SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 2/11/2021 Anaheim Ducks Columbus Blue Jackets 1183336 With no bubble, the NHL season is in trouble. But there is 1183369 Blue Jackets better, but not sharp as Tortorella ponders a solution how to forge team's cohesion on the ice 1183337 Ducks prepared to play despite positive COVID-19 case 1183370 ‘We’ve moved on’: Blue Jackets’ Patrik Laine makes up among Golden Knights with coach after squabble 1183338 Ducks, Kings prospects overshadowed by AHL veterans as Gulls defeat Reign Dallas Stars 1183371 Matt’s mail: Looking at Miro Heiskanen’s start to the Arizona Coyotes season, the Stars’ drafting and more 1183339 Captain Oliver Ekman-Larsson nearing return from injury 1183372 Flashback: Why leagues should just play ball, and not for Coyotes national anthem, at sporting events 1183340 NHL adds another Blues-Coyotes matchup set for Friday 1183373 Dallas Stars appear to troll Mark Cuban and Mavericks 1183341 Blues-Coyotes for seven straight! How the experts prepare with message on national anthem for a long series Detroit Red Wings 1183374 How the reeling Detroit Red Wings plan to play to their 1183342 Back from their break, Bruins roll through the rust, nab strengths moving forward overtime win at Rangers 1183375 Detroit Red Wings' frustration grows as good effort does 1183343 Jack Studnicka, coming off injury layoff, sent to AHL for not yield good result wing work 1183376 Steady veteran Jon Merrill wants to help turn around Red 1183344 After a pair of postponements, Bruins get back on the ice Wings tonight 1183377 Red Wings can’t cash in on power play in loss to Panthers 1183345 Brad Marchand lifts Bruins in OT 1183378 Red Wings to Anthony Mantha: skate, move your feet 1183346 Bruins notebook: Jack Studnicka to wing it in Providence 1183347 Brad Marchand On Video Replay: ‘All Of This Video Stuff Edmonton Oilers Really Bothers 1183379 Edmonton Oilers ready to move up a weight class against 1183348 Talking Points: Bruins’ Rask Stands On His Head, Laughs Canadiens Off Gaffe 1183380 OILERS SNAPSHOTS: Two goaltenders make for better 1183349 Did Boston Bruins W Jake DeBrusk Get Robbed? play 1183350 Boston Bruins Send Studnicka Down To Providence 1183351 Game 12: Boston Bruins @ New York Rangers Lines, Preview 1183381 ‘They trust me here.’ With expanded role, Panthers’ 1183352 Brain cramp aside, Tuukka Rask sparkles in latest Bruins Verhaeghe ready to face former team overtime win 1183382 That’s right, the Panthers are good — and next 3 games vs. Tampa Bay will show how good | Commentary 1183383 Florida Panthers Can Match Up Well Against Tampa Bay 1183353 Jack Eichel ready to 'step up' when shorthanded Sabres' Lightning schedule resumes 1183354 Mike Harrington: Sabres know lots of hockey is coming on their daunting schedule 1183384 Inside Ron Hextall’s Kings influence, plus prospects begin 1183355 With eye toward future, Sabres not blaming NHL or Devils AHL season with Reign for Covid pause 1183385 Drew Doughty apparently suffers injury late in Kings’ loss 1183356 Cuomo decision on reopening large arenas could be good to Sharks news for Sabres 1183386 2/10 PRACTICE – ROY/DOUGHTY UPDATES, ROSTER 1183357 West Seneca native Sean Malone records first NHL point MOVES, FOURTH-LINE PLAY with Nashville 1183358 Travis Yost's Sabre Metrics: Will 56 games happen this season? It doesn't look good 1183387 Former Wild captain Mikko Koivu retires after slow start 1183359 Back at practice, Sabres players reflect on the impact of with Columbus their recent shutdown 1183388 Blue Jackets’ Mikko Koivu ends 16-year NHL career with surprise retirement Flames 1183360 Return to a ‘business trip’ for Flames goalie Canadiens Markstrom 1183389 Maple Leafs stay hot with win over Habs 1183361 Tanev made name for himself in Vancouver, now returns 1183390 Leafs tighten grip atop Canadian division with 4-2 win over in Flaming C Canadiens 1183391 Stu Cowan: Jonathan Drouin turns corner in fourth season with Canadiens 1183362 Lucas Wallmark removed from the NHL’s COVID-19 1183392 Canadiens-Maple Leafs rivalry heating up this season protocol list, boosting the Chicago Blackhawks’ depth 1183393 Canadiens Game Day: Good start, but ugly end as Habs 1183363 Kevin Lankinen for Calder Trophy? Blackhawks goalie has lose 4-2 to Leafs a legitimate chance 1183394 Tomas Tatar is a tartare spokesman now, because his 1183364 Chicago Blackhawks defying the odds ... and the experts name is close enough 1183365 How Blackhawks penalty kill has drastically improved 1183395 Maple Leafs at Canadiens: Five things you should know 1183396 The Canadiens must address a lack of urgency before it Colorado Avalanche actually becomes urgent 1183366 The NHL’s COVID-19 problem is getting worse 1183397 In depth: How the Canadiens identified problems and 1183367 Who are the best Avalanche players of all time? addressed them in practice 1183368 Bednar: Nathan MacKinnon, Devon Toews (and P.E. Bellemare) back at practice Thursday Pittsburgh Penguins 1183398 Nashville Predators and the NHL Central Division: 1183430 Minor league report: Nailers fall to Fuel in overtime Winners and losers from Week 4 1183431 Penguins eager to work with Ron Hextall, Brian Burke 1183399 John Hynes is getting the most he can out of a flawed 1183432 Penguins forward Jared McCann sidelined on a week- Predators roster to-week basis 1183433 Mark Madden: Brian Burke will bring no-nonsense New Jersey Devils approach to Penguins 1183400 Devils Insider Q&A wrap-up: How is Nico Hischier 1183434 Why did the Penguins hire Brian Burke? progressing and when will he return? Will team be rusty 1183435 Tim Benz: I get what the Penguins are thinking. But how is after this going to work? 1183401 Devils’ Tom Fitzgerald no longer a candidate for Penguins 1183436 Sidney Crosby, Mike Sullivan react to hiring of new GM after Pittsburgh hires Ron Hextall Penguins executives 1183402 How will Devils approach Seattle expansion draft this 1183437 Taking stock of the assets Brian Burke and Ron Hextall offseason? Breaking down roster options for protecting, inherit in their new roles with the Penguins 1183403 Devils’ ‘top line,’ Will Butcher’s trade value and more in 1183438 Marcus Pettersson rejoins Penguins practice, should mega-mailbag return soon 1183439 Penguins' Brian Burke explains why he 'wears' his tie like that 1183404 Return of small first wave of fans big step for New York 1183440 Penguins notes: Evgeni Malkin leaves practice 'out of sports caution' 1183405 Knicks, Rangers to host roughly 2,000 fans at games 1183441 Joe Starkey: For better or worse, the Penguins are about 1183406 It's hard not to be a fan of Gov. Cuomo's New York to get tougher stadium re-opening plan 1183442 Ron Cook: Penguins make boom-or-bust picks with Ron 1183407 Islanders' Noah Dobson learning how to harness his Hextall, Brian Burke considerable skills 1183443 Evgeni Malkin, Mike Sullivan and big decisions facing the 1183408 Gov. Cuomo says fans can return to NY arenas and Penguins’ front office stadiums starting Feb. 23 1183444 LeBrun: Inside the Brian Burke hiring and why the 1183409 Ken Hitchcock on passing him in all-time wins: Penguins changed course ‘I’m really proud’ 1183445 (Updated) Penguins Practice: Pettersson Returns, Malkin 1183410 Islanders Noah Dobson Finding His Game in Early Part of Leaves EarlyPublished 17 hours ago on February 10, 202 bizarre Season 1183446 The Little Stories and Great Quotes of Hextall, Burke 1183411 , Sports Venues in NY Can Reopen HirePublished 21 hours ago on February 10, 2021 Beginning Feb. 23 San Jose Sharks New York Rangers 1183447 Takeaways: Logan Couture is becoming the captain the 1183412 Rangers’ Artemi Panarin limited after ‘lower-body injury’ San Jose Sharks need 1183413 Mika Zibanejad glimpses not nearly enough for Rangers 1183448 Jones continues to be clutch after regulation for Sharks 1183414 Rangers fall in overtime vs. division-leading Bruins 1183415 Return of small first wave of fans big step for New York St Louis Blues sports 1183449 Blues brace for more in what has been Year of the Coyote 1183416 Knicks, Rangers to host roughly 2,000 fans at games 1183450 Berube sees good signs from revamped power play units 1183417 Chris Kreider emerging as Rangers’ true captain in tough 1183451 Practice update: Berube ponders sitting Mikkola season 1183452 Remembering broadcasting legend , 'a friend for 1183418 Rangers lose in overtime to Bruins on Brad Marchand's life' breakaway 1183453 Blues-Coyotes for seven straight! How the experts prepare 1183419 It's hard not to be a fan of Gov. Cuomo's New York for a long series stadium re-opening plan 1183420 Rangers' game Sunday against Flyers postponed because Tampa Bay Lightning of COVID-19 protocols 1183454 Lightning’s third line setting tone for success 1183421 Amid struggles, Mika Zibanejad could get dropped from first line 1183422 Gov. Cuomo says fans can return to NY arenas and 1183455 Maple Leafs stay hot with win over Habs stadiums starting Feb. 23 1183456 Maple Leafs get their offence from unlikely sources in 1183423 The real Mika Zibanejad is back, but Artemi Panarin might comeback win over Canadiens be out for the Rangers 1183457 Leafs get goals from unlikely sources to defeat Habs 4-2 in North Division showdown Ottawa Senators 1183458 The NHL’s COVID-19 protocols are changing to ensure 1183424 WARRENSPIECE: The goalie story, slowing down the big the games will go on guns, measuring shots and whatever happened to Erik 1183459 Mikheyev finally finds back of net for Maple Leafs Karls 1183460 KOSHAN: Unusual suspects lead Maple Leafs to win 1183425 Logan Brown goes back to , auditioning against Canadiens for future role with the big-league Senators 1183461 SIMMONS: Maple Leafs win how? We'll explain later 1183426 SENATORS AFTERTHOUGHTS: Moral victories galore, 1183462 TRAIK-EOTOMY: Laine's problems with coaches nothing but that's 12 losses in 13 games for Sens new 1183463 Tavares looking to get a little more even as Maple Leafs take on Canadiens 1183427 Flyers’ game vs. Rangers on Sunday is also postponed 1183464 GAME DAY: Maple Leafs at Canadiens because of COVID-19 1183465 Maple Leafs Report Cards: Role players deliver in big test 1183428 Another Flyers game postponed as team now has its plan against Canadiens for return to practice 1183466 What do the Maple Leafs have in Ilya Mikheyev? 1183429 Flyers receive some good news on the COVID-19 front 1183478 Canucks news: Gaudette not letting trade rumours bother him 1183479 Canucks: Slow start, funky vibe are commanding leaguewide attention Vegas Golden Knights 1183467 Golden Knights to face Ducks on Thursday despite COVID issues 1183468 Golden Knights’ Ryan Reaves ‘heading into battle’ with new beer 1183469 Golden Knights’ Nosek pulled from game after positive COVID test 1183470 Golden Knights’ Tomas Nosek Tests Positive For COVID; Knights-Ducks Game Still On For Thursday 1183471 Tomas Nosek tests positive for COVID-19, Golden Knights to play Thursday 1183472 What we know regarding the Golden Knights going into COVID-19 protocol Washington Capitals 1183473 The Caps are dealing with an unexpected break. They hope to use it to recover and reset. 1183474 Unique NHL season forges new bonds between officials and players 1183475 Why Flyers had games postponed due to COVID but Caps didn't Websites 1183480 The Athletic / NHL power rankings: Lightning and Avalanche remain on top 1183481 The Athletic / ‘BoroCop’ isn’t just a nickname to Mark Borowiecki. It’s a way of life 1183482 .ca / Unlikely Maple Leafs heroes shine in comeback win: ‘Hammer time, baby!’ 1183483 Sportsnet.ca / Canucks face make-or-break set vs. Flames with more than just wins at stake 1183484 Sportsnet.ca / Canadiens struggle to find edge against surprisingly stingy Maple Leafs 1183485 Sportsnet.ca / 31 Thoughts: What Hextall, Burke hirings say about the Penguins 1183487 Sportsnet.ca / How Auston Matthews has become NHL's most dangerous goal scorer 1183488 Sportsnet.ca / Looking back on Ron Hextall's most notable moves as Flyers GM 1183489 TSN.CA / Tavares not stressing slow start at even strength 1183490 USA TODAY / Boston Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask gets score wrong, tries to leave net for extra attacker vs. New Y 1183491 USA TODAY / Vegas Golden Knights player Tomas Nosek was pulled from game vs. Anaheim Ducks after positive COVI Winnipeg Jets 1183476 Jets need more from struggling DeMelo 1183477 Pierre-Luc Dubois’ Jets debut: Clips, quotes and first impressions SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129 1183336 Anaheim Ducks “I think what you’re going to see is that there’s a lot of learning going on,” Adams said. “What happens, what we learn from our situation, will the league learn and make changes as we go? That’s likely.”

With no bubble, the NHL season is in trouble. But there is a solution Minnesota, which last played Feb. 2, had 12 players listed as unavailable Tampa Bay Lightning center Steven Stamkos scores a goal against Tuesday. The Wild have had six games postponed and aren’t scheduled Nashville Predators goaltender Juuse Saros. to play again until Feb. 16, when they face the Kings at . The Flyers’ game against the Washington Capitals on Tuesday was postponed after a second member of the Flyers entered COVID protocol, according to a league statement, and the Flyers’ list Tuesday included By HELENE ELLIOTTSPORTS COLUMNIST FEB. 10, 2021 7 AM PT team captain Claude Giroux.

Teams aren’t obligated to provide information on the status of players Returning to a bubble this season was a non-starter for the NHL. Staging who are unavailable because of COVID protocol, but Wild general the 2019-20 playoffs in a controlled environment without fans kept manager Bill Guerin said some of his players tested positive and were COVID-19 at bay — and spared Commissioner from being symptomatic. He also still expects teams to be able to complete their 56- booed when he handed the Stanley Cup to the Tampa Bay Lightning — game schedules. but replicating those conditions wasn’t considered a long-term solution. “This is no time to be complaining. This is not the time for that,” he told “We couldn’t very well ask the players to put themselves in a bubble for the St. Paul Pioneer Press. “This will be the time to be appreciative that six months. We knew that wasn’t going to be something we could even we’re able to get back to play. Just dealing with it. The schedule is tough ask,” Bettman said last month before he launched the abbreviated 2020- as it is, so if we can get back and cram a few more games in, then that’s 21 season. the way we’ll do it.”

“We understand there is an element of risk that COVID-19 may impact Ducks goalie Ryan Miller stops a shot by San Jose Sharks' Kevin Labanc one or more games. We are going to need to be flexible and agile in how during the shootout Feb. 6, 2021, in Anaheim. we deal with whatever we’re confronted with and we are, again, prepared Ryan Miller helps Ducks earn shootout win over Sharks to do that.” The Sabres were scheduled to play 46 games in 86 days before they had Despite adopting elaborate safety measures and modifying those plans six postponements, and to cram games in simply for the sake of getting on the fly during the first few weeks of the season, the NHL’s flexibility is to 56 makes no sense. Why risk injuries and a drop in the quality of play? being sternly challenged. With 34 games postponed as of late Tuesday The NHL, in rescheduling some games, has matched the St. Louis Blues and four teams on extended pauses, it’s time for the league to consider and Arizona Coyotes against each other seven straight times. That’s just taking a break to allow additional protective measures to be put in place too much for anything but a playoff series. and enable players in COVID protocol to emerge safely. Extending the season beyond May 8 and delaying the playoffs past the If that means cutting the schedule to 48 games, cut it: Bettman current endpoint of July 9 probably wouldn’t work for NBC, the NHL’s TV considered 48-game seasons long enough to be legitimate after he partner. A later end for hockey would cut into NBC’s promotion of its imposed lockouts in 1994-95 and 2012-13. Given the circumstances, 48 coverage of the Tokyo Olympics, which are scheduled to open July 23. is enough. And even Bettman conceded that taking the playoffs into late summer The Buffalo Sabres, Colorado Avalanche, Minnesota Wild and New last season contributed to low TV ratings. Jersey Devils are on hold because of absences related to COVID So here we are, monitoring the daily list of COVID protocol-related protocols, and the Vegas Golden Knights only recently emerged from a absences more closely than we monitor the lists of scoring and nine-day hiatus. goaltending leaders. A pause to re-examine safety policies and let Kings-Wild game won’t be played Saturday because of COVID-19 everyone catch their breath should be the next step. protocol issues LA Times: LOADED: 02.11.2021 The Sabres last played Jan. 31 when they faced New Jersey, which had six players in COVID protocol. The Devils added four players to that list the next day. As of Tuesday, 19 Devils were on the daily list of unavailable players. The Devils aren’t scheduled to play again until Feb. 16, which seems an overly optimistic target.

“We come into a situation where potentially it was in the New Jersey locker room and now we are where we are,” Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams said during a videoconference.

The Sabres, who are scheduled to return to play next Monday, practiced Tuesday for the first time in eight days but without nine players who are in the protocol. Also missing was coach Ralph Krueger, who tested positive.

Adams said some absent players are symptomatic. According to the NHL, COVID protocol-related absences can be because of an initial unconfirmed positive test; isolation for those showing symptoms; being in quarantine as a high-risk close contact; isolation based on a confirmed positive test, and/or quarantine required by travel.

Only the North division, comprised of the Canada-based teams, has dodged the reshuffling and uncertainty enveloping the other 24. Those seven teams have no one in COVID protocol. Good on them for staying safe.

In recent days the NHL has increased the use of rapid testing, told teams to remove the glass behind the benches to increase air flow and asked for greater distances between players in locker rooms. The league hasn’t yet outlawed fighting or hugging after goals. And it’s still insisting on bringing four teams to Lake Tahoe to play outdoor games on Feb. 20 and Feb. 21, unnecessary trips for unnecessary gatherings.

Florida Panthers defenseman Radko Gudas gets tied up with Detroit Red Wings left wing Givani Smith. 1183337 Anaheim Ducks and everyone making sure everyone gets tested and is respecting all the data.

“You can’t lock yourself into a little box. You still have to go play games Ducks prepared to play despite positive COVID-19 case among Golden and do normal stuff.” Knights Orange County Register: LOADED: 02.11.2021

By ELLIOTT TEAFORD | PUBLISHED: February 10, 2021 at 3:46 p.m. | UPDATED: February 10, 2021 at 3:51 p.m.

The Ducks practiced as scheduled on Wednesday afternoon at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and were set to play Thursday night against the Golden Knights despite a Vegas player receiving a positive COVID-19 test and being pulled from the ice in the second period of Tuesday’s game.

The NHL confirmed in a statement that Tomas Nosek of the Golden Knights was removed from the contest immediately upon learning of his positive test. Nosek was isolated from his teammates and close contact tracing was started in accordance with the league’s protocol.

In addition to the league’s regular daily testing of players, coaches and staff, rapid testing will be performed before Thursday’s rematch between the teams in Las Vegas, the league said. Any postponement of the game would be made by medical officials.

“As of now, we’re preparing to play,” Ducks coach Dallas Eakins said when asked about the status of Thursday’s game during a video call from Las Vegas. “We have full confidence in the league in these matters. Until we hear differently, we’re preparing to play.”

Eakins and defenseman Hampus Lindholm said they learned of the positive test after the Ducks’ 5-4 loss to the Golden Knights and expressed concern for Nosek’s welfare and that of his teammates. Neither was especially worried about in-game transmission from player to player.

“You notice when a guy isn’t out there,” Eakins said of Nosek’s late-game absence. “In my head, I didn’t think two seconds about it. Not once did it go through my head that he had COVID. I just thought he had been hurt or whatever happened.”

Vegas called off its practice Wednesday and did not hold a media availability. The Golden Knights also declined to comment Tuesday, after calling off their postgame video session with reporters. The Ducks canceled theirs abruptly after right wing Troy Terry spoke for nearly 10 minutes.

Eakins said he had every confidence in the league’s COVID-19 protocols, but he also said the Ducks were prepared for the possibility that a player, coach or staff member might contract the coronavirus. As of Wednesday, the Ducks had no players on the league’s COVID-19 list.

“We want to make sure everyone’s safe,” Eakins said. “The other team had a positive case and that puts everybody on red alert. I certainly didn’t want to be in a media room where other people have been. It’s a good call by the league just to shut it down and get everyone away from each other.

“It’s as simple as that.”

Last month, after two Vegas players and three coaches were placed on the NHL’s COVID-19 list, the league postponed three games against the San Jose Sharks. The Golden Knights were cleared to practice last week and resumed play Friday with a victory over the Kings at T-Mobile Arena.

Alex Pietrangelo was the last of the Golden Knights to come off the COVID-19 list Tuesday.

The postponements of the Vegas-Sharks games impacted the Ducks’ schedule, as well. The Ducks’ game Saturday against the Sharks in San Jose was rescheduled for April 6 and their Feb. 26 game against the Golden Knights at was shifted to April 23.

“You’re hoping everyone in Vegas is staying safe and not too many guys got it and, hopefully, we can keep playing games and keep going with the season,” Lindholm said. “On a personal level, I think our team and our staff have done a great job of testing and keeping everybody safe.

“From my standpoint, I’m not too worried right now. We’re doing all we can do. We’re following the instructions we get from the league and I think as a team we’ve been doing a really good job, as well, with the staff 1183338 Anaheim Ducks

Ducks, Kings prospects overshadowed by AHL veterans as Gulls defeat Reign

By ELLIOTT TEAFORD PUBLISHED: February 10, 2021 at 10:44 p.m. | UPDATED: February 10, 2021 at 11:11 p.m.

IRVINE — Together again. Trevor Zegras, Arthur Kaliyev and Alex Turcotte skated on the same ice at the same time Wednesday night at Great Park Ice for the first time since leading the United States to the World Junior Championship last month in Edmonton.

One thing, though.

They could be best friends forever after forging a bond with Team USA, but they officially became rivals when Zegras and the San Diego Gulls played host to Kaliyev and Turcotte and the Ontario Reign in the third games of their budding careers.

The initial professional matchup for the former linemates went to the Gulls, who rallied for a 2-1 victory on defenseman Keegan Lowe’s goal at 19:55 of the third period. Lowe is one of a handful of veterans on the Gulls’ roster, someone familiar with AHL battles who was signed to mentor the youngsters.

Gulls defenseman Josh Mahura had tied it 1-1 with a breakaway goal after exiting the penalty box at 9:01 of the third period. Lukas Dostal, a 20-year-old Czech Republic native who had been playing in Finland, made 40 saves in only his third game in North America.

Of course, the three Americans could continue to cheer for each other, as Zegras said he did when Kaliyev scored his first NHL goal in his debut on Feb. 2 at Staples Center. Kaliyev sent Zegras a postgame photo of the stick he used to score in the Kings’ 3-1 loss to the Ducks.

Zegras recognized it right away.

It was one of his.

There was his name printed right there on the shaft.

“That was awesome,” Zegras said, recounting the story the other day. “He was so excited to play. It was funny. I gave him a couple of sticks at World Juniors. He used one of them and scored with it. It’s pretty hilarious. He was so excited. It’s ‘Arty.’ Why would he not score, right?

“He didn’t score for the first two games of the (World Junior) tournament. He was, like, ‘Can I see your stick?’ I had a couple of extras in the room, so I gave them five or six. He’s still using them. Hopefully, he’ll get a couple of his own soon.”

Zegras was one of the Ducks’ four recent first-round picks in the Gulls’ lineup, joining Brayden Tracey from the 2019 draft and Jamie Drysdale and Jacob Perreault from 2020. Zegras was off to a sizzling start to his career, earning AHL Player of the Week honors with two goals and three assists.

The Reign countered with three recent first-round selections in Turcotte (2019), Rasmus Kupari (2018) and Quinton Byfield, last year’s second overall pick. Kaliyev was a second-round selection in 2019, but he certainly didn’t look out of place among the higher picks.

In the end, the player with the best pedigree of all staked the Reign to a 1-0 lead with a short-handed goal 1:16 into the second period. Brett Sutter, 33, the son of former Kings coach and current Ducks special assistant Darryl Sutter, beat everyone down the wing to score.

Mahura tied it and then Lowe won it.

Lowe, the son of former Edmonton Oilers Hall of Fame defenseman Kevin Lowe, has been paired with Drysdale as the Gulls’ top defense pair since the beginning of San Diego’s training camp last month. Lowe is 27 and Drysdale is 18. It’s turned into a winning combination.

“I think it’s awesome what they’re doing here,” Lowe said of the Gulls’ mix of younger and older players. “It’s great for us that they recognize the value of having veterans. We can provide that leadership. We can help. It’s a long schedule. We can help them adapt to the pro way of life.”

Orange County Register: LOADED: 02.11.2021 1183339 Arizona Coyotes

Captain Oliver Ekman-Larsson nearing return from injury for Coyotes

Jose M. Romero

Coyotes defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson practiced Wednesday as he nears return from injury.

When last Arizona Coyotes fans saw Oliver Ekman-Larsson, it was the second game of the season.

The Coyotes captain, however, is nearing a return, as seen in his skating Wednesday in the team's practice.

The veteran defenseman had three assists in the team's first win, 5-3 over the San Jose Sharks on Jan. 16. But a third-period hit from the Sharks' Evander Kane knocked Ekman-Larsson off balance, and his body crashed awkwardly into the boards behind the Coyotes net.

Ekman-Larsson left the game and his injury was later announced as one in his lower body. Two days later he was placed on injured reserve, and has been working his way back to full strength.

"At this point, I think now it's probably Oliver's call right now," Coyotes head coach Rick Tocchet said.

Ekman-Larsson is expected to get in a full practice on Thursday leading up to the Coyotes' next game, Friday against the St. Louis Blues. Forward Christian Fischer also took part in Wednesday's practice as he comes back from an injury that has forced him out of the past four games.

"With injuries, sometimes there's a point where it's really going to be the player's call at some point, so how he feels, will he be able to do stuff in the game, will he feel confident," Tocchet said. "I've watched him this week and he looks like he's skating really well. We've had some drills where he's been pushing and shoving the last three or four days. Now it's just a matter of his comfortability playing, is really what it comes down to."

Ekman-Larsson has missed 10 games. The Coyotes play three games in four days starting Friday, all against the Blues.

ICE CHIPS

• Goalie Antti Raanta practiced Wednesday and could be available Friday, after he was scratched Monday with a minor injury.

— The Coyotes were delayed leaving St. Louis after Monday's game when the de-icing machine for their plane malfunctioned, and the runway was too icy. "There's something about St. Louis and us with travel," Tocchet said. "Guys were glad to get home, I'll tell you that."

Arizona Republic LOADED: 02.11.2021 1183340 Arizona Coyotes

NHL adds another Blues-Coyotes matchup set for Friday

BY ARIZONA SPORTS | FEBRUARY 9, 2021 AT 11:37 AM UPDATED: FEBRUARY 9, 2021 AT 11:49 AM

The Arizona Coyotes will now be playing seven consecutive games against the St. Louis Blues in the regular season.

In the NHL’s effort to fill both teams’ schedules after having games postponed, the meeting originally scheduled between the two teams for April 15 in Arizona is now set for this Friday at 7 p.m. MST.

The Coyotes and Blues also pushed back their previously planned Saturday puck drop at an hour, to 6 p.m. MST.

The teams were supposed to play just twice on Feb. 2 and 4 in St. Louis before postponements for the Minnesota Wild and Colorado Avalanche left the Coyotes on the sidelines for their next four games. To take advantage of that open time, the NHL had the Coyotes stay in St. Louis for two more games on Saturday and Monday.

With the schedule already set for two more matchups this coming Saturday and Monday, that makes it seven straight regular season games for the two sides against each other. The three games that are yet-to-be-played will all take place in Arizona.

The Coyotes lost the first game in the current string against the Blues but has recorded three straight victories since.

Arizona Sports LOADED: 02.11.2021 1183341 Arizona Coyotes In the Blues’ season opener on Jan. 13, they were impressive in a 4-1 win over Colorado. Some fans were ready to anoint them West Division winners and the real Stanley Cup contenders, not the Avalanche.

Blues-Coyotes for seven straight! How the experts prepare for a long “The coaching mantra is if you win the first game, you have to be better series the second game because it’s their job to change, to either adapt or play better, whether it’s effort based or attitude, or tactic and technical,” Bennett said. “I view it the same way in those consecutive-game sets. If By Jeremy Rutherford Feb 10, 2021 you lose Game 1, then it’s your job to change, however you evaluate it.”

Two days later on Jan. 18, the Avalanche responded with a 8-0 shutout of the Blues, in which the Avalanche netted five power-play goals. Colorado assistant coach Ray Bennett would have been on the bench last weekend, strategizing against the Blues. Instead, with the Avalanche Was the power-play success part of the adjustments the Avs made after season paused due to COVID-19 protocol, Bennett was on his couch dropping the first game? watching St. Louis play Arizona. “It’s funny you ask because part of what I’m doing here in quarantine is I The Blues had two games against Arizona and then were scheduled to reviewed all of our power-play minutes, trying to identify exactly what it host Colorado Saturday and Sunday. But with the Avs quarantined, the was — how did we score those goals?” Bennett said. “I have to be NHL had the Coyotes stay in St. Louis for a third and fourth meeting honest: It was probably just a little bit better execution, more than tactical Saturday and Monday. adjustments and staying ahead of their pressure. I won’t say they were fortunate goals because we did a lot of very good things. But some of it “I watched two of the games, or I’ll say, parts of all (four),” Bennett said. was good fortune, and the better part of it was just really clean, good Bennett, who spent 10 seasons as an assistant coach in St. Louis from execution.” 2007-17, hopes Colorado is back on the ice soon. But if not, he can But clubs around the league are making plenty of changes in the second continue tuning into the playoff-like series between the Blues and the game of these two-game sets, and the results are bearing fruit. Coyotes that has plenty of action left. Going into Tuesday’s games, there had been 75 occasions this season in The league announced Tuesday that the teams will play again Friday, which teams played at least two consecutive games; a few were three- and along with the two games already scheduled for Saturday and game sets and, as mentioned, there have been a couple of four-game Monday, they’re now slated to play seven consecutive regular-season sets. Of those 75, 40 ended with a 1-1 record after the first two games, games against one another. while 35 were swept by the winner of Game 1. “‘Crazy’ is a good word,” Bennett said. “It’s not unprecedented if you The Blues, in fact, went 3-0 in the opening game of their two-game sets, consider playoff series, but it’s foreign, in that, it’s the regular season.” but were 0-2-1 in Game 2. The 2020-21 schedule has been altered significantly this season to “I am a fan of playing these series games, these back-to-back situations,” lessen travel, most commonly playing two-game sets against the same San Jose coach Bob Boughner said Tuesday. “It’s great for preparation opponents in the same city. The longest such stretch of regular-season and how you can adjust. It’s almost like a playoff round, a seven-game games in NHL history had been three straight, most recently in 2012-13. series against a team. It’s hard to beat teams obviously three, four and No teams had ever played four in a row until Vegas-Arizona (Jan. 18-24), five times in a row. It doesn’t matter who’s matched up. Those are hard and then St. Louis-Arizona on Monday with the teams’ fourth faceoff in a games to win.” row. That proved to the case for the Blues again in their third two-game set of Now with the schedule amended again, the Blues and Coyotes could the season against Los Angeles. They won Game 1, 4-2, but dropped make it seven, a record that might hold forever considering the Game 2, 6-3, a game in which Kings center Gabriel Vilardi scored the circumstances that led to this situation. third of his team’s six goals. NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly acknowledged Tuesday that it’s not “It does help playing the same team because you see your mistakes in ideal. But with the Blues’ two-game set against Minnesota scheduled for the first game, you see what you did well, and then you’ve got to be this week postponed, the league wants to keep teams not paused by the ready for the second game,” Vilardi said. COVID-19 protocol, like the Blues, playing when possible. Pittsburgh began the season with back-to-back losses to Philadelphia, “Obviously, with postponed games you try to make the best use of the but then went on a four-game winning streak with series sweeps over open dates they create for some teams on the schedule,” Daly wrote in Washington and the New York Rangers. an email. “It’s part of the equation we are dealing with. “What you really need to do is prepare for that next game because you “It’s obviously not ideal, and that’s why we tried to avoid similar stretches don’t know what the following day brings you,” Penguins assistant coach in the original schedule. But we also realize we have to do the best we Todd Reirden said. “Obviously there’s going to be some adjustments, can in less than ideal circumstances. Both clubs were consulted, and there’s going to be some things you’re going to do to set your team up for both approved of the alteration. Had there been concerns, we may not success and allow them to be able to find some of the weaknesses that have done it.” the opposition is having. That’s the fun stuff for a coach.” There are pros and cons in opponents seeing each other so many times For example, matchups and special teams, which get more difficult the in a row — perhaps more cons if you’re the Blues who have gone 1-2-1 deeper you get in the head-to-head series. in the first four games. To learn more about those pros and cons, The Athletic got insights from a few NHL coaches and a player. Even with the last line change at home, the Blues struggled to contain Arizona’s top line of Clayton Keller, Conor Garland and Nick Schmaltz. Bennett works with Colorado’s forwards and the Avs’ power play, which They have combined for 15 points (six goals, nine assists) in the four he also did in St. Louis, but his previous responsibilities also included meetings, including eight points (four goals, four assists) playing five-on- putting together the pre-scout report for the next game. five. In a normal season, barring a back-to-back situation, coaches would be Ryan O’Reilly’s line has played 12:34 against the Schmaltz line at five- working on the upcoming opponent before the current game was over. on-five and hasn’t surrendered a goal. But the line of Brayden Schenn, But when teams are playing each other seven straight times, there is less Jaden Schwartz and Jordan Kyrou has been on the ice for two goals reliance on recent video and more focus on each head-to-head matchup. against in just 6:39 of five-on-five ice time. “From a coaching point of view, it probably reduces the work you’re doing “Yeah, it’s not easy, Garland is playing terrific and his linemates as well,” in terms of preparing because you’re not pre-scouting,” Bennett said. Bennett said. “With the Avs, we tend not to be a team that chases “You’re basically evaluating your game postgame and preparing what matchups very much at all. But certainly every coach I know will spend you think is useful for the players to try and create an advantage for the time from the moment the game starts evaluating shift-to-shift how that next game.” matchup is going because it’s important that you don’t run away from it right away if you feel like it’s something you want to do. “Sometimes there are situations that evolve during the game that may “I think it’s very interesting this year,” Vilardi said. “If a team goes on a not be poor play or execution, but it just happens and suddenly you go, streak, all the games are divisional, so if you win the back-to-backs, it’s ‘These guys are getting killed.’ But then you might look at some analytics huge because you’re taking away points from the guys that are in the between periods and say, ‘It doesn’t look that bad. They’ve been scored same division. I think you’re seeing that it’s going to be a very tight race on twice, but their shot suppression is good.’ Or maybe other matchups just because of all the back-to-backs. It’s almost like a playoff format, are working for you, and you say, ‘We’re just going to stick with it.'” where teams split the (first two games), and then it’s the long part of the series where you see which team can really overtake the other one.” Now with the series shifting to Arizona, the Coyotes will get the last change, so that may continue to be problematic. That’s similar to what Arizona has done to the Blues lately.

Meanwhile, the Blues’ power play went 0-for-13 in the first three games “Arizona, you’ve got to give the credit,” Boughner said. “They won against Arizona, but then tweaked its personnel, putting Justin Faulk on (Monday) with seventh-tenths of a second left, I believe, and they’re the top unit in place of power-play specialist Torey Krug. The result was a finding ways to win. They’re getting good goaltending. What I like about goal on the team’s first opportunity Monday. Arizona, and I don’t think gets talked about enough, is their six guys on the backend. They’re real solid, they can all move pucks, they’re mobile “Torey Krug is such a really good player, (but) their power play in Boston guys and there’s not really a weak link back there. I think they’re playing was almost completely unique to what everybody else did,” Bennett said. with the puck a lot and they’re not defending as much. They’re a little “(The puck) went almost right from their breakouts and entries into their underrated if you ask me.” zone play, and the movement they had, I know our PK coach, Nolan Pratt, had fits trying to defend it. A lot of teams, they’re really predictable If this were a real best-of-seven playoff series, the Coyotes would lead 3- in their power-play set and Boston had a preferred set with Krug at the 1, though technically Monday’s 4-3 win came in a shootout, which isn’t top and (David) Pastrnak on his one-timer. But all of a sudden, (Brad) used in the playoffs. So games Nos. 6 and 7 would be tagged “if Marchand is at the top and Krug is down on the half-wall, and it was necessary” right now — but with teams playing each other eight times perpetual motion. this season, they all feel necessary.

“So adding Krug to your power play would seem natural that it should be “If it’s turning out that there’s (16) points available, it would make no amazing and yet he might have an adjustment and the others will have sense not to paint the picture of it as a playoff series,” Bennett said. “I an adjustment playing off him. Then when you face a team like Arizona, think the teams that grasp that really well will do extremely well through who basically pins their ears back and sets good angles and has good the course of gathering points. It’s a 56-game schedule, it’s condensed, sticks and they’re really committed to pressuring and forcing you to make and it’s going to go by in a blur. Those two points every night, it’s very good plays, if your power play is a step behind, then it can get ugly in a cliche but it’s really important in needing to find a way to raise your hurry.” emotional investment and make sure that you’re prepared. If you think about playing four, five, six or seven games against somebody, it might In relating Colorado’s recent situation — the Avs’ season was paused be a way to create real separation.” before the last of four straight games against Minnesota — Bennett is less focused on the pre-scout as the series goes along. The Athletic LOADED: 02.11.2021

“By the time we would have got to Game 4, our power-play meeting would be short and sweet,” Bennett said. “I would get players involved and have them produce their thoughts and what they feel could be different. They’re on the ice and play against it, so when I show them video and I say, ‘This might be a time that we could do this,’ they may say, ‘True but we could do this or that.’ So I think by giving them an ownership in it, there’s some really strong value in that.”

The other issue the Blues have had in their series with the Coyotes is staying disciplined. They had three penalties in the third period of Monday’s loss, including a high-sticking penalty against Schwartz with the club leading 3-2 and on the power play with less than three minutes remaining in regulation.

That can be a byproduct, Bennett says, of seeing the same faces on the other side for several games.

“It’s a crescendo of many things,” he said. “If a player has struggled for a couple of games in a row, then they get a little undisciplined and look for an opportunity to satisfy their own need a little bit. But I would say everybody’s preaching the need for discipline in those situations, and it’s incredibly difficult for players to just hold onto it in the heat of the moment. I laugh when I read or watch media reports postgame where there’s a lot of insinuation by people in the media who go, ‘This player did that, bad play, bad discipline.’

“Nobody’s going out trying to sabotage their team with little time left and take a penalty. It’s just the emotion, and they feel like for a good portion of the game they were able to do what they just did and got away with it, and then all of a sudden they’re getting a penalty for it. It’s very rarely black and white, and as I said before, it’s extremely rare that a player is going out trying to satisfy his own agenda at the expense of the team. It’s more unfortunate.”

Bennett said that applies to Schwartz, whom he coached for five seasons in St. Louis.

“The really good players tend not to do it, and Jaden is in that category,” he said. “So who knows what the explanation for (Monday’s penalty) is? He probably doesn’t have one other than just saying, ‘I was careless with my stick, it was a mistake.'”

With a 56-game schedule, there’s too much at stake in each game, especially when it allowed Arizona to rally for its third straight victory. The Coyotes are now just three points behind the Blues in the divisional standings (16-13) with one game in hand (13-12). 1183342 Boston Bruins Artemi Panarin into a turnover, skated to freedom, and slipped a forehander past Georgiev for his second goal of the year.

Bjork put the Bruins ahead with 11 minutes left in the third. Back from their break, Bruins roll through the rust, nab overtime win at Rangers The winger scored his first of the year off a Jake DeBrusk feed from behind the net, boosting his line to 1-2—3 in 12 games. It was more outstanding work from the reworked No. 3 line, which added DeBrusk By Matt Porter Globe Staff,Updated February 10, 2021, 9:45 p.m. after a two-week, five-game absence. Both DeBrusk (game-high seven shots and 14 attempts) and Bjork forechecked with straight-line fury.

Some 4:50 into the third, DeBrusk snapped off a wrister in traffic that As consistent and confident as any team in the NHL, the Bruins continue deflected off Georgiev, and bounced straight down after hitting to stumble early, regain their footing, and take control of games. underneath the crossbar. One angle of the replay showed the tumbling puck appear to hit on edge, beyond the goal line. Another angle made it They banked another two points in comeback fashion, beating the seem the puck was on the line, but not over. The no-goal call on the ice Rangers, 3-2, in overtime on Wednesday at . stood, the evidence to overturn it a bit shaky. They won their fourth game in a row and kept their East Division lead at 9-1-2, despite a few calls that went against them, and a defense that “I’d like to see that every night,” Cassidy said of DeBrusk. “Hopefully it finally “looked their age,” in the words of coach Bruce Cassidy. gives them some confidence going into Friday.”

Despite allowing the first goal in each of their last five games, they have The defense pair of Matt Grzelcyk and Brandon Carlo will look for a taken nine of the last 10 points available to them. bounce-back Friday against these Rangers. They were victimized twice by the Rangers’ fourth line of Brendan Lemieux, Kevin Rooney (Canton), “We bounce back from whatever happens,” Cassidy said. “We’ve done it and Julien Gauthier. The latter scored his first NHL goal in the opening all year. Different guys in the lineup, in and out. Game’s canceled, we 20, and Rooney batted home the tying goal with 8:38 left in regulation. move onto the next one. … We’re pretty good that way.” Both goals happened after the Blueshirts went heavy on the forecheck, Because of COVID-19 scheduling issues, it was their first game in five and muscled their way to the net. days. Rusty? For sure, but with Tuukka Rask (33 saves) making Rask needed no help in the second period, when he robbed Zibanejad acrobatic stops, they had enough traction to get things moving in the right on a shorthanded stop, before Wagner’s shorty. direction. With Craig Smith off for slashing at 8:05, Chris Kreider rushed 2 on 2 and Chris Wagner (shorthanded) and Anders Bjork scored for the Bruins, and saucered a feed over a diving Kevan Miller, onto the stick of Zibanejad. It Brad Marchand won it 36 seconds into overtime. He tucked a breakaway was labeled for the back of the net. Rask pushed post-to-post and chance past Rangers keeper Alexandar Georgiev after blue liner Charlie nabbed it. McAvoy batted down a 2 on 1 feed at the other end, and sent his buddy off to grab the ‘W.’ He shrugged it off afterward: “You’ve got to be lucky sometimes.”

That was a relief to Rask, who faced several odd-man rushes and Boston Globe LOADED: 02.11.2021 allowed two goals after his defenders couldn’t clear the front of the net.

“We weren’t very good in front of him,” Cassidy said. “It was probably the toughest game our D core had. We weren’t crisp with the puck. We had a pair that fought it all night. … As a whole, that group looked their age tonight. … It looked like we hadn’t played in a while.”

Rask also added some postgame levity to the proceedings, explaining a bewildering gaffe he made near the end of regulation. With the Bruins in possession and time ticking away, the keeper headed to the bench, with Cassidy, his assistants, and at least six teammates frantically waving him back.

What was he thinking?

“I just had to tell something to Jaro [Halak] real quick,” Rask deadpanned.

“No, I honestly thought we were down, 2-1,” he said, slightly sheepish. “That’s it. I was waiting for Butchy to wave me over. I was like, ‘Why the heck is he not …’ There was like a minute and a half left. I decided to come. Chucky [McAvoy] told me, ‘Buddy, it’s 2-2.’ ”

Tuukka Rask defends the net against New York's Pavel Buchnevich during the first period of Wednesday's game.

Cassidy smirked and shook his head slightly.

“I’d like to think he thought it was a delayed penalty,” he said.

Marchand said he did think the Bruins were headed to the power play. He planned to give his netminder a pass — “he made a lot of big saves tonight” — but Rask will take his share of ribbing.

“I wasn’t panicking at all,” Rask said of the moment he realized the game was tied, and his net was empty. “I was more laughing, actually.

“Hey, it’s an entertainment industry, I guess. Hopefully [fans] got a good laugh out of that.”

Several of Rask’s stops were highlight-reel variety, and kept the Bruins from falling behind in a third period when they were outshot, 15-6, and allowed 11 of the 14 scoring chances.

Wagner tied the game at 9:41 of the second following Rask’s huge shorthanded stop on Mika Zibanejad. The favorite son of Walpole forced 1183343 Boston Bruins The Bruins are on an nine-game point steak (8-0-1), and with the third- best points percentage (.833) in the NHL, behind only the Lightning (.864) and Golden Knights (.850). The margins were tighter than the Jack Studnicka, coming off injury layoff, sent to AHL for wing work standings would make it seem. Nine of the Bruins’ first 12 games have been decided by one goal, and a 10th (Feb. 1 against Washington) was a one-goal game until an empty-netter. The only games that weren’t one- goal or one-plus-ENG games were blowout wins: Jan. 23 against By Matt Porter Globe Staff,Updated February 10, 2021, 5:48 p.m. Philadelphia (6-1), and Jan. 28 against Pittsburgh (4-1) . . . Because of the postponed games against the Sabres (last Saturday, Monday) and Devils (next Monday), the Bruins will end February with eight games in Jack Studnicka has missed Boston's last four games since being injured 23 days — assuming no more postponements . . . After this run of three on Jan. 28 against Pittsburgh. games in four days (Friday at Rangers, Saturday at Islanders), the Bruins enter an uncertain week. Monday’s home game against the Devils (who Jack Studnicka’s next game action might come in Marlborough, not had 19 players on the COVID-19 protocol list as of Tuesday) was Manhattan. postponed. Another dance with the Devils, on Thursday at TD Garden, The 21-year-old prospect was shipped to the on would seem in jeopardy. If they didn’t play either of next week’s games Wednesday, instead of joining the big club to start their road trip against against Jersey, the Bruins would go a full seven days without suiting up. the Rangers. Studnicka practiced with the junior varsity ahead of their And that’s assuming the Sunday, Feb. 21, Lake Tahoe game against the Thursday home game against the Hartford Wolf Pack, and is likely to Flyers is a go. Philadelphia put a couple players on the COVID-19 list this play in that game. week . . . As permitted by New York’s governor, , Madison Square Garden plans to host approximately 2,000 fans for the Studnicka, who took a big hit from Penguins rookie defenseman Pierre- Feb. 26 Bruins-Rangers game. It would be the first Bruins game with fans Oliver Joseph on Jan. 28, has not played since because of an in attendance since March 10, 2020, in Philadelphia, their last before the undisclosed injury. He practiced in Brighton on Wednesday. pandemic stoppage . . . The Bruins were outshot, 35-32, and that total doesn’t include David Pastrnak ringing the post on a power play that Coach Bruce Cassidy, who welcomed back Jake DeBrusk and Matt went 0 for 2 . . . The Bruins used a five-forward unit, a rarity in today’s Grzelcyk to his lineup in the 3-2, overtime win at the Rangers, said NHL, on the first man-advantage. They went with the returning Grzelcyk Studnicka is likely to remain on the wing in Providence — playing this on the No. 1 unit during the second opportunity . . . Rangers star Artemi season at the New England Sports Center in Marlborough — as the Panarin, clearly laboring through some kind of lower body injury, did not second-year pro continues to learn the ins and outs of protecting pucks play toward the end of the second period and missed a large chunk of and winning battles in the trenches. the third. He finished with two shots in 15:34 . . . In addition to his goal, “We would like him to play some games on the wing, because that’s his Chris Wagner also had a third-period fight with Anthony Bitetto, which opportunity right now, here,” Cassidy said. “Of course it could change erupted after Wagner dumped the Rangers defenseman behind the play . any day, if we get an injury to a center iceman, but right now those guys . . The Bruins won 69 percent of the draws, with Patrice Bergeron going are healthy in the middle … He will have to improve his wall work, his 15 for 20 (75 percent) and David Krejci and Sean Kuraly each going 7 for awareness, just like a lot of young guys.” 9 (78 percent).

Wednesday’s date with the Rangers was the first game in five days for Boston Globe LOADED: 02.11.2021 the Bruins, who were last seen beating the Flyers, 2-1, on Friday. It was the first game in two weeks for DeBrusk, who lined up on the left of Charlie Coyle and Anders Bjork, who scored the go-ahead goal in the third on a slick feed from DeBrusk, who missed the last five contests with a lower-body injury. It was DeBrusk’s second assist in seven games.

Grzelcyk (lower body), who played one of the previous seven games, slotted on the No. 2 pair next to Brandon Carlo.

Tightening up the power play leaks

The Bruins’ commitment to team defense means they don’t allow many five-on-five scoring chances. Entering Wednesday, they were ranked fourth in scoring chances against per 60 minutes (20.93), according to Natural Stat Trick, the same place they ranked last season (23.75).

But one thing has changed. In 2019-20, Boston was arguably the leakiest team in defending while on the power play. It ranked 31st, even behind lowly Detroit, in allowing shorthanded scoring chances (9.68 per 60 minutes). This year, the Bruins had allowed the fourth-fewest (2.28).

The power play, clicking at a 33.3 percent clip (12 for 36), had the third- most goals per hour (13.67) and is yet to allow a shorthanded goal. This with ex-quarterback Torey Krug in St. Louis, and with both QB1 candidate Grzelcyk and top gunner David Pastrnak missing significant time.

Cassidy pointed to puck possession and recovery in the attacking zone, plus strong entries as a means of limiting shorthanded breaks. When teams do get the puck, he said, they’re tired and thinking “clear,” rather than “go.” Also, there has been little frustration in entering the zone.

“That was some of the issues in the past,” Cassidy said. “We wouldn’t get it in the first time, and then the second time, someone would try to be a little more of an individual than stick with the structure,” he said. “There’s been less of that. We’ve been cleaner on our second time down.

“Sometimes they go in peaks and valleys. We haven’t had any of those valleys, in terms of the entries … sooner or later, teams will jam you up. It’s just inevitable. Hopefully we deal with it well.”

Ice chips 1183344 Boston Bruins Boston Globe LOADED: 02.11.2021

After a pair of postponements, Bruins get back on the ice tonight

By Matt Porter Globe Staff,Updated February 10, 2021, 11:21 a.m.

The Bruins were 3-0 vs. the Rangers last season; this will be the teams' first matchup of 2021.

Wednesday is an Original Six day on the NHL’s calendar, which contains two games: Toronto at Montreal, and Boston at the New York Rangers (7 p.m., NBCSN). We will focus on the latter.

▪ Tuukka Rask (5-1-1, 2.36, .898) is expected between the pipes for Boston (8-1-2). Alexandar Giorgiev (1-2-1, 3.27, .886) is likely to start for New York (4-5-2). The latter, who turns 25 Wednesday, has not played since an overtime loss to Pittsburgh Jan. 30. He is 0-2-1 with an .854 save percentage since his first start of the year, a 23-save shutout against the Islanders Jan. 16.

▪ Jake DeBrusk is likely to play his first game since Jan. 26, lining up to the left of Charlie Coyle and Anders Bjork. DeBrusk (0-1—1 in six games) missed the last five contests with a lower-body injury.

▪ Matt Grzelcyk (lower body), who played just one of the previous seven games, is expected to return to the No. 2 defense pair next to Brandon Carlo.

▪ Jack Studnicka (upper body) is nearing a return — he practiced in full Tuesday — but is expected to miss his fifth game in a row.

▪ This is the first game in five days for the Bruins, last seen beating the Flyers, 2-1, last Friday.

Their two games against the Sabres (Saturday, Monday) postponed, the Bruins had an optional practice Saturday, took Sunday off, and practiced Monday and Tuesday in Brighton before traveling to Manhattan to begin a run of three games in four days (Friday at Rangers again, Saturday at Islanders).

The following Monday’s home game against the Devils has been postponed because, as of this writing, New Jersey had 19 players unavailable because of COVID protocol. Another dance with the Devils, next Thursday at TD Garden, would seem to be in jeopardy.

▪ If they don’t play either of next week’s games against Jersey, the Bruins will go seven days without suiting up. And that’s assuming the Feb. 21 Lake Tahoe game against the Flyers is a go. Philadelphia put a couple of players on the COVID-19 list this week.

In the case of a postponement in Nevada, the following Monday (Feb. 22) might work. The Bruins have three days between Tahoe and a road trip. The Flyers have two days off before a home date with the Rangers.

As for swapping in another team, NBC would no doubt prefer to keep a big-market Boston-Philadelphia matchup on its broadcast slate.

▪ The NHL has not announced a change in playoff structure, but the rash of postponements and COVID-related absences have left an ever- widening imbalance in games played. At this point, teams understand that points percentage, not points, will likely be the determining factor in playoff races.

Cassidy, speaking after Tuesday’s workout, noted the importance of getting “the games in wherever they fall,” and “banking points” as they come. Hopefully, he added, February “will be the worst of it.”

His club entered Wednesday with the third-best points percentage (.818) in the NHL, behind only the Lightning (.864) and Golden Knights (.850). The margins were tighter than the standings would make it seem.

▪ Eight of Boston’s first 11 games were decided by one goal, and a ninth was a one-goal game until an empty-netter (Feb. 1 against Washington). The only games that weren’t one-goal or one-plus-ENG were blowout wins: Jan. 23 against Philadelphia (6-1) and Jan. 28 against Pittsburgh (4-1).

▪ Because of the postponed games against the Sabres and Devils, the Bruins will end February with eight games in 23 days … assuming no more postponements. 1183345 Boston Bruins off Lemieux’s stick, it would have been reviewable. It was not, and this one had to be settled in overtime, where the B’s extended their point streak to nine games (8-0-1).

Brad Marchand lifts Bruins in OT The Blueshirts took the first lead at 13:50 of a tight-checking first period. Lemieux won a puck behind the net, sending a backhand pass off a couple of Bruin sticks to Julien Gauthier out front and Gauthier buried it By STEVE CONROY | PUBLISHED: February 10, 2021 at 9:47 p.m. | past Rask. UPDATED: February 10, 2021 at 11:21 p.m. In a more wide-open second period, the Rangers got their first power- play when Craig Smith had to take a slashing penalty on a partial break- in by Ryan Strome, but the man-advantage blew up on the Blueshirts. As any tourist can tell you, weird stuff can happen when you venture down to and, on Wednesday, the Bruins experienced their On the kill, Rask made another tremendous save on an odd-man rush. fair share of it. Kreider fed Mika Zibanejad for what looked like an easy goal, but Rask robbed him with the glove. They had what they thought was a goal nullified, and saw a Ranger goal they thought should have been wiped out held up, before Brad Marchand The B’s made that save count as they tied it with a shorthanded goal at finally scored the game-winner on a breakaway 36 seconds into overtime 9:41. Chris Wagner, benched in the third period of the B’s last game after to lift the B’s to a 3-2 win. taking two undisciplined penalties, blocked an Artemi Panarin pass attempt at the blue line and took off on a partial breakaway. With Panarin And before the OT, Tuukka Rask provided some comic relief for the folks bearing down from behind, Wagner cut across the top of the crease and at home. In the final stages of regulation in the 2-2 game, Rask oddly beat Georgiev off the post and in. made his way to the Bruin bench as the coaching staff and teammates frantically tried to send him back between the pipes. With the B’s in Boston Herald LOADED: 02.11.2021 control of the puck, Rask was able to get back to the net with no harm done.

Did he think it was a delayed penalty or did he lose track of the score?

“Well, you figure it was one of the two,” said a chuckling Bruce Cassidy, who’d not yet spoken to Rask. “And you’d think he’d have access to the scoreboard. I’d like to think it was a delayed penalty.”

Nope. Rask ‘fessed up when it was his turn on the Zoom.

“I honestly through we were down 2-1. I was waiting for Butch to wave me over there and he did not. It was like a minute and half left and he’s not waving me and I decided to go when we had the puck. And (Charlie McAvoy) told me ‘Buddy, it’s 2-2,” said Rask.

With the two points safely secured, the potentially disastrous brain lock was fodder for humor.

“Its an entertainment industry,” said Rask. “Hopefully people got a good laugh about it. I did.”

The miscue may be mentioned a time or two at Thursday’s practice in Manhattan.

“Yeah, he’s going to take some heat for that,” said Marchand with a grin. “But he made a lot of big saves tonight, so he gets a pass on that one.”

Rask did indeed play one of his best games of the year, making 33 saves, including about a half-dozen Grade A stops off odd-man rushes. It was not a good night for the B’s young back end as the Rangers outshot the Bruins 15-6 in the third period.

“We were not very good in front of him,” said Cassidy. “It was probably the toughest night our D corps has had. We were not crisp with the puck. At the group as a whole, we looked our age tonight. But we got through it and (McAvoy) makes a hell of a play on the last goal.”

On the winner, McAvoy broke up a 2-on-1 and then sent Marchand in alone just seconds after the Rangers’ defenseman Adam Fox robbed him of a goal.

That capped off a crazy night.

The Bruins appeared to take the lead at 4:50 of the third period when Jake DeBrusk’s eighth shot of the night appeared to sneak under the crossbar. It was waved off by the on-ice officials initially, but they took a look at the replay. The puck tumbled as it fell and when it hit the ice, part of it was in the white but not all of it. No goal was the ruling.

But the B’s eventually did get their lead at 9:00, and it was produced by the DeBrusk-Charlie Coyle-Anders Bjork line that had been buzzing all night. From behind the net, DeBrusk fed Bjork, who slipped it through Alexander Georgiev’s pads for a 2-1 lead.

The Rangers, however, tied it on a disputed goal at 11:27. Former Bruin prospect Ryan Lindgren’s shot was deflected by Brendan Lemieux’s stick, off Rask’s chest and it dropped down for Kevin Rooney to knock home. Lemieux’s stick appeared to be over the crossbar when he deflected it, but it was not called on the ice and, after it went off Rask, Rooney’s goal was allowed to stand to make it 2-2. Had it gone directly in 1183346 Boston Bruins cleaner entries. That was some of the issue in the past. We’d get frustrated and we wouldn’t get in the first time and the second time someone would just try to be a little more of an individual than stick with Bruins notebook: Jack Studnicka to wing it in Providence the structure. That’s going to happen from time to time. You might be in the middle of line change, etc. I think there’s been less of that. We’ve just been cleaner on our second time down and our puck recovery has allowed us to tire teams out so they’re not thinking offense.” By STEVE CONROY | February 10, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. Back on the attack

Both Matt Grzelcyk and Jake DeBrusk were back in the lineup on Strength down the middle has been one of the Bruins’ hallmarks for over Wednesday. DeBrusk, who missed the last five games, was looking for a decade. Today it is just as strong as it was a decade ago when they his first goal of the season. He was expected to start the game on the left won a Stanley Cup. wing with center Charlie Coyle and right wing Anders Bjork. He’s started It’s so strong that Jack Studnicka, arguably the B’s top prospect, does slowly in the past but if the B’s want to improve 5-on-5 scoring — they not appear to have a path forward at his natural centerman position, at went into Wednesday’s game merely even (17 goals for, 17 against) — least at the moment. they’ll need some pop from DeBrusk, one of the B’s better natural goal- scorers. So the tentative plan for Studnicka was to see some time in Providence and get game action at wing, which is where he’d be more likely be able “I actually liked his last games, he was up with Bergie and March and he to see some NHL time. He practiced with the P-Bruins on Wednesday. was coming around, playing better. He was a little inconsistent to start the year. Unfortunately he got hurt playing on that line. I thought he was “We’ve discussed that,” said coach Bruce Cassidy. “That will be up to doing a better job in that mix,” said Cassidy. “Now (David Pastrnak‘s) (GM Don Sweeney) and (Providence coach) Jay Leach to get him in back so he’ll have a different line. Again, at this juncture of the season there where he best fits. But yes, we’ve talked about that he should play we’ve moved some people around and I think Jake is used to that. He’s some games on the wing. It’ll depend. I’m not 100% sure on how their played with Krech, he’s played with Coyle, a little bit with Bergie and depth is, if they have injuries, but we would like him to play some games March. For him it’s more important to just find his game and worry about on the wing because that’s his opportunity right now here. Of course, that himself, not worry about who his linemates are. Hopefully that’s his could change any day if we get an injury to a center iceman but right now attitude, to get his game back to where it needs to be. He didn’t miss a those guys are healthy in the middle, so that’s where his place would be lot, but you’re timing can take a little bit of time.” here. So yes, he should play some on the wing. I’m sure they’ll move him around a bit and take some draws as a centerman if he’s out there with a Boston Herald LOADED: 02.11.2021 guy who’s weaker at that. But he will have to improve his (play at wing), his awareness, just like a lot of young guys, if he’s going to play for us on the wall.”

Studnicka played on the right wing before getting injured, first riding with Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand, then with David Krejci. He had a goal, breaking the 5-on-5 ice for the team in the B’s come-from-behind win on Jan. 21, in six games.

“He obviously played well for us here. He got injured which was unfortunate. But some of that was he hadn’t played much on the walls so there’s a little bit of a learning curve for him there, so we want to make sure we don’t put him in a bad spot,” said Cassidy. “It’s just that down the middle of the ice we’re solid. That’s probably his best opportunity he has here and we want to prepare so when he goes back into our lineup he can be at his or close to it for a young guy.”

Marchand not loving road trips

With no fans in the arenas, the only tangible advantage the home team gets these days is the last change. Still, said Marchand, being on the road is not a lot of fun, and it can have a negative effect on players because of the COVID-19 restrictions.

“I think on the road, where you can get in trouble is more on your off-days and game days at your hotel now that you’re not allowed to really do anything,” said Marchand, who took an eight-game point streak into Wednesday’s game. “You get caught laying around your room a lot not doing anything. If you sit in your bed in your room for 10, 12 hours and not do anything, you get stagnant, and kind of tired and lazy. It can make you feel bad during the game. I think that’s why it can be a little tough on the road right now.”

Meanwhile, New York state is allowing fans back in buildings later in the month. The Rangers will be allowed to have roughly 2,000 fans at Madison Square Garden for their Feb. 26 game against the Bruins. It will be the first time the B’s have played in front of fans since March 10, 2020.

Short short

While the B’s have had strong power plays the last couple of years, allowing shorthanded goals has been a bit of a bugaboo. They allowed seven in last year’s shortened season and 15 the year before. Going into Wednesday’s game against the Rangers, they hadn’t given up any. Even the chances against were minimal.

Cassidy saw two reasons for that.

“The (offensive) zone puck recovery time. I think when teams do get it, they’re tired and they just want to get it down,” said Cassidy. “And 1183347 Boston Bruins

Brad Marchand On Video Replay: ‘All Of This Video Stuff Really Bothers

Me’

February 10, 2021 By Jimmy Murphy

Boston Bruins winger Brad Marchand once again sent a message that he is an early-season candidate for the Hart Trophy by extending his point streak to nine games and scoring the overtime winner for the Bruins in a 3-2 win over the New York Rangers Wednesday.

Brad Marchand had another message for the NHL though after a game in which a Boston Bruins goal was disallowed and a Rangers’ apparent no- goal was allowed.

“You know, all of this video stuff really bothers me,” Marchand replied when asked if he thinks maybe the league needs to look deeper into having a sensor chip placed in the pucks to give a more clear-cut answer on controversial goals.

Just 4:53 into the third period with the game tied at one, Bruins winger Jake DeBrusk appeared to have lit the lamp for the first time this season to give the Boston Bruins what would’ve been a 2-1 lead at the time. However, it was ruled that after the puck hit the crossbar, it never fully crossed the goal line and therefore was no-goal.

While this call didn’t go the Bruins’ way, Brad Marchand wasn’t about to make a fuss and cry for more video replay or ways to determine what’s a goal a what isn’t.

“I just think that being able to challenge all these plays, hockey’s a game of mistakes,” Marchand pointed out. “Not only by the players but by the referees and that’s part of what makes it a good sport. You get your calls against you but you get your calls that go your way too. With all the video, there’s a lot of blame that gets put on the refs but they’re there to make those split-decision calls and now they’re calling them back all the time.”

As far as Brad Marchand is concerned, if the NHL continues down this rabbit hole of allowing video replay to determine the game the league is headed in the wrong direction. The pucks already had stat tracking sensors in them earlier in the season but it was affecting play too much.

“So, I don’t think that that’s necessary. It’s just taking hockey to a place where it’s annoying,” Marchand said bluntly.

Marchand also took a little jab at the analytics crowd in the NHL as those sensors the pucks had earlier in the season were there to enhance analytics stats.

“These dumb stats that just keep coming out. …they just bother me,” Marchand went on. “So I hope they don’t. They tried earlier this year and the puck was a cinder block for the boys. So, hopefully, we can just keep hockey hockey and play the game that we love.”

Boston Hockey Now LOADED: 02.11.2021 1183348 Boston Bruins

Talking Points: Bruins’ Rask Stands On His Head, Laughs Off Gaffe

By Joe Haggerty

Here are Talking Points from the Boston Bruins 3-2 overtime win over the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night.

GOLD STAR: Sure, Tuukka Rask forgot what the score was in the final minute of the third period and mistakenly skated to the Bruins bench for the extra attacker in a 2-2 game. But that’s easy to forgive when Rask was so brilliant throughout the rest of the game making 33 saves, and absolutely standing on his head in the second period with 14 saves where he stoned Mika Zibanejad a couple of times on Grade-A scoring chances. Rask looked locked in from the very beginning and was only beaten on a bad defensive zone breakdown and a puck that was high- sticked in front of the net before it bounced around to Kevin Rooney at the doorstep. Otherwise, it was Rask wiping away scoring chances on odd-man rushes, breakaways and backdoor plays as the Boston Bruins defense didn’t have a particularly strong game in front of him. Rask had a brain-fart late in the third period, but he was brilliant throughout the game and Boston’s best player in the win.

Tuukka Rask denies Mika Zibanejad. pic.twitter.com/ZFlbzq3n7i

— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) February 11, 2021

BLACK EYE: A rough night for Brandon Carlo and Matt Grzelcyk, who were on ice for both of the goals against for the Bruins. The second goal was perhaps a bit more understandable with a Brendan Lemieux high stick during a battle in front with Matt Grzelcyk serving as a big part of the score that could/should have been negated. But the pairing was a hot mess at times in the first two periods, including in the first when they both chased the puck carrier behind the net and left things wide open for Julian Gauthier to score his first career NHL goal. Carlo and Grzelcyk combined for a minus-4 on the night and really struggled in all phases as Grzelcyk made his return to the lineup after missing the last couple of weeks due to a lower body injury.

TURNING POINT: There were wild moments in both directions in the third period, but the Bruins had a couple of bumps on the road that they had to overcome. One was what appeared to be a Jake DeBrusk goal that was ultimately waved off with video review confirming the puck never crossed the goal line, and the second was a game-tying score for the Rangers that the Bruins felt was a high-stick on Brendan Lemieux. The goal counted on the ice and the Bruins opted not to challenge the Rangers score that tied things up halfway through the third period. The Bruins battled through those developments to push things to overtime where they ultimately won the game, and once again showed the ability to play through in-game adversity.

HONORABLE MENTION: Jake DeBrusk didn’t end up scoring a goal, but he played great in his first game back from injury. DeBrusk nearly scored in the third period on a shot from the slot that deflected off the goalie, the crossbar and the goal line without any video evidence actually showing that it was an actual goal. When that goal didn’t count, he simply went back to work and fed a great pass from behind the net to Anders Bjork at the net-front for the go-ahead goal in the third period. DeBrusk finished with a game-high seven shots on net and 14 shot attempts in 14:08 of very active ice time. It sure looked like DeBrusk had good skating legs and that he teamed nicely with Bjork and Charlie Coyle as an effective speedy third line for the Bruins.

Been that kind of night for Jake DeBrusk. pic.twitter.com/rqmlAprWE2

— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) February 11, 2021

BY THE NUMBERS: 4 – the number of consecutive wins for the Bruins where they needed to mount comebacks for the wins, a first in Bruins franchise history.

Here’s more from Rask on his silly mistake not knowing the score of the game tonight pic.twitter.com/Fk15s9iZQT

— Craig Kolodny (@NBCBostonCraig) February 11, 2021

Boston Hockey Now LOADED: 02.11.2021 1183349 Boston Bruins

Did Boston Bruins W Jake DeBrusk Get Robbed?

By Jimmy Murphy

Did Boston Bruins winger Jake DeBrusk get robbed of what would’ve been his first goal of the season after returning from a five-game absence?

DeBrusk was having arguably his best game of the season against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. Through two periods of play, the embattled winger had six shots on net and 11 shot attempts. Just 4:53 into the third period with the game tied at one, DeBrusk appeared to have lit the lamp for the first time this season to give the Boston Bruins what would’ve been a 2-1 lead at the time.

No goal for Jake DeBrusk. Centimeters pic.twitter.com/ecLz6PZ7bu

— Bruins Diehards (@BruinsDiehards) February 11, 2021

The ruling was that the puck didn’t completely cross the goal line and the game remained tied at one. Boston Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy did his best to argue for a goal but after long deliberation, the officials ruled it a no-goal. DeBrusk would get a bit of redemption and revenge just 4:07 later as he set up linemate Anders Bjork for his first goal of the season and a 2-1 lead. Unfortunately for the Boston Bruins though, Canton, MA native Kevin Rooney tied the game at two just 2:23 later.

DeBrusk had one assist in six games coming into the game Wednesday. DeBrusk – who had 16 goals and 27 assists in 70 games last season – has struggled out of the gate and instead of riding the left wing on the second line alongside David Krejci, DeBrusk found himself on the left of center Charlie Coyle and Bjork.

The Boston Bruins are playing their first game of a back-to-back against the Rangers at Madison Square Garden.

Boston Hockey Now LOADED: 02.11.2021 1183350 Boston Bruins Lauzon – McAvoy

Grzelcyk – Carlo

Boston Bruins Send Studnicka Down To Providence Zboril – Miller

Rask

By Joe Haggerty Halak pic.twitter.com/3KpJZLEAma

— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) February 10, 2021

While the Boston Bruins will get back to close to full strength with Jake Boston Hockey Now LOADED: 02.11.2021 DeBrusk and Matt Grzelcyk returning to the lineup tonight vs. the New York Rangers, youngster Jack Studnicka will head to Providence for this week.

The 21-year-old forward has missed the last two weeks of action after suffering an upper body injury against the Pittsburgh Penguins on January 28, and just returned to practice with Boston in the last few days. So, the Bruins sent Studnicka down to Providence to practice this week given that the Bruins will mostly be holding morning skates with three games in four days, and Bruce Cassidy said he’ll likely play in Providence’s game on Thursday against Hartford.

It all depends on the B’s coming out of Wednesday night’s game against the Rangers relatively healthy, of course, but Cassidy that Studnicka will mostly play wing even in Providence as that’s what he’ll be needed for in Boston.

“He skated with yesterday and he felt good. He wasn’t going to play tonight, so we felt like it would be good to get him integrated with the group down there…it would be better for him,” said Cassidy of Studnicka, who has a goal and a minus-2 in six games along with six shots on net during his time in Boston thus far this season. “I think they play [on Thursday] so he may be in the lineup tomorrow [for Providence]. That may be part of it to get him some games. We’ll see how we do health- wise and then we’ll make decisions going forward.

“He obviously played well for us here, but some of it is that he hasn’t played much on the walls. So, there’s a little bit of a learning curve for him there, and we want to make sure we don’t put him in a bad spot. Down the middle of the ice, we’re solid, so [playing wing] is probably his best opportunity here and we’re doing the best we can to prepare him so when he goes back into our lineup he can be at his best, or close to it for a young guy.”

It sounds like Studnicka may stick with Providence for the time-being as the Bruins get healthier on the wing, and with a clear sentiment that there’s still some development for the natural center playing on the wing at the NHL level.

Tuukka Rask will get the start for the Bruins on Wednesday night with Rask and Jaroslav Halak expected to split the weekend back-to-back games against the Rangers and the Islanders on this three-game road trip.

Otherwise, it’s looking like a pretty normal lineup projected for the Bruins tonight vs. the Rangers at Madison Square Garden based on Wednesday’s morning skate:

Marchand-Bergeron-Pastrnak

Ritchie-Krejci-Smith

DeBrusk-Coyle-Bjork

Frederic-Kuraly-Wagner

Lauzon-McAvoy

Get BHN+

Grzelcyk-Carlo

Zboril-Miller

Rask

#NHLBruins morning rushes:

Marchand – Bergeron – Pastrnak

Ritchie – Krejci – Smith

DeBrusk – Coyle – Bjork

Frederic – Kuraly – Wagner 1183351 Boston Bruins – The Rangers are ranked 12th in the league on the penalty kill. They’ve allowed seven powerplay goals against 39 attempts and have an 82.1 success rate.

Game 12: Boston Bruins @ New York Rangers Lines, Preview – Rangers defensemen Jack Johnson (groin) and Brendan Smith (upper- body), are both day-to-day. Forward Colin Blackwell is also day-to-day with an upper-body injury and forward Filip Chytil (upper-body) is on By Jimmy Murphy injured reserve and is week-to-week.

Boston Bruins Lines

The Boston Bruins (8-1-2, 18 pts) and the New York Rangers (4-5-2, 10 Forwards: pts) try to renew their rivalry tonight at Madison Square Garden as they begin a two-game set there and play the first of eight meetings this Brad Marchand – Patrice Bergeron – David Pastrnak season. Nick Ritchie – David Krejci – Craig Smith

The Boston Bruins are riding a three-game win streak and have erased Jake DeBrusk – Charlie Coyle – Anders Bjork third period deficits in their last four games, earning a point in each one. Meanwhile, the Rangers, whom many expected to take a step forward Trent Frederic – Sean Kuraly – Chris Wagner this season have stumbled out of the gate and sit last in the East Division. Defense:

Tuukka Rask (5-1-1, 2.36 GAA, .898 save percentage) will get his third Jeremy Lauzon – Charlie McAvoy straight start for the Bruins. Connor Clifton – Brandon Carlo

Alexander Georgiev (1-2-1, 3.27 GAA, .886 save percentage) returns to Jakub Zboril – Kevan Miller the Rangers’ net for the first time in three games and since he and soon to be, former teammate Tony DeAngelo got into a postgame altercation. Goalies:

Bruins Notes Tuukka Rask

– Defenseman Matt Grzelcyk (lower-body) and forward Jake DeBrusk Jaroslav Halak (lower-body) will return to the lineup tonight. Grzelcyk missed games on Extras: Jan. 23 and 26 with lower and upper-body injuries, came back and played on Jan. 28 and suffered another lower body injury and then John Moore missed the last four games. DeBrusk suffered his lower-body injury on Jan. 26 and missed the last five games. Connor Clifton

Jack Studnicka (undisclosed) skated in a contact jersey Tuesday at New York Rangers Lines practice but did not go to New York with the Bruins. Studnicka and Forwards Ondrej Kase (upper-body), who has been working out and is getting closer to skating, remain on injured reserve. Chris Kreider — Mika Zibanejad — Pavel Buchnevich

– The Bruins went 0-for-2 on the powerplay in their 2-1 win over the Get BHN+ Philadelphia Flyers on Friday but they still woke up yesterday with the sixth-best powerplay in the NHL, scoring at a 33.3 percent clip. That’s Artemi Panarin — Ryan Strome — Kaapo Kakko why it was a bit surprising to see head coach Bruce Cassidy change Alexis Lafreniere — Brett Howden — Phil Di Giuseppe things up at practice Tuesday and have five forwards on the top PP unit. Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, David Pastrnak, David Krejci, and Brendan Lemieux — Kevin Rooney — Julien Gauthier Nick Ritchie manned the first powerplay. Charlie McAvoy, Matt Grzelcyk, Jake DeBrusk, Charlie Coyle and Craig Smith were on the second unit. Defense

-The Boston Bruins have been even better on the penalty kill. The B’s Ryan Lindgren — Adam Fox have only allowed five goals against 41 powerplay attempts. Their 87.8 K’Andre Miller — Jacob Trouba success rate is the second-best in the NHL. Libor Hajek — Anthony Bitetto – ‘The Perfection Line’ has once again established itself as arguably the best line in the NHL. Brad Marchand (7g, 8a) and Patrice Bergeron (6g, Goalies 9a) are tied for the team lead in points with 15 apiece. Marchand’s seven lamplighters are a team-best and Bergeron’s nine helpers lead the team Alex Georgiev as well. After missing the first seven games, winger David Pastrnak has Igor Shesterkin returned on a mission, with five goals and three assists in four games, including his ninth career hat trick. Boston Hockey Now LOADED: 02.11.2021

– Not to rain the offensive parade for the Boston Bruins’ top trio of forwards but it is worth noting that 19 (8g, 11a) of their 28 points together have come on the powerplay. Marchand has two goals and five assists on the man advantage; Bergeron has four goals and five assists and Pastrnak has lit the lamp twice on the powerplay and added a helper.

– Six of the Bruins’ first eleven games have gone to overtime and two have gone to the shootout. The Bruins are 4-2 in the extra frames, going 2-0 in the shootout.

Rangers Notes

– The New York Rangers are also mulling changes on their powerplay. Per Larry Brooks of the New York Post:

The Rangers are 1-for-10 in 17:07 with the man-advantage in the past three games and 2-for-23 in 39:51 over the past seven contests.

The Rangers are 6-for-44 on the man advantage this season with a dismal 13.6 success rate. The Rangers’ powerplay is ranked 25th in the NHL. 1183352 Boston Bruins Jake DeBrusk, unavailable for the five previous games because of a lower-body injury, returned with an exclamation point. DeBrusk, the No. 3 left wing alongside Charlie Coyle and Anders Bjork, cranked a game-high Brain cramp aside, Tuukka Rask sparkles in latest Bruins overtime win 14 pucks on net. Seven hit the target.

One of his misses was in the third period. After taking a pass from Coyle, DeBrusk whipped a shot from the slot that glanced off the crossbar and By Fluto Shinzawa Feb 10, 2021 into the net. Video review, however, could not confirm that the puck crossed the line. The original call was no goal, and thus it remained.

“He was willing to go in straight lines, work to get inside and get it to the Tuukka Rask was confused. When his team is down by a goal late in net,” Cassidy said. “Certainly wasn’t trying to over-pass. Just trying to put regulation, Bruce Cassidy is good about giving him the hook for an extra pucks on net. Goal scorers do that. Eventually they go in. I’d like to see attacker. that every night — he has that mentality no matter who his centerman or Late in the third on Wednesday, Cassidy wasn’t waving him off. So Rask winger is.” took off for the bench on his own. Just before he reached the door, DeBrusk set up Bjork for a third-period go-ahead goal. Charlie McAvoy set Rask straight. Tough night on defense The score was tied, 2-2. The 4.58 expected goals were the highest the Bruins allowed all year. THE BRUINS' BENCH REACTING TO TUUKKA RASK SKATING BACK: The previous high was 2.78 xGA against New Jersey in Game 2. PIC.TWITTER.COM/RI8CSZCF6D The No. 2 pairing of Matt Grzelcyk and Brandon Carlo had an especially — CONOR RYAN (@CONORRYAN_93) FEBRUARY 11, 2021 rocky game. Lemieux won a board battle against Carlo and Grzelcyk was “I thought we were down 2-1,” Rask said. “I was waiting for Butchy to caught watching the play prior to Julien Gauthier’s opening goal. wave me over there. I’m like, ‘Why the heck is he not?’ A minute and a Grzelcyk played 11:40, least of any defenseman. Carlo’s 13:58 was a half left, he’s not waving me. Then I just decided to come when we had season low. the puck. I think Chucky told me, ‘Buddy, it’s 2-2.’” “Probably the toughest night our D corps had,” Cassidy said of his young Fortunately for Rask and the Bruins, the New York Rangers never took group. “We weren’t crisp with the puck. We had a pair that fought it all advantage of the open net. Thirty-six seconds into overtime, Brad night. We did make some plays. But as a whole, that group looked their Marchand scored the winner to give the Bruins the 3-2 victory. age tonight.”

“It’s an entertainment industry, I guess,” Rask said. “That’s what we try to Studnicka goes down provide — entertainment for the fans. I’m sure people were shocked at Jack Studnicka has NHL skill and speed. first. Hopefully they got a good laugh out of that. I sure did.” But the 21-year-old is a natural center playing right wing. This may be The truth is that without Rask, the Bruins would have been behind by a one reason Studnicka took a wallop along the TD Garden boards from whole lot more than one goal. The ace stopped 33 shots, none better Pittsburgh’s Pierre-Olivier Joseph on Jan. 28 and missed the next four than the second-period sniff that Mika Zibanejad thought he had games because of an undisclosed injury. Not only is Studnicka a few deposited in the back of the net. pounds short of optimal NHL weight, but also he is in areas of the ice a The New York center was on the receiving end of a cross-ice Chris lifelong pivot isn’t accustomed to patrolling. Kreider pass. But just before the puck crossed the line, Rask flashed So on Wednesday, the Bruins assigned Studnicka to Providence. It may from right to left and got his glove in front of Zibanejad’s shot. not be a short-term demotion. “I didn’t recognize that until the puck hit my glove,” Rask said. “I thought it “Got injured, which is unfortunate,” Cassidy said. “Some of that was he was going to be a breakaway. Just stretched out and made that save. hasn’t played much on the walls. So there’s a little bit of a learning curve That’s one of those where you’ve got to get lucky in order to be good. In for him. We want to make sure we don’t put him in a bad spot. It’s just that instance, I got a little lucky.” that down the middle of the ice, we’re solid. So (right wing) is probably The Rangers are a rush team. To compound that, the Bruins’ the best opportunity for him here. We’re trying to do the best for him to defensemen regularly burped pucks off their sticks. The Rangers, prepare him. So that when he goes back into our lineup, he can be at his according to Natural Stat Trick, were expected to score 4.58 all-situations best or close to it for a young guy.” goals based on the quality and quantity of their chances. All they got Studnicka should practice and play right wing in Providence while were two, including one in dispute: a Kevin Rooney tuck that came after continuing to build up his body. Providence is scheduled to host Hartford Brendan Lemieux appeared to deflect Ryan Lindgren’s point shot with a on Thursday. high stick. The Athletic LOADED: 02.11.2021 “They get a break around the net, then they got going after that,” Cassidy said. “We didn’t respond very well to that tying goal. You’ve got to put those things behind you and keep playing. Tuukka was excellent. Did a real good job for us tonight.”

McAvoy triggers the winner

In overtime, McAvoy was staring at trouble. Pavel Buchnevich was steaming down the right wing with Bruins defenseman Adam Fox joining him on the rush. But McAvoy calmly held his ground between the two attackers. When Buchnevich tried to saucer the puck to Zibanejad, McAvoy sticked it out of the air and banked it off the glass and out of the zone.

Marchand tracked down the puck. After fooling goalie Alexandar Georgiev by faking to his backhand, Marchand snapped the forehand winner high blocker.

“Charlie makes a hell of a play on the last goal,” Cassidy said. “Breaks up a two-on-one. Has the presence of mind to get the puck up ahead to Marshy. At the end of the day, a real good play by our D.”

DeBrusk shoots, shoots, shoots 1183353 Buffalo Sabres speed. But a search for answers led Eichel to watch game footage from last season.

Eichel took note of what led to his success, and he compared those Jack Eichel ready to 'step up' when shorthanded Sabres' schedule tendencies to how he performed during Buffalo’s 4-4-2 start to this resumes season.

“I just want to get back to attacking the game,” Eichel said. “I think I Lance Lysowski Feb 10, 2021 started doing a little bit better those last two games against Jersey. … I'm really excited to get the season going again. I think I'm going to start to take off, hopefully. I think a little bit of a slow start for me. Not really where I want to be. But I feel like I've definitely taken advantage of these Jack Eichel hasn’t worn the captain’s ‘C’ on his chest since the Sabres two weeks in trying to prepare myself to have a successful next 46 played the New Jersey Devils in Buffalo on Jan. 31, a game that featured games.” 23 players that eventually landed on the 's Covid-19 protocol list. Eichel was exceptional in the final game before the pause, logging two assists and seven shots on goal in a 5-3 loss. He has only one even- Eichel didn’t need the symbolic letter Wednesday to show why he strength goal, but is the catalyst of a power play that entered Wednesday became the youngest captain in Sabres history before the 2018-19 ranked seventh in the NHL. The Sabres will lean on Eichel if their five season. forwards currently on the Covid-19 protocol list, including Hall, aren’t able “This is an opportunity, I think, as a leader to step up, and take on a to return in time for the next scheduled game. bigger role if we're missing guys,” said Eichel after practice at KeyBank During a 25-minute news conference Tuesday, Adams fielded questions Center. “You never know what's going to happen. So, just want to try and about the circumstances that led to the Sabres’ temporary shutdown. help impact this team as positively as I can and help us win games.” Following a sixth postponement in less than two weeks, the Sabres have The comment came after Eichel declined to blame the NHL or New 46 games to play between Monday and, as of now, their scheduled Jersey Devils for a weeklong shutdown that caused six Sabres games to regular-season finale in Pittsburgh on May 8. The physical and mental be postponed and landed nine Buffalo players on the Covid-19 protocol grind is exacerbated by the possibility of future Covid-19-related list. Coach Ralph Krueger is symptomatic after testing positive for Covid- absences or postponements. 19. Eichel is confronting his greatest challenge yet by rallying his teammates Eichel expressed concern for his coach and teammates, some of whom around one common goal: snapping a nine-year playoff drought amid a are also symptomatic. Since the Sabres’ pause began Feb. 2, the 24- global pandemic. year-old center acknowledged that he can’t help anyone overcome the virus, but he has maintained contact with his teammates. “I always feel better the more I'm playing,” Eichel said. “I mean, the more games we play, the more times on the ice, that's when I start to feel my "It’s something that’s directly affected the entire universe. It’s tough to best.” say and put the blame on someone," said Sabres center Jack Eichel. Buffalo News LOADED: 02.11.2021 It is unclear if Krueger or the nine players will be able to rejoin the Sabres in time for their next scheduled game Monday against the New York Islanders in Buffalo. Assistant coach Steve Smith ran a practice Wednesday that included only 14 skaters and three goalies.

The roster will likely be filled out with call-ups from Rochester, putting the Sabres at a competitive disadvantage in the East Division. Yet, Eichel struck an optimistic tone when describing the challenge ahead after practice Wednesday, the Sabres’ second on-ice session since returning to work.

“We’re just taking it as a great challenge,” Eichel said. “I think that’s the way to look at all the adversity thrown at you this season, whether it’s playing without key players because they’ve been affected by Covid or injuries. … I think that a situation like this has potential to bring us closer together as a group.”

Eichel wasn’t idle while Sabres team facilities were closed. Protocols forced Eichel to quarantine and undergo regular testing, a process that initially led to “anxiety” and “nerves” as he awaited results. But the three- time all-star used the unusual downtime to watch plenty of NHL games, which he described as “awkward,” given that he’s physically able to perform.

The pause also provided Eichel with time to reflect on his own play during the Sabres’ first 10 games. His 10-month offseason was extended a few extra days in January because of an upper-body injury that forced him to miss the start of training camp.

"Right now, the ice is a sanctuary for the Buffalo Sabres. It's a good thing they like it so much, because they're about to see a lot of it," writes Mike Harrington.

Eichel then ramped up to prepare to play heavy minutes alongside former Hart Trophy winner Taylor Hall on the Sabres’ top line, only to have the season come to an abrupt halt after the second game of a back- to-back against New Jersey on Jan. 31.

Across 10 games, Eichel totaled a team-high 11 assists, including two goals, while averaging 21:22 of ice time. The lack of goal scoring irked Eichel. He’s shooting 5.1% after converting on 15.9% of his shots during a career-best 36 goal season in 2019-20. The play-making ability was still on powerful display. So was his elite on-ice vision and dynamic 1183354 Buffalo Sabres Okposo said. "So it's going to be a fun challenge for us. It's going to be something that we're not used to, something that is going to be different, but we love to play, we love to compete. That's why we do what we do.

Mike Harrington: Sabres know lots of hockey is coming on their daunting "And sure, it's going to be hard on us mentally, it's going to be hard on schedule the bodies. But I'm really looking forward to just playing games and see where we stack up in this division."

Mike Harrington "Kevyn Adams was in full going-forward mode Tuesday and you get it. Blaming the NHL or the New Jersey Devils isn't going to do anybody any good," writes Mike Harrington.

A News staffer since 1987, I'm a Baseball Hall of Fame voter, a 2013 The Sabres aren't going to be dealing with a lot of onerous travel in the inductee into the Buffalo Baseball HOF and the Buffalo chapter chair of East Division, so that's a huge plus. But they're not the deepest team, the Professional Hockey Writers Association. And I insist only Chicago & either. The goaltending has to hold up. And, of course, they can't have a New York can come close to Buffalo pizza. run of injuries or more Covid-19 issues.

Right now, the ice is a sanctuary for the Buffalo Sabres. It's a good thing For now, players have simply been stuck at home, except when they they like it so much, because they're about to see a lot of it. come to the rink for their daily tests and, finally, for practice. There's been a lot of TV time and there's plenty of hockey on to watch. Sitting in the stands, you can see the smiles of players at practice the last two days. The hooting and hollering level picked up noticeably on So, for the Sabres, it feels a lot like the summer when 24 teams were in Wednesday, too. That initial hesitation – and maybe even fear – that was the Toronto and Edmonton bubbles and they were one of the seven who absolutely lingering on Tuesday's first day back seemed to be put aside. were left out.

Assistant coach Steve Smith let the boys play. There was full-out shinny "Definitely watched a lot of hockey, definitely bringing the dog for little at the start of practice – with a puck in play at each end of the ice – walks," Miller said. "Trying to keep busy, but I think it's a little weird again followed by a 5-on-5 scrimmage and some 3-on-3 work in the short seeing all the hockey going on and not playing. But it'll come soon. And space at one end of the rink. then it'll come quick."

It's a good way for Smith, who is running practice in Ralph Krueger's Buffalo News LOADED: 02.11.2021 absence, to get the club's conditioning back up to snuff quickly. The players have been isolated at home for over a week in the middle of their season, with no skating at all.

And if all systems are go and the team resumes its season here Monday against the New York Islanders, it will mean 46 games from Feb. 15 to May 8.

"It’s something that’s directly affected the entire universe. It’s tough to say and put the blame on someone," said Sabres center Jack Eichel.

There are sprints. And then there is this upcoming craziness.

But you're not going to hear any complaints. Ask defenseman Colin Miller about it. You had to love what he said.

"I mean, we're hockey players. We like playing hockey," Miller said in such a simple answer that meant so much. "And I think that's what we're here to do. Right? So every team is going to be going through the same thing. You've just got to handle it the best we can, come to the rink trying to get your recovery when you can and be ready to play."

When you're a hockey player, there's no such thing as load management. It has become a big deal in the NBA, with stars such as Carmelo Anthony and Kawhi Leonard turning it into a way of life and periodically sitting out games to keep their bodies fresh.

But you seriously wonder how the Sabres and other teams are going to do this.

Eichel didn’t need the symbolic "C" on his chest Wednesday to show why he became the youngest captain in Sabres history before the 2018-19 season.

"This is what you prepare all summer for. This is what makes being a competitor," said captain Jack Eichel, who stood tall as the leader of this group during his impressive video call with reporters Wednesday. "I don't personally believe in the load management part of things. Obviously you get fatigue, but that's just part of it. ... For me, I always feel better the more I'm playing. The more games we play, the more times on the ice, that's when I start to feel my best.

"I think that it's going to be a great opportunity for us, and I look at it as an awesome challenge. It's obviously a really tight division with a lot of good hockey teams, and we're going to play them it seems like almost every night, so it's going to be great. I think the more games, the merrier."

Veteran Kyle Okposo said life is week to week right now. Hope he hasn't looked too far ahead. I count seven weeks ahead where there are four or five games scheduled.

"I think if you asked any pro athlete, or any athlete for that matter, if would you rather play or practice, I think 100% of them would say play," 1183355 Buffalo Sabres the things that happened. I think that the league is going to do that and teams are going to do that.”

Buffalo News LOADED: 02.11.2021 With eye toward future, Sabres not blaming NHL or Devils for Covid pause

Lance Lysowski Feb 10, 2021

There were no signs of anger when Jack Eichel, Kyle Okposo and Colin Miller spoke to the media Wednesday for the first time since the Buffalo Sabres resumed practice following a weeklong pause.

None of the three expressed concern about the National Hockey League’s protocols while playing a 56-game season during the Covid-19 pandemic. There weren’t any harsh words for the New Jersey Devils, either. Like General Manager Kevyn Adams on Tuesday, the three veteran Sabres players reminded the media that the NHL, much like governing bodies across the globe, is adjusting its efforts to prevent the virus from spreading.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced Wednesday that the state's large arenas would be permitted to again host events starting Feb. 23.

“This is obviously unchartered territory and something we haven’t been through, so at times maybe we’re learning as we go,” said Eichel, the Sabres’ 24-year-old center and third-year captain. “But this is just part of it. We aren’t the only ones dealing with Covid in terms of the NHL. It’s something that’s directly affected the entire universe. It’s tough to say and put the blame on someone. I don’t think there’s really anyone to blame.”

The Sabres’ pause officially ended Tuesday, one week after Taylor Hall and Rasmus Ristolainen became the first Buffalo players added to the Covid protocol list. Nine players are now in the protocol and coach Ralph Krueger is symptomatic after testing positive for Covid-19.

The trouble began when the Devils came to Buffalo for back-to-back games Jan. 30-31. New Jersey placed someone on the protocol list before each of the two games, yet the NHL decided to move forward with the Sabres homestand. Twenty-four players on the two teams have since been impacted, some of whom are symptomatic.

TSN’s Bob McKenzie reported that Sabres players expressed concern to the NHL Players’ Association before the game Jan. 31. After all, the NHL does not reveal why a player has been placed on the protocol list.

On the other hand, Miller, a 28-year-old defenseman, said Wednesday that the players’ focus was to win the game against the Devils: “Other people are going to make those calls; those are above us.”

“It’s a tough thing, it’s hard,” said Okposo, a 32-year-old winger. “The league and the Devils are trying to pass the information on to everybody to be safe, and unfortunately, the protocols were in place and everybody followed them and did what they were supposed to do. Unfortunately, the situation hadn’t really arose yet through the league, so the league really didn’t know what to do. And now I think that things are evolving, and protocols are going to evolve and to make us safer. …

“Of course, they’re going to try to look out for our safety, that’s first and foremost. But if you don’t have the information in hand and you don’t have if X happens, then Y’s going to happen, you just have to make the best decisions that you can. I think that the league is doing that, that the Devils did that.”

Six Sabres games have been postponed since their season was paused Jan. 2, including two originally scheduled this week against the Washington Capitals in KeyBank Center. Buffalo’s next scheduled game is Monday at home against the New York Islanders.

It’s unclear when Krueger or any of the nine unavailable players will rejoin the team. Assistant coach Steve Smith ran a practice Wednesday in which only 14 skaters and three goalies were on the ice.

The Sabres now have 46 games to play between Monday and their scheduled regular-season finale May 8.

“Everybody’s doing the best that they can do with the information provided,” said Okposo. “As everybody is forthcoming with the information that they have in hand, then we’re all going to get through this together. … And we just have to try to move forward and learn from 1183356 Buffalo Sabres Alumni Arena on the campus of the University at Buffalo, but it has a capacity of about 6,800.

The decision would eventually affect Sahlen Field, the home of the Cuomo decision on reopening large arenas could be good news for Buffalo Bisons. The team's schedule has not been set, but could begin Sabres play as early as April.

The guidelines are for any arenas or stadiums for any kind of event, Keith McShea , Mike Harrington Feb 10, 2021 sports, concerts or other performances.

The overall guidelines include:

The Buffalo Bills' home playoff wins weren't just big for Western New • Limited attendance of 10% of capacity York, they provided a path for venues to reopen across the state. • Negative PCR tests required within 72 hours of event

That could be good news for the Buffalo Sabres and the team's fans – • Social distancing, masks and temperature checks are required but don't bust out your favorite jersey and start lining up at the foot of Washington Street just yet. • Mandatory assigned, socially distanced seating

Citing what he called the "unparalleled success" of fans attending Bills "This hits the balance of a safe reopening," Cuomo said. playoff games in January, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced Wednesday that the state's large arenas would be permitted to again Cuomo said Bills Stadium was the only football stadium to open for fans host events starting Feb. 23. "with testing."

Venues that seat 10,000 or more people will be able to reopen to 10% of "If you are negative, you are negative," Cuomo said. "So the testing is the their capacity, given that they meet state guidelines, including testing of key. ... A PCR test is as safe as you can get." all attendees. Cuomo said that the NBA's Nets will host a game Feb. 23 "The Buffalo Bills demonstration program ... was an unparalleled against the Sacramento Kings at the . success," Cuomo said during a video briefing Wednesday afternoon from "Using this model they've been approved to do that," the governor said. Albany. "Seven thousand people in a stadium, everyone tested. "Anyone else who is interested should let us know."

"We are going to now extend the Buffalo Bills example. Any large Buffalo News LOADED: 02.11.2021 stadium or arena ... can open on Feb. 23."

That would seem to include KeyBank Center, the home of the Sabres. With a capacity of more than 19,000 for hockey games, close to 2,000 fans would be allowed to watch games.

The arena would be able to seat no fans on the bench side of the building in the 100 level because the glass has been taken out from behind the benches due to new NHL Covid protocols.

There would be 18 home games after the Feb. 23 date. The first one would be Feb. 25.

But in a statement posted Wednesday afternoon on Twitter, the Sabres did not quite throw open the arena doors and yell, "Welcome back!"

"Gov. Cuomo's announcement providing the opportunity to allow Sabres' fans back to KeyBank Center is a great step forward. We continue to work closely with the New York State and Erie County Departments of Health to ensure a safe, healthy, and fan-friendly environment to enjoy Sabres hockey. Ticketing information and game-day protocols will be announced as they become available."

The Sabres would have to determine which season ticket holders could attend and what it will do about allowing fans in luxury suites. The organization has to determine ticket and concession policies, with many arenas and stadiums that have opened to fans going mobile and cashless in those areas to cut down on contact points.

It has to match testing with ticketed fans, a chore that was not too arduous for a single Bills playoff game on a weekend but one that could be difficult for an NHL schedule that could have up to four home games in a week.

The team also could opt to only allow fans into the building for certain games, perhaps those on weekends or against marquee opponents in their division.

Still, Sabres winger Kyle Okposo said Wednesday he welcomes the idea of having fans back in the building.

"It's definitely something that has been missing," he said, adding: "Everybody's just trying to do the best with the information that they have, including Gov. Cuomo. ... I know that my kids will be pretty thrilled and hopefully they can come to a game, too."

The Sabres have not played since their season was put on pause last week following a Covid-19 outbreak.

KeyBank Center appears to be the only sports venue locally that would be immediately affected by the new guidelines. The next largest arena that would normally be hosting sporting events at this time of year is 1183357 Buffalo Sabres

West Seneca native Sean Malone records first NHL point with Nashville

Lance Lysowski Feb 10, 2021 Updated 17 hrs ago 0

Sean Malone went almost four years between skating in a National Hockey League game.

The 25-year-old West Seneca native made his return memorable Tuesday night, recording his first career NHL point by assisting on the Nashville Predators' only goal during a 6-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Malone, a forward drafted in the sixth round by the Buffalo Sabres in 2013, also had one shot on goal and two penalty minutes while skating 10:38 for Nashville. His previous NHL game was with the Sabres on April 8, 2017, a 3-0 loss at Florida in which he logged 12:12 of ice time.

Malone then spent three seasons with the Sabres' American Hockey League affiliate, the , where he overcame a disappointing 2018-19 season to have an outstanding final year with Buffalo's organization.

Last season, Malone totaled 12 goals with 18 assists for a career-high 30 points while playing on an AHL contract with Rochester. The performance earned him an NHL contract with Nashville this summer.

Malone attended and is expected to be an important depth player for the Predators during this shortened season.

Buffalo News LOADED: 02.11.2021 1183358 Buffalo Sabres For now, Buffalo will have to be patient and hope that the outbreak subsides in short order. But barring an extension of the May 8 conclusion date for the league, it seems highly unlikely that all teams will get to the Travis Yost's Sabre Metrics: Will 56 games happen this season? It 56-game threshold. And to that end, point percentage – or an insanely doesn't look good clustered schedule, where teams are playing games just about every day down the stretch – will dictate a team’s finish in the standings.

Buffalo News LOADED: 02.11.2021 Travis Yost

Ayear ago, the National Hockey League was leading from the front, engineering a safe and effective two-city bubble format to conclude the 2019-20 season.

It feels like 10 years ago.

The league has been rocked by Covid-19 outbreaks seemingly everywhere, undoubtedly a byproduct of the abandoned bubble format and frequent team travel during this truncated 56-game schedule.

The unknown of this season was an accepted fate by both the league and the players’ association – organizations have prepared for scheduling changes, the possibility of teams playing less than 56 games (and using point percentage to dictate standings placement), and the broader risk of a singular Covid-19 case acting as the lynchpin for outbreaks.

At this point, it feels inevitable that teams won’t make it to the 56-game threshold. Whereas the Scotia North division has been kept relatively insulated from Covid-19 outbreaks, the other three newly crafted divisions cannot say the same. Scheduling compression was already being felt as recently as a week ago, and that was before another wave of positive tests hit the league.

Front and center for the league’s scheduling problems? The Buffalo Sabres. After playing a pair of games against the New Jersey Devils to close out January, the Devils were forced to shut their facilities after some players were symptomatic and subsequently tested positive. The league is receiving harsh criticism over the handling of the Devils during this period, in large part because it appears individuals from the Devils organization somehow transmitted the virus to individuals of the Sabres organization.

Since that pair of games, at least nine players and head coach Ralph Krueger have been added to the Covid-19 list. And on Feb. 8, the league added both on-ice officials from the same game to the Covid-19 list.

There is obviously concern about what this means for the season going forward. We are operating under a lot of inference right now, but on-ice transmission of Covid-19 would fundamentally change the league’s protocol going forward. Even to the extent that it happened away from the ice, it calls into question how effective league protocol is right now.

The second problem is obvious. How on Earth will the Sabres – and any number of teams around the league – make up these games? When the truncated 56-game schedule was announced, most teams were expected to play a little more than once every two days through May 8, which already left little room for error.

Consider the Sabres for just a moment. During a normal season, teams are expected to play a game every 2.25 days, and that’s generally with a scheduling break somewhere around midseason. To start this season, the plan was for teams to play a game every 2.08 days, which is about 7% compressed.

Where are we now?

By having the apparent misfortune of playing the Devils at the wrong time, the Sabres have seen their schedule compressed already by 20% relative to a normal 82-game season, and 13% relative to where the league expected them to come Feb. 15. This, of course, assumes that the Sabres will return to action on Feb. 15 to take on the New York Islanders.

Considering the Sabres as recently as Monday were adding players to the Covid-19 list, that seems like a coin flip at best right now. And all of this assumes that the Sabres will not run into another outbreak, be it in their own clubhouse or in an opponent clubhouse, an important component considering that the league has created cluster scheduling (multiple games against the same opponent) to minimize risk. 1183359 Buffalo Sabres on the ice and perform to the best of their ability. So, we have to make sure that everybody is doing their part and checking in on each other. Everybody’s trying to get through this pandemic.”

Back at practice, Sabres players reflect on the impact of their recent The phone calls have included coach Ralph Krueger, who is symptomatic shutdown with COVID-19.

“I spoke with him a few times, actually,” Eichel said. “You don’t want to By John Vogl Feb 10, 2021 see your coach and someone who’s so valuable to our team and our environment here be out and be dealing with COVID, but you know he’s going to make a great recovery.”

BUFFALO, N.Y. – The pain and misery of COVID-19 is still very real for a In the meantime, the 17 cleared Sabres are moving toward Monday’s handful of Sabres. While no one can reverse the chain of events that game against the Islanders. They had their second straight day of landed nine players in the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol, the hockey world practice Wednesday, a light-hearted affair that featured between-the-legs can benefit from them going through it. passes and spin-o-ramas during the two-on-two drills.

That’s what Buffalo hopes. “This is what we love to do,” Eichel said. “We love to come to the rink, so it’s been a good mood in the room.” “This is still a learning experience for all of us, the league and every team and players,” Sabres captain Jack Eichel said Wednesday. “This is There could be high spirits in the stands soon. New York Gov. Andrew obviously uncharted territory and something that we haven’t been Cuomo has announced that arenas can open at 10 percent capacity through. At times, maybe we’re learning as we go.” beginning Feb. 23. That would be 1,907 fans for KeyBank Center.

The Sabres, Devils and others involved in their infamous two-game “Gov. Cuomo’s announcement providing the opportunity to allow Sabres series have learned the hard way. So did the NHL. fans back to KeyBank Center is a great step forward,” the Sabres said in a statement. “We continue to work closely with the New York State and “The league’s in a really tough spot,” forward Kyle Okposo said in Erie County Departments of Health to ensure a safe, healthy and fan- KeyBank Center. “The teams are in a really tough spot. Everybody is. friendly environment to enjoy Sabres hockey. Ticketing information and “Nobody knows, ‘Hey, this virus is going to do this if this happens.’ game-day safety protocols will be announced as they become available.” Nobody does. So, all we can do is share as much information as we can PIC.TWITTER.COM/O45NP6Q7D9 and put a plan in place and be able to react.” — JOHN VOGL (@BUFFALOVOGL) FEBRUARY 10, 2021 It’s become clear that sharing information leads to a better plan. Failing to share leads to shutdowns. Season-ticket holders will undoubtedly get the first chance at tickets. Anyone attending games would need a negative PCR test within 72 The Devils’ Twitter followers learned before puck drop Jan. 31 that Kyle hours of the event. Face coverings and temperature checks would be Palmieri was entering COVID-19 protocols after playing Jan. 30. Sabres required. The assigned seating would be socially distanced. general manager Kevyn Adams said he didn’t know and neither did the organization. “Live sports and entertainment have long been engrained in the fabric of New York, and the inability to hold events has only added to the isolation They apparently weren’t entitled to that information despite sharing the we have all felt at the hands of this virus,” Cuomo said. “Thankfully, our ice with Palmieri. pilot program to reopen Buffalo Bills games to fans was an unparalleled “The protocols were in place and everybody followed them and did what success and now we are taking that model and expanding it to other they were supposed to do,” Okposo said. “But unfortunately, the situation large venues across the state.” hadn’t really arose yet throughout the league, so the league didn’t know The Sabres are scheduled to play 18 home games after Feb. 23. what to do. “It’s definitely something that has been missing. We love having our fans “Now I think things are evolving and protocols are going to evolve to in the building,” Okposo said. “My kids will be pretty thrilled and hopefully make us safer.” they can come to a game, too.” Whenever the NHL announces a COVID-related shutdown, it uses the They can if the NHL learns from its previous shutdowns, especially the phrase an “abundance of caution.” It appeared that phrase was absent ones featuring the Devils and Sabres. when the Sabres faced an infected Devils team, which resulted in 24 players and two linesmen entering protocols. Additionally, 12 games “There’s a little bit of anxiety at the beginning of the situation when you’re were postponed. not sure who it’s going to affect and how it’s going to affect them,” Eichel said. “Those first few days of isolation with the testing and everything “Of course they’re going to try and look out for our safety,” Okposo said. else that we were going through, yeah there was a little bit of nerves. “That’s first and foremost. But if you don’t have the information at hand Obviously, you don’t want to get a positive result and have to deal with and you don’t know, ‘OK, if X happens, then Y is going to happen,’ then that circumstance. you just have to make the best decisions that you can. “But this is just part of it. We’re not the only ones dealing with COVID in “I think the league is doing that. I think the Devils did that. So, we’re just terms of the NHL. It’s something that’s directly affecting the entire trying to move forward and hopefully they use that information correctly.” universe. It’s tough to say and put the blame on someone. I don’t think For the NHL to finish this season, it’s imperative that they use that info. that there’s anyone to really blame.” Otherwise, more players and personnel will feel the effects that are The Athletic LOADED: 02.11.2021 lingering in Buffalo.

“You don’t want to see guys dealing with some of the symptoms and things that they’re dealing with,” Eichel said. “I know there’s not a lot you can do in terms of their health but drop some stuff at their house, supplies, just to make things easier. It’s been checking in, seeing how guys are feeling.”

That includes mentally. Isolation can be hard.

“I just want to make sure everybody’s doing OK in that aspect,” Okposo said. “The group of guys that are here have done a very good job of checking in with everybody. We’ve been interacting with each other as much as we can on a personal level.

“We’re human beings, first and foremost. If somebody’s not doing well mentally, there’s no possible way that they’re going to be able to go out 1183360 Calgary Flames “He anticipates really, really well, in terms of what is going on with the play, and he positions himself accordingly so he never looks like he is out of control,” Ward said. “And the other thing about him is he’s always Return to Rogers Arena a ‘business trip’ for Flames goalie Markstrom calm. He gives your team a lot of quiet confidence from the back-end, even though he is a fiery competitor. And that translates into our whole team.

Wes Gilbertson “What he’s done since he’s been here has been everything that we’ve asked.”

ICE CHIPS: Flames prospect Glenn Gawdin has been promoted from the Jacob Markstrom is known for his calm and cool in the crease. minors to the taxi squad. The 23-year-old Gawdin was an American Nothing seems to spike his heart rate any. Hockey League all-star last season and is up next on the depth chart at centre. So while the standard just-another-game spiel is often a bunch of bologna, you get the feeling this particular cat — now tending twine for Calgary Sun: LOADED: 02.11.2021 the Calgary Flames — will be as even-keel as ever in his return to Rogers Arena in Vancouver, his home digs for the previous seven seasons.

“It’s a bit of a special thing when you go back and play your first game in the arena where you spent so many years as a home team player,” said Calgary’s coach, Geoff Ward, as the Flames headed to Vancouver for back-to-back-to-back clashes against the Canucks. “But at the same point in time, he’s played enough games in the league that I don’t think it’s going alter his approach or alter the way he plays.

“You know, it may be real comfortable for him. And that may be a positive thing for us.”

Markstrom, signed this fall to a six-year, US$36-million contract as the best backstop on the free-agent market, has so far been a major positive for the Flames.

The 31-year-old owns a 6-3-1 record in the early stages of this season. He pitched a shutout against the Canucks in Calgary’s home-opener in mid-January and got the best of his former buddies again two nights later.

He’ll be one of the visitors now as the Flames set up in Vancouver for three straight, starting with Thursday’s 8 p.m. MT matchup (Sportsnet West/Sportsnet 960 The Fan).

Markstrom insisted this is “a business trip,” especially true since the pandemic protocols will prevent him from meeting up with any of his friends in his old hometown.

He won’t have to wonder about how the fans will react. Rogers Arena will be empty.

“I’m excited. It’s going to be fun,” Markstrom said prior to Wednesday’s flight from Calgary to Vancouver. “A little special, but I feel like the first game we played here was the weirdest one. It’s going to be tough to beat that. Now, we’re a bit into the season and you get used to the game and being here and playing for the Flames.

“It would have been business-like either way, we go there to play for two points,” he added later. “But I think, for sure, it would have been way more special and different with fans in the building. That’s changing things a little bit. But that’s been my home rink for a long time and to go back there, I’m excited.”

The Flames are coming off back-to-back victories and seem to finally be finding some consistency in their game.

The Canucks, on the other hand, have dropped five in a row.

Superstar-in-the-making Quinn Hughes was probably thinking of Markstrom and his former defence partner Chris Tanev — another dude now donning the Flaming C — when he made this remark after Monday’s latest setback in Toronto: “We have a lot of new pieces. We lost some pretty good players from last year, and we’re just trying to put it all together.”

Their old pal, Markstrom, will try to prolong the misery.

He’s so far been a hit at the Saddledome, not only because of his puck- stopping prowess but thanks to his fit in a locker-room that is stocked with fellow Swedes.

Once or twice each night, the ex-Canucks stalwart seems to make a really difficult stop look surprisingly routine. Tuesday’s pad save on Mark Scheifele is the latest example. 1183361 Calgary Flames The more you watch Tanev, the more you appreciate his skating and puck-moving abilities and his knack for almost always being in the right spot.

Tanev made name for himself in Vancouver, now returns in Flaming C You can see what former teammate Kevin Bieksa was talking about when he quipped during the 2011 Stanley Cup final, “He could have played the game with a cigarette in his mouth, he’s so calm and cool out Wes Gilbertson there.”

It’s likely not a total coincidence that Tanev’s new partner, Noah Hanifin, is playing arguably the best hockey of his career. Hanifin, 24, will tell you Dave Gagner had, way back when, coached Chris Tanev on a spring as much. inline squad. “He just quietly does his job and makes everyone around him better,” He was a talented kid, a trustworthy defender even on wheels, but he said Tanev’s college bench boss, Wayne Wilson. “I’m sure when the was just a little squirt, so tiny that he looked like a little brother while coaches watch the tape, they probably just notice so many small things tagging along with his teammates. about his game that make you go, ‘Wow, great play there. That was Fast-forward several years … It’s 2010 and Gagner, after a lengthy NHL great, a real good pass … ’ ” career of his own, is now working in player development for the That seems to be a recurring theme as you trace the trail of Tanev. Vancouver Canucks. “I know (former Canucks coach) Alain Vigneault, he was just amazed The Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) Tigers are on the tube and there were no scoring chances when he was on the ice,” Gagner unbeknownst to his former roller hockey skipper, the once-wee Tanev recalled. has sprouted. Tanev’s countables in a dozen appearances in the Flaming C include It’s your story, Dave, you take it from here … one goal — a bouncer from inside his own blue-line — and a pair of “I was watching the NCAA tournament on TV and I knew we had scouts assists. He has a plus-4 rating, a team-high 24 blocked shots and has there present at the game,” recalled Gagner, who skated 16 seasons in been on the ice for only five goals against at even-strength. The Show and had also worked with this youngster in the winter months Thing is, with a shutdown sort, the numbers never tell the entire story. in the minor-hockey ranks. “I saw Chris score a goal and I’m thinking, This comment from Keith McCambridge, who helped tutor Tanev in his ‘Chris Tanev?!? That’s weird. This kid is 6-foot-2.’ So I looked on the first pro campaign as an assistant coach with the AHL’s Manitoba Moose, bench and sure enough, it’s the same head but it was on a bigger body. best sums up the appeal of the under-rated defenceman. “I remembered that he was always smart and fearless. As a smaller “He does all the non-highlight things that might go unnoticed by some defenceman, he would go to the corner and just get pasted to make a people — the little things like stick detail, body positioning, gap control, play. It was one of those things where he was just a late grower, but he good first passes,” said McCambridge, who was drafted by the Flames always had high-end hockey sense, loved to defend and would do back in 1994, has gobs of experience as both a skater and a skipper in anything to stop the best players on the other team. And he’d do it the minors and is now an associate coach for the WHL’s Vancouver quietly. Everybody loved being on Chris’ team because he was just a Giants. “The one thing that I’ve learned over the years is elite NHL competitor that didn’t bug anybody. He was just a very, very nice and players do simple better than anybody else. He does all of those things. humble young man. And those little things, as coaches know, give your team a chance to play “So I called one of our scouts I knew was at the game and I said, ‘Can in the offensive zone and to win hockey games.” you watch this kid and do a report on him?’ And he liked him, too.” The Canucks, currently allowing a cringe-worthy 3.94 goals per game, More of Vancouver’s talent-hounds were soon involved. certainly seem to miss both Tanev and Markstrom, who spent a combined 17 seasons with the organization before crossing enemy lines And there was growing consensus — this Tanev kid, never on the radar to sign in Calgary. to be drafted but now skating on RIT’s top pairing as an NCAA rookie, could be a gem. To appreciate what Thursday’s return must mean to Tanev, it helps to understand how the Toronto-raised rock wound up in Vancouver in the “So we ended up pitching Chris and his dad at the end of the season,” first place. said Gagner, who has since switched to the agent side of the business. “He was only a freshman but I knew other teams were interested in him With all due respect to the Tigers, Rochester Institute of Technology is as well, so we convinced him to sign in Vancouver at the time. Our whole not exactly a factory for future NHLers. group did. And the rest is history, as they say.” Tanev, in fact, was the first of two alums to ascend to the highest level. Tanev would spend a decade with the Canucks organization, the bulk of “People always say, ‘Whoa, how’d you get him?’ ” said Wilson, now in his it at the big-league level. 22nd season as RIT’s head coach. “We didn’t think he was going to be On Thursday, the 31-year-old blue-liner — signed this fall by the Calgary that good. We thought he was going to be good, but never one-and-done Flames and so far making a heck of an impression with his new club — and off to the NHL. Never dreamed of it.” will for the first time return to Rogers Arena in Vancouver as one of the Calgary Flames defenceman Chris Tanev celebrates his second-period bad guys (8 p.m. MT, Sportsnet West/Sportsnet 960 The Fan). goal against the Winnipeg Jets at Bell MTS Place in Winnipeg on The Flames will stay on the West Coast for three straight dates. This is Monday, Feb. 1, 2021. also a homecoming-of-sorts for star netminder Jacob Markstrom and The Tigers were initially badgered by Rick Cornacchia — then Tanev’s right-winger Josh Leivo. Thanks to back-to-back wins in Calgary last coach with the Junior A-level Markham Waxers — to take a gander at a month, they are currently undefeated against their old buddies. dude who’d grown a foot over a one-year span prior to high-school “Going to the rink is going to be a little different — being on the visitors’ graduation. side of the arena,” Tanev said prior to Wednesday’s afternoon flight to his Wilson and Co. trusted Cornacchia’s wisdom. He had, after all, guided old stomping grounds. “I think early on it’s obviously going to be a little Eric Lindros and the Oshawa Generals to both an OHL championship emotional. I’m going to see a lot of faces that I’ve grown to like around and Memorial Cup crown in 1990 and later helmed Team Canada at the the arena for quite some time. But as the game progresses, I think it’s world juniors. going to become just another game where we’re trying to win.” And they trusted that he wanted the best for RIT. His son was then There were some groans when the Flames signed Tanev to a four-year, skating as a forward for the Tigers. US$18-million deal in free agency — the critics argued that is too much term for a 30-something — but the new guy in No. 8 has proved so far to “If people were to watch the Flames and it’s just one game, you’re not be a superb addition in a second-pairing role. going to come away and say, ‘Wow, look at him.’ He’s not Johnny Gaudreau,” Wilson said of Tanev. “We liked him but only because we got tipped off and we could really zero in on him a little bit more. So that’s how we kind of stumbled into him.”

Cornacchia was right about this kid.

He had, however, been wrong before. Tanev had once attended a spring camp with the Waxers but the team said no thanks to a guy the coach remembers as about 5-foot-8 and “maybe a-buck-forty.” They had to swing a trade to bring him back.

Tanev’s progress was perhaps stalled as he waited for that growth spurt — he played high-school hockey when he couldn’t catch on with a AAA team — but he may also owe some of his success to what he learned as a runt rearguard.

“His positional play is unbelievable,” Cornacchia praised. “As you can see now, he doesn’t get himself in trouble very much, meaning that he’s in the right position and the right spot. And he doesn’t take a lot of penalties because of his footwork and also his positioning.

“When you’re small, you have to develop your hockey IQ and you have to make sure that you have good positioning against bigger, stronger kids so you don’t get beat. So that’s something that he’s developed over time. The other thing you’ve probably noticed is he has no panic point. He doesn’t panic with the puck. He’s very calm and makes the right decision 99% of the time.”

McCambridge remembers his first glimpse of a just-signed Tanev at Vancouver’s summer development camp in 2010. He recalls being impressed with his awareness, his anticipation, his competitive drive in drills and scrimmages.

“Whenever you see a player that has that burning desire, that burning fire inside him … You can’t teach that. The athlete either has that or doesn’t,” McCambridge said. “And you could just tell from Chris that he loved playing hockey. You could tell he loved every part of it. And from my experience over the years coaching, if the athlete loves what they’re doing, they’ll usually find a way to make it. And he did.”

On Thursday, he makes his way back to Rogers Arena.

Over the decade he called that his home rink, Tanev totalled 547 appearances in Canucks silks.

It’s a good thing Gagner turned on the tube that day.

“He’s just reliable. He’s quietly efficient every day. You just don’t have to worry about him,” Gagner said of Tanev. “The best thing about coaching Chris is you know what you’re going to get out of him every day. That’s what coaches want, you know? You look at your lineup and you look at a guy and if you’re not sure what you’re going to get, then it’s tough to play them. But Chris is the same way every day. His reliability is what I think stands out to me. He’s just solid, and he does it quietly. You don’t even know he’s around. He just goes about his business. He’s really a coach’s dream.”

Calgary Sun: LOADED: 02.11.2021 1183362 Chicago Blackhawks

Lucas Wallmark removed from the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol list, boosting the Chicago Blackhawks’ depth

By CHICAGO TRIBUNE STAFF CHICAGO TRIBUNE |FEB 10, 2021 AT 7:42 PM

The Chicago Blackhawks’ depth got a boost Wednesday as forward Lucas Wallmark was removed from the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol list, the team announced.

Wallmark was added to the list Jan. 27. Forward Ryan Carpenter is the only Blackhawk still in the league’s COVID-19 protocol; Adam Boqvist and Alex DeBrincat were placed on the unavailable list Jan. 25 before being removed recently.

Wallmark has three assists in five games this season.

The Hawks have not had any games postponed because of coronavirus safety measures, but the team did cancel practice Jan. 30.

Chicago Tribune LOADED: 02.11.2021 1183363 Chicago Blackhawks percentage, but he finished fourth in the Calder voting behind Auston Matthews, Patrik Laine and Zach Werenski.

Still, this 2021 class — as long as Lafreniere continues to underperform Kevin Lankinen for Calder Trophy? Blackhawks goalie has a legitimate — doesn’t feature anyone like Matthews. chance And Lankinen’s out-of-the-blue emergence adds a storybook narrative to Most of the NHL’s projected top rookies have underperformed this his Calder campaign that Murray, who won 15 playoff games and the season. Lankinen, meanwhile, has gone 5-1-3 with a .933 save Stanley Cup the year before his official ‘‘rookie’’ season, already had percentage, quickly scaling the leaderboard. expended.

With every passing start, Lankinen’s candidacy looks better and better.

By Ben Pope Feb 10, 2021, 3:09pm CST Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 02.11.2021

At No. 1, there’s Lightning stalwart Andrei Vasilevskiy.

At No. 2, there’s Blackhawks rookie Kevin Lankinen.

That’s how the NHL goaltending leaders stand in terms of Goals Saved Above Average, which calculates the difference between how many goals a goalie has allowed and how many a league-average goalie would have allowed against the same number of shots.

That’s remarkable company for Lankinen, who arguably has become the NHL’s biggest breakout star of 2021. If he maintains this level of performance, he has a legitimate chance to win the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s rookie of the year.

Lankinen, 25, has run away with the Hawks’ No. 1 goalie job, starting nine of their last 11 games and recording a 5-1-3 record and a .933 save percentage.

He ranks first in the NHL in goaltending Point Shares — Hockey Reference’s stat that measures individual contributions toward team victories — second in the aforementioned Goals Saved Above Average and fifth in save percentage.

That makes him one of the NHL’s best goalies through the first quarter of the season. Only Vasilevskiy and the Ducks’ John Gibson are even close in Point Shares, and the Avalanche’s Philipp Grubauer — ranked third in Goals Saved Above Average — is nearly two goals saved behind Lankinen. (Lankinen, meanwhile, is .09 goals saved behind Vasilevskiy for first.)

Most impressive is that Lankinen’s success hasn’t startled him at all. His innate calmness and self-confidence, combined with the support of the Hawks’ team leaders, make him come across like a leader himself.

‘‘We’ve played a lot of hockey against really good teams here,’’ Lankinen said shortly after saving 34 of 35 shots in the Hawks’ 2-1 overtime victory Tuesday against the Stars. ‘‘We’ve still got a lot of young players who are just going to get better from here.

‘‘Gaining confidence every single day, and every experience is a new one. We’re on the right path, and we’ve just got to keep working hard because we’re a hard-working team.’’

Understandably nowhere to be found on the season-opening odds list to win the Calder Trophy, Lankinen has surged to sixth on the leaderboard at 10-1, according to Sports Betting Dime.

The opening month wasn’t particularly good for rookies in general, helping Lankinen’s case. Only the Wild’s Kirill Kaprizov has lived up to expectations among the projected top contenders, and his nine points in 11 games aren’t earth-shattering. The Rangers’ Alexis Lafreniere has one point in 11 games (Lankinen, who earned an assist Tuesday, has as many points as he does), and the Senators’ Tim Stutzle has struggled defensively despite his six points.

Hawks forward Pius Suter (eight points) ranks second to Kaprizov in rookie scoring, emphasizing the uninspiring nature of the Calder race. That opens the door for a goalie such as Lankinen to vie for the trophy, which a goalie hasn’t won since Steve Mason in 2009.

The Blue Jackets’ Elvis Merzlikins and the Devils’ Mackenzie Blackwood finished fifth and sixth, respectively, last season, but neither boasted the combination of big workload and results that Lankinen has to date. Merzlikins had a .923 save percentage but started fewer than half his team’s games. Blackwood was the Devils’ clear No. 1 but posted only a .915 save percentage.

The case of then-Penguins goalie Matt Murray in 2017 is more concerning. Murray made 47 starts and went 32-10-4 with a .923 save 1183364 Chicago Blackhawks • Nicolas Beaudin, who GM Stan Bowman said is the most improved player from last year, has looked awfully comfortable of late -- especially in the offensive zone.

Chicago Blackhawks defying the odds ... and the experts • Ian Mitchell and Lucas Carlsson are making slow but steady strides.

• Dominik Kubalik, while hardly perfect, has been a deadly weapon on the John Dietz power play.

• With Jonathan Toews out, the Hawks have asked for more out of -- and he has been more than up to the task. Nobody is ever going to confuse Jeremy Colliton for Lou Brown, the gruff, contract-peeing fictional manager from the movie "Major League". • Rookie forwards Pius Suter and Philipp Kurashev have been up and down, but the fact that they've combined for 9 goals is a great sign for the But just as Brown did before his hapless Cleveland Indians took the field future. on Opening Day, Colliton also stood in front of his Blackhawks on the first day of training camp to deliver a message about the upcoming season. • Andrew Shaw is having fun, keeping things loose and helping to get the most out of his younger teammates. Same goes for Patrick Kane and If Colliton is a sports-movie buff, he easily could have stolen Brown's . And, apparently, even the injured Brent Seabrook, who speech and said: hasn't been afraid to poke his nose into the dressing room to lighten the mood. "I'm not much for giving inspirational addresses, but I'd just like to point out that every newspaper in the country has picked us to finish last. The "Everything starts with the leaders of this team," Lankinen said after the local press seems to think that we'd save everyone the time and trouble if Hawks' 2-1 OT victory over Dallas on Tuesday. "The way they handle the we just went out and shot ourselves. team and take care of the younger guys, it's huge. ...

"Me, I'm for wasting sports writers' time. So I figured we ought to hang "Just had a really good discussion with Duncs about just being a pro and around for a while and see if we can give 'em all a nice big (crud)burger how he handles himself off the ice so he can contribute every single to eat!" night. Those things are big, you know. You can't really read those from a book. Colliton's speech wasn't quite as graphic, of course. "When you've got that leadership group that is doing a really good job, "He said people are doubting us, so let's surprise them," recalled forward that's kind of what brings the team together." Andrew Shaw. "We're going to be the underdog, so make sure we come out fighting. And we have." Only time will tell if they can keep it up all season.

Amen to that. But the culture Colliton is building is what is most important. It's one he built in Sweden and in Rockford. Now to actually believe the 6-4-4 Blackhawks are a playoff team would be quite a stretch. And it's one that is taking root in Chicago.

Still, it's difficult to argue with the results. Taking 3 out of 4 points against Watching guys buy into playing selfless hockey and seeing it translate Carolina and following that up with a sweep at Dallas is awfully into results is what impresses Colliton most. Because he expects that impressive. one day -- maybe much sooner than most of us believed possible -- the Hawks will be among the league's elite teams again. The Hawks are beginning to somewhat resemble the 2018 Vegas Golden Knights, the expansion squad that came together and shocked the NHL And when that happens, it's this kind of attitude that should yield some with a season for the ages. unbelievable results.

Emphasis here on somewhat. "Ultimately, it's about the group understanding we have to play this way to have success," Colliton said. "(When) we get to the point where we're I'm not about to suggest the Hawks are going to win the Central Division considered an elite team every year, this mentality needs to stay. This is and reach the Stanley Cup Final. But this 6-1-3 run they're on isn't a how we're going to win consistently and be a team that's always in the fluke. They're outworking teams, making the most of their opportunities mix. and winning games in a variety of ways. "We're on that path." "That's the key. You've got to find a way to win," said goalie Kevin Lankinen, who ranks sixth in save percentage at .933. "At the end of the Experts be damned. day, it doesn't really matter if it's 6-4 or 2-1. ... Some nights might be the 'D' core doing a really good job and (others) it might be the power play Daily Herald Times LOADED: 02.11.2021 stepping up and scoring three or four goals.

"That's just part of the team effort."

Said Colliton: "We've got a nice mix of guys. Young players who are doing everything they can to make their mark in the league and earn a spot, and (are) earning ice time. We've got some veteran guys who have been through it and know what it takes to win."

So far, it's been the perfect mix, with nearly everyone contributing every night.

To wit:

• After patiently working his way up the ladder, Lankinen arrived in Chicago with the belief that he is a No. 1 goalie. He has made that clear in interviews and even clearer on the ice where he sports a 5-1-3 record.

• Alex DeBrincat has become a more complete player and has seemingly put his disappointing 2019-20 campaign behind him.

• Brandon Hagel seems like he's been shot out of a cannon every time he jumps over the boards.

• Mattias Janmark said he expected to come in and compete for more of an offensive role. He's done exactly that, scoring 5 goals already. 1183365 Chicago Blackhawks

How Blackhawks penalty kill has drastically improved

Hawks Insider

Two seasons ago, the Blackhawks had the NHL's worst penalty kill in the last 30 years with a percentage of 72.7. It was a demoralizing part of their game.

Last season, the Blackhawks improved dramatically by finishing tied for No. 8 with an 82.1 percent kill rate. The goaltending of Corey Crawford and Robin Lehner had a lot to do with that, but the structure was certainly better.

This season, the Blackhawks were expected to take a step back in the penalty kill department because they didn't have a Crawford or Lehner to be the last line of defense when breakdowns happen. But despite that, the Blackhawks are showing they're still a top penalty kill team.

After giving up seven goals on 25 opportunities in their first six games of the season for a percent of 72.0, which ranked 25th, the Blackhawks have killed off 21 of 22 penalties over their last eight games for a kill rate of 95.5 percent. No team has a better percentage over that span than the Blackhawks.

Goaltending, surprisingly, has contributed immensely thanks to the play of Kevin Lankinen and Malcolm Subban. The Blackhawks, as a team, have the seventh-best penalty kill save percentage at .900, which is an even higher percentage than last season (.889) when it ranked No. 3.

"I feel like the biggest key, always, on the penalty kill is the goalie," Mattias Janmark said. "The goalies have stepped up and made some big saves, not only 4-on-5 but 5-on-5 as well, and that's the key. It gives us confidence and we can kind of take away what we want and then give them something and then the goalie will make the save, so I think that's the main key and really the only key and then gives us confidence and everyone plays a little better."

The Blackhawks are coming off a two-game set in which they killed off all five penalties against the Dallas Stars, who had the league's best power- play percentage (40.0) going into the series. The Blackhawks allowed 10 scoring chances on those five opportunities but only one of them came from a high-danger area, according to Natural Stat Trick.

That hasn't been the case all season, with the Blackhawks ranking 24th in shorthanded shot attempts from the slot against (2.05) and inner slot shots on goal against (0.56), according to Sportlogiq. But they do rank No. 7 in passes to the slot against (1.19) and No. 8 in defensive-zone faceoffs won resulting in a clean exit (65.5 percent), two areas that have drastically improved even from last season.

The stat that stands out the most though? The Blackhawks are one of the league's best at recovering pucks from shot attempts by the opposition, ranking No. 5 at 58.6 percent. And those typically lead to clears.

The Blackhawks, by no means, are perfect in the penalty kill department. Their team save percentage could come back down to earth at some point and present challenges.

But the overall structure has taken big strides over the last two seasons and the special teams unit as a whole is a huge reason why the Blackhawks are in the playoff hunt at the 20 percent mark of the season.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 02.11.2021 1183366 Colorado Avalanche long are state and city officials going to sit by when teams are bringing infected and contagious people into the region?

Who is to say. But we do know that testing needs to be amended, with The NHL’s COVID-19 problem is getting worse widespread implementation of rapid tests a priority. We do know that the upper limit for players in protocol to trigger postponed games needs to be exactly one. And we do know that more transparency is needed in order By Ryan Boulding - February 10, 2021 to hold teams and the league accountable for both successes and failures.

It will only take one death or one long lasting ailment—a la Marco Those of us living in reality knew it was a matter of time before the NHL’s Rossi—sidelining a top-tier player to completely sink this whole ship. And best laid plans would succumb to what we’ve spent the better part of the that’s not factoring in the injuries players are going to suffer when make- last year monitoring and eschewing like the literal plague it is. up games are hastily penciled into the end of what is already a But here we are, in the midst of the worst of speed bumps one could compressed 56-game season. have anticipated when the schedule was announced in December, and it The 2021 season is in a precarious spot at the moment, and it will likely seems like the league is just now beginning to understand how hard it is stay that way for some time. to keep things under control in a (largely) pre-vaccine world. milehighsports.com LOADED: 02.11.2021 In the first 28 days of the campaign, the league has had to postpone 34 games due to the litany of players unavailable to participate while in the league’s COVID protocol. Yes, that includes those Dallas Stars matches that had to be rescheduled before the first puck even dropped in 2021. It also includes the five Colorado Avalanche contests that have so far been put on hold.

“[We] are mindful of the fact that we might be seeing a more aggressive transmission of the virus,” commissioner Gary Bettman admitted in a press release on Feb. 4 that outlined new measures to help reduce the potential spread of a deathly illness. “It is important to note that, while we have seen almost 100 players enter our COVID Protocols, fewer than half have done so because of confirmed positive tests…”

That’s nice.

What is being announced (revealed?) is not enough information for us common folk. Sure, teams may know whether a player is in protocol because of a potential exposure due to contact tracing (Alex Ovechkin) or a positive test (Kyle Palmieri). But there’s no accountability outside of league officials and team management, and it certainly is needed.

Bettman’s statement came four days after the Buffalo Sabres and New Jersey Devils completed a home-and-home set that essentially became a super spreader event. The Devils ended up with 17 players stuck in quarantine, and Buffalo added nine of its own.

Sixty-one-year-old Sabres coach Ralph Krueger contracted COVID from the incident as well.

There’s no question that the second game shouldn’t have been contested, and yet Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams admitted that he KNEW Palmieri had entered protocol between games and decided to move ahead with hosting a traveling Devils squad-zero anyway.

If the likelihood of team-to-team transmission seems apparent to you, it’s not something Adams (or the NHL) is willing to admit, yet.

“We’ve come into a situation where potentially it was in the New Jersey locker room and now we are where we are,” Adams told the media. “There’s certainly the ability to connect the dots, but I don’t want to in any way (come off as) saying it’s happening on the ice. We have to let time play out. We have to let the contact tracing play out.”

Meanwhile, across the country in Minnesota, the seemingly unstoppable Avs were walking into their own health trap. Let me know if this sounds familiar. In the middle of a two-game set on the road, the Wild put forward on the COVID Protocol list.

No doubt armed with this information, the Avalanche forged ahead in contesting not only the second game in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, but another in Denver on Feb. 2—the second half of a home-and-home, four- game set. The following day, the Wild added five more players to the list and had its games postponed. One sleep after that and Colorado was canceled as well.

As of Tuesday, Minnesota had 12 total players out of action in protocol and the Avs had three.

We’ve yet to hear a word from Colorado’s (or Minnesota’s) management.

And on Monday, 1,622 people died from COVID-19.

Is this really the best we, and the NHL, can do? What is the cost of forcing this season forward in the face of a pandemic going to be? How 1183367 Colorado Avalanche We gotta go with Mr. Avalanche, Joe Sakic, as No. 1. I mean, the numbers are overwhelming: 625 goals, 1,641 points, 1,378 games – all with the Avs and Nordiques. Two Stanley Cups, one Conn Smythe, one Who are the best Avalanche players of all time? Hart Trophy, not to mention all the other accomplishments as a player, like being the MVP of the 2002 Olympics for Canada.

He was the ultimate team captain, a guy who led by example on and off By Adrian Dater the ice. He remains in the top 10 of all-time NHL scorers, and he’s No. 1 on this list as the greatest Avalanche player ever.

Any dissenters about this list? The floor is yours. I don’t do “listicles” too often, but with everything still shut down, at least when it comes to Avalanche games at least, I decided to do a “Five Colorado hockey now LOADED: 02.11.2021 Greatest” list. My list of the Five Best Avalanche players of all time. Maybe the names won’t be a surprise, but it was damn tough for me to pick the order.

Number 5: Milan Hejduk

He’s gotta be on the list. He played 1,020 games, all with the Avs, scoring 375 goals and 805 points. He was a team captain. He won one Stanley Cup and one Rocket Richard Trophy as the NHL’s leading goal scorer. He was a big-game player, a leader in the room in a quiet, dignified way.

It’s too bad injuries caught up with him at the end, as he scored only 18 goals in his final 110 games. But he is in the pantheon, and, I hope he can sneak into the Hockey Hall of Fame too. I mean, guys with lesser numbers are in the Hall, and I think he has a legit chance eventually.

Here’s another underrated thing about Hejduk: he was gracious enough to hand off captaincy of the Avs to Gabe Landeskog, despite Landy being just a teenager and, to that point, the youngest captain in NHL history. Not a lot of guys would have done that – or at least have been as gracious about doing that.

Number 4: Adam Foote

When you ask who is the best defensive NBA player of all time TwinSpires mentions Bill Russell and Hakeem Olajuwon as their top pics. For us, no matter what anyone says, Adam Foote is in the pantheon of Avs greats.

Foote wasn’t the most technically gifted but his physicality and desire to win carried him a long way. In fact, it carried him to two Stanley Cup wins and, eventually, the Avalanche’s captain honors.

The formidable defender sits third on the all-time appearance list for the franchise and during his time with the Avs registered some pretty impressive numbers. He was more than a stats guy, of course. He was a gamer, a guy who was always there in the clutch, who was a true leader in the room.

Number 3: Peter Forsberg

OK, this is when the order gets damn tough. Having to put Peter Forsberg No. 3 on any Avs list is tough. I mean, he was just such a brilliant player, the most skilled Avs player I ever saw. But let’s face it, injuries hurt his case as being the greatest. He played 591 games for the Avs, but put up 775 points. He had 159 points in 140 playoff games for the Avs, with two Stanley Cup rings. He led the NHL in playoff scoring in 2002, despite missing all of the regular season.

His career points-per-game average of 1.25 remains in the top 10 all-time in the NHL. Forsberg wasn’t just a points machine though; he could do it all – attack, defend, roughhouse – everything. Everything, except stay consistently healthy. In 2014 he rightly found himself inducted to the Hall of Fame.

Number 2: Patrick Roy

I mean, he remains the greatest goalie of all time, at least in my opinion and those of many others. Thing is, more than half of his brilliant career was spent in Montreal, where he won two of his four Stanley Cups. He was just great from start to finish in his eight seasons in Colorado, though, winning two more Cups and a Conn Smythe Trophy in 2001. That last Conn came at age 36 and marked the third decade in which he won the award. No other player can say that.

It’s too bad his Avs coaching career kind of ended in ignominy, but he still won a Jack Adams Award in that first season, 2013-14.

Number 1: Joe Sakic 1183368 Colorado Avalanche

Bednar: Nathan MacKinnon, Devon Toews (and P.E. Bellemare) back at practice Thursday

By Adrian Dater

On his weekly radio show Wednesday, Jared Bednar had some good medical news: Nathan MacKinnon, Devon Toews and (surprise) P.E. Bellemare will be back at practice Thursday morning, assuming they are cleared by the medical staff.

As far as MacKinnon and Toews go, their return to the ice fits with what Colorado Hockey Now reported last week on each of their conditions/prognoses for a return. There was initially a lot of doom and gloom from some segments of the media about Bednar proclaiming all his injured players as “week to week”, but the injuries to MacKinnon and Toews were never that serious and we said so.

Bednar had hinted that Bellemare’s injury wasn’t as bad as the team initially feared, and his being back on the ice tomorrow would be proof of that. That’s really good news for the team, despite some good play from the players who have helped replace him on the fourth line.

Bednar also said that the guys currently on the Covid-19 protocol list – Tyson Jost, Sam Girard and Gabe Landeskog – won’t be able to resume hockey activities until “early next week”, which would mean they’d miss Sunday’s scheduled game in Las Vegas, and probably the one after.

The games in Vegas are starting to look iffy, by the way. The Golden Knights had to cancel practice for today because of Covid protocol. Nobody knows what comes next. Just have to hope there isn’t an outbreak with them. Today’s “Covid list”, released by the NHL, could be a pivotal moment for those games, at least.

I think we’re headed to something like this: In the U.S., anyway, the league is going to order teams to be in a bubble, even for home games. This is just my own opinion anyway. They’ve tried to let players go their own way off the ice, when at home, but clearly it’s not working. If players gripe about not being able to be with their families, well, the alternative is not being paid to play hockey for who knows how long again. That won’t be good for their families either. Last I checked, players have had a lot of quality family time in the last 11 months, too.

Colorado hockey now LOADED: 02.11.2021 1183369 Columbus Blue Jackets when the Jackets went 18-2-3 despite several injuries to jump into the playoff picture.

Tortorella has never been shy to change up lines, defensive pairs or sit Blue Jackets better, but not sharp as Tortorella ponders how to forge players to get his team playing “the right way.” Fourteen games in this team's cohesion on the ice season, he’s still searching for the answer.

"I got to get this team to play as a team and care as a team or we'll “I've got to get this team to play as a team and care as a team or we’ll continue to play the hockey that we're playing right now." continue to play the hockey that we’re playing right now. It’s my job,” he said.

Jacob Myers “Through hell or high water, I’m going to try to find a way to get us to that tightness with a lot of new bodies coming in here and understanding the standard and the culture that we want here.”

There are times this season when coach John Tortorella looks at his Blue Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 02.11.2021 Jackets team and still doesn't know what he has.

The Blue Jackets on Monday night responded to a painful, controversial loss the day before to Carolina. They limited scoring chances for the Hurricanes and created more of their own on the offensive end in a 3-2 win in .

The performance was an improvement from the night before but still far from perfect. In fact, it was not even particularly good.

Despite the victory, there’s a growing impatience inside the Jackets locker room and the office of coach John Tortorella to quickly find a way to play a more cohesive game before they lose more ground in the Central Division.

Blue Jackets: Tortorella benched Patrik Laine for off-ice interaction with assistant coach

“I still think we’re a terribly disjointed team in all facets,” Tortorella said after Monday’s game. “But the past two games, I think the effort’s been there. I think we worked hard in a 6-5 loss, I thought we worked hard tonight. We have a lot of things to iron out.”

Tortorella’s decision to shorten his bench by sitting Patrik Laine and Dean Kukan for a good chunk of the second period and all of the third was a clear sign of his frustration with some of his players not performing at the level Tortorella deems as acceptable for his team concept.

The Jackets, who are 6-5-3 and second place in the Central — though ranking sixth in the eight-team division in points per game — have prided themselves on being a physical team that is sound defensively and creates opportunities through its forecheck.

At the moment, however, they’re struggling to find an identity. Sometimes Tortorella believes the answer is sitting a player — even if said player is the team’s best chance at winning a tie game.

“It’s what I feel I need to do,” Tortorella said of benching the sharp- shooter Laine for the. final 26-plus minutes on Monday. “The last thing I want to do is bench a player. But as I answered your first question, we’re just disjointed in all areas, quite honestly both on and off the ice.”

The Jackets didn’t allow as many odd-man rushes as they did Sunday against the Hurricanes. The defensemen and wingers also didn’t turn over the puck as much in their own zone due to Carolina’s forecheck, but the Hurricanes still had 57 chances compared to 44 on Sunday, according to naturalstattrick.com.

Moving the puck up the ice quickly to avoid the forecheck also created some more sustained offensive zone pressure, but the Hurricanes had 63 shot attempts (24 on goal) versus the Jackets 41 attempts (22 on goal). Naturalstattrick.com showed the Jackets with 26 chances on Sunday and 38 on Monday.

Significant roster turnover from the past couple seasons has an impact on a team’s identity, but there are plenty of players, including Cam Atkinson, who have been with the Jackets for several seasons and are struggling as much as some newer arrivals.

“Whether you’re a new guy, an old guy, we have to hold each other accountable,” Atkinson said. “It doesn’t matter who you are and where you play. We have to all buy in.”

Last season, Tortorella was obsessive with the team concept. Without any elite goal-scorer, his belief was the only way the Jackets could win was to play together as a unit.

That logic was borne out in the middle of the season, before the coronavirus pandemic shut the league down for more than four months, 1183370 Columbus Blue Jackets Laine, in just his fourth game with the organization, has now seen this up close and personal. And … he kinda liked it.

“That’s fair from the coach, that it doesn’t matter who you are,” he said, ‘We’ve moved on’: Blue Jackets’ Patrik Laine makes up with coach after “If you do something, you’ll get benched. That’s great to see for me. You squabble don’t want to be the guy who’s getting benched, but now I’ve seen it myself, that it doesn’t matter who you are or how well you have done, you can get benched. By Aaron Portzline Feb 10, 2021 “If you want to look at something positive out of this, that’s the one thing.”

The Blue Jackets are only one-quarter of the way through the season, COLUMBUS, Ohio — Patrik Laine stepped onto the ice several minutes but they’ve already had two years’ worth of drama. before practice on Wednesday and skated a straight path to Blue Jackets assistant coach Brad Larsen. Between Pierre-Luc Dubois’ trade request, the blockbuster trade with Winnipeg, Laine’s arrival and debut, the outrageous officiating mistake Laine and Larsen peeled away from the group and had a lengthy one-on- versus Carolina on Sunday, Mikko Koivu’s surprise retirement and one conversation in one corner of the rink while the rest of the players Laine’s benching on Monday, it’s only fair to wonder when it’ll be about swirled and fired pucks on goal at the other end. hockey again in Columbus.

It appeared an amiable chat, and it ended with Laine tapping Larsen Foligno tried to act as if the first month of the season has been fairly twice on the chest and Larsen lightly swatting Laine’s shinguard with his normal. stick blade. That’s how hockey players say, “It’s all good, man.” “For what it’s worth, I think a lot of it is (created) by you guys,” he said. “In The controversy that has swirled in Columbus since Monday, when Blue our room, we’re talking about trying to win games. I understand you guys Jackets coach John Tortorella benched Laine for the final 26:19 of a win have lots to write about, but for us, we’re streamlined on how we’re going over Carolina, came to a breezy end on Wednesday. to get better and how we’re going to win games.

Laine was benched, sources told The Athletic, because he “verbally “This has been a weird year for everybody, but I don’t really see that it’s a disrespected” a Blue Jackets assistant coach during the game. It has not lot that we’ve gone through.” been confirmed that Larsen was the coach, but Laine’s pre-practice actions spoke volumes. But he did acknowledge that Laine, 22, endured a difficult lesson on a very public stage. On Wednesday, Laine was contrite, even acknowledging that he “deserved” to be benched, and the Blue Jackets — from Tortorella to “He figured it out pretty quickly, honestly,” Foligno said. “This is our captain Nick Foligno — circled the wagons to defend the star winger. standard here. This is how we go about our business, how we’ve been a successful team here for a lot of years. It’s never personal. It’s just the “This kind of stuff happens sometimes,” Laine said. “Everybody’s locked way it works here. in the game, and stuff like that happens. We’ve moved on. We’ve talked about it. It’s going to stay in the room, but it’s all good now. “You have to give Patrik credit because he’s a lot smarter and a lot more into it and competitive that people sometimes give him credit for. I think “That’s kind of how I’ve always been, playing with such passion, playing Patty has … gotten a good dose of who we are and is ready to jump right really hard, and you’re inside the game, you’re focused. in and be a part of it. Maybe sometimes you have to go through something like that early on to get moving forward, but I thought we all “If that kind of stuff happens, you deserve to get benched. That’s just the handled it well. way it is.” “I want guys who care and want to be here. Patty definitely wants to be Tortorella seemed almost incredulous at the question when asked if here. He’s excited about his opportunity here.” Laine would be in the lineup on Thursday in Chicago. (The answer was yes, by the way.) Laine is a restricted free agent this summer. The Blue Jackets hold his rights for two more seasons after this one, but GM Jarmo Kekäläinen will “You guys (the media) are a little bit more worried or anxious about it try to get Laine under a long-term contract this summer. than we are,” Tortorella said. “We’re just trying to do it the right way, problem-solve when we need to, and try to get about our business. This episode will not have an impact on those talks, Laine said. It happened, it has been dealt with and now the Blue Jackets — with Laine “We’re by it, and we’re getting ready to play Chicago. Yeah, we’re done fully onboard — are moving past it. with it. Everything’s fine, guys.” “I don’t think there’s going to be any issues there,” Laine said, referring to Tortorella said Laine was back in good standing with the Blue Jackets the future contract talks. “I’ve loved my time here so far. It’s going to get shortly after Monday’s game. The benching stole the spotlight from a better for sure. It’s not going to have any effect on my plans for the much-needed win by the Jackets, including a spectacular game-winning future.” goal by Jack Roslovic late in the third period. The Athletic LOADED: 02.11.2021 It was widely speculated that Laine’s defensive lapses on his final two shifts of the game were the reason for his benching, but Tortorella denied that after the game on Monday and drove the point home further on Wednesday.

“I told you I wouldn’t talk about it, but I need to say one last thing on it, which I think is totally unfair to Patty, and that’s some of the situations where people are writing that he didn’t work hard enough (or have enough) intensity or (made) bad mistakes,” Tortorella said.

“As I told you guys after the game, it had nothing to do with him being on the ice. That’s what bothers me about it most is we moved by it right away. I don’t think Patty should be put in the shade of light that he was lazy or that he didn’t work hard enough because that’s not what this kid’s about. We know he’s a great competitor and he’s a really good player. He’s going to be a big part of our team here. That’s what bothers me the most about the aftermath of this. Everybody tends to make things up when they really don’t know what’s going on. That’s all I’ll say on it.”

Tortorella has said repeatedly that he will hold every player on the roster accountable, no matter where they were drafted, how many goals they’ve scored, how big a contract they’ve signed, etc. 1183371 Dallas Stars But with the Stars’ style of asking defensemen to jump into the rush, and the confidence that Oleksiak has played with across the last six months, that has meant more involvement in transition from Oleksiak and less Matt’s mail: Looking at Miro Heiskanen’s start to the season, the Stars’ from Heiskanen. It’s fantastic that Oleksiak is involved in the offense, but drafting and more less so when he takes away from Heiskanen’s electricity on the ice.

Might this be better in terms of balancing the aggressive play? You can always change them around given a certain situation (leading, trailing, By Matthew DeFranks 5:50 PM on Feb 10, 2021 CST offensive zone, defensive zone).

Esa Lindell – John Klingberg

The Stars’ season is almost three weeks old and we’ve seen a couple Miro Heiskanen – Andrej Sekera/Mark Pysyk different versions of this team. Jamie Oleksiak – Mark Pysyk/Andrej Sekera There’s the world-beating one that sped out to a 4-0-0 start, with strong goaltending and a blistering power play. Then there’s the team that’s oh- Montgomery tried playing Heiskanen with Sekera at the start of last so-close to picking up extra points in the last week, but stumbling to a 1- season, but the pair didn’t play together at all really after the 1-7-1 start. 2-3 record. Could things be different this year with a slightly tweaked structure?

The Stars continue their eight-game home stand with a two-game series Heiskanen is going to be fine. He still has games where he looks superb vs. Carolina on Thursday and Saturday. Let’s get to some of your (Jan. 28 against the Red Wings). And there will be a point this season questions. where those games will become more regular.

Are you nervous about Heiskanen at all? He hasn’t look like himself Should there be concern that the Stars system internally outside of this season. Miro/Klinger/Faksa haven't developed any real NHL ready level success recently? Should Dallas use Lindell or Klingberg as trade bait to gain — mike kenehan (@kenehanmike) February 9, 2021 picks/prospects?

In the last three years of watching Miro Heiskanen, there’s been one — Mike Nicholas (@mikenick87) February 9, 2021 thing that has been a constant refrain from his coaches: you don’t have to worry about Miro. I don’t agree with your premise that the Stars have not developed NHL- ready talent recently. Jim Montgomery said it when he was the coach in Dallas. Rick Bowness has said it before as the assistant coach running the defensemen and Before we get to the players the Stars have drafted and developed now as the head coach. Heiskanen has given them good reason to not recently, let’s simply reset expectations for prospects, particularly first- worry about him, since it seems like every time he looks like he’s rounders. When I look at prospects, there are generally three items to struggling, he bounces back with another outstanding game. consider: What are the odds they make the NHL at all? How long do they stay in the NHL? How impactful are they in the NHL? You’re right in that Heiskanen hasn’t stolen the spotlight this season. He’s been overshadowed by John Klingberg on the Stars blue line, and All three questions are slightly different, but will tell you a whole lot about he hasn’t taken over games consistently like he did during the playoffs. the player. For example, a first-rounder making the NHL is not a surprise, but even getting a sixth or seventh-round pick to the NHL is a minor But let’s pause and reflect for a moment here. victory for scouts. Late-round success stories like John Klingberg, Jamie Benn and Joe Pavelski are not the norm. They are the exception. How blessed are Stars fans right now that a 21-year-old defenseman has seven points in 10 games, and that is a cause for concern? That’s an Similarly, just as all draft picks are not the same, all first-round picks are amazing statement on the expectations placed on Heiskanen as the not the same. Multiple research studies have shown that the value of future of the franchise, and the caliber of play that’s projected from a picks in the first round declines sharply in the middle of the round, when player in his third season in the NHL. they more closely resemble second-round picks than the top 15.

Among the 123 defensemen who have played at least 150 minutes at 5 That means we should evaluate players like Denis Gurianov (No. 12), on 5, Heiskanen is fourth with 1.8 points per 60. Miro Heiskanen (No. 3) and Ty Dellandrea (No. 13) differently than we would Jason Dickinson (No. 29), Riley Tufte (No. 25), Mavrik Bourque With defensemen — and Heiskanen in particular — it’s not all about (No. 30) and even Thomas Harley (No. 18). points. Heiskanen is so detailed on the back end in his body positioning and stick placement that much of what he does defensively goes It’s also OK for a first-round pick to not be an offensive player. Radek underappreciated at best and unnoticed at worst. Faksa was a first-round pick. Andrew Cogliano was a first-round pick. Mark Pysyk was a first-round pick. They stay in the league because they When he’s really playing well, you’ll see a bunch of times where he’s able tailored their skills to fit the NHL game and did so successfully enough to to exit his own zone cleanly and lead the rush the other way. That has remain in the league for quite some time. still been there at times, but not as evident as usual with Heiskanen, likely leading to his big decrease in shot attempts and shots on goal at It’s perfectly fine that Dickinson is a first-round pick that plays in the the other end of the ice. bottom six. If Tufte makes the NHL as a big, shutdown winger in the bottom six (it’s trending that way a bit), that is OK. Obviously, teams that Even Tuesday against the Blackhawks, there were examples of his d- draft high need to hit on big impact players that can change a game — zone play within minutes of each other. A turnover led to Dominik like the Stars did on Heiskanen — but the expectation wanes as you Kubalik’s scoring chance. Then there was Heiskanen denying Patrick move deeper into the draft. Kane a wraparound attempt, but only after Heiskanen wiped out into the boards seconds earlier. The Stars absolutely whiffed on the 2014 draft and much of the 2013 draft outside of Dickinson. But the Stars plucked scorers Gurianov and The Stars are actually giving up less defensively when Heiskanen is on Roope Hintz in 2015. Rhett Gardner and Nick Caamano have already the ice this season compared to when he was on the ice last year. The reached the NHL/taxi squad this season as late-round picks in 2016, problem is that Dallas is also generating less offense with him this year while Tufte and Fredrik Karlstrom appear to be next. vs. last year. The 2017 draft has the chance to change the franchise with Heiskanen, According to Natural Stat Trick, the Stars are allowing more shot Jake Oettinger and Jason Robertson, plus Jacob Peterson potentially on attempts (48.16% for the Stars) and shots on goal (47.10%) with him on his way as a depth forward. Ty Dellandrea has already impressed, while the ice at 5 on 5, but owning scoring chances (56.15%), expected goals the jury is still out on the NHL futures of 2018 picks like Albin Eriksson, (50.83%) and goals (58.33%). Oskar Back, Adam Mascherin and Riley Damiani. Thomas Harley is Part of me wonders whether the Stars would be better served splitting up knocking at the NHL door from the 2019 draft, and then Dallas went Jamie Oleksiak and Heiskanen. The pair played so well together during heavy on skill and speed with its 2020 draft headlined by Bourque. the playoffs, and the history of success is there for them. I’m not sure how you just gloss over all of those NHL players and Joel Kiviranta – Joe Pavelski – Alexander Radulov prospects in the pipeline and say that the Stars have only developed Heiskanen since Jim Nill took over. Jamie Benn – Roope Hintz – Denis Gurianov

If the Stars are going to trade either Esa Lindell or John Klingberg (they Andrew Cogliano – Radek Faksa – Blake Comeau shouldn’t and maybe the time to shop Lindell would be when Klingberg Jason Robertson – Jason Dickinson – Ty Dellandrea needs a new contract), you would hope the package is centered around NHL talent with the Stars currently in a championship window. Rick Bowness has liked rotating young players through the fourth line, so there’s probably a scenario in which Justin Dowling, Nick Caamano, For Dallas, it would make more sense to keep its current draft inventory Tanner Kero, Rhett Gardner and Joel L’Esperance are subbing in and — instead of trade for more — since they did not have a second or third- out for Robertson and Dellandrea. round pick in either of the last two drafts. What's the living situation/road roommates deal for the rookies and taxi Do you see the Stars as a player in the trade market given the cap squad this season with COVID? Are they all being put up in hotels while issues they had in the offseason, or has Johns’ move to LTIR opened up in Dallas? space? If they are a player, who/what position might they target? Forwards? Center? Thanks! — Emma (@ELRyle) February 9, 2021

— Brandon Crosby (@brandoncrosby) February 9, 2021 There are no roommates on the road this season. Typically, players on entry-level contracts would share a room on the road, but the NHL’s If the Stars are going to be active in the trade market, it won’t be a big COVID-19 protocols prevent that this season. trade. The good news for them is two-fold: they probably won’t need an earth-shattering trade given the composition of the roster and that Tyler As far as rookies and the taxi squad, the Stars have arranged furnished Seguin and Ben Bishop are coming back in the spring, and there are apartments for them to live in. In the past, players might have stayed in plenty of players on cheap contracts in a pandemic marketplace. local hotels, but the apartments are a more comfortable setup. The idea is the same as previous seasons (that the team provides housing for Since the Stars are using long-term injured reserve, the amount of cap players that could be moving frequently) but there are just more players space they will have will wholly depend on the roster’s makeup at the to provide for this season given the addition of the taxi squad. time — including any possible injuries the team has to deal with. By putting Stephen Johns and Bishop on LTIR during training camp, the Of course, players always want the call from management telling them to Stars accumulated cap space by sending players to the taxi squad and find an apartment of their own because that means they’re sticking with AHL affiliate Texas. As of Wednesday, the Stars had about $5.7 million in the NHL club. cap space. I don’t really go to Chick-fil-A at all. Now, that’s not as much space as it sounds like. The Stars will use some But give me a double-double animal style with animal fries from In N Out, of that space to recall players from the taxi squad as soon as Thursday. or a barbecue chicken strip sandwich from Whataburger with spicy And the team needs to have $4.917 million available to activate Bishop ketchup. Also all in on a Chipotle bowl with brown rice, chicken, veggies, when he returns, though it would gain $925,000 when Jake Oettinger both beans, all four salsas, lettuce and cheese. Yeah, I said all four presumably heads to the taxi squad. salsas. It’ll change your world. If the Stars were to make a move for a forward without shedding a roster Dallas Morning News LOADED: 02.11.2021 player, it would likely be a depth player on a minimal cap hit.

Given the team’s depth on defense (Joel Hanley, Taylor Fedun, Thomas Harley and Julius Honka all seem capable of stepping in if needed), not sure it makes sense for the Stars to chase a defenseman at the deadline, barring injury, of course.

Any update on seguin and bishops timelines?

— Chris Chambers (@chrischam2b) February 9, 2021

Nothing new on Tyler Seguin and Ben Bishop, according to general manager Jim Nill, with a “more definitive timeline to be determined as they continue rehab.” Bishop had knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus in mid to late October, while Seguin had surgery on his hip to repair a torn labrum in early November.

Both surgeries required five months of rehabilitation, putting Bishop on track to return in mid to late March and Seguin back in early April.

“No change, wish there was a sooner update but [they’re] on their original timeline as of now,” Nill said in a text message.

Does Bishop still have a chance to comeback as #1 goalie for the Stars?

— Your best follower (@Yurbestfollower) February 9, 2021

Yes. Not being Dallas’ No. 1 would require Bishop taking a massive step back when he returns, which seems unlikely since Bishop has usually come back from injuries at an elite level. The issue has been keeping him healthy.

The other possibility is that Anton Khudobin plays so well the Stars cede the net to him, or Jake Oettinger somehow passes both Khudobin and Bishop on the depth chart. Those scenarios are highly unlikely.

Who loses ice time when Kiviranta is healthy and playing again?

— Tim Perkins (@RockwallTim) February 9, 2021

It seems to be a revolving door for the Stars when it comes to injuries. When Kiviranta returned, Radulov was out. When Radulov is back in, who knows if anyone is hurt? But when everyone (besides Seguin) is healthy, think the Stars lineup could look like this: 1183372 Dallas Stars anthem were John Carlos and Tommie Smith. They were stripped of their medals and kicked off the U.S. Olympic team for holding their fists overhead to protest racial inequality back home as the anthem played for Flashback: Why leagues should just play ball, and not national anthem, their medal ceremony at the ’68 Summer Games in Mexico City. at sporting events The real reason Abdul-Rauf shouldn’t have to stand for it is because it shouldn’t be heard there.

By Kevin B. Blackistone 1:59 PM on Feb 10, 2021 CST It isn’t, I’ll bet, played before you go to work. It isn’t played before the city symphony leaps into an evening of Beethoven. It isn’t played before you take your seat at the local multi-screened theater. It isn’t played before the bell sounds on Wall Street. It isn’t played before Rush Limbaugh or Former SportsDay columnist Kevin B. Blackistone wrote this column on G. Gordan Liddy start running off at the mouth. March 15, 1996. We’re bringing it back because of Mark Cuban’s decision to stop playing the anthem at Dallas Mavericks games, and the The national anthem, in fact, isn’t even played on Capital Hill. If those national reaction that followed... who supposedly have your national interests at heart don’t have to be bothered with it, then neither should a mere athlete like Mahmoud Abdul- I don’t hang Old Glory on the front porch for the Fourth of July. I don’t Rauf or anyone who goes to watch him play. hum the Battle Hymn of the Republic on Veteran’s Day, even though my great uncle Henry - segregated in an all-black unit though he was - Dallas Morning News LOADED: 02.11.2021 fought in World War I and my parents keep the flag that draped his casket.

I am not, in other words, a person anyone would mistake as a flag- waving American - African, European, Asian or otherwise.

I will, however, be asked on Friday to honor America by standing for the national anthem. Not once, but at least twice. And, again on Sunday. And, a couple of times the next weekend. And, the weekend after that.

Despite my lack of passionate patriotism, I’m probably asked to honor America by standing and listening to the national anthem more than most passionately patriotic Americans. That is because I’m employed in the sports arena, where the playing of the national anthem is as much a part of game starts as are kickoffs, tipoffs and puck drops.

It will be played in the Richmond, Va., arena where this weekend I will cover some early rounds of the NCAA Tournament. It’ll be played in Las Vegas on Saturday before Mike Tyson bludgeons Frank Bruno.

Taking a stand

It’ll be played, of course, in Chicago on Friday before the Bulls meet Denver, which will see the return of its star point guard, Mahmoud Abdul- Rauf, who was suspended by the NBA on Tuesday for his refusal founded in his religious beliefs to stand for the rendition.

That is Abdul-Rauf’s right as, of all things, an American, a Muslim American. That is where the NBA is wrong.

The NBA would have learned, had it continued its suspension of Abdul- Rauf, that his decision not to demonstrate allegiance during the national anthem based on his interpretation of Islam is protected by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It prohibits discrimination based on religion and has been upheld numerous times.

The law also asks employers to reasonably accommodate employees’ religious practices, which in Abdul-Rauf’s case could have been allowing him to stay in the locker room until after the national anthem is played. Or, maybe, trading him to the Mavericks, where owner Don Carter, without threat of suspension from the NBA, prefers playing America the Beautiful. Instead, Abdul-Rauf on Thursday agreed to stand and pray during the anthem.

The most rational decision, of course, would be to drop the national anthem from pre-game festivities all together. What, after all, does it have to do with the NFC title game, or some meaningless September doubleheader between the Rangers and the Twins?

This all started years ago in baseball. The Hall of Fame has an account of it being played before a game in 1862 and again before a few games during the 1917 and 1918 World Series. During World War II, when upward of 700 ballplayers had their careers put on hold in the Armed Services, the anthem became tradition at baseball games.

Other sports followed. It now is custom in all sports for absolutely no reason other than it is custom.

Out of tune

That is the real problem with the national anthem for which Abdul-Rauf doesn’t want to stand. Forget that given this country’s history involving black Americans, many other black Americans – me included - long have felt queasy during the national anthem. Forget that the only other athletes penalized so harshly for not standing at allegiance during the national 1183373 Dallas Stars

Dallas Stars appear to troll Mark Cuban and Mavericks with message on national anthem

BY STEFAN STEVENSON

The Dallas Stars have weighed in on the national anthem flap, even if no one asked them.

The team posted a message on social media seemingly trolling the Dallas Mavericks and owner Mark Cuban who had chosen not to play the anthem before games through 13 games this season at . The Mavs said they will begin playing the anthem again, according to a team spokesman. Cuban said earlier in the day that the team has had ongoing conversations on the potential use of the anthem as more fans are allowed to attend games. Indeed, the anthem was played before Wednesday night’s game against the Atlanta Hawks.

The Stars, who also play their home games at American Airlines Center, have allowed a limited number of fans at games this season. The Mavs have only allowed a very small number of fans on a very limited basis recently.

We have issued the following statement regarding the National Anthem. pic.twitter.com/7ZR7HXMW73

— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) February 10, 2021

“The national anthem is a time-honored tradition and the Dallas Stars will continue to perform the Star-Spangled Banner prior to our games at American Airlines Center,” the team posted on Twitter. “As the only National Hockey League team in Texas, we are proud to represent our state and our country.”

In a news release, Cuban explained his stance on the anthem, including those that feel the anthem does not represent them.

“We respect and always have respected the passion people have for the anthem and our country. But we also loudly hear the voices of those who feel that the anthem does not represent them. We feel that their voices need to be respected and heard, because they have not been,” Cuban said. “Going forward, our hope is that people will take the same passion they have for this issue and apply the same amount of energy to listen to those who feel differently from them. Only then we can move forward and have courageous conversations that move this country forward and find what unites us.”

The national anthem will play prior to tonight’s game and Mark Cuban has released the following statement. pic.twitter.com/rEAD9jXbSw

— Mavs PR (@MavsPR) February 10, 2021

Star-Telegram LOADED: 02.11.2021

1183374 Detroit Red Wings

How the reeling Detroit Red Wings plan to play to their strengths moving forward

HELENE ST. JAMES

Though their record does not reflect it, the Detroit Red Wings sound assured they are doing the right things to scrape themselves off the mat.

They take a 3-9-2 record into a pair of games at Nashville, most recently losing 2-1 to the Panthers; the fifth time the Wings dropped a one-goal game.

“It’s definitely not the results we are looking for,” defenseman Jon Merrill said. “We have to find a way to win some of those games. When that happens once or twice, it is going to really build our confidence. We are definitely not satisfied, but I think we are going in the right direction. We are starting to play the right way. We just have to be more consistent with that effort and the results will follow.”

Among the biggest issues for the Wings has been their power play.

At 9.3%, it ranks 30th in the NHL, having converted four times on 43 opportunities. The unit was without four regulars when Merrill, Robby Fabbri, Filip Zadina and Sam Gagner were sidelined two weeks after testing positive for COVID-19 in the opening week of the season. But even as those players have returned, the power play continues to be on life support.

"We have to be more assertive and just simplify things a little bit,” Merrill said. “We have to get more pucks to the cage. I think we are doing a decent job of gaining entries at times, and we are just not getting pucks to the net. A good power play starts with chaos, it starts with shots at the net, and that loosens up the PK. We have to do a better job of that early in the power play, of getting shots on net and really creating that chaos.”

The Wings snapped an eight-game winless skid when they won Sunday against the Panthers, but weren’t able to build on that. They are without Tyler Bertuzzi and Luke Glendening, who are sidelined by upper-body injuries.

“What happens at times when you struggle to score is, you lose your focus on defense and you gain a greater focus on offense, and next thing you know you’re bad defensively and you’re still not scoring,” coach Jeff Blashill said. “That’s a recipe for disaster. We are not going to win games, 6-5, on a regular basis. We have to win games 2-1, 3-2.

"We have to make sure we continue to stick to the foundation that is going to make us successful, and that’s being really hard to play against. We have to stay with it. We can’t stray away from these principles."

While the Wings rank last in the league with a 1.93 goals-for average, their 3.29 goals-allowed average ranks 23rd.

“I think that our guys understand that our best chance to be successful is to be a hard team to play against,” Blashill said. “There are things that go into that. One is physicality. One is work and compete and one is defense. You end up getting chances because you’re on the right side of pucks and you are creating turnovers. I think our guys are gaining an understanding, which hopefully then builds to an identity of being a hard team to play against.

“We have done a pretty good job this year of refusing to lose our way and staying with it.”

Beyond scores, Blashill said the Wings rate how they have performed based on internal statistics. He declined to share what those are, but did say, “we look at chances for and against, that we do internally ourselves. How we do in front of each net-front is extremely important. Ultimately you want to give up as little as you can and try to have a great margin of chances-for than against.”

Detroit Free Press LOADED: 02.11.2021 1183375 Detroit Red Wings

Detroit Red Wings' frustration grows as good effort does not yield good result

HELENE ST. JAMES

The frustration is tangible as the Detroit Red Wings once again play competitively but fail to get a win.

Their brief respite from losing lasted only one game, as they fell, 2-1, to the Florida Panthers Tuesday at BB&T Center.

“We need results and we need them now, with the hole we dug ourselves into the past couple weeks,” captain Dylan Larkin said. “But the process of our game is almost where it needs to be, consistently, here in the last three games. I feel like it is building. We had chances, we had looks on the power play, we had zone time. It could have gone either way. Yeah, we made mistakes, but we made up for them by work ethic and our compete level and that was the main message the past three games.

“You are going to make mistakes, just make up for them with compete and work ethic.”

The Wings (3-9-2) broke an eight-game winless skid Sunday against the Panthers, but Tuesday brought more of the previous misery, despite an individual highlight: Larkin set up Filip Zadina’s goal Tuesday, which was Zadina’s second point in three games after missing two weeks battling COVID-19.

“I think we were playing pretty good,” Zadina said. “We started good, we put the puck behind their D. We won the battles. We scored a goal and we were feeling pretty good.

“Just couldn’t make it even. I think we feel good as a team, but we have to find ways to score more than one goal in a game. I feel like we were pretty close to get a point at least, but it is what it is.”

The Wings were without top-line winger Tyler Bertuzzi and alternate captain Luke Glendening, both of whom are sidelined with upper-body injuries.

It’s been a frustrating month for the Wings, who came into the season confident they were deeper and better than the squad that finished last in 2020. But losing five players to COVID-19 protocols in the opening week dashed hopes early, and led to going eight games without a victory before heading into a Sunday-Tuesday series at Florida.

Zadina made it 1-0 less than four minutes into Tuesday’s game, and the Wings held the lead for a little over 12 minutes in the first period before the Panthers tied it at 1.

“I was pleased with parts of the game,” coach Jeff Blashill said. “I think we were competitive. We did a good job battling. We hurt ourselves the second half of the first and the first half of the second by turning pucks over.

“I thought overall we did a good job defending, we didn’t give them a whole bunch of chances. These are the types of games we need to put ourselves in and we need to find a way to win. We have to find a way to score.”

The Wings entered Tuesday averaging just two goals a game, 30th out of 31 teams this season. (Only the Anaheim Ducks have been worse, entering Tuesday averaging 1.85 goals per game.) Perhaps Thursday's opponent will provide some relief, though.

The Wings head to Nashville for a two-game set to complete a 6-game trip. The Predators entered the day allowing 3.33 goals per game — ninth-worst in the league — and then gave up six goals to Central Division leader Tampa Bay on Tuesday night.

Detroit Free Press LOADED: 02.11.2021 1183376 Detroit Red Wings goaltending, and that’s where it starts and we know what we have to do, eliminate the chances we’re giving up, and we’ve done a decent job of that.

Steady veteran Jon Merrill wants to help turn around Red Wings “We’re not satisfied with the results. We’re frustrated with the losses, but we’ll continue to build defensively and that’s something any good team is, the backbone of their identity is sound defense and that’s what we’re trying to build and continue to get better at.” TED KULFAN | The Detroit News Red Wings at Predators

► Faceoff: 8 p.m. Thursday, , Nashville For the past three seasons, Jon Merrill went to the and had two other playoff runs while playing with the expansion Vegas ► TV/radio: Fox Sports Detroit-plus/97.1 FM Golden Knights. ► Outlook: The Red Wings (3-9-2) and Nashville (5-8-0) open a two- Winning became part of the culture quickly in the Vegas organization. game series. …The Predators are struggling, losing three consecutive games and seven of their last 10. ... Nashville ranks 22nd on the power The Grand Blanc native signed with the Wings last summer as an play and last on the penalty kill. ... LW Filip Forsberg (six goals, five unrestricted free agent and Merrill understood what he was getting into assists) leads offensively. — a Wings organization that was rebuilding and coming off a historically poor season. Detroit News LOADED: 02.11.2021 The start of this season has only been marginally better, which has made for a adjustment for the veteran defenseman.

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"It’s frustrating to lose,” Merrill said after Wednesday’s practice in Nashville. “We’re all competitive athletes, so to lose, it’s never easy, regardless if you come from a winning team before or not. Nobody likes to lose.

“It’s definitely something we’re trying to get rid of and get things going in the right direction and string some wins together.”

Merrill, 29, signed a one-year contract worth $925,000, as general manager Steve Yzerman attempted to upgrade the Wings with quality veterans who could guide a younger roster along.

Merrill, who played collegiately at Michigan, was thrilled with the opportunity to return home.

So far, Merrill, has shown to be a positive addition, and proving to be a professional example on and off the ice for coach Jeff Blashill

Merrill missed six games being on COVID-19 protocol, but has two assists in eight games, with a plus-2 plus-minus rating, and has provided a calmness any team needs.

“Jon Merrill is a big piece; he's come in and done a real good job on our defense core," Blashill said. "He's a really calm person, and his calmness has helped our team. He has a quiet confidence to him and his play is solid. He's a guy who, and it was almost a knock against him early (in Merrill's career), that he didn't do anything great but did everything pretty well.

"But that's what you like out of your defensemen, to do all things pretty well and he does that. He helps our penalty kill, power play, 5-on-5 in different roles, he's there at the end of games because he's a big guy who has poise and confidence with the puck, and when he makes a mistake it doesn't fluster him and that's an important lesson for the rest of our team."

Tuesday’s 2-1 loss in Florida was the Wings’ third consecutive game in which they’ve had a defensive effort worthy of a win — but lack of offense has won them only one of the three games.

Merrill believes the Wings are close to putting everything together.

“We’ve got to find a way to win some of those games,” Merrill said. “We did a good job (Tuesday), we had chances to tie that game up late, and we’ve got to find a way to get that done.

“When that happens once or twice, it’s going to build our confidence. We’re definitely not satisfied, but we’re going in the right direction. Play the right way and we just have to be consistent with the effort and the results will follow.”

The way the Wings have played defensively over the last week, Merrill said, could be the formation of the identity this lineup has.

“We’re trying to find out who we are as a group,” Merrill said. “We understand we’re not going to out-skill many teams in this league and go out and win games 6-5 like you’re seeing some of the scores out there. We have to be a team that will have to win 3-2 or 2-1, so we’ve got great 1183377 Detroit Red Wings

Red Wings can’t cash in on power play in loss to Panthers

By Ansar Khan

A familiar script unfolded Tuesday for the Detroit Red Wings -- they had an opportunity to win but didn’t cash in on the power play.

The Florida Panthers won the special teams battle and defeated the Red Wings 2-1 at BB&T Center.

Filip Zadina scored the lone goal for Detroit (3-9-2), which went 0 for 3 on the power play and failed to convert on a pair of opportunities during the first half of the third period while trailing by a goal.

The Red Wings are 0 for 16 on the power play in their past six games.

Sergei Bobrovsky made 31 saves to improve to 17-5-1 lifetime against the Red Wings. Florida improved to 7-1-2.

Patric Hornqvist snapped a 1-1 tie on the power play at 8:04 of the second period. He was at his usual spot near the front of the net when Aaron Ekblad’s shot glanced off his chest.

The Red Wings pulled goaltender Thomas Gress for the extra skater late in the game. They generated a couple of chances in the final minute but didn’t convert.

The game was tied 1-1 after one period.

Zadina scored his first goal of the season, in his seventh game, at 3:31. He took a pass from Dylan Larkin and beat Bobrovsky on the short side from a sharp angle.

Alex Wennberg tied it at 15:44, slamming in a pass from Jonathan Huberdeau while parked at the net front.

Anthony Mantha returned to the lineup after being scratched Sunday because of his recent sluggish performance. Luke Glendening missed the game and is listed as day to day after taking a shoulder check to the head from Radko Gudas in the previous game.

The Red Wings wrap up this six-game road trip, their longest of the season, at Nashville Thursday and Saturday.

Michigan Live LOADED: 02.11.2021 1183378 Detroit Red Wings

Red Wings to Anthony Mantha: skate, move your feet

By Ansar Khan

It has often been said a body in motion will remain in motion and a body at rest tends to stay at rest.

Anthony Mantha hasn’t been in motion enough this season to suit Detroit Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill, which is why the big forward was scratched from the lineup on Sunday.

Blashill, after today’s morning skate, declined to reveal whether Mantha will return to the lineup tonight against Florida at the BB&T Center (7 p.m., Fox Sports Detroit Plus), but he made it clear what he wants to see from him.

“Ultimately, when Anthony skates he’s a great player and when he doesn’t skate, he’s not as good, so just got to make sure as a player that he’s continuing to bend those knees and move his feet,” Blashill said.

Blashill said performance issues, not discipline, prompted him to sit Mantha Sunday in Florida, a game the Red Wings won 4-1 to stop an eight-game slide (0-6-2).

He was asked if he consulted with general manager Steve Yzerman.

“I would just say that I talk to Steve on a regular basis pretty much every day about a lot of things, including our lineup and players,” Blashill said.

Mantha has four goals and three assists in 12 games, along with a team- worst minus-8 rating.

Injury updates

Blashill said Luke Glendening is out tonight and listed as day-to-day. Glendening took a shoulder check to the head from Radko Gudas during the first period Sunday and did not return.

Gudas was not penalized and did not receive any supplementary discipline from the NHL.

“I thought it was a clean hit,” Blashill said. “I think Glenny thought it was a clean hit.”

Goaltender Jonathan Bernier (upper-body injury) is close to returning but Blashill had no specific date.

Tyler Bertuzzi (upper-body injury) will remain out through at least the next three games, which includes a pair in Nashville Thursday and Saturday.

More of same needed

The Red Wings registered a season-high 39 shots on goal and equaled their season-high goal total on Sunday. More importantly, they showed a high compete level they must repeat more often.

“We had an extremely high compete level the other day and I think we had it on a good number of nights, but that’s two in a row where our compete level was real high,” Blashill said. “We have to work, and we have to compete and ultimately we have to be hard to play against.

“For me, it means, one, competitiveness and physicality and two, really good and stingy defensively. Be above them all night long and not give them free looks at our net, clogging up the neutral zone, defending really well. Our D-zone coverage has to be better than it was the other night. We had breakdowns in our D-zone.”

Michigan Live LOADED: 02.11.2021 1183379 Edmonton Oilers What a team does after climbing back to .500 usually dictates how the season is going to go, so we’ll find out soon enough if the Oilers are ready to continue where they left off against the Senators. Montreal is a big step up from Ottawa, as are Winnipeg and Calgary after that, but Edmonton Oilers ready to move up a weight class against Canadiens prosperity never comes easy.

“We’re getting a better feel for our team and with Mike Smith coming back it will give us more balance,” said Tippett. “Hopefully we’re pushing Robert Tychkowski in the right direction. I think there is still lots of growth left in this group, but we’re moving in the right direction.”

There is nothing like four games against the Ottawa Senators to get a Getting Smith back 14 games into the season is another key layer in the wayward hockey team heading back in the right direction. equation. He and Mikko Koskinen splitting the duties makes both goalies better. The key for the Edmonton Oilers will be to stay on this path now that the degree of difficulty is about to get ramped up – five straight games “It’s a big factor,” said Tippett. “We’ll have a fresh guy going every night. against opponents with higher winning percentages, starting with That’s when both of our guys were at their best last year. Koskinen came Thursday’s visit to Montreal. in last game and gave us a really strong game.”

“This is where you can keep gaining ground,” said Oilers winger Alex Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 02.11.2021 Chiasson. “We didn’t get off to the start we wanted to, but we battled our way back. We’re feeling like more of a team. We’re starting to build a little bit of an identity in how we play and the roles on our team.”

After limping out to a 3-6-0 start, the Oilers are trending in the right direction, going 5-1-0 in their last six to move a game over .500 for the first time this season.

That four of those wins were against the 2-11-1 Senators means it’s fair to wonder what it all means, but head coach Dave Tippett, who is brutally honest in his assessments, says they’re a much different group than the one Montreal swept in the first week of the season.

“We’re playing better now than we were early on,” said Tippett. “The two games against Montreal, the first one we got behind early, the second one was early in the season, three in four nights, I thought we looked fatigued, got behind and chased the game again.

“(The Canadiens) are a good team, they got out to a great start this year and they have really good balance in goaltending, D and their forward lines. It will be a great challenge. I’m looking forward to it.”

It will be another one of those measuring stick games we’re going to see all season, providing valuable insight on the Oilers much-needed transformation.

Not only have the Oilers been able to put some wins together, they’ve been able to go about it in a variety of different ways. They won 8-5 and they won 3-1. They won ugly and won by making the highlight reels. They won with special teams and won when the power play fizzled. They won when Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl stole the show and won when the stars got blanked.

Ottawa or not, they’ve looked good.

“I think we’ve just gelled as a team over these last couple of weeks,” said winger Josh Archibald. “When you’re playing well and winning games it’s a big mental boost.

“The fact we’re sticking to our systems and playing our game, we’re not trying to be too fancy, we’re not trying to do too much, we’re just playing simple hockey right now is really helping us.”

So is getting offensive help from almost everywhere. Of Edmonton’s last 14 goals, only three came from Draisiatl and McDavid. The rest were Darnell Nurse (3), Jesse Puljujarvi (3), Jujhar Khaira, Archibald, Tyler Ennis, Tyson Barrie and Evan Bouchard.

Tuesday’s 3-2 win over the Senators marked in the first time since 2017 (225 games) that the Oilers won a game in which McDavid and Draisaitl were held off the score sheet altogether. Now, that probably has more to do with how few times they’ve both been shut out on the same night, but still.

“Last game we didn’t have our best stuff, but we found a way to get points,” said Chaisson, who believes six new players and a taxi squad of extras are finally getting acclimatized after not having a pre-season.

“There are so many guys here and the lineup has changed a lot, but the sooner guys accept their roles and get used to each other and how we play, that’s how we’ll get back to being the team we’re capable of.

“We got off to a little bit of a slow start, but we’re back to just over .500 so its on us over the next couple of weeks.” 1183380 Edmonton Oilers Josh Archibald took a shot off the hand in the series against Ottawa, but was quick to point out he still had both of them so was all good heading in against Montreal.

OILERS SNAPSHOTS: Two goaltenders make for better play Archibald had an assist Tuesday to go with the goal he scored Monday, and has been playing well regardless of where he’s used in the lineup. He’s gained the trust of the coaching staff in all situations.

Derek Van Diest “I think if you just go out, do what you’re asked and give it your all shift- to-shift, the coach is going to reward you,” Archibald said. “I’ve been put

in some situations that’ve helped me be successful and whether it’s the The Edmonton Oilers look like a new team with Mike Smith on the roster, first line or fourth line or anywhere in between, or on the penalty kill, I just and he didn’t even play in the second game of a back-to-back against the have to play the way I can play and bring the intensity and I think that’s Ottawa Senators. helping me a lot so far this year.”

Having Smith back has helped Mikko Koskinen, who had a strong Archibald has three goals and four points this season and has become rebound performance Tuesday in a 3-2 win over the Senators. an effective penalty killer for the Oilers.

Koskinen made 40 saves in the victory, which lifted the Oilers above .500 “He just does a lot of things right,” Tippett said. “If you look at the (8-7-0) for the first time this season, with the final game of a four-game structure he plays with, he’s a real smart player and is willing to sacrifice road trip Thursday (5 p.m., Sportsnet West) against the Montreal his body, block shots or getting in lanes and finishing checks. Canadiens. Positionally, he’s really sound. He’s just a guy you throw out in situations, you can trust his play and he gives you maximum effort every night.” “It’s a big factor and that’s when both of our guys were at their best last year,” Oilers head coach Dave Tippett said Wednesday. “Getting Smitty Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 02.11.2021 back allows them both to be fresh when they play. Koskinen came in (Tuesday) night and gave us a real strong game.

“We needed saves at the right time. Koskinen made one, we had a turnover late in the period that he had a point-blank one, that he made a great save on. He came in (Tuesday) night and gave us a chance to win and that’s all you can ask from your goaltender. If we have a fresh guy going every night, hopefully they can do that for us every night.”

The Oilers were outshot 42-22 by the Senators, although Tippet said the shots were deceiving because, by his count, the quality chances were similar and Ottawa threw a lot pucks at the net and did a better job retrieving them.

Regardless, the Oilers feel they have a strong tandem again with Smith having returned from a lower-body injury sustained during the warm-up on opening night. The injury forced Koskinen to play 10 straight to start the season and 12 of the first 13 games.

Koskinen fought the puck in a 6-4 loss against the Calgary Flames to start the road trip and Smith returned to make 27 saves in a 3-1 win against the Senators on Monday.

Smith is expected to get the start against the Canadiens on Thursday. Tippett does not have a set plan how to deploy his goaltenders for now, but as long as they both stay healthy, the two should be sharing the work the rest of the way.

“It’s more by feel right now until we get Smitty up and going here,” Tippett said. “We’ll get them both up and playing regular. It’s going to be a little different than last year, because the schedule is so condensed this year. There are more back-to-backs and three-in-fours and four-in-six. You’re going to have to use both of them and when you get into certain teams that you like one guy more than the other, we’ll see how that goes.”

QUIET NIGHT FOR DYNAMIC DUO

Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl were kept off the scoresheet against Ottawa and the Oilers still won.

That hasn’t happened since Nov. 28, 2017, against the Arizona Coyotes, a span of 225 games. Both McDavid and Draisaitl had a 10-game point streak come to an end in Ottawa.

“They’re two key players on our team that play in a lot of offensive situations,” Tippett said. “I think it’s more a credit to them the amount they impact the game in every way. They go into a game and they’re going to get points most nights.”

McDavid and Draisaitl have both been shut out three times this season, only once on the same night, which came in a 3-1 loss to the Canadiens on Jan. 18.

“You’re talking about a small percentage of games where they don’t get points and then the rest of the team chips in and wins,” Tippett said. “To me, that stat is more about how many games they actually do get points in than they don’t get in, and our team wins.”

UTILITY MAN 1183381 Florida Panthers top-10 in the NHL in penalty kills (eighth, 84.6 percent) and power-play efficiency (ninth, 25 percent).

RUNNING IT BACK ‘They trust me here.’ With expanded role, Panthers’ Verhaeghe ready to Quenneville said there is a “good chance” they use the same lineup from face former team Tuesday’s win over Detroit when they host Tampa on Thursday.

That includes having Sergei Bobrovsky back in net after his best start of BY JORDAN MCPHERSON the season.

Bobrovsky stopped 31 of 32 shots he faced against the Red Wings on Tuesday, including the final 30 after giving up a goal 3:31 into the game. Carter Verhaeghe sat and took a moment to reflect. A year ago, he was a fourth-line player for the Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning. Bobrovsky is now 4-0-1 on the season despite shaky overall statistics Now, he’s in the earliest stages of the next chapter of his still-burgeoning (3.07 goals against average, .899 save percentage). His active streak of NHL career with the Florida Panthers. picking up points in five consecutive starts is the second-longest season- opening point streak by a goaltender in Panthers history behind John There’s no Stanley Cup for his new team yet. Vanbiesbrouck, who opened the 1996-97 season with a 6-0-3 record.

But he’s getting plenty of chances early to prove he’s a valuable piece to Miami Herald LOADED: 02.11.2021 be part of a deep playoff run.

“I have definitely gotten a ton of opportunity here,” Verhaeghe said last week after picking up a goal and an assist in the Panthers’ 2-1 win over the Nashville Predators. “It seems like they trust me here.”

Past will meet present for Verhaeghe on Thursday when the Panthers (7- 1-2) and the Lightning (9-1-1) play three times during the next five days. The games on Thursday and Saturday are at the BB&T Center with 7 p.m. scheduled starts. Monday’s game will be a 7 p.m. start at Tampa’s .

“A lot of familiar faces on the other team, a lot of good friends,” Verhaeghe said. “It’s going to be kind of weird, but I’m looking forward to it.”

The mixed emotions are understandable. Verhaeghe, 25, broke into the NHL with Tampa Bay last season even though he had a limited role on a stacked Lightning roster. Among those who played in at least 25 games, he averaged a team-low nine minutes and 22 seconds of ice time per game. Despite that, he still managed to score nine goals and tally another four assists in 52 regular-season games. He also dished out a pair of assists during the Lightning’s playoff run and was on the ice for three of six games Stanley Cup Finals games.

“Last year, we obviously had such a great team and won the Stanley Cup,” Verhaeghe said. “For me, I am just trying to get better every year. There are a ton of great players to learn from there and I had a different role in Tampa. I just tried to learn everything I could there. I am trying to use the tools I learned there.”

Those tools and Verhaeghe’s aggressive nature on the ice allowed him to break in as the left wing on Florida’s top forward line with center Aleksander Barkov and right wing Anthony Duclair.

And he’s been one of their more consistent players. Verhaeghe is tied with Patric Hornqvist for the team lead with six goals and is the only player on the team with multiple game-winning goals through the first 10 games of the season.

All six of Verhaeghe’s goals have been at even strength, with five of the six coming in five-on-five situations. His 23 scoring chances created at full strength are the second-most on the team behind only Barkov.

“I didn’t think he’d be on our top line. I didn’t think we’d be getting that type of production, to be totally honest,” Panthers coach Joel Quenneville said. “At the same time, we liked the ingredients that he did bring to our team with quickness and perseverance. It’s almost like he’s got a relentless attitude around the puck.”

A ‘MEASURING STICK’

Verhaeghe individually and the Panthers collectively are now set to face their biggest test in the early going of the season in these three games against the Lightning.

“They’re the measuring stick of the league,” defenseman Keith Yandle said.

Tampa Bay is on a six-game winning streak — all in regulation — and has outscored its opponents by a combined 27-9 score in that span.

The Lightning are allowing the least amount of goals per game (1.82), are scoring the second-most goals per game (3.82) and rank among the 1183382 Florida Panthers 3.07 goals-against-average. Meanwhile, reserve Chris Dreidger’s 1.99 goals-against is 11th in the league.

Translation: It’s too early for conclusions, but not too early for the pitter- That’s right, the Panthers are good — and next 3 games vs. Tampa Bay patter of hockey hope. No matter if their schedule has been heavy with will show how good | Commentary low-hanging teams like Nashville, Chicago, and Detroit. They’ve been lumped in such groups for years.

“I just think when we are in these kind of games, we’re comfortable,” By DAVE HYDE Quenneville said of Tuesday’s one-goal win. “You’re comfortable on the ice, trusting everybody and everybody gets a turn and they are getting

the job done as well. We can learn from these games.” Anyone who has been all-in on the Florida Panthers for the last quarter- Now comes Tampa Bay to decide just what this good first month means century remains fixated on that stupid clearing pass in Game 3 of the for the Panthers. Three games. Three litmus tests. Three nights to 1997 playoffs by Jody Hull in Madison Square Garden that was knocked measure if it’s too soon to conclude this franchise had a good first month down by New York Rangers defenseman Ulf Samuelsson and deposited or such a good first month to say big things are ahead. in the back of the Panthers net. They’re back. Maybe. Possibly. Stay tuned. You remember, right? The Eastern Conference quarterfinal series changed then. The karma changed then. The Panthers went dark then. Sun Sentinel LOADED: 02.11.2021 And now they’re back.

Let me repeat that.

THEY’RE BACK, BABY!

Well, maybe. Possibly. And, maybe, possibly it’s just overreaction fueled by a good first month and a quarter-century of hope against history that hockey is relevant in town again. But look at the Central Division standings after one month:

1. Tampa Bay Lightning. 19 points.

2. Florida Panthers. 16 points.

On Thursday, they start a three-game series against, Tampa Bay to answer the big question, too. No, the question isn’t: Did baseball take over hockey’s schedule-making? The question is whether this start is a tease, a fluke — a nice run but nothing to start throwing rats about.

Tampa is a good measure, too. It’s the rich cousin you’re jealous of these days. Look at their past sports year. It won the Super Bowl. It won the Stanley Cup. It lost in the World Series just to keep everyone humble. The only way Tampa could have more fun is for Tom Brady to skate with the Lightning on Thursday.

Jealous?

Who isn’t?

And now the champs come to town Thursday to explain this Panthers start. Florida had a chance to win 20 points through their first 10 games. They got 16. The only thing that’s stopped their first-month rampage is the pandemic that postponed four games.

So what’s different from last year — from most years, really?

“I think in course of game there’s a little more enthusiasm in our team game,” coach Joel Quenneville said. “I think we play faster, a little harder, more purpose across the board. The team has going into games — whether it’s a belief, whether it’s attitude, whether it’s doing things the right way or harder to play against — it’s all the things we talk about.

“I think they’re improved. And I think we got some depth. There’s a number of guys pushing to get in the lineup or trying to stay in the lineup. I think that can be healthy. We’ve got to manage that so it remains.”

Here’s what you heard: Enthusiasm. Purpose. Belief. Attitude.

All better. All important intangibles.

Here’s what you didn’t hear: Tangibles. More goals scored. Less goals against. Better goal-tending. Better special teams.

You didn’t hear anything about the tangibles because, really, no single number explains this except a 6-2 record in one-goal games (including overtimes). Their goal-scoring is down about half-a-goal a game — but that’s reflected a change in tempo, as seen by goals-against being down from a third-worst 3.25 a game last year to this month’s 22nd-ranked 2.65.

So the defense has tightened up headlined by the goaltending, right? Well, hmm. Goalie Sergei Bobrovsky had his first good game in a while in Tuesday’s 2-1 win against Detroit. He still ranks 44th in the league with a 1183383 Florida Panthers regulation loss. It was a rough night for him, but he is sure to bounce back.

Sergei Bobrovsky Florida Panthers Florida Panthers Can Match Up Well Against Tampa Bay Lightning On the other side, the Lightning have a machine of a goaltender. That machine is last year’s Vezina Trophy-winner, Andrei Vasilevskiy who continues to play at a high level. Through 10 starts, he has a .936 SV% February 10, 2021 by Joey Ganzi and a 1.80 GAA. With stats like these, you have a better chance of being struck by lightning than scoring three goals on him.

Florida clearly has talent in net, but they need to show up against The Florida Panthers are off to one of their best starts in franchise Vasilevskiy and the Bolts. history, with a 7-1-2 record in their first 10 games. They had an eight- game point streak that was snapped by the Detroit Red Wings on Feb. 7 Do the Panthers Have What it Takes? and now they are tied for second in the Central Division with the Chicago Blackhawks. They trail the first-place team by three points; that team is On paper, most of the stats favor the Lightning with their goalscoring the defending Stanley Cup champion, Tampa Bay Lightning. talent, elite goaltending, and Norris-caliber defense. In recent matchups, the Lightning have dominated the Cats, with a 10-2-0 record in their last The Panthers are scheduled to play the Lightning eight times this 12 meetings. However, this is a very different season. season, starting with their first game on Thurs., Feb. 11. Can they play up to their competition and hang with an elite team? Florida has some The Panthers have shown they can put the puck in the net and they are things going for them that can help them keep up, but will it be enough? off to a great start unlike in years past. A slow start has ruined many chances of postseason glory but that may no longer be in their Goalscoring and Power Play vocabulary. If Florida wants to make a statement, it’s gonna be by defeating Tampa at least a few times this season. This might just be the The Panthers have arguably one of the best offenses in the league, season the younger brother finally gets his revenge. ranked 13th with a 3.10 goals-per-game average. Their power play is ranked second in the league, with a conversion rate of 37%, which is in Hockey Writers LOADED: 02.11.2021 large part due to the offensive talent that is oozing on the top line. Not only is captain Aleksander Barkov producing good numbers, but so are the new arrivals on his line, Anthony Duclair and Carter Verhaeghe.

That lethal top line has combined for 26 points (10 goals, 16 assists) and a plus-10 rating. Verhaeghe, a former Bolt, is tied for the team-lead in goals with six and is third in points with nine. Meanwhile, Jonathan Huberdeau leads the team in points with 14 (four goals, 10 assists) and Patric Hornqvist has emerged as a top goal-scorer to lead the team in power-play goals with three and is tied with Verhaeghe with six goals.

Aleksander Barkov Florida Panthers

The Panthers’ offense could keep their pace with the Lightning’s electrifying goal-scoring, but Tampa does bring a lot to the table. They rank second in the league in goals-per-game at 3.82. Four of their players have 10 points or more, including defenseman and Conn Smythe Trophy winner Victor Hedman, who has three goals and nine assists this season. Captain Steven Stamkos, after an injury-riddled season, has returned to lead the team in goals with seven and points with 14. Finally, all their skaters, except defenseman Luke Schenn and center Mitchel Stephens, have a plus rating. For a team that is missing Nikita Kucherov, they seem to be doing ok.

Florida’s Defense Has More Sandpaper…Is it Enough?

During the offseason, general manager Bill Zito tried to make the defense tougher. He brought in Radko Gudas on a three-year deal and, in his first season with the club, he’s already made an impact, literally. He leads the team and is fifth in the league with 53 hits. Through 10 games, he has a plus-4 rating and 12 blocked shots. Solid stats for an older player.

Forward Noel Acciari adds extra toughness. He’s second on the team in hits with 26 and leads the team in blocked shots with 16. Last season, he emerged as a great two-way forward, hitting career-highs in points and goals, all while keeping his grit.

Noel Acciari Florida Panthers

The Panthers continue to have a few reliable defensemen in their lineup, like Aaron Ekblad, who should have no problem taking that extra step against their cross-state rivals. In the grand scheme of things, the defense should be able to hold their own against Tampa with their newfound toughness and veteran presence.

Goaltending Must Step Up

This is the one factor that will make this a one-sided matchup. Despite his 4-0-1 record on the season, starting goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky has not played up to his Vezina potential. He has a 3.07 goals-against average (GAA) and an .899 save percentage (SV%) through five starts. He played better in his last start on Feb. 9, stopping 31 of 32 shots.

Backup goaltender Chris Driedger, who has a 3-1-1 record, has played like a starter. He has a .937 SV% and a 1.97 GAA. His last start was against the Red Wings when he allowed three goals in the team’s only 1183384 Los Angeles Kings The 76-year-old is based in Southern California and is steadily improving after a rough go of it.

“It was between Christmas and New Year’s (Day) and they (the family) all Inside Ron Hextall’s Kings influence, plus prospects begin AHL season fought it off — no one was like me,” Ferreira said. “It knocked the shit out with Reign of me.”

Right now, the Kings have two players in COVID-19 protocol — forwards Andreas Athanasiou and Blake Lizotte. The expectation that if all goes By Lisa Dillman Feb 10, 2021 well, they could return to practice later this week, possibly on Friday. They could benefit from a break in the NHL schedule with no games on

the weekend for the Kings. Often you see the job title senior advisor and it carries an almost Prospect watch ceremonial feel, more like a rarely seen advisor. Two AHL games are in the books for the young Ontario Reign and That wasn’t the case with Ron Hextall when the Kings brought him back another is coming up Wednesday night against the San Diego Gulls. to the organization in September 2019. You would see him around Staples Center and he made appearances at Ontario Reign games. The visiting Reign were outscored by a combined 11-4 by the Henderson Silver Knights, the AHL affiliate of the Vegas Golden Knights. Henderson The timing seemed excellent with the Kings coming off a tumultuous train goalie Logan Thompson led the way in Game 1 and prospect Peyton wreck 2018-19 season. One of the first things Kings general manager Krebs put on a show in the second game with a three-point night. Rob Blake told me the night Hextall officially returned was that he welcomed the prospect of bouncing ideas off him and drawing upon “The scores weren’t perfect, but you forget that we’re a young team,” said Hextall’s general managing experience with the Philadelphia Flyers. Kings director of player development Glen Murray, who was on hand. “Especially when you have a young team like that, they have no idea, That’s exactly what happened. and you can tell them 100 times how hard it (the AHL) is. Until they “He had been a GM before and understood the process,” Blake said experience a game against another American League team. It’s hard. Tuesday, a few hours after Hextall was named general manager of the There are good players (in the AHL). Pittsburgh Penguins. “It’s good for these kids. You’ve got to get these games under your belt “He understood the process, the vision and the ideas and knew how to and learn from them. There’s lots of work to do, which is what we know separate the BS from what really matters. And he also had different and what we expected. That’s part of it, right?” relationships with other GMs — past dealings that we would discuss.” After the Reign’s first two games, an NHL scout shared his observations Who is looking forward to the first deal between Blake and Hextall? with The Athletic. Henderson defeated the Reign 5-2 on Saturday night and scoring for Ontario were defenseman Daniel Brickley and forward I know I am. Rasmus Kupari. Quinton Byfield, the Kings’ first-round pick (No. 2 overall) in October, assisted on Brickley’s goal. Additionally, Kings president Luc Robitaille has ties to Pittsburgh, having played 46 games for the Penguins in the 1994-95 and maintains a In the second game, Henderson took a 3-0 lead, the Reign cut the deficit friendship with Pittsburgh co-owner . to 3-2 but would go on to lose 6-2 on Monday. Samuel Fagemo, a second-round pick in 2019, scored and added an assist. Maybe the Kings can become known as Penguins West, a slight geographical change from when they were often called Flyers West. Samuel Fagemo

There has been a longstanding symbiotic relationship between the Kings Scout: “It looks like his timing is coming back. On his goal, he jumped on and the Flyers — two Original 12 teams — starting in the executive suite, a loose puck on a zone entry. He’s getting accustomed to the smaller and then, of course, with multiple trades. After Dean Lombardi was let go rink. His offensive instinct and timing were there. He was working hard as GM in San Jose, he served as a Western Conference scout with the and I thought he played well.” Flyers before becoming the Kings’ president and GM in April 2006. Tyler Madden Hextall, who had worked for Lombardi in Los Angeles from the 2006-07 season until 2012-13, brought his one-time mentor back to Philadelphia Scout: Every time he was on the ice, he seemed to be on or near the as a consultant/advisor in the fall of 2017, several months after the Kings puck. He’s such a smart player. He’s not big enough. He’s not fast dismissed Lombardi and coach Darryl Sutter. enough. But it doesn’t matter. He’s just a really good hockey player. When the puck is in the offensive zone, he’s just always around it.” Lombardi is still working for the Flyers. He won the two Stanley Cups championships with the Kings in his second run as an NHL general Tobias Bjornfot manager, an illustration of the benefit of learning from the first time in Scout: “I thought he was a more assertive player (on Monday night). He GM’s chair. utilized his feet and his skating to set up his game with the puck.” Jack Ferreira, who worked with both Hextall and Lombardi in Los Quinton Byfield Angeles, was a three-time NHL general manager, first with the Minnesota North Stars, then the San Jose Sharks and was the first GM of the Scout: “He got caught chasing a little bit in Game 2. He was competing expansion Mighty Ducks. and working so hard but sometimes it got him out of position in the process. That’s going to happen with the amount of energy and nerves He has little doubt that Hextall will use the lessons from Philadelphia to for young players. I thought he worked hard, but he outskated some his benefit. coverage-type things. It happened to (Alex) Turcotte on a goal too. There “Nothing really surprises you the second time,” Ferreira said. “The first were positives toward generating offensively and getting looks but it time it’s, ‘Holy shit.’ The thing about Hex is: he is really smart. He will seemed that Henderson just capitalized on breakdowns, which is going learn from his mistakes. Whatever he did in Philly, he’ll analyze that and to happen when you have a young lineup.” figure out what he did wrong.” Arthur Kaliyev Ferreira, who is a part-time scout with the Minnesota Wild, continues to Scout: “You notice him in certain sequences. When pucks get to him in recover from COVID-19, which he believes he and his family contracted certain areas, his skill level takes over and he has success. He’s starting during the holidays. to figure it out — both at the AHL and NHL level. I thought he worked His case has nothing to do with the current situation in Minnesota with quite hard without the puck and he was trying to generate and tried to do the Wild having almost a dozen players in COVID-19 protocol and at what he needed to do defensively to contribute. He’s very opportunistic least three games postponed so far, including Saturday’s game against offensively and he needs pucks to get to him in those areas. You saw it the Kings. late in the game. It might have been in the first game where he doesn’t need a lot of time to get pucks off and he’s always in a ready position to shoot. Pucks got to him in the slot and it was off his stick.” Rasmus Kupari

Scout: “He certainly was noticeable in both games. You can see he is a stronger version of the player he was a year ago. I thought his skating looked outstanding. I thought he was more assertive with the puck in certain areas than he was previously. He is showing that he has all the tools to be an NHL player. You almost forget how young he is, at times. He’s being asked to carry a top line and he didn’t look out of place doing it. There were some youthful l mistakes, but I thought he carried himself very well.”

Walker update

Former NHLer and agent Cam Stewart represents Kings defenseman Sean Walker, who was injured by a slap shot from Wild defenseman Matt Dumba, which hit him in the face on Jan. 28 in St. Paul, Minn.

This week, Stewart was on a podcast, Straight From The Source, with colleague Michael Russo of The Athletic.

“It brings you back years,” Stewart told Russo of Walker’s injury. “I know when I used to get hurt how worried my parents got. Now that you have your own kids and I have my clients, you worry about them.

“To see something like that is very scary. But he was in great hands in Minnesota, got the surgery in L.A. and he is healing up. It’s amazing how tough these kids are. Dumba saying ‘sorry’ and the whole dynamic of everything — the hockey world has changed over the years, and he’s got a lot of support.”

The Athletic LOADED: 02.11.2021 1183385 Los Angeles Kings

Drew Doughty apparently suffers injury late in Kings’ loss to Sharks

By Lisa Dillman Feb 9, 2021

An already decimated Kings defense corps suffered another blow when Drew Doughty appeared to suffer an injury early in the third period of Tuesday’s game against the San Jose Sharks.

Doughty left the game and did not return after blocking a shot at 6:08 from Sharks defenseman Brent Burns. It appeared to hit him in the wrist/arm area, and Doughty was hunched over in discomfort.

PIC.TWITTER.COM/3YUOXKFUCE

— ERIC (@KINGSGIFS) FEBRUARY 10, 2021

San Jose forward Evander Kane tied it with 45 seconds remaining in regulation, and the Sharks went on to win 4-3 in a shootout at Staples Center. Shortly after the game, Kings coach Todd McLellan said he had no update regarding Doughty’s injury status, but on Wednesday, McLellan sounded optimistic.

“For me, it’s a maintenance day,” McLellan said. “He doesn’t miss many games. I think I’m going to have his number up on the board tomorrow and he’s going to be ready to play. It’s not necessarily a big relief. It’s probably what I expected. We’ll be excited about getting him back.”

The Kings (3-6-3) have been floundering without two of their top four defensemen – Sean Walker and Matt Roy, who were both injured on Jan. 28 at Minnesota. Including that game, the Kings are 0-4-1 since those injuries.

An extended Doughty absence would have cast even more of a pall over this season for the struggling Kings, who are last in the West Division. The only teams with fewer points in the NHL are Detroit and Ottawa.

Doughty leads the Kings in time on ice (27:14) and was second in the NHL in ice time behind Burns (27:31) heading into Tuesday night’s action. Doughty is a fixture on the first power-play unit and on the penalty kill.

“He plays a lot of minutes for us, so when he goes down it’s a lot of minutes we’ve got to cover and make up for him,” said second-year pro Mikey Anderson, who is Doughty’s D partner.

“But I thought the group did a good job tonight. We had a lot of communication toward the end there to try to close it out.”

Three of the Kings’ defensemen in the lineup – Austin Strand, Anderson and Kale Clague – haven’t played 20 NHL games yet. Strand, in fact, was playing his third NHL game, having made his debut last week against Vegas.

Clague logged 23:12 against the Sharks, a career high in ice time, and was on the ice for the start of overtime with Anze Kopitar and Alex Iafallo. Clague took the spot that Doughty would normally occupy in OT.

“That’s a lot of experience that a lot of them probably weren’t going to receive two weeks ago,” McLellan said. “They’ve earned the right to play. Guys like Austin Strand really opened our eyes.

“He’s been a pretty good defenseman for us the last three games he’s had to play. It’s a lot to ask of four young guys, four really young guys to be put in those situations. They’re only going to be better for it down the line but right now it stings a little bit. I thought they played their hearts out. They were pretty effective for most of the second half of the game.”

The Athletic LOADED: 02.11.2021 1183386 Los Angeles Kings As always, things are subject to change. It’s no guarantee that either of the aforementioned lines that played together last night – and kept rolling when the Kings condensed down to three lines – will stay together. But there was no indication otherwise, either. 2/10 PRACTICE – ROY/DOUGHTY UPDATES, ROSTER MOVES, FOURTH-LINE PLAY On defense, all six, healthy defensemen skated today – Mikey Anderson, Tobias Bjornfot, Kale Clague, Olli Maatta, Kurtis MacDermid and Austin Strand. With Roy in that mix, the seven defensemen interchanged amongst themselves during drills, not giving us a great idea of set BY ZACH DOOLEY pairings, plus there’s the whole Doughty situation to factor in, which will create a ripple effect one way or the other.

The LA Kings were back on the ice this morning at Toyota Sports A clearer picture to come tomorrow. Performance Center. That Grundstrom – Anderson-Dolan – Moore Line…. Joining the group today was defenseman Matt Roy, who skated for the I sat here for 30 seconds, trying to come up with more of a clever first time since he suffered an injury last month in Minnesota, wearing a headline, but I think that a line needs to be together for more than three non-contact, red jersey. Not a part of the group was defenseman Drew games to get a cool name. Doughty, who suffered an injury in last night’s game against San Jose, and was deemed “day-to-day” earlier this morning. Regardless, though, that trio has drawn praise from McLellan after each of the last two games. When the bench was shortened yesterday, that For Roy, his involvement was a big positive. McLellan said that he has trio continued to play as the team’s de-facto third line, and McLellan progressed well after he was boarded violently from behind by praised their energy and work ethic as the reason that it was the case. Minnesota’s Kevin Fiala, a hit that resulted in a three-game suspension from the NHL. He added that Roy’s return brought a bit of life to the team “That line has been effective since we’ve put them together, all three and that despite a non-contact jersey, he was still able to participate in games,” McLellan said, last night. “They’ve worked real hard, they’ve most parts of practice. been very conscientious defensively, they haven’t given up very much. They play a simple, straightforward game and they deserved to be out “He was wearing a non-contact jersey, but there were still some gentle there.” battles if you will, body positioning, things like that,” McLellan said, of Roy. “Talked to him after, he was excited and happy to be out there with McLellan also talked about bottom-six players, or #4, 5, 6 defensemen, his teammates, I think that sparked a little life in us right now, as a team, needing to do something to “provide a spark” when they’re on the ice. and we can always use that.” He’s looking for solid, consistent play from his big guns, but from guys playing smaller minutes, he’s expecting them to do something to bring Regarding Doughty, the picture is less clear. The Kings’ alternate captain energy to the team. blocked a shot midway through the third period last night and did not return to the game, nor did he skate with the team today. When asked, Anderson-Dolan, and his line, feels that they have the ability to do that. however, McLellan said that he considered today as more of a maintenance day for Doughty than anything, and said he is expecting to “I think the past couple of games, it’s just been the forecheck, and see #8 on the board in tomorrow’s lineup. creating energy off of that,” he said. “We’ve gotten some o-zone time, and some physicality, just off of putting pucks behind their D and getting “With Drew, for me, it’s a maintenance day,” McLellan said. “He doesn’t in there. We can all skate, we all know that, we know that’s what’s going miss many games, and I think that I’m going to have his number up on to give us success. I think that physicality that comes with being on the the board tomorrow, and he’s going to be ready to play. It’s probably forecheck, can turn the tide of the hockey game pretty quick.” what I expected, and I’m excited about getting him back.” Moore and Grundstrom have both had a number of linemates so far this How exactly it shakes out is unclear, but what we do know, is that this season. Grundstrom has been moved throughout the lineup, while Moore weekend’s game cancellation against Minnesota could serve as a has lined up with pretty much center in the lineup, including Anze Kopitar. blessing in disguise regarding getting players back in the lineup. The now second-year LA King said he’s been comfortable with everyone For players like Doughty and Roy, who are in the day-to-day phase, he’s been able to play with so far and has settled in nicely playing with having four days in between games can only help with regards to having Anderson-Dolan and Grundstrom. them healthy and ready to go. The same can be said for Andreas Athanasiou and Blake Lizotte on the COVID-19 Protocol list, though their “I think it’s gone pretty well. I told JAD his first game I was looking timing is less certain, considering the unknown natures of being on that forward to playing with him. He’s a guy who works hard, he’s direct and list. he’s responsible and Carl the same thing, I’ve played with him for a while now. I think that’s a good foundation to build on.” Regardless, though, tomorrow’s game presents one challenge, and the slightly longer outlook presents another. McLellan definitely saw the The next step for that line is to create more on the offensive end. The bright side in having Saturday’s game postponed. hard work and energy have been noticeable to date, and both Moore and Anderson-Dolan feel that turning some that into offensive execution is “The cancellation of the game against Minnesota is going to help our what the group needs to do more of moving forward. team get healthier and hopefully by next week, we have some healthy bodies to inject into the lineup,” McLellan added. “As far as moving forward, we’ve got to do a better job of creating more offense, myself included,” Moore said. “Just got to keep more plays alive, Lineup, Moves & Notes get more pucks back on the forecheck, and I think that’s going to come from the hard work and all that stuff.” The Kings had 13 forwards, seven defensemen and three goaltenders on the ice today. More to come on LAKI between now and tomorrow’s game, including a look at the slow starts to games the Kings have had so far this season. Prior to the skate, Lias Anderson, Tobias Bjornfot and Austin Strand were moved to the taxi squad, while Markus Phillips, Boko Imama and Mark LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 02.11.2021 Alt were loaned to the Ontario Reign, in advance of Ontario’s game tonight in Irvine against the San Diego Gulls.

We saw McLellan make some line adjustments during last night’s game, as Jeff Carter moved alongside Gabe Vilardi and Adrian Kempe, in a combination we could see stay together on Thursday. That leaves the trio of Carl Grundstrom – Jaret Anderson-Dolan – Trevor Moore, which was praised by McLellan after yesterday’s game, plus Michael Amadio, Lias Andersson, Matt Luff and Austin Wagner as the four others who were dressed today. More on the Anderson-Dolan line below. 1183387 Minnesota Wild "I will be back in Minnesota at some point," he said. "That is a very special bond for me personally. All the years that I spent there, the way the fans always treated me and also the teams that I was with, the feeling going to the Xcel Energy [Center] and just the energy that you had in the Former Wild captain Mikko Koivu retires after slow start with Columbus building, you feel like you're one of them.

After 15 seasons in Minnesota, he joined the Blue Jackets this season, "So, I will never forget that and for sure I'll be back there — just obviously and has one goal in seven games. in a different role than I'm used to, but I will enjoy that."

Star Tribune LOADED: 02.11.2021 By Sarah McLellan Star Tribune FEBRUARY 9, 2021 — 5:09PM

Mikko Koivu and the Wild parted ways last year, and now Koivu is moving on from the NHL.

The former Wild captain retired Tuesday, less than a month into the season after a short stint with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

"I always trusted that as long as you put the work in each and every day, you'll get to the level you want to be and I just wasn't able to get there," Koivu said during a virtual news conference.

After the Wild decided not to bring back Koivu when his contract expired in the offseason, ending his 15-year run with the organization, Koivu signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract with Columbus to continue his NHL career.

But the 37-year-old's fresh start began slowly.

Koivu opened the season in the NHL's COVID protocols, experiencing minor symptoms and delaying his Blue Jackets debut. And after playing seven games, chipping in a goal and assist, Koivu was a healthy scratch Monday against Carolina.

That wasn't the reason behind Koivu's decision to retire after 16 years in the NHL, which Koivu said had been on his mind for some time.

Mikko Koivu career statistics

Although he entered the season with the thought that it could be his last — just like he did ahead of his final season with the Wild — Koivu was excited to join the Blue Jackets, enjoyed his brief stay in Columbus and is glad he pursued a new chapter after his tenure in Minnesota. But because he had to push himself to get ready for games and couldn't find a rhythm, he believed it was time to stop playing.

"I felt that I need to be honest with myself and the way I want to leave the game," said Koivu, who consulted with friends and family, including his brother and former NHLer Saku Koivu.

Drafted sixth overall by the Wild in 2001, Koivu is the franchise's all-time leader in games (1,028) and points (709). A one-time Selke Trophy finalist as the league's best defensive forward and first full-time captain in Wild history, the Finnish native was the 55th player in NHL history to play his first 1,000 games with the same team.

CARLOS GONZALEZ

Koivu gave his daughter a kiss as he was honored for his 1,000th game with the Wild in 2019.

"Minnesota just really became home for me," Koivu said.

Even though he's done competing in the NHL, Koivu said he'll keep following the sport and plans to stay involved in hockey. He just doesn't know in what capacity.

"It's a great game and something that I've done all my life," Koivu said. "Hopefully there's something that I will find with the game."

Wild GM Bill Guerin released a statement after Koivu's announcement that called Koivu "a fiery competitor" and said, "No one worked harder than Mikko during his time with the Minnesota Wild."

Guerin also mentioned honoring Koivu in front of his fans in the State of Hockey when able to do so, noting that "the impact [Koivu] made in our community and the connections he made with Wild fans will live on forever."

It's possible Koivu's No. 9 will be the first player jersey to hang from the rafters at .

And the opportunity to get back in front of Wild fans is a moment Koivu would embrace "100 percent." 1183388 Minnesota Wild “That was the most important thing for me; I wanted to let him know how I felt about him in the short time I’ve known him,” Tortorella said. “But I talked more (about) how I watched him throughout his career.

Blue Jackets’ Mikko Koivu ends 16-year NHL career with surprise “I told him, ‘We have built our team here, and we play, the way that you retirement played.’ It’s the way we play — we’re not showing it right now — but the last three or four years, we’ve played his style of hockey.

“I told him, ‘That should be the utmost compliment to you.’ I have been a By Aaron Portzline Feb 9, 2021 huge fan of yours. Forget the points, assists, goals … I just have huge respect for how you carried yourself on the ice.”

STATEMENT FROM #MNWILD GENERAL MANAGER BILL GUERIN COLUMBUS, Ohio — Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekäläinen ON THE RETIREMENT OF MIKKO KOIVU. received a text message from Mikko Koivu early Tuesday morning asking PIC.TWITTER.COM/EVZ1D4WT2T to meet with Kekäläinen and coach John Tortorella a few hours later at Nationwide Arena. — MINNESOTA WILD PR (@MNWILDPR) FEBRUARY 9, 2021

Koivu didn’t say why he wanted to meet, but Kekäläinen knew what was Koivu could easily have retired last offseason and spent his entire career coming. with the Wild. But, he said, he has no regrets about signing with the Blue Jackets, even though his tenure was so brief. “I was 98 percent sure of it,” Kekäläinen said. “For myself, it’s knowing that I gave it my all,” Koivu said, appearing at Koivu, 37, had spent the last couple of weeks becoming increasingly times to fight back emotions. “It’s time to let go as a hockey player. I don’t frustrated by his own play, and he’d noticed that it was becoming an think I would get this feeling if I didn’t come and try it. But at the end, I effort to find the passion to play, something he’d never experienced in the need to be honest with myself. NHL. “I just want to be very clear: the room, my teammates, the coaching staff, After watching Monday’s 3-2 win over Carolina as a healthy scratch, he the management here in Columbus … it’s been first class. That’s the sad realized he was ready to retire after 16 years and 1,035 games in the part. I’ve really enjoyed my time with them, really enjoyed my time in the NHL, 1,026 of them with the Minnesota Wild. room and playing with those guys and playing for Tortorella and his “I didn’t get the feeling that I wanted to really get back in there,” Koivu coaching staff. It was an unbelievable experience for myself after all said. “It’s been on my mind for a while now. I didn’t make the decision those years in Minnesota.” based on one night. Koivu has been away from his family since the start of training camp. He “What it came down to was I wasn’t able to play at the level I want to play has three kids, ages 2, 5 and 7, so this season has been taxing on and at. I feel for myself that, if I can’t do the job on the ice the way I want to off the ice. Now he gets to go home to figure out his future. do it, it impacts me in the (dressing) room with the things that I trust and Kekäläinen has already made overtures to Koivu about taking a job with want to do. the organization, though that decision can wait. “Every game was kind of like I had to push to get ready. I just couldn’t get Koivu plans to “relax a little bit, take some time to think about it and let it into the rhythm. I just didn’t feel the way I wanted to feel as a hockey come to me. I’m sure it will. For sure, in the future, I want to stay in player and being also able to enjoy the game.” hockey in some way.” Koivu’s announcement came on an off day for the Columbus players, but Koivu’s retirement brings yet more uncertainty to the Blue Jackets’ roster he’s expected to address the dressing room to bid farewell on of centers. Riley Nash is a bottom-six lock, but it remains to be seen how Wednesday. the Jackets will fill the other spot on the third or fourth line. The Minnesota Wild issued a statement praising Koivu and indicating that Kekäläinen said it will allow Kevin Stenlund to grab more of a regular he’ll be honored in front of fans at Xcel Energy Center when the role. pandemic lifts and the world returns to normal. It’s widely accepted that Koivu will have his number retired by the Wild, a first for that “It’s obviously a coach’s decision, but I think he’s earned the right to stay organization. in the lineup now,” Kekäläinen said. “A guy like that could really benefit from an opportunity like this. It has been a frustrating season for many players, but Koivu’s season started on the wrong foot. He missed the first two weeks of the season “It’s not how we drew it up and how we planned, but what is right now? with COVID-19 then played the next seven games with minimal impact It’s a pretty messed-up year. You have to deal with all the curveballs and (1-1-2) before he was held out of the lineup on Monday. move on.”

“That’s a real pro for me who can take a look in the mirror first and is not Tortorella agreed with Stenlund getting more ice time. But he wasn’t pointing fingers at anybody else,” Kekäläinen said. ready to say it’ll be a bottom-six role.

“I have a lot of respect for Mikko. He’s had a great career. I’ve watched Really, the only center who’s thriving right now is Jack Roslovic, who’s him since he was a little kid. I have nothing but respect for him and his been a point-a-game player (2-5-7) since he joined the Blue Jackets in whole family. It’s too bad he couldn’t end it another way, but he goes out the Patrik Laine trade. with his head held high. I told him he should be very proud of his career.” “Stens will play,” Tortorella said. “But Stens may not be in the bottom Koivu said he was nervous to ask for the meeting. He’d signed a one- six.” year, $1.5 million contract with the Blue Jackets as a free agent, with plans to be the club’s third-line center. The Athletic LOADED: 02.11.2021

“That was hard; it was hard to go into the meeting,” Koivu said. “I didn’t know what to expect. They were both very supportive. That kind of gave me the peace of mind that the decision was right for me. Once I had a really good talk with them, I felt … that it was the right thing to do for myself.

“It was something I’ll never forget — that meeting — and that tells you everything about those two, the way they run their team, what they expect from their players. Nothing but respect for those two.”

The feeling is mutual, and Tortorella said he hoped that came through in the meeting. 1183389 Perhaps he biggest news is that Matthews failed to score. He leads the NHL with 11 goals and had at least one in eight successive games. Mitch Marner also had an eight-game points streak come to a close.

Maple Leafs stay hot with win over Habs had three assists for the Maple Leafs on a big night for their defencemen. The goals by Dermott and Holl were only the team’s their fourth and fifth from the blueline this season. Mikheyev had not scored since he suffered a severed artery in a game against the New Jersey Marty Klinkenberg Devils in December of 2019.

“Every player wants to score,” Mikheyev said afterward. He had plenty of Wayne Simmonds had his first fight. Auston Matthews didn’t score a chances before this. “Sometimes you just keep working to help the team goal. Neither did Tyler Toffoli. Opening night seems like such a long time with everything you do.” ago. The Maple Leafs rallied from two goals down and beat the , the Toronto coach, was happy for him. Canadiens in overtime in the first encounter of the season on Jan. 13. “He has worked extremely hard,” Keefe said. “It is nice to see him get The forever rivals met again in Montreal on Wednesday night. At any rewarded, for sure” other time, the would have been pulsating. Not so during these days of COVID-19. You could hear pucks boomerang around the Toronto has won four in a row and hasn’t lost in regulation time since boards, sticks chop at the ice. Jan. 20. Montreal has points in all but three outings in 2021.

They came in as the top two teams among the 31 in the NHL, and first The Leafs sit first overall, while the Canadiens are five points back with a and second in the all-Canadian North Division. Toronto’s 10-2-1 start was game in hand. Their long-standing rivalry is heating up again. its fourth-best in history. The Canadiens have been flying on offence and stingy on defence. Both are creating a buzz around the league, if not in “As a kid you loved watching these games,” Anderson, the Montreal any of the rinks. winger, said before the game. He grew up just west of Toronto in Burlington. “To be experiencing it now, it’s very exciting. I know a lot of Toronto won again in a 4-2 squeaker that was still interesting until Zach people will be watching.” Hyman scored an empty-net goal with 61 seconds remaining. The Maple Leafs fell behind but tied it in the second and pretty much put the game The Maple Leafs won on a night when their top players were held in away with two quick goals to start the third. had the go-ahead check. They won because four secondary players scored, and Andersen goal on a blistering one timer that beat Carey Price. Ilya Mikheyev poked played well after being beaten on that first one. another one past the Canadiens netminder 42 seconds later. It was also “That’s a very strong Montreal team,” John Tavares, the Toronto captain, his first of the season, and officially recorded as the game-winner. said. He was credited with two assists. “It wasn’t our best two periods, The loss dropped the Canadiens to 8-3-2 but they have plenty of time to but we got better as went along.” catch up. The teams play each other three times in a period of 11 days, Holl, who has five goals in 95 NHL games, was thrilled that he and two the next meeting on Saturday at . teammates scored for the first time this season. Josh Anderson, who scored twice on opening night, put Montreal ahead “That is really good for us,” he said. “We rely so heavily on our star on its first shot of the game. He converted a turnover that he caused players, that if we can score on a night when they are held in check, himself by whipping a shot through Frederik Andersen’s wickets. that’s great. That is the sign of a good team.” Anderson, obtained in a trade with Columbus for Max Domi in the offseason, has nine goals already. Max Who has two so far for the Blue Globe And Mail LOADED: 02.11.2021 Jackets.

Tomas Tatar scored the Canadiens’ other, with 3:20 remaining to cut the margin to 3-2.

Before the puck drop, a tribute was paid to Ralph Backstrom, a six-time Stanley Cup winner with Montreal who died Sunday at 83.

It was Toronto’s second game without Simmonds. The pepperpot is out for six weeks with a broken wrist. Travis Dermott returned on defence after missing two games with a leg injury. As this was the theme for the evening, Dermott pulled Toronto even with a sharp wrist shot that was also his first goal. It baffled Price so much that he reviewed it on a tablet during a break.

Mikheyev got a shot off for Toronto 1 minute 10 seconds into the game. It was nearly 13 minutes later before the Maple Leafs got a second. They failed to score on back-to-back power plays late in the first, Montreal failed to register a shot on one earlier. The Canadiens held an advantage in shots, 9-6, after 20 minutes.

The pace increased in the second period. But neither team was able to score. A scuffle broke out late when Corey Perry took a whack at a puck in Andersen’s glove during a goal-mouth scrum. There is nothing terribly unusual about that.

Dermott scored the equalizer on a sharp wrist shot from 35 feet out on Price. It was Dermott’s first goal and first point in 10 games.

\After 40 minutes, Toronto had been outshot 20-12. Then the Maple Leafs lowered the boom.

Andersen made 33 saves to improve his career record against the Canadiens to 9-3-2. His victories in the net this season are the most in the NHL.

“He is making critical saves and timely saves when we need them,” Holl said. “He is allowing us to find our game, and that’s really big for us.” 1183390 Montreal Canadiens

Leafs tighten grip atop Canadian division with 4-2 win over Canadiens

Toronto capitalizes on two 4-on-4 goals to overcome first-period deficit and win their second game against Montreal this season.

Pat Hickey Montreal Gazette

Nick Suzuki chases loose puck in front of Maple Leafs' John Tavares during first period at the Bell Centre on Wednesday.

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The Canadiens have been one of the NHL’s best while playing 5-on-5 this season, but they surrendered two goals while playing 4-on-4 and the Toronto Maple Leafs held on to defeat the Canadiens 4-2 Wednesday night at the Bell Centre.

The Canadiens received a break at the end of the second period. Joel Edmundson was penalized for tripping, but it evened out when Zach Hyman was deemed guilty of embellishment.

But the Canadiens, who had a 22-12 edge on the shot clock after two periods, allowed the Leafs to take a 2-1 lead when defenceman Justin Holl scored while the teams were playing 4-on-4. Ilya Mikheyev beat Carey Price 42 seconds later to give the Leafs some breathing room.

Tomas Tatar scored on a scramble in front with 3:20 to play, but Hyman sealed the win with an empty-net goal.

The win enabled the Leafs to tighten their grip on first place the Canadian division with 23 points. They are five points ahead of Montreal, but the Canadiens do have a game in hand.

The Canadiens did a good job of containing Mitch Marner, , John Tavares and Auston Matthews, whose eight-game goal- scoring steak came to an end. But Holl, Mikheyev and Travis Dermott all scored their first goals of the season.

The Canadiens got off to a quick start and took a 1-0 lead when Josh Anderson beat Frederik Andersen at 1:16. Anderson created some space for himself by checking Jake Muzzin along the boards and then released to take a stretch pass from Jonathan Drouin. Anderson used his speed to find some room on the right wing and beat Andersen through his pads.

The Canadiens’ failure to clear the puck during a 4-on-4 situation allowed the Leafs to tie the game at 15:18 of the second period. The Canadiens had the puck on their sticks at least four times but were unable to get the puck out of the zone and Dermott made them pay when he scored his first goal of the season.

Carey Price looks behind him as he is beaten by a shot by Maple Leafs' Travis Dermott during the second period at the Bell Centre on Wednesday.

One of Price’s perceived weaknesses is a tendency to drop to the ice too quickly and that was the case on this goal as Price dropped to his knees and Dermott found the top shelf on Price’s blocker side.

John Tavares was out of the Leafs’ lineup for three shifts after he was sent to the quiet room to go through the NHL concussion protocol. Tavares was shaken up when Shea Weber fell on him early in the second period.

Joel Armia returned to the lineup after missing seven games with a concussion. He was in his usual spot at right wing on the third line with Tyler Toffoli and Jesperi Kotkaniemi. Corey Perry dropped down to the fourth line, replacing Paul Byron.

Armia had a scare in the first period when he was hit in the face by a high stick wielded by Pierre Engvall, who received a two-minute penalty.

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 02.11.2021 1183391 Montreal Canadiens Drouin grew up in Ste–Agathe and only started playing organized hockey when he was 8 at the Novice B level. Until that point, he didn’t like skating and preferred to go on the outdoor rink in his boots with his friends or play road hockey. That’s how he first developed his puck- Stu Cowan: Jonathan Drouin turns corner in fourth season with handling skills and it was just for fun. Canadiens Hockey has become a job for Drouin and he’s in the fourth season of his Winger gets off to good start this season by using some of the skills he six-year, US$33-million contract with a $5.5-million salary cap hit. But learned as a boy wearing his boots on outdoor rink in Ste-Agathe. he’s having fun again.

When asked Wednesday morning if this is the most fun he’s had since joining the Canadiens, Drouin said: “Yeah, definitely. Obviously, Stu Cowan Montreal Gazette winning’s fun. Everybody likes to be winning games. We’re in a good spot right now and it’s a great group of guys. It was a great group of guys every year I’ve been here, but this year there’s a different feel to when It’s going on four years since the Canadiens acquired Jonathan Drouin you show up to games. and he arrived in Montreal with the weight of a province on his shoulders. “I don’t know, it’s hard to explain one thing, but we’re definitely feeling “There’s obviously the pressure of playing in Montreal … everybody good about ourselves,” he added. “We have a good group of guys. knows that,” Drouin said during a news conference after GM Marc Everyone’s together, everyone’s hanging out and we’re playing well Bergevin acquired him on June 15, 2017, from the Tampa Bay Lightning together. But the biggest thing, definitely for fun, is winning games.” in exchange for defenceman Mikhail Sergachev. “But for me as a player, I think I’d rather have that pressure on myself than some other places. Montreal Gazette LOADED: 02.11.2021 I’m a French-Canadian and I like pressure … I like that stuff. I’ve played at the Bell Centre many times as an away guy and just to be on the home side is going to be even better.”

After a disappointing first three seasons with the Canadiens, things are going much better for Drouin. Heading into Wednesday night’s game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, the 25-year-old had 1-9-10 totals in 12 games and was plus-7.

Drouin has picked up where he left off in the post-season last year when he posted 1-6-7 totals in 10 games and tied for the team lead in points with Suzuki, who had 4-3-7 totals. Drouin and Suzuki had good chemistry together in the Toronto playoff bubble and off-season acquisition Josh Anderson, a 6-foot-3, 226-pound power forward, has been a great fit on their line.

Suzuki headed into Wednesday’s game with 3-9-12 totals, while Anderson had 8-2-10.

“I think we’re skating, we’re all over the puck,” Drouin said about his line during a video conference Wednesday morning. “We’re playing well together. We’re using each other. But for me, I think it’s just being on the puck, skating there. I’m not waiting for stuff to happen. I’m going around that puck and making things happen, and I think we’re doing that as a line. So I’m pretty happy about our start, but it’s got to keep going.”

Drouin also got off to a good start last season. He had 7-8-15 totals in the first 19 games before suffering a wrist injury that required surgery in a 5-2 win over the Capitals in Washington on Nov. 15. Drouin missed the next 37 games. After returning to the lineup on Feb. 8, Drouin was pointless in eight games, along with a minus-10, before an ankle injury ended his regular season.

Jon Goyens, who coached Drouin when he was with the midget Triple-A Lac St. Louis Lions, calls him a “hockey savant.”

“He knows what everybody’s wearing equipment-wise, he knows how everybody tapes their stick, he knows everybody’s curves,” Goyens said after the Canadiens acquired Drouin.

Drouin still watches lots of hockey on TV and analyzes his game on video.

“I’d like to shoot more,” Drouin said when asked what he’s noticed watching himself on video this season. “Definitely that’s something I want to work on. But I don’t want to be one of those guys that’s shooting pucks at the net just to get my Corsi (advanced metric) or my shot numbers up. I want to have the good quality shots. But that’s definitely one thing this year. I look at my shots, I need more shots on net. I need to be more of a threat to shoot, so it opens up for my teammates.”

Heading into Wednesday’s game, Drouin ranked 15th on the Canadiens with 13 shots this season. Eight of those shots had come in the previous five games, so he’s definitely working on it.

Head coach Claude Julien has liked Drouin’s consistency this season.

“He’s been pretty consistent since the start of the year,” Julien said. “I know he’s only got one goal, but he’s averaging almost a point a game and that kind of stuff. So he’s engaged for the most part.” 1183392 Montreal Canadiens I know everyone’s watching on TV. But, like I said, the energy’s there, the feeling of playing Toronto is always there, fans or no fans.”

Imagine what it would be like in the playoffs. Canadiens-Maple Leafs rivalry heating up this season Montreal Gazette LOADED: 02.11.2021 The last time these two Canadian rivals met in the playoffs was 1979 — six years before Habs captain Shea Weber was born.

Stu Cowan Montreal Gazette

The last time the Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs met in the playoffs was 1979.

That was six years before Canadiens captain Shea Weber was born. Coach Claude Julien was a 19-year-old defenceman with the junior Windsor Spitfires when the Canadiens swept the Leafs in their 1979 playoff quarter-final series en route to winning the Stanley Cup.

The Canadiens and Leafs have met 15 times in total in the playoffs, including five Stanley Cup finals. The Leafs beat the Canadiens in the 1947, 1951 and 1967 Cup finals, while the Canadiens won in 1959 and 1960.

While there’s still a long way to go this season, there’s a good chance the Canadiens and Leafs could meet in the playoffs in the all-Canadian North Division. One team from the division will advance to the Stanley Cup semi-finals.

Heading into Wednesday night’s game at the Bell Centre, the Leafs were in first place in the North Division with a 10-2-1 record, three points ahead of the Canadiens, who were 8-2-2.

It is the second of 10 games between the teams this season after the Leafs won the season opener 5-4 in overtime in Toronto on Jan. 13, scoring two power-play goals in the second period. The Leafs headed into Wednesday night’s matchup with a 7-0-1 record in their previous eight games.

“Obviously, they’re playing well,” Julien said about the Leafs during a video conference Wednesday morning. “They’re a top team right now. They’ve won some consecutive games here, they’re on a bit of a roll. I think if anything this is a good hockey club that I think has a good skill level.

“I think one of the biggest things tonight is we need to be disciplined,” the coach added. “I think when you look back at the last time we played them, those penalties in the second period really ended up costing us a point. So I think we have to respect that. They’re a good skating team. We need to be on top of these guys here from the get-go. So we’re going to require our team to play a solid 60-minute game here tonight and be extremely disciplined.

“I think both fans in Montreal and Toronto fans are excited about their teams being at the top of the standings right now,” Julien added. “It certainly bodes well for a good rivalry and a good battle right till the end of the year here.”

The Canadiens will play the Edmonton Oilers Thursday night at the Bell Centre (7 p.m., TSN2, RDS, TSN 690 Radio, 98.5 FM) before facing the Leafs again in Toronto on Saturday night. After that, the Canadiens won’t play another game until the following Saturday when they face the Leafs at the Bell Centre.

“It’s going to be a good little series here coming up in this next week and a half with those two Saturday games,” Julien said. “So we’re looking forward to it and I’m sure the fans are as well.”

The Canadiens’ Jonathan Drouin, who grew up in Ste-Agathe, is looking forward to playing in the games.

“I definitely watched a lot of Canadiens-Toronto games when I was a kid … a lot of Saturday nights,” Drouin said. “It’s definitely just as fun to be a part of, even though there’s no fans this year (because of COVID-19). There’s still that energy to it. The rivalry’s there.

“Both teams are high in the standings in the Canadian division,” Drouin added. “It should be a very good game, it should be a high pace. Hopefully we get fans for those games (eventually). It’s fun to get in that building and knowing you’re playing one of those games against Toronto. 1183393 Montreal Canadiens “That first goal, the four-on-four, we had the puck four times on our blade and we didn’t get out,” coach Claude Julien said after the game. “We turned it over. So that’s exactly what cost us that first goal in the second period.” Canadiens Game Day: Good start, but ugly end as Habs lose 4-2 to Leafs The Leafs improved their record to 11-2-1 and moved five points ahead of the second-place Canadiens (8-3-2) in the North Division. The Leafs Second straight loss for Carey Price as his record falls to 4-2-2 with a are 8-0-1 in their last nine games. 2.84 goals-against average and a .896 save percentage. “I thought our first 10 minutes of the game we were on top of them,” the Canadiens’ Corey Perry said. “We were taking time and space away. They get two four-on-four goals. That’s kind of the momentum they Stu Cowan Montreal Gazette needed and went from there.”

This was the second of 10 games this season between these two teams. The good, the bad and the ugly. The Leafs won the season opener 5-4 in overtime in Toronto with Price in goal for the Canadiens. That’s the best way to describe the Canadiens’ 4-2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs Wednesday night at the Bell Centre. “I thought we started the right way tonight,” Anderson said. “I thought we were physical on their D and on their top players. But we just came up Things started off very good for the Canadiens as Josh Anderson scored short. It’s a long year. It’s going to be a long series against these guys on their first shot only 1:16 into the game. and there’s going to be a lot of good hockey.”

It was a true power-forward goal as the 6-foot-3, 226-pound Anderson hit The Canadiens pretty much shut down the Leafs’ top two offensive Leafs defenceman Jake Muzzin with a solid bodycheck in front of the players as Auston Matthews saw his eight-game goal streak come to an Canadiens’ bench, almost knocking him over the boards. Anderson then end and Mitch Marner’s eight-game assist streak also ended. Matthews, skated away, took a nice pass from Jonathan Drouin and broke down the who leads the NHL with 11 goals, did pick up an assist. right wing, getting past back-checking centre John Tavares and cutting toward the net before beating goalie Frederik Andersen through the five- Second straight loss for Price hole. Price suffered his second straight loss after allowing three goals on 23 It was the ninth goal of the season for Anderson — tying Tyler Toffoli for shots. His record is now 4-2-2 with a 2.84 goals-against average and a the team lead — while Drouin picked up his 10th assist. Anderson has .896 save percentage. now scored in four straight games. Expect to see Jake Allen in goal when the Canadiens play the Edmonton 5 buts à ses 4 derniers match. Josh Anderson est en feu. Oilers Thursday night at the Bell Centre (7 p.m., TSN2, RDS, TSN 690 Radio, 98.5 FM). Allen is 4-1-0 with a 1.81 goals-against average and a 5 goals in 4 games. Josh Anderson = #GoHabsGo .940 save percentage. Price allowed three goals on 22 shots in a 3-2 loss pic.twitter.com/Kt7TFARGOM to the Ottawa Senators last Thursday night at the Bell Centre, while Allen stopped 34 of 35 shots in Saturday’s 2-1 win over the Senators in — Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) February 11, 2021 Ottawa. Midway through the first period, the Canadiens were outshooting the This was Price’s eighth start in the Canadiens’ first 13 games. Last Leafs 7-1 and were in total control. The Leafs outshot the Canadiens 5-2 season, he started 10 of the first 13 games and 21 of the first 25. He in the last 10 minutes of the period — a sign of things to come — but the finished the season with 58 starts, the most of any goalie in the NHL, Canadiens were still leading 1-0 heading into the first intermission. while posting a 27-25-6 record with a 2.79 goals-against average and a Things started to get bad in the second period and the Leafs’ Travis .909 save percentage. Dermott tied it up 1-1 at the 15:18 mark when he beat Carey Price with a When asked Tuesday if it has been a tough adjustment to not playing as short-side shot to the blocker side, which seems to have become a weak much this season, Price said: “Not really, to be honest. It’s not spot for the goalie this season. challenging because Jake is playing really well. I’m just trying to focus on Derms with an absolute #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/U4qliJIP6b practising right, preparing the right way. It’s allowed me the opportunity to work on things in practice and take some longer practices and it’s — Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) February 11, 2021 actually been beneficial for me, I think.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW “Right now, we’re kind of in an odd, slower part of the schedule,” Price This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. added. “Jake’s playing really well. I totally understand the situation that we’re in. Just use practice wisely, keep preparing for that next start Article content because we know that the tough part of the schedule is coming up.”

The third period was ugly as the Leafs got two goals in a 42-second Tatar réduit l'écart! On lâche pas. span. Justin Holl scored at 1:50, blasting a shot over Price’s glove hand from the high slot while the unscreened goalie was on his knees, and Ilya Tatar makes it a one-goal game!#GoHabsGo Mikheyev scored at 2:32, banging the puck in from just outside the pic.twitter.com/jyGmCTvpVq crease. — Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) February 11, 2021

Here comes the BOOM! #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/a26O26JCwM Armia returns to lineup

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) February 11, 2021 Armia returned to the Canadiens’ lineup after missing the previous seven Tomas Tatar cut the Leafs’ lead to 3-2 when he scored his fourth of the games with a concussion. To make room for Armia, Paul Byron was season at the 16:40 mark, but Zach Hyman’s empty-netter at 18:56 made a healthy scratch. clinched the victory for Toronto. Tatar’s goal came after he had been Armia logged 15:25 of ice time with no shots and no hits. In six games taken off his regular line with Phillip Danault and Brendan Gallagher and this season, he has 2-3-5 totals and is plus-6. was put with Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Joel Armia. Toffoli took Tatar’s spot with Danault and Gallagher. “I felt pretty good,” Armia said after the game. “I was surprised myself how good I felt. I think my legs were moving. I think I was good on the Toronto’s first two goals came when the teams were playing four-on-four battles, too. So I felt good.” and the Canadiens were dominated, unable to get the puck out of their own zone. Byron was scratched after posting 0-3-3 totals in the first 12 games.

Soup is back on the menu! #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/gpXmiPmjoi “I guess there doesn’t always have to be a reason,” Julien said after the game when asked about Byron being scratched. “When I say that, I’m — Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) February 11, 2021 just saying like right now we have some extra players and tonight we felt that it was important to have Corey Perry in the lineup for our power-play reasons and we needed some goal-scoring. So sometimes you make we’ve been the fortunate ones in the North Division — in the Canadian these kind of decisions. They’re not easy because you know you’re division — where so far, and we knock on wood saying that, we’ve been taking out a guy who’s been a good player and all that stuff. It doesn’t lucky with not having too many issues. But, at the same time, it’s just mean he’s out forever. It’s just that tonight we had to make a decision on about respecting the protocols as best we can here and try and stay as somebody had to sit out because Armia was coming back and Paul safe as we can as well.” ended up being the player that was out. Drouin said the new rule about when players can arrive at the rink “He’s very capable of playing, but he’s not 100 per cent,” Julien added doesn’t have an impact on him. about Byron. “I’m not one of those guys that comes that early,” he said. “But I’m sure Tough night for Danault some guys are definitely changing their routine. Some guys have been doing it for years where they show up three, three-and-a-half hours Danault did not have a good game. He finished the night pointless and (early). They want to get ready slowly and do all their stuff without any minus-1 and also struggled in the faceoff circle, going 4-8 (33 per cent). rush. I’m a little bit of the opposite. I like not having to think about the Danault and Byron are the only two Canadiens forwards without a goal game so much. I just like showing up to the rink, getting ready for a bit this season and Danault has only one goal in his last 36 games, dating and putting my equipment on. So I’m happy about the rule, but I’m sure back to last season. Danault has five assists this season and is plus-2 in some guys aren’t.” the final year of his contract with a $3.083 million salary-cap hit. Montreal Gazette LOADED: 02.11.2021 It was also a tough night for captain Shea Weber, who finished minus-3.

Some stats

The Canadiens outshot the Leafs 35-24, while the hits were tied 19-19. Both teams went 0-for-2 on the power play.

Jeff Petry led the Canadiens in ice time with 22:23, followed by Weber (22:08) and Ben Chiarot (21:37). Nick Suzuki led the forwards in ice time with 19:27, followed by Toffoli and Gallagher (16:05).

Tatar had a team-leading six shots, while Toffoli had four. Anderson led the Canadiens with four hits.

The Canadiens won 47 per cent of the faceoffs. Jake Evans had a very good night in the faceoff circle, going 6-2 (75 per cent). Suzuki went 8-7 (53 per cent) and Kotkaniemi was 3-4 (43 per cent).

Challenging week

After facing Toronto’s Matthews and Marner, the Canadiens will take on the Oilers’ dynamic duo of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl Thursday night at the Bell Centre before facing the Leafs again Saturday night in Toronto.

McDavid leads the NHL in scoring with 9-18-27 totals, while Draisaitl is second with 8-17-25, followed by Marner with 6-15-21.

“I don’t know if I would use the term defensive structure more than you got to be responsible with the puck and you got to be responsible without the puck,” Julien said about the challenge his team faces defensively. “For us, we want to be one of the teams that we bring some offence to our game and are able to score some goals. It’s getting tougher and tougher as we move forward here because teams are getting better defensively. But, at the same time, there’s a lot of firepower in our division where when we don’t have the puck, defensively we have to be sound. So we’ve been trying to work on both aspects of that game — the offensive part, defensive part — and hopefully we find a good balance there.”

COVID-19 protocols

The NHL had to postpone Tuesday night’s game between Philadelphia and the Washington Capitals after the Flyers’ Claude Giroux and Justin Brun were placed on the league’s COVID-19 protocol list.

The NHL has postponed 32 games so far this season because of COVID-19, but none in the all-Canadian North Division. The New Jersey Devils, Buffalo Sabres, Minnesota Wild and Colorado Avalanche have all postponed multiple games because of COVID-19 outbreaks among players. Sabres coach Ralph Krueger also tested positive for COVID-19

One of the new COVID-19 protocols the NHL put in place last week is that players are now not allowed to arrive at the arena more than 1 hour and 45 minutes before puck drop, unless it’s for treatment of injuries. Coaches have also been holding virtual meetings with players instead of in-person.

“It is very difficult to do those kind of virtual meetings,” Julien said. “You’re going to run into some players who say my Internet wasn’t working well at home and all that kind of stuff. I think the biggest thing here is we’re doing the best we can and that’s all the league is asking us to do.

“They’re encouraging players not to get to the rink too early to spend more time apart than together,” the coach added. “At the same time, 1183394 Montreal Canadiens

Tomas Tatar is a tartare spokesman now, because his name is close enough

It’s like nominative determinism, but with autocorrect enabled.

Montreal Gazette Publishing date:Feb 10, 2021

First things first: there are only two canonical pronunciations of Tomas Tatar — the correct one and the “TATAARRRRRRRR” version that local fan Derek Toulouse went viral for shouting a couple years ago.

Neither of those versions are all that close to “tartare,” but you’ll surely concede that they’re closer than, say, Romanov, Price or Kotkaniemi.

Thus, with a thudding sense of inevitability, we bring you news that Tatar is doing a tartare promotion for a local restaurant chain.

For each goal Tatar scores, Küto Restaurants will give customers a discount on the “tuna tatar” (get it?), according to a post on the forward’s Instagram. If you’re wondering how much tartare that might involve, Tatar has topped 20 goals in both of his full seasons with the Habs — one of which was abridged due to the pandemic.

There’s also a contest in which you can win one of 50 pucks signed by the forward.

Tatar’s involvement with the brand dates back nearly a year, when they first introduced the menu item that is maybe, kind of, almost named after him.

Having established that the Tatar-tartare similarity is enough to get a long-running promotional campaign, we should expect a variety of foods riffing on Canadiens’ names to appear any day now:

“The Toffoli Cannoli”

“Veggie Galla-bur-gher”

“Bergie’s perogies”

“Carey fried rice” (this one may take on too much meaning if Jake Allen continues to be the team’s best goalkeeper)

That’s something we can all look forward to.

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 02.11.2021 1183395 Montreal Canadiens

Maple Leafs at Canadiens: Five things you should know

Toronto star Auston Matthews is the hottest goal-scorer in the NHL, with at least one goal in each of the last eight games.

Pat Hickey Montreal Gazette

Here are five things you should know about the Canadiens-Maple Leafs game at the Bell Centre Wednesday (7:30 p.m., Sportsnet, RDS, TSN 690 Radio, 98.5 FM):

The matchup: The Montreal-Toronto rivalry is the oldest in the NHL and it takes on added significance in this shortened season as the teams are 1- 2 in the Canadian division standings. Toronto leads the pack with 21 points and is on a three-game win streak after beating Vancouver 3-1 Monday. The Canadiens, who have been idle since edging Ottawa 2-1 Saturday, have 18 points, but they also hold a game in hand on the Leafs. This is the second of 10 meetings between these teams and the Leafs were 5-4 winners in overtime in the season opener in Toronto. They will meet again Saturday in Toronto.

Petry attracting notice: Jeff Petry leads the Canadiens in scoring with 14 points, including six goals, and that’s the type of performance that will impress the folks who vote for the Norris Trophy, particularly because he’s also plus-14 in the high-scoring North Division. Tyler Toffoli continues to be the team’s leading goal-scorer, with nine, but eight of those goals have been against the Vancouver Canucks and he has to prove he can produce against the rest of the division. Josh Anderson emerged from the concussion protocol Saturday to break a 1-1 tie in the victory over Ottawa and he has eight goals.

The Matthews factor: Carey Price, who is expected to start in goal for the Canadiens, says he loves to watch Leafs superstar Auston Matthews in action, but not when they’re on the ice at the same time. Matthews, 23, has enjoyed a great deal of success against the Canadiens with 12 goals and six assists in 15 games. He is the hottest goal-scorer in the NHL, with at least one goal in each of the last eight games, and he leads the league with 11 goals.

Not a one-man show: Matthews isn’t the only player the Canadiens have to watch closely. While Montreal leads the NHL in scoring, with an average of four goals a game, the Leafs are a close second at 3.69 and they have four other players who are close to a point-a-game pace against the Canadiens. William Nylander is right there with eight goals and 14 points in 14 games; Mitch Marner has 13 points — all assists — in 15 games and John Tavares has 15 goals and 33 points in 36 games. The Leaf who has done the most damage against the Canadiens over the years is Jason Spezza, who terrorized goaltenders when he played with a wooden stick in Ottawa. He has 32 goals and 70 points in 67 games.

Perry stays in the lineup: Joel Armia has been upgraded to day-to-day as he recovers from a concussion, but this is not the day. Armia and Corey Perry alternated on the Jesperi Kotkaniemi line in practice Thursday, but Perry was on the No. 1 power-play unit and that’s the tipoff he’ll stay in the lineup. It will be Perry’s eighth game since he was elevated from the taxi squad. He must be exposed to waivers after he plays his ninth game. The Leafs are without veterans Wayne Simmonds (broken wrist) and Joe Thornton (broken rib).

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 02.11.2021 1183396 Montreal Canadiens Carey Price allowed three or more goals for the fourth time in eight starts, and the Canadiens certainly could have used a save on one of the two goals the Maple Leafs scored at four-on-four on shots from distance. But what should be of greater concern to the Canadiens is they weren’t The Canadiens must address a lack of urgency before it actually particularly dangerous after that initial flurry to start the game until it was becomes urgent almost too late, until they were down two goals in the third period and began playing the way they know how.

The power play is now 2-for-21 over that six-game sample and is quickly By Arpon Basu Feb 10, 2021 becoming a problem, which was made all the more apparent with one that was so bad it swung the momentum of this game. The Canadiens’ shooting percentage has regressed, which was to be expected, but they The Canadiens spent two days fine-tuning their game, recognizing that are not manufacturing the same quality of chances off the rush as they what the Ottawa Senators had done to them two games in a row was not were earlier this season, either. Phillip Danault is not playing like a top acceptable. centre, and with inconsistency that was to be expected from the young centres behind him, that’s a problem too. Danault had the 2-0 goal on his So they worked. stick early in the first period, with Frederik Andersen down and out and Everyone seemed happy with the time to practice and how they used that the entire top half of the net to shoot at. Danault couldn’t get the puck up time, because the Canadiens have clearly set a standard for themselves high enough, Andersen stopped it while sitting on the ice, and an and were not meeting it. opportunity to take a stranglehold on this game early on was squandered. “Obviously we were disappointed we lost the first game to them. It’s a chance to get a little bit of revenge in that aspect,” Brendan Gallagher This is not meant to pin this loss on Price or the power play or Danault, said Monday of this second of 10 meetings with the Toronto Maple Leafs. just that these issues are among several that have arisen for the “But for us, we just want to put our best game forward and continue to Canadiens, and there needs to be a certain level of urgency to fix them grow as a team. that does not appear to exist for the moment.

“We’ve got goals as a team, and we’re trying to reach those things, so we After the game, Corey Perry, Joel Armia and Josh Anderson were trotted need to continue to get better every day.” out to the Zoom mic to explain the game, and none of them seemed all that bothered with the quality of their game. Again, the Canadiens were One of those goals must be to finish ahead of the Maple Leafs, and even not bad Wednesday. They were fine. And frankly, that seemed fine with though there are so many games remaining against them, that makes them. games like the one played on national television Wednesday night at the Bell Centre a four-point game in so far as its impact on the standings. It is “They scored that goal in the second and kind of grabbed some early in the season, but it’s never really all that early in this season. The momentum,” Perry said. “But I thought at that point we kind of had control Canadiens have already played nearly a quarter of their season, they of the game still.” have played the Maple Leafs twice, and they have now lost twice. “I thought we started the right way tonight,” Anderson added. “I thought The Canadiens began the game playing like there was some urgency to we were physical on their D and on their top players. But we just came this game, like it mattered. Then the Maple Leafs took a penalty midway up short. It’s a long year, it’s going to be a long series against these through the first period, the Canadiens went on the power play, and the guys, and there’s going to be a lot of good hockey.” game turned. Even Claude Julien didn’t appear to have a big problem with how his That power play was so bad, it shifted the momentum in the Leafs’ team played aside from the glaring mistakes that resulted in each of the favour. And even though the Canadiens held an edge in shots and every Maple Leafs’ goals. He pointed to having a decided edge in shots in the other metric that is measured in a game, they never felt as threatening as second period when asked if the Canadiens strayed from the game plan they did in those opening 10 minutes, at least not until they were down in the middle frame. The mistakes were upsetting to Julien, but the rest of two goals in the third period. In between, the Canadiens were, to use a his team’s game appeared, shall we say, fine. term Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe used to describe his team “It’s more so the mistakes that stand out,” Julien said. “You look at the through 40 minutes, fine. first goal they scored at four-on-four, we had the puck four times, and we No more than that, and they definitely stopped looking like the team that gave it back to them four times in our zone before they scored.” placed huge importance on this game and had that urgency in their game In the other dressing room, between the second and third periods, Keefe because of the substandard performances that preceded it. was imploring his players to be a bit more than fine. He emphasized the “Defensively today, we didn’t give them very much at all,” Keefe said. “In importance he placed on this game against the Maple Leafs’ biggest fact, I had this as the lowest number of scoring chances we gave up in a challenger in the division to his players. game all season. Despite some of the volume, I thought our guys did a “We pushed our guys just to have a real strong start to the period,” Keefe really good job protecting the middle of the ice, not giving up any odd- said. “I thought we had played a fine game, but I don’t think we had any man (rushes). The first goal they got behind us a little bit, but that was real strong pushes. We wanted that, and I thought we got it.” really it. They never really got behind us again off the rush.” The Canadiens need a little bit of that push right now. Three games is not Think back to that first game against the Maple Leafs on opening night in a lot, and little slumps happen and are no reason to be overly alarmed. Toronto, how the Canadiens got breakaway after breakaway, how they But no team should know better than this one how quickly those little created those opportunities by forcing turnovers and pressuring the puck slumps can become big ones because of how the Canadiens’ season got and doing all the things their identity is centered on. That simply didn’t completely derailed by two eight-game losing streaks last year. happen Wednesday, not after that soul-sucking power play midway through the first period. If the Canadiens want to meet the goals they have set for themselves, they will need to find the energy and speed and pressure that fueled their The Canadiens are 8-3-2, which is an excellent start. But they are also 3- hot start to the season. 3-0 in their past six games and, aside from an 11-goal outburst against the Vancouver Canucks, have scored six goals in those four other They will need to manufacture some urgency, in other words, before the games. situation actually becomes urgent.

Sample size is always something to keep in mind, but a six-game sample The Athletic LOADED: 02.11.2021 represents nearly half the games the Canadiens have played, and they have not looked right for three games in a row. The Canadiens wanted to bounce back after losing to the Senators last Thursday and proceeded to play worse in the next game, even if they won. They certainly played better against the Maple Leafs, but they did not play to the standard they have set for themselves. 1183397 Montreal Canadiens “They clogged it and they slowed us down really well,” Gallagher said. “We weren’t able to get our forecheck going as well, we weren’t able to come through the neutral zone as well, it was pretty much all over the ice. They slowed us down, and we weren’t able to penetrate that. They In depth: How the Canadiens identified problems and addressed them in had a good plan. What they did worked. Now that we’ve seen that, I think practice there’s some areas we could have been better, and hopefully we’re able to make those adjustments because we’re probably going to see that

going forward here.” By Arpon Basu Feb 10, 2021 So the Canadiens dealt with it in practice.

Battles along the wall to get the puck out of the zone Over the last two games against the Ottawa Senators, games the This became a serious issue as the games against the Senators Canadiens were expected to dominate in a matchup of the hottest and progressed. And this is something that drives Julien crazy. coldest teams in the NHL, a market correction was to be expected. Because this comes down to effort and execution. The way the games unfolded might have been shocking to some, but in reality, it was somewhat predictable. The Senators were not going to The Canadiens, over the course of two days, ran one-on-one, two-on-two continue getting blown out, and the Canadiens were not going to and three-on-three drills deep in the zone to counter this developing fault continue blowing teams out. It was inevitable. in their game.

But regardless of how the law of averages played out against the “I found we didn’t play our best games against Ottawa, the second one in Senators, the Canadiens took something from these two games, things particular, and at the end of the day, we have talent, we have depth, but they needed to clean up to continue their hot start to the season. The if our work ethic, if our compete level isn’t at its maximum, we become standard for the Canadiens this season is quite high, and these games just another team,” Julien said. “We saw that Saturday, we were just a provided a needed reminder that maintaining that standard will not be very ordinary team and it took everything to win the game.” easy. Beating them at their own game “For two games, they had a plan, and it was tough to play against,” Brendan Gallagher said. “They were really in our face, and they worked, The Canadiens repeatedly said how the Senators were in their face, and they skated. I wouldn’t say we were extremely happy with our efforts. which is something the Canadiens themselves take pride in doing. Not taking anything away from Ottawa, they did what they had to do, but The Canadiens had a perfect gap in their schedule to address these for us it’s more so just a matter of getting back to what we did so well issues just ahead of their toughest test of the season, against a team early on in the year where it doesn’t really matter what the other team is they hope to compete with for supremacy in this division. doing to us. It’s just about executing our game plan. I think with a little reset here, we can probably get back to a lot of the things we talked “I could really care less about what the Leafs are doing,” Gallagher said. about early on in the year.” “They’re a very good team, they’ve got their own storyline that they’re following through, but for us it’s just about playing our game. Obviously For two days Monday and Tuesday, the Canadiens attempted to do that we were disappointed we lost the first game to them, it’s a chance to get reset with a game against the most daunting opponent in their division, a little bit of revenge in that aspect. But for us, we just want to put our the Toronto Maple Leafs, facing them next. best game forward and continue to grow as a team. We’ve got goals as a “There were things we could have done better, whether it’s reloading, team, and we’re trying to reach those things, so we need to continue to killing plays before they even got a chance to get a scoring chance, that get better every day.” kind of stuff,” Claude Julien said after practice Tuesday. “So along the This week will show if the Canadiens accomplished that. walls, getting pucks out, I think there were lots of areas where I felt we could have been better. That’s what we worked on the last couple of The Athletic LOADED: 02.11.2021 days, to see if we can’t clean that up a little bit.”

Here is a look at what the Canadiens identified as issues, and how they aimed to fix them.

Forechecking

This is an aspect of the game where the Canadiens normally excel. It is really at the heart of everything they try to do. But it was not at its best against the Senators.

Nor was it particularly exemplary here.

Which is why we saw a drill at practice Monday that is pretty rare. It was methodical in order to drive home exactly how the Canadiens should be forechecking, making sure to note the positioning in different situations.

Reloading

This was another aspect of the drill shown above, how the forwards left the zone, twirled around a pylon and re-entered the zone. The Canadiens practiced this over and over, because they showed over and over again against Ottawa that this aspect of their game was not up to par.

And again.

Which is why it was worked on repeatedly at practice over these two days.

Beating a clogged neutral zone

This is something the Senators did very well against the Canadiens, preventing them from gaining speed through the neutral zone like they had done against so many opponents this season.

Such as here.

Or here. 1183398 Nashville Predators The Blue Jackets, who were in second place in the division going into Tuesday, put goalie Elvis Merzlikins on injured reserve after he sustained an upper-body injury during practice Feb. 3. The team's co-No.1 goalie strategy, using Merzlikins along with Joonas Korpisalo, helped the team Nashville Predators and the NHL Central Division: Winners and losers get this far, despite allowing a division-high 45 goals through Monday. from Week 4 Matiss Kivlenieks, who made his NHL debut last season, is Korpisalo's backup.

PAUL SKRBINA | Nashville Tennessean On Monday, Laine, whom the team acquired in a trade with the Jets, was benched for the entire third period. He scored two goals the night before.

No surprise the Predators held their spot here from previous weeks. As COVID-19 continues to disrupt the regular season — more games were postponed this week — it has left the Central Division alone of late. They are near the bottom of the division. The penalty kill is at the bottom of the league. The power play is near the bottom of the league. Not much else has changed in the last week, either. Underachieving center Ryan Johansen is on injured reserve. They'd lost The Lightning are still on top. three in a row going into Wednesday The Red Wings are still on the bottom. The players held a meeting after Monday's loss to the Lightning, then lost The Predators are still, well, the Predators. 6-1 to the same team Tuesday.

And Patrick Kane is still Patrick Kane. IT'S A GIRL: Nashville Predators' Mattias Ekholm, wife Ida, welcome baby girl WEEK 1: COVID-19 affects Predators, most others Detroit Red Wings WEEK 2: Nashville Predators lose some shine Let's start with the good news: The Wings became the first team to beat WEEK 3:Nashville Predators are reeling a bit the Florida Panthers in regulation this season, 4-1 on Sunday when Thomas Greiss stopped 36 of 37 shots to end their losing streak at eight. Without further ado, here's a look at the winners and losers from the division during the last week: Those goals more than doubled their league-worst 1.8 goals per game.

Winners The bad news: They held down last place with a 3-9-2 record and had just eight points going into Wednesday's games. Let us not forget about Tampa Bay Lightning that eight-game losing streak. The defending Stanley Cup champions look ready to defend their Stanley Tennessean LOADED: 02.11.2021 Cup.

The division leaders had won six in a row going into Wednesday and were 9-1-1 overall.

They were averaging 3.6 goals and allowing a league-low 1.9.

Andrei Vasilevskiy started the first nine games and allowed 1.88 goals against. His 37-year-old backup, Curtis McElhinney, allowed one goal on 25 attempts Monday against the Predators. Vasilevskiy returned Tuesday and also allowed just one goal.

They have eight players with at least three goals and four with double digits in points.

Good luck, rest of the division.

Patrick Kane

The 32-year-old, in his 14th season, is playing more like a 22-year-old.

He had three goals and six assists in the team's previous five games going into Wednesday, four of which were victories. He's averaging 21:48 in ice time per game, second highest mark of his career.

Oh, and he's helping carry the Blackhawks to a 6-4-4 record, which put them three points from the division lead. All of this without sidekick Jonathan Toews, who has been on long-term injured reserve all season.

Mikko Koivu

The Blue Jackets' 37-year-old center announced his retirement Tuesday. He spent the first 15 years of his career with the Minnesota Wild before joining Columbus this season.

He has 206 goals and 505 assists in his career but said his level of play (a goal and an assist in seven games) this season wasn't acceptable, which led to his decision.

"I need to be true to myself and fair to my teammates," he said in a statement. "So the time is right."

Losers

Columbus Blue Jackets

Elvis has left the building. For now. Mikko too. For good.

Patrik Laine left the game for "mouthing off" to an assistant coach. 1183399 Nashville Predators According to data compiled by Sportlogiq, the differences between the Predators’ underlying five-on-five numbers on offense under Laviolette and Hynes are not as extreme as the results suggest. The metrics indicate that the Hynes-coached Predators should be scoring more John Hynes is getting the most he can out of a flawed Predators roster based on their shot quality.

Since Hynes took over last year, the Predators have averaged 2.07 five- on-five goals per 60 minutes compared to 2.35 expected goals. They By Adam Vingan Feb 10, 2021 outperformed their expected five-on-five output under Laviolette (2.68 expected goals per 60 versus 3.1 actual goals), which tends to point toward luck. When talking about John Hynes’ tenure as Predators coach, it is important to put it into context. “When (the Predators have) scored this year, they’ve scored generating off the rush and off of second chances at the net-front,” Doerrie said. Hired one day after the Predators fired Peter Laviolette in January 2020, “The problem is they’re not very consistent at doing that.” Hynes inherited a team in disarray. Two months later, the NHL hit pause on the season in response to the coronavirus. To Doerrie’s point, the Predators have scored two rebound goals at five- on-five and five overall in 13 games, something that Hynes pointed out The Predators returned briefly over the summer after spending four Tuesday evening. months in relative isolation. Then came another extended break before the team reconvened last month to prepare for this season. Special-teams play is virtually identical.

In all, Hynes, who has not presided over a full-length training camp, has PP/PK Statistics Under Laviolette/Hynes coached 45 games since taking the job 13 months ago. PP Expected Goals “I know it’s been tough on him coming in,” Predators center Matt 0.25 Duchene said last week. “Kind of right away, it’s COVID, then the (postseason) bubble and then this year.” 0.25

The initial reaction from Predators fans to Hynes’ hiring was tepid, and PP Goals their feelings have not changed over the past year. He does not have his predecessor’s fiery disposition or resume, and his 21-19-1 regular- 0.2 season record with the Predators is used as a cudgel against him. 0.21 Coaches are easy targets. But it is worth asking if Hynes, whose contract PP Shots On Net runs through next season, is doing the best he can with the players at his disposal. 1.99

“John needs puck-moving defensemen — guys who can go back, get the 1.98 puck and move it quickly, so they’re basically facilitators,” said Rachel Doerrie, who worked closely with Hynes as a player information/video PP Slot Shots On Net analyst in the New Jersey Devils’ hockey operations department from 1.05 December 2017 to January 2019. “He needs forwards who can play in transition and attack off the rush, and he needs guys who can read the 1.04 game well.” PP Inner Slot Shots “I’d argue he doesn’t have most of them. … The whole team to a degree still has Peter Laviolette’s system drilled into its head and all of the habits 0.57 that come along with that. John would prefer if his (defensemen) 0.55 facilitated as opposed to (being) the catalysts. I think when you have (Mattias) Ekholm and (Roman) Josi and (Ryan) Ellis, they’re used to PK Expected Goals Against being the catalysts, so there’s kind of like this mismatch of what’s going on. I think that’s what’s leading to some of the struggles that they’re 0.22 having.” 0.16

Up front, Doerrie said the Predators’ forward group is “not built at all for PK Goals Against success,” pointing specifically at the bottom six. 0.29 “John’s teams are successful when he has speed on all four lines, and he can get positive contributions, whether it’s offensively or defensively, 0.31 from all four lines,” said Doerrie, who is pursuing a Master of Science PK Slot Shots Against degree with a specialization in analytics and player valuation inefficiencies at York University in Toronto. “If you look at New Jersey 0.91 when he was there, Blake Coleman wasn’t playing on the second line. Blake Coleman was a third-line player. He was actually a fourth-line 0.71 player and moved his way up, but it was because Coleman was able to Hynes is not infallible. His forward lines Tuesday were head-scratching. provide things other than scoring. Theoretically, Nick Cousins, Erik Haula and Eeli Tolvanen, all of whom “I look at the Nashville roster, and I think that the depth is a massive, were scratched, offer more potential for offense than Sean Malone and massive issue. The reason it’s a massive issue is because there isn’t Michael McCarron. But it is not like Cousins, Haula and Tolvanen have enough skill in that depth.” been producing.

Debates over personnel and systems play have a chicken-or-the-egg Predators forwards vs. Lightning quality to them. A coach has to tailor his game plan to fit the strengths of Filip Forsberg his players, but a system cannot operate properly if the players cannot execute on the ice. Colton Sissons

“(Hynes is) amenable to adjustments,” Doerrie said. “He understands that Viktor Arvidsson if he doesn’t have the personnel, he’s OK with changing his system and how things work.” Mikael Granlund

The Predators’ 6-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday was Luke Kunin Hynes’ 41st regular-season game behind the bench, the same number of Matt Duchene games that Laviolette coached last season before being fired. Yakov Trenin

Michael McCarron

Mathieu Olivier

Rocco Grimaldi

Sean Malone

Calle Jarnkrok

On Monday, Predators captain Roman Josi bemoaned the team’s tentativeness at the start of games, saying, “It almost feels like we’re playing, but we’re not playing to win.” Hynes bears some responsibility for that, too.

Josi also said, “Everybody is playing hard,” which is true, and, “We’re not playing up to our potential right now,” which is debatable.

This is the Predators’ potential with a poorly constructed roster. Hynes might be squeezing as much as he can — or perhaps any coach could — out of this particular group.

“If I had the answer to the riddle at this point, I think we would be able to solve it,” he said Monday when asked how to rectify the Predators’ inconsistency.

That answer might simply be that the Predators are not a good team, regardless of who is in charge.

The Athletic LOADED: 02.11.2021 1183400 New Jersey Devils a cheap deal to keep him in NJ, I can see why they would protect him. If they think Zajac will move on in free agency, there’s not a need. It’s going to be an interesting decision either way.

Devils Insider Q&A wrap-up: How is Nico Hischier progressing and when I think that they have other guys more likely to be chosen than (Zajac) will he return? Will team be rusty after pause? right now ... and it might be worth the gamble to save some younger prospects/players and leave him off the save list.

That’s a 100% valid argument and why I could see the Devils not By Chris Ryan protecting him in any scenario. Seattle might not be interested in a soon- to-be 36-year-old center, so it might be worth the Devils protecting

another young prospect and take their chances on Seattle not going after While the Devils’ season is currently paused due to COVID-19 protocols, Zajac. there’s still plenty to talk about surrounding the team. Star Ledger LOADED: 02.11.2021 On Tuesday afternoon, subscribers to NJ.com’s text service, Devils Insider, took part in a live Q&A to discuss some burning questions about the team.

Here’s a recap of Tuesday’s Q&A with Devils Insider subscribers. To take part in future Q&As, plus receive daily text updates on news, observations and more, sign up for Devils Insider today.

On to the questions:

I know Nico (Hischier) is on the COVID-19 protocol list ... but any idea if he is ready to play yet? How’s he coming along?

He should be getting relatively close. He’s been out of his boot for a few weeks, and the main thing for him recovering from his offseason leg injury has been his comfort wearing a skate and moving around with it. He’s skated a bit, but they’re not going to rush him until he’s 100%. There haven’t been any setbacks, but the idea that he could have played on opening night was just a really aggressive goal for him.

Is this pause a positive Nico’s situation?

When can we expect Nico to play his first game? Thank you.

There aren’t many positives the Devils can take out of this situation, especially with so many players on the list. But the stop did allow Hischier to keep rehabbing without missing any more games. If he can start skating with the team briefly after facilities open again, he should only need a week or so of practices to get up to speed. So perhaps he can get full clearance later this month to get back in the lineup. He seems to be trending that way.

How will the long layoff affect play on the ice? Do you anticipate any “rust”?

It’s a fair question. We’ve seen some teams bounce back pretty quickly (Vegas, Dallas) after COVID pauses, but no team has gone through as long of a layoff as the Devils yet. So I imagine there will be a level of rust in the first couple games, but similar to how the season started. After all, most players were off for nearly 10 months between games. So they’ve at least had a little action to fall back on this time around.

Confidence in (Will) Butcher and wondering if you think he will become trade bait.

The Devils will eventually need Butcher this season, particularly now that their schedule is so tight. The same six defenseman can’t play all 56 games. Given the COVID and travel restrictions, I don’t think he’s a trade piece during the season. They’d rather have the depth. Maybe he becomes a trade asset in the summer if he doesn’t carve out a bigger role.

Jack Hughes has been remarkable so far at the start of the season. How many goals/assists/points do think he’ll end up with by the end if you had to give an estimate?

Given his start, it’s certainly fair to give a boost to preseason expectations for his final totals. He’s got 8 points in 9 games, but oddly enough, he had just 2 in the past 6 before the pause. That went a little more unnoticed because he was still playing so well. As for the final prediction, I’ll say he finishes with 12G/27A/39P. That would translate to 17G/39A/56P over an 82-game season.

Should the Devils expose (Travis) Zajac to the expansion draft?

I did a story (Tuesday) morning previewing how the expansion draft could impact the Devils. Zajac was a player I went back and forth on. I ultimately had him as a player who gets protected, though I had an easy case for leaving him exposed, too. It all depends where the team and player stand after the season. If the Devils are ready to bring him back on 1183401 New Jersey Devils

Devils’ Tom Fitzgerald no longer a candidate for Penguins GM after Pittsburgh hires Ron Hextall

By Chris Ryan

Tom Fitzgerald won’t be leaving the Devils to join the Pittsburgh Penguins.

After Fitzgerald was reportedly a top candidate for the open Penguins general manager job following Jim Rutherford’s sudden resignation last month, the Penguins hired former Flyers GM Ron Hextall on Tuesday to take over the job full time.

Along with appointing Hextall as GM, longtime NHL GM Brian Burke, who most recently worked as an analyst on Sportsnet, was named the Penguins’ president of hockey operations.

Sign up for Devils Insider: Get exclusive news, behind-the-scenes observations and the ability to text message directly with beat writers

Considering the Penguins’ reported desire to hire a full-time GM quickly after Rutherford’s resignation, it’s no surprise Fitzgerald stayed in New Jersey. The Devils did not grant the Penguins permission to interview Fitzgerald — an expected move since it would have been for the same position in another NHL organization.

The Penguins’ interest in Fitzgerald stemmed from his long run in the front office in Pittsburgh. He joined the Penguins as Director of Player Development in 2007 under former Penguins and Devils GM Ray Shero.

Fitzgerald was promoted to assistant GM in 2009, and when Shero was hired in New Jersey in 2015, Fitzgerald took the same role with the Devils.

Fitzgerald was named interim GM of the Devils last season after Shero was fired in January of 2020. He earned the full-time role during the offseason.

Star Ledger LOADED: 02.11.2021 1183402 New Jersey Devils forwards to contract extensions prior to the draft to avoid exposing Zacha or Wood.

Zajac is also set to enter free agency this summer, but unless the team is How will Devils approach Seattle expansion draft this offseason? set on cutting ties with him after this season, it’s hard to see him not Breaking down roster options for protecting, exposing players coming back next season, hence his protection here.

If Zajac and Palmieri are protected, that leaves two spots for younger forwards who have started to crack into the NHL. McLeod and By Chris Ryan Sharangovich are our picks here, though the rest of the season will play a major factor in how the Devils proceed. Janne Kuokkanen, Nick

Merkley and Nathan Bastian could make a case for protection. This coming offseason will be a little different as the NHL prepares to Severson is the one lock the Devils have among defensemen who will be welcome its 32nd team. protected. Beyond that, it’s all up in the air. The Seattle Kraken will begin play during the 2021-22 season, and a Only three blue liners — Severson, P.K. Subban and Will Butcher — expansion draft will be used to fill the team’s roster, just as the NHL did in currently meet the games requirement for exposure. Ryan Murray will be 2017 with the Vegas Golden Knights. the sixth if he plays nine more games this season. But Severson, Subban So 30 of the NHL’s teams — the Golden Knights are exempt — will lose and Butcher are the only three from that group with contracts for 2021- one player to Seattle this summer. 22. So if Severson is a lock, Butcher or Subban would need to be exposed. The Devils saw defenseman Jon Merrill go to Vegas in 2017, and now they’ll need to prepare to lose one more asset. A lot can change between Butcher hasn’t played in 2020-21 while serving as a healthy scratch now and the scheduled draft on July 21 as the NHL season plays out and during each game. So there’s some logic to the Devils exposing him and other roster moves are made. But as things currently stand, here’s how protecting Subban. But here we have Butcher protected and Subban that process could look for the Devils. exposed, mainly because of their age and contracts.

Sign up for Devils Insider: Get exclusive news, behind-the-scenes Subban has one more season left on his current contract, and he’ll carry observations and the ability to text message directly with beat writers a $9 million cap hit in 2021-22. So even if the Devils expose him, that might keep Seattle away. But getting a big name like Subban could be The rules for the Kraken’s expansion draft are the same as the Golden intriguing for an expansion franchise. Knights’ draft in 2017. Not every player on every franchise will be available. Here’s a list of notable Devils exempt from the expansion draft: Murray is currently listed as a protected player, though he’s slated for unrestricted free agency following the season. It is possible he’s traded Jack Hughes, Nikita Gusev, Jesper Boqvist, Alexander Holtz, Dawson during the 2020-21 season, so that would free up another spot. The Mercer, Nolan Foote, Fabian Zetterlund, Mikhail Maltsev, Nathan Devils could also choose to not protect him if they feel he won’t be re- Schnarr, Reilly Walsh, Ty Smith, Kevin Bahl, Nikita Okhotyuk, Jeremy signed during the offseason. Groleau, Gilles Senn Sami Vatanen and Dmitri Kulikov are both set to enter unrestricted free Any players drafted in 2019 or 2020 are also exempt, along with any agency, so it’s unlikely the Devils would look to protect either after they prospects who did not play in a NHL or AHL game until 2019-20 or later. both joined the team on one-year contracts this season.

For draft-eligible players, teams have two options when deciding who to Blackwood is the obvious lock for the protected goalie. Corey Crawford protect. They can protect up to 11 players using a combination of seven may have ended up as the best option for Seattle in the draft since he forwards, three defensemen and one goalie. They also have the option to was signed through 2022, but his preseason retirement took him off the protect nine players, using one goalie and any combination of eight table. Evan Cormier and Eric Comrie currently fill the contract skaters. requirements for exposed goalies, and Aaron Dell and Scott Wedgewood would also be exposed. Buy Nico Hischier Devils gear: Fanatics, NHL.com, Lids Here’s the full list of exposures for this scenario, with * denoting players Teams also have requirements for players they expose to Seattle. At who fill the contract/games played requirements. least two exposed forwards and one exposed defenseman must be under contract for 2021-22, and they will need to have 27 NHL games F: Miles Wood*, Pavel Zacha*, Nick Merkley, Janne Kuokkanen, Marian played in 2020-21, or 54 NHL games played from 2019-2021. Studenic, Ben Street, Brandon Gignac, Nathan Bastian

Teams must also expose one goalie who is under contract for the 2021- D: P.K. Subban*, Sami Vatanen, Connor Carrick, Dmitri Kulikov, David 22 season or is a restricted free agent with a qualifying offer. Quenneville, Matt Tennyson, Colton White, Josh Jacobs, Colby Sissons

Any players with no-movement clauses must be protected, though that G: Aaron Dell, Scott Wedgewood, Eric Comrie*, Evan Cormier* doesn’t have any impact on the Devils. Players with no-trade clauses can be exposed. 8 skaters, 1 goalie

So the Devils will have to weigh several options when deciding who to F: Nico Hischier, , Jesper Bratt, Kyle Palmieri expose and protect. Here we break down both protection scenarios to D: Damon Severson, Ryan Murray, Will Butcher, Colton White see how things could shake out during the summer. G: Mackenzie Blackwood 7 forwards, 3 defensemen, 1 goalie Let’s just get this out of the way quickly: There’s almost no chance the F: Nico Hischier, Andreas Johnsson, Jesper Bratt, Kyle Palmieri, Travis Devils go with this protection option. Their defensemen simply don’t Zajac, Michael McLeod, Yegor Sharangovich warrant it, and there are too many forwards worth protecting in D: Damon Severson, Ryan Murray, Will Butcher comparison.

G: Mackenzie Blackwood Here they’d get the option to protect only four forwards, and that would mean exposing some key young names who could be part of the future Hischier, Johnsson and Bratt are locks to be protected among the of the team. Hischier, Bratt and Johnsson are locks to be protected. forwards. Palmieri likely is too, assuming he isn’t traded during the Palmieri’s status could come down to how his next contract plays out, but season if the Devils don’t sign him to a contract extension. Even if he’s if he gets a new deal before the offseason, he’s a lock, too. still heading toward free agency during the summer, the Devils would still have reason to protect him and retain his rights. And that would be it. Every other eligible forward would be exposed. Zajac, Wood, Zacha, McLeod, Bastian, Sharangovich and more would all The rest of the forward group is tricky. The Devils will need to expose two be options for Seattle. forwards who meet the contract and games requirement, and Pavel Zacha and Miles Wood are the only two remaining forwards that currently Considering we have Colton White as the fourth defenseman protected meet those stipulations outside of the locks. The Devils could sign other here should be enough to tell you why this scenario doesn’t make much sense for the Devils. And this also included Murray, who might not be an option if he’s traded or enters free agency this summer.

Here’s the full list of exposures for this scenario, with * denoting players who fill the contract/games played requirements:

F: Miles Wood*, Pavel Zacha*, Travis Zajac, Michael McLeod, Yegor Sharangovich, Nick Merkley, Janne Kuokkanen, Marian Studenic, Ben Street, Brandon Gignac, Nathan Bastian

D: P.K. Subban*, Sami Vatanen, Connor Carrick, Dmitri Kulikov, David Quenneville, Matt Tennyson, Josh Jacobs, Colby Sissons

G: Aaron Dell, Scott Wedgewood, Eric Comrie*, Evan Cormier*

Star Ledger LOADED: 02.11.2021 1183403 New Jersey Devils I think Bratt has the potential to be a top-six forward on a championship contender. I also think he’s one of the true swing players for the Devils in the next two to three seasons. It’s easy to feel confident about Hughes and Hischier approaching their ceilings, with Alexander Holtz and his Devils’ ‘top line,’ Will Butcher’s trade value and more in mega-mailbag high-end potential not far behind. Can Bratt be the third- or fourth-best forward on a great team, or is his his skill more in line with that of a sixth

or seventh forward? By Corey Masisak Feb 10, 2021 He’s small, but skilled, quick and feisty. Could he be the long-term solution next to Hughes, with either Holtz, Nolan Foote or Dawson Mercer on the right side? You can start to see the pieces of three There has been a lot of bad news for the Devils in February, but two formidable top lines coming together if Bratt can be that third- or fourth- potentially positive developments surfaced this week. New Jersey did not best forward behind the two franchise pillars. add anyone to the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol list on Tuesday. No one came off, so the Devils still have a league-high 19 players on the list. But I don’t think the Devils have any interest in trading him now. He’s got after adding at least one player in three of the previous four days, it another year on a reasonable contract, and the hope is that by next provides a temporary reprieve. season both sides will have a better idea of where his long-term number should be. I don’t think the negotiation that just took place will have any The Pittsburgh Penguins also hired a general manager who wasn’t Tom lingering negative effects. Both sides knew it would be tough to nail down Fitzgerald. The Athletic’s Rob Rossi had reported the Penguins were a value for a player like Bratt at this stage of his career, and the financial interested in their former assistant GM, but they ultimately went with Ron situation and deadlines brought on by the pandemic all contributed to Hextall as GM and Brian Burke as president of hockey operations. what transpired. Fitzgerald’s contract as Devils GM still only runs through the end of the season, but there is no longer an intriguing opening out there applying OK, so it’s the last game of the season. Surprisingly, the Devils are still in pressure to the situation. contention for fourth place and the final playoff spot in the division. They’re playing the Penguins in a makeup game, and Pittsburgh is also So, while we wait at least another six days for the next Devils game, we fighting for its postseason berth — winner gets in, loser goes home. The have more time for a super-sized mailbag. Here is Part 1. Devils’ season has been a huge success, thanks to the massive leap forward taken by Hughes, stellar goaltending by Mackenzie Blackwood, Let’s get to it with Part 2. relentless energy and speed provided by Miles Wood and the rookies, With how Jack Hughes has played so far, is it still a foregone conclusion and a much improved defense. Ruff’s systems are working. Injuries have that Nico Hischier slides right back onto the top line when he’s back? Or been minimal, everyone has recovered from COVID-19 and is is it less about which “number” line they’re on and more about who their vaccinated. Give us the four forward lines and three defense pairings we linemates are? — Mike W. hope to vanquish the Pens with one more time! — James Z.

I generally have two principles when it comes to forward lines and This is an amazing question, mostly because it is precisely what I will defense pairings. spend way too much time pondering.

Time on ice matters more than the order players are put in before the The big question: What are the Devils going to do before the trade game starts. deadline if they are in the thick of the playoff chase? They have a handful of pending unrestricted free agents, particularly if Ryan Murray stays Whichever line the star player is on is the top line, unless the coach healthy and Dmitry Kulikov continues to play well — which also are explicitly says otherwise or withholds ice time to make a point. probably prerequisites for this team tracking toward the fourth spot in the A good example of this was the Devils’ handling of Taylor Hall. East. Whichever line Hall was on was considered the top line. Even when John Let’s say the Devils are two or three points shy of fourth as the deadline Hynes moved him away from Hischier and Kyle Palmieri, Hall’s line approaches; does Fitzgerald consider trading Palmieri, Gusev, Murray, ended up getting similar or more ice time. Kulikov or Sami Vatanen? Could he try to add a player for a playoff This Devils team doesn’t have an established star like Hall. If Hischier push? Would he buy and sell at the same time? How will the outside had been healthy at the start of the season, whichever line he was circumstances — quarantine restrictions, lack of cap space for other playing on the first day of camp probably would have been considered teams, the pending expansion draft — affect the Devils’ plans and the the top line. Now Hughes has played like a No. 1 center, both in the league’s deadline activity at large? offense he has created and his ice time. My prediction is that the deadline will be a bit of a snooze because of all I’m sure coach Lindy Ruff will say he doesn’t care which line is those factors. If the Devils are in fourth or within a couple of points of it, considered the top one, and that he has two top lines once Hughes and they could look to add a rental forward, particularly one who can help on Hischier get a chance to play together. There’s not a big difference the penalty kill. So, for a winner-take-all showdown with the Penguins, among the club’s top four wings (Palmieri, Nikita Gusev, Jesper Bratt, my lineup would be: Andreas Johnsson), so it’s relatively easy to fill out two No. 1A/1B lines Gusev-Hischier-Palmieri when everyone is healthy. Johnsson-Hughes-Bratt Hischier should help absorb some attention from Hughes, and vice versa. The decisions will probably come down to how well each of them plays, Janmark-Zajac-Zacha but I’ll go back to ice time. If one is playing two to three minutes more per Sharangovich-McLeod-Wood game than the other, that ends the debate. Extras: Bastian, Kuokkanen What do you think about Jesper Bratt? Is he a legitimate top-six player? What should the Devils do with him? Should they keep him or trade him? Murray-Subban Which teams could be interested in him? — Toni P. Smith-Severson Does anyone embody the excitement of the Devils’ start to the season along with the odd nature of it all more than Bratt does? Between missing Kulikov-Vatanen the start of the season because of contract negotiations, the mandatory Extras: Butcher quarantine and now a second turn on the COVID-19 protocol list, Bratt has been available to play six days this season. Mattias Janmark is off to a strong start with the surprising Blackhawks, who might decide to hold onto their pending UFAs. But if they drop off, In the three games he did play, he was excellent for the Devils. Bratt has Janmark is a versatile forward who could slot in as a regular on the PK. essentially played eight of his nine periods with Hughes and Johnsson, and that line has dominated. The Devils have a 31-7 advantage in shots I do think Butcher is going to get an opportunity to play. But in this on goal when Bratt and Hughes are on the ice together at even strength. scenario with a full allotment of healthy defensemen to pick from in a win- or-go-home spot, my gut says Ruff goes with Kulikov and Vatanen as a better defensive pairing to pit against the high-powered Penguins. With some teams sniffing around Tony DeAngelo, should the Devils look Add in that Butcher costs a million less next season and DeAngelo’s off- to call up a few teams about Will Butcher? They both play a similar ice concerns, and Butcher should be more valuable. Another team could offensive style and can run a PP, and Butcher is cheaper with the same look at the tape from his first two seasons and identify ways to recreate term. If so, what is the return we are looking for? Picks? NHL player? that. But another team also isn’t likely to offer full value in return at this Prospect? — Michael D. point.

It doesn’t make a lot of sense for the Devils to trade Butcher right now. With Miles Wood’s recent success, where do you think Wood’s ceiling is He missed the end of last year, which was the least productive of his in the NHL? — Jonathan F. three seasons, with an injury, and now he’s been a healthy scratch to start this season. It would be selling at an extreme low point for someone Wood has 53 goals and 104 points in 277 career games and he turned who had 74 points over the two seasons prior to last year. 25 years old in September. Trying to narrow down comparables at this point in his career led to a group of 29 wingers who have fewer than 60 If Butcher doesn’t get to play with any regularity once the Devils return goals and 120 points, with between 250 and 325 games played at 25 from the pause, Fitzgerald and Ruff might need to have a discussion years old, since the 2004-05 lockout. about where he fits with the club in the short- and long-term, unless Butcher and his agent initiate that conversation first. Given the Six of them are currently in their age-25 season: Wood, Nick Ritchie, condensed schedule that’s coming for the Devils, they’re likely going to Artturi Lehkonen, Valeri Nichushkin, Jake Virtanen and Adrian Kempe. use seven or even eight defensemen to rotate in fresh legs. Eighteen of them were first- or second-round picks. That makes sense because high picks typically get extra chances because of their draft The more interesting part of this question, to me, is the comparison of positions. Butcher and DeAngelo as players, excluding the obvious negative components of DeAngelo’s value. They are similarly sized but have There aren’t a lot of “late bloomers” in the group. Jakob Silfverberg is the different strengths outside of their power-play success. best player among them, but his career path was similar to Palmieri’s before he came to New Jersey — a talented young player stuck in a GP lesser role on a few loaded Anaheim teams. Most of the players in this group are either career fourth-liners or players who had a couple of 206 productive seasons in their mid-to-late 20s.

215 Chuck Kobasew had 20-goal seasons at 25 and 26, but he didn’t score Goals more than 10 a season after that. Justin Abdelkader had 42 goals between his age 27 and 28 seasons, then signed a seven-year contract 13 and was bought out four years later. Michael Ferland had 38 goals and 81 points across his age 25 and 26 seasons, but has run into concussion 24 troubles since. Points So far, Wood looks to be making the most of his fresh start with Ruff. He 95 probably won’t continue scoring goals at this rate, but he is averaging a career-high 2.67 shots per game and he’s shown a commitment to 106 planting himself at the edge of the crease. That could lead to more of the types of goals he scored in 2017-18, when he netted a career-high 19. PP points He’s been pegged as a fourth-line player who has incredible speed and 38 lacks in other areas. I think the past two seasons have been a learning 44 experience for him, about what kind of player he needs to be beyond out- skating people over long distances. I think this version of Wood can be a TOI/G more well-rounded player with the ability to play up on the third line when needed or cause havoc like he has in recent games next to McLeod and 17:43 Bastian. 18:26 What is your favorite advanced hockey stat and why? How useful do you CF% think they are to evaluate players beyond just the basics like points or save percentage? And do you think the advanced stats properly evaluate 49.97 defensive abilities? — Mathew F.

47.5 This might be a bit of a cop-out, but my favorite doesn’t really exist yet, at xGF% least in a universal and quickly accessible form. What I most want to see from the NHL’s new tracking data, whenever it starts to be available to 52.53 the public, are passing stats. To me, that is the most under-covered area of the sport from a statistical standpoint. Some people manually track 47.33 passing stats — Todd Cordell is tracking passes that lead to shot DeAngelo has a slight edge in the counting stats, but not by much. attempts for the Devils this season, for example — but I can’t wait to Butcher’s advantage begins to show up in the advanced stats. devour all sorts of new passing data.

Butcher had a successful rookie season on the third pair in limited As for what is available now, I think Dom’s Game Score is a good place minutes. He had a more successful season than some gave him credit to start because it’s an all-encompassing value stat (and for as a second-pairing defenseman in 2018-19. Last season, he took a hockeystatcards.com is easy to navigate with all of his data). The other step back. stats I use the most are Corsi, expected goals and scoring chances. They’re all similar, but the differences between them can tell slightly DeAngelo’s reputation as porous defensive player shows up in the all- different stories about a player. around value stats, which is where Butcher shined in his first two seasons. I think they do a much better job of evaluating “defense” than anything else we have available, but I also subscribe to the philosophy that the Here are Butcher’s first three seasons, according to Dom Luszczyszyn’s best defense in hockey is not playing it. If I have to choose one skill over GSVA: 2.47, 1.22, 0.01 the other, give me players who are good at getting the puck out of danger and keeping it in the offensive zone over ones who are good at playing Here are DeAngelo’s first four seasons: -0.65, -0.56, 0.67, 1.59 traditional defense. DeAngelo’s best year was in line with second-pairing value, though the I’ve been a believer in the advanced stats for a long time now. My entry flashy goals and points totals landed him 12th in the Norris Trophy point was actually relevant to the Devils. I covered the Kings during the voting. Butcher provided top-pairing value as a rookie, but his numbers final three rounds of the 2012 playoffs for NHL.com, and trying to figure have regressed since. out how this eighth-seeded team was steamrolling through the West led me to Corsi and this corner of the hockey community I didn’t know a lot about. I started reading the work of Tyler Dellow, the Devils’ current VP of analytics.

It’s important to remember that all stats, traditional or advanced, fall under the information category. It’s best to use them as a starting point. Trying to figure why someone’s Corsi for percentage or expected goals percentage is good or bad usually leads to more knowledge and maybe a good story.

The Athletic LOADED: 02.11.2021 1183404 New York Islanders miss that, I won’t lie. I can’t wait until they’re back so they can be a part of that.”

Absence can make the heart grow fonder, of course, and so every Return of small first wave of fans big step for New York sports athlete who has voiced a similar (and no doubt genuine) antipathy for empty arenas has likely forgotten the boos that also accompany paying fans in the building. It’s funny though: One of the most reassuring moments after sports returned following the events of Sept. 11, 2001, By Mike Vaccaro February 10, 2021 | 7:43PM was the afternoon 12 days later when Armando Benitez blew a save for the Mets against the Braves and was booed off the mound at . Madison Square Garden won't be nearly this packed on Feb. 23, but there will be near 2,000 fans in the building for the Knicks-Warriors Things sure felt plenty normal then. game. It will still be odd, having 90 percent of the seats unoccupied. Even New There were a few hundred folks scattered throughout Madison Square York fans with their muscular voice boxes will have a hard time Garden that Thursday afternoon, family and friends sitting among the replicating a full house at 10 cents on the dollar. But they will surely try. staffers and the media folks. There was a surreal tint to the day even as There will be hassles to go along with attending these games, sacrifices, St. John’s and Creighton made their way through the layup lines last some more intrusive and invasive than when Sept. 11 introduced us to March 12. the daily sporting realities of metal detectors and bag checks. Some will be slow to return. One by one, across the country, conference basketball tournaments had conceded to the inevitable: the Big Ten in Indianapolis; the ACC in But the fact is, they can return. For the first time in 348 days, going to a Greensboro, N.C.; the SEC in Nashville, Tenn.; even the Atlantic 10, ballgame isn’t something you wistfully talk about in the past tense, like across the river in Brooklyn, all of them had called off their tournaments having a meal at the Automat. We’re not all the way back yet. But we’re because of COVID-19. It seemed a matter of seconds before the Big getting there. East followed suit. New York Post LOADED: 02.11.2021 Instead, just past noon, the Red Storm and the Bluejays tipped off. In almost every year going back to 1983 — when the Big East came home for good to Manhattan — this would have been an unofficial civic holiday, especially with the Johnnies playing, especially after they walked off the floor at halftime leading the top seeds, 38-35.

They never walked back on.

At halftime, the Big East realized what it needed to do. It called off the game, and the balance of the tournament. All across that day, one by one, sports in America boarded up its windows, padlocked its doors and settled in for a long season of dormancy. In New York, the games ultimately returned, starting with the Belmont Stakes in June and baseball a month later.

The fans did not. They were not allowed. Across the country, some states relented during the latter stages of baseball season, during college football season. In Western New York, Gov. Cuomo took mercy on the rabid acolytes of the local football team who refer to themselves as the Bills Mafia, allowed 7,500 people to Bills Stadium in suburban Buffalo for a pair of NFL playoff games.

A small crowd in Miami watched the Heat play the Knicks on Tuesday. On Feb 23, a small number of Knicks fans will be able to watch their team at Madison Square Garden.

Around here, we waited.

Feb. 23, the wait ends.

Feb. 23, it will be 348 days since the last fans were allowed into a New York-area venue, those hundreds of Johnnies fans who left the Garden convinced St. John’s would’ve finished what it started against Creighton, maybe done something magical with the rest of Big East Weekend. Cuomo announced Wednesday that local arenas and stadiums with capacities of more than 10,000 can start welcoming fans back, making 10 percent of seats available.

That means that on Feb. 23, the Knicks-Warriors game at the Garden and the Nets-Kings game at Barclays Center will be the first morsels of normalcy our sporting landscape will enjoy in 49 ½ weeks. Nets-Kings, in normal times, might barely register on the local consciousness. Knicks- Warriors would get some attention, mostly because you never know if Steph Curry is going to go off for 60.

Now, it will be an opportunity for 1,981 Knicks fans and 1,773 Nets fans to watch a live sporting event for the first time in what feels like two days longer than forever. The Islanders will open the doors for around 1,400 fans when they welcome the Bruins to Nassau Coliseum on Feb. 25, and the next night the Rangers will greet 1,800 or so when the Bruins visit the Garden.

“Most of the fun of playing in New York is the opportunity to play in front of New York fans, the passion they have, the energy they bring night after night,” Knicks forward Julius Randle said a couple of weeks ago. “I 1183405 New York Islanders

Knicks, Rangers to host roughly 2,000 fans at games

By Justin Tasch February 10, 2021 | 5:32pm | Updated

With Gov. Cuomo announcing Wednesday that sports stadiums and arenas can open up to a limited number of fans beginning this month, the Knicks and Rangers are preparing to welcome approximately 2,000 fans per game at the Garden. It’ll be the first time fans will be in the building since COVID-19 shut sports leagues down last March.

The Knicks will start hosting fans for their Feb. 23 game against the Warriors, while the Rangers will have fans for their Feb. 26 game against the Bruins, the teams said in a statement. Venues with capacity of at least 10,000 can start having up to 10 percent capacity starting Feb. 23.

MSG’s capacity is just over 20,000.

“Health and safety remain our top priority, and we will be working closely with state and health officials to implement the strongest operating protocols,” the teams said. “We know our fans are anxious to return and we can’t wait to see them at The Garden once again.”

Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau says “it’s great for the league” to have fans back. Twelve NBA teams currently host fans.

“Safety has to come first in this situation,” Thibodeau said. “For us, we know how important fans are to our organization. It’s something you’re hopeful it gets turned around. This appears to be a good sign. As long as it’s safe, we’re looking forward to that. I think the same holds true for every team in the league. The safety of the fans is most important but we know how important is to our game.”

Madison Square Garden on Dec. 27, 2020.

The Nets are expected to have fans at their Feb. 23 game against the Kings at Barclays Center.

The Islanders said they “look forward” to having fans back at Nassau Coliseum but did not say when that will begin. The Buffalo Sabres also didn’t say when they’ll have fans back but called the announcement a “great step forward.” The Bills were able to have 6,700 fans at their Dec. 30 playoff game.

Both the NHL and NBA have had to postpone games this season due to the virus.

The Yankees and Mets have more time to prepare as their seasons don’t begin until April.

“Governor Cuomo’s announcement today is an encouraging first step,” the Yankees said in a statement. “We thank the governor for his leadership, and we will continue to engage his office in productive dialogue moving forward. The safety of everyone who enters remains our top priority, and we will work diligently and in lock- step with the governor to ensure all precautions and procedures are being followed as we lead up to the 2021 baseball season.”

The Mets said they “look forward to working with government officials to ensure that the return to the ballpark is safe and convenient for our fans.”

New York Post LOADED: 02.11.2021 1183406 New York Islanders worse as teams plowed through the season, head down, trying to dodge covid-positives like would-be tacklers.

Incredibly, each of the four major pro sports crowned champions during It's hard not to be a fan of Gov. Cuomo's New York stadium re-opening the pandemic, with the NBA and NHL well into another season already. plan Plenty of teams already have allowed fans inside arenas to watch -- the Super Bowl had over 25,000 people in attendance -- but New York has been one of the stricter states. After what we endured in 2020, there’s good reason for that. Staff But now the data is suggesting otherwise, and this region could use

something more to cheer about. I’m bullish on the recovery and the Welcome back. urgency for a wider re-opening -- albeit in a smart, safe fashion -- is impossible to ignore. Cuomo may be starting out at 10% capacity for the Not all of you. Not right away. Hopefully, that isn’t too, too far off. re-introduction of fans, but baseball still has another six weeks before the Yankees open up April 1 in the Bronx. With increased vaccinations, and But we’ll take the 10% for now, as granted Wednesday by Gov. Andrew perhaps a little luck, it’s always possible that percentage could be M. Cuomo, who finally snapped the padlocks on the gates of New York’s bumped up a little higher by first pitch. The Mets aren’t back at arenas and stadiums to allow fans through, starting on Feb. 23. until April 8. I know Cuomo likes to say he listens to the science in making every one "Governor Cuomo’s announcement today is an encouraging first step," of his pandemic-related decisions, but whatever calculus he uses to the Yankees said Wednesday in a statement. determine these exact percentages is never readily available. All along, we’ve been following our best educated guesses, based on ever-evolving More like jumping for joy. We all were promised another slice of our data for a pandemic the world hadn’t seen in more than a century. Now regular lives back Wednesday with Cuomo’s announcement. And that’s a Cuomo believes this also can be done, for arenas/stadiums with a priceless feeling, no matter what the ticket costs. capacity over 10,000, by relying on PCR (nasal swab) tests, masks and social distancing. LOADED: LOADED: 02.11.2021

On Wednesday, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced that

Cuomo: Sports arenas can host fans at 10% capacity starting Feb. 23

On Wednesday, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced that sports arenas that seat more than 10,000 people could host fans at up to 10% capacity as long as COVID-19 guidelines were followed and they had negative test results. Credit: NY Governor's Office

"This hits the balance of safe reopening," Cuomo said Wednesday.

Fingers crossed, I’m cautiously optimistic we’re ready for this next step, because it feels like we desperately need to take a few more in the forward direction. By the time Feb. 23 rolls around -- we’re not counting the Bills playoff game attended by 6,700 -- it will have been 349 days since a ticket-buying fan was actually on-site somewhere in the metropolitan area, dating to the March 12 Big East Tournament matchup between St. John’s and Creighton at Madison Square Garden.

That game, which feels like a decade ago, was abruptly halted at halftime due to the rapidly escalating COVID-19 concerns. Our world has never been the same since.

Fans will bring some of that normal back with them. And this goes way beyond sports. Our psyche needs repairing after nearly a year on the injured list. Just return to us some of those happy sights and sounds again. Let the arenas help provide a blueprint to get the smaller, cozier venues up and running, too -- like Broadway, Carnegie Hall, the Met or your neighborhood bowling alley.

Can we further refine the testing process to make it an even quicker, more reliable turnaround than a few hours or days? (The 15-minute rapid test still has its skeptics). Will the vaccination rate accelerate to the point where people don’t have to be skittish about pulling down their mask for a bite of hot dog or sip of beer? Going by my own informal Twitter poll, it sounds like most fans will be sprinting back into ballparks, but mindful of a continuing emphasis on safety.

Of course, franchises are craving that gate revenue again. They’re starving for it. When a team like the Yankees had to flush roughly $450 million last summer due to playing only 30 games in their empty cash register, um, ballpark, the financial hit is devastating, across the board, right down to the vendors, ushers and parking lot attendants.

They’re not going to get whole with just a few thousand fans in the building. At the start, this is mostly symbolic, another reason to be hopeful, like the plunge in infection rates after the holiday surges. A year ago, as COVID-19 was gutting New York City and steadily gaining momentum nationwide, I was adamant about slamming on the brakes. Never did I think playing sports would be possible, right up until tip-off inside the NBA bubble and the first pitch of MLB’s 60-game season.

The experiments did not go smoothly. Baseball had an especially tough time, trying to play games on a daily basis while traveling, and a handful of teams were ravaged by outbreaks. At times, the NFL looked even 1183407 New York Islanders

Islanders' Noah Dobson learning how to harness his considerable skills

By Laura Albanese

Noah Dobson is skating the path of those who came before him, and Barry Trotz believes it could one day end with him being a top-pair defenseman.

First it was Johnny Boychuk, who was integral in his development in his first NHL season, Dobson said. And now it’s Andy Greene, who skates alongside Dobson on the third defensive pairing and brings his 944 games of NHL experience with him as he goes. The confidence has rubbed off on him, Dobson said, and it’s certainly showing this season in his ascent to everyday player — he’s got a goal and five assists despite averaging only 17:55 of ice time.

"I think for a young guy it's really, really good for myself to see him and just kind of learn from it," Dobson said of Greene. "I think it doesn't matter what happens throughout the game, whether you make mistake [or not], he's just got that calmness and [the ability to] just focus on the next shift, so that's something I really, really took from him and he's definitely been a big help for me."

Naturally, there’s a long way to go. Trotz said he loved Dobson’s passing and skating but saw areas that needed improvement. And he’ll also need to weather the natural ebbs and flows of a young career.

"Hopefully he gets to another plateau and gets it to his highest level of hopefully being a top defenseman in the National Hockey League," Trotz said. " . . . just [has to go] through the growth path of a young player. There are going to be stints where they’re really good and stints where they look like they lost their confidence and not playing well."

Since Dobson’s passing is so above average, he’ll need to learn how to do more with less. He needs to "just let the puck do the work," Trotz said. "This game can humble you if you try to take it on by yourself . . . Do the simple right things all the time and it’s amazing, your skill comes out the other end."

And that aspect is as much mental as anything — trusting in your abilities, knowing when to pull back and being confident that the game will come to you. Dobson is working on it.

"You pick up things as you go along," Dobson said. "I just think this year with all the crazy circumstances and playing every other night, it's a really grind mentally . . . You’ve got to learn to prepare each night to play your best and I think that's just something that I've been learning along the way — just how important the mental side of the game is with so many games every other night. You’ve got to have a short memory, you’ve got to prepare like a pro and make sure you're preparing to bring your best each night."

Notes & quotes: Anthony Beauvillier (lower body) didn’t skate with the team on Wednesday, but Trotz said he’s making progress in his solo skates and "skated quite well." Though Beauvillier won't play against the Penguins Thursday, Trotz expects to have him back in games soon. Beauvillier has missed six games since getting injured in a game against the Devils on Jan. 24 . . . The Islanders assigned taxi squad players Otto Koivula and Dmytro Timashov to Bridgeport. Trotz said their depth at center would likely mean Koivula wouldn’t get much chance to play, anyway. "He needs to play," Trotz said of the 22-year-old. "He’s still a young, young player. Otto, I like where he is in terms of his growth . . . He’s been on the taxi squad since the bubble and here now, so he’s got to play in games."

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 02.11.2021 1183408 New York Islanders NHL The Rangers’ policy will be the same as the Knicks’: roughly 2,000 fans

per game, beginning Feb. 26 against the Bruins, with season-ticket Gov. Cuomo says fans can return to NY arenas and stadiums starting holders receiving priority. Feb. 23 The Islanders were less specific, saying in a statement that they plan to have fans at Nassau Coliseum "as soon as possible." They, too, will grant season-ticket holders first dibs on tickets "when they are available." By Tim Healey Their first home game under the new rules is Feb. 25 against the Bruins.

"I'm thrilled that Islanders fans will be able to safely rock the Barn again," Nassau County Executive Laura Curran said in a statement. "Governor Fans’ nearly yearlong absence from major sporting events in the tristate Cuomo reopening arenas is a big step towards New York's safe return to area appears to be almost over. normal, and the reopening of the Coliseum means so much for Nassau. In another small step toward normalcy, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo We know virus risk is dramatically reduced with precautions in place and announced Wednesday that beginning Feb. 23, arenas and stadiums can rules being followed. I'm confident that we're ready to do this safely and admit up to 10% of their capacity — with the sort of restrictions that have smoothly." become routine during the coronavirus pandemic, including social- MLB distancing and mask-wearing requirements. With Opening Day still seven weeks away, the Mets and Yankees have Attendees also will have to present a negative COVID-19 test from within time to figure out logistics. Both teams are selling tickets — including for 72 hours of the event, Cuomo said. Opening Day, April 1 at Yankee Stadium and April 8 at Citi Field — but Details regarding how the local teams will enforce those rules, or when neither said how it will handle limited capacity and refunds/credits for and to whom they will sell tickets, were scant in the hours after Cuomo’s those who bought tickets but won’t be allowed to attend. reveal. But the general reaction was positive. Finally, fans can come The Mets did send a marketing email Wednesday evening, encouraging watch — and teams can make more money. fans to "be part of the action" by buying tickets, including to two April On Wednesday, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced that series.

Cuomo: Sports arenas can host fans at 10% capacity starting Feb. 23 Like the other pro leagues, MLB plans to allow fans on a team-by-team basis, being sure to follow local and state government regulations. If it’s On Wednesday, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced that sports arenas OK with Cuomo, it’s OK with MLB. that seat more than 10,000 people could host fans at up to 10% capacity as long as COVID-19 guidelines were followed and they had negative Both teams called Cuomo’s fan ban repeal "an encouraging first step." test results. Credit: NY Governor's Office "It’s an encouraging first step toward us potentially welcoming fans back First up: The Knicks and Nets, who play at home on Feb. 23, New York to Citi Field," the Mets said in a statement. "We look forward to working sports’ reopening day. with government officials to ensure that the return to the ballpark is safe and convenient for our fans." "It’s great for the league," Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said. "Safety has to come first in this situation. For us, we know how important fans are to And the Yankees: "We will work diligently and in lock-step with the our organization. It’s something [that] you’re hopeful it gets turned governor to ensure all precautions and procedures are being followed as around. This appears to be a good sign. As long as it’s safe, we’re we lead up to the 2021 baseball season." looking forward to that." MLS Islanders’ coach Barry Trotz said: "We would really enjoy the fans back. A New York City FC spokesman said the club, which plays its home We missed that element in our game, no question. They're a big part of matches at Yankee Stadium, is looking forward to hosting fans in 2021, what we do." but does not yet have concrete plans for doing so. The MLS season is The most recent local major sporting event at which fans were in scheduled to begin April 17. attendance was the Big East quarterfinals at Madison Square Garden on NCAA March 12. Four hundred were allowed in to watch St. John’s-Creighton, which was canceled at halftime. Cuomo’s new rules apply to venues with capacities of 10,000 or more, so St. John’s, Hofstra and Stony Brook basketball will not be affected. That was 335 days ago. That count will get up to 348 by Feb. 23. Stony Brook (football, lacrosse) and Hofstra (lacrosse) seem to be Here is what local teams and colleges said about Cuomo’s eligible for allowing fans. Stony Brook said in a statement it will await announcement. "further guidance and interpretation on [the rules’] applicability to campus NBA venues." Hofstra saidin a statement it will "carefully study the policy" and what it means for athletics. Neither the Knicks nor the Nets said Wednesday when tickets will go on sale, but they expect season-ticket holders to get priority access. The "We are grateful to the Governor," Hofstra said, "and share his Knicks plan to allow about 2,000 fans at every game. commitment to reopening New York State’s sporting and cultural venues." "We know our fans are anxious to return and we can’t wait to see them at The Garden once again," the Knicks, Rangers and MSG said in a With Steve Popper, Greg Logan, Erik Boland, Laura Albanese, Ryan statement. Gerbosi and Jordan Lauterbach

Tuesday in Miami, the Knicks played in front of about 1,500 people. TURNSTILE COUNT

"It’s not the same as a full arena obviously, but it’s still great to have fans At 10% capacity, the maximum number of fans allowed in the area's in the building," Thibodeau said. "We’re looking forward to the day when large arenas and stadiums beginning on Feb. 23: the arenas are full again. It’s a start and that’s all you can ask for." Barclays Center The Nets, who said they will donate a portion of ticket proceeds to Nets: 1,773 support vaccination efforts in Brooklyn, directed those interested in tickets to brooklynnets.com/reopening. Madison Square Garden

"The players enjoy the experience a little bit more and it makes the Knicks: 1,981 season a little less monotonous," Nets coach Steve Nash said. "It's exciting to be able to have a little slice of normalcy. I think it's great for Rangers: 1,800 the fans, great for the players and great for the organization and Nassau Coliseum community. So I think it's a win all around." Islanders: 1,391

Yankee Stadium

Yankees: 5,425

NYCFC: 2,874

Citi Field

Mets 4,192

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 02.11.2021 1183409 New York Islanders by Jon Goyens, a former QMJHL coach who threw together what he called the Coaches Cafe — a virtual hangout where coaches from the amateur and professional ranks could bat around ideas during the pandemic restrictions. Ken Hitchcock on Barry Trotz passing him in all-time wins: ‘I’m really proud’ What began as a handful of coaches grew to almost 300 in twice-weekly sessions, and it was hardly dominated by the old guard. “Barry and I both take pride in staying current,” Hitchcock said. “There were college coaches, junior coaches on there, talking about what works for them. We By Arthur Staple Feb 10, 2021 learned a lot.”

Trotz has hit a few coaching milestones already in his two-plus seasons Ken Hitchcock didn’t plan on sending a text or placing a congratulatory behind the Islanders bench. The first was when he won his 783rd game, call to his good friend Barry Trotz. Of all the coaches on the all-time NHL passing Islanders legend for fourth all-time. “It’s always Al’s coaching wins list, it’s fitting that Trotz passed Hitchcock on Monday with bench here,” Trotz said then. win No. 850. The two men have spent a lot of time together in the last Next was No. 800 toward the end of the 2018-19 season. And now, Trotz dozen or so offseasons — face time before the pandemic, and now is into the top three, with the untouchable (1,244 wins) FaceTime — sharing coaching concepts, preparation techniques, and Joel Quenneville (931), whom Trotz bested in the preliminary round motivational tools and systemic tweaks. over the summer, still ahead. As much as Trotz hates talking about What they do not share is a reverence for those massive numbers numbers and legacy, there was something special about passing alongside their names on the NHL’s list. Trotz is now third, Hitchcock is Hitchcock. fourth, but it won’t be a topic of conversation between the two next time “He’s a guy who I admire, a friend, and he’s mentored me a little bit,” they chat. Trotz said. “He’s a great teacher. To be mentioned in the same breath as “Neither one of us gets too worked up about numbers,” Hitchcock said on him, it’s humbling.” Tuesday morning. He’s retired now, for the time being anyway, watching The same is true for Hitchcock, who at 69 is 11 years older than Trotz. games and occasionally chatting with his friends still behind benches. He has talked to Trotz, even pretty recently, but that’s not a surprise to “I’m really proud of him,” Hitchcock said. “We’ve both paid our dues, Hitchcock. coming up through the ranks. I’m really proud of him, I’m really proud. When he was in Nashville, he was there on the ground floor. You can “A lot of times, when his team is going well, neither one of us talks,” he always tell a really good coach when he goes to a good team and makes said. “When it’s not going well, I know the calls are coming and I try to it better. He did that in Washington and he did that with the Islanders. He get ready to help him.” knows what he’s doing, he’s committed to certain principles and he sticks That was the case a couple of weeks ago, when the Islanders were in the to them.” midst of an 0-3-2 slide and playing very un-Trotz-like hockey. From what Trotz’s initial answer about the significance of No. 850 on Monday night Hitchcock saw, it was easy to diagnose the issue, but not quite as easy was Belichickian. “We’re on to Pittsburgh,” he said with a bit of tongue-in- to correct it. cheek humor. “When the Islanders are engaged, they look collectively quick. When you That drew a laugh from Hitchcock. stop the video, it looks like there’s 10 Islanders on the ice,” he said. “They’ve always got five in the picture everywhere. All of a sudden, they “Neither one of us do much living in the past,” he said. “We’re both 24- didn’t have five in the picture. They were spread out. hour-a-day coaches. You just never put that feeling aside.”

“The red flags for all of us are when our team looks slow. That’s a red The Athletic LOADED: 02.11.2021 flag either from an emotional standpoint or a playing-for-each-other standpoint. That always concerns experienced coaches, when your team looks slow. Because it’s not a technical fix, it’s an emotional fix.”

That may be where Trotz does his best work. He’s developed the right on-ice system for this Islanders team, one that accentuates forechecking to create high-danger chances and defensive-zone assignments to prevent them. It’s Trotz’s communication with his players that stands out, as well as his feel for the team. Before Monday’s milestone win, one that put the Islanders back over .500 and into the last East Division playoff spot for the time being, he felt he was seeing and hearing what he needed to from the group.

“They’re starting to use the words and the language that needs to be part of what you’re doing,” Trotz said of his players. “Every year is different. The group is different, the roles are different, the status within the group may be different. Every year’s a new sort of circumstances. You’ve got to use what you know, know what works for the group and commit to it.”

It’s the preparation that Hitchcock has long admired about his friend. “Barry, to me, is the most organized person leading up to a season I’ve ever seen,” Hitchcock said. “Everything is planned, everything is thought out. I’m different — I take notes every second of every day and I’m gaining knowledge as I see things unfold with my team. Both of us end up at the same place doing it a little differently. I learned a lot from him.”

What Hitchcock calls “The Hitch and Trotzy Symposium” began innocently enough in the mid-2000s, as an informal way to share thoughts about coaching. “We traded processes,” Hitchcock said. “What I mean by that, he has certain principles and I wanted him to walk me through how he developed those principles. From meetings to practices to games. We ended up having our symposium based on those principles. I found that was a great learning experience for both us.”

Those conversations have since extended to coaches at all levels, all sharing ideas that have equal value. This past offseason, there were phone calls between Hitchcock and Trotz, but also Zoom calls facilitated 1183410 New York Islanders

Islanders Noah Dobson Finding His Game in Early Part of bizarre Season

By Christian Arnold

New York Islanders head coach Barry Trotz isn’t overwhelming young defenseman Noah Dobson with a ton of minutes in his first season as a regular in the lineup. However, in the 17:55 of average ice time he has seen through the first 11 games of the season Dobson has continued to make impressive strides.

Dobson’s new role has a much different feel to it than the 34 games he played in during the 2019-20 season while Adam Pelech was out due to an injury. The Islanders defenseman appeared much more comfortable during his first 11 games this year, part of which had to do with having veteran Andy Greene besides him.

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“Kind of learning the ropes last year and come along slowly kind of made me come in this year a lot more comfortable and confident,” Dobson said on Wednesday after practice. “Just kind of know what to expect and I’ve been fortunate. Last year I was surrounded by and spent a lot of time with Johnny Boychuk, who was really a big part of my development. Really helped me along.

“I’m fortunate this year to play alongside Andy Greene, who has been in the league for a while. He’s played against the best players. He’s seen everything and knows what to do each night.”

Noah Dobson Media Availability pic.twitter.com/IO5O5QYi4S

— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) February 10, 2021

So far the lessons that Noah Dobson got from Boychuk last year and Greene this year have been paying off. The 21-year-old has six points (one goal, five assists) this season and leads all Islanders defenseman in points.

Dobson is also tied for third among all skaters in points this season.

Like any young player, Islanders head coach Barry Trotz expects there to be good games and ones that his age will show a bit more. The Isles bench boss said part of the learning curve is not trying to do too much on your own when you’re out on the ice.

“Noah’s attributes are two-fold. One he can pass the puck very well and I think he’s a really easy skater,” Trotz said. “Sometimes with a guy like Noah for instance, just let the puck do the work. His greatest assets are his ability to pass the puck and skate, and do that. That’s probably the simplest thing. This game can humble you when you try to take it over by yourself, so you just want to make sure you’re doing the simple, right things all the time.

“It’s amazing then your skill sort of come out on the other end.”

Barry Trotz Media Availability pic.twitter.com/TLqkd0NIXe

— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) February 10, 2021

Noah Dobson is getting quite the season to learn his new role. The NHL is in the middle of a condensed 56 game schedule, which means there aren’t a lot of nights off between games.

The Islanders have benefited from a few games being postponed due to COVID-19, but the year remains a grind and one that Dobson is learning to manage.

“You have to learn to prepare each night to play your best,” Dobson said. “I think that’s just been something I’ve been learning along the way. Just how important the mental side of the game is with so many games each and every night. You have to have a short memory, prepare like a pro and make sure you’re preparing to bring your best each night.”

NYI Hockey Now LOADED: 02.11.2021 1183411 New York Islanders “I will say this as a coach, and I can speak for the athletes, we would really enjoy the fans back,” head coach Barry Trotz said. “We miss that element in our game or in sport, or in life. … We love them. They’re a big part of what we do.” Nassau Coliseum, Sports Venues in NY Can Reopen Beginning Feb. 23 NYI Hockey Now LOADED: 02.11.2021

By Christian Arnold

An inside view of the New York Islanders home arena

The Nassau Coliseum doors could be opening soon.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Wednesday that sports arenas in the state could open with limited capacity beginning on Feb. 23. The new edict allows any arena or stadium with over 10,000 person capacity to reopen with 10 percent capacity being admitted.

Anybody attending will need to have a negative PCR test within 72 hours of the event and social distancing and face coverings will be enforced inside the venue. The plan is a mirror of the one the state approved for the Buffalo Bills in December when they hosted two playoff games at Bills Stadium.

“The Buffalo Bills program was an unparalleled success,” Cuomo said during a press briefing in Albany. “The only stadium for football to open up with testing, believe it or not, was what we did here in New York. … This hits the balance of safe reopening.”

The reopening plan would mean that roughly 1,400 fans would be allowed into Nassau Coliseum for games once the New York State Department of Health approved the plan to open the venue safely. All approval for arena openings in the state will go through the department of health.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo

The Islanders are 11 games into the 2020-21 season and have played only three games at home this year. The Islanders will have 22 home games at the Nassau Coliseum after Feb. 23, which is the day Cuomo earmarked to reopen arenas and stadiums.

Season ticket holders will receive first priority when the Islanders do open up the Coliseum for games after the governor’s deadline.

“It’s exciting that Governor Cuomo has announced that New York State will allow a limited number of fans to attend games starting February 23rd,” The Islanders said in a statement. “We look forward to welcoming the best fans in hockey back to the Coliseum as soon as possible and to UBS Arena at next season. … The health and safety of our fans and our staff remains our top priority.”

The 2020-21 season is the Islanders’ finale one at Nassau Coliseum before they move to UBS Arena in the fall. Nassau County Executive Laura Curran had championed the Islanders to return a year early to play a full season at the Coliseum last year.

Cuomo stepped in and persuaded NHL commissioner Gary Bettman to allow it, announcing the decision during a Feb. 29 press conference at the Coliseum ahead of the Islanders’ loss to the Boston Bruins.

NYHN Reader Poll: Would You Feel Comfortable Attending Islanders Games?

“I’m thrilled that Islanders fans will be able to safely rock the Barn again,” Curran said in a statement to NYI Hockey Now. “Governor Cuomo reopening arenas is a big step towards New York’s safe return to normal, and the reopening of the Coliseum means so much for Nassau. We know virus risk is dramatically reduced with precautions in place and rules being followed. I’m confident that we’re ready to do this safely and smoothly.”

Earlier this month Curran had expressed hope that the Islanders would be able to get fans into the building. During an interview with NYI Hockey Now, she said that opening up the building to fans by the playoffs was “within the realm of possibility.”

The Islanders have played three games at the Nassau Coliseum so far and have two more later this week. They are also scheduled to play the Buffalo Sabres one day before arenas can reopen.

Nearly all NHL teams have been playing in front of empty areas to start the year. 1183412 New York Rangers

Rangers’ Artemi Panarin limited after ‘lower-body injury’

By Mollie Walker February 11, 2021 | 12:28am

Rangers star winger Artemi Panarin sustained a lower-body injury during the second period of Wednesday’s 3-2 overtime loss to the Bruins.

The team’s top scorer was seen hunched over on the bench toward the end of the middle frame and gingerly skating during TV timeouts to try and workout whatever was bothering him. After sitting for a majority of the third, Panarin returned to the ice for the Rangers’ power play at 13:02 after David Krejci was called for tripping Brendan Lemieux.

“He’s got a little bit of a lower-body injury and we’ll assess him after,” head coach David Quinn said following the loss. “We thought that we could get him out there on the power play, it was something we just decided to try, if it wasn’t going to work we were going to pull him off early.”

Panarin finished the night with two shots on goal in 15:34 of ice time. Since signing a seven-year, $81.5 million deal with the Rangers as a free agent in July 2019, the 29-year-old Russian has only missed one game.

Last season, he sat out of a 4-2 loss to the Islanders on Jan. 21, 2020, and subsequently missed the NHL’s All-Star Game in St. Louis with an upper-body injury.

Panarin currently leads the Rangers with 15 points (five goals, 10 assists) through the first 12 games of the season.

Mika Zibanejad said he “felt like my own self” after breaking through with a quality performance in Wednesday’s loss after a slow start to the season.

“Obviously tough loss,” the Swedish center said. “But I felt a lot better and obviously the chances were there but couldn’t really capitalize on [Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask]. Just have to keep going and keep getting a little better every game.”

With the Rangers on the power play after Craig Smith was called for slashing Ryan Strome at 8:05 of the second period, Zibanejad nearly made it a two-goal game on a wide-open net before it was gloved by Rask.

Zibanejad was robbed again by Rask on a shorthanded breakaway later in the second.

“Tonight for sure was the guy that we saw last year in a lot of ways,” Quinn said. “He did a great job defensively, I thought he was on the puck, I thought there were great scoring chances. He wanted, he had a swagger to him tonight and by far the best game he had all year. I think he feels pretty good right now.”

Brendan Lemieux tied a single-game career-high with two assists and was credited with three hits in the loss. It was his second multi-assist game and the seventh multi-point game in his NHL career.

The Rangers’ game Sunday against the Flyers at the Garden has been postponed, the NHL announced Wednesday night, citing COVID-19 protocols. The postponement is the fourth straight for the Flyers, who aren’t scheduled to play again until Feb. 18, also against the Rangers. The league postponed Philadelphia’s games out of “an abundance of caution while the league continues to analyze test results in the coming days.”

New York Post LOADED: 02.11.2021 1183413 New York Rangers That is not overblowing the situation regarding Zibanejad, who has all of three points (1-2) on the year. Neither is it overblowing his significance to the operation.

Mika Zibanejad glimpses not nearly enough for Rangers David Quinn, who earlier in the day had mounted a defense of his centerman, was pleased indeed with Zibanejad’s play in this one through which he and his line held its own in the match against the Bergeron- Marchand-David Pastrnak trio By Larry Brooks February 11, 2021 | 12:01am “Tonight, for sure, was the guy we saw last year in a lot of ways,” said the

coach. “He did a great job defensively, with his body, was on the puck The glaring red flag that makes Tony DeAngelo radioactive after Rangers and got great scoring chances. dismissal “He wanted it and had a swagger to him tonight.” There, for a few shining moments, the future of the Rangers was on The Rangers played with tempo following a dozy first period in which display. 8:18 was played without either team recording a shot on goal. The With just over seven minutes remaining in the third period of a second period was wide-open and the third was a battle. The Rangers reasonably entertaining game against the Bruins that was 2-2 at the time, held in. there was Alexis Lafreniere flying down the left wing with Kaapo Kakko But they got both goals from the fourth line, Gauthier getting one and on the right and Ryan Strome between them. Kevin Rooney the other. Those are the only two goals the Blueshirts It was Strome and Lafreniere who connected on a neat give-and-go on have scored over the last two games. which the centerman was denied from the doorstep by Tuukka Rask So more is needed. And while Zibanejad took a step forward, production moments before the goaltender somehow snuffed No. 16’s rebound is needed from this upper-echelon first-line center. attempt. New York Post LOADED: 02.11.2021 That sequence came just about seven minutes after Lafreniere set up Julien Gauthier off another left-wing rush before the winger was also stopped by the Finnish netminder. This was No. 13 at his best in a couple of weeks.

So good stuff from the first-overall, a good game from Kakko, and, in the first period, the first goal of Gauthier’s career in his 24th NHL game. And Alexandar Georgiev had an impressive bounce-back outing. Good stuff for the big picture.

There was more than a fair amount of good stuff throughout the evening, but not enough of it to generate a victory at the Garden. It was 3-2, B’s in overtime, when the basket-hanging Brad Marchand beat Georgiev on a breakaway at 0:36 after Pavel Buchnevich eschewed a shot off an odd- man break — this is a recording — and could not get his pass through a backchecking Patrice Bergeron with Charlie McAvoy standing his ground. Of course he couldn’t.

And there was, I suppose, good stuff from Mika Zibanejad, who declared that he felt like “my own self,” after being held off the scoresheet again despite having several glorious opportunities around the net on a night where he was at his most visible of the season.

Mika Zibanejad has struggled this season for the Rangers.

It was the classic hockey good news/bad news night for No. 93. Good that he was getting chances. Bad that he was unable to convert any in his ninth straight without a goal. Zibanejad has one assist through that stretch, marking his most fallow period since 2017-18.

“I felt a lot better today,” he said. “Obviously the chances were there but I didn’t really capitalize on them. I just have to keep going and get a little better every day.”

Zibanejad was set up at the right doorstep by Chris Kreider’s diagonal feed on a power play 8:28 into the second but was robbed by Rask’s glove after the goaltender somehow came across to shut the open side. Indeed, Zibanejad thought the puck had crossed the line, seeming to point inside the net before briefly conferring with one of the officials when play stopped.

Maybe he thought it was in because last year it would have been in. The year before, too. But not in 2020-21. At least not so far.

And about 6:30 later, with just over 5:00 remaining in the period, Zibanejad swept in on a breakaway but was beaten again by Rask, who got the puck with his right shoulder. A year ago? Well, who knows?

Listen, if the Rangers are going to have a chance to remain relevant in the playoff chase, it is imperative that Zibanejad produces. No team can survive with a washout season from its first-line center. The Blueshirts, who were carried offensively last year by the Zibanejad-Artemi Panarin Dynamic Duo, certainly won’t be able to hang in if No. 93 continues putting up zeroes. That is true whether or not Panarin, limited to one shift on the power play in the third period after suffering some sort of lower body injury late in the second after getting tangled up on the boards with Chris Wagner, is down for any length of time. 1183414 New York Rangers

Rangers fall in overtime vs. division-leading Bruins

By Mollie Walker February 10, 2021 | 10:17pm | Updated

The Rangers hung with the red-hot Bruins until the very end.

Boston entered Wednesday night’s game at Madison Square Garden riding a three-game winning streak and tied with the Flyers for first place in the East with 18 points, but the Rangers pulled out a point by forcing overtime before Brad Marchand ultimately secured a 3-2 win for the Bruins.

Jumping out on a breakaway 36 seconds into the extra period, Marchand put one past Rangers netminder Alexandar Georgiev with a nifty head- fake.

The Rangers managed to keep their heads in the game despite losing their top scorer Artemi Panarin for nearly the entire third period. Head coach David Quinn said after the game that the star winger, who briefly returned on the power play later in the period, had “a little bit of a lower- body injury” and would be assessed soon.

It would’ve been easy for the Rangers to use losing Panarin as an excuse, especially after the Bruins’ Anders Bjork broke a 1-1 tie nine minutes into the third period. But Kevin Rooney battled it out in front of Boston’s net roughly 2 ½ minutes later and batted the puck past Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask to tie the game up once again.

Referees reviewed the goal for a possible high stick by Brendan Lemieux, but the call on the ice stood.

“I thought after they got the goal, we started doing things we needed to,” Quinn said. “We get a big goal and I thought we did a good job after that. I thought our power play was really good, when we got one late in the third and had some great chances, just couldn’t buy one.

“There was a lot of good things that we can draw from, but obviously things we’re going to have to get better at.”

The Bruins’ last — and only — loss in regulation this season came Jan. 18 against the Islanders.

Rangers goalie Alexandar Georgiev reacts after Anders Bjork’s third- period goal.

Mika Zibanejad broke through for one of his most productive games so far this season, getting robbed by Rask on two separate occasions in the middle frame and registering four shots. Rask turned aside 33 of the 35 shots he faced, including 15 in the final period.

“Tuukka played really well tonight too,” Quinn said. “Made some big saves, as did [Georgiev with 29 saves], especially the second, gave us a chance.”

Entering the final 20 minutes tied 1-1 for the second time in the last four games, the Rangers were saved by a bouncing puck just over five minutes in when Jake DeBrusk’s shot from the slot went bar down and out. The shot was reviewed and the no-goal call on the ice was upheld when the review showed the shot hit, but did not cross, the goal line.

Julien Gauthier notched his first NHL goal at 13:50 of the first period, burying a pass off the net from Lemieux to put the Rangers ahead 1-0 with the only goal of the first 20 minutes. Entering Wednesday’s matchup, the Bruins had only trailed after one period three other times.

“I think [the fourth line] has been playing well, I should’ve played them more,” Quinn said of Gauthier, Rooney and Lemieux. “Actually, I looked at the minutes and was kind of pissed at myself for not playing them more. Shame on me.”

New York Post LOADED: 02.11.2021 1183415 New York Rangers miss that, I won’t lie. I can’t wait until they’re back so they can be a part of that.”

Absence can make the heart grow fonder, of course, and so every Return of small first wave of fans big step for New York sports athlete who has voiced a similar (and no doubt genuine) antipathy for empty arenas has likely forgotten the boos that also accompany paying fans in the building. It’s funny though: One of the most reassuring moments after sports returned following the events of Sept. 11, 2001, By Mike Vaccaro February 10, 2021 | 7:43PM was the afternoon 12 days later when Armando Benitez blew a save for the Mets against the Braves and was booed off the mound at Shea Stadium. Madison Square Garden won't be nearly this packed on Feb. 23, but there will be near 2,000 fans in the building for the Knicks-Warriors Things sure felt plenty normal then. game. It will still be odd, having 90 percent of the seats unoccupied. Even New There were a few hundred folks scattered throughout Madison Square York fans with their muscular voice boxes will have a hard time Garden that Thursday afternoon, family and friends sitting among the replicating a full house at 10 cents on the dollar. But they will surely try. staffers and the media folks. There was a surreal tint to the day even as There will be hassles to go along with attending these games, sacrifices, St. John’s and Creighton made their way through the layup lines last some more intrusive and invasive than when Sept. 11 introduced us to March 12. the daily sporting realities of metal detectors and bag checks. Some will be slow to return. One by one, across the country, conference basketball tournaments had conceded to the inevitable: the Big Ten in Indianapolis; the ACC in But the fact is, they can return. For the first time in 348 days, going to a Greensboro, N.C.; the SEC in Nashville, Tenn.; even the Atlantic 10, ballgame isn’t something you wistfully talk about in the past tense, like across the river in Brooklyn, all of them had called off their tournaments having a meal at the Automat. We’re not all the way back yet. But we’re because of COVID-19. It seemed a matter of seconds before the Big getting there. East followed suit. New York Post LOADED: 02.11.2021 Instead, just past noon, the Red Storm and the Bluejays tipped off. In almost every year going back to 1983 — when the Big East came home for good to Manhattan — this would have been an unofficial civic holiday, especially with the Johnnies playing, especially after they walked off the floor at halftime leading the top seeds, 38-35.

They never walked back on.

At halftime, the Big East realized what it needed to do. It called off the game, and the balance of the tournament. All across that day, one by one, sports in America boarded up its windows, padlocked its doors and settled in for a long season of dormancy. In New York, the games ultimately returned, starting with the Belmont Stakes in June and baseball a month later.

The fans did not. They were not allowed. Across the country, some states relented during the latter stages of baseball season, during college football season. In Western New York, Gov. Cuomo took mercy on the rabid acolytes of the local football team who refer to themselves as the Bills Mafia, allowed 7,500 people to Bills Stadium in suburban Buffalo for a pair of NFL playoff games.

A small crowd in Miami watched the Heat play the Knicks on Tuesday. On Feb 23, a small number of Knicks fans will be able to watch their team at Madison Square Garden.

Around here, we waited.

Feb. 23, the wait ends.

Feb. 23, it will be 348 days since the last fans were allowed into a New York-area venue, those hundreds of Johnnies fans who left the Garden convinced St. John’s would’ve finished what it started against Creighton, maybe done something magical with the rest of Big East Weekend. Cuomo announced Wednesday that local arenas and stadiums with capacities of more than 10,000 can start welcoming fans back, making 10 percent of seats available.

That means that on Feb. 23, the Knicks-Warriors game at the Garden and the Nets-Kings game at Barclays Center will be the first morsels of normalcy our sporting landscape will enjoy in 49 ½ weeks. Nets-Kings, in normal times, might barely register on the local consciousness. Knicks- Warriors would get some attention, mostly because you never know if Steph Curry is going to go off for 60.

Now, it will be an opportunity for 1,981 Knicks fans and 1,773 Nets fans to watch a live sporting event for the first time in what feels like two days longer than forever. The Islanders will open the doors for around 1,400 fans when they welcome the Bruins to Nassau Coliseum on Feb. 25, and the next night the Rangers will greet 1,800 or so when the Bruins visit the Garden.

“Most of the fun of playing in New York is the opportunity to play in front of New York fans, the passion they have, the energy they bring night after night,” Knicks forward Julius Randle said a couple of weeks ago. “I 1183416 New York Rangers

Knicks, Rangers to host roughly 2,000 fans at games

By Justin Tasch February 10, 2021 | 5:32pm | Updated

With Gov. Cuomo announcing Wednesday that sports stadiums and arenas can open up to a limited number of fans beginning this month, the Knicks and Rangers are preparing to welcome approximately 2,000 fans per game at the Garden. It’ll be the first time fans will be in the building since COVID-19 shut sports leagues down last March.

The Knicks will start hosting fans for their Feb. 23 game against the Warriors, while the Rangers will have fans for their Feb. 26 game against the Bruins, the teams said in a statement. Venues with capacity of at least 10,000 can start having up to 10 percent capacity starting Feb. 23.

MSG’s capacity is just over 20,000.

“Health and safety remain our top priority, and we will be working closely with state and health officials to implement the strongest operating protocols,” the teams said. “We know our fans are anxious to return and we can’t wait to see them at The Garden once again.”

Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau says “it’s great for the league” to have fans back. Twelve NBA teams currently host fans.

“Safety has to come first in this situation,” Thibodeau said. “For us, we know how important fans are to our organization. It’s something you’re hopeful it gets turned around. This appears to be a good sign. As long as it’s safe, we’re looking forward to that. I think the same holds true for every team in the league. The safety of the fans is most important but we know how important is to our game.”

Madison Square Garden on Dec. 27, 2020.

The Nets are expected to have fans at their Feb. 23 game against the Kings at Barclays Center.

The Islanders said they “look forward” to having fans back at Nassau Coliseum but did not say when that will begin. The Buffalo Sabres also didn’t say when they’ll have fans back but called the announcement a “great step forward.” The Bills were able to have 6,700 fans at their Dec. 30 playoff game.

Both the NHL and NBA have had to postpone games this season due to the virus.

The Yankees and Mets have more time to prepare as their seasons don’t begin until April.

“Governor Cuomo’s announcement today is an encouraging first step,” the Yankees said in a statement. “We thank the governor for his leadership, and we will continue to engage his office in productive dialogue moving forward. The safety of everyone who enters Yankee Stadium remains our top priority, and we will work diligently and in lock- step with the governor to ensure all precautions and procedures are being followed as we lead up to the 2021 baseball season.”

The Mets said they “look forward to working with government officials to ensure that the return to the ballpark is safe and convenient for our fans.”

New York Post LOADED: 02.11.2021 1183417 New York Rangers

Chris Kreider emerging as Rangers’ true captain in tough season

By Mollie Walker February 10, 2021 | 2:26pm | Updated

Chris Kreider may share the alternate captain title with three of his Rangers teammates, but as the team’s longest tenured player, the 29- year-old has acted more like a true captain this season than the rest.

Through the first 11 games of the season, he has become the go-to player to speak on behalf of the team following losses. He’s the guy who gives fist bumps and words of encouragement on the way to the locker room between periods. And he has been a lighthearted presence in the locker room with his playful personality.

Maybe it’s because he recognizes he’s the fourth-oldest player on the team, or because he’s in his 10th season with the organization, but Kreider has assumed the responsibilities of captain on this young Rangers club – and he’s done so with his own unique approach and flare.

“Chris has always been a leader in a lot of ways,” head coach David Quinn said Wednesday ahead of the Rangers’ first game against the Bruins. “I just think that this year in particular because of the roster makeup and the opportunity for guys to step up to a different level in the leadership category, I think he’s done it and I think he’s embraced it.

“He’s been around here a long time and obviously he’s a part of our future. I think he realizes the impact you can make, not only on the ice but off the ice, and he certainly has embraced it.”

Chris Kreider skates in the Rangers’ game against the Penguins.

Last year, with his contract set to expire at the end of the 2019-20 season, the Rangers realized the leadership qualities they would be letting go if they didn’t extend Kreider. And so the organization locked him up to a seven-year, $45.5 million deal that will keep him on the team through the 2026-27 season when he is 36 years old.

With one of the youngest teams in the league – they have an average age of 25 – the Rangers likely knew it would be imperative to retain as much experience as possible. Kreider, the Blueshirts’ 19th-overall selection in 2009 out of Boston College, has the third-highest NHL experience on the team, behind only Mika Zibanejad and Jack Johnson.

Kreider, who has four goals so far this season, knows when it’s time to be serious and when it’s time to have fun. Following the Rangers’ 4-2 win against the Capitals last week, Kreider was seen rattling the table up and down during Ryan Strome’s media availability, making him laugh and further enjoy the victory.

But after Monday’s 2-0 loss to the Islanders, the Rangers’ second shutout defeat against their New York rivals, Kreider was stoic and level- headed. When he was asked if he believed Zibanejad, who is currently in a notable slump, was playing at 100 percent, Kreider came to his teammate’s defense while also offering a sensible big-picture answer.

“Regardless if a guy is playing it 100 percent or not, we’re NHL players, we’re professionals, most guys are dealing with bumps and bruises, some guys are playing through worse injuries or sicknesses,” he said. “But I’m not going to speak to that, that’s something that stays in the room obviously. But he’s played 100 percent, he’s doing an unbelievable job defensively. He’s got the tough matchup every single night, he’s getting defensive zone draws and in my mind, he’s eating up the top players in the league.

“He’s not exactly getting, you know the O-zone starts that he would necessarily get because he’s drawing those hard matchups. So I think he’s been doing a bang up job. And he’s doing everything he can to help our team win.”

Kreider has proven that he doesn’t need to don a “C” on his sweater to be a captain. He has been just that and more without it.

New York Post LOADED: 02.11.2021 1183418 New York Rangers

Rangers lose in overtime to Bruins on Brad Marchand's breakaway goal

By Colin Stephenson

Alexandar Georgiev got back in the goal for the first time since Jan. 30 and the end result was the same as his last game – an overtime loss to a team wearing black and gold.

The Rangers lost, 3-2, this time and the opponent was the East-leading Boston Bruins, who got the game-winner on a breakaway goal by Brad Marchand at 36 seconds of the five-minute, 3-on-3 extra period.

Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy, the Long Beach native, set up the goal after he broke up a Rangers’ two-on-one. He intercepted a pass from Pavel Buchnevich and fired a strike to Marchand, springing him for the breakaway.

"It was a two on one, and Buch just tried to pass it across, it got knocked down, and you know, good play by [McAvoy] there,’’ Rangers defenseman Adam Fox said. "They score on a breakaway. But we had an opportunity, we tried to score, and it just didn’t work out.’’

The Rangers were hampered in the game by an injury to their leading scorer, Artemi Panarin. Panarin left the game early in the third period with a lower-body injury, according to coach David Quinn. The Russian forward stayed on the bench and did take a shift on a power play the Rangers got with 6:58 remaining in regulation. Quinn did not have a report on how serious the injury is to Panarin, and whether he will miss any time.

Hopefully for Georgiev, who was celebrating his 25th birthday, the night wouldn’t end the way it ended the last time he played. In that one, following a 5-4 overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Jan. 30, Georgiev reportedly got into an altercation with teammate Tony DeAngelo in the locker room. That ultimately led to DeAngelo being waived.

But in this one, Georgiev, who has struggled in the early going this season, played well enough that he was a big part of the reason the game got to overtime, according to Rangers coach David Quinn.

"I thought he was really good laterally, reading plays, square to the puck,’’ Quinn said of Georgiev, who made 29 saves. "The second period, we were fortunate to get out of there 1-1 in the second. [Georgiev] was huge on the penalty kill there in the second period. They had some Grade A ‘bell-ringers’ that he made some great side-to-side saves on.’’

The Rangers opened the scoring when fourth-line right wing Julien Gauthier drove the net and chipped in a pass from behind the goal line from Brendan Lemieux for his first NHL goal at 13:50 of the first period.

The Bruins tied it at 9:41 of the second period on a shorthanded goal by Chris Wagner, and the Boston took the lead at 9:00 of the third period, when Anders Bjork capitalized on a defensive breakdown by the Rangers and scored from the low slot without a defender near him.

The Rangers tied it, though, on Kevin Rooney’s disputed goal at 11:22. Defenseman Ryan Lindgren fired a rising shot from the left point and Lemieux, battling in front, raised his stick high to deflect the puck down, behind Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask (33 saves). Rooney, standing behind the pile of bodies, knocked the loose puck over the goal line.

It was ruled a goal, but Rask complained to the referees that Lemieux had deflected the puck with a high stick. The play was reviewed on video before being allowed to stand.

It was the second favorable video review call the Rangers got in the game. Earlier in the period, a shot by Jake DeBrusk had gotten behind Georgiev, hit the crossbar, then the post, then bounced out. Review determined the entire puck had apparently not crossed the entire goal line, and thus there was no goal.

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 02.11.2021 1183419 New York Rangers worse as teams plowed through the season, head down, trying to dodge covid-positives like would-be tacklers.

Incredibly, each of the four major pro sports crowned champions during It's hard not to be a fan of Gov. Cuomo's New York stadium re-opening the pandemic, with the NBA and NHL well into another season already. plan Plenty of teams already have allowed fans inside arenas to watch -- the Super Bowl had over 25,000 people in attendance -- but New York has been one of the stricter states. After what we endured in 2020, there’s good reason for that. Updated February 10, 2021 9:16 PM But now the data is suggesting otherwise, and this region could use

something more to cheer about. I’m bullish on the recovery and the Welcome back. urgency for a wider re-opening -- albeit in a smart, safe fashion -- is impossible to ignore. Cuomo may be starting out at 10% capacity for the Not all of you. Not right away. Hopefully, that isn’t too, too far off. re-introduction of fans, but baseball still has another six weeks before the Yankees open up April 1 in the Bronx. With increased vaccinations, and But we’ll take the 10% for now, as granted Wednesday by Gov. Andrew perhaps a little luck, it’s always possible that percentage could be M. Cuomo, who finally snapped the padlocks on the gates of New York’s bumped up a little higher by first pitch. The Mets aren’t back at Citi Field arenas and stadiums to allow fans through, starting on Feb. 23. until April 8. I know Cuomo likes to say he listens to the science in making every one "Governor Cuomo’s announcement today is an encouraging first step," of his pandemic-related decisions, but whatever calculus he uses to the Yankees said Wednesday in a statement. determine these exact percentages is never readily available. All along, we’ve been following our best educated guesses, based on ever-evolving More like jumping for joy. We all were promised another slice of our data for a pandemic the world hadn’t seen in more than a century. Now regular lives back Wednesday with Cuomo’s announcement. And that’s a Cuomo believes this also can be done, for arenas/stadiums with a priceless feeling, no matter what the ticket costs. capacity over 10,000, by relying on PCR (nasal swab) tests, masks and social distancing. Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 02.11.2021

On Wednesday, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced that

Cuomo: Sports arenas can host fans at 10% capacity starting Feb. 23

On Wednesday, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced that sports arenas that seat more than 10,000 people could host fans at up to 10% capacity as long as COVID-19 guidelines were followed and they had negative test results. Credit: NY Governor's Office

"This hits the balance of safe reopening," Cuomo said Wednesday.

Fingers crossed, I’m cautiously optimistic we’re ready for this next step, because it feels like we desperately need to take a few more in the forward direction. By the time Feb. 23 rolls around -- we’re not counting the Bills playoff game attended by 6,700 -- it will have been 349 days since a ticket-buying fan was actually on-site somewhere in the metropolitan area, dating to the March 12 Big East Tournament matchup between St. John’s and Creighton at Madison Square Garden.

That game, which feels like a decade ago, was abruptly halted at halftime due to the rapidly escalating COVID-19 concerns. Our world has never been the same since.

Fans will bring some of that normal back with them. And this goes way beyond sports. Our psyche needs repairing after nearly a year on the injured list. Just return to us some of those happy sights and sounds again. Let the arenas help provide a blueprint to get the smaller, cozier venues up and running, too -- like Broadway, Carnegie Hall, the Met or your neighborhood bowling alley.

Can we further refine the testing process to make it an even quicker, more reliable turnaround than a few hours or days? (The 15-minute rapid test still has its skeptics). Will the vaccination rate accelerate to the point where people don’t have to be skittish about pulling down their mask for a bite of hot dog or sip of beer? Going by my own informal Twitter poll, it sounds like most fans will be sprinting back into ballparks, but mindful of a continuing emphasis on safety.

Of course, franchises are craving that gate revenue again. They’re starving for it. When a team like the Yankees had to flush roughly $450 million last summer due to playing only 30 games in their empty cash register, um, ballpark, the financial hit is devastating, across the board, right down to the vendors, ushers and parking lot attendants.

They’re not going to get whole with just a few thousand fans in the building. At the start, this is mostly symbolic, another reason to be hopeful, like the plunge in infection rates after the holiday surges. A year ago, as COVID-19 was gutting New York City and steadily gaining momentum nationwide, I was adamant about slamming on the brakes. Never did I think playing sports would be possible, right up until tip-off inside the NBA bubble and the first pitch of MLB’s 60-game season.

The experiments did not go smoothly. Baseball had an especially tough time, trying to play games on a daily basis while traveling, and a handful of teams were ravaged by outbreaks. At times, the NFL looked even 1183420 New York Rangers

Rangers' game Sunday against Flyers postponed because of COVID-19 protocols

By Colin Stephenson

With three Philadelphia Flyers out of action because of COVID-19 protocols, the NHL announced Wednesday night that Sunday night’s game between the Flyers and Rangers at the Garden will be postponed.

The Flyers, whose game against Washington on Tuesday was postponed, will not open their practice facility until next Monday.

Justin Braun, Claude Giroux and Travis Sanheim are in COVID protocols for the Flyers.

The game that was supposed to be played Sunday had been scheduled for Feb. 16 but was moved last week as part of a slew of changes necessary because of the shutdowns of the Devils and Sabres. The Devils, whose game against the Rangers last week in Newark was postponed, are shut down at least until next Tuesday, when they are supposed to play the Rangers.

Smith not cleared to play

Defenseman Brendan Smith practiced full contact Tuesday but coach David Quinn said Smith, who missed the two previous games with an upper-body injury, still was not cleared to play. That meant there would be no lineup changes for the Rangers for Wednesday’s game against Boston.

But Smith, who was injured in a collision with Penguins forward Brandon Tanev on Feb. 1, is getting closer to a return. And, according to Quinn, "it should happen soon.’’

So the question was raised on Wednesday what will happen to the third defense pair of Anthony Bitetto and 23-year-old Libor Hajek once Smith and Jack Johnson (out since Jan. 28 with a groin strain) are ready to return.

"It’s obviously play-driven and we want to win hockey games,’’ Quinn said. "The top six defensemen that we feel give us a chance to win night in and night out will play.’’

Bitetto drew praise from Quinn for his fight with Boston forward Chris Wagner. The two fought at 9:17 of the third period and Quinn hinted that the fight may have had something to do with sparking the Rangers and helping them get the tying goal by Kevin Rooney a little more than two minutes later.

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 02.11.2021 1183421 New York Rangers Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 02.11.2021

Amid struggles, Mika Zibanejad could get dropped from first line

By Colin Stephenson

There’s been no question how much Mika Zibanejad’s all-around play and leadership have meant to the Rangers over the last three seasons. But while the 27-year-old Swede struggles to put points on the board early in this season, have things gotten so bad that coach David Quinn would actually consider dropping his No. 1 center in the lineup?

In a word, yes.

"That's something we would do, and he and I talked about that yesterday,’’ Quinn said before the Rangers hosted the East Division- leading Boston Bruins on Wednesday at Madison Square Garden. "I mean, he certainly has given himself an opportunity to play through some stretches of -- that maybe he's not on the top of his game. But at some point in time, those opportunities, and that credit's going to run out.’’

Quinn has been careful to highlight all the good things Zibanejad has done and continues to do for the Rangers. Even on Wednesday morning, the coach said the concern over Zibanejad’s scoring drought has been somewhat "overblown.’’ Ultimately, Zibanejad will revert to being the player he is, he said.

"I do think he, without question, will get to where we’re all accustomed to seeing him play,’’ Quinn said.

Part of the concern stems from how high Zibanejad has raised expectations for himself over the last two years.

"He's become one of the top players in this league,’’ Quinn said. "He's a true number one centerman. And I think when people watch him, they always compare him to that. And, you know, he and I talked about that yesterday. That's just the reality of the situation.’’

Quinn pointed out that Zibanejad had COVID-19 and missed just about all of training camp, and said every game there are more and more signs that he is playing better and about to come out of his funk. It’s just a matter of time until he does, the coach said.

But the numbers are what they are. Zibanejad, who scored 41 goals in 57 games last season, entered Wednesday with one in 11 games this season, and two assists. His only point in the last eight games was an assist on Pavel Buchnevich’s empty net goal last Thursday in the 4-2 win over Washington.

After Monday’s 2-0 loss to the Islanders, Quinn said Zibanejad’s frustration was evident. Zibanejad himself admitted he was having a hard time.

"It's frustrating, but I’m just trying to work through it,’’ he said. "It's not going to be perfect for a whole season for your whole career. So, this is just another challenge, another tough situation. You have to overcome it. You do that by working hard.’’

Clearly, Zibanejad does so much more than score goals and create goals for others – he is the No. 1 penalty-killing forward (usually pairing with Buchnevich), and on Monday he won 11 of 13 faceoffs against the Islanders.

But dropping him to the second line – and elevating the Artemi Panarin- Ryan Strome-Kaapo Kakko unit to the first line – may make some sense if it can get Zibanejad and his linemates, Buchnevich and Chris Kreider, away from other teams’ No. 1 defense pairs.

Quinn was asked Wednesday about the possibility of putting Zibanejad on a line with Panarin, who leads the team in scoring, with five goals and 10 assists (15 points). It’s something the coach sometimes does in late- game situations when the Rangers are down a goal and desperate to generate offense.

"Before [Monday] we got seven out of eight points and things were going pretty well, so you don't overreact to one loss,’’ he said. "That's certainly something we've done throughout the games, from time to time and that's something that's always on the table and always an option for us.’’ 1183422 New York Rangers NHL The Rangers’ policy will be the same as the Knicks’: roughly 2,000 fans

per game, beginning Feb. 26 against the Bruins, with season-ticket Gov. Cuomo says fans can return to NY arenas and stadiums starting holders receiving priority. Feb. 23 The Islanders were less specific, saying in a statement that they plan to have fans at Nassau Coliseum "as soon as possible." They, too, will grant season-ticket holders first dibs on tickets "when they are available." By Tim Healey Their first home game under the new rules is Feb. 25 against the Bruins.

"I'm thrilled that Islanders fans will be able to safely rock the Barn again," Nassau County Executive Laura Curran said in a statement. "Governor Fans’ nearly yearlong absence from major sporting events in the tristate Cuomo reopening arenas is a big step towards New York's safe return to area appears to be almost over. normal, and the reopening of the Coliseum means so much for Nassau. In another small step toward normalcy, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo We know virus risk is dramatically reduced with precautions in place and announced Wednesday that beginning Feb. 23, arenas and stadiums can rules being followed. I'm confident that we're ready to do this safely and admit up to 10% of their capacity — with the sort of restrictions that have smoothly." become routine during the coronavirus pandemic, including social- MLB distancing and mask-wearing requirements. With Opening Day still seven weeks away, the Mets and Yankees have Attendees also will have to present a negative COVID-19 test from within time to figure out logistics. Both teams are selling tickets — including for 72 hours of the event, Cuomo said. Opening Day, April 1 at Yankee Stadium and April 8 at Citi Field — but Details regarding how the local teams will enforce those rules, or when neither said how it will handle limited capacity and refunds/credits for and to whom they will sell tickets, were scant in the hours after Cuomo’s those who bought tickets but won’t be allowed to attend. reveal. But the general reaction was positive. Finally, fans can come The Mets did send a marketing email Wednesday evening, encouraging watch — and teams can make more money. fans to "be part of the action" by buying tickets, including to two April On Wednesday, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced that series.

Cuomo: Sports arenas can host fans at 10% capacity starting Feb. 23 Like the other pro leagues, MLB plans to allow fans on a team-by-team basis, being sure to follow local and state government regulations. If it’s On Wednesday, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced that sports arenas OK with Cuomo, it’s OK with MLB. that seat more than 10,000 people could host fans at up to 10% capacity as long as COVID-19 guidelines were followed and they had negative Both teams called Cuomo’s fan ban repeal "an encouraging first step." test results. Credit: NY Governor's Office "It’s an encouraging first step toward us potentially welcoming fans back First up: The Knicks and Nets, who play at home on Feb. 23, New York to Citi Field," the Mets said in a statement. "We look forward to working sports’ reopening day. with government officials to ensure that the return to the ballpark is safe and convenient for our fans." "It’s great for the league," Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said. "Safety has to come first in this situation. For us, we know how important fans are to And the Yankees: "We will work diligently and in lock-step with the our organization. It’s something [that] you’re hopeful it gets turned governor to ensure all precautions and procedures are being followed as around. This appears to be a good sign. As long as it’s safe, we’re we lead up to the 2021 baseball season." looking forward to that." MLS Islanders’ coach Barry Trotz said: "We would really enjoy the fans back. A New York City FC spokesman said the club, which plays its home We missed that element in our game, no question. They're a big part of matches at Yankee Stadium, is looking forward to hosting fans in 2021, what we do." but does not yet have concrete plans for doing so. The MLS season is The most recent local major sporting event at which fans were in scheduled to begin April 17. attendance was the Big East quarterfinals at Madison Square Garden on NCAA March 12. Four hundred were allowed in to watch St. John’s-Creighton, which was canceled at halftime. Cuomo’s new rules apply to venues with capacities of 10,000 or more, so St. John’s, Hofstra and Stony Brook basketball will not be affected. That was 335 days ago. That count will get up to 348 by Feb. 23. Stony Brook (football, lacrosse) and Hofstra (lacrosse) seem to be Here is what local teams and colleges said about Cuomo’s eligible for allowing fans. Stony Brook said in a statement it will await announcement. "further guidance and interpretation on [the rules’] applicability to campus NBA venues." Hofstra saidin a statement it will "carefully study the policy" and what it means for athletics. Neither the Knicks nor the Nets said Wednesday when tickets will go on sale, but they expect season-ticket holders to get priority access. The "We are grateful to the Governor," Hofstra said, "and share his Knicks plan to allow about 2,000 fans at every game. commitment to reopening New York State’s sporting and cultural venues." "We know our fans are anxious to return and we can’t wait to see them at The Garden once again," the Knicks, Rangers and MSG said in a With Steve Popper, Greg Logan, Erik Boland, Laura Albanese, Ryan statement. Gerbosi and Jordan Lauterbach

Tuesday in Miami, the Knicks played in front of about 1,500 people. TURNSTILE COUNT

"It’s not the same as a full arena obviously, but it’s still great to have fans At 10% capacity, the maximum number of fans allowed in the area's in the building," Thibodeau said. "We’re looking forward to the day when large arenas and stadiums beginning on Feb. 23: the arenas are full again. It’s a start and that’s all you can ask for." Barclays Center The Nets, who said they will donate a portion of ticket proceeds to Nets: 1,773 support vaccination efforts in Brooklyn, directed those interested in tickets to brooklynnets.com/reopening. Madison Square Garden

"The players enjoy the experience a little bit more and it makes the Knicks: 1,981 season a little less monotonous," Nets coach Steve Nash said. "It's exciting to be able to have a little slice of normalcy. I think it's great for Rangers: 1,800 the fans, great for the players and great for the organization and Nassau Coliseum community. So I think it's a win all around." Islanders: 1,391

Yankee Stadium

Yankees: 5,425

NYCFC: 2,874

Citi Field

Mets 4,192

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 02.11.2021 1183423 New York Rangers — IAN MCLAREN (@IANCMCLAREN) FEBRUARY 11, 2021 And they know that they need more games like this — or the three or four

that preceded the loss to the Islanders — than they were getting earlier in The real Mika Zibanejad is back, but Artemi Panarin might be out for the the season. Rangers “The way we kind of measure our game is how fast we play, the way we pressure, the way we forecheck,” ZIbanejad said about the Boston game (the teams have seven more meetings scheduled). “We talk a lot in that By Rick Carpiniello Feb 10, 2021 locker room about speed and speed in everything we do, do it as quick as we can. I think we’ve just got to keep doing that. We were playing a

really good team tonight, and it’s going to go a little bit back and forth, but The Rangers’ two most important players — and I don’t say “best” I thought we played with a lot more speed and a lot more tempo than we because I think, perhaps prematurely, that title for now belongs to Adam did the last game.” Fox — are Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad. Thoughts So far through 12 games (4-5-3), the Rangers have pretty much had to 1. Alexandar Georgiev played his first game since he punched Tony do without Zibanejad, or at least the real Zibanejad. And now they have DeAngelo out of town after an overtime loss to Pittsburgh on Jan. 30. It to wonder if they will have to go without Panarin, and if so, for how long? was also Georgiev’s 25th birthday. The last time he played on his The Hart Trophy finalist from last season and the Rangers’ leading scorer birthday, he made 55 saves, second most in a game in team history, and (5-10-15) tweaked something late in the second period of the Rangers’ 3- stole a 4-1 win over Toronto. 2 overtime loss to Boston on Wednesday at the Garden, the 700th He couldn’t steal this one, beaten on a Marchand breakaway early in OT. meeting between the former archrivals. Not his fault, certainly, but also better than most of his outings this Panarin took a few uncomfortable twirls on the ice after being hurt and season. played two early shifts in the third (one lasting only 12 seconds). Then he “I thought he was really good laterally, reading plays, square to the puck,” sat until a power play with a tie score late in the third, lasting 1:28. That Quinn said. “Second period, you know, we were fortunate to get out of was it for the night. there 1-1. He was huge on the penalty kill there in the second period. “He’s got a little bit of a lower-body injury and we’ll assess him after,” They had some Grade A bell-ringers that he made some great side-to- Rangers coach David Quinn said. “I thought he could get out there on the side saves on. If you’re going to kill penalties against that team, your power play. It was just something we just decided we’d try. If it wasn’t goalie better be pretty good, and he certainly was good then.” going to work, were going to pull him off early. That was our best power 2. Rask was better … until the final minute of regulation, the craziest play we’ve had in a while.” moment of a pretty crazy game? Rask left his net and sprinted to the It was. But it has to be frightening to imagine what this team — which bench. Huh? What? He was almost there when his teammates and lately can’t shoot straight (and often won’t shoot at all) — might face if coaches frantically waved him back to his station. Rask was able to laugh Panarin can’t play. Or can’t play effectively. about it at the buzzer, and later he cracked that he simply had something important to tell backup goalie Jaroslav Halak on the bench. Then he did Panarin looked like he might have tweaked a knee or his groin. When he admit he thought the score was 2-1 Rangers, not 2-2. It would have been had a chat with trainer Jim Ramsay early in the third and sat for a while, one of the all-time brain cramps. you knew it wasn’t great. AN ADVENTUROUS TUUKKA IN THE 3RD #NHLONTHEFLY | Last season, Panarin dealt with a nagging injury. He didn’t sit out, instead @NHLBRUINS PIC.TWITTER.COM/TTCK5Y8TGQ preferring to manage his practices, etc. — NHL NETWORK (@NHLNETWORK) FEBRUARY 11, 2021 If the Rangers lose him now, holy cow. 3. Kakk-O-Meter: Kakko broke two-on-one with Panarin early on, but the Zibanejad, meanwhile, had a much better performance in this game than pass from Panarin was just out of the reach of Kakko’s one-timer he has had most nights this season, particularly in the shutout loss to the attempt. Islanders two nights earlier. Chance after chance — one of them a breakaway — all of them stopped by Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask, who 4. Zibanejad had two glorious chances to shoot and instead set up was sensational all night except for one boneheaded, nearly game- Buchnevich for two really good chances, too. On one of them, even costing mistake late in the third. More on that later. though Zibanejad’s shot would have been a long one, maybe a low shot and a wide-open Buchnevich for the rebound would have been a better The Rangers’ two goals came from the fourth line — Julien Gauthier’s choice? This is what happens in a slump. Buchnevich’s second chance first NHL goal and Kevin Rooney’s third of the season, giving him the on that sequence went to the corner, and Fox sent it from behind the same number as Pavel Buchnevich, the same as Kaapo Kakko and icing line, off the near post, and directly into Rask, who smothered it Alexis Lafrenière combined, and two more than Zibanejad. instead of knocking it into his own net.

“I felt like my own self today,” Zibanejad said. “Obviously, tough with the 5. Brendan Lemieux bumped Brandon Carlo off the puck along the back loss, but I felt a lot better today. The chances were there, but I couldn’t wall and put it in front where Gauthier, who finally showed some life last capitalize on them. But I have to just keep on going and keep getting a game — his best as a Ranger — drove to the paint and scored his first little bit better every game.” NHL goal. 1-0. Perhaps that five-game stretch without a uniform got his attention? Again, he has one goal and two assists through 12 games, which toward the end of last season typically was a single night’s output. Somebody Julien’s really coming on,” Quinn said. “I think he’s gotten better in these said to me during this game that if Zibanejad had the exact same game (last) three games.” last year, he scores three times. Minimum. THE @NYRANGERS ARE HOT OUT THE GATE ON #WNH. “Tonight, for sure, (he) was the guy that we saw last year in a lot of ways,” Quinn said. “He did a great job defensively (against the Patrice ��: HTTPS://T.CO/WC7CL9Z4UE @NHLONNBCSPORTS Bergeron, David Pastrnak, Brad Marchand line). I thought he was on the PIC.TWITTER.COM/EWHBGYHXQ9 puck. I thought they were great scoring chances. He wanted it. He had a — NHL (@NHL) FEBRUARY 11, 2021 swagger to him tonight and, by far, the best game he had all year. I think he feels pretty good right now.” 6. Key-note: K’Andre Miller was really outstanding on the first penalty kill (the Rangers have killed 17 in a row and 20 of 21) after Chris Kreider Man, do the Rangers need the real Zibanejad back and soon. Despite took an offensive-zone penalty. He has taken a lot of those this season, their difficulties, despite the points they’ve lost in close games, they are and in his career. Someone on Twitter suggested I stop calling those only a point out of a playoff berth with a bit more than a fifth of the “Pouliots” and rename them for Kreider. Well, that would be like season gone. renaming La Guardia airport for Bill De Blasio. AND MCAVOY PIC.TWITTER.COM/3CVKID2HYU 7. Fox=Monster. It’s so rare when he does something wrong … but in the 17. Fox and Quinn both credited Anthony Bitetto for helping turn second, he tried one of those passes that Libor Hájek made the other momentum when he fought Wagner in the third, shortly before Rooney’s night, in his own zone, and it got picked, setting off a fair amount of goal. Bitetto appeared to believe Wagner slew-footed him to the ice. So, mayhem in the Rangers’ end. They survived it. But, man, it’s shocking yes, kids players and coaches think that way, that fights matter. I kind of when that happens with Fox. He’s human. Maybe. Then again, he made like the rough stuff when it’s warranted, and I thought Bitetto’s response one of those plays behind the offensive net, behind-the-back to Rooney was very much warranted. on the other side of the net, that make you think he’s not. RANGERS WILL BE ALLOWING 2,000 FANS PER GAME AT MSG TUUKKA!!! PIC.TWITTER.COM/VPCUUS9GVI STARTING WITH FEB. 26 GAME VS. BOSTON. #NYR PIC.TWITTER.COM/UCNXZQWF46 — PETE BLACKBURN (@PETEBLACKBURN) FEBRUARY 11, 2021 — RICK CARPINIELLO (@RICKCARPINIELLO) FEBRUARY 10, 2021 8. Mid-second, the Rangers on the struggling power play, which is now becoming a liability. Kreider absolutely flew out of the zone and into 18. ICYMI, Sunday Valentine’s Day game against the Flyers — which Boston’s zone, then saucered a pass to Zibanejad at the right post. His already was a makeup date — has been postponed because of Philly’s shot somehow died in Rask’s glove. On the same power play, Panarin’s COVID-19 issues. Valentine’s Day is such a romantic day. It always pass was stolen at the blue line by Chris Wagner, who broke away for a reminds me of Dylan McIlrath-Wayne Simmonds, Feb. 14, 2016. I’m short-handed goal, off the post and in, against Georgiev. 1-1. A likely getting a little misty-eyed. two-goal swing. My Three Rangers Stars: WAGNER SCORES A SHORT-HANDED GOAL AGAINST THE #NYR'S SECOND POWER PLAY UNIT PIC.TWITTER.COM/3PQCFJCQYQ 1. Adam Fox

— SHAYNA (@HAYYYSHAYYY) FEBRUARY 11, 2021 2. Kevin Rooney

9. Ryan Strome went to the box, and during the power play, Pastrnak hit 3. Julien Gauthier a post and was robbed by Georgiev. That’s probably why Pasta is stuck The Athletic LOADED: 02.11.2021 on five goals (and that’s sarcasm; this was his fifth game of the season). Fox sent Zibanejad out on a short-handed breakaway, but his shot was flicked away by Rask. Strome nearly had a Jack-in-the-Box chance when his penalty ended, but he decided to pass rather than shoot it, and it didn’t connect. And in fairness, Strome had seven shots, six of them on goal.

10. Early third, Louie’s kid Jake DeBrusk got open with the Rangers’ fourth line on the ice. He snapped a shot through Jacob Trouba’s on-one- knee block attempt — and that is really creeping back into the Rangers’ defense lately, that one-knee-down thing. The puck hit the crossbar and flipped down inside the goal line, but it was on edge when it landed, and, therefore, not clearly and completely over the line. The call on the ice was no goal, and the evidence apparently wasn’t enough for the War Room to overturn. So the Rangers dodged a torpedo there.

11. Laf-Track: Lafrenière broke out two-on-one in the middle of the third, and instead of firing, went cross-ice to Gauthier, who got a shot off, but not a great one, and Rask snuffed it out.

12. Shortly after, Trouba went down in the corner and Anders Bjork walked alone to the net, behind Brett Howden and Kakko. Trouba sure seemed to be irate that he had been taken down by Bjork in the first place. But Bjork moved to the net unfettered and slipped the puck between Georgiev’s pads. 2-1.

13. Ryan Lindgren sent a high wrister toward the net. Lemieux deflected it downward, off Matt Grzelcyk and off Rask, before it dropped and Rooney put it home. The Bruins and Rask argued Lemieux’s stick was above the crossbar, and It was reviewed, of course. But the puck hit the two Bruins before it went in, which would nullify any high-stick call. 2-2.

LINDGREN SHOOTS, ROONEY SCORES. THE GOAL IS REVIEWED TO DETERMINE WHETHER IT WENT IN WITH A HIGH STICK, BUT IT'S RULED A GOOD GOAL. TIE GAME #NYR PIC.TWITTER.COM/2CMZHDAOCY

— SHAYNA (@HAYYYSHAYYY) FEBRUARY 11, 2021

14. Lafrenière set up Strome for a shot that Rask stopped, but Strome got the rebound and put it off the post. Strome seemed to think the puck had gone in and out, perhaps off Rask’s skate, which was inside the net.

15. Panarin returned for a late power play, and he was roughed up by Marchand, who kept him offside near the Boston bench. Panarin was allowed a few gloved punches, even though it clearly should have been interference by Marchand. Buchnevich immediately went for Marchand on the next shift, jawing at him. Remember last year when Marchand cross-checked Lindgren from behind, and Buchnevich immediately and absolutely buried Marchand from behind?

16. OT was quick and wild. Marchand went around Zibanejad and Georgiev, but Fox dived across the goalmouth to keep the puck out of the net. Buchnevich broke two-on-one with Fox, and his pass was batted down by Charlie McAvoy, sending Marchand for a winning breakaway. 3- 2. 1183424 Ottawa Senators long, but at the end of the day, if they have more goals than us, we expect better out of ourselves.”

THE NUMBERS GAME: In Evgenii Dadonov’s first 11 games with the WARRENSPIECE: The goalie story, slowing down the big guns, Senators, he had 20 shots. In his past three, he has had 10, including six measuring shots and whatever happened to Erik Karlsson? on Tuesday. He has now scored in back-to-back games. Question: should he really be credited with a shot on goal for the one Adam Larsson scored for him in Monday’s 3-1 loss? … Pierre-Luc Dubois made his Winnipeg debut in the Jets’ 3-2 loss to the Calgary Flames on Ken Warren Tuesday. The numbers? No shots on goal, one hit, 3-6 in faceoffs and a total ice time of 13:10, eighth among Jets forwards. “I think the legs, the hands, the head, you’re trying to get everything back, and I felt as the First, the positives for the Ottawa Senators on the goaltending front. game went on I was getting some things back, but I can play a lot better than that,” he said. Matt Murray stopped all nine shots he faced in relief of Marcus Hogberg in Tuesday’s 3-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers and he has stopped 102 of THE SENATORS SCORECARD: How vital a role are the Senators the 108 shots he has faced in his past four games. playing in the North Division standings? The Jets have a 7-4-1 record, but they’re only 4-4-1 against the rest of the all-Canadian grouping. The WARRENSPIECE: The goalie story, slowing down the big guns, Oilers are 8-7-0, but they’re 4-7-0 against teams not named the measuring shots and whatever happened to Erik Karlsson? Senators. The Canucks are 6-10-0, which includes going 3-0 against Close sticky video Ottawa.

It’s like the pitcher who gives up a pile of runs early in the season and WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Tuesday was a rough night for Senators owns a sky-high ERA. A few solid outings later, however, the ERA rookies Tim Stuetzle and Josh Norris, both on the ice for all three Oilers becomes much more respectable. goals. Minus-three nights aren’t pretty. But what about Erik Karlsson, who was traded to the San Jose Sharks in the package that helped the Murray, who will start Thursday against the Winnipeg Jets, now owns a Senators acquire Stuetzle and Norris? He has no goals and three assists save percentage of .886. in 11 games in this, season two of his eight-year, $92-million contract. It’s not where he or the team wants it just yet, but at this time a week What were the pre-season odds that Nikita Zaitsev would have double ago, that not so magic number was at .849. the amount of points at this point?

Now, on to Hogberg, who appears to be hanging on to his NHL gig only “You can create those chances and they’ll come to you, but you have to by the straps on the back of his pads. hit some singles before you hit home runs every shift,” Sharks coach Bob Boughner said earlier this week. “He knows he has got to be better,” Senators general manager Pierre Dorion said on TSN 1200 Wednesday. “He’s a competitor. He practises Ottawa Sun LOADED: 02.11.2021 hard, but if his play continues along (the same) lines, we’re going to have to look at evaluating other options.”

That evaluating will include watching Joey Daccord, who was re- assigned to Belleville of the AHL from the taxi squad earlier this week.

IN DEFENCE OF HOGBERG: Back in the second half of the 2018-19 season, defenceman Christian Wolanin was playing in front of Hogberg in Belleville when the goaltender played game after game in winning the top job over Filip Gustavsson. “He’s an unbelievable guy, unbelievable teammate, truthfully one of the nicest people I happen to know,” said Wolanin, who returned Tuesday after a six-game injury absence. “The National Hockey League is the hardest league in the world for a reason. The one thing he knows is that he has however many guys we have on the roster and the taxi squad and in Belleville cheering for him and rooting him on.”

MCPRIDE, ANYONE? Another defeat is another defeat, but somewhere in the noise of losing yet again Tuesday there’s room for at least some satisfaction for the Senators in being able to shut down both Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.

McDavid and Draisaitl saw their 10-game point-scoring streaks end during the Oilers’ 3-2 victory.

Keeping them both quiet and still losing is rare, indeed.

Before Monday, the Oilers had not won a game when both were held pointless since Nov. 28, 2017.

“Those are two phenomenal players, two of the best players in the league,” said Brady Tkachuk, who saw plenty of both while playing on a line with Chris Tierney and Connor Brown. “We’ve just got to make life tough on everybody. We’re trying to make life tough on all of our opponents when they play us.”

As painful as it has been playing against the elite talent in the North Division, Tkachuk says he’s a sponge.

“I’ve been watching those guys to see the types of things they do on the ice to create space. It’s fun to learn from them, too.”

IT’S ABOUT WINNING: Wolanin said those responsible “did an unbelievable job” on McDavid and Draisaitl, but there’s only so much patting on the back that can be done.

“It’s a group of competitors in (the dressing room), and we care about winning first and foremost. So, we can shut down 97 and 29 all night 1183425 Ottawa Senators “No, he hasn’t indicated anything along that line, to us,” Dorion said. “We can tell in the conversations (we’ve) had with him that, I think it’s only human that, when you’ve only seen your newborn for a day or two, that it can be difficult on any type of human being.” Logan Brown goes back to Belleville Senators, auditioning for future role with the big-league Senators Whether there was a misjudgement on how big an impact the incoming veterans could have, the Senators have cleaned things up considerably in the past week.

Ken Warren They’ve been a faster team. With a better bounce or two on the weekend and with a save on Monday, they could have another win or two.

Dorion insists, however, that the plan at the start of the season to have After losing 11 of their past 12 games, the Ottawa Senators are moving veterans lead the way was the correct one. He says the current young towards icing an even younger lineup. players needed to be pushed to earn their spots. Soon enough, 22-year-old centre Logan Brown will receive his chance to “Too many young guys would be a total disaster,” he said. “The NHL is a put his stamp on the rebuilding club. man’s league. It can eat you up. You have to be smart how you want to Even on a day away from the ice — the Senators flew to Winnipeg make these players develop properly. We don’t want to put a bunch of Wednesday to start a five-game road trip Thursday against the Jets — young players in the NHL, not having earned it and then we lose for the the wheels of change were in motion. next 10 years.”

Brown was assigned to the Belleville Senators of the American Hockey Brown, for one, has experienced his fair share of growing pains along the League from the club’s taxi squad, while Matthew Peca came the other way. He’s now venturing into now or never territory on whether he’ll way. finally be able to establish himself in the Senators lineup.

The idea here is for Brown to finally see some game action — Belleville Ottawa Sun LOADED: 02.11.2021 opens its season Friday against the Laval Rocket — to prepare him for an eventual return to the big-league Senators.

“To give him the best chance for success at the NHL level, we all felt he needed some games under his belt,” Senators general manager Pierre Dorion said in an interview on TSN 1200-AM.

Brown, who has been hampered by injuries throughout his career, hasn’t played a game anywhere since last Feb. 15.

After being drafted 11th overall by the Senators in the 2016 NHL entry draft, Brown has played only 29 NHL games in the, registering one goal and eight assists.

Yet with the Senators struggling to find wins and with several more experienced forwards stumbling at the outset of the season, the door has once again opened for Brown.

“I spoke with the agent (Jeff Jackson) and D.J. (Smith, Senators coach) and Peter (MacTavish, assistant general manager) spoke with the player.

“The message was you’ve come here, you’ve practiced hard since you’ve been here. You had good and bad through (training) camp. When you get called up again, whether it’s first on the taxi squad or on the roster, make sure you’re ready to play. Play as hard as you can. It won’t be handed to you. You’ve got to perform at the AHL level like you’ve done and we hope to see you back here shortly.”

In a related move, 32-year-old centre Artem Anisimov was placed on waivers.

Anisimov has played only four games, registering one assist.

If, as expected, Anisimov clears waivers— he has a salary cap hit of $4.55 million — he will be placed on the taxi squad.

That, in turn, will free up an open roster spot Brown could slide into.

The Senators 2-11-1 start has naturally been frustrating for Dorion.

While goaltending has been a major issue — the latest example being back-up Marcus Hogberg allowing three weak goals on 13 shots in Tuesday’s 3-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers — the Senators also haven’t received enough from the group of veterans who were expected to guide the young players.

Defenceman Braydon Coburn is now on the taxi squad. Forward Cedric Paquette has been a healthy scratch for the past four games.

Centre Derek Stepan, who is a voice of experience for the many young forwards on the team, has struggled to find his place since being acquired in a late December 27 trade. He has one goal and three assists in 13 games.

Stepan and his wife, Stephanie, have three children, including a baby born only days after the trade. There have been rumblings that he has asked for a trade back to a team in the United States. 1183426 Ottawa Senators All you can do is control what you do as an NHL player and we asked the guys to be ready tonight and they were ready.”

Senators defenceman Christian Wolanin, returning to action following an SENATORS AFTERTHOUGHTS: Moral victories galore, but that's 12 injury: losses in 13 games for Sens “I just wanted to join the lineup and contribute. I’m my harshest critic, so I know I have a lot better inside, but as the game went on, I started to feel a little bit better, a little more confident.” Ken Warren THE NUMBERS GAME

0: Points scored by both Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, ending the WHY THEY LOST 10-game point scoring streaks that both carried into the game.

No points for Connor McDavid. No points for Leon Draisaitl. No goals for 2: Consecutive games with a goal for Evgenii Dadonov, who now has any Edmonton Oilers forward at all. three on the season. Dadonov had six of the Senators 42 shots on goal, the most dangerous offensive player on either side. Doubling the Oilers on the shot clock. Winning the faceoff battle. Dominating play in the third period. 3, 13: Goals allowed, shots faced by Hogberg, before being pulled at the 3:53 mark of the second period. Hogberg entered the game with an .844 There were so many impressive things the Ottawa Senators save percentage. accomplished Tuesday. Yet when it was all counted up, it still added up to the club’s 11th loss in 12 outings and the 12th defeat in 14 outings to 6: Assists total for Nikita Zaitsev, which leads the Senators. It took start the season. Zaitsev 22 games to reach the six-assist total last season. Zaitsev is only one point shy of the team scoring lead. They’ll take all of that losing baggage with them on the road again Wednesday. WHAT’S NEXT?

At some point, it’s hard to accept the moral victories when they can’t get On the road again. Winless on three-game homestand, the Senators the key save or find the one shot to put them over the top. leave Wednesday for another five-day trek to Winnipeg and Toronto.

There’s no mystery behind Tuesday’s 3-2 defeat. It rests in the hands The trip begins with two games against the Jets, who swept the first three and feet of goaltender Marcus Hogberg, who was asked to give the meetings between the teams. Senators a chance while giving Matt Murray a rest. Winnipeg’s stars also put up some big numbers, with Mark Scheifele So much for that idea. As a rule, hockey players aren’t a finger-pointing registering seven points (two goals, five assists) and Blake Wheeler bunch and no one on the Senators was about to throw Hogberg under putting up six point (two goals, four assists) in the those three meetings. the team bus. The Senators will also get their first look at Pierre-Luc Dubois in his new It was, however, there for everyone to see. After allowing three more colours. While with the Columbus Blue Jackets, Dubois scored four goals goals on 13 shots, Hogberg was gone from the game after only 23 and seven assists in nine games against the Senators. minutes. Ottawa Sun LOADED: 02.11.2021 It happens. Goaltenders, just like defencemen and forwards, have off nights. It’s just that it’s happening over and over again for Hogberg, who has clearly lost his confidence as much as he has lost his position in the net.

Where the Senators go from here —perhaps Hogberg and Joey Daccord will have flip-flopped positions between Ottawa and Belleville by the time the upcoming five-game road trip is over — is a pressing question for general manager Pierre Dorion and coach D.J. Smith.

It’s almost hard to believe that just over a week ago, Hogberg had every opportunity to take considerable time away from Murray, who has regained his composure after his shaky start.

Hogberg didn’t need to steal a win for the players in front of him. He just needed to keep them close.

It’s hard enough for the NHL’s powerhouse teams to occasionally steal wins for their goaltenders. It’s next to impossible for a rebuilding team trying to learn how to win to do that.

The Senators gave it a good try, effectively taking the game to the Oilers in the second half.

They’re still an offensively-challenged group and when they’re looking back at lost opportunities, failing to score on a double-minor in the second period was a crucial moment.

At least a couple of veterans — Evgenii Dadonov and Connor Brown — appear to have found their long-lost scoring touches.

THEY SAID IT

Senators winger Connor Brown:

“It’s very frustrating. We’re all competitors. We deserved a better fate tonight. There have been a handful of games in these last 13 where we’ve deserved a better fate. We’ve just got to stick with it.”

Senators coach D.J. Smith:

“You’ve just got to do your job. You can’t worry about what the other guy is doing, whether it’s a guy on another line or a defenceman or a goalie. 1183427 Philadelphia Flyers If a player tests positive and is symptomatic, he can come out of isolation if at least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared, and at least 24 hours have passed since the last fever without the use of fever- reducing medications, and symptoms like a cough or shortness of breath Flyers’ game vs. Rangers on Sunday is also postponed because of have improved. The player must also have tested negative twice and COVID-19 have a doctor declare him free from infecting others.

In addition, all players who tested positive must be cleared by a cardiologist screening and a team doctor before returning. by Sam Carchidi, Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 02.11.2021

Flyers’ game vs. Rangers on Sunday is also postponed because of COVID-19

The Flyers’ stretch of inactivity has been extended because of the league’s COVID-19 protocol.

Their game Sunday against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden has been postponed, the NHL announced Wednesday night. The Flyers aren’t scheduled to play again until Feb. 18 against the visiting Rangers, which would be their first game in 11 days.

They then don’t play until Feb. 21 at Lake Tahoe against Boston.

Sunday’s postponement will be the Flyers’ fourth straight game temporarily erased because of COVID-19 protocol. No makeup dates have been set.

The Flyers are expected to reopen their Voorhees training facility and return to the ice for practice Monday, the league said.

The Flyers’ game Tuesday in Washington was postponed because of “an abundance of caution while the league continues to analyze test results in the coming days,” the NHL said in a statement.

That game was postponed after the Flyers’ Claude Giroux and Justin Braun were added to the COVID-19 protocol list, joining Travis Sanheim. Being on the list does not necessarily mean the players have the coronavirus, but they could have been exposed to someone who has it.

No other Flyers were added to the COVID list when it was updated Wednesday evening.

With taxi-squad members and extra players available, the Flyers could have replaced Giroux, Braun and Sanheim and had a 20-man team Tuesday. But Bill Daly, the NHL’s deputy commissioner, confirmed the game was shut down over concerns that some Flyers who tested negative could test positive in the coming days because of the people they were around.

“Whenever, based on all facts available to us at the time, there is a material risk of an outbreak situation of exposures, one or more games will be postponed,” he said.

The Flyers’ scheduled home games with New Jersey on Thursday and Saturday had been previously postponed because of an outbreak among Devils players. The Devils had 17 players (down from 19) on the COVID- 19 protocol list that was released Wednesday evening.

The Flyers, who got a hat trick from Scott Laughton in a 7-4 win Sunday in Washington, are off to an 8-3-2 start in what the league hopes will be a 56-game season. Because of the coronavirus, the number of games played by teams has fluctuated greatly. New Jersey, for instance, has played just nine games — seven fewer than Vancouver in the season’s first month.

There is a growing chance that not every team will be able to play 56 games this season, which figures to cause the playoff qualifiers to be determined by points percentage, as was done in the shortened 2019-20 campaign.

Defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere contracted the coronavirus before the season and was the first Flyers player on the COVID-19 protocol list. General manager Chuck Fletcher also had the virus. Gostisbehere and Fletcher have recovered and are back with the team in their capacities.

All players who test positive must be placed in isolation and contact tracing then begins.

If a player tests positive and is asymptomatic, he can come out of isolation upon the passage of 10 days since the first positive test, provided the individual has remained asymptomatic during the entire period. Physicians must also conclude that the player no longer presents a risk of infection to others. 1183428 Philadelphia Flyers

Another Flyers game postponed as team now has its plan for return to practice

/ by Jordan Hall

The NHL is not messing around with a possible Valentine's Day mistake.

Despite the Flyers not having any more players added to the NHL's COVID protocol list on Wednesday, the team's game on Sunday against the Rangers at Madison Square Garden has been postponed.

The Flyers will be out of commission until Monday, when they're expected to reopen Virtua Center Flyers Skate Zone in Voorhees, New Jersey, for practice.

Here is a part of the NHL's statement Wednesday night:

These decisions were made by the league's, NHLPA's and clubs' medical groups. The Flyers' organization has, and will continue to follow, all recommended guidelines aimed at protecting the health and safety of its players, staff and community at large as set by the NHL, local, state and national agencies.

The Flyers ended up having all four of their games this week wiped out because of COVID protocols. Their road game Tuesday night against the Capitals was postponed after Claude Giroux and Justin Braun were added to the COVID protocol list. Travis Sanheim was placed on the COVID protocol list Sunday and missed the Flyers' 7-4 win over the Capitals.

The Flyers practiced Monday at and ended up departing Washington, D.C., on Tuesday afternoon following the postponement of the game.

The Flyers were scheduled to host the Devils on Thursday and Saturday, but those games were postponed Monday. New Jersey had 17 players on the COVID protocol list Wednesday and hasn't played since Jan. 31.

The Flyers' number of players out because of COVID protocol did not grow Wednesday. Giroux, Braun and Sanheim remained on the COVID protocol list.

The postponement of Sunday's game certainly makes sense from a health and safety standpoint, as well as from a logistical standpoint with the Flyers' schedule. The Flyers' next scheduled game is Feb. 18 (next Thursday) against the Rangers at the Wells Fargo Center. The team then heads to Stateline, Nevada, to play the Bruins in the NHL Outdoors at Lake Tahoe game on Feb. 21.

The makeup dates for the Flyers' four postponed games this week are to be determined.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 02.11.2021 1183429 Philadelphia Flyers

Flyers receive some good news on the COVID-19 front

/ by Jordan Hall

As the Flyers waited in COVID-19 limbo, the team received some good news.

The Flyers' number of players out because of COVID protocol did not grow Wednesday.

Claude Giroux, Justin Braun and Travis Sanheim remained on the NHL's COVID protocol list.

The Flyers did, however, have their game on Sunday against the Rangers postponed. The team is not expected to play again until Feb. 18 against the Rangers at the Wells Fargo Center.

Giroux and Braun were placed on the COVID protocol list Tuesday. Braun's 34th birthday was Wednesday. Sanheim has remained sidelined since Sunday, when he missed the Flyers' 7-4 win over the Capitals for COVID protocol. The Flyers' game against Washington at Capital One Arena on Tuesday was postponed.

The Flyers traveled home from Washington, D.C., on Tuesday afternoon. Wednesday was already a scheduled off day for the club prior to its current coronavirus-related hiatus. Per league protocols, all teams receive daily COVID-19 tests. If not on the road, the Flyers undergo their testing at Virtua Center Flyers Skate Zone in Voorhees, New Jersey.

The Flyers have had four players placed on the COVID protocol list at some point this season. Shayne Gostisbehere missed the Flyers' first six games after he had tested positive for COVID-19.

There are a number of contributing factors for why a player can be placed on the COVID protocol list. A player being out because of COVID protocol does not necessarily mean the player tested positive for the coronavirus.

The Devils had 17 players on Wednesday's COVID protocol list. The Flyers were scheduled to host New Jersey on Thursday and Saturday, but those games were postponed Monday. The Devils haven't played since Jan. 31.

The Flyers are expected to return to practice on Monday.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 02.11.2021 1183430 Pittsburgh Penguins

Minor league report: Nailers fall to Fuel in overtime

SETH RORABAUGH | Wednesday, February 10, 2021 10:34 p.m.

Goaltender Francois Brassard made 21 saves on 23 shots for the in a 2-1 road overtime loss to the Indy Fuel at Indiana Farmers Coliseum in Indianapolis on Wednesday.

Forward Austin Fyten scored the only goal for Wheeling (3-8-4), which has lost three consecutive games.

The Nailers’ next game is a home contest against the Fort Wayne Komets at 7:10 p.m. Friday.

Tribune Review LOADED: 02.11.2021 1183431 Pittsburgh Penguins Marcus Pettersson resumed practicing in a noncontact fashion. He has been sidelined since suffering an undisclosed injury Jan. 19.

Tribune Review LOADED: 02.11.2021 Penguins eager to work with Ron Hextall, Brian Burke

SETH RORABAUGH | Wednesday, February 10, 2021 7:08 p.m.

Having been captivated by the game for most of his life, Sidney Crosby was well aware of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ rivalry with the Philadelphia Flyers well before he was directly involved in it.

So the remarkable notion of a Flyers villain like Ron Hextall now being the Penguins’ general manager isn’t lost on him.

At the same time, Crosby, an enfant terrible to those in the southeast corner of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is pragmatic about the union.

“It’s funny when you think about it,” Crosby said via video conference Wednesday, a day after Hextall as well as new president of hockey operations Brian Burke were hired. “You probably don’t ever anticipate that. But at the same time, I think you find yourself saying that a lot in hockey. It finds a way of bringing people together in a lot of different circumstances. In this case, it’s not any different. You think about rivalries and players getting traded and things like that and how many times you see that happen.”

What hasn’t happened much in the early days of the Hextall/Burke regime are meetings with players or coaches. There have been a handful of introductory phone calls, but with Hextall and Burke still out of town as they take over the team, they’re still getting acclimated to the franchise.

“I’ve crossed paths over the years,” Crosby said. “Don’t know them particularly well. I’ve heard great things. … Everyone is excited to meet them and move forward.”

Coach Mike Sullivan certainly seemed excited as he said the right things about his new bosses.

“I had the chance to speak to both of them,” Sullivan said. “We had good conversations. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to work with these guys. I know they’re excited to work with our team in helping and supporting where they can. I have a relationship with (Burke). I worked on the World Cup of Hockey with him (with USA Hockey). So him and I have an established relationship. (Hextall), I don’t know him as well. I have a ton of respect for what he was able to accomplish in Philadelphia. I know he’s going to bring his experience to Pittsburgh. We’re all of the same mind as far as what the objective is in trying to win.”

While Hextall and Burke eventually will evaluate the organization from a long-term perspective, Sullivan professes his focus remains immediate.

“I’m going to coach this team the best way I know how,” Sullivan said. ”We’re going to coach this team, as a coaching staff, the best way we know how that’s going to give us the best chance to win each and every night. That’s going to be our approach, that has been our approach and that will continue to be our approach. I look forward to the opportunity to build relationships with both Ron and (Burke). … It’s a great opportunity for us to learn from one another.”

As for Crosby and his teammates, their on-ice duties have been their focus during a hectic two weeks that involved a surprising resignation by former general manager Jim Rutherford, a few injuries, a few delays because of weather and league-wide covid-19 concerns and then the arrivals of Hextall and Burke.

“There’s so much just going from an injury standpoint and games being shifted and moved,” Crosby said. “There’s other people within the organization that do the interviews and conduct this sort of stuff. So our job is to just start playing and focusing on that. With all the other things that we have kind of going on, we have a lot to focus on. Our mindset, our mentality has just been on playing games and making sure we’re getting better.”

Notes: Forward Jared McCann will be sidelined on a week-to-week basis because of an undisclosed injury he suffered during Saturday’s 4-3 road loss to the New York Islanders. … Forward Evgeni Malkin left practice early Wednesday because of an eye irritation. There was no word on his status for Thursday’s road game against the Islanders. … Defenseman 1183432 Pittsburgh Penguins

Penguins forward Jared McCann sidelined on a week-to-week basis

SETH RORABAUGH | Wednesday, February 10, 2021 1:05 p.m.

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Jared McCann will be sidelined on a week- to-week basis, coach Mike Sullivan said.

He has not been on the ice with his team since suffering an undisclosed injury during Saturday’s 4-3 road loss to the New York Islanders.

Primarily used as a left winger on the third line, McCann has appeared in 11 games this season and has five points (two goals, three assists).

Notes:

• Forward Evgeni Malkin departed practice because of an eye irritation approximately 20 minutes into the team’s session Wednesday in Cranberry.

According to Sullivan, Malkin was pulled from practice as a precaution.

In 11 games this season, Malkin has six points (two goals, four assists).

• Defenseman Marcus Pettersson participated in practice while wearing a gray “no-contact” jersey. He has been sidelined since suffering an undisclosed injury during the second period of a 5-4 overtime home win against the Washington Capitals on Jan. 19.

Currently on injured reserve, Pettersson has appeared in four games this season and has one goal.

Without Malkin and McCann, the Penguins’ lines and pairings in practice were:

59 Jake Guentzel – 87 Sidney Crosby – 17 Bryan Rust

16 Jason Zucker – 18 Sam Lafferty – 42

12 Zach Aston-Reese – 53 Teddy Blueger – 13 Brandon Tanev

10 Drew O’Connor – 14 Mark Jankowski – 7 Colton Sceviour

73 P.O Joseph – 58 Kris Letang

5 Mike Matheson – 6 John Marino

2 Chad Ruhwedel – 4 Cody Ceci

27 Kevin Czuczman – 3 Yannick Weber

The top power-play group included Crosby, Guentzel, Kapanen, Letang and Rust. The second power-play unit involved Joseph, Marino, Matheson, O’Connor and Zucker.

Tribune Review LOADED: 02.11.2021 1183433 Pittsburgh Penguins It’s hard to imagine Burke and Hextall being laissez-faire with Sullivan like ex-GM Jim Rutherford was. It’s difficult to think more structure won’t be demanded.

Mark Madden: Brian Burke will bring no-nonsense approach to Penguins It’s a tough situation. But does the organization realize how tough? Do Burke and Hextall?

The Penguins don’t want to be like Chicago, Detroit and Los Angeles, MARK MADDEN | Wednesday, February 10, 2021 10:47 a.m. inexorably fading after winning multiple championships. But that process already has started. That tide can’t be stemmed. The Penguins kept their

core for a victory tour, and now it’s aging out. Van Halen (David Lee Roth version) had a motto: “W.D.F.A.” Malkin would have fetched great value had he been traded in 2018 after We don’t mess around, or words to that effect. the Penguins lost to Washington in the playoffs’ second round. He was 31 and just had tallied 98 points. Now he has two goals in 11 games and Brian Burke, the Penguins’ new president of hockey operations, operates looks disinterested. Return would be minimal. (To be fair, trading Malkin under the same principle. Read his autobiography, “Burke’s Law.” Burke at any time would be messy because of his full no-movement clause.) has been involved in hockey management for 34 years. If you don’t fit, you’re gone. It usually doesn’t take long. Perhaps Burke and Hextall will conclude it’s time for a total rebuild. How that manifests itself is a tricky question. Tickets and merchandise need to Let’s see who fits. be sold. (But Crosby is going nowhere.)

Burke isn’t the lone new decision-maker. Ron Hextall got hired to be GM. Burke and Hextall aren’t working cheap. Ownership has made a commitment. Dire conclusions might be reached. Unpleasant decisions Hextall would seem to have final say. But Burke tops most totem poles may be made. organically. His personality may overwhelm Hextall’s. If so, it’s about time. W.D.F.A. It was necessary to hire a gang of two. One new employee would have spoken out against the madness but been shouted down by those who Tribune Review LOADED: 02.11.2021 think it’s still 2017. That can’t happen with two.

The stated goal is to contend for a championship while retooling for the future. The realistic goal is to decide which of those applies.

Burke will, and in merciless fashion. W.D.F.A.

Earlier this season, when working on TV, Burke said the Penguins’ window was shut. When he was hired Tuesday, he said the opposite. Burke has complained endlessly about the Penguins winning the 2005 lottery that gifted them Sidney Crosby. He is not the most likeable guy.

So what? He is employed by the Penguins now. When Hextall played goal for Philadelphia, he once chased Penguins winger Robbie Brown around the ice with malicious intent.

The Penguins have played 11 games and won just once in regulation. They have yet to lead by two goals. Their goaltending stinks. Tactically, they’re living in the past. They haven’t won a playoff series since 2018 and were not competitive in postseason losses to the New York Islanders in ’19 and Montreal last season. The organization, coaches and key players see things as they used to be, not as they are.

It’s not a situation that calls for the most likeable guys.

It’s not a situation that coach Mike Sullivan should take lightly, either.

Under Sullivan, the Penguins are relying on speed like they did to win Stanley Cups in 2016 and ’17. That’s what the players want.

Burke and Hextall won’t care what the players want. Burke, in particular, won’t be enamored of acquiescing thusly.

Sullivan needs a Plan B. The Penguins play far too loose. They need an infusion of discipline, especially given the stench that emanates from their goaltending. They’re not fast enough to rely mostly on speed. They’re not as fast as they were, or as they think they still are.

Is Sullivan’s job in jeopardy? Yes. Not today or tomorrow. But, as of Tuesday, ’16 and ’17 ceased to matter. W.D.F.A.

The rest of the season figures to be mostly an evaluation process, an unsparing one that only fresh, educated eyes can provide. Fans will expect a big trade that steers the team toward legit contention.

But that deal just isn’t there. Not with these Penguins. The future can’t keep being sacrificed. “Win now” is a bad philosophy if you can’t win now.

The management shake-up won’t affect Crosby. He has influence but doesn’t need it. Crosby needs to button things up a tad. But he plays structured hockey.

It will affect Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang.

It’s not that the Penguins’ core three makes demands, per se. They don’t. But their will is divined, and be done. Until now. 1183434 Pittsburgh Penguins Philadelphia Flyers before becoming general manager of the Flyers for parts of five seasons in the 2010s.

He has plenty of experience in negotiating contracts and trading third- Why did the Penguins hire Brian Burke? round draft picks for second-round draft picks. And he was largely successful in those duties as he helped turn the Kings to Stanley Cup champions in 2012 and ‘14, and the Flyers are currently one of the NHL’s best teams thanks to a roster he largely crafted. SETH RORABAUGH | Wednesday, February 10, 2021 10:02 a.m. But being a general manager goes well beyond just finding the best 20

players to dress on a nightly basis. The final 10 months of Jim Rutherford’s tenure as Penguins general A lot of those duties will fall to Burke, who has nearly 35 years of manager were exhausting. practical experience in the NHL through various roles, ranging from With covid-19 crippling seemingly every walk of life on the globe, the general manager with several teams to a director of hockey operations NHL adjusted much of its business not only to stage an unprecedented role in the NHL’s office. postseason tournament in August and September to complete the 2019- As team president and CEO David Morehouse explained Tuesday, the 20 season but to start the 2020-21 campaign as well. opportunity to bring on Burke and his wealth of experience prompted That meant pages and pages of the league’s complex collective them to create the president of hockey operations role. bargaining agreement with the NHLPA had to be rewritten, and the rules “I think it just falls into our philosophy of just getting the best talent that that dictate the salary cap were wildly different. we can, whether it be on the ice or off the ice or on the business side. Rutherford had to navigate uncharted waters. And he did so largely Like I said, once I found out (Burke) had an interest in coming here, I without a navigator. Or at least as many navigators as he once had. could get both Ron Hextall and Brian Burke on our team, then it’s a no brainer. When Rutherford took over as general manager in June of 2014, he retained and elevated several of former general manager Ray Shero’s “It’s not so much the structure. It’s the people. We didn’t have our mind lieutenants — Jason Botterill, Tom Fitzgerald and Bill Guerin — to made up that we were going to have any kind of different structure when associate or assistant general manager roles. Rutherford also brought on we started this search, but as we went through it and we had this a long-time ally, Jason Karmanos, installing him as vice president of opportunity, I think I would have been a fool not to take it. The structure hockey operations. has nothing to do with anything other than the talent that we have.”

Botterill dealt with the granular details of the CBA and the salary cap, One duty a general manager usually has is to speak regularly with the Fitzgerald and Guerin handled player evaluations at the amateur and media. Rutherford met that requirement more than abundantly, as he professional levels and Karmanos introduced a greater emphasis on usually joked he was willing to chat by phone “24/7.” analytics to the organization. Hextall, by many accounts, is Rutherford’s opposite. While dealing with And Rutherford oversaw the entire operation in his early years as general an admittedly carnivorous media environment in Philadelphia as general manager. manager, Hextall was said to be limited in how often he spoke with reporters. But eventually, most of those lieutenants left, becoming general managers of other NHL teams. And their talents largely never were In contrast, Burke, a former player agent who has a law degree from replaced. Harvard, rarely has encountered a microphone he wasn’t willing to give a glib soundbite to. That left Rutherford and Karmanos — until he was fired abruptly from his post as assistant general manager this past October — to steer the ship. One of the most quotable personalities in NHL history, Burke unleashed Rutherford had to get acclimated with new innovations such as taxi a bevy of quips during Tuesday’s virtual press conference. squads and quarantine protocols while trying to get Mark Jankowski in • On missing out on the chance to draft Sidney Crosby during the NHL’s under his salary cap mostly by himself. draft lottery in 2005 as general manager of the Anaheim Ducks: While assistant general manager Patrik Allvin had been recently “I just missed on Sidney Crosby. Well now I’ve got Sidney Crosby.” promoted to that role and Trevor Daley was brought on into an advisory position, they still were very much learning their new gigs and were • On his work as a commentator with Canadian broadcaster Sportsnet: limited in what they could offer in assisting Rutherford. “I learned that I should smile more than I do. Everyone watching on TV When Rutherford surprisingly resigned Jan. 27, he sounded like a great was sending me notes while I was on the air, ‘Smile once in a while.’ “ weight had been lifted from his shoulders. • On his past criticisms of the Penguins’ salary cap issues: “I’m going to take this time to just unwind and get rid of the stress and all those things that go with the job,” Rutherford said by phone. “Enjoy my “There’s a whole bunch of teams with extreme salary cap issues who family and have some good family time.” haven’t won a bloody thing. At least in Pittsburgh … when Jimmy Rutherford goes to buy gas, he’s got two rings on.” All of 13 days later, the Penguins hired two men to replace many of the duties Rutherford largely bore alone for 10 months. If the Penguins add any more Stanley Cup rings with their newly installed management team, it will take a lot of cohesion between a couple of On Tuesday, Ron Hextall was installed as Rutherford’s full-time head-strong individuals such as Hextall and Burke joining another bold replacement, and long-time NHL executive Brian Burke was brought into personality in Mike Sullivan. And, by the way, they work for an ownership the newly created president of hockey operations position. Before group that never has been shy about offering opinions on potential Tuesday, the Penguins never had such a role in their nearly 54 years of transactions such as blockbuster trades involving the likes of Marian existence. Hossa or Patric Hornqvist.

Without solicitation, Hextall explained the importance of having someone It is a potentially volatile mix at a very uncertain time. in that seat as it related to his vocation. But unlike the previous 10 months, the Penguins won’t have any “A general manager’s job nowadays is an enormous undertaking and to shortage of voices to help map out the franchise’s trajectory. have other people take you and guide you and work with you, (Burke) and I are going to be a team,” Hextall said via video conference Tuesday. Tribune Review LOADED: 02.11.2021 “We’re going to work together. We’re going to work hard. Philosophically, we’ve talked (and) we’re on the same page. He’s going to take things off my plate, and I’m going to take things off of his plate.”

Hextall is hardly a newcomer to this type of role. He spent several years in an assistant general manager role with the Los Angeles Kings and 1183435 Pittsburgh Penguins Make sure no one really knows who is in charge so everybody feels the need to work together and collaborate on ideas. If Morehouse can’t keep his mitts off the GM job, hire his own conduit between himself and Hextall. Tim Benz: I get what the Penguins are thinking. But how is this going to work? Maybe head coach Mike Sullivan needs a little discomfort on the bench to crack down on the stars the way he used to when he was first hired. And prodding the players with a little uncertainty can be a good thing, too. TIM BENZ | Wednesday, February 10, 2021 6:01 a.m. I get what the Penguins are doing here. I just don’t know how it is going

to function. Or if it is going to work. Like many Penguins fans in their early to mid-40s, I cut my teeth as a At all. hockey fan in the early Mario Lemieux years of the mid-80s and became hooked on the game as they were winning Stanley Cups in the early 90s. Tribune Review LOADED: 02.11.2021 That also means — like all Penguins fans of any era — I grew up hating the Philadelphia Flyers. Specifically, Ron Hextall.

He was their goalie. He was a dirty hothead. He set the record for goalie penalty minutes. He chased Rob Brown. And they almost always beat the Penguins. Especially in Philly.

What was there to like?

Now he has been hired as the general manager of the Penguins. You might as well give me a crystal ball and tell me in the year 2045, Tom Wilson is going to be given that same job. Or that Myles Garrett is going to buy the Steelers from Art Rooney II while Francisco Cabrera is managing the Pirates.

Sorry, but the “don’t yinz know Hexy started playin’ hockey in Rostraver when his dad was a Penguin n’at” narrative only goes so far.

Admittedly, that’s just the emotional fan in me that still (occasionally) exists beneath this pragmatic, clinical, logic-based columnist exterior.

That guy, the one who is writing this column, looks at the Penguins’ GM hire of Hextall to replace Jim Rutherford and sees somebody who built a reputation in Philadelphia’s front office for wanting to hold onto draft picks. As GM for the Flyers from 2014-18, Hextall was known for drafting good talent and being committed to grooming that talent on a slow and steady basis. Maybe even slow-cooking those prospects to a fault at times.

That other guy thinks this is a pretty good mentality to bring to Pittsburgh for a franchise that has very limited prospects and picks in the cupboard. Especially as rebuilding attempts need to begin, given the advancing ages of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang.

But what neither guy understands is how Hextall’s reputation at his former gig is going to mesh with a team that has continually said it wants to win now. Therefore, I’m also puzzled by the corresponding hire of Brian Burke for the organization’s newly created president of hockey operations post.

The same Brian Burke who — as general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs — once said of himself, “I’m not a patient person. I was born impatient and I’m going to die impatient.”

The same Brian Burke who — in his recent role as hockey commentator on Sportsnet — declared the Penguins’ window “closed” back in November on the “Spittin’ Chiclets” podcast.

The same Brian Burke who mocked the “Pittsburgh Model” back in 2012.

So it sounds like Burke may be in conflict with his own personality traits — let alone Hextall’s — by jumping on board with the Penguins.

I’m also a bit curious why the franchise felt the need to create an executive-level position for a former GM so that another former GM can answer to him. If Hextall had been a first-time rookie in the position, I’d get it. But he’s been in hockey management and scouting since 1999.

Unless Burke has been brought in to be a buffer between the general manager and team president David Morehouse. Which, based on Rutherford’s quizzical departure and Ray Shero’s messy dismissal, may be necessary.

It feels like they are going for an Abraham Lincoln “Team of Rivals” vibe here. Perhaps it’s the thinking of Morehouse and Lemieux that things have been too comfortable for too long.

So bring in the former hated Flyers GM who thinks long term, alongside the guy who has repeatedly ripped the franchise that wants to win now. 1183436 Pittsburgh Penguins

Sidney Crosby, Mike Sullivan react to hiring of new Penguins executives

Matt Vensel

Two weeks ago, coach Mike Sullivan learned that his old boss and the man who hired him, Jim Rutherford, was resigning his position as general manager.

The Penguins on Tuesday replaced Rutherford with Ron Hextall and Brian Burke. Now Sullivan has to get to know his two new bosses during a strange, shortened season during a pandemic, with the NHL’s COVID protocols putting restrictions on face-to-face interaction. That will be a pretty significant challenge, right?

“I look at it as an opportunity,” the Cup-winning coach said Wednesday in his first comments since the hires were made. “These guys are really smart guys. They’ve been around the game a long time. They’ve got a ton of experience managing teams and building teams and supporting teams to make them better.”

The process began soon after their introductory virtual press conferences were completed Tuesday afternoon. Sullivan said he had “good conversations” with both Hextall and Burke, who are still in the process of relocating to Pittsburgh.

Sullivan has worked with Burke previously through the USA Hockey program. They were also both a part of the support staff for the American team at the World Cup of Hockey in 2016. Burke was a senior advisor and Sullivan, fresh off of his first Stanley Cup championship, was one of John Tortorella’s assistants.

“So he and I have an established relationship,” he said. “Hexy, I don’t know as well. But I have a ton of respect for what he was able to accomplish in Philadelphia, and I know he is going to bring his experience to Pittsburgh. I think we’re all aligned as to what the objective is — trying to win with this [current core].”

Hextall largely laid the foundation of the Flyers team that has posed problems to Sullivan’s squad over the last few years. The coach said he has a lot of respect for what Hextall did there. Their playing careers also overlapped eight years.

“My recollection of Ron as a goalie was he was ultra-competitive. He was a fierce competitor and he wanted to win,” Sullivan said. “I think that was evident whenever you played against him. He had a tremendous career and I’m sure that his competitive spirit is part of what he brings to the management team, as well.”

Sidney Crosby, who has great reverence for NHL history, remembers watching Hextall play for the Flyers all those years. He admitted it’s a little odd to picture Hextall as a member of the Penguins. After all, this was the guy who swung his stick at Rob Brown and years later rebuilt Pittsburgh’s Keystone State rivals.

“It’s funny when you think about it. You probably don’t ever anticipate that,” he said. “But at the same time I think you find yourself saying that a lot in hockey. It finds a way of kind of bringing people together in different circumstances. In this case, it’s not any different than rivalries and players [changing teams].”

Crosby said he has crossed paths with Hextall and Burke over the years but doesn’t know either particularly well. They both reached out to him after they were hired to introduce themselves and start building a working relationship.

“I’ve heard great things,” the captain said. “But yeah, obviously, you know with [Rutherford resigning] that there’s a process going on and with those two being named, I think everybody’s excited to meet them and kind of move forward.”

Matt Vensel:

Post Gazette LOADED: 02.11.2021 1183437 Pittsburgh Penguins After the core, the Penguins next wave includes a number of players in their mid-to-late 30s. Jason Zucker ($5.5 million AAV through 2022-23) and Brandon Tanev ($ 3.5 million AAV through 2024-25) are both 29. Bryan Rust is 28 and signed through 2021-22 at $3.5 million per year. Taking stock of the assets Brian Burke and Ron Hextall inherit in their Jake Guentzel, 26, carries a $6 million cap hit through 2022-23. new roles with the Penguins Does giving up a 26-year-old Guentzel make you better? Unlikely. But these decisions ultimately are tied to whether the club wants to transition on the fly or completely tear things down before rebuilding. Mike DeFabo Left-handed defensemen

While the Penguins’ left side of the blue line is ravaged by injury now, it Had it been any other job or any other organization, the answer would actually might be one of the club’s deepest position groups, especially have been no. with rookie Pierre-Olivier Joseph looking like he’s ready to be a top-four But when the Penguins offered Brian Burke the chance to take a newly defenseman today. created position as president of hockey operations, working alongside The Penguins have Brian Dumoulin, 29, signed through 2022-23 on a new general manager Ron Hextall, he had to reconsider. deal that carries a $4.1 million average annual value. Marcus Pettersson, “You get to work for the Pittsburgh Penguins,” Burke said. “That’s 24, just inked a new deal last year that carries a cap hit of a little more Cadillac class, man.” than $4.025 million through 2024-25. Mike Matheson, 26, is on the books through 2025-26 on a deal that carries a $4.875 million cap hit. And An owner like Mario Lemieux. Elite players like Sidney Crosby. State-of- Juuso Riikola, 27, is on contract through next season at $1.15 million. the-art facilities. A passionate fanbase with one of the NHL’s longest sellout streaks. Assuming Joseph stays in the lineup, which he should, the Penguins will have at least $5 million or more in their press box, this year or next. It Yup, the Penguins sure are like a Cadillac. But once Burke and Hextall seemed Rutherford was plotting something here before he resigned. have a chance to drive their new ride off the lot and look under the hood, We’ll see how Burke and Hextall navigate this situation through short- they’ll realize it’s a used one. term injuries and long-term contracts.

Jim Rutherford’s win-now approach brought two Stanley Cups to The young guns Pittsburgh while also drying up the prospect pool and exhausting almost all of the upcoming draft capital. Now, as the star power that fueled the Kasperi Kapanen represents exactly what Rutherford was trying to do club approaches its mid-30s, Hextall and Burke have to choose whether with the Penguins before he resigned. At 24, Kapanen contributes to this their new car needs a few cosmetic changes or an all-out trade in. window. And with four more years of team control, he will help open another. The two young defensemen, 21-year-old Joseph and 23-year- Let’s take stock of the situation they inherit and the tough decisions that old John Marino, similarly fit in this category. lie ahead. No one is unmovable. But it would be hard to imagine trading one of Prospects these players makes the Penguins better now or helps open a new window in the future. In January, The Athletic ranked the Penguins’ prospect pool 29th out of 31. ESPN recently ranked the pool 31st. Mike DeFabo

The best prospects can be grouped into two categories. There are the Post Gazette LOADED: 02.11.2021 2019 forwards Sam Poulin (first round, 21st overall) and Nathan Legare (third round, 74th overall) and 2020 teenage goalies Joel Blomqvist (second round, 52nd overall) and Calle Clang (third round, 77th overall). That’s about it.

The patient approach would be to sit on those prospects and wait for them to contribute to the next window. The win-now move is to trade the few remaining assets for players who can make an impact now, even if it means sacrificing even more of the future.

Draft picks

The Penguins have already given up their first, third, fourth and sixth- round draft picks in 2021. If the club wants to make a win-now move, it still has a second-round pick in 2021. That could be enough to add one more piece at the deadline this year. Or they can begin to look to 2022, where they have the full complement of picks.

Rutherford didn’t hesitate to mortgage the future, often trading picks years in advance. However, that may change under this regime.

The core

The biggest decisions all revolve around three players: Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang.

Crosby is signed through 2024-25 on a deal that carries an $8.7 million average annual value. Burke gushed over how excited he was to work with Crosby. It seems unlikely he’d be moved.

But the other two? Malkin is signed through 2021-22 on a deal with a $9.5 million average annual value. Letang is also signed through 2021-22 on a deal that carries a $7.25 million average annual value.

If the Penguins want to move one of those players and get something back, they probably need to do it before next season begins. Ultimately, the decision becomes if they want one, two or three of these stars to retire as Penguins and what that means for their chances of hoisting another Cup.

Second layer 1183438 Pittsburgh Penguins

Marcus Pettersson rejoins Penguins practice, should return soon

Matt Vensel

The Penguins will soon welcome another blue-liner back into their lineup.

Marcus Pettersson, who has missed seven games with an upper-body injury, took part in the full-team practice Wednesday. He wore a gray jersey, signifying that he was not cleared for contact. Pettersson mixed in during 5-on-5 drills.

It seems unlikely Pettersson will be ready to go by Thursday, when the Penguins get a road rematch with the New York Islanders. Perhaps he will be cleared in time for Sunday’s game against the Washington Capitals at PPG Paints Arena.

“I’m feeling good. I’m getting better every day. It feels really good to be back out there with the team and get some reps in,” he said. “As much as I love [skills development coach] Ty [Hennes], it’s always fun to get out with the team.”

The 24-year-old has been skating since at least Monday, when he participated in a taxi-squad practice led by Hennes prior to the team’s regular practice. Wednesday, he rejoined the team for the first time since getting injured.

The lefty was injured in the Jan. 19 victory against the Capitals at PPG Paints Arena. Pettersson was looking the other way while attempting a pass in the neutral zone when T.J. Oshie launched himself into Pettersson’s left shoulder.

Oshie received a minor penalty for interference with no further discipline.

“I know I have to keep my eyes up a little bit more,” Pettersson said about the play. “I didn’t expect him to come from there. You know, those things happen.”

Prior to his injury, Pettersson had one goal and a minus-2 rating in four games. He started the second on the second pair but spent some time on the third.

“I think I was doing OK,” Pettersson said. “I got a goal and got a little confidence in my game. But I think there were times I was playing well and times I could do better. I think I can take this time and kind of reset because we didn’t get that many games in before I got injured. … [I need to] just get back to what I do good.”

It has been an uneven start for the Penguins, who have lost four of their last five after a four-game winning streak. At 5-5-1, they entered Wednesday ranked sixth out of eight teams in the East Division with a .500 points percentage.

“We’ve had a lot of injuries throughout the lineup. I think the guys that have come in have done a good job,” Pettersson said. “But we’re in a dogfight in our division. It’s a lot of good teams. You can see in the standings right now, too.”

Mike Matheson returned to the lineup in Saturday’s loss to the Islanders and has practiced the last two days after getting banged up during Monday’s practice.

Fellow blue-liners Brian Dumoulin and Juuso Riikola remain on injured reserve.

Matt Vensel:

Post Gazette LOADED: 02.11.2021 1183439 Pittsburgh Penguins

Penguins' Brian Burke explains why he 'wears' his tie like that

Adam Bittner

If Brian Burke is known for one thing, it’s his long track record as a front office executive for the NHL and four of its teams. If he’s known for two things, the other is his complicated relationship with neckties.

The Penguins’ new director of hockey operations has famously eschewed sporting a knot in public appearances throughout his career, opting instead to leave an untied accessory draped limply around his neck, as one might in the later stages of a rowdy wedding reception.

That trademark look went on hiatus during his three-year stint as a broadcaster in Canada with Sportsnet, which required him to complete the up-and-over process before stepping on the set.

Now, it would seem, it’s back, as Burke appeared with his collar wide open and his blue tie flowing downward during his introductory news conference Tuesday, and not by accident.

“I’d much rather have gone on the air with the tie untied,” he told Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman on Sportsnet’s 31 Thoughts podcast while discussing his hiring Wednesday.

Well, now he doesn’t have to worry about looking polished for a television camera, freeing him to exist in his natural, unkempt state that traces its origins to his tenure with the Vancouver Canucks in the 1980s.

Burke told Marek and Friedman that his days would begin at 6 a.m., when he’d meet with president and general manager Pat Quinn to discuss the day’s agenda. A workout would follow, after which he’d throw on his suit for the day and rush back to the front office for the day.

Securing the knot would often get lost in that process, sometimes for an entire day.

“I wouldn’t tie it until I needed to,” he explained. “Sometimes it would be 11 o’clock in the morning. I remember tying my tie during the [national] anthem a couple of times. And that’s how it started. Just sheer laziness. It wasn’t a fashion statement.”

It just became one as he rose to prominence with Vancouver, Anaheim, Toronto and Calgary, winning a Stanley Cup with the Ducks along the way. So if he finds similar success here, don’t be surprised if “The Burke” becomes a local trend.

In the 40-minute appearance, Burke also discussed the Penguins’ chain of command with new general manager Ron Hextall and his immediate plans in his new role. You can check out his full comments here.

Adam Bittner:

Post Gazette LOADED: 02.11.2021 1183440 Pittsburgh Penguins expected to suit up in Thursday’s road rematch against the Islander but could play Sunday.

Mike Matheson practiced for a second straight day and appears to be Penguins notes: Evgeni Malkin leaves practice 'out of caution' fine after he left Monday’s practice following a collision with a teammate. He just returned to the blue line Saturday after missing eight games with an upper-body injury.

Matt Vensel What’s up with the wood?

The Penguins went old school during Tuesday’s practice, skating around for 5-10 minutes with wooden sticks. The players, including Sidney Evgeni Malkin left the ice during Wednesday’s practice and did not Crosby, got a kick out of it. Jarry busted a Sherwood out again at the end return. But you can go ahead and exhale. Coach Mike Sullivan said it of Wednesday’s practice. was precautionary. Later, Sullivan busted out a wide grin when asked about the wooden Apparently, the center was just dealing with “an irritation in his eye.” sticks. The Penguins had just begun to work on special teams when Malkin “I think it’s great. It gives them an opportunity to maybe experience what headed to the dressing room 25 minutes into practice. Malkin did not their prior generation played with,” the coach said. “I thought it was fun to return before practice ended at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex about watch them. I think they really enjoyed that. The idea really came from 20 minutes later. them.” The 34-year-old only has two goals this season, but his game has been He added: “I’ve always been a proponent that we should be like Major trending in the right direction. He has a point in four of five games and he League Baseball, where they don’t allow aluminum bats. It’s just wooden scored his first 5-on-5 goal of the season in Saturday’s 4-3 loss to the bats. Maybe the NHL should have wooden sticks or at least wooden New York Islanders, poking the puck from Brock Nelson then finishing blades. It would be interesting.” the play with a gorgeous shot. Matt Vensel: “It’s maybe a little better. I’m still not happy,” the center said Tuesday when asked about his recent play. “But my line I think has played a little Post Gazette LOADED: 02.11.2021 better.”

After Malkin departed Wednesday, Sam Lafferty, who has been in and out of the lineup this season, replaced him on the second line. Lafferty was between Jason Zucker and Kasperi Kapanen, who have five total goals the last five games.

Jarry still getting settled

Tristan Jarry has lost five of seven starts, including three in a row, and his .857 save percentage ranks last among the 39 goalies with at least five starts.

Partially due to the league postponing a pair of games against the New Jersey Devils due to COVID protocols, Jarry has started just one game since Jan. 28. But that has given him more time to work with goaltending coach Mike Buckley.

“We don’t have a lot of time to practice this year, so I think it’s good when we do get time like this,” the 25-year-old said. “We’re able to work out some kinks.”

Jarry acknowledged there are still kinks for him to work out. The new No. 1 has allowed three goals or more in six of his seven starts, including four on 26 shots in Saturday’s loss on Long Island. But he is trying to remain on an even keel.

“I want to make sure that every day, especially with the breaks that we’ve had here, just to make strides in my game and be a little bit more confident,” he said. “Go out there with a little bit of confidence and I think that will go a long way.”

One factor could be a lack of preparation time on game day. As part of the NHL’s COVID protocol, players are not allowed to enter the arena now until one hour and 45 minutes before puck drop. Jarry mentioned that change on Tuesday.

“We’re only allowed an hour and a bit before the game. So that’s definitely different with all the rules,” he said. “With a shorter warmup, you have to prepare a lot quicker. It’s a different year so you’ve got to find [a routine that] works.”

McCann now ‘week to week’

Jared McCann is now considered “week to week” with a lower-body injury he suffered in Saturday’s loss. Initially, Sullivan said McCann would be “day to day.” But after McCann missed a third straight practice, his status was downgraded.

Zach Aston-Reese is expected to replace McCann in the lineup. He has skated on the third line with Teddy Blueger and Brandon Tanev the last three days.

In other injury news, Marcus Pettersson returned to full-team practice after sitting out the last seven games with an upper-body injury. He is not 1183441 Pittsburgh Penguins “I use this quote with players all the time: ‘You go to the symphony, and the first violin is elegant. She wears a white dress. She comes out last, and she’s beautiful and stylish. But there’s a guy built like me blowing a tuba in the back row — and they don’t start until we both sit down.’ ” Joe Starkey: For better or worse, the Penguins are about to get tougher You’re not going to see a major makeover here. Not anytime soon. But I have to believe that Hextall and Burke, in addition to maybe adding a veteran goalie, will be searching for a couple of guys who blow the tuba. Joe Starkey And who'll respond to the likes of Jacob Trouba.

Joe Star-key The big changes will come later. For now, it seems, Ron Hextall and Brian Burke will focus on a “tweak here and a tweak there” in reshaping Post Gazette LOADED: 02.11.2021 their new team.

“Are there a couple of things we’d like to improve? Of course,” Hextall said Tuesday, after he was introduced as the 11th general manager in Penguins history. He will report to the bombastic Burke, the team’s new president of hockey operations.

Hextall and Burke are very much in tune with the modern NHL, but, for better or worse, they also belong to the old school. Maybe the ancient school: an eye for an eye.

I would imagine, as they studied this team, they winced at the sight of all those players wandering freely in front of Penguins goalies, even as so few Penguins were crashing the net at the other end. I’m guessing they did more than wince upon seeing the likes of Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba maul Sidney Crosby, rabbit-punching him in the head, knowing that neither he nor any of his teammates would have to pay even a two-cent toll.

The Penguins don’t exact such tolls. Besides Brandon Tanev, they are the less physical team every single night in their division. The least of the East.

It’s not like they were the Broad Street Bullies when they won Cups under Mike Sullivan, but the “turn-the-other-cheek” narrative was a bit overdone. Ever see Chris Kunitz turn a cheek? How about Patric Hornqvist?

Man, how this team could use those two and the likes of Nick Bonino, Matt Cullen and Ian Cole. Bonino literally blocked shots with a broken leg. This team mostly blocks shots by accident.

Hextall doesn’t do “soff,” by the way. He might have mellowed since his playing days. He might even have taken some of the edge off the traditionally felonious Flyers. But you have to believe the beast within — the beast that almost killed Robbie Brown in a playoff game and nearly chopped Kent Nilsson’s leg in-half in the Stanley Cup Finals — watches these Penguins and recoils in horror.

As for Burke, it feels instructive to refer to his November appearance on the Barstool hockey podcast “Spittin’ Chiclets,” starring former Penguins Ryan Whitney and Paul Bissonnette.

The quote making the rounds is the one where Burke, in typically blunt fashion, declares the Penguins’ championship window “closed.” But that isn’t the quote that stands out to me, not if I’m looking for clues as to what Burke values in shaping a championship team, like the one he built in Anaheim.

Burke spoke of how much he admired the job Lightning GM Julien BriseBois did in putting the finishing touches on a Cup team that Steve Yzerman had largely built.

After repeated failures, the Lightning finally broke through last season. BriseBois found what had been missing: an edge.

He found shot blockers, hitters and penalty killers.

“I thought he approached the upgrades with surgical precision,” Burke said. “They gave up first-round picks to get (Blake) Coleman and (Barclay) Goodrow. They got bigger and faster. They brought in (Zach) Bogosian, Shatty (Kevin Shattenkirk), Patty Maroon, Luke Schenn. These are all character people with a fair amount of hostility. They wake up kind of grumpy, except for Shatty. Those other guys all wake up grumpy, and they’re ugly (figuratively speaking, of course).

“So to me, they changed their whole look. They kept their skill set, but they changed, just like our team in Anaheim, in terms of clearly defined roles. 1183442 Pittsburgh Penguins “I think Pittsburgh is probably the best sports town in North America. I don’t recall being this excited about taking a job,” he said.

“You get to work for the Pittsburgh Penguins, man, this is the Cadillac Ron Cook: Penguins make boom-or-bust picks with Ron Hextall, Brian class here. This is not your run-of-the-mill team. This is a chance to work Burke for an organization that’s revered.”

Did I mention Burke was glib?

Ron Cook Burke has had a fascinating life, in hockey and out. He isn’t just a top analyst. He has written a bestselling book in Canada, “Burke’s Law: A Life in Hockey.” He lost a son, Brendan, who was killed at 21 in an automobile accident in February 2010. His daughter, Katie, was married In June 1990, the Penguins made two bold hires that rocked the hockey to Jared Porter, the former general manager who was world. On the same day, general manager Craig Patrick named fired last month after just a few weeks on the job for sending explicit texts incomparable Scotty Bowman as their director of player development and and photographs to a female reporter. The couple divorced in 2014. recruitment and highly respected Bob Johnson as their coach. I remember thinking at the time: This is going to be really good or the Burke has had a couple of near-misses with Crosby. clash of egos will blow the roof off the Civic Arena. The first was in July 2005 when the ping-pong ball bounced the It turned out to be great, of course. Penguins’ way before the 2005 NHL entry draft, enabling the Penguins to take Crosby with the No. 1 pick. Burke, then with Anaheim, finished as The Penguins won the Stanley Cup in 1991 and 1992 and should have the runner-up and selected Bobby Ryan at No. 2. won in 1993. The second happened in February 2010 when Burke was president and It’s nice to think the two bold hires made by the Penguins on Tuesday will general manager of the U.S. Olympic hockey team at the Vancouver have a similar successful run. Games. Crosby’s goal in overtime of the gold-medal game against the The hiring of one-time Penguins villain Ron Hextall as general manager United States won the championship for Canada. was no surprise. He had been linked to the position from the moment Jim “Now,” Burke said with no small measure of relief and satisfaction, “I’ve Rutherford resigned last month. Hextall is a terrific hire. He proved his got Sidney Crosby.” worth in Philadelphia even though he was fired there in November 2018, largely building a Flyers team that is capable of winning the Cup this Hextall, a goaltender who won 296 NHL games, all but 56 with the season. Flyers, also has had an interesting relationship with the Penguins and their fans. On the other hand, the hiring of hockey lifer Brian Burke as president of hockey operations — Hextall’s boss — was shocking. At 65, he seemed Who will ever forget him chasing Penguins forward Robbie Brown around entrenched as a popular analyst who was glib in front of a television or the Civic Arena Ice after Brown scored against him during a playoff game radio microphone for Rogers Media in Canada. His work running the in 1989. Look it up on YouTube. It is priceless, just one of many reasons franchises in Hartford, Vancouver, Anaheim, Toronto and Calgary Hextall was known as a fiery competitor or dirty player, depending on received mixed reviews. He won a Cup with Anaheim in 2007 after your perspective. acquiring Hall of Fame defensemen Chris Pronger and Scott Niedermayer. He failed in Toronto after trading two No. 1 picks and a Some Penguins fans always will hold that against Hextall and tell you the second-round pick to Boston for Phil Kessel, who couldn’t handle being last guy they wanted the Penguins to hire was a guy who bleeds Flyers the big fish in a huge hockey pond. blood. That is ridiculous. I remember hearing that same thing in 1992 when the Penguins traded to bring in Rick Tocchet from Philadelphia. It also was surprising that the Penguins went from having one man head That turned out pretty well. their hockey ops to two. “We’re going to harness that competitive fire from the other side of the “It’s the people,” team president/chief executive officer David Morehouse ice,” Morehouse said of Hextall. “I think the fans in Pittsburgh are going said. “With these two guys, we have two of the greatest minds in hockey. to take to Ron having him on our side of the ice.” Once I saw we had this opportunity, I think I would have been a fool not to take it.” I love the Hextall hire.

The question now: I know this:

Can “Hexie” and “Burkie,” as they repeatedly referred to each other If Hexie and Burkie work out as well as Scotty and Badger did three Tuesday, play nice together? decades ago, Penguins fans will love both hires.

I’d hate to see PPG Paints Arena without a roof. Ron Cook

“I think we’re going to have a terrific work relationship,” Hextall said. Post Gazette LOADED: 02.11.2021 “Burkie and I are going to be a team. We’re going to work together. We’re on the same page. We will not get outworked.”

The toughest challenge for Hextall and Burke is to walk the incredibly thin line between trying to win now with Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang and keeping an eye on the future because the stars — even Crosby — aren’t going to be here forever.

“Nothing has changed,” Morehouse said. “We’re the Pittsburgh Penguins and we’re here to win.”

Burke didn’t blink when he heard that.

“As long as we have those pieces, we’ve got to try to win,” he said.

Hextall acknowledged that he was known as a “builder” in Philadelphia, stockpiling draft choices that have grown as a group into a Cup- contending team. But he quickly added, “I am not a one-trick pony. ... We’re looking to make the Pittsburgh Penguins the best team we can this year and still look at the future.”

Burke said he had no hesitation stepping into such a challenging job in a hockey-crazed city. 1183443 Pittsburgh Penguins The Penguins have Brian Dumoulin, Marcus Pettersson and Joseph to play on the left side. They cannot afford an extra defenseman with Matheson’s cap hit, and Hextall surely won’t want to risk the present or future by keeping a player who would stand in Joseph’s way. Evgeni Malkin, Mike Sullivan and big decisions facing the Penguins’ front office Expansion list

Once a get-out-of-jail-free card, expansion drafts changed when Vegas management fleeced just about every club and used its roster-building By Rob Rossi Feb 10, 2021 57 tool to construct an immediate Cup contender while also stockpiling future picks. Seattle management will try to do the same after this

season, and GM Ron Francis’ willingness to do any peer a favor would As they answered questions Tuesday, one word never was mentioned by come with a cost. Penguins CEO David Morehouse and respective new hires Brian Burke, Don’t expect the Kraken to bail out the Penguins by taking on a as president of hockey operations, and Ron Hextall, as general manager. poisonous contract (see: Matheson). Not without also acquiring some Honeymoon goodies, anyway.

Pittsburgh might be a destination market for would-be front office folks, For those unfamiliar, a refresher on the expansion draft rules. Also, for as Burke suggested, but it’s not a place to honeymoon. There won’t be whatever it’s worth now, this story gets into the latest projection for the one for the men tasked with simultaneously restoring the Penguins to the Penguins. status of Stanley Cup contender and assuring rock bottom isn’t the Hextall will not need to protect the likes of Marino or Joseph. He must endgame scenario for whenever the Sidney Crosby/Evgeni Malkin era protect Crosby and Malkin, unless either cornerstone center ends. unexpectedly seeks an exit and approves a trade. There is a lot of work to do. Here is just a short look at the most important Hextall might look to trade Letang this offseason, which means the decisions that await Burke and Hextall. Penguins might have to consider Dumoulin’s future in Pittsburgh. Hockey operations staff Exposing Dumoulin — a dependable veteran with top-pairing experience about to enter his 30s and with two years remaining at a great-value cap The Athletic has yet to confirm whether an offseason evaluation of cost ($4.1 million) — would be a risk most GMs wouldn’t take. hockey operations (completed this past December) was demanded by ownership or self-initiated by former GM Jim Rutherford. The answer Hextall arrives in Pittsburgh with a risk-averse reputation, too. But if probably is not important at this point. Burke and Hextall are arriving with Letang isn’t part of the plan, it might not make sense for Hextall to keep their own ideas of how to structure — and who to employ in — the his longtime defense partner. franchise’s hockey side. A GM always has to make hard choices. If Hextall is unable to alleviate During his interviews, Hextall pushed for approval to bring on Chris the left-side logjam by the Seattle draft, he conceivably could consider Pryor, team sources said. Pryor, a former long-tenured Flyers employee, making Dumoulin available to the Kraken, especially if he might no longer had a big hand in the Flyers’ drafting success during Hextall’s GM tenure. be the Penguins’ clear No. 1 on the left-defenseman depth chart at that The Penguins did not object to Hextall hiring Pryor as an assistant, the point. sources said. Mike Sullivan The Penguins have not employed multiple assistant GMs since the 2018- There is no indication coach Mike Sullivan should sweat his future. He 19 season. Pryor could team with Patrik Allvin as Hextall’s two has two things any coach would covet: a lucrative contract with three assistants, with Pryor overseeing drafting and Allvin overseeing scouting. years remaining after 2020-21 and a resume that includes the only back- Everybody else who falls under the hockey ops umbrella — from AHL to-back Cup runs of the NHL’s cap era. affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton to advisors, trainers and scouts — will If the Penguins dismissed him — and that is not the plan, a team source stay or go at the discretion of Hextall and, to a lesser extent, Burke, said Tuesday — Sullivan would become the most sought-after coach sources said. However, those decisions will not be made quickly. available. And with the money owed him, he could take his time to wait In-season deals for the best opportunity.

With each passing game he plays, rookie defenseman P.O Joseph During the web call to introduce Burke and Hextall, Morehouse makes you wonder: Why did Rutherford make a couple of offseason mentioned Sullivan by name when discussing personnel he viewed as moves that would have blocked Joseph’s path to the NHL? outstanding.

Those answers are not important, either. Hextall, though, could consider For as disappointing as the past two postseasons have been to the Penguins’ congested left side on defense as a must-resolve situation ownership, Sullivan is well thought of by ownership for keeping the before the April 12 trade deadline. Either Mike Matheson and/or Juuso Penguins competitive despite a dizzying, difficult-to-process number of Riikola likely have to go. injuries. Crosby, Malkin and Guentzel played in only four regular-season games together last season. The Penguins have been without six of their There are factors to consider, from future salary-cap implications to the 12 top defensemen organizationally for a fourth of this season. expansion draft. But, while the sample is small, Joseph appears to be at least as NHL-ready as John Marino was last season. History points to a new management team wanting its own coach calling the shots. Notably, though, Ray Shero took over as GM following the Finding a taker for Matheson presumably would require Hextall to part 2005-06 season with a mandate to keep Michel Therrien as coach. At with a big asset, either in the form of a draft pick, prospect or player on that time, the Penguins were not on the soundest financial footing and the current roster. Hextall’s inheritance with the Penguins does not Therrien had two years remaining on his contract. include a 2021 first-round pick and features few heralded prospects and, for various reasons, not too many roster players he would prefer to trade The current times include forfeited revenue from last and this season. (at least before the offseason). Also, the Penguins count on playing six home playoff games to turn a profit from attendance revenue (when contrasted with spending to the Matheson’s only fault is that he was acquired by Rutherford. He hasn’t cap). played enough in Pittsburgh for his performance or fit to be fairly assessed. If the Penguins don’t make the playoffs, it would mean they will have played just two lucrative playoff games at PPG Paints Arena over the Of course, nothing about hockey is fair. past three seasons. What’s unclear is whether ownership would make Sullivan pay the price or if ownership would decide against paying With a $4.875 million cap hit that is second behind only Kris Letang Sullivan to go away and somebody else to coach the Penguins next among defensemen, plus four seasons after this one remaining on his season. contract, Matheson’s presence creates more of a problem than any on- ice mistake he might make. A more pressing question: Will Sullivan want to stay? Though not always on the same page, he consulted with Rutherford on $7.25M most player decisions. Hextall might have different ideas for the degree to which a coach should be involved in roster moves. Evgeni Malkin

Also, Sullivan’s preference for an attacking, aggressive club that dictates 2021-22/UFA with speed and skill might not jive with the vision of Hextall, Burke, or $9.5M even, anymore, ownership. Jared McCann So long as Lemieux has a say — and, as a team source said Tuesday, “absolutely look at Burke and Hexy as being Mario’s guys” — the 2021-22/RFA Penguins will want to win with stars, by scoring and providing an $2.94M entertaining product to fans that have filled Pittsburgh arenas since Feb. 14, 2007. Drew O'Connor

The hockey brand in Pittsburgh remains suited to Sullivan’s philosophy. 2021-22/RFA

Sullivan said after the Penguins practiced Wednesday that he and Burke $925,000 have an “established relationship.” He added “looking forward to building one” with Hextall. Juuso Riikola

But while Burke and Hextall have proven histories for valuing skill, Hextall 2021-22/UFA has emphasized size and Burke has emphasized depth. There are $1.5M enough slight differences in philosophies from Burke/Hextall and Sullivan that it’s not unreasonable to think there could be a coaching change as Evan Rodriguez soon as this summer. 2020-21/UFA It has been a long time since the Penguins changed coaches out of season. And, as another team source said Tuesday, “Mario thinks Sully $700,000 is the right coach for us.” Bryan Rust The Penguins will begin to build a roster — and prospect system — 2021-22/UFA primarily consistent with Hextall’s concepts. Also, Lemieux has long favored a skilled team that is not physically overwhelmed by so-called $3.5M heavier opponents. Chad Ruhwedel Some change is coming, at least philosophically. 2021-22/UFA Penguins' soon-to-expire contracts $750,000 Zach Aston-Reese Colton Sceviour 2020-21/RFA 2020-21/UFA $1M $1.2M Teddy Blueger Yannick Weber 2020-21/RFA 2020-21/UFA $750,000 $700,000 Cody Ceci Evgeni Malkin 2020-21/UFA Crosby and Malkin both endorsed the Burke-Hextall partnership, $1.25M according to sources close to both star players.

Casey DeSmith This is not unimportant, as Lemieux has long expressed to confidants — and told previous GMs — that he wants Crosby and Malkin to retire as 2021-22/UFA Penguins. $1.25M Crosby is signed through 2024-25. He’ll be 37 at the end of that contract Mark Jankowski and has not committed privately to playing in the NHL beyond it.

2020-21/RFA Malkin will be pushing 36 when his current deal expires after next season. The Penguins can begin negotiations on a new contract the first $700,000 day of the 2021-22 season — this summer.

Pierre-Olivier Joseph Malkin told The Athletic in September 2019 he would like to sign a three- year deal to finish his career in Pittsburgh. If he did, Malkin would have a 2021-22/RFA contract that ran concurrently with Crosby’s current deal. $863,333 That is not a coincidence, given their close friendship and shared Kasperi Kapanen representation at CAA.

2021-22/RFA Neither Lemieux nor majority ownership partner Ron Burkle involve themselves in the day-to-day business or hockey decisions for the $3.2M Penguins. However, there’s an exception for decisions involving the Penguins’ biggest stars, a source said. Sam Lafferty If Malkin wants to stay, the Penguins will keep him. Burke and Hextall 2021-22/UFA were said to understand this dynamic when signing on for their jobs. $750,000 What does Malkin want? Kris Letang “To be a Penguin,” a source said. “And to win again in Pittsburgh.” 2021-22/UFA Kris Letang This past offseason, ownership authorized Rutherford to make moves he deemed necessary to build another Cup contender. Trading Letang was not preferred, and would require approval — Lemieux was adamant that “anything with Kris had to be handled the right way for respect for all he’s done” for the Penguins, a team source said.

During the weeks before his resignation, Rutherford had placed calls to “many teams” to gauge potential interest in Letang, three league sources said. A deal never was in place, the sources said.

Rutherford had not directly told Morehouse or ownership about those conversations, but word spread through back channels, a team source confirmed.

“They’re always reading something about Letang,” the source said of Morehouse and ownership. “It’s usually all talk. People are making too big a deal about this being anything new. Jim didn’t quit because of anything to do with Letang.”

Letang’s contract expires after next season. As is the case with Malkin, Letang’s agent can begin negotiations and/or agree to an extension at the start of the 2021-22 league year this summer.

Lemieux is believed to prefer keeping Letang with the Penguins through the end of his career, a team and league source said. But Burke and Hextall were not told Letang could not be traded, only that — again — any trade “must be done the right way.”

Letang’s current contract protects a modified no-trade clause and a no- movement clause that would force the Penguins to protect him from Seattle expansion.

With Marino and Joseph increasingly appearing to be a potential top pairing for the future, the questions become: Does Letang want to re-sign in Pittsburgh? How much could the Penguins get for him in a trade?

Those answers figure to be known as soon as this July. Depending on what they are, Burke and Hextall could face the biggest decision of their Penguins tenures a half-year into their new roles.

Upcoming offseason

As with any management change, Hextall will probably view some of Rutherford’s decisions as mistakes that must be corrected.

A former goalie, as was Rutherford, though a player of far more consequence in his time, Hextall could have a difference of opinion on current goaltenders. His assessment of Tristan Jarry, signed this past summer to a three-year contract, is not known. But if Hextall sought to move Jarry, the $3.5 million cap hit would not be a problem even with a projected flat cap, league sources said.

Lemieux is said to be high on Jarry and unconcerned about Jarry’s early- season struggles. That alone probably points to Jarry remaining the No. 1 goalie going into next season. But it’s generally expected the Penguins would look to bring in a veteran backup, which Rutherford failed to do this past summer — in part because of limited cap space.

As soon as this summer, Hextall faces calls involving a few players on expiring contracts and a lot more that could be due extensions because their deals will have only a year remaining.

As of this moment, Hextall would go into the offseason with short- and/or long-term decisions to make on 11 forwards, six defensemen and a goalie from the roster he inherited from Rutherford. Those 18 players combine to count for just under $39 million against the cap — a lot of room to either work with or open space to work toward.

Probably the biggest reason the Penguins emphasized hiring a new GM (and created a president of hockey operations role) so soon after Rutherford’s resignation is to provide Hextall and Burke a head start on making plans for the pivotal summer of the Crosby/Malkin era.

The Athletic LOADED: 02.11.2021 1183444 Pittsburgh Penguins fans are back in the stands buying tickets. A full rebuild just can’t start now.

I think they’ve got a guy in Hextall who can swing it. I’m always a believer LeBrun: Inside the Brian Burke hiring and why the Penguins changed in second-chance GMs. So many learn from their mistakes the first time course around.

I wrote about Hextall in August, about how his work in building the Philadelphia Flyers was being more recognized in the past year because By Pierre LeBrun Feb 10, 2021 124 of that team’s surge up the pecking order in the NHL and because so many of his fingerprints were left behind on that roster.

“Ron put an excellent plan in place, and as an organization, we are One of the interesting reactions from NHL executives Tuesday was not reaping the benefits of his hard work now,” Chuck Fletcher, who replaced so much surprise that Brian Burke was back with an NHL team — it was Hextall as GM in Philly, told me for that piece. that the Pittsburgh Penguins hired a president of hockey operations. Key in all of this, of course, is Hextall sharing his vision eventually with That part stunned a lot of decision-makers around the NHL. No. 87. And I get why. On the day Jim Rutherford resigned as GM a few weeks I believe the new GM reached out quickly to Crosby over the past day but ago, I asked a Penguins source if hiring a president of hockey operations a deeper, more philosophical discussion is no doubt in the cards was in the organization’s game plan and the answer was no — they eventually. didn’t need a president of hockey operations when their co-owner was Mario Lemieux. Will Crosby be comfortable with the eventual re-tooling plan? Can they stay competitive long enough for it to make sense? And that’s how they felt about the POHO job for many years. People around the league knew that. That part of the equation looms large in all of this and greatly affects the timing of how Hextall’s ultimate plan is rolled out. It’s why, while it was interesting to hear Mike Gillis’ name linked to Pittsburgh early on, I never thought the fit was there because if and when But for now, the mandate is clear. It’s about trying to win again before it’s Gillis ever resurfaces in the NHL, it will almost certainly be as a president too late. of hockey operations, not as GM. The Athletic LOADED: 02.11.2021 But it was Lemieux himself, as Penguins CEO David Morehouse revealed Tuesday, who suggested that they approach Burke about joining in a POHO capacity (an idea which they also ran through owner Ron Burkle). The Penguins had already been using Burke as a sounding board on GM candidates.

What’s fascinating is that the Penguins had already zeroed in on Ron Hextall as their top GM candidate. And it stands to reason that Burke was on board with Hextall as the choice since he was helping the Penguins in their search.

Still, the Penguins basically hired their GM before they hired their first- ever president of hockey operations.

But they also made sure Hextall was OK with the prospect of Burke coming on board. The two had never worked together before but knew each other well enough as fellow NHL team executives from past years.

Still, I do believe Hextall smartly made a few calls to people who had worked with Burke in the past just to make sure. Clearly, he was reassured by what he heard.

Late Monday night, I heard from a non-Penguins source who believed Burke and Hextall might be going in together to run Pittsburgh.

I wasn’t surprised by the Hextall part, he was my No. 1 pick all along to be the Penguins GM. But I was floored by the Burke possibility. Not because I don’t think he’ll do a good job in Pittsburgh, in fact, I think he’s a smart hire. But rather because I was under the impression he was really happy living in Toronto and working in TV.

As Burke put it Tuesday in the media availability, it was the kind of opportunity he couldn’t turn down because of the banner-raising franchise involved.

“You got to get the best available, on and off the ice, and we always hire talent over the organizational chart,’’ Morehouse told me Tuesday night.

So while the original intent was not to go this route, being nimble in this day and age and being willing to adjust one’s plan is a good thing. That’s what the Penguins did here.

But let’s not kid ourselves: Hextall is the key hire. He will be charged with maxing out the Penguins’ window to win around Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin while also finding a way to eventually re-tool and replenish without a Kings or Blackhawks-like crash.

It’s a delicate task. There are some around the league who have told me the teardown should start now. There are others I spoke with who think you can still win for two more years before the re-tool has to get serious.

Hextall doesn’t get the job unless he’s comfortable with the latter option. Penguins ownership needs a competitive team on the ice next year when 1183445 Pittsburgh Penguins

(Updated) Penguins Practice: Pettersson Returns, Malkin Leaves EarlyPublished 17 hours ago on February 10, 2021

By Dan Kingerski

Marcus Pettersson skated with the primary unit, Evgeni Malkin left practice early, Jared McCann is out, and Mike Matheson shaved his beard. In other words, it was just a usual Wednesday practice for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The long COVID break reached day four, again, on Wednesday. The Penguins played their first game in five days on Saturday, and because of COVID postponements by other teams, the Penguins won’t play again until they meet the New York Islanders on Thursday night. Again.

In the long absences, Penguins defenseman Marcus Pettersson has been getting healthy. The lanky left-side defenseman was blindsided by Washington Capitals forward T.J. Oshie in the third game of the season and has not played since.

Pettersson joined practice but in a gray non-contact jersey and sparingly participated in drills. It was his first practice with the main group since the injury.

Pettersson is in the first year of a five-year, $20.125 million contract he signed in January 2020. The Swedish defenseman is the second defenseman to return in the last seven days. Defenseman Mike Matheson also returned to the lineup late last week.

The Penguins currently have two LHD healthy enough for game action: P-O Joseph and Matheson. Pettersson would make three. Top-pair defenseman Brian Dumoulin suffered a lower-body injury two weeks ago and has not resumed skating.

Penguins winger Jared McCann remains absent. McCann was injured on Saturday against New York. The team has not been able to provide an update on his condition.

Zach Aston-Reese again practiced as a full participant on Wednesday. He’s been skating on the third line with his old linemates Teddy Blueger and Chris Tanev.

However, Penguins center Evgeni Malkin left practice early due to an eye issue. It didn’t sound serious.

“Geno left with an eye that was bothering him,” head coach Mike Sullivan said. “Out of caution, we took him off the ice.”

And, Sullivan confirmed Jared McCann is out week-to-week with a lower- body injury. Since it took several days to diagnose, take that for what it is worth regarding McCann.

Pittsburgh Penguins Practice

The Penguins are working on the power play…again. They spent a solid 30 minutes on it Tuesday and resumed work on it on Wednesday.

He’s a full power-play shift from the top unit. Man, there isn’t even a spark in practice. Have a go:

Perhaps Brandon Tanev was anticipating some time on PP2 in front of the net. He seems just crazy enough to make it work. He was really getting after it until my camera started rolling. He still showed off some hands:

Check out our complete coverage of the Penguins GM and President of Hockey Operations hires:

The Little Stories and Great Quotes of Hextall, Burke Hire (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)

Hextall, Burke and the Penguins Future; Will they Make the Big Trade? (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)

Pittsburgh Hockey Now LOADED: 02.11.2021 1183446 Pittsburgh Penguins The Penguins installed a Harvard lawyer between the GM and the team President.

“Burky said, ‘you know David if it was anyone else, I’d be able to tell you The Little Stories and Great Quotes of Hextall, Burke HirePublished 21 no, but can I sleep on it?'” Morehouse recalled. “So, I called him back the hours ago on February 10, 2021 next day. He talked to his family a little bit…”

More Stories and Quips

By Dan Kingerski The person lucky enough to ask the pressing question was Josh Yohe of the Athletic. We’ll give full props to Josh for asking Hextall if he would bring Robby Brown back to the organization.

It was quickly obvious that new Pittsburgh Penguins President of Hockey For you whippersnappers not old enough to remember, Brown scored 49 Operations Brian Burke knows how to handle an audience. On Tuesday, goals beside Lemieux in 1988-89. His famous goal celly was a Pete as the Penguins introduced the new front office regime led by Burke and Townsend worthy windmill (please don’t ask, “who is Pete Townsend?”). new general manager Ron Hextall, the storylines were too many to After the Penguins took a 9-4 lead in Game 5 at the Civic Arena (yes, 9- count. 3. Lemieux also had five goals), Brown windmilled after his goal, and Hextall bolted from the crease and angrily chased Brown around the ice And the quotable Burke, who spent the last couple of seasons working as with ill-intent. a studio analyst for Sportsnet, racked up points. (Brown recalled the story and other Penguins memories for us during the “I’ve worked for a number of teams, but I don’t recall being this excited first pandemic pause). about taking a job. Every single job I’ve taken, I’ve been excited, but I don’t recall being this excited,” Burke said in his opening remarks. “I think Unfortunately, Hextall couldn’t hear the full question, though Burke did Pittsburgh is probably the best sports town in North America.” hear it and let out a hearty laugh. Hextall picked a question he wanted to answer and dropped a few soundbytes of his own. In the wrestling world, that’s called a cheap pop, but it underscored the enthusiasm Burke hoped to convey. “The Penguins-Flyers rivalry is a terrific rivalry, and it’s going to continue. It’s been great,” Hextall said. “I love rivalries. I love hating the other team. Read up on the full press conference from Pittsburgh Hockey Now, here. It’s what makes sports special. It’s a little different when you’re sitting up It’s not that Hextall is without his ties to Pittsburgh, which he too sought top because you can’t go and grab the other manager or somebody from to be known. His father played with the Penguins in the early 1970s. This the other side and go. I love rivalries.” is where Hextall began playing hockey, and it was former Penguins GM I don’t ever recall GMs squaring off in the press box, but dear God would Jim Rutherford, then the Penguins goalie, who bestowed some I grab a plate of nachos for that. Media don’t fight, some just snipe on equipment upon Hextall. Twitter like Mean Girls, but I digress. “He was my biggest idol, so I’d like to make a little call out to Jimmy,” And more from Burke: Hextall said. “(Doing TV), I learned I should smile more than I do. Everyone watching And Rutherford played street hockey with the young Hextall, too. on TV would send me notes, ‘Smile once in a while.’ … the story David But more quotes from Burke: told you (of the hiring process), he’s not exaggerating one little bit,” said Burke. “When he called back, I would have said no if it was anyone else “I’m excited to work with Hexy. We go back a long way. I think David but David Morehouse and the Pittsburgh Penguins. Morehouse is one of the top executives in the National Hockey League and all of pro sports. I think the ownership group with Mario Lemieux is I was happy with my life. I liked living in Toronto. But you get to work for second to none,” said Burke. “And, remember back in the lottery in ’04, the Pittsburgh Penguins, man. You’re talking Cadillac class, here.” (as GM of the Anaheim Ducks), I just missed on Sidney Crosby, well now Yep, Burke certainly knows how to drop a quote. I’ve got Sidney Crosby.” Pittsburgh Hockey Now LOADED: 02.11.2021 The Anaheim Ducks and the Penguins were the finalists in that draft lottery. Though it was 2005, forget it, he’s rolling.

Pittsburgh Penguins President of Hockey Operations

Let’s not brush past creating a new position within the Penguins organization and a prominent role. Rutherford worked with a team of assistant GMs beneath him and reported to Morehouse.

No, we still don’t know the story of why Rutherford resigned so abruptly on Jan. 27. Perhaps only he and Morehouse know, and neither has spilled the beans.

Instead of Hextall hiring AGMs, the Penguins created the PoHO position above the GM. Morehouse characterized it nonchalantly, but such a move was anything but a cavalier suggestion from above.

“I had a lot of different people that I was talking to about the different (GM) candidates. I had my trusted group, and Burky was one of those,” Morehouse said. “And, I was talking to Mario. We were going through, and Ron was the guy we all wanted. And I was talking to Mario, and he said, ‘Burky. What about Burky?’

So, I called Burky and said Mario just asked me to give you a call. And there was silence on the other end of the phone…”

While Morehouse described the creation of the position almost as a whim, it assuredly was not. Such things cannot be, and the tell-tale signs that it would be created bubbled in undertones and whispers last week.

PHN figured something more significant was afoot when some people close to Lemieux reported that he had retreated to study the situation’s seriousness. One termed Lemieux as “in the bunker.” 1183447 San Jose Sharks SHOOTOUT KING: Martin Jones saved his best for last, making an unbelievable toe save on Gabriel Vilardi in the third round of the shootout to preserve the victory.

Takeaways: Logan Couture is becoming the captain the San Jose Boughner’s decision to start Jones on Tuesday may have been a bit of a Sharks need head-scratcher considering the way Devan Dubnyk played three days earlier. But Boughner wanted to keep Jones fresh after he played Friday in Anaheim.

By CURTIS PASHELKA | [email protected] | Bay Once again, Jones stole the show with his play in the shootout, stopping Area News Group a shot from Anze Kopitar in the first round of the shootout before he made the stop on Vilardi. It was even more dazzling than the save he

made in Friday’s shootout win over the Ducks, when he stuck out that left When the San Jose Sharks had their worst season in nearly two decades toe again to stop an attempt by Max Comtois. in what was his first year as the team’s captain, Logan Couture wore it Jones made 24 saves Tuesday and is now 4-0 in shootouts this season. like an albatross around his neck. Coaches were fired, the team missed He has 40 wins after regulation time since 2015-16, most in NHL during the playoffs and nobody on the team handled it well. that span. His 15 shootout wins in that time also lead the league. After the 2019-20 season, Couture made himself a promise. We’re guessing that Boughner will go to Dubnyk on Thursday. Still, “My goal is to become a better teammate, person and player from this Jones is 5-2-0 after seven games. Last season, Jones needed 14 games past year,” Couture told reporters in May. before he recorded his fifth victory.

The outward change in Couture from one season to the next is evident. SECOND PERIOD BLUES: The Sharks were terrific in the first period as He seems more comfortable with himself and with his leadership they took a 2-0 lead, but then they took three minor penalties in the position. He remains honest in his postgame analysis with reporters, but second period. The third penalty, a too-many-men call, was the most is less harsh on himself and his teammates. costly, as Dustin Brown scored on the power play to erase the Sharks lead. And on the ice, he seems to have regained some of the swagger and confidence he had during the 2018-19 Sharks season. The Sharks have scored just five second-period goals in 11 games this season, and now have a -15 goal differential in the middle period, now “He’s evolving into a great captain,” Sharks coach Bob Boughner said of the worst in the NHL. Couture. “He’s had some guys in front of him that he’s learned from, and now he has a little more confidence in that role.” “I think I’m going to stop saying what I’m saying in between periods,” Boughner said. “But I went in after the first and said ‘Look, our second Couture scored his sixth goal of the season Tuesday night and netted the (periods) haven’t been great. Shame on us if we don’t play the same way only goal in the shootout as the Sharks earned a wild 4-3 win over the that we played in the first period. We don’t need to change anything.’ Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center. Couture also assisted on Evander Kane’s game-tying goal with 45 seconds left in regulation time. “Low and behold, we get out there, we started flipping pucks and we started getting tired because we killed so many penalties.” The Sharks are now 2-0-1 through this four-game swing through Southern California and finish their series with the Kings, and their San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 02.11.2021 season-opening 12-game road trip, on Thursday. At 5-5-1, the Sharks have a .500 points percentage for the first time since Jan. 24 when they beat the Minnesota Wild to improve to 3-3-0.

“It was nice to score a goal with less than a minute left,” Couture said. “Getting that point and getting the second one in the shootout is very important right now. We’ll take it, but there’s a lot of stuff we can definitely clean up.”

Last season, Couture needed 27 games to reach six goals. He finished with 16 goals in an injury-plagued season, as the Sharks finished last in the 15-team Western Conference.

“I know he puts a lot of pressure on himself to have this team going,” Boughner said of Couture. “He’s dealt with a lot, from training camp and being our NHLPA rep and then being in-between guy with management, and then the play.

“On the ice, he’s got a lot of responsibilities. I think he’s handling it unbelievably. He’s a guy that just shows up to play the right way every night.”

Couture started this season with two goals in six games, but now has four in his last five, including his last three with Kane as his linemate.

Tuesday, Couture found himself open at the side of the Kings net when Patrick Marleau sent him a pass across the slot. Couture buried it for a 2- 0 Sharks lead in the first period.

“When you’re scoring, it’s always going to help your confidence,” Couture said. “Even if you’re not playing well for a night and the puck finds you for an open net, it’s going to make you feel a little better about yourself.”

The hallmark of Couture’s NHL career has been his ability to be a complete player, to skate with the opposing team’s top lines and contribute on the power play and penalty kill. Although there may be some room for improvement, it’s obviously a good sign for the Sharks that Couture is looking more comfortable.

“You need your top guys to be your best players,” Jones said of Couture. “and he just brings it every night.”

More takeaways from Tuesday 1183448 San Jose Sharks

Jones continues to be clutch after regulation for Sharks

/ by Alex Espinoza

Martin Jones saved the Sharks by the slimmest of margins in Tuesday night’s shootout against the Los Angeles Kings. The goalie needed every inch of his left skate to deny Gabriel Vilardi a shootout-tying goal and secure a 4-3 victory for San Jose.

“He made a pretty good move and got me to bite, going the wrong way,” Jones told reporters in a postgame video conference. “At that point you’re just trying to make yourself big and I got a little bit lucky.”

Jones is a perfect 4-0 in shootouts this season, helping the Sharks (5-5- 1) to eight of their 11 points so far. It continues a trend of clutch play by Jones in overtime and shootouts the past few seasons, as noted by statistician Darin Stephens.

#SJSharks Martin Jones now has won 40 games after regulation since 2015-16 (25 OT wins, 15 shootout wins), most in NHL during that span. His 15 shootout wins are also most during that span. #SJvsLA #NHLStats

— Darin Stephens (@SharksStats) February 10, 2021

The 31-year-old also is creeping up the franchise leaderboard when it comes to shootout victories and he has Sharks goalie coach Evgeni Nabokov in his sights.

After separating himself from Devan Dubnyk in training camp to get the opening night start, Jones has established a role as the team’s No. 1 goalie.

Jones has a 5-2-0 record despite a 3.70 GAA and .878 save percentage in his seven starts while Dubnyk is 0-3-1 with a 2.71 GAA and .917 save percentage in four starts, including a loss in Saturday’s shootout against the Anaheim Ducks.

The overall numbers might be a bit ugly for Jones right now, but he has been able to show up when the Sharks need it most. With a compacted schedule and intradivision-only regular season, each point will be vital when it comes to jockeying for a playoff spot. Despite the marathon road trip that’s one game away from completion, the Sharks find themselves two points out of a tie for fourth place in the West entering Wednesday.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 02.11.2021 1183449 St Louis Blues thought we played for the most part a pretty good game. A lot of guys blocked shots, forechecked a lot better.

“And they find a way to get the two points there with a shootout win. We Blues brace for more in what has been Year of the Coyote get the game to finish one second before, we get two points, everyone’s happy over here.”

But no. Jim Thomas 4 hrs ago 0 Now the Blues must right the ship against these same Coyotes over an extended weekend, or risk losing three more times.

The good news is, the Blues are in the middle of a three-day break from “We just gotta be sharper in some areas,” Berube said. “Obviously our the Arizona Coyotes. special teams have gotta be better against them. We know we’re playing a good hockey team over there. I don’t think we’ve taken ‘em lightly. I just The bad news is, the break ends Friday. think that there’s been areas of the game where they’ve been better than That’s when the Blues play the first of three (more) games against their us.” nemesis from the Valley of the Sun, this time with the venue switching to Games have been postponed throughout the NHL due to COVID-19 the Phoenix area. issues. The Blues have had to postpone two games against Colorado, Coach put it best when asked Wednesday if he was getting two games against Minnesota and one against Vegas due to COVID tired of playing the Coyotes one game after another. After another. outbreaks on those teams.

“Well, I’m getting tired of losing to ‘em,” Berube said. But at least the Blues have been able to keep playing because they’ve picked up three Arizona games originally scheduled for later in the For sure. After winning the first of four games against Arizona over a season. That leaves them with a net of only two games to make up later seven-day stretch at , the Blues lost the next three — in the season. although they did at least get one point out of Monday’s 4-3 shootout loss. While other teams are jamming the back end of their schedules with makeup games, the Blues will have a relatively normal finish. At least, so Starting with Friday’s 8 p.m. Central contest at Gila River Arena, the far. Blues play the Coyotes three times in four days. “I’m very in favor for continuing to play these games,” defenseman Torey It all adds up to seven consecutive Blues-Coyotes contests, which will be Krug said. “And not sit back and let our game rust. Obviously we’re not an NHL regular-season record. On that note, it’s a good thing it’s the getting the results we want, so we want to work our way out of it. . . . So regular season, because if this were a best-of-seven playoff series the I’d rather do this than sitting at home and letting the games pile up on the Blues would be on the brink of elimination, down three games to one. back end.”

Things got a little more intense, a little feistier in Monday’s contest, but Which is a lot better than the alternative, on a couple of levels. The Blues David Perron downplayed the notion that this has the feel of a are at least playing games. And they’ve (knock on wood) avoided any postseason series. COVID issues amongst themselves to this point.

“Not really,” Perron said. “I think it’s different. There’s not a Cup on the “I think the guys are just happy that we can keep moving forward, and line. There’s not many things on the line. There are certain guys if you keep putting games behind us,” Perron said. “You see some situations play over and over that you like to take maybe a little more of a crack at.” happening throughout the league, and you’re kind of crossing your fingers, doing everything you can to keep that (COVID) out of our locker Here, Perron paused for brief laugh, perhaps thinking of a couple room. At times that’s just bad luck for some of the teams.” Coyotes he’d like to whack. St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 02.11.2021 “But I think at this point it’s about our team,” he continued. “We gotta build our game. It doesn’t really matter a whole lot what they do over there. I’m always focused more on what we do, more than what the opposition does.

“When we get in the playoffs, it’s a different ballgame.”

If nothing else, the steady dose of Coyote has deepened the Blues’ appreciation for this foe.

Remembering broadcasting legend Dan Kelly, 'a friend for life'

50 years ago: 'They traded ! Those idiots!'

“They’re a relentless team,” Berube said. “I think they’ve got real good team speed. And they don’t give you any time. There’s some players that are hard to control in the D-zone. They’re quick and they cut back and they’re competitive guys.”

Of particular concern has been the Arizona line of Clayton Keller-Nick Schmaltz-Conor Garland, which has combined for six goals and nine assists in four games and is plus-9. St. Louisan Keller has tormented the team he grew up rooting for with the game-winning goal in Saturday’s 3-1 Arizona victory and the game-tying goal with 7/10ths of a second left in regulation on Monday.

“There’s probably two games where we could’ve come up with more points in that homestand with them,” Berube said. “But they found ways to win and we didn’t.”

The Blues better get used to this because the addition of the expansion Seattle Kraken next season means Arizona will join the Blues in the Central Division. Assuming the NHL goes back to its normal scheduling format, the teams will play each other four times a year.

“They’re resilient,” Perron said. “They just keep coming at us, and it didn’t matter what the situation was, they found a way again (on Monday). I 1183450 St Louis Blues Defenseman Marco Scandella and forward Sammy Blais, both with upper-body injuries, did not practice Wednesday.

• The only change on the forward lines had Austin Poganski, still Berube sees good signs from revamped power play units currently on the taxi squad, skating with the fourth line in practice — with Kyle Clifford and Jacob de la Rose. When asked if Poganski could break into the lineup, Berube said: “At some point, yes.”

Jim Thomas 4 hrs ago 0 • The Blues are scheduled to practice Thursday at Centene before flying out to Arizona.

St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 02.11.2021 The final tally was a modest one goal in four power plays Monday. But coach Craig Berube saw enough from his revamped power-play units that it looks like he’s coming back with the same groups Friday in Arizona.

“I liked the approach,” Berube said. “There was a shooting mentality right away. And there was a net presence. We scored on a rebound chance and (Oskar) Sundqvist had another real good rebound chance.”

He was speaking primarily of the first power-play unit, which consisted of Sundqvist, Ryan O’Reilly, David Perron, Mike Hoffman and Justin Faulk.

The Blues had 11 shots on goal combined on their four power plays, with eight of them — including O’Reilly’s power-play goal — coming from the first unit. Faulk had negligible power-play time over the first 11 games, but that has changed the past two games.

Faulk’s not shy about shooting, and he’s not necessarily looking for the perfect shot either. More often than not, those are good qualities to have, especially on a Blues power play that has been too stagnant at times.

“He’s not afraid (to shoot),” Berube said. “He’s been doing a great job 5- on-5 in creating opportunities to score and shooting the puck. So he’s doing a good job right now. He likes to shoot the puck. That’s a good thing, and he’s got a good shot.”

On their first power play in Monday’s 4-3 shootout loss to Arizona, the Blues scored on their third shot on goal (O’Reilly). They had all kinds of activity on their second power play, with five shots on goal, but didn’t score.

Things deteriorated after that, with just two shots on goal on their third power play early in the second period. The fourth power play lasted only 56 seconds because of a Jaden Schwartz high-sticking penalty with 1:29 remaining in the game.

“Both units, they just gotta be more of that approach,” Berube said. “Just direct, going downhill and shooting pucks. And finding rebounds and scoring some greasy goals. And then things loosen up and you feel more confident, and then there’s probably more plays to be made.”

Remembering broadcasting legend Dan Kelly, 'a friend for life'

50 years ago: 'They traded Red Berenson! Those idiots!'

Mikkola struggles

Berube likes what he’s seen overall from young defenseman Niko Mikkola this season. But that wasn’t so much the case Monday, which has Berube pondering a lineup change. Mikkola was not among the team’s top three defensemen pairings in Wednesday’s practice at Centene Community Ice Center.

“I’m not sure yet,” Berube said, of Mikkola’s lineup status. “We’ll see (Thursday) how it looks and we’ll go from there.”

On Wednesday, Carl Gunnarsson was paired with Colton Paryako, Torey Krug with Faulk, and Vince Dunn with Robert Bortuzzo.

Mikkola has played in the Blues’ last eight games on the third pairing, and has appeared in nine games overall this season. He’s averaging 13:12 of ice time and is minus-2. But he had a couple rough moments against the Coyotes.

“I think Mikkola’s been pretty solid to be honest with you,” Berube said. “I think that he’s done a good job on the penalty kill. He’s been good closing plays out. I think the other night, a little bit of a tough night for him on a couple goals he was on the ice for. It’s not all his fault. I’m not saying that.

“He’s a young kid yet. Still learning. But overall, his game’s been pretty good.”

Blue notes 1183451 St Louis Blues Speaking mainly about the first unit’s work Monday, Berube said: “I liked the approach. There was a shooting mentality right away. And there was a net presence. We scored on a rebound chance and Sundqvist had another real good rebound chance. Practice update: Berube ponders sitting Mikkola “Both units, they just gotta be more of that approach. Just direct, going downhill and shooting pucks. And finding rebounds and scoring some greasy goals. And then things loosen up and you feel more confident, Jim Thomas 14 hrs ago 0 and then there’s probably more plays to be made.”

WEDNESDAY’S PRACTICE LINES Craig Berube has liked what he’s seen from young defenseman Niko Forwards Mikkola this season. But that wasn’t so much the case Monday against Arizona, which has the Blues coach pondering a lineup change. Barbashev-O’Reilly-Perron

Mikkola was not among the team’s top three defensemen pairings in Schwartz-Schenn-Kyrou Wednesday’s practice at Centene Community Ice Center. Sanford-Sundqvist-Hoffman “I’m not sure yet,” Berube said, of Mikkola’s lineup status. “I put Gunny (Carl Gunnarsson) with (Colton) Parayko today and (Vince) Dunn with Clifford-de la Rose-Poganski (Robert) Bortuzzo. We’ll see tomorrow how it looks and we’ll go from Defensemen there.” Krug-Faulk The other pairing was Torey Krug with Justin Faulk. Gunnarsson-Parayko Mikkola has played in the Blues’ last eight games on the third pairing, and has appeared in nine games overall this season. He’s averaging 13 Dunn-Bortuzzo minutes 12 seconds of ice time and is minus-2. But he had a couple rough moments against the Coyotes. St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 02.11.2021

“I think Mikkola’s been pretty solid to be honest with you,” Berube said. “I think that he’s done a good job on the penalty kill. He’s been good closing plays out. I think the other night, a little bit of a tough night for him on a couple goals he was on the ice for. It’s not all his fault. I’m not saying that.

“He’s a young kid yet. Still learning. But overall, his game’s been pretty good.”

Defenseman Marco Scandella and forward Sammy Blais, both with upper-body injuries, did not practice Wednesday.

The only change on the forward lines had Austin Poganski, currently still on the taxi squad, skating with the fourth line in practice — with Kyle Clifford and Jacob de la Rose.

When asked if Poganski could break into the lineup, Berube said: “At some point, yes.”

De la Rose and Mackenzie MacEachern were both sent down to the taxi squad Tuesday, but that could change by Friday’s game against the Coyotes.

HE SAID IT

Berube, on whether he’s getting tired of playing Arizona all the time: “Well, I’m getting tired of losing to ‘em.”

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT

With the no game until Friday, a couple of practice days were just what the doctor ordered for the Blues, winless (0-2-1) in their last three contests.

“For sure. We needed it,” Berube said. “I don’t think we’ve had much time to really practice other than optionals, (or) like morning skates. It’s hard to work on things in morning skates. I thought we worked on some stuff that we needed to work on today and we’ll do the same tomorrow.”

Remembering broadcasting legend Dan Kelly, 'a friend for life'

50 years ago: 'They traded Red Berenson! Those idiots!'

Wednesday’s to-do list included lots of power play and penalty kill work.

“We wanted to do a little scrimmage today with power play and penalty kill,” Berube said. “I think it was important to work on, and probably gonna work on it tomorrow.”

The Blues went with the same two power play units in practice that they employed in Monday’s 4-3 shootout loss.

PPI: Faulk, David Perron, Mike Hoffman, Ryan O’Reilly, Oskar Sundqvist

PPII: Vince Dunn, Krug, Jordan Kyrou, Brayden Schenn, Jaden Schwartz 1183452 St Louis Blues man, very knowledgeable. On the road you sit around and talk hockey, and Dan wanted to be right in the middle.

''He wasn't just announcing the game. He was the best ambassador for Remembering broadcasting legend Dan Kelly, 'a friend for life' hockey there ever could be. He was honest and upfront, a very loyal individual. He was the Blues.''

St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 02.11.2021 Kevin Horrigan St. Louis Post-Dispatch 18 hrs ago 0

Legendary Blues announcer Dan Kelly was only 52 when he died on Feb. 10, 1989. Post-Dispatch columnist Kevin Horrigan reflected on the broadcasting icon.

Dan Kelly always had a terrible way to sell hello. Maybe that's one reason why it's so terribly hard to say goodbye.

''Geez,'' he'd say, ''that's an ugly shirt.'' Or, ''Where the hell have you been?'' Or, ''What'd you write that story for? You really think that was a good idea?'' ''Nice to see you, too, Dan,'' you'd say. ''Heard your broadcast the other night. You know they're doing some marvelous things with speech therapy now. And my old French teacher called. She wonders why you still can't pronounce Yvan Cournoyer's name.''

Kelly'd laugh and shake his head. Another day, another round of mock insults, another round of golf, another hockey game, another good time, another Martini, another Chinese dinner or another steak, the biggest on the menu, charred on the outside, rare on the inside, another Benedictine & Brandy with the coffee.

Kelly, the irascible Irishman who broadcast the Blues games for 21 years, died Friday morning. He was given only 52 years, but he got every minute's worth out of them.

His place in broadcasting's pantheon is assured; there was never anyone better. But as good a broadcaster as he was, he was better company. If you got past the bluff and bluster, if you showed you could take the needle and give it right back, Kelly was your friend for life.

Nearly everyone in the NHL has a story or two about good times in Kelly' s company; most of them involve Chinese food.

''He put St. Louis on the map in Canada. And when you made the Blues, it wasn't like you just made the Blues or the NHL, it was you made Dan Kelly."

Brian Sutter

''You'd ask him where we played the next night and he'd say, 'Lichi Gardens,' '' said Bob Plager, Blues troubleshooter. ''Right away you'd know we were headed for Toronto.''

Said , president of the Minnesota North Stars, ''He was the type of guy you always knew that no matter what time it was when you finished working, he'd want to get something to eat. He knew where all the best restaurants were, and he'd always find a way to get you to pay.''

New York Rangers broadcaster John Davidson, a former Blues goalie, did the last two Stanley Cup broadcasts with Kelly. ''You know in hockey how we have 'plus-minus' stats? In the playoffs, I was plus-12. In pounds. He was a tough guy to travel with.''

At a sports banquet a couple of years ago, fellow broadcaster and needler described Kelly's late-night dining habits. He then turned to Kelly and said, ''Man, you're a walking compost heap.''

Hockey players didn't know that. They knew only that they were in the presence of a living legend. To a kid growing up in Canada, listening to Kelly do the Blues' games on KMOX Radio's 50,000 watts or watching the Stanley Cup games he did on television every spring, Dan Kelly was a larger-than-life figure. And yet there he was, at training camp every September, walking among them.

''I remember when I was a little guy growing up and watching the Blues when they were in the Cup finals,'' said Brian Sutter, the Blues coach. ''He put St. Louis on the map in Canada. And when you made the Blues, it wasn't like you just made the Blues or the NHL, it was you made Dan Kelly.

''The man was just a legend in Canada. There were two guys you heard growing up, and . And Dan Kelly got as big as those guys. But when you got here, you found him to be a very kind 1183453 St Louis Blues In the Blues’ season opener on Jan. 13, they were impressive in a 4-1 win over Colorado. Some fans were ready to anoint them West Division winners and the real Stanley Cup contenders, not the Avalanche.

Blues-Coyotes for seven straight! How the experts prepare for a long “The coaching mantra is if you win the first game, you have to be better series the second game because it’s their job to change, to either adapt or play better, whether it’s effort based or attitude, or tactic and technical,” Bennett said. “I view it the same way in those consecutive-game sets. If you lose Game 1, then it’s your job to change, however you evaluate it.” By Jeremy Rutherford Feb 10, 2021 12 Two days later on Jan. 18, the Avalanche responded with a 8-0 shutout

of the Blues, in which the Avalanche netted five power-play goals. Colorado assistant coach Ray Bennett would have been on the bench Was the power-play success part of the adjustments the Avs made after last weekend, strategizing against the Blues. Instead, with the Avalanche dropping the first game? season paused due to COVID-19 protocol, Bennett was on his couch watching St. Louis play Arizona. “It’s funny you ask because part of what I’m doing here in quarantine is I reviewed all of our power-play minutes, trying to identify exactly what it The Blues had two games against Arizona and then were scheduled to was — how did we score those goals?” Bennett said. “I have to be host Colorado Saturday and Sunday. But with the Avs quarantined, the honest: It was probably just a little bit better execution, more than tactical NHL had the Coyotes stay in St. Louis for a third and fourth meeting adjustments and staying ahead of their pressure. I won’t say they were Saturday and Monday. fortunate goals because we did a lot of very good things. But some of it “I watched two of the games, or I’ll say, parts of all (four),” Bennett said. was good fortune, and the better part of it was just really clean, good execution.” Bennett, who spent 10 seasons as an assistant coach in St. Louis from 2007-17, hopes Colorado is back on the ice soon. But if not, he can But clubs around the league are making plenty of changes in the second continue tuning into the playoff-like series between the Blues and the game of these two-game sets, and the results are bearing fruit. Coyotes that has plenty of action left. Going into Tuesday’s games, there had been 75 occasions this season in The league announced Tuesday that the teams will play again Friday, which teams played at least two consecutive games; a few were three- and along with the two games already scheduled for Saturday and game sets and, as mentioned, there have been a couple of four-game Monday, they’re now slated to play seven consecutive regular-season sets. Of those 75, 40 ended with a 1-1 record after the first two games, games against one another. while 35 were swept by the winner of Game 1.

“‘Crazy’ is a good word,” Bennett said. “It’s not unprecedented if you The Blues, in fact, went 3-0 in the opening game of their two-game sets, consider playoff series, but it’s foreign, in that, it’s the regular season.” but were 0-2-1 in Game 2.

The 2020-21 schedule has been altered significantly this season to “I am a fan of playing these series games, these back-to-back situations,” lessen travel, most commonly playing two-game sets against the same San Jose coach Bob Boughner said Tuesday. “It’s great for preparation opponents in the same city. The longest such stretch of regular-season and how you can adjust. It’s almost like a playoff round, a seven-game games in NHL history had been three straight, most recently in 2012-13. series against a team. It’s hard to beat teams obviously three, four and No teams had ever played four in a row until Vegas-Arizona (Jan. 18-24), five times in a row. It doesn’t matter who’s matched up. Those are hard and then St. Louis-Arizona on Monday with the teams’ fourth faceoff in a games to win.” row. That proved to the case for the Blues again in their third two-game set of Now with the schedule amended again, the Blues and Coyotes could the season against Los Angeles. They won Game 1, 4-2, but dropped make it seven, a record that might hold forever considering the Game 2, 6-3, a game in which Kings center Gabriel Vilardi scored the circumstances that led to this situation. third of his team’s six goals.

NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly acknowledged Tuesday that it’s not “It does help playing the same team because you see your mistakes in ideal. But with the Blues’ two-game set against Minnesota scheduled for the first game, you see what you did well, and then you’ve got to be this week postponed, the league wants to keep teams not paused by the ready for the second game,” Vilardi said. COVID-19 protocol, like the Blues, playing when possible. Pittsburgh began the season with back-to-back losses to Philadelphia, “Obviously, with postponed games you try to make the best use of the but then went on a four-game winning streak with series sweeps over open dates they create for some teams on the schedule,” Daly wrote in Washington and the New York Rangers. an email. “It’s part of the equation we are dealing with. “What you really need to do is prepare for that next game because you “It’s obviously not ideal, and that’s why we tried to avoid similar stretches don’t know what the following day brings you,” Penguins assistant coach in the original schedule. But we also realize we have to do the best we Todd Reirden said. “Obviously there’s going to be some adjustments, can in less than ideal circumstances. Both clubs were consulted, and there’s going to be some things you’re going to do to set your team up for both approved of the alteration. Had there been concerns, we may not success and allow them to be able to find some of the weaknesses that have done it.” the opposition is having. That’s the fun stuff for a coach.”

There are pros and cons in opponents seeing each other so many times For example, matchups and special teams, which get more difficult the in a row — perhaps more cons if you’re the Blues who have gone 1-2-1 deeper you get in the head-to-head series. in the first four games. To learn more about those pros and cons, The Even with the last line change at home, the Blues struggled to contain Athletic got insights from a few NHL coaches and a player. Arizona’s top line of Clayton Keller, Conor Garland and Nick Schmaltz. Bennett works with Colorado’s forwards and the Avs’ power play, which They have combined for 15 points (six goals, nine assists) in the four he also did in St. Louis, but his previous responsibilities also included meetings, including eight points (four goals, four assists) playing five-on- putting together the pre-scout report for the next game. five.

In a normal season, barring a back-to-back situation, coaches would be Ryan O’Reilly’s line has played 12:34 against the Schmaltz line at five- working on the upcoming opponent before the current game was over. on-five and hasn’t surrendered a goal. But the line of Brayden Schenn, But when teams are playing each other seven straight times, there is less Jaden Schwartz and Jordan Kyrou has been on the ice for two goals reliance on recent video and more focus on each head-to-head matchup. against in just 6:39 of five-on-five ice time.

“From a coaching point of view, it probably reduces the work you’re doing “Yeah, it’s not easy, Garland is playing terrific and his linemates as well,” in terms of preparing because you’re not pre-scouting,” Bennett said. Bennett said. “With the Avs, we tend not to be a team that chases “You’re basically evaluating your game postgame and preparing what matchups very much at all. But certainly every coach I know will spend you think is useful for the players to try and create an advantage for the time from the moment the game starts evaluating shift-to-shift how that next game.” matchup is going because it’s important that you don’t run away from it right away if you feel like it’s something you want to do. “Sometimes there are situations that evolve during the game that may “I think it’s very interesting this year,” Vilardi said. “If a team goes on a not be poor play or execution, but it just happens and suddenly you go, streak, all the games are divisional, so if you win the back-to-backs, it’s ‘These guys are getting killed.’ But then you might look at some analytics huge because you’re taking away points from the guys that are in the between periods and say, ‘It doesn’t look that bad. They’ve been scored same division. I think you’re seeing that it’s going to be a very tight race on twice, but their shot suppression is good.’ Or maybe other matchups just because of all the back-to-backs. It’s almost like a playoff format, are working for you, and you say, ‘We’re just going to stick with it.'” where teams split the (first two games), and then it’s the long part of the series where you see which team can really overtake the other one.” Now with the series shifting to Arizona, the Coyotes will get the last change, so that may continue to be problematic. That’s similar to what Arizona has done to the Blues lately.

Meanwhile, the Blues’ power play went 0-for-13 in the first three games “Arizona, you’ve got to give the credit,” Boughner said. “They won against Arizona, but then tweaked its personnel, putting Justin Faulk on (Monday) with seventh-tenths of a second left, I believe, and they’re the top unit in place of power-play specialist Torey Krug. The result was a finding ways to win. They’re getting good goaltending. What I like about goal on the team’s first opportunity Monday. Arizona, and I don’t think gets talked about enough, is their six guys on the backend. They’re real solid, they can all move pucks, they’re mobile “Torey Krug is such a really good player, (but) their power play in Boston guys and there’s not really a weak link back there. I think they’re playing was almost completely unique to what everybody else did,” Bennett said. with the puck a lot and they’re not defending as much. They’re a little “(The puck) went almost right from their breakouts and entries into their underrated if you ask me.” zone play, and the movement they had, I know our PK coach, Nolan Pratt, had fits trying to defend it. A lot of teams, they’re really predictable If this were a real best-of-seven playoff series, the Coyotes would lead 3- in their power-play set and Boston had a preferred set with Krug at the 1, though technically Monday’s 4-3 win came in a shootout, which isn’t top and (David) Pastrnak on his one-timer. But all of a sudden, (Brad) used in the playoffs. So games Nos. 6 and 7 would be tagged “if Marchand is at the top and Krug is down on the half-wall, and it was necessary” right now — but with teams playing each other eight times perpetual motion. this season, they all feel necessary.

“So adding Krug to your power play would seem natural that it should be “If it’s turning out that there’s (16) points available, it would make no amazing and yet he might have an adjustment and the others will have sense not to paint the picture of it as a playoff series,” Bennett said. “I an adjustment playing off him. Then when you face a team like Arizona, think the teams that grasp that really well will do extremely well through who basically pins their ears back and sets good angles and has good the course of gathering points. It’s a 56-game schedule, it’s condensed, sticks and they’re really committed to pressuring and forcing you to make and it’s going to go by in a blur. Those two points every night, it’s very good plays, if your power play is a step behind, then it can get ugly in a cliche but it’s really important in needing to find a way to raise your hurry.” emotional investment and make sure that you’re prepared. If you think about playing four, five, six or seven games against somebody, it might In relating Colorado’s recent situation — the Avs’ season was paused be a way to create real separation.” before the last of four straight games against Minnesota — Bennett is less focused on the pre-scout as the series goes along. The Athletic LOADED: 02.11.2021

“By the time we would have got to Game 4, our power-play meeting would be short and sweet,” Bennett said. “I would get players involved and have them produce their thoughts and what they feel could be different. They’re on the ice and play against it, so when I show them video and I say, ‘This might be a time that we could do this,’ they may say, ‘True but we could do this or that.’ So I think by giving them an ownership in it, there’s some really strong value in that.”

The other issue the Blues have had in their series with the Coyotes is staying disciplined. They had three penalties in the third period of Monday’s loss, including a high-sticking penalty against Schwartz with the club leading 3-2 and on the power play with less than three minutes remaining in regulation.

That can be a byproduct, Bennett says, of seeing the same faces on the other side for several games.

“It’s a crescendo of many things,” he said. “If a player has struggled for a couple of games in a row, then they get a little undisciplined and look for an opportunity to satisfy their own need a little bit. But I would say everybody’s preaching the need for discipline in those situations, and it’s incredibly difficult for players to just hold onto it in the heat of the moment. I laugh when I read or watch media reports postgame where there’s a lot of insinuation by people in the media who go, ‘This player did that, bad play, bad discipline.’

“Nobody’s going out trying to sabotage their team with little time left and take a penalty. It’s just the emotion, and they feel like for a good portion of the game they were able to do what they just did and got away with it, and then all of a sudden they’re getting a penalty for it. It’s very rarely black and white, and as I said before, it’s extremely rare that a player is going out trying to satisfy his own agenda at the expense of the team. It’s more unfortunate.”

Bennett said that applies to Schwartz, whom he coached for five seasons in St. Louis.

“The really good players tend not to do it, and Jaden is in that category,” he said. “So who knows what the explanation for (Monday’s penalty) is? He probably doesn’t have one other than just saying, ‘I was careless with my stick, it was a mistake.'”

With a 56-game schedule, there’s too much at stake in each game, especially when it allowed Arizona to rally for its third straight victory. The Coyotes are now just three points behind the Blues in the divisional standings (16-13) with one game in hand (13-12). 1183454 Tampa Bay Lightning postseason and continuing to jell in this year’s first weeks, they’ve built chemistry together.

“It’s just being more comfortable in the system,” Goodrow said. “I think Lightning’s third line setting tone for success coming into this year, and especially playing on the same line, I think we still feel like we can play a lot better, but we’re pretty comfortable with each other.”

Eduardo A. Encina Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 02.11.2021

TAMPA — Lightning defenseman Mikhail Sergachev is glad he has faced Tampa Bay’s gritty third line only in practice. That’s enough to understand what kind of nuisance the trio of Yanni Gourde, Blake Coleman and Barclay Goodrow can be.

“Those guys are buzzing around,” Sergachev said. “It’s constantly, ‘Shoot, retrieve, shoot, retrieve.’ They’re hard to play against. They’re all strong guys. Not the biggest guys, but very tough to battle in the corner and in front of the net. They play very simple but in a very effective way.”

That line played a big role in Tampa Bay’s road to the Stanley Cup championship last year with physicality and relentlessness. This year, Gourde, Coleman and Goodrow are a big reason why the Lightning are off to one of the best starts in franchise history. They are 9-1-1 entering Thursday’s game against the Panthers in Sunrise.

“I think we keep our game pretty simple, and that’s really what we’re good at,” Gourde said. “We don’t force plays. If it’s there, it’s there. If it’s not, we go behind the net, we rim the puck out to our points, and we crash the net.”

That line has made the Lightning a tougher team and a better forechecking team, providing sandpaper to go with the Lightning’s abundance of skill. The line matches up against the opponent’s top line every game. And coach Jon Cooper has leaned on it to start games often this season to set the tone.

“I think it’s the consistency level that those guys play with. They roll it out every night,” said Predators coach John Hynes, who has seen the Lightning four times already this season as a division opponent in the league’s temporary realignment. “They play the same way; they set the tone. When you’re winning, whether you’re losing, their game doesn’t change. I think that you can add those types of players into your team with the type of team Tampa has, it just brings a little bit of a different element to it.

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“Sometimes those guys, they drag other guys in the battle. Just watching it, I think (Cooper) started that line most games to set the tone, and I think that that was a little bit of a cultural shift there. But they added the right types of people and players into that group.”

In the Lightning’s 6-1 win over the Predators on Tuesday, the line logged a game-high 10:49 of ice time. And Gourde scored a huge third-period goal to give Tampa Bay a three-goal cushion, winning a faceoff, then crashing the net for a backhanded putback after a Sergachev shot.

“We won the faceoff. These guys are trying to get to the net. I’m trying to get to the net,” Gourde said. “I get the rebound. I was fortunate enough to make a move and (score). But that’s the way we play. We grind the game down low, and I think that’s really where we’re really effective.”

It marked the third straight game in which a goal from that line helped put the game away. In Monday’s win over Nashville, Blake Coleman’s empty- netter provided a two-goal cushion in the Lightning’s 4-1 win. And in Friday’s 3-1 home victory over Detroit, Goodrow scored two goals, including the tiebreaker late in the second period.

“That line can pose a lot of problems,” Cooper said. “And they get the tough assignments every night. You like it when those guys get rewarded with some points. … If you can chip in offensively, as well as they’ve been checking, it’s a big part of our team.”

At heart, they’re still a checking line. Goodrow (16) and Coleman (15) rank second and third on the team among forwards in hits. The resilient Gourde has four goals in 11 games. As a group, they are plus-7. But this season, their play has given the Lightning a lift because they’ve been dependable on both ends of the ice.

Coleman and Goodrow were relative newcomers in the last postseason as trade-deadline acquisitions. But after playing together in the 1183455 Toronto Maple Leafs Perhaps he biggest news is that Matthews failed to score. He leads the NHL with 11 goals and had at least one in eight successive games. Mitch Marner also had an eight-game points streak come to a close.

Maple Leafs stay hot with win over Habs Jake Muzzin had three assists for the Maple Leafs on a big night for their defencemen. The goals by Dermott and Holl were only the team’s their fourth and fifth from the blueline this season. Mikheyev had not scored since he suffered a severed artery in a game against the New Jersey Marty Klinkenberg Devils in December of 2019.

“Every player wants to score,” Mikheyev said afterward. He had plenty of Wayne Simmonds had his first fight. Auston Matthews didn’t score a chances before this. “Sometimes you just keep working to help the team goal. Neither did Tyler Toffoli. Opening night seems like such a long time with everything you do.” ago. The Maple Leafs rallied from two goals down and beat the Sheldon Keefe, the Toronto coach, was happy for him. Canadiens in overtime in the first encounter of the season on Jan. 13. “He has worked extremely hard,” Keefe said. “It is nice to see him get The forever rivals met again in Montreal on Wednesday night. At any rewarded, for sure” other time, the Bell Centre would have been pulsating. Not so during these days of COVID-19. You could hear pucks boomerang around the Toronto has won four in a row and hasn’t lost in regulation time since boards, sticks chop at the ice. Jan. 20. Montreal has points in all but three outings in 2021.

They came in as the top two teams among the 31 in the NHL, and first The Leafs sit first overall, while the Canadiens are five points back with a and second in the all-Canadian North Division. Toronto’s 10-2-1 start was game in hand. Their long-standing rivalry is heating up again. its fourth-best in history. The Canadiens have been flying on offence and stingy on defence. Both are creating a buzz around the league, if not in “As a kid you loved watching these games,” Anderson, the Montreal any of the rinks. winger, said before the game. He grew up just west of Toronto in Burlington. “To be experiencing it now, it’s very exciting. I know a lot of Toronto won again in a 4-2 squeaker that was still interesting until Zach people will be watching.” Hyman scored an empty-net goal with 61 seconds remaining. The Maple Leafs fell behind but tied it in the second and pretty much put the game The Maple Leafs won on a night when their top players were held in away with two quick goals to start the third. Justin Holl had the go-ahead check. They won because four secondary players scored, and Andersen goal on a blistering one timer that beat Carey Price. Ilya Mikheyev poked played well after being beaten on that first one. another one past the Canadiens netminder 42 seconds later. It was also “That’s a very strong Montreal team,” John Tavares, the Toronto captain, his first of the season, and officially recorded as the game-winner. said. He was credited with two assists. “It wasn’t our best two periods, The loss dropped the Canadiens to 8-3-2 but they have plenty of time to but we got better as went along.” catch up. The teams play each other three times in a period of 11 days, Holl, who has five goals in 95 NHL games, was thrilled that he and two the next meeting on Saturday at Scotiabank Arena. teammates scored for the first time this season. Josh Anderson, who scored twice on opening night, put Montreal ahead “That is really good for us,” he said. “We rely so heavily on our star on its first shot of the game. He converted a turnover that he caused players, that if we can score on a night when they are held in check, himself by whipping a shot through Frederik Andersen’s wickets. that’s great. That is the sign of a good team.” Anderson, obtained in a trade with Columbus for Max Domi in the offseason, has nine goals already. Max Who has two so far for the Blue Globe And Mail LOADED: 02.11.2021 Jackets.

Tomas Tatar scored the Canadiens’ other, with 3:20 remaining to cut the margin to 3-2.

Before the puck drop, a tribute was paid to Ralph Backstrom, a six-time Stanley Cup winner with Montreal who died Sunday at 83.

It was Toronto’s second game without Simmonds. The pepperpot is out for six weeks with a broken wrist. Travis Dermott returned on defence after missing two games with a leg injury. As this was the theme for the evening, Dermott pulled Toronto even with a sharp wrist shot that was also his first goal. It baffled Price so much that he reviewed it on a tablet during a break.

Mikheyev got a shot off for Toronto 1 minute 10 seconds into the game. It was nearly 13 minutes later before the Maple Leafs got a second. They failed to score on back-to-back power plays late in the first, Montreal failed to register a shot on one earlier. The Canadiens held an advantage in shots, 9-6, after 20 minutes.

The pace increased in the second period. But neither team was able to score. A scuffle broke out late when Corey Perry took a whack at a puck in Andersen’s glove during a goal-mouth scrum. There is nothing terribly unusual about that.

Dermott scored the equalizer on a sharp wrist shot from 35 feet out on Price. It was Dermott’s first goal and first point in 10 games.

\After 40 minutes, Toronto had been outshot 20-12. Then the Maple Leafs lowered the boom.

Andersen made 33 saves to improve his career record against the Canadiens to 9-3-2. His victories in the net this season are the most in the NHL.

“He is making critical saves and timely saves when we need them,” Holl said. “He is allowing us to find our game, and that’s really big for us.” 1183456 Toronto Maple Leafs “He made some big saves when he had to and helped us weather the storm,” said Matthews.

Andersen has played every game since Jack Campbell got injured, Maple Leafs get their offence from unlikely sources in comeback win over muddying the backup position. The Leafs thought they were solid there at Canadiens the start of the season, but lost Aaron Dell on waivers just a couple of days before Campbell got hurt. Michael Hutchinson has been backing up. Though the coaches and management profess faith in Hutchinson, citing his turnaround with the Avalanche last season, he has yet to get any By Kevin McGranStaff Reporter minutes in his second go-round as a Leaf.

More like this: Perhaps no regular-season game will be more anticipated The Maple Leafs got some scoring Wednesday night from some unlikely than Montreal-Toronto, in part because of the historic nature of the sources — Travis Dermott, Justin Holl and Ilya Mikheyev — to continue rivalry, and the fact this year the two seem destined to battle it out for top their winning ways. honours in the North Division.

With Zach Hyman adding an empty netter, it all added up to a 4-2 win The Leafs and Canadiens are scheduled to play eight more times this over the Canadiens in the Bell Centre as Toronto remained atop the NHL season, something hockey fans could get used to. And when the and opened up a five-point gap over the Canadiens in the North Division. pandemic is over, and fans are back in the stands, the atmosphere will be more than electric. “Dermott scores a big goal for us, Holl as well, Mikheyev gets his first, it’s all very positive for us,” said star centre Auston Matthews. “When those Tavares was asked before the game if he would like to see this year’s guys start feeling it, they get confidence, and that’s great for us.” realignment continue.

The Leafs used a similar script to Monday’s win over Vancouver, playing “I think it’s probably too soon to get a real sense of that,” he said. “We’re a tepid first two periods and scoring twice quickly in the third. Josh in the middle of a pandemic and the challenges that go into it. Obviously Anderson opened the scoring for Montreal in the first period, Dermott tied it’s been a whole lot of fun as a player and I’m sure it’s been tremendous the game late in the second and Holl and Mikheyev scored 42 seconds for Canadian hockey fans to see the quality of the teams and the players apart in the third to break the game open. across the country, and getting to see it on a daily basis. Who knows? We’ll see when we get back to what we’re used to. The Leafs allowed 35 shots for the first time this season, but head coach Sheldon Keefe wasn’t concerned. “We can learn from this experience. Not just from realignment but other things that affect our daily lives, or affect the game.” “Defensively we just didn't give them much at all,” Keefe said. “ In fact, I had this as the lowest number of scoring chances we gave up in a game Roster notes: The Leafs continue to fidget with their bottom six, largely all season. So despite the volume (of shots), we did a really good job of due to mounting injuries. Nic Petan and Pierre Engvall were back in the protecting the middle of the ice and not giving them very much.” lineup Wednesday, and Dermott returned to the blue line. Forwards Joe Thornton (rib) and Nick Robertson (leg) are both eligible to come off long- Streakbusters: While some might lament the end of Matthews’ goal- term injured reserve but their status remains up in the air. scoring streak (eight games) and Mitch Marner’s points streak (also eight games), it is perhaps more important that some long droughts ended. “You have to make adjustments, with different players, creating different looks for the line,” Tavares said. “For us, it’s finding ways to adapt. We Dermott, whose last goal came Jan. 2, 2020, scored in first game since want to take pride in whatever scenario and make a positive impact for coming back from a charley horse. The lightly used defenceman has the game. It presents different variables, but that’s the nature of playing been a healthy scratch on occasion, and a goal helps make his case to in the league with injuries and changes game to game based on what the stay in the lineup as a regular. coaches think is the best lineup.”

Holl, who last scored Feb. 27, 2020, beat Carey Price on a slapshot. Up next: The Leafs will likely take Thursday off, practise Friday and host Montreal on Saturday. The Canadiens are home to the Oilers on “It's actually been a while since I scored on a goalie,” Holl said. “My last Thursday. one was into an empty net. So it was a while previously before that one.” Toronto Star LOADED: 02.11.2021 Mikheyev last scored Dec. 27, 2019, the game in which he suffered a season-ending lacerated wrist. His goal was a big relief.

“Frustrated? Certainly,” said Mikheyev. “Every players wants to score goals.”

Jake Muzzin had three assists to help secure the Leafs’ first win in Montreal in more than two years. Their last win was a 4-3 overtime decision on Feb. 9, 2019.

About Mikheyev: The Leafs’ injuries, and a couple of games where goals have become harder to come by, highlighted one player counted to score at least a bit — Mikheyev. But he is skating well, he’s forechecking, he chips in on the penalty kill and he has the faith of his coach.

“First of all, he has worked extremely hard, not just in our games,” Keefe said. “He's had a ton of chances. He's worked at maintaining his good defensive play. He continues to work at his game in practices and off days, development days. Nice to see him get rewarded, for sure.”

His teammates seemed happiest for Mikheyev.

“He must have had the most chances in the league without one, so definitely good to see him get rewarded for the way he's been playing,” captain John Tavares.

Bad start: No goalie wants to get scored on, least of all on the first shot on net. But that’s what happened to Frederik Andersen, making his seventh straight start. Montreal’s Anderson barrelled down the right wing to beat the Leafs goaltender between the legs. Andersen seemed as rattled in the early going as his teammates did but eventually settled down, making 33 saves. 1183457 Toronto Maple Leafs The goal was the winger’s first since Dec. 27, 2020 — the same night he suffered a serious wrist laceration from a skate blade.

“He must have had the most chances in the league without one yet,” Leafs get goals from unlikely sources to defeat Habs 4-2 in North Tavares said of Mikheyev’s breakthrough. “Definitely great to see him get Division showdown rewarded the way he’s been playing.”

Montreal made a push as the period wore on, with Tatar scoring his fourth with 3:20 left in regulation off a scramble to make it 3-2, but the By The Canadian Press Leafs and Andersen held the fort until Hyman sealed it.

“We talked about having our best period of the year between the second and the third,” Tavares said. “I don’t know if it was our best, but certainly MONTREAL - The Maple Leafs have relied on Auston Matthews and the way we came out suited ourselves, got the two-goal lead and took Mitch Marner for the bulk of their offence this season. the game in our hands.” Toronto’s supporting cast showed the team’s lesser lights are also Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said he was happy to see his team capable of contributing in big moments. respond after a shaky first 10 minutes. Justin Holl and Ilya Mikheyev scored their first goals of the campaign 42 “Our job as a team is to help (Andersen) out, and I thought we did that,” seconds apart early in Wednesday’s third period after Travis Dermott he said. “Defensively, we didn’t give them very much at all. also opened his account to tie the game 1-1 as the Leafs recovered from a rocky start to defeat the Montreal Canadiens 4-2. “I had this as the lowest number of scoring chances we’ve given up in a game all season.” Toronto fell behind when Josh Anderson buried the home side’s opening salvo, but rebounded with Dermott picking a corner on Carey Price, Holl Montreal entered the marquee matchup rested following Saturday’s 2-1 blasting one upstairs, and Mikheyev bagging another off the rush. victory over the Ottawa Senators, while Toronto was playing its fourth game in seven nights after sweeping the Vancouver Canucks three “That’s all really positive stuff for us,” said Matthews, who saw his eight- straight at Scotiabank Arena. game goal streak come to an end. Those guys start feeling it, they get confidence and they start rolling. The Canadiens opened the scoring 76 seconds into the first on a sequence started and finished by Anderson. The big winger dislodged “It was a huge win.” the puck from Muzzin with a hit in the neutral zone before taking a pass Zach Hyman, into an empty net off an assist from Matthews that from Jonathan Drouin and beating Andersen off the rush to score his extended the star centre’s point streak to 11 games, helped set up ninth and pull even with Tyler Toffoli for the team lead. Mikheyev’s goal before icing things for Toronto (11-2-1), which got 33 The Leafs, who weren’t good through 40 minutes Monday against saves from Frederik Andersen. Jake Muzzin added three assists and Vancouver before coming alive to secure a 3-1 victory, again took a while John Tavares had two as the Leafs improved to 8-0-1 over their last nine to get going, but started to find their legs as the period wore on. games. Marner, meanwhile, saw his eight-game point streak come to an end. Tavares, who had a great chance early in the second, was left bloodied and forced into concussion protocol later in the period when the Toronto Toronto now holds a five-point lead over its Original Six rival atop the captain’s face slammed off the ice after getting tied up with Canadiens NHL and all-Canadian North Division standings after a hard-fought counterpart Shea Weber. victory inside the Bell Centre, which would have been rocking in a normal season, but instead remains devoid of fans because of COVID-19 With Tavares back and playing inspired hockey, Toronto got even when restrictions. Dermott, who returned to the lineup following a two-game absence because of a charley horse, wired his first beyond Price’s blocker at “It’s massive,” Tavares said of getting contributions up and down the 15:48 with the teams also playing 4 on 4 after the Leafs hemmed the roster. “We’ve got guys throughout our lineup that can contribute Canadiens in their zone. offensively, I think there’s no doubt about that.” Asked if he knew Dermott, who scored his first goal in 411 days, and Holl Tomas Tatar had the other goal for Montreal (8-3-2), which got 20 stops had those shots in their tool belts, Keefe flashed a grin. from Price. “No doubt,” he said. “They only pull it out when it counts the most.” “We knew it was going to be a challenge,” Anderson said. “I thought we set the tempo at the start of the game and overall played pretty good. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 10, 2021.

“A few bounces went their way and they capitalized.” Toronto Star LOADED: 02.11.2021 The Canadiens have a quick turnaround with the Edmonton Oilers waiting in the wings Thursday in the second half of a back-to-back, while the Leafs will head home to prepare for Saturday’s rematch with Montreal — the third of 10 meetings between the clubs in 2021.

Tied 1-1 through 40 minutes, Toronto pushed ahead at 1:50 of the third when Holl was given all day to load up and rip a slapshot by Price’s glove with the teams playing 4 on 4.

“I’ve uncorked it now,” Holl said with a smile of the blast that resulted in his first goal since Feb. 27, 2020. “There’s no turning back.”

The defenceman said he could see teammate William Nylander — usually a far more adept shooter — calling for the puck before deciding to give it a go himself.

“As I came down I was like, ‘Oh man, Willy’s going to want this biscuit,’” Holl said. “It ended up going in, and all’s well that ends well.”

Price, who watched three of Montreal’s five previous games as the Canadiens look to get the most out of their starter with a dependable backup in Jack Allen now in the fold, was beaten again at 2:32 when Mikheyev found the back of the net after Alexander Kerfoot fanned on his intial effort. 1183458 Toronto Maple Leafs “With the hour and 45, it affected a couple of games but the communication has come back. The players do what they do now, whether its treatments or whatever else they need to do, so it’s less of a factor.” The NHL’s COVID-19 protocols are changing to ensure the games will go on Toronto Star LOADED: 02.11.2021

By Mark ZwolinskiSports Reporter

The NHL and the National Hockey League Players’ Association continue to discuss modifications to the league’s COVID-19 protocols but are not considering a pause despite a growing number of positive tests and game postponements.

An industry source said Wednesday that both sides remain vehement in “keeping everyone safe” while focusing on implementing greater access to point-of-care testing in the teams’ arenas.

The Philadelphia Flyers moved to POC testing prior to a game against Washington this week. The Minnesota Wild called for the testing — also called rapid testing — after a team outbreak last week.

Both the league and the NHLPA are aiming at “catching issues that pop up immediately” through the use of the rapid testing. Players and hockey operations staff currently undergo a daily PCR test, a polymerase chain reaction test to detect the presence of an antigen.

The league has cancelled 34 games and, while Canadian teams have not experienced a positive test or a game postponement, U.S.-based teams have been seeing positive tests surface after teams have entered arenas for games.

Players and coaches continue to navigate COVID protocols and practices that are rapidly changing. A reduction of the time players can be at the rink before games — from two hours and thirty minutes to an hour and 45 minutes — has been met with concern from the players. But other details, which may include testing of player family members and the use of genetic sequencing, first reported by TSN’s Darren Dreger, are apparently being considered by the two sides.

“This is still a learning experience for all of us, the league, every team, and the players,” Sabres centre Jack Eichel said Tuesday as Buffalo returned to practice after a week of dealing with a COVID spread through the players. “It’s unchartered territory. It’s tough to put the blame on anyone.”

That learning experience continues for the Leafs.

“I think there was a pushback from the players on the hour and 45, so I think it’s a recommendation there, but obviously, playing at this level and being mindful of what it takes to prepare, what you’re competing for and what’s at stake, guys feel (the need) for the proper amount of time to prepare,” Leafs captain John Tavares said.

“From my standpoint, you try and fix one issue, which is being around each other for a long period of time, which we’re trying to limit … but when you condense the time, it kind of crowds guys into one or two areas because everyone is trying to do the same types of things at the same time to get ready.

“I think, as a group, we try to respect the rule on that recommendation. To be mindful of trying to prepare accordingly, and spacing in the locker rooms and the virtual meetings, it takes away some of the feel of a game day, the feel you get when everyone’s in the room, and having the coaching staff there, and the intensity and importance of all that. In the big picture we’re very fortunate to be playing, getting to do what we get to do for a living. Not many people get to do that so it’s adjusting on the fly, getting your mindset right, and being as positive as you can be about it.”

Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe concurred.

“Players, staff, families are all affected by it,” Keefe said Wednesday. “We’re all doing the best to fight the virus, keeping it out of our work, but also doing your part in the community. We’re finding ways to do it, and we’re privileged to be playing.”

“We’ve been able to do things virtually. One of the things we did at the start of training camp is establish a meeting room at Ford Performance Centre that allows everyone to be six feet apart. We’ve been able to have meetings there and it’s been very helpful for us to have that and spread the message we want. 1183459 Toronto Maple Leafs While there are a few road games posted for Toronto’s farm team, the AHL Marlies, and Ottawa’s affiliate, the Belleville Senators, the two clubs could get good news from the provincial government on their home openers very soon. Mikheyev finally finds back of net for Maple Leafs “We’ve been working very closely with the Senators as well as MLSE to try and get our AHL teams up and running,” Lisa MacLeod, Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries, said Wednesday. “I am Lance Hornby feeling very confident. The NHL has provided us with a 600-page set of proposals that worked for them and (the AHL’s) are very much similar. We should have an answer very shortly through the Ministry of Health No one needed to tell Ilya Mikheyev to keep the faith. and through my colleagues in cabinet.”

The 13 months since his last goal have been filled with angst about his The Baby Sens open Friday in Laval vs. Montreal’s farm team, the career being derailed by a badly sliced wrist tendon the night he last Rocket, the first of four straight there, while the Marlies will start with scored, Dec. 27, 2019, his quiet playoff last summer and then ‘nyet’ for eight times in 11 days in Winnipeg and Calgary. the net in the Russian’s first 13 games. “We’re working steadily and in almost daily contact with both teams,” “Everybody helped me, the guys, the coaches, the skill guys (including MacLeod said. “Obviously in the current COVID-19 situation, it’s very Russian-speaking instructor Nik Antropov),” Mikheyev said Wednesday difficult for the Leafs because they’ll be short players and need to draw as he wound up with 4-2 winner over Montreal. “Sometimes you can’t up and the Senators are looking at sending a few players down to the score, but I just keep working. AHL and (to bring) others up.”

“The injury is in the past, everything is good.” MacLeod said fans coming back en masse in any of the larger rinks in Ontario remains a long way off. Coach Sheldon Keefe said Mikheyev’s efforts off the ice had made the staff confident he would bury one eventually, especially with his hustle on Toronto Sun LOADED: 02.11.2021 defence.

“I feel great for him, he works on his game on off day, development days, so you like to see that (rewarded).”

RIVALRY RIDING HIGH

You can usually hear Leafs’ fans en route to the Bell Centre as far away as Brockville.

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While Monday’s canned crowd noise couldn’t replicate the colliding waves of blue and white versus bleu, blanc et rouge, to a soundtrack popping beer tabs, there was still some good theatre on Wednesday at Windsor Station.

Toronto hadn’t crossed the border in more than a calendar year and the tete-a-tete was enhanced with both atop the North Division. How much would those in the home stands have enjoyed raising the roof on Josh Anderson’s first-shot goal? Or the visitors when Travis Dermott tied it?

“It’s definitely fun to be part of, even though there’s no fans this year,” said Habs’ forward Jonathan Drouin said before the game. “I definitely watched a lot of Toronto-Montreal games when I was a kid (in Ste- Agathe, Que.). There still is that energy and the rivalry is there.

“Hopefully we get some fans (back at some point). It’s fun to be in that building knowing you’re playing Toronto.”

STAYING TOGETHER, APART

Julien has found the tighter COVID-19 restrictions imposed by the NHL last week to be challenging from the perspective of organizing team pre- scout meetings.

Clubs were encouraged to stay away from the rinks as much as possible on game day as an additional social distancing precaution and not to arrive until an hour and 45 minutes prior to puck drop. For the home teams, that means getting players to co-ordinate on Zoom when they can usually rounded up a lot easier on the road in a hotel.

“It is difficult,” Julien agreed. “I run into players who say ‘my internet wasn’t working well at home’ and all that kind of stuff. We’re doing the best we can. At the same time we’ve been the fortunate ones in the North so far, knock on wood. We’ve been lucky not having too many (positive tests).”

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OPEN UP THE FARM 1183460 Toronto Maple Leafs “He just fell on me and the way my face went into the ice, my nose started gushing blood pretty good and I was trying to make sure my face was okay,” Tavares said. “Had to go through protocol and I’m feeling good.” KOSHAN: Unusual suspects lead Maple Leafs to win against Canadiens After a Josh Anderson goal on the Canadiens’ first shot of the game, the Leafs had little offence but eventually broke through when Dermott scored at 15:18 of the second. Back in the lineup after missing two Terry Koshan games with a charley horse and trying to convince coach Sheldon Keefe that fellow defenceman Mikko Lehtonen doesn’t exist, Dermott scored his first goal in 37 games with a high shot to Price’s blocker side. If Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner are going to have a rare off-night, it goes without saying that other Maple Leafs will have to step into the The Leafs stressed to each other in the second intermission the breach. importance of a strong third period, and they backed up their words.

In Montreal on Wednesday night? We’re looking at you, Ilya Mikheyev, Though Frederik Andersen faced 35 shots, the most the Leafs have Justin Holl and Travis Dermott. Fans, do not adjust your sets. allowed in a game this season, Keefe was satisfied with the defensive effort. Andersen didn’t have to be spectacular. Mikheyev finally scored his first goal of the 2020-21 regular season after buzzing around the opponents’ net through the first 13 games, supplying “We just didn’t give them very much at all,” Keefe said. “In fact, I had this the winner in a 4-2 Leafs victory against the Montreal Canadiens at the is as the lowest number of scoring chances we gave up in a game all Bell Centre. season.

Mikheyev’s goal at 2:32 of the third period came 42 seconds after Holl “Despite some of the volume, I thought our guys did a really good job of broke a 1-1 tie. protecting the middle of the ice, not giving anything up odd-man. And Fred was solid for us.” Mikheyev had not scored since Dec. 27, 2019, in New Jersey, the night he suffered a severe wrist injury; Holl scored his first goal since last Feb. Toronto Sun LOADED: 02.11.2021 27.

And Dermott? He had not scored since Jan. 2, 2020.

The quick-strike goals in the third gave the Leafs their 11th win in 14 games, further solidifying their spot atop the National Hockey League standings with 23 points.

“That’s massive,” captain John Tavares said of the goals from unusual sources. “It’s great to see Mickey get one, he must have had the most chances in the league without one yet, so great to see him get rewarded for the way he’s been playing. Dermy with a great shot, Holly with a great shot, great contributions.

“It’s always a good feeling on the bench and in the room when those guys contribute. Most importantly, it was a good win.”

Tomas Tatar got the Canadiens to within one goal with under four minutes to play, but Zach Hyman scored into an empty net with 64 seconds left.

The Canadiens are five points back of the Leafs. The rivalry between the storied franchises is real again, and taking into account the clubs meet eight more times this season, it’s only going to ramp up.

Mikheyev swatted the puck past Canadiens goalie Carey Price on a pass from Alex Kerfoot. That came after Holl walked into the slot and blasted a shot past Price, reminding us of the way Al MacInnis used to rip slapshots behind guessing goaltenders.

“I’ve uncorked it now, so there’s no turning back,” Holl said jokingly. “JT gave me the puck, and I was able to find some space and I wound up. I saw Willy (Nylander) out of the corner of my eye, and I was like, ‘Oh man, Willy is going to want this biscuit.’ It ended up going in and all’s well that ends well.”

With an assist on Hyman’s goal, Matthews has at least one point in each of his past 11 games, but his run of eight games in a row with at least one goal came to an end. Marner’s eight-game point streak ended.

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Jake Muzzin had three assists and Tavares had two.

The Leafs and Canadiens meet again on Saturday in Toronto at Scotiabank Arena. It’s not a true home-and-home set, as the Canadiens play host to the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday.

The Leafs didn’t have Tavares for a stretch in the second period after his face was crunched into the ice by Canadiens defenceman Shea Weber, who landed on Tavares deep in the Montreal zone. After going to the quiet room, Tavares returned with six minutes to go in the period and not long after helped set up Dermott’s goal. 1183461 Toronto Maple Leafs He had two even-strength points on a night when he was in and out. He now has 14 points in 14 games on the season. And he’s yet to dominate the way he can. This bodes well for the Leafs now as they begin to create separation not only with the Habs but with the rest of the division. SIMMONS: Maple Leafs win how? We'll explain later General manager Kyle Dubas was clear before the season started. He wanted the Leafs to avoid the parts of the schedule where they disappear. He wanted them to be more diligent overall. They haven’t Steve Simmons been great every night — no team is — just good enough to win every game they have played in, but one.

Maybe today, Sheldon Keefe should head to a convenience store and Nobody else has done that in the NHL to date. Not after 14 games in a buy himself a lottery ticket or two. league where there are nightly postponements in the United States.

And if he needs to select numbers, he might just start with 23, then 3, And if you add in three guys who haven’t scored in forever, a goalie then 65. letting the first shot in, Tavares spending time in the concussion room, Marner and Matthews held pretty much in check by Montreal, William The Maple Leafs have the best record in the National Hockey League, Nylander auditioning for figure skating next February, and Jake Muzzin, the best record in the Canadian division, and on many nights you can having a three-point night, well, that’s a lot of stuff going the Leafs’ way. explain why. Wednesday just wasn’t one of those nights. Muzzin had one three-point game last season. Two the year before that with the Leafs. Everything is going the Leafs’ way right now. The Leafs won, somehow, some way, against the impressive Montreal Canadiens. They won when three players without a goal in just about a They didn’t play well against Vancouver on Monday night and won. They calendar year or so, all scored. They won when their hot goalie, Frederik played a little better, but still not well enough, against Montreal and won. Andersen, allowed the first shot of the game to score — a shot right at First line aside, the Habs are supposed to be faster and deeper than the him. They won when the scoring machine, Auston Matthews, didn’t score Leafs. a goal and Mr. Setup, Mitch Marner, didn’t have an assist. They weren’t more fortunate. No. 23 and No. 3 and No. 65 came through This was the second game of the season between Toronto and Montreal, for the Leafs. That may never happen on another night. May never clearly the two best teams in the North Division. Two of the best teams, happen again. period, in the NHL. The Leafs won both in completely opposite kinds of games. The opener was a crazy, back-and-forth, come-from-behind, then Toronto Sun LOADED: 02.11.2021 score in overtime win for the Leafs.

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On Wednesday night, the Leafs weren’t at their worst, weren’t at their most dangerous, but wound up with the kind of win that looks great on the scoreboard and in the standings and, really, as they’re piling up points, that’s all that matters.

Toronto trailed 1-0. Didn’t look like much in the first period. Didn’t look like much in the second period either until Travis Dermott, the in-and-out defenceman, did something he rarely does. He scored a goal. He ripped a blocker-high wrist shot past the great Carey Price, then let out a scream so audible, it was an indication that he was as stunned by his goal as anyone else watching happened to be.

The anniversary of Dermott’s previous NHL goal came early last week. He wears No. 23 for the Leafs. Dermott’s former defence partner, No. 3, Justin Holl then scored early in the third period. His previous NHL goal came in late February in Florida.

The winning goal, the one that gave the Leafs a 3-1 lead in the third period, may have been more stunning and unusual than the first two.

Ilya Mikheyev, No. 65 and snakebit, scored after Zach Hyman made a pass to Alex Kerfoot, and the offensively challenged Kerfoot fanned on the pass. Missing the puck ostensibly had it bounce to Mikheyev, nowhere near the goaltender, and with only an open net to start at. From maybe a foot or two out, Mikheyev scored his first goal in almost 15 months, a goal we knew was coming, we just didn’t know when.

The Leafs win on three first goals of the season and then Hyman’s first empty-netter of the year. That won’t be his last. The Leafs’ greatest mucker lives for the empty-net goal and picked up his on a pass from Matthews, who got his only point on the empty-netter and Toronto won 4- 2.

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Other unusual happenings: John Tavares, who was mugged and bloodied by his former Olympic teammate, Shea Weber, left for the quiet room, having a rather quiet season except for his point totals. Tavares had an assist on the Dermott goal. He has an assist on the Holl goal, a booming slap shot that beat Price that he tried to deflect. 1183462 Toronto Maple Leafs Tampa Bay, which won a Stanley Cup with Steven Stamkos playing less than three minutes in the post-season, is a league-best 9-1-1 this year. Imagine what they are going to look like when Nikita Kucherov joins them for the playoffs … With Brian Burke now in Pittsburgh, how long before TRAIK-EOTOMY: Laine's problems with coaches nothing new he adds sandpaper to the lineup by trading for Calgary’s Sam Bennett? … Not surprised that the Penguins interviewed the NHL Network’s Kevin

Weekes for the job that ultimately went to Burke. I’ve gotten to know Michael Traikos Weekes pretty well for the past decade and there’s few in the business who think the game as well as he does … At the time, almost everyone said Montreal would regret trading P.K. Subban for Shea Weber because of how much older Weber was. Five years later, Weber has two goals The plot thickens. and seven points and is almost certainly a lock to once again represent It turns out Patrik Laine was not benched in a 3-2 overtime win against Canada at the 2022 Olympics, while Subban is on his second team and the Carolina Hurricanes earlier this week because of a defensive miscue still searching for his first goal of the season … Buffalo’s Jeff Skinner, or a general lack of effort — or simply because he looked at John who once scored 40 goals, hasn’t scored in 10 games. But based on his Tortorella the wrong way. It was, according to a report from the play, I’m more shocked that Toronto’s Ilya Mikheyev had no goals in his Columbus Dispatch, because of verbal alternation he had with one of the first 13 games. Blue Jackets assistant coaches. FOR WHAT IT’S WORTH We don’t know the full details, but it’s not surprising. It’s great that the Rangers, Islanders and Sabres have been cleared by After all, it’s not the first time this has happened to Laine. the state of New York to allow fans in the building later this month. But it would be even greater if seven teams, including Buffalo, currently didn’t While Tortorella might have a reputation for being an old-school coach have players on the COVID-19 list … With 14 points and a league-best who uses every opportunity to let his players know who is boss, Laine is six goals in 12 games, Canadiens defenceman Jeff Petry is well on his the opposite. He knows he is superstar, and he’s not afraid to let his way to having a breakout season. But for someone who was previously a coaches know it. career minus-116, the bigger stat is that he’s leading the league with a At the 2014 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, the now 22-year-old was plus-14 rating … I’m sorry, but until Tuesday’s 3-2 win against the kicked off the Finnish team for giving his coach the middle finger and Senators, you’re telling me the Oilers had gone more than three years (0- reportedly threatening to punch his coach for not playing him enough 26-2) without winning a game where McDavid and Draisaitl both failed to minutes in a quarterfinal loss to the U.S. land on the scoresheet? Thirty games might not be a lot. But it still means that three free agency periods and three trade deadlines have The following year, Laine was “loaned” to a team in the second division gone by where Edmonton decided they didn’t need secondary scoring — after his club team, Tappara Tampere, grew tired of babysitting a player the kind of scoring that could have resulted in a few more playoff who lacked the emotional maturity to play against men. It was there that appearances … After 11 games, No. 1 overall pick Alexis Lafreniere has Laine feuded with his coaches, was frequently benched and was even one goal and no assists, while Ottawa’s No. 3 overall pick Tim Stuetzle made a healthy scratch in a playoff game. has four goals and six points.

At one point, he threatened to quit hockey altogether. CAN THE PENGUINS WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP WITH THIS CORE?

Speaking with me years later for my book, The Next Ones: How How do you open a window that has been closing for years? McDavid, Matthews and a Group of Young Guns Took Over the NHL, Laine admitted he could be a coach’s nightmare because of his This is the question that Pittsburgh Penguins GM Ron Hextall and stubbornness and his me-first attitude. president of hockey operations Brian Burke have to be asking themselves today. “There’s been some times when I was younger where maybe the coach wants me to play like this, but I didn’t feel like I kind of needed to, or I just A chance to run the Penguins used to be the most enviable job in wanted to play the way I wanted to play,” said Laine. “If I tried to play my hockey. Now, with a cupboard that is completely bare of prospects and a own way, I wasn’t playing or I was sitting on the bench or I was not even core that is past its prime, it’s arguably the most challenging. on the roster. There was a season where I played like five games, This isn’t the same team that won back-to-back titles in 2016 and 2017. because I wasn’t ready to play the games that he wanted me to play, but I think that’s only a good thing because there’s millions of guys that can Sidney Crosby has nine points in 11 games. But at 33 years of age, he be that player that the coach wants them to be. might not one of the top-10 players in the league anymore. Evgeni Malkin, who has two goals this year, looks disinterested. The way that “But I didn’t want to be that kind of player. I wanted to be my kind of Kris Letang is playing, he might be two years away from retiring. player and develop that way.” The defence is thin. The goaltending has the worst save percentage in Some things apparently never change. the league. And beyond Crosby and Jake Guentzel, no one seems to be TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT scoring.

Knowing what we know about Laine and the real story behind his As of Wednesday, the Penguins had the second-worst winning benching, can we still blame Tortorella for Mikko Koivu’s retirement percentage in the East Division. Forget about Boston, Philadelphia and announcement on Tuesday? I can. Koivu, who had a goal and an assist Washington. As it stands, the Devils, Islanders and even the Sabres are in seven games, was a healthy scratch on Monday. It was believed to be better than them. the only time it has happened in his career … Best line about all the So how do you keep the window open when it’s practically closed? How drama in Columbus goes TSN’s James Duthie, who called it the new do you avoid rebuilding? Can you avoid it? binge-worthy Netflix series … As good as Toronto and Montreal have looked this season, it’s still hard to tell if they’ve truly turned the corner The feeling is that Jim Rutherford resigned as GM a couple of weeks ago without having played Tampa Bay or Boston. In other words, the playoffs because he wanted to move on from Letang and/or Malkin, whose are going to be an eye-opening experience once the conference finals contracts both end in 2023. Those two players remain Pittsburgh biggest begin … If I’m voting for the Hart Trophy today, Auston Matthews is at trade chips. the top of my ballot, followed by Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. And But if those are no longer options, what else do Hextall and Burke have I’m finding a spot for Matthews on my Selke Trophy ballot as well … I to work with? don’t know about the Patrice Bergeron comparisons, but the more I watch him the more I think that Nick Suzuki is going to find a way onto CANUCKS TAKING BABY STEPS Team Canada’s Olympic roster next year … World juniors MVP Trevor Zegras, who scored two goals and five points in his first two AHL games, What has gone wrong in Vancouver these days? is my pick for the Calder Trophy. I just don’t know if he wins it this year or The Canucks have lost five games in a row by a combined score of 26- next. 10. They haven’t looked like the team that was a win away from reaching HERE’S ONE FOR YOU the conference final five months ago. They don’t even look like they’ll make the playoffs in the crowded and competitive North Division.

But don’t blame head coach Travis Green or even GM Jim Benning.

Neither is the problem.

Instead, blame a roster that probably exceeded expectations last year and is now going through a sophomore slump.

This is a young team. And like all young teams, there are going to be highs and lows and everything in between — especially in a season where you’re playing Montreal and Toronto five times in an eight-game span.

That it’s happening for the whole country to see is disappointing — and perhaps, embarrassing. But it’s not totally unexpected.

It’s easy to forget that Edmonton went to the second round in Connor McDavid’s second year, but then missed the playoffs in each of the next three seasons. Or that Johnny Gaudreau’s first six years in Calgary have resembled an electrocardiogram. Even the Maple Leafs, who have yet to win a playoff round, are finding it difficult to take that next step.

The Canucks are not a finished product. Not even close.

Whether it’s Quinn Hughes learning how to defend against the top players in the league or Elias Pettersson learning how to deal with the frustrations of having every single shot ring off the post, the kids are still growing, still developing, and still figuring out how to play consistent hockey.

Blame Benning all you want for failing to keep around Jacob Markstrom, Chris Tanev and Tyler Toffoli. Or blame Green for not getting the most out of this roster, which is counting on rookies like Nils Hoglander and Olli Juolevi more than anyone thought.

But the thing Vancouver needs most right now is not a coaching change or a different set of players. It’s patience.

Toronto Sun LOADED: 02.11.2021 1183463 Toronto Maple Leafs William Nylander-John Tavares-Ilya Mikheyev Jimmy Vesey-Alex Kerfoot-Pierre Engvall

Nic Petan-Travis Boyd-Jason Spezza Tavares looking to get a little more even as Maple Leafs take on Canadiens DEFENCE

Morgan Rielly-TJ Brodie

Terry Koshan Jake Muzzin-Justin Holl

Travis Dermott-Zach Bogosian

When Sheldon Keefe glances at John Tavares’ scoring at even-strength, GOAL the Maple Leafs coach doesn’t flinch. Frederik Andersen Through 13 games — and keeping in mind the Toronto has won 10 of them — Tavares, the Leafs captain, has scored one even-strength goal. Michael Hutchinson

“I like a lot of the things that John is doing,” Keefe said from Montreal, Toronto Sun LOADED: 02.11.2021 where the Leafs will meet the Canadiens on Wednesday night at the Bell Centre.

“We have challenged our entire team to be better when we don’t have the puck, and being patient with offence and not forcing it or cheating to try to create more.

“John’s diligence in that area has been very strong. It has helped us set our team up for success, in terms of him leading the way. When you look at his forecheck or his play in our own end, his shift length, he has been doing the things that we have been asking our team to do.

“He is leading the way and I have no doubt that over time the five-on-five production will be there.”

Auston Matthews (eight) and Mitch Marner (six) have carried the Leafs load offensively at even-strength, supplying 14 even-strength goals. The other Leafs forwards have scored 16 in total.

“I would like to have more, no doubt,” said Tavares, who has 12 points in 13 games. “But I don’t try to beat myself up about it. I think there have been a lot of good aspects of my game, not just offensively, but in a lot of areas and the way I feel out there, the way I’m moving, I’m really happy about.

“No doubt, I want to be a difference-maker and relied upon and contributing at a high level.”

The Leafs know that the Canadiens won’t hand them much at five on five in the first game of two meetings between the clubs this week, with the second coming on Saturday in Toronto. Montreal is a stingy club, and with a record of 8-2-2 and 18 points, is nipping at the Leafs’ heels for first place in the North Division. Toronto has 21 points to lead the NHL.

“They protect the net very well,” Keefe said. “It’s not just their defence, but their forwards do a good job of helping with that.

“That’s a challenge, but it’s one we have found a way through when we played them in the first game (a 5-4 Leafs win in overtime on Jan. 13).

“They’re a well-rounded team, good in all areas of the game, offensively, defensively, special teams, goaltending.

“It’s a team that doesn’t give you any shifts off. You have to be ready to go right from the start of the game all the way through and I believe we will be.”

Matthews will look to extend his goal-scoring streak to nine games as the Leafs go for their fourth win in a row. Marner is riding an eight-game point streak, three shy of his career-best of 11, done in March 2018.

Keefe said defenceman Travis Dermott, who missed the past two games with a charley horse, will return to the lineup. Dermott practisedon Tuesday with Zach Bogosian on the Leafs’ third pairing.

Frederik Andersen will make his seventh consecutive start in the Leafs net. Against Montreal in his career, Andersen is 8-3-2 with a .919 save percentage.

Carey Price will start in goal for the Canadiens. His career record against the Leafs is 26-15-5 in 46 games with a .916 save percentage.

The Leafs’ projected lineup:

FORWARDS

Zach Hyman-Auston Matthews-Mitch Marner 1183464 Toronto Maple Leafs

GAME DAY: Maple Leafs at Canadiens

Terry Koshan

Toronto Maple Leafs (10-2-1) at Montreal Canadiens (8-2-2)

Tonight, 7:30 p.m., Sportsnet

SEASON SERIES

Maple Leafs 1-0-0, 5 GF

Canadiens 0-0-1, 4 GF

PREVIOUS SCORES (home team in caps)

Jan. 13: TORONTO 5, Montreal 4 (OT)

PLAYER STATS

Leafs vs. Canadiens

Player G A Pts +/-

William Nylander 2 1 3 +1

John Tavares 1 2 3 +2

Morgan Rielly 1 0 1 +1

Jimmy Vesey 1 0 1 +1

Canadiens vs. Leafs

Player G A Pts +/-

Jonathan Drouin 0 3 3 +1

Josh Anderson 2 0 2 +1

Jeff Petry 0 2 2 0

Nick Suzuki 1 0 1 +1

KEYS TO THE GAME

At 53.5% in possession at five on five, the Canadiens were fifth in the NHL prior to Tuesday. The Leafs were 11th at 51.49% … The Leafs should be wary when they go on the power play. Montreal has seven shorthanded goals; no other NHL team had more than two. Artturi Lehkonen and Tyler Toffoli have two each. The Leafs were one of 15 teams without a shorthanded goal … Carey Price on Auston Matthews: “He’s playing some excellent hockey. It’s fun to watch him play when I’m not on the ice with him.”

SPECIAL TEAMS

Power play

TOR: 36.6% (4th)

MTL: 22.2% (13th)

Penalty kill

TOR: 75.5% (23rd)

MTL: 79.6% (19th)

INJURIES

TOR: F Joe Thornton (rib), RW Wayne Simmonds (wrist), LW Nick Robertson (knee), G Jack Campbell (leg).

MTL: None

Toronto Sun LOADED: 02.11.2021 1183465 Toronto Maple Leafs his back, it’s worth wondering what he’s capable of over the next few games.

B+ Maple Leafs Report Cards: Role players deliver in big test against Auston Matthews (C, No. 34): On a night when the Leafs depth did the Canadiens heavy lifting, Matthews still had a strong first two periods at both ends of the ice.

By Joshua Kloke Feb 10, 2021 44 BIG HIT BY MATTHEWS ON CHIAROT PIC.TWITTER.COM/DMZCMC8KZH

— OMAR (@TICTACTOMAR) FEBRUARY 11, 2021 You could argue that the Leafs’ approach in their 3-1 win over the Vancouver Canucks on Monday isn’t a sustainable winning formula: they I liked his heads-up play to get the puck out of his own zone and to did just enough in that game to stay in it through the first two periods, and Hyman to seal the win. His goal streak comes to an end, but his point then allowed their most talented offensive players to quickly turn the streak is alive at 11 games. So because dominance can come in different game on its head with two quick goals in the third period. Job done. On forms, let’s call him “influential” tonight, even if his 45 percent 5-on-5 to the next one. expected goals suggest he was less than dominant.

But when the next game — Wednesday’s 4-2 win over a much stronger Travis Dermott (LD, No. 46): After too many missed empty nets and Montreal Canadiens outfit — follows a similar script, only this time with shots off the post early on, of course it was Dermott unexpectedly their depth players stepping up to provide quick offence, maybe it’s a stepping up and getting the Leafs on the board. He looked like he thing? embraced more of an attacking mindset tonight. Honestly, for a player whose spot in the lineup didn’t necessarily feel like a sure thing at the The Leafs didn’t exactly look like world-beaters out of the gate, which beginning of the season, how can you not love him seeing a lane, taking was concerning given the Canadiens swarming style of play, and the fact a few steps, and wiring a puck in for his first goal of the season? that they appear to be the Leafs only real threat for the division title. Early in the third period of a tied game, this one could have gone either way DERMOTT IS GIGGLING LIKE A LITTLE KID. I LOVE IT until Justin Holl and Ilya Mikheyev scored their first goals of the season PIC.TWITTER.COM/635JAKHKNX less than a minute apart. — OMAR (@TICTACTOMAR) FEBRUARY 11, 2021 With that, the Leafs built up enough momentum to earn their eleventh win Dermott’s 62 percent 5-on-5 expected goals were second-best on the in 14 games this season to remain atop the North Division. team and first among defencemen. The Leafs have been touting their depth throughout the season, despite Justin Holl (RD, No. 3): I’m sticking with the idea that Holl saw his good the fact that Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner have generally been friend Dermott see a lane, step up, and then said to himself, “Why the earning the headlines night after night. That they could rely on other hell not?” as he essentially did something similar with his slap shot goal players besides those two to find the back of the net has to be to put the Leafs up 2-1. reassuring. “I’ve uncorked it now, so there’s no turning back,” Holl said of his shot On to the observations! after the game. Player reports Beyond the goal, I thought Holl looked better than he has of late, skating 1st star: John Tavares (C, No. 91): I’ll admit it: no one really jumped up confidently out of his own zone with some sharp work to evade fore- and grabbed this, but I’ve got to respect Tavares’ composure all night checkers. long. That confidence was further evident in his takedown of Canadiens I don’t recall seeing him getting angry often, and kudos to him for keeping forward Jake Evans that was reminiscent of the Undertaker. He his cool and not snapping after taking both a high stick and a subsequent continues to have a great season. elbow from Shea Weber. Of course, he’s got a toddler at home and might B have tougher battles at bath time or at the dinner table. Zach Bogosian (RD, No. 22): On the whole, there was some good work Anyway, I thought Tavares looked excellent throughout the game, from Bogosian to clear the puck out of the defensive zone with quick especially in the sequence leading up to the Travis Dermott goal with his passing and some well-timed stick checks. He did have the puck stripped persistence off the puck. He also looked keen on attacking the goal with in his own zone that led to a clear look at goal from Jonathan Drouin. his three shots. His two assists speak to the persistence he showed all night, even after getting banged up. Zach Hyman (LW, No. 11): The Leafs needed Hyman’s persistence to break down the Canadiens stingy play, and they got it early and often 2nd star: Morgan Rielly (LD, No. 44): Heckuva pass here from Rielly. tonight. His empty-net goal was certainly the reward for a very typical SERIOUSLY FELLAS. Hyman game tonight.

STOP F*CKING AROUND AND PLAY RIELLY AT LEFT WINGBACK TJ Brodie (RD, No. 78): It felt like his physical play on the penalty kill WITH DERMOTT AND SANDIN ON D settled things down for the Leafs after a shaky start. He looked solid PIC.TWITTER.COM/QGUAXPRDNV throughout the game, with the obvious exception of the Tatar goal.

— JACK HAN (@JHANHKY) FEBRUARY 11, 2021 Mitch Marner (RW, No. 16): Watching Marner as he attacked multiple Canadiens with his stick in the neutral zone trying to create turnovers put All in all, some really strong reads and passes to get the puck out of the this song in my head: Leafs zone all night. His 26:24 led the Leafs in ice time, and it was the most he’s logged in regulation this season. I thought Rielly stepped up His point streak might be over, but there was still lots to like about his his physical play as well, but then again, he probably wishes he had done energetic play. things a little differently, physically, on the Tomas Tatar goal. There will B- undoubtedly be some who question his spot this high up, but I thought the Leafs leaned on him tonight. William Nylander (RW, No. 88): After a ho-hum first period, Nylander came to life in the second. His quick passing with Tavares created some 3rd star: Ilya Mikheyev (RW, No. 65): genuine scoring opportunities. He then became more engaged Mikheyev’s first goal of the season had been a long time coming. But defensively than we’ve seen lately, and that kept the Leafs in possession after his first few shifts, highlighted by his typical dogged determinism off of the puck on the Dermott goal. the puck and his insistence on putting the puck on net when so few of his Jason Spezza (RW, No. 19): Loved Spezza’s short passing and patience teammates seemed interested in doing so, you really did get the feeling both in the neutral zone and close to goal, as well as his simple and like tonight was going to be the night. Now that he’s got the monkey off effective defending with his stick. Nic Petan (LW, No. 61): The peskier Petan looks, the better. It can be difficult for defenders to pin him down, and when he digs in against defenders in the corners to try and strip the puck and move it to more dangerous areas of the ice, as he did tonight, he can be effective.

Frederik Andersen (G, No. 31): You could be forgiven for thinking it was going to be a stinker from Andersen after he got beat on what looked to be a relatively soft Josh Anderson shot early in the first period. But he then recovered with a performance that wasn’t exactly unflappable but was still reassuring.

Jake Muzzin (LD, No. 8): In the first period, Muzzin didn’t look like his normally responsible, composed self. I wondered if he was going to have another off night. His early turnover in the neutral zone that led to the first Canadiens goal was another head-scratcher, though, in his defence, his teammates didn’t look totally dialed into the way the play was supposed to unfold, either.

TURNOVER IN THE NEUTRAL ZONE STARTED IT ALL PIC.TWITTER.COM/QXH1T9LYLV

— OMAR (@TICTACTOMAR) FEBRUARY 11, 2021

Though it wasn’t one of his strongest games, Muzzin improved as he started muscling Canadiens players off pucks, and then clearing pucks out of the defensive zone without much fanfare. And somewhat quietly, he had his first three-point game since Mar. 15, 2019. Perhaps a harsh grade, given those points, but I still think he can return to his sound style of play eventually.

C+

Alex Kerfoot (C, No. 15): Kerfoot led a few decent rushes into the offensive zone, and ended up with an assist on the night.

C

Travis Boyd (C, No. 72): I have a feeling Boyd’s missed chance close to goal with Price on the other side of the net is going to stay with him. I still thought he, and the entire fourth line, did their jobs well early on tonight.

Nothing to see here:

Jimmy Vesey (LW, No. 26): One of these games real soon, Vesey is going to break out, score two quick goals and make the recent growing questions about his effectiveness, or even what his most optimal role with the Leafs really is, go away. Tonight was not that night.

Pierre Engvall (LW, No. 47): A few decent plays close to goal, but not a lot of impact from Engvall otherwise.

Game score:

Game score is a metric developed by The Athletic’s Dom Luszczyszyn to quickly measure a player’s performance in a single game.

Heat map:

Natural Stat Trick helps us out with a snapshot of where the shots were coming from tonight:

Final grade: B

If you’re the Leafs, you undoubtedly like how well you played after essentially padding your record after three straight games against a hobbling Canucks team, and then after a slow start this game.

“Defensively today, we just didn’t give them much at all. In fact, I had this as the lowest number of scoring chances we gave up in a game all season,” Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said after the game.

It might not have been the most complete, 60-minute performance, but this is a team that now finds themselves in fourth place in the NHL in points percentage while having played more games than the three teams ahead of them.

Stay ready squad: Mikko Lehtonen, , Adam Brooks, Joseph Woll, Rasmus Sandin, Alex Barabanov

What to watch for Saturday vs. Montreal: I’d expect a hungry Canadiens team, but they’ve also got a game tomorrow while the Leafs have a day off. Will the rest work in the Leafs advantage?

The Athletic LOADED: 02.11.2021 1183466 Toronto Maple Leafs 11 24

The mystery was very much in effect on Monday night. What do the Maple Leafs have in Ilya Mikheyev? Thanks to Wayne Simmonds’ broken left wrist, which will keep him out

until late March, Sheldon Keefe had an opening on the right side of the By Jonas Siegel Feb 10, 2021 67 second line for a third straight game against Vancouver. However, the Leafs coach chose not to designate any one player to the vacant spot alongside William Nylander and John Tavares.

During the unusual 2020 offseason, Ilya Mikheyev returned home to It was Mikheyev who drew the primary look, the guy Keefe clearly wanted Russia. to grab the job. Mikheyev had moved up to the role at one point earlier this season, and also played with Nylander and Tavares in the playoffs He visited with his family in his hometown of Omsk, even helping his last August. grandma tend to the garden. And thanks to his former KHL team, Avangard Omsk, Mikheyev had access to ice and a gym. He failed to stick either time and didn’t exactly nail it down against the Canucks. And yet, it was perhaps the most encouraging game Mikheyev The player the Leafs got upon his return in 2021, a return delayed slightly played all season, and it appears he’ll remain in the role against Montreal due to the Canadian immigration process, remains very much a mystery on Wednesday night. a month into the season. It’s still unclear what exactly the organization has got in the 26-year-old winger, who signed a two-year deal with a Chugging hard down the right side of the ice in the third period, Mikheyev $1.645 million cap hit on the eve of arbitration in October. blew by Canucks defender Olli Juolevi and attacked the net. He got off only a weak shot, but still secured an offensive zone draw for the Leafs. Mikheyev was a revelation as a rookie last season, among the Leafs’ Auston Matthews would score off that draw to give the Leafs the lead. most productive 5-on-5 players up until the night of Dec. 27 when Jesper Bratt’s skate blade sliced his right wrist. Key elements of that player Moments later, Mikheyev hunted down Quinn Hughes with an extended remain. The offence, to this point, has not yet surfaced. Mikheyev hasn’t stick on the forecheck, poked the puck free and found Alexander Kerfoot scored a single goal, 5-on-5 or otherwise, and his shooting numbers for a goal. (attempts, shots, high-danger shot attempts, shooting percentage) have plummeted. Somehow, Mikheyev has registered nearly as many shots It was Mikheyev’s first primary assist of the year. He had eight, and 15 shorthanded (eight) as he has 5-on-5 (11). total assists, in 39 games last season.

Which brings us back to the central question with Mikheyev: What do the SOUPERMAN KERFY #LEAFSFOREVER Leafs have in him? A potential top-six winger delivering great value on PIC.TWITTER.COM/DLMTJ7VZD1 that contract? Or a useful, moderately valuable winger who belongs on a — TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS (@MAPLELEAFS) FEBRUARY 9, 2021 third line? He also did other subtler things to help his team win yet again. He won Ilya Mikheyev's first 13 games board battles in his own zone. He was a menace on the forecheck. He TOI/GP wreaked havoc with his long reach as the Canucks tried to break out on the power play. 15:00 The Leafs have given up only two power-play goals in the nearly 31 15:55 minutes Mikheyev has been out there shorthanded. His hustle on the PK is relentless and has led to those league-leading eight shots on the PK. G “His work rate is elite,” Kerfoot said the other day. “His foot speed as 0 well. He just puts so much pressure on the opposing teams no matter if 4 he’s scoring or not. Just his ability to get up the ice … and then make it hard on other teams. He wins a lot of loose puck battles, wins a lot of A races, and opens up a lot of space for his linemates.”

3 If that’s all that Mikheyev is, if the offence he showed last season wasn’t entirely real, the Leafs have got a valuable player on their hands for this 6 season and next at least. (Mikheyev becomes an unrestricted free agent PTS in 2022.) There are 264 forwards across the NHL eating a larger chunk of the cap than Mikheyev at $1.645 million. He’s in the same earning 3 bracket as undeniable fourth-liners like Cedric Paquette and Kyle Turris.

10 Energetic and reliable, a strong penalty killer and forechecker, that player S has clear value at that price — but only to a point. It’s whether Mikheyev has more to give offensively that will determine whether the Leafs have 20 more than just a depth winger on their hands.

32 “Well, we think there are some things he can do a little bit differently or a little bit better, improve upon just generating more high danger shots and 5/5 TOI/GP use his speed and skill to get to the inside a lot more,” Keefe said this 12:01 week. “At the same time … we think there’s a lot of other things that he does that don’t involve producing offense that bring value to our team. 13:02 “That’s important,” the Leafs coach said. 5/5 G Contrast Mikheyev’s shot chart (5-on-5) from last season: 0 To this season: 3 And you see what Keefe is talking about. 5/5 PTS Not only is he not shooting as often, he’s not shooting it from dangerous 3 locations, either: He has only six high-danger shot attempts 5-on-5, one less than both Jason Spezza and Jimmy Vesey. While drawing three 9 penalties already, Mikheyev has been on the ice for a measly three Leafs 5/5 S goals. So what’s behind the lack of pop? Why isn’t Mikheyev landing the same opportunities — in number and quality?

Mikheyev has bounced between the same two centres as last season, Kerfoot and Tavares. Neither centre is off to an especially hot start 5-on- 5, and their units, with Mikheyev in the mix anyway, have been stuffed in the defensive zone more often than not. (Mikheyev’s offensive zone start percentage is 35 percent, down from almost 50 percent as a rookie.) The Leafs, as a team, have also had trouble, at times, converting possession in the offensive zone into scoring opportunities. From getting off the wall and into prime shooting areas. Remove a bit of luck additionally — Mikheyev’s on-ice shooting percentage is down around 5 percent — and perhaps you get some explanation for Mikheyev’s early downturn.

But maybe there are limits to his offensive game regardless.

It remains to be seen, in particular, whether Mikheyev has more to give as a passer, with the offensive instincts that come it, to play on a first or second line. He tends to have Kasperi Kapanen-like tunnel vision at times, dashing in all by his lonesome. Can he make those around him better, as Kapanen could not? Is his ability to create space, bouncing guys like Hughes off the puck with that nearly 200-pound frame enough for him to play with Tavares or even Matthews?

Sifting through clips of his primary assists from last year don’t exactly show a creative player.

Maybe the biggest question of all is whether there’s been some residual effect from the injury, which severed an artery and tendons, that’s diminished his shot or puck abilities. Mikheyev looks as quick as ever but has been unable to translate chances generated from that speed into actual goals.

With similar tools — the big body, the hustle and forechecking — Hyman was able to develop as an offensive player over his time with the Leafs, to the point of back-to-back 20-goal seasons and now, a spot on the power play. Perhaps Mikheyev, who’s two years younger, can achieve similar progression, especially with the resources he has available to him.

Mikheyev has played only 52 games in the NHL (plus, five more in the playoffs), well shy of a full season. It’s reasonable to assume that he’s still learning — about the league, about his opponents and how they defend him, about his teammates and their tendencies — and should continue to adjust.

“We’d like to find ways to help him generate more offence for himself, generate more dangerous shots with more opportunities moving at the speed and power and size that he has, that he can get to the inside a lot more,” said Keefe earlier this month. “So, we’re working with him on that, to challenge defenders a lot more, making it harder (for them) where if he’s not gonna generate chances he can draw penalties or create opportunities for others.”

Those efforts were on display following a 35-minute practice on Tuesday afternoon when Mikheyev joined skills development expert Darryl Belfry on the Marlies ice sheet.

Over 25 minutes, Belfry instructed Mikheyev on how to better attack the net, how to navigate through the offensive zone with a defender glued to his hip. Mikheyev picked a puck off the boards in one drill, bumped a pass off to Belfry, and then got it back as he drove to the blue paint and fired.

Belfry tinkered with Mikheyev’s shot, demonstrating, it appeared, how to release it quicker, with extra power pulled from the legs:

Mikheyev appears intent on improving.

Weeks before the latest session with Belfry, Mikheyev, again, remained on the ice long after most of his teammates had left practice. First, it was Steve Briere, the Leafs goalie coach, who dished puck after puck for Mikheyev to fire into an empty net from the high slot.

“Thank you!” Mikheyev said to Briere after they were done and Briere left the ice.

But Mikheyev wasn’t done.

He kept shooting.

The Athletic LOADED: 02.11.2021

Vegas Golden Knights Those teams met Jan. 30 and 31 despite a growing number of Devils 1183467 players entering COVID protocol and combined Wednesday to have 26 players on the COVID absence list. Golden Knights to face Ducks on Thursday despite COVID issues “You’re more concerned and hope everyone in Vegas is staying safe and hopefully not too many guys got it,” Lindholm said. “Hopefully we can keep playing games here and keep going on in the season. … I think, from my standpoint, I’m not too worried right now.” By David Schoen Las Vegas Review-Journal

February 10, 2021 - 2:42 PM LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 02.11.2021 Updated February 10, 2021 - 5:32 PM

It’s game on for the Golden Knights despite another positive COVID-19 test. The NHL announced Thursday’s game against the Anaheim Ducks at T- Mobile Arena would be played as scheduled after Knights forward Tomas Nosek entered the league’s COVID protocol. Nosek was removed from the game Tuesday and did not play in the third period of the Knights’ 5-4 victory over the Ducks. The NHL confirmed in a statement Wednesday that Nosek tested positive for COVID-19 and was in isolation. The Knights canceled their practice Wednesday at City National Arena and did not have media availability. “From our standpoint here and with our players, it was a topic last night. Of course it is,” Anaheim coach Dallas Eakins said after the Ducks’ practice Wednesday. “We are concerned for the player and for the organization that had the positive test. But we are firm in our beliefs in how we’re doing things here with our team and what the league is doing their best to keep us safe.” Nosek’s positive result is expected to keep him out at least 10 days and is the latest in a string of COVID-related issues for the Knights. Three games were postponed and rescheduled by the league while three members of the coaching staff and two players were in isolation in accordance with COVID protocol. An additional game originally scheduled for Feb. 26 at Anaheim also was rescheduled. The team’s facility was closed starting Jan. 27 to follow league protocols before they returned to practice Feb. 3. Defenseman Alex Pietrangelo was removed from the NHL’s list of COVID protocol-related absences Tuesday, and Nosek was the only player for either team included Wednesday. The league did not classify any players from the Knights or Ducks as a high-risk close contact. Pietrangelo is expected to play Thursday after missing three games. Eakins and Ducks defenseman Hampus Lindholm said Wednesday they found out after the game that a Knights player tested positive. The Knights canceled their postgame media availability to follow COVID protocol. Anaheim’s Troy Terry spoke to the media on Zoom after the game, but the Ducks declined to make Eakins or any additional players available. “After the game, it’s basically league protocol. We want to make sure everybody’s safe,” Eakins said. “Obviously the other team had a positive case, and that puts everybody on red alert. I certainly didn’t want to be sitting in a media room where other people had been and you’re not quite sure what’s going on. “It’s a good call by the league when that happens just to shut it down and get everybody away from each other. It’s as simple as that.” The Silver Knights’ American Hockey League exhibition game Jan. 30 was canceled after the second period when a positive test for a San Jose player was confirmed during the game. Eakins said he was not surprised Tuesday’s game continued when Nosek’s positive test result was returned and did not have a problem with the decision. Deputy commissioner Bill Daly declined to comment when asked in an email why test results are returned during the game and whether the NHL is looking to rectify that issue. The league announced the Knights and Ducks will be administered rapid PCR tests before Thursday’s game in addition to daily lab-based testing. Lindholm also brushed off concerns about in-game transmission from team to team despite what occurred between Buffalo and New Jersey. 1183468 Vegas Golden Knights

Golden Knights’ Ryan Reaves ‘heading into battle’ with new beer

By Al Mancini Las Vegas Review-Journal February 10, 2021 - 12:35 PM

Golden Knights forward, occasional fighter, local brewer — Ryan Reaves has a lot going on these days. He’s expanding on that last one this week with the release of Grim Reaver, a new imperial stout from his 7Five Brewing Co. “I’m more excited to launch this Stout than I think I have been with any of our brews,” Reaves said in a press release announcing the new product. “It’s personal. We’re heading into battle. I’m in the Grim Reaver mentality. We’re channeling our greatness and are focused on the goal.” Grim Reaver is the fifth release from 7Five, a collaboration with Las Vegas’ Able Baker Brewing. It follows in the footsteps of Training Day golden ale, Dawn Breaker lager, Shiver Giver IPA and his collaboration with MGM Resorts, Showtime blonde ale. Adam Coates, Reaves partner in 7Five, describes the new brew as “heavy, but oh-so-smooth … rich and chocolatey with a touch of roasted coffee.” Available on tap at select local bars, and in four-packs of 16- ounce cans, it features Munich and chocolate malts as well as roasted barley and oats, and clocks in at 7.5-percent ABV (alcohol by volume) and 40 IBU (international bitterness units). “We’ve been anticipating launching Grim Reaver since 7Five started, and now that it’s live we can look to the future and what comes next — big things, you can bet on it,” promises Coates. Fans who want to pick up a four-pack to enjoy at home can find 7Five products at Lee’s Discount Liquor, Total Wine & More, Khoury’s Fine Wine & Spirits, Liquor Line Up and of course, the Able Baker Brewing Tap Room. For a more complete list of establishments carrying the beers, go to 7Five Brewing.com.

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Golden Knights’ Nosek pulled from game after positive COVID test

By Justin Emerson (contact) Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021 | 3:01 p.m.

Golden Knights forward Tomas Nosek was placed in the NHL’s COVID- 19 protocols today after returning a positive test result for the virus during Tuesday’s game against the Anaheim Ducks, the league announced today. Nosek, who was tested before the game, was immediately pulled from the ice once the test result came back. “Nosek was immediately isolated from his teammates and close contact tracing was begun,” the league said in a statement. The league said Thursday’s scheduled 7 p.m. game between the Golden Knights and Ducks will go on as planned. The issue started to become apparent when the Golden Knights, shortly after defeating the Ducks on Tuesday at T-Mobile Arena, canceled their postgame news conference. After Ducks player Troy Terry did a normal postgame availability, the Ducks canceled the rest of their press conference as well. Vegas later that night canceled today’s practice. Ducks coach Dallas Eakins today said the Golden Knights received news of a positive test during the game, though he did not find out about it until afterward. “Obviously the other team had a positive case and that puts everybody on red alert,” Eakins said. “And I certainly didn’t want to be sitting in a media room where other people have been and you’re not quite sure about what’s going on.” Eakins said he noticed Nosek did not play the third period but assumed it was because of injury. The Golden Knights did not make anyone available to comment today.

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Golden Knights’ Tomas Nosek Tests Positive For COVID; Knights-Ducks Game Still On For Thursday

February 10, 2021 By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com

The National Hockey League has an explanation for why Vegas Golden Knights forward Tomas Nosek didn’t play in the third period in a VGK 5-4 win over the Anaheim Ducks in Las Vegas Tuesday: officials learned during the game about Nosek testing positive for COVID-19. “Upon notification that one of its players had returned a positive test for COVID-19, Vegas Golden Knights forward Tomas Nosek was removed from Tuesday night’s game vs. Anaheim, in precise accordance with the terms of the League’s COVID Protocol. Nosek was immediately isolated from his teammates and close contact tracing was begun, also in accordance with the Protocol,” according to the NHL statement. Because Nosek had tested positive, there was no media availability following the Knights-Ducks game at T-Mobile Arena. The league said tomorrow night’s game in Las Vegas between the Golden Knights and Ducks remains scheduled to be played in Las Vegas at 7 PM Vegas time. Rapid PCR Point of Care tests will be administered to all players and staff on both teams in advance of that game (in addition to the daily lab- based PCR testing) and any decision regarding potential postponement will be made by the League’s, NHLPA’s and Clubs’ medical officials, following all COVID Protocols and local and federal regulations. The Knights said Wednesday forward Tomas Jurco and defenseman Kaedan Korczak have been assigned to the American Hockey League’s Henderson Silver Knights and defenseman Carl Dahlstrom and forward Tyrell Goulbourne were recalled to the Golden Knights taxi squad. Besides Nosek, VGK defenseman Alex Pietrangelo also tested positive for the novel coronavirus and has missed games for the Knights. He did not play Tuesday night, but VGK coach Pete DeBoer said he expected Pietrangelo to be in Thursday’s lineup. The Knights — and even their new local American Hockey League affiliate, the Henderson Silver Knights — have had problems with COVID-19. The Golden Knights have had a game against the St. Louis Blues and two games against the San Jose Sharks postponed because of COVID, while the Silver Knights had the the third period of a preseason game against the San Jose Sharks’ affiliate canceled because a San Jose Barracuda player had tested positive for COVID. In other COVID-related postponements: The National Hockey League announced today that, with three Philadelphia Flyers Players currently in the NHL’s COVID Protocols, the Club’s game against the New York Rangers on Feb. 14 has been postponed. It is expected that the Flyers will be able to re-open their facilities for practice on Monday, Feb. 15. These decisions were made by the League’s, NHLPA’s and Club’s medical groups.

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Tomas Nosek tests positive for COVID-19, Golden Knights to play Thursday

Published 10 hours ago on February 10, 2021 By Danny Webster

Vegas Golden Knights forward Tomas Nosek is in the league’s COVID- 19 protocol following a positive test received during Tuesday’s game against the Anaheim Ducks at T-Mobile Arena, the league announced. Nosek did not play in the third period in Vegas’ 5-4 victory on Tuesday. The Golden Knights canceled their postgame media availability due to COVID protocols. Practice and media availability Wednesday were canceled, as well. Vegas just returned to action after an eight-day hiatus that saw three games postponed. Defenseman Alex Pietrangelo and three coaches entered COVID protocol on Jan. 28. As of now, Thursday’s game is set to go on as planned. Rapid PCR Point of Care testing will be used on players and staff from both teams, as well as their usual daily testing. If a postponement should occur, the league and all parties involved will make the call ahead of the game. Nosek was removed from Tuesday’s game “in precise accordance with the terms of the League’s COVID Protocol,” according to the league. Anaheim coach Dallas Eakins said the Ducks were made aware of a positive test following Tuesday’s game. The Ducks canceled their postgame Zoom session following an eight-minute virtual scrum with forward Troy Terry. “We want to make sure everyone’s safe,” Eakins said. “Obviously the other team had a positive case and that puts everybody on red alert. I certainly didn’t want to be sitting in a media room where other people have been.” No other Golden Knights players, nor any Ducks players, were added to COVID protocol. Nosek played 9:05 before being pulled from the game. WHAT’S NEXT? If the puck does drop at 7:05 p.m. on Thursday, it’s going to be a miracle. The fact that Nosek was the only player to return a positive test is shocking. No one is out of the woods yet. The Golden Knights will obviously test again prior to morning skate. My guess is we’ll know more at City National Arena on Thursday. What doesn’t make sense is the lack of clarity for this situation. The fact that the Ducks were the ones to reveal the Golden Knights had a positive test shows how flawed this entire process is. I understand the need to be discreet and for teams to tread cautiously during these weird and unprecedented times, but — at this moment — all involved should be lucky a postponement hasn’t been announced via a league press release. The Golden Knights have Thursday’s game against Anaheim, are at San Jose on Saturday, followed by a Sunday game against the Colorado Avalanche. Everything can turn on its head between now and then.

Vegas Hockey Now LOADED: 02.11.2021 1183472 Vegas Golden Knights

What we know regarding the Golden Knights going into COVID-19 protocol

Published 16 hours ago on February 10, 2021 By Danny Webster

Never a dull moment in this day and age of the National Hockey League. Tuesday pushed home that point further. The story should’ve been about the Vegas Golden Knights surviving by the skin of their teeth against the Anaheim Ducks; how Vegas allowed three goals in the first 10 minutes of the third period, and needed a late goal from Zach Whitecloud to win the game. That was to be the theme of the night, and we were going to spend an ample amount of time on this space talking about it. Unfortunately, COVID-19 may be rearing its ugly head through the Golden Knights’ organization yet again. The Golden Knights canceled their postgame media availability “due to COVID-19 protocols,” per the communications staff. “We will provide additional updates when appropriate.” That aforementioned update came shortly after 11 p.m. that the Golden Knights were canceling practice and not holding media availability. The Golden Knights returned to action Friday after an eight-day hiatus due to COVID protocols. Defenseman Alex Pietrangelo and three coaches — including head coach Pete DeBoer — entered protocol on Jan. 28. Things were looking up at morning skate Tuesday with Pietrangelo skating with his teammates for the first time. The plan was for Pietrangelo to take Tuesday off and be ready for Thursday’s rematch with Anaheim. Given the current state of the unknown, who knows if we’ll even see a game Thursday at all? Right now, we can’t confirm if any Golden Knights tested positive. The NHL releases its COVID-related absences list at 2 p.m., so we’ll know then. What we also don’t know is if this potential new issue regarding COVID has anything to do with defenseman Shea Theodore or forward Tomas Nosek. Theodore left for the locker room with 4:43 remaining in the first period after being taken down by Ducks forward Nicolas Deslauriers. He returned for the entirety of the second period, but did not play for all of the third. Whether that had something to do with said injury is unknown right now. With no availability today, we won’t know about Theodore’s status until hopefully Thursday. As for Nosek, that is the concerning part. Nosek finished out the second period but, like Theodore, did not play in the third. Looking back at the game film, there was no indication of injury to the Golden Knights’ fourth- line center. There is also no indication that Nosek was pulled due to COVID-related issues. If you’re a fan of speculation, though, that’s the clubhouse leader. Right now, all we can do is wait until 2 p.m. to find out what’s the verdict on everything. The Golden Knights had three games postponed the last time they were in protocol because they did not have a coaching staff. Replacing Pietrangelo has not been the problem as evident of these past three games. Let’s hope that the situation isn’t serious and no one is affected health-wise. For now, we wait.

Vegas Hockey Now LOADED: 02.11.2021 Washington Capitals The NHL, scrambling to stay in action during the pandemic, adjusts its 1183473 coronavirus guidelines

Defenseman Justin Schultz also rejoined the group Monday after taking a The Caps are dealing with an unexpected break. They hope to use it to puck to the face Jan. 28. He was skating with a full face shield recover and reset. Wednesday and was listed as day-to-day. The lack of games also gives more practice time to Jakub Vrana, who came off the covid-19 list Tuesday. Players can be put on the list for By Samantha Pell multiple reasons, including if they had a positive test, are in contact tracing or are symptomatic. Feb. 10, 2021 at 10:42 p.m. UTC “I think as a team, it’s good [to have this break]. Guys banged up, guys getting back into game shape,” Oshie said. “It’s all in the way you The Washington Capitals should have spent Wednesday preparing for a approach it. … It’s nice for guys to be able to get their bodies right.” two-game series against the Buffalo Sabres. But with coronavirus issues Oshie, who missed one game with an upper-body injury, was back with continuing to ravage the NHL, the team instead found itself on an the team Wednesday. He said he was feeling “great and back to normal.” extended break. Oshie described the injury as “kind of a freak thing” that didn’t occur in a The NHL postponed three straight games for Washington this week, game. The winger said he would have been able to play Tuesday if that including Tuesday night’s game against the Flyers because of a game hadn’t been postponed. coronavirus outbreak in Philadelphia’s organization. Three Flyers players were on the NHL’s covid-19 protocol list as of Wednesday evening. “It feels like we’ve been playing the season for a long time, but I know we’re still pretty early in the year, so it’s a good time for guys to reset The games against Buffalo, originally scheduled for Thursday and their bodies,” he said. Saturday, are off because the Sabres are also dealing with coronavirus issues. They returned to practice Tuesday after a week-long shutdown, but nine Buffalo players remain on the covid-19 list. Washington Post LOADED: 02.11.2021 Washington’s next scheduled game is Sunday against the Penguins in Pittsburgh. “As a competitive person, it sucks,” Capitals forward T.J. Oshie said. “I wish I could use a different word, maybe, but it’s tough. … I know the times are crazy. I hope people are doing the best they can. “I know we got in a little bit of trouble [early in the season], but our team has been outstanding at following the rules lately, and I hope the other teams are, too, because the best part of our jobs is playing games, and not being able to do that right now, it sucks pretty bad.” The NHL’s coronavirus concerns have piled up as the season has progressed. Four teams — the Flyers, New Jersey Devils, Minnesota Wild and Colorado Avalanche — are completely shut down because of the virus. The Vegas Golden Knights scrapped their media availability after a win over the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday night, a decision that was related to coronavirus issues. The Golden Knights, who had three games postponed earlier in the season, canceled practice Wednesday. The NHL said in a statement Wednesday that a Vegas player, Tomas Nosek, came out of Tuesday’s game after he tested positive for the virus. Contact tracing has begun, the league said, and Thursday’s game between the Ducks and Golden Knights remains on schedule. Center Lars Eller, who is one of the Capitals’ representatives with the players’ union, said the league’s guidance might need to evolve if outbreaks continue to occur. “Probably more can be done than just masks and distancing because we are doing all those things and if that alone was enough, we wouldn’t be in this situation,” he said. Oshie said adjusting to the NHL’s virus guidelines has been “fine” and that getting tested at the rink each morning, wearing masks and social distancing in the locker room has become the norm. “It’s really — it’s crazy times, and I’m not too scared of getting it personally, but I’m following all the rules that I’ve been told to follow,” Oshie said. The break in play, though unplanned, gives the once-ailing Capitals a chance to reset. “I can’t remember us missing so many bodies ever at one time — goalies, defensemen, several forwards, all regular players,” Eller said. “It is great for us. Hopefully we can have a healthy lineup once we start playing again. That will do us good.” Center Evgeny Kuznetsov and goaltender Ilya Samsonov came off the covid-19 list Monday, and they both needed some more practice time before they could get back to full speed. The pair missed eight games while they were on the list. Both players said they experienced symptoms while they were away from the team. Samsonov, through an interpreter, said he had trouble breathing and walking at times, and there were a few days when he felt “pretty sick.” Washington Capitals First there was Pierre-Luc Dubois’ change of scenery request, his 1183474 benching and blockbuster trade to Winnipeg for Patrik Laine and hometown kid Jack Roslovic. Then the Blue Jackets were on the wrong end of a bizarre botched video review in a loss to Carolina on Sunday. Unique NHL season forges new bonds between officials and players And then coach John Tortorella benched Laine on Monday. On Tuesday, Mikko Koivu abruptly retired because he wasn’t playing up to his expectations. What’s next? Oh, Tortorella is in the final year of his By Stephen Whyno - Associated Press contract, with no extension in place. Wednesday, February 10, 2021 GAME OF THE WEEK The St. Louis Blues and Arizona Coyotes face off Friday for the fifth time NHL referees and linesmen are holding pre- and postgame meetings in seven consecutive meetings, a record for an NHL or NBA regular virtually, not eating meals with one another and taking all the necessary season. precautions to limit time spent together. LEADERS They’re seeing one another less but players much more, the result of a Goals: Auston Matthews (Toronto), 11; Assists: Connor McDavid unique schedule with teams almost always facing off multiple games in a (Edmonton), 18; Points: McDavid, 27; Ice time: Brent Burns (San Jose), row. Working consecutive games between teams has allowed officials 27:45; Goals-against average: Petr Mrazek (Carolina), 0.99; Save and players to build more of a rapport than usual, even amid coronavirus percentage: Mike Smith (Edmonton), .964. pandemic restrictions.

“It’s different,” Philadelphia’s Travis Konecny said. “It’s kind of fun. For me, I’m still young in the league, so I haven’t had an opportunity to really Washington Times LOADED: 02.11.2021 ever talk to some of the officials and get to know them too well. It’s a chance to build some relationships and see a couple familiar faces out there.” While familiarity breeds contempt on the ice among opponents, it’s having the reverse effect for the men in stripes. Officiating teams get to communicate more with players and learn their tendencies outside the intensity of a playoff series when tensions can be high for everyone. “You definitely want to be nicer in the first game, I think, just to say, ‘Hello, how are you doing, how’s the room service been?’” Washington defenseman Brenden Dillon said. “When you do have that familiarity and you kind of get to know the guys, I feel like you can build a bit more of a relationship other than just the guys that are yelling at one another on the ice.” Players and officials are also running into one another away from the rink more because they’re staying in the same city more often. NHL director of officiating Stephen Walkom joked about the extra interaction: “They have no choice because a lot of times they’re the only people at the hotel.” Passing in the hallway of a hotel is breaking down some of the adversarial nature of that relationship, and it could be keeping penalty calls under control, even as rivalries build between teams already weary of seeing the same foe over and over. League stats show that penalties aren’t any higher through the first quarter of this season. “It’s great for the players and the officials to know each other as human beings,” Walkom said. “And we have quite a few officials that don’t have a ton of experience in the league, so it certainly accelerates their learning with certain players. That’s been something that’s been positive that’s come out of seeing the same teams.” Walkom is pleased with how officials have handled all the adjustments, including the need to alter arrangements at 18 of 31 arenas to follow virus protocols. Players are adjusting to it all, too, even if they’re not thinking much on the ice about seeing the same referees a few times in a row. “I don’t think you have to change your game,” Dallas forward Blake Comeau said. “Obviously without fans you can hear everything out there, so as a team I think we’re going to try to stay off the refs, let them do their job. I don’t think it benefits everyone by yelling and screaming at them.” COVID-19 PROBLEMS So far, 34 games through Tuesday have been postponed because of the virus, and three teams are paused through at least the weekend. New Jersey was up to 19 players on the league’s virus protocol list, Minnesota 12 and Buffalo nine. “If we have to wait a few more days, we have to wait a few more days,” said Wild general manager Bill Guerin, whose team won’t play again until at least next Tuesday. “We’ll be OK in the end.” Sabres GM Kevyn Adams still expects his team to play all 56 regular- season games, and there has been no indication yet from the NHL that it will sort playoff standings by points percentage. CRAZY COLUMBUS It seems like Columbus is at the center of the league this season. Washington Capitals virus was limited to just those four players. With no risk of a further 1183475 outbreak, there was no reason to postpone any Caps games.

None of the games the league has postponed this season have been just Why Flyers had games postponed due to COVID but Caps didn't to help a team out because it is missing players. For those who think the NHL was punishing the Caps by forcing them to play, that's just not the case. by J.J. Regan The bottom line is that Tuesday's game was not postponed because three Flyers players are on the protocol list and the NHL decided to do them a favor. The game was postponed as a precaution to prevent an In January came the stunning news that the Capitals would be without outbreak between Washington and Philadelphia similar to what Alex Ovechkin, Evgeny Kuznetsov, Dmitry Orlov and Ilya Samsonov for happened to New Jersey and Buffalo. at least four games after all four players were placed on the NHL's It's not hypocritical. It's smart and it was the right decision. COVID-19 protocol-related absence list. That was four key players out of the Caps lineup, but the team had to push through. In recent weeks, however, we have seen the league postpone multiple Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 02.11.2021 games due to COVID concerns including Tuesday's game between Washington and the Philadelphia Flyers. Per a release from the league, the game was postponed, "as a result of a second Philadelphia Flyers Player entering the NHL's COVID Protocols earlier today." On Sunday, Travis Sandheim was the only Flyers player on the protocol list. When the list was released on Tuesday, three Flyers were on it: Sandheim, Justin Braun and Claude Giroux. Wait, let me get this straight. The Caps lost four key players to the protocol list and were forced to play and yet the NHL postponed Tuesday's game because Philadelphia was without just three? Conspiracy! Outrage! Rabble, rabble, rabble! Despite what you may think, this is not a conspiracy against the Caps. This is not the league thumbing its nose at Washington. The fact is that what led to Tuesday's postponement is actually completely different than what happened to Washington in January. The NHL was not being hypocritical at all and, in fact, made the right decision. Let's be clear, Tuesday's game was not postponed because Philadelphia was missing three players. It was postponed because of the fear of an outbreak within the Flyers that could get worse and also spread to the Caps if the game was played. To better understand what I mean, let's look at what happened between New Jersey and Buffalo. The Devils and Sabres had a two-game series on Jan. 30 and 31. The first game was played and then, prior to the second on Jan. 31, Devils forward Kyle Palmieri was added to the protocol list after playing over 18 minutes the day before. Yet, the game on Jan. 31 was played as scheduled and soon after, both teams suffered large outbreaks of the coronavirus. Neither team has played since. As of Tuesday, Buffalo still had nine players on the protocol list, not including head coach Ralph Krueger who has also tested positive, and all of its games are postponed up to Feb. 15. New Jersey still has 19 players on the protocol list and all of its games are postponed up to Feb. 16. Once Palmieri was placed on the protocol list after playing on Jan. 30, the game on Jan. 31 should have never happened. It did and both teams have been dealing with the consequences ever since. Braun played over 17 minutes in Sunday's game for the Flyers against the Caps and Giroux over 16 minutes. By postponing Tuesday's game, the league is showing that it has learned its lesson from New Jersey/Buffalo. It was being proactive in limiting whatever exposure could have taken place on Sunday and preventing any further outbreak that could happen as a result of both teams playing again on Tuesday. This is an entirely different situation from what happened to Washington with its four players. The Caps became aware that Samsonov tested positive for the coronavirus on Jan. 19 following a game against the Pittsburgh Penguins in which Samsonov did not play. Through contact tracing, it was discovered the other three players had spent time with Samsonov in a hotel room in violation of the league's safety protocols and they were added to the protocol list. As the team's next game was not until Jan. 22, through testing the league could be reasonably sure that exposure of the Winnipeg Jets have a noon-hour nap. My wife, bless her heart, had it much harder than 1183476 me. Not only did she undergo the rigours of labour, but she was on full- time mom duty at home. At least I got to escape for work. Jets need more from struggling DeMelo The point is, I had trouble keeping my energy levels high even though the most rigorous physical thing I'd have to do in a typical day was walk from courtroom to courtroom, then sit down at my computer and type. Now imagine being a professional athlete, trying to shut down some of the Mike McIntyre best offensive weapons in the game coming at you in nightly waves in the all-Canadian division, under those circumstances. Not a whole lot of fun, I'm guessing. Let's take a quick trip back in time, nearly a year ago to the day, when Winnipeg Jets coach Paul Maurice added a little foreplay to his usual Throw in the fact there was only an abbreviated training camp, no wordplay in describing the debut of new defenceman Dylan DeMelo, who exhibition games to work out the rust, and he's currently partnered with a quickly found a home on the top pair with Josh Morrissey. guy who'd never played an NHL game until a few weeks ago, and it's no surprise DeMelo is struggling. "His stick so many times knocked things down, his passes were on the tape. That was a pure kinda of, I don't know if you could call it 'coach's I still believe the Jets have a good one in DeMelo, and that this season's porn,' but when you're watching hockey video, you know that's pretty tough start is a blip, rather than a troubling downward trend. And I think darn good," Maurice gushed. it's time Maurice gave him another look with Morrissey. Now let's flash back to Tuesday night in Calgary, where DeMelo's most Perhaps another visit from his old Ottawa team, tonight and Saturday recent outing certainly didn't get his coach's pulse racing and heart afternoon at Bell MTS Place, will get things pointed in the right direction. pounding, at least not in a positive way. How else to explain the fact he Or maybe next week's four-game road trip through Edmonton and skated a season-low 13:06 — a far cry from Morrissey's 26:51 — in a Vancouver will help. If nothing else, he's likely going to get the best sleep third-pairing role with rookie Logan Stanley? he's had in about a month, after playing nine of his first 10 games at home. Playing in the spot most assumed was his, beside Morrissey, was journeyman Nathan Beaulieu, who logged a season high 22:31 of ice Whatever the case, the sooner DeMelo returns to form, the better for a time and took a costly third period penalty that led to Calgary's game- Jets team that could sure use some more "coach's porn" to spice things winning power play goal with less than two minutes to play. up on the blue-line. It's safe to say this isn't how anyone drew things up. But the 27-year-old DeMelo, who signed a four-year, US$12-million contract extension with Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 02.11.2021 the Jets last fall, is struggling to meet the rather lofty expectations that accompanied his arrival following a deadline deal with Ottawa last February in exchange for a third-round draft pick. And that might be the most surprising development of all for a 7-4-1 Jets club early in this unique new NHL season. Sure, the blue-line was expected to be the source of ongoing concern, but DeMelo seemed like a safe bet to pick up where he left off and form a dependable duo with Morrissey. Instead, Maurice has only put the pair together briefly, didn't like what he saw, and pushed DeMelo down the lineup. He's gone so far as to move the left-shooting Morrissey to the right side to play with Beaulieu, which speaks volumes about his level of trust right now. The second-pairing of Neal Pionk and Derek Forbort has been Winnipeg's best, by a considerable margin. So what's going on here? It's no secret DeMelo's year got off to a rather turbulent start, with hockey taking a bit of a back seat to more pressing personal matters. Rather than play the season-opener on Jan. 14 against Calgary, daddy duty called. His wife was in labour with their first-born. Days later, as the Jets hit the road for a three-game trip through eastern Canada, DeMelo stayed behind. With no other family in Winnipeg and code red restrictions forbidding any outside household visitors, DeMelo understandably didn't want to leave his overwhelmed spouse all alone with the bouncing baby boy, That meant missing the first four games of the year, in which the Jets went 3-1-0. When he finally made his delayed debut on Jan. 23, it didn't exactly go smoothly despite the fact the Jets rallied for a victory over the sad-sack Senators that night. The seven games since haven't been much better, filled with inconsistent play. When DeMelo is at is best, as we saw when he first arrived in Winnipeg, he makes everything look seamless. Crisp passes to get the puck out of his zone and moving in the right direction. Quick, smart reads. Great defensive zone gaps and a strong stick to force turnovers. Basically, all of the things he's been having a difficult time doing consistently so far this year. I imagine the video Maurice is watching of DeMelo these days has a lot more frightening scenes than he'd like. DeMelo isn't one to make excuses, but let me try one on his behalf. He looks like a guy who probably hasn't had a good night's sleep in a long time, which most parents can relate to. Tuesday was the first road game he's played this year after seven straight home games to start his year. I remember after our first child was born, back in 2001, dragging myself into work some mornings after only a few interrupted hours of shut-eye. Don't tell my bosses, but there were plenty of days that I would curl up in a ball on the floor of my solo office down at the Law Courts building and Winnipeg Jets plays, showed some real nice finesse picking a stick in the offensive 1183477 zone to open up a chance.”

Let’s move Dubois into the offensive zone then. Pierre-Luc Dubois’ Jets debut: Clips, quotes and first impressions Wait.

Let’s let Dubois use his wheels to move himself into the offensive zone. By Murat Ates This lengthy clip illustrates so many of Dubois’ biggest strengths. Feb 10, 2021 If you’ve read our Dubois video room preview, you know that I think of him as a big, strong player but one whose physicality relies more on positioning than on running people over. He is excellent at using his body Pierre-Luc Dubois’ Winnipeg Jets debut did not come in a win. to protect the puck and is more than willing to absorb contact to make the right play. It didn’t come with a spectacular goal or a highlight reel assist. And you know I think he’s a zone entry waiting to happen. Somewhat surprisingly, it didn’t even come with an official shot on goal. We pick up this shift with Mason Appleton finding Dubois with a little bit of Dubois played 13:10 in Winnipeg’s 3-2 loss to Calgary on Tuesday night, space in the neutral zone. Dubois is off to the races, putting a pass winning three of nine faceoffs, making one hit and getting outshot 9-5 in through the slot that doesn’t find a target. 5-on-5 play. Then see if you can count the number of times he extends the offensive Nothing about these numbers suggests the beginning of a new era in zone shift with positioning and physicality. Noah Hanifin simply can’t Winnipeg — the post-Laine epoch marked by Dubois’ acquisition and the handle him. promise of long term centre depth for the first time since Bryan Little’s peak. The play ends with Nathan Beaulieu misplaying a pass and Josh Morrissey trying but failing to keep the puck in with his feet. The awkward But you’ll forgive Dubois if he didn’t singlehandedly take over his first bounces are a sign of things to come later in the game but Dubois’ ability game in nearly three weeks’ time. to keep plays alive bodes very well for his future. “First game in 20-something days,” Dubois said when asked to assess But first, a sneaky zone entry. his first game with the Jets. “I think the legs, the hands, the head — you’re trying to get everything back. As the game went on, I was getting Dubois to Connor with a sneaky, sneaky pass. some things back but I can play a lot better than that.” And if you’re willing to go back in time, Dubois can gain the zone with his Dubois’ new coach, Paul Maurice, framed Dubois’ debut the same way. backhand, too. “It’s been a long time since he played a game but, after that, there was Don’t forget: It was Dubois who got zone entry wizard Nik Ehlers lots of good things,” Maurice said. “Strong movement to the net, some established inside the blue line for the game’s first goal. physicality, some real nice hands. It was a good first one for him.” Between these two passes and Dubois’ wheels on the lengthy shift It’s important to ground expectations of Dubois’ first game for Winnipeg in above, you’ve already seen three examples of his ability to control where the reality that it was his first game since Jan. 21 — and first full game the game gets played. since Jan. 19. For a player who hasn’t missed a single NHL game until now, the effects of a 14-day quarantine were certainly felt. If I could hack hockey, I would obsess over zone exits and zone entries, thinking of them as a key to exploit as much zone time as possible. But Dubois’ debut did show off some of his strengths. Despite the time he spent in his own zone Tuesday, Dubois’ presence will help Winnipeg in transition in a way that should yield long term It also offered some clues as to how he’ll find his success in Winnipeg. rewards. Here are six clips, five quotes and four first impressions of Dubois’ first And I won’t even show you the clip of Andrew Mangiapane’s 1-1 goal that game. came with Dubois on the ice. He gets a minus-1 for a carnival of bounces Dubois’ first touch that Mangiapane tracked better than Logan Stanley did in front of Winnipeg’s net. Look, I get it. It’s a simple play. I couldn’t even begin to guess the name of the highlight reel it would feature on. Instead, let’s watch Dubois laying his first hit and then outmuscling Dillon Dube and Matthew Tkachuk to protect the puck inside the offensive But Dubois’ first touch as a Jets player comes with some poetry I can’t zone. ignore. Dubois turns a Flames breakout into a Jets scoring chance. He spends the first half of this clip covering the front of Winnipeg’s net, engaged in a heated battle for positioning with Mikael Backlund. Nothing comes of it but it’s the kind of play you can imagine repeating more and more often as Dubois gets his game going. Backlund’s three points in four games were a big part of Calgary’s qualification round win over the Jets, including two goals scored And of course, there was Dubois’ spinning display of size, strength and uncontested from the centre slot. speed on this third period net drive. So it’s nice to see someone paying extra attention to him. In his first postgame press conference, Dubois focused on the ever- increasing pace and quality of the hockey that gets played as a season It’s the moment that Dubois leaves Backlund to pick up an attacking continues. Chris Tanev that Dubois gets his first touch. Dubois on the biggest challenge of playing again (question asked by Ken Winnipeg clears the zone and walks away from the defensive zone time Wiebe of Sportsnet) unscathed. “I’ve never been injured so I’ve never missed a period of time. Going Touching the puck is one thing. Creating or destroying a scoring chance from Game 4 to Game 15 was a big jump. Game 4’s still kind of is another. preseason, Game 15 you’re in the season. I think, like I said, it’s a mix of getting the legs back, getting the head back, getting the hands back to In this clip, you can see the exact moment that Dubois realizes Kyle make plays. I (don’t) think it’s all going to come at the same time but it’s Connor is beat on the wall and Calgary has a blossoming 3-on-2. in practices, it’s in games, it’s in watching video. But it’s one day at a Dubois turns on the afterburners and chops away at Sam Bennett’s stick time.” just in time to kill the play. Dubois on the adjustment period involved playing in the North Division It was the first — but far from the last — display of what Dubois is (question asked by Ted Wyman of the Winnipeg Sun) capable of when he’s moving his feet. “I think the biggest challenge is to get back in the game rhythm. Last “The exciting part is he’s going to keep getting better and better because game I played, it was Game 4 of the season. Game 5. That’s kind of he’s a powerful man,” Maurice said after the game. “It looks like there preseason games right there, because we didn’t have them. Now it’s won’t be holes in his game. He’s defended well, battled hard, made smart Game 15 where the season’s well underway. During seasons, there’s always steps that you take. There’s a step midway through the season, after a couple of games, at Christmas, then the playoff race and the playoffs. My goal is to skip that step of the preseason games and get right to where we’re at right now.” It was at this point that Jérémie Asselin of RDS asked Dubois to evaluate his first game en francais. Dubois mostly repeated what he had said in English but made a point of adding: “C’est une fierté de porter ce gilet” (“I’m proud to wear this sweater.”) I’m sure Jets fans will appreciate that sentiment in all languages. Dubois made it clear that he appreciates his teammates, too. “The guys out there have been great at helping me with video or helping me on the bench (and) in practices,” Dubois said. “I think you get more used to it as time goes on and as scenarios go on more and more but the guys have been really helpful making the adjustment not too hard.” Dubois’ debut wasn’t a dazzling one but it was a necessary first step. Winnipeg certainly hopes that his presence will give the Jets a dynamic one-two punch down the middle for years to come. But the next step for Dubois is simply getting back up to speed. “The legs, the head, and the hands for me are three things that there’s a little adjustment,” he said. “As the game got on, I felt like I was reading plays faster. I was reading positioning faster. Where in the first period or so, I thought it took me a little bit too long to read.” The speed Dubois seeks will come in due time. He’ll have every opportunity to display it against Ottawa on Thursday and Saturday. Maurice acknowledged being cautious with Dubois’ minutes against Calgary but we’re going to be seeing an awful lot of Dubois very soon. “The exciting part is he’s going to keep getting better and better because he’s a powerful man. It looks like there won’t be holes in his game. He’s defended well, battled hard, made smart plays, showed some real nice finesse picking a stick in the offensive zone to open up a chance,” Maurice said. “This guy’s going to be a big powerful guy. He’ll get quite a bit more ice time as we get moving forward and as he gets his sea legs.”

The Athletic LOADED: 02.11.2021 Vancouver Canucks He said the fact that they had finally been able to get some practice time 1183478 in — Wednesday’s was the second full practice in less than a week — was also welcome. Canucks news: Gaudette not letting trade rumours bother him Integrating new defencemen into the lineup — Nate Schmidt moved over from the Vegas Golden Knights, while both Olli Juolevi and Jalen Chatfield are rookies — is never easy, and not having had many practices had only made it harder, Green said. Patrick Johnston “It’s vital for our team to practise,” he said. “We’ve had far too little Publishing date: Feb 11, 2021 amount of time to practise.” They’ve had five practice days, though one of those was a very light Adam Gaudette knows his name is the subject of trade rumours, but like session, Green said. just about any hockey player in such a situation, he says it’s not “It has been a little bit frustrating, so it was good to get out and practise bothering him. today,” he said. “You work on your structure, your details, in practice.” “There’s not much to deal with. I’m here to play for Vancouver,” the Thoughts for TSN 1040 Vancouver Canucks’ forward said, bluntly, after a long, detailed practice Wednesday at Rogers Arena. Canucks captain Bo Horvat called Tuesday’s sudden closure of TSN 1040, the long-standing sports radio station in Vancouver, by Bell Media “This is my team right now. I want to help this team win as much as I “shocking.” can,” he said of reports that the Nashville Predators have shown interest in him. The Boston Bruins have called about him before as well. “The pandemic has hit hard to a lot of people. You never want to see people lose their jobs,” he said. “Hopefully it doesn’t happen continuously Instead, he’s more focused on the fact that his coach praised his efforts here in the future.” in Monday’s 3-1 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Green made a point of calling several 1040 personalities on Tuesday to Part of the story, he said, was that for the first time this season he’s got express his support for them in a tough time. his weight up to 180 pounds. He revealed in the off-season that his nutritionist determined that he had long been suffering from an “You never like to see anything like that happen in the business that overgrowth of Candida yeast in his stomach, which had affected his you’re in,” he said of why he reached out. “When people lose their jobs digestion, keeping his body from fully taking on-board the nutrition in and you deal with them, you work with them, I like to think we’re all in it food, causing him to lose weight and hindering the recovery of his together. I don’t like to see people lose their jobs.” muscles, tendons and other tissues.

Armed with a new diet, he’s been making progress, he said. Vancouver Province: LOADED: 02.11.2021 “It feels great, it definitely feels like there’s a light at the end of the tunnel,” he said of the progress he’s been making in the gym because of his new-found energy and the positive impact it’s all having on his on-ice performance. A day off No team has played more games than the Canucks this season and Tuesday was the first time all season that they had a proper day off, one where they didn’t have a game to play a day later. The physical benefits of getting a little rest after playing 16 games in 27 days are obvious, but just as important is the mental release. It was a sunny day in Vancouver on Tuesday, which meant that the players were able to get outside for fresh air, a welcome bonus. “It was nice to come home to our families and have a chance to relax,” Gaudette said. It wasn’t just good for the players, the players’ wives and girlfriends got some benefit too. Because they’re part of the NHL’s COVID-19 protocols, they’re meant to stay at home as much as possible, to keep away from even the smallest risks of infection. “It’s hard for them to get out and do anything when we’re gone,” goalie Thatcher Demko pointed out. He said he and his girlfriend went out and enjoyed the sunshine by taking their dog for a walk. “Being able to get back and spend some time with them, have a little bit of a reset, it’s really nice.” That schedule The Canucks are quick to make clear: they’re not making excuses when they talk about the schedule they’ve faced to date. But the truth is they were starting to run on fumes last week. That’s simple science: rest and recovery is essential for elite athletes, let alone having time between games to simply refuel. And there were plenty of examples in the series against the Leafs where the Canucks looked truly gassed. Vancouver coach Travis Green admitted he’s been frustrated by the reality of the schedule. “I think it’s been brutal,” he said. “We own the losses, I’m not saying we deserved to win games that we haven’t, but I think the schedule has played a role in our start. “It’s probably cost us a point, two, three. Who knows how many?” he added. “The games wear you down, especially early in the year.” Vancouver Canucks there is still a lot of hockey to be played. But we can’t keep trending in 1183479 the wrong direction. Being OK with playing well and losing is not OK.”

Still, fanning those flames of floundering in Vancouver is easy. There’s Canucks: Slow start, funky vibe are commanding leaguewide attention lots of kindling. Pick a statistical category for defending or discipline — shots allowed, goals allowed, giveaways, penalties and power-play chances for the Ben Kuzma opposition —and the Canucks are last or second last. Publishing date: Feb 11, 2021 Add early-season struggles for Elias Pettersson, a power play still looking for consistency and trade rumours involving Adam Gaudette (Nashville) and Jake Virtanen (Boston), and it’s fuel for a funky franchise vibe. Las Vegas has this fun-loving moniker: “What happens in Vegas, stays in Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko studied psychology and human Vegas.” development at Boston College. His parents were also enamoured with Vancouver has this hot hockey handle: “What happens in Vancouver, those pursuits, so he’s a pretty good barometer of what’s happening in doesn’t stay in Vancouver.” the room. After all, he had a great relationship with Jacob Markstrom and is forging one with Braden Holtby. Amid the Canucks’ five-game losing streak, some telling body language and that Braden Holtby stare-down, there seems to be a funky vibe So, are the departed really an issue? surrounding the struggling NHL club. We know it, but the rest of the “I can shut that down,” stressed Demko. “I don’t think anybody is holding country has always been extremely enamoured by what is and isn’t that against the coach or management, and I don’t know what the working here with a 6-10-0 club. rumours are. I haven’t seen anything. Guys know the business side of Quinn Hughes is the latest example. things is going to happen. When the defenceman summarized his performance and challenges “When times get hard with human nature, it’s kind of easy to start facing the Canucks in his post-game address Monday — a 3-1 loss in thinking abut yourself and maybe get down on yourself or maybe the Toronto in which Hughes was an offensive catalyst and better team. Teams that pull through stick together and stay confident. We have defensively — he also spoke of the present and the past. a group that can do that.” “We have a lot of new pieces. We lost some pretty good players from last However, when a head coach on the last year of his contract, and a year and we’re just trying to put it all together, and we’re going to get general manger in the performance crosshairs, are tossed into the there,” he said. conversation, it’s going to attract leaguewide attention. It didn’t really register in Vancouver because Hughes was just being A lot of people are waiting for that other skate to drop. And if the Canucks honest and stated a roster fact. However, in the hockey handbook of don’t gather their game in a crucial four-game set against the Calgary what you do and don’t say to the media — not sure where it was written Flames, which opens Thursday at Rogers Arena, it could bring about — the take about departed players grew from a spark to a flame. change. Apparently, you only speak of the present and not the past. Not that players want to see teammates leave. And they have long The past for Hughes was Chris Tanev, his defensive partner, mentor and backed Travis Green as the right bench boss, because that’s their daily confidant. The present is Jordie Benn. Adjusting to a pairing despite contact with the hockey operations department. He’s the right fit. No limited practice time, while playing an exhausting 16 games in 27 days, is debate there. taxing physically and emotionally. But Hughes remains upbeat about “We obviously like Greener as a coach,” said Horvat. “We’d love to see getting on a long run to push for the playoffs. him stay, but at the same time, we have to worry about winning games. “We have a long way to go, but I’m excited,” he added. “There was a And he’s trying to do that to the best of his ability, and we’re trying to do response (Monday) and I thought I was solid, probably my best game. whatever we can to win and play for him.” We have a competitive group and nobody likes to lose. It sucks. Nobody has played more games than the Canucks and nobody has a “I’m worried we lost five in a row, but I’m not worried because we have better case to complain than the coach. His game prep and teaching time the trust and faith.” with rookies like Nils Höglander, Jalen Chatfield and Olli Juolevi has been minimal. Video has replaced drills. That certainly doesn’t lend credence to the theory that players are upset at losing former players and that it’s affecting their performance. It “It’s been brutal,” Green said of the schedule. “We own the losses, but certainly doesn’t wash with Bo Horvat. the schedule has played a part in our start. It may have cost us a point, two or three, or who knows how many? It has affected our group “I don’t believe that,” the Canucks captain said Wednesday following just physically and, with no exhibition, games wear you down early in the the fifth practice of this odd season. “Obviously, it’s tough to see guys go, year.” but at the same time, you have to move on and you can’t dwell on anything. We have a great group here and just because we lost guys, it doesn’t mean we want to play bad. Vancouver Province: LOADED: 02.11.2021 “That’s not a theory at all.” As for Hughes, any notion that he might be hung up on the past seems silly, because he’s so dialled in to being better in the present. He was still leading all defencemen in scoring after his first 16 games with 17 points (1-16) and had the second most shots (42), but with an NHL-worst minus-13 rating. That bugs him. But he’s not hanging his head. He has taken maintenance days to shake off heavy hits, and the Calder Trophy finalist has never shrugged off accountability that comes with being one of the game’s young stars. “Quinn was really tight with Taney off the ice, and I can see how that would hit a little bit harder because their play was so good last year,” added Horvat. “But the guys we brought in are great and it’s going to take a little time. We’ve got to remember this isn’t a regular year. VANCOUVER, January 4, 2021 -- Vancouver Canucks' Jalen Chatfield (63) and Travis Green in action during pre season training camp at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, BC., on January 4, 2021. “Usually, we get to have a lot more practice time and a longer camp and get to know guys more. We obviously wanted it to happen faster, but Websites Colorado was hit with a sizeable injury bug last week which hurt the 1183480 team’s team strength initially, but being shut down due to COVID protocol might be a blessing in disguise there. It’ll give the team some time to heal up and get ready for the rest of the season grind where they still look to The Athletic / NHL power rankings: Lightning and Avalanche remain on be the West’s most impressive team. top Cup Contender

3. Boston Bruins By Dom Luszczyszyn The Bruins started a bit slowly without scoring a five-on-five goal in their Feb 10, 2021 first three games, but have quickly started to assert their dominance over the rest of the East Division. It’s them and the rest right now as the team already has a 99 percent chance of making the playoffs, a very high The NHL is a quarter way through the season – well, some teams are, chance of winning the division and currently holds the highest chance of others are on indefinite hiatus – which makes this the perfect time to winning the Stanley Cup. update our power rankings. That’s a product of a softer path compared to the other top teams (the With nine-to-16 games in the books, a lot has changed in the league- model has downgraded all the other top East teams) and the fact the wide landscape and this season will be a very challenging one in terms of model currently sees them as the league’s top team. The Bruins start auditing where each team stands. When teams only get to play the same looks even better than both teams above as they rank sixth on the power six-or-seven teams over and over again, the measuring sticks between play, second on the penalty kill and are third with a 56 percent expected divisions become blurrier with each passing game. Is a 10-2-1 record goals rate at five-on-five. They haven’t converted as much at five-on-five really that impressive with nearly half the schedule against two of the yet, but that’s coming, especially now that David Pastrnak is back. That league’s worst teams? It’s going to be tough to gauge. they’ve won so many games with Matt Grzelcyk on the shelf has also been impressive. Like the first edition, our power rankings are a perfect 50-50 split between the wisdom of the crowd from our smart, talented and beautiful By the combined ratings, Boston is much closer to Colorado than it is to staff and the computed calculations from my cold, rigid and beautiful the next team in this tier. model. That way, everyone is happy and can agree with the rankings 100 4. Vegas Golden Knights percent. When the Golden Knights have played they’ve been exactly as good as No? There’ll still be comments about how everyone, including and advertised, starting the season 8-1-1 with dominant five-on-five numbers especially the model, hates your favorite team specifically? Oh well, can’t as is tradition for Vegas. win em all. And yet the silly model has actually downgraded the team’s strength Each staff member was asked to rank each team on a 10-tier scale since the start of the season. It’s always a bit strange when that happens outlined below. The ranking guidelines aren’t a hard and fast rule, simply when a team is playing well, but there’s actually a pretty good a guideline for what each tier stood for, meaning if a staff member felt explanation for it: The team’s strength of schedule. In nine games, Vegas there were four teams that had equal Cup Favorite clout, they were free has played Arizona four times, Los Angeles twice, and Anaheim twice – to put all four teams in that tier. just one game so far against any of the West’s three other top four Once staff members submit their results, each team is graded on a 1-to- teams. That, and Robin Lehner, the team’s presumed starter, has been 10 scale based on the tiers, earning 10 points for each Cup Favorite vote out-duelled so far by Marc-Andre Fleury. and one point for each Lottery Favorite vote. The votes were then It makes grading the team a bit tricky for now and I’ll just be sitting here averaged out and then put together with my model which was converted patiently, waiting for next week where we’ll be treated to four (!) straight to the same scale. Both ratings will be noted for each team as the matchups between Colorado and Vegas. We’ll have a better idea then of disagreements will always be the most fascinating. what this Vegas team can truly be. After one-quarter of the season done for some teams, here’s where 5. Toronto Maple Leafs every team stands. We caught a lot of flak with the last edition of the power rankings for Staff votes and model ratings are as of February 9. having the Leafs rated as a top-five team with cries of a biased model. Cup Favorite The team proceeded to start the season 10-2-1 in the North Division and currently lead the league in points. I’ll be waiting by the phone for the 1. Tampa Bay Lightning several apologies I’m owed, thanks. The defending Stanley Cup champions are exactly who we thought they What’s very interesting – and hopefully proves once and for all that the were, even without arguably their best player, Nikita Kucherov. The absolute asinine belief that the model sprinkles bonus points on the Leafs Lightning are off to a roaring 9-1-1 start – an .864 points percentage that is obviously wrong – is that the model’s opinion of the Leafs has actually leads the league – picking up exactly where they left off last season. dropped since the start of the season. It now falls a shade under where They hold down the top spot in the power rankings as a result. the staff has them (where the majority believe Toronto is a Cup Contender) and is second in the North. That makes this week’s two- A lot of credit has to go to goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy who is playing game battle against Montreal especially intriguing. his part as the best goalie in the world. He leads the league in goals saved above expected and is second in goals saved above average to The Leafs’ current record is a testament to their talent level: Winning start the season. It’s not a surprise to see him play great, but it is to see despite very rarely looking as dominant as they should given that talent. him grade out that way analytically as that hasn’t always been the case. Toronto is running a bit hot at five-on-five (62 percent goals rate to 52 percent expected goals rate) and on the power play where it may be hard The Lightning are a heavy favorite to go back-to-back this season with 20 to sustain 10.6 expected goals for per 60 all season. Only three other of 22 staff members rating them as a Cup Favorite. Only one other team, teams have ever been above nine, but to their credit, two of those teams Ottawa, had a more decisive staff rating. The model currently has Tampa were the Leafs. Toronto is also 5-0-1 in one-goal games, generally a red Bay third and that’s too low for this well-oiled machine. That should be flag for good fortune. rectified once Tuesday’s 6-1 beatdown over the Predators is accounted for. The Leafs are a very good team, as correctly expected, and top five feels right as both the staff and model see them as a contender. But the record 2. Colorado Avalanche is still a bit inflated for now. Nothing changes at the top. The Lightning and Avalanche started the 6. Carolina Hurricanes season first and second as the only teams in the Cup Favorite tier and it remains that way. The final Cup Contender. Carolina has arrived and jumps three spots from borderline top 10 to just outside the top five. The staff isn’t quite The Avalanche have been dominant so far in every game state with a top there yet, but they’re beginning to warm up to the idea with the 10 power play, a first-ranked penalty kill and an excellent 55 percent Hurricanes jumping from an average 7.6 rating to their current 8.1. The expected and actual goals rate at five-on-five. They’ve delivered as contender label is mostly driven by the model here which sees a club promised so far and that’s on their star players who are controlling play at that’s once again dominating play at five-on-five to the tune of a 59.5 a ludicrous rate to start the season. percent expected goals rate, with a 57.3 percent actual goals rate to match. The Hurricanes are always an analytics darling, but the numbers The Flames are overrated for now, not having earned this current there are even stronger than usual. position in the power rankings. But the model works in mysterious ways and time will tell if it was on to something with Calgary. If this current Carolina will need Petr Mrazek back sooner rather than later as his ranking doesn’t hold up, I’ll be the first person in line to dunk all over it in numbers were excellent to start the year, with a .934 over his first four the next iteration of the power rankings. games and five goals saved. 12. Pittsburgh Penguins Dark Horse There were many before the season who said the model was overrating 7. Montreal Canadiens the Penguins and they seem to be dead-on so far. Pittsburgh has been From middle of the pack to borderline contender, no team has impressed very pedestrian to start, going 5-5-1 and rarely looking as good as a team more to start the season than Montreal. The Canadiens have emerged with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin should. Pittsburgh has been as a legitimate challenger as the best team in the North. The model downgraded heavily by the model as a result and is pretty much right in already believes it for now based mostly on the team’s incredible play- line with where the staff currently sees them. driving numbers leading the league in expected goals percentage at a They’re still more than likely to make the playoffs, but that bet becomes whopping 61 percent. They’re outscoring teams by even more too. more precarious with each passing game. More than anything, they need It might take a bit more time for the staff to get there, but the Canadiens Malkin to start being Malkin again. He has just six points in 11 games jumped up seven spots making them the biggest mover since the and an average Game Score of 0.50 – very un-Malkin-like numbers. offseason. They’ve been strong out of the gate and that has many 13. Washington Capitals cautiously optimistic about the team’s chances. Maybe they’re right and the model should pump the brakes a little, especially until this two-game There’s no greater rivalry in hockey than the one between my model and showdown with Toronto, but for now, it’s hard not to love how Montreal the Washington Capitals. Nothing has changed here: The staff are very has looked. Make no mistake, the Canadiens were worthy of the hype. bullish on Washington while my model remains bearish, still seeing Washington as an average team. 8. St. Louis Blues Well, the Capitals have won as many games as they’ve lost and have It’s hard to get a read on the Blues when they play 20 straight games scored as many goals as they’ve allowed so it’s not all wrong – but that’s against the Coyotes. The staff and model are both fairly close, viewing honestly impressive given the injury issues the team has dealt with to St. Louis as a Dark Horse team, but something has been off about the start the season. Blues to start that has allowed Carolina and Montreal to surpass them. That probably begins and ends with their special teams play which has It’s hard to gauge the Capitals under those conditions, but it is been abhorrent at both ends of the ice, ranking 25th on the power play encouraging that the team’s power play seems to be back. After finishing and 29th on the penalty kill. There might be some regression coming with 17th last season, the Capitals are tops in the league to start the year at the man advantage, but the shorthanded problems are real as the Blues 37 percent. allow the fifth most chance down a man in the league. Bubble Team 9. Dallas Stars 14. Minnesota Wild Neither the model nor staff has wavered in its rating of the Stars since the offseason and I’m personally a little surprised the model is still so low. Kirill Kaprizov looks like the real deal so far and that’s enough for the Dallas has gotten off to a strong start with a 54 percent expected goals model to significantly upgrade the Wild from their previous spot. Now, rate and a second-ranked power play. They likely deserve a bit more they headline the bubble group even if the staff aren’t completely on credit than this. Then again, the Stars have also lost two straight to the board yet. That’s not surprising given the team’s modest 6-5-0 record, Blackhawks. but the goals will come given the team’s massive scoring chance edge. Minnesota ranks fourth in the league in expected goals percentage. I’m not sure about Cup Contender, but the team should probably stand more firmly in Dark Horse territory. Dallas continues to be one of the The Wild don’t have the high-end talent to likely be anything more than a league’s best defensive teams, posting the fourth-best expected and playoff team this year, but the depth is there. They can be a force as long actual goals against rate in the league at five-on-five. as they get average goaltending which is what they’ve received whenever Cam Talbot starts. The team’s record should improve as long 10. Philadelphia Flyers as he’s healthy (although that obviously applies to the entire team at this point given almost everyone is under COVID protocol). The Flyers have picked up right where they left off after last year’s strong finish to the season, starting the season 8-3-2, but I’m not sure I’m 15. Edmonton Oilers completely sold on them considering their sluggish underlying numbers. Philadelphia is earning wins and that’s what matters, but there have been The Oilers are a tale of two teams right now and naturally end up right in far too many games where the Flyers have been dominated from a the middle as a result. There’s the team they are when Connor McDavid scoring chance perspective and their 47 percent expected goals rate is or Leon Draisaitl are on the ice, out-scoring opponents 24-17 at five-on- actually last in the East Division. A lot of that came in games without star five with a 57 percent expected goals share. And then there’s the team center Sean Couturier so they deserve some slack, but it’s time for them when both are on the bench, getting out-scored 17-5 while earning a 38 to actually start playing the way they’ve been billed. That goes for Carter percent expected goals share. Hart too who’s allowed six goals more than expected over his first nine The team’s lack of depth is seriously killing them, but the bottom six has games. also been relatively unlucky, despite their puck possession woes. As long That the team holds such a strong record despite no Couturier, weak as McDavid and Draisaitl continue flying the way they have, the Oilers possession numbers, weak goaltending and below-average special have legitimate playoff hopes – they just need the bottom six to pick up teams is pretty astonishing. They can be better, and it’s great they’ve the slack. They certainly got that in Tuesday’s win over the Senators, a built up a nice cushion in the meantime. rare win where neither McDavid or Draisaitl had a point. Playoff Team 16. New York Islanders 11. Calgary Flames Die and be a hero, or live long enough to see yourself become the villain. Believe it or not, the model is higher than the staff is on the Islanders who The staff pegged the Flames as a bubble team before the season started have had a relatively slow start to the season with a 5-4-2 record. It’s not and remains firm in that position after a tepid 6-5-1 start. The Flames what some expected after their strong bubble run, but the Islanders are a have looked dominant at times and weak at others, frustratingly better team than they’re being given credit for with a strong 53 percent consistent in their inconsistency. expected goals rate and a top 10 scoring chance suppression rate. Right in the middle is just about right though for now as the team hasn’t been It’s still early though and the Flames haven’t had the benefit of playing able to turn that territorial edge into actual results just yet. against Ottawa yet. It’s been a tougher schedule than the rest of their North Division colleagues and in that time have still managed to be a top 17. Winnipeg Jets 10 expected goals team. The team’s second pair of Chris Tanev and Noah Hanifin, in particular, look to be a revelation which is partially The Jets are 14th in five-on-five goals percentage, 17th on the power driving the sizeable upgrade the model has given them since the play and 14th on the penalty kill – and yet have a 7-4-1 record. It’s that offseason. Johnny Gaudreau being back to his usual dominant self latter number that likely has many optimistic that the Jets are back, but I certainly helps the team’s standing too. have my doubts. The Jets are a better team than the model gives them credit for, but even by goals in every state they look just average. With that being said, Pierre-Luc Dubois is a big-time addition and I’m 24. Vancouver Canucks excited to see how the Jets look with him playing behind Mark Scheifele. Dubois gives Winnipeg serious center depth and has the play-driving One of the biggest discrepancies in the offseason edition of the power ability to make the Jets a much more formidable five-on-five group. rankings was Vancouver’s place on it. The staff ranked them 11th. The model ranked them 22nd. It’s too early for a victory lap as there’s still 18. Florida Panthers room for team improvement once the core starts playing like many know they can, but Vancouver’s start has obviously been quite demoralizing. The Panthers have not played a single game against the top three teams The Canucks fall five spots in the power rankings, a tie for the biggest in their division yet so take their current record and underlying numbers drop. with a massive grain of salt. With the way Columbus and Nashville have played, Florida indeed has the inside track for a Central Division playoff Aside from games against Ottawa, Vancouver has looked downright spot, but the model is not quite sold on the team’s ability just yet. The putrid, performing even worse than the most pessimistic expectations. team has moved up in these rankings thanks to positive sentiment from The team is thin, team defense is an issue, and goaltending has been a the staff, but I want to see how they fare against a real team before major problem. At five-on-five, no team allows more expected goals upgrading my stance. That, and Sergei Bobrovsky seems to be playing against than the Canucks and only Ottawa allows more goals. just as well as he did last season which doesn’t inspire much confidence. After an offseason where some figured the Canucks might be Canada’s Outside Looking In second-best team, it’s becoming very clear they’re Canada’s second- worst. It’s not close either. 19. New York Rangers Bottom Feeder The Rangers have a lot of talent and that led to strong finishing and goaltending results last season. I still believe the team can find that 25. Buffalo Sabres magic again, but their start to the season in both regards has been troubling. Perhaps it’s bad luck or regression after a full season of good The Sabres are in familiar territory: Right around .500. In a deep East luck, but either way, the staff have every right to feel pessimistic. Division, their playoff chances remain slim and that’s pushed the team’s Development isn’t linear and the Rangers look set to take a step back standing in these power rankings down a few notches. The model’s this season unless their stars start picking up their games. Mika opinion has actually remained unchanged since the first iteration of the Zibanejad in particular has been really disappointing. rankings, but the staff has clearly grown sour with the group after expecting a small jump toward relevancy this season. The season is still 20. Arizona Coyotes young and there’s room for optimism, but the start hasn’t done much to alter the viewpoint that the Sabres are still a Bottom Feeder. The young Coyotes are finally arriving and Arizona looks ready to make waves. Conor Garland and Christian Dvorak have 13 points in 12 games 26. New Jersey Devils and are dominating possession, Nick Schmaltz is looking like a real threat again, Clayton Keller’s two-way game is improving and Jakob Despite a pesky 4-3-2 record to start the season amid injuries and a Chychrun is emerging as a legitimate number one defender. A serious positive expected goals rate, the Devils drop one spot in the power lack of high-end talent has always held back the Coyotes, but there looks rankings compared to the offseason. The model has downgraded the to be some light at the end of the tunnel. Arizona is a team to watch and group and that’s partially on the team’s still small sample of nine games the Coyotes might make the West Division race a little more interesting as well as the further degradation of P.K. Subban, who the model now than expected. With a great goaltender, anything is possible, but it helps views as well below replacement level. It uses the last three seasons to see strong fundamentals in front of him too. Don’t sleep on Arizona. which means at this point it’s quickly replacing the 2017-18 year with 2020-21 stats, which doesn’t bode well for Subban considering that was 21. Nashville Predators his last good season. The same goes for a few other Devils as that was the year they made the playoffs, a season that is now no longer part of I don’t think many expected much from the Predators to start the season, the dataset. but they’ve still managed to be one of the league’s most disappointing clubs. They’ve started the season 5-8-0 and have deserved every part of The staff is a bit more cautiously optimistic and I think there’s good it with the league’s worst penalty kill, an always brutal power play and reason for that, especially once the team is healthy and gets playing bottom 10 numbers at five-on-five. The team’s playoff chances have again. I wouldn’t be surprised to see New Jersey move up throughout the fallen all the way down to 22 percent as a result. They might’ve ranked season. Especially if Jack Hughes keeps up his exceptional start. even lower if Tuesday’s 6-1 defeat to Tampa Bay was accounted for by either the staff or the model. Lottery Contender Not a Playoff Team 27. San Jose Sharks 22. Columbus Blue Jackets The Battle of California is going about as disastrously as expected. The Sharks have the highest rating of the three, but only barely as the model There is no greater difference in opinion between our trusted staff and is slightly more enamoured by its top-end talent compared to the Ducks. the model than the current chasm that defines Columbus. At 6-5-3 all Either way, all three end up in the same tier and we’re really just splitting hope is not lost with the Blue Jackets and the staff still sees the bubble hairs. Though some expected the Sharks might bounce back this year team many expected Columbus to be. The model is significantly more after last year’s train-wreck, that’s becoming more and more difficult to bearish, seeing the Blue Jackets as a bottom feeder after a poor start envision. The team is getting smoked on a nightly basis by expected that looks even worse once you dig into the numbers. goals. Columbus ranks 30th, ahead of only the Kings, in expected goals 28. Anaheim Ducks percentage at 41 percent, 3.5 percentage points behind the lowly Senators. It’s a stark departure from the defensive powerhouse the team The Ducks are right there in the same boat in terms of scoring chance was last year and the issue stems from a sheer lack of offense. No team share, but they’re hanging on thanks to the otherworldly play of John is generating fewer chances than Columbus who have generated just Gibson. He covers up a lot of Anaheim’s shortcomings, specifically in the 1.65 expected goals per 60 this season. The Blue Jackets’ special teams way of high-end offensive talent. The forward group is barren with Max aren’t much to write home about either. Comtois and Carter Rowney leading the team with six points apiece in 13 games. That’s not going to cut it. 23. Chicago Blackhawks 29. Los Angeles Kings After a fleet of unfortunate injuries to start the season, and a wretched 0- 3-1 start against the two teams from Florida there were many figuring the The Kings are the worst of the worst among the three California squads Blackhawks might be the league’s worst team. Since then Chicago has and have been steamrolled to start the season so far. They’re the only looked shockingly competitive, going 6-1-3 and keeping most games team with an expected goals rate below 40 percent so far with no one on tight. The Blackhawks are now projected to finish fifth in the Central, the team providing a positive impact there. Anze Kopitar has been a treat something I’m not sure anyone expected at the start of the year. so far looking close to his vintage self, but he’s simply had no help. All hail surprise goalie Kevin Lankinen who has been lights out to start Lottery Favorite the season with a .933 save percentage. He started the year as the third- 30. Detroit Red Wings string goalie but has quickly won the starting job with his play. Goaltending was a big offseason question mark that he’s hopefully The Red Wings are on pace for just 32 points this season, a 47-point answered, but he’s had help too with much-improved team defense. pace over 82 games. That’s technically an improvement over last Chicago ranks 23rd in expected goals against this season, a sizeable season, but only barely and is still rather pathetic. Detroit wasn’t improvement from its dead last rate last year. expected to make the playoffs this season and the poor start only confirms that unlikelihood as the Red Wings are already under one percent to make it. The only saving grace is that for the first time in a long time Detroit isn’t considered to be the league’s biggest laughingstock. Small victories. 31. Ottawa Senators Not a single person rated the Senators anything other than a Lottery Favorite. There was legitimate hope that this season could be a turning point for the Senators given their offseason expenditure, but that felt misguided from the get-go based on who they acquired. The Senators have won two of their first 14 games and are an absolute disaster at five- on-five. I’m not sure it gets better for them and their chances of making the playoffs are already infinitesimal. Over 50,000 simulations, Ottawa made the playoffs eight times. And that was before losing to Edmonton.

The Athletic LOADED: 02.11.2021 Websites “I’m fairly confident physically and in my physical abilities, so in a 1183481 situation like that, I didn’t really mind stepping up and doing what I thought was right,” Borowiecki said. The Athletic / ‘BoroCop’ isn’t just a nickname to Mark Borowiecki. It’s a In that moment, “BoroCop,” the nickname given to Borowiecki at the way of life outset of his professional career, took on new meaning. It was a fitting moniker long before then, though, both on and off the ice.

“I think it’s just instinctual or intrinsic,” Borowiecki said about his Adam Vingan dedication to helping others. “My parents raised me by impressing upon me a strong sense of right and wrong. Hockey’s a big part of my identity, Feb 2, 2021 but it’s not everything about me. I take a lot of pride in being a successful hockey player, but I take even more pride in trying to be a good person.” Justin Morissette had just returned home from his shift as a radio “Mark has been like that all his life,” said Borowiecki’s mother, Cynthia. producer at Sportsnet 650 on Aug. 22, 2020, when he heard something “He’s always been one (who) likes to help people and root for the unpleasant. underdog. He’s always been (a) very kind, very empathetic person. That’s just something that’s innate within his personality. Anti-LGBTQ street preachers were sermonizing on the sidewalk outside Morissette’s apartment building in Davie Village, a gay enclave in the “If he sees (someone) being picked on, or there’s something wrong going West End section of Vancouver, B.C. on, he’s the first one to defend them. I think that goes out on the ice, too. Mark is a very moral person and very respectful, but respect has to be “The fact that this was happening in the heart of the gay community in earned.” downtown Vancouver (was) not an accident,” said Morissette, 33. “These people clearly came to spread this in a spot where they knew it would be Borowiecki’s grit made him a fan favorite with the Senators. (Courtesy of the most hurtful.” the Ottawa Senators) Morissette confronted the preachers, who were unwilling to leave or When word of Borowiecki’s heroics in Vancouver reached Eric Gryba in lower the volume, so he snatched the microphone and walked away. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, the retired defenseman could only laugh. “What good is a P.A. system if you don’t have a mic to run into it in the “That’s so Boro,” Gryba said. “He’s salt of the earth. For as tough-as- first place?” Morissette said. “I tried to get at the P.A. and turn it down but nails as he is, he’s really softhearted.” was shoved away from doing that, so my follow-up plan was just to take Gryba was present for the birth of “BoroCop,” a play on the title of the the mic altogether.” 1987 film about a street-cop-turned-cyborg. He was playing for the AHL’s As Morissette was leaving, one of the men trapped him in a full-nelson Binghamton Senators when Borowiecki turned pro in 2011. wrestling hold and wrenched his left leg. It snapped. “I was definitely really reckless when I came into pro hockey,” Borowiecki Morissette suffered a broken tibia and fibula, a “very badly” dislocated said. “It’s something I still struggle with a little bit now, that line and how knee and a banged-up shoulder from when he hit the ground. to tread it. The guys jokingly started saying that I was always on patrol in the American League. Then it spiraled into this ‘BoroCop’ nickname.” “It was probably the worst experience of my whole life,” Morissette said. “I was in the hospital for 27 days and couldn’t walk for about 17, I think, An unheralded prospect drafted in the fifth round in 2008, Borowiecki of those days. I still can’t walk, honestly, but couldn’t even stand up for decided he would make a name for himself by “fighting anyone and the first 17 days.” hitting everything that moves,” which was not limited to opponents. Morissette’s deed became a national story. Canadian Prime Minister “I’m pretty sure he’s fought people in practice,” Gryba said. “Sometimes Justin Trudeau phoned Morissette while he was in the hospital to express in practice I would have to say, ‘Holy shit, Boro. I don’t want to get hit gratitude. He also heard from then-Ottawa Senators defenseman Mark today. Please don’t hit me. I’m sore. We played last night. I just want to Borowiecki, who came across the story as he scrolled through the CBC stretch the legs today. I don’t want to get freaking buried in practice.’ His News app on his phone. (intensity) is an everyday thing, that’s for sure.” Borowiecki posted a screenshot of the article in an Instagram story, and That intensity fueled Borowiecki’s ascent to the Ottawa Senators’ blue with the help of his followers, connected with Morissette. They struck up line. Over parts of nine seasons, he developed a reputation as one of the a friendship, with Borowiecki helping Morissette through some hardest hitters in the league and set the tone in the dressing room. particularly difficult days by sharing his personal experiences with injury “He really just kept people on his team honest,” said Gryba, Borowiecki’s rehab. teammate and occasional defensive partner until 2015. “He was always “His story behind what had happened and him standing up for LGBTQ patrolling on and off the ice and keeping other people honest, whether it rights and suffering the consequences of it, for lack of a better term, it was in practice and working probably the hardest out of anybody, and the just really hit a nerve with me seeing that he was in trouble,” said same thing in the gym. Borowiecki, 31. “I wanted to make sure I reached out to him and offered “That nickname fits him just too well. (It’s) his presence and the way he him some support.” just holds people accountable, whether it’s in games fighting, playing About a month later, Morissette, home from the hospital, woke up from hard and playing physical, or with his teammates, playing hard against an afternoon nap to find a package from Borowiecki on the seat of his them in practice and showing them how hard he works on and off the wheelchair. Inside were a pair of autographed, game-worn gloves and a ice.” note. The Predators signed Borowiecki to a two-year contract in October 2020. Justin, (Kim Klement / USA Today) Awesome work being an ally and good person. Wishing you a full The Predators were short on those particular intangibles after a string of recovery and good days ahead. Apologies for the smell. playoff disappointments. The relentless work ethic that was once the franchise’s calling card had deteriorated. Center Matt Duchene recently Your friend, went as far as to say that the Predators were “fragile” last season. Mark After years of chasing skill players, Predators general manager David Poile changed course by prioritizing toughness this past offseason. Enter “He was a real bright light for me in a really dark moment,” Morissette Borowiecki, who signed a two-year, $4 million contract in his first foray said. “He didn’t do it for attention or whatever. He just did it because he into free agency. saw a guy in a rough spot, and he felt compelled to try to help in the same way that I tried to help and put myself in this situation in the first “It was definitely a big factor,” Borowiecki said. “On-ice, they expressed place, or the same way he saw that robbery going on in Gastown and felt they wanted a little more jam and some bite and some compete, and compelled to help.” obviously that’s what I’m known for.” In December 2019, Borowiecki was shopping for baby supplies during a When Borowiecki arrived in Nashville, he did not see an absence of day off in Vancouver when he stumbled on an attempted robbery. The strong leadership in the dressing room. He saw his job as supporting the hard-nosed defenseman subdued the burglar, who fled empty-handed Predators’ established leaders by emphasizing the importance of hard after breaking into a parked car. work. “Work ethic and mental toughness and character, these are the things that I think are a foundation for a team,” Borowiecki said. “When you have these qualities in a group, I think when times get tough and puck luck doesn’t go your way and bounces don’t go your way for whatever reasons, you always have that to fall back on. “I don’t think you ever want to be this team that’s high on high-end talent, coasts through a bunch of easy wins, and then when the going gets tough, you have no foundation to fall back on. I think that’s something that we’re trying to build here, and I think it’s going to do us a really good service not even just this year but as this organization progresses forward, too.” Although the Predators are 4-5-0 this season, they have shown signs of being more resilient. When Borowiecki has been in the lineup, he has helped shore up the third defensive pair, one of the Predators’ weaknesses in recent years. “One of the best people I’ve met playing this game,” said Duchene, who previously played with Borowiecki with the Senators from 2017-19. “He (has) such a big heart. As mean as he is on the ice, he’s a teddy bear off it. Great teammate, guy who will do anything to help you win. … Guy that will fight anybody. Scary guy to play against. He’s freakishly strong, like one of the strongest guys I’ve ever been around. I don’t think I can say one negative thing about the guy.” Borowiecki with 11-month-old son Miles. (Courtesy of Mark Borowiecki) There was a time when Borowiecki strongly considered becoming a police officer. Before committing to Clarkson University to play hockey, he thought about attending the Royal Military College of Canada and serving in the armed forces. “I thought long and hard about it,” Borowiecki said pursuing a career in law enforcement. “You can ask most hockey players when they’re in the American League and they’re not sure what their path forward is in professional hockey. You start trying to get your ducks in a row and prepare for a life after hockey. That was something that appealed to me, and I was pretty serious about it.” “Mark’s not a desk type,” Cynthia said. Borowiecki’s priorities changed last February, when wife Tara gave birth to the couple’s first child, a son named Miles. Now, Borowiecki plans to spend his post-hockey life instilling in Miles the core beliefs that have guided him. “I don’t think I do anything above and beyond,” Borowiecki said. “I just try to live my life a certain way. Tara and I, we have a certain set of values that we live by, and I just don’t compromise on those. That’s trying to be polite and kind to everyone I come across. “Sometimes you get these incidents like (the foiled robbery in Vancouver) and they bring you some accolades or temporary fame or something, but it’s not why I act the way I act. I just think it’s the right way to live your life.” In that sense, “BoroCop” is never off duty. “He expects himself to be honest, but he also expects everyone else to be honest and do things the right way, because he does things the right way,” Gryba said. “No one’s ever going to point the finger at him and say, ‘You didn’t train hard enough. You lied. You cheated.’ That doesn’t happen in Boro’s world. He’s able to hold people accountable because he is who he is.”

The Athletic LOADED: 02.11.2021 Websites “He must’ve had the most chances in the league without one yet,” said 1183482 John Tavares, who gathered two assists.

Auston Matthews lit up with a chance to big-up Mikheyev. Sportsnet.ca / Unlikely Maple Leafs heroes shine in comeback win: “He’s so fast,” Matthews said. “You see it every night, his ability to get ‘Hammer time, baby!’ around defenders and get in there on the forecheck first. He’s had plenty of instances this season where he’s just blown by the defence and he’s hit crossbars or the goalie’s made a good save. Luke Fox@lukefoxjukebox “It just builds confidence throughout the lineup. Dermy’s been out for a February 11, 2021, 12:17 AM bit. He comes back, scores a big, big goal for us. Holl as well. Mickey gets his first. I think that’s just all really positive stuff for us. Those guys start feeling it, get confidence, they start rolling. It’s great. It was a huge “Sometimes you can't score, but I just keep working.” — Ilya Mikheyev win for us tonight as well.” Renown sharpshooter William Nylander was alone and opened up on the With Matthews and Mitch Marner screaming into Montreal with eight- left circle, his right-curved weapon cocked back in anticipation, eager to game goal and point streaks, respectively, who’d have picked those break a 1-1 defensive struggle wide open in the third period. streaks to get snuffed? Surely, pointman Justin Holl — he of 10 shots all year — would feed Instead, 1,166 collective days of individual Leafs’ goal slumping came to Nylander in his wheelhouse as the Toronto Maple Leafs broke into the an end. On Carey Price, no less. Montreal Canadiens’ zone. “They only pull it out when it counts the most,” said coach Sheldon Keefe After all, the teammates had recently debated whether Holl was a disher of Dermott and Holl. “In both cases, the defenders and probably the or shooter, and Holl had been confident he was the former. goaltender aren't expecting them to shoot like that and take them on.” But sometimes a man just feels the urge to shoot his shot. With Montreal dominating possession if not the Grade-A’s in a tied game, Keefe had challenged his troops in the second intermission to deliver Caution to wind. their best period of the year. “Right when I wound up, I saw Willie out of the corner of my eye beaver- Holl’s blast arrived 1:50 into the third frame. Mikheyev’s crease-crashing tailing,” Holl said, describing Wednesday’s turning point. “So, as I came marker came 42 seconds later. down, I was like, ‘Oh, man. Willie’s going to want this biscuit,’ you know? But it went in, and all’s well that ends well.” Toronto has strengthened its reputation as a deep team patient enough to snatch two points in a burst. As Holl and the Toronto Maple Leafs snatched a lead on enemy Bell Centre ice, Nylander embraced his neglecter with a message: “You are a It’s about time the role players got a little shine. shooter.” “We obviously rely heavily on our star players, and they’re bringing it “So, it’s confirmed,” Holl deadpanned. every night. But on the odd night that they’re held in check,” Holl said, “it’s nice to see some secondary scoring. That’s the mark of really good “It’s actually been a while since I scored on a goalie. I think my last one teams.” was an empty-netter, and then it was a while previously before that one. It feels good.” Heck, Holl might not even bother considering Nylander’s feelings next time he loads up the Howitzer. Before Holl could retreat to the visitors’ room and celebrate the timely snuffing of his 350-day goal drought, Sportsnet’s Kyle Bukaukas asked if “I've uncorked it now,” Holl smiled. “There's no turning back.” he’d envisioned his first of 2021 being a rocket, long-range slapshot that zipped high past Carey Price. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 02.11.2021 “Oh, yeah. Hammertime, baby!” Holl responded. “Just kidding.” A grin, and a win. Another one. The Maple Leafs’ league-best 11th victory — a gutty, come-from-behind 4-2 triumph over their nearest North Division pursuers — didn’t look quite like the 10 that preceded it. After red-hot Josh Anderson beat Frederik Andersen on Montreal’s first shot of the night, Toronto’s box-score heroes were the most unlikely sort. Defenceman Travis Dermott has been in and out of the lineup all year, first for the club’s evaluation of newcomer Mikko Lehtonen and more recently with a nasty charley horse. But Dermott made no mistake when given a shooting lane after an extended shift of O-zone pressure wore down Montreal. He sniped high-blocker on Price, beating the future Hall of Famer clean for his first in 405 days. Dermott’s celebratory “Woooo!” could be heard clear over the fake crowd noise. “Nice to get one,” Dermott said. “I wasn’t planning on coming out and scoring goals today.” Holl and Dermott set the table for the longest drought-buster of all: Ilya Mikheyev scored his first goal, the eventual winner, in 411 days. The last time the Russian lit the lamp was on that horrifying night in New Jersey, Dec. 27, 2019, when he sped off the ice with a lacerated wrist and was whisked to the hospital. The winger says he doesn’t think of his long journey between goals, that he’s just been trying to help the team in any way possible. But Mikheyev was no less pleased to see his 23rd shot of the year finally strike gold. Ditto his teammates. Websites periods, outshooting them 27-7, before surrendering highly-preventable 1183483 goals 11 seconds apart in the third period to lose 3-1.

Vancouver’s fractured form before that had been alarming. The team Sportsnet.ca / Canucks face make-or-break set vs. Flames with more looked broken, which is why it was vital for the Canucks to display the than just wins at stake urgency and engagement they did on Monday. But now they’ve got to start winning. The bottom line is now the bottom line. Iain MacIntyre@imacSportsnet The fourth-worst team in the NHL by winning percentage, the Canucks February 10, 2021, 8:25 PM are sixth in the Canadian division, a point behind the Flames, who have played four fewer games. The Leafs and Canadiens look unstoppable – except by each other – atop the division, but the Canucks have also lost VANCOUVER – Shaken by a five-game losing streak, the culmination of touch with the Edmonton Oilers and Winnipeg Jets and could soon see a dreadful start that has imperilled more than their season, the the Flames pass across the horizon in front of them. The teams play Vancouver Canucks’ next four games against the Calgary Flames may three games in Vancouver and, next Wednesday, one in Calgary. be the only playoff games they see in 2021. “I think the most important thing is just sticking together,” Demko said. Lose the series and they’re out – of playoff contention anyway. Lose “When times get hard. . . human nature, it's easy to kind of start thinking badly, and it’s possible general manager Jim Benning or coach Travis about yourself and maybe get down on yourself, get down on the team. Green or both could be out of a job, swallowed by the crater created by a It's only natural to do that. But I think the teams that can pull through young team that has followed last summer’s breakthrough by losing 10 of times like this are teams that stick together and stay confident in its first 16 games in a pandemic-shortened season. themselves and one another. I think we have a group that can do that. Guys care about each other.” Incredibly, those 16 games were played over a span of just 27 days. When the team limped home from Toronto overnight Monday and awoke On the theory that these caring players have quit on their GM or coach, to an honest-to-goodness day off, it meant Tuesday was the first night the goalie who possesses a psychology degree said: “I can shut that since Jan. 11 that Vancouver players went to bed without having played down, I think. I don't think that anyone is holding that against and without a game the next day. management or coach or whatever. Guys are focused on winning. They know that the business side of things is going to happen sometimes and They practised Wednesday at Rogers Arena for Thursday night’s opener guys are going to leave, get traded, sign somewhere else, what have against the Flames. you. Guys are well aware of that and they know that you you've got to move on and focus on the task at hand. Guys are trying to win.” It was the fourth time in four weeks the Canucks fully practised. Then they answered questions on Zoom, where they were hit with every “When you lose five in a row. . . there's some urgency, there's probably conspiracy theory short of QAnon. some doubt,” Green said. “That's no secret; that's the way it is in sport. I've said it many times to our team that we play our best hockey when No, goalie Thatcher Demko said, the Canucks’ poor start is not because you play with confidence and you play with urgency. But inside our locker players were so upset at losing popular teammates in free agency last room, are the guys feeling full of confidence? Probably not. But the best October that they’re playing badly – deliberately or accidentally. way to get confidence back is go play your ass off and play hard.” No, captain Bo Horvat said, the lack of a contract extension for Green has not fuelled uncertainty among players or affected their buy-in for what the coach is preaching. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 02.11.2021 Yes, Green said, the debilitating schedule has been an issue. “I think it's been brutal,” Green said. “It's a lot of games, 10 games on the road. We own the losses, though. I'm not saying that we deserve to win games that we haven't but I think the schedule has played a part of our start. It's probably cost us, I don't know, a point, two, three points. Who knows how many? But I think it's affected our group physically in a couple of ways. “It's easy to say, well, you've played 16 games in 26 or 27 days. But the games wear you down, especially early in the year. We haven't had a chance to recover, some of our players, in those games. And I think we really missed the practice time. You work on your structure, your details, in practice. We've been trying to show it in video but you need to run through it, especially again, early in the season. “We play a high-energy, direct game, and I think that's very structured. We want structure in our game, and we haven't been able to get to either as much as we'd like because of the schedule. Again, we own it, but it's also reality that we have had a heavy schedule.” Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada Celebrating Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada and the spirit of inclusion in the game, Sportsnet and Scotiabank unite to bring an all-day NHL broadcast to Canadian fans coast-to-coast-to-coast. The Canucks, of course, agreed to the schedule that started with an inhumane 13 games in 21 nights – more than any other team. Considering they did this while trying to incorporate new players, remake their leadership group and reclaim their identity in the wake of the free- agency exodus, it’s impossible to overlook the schedule as a contributing factor. But it’s not the lone gunman. There is no simple, singular explanation for how poorly the team has played, surrendering at least five goals in nine of 16 games, allowing a ghastly 3.94 goals per game while their young stars – the foundation of the rebuilt team – regress. It’s a lot of things. But only one thing can save them now: winning. The Canucks appeared to finally rediscover their identity Monday against the Maple Leafs. After losing four games in Montreal and Toronto by an aggregate score of 23-9, they dominated the formidable Leafs for two Websites “They played a solid defensive game,” said Perry. “You’ve got to give 1183484 credit when they play well.”

Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe definitely liked what he saw. Sportsnet.ca / Canadiens struggle to find edge against surprisingly stingy "Defensively today, we just didn't give them much at all,” he said. “In fact, Maple Leafs I had this as the lowest number of scoring chances we gave up in a game all season." Eric Engels@EricEngels It looked like the least amount of legitimate scoring chances the Canadiens generated in their 13 games to date, and it wasn’t solely February 11, 2021, 12:20 AM because of how the Maple Leafs played them. “I think we can be better at creating our turnovers and playing that game down low and getting to the front of the net and crashing the net,” said MONTREAL — It was just over a minute into the action when Josh Perry. “Every (Canadiens) goal…you see where they were scored Anderson put his head down, out-muscled John Tavares, took a step tonight, in that five-, 10-foot area in the crease. You have to go there.” toward the inside of the ice and put a shot through Frederik Andersen to give the Montreal Canadiens a 1-0 lead over the Toronto Maple Leafs on On the other side of the ice, Dermott’s shot beat Price from 35 feet out. Wednesday night at the Bell Centre. And Holl’s was a missile from just inside the blue line. But Price’s view was unobstructed on both goals. And it was in the 57th minute of play that Anderson’s teammate, Tomas Tatar, took a determined drive into Toronto’s zone, scrambled to keep The 33-year-old made three stops on Matthews, three on Tavares, two the play alive, gained possession of the puck, passed it back to the point on Marner and two on William Nylander. He made some really strong and then beat Morgan Rielly clean to the net to tap home his fourth goal ones on a couple of tip plays, and he had no chance on Mikheyev’s and of the season. wasn’t even in the net for Zach Hyman’s goal with 1:04 remaining. Everything that happened between those two plays — from Montreal’s But the two Price couldn’t block from Dermott and Holl proved costly. side of it — was a mirage. Sure, the Canadiens built up a decisive edge in shots and expected goals at 5-on-5, they technically had the majority Still, the Canadiens couldn’t make up for it with the type of direct play of the scoring chances and played the Leafs even on special teams, but we’ve seen them build their early season reputation on. as Canadiens forward Corey Perry put it, Andersen “saw most of the Joel Armia came back after seven games out with a concussion, and he shots” in this 4-2 win for Toronto. played well. Perry, who had replaced Armia in his absence, shifted down For accuracy’s sake, Andersen saw all of them — at 5-on-5, on the to the fourth line and bumped Canadiens assistant captain Paul Byron power play and on the penalty kill — and this was after the Canadiens out of the lineup. spent two days practising their physical engagement following two It was understandable — Byron is without a goal so far — but perhaps lacklustre games against the Ottawa Senators last week. they could’ve used the speedy winger in this one. He plays hard north- The Canadiens just couldn’t find their way to the middle of the ice, they south hockey, and very much in the image of this Canadiens team when couldn’t find a way to Andersen’s crease and they just couldn’t get the they’re executing the way they want to. edge they were looking for — no matter what both the ordinary and fancy The Canadiens didn’t have it, the Maple Leafs did, and corrections are in stats said at the end of the game. And at 4-on-4 they were completely order before the Edmonton Oilers take the ice at the Bell Centre on outclassed, with the Maple Leafs running a fire drill in their end for two Thursday night. goals.

On the first one, four of Montreal’s most reliable players — Phillip Danault, Brendan Gallagher, Shea Weber and Ben Chiarot — couldn’t Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 02.11.2021 execute a single play. “Four times we had the puck and we gave it back to them in our end before they scored,” said Canadiens coach Claude Julien about the shot from Travis Dermott that beat goaltender Carey Price clean. “For sure that knocked some of the wind out of our sails, and it gave them energy.” The Leafs took it into the third period, and seconds after Justin Holl scored his first goal of the year 1:50 in on what Julien referred to as a “duplicate” sequence, Ilya Mikheyev went unmarked by Brett Kulak and scored his first. “They were costly errors,” said Julien. “Toronto’s a team that makes you pay when you make those types of errors.” Let’s talk about the 11-2-1, North Division-leading Maple Leafs for a second, because they were definitely opportunistic on this night, but they also had a different complexion about them than we’ve become accustomed to over the last few seasons. They’re usually a high-flying, risk-it-for-goals group, one not afraid to sacrifice a little defence for offence, but on this night the Leafs took Montreal’s best punch early and remained patient instead of forcing the issue. They conceded the outside shots and clamped down the middle of the ice, they cleared rebounds in front of Andersen and bodies away from his crease and they let the game come to them instead of snatching it by the throat. At one point, shortly after taking a two-goal lead, Toronto’s top line, featuring two of the most prolific point-producers of a generation — Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner — peeled out of their forecheck and joined the rest of their teammates in an 0-5 trap in the neutral zone. They respected the Canadiens, who came into the game with an 8-2-2 record and as the NHL’s highest-scoring team. As Matthews put it afterwards, “That’s a good team over there.” He and his teammates did everything they could to make the Canadiens look less than good. One of the main ways they did it was by not feeding them in transition (where Montreal excelled last time these two teams met — in Toronto on opening night), and they held their ground in all three zones. Websites “I love rivalries,” he said, a big smile widening across his face. “I love 1183485 hating the other team — it’s what makes sports special.”

There were a lot of hard feelings on both sides of his exit from Sportsnet.ca / 31 Thoughts: What Hextall, Burke hirings say about the Philadelphia. If nothing else, this throws another Carolina pepper on the Penguins menu. 1. Hextall had the opportunity for an assistant GM role in Seattle. He declined because he wanted to be a GM. Score one for betting on Elliotte Friedman@FriedgeHNIC yourself. February 10, 2021, 11:35 AM 2. Whenever we finished an intermission on a Sportsnet hockey broadcast, Burkie would tell everyone they did a great job, except me. He could do it 300 times, and it never failed to make me laugh. I will miss it. There’s a lot this week — Tuesday was an insane day. So let’s start with The nine interviews I’m aware of for Pittsburgh were (in alphabetical what the hirings of Ron Hextall and Brian Burke say about Pittsburgh. order) interim GM Patrik Allvin (who returns to his assistant GM role), As the Penguins interviewed the various candidates for their GM and Burke, Boston’s John Ferguson, Michael Futa, Hextall, OHL London’s President of Hockey Operations positions, a vision emerged — go for it Mark Hunter, Jason Karmanos, Colorado’s Chris MacFarland and NHL this year, see where we finish and map our future in the aftermath. Network’s Kevin Weekes. Weekes, I believe, got a long look for the role Burke received. It opens more possibilities for him. That’s true. 3. Columbus GM Jarmo Kekalainen prefers to do things quietly. He can’t “We want to be as good as we can be right now with three of the best be thrilled with what’s been a “noisy” season, from Pierre-Luc DuBois to players in the world,” Hextall said at the introductory media conference. John Tortorella to Patrik Laine to Mikko Koivu’s sudden retirement. The “And we’ll address things as we go along.” Blue Jackets need the Laine deal to work; it’s critical. Everyone saw some kind of coach/player skirmish occurring — it was pretty much “We’ve got some tough decisions if this team can’t get there,” Burke inevitable. But Kekalainen hoped it wouldn’t be so quickly. added in an interview for 31 Thoughts: The Podcast. “(But) let’s see if we can get them there. What additions can we make?” Tortorella said Laine’s benching “wasn’t because of the missed assignment” on Brock McGinn’s 2–2 goal Monday night, and multiple Burke knows that won’t be simple. Pittsburgh is low on picks and sources indicate it happened when Laine blew off one of the coaches prospects. It’s clear the Penguins were immediately dialled in on Hextall, who tried to talk to him about it. Tortorella has his code, and that would only needing to look five hours east for his drafting and development violate it. resumé. It was interesting to hear him say he isn’t “a one-trick pony” when asked about his reputation for patience. They know what’s There’s a theory Tortorella wants out, that he’s forcing the Blue Jackets expected of them. to fire him. Everything I hear is that’s absolutely not the case — he feels a loyalty to the organization and the players there who’ve supported him It’s also why the Penguins’ job wasn’t as coveted as it should be. Some to find a way to overcome all the challenges they’ve faced. I can see candidates weren’t crazy about being the one to dismantle the Sidney Kekalainen wanting to turn down the temperature, end the drama and Crosby/Evgeni Malkin/Kris Letang champions. (Malkin and Letang can be just play. Columbus is very much in the race, although COVID-related extended this summer. Crosby has four more years under contract.) It is shutdowns have them and surprising Chicago way ahead in games generally believed Pittsburgh wants all three to finish their careers in the played. organization. But, as my grandmother said, “You plan, God laughs.” 4. Koivu’s sudden retirement keeps Columbus chasing all options at You’d get punched in the face if you hinted Hextall is scared of anything. centre. Burke was incredulous at the idea the challenge is too great. 5. This story will continue to unfold on Wednesday, but post-game media “I’ve never looked at a hill and said it’s too tall or too high,” he replied. “I availabilities following Vegas’s 5-4 win over Anaheim on Tuesday night had GMs call me today and say, ‘You’re out of your mind. You’re going were prematurely terminated. As I write this, there’s no clarity on why into a minefield with nothing but poor options in front of you. This will end Tomas Nosek did not return for the third period, but it’s clear there’s badly — what are you thinking?’ I don’t see it that way. I’ve got special concern about how this unfolded. players, a GM I trust, a coach I trust, let’s see what we can do. The Golden Knights will not practice and have no availability on “The notion you wouldn’t take job because of the hurdles or sand traps in Wednesday, suggesting another shutdown is possible. There is a lot of front of you, that thinking has never entered into my mind. My mind is you worry about the new B1117 COVID strain, how aggressive it is, and what give me enough time, give me the resources, I can fix this. I’ve taken it can mean. It’s why the players are being asked to consider specific over teams where the list of challenges was as long as your arm…. testing to find out which strain they are infected with, if they do test That’s not the Pittsburgh Penguins. If you’re a guy who looks at a hill and positive. says it’s too high, then do something else, man. Sell life insurance or do something else.” In last week’s blog, there was a section about how the NFL and the Centre for Disease Control went public with the league’s data, with The Hextall/Burke hiring comes at a time where I’m thinking the GM job results indicating that teams were not infecting each other thanks to well- has become too big for one person. When the Rangers held their media ventilated, large-sized football stadia. Even if specific scientific proof is conference last week following Tony DeAngelo’s removal, both John not available, it is clear hockey is a far different animal; we have to treat it Davidson and Jeff Gorton were there. Davidson, the president, handled as such. the bigger-picture queries while Gorton answered the hockey-related questions. The proper structure (although I recognize finances are an As the number of cases grew last week in Buffalo, Minnesota and New issue during the pandemic) is probably your “hockey person” and your Jersey, so did the call for increased rapid testing. The NHL and NHLPA “manager.” worked to secure more “docking stations,” the machines that determine the results of rapid screenings. Expect more of this testing before games The hockey person sets your identity. What you want, who you draft, who and in situations, like Buffalo, where infected teams return to practice you acquire, overall philosophy. Too many GMs never see players. Go after being shut down. see them and find them. Set the plan, create the team. Your manager, on the other hand, is around every day. Goes to practice. Attends all games. 6. A couple of contacts were saying on Tuesday they thought we could Communicates with everyone around the team. Puts out fires, manages get to the point where morning skates and/or practices could be limited. up, does a lot of media. It’s no longer a one-person job. Burke and Hextall can work that way. 7. When the NHL and NHLPA put together their 2020–21 season protocols, there was room to review things after four weeks. Depending Hextall was expected to reach out to Crosby after the media availability on where you play, there’s different freedom of movement. In Canada, Wednesday, get his opinion. They’ll continue to seek help for a banged- restrictions are tougher than those in Arizona or Florida. One of the up blueline. It will be interesting to learn how they feel about the Tristan conversations over the last few days was that players are going to have Jarry/Casey DeSmith goaltending tandem. It would be a surprise if Chris to recognize that movement will need to be limited — just home/hotel to Pryor, let go as assistant GM after 20 years in Philadelphia following rink, and nothing else, no matter where you reside. It’s not easy on Hextall’s firing, did not join him in western Pennsylvania. anyone, but there’s no alternative. If tough protocols don’t work, there may be no escaping a pause to the season. At the end of Tuesday’s briefing, Hextall was asked about the Flyers/Penguins rivalry. 8. Patrick Marleau passed Jaromir Jagr for third place on the all-time games list when he played number 1,734 on Tuesday night. It’s secondary to the health and safety concerns, but Marleau is now 22 But Campbell wasn’t willing to violate Rule 37.2: “Any potential goal games behind Mark Messier for second spot on the list and 33 behind requiring video review must be reviewed prior to and/or during the next Gordie Howe for first overall. San Jose has 45 scheduled games stoppage in play. No goal may be awarded (or disallowed) as the result remaining. Hopefully, this doesn’t become an awkward challenge through of a video review once the puck has been dropped and play has rescheduled games. resumed.” Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada I look at it this way: It’s in the best interests of everyone — even the Hurricanes — to make sure this type of administrative error can be Celebrating Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada and the spirit of inclusion eliminated. Look for the league to investigate ways of cutting out the in the game, Sportsnet and Scotiabank unite to bring an all-day NHL middle man, giving the Situation Room direct ability to stop this from broadcast to Canadian fans coast-to-coast-to-coast. happening again. 9. Sounds like Nashville is one of the teams interested in Vancouver’s CHOOSE PLAN Adam Gaudette. Boston was checking out Jake Virtanen, but I’m not sure where that stands. The Sharks poked around during the off-season. 18. Home-ice records are better than ever, and here’s an example: Carolina has three losses. All of them are in the second of two-game 10. When it comes to the Canucks, there’s the numbers and there’s the road series: 4-2 at Detroit; 6-4 at Chicago; and 3-2 at Columbus. In that eye test. First, the numbers. According to Sportlogiq, entering last Central Division, road teams have just three wins in more than 20 such Saturday’s game in Toronto, the Canucks were 31st in even-strength situations. They were stuck on one until two Tuesday-night victories: shot attempts against, including from the slot and off the rush. There Tampa at Nashville; and Chicago 2-1 over Dallas. (The other was Florida were low totals in creating scoring chances, limiting scoring chances in Detroit.) against, creating offensive-zone possession time and limiting it against them. 19. The Panthers are 7-1-2. They’ve overcome postponements due to breakouts on other teams, and the fact their starting goaltender had his For Braden Holtby to openly stare down teammates — that’s really pre-season preparation derailed by COVID. They didn’t allow the Keith surprising, and an indication of how sideways everything’s gone. Yandle situation to cause a meltdown. They’ve beaten teams they are Something’s missing, particularly the cohesion/camaraderie that was part supposed to beat. You can’t ask for a better performance. of their victories over Minnesota and St. Louis last summer. Now we find out what we’ve got here. The next 11 feature three games After Monday’s 3-1 loss to Toronto, Quinn Hughes said, “We have a lot of each with Carolina, Dallas and Tampa. new pieces — we lost a lot of players from last year.” That was the Canucks’ 16th game of the season. Even with the loss of practice time 20. Kind of disappointing Boston and Toronto don’t play this year. Those and no exhibition games, that’s a long time for a team to still be finding its would be must-watch way. I can’t help but wonder if Travis Green being in the last year of his contract contributes to the overall malaise. The players saw some critical 21. Last week’s edition of Scotiabank Wednesday Night Hockey featured pieces leave in a similar scenario — do they think the same about their Boston and Philadelphia. The Bruins feature The Perfection Line, coach? exceptionally dangerous on offensive-zone draws. Down 3–0 to Washington two nights earlier, they got back-to-back scores immediately 11. This is not a shot at Vancouver as much as it is about the confidence after faceoffs that keyed the comeback that won the game: of both Montreal and Toronto. Claude Julien and Sheldon Keefe were unafraid to play depth lines against Bo Horvat’s line. It was two coaches “Offence does not always come from a faceoff win,” Woodcroft said. saying, “We’re deep and we’re going to win.” The Canadiens and Maple “You’d be surprised how much comes from a faceoff loss. You have to Leafs play Wednesday and Saturday. know who the threats are.” 12. The Canadiens are averaging four goals per game. Last team to do When it comes to Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak it? The 1995-96 Penguins (4.41). — they’re all threats. 13. Nashville scratched Nick Cousins in Tuesday’s 6–1 loss to Tampa “The beauty is that everyone knows how they do it, but they still have Bay. It’s been a rough start there, and we’ll see where this goes. There success,” Woodcroft says. “Bergeron is dangerous on both his strong would be interest depending on what the Predators decide to do. and weak sides. Even if he loses, everyone still finishes their routes because they know Marchand is sprinting in. He can be first to the puck 14. Paul Maurice’s emphatic defence of Blake Wheeler mentioned or win the battle for it. They are so rehearsed, so lethal. Great chemistry.” analytics, but it wasn’t really about analytics. It was about a coach feeling his captain deserves more local respect for choosing to stay in Winnipeg For example, you cannot let Pastrnak get to the high or low slot. That’s when others have left. where he’s headed, and the Bruins are going to find him. On the 3–2 goal, look how he runs John Carlson into the post to create space. 15. The Jets did an excellent job of staying above water while shorthanded because of quarantine rules. The strict Canadian 22. Since Woodcroft joined Winnipeg in 2016–17, Bergeron tortured the regulations have absolutely had an effect on Sam Bennett’s future, Jets like he tortured everyone else — winning 56 per cent of his draws. although if he keeps scoring alongside Johnny Gaudreau and Sean The positive is that the centre’s overall number during that time was 58 Monahan, the Flames won’t be too eager to do anything. Anaheim, per cent, so the Jets actually did better than most. How do you counter Colorado and Columbus are among those who checked in. Curious to Perfection? see if Pittsburgh does now that Burke is there. “Our centres made it important,” he answered. “They cared about it. We 16. Ottawa was looking to ease a crowded blueline once Erik Brannstrom made it a ‘specialty team,’ like the power play or the penalty kill. Every got up to speed (likely Mike Reilly to move). We’ll see where it goes now good team practises faceoff plays, and you’d go through Video: ‘This is that, unfortunately, Brannstrom is out. They are trying to get Derek Boston play one, this is Boston play two.’ We’d talk about the ‘sort out.’ Stepan closer to his family. What’s the ‘sort out’ when this happens, so when it does happen no one is surprised? It’s rare that you see a play you haven’t already seen, but 17. The NHL is working — immediately — to make certain that the you have to make sure everyone has clear routes and knows what they Carolina/Columbus offside challenge snafu cannot happen again. have to do. Vincent Trocheck’s go-ahead 4–3 goal from Sunday’s 6–5 Hurricanes win was allowed to stand because a microphone was open that shouldn’t “If your centre doesn’t have enough strength on his stick, Bergeron will have been while the Situation Room in Toronto was talking to the destroy you. He’s like a tornado. His torque is pure violence. Everyone linesmen. So, when the first replay was shown that didn’t clearly indicate else has to be wired, on their toes, ready to fight through a check. You an offside, something like, “That’s a good goal” was blurted out and the want your defence to push people into the linesman, creating a mess.” linesmen took it as gospel. (To his credit, NHL Executive Vice President Colin Campbell refused to name the individual involved. It was an Other than your centres, who was good at disruption? accident, not deserving of being thrown under the bus. Besides, the “(Brandon) Tanev is great at it, a winger blasting out at the point. (Blake) higher you are up on the food chain, the more you are responsible for Wheeler is great at winning lost pucks.” diving on grenades.) Woodcroft sent two clips of Wheeler’s work. In the first, he ties up Vince Due to COVID cleaning protocols for headsets, the league was unable to Dunn after the Jets lose the first draw: re-establish contact with the in-arena officials, and the goal was announced as good before anyone could stop it. During the intermission, In the second, Wheeler ends up with a glorious opportunity after reading Campbell cancelled the Blue Jackets’ delay of game penalty for a failed the Bruins’ breakout on the second: challenge, even though he’s technically not supposed to do that. It was the right thing to do — another Carolina goal would have been a total 23. In that Bruins/Flyers game, Bergeron had an unusually poor night in disaster. the circle — 12-26, just 46 per cent. He went four-of-15 head-to-head with Claude Giroux, another Woodcroft favourite. How good is he? Check that ever happened to him. It was true, and Stern still reigns even though out this clip of the Philly captain winning a draw off the outside edge of he lost his fastball a long, long time ago. his strong-side foot: There are a lot of people re-writing their priorities out of COVID, Not easy. embracing paths they didn’t think possible. I hope, for all of them, that Stern’s history repeats itself. Other centremen Woodcroft likes: Ryan O’Reilly, “the single greatest faceoff guy in the NHL. Dangerous on any dot;” Sidney Crosby “recognized a deficiency and worked to become one of the best. On the weak side, wins faceoffs a unique way — stands back and slaps the puck Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 02.11.2021 to the wall. Might be best on the weak side in NHL;” Luke Glendening; Radek Faksa; Brad Richardson “will drive right through you;” newly retired Mikko Koivu would “do different things versus a lefty than he will do versus a righty;” and Bo Horvat, “a bulldog.” Woodcroft also credited Tampa Bay’s creativity, using their weakside defenders — especially Victor Hedman — to create problems. 24. Finally on this topic: Woodcroft once asked O’Reilly for a stick. He genuinely wanted the souvenir, but also wished to study a master’s tool. It has a stiff flex (115) and the centreman’s unique curve. “He knew exactly what I was doing,” Woodcroft laughed, “and signed it, ‘To Todd, from your faceoff hero, Ryan O’Reilly.’” 25. I didn’t ask Woodcroft about one of his newest commits, 20-year-old Andrei Buyalsky, but it’s an interesting story. He left his native Kazakhstan for USHL Dubuque in December. Buyalski had 11 points in his first 12 games as the Fighting Saints went on a hot streak. What wasn’t clear was his NHL Draft status. A couple of teams who saw him poked around, and it looks like, because he hasn’t played a full season, he’s eligible to be selected in the 2021 event. 26. As the NHL (and NHLPA) figure out what to do with the draft, some OHL players are hopeful that league will consider a 25-game-ish schedule starting in April. Something is better than nothing. 27. While the OHLers as a whole wait to see what happens, some will get the opportunity to play in the AHL. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre signed goalie Brett Brochu from the to a tryout contract. Brochu turned 18 before the season began and went undrafted in the NHL last fall, making him eligible for the opportunity. Toronto signed Pavel Gogolev, who had 96 points in 63 games for Guelph in 2019-20. He will be 21 next week. Shorthanded teams may continue this idea. 28. There are rumours of the desire to hold a World Under-18 event this spring in Frisco, Texas. That’s where the Stars practice. 29. The Professional Women’s Hockey Players’ Association announced a Dream Gap Tour game on Feb. 28 at Madison Square Garden. The only negative is that Canadian-based players won’t be able to participate due to cross-border laws. PWHPA chair Jayna Hefford said last week they will look at games in Canada once quarantine rules ease up in the country. 30. The AHL announced Canadian Division schedules for February, but notice neither Ontario team — Belleville nor Toronto — has a home game. Road only to start for both, until the province eases its lockdown. 31. Last week on 31 Thoughts: The Podcast, Jeff Marek and I talked to Tim Micallef and Sid Seixeiro, who started as interns at The Score. Another who followed that route was Kristian Jack, who worked his way to becoming one of this country’s most authoritative soccer voices. A couple of years ago, I remember tuning into the FIFA Women’s World Cup, seeing Kristian, and saying, “Wow, what a jump. Climbed his way to the top.” I was really happy for him. Every time I think of Brent Wallace, I remember someone who once told me, “Before I met you, I thought you were a huge jerk.” And now that you have met me? “I still think you’re a jerk.” I was almost run over by a car talking to Dan O’Toole at a crosswalk during the 2014 Stanley Cup Final. (We also shared an affinity for The Underground.) Kelly Hrudey, P.J. Stock and I had a great chat with Natasha Staniszewski one night when we walked into a bar after a Saturday night show and she was there. All of the radio cuts the other day? Brutal. There’s no other way to say it. I can’t speak for everyone at Sportsnet and TSN, but I know that those of us who work in hockey are both friends and fierce competitors. We badly want to beat each other to stories, but we want each other to succeed, to thrive. You remember the good times shared. Whether in front of the camera or behind it, what happened in the last week is not about ability. Howard Stern, when he was fired from WNBC, was devastated. He thought his career was over. But his agent, Don Buchwald, walked in with a bottle of champagne, and told Stern this was going to be the best thing Websites “I love rivalries,” he said, a big smile widening across his face. “I love 1183486 hating the other team — it’s what makes sports special.”

There were a lot of hard feelings on both sides of his exit from Sportsnet.ca / 31 Thoughts: What Hextall, Burke hirings say about the Philadelphia. If nothing else, this throws another Carolina pepper on the Penguins menu. 1. Hextall had the opportunity for an assistant GM role in Seattle. He declined because he wanted to be a GM. Score one for betting on Elliotte Friedman@FriedgeHNIC yourself. February 10, 2021, 11:35 AM 2. Whenever we finished an intermission on a Sportsnet hockey broadcast, Burkie would tell everyone they did a great job, except me. He could do it 300 times, and it never failed to make me laugh. I will miss it. There’s a lot this week — Tuesday was an insane day. So let’s start with The nine interviews I’m aware of for Pittsburgh were (in alphabetical what the hirings of Ron Hextall and Brian Burke say about Pittsburgh. order) interim GM Patrik Allvin (who returns to his assistant GM role), As the Penguins interviewed the various candidates for their GM and Burke, Boston’s John Ferguson, Michael Futa, Hextall, OHL London’s President of Hockey Operations positions, a vision emerged — go for it Mark Hunter, Jason Karmanos, Colorado’s Chris MacFarland and NHL this year, see where we finish and map our future in the aftermath. Network’s Kevin Weekes. Weekes, I believe, got a long look for the role Burke received. It opens more possibilities for him. That’s true. 3. Columbus GM Jarmo Kekalainen prefers to do things quietly. He can’t “We want to be as good as we can be right now with three of the best be thrilled with what’s been a “noisy” season, from Pierre-Luc DuBois to players in the world,” Hextall said at the introductory media conference. John Tortorella to Patrik Laine to Mikko Koivu’s sudden retirement. The “And we’ll address things as we go along.” Blue Jackets need the Laine deal to work; it’s critical. Everyone saw some kind of coach/player skirmish occurring — it was pretty much “We’ve got some tough decisions if this team can’t get there,” Burke inevitable. But Kekalainen hoped it wouldn’t be so quickly. added in an interview for 31 Thoughts: The Podcast. “(But) let’s see if we can get them there. What additions can we make?” Tortorella said Laine’s benching “wasn’t because of the missed assignment” on Brock McGinn’s 2–2 goal Monday night, and multiple Burke knows that won’t be simple. Pittsburgh is low on picks and sources indicate it happened when Laine blew off one of the coaches prospects. It’s clear the Penguins were immediately dialled in on Hextall, who tried to talk to him about it. Tortorella has his code, and that would only needing to look five hours east for his drafting and development violate it. resumé. It was interesting to hear him say he isn’t “a one-trick pony” when asked about his reputation for patience. They know what’s There’s a theory Tortorella wants out, that he’s forcing the Blue Jackets expected of them. to fire him. Everything I hear is that’s absolutely not the case — he feels a loyalty to the organization and the players there who’ve supported him It’s also why the Penguins’ job wasn’t as coveted as it should be. Some to find a way to overcome all the challenges they’ve faced. I can see candidates weren’t crazy about being the one to dismantle the Sidney Kekalainen wanting to turn down the temperature, end the drama and Crosby/Evgeni Malkin/Kris Letang champions. (Malkin and Letang can be just play. Columbus is very much in the race, although COVID-related extended this summer. Crosby has four more years under contract.) It is shutdowns have them and surprising Chicago way ahead in games generally believed Pittsburgh wants all three to finish their careers in the played. organization. But, as my grandmother said, “You plan, God laughs.” 4. Koivu’s sudden retirement keeps Columbus chasing all options at You’d get punched in the face if you hinted Hextall is scared of anything. centre. Burke was incredulous at the idea the challenge is too great. 5. This story will continue to unfold on Wednesday, but post-game media “I’ve never looked at a hill and said it’s too tall or too high,” he replied. “I availabilities following Vegas’s 5-4 win over Anaheim on Tuesday night had GMs call me today and say, ‘You’re out of your mind. You’re going were prematurely terminated. As I write this, there’s no clarity on why into a minefield with nothing but poor options in front of you. This will end Tomas Nosek did not return for the third period, but it’s clear there’s badly — what are you thinking?’ I don’t see it that way. I’ve got special concern about how this unfolded. players, a GM I trust, a coach I trust, let’s see what we can do. The Golden Knights will not practice and have no availability on “The notion you wouldn’t take job because of the hurdles or sand traps in Wednesday, suggesting another shutdown is possible. There is a lot of front of you, that thinking has never entered into my mind. My mind is you worry about the new B1117 COVID strain, how aggressive it is, and what give me enough time, give me the resources, I can fix this. I’ve taken it can mean. It’s why the players are being asked to consider specific over teams where the list of challenges was as long as your arm…. testing to find out which strain they are infected with, if they do test That’s not the Pittsburgh Penguins. If you’re a guy who looks at a hill and positive. says it’s too high, then do something else, man. Sell life insurance or do something else.” In last week’s blog, there was a section about how the NFL and the Centre for Disease Control went public with the league’s data, with The Hextall/Burke hiring comes at a time where I’m thinking the GM job results indicating that teams were not infecting each other thanks to well- has become too big for one person. When the Rangers held their media ventilated, large-sized football stadia. Even if specific scientific proof is conference last week following Tony DeAngelo’s removal, both John not available, it is clear hockey is a far different animal; we have to treat it Davidson and Jeff Gorton were there. Davidson, the president, handled as such. the bigger-picture queries while Gorton answered the hockey-related questions. The proper structure (although I recognize finances are an As the number of cases grew last week in Buffalo, Minnesota and New issue during the pandemic) is probably your “hockey person” and your Jersey, so did the call for increased rapid testing. The NHL and NHLPA “manager.” worked to secure more “docking stations,” the machines that determine the results of rapid screenings. Expect more of this testing before games The hockey person sets your identity. What you want, who you draft, who and in situations, like Buffalo, where infected teams return to practice you acquire, overall philosophy. Too many GMs never see players. Go after being shut down. see them and find them. Set the plan, create the team. Your manager, on the other hand, is around every day. Goes to practice. Attends all games. 6. A couple of contacts were saying on Tuesday they thought we could Communicates with everyone around the team. Puts out fires, manages get to the point where morning skates and/or practices could be limited. up, does a lot of media. It’s no longer a one-person job. Burke and Hextall can work that way. 7. When the NHL and NHLPA put together their 2020–21 season protocols, there was room to review things after four weeks. Depending Hextall was expected to reach out to Crosby after the media availability on where you play, there’s different freedom of movement. In Canada, Wednesday, get his opinion. They’ll continue to seek help for a banged- restrictions are tougher than those in Arizona or Florida. One of the up blueline. It will be interesting to learn how they feel about the Tristan conversations over the last few days was that players are going to have Jarry/Casey DeSmith goaltending tandem. It would be a surprise if Chris to recognize that movement will need to be limited — just home/hotel to Pryor, let go as assistant GM after 20 years in Philadelphia following rink, and nothing else, no matter where you reside. It’s not easy on Hextall’s firing, did not join him in western Pennsylvania. anyone, but there’s no alternative. If tough protocols don’t work, there may be no escaping a pause to the season. At the end of Tuesday’s briefing, Hextall was asked about the Flyers/Penguins rivalry. 8. Patrick Marleau passed Jaromir Jagr for third place on the all-time games list when he played number 1,734 on Tuesday night. It’s secondary to the health and safety concerns, but Marleau is now 22 But Campbell wasn’t willing to violate Rule 37.2: “Any potential goal games behind Mark Messier for second spot on the list and 33 behind requiring video review must be reviewed prior to and/or during the next Gordie Howe for first overall. San Jose has 45 scheduled games stoppage in play. No goal may be awarded (or disallowed) as the result remaining. Hopefully, this doesn’t become an awkward challenge through of a video review once the puck has been dropped and play has rescheduled games. resumed.” Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada I look at it this way: It’s in the best interests of everyone — even the Hurricanes — to make sure this type of administrative error can be Celebrating Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada and the spirit of inclusion eliminated. Look for the league to investigate ways of cutting out the in the game, Sportsnet and Scotiabank unite to bring an all-day NHL middle man, giving the Situation Room direct ability to stop this from broadcast to Canadian fans coast-to-coast-to-coast. happening again. 9. Sounds like Nashville is one of the teams interested in Vancouver’s CHOOSE PLAN Adam Gaudette. Boston was checking out Jake Virtanen, but I’m not sure where that stands. The Sharks poked around during the off-season. 18. Home-ice records are better than ever, and here’s an example: Carolina has three losses. All of them are in the second of two-game 10. When it comes to the Canucks, there’s the numbers and there’s the road series: 4-2 at Detroit; 6-4 at Chicago; and 3-2 at Columbus. In that eye test. First, the numbers. According to Sportlogiq, entering last Central Division, road teams have just three wins in more than 20 such Saturday’s game in Toronto, the Canucks were 31st in even-strength situations. They were stuck on one until two Tuesday-night victories: shot attempts against, including from the slot and off the rush. There Tampa at Nashville; and Chicago 2-1 over Dallas. (The other was Florida were low totals in creating scoring chances, limiting scoring chances in Detroit.) against, creating offensive-zone possession time and limiting it against them. 19. The Panthers are 7-1-2. They’ve overcome postponements due to breakouts on other teams, and the fact their starting goaltender had his For Braden Holtby to openly stare down teammates — that’s really pre-season preparation derailed by COVID. They didn’t allow the Keith surprising, and an indication of how sideways everything’s gone. Yandle situation to cause a meltdown. They’ve beaten teams they are Something’s missing, particularly the cohesion/camaraderie that was part supposed to beat. You can’t ask for a better performance. of their victories over Minnesota and St. Louis last summer. Now we find out what we’ve got here. The next 11 feature three games After Monday’s 3-1 loss to Toronto, Quinn Hughes said, “We have a lot of each with Carolina, Dallas and Tampa. new pieces — we lost a lot of players from last year.” That was the Canucks’ 16th game of the season. Even with the loss of practice time 20. Kind of disappointing Boston and Toronto don’t play this year. Those and no exhibition games, that’s a long time for a team to still be finding its would be must-watch way. I can’t help but wonder if Travis Green being in the last year of his contract contributes to the overall malaise. The players saw some critical 21. Last week’s edition of Scotiabank Wednesday Night Hockey featured pieces leave in a similar scenario — do they think the same about their Boston and Philadelphia. The Bruins feature The Perfection Line, coach? exceptionally dangerous on offensive-zone draws. Down 3–0 to Washington two nights earlier, they got back-to-back scores immediately 11. This is not a shot at Vancouver as much as it is about the confidence after faceoffs that keyed the comeback that won the game: of both Montreal and Toronto. Claude Julien and Sheldon Keefe were unafraid to play depth lines against Bo Horvat’s line. It was two coaches So, in preparation for our broadcast, we went to a faceoff guru, NCAA saying, “We’re deep and we’re going to win.” The Canadiens and Maple Vermont (@UVMhockey/@UVMwhockey) head coach Todd Woodcroft, Leafs play Wednesday and Saturday. for guidance. Woodcroft, who left the Winnipeg Jets after last season to lead the Catamounts, takes great pride in teaching the subtleties. 12. The Canadiens are averaging four goals per game. Last team to do it? The 1995-96 Penguins (4.41). “Offence does not always come from a faceoff win,” Woodcroft said. “You’d be surprised how much comes from a faceoff loss. You have to 13. Nashville scratched Nick Cousins in Tuesday’s 6–1 loss to Tampa know who the threats are.” Bay. It’s been a rough start there, and we’ll see where this goes. There would be interest depending on what the Predators decide to do. When it comes to Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak — they’re all threats. 14. Paul Maurice’s emphatic defence of Blake Wheeler mentioned analytics, but it wasn’t really about analytics. It was about a coach feeling “The beauty is that everyone knows how they do it, but they still have his captain deserves more local respect for choosing to stay in Winnipeg success,” Woodcroft says. “Bergeron is dangerous on both his strong when others have left. and weak sides. Even if he loses, everyone still finishes their routes because they know Marchand is sprinting in. He can be first to the puck 15. The Jets did an excellent job of staying above water while or win the battle for it. They are so rehearsed, so lethal. Great chemistry.” shorthanded because of quarantine rules. The strict Canadian regulations have absolutely had an effect on Sam Bennett’s future, For example, you cannot let Pastrnak get to the high or low slot. That’s although if he keeps scoring alongside Johnny Gaudreau and Sean where he’s headed, and the Bruins are going to find him. On the 3–2 Monahan, the Flames won’t be too eager to do anything. Anaheim, goal, look how he runs John Carlson into the post to create space. Colorado and Columbus are among those who checked in. Curious to 22. Since Woodcroft joined Winnipeg in 2016–17, Bergeron tortured the see if Pittsburgh does now that Burke is there. Jets like he tortured everyone else — winning 56 per cent of his draws. 16. Ottawa was looking to ease a crowded blueline once Erik Brannstrom The positive is that the centre’s overall number during that time was 58 got up to speed (likely Mike Reilly to move). We’ll see where it goes now per cent, so the Jets actually did better than most. How do you counter that, unfortunately, Brannstrom is out. They are trying to get Derek Perfection? Stepan closer to his family. “If your centre doesn’t have enough strength on his stick, Bergeron will 17. The NHL is working — immediately — to make certain that the destroy you. He’s like a tornado. His torque is pure violence. Everyone Carolina/Columbus offside challenge snafu cannot happen again. else has to be wired, on their toes, ready to fight through a check. You Vincent Trocheck’s go-ahead 4–3 goal from Sunday’s 6–5 Hurricanes want your defence to push people into the linesman, creating a mess.” win was allowed to stand because a microphone was open that shouldn’t Other than your centres, who was good at disruption? have been while the Situation Room in Toronto was talking to the linesmen. So, when the first replay was shown that didn’t clearly indicate “(Brandon) Tanev is great at it, a winger blasting out at the point. (Blake) an offside, something like, “That’s a good goal” was blurted out and the Wheeler is great at winning lost pucks.” linesmen took it as gospel. (To his credit, NHL Executive Vice President Colin Campbell refused to name the individual involved. It was an Woodcroft sent two clips of Wheeler’s work. In the first, he ties up Vince accident, not deserving of being thrown under the bus. Besides, the Dunn after the Jets lose the first draw: higher you are up on the food chain, the more you are responsible for In the second, Wheeler ends up with a glorious opportunity after reading diving on grenades.) the Bruins’ breakout on the second: Due to COVID cleaning protocols for headsets, the league was unable to 23. In that Bruins/Flyers game, Bergeron had an unusually poor night in re-establish contact with the in-arena officials, and the goal was the circle — 12-26, just 46 per cent. He went four-of-15 head-to-head announced as good before anyone could stop it. During the intermission, with Claude Giroux, another Woodcroft favourite. How good is he? Check Campbell cancelled the Blue Jackets’ delay of game penalty for a failed out this clip of the Philly captain winning a draw off the outside edge of challenge, even though he’s technically not supposed to do that. It was his strong-side foot: the right thing to do — another Carolina goal would have been a total disaster. Not easy. Other centremen Woodcroft likes: Ryan O’Reilly, “the single greatest There are a lot of people re-writing their priorities out of COVID, faceoff guy in the NHL. Dangerous on any dot;” Sidney Crosby embracing paths they didn’t think possible. I hope, for all of them, that “recognized a deficiency and worked to become one of the best. On the Stern’s history repeats itself. weak side, wins faceoffs a unique way — stands back and slaps the puck to the wall. Might be best on the weak side in NHL;” Luke Glendening; Radek Faksa; Brad Richardson “will drive right through you;” newly Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 02.11.2021 retired Mikko Koivu would “do different things versus a lefty than he will do versus a righty;” and Bo Horvat, “a bulldog.” Woodcroft also credited Tampa Bay’s creativity, using their weakside defenders — especially Victor Hedman — to create problems. 24. Finally on this topic: Woodcroft once asked O’Reilly for a stick. He genuinely wanted the souvenir, but also wished to study a master’s tool. It has a stiff flex (115) and the centreman’s unique curve. “He knew exactly what I was doing,” Woodcroft laughed, “and signed it, ‘To Todd, from your faceoff hero, Ryan O’Reilly.’” 25. I didn’t ask Woodcroft about one of his newest commits, 20-year-old Andrei Buyalsky, but it’s an interesting story. He left his native Kazakhstan for USHL Dubuque in December. Buyalski had 11 points in his first 12 games as the Fighting Saints went on a hot streak. What wasn’t clear was his NHL Draft status. A couple of teams who saw him poked around, and it looks like, because he hasn’t played a full season, he’s eligible to be selected in the 2021 event. *I understand that I may withdraw my consent at any time. 26. As the NHL (and NHLPA) figure out what to do with the draft, some OHL players are hopeful that league will consider a 25-game-ish schedule starting in April. Something is better than nothing. 27. While the OHLers as a whole wait to see what happens, some will get the opportunity to play in the AHL. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre signed goalie Brett Brochu from the London Knights to a tryout contract. Brochu turned 18 before the season began and went undrafted in the NHL last fall, making him eligible for the opportunity. Toronto signed Pavel Gogolev, who had 96 points in 63 games for Guelph in 2019-20. He will be 21 next week. Shorthanded teams may continue this idea. 28. There are rumours of the desire to hold a World Under-18 event this spring in Frisco, Texas. That’s where the Stars practice. 29. The Professional Women’s Hockey Players’ Association announced a Dream Gap Tour game on Feb. 28 at Madison Square Garden. The only negative is that Canadian-based players won’t be able to participate due to cross-border laws. PWHPA chair Jayna Hefford said last week they will look at games in Canada once quarantine rules ease up in the country. 30. The AHL announced Canadian Division schedules for February, but notice neither Ontario team — Belleville nor Toronto — has a home game. Road only to start for both, until the province eases its lockdown. 31. Last week on 31 Thoughts: The Podcast, Jeff Marek and I talked to Tim Micallef and Sid Seixeiro, who started as interns at The Score. Another who followed that route was Kristian Jack, who worked his way to becoming one of this country’s most authoritative soccer voices. A couple of years ago, I remember tuning into the FIFA Women’s World Cup, seeing Kristian, and saying, “Wow, what a jump. Climbed his way to the top.” I was really happy for him. Every time I think of Brent Wallace, I remember someone who once told me, “Before I met you, I thought you were a huge jerk.” And now that you have met me? “I still think you’re a jerk.” I was almost run over by a car talking to Dan O’Toole at a crosswalk during the 2014 Stanley Cup Final. (We also shared an affinity for The Underground.) Kelly Hrudey, P.J. Stock and I had a great chat with Natasha Staniszewski one night when we walked into a bar after a Saturday night show and she was there. All of the radio cuts the other day? Brutal. There’s no other way to say it. I can’t speak for everyone at Sportsnet and TSN, but I know that those of us who work in hockey are both friends and fierce competitors. We badly want to beat each other to stories, but we want each other to succeed, to thrive. You remember the good times shared. Whether in front of the camera or behind it, what happened in the last week is not about ability. Howard Stern, when he was fired from WNBC, was devastated. He thought his career was over. But his agent, Don Buchwald, walked in with a bottle of champagne, and told Stern this was going to be the best thing that ever happened to him. It was true, and Stern still reigns even though he lost his fastball a long, long time ago. Websites game, but it does highlight his penchant for variety, which keeps goalies 1183487 off balance like a pitcher with a good mix of pitches. (Thanks to the people at Sportlogiq for this data.) Sportsnet.ca / How Auston Matthews has become NHL's most Two things that interest me: how well he’s always spread his shooting dangerous goal scorer around the net, but also the change in how often he’s gone low this season.

Matthews’ goal breakdown in 2019-20: justin-bourne headshotJustin Bourne@jtbourne High Blocker - 13 (27.7%) February 10, 2021, 2:23 PM High glove - 23 (48.9%)

Low Blocker - 4 (8.5) Make no mistake, Auston Matthews was one of the best goal scorers in the NHL last year, and the year before. So “Auston Matthews is good at Low glove - 1 (2.1%) goal scoring” isn’t exactly shocking the masses as column topics go. 5-Hole - 6 (12.8%) But I do think it’s fair to say that he’s emerged from a pack of elite snipers 76.6% of his goals went high. to be the preeminent goal scorer in the league today, or at worst finds himself in a class that’s just him, David Pastrnak and the eternal Alex Matthews’ goal breakdown this season: Ovechkin. High blocker - 1 (9.1%) Matthews, though, is my choice to win the most Rocket Richard Trophies in the years to come. High glove - 2 (18.2%) So what’s changed this year that gives me that belief? How does Low Blocker - 2 (18.2%) someone already so good at something get better? Why is it that, when Low glove - 2 (18.2%) forecasting his goal output over 56 games, matching last year’s total of 47…seems attainable? 5-hole - 3 (27.3%) Well, there’s a few reasons… 63.6% of his goals went low. Celebrating Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada and the spirit of inclusion Maybe the low/high data isn’t that relevant (mandatory “small sample” in the game, Sportsnet and Scotiabank unite to bring an all-day NHL mention here), maybe most of it doesn’t tell us much at all, but the one broadcast to Canadian fans coast-to-coast-to-coast. thing I do believe we can glean here is that he doesn’t have a default shooting spot, so goalies have no way to cheat on him. The actual weight loss has been well-documented. He played last year at 224 pounds and worked this off-season with personal trainer Ian Mack to Further to that point… get leaner without losing strength, and to gain flexibility. He shoots from everywhere In theory that would help him in a variety of ways, from injury prevention to energy levels and of course, it should help his speed. And, yeah, that I know goalies are never supposed to relax, but they’re human. A guy part at least definitely panned out. with the puck out on the half-wall likely doesn’t have goaltenders set in the same way they are for a breakaway. Matthews capitalizes on that by Reports were that by the time Matthews stepped on the scale to start the shooting from basically everywhere, before most players would think to. season he was 210, down some 14 pounds, or as they’d say in the UK, the lad is down a stone. Here’s a look at a couple of heat maps from great goal scorers around the NHL. Thanks to Micah Blake McCurdy and HockeyViz for these Where I notice it most is through the neutral zone. It always seemed that charts. when Matthews lugged the puck up the ice in the past, it was going to result in one (still reasonably dangerous) outcome. He was going to Here’s where Connor McDavid has been dangerous from over his career: approach the defender, then try and shoot it through that player, using his patented angle change and deadly shot. Sometimes it went in, Welp, directly in front of the net. Shocker. That makes sense, given how sometimes it didn’t, but what was coming was all but certain. often he beats defenders and gets in alone. Now I see him putting defenders on their heels because he’s got the (“Shootiness,” by the way, is the likelihood a player is the one taking the pace to beat them wide. As that gets further established, he should see shot compared to an average player at that position. Forwards average worse gaps (with D sagging off an extra half-step to prevent getting beat taking 22 per cent of their team’s shots while they’re on the ice – the wide), meaning that “shoot through the D” option could become more chart above has McDavid at 23 per cent, given his “+1” shootiness. I’m dangerous (given it’s from a half-step closer in), and there could be more writing more on this next week.) room above those D to make plays. David Pastrnak is crazy shooty, and here’s where he typically fires from: We saw him pass JT Miller in an awkwardly developing play: Inside the Ovi spot, and a strip on the right side, too. We saw him adeptly cruise through the middle like a speedboat en route Now here’s Auston Matthews: to this beauty: This looks like a scene out of Dexter, just little bits of red all over the And there just seems to be more pace on plays across the blue line that place. If you’re a goalie it’s probably best to never get comfortable if haven’t ended in goals: Matthews has the puck inside the blue line. I mean he’s flying in that clip. Confidence This was a guy whose greatest strength wasn’t just his shot, it was There’s a goal that sticks out in my mind as rare, in that it’s uncommon to finding shots, finding soft spots to get those lasers off. When you’re be able to attribute any one single tally to something usually lighter and have another gear you’re not just able to go faster, you’re able “unquantifiable,” but this one … this one I think you can. to go slower knowing you can get back up to that speed without massive effort, meaning you’re able to change pace more regularly. In 2019 James Neal was coming off a down year -- a really, really down year actually -- in which he scored just seven times in 63 games (after For someone who's good at finding soft spots, that ability should open up scoring 25 the year before and averaging more than that for many years more holes than ever before. prior). He joined the Oilers that off-season, and in his second game with He’ll shoot at every spot, with no default them he scored twice. That had to feel like the start of something good, no? One of Matthews’ strengths has always been unpredictability, and finding more space this season has allowed him the ability to be more selective In his third game, he already had a hat trick in his back pocket with most with where he shoots. of the third period remaining, and he was feeling it. On a rush he faded essentially down into the corner, below the faceoff circles, opened up, When you’re under duress, you usually auto-fire it at what are good and whipped a bad angle shot along the ice with the type of scoring scoring spots (which would generally be up high these days). The trend intent you only see from someone who believes absolutely anything I’ve got below is waaaaay too early to label a legitimate change in his might go in for them at that moment. This to me is a pure confidence goal. Well, that’s Auston Matthews on every shot right now. His game-winner over the Canucks Monday was an on-the-ice slapshot that wasn’t just put on net to be put on net, it was meant to go through the goalie. Everything he hits he intends to go in, and that’s not a single game “feeling it” attribute. That’s just the way it is. Peak hockey age I’ll keep this one short, but I’m an established agist when it comes to hockey. The sweeping majority of Hall of Fame point producers have a statistical peak on the back of their hockey card right about where Matthews is in his career. He’s that perfect mix of young, but not new. The Division The defence in the North Division, by and large, is about as sturdy as a vanilla wafer. It’s bad! We don’t have to dance around that. Even Montreal – who most assume to be the most stout of the group - isn’t likely among the league’s best five defensive teams. NHL goal scoring leaders 1. Auston Matthews: 11 2. Tyler Toffoli: 9 3. Brock Boeser: 9 4. Connor McDavid: 9 5. Leon Draisaitl: 8 6. Nikolaj Ehlers: 8 7. Josh Anderson: 8 Four of the other five teams currently sit in the bottom half of the league in goals-against per game, with Ottawa and Vancouver sitting dead last. The Oilers have conceded fewer goals than just six NHL teams. The Flames, the best of the rest, are the grocery stick of the statistical table, with 15 teams worse and 15 teams better in that category. So … there are goals to be found in the North this season. The stats As I said off the top, Matthews isn’t just arguably the best goal scorer in the game today (depending where you sit on Pastrnak and Ovechkin), he’s been in that tier of elite players on his way up to this pedestal. The stats bear out that while the flower may finally be in full bloom, it’s been awfully pretty for a while now. His 169 career goals are the 2nd-most in the NHL since his debut in 2016-17. He has an NHL-high five game-winning goals through 12 games this season. Only three players in NHL history have required fewer games than Matthews to reach five GWG in a season. His five GWG this season matches his total from his previous three seasons. Highest percentage of team goals scored this season: Most consecutive games played with a goal in Maple Leafs franchise history: And, given Wednesday's and Saturday's matchup, we’ll close with this: the goalies Matthews has scored most of his career goals against... We’ll see how the best defence in the North fares against the best goal- scorer in the division, facing a goalie who -- so far -- hasn’t been able to figure the Leafs' young goal-scoring machine out.

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 02.11.2021 Websites Hextall used the 2017 pick on Morgan Frost, who has shown plenty of 1183488 promise but hasn't quite broken into the league yet, while that 2018 pick brought Farabee -- a budding star. Sportsnet.ca / Looking back on Ron Hextall's most notable moves as Hextall's eye for talent identification extended beyond the draft. Back in Flyers GM 2015, he signed an 18-year-old Phil Myers to an entry-level deal after the undrafted rearguard attended the team's training camp on an amateur tryout. Five years later, Myers has developed into one of Philadelphia's best defencemen. Emily Sadler@EmmySadler Hextall's patient approach with many of these players was, in some February 10, 2021, 10:42 AM cases, just as important as his making the picks in the first place. Many others are still developing in the Flyers' system. This one's going to take some getting used to. In the first three years of his Flyers tenure, Hextall was able to move out big contracts and clear cap space with a trio of trades: Two weeks after the surprise resignation of general manager Jim Rutherford, the Pittsburgh Penguins announced the hiring of Ron Hextall 2014: One of his first transactions as GM was a tough one for many as his replacement. Flyers faithful to swallow, as fan favourite Scott Hartnell was sent to Columbus for RJ Umberger. Though a cap-clearing move in the long "If you'd have told me two years ago I'd be sitting here as general term (Umberger was under contract for three more years at $4.6 million manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins, I would've started laughing," per, compared to Hartnell's $4.75M for five) it was also a sign that Hextall Hextall, a longtime Philadelphia Flyers legend and former Philly wasn't afraid to make a tough call that he believed was right -- and it executive, told reporters during his introductory virtual press conference ultimately paid off in cap flexibility when it mattered most. Tuesday. "But here we are. I'm very excited about it." 2015: In one of the more famous cap-clearing moves, Hextall traded Known for being a builder, Hextall was at the helm of an on-again, off- Chris Pronger's rights (and his almost-$5M cap hit) along with Nicklas again playoff team during his tenure at the helm of Philadelphia from May Grossman to Arizona in exchange for Sam Gagner and a fourth-round 2014 to November 2018, charged with replenishing the franchise's pick. prospect pool and reviving the team around an existing core. 2016: Dealt Vincent Lecavalier ($4.5M) and Luke Schenn ($3.6M) to Los Sound familiar? Perhaps the Flyers' and Penguins' mutual dislike for one Angeles for Jordan Weal and a third-round pick. Even retaining half of another is far from the only thing these two teams have in common. both players' hits, Hextall was able to clear up a combined $4.05 million. Back-to-back first-round exits just two years after back-to-back Stanley Locking up key players Cup victories paints an interesting picture of a Penguins team at a bit of a fork in the road, with a depleted prospect pool and much of its draft While many of the Flyers' core guys were already part of the Flyers capital spent in win-now moves. organization when Hextall took the reins, it was he who ensured they'd stay put in Philly long-term. While Tuesday's press conference made it clear the Penguins are still looking to win -- and when you've got Sidney Crosby on your team, that's Re-signing Couturier in 2015: His best deal was signed on July 28, 2015, always a possibility -- there are still plenty of questions about how Hextall when he came to terms with forward Sean Couturier on a six-year, $4.33- and incoming president of hockey operations, Brian Burke, will now million deal that ate up some key UFA years. A fair price at the time for a navigate the franchise while holding the key that is the league's biggest budding forward, the contract is now one of the biggest bargains in the star. league. The reigning Selke Trophy winner still has one more season remaining on the deal beyond this year. His skill and the price tag Unlike his predecessor, who boldly waded into trade talks and gave us attached have both played crucial roles in the Flyers being able to stick some blockbusters in Pittsburgh, Hextall hasn't been known for his together and contend. player-for-player trades, nor was he very active on the UFA front. His best work has come through drafting and developing. Locking up Voracek in 2015: Just two days later, Hextall handed a massive eight-year deal to Jakub Voracek following a remarkable Hextall was fired before he could fully see his Flyers blossom into the breakout season worth $8.25 million through 2023-24. Voracek has hit Metropolitan powerhouse we saw head into the post-season last year, 80-plus points just once since, with that deal starting to look a little heavy. and they look like they're poised for more of the same going forward thanks to the pieces Hextall put in place. The GM's patient approach to A fair deal for Gostisbehere in 2016: Signing defenceman Shayne building up the team may have ultimately cost him his job, but his Gostisbehere in 2016 to a six-year deal with a $4.5-million cap hit looked investments are starting to pay off. like a total coup at the time and in the few years after as the rearguard really hit his stride. Despite Gostisbehere struggling at times, it's still a In an effort to explore what might lay ahead for the Penguins, here's a reasonable contract for the offensive defenceman. look at some of Hextall's most notable moves as GM of Philadelphia and what we can learn about his management style from them. A rare UFA signing in 2018: When it came to his approach in free agency, Hextall didn't take a lot of big swings at free agents. One of his Building through the draft parting gifts, however, was his biggest free agent signing: Hometown kid and then-UFA James van Riemsdyk (five years, $35-million, $7-million Hextall inherited a depleted prospect system, and by the time of his cap hit). With so many of the young prospects he'd drafted and departure, that pool was brimming with talent thanks to his ability to both developed just coming into the league Hextall had the cap flexibility to collect picks and use them well. It became tradition each June that make a big swing and signal the start of real contention. Hextall was fired Hextall would be involved in at least one trade involving draft picks the following November during a Flyers slump, with all signs pointing to changing hands. Hextall headed up five drafts for the Flyers, and each his patient approach for which he's been praised as a contributing factor one brought in at least one player who would go on to be a key part of in his departure. With van Riemsdyk currently riding a seven-game point Philly's current core -- including last year's leading scorer, a pair of strong streak (4G, 13pts in that span) while leading the team in scoring, that rearguards, and the No. 1 netminder of the future: deal is looking pretty good right now. 2014: D Travis Sanheim (Rd 1, 17th overall), F Oskar Lindblom (Rd 5, 138th overall) Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 02.11.2021 2015: D Ivan Provorov (Rd 1, 7th overall), F Travis Konecny (Rd 1, 24th overall) 2016: G Carter Hart (Rd 2, 48th overall) 2017: F Nolan Patrick (Rd 1, 2nd overall) 2018: F Joel Farabee (Rd 1, 14th overall) Some of those picks, of course, came at a cost. Hextall dealt Brayden Schenn to St. Louis for Jori Lehtera and two first-rounders in 2017. Trading away a player in his prime -- and one locked into a team-friendly deal -- in favour of bringing in more picks extended the Flyers' rebuild at a time when some believed they could start the push for contention. Websites message and mindset. When you get results the confidence builds, 1183489 especially with the type of team we have. I don't think we're trying to overthink it. We're just trying to continuously get better every day and understand the identity and formula we want to have success.” TSN.CA / Tavares not stressing slow start at even strength Montreal is no slouch on defence either, with a big-bodied blueline that is tough to generate scoring chances against. Toronto certainly struggled at that in their season-opening meeting with the Canadiens, falling behind By Kristen Shilton 3-1 in the second period before storming back for a 4-3 overtime win. Keefe is prepared for similarly hard-fought battle when the teams TORONTO — John Tavares is among the NHL’s most productive convene a second time, but he hopes the intervening weeks have producers on the power play this season, success the Maple Leafs’ toughened the Leafs up for what’s coming. captain is still striving to mirror when at even strength. “[Their defence] creates additional challenges to get to the net,” Keefe His one 5-on-5 goal through 13 games is tied for the lowest output said. “It’s not just their defence but the forwards do a good job of helping amongst Toronto’s regular top-six forwards, but Tavares isn’t overly with that as well. So, that's a challenge. But we found a way through that stressed about his lack of early returns. when we played them in the first game; we found enough ways to get there. And there's other teams within the division that have big, strong “I would like to have more [even-strength goals], no doubt. But I don't try defences as well, so you're getting used that and [we’re] adapting our to beat myself up about it,” he told reporters on a Zoom call Wednesday, offence as needed.” before Toronto faces the Montreal Canadiens.

“I think there's been a lot of good aspects of my game, not just offensively, but in a lot of areas. The way I feel out there, the way I'm TSN.CA LOADED: 02.11.2021 moving, I'm really happy about [that]. Just stick to the process that way and not overthink [how] maybe [5-on-5] has gone, but continue to find ways to contribute offensively and without the puck.” Tavares has been exceptional on special teams thus far, tied for second in the NHL with four power-play goals and six points on that unit overall. By comparison, it took the centre 46 games a season ago to tally four man-advantage goals, and he ended the year with just seven. Now Tavares wants to channel that same touch around the net to even- strength play, although it’s been harder there to find the same rhythm. Given the Leafs’ early injuries to Joe Thornton and more recently Wayne Simmonds, Tavares has had a rotating crop of wingers on his line with William Nylander – everyone from Zach Hyman to Jimmy Vesey to Ilya Mikheyev to Simmonds. It’ll be Mikheyev back on the right side when the Leafs take the ice Wednesday night against Montreal, and Tavares said the search for chemistry within their line will continue. “You have to make adjustments, with different players, different people,” he acknowledged. “It just creates a different feel for your line and what everyone brings to it. [That] does present different challenges or variables, but that's all the nature of playing in the league and [there are] injuries and changes game to game throughout the lineup and whatever the coaching staff feels is necessary to get the most out of the group. So, it's on us to go out there and do our job and obviously find ways to be productive.” From head coach Sheldon Keefe’s perspective, Tavares is already doing that, regardless of what’s shown up on the scoresheet. Keefe has been vocal since before training camp about the Leafs becoming a more responsible team defensively, and allowing their offence to grow from that effort. In many ways the club has delivered, averaging the sixth-fewest shots against per game in the NHL (27.3) and the sixth-fewest goals against (2.62), while holding a plus-14 goal-differential. It’s all contributed to Toronto’s strong 10-2-1 start, and Keefe believes Tavares has been a main factor in cultivating that enhanced defence-first focus. “I like a lot of things that John is doing,” Keefe said. “We’ve challenged our entire team to be better when we don't have the puck, and John's diligence in that area has been very strong. It has helped set our team up for success in terms of him leading the way. When we look at his forecheck or his play in our own end, he's really been doing the things that we've been asking our team to do. He is leading the way there and I have no doubts that over time, the 5-on-5 production will be there.” And as long as the wins keep piling up, there’s plenty of incentive for Tavares and company to keep doing what they’re doing. Heading into Wednesday’s game, Toronto owns the fourth-best winning percentage in the NHL at .808 and sit just ahead of Montreal atop the North Division. While the red-hot recent play of Auston Matthews (10 goals in eight games) and Mitch Marner (15 points in eight games) has been drawing all the headlines, it’s the strides Toronto’s made defensively that impress Tavares most. “We can see how important that [defensive mentality] is, so I think it's been very easy to buy into,” he said. “Some of it is just the mindset we brought into the season and [we're] seeing the results with that consistent 1183490 Websites

USA TODAY / Boston Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask gets score wrong, tries to leave net for extra attacker vs. New York Rangers

Mike Brehm USA TODAY

Boston Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask was in the zone Wednesday night, making 33 saves to defeat the New York Rangers 3-2 in overtime. In fact, he was so in the zone that he forgot to look at the scoreboard. So in the closing minutes of the third period, he started skating to the Bruins' bench for an extra attacker, even though the score was tied 2-2. His teammates on the bench kept waving to him to go back into his net, and fortunately, the Bruins kept possession of the puck and the Rangers weren't able to capitalize on the vacated net. "I just had to tell something to Jaro (backup goalie Jaroslav Halak) real quick," Rask said. He then fessed up. "I honestly thought we were down 2-1," he said. "I was waiting for (coach Bruce Cassidy) to wave me over there. I'm thinking, 'Why the heck is he not? There's like a minute and a half left.' He's not waving me, so I decided to come over when we had the puck." Informed it was 2-2, Rask returned to his net. Rask might be forgiven for getting the score wrong because a Bruins goal was waved off when replays showed it didn't fully cross the line, and a Rangers goal was allowed on review when Rask thought it was hit by a high stick. Brad Marchand scored in overtime for the victory. "He's going to catch some heat for that," Marchand joked. "If anyone's not supposed to be asleep in a game, it's supposed to be a goalie. He made a lot of big saves tonight, so he gets a pass on that one." Rask, a finalist for the Vezina Trophy last season, said he wasn't panicking during his foray but was more laughing at himself. "Hey, it’s an entertainment industry," he said. "And that’s what we’re trying to provide, entertainment for the fans. I’m sure people were shocked at first, but hopefully they got a good laugh out of that.”

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USA TODAY / Vegas Golden Knights player Tomas Nosek was pulled from game vs. Anaheim Ducks after positive COVID-19 test

Mike Brehm USA TODAY

Tuesday night, the NHL abruptly called off news conferences after the Anaheim Ducks-Vegas Golden Knights game. Wednesday, the league shed light on the reason: A COVID-19 test had come back positive for a Golden Knights player in the middle of the game. "Immediately upon notification that one of its players had returned a positive test for COVID-19, the Vegas Golden Knights removed forward Tomas Nosek from Tuesday night’s game vs. Anaheim, in precise accordance with the terms of the league’s COVID protocol," the NHL said in a statement. "Nosek was immediately isolated from his teammates and close contact tracing was begun." Nosek had played 13 shifts in the game, including the final shift of the second period, and didn't return for the third. He was on the league's COVID-19 protocol list that was released Wednesday night. Ducks coach Dallas Eakins praised the league for canceling the news conferences. “I certainly didn’t want to be sitting in a media room where other people had been and you’re not quite sure about what’s going on," he told reporters. "It’s a good call by the league, I think, to shut it down and get everyone away from each other.” The Golden Knights had coronavirus issues earlier in the season when the entire coaching staff sat out a Jan. 26 game against the St. Louis Blues, with general manager Kelly McCrimmon going behind the bench. Their next three games were postponed, their practice facility was closed and they didn't return to action until last Friday. The Golden Knights and Colorado Avalanche, who are currently on COVID-19 pause, are scheduled to play outdoors Feb. 20 at Lake Tahoe. The league said Thursday's Ducks-Golden Knights game remains on for the moment. It plans to administer rapid tests, in addition to the regular PCR tests, to all players and staff before making a decision. So far this season, 35 games have been postponed. Sunday's Philadelphia-New York Rangers contest was postponed Wednesday because three Flyers are on the COVID-19 protocol list. The league recently adopted additional COVID-19 measures. The Ducks have escaped cases so far, but Eakins noted that a team can follow the protocols exactly "and you can still get it. You can get it from your kids.” “Your mindset has to be that eventually it’s coming and we’re going to be ready for that," he added. "We see what’s going around the league. We don’t think we’re immune to those things, but we certainly do aspire to be the team that it doesn’t get into the room. Can we 100 percent prevent that? No, we can’t, but we can be our best to be that team.”

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