn said. "It was really difficult for us to sustain any forecheck off the faceoff loss because they were winning them so cleanly. They were doing exactly what they wanted to do."

Retired Ranger Brad Richards was at Monday's practice, working with players on faceoffs after the Rangers' poor showing against Florida dropped them to 29th in the league (47.6%).

Bergen Record LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161213 New York Rangers Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 11.13.2019

Rangers' Kaapo Kakko caps it off with OT goal to beat Penguins

By Colin Stephenson [email protected] @ColinASteph

Updated November 12, 2019 11:11 PM

In the second shift of overtime Tuesday night at the Garden against the Penguins, Rangers coach David Quinn sent the trio of Pavel Buchnevich, 24, Adam Fox, 21, and Kaapo Kakko, 18, over the boards to play three- on-three hockey. Two of the three, Fox and Kakko, are rookies.

How, Quinn was asked, could you throw all that youth out there in such a big spot?

“How did it work out?’’ the coach said, with a smile.

It couldn’t have worked out any better for the Rangers. They ended up beating the Penguins, 3-2, when Kakko, the Finnish sensation who was the No. 2 pick overall in this summer’s NHL draft, drove the net and tapped in a pretty feed from Fox, the Jericho native, for his second goal of the game, and the game-winner.

“Great pass by Foxy,’’ Kakko said of his game-winner, his sixth goal of the season. “That was easy for me.’’

Kakko and Fox had scored early and late in the first period to give the Rangers a 2-0 lead going into the first intermission, but the Penguins, who were without their captain, Sidney Crosby who is out with an undisclosed injury, got goals from defenseman Justin Schultz and center Jared McCann in the second period to tie it.

After a scoreless third period in which the Rangers had several good chances to score the winner in regulation — including a power play with 4:10 left in the third period — the game went to the five-minute, three-on- three overtime.

The Rangers’ opening trio of Artemi Panarin, Chris Kreider and Tony DeAngelo got trapped on the ice in their own zone for an extended shift that lasted longer than 2 minutes, but the Penguins made a mistake and the puck leaked out of the zone, allowing the Rangers to get a change.

“That happens a lot in the overtime, right?’’ Quinn said. “They catch us down in our end, they’re able to change, and we hung on. We get some fresh bodies out there and we’re able to counter and just a heckuva play by Fox to Kakko.’’

Kakko has shown tremendous growth in the last few games — in Sunday’s 6-5 shootout loss to the Florida Panthers, he scored the Rangers’ only goal in the shootout — when he needed to score to keep the Rangers alive for one more round. He had also scored in regulation. His confidence is clearly growing, and he was flying around the ice all night against the Penguins.

“Just talking to him — the way he walks around now, there’s just a whole new level of swagger to him that I hadn’t seen since he got here,’’ said Quinn. “Not only on the ice, but off the ice.’’

With the Rangers playing their seventh straight game without No. 1 center Mika Zibanejad, the surging Kakko got them off to a fast start when he scored his fifth goal of the season, on a breakaway, where he calmly went to the backhand and slid the puck past goaltender Matt Murray for his fifth goal of the season at 6:42 of the first period.

The Rangers had the territorial advantage for most of the first half of the period, but a couple of hooking penalties, to Brett Howden and Panarin, helped the Penguins get some momentum.

However, just after Panarin got out of the penalty box, he was able to set up Fox for his third goal of the season, which came with 9.3 seconds left in the first period and put the Rangers up, 2-0.

But the Penguins rallied in the second period. Schultz was able to walk down from the point and lift a wrist shot up in the top corner for his second goal of the season, at 1:13, and McCann scored on a power play, with Fox in the box for hooking. McCann was first to a loose puck in the right circle and whipped it over Georgiev’s catching glove at 12:33. 1161214 New York Rangers

For Rangers, morning skates are becoming a thing of the past

By Colin Stephenson [email protected] @ColinASteph

Updated November 12, 2019 8:03 PM

With neither the Rangers nor the Penguins holding a morning skate Tuesday, Rangers coach David Quinn was asked why he thinks morning skates are becoming a thing of the past.

“I just think from an energy standpoint, and over 82 games, you come on rink 82 more times (if you skate on game day mornings),’’ he said. “That can be taxing. It’s such a long season, and I just think, you know, society changes, and people change. And in this day and age, when we keep coming to the rink every day and listen to the same voices over and over again, it can get old. And so, as much as it’s about maybe giving the team a physical break, it’s also giving them a mental break. I think when guys don’t come to the rink in the morning, they may show up here at 4:30 or five o’clock with maybe a little bit extra incentive or anticipation or excitement.’’

Of course, there are habits, and superstition. When the Rangers were on an 0-4-1 skid, they held a morning skate before the home game against Buffalo, perhaps to change things up. And they won. The next game, against Boston, they couldn’t skate in the morning, because of the alumni game at the Garden. They lost.

They skated the next game, against Tampa, and won that, so they kept it going for a while. On the season, they’ve had five morning skates, including one in Ottawa where not everyone attended. They’re 4-1 in games where they’ve skated in the morning.

Blue notes

Quinn stayed with the same lineup he used the previous two games, meaning Micheal Haley was the lone scratch… To commemorate Veteran’s Day, the Rangers during the first period honored Technical Sergeant Laura Hagmeyer, an Air Force combat veteran who served three tours in the Middle East. The team also wore a special black jersey in warmups that were to be auctioned off the benefit the Wounded Warrior Project.

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161215 New York Rangers

Ryan Strome thriving on Rangers' top line

By Colin Stephenson [email protected] @ColinASteph

Updated November 12, 2019 5:38 PM

Ryan Strome, No. 1 center?

In the absence of Mika Zibanejad, who missed his seventh straight game Tuesday night against the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Rangers had performed better than anyone could have reasonably expected. Coach David Quinn’s group somehow had found a way to go 4-1-1 — against some top-level opponents — without Zibanejad before they took on the Sidney Crosby-less Penguins Tuesday.

And Strome, the 26-year-old, former No. 5 overall pick by the Islanders, was a major reason why.

“He's done a really good job,’’ Quinn said of Strome, who entered Tuesday’s game as the team’s second-leading scorer, with 16 points (five goals, 11 assists) in 15 games. “’Stromer's taken advantage of his opportunity and that line's been productive, offensively.’’

Playing the middle between star left wing Artemi Panarin and defensively solid right wing Jesper Fast, Strome accumulated eight points (three goals, five assists) in the six games Zibanejad had missed before Tuesday. He seemed to have found an instant chemistry with Panarin, the $81.5 million free-agent import who has been the team’s most dynamic player and leading scorer (8 goals, 10 assists, 18 points, in 15 games).

The 6-1, 193-pound Strome, who the Rangers acquired from the Edmonton Oilers a year ago in a one-for-one trade last Nov. 16 for Ryan Spooner, said this latest stretch is the best of his career, from an offensive standpoint. And when asked about clicking so quickly with Panarin, he said he’s simply playing his game.

“I think maybe in the past one of my faults was, I changed my game too much, based on who I was playing with,’’ Strome said this week. “I can't remember who exactly I was with before, [it was on the third line, with Pavel Buchnevich and Brendan Lemieux], but I think I had a couple of pretty good games. And I just said to myself, 'Just play the same way. Demand the puck when you're open, and move the puck when you see a guy open. Don't overthink it.’ ’’

When training camp began, Strome started out on the wing as Quinn tried to see if 20-year-old Filip Chytil was up to the task of being the team’s No. 2 center behind Zibanejad. When Chytil showed little in the preseason, Strome moved to the middle and became the No. 2 center. But he struggled early on and was demoted to the third line, where he started to play better.

Quinn moved Strome back to the second line in the Oct. 24 game against Buffalo, and he had two goals in the Rangers’ 6-2 victory. The next game, against Boston, Quinn decided to split up Panarin and Zibanejad, and put Panarin with Strome and Buchnevich. Zibanejad got hurt in that game, and the game after that on Oct. 29 against Tampa Bay, Strome was the acting No. 1 center, playing with Panarin and Fast. Strome had a goal and an assist, and the Rangers won, 4-1. He’s been the top line center since.

Quinn — who, for the record, said he’s dying to get Zibanejad back — said his faith in Strome began with how well he played at the end of last season, when he had a career high 19 goals, 18 of which came in 63 games with the Rangers after the trade.

“I liked a lot of what he did last year, and he put himself in a position this year to assume more responsibility,’’ Quinn said. “And he just continues to take advantage of his opportunities. It's not just the points, I love the way he's playing in all three zones, and he's a big reason why we've been able to withstand losing Mika.’’

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161216 New York Rangers “Fox has been playing like that all year, and Kaapo gets better every single day,” Kreider said. “He’s 18 years old; he’s a sponge. He wants to get better. He’s trying to do the little things. He’s coachable. He’s working on his game. We’re a young team, so something we’ve got to focus on is With ‘a whole new level of swagger,’ Kaapo Kakko taps in game-winner just worry about the process. The rest will take care of itself.” in overtime victory over Penguins Kakko has had to show he can handle the game without the puck too, because everybody has known since world juniors last winter, and since the Rangers hit the lottery in April, he can handle the puck. By Rick Carpiniello Kakko’s coach knew it would come, and it has come. Nov 12, 2019 “Just talking to him, the way he walks around now, just a whole new level

of swagger to him that we hadn’t seen since he got here, not only on the NEW YORK — So, what were you doing when you were 18? ice but off the ice,” Quinn said. “There’s a comfort level that he’s attaining, and you can see it in his face. There’s a lot more smiling, a lot I know what I was doing, and it wasn’t good. more swagger.

It certainly wasn’t what the Rangers’ 18-year-old is doing, which is “I think he’s a guy who’s played pro hockey before, and he’s played in becoming a star. Which is scoring goals. Which is winning games. World Championships, so I don’t think he’s going to be intimidated by any challenge that’s presented to him. So I’m not worried about moving him Kaapo Kakko, who on Sunday scored a goal and then scored again in up and having him take a step back. I think he’s continuing to build on his the shootout of a loss to Florida, finished off Pittsburgh on Tuesday. confidence level, and he’s certainly proven that he can have success in Kakko again scored in regulation, a beaut on a breakaway, then tapped the National Hockey League this year, that’s for sure.” in the winner in overtime, off yet another big-league play by rookie Adam Fox, 21, in a 3-2 overtime win at the Garden. Fox also scored in There have been tons of praises sung for Fox, the real deal it sure regulation. appears, and for Libor Hajek and so many of the rookies and young players. Now they even sing them about one another. Chris Kreider has often referred to this season as starting a lawn mower. Sometimes it starts on the first pull. Sometimes it doesn’t. Sometimes it “The European ice to this (ice) is an adjustment,” Fox said about Kakko, takes several yanks. Fits and starts for such a young team. But when it’s “but you can see the talent he has when he has the puck on his stick. good, it’s really good … because it’s such a young team. And because He’s definitely confident with it, and we have confidence in him making some of the youth show so much promise. plays. He’s a special player.”

So here were the Rangers, having lost all of a 2-0 lead, but then doing So I ask again: What were you doing when you were 18? enough to force overtime. They’ve lost leads and lost games like this before. Thoughts

And here were the Rangers, their three OT starters — Artemi Panarin, 1. This game is so random. But if Pittsburgh scores in OT and/or wins in Kreider and Tony DeAngelo — as sometimes happens, stuck on the ice, a shootout, the feeling is so different: Another blown lead, another bad most of it without the puck, for more than the first two minutes. Just period, another loss. Not so now, because the Rangers survived the first completely out of gas. The Penguins missed a pass near the blue line, two minutes of sudden death. and the Rangers were able to change. “It was huge,” Alexandar Georgiev said. “Big character by the team. We Out came Pavel Buchnevich, Kakko and Fox. knew they were coming hard in the second, and they scored a couple of good goals, and everybody just tried to be, ‘OK, we need to get back to Why those three? our game.’ And from that moment, everybody was trying to score the next one, and I think our guys played really good defense, too. It was a “How’d it work out?” Rangers coach David Quinn said. “Because they’re huge win for us. And in overtime, it was such a tough, long shift for the good. They deserve to be out there. Those are good players, and they guys, and they survived. Big time for them.” earned that opportunity.” 2. Speaking of that long shift, Kreider was able to laugh a bit. But he also So Fox and Buchnevich teamed up to strip Evgeni Malkin of a chance in knew the three players on fumes did some work even with cement front. Fox carried the puck up ice with Brian Leetch-ian instincts, head skates. swiveling as he cut to his left. He saw Kakko come in behind him, so Fox stepped toward the middle and Kakko instinctively went to the net. Fox “Short and hard,” he smiled, repeating the coach speak for shift lengths. made the pass around Justin Schultz, and Kakko made the gimme putt “They didn’t get a shot on goal, did they? OK. That’s why we work hard past goalie Matt Murray for his sixth of the season and the win. over the summer.”

Kakko, all smiles now after a frustrating start to his rookie season, said “I don’t want to say it’s like killing a penalty,” Fox said, “but it’s like when Fox made “it easy for me.” guys weather a storm, battle for a little over two minutes, you kind of get your fresh legs and you think a little momentum there. It was a good “Just a heck of a play from Fox and Kakko,” Quinn said. compete out of them. They were hemmed there for a little, but once we Kakko was reminded of his last OT goal, in the Traverse City prospects got the fresh legs, we kind of got going there.” tournament in September, a wowzer. And what was going through Quinn’s mind? “Yeah,” he said about this one. “I think a little bit more exciting, against a “I wanted to wheel out three oxygen tanks for all three of them, but I don’t little bit better players.” think they would have allowed me to do that,” he said. “That happens a Kakko pointed to his turnaround game, having felt he played poorly, or lot in overtime.” not well enough, in his first 10 games. Having voiced his frustration then. 3. Hard to believe we’re 16 games into the season, especially one that “Like the last six games,” he said. “I think against Tampa I played my began so ridiculously spread out. Twenty percent of the season is done. best game. And then after that, it’s better (each game). 4. Early first. Fox sprung Buchnevich on a breakaway. Jack Johnson “The first couple of games were so hard for me — like, the first 10 caught him enough to affect his shot. Murray made the save and didn’t games. Yeah, now I’m scoring goals and playing better. More self- break during the ensuing scramble, covering the puck before Filip Chytil confident. So it feels better … I think now I can play a little bit more my could poke it in. A bit later, Buchnevich set up Panarin for a wrister that own game, get more ice time, power play. So that feels better, of course.” Murray stopped.

Of course. The kid is so likable and popular among his teammates, and 5. Kakko-Meter: DeAngelo got the puck out quickly and Brendan you can see a little extra celebration when Kakko’s in the middle of it. Lemieux found Kakko for a touchdown pass. Kakko, on the clean And Fox, too. breakaway, went to his standard forehand-backhand move and slipped the puck inside the right post behind Murray, who had no chance. 1-0. “Amazing pass (from Lemieux),” Kakko said. By the way … Brett Howden started it with a clean lost faceoff, then 17. Future WATCH: Morgan Barron, I would think, will turn pro after his worked to get the puck back behind the icing line and to DeAngelo. season at Cornell and will be a favorite to win a spot in training camp next September: 6. Daily Bread: A delayed jack-in-the-box. Panarin served a questionable hooking penalty and stayed on the ice when he escaped the box. Chytil’s 18. Past WATCH: The Rangers really did have interest in free agent Ilya pass in front was blocked, but Panarin recovered it and sent a pass Kovalchuk prior to the 2018-19 season, but they were only willing to go across to Fox, sneaking toward the right circle for a snipe past Murray, one year. Once the bidding got to multiple years, the Rangers dropped with 9.3 seconds left in the period. 2-0. Total combined age of the two out. And Los Angeles landed him for three years and an annual cap hit of goal scorers: 39. $6.25 million. The Kings are trying to rebuild like the Rangers, but they’re on the hook for five more years (including this season) at $10 million per 7. Kakko giveth … the kid chased the puck all the way to the blue line, for Anze Kopitar, 32; seven more years at $11 million per for Drew straying from his side where he was redundant, and Lemieux was Doughty, 29; and three more years at $5.875 million per for Dustin already there. Sure enough, Malkin found Justin Schultz all alone in the Brown, 35. Kovalchuk is 36. Now this: left circle for a snipe over the screened Georgiev’s shoulder. 2-1. And yes, it sure looked as if Kakko knew what he had done. On Kakko’s next shift, he nearly atoned, taking a great pass from DeAngelo only to be thwarted by Murray. The Athletic LOADED: 11.13.2019

8. Later in the period, Fox was sent off for hooking Bryan Rust on a behind-the-back pass from Malkin. Live, I thought it was an OK call, and I didn’t see a decent replay. But judging by the reaction on Twitter, I guess it was questionable at best? The penalty kill failed terribly, first with Jacob Trouba making a risky play at the blue line, then a failed clear by Ryan Strome … with Trouba trapped behind the icing line. Jared McCann finally ripped one that sailed again over Georgiev’s left shoulder, though he might have been screened by Brady Skjei, and indeed Skjei might have deflected it. 2-2.

9. Mid-third, Georgiev made a big save on a hard-charging Rust, in behind Ryan Lindgren on a lob pass, to keep it tied.

10. So Chris Rooney, referee, was standing right there, 10 feet away, watching Malkin and Lindgren hacking and slashing and cross-checking each other — just filthy stuff, really. Then a Penguins player came in and slashed Lindgren, and then Fox came in to aid Lindgren and slashed a Penguin. And Rooney just spit the bit, scared to death to call something. The Rangers, coming into the game, had lost eight in a row officiated by Rooney.

11. But the spirited hack-a-thon, mostly between the impressive Lindgren and Malkin, appeared to light a fire on the Rangers bench, and it certainly got a docile crowd pumped up.

12. Meanwhile, Rooney’s partner, Corey Syvret, with much less seniority, had the guts to make a call when Brian Dumoulin took down Greg McKegg with 4:10 left. Maybe it wasn’t even guts. Maybe it was doing his job.

13. Anyway, the Rangers wasted another power play because almost every single time it’s Fox to Panarin, Panarin goes cross-ice to Kakko, and either the pass is too far in front of Kakko or he won’t/doesn’t shoot it. So predictable and easy to defend.

14. Quinn Bin: Nobody home except for Micheal Haley. Skjei got out from his one-game stint and played the last two with Marc Staal sidelined, and since the Rangers are now carrying one extra player, a forward, the Bin is going to be pretty roomy for a while.

15. They were chanting about Denis Potvin’s ducks again for some reason.

16. Pregame, one of the Pittsburgh scribes asked Quinn about the trend away from morning skates — neither team skated Tuesday morning.

“I just think from an energy standpoint, and 82 games, we’re coming to the rink 82 more times,” Quinn said. “That can be taxing. It’s such a long season, and I just think society changes and people change, and this day and age, when you keep coming to the rink day after day and listening to the same voices, it can get old. So maybe as much as it is about giving the team a physical break, it’s also giving them a mental break. I think when guys don’t come to the rink in the morning, then they show up here 4:30 or 5 o’clock with maybe a little bit extra incentive or anticipation or excitement.”

Unsaid, of course, is the belief that morning skates were — at least in part — created so coaches could keep more of an eye on their players and to maybe force them to get to bed a little earlier the night before a game. Last but not least, if they stayed out the night before a game, it gave them a chance to sweat some of the, ahem, spirits out of their system. 1161217 Ottawa Senators Philadelphia on Nov. 1. Since then, they have been to Raleigh to face Carolina, returned home to practice made a four-game trek to Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver before flying home late Monday. Even with a 3-2 record in those past five road games, the Devils were six Warrenspiece: Reading between the lines and the Senators' goalie points out of a playoff spot before Tuesday’s games. The Senators could question leapfrog them with a win Wednesday … With only two goals and three assists in 16 games, Devils defenceman P.K. Subban is on pace for 26

points this season, which would be the lowest output of his 10-year NHL Ken Warren career.

November 12, 2019 7:14 PM EST

Ottawa Sun LOADED: 11.13.2019

NEWARK, New Jersey — What we saw is what you might not get.

At least that’s what head coach D.J. Smith said of Ottawa Senators’ forward lines following Tuesday’s workout at Prudential Center.

“There are a few guys nicked up and we’ll see (Wednesday) morning how they go,” Smith said on the eve of a National Hockey League matchup with the New Jersey Devils. “So, the line combinations might be different.”

For what it was worth Tuesday, Senators centre Jean-Gabriel Pageau was back with Brady Tkachuk and and Colin White served as the middle man between Nick Paul and Connor Brown, Chris Tierney had Filip Chlapik and Tyler Ennis on his wings and J.C. Beaudin was between Vladislav Namestnikov and Bobby Ryan.

It’s possible that Belleville call-up Jonathan Davidsson, a late scratch for Monday’s game against the Carolina Hurricanes because of a lower body injury, could play against the Devils, but Smith ruled out Logan Brown, who has missed the past five games because of a shoulder injury.

GOALIE SWITCH? It would seem logical that Craig Anderson would start in goal against the Devils since Anders Nilsson was pulled midway through Monday’s game, but Smith said after practice there was still a discussion to be had with goaltending coach Pierre Groulx. Anderson’s last start came in a 4-1 defeat to the New York Islanders eight days ago at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

KEEPING IT LIGHT: Connor Brown has some history of success against the Devils, putting up five points (two goals and three assists) in three games against New Jersey last season while playing with Toronto. He said Tuesday it was important for the Senators to have some fun in preparation for Wednesday’s game so younger players wouldn’t dwell on the negatives from Monday’s loss to the Hurricanes. “That’s something that comes with experience,” Brown said. “But just to have the practice we had, we were trying to keep it loose and upbeat and we weren’t all hanging our heads in here.”

STATS ‘O THE DAY: Paul, who is seeing more and more time in the faceoff circle, went 8-2 against the Hurricanes and his overall success rate is 61 per cent. He was a Sebastian Aho slashed stick away from scoring his first power-play goal of the year. Instead, his trip to the bench to get a new stick helped lead to Aho’s short-handed breakaway goal. “I guess it’s just a quick game and (the referee) missed it and they ended up getting a goal on it,” Paul said Tuesday. Smith wasn’t in any mood to argue the non-call further. “As the visiting coach, you see it and you want a penalty called, but, in saying that, they outplayed us and they deserved to win, so I’m not going to sit here and complain about that” … Second- period letdowns have devastated both the Senators and the Devils so far this season. Ottawa has been outscored 24-15 in the middle session of its 17 games, while New Jersey has been on the wrong end of a 23-15 count.

WHAT’S UP ON THE FARM? Winger Rudolfs Balcers, who injured a knee injury in training camp, was assigned to Belleville of the American Hockey League on Tuesday. Without the injury setback, Balcers likely would have cracked the Senators lineup to start the season, but there are no guarantees he will immediately be brought back to Ottawa. “He’ll go down there and play,” Smith said. “When he gets going good and when he gets playing good, then we’ll look at bringing him back” … For those wondering if and when former Senators defencemen Max Lajoie and/or Christian Jaros will return to the NHL, neither is tearing it up offensively. Lajoie has three assists in 13 games, while Jaros has one goal and two assists in 10 games … After a shaky start to the season, goaltender Marcus Hogberg stopped 46 of 50 shots on Saturday and Sunday to pick up two for Belleville.

THE LONG ROAD HOME: After a strange quirk in the schedule, Wednesday will be the Devils’ first home game since losing to 1161218 Ottawa Senators

Game Day: Ottawa Senators at New Jersey Devils

Ken Warren

November 12, 2019 7:08 PM EST

Five Keys To The Game

1-Flushing and Focussing: The talk from the Senators on Tuesday was all about erasing memories of Monday’s 8-2 defeat against Carolina and looking ahead to the new challenge of facing the Devils.

2-From Anders to Anderson? After Anders Nilsson’s run to first star NHL honours last week, the start could go to Craig Anderson to see if he can build up some momentum of his own.

3-The Devil is in the travel details: A mere one-hour flight brought the Senators to Newark following Monday’s game, while New Jersey is readjusting to the eastern time zone following Sunday’s game in Vancouver. That could play to Ottawa’s advantage.

4-Second-period snoozers: Something has to give. The Senators have been outscored 24-15 in the middle frame of their games this season, while the Devils have been outscored 23-16 in second periods so far.

5-The broken record report: Yes, we’re tired of writing about the Senators’ impotent power play, but it continues to be a non-factor: 0-for-3 against the Hurricanes, 0-for-13 in the past four games and 2-for-28 in the past seven games.

In the battle of power left-wingers, Hall has scored only two goals to go with 13 assists, and, with unrestricted free agency looming, speculation continues to rise that he could be his final few months in a New Jersey uniform.

Tkachuk has re-discovered his home in the crease. He has scored in consecutive games and has four goals and four assists in his past seven games. The Senators need help from everyone on the power play, but Tkachuk is a pivotal part of the solution because of his net-front presence.

Ottawa Sun LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161219 Ottawa Senators bitching about (the bad fortune), and Ronny (Hainsey) said, ‘Hockey’s not always fair.’

“And that’s true. You can’t drag yourself and feel sorry for yourself and Crisis? What crisis? No changes on defence for Senators despite mope around because (the other team) isn’t going to let you up.” Monday mess against Hurricanes Here’s the thing, though: No matter whether the Senators lost by one, two or six goals on Monday, they still have a chance to return home with a split of the two-game road trip if they can defeat the Devils. Ken Warren “You have to (flush it),” Borowiecki said. “I talked to (Chabot) a little bit. November 12, 2019 7:11 PM EST The more even-keeled you can stay through the ups and downs, the fresher you’re going to feel for the next match. If you ride the highs and

lows too much, you’re going to feel spent pretty quick.” NEWARK, New Jersey — In 16 of his first 17 games as Ottawa Senators Smith says all of the above is part of the learning curve for young head coach, D.J. Smith has stuck with the exact same defence pairings. National Hockey League players. Still, after the Senators (6-10-1) gave up a touchdown and a two-point “We’re not going to be great every night, just as long as we work,” he convert in Monday’s 8-2 romp by the Carolina Hurricanes, it’s time for a said. “I thought there were spurts (against Carolina) where we did work, change, right? but everything they touched went well.” With Thomas Chabot pressing at both ends of the ice, perhaps a If the mistakes continue to pile up, at some point Smith will need to make temporary break from partner Nikita Zaitsev is worth a try? tough decisions on defence, but, by not overreacting, he’s also sending a With rookie Erik Brannstrom suffocated by opponents’ intense message. forechecking, registering only one assist in 15 games, maybe an experiment with someone other than Ron Hainsey would make sense? Ottawa Sun LOADED: 11.13.2019 Guess again.

Barring a surprise injury, Smith will stick with the same three blue-line tandems — which also include Mark Borowiecki with Dylan DeMelo — for Wednesday’s matchup with the New Jersey Devils.

“I think we’ve been very good defensively and it would be a panic move after one game of giving up goals,” Smith said after Tuesday’s brief, but brisk workout at Prudential Center. “We’ve played some games where we haven’t given up many chances at all and we’ve been very good defensively, in my opinion, until (Monday) night.”

The only variation in the pattern came against the New York Islanders on Nov. 5, when Brannstrom was a healthy scratch in favour of Cody Goloubef for the second game on back to back nights.

Clearly, though, Smith wasn’t getting carried away with what he described as a “one off”.

The Senators effectively self-destructed after a couple of bad bounces and a missed call — a slash by Carolina’s Sebastian Aho that broke Nick Paul’s stick — led to a 3-0 deficit. They lost focus and the Hurricanes pounced.

The lesson, one of plenty to expected along the way, is to discover how to forgive and forget the bad nights.

“You just move on, you turn the page,” said Chabot, who was on the ice for the Hurricanes’ first, fourth, seventh and eighth goals. “They don’t usually happen often. It’s just one of those nights, a couple of bad bounces … and we didn’t play well, either.”

At one point during a Senators power play, with a Hurricanes forward bearing down on him, Chabot skated through his team’s crease with the puck. Pressure can lead to crazy decisions.

“All you can do is try and control yourself,” Chabot said about the game that got away. “Whenever that happens, you kind of get frustrated, but (Tuesday) is a new day. We had a good practice and we’re looking forward to (Wednesday) night.”

Chabot is carrying a lot of responsibility for the power play that is limping along at a mere 6.6 per cent success rate. Defensively, he remains an incomplete package.

If you’re wondering why the Senators didn’t hand him an alternate captain’s letter in training camp, it was to allow for nights like Monday, to take away some of the additional pressure to immediately explain what the hell happened.

In that regard, Borowiecki and Hainsey were front and centre in the otherwise quiet dressing room after Monday’s defeat. To their credit, they took ownership for letting things spiral out of control, accepting the role of being veteran voices of composure.

“That’s the responsibility of a professional athlete, that’s part of the game,” Borowiecki said of the need to roll with the punches. “I was 1161220 Ottawa Senators

Mum's the word for Senators on Don Cherry controversy

Ken Warren

November 12, 2019 4:59 PM EST

NEWARK, New Jersey — The departure of Don Cherry from the airwaves has been the talk of the hockey world for days, but Ottawa Senators players have steered clear of the controversy.

At least publicly.

“I definitely grew up watching him, but I don’t really have a comment for what happened,” said centre Chris Tierney, who was born in Keswick, Ont., north of Toronto. “I watched him a lot on Saturday night’s Hockey Night in Canada. He definitely is a big icon in the hockey world.”

When asked if he had an opinion on the topic, winger Connor Brown, a Toronto native, said, “Ah, no.”

Senators head coach D.J. Smith addressed the Cherry topic by expressing his own support for the military.

“I loved watching him as a kid, for sure,” Smith said. “It’s an unfortunate circumstance, but I know that (Monday), our guys paused for a moment on Remembrance Day for all the people that gave their life and all the people that continue to give us freedom.”

Ottawa Sun LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161221 Philadelphia Flyers Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 11.13.2019

Hot Flyers, hotter Capitals will meet as Matt Niskanen and Radko Gudas face their former teams

by Sam Carchidi

The Flyers are hot. The Washington Capitals are hotter. The teams will bring long point streaks into their matchup Wednesday night at the Wells Fargo Center.

It will be the first meeting between the teams since the Flyers dealt Radko Gudas to the Capitals for Matt Niskanen in June.

Gudas spent four years with the Flyers and was the winner of the Barry Ashbee Trophy as their best defenseman last season. Known for his physicality, he has five assists and a plus-9 rating in 19 games with the Caps.

“He was a great guy, a great teammate,” Flyers center said after Tuesday’s practice in Voorhees. “It’s going to be different playing against him.”

He smiled.

“Obviously, we’re going to have to keep our head up; we know what he’s capable to do,” he added. “It’s going to be a good matchup.”

Niskanen, who won a Stanley Cup during his five years in Washington, has been arguably the Flyers’ most consistent defenseman. He has eight points in 17 games and a plus-1 rating, and he has helped their special teams improve.

The veteran defenseman talked to Flyers coaches and teammates and gave “a tip here or there” about the Capitals.

“I’m guessing it’s going to feel weird when I see them on the other side for warmups,” Niskanen said.

The Flyers, (10-5-2), coming off an impressive road sweep of Toronto and Boston during the weekend, will need another gargantuan effort to extend their four-game winning streak. And even that might not be enough to knock off the NHL’s best team. The Capitals have a 12-game point streak (10-0-2).

“We’ve got quite a task ahead of us,” coach Alain Vigneault said. “Not only are they playing extremely well, but they’re a team that knows how to win. I’m looking forward to this game. It’s going to be a good matchup for us. We’re playing some good hockey lately. We’ll be tested, and I’m anxious to see how we’re going to respond.”

Led by Alex Ovechkin, the Capitals (13-2-4) are the NHL’s highest- scoring team, averaging four goals. They are also a ridiculous 8-1-1 on the road.

“They have a lot of players who can make a difference,” captain said. “They’ve played a lot of hockey the last three years or so, and they play a great team game. They’re pretty responsible, and they make plays that some teams’ players wouldn’t try to make.”

The Flyers, with their young players showing the way, also have been soaring lately, putting together a six-game point streak.

“We need to be able to play the game we’ve been playing,” Giroux said. “We’re playing as a team. … We just follow the structure of the team and don’t try to do our own thing. We’ve got everybody playing well. Every game, different guys are stepping up, and that’s what you need.”

The Caps are coming off Sunday’s 4-3 shootout loss to visiting Arizona in which they came back from a 3-0 deficit.

Breakaways

Carter Hart will make his fourth start in the last five games for the Flyers. … In their last 11-plus games, Flyers penalty killers have been successful on 28 of 30 attempts (93.3%). … Vigneault praised the fourth line of Andy Andreoff, Michael Raffl and Tyler Pitlick. “They played in the 10- to 13-minute range [in the weekend wins] and were effective minutes for us, and when you play four games in six nights, you need to play four lines and we were able to do that,” he said. 1161222 Philadelphia Flyers

JOBS

Flyers forward looks at Nov. 23 as possible return from finger injury

by Sam Carchidi

Forward Scott Laughton, who broke his right index finger in an Oct. 26 win over Columbus, skated with the Flyers on Tuesday for the first time since the injury.

Laughton hopes to return to the lineup Nov. 23 against visiting Calgary.

“I’ve got another meeting with the doctor, and everything is on track right now,” Laughton said after Tuesday’s practice in Voorhees. “I’ll continue skating and try to get some strength back in it.”

Laughton is unable to have contact or shoot the puck yet, but he is able to stickhandle.

“I think more importantly is being back out there with the guys,” he said. “That’s what you miss most, being in the room and seeing everyone. I’m looking forward to getting back, but the boys are on a roll now, so it’s fun to watch.”

Once the surgically repaired finger heals, “I think I can come right back in,” he said. “We’ll see what the doctor says.”

The Flyers (10-5-2) have won four straight and have points in their last six games.

Laughton, who has missed the last eight games, is a big part of their penalty kill, which has been successful on 28 of its last 30 attempts (93.3%) in the last 11-plus games.

Former Flyers defenseman Radko Gudas, now with Washington, will return to the Wells Fargo Center when the Capitals face the Flyers on Wednesday.

“He was a great guy, a great teammate,” center Sean Couturier said. “It’s going to be different playing against him.”

He smiled.

“Obviously, we’re going to have to keep our head up; we know what he’s capable to do,” he added. “It’s going to be a good matchup.”

Matt Niskanen, acquired from the Caps for Gudas in the offseason, downplayed facing his former teammates.

Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161223 Philadelphia Flyers In any event, SportsNet should have at least given him a chance to explain himself, which they apparently didn’t do.

Personally, I found Cherry’s style boorish and childish. Here’s hoping Famed hockey host Don Cherry defiant after being fired for rant on they replace him with someone who brings more to the table. It shouldn’t immigrants: ‘I meant it’ be difficult.

Cherry played just one game in the NHL — for the Boston Bruins in 1955 — but spent 18 years playing professional minor league hockey for by Rob Tornoe several teams, including the (His brother, Dick Cherry, played two seasons for the Flyers). He also coached both the Boston

Bruins and Colorado Rockies before the Canadian Broadcasting Don Cherry’s words finally caught up with him. Corporation hired him as a broadcaster in 1981. But over the years, his hockey analysis has taken a backseat to sometimes-heated commentary The 85-year-old former NHL coach and Canadian hockey broadcaster, involving misogyny, nationalism, and politics, including calling those who most well-known for his flamboyant suits, was done in by his increasingly believe in climate change “cuckaloos.” harsh rhetoric that emanated from his long-running “Coach’s Corner” segment on SportsNet’s Hockey Night in Canada. “The sad part is he’s actually a pretty nice guy for people that know him, but you can’t live in the past,” 94.1 WIP host and NBC Sports Cherry was fired Monday following intense criticism over a Sunday-night Philadelphia Flyers commentator Al Morganti said. “The standards now rant in which he claimed immigrants — whom he referred to as “you are so different on what you can get away with. And he’s just crossed it, people” — refused to wear poppy flowers to honor fallen veterans as part again and again and again.” of the country’s Remembrance Day. In a statement Monday night, SportsNet called Cherry’s comments “divisive” and said “they do not represent our values or what we stand for.” Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 11.13.2019 Don Cherry’s rant on immigrants:

“You people... love our way of life, love our milk and honey. At least you could pay a couple of bucks for poppies or something like that. These guys paid for your way of life that you enjoy in Canada.”

While Ron MacLean (who gave a “thumbs-up” to Cherry’s comments on- air) apologized for the segment, calling his on-air partner’s comments “discriminatory” and “hurtful,” Cherry has remained defiant, defending his remarks in statements to Canadian newspapers.

“I know what I said and I meant it. Everybody in Canada should wear a poppy to honor our fallen soldiers," Cherry told the Toronto Sun, adding, “To keep my job, I cannot be turned into a tamed robot."

“I don’t regret a thing," Cherry told the Toronto Star. “If you notice, I never said ‘immigrants,’ I never said anything, I said ‘you people’ and they could have been Scottish, they could have been Irish, they could have been anything, but that’s the way the world is today. They listened to those people.”

Cherry did not respond to the Inquirer’s request for comment.

The only surprise is that it took this long for SportsNet to show Cherry the door. My colleague Mike Sielski pointed to a column written by Sports Illustrated’s Leigh Montville about Cherry back in 1993 that pegged him as some mixture between Rush Limbaugh, Howard Cosell, and Jack Nicholson from A Few Good Men.

"He knows the end will come someday. Maybe someday soon. Maybe tonight. He is pushing, pushing, pushing the limits too far, saying too much. One final piece of outrage will bubble from Don Cherry’s high- volume mouth,” Montville wrote, 26 years before Cherry was fired.

“I can’t believe they actually did it,” wrote The Athletic’s Sean McIndoe, who once wrote columns for SportsNet. “Whether his fans want to admit it or not, Saturday’s poppy rant was vintage Cherry. Bigoted and bullying, maybe without even realizing it, or maybe just without caring.”

In the United States, hockey doesn’t have the same broad appeal as it does in Canada, which is why Cherry was such a well-known figure north of the border. As Globe and Mail sports columnist Cathal Kelly noted, many reporters and fans at games would get up from their seats during first intermission and move to a TV just to hear Cherry’s comments. " No other analyst in any other sport commands that sort of attention," Kelly wrote.

In fact, Cherry’s dismissal was front-page news for many Canadian newspapers Tuesday, including the Toronto Star.

Here’s what my colleague, Flyers beat writer Sam Carchidi, had to say about Cherry:

I’ve always thought Cherry was a blowhard who just said things to shock people to get viewers. That said, in a Toronto Sun story, his wife said when he talked about “you people” he was not referring to immigrants. It sure seemed like he was when he added “you people ... who come here.” 1161224 Philadelphia Flyers The Flyers went 4-0 for the week, beating Carolina and Montreal in overtime and Toronto and Boston in shootouts. They went from 5th place in the Metropolitan Division to 3rd, and from 10th place in the conference to 4th. Flyers preview: Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals, rematch with Islanders highlight coming week Our three stars for the week: Sean Couturier, Carter Hart, Travis Konecny

This week in Flyers history by Ed Barkowitz Nov. 14, 1985: Minor leaguer Darren Jensen made 29 saves to lead the Flyers over the mighty Edmonton Oilers in the first game after goaltender ’s death. The game was preceded by a gripping 22- The Washington Capitals, who won all four games against the Flyers last minute ceremony. ″One time, Darren admitted to me that he was in tears season, are the first of Philadelphia’s three opponents this week. behind his mask," Jensen’s wife, Michelle, told The Inquirer this week. Defenseman John Carlson has been a monster for the Caps with 29 “That was his friend. That was his mentor.” points in 19 games, including a league-best 21 assists. While it’s unlikely Ovie watch he’ll maintain his pace of 125 points for the season, he could make a run at 100. So let’s start with some trivia. The Flyers will see Alexander Ovechkin for the first time this season. Here’s a look at how the Caps star has fared in various splits: Name the five defensemen to post 100-point seasons. Hint: All have occurred since 1969-70. Answer below. Games Goals Asst. +/- Ovie rec.

Game 18 - Wednesday vs. Washington, 7:30 p.m. (NBCSN) vs. Flyers (Reg. season) 53 34 25 -5 26-16-11 About the Capitals: Had a 6-game winning streak snapped Monday with a 4-3 loss to Arizona in a shootout. Trailed by 3-0 and did well to force vs. Flyers (Playoffs) 13 7 7 0 7-6 overtime, giving them 12 straight games with a point (10-0-2). ... Russian center Evgeny Kuznetsov has three goals and six assists in the last nine vs. Flyers (Couturier played) 29 13 10 -14 games. ... LW Carl Hagelin has missed the last two games with an 14-9-6 upper-body injury. ... In 29 games against the Flyers when Sean vs. Flyers (No Couturier) 37 28 22 +9 Couturier is in the lineup, Alex Ovechkin is -14. The Caps own a 14-9-6 19-13-5 mark in that span, however. (See chart below.) vs. Canucks (Vigneault coach) 6 4 2 -2 Where they stand: 13-2-4, atop the Metropolitan Division with an NHL- 1-4-1 best 30 points, eight ahead of the Flyers. vs. Rangers (Vigneault coach) 28 17 4 -2 Game 19 - Friday at Ottawa, 7:30 p.m. (NBCSP+) 14-11-3 About the Senators: Got trashed by Carolina on Monday, 8-2, as goalie Answer man Anders Nilsson gave up four goals in 32 minutes. Nilsson had just been named player of the week for last week, when he was 3-0 with a .950 The five defensemen to post 100-point seasons are Bobby Orr (six save percentage. ... Ottawa has the worst power play in hockey with four times), Paul Coffey (5), Brian Leetch, Al MacInnis and Denis Potvin (one goals in 61 chances. The power play is 0-for-13 over the last four games. each). ... Cherry Hill native Bobby Ryan, 32, played Monday after being a healthy scratch in four of the previous six. He said it

Where they stand: 6-10-1, tied with Detroit for the fewest points in the “I didn’t have a choice. Nobody wanted to hire me.” East, though the Sens have two games in hand on the Red Wings. Flyers coach Alain Vigneault on the decision to not coach last season Game 20 - Saturday vs. N.Y. Islanders, 7 p.m. (NBCSP) after he was fired by the Rangers following the 2017-18 campaign.

About the Islanders: Another one of the hottest teams in hockey with a point in 12 straight games (11-0-1). Their only loss was in overtime Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 11.13.2019 Thursday against Pittsburgh when they blew a three-goal lead ... Thumped the Flyers, 5-3, in a game that wasn’t as close as the score. ... Jordan Eberle returned to the lineup Saturday after a lower-body injury caused him to miss 10 games, including the first meeting with the Flyers. Eberle is the right winger on the top line alongside Anders Lee and center Mathew Barzal, who has 13 points in the last 12 games and is +13 in that span. ... Are 20th in power-play rankings, but have just 28 chances in 16 games, easily the fewest in the NHL. Next closest is Tampa Bay with 42 chances.

Where they stand: 12-3-1 (25 points), second place in the Metro and three points ahead of the Flyers.

Special-teams report

*PP (NHL rank) PP/Last 5 games *PK (NHL rank) PK/Last 5 games

Flyers 14-65, 21.5% (11th) 4-20 (20.0%) 41-48, 85.4% (7th) 10-10 (100.0%)

Washington 16-67, 23.9% (7th) 3-16 (18.8%) 59-69, 85.5% (6th) 13-15 (86.7%)

Ottawa 4-61, 6.6% (31st) 2-19 (10.5%) 54-68, 79.4% (20th) 12-15 (80.0%)

N.Y. Islanders 5-28, 17.9% (20th) 0-10 (0.0%) 40-47, 85.1% (8th) 15-16 (93.8%)

Last week, Nov. 4-10 1161225 Philadelphia Flyers Inevitably, the offensive numbers will be placed under a microscope, examined and compared to the monetary figures on his contract.

However, don’t lose sight of what the Flyers needed to change. Let's not forget the point of Kevin Hayes and his value to Flyers Seventeen games into the 2019-20 season, they are allowing fewer goals, are tied for the NHL’s sixth-best point percentage and haven’t even gotten close to Hayes’ best.

By Jordan Hall “I hold myself to a high standard where I think I should be contributing offensively, but that hasn’t come too much yet,” Hayes said. “I’m not November 12, 2019 5:15 PM really too concerned about it, it will come, I’ve been an offensive player my whole life.

VOORHEES, N.J. — The Kevin Hayes contract was and will always be “It hasn’t really crossed my mind. I know what I bring to the table and the polarizing. biggest thing for me is the team stats. … I think it’s a lot different when your team is struggling, that’s when you kind of start caring about points, Especially in a market as passionate and demanding as Philadelphia. start proving, ‘Oh, I’m playing the right way because I’m getting my points.’ I don’t think that’s the case here.” When seven years and $50 million are doled out to a forward, the eyes automatically go to the columns that count goals and points. They will this season and for the next six. Hayes was aware of that reality when he signed with the Flyers in June. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 11.13.2019

“I think early on, obviously I signed that big deal and I wanted to come in here and have 82 goals and 82 assists,” Hayes said Tuesday, “but that’s just not how it works.”

Not with a player like Hayes. Wins can serve as a proper reminder of that, as can the less ostentatious statistics. General manager Chuck Fletcher made clear from the outset the Flyers would not judge Hayes purely by the center’s offensive production.

To start the 2019-20 season, Hayes felt the need to put up points — a tangible way to quickly justify his new deal and win over fans, to show why the Flyers were wise to sign him.

“I think at the beginning, with the media and the fans, when you sign that deal, you want to come in and be on everybody’s good graces right away,” Hayes said. “When you’re not putting up points, it’s easy to think you’re not playing great hockey.”

The Flyers’ staff noticed a difference in Hayes. Alain Vigneault, who coached him in New York from 2014-18, knows Hayes’ game well.

The coaches grabbed me after about six or seven games in and felt like I was putting too much pressure on myself, cheating the game a little bit offensively and kind of exposing myself out there. Since we’ve had that meeting, I’ve gotten back to playing the right way defensively, I think I’m playing good hockey. Obviously I haven’t been getting a ton of points, but I’m playing the right way.

It was kind of just, ‘Hey, we didn’t bring you in here to get 100 points this year.’ Points are great, but I think I was brought in to play a 200-foot game, to help the PK, help the PP when they needed help, to play the right way and be somewhat of a leader on the ice.

I still play a lot of minutes every night and, honestly, it’s the most fun I’ve had playing hockey in a while and I think a lot of it has to do with the team winning and everyone being so close.

Hayes has seven points (four goals, three assists) in 17 games. He has gone scoreless over the past seven games, but the Flyers are off to their best start since 2011-12 and Hayes has made an impact.

The Flyers entered the year with the NHL’s second-worst penalty kill since 2014-15 at 78.4 percent. This season, through the Flyers’ 10-5-2 start, the PK has ranked seventh at 85.4 percent. The Flyers are 8-2-1 since Oct. 21, a stretch in which the club has been the league’s third-best shorthanded team at 90.9 percent.

Hayes leads Flyers forwards in penalty kill ice time (31:01) but is eighth in power play ice time (22:33). Since Oct. 21, he has played just 2:55 on the man advantage, so Hayes’ point production must come at even strength. It’s why his PK work is so vital and shouldn’t be overlooked.

Do the Flyers need him to score? Of course — Hayes and his coaches know it, too. After all, the Flyers signed him for multiple reasons, not to only kill penalties.

“There’s still more there,” Vigneault said. “Hayesy, when he defends well, plays that 200-foot game, the offense comes with himself. Right now, I do think he’s pressing a little bit offensively, he’s putting pressure on himself. His best hockey this year, when he was fully committed … it was almost defense first, then offense. When he does that, he’s a real effective player.” 1161226 Philadelphia Flyers overtime and the Canadiens eke out a shootout win. Then, the Flyers drop two more shootouts over the weekend — those are essentially coin flips anyway. Same underlying performance, mostly the same stats, but an 0-1-3 record. O’Connor’s Observations: The Flyers are rolling, PK has emerged as a strength, Philippe Myers is finding balance Of course, that’s not how things played out. Hart (and to a lesser extent Elliott) played fantastic hockey. The Flyers’ two best players, Sean Couturier and Claude Giroux, came through in clutch situations. Those things actually happened, and shouldn’t be brushed aside because those By Charlie O'Connor games “could have” gone the other way. But the razor-thin margins of the Nov 12, 2019 victories shouldn’t be ignored either.

The Flyers proved they can hang with the big boys over the past week. Now, let’s see if they can impose their will and make it so late-game, The Philadelphia Flyers’ 7-1 loss to the rival Pittsburgh Penguins on Oct. coin-flip heroics aren’t necessary. They’ll get their first shot to do so 29 was the clear low point, a moment that could have seen them spiral against the division-leading Capitals on Wednesday. out of control and into yet another early season slump for the franchise. 2. Myers flying high Instead? A 5-0-1 record, a run that took them into the top three of the Metropolitan Division. There was a moment in Saturday night’s win against the Maple Leafs that crystallized why Philippe Myers’ second stint is going so much better Everything is clicking for the Flyers. The veterans are scoring. The kids than the first. No, it wasn’t the wicked wrist shot on the rush that aren’t slowing down. The defense is starting to solidify. And the goalie delivered his second goal in two games (a streak he would extend to tandem of Carter Hart and Brian Elliott is making Alain Vigneault’s nightly three with another pinpoint wrister on Sunday). This play was far more choice the best kind of problem for a head coach: Both can be trusted to subtle, and what Myers did without the puck, rather than with it, was the deliver strong efforts. impressive part.

The schedule isn’t letting up anytime soon; the Flyers face matchups this If there’s one thing that has always set Myers apart, at every level, it’s his week against the only two clubs in the Metro with better records — the innate aggressiveness. Likely a byproduct of being bigger, faster and Washington Capitals and New York Islanders — sandwiching an “easy” stronger than almost everyone on the ice, Myers plays like he believes game versus Ottawa on Friday. But this club, right now, looks more than he can always get the puck. Whether it’s a pass coming through the equipped to hold its own, regardless of the competition. neutral zone, an oncoming forward with speed or a puck battle in the corner, Myers has long attacked the play with supreme confidence he 1. Was this a true statement of a week? can quickly force a change of possession. It’s what makes him such a fun The first five weeks of the season went the way of a pendulum — back player to watch. and forth between wildly positive and negative perceptions of the club. But aggressiveness that worked in the QMJHL or even the AHL isn’t They’d control play in three straight, and then lose three in a row. They’d always going to work in the NHL. Obviously, no one wants Myers to be a rattle off another three wins, and follow up with two humiliating losses. passive defender; that would nullify one of his greatest strengths. But Every week, the narrative seemed diametrically opposed to the story opponents did exploit his tendencies at times during his season-ending from the previous seven days. 21-game stint in 2018-19. Myers’ on-ice shot differential at 5-on-5 was This time, however, the Flyers changed the script. They built off fine; his 48.14 percent Corsi For was far above the team’s average. But momentum from the end of the previous week, and got results. quality-adjusted metrics painted a far less rosy picture — the Flyers collected only 38.95 percent of the expected goals at 5-on-5 during that It’s not fair to say this past week came out of nowhere. Philadelphia same stretch. The conclusion? In particular, Philadelphia was gashed righted the ship in a knock-down, drag-out battle with the New Jersey defensively when Myers played, in no small part because opponents took Devils on Nov. 1, and came back the next night and largely outplayed the advantage of Myers’ tendency to be out of position due to Toronto Maple Leafs. Sure, they lost in an 11-round shootout. But they aggressiveness. appeared to have put the road debacles against the Islanders and Pittsburgh behind them — and then proved as much, winning four The above video is a perfect example of Myers’ tweaked, “less-is-more” consecutive games versus legitimately good teams in Carolina, Montreal, approach this time around. As the puck moves into the neutral zone, just Toronto and Boston. out of Tavares’ reach, you can tell Myers almost decides to chase after it. But he catches himself, likely realizing he’s essentially facing a stealth 2- Suddenly, it feels right for fans to be excited. And while the Flyers nearly on-1. If he fails to knock the puck away, suddenly he’s trapped behind reached that point after their 7-4 comeback win over the Columbus Blue the play and chasing a Toronto forward (either Tavares or the speedy Jackets on Oct. 26 — don’t forget, following that game, they arguably Kasperi Kapanen) into his own zone. had the best advanced stat profile in hockey — they failed to stick the landing. This time, they responded to a three-game winning streak in Instead, Myers backs off just a bit, and the Maple Leafs gain entry into style, dominating the Atlantic Division-leading Boston Bruins for two the Flyers’ zone. But it doesn’t last long. First, Myers uses his reach to periods, then hanging on in the third for a guaranteed point despite knock the puck away from Tavares, and then, after it skitters to Kapanen, clearly running out of gas on the second night of a road back-to-back he attacks him as well. There’s the aggressiveness, Myers’ belief that he (and fourth game in six days), and then nabbing the extra point in the has more right to the puck than a player with 151 games of experience. skills competition. Finally, he continues to trust his attacking mentality, carrying the puck out of the zone and initiating a breakout by himself. This wasn’t an easy week. Carolina is probably the best play-driving team in hockey. Montreal isn’t too shabby in that area, either, and will be For Myers, it’s all about finding that balance between what he can and in the mix for a wild-card spot. Toronto is still one of the most skilled can’t get away with in the NHL — which is why it didn’t seem to make teams in hockey (and had John Tavares and Jake Muzzin back for this sense to play him in the AHL, a league he had already mastered, for rematch). Boston was one win from winning the Stanley Cup in June. Yet long. With the Flyers, he can jump headfirst into the next stage of his the Flyers didn’t just defeat those clubs; they also narrowly carried play development. And it’s going pretty well so far. Myers won’t keep scoring against them, generating 53.13 percent of the expected goals and 50.86 at this ridiculous rate — the organization doesn’t expect him to be a high- percent of the shot attempts (after adjusting for score effects) during the end point producer — but he’s more than holding his own in what has four-game stretch. Simply put: This is a good team, playing good hockey quickly turned into a second-pair role with Travis Sanheim. And that poor against other good teams. xG rate from 2018-19? It’s up to 53.42 percent through six games. All good signs. But let’s return to the perception. It’s not difficult to envision an alternate universe where this week ended up being viewed as a disaster, or at 3. Have the Flyers figured out the fourth line? least a major disappointment — even if the Flyers generated just as In last week’s O’Connor’s Observations, I highlighted the struggles of the many shots and chances as they ultimately did. Imagine this: Carter Hart bottom six — and particularly the fourth line — for two primary reasons. doesn’t stand on his head for the first two periods versus the Hurricanes First, their performance by the numbers was glaringly awful. Second, and and Philadelphia’s third-period charge falls short as a result. Carey Price, even more importantly, the front office had noticed the problem. The bulk one of the best goalies in the world, squeezes a stoppable shot in of its “revolving-door” approach to early season call-ups seemed to be already in the NHL at 19, he’ll likely reach seven seasons by 26, so that’s focused on addressing one major issue: the ineptitude of Line 4. his current timeframe for UFA status.

After the past week, there’s legitimate hope they may have stumbled on However, the 2019-20 season won’t count as “accrued” unless Farabee a useful combination. is on the active roster for 40 games.

On Friday morning, the Flyers sent Mikhail Vorobyev back to the Lehigh So if the Flyers sent him down to the Phantoms before he crossed the Valley Phantoms after a one-game stint, and in his place added Andy 40-game threshold, and he never returned to the big club, he’d miss out Andreoff, a 28-year-old veteran of the AHL and NHL. It wasn’t a flashy on the opportunity to declare for unrestricted free agency a year early. transaction, but Andreoff had entered September’s training camp as a He’d have to wait until 27, as most prospects do. He’d still burn the first favorite to make the big club — and after cycling through every viable year of his ELC, but instead of being a UFA in the summer of 2026, he prospect with extensive pro experience not named Nicolas Aube-Kubel, would remain a restricted free agent for one more year, and wouldn’t gain Andreoff was the logical choice, even if the whole exercise resembled unrestricted status until 2027. dart-throwing more than anything else. Events as far as eight years into the future aren’t of much concern now, But maybe this dart hit the bullseye. Andreoff was placed at wing on a so don’t expect the Flyers to send Farabee back down in January just to line with Michael Raffl and Tyler Pitlick, and the trio immediately preserve an extra year of RFA control. General managers want to win delivered two consecutive games that qualified as some of the most games, and if Farabee is helping the Flyers do so, he’ll stick around. But effective from a Flyers fourth line this season. he hasn’t achieved all of his contract-related goals for this season, even if he just checked off a big one. A few points about the above table. First, that’s certainly a lot of fourth- line combinations over just 17 games — nine, in fact. Second, there isn’t 5. Farabee’s odd profile for success a lot of green on the chart, which highlights when the regular fourth line either outshot (Corsi) or outchanced (xG) the opposition on a given night. Talk to anyone in hockey — including members of the Flyers Finally, the Andreoff-Raffl-Pitlick trio doesn’t look too shabby after two organization — and they’ll rave about Farabee’s “hockey IQ.” It’s why the contests. front office’s main concern regarding Farabee heading into camp wasn’t his ability to hold his own at the NHL level in short stints; it was whether Why might this trio be working? For starters, Pitlick’s game has he was physically ready for 82 games (or close to it). significantly improved — perhaps he’s overcome his lack of a real training camp and is again a useful fourth-liner. Raffl has been solid all Now, hockey IQ manifests itself in many ways. But it’s often used as season, even if his underlying numbers don’t show it; ideally, he wouldn’t another way to say “defensively sound” — think Couturier and Oskar be playing center, but with both Vorobyev and German Rubtsov failing to Lindblom, who tend to receive the tag, too. In fact, the most exciting part impress, and Scott Laughton still out due to a broken finger, he’s the best about Farabee’s game seemed to be his two-way potential, not option. Then there’s Andreoff, who scored 55 points in the AHL last necessarily a projected ability to rack up points. Farabee even season and presumably has a better handle than the prospects on how acknowledged in training camp that he thinks he’ll be able to provide to remain effective despite only sporadic shifts. more value as a penalty killer than as a forward who drives a top power play unit. That’s not a statement often made by a player destined to end This Line 4 is far from a murderer’s row of talent — it’s not like Laughton up in sheltered-scorer usage. won’t immediately push one of these players to the press box once he’s cleared to return. But the Flyers merely needed competence from their Here’s the interesting thing, though: Through 11 games, Farabee’s fourth line. Over two games, the new trio has cleared that modest greatest strength has been his offense creation, not his defensive impact threshold. or play-driving ability. Among Flyers, only James van Riemsdyk has created high-danger scoring chances at a more efficient rate than 4. Farabee clears 10 games Farabee, and only Travis Konecny and Lindblom have been more efficient goal scorers at 5-on-5. The rookie always seems to be buzzing Saturday’s shootout win over the Maple Leafs wasn’t just a key victory for in the offensive zone, pouncing on loose pucks and getting open for a club looking to continue a run of strong play. It also had special passes in high-danger areas. He may have only four points in 11 games, significance to Joel Farabee, as it marked his 10th NHL game. but he’s flashed high-end offensive upside.

This isn’t merely a “good job, kid” threshold for Farabee. It has real His defensive results, on the other hand, have been more mixed. Unlike contractual implications. Farabee is with the Flyers on a three-year, Lindblom, who hit the NHL and immediately drove play to the tune of a entry-level contract, which generally starts the first year a player turns team-high 56.21 percent expected goals in his first 23 games with the pro. But because Farabee is only 19 (most prospects turn pro at 20), a club, Farabee has been more break-even, sitting at 50.18 percent by slightly different set of rules apply. Specifically, had Farabee not Corsi and 46.78 percent by expected goals. And per Micah Blake appeared in at least 10 games in 2019-20, the first year of his ELC would McCurdy of HockeyViz.com, it’s been Farabee’s defensive results that have “slid.” (This happened to Robert Hägg in 2014-15.) Essentially, have been the bigger drag on his differentials. while he still would have been paid according to the parameters of the deal, Year 1 of the contract would not have “counted.” He would still be Now, this doesn’t mean Farabee won’t start to drive play in the near on the first year of his deal in 2020-21, turning the three-season ELC into future. His advanced metrics in Allentown, for example, were through- something of a stealth four-year deal. the-roof good (69.14 percent Corsi For), per Brad Keffer’s tracking work. And his skill set — tenacious forechecking, strong instincts, a nose for But because Farabee has appeared in 10 games (now 11, after Sunday’s scoring-chance creation — seems tailor-made for dominance by contest), the Flyers no longer are allowed to slide the contract. His ELC advanced metrics. But so far, Farabee’s been more of an offense-driver will expire in the summer of 2022. than a play-driver.

Now, why does this matter? Don’t worry, fans — there are no expansion 6. JvR’s statistical surge draft implications here. Farabee will still be exempt in 2021, and the Flyers don’t have to worry about losing him to Seattle. But it does mean You know who is driving play to a fairly ridiculous degree in 2019-20? Farabee will be able to negotiate his second contract a year earlier than James van Riemsdyk. most prospects, just after he turns 22. Since ELCs aren’t high-priced contracts, successful players want to finish them as quickly as possible to Over the past week, the NHL finally resolved the shot location error that get to the real money, which starts to emerge in Deal No. 2. In other was throwing off full-season, public shot-quality metrics. The original words, Farabee is obviously happy with this turn of events. issue was fixed after a few weeks, but the first 91 games of the season still had “wrong” data due to the problem, which made it tough to But the 10-game threshold isn’t the only important one. There’s a second completely trust the full-season metrics. Last week, however, those key milestone for Farabee that he’s yet to reach — the 40-game mark. games were adjusted, and as a result, public expected goal data are about as good as we’ll get — at the very least, matching previous Here’s a little primer on unrestricted free agency rules: seasons in quality.

A player becomes eligible to declare himself a UFA when he reaches one And the data love JvR. of two requirements: either he has turned 27 as of June 30 or played in seven accrued seasons — whichever comes first. Since Farabee is The “best” public stat that isolates play-driving ability is probably RAPM, or Regularized-Adjusted Plus-Minus. Essentially, it tries to account for everything — teammate effects, quality of competition, zone starts, raw as he received only about 16 minutes of ice time in each game. But that shot differential — via a formula to figure out which players would be wasn’t all the Flyers did. On Saturday, Gostisbehere received a “plus” or “minus” by shot and chance differential with all other factors significant share of his 5-on-5 ice time (5:27 out of 12:24) backing up the being equal. For the Flyers, the usual suspects are at the top of the xG Couturier line, a clear boon to Ghost after being asked to play behind the charts: Couturier, Lindblom, Konecny (who is largely playing with bottom six for large stretches over the season’s first 15 games. Then, in Couturier and Lindblom). But leading the pack is van Riemsdyk, whose the wake of a surprisingly poor Provorov performance in Toronto, +0.272 xG RAPM doesn’t just top the Flyers — it also ranks 11th in the Gostisbehere returned to the Giroux power play unit on Sunday. league among forwards. Did the tweaks work? Gostisbehere looked dynamic and effective in his This may come as a surprise to Flyers fans who watched JvR in 2018-19; limited minutes on Saturday; he finished with an assist and three scoring he didn’t exactly shower himself in glory from a two-way standpoint in his chances. However, Ghost didn’t grab hold of his old “PP1” opportunity on first year back with Philadelphia, and the numbers reflected as much. But Sunday, as Giroux’s unit didn’t do much of anything, even with in his final three seasons with Toronto, van Riemsdyk did qualify as a Gostisbehere back. play-driver, grading out solidly positive by both Corsi and xG RAPM. He’s never had an especially sterling defensive reputation, but during those With Hägg out of the lineup, Gostisbehere is the only regular Flyers three years, it really didn’t matter. His teams still outshot and outchanced defenseman in the negative by full-season expected goals RAPM, so his the opposition when he skated at 5-on-5. struggles are apparent in the numbers, too. The Flyers can only keep tweaking his circumstances and hope, eventually, he breaks out of this There was always one caveat to his past advanced stat success — rut. starting in 2015-16, van Riemsdyk’s coaches began to shelter him more at even strength, cutting his minutes, keeping him away from top lines 9. Couturier playing through his injury when they could and feeding him a heavy dose of offensive zone It’s been six games since it became obvious Couturier was battling an faceoffs. During the summer, I theorized replicating that usage might be injury, later revealed by Vigneault to be a sprained left shoulder. And the best way to get the Toronto version of JvR to show up in what has the 26-year-old done since? Oh, nothing much. Just three Philadelphia. But so far, van Riemsdyk is being deployed in a fairly goals, seven points, two shootout game-winners and an OT winner. standard fashion — only three more offensive zone starts than defensive That’s all. zone ones, with regular minutes versus top lines — and he’s still crushing it by the metrics. Maybe 2018-19 was just a down play-driving year for To be clear, the injury is very real. Otherwise, Vigneault wouldn’t be him, possibly made worse by an early injury and adjusting to a new team. using Konecny to take faceoffs instead of Couturier, who somehow still Or maybe he’s simply responding well to Vigneault and the new coaching remains the NHL’s leader in faceoff efficiency percentage (among staff, which hasn’t been shy about pushing him to his limits. players who have at least 25 draws) despite taking only 22 of them over the past six games and losing 13. But it’s wild how little the rest of his 7. How concerned should Flyers be about Hayes’ scoring? game has been hampered.

Kevin Hayes wasn’t signed by the Flyers to score at a point-per-game Not only is he still getting his usual 18 to 22 minutes per game, but the pace. As general manager Chuck Fletcher reiterated to The Athletic’s Flyers are also still taking apart the opposition when he skates, to the Pierre LeBrun in a conversation this past weekend, the front office tune of a 56.15 percent Corsi and 55.48 percent xG at 5-on-5. Add in the identified the lack of a third impact center as the team’s biggest hole, and clutch goals, and it’s really not ridiculous to argue that Couturier is Hayes was the most obvious fit to fill it, especially with the knowledge playing some of his best hockey of the season right now. With a banged- that fellow pending UFA Matt Duchene was likely to end up in Nashville. up shoulder.

That said, seven points in 17 games isn’t going to cut it for a player Sean Couturier and the Flyers celebrate after he scored the winning goal making $7 million per season. in the shootout to defeat the Maple Leafs. (Nick Turchiaro / USA Today)

The good news? Hayes might not be scoring points, but the underlying 10. Discipline, shot prevention key to fewer PP goals against elements of his game are still there. At 5-on-5, he’s shooting more (14.21 attempts/60 minutes in 2019-20 compared to a 12.17 career average) There are quite a few reasons why the Flyers are winning hockey games, and generating more quality chances than ever before (0.95 expected but near the top of the list is the work of the penalty kill. Rightfully goals/60 versus 0.68 xG/60 career average). He’s positive by both Corsi ridiculed this time last season, the PK has emerged as a strength under and xG RAPM. And he’s still doing a lot of easily visible things right — at new assistant coach Mike Yeo, and it’s flying high now. Since allowing least three times a game, Hayes backs down a defenseman while on the two power play goals to the Devils on Nov. 1, the Flyers have gone 11- attack as if he’s an NBA center. The points aren’t there, but he doesn’t for-11 in kills, and are a ridiculous 26-for-28 (92.86 percent) since Oct. 24 look like he’s playing poorly. versus Chicago.

Hayes’ biggest problem comes down to two things: shooting percentages How are they doing it? Well, it helps that no team in the NHL is allowing and power play time. No one is scoring goals with Hayes on the ice at 5- fewer shot attempts while shorthanded than the Flyers. They’ve on-5 — the Flyers are finishing on only 4.86 percent of their shots, and permitted just 70.89 attempts/60 at 4-on-5 this season, which is well his career average is 9.21 percent. Most likely, the rest of the season will ahead of second-place Anaheim at 78.70. In addition, no team has move closer to the latter rate than the former, which would mean more created more scoring chances on the PK; they’re averaging 2.05 xG/60 goals for the Flyers and more points for Hayes. The 27-year-old has also during the situation as well. For reference, the San Jose Sharks are been hurt by Farabee and Lindblom pushing him off the power play, so averaging 2.01 Expected Goals/60 this season — at even strength. On he’s not racking up the extra points that come with PP usage. average, the Flyers have created more dangerous shots while a man down than the once-powerhouse Sharks have with skaters even. The first problem should solve itself; Philadelphia won’t keep scoring on less than 5 percent of the shots taken with Hayes on the ice. But if Hayes It also helps that the Philadelphia PK hasn’t been overly taxed. Only the remains off the power play, his point-production ceiling is going to be Winnipeg Jets and Penguins have averaged fewer minutes shorthanded limited. per game than the Flyers. That discipline means fewer raw goals against, but it also means that the team’s penalty killers are able to conserve 8. The Gostisbehere situation energy throughout the game, which surely benefits them on the PK and Seventeen games into the season, Shayne Gostisbehere still doesn’t at even strength. It’s still early, and a bad couple games can skew PK really look like Shayne Gostisbehere. He’s had some positive moments, metrics dramatically due to the small samples involved. But so far, with a to be sure, even a four-points-in-five-nights run at the end of October. But few minor tactical adjustments and personnel upgrades, the Flyers’ with Myers providing strong support to Sanheim, and the Ivan Provorov- penalty kill sure looks like it’s back. Matt Niskanen pairing locked in as the top duo at even strength, the questions surrounding the defense have really dwindled to two. First, can Justin Braun stop making mistakes that seem to immediately end up in The Athletic LOADED: 11.13.2019 the back of the net? And what do the Flyers have to do to get the old Ghost back?

The coaches aren’t sitting on their hands, at least from a usage standpoint. Gostisbehere’s ice time was cut dramatically this weekend, 1161227 Pittsburgh Penguins The Penguins rebounded almost immediately as the second period started. Controlling a puck on the offensive right half wall, Malkin fed a pass to Pettersson at the center point then almost immediately received the puck back from Pettersson. Drawing in a handful of defenders, Malkin Empty Thoughts: Rangers 3, Penguins 2 (OT) distributed a cross-ice pass to Schultz above the left circle. As forward Dominik Simon provided a screen, Schultz moved low into the left circle

and fired a wrister past goaltender Alexandar Georgiev’s glove hand on SETH RORABAUGH the far side at the 1:13 mark. Malkin and Pettersson collected assists.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019 3:37 a.m. At 12:33 of the second, the Penguins got their first power-play score since Oct. 13. Going deep with the puck on the left wing, Pettersson fed a pass to forward Dominik Kahun to the left of the cage. Kahun went forehand to backhand on a pass to the left circle where Simon NEW YORK — This game started on a similar path as the Penguins’ momentarily lost it while battling with Rangers forward Ryan Strome but previous four games in that they gave up the first goal of the game. And was able to divert the puck to the right circle where forward Jared as was the case in their past three games, they gave up the first goals of McCann fired a wrister past Georgiev’s glove hand on the near side. That the game. score snapped a hideous slump of 28 consecutive unsuccessful power- They yielded another multi-goal lead and had to find a way to claw back play opportunities. Simon netted the lone assist. into the game to even tie it. With acres of open ice in overtime, Malkin attacked the net deking past But this game felt different, at least to Penguins coach Mike Sullivan. Fox in the offensive slot but failed to get a shot off. Chasing after the puck on the end boards, he fed a blind pass to the slot for forward Bryan Sullivan objected to a question in which it was queried if there was a way Rust but had it stolen by Kaako, who then fed it to Fox. to rectify the team’s repeated slow starts. Pushing play up the left wing, Fox veered to the slot, opened up the left “Tell me how many slow starts that we’ve had this year,” Sullivan wing and fed it back to Kakko, who tapped his second goal of the contest responded back. past Murray’s right skate at the 2:24 mark. Fox had the lone assist.

It was then pointed out that the Penguins had fallen behind by multiple • The Penguins controlled shots, 32-27. goals in recent games. • Rust led the game with five shots. “Just because we got scored against, does that suggest it’s a slow start?” • Forwards Chris Kreider, Kaako ,Panarin and defenseman Jacob Trouba It might be a matter of semantics, but falling behind early in games by each led the Rangers with three shots on net. several goals is generally not ideal, no matter the method. • Penguins defenseman Brian Dumoulin led the game with 24:23 of ice Regardless, Sullivan was quick to draw a distinction between this game time on 27 shifts. and the several preceding it. • Strome led the Rangers with 21:32 of ice time on 24 shifts. “We had a slow start tonight,” Sullivan said. “For me, it’s about a mindset before the puck drops. We weren’t really to play. They were ready to • The Penguins had a 23-22 edge in faceoffs (51 percent). play. They outplayed us in the first period. Having said that, for most of • Malkin was 10 for 14 (71 percent). this year, this team has been ready to play from the drop of the puck and played extremely well. We haven’t always ended up on the right side of • Kreider was 7 for 8 (88 percent). the score coming out of the first period. But from our estimation, we believe we’ve played extremely well. That’s why I respond to you the way • Penguins defensemen Jack Johnson, John Marino, Lemieux, DeAngelo I respond. I’m not trying to be disrespectful but I guess I respectfully and Trouba each led the game with three blocked shots. disagree that we’ve had a lot of slow starts this year. We’ve ended up on • Schultz (109 points) surpassed forward Maxime Talbot (108) for 80th the wrong side of the score. I give our guys a lot of credit for fighting place on the franchise’s career scoring list. back. If you’re in a two-goal deficit, it’s hard to climb out of that. We climbed out of it tonight but for me, the lesson learned is that we’ve got to • Murray (433) surpassed Jean-Sebastien Aubin (432) for ninth place on play a full 60 (minutes).” the franchise’s career list of goals allowed.

The Penguins had to play 62:24, to be precise, and came up short in a • The Penguins’ last overtime loss to the Rangers came in a 4-3 setback game which was very winnable, even with a lineup hindered due to at home on April 6. Strome scored the winning goal: injuries to important players. • Even with the loss, this might have been Murray’s best game of the “I didn’t like how we played in the first period yet again,” forward Jared season. He stopped several odd-man rushes in the first period and even McCann said. “We made too many mistakes. They capitalized on them. came up with a few high-end saves on Rangers forwards Pavel We were clawing back the whole game. I liked our effort in the second Buchnevich Brett Howden down the stretch in the third period. Murray and third. But other than that, it wasn’t a good game.” had plenty of reasons to be happy with this game individually.

The Rangers had most of the contest’s momentum early as they primarily • Alex Galchenyuk, not so much. After stringing together several solid controlled play in the offensive zone throughout the initial stages minutes games, he struggled as he lined up with McCann and Guentzel. Sullivan of regulation. That early surge manifested itself in a breakaway score by even offered a frank assessment of Galchenyuk (see below). rookie forward Kaapo Kaako at 6:42 of the first period. • Yes, the Penguins scored a power-play goal. That’s obviously a Lugging the puck up from his own right half wall, Rangers forward tremendous development given the wretched skid they were in. But they Brendan Lemieux snapped off a tape-to-tape pass to just inside the didn’t exactly look good with the man advantage. They combined for two opposite blue line between Penguins defensemen Marcus Pettersson shots on their first two power-play chances in the first. Then with their and Justin Schultz. Kaako, the second overall selection in this year’s third chance in the second, the first unit allowed the Rangers to clear the draft, took the pass, blew past the defenders and attacked the net. puck at least three times before the second unit found a way to convert a Approaching the crease, he tucked a backhand shot past Murray’s left botched passing sequence into a goal. skate. Assists went to Lemieux and defenseman Tony DeAngelo. Considering who they are missing with Sidney Crosby, Kris Letang and Shortly after the Penguins’ failed to convert their second power play of Patric Hornqvist and how things have gone for the past month, beggars the first, the Rangers doubled their lead with only 10 seconds remaining can’t be choosers. But there just feels like there’s plenty of room for in the period. After Rangers forward Filip Chytil got the puck deep on the improvement to do even after this goal. left wing and lost it in the left circle, forward Artemi Panarin reclaimed it and fed a cross-ice pass to defenseman Adam Fox in the right circle. • If there was any hope for Nick Bjugstad to get things going after scoring Taking a moment to survey the cage, Fox sniped a wrister past Murray’s in Boston last week, it’s kind of dissipated in the three games since. He’s glove hand on the near side. Panarin and Chytil had assists. just another guy on the ice doing nothing of note, good or bad. He has been promoted to the top power-play unit in the slot due to all the injuries and he’s just not offering anything noticeable. • Given the injury situation, it might be an ideal time to break up the fourth line. Specifically, move Brandon Tanev to a more prominent role. He’s a nice fit on that line with Teddy Blueger and Zach Aston-Reese, but he could really offer more given the injury woes.

• Malkin didn’t draw the same distinction as Sullivan in comparing his team’s play in recent games to this contest:

“It’s the same problem (as) the last three games. We need to start better. For 20 minutes, a little bit soft. We understand if we want to win, we need to play better. The last 40 minutes, we play good. We understand, no Sid, no (Letang), no (Hornqvist), we need to work harder. Like 120 percent.”

• Malkin fell on the sword for the overtime goal:

“My fault in (overtime). I need to save the puck behind the net. Play a little bit (more) simple.”

• McCann laid out how the power-play score worked out:

“It was a great breakout. Our coaches showed a lot of (their penalty kill) and how they like to stay in the lines. We came in with a lot of speed. Kahun made a great play down at the goal line there to Simon and he found me on the back door.”

• Sullivan was relieved to finally get a power-play goal:

“It’s a good feeling. I was happy for the players. Because I know they want to score. It’s been a little bit of a struggle. It wasn’t the prettiest goal but usually that’s how it happens. We’re going to try to build on that.”

• Sullivan didn’t mince words about Galchenyuk:

“He’s just got to be more focused on just playing the game the right way. Competing on pucks, winning puck battles, being strong on the wall, all the details of the game. If a goal scorer struggles, just based on my experience, part of it is taking the focus off of the scoring and just trying to focus on what you can control. That’s just how you play the game, how you think the game, how hard you compete on pucks. Just being focused on that next play, then I think that goal will come.”

Tribune Review LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161228 Pittsburgh Penguins “It’s the same problem (as) the last three games,” Malkin said. “We need to start better. For 20 minutes, a little bit soft. We understand if we want to win, we need to play better. The last 40 minutes, we play good. We understand, no Sid, no (Letang), no (Patric Hornqvist), we need to work Penguins snap power-play cold spell, still lose to Rangers in OT harder. Like 120 percent.”

SETH RORABAUGH Tribune Review LOADED: 11.13.2019 Tuesday, November 12, 2019 10:16 p.m.

NEW YORK — For the fourth consecutive game, the Pittsburgh Penguins had allowed the opposition to race out to a multigoal lead.

And for the fourth consecutive time, the Penguins found a way to adjust and climb back into the contest.

But any hopes of claiming a lead for a fourth consecutive game weren’t to be for a hobbled lineup missing a handful of all-stars such as Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang.

Despite rebounding from a two-goal deficit in the second period, including with a rare power-play goal, the Penguins couldn’t string together enough offense Tuesday and fell to the New York Rangers, 3-2, in overtime at Madison Square Garden.

“I didn’t like how we played in the first period yet again,” forward Jared McCann said. “We made too many mistakes. They capitalized on them. We were clawing back the whole game. I liked our effort in the second and third. But other than that, it wasn’t a good game.”

The Rangers controlled play early and tested Matt Murray with a pair of breakaways within the first seven minutes of regulation. The second was successful as Rangers forward Kaapo Kakko, the second overall selection in this year’s draft, split Penguins defensemen Marcus Pettersson and Justin Schultz at the offensive blue line and tucked a backhander past Murray’s left skate at 6 minutes, 42 seconds.

It became a 2-0 game with only 11 seconds left in the period when another rookie, defenseman Adam Fox, wired a wrister from the right circle past Murray’s glove hand on the near side.

“We had a slow start tonight,” coach Mike Sullivan said. “For me, it’s about a mindset before the puck drops. We weren’t ready to play. They were ready to play. They outplayed us in the first period.”

The Penguins appeared ready to play once the second period began.

They got on the scoreboard only 1:13 into the period. As forward Dominik Simon provided a screen, Schultz lifted a wrister from low in the left circle past goaltender Alexandar Georgiev’s glove hand on the far side.

At 12:33 of the second, the Penguins got their first power-play goal since Oct. 13. McCann reclaimed a puck off a botched passing sequence and ripped a wrister from the right circle past Georgiev’s glove hand on the near side, snapping a slump of 28 consecutive unsuccessful power-play opportunities.

“It’s a good feeling,” Sullivan said. “I was happy for the players because I know they want to score. It’s been a little bit of a struggle. It wasn’t the prettiest goal, but usually that’s how it happens. We’re going to try to build on that.”

After a scoreless third period, the Penguins advanced to overtime for the third consecutive outing. This time, they fell and saw their two-game winning streak come to a halt.

With acres of open ice in overtime, Malkin attacked the net deking past Fox in the offensive slot but failed to get a shot off. Chasing after the puck on the end boards, he fed a blind pass to the slot for forward Bryan Rust but had it stolen by Kaako, who then fed it to Fox.

Pushing play up the left wing, Fox veered to the slot, opened up the left wing and fed it back to Kakko, who tapped his second goal of the contest past Murray’s right skate at the 2:24 mark.

“My fault in (overtime),” Malkin said. “I need to save the puck behind the net. Play a little bit (more) simple.”

The Penguins would like to simply take the first lead of a game. That’s a feat they haven’t accomplished since Oct. 29. 1161229 Pittsburgh Penguins There were a few more specifics on Letang, who is also sidelined because of an undisclosed injury.

“He didn’t travel with the team,” Sullivan said. “He’s continuing to make Penguins forward Galchenyuk reunited with Jared McCann vs. Rangers progress, but he’s still in the process of rehab.”

Forward Patric Hornqvist is on injured reserve because of an undisclosed ailment. SETH RORABAUGH The Penguins’ healthy scratch was defenseman Chad Ruhwedel. He has Tuesday, November 12, 2019 7:58 p.m. yet to play this season.

NEW YORK — Before Tuesday, Pittsburgh Penguins forward Alex Tribune Review LOADED: 11.13.2019 Galchenyuk had played in only eight games this season, but he already has skated with three centers, having lined up with Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Jared McCann

Tuesday against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden, Galchenyuk was reunited with McCann because Crosby was sidelined with an undisclosed injury. McCann skated at center between Galchenyuk on the left wing and Jake Guentzel on the right wing.

McCann and Galchenyuk skated together for most of the team’s 7-2 home win against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Oct. 5. In that contest, McCann was teamed with Galchenyuk and forward Brandon Tanev when center Evgeni Malkin left the game because of an undisclosed injury.

Galchenyuk recorded his first point of the season with a primary assist on a second-period goal by McCann. He also recorded a primary assist on a power-play goal by Kris Letang. Before Tuesday, it was his only multipoint game as a member of the Penguins.

“(Galchenyuk) and Jake are both obviously very skilled and like to have the puck,” McCann said. “I’m going to try to complement them with going to the net and trying to create some lanes for them and getting in front of the goalie’s eyes.”

McCann acknowledged he needs to make adjustments to his game in order to play with two of the teams most skilled players on his wings.

“(Galchenyuk is) a guy who likes to obviously shoot first,” McCann said. “I’m the type of guy who likes to do the same. I’ll definitely have to change the way I play a little bit with kind of getting them the puck and going to the net and getting in the goalie’s eyes and trying to bang one in.”

Simon works with Malkin

For most of his NHL existence, forward Dominik Simon has skated primarily with Crosby as his center. Since the start of the 2017-18 season, Simon has logged 718 minutes, 46 seconds of five-on-five ice time with Crosby, his highest total with any skater on the roster.

With Crosby sidelined, Simon found a fairly competent replacement Tuesday in Malkin.

“Another great player,” Simon said. “I’m really excited for it. We played together at the end of the last game. It felt really good. Just going to get ready for it and perform my best and help the line.”

Having been blessed with the opportunity to play with two future Hall-of- Fame centers hasn’t been exactly a dream for Simon.

“It helps you if you play with them more, then you don’t have to pinch yourself that much,” joked Simon, who entered Tuesday with nine points (two goals, seven assists) in 17 games this season. “It’s definitely about getting used to (it) and not thinking about it too much. If you think about it too much, it doesn’t help. You just got to trust your game and play the best you can.”

Inury updates

Coach Mike Sullivan was asked if Crosby had been ruled out for Friday’s road game against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., but didn’t offer any insight beyond immediate concerns.

“Right now, our focus is on the game (Tuesday), and he’s out,” Sullivan said.

Crosby left Saturday’s 3-2 shootout win at home against the Chicago Blackhawks after falling awkwardly in a collision with Chicago defenseman Erik Gustafsson along the boards. 1161230 Pittsburgh Penguins “He’s played extremely well. Because of that, I have to believe his confidence level should be extremely high just based on what he’s accomplished.”

Penguins’ Sam Lafferty expected to return to lineup Said Lafferty: “It’s definitely pretty high. I think I showed myself what I can do here. I’m on a really good line tonight so I just want to play to my strengths.

SETH RORABAUGH “There’s not much adjustment there at all. It’s just go out and play.”

Tuesday, November 12, 2019 4:18 p.m. Notes:

-Matt Murray is expected to start in goal for the Penguins. In 14 game this season, he has a 9-3-1 record along with a 2.35 goals against NEW YORK — Sam Lafferty has been to Gotham before. average, a .916 save percentage and one shutout. After all, he was in town last week when the Pittsburgh Penguins faced -The Penguins did not hold a morning skate. Murray and reserve the New York Islanders at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center. defenseman Chad Ruhwedel were the only players to take the ice. “It’s a pretty crazy place,” said the native of cozy Hollidaysburg. -Sullivan was asked if Crosby was ruled out for Friday’s road game His most recent trek to New York was different. against the New Jersey Devils but declined to answer the question.

He played. “Right now, our focus is on the game tonight and he’s out tonight,” Sullivan said. With Sidney Crosby and Patric Hornqvist each sidelined because of undisclosed injuries, Lafferty returned to the lineup for Tuesday’s meeting Crosby left Saturday’s 3-2 shootout win at home against the Chicago with the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan. He Blackhawks due to an undisclosed injury. opened the contest on the right wing with Dominik Kahun and Nick -Alexandar Georgiev is scheduled to start in net for the Rangers. In Bjugstad. seven games, he has a 3-3-1 record along with a 2.86 goals against “They’re both just very skilled, and they both can skate, make plays,” average and .913 save percentage. Lafferty said. “I’m just going to try to use my speed and put pressure on -The Rangers did not hold a morning skate either. the Rangers. Just play a hard, simple game.”

Most recently recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Nov. 5, Lafferty had served as a healthy scratch for the team’s previous two games, Tribune Review LOADED: 11.13.2019 including a 4-3 overtime win against the Islanders on Thursday.

The Penguins didn’t scratch Lafferty out of any displeasure with his play. He simply was the 13th forward on the roster during those games.

“It’s something I had to go through when I first got to Wilkes-Barre (late in the 2017-18 season),” the rookie forward said. “Obviously, you want to play, but at the same time it’s part of the business and things like happen. You just try to bring a good attitude and be ready when you get your chance.”

His most recent chance at the NHL lineup came about much like his first chance when he was recalled Oct. 7 and played 10 games because incumbent forwards were injured.

This time the call-up doesn’t offer same “new” experience as the first time he was summoned from the American Hockey League affiliate.

“I’ve spent a decent time around the guys,” Lafferty said. “That’s been great just getting comfortable that way. I think that will help.

“A little more comfortable, just a little more confident. Just knowing what I can do here.”

Lafferty suggests there is little difference in how he plays at the AHL or NHL levels.

“When I was in Wilkes, I was in the same line I was here with (Joseph) Blandisi and (Adam) Johnson,” Lafferty said. “We tried to play the same way. We didn’t really change anything.”

One tangible change is ice time. While primarily used as a fourth-liner during his time in the NHL lineup, he has filled a top-six role in the three AHL contests he has played in.

“The only real difference is I played a little bit of power play in Wilkes,” Lafferty said. “It’s pretty similar. You try to play the same game no matter what. For me, that doesn’t really change.

Arguably, the most considerable change over the past two months is Lafferty’s assurance in his ability to contribute at the NHL level.

“I have to believe he’s got a lot more confidence with what he’s been able to accomplish in the time that’s he been here this year,” coach Mike Sullivan said. “He’s played extremely well for us. He brings a whole lot of pace to his game. He’s a good penalty-killer. His speed is his biggest asset. He can play the wing, he can play center. So he’s a pretty versatile player for us. 1161231 Pittsburgh Penguins

What’s going on with Sidney Crosby … and the Penguins’ power play?

TIM BENZ

Tuesday, November 12, 2019 6:50 a.m.

Tuesday’s “Breakfast With Benz” podcast features Penguins Radio Network host Brian Metzer. He joins me for our weekly hockey chat.

The biggest topic of conversation is Sidney Crosby.

• How badly hurt is he?

• How long can the Penguins get by without him?

• What will the roster look like while he is on the shelf?

We also dive into potential fixes for the struggling power play. A lot of theories are being thrown around as to why it is in an 0-for-26 funk.

Phil Kessel is in Arizona. Patric Hornqvist is injured. So is Kris Letang. Now add Crosby’s absence to that list and it all looks pretty ugly.

Yes, all of that hurts. Three of those things may change between now and the end of the year. But even when all those injured players return, we discuss what needs to improve so that the man-up unit shows some production.

Fortunately, the Penguins face a couple of struggling teams over the next few days. The New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils only have 12 wins between them right now. So perhaps the Penguins can steal a few points even while they are so undermanned themselves.

Also, Metz and I recap our experience at the “Tool” concert last Friday. And we discuss another show on the horizon that we will be attending.

Tribune Review LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161232 Pittsburgh Penguins For years, Pittsburgh ranked among the league’s best with the man advantage. But with Phil Kessel gone and several other power-play mainstays in and out of the lineup with injuries, the man advantage was, well, not really much of an advantage at all. Slow start comes back to bite Penguins during loss to Rangers After the confounding slump reached 11-plus games and 28 opportunities, Jared McCann settled down a bouncing puck and swatted it past goaltender Alexandar Georgiev to tie the score at 2 in at 12:33 in MIKE DEFABO the second period. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette “It felt good,” McCann said. “We’ve been getting a lot of chances so far. NOV 13, 2019 4:25 AM We’ve been hitting a lot of posts and missing the net by a little bit. It was good to finally get one.”

Over the final six minutes, Murray made several strong saves to keep the NEW YORK – Even though the Penguins have fallen behind in the first score tied. He robbed Buchnevich again and then moments later, he period several times on the young season and scored just eight first- stuffed a point-blank attempt from Brett Howden. period goals, coach Mike Sullivan has consistently maintained that he wouldn’t necessarily call them “slow starts.” However, on an odd-man rush in overtime, Kakko scored to hand Pittsburgh an overtime loss. “For most of this year, this team has been ready to play from the drop of the puck and has played extremely well,” Sullivan said. “We haven’t “It’s unfortunate,” Murray said. “I think the game just got away from us in always ended up on the right side of the score at the end of the first the first period. It was awesome that we battled back. It’s just unfortunate period. But from our estimation, we believe we’ve played extremely well.” that we couldn’t get the extra one.”

Until Tuesday.

During a 3-2 overtime loss at Madison Square Garden, the Penguins Post Gazette LOADED: 11.13.2019 were out-shot 9-1 early on and fell into a 2-0 deficit by the end of the first period. While they were able to rally back and force overtime thanks to timely saves from Matt Murray, a rare power play goal and a strong second period, it was only enough to salvage one point.

Jake Guentzel defends against good friend Brock Nelson during a game at Barclays Center last week.

The Penguins (10-6-2) never fully recovered from the hole they dug for themselves, as Rangers forward Kaapo Kakko, the second overall pick in the 2019 draft, scored a pair of goals, including the game-winner in overtime.

“If we want to win, we need to play better,” Evgeni Malkin said. “The last 40 minutes were good. But it’s a 60-minute game.”

The Penguins were forced to play Tuesday's game without their captain in Sidney Crosby, their best net-front presence in Patric Hornqvist and their most unique defenseman in Kris Letang.

Early on, the missing pieces were magnified as the ice seemed to be tilted heavily in the Rangers’ favor. Murray was on his game early. One of the best saves came when Pavel Buchnevich barreled down the ice and tumbled into Murray. From his back, the Penguins top goalie somehow kept the puck out of the net.

But at 6:42, Brendan Lemieux zipped a stretch pass to Kakko. He split the Penguins defensive pairing of Justin Schultz and Marcus Pettersson, juked out Murray and buried the first goal of the game to give New York a 1-0 lead.

The Rangers made it 2-0 with less than 10 seconds remaining in the first period. Defenseman Adam Fox jumped up to the right circle and ripped a one-timer from Artemi Panarin over Murray’s shoulder.

“For me, it’s about a mindset before the puck drops,” Sullivan said. “We weren’t ready to play. They were ready to play. They outplayed us in the first period.”

Penguins center Sam Lafferty (37) shoots wide of Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2019, in Tampa, Fla.

However, as has been the case several times in the last week alone, the Penguins came storming back from an early deficit. It took the Penguins just 1:13 to respond in the second period. Schultz skated in to the left circle and buried the puck in the top shelf, cutting the Rangers’ lead to 2- 1.

Evgeni Malkin, who has been playing some of his best hockey since he came back from injury, earned the primary assist. Pettersson picked up the secondary assist.

The next goal provided one of the bright spots for the Penguins. Through the first 17 games of the season, the Penguins’ power play unit was one of the great unsolved mysteries in hockey. 1161233 Pittsburgh Penguins Now, with Crosby out, McCann has slid back to his natural position, playing between left wing Alex Galchenyuk and right wing Jake Guentzel.

“It’s not too difficult,” McCann said when asked about the transition. “I Back in Penguins' lineup, Sam Lafferty makes Madison Square Garden played center most of my life. I enjoy playing wing, too. I’m not too picky. debut I just want to play and help the team win.”

One thing that is different is his film study. McCann said that he spends extra time looking at how opponents approach faceoffs, something he MIKE DEFABO doesn’t have to worry about as much when he’s on the wing.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Some of the things he looks for are handedness, tendencies and footwork. So far this year, he’s won nearly 45% of his faceoffs. NOV 12, 2019 8:32 PM “It’s pretty tough,” McCann said. “There’s a lot of good guys in the NHL

with faceoffs. They’re strong with their bottom hand. I’ve got to practice it NEW YORK — Madison Square Garden sits proudly in the heart of and stay with it.” bustling New York City, a landmark venue and bucket-list arena for Letang latest sports fans and music aficionados alike. The Penguins played Tuesday without Crosby, Hornqvist and Kris The Garden has played host to some of the nation’s most memorable Letang. Sullivan did not provide any update on Crosby, who left sporting events, including the Knicks’ 1970 NBA championship, the Saturday’s game with a lower-body injury. Hornqvist, who is also dealing Rangers’ 1994 Stanley Cup Championship and “The Fight of the with a lower-body injury, is out “longer-term,” the team said on Nov. 3. Century” between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier in 1971. It’s been the stage for high-profile entertainers like Elvis Presley, Billy Joel, Elton John Letang, who is considered “week-to-week,” did not travel with the team. and more. “He’s continuing to make progress,” Sullivan said. “But he’s still in the So, you could say it’s just a little bit different than Wilkes-Barre, Pa. process of rehab.”

“I’m sure it will be special,” Penguins 24-year-old rookie Sam Lafferty said before Tuesday’s game in Madison Square Garden. Post Gazette LOADED: 11.13.2019 Evgeni Malkin reaches for the puck but is blocked by Jacob Trouba of the New York Rangers during the first period of their game at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 12, 2019, in New York City.

This is not a criticism of the quality of hockey that’s played in the AHL. It’s merely to point out the two lives that Lafferty is living. In some ways, he could be considered the 24th player on the Penguins’ organization depth chart in a league where teams typically carry 23 healthy players.

He’s in a unique position because he doesn’t have to clear waivers if he’s sent to the AHL or recalled to the NHL. So he gives the Penguins some extra roster flexibility to send him up and down as needed, which has been valuable during their recent run of injuries.

Earlier this year, when the Penguins were thin at forward, Lafferty earned a promotion to the NHL. He played well during a 10-game stint in Pittsburgh, recording three goals and three assists. However, when the Penguins finally returned to full strength, he was returned to the AHL.

But the AHL stint was brief. When Patric Hornqvist went down, Lafferty earned his way back onto the Penguins’ roster. He was a healthy scratch during a 3-2 win over the Blackhawks on Saturday. Now, with star center Sidney Crosby out with an undisclosed lower-body injury, the door has been opened once again for Lafferty to contribute at the NHL level as one of the 20 players who will dress.

“I have to believe he’s got a whole lot more confidence with what he’s been able to accomplish in the time that he’s been here this year,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. “He’s played extremely well for us.”

Sullivan has consistently been complimentary of Lafferty, saying earlier this year that “he belongs” in the NHL. On Tuesday, he praised Lafferty’s versatility, his penalty-killing ability and — more than anything else — his speed.

On Tuesday, Lafferty will begin the game skating on the right wing with center Nick Bjugstad and left wing Dominik Kahun.

Jake Guentzel defends against good friend Brock Nelson during a game at Barclays Center last week.

“They’re both really skilled,” Lafferty said. “They both can skate and make plays. I’m just going to try to use my speed and put pressure on the Rangers. Just play a hard, simple game.”

The position isn’t new. But the preparation is a little bit different for Jared McCann, as he shifts from wing to center.

The 23-year-old Canadian was acquired from Florida last season. Up until that point, he had played virtually his entire career as a center. However, the Penguins decided he fit better in their mix as a wing. 1161234 Pittsburgh Penguins But back home in Da Beauty League, Minnesota’s terrific summer hockey outfit, any bad blood was quickly shoved aside, even if they had wanted to rip one another’s head off just a few months prior.

20 Penguins Thoughts: The timeless art of hating your friends “It’s just a battle,” Guentzel said. “I think guys know it. It gets intense. After the game, it’s like nothing happened.”

4. There was a fun sidebar to this story that really didn’t fit anywhere JASON MACKEY else.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette In the Penguins dressing room, Bjugstad and Jared McCann are almost always seated next to one another. They’re also good-natured, almost NOV 12, 2019 1:00 PM always available and great with offbeat topics such at this one.

After chatting with Bjugstad, I went next door and posed the same As if playing against his former team wasn’t enough, Dominik Kahun question to McCann, who surprisingly wasn’t much help at all. wrestled with another reality last week as the Penguins prepared to host “I don’t really have one specific story, no,” McCann said. “A lot of my the Chicago Blackhawks. buddies I grew up with don’t play hockey anymore. I’m not from On the other bench would be Dominik Kubalik, Kahun’s good friend and Minnesota, where everybody plays hockey.” former linemate. Born in Czech Republic towns located less than an hour McCann, who does a pretty good Minnesota accent, is from Stratford, from one another, Kahun and Kubalik grew close during their time with Ontario, which is about two hours west of Toronto. McCann’s dad owned Chicago. his own construction company and literally created a hockey rink in his Now, Kahun knew it was time to flip that proverbial switch, turning backyard. Kubalik from friend to foe. Also, it’s Canada. Can-a-da. Where hockey trails only eating, drinking “It’s fun,” Kahun said of the inevitable reality of sharing the same slab of and sleeping. ice with a good friend. “You usually don’t see them often. You always talk 5. Anyway, McCann said his best friend on another team was probably to them a little bit during warmup. I’m excited.” James Reimer, formerly of the Florida Panthers and currently the backup Evgeni Malkin reaches for the puck but is blocked by Jacob Trouba of the in Carolina. New York Rangers during the first period of their game at Madison One small problem here, though: There’s very little trash talk that goes Square Garden on Nov. 12, 2019, in New York City. on between the two good friends — McCann actually stayed at Reimer’s What transpired Saturday was exactly what one might expect: There was house to watch his dog when the latter’s wife gave birth to their first child some talk during a close game, a 3-2 Penguins shootout win, and Kahun — because they like each other so much. and Kubalik, without anything overly noticeable, went their separate “Would I chirp him? No, he’s too nice,” McCann said with a laugh. “I ways, their second and final meetup this season not until March. would feel so bad if I did. He’s just such a genuinely good person. He’s While playing against a good friend never lacks for fun — ask Sidney never chirping or anything. He’s just an honest hockey player.” Crosby, Kris Letang, Evgeni Malkin and Marc-Andre Fleury how those Go to section meetings have gone — they usually aren’t overly physical, the opposite of former football teammates occasionally trying to exact revenge. 6. Speaking of chirping, a few of the Penguins I talked to for this story flat-out stink at talking trash. Well, except for that one time … “I’m no good,” Marcus Pettersson said. “I just try to stay out of it.” 2. It was Nick Bjugstad’s first full NHL season, in 2013-14. Early November game, in Washington, and the Florida Panthers would lose in Added Bjugstad, “Usually when I start chirping, it backfires on me.” a shootout. Jack Johnson said playing a good buddy isn’t necessarily about talking But it wasn’t the result that Bjugstad remembers. During one particular trash for him. In fact, Johnson said he’s actually liable to take it a little post-whistle scrum, Bjugstad reached for the closest Capitals player he easy on a good friend. could find and put one of the league’s more talkative defensemen into a headlock. “You hit each other hard, but he doesn’t get the extra slash or cross- check,” Johnson said. Turns it out it was fellow Minnesota native Nate Schmidt. He also doesn’t get any phone calls or text messages, Johnson said. “We didn’t know it was ... each other,” Bjugstad said. “So we both kind of Both times they’ve met in the playoffs, Johnson and Penguins captain got each other in a headlock. Then I realized it was Nate. He realized it Sidney Crosby refused to talk to one another during the series. was me. We just kind of laughed.” “First time we talked was in the handshake line,” Johnson said. Penguins center Sam Lafferty (37) shoots wide of Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) during the first period of an NHL 7. My favorite anecdote from this story wasn’t directly related, hockey game Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2019, in Tampa, Fla. unfortunately.

Playing against good friends — Bjugstad has another in Maple Leafs Bryan Rust was the first player I approached, knowing he and Islanders defenseman Justin Holl, a fellow former Minnesota Gopher — might captain Anders Lee — a pair of Notre Dame products — are close. produce some funny moments, and these guys aren’t out to maim one That playoff series was especially awkward for them, although neither another. one runs around like an idiot. Just good, hard fun. But Bjugstad said playing one of your buddies is hardly approached with “In warmups you try and make eye contact,” Rust said. “You pass each a laissez-faire attitude. other a puck and have a little bit of fun. On the ice you might say a few “You want to have the bragging rights, so you don’t want to get beat in things to each other from bench-to-bench. any way,” Bjugstad said. “It’s fun to get competitive.” “I think everyone is pretty good at kind of drawing that fine line between 3. For Jake Guentzel, yet another Minnesota guy, his awkward, on-ice having fun but still going out there and trying to win a game.” confrontation revolves around Brock Nelson, who’s from ... you guessed The funny anecdote was this: Rust actually learns other languages to try it. and annoy players of different nationalities on the ice. Some serious Whenever the Penguins play the Islanders, things are bound to be a little respect there. more intense, with the on-ice chatter always a little more than usual. “I try and learn a few different languages to maybe say some “It was a weird time last year in the playoffs when we were going at it,” inappropriate things to guys and catch them off-guard,” Rust said. Guentzel said. Caught me off-guard, too. Definitely didn’t see that one coming from Rust’s game — being hard on pucks and an all-around pain in the butt — Rust. has also meshed extremely well with the Penguins’ new identity.

8. Moving on. “The biggest thing for me that Rusty has shown since Day 1 of training camp is just a sense of urgency and a certain hunger to his game,” I’ve beaten this drum plenty before, and I also know it’s early. But at this Sullivan said. “When he plays his way, that’s when he’s at his best. I rate, assuming this sort of stuff continues, I really hope Mike Sullivan think he’s done that consistently game in and game out, day in and day gets some love for the Jack Adams Award. out, even in practice.”

This can be kind of a funky thing. Mike Babcock has never won it, and 13. In that preseason interview, Rutherford also said he thought the that, by itself, is absurd. But it tends to go to the guy who has helped his addition of Brandon Tanev — another versatile and tenacious wing — team author the best story or overcome the most odds. Barry Trotz with would be good for Rust. Turns out that was probably right, too. the Islanders last year was a perfect example. “We always talk with our players about being a next-effort team,” Sullivan Sullivan has done that this season. Almost every forward on their roster said. “I think Rusty right now probably personifies next-effort play. He’s has been injured at one point or another, including Crosby, Evgeni Malkin like a dog on a bone on the puck. He’s relentless.” and Patric Hornqvist. They traded Phil Kessel. Oh, and Kris Letang is hurt, too. With some pretty solid scoring touch to boot.

Coming off that playoff loss to the Islanders, Sullivan has adjusted his 14. Funny quote from Rust after Saturday’s win: “[Coming back from system to apply more puck-pressure and change how the Penguins play. another deficit] shows a lot of character in this room, but we’re really not making it very easy on ourselves.” If there’s been a better coaching performance around the NHL thus far, I haven’t seen it. The Penguins spotted their opponent three-goal leads on Monday and Thursday of last week. On Saturday, it was a 2-0 hole they had to erase. 9. The power play should also be factored into Sullivan’s performance this season, but I’m not sure which way to take that. Not exactly a recipe for success, but give the Penguins credit: They’ve found ways to win. Obviously it has been terrible, but I’m also fairly confident Sullivan isn’t coaching them to over-pass, over-think or flat-out botch their breakouts. If “We have a great group,” Sullivan said. “We’ve got good people. They’re he is, they should definitely adjust that strategy. buying in right now, and they’re playing hard for one another.

As Sullivan said after Saturday’s game, it’s hardly been one thing. He “I give our leadership a lot of credit. The guys in the room, our veteran also admitted his guys are pressing. guys, they’re leading the way there. And then some of our younger [guys] are bringing a certain level of enthusiasm. Here’s a borderline insane suggestion: While Crosby is out, how about taking Alex Galchenyuk and putting him in the right circle, where he often “When you get that combination, for me, that’s a fun combination to be thrived with the Coyotes? around. And we’ve had that a lot of this year.”

What’s the worst that could happen, they don’t score? 15. The impact of Malkin is absolutely noticeable.

10. Rust had one of the more confounding starts to a season I had ever I know it’s hardly a surprise, but similar to Rust, what happened to Malkin seen in 2018-19, when he scored just one goal in his first 29 games, then last season was hard to describe; at times it was like he suddenly forgot exploded for a hat trick when the puck followed him all night during a 6-3 how to play hockey. loss at Chicago on Dec. 12, 2018. That’s in the past now. What a difference a year makes. I thought Sullivan captured this perfectly after Saturday’s game in talking In an interview before the season, Penguins general manager Jim about Malkin’s game, saying that they don’t want to stifle the star center’s Rutherford had some interesting things to say about Rust and others who playmaking ability, but they do need to compromise on some things. were a little too content with their success. “He’s buying in to how we’re trying to play,” Sullivan said. “He’s trying to “Not that he played poorly, but he’s an example of a guy who I don’t think play a more north-south game even though his instinct sometimes is to played at the level he was capable of a year ago,” Rutherford said. “That play east-west. just gets to contentment. But he’s not the only guy. I’m not trying to single him out or pick on him.” “We’re not trying to change Geno. That’s what makes him what he is. That’s what makes him unique. All we’re trying to do is we’re asking him Rutherford went on to say that, “Bryan Rust was our best player at camp to meet us halfway a little bit, and he’s done that. He’s done a great job this year.” since he’s been back.”

After Rust was forced to hit the pause button on that when he was injured 16. I thought Justin Schultz quietly bounced back very nicely during an blocking a shot in the final preseason game, we’re seeing what eventful game Saturday night. Rutherford — and others — saw all through training camp. His ill-timed pinch, with zero support, led to the Blackhawks’ first goal. A 11. With his third-period goal on Saturday, Rust extended his point streak Schultz shot attempt that never found the net inadvertently led to to a career-high six games, where he’s scored a total of five goals. All of Chicago’s second goal. those since he returned from injury on Oct. 26. But in overtime, Schultz made a terrific play to knock the puck away from “I guess things feel good,” Rust said with a smile. “I might know better Alex DeBrincat on a two-on-one. than anyone else that things can turn just as quickly for the bad. I just have to keep plugging away here.” It doesn’t show up on the scoresheet, but it was a huge play at the time.

I asked Rust to describe his approach coming into training camp and 17. Loved the pass by John Marino on Rust’s goal. Such poise for a what has helped him rediscover his scoring touch. young kid. Most players Marino’s age would’ve taken that shot, but he wisely took an extra second and found Rust all alone at the bottom of the “Just a fresh start,” Rust said. “Try to put everything in the past behind left circle for a beautiful back-door goal. me. Obviously I felt really good through training camp. Felt great to start the year. Obviously an unfortunate injury with five minutes left in the last “He’s just getting better with every game that he plays,” Sullivan said of preseason game. Kept me out of some games there. I just kept working Marino. “I think he’s getting more confident every game that he plays. hard off the ice and kept wanting to play well.” That was a real nice play he made. Just the puck poise, the patience, the vision to see Rusty on the back side. It was just a terrific play.” 12. It’s no secret that the Penguins love Rust. Sure, he’s been big in playoffs games. Has scored a bunch of huge goals for the Penguins over It’s pretty much impossible to think of the Penguins’ top-six on defense at the years. He has also played both wings well and has moved up and this point without Marino. He has absolutely earned a regular spot in the down the lineup with ease. Recently he’s been very good on Malkin’s lineup. wing. 18. It’s noticeable that Galchenyuk is lacking confidence. Three times in the first period Saturday, Galchenyuk had chances to put the Penguins ahead early. Three times, Galchenyuk could not beat Corey Crawford, including one nifty attempt between his legs.

Wrote about this some last week, but the Penguins need Galchenyuk to find it. It’s there, but he’s thinking entirely too much when the puck is on his stick.

19. Number of the week: Plus-12.

That’s McCann’s rating over the past five games, the best on the team. He also has two goals and six points during that stretch.

I’ll admit that I was a little surprised that Sullivan sent McCann out as his third shooter in the shootout, but McCann made his coach look smart by firing high over Crawford’s right shoulder for the shootout-deciding goal.

I’m not backing off my prediction that I think McCann will get 20 goals this season.

20. Non-hockey thought of the week:

I was saddened to learn last week the Wilson’s BBQ on the North Side burned down. Incredible place. My favorite to get BBQ in Pittsburgh. Their spicy sauce was nothing short of incredible.

I’m glad everyone is OK, but I’m also rooting for owner George Wilson Jr., hoping he’s able to build his business back up.

Pittsburgh is what it is because of awesome local businesses like Wilson’s and also Nancy B’s, where I went last week for my birthday. Another have-to-go recommendation.

Post Gazette LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161235 Pittsburgh Penguins Comparing their current run of injuries what they faced in October would not serve much purpose. But it is notable that these Penguins have played only two full periods with the roster composed the way coaches had anticipated before the preseason finale. Sidney Crosby mulls surgery for sports hernia that has bothered him all season It was in that finale that Rust went down with a hand injury. One week later, Malkin and Bjugstad had been injured in the second regular-season game.

By Rob Rossi Though all of it, Crosby was skating with an injury that is not uncommon for NHL players. In fact, defenseman Zach Trotman has twice required

surgery to repair a sports hernia — most recently in training camp. NEW YORK — Sidney Crosby is evaluating all treatment options for a Toward the end of his recovery, Trotman described the injury as “really sports hernia, multiple NHL and Penguins sources confirmed to The annoying” because it caused discomfort when sitting or rising from a Athletic. seated position. He said recovery from the out-patient procedure tests a Crosby aggravated the sports hernia Saturday night at PPG Paints player’s patience because “you feel like you’re ready to push it, but Arena, but sources say the Penguins captain has been dealing with the you’re really not.” injury since training camp. He opted against surgery when the Penguins There likely would be good news if Crosby requires surgery. lost multiple forwards, including Evgeni Malkin, to various injuries early in October. “Once you’re back on the ice, you don’t really think about it anymore,” Trotman said in September about the sports hernia. “You’re kind of Crosby is now weighing the opinions of medical personnel whether he thinking about it all the time when dealing with it, so that’s a big load off should undergo surgery, which would typically require a 4-6 week your mind.” recovery, the sources said. Going a month without Crosby would force all Penguins forwards to do Another option for Crosby would be a steroid injection and physical heavier lifting. They’ll look to Malkin, who has either scored or assisted therapy, which could possibly allow him to delay surgery until the on five of their past seven goals — including one from defenseman Justin offseason, the sources said. The potential issue with that option, though, Schultz against the Rangers. is that Crosby could again aggravate the sports hernia and ultimately need in-season surgery at a later date. McCann also scored in the loss. His goal came on the power play, which had been mired in an 0-for-28 funk. The Penguins had gone 11 games Crosby met with a specialist in Philadelphia then traveled to meet the without a power-play goal before McCann’s capped their rally from a 2-0 Penguins before their 3-2 overtime loss Tuesday to the New York deficit against New York. Rangers at Madison Square Garden. The Penguins plan to update Crosby’s status once he makes a decision regarding the surgery, the Were it not for stout early play by goalie Matt Murray, the Penguins sources said. probably would have been down by more than 2-0 at the end of the opening period. He faced seven shots in the first six minutes, including a The team would prefer any surgery be sooner rather than later so that point-blank attempt from Rangers winger Artemi Panarin. Crosby could return for at least the second half of the regular season, and likely before Christmas. He has been told that sports hernia surgery In the first 10 minutes, the Penguins were out-attempted by the Rangers, would likely sideline him only a month, the sources said. 15-3.

Crosby’s situation worsened Saturday night when his left skate blade From that point on, the Penguins attempted 25 more shots than the stuck into the ice after the leg knocked against the left leg of Chicago’s Rangers. Erik Gustafsson. Crosby wobbled backward awkwardly and also later had a shot from Gustafsson hit his right skate boot. Only two shots were attempted by Galchenyuk, who passed on at least twice that many. He is without a goal on the season and played only There is no injury to Crosby’s right foot, the sources said. 12:29 against the Rangers — 2:27 below his season average.

Crosby had not missed a game prior to sitting out against the Rangers. Acquired during the offseason in the trade that sent winger Phil Kessel to He had gone without a point in five of six games, including against Arizona, Galchenyuk appeared to be settling in well before his lower- Chicago on Saturday night, after scoring four goals and recording 10 body injury midway through training camp. Upon finally returning to the assists in the Penguins’ first 11 games. lineup Oct. 29, he played well despite not scoring.

During that run, the Penguins played eight consecutive games without Not so much against the Rangers. Malkin and wingers Bryan Rust and Alex Galchenyuk and forward Nick Bjugstad. Also, forward Jared McCann missed two games in that stretch. “I think he’s just got to be more focused playing the game the right way,” Sullivan said. “Competing on pucks, winning puck battles, being strong Ultimately, Malkin missed 11 games with a leg injury. In those games, on the wall — all the details of the game. For me, if a goal scorer Crosby averaged 21:04 of total ice time. He averaged 21:21 during a struggles, just based off my experience, part of it is taking the focus off stretch of seven games in 12 days from Oct. 12-23. scoring and just trying to focus on what you can control.”

Malkin did not return until a home game Nov. 2 against Edmonton. There is only so much any hockey player or team can control. Winger Patric Hornqvist was injured in that game and remains out with a lower-body injury. Though, occasionally a hockey team gets a hockey player like Crosby, who has needed surgery for nearly a couple months and only now might The Penguins were at 67 man-games lost to injury after their loss to the get around to having it. Rangers. And while he put off fixing a sports hernia, all Crosby did was darn near That total is somewhat misleading because it does not measure the carry the Penguins on his back. value of the players the Penguins have been without.

They faced the Rangers without Crosby, their captain, leading scorer and an MVP finalist last season; Hornqvist, their most physical forward, best The Athletic LOADED: 11.13.2019 net-front winger and one of five players with at least five goals this season; and Kris Letang, their top-pairing anchor, leading scorer among defensemen and overall leader in total ice time.

Letang is not with the club on this road trip, which continues with a couple of practices in Newark before a game against the New Jersey Devils on Friday night. He is out with a lower-body injury.

Hornqvist also is out with a lower-body injury, though he is on injured reserve and is out “longer term,” coach Mike Sullivan has said. 1161236 San Jose Sharks

Sharks top Edmonton Oilers as turnaround continues

Erik Karlsson has three assists as the San Jose Sharks extend winning streak to four games

By CURTIS PASHELKA | PUBLISHED: November 12, 2019 at 10:04 pm | UPDATED: November 12, 2019 at 10:35 PM

SAN JOSE — Sharks center Tomas Hertl attracted a crowd after he threw an accidental hip check on Connor McDavid in the second period of Tuesday night’s game with the Edmonton Oilers.

When he got out of the penalty box, he skated toward the front of the Oilers’ net and found himself all alone as he tapped in a pass from Erik Karlsson past goalie Mike Smith.

Hertl was one of six players to score at SAP Center for the Sharks, who continued their recent and somewhat remarkable metamorphosis with a 6-3 pasting of the Pacific Division-leading Oilers.

Brent Burns, Evander Kane and Patrick Marleau scored in the first period and Barclay Goodrow also scored in the second as the Sharks won their fourth straight to close out a six-game homestand with a 4-2 record.

Karlsson had three assists, Logan Couture added two and Martin Jones made 21 saves as the Sharks, who had a five-game losing streak from Oct 25 to Nov. 2, improved to 8-10-1 overall

With just under five minutes left in the second period, Hertl caught McDavid with a hip check in the neutral zone. Zack Kassian and Brandon Manning responded and went right at Hertl near the Sharks blue line.

Goodrow also joined in and broke off with Manning, as the two engaged in a spirited fight at center ice. Both received five minute majors, but Manning also received a game misconduct.

Goodrow assisted on Timo Meier’s third period goal, completing the Gordie Howe hat trick with a goal, an assist and a fight.

Hertl was given interference minor at the 15:27 mark of the second, After he came out of the penalty box, Karlsson, who had the puck inside the Oilers blue line, patiently waited for Hertl to get to the net. He then fed Hertl a perfect pass, as Hertl scored his eighth of the season at the 17:34 mark of the second.

After losses to Winnipeg and Vancouver to start their homestand, the Sharks responded with victories over Chicago, Minnesota and Nashville before they took on the Oilers.

The Sharks knew that if they were to have any success slowing down Edmonton, it first had to figure out a way to contain McDavid and Draisaitl, who had a combined 64 points coming into Tuesday.

The Sharks largely had Karlsson and Marc-Edouard Vlasic match up against the Oilers’ duo. McDavid didn’t have a shot on goal through two periods. Draisaitl finished with one goal and one assist.

San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161237 San Jose Sharks Dec. 23, 2016 1 1 23:47 Sharks W 3-2 (OT)

Jan. 10, 2017 0 0 24:05 Sharks W 5- Sharks talk Edmonton Oilers, and Connor McDavid’s sick goal vs. Ducks 3

Jan. 26, 2017 1 1 19:51 Oilers W 4-1

By CURTIS PASHELKA PUBLISHED: November 12, 2019 at 2:15 pm | March 30, 2017 1 1 21:03 Oilers W 3-2 UPDATED: November 12, 2019 at 3:47 PM April 6, 2017 1 1 24:11 Oilers W 4-2

Dec. 18, 2017 0 0 23:09 Oilers W 5-3 SAN JOSE — Timo Meier, Noah Gregor and a few other Sharks players Feb. 10, 2018 0 0 21:21 Sharks W 6-4 caught the highlights of the game Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid had against the Anaheim Ducks over the weekend. Feb. 27, 2018 1 0 21:57 Sharks W 5-2

McDavid had a hat trick Sunday, but one goal stood out above the rest. March 14, 2018 0 2 22:07 Sharks W 4-3 (OT) After the Oilers broke out of their zone, McDavid took a pass from forward Zack Kassian in the neutral zone and streaked into the Ducks Nov. 20, 2018 1 2 23:57 Oilers W 4-3 end. He easily bounced off attempted check from Jakob Silfverberg and went to one knee as he maintained possession of the puck. Dec. 29, 2018 2 0 19:54 Sharks W 7-4

McDavid then stick-handled in front of Ducks goalie John Gibson before Jan. 8, 2019 0 1 21:24 Sharks W 7- he tucked it in short side to give the Oilers a three-goal lead at the 7:14 2 mark of the third period. He completed the hat trick at the 13:25 mark of Feb. 9, 2019 0 1 20:49 Sharks W 5- the third as Edmonton cruised to a 6-2 win. 2

“On that play, he kind of showed everything he’s got. The speed, the April 4, 2019 0 1 25:05 Sharks W 3- patience, the quick hands, and the way he finished it, too,” Meier said of 2 McDavid. “It’s impressive to watch.” Career 8 12 22:07 (Sharks “His speed to just pull away from guys is unreal,” said Gregor, an are 10-6-0 vs. Oilers with McDavid in lineup) Edmonton native. “In tight to have three or four stick-handles and then roof it, it pretty crazy to see. But he does it every night, so you’re almost San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 11.13.2019 expecting it now.”

We have run out of words to describe how good Connor McDavid is. 勞 pic.twitter.com/xt1s0XjHH6

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) November 11, 2019

Job number one for the Sharks on Tuesday night is slowing down McDavid and linemate Leon Draisaitl, who had four assists Sunday. Draisaitl leads the NHL with 34 points and McDavid is tied for second with 30.

The Sharks’ ability to slow down McDavid in the past has been, at best, hit or miss. He has 20 points in 16 career games against San Jose, or an average of 1.25 points per game, the second-highest among all Pacific Division opponents. But when the Sharks hold the superstar to a point or less per game, they have a 7-2-0 record.

For complete Sharks coverage

The job of slowing down McDavid and Draisaitl will likely fall on defensemen Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Erik Karlsson, and also the line of Logan Couture, Evander Kane and Kevin Labanc.

“Two very dangerous players and you put them together, and they’re deadly,” Kane said. “We’re probably going to be seeing a lot them tonight, and we love that type of challenge. I know (Couture) does and (Labanc) is working his way into matchups like that now.

“You want to outperform their top guys as top guys.”

This season for the Sharks, it’ll be about more than slowing down two players. James Neal, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Kassian have combined for 40 points so far this season. The Oilers enter Tuesday with a 12-5-2 record, good enough for first place in the Pacific Division.

“They’ve been playing some really good hockey,” Kane said. “I know McDavid had a hat trick (Sunday) night, some highlight-reel goals. We’ve just got to get in his face.”

Sharks vs. Connor McDavid

Here’s how Connor McDavid has done against the Sharks the last four regular seasons.

Date Goals Assists TOI Result

March 8, 2016 0 0 20:44 Sharks W 3-0

March 24, 2016 0 1 20:27 Oilers W 6-3 1161238 San Jose Sharks The Sharks would love to see Dell play the way he did when he broke into the NHL, when from 2016-2018, he had a 26-11-5 record and a .920 save percentage in 49 games.

With Pete DeBoer losing patience, Sharks goalie tries to reset season If Dell can’t find his game, it would not be a surprise to see the Sharks seek another solution. Perhaps seeking a fresh start, Aaron Dell met with San Jose Sharks goalie consultant Adam Francilia last week They could turn to Josef Korenar, who has a .914 save percentage in seven games with the Barracuda but has no NHL experience. They could also seek a trade to solve the issue, like they did in 2016 when they dealt Al Stalock and acquired James Reimer. Or sign a free agent, although By CURTIS PASHELKA | PUBLISHED: November 12, 2019 at 12:21 pm the list of available goalies on the market right now is uninspiring, to say | UPDATED: November 12, 2019 at 7:03 PM the least.

The best option for the Sharks is to have Dell rediscover his game, and SAN JOSE — Sharks coach Pete DeBoer entered this season with the be the type of consistent backup goalie that DeBoer wants. hope that he could start Aaron Dell in net on a more consistent basis. Timo Meier plays hero in shootout as Sharks top Predators With the way Dell has struggled in recent appearances, that initial plan “It’s good for Deller. He needs to reset,” DeBoer said of meeting with has gone by the wayside. Francilia. “He’s got to be better for us.” Martin Jones will make his fourth consecutive start and his sixth in seven ▪ Mario Ferraro, injured Nov. 7 against Minnesota, missed his second games Tuesday when the Sharks host the Edmonton Oilers to close out straight game Tuesday, although DeBoer felt Ferraro was close to a six-game homestand. returning. Heed, who DeBoer felt had a strong game against the Jones backstopped the Sharks to wins over Chicago, Minnesota and Predators, remained in the lineup. Nashville and is now 5-7-1 this year with a .3.31 goals against average ▪ DeBoer said defenseman Dalton Prout will play with the Barracuda on and a .888 save percentage. Wednesday and if he remains healthy, would be an option to start playing Not necessarily sparkling numbers for Jones, but he has played better for the Sharks. Prout, out since Oct. 2 with a head injury, began a than Dell, who struggled mightily his last two appearances. conditioning assignment with the team on Sunday.

Dell allowed four goals on 22 shots and was pulled after two periods in ▪ Defenseman Jacob Middleton was reassigned to the Barracuda on the Sharks’ 5-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Oct. 27. On Nov. 2 Tuesday morning. against the Vancouver Canucks, Dell allowed five goals on 28 shots, San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 11.13.2019 including three in the first 20 minutes and 45 seconds.

Dell, in the second year of a two-year, $3.8 million contract he signed in Feb.2018, is carrying a 2-3-0 record, a 3.83 goals against average and a .878 save percentage — fourth-worst among all goalies who have played at least five games.

If you have not already, we strongly encourage you to sign up for a digital subscription, which gives you access to all content on the Mercury News and East Bay Times websites. With your support, we can continue bringing these stories — and much more — to your screens. Here’s where to sign up for the season pass: Mercury News, East Bay Times.

If Jones can remain solid — he stopped 24 of 25 shots, including all seven in a shootout in the Sharks’ 2-1 win over the Predators on Saturday — it might be his net for a while. The Sharks do not play back- to-back games until the end of the month when they are at home against Los Angeles on Nov. 29 and play in Arizona the following night.

Dell started 20 games last season, but it might be tough to get that number this year if his play doesn’t improve..

“He’s got to let me start him with his play,” DeBoer said of Dell. “It’s the same thing with (defenseman) Tim Heed. Coaches don’t make those decisions, players make those decisions on whether they’re going to play again or how quickly they’re going to get back in there.

“He’s got to make it easier for us to stick him in there.”

Perhaps with an eye on resetting his season, Dell was working with Sharks goalie consultant Adam Francilia last week. Sharks assistant Johan Hedberg is the goalie coach, but Francilia works more with netminders on strength, balance and stability.

“He’s kind of a goalie coach/strength coach hybrid,” Dell said.

“He’ll do a little bit when it comes to the position of your stance to better optimize your movement. He doesn’t really touch the specifics too much. It’s more about taking what you have and optimizing it more than changing your style.”

Dell began to work with Francilia this summer in Kelowna, British Columbia. He saw dividends in the preseason and also at the start of the season, when he picked up wins over Chicago and Montreal and had a more respectable .906 save percentage after four games.

“The stuff that’s he’s been showing me has really been beneficial,” Dell said. “I’m still kind of learning it. It’s not quite second nature yet, but when I do get there, I think it’ll be really helpful for me.” 1161239 San Jose Sharks

Sharks takeaways: What we learned in 6-3 win over Pacific-best Oilers

By Chelena Goldman November 12, 2019 10:26 PM

SAN JOSE -- If there was a high note for the Sharks to end their six- game homestand on, they hit it against the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday.

The Sharks offensively overpowered the Pacific Division-leading Oilers at SAP Center. Logan Couture and Erik Karlsson had multi-point nights and Barclay Goodrow registered a Gordie Howe hat trick as San Jose skated to a 6-3 victory.

Here are three takeaways from the Sharks' fourth-straight win.

Coming alive 5-on-5

As fans are probably all too aware, the Sharks had a ton of trouble scoring goals at even strength at the start of the homestand. But as they have improved over this six-game span, their 5-on-5 game has come alive. San Jose scored five even-strength goals in the first 40 minutes Tuesday, the team's most impressive 5-on-5 performance of the season.

To make things better, the Sharks got scoring from their bottom six in Tuesday's game courtesy of third-liner Patrick Marleau's first-period goal. If San Jose can start getting production from the fourth line as well, the Sharks' offense will be in really good shape going forward.

Marleau makes it 3-0 麗 pic.twitter.com/RZ0zHuaRSh

— Sharks on (@NBCSSharks) November 13, 2019

Playing more than 20 minutes

The Sharks went into the first intermission with a 3-0 lead but had a feisty Oilers' team pushing to get on the board. And as the Sharks learned from their back-and-forth 6-5 win over the Minnesota Wild last week, only playing well for the first 20 minutes isn't a good formula for winning games.

But the Sharks didn't sit back on their heels, instead scoring another goal 1:26 into the second period and then another before the intermission. Even though the Oilers scored three goals in the last two periods, San Jose had enough of a lead to keep the damage minimal.

Not too shabby for a team with one of the league's worst goal differentials at the start of the homestand.

The Sharks' best game to date?

Let's not get too far ahead of ourselves. The Sharks have certainly played much better over the last four games, but there are still a couple of areas they need to tighten up as they try to climb their way to a .500 record.

Although the Sharks built a big enough cushion, they did let up a bit Tuesday and allow two goals in the third period to let the Oilers make things interesting. As we discussed earlier, that's exactly how the Sharks almost gave up last week's game to the Wild.

While San Jose goaltender Martin Jones did a pretty solid job against Edmonton's offense, the defense in front of him needs to stay tight late into games so they don't end up blowing any late leads.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161240 San Jose Sharks

With blue line recovering, Sharks look to end homestand on high note

By Chelena Goldman November 12, 2019 11:24 AM

SAN JOSE -- The Sharks might be dealing with some bumps and bruises on their blue line. But after playing a good game last weekend against the Predators, head coach Peter DeBoer isn't too worried about penciling another defenseman into the lineup.

Tim Heed will file back into the lineup on Tuesday night against the Edmonton Oilers with Mario Ferraro and Dalton Prout not quite ready to return to game action. Heed has been in the dog house after a slow start to the season, getting glued to the bench for long stretches of games. But after playing what DeBoer called his "best game of the season" last Saturday against Nashville, having to put No. 72 back out there doesn't seem as daunting.

"Those decisions become easy when you play like that," DeBoer said.

The Swedish defenseman clocked 13:25 minutes of ice time on Saturday -- a stark contrast to how little he played in games over the Sharks' road trip at the end of October. Heed also tallied three shots-on-goal and a hit while not allowing any goals against the Sharks. DeBoer explained that, like other players who have underperformed, it's up to Heed to play better if he wants to stay in good standing.

"Coaches don't make those decisions, players make those decisions on whether they're going to play again or how quickly they're going to get back in there again," the head coach said.

It also helps that San Jose's blue line has found its groove since Radim Simek came back into the lineup last week, in part due to the fact that he eats up more minutes and takes some of the pressure off of heavy hitters Brent Burns and Erik Karlsson. If Heed plays another solid game right out of the gate on Tuesday, that gives DeBoer even more room to space out responsibilities among his d-corps.

It doesn't hurt either that San Jose's skaters are individually getting their game together. So even with Ferraro getting injured, the Sharks' defensive pairs haven't looked completely out of sync.

"For me, it's been about guys individually finding their own games," DeBoer continued. "I think that's what you're seeing."

As far as Ferraro is concerned, DeBoer said the rookie is "really close" to a return and is considered day-to-day. Prout will play one more game for the Barracuda as he rounds out his AHL conditioning stint.

Regardless of who is in the lineup, San Jose is looking to end their six- game homestand on a high note with the Edmonton Oilers playing a visit on Tuesday night. After a dismal first month of the season, DeBoer said he's finally seeing some positive patterns in his team's game., even if their record is still below .500.

"At least I'm seeing some consistency to our style of play and our identity, and that's stretching now probably to the beginning of the homestand," DeBoer said. "That's a good thing. I know our record doesn't show it like you wish it would, but I think that's coming. There are some good signs there."

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161241 San Jose Sharks

Sharks broadcaster Jamie Baker shares mental health journey in HEADSTRONG

By Marcus White November 12, 2019 7:00 AM

Jamie Baker struggled for a long time.

The Sharks broadcaster, who played 186 games for the franchise and clinched their 1994 Stanley Cup playoff upset of the Detroit Red Wings with the winning goal in Game 7, revealed to The Athletic's Katie Strang in March that he took multiple leaves of absence from the booth during the 2017-18 season, nearly ending his life as he struggled with his mental health. Baker previously had been diagnosed with depression and ADHD, but undergoing therapy and committing to lifestyle changes that have allowed him to, in his words, "re-train his brain."

"I'm re-training my brain so I can live in this with gratitude, with radical gratitude, radical acceptance, compassion, kindness," Baker said as part of NBC Sports' documentary "HEADSTRONG: Mental Health and Sports." "I don't have the impulsiveness I used to. This has all taken time, but this is worth it."

Every day, Baker writes in his gratitude journal, reads "The Daily Stoic" and practices yoga. He is on his third journal, having written about what he is grateful for every morning over the last year-and-a-half, and he says yoga now "is something I will do ... for the rest of my life."

Baker is embracing the opportunity to "re-train" his brain, and the commitment it requires as part of ending the stigmas surrounding it. He noted that awareness of caring for one's mental health isn't especially widespread.

"We train our bodies to either look good or to be these athletic specimens," Baker said. "We educate our brains to go out and make money and do all this. Nobody trains their brain to deal with everything that life is going to throw with you. Good, bad and everything else. It's not part of the curriculum."

It's part of Baker's curriculum now, and he says he is much better for it.

"I'm a happier version of me than I was for a long time," he said. " ... I recently wrote in [my gratitude journal], 'I like Jamie Baker.' That's good, because for a long time, I didn't. Not many people knew that."

Baker's "HEADSTRONG" story will air Tuesday night on Sharks Pregame Live and Sharks Postgame Live on NBC Sports California. You can watch all of the "HEADSTRONG: Mental Health and Sports" vignettes right here. The full documentary will be playing all month on NBC Sports Bay Area and NBC Sports California.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161242 San Jose Sharks sixth helper of the season, tracking down a loose puck in the corner and swinging it around to Heed.

“I thought they had a great game,” DeBoer said of the third line. “And I Joe Thornton knows he must manage his body ‘for the long haul’ thought they were good last game, too (Saturday against Nashville, a 2-1 Sharks shootout win). Tonight I thought (Thornton) and Patty Marleau were both moving real well, and Marcus is a nice complement to those guys.” By Kevin Kurz Nov 13, 2019 The Sharks have been searching in vain for consistent, effective line

combinations for much of the season, as they entered Tuesday night as Last Wednesday, Nov. 6, the Sharks held a full-team practice after a win the worst five-on-five team in the NHL. Against the Oilers, they got the night before over Chicago. contributions from up and down the lineup, as 13 players registered at least one point. All nine goals scored in the game came at five-on-five, so Well, almost the full team. Peter DeBoer informed Joe Thornton he the Sharks ended up at a +3 on the night in that regard. wasn’t invited onto the ice that day, as the coach preferred the 40-year- old center get some rest ahead of a game the next night against It remains to be seen whether the Sharks have the right personnel in the Minnesota. dressing room to score goals on a consistent basis, but the third line with Thornton in the middle seems to be trending in the right direction, and In NHL parlance, that’s commonly known as a maintenance day. that would greatly help their cause. Tuesday was the fourth straight game Thornton had another word for it. they’ve played together.

“Spa day today,” he said. One complication is that Marleau and Sorensen have little experience playing on the right side. Marleau started there against the Blackhawks Spa day? and Wild earlier in the homestand, but in the last two games, it’s been “Little workout, little shower, little massage,” Thornton said. “Treat the Sorensen as the right wing. body.” Both left-handed shots, “they’re trying to work out who’s more Sounds like there are worse ways to spend one’s morning. comfortable on the right,” DeBoer said.

“Very true,” Thornton said. Marleau said: “We’re filling in for each other, just kind of read and reacting to each other. … The more we play together, the better I think DeBoer and Thornton understand how important it is for the Sharks to we can get.” manage Thornton’s workload throughout the day-to-day grind of the 82- game regular season. While the future Hall of Famer posted 51 points in There were many other contributors in the win against the Oilers. Tomas 73 games last season, he faded dramatically in the playoffs with just four Hertl, along with linemates Kane and Barclay Goodrow, did an points in the final 12 games. While the Sharks’ third line with Thornton, outstanding job in helping to keep Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl Kevin Labanc and Marcus Sorensen was their most consistent trio for from having too much of an impact. McDavid had just one assist, while much of the second half of the 2018-19 season, the team needed more Draisaitl, the NHL’s leading scorer, tallied a goal that deflected in off of from them in series against the Avalanche and Blues, especially. Burns, and he assisted on Zack Kassian’s goal midway through the third period when the game was pretty much decided. “When he’s fresh and has energy, he looks great. When he doesn’t, he doesn’t,” DeBoer said about Thornton last week. “At 40, you need a little On the blue line, Erik Karlsson posted three assists and a +3 rating, his bit more time than you did at 35, or even 37, in order to recharge and first three-point night of the season. refill the tank. I think he gets that.” “We’ve been putting a lot of effort into our team game, and it’s important During training camp, DeBoer and Thornton left the door open for the you see results from that,” DeBoer said. “I think there’s been a big effort center to take a few games off this season if they felt it would benefit him from the group to tighten up defensively, and usually when that happens, and the team in the long run. That hasn’t happened yet, as Thornton has the goals go in. It’s nice to get rewarded for that kind of work, though, played in each of the Sharks’ first 19 games, including three pairs of and the goals did go in tonight.” back-to-backs. DeBoer has mentioned that the Sharks’ forward depth just Suddenly, after a miserable start, the Sharks (8-10-1) have a real path in hasn’t allowed them the opportunity to rest the big fella. front of them to getting their record back to .500. They visit Anaheim on Thornton said there still might be a situation this season when he doesn’t Thursday and return to San Jose on Saturday to host Detroit. Neither the play despite being healthy. Ducks nor the Red Wings are likely to be in the playoff race this season.

“I might. I’m going to take some days to relax this year and get some On a few different occasions during the homestand, some players have massages in and things like that and take care of my body for the long mentioned getting back to .500 as the first step in erasing their haul,” Thornton said Monday. frightening October.

“I’m looking at the big picture … but I feel good right now. I like the load “For sure. If you’re under (.500), you’re not in the playoffs,” Hertl said. that I’m getting right now, and I think as the season goes on, I’ll probably “Last four games we actually look like (the) Sharks, a really good hockey get a little bit more (ice time). I like the management we’re doing right team.” now.” Good teams take advantage of their home games. The Sharks seemed Thornton did get a bigger workload on Tuesday against Edmonton, to get progressively better, for the most part, during the six-game skating a season-high 16 minutes and 55 seconds. The game gave homestand after they played nine of their first 13 on the road and hit rock Thornton and his line, with Sorensen and Patrick Marleau, a chance to bottom in Ottawa and Boston in the final two before returning to SAP take advantage of lesser matchups against an Oilers bottom-six group Center. that won’t scare anyone. “We were in a tough spot. I think we’re comfortable in this arena,” They did just that and set the tone for the evening, helping to generate a Karlsson said. “We enjoy playing here, and that’s probably a little bit of pair of goals in jumping out to a 3-0 first-period lead in what ended up as what we needed to feel at home a bit, and just kind of reset. I think we a fairly painless 6-3 Sharks win, their fourth straight. did a good job at that. We acknowledged the things we needed to work on, and we said enough is enough. Right now we’re working for each On the first goal, Thornton rimmed a puck to the point, and Radim Simek other, we’re happy for each other and everybody is contributing, whether quickly handed it off to Sorensen in the high slot. Sorensen dished it to it’s with the puck or without the puck.” Burns, who buzzed a wrist shot past Mike Smith to open the scoring at 4:01. That includes Thornton, who remains such an important piece.

Evander Kane made it 2-0 about three minutes later on a rebound, and “I don’t want any setbacks,” Thornton said. “I want to keep going forward then Marleau’s redirection of a Tim Heed shot at 11:12 put the Sharks and feeling good and getting stronger throughout the year.” ahead by three. Thornton registered the secondary assist on the goal, his The Athletic LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161243 St Louis Blues … He’s awesome inside the room too, once he gets comfortable. He’s a great voice and says the right things at the right times and helps us out that way being more vocal, especially with guys like Steener going down. It’s a good opportunity here and I hope everything goes well and he can Blues considering veteran options before turning to prospects join our club.”

“I thought he skated well (Monday),” coach Craig Berube said. “He worked hard. He’s a hard-nosed player. He gets on pucks, goes to the By Tom Timmermann St. Louis Post-Dispatch net, he does things like that. He bangs bodies. That’s the kind of player he is. He looks fine to me out there.”

The NHL is, increasingly, a young man’s league, as evidenced by the Brouwer, 34, played with the Blues in the 2015-16, highlighted by him Blues not re-signing 31-year-old Pat Maroon after last season and by scoring what had been, until Maroon’s goal vs. Dallas, possibly the Jamie McGinn, also 31 and a veteran of 617 NHL games with six teams, biggest goal in Blues history: a third-period game-winner in Game 7 not having a job at the start of this season. against Chicago in the first round of the playoffs. The Blues let him leave as a free agent after that season and he made stops in Calgary and But there comes a point where a team can be too young, and that’s Florida. Last season, he had 12 goals and nine assists in 75 games for where the Blues find themselves at the moment. That’s why the team has the Panthers. He has been skating with a junior team in Calgary, where brought in McGinn and fan favorite , who’s 34 and also out he lives. of work, for tryouts. McGinn skated with the team in practice on Monday at Centene Community Ice Center and Brouwer will join the team for “The way we’re built right now, we have certain young guys inserted in practice on Tuesday. Both are with the Blues on professional tryout our lineup, which is a good thing, and they’re doing very well,” Berube offers, which essentially gives the team 10 days to decide whether to said. “Guys down there (in San Antonio), they’re playing well down there sign the players to contracts. and I think bringing in a couple veteran players that have played in the league for some time now and had success already, know how to play, is The Blues, in the span of about two weeks, have lost two of their more not a bad thing.” experienced forwards. Vladimir Tarasenko isn’t expected back until April after shoulder surgery and Alexander Steen is out for a month with a high McGinn is hoping that both he and Brouwer can make it. ankle sprain. General manager Doug Armstrong said the team does have “He’s a good hockey player, he’s a good guy, a good locker room guy,” players at their San Antonio farm team who are doing well, but they’re all he said. “We talked yesterday and we both want to stick around so we’re plagued by the same problem: They would make the team even younger. not going to treat it like we’re trying to kick each other out. We’re going to “If you lose a Steen and a Tarasenko and you put in guys with no help each other and hopefully we can both bring something to the team.” experience, there’s a difference,” Armstrong said Monday. “It’s a man’s St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 11.13.2019 league. We want to respect the league and see if there’s veteran players who can help us. If they can’t and if the young guys are better, they’re better. But I’ve seen teams that have gone totally young and there’s growing pains with that and I think we’ve stated all along that we want to try and be competitive with the upper echelon teams and most of those teams are experienced also.

“In our game in Calgary, I think we had eight players on our roster with less than 200 NHL games. We played five guys with less than 100 at the start of the season. It’s an experienced league and we want to see if there were any experienced players that can help us. ... We don’t want to get in a situation where we have 11 or 12 players without experience. There’s no guarantees for Jamie or for Troy, but we’re going to bring them in and take a look at them.”

The Blues will go into their game with Arizona on Tuesday with just 12 forwards on their roster – there are no plans to call anyone up and if something happens in the morning they’ll play seven defensemen – and the team has two open roster spots. So while Jordan Kyrou and Klim Kostin, the two hottest commodities at San Antonio, are both very much in the Blues’ plans, and another forward, Nathan Walker, is doing well, they aren’t part of the team’s plans at this moment. If neither McGinn nor Brouwer works out, the team can part company with them and look at the prospects.

“I think they’re competing with themselves, or with everyone, to see where they fit on an NHL roster,” he said. “Right now, we have 12 healthy guys that are here. We’ll see where they fit in. It’s not a competition for one job. It could be zero jobs. We’ll see how they play or it could be two.”

McGinn wasn’t in an NHL training camp this season and played two games with the AHL’s , but said “it didn’t work out there and I had the itch to play.” He played last season in Florida, as did Brouwer. It was his most recent stop in an 11-year career that started in San Jose and went to Colorado, Buffalo, Anaheim and Arizona before Florida. (He had four goals and three assists in 19 games last season.) At two of those stops, Colorado and Buffalo, he was a teammate of Ryan O’Reilly and the two were traded together to Buffalo in the summer of 2015. The two have remained close; O’Reilly was in McGinn’s wedding over the summer.

“At 31 years old, I’m considered an old guy in this league,” said McGinn, who had been keeping in shape in Toronto. “That’s pretty crazy to think, but I still love the game of hockey, still want to play and think I can bring an element to any team and I want do that right now.”

“I think he fits in well with our style,” O’Reilly said. “He’s a guy that can play on any line, he’s physical, he goes to the net, he makes little plays. 1161244 St Louis Blues

Blues prospects Kyrou, Kostin playing well while waiting game continues

By Tom Timmermann St. Louis Post-Dispatch

The reviews have been favorable on Jordan Kyrou and Klim Kostin, the team’s two hottest prospects in San Antonio. It’s the timing that’s not right.

Kyrou, coming back from offseason surgery for a kneecap injury, has two goals and two assists in three games. Kostin has three goals and five assists in 13 games. Also in San Antonio, Nathan Walker has eight goals and six assists in 13 games and Austin Poganski has two goals and eight assists in 13 games.

General manager Doug Armstrong likes both Kyrou and Kostin but also likes them getting more experience in the minors, unless they’re absolutely needed in St. Louis.

“I was in San Antonio last weekend and saw him play his first game,” Armstrong said of Kyrou. “I watched the game last night on television when I got home. He’s playing good, he’s getting scoring opportunities, he’s chipping off some of the rust that’s been building up over the last four or five months. He’s showing very well.”

As for Kostin, he said, “Klim’s an interesting guy because in reality he should have played his eighth American League hockey game the other day, but he went there as an 18- and 19-year-old. I think the process in the public’s eye is that he’s been down there a long time. He’s just a kid. He’s a year behind where Kyrou is. We’re excited. He would like to get right into the sprint and we’re trying to slow him down a little bit. He scored the other day. He looks like he’s coming along and certainly someone who’s on our radar screen when we need a player.”

THE NEW KID

Jacob de la Rose, acquired in the Robby Fabbri trade, skated for the first time with the Blues in St. Louis on Monday. He’s had one game with the team, playing 10:18 without a shot attempt, along with two hits.

“It was all right,” de la Rose said. “It’s always tough to get used to a new system but I feel it’s pretty simple. You’ve just got to skate a lot and work hard here, be hard on the forecheck. It’s a big team and I’m a big guy, too. I think my style should fit in here.”

“It’s kind of what we thought,” coach Craig Berube said. “He’s a good positional player, big guy, strong. He has tools. I’d like to see him elevate those tools a little bit more and become more of a threat and hopefully he can get that in time, but right now, I thought he played a fine game. He worked hard, he was in position, he took the body, he killed some penalties. Just what we thought.”

BLUENOTES

Armstrong said both Alexander Steen (high ankle sprain) and Vladimir Tarasenko (shoulder) were “doing well” in their injury recoveries. …

Alex Pietrangelo has assists on four of the Blues’ five overtime goals this season – all but Ryan O’Reilly’s vs. Minnesota – to lead the league in overtime points. …

The 2015 trade that moved Ryan O’Reilly and current Blues tryout candidate Jamie McGinn from Colorado to Buffalo sent Nikita Zadorov, , J.T. Compher and a second-round pick (which was later traded to San Jose and became Jeremy Roy) the other way. “I was that extra piece that no one knew about,” McGinn said. McGinn and O’Reilly’s stalls are, for the time being, next to each other at Centene. “I asked if he had something to do with it and he said it was an open stall. It happened to just work out that way,” McGinn said.

St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161245 St Louis Blues Pause here and remember that Perron, who missed two months of last season due to a concussion, has played 11 fewer games than Tarasenko during this stretch. On this list of 434 NHL players who have played 75- plus games since the start of last season, Perron ranks last in games Perron's third reunion with Blues has been even better than advertised played and 326nd in ice time. Keep that in mind while you cruise some of these averages.

GOALS PER GAME: Ben Frederickson Tarasenko, 0.42, tied for 29th

Perron, 0.41, 32nd When Blues star forward Vladimir Tarasenko went down with a dislocated shoulder more than two weeks ago, we wondered how the POINTS PER GAME: team would come together — or fall apart — as it searched for answers. Tarasenko, 0.91, 47th The effort has been impressive. Perron, 0.85, 54th The Blues won the game Tarasenko exited. They have since won seven of the eight games that followed, claiming five in white-knuckle overtimes. SHOOTING PERCENTAGE: Their seven-game winning streak has carved out a five-point lead on the Perron, 19.4 percent, fourth Central Division. Tarasenko, 12 percent, 135th Between the moment Tarasenko was shut down and Monday morning, three Blues have produced a points-per-game average that is among the Perron is not taking over for Tarasenko. You don't simply replace No. 91 20-best in the NHL. This is how it must be done. Every player has to dig by asking one player to be a hero. But perhaps the absence of a little deeper, give a little more. Tarasenko has opened some eyes to how well Perron has played lately, and, really, since he rejoined the Blues. One is Ryan O’Reilly (four goals, eight assists, 1.33 points per game over the last nine games). St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 11.13.2019 Another is Alex Pietrangelo (three goals, eight assists and 1.22 points per game over the last nine games).

And the third is David Perron, who has matched Pietrangelo in goals and assists since the Tarasenko injury.

Perron, the 31-year-old veteran playing in his 13th season, made headlines this weekend when the one-timer he flashed by Calgary’s David Rittich made Perron the first player in NHL history to score three overtime goals before his team’s 20th game.

That accomplishment seemed like a good reason to run the numbers for a fresh perspective on the forward’s latest stint with the team, a run that includes a Stanley Cup championship and the securing of a crucial role.

Perron has now played in 75 regular-season games since his third reunion with the Blues before the start of last season. He is healthy. He is confident. He has developed an on-ice chemistry with O'Reilly that is fun to watch — unless you are the team trying to stop it.

I was interested in how Perron's scoring stacked up against Tarasenko's and the rest of the league since his latest return to St. Louis. Here's what I found after looking up how his numbers compare to Tarasenko's and the 432 other NHL players who have played in 75-plus games since the start of last season. You might be surprised.

GOALS:

Tarasenko, 36 goals, tied for 38th out of 434 NHL players with 75-plus games since 2018-19

Perron, 31 goals, tied for 67th

EEVEN-STRENGTH GOALS:

Tarasenko, 23, tied for 64th

Perron, 21, tied for 83rd

POWER-PLAY GOALS:

Tarasenko, 13, tied for 16th

Perron, 10, tied for 38th

GAME-WINNING GOALS:

Perron, 6, tied for 33rd

Tarasenko, 5, tied for 58th

OVERTIME GOALS:

Perron, 3, tied for sixth

Tarasenko, 1, tied for 47th 1161246 St Louis Blues

Preview: Blues vs. Arizona

By Jim Thomas St. Louis Post-Dispatch

BLUES vs. COYOTES

When, where: 7 p.m. Tuesday, Enterprise Center

TV, radio: FSM, WXOS (101.1 FM)

About the Coyotes:

Arizona comes to St. Louis tired but brimming with confidence after defeating Washington — the NHL’s best team through the first quarter of the season — 4-3 in a shootout Monday in the nation’s capital. With the victory, Arizona (10-6-2) moved into third place in the Pacific Division with 22 points. The Coyotes have been better on the road than at home, with a 6-2-2 record away from Gila River Arena.

Antti Raanta got the start in goal against the Capitals, meaning Darcy Kuemper is the likely starter against St. Louis. Kuemper has played better than his 7-5 record would indicate, with a 2.00 goals against average and a .930 save percentage.

The Blues have had troubles recently against Arizona, going 1-2 in the season series both last season and in 2017-18. Their only win last season was 4-0 on Valentine’s Day — the eighth win during their franchise-record 11-game winning streak.

St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161247 St Louis Blues McGinn has a good buddy on the team: he was with Colorado with Ryan O'Reilly, and was part of the trade that sent O'Reilly to Buffalo. So they played together for four seasons with the Avalanche and one with the Sabres. And they stayed close, with O'Reilly being a groomsman in Blues bring in veterans McGinn, Brouwer for tryouts McGinn's wedding over the summer. O'Reilly did some lobbying on McGinn's behalf, and McGinn's stall in the dressing room is next to

O'Reilly's. By Tom Timmermann St. Louis Post-Dispatch Nov 11, 2019 St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 11.13.2019

Looking for some experience to bolster a team down two veterans to injuries, Blues general manager Doug Armstrong has brought in forwards Troy Brouwer and Jamie McGinn for tryouts.

While the Blues have players at San Antonio ready for a callup, such as Klim Kostin and Nathan Walker and, in a little while when he's game- ready, Jordan Kyrou, Armstrong is looking for more of a veteran presence. The team's lineup on Saturday in Calgary included Sammy Blais, Zach Sanford, Robert Thomas and Mackenzie MacEachern, all youngsters. Adding one of the San Antonio players would mean almost half of the forward unit had been in the league only a few years.

"The thought process going into that," Armstrong said, "(is) we're down to 12 healthy forwards right now. In our game in Calgary, I think we had eight players on our roster with less than 200 NHL games. We started five guys with less than 100 at the start of the season. It's an experienced league and we want to make sure ... to see if there were any experienced players that can help us. I don't know where they're going to be at. McGinn had skated in Carolina, played a couple games in the American league. Troy Brouwer has been skating with the junior team in Calgary. We'll get those guys a look.

"With our depth in the American Hockey League, we're really excited with how Walker's playing and Kostin and Kyrou, but you look at their experience, it's not there. We don't want to get in a situation where we have 11 or 12 players without experience. There's no guarantees for Jamie or for Troy but we're going to bring them in and take a look at them."

McGinn skated with the team in practice on Monday and Brouwer will join the team on Tuesday. Armstrong said both players would travel with the team to Columbus on Friday to continue getting in work. He said they could have done it last week -- they were thinking about it before Steen got hurt -- but they didn't want to be taking the players through Western Canada.

Under the PTO provisions, the players can be with the team for 10 days. They don't get paid, though the team covers their expenses. The players can stay on after 10 days, but on their own dime, though by that time, teams have generally made up their minds on what they're going to do.

Armstrong said that Brouwer and McGinn aren't competing with each other for a job. Right now, the Blues have two open spots on their roster and they will go into Tuesday's game with Arizona with just 12 forwards on their roster. No callups from San Antonio are planned.

"I think they're competing with themselves, or with everyone, to see where they fit on an NHL roster," Armstrong said. "Right now, we have 12 healthy guys that are here. We'll see where they fit in. It's not competition for one job. It could be zero jobs. We'll see how they play or it could be two."

Blues fans will remember Brouwer, 34, from the 2015-16 season season he spent with the club, helping the Blues advance to the Western Conference Finals. Last season, the 6-foot-3, 213-pound forward dressed in 75 regular-season games with the Florida Panthers, posting 21 points (12 goals, nine assists) and 47 penalty minutes.

Brouwer has played 13 seasons in the NHL, racking up 362 points (181 goals, 181 assists) and 588 penalty minutes in 838 career regular- season games. He has also appeared in 102 career postseason games and captured the 2010 Stanley Cup Championship with the Chicago Blackhawks.

McGinn, 31, was originally drafted by the San Jose Sharks in the second round of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. This season, the 6-foot-1, 205-pound forward has appeared in two games with the American Hockey League’s (AHL) Charlotte Checkers. McGinn has played for six teams in his 11 seasons, tallying 220 points (117 goals, 103 assists) and 267 penalty minutes in 617 career regular-season games. 1161248 St Louis Blues Berube said it would be a game-time decision on whether he's in. He said it would be with someone on the defensive corps, and since Carl Gunnarsson and Vince Dunn were on the ice for the skate, it would point to Alex Pietrangelo, Colton Parayko, Jay Bouwmeester or Justin Faulk Tarasenko: If you don't want injuries, don't play the sport being up in the air. All four of them practiced on Monday. If someone is sick, it doesn't appear to be Pietrangelo, who was walking around inside

the dressing room area. By Tom Timmermann St. Louis Post-Dispatch Absent further information on that, these are the lines and defensive pairings the team used Monday.

Vladimir Tarasenko is out until April with a dislocated shoulder and that BLUES has changed the makeup of the Blues lineup and the feeling in the Forwards: Tarasenko household has as well. All of a sudden, dad is around an awful lot. Schwartz-Schenn-Thomas

“Obviously they know I'm hurt, but they are pretty excited I'm home,” he Sanford-O'Reilly-Perron said Tuesday. “I never spend this much time during the season. There is some little positives they can be excited for. I just try to spend some time de la Rose-Bozak-Blais with them, especially with their hockey season going, the older one, and MacEachern-Barbashev-Sundqvist middle one starting skating. That's some pretty emotional moments." Defensemen: And the key lesson he's giving them? Dunn-Pietrangelo “I try to coach them how to stay away from injuries,” he said. “You need to find positive ways from this situation. This is one of the positives. You Bouwmeester-Parayko can spend some time with the family, some extra time.” Gunnarsson-Faulk Tarasenko was injured on Oct. 24, in the game with Los Angeles, and since then the Blues have gone 7-1, losing only at Boston. He's had his Goalie: surgery and has begun his rehab program on the long road back to Binnington playing. Coyotes projected lineup: “I feel good,” he said. “Rehab kind of slow, but it's what I can do at that point. Hopefully it can go faster than we predict and everything will be Christian Dvorak -- Nick Schmaltz -- Phil Kessel fine. … It's already a couple weeks by, so all the emotions kind of calmed down. It's already happened so I need to focus on the rehab and try to Clayton Keller -- Derek Stepan -- Conor Garland get stronger and get back. Michael Grabner -- Brad Richardson -- Vinnie Hinostroza

"We have guys that work with me. My few previous injuries, I was lucky -- Carl Soderberg -- Christian Fischer enough to come back earlier, so that means they do really good job. I just trust it work and follow the plan, so hopefully it will heal faster and I have Oliver Ekman-Larsson -- Jason Demers a chance to come back." Jakob Chychrun -- Alex Goligoski Tarasenko didn't get into the specifics of his injury, other than to say it's different from the one that came in the final game of the 2017-18 season Aaron Ness -- Jordan Oesterle and led to offseason surgery. And that's one of the reasons, he said, he's Goalies: not worried about having two surgeries on the same shoulder. Darcy Kuemper “It's hockey game,” he said. “If you don't want to get injuries, don't play this sport. Sometimes it happens. There's no point to think about it. You Antti Raanta can think what you may be not do to stay away from this, but sometimes Scratched: Barrett Hayton, Ilya Lyubushkin it's just bad luck and just need to go through this one. Injured: Niklas Hjalmarsson (lower body) “I don't really worry about how it happened. It's already there. I just battle for a puck and it's just bad luck.” St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 11.13.2019 The Blues haven't been around much since his injury, holding only a few practices, and with the team just back from a 10-day trip, he hasn't had much time with the team.

“Of course there's a frustration of not playing,” he said. “It's hard to watch hockey games and everything. But you know, when team is doing pretty well, guys are winning games, you can show it in the locker room. I'm pretty excited for the team and the way they are doing. Just stay positive, help as much as I can being positive, get some talking with the guys and just being part of the team."

“Vladi's positive all the time in my opinion, on a day-to-day basis, even when he's not injured,” coach Craig Berube said. “He's around. He's had them before and he understands the situation. A lot of work ahead of him. He's just got to take it day by day and not get too far ahead of himself. When he gets back, he gets back.”

BROUWER'S BACK

Troy Brouwer was back on the ice for the morning skate, wearing his old No. 36. He and Jamie McGinn are in camp on tryouts as the Blues consider adding veterans before they consider calling up kids from San Antonio.

LINES

The Blues had an optional morning skate, so the lines are based off yesterday's practice. Robert Bortuzzo was off the ice early and Craig 1161249 St Louis Blues “The friendships, the camaraderie, the competition, that drive, the competitiveness that you want to keep coming back and coming back and trying to win,” he said. “I was lucky enough to win my second full year in the league and I've been chasing it again ever since. I was talking Love of the game drives Brouwer to another chance with the Blues to these guys last year, you can only describe it so much and then when your friends win it, you're just as happy for those guys as when you won

it and now we can share that experience together and they know what I By Tom Timmermann St. Louis Post-Dispatch was talking about a few years ago. Steener kind of said it to me as well, You're right, you can kind of describe it but the feeling that you have, you want everyone of your friends and everyone one of the guys you play with and play hard with to win that Cup and for me, that's something I still Troy Brouwer was in training camp with Florida this season on a tryout keep chasing, even now.” basis but didn't make the team. The intervening six weeks, as he's hoped another offer would come his way, reminded him how much he loved the So there he was, back in a Blues dressing that has been remodeled game and how much he still wanted to play. since he was there last – “It was pretty good when I was here but now I'd say it's close to tops in the league,” he said – and with his old number, “This year, it really makes you think about how much you love the game,” 36, waiting for him. No one has worn since Brouwer was last here. Brouwer said Tuesday after his first skate with the Blues as he begins another tryout. “That month and a half there, I was at home, still training “I don't think it's the most desirable number for guys when they come in,” hard trying to get back in it because you miss it and you love it so much. Brouwer said. “They saved it for me. (Equipment manager) Joel The atmosphere, I've only been in here for a morning and I don't want to (Farnsworth) didn't even ask if I wanted it. He just gave it to me and I go already. It gives you that drive and that perspective. Careers are short couldn't be happier.” and I've been really lucky to have a fairly long one, all things considering, but I don't want it to be over and I don't think I'm a player that can't play in St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 11.13.2019 this league and that's why I'm here trying to prove myself again.”

Brouwer and Jamie McGinn are in camp with the Blues for 10-day tryouts (McGinn's started on Monday) as the Blues look at some veteran players before turning to the youth that's waiting in San Antonio. Brouwer played with the Blues in the 2015-16 season that ended in the Western Conference finals. He then signed with Calgary as a free agent, but they bought him out halfway through a four-year deal and he played last season in Florida, finishing with 12 goals and nine assists in 75 games. They didn't re-sign him after the season but invited him back to camp on a PTO, but he didn't make the team.

Now he tries again. He felt he had a good camp in Florida.

“When I was released from Florida, they told me I did everything I needed to do to be on the team,” he said. “I deserved to be there but I knew going into camp that they were really tight on the cap and they had a pretty full roster. It was pretty crowded. But I wanted to go to a camp where I knew that I'd be comfortable there, obviously knowing the guys, playing the season there before, so I thought that would give me a good advantage and I didn't have to worry about the outside intangibles about learning the trainers' names and that kind of stuff and learning the city. The reason for me going to Florida in camp was the comfort factor of going in and being able to just play hockey and trying to make the club that way. It wasn't to be and now I'm happy to be here in St. Louis.”

It was that familiarity that led him back. When the Blues were in Calgary last week, he met some former teammates for dinner on Thursday, met Jaden Schwartz for lunch on Friday and then planned to see the others on Saturday at the morning skate. While he was there, he saw general manager Doug Armstrong and told him he was still looking for a job. He thinks that familiarity will also help.

"I feel like there's a lot of people that are here that know the player that I am," Brouwer said. "I won't even say the player that I was, the player that I am. I didn't have the greatest years in Calgary but I still feel like I'm a phenomenal player and I had a good season last year and I'm just looking to prove that again right now."

Brouwer, whose goal in the third period of Game 7 of the Blues' series with Chicago his one season here, still stands as one of the most memorable moments in Blues' history, non-Stanley Cup division, won a Stanley Cup with Chicago in 2010 and still dreams of another.

“Because I want to do it again and I know they think they can do it again and believe in here that they can do it again and I want to be part of that,” he said. “It's so hard to do it year in and year out but the team Doug has built here, it's a team that can be competitive for years. You don't ever want to take a step back. They're having a great start to this season, which is always tough to do after you win because it's a long short summer and they put themselves in a good situation right now and I'm just hoping I can help out with little things here and there and do whatever's needed of me.”

At 34, Brouwer would be one of the oldest members of the team, behind only Jay Bouwmeester and Alexander Steen. He doesn't want to hang up his jersey. 1161250 Tampa Bay Lightning

A visit to the Stockholm City Library turns into a proposal

Stockholm City Library has a beautiful round hall that turned out to be the perfect place to get engaged

By Diana C. Nearhos

STOCKHOLM — The Lightning are safely back Stateside, but I stuck around another day. All the better to explore without a practice or game to schedule around.

I thought I’d be blogging about the beautiful round hall at the Stockholm City Library today. My boyfriend, Stephen Mann, who met me here for the latter part of the trip, had other plans.

Libraries and bookstores are must-sees in any city for me. I am a book nerd (reading nearly 200 books a year) and libraries and bookstores often depict the character of a city. Stockholm has a beautiful library with a three-story round hall lined with shelves.

MORE LIGHTNING: Impressions of Ericsson Globe and a challenge for the NHL's challenge system in Slap shots

Stephen asked my friend Therése Åström (who I met through a book community within Instagram) to take a photo of us on the balcony from across the hall. After we posed for a few shots, he got down on one knee, presenting me with the best souvenir from our trip. We’ve dated for six years and bought a house, but I didn’t see this timing coming. I got over my shock and said yes!

After a week of hockey and beautiful sights, my best part of the Lightning’s trip to Sweden actually came from Florida.

As for the Stockholms Stadsbibliotek, it isn’t the grandest library — there are many old libraries across Europe and even the States that impress on a larger scale — but it’s unique.

You climb two flights of stairs to walk around the circumference of the hall, scanning the shelves. There are a lot of familiar English books (the language is taught from a young age in Sweden) in with the Swedish.

Some things are true in any country. There was a young boy running around calling out loudly “Var tysta allihop" (everyone be quiet) while the woman minding him tried to shush him.

If you appreciate libraries and books, this is definitely worth checking out on your next trip to Stockholm.

What I ate

Confession time: I mostly ordered a prinsesstårta because I saw it on one of The Great British Baking Show’s technical challenges. I’m so glad I did.

This traditional princess cake features alternating layers of sponge cake, jam, pastry cream, stiff whipped cream and covered in green marzipan. It might be Stephen’s new favorite cake.

With dinner, we tried moose carpaccio and Löjrom, or bleak roe. The moose didn’t have a completely raw texture so I think it was cured in some form but either way, it was delicious. The roe was just as fishy and salty as I expected and also tasty. We ate it spread on toast points with crème fraiche and chives.

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161251 Tampa Bay Lightning

With the Lighting in Sweden: A reconstructed warship, plus ABBA

Swedish travels continue with two of the most popular attractions in Stockholm.

By Diana C. Nearhos

Editor’s note: The Tampa Bay Times’ Lightning beat writer Diana C. Nearhos traveled to Sweden with the Lightning last week. Here’s her latest travel log.

STOCKHOLM — An old, 17th-century warship, one that sank about half a mile into its maiden voyage, sits in a museum in Stockholm. This, I had to see.

The Vasa was constructed top-heavy, thus it capsized and sank just almost immediately after setting sail in 1628. Even more incredibly, it survived intact and was salvaged and reconstructed on the island of Djurgården (just down the street from ABBA: The Museum).

The 17-minute video describing the ship’s construction, sinking, salvaging and restoration was fascinating, much more than I expected. This ship was supposed to be one of the greatest warships of its time. Instead, everyone watched it sink. It sat in the harbor in Stockholm for 333 years until someone found it and they figured out how to raise it.

The museum has information on every stage of the ship’s existence and what life would have looked like on it. You can walk through a full-size replica of the upper gun deck and step out onto a replica of the upper rigging.

The Vasa and “ABBA: The Museum” were the two most-often mentioned attractions in Stockholm. So, even though I don’t have any particular interest in ABBA, we checked it out.

The first exhibit was about the Mamma Mia! movies, but then you get to the good stuff.

I knew next to nothing about ABBA, mostly that they sang Dancing Queen and Mamma Mia and were from Sweden. So I found the background of how two couples became a megastar group interesting. I had no idea that they made it big after winning Eurovision (a massive annual song contest). Eurovision now is a lot of glitz and glam with heavy camp. ABBA was the start of that.

There are displays about their costumes, their songwriting, their producing plus each of the four members’ careers before and after ABBA.

For someone who knew nothing, the museum was interesting. For a group of French tourists who appeared to be superfans, it was thrilling. But for a Swede who knew the group’s story, the museum was a little lacking.

What I ate

Yes, I’m still talking about Swedish food. I’m on a mission to try as many traditional dishes as possible.

Conclusion: pickled herring is not as scary as it sounds. I had a trio of herring as an appetizer and they were all good. The traditional herring was pickled with carrots and onions, then there was one with a mustard sauce and another with a crème fraiche sauce. I ate them on crispbreads (similar to a cracker). The mustard was a little strong, but other than that, I’d eat them again.

I completed my task to eat all three things Victor Hedman listed on his top three things to eat in Sweden. I’d already had Swedish candy and toast skagen. Now, I can check of biff rydberg. The meat and potatoes dish was good, unremarkable but great for a cold day.

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161252 Toronto Maple Leafs Kaskisuo was called up from the American Hockey League’s Toronto Marlies after Michael Hutchinson, the backup to Frederik Andersen, was waived on Monday.

NHL players pay measured tribute to Don Cherry, but most stop short of Hyman, 27, recalled how excited he was the first time Cherry ever defending comments mentioned his name on television.

“It was awesome," Hyman said at the team’s practice rink in the Toronto suburb of Etobicoke. "He has been around hockey forever, but you can’t MARTY KLINKENBERG say stuff today like he did. You’ve got to be accepting of everyone.

"'Hockey Is For Everyone’ is one of our slogans in the NHL, and it’s really true. For him to say that sort of stuff is unacceptable.” Like many pro hockey players, Tyson Barrie grew up watching Don Cherry ruminate, sometimes on matters he should have left alone, on John Tavares, the Maple Leafs captain, grew up in Toronto and recalls Hockey Night in Canada. As he sat at his dressing stall on Tuesday, the seeing Cherry stand behind the glass when he played in minor hockey Maple Leafs defenceman mulled the long-time broadcaster’s dismissal tournaments. by Rogers Sportsnet. “I think it is disappointing on many fronts, the comments, but certainly the “It is unfortunate to see him go out like this,” Barrie said. “Don is a way his tenure ended,” Tavares said. “There was so many good things legend, and has been such a big part of hockey. that he did through his commitment to the game. I think everybody would wish something like this never happened.” “In the age we are in, when you say something [publicly], it is out there for the world to see, and that generates a lot of opinions.” Jason Spezza, who at 36 is the oldest member of the team, finds it sad.

On Saturday night, the combative co-host of Coach’s Corner singled out “I’m not one to weigh into it too much, but what makes Canada great is Toronto-area immigrants for not wearing poppies during a tribute to war the equality we have and how diverse our culture is,” Spezza said. “You veterans. don’t like anything that is discriminatory and offends anyone, but Don is an icon. You don’t like to see things end that way.” “You people that come here, you love our way of life, you love our milk and honey, at least you can pay a couple of bucks for poppies or Head coach Mike Babcock said he understands why people were something like that," the 85-year-old Cherry said while jabbing one finger offended. at the camera. “These guys pay for the way of life you enjoy. [They] paid the biggest price.” “I know when you are in a situation like I am you have to be mindful of how great the game is and what it is all about,” he said. “I am sure it must The Toronto Maple Leafs say Don Cherry did a lot for hockey, but his be tough on him and his family, but having said that, certain things are comments about new Canadians not wearing poppies were uncalled for. right.” The Leafs weighed in on the Cherry controversy a day after Sportsnet sacked the longtime hockey commentator in the wake of his controversial Back at his dressing stall, Barrie said he believes Cherry’s comments comments on Hockey Night in Canada. may have been misunderstood.

The furor triggered by his comments led Cherry to be fired on “He is 85 years old,” Barrie said. "I don’t think he meant it the way it has Remembrance Day. There is a terrible irony in that, because he has been taken. At the end of the day, though, we all are responsible for our always fiercely supported the military. His eyes often teared up when he actions.” talked about his love for soldiers on the air. Globe And Mail LOADED: 11.13.2019 Cherry has since described his words as not being racial or bigoted but patriotic and respectful. His employer, Sportsnet, the NHL and the CBC, for whom he worked across four decades, disagreed.

When asked to apologize by Sportsnet president Bart Yabsley, as his partner on the program Ron MacLean had on Sunday, the pugnacious former National Hockey League coach refused. That caused him to be dropped from a broadcast he first joined for the 1980 Stanley Cup playoffs.

On the day after, reverberations were felt around the league.

In Montreal, Max Domi expressed admiration for Cherry, who has always operated with controversy in his wake. Over the years, among other things, he sideswiped francophones and blasted European players, called Liberals pinkos and made fun of climate-change believers.

“I love Don Cherry," said Domi, who has known him all of his life. His dad, Tie, was a bare-knuckles brawler, the hardscrabble type of tough guy Cherry held in the highest esteem. “What he’s done for this sport is remarkable. I will always look up to him.”

As of Tuesday, nearly 200,000 people had signed a handful of different petitions being circulated that demand Cherry be reinstated. Fans called him a symbol of the working class, and railed at Sportsnet for caving to the politically incorrect. Others lauded the network for making a decision they say was long overdue. The Canadian Broadcasting Standards Council was so overloaded with complaints about his diatribe that it exceeded the organization’s capacity to keep track of them.

In a series of television interviews on Tuesday night, Cherry said he would not apologize for what he said, but would choose different words.

On a busy practice day for the Maple Leafs, Cherry’s departure garnered as much attention as Mitch Marner’s injured ankle, Zach Hyman’s imminent return and the arrival of rookie goalie Kasimir Kaskisuo.

Hyman, who underwent knee surgery during the off-season, will rejoin the team when it plays the Islanders in New York on Wednesday night. 1161254 Toronto Maple Leafs

Mitch Marner relieved he didn’t break anything, but Leafs winger still faces a four-week rehab

By Mark ZwolinskiSports ReporterTues., Nov. 12, 2019

Mitch Marner hopes to have the walking boot he is wearing on his right foot removed on Friday.

The Leafs winger was in recovery mode Tuesday, beginning what could be a four-week rehab of the high-ankle sprain he suffered during Saturday’s game against the Flyers. He was thinking it might be much worse after appearing to step on the stick of Flyers winger Carsen Twarynski.

“When I fell, I felt a snap in my ankle,” Marner said Tuesday. “When I looked back (at his ankle), I was expecting my ankle to be facing in the wrong direction.”

Still, a high-ankle sprain can be as difficult to rehab as a fracture. Marner will miss at least 14 games over the next four weeks, then will be re- evaluated. It could take longer for him to get in game shape.

“I definitely have time in the gym, that’s what I’ll be trying to do, stay in shape and definitely work on my shot, make it more lethal … try to make it better for when I get back,” Marner said.

Marner is expected to be placed on long-term injured reserve, which would help the Leafs with the salary cap and allow them to activate Zach Hyman for Wednesday’s game against the New York Islanders without having to move any more players. Toronto recalled forward Nic Petan and goaltender Kasimir Kaskisuo from the Marlies on Tuesday, while sending goalie Michael Hutchinson to the AHL team after he cleared waivers.

Marner, who has missed just five games in his NHL career — all in his rookie season in 2016-17 — is looking forward to having the boot removed. “I think the goal is to … get it off Friday, get the leg moving, get some mobility in it.

“The weird thing is … when I looked around on the ice and saw it wasn’t a (broken ankle), I didn’t know the feeling, what was going on. I kept an open mind to anything. I looked at photos and video, and I felt pretty lucky nothing more substantial didn’t come out of that.”

Kaskisuo is getting his first opportunity with the Leafs, ending an unlikely route to the NHL. The 26-year-old native of Vantaa, Finland, moved to Minnesota in 2013 to play in the North American Hockey League. He committed to the University of Minnesota-Duluth, where the Leafs scouted him before giving him a two-year entry-level contract in March 2016. Kaskisuo bounced between the Marlies and the former Orlando Solar Bears of the ECHL and was once loaned to the Chicago Wolves.

He was placed on waivers in September, but opened this season with a 6-1-1 record and a 2.18 goals-against average.

“It’s pretty crazy,” Kaskisuo said of his call-up. “It kind of went in a blur … it’s a pretty happy day for me and my family. All the little bumps in the road prepare you, it keeps you mentally stronger. I feel it’s one of my strengths, being sent all over … it just helps you prepare.”

Kaskisuo’s first assignment is expected to be Saturday against Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins, when the Leafs wrap up their next set of back-to-back games.

Hutchinson returns to the Marlies after going winless in five starts, all at the end of back-to-backs. He gave up at least four goals in all of his starts, though Leafs head coach Mike Babcock felt the team could share the blame.

“Hutch is a good man, a good person, we just didn’t play well enough,” Babcock said.

Toronto Star LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161255 Toronto Maple Leafs Hyman, for his part, said he was made to wait to return to the lineup until he was “over-ready.” Coming back early from an operation as serious as this would be unwise, indeed.

The Leafs’ Zach Hyman hopes to be the same player when he returns “I’m just happy I don’t play basketball. Otherwise I’d be out a whole lot Wednesday on a rebuilt knee longer,” Hyman said last month, citing reports that Golden State Warriors star Klay Thompson is expected to be out for the season with a torn ACL suffered in the NBA Finals against Toronto.

By Dave Feschuk Hyman said that while he’s able to skate and turn and brace on his surgically repaired joint, he’s not yet relishing the idea of max-effort

jumping. So don’t expect airborne collisions into the corner boards when Zach Hyman said the worst part came in the days immediately after the he scores his first goal of the season. surgery, now six and a half months in the rear view. “Jumping, creating force upwards, it puts more force on your knees,” As part of the elaborate operation to reconstruct the anterior cruciate Hyman said. “That’s why you always see basketball players with ice ligament in Hyman’s right knee — the one that was torn during Game 4 packs on their knees.” of last spring’s first-round playoff series against the Bruins — three What’s the reasonable expectation for his contribution for the remaining separate incisions were required. One of the cuts, which is now only 63 games of the regular season? A 2015 academic study of 47 NHL visible as a faint thumbnail-length scar running north to south down the players who’d undergone ACL surgery between 2006 and 2010 saw middle of Hyman’s kneecap, was needed to remove a chunk of Hyman’s post-injury point totals drop an average of about 26% in the first season healthy left-knee patellar tendon, which was used to replace the ravaged post-operation. Some 20% of those players eventually required additional ACL. surgery. And career lengths, on average, were diminished considerably The other two, now a pair of pink dots on the outside of the knee cap, in ACL patients compared to a control group that didn’t have the surgery. provided access to insert the screws that attached the grafted ligament to But Hyman, if he’s aware of those sobering stats, points to a more the bone. If the technology employed was state of the art, Hyman will tell inspiring story. It was only a handful of years ago that NFL running back you the pain felt medieval. Adrian Peterson was named league MVP about nine months removed from ACL surgery. At age 34, Peterson is still playing. “It’s debilitating at the start,” the Leafs winger was saying recently. “I couldn’t sleep for three weeks.” “It’s a crazy surgery. I don’t know how a normal person would do it, let alone an athlete (with easy access to expert medical staff),” Hyman said All these months later, Hyman’s injury-induced absence has caused last month. “The cool thing about the ACL is that the actual joint feels plenty of early-season restlessness in Leafland, where the blue and white really, really strong. People say it’s almost stronger than the (non- have found themselves in the midst of a dispiriting slump. For the repaired) one, just because it’s tighter.” opening 19 games of the season, wherein the Maple Leafs have been an inconsistent mess of a team, they’ve clearly missed the whatever-it-takes Speaking Tuesday before the Leafs hopped a plane for New York, relentlessness of Hyman’s approach. Toronto’s one-time first line, on Hyman smiled and pronounced himself “excited to go,” even if he’s which Hyman provided dependable puck-retrieving services to John skating into a new unknown. Tavares and Mitch Marner a season ago, has been in shambolic without “Hopefully,” he said, “I’ll just pick up where I left off.” him. Toronto Star LOADED: 11.13.2019 Tavares, who led the team with 47 goals last year, is on pace for 21. Marner, who topped the Leafs with 94 points in 2018-19, was averaging a point a game when he suffered the Saturday ankle injury that is expected to keep him out at least a month. Hyman’s various stand-ins on the line haven’t approached replacing the 21 goals he potted last season. Not coincidentally, the Leafs as a whole came into Wednesday on 95- point pace, on track for their worst season in three years.

But for all the news that required a deadpan reaction, Hyman brought confirmation of a more upbeat headline. Six months and 15 days since he was sedated on an operating table, it’s expected he’ll make his season debut against the streaking Islanders in Long Island on Wednesday.

“I have a good mindset about what I need to do out there, and not try to do too much,” Hyman said. “I’m just going to go out there and play my game like I’ve played since I got here.”

With Marner out, Hyman is expected to play on a line centred by Tavares and co-flanked by Kasperi Kapanen. It’s also hoped he’ll bring new-found energy to a struggling penalty kill that ranked 23rd in the league heading into Tuesday’s slate of games. But the Leafs were being realistic about their expectations. Hopping aboard a proverbial moving train rarely proves easy, even if Hyman has been practising with the team for weeks.

“Can (Hyman) get on the forecheck and do that and get the puck back like he always does? I don’t know the answer to that for sure,” said Mike Babcock, the head coach. “Can he be on the right-hand faceoff circle on the penalty kill? I don’t know that either. So I’m going to watch just like you and we’ll figure it out.”

Veteran defenceman Jake Muzzin said the key to a successful comeback from injury is as much mental as physical.

“Yeah, you can be cleared physically. But if you’re hesitant about the injury or second-guessing yourself, then you’re not playing up to your ability,” Muzzin said. “I think (Hyman) is there. It sounds like he’s there. It’s exciting for our team. We lost Mitchy. We get one back. It’s the way hockey goes … You have to get wins when guys are out.” 1161256 Toronto Maple Leafs

Wednesday NHL game preview: Toronto Maple Leafs at New York Islanders

By Mark Zwolinski

NASSAU COLISEUM

FACEOFF: 7 p.m.

TV: Sportsnet

RADIO: Sportsnet 590 The FAN

NEED TO KNOW

Well, Isle be ... The Islanders are being taken seriously as a Stanley Cup contender. The club has earned points in 12 straight games (11-0-1), making them the hottest team in the NHL. At 12-3-1 overall, the Islanders’ 25 points are the most in team history through the first 16 games. They are 10-0-1 when leading after two periods. They’ve outscored opponents 18-8 in the second period.

Greiss has been great: Goaltender Thomas Greiss has won his last six games, and has a 1.88 goals-against average and a .942 save percentage. He had a 2.28 GAA last season.

How they’re doing it: Mathew Barzal is one of the best skaters in the NHL and leads the Islanders with seven goals and 14 points. He has 38 multi- point games over the last two seasons ... The Islanders have one of the best young defence corps in the NHL but they also have 35-year-old Johnny Boychuk, who is second on the team in defenceman scoring (one goal, six assists). Boychuk has been mentoring 19-year-old Noah Dobson, the second youngest player on the team. They were paired together when Nick Leddy missed three games with a lower-body injury. Leddy returned Saturday.

UP NEXT

Friday vs. Boston, 7 p.m.

Toronto Star LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161257 Toronto Maple Leafs

Jason Spezza has a soft spot for Don Cherry but agrees with the Sportsnet ultimatum

By Kevin McGran

As much as Jason Spezza understands the reasons why Don Cherry is no longer on “Hockey Night in Canada,” the Maple Leafs forward will never forget what the man he and many call Grapes meant to his career.

“I have had a great relationship with Don,” Spezza said Tuesday. “He is someone I grew up watching and got to know as I got going through my junior career and through my pro career and he’s someone who has always been really good to me.

“It’s tough to see it go that way for him.”

Cherry lost his job for inferring on Coach’s Corner last Saturday that new Canadians don’t support veterans. The comments were deemed racist and anti-immigrant by many. His employer, Rogers, offered Cherry the opportunity to keep his job if he apologized. The 85-year-old declined, telling the Star, “I don’t regret a thing.”

Spezza was Cherry’s star player when Cherry owned the OHL Mississauga IceDogs and continued to back Spezza even after Cherry traded him. Cherry even bashed Leafs coach Mike Babcock for scratching Spezza for the home opener this season in what would have been Spezza’s first game as a Leaf.

“He was a positive influence where he would (offer) a lot of encouragement, especially early in my career once I turned pro,” Spezza said. “He was the guy that would run into me in the hallways and stop and talk to me and ask me how things are going and just give me the time of day. When you’re a young player, sometimes you walk around the rink (with) not a lot of confidence and to have a person like Don come up to me, it always meant a lot.

“I lived in Lorne Park, and you’d see him drive around in the convertible and always saying hi to people and brightening people’s days up. He really was a Canadian icon for the segments that he’s done on Coach’s Corner. But for me, personally, he just always gave me lots of time and he was a fun guy to see around the rink.”

But Spezza agrees with the ultimatum that was given to Cherry by Sportsnet.

“What makes Canada great is how multicultural we are,” Spezza said.

Cherry always had a soft spot for the Maple Leafs, unabashedly rooting for them. He didn’t always like the general managers, like Brian Burke or even Kyle Dubas. And he didn’t always like the coaches, especially Ron Wilson.

But he loved the jersey and the players who wore it — well, the Canadian and American ones mostly. Here’s what some of them had to say:

Captain John Tavares: “It’s disappointing on many fronts. Obviously the comments, and the way his tenure ended. He’s meant a lot to the game and provided a lot. I think everyone would wish something like this never happened.”

Defenceman Morgan Rielly: “Obviously the network and the people there are doing what they think they have to do. He’s been on the air for a long time so (it’s) the end of a long career for him.”

Winger William Nylander. “Well, never really watched, but you can’t say those things.”

Defenceman Travis Dermott: “The words that were used probably could have been thought through maybe a little bit better. But think about the big picture. Some people are obviously offended by it and that’s (who) you’ve got to be worried about. Help the people out who are offended instead of the individual who said it. It’s the bigger picture you have to worry about.”

Toronto Star LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161258 Toronto Maple Leafs

Leafs recall Kasimir Kaskisuo to be their new backup goaltender

By Mark Zwolinski

The Maple Leafs have recalled goalie Kasimir Kaskisuo from the Marlies, and will have him serve as the team’s new backup goalie to Freddie Andersen.

Kaskisuo, 26, was recalled Tuesday morning, along with forward Nic Petan.

Toronto needed a new backup after placing Michael Hutchinson on waivers Monday.

Kaskisuo posted a 6-1-1 record with a 2.13 GAA and a .928 save percentage with the AHL Marlies.

Toronto Star LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161259 Toronto Maple Leafs cap,” said Lamoriello. “You have to be very cautious on how you approach it. We did sign our players who were free agents, which we were pleased to do. I would like to think that we’re fairly balanced.”

Lou Lamoriello winning on the Island with a familiar formula: goaltending Lamoriello bodes no ill will toward Toronto, or the Leafs organization. He and fiscal responsibility was replaced by Kyle Dubas after the 2017-18 season.

“I certainly communicate with Kyle like you do with any other general manager,” he said. “I had an outstanding relationship with him while I By Kevin McGran was there, and always will have.”

John Tavares feels the same way about the Islanders, even though the fan base there now boos their former captain. This time, he’ll return as If there’s a magic elixir with that has made the New York Islanders so captain of the Leafs. good since Lou Lamoriello took over, it’s quality goaltending and salary cap balance. “The place will always have great meaning for me, had a huge impact on my career and my life,” Tavares said. “It is what it is ... just go down there There’s more to it of course. Lamoriello, the Islanders’ president and and try to get our team two points.” general manager, hired a great coach in Barry Trotz and inherited a roster that had good young talent and a conservative salary structure. Toronto Star LOADED: 11.13.2019 But Lamoriello’s trademark is goaltending. When he was in New Jersey, led the Devils to three Stanley Cups, playing 70-plus games a season in some cases. In Toronto, Lamoriello’s landmark trade brought Frederik Andersen to the Leafs, and Andersen shoulders 60-plus games a season.

The recipe is different with the Islanders. Robin Lehner and Thomas Greiss shared the load last season, and the pair won the William Jennings Trophy as the tandem that allowed the fewest goals against. Lehner signed with Chicago as a free agent, and Lamoriello calmly signed to join Greiss.

“In my opinion, you do need two goalies in this era, because of the way the schedule is,” Lamoriello said. “We play so many games, and so many games are back to back. It’s not like years ago when you did have quite a bit of rest.”

So far this year, the Islanders tandem has again been terrific. Greiss is 7- 1-0, with a 1.88 goals-against average and a .942 save percentage. Varlamov is 5-2-1, 2.34, .924. The Islanders, with 25 points in 16 games, went into Tuesday tied for second in the Eastern Conference.

As Trotz said this week: “I can close my eyes and reach into a hat and pick the number. I don’t think I can make a bad choice ... Not a lot of teams can say that, and that’s a strength of the Islanders.”

The Leafs play there Wednesday with Frederik Andersen in net and Kasimir Kaskisuo, up from the Marlies, as the backup. The Leafs are struggling to find a second goaltender they can count on and Andersen may have to continue to carry a load like Brodeur did.

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Brodeur wasn’t the only goalie in the 70-plus club. Miikka Kiprusoff played that many a number of times. Cam Talbot, then with the Edmonton Oilers, was the last to hit that mark, 73, in 2016-17.

“There a few throughout hockey history that played that number of games,” Lamoriello said. “You went to bed the night before knowing who your goalie was all the time and you knew what you’re going to get. But that day is gone because of the schedule, because of the demands of the travel. And also because of the way the game is played. The game is a lot quicker. There’s a lot more speed involved.

“There’s a lot more transition. There was a lot more tightness (in Brodeur’s era) as far as the way the game was played. Now there’s a lot more pressure on the goalie today than before.”

Lamoriello also has a salary structure that allows the Islanders freedom to move players in and out if need be. Much of that was in place before Lamoriello got there, but salary sternness is also his forte. Captain Anders Lee signed a seven-year, $49-million (U.S.) deal in the off- season. Jordan Eberle took a pay cut to sign a five-year, $27.5-million deal. That’s a cap hit of $5.5 million; he had earned $6 million a year. Sniper Mathew Barzal may challenge the salary structure, heading for restricted free agency in the summer.

But the Islanders are a team that embraces the middle-class player, with 18 players earning at least $1 million. The top-heavy Leafs, by comparison, have only 11 earning at least that much, with a roster filled out by players earning the minimum, or close to it.

“In this day and age, you have to be very careful because of the salary cap and certainly not knowing what the future is going to be with the 1161260 Toronto Maple Leafs

Don Cherry’s ouster has become as much a political argument as a sports story

By Bruce Arthur

You wouldn’t expect Don Cherry to apologize. Getting a reaction was almost everything to him, according to those who knew him, and Don’s stubborn war, carried out every week on Hockey Night in Canada, lasted almost 40 years. He was one of the best ever at making people mad.

Don was fired Monday, and the country is still digesting the end of a broadcasting and cultural era, but his legacy is already being fought over. Even he isn’t being honest about how it ended.

“I don’t regret a thing,” Cherry told the Star’s Kevin McGran. “I said what I said, I meant what I said and I believe everybody in this country should wear a poppy, and buy a poppy to support the families of the servicemen, and that’s the way I feel.

“If you notice, I never said ‘immigrants,’ I never said anything, I said ‘you people’ and they could have been Scottish, they could have been Irish, they could have been anything, but that’s the way the world is today. They listened to those people.”

This is plainly poppycock, pardon the phrase, but we’ll return to that. But what seems incredible is that for all the hockey fights he started over the years, the immediate argument over Don Cherry seems rooted in politics.

The reaction to Cherry seems to have cleaved very clearly down political lines, perhaps more than ever before. He was always an outspoken conservative, even in a conservative-tilted game; he was a big-C Conservative, too. And that was fine, within its bounds. The CBC didn’t mind having a house loudmouth.

But what’s happening with Cherry says something else about Canada, and hockey. Cherry’s firing, at 85 years old, by a private corporation — albeit one which has leased the jewel of the public broadcaster’s airwaves — has somehow become as much a political argument as a sports story. The reaction has been so angry, and so partisan. Pointing to Justin Trudeau’s history of blackface, as if it excuses anything, is as common as winter snow. Misrepresenting the comments is, too.

But make no mistake: Cherry deliberately spoke about immigrants. He complained about nobody wearing a poppy in downtown Toronto or Mississauga, and said, “Now you go to the small cities, and you know, the rows on rows, you people love — that come here, whatever it is — you love our way of life, you love our milk and honey, at least you can pay a couple bucks for a poppies or something like that. These guys paid for your way of life that you enjoy in Canada, these guys paid the biggest price. Anyhow, I’m going to run it for you great people and good Canadians that bought a poppy.”

Toronto Star LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161261 Toronto Maple Leafs RW Mitch Marner (ankle) ISLANDERS GAME DAY LINES

LW C RW Game Day: Maple Leafs at Islanders Anders Lee Mathew Barzal Jordan Eberle

Anthony Beauvillier Brock Nelson Lance Hornby Josh Bailey Casey Cizikas Cal Clutterbuck

Ross Johnston Otto Koivula/Leo Komarov Michael Dal Colle TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS at NEW YORK ISLANDERS DEFENCE PAIRINGS Wednesday, 7 p.m., NYCB LIVE (Nassau Coliseum) Nick Leddy Johnny Boychuk TV: Sportsnet: RADIO: FAN 590 Adam Pelech Ryan Pulock THE BIG MATCHUP Devon Toews Scott Mayfield C John Tavares vs. RW Anders Lee GOALIES Islanders captains past and present clash, with Tavares the first since Bryan McCabe to have had the C here and come back wearing it with Thomas Greiss another team. His first two games at Nassau last year were completely different outcomes, a savage reception as a perceived traitor, where he Semyon Varlamov played invisible, and a strong outing the night the Maple Leafs clinched a SICK BAY playoff spot. D Andrew Ladd (knee) FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME RW Tom Kuhnhackl (leg) Absent for dinner LW Matt Martin (leg) Matt Martin is hurt, so too is his good pal on Toronto, Mitch Marner, missing the second game of what is forecast as a four-week recovery SPECIAL TEAMS from an ankle injury. Less grit from the home team should suit the Leafs after being bumped hard the past few nights. POWER PLAY

Zach is back Toronto 18.2% (18th)

The bad news on Marner last week is mitigated by Zach Hyman returning NY Islanders17.8% (20th) from spring knee surgery. The Leafs waited a long time for this re-launch PENALTY KILLING to make sure their most diligent forechecker is 100%. Toronto 77.1% (23rd) Smiles on the Isles NY Islanders 85.1% (8th) New York is on a tear, going 11-0-1 in its past 12 games. But it’s how they’re doing it, averaging a league-low 27.6 shots a game, with their Toronto Sun LOADED: 11.13.2019 goals-against average of just over 2.00.

Admiral Nelson

The departure of John Tavares opened the door for playing time for Brock Nelson, and he has never looked back. “The first couple of years, I think I had pretty good years, but maybe the situation with the guys we had, it just wasn’t the biggest of roles,” Nelson told Newsday. “Some space opened up when Johnny left, and different guys have stepped up.”

Memory block

The other part of the Isles’ good defence is their league-best shot blocking. Adam Pelech has 42 himself, ranking him seventh in the league. Not far behind is blueline partner Ryan Pulock.

LEAFS GAME DAY LINES

LW C RW

Andreas Johnsson Auston Matthews William Nylander

Zach Hyman John Tavares Kasperi Kapanen

Ilya Mikheyev Alexander Kerfoot Trevor Moore

Nic Petan Nick Shore Frederik Gauthier

DEFENCE PAIRINGS

Morgan Rielly Cody Ceci

Martin Marincin Tyson Barrie

Travis Dermott Justin Holl

GOALIES

Frederik Andersen

Kasimir Kaskisuo

SICK BAY 1161262 Toronto Maple Leafs

Maple Leafs' Marner feeling lucky that ankle injury was not worse than it could have been

Terry Koshan

Mitch Marner might not have wanted to peek,but had little choice.

When Marner fell off a faceoff against the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday, he realized something was wrong with his right ankle.

“I felt something funny and at that time I was ready to look back and see my ankle twisted the wrong way,” the Maple Leafs winger said on Tuesday. “I looked back, it looked like it was good and tried to get back up on it and just felt a little weird.”

Marner, who will miss a minimum of four weeks, said there wasn’t much pain in the moment when he suffered a high ankle sprain. He said he has never had a similar injury.

“No, that was the weird thing,” Marner said. “When I fell, I felt a snap in my ankle and that’s why I was expecting when I looked back for my ankle to be facing the wrong direction. When I noticed it wasn’t, I didn’t really know what the feeling was.

“I didn’t know what the result could have been, so I had my mind open to anything. I got pretty lucky that nothing really substantial out of that came.

“It felt good on the bench. Went out for power play, tried to keep puck in and fell again on it and it didn’t feel right.”

Toronto Sun LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161263 Toronto Maple Leafs What went into the decision to make the goaltending change? “We weren’t doing a very good job,” Babcock said. “Hutch is a good man,

a good person and we didn’t play good enough.” Kaskisuo joins Maple Leafs as Tavares acknowledges players let Hutchinson definitely could have been better, but the Leafs often didn’t Hutchinson down have much interest in front of him.

Surely they will be inspired by their captain to provide a little more help Terry Koshan for Kaskisuo.

LOOSE LEAFS

John Tavares didn’t hesitate on Tuesday. Way down the list of Leafs news items on Tuesday — with the coming debut of Zach Hyman, reactions to the Don Cherry firing, Mitch Marner When we asked the Maple Leafs captain whether the team had let down speaking about his injury and the backup goalie situation — was the goaltender Michael Hutchinson, Tavares was quick to answer. impending return of Tavares to Long Island on Wednesday. No one has forgotten the rough ride Tavares got from Islanders fans in his returns “Absolutely,” Tavares said after practice at the Ford Performance Centre. last season. “The place will always have great meaning for me,” Tavares “I think we have to own that. said. “It had a huge impact on my career and my life. Just go down there “We did not play very well and didn’t give him much of an opportunity to and try to get our team two points.” … Tavares on adapting to life without get some good results and feel better about himself. Marner: “When you are playing with different players, guys play different ways and have different tendencies. It’s just trying to have a feel for that “His work ethic, the type of teammate he is, and certainly the way he and be predictable for one another, but be unpredictable for the opponent played, I think he made many key saves, gave us a chance to win many so you can create time and space, get opportunities in the middle of the of the games he played in. ice and control the puck and have possession. I never played with a player with Mitch’s type of skill set.” And yes, Tavares should be able to “We just never rewarded him. We should feel that for sure.” drive the line without Marner’s presence. Tavares didn’t sign a seven- The Leafs have a chance to make that right for the backup goalie, just year contract worth $77-million US in the summer of 2018 to ride another not with Hutchinson in net. Winless in six games this season and sporting player’s coattails. a save percentage of .879, Hutchinson was sent to the Toronto Marlies Toronto Sun LOADED: 11.13.2019 after clearing waivers on Tuesday.

Summoned from the Marlies was fellow goalie Kasimir Kaskisuo, who will assume the role Hutchinson had — starting the second game of back-to- back sets.

So here the Leafs are with a muddled backup picture, and it’s entirely of their own doing, whether you want to blame general manager Kyle Dubas, coach Mike Babcock or the players themselves. Lump them in together, just to be sure.

The Leafs started down this slippery path at the beginning of last season when they took a chance on Garret Sparks, putting Curtis McElhinney on waivers. McElhinney had done nothing wrong the previous season when he backed up Frederik Andersen, compiling a record of 11-5-1 with a .934 save percentage.

After Sparks was superb with the Marlies and was voted the American Hockey League’s goalie of the year in 2017-18, he got the job as the backup handed to him in camp over McElhinney.

The Carolina Hurricanes said thanks and claimed McElhinney, who had another solid season before signing with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Sparks’ most memorable moments with the Leafs came with his spoken thoughts and not his play, and he was banished before the end of the season before he was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights.

In the time since McElhinney got claimed, he has played in 38 games and gone 22-12-4; in that same span, Leafs backups (Sparks and Hutchinson) have played in 31 games and gone 10-16-2.

Andersen could use a break, not just the second game of back-to-back sets. But Babcock has not had confidence in the backup goalies Dubas has supplied to give them starts more often.

Now it’s on the shoulders of the 26-year-old Kaskisuo, who is likely to make his first National Hockey League start on Saturday in Pittsburgh against the Penguins, to make something of the role.

“Pretty crazy,” Kaskisuo, who will wear No. 50, said of getting to the NHL. “The day (Monday) went in a blur (when he was told he would be joining the Leafs). Pretty happy day for myself and my family. It was crazy, but really, really excited.

“All those little bumps in the road prepare you and make you mentally stronger and I feel like that is one of my strengths so far. I have been through a lot and have been thrown everywhere, so just trying to harness that and use it to my advantage.

“This is now a step up, so get to see a little different kind of shots in practice, but I’m just trying to get better every day and work hard and be ready.” 1161264 Toronto Maple Leafs Babcock has been anticipating having Hyman back for a few weeks now, and usually has been quite effusive in what that would mean for the team.

Hyman pumped for season debut with Maple Leafs, injured Marner On Tuesday, Babcock toned it down to a degree. keeps chin up “He just works, right?” Babcock said. “Works like a dog. Can he get on the forecheck and get us the puck back like he always does? I don’t know the answer to that for sure. How can he be on that right-hand face- Terry Koshan off circle on the penalty kill? I don’t know that either. So I’m going to watch just like you and we’re going to figure it out.”

Toronto Sun LOADED: 11.13.2019 In with Zach, out with Mitch.

At some point during the 2019-20 season, coach Mike Babcock might have a full Maple Leafs lineup at his disposal.

Just not on Wednesday night in New York against the Islanders, or for the foreseeable future.

Finally, winger Zach Hyman, whose on-ice diligence should be a blueprint for his teammates to follow, will make his season debut after recovering from knee surgery, lining up alongside captain John Tavares.

In a perfect world, or one that the intense Babcock could enjoy more, Mitch Marner would be on the right side of the line, ready to help give the Leafs the same kind of creativity that made the trio so dangerous last season.

Not happening, of course, not with Marner on the sideline for at least the next four weeks with a right ankle injury.

Kasperi Kapanen gets that shot in Marner’s place. For now.

“We’re 20 games in, we’re still searching,” Babcock said after practice on Tuesday. “We thought we were going to have something worked out by (Tuesday) and it has not worked out. So we will figure something else out.”

The positive, and it’s a rather large one, is the return of Hyman. While it could take the 27-year-old several games to get up to speed, as it does for any player who has missed training camp and a significant portion of the regular season, his presence, even as he gets into game shape, should give the Leafs some juice.

There’s no concern that Hyman, who has been medically cleared, will put too much on his own shoulders to make an impact from his first shift.

“I have learned just to do what I do best and not worry about other things and just play my game, play simple,” Hyman said. “Hopefully, I will just pick up where I left off on that front and just have a good mindset of what I need to do out there and not going to go try to do too much. It’s exciting, I’m excited to go.”

Marner confirmed he suffered a high ankle sprain, which could mean he will be out longer than just four weeks. Still, as disappointed as Marner is to be out of the lineup for an extended period, he was not beating himself up when he spoke to reporters on Tuesday.

Marner, who has missed one game already, played in all 82 games in each of the past two seasons after missing five as a rookie in 2016-17.

“You’re always frustrated because you can’t get out there with the guys,” Marner said. “You can’t go on the trips with them, you can’t help them out. You feel you are missing from the team a little bit.

“At the same time, there is always positives, I’m going to try to really focus on getting stronger and when I come back, try to make my shot more lethal. Work on my upper-body strength. Hopefully when I get back my shot is a little better and I can score more.”

Marner had 18 points (four goals and 14 assists) in 18 games prior to the injury. He is wearing a walking cast on his right leg, and he hopes to have made enough progress to have it removed on Friday.

Hyman will be activated from long-term injured reserve, and Marner will be placed on it.

The Leafs, losers of two in a row after winning four of six, on Tuesday also did the expected, recalling goalie Kasimir Kaskisuo, as well as forward Nic Petan, from the Toronto Marlies. Sent to the Marlies was goaltender Michael Hutchinson, who cleared waivers. 1161265 Toronto Maple Leafs Thomas Greiss is 7-1-0 with a league-best 1.88 goals-against average and a .942 save percentage. Semyon Varlamov, who has played in one less game, is 5-2-1 with a .924 save percentage. It’s goaltending by committee. Ex-Leafs GM focusing on the present, not bragging about Islanders' early success “We have a team mentality without question,” said Lamoriello. “It was unfortunate what transpired with Robin. It didn’t work out for extraneous circumstances. But the coaching staff has done a good job of picking up where we left off. It’s been a continuation of last year.” Michael Traikos Indeed, this is once again a group effort.

Aside from Mathew Barzal, who leads the team with seven goals and 14 Lou Lamoriello isn’t so sure that New York Islanders fans will boo John points, there’s not a lot of name recognition on the Islanders. The team Tavares again. has the sixth-lowest payroll, with no one making more than $7-million. And really, why would they? They don’t have a Tavares or an Auston Matthews or a Mitch Marner. It’s been done already. Twice, in fact. The fans had their chance last They don’t have a single player amongst the top-60 in scoring. No one is season to let out their anger on Tavares for walking out on the franchise on pace for 50 goals or 100 points. No one is even on pace for 40 goals that drafted him No. 1. They made signs. They burned jerseys. They and 80 points. But they have 13 players with two or more goals and booed until their faces turned blue. because of that are averaging as many goals as the Edmonton Oilers.

Now that that’s out of the way, they might want to start cheering. And they’re winning lots of games. More than Toronto has. And more than anyone not named Lamoriello probably would have expected them After all, Tavares leaving for Toronto has not been the worst thing to to at this point in the season. happen to New York. Quite the opposite. “Is it unexpected or surprising? I don’t even have anything in my Without Tavares, the Islanders came out of nowhere and became one of vocabulary like that,” said Lamoriello. “We just play. I think we play as a the best stories of the NHL last season. They not only went to the group. And that’s the most important thing.” playoffs without their captain and best player, but also swept the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round. Toronto Sun LOADED: 11.13.2019

Heading into Wednesday’s game against his former team, Lamoriello’s Islanders have built on that success. They currently own the second-best record in the Eastern Conference standings. They recently went on a 10- game winning streak. The last time they lost in regulation was a month ago.

It’s a heck of a run. And Lamoriello is a big part of it.

Since losing Tavares — and hiring Lamoriello as the GM, who then hired Barry Trotz as the head coach — the Islanders have compiled a record of 60-30-8. The Leafs, meanwhile, have gone 55-34-12.

Not that Lamoriello, who was pushed out of his job as the Leafs GM, is bragging about it.

“Honestly, I don’t ever look at things like that whatsoever,” he said in a phone interview with Postmedia News on Tuesday. “There’s no satisfaction from things like that. Shame on you if you think like that.”

This is what makes Lamoriello one of the classier men to have worked in the NHL.

He’s not motivated by spite. If he’s bitter, he doesn’t show it. When asked if there’s a part of him that is happy to have found success since being pushed out of Toronto, he changes the conversation and instead talks about Mike Babcock and Kyle Dubas “wishing nothing but the best for them.”

“I have fond memories,” he said of his three-year tenure with the Leafs. “I enjoyed my time in Toronto. But behind your mind, you wouldn’t be human if you didn’t think when you were there. But we’re not thinking about things like that. Or even looking back. Whatever happened in the past, you can’t do anything about it today. That’s the mentality.”

Right there is the secret to the Islanders’ success. Forget about the past. Focus on the present. Forget about Tavares. And for that matter, forget about what the team did last year.

It’s one thing to come out of nowhere and catch teams unprepared. It’s another to do it again. And to do it without the goalie that was nominated for the Vezina Trophy.

In some ways, losing Robin Lehner to free agency should have been even more detrimental than losing Tavares. After all, the Islanders had the 22nd-ranked offence in the league last year. Only Dallas made the playoffs by scoring fewer goals.

“There’s always concern,” said Lamoriello. “There were certainly unknowns.”

Like Tavares’ exit, which opened up opportunities for others, Lehner’s exit has done the same. 1161266 Toronto Maple Leafs Tavares did most of his own scoring damage around the net. His average shot distance of 20.3 feet trailed (by a hair) only Lee, his former linemate and successor as Islanders captain, among those that potted at least 10 goals last season. Can John Tavares drive a line for the Maple Leafs without Mitch Marner? So many looks came courtesy of Marner though. Tavares ended up with 122 high-danger shot attempts, second-most in hockey behind Montreal’s Brendan Gallagher. Tavares, for comparison’s sake, had only By Jonas Siegel Nov 12, 2019 80 of those in his final season with the Islanders.

The prime-time opportunities spiked with Marner around to open doors. When the Maple Leafs pitched John Tavares on coming home in the “We gotta find people to help him,” Mike Babcock said of Tavares. “That summer of 2018, they sold him on the potential of their young stars — line, it hasn’t been a line this year.” one in particular whom they saw him fitting next to: Mitch Marner. What he means, of course, is that the Leafs haven’t had that destructive “I think the most important part was presenting the players that John was combination of last year — Tavares, Marner, and Hyman — all together going to play with,” Leafs GM Kyle Dubas said of Tavares’ decision to at any point this season — and won’t until the second week of December sign a seven-year, $77 million contract with the Leafs. “In the end, if you at the earliest. boiled it down, that’s why players want to come to different places because of the players that they’re going to play with and be with every The Leafs coach had been waiting on Hyman to finally rejoin Tavares day on the team.” and Marner, and now he gets Hyman back but won’t have Marner.

Just as they all hoped, the Tavares-Marner combo (and don’t forget Zach “We thought we were gonna have something worked out by today and Hyman!) worked wonders in Year One for the Leafs. Tavares finished it’s not worked out so we’ll figure something else out,” he said. with a league-leading, and career-best, 33 5-on-5 goals and was fifth in the NHL with 60 5-on-5 points. Marner trailed only Hart and The first reincarnation of the unit will see Hyman back for the first time Trophy winner Nikita Kucherov with 42 5-on-5 assists and was just inside this season at left wing, set to make his season debut when Tavares and the top-10 with 58 5-on-5 points himself. the Leafs play in Long Island again on Wednesday night. On the right side in Marner’s place will likely be Kasperi Kapanen, the real question It was a mutually beneficial partnership that powered the Leafs offence. mark of the line for the time being. Tavares made Marner better with his strength and finishing ability around the net, and Marner made Tavares better with his vision and crafty Babcock hasn’t been sold on the 23-year-old’s ability to handle an passing. assignment like this. He spoke over the weekend in Chicago about needing to have Kapanen in the “right spot,” by which he seemed to All of which makes the ensuing four weeks (or more) that Marner will suggest a place in the lineup that wasn’t too high — third line in short. miss with a high ankle sprain of particular interest: How will Tavares fare without all that magic (even if slightly diminished to start the season) at “I think everyone perceives you play with Tavares or Matty,” the Leaf his side? coach said of his captain and Auston Matthews, “and then it’s gonna be better and you’re gonna score more. Can he drive a line without him? “Well, he’s actually proved that’s not the case.” Tavares has done that kind of thing before, drive his own line, for years in fact as the focal point and leader of the New York Islanders. Just about Kapanen did manage 11 5-on-5 goals when he was on the ice with every player that got a chance to play with him regularly in Long Island Matthews last season, but his lack of creativity and vision, especially ended up having a career year. against tougher competition, seemed to stall the big American centre at times, particularly in the playoffs. These weren’t stars, but became stars and hit career peaks with Tavares: It’s hard to make much of Kapanen’s first stint with Tavares this season, given that he was playing out of position at left wing — and mostly Matt Moulson: career-high 36 goals, 69 points in the 2011-12 season uncomfortable with it. We got a glimpse of him playing alongside Tavares and Hyman briefly last season and it went OK. Over about 57 minutes, P.A. Parenteau: career-high 67 points in the 2011-12 season the Leafs controlled 56 percent of the adjusted shot attempts, with an Kyle Okposo: career-high 27 goals, 69 points in the 2013-14 season adjusted expected goals mark of 51 percent.

Josh Bailey: career-high 18 goals, 71 points in the 2017-18 season The problem: the Leafs only scored once.

Anders Lee: career-high 40 goals, 62 points in the 2017-18 season Kapanen buries most of his goals flying down the right wing, not grinding away down low in the offensive zone as Tavares and Hyman both seem That wasn’t all about Tavares, obviously, but it wasn’t a coincidence to prefer. Maybe their puck-hogging skills will create openings for either. Kapanen to shoot the puck. Maybe having Hyman back hunting the puck down on the forecheck will put Tavares in position to do damage around With his power, smarts and skills, Tavares could reliably prop up the blue paint again. It was notable that Tavares and Marner, together linemates who weren’t in the same ballpark of talent as him. It’s been the again but without Hyman on the left to start the season, struggled to same story over the years in Pittsburgh with Sidney Crosby, all the Conor produce (the forces of regression were probably part of that as well). Sheary’s and Chris Kunitz’s who shined in his spotlight. Babcock gave Kapanen only a period with Tavares (and Trevor Moore) in Marner was different for Tavares though. the first game without Marner against the Blackhawks on Sunday. How As you can see from his most frequent linemates over nine seasons with soon will he turn elsewhere if the speedy Finn doesn’t cut it this time — if the Islanders, there was nobody quite in that class of ability: he struggles against better players, or doesn’t fit around the way Tavares and Hyman operate? Does another puck hound like Moore fit better there “I certainly never played with a player with Mitch’s type of skill set,” instead for an all-? How about the recently recalled and more Tavares said after the first Marner-less practice on Tuesday morning, skilled Nic Petan? another return to his former home on deck for Wednesday night. “Josh Bailey, I played a long time with him, had great poise and patience. And I Though they’ll miss Marner doing Marner things, Tavares should be able think they both have that, but Mitch plays in a different way and does it in to push the unit forward without him. his own style. And especially what he’s been able to do it as his age is He’s known first as a scorer, but also strung together 216 even-strength pretty remarkable.” assists as an Islander — the 20th best mark in the league. He set up 18 Marner, mostly at age 21, set up 18 of those 33 5-on-5 Tavares goals (55 of Lee’s 47 5-on-5 goals over their two seasons together (Lee dropped to percent), often on plays just like this: 15 5-on-5 goals last year without Tavares) and had 27 5-on-5 assists last year, one fewer than Washington’s ace passer Nicklas Backstrom. But turn that stat around and Tavares scored 15 goals without any help Drawing most of the focus for himself, he’s shown he can make others (on the scoresheet at least) from Marner. He also assisted on 10 Marner goals, seven for Morgan Rielly, and three for Hyman. around him better that way, lift them to heights they never reached before or since.

We just haven’t seen him do it exclusively without Marner as a Leaf. Last season, Tavares played 1,060 minutes 5-on-5 with Marner, and only 194 minutes without him. Interestingly, the Leafs still mustered about 52 percent of the shot attempts in those minutes he played without No. 16. Marner sunk to 39 percent possession, meanwhile, without Tavares.

“Well, when you’re playing with different players,” Tavares said. “Guys play different ways, have different tendencies, and I think it’s just trying to have a feel for that and be predictable for one another, but be unpredictable for the opponent so you can be able to create time and space, get opportunities in the middle of the ice, and be able to control the puck and have possession.”

This version of the line should still be a possession-plus for the Leafs, capable of pounding the puck shift after shift in opposition territory. That should be especially true given the second-rate competition they’re likely to face with Matthews and William Nylander rightly drawing first looks these days.

It’s possible though that the Leafs don’t get the best version of Hyman for weeks, maybe even when Marner finally returns in December. Hyman hasn’t played a game of any kind since Game 7 of the Leafs first round series with Boston. No real training camp. No exhibition games. Nothing but practice in the long recovery from a torn ACL.

“So, can he get on the forecheck and do that, and get us the puck back like he always does? Babcock wondered. “I don’t know the answer to that for sure.”

Marner was limping around the Leafs practice facility on Tuesday, a walking boot enclosing his damaged right ankle. He hoped to shed the big, grey monstrosity by the end of the week, get the leg moving again, and get some mobility back in the ankle. It’s the first such injury he’s had in his career. He hoped to use the time off the ice to bolster his shot further. He was thankful the injury wasn’t more serious.

“When I fell, I felt a snap in my ankle, and I think that’s why I was expecting, when I looked back, for my ankle to be facing the wrong direction,” Marner said. “When I noticed that it wasn’t, I didn’t really know what the feeling was — I didn’t know what the result could have been. So, I had my mind open to anything. I looked at the video and the photos afterward and I got pretty lucky that nothing really substantial (came) out of that.”

In the meantime, the Leafs get their first real look at Tavares without him. (They still have yet to have lines centered by Tavares and Matthews fully functioning at the same time together, a chance that won’t come now for weeks at the earliest.)

One of the best and highest paid players in the league — his $11 million cap hit is tied with Drew Doughty for fifth-highest in the NHL — gets a rare chance to be more like the guy he was for the first nine years of his career, the one driving his own unit.

The Athletic LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161267 Toronto Maple Leafs Further to the point above, I think Rasmus Sandin has a part to play yet for this Leafs team. And to go with that, Timothy Liljegren- who had a bit of a disappointing training camp – has been excellent for the Marlies thus far, particularly in a couple of areas they wanted to see improvement. He Bourne: The Leafs are trying to be a different kind of team and it will take looks stronger, and his defensive play has been great. If they can talk time to make that work him out of trying The Most Amazing Play every time, and settle for a few more Just Good plays, it’s not impossible he’s a relevant name at some

point (though that one is far, far less likely). By Justin Bourne Nov 12, 2019 The backup goaltender situation simply isn’t going to be what it’s been. It can’t be worse with Kasimir Kaskisuo – as I grit my teeth and wince and prepare to get that very sentence tweeted at me in a month – and it if When discussing what the Toronto Maple Leafs will be throughout this stays this bad, they’ll bring someone else in. Whoever the backup is, they 82-game season and into playoffs, all we have to go off is what they’ve are bound to post numbers better than what Hutchinson has given them been to date. In sports, the past performance of most rosters is usually a to date. That’s a safe bet. good indication of future performance. The fourth line will settle into something resembling consistency, and as But the Leafs are a weird, weird club, man. And I say that affectionately. fourth lines go, it will be pretty good. I’ve liked most iterations of their My affection comes from one clearly defined place: they’ve dared to be fourth line to date, but I don’t think it’s impossible there’s an add to be different, which is admirable in the midst of hockey’s cookie-cutter made there somehow. The team’s lack of physicality could be addressed culture. Truly, NHL teams are the Spiderman meme to the nth degree. with one of those spots; not by adding some meathead, but at least someone who’s got a little bite to their game. I do believe they’ve got To wit: Almost everyone forechecks in a 1-2-2 (maybe with a wrinkle), their eyes open for a player like that to become available. their PPs are almost universally 1-3-1s (with a wrinkle), their set breakouts are largely some variation of a double swing (perhaps a What intrigues me about the Leafs, is that even while they’re wrinkle?) and on and on. Even most teams claiming they’re wrinkly are underperforming compared to expectations, they’re still hanging around mostly hanging their hats on times when they received a favourable in the standings. It’s been a herky-jerky go so far, yet they’re talented outcome despite things not going according to plan. This copycat-ism enough that that hasn’t meant disaster. Even their “disasters” these days applies to not just systems play, but also to team culture, practices, roster – giving up five and losing to the Blackhawks – tend to come with construction, you name it. positives. They gave up five and lost to a likely non-playoff team, BUT they threatened 60 shots, scored four and scrapped back from an early While the Leafs aren’t exactly breaking the mold in many of those areas, hole. they stand out when it comes to that last part, roster construction. As I’ve noted before, the main criterion for a place on the team’s roster is high- That’s a thing that talented teams do – hang around, and sometimes win end skill, with only a couple of players being remotely physical. They even on off-nights – that makes it infuriating for the coaches of less- overhauled half the roster in the offseason, shuffled up lines and pairs as talented teams, as was the case when they beat the Kings last Tuesday their young stars entered their age primes. When the puck was dropped night. Those grind ‘em out, nothing is happening games usually end with to start the season, it was quite a different looking group than the one the more talented of the teams finding just a moment (or two) that results that left the ice after their Game 7 defeat in Boston. Different to the point in a goal and that’s the game. (Incidentally, this is why Babcock wants where I think it’s fair to say they may need a little more time to gel than them to play so tight. If the whole game is tight, as with playoffs, he your average team, which is almost always put together using the same believes having difference-makers – which they do – will leave them on recipe. It’s a little harder when everyone’s not just plugged into a generic top more often than not at the final buzzer.) roster spot like usual. So even without perceived success so far, their talent has kept them in Frankly, I think they were as eager to find out what they are as the rest of the playoff mix and at least within striking distance of the top teams in the us. And to build off that, I think they still are. We all still are. Injuries have league. only further contributed to this curiosity, as Toronto has yet to roll out the fully-assembled version of themselves, instead regularly looking like When I watch the Leafs right now, I just can’t help but feel that part of many enjoyable toys that almost certainly didn’t arrive in the same box. why it looks a little off at times is just that they need time (something fans (It’s the same as when my son tries to stick magnetic blocks to his Legos. never want to hear), because they are trying to be a different type of Both are great toys. In tandem? Well, he’s going to have to get awfully team. Nobody – not me, not the players, not Dubas or Babcock – really creative to make that work, but if he does, look the hell out.) knows how it plays out when there’s never anybody to answer the cliched hockey bell, so to speak, but the team still scores enough to win a lot. They’ve been without their gritty/grindy/puck-getty winger in Zach What happens when the wins pile up in the face of physical pushback? Hyman, who creates so much disruption on the forecheck which allows Could it be even more buy-in, and even more success? Even the Leafs his linemates additional touches and O-zone time to be dangerous. They teams of more recent years past haven’t been quite so all-in on this style just got back Travis Dermott, who’s starting to shimmy and jive with of play. confidence, who instantly turns their third pair from a weakness to a strength. John Tavares missed a chunk of games; Kasperi Kapanen So while you don’t have to like what they’re trying to do – and when they struggled through an exploratory stretch of games on the first line; have off nights, it’s almost impossible to like, as there’s nothing for fans Freddy Andersen started slow; now Mitch Marner is going to spend a to glom on to – it’s tough to argue that they’re a group an opposing team stretch of the season on the shelf. would want to try to beat four times out of seven. Not for fear of anything physical, of course, but because they seem like a group that, when it’s all Looking from what they’ve been to what they could be, I’ve got a few gut working, is nearly impossible to hang with throughout the depth of their feelings: lineup. And the longer the Leafs have to get used to one another, to live comfortably within their style, I think they’ll start to have more good nights The line of Ilya Mikheyev, Alex Kerfoot and Kapanen isn’t just going to be than bad and that would raise them up from merely a “good team” to true passable, they’re going to be a menace for the opposition. And, that’s a contender. line the Leafs haven’t had for the bulk of the season. They’re fast as hell, they forecheck hard, they can all create and they’re going to see softer For Toronto, this regular season is solely, fully about bringing this team competition. They could be a decent second line on the majority of teams together to be the best group it can be in April and hopefully beyond. in the league, and so when the Leafs are healthy, they should be able to They’ll need to stay healthy, they’ll need Andersen to be the goalie they steal some games from farther down the lineup. know he can be and they’ll need some consistency. But I think they can find all those things, get positive results more often and get things I believe the team’s defence will look much different in the final quarter of moving the right way. This is a team that has at times seemed fragile but the season than what is currently being deployed. The Cody Ceci-with- could come together like a broken bone to be even stronger down the Morgan Rielly pairing needs more time to fully assess if it can work but road. assuming this is as good as it gets, I think the team makes a move there. It ain’t good. While it’s just my opinion that they make a roster move There will be games when it’s tough to remember, but there is a plan there, but for how unable Ceci looks at excelling in the big minutes he’s there, and though it’s different, it’s not impossible to see how it could be been given, coupled with his salary … I just don’t see a way they let that vicious. Only, in a very different way from how we usually mean, when go for 82 games and playoffs. we talk hockey. The Athletic LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161268 Toronto Maple Leafs and skates to the centre of the rink to begin practice. Along with backup goalie Michael Hutchinson, the three catch up following the off day before discussing the next day’s opponent: the Washington Capitals.

A Week in the Life of Frederik Andersen: Dining with the Matthews Before the rest of the team takes the ice, Andersen works on his family, late-nights watching Tiger and fantasy football Sunday positioning with the puck behind the net as he tries batting pucks away from dangerous areas near the goal.

Later, Auston Matthews attempts a lacrosse-style goal on Andersen, but By Joshua Kloke Nov 12, 2019 the goalie swats it away. The two friends share a smile.

Practice begins at 10:55 a.m. In its early moments, Leafs president Brendan Shanahan, general manager Kyle Dubas and Maple Leaf Sports It’s late October, and the Toronto Maple Leafs have not performed like a & Entertainment chairman Larry Tanenbaum observe from the stands. team with Stanley Cup aspirations. Team defence remains a concern, and so no player is more important to the Leafs success than 30-year-old After practice, Andersen sheds his gear save for a pair of bright orange goaltender Frederik Andersen. socks. He remains at the practice facility for a few hours to attend to a team signing. Various jerseys, sticks and photos are placed in front of In the midst of some early-season struggles between Oct. 27 and Nov.2, players to sign so that the club can later use them to raise money for The Athletic was granted an up-close glimpse into a week in the life of charity. Frederik Andersen… Andersen can appreciate the appeal of the memorabilia. He and fellow Sunday, October 27 Dane and current Detroit Red Wings forward Frans Nielsen attended the The Maple Leafs flight from Montreal touches down in Toronto at 12:30 same elementary school. Nielsen, who is five years older than Andersen, a.m. Sunday morning. Having just suffered a demoralizing 5-2 loss to the left Denmark to pursue professional hockey in Sweden at the age of 17. Canadiens a few hours ago, the Leafs find themselves 6-5-2 on the new A young Andersen once sheepishly approached Nielsen and asked him season, in third place in the Atlantic Division and well short of pre-season to sign a photo and other memorabilia. expectations. “He was probably the biggest talent in Denmark at the time,” said Frederik Andersen was not in net Saturday. Backup Michael Hutchinson Andersen. “He was the guy everyone thought was going to be the first to received the start versus Montreal since Andersen played the night break in. And obviously he was.” before against San Jose. And even though Saturday’s defeat could not Later, Andersen and teammate Zach Hyman sit down to film an be laid at Andersen’s feet, the 30-year-old Dane has endured his own upcoming episode of “Leaf to Leaf” for the team’s YouTube channel. share of early-season struggles. Entering play Saturday, his .903 save percentage sat well below his .918. career average with the Leafs when The two talked some golf, much to the delight of Andersen. the season began. “They’re always hit or miss in how fun they are to do,” said Andersen, In the wee hours of Sunday morning, as debates around the root of his “but this one was good.” team’s struggles continue to swirl on Maple Leafs Twitter, Andersen returns to his downtown Toronto condo and turns on The Golf Channel They also engaged in a game of Connect Four, which Andersen wins. and the replay of the final round of the PGA Tour’s Zozo Championship “(Hyman) is not as smart as people think he is,” cracks Andersen. from Chiba, Japan. Tiger Woods is in the lead as he chases what would be his Tour record-tying 82nd career victory. Andersen returns home and fires up his Uber Eats app. He has a hankering for Gusto 101, a popular downtown Italian restaurant. And like Sunday is a scheduled off day for the Leafs, so Andersen stays up to so many professional athletes, Andersen is a creature of habit. He opts watch Woods close out a three-shot victory. Andersen’s interest in for chicken and pasta, a standard pregame meal. watching golf has been growing rapidly. It is the night before a game. Per his routine, Andersen takes a warm If there’s a tournament on TV, Andersen will indulge. bath to help calm his nerves and quiet his mind. Following a late-night on the couch watching the golf, Andersen sleeps in “The noise is noise,” said Andersen. “When you walk downtown and you past his usual 8 a.m. wake-up time. hear all the cars buzzing by you, that doesn’t mean you have to listen to He then spends his Sunday afternoon back on his couch, flipping back them. You can just carry on with your business.” and forth between NFL games. Of particular interest are the Tuesday, October 29 performances of two quarterbacks on his fantasy football team: Kirk Cousins of the Minnesota Vikings and Daniel Jones of the New York One of the most vital elements of Andersen’s game-day routine is water. Giants. He starts sipping it when his alarm goes off at 8 a.m. and he doesn’t stop Andersen opted to start Cousins over Jones on the basis of a strong until he goes to bed that night. By the end of a game day, Andersen performance the previous week from Cousins. But on this Sunday, estimates he’ll have consumed at least six litres. Cousins fails to throw a TD pass and Andersen can only watch in frustration as Jones throws for four TDs. “Goalies tend to sweat more,” said Andersen when asked to explain why he drinks so much. “I’m in a rotation right now that’s not working very well,” Andersen said the next day, shaking his head with a smile. There’s a 10:30 a.m. optional morning skate at Scotiabank Arena he plans to attend. Andersen lives downtown yet he opts to drive. “Not gonna cut it,” chimed in Leafs forward Nick Shore. “(I live) just far enough that I don’t want to walk,” he said. “Especially as Following the first slate of Sunday games, Andersen heads over to the it’s getting colder.” home of his good friend, Auston Matthews. The two teammates live in the same building. Upon his arrival at the arena, he eats an omelette stuffed with vegetables. He then pours himself a coffee in a paper cup and “makes Matthews’ parents – or, as Andersen calls them, “Ema and Brian” – are the rounds,” checking in with the team’s medical staff and trainers. in town. Andersen, who lives alone, does not see his own family that often. Andersen he feels good about the work he put in at yesterday’s practice, so he opts to remain off the ice. Ema Matthews is making tortilla soup and enchiladas. Andersen does not want to miss them. “I’d rather save the energy,” he said.

Monday, October 28 Andersen meets with Steve Briere to discuss the Capitals and their tendencies. But there are stipulations. Andersen doesn’t like to watch too At 10:24 a.m., three minutes after Maple Leafs goalie coach Steve Briere much game-day video on an opponent. is the first person to hit a fresh sheet of ice at the Ford Performance Centre in Toronto’s west end, Andersen leaves the Leafs’ dressing room “What I’ve found in the past is that if I watch too much video on a certain He then adds a division symbol to the tiny, acoustic guitar. Andersen team, or shootouts, it locks you in,” he explained. “You’re thinking and then combs his long, curly red hair straight down towards his eyes before thinking and when you’re thinking about moving, you can’t move.” donning a pair of thick, black-rimmed glasses.

For lunch, he grabs some baked chicken, pasta, salad and, of course, “Fred Sheeran” was a hit, both at the Halloween party and on social more water. He then heads back home to watch TV and take his mind off media. hockey. He’s been struggling to find a new show to dive into, so when in doubt, Andersen calls up It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. WE HAVE A WINNER FOLKS -> @F_ANDERSEN30 PIC.TWITTER.COM/RYKXLWMEDX “That’s one of my favourites,” he said. — PAUL BISSONNETTE (@BIZNASTY2POINT0) OCTOBER 31, 2019 On game days, Andersen typically doesn’t need a pregame nap, but he still leaves himself a window for one from 1:30-3:15 p.m, if necessary. If Thursday, October 31 not, he’ll just hang out at home. Andersen describes his Thursday, another off day, as “chill.”

Just after 3:15 p.m., Andersen puts on a suit and makes his way to the He visits the dentist for a cleaning. arena. On game days, he tries to arrive at least three hours before puck drop, making him one of the first players there. He prefers a light “It’s been postponed for a while now,” he said. “I keep saying I’ll do it on pregame meal, usually chicken with vegetables. He’ll then tape his sticks, my day off, and then you get a day off, and it’s like, ‘Nah, I don’t wanna go for a treatment session and make a small coffee to provide himself do anything.’” with a jolt of energy. Despite a predilection for chocolate, Andersen escapes with no cavities. Throughout his pregame routine, Andersen keeps an eye on a red clock He returns home and gets a visit from the barber the Leafs employ to in the Leafs dressing room that counts down to puck drop. service players at their homes. After growing his hair out for the role of “My whole life revolves around that countdown,” he said. “Fred Sheeran,”Andersen is ready for a trim. The barber does his thing while Andersen watches TV. Sixteen minutes prior to puck drop, some Leafs, including Andersen, have gathered in a hall outside the dressing room. Mitch Marner emerges He appreciates the service. from the room and gives Andersen a chest bump. “We have a busy lifestyle and a busy schedule,” said Andersen. “Any At 6:28 p.m. Andersen leads the Leafs onto the ice. time you can eliminate travelling with small stuff like that is a little win.”

At 6:35 p.m., with electronic music blaring from the house speakers, line The rest of the day is spent inside his condo. He’s the first to admit that rushes begin. his free day wasn’t glamourous.

As the two-minute warning horn sounds, Andersen remains on the ice “Nothing exciting.” practicing mock saves. Friday, November 1 At 6:43 p.m, Andersen head backs to the Leafs’ dressing room. Andersen begins the 11 a.m. practice with some fun, playing forward and Minutes before 7 p.m., Tanenbaum walks by the Leafs dressing room. practicing tip-ins as Briere fires pucks from the opposite blue line. Every He stops to exchange hugs and fist bumps with a crowd of 20 or so puck Andersen tips finishes in the net. people gathered near the dressing room door. When Andersen exits the ice, a crowd of reporters are awaiting him. The Leafs play well enough, but it’s Alex Ovechkin’s night. The future Media scrums are rare for Andersen, but his Halloween costume has Hall of Famer plays like a man possessed after lighting a media fire drawn attention around the league, and it’s an opportunity to ask him earlier in the day by suggesting the scuffling Maple Leafs need to ask whether his team’s disappointing performance to the start the season themselves whether they want to play for the Stanley Cup, or continue to concerns him. play for themselves. “No,” said Andersen. “Worrying does nothing good.” With the game tied 3-3 in overtime, a patented Ovechkin shot beats “We still have lots of hockey left,” he continued. “You can’t win the Cup in Andersen high on the glove side. the first month or lose it.” Final score: Washington 4, Toronto 3. Later that afternoon, Anderson and the Leafs board an afternoon flight to Just after 10 p.m. inside the Maple Leafs dressing room, Andersen is Philadelphia for their game against the Flyers on Saturday night. hastily peeling off his equipment and dividing it into the two open Andersen takes his customary seat two rows from the back of the plane, equipment bags in front of him. Meanwhile, at the opposite end of the with captain John Tavares seated in front of him. No one sits beside room, a handful of Andersen’s teammates conduct postgame media Andersen on the plane, allowing extra room for his 6-foot-4 frame. scrums. For flights, Andersen says he always wears compression gear, including Once out of his equipment, Andersen quietly exits the dressing room to a hoodie. lift some weights. “We spend a lot of time in suits,” he explained. “It’s nice to get out of the Wednesday, October 30 suit and just be comfy.”

Andersen arrives a few hours before a noon practice. He grabs a coffee, A little in front of his seat on the plane is the card table, where veterans lifts some weights, stretches, receives treatment and is on the ice half an Rielly, Jake Muzzin, Marner, Hyman, Tyson Barrie, and Alex Kerfoot hour before the rest of the team. typically set up. Andersen has joined them before, but he hasn’t yet this season and doesn’t plan to be back at the table anytime soon. As his teammates begin to trickle on to the ice, Andersen has a long chat with Matthews as the centre playfully gives him a few chops on his pads. “You don’t sit at the table,” said Andersen. “Unless you’re invited.”

After practice, Andersen is ready to get his mind off hockey. Tonight will Andersen prefers the solitude. Movies and TV shows are his go-to in- present the perfect opportunity at the team’s Halloween party. flight entertainment options, as are sports podcasts. High up on his list of preferred podcasts is Spittin’ Chiclets. He enjoys listening to Paul “I’m not a huge Halloween guy, but I’m looking forward to getting together Bissonnette, Ryan Whitney and Rear Admiral talk hockey. But it’s when with the guys because I think it’s important to do stuff away from the the conversation shifts to golf that Andersen says he enjoys it the most. rink,” said Andersen earlier in the week. “The tighter you get, the better. We’re slowly building.” Years ago, at a golf tournament hosted by then-teammate, Ryan Getzlaf, Andersen played a round with Bissonnette. While some Leafs put together elaborate costumes, Andersen needs to make but a few, small, last-minute additions before he heads out. One “His swing is really good,” said Andersen. item he still needs is a small guitar. A cheap one, too. “In case it didn’t make it home from the venue,” he explained. A Friday night team meal has been arranged, with captain John Tavares keep working on things we can improve on and I thought we’ve been selecting Barclay Prime, an upscale steakhouse. Andersen is happy to good at that.” leave his evening dining choice in the captain’s hands. Andersen refuels with a slice of pizza as he walks past his teammates “Johnny’s usually really good at scoping out a good restaurant,” said conducting their own postgame interviews. Andersen. “You play in the league long enough, you’ve been to enough chain steakhouses.” Fifteen minutes later, the bowels of the Wells Fargo Center are quiet. Former Leaf James van Riemsdyk is standing just outside the locker Seafood appetizers are shared, as is a $120 cheesesteak featuring rooms. Multiple Leafs players stop to say hello and chat. truffled cheese whiz. Andersen exits the Leafs dressing room carrying a bottle of water, a The Leafs have had four back-to-backs to this point of the season, which bottle of Biosteel and a large, wrapped Philly cheesesteak sandwich from means four of their five road games have been on the heels of a game local restaurant Steak Em’ Up. Sweat is still dripping from his brow. the night before. It hasn’t provided many opportunities for the team to Andersen is one of the last players to stop and chat with van Riemsdyk, socialize on the road, which couldn’t hurt a team with as many new faces and he is one of the last Leafs to exit the arena and enter the team bus. as Toronto has. The bus departs Wells Fargo Center at 10:30 p.m. and is headed for the “The more you get used to people, the better energy you have around airport. Andersen will board the flight, assume his customary seat, and each other and the better vibe you have around,” said Andersen. “That perhaps, quietly enjoy his sandwich. kind of stuff doesn’t come out of nowhere. You have to get to know guys. At home, it’s more difficult. Guys are going home or they have people, The Athletic LOADED: 11.13.2019 friends in town. But when you’re on the road, it’s just the boys. You have time to create those bonds between everyone. It slowly comes and slowly builds as you get more comfortable with everyone.”

Saturday, November 2

Andersen arrives at the Wells Fargo Center for the optional morning skate dressed in a white shirt and a wool, maroon suit.

As he chats with a reporter, who is also wearing maroon, Marner pounces.

“That’s nice you guys planned to match today,” said Marner.

After spending the afternoon in his hotel room, Andersen returns to the arena ahead of a 7 p.m. “Hockey Night in Canada” date with the Flyers. It will be Andersen’s second career start in Philadelphia and first since he made a rare expression of frustration following his team’s 3-2 overtime loss on Jan. 18, 2018.

“We’ve got to look at each other in the eyes here and determine where we want to go from here,” Andersen told reporters that night. “I don’t think we’re tired; I think it’s lack of effort at certain points and that’s something that can’t happen. We’ve got to figure this out if we want to play any meaningful hockey later.”

“It wasn’t meant to be a call out,” Andersen explained this Saturday morning. “We were having some frustration. I think we just needed everyone to look themselves in the mirror. But that’s really how it is the whole year.”

And it is no different this season.

“Everyone has to almost take it personal, to prepare as well as you can for yourself,” said Andersen. “Once you build chemistry, you’re going to have better success.”

At 6:36 p.m., with 15:58 on the countdown clock, Andersen leads the Leafs onto the ice. The Philly faithful greet them with boos.

At 7:04 p.m. “Frederik Andersen” is announced as the Leafs starter by the Wells Fargo Center public address announcer. Flyers fans, as is customary, take over for the PA announcer after “Andersen” by shouting, “sucks!”

Following an exhausting 4-3 shootout win, Andersen is presented with one of the iconic white “Hockey Night in Canada” towels during his postgame interview.

“I think to Canadians they’re probably a little bit more special because they grew up watching, but they’re still fun to have a few at home,” said Andersen.

Saturday’s shootout win had gone 11 rounds, the longest in Leafs history. Andersen stopped 10 of the 11 shots.

If life is measured in small victories, Andersen has every right to celebrate Saturday night. He believes his team has taken a step in the right direction.

“We’ve been pretty good at staying patient and trying to control what we can control,” said Andersen, during his postgame “Hockey Night in Canada” interview. “We can’t really think about what you guys are saying and how much pressure you guys want to put on us. All we can do is 1161269 Toronto Maple Leafs from Cherry, whose routine had long been stale and tired. But the company, which was already under attack for messing with Hockey Night — the new host had earrings! — didn’t want to wear the execution of Coach’s Corner, and so Cherry and MacLean have stuck around, even Scott Stinson: After his 'you people' diatribe, it's time to find out if Don through multiple contract extensions. Cherry is truly untouchable Despite significant cost-cutting measures at Sportsnet in the summer, How can everyone agree that what Cherry said was offensive and with the departures of mainstays like Bob McCown, Nick Kypreos, John discriminatory, while the person who made the comments says nothing? Shannon, and Doug MacLean from its broadcasts, Cherry has endured. The 85-year-old analyst boasted that he knew he was safe, because his

segment has a big sponsor. And so, another chance to cut ties came and Scott Stinson went, another season with Cherry on his national soap box began. (Budweiser Canada, which sponsors Coach’s Corner, has not yet responded to a request for comment.)

Six years ago this month, when dropped a $5- Eventually, he stepped in it, as it always seemed Cherry would. billion bomb on the Canadian television landscape when it scooped up the national NHL broadcast rights, one of the most talked about It is, admittedly, old and tired to compare Cherry to a grandpa, but I questions was what it meant for Don Cherry. always come back to that. My late grandfather joined the Canadian army as a teenager, and was wounded in Italy. He didn’t like talking about the That this was one of the most talked about questions was indicative of war and he found Remembrance Day too painful. I think of him when I just how incredibly outsized Cherry’s role as Canada’s Great Hockey wear a poppy. He was also funny and warm, and occasionally profane Crank had become. The NHL rights deal had blown up the plans of TSN, and caustic, and it would have been a huge mistake to put him on the CBC, and was a massively risky bet for Rogers, but the big television every Saturday night. uncertainty was: what would it mean for Coach’s Corner? What if, gasp, the old guy dressed like grandma’s curtains wasn’t around to grouse That’s about where we are with Don Cherry. about the old days and lament the influx of Swedes? Could Canada Back in 2013, when the questions about the NHL on Rogers were survive such a cultural loss? coming fast, Hubert Lacroix, then the president of the CBC, Cherry’s Cherry eventually answered those questions himself. “I know I’m number long-time enabler, said all of these things would be determined by the one and Coach’s Corner is number one,” Cherry, then a spry 79 years new guys. old, said the week of the big Rogers deal. He followed this with a “That’s a Rogers responsibility,” Lacroix said. “And you know what? question of sorts for the suits at Rogers: “And what are you going to do?” That’s fair — they just paid $5.2-billion for it.” Indeed, what are they going to do? They sure did. And all that it entails. In the time since Cherry complained on Saturday night about the people National Post LOADED: 11.13.2019 who don’t wear poppies, his comments have been put in the context of someone who often says controversial things: about fighting, about foreign hockey players, about commies and pinkos and Rob Ford and Donald Trump. And yet, for all of the many times his comments have landed with a thud and led to renewed calls for him to be removed from Hockey Night in Canada, nothing he has said had the bitter, nasty edge of his Saturday-night comments. Even for Cherry, complaining about “you people” who “come from wherever” was a new nadir. Suddenly, all the checks and balances of a television broadcast had fallen away, and it was just a grumpy old man spouting off about something he didn’t like. The surprise, really, is that it has taken this long.

And so, we wait to see what Rogers will do.

It is, admittedly, old and tired to compare Cherry to a grandpa, but I always come back to that

It is plainly obvious that if literally any other Rogers employee went on one of its properties and used the language that Cherry used, that person would be fired. It must be galling for the many reporters and anchors at the company who know the importance of choosing their words carefully that Cherry can say what he said and, two days later, have received nothing other than an apparent talking-to from his bosses at Rogers.

“We have spoken with Don about the severity of this issue,” said the statement from Bart Yabsley, president of Sportsnet. He also apologized for Cherry’s “discriminatory comments.” Ron MacLean, Cherry’s good- natured foil, also apologized on social media, and on air on Sunday night, saying his partner’s comments were hurtful and discriminatory and “flat- out wrong.”

While Cherry has no lack of defenders this morning — several of whom will no doubt append their thoughts below this article — who insist that he was just speaking up for veterans or saying what many Canadians think, the fact that Sportsnet and MacLean have made no attempt to justify his comments makes it all the more clear that what happened on Saturday night can’t just be left to hang. How can everyone agree that what Cherry said was offensive and discriminatory, while the person who made the comments says nothing? (Cherry told The Toronto Sun on Sunday that he had said his piece on the matter already, and that was that.)

It’s a question that Yabsley, Rogers Media president Jordan Banks, and Rogers Communications chief executive Joe Natale, and chairman Edward Rogers, should be asking themselves now. None of those men were in those roles when Rogers bought the NHL package in 2013, although that was the first time that Rogers could have distanced itself 1161270 Vegas Golden Knights

Golden Knights say they must get back to ‘in-your-face’ hockey

By Ben Gotz Las Vegas Review-Journal

November 12, 2019 - 8:28 PM

Updated November 12, 2019 - 8:43 PM

The Golden Knights woke up Tuesday out of the playoff picture, two days after completing a 1-2-1 road trip.

There’s no question that’s disappointing for a franchise that has developed a large amount of pride in its first three seasons.

The Knights (9-7-3) remain talented. The core of two playoff teams is there. But it will take effort, discipline and resilience to maximize it — lessons the Knights have learned the hard way through 19 games. They can’t overwhelm opponents with skill. They can’t coast to victories. They need to play “in-your-face hockey,” as left wing Max Pacioretty termed it, even when things don’t go their way.

They’ll try to do so against the Chicago Blackhawks (6-7-4) at 7 p.m. Wednesday at T-Mobile Arena.

“We’re not a team that has some of the superstar skill that wants to get into shootouts and (get into) back-and-forth action with teams,” Pacioretty said. “We want to grind teams down. We want to play as a unit of five. We want to forecheck. We want to backcheck. We’re not going to float around and wait for opportunities to come and create highlight-reel goals.”

It’s not that the Knights haven’t done the things Pacioretty mentioned. But they haven’t done them consistently. The team plays well for stretches, then suffers a lapse. Or makes a mistake.

And not recovering.

“I just think right now you may have times in the game where things may not go your way and you can’t shrug your shoulders back and slouch down on the bench,” defenseman Nate Schmidt said. “You have to attack those types of things. There’s things that are going to go wrong. How you handle that can describe where your team is.”

A simple stat illustrates Schmidt’s point. The Knights are 2-5-2 when their opponent scores first, worse than their 16-21-3 mark last season and 17- 19-5 record in 2017-18. If they get ahead, they roll. If they don’t, more often than not, they flounder.

Bridging that gap is the Knights’ mission. Making sure they attack the same way whether they’re leading or trailing.

Coach Gerard Gallant called on his team Tuesday to string more scoring chances together, create more transition opportunities and play better in its defensive zone. If the Knights do that, there’s no reason they can’t get back on track.

After all, despite their sloppy start, they entered Tuesday just five points out of the Pacific Division lead. They were two points behind second- place Calgary despite playing one fewer game.

“I’m not happy right now, but we’re still not at rock bottom here,” Gallant said. “We just got to play better. We’ve got to get our game going better and be more consistent. That’s all.”

Pacioretty and Schmidt said that starts with constantly being in attack mode, no matter the score.

“We’ve got to create an identity here quickly that we’re resilient in terms of if we let up a goal, we’re going to come back and play right-back-in- your-face hockey,” Pacioretty said. “That hasn’t been the case. We let up a goal, we play too much on our heels.”

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161271 Vegas Golden Knights

Golden Knights launch program for fans to buy game-worn merchandise

By Rochelle Richards Las Vegas Review-Journal

November 12, 2019 - 12:00 PM

The Golden Knights have launched a new program to sell used Knights gear to fans, the team announced Tuesday.

VGK Authentics is the team’s official and only authorized channel for game-used, game-worn and pro-stock products.

Items will be collected from the ice or locker room by NHL Off-Ice officials or the Knights equipment team. Each item will be tagged with a holographic sticker that contains a unique identification code, where fans can acquire more information on the product by entering the code at vgkauthentics.com.

“We want Golden Knights fans and collectors to feel confident in their purchase of Game-Used products,” Knights President Kerry Bubolz said. “Our new VGK Authentics program enforces a strict authentication process to ensure all products advertised as game-worn actually are.”

Jerseys, sticks, helmets, gloves, skates and pucks are some of the items that will be for sale at VegasTeamStore.com.

VGK Authentics products can also be purchased at the Arsenal at City National Arena, the Armory at T-Mobile Arena, Terminal 3 and D-Gate at McCarran International Airport.

“We know our fans love getting as close to the action as possible and our VGK Authentics program is the newest way for them to bring a piece of the Golden Knights home,” Knights Chief Marketing Officer Brian Killingsworth said.

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Golden Knights’ Alex Tuch wants to be ‘game-changer’ upon return

By Ben Gotz Las Vegas Review-Journal

November 12, 2019 - 11:01 am

Updated November 12, 2019 - 4:32 PM

The Golden Knights received a glimmer of hope Tuesday after their disappointing 1-2-1 trip.

Right wing Alex Tuch practiced fully at City National Arena after missing the previous four games with an upper-body injury. If he’s back in the lineup Wednesday against the Chicago Blackhawks at T-Mobile Arena — coach Gerard Gallant said he would make a decision after the team’s morning skate — he would add speed and forechecking to a group that sorely needs it.

“I want to try to be a game-changer every night going forward using my speed and my size to try to turn the tide,” Tuch said. “I’m really happy to be back, but our team has to take it up a notch moving forward.”

Tuch, 23, has endured a frustrating start to his third season with the Knights. He sustained an upper-body injury in the second-to-last preseason game and missed the first 13 games. Then, in his second game back, he was hit up high by Winnipeg Jets left wing Adam Lowry and sat out four more games.

That means Tuch, whose 52 points ranked fourth on the Knights last season, has played only 17:24 this season.

“When it first happens, you’re disappointed, pissed off, but you know what?” Tuch said. “You just got to kind of work through it. It’s part of the business. Injuries happen.”

Tuch’s return should boost the team’s struggling third line. He skated on the left with center Cody Eakin and right wing Cody Glass on Tuesday. The three have been on the ice for two goals in 13:30.

Eakin and Glass have been on the ice for one goal in 108:12 without Tuch.

“(Tuch is) a big part of our group,” Gallant said. “He’s going to help us a lot with scoring chances, with speed, with (forechecking).”

Knights 2019 first-round pick Peyton Krebs practiced with the team Tuesday as an extra on the fourth line.

Krebs, the 17th overall pick, has been rehabbing in Las Vegas after undergoing surgery for a partially torn Achilles tendon he suffered before the draft. The center is the Review-Journal’s No. 3 Knights prospect.

“He looked excellent,” Gallant said. “I was really happy to see him out there. I know he’s excited.”

There and back again

The Knights recalled Glass, center Nicolas Roy and defenseman Nicolas Hague after sending them to the American Hockey League’s Chicago Wolves on Monday. Roy and Hague have shuffled between the AHL and NHL multiple times this season to create additional space under the salary cap.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161273 Vegas Golden Knights

On Sports Retail: Golden Knights Will Be Peddling VGK Theme Bicycle

November 12, 2019

By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com

The Golden Knights’ revenue-making ways are entering the human- powered, two-wheeled world as a bicycle with VGK colors and logos is getting ready to be rolled out soon.

The manager of the VGK team store at City National Arena Tuesday showed LVSportsBiz.com photos on a cell phone showing a Golden Knights bicycle that looked like a mountain bike or hybrid bike with a straight handlebar and tires that were wider than what you see on road bicycles.

LVSportsBiz.com wouldn’t be surprised if the Golden Knights two- wheeler would be available this holiday season. The team had a prominent Black Friday event called “Gold Friday” this month a year ago when items such as VGK branded cigars, a pajama-like onesie and inaugural season book were sold at the team store called The Arsenal.

The store manager believed the bicycle was going to retail for about $399.

He noted the store removed Golden Knights bicycle jerseys and shorts- bibs to get ready for the holiday season, The Knights unveiled the bicycle jersey and shorts last season, with the jersey selling for $215 — a price LVSportsBiz.com thought was on the high side. LVSportsBiz.com, in fact, met a bicyclist wearing the Golden Knights bike jersey this past Saturday. The cyclist said he did not pay for the jersey because it was too expensive for him. but noted his son and daughter teamed up together to buy the jersey for his birthday.

The Golden Knights also announced Tuesday a new retail program called, “VGK Authentics.” In an email to fans, the Knights said the it’s a “new authentication program for products coming out of the locker room. This program is the team’s official and only authorized channel for game- used, game-worn and pro-stock products.

“Items are collected from the ice or locker room by NHL Off-Ice Officials or the Golden Knights equipment team, then given to VGK Authentics to be tagged with a holographic sticker and distributed. Each sticker contains a unique identification code that adds an extra element of product security for fans.”

LVSportsBiz.com LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161274 Washington Capitals carried a $5.5 million salary, to Colorado. That gave them the flexibility to sign Carlson to an eight-year, $64 million deal.

Carlson’s response in 2018-19: his best season, followed by what is With the Nationals facing questions, the Capitals provide one set of shaping up to be an even better one this year, maybe worthy of the answers Norris Trophy as the NHL’s top defenseman.

Would it be surprising if Rendon, who just completed a season in which he’ll finish among the top three in the National League’s MVP race, sets Barry Svrluga a new standard for his career best in the first season of his next contract? No, it would not. Sports columnist For the Capitals, there were little adjustments. Grubauer was good November 12, 2019 at 2:14 PM EST enough to be a starter, and that’s what he became in Colorado. Beagle, a fourth-line center and, as MacLellan said, “a glue guy,” was in line to make more money elsewhere, so he left for Vancouver. Such losses Mike Rizzo is in Arizona now, looking at his pieces and wondering how to would be comparable to, say, Asdrúbal Cabrera or Gerardo Parra or Yan reassemble the puzzle. It’s tricky stuff, this championship-winning Gomes walking away from the Nats — all likely. business. The moments and the memories make you want to keep the group that created them together ad infinitum. The dollars and cents Orpik, though, came back to the Caps at a reduced rate after Colorado mean you probably can’t. cut him — which would be comparable to what could happen with Zimmerman. One’s a wise old defenseman; the other is a wise old first But as the general manager of the World Series champion Washington baseman. It mattered to keep Orpik. It matters to keep Zimmerman. Nationals, that’s Rizzo’s task as the offseason really starts moving at baseball’s general managers meetings: Who is a priority to keep, and at Whatever team Rizzo and the Lerners assemble, it will have an aura what cost? And if there’s a difficult financial decision to make and a core unlike any Nationals team before it. The difference: The core guys won’t piece lands elsewhere, what’s the toll on the clubhouse that just just be trying to win a championship. The core guys will have won a delivered the trophy? championship. That colored how the Caps felt about themselves when the playoffs began in the spring. Where could we possibly find the answer? Let’s ask a GM from across town. “I can tell you this: When we went into playoffs last year, there was no doubt in my mind that we were going to repeat,” forward T.J. Oshie said. “The chemistry thing, I think, is huge,” said Brian MacLellan, who “At that time, I was fully confident that we had the right guys in the room.” occupies Rizzo’s corresponding seat with the Washington Capitals — and who went through this very exercise just 17 months ago after But there were other realities. winning the Stanley Cup. “I think your team grows together from those “In the end, it felt like that will to win wasn’t quite there in part of our losses that we had. You get key guys that have grown from the losses team,” MacLellan said. “Part of it is running out of gas, and part of it is: ‘I and experienced a win. There’s a bond there that’s going to be there don’t know if we want to go through this. I don’t know if I have the forever, I think.” energy.’ ” That not only means Alex Ovechkin is bonded to Nicklas Backstrom is Analysis: Anthony Rendon is about to get paid, but how much is he bonded to Jay Beagle is bonded to Matt Niskanen. That means Anthony worth? Rendon is bonded to Ryan Zimmerman is bonded to Stephen Strasburg is bonded to Howie Kendrick. Forever and ever and ever, amen. These are the first-world problems of sports. Win a championship — and then what? Bring everyone back? Spend more in hopes of winning Except those last four names, they all won with the Nationals last month, more? Only the Lerners and Rizzo will be able to answer those and they’re all free agents now. questions, and they’re not likely to this week or even this month. One Analysis: The Nationals moved fast at the start of last offseason. This other difference between the business of hockey and the business of one is already different. baseball: Hockey’s salary cap means decisions are implemented in an instant. Baseball’s lack of a cap means recent offseasons have crawled Let’s be clear about this: Hockey is not baseball, and the business of into February and even March, and the entire sport is prepared for that hockey is not the business of baseball. The NHL employs a hard salary again. cap, so teams know exactly how much cash they’re allowed to spend on a roster. Major League Baseball has only a competitive balance tax, so a One other item of note to the Nats: This Capitals experience, a year later, wealthy ownership group can spend as much as it damn well pleases — is still evolving. After unexpectedly flaming out in the first round of the as long as it’s willing to then pay a little more on top of that. playoffs this past spring, MacLellan instituted a mini overhaul. Five players who weren’t in the organization when they won the Cup — Carl So the simple answer, if the Lerner family — which owns the Nats — Hagelin, Radko Gudas, Garnet Hathaway, Brendan Leipsic and Richard wants to pay for, say, both Rendon and Strasburg to the tune of close to Panik — are now part of the regular lineup when everyone’s healthy. a half-billion dollars, then it can pay for both Rendon and Strasburg. That’s not a change to the Ovechkin-Backstrom core. But it’s a meaningful difference, and the early return is a team with more points But back to the Caps and the desire to keep the band together. When than anyone else in the league. essentially the same team took the ice again, the message, from ownership to the front office to the dressing room, was clear. The 2020 Nationals could have similar turnover, some combination of major and minor. But whatever’s left of the core — Max Scherzer and “The group had proven that they could win and get the job done, so there Adam Eaton and Juan Soto and Trea Turner and Patrick Corbin and was no reason to believe you couldn’t do it again,” said center Lars Eller, Sean Doolittle and others — they’ll be able to say to any newcomer who scored the Cup-winning goal in Las Vegas. “Once you’ve done it something other than, “This is how we think we can do it.” They’ll be able once, you know that you can do it. I think that was a positive to keep as to say: “This is how we did it. Follow along.” many players together as possible.”

The real decision for the Capitals in the summer of 2018 was somewhat analogous to the Nats’ decision on Rendon, the core third baseman in Washington Post LOADED: 11.13.2019 the prime of his career: whether they could bring back John Carlson, a core defenseman in the prime of his career.

“He was a key guy for our team,” MacLellan said. “What he provides, we need. That was priority one.”

MacLellan and his staff projected that Carlson’s market value would be greater than what the Caps could afford. So they got creative, trading backup goaltender Philipp Grubauer and defenseman Brooks Orpik, who 1161275 Washington Capitals Washington Times LOADED: 11.13.2019

Caps sprint to front to start another season

By Adam Zielonka - The Washington Times

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Even after losing in a shootout Monday night, there isn’t a team in the NHL hotter than the Washington Capitals.

By getting to overtime against the Arizona Coyotes, the Capitals earned one standings point rather than coming away empty-handed if it were a regulation loss. At 30 points (13-2-4), not only do they lead the league, they’re off to a hotter start than they’ve ever had during the Alex Ovechkin era.

In that span, the Capitals‘ previous best start through 20 games was 29 points off 14-5-1 starts in both 2010-11 and 2015-16. No matter the result Wednesday night when the Capitals play their 20th game at the Philadelphia Flyers, they’ve already surpassed that marker. (The best 20- game start in franchise history was a 15-5-0 start in 1991-92.)

The so-called “quarter pole” of the season is an ideal time to step back and evaluate teams, and right now, there’s not much for Capitals fans not to like. Washington leads the NHL with 76 goals, 11 more than the closest competitor; the goaltending tandem of Braden Holtby and Ilya Samsonov is playing better after Holtby’s shaky start to the year; and veterans like John Carlson and Evgeny Kuznetsov are on fire.

But how important is a hot start, really? At this time two years ago, the Capitals suffered a lopsided loss to the Colorado Avalanche in their 20th game, yielding a 10-9-1 start that was disappointing relative to expectations. Then-coach Barry Trotz had a frank, emotional discussion with his players in the locker room, and though there were still some peaks and valleys ahead, that team ended up getting hot at the right time and winning the Stanley Cup.

By contrast, those Capitals teams from 2010-11 and 2015-16 fell in the second round of the playoffs. Or take last year’s Tampa Bay Lightning team for a more exaggerated example: 14-5-1 at the quarter pole, a record-tying 62 wins at the end of the regular season, but not a single postseason win despite massive expectations.

“The only thing we care about is getting ourselves into the playoffs,” Nicklas Backstrom said Tuesday. “As we all know, it doesn’t really matter if you finish first or fourth. It doesn’t matter. You gotta have a good group, you have to play good at the same time and you gotta have a hot goalie. That’s what it’s all about.

“But,” he added, “up until April, I think it’s real important to collect as many points as you can and make sure you put yourself in a good spot.”

There’s no doubt the Capitals have achieved that. What’s separated this 20-game start from prior years has been their ability to scrape out a point by forcing games to overtime. That’s what they had to do Monday after falling behind 3-0 to the Coyotes. Kuznetsov picked up a pair of goals to pull his team back in, and they converted at 6-on-5 at the end of regulation to salvage the point.

“The regular season is a long year. You got 82 games,” Tom Wilson said after the game. “It’s impossible to have your best game every night, as much as the coach might say we’ve got to have our best game to win in this league. Sometimes you don’t. I don’t think tonight we had our best game, and you find a way to get a point. It’s just that consistency and that character of staying in there and doing what you can to pull a point or two out of these type of nights.”

The Capitals‘ resilience is a valuable quality to possess when looking toward the many months of regular-season hockey ahead.

“Things are gonna go south for us. And things, like we talked about, you’re not always gonna be at your best,” Capitals coach Todd Reirden said. “For me it’s important that you understand that. You can’t affect what had happened in the past, and let’s move forward … That’s been a constant message with our team, is continuing to never quit on us in a situation and believe in what we’re doing — that if we do it long enough, then we give ourselves a chance to get back in there and get one point.” 1161276 Washington Capitals

NHL-best Capitals are new favorites to win Stanley Cup

By Adam Zielonka - The Washington Times

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

There’s perks that come with sitting atop the NHL standings.

About one-quarter of the way into the 2019-20 season, the Washington Capitals have become the favorites to take home the Stanley Cup, according to BetOnline.ag’s odds.

The Capitals are 17-to-2 favorites after opening the season with 12-to-1 odds. They’re ahead of the other top teams in the Eastern Conference, the Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning, who each have 10-to-1 odds as of Wednesday.

The Capitals are 13-2-4 (30 points) through 19 games and hold a 5-point lead over the New York Islanders in the Metropolitan Division. They have earned at least one standings point in 12 straight games, going 10-0-2 in that span, and they lead the NHL in goals with 76, 11 more than the team in second.

Washington Times LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161277 Washington Capitals

Lars Eller said an issue with his skate caused the offsides, Oshie overtime no goal

By Caroline Brandt

November 12, 2019 10:04 AM

Monday night's game against the Arizona Coyotes looked like it was going to be the Caps' seventh consecutive win, T.J. Oshie scoring an overtime beauty to secure the win. But, the goal was called back, the replay showing Oshie drawn offsides by Lars Eller who slipped, causing Osh to enter the offensive zone too early.

“That’s an emotional roller coaster within five minutes thinking that you win the game and then you end up losing the game," Eller said on The Sports Junkies Tuesday.

Eller told the Junkies that something on his skate caused him to slip, drawing the offsides.

“I felt a couple of shift before that I had a little, there was something on my skate, that I had stepped on something but I didn’t think it was gonna affect me and then the next time I did a crossover the skate just gave out under me and I fell and that actually caused the, made me go offside or made Osh go offside on that play,” Eller said. “That’s where it’s a game of inches right there, you’re an inch off or the puck is an inch off being inside the blue line, that’s tough but that’s how it is sometimes.”

Eller said skate mishaps tend to happen most games and equipment manager Brock Myles has replacement skate blades on hand for every player, sharpened to their preference and ready to replace in 10-seconds if needed. However, Eller said a skate mishap has never happened to him in overtime, especially when he's had the puck.

The Caps head to Philadelphia to take on the Flyers for hopefully the beginning of another win streak Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161278 Washington Capitals nights that's going to be playing with Siegenthaler. It's going to change. There's injuries and there's things that go on, different matchups that set up differently.”

Playing with Siegenthaler, Nick Jensen may finally have found his fit in But for a player who, for the first 40 games with the Caps, just did not Washington seem to fit, finding chemistry with Siegenthaler is an important first step.

“I feel like all our D are very obviously super capable of playing defense,” Jensen said, “And I'm feeling pretty comfortable playing with the D- By J.J. Regan partner I'm playing with right now.”

November 12, 2019 10:59 AM

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 11.13.2019 ARLINGTON, Va. -- It would be fair to say that Nick Jensen’s time with the Capitals did not start the way either he or the team had hoped. Brought in at the 2019 trade deadline, Jensen was playing top-pair minutes with the Detroit Red Wings. In Washington, however, it was a struggle to find the best fit for him in the lineup. Originally given a top-four role coming out of training camp this season, Jensen was eventually supplanted on the second pair by Radko Gudas. Now he sits on the third pair with Jonas Siegenthaler.

But as significant as Jensen’s falling down the lineup has been, just as significant has been the positive strides his game has taken in recent weeks.

“I've liked how he's played with [Jonas] Siegenthaler,” head coach Todd Reirden said. “So that's been a good look. I think it's allowed both of them to settle into their game.”

Stepping into a new team on the fly after getting traded to the Caps was a struggle for Jensen and it was made worse by the constant shuffling of the blue line.

An injury to Michal Kempny forced Reirden to keep switching his defensive pairs in search of the right combination through the rest of the regular season and into the playoffs. The effect that had on Jensen’s adjustment to his new team was not lost on him.

“I think the biggest change was just playing with different guys,” Jensen told NBC Sports Washington. “The D-partner I played with pretty steady in Detroit, we worked pretty well together...I feel like I was always on the same page with my D-partner which led to a lot of success for me there. It was kind of the difference coming over is just getting used to playing with different guys.”

Jensen played with Siegenthaler, Dmitry Orlov, Brooks Orpik and on the first pair with John Carlson playing on his off-side on the left, and that was just last season in only 20 regular-season games with Washington and seven more in the playoffs.

This season, Jensen had the benefit of a training camp and time to adjust to the team which he says has helped him settle in.

“I feel a lot more comfortable,” he said. “In 15 games last year I had more points than I do now, but I feel more comfortable in a sense of being out on the ice and how our team plays and moving the puck and trying to get it out of the D-zone which is one of my primary concerns when I'm out on the ice is getting the puck out of the D-zone and getting it into the forwards' hands. I feel a lot more comfortable this year and I'm getting used to how our team plays and how our forwards play and how we all gel together.”

But the biggest factor of all in how he has played may be the chemistry he has finally found with a defense partner.

Jensen started the season with Orlov on a pair that just did not seem to fit. Now with Siegenthaler, however, Jensen finally seems to be finding his way.

“I think it took a couple, or one or two games I think,” Siegenthaler said, “But I think now I kind of know where he stands, how he skates, how he wants the puck and everything. Smart player.”

Finding chemistry on a defensive pair is a good first step for Jensen finally fitting in with his new surroundings. Having said that, Reirden cautioned that for him to be truly successful in Washington, Jensen will need to eventually be able to play a variety of roles and with different partners, not just Siegenthaler.

“We need to continue to figure out ways to magnify [Jenssen’s strengths] as does he and be able to understand the role that he has on our team,” Reirden said. “Some nights, that's going to be playing with Orlov, some 1161279 Washington Capitals

Capitals' victory celebration halted as a win suddenly turns into a loss

By Brian McNally

November 12, 2019 7:05 AM

WASHINGTON — The Capitals bounced up and down in celebration. They yelled. They screamed. They lost.

Call it the win that wasn’t. Washington stole two points from the Arizona Coyotes on Monday night at Capital One Arena when T.J. Oshie scored in overtime. The up-and-down first two periods, all those big saves from Coyotes goalie Antti Raanta, a 3-0 deficit, all erased as the crowd roared and the players exalted.

But old baseball writers have a term for what happened next: “Or so it seemed.”

It’s the perfect phrase to describe a story that’s been written and now has to be deleted: You’re on deadline. One team is about to close out a win. Just waiting to hit send on the story. Then someone walks and then there’s a bloop hit and, oh my god did the third baseman just throw the ball into left field? Suddenly what seemed certain no longer is. Time to rewrite.

That’s where the Capitals were when Oshie’s apparent game-winner was overturned on replay. Teammate Lars Eller had actually slipped and entered the offensive zone too soon. The play was deemed offside.

“A bit of a buzzkill there,” Capitals forward Tom Wilson said.

Somewhere, a guy sprinted from his seat after Oshie’s goal and was halfway to the Metro before they announced the goal didn’t count. Hopefully he finds out what happened. If not, then he’s going to be confused when the ticker says it was a 4-3 shootout loss.

“Like coming back from the dead,” said Arizona coach Rick Tocchet.

Dmitry Orlov knocked Coyotes winger Clayton Keller off the puck a little over two minutes into 3-on-3 overtime. Orlov found Oshie streaking toward the middle of the ice, he gave it to Eller, who lost his balance, but pulled up inside the blueline when the linesman ruled he was onside and passed to Oshie.

Arizona defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson, one of the NHL’s best skaters, had no chance after an Oshie head fake. Neither did Raanta. Oshie went down to one knee in the slot and ripped the shot home. The crowd exploded. The Capitals poured off the bench to celebrate. The Coyotes skated off the ice. Washington had won.

Or so it seemed. The Coyotes coaching staff started looking at the play on the tablets kept on the bench. Players started pointing up at the scoreboard, which was replaying the goal. Then the officials made their way over to the scorers’ box and referee Jake Brenk held out his hand. Linesman Darren Gibbs put the headset on to talk with the video review officials in Toronto. The Capitals figured their work might not be done.

After a review that took almost four minutes, officials in Toronto decided Eller really was offsides. Halt the celebration. The game wasn’t over yet. It would be only after Arizona won in the shootout. The Capitals would settle for one hard-earned point, instead of two and that was probably a just result.

“That was unfortunate, because it was a great move and it's a goal. But T.J. is pretty on top of things,” Capitals coach Todd Reirden said. “He had a strong feeling it was gonna be offside."

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161280 Winnipeg Jets of times. They just had the horseshoe in it (Tuesday night)," said Jets captain Blake Wheeler.

MacKinnon added an insurance marker at 7:13 after he caught the Jets MacKinnon, Makar help depleted Avs squad bury Jets 4-0 on yet another poor line change and made them pay on yet another breakaway. He is now up to a team-leading 11 goals (and 24 points), showing he’s more than capable of still being an offensive force even without his normal wingers Landeskog and Rantanen. By: Mike McIntyre "Obviously he creates chances with that speed. First goal, cuts back, hits Posted: 11/12/2019 9:46 PM | Last Modified: 11/13/2019 12:23 AM | the defencemen and the rest is history. Obviously the breakaway goal Updates | was self-explanatory. It’s a lot like playing against (Edmonton Oilers centreman Connor) McDavid, he comes underneath on the rush and just seems to find a way to be in the right place at the right time, and at full Beware the wounded animal. Not to mention the unheralded goalie speed," said Morrissey. pressed into making his NHL debut. Joonas Donskoi finished off the scoring with a power-play goal late in the The Winnipeg Jets learned those lessons the hard way Tuesday at Bell third period with Wheeler in the box, snapping a Jets run of 10 straight MTS Place, dropping a 4-0 decision to an injury-ravaged Colorado successful penalty kills for what had been the league’s worst PK unit until Avalanche team that showed plenty of game despite their many a couple weeks ago. challenges. "I guess at a certain point of time you’ll give up one. I thought for the The Avalanche began the night without top-line forwards Gabriel most part we did good job on the penalty kill. They got a rebound and Landeskog and Mikko Rantanen, defenceman Nikita Zadorov and chipped it in. They’ve got one more guy than we do. They’re going to get starting goalie Philipp Grubauer. They took another hit just 31 seconds those looks and they made it count," said Wheeler. into the game when backup netminder Pavel Francouz was bowled over by Jets forward Mark Scheifele, who was cutting hard to the net and had The Jets continued an alarming trend of trailing after 40 minutes, having no room to move. now done that in 11 of their 19 games this season. The Jets are 5-6-0 in those contests. They finished the homestand at 2-1-1. Francouz’s head slammed hard against the ice, and he was down for some time before being helped off the ice and straight to the room for "We don’t come home and just blow teams away anymore. It’s still just as concussion protocol. That meant the keys to the crease were turned over much of grind as it is on the road. I think it’s a good thing. We’ve stayed to 22-year-old rookie Adam Werner, the third-stringer in the organization in the game. We’ve stayed in the fight. I thought the bulk of our game who had just nine AHL games under his belt — and not a second of NHL was really good. The score wasn’t really indicative of it. You move on and service time. look to have a good road trip," said Wheeler.

It turned out to be a night to remember for the Swedish goalie, who didn’t Winnipeg now hits the road for four straight games, beginning Thursday seem rattled by the big stage and finished with 40 saves for the shared night in Sunrise when they take on the Florida Panthers. Then it’s on to shutout with Francouz, who didn’t face a shot before he was knocked out stops in Tampa Bay, Nashville and Dallas. of the game. It’s the first time the Jets have been blanked this season. "Two years of being an absolutely dominant home team, and I’m not sure It’s also their first loss of the season against a Central Division opponent, we can expect that, but that’s fine. Because we’ve been pretty tight and after previous victories against the Minnesota Wild, Chicago Blackhawks pretty good on the road. We’re going to have to scratch and claw and Dallas Stars. wherever the puck’s dropped. We’re going to have to go a little harder "I know he hasn’t played a whole lot of hockey, but he’s a goalie. We than we did (Tuesday night). But we’ve had some good hockey here," gave him the opportunity to make saves, and he did," said Jets head said Maurice. coach Paul Maurice. "What’s the final (shots) number, 40-24? (Actually

40-25) We got beat by four goals, so we’re not bragging that we dominated the game. I didn’t feel that way. Their guy made a bunch of Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 11.13.2019 good saves. We had a bunch of good chances that didn’t go for us."

Winnipeg falls to 10-8-1 on the season, suffering their first regulation defeat in the past six games (4-1-1). Colorado improves to 11-5-2 and has won three straight.

"It was a frustrating game. It just felt like we were right there, and the puck just kinda didn’t go our way a couple times. We had a lot of chances. Give him credit, their goalie made a lot of big saves," said Jets defenceman Josh Morrissey. "I think we’re playing really good hockey, our record shows that over the last little while. It’s a tough league going in. These are the ones where you feel like you do a lot of good things and then you end up with nothing to show for it, nothing on the board. Frustrating game, but we have to put it behind us."

With Werner standing tall betwen the pipes, rookie sensation Cale Makar and the great Nathan MacKinnon gave Colorado more than enough offence.

Makar ripped a shot past Connor Hellebuyck with 59 seconds left in the first period, a few minutes after ringing a shot off the post. The 21-year- old defenceman is the early favourite for the Calder Trophy, now with 18 points in 18 games (five goals, 13 assists), and it might not be long until he’s working his way into the Norris Trophy conversation as the league’s best blue-liner.

After that it became the MacKinnon show. The speedy centreman had a breakaway in the second period, hitting the crossbar. But he made no mistake on his subsequent chances, including burying a shot just 18 seconds into the final frame.

"You give one up right away there in the third. You’d like to sustain some pressure and give yourself a chance to come back from a one-goal game. We’ve been good about that all year, we’ve come back a number 1161281 Winnipeg Jets

Goalie stones Jets in first NHL game

By: Mike Sawatzky

Posted: 11/12/2019 10:54 PM

Adam Werner was the rawest of rookie goaltenders when he entered Tuesday’s NHL game at Bell MTS Place.

The 22-year-old Swede, with a mere 13 AHL games on his resumé but not one second of NHL action, was thrust into a high-pressure situation when he had to sub for Colorado Avalanche starter Pavel Francouz 31 seconds into the Avs’ game against the Winnipeg Jets.

Werner seemed unfazed by his predicament, robbing Jets sniper Patrik Laine on a power-play blast in the first period and denying Jack Roslovic and Nikolaj Ehlers on prime scoring chances in the second.

In the third, Werner preserved a 3-0 cushion en route to a 4-0 victory with a sprawling stop on Roslovic’s wraparound attempt and then denying Laine’s big shot twice midway through the stanza.

"Of course there’s some nerves, but you just get in there in a short time and I guess I just tried to have fun and play my game," Werner said.

When he was done, Werner shared a 40-save shutout with Francouz, who was not actually credited with a stop.

"He’s been up here working, excited to be here and he gets thrown into the game early and then to have the performance he had, like we weren’t great with the puck tonight," Avs head coach Jared Bednar said. "We turned the puck over a lot. Our guys worked extremely hard to defend but then we just weren’t good with the puck. We handed the puck back to Winnipeg a lot and on turnovers you tend to see the best scoring chances against."

Did Werner envision a shutout in his first game?

"I mean, honestly not," Werner said. "You need to have a dream, and a big dream out there, and work for it and be prepared if something happened."

Werner was a mystery man to the Jets.

"I don’t know much about it — he played great," Winnipeg blue-liner Josh Morrissey said. "I thought we hit him a lot of times as well."

Colorado, which started the game without their veteran No. 1 Philipp Grubauer due to a lower-body injury, were forced to summon former University of Manitoba Bisons goaltender Byron Spriggs from the pressbox when Francouz was helped off the ice, not to return.

Francouz, with only eight NHL appearances, was levelled by Jets centre Mark Scheifele, who had been fending off Avs defender Samuel Girard on a foray to the net before crashing into the 29-year-old Czech. Scheifele was assessed a minor penalty for goalie interference. Spriggs, a goaltending coach on the U of M men’s team, was the designated emergency goalie at the game.

Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 11.13.2019 1161282 Winnipeg Jets and with (David) Pastrnak and Sid and (Leon) Draisaitl, Rantanen — all these guys — there are so many amazing players in this league."

Jets' Shaw happy to attend superstar summer school with Nathan, Sid, Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 11.13.2019 Brad...

By: Mike Sawatzky

Posted: 11/12/2019 4:38 PM

It may not seem like it on the surface but Logan Shaw and Nathan MacKinnon have a lot in common.

Shaw, a 27-year-old journeyman pro, and MacKinnon, a 24-year-old NHL megastar, have been workout buddies for going on 10 years near their off-season homes in Halifax.

The pace and intensity of the on-ice sessions is anything but relaxing.

"I'm fortunate, I get to spend the summer with him," Shaw said Tuesday morning as his Winnipeg Jets prepped for an evening matchup with MacKinnon's high-flying Colorado Avalanche.

"We have a good skates there. The way that he competes in July and August is the way he competes in April and May. It's pretty impressive to see a guy like that work that hard in summer. That why it carries over, and at the start of the season he's on fire."

MacKinnon entered Tuesday's action with nine goals and 22 points in 17 games to lead the Avs, who have been beset by injuries to several top players, including Mikko Rantanen and Gabriel Landeskog, his regular linemates.

Shaw believes the on-ice sessions at the BMO Centre in Bedford, N.S., which also include NHLers such as Sidney Crosby and Brad Marchand, have helped him build a career.

Recently, Shaw regained a toehold in the NHL when the Jets recalled him from the AHL's .

"If anything, it makes all of us better players on the ice," said Shaw, who was pointless in four games with the Jets prior to Tuesday's game. "(He) and Crosby, the work ethic they bring in the summer, I think is a big reason I am where I am right now. I started skating with those guys when I was 18 or 19.

"Summer's not easy for me to keep up with those guys. The one-on-one battles we doing in July are kinda unlike most places."

The arrangement also works well for the superstars.

"We treat it like a game a little bit," said MacKinnon. "We have a competition at the end of each skate, two-on-two or three-on-three, whatever it may be. Yeah, it's intense, it's a really good workout and we have a lot of fun."

For MacKinnon, evolving into an upper echelon player — he went from 53 points in 2016-17 to 97 in 2017-18 — came after he re-dedicated himself to getting better.

"I think I've gotten more serious, more dialed in in the summer," said MacKinnon. "With maturity, (and) as you get older, you realize what you actually have to do to be successful in this league. Your whole life it kinda comes easy and in the NHL, it's really hard to be a good player. I had to get more serious and that started in the summer."

MacKinnon's powerful skating is part of his signature, but he's worked hard to hone his craft. He was enrolled in early morning power skating classes three or four times per week from the age of four until he was 14. More recently, trainer Andy O'Brien helped him transform his straight-line speed into the explosive, more agile form he now shows on the ice.

That package of speed and skill has evoked comparisons to Edmonton's Connor McDavid, widely regarded as the league's best player.

MacKinnon discourages that kind of talk.

"I have respect for all the really good players in the league," said MacKinnon. "(McDavid's) been a lot more successful than I have so far, I think he just hit 400 points for his career. I have a (few) more than that but I've been in the league a lot longer. He's such an amazing player, 1161283 Winnipeg Jets

Avs hobbled, but Jets taking nothing for granted tonight

By: Mike Sawatzky

Posted: 11/12/2019 12:38 PM

"I think their team is built off speed. We haven't seen them since last year but they have some new players come into the lineup on the back end and up front that maybe make their lineup even deeper than it's been in the past," Josh Morrissey said. (Mike Deal / Free Press files)

"I think their team is built off speed. We haven't seen them since last year but they have some new players come into the lineup on the back end and up front that maybe make their lineup even deeper than it's been in the past," Josh Morrissey said. (Mike Deal / Free Press files)

Winnipeg (10-7-1) and Colorado (10-5-2) meet for the first time this season tonight and the Jets are preparing for a difficult opponent despite the absence to several high-end Avalanche players.

Right-winger Mikko Rantanen, who has missed eight games with a leg injury, skated Monday, and No. 1 goaltender Philipp Grubauer (lower body) and top pairing defenceman Nikita Zadorov, recovering from a broken jaw, have been practising.

Forwards Gabriel Landeskog and Colin Wilson, meanwhile, are out indefinitely with lower-body injuries. Landeskog and Rantanen make up two-thirds of Colorado's high-powered top line centred by Nathan MacKinnon.

"Obviously, they're missing some fantastic players but at the same time, I don't think they look any different," said Jets defenceman Josh Morrissey. "I think their team is built off speed. We haven't seen them since last year but they have some new players come into the lineup on the back end and up front that maybe make their lineup even deeper than it's been in the past."

Winnipeg centre Adam Lowry expects a high-intensity game from the Avs.

"Just a lot of speed," said Lowry. "I think, with who they have out of their lineup, they still have a lot of weapons that can hurt you and they can still put pucks in the net.

"Nathan MacKinnon comes to town and it's always a tough test to shut him (down) and keep his line off the scoreboard. He impacts the game in so many different ways but they're getting a lot of contributions from a lot of different people."

Beating a Central Division rival such as the Avs on home ice is crucial for the Jets, who are expected to start Connor Hellebuyck in net.

"We see these teams more often but at the same time, as important as every point is in the league, against your own division is — especially the way it's formatted — extremely important," said Morrissey.

"Definitely, you need to be hyped up for these games. They're usually more physical and maybe a little bit more intense."

Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 11.13.2019 1161284 Winnipeg Jets The 24-year-old potted one from the slot 18 seconds into the final frame and then scored at 7:13 on a breakaway caused by his blazing speed and the inability for anyone to do anything about it.

Little-known goalie stars as Avalanche blank Jets MacKinnon built on the lead he helped create after finding Cale Makar with 59 seconds left in the first period.

The defenceman, who leads all rookies with 18 points in 18 games, took Scott Billeck the pass, waltzed into the slot like he knew what he had done it before, and ripped a wrist shot past Connor Hellebuyck. November 12, 2019 10:34 PM CST The Jets, who came into the game winners of four of their past five

games (4-0-1 including a 3-1-0 record during their homestand that You’d have been hard-pressed to find a single soul in Winnipeg who wrapped up on Tuesday), couldn’t find another gear. Hellebuyck, who knew of a 22-year-old Swede named Adam Werner heading into had been a stud for the team lately, was offered no support despite Tuesday night’s NHL action. coming up with some special saves of his own.

Hell, you could probably canvas the Denver area in Colorado and you’d He ended with 21 saves. be met with the sound crickets make by most Avalanche fans. “We got beat by four goals so we’re not (going to) brag that we Josh Morrissey certainly had no clue. dominated the game,” Jets head coach Paul Maurice said. “I didn’t feel that way. Their guy made a bunch of good saves. We had a bunch of “I don’t know much about him,” he said. good chances that didn’t go for us. At 3-0 we made a mistake on a play that we were maybe cheating on a little bit to try and get back into the All of that changed, however, 31 seconds into a Jets-Avalanche matchup game.” at Bell MTS Place. The Avs began their five-game road trip with a 4-0 win, and a good deal of that can be credited to a third-stringer that may After killing off their past 10 times shorthanded (and 15 of their past 16), have bought himself an extra start or two down the line. the streak was snapped with Joonas Donskoi put the Avs up 4-0, assisted, of course, by MacKinnon. “You need to have a dream, and a big dream out there, and work for it and be prepared if something happened,” Werner said. “I thought it was good,” Wheeler said, reflecting on the homestand as a whole. “We don’t come home and just blow teams away anymore. It’s still And a lot of stars to align. He needed those, too. just as much of grind as it is on the road. I think it’s a good thing. We’ve Werner wouldn’t have been in Winnipeg at all if not for an injury to Avs stayed in the game. We’ve stayed in the fight. I thought the bulk of our starter Philipp Grubauer. And he wouldn’t have made his NHL debut on game was really good tonight. The score wasn’t really indicative of it. You Tuesday if not for Mark Scheifele. move on and look to have a good road trip.”

Scheifele drove the net with Samuel Girard draped on him near the The Jets begin a four-game roadie on Thursday at Florida against the midway point of the first minute of the game. Scheifele didn’t get the shot Panthers. off — that puck went trickling into the corner. What he did do was Meanwhile, former Winnipeg Blues and University of Manitoba Bisons steamroll Avs’ backup-turned-starter Pavel Francouz. goalie Byron Spriggs rushed down from the press box to dress as the Francouz was forced from the game after laying prone for some time on emergency goalie. He wore No. 60 and watched from the end of the the ice beside his dislodged net. Scheifele was taken to the sin bin for tunnel leading to the Avs dressing room. goaltender interference and Werner, with 13 American Hockey League Spriggs played three seasons with the Blues, winning an MJHL games on his resume, made his way to where Francouz once stood. championship in 2014 with a .940 save percentage in 17 postseason And Werner stood, alright. He stood tall, making 40 saves for a combined games. team shutout — one he shared with Francouz on the night despite the Ask Jets rookie forward Joona Luoto how he’s feeling after his first two latter not making a single save, and one neither goalie will get credit for NHL games and he’ll point to both games being wins. on their respective records. Luoto has come across as quite the team guy is his brief time here. He “I thought we hit him a lot of times as well, but hey, a goalie’s got to be in feels he’s getting better with every stride on the ice, but it ultimately the right spot as well to make that save no matter what,” Josh Morrissey comes down to the bigger picture. said. “So some credit goes to him, for sure. A frustrating one for us.” For Luoto’s line, which he shares with David Gustafsson and Logan Added Blake Wheeler: “I would say there was enough to get a couple by Shaw at the moment, it’s about gaining the trust of Maurice. him. You got to give him credit, he did a good job. Puck was finding him.” “That’s the most important thing, it’s such big thing,” Luoto said. “We’re Werner was made to work for it, too. going to try and put some energy out there and help the team.” He denied Patrik Laine and his patented one-timer on a few occasions, The jump from the AHL, where he played nine games before getting including a calm snag with the Jets on the power play and the shutout on called up, to the NHL hasn’t been that difficult. the line late in the third period. “There’s a lot of good guys out there playing with me,” he said. “They’ve “I’m really happy for the kid,” Avs coach Jared Bednar said. “He’s been been helping me a lot. So it’s been easy for me.” up here working, excited to be here and he gets thrown into the game early and then to have the performance he had, like we weren’t great As far as getting better, Luoto isn’t one to beat around the bush. with the puck tonight.” “There’s a lot of things, for sure,” he said. “Be stronger with the puck and The damage at the other end came from the usual suspects in Colorado do simple plays.” threads. The memory of Jets starter Connor Hellebuyck reaching back and Even without captain Gabriel Landeskog and Finnish playmaker Mikko robbing Bo Horvat in a game last week still burns bright in the minds of Rantanen, the Avs found the back of the net four times. his teammates.

They still do, of course, have Nathan MacKinnon. So, too, does the goal the Jets scored eight seconds later to tie the game, one they’d eventually go on to win. The other pride of Cole Harbour, N.S., played a part in every Colorado goal, firing home two and assisting on the two others he didn’t score. “He’s just been so solid in there for us,” defenceman Josh Morrissey said. “He’s a confident guy. Especially with a young team and a young MacKinnon’s markers came just under seven minutes apart in the third back end, it really helps us to feel that confidence. as the Avs extended a 1-0 lead. “Helle’s been playing great for us and we’re going to need him to continue to do that.” Nikolaj Ehlers echoed those sentiments.

“He’s a guy that’s kept us in a lot of games and has played some pretty amazing games,” Ehlers said. “We’re excited we can trust both our goalies as much as we do.

“I hope we will have games where we don’t have to rely on them as much because it puts a lot of pressure on them.”

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‘Sad’ day all around as Jets react to Cherry’s firing

Scott Billeck

November 12, 2019 12:38 PM CST

Winnipeg Jets forward Adam Lowry said the comments expressed by Don Cherry over the weekend have no place in hockey.

Speaking to reporters following Winnipeg’s pre-game skate ahead of their matchup against the visiting Colorado Avalanche at BellMTS Place on Tuesday, Lowry said Cherry’s choice of words was disappointing.

“Obviously, that’s not what our game is about,” Lowry said. “I think his heart was in a good place. He didn’t say it so eloquently but the support for our troops and our veterans, it’s been well documented that he goes out of his way to show support and solidarity. It’s unfortunate that his comments came out the way that they did. He’s done such a good job growing the game. He’s an icon on Hockey Night in Canada and in hockey in general for so long that it’s going to be unfortunate that this will put a stain on his legacy.

“But like I said, those comments, things like that, our game is about inclusion. Our game is about diversity. They don’t have a place.”

Cherry, who had been on Coach’s Corner since 1986, was let go by Sportsnet on Monday after an insensitive rant during Saturday’s edition of the segment.

Cherry made discriminatory remarks, suggesting that he rarely sees people, who he believes are new Canadians, wearing a poppy.

“You people love — they come here, whatever it is — you love our way of life, you love our milk and honey at least you could pay a couple of bucks for a poppy or something like that,” Cherry said during the telecast. “These guys pay for your way of life that you enjoy in Canada. These guys paid the biggest price.”

The comments sparked the furor of many, forcing Sportsnet to release an apology on Sunday. Ron MacLean, the long-time host alongside Cherry, apologized on air during Hometown Hockey later that night.

Cherry doubled-down on the comments in an interview with the Toronto Sun, saying he wouldn’t apologize for what he said. He was subsequently fired on Monday.

“Sports brings people together — it unites us, not divides us,” Bart Yabsley, president of Sportsnet said in a statement. “It has been decided it is the right time for Don Cherry to immediately step down. During the broadcast, he made divisive remarks that do not represent our values or what we stand for.”

“Don is synonymous with hockey and has played an integral role in growing the game over the past 40 years. We would like to thank Don for his contributions to hockey and sports broadcasting in Canada.”

Jets head coach Paul Maurice summed up the debacle in one word: “Sad.”

“I think the whole thing is just sad,” Maurice said. “Sad for people who have to deal with the words and the offence of what was said. Sad that a kid would have to go to school and answer for not having a poppy because he’s new to the country, that’s just said.

“And I got a relationship with Don, so I’m sad for him and said that we don’t get to see him on Saturday nights. The whole thing is just sad.”

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Hollywood North: Bill Murray is in Vancouver

SCOTT BROWN

November 13, 2019 12:53 AM PST

Bill Murray caused a very deserved stir at Rogers Arena Tuesday night.

The comedy legend, seated in the lower bowl next to Academy Award- winning screenwriter (Green Book) and director Peter Farrelly, proved to a be a good luck charm for the Canucks — even though he was wearing a Chicago Blackhawks jersey — as the home side scored a 5-3 much- needed win over the visiting Nashville Predators.

Murray, who somehow failed to win the 50-50 draw despite buying what looked like half the entries, posed for photos outside the arena and even snuck downstairs after the game for a tour of the Canucks’ dressing room.

The 69-year-old movie star, spotted earlier this week at YVR and outside Hudson’s Bay on Granville Street, is in Vancouver filming The Now, a mini-series directed by Peter Farrelly and his brother Bobby.

Murray starred in the Farrelly bros’ 1996 bowling classic Kingpin (the greatest movie ever made).

The Now is a comedy about suicide starring Dave Franco, O’Shea Jackson Jr. and Daryl Hannah that will air on Quibi, a soon-to-be streaming platform from former Disney chair Jeffrey Katzenberg.

Murray, who has been confirmed to be reprising his role as Dr. Peter Venkman in Jason Reitman’s upcoming Ghostbusters reboot, is scheduled to be shooting The Now until Thursday.

Production on the mini-series started on Oct. 30 and it is expected to wrap up on Dec. 20.

Vancouver Province: LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161287 Vancouver Canucks The centre wasn’t credited with a shot on goal Tuesday, but he blocked four shots — including one with the Predators pressing in the final period — and logged a season-high 27:06 of ice time, eight minutes more than his average of 19:01. With the injured Jay Beagle and Sutter missing Canucks Post Game: Sutter the hopeful, Horvat the horse, Markstrom from the penalty-kill pairings, Horvat also teamed with Tanner Pearson the mourner while Tim Schaller worked with Loui Eriksson.

Horvat’s 2:24 of ice time on the penalty kill, combined with 3:27 on the power play, was going to make it a long night, but one he relished BEN KUZMA because of the victory. November 12, 2019 11:51 PM PST “When Sudsy (Sutter) goes down, you’re rolling three centres and especially for face-offs and stuff, so you’ve got to be willing to step up,” said Horvat, who played a whopping 11:48 in the third period and 5:56 of Points to ponder after Brandon Sutter looked like he had suffered a the last 6:58. “I obviously knew I was going to get a lot of ice time.” serious injury, the power play looked like it had all the answers and Bo Horvat shouldered a considerable load as the Canucks claimed a 5-3 And the Canucks knew that the power play was bound to strike. victory over the Predators on Tuesday at Rogers Arena: Blanked in two of the previous fourth outings, it was a 3-for-3 night with Brandon Sutter had never felt better. the man advantage as Adam Gaudette, Elias Pettersson and Pearson struck — and both units had jump. It was cure for what ailed the Canucks He was moving quicker through the neutral zone. He was stronger on with just five goals in their previous four games. pucks. He was effective on the penalty kill and in a shutdown capacity. He had five goals. More importantly, the Canucks have scored 19 power-play goals in 19 games and that could be their ticket in a push to the postseason. And then that feeling of everything finally going right went wrong on one telling first-period sequence. “That’s when special teams come into play to score and we gain momentum,” said winger Brock Boeser, whose two shot attempts on the The Canucks centre pulled up on the forecheck and doubled over in night were both blocked. “We’ve had some success, but it hasn’t been discomfort and it looked like another core-related issue. He retreated to consistent and we know we have to be. the room, briefly tried to skate again and then slammed his stick in disgust as he left for the night and maybe longer. “It’s still early and we can learn from our mistakes because we’re still a new unit and we’re kind of experimenting with different looks. But we Three shifts, 1:32 of ice time and plenty of concern. work hard at it and watch a lot of video. And with Petey (Pettersson) when he walks down the wall, there’s a shot or there’s a little play or a “He’s going to play if he’s not hurt and he has to be hurt if he steps off seam pass or a slot play. Or, just faking it (shot) and going around the the ice,” said Horvat. “I hope it’s nothing serious because that was tough back or just ripping it.” to see. He’s a tough guy and has been battling some injuries over the last couple of years and hopefully he can get right back at it.” Jacob Markstrom sat in his stall Tuesday morning and went through his post-practice routine. Canucks coach Travis Green didn’t have a post-game update and it wasn’t a stretch to suggest that not all is right with the core. Sutter has He slowly removed his equipment, just like he has done countless times, had had two hernia surgeries in the last four seasons — including a but this time it was different. It was slower. It was methodical. And procedure last February — and an offseason regimen that included everyone was giving the mourning Canucks goaltender his space after pilates looked like it may be a solution for more durability. losing his father, Anders, to a prolonged illness on the weekend.

Then Sutter was spotted in the hallway long after Tuesday’s victory, and Out of respect, you walk over, extend a hand and say: “Sorry, for your after conversing with general manager Jim Benning, he sounded hopeful loss.” You get a “thank you”. that this injury may not be as bad as the previous. And then you start to wonder how Markstrom has been able to perform “It’s something minor — we should know more in a coupe of days,” said so admirably for so long. Sutter. There was the leave of absence last month to return to his native When asked if he feared another hernia scare he added: ‘No, no. I’ve Sweden to be with his ailing dad. There was his spectacular return at had both sides done. It’s not that.” Madison Square Garden on Oct. 20 — bailing out his teammates as they were outshot 17-6 in the third period of a 3-2 triumph — and while we After all, what occurred Tuesday looked similar to what Sutter sifted through the statistics, he dealt with his emotions and still experienced following a Feb. 9 game against the Calgary Flames at maintained a professional decorum. Rogers Arena. The next day he didn’t feel right. “Especially when you know it, and you know it as a team what he was “I came to the rink and had a sore groin and then the next day I could going though,” said Green. “We’ve got a close team and they’re feeling barely walk,” he recalled in the offseason. “There were a couple of times for him and I’m proud how he handled it.” in overtime when I took hard strides and something kind of felt weird. And then there was Sunday afternoon. “It was almost like a tear and right away I was really worried. We tried to make it better, but it was tears that are never going to heal. I have to On Hockey Fights Cancer Day, he desperately wanted to backstop his make sure both sides are working and the groin on top of that and don’t club to victory, but a 2-1 setback to New Jersey wasn’t the real story of let that slide.” the day. He later revealed in a post a touching homage for his fallen father. When rehabbing the ailment failed, he had surgery on his right side and missed the final 26 games. And now there’s how to manage the situation.

In 2015-16, Sutter suffered a sports hernia and in his fourth game back “Just monitor it and talk to him and see how he’s doing emotionally and after being sidelined for 33, he had a season-ending fractured jaw. Two mentally,” added Green. “You can never imagine what a player is going years later, a groin injury morphed into a bigger concern and a 21-game through under those circumstances. absence. “The other day (Sunday) was a very emotional game for him and I expect Horvat looked like he was going to score just his second even-strength him to be a little bit lower and that’s OK. It’s up to us to have good goal of the season in the third period. communication and talk to him and rally around him and get through a difficult time. The Canucks captain was heavy on the forecheck and when a puck bounced up, it struck the centre and went just wide of the open net. He “One thing abut Marky and a lot of players, their safe zone is when deserved better. they’re in the locker room and around their teammates and on the ice.

“It hits me, goes wide and you just shake your head,” shrugged Horvat. “And he’s going to want to play. And he’s going to play. I expect him back “At least I was on for the empty-net goal.” soon.” Thatcher Demko has a close relationship with Markstrom and following his 34-save performance Tuesday — including keeping the score 2-2 after the Canucks were outshout 19-7 in the second period — he sounded like his teammates.

“Everyone in here is hurting for him and he’s a guy the team rallies around and respects a lot,” said Demko. “For me, it’s just being there if he needs me and I’m not going to push the envelope on him at all. He’s been there for me when I’ve been down, but I’ve never been through something like this.”

Vancouver Province: LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161288 Vancouver Canucks It had been 14 goalless games for Pearson. His last goal came against the Philadelphia Flyers in the fourth game of the season.

In those all those games without a finish for the straight-line winger, he’d Canucks 5 Predators 3: Busting slumps and blowing out candles still managed 36 shots.

His teammates hadn’t had much shooting luck either: the Canucks were shooting just 2.6 per cent with him on the ice. PATRICK JOHNSTON In other words, the goal was going to come. November 12, 2019 11:39 PM PST “I think after last year, going through what I did, you kind of learn to just stick with it and keep working,” he said.

Given his team hadn’t won in over a week, it seems a safe bet that Elias It was a nice one too, as he skated into the Predators’ zone with speed Pettersson wished for a Canucks win as he blew out the candles on his on a power play. He deftly manoeuvred past a Nashville defender and 21st birthday cake. then fired home a wrist shot, beating Rinne blocker-side.

This is, of course, assuming he had his cake at lunch, and not post- Pearson credited Jacob Markstrom with encouraging him to try the game. wrister off the rush more.

The reigning rookie of the year led the way for the Canucks on Tuesday “Marky went up to me after I scored a few on him in practice and said night at Rogers Arena, as the home team swept away the visiting that’s my shot,” he said. Nashville Predators 5-3. “It worked out perfect. The way that breakout goes is they try to bite on But forget the metaphor. The Canucks, as they have done more than that pass and then hold the line. I caught him stepping to the outside once this season, started well and only got stronger as the game there and took him inside.” progressed, overcoming a strong Nashville outfit. Canucks captain Bo Horvat said everyone was delighted to see Pearson “It’s a good headline,” Pettersson said about the win and his effort on the finally twinkle the twine again. night. “We’re so happy for him … big for his confidence,” he said. “It was nice to The Canucks got two goals from Pettersson, two from Tanner Pearson see him finally get rewarded for all his hard work.” and one from Adam Gaudette, while the Predators’ goals were scored by Calle Jarnkrok and a pair from Filip Forsberg. It was also a goal for the Canucks’ second power play unit, a quintet that hasn’t been up to much this season. Here’s what we learned… Notably, it featured just a lone defenceman in its setup, as the Canucks’ Holding leads and happy birthdays coaches eschewed the Tyler Myers-Alex Edler duo that’s most often been skating together in all situations, leaving Edler alone with forwards After four straight games where the Canucks had lost after holding leads Pearson, Adam Gaudette, Sven Baertschi and Josh Leivo. going into the third period, they found themselves headed to the final frame in a 1-1 tie against the Predators That same unit would work together to produce the third goal of the night too. scores going to 3rd period in last 5 #Canucks games: The Canucks’ power play was back on fire against the Predators and 1-0 STL while we’ve seen some sensational puck movement at times, especially 2-1 CHI from the Quinn Hughes-directed first unit, all that matters is that they go in. 2-1 WPG Pettersson’s third-period tally came after he controlled a loose, bouncing 2-1 NJD puck and then quickly fired the puck past Rinne’s glove.

1-1 vs NAS— Jeff Paterson (@patersonjeff) November 13, 2019 It was a pretty nice birthday gift for the sensational sophomore.

Pettersson’s first goal ended that trend. That it was just his second point The game’s winning goal came just under five minutes later and just over in five games is a reminder that when your best players are off, it’s tough two minutes after the Predators had tied the game up on Forsberg’s first to win. goal.

Sometimes it’s just about puck luck too, as evidenced by Pettersson’s It was the second unit that struck again, this time after a long stretch of second goal, which stood up to be the game-winner. pressure, as Gaudette banged home the puck from on top of Rinne’s crease. After a great zone entry by his line, Pettersson picked up a rebound off a Brock Boeser shot, firing the puck into the open cage behind Nashville It gave the Canucks three power play goals on the night. goalie Pekka Rinne. Nashville Predators Ryan Johansen watches as Vancouver Canucks Pettersson laughed when he was suggested he’d used childhood soccer goalie Thatcher Demko gloves an airborne puck. Gerry Kahrmann / PNG skills to chest down the puck on his fist goal. Standing in He said he didn’t see the puck initially, only after it had bounced off his chest. After we learned Sunday that Jacob Markstrom’s father had passed away — that was why he was on a personal leave during a mid-October “I just tried to settle it and rip it,” he said. “I’ve been thinking I was trying eastern road swing — it was clear that Thatcher Demko would start to pass the puck too much lately. Nice to score a goal.” against the Predators.

He had about a dozen family members visiting. They had his birthday The Canucks’ No. 1 goalie is going to need, understandably, a few days cake on Monday night. to get himself back up to where he needs to be.

Do Swedes make wishes when they blow out their birthday candles? His coach said his teammates would be rallying around him. Yes, he replied. “He’s been very brave,” Travis Green said Monday. “There’s not much Did he wish for a win? else you can say about losing a father.”

“Yeah.” He was glad the big Swede was able to fly home to see his dad before he passed, he added. Then he grinned.

A long time coming Tuesday night, Demko stood tall. He faced a barrage of shots — including 19 in the second period alone — and faced down nearly all of them.

His best save of the game was just over two minutes into the third, when he denied Kyle Turris on the doorstep.

Demko ended the night with 34 saves.

Even with the swoon over the four games previous to Tuesday, the Canucks came into the night leading the league in shot-attempts-for percentage as well as in the expected-goals-for percentage metric, two very good stats.

As you get to 20 games played, both become stronger and stronger signs for the future.

The former stat tells us a lot about possession and most teams that out- possess their opponents win more than the lose. The latter stat tells us about shot quality and to no surprise, if you’re taking better shots than your opponents are, the more likely you are to win.

Sutter out

Brandon Sutter left the game early in the first period after appearing to strain his right leg while chasing after a puck in the Predators’ zone.

He was in full stride when he suddenly stopped his skating motion and appeared to grab at either his mid-section or his groin area — the “core”, in other words.

Sutter, who has had two hernia surgeries in his four years in Vancouver, managed to glide himself to the bench. He paused, briefly, before going to the dressing room with athletic therapist Jon Sanderson.

He returned briefly and was credited with a two-second shift, then went back to the room and didn’t return.

Bo Horvat picked up the bulk of the slack, most often getting the tap to double-shift in Sutter’s spot on the third line and on the penalty kill.

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Canucks Game Day: Horvat searching for even-strength scoring spark

BEN KUZMA

November 12, 2019 5:00 AM PST

Captains are expected to lead by example and Bo Horvat does an admirable job in several key categories. He leads the Canucks in shots (55), ranks sixth overall in the NHL in faceoff percentage (59) and his dominance with power-play draws is a league-best (70) by winning 58 of 81 faceoffs.

However, with the Canucks suddenly challenged to score with five goals in their last four games (0-3-1), the focus has shifted to Horvat. He leads the club in power-play goals with five, but has just one goal at even strength. And he hasn’t scored in the last six games, but had a tip hit the post Sunday in a 2-1 loss to New Jersey.

“It’s a matter of one going in off somebody’s rear end or shin pad or something,” said Horvat. “I don’t know if it’s us getting more pucks and bodies to the net — I think we’re doing a good job getting shots (31 on Sunday). Maybe getting in the goalie’s eyes more and creating havoc out front.’

FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME

1. Reverting to scoring mantra

When the Canucks were putting up a glut of goals and looked like an NHL version of The Harlem Globetrotters — they scored five or more goals on seven occasions before their last four outings — the pace and precision had as much to do with will as skill.

Playing a hard and heavy game was the mantra. Forcing the opposition into mistakes, pouncing on opportunities with bodies to the net had become commonplace. It was a rarity to see Brock Boeser whip down the wing Sunday and rip a power-play slapper to the far side because that’s not today’s game. It’s working your way to the inside, establishing position and jamming or ramming pucks home.

2. Disrupting the Predators’ balance

Nashville has long deployed a defence-first mantra to find its way and the club doesn’t have a gunner in double-digit goals — Filip Forsberg and Nick Bonino lead with eight apiece — but they’re ranked second in goals- per-game (3.82) by spreading the offence around. The Predators have a league-leading nine players with at least 11 points and seven with at least five goals. The flip side is they’re just 19th in preventing goals.

3. Keeping a lid on Edler’s ice

Alex Edler trained for this. Bring on the minutes because he laps them up. But in his last seven outings the veteran defenceman logged north of 27 minutes on three occasions, including a whopping 30:25. He was down to a more manageable 21:13 on Sunday with just 16 seconds of PP2 time. That should become the norm.

4. More power in their play

The Canucks have been blanked on the power play in two of their last four games. Hard to imagine from a group that struck four times on Oct. 30 at Los Angeles. There is an embarrassment of riches and options on PP1 and maybe Quinn Hughes put it best. No need to panic. Players are still getting to know tendencies.

5. Gaudette is Mr. Versatile

Adam Gaudette is going to be a good centre, but it’s congested down the middle. When the prospect has played of late it’s been as a right winger for Horvat, Brandon Sutter and Jay Beagle. The Canucks also believe Gaudette can play the left side and that’s another option to keep him developing at this level.

Vancouver Province: LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161290 Vancouver Canucks “Absolutely,” said Gaudette. “I think I get a better feel by being bounced around and learning from different situations and by being put in them. I’m just taking what I can get and making the most out of it.

Ben Kuzma: Winging it adds to value of Canucks' centre Gaudette “With Beagle, we talked about skating and pressuring the whole time. That fits my game because in order to do well, I’ve got to be skating and working hard and getting on pucks quick and winning battles. And that’s their (Horvat’s, Sutter’s and Beagle’s) game too, so we fit well and BEN KUZMA complement each other well. November 12, 2019 9:25 PM PST “With Bo, I was just trying to be more offensive. He’s a workhorse with great skill, and I was just trying to get to some scoring areas because I know he’s going to get me the puck to create offence. And with Sutter, Strength on the puck has been one of Adam Gaudette's biggest we have a similar game and he’s somebody to learn from.” improvements. Green is not only wary of putting players in positions they can’t handle, Growing game at the NHL level trumps more AHL time and developing he’s also cognizant of challenges in the schedule, like the last trip. The bad habits. Canucks basically played three games in 3 1/2 days, if you factor in the afternoon game here Sunday, and younger players might not be at their Adam Gaudette has heard the theory. best in that grind. The promising Vancouver Canucks centre, who is growing his game as a “I felt he was a little tired in Chicago (Thursday), and he’s one of those winger, would be better off gobbling up ample ice time in Utica, N.Y. He young guys I felt would have been tired in Winnipeg (Friday),” said would be on the first power-play alignment for the Comets. He could be a Green. “I didn’t want to put him on a checking line that doesn’t work when point-a-game producer in the AHL. I’m on the road and they (opposition) are going to get the (line) matchup.” Or, the guy that Canucks coach Travis Green continuously lauds for So, Sunday made more sense. “selling out on every shift,” could continue to soak up guidance and challenges at the NHL level to become a versatile player that the coach “I knew he’d give us some spark and some life and I thought he had a can plug into any line. pretty good game,” added Green. “The thing is, I like that he’s learning to play the right (wing), and I’m even thinking now that he could even play Gaudette has played the right side for centres Bo Horvat, Brandon Sutter the left. When you’re a centre and you get comfortable being on the wall, and Jay Beagle, and Green is convinced a comfort factor should allow you can all of a sudden play left or right, and he can do that,” said Green. Gaudette to also play left wing. “It will give us a lot of nice options because he has a lot of energy and I “There’s not as much thinking in the D-zone as with a centre,” the 23- still think the offensive side of his game is coming. He’s close to scoring.” year-old Gaudette said Tuesday following the morning game-day skate. “And it’s always easier going back and playing centre, so getting used to the wing is something I’ll always have in the future, which is good. It will make me a little more diverse.” Vancouver Province: LOADED: 11.13.2019

That’s a good thing because circumstance dictated that Gaudette would have to be just that against the Nashville Predators. Beagle is out with an undisclosed injury and Sutter suffered a first-period, lower-body ailment. So, without two centres, Gaudette was back in the middle.

So, running that AHL mega-minutes theory by Gaudette is even more moot now because he’s going to be counted on more to develop and produce at this level. He had a power-play goal and an assist against the Predators to prove he needs to be here, not in Utica.

“It’s a different game down there,” said Gaudette. “I’ll have the puck more and I can get away with more, but that’s where bad habits can form. Up here, you’re forced to be on your game every shift. Down there, it’s a little bit slower and you can take shifts off.

“Being up here and learning and being thrown into it is what’s best for me.”

Gaudette played his ninth game of the season Tuesday. He has been in the middle when Sutter was shifted to the right side, but what really works for the 2017-18 Hobey Baker Award winner — the top NCAA Division 1 player after 60 points (30-30) with Northeastern — is that he did the work in the off-season to crack the roster out of training camp.

For Green, that commitment is of paramount importance. He knows four points (1-3) and a dozen shots in 11:30 of average ice time in Gaudette’s first eight games isn’t the story. It’s a willingness to work as hard in practice as a game that has him better suited for the rigours of the NHL schedule and the pace of play.

“With the summer I had, it set up the year to mature and come into my own,” said Gaudette. “Getting stronger and faster gives me the confidence, and it helps a lot because I can get to pucks and hold on to pucks.”

On Sunday, Gaudette had an early scoring chance during a 2-1 loss to the New Jersey Devils. He then came right back and did the spade work behind the net to throw a feed right on the tape of Tim Schaller’s stick. Gaudette’s three shots and four attempts in 9:47 of ice time were a product of understanding what it means to play in different alignments and how much it can help his development. 1161291 Vancouver Canucks Barry and Lauralyn divorced in 1978. Jamie, now 46, was their only child. Jamie grew up in the Lower Mainland and lives in Coquitlam with his family. He says that his dad considered that particular goal on DeJordy “one of the best gifts he ever got.” Canucks at 50: Scoring first-ever goal for team always resonated with Barry Wilkins “It was really important to him. Back then, it was unusual for a defenceman to score unless you were Bobby Orr,” explained Jamie, pointing to a 1970-71 campaign when there were only five blueliners outside of Orr hit double digits in goals. STEVE EWEN “Just to make the NHL was a big deal for him. He worked his ass off just November 12, 2019 2:08 PM PST to get there.”

When the Canucks celebrated their 40th anniversary on Oct. 9, 2010, the 'He got asked about it all the time and he was always very good about it,' Kings were again the visitors. Wilkins received a loud ovation when he says his former wife Lauralyn was introduced to the crowd in a pre-game ceremony.

Barry Wilkins loved to talk about scoring the first goal in Vancouver Jamie got to hang out with his father and some of his former teammates Canucks history, and even with people who would track down his number during the festivities surrounding that game. from the phone book and dial up his North Vancouver home back in the “The stories were amazing,” Jamie said. “Those guys were warriors. And day. they were all so down to Earth. It never went to their heads. If you’re a diehard Canucks fan, you’ve seen the grainy clips of that “They don’t make them like that anymore. It’s the truth. They were all so Wilkins tally from opening night on Oct. 9, 1970 at the Pacific Coliseum happy to make it to the big leagues.” against the Los Angeles Kings enough times that you can recite the action by heart. Wilkins gets the puck in the middle of the ice just inside the blue line, spins away from a defender and then slides a backhander far post past goalie Denis DeJordy at 2:14 of the third period in what Vancouver Province: LOADED: 11.13.2019 would wind up a 3-1 Los Angeles victory.

If you’re a Canucks fan of a certain age, there’s a chance you can also recite Wilkins’ feelings about it all, since it sounds like he’d speak about the team and that night with anyone who inquired.

“It was only after a couple years Barry agreed that we had to get an unlisted phone number,” said Lauralyn Wilkins, his ex-wife who now lives in West Kelowna. “People would call all the time, and people he did not know, and he would talk and talk to them.

“He loved being a hockey player. He loved that he scored that goal. He got asked about it all the time and he was always very good about it.”

Wilkins died in 2011 after a battle with cancer. He was 64.

A Toronto native who came to the Canucks from the Boston Bruins in the 1970 expansion draft, Wilkins did play another 275 games for Vancouver after that first one. He would score another four goals that inaugural season and another 20 in Vancouver colours altogether.

Wilkins was a hard-working, physical rearguard, finishing with 460 penalty minutes in his Canucks career.

Traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Nov. 3, 1974 for defenceman Ab DeMarco, Wilkins would play 418 games in the NHL in total and then another 130 in the World Hockey Association before retiring after the 1978-79 season at the age of 32. After hockey was over, he moved to Arizona and worked for Pepsi until retiring in 2006.

He comes off as an appreciative guy. Wilkins wore jersey No. 4 with the Canucks. According to his son Jamie, that was a nod to Bruins great Bobby Orr, who Wilkins played junior with for the .

Wilkins knew that first goal with the Canucks was going to resonate with fans over the long haul. He never took that for granted.

Lauralyn tells a story of going for what was supposed to be an intimate anniversary dinner at the Panorama Roof restaurant atop the Hotel Vancouver a couple of years into Wilkins’ time with the Canucks. Twice they were interrupted by fans who “started talking about that goal and about hockey in general,” according to Lauralyn.

The way she explains it, Wilkins somehow managed to keep both the fans and her happy that evening.

Finesse never seemed to make it into any old scouting reports that you find on Wilkins. Apparently he had it off the ice.

“He was always trying to explain that he spent his whole life working to be an NHL player,” Lauralyn explained. “It was all he ever dreamt of, all he ever wanted to do.

“He knew that first goal with the Canucks was a historical moment. He would have been happy to play the rest of his career with the Canucks. He loved it in Vancouver. He wasn’t happy to leave. He didn’t want to go.” 1161292 Vancouver Canucks Globe And Mail LOADED: 11.13.2019

Elias Pettersson scores twice, Canucks beat Predators to snap four game slump

JIM MORRIS

VANCOUVER, B.C.

THE CANADIAN PRESS

PUBLISHED NOVEMBER 13, 2019

UPDATED NOVEMBER 13, 2019

Elias Pettersson celebrated his 21st birthday with a pair of goals as the Vancouver Canucks ended a four-game winless streak with a 5-3 win over the Nashville Predators Tuesday.

Tanner Pearson also scored twice for Vancouver, his second into an empty net. Adam Gaudette got the other for the Canucks (10-6-3), who are 1-3-1 in their last five games. Vancouver scored three times on the power play.

Filip Forsberg, Mikael Granlund and Calle Jarnkrok scored for the Predators (9-6-3).

A wild third period saw the teams combine for six goals.

Pettersson’s first goal came at 6:09 of the third. With the Canucks on a power play, Pettersson knocked down an attempted clearing pass with his chest. He gained control of the puck, took a couple of strides, then ripped a shot over the glove of Nashville goaltender Pekka Rinne.

His second of the night, and eighth of the season, came off the rebound on a rush at 11:41.

Granlund tipped a Mattias Ekholm shot past Vancouver goaltender Thatcher Demko at 8:35, a goal that was originally credited to Forsberg before a scoring change. Then Forsberg scored his ninth of the year on a one-timer at 14:26.

Demko made 34 saves for the Canucks. Rinne stopped 21 shots for Nashville.

The teams exchanged goals during a second period that saw the Predators outshoot the Canucks 19-7.

Pearson opened the scoring for Vancouver just 85 seconds into the period on a power play. Gaudette fed a streaking Pearson the puck and he beat Rinne on the blocker side for his third goal of the season and first in 15 games.

Jarnkrok tied the game at 13:35. Matt Duchene fired a shot that Demko stopped but gave up a big rebound. Jarnkrok put the loose puck into the net for his sixth goal of the year.

After giving up the early goal the Predators controlled much of the play and peppered Demko with shots. The Vancouver goalie faced a pair of breakaways in a 20-second span. First Craig Smith put a shot over the net, then Demko blocked a Mikael Granlund shot.

Early in the third period Kyle Turris was alone in front of the net but Demko stopped the shot with a left pad.

Rinne made a couple of big saves during a scoreless first period. He got a right pad on a shot from Sven Baertschi who was alone at the side of the net. Later, he made a glove save on a shot after Josh Leivo had stolen the puck from a Nashville defender.

NOTES: Canuck goaltender Jacob Markstrom announced on social media Sunday that his father had died in Sweden. … Vancouver centre Brandon Sutter, who has a history of sports hernias, left the game early in the first period with what the team called “a lower body injury.” .… Centre Jay Beagle was a late scratch for Vancouver after missing practice Monday with an undisclosed injury. …. Lui Eriksson drew into the Vancouver lineup. …. Nashville defenceman Dante Fabbro, a native of Coquitlam, B.C., played his first game in Vancouver and had over 100 family and friends in attendance. … Actor Bill Murry attended the game.

1161293 Vancouver Canucks Pettersson is not the type of player to worry about contracts during the season, but at some point he will have to, and if he keeps producing, forget about Marner: He could pass Connor McDavid’s salary.

Dhaliwal’s Diary: Elias Pettersson’s big payday, Chris Tanev’s future and It’s always tougher on the local kids when things go sideways. the latest word on Troy Stecher Troy Stecher’s minutes are down this season and he’s in the final year of his contract. It is a big year for the Richmond native.

By Rick Dhaliwal He has beaten the odds many times: He was told he was too small all the way through minor hockey but continued to win championships in junior Nov 12, 2019 and college as a captain.

This is a smart kid; he adapts. Right now he is putting in extra work in practice because he knows he is not getting the reps in games. Welcome to “Dhaliwal’s Diary,” my new column for The Athletic Vancouver. I’ll be sharing scoops on prospects, trade talk, behind-the- All sides deny that Stecher was being shopped earlier this season, but scenes rumblings and more. Let’s get started. one source tells me that the Canucks definitely had him on the market for a while, gauging interest. The word “warrior” gets thrown around a lot in pro sports, but it’s hard not to think of that word when it comes to Chris Tanev. My understanding is that neither Troy nor his agent has ever contemplated or asked for a trade. You’ve gotta believe they are Just think of Tanev’s performance in Winnipeg on Friday, blocking shots, monitoring this situation closely. leaving the game, then coming back. Surely that left a lasting impression on Canucks fans. Nobody can be happy with the ice time forward Vasili Podkolzin is getting in Russia. This is a player who has had a broken leg, a broken hand, a sprained ankle, broken teeth and the mumps in the last few years — and who When Podkolzin dresses for St. Petersburg in the KHL, he barely sees knows how many times he’s played with injuries we don’t know about. the ice. Then he gets dropped to a lower league and plays a bit more.

One source told me that in the last few years, Tanev has played hurt 50- One Russian source says he is not surprised: “The system is not good 60 percent of the time. for young players, young kids. Each team has two guys under the age of 20 and they never play. These kids make these decisions at the age of Every summer, Tanev looks for ways to improve his equipment to make it 17.” safer for him to block shots. This season he came back with improved shin pads and gloves, with extra padding on both. Podkolzin has two years left on his contract. I’m frequently asked if he can get out of his contract. Here’s what my Russian source says: “Can Tanev is a pending UFA. His agent, Wade Arnott, gave me the latest on you get out of an NHL contract? Well, you can’t get out of a KHL deal as his contract status: “There have been no formal discussions to date. I well. Podkolzin has a better chance to become the Prime Minister of anticipate we will talk at the right time in the future.” Canada than getting out of his contract.” A source tells me a Tanev contract with Vancouver will come down to his Podkolzin is a very important piece for the Canucks, a player they hope health, how many games he can play this season and his chemistry with plays in the top six down the road. Quinn Hughes. At least Canucks fans get to see Podkolzin take part in the Canada– Tanev and Hughes could be a tandem for a few more years. The two Russia series. forged a relationship off the ice in Toronto this past summer. One scout told me: “I would have loved to see what he could have done Keep in mind that Tanev is a 29-year-old with low mileage in terms of in the CHL. He would have terrorized the WHL, OHL or the Q.” games played, over 400. One more Russian player who is always a hot topic with Canucks fans is Tyler Myers is the same age and has played over 600. defenceman Nikita Tryamkin. He’s in the final year of his contract in the Getting term won’t be a problem for Tanev, who has a lot of respect KHL with Yekaterinburg Automobilist. around the NHL. He’ll have no shortage of teams after him if he hits the Agent Todd Diamond expects to talk with the Canucks after Tryamkin’s free agent market. season is over and does not expect a long negotiation. I was told this summer to keep an eye on the Mitch Marner negotiations, I don’t understand the notion that the Canucks got damaged goods when because that contract was going to be Elias Pettersson’s comparable they signed Micheal Ferland to a four-year deal worth $3.5 million per when his deal is up after the 2020-21 season. season last July. That ship has sailed, in my view. Ferland suffered a concussion in a fight with the Kings’ Kyle Clifford on I think the Marner deal will only be a starting point if Pettersson continues Oct. 30 in L.A. when he took a jab to the jaw and a shot behind the ear. to rack up the points. It’s not always the knockout punch that causes a concussion, though. The Canucks can sign Pettersson to a new deal starting this July 1, and Yes, he has had concussions before, but he was checked out thoroughly they may want to get this done quickly. They would be crazy not to, but it by Canucks doctors before he signed in Vancouver. He also had a all depends on whether Pettersson is interested in signing before his deal medical exit exam with the Carolina Hurricanes, which he passed. is up. He can also decide to wait another year, with his price only increasing if he continues to dazzle. The Ferland camp forwarded the report from the Hurricanes doctors to the Canucks medical staff. More than one team on July 1 asked for Things to keep an eye on before the conclusion of this contract: career Ferland’s medical reports from Carolina. points per game and points per game in the platform year, which is the final year before he signs. Lots of teams inquired about Ferland, including Carolina at the end. Why would the Hurricanes check in so late if they thought he had concussion Marner’s career points per game was .929 before he signed. concerns? Pettersson currently has 87 points in 89 career games (.977). Says one source: “The Canucks did their due diligence on Ferland, like In his platform year, Marner was 1.14 PPG. Pettersson will be higher this many other teams.” year if he continues at his current pace, but remember, this is not his The Canucks have done a very good job of scouting and recruiting NCAA platform year unless he decides to sign a year before his contract ends. players in the last few years, including defenceman Brogan Rafferty. Most agents I have talked to think Pettersson will get at least $10-12 When Rafferty signed with the Canucks last April out of Quinnipiac million per season on a long-term deal. University, it was a phone conversation with GM Jim Benning that tilted things in Vancouver’s favour for Rafferty, who had several teams after him. Rafferty is off to a strong start in Utica. One pro scout tells me he’s an early candidate for rookie of the year in the AHL.

An Eastern-based NCAA scout says Benning and Chicago’s Stan Bowman are two of the best GMs at getting personally involved and selling college hockey kids on their respective organizations.

Before Thatcher Demko signed with the Canucks, there was a small chance he would still return for one more year at Boston College. Benning flew to Tampa Bay for the Final Four tournament and talked with Demko and his dad. It made a difference.

Benning has his fair share of critics in Vancouver, but there are things that GMs do that don’t get noticed by a fan base, and these are some of them.

Three NCAA drafted players the Canucks could sign this season: William Lockwood, Tyler Madden and defenceman Jack Rathbone.

The 20-year-old Rathbone is a kid to keep an eye on: he has very high- end skill with great skating ability and he has already racked up six points in his first three games of the season.

Last year at Harvard, Rathbone watched Adam Fox run the power play; it will be Rathbone with that opportunity this season.

He is a high-character kid who worked hard to get the grades to go to Harvard. It’s way too early to say if Rathbone will sign with the Canucks after this season, though.

I would expect Lockwood and Madden to sign.

The have two Canucks prospects in defenceman Jett Woo and forward Carson Focht.

I talked with Hitmen GM Jeff Chynoweth about both.

Chynoweth on Woo: “Jett has been fine, he is one of the top returning defencemen in the WHL. I think his slow start offensively may have something to do with his offseason knee surgery, it takes a while to get back to 100 percent but he is now 100 percent.”

Chynoweth on Focht: “Carson is one of the most competitive players we have had in Calgary in a long time. He wants to win at all costs and I just love his compete and battle levels. Vancouver has two very good prospects and both have bright futures.”

The Athletic LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161294 Websites Hornqvist also is out with a lower-body injury, though he is on injured reserve and is out “longer term,” coach Mike Sullivan has said.

Comparing their current run of injuries what they faced in October would The Athletic / Sidney Crosby mulls surgery for sports hernia that has not serve much purpose. But it is notable that these Penguins have bothered him all season played only two full periods with the roster composed the way coaches had anticipated before the preseason finale.

It was in that finale that Rust went down with a hand injury. One week By Rob Rossi later, Malkin and Bjugstad had been injured in the second regular-season game. Nov 12, 2019 Though all of it, Crosby was skating with an injury that is not uncommon

for NHL players. In fact, defenseman Zach Trotman has twice required NEW YORK — Sidney Crosby is evaluating all treatment options for a surgery to repair a sports hernia — most recently in training camp. sports hernia, multiple NHL and Penguins sources confirmed to The Toward the end of his recovery, Trotman described the injury as “really Athletic. annoying” because it caused discomfort when sitting or rising from a Crosby aggravated the sports hernia Saturday night at PPG Paints seated position. He said recovery from the out-patient procedure tests a Arena, but sources say the Penguins captain has been dealing with the player’s patience because “you feel like you’re ready to push it, but injury since training camp. He opted against surgery when the Penguins you’re really not.” lost multiple forwards, including Evgeni Malkin, to various injuries early in There likely would be good news if Crosby requires surgery. October. “Once you’re back on the ice, you don’t really think about it anymore,” Crosby is now weighing the opinions of medical personnel whether he Trotman said in September about the sports hernia. “You’re kind of should undergo surgery, which would typically require a 4-6 week thinking about it all the time when dealing with it, so that’s a big load off recovery, the sources said. your mind.” Another option for Crosby would be a steroid injection and physical Going a month without Crosby would force all Penguins forwards to do therapy, which could possibly allow him to delay surgery until the heavier lifting. They’ll look to Malkin, who has either scored or assisted offseason, the sources said. The potential issue with that option, though, on five of their past seven goals — including one from defenseman Justin is that Crosby could again aggravate the sports hernia and ultimately Schultz against the Rangers. need in-season surgery at a later date. McCann also scored in the loss. His goal came on the power play, which Crosby met with a specialist in Philadelphia then traveled to meet the had been mired in an 0-for-28 funk. The Penguins had gone 11 games Penguins before their 3-2 overtime loss Tuesday to the New York without a power-play goal before McCann’s capped their rally from a 2-0 Rangers at Madison Square Garden. The Penguins plan to update deficit against New York. Crosby’s status once he makes a decision regarding the surgery, the sources said. Were it not for stout early play by goalie Matt Murray, the Penguins probably would have been down by more than 2-0 at the end of the The team would prefer any surgery be sooner rather than later so that opening period. He faced seven shots in the first six minutes, including a Crosby could return for at least the second half of the regular season, point-blank attempt from Rangers winger Artemi Panarin. and likely before Christmas. He has been told that sports hernia surgery would likely sideline him only a month, the sources said. In the first 10 minutes, the Penguins were out-attempted by the Rangers, 15-3. Crosby’s situation worsened Saturday night when his left skate blade stuck into the ice after the leg knocked against the left leg of Chicago’s From that point on, the Penguins attempted 25 more shots than the Erik Gustafsson. Crosby wobbled backward awkwardly and also later Rangers. had a shot from Gustafsson hit his right skate boot. Only two shots were attempted by Galchenyuk, who passed on at least There is no injury to Crosby’s right foot, the sources said. twice that many. He is without a goal on the season and played only 12:29 against the Rangers — 2:27 below his season average. Crosby had not missed a game prior to sitting out against the Rangers. He had gone without a point in five of six games, including against Acquired during the offseason in the trade that sent winger Phil Kessel to Chicago on Saturday night, after scoring four goals and recording 10 Arizona, Galchenyuk appeared to be settling in well before his lower- assists in the Penguins’ first 11 games. body injury midway through training camp. Upon finally returning to the lineup Oct. 29, he played well despite not scoring. During that run, the Penguins played eight consecutive games without Malkin and wingers Bryan Rust and Alex Galchenyuk and forward Nick Not so much against the Rangers. Bjugstad. Also, forward Jared McCann missed two games in that stretch. “I think he’s just got to be more focused playing the game the right way,” Ultimately, Malkin missed 11 games with a leg injury. In those games, Sullivan said. “Competing on pucks, winning puck battles, being strong Crosby averaged 21:04 of total ice time. He averaged 21:21 during a on the wall — all the details of the game. For me, if a goal scorer stretch of seven games in 12 days from Oct. 12-23. struggles, just based off my experience, part of it is taking the focus off scoring and just trying to focus on what you can control.” Malkin did not return until a home game Nov. 2 against Edmonton. Winger Patric Hornqvist was injured in that game and remains out with a There is only so much any hockey player or team can control. lower-body injury. Though, occasionally a hockey team gets a hockey player like Crosby, The Penguins were at 67 man-games lost to injury after their loss to the who has needed surgery for nearly a couple months and only now might Rangers. get around to having it.

That total is somewhat misleading because it does not measure the And while he put off fixing a sports hernia, all Crosby did was darn near value of the players the Penguins have been without. carry the Penguins on his back.

They faced the Rangers without Crosby, their captain, leading scorer and an MVP finalist last season; Hornqvist, their most physical forward, best net-front winger and one of five players with at least five goals this The Athletic LOADED: 11.13.2019 season; and Kris Letang, their top-pairing anchor, leading scorer among defensemen and overall leader in total ice time.

Letang is not with the club on this road trip, which continues with a couple of practices in Newark before a game against the New Jersey Devils on Friday night. He is out with a lower-body injury. 1161295 Websites about it,” added Johnson. “He was all-in. I wasn’t sure how that would be since he had accomplished everything else in the game.”

Talking to the coach was also unique. I mean, it’s Wayne Gretzky, after The Athletic / LeBrun Notebook: Wayne Gretzky considering Spengler all. Cup coaching opportunity “I thought he was quite good talking and connecting to players,” Johnson said. “It was almost harder as a player because it’s Wayne Gretzky, you have to get over who you’re talking to. But he was comfortable talking to By Pierre LeBrun you. And he was comfortable talking about things that weren’t great in your game, too. He would let you know, either way. Which I thought was Nov 12, 2019 a good thing.”

Again, we’re talking the Spengler Cup, not a return to the NHL. But I think It was just over 10 years ago, in September 2009, that Wayne Gretzky it would be fun to see Gretzky coach Canada. stepped down as head coach of the Coyotes. No official word yet out of Buffalo on the status of injured forward It feels like a long time ago already but The Great One coached four Vladimir Sobotka but what I’m hearing is that it’s likely on the longish- years with the Coyotes from 2005-2009, dealing with ownership term side for his absence. instability while dipping his toes in one facet of the game he hadn’t tried Which will only accentuate the Sabres’ search for a top-nine forward. his hand at yet. As we’ve reported before, eventually if/when Buffalo gets a totally healthy Could he be back behind a bench soon? blueline corps, that will be a position of strength it can trade from. Perhaps. Marco Scandella should be back within a week while Zach Bogosian will Sean Burke has approached him about coaching Canada’s entry in the need a bit more time, I think, before appearing in a game. Once he’s Spengler Cup, Dec. 26-31 in Davos, Switzerland. back practising, which should be soon, he’ll need to work up to speed.

Burke, Canada’s GM for the 2018 men’s Olympic team, is Canada’s GM But at some point, the Sabres will trade for a forward, that much is almost for the Spengler Cup squad. certain.

“It was a nice surprise when Sean called,” Gretzky told me Tuesday. “I Barzal/Dubois status thanked him. I was excited about it. Team Canada is pretty special. I Negotiations have not officially begun yet with this year’s top two second- think the Spengler Cup is the oldest tournament that we know of. It’s a contract RFAs, Mathew Barzal and Pierre-Luc Dubois. pretty nice honour. I told him I needed some time (to sort things out). The only problem for me is that it’s over Christmastime. It’s a tough decision I do believe there have been casual conversations between the Islanders to make. and Barzal’s camp but no sense yet that the real stuff is set to begin. It may be that Isles GM Lou Lamoriello decides to wait until after the “So, we’re talking about it and debating it,” added Gretzky. “But it’s a season to get things rolling on that front, which he’s done in the past with great honour that he reached out.” other young players, so that it’s not a distraction for Barzal. Or at least It’s not clear yet if Gretzky can swing it, there are family plans at hand wait until later in the season. (he’s a grandfather as many know) during the holidays of course, plus Which, well, if you’re Barzal and his agent J.P. Barry of CAA Sports, is other commitments, but he is certainly looking into what it would take to quite fine. The sense I get is that Barry would be ready to go anywhere, make it happen. anytime, once Lamoriello gives the signal, but at the end of the day, the Gretzky means it when he says it’s a huge honour. Playing for Team more numbers Barzal puts up, the stronger the negotiation case it will be. Canada was always as good as it gets for Gretzky, from leading the 1978 So really why hurry into this one if you’re the agent unless the player world junior tournament in scoring at the age of 16, to all those himself wants it over with. memorable Canada Cup moments, to the excitement of being part of the Meanwhile, still no official talks, either, between the Blue Jackets and first NHL Olympics in 1998 at Nagano (even if No. 99 was left on the Dubois’ camp, led by Pat Brisson of CAA. For the record, Brisson, bench during Canada’s semifinal shootout loss); and in retirement, of Dubois and Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen have all indicated to me a course, Gretzky was the architect of two Canadian Olympic squads in willingness to start anytime. Nobody is trying to wait this out. So it’s just a 2002 (gold) and 2006 (QF exit) plus the 2004 World Cup of Hockey entry question of deciding when is a good time. I would surmise we’ll hear (won the tournament) also rank up there for him in his illustrious career. some news, one way or another, sometime in the New Year that talks Coaching Canada, which would be a first, is an idea that I think is quite have at least begun. appealing to Gretzky. The Spengler Cup has a long, storied history. Habs goaltending Everyone who has been there as a player, coach or fan raves about the tournament (I’ve never been, it’s on my bucket list). It is only seven games and he’s only 20 so let me be the first to say, we all need to consider the sample size before projecting crazy things. Imagine being one of those European-based Canadian players selected These are early days … to the Spengler Cup roster and finding out Gretzky was your head coach for the event? You’d be pretty jazzed, I think. But Cayden Primeau’s .943 save percentage so far with AHL Laval does at least make you think. Charlie Lindgren has a .897 save percentage in Will Gretzky be able to swing it schedule-wise? Not sure. We should eight games, although he’s been better of late. know before too long, though. Still, how long before it doesn’t become clear that not only is Primeau the Gretzky went 143-161-24 as Coyotes coach. I think it tells you something best goalie in the AHL for the Habs but arguably the second-best goalie about him that he was willing to give it a try when his legacy in the game in the entire organization? was already enshrined for life. There was no need to ever put it on the line again. But he took a risk and tried his hand at a very demanding role. All of which brings me to this very much theoretical scenario: Should Carey Price ever go down with a long-term injury this season, which His players had to adjust to the greatest player ever being behind the nobody wants to see, does Montreal turn to Keith Kinkaid for the majority bench. of the workload or do they turn to Primeau if he keeps up his stellar play “When you’re around him, even from his first day behind the bench, his in Laval? passion for the game and his competitive spirit was so obvious,” TSN Think about the 2014 playoffs when Price was injured. It was No. 3 man hockey analyst Mike Johnson, who put up 54 points (16-38) under Dustin Tokarski that actually got the call to start in net over No. 2 man Gretzky in Phoenix in 2005-06, said Tuesday. Peter Budaj at the time. Which raised eyebrows. But Tokarksi fared well “I wasn’t sure what his demeanour would be like but I was impressed in that Eastern Conference final with the Rangers. how invested he was in the game, how he cared about it like we cared My point is that if the Habs just needed a goalie for one or two games, I think Lindgren gets the call-up to back up Kinkaid, who would start. But I wonder if the Habs ever need longer usage in goal, if it’s not Primeau in that situation that jumps over everyone not named Price.

Food for thought …

By the way, my good pal Arpon Basu pointed this out to me, not to take anything away from Primeau, but there are crazy high save percentages so far in the AHL. Garret Sparks of the Chicago Wolves (Vegas) leads the AHL with a .953 save percentage in eight games, 20-year-old Russian Ivan Prosvetov (Coyotes fourth-round pick in 2018) is next at .944 and then Primeau at .943.

In all, as of Tuesday morning, there were 13 goalies in the AHL at .930 or better who had played four or more games. By comparison, just six NHL goalies (with four or more games under their belt) were at .930 or higher as of Tuesday morning.

Things that make you go hm.

The Athletic LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161296 Websites There are some but not many who fit that bill. The obvious choice and one that on some levels appears as though it

would be seamless would be to move Brian Burke into the chair, The Athletic / What’s next for Coach’s Corner and Hockey Night in although it’s not a given according to those familiar with the workings of Canada? the national broadcaster.

Few know the game from as many perspectives as longtime hockey executive Burke. He built a Stanley Cup winner in Anaheim before By Scott Burnside becoming the GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs and then president of the Calgary Flames. So in spite of the fact he is an American, Burke knows Nov 12, 2019 and understands the Canadian market as well as anyone.

Personality-wise Burke has the chutzpah to pull off this kind of segment In the wake of Don Cherry’s dismissal from the iconic “Hockey Night in with his unique blend of edge and wit. It might not be fair to ask him to be Canada” broadcast and, specifically, the Coach’s Corner segment he the man to slide into Cherry’s burnt out chair, but Burke could do the job oversaw for 30-plus years comes the question: who is next? without a doubt.

And it is a wholly fair and important question given the manner in which Regardless of whether it’s Burke or someone else, the issue of who the vacancy was created. should host the segment needs to be addressed.

But maybe the better question and the question that serves the game I thought longtime Coach’s Corner host Ron MacLean provided a better is not who, but what next for “Hockey Night in Canada” and the heartfelt apology for his shameful part in Cherry’s final segment where he game itself? offered no pushback for the commentary, simply giving a lamentable thumbs up to end the segment. But his time has come, too, and I would If anything is certain after the reprehensible comments by Cherry on last argue the need for a fresh face as a host is critical regardless of who fills Saturday’s segment about immigrants that led to a public firestorm of Cherry’s chair. criticism – the Canadian Broadcasting Standards Council was so overwhelmed with calls about Cherry’s comments that their system broke Whoever steps in as host, if the segment is to maintain its current format, – Cherry’s dismissal stands as a great opportunity, and with that a great has to be someone with some journalistic/broadcast chops who can trade responsibility. jabs or barbs with Burke and call him if he goes off the rails.

This isn’t just about the flagship hockey show in Canada, a show that for If not Burke, who else could command the same attention and respect? decades was a meeting place for an entire nation sharing its passion for Glenn Healy is as sharp a mind as there is in hockey and few are as the game, but in many ways it is the flagship show for the game itself – a quick on their feet. Healy was a regular contributor to panels, providing show that would be imitated and repurposed on many networks in many in-game analysis for years and working for Hockey Night in Canada at cities. one time, but is now the head of the NHL’s Alumni Association. You didn’t have to be Canadian or to grow up with the game to does great work with the NHL Network. A veteran understand what that theme music (which is now the property of rival Canadian journalist with a lifelong passion for hockey, Christie Blatchford sports network TSN) meant as it welcomed fans to Saturday night would bring a fresh perspective to the seat. And has grown hockey. And you didn’t need to be a hockey insider as you settled in for quickly into a must-listen on NBC’s national broadcasts in the U.S. TSN’s the discussion on the second intermission Satellite Hot Stove with Dave Poulin is sharp as a tack and has a great hockey pedigree. Craig familiar hockey faces like John Davidson, Al Strachan, Scott Morrison, Button, too. my current colleagues Eric Duhatschek and Pierre LeBrun and so on, although you might have felt a little more on the inside when the segment It might seem heretical but what about TSN stars like Bob McKenzie or was completed. , although both are known more for their inside knowledge of the game than pontificating. There’s also the immensely popular Ray When it was at its best, “Hockey Night in Canada” was appointment Ferraro who could ably fill the role. television, telling the stories of the game, and informing us of the trends and nuances of the game. Regardless of whether Montreal was whipping It’s hard to imagine TSN ever letting any of these top assets go, but if Toronto or vise-versa on any particular Saturday, you stuck around for you’re Sportsnet, this is your one chance to swing at the fences in the duration because the information shared and the theater that was restoring the tattered image of this segment. produced between periods mattered as much as the game. But to imagine this kind of future for the hole that was Coach’s Corner is That was the magic of the show when it worked, and many people from to take just a small step away from that mindset. And is a small step myriad backgrounds and ways of life have described how that show enough? became a touchstone for feeling included in the greater hockey community. Maybe it requires a step away from who to what?

It was the show’s first intermission and its centerpiece Coach’s Corner Sportsnet has done a nice job of telling a broad range of hockey stories segment that was the prize that drew millions of viewers each week and on its “Hometown Hockey” series on Sunday nights. But that reaches a made oodles of money for decades for first the Canadian Broadcasting quarter of the audience that “Hockey Night in Canada” reaches on a Corporation and then Sportsnet. It would be so in spite of the fact it normal Saturday night. became a bully pulpit for a man that no one had the courage to reign in Where else should the most compelling of hockey stories – whether it’s until he finally crossed a line so egregious his handlers at Sportsnet had the tragedy of a bus crash in Humboldt, , or the generosity no choice but to fire him. of superstars like Sidney Crosby or the opening up of mental health It was a moment that came years too late given his repeated attacks on issues in the sport – be told but on “Hockey Night in Canada?” people that didn’t fit his narrow view of what a good Canadian might have It’s certainly cheaper not to tell those stories. It’s cheaper to put two been. people in front of a camera and have them talk. But maybe the national So, now what? broadcast partner of the NHL in Canada should be held to a higher standard. A source familiar with the broadcast said that as of Monday there wasn’t a firm plan on what to do when the show airs on Saturday. Multiple sources familiar with the Canadian hockey broadcast world said that, even before the Cherry incident, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman The popular second-intermission Saturday Headlines segment with top was less than pleased with Sportsnet in terms of the product being hockey journalists Chris Johnston and Elliotte Friedman could be moved presented on a weekly basis as it relates to the NHL brand and that to the first intermission, but that still doesn’t answer the question of displeasure was made well-known to broadcast executives during the ultimately what replaces “Coach’s Corner.” events surrounding the recent Heritage Classic outdoor game in Regina, Saskatchewan. The easiest thing to do is simply fill one larger than life personality with another personality to whom hockey fans will gravitate. Sportsnet cut costs in recent months by cutting high profile personalities, including Nick Kypreos, Scott Morrison, John Shannon and radio personality Bob McCown.

So, just as the firing of Cherry was a defining moment for the national broadcaster in Canada where hockey is never just a game, what happens next is no less defining for the broadcaster.

Multiple sources familiar with the hockey broadcast culture in Canada described Coach’s Corner in recent years as being very stale and believe this is the perfect opportunity to re-examine the entire structure of the broadcast and to examine it’s very raison d’etre.

And that means thinking beyond replacing one body with another and focusing on what has always propelled the game forward: the stories of the people in it.

Maybe it’s a rotating chair with a group of hockey minds from different places on the hockey spectrum taking their turns in the great chair from week to week.

Maybe it’s a rotating group that reflects the changing demographics of fans and the game itself with top hockey women and people from different ethnic backgrounds taking the stage to talk about critical hockey issues in the news.

What about a group of scouts talking about top draft picks one week or the art of scouting?

Maybe it’s NHL executives breaking down what goes into making a trade leading up to the trade deadline.

Maybe it’s about spending money to produce features that address important hockey issues like mental health and the concussion issue.

Maybe it’s a look at technology and how it impacts the game, whether it’s in terms of player preparation, diet, equipment or the way the game is broadcast or interpreted.

This is the perfect vehicle to not just tell important hockey stories but to have intelligent debate buttress those stories.

Maybe it’s something that is limited only by the imagination of why we care so much for the game.

And maybe, in the end, whatever it looks like will serve the game and all of us so much better.

The Athletic LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161297 Websites It was great. I think they put us together on a line because we were both so competitive. And I think that’s the difference with her. What happened on the ice was on the ice – and you left it there. When we were off the ice, it’s off the ice. The Athletic / Goyette on Wickenheiser: The player, the person, the competitor and now the Hall of Famer We started playing together around 1999, 2000. They put us together and they saw the chemistry we had. I’m a playmaker, she was a shooter, and that’s how it worked. But, again, we were so competitive that we played together for maybe three weeks out of a month and then they had By Eric Duhatschek to split us apart because we became so angry at each other. And then Nov 12, 2019 we came back together and we had fun again. But I always said, Wick extended my hockey career for many years — more years than I thought I could play — because of the competitiveness. She would try to do something, I tried to do it better. We pushed each other. It wasn’t always Hayley Wickenheiser and Danielle Goyette came up together in the easy to play with Wick because she’s really direct. Sometimes she’s Canadian women’s national team program, Wickenheiser as a thinking one way, you’re thinking another way, but for me, it allowed us to precocious teenager from Shaunavon, Sask., Goyette, as a 28-year-old become better as a pair. late bloomer from Saint-Nazaire, Que. The two shared a small-town background, but in the beginning, because Goyette was a unilingual On the Olympics: Francophone, and Wickenheiser a unilingual Anglophone, they didn’t have a lot of deep conversations. In ’98, we dominated women’s hockey and we were the favourites to win at the Olympics and didn’t. I think we learned a lesson that time. It What they did have in common was the universal language of hockey. doesn’t matter how good you are or how much talent you have on your team, you have to play as a team. For me, the Olympics in ’98 were They were teammates when women’s hockey was first included as a difficult because my dad had just passed away and I didn’t have a lot of Winter Olympic sport in 1998 where Canada won a silver medal. Four contact with the girls. But I was at practices. I had a good tournament years later, in Salt Lake City, they won gold together – and then repeated and I played with Wick a couple shifts, but you know what? In the end, that feat again in 2006. silver, for me, was a disappointment. When you go home, people would When Goyette eventually retired and went into coaching, she recruited say, “Oh my God, a silver medal.” But deep down we knew that we Wickenheiser to play for her at the University of Calgary, where needed to work harder and be better as a team to get the gold medal. Wickenheiser went on to earn an undergraduate degree in kinesiology. A It’s funny how it turned around. In 2002, they – the U.S. – were the U of C Dinosaurs team that was coming off a 7-15 record when favourites and we came back and won – and Wick after the game, was Wickenheiser first joined, won a national championship two years later. so emotional. From that moment on, I think we really set the standard for Goyette was Canada’s flag bearer for the opening ceremony in Turin and women’s hockey in Canada. “This is what we want, and we’ll do anything Wickenheiser was given the same honor eight years later in Sochi. in our power to get it.” In retirement, Wickenheiser now attends medical school at the University On Wickenheiser playing professionally in a European men’s league: of Calgary, runs the largest female amateur hockey tournament in the world (Wickfest, now in its 10th year), and is currently on staff as the When we trained together as players, Hayley always trained with the Toronto Maple Leafs’ assistant director of player development. guys. She’d be there, working out with Martin Gelinas, who was playing for the Calgary Flames at the time – and she was always pushing to go In 2017, Goyette became the fifth woman elected to the Hall of Fame and to the next level. It’s not an easy thing because a lot of people would say on Monday, Wickenheiser will become the seventh. things like, “Who do you think you are?” But that’s not the way she was Here are Goyette’s thoughts about Wickenheiser, the player, the person, thinking. She thought, “I need to be better and these guys are going to the competitor and now the Hall of Famer (as told to The Athletic’s Eric push me to be better.” And I admired that. She pushed the boundaries in Duhatschek). women’s hockey, even though a lot of people were not happy about that at the time. On their first meeting: When she went to Finland, to play in the men’s league, I’ll tell you, some The first time I met Hayley was in Lake Placid, N.Y., at a training camp of the girls did not like it. But at the end of the day, as an athlete, you for the 1994 world championships. At that time, I wasn’t speaking know you can get better and you want to get better, and some people English, so I remember her as a player, but didn’t know her very well as a take different routes and that’s the way she decided to go. Not a lot of person because we had no way to communicate. On the ice, I remember people would put their bodies through what she did. That was a body- her wearing this white cage, but what you really noticed was her slap contact league. I know it’s less physical in Europe because of the size of shot. Not many women could shoot the puck the way she did back then. I the rink, but you just need to get hit once in a big way and you remember would say for many, many years she had the best slap shot in women’s that hit but she was not afraid to put herself in there. You know Wick, but hockey. a lot of people don’t. She does everything in her life that way. She’s At the 1994 world championship, they had Wick playing with Angela always trying to go to the next level – and learn from the best. When you James and I was pretty impressed to see a girl, at the age of 14 or 15, want to be the best, you have to learn from the best. In terms of the playing with the top player on the team. I was like, “Wow.” training, yes, women’s hockey is there now, but at the time, the way she was training, I don’t think women’s hockey was at that level and that’s Even then, she already knew where she was going. It didn’t matter what why she had to go look somewhere else to play. was in her way, she would’ve gone right through it. She was just was so fearless. I really believe that’s why she made such a mark on the game. On coaching Wickenheiser: She was a power forward – and would go in the corner, bang people, and I’d started coaching at the University of Calgary in 2007. After they won come out with the puck. She wasn’t the sort of the player that would sit in the gold medal in 2010, I started talking to her just to ask: “Hey, what front of the net, waiting for somebody to get them the puck. She played now? What are you going to do? Would you think of coming to Calgary?” like a guy – and she wouldn’t mind me saying that about her. She was She was like, “I don’t know. I don’t know about that level of hockey.” the only player that I could really talk to like guys do. We’re females, so we have a more sensitive side to our personalities and after she moved So I told her, “Listen, at the end of the day, you need to do what you on, in women’s hockey, you had to be careful how you talk to your need to do for yourself, but I can promise, if you come to play for us, I will teammates. With her, you didn’t have to. treat you the way you have to be treated. I will push you. There will be no special privileges. I won’t let you get away with anything,” – because I We’d have conversations on the bench with the ‘F’ word in there. At one wanted her to keep improving. That’s the fun part about Wick. The way point, I said to her, “Hey, are you going to pass me the fucking puck?” Or we see the game was pretty similar. If I didn’t have the respect of Hayley I’d say, “If I wanted to be a figure skater, I would’ve gone into figure as a player first and then as a coach, I don’t think she would have come. skating. I would like to touch the puck at least one time here.” But the fact that she came here to play for us made a big difference in And she’s like, “Fuck you.” the game in Canada West – and a big difference in the lives of my players. In the beginning, some of the players were afraid of how competitive she was because she never took a loss easy. But now talking to some of the girls, they say, “This is the best thing that happened to us, playing with Wick,” – because you’re never satisfied with the way you play. You always want to get better – and we did. Two years later, we won the national championship and then we lost in the final in 2013. She changed the program, for sure. She made a big difference on the ice, but I think she made the biggest difference off the ice.

(In 2013-14), she was training full-time with the national team, but she was practicing and training with us too and going to school … and in school she had like a 4.0 average. There’d be players on the team complaining, “I’m too tired. I’m too busy.” And I’d say, “You know what? Wick has a son. She’s a mom. She’s training full-time with the national team. She’s travelling. She’s playing with us. And she’s going to school.”

And that year, we had, I think 12 or 13 players who made all-Canadian on the team. That’s the impact she had. And you know what else? Attending university is about making sure you have the right tools to succeed in life. Hayley brought that to the team off the ice. I would say, six to eight players right now would tell you, they’re successful at their jobs because of their experience with Wick off the ice.

On Wickfest:

In Quebec, we have the Quebec Pee-Wee tournament, but I think Wickfest is even bigger now because the Quebec Pee-Wee tournament is just for one age group, and Wickfest has four or five and the teams now come from all over the world. It’s an amazing event and again, it just shows you her impact on women’s hockey. It started out pretty small. Now she’s here at WinSport, but they have to go play at different rinks because she doesn’t have enough rinks anymore.

But this is how big it is and the impact it has on the city. Just the volunteers she needs to run it is amazing. And again, she’s not going to stop there. She’s got girls coming over from India. She wanted them to have that life experience. That’s how she lives her life. Everything she got is because of hockey. Now she’s trying to give back.

On the Hall of Fame induction:

We talked about it when they started to elect women’s players into the Hockey Hall of Fame while she was still playing, and Wick said to me, “Oh, you’re the next one.” I’m like, “No.” And you really don’t believe it because it’s Hockey Hall of Fame. It’s something you look up to. It’s something you see on TV, and it’s for the players that you watched on TV. So, for me, it was like, “No, it cannot happen,” but for Wick, I knew it just a question of time.

From the first day they elected a woman, I knew Hayley was a shoo-in. If she had retired earlier, she would’ve maybe been in before anybody else. All the players that are in already, it’s all people she respects a lot. It’s going to be an honour for her because Wick always had a lot of respect for the history of the game, even in the men’s game. She always connected with the older guys and wanted to know their stories, what they did, how they started. Because behind every hockey player, there’s a special story, a unique story. How do you make it to the NHL? How did you stay that long?

I told her, “It’s a pretty special weekend and you better enjoy it because it goes really fast. It’s going to be gone in a second.” I know her family’s going to be there and her friends and people the really close to her. She could probably bring 200 or 300 people.

Now I see little boys playing on the street and they wear a Team Canada jersey with the name Hayley Wickenheiser on it. When you think about women’s hockey, you think about Hayley and Cassie Campbell. Cassie Campbell, her name is still out there being the caller on television with the Calgary Flames. She made her name for herself. But Hayley? Hayley is somebody that, day in and day out, was the best player in women’s hockey for a long, long, long time. This is really well-deserved.

The Athletic LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161298 Websites Ducks acquire: Daniel Sprong Penguins acquire: Marcus Pettersson

There’s a book to be written about how Sprong went from making the The Athletic / Could a fall trade improve the fortunes of your NHL team in Pens as an 18-year-old to going unclaimed on waivers at 22. It has a little 2019-20? bit of everything, and probably started with Pittsburgh getting too infatuated too quickly with a shiny new rookie. Whatever the specifics, it’s remarkable given his start that it took a trade to Anaheim for Sprong to By Jonathan Willis get a real run in a skill role.

Nov 12, 2019 In some ways, it went OK. Sprong scored 14 goals in 47 games after the trade. His line with Adam Henrique at center was just over 50 percent by

expected goal share in a tough season for the Ducks, a respectable total. For a long time, NHL general managers have had to build their teams in He was also effective as a second unit power play threat. the summer. That’s when free agents are available, when cap space is It wasn’t enough. The Ducks waived Sprong out of training camp, and most plentiful (and limits most flexible) and the point at which it’s easiest with no takers, he’s now in the minors, where he’s fallen to third among to find trading partners. All of that is still true, but recent seasons have San Diego scorers but also has the worst plus/minus on the team, which been marked by an unexpected development: teams are now more is an unlikely outcome for an NHL-caliber talent. In some ways, it’s a willing to make trades early in the year. continuation of last season, where the expected goals total was solid but There have been more trades in the early months of the last two seasons the actual goals for and against were ugly. than there were the previous four combined, and that wheel-and-deal Meanwhile Pettersson, unremarkable in a sheltered role for the Ducks, trend appears to be continuing in 2019-20. The mere fact that trades are found his legs in expanded usage for Pittsburgh. After playing just 14 being made isn’t the only question worth answering; the non-trivial minutes per game in Anaheim that number climbed to 18 in Pittsburgh concerns of what kinds of players are available and the cost of those and has crept up to 19 this season. He’s played with a revolving door of players matter too. partners; mostly Jack Johnson but also Justin Schultz and Erik Yet the relative boom of the trade market is encouraging in one sense: it Gudbranson, with results that have been at least solid and at times suggests GMs have gained a level of comfort with the trade-killing salary extremely good (there are no points for correctly guessing which partner cap. Making deals is more complex now than it has ever been, but clubs has been most challenging). are making use of the tools at their disposal and are better positioning Both teams probably got more out of the player they received in the trade themselves for flexibility than they have in the past. One example, most than they were likely to from the one they gave up, but once again Jim players near the bottom of NHL rosters are on league-minimum Rutherford shows in this deal that he has a knack for these little early contracts, making it easier to swap them due to the cap numbers being season moves. This trade came just a season after the GM previously equal. got useful players Riley Sheahan and Jamie Oleksiak for not very much. Even so, last year saw some relatively complex deals with significant Veteran-for-veteran deals players moving, sometimes in both directions. Penguins acquire: Tanner Pearson The classic change-of-scenery trade Kings acquire: Carl Hagelin Blackhawks acquire: Dylan Strome, Brendan Perlini This was a weird one, maybe the strangest trade in the NHL last fall in Coyotes acquire: Nick Schmaltz terms of outcomes. Not only have both players since departed their Last fall’s biggest trade saw three players who had previously been acquiring teams, but both players were actually traded later in the same regarded as important building blocks change teams. season. Rutherford added to his long habit of making fall trades by trading the return he received in a deal the previous fall. Schmaltz, who scored 21 times and had 52 points for Chicago the year before, had fallen out of favor with the Blackhawks, first being moved At first blush, the Kings seemed to come off worse in this deal, because over to the wing and then being scratched altogether. Furthermore, it there was no uptick in Hagelin’s performance post-trade. He’s a fast, two- happened in the same season that the team had to decide on a contract way veteran who seems to have lost his offensive touch, having scored extension. Rather than commit, they flipped him for a pair of similarly- just four times in 46 combined regular season and playoff games since aged players from Arizona. the trade. L.A. did, however, manage to flip Hagelin at the deadline for third- and sixth-round picks, which isn’t a bad outcome for a rebuilding Strome, the 2015 3rd overall pick, had been dominant in the AHL in his club. first full pro season but was struggling to adapt to the majors. The fear was that he simply lacked the speed to make the grade at the NHL level. Pearson did score a bit for the Pens, tallying nine goals in 44 games, but Perlini, who went with him, had 14- and 17-goal seasons on his resume was then flipped to Vancouver at the deadline for Gudbranson, who but was struggling to score with the Coyotes. provided shockingly good play down the stretch. The short term win for Pittsburgh ultimately ended poorly, though: a crowded blue line this fall The outcomes help illustrate why teams make these trades. Schmaltz resulted in Gudbranson being dealt to the Ducks for Andreas Martinsen scored in his second game for the Coyotes and his first back at his and a 2021 seventh-rounder. natural center position. The scoring continued, and despite his season being cut short by injury, Schmaltz is back to the same form to start the Oilers acquire: Ryan Spooner 2019-20 season. Arizona got him on a very reasonable seven-year Rangers acquire: Ryan Strome extension, a backloaded pact that carries a $5.85-million cap hit but the team only pays an average of $3-million annually for the first two years When one player is his team’s leading scorer at center and the other is and $5.5-million annually in years three and four. It’s a good deal for a bouncing around between European leagues looking for his first goal less budget team. than a calendar year after a trade, it’s a sign that one side got worked. In this case, as in others, it was Peter Chiarelli on the losing end of the deal. Chicago took the most risk in the deal because it gave up the most established talent, but appears to have been amply compensated in From the Oilers perspective, dealing Strome was an easy decision. He terms of reward. Strome scored immediately, recording 51 points in 58 wasn’t scoring much on a line with Milan Lucic and Jesse Puljujarvi, and games following the trade. He’s currently in the final season of his entry- with the club on the verge of firing its coach, there was a desire internally level deal, with the Blackhawks undoubtedly far more confident in to make a trade first. Spooner was attractive because the hope was that extending him than they were Schmaltz. he’d generate some secondary scoring for a roster in dire need of it.

Perlini scored some goals for Chicago but didn’t pan out in the same As Tyler Dellow noted at the time, it wasn’t a deal with a great chance of way, ultimately requesting a trade. The Blackhawks obliged, sending him success, and whatever hope there was that it would work for Edmonton to Detroit for defensive prospect Alec Regula, a third-round pick in 2018 basically vanished when the team replaced Todd McLellan with Ken who is scoring a point-per-game in the OHL, so even that setback Hitchcock, who quickly sidelined Spooner. Spooner was eventually ultimately cost them little. traded again, for Sam Gagner, in the old swap of one contract liability for same after suffering a hamstring injury and undergoing surgery for it in another. the fall of 2017. He came back the following season but was clearly struggling, albeit in the chaos of a disastrous season for Ottawa. Strome, in contrast, emerged as a player for the Rangers. He scored right away, finishing the year with 18 goals over 63 games in New York. The Oilers, desperate to add a puck-moving element, took a chance. It More than that, he added elements that Spooner never could: a greater lasted just five games. Then Wideman was thrown into another fix-the- comfort level at center, a right shot and penalty-killing ability. Basically, defense deal, helping to balance out the incoming contract of Alex he became the perfect third-line center, filling a niche for the Rangers Petrovic. Ottawa ended up richer to the tune of a sixth-round pick, doing and leaving a vacant slot in Edmonton which has yet to be filled. to the Oilers what Edmonton had done to the Blues in the preseason with Jakub Jerabek. In fact, the pick which changed hands was the very same His early-season point-per-game performance carries some caveats, one. including shooting percentage (he’s scoring on more than one in five shots he’s taken as a Ranger, going back to 2018-19) and on-ice As mentioned at the outset, one key takeaway from this exercise is the shooting percentage (his five-man unit is converting an insane one shot mere fact that teams are more willing to make deals than they ever have in six). Injuries have opened the door for him to climb higher up the depth been before under a capped system. General managers have options, chart than he’s really capable of playing over the long term. even if the options aren’t always good and even if inactivity is sometimes the wiser course. Nevertheless, New York got a real NHL player and the Oilers got an expensive bubble guy, and that’s a pretty big swing. Already this fall we’ve seen attempted variants of the something-for- nothing deal, with the trade of Gudbranson to Anaheim and Louis Something for nothing Domingue to New Jersey. Change of scenery deals are popular too, Stars acquire: Taylor Fedun especially in Detroit, where the Red Wings acquired Perlini for a prospect and then Robby Fabbri for Jacob de la Rose. We might even include the Sabres acquire: Conditional 2020 seventh-round pick Ian McCoshen-for-Aleksi Saarela swap in the same category.

As far as value goes, few deals last fall match the Stars adding a regular Ottawa’s addition of Vladislav Namestnikov must be regarded as the defenceman for a bag of pucks. If Fedun didn’t play at least 25 games early front-runner to be this season’s big fall trade win. The fourth-round with Dallas, the Sabres would get nothing; if he did, they would receive pick the Rangers got in exchange is a real asset, but Namestnikov is only a seventh-round pick a year and a half down the road. In the grand playing major minutes and playing them well in Canada’s capital. scheme of things, that’s a pretty good return for a 30-year-old minor- Whether the pending free agent remains in Ottawa long-term is very leaguer, but there’s no question which of the two teams here benefitted much in question, but at worst he’s already increased his stock from most. where it was as a member of the Rangers.

The Dallas blue line was crushed by injury last season, with Fedun one More deals will be made, and if there’s a single overarching lesson to be of a whopping 14 defencemen used over the course of the year. Most of taken from last season it is one of opportunity. Leivo, Fedun and Strome them came and went. Fedun came, carved out a spot, and has continued were all either not getting opportunities or getting bad ones with their to play this season. He’s not climbing uphill to school both ways, but he is current clubs; that changed in their new homes with fantastic results. This delivering quality minutes in a third-pair role, regardless of whether the is also why change-of-scenery deals remain so popular: looking at the reader’s preferred metric is Corsi, goals or expected goals. Sprong/Pettersson deal or that big Arizona-Chicago swap, in both cases the acquiring teams had plans to use their new players more, and more It was a team effort that got the Stars to within one game of beating favorably than they were being used in their previous homes. eventual Stanley Cup champion St. Louis in the second round last year, and more than any of their other defensive fill-ins, Fedun deserves credit It’s probably obvious advice for GMs, but its good advice all the same: for playing capably. More than one franchise has had an entire season figure out where the opportunities exist on your roster, then go find flushed by a string of defensive injuries, and without Fedun and others players who might be able to fill them if only they’re given a chance. A lot like him, the 2018-19 Stars would have joined the club. of trade winners last fall had success with just that formula.

Canucks acquire: Josh Leivo

Maple Leafs acquire: Michael Carcone The Athletic LOADED: 11.13.2019 Toronto was in a bit of a bind with Leivo, an accomplished minor-leaguer who had turned into a 25-year-old bubble piece. He wasn’t going to get a chance in their lineup, and he was taking up a roster spot, so rather than waive him and lose him for nothing the Maple Leafs flipped him for a competent minor-leaguer. It’s understandable logic if one starts from the premise that coaches aren’t allocating ice time based on demands from the front office.

Vancouver, with a threadbare lineup, immediately gave Leivo the chance he had been waiting years for in Toronto, a chance that people like The Athletic’s Ian Tulloch argued he deserved. In his first game with the Canucks, Leivo played 16:53, which was more than he played in 67 of 68 games under Mike Babcock. He scored a goal, which was the start of a trend.

Since the move to B.C., Leivo has been a quality middle-six point- producer for the Canucks, particularly when his numbers are considered on a per-hour basis. His on-ice metrics, from Corsi to expected goals to actual goals, all either lead the team or come close. Vancouver managed to turn a minor-league depth piece into an inexpensive middle-six winger in-season, and that’s a hard thing to do.

Oilers acquire: Chris Wideman

Senators acquire: Conditional 2020 sixth-round pick

In the other two trades we’ve looked at from the fall, it was the team getting the player for the marginal asset that came off better. That isn’t always the case, though. Sometimes, if a team moves quickly, it can turn a player who is no longer of NHL-caliber into a useful future asset.

This was what Ottawa managed with Wideman. Once an underrated contributor to some decent Senators teams, Wideman just wasn’t the 1161299 Websites game down to your pace and your speed and allowed other players to find a hole.

Of all those great defensemen I played with, you created more holes and The Athletic / Craig Ludwig’s letter to Sergei Zubov: Every forward hoped space than anyone. I’d bet if you asked Guy Lafleur or Steve Shutt they the puck was on Zubie’s stick would look at those three, and all are great players, but I imagined they’d say “give me that Zubov guy because all he does is put the puck on your stick when you are within five feet of the net.”

By Sean Shapiro Can you imagine the stats you would have had if they kept all the analytics and numbers they keep today? Your exiting the zone. Your Nov 12, 2019 created offense and shot share, or whatever they call it. Can you imagine those numbers? They’d be great.

Stanley Cup winner Sergei Zubov will be inducted into the Hockey Hall of There’s only a certain percentage of players that played in the late 90s Fame on Monday. Playing 12 seasons in Dallas, he is the franchise’s all- that could step in and play today. Mike Modano could do it because he time leader among defensemen in games, goals, assists, points, power- could skate. We could name a few more, but Zubie, you are in a small play goals, game-winning goals and time on ice. Playing alongside him group. was Craig Ludwig. Just think about the points you would have had if you played with some Here are Craig Ludwig’s words on his teammate Sergei Zubov. of these forwards that are as skilled now and that work on those skills, or better yet, are actually allowed to do things that create goals. Zubie, And the thing about those point totals is you didn’t have to play with us. You should take a smoke break during your speech. We were such a defensive-minded team. You probably drooled thinking about a lot of the players that had the freedom and skill to do what they Seriously, how great would that be? Two minutes into your speech, stop do now. and light up a dart in front of the crowd. I’m sure at times it was really frustrating for you. Because you deserved It would be the classic of all times. to play with players that had the same understanding and IQ. It’s hard not to think about how you smoked like a fucking chimney. After Thank God Mario Lemieux got pissed at you and got you traded out of the game I remember you getting out of your gear so quickly. It was like Pittsburgh. you had a zipper on the front, and you were smoking in the shower. You would always say you didn’t. But we all saw the smoke, smelt it and saw I don’t think it ever got talked about how strong you were on the puck in the ashtray that was in there. your own end. You’d go into the corner with somebody and it wasn’t like it was any different than one of us bigger defensemen going into the You should have played in the 60s where you could have smoked three corner – nobody could get away from you, and for the most part, you packs a day. And with what you did for my career, I’d be buying you a came away with the puck. pack every day if we were still teammates. Typically you put a real defensive-minded guy with someone like Zubie to I had the luxury of playing with some great defensemen in my career. balance things out. They really didn’t need to do that with you. You were Larry Robinson and Chris Chelios and you. It’s no wonder I got to play for as good defensively as you were offensively, but you never got the such a long time. accolades. All great players, but each one was totally different, and the first thing This honor is way overdue. Just like your jersey is way overdue in the that comes to mind is just how much skill you brought to the game. fucking American Airlines (Center), for god’s sake. The ice that you had in your veins as a defenseman on the offensive blue We would often say, “Can you believe they haven’t put Zubov in the Hall line scared the living shit out of me all the time. Because I’d be turning of Fame? This is fucking ridiculous.” around going the other way expecting a turnover, and the next thing you know, I’m making a big lap back because you’ve done something It got frustrating when you would listen over the years where people incredible at the offensive blue line. would talk on these sports shows and say, “here is who’s going to get nominated,” and you never heard Zubie’s name. It was like, wait a Your patience with the puck. To be able to hold on and hold on and find a minute? Really? spot or find an opening. When you talk to guys like Mo (Mike Modano) and Hully (Brett Hull), I’m sure you are the best defenseman they ever It’s funny. Larry Robinson is in the Hall of Fame. Zubov is in the Hall of played with because you had an uncanny way of finding a hole or finding Fame. Guy Carboneau is in the Hall of Fame. Chelios is in the Hall of a seam that nobody saw. We would say, “if you are going in that Fame. What do they all have in common? direction, keep going because Zubie is going to find the hole.” They were roommates of mine. I remember we kind of had to talk Hitch (Ken Hitchcock) down sometimes because you would make certain plays through the neutral zone and And when you and I were roommates, what’s that show called, The Odd Hitch was a straight-line kind of coach where you don’t turn pucks over Couple? It was like that but it didn’t last long. You probably said, “What there. did I do to deserve this?”

But he didn’t give you shit. I remember we were in New York and you left in the middle of the night. The morning I got on the bus and asked what happened. You said, “Oh, He let you be Zubie, and that was my responsibility — to go to Hitch and you never come in, you come in late, you make noise.” say, “Listen, there is a reason Rick Wilson has me playing with Zubie. Because of the 10 plays that he makes, eight of them are going to I call bullshit. You were dead asleep each time. connect and send somebody in on a 2-on-1 one or a breakaway or I could call up six teammates and five of them would meet us at the bar, whatever. And the two that don’t, it’s my job and the goaltender to take and you would be the one that didn’t. And I give you credit for that, that care of that 2-on-1.” was you and you knew what you had to do to make sure we won. It was also amazing how you would play east-west. Your feet wouldn’t We didn’t have a lot in common, but it seemed like you were always move, but you seemed to pick up speed all the time. interested in what we did the night before when we got to practice or the I don’t get it. game the next day. You’d just be listening and smiling and shake your head and laugh and then probably go, “these guys got a fucking I don’t know the physics of it and I don’t understand it. problem.”

There are guys that pick up speed, like Paul Coffey, but Coffey was a I remember in the playoffs, it’s when you are eating Sudafeds like they guy that much like Connor McDavid picked up speed going north-south. are Tic Tacs, and you are gassed and all this kind of shit. But Zubie didn’t Zubie, you would pick up speed going east-west, and you just slowed the need anything, he was a machine. I’d start trying to run around the first couple of shifts and I couldn’t even tell you my name with all the shit we were doing, and you’d come back and say, “You have to calm down. Calm down. Where are you going?”

And you know what, I think the reason you were the perfect partner for me is I never had to worry about getting the puck back. You’d rather throw it back to Belfour than give it to me. It was great.

The first thing you think before you get the puck when you play with a guy like that is, “Where is Zubie?” And whether he’s 10 feet or two feet away, you give it to him. Because analytically, we know the play is going to come out of the zone a lot easier on your stick than mine. Mine is going to come off the glass, yours is going to be a saucer pass up the middle or across the ice right on somebody’s tape.

I know for a fact that every forward thought that when we were on the ice as a pair. They were hoping the puck was on Zubov’s stick and not mine.

As I said before, this is an honor that should have come a long time ago. It’s well deserved and I’m glad we don’t have to wait any longer.

The Athletic LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161300 Websites Time management has always been one of your strong suits, but med school is challenging and you’ve got more than just that on your plate. How do you keep all the balls in the air simultaneously? Do you not fear that at some point, they’re all going to come crashing down? The Athletic / Q&A with Hayley Wickenheiser on becoming a doctor, working with the Leafs and her Hall of Fame speech It’s not bad. I feel like I’ve got a pretty good handle on things. It’s a great system because when we don’t have mandatory things at school, there are three- to four-day chunks where I can get on a plane and go work with the Leafs in Toronto. When I’m with the Leafs, I’m on the rink from By Eric Duhatschek say eight in the morning until about one or so and then I do medicine Nov 12, 2019 over the remainder of the day and I podcast the lectures that I missed. So, it’s a pretty good routine.

I actually think one keeps me sane for the other because I’m the kind of Of all the things that Hayley Wickenheiser does well – hockey, softball, person that if I’m just doing one thing, I’m easily bored. I like to be busy. study, parent, volunteer – probably the thing she is most adept at is There are times when it’s busier than others, but the way I deal with it is juggling. Not in the traditional opening-act-for-the-magic-show way, but in just to take one thing at a time. I don’t get too far ahead of myself. I just her ability to keep all of the balls in her busy life up in the air. get organized for today and get through today and keep going. But I am a good time manager. I don’t waste much time. I have no minutes to waste. Take November for example. Over two long weekends in the middle of But I truly enjoy what I’m doing, so it’s good. the month, her annual international hockey festival – officially known as the Canadian Tire Wickenheiser World Female Hockey Festival – gets Has each of these two paths been what you thought they’d be? Because underway in Calgary. WickFest is in its 10th year and Wickenheiser calls sometimes, you can anticipate what a job or a course of study might be it her “pet project.” She started it in Burnaby following the 2010 Winter like and the reality is something completely different. Olympics, moved it to Calgary four years ago and is now running the event in both Calgary and Surrey, B.C. with plans to expand to Halifax I would say medicine’s been what I thought it would be. There are parts I and Toronto next year. enjoy and parts I despise. I cannot sit in a lecture theatre for eight hours a day. I won’t do it. I think it’s actually counterproductive. I think it is Over 30,000 players have passed through the program over nine years, actually anti-medicine. So, I’ll go to some lectures and podcast the rest. I including players from India, Mexico, the Czech Republic, Finland, China choose to work out and balance my life with other things. So, there are and all across Canada and the United States. Wickenheiser is also ways around it. But that’s the part of my life that I haven’t enjoyed. I don’t attending medical school full-time, but occasionally commuting from think anybody does. But it’s a rite of passage. Calgary to Toronto to work as the Toronto Maple Leafs’ assistant director of player development. On Nov. 18, she will become the seventh woman As for the hockey, I would say the one thing I realized is I’m not a scout. I inducted in the Hockey Hall of Fame. don’t love watching game after game after game and running from rink to rink. What I’ve been doing for the Leafs is the role I enjoy. I get to go on (Dave Holland/Courtesy Wickfest) the ice with the players. I go to some games. I watch a lot of video. I liaise with them, to try and help them get better. That’s the thing in the On the day we get together, Wickenheiser’s scheduled is predictably game at this part of my life, I would actually be good at – helping a team jammed. She’ll be leaving from lunch to head over the University of get better. I enjoy that. If I was going to from game to game, scouting, Calgary for a baby delivery class. The day before, she assisted in a C- that’s not for me at all. So, it has turned out pretty much the way I section – and her time in medical school is as good a place as any to thought. And both in medicine and with the Leafs, they’ve been amazing start a conversation about her current life. in terms of helping me with my schedule. Medicine has less flexibility. Effectively, you are simultaneously pursuing two separate career fronts at There are things you absolutely have to do. Hockey’s a little different. the moment: One as a doctor, the other as a hockey executive. How do But one is good professional development for the other. I really see they differ? Or do you see some common threads in both? things in medicine every day that I know from my experience in hockey, I Shockingly, they’re both very similar – except that there are far greater think, ‘oh, that could be so improved.’ Or you think, ‘that person has consequences if you make a mistake in one than the other. In the never worked in a team before.’ Similarly, I see things in medicine that I delivery room, there are some failsafe things to make sure that as a think could help a hockey team: The humanity and the empathy and the medical student, you’re not doing something you’re not capable of doing. understanding of life experiences that sometimes we’re brutal about in But sometimes things happen, and you get thrown in the mix and you’ve sport; that we think, ‘oh, that makes somebody weak.’ Even the got to figure it out on the fly. As a medical student, you’re basically communication skills you learn in medicine – of how to speak to patients, reading from a book and you’re studying and that’s great. But when you or breaking bad news – all of those things have really helped me in talk about, for example, the delivery of a placenta after a birth, if you’ve hockey as a coach or a development person. As a player, I didn’t like to never actually seen that, it’s not what you think it is. Or what an actual C- talk much. I just let my actions do the speaking. So that’s actually been a section surgery delivery looks like. You can read about it but when you’re good personal development for me. there and it’s actually happening, it’s amazingly mind-blowing. The Years ago, I really appreciated it when my thoracic surgeon outlined the human body does amazing things. So, you do need a foundation in risks of an upcoming operation in a clear and plain manner. There was studies, but I find the on-the-job training in medicine is far greater for no sugar coating. I appreciated that. As an adult, you want to know learning – whereas, in hockey, I feel like the work has already been precisely where you stand. done. I’ve earned my Ph.D. in the game. But you’re always layering on new things as you go along. The thing I’m learning in medicine and in hockey is just what you said: it does a disservice to the patient – and the player – if you’re not honest. You started medical school at the University of Calgary in July of 2018 So, when I speak with players, I’m honest. I’ll say it as it is. I think I’ve and were actually sitting for an exam 11 months later when the Hockey always been like that. I have told players: I think you’re playing terribly Hall of Fame called to notify you that you’d been elected in your first year right now, but I also know what it’ll look like when you’re playing well, so of eligibility – which means you couldn’t take the call from the chairman. let’s focus on the good and not dwell on the bad. I take the same How far along are you, in terms of completing your studies? approach with medicine. Sometimes, you have to tell them, yes, this is I’m in my second year of three in a three-year program, so I’m about bad. But here’s what we can do. And sometimes, you can’t do anything – halfway through. I’ll be starting something called clerkship in January, and then that’s the hard part. which is where now you’re only in the hospital, working in all the different That must be the hardest part. In hockey, you think you can go there and specialties and taking just the one academic course, a half-day a week. win every game. In medicine, presumably, you have to learn and accept So, I have about a month left of lectures and that’s it, which is nice. I’ll do that you can’t always save the world. my clerkship mostly in Toronto from January until June all over the GTA, so that’ll make it easier to do work with the Leafs, and then one final part I come from an environment where the message is ‘suck it up’ or ‘get in Calgary just to finish up. In a clerkship, you’re learning the ropes in the over yourself.’ True empathy is putting yourself in someone else’s shoes different specialties as kind of the low man on the totem pole. You’re like and it’s hard to do. I’ve broken down with families in the emergency a rookie on the different units and they rotate you through, for four to six room. I’ve cried twice with families that have had bad outcomes and it weeks at a time, in each different specialty. just happened. The doctor I was working with, she said, ‘just be yourself, whatever that looks like.’ But I got emotional and I’ve seen that with doing CPR, which is a very simple thing. But then I said to myself, ‘get others too. I think you do a disservice to yourself if you don’t show yourself together. You have a role. Just do your job – and my job was to emotion, but you obviously can’t be upset every single time either. I think perform CPR in two-minute intervals, for 40 minutes. Everyone else did that’s why people use brutal humor sometimes – to help you stuff it their jobs. I have no idea what happened around me because I was so before you go home. I’m still figuring all that out. I’ve gotten emotional hyper-focused on what I had to do. and I’ve gotten angry inside too – when you see people do things to themselves that they shouldn’t, and it’s hard to understand why. That’s I think everything I learned in hockey helped me in that moment, to just being human. handle the pressure, in a team scenario. After that was done, we debriefed. There were police and the firefighters who brought him in and Speaking specifically about ways that attitudes can change in the doctors and nurses standing in a circle, talking about what went professional sport, a primary area of interest for you and me is mental wrong and what didn’t. And that was my first day as a med student. health. I’ve been writing about concussions long before the NHL first started doing baseline testing – and in the past two decades, people and OK, that’s a pretty harrowing story. In some ways, I’m not surprised players are just better educated about the danger of head trauma than though. I always tell people, the first time I ever interviewed you, you ever before. Now, though, I think the focus needs to include not just the were 16 years old – and you were the most composed 16-year-old I’d physical health of the brain, but also mental health as well. Is there a way ever seen. Even then, you seemed to have a lot of old-school traditional that you can help people cope with their issues, because if you can, then thoughts about team and the future. not only is it better for them, it could in turn help to maximize (laughs): I was sitting with Garth Malarchuk last year and I reacted to a performance? play and that’s what he said to me: ‘You’re so old-school’ – and I said: You could examine team culture because that’s where it starts. I know for ‘No I’m not.’ a fact that it helps if a player is in an environment where they feel safe I would guess he meant it as a complete compliment. I firmly believe you and have resources they can turn too. I know, for example, the Leafs can hold old-school values and still be receptive to changes in the game. have a wellness consultant and they just hired a psychiatrist. And these But if you can’t keep up, you’re left behind. Even in today’s game, you people are not just in an office. They are around the periphery of the have players coming into the game with traditional values and then you team. They’re not lurking, but they’re there. So, if you can create a have others with a greater sense of entitlement. It’s not ‘what I can do for culture where it’s OK, whether you’re doing well or you’re not well, just to the game?’ but ‘what can the game do for me?’ For some, the gratitude check in with someone to talk about how you’re doing. But I don’t think – gene seems missing. for the most part – that culture exists in hockey. There’s got to a buy-in from the top down. That’s where it has to start. But I do think this I felt the same way towards the end of my career with the national team. generation of players is more apt to go and get help when they need it. Players like Danielle Goyette and that first generation I played with, it was like, ‘what can I do to help?’ There was so much gratefulness. We In an industry that demands performance regularly and consistently, I’m were just so damn happy to have a team and a place to play. Then it sure lots of players worry too much. I know I do. became, ‘well, who’s going to carry my bag?’ The answer is: ‘You. Pick it You’d be that player that lies in bed at night, ruminating why he didn’t up yourself!’ score on that play in the last game – and now he can’t sleep. I wasn’t like What do you think about what’s going on in women’s hockey right now that a lot, but I had moments like that in my career – where I would have after the CWHL folded? This seems very much like a transitional year for anxiety about the pressure to always win. I had really good support the sport – but I think it’s the path forward you outlined the last time we around me, but a lot of players are lonely and isolated, so it’s tough to spoke about this subject 18 months ago. navigate that on your own, when you’re 20 years old and you have $10 million in the bank. I think the players did the right thing. I’ve been saying that for years. I’m glad it finally happened. It’s absolutely what had to happen. I think there’s Didn’t Grant Fuhr have it right? He’d always say: ‘You can’t worry about some momentum now. It’s moving in the right direction. I’m hopeful that the last goal that went in, so just concentrate on the next one.’ the NHL will want to engage and we can move this thing into a Sometimes, distilling the matter down to a single, simple cogent thought professional league. I think the best players in the world are now in this is probably the right answer – rather than thinking it through so … what do you want to call what they’re doing? thoroughly that, once you’ve examined every last tiny possibility, you’ve tied yourself up in mental knots. Can you call it a barnstorming tour perhaps? What I like about it, is they’ve turned it into an event. Wherever you happen to live in North I think it’s totally detrimental as a hockey player. You absolutely cannot America, at some point this season, you may get a chance – just once – think. You have to just react. You have to train so that when you step on to see the best women in the world play. And so, if you have an interest the ice, you just react. Patrick Kane, Johnny Gaudreau – all these great in the sport, you better get out to see them that night. It reminds me of a players. They’re not thinking. They’re playing. And that’s the difference. If rock band on tour. Fleetwood Mac comes to your town once – and if you you’re thinking, you’re slow. want to see them, you know in advance when they’re here; what it’ll cost; I also see this in medicine. I’m in a code and I have to think through all and then you make plans accordingly. Maybe that’s part of the model the ABCs – oxygen, one-milligram of epi – the things I would do. I see going forward. the emergency doc I’m working with and she’s got it all out in two Oh, I think you’re right. Four teams in one place over two days and you minutes – and I’m still thinking about the first step. And if you’re too slow, can watch four games if you want – and then they move on to the next that patient might die. So, it’s the same thing – and it’s why, in medicine, place. It’s what Billie Jean King and the WTA did in the beginning – the you do all those practice hours, so that you’re eventually just drawing on same model – and they are working with Billie Jean King now on this so I your instincts. To be great, you have to rely on your instincts. imagine that’s why this is the direction it’s going. I just worry that not Tell me about your most interesting emergency room experience to date. enough of Canada gets to see the best players and I hope this doesn’t become just an American thing. Maybe that’s where the money and the I’d already shadowed my friend, who is an emergency room doctor, for a TV comes from, but Canadians still want to fight hard to have a big say in few hundred hours prior to starting med school, but on my first day in the what happens next. But I think they’ve done their thing now and it’s great ER, five minutes in, a code came in – an unknown male, who had a for the game. It’s not a game, it’s an event – and it’s what happens suspected overdose. She turned to me and said, ‘gown, glove and mask’ around the event. That gives it its best chance. So … hope for the best. and you’re now doing CPR. So, for 200 hours, I had watched all this stuff happen and now, on my first day as a med student, I had to do it in real Just one question on your Hall of Fame honor. I know you called it the life. That was my crash course into med school. And the patient didn’t Holy Grail when your induction was first announced. When you do get to make it – he actually passed away – and that was a very profound a point where you are actually being inducted into the Hall of Fame, moment. that’s a great time to reflect on everything that happened along the journey. But I’ve always believed, no matter who you are – Wayne That was Day 1. I was pretty moved because he was around the same Gretzky, Bobby Orr, Gordie Howe – when you’re a kid, lacing up the age as my son, so it was a tough first day. I was glad to have had the skates for the first time, nobody dreams about the Hall of Fame. Maybe experience with her because I had spent so much time watching codes – you dream about playing major junior, or college, or professionally or in seeing things go right and seeing things go wrong – but in that moment, I the Olympics as you climb the ladder, but you don’t dream about the Hall drew on everything I knew from hockey. I realized it after. I panicked at of Fame. Who can dream that big at the very start of the process? first. I thought, ‘I’m not qualified, what am I doing here?’ But I was just That’s what I said in my interviews. I’ve never thought about it once. Honestly, you don’t grow up thinking about the Hall of Fame. But it’s a great honor, and I’ve got my speech in my head; I just have to get it on paper. I will wing it – with cards. I’m not a reader. I do enough speaking – I know what I’m going to say. I’m always better when I wait and procrastinate and then put everything on paper at the last minute.

The Athletic LOADED: 11.13.2019 1161301 Websites Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 11.13.2019

Sportsnet.ca / Oilers fail to match Sharks' desperation, miss shot to pull away in Pacific

Mark Spector | @sportsnetspec

November 13, 2019, 1:48 AM

The beauty of jumping out to such a fast start was that the Edmonton Oilers, with a couple of well-placed victories over the San Jose Sharks, could bury them almost for good in the Pacific Division.

Alas, there’s a reason they’d want to put the Sharks as far in the rearview mirror as possible. It is because the Sharks own the Oilers — they gave up just one point to Edmonton in five games last season — and that continued Tuesday with their 6-3 pasting as they met for the first time during the 2019-20 season.

It was the first time all season the Oilers gave up three goals in the first period, and the first time they’ve been beaten up like this, trailing by scores of 4-0 and 5-1. Edmonton gave up six goals only once before this season, a year in which they’ve reined in their goals against considerably.

So this was an aberration. In the end, the Oilers split a two-game road trip, after having handled the Anaheim Ducks in a similar fashion, winning 6-2 on Sunday.

Sometimes you get the bear, sometimes the bear gets you. The Oilers end their first 20-game segment at 12-7-2, good for 26 points and first place in the Pacific.

You don’t like the way the first-quarter finishes, but 12-7-2? Any team in hockey would take a first-quarter record like that.

Hey, there’s not much to take away from a game like this, other than the old standard: you win some, you lose some.

Did the Oilers lose some focus having their mothers along on the moms trip? That would sound very much like an excuse.

“We weren’t ready,” Leon Draisaitl told reporters in San Jose after the game. “They start really strong here at home … and we weren’t ready.

“We just got outplayed today, We were sloppy.”

More likely, the Oilers couldn’t match San Jose’s hunger and desperation. If the Sharks lost to Edmonton in regulation, they would have been 13 points behind them in the Pacific, with a meeting back at the Shark Tank next Tuesday. San Jose is already in desperate times at 8-10-1. They needed this game, where Edmonton only wanted it — or so goes the theory.

“I saw a team that was desperate and trying to get back in the race,” Oilers head coach Dave Tippett said to reporters in San Jose.

“And a team that was content with where they’re at. The desperate team usually wins that game.”

Alas, Mike Smith didn’t have a prayer on any of the first three goals, and we’re not blaming him for No. 4, 5 or 6 either. This was a team loss of a 20-man proportion, with lots of close-in deflections and open looks for the Sharks. We’re sure even Mikko Koskinen had a lousy game on the bench.

“We got outcompeted by a desperate team. It wasn’t a good effort by our team, right through,” Tippett said. “It shows the immaturity of the group. We’re trying to become a really good team and we’re not there yet.”

Leon Lights

The points keep coming for the NHL’s leading scorer Draisaitl, who had a goal and an assist. He now has 15 goals and 21 assists for 36 points in the season’s opening 20 games, 10 of those coming on the power play.

Draisaitl has 11 multi-point game, tops in the NHL this season, and is running a 10-game points streak. He was the only player in the NHL who had 50 goals and 100 points last season — he had 105 — and through 20 games he’s on pace for 62 goals and 148 points. 1161302 Websites years, I think, on my birthday. But it is the first win in a while on my birthday.

“It’s nice to get some goals. I think the last couple of games we haven’t Sportsnet.ca / Canucks earn emotional victory with teammate Markstrom created that much. We stuck with it and worked hard and it was nice to on their minds get some bounces.”

The only Canuck happier than Pettersson was winger Tanner Pearson, who shattered a 14-game scoring famine with the first and last Iain MacIntyre | @imacSportsnet Vancouver goals, the latter one 180 feet into an empty net to clinch it after Filip Forsberg’s post-and-in power-play one-timer had brought the November 13, 2019, 2:15 AM Predators within a goal with 5:34 remaining.

“I was about to punch the glass,” he said of his second-period goal VANCOUVER — It is impossible to look at the Vancouver Canucks these celebration after embarrassing Ryan Ellis at the Nashville blue line and days and see only the players and not the people. blowing a shot past goalie Pekka Rinne. “But I thought I’d break my hand, so I didn’t. It was definitely good to get that one. After the team ended a four-game losing streak on Tuesday, Elias Pettersson stood at one end of the dressing room smiling, talking about “It’s been a long time since the last one, so it was nice to get one and get his parents and grandparents and the 12 people who travelled from the win, too, after losing a couple in a row.” Sweden for his 21st birthday and a visit to Vancouver. There was one other very human moment for the Canucks: five minutes With a potentially spectacular career ahead of him, Pettersson, no longer into the game, veteran centre Brandon Sutter attempted a two-second a boy but still not full grown, rewarded his family by scoring twice in a 5-3 shift after returning to the bench from the dressing room, smashed his victory against the Nashville Predators. stick against the boards and left for good to the dressing room.

At the opposite side of the room, Canuck goalie Thatcher Demko quietly He appeared to suffer a groin injury while skating in on a forecheck the talked to reporters while wearing a grey-and-pink Hockey Fights Cancer previous shift. The 30-year-old’s season last year ended with major ballcap. He said it was for Jacob Markstrom, the friend and teammate abdominal surgery — his second in four years as a Canuck. Vancouver who lost his father, Anders, to cancer at age 59 on the weekend and then coach Travis Green offered no injury report after Tuesday’s game. put what was left of his heart into the Canucks’ 2-1 loss Sunday to the Sutter’s replacement, second-year pro Adam Gaudette, scored. New Jersey Devils.

“It’s for a lot of people,” Demko explained of his hat. “But it hits home a little bit harder with the team and what Marky is going through right now. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 11.13.2019 The team played really hard for him on Sunday. That was an important game for our locker room and we were all disappointed a little more than normal not getting a win.

“Tonight, we wanted to prove to him we’d play hard again for him. He might not have been playing, but guys were thinking about him and playing for him.

“I think everyone in here is rooting for him. He’s a guy the team rallies around and respects a lot. He’s been there for me when I’ve been down. Obviously, I’ve never been through something like he’s going through right now. I’m just there for him if he needs me.”

Markstrom has not spoken to the media about his loss, or about the five- day leave he took from the Canucks in October to visit his father in Sweden during the final stages of his dad’s cancer. The Canucks not only agreed to the trip but encouraged it, knowing that Markstrom could be too late if he waited for the short Christmas break to go home.

Despite the emotions of the last six weeks, Markstrom still managed to start 12 games for the Canucks, posting a .918 save percentage.

“It’s incredible,” Demko said. “I think it gets lost. People just look at the numbers, and his numbers are really good. And they don’t think about what he’s been going through. It’s been tough to see, and it kind of makes you step back and realize how lucky you are. I still have both of my parents and I couldn’t even fathom one of them passing. It’s really hard.”

There is no life and death in hockey games, just among players who are people like the rest of us.

Pettersson’s goals against the Predators — a power-play goal conjured out of nothing, and the game-winner on a rebound at 11:41 of the third period — came after a four-game spell in which he had managed only one assist.

The Canucks went 0-3-1 in those games and played well enough to earn more than the single point they got out of them. Ironically, they probably received more than they deserved from the Predators, who outshot the Canucks 37-26 and outplayed them in the second period as badly as any team has this season.

When ambushed with the question, Pettersson couldn’t think of the best birthday gift he ever received, but said he likes playing on his birthday.

“Ever since I got up to, like, high school hockey, I’ve always been away (from home),” he said. “Yeah, it’s special. I’ve been playing the last four 1161303 Websites It also helps to have a few game-breakers on your side, and the Canadiens have more of them this year than they did one year ago.

Sure, Price has been in place for a long time, and he was as good as Sportsnet.ca / Canadiens' grind-it-out win vs. Blue Jackets a sign of he’s ever been on this night. growth And it was old, reliable Brendan Gallagher scoring on a muffin of a shot to extend his team-lead to eight goals and tie the game 1-1 in the fourth minute of the third period. Eric Engels | @EricEngels But the Canadiens didn’t have Nick Suzuki skating with them last season. November 12, 2019, 11:54 PM The 20-year-old had a considerable influence on the outcome of Tuesday’s game.

It was Suzuki who faded to the half-boards and bought himself time by MONTREAL — The Montreal Canadiens came into Tuesday’s game playing give and go with Phillip Danault before snapping a seeing-eye against the Columbus Blue Jackets with the same exact 9-5-3 record pass to Tatar for the game-tying goal. through 17 games as they had established through 17 games last season, but they came out of it having shown an important sign of "The seam opened up from there," Suzuki said. progress. "They did a pretty good job of cutting out all of my other options, but For most of the game, the Blue Jackets employed a plan that was tailor- (Tatar) did a great job of finding a good seam." made to slow the Canadiens down. They executed it to perfection, and it became that much easier to do with a one-goal lead Eric Robinson gave Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman talk to a lot of people around the hockey them in the 17th minute of the first period. world, and then they tell listeners all about what they’ve heard and what they think about it. The Blue Jackets came hard and fast on the forecheck. When they lost control of the puck, they plugged up the space between the dots in the Yeah. True. But not too many players skating with the Canadiens a offensive zone and faded back through the neutral zone to eliminate season ago would have exercised the same poise the kid who led the Montreal’s ability to breakout quickly and control the play. Ontario Hockey League playoffs in scoring did on this play.

The Blue Jackets played the exact type of game the Buffalo Sabres did in We’ve seen Drouin score some gorgeous goals since coming over in the two early-season wins over the Canadiens in 2018, and they nearly 2017 trade that sent Mikhail Sergachev to the Tampa Bay Lightning. But skated away with a win on this night. it takes a whole other level of confidence to pull the move he did on Elvis Merzlikins in the shootout. It’s the game Canadiens coach Claude Julien was expecting from his counterpart John Tortorella. It takes the confidence Drouin had built up through 17 games — scoring seven goals and 15 points and just showing a determination we haven’t "I know it’s the game plan for a lot of teams who play against us is to not seen from him since he was skating with the Quebec Major Junior give us space in our game because we skate pretty well," he said. Hockey League’s .

If the coach was smiling afterwards, it was because his team didn’t "That’s ridiculous," said Domi of the goal. "There are very, very few guys succumb to those tactics. They didn’t allow frustration to get the better of in the entire world that can do that." them like they have in the past. They didn’t step outside their own plan when their struggles through two periods had them entering the third still But the Canadiens have Drouin, and they have a team that’s growing and down 1-0. becoming more versatile.

And when the Canadiens fell behind 2-1 with 1:53 remaining, they didn’t It may look a lot like last season (when they finished with 96 points and bury their heads. Julien pulled Carey Price from his net, and they missed the playoffs), but the subtle differences we see now could get stormed down the ice at 6-on-5, inevitably getting a goal from Tomas them to where they want to be come April. Tatar to tie the game with 41 seconds left. Montreal won 3-2 in a shootout. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 11.13.2019 They won because Price kept them in the game with 14 saves in the first and 29 more from the second period through to the end of the fourth; they won because they put together a heroic penalty kill in overtime; they won because Jonathan Drouin scored a jaw-dropping, forehand- backhand, five-hole deke for a goal in the shootout and Price stopped all three Columbus players he faced.

But what’s most important is: They won.

Good teams win in all different ways. Julien said before the game that his team would have to grind it out against the Blue Jackets to beat them, and we know that grinding it out isn’t the recipe they typically cook with.

And it’s not the first time this season the Canadiens have been taken out of their comfort zone and still skated away victorious. Out of 10 wins they’ve recorded, two came against the reigning Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues, who use their size and their weight to great effect in order to slow down most teams they play.

The Canadiens also beat the Minnesota Wild and the Los Angeles Kings, who are two of the weaker teams in the league. But they’re also teams that do everything they can to disrupt the flow of the game.

"Good teams find a way to win against everyone," said Canadiens centre Max Domi.

"Not every NHL team is going to bring the same every night. Every team has their strengths and other teams have different weaknesses, and we have to make sure we’re elevating our game and executing our game plan first. But you have to understand and react to what they’re bringing to the table as well."

It helps to have Price do his thing. 1161304 Websites circle on the penalty kill? I don’t know that either. So I’m going to wait just like you and we’re going to figure it out.”

Chances are it won’t be long until we see No. 11 making life difficult on Sportsnet.ca / Hyman's return, Marner's injury represent current Maple opponents again. And for a club that’s veered off the path here and there Leafs flux this season, having Hyman’s forceful, straight-ahead approach back could help set the compass right.

“He’s a great guy for what he brings on the ice, but also that tone and Ryan Dixon | @dixononsports standard he sets within our locker room,” Tavares said.

November 12, 2019, 1:51 PM

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 11.13.2019 TORONTO — It’s one in, one out for the Toronto Maple Leafs’ second line.

Last season, the trio of John Tavares between Mitch Marner and Zach Hyman was a staple the Leafs counted on to be steady and productive every single day. This year, the tattered unit represents the larger state of at least mild flux the Leafs find themselves in.

Given that, it seems somehow fitting that on the day the team officially welcomed Hyman back from off-season knee surgery, Marner stood with a walking boot on his right foot and talked about missing the next chunk of the schedule with what he confirmed is a high-ankle sprain sustained during Saturday’s overtime loss to the Philadelphia Flyers.

“It would obviously be nice to come back and be able to play with him again and reunite,” Hyman said of Marner. “But just for me, it’s good to be back and he’ll be back soon, and I guess I’ll be up to game speed by then.”

That last point was said with a wink and the Leafs could use a little levity these days. While the club still occupies second place in the tough Atlantic Division, Toronto has dropped two in a row, including its first game without Marner against the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday night. While Marner is hopeful he’ll be out of the walking boot soon, the four- week recovery timeline being offered is acknowledged as a best-case scenario for an injury that can often sideline players for closer to two months.

Then again, Marner thought things might be even more grave off the hop. The right winger injured himself on a fluke play during the opening faceoff of the second period and when he initially buckled, he thought he’d really done some damage.

“When I fell, right away I felt something funny,” Marner said. “At that time I was ready to look back and see my ankle twisted the wrong way.

“I think I was ready for something worse than it actually was.”

After feeling OK upon getting to the bench, Marner decided to try another shift before realizing something was askew. Now, with Hyman set to come back on Wednesday night on the road against the New York Islanders and Tavares having played just four contests since being sidelined for close to three weeks with a broken finger, coach Mike Babcock is once again forced to shuffle the deck. At Tuesday’s practice, Hyman skated on left wing with Tavares and right winger Kasperi Kapanen.

“That line — well, it hasn’t been a line this year,” Babcock said of the trio he relied on for so much last year. “We’ve got to find a way for those guys [whoever is on the line] to all be productive. We’re 20 games in, we’re still searching.”

While it wouldn’t be fair to expect any injured player — especially one recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament — to pick right up where he left off, Hyman is certainly a strong candidate to quickly remind the world of his attributes. He took all the time he needed and more coming back, making sure he was “over ready” before finally lacing his skates up for real.

When a finesse guy misses training camp and the first quarter of the year, you expect the hands and timing to be absent for a stretch. Hyman’s calling card, though, has always been a high-powered engine that should be revving in the red right now in anticipation of finally being able to lay some rubber. Still, Babcock is exercising patience with one of his favourite charges.

“He just works, right? Works like a dog,” said Babcock. “Can he get on the forecheck and get us the puck back like he always does? I don’t know the answer to that for sure. Can he be on that right-hand [face-off] 1161305 Websites "He’s stubborn because you talk to him and he says he feels great and he wants to be in the net all the time," said Sigalet, who admits it has been hard to justify taking him out all season, other than for back-to-back games. Sportsnet.ca / Flames facing goalie conundrum thanks to David Rittich's stellar start "Smitty (Mike Smith) was like that too. They’re competitive guys who want to be in there, but you have to think long term, not just short term."

They’ve worked hard to try managing his rest on off-days and are also Eric Francis | @EricFrancis keenly aware of how much better his conditioning is by virtue of his amped-up summer training regimen. His now-famous reduction in the November 12, 2019, 3:20 PM number of Coca-Colas he consumes weekly has also paid off.

Ask Rittich and he sees no problem with the arrangement and is Punctuating Matthew Tkachuk’s overtime heroics late last week was a oblivious to the coaches’ conundrum. half-rink dash by David Rittich that ended with an emotional embrace at "That’s what I wanted in the summer," said the Czech netminder of his centre ice. intense workload. "That was maybe a little over my speed limit, that sprint," chuckled the "That’s why I work hard. I glad I’m able. I got the coach believe in me and exuberant Flames netminder, who nearly tackled Tkachuk in celebration. the players believe in me too so that’s good. I’m pretty happy but I know I "I was pretty pumped." can be better."

Pumped is a good way to describe how the organization is feeling about Sure, his .914 save percentage and 2.74 goals-against average aren’t Rittich’s start to the season. quite all-star material. But given the wild inconsistencies of the team in front of him that have marked the first quarter of the season, there’s no Unsure how he’d handle being the alpha dog in a duo for the first time as denying he’s the team’s MVP so far. an NHLer, the undrafted 27-year-old has responded in spectacular fashion. Leading the league in starts (16), ice time (961 minutes), saves "I’m just looking for W’s – that’s most important for me," said Rittich when (468) and wins (9), Rittich has already answered plenty of questions the asked about his stats. "It’s team sport, right? Who cares about your doubters had about his abilities to shoulder the load. numbers and whatever goals against?"

Flames defenceman Rasmus Andersson, who played alongside Rittich in Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman talk to a lot of people around the hockey the AHL as well, said he isn’t the least bit surprised. world, and then they tell listeners all about what they’ve heard and what they think about it. "I never worried about him one bit," he said of the man who signed a two- year extension in the summer for $2.75 million annually. His competitiveness is not only a big part of his success, but it is what has helped make Big Save Dave so popular with teammates and fans. "When I saw he signed his deal I knew it was kind of a steal." Often seen kissing helpful goalposts and joking with teammates during He’s since stolen several wins, the hearts of Calgary’s fan base and the stoppages, he’s also lashed out a few opponents he feels have taken respect of his coaches. liberties.

However, this wasn’t the plan. "If he’s going to slash me, I’m going to give him one quick one," he said of a recent shove. "I’m just trying protect myself a little bit." The Flames now find themselves on the horns of a goaltending dilemma because of his early-season success. Internally, team brass have been He and Sigalet have spent plenty of time over the last three years struggling with balancing load management and riding the hot hand. discussing the importance of keeping emotions in check.

As captain Mark Giordano points out, it has been hard not to continue "He’s controlled that emotion a lot more and I think that’s made a big playing Rittich as often as they have, as he has done his part to give his difference too," said Sigalet. "You don’t want to take that away from him. team a chance to win every game he’s played. You want to manage it a little bit. He’s competitive and you like that. The last couple years he’d get a little too high after wins and too low after While it’s a nice problem to have, the organization does indeed see it as losses. He’s found ways to put games behind him, and it’s all part of him a quandary. They want to ensure Rittich isn’t burned out early, as they’ll maturing." certainly need him down the stretch when he’s faded the last two years. No one has a problem with his post-game celebrations, no matter what In this city, it’s all about building for playoff success. speed he performs them at. They also want to ensure Cam Talbot can get more starts in an effort to "It’s great to see that – he’s a guy who loves to win and hates to lose," get into the flow of the season. He’s 1-3 so far, but will be counted on for said Sigalet, whose club will undoubtedly start Rittich Wednesday and a significant win count if the 10-7-3 Flames are to make the playoffs they’re in a stretch with just one game in six days. again. "Those are the guys you win with." They club entered the season hoping split duties between the two would see Rittich play no more than 50 or 55 games. Rittich has started 16 of the Flames 20 games so far, putting him on pace for 65 games. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 11.13.2019 "I don’t think we expected him to play this much," admitted Flames goalie coach Jordan Sigalet.

"We’re glad he’s played as well as he has. But at the same time you want to keep both guys going and get Talbs in a rhythm – it was 13 days between his two Washington games.

"You don’t want to worry about (Rittich) getting tired now – you’re worried about late in the season. We definitely have got to manage it a little better."

Last week, for example, the coaches intended to start Talbot either against New Jersey on Thursday or Saturday against the defending Stanley Cup champions. But given how well Rittich played in a 4-3 OT win Tuesday against Arizona, they elected to stay with the hot hand for both. 1161306 Websites Nylander is significantly better than anyone else available, and not as far behind Marner as many believe.

Interestingly, after years of the Leafs’ power play running through Sportsnet.ca / Analyzing how Maple Leafs can cope with the loss of Marner, Auston Matthews has had the puck on his stick as often as Mitch Marner Marner has this year. With that in mind, it may be that losing Marner from the power play isn’t as deeply felt as it will be at even strength, which is a change from past seasons.

Andrew Berkshire Nylander’s chemistry with Matthews might go a long way towards making up for the drop in playmaking he provides compared to Marner. And

considering that the Leafs’ power play is only ranked 18th in the league, When John Tavares broke his finger we looked at who within the forcing the players and coaching staff to get creative and rely less on organization could replace Tavares’ unique contributions to his line in the Marner might be a good thing in the long run. most similar fashion. Unfortunately for the Leafs, just as Tavares comes back to the lineup, his line is being shaken up once again by an injury to Mitch Marner that will keep him out at least four weeks. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 11.13.2019 For a team struggling to get its skates under their centre mass, their bad luck with injuries early is going to be a serious challenge to overcome.

Marner started the season pretty slow at even strength, but was his usual powerhouse self on the power play. As of late, though, he had begun to start playing the kind of hockey that is expected of him when the game was 5-on-5. Since Marner occupies a unique spot of influence on the Maple Leafs’ power play, when we look at how to replace him on a line we have to go beyond even strength and look at who fits best in his spot on the top power play unit as well.

We have to consider it all.

So let’s start where we usually would and look at Marner’s even strength work and what he brings compared to the wingers who could jump into his spot over the next month.

The most important thing Marner does is move the puck. He does so dynamically and often, and after a slow start to his playmaking at even strength, he’s now leading the team in slot passes and East-West passes, and is third in passes off the rush.

To put it succinctly, there’s simply no way the Maple Leafs can internally replace the incredible level of playmaking Marner provides. Looking at the field of candidates behind him, each player has their strengths in other areas of the game, but none of them move the puck at a level that can soften the blow of Marner’s loss.

The combination of Tavares’ early-season struggles and the Leafs’ depth at centre made his loss look a bit more palatable despite the fact that in my opinion Tavares is the better player between him and Marner. But Marner’s talents are a bit tougher to replace at the moment.

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That this has happened just as Marner was turning a corner is a doubly difficult blow for the Leafs. Trevor Moore is actually a strong candidate to replace Marner’s ability to gain the offensive zone and he is the best of the three candidates across the board when it comes to moving the puck in all three zones. But I wonder if the fact Marner is out for a while (a minimum of four weeks) might force a different sort of solution.

In an ideal world one of the many decent-to-good wingers the Maple Leafs have could slide into that line and be fine enough to float things until Marner returns from injury. But the creativity he brings is what’s going to be missed most and none of these players will replace that. So if no one on the roster can step up, is this an opportunity for Jeremy Bracco?

Bracco hasn’t blown the doors off offensively in the AHL so far this season, sitting fourth on the Marlies in scoring, but of the Leafs’ potential replacements for Marner, Bracco might be the most creative and skilled playmaker available. Something to think about for sure.

On the power play, there’s a higher quality list of players to pull from, so let’s look at what Marner brings there compared to those who could slide into his spot.

There’s no need to beat around the bush here with the power play stuff. The only reasonable replacement for Marner on the power play is William Nylander. While Nylander is more versatile at 5-on-5 than Marner, he doesn’t hit the heights of creativity and offence-driving plays. Still, 1161307 Websites defenceman on Ottawa’s roster all season and filled in for Brannstrom against the Islanders.

For a raw rookie who started the season as a teenager, Brannstrom has Sportsnet.ca / Why Senators should consider sending Erik Brannstrom to somewhat survived. He is defending better than some might have AHL expected for a small – five-foot-10, 179-pound, offensively gifted defenceman. He uses his quick feet to angle out forwards on the wall, and boxes out pretty well out front. Occasionally, he takes a beating coming out of his own zone, along the boards. He’s been on the ice for Wayne Scanlan four more goals against than goals scored. November 12, 2019, 11:58 AM But Brannstrom has a lot more upside than just being OK.

In the big picture, Brannstrom is expected to be a franchise cornerstone In the throes of a rebuild, the Ottawa Senators have no shortage of and this first-round draft choice (selected 15th overall by the Las Vegas issues. Golden Knights in 2017) was considered the most significant acquisition by the Senators in all their trade deadline deals, which saw them part As was painfully illustrated in Monday’s 8-2 thrashing in Carolina, the with Matt Duchene, Ryan Dzingel and Mark Stone. Senators still give up too many shots and scoring chances, and their power play barely registers on the meter. Clicking along at 6.6 per cent, Dorion was so excited getting Brannstrom in the Stone deal he called it dead last in the NHL, the Senators might want to consider declining the his "proudest day as a general manager." (At season’s end, Dorion man advantage, since they are more competitive at even strength. walked back those comments somewhat, saying he meant no disrespect to a fan favourite like Stone, but added: "Erik Brannstrom, we think, is Almost beyond comprehension, the Senators have as many shorthanded going to be a future star in the NHL.") goals (four) as they do power play goals (four). And that is off 61 power play opportunities. Getting there is the tricky part, especially for a young defenceman in the NHL, where losing confidence can be fatal. With so many fish to fry as a group, individual struggles can fly under the radar. Stream over 500 NHL games blackout-free, including the Flames, Oilers, Leafs and Canucks. Plus Hockey Night in Canada, Rogers Hometown For example, rookie defenceman Erik Brannstrom seems to be surviving Hockey, Scotiabank Wednesday Night Hockey and more. rather than thriving in his first NHL season. Three years ago, Brannstrom was captain of his SuperElit J20 team, named the league’s top At barely 20 years of age – he had his birthday Sept. 2 – Brannstrom is defenceman, and produced more than a point per game before jumping two weeks older than Brady Tkachuk, a man-child who plays as though up to play with the men of the Swedish Hockey League. He was captain he is 20 going on 30. of Sweden’s world junior team in 2018-19, a WJC all-star and led the Tkachuk is six-foot-four, 212 pounds and a physical force at the wing tournament in goals by a defenceman with four. position. Tkachuk stepped into the NHL at 19, was groomed by Stone, It is at least time to ask the question: would Brannstrom be better served and has never really looked out of place. by a stint in the American Hockey League, where he could not only play The formula for Tkachuk is relatively simple. Power up and down the more, but be on the ice in all situations, including penalty killing and first- wing, drive to the net, hit everyone in sight and produce points on unit power play, to help him regain his confidence and scoring touch? Ottawa’s top line. In his second NHL season Tkachuk has been a force After 16 games played, Brannstrom has one assist and played 13 and is starting to roll offensively, tied for second in team scoring with 11 minutes, 41 seconds per game, on average. For comparison, Thomas points. Chabot is playing nearly twice as much, at 26:07 per game. Even In contrast, for a young defenceman like Brannstrom, the responsibilities Ottawa’s No. 6 defenceman, Mark Borowiecki, is at 16:04 per game. are endless. But perhaps the most telling statistic for a player expected to provide "When he’s a finished product, you want to see him as an active guy that offence once he finds his way? Brannstrom has 13 shots on goal in 16 can break pucks out, that can also defend and can do some things on the games, including just one shot in his past eight games. power play," Smith told reporters in Boston last week. While everyone had a tough night in Raleigh Monday, Brannstrom was "That’s the finished product. The hardest part is to learn the defensive certainly no exception — a minus-three with zero shots — with the side of the game and learn to move pucks and stay away from big misfortune of tipping a Carolina shot past Anders Nilsson into the Ottawa mistakes. For a young guy, especially for a defenceman, that happens a goal. lot, but he’s way ahead of the curve." Brannstrom’s ice time game logs tell a story by themselves. Against San Occasionally, the subject of sending Brannstrom down gets discussed. Jose Oct. 27: 7:59 TOI. Nov. 2, Boston: 14:15; Nov. 4, NYR: 15:41. Nov. To this point, Smith has always said he likes the idea of Brannstrom 7, LA: 9:51. Nov. 9, Carolina: 15:55 and then 14:22 against Carolina in learning alongside a longtime NHL veteran like Ron Hainsey, who has the second of the back-to-back. been partnered with Brannstrom all season. Brannstrom was a healthy scratch for the Nov. 5 game against the New There’s no harm in reuniting them again — after a stint in Belleville to York Islanders, a 4-1 loss. help the kid develop. Depending on the situation — are the Senators ahead or behind?

Protecting a tight lead? Killing penalties? — the rookie’s ice time gets impacted as head coach D.J. Smith tries to protect him. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 11.13.2019 Even with the extra man, Brannstrom sees limited power play duty. In the Rangers game, Chabot saw 7:48 of power play time, Brannstrom 2:12. Against the Sharks, Chabot was 4:09 on the power play and Brannstrom 1:32.

On Monday, Brannstrom had 1:36 of PP, Chabot 3:59.

Brannstrom could be getting that kind of power play exposure in Belleville and growing from it.

Brannstrom said after being made a healthy scratch, "it was good for me to watch the game," as he viewed things differently.

It could be even better for him to return to the AHL, play 20-plus minutes and try to exert his will on a game. Cody Goloubef has been the extra 1161308 Websites seconds on the bench. He went back out for a 56 second shift followed by 36 seconds of rest. Then came his epic 2:12 shift with the Preds buzzing with the extra attacker which lasted until the Canucks scored with seven seconds remaining in the game. It wasn't just Horvat, TSN.CA / Five Takeaways: Canucks vs Predators however. Tanner Pearson played 8:19 of the third period, Elias Pettersson saw 7:16, Brock Boeser logged 7:02, JT Miller skated 6:50 of

the final frame and even Jake Virtanen was used for 5:28 of the third. It Jeff Paterson was a terrific test for players not always tasked with protecting leads and they found a way to get the job done.

5) Elias Pettersson got what he wanted for his birthday. Not only did he TAKEAWAYS score a pair of goals -- including the game winner -- his team found a way to snap out of its funk. Pettersson hadn't played poorly during the 1) The Vancouver Canucks needed Tuesday's win. They needed it to slump, but like his team he was having trouble generating offense. In the snap their four game (0-3-1) losing streak and they needed it for their previous four games, he hadn't scored and had just one assist on a JT psyche, too. You can only tell yourself you're playing well and doing the Miller goal in Chicago last Thursday. In Sunday's 2-1 loss to New Jersey, right things so many times if you continue to come up a goal short. And Pettersson fanned on a glorious scoring chance in the second period and at 1-1 after 40 minutes, Tuesday's game with Nashville looked and felt looked skyward in disbelief as he failed to convert. He knew the like so many other games the Canucks have been involved in of late -- difference that one goal could have meant to the outcome for his hockey and you know how those ended. Tuesday's game could easily have gone club. Celebrating his 21st birthday on Tuesday with his parents and either way over the final frame, but to their credit the Canucks made sure grandparents in attendance, Pettersson delivered in a big way breaking a it swung in their favour with a four-goal outburst that allowed the team to 1-1 tie with a brilliant solo effort on a third period power play and then taste victory for the first time since a 5-2 win in San Jose on November converted a loose puck off the side of the crease for the eventual game 2nd. The impressive third period was aided by a pair of power play goals winner that put the Canucks up 4-2. He's just too talented to be kept and came after the Predators had tilted the ice in the second period down for long, so it seemed like a matter of time before he cashed in. outshooting the Canucks 19-7. It seemed the Preds had momentum after The last time he has scored, he has scored twice (he also had a pair in 40 minutes and it was left to be seen if they could carry it over into the San Jose 10 days ago). With eight on the season through 19 games, third. Fed up with losing, the Canucks rose to the challenge and did what Pettersson now has a share of the team goal-scoring lead with Brock they had to do to grind out the win outshooting the Preds 11-10 in the Boeser and JT Miller. All three of them are on a 35-goal pace. The final period and outscoring them 4-2. Canucks would take that in a heartbeat. 2) Adam Gaudette had his best game of the season scoring a third period power play goal and drawing an assist on Tanner Pearson's first of two goals on the night. With Jay Beagle out and Brandon Sutter TSN.CA LOADED: 11.13.2019 leaving the game after just three shifts, Gaudette was one of three natural centres left in the Canucks line-up. In 12:15 of ice, Gaudette managed to leave his mark on the hockey game. After hitting the post from the slot in a scoreless first period, he sprung Pearson on the left side on a power play rush early in the second finding his way onto the scoresheet with a primary assist. Gaudette then put the Canucks in front for good when he pounced on a rebound on a third period power play tucking the puck past Pekka Rinne at 10:59 to break a 2-2 tie. It was Gaudette's first multi-point game of the season and left him with 2+4=6 in the nine NHL games he's played so far this season. It also moves him into a share of the team lead for scoring in November with five points (tied with Elias Pettersson, Brock Boeser and JT Miller) despite playing one less game and logging considerably less ice time than the others. It's clear Gaudette is one of the best 12 forwards in the Canucks system and should be in the line-up every night even when injured players find their way back into uniform.

3) Even through the offensive struggles of the past week, the Canucks power play has remained productive. And then Tuesday it went off. The Canucks were a perfect three for three with the man-advantage scoring on three of their four power play shots against the Predators. It was the third time this season the Canucks have scored three or more power play goals in a game. They struck for three against Detroit on October 15th, scored four in Los Angeles on October 30th and on Tuesday feasted on the Preds penalty killing. Even in losses in Chicago and against New Jersey recently, the power play had produced. Add it all up and the Canucks have scored an NHL-leading 19 power play goals in 19 games. They won't remain on a power play goal per game pace over the balance of the season, but they certainly appear to be on their way to speeding past the 43 power play goals they produced a year ago. And the biggest thing about Tuesday's output was the fact the second unit struck for two of the three markers. It's great to have a top unit that can win hockey games. It's even better to have options as the Canucks did against the Preds.

4) With no Beagle and Sutter to lean on late in a tight game, Travis Green had no choice but to turn to some of his younger players to see if they could protect the lead. The coach rode Bo Horvat for 11:48 of the third period including a 2:12 shift that ended when Tanner Pearson sealed the victory into the empty net. Horvat played a career-high 27:06 on the night. His previous career-high was 25:46 in a shootout loss in Colorado late last season. That game included overtime. Horvat's previous high for a three period game was 25:32 against Dallas last season. When Filip Forsberg scored to cut the Canucks lead to 4-3 with 5:34 remaining, Horvat basically played the rest of the game. Incredibly, he logged 4:10 of the final 4:52. He had a 1:02 shift and then spend five 1161309 Websites Just as the Leafs are losing one key player to injury, they’re getting another one back in Hyman.

The winger is finally ready to make his season debut against New York TSN.CA / Mitch Marner feels lucky ankle injury wasn’t worse on Wednesday after seven months spent rehabbing from a torn ACL suffered in Toronto’s first-round Stanley Cup playoff series against Boston last April.

Kristen Shilton “It's exciting,” Hyman said. “Felt good today. I'm excited to go.”

9-11 minutes Hyman had been a regular participant in practice for weeks before receiving medical clearance to return, but was determined not to rush for

a too-early comeback. TSN Toronto reporter Kristen Shilton checks in daily with news and notes “I was just making sure I was ready,” he said. “You never know with an on the Maple Leafs. The team practised at Ford Performance Centre on injury like this because it’s a long process. So just to make sure that I Tuesday. was over ready almost, where you’re eager and hungry to go and get Mitch Marner knew something was off the second after he tripped over your clearance and are managing the soreness and whatnot that comes Carsen Twarynski’s stick to start the second period of Saturday’s game with an injury like that.” against Philadelphia. Hyman said he’d like to be playing with both a healthy Marner and “When I fell, I felt a snap in my ankle. I was kind of expecting when I Tavares, who only just returned from a finger injury himself last week, but looked back for my ankle to kind of be facing the wrong direction,” joked now he’ll definitely “be back up to game speed” by the time Marner Marner said after the Maple Leafs’ practice on Tuesday. “When I noticed recuperates. that it wasn’t, I didn’t really know what the feeling was. I didn’t know what After such a long layoff, Hyman understands finding his form won’t the result could have been, so I kind of had my mind open to anything.” happen overnight. Marner suffered a high-ankle sprain in the fall, which will sideline him a “I’ve learned to just do what I do best and not worry about other things minimum of four weeks. Marner, who has 18 points (four goals, 14 and just play my game, play simple,” he said. “Hopefully I’ll just pick up assists) in 18 games this season, spoke to the media for the first time where I left off on that front and I have a good mindset about what I need about the incident on Tuesday, while sporting a walking boot on his right to do out there. I’m not going to go trying to do too much or anything like leg. that, just going to play my game like I’ve played since I got here.” The winger revealed that he was still optimistic nothing was seriously Babcock isn’t saddling Hyman with any expectations going into his debut, wrong after he had taken the fall and pushed himself across the ice to knowing there are questions that can’t be answered until he’s back in the Toronto’s bench. That’s why he went back out for another shift with the thick of game action. Leafs’ second power-play unit before ultimately being sent to the dressing room. “He just works right, works like a dog,” Babcock said. “Now, can he get on the forecheck and get us the puck back like he always does? I don't “It felt good on the bench, and then I went out for that power play and know the answer for that for sure. How will he be on that right-hand tried to keep that puck in [the zone], I kind of fell again on it and it just faceoff circle on the penalty kill? I don't know that either. So I’m going to didn’t feel right,” he said. “I went into the room, got it taped up and did a watch and we’re going to figure it out.” bunch of mobility things I felt pretty good with.” Kasimir Kaskisuo has been longing for a shot at the Leafs’ backup goalie Marner came back onto the ice during a TV timeout to test the ankle, but job, and it appears his time has finally come. the Leafs’ medical staff wasn’t confident he should continue to play. The Leafs’ recalled Kaskisuo from the Marlies’ on Tuesday morning, one “I was trying it, and it felt pretty good, but a couple turns just felt awkward day after waiving backup Michael Hutchinson. and that’s what trainers are there for,” he said. “I think they realized that I was in an uncomfortable situation. They called it, that I should probably The decision to move on from Hutchinson came after the journeyman just take the rest of the night off and see what happens tomorrow.” backstopped Toronto in a 5-4 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday, putting his record at 0-4-1 to start the season with an .879 save An MRI on Sunday revealed the sprain, a disappointing diagnosis for percentage and a 4.44 goals-against average. Marner but one he’s determined to take positives from. Toronto had seen enough after that, and opted to give Kaskisuo a look “Looking back at the video, seeing the photos, it could have been a lot behind starter Frederik Andersen. But the Leafs also know they didn’t do worse than what actually happened,” Marner said. “You always have to nearly enough to help Hutchinson, who cleared waivers on Wednesday, look at the bright side and now it’s something where I can get in that be successful. gym, get stronger and try to make my shot better when I get back.” “Absolutely [we didn’t],” said Tavares. “I think we have to own that and Marner said he hopes to have the walking boot off by Friday so he can feel that. We didn’t play very well and didn’t give him much of an get the leg moving again and improve his mobility. In the meantime, opportunity to get some good results and feel better about himself. He Toronto is preparing to soldier on without a major contributor. Marner is made many key saves, gave us a chance to win many of the games that averaging the second-most minutes among Toronto’s forwards this he played in and we just didn’t reward him. We should feel that for sure.” season (19:40), with significant time on both the power play (3:14) and penalty kill (2:53). All of Hutchinson’s starts came on the second night of back-to-backs for the Leafs, a tough assignment that ultimately didn’t pan out for him or the Kasperi Kapanen took Marner’s spot with John Tavares and Zach Hyman team. at Tuesday’s practice, but the Leafs also recalled Nic Petan from the Toronto Marlies, giving them options. William Nylander was once again in “We weren’t doing a very good job,” said Babcock. “Hutch is a good man Marner’s spot on Toronto’s top power-play unit. and a good person and tried hard and we didn’t play good enough.”

“Other people get an opportunity,” said head coach Mike Babcock. “We Babcock said Kaskisuo will play the second half of those back-to-backs got to figure it out as a coaching staff and [so do they] as players, and for the time being, the next one coming Saturday in Pittsburgh. That figure out who plays with whom and to help the group be the best they would mark Kaskisuo’s NHL debut, something he’s waited for since can be. We’ll take a look and try to get the group to be set up the best signing with the Leafs as a college free agent in 2016 and spending the way it can to have success.” last four seasons in the AHL.

“It’s part of the game,” added Tavares. “It’s unfortunate and obviously we “It’s pretty crazy,” Kaskisuo said. “[Monday] was a pretty happy day for want [Mitch] back as soon as possible. The circumstances are what they myself and my family. It was crazy but I’m really, really excited.” are, and that’s why you need depth and we certainly have that. It’s a great opportunity for many guys to take advantage of this and certainly Kaskisuo said he hasn’t spoken much with Babcock about expectations, as a team to come together and play well and get the results we need.” but feels his AHL tenure and the difficulties he’s endured there have set him up well for what's next. “All those little bumps on the road prepare you and make you mentally stronger, so I feel like that’s one of my strengths so far,” he said. “I’ve been through a lot and been thrown everywhere, so just try to harness that and use that to my advantage.”

In the wake of Monday’s news that Don Cherry had been fired from Hockey Night in Canada after calling immigrants “you people” during a rant on the air Saturday night, some Leafs commented on the way Cherry’s career had come to an abrupt end.

“I think it’s disappointing on many fronts,” Tavares said. “Certainly the comments, and the way his tenure ended. He’s meant a lot to the game and provided a lot. It’s obviously disappointing what happened and the result. I think everyone would wish something like this never happened and didn’t come to this set of circumstances.”

“Growing up here, he always meant a lot to hockey and I think everyone grew up watching him in Toronto and Canada in general,” Marner said. “But hockey is meant to bring people together. The comments were a little far.”

“You’ve got to be mindful of how great the game is and what the game is all about and in bringing people together,” Babcock added. “There's no question about that. It's got to be tough for him and his family. In saying all that, there are certain things that are just right.”

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USA TODAY / Don Cherry tells Tucker Carlson on Fox News he was fired for using the words, 'You people'

Mike Brehm

USA TODAY

"Hockey Night in Canada" analyst Don Cherry said he believes he was fired Monday because of two words he used during his Coach's Corner segment.

"It's the two words, 'You people' — and you know people are very sensitive like that — that got me," he said Tuesday night during an appearance on Tucker Carlson's show on Fox News.

The popular, outspoken former coach drew criticism for complaining Saturday night that people in Toronto were being disrespectful by not wearing poppies to honor Canada's fallen military heroes leading up to Remembrance Day. His words were viewed as a criticism of immigrants.

"You people ... love our way of life, love our milk and honey," Cherry said during the segment. "At least you could pay a couple of bucks for poppies or something like that. These guys paid for your way of life that you enjoy in Canada.”

Sportsnet said Monday that Cherry's remarks were divisive and "it has been decided that it is the right time for him to immediately step down."

Cherry, who has made other remarks through the years that sparked controversy, argued that all of the good stories he did on the show were ignored by his bosses.

"I suppose if I had to do it over again, I would have said 'everybody,'" he said. " 'You people' are the people they listened to. The silent majority, as you know, are always silent.

"The police are with me. The forces are with me. Everybody is with me, and the firefighters and the whole deal. But it doesn't make any sense and I was brought in and I was told I was fired after 38 years. I stand by what I said and I still mean it."

Carlson, who often complains about political correctness, said the people who criticized the remarks weren't sensitive but were fascists.

"All I was saying in Toronto, wear your poppies," Cherry said. "These soldiers died for our way of life. ... They died so we can have our way of life and please wear a poppy in their honor."

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USA TODAY / Pro Russian hockey team tweets it wants fired Don Cherry as TV analyst to 'talk whatever he thinks'

Chris Bumbaca

USA TODAY

Don Cherry's broadcasting days at Canada's Sportsnet are over, but that hasn't stopped a team in another hemisphere from tweeting their efforts to scoop him up.

HC Dynamo Moscow of the Kontinental Hockey League tweeted Tuesday that it wants the former "Hockey Night In Canada" analyst, who was fired for xenophobic comments made on air over the weekend, to serve as a commentator for its television broadcasts.

"Hey, Don Cherry @CoachsCornerDC," the tweet from the official team account said. "We heard that you were fired. It’s not good! Come to Russia, we need an analyst for Dynamo TV who could talk whatever he thinks. We love old soldiers. And we will make a nice suit! We hope you agree."

During Saturday's Coaches Corner segment, Cherry, 85, accused immigrants of not respecting Canada's tradition of wearing poppies to honor military veterans. He was fired Monday after his latest in a long line of cringe-worthy statements.

"You people ... love our way of life, love our milk and honey," Cherry said. "At least you could pay a couple of bucks for poppies or something like that. These guys paid for your way of life that you enjoy in Canada.”

The tweet appears tailored for the English-speaking audience, as every other tweet from the account this past month has been in Russian. HC Dynamo Moscow also pointed out Cherry's inclination for flamboyant dress by saying "we will make a nice suit!"

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